10 things you need to know about Elon Musk's SpaceX Features lekhaka -Gizbot Bureau SpaceX is an American Aerospace Manufacturing services founded by Elon Musk in an attempt to create the technologies that will enable humanity to reduce the cost of space transportation and enable the colonization of Mars. Today, in this article, we have jotted down the list of 10 things you need to know about SpaceX. 1. SpaceX is the first private company to launch a payload into orbit and return it to Earth intact, which only government organization like NASA or Russias Roscosmos did. 2. The Falcon 9 rocket is named after the Millennium Falcon from Star Wars and the number "9" denotes the number of rocket engines a rocket has. 3. As per the report, roughly 80% of the parts in the SpaceX rockets is made inside the companys own factory, thus reducing the cost of outsourcing. Moreover, this helps in keeping the price per pound of payload down and quality control in-house. 4. SpaceX first rocket name as the Falcon 1, failed to reach orbit three out of five attempted launches and they succeeded on their fourth time. This made them very close to running out of cash in the company. 5. Elon Musk is not planning to make SpaceX a public company until the Mars Colonial Transporter (MCT), where the rocket will ferry people to Mars at just $500,000 per person. 6. Dragon is a reusable spacecraft that was built to transport up to 7 astronauts and carry cargo to ISS. This spacecraft can carry over 3,310 kilograms split between pressurized cargo in the capsule and unpressurized cargo in the trunk. 7. SpaceX got some extra tech when Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen joined on board in 2011, creating a joint project with the company called Stratolaunch Systems. 8. Space X acquired a property at Boca Chica Beach for its proposed launch site since 2012. It has bought almost 43 acres and has another 56.5 acres under lease. 9. As of now, SpaceX has booked over 70 flights and the company cost around $62 million for its SpaceX customer to launch a rocket. 10. Elon Musk taught himself the rocket science and he made the rockets completely automated including the landing part. SEE ALSO: Buying Guide: Best smartphones to buy in October 2017 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 Nokia to launch a 4G feature phone to compete with JioPhone News oi -Abhinaya Prabhu Nokia feature phone with 4G capabilities could be in the making. Reliance Jio has taken a toll on several other handset manufacturers with the launch of the effective free JioPhone. As a result, many companies are in plans to launch their budget smartphones and 4G feature phones to compete with Reliance. We have already seen that Airtel is in talks with the handset manufacturers to launch the Rs. 2000 priced 4G feature phone. Even Micromax is in plans to launch such a phone called Bharat One along with BSNL. And, domestic manufacturers such as Intex and Lava are also working on similar devices. These are not the only ones that we can expect to see in the coming months. We say so as it looks like Nokia is also in plans to enter the 4G feature phone market. According to a report by Economic Times, Nokia is looking forward to enter the league with the launch of a JioPhone rival. HMD Global's India VP, Ajey Mehta has hinted that HMD might launch a feature phone with 4G capabilities. The report quotes him saying that JioPhone is definitely going to face an impact on the segment. He has hinted that they are looking for a viable business proposition and will consider participating in the same. For now, Nokia has four feature phones in the Indian market including the newly launched Nokia 3310. But none of these devices have 4G connectivity support. The JioPhone has been a trendsetter in the feature phone segment as it offers 4G support. And, it has inspired the other manufacturers as well to launch such offerings. According to the market research firm Counterpoint Research, around 25 million units of 4G feature phones are expected to be shipped by the end of this year. Given that Reliance will ship six million units of the JioPhone in the first batch and the other manufacturers lining up their offerings, we are sure that this number will increase. 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 Samsung Galaxy A5 (2018) to arrive in Snapdragon and Exynos variants News oi -Abhinaya Prabhu Galaxy A5 (2018) details hit the web. Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017) was launched only in the Exynos variant while the previous iterations were available in both Exynos and Snapdragon variants. Now, it looks like the company is planning to launch the Galaxy A5 (2018) in two chipset editions. The Samsung Galaxy A5 (2018) has been spotted on the Geekbench benchmarking website with the model number SM-A520F. In the last month, we saw the Samsung SM-A530F hit the Geekbench website and the same was speculated to be the upcoming Galaxy A5 smartphone. The Geekbench listing shows that the smartphone will be powered by the company's Exynos 7885 SoC. It scored 1541 and 4351 points in both the single-core and multi-core tests on the benchmarking website. We even saw another benchmark listing with the model number SM-A5300 in September. This one seemed to be equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 SoC paired with 4GB RAM and Android 7.1.1 Nougat OS. Apparently, this is said to be one of the variants of the Galaxy A5 (2018). This variant scored 1593 and 5834 points in the single-core and multi-core tests. From both the listings, we can make out that the Snapdragon variant is more powerful than the Exynos variant of the smartphone. There is a widespread speculation that the Snapdragon variant could be meant for the Chinese market and the Exynos variant could be launched in the international markets. There are speculations that the Galaxy A7 (2018) might arrive in both the Exynos and Snapdragon variants. The 2017 models of the Galaxy A3, A5 and A7 are identical in terms of design. And, going by the recent reports that the Galaxy A (2018) smartphones will feature a full-screen design as in the Galaxy S8, we can expect these smartphones to have an Infinity Display with 18.5:9 aspect ratio. These smartphones might feature a glass back, a dedicated Bixby button and a rear-facing fingerprint sensor. 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 Outgoing DIA Director to Workforce: 'Keep Telling Truth to Power' By Jim Garamone DoD News, Defense Media Activity WASHINGTON, Oct. 4, 2017 "Keep telling truth to power" was the only advice the outgoing director of the Defense Intelligence Agency had for his successor and for the DIA workforce during a change of directorship ceremony here yesterday. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Vincent R. Stewart turned over the reins to Army Lt. Gen. Robert P. Ashley during the ceremony at the agency's Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling headquarters. Deputy Defense Secretary Pat Shanahan represented Defense Secretary Jim Mattis at the ceremony and presided over it. He praised Stewart for his concentration on providing intelligence to the nation's warfighters and said Stewart worked to ensure the American military's ability to fight and win. Praise for Agency's Team "If Secretary Mattis were here, I know he would recognize your alignment with his goals, he would thank you for your leadership, and, as the first Marine at DIA's helm, your role in operationalizing the voice of the warfighter," Shanahan told the outgoing director. The deputy secretary praised Stewart for the team he has built and led at the agency. "The team is comprised of true patriots who show unfaltering dedication to the difficult mission of the DIA," he said. "You and the team have worked tirelessly to provide top-notch, actionable intel to the warfighter and key insights for the strategic leadership." He noted that Stewart had strengthened integrated intelligence centers at the combatant commands. He modernized operational capabilities to enhance lethality and he stood up the Defense Debriefing Service to help make the unknown knowable. Outreach to Allies and Partners Shanahan also praised Stewart for his outreach to allies and partners around the world. "These relationships help fill capacity gaps and build confidence in our shared missions," he said. "DIA makes our military more lethal by providing decision advantage to leadership." Shanahan told the DIA community that leaders count on them to handle challenges as diverse as North Korea to the civil war in Syria and that the agency has to adjust and evolve to the new domains of cyber and space. "Most of you will never know the extent of your efforts," he said. "But your integrity gives weight to the intel you produce and earns you respect in the eyes of those who receive your sound judgments." Advice for DIA Workforce Stewart made a last request of the workforce at DIA. "No matter what the challenges, the adversity or the objections, always speak truth to power, no matter the cost," he said. "Speak truth through your actions. Speak truth through your analysis. Speak truth through your tradecraft and standards. Never lose sight of it, because unless we are forthright, honest and candid we cannot fulfilll our oath." Stewart is moving to be the deputy commander of U.S. Cyber Command. Ashley is coming to DIA after serving as the Army's deputy chief of staff for intelligence. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US Senate Panel Provides Update on Russia Probe By Michael Bowman October 04, 2017 The Senate Intelligence Committee revealed it is continuing to investigate whether elements of President Donald Trump's campaign colluded with Russia to sway the 2016 U.S. election, while warning that Russian meddling could expand and threaten future elections. "The issue of collusion is still open," said the committee's chairman, Republican Richard Burr of North Carolina, at a news conference Wednesday. "We have more work to do as it relates to collusion, but we're developing a clearer picture of what happened." Despite dropping no bombshells about Trump's inner circle, Burr and the committee's ranking Democrat, Mark Warner of Virginia, said they felt compelled to go public with other conclusions reached so far. "The Russian active measures did not end on Election Day 2016," Warner said, adding that the United States should take a "more aggressive whole government approach" to combat Russian interference. "What I will confirm is that the Russian intelligence service is determined, clever," Burr said. "And I recommend that every campaign and every election official take this very seriously." Danger remains Many on Trump's national security team agree with the intelligence community's conclusion that Russia meddled in last year's election in favor of Trump. The president, however, has not concurred. U.S. investigators recently revealed that Russian hackers attempted to penetrate balloting systems in nearly two dozen U.S. states. While they may not have succeeded last year, Burr and Warner said the danger remains as two states hold elections just weeks from now, and America's midterm elections loom next year. "You could pick two or three states and two or three jurisdictions, and alter an election [outcome]," Warner said. Use of social media Russia's use of social media platforms to sow disinformation and chaos also has come to light. "I was concerned at first that some of these social media platform companies did not take this threat seriously enough," Warner said. "I believe they are recognizing that threat now. They have provided us with information." The Senate Intelligence Committee has interviewed more than 100 witnesses and reviewed nearly 100,000 documents in what remains an open-ended probe. Burr said Russia was "pretty darn successful" creating "chaos at every level" of last year's election. Whether the Kremlin did so with any help from Trump's campaign team is still being investigated, with no end date in sight. VOA's Wayne Lee contributed to this report. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address King accuses Catalan leaders of disloyalty to Spain Iran Press TV Tue Oct 3, 2017 09:34PM Spain's King Felipe VI has accused Catalan leaders of risking the county's security and stability with their independence referendum. "With their irresponsible conduct they could put at risk the economic and social stability of Catalonia and all of Spain," said Felipe in a televised address on Tuesday. He made the remarks after hundreds of thousands of Catalans protested the violence by police against voters during a banned referendum on independence held earlier in the week. "They have placed themselves totally outside the law and democracy...It is the responsibility of the legitimate state powers to ensure constitutional order," he added. He added that the Spanish crown was powerfully committed to the Spanish constitution and to democracy, while underlining his commitment as king "to the unity and permanence of Spain." 'Independence to be declared soon' During an interview with the BBC, Catalonia's secessionist leader Carles Puigdemont announced that the region will declare independence "in a matter of days." He added that the regional government will "act at the end of this week or the beginning of next," towards issuing a declaration. He also said that it would be "an error which changes everything" for the central government to attempt to intervene and take control of the region. Russia worried about Spain Russian President Vladimir Putin voiced his worries over the situation in Spain while speaking at a ceremony in Kremlin. "Now everybody has been discussing the Catalonia independence referendum situation. I will not conceal, we are really worried about Spain," he said. "But definitely it is an internal affair of the Kingdom of Spain. "We hope they will be able to overcome the crisis," he added. More than 90 percent of Catalan voters said 'Yes' to separation from the mainland in a plebiscite banned by the central government. The Sunday vote, however, turned ugly as Spanish riot police moved in on polling stations to stop people from casting their ballots. Security forces used batons and rubber bullets to disperse the crowds of voters. Over 840 people were wounded in the violent clashes between riot police and voters in one of Spain's worst crises in decades. Before the vote, Spain's military police also raided the Catalan government offices on September 20, during which at least 14 junior officials and associates were arrested and almost 10 million ballot papers were seized. Catalonia, one of Spain's 17 autonomous regions, held a symbolic referendum back in November 2014, during which more than 80 percent of participants voted for independence, according to Catalan officials. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Inherent Resolve Strikes Target ISIS in Syria, Iraq From a Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve News Release SOUTHWEST ASIA, Oct. 4, 2017 U.S. and coalition military forces continued to attack the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria yesterday, conducting 39 strikes consisting of 40 engagements, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today. Officials reported details of yesterday's strikes, noting that assessments of results are based on initial reports. Strikes in Syria In Syria, Coalition military forces conducted 34 strikes consisting of 34 engagements against ISIS targets: -- Near Abu Kamal, A strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed a vehicle. -- Near Dayr Az Zawr, three strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units. -- Near Raqqa, 30 strikes engaged 16 ISIS tactical units; destroyed 14 fighting positions, two vehicles and a logistics node; and suppressed four fighting positions. Strikes in Iraq In Iraq, coalition military forces conducted five strikes consisting of six engagements against ISIS targets: -- Near Qaim, two strikes destroyed an ISIS-held building and a weapons cache. -- Near Huwija, A strike destroyed an ISIS headquarters and a vehicle-borne bomb. -- Near Rawah, two strikes destroyed an ISIS-held building and four ISIS boats. Previous Strikes Officials also provided details today on 23 strikes consisting of 25 engagements conducted near Raqqa on Oct. 2 for which the information was not previously available. The strikes engaged eight ISIS tactical units, destroyed nine fighting positions and damaged five fighting positions. 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 Air Force Team Fuels Aerial Defeat-ISIS Fight By Air Force Staff Sgt. Michael Battles, Air Forces Central Command AL UDEID AIR BASE, Qatar, Oct. 4, 2017 Comprised of active-duty, guard and reserve aircrew service members, the men and women of the 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron help project combat power by providing agile, effective air refueling in line with the objectives of the Combined Forces Air Component Command and Combined Joint Special Operations Air Component. According to Air Force Lt. Col. Joseph Carr, 340th EARS director of operations, the mission of the KC-135 Stratotanker squadron is to enable its receiver's capabilities to extend their air-to-air refueling missions and prolonging their ability to provide air superiority. Air-to-Air Refueling Mission "Air-to-air refueling extends joint and coalition receivers' on-station loiter ability, expanding the time of opportunity to observe, target and destroy enemy assets or provide overwatch protection of our ground forces," Carr said. Each day, the 340th EARS provides nearly two-thirds of all U.S. Central Command air-to-air refueling for joint, coalition and NATO partners, he said. During a deployment, aircrews flying KC-135 missions can expect to refuel a variety of aircraft ranging from bombers, reconnaissance, fighters and cargo, Carr said. Many Customers "We are matched up with so many different receivers from all of the different functions of the U.S. military and international," said Air Force Lt. Col. Sarah Micklo, 340th EARS pilot. "It's always an adventure; we get heavy aircraft, fighter aircraft; props and jets and it's just really interesting to be able to communicate and interact with those different aircraft." In August 2017, the 340th EARS supported a total offload of 36.5 million pounds of fuel to 3,180 aircraft. The squadron accomplished roughly 150 missions each month, and nearly 1,800 within the last year. "By having the most amount of gas in the air each day allows our aircraft and partners the flexibility to perform their operations and missions more effectively," Micklo said. Experienced Squadron In the last 10 years, Carr said, the squadron has contributed air refueling capabilities in several major operations including Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, Freedom Sentinel and Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa. "Without a doubt, the U.S. Central Command mission would not happen without the efforts of the men and women of the 340th EARS," he said. "Our airmen are unquestionably mission oriented, hardworking, dedicated, and nonstop focused. The tanker mission runs 24/7 with no relief." The 340th squadron was originally constituted as the 340th Fighter Squadron on Sept. 24, 1942. Since its establishment, the squadron has undergone several consolidations, deactivations and name changes. On Jan. 25, 2002, the squadron was redesignated the 340th EARS, which it is today. The squadron celebrated its 75th anniversary on Sept. 24, 2017. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address DoD Official: Military Effort is One Part of Defeat ISIS Campaign By Cheryl Pellerin DoD News, Defense Media Activity WASHINGTON, Oct. 4, 2017 The end of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria is in sight, but the military effort is only one part of the coalition campaign to defeat ISIS, a Defense Department official told a House Armed Services subcommittee yesterday. Mark Swayne, acting deputy assistant secretary of defense for stability and humanitarian affairs in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict, testified before the HASC Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations. The topic was DoD efforts to enable Iraq to achieve and maintain stability after the recent liberation of Mosul. "The key to preventing the re-emergence in Iraq of ISIS or any other violent extremist organization is effective and inclusive governance," Swayne said in prepared remarks. "For this to develop," he added, "the United States and our coalition partners must continue to work by, with and through the government of Iraq to consolidate military gains and stabilize liberated areas." Such an approach puts the military instrument of power in a supporting, enabling role, Swayne said. Winning Momentum The Iraqi security forces led the way in defeating ISIS in Mosul, liberating the city and freeing its people. The Iraqi forces carried a winning momentum to the next ISIS stronghold in Tal Afar, delivering swift victory there, the acting deputy assistant secretary said. "One year ago, virtually all of Ninevah governorate was controlled by ISIS. In late August, Baghdad announced [its] complete liberation," Swayne said. "Every day, Iraqi security forces fight to return their country to the Iraqi people and out of the hands of ISIS terrorists." As Iraqi security forces maintain the initiative and continue to bring the fight to ISIS, they are backed by strong Iraqi leadership in Baghdad and unwavering support from a 73-member global coalition, he added. Swayne said that to make possible long-term peace in Iraq, the United States and its coalition partners are bolstering the government of Iraq, enabling security services and promoting local reconciliation among the Iraqi people. "In the fight to defeat ISIS," he said, "we saw unprecedented cooperation between the Kurdish peshmerga forces and the Iraqi security forces -- fighting and taking casualties to achieve a common goal for Iraq. The recent Kurdish referendum on independence presents a challenge to this cooperation but hopefully this can be overcome." Long-Term Commitment The military defeat of ISIS is the first step in a long-term commitment to rid the world of violent extremist organizations, Swayne added, noting that the seeds of the next extremist resurgence lie in the rubble of the defeat ISIS campaign. "Following the defeat of ISIS' physical caliphate, it is vital that the government of Iraq, with the support of the U.S. government and the international community, continues to prioritize humanitarian assistance and stabilization efforts in order to allow the expedient return of internally displaced persons," he said. Millions of Iraqis have returned home but more than 3.2 million are still displaced because of ISIS occupation, Shayne said. "We are working closely with the Department of State, the U.S. Agency for International Development, the United Nations and our coalition partners on near-term stabilization activities to support the government of Iraq," he said. Examples of U.S.-supported activities include demining, removing rubble and restoring essential services and access to potable water. DoD does not have the authority to conduct stabilization activities on its own, but it continues to support interagency partners in their efforts to stabilize Iraq and the results speak for themselves, he added. More than 2.2 million Iraqis, including more than a quarter million Mosul residents, have returned home, Shayne said, and there is more work to do. Continuing the Global Campaign against ISIS Shayne said part of ISIS's success comes from its ability to capitalize on sectarian grievances and disenfranchisement. "Allegations of abuses, extrajudicial killings and other Law of Armed Conflict violations feed ISIS' narrative that the government of Iraq is illegitimate," Shayne said. "For this reason we continue to advise the government of Iraq on the importance of transparency and investigating all credible allegations of abuse." Iraq's Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi is personally committed to the effort, Shayne said, and has said that he will thoroughly investigate any such allegations and hold those deemed responsible accountable in accordance with due process and Iraqi law. Even after the ISIS caliphate is physically destroyed, the global campaign to defeat ISIS will continue, he added, to bolster long-term stability in Iraq by engaging ISIS globally and preventing the flow of foreign fighters back to the region. The deputy assistant secretary said the whole-of-government global campaign will continue to attack ISIS and its affiliates to further degrade their ability to recruit and maintain a fighting force, and the U.S.-led coalition and interagency partners will pressure the international community to counter the radical Salafi-jihadist ideology that fuels many of the world's violent extremist organizations. "All of these efforts will serve to help prevent a resurgence of ISIS, provide an opportunity for inclusive and effective governance at all levels to thrive and promote long-term stability," Shayne said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Army's 'Ghost Brigade' enhances readiness alongside global partners at home By Staff Sgt. Samuel NorthrupOctober 4, 2017 JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. -- During the month of September, two battalions from the 1-2 Stryker Brigade Combat Team trained with Indian and Japanese armed forces to enhance interoperability and to increase the brigade's readiness. The two separate training missions consisted of exercise Rising Thunder with the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, known as JGSDF, and exercise Yudh Abhyas with the Indian Army. Both training scenarios focused on sharing tactics and ideas to become better, more effective warfighters. From long range sniper and anti-tank training to urban combat and command post exercises, every service member learned how the other nation's armed service operated and provided input to become more effective partners. Rising Thunder was conducted between the JGSDF and the U.S. 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment, at Yakima Training Center, Washington, Sept. 5-20. Yudh Abhyas was held Sept. 15-27 at Joint Base Lewis-McChord and included soldiers from the U.S. 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, and the Indian Army's 2/11 Gorkha Rifles. "There are numerous benefits these exercises bring," said Col. Jasper Jeffers, the commander of 1-2 Stryker Brigade Combat Team. "I think the interoperability, relationships and experience we gain from working with our partners and understanding how they approach problems drives readiness and allows us to be able to execute our mission in the Pacific theater." Building these kinds of relationships is just as important to members of the JGSDF, said Capt. David Darnell, assistant operations officer with 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment. In the future, the U.S. and Japan may end up on the same battlefield. They have now established those important relationships and won't be starting from zero during wartime. Achieving a degree of interoperability with the United States Army is also the purpose of Yudh Abhyas, said Col. B.K. Attri, an Indian Army officer with 2/11 Gorkha Rifles. If a joint threat should arise, both armies can operate with better ease and understanding of each other's ground battle drills. "I don't think you can put a price on the intangibles of long term relationships, especially in the military community," Jeffers said. "Our most interoperable partners are the ones that we had the longest relationships with." During Yudh Abhyas, U.S. Soldiers learned how tactically patient Indian Army soldiers were, said Staff Sgt. Brent Brabant, who was a platoon sergeant during the exercise. They will wait until they receive orders before they act in certain circumstances, while U.S. Soldiers are more initiative-based. If the conditions are already set, and the Soldiers don't receive a radio call, there are primary and alternate contingencies that allow U.S. Soldiers to conduct their part of the mission. "We would practice their tactics and techniques and we would practice ours," said Brabant. "It was good seeing both sides." "The Ghost Brigade brought a tremendous amount of mounted and dismounted infantry during the exercise paired with the mobility that the Stryker vehicle gives you," said Jeffers. "That also includes all the fire power and communications capabilities that the platform provides." The Indians and Japanese also bring their unique expertise in environments that U.S. Soldiers don't often get to train in, Jeffers added. The Indians have a lot of mountainous regions with the Himalayas on one side, and also being near Kashmir. This particular Indian unit has been fighting in the Siachen glacier area for years. The Japanese bring a focus on homeland defense, said Jeffers. "Their training and experiences are some things that we don't often get with our Soldiers unless we deploy for training somewhere else." "This is the first time my Soldiers got to work with somebody outside the U.S. Army," said Brabant. "The Soldiers had the ability to see what it is like in another army. They saw the pride that the 2/11 Gorkha Rifles took in just their name and motto." The most important gain is building readiness for the future fight, said Jeffers. It really ends there. "This interoperability will allow us to function with our partners when needed in support of the military objectives of the United States," Jeffers said. "We will need to be able to work with them. This is about the readiness of our force." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address USNS Spearhead Transports JTF-LI Troops from Sint Maarten to Martinique Navy News Service Story Number: NNS171004-12 Release Date: 10/4/2017 1:16:00 PM By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kristen Cheyenne Yarber, Southern Partnership Station 17 Public Affairs PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten (NNS) -- Expeditionary fast transport vessel USNS Spearhead (T-EPF 1) picked up Joint Task Force Leeward Islands (JTF-LI) personnel at Philipsburg, Sint Maarten, Sept. 29. Thirty-one people, including U.S. military personnel and members of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), boarded Spearhead and loaded their equipment into the ship's mission bay. "Non-food items and humanitarian aid and disaster relief equipment were loaded onto the ship," said Lt. John Graff, the operations officer for the military detachment embarked aboard Spearhead. The leadership element of JTF-LI requested Spearhead's assistance in transportation and equipment lift from Sint Maarten to the island of Martinique. JTF-LI relocated their headquarters to Martinique after Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico, the previous location of their headquarters. JTF-LI worked in conjunction with members of USAID to provide humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HA/DR), after Hurricane Irma caused significant damage to the island of Sint Maarten. USAID's Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) typically works with civilians on missions. However, they requested support from the Department of Defense for this specific disaster relief operation. "OFDA's mission is to save lives, alleviate human suffering, and reduce the economic and social impact of disasters," said Kate Legates, the deputy team leader of the Disaster Assistance Response Team. "If there's a unique capability of the U.S. military to respond to a disaster, we will request it." OFDA and JTF-LI maintained two water desalinization operations on Sint Maarten, providing clean water for the residents. "People who have been affected by the storms have been very appreciative," said Legates. "We do our best when we are one coordinated U.S. government team. It's been really great to be a part of that." Spearhead continues to provide intra-theater lift support to HA/DR efforts in the Caribbean while deployed as part of Southern Partnership Station 17. U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet (USNAVSO/FOURTHFLT) supports U.S. Southern Command's (USSOUTHCOM) joint and combined military operations by employing maritime forces in cooperative maritime security operations to maintain access, enhance interoperability, and build enduring partnerships in order to enhance regional security and promote peace, stability, and prosperity in the Caribbean, Central and South American regions. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address NAVSUP Fleet Logistics Center Yokosuka Awards Contract for F/A-18 Induction to Iwakuni Navy News Service Story Number: NNS171004-03 Release Date: 10/4/2017 9:47:00 AM By Tina C. Stillions, Naval Supply Systems Command Fleet Logistics Center Yokosuka Director of Corporate Communications YOKOSUKA, Japan (NNS) -- Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) Fleet Logistics Center (FLC) Yokosuka awarded a contract to NIPPI Corporation Sept. 20 for planned maintenance interval (PMI) requirements of F/A-18 and EA-18G aircraft inducted at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Iwakuni. With a maximum potential award amount of $6,025,202, the new contract marks the culmination of the transition of PMI inspections and repairs of the aircraft, also referred to as Hornets, Super Hornets and Growlers, to MCAS Iwakuni. It is part of the U.S. Naval Forces Japan's efforts to transfer Carrier Air Wing FIVE from Naval Air Facility (NAF) Atsugi to Iwakuni and a larger realignment of U.S. forces. The overall transition of the PMI line required two separate contract actions. The first action modified N62649-14-D-0001, the previous contract for PMI work performed at NAF Atsugi in the amount of $860,782. The modification required NIPPI to assist in the move and set up of the PMI line at MCAS Iwakuni in time for the first F/A-18 induction. In addition to the modification, NAVSUP FLC Yokosuka awarded a new indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract with NIPPI, N62649-17-D-0008, to continue support for PMI work performed in Iwakuni from September 2017 until January 2019. The new contract was necessary to ensure continued, uninterrupted contractor support of PMI requirements. NAVSUP FLC Yokosuka worked closely with the Fleet Readiness Center - Western Pacific (FRCWP) to award the contract less than three months following the solicitation. The aggressive award schedule was completed in time for the induction ceremony held on September 22. FRCWP's new facility in Iwakuni will enable depot-level maintenance to be performed more efficiently and facilitate greater interaction with the squadrons. Aircraft must undergo inspections and repairs to prevent excessive damage and to correct problems before they make an aircraft non-flyable. PMI involves in-depth inspection of an aircraft's various systems. "PMI inspections and repairs are the primary function of depot-level maintenance teams and are required by the integrated maintenance plan (IMP) that each Naval Air System Command's program office is responsible for implementing. These important maintenance requirements ensure the Navy and Marine Corps' aircraft are available and ready to support operations," said Kurt Dronenburg, contracting officer and aircraft maintenance team lead at NAVSUP FLC Yokosuka. "The best analogy I can make is to compare the IMP to the recommended maintenance schedule for your personal vehicle. Obviously, aircraft are more complex than your personal vehicle and require a more comprehensive maintenance program." According to Dronenburg, the most complex inspections and repairs require specialized equipment not readily accessible in the field; therefore, the squadron must send the aircraft to the depot. PMI work supports depot-level maintenance under the IMP and includes such things as removing the panels and doors from the aircraft; inspecting areas of the aircraft that are difficult to access in the field; identifying discrepancies like corrosion and repairing those discrepancies as required. "Often times, some organizational-level and intermediate-level maintenance requirements are also performed concurrent with depot-level work," said Dronenburg. "This work is critically important to ensuring aircraft safety and it directly impacts the operational readiness of our forward-deployed naval forces." The transition of the F/A-18 PMI line from NIPPI's facility in Yamato to MCAS Iwakuni involved relocating people, including NIPPI employees, FRCWP civilian and military personnel, as well as future moves for Defense Contract Management Agency personnel. In addition to the relocation of personnel, it also included moving a significant portion of the FRCWP organization to Iwakuni, including tooling, equipment, parts and material. The transition fundamentally changes where the PMI work is performed. F/A-18 aircraft will no longer be inducted for PMI inspection and repair work at NAF Atsugi. As of last month, PMI work in support of the Hornets, Super Hornets and Growlers that fall under FRCWP's cognizance will be performed at MCAS Iwakuni. NAVSUP FLC Yokosuka is one of eight fleet logistics centers under NAVSUP Global Logistics Support (GLS). Headquartered just 26 miles south of Tokyo, it is the western Pacific region's largest U.S. Navy logistics command, networking more than 14 sites with a mission to deliver supply and logistics solutions that enable deployed maritime warfighter-readiness in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. NAVSUP GLS provides global logistics for a global Navy. The organization is made up of approximately 6,300 military and civilian logistics professionals operating from 105 locations worldwide, providing an extensive array of integrated global logistics and contracting services to Navy, Marine Corps, joint operational units, and allied forces across all warfare enterprises. NAVSUP provides U.S. naval forces with quality supplies and services. With headquarters in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, and employing a diverse, worldwide workforce of more than 22,500 military and civilian personnel, NAVSUP oversees logistics programs in the areas of supply operations, conventional ordnance, contracting, resale, fuel, transportation, and security assistance. In addition, NAVSUP is responsible for quality-of-life issues for naval forces including food service, postal services, Navy Exchanges, and movement of household goods. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. Defense Chief Says To Try 'One More Time' To Work With Pakistan On Afghanistan RFE/RL October 04, 2017 U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis says the United States will try "one more time" to work with Pakistan before turning to other measures over Islamabad's alleged support for militant groups operating in Afghanistan. Mattis told a House Armed Services Committee hearing on October 3 that "we need to try one more time to make this strategy work with them, by, with, and through the Pakistanis, and if our best efforts fail, President [Donald] Trump is prepared to take whatever steps are necessary." The defense chief also said he would travel to Islamabad soon, but he did not provide details. Mattis was testifying alongside Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Joseph Dunford in their second hearing of the day on U.S. policy in Afghanistan. In a speech in August outlining the administration's new strategy for Afghanistan, Trump said the United States would put additional pressure on Islamabad to crack down on safe havens for extremists within its borders, although he did not specify what actions might be taken. New agencies have reported that measures being discussed include potentially downgrading Pakistan's status as a major non-NATO ally. Asked during the hearing whether that option was being discussed, Mattis replied, "I am sure it will be." Pakistan has regularly denied it provides safe havens to extremist groups. The Pakistani Embassy in Washington said late on October 3 that Islamabad had achieved success in counterterrorism operations inside Pakistan. "However, unless the same level of success is achieved in [Afghanistan], long lasting-peace in the region will remain out of reach," the embassy said in a statement. Breaking The Stalemate The United States is planning to send about 3,000 additional troops to its 11,000 already in Afghanistan to aid Kabul's fight against the resurgent Taliban, 16 years after the U.S.-led invasion drove the militants from power. A U.S. report found this year that the Taliban controls or contests control of about 40 percent of the country, and security forces are also fighting against militants affiliated with the extremist group Islamic State (IS). Dunford told senators the new U.S. strategy would cost an additional $1.1 billion a year, bringing annual the cost to about $12.5 billion. He added that the situation in Afghanistan was currently a stalemate. "We're not at a point where we can bring a successful political solution to the war," he said. Nevertheless, Mattis told the Senate committee that "based on intelligence-community analysis and my own evaluation" a U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan would be "to our ultimate peril." With reporting by Reuters, AP, AFP, and The Hill Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/mattis-pakistan -afghanistan-dunford-united-states- terrorism/28772553.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 'The Killer Is Still Waiting': Two Decades On, Land Mines Still Wreaking Havoc In Bosnia Alan Crosby, Aida Dzugum October 04, 2017 TUZLA, Bosnia-Herzegovina -- It's been more than two decades since the war in Bosnia-Herzegovina ended, but Plamenko Priganica knows the enemy still lurks in the Majevica hills near his home in Tuzla. Priganica is one of the thousands to have become a victim of land mines planted during the 1992-95 conflict that tore the country -- and the former Yugoslavia -- apart at its ethnic seams. "The killer is still waiting 25 years after the war," the 57-year-old, who lost his left leg below the knee, told RFE/RL from his home. The Bosnian government's Mine Action Strategy for 2009-19 was supposed to put an end to the fears of Priganica and the half a million other Bosnians who live in or around areas where leftover mines remain. Instead, the fields and forests where many still scavenge for wild strawberries and mushrooms are still littered with explosives. The 2019 target set out in the strategy for clearing all remaining ordnance will be missed by several years, according to the Bosnia-Herzegovina Mine Action Center (BHMAC), amid a funding shortfall and political inaction. By 2013, the center estimates that less than half of the funding needed for projects was realized, a percentage that has fallen since then. While part of the problem, BHMAC says, is a decrease in donor funding, the greater issue is with government contributions to the program. "In looking at the 2009-19 strategy, we are lagging behind by about four years. There is a new strategy and under this strategy Bosnia and Herzegovina will be clean from mines by 2025," says Miodrag Gajic, an information officer at the center. BHMAC estimates that while around 2,900 square kilometers of land have been cleared of explosive materials, just over 1,000 square kilometers of Bosnia -- or about 2.2 percent of the country -- is still polluted by mines. Nearly 600 people have been killed by mines or unexploded bombs since the war ended and more than 1,100 others have been injured, according to the center. The highest-risk zones are often forests where the front lines that separated warring factions once ran. These include municipalities such as Velika Kladusa, Orasje, and Doboj. In March, a farmer in Tulic, near the city of Tuzla, was dragging firewood from a forest when his tractor hit a mine. The blast killed the driver. Nizam Cancar, a deminer who lost his leg to an explosive device in 1994 during the war, says it's easy for such accidents to happen. Years of harsh weather conditions have muddled what few maps authorities have of mined areas. Devices, he says, can shift under such conditions, making a dangerous situation even more treacherous. "It's very difficult to find them. If you put them in a particular place 20 years ago, they are no longer there. It could move a meter or two in any direction," he says. The problem of land mines in Bosnia once attracted international attention. This past summer marked the 20th anniversary of Princess Diana's visit to Bosnia as part of her crusade against land mines. In her last overseas trip before she died in a Paris car crash in 1997, Diana met with victims in the small village of Dobrnja, near Tuzla. One of those Diana met was Mirzeta Gabeljic. In 1997, Gabeljic was a 15-year-old schoolgirl returning home when she stepped on a land mine. The blast took her right leg below the knee. Like many victims, she has struggled since her accident, given the limited resources available from the state for amputees, although now she is looking to start the country's first sitting volleyball club for women. According to Priganica, the provision of orthopedic supplies have not improved in the 25 years since the war. "They can be purchased abroad, but they are very expensive," he says. Adding to the problem is that the large number of humanitarian organizations that worked here after the war have left, he claims, "because the focus of their interest has moved somewhere else." Bosnia emerged from the breakup of the former Yugoslavia as Europe's poorest country, with gross domestic product per capita at 28 percent of the European average. Unemployment is high and corruption rampant, stunting the development of social services for large swaths of the country. Considering the tough economic times Bosnia currently faces, BHMAC's Gajic hopes that help from other countries will once again increase. "Within our new strategy, we plan to have a donor conference in mid-November. This is a date where I hope we will have more bountiful donor funds," he says. Time is also of the essence for a task that is painstakingly slow. Deminers try to work eight-hour shifts, but the task is so intense and angst-ridden that they must take breaks every 30 minutes to remain focused. Squatting and searching the ground while wearing protective suits that can weigh up to 25 kilograms, deminers probe about 2,500 times just to check just 1 square meter of ground. On a good day, they will cover 50 square meters, according to Nail Hujic, a technical director at INTERSOS, a nonprofit humanitarian aid organization. The deminers, he says, must constantly assess the type of munition they may have to deal with, how it is placed in the ground, and even the possibility of deliberate traps laid by whoever planted the land mine. "The result of all this, as well as of inadequate equipment and mental and physical fatigue among deminers, is frequent accidents," Hujic says. "Unfortunately, we have to say that accidents are common in this line of work. They usually leave deminers severely physically disabled, although fatalities are less frequent." Even if foreign donors pony up the funds needed to jump-start the clearing program, the money will come too late for Asim Kudra, who lost his uncle to a land mine when he returned home after the war to Zlatiste, near Sarajevo. Kudra says the area was demined, but residents still live in fear. "You cannot say that it is safe for certain, because it isn't," he says. Written by Alan Crosby, based on reporting by RFE/RL Balkan Service correspondent Aida Dzugum Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/bosnia- land-mines-deminers-maim-kill-funding- princess-diana/28773102.html Copyright (c) 2017. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. Senate Committee Agrees Russia Meddled In Election, Still Probing Collusion RFE/RL October 04, 2017 A U.S. Senate committee says there is a consensus that Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential election but is still investigating whether there was any collusion between Moscow and the Trump campaign team. Senator Richard Burr (Republican-North Carolina), head of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said in Washington on October 4 that the committee "continues to look into all evidence to see if there was any evidence of collusion...but we are not there yet." Burr said the committee had conducted more than 100 interviews -- including numerous members of the administrations of Trump and former President Barack Obama -- and reviewed more than 100,000 documents in their investigation. He said they are scheduled to interview 25 more people and hope to finish the investigation this year. Senator Mark Warner (Democrat-Virginia), the deputy chairman of the Intelligence Committee, said there is a "consensus" that the Russians "hacked into [U.S.] political files" and released information in an effort "to sway the election." Burr said that, although Russia had meddled in the election, he can say "certifiably" that no vote totals were altered as a result. Warner said the effort by the Russians to influence the presidential election included attempts to "test the vulnerabilities" of the election systems in 21 states by "trying to open the door." Trying To Create 'Chaos' The committee, Burr said, has determined that the Russian involvement in buying ads on social media was "indiscriminate" and did not benefit "one side of the ideological spectrum or the other." He added that the ads "tried to create chaos [and] I would say they have been pretty darn successful." Burr said many social-media companies did not take seriously the threat by Russia to influence the democratic process ahead of the elections, and added that officials from Google, Twitter, and Facebook will appear in a public hearing "so that Americans can hear how they are going to protect [the election process in the future] and know whether an ad was generated by a foreign entity." Facebook said on October 2 that it will hire more than 1,000 people to help prevent deceptive ads from appearing on the social-media site and influencing future elections. The same day it gave to the Senate Intelligence Committee more than 3,000 ads that it said likely operated out of Russia and pushed divisive issues during the campaign. Burr said his committee will not release the ads but encouraged Facebook to do so. "At the end of the day it's important for the American people to see these ads," said Warner. 'Committed And Clever' Warner also said that the Russian intelligence service activities did not end with the U.S. presidential election on November 8 and that similar acts continued ahead of political elections in Montenegro, Belgium, France, and Germany. Burr said the Russian intelligence service is "committed and clever." Burr also commented on the committee's investigation of memos written by former FBI Director James Comey after various meetings with Trump that critics said showed obstruction of justice on the part of the president, who fired Comey amid an FBI investigation of collusion by Trump. Burr said that investigation by his committee had reached "a logical end." He added that any further questions about Comey's firing should be directed to Robert Mueller, who is heading a special investigation into Russian interference in the elections and any possible collusion between Moscow and the Trump campaign. Burr said his committee had also "hit a wall" on the credibility of the "Steele dossier" -- a private intelligence report written by former British spy Christopher Steele, who Burr said has refused to meet with the committee. The dossier contains unproven allegations of misconduct by Trump and his campaign as well as collusion between it and the Russian government ahead of the U.S. election. The Steele report has been denounced by Trump as "phony." Burr acknowledged that the investigation into Russia's alleged interference in last year's presidential election was taking a long time but said it was important to "get it right." He said that the "facts of Russia's involvement in the election" must be made public before the political campaigns begin for the November 2018 U.S. general elections. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a /russia-meddling-senate-committee /28774142.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 P-3 Orion Surveillance Aircraft Spied on Chinese Researchers Near Guam Sputnik News 22:55 04.10.2017(updated 23:23 04.10.2017) A group of Chinese researchers working partly on behalf of the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLA-N) near the US territory of Guam was being watched by US surveillance aircraft, the South China Morning Post reports. Xu Kuidong, a researcher at the Institute of Oceanology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences told the Post the crew was "well aware" that US spectators might be curious about what the Chinese vessel was up to near Guam, where the US' Andersen Air Force Base frequently hosts B-1B Lancer supersonic strategic bombers and B-2 Spirit stealth nuclear bombers. Scientists aboard the Kexue, a research vessel, witnessed several US Navy P-3 Orion flybys during an expedition to learn more about the Caroline seamount, according to SCMP. The underwater mountain range being explored stands three kilometers tall above the ocean floor. Some of its peaks, however, are just 30 meters from the surface. The Kexue's crew endeavored to learn more about the Caroline seamount, which can create strong, unpredictable turbulence for Chinese subs roaming the area. The seamount is located between Guam and Micronesia. In addition to being published in academic journals, the expedition's findings including a black coral that Chinese researchers believe may be the oldest living organism on the planet will be shared with the Chinese government and its military, Xu told the South China Morning Post. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Serbia Received All Six Russian MiG-29 Fighter Jets as Part of Military Aid Sputnik News 22:12 04.10.2017 Two MiG-29s arrived on Wednesday from Russia to Belgrade, thereby completing the delivery of six fighters within the framework of the Russian military-technical assistance to Serbia, the Tanjug news agency reported citing its own source in the country's Defense Ministry. BELGRADE (Sputnik) According to the report, the two planes in disassembled condition were delivered by an An-124 heavy transport plane to Batainitsa military airfield on Wednesday afternoon, while two more arrived on Tuesday, and the first two on Monday. All six fighter jets, which Russia is handing over to Serbia as military-technical assistance, should be delivered by October 6, the source specified. In December 2016, then-Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic announced that Belgrade would receive six Mikoyan MiG-29 fighter jets, as well as 30 T-72S tanks and 30 BRDM-2 armored scout vehicles, as part of a Russian military aid package. Since then, the two countries have issued different delivery timeframes, including by this year-end. The source has now told Sputnik that the aircraft are set to be first demonstrated on October 20, during a national military parade, which will mark the anniversary of the liberation of Belgrade in the Second World War. The assembling of the fighter jets will be done with the assistance of Russian experts. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has been invited to the parade. Russian aerobatic performance group Strizhi, the Swifts, may also take part in the celebrations. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Putin Supports Maduro Trying to Improve Relations With Opponents Sputnik News 21:15 04.10.2017(updated 21:22 04.10.2017) Russian President Vladimir Putin emphasized on Wednesday the achievements made by Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in improving relations with the opposition. "We see that Venezuela is going through rough times. But we have an impression that you have managed to establish contact with political powers that oppose you," Putin said at the meeting with his Venezuelan counterpart. The Russian president added that Russia would further enhance economic cooperation with Venezuela. "We continue our work, including in the economic field. There is a decrease in trade turnover, we think there are objective reasons behind it. There are positive moments as well, such as continuing work on our major projects," the Russian president noted. Meanwhile, Venezuela is bogged down in a deep economic crisis caused by the fall of oil prices and has been facing mass protests since spring. The manifestations were initially a response to the decision of the country's top court to severely limit legislative powers of the parliament. Despite the fact that the decision was eventually overturned, the protests continued. Venezuelan opposition, as well as the European Union and the United States, refused to recognize the body's legitimacy. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Despite Common Threat in Beijing, Other South China Sea Rivals Still Spar Among Selves By Ralph Jennings October 04, 2017 Four Southeast Asian countries and Taiwan, all of which lay claims to the contested, resource-rich South China Sea, are still grappling with incidents among themselves despite a focus on their common rival, China. The suspected shooting deaths late last month of two Vietnamese fishermen in waters 34 nautical miles from the Philippines were a severe response to a common issue: Boats from one country test the limits of another to catch fish. But China, the most powerful claimant, is often not in the picture. "Most fishing boats have GPS so they actually know their position and whether they're approaching islands controlled by some other country but that they might not get caught," said Huang Kwei-bo, vice dean of the College of International Affairs at National Chengchi University in Taipei. "That's how fishermen are." Gunfire was common in the 1990s Brunei, China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam claim nearly all or parts of the 3.5 million-square-kilometer sea. Since 2010, the smaller governments have focused on resisting China militarily and diplomatically. They resent its reclamation of land for artificial islands, a buildup of military infrastructure and passage of coast guard ships far from its shores. But the non-Chinese claimants also spar with one another because the end of the Cold War in the 1990s left it unclear how far vessels from one nation could go without infringing on one another, said Collin Koh, maritime security research fellow at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. Warning shots and even more targeted gunfire were more common then as "Southeast Asia was trying to figure out bilateral maritime disputes," he said. In 1999 alone, the Philippines clashed six times with either Malaysia or Vietnam, according to a study by the Asan Institute for Policy Studies in South Korea. The Philippine discovery of Malaysian features built on two reefs in the sea's Spratly Islands that year had particularly inflamed tensions, it said. The following decade, Southeast Asian countries began agreeing on legal boundaries as well as protocol for handling violators without the use of force, Koh said. Agreements between countries may specify how long fishermen can be detained before release. Calmer now, but incidents still occur But with fishery stocks under pressure, the estimated 1.72 million fishing boats that ply the South China Sea sometimes venture into waters farther from their own shores for better catches. By 2045, marine species common in the sea will decline 9 to 59 percent due to over-fishing, acidification of the water and carbon dioxide emissions, a University of British Columbia study found in 2015. "The Vietnamese these days, they are actually building up a fishing capability and part of it is driven by competition from China," Koh said. "And so we are seeing not just China but also seeing Vietnamese long-rang fishing fleets going further out." Today coast guards in the region normally use nonlethal methods to warn off foreign vessels. Around Taiwanese-controlled Taiping Island in the Spratly archipelago, for example, Taipei's coast guard uses speakers and occasionally water cannons, Huang said. Perceptions of trespassing still spark occasional destruction or violence. Malaysia and Indonesia which controls the sea's Natuna Islands have begun burning confiscated boats as a deterrent. In 2013 a Philippine coast guard ship shot to death a Taiwanese fisherman in disputed waters, setting of a diplomatic storm, including economic sanctions from Taipei. The Philippine defense department indicated the shooting on Sept. 23 of this year was out of place. Naval personnel had chased a Vietnamese vessel caught "illegally" fishing in the Philippine exclusive economic zone of the South China Sea, the department said in a statement. They found two dead Vietnamese fishermen on board, sparking a police probe into "the circumstances of the fishermen's death," the statement said. A Philippine coast guard official stationed along the South China Sea told VOA in April that Vietnamese and Taiwanese boats turn up in his country's maritime economic zone 370 kilometers from the Luzon Island coast. Manila's navy and coast guard may be "disregarding" regulations to chase foreign boats, said Carl Thayer, Southeast Asia-specialized emeritus professor at The University of New South Wales in Australia. Fishing boats still try their luck Fishing boats do not always comply when asked to change course or to surrender, said Le Hong Hiep, a fellow at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore. "If all sides stick to the law and the rules (imposed) on themselves, they should have not killed these fishermen," Le said of the case last month. "But I think there are problems on the ground, for example fishermen may try to run away or they may ram the ships of the enforcement forces of these countries." Diplomatic protests sometimes still follow routine calls on fishing boats to leave a foreign-controlled island in the sea, Huang noted. Over the past 18 months, Vietnam has protested to Taiwan over its activities on Taiping Island, where Taipei's coast guard says Vietnamese boats often come too close. Vessels from other countries are less likely to test China because of its military might, including use of coast guard ships as escorts for fishing fleets, scholars say. Incidents between the smaller claimants show no sign of hampering Southeast Asian countries' efforts, such as a proposed maritime code of conduct, to work with China on use of the sea. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Islamic State Claims Responsibility for Attack in Somalia By Harun Maruf October 04, 2017 Islamic State militants have claimed responsibility for an attack in the Somali town of Bosaso. The commander of police in the Bari region, Colonel Abdihakaim Yusuf Hussein, told VOA Somali that one person was killed and two people, including a police officer, were wounded in the attack. Witnesses said one of two gunmen armed with pistols entered a coffee shop at a busy intersection Tuesday and fired bullets at the police officer, hitting him in the shoulder and in the back. The officer, Abdirahman Barre Salah, is being treated and is expected to survive. A witness told VOA Somali that a table fell on top of the officer after he was struck by the bullets. As the gunman attempted to flee the premises, the second gunman fired shots at the customers, killing a businessman and wounding another civilian. Hussein said the attackers escaped and police are conducting an operation to hunt them down. Islamic State militants based in Somalia issued a statement saying its fighters were responsible for the attack. IS incorrectly claimed that it killed a police officer. Hussein, however, did not confirm IS involvement, saying he did not want to "get ahead of the investigation." It is the third attack in Bosaso claimed by Islamic State this year. In February, two gunmen attacked the International Village hotel and exchanged fire with security forces. Four soldiers and the two attackers were killed. In May, a suicide bomber blew himself up at a police checkpoint near the Jubba hotel, killing five people and injuring 17 others. Pro-Islamic State militants emerged in Somalia's Puntland region in October 2015 and pledged allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. The group, which has bases in the eastern Al-Bari Mountains of Puntland, is led by Abdulkadir Mumin, a well-known cleric who was previously a member of al-Shabab leadership. The group's biggest attack came in late October 2016 when its fighters seized the ancient town of Qandala from Puntland forces and kept control of it for 40 days. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Tillerson Refutes Resignation Rumors, Affirms Support for Trump By Cindy Saine October 04, 2017 U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has denied reports that he is on the verge of stepping down and strongly reaffirmed his support for President Donald Trump and his foreign policies. The comments came after a bombshell news report detailing tensions between Trump and Tillerson. "First, my commitment to the success of our president and our country is as strong as it was the day I accepted his offer to serve as secretary of state," Tillerson told reporters. After listing what he described as a number of foreign policy achievements by the president and his Cabinet working together as a team, Tillerson denied he had been on the brink of resigning in July. "To address a few specifics -- the vice president has never had to persuade me to remain because I have never considered leaving this post," Tillerson said. Tillerson made the statement Wednesday to State Department reporters the same day NBC News reported the secretary was "on the verge" of resigning earlier this year, after months of tensions and reported frustration with President Trump, and only remained at the urging of Vice President Mike Pence. An advisor to Vice President Pence, Jarrod Agen, refuted the NBC story in a written statement sent to VOA. "The vice president can also confirm that, as the secretary of state made clear, at no time did he and the secretary ever discuss the prospect of the secretary's resignation from the administration. Any reporting to the contrary is categorically false," he said. Agen also addressed an assertion in the NBC story by Tillerson's senior spokesperson R.C. Hammond that Tillerson and Pence had discussed if U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley was being helpful. "The vice president has known Ambassador Nikki Haley for many years, holds her in the highest regard, and appreciates her strong service to this administration at The United Nations," Agen said. Some foreign policy analysts have speculated that if Tillerson ever were to resign, Haley might be a likely choice to replace him as the chief American diplomat. The NBC News report also said Tillerson had called Trump a "moron" following a meeting with other top officials at the Pentagon in July. When asked about the comment Wednesday, Tillerson did not deny it. But he said he was not going to deal with "petty" stuff, and instead praised Trump and his foreign policy goals, which he said "break the mold" of what is achievable. President Trump also weighed in on Twitter Wednesday, saying "NBC news is #FakeNews and more dishonest than even CNN. They are a disgrace to good reporting. No wonder their news ratings are way down! The NBC News report and Tillerson's statement comes just days after Trump appeared to undercut his top diplomat, saying Tillerson is "wasting his time" trying to negotiate with North Korea's leader. In a series of tweets the president said: "Save your energy Rex, we'll do what has to be done!" Tillerson, in Beijing on Saturday, had acknowledged the United States has direct diplomatic channels through which to negotiate with Pyongyang about North Korea's continued nuclear and ballistic missile tests. Veteran foreign policy analyst Michael O'Hanlon, with the Brookings Institution, told VOA he thinks Trump's tweets on Tillerson and North Korea are "regrettable." "I think it's regrettable that President Trump so directly and tactlessly undercut his secretary of state," he said. "It would have been much wiser, and achieved whatever beneficial effects Trump needed to achieve, to say 'Tillerson has a daunting path ahead, but I wish him well, and North Korea better appreciate that in any negotiation, we will be proceeding from a position of strength with serious and firm demands.'" The incident concerning North Korea was the latest in reported tensions between Tillerson and Trump, despite repeated denials from State Department and White House officials. In an August television interview ("Fox News Sunday"), Tillerson was asked about Trump's much criticized response to deadly violence in Charlottesville, Virginia, following a rally by white supremacists which resulted in clashes with counter-protesters. Trump sparked outrage by initially blaming both sides for the unrest. Lawmakers from Trump's Republican Party and many social commentators accused the president of failing to single out unacceptable racial partisans for condemnation. Tillerson said at first: "I don't believe anyone doubts the American people's values or the commitment of the American government, or the government's agencies to advancing those values and defending those values." When asked specifically about Trump's values, Tillerson replied, "The president speaks for himself," without further explanation. A Tillerson aide later denied that the remark constituted a criticism of Trump's values, but declined to soften the comment. Also in August, Axios reported Trump's frustration with Tillerson bubbled over after a recent meeting on Afghanistan. "Rex just doesn't get it; he's totally establishment in his thinking," Trump said, according to a source quoted by Axios. VOA's Peter Heinlein and Steve Herman contributed to this report from the White House. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 'Kleptocracy Tour' Spotlights Nigerian Corrupt Money Funneled Through Britain By Henry Ridgwell October 04, 2017 Anti-corruption activists hoping to shine a light on the hundreds of millions of dollars funneled through London every year are organizing tours of properties allegedly bought with dishonest money. The "Kleptocracy Tour" is billed as a journey to the dark side of globalization. This is the first such tour which focuses on Nigeria. "The international community, specifically the United Kingdom, the United States, other financial centers, are playing a huge role in facilitating elite corruption in Nigeria, through offshore corporate tax havens, lax banking and property laws," said tour guide Matthew Page, a former U.S. State Department Nigeria analyst, now with Transparency International. The tour's first stop is the capital's wealthy Belgravia district. Tax papers leaked from the Panama-based law firm Mossack Fonseca suggest two multi-million dollar properties are linked to Nigerian Senate President Bukola Saraki. He has denied the allegations. Also among the several tour stops are lavish properties that have been subjected to asset forfeiture proceedings by a court in Houston, Texas. The U.S. Department of Justice is investigating allegations they were received as bribes by Diezani Alison-Madueke, the former Nigerian Oil Minister and OPEC Secretary. Nigeria analyst Clementine Wallop says Nigeria's president is following through, though slowly, on pledges to crack down on corruption. "It contributes to poverty. It contributes to poor education. It contributes to terrorism," Wallop said of corruption. "You have communities where the young men are compelled to or driven into the arms of organizations like Boko Haram as a result of the depravation which results from corruption." Nigeria's Information Minister, Lai Mohammed, told VOA the West must do more to help repatriate corrupt money. "The government will not relent in pursuing these people," Mohammed said. "But we also need the cooperation of many foreign countries, because sometimes we are hampered by the foreign jurisdictions." An estimated $100 billion of corrupt money passes through London each year. Activists say fears over the economy in a post-Brexit world are stalling government efforts to clamp down on global corruption, an industry with the British capital at its core. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address USNS Comfort Arrives in Puerto Rico Navy News Service Story Number: NNS171003-10 Release Date: 10/3/2017 9:57:00 PM By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Ernest R. Scott SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (NNS) -- The Mercy-class Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) arrived in Puerto Rico to assist in humanitarian relief efforts, Oct. 3. Comfort is part of the whole-of-government response effort and is assisting the Federal Emergency Management System (FEMA), the lead federal agency, in helping those affected by Hurricane Maria. While in San Juan, the hospital ship will host a summit with key stakeholders to synchronize efforts for the ship's mission throughout the area. Comfort is a seagoing medical treatment facility that currently has more than 800 personnel embarked for the Puerto Rico mission including Navy medical and support staff assembled from 22 commands, as well as over 70 civil service mariners. The hospital ship has one of the largest trauma facilities in the United States and is equipped with four X-ray machines, one CAT scan unit, a dental suite, an optometry lens laboratory, physical therapy center, pharmacy, angiography suite and two oxygen-producing plants. Comfort's primary mission is to provide an afloat, mobile, acute surgical medical facility to the U.S. military that is flexible, capable, and uniquely adaptable to support expeditionary warfare. Comfort's secondary mission is to provide full hospital services to support U.S. disaster relief and humanitarian operations worldwide. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hospital Ship Arrives in Puerto Rico, DoD Works on Commodity Distribution By Jim Garamone DoD News, Defense Media Activity WASHINGTON, Oct. 4, 2017 Defense Department personnel continue to arrive in Puerto Rico to help the island recover from Hurricane Maria, with roughly 10,000 DoD members working with commonwealth officials across the island, Gov. Ricardo Rossello said during a news conference in San Juan today. The Navy hospital ship USNS Comfort arrived in San Juan yesterday, bringing with it state-of-the-art medical facilities and crew. The ship is sailed by civilian mariners of the Military Sealift Command and staffed by Navy medics from around the United States. The majority of those on the ship come from Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, Virginia, but there are sailors from at least 12 different bases aboard as well, Navy officials said. The ship joins the amphibious assault ships USS Kearsarge and USS Wasp and the dock landing ship USS Oak Hill in Puerto Rican waters. The sailors and Marines aboard those ships were among the first to lend assistance to the stricken island. The governor said Hurricane Maria killed 34 people on the island and estimated the damage at up to $90 billion. Roads, Bridges, Commodity Distribution Military personnel are working with commonwealth personnel to clear roads, rebuild bridges and clear paths through landslides to get food and water via land to all Puerto Rico residents, Rossello said. DoD is working to build a comprehensive islandwide commodities distribution and medical support network in support of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Department of Health and Human Services and the equivalent Puerto Rico agencies. Getting food and water to affected communities remains the top priority for the commonwealth and federal assistance team, Rossello said. After that comes fuel -- particularly for hospitals and other critical infrastructure nodes -- telecommunications, electricity and shelter. Eighty military helicopters and MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft are flying missions around the island, ferrying supplies into areas where roads still haven't been cleared of trees and debris. Telecommunications remains a problem with only 12 percent of the population having cell service. DoD is delivering mobile cell towers to replace the thousands of towers destroyed in the storm. Facilities Reopen About 65 percent of the island's supermarkets and 153 banks are now open. About 430 ATMs are available, and 750 of Puerto Rico's 1,100 gas stations are operating. More supplies are rolling onto the island. Officials processed almost 500 containers yesterday and said they expect to reach near normal levels in the coming weeks. These containers contain bottled water, generators, blankets and other support items. The emergency continues on the island, but progress is being made, officials said. A sign that things are returning to normal is that Rossello relaxed the mandatory curfew. He asked Puerto Rico residents to remain off the streets from midnight to 5 a.m. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Greece Backs Extradition Of Russian To U.S. Over Bitcoin Fraud Mike Eckel October 04, 2017 A Greek tribunal has approved a U.S. request for the extradition of a Russian cybercrime suspect, the second such order made against a Russian citizen by a European court this week. Both Moscow and Washington had been fighting over the extradition of Aleksandr Vinnik and other Russian citizens who have been caught up in a U.S. law enforcement dragnet targeting alleged cybercriminals around the world. Russia has complained repeatedly about the detention of Russian citizens while traveling abroad, accusing U.S. officials of "kidnapping" them. A three-judge court in the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki ruled on October 4 that Vinnik, 37, should be sent to the United States, where authorities accuse him of running a multibillion-dollar digital money-laundering network. Vinnik, who has denied the charges, was arrested while on vacation in Greece in July. Russia, which also requested Vinnik's extradition, reacted quickly to the Greek decision. "We are categorically against the extradition of our nationals to foreign countries, in this case to the U.S.," Deputy Foreign Minister Alexei Meshkov was quoted by Russian news agencies as saying. Vinnik's lawyers were cited as saying he would not contest the Russian request, which will also be heard by a Greek court. Other Arrests A day earlier, a court in Spain authorized the extradition of Pyotr Levashov, who is accused by U.S. authorities of running a massive computer bot that sent tens of millions of spam e-mails over many years. Levashov, 37, was arrested by Spanish police in Barcelona in April while he was vacationing with his family. Russian news reports said Levashov's lawyers had three days to appeal the court decision. Other Russians have been caught up in legal proceedings in European courts including Yevgeniy Nikulin, who is awaiting a decision by Czech justice officials on whether he will be sent to the United States or Russia to stand trial on similar computer-hacking charges. Another Russian, Roman Seleznev, pleaded guilty earlier this month in U.S. court for participating in what U.S. authorities said was a cybertheft ring that allegedly stole over $50 million using hacked credit-card information. Seleznev was arrested in 2014 by U.S. agents as he tried to enter the Maldives on vacation. The aggressive U.S. pursuit of hackers and alleged cybercriminals from Russia and elsewhere dates back several years. Some of the hackers have been tied by U.S. intelligence to more politically motivated cybercrimes, possibly done at the behest of the Russian security agencies, such as the Federal Security Service (FSB). Seleznev at one point bragged about his "protection" by the FSB's main cybercrime division, according to U.S. law enforcement documents filed in federal court. With reporting by Interfax Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-greece -backs-us-extradition- bitcoin-fraud/28772961.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 A Green Bay-area businessman accused of defrauding the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. has reached a plea deal in a separate bank fraud case. Ron Van Den Heuvel, 63, of De Pere, agreed to plea guilty to a single federal count of defrauding Horicon Bank of more than $700,000 starting in 2008, according to a plea deal entered in U.S. District Court. The charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. As part of the deal, Van Den Heuvel agreed to pay Horicon Bank $316,445.79. Also, federal prosecutors agreed to drop charges against Van Den Heuvels wife. Van Den Heuvel still faces 14 separate federal counts for allegedly defrauding WEDC and other investors of more than $9 million. WEDC gave Van Den Heuvels company Green Box-Green Bay two awards totaling $1.2 million to create 116 jobs at a facility that he claimed would recycle fast food wrappers. It is the first criminal case brought against someone accused of defrauding the states job-creation agency, which was hastily created in 2011 to help Gov. Scott Walker achieve his pledge of creating 250,000 jobs. Van Den Heuvels first court appearance in that case is scheduled for Tuesday. European Security Agencies on Manhunt for Commando Group By Jamie Dettmer October 04, 2017 European security agencies are on a manhunt for nine militants - six Moroccans, two Syrians and an Iraqi. They are believed to have landed in Italy last month via Greece with plans to mount terror attacks in Europe. According to French security sources, the group includes fighters who are battle-hardened and have been through Islamic State training camps in Syria rehearsing a variety of types of attacks. The group could pose as significant a threat as the militants behind the coordinated series of mass shootings and bombings in Paris in November 2015 that left 130 dead and another 413 injured, 100 seriously, French officials told VOA. The manhunt was triggered when Italian security agencies alerted their European counterparts about intelligence indicating the militant group had arrived in Italy from Turkey after waiting several days in the Greek port city of Thessaloniki for forged Italian residency permits and other documents. The Italians fear possible attack targets include airports and the Vatican, which IS propagandists have long threatened to target. On Tuesday, French authorities announced the man who fatally stabbed two young women in Marseille last Sunday was a Tunisian who had lived south of Rome for several years. The attacker, who was shot dead by French soldiers, had in his possession seven different false IDs. The Marseille attacker was not part of the group currently the subject of the European manhunt. The militants who landed last month are believed to have had assistance from an immigrant who is a legal resident in the Sicilian town of Belpasso, near Catania. Citing state security, Italy has since 2015 expelled more than 200 people suspected of radicalizing others or recruiting would-be jihadis, 77 of them this year. Last month, French security agencies issued a confidential assessment based on an analysis of IS propaganda warning of possible jihadist plans to derail trains. The security agencies warned all French police forces to pay close attention to any reports of chemicals being stolen from the laboratories of schools and universities - the fear being the material could be used to manufacture homemade explosives. "The threat of a large organized attack remains very high," a senior French security official told VOA. "And that is on top of the lone wolf assaults we are experiencing," he added. In the past three months, France has witnessed a series of smaller attacks by individuals, either directed or inspired by the Islamic State terror group. On Tuesday, the lower house of the French parliament approved security legislation that would make permanent some of the emergency measures put in place after the 2015 terrorist attacks, if, as seems likely, it is endorsed in the coming days by the legislature's upper chamber. The security legislation codifies the authorities' ability to mount search-and-seizure raids and impose house arrest orders without judicial review. It is expected to take effect when the emergency law is scheduled to end, November 1. Interior Minister Gerard Collomb justified the legislation Tuesday as "a lasting response to a lasting threat." Using an Arabic acronym for Islamic State, he added, "We are still in a state of war, even if Daesh has suffered some military defeats." French officials acknowledge the legislation approved by the lower house Tuesday constitutes a trade-off between security and civil liberties, but they say they have no alternative, considering the threats they face from IS recruits returning from Syria and Iraq, militants radicalized in France and extremists infiltrated into Europe. Civil libertarians argue the legislation amounts to an overreach, lacks sufficient judicial oversight and allows the security services to act on very thin intelligence. They fear it will worsen relations with French Muslims, who risk becoming the victims of racial profiling by law enforcement. Among the measures the new legislation codifies is the power to restrict the movement of people suspected of threatening national security or harboring terrorist ideas. The legislation allows authorities to expand areas where police can set up checkpoints and restrict access, without a court order, to public places if deemed vulnerable to terrorists. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Trump expels 15 Cuban diplomats from US over mysterious health attacks Iran Press TV Wed Oct 4, 2017 05:06AM US President Donald Trump has ordered the expulsion of 15 Cuban diplomats from the country, escalating his response to a series of mysterious health "attacks." A State Department official told reporters on Tuesday that the employees had seven days to leave Havana's embassy in Washington. The official said a list of the personnel the US wants out of the country was given to the Cuban embassy, although he added that they were not declared "persona non grata." "The decision was made due to Cuba's failure to take appropriate steps to protect our diplomats in accordance with its obligations under the Vienna Convention," Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said in a statement. "This order will ensure equity in our respective diplomatic operations." So far, 22 US embassy staff have fallen ill due to the mysterious sonic attack. Those affected have exhibited physical symptoms including dizziness, headache, fatigue, hearing loss, difficulty sleeping and cognitive issues. According to US officials, the move was in no way a punishment for Havana and that the Trump administration only wanted to ensure both countries have a similar number of diplomats in their capitals. "We continue to maintain diplomatic relations with Cuba," Tillerson said, adding the US "will continue to cooperate with Cuba as we pursue the investigation into these attacks." The decision, however, would further undermine a short-lived thaw between the two sides which was achieved under former US President Barack Obama in 2015 ending a half-century of hostility. Cuba slams US move as 'unacceptable' In response to the latest move, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez said, "MINREX (Foreign Ministry) strongly protests and denounces this unfounded and unacceptable ... eminently political decision." Washington has responded "in a hasty, inappropriate and unthinking manner and without evidence on the alleged facts in which Cuba has no responsibility," Rodriguez told reporters on Tuesday. The US State Department official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the Cuban government must ensure that the illnesses would not continue before personnel in either embassy could resume their work. Rodriguez said that their investigation team has not identified "perpetrators, or persons with motivation or means, nor has the presence of suspicious persons." He also said that Havana is not "familiarized" with equipment that might have caused the attacks and that it immediately tightened the security for US diplomats. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia Concerned With N Korean Nuke Tests, Warns Against Escalation - Putin Sputnik News 18:50 04.10.2017(updated 18:53 04.10.2017) Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that Moscow is concerned with North Korea's continuing nuclear tests but noted that "belligerent rhetoric" surrounding the problem may lead to unwanted escalation, calling on the parties to hold direct talks. MOSCOW (Sputnik) Delivering a speech at a plenary session of the Russian Energy Week forum on Wednesday, Putin said that Moscow is more concerned about the DPRK nuclear problem than the United States because Russia and North Korea have a shared border. "The nuclear test range is located on the Korean territory, 200 kilometers away from the Russian border This concerns us no less than you [the United States], even more," Putin said. The president went on by stating that belligerent rhetoric around the North Korean nuclear and missile issue is unacceptable as it is unknown whether a disarming strike would hit the target, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday. "This belligerent rhetoric, it is dangerous. Let's be frank. Is it possible to deliver a global disarming strike? Yes. Will it reach the target? It is unknown. Because no one knows for sure where and what they have there (North Korea) This is a closed country," Putin said, noting that those who try to talk to Pyongyang from a position of strength only consolidate the North Korean regime. Putin added that the intensity of the rhetoric regarding the Korean peninsula issue should be reduced by all sides, it is important to look for ways to conduct direct dialogue between North Korea and the United States. Putin also said Russia has almost no trade and economic relations with North Korea, there are no oil supply routes, he added. According to the Russian president, the country supplies some 40,000 tonnes of oil per quarter. "As far as our trade and economic relations go, I said this recently very publicly they are almost non-existent," Putin said at the Russian Energy Week. "This is nothing. There is no route there." The situation on the Korean Peninsula has become aggravated due to Pyongyang's missile launches and nuclear tests. The most recent one was conducted on September 15, when North Korea launched a ballistic missile, which flew over Japan before falling into the northern Pacific some 20 minutes after the launch. The UN Security Council has adopted a number of resolutions condemning Pyongyang's development of nuclear weapons. On September 11, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted its toughest resolution yet against North Korea over its latest nuclear test and repeated missile launches. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US Intelligence Officials Call North Korean Leader 'Very Rational' By Jeff Seldin October 04, 2017 Despite Kim Jong Un's repeated provocations and willingness to engage in heated rhetoric, top U.S. intelligence officials say the North Korean leader is not crazy. "Kim Jong Un is a very rational actor," the deputy assistant director of the Central Intelligence Agency's Korea Mission Center said Wednesday. "Bluster and rhetoric aside, Kim Jong Un has no desire to go toe to toe with [U.S. and South Korea's] combined forces command," Yong Suk Lee said at a CIA-sponsored intelligence conference in Washington. "Kim Jong Un wants what all authoritarian rulers want ... to rule for a long time and die peacefully in his own bed," Lee said. At odds with Trump view The intelligence assessment would appear to run counter to the rhetoric being used by U.S. President Donald Trump. In a series of tweets, Trump has referred to the North Korean leader as "Little Rocket Man," and, in one tweet last month, said Kim Jong Un was "obviously a madman." Lee and other CIA officials, however, believe there has been a "clarity of purpose" to the way the North Korean ruler is acting on the world stage. Pyongyang's goal, they say, is to gain recognition as a major nuclear power and eventually negotiate a deal with the United States that sees American forces leave the Korean peninsula. Intelligence officials see North Korea's repeated nuclear and missile tests as a way to create some space and give Pyongyang room to maneuver as it pursues its goals on the peninsula. "He wants to keep us out of his sandbox," Lee said, predicting another test or provocation could be coming as soon as October 9, which marks the founding of the country's ruling political party, as well as the Columbus Day holiday in the U.S. Risk of miscalculation But current and former officials worry about the risk of miscalculation by Pyongyang. "They're not suicidal," according to the former U.S. special envoy for Six-Party Talks with North Korea, Joseph DeTrani, who warned that Pyongyang was playing a risky game, especially as the White House has ruled out any meaningful talks with the North Korean regime. "We could stumble into conflict," DeTrani said. "They're hearing from the president of the United States unfiltered [via Twitter], so this has to have significant impact." There are also questions about what role China is willing to play. "China itself is wrestling with concerns about instability on its border, but at the same time is also trying to establish a stable relationship with the United States," said CIA Deputy Assistant Director Michael Collins. "There is more China could do," Collins said. "What effect that will have on Kim Jong Un's calculus is a different matter." China's influence Officials also say U.S. efforts to work with China have been hampered by Beijing's own global strategy, which is aimed at frustrating the United States and limiting Washington's influence in areas when the two countries do not see eye to eye. There are some indications Beijing's influence over North Korea's Kim Jong Un is limited. "He's not afraid of China's abandonment. He's not afraid of a U.S. strike," said the CIA Korea Mission Center's Lee. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address India's Lone Nuclear Submarine Damaged; Lying Idle for One Month Sputnik News 12:54 04.10.2017(updated 15:20 04.10.2017) The Russian-made INS-Chakra is the Indian Navy's only operational nuclear attack submarine. The INS-Arihant, poised to be India's second nuclear submarine, has cleared trials but is awaiting final clearance from the Indian Navy. New Delhi (Sputnik) A Russian nuclear submarine leased by the Indian Navy has been severely damaged in an accident and has not sailed for a month. According to 'The Print', the attack submarine is currently berthed at its home port of Visakhapatnam for repairs. The sonar dome of INS Chakram, which has a submerged displacement of 12,770 metric tons suffered severe damage in an accident that occurred sometime in August this year, according to reports. Sputnik tried to confirm the extent of damage to the submarine, but naval officials at Vizag did not divulge any substantial information despite repeated calls. "Concerned officials have been engaged in the meeting since morning. We are not able to say more than this," a naval officer who did not wish to be named told Sputnik. Nevertheless, sources said that the sonar dome was damaged either while the ship was sailing off the coast of Visakhapatnam or while it was negotiating the narrow channel while entering the harbor. "The sonar dome is thhe protective cover of the sonar-eyes and ears of the ship, which is located in the bow of the submarine just below the torpedo tubes. The time taken to repair it will depend on the extent of the damage. We should wait for an official statement on this issue. But, yes, if the submarine receives any damage, it is a very sensitive issue," Commander Abhay K Singh (Ret.), a research fellow at the Military Affairs Centre in the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses in New Delhi told Sputnik. The Indian Navy had formally inducted the nuclear-powered submarine into its fleet in April 2012 on a 10-year lease from Russia at a cost of approximately $900 million. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran, Turkey aim to create peace, stability, security in region IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Tehran, Oct 4, IRNA -- Iran and Turkey aim at maintaining peace, stability and security in the region, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said. Rouhani made the remarks Wednesday in a joint press conference with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Tehran on Wednesday. He referred to sensitive issues in the region especially in Syria and Iraqi Kurdistan Region, saying Iran, Turkey and Russia cooperation aim at creating peace and security in Syria. Iran and Turkey will not accept escalation of ethnic and religious tensions which are caused by foreigners and also separatism in the region, he said. Rouhani went on to say that Iraq and Syria are united countries and we do not accept any change in geographical borders. People of Iraqi Kurdistan Region are our friends and we do not like to see any pressure on Kurdish people, he said. Iran, Turkey and Iraq have to take new measures to fulfill their strategic targets in the region, he noted. He pointed to fighting terrorism as an important goal for Iran and Turkey, and urged both sides to confront any terrorist in anywhere. Translator: Ali Izadi 9376**2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Rouhani: Iran, Turkey anchors of stability in Middle East Iran Press TV Wed Oct 4, 2017 03:29PM Iranian President Hassan Rouhani says Iran and Turkey are "anchors of stability" in the Middle East region, and fighting terrorism is top on the agenda of the two countries. "Fighting terrorism is one of the important objectives of the two countries. We need to fight any terrorist group anywhere, be it Daesh or the al-Nusra Front or the PKK (Kurdistan Workers' Party) or whatever name they have. Terrorists should know that regional governments will not allow them to carry out their cowardly and inhumane activities," Rouhani said at a joint press conference with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan following their meeting in Tehran on Wednesday. The Iranian president said that he had held detailed talks with his Turkish counterpart on critical issues in the region, including the Syrian crisis and Iraq's Kurdistan region, stressing that Ankara and Tehran sought the establishment of peace, stability and security in the entire region. Describing Iran and Turkey as two powerful countries in the region, Rouhani said Tehran and Ankara were against disintegration of the region and opposed plots by foreign countries to foment sectarian and ethnic rifts in the Middle East. "In the opinion of the two countries, Iraq is a unified country and so is Syria, and we will by no means accept a change in geographical borders," he said. Touching on the September 25 referendum in Iraq's Kurdistan region, the Iranian president described the Kurdish region as a good neighbor of Iran and Turkey, saying, "We do not want to impose pressure on Iraq's Kurdistan people, but certain leaders of this region must make up for the wrong decisions they have made. Therefore, Turkey, Iran and Iraq have no choice but to take new and necessary measures to achieve their strategic goals in the region." On bilateral ties, Rouhani said the two sides had discussed cooperation in the tourism, petrochemical and transportation industries as well as the banking sector, adding that Turkey was ready to import more natural gas from Iran. The two countries are determined to boost economic and trade ties, Rouhani said, adding that Ankara and Tehran were targeting an annual trade volume of $30 billion. The Iranian president also said that the two countries had agreed to conduct trade in their own currencies. Erdogan, for his part, said Turkey would take stronger steps in response to last week's Kurdistan region referendum, adding that Ankara had already taken some measures in coordination with the Iraqi central government and Iran. He said Turkey considered the referendum "illegitimate," stressing that the vote was supported by Israel and could only isolate the Kurdish region. The Turkish leader also said that the goal of raising Turkish-Iranian trade volume to $30 billion from $10 billion remained on the agenda, and that the two sides would conduct trade in their own currencies to limit foreign exchange pressures. Iran, Turkey sign 4 cooperation agreements Meanwhile, senior officials from Iran and Turkey signed four cooperation agreements in the presence of the Iranian and Turkish presidents. The documents include memoranda of understanding on cooperation in the customs and banking sectors as well as cooperation between the Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT) and the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB). Heading a high-ranking politico-economic delegation, Erdogan arrived in Tehran on Wednesday to hold talks with senior Iranian officials on a host of issues, including the latest regional developments and bilateral economic ties. Iran, Turkey issue joint statement A joint statement was also issued at the end of the Turkish president's visit to Iran, which outlined Tehran-Ankara stance on bilateral ties as well as matters of mutual concern. In the statement, Tehran and Ankara highlighted the 2015 Iranian nuclear agreement -- known as the joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) -- as an efficient model of successful diplomacy for resolution of international issues. They also underlined the need for the full implementation of the deal by all parties. The Iranian and Turkish presidents also condemned any act of violence or extremism against the Rohingya Muslim minority group in Myanmar. They called on Myanmar's government to immediately put an end to the grave situation of the Muslims, which has led to the displacement of a large number of the group, to pay heed to calls by international organizations, including the UN and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), to restore the rights of the persecuted group and allow access to Myanmar's conflict zone. The statement also denounced Israel's restrictions on Palestinians' access to the al-Aqsa Mosque compound, calling on the international community to press for the establishment of the Palestinian state with Jerusalem al-Quds as its capital. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Jail term upheld for ex-Iranian nuclear negotiator: Report Iran Press TV Wed Oct 4, 2017 10:57AM An appeals court has upheld a five-year prison sentence handed down to a former member of the Iranian nuclear negotiation team found guilty of espionage. In August 2016, Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei, Iran's Judiciary spokesman, confirmed that the unidentified negotiator had been arrested, but was released on bail within days. The individual, according to Mohseni-Ejei, was a "spy who had infiltrated the nuclear team." The arrest was first announced earlier that month by Tehran's prosecutor general, who said the suspect held dual nationality. After conducting thorough research, the case was remitted to Branch 15 of the Islamic Revolution Court, where the jail term was issued following a number of hearings. The convict, however, appealed the verdict by the court of first instance. Tasnim News Agency reported on Wednesday that the appellate court had endorsed the conviction. "The sentence is now final," the agency reported, citing an informed source. Negotiators from Iran and the P5+1 group of countries -- the US, the UK, France, Russia, and China plus Germany paved the way for the signing of a landmark nuclear deal in July 2015. The deal, viewed as a historic win for global diplomacy, was signed despite an intense lobbying campaign by the regime of Israel. Four Iranian nuclear scientists were assassinated between 2010 and 2012. Iran has incriminated the International Atomic Energy Agency, the UN's nuclear watchdog, for leaking information about the four scientists to the Israeli regime which it holds responsible for the assassinations. In 2010, Iran's nuclear facility in Natanz was targeted by a malware dubbed Stuxnet. The malicious computer worm was meant to cause substantial damage to Iran's nuclear program, but the cyber-attack failed as it was averted in time by Iranian experts. Tel Aviv and Washington have been accused of orchestrating the attack. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Tillerson working to keep US in Iran deal: Report Iran Press TV Wed Oct 4, 2017 08:02AM US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has reportedly been working on a plan to keep the United States in a 2015 multilateral nuclear deal with Iran despite vociferous rhetoric against the agreement by his boss, President Donald Trump. The CNN on Tuesday cited several US officials and Western diplomats as saying that Tillerson is working with congressional lawmakers to amend US legislation that requires the US president to report on Iranian compliance with the deal every three months. The deal, known as Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), was struck in July 2015 and began being implemented in January the next year. Apart from Iran and the US, the other parties to the agreement are France, Russia, Germany, China, and the UK. Trump, who ran for presidency on the Republican ticket, has long despised the deal in part because he perceives it as a legacy of Democratic former president Barack Obama. Since taking office a year after the deal took effect, Trump has twice certified Iranian compliance under the specific American law that Tillerson is now reportedly planning to have amended. Those two certifications have been offered only half-heartedly, and indications are that a third one due shortly in mid-October may not be forthcoming. All the other parties to the deal have been citing repeated reports by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) the official institution in charge of verifying Iranian compliance to stress that the deal is working and must stand. The US would thus risk losing the partnership of its European allies and Russia and China if it went ahead with a unilateral withdrawal from the JCPOA. Observers have long considered that prospect to be one that would seriously dent the US's stature and credibility. Perhaps mindful of that unsavory outcome, Tillerson has been working centrally with Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chair Bob Corker to amend the so-called Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015, under which the US president has to report Iranian compliance to the Congress every 90 days. Corker, an early opponent of the deal who cosponsored the bill, has more recently said the US would be isolated if it withdrew unilaterally from the JCPOA while Iran was in compliance with it. One senior administration official said, "Tillerson has said the problem with the JCPOA is not the JCPOA. It's the legislation." Tillerson reportedly told foreign ministers from the six other parties to the deal about the contours of his plan during a meeting held on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) meeting in September. Under the deal, Iran agreed to apply certain limits to its nuclear program, and in return, the US, the United Nations and the European Union terminated all nuclear-related sanctions against Tehran. Trumpian opposition Trump, who campaigned mainly on a platform of undoing every major achievement of his predecessor, has previously threatened to "rip up" the Iran deal, has called it "the worst deal ever," and, most recently, called it an "embarrassment" to the US. During his first address to the UNGA last month, Trump labeled the deal "one of the worst and most one-sided transactions the United States has ever entered into." Observers believe the US president has effectively boxed himself in with the harsh rhetoric, and Tillerson's plan may be a face-saving way out. According to the CNN report, Tillerson wants the bill to change so that presidential verifications of Iranian compliance would not be required and that, instead, the US administration would regularly report on other Iran-related issues, such as its missile defense program and regional activities. The CNN said "several US officials" had told the news network "that the White House has seemed open to the plan." But it was unclear how far Tillerson's plan could go. He has had his differences of opinion with Trump, and the US president has in the past displayed impetuous behavior on matters of policy. Meanwhile, US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis has said Trump's administration has to consider remaining a party to the Iran deal. Mattis is an Iran hawk. His tour in the United States Central Command was in 2013 cut short by the Obama administration, "which believed he was too hawkish on Iran," according to The New York Times. But, together with Tillerson's plan and Corker's cooperation, Mattis' Tuesday remarks seem to indicate a growing realization within the US establishment that, despite all the rhetoric by Trump, quitting the Iran deal unilaterally may not be worth the price for Washington. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN Warns of Intensified Fighting in Hawija, Anbar By Rikar Hussein October 03, 2017 The United Nations has warned that many innocent lives could be endangered in the coming days as the Iraqi army and its allied Shi'ite militias continue to press for the last pockets of Islamic State in Hawija and Anbar. "More people are expected to be displaced in the next 24 to 48 hours as fighting pushes into more densely populated areas," U.N. spokesperson Jens Laerke told reporters in Geneva. Laerke says an estimated 12,500 civilians have fled their homes in Hawija since the start of the Iraqi operation on September 21, and nearly 78,000 people could still be trapped in their homes as the fighting reaches densely populated areas. "We remain concerned for the lives and well-being of these vulnerable civilians and remind those doing the fighting that civilians must be protected at all times and allowed to safely leave Hawija," Laerke said in a news conference Tuesday in Geneva. Hawija is a Sunni-majority city in the al-Hawija district with a population of about 100,000. It had a population of 500,000 before IS took control in mid-2014 as many residents fled the violence. Iraqi army and allied Shi'ite Popular Mobilization Forces claim the fight for Hawija has entered its final stages as they recently gained a strategic foothold in the district by capturing an air base from IS on Monday. The base, known as Rashad air base, is about 30 kilometers (20 miles) south of Hawija and serves as a training camp and logistic base for IS in the region. "There remains 500 IS local and foreign fighters in Hawija town based on the information we have," Abu Xalid, a commander of Popular Mobilization Forces, told VOA. "Our sources say they [IS] have prepared 17 suicide vehicles to impede our advances." More displaced in Anbar In western Iraq's Anbar province, where the Iraqi army launched a separate offensive last month against IS, the U.N.'s International Organization for Migration said it has identified more than 8,500 newly displaced people, raising the number of displaced in the province to more than 54,000 since January 2017. The U.N. agency said fleeing civilians have to walk long distances some for several days, often in intense heat to reach safe areas. They say most of the newly displaced are children, women and elderly people. "People newly displaced from their homes often arrive dehydrated, suffering from hunger and thirst," said IOM's Hamed Amro. "Many require psychosocial support and need medical care. Some have chronic illness and exacerbated conditions due to a long-term lack of care, and others suffer from malnutrition. We have also received a few trauma cases." Commanders on the ground say IS has set fire to oil wells, and has forced civilians who remained to serve as human shields to inhibit airstrikes. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iraqi army soldiers, allies take back more areas near Hawijah from Daesh Iran Press TV Wed Oct 4, 2017 04:01PM Iraqi army forces, backed by allied fighters from the Popular Mobilization Units, have fully liberated more areas near the strategic northern town of Hawijah from the clutches of Daesh militants, as they have launched a final assault to retake the terrorists' last bastion in the country's oil-rich northern province of Kirkuk. The commander of the Hawijah liberation operation, Lieutenant General Abdul Amir Yarallah, said on Wednesday that army troops, members of the Counter-Terrorism Service (CTS) and pro-government forces, commonly known by their Arabic name Hashd al-Sha'abi, had freed the villages of al-Maslakha, al-Mullali, al-Sada and al-Fathah, Arabic-language al-Sumaria television network reported. Yarallah added that the troops established complete control over the Makhoul mountain range, fully liberated al-Harrariyat region, and took back the western flank of al-Fathah Bridge. The high-ranking Iraqi military commander further underlined that Iraqi government soldiers and their allies had accomplished their tasks concerning the liberation of Hawijah, located 45 kilometers west of Kirkuk. Meanwhile, the media bureau of the Iraqi Joint Operations Command (JOC) stated that a total of 98 villages had been retaken during the second part of the second phase of the Hawijah liberation operation. The JOC added that army soldiers, CTS forces and Hashd al-Sha'abi fighters had also liberated al-Rashad region and Heynas air base, wrested control over the road linking Kirkuk to the city of Tikrit, located 140 kilometers northwest of the capital Baghdad, and managed to cleanse an expanse of 2,400 square kilometers from Daesh terrorists. Iraqi forces also destroyed 13 cars rigged with explosives, 30 militant fortifications, five arms depots and 300 explosive devices. On September 29, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced the start of the second phase of the offensive to liberate Hawijah from the grip of Daesh Takfiris. "We announce the start of the second phase of the liberation of Hawijah and all the surrounding areas to the west of Kirkuk, and as promised, the sons of our country are continuing to liberate every inch of the land of Iraq and crush the gangs of the Daesh terrorist group," Abadi said in a statement. The first phase of the operation to liberate Hawijah was launched on September 21. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Meeting In Tehran, Iranian And Turkish Presidents Stress Opposition To Kurdish State RFE/RL October 04, 2017 The presidents of Iran and Turkey say their countries will take steps to ensure that borders in the region remain unchanged following last week's independence referendum in Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region. "We will not accept changing borders in the region," Iranian President Hassan Rohani said in Tehran on October 4 at a joint news conference with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. "Turkey, Iran, and Iraq have no choice but to take serious and necessary measures to protect their strategic goals in the region," he also said. He did not elaborate. 'Illegitimate' Referendum Election authorities in Iraq's Kurdish region say the September 25 nonbinding referendum passed with 92.7 percent support and turnout of more than 72 percent. Along with the Baghdad government, the United States and other Western powers, and the United Nations opposed the vote, as did neighboring Turkey and Iran, which have large Kurdish populations. But Kurdish leaders have said they will use the referendum to press for talks on eventually forming their own state. Calling the referendum "illegitimate," Erdogan said that "a development of this sort will isolate the Kurdish regional government." "From this moment onward, more decisive steps will be taken," he added. "As Iran and Turkey -- and the [Iraqi] central government -- there are still heavier steps for us to take." Baghdad has demanded that the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) cancel the result of the referendum or face continued sanctions, international isolation, and possible military intervention. The Iraqi government has already imposed sanctions on Kurdish banks and halted foreign currency transfers to the region, and a flight ban has halted all international flights from servicing the Iraqi Kurdish territory's airports. Amid tensions over the referendum, the Iraqi military has also held joint military drills with the armed forces of Turkey and Iran close to Iraq's frontiers. Erdogan also met with Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has final say on all state matters, during his one-day visit to Iran. After the talks, Khamenei described the Kurdish referendum as "an act of betrayal toward the entire region" and said that the two countries "must take necessary measures against the vote," Iranian state TV reported. Russian Reticence Also on October 4, in Moscow, President Vladimir Putin said that Russia is not interfering with the Kurdish referendum issue to prevent the situation from spinning out of control. The Kremlin has not explicitly condemned the referendum, stressing instead the importance of maintaining Iraq's territorial integrity. "Our statements are rather careful and cautious since we don't want to aggravate or blow up the situation," Putin told an energy forum. However, he said that he understands how sensitive the Kurdish issue is for Turkey and Iran. At the press conference with the Turkish president, Rohani said "Turkey will import more gas from Iran" and that "meetings will be held next week to discuss the details." Erdogan said that the goal of raising bilateral trade volume from $10 billion to $30 billion a year remains on the agenda. He added that the two neighbors would conduct trade in their own currencies to limit foreign exchange pressures. With reporting by Reuters, AP, and Interfax Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/turkey- iran-iraq-kurdistan-erdogan-rohani -supreme-leader/28772561.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 Erdogan Accuses Israel's Mossad of Supporting Iraqi Kurdistan Referendum Sputnik News 19:38 04.10.2017 Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday that Israel's intelligence agency Mossad supported Iraqi Kurdistan's referendum on independence as only Israel would recognize the Kurdish administration. MOSCOW (Sputnik) Erdogan made his remarks as he met with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, which later said that Tehran and Ankara should respond to the referendum on Iraqi Kurdistan's independence. "What is the referendum organized by northern Iraq's regional administration for? No country in the world apart from Israel recognizes it A decision made at the table with Mossad is not legitimate, it is illegitimate," Erdogan said at the joint press conference with Rouhani, as quoted by the Anadolu news agency. The Turkish president added that Turkey and Iran agreed on maintaining relations with Iraq's central government. "Turkey and Iran's determination on the matter is evident. Turkey will only engage with the central government in Iraq and we certainly term this referendum as illegitimate As you know, there are steps we, both Turkey and Iran, have taken on the matter. But there are more severe steps we will take in the upcoming period," Erdogan added. The vote on Iraqi Kurdistan independence took place on September 25 and resulted in 92.7 percent of voters casting their ballots for the autonomous region's independence from Baghdad. The authorities of Iraq declared the referendum illegitimate and stressed that they would not hold talks with the regional government. The independence vote is widely criticized not only by the Iraqi central government but also by a number of other countries and international organizations. Israel is the only state in the world that officially supported the holding of a referendum on independence in Iraqi Kurdistan. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Closing Border With Iraq Will 'Damage Interests' of Iran and Turkey Sputnik News 17:33 04.10.2017(updated 18:59 04.10.2017) Iran has said it had closed border checkpoints with Iraqi Kurdistan in response to its referendum and in respect to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the neighboring country. Salih Meleomer, an advisor to the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government told Sputnik the move could damage the interests of both Turkey and Iran. The issue of the independence referendum is also expected to top the agenda of Turkish President Erdogan's talks with the leaders of Iran. The Turkish leader is visiting Tehran on Wednesday. Salih Meleomer has commented to Sputnik Turkiye on Iran's move, saying that if Turkey joins it both countries will experience serious economic losses as it will greatly damage their own interests. He further noted that for 25 years the Kurdish region has been on very good terms with Ankara, Tehran, Baghdad and other countries and has been developing its economic and trade cooperation. "We would like to maintain a relationship with Turkey, Iran and Iraq. However if Ankara and Tehran shut down their checkpoints on the border with Iraqi Kurdistan it will inflict serious economic damage to their interests," he told Sputnik. Salih Meleomer also commented on the recent remarks of Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi, who recently promised to impose his central government's rule over Iraqi Kurds via constitutional law. "Any disputed issues should be resolved through dialogue and negotiations. Baghdad, Tehran and Ankara should not introduce any sanctions against Iraqi Kurdistan. We think that their possible blockade of our autonomy is unacceptable and is not a solution to the problem," he said. There are two positions in Iran regarding Iraqi Kurdistan, he went on to say: a radical and a reformist. The adherents of the first oppose the achievements of the Kurdish people in their fight for their rights, while the reformists respect the results of the referendum and insist on a dialogue with Erbil. One way or another, the results of the referendum saw the overwhelming majority vote for their independence. The neighboring countries should respect the results and the will of the people, Salih Meleomer concluded. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iraqi Army Launches Offensive to Free Daesh-Held Hawija in Kirkuk - Reports Sputnik News 17:23 04.10.2017(updated 17:56 04.10.2017) Iraq's army has reportedly launched an operation to drive Daesh militants out of the town of Hawija located in the country's north. At the same time, a Shia militia group has announced it had taken control of the town. MOSCOW (Sputnik) Iraq's army has launched an operation in the center of the country's northern town of Hawija, Kirkuk province, in an effort to drive militants of the Daesh militants from the town, local media reported Wednesday. The development comes as Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Abadi announced the start of an offensive in the town earlier in September. "Rapid reaction forces have blocked the center of Hawija. Multiple units of security forces continue moving through the town and clearing its neighborhoods," a source told the Alsumaria broadcaster. Iraq's Shia militia, or Hashd Shaabi, in turn, announced that they gained total control of the town. The Iraqi authorities have announced that they had freed over 90 percent of their territory from terrorists. According to the government data, over 2.2 million refugees have returned to the Iraqi regions which have been liberated from the terrorists. Daesh terror group captured Hawija and its vicinity in the northern province of Kirkuk more than three years ago. The town became the main stronghold of the terror group in the region after the Iraqi army regained control of Mosul in July. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Japan - AIM-120C-7 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAMs) Media/Public Contact: pm-cpa@state.gov Transmittal No: 17-42 WASHINGTON, Oct. 4, 2017 -- The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Japan for AIM-120C-7 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAMs). The estimated cost is $113 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today. The Government of Japan has requested a possible sale of fifty-six (56) AIM 120C-7 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAMs). Also included are containers, weapon support and support equipment, spare and repair parts, U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical and logistical support services, and other related elements of logistical and program support. The total estimated program cost is $113 million. This sale will support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by meeting the security and defense needs of a major ally and partner nation. Japan continues to be an important force for peace, political stability, and economic progress in the Asia-Pacific region. The proposed sale will provide Japan a critical air defense capability to assist in defending the Japanese homeland and U.S. personnel stationed there. Japan will have no difficulty absorbing these additional munitions into the Japan Air Self-Defense Force. The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region. The principal contractor will be Raytheon Missile Systems, Tucson, Arizona. There are no offset arrangements proposed in connection with this potential sale. Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the assignment of U.S. Government or contractor representatives to Japan. There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale. This notice of a potential sale is required by law and does not mean the sale has been concluded. All questions regarding this proposed Foreign Military Sale should be directed to the State Department's Bureau of Political Military Affairs, Office of Congressional and Public Affairs, pm-cpa@state.gov. -30- NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Three killed as militants stage deadly attack on court in Misrata Iran Press TV Wed Oct 4, 2017 03:39PM Heavily-armed men have attacked a court complex in the Libyan city of Misrata, killing at least three people and wounding nearly three dozen others. A military alliance said on Wednesday that two attackers had carried out the deadly assault in the city, a large commercial port about 190 kilometers east of the capital Tripoli. There had been an explosion after a gun battle lasting about 20 minutes, it added. Witnesses said Wednesday's attack was staged by several gunmen who drove up to the complex in central Misrata in a black vehicle. "One of them blew himself up at the gate and the other two with Kalashnikovs opened fire at random," Reuters quoted a witness as saying. "Shooting could be heard all over the city center after the attack." The witness said he believed the attackers had used rocket propelled grenades. The Misrata hospital confirmed in a statement that the attackers had killed three and wounded 35, listing the names of the victims. The Daesh Takfiri terrorist group claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it had targeted "one of the most prominent strongholds" of Libya's UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA). Last year, an armed coalition led by forces from Misrata under the GNA's nominal command battled for more than six months to oust Daesh from the terrorist group's former stronghold in the coastal city of Sirte, which is located about 230 kilometers southeast of Misrata. Sirte, the major stronghold of Daesh outside Iraq and Syria, fell to the Takfiri terrorists in February 2015. The terrorists, however, have increased their activity in recent weeks to the south and east of Sirte. Daesh has been taking advantage of the chaos in Libya since the NATO-backed overthrow and death of longtime ruler Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. Libya also remains divided between loose political and military alliances based in the east and west, which has resulted in a security vacuum in the center of the country. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Myanmar atrocities against Rohingya may be crimes against humanity: UN rights committees Iran Press TV Wed Oct 4, 2017 09:11AM The United Nations committees for women's and children's rights say atrocities against Rohingya Muslims "at the behest of the military" in Myanmar may constitute crimes against humanity. The committees on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women and on the Rights of the Child said in a statement on Wednesday that the violations being committed against Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar's western state of Rakhine "may amount to crimes against humanity." "We are particularly worried about the fate of Rohingya women and children subject to serious violations of their human rights, including killings, rape and forced displacement," said the statement. "Such violations may amount to crimes against humanity and we are deeply concerned at the state's failure to put an end to these shocking human rights violations being committed at the behest of the military and other security forces," it added. The Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar have faced government-sanctioned violence by soldiers and Buddhist mobs since October 2016. The violence has seen a sharp rise since August Over 500,000 Rohingya Muslims have so far taken refuge in Bangladesh and some 10,000 others, who have reportedly amassed near a crossing point into the country, are trying to join them in makeshift camps over the border. The fleeing Muslims says the Myanmarese army has increased pressure on the remaining Rohingya to drive them out of their villages. An elderly Rohingya man, who has arrived in Bangladesh said military forces "are burning our houses, beating our people. Out of fear, we villagers ran in different directions as they attacked. Many of our relatives and villagers are still missing. Somehow we reached here, to save our lives." Another Rohingya women said, "The military tortured us, they tortured us so much. They looted our belongings. I left my home, with only one piece of clothing, the one that I am wearing now." According to rights groups, more than half of the over 400 Rohingya villages in the north of Rakhine State have been torched. Myanmarese state media, meanwhile, claim that the fleeing Rohingya have left "of their own accord." The government refuses to recognize the Muslim community as a distinct ethnic group and considers them illegal refugees from Bangladesh. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Rohingya refugees living in 'dire' conditions, senior UN officials warn, appealing for assistance 4 October 2017 The human tragedy unfolding in southern Bangladesh is staggering in its scale, warned two senior United Nations officials today as they wrapped up a mission to the Cox's Bazar with calls for a "significant increase in assistance" for the hundreds of thousands of Rohingyas have settled in the area after fleeing violence in neighbouring Myanmar. "We leave Bangladesh [] all the more determined that the United Nations do all it can to assist the Government of Bangladesh in coping with this crisis," said Mark Lowcock, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator and Anthony Lake, Executive Director of the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF). In the last few weeks, well over half a million Rohingya people have crossed the Myanmar border in to Bangladesh, making this the world's fastest developing refugee emergency. "People arrive fearful, exhausted and hungry, and in desperate need of immediate help including shelter, food, clean water and sanitation, and healthcare," they asserted. "They bring with them terrible accounts of what they have seen and suffered stories of children being killed, women brutalized, and villages burned to the ground." The UN officials lauded the Government and people of Bangladesh for its "extraordinary spirit of generosity" in opening the country's borders and their providing relief to the refugees as "an inspiring example of humanity." Explaining that the refugees are living in flimsy shacks in sprawling, densely-crowded sites that have sprung up to accommodate them with ever-growing risks for a disease outbreak they underscored the urgency for funding so that all refugees have access to food, shelter, water, sanitation facilities, health care and protective services. "Conditions in the temporary settlements are dire. Without a significant increase in assistance, the refugees, who have suffered so much already, could face another catastrophe on top of the tragedies that caused them to flee their homes," they stressed. Today an update to the UN and the international aid community's response plan was released, seeking $434 million to scale up the relief operation supporting the refugees and host communities. In support of this, an additional $12 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) has been allocated to help establish additional sites for newly arrived refugees. While the two senior UN officials welcomed assurances of close cooperation with the Government, they underscored that the "appalling situation" is not over as people continue to flee for their lives, crossing from Myanmar into Bangladesh and requiring immediate support. "We call again on the Myanmar authorities to allow the full resumption of humanitarian action across all of Rakhine state, and will continue to advocate for conditions to be created that allow for people to safely, securely and voluntarily go home," they concluded. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Putin Says He's Still Undecided Whether To Seek Reelection RFE/RL October 04, 2017 Less than six months before Russia's next election, President Vladimir Putin says he has not yet decided whether to seek a new six-year term. Putin, who is widely expected to seek and easily secure his fourth term as president of a country whose tightly-controlled political system leaves little room for surprises, suggested on October 4 that he will announce a decision by early December. "Not only have I not decided who I will run against, I have not decided whether I will run at all," Putin said during an international energy conference in Moscow, when asked whom he would run against in the March 18 election. "By law the [start of] the presidential election campaign must be announced in late November-early December, I think," he said. "I think that by that time the main contenders will officially announce [their candidacies] and publicize their campaign platforms." No Mention Of Navalny He made no mention of Aleskei Navalny, an opposition politician and staunch Putin critic who is campaigning for the presidency despite a statement from the Central Election Commission saying that he is ineligible to run because of a financial-crimes conviction. Navalny, who is currently in jail for 20 days after being found guilty of a separate infraction, contends that the conviction was politically motivated. He has called on supporters to protest nationwide on October 7 -- Putin's 65th birthday. Putin, who has been president or prime minister since 1999, would be constitutionally barred from seeking a fifth term in 2024 if he is elected in March. Critics say he has maintained power in part by muzzling the media, tightening Kremlin control over electoral politics, and employing the police, security services, and court system to suppress dissent. After four years as prime minister, he returned to the presidency in 2012 after weathering protests sparked by allegations of electoral fraud and dismay among opponents about his decision to take back the Kremlin helm. Severe Tension With U.S. Putin's current term has been colored by severe tension in relations with the United States and other Western countries, which have imposed sanctions on Russia over its seizure of Crimea in 2014 and role in a war that has killed more than 10,000 people in eastern Ukraine. The United States also imposed sanctions in response to what the U.S. intelligence community says was an "influence campaign" targeting the 2016 U.S. presidential election, in which U.S. officials believe that Putin's government favored Donald Trump over his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton Russian officials initially voiced confidence that Trump's election would help improve ties, but those hopes appear to have faded substantially as the U.S. Justice Department and congressional committees investigate Moscow's alleged interference in the election and seek to determine whether associates of Trump colluded with Russia. Putin denies that Russia meddled in the election and Trump denies there was any collusion. Asked about the Russian-U.S. ties by a panel mediator at the energy conference, Putin said that relations "have become a hostage of the domestic political situation in the United States" and added: "We are patiently waiting for this process in the domestic political life of the United States to end." However, when asked whether Trump has become a hostage of the U.S. political system, Putin answered that "Trump is not a man who could be anyone's hostage." He also said that he has no personal relationship with Trump, stating that he has only met Trump in person once -- referring to a Group of 20 (G20) summit of leading industrialized nations in Germany in July. Syria, North Korea Crises Putin asserted that Russia and the United States are cooperating in resolving the ongoing crisis in Syria and have "managed to reach good results despite some differences." While Russia and a U.S.-led coalition are both targeting Islamic State (IS) fighters with air strikes in Syria, Russia has strongly backed President Bashar al-Assad's government throughout the six-year war there while the United States backs rebels. Turning to North Korea, which Trump has threatened with the potential use of force in response to nuclear-device and missile tests that violate UN Security Council resolutions, Putin said the pressure imposed on Pyongyang may only deepen the confrontation. "Those who want to talk with North Korea by force are making the North Korean regime stronger," Putin said. With reporting by TASS, Interfax, and Reuters Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-putin-reelection -undecided/28773845.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 Long-Range Aviation Exercises Begin in Russia - Defense Ministry Sputnik News 10:59 04.10.2017(updated 11:09 04.10.2017) According to Russian Defense Ministry, a unit of Russia's Long-Range Aviation has started exercises involving over 20 aircraft. MOSCOW (Sputnik) A Russian Long-Range Aviation unit has started exercises involving over 20 aircraft, airfields and ranges from Kaluga Region in central Russia to the Kamchatka Peninsula in the country's Far East, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement Wednesday. "In the framework Russian Federation Armed Forces inspections in 2017, tactical flight exercises started in the Long-Range Aviation unit deployed in the Far East," the Ministry said. "Tu-95MS strategic missile carriers, Tu-22M3 long-range bombers and Il-78 refueling tankers are involved," it said. Tupolev Tu-95MS bombers and missile platforms (NATO reporting name Bear) form the core of Russia's strategic aviation. It can carry Kh-55 subsonic air-launched cruise missiles (NATO reporting name AS-15 "Kent") with a range up to 3,000 kilometers. In combat operation, one Tu-95MS is able to destroy several enemy cities without entering its anti-missile defense zone. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia accuses US of supporting, 'flirting with' Daesh in eastern Syria Iran Press TV Wed Oct 4, 2017 04:21PM Russia has accused the US forces of providing intelligence to the Daesh Takfiri terrorists in eastern Syria, saying Washington is clearly "flirting" with the terrorist group. "The main obstacle to completing the defeat of Islamic State (Daesh) in Syria is not the military capability of the terrorists but the support for them, and flirtation with them, by the United States," Major General Igor Konashenkov, a spokesman for Russia's Defense Ministry, said on Wednesday. Konashenkov made the comments after a group of Syrian forces came under a series of attacks by Daesh in the province of Dayr al-Zawr, where Syria is trying to push the terrorists out of their last strongholds in the region. The Russian general said the attacks on the Syrian government forces had come from an area near the border with Jordan where the US maintains a military mission. Konashenkov said Daesh had the precise coordinates of the Syrian forces before the attack and that such information could only have been obtained through aerial reconnaissance. "If the United States views such operations as unforeseen 'coincidences,' then the Russian air force in Syria is prepared to begin the complete destruction of all such 'coincidences' in the zones under their control," Konashenkov said. Russia has been a major backer of Syria's fight against terrorists over the past two years. The US and allies in the West have repeatedly criticized Russia's assistance, which came at an official request by Damascus in September 2015 and has led to crucial wins against militants. Syria's anti-terror fight continues in Dayr al-Zawr, where Daesh was pushed back to areas near the border with Jordan after its three-year-long siege on the provincial capital city broke last month. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Syrian forces oust Daesh Takfiris from all of Hama province: Monitoring group Iran Press TV Wed Oct 4, 2017 02:19PM A so-called monitoring group says Syrian army soldiers, supported by allied fighters from popular defense groups, have flushed Daesh Takfiri militants out of their last positions in the western-central province of Hama as they continue to make territorial gains across the war-ravaged Arab country. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Wednesday that Daesh terrorists were no longer present anywhere in the province for the first time in three years. The observatory's director, Rami Abdel Rahman, said government forces had "managed to take control of all the last remaining villages in the hands of Daesh in Hama province after more than a month of fierce clashes between the two sides." The Britain-based monitoring group further noted that more than 400 Daesh militants and nearly 190 Syrian soldiers and pro-government fighters had been killed in the fighting. The pro-government and Arabic-language al-Watan newspaper also reported that "the army had taken complete control of Hama province." "Daesh is no longer present in Hama province," it added. Syria airstrikes eliminate scores of Daesh in Salamiyah Meanwhile, scores of Daesh terrorists have been killed and injured as Syrian air force fighter jets pounded their positions and vehicle convoys on the outskirts of Salamiyah city, located 33 kilometers southeast of Hama. A military source, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Syria's official news agency SANA that the airstrikes destroyed Daesh vehicles in and near the villages of Jib Aeid and al-Maksar al-Janoubi. Syrian fighter jets also bombarded Daesh outposts in Mayadin city, located about 44 kilometers southeast of Dayr al-Zawr, and in the towns of Upper Boqrous, Jadeed Ekedat and al-Boleel. Furthermore, Syrian army units thwarted a Daesh militant attack on a military position in Kabajib town. Daesh overran large parts of Dayr al-Zawr province, including its many oil fields, in mid-2014 as it seized swathes of land in Syria and neighboring Iraq. By early 2015, the Takfiri terrorists were in control of some parts of the city of Dayr al-Zawr and besieged the remaining parts, which were under government control. It is estimated that 100,000 people remain in the government-held parts of the city. Key positions retaken near Jordan border Separately, the Syrian army and its allied forces managed to seize full control over several more positions and outposts near the country's border with Jordan. They retook control of nine border areas from Point 177 to Point 185, which were regarded as the main defense lines of foreign-sponsored terrorists in southern Syria. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hezbollah commander killed in clashes with Daesh in Syria Iran Press TV Wed Oct 4, 2017 11:20AM The Lebanese Hezbollah resistance movement says one of its senior commanders has been killed during clashes with Takfiri Daesh terrorists in central Syria. Hezbollah said on Wednesday that 44-year-old Ali al-Hadi al-Ashiqon, also known by his nickname Alhaj Abbas, was martyred in Syria's central desert of Palmyra on Monday, AP reported. The resistance movement has played a critical role in the Syrian military's counter-terrorism operations over the past few years. Daesh elements have lately retreated from much of the territory under their control amid sweeping advances by Syrian government forces on the battlefield. On Friday, Syrian troops, backed by allied forces, foiled a Daesh attempt to wrest control of a strategic road connecting Palmyra to the eastern city of Dayr al-Zawr. "The Syrian army and its allies completely secured the Dayr al-Zawr-Palmyra highway after foiling the intense attack," a Hezbollah media unit said. Russia strike kills terrorist commanders Separately on Wednesday, Russia said its latest air raid in Syria had critically injured one of the leaders of the so-called Tahrir al-Sham militant group and killed a dozen of his field commanders as well as around 50 of his bodyguard. Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Major General Igor Konashenkov said in a statement that Abu Mohamad al-Golani was targeted in an intelligence-led special operation while he was meeting his commanders. "As a result of the strike, the Nusra Front leader, Abu Mohamad al-Golani, sustained numerous shrapnel wounds and, having lost an arm, is in a critical condition, according to information from several independent sources," he said. Golani was the head of the Nusra Front terrorist group before it merged with other militant outfits to form the so-called Tahrir al-Sham in January 2017. Russia has been conducting air raids against Daesh and other terrorist groups inside Syria at the Damascus government's request since September 2015. The strikes have helped Syrian forces advance against anti-Damascus militants. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US involved in 'bloody provocations' against Russian forces in Syria: Lavrov Iran Press TV Wed Oct 4, 2017 05:52AM The Russian foreign minister has slammed the US for pursing a "double standard" approach towards the fight against terror in Syria, saying Washington encourages "bloody provocations" against Russian and Syrian government forces. In an interview with the London-based, Arabic-language Asharq al-Awsat daily, published on Wednesday, Sergei Lavrov cast doubt on the activities of US-backed militants as well as the Washington-led coalition of countries engaged in what is said to be an anti-Daesh operation in Syria. "In some cases, these [US-led] forces have indirectly encouraged other terrorists to attack strategic positions rightfully regained by Damascus, or they have deliberately engaged in bloody provocations against our forces," Lavrov said. "In other cases, they inspire other terrorists to attack strategic locations over which official Damascus has restored its legitimate authority, or to stage fatal provocations against our military personnel," he added. The remarks came amid increased tensions in Syria's Dayr al-Zawr Province between US-backed militants and Syrian government forces, who are backed by Russia. Last month, the Russian Defense Ministry said that Syrian troops in Dayr al-Zawr had been twice targeted with mortar and rocket fire from the regions where the US-sponsored Syrian Democratic Forces are active. Lavrov further criticized the US for failing to acknowledge that there is no distinction between terrorist groups which are wreaking havoc in Syria. "If you apply double standards, divide terrorists into 'bad' and 'very bad,' force others to enter the coalition on political motives, forgetting about the necessary UN sanction to approve these actions, then it's hard to speak about the effectiveness of an anti-terror campaign," Lavrov said. The top Russian diplomat further noted that the fight against terrorism should be accompanied with peaceful political efforts in order to be fruitful. "It's impossible to eradicate terrorism in the Middle East and North Africa through military means only," he said, adding, "The advantage of our policy lies in that it is not self-interested and does not have a hidden agenda." All players in Syria should "abandon their geopolitical ambitions and contribute fully to the restoration of stability and security" to the country and the whole region, Lavrov pointed out. "Our practical cooperation at all levels illustrate that Turkey and Iran play, in the full sense of the word, the key role in terms of stabilizing the situation in Syria and Iraq," he added. Syria has been fighting multiple foreign-sponsored terrorist groups since March 2011. Russia has been conducting air raids against Daesh and other terror outfits in Syria at the request of its government since September 2015. On the contrary, the US and its regional allies have been supporting anti-Damascus militants in a bid to topple the government of President Bashar al-Assad. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia to Support Armed Groups Fighting Nusra Front in Syria's Idlib - Lavrov Sputnik News 15:30 04.10.2017(updated 16:01 04.10.2017) Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said that Russia would provide military assistance to groups fighting against the Nusra Front, a terrorist group also known as Jabhat Fatah al-Sham, in the Syrian province of Idlib, as the US-led coalition has failed to act decisively against the group. MOSCOW (Sputnik) Russia will be providing assistance to Syrian armed groups that have chosen to fight against the Nusra Front in the Idlib de-escalation zone, Lavrov said Wednesday. "We have information that the armed formations which have joined the arrangement on the Idlib de-escalation zone have started to fight more actively against Jabhat al-Nusra. We will be assisting them in this matter, as well as, of course, assisting the Syrian army," Lavrov told reporters after a meeting of Russian special services chiefs in Krasnodar which was televised by RT. According to the minister, despite the fact that the US-led coalition has increased its efforts to fight Daesh (ISIS), it remains quite passive regarding the fight against Jabhat Fatah al Sham. The group was established by the former al-Nusra Front before creating Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) earlier this year alongside other terrorist organizations in Idlib province. HTS was promptly declared a terrorist organization by the US and UN before gaining control of Idlib during the summer; Russia still refers to the group by its old moniker. "We have not seen the [US-led] coalition take serious action against Jabhat al-Nusra, which changed its name, but did not change the essence," Lavrov added. During a September round of Astana talks, Russia, Iran and Turkey, the three states that serve as guarantors of the Syrian ceasefire, agreed on all four de-escalation zones in Syria. The sides also reached agreement on rules of operation in buffer zones and at checkpoints and observation posts, as well as rules of engagement for units of the de-escalation control force. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, to date, the number of armed groups which have vowed to conform to the ceasefire in Syria is standing at 234, while 2,241 cities, towns and villages across Syria have signed the reconciliation agreement. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Al Nusra Leader in Critical Condition Following Russian Airstrike - MoD Sputnik News 08:47 04.10.2017(updated 12:22 04.10.2017) Russia's Aerospace Forces have critically wounded HTS leader and former Al Nusra Front 'emir' Abu Mohammad al-Julani in Syria. Russia's Aerospace Forces have critically wounded HTS leader and former Al Nusra Front 'emir' Abu Mohammad al-Julani in Syria, and killed 12 field commanders of the terrorist group which controls Idlib Governorate. "As a result of the strike, Jabhat al-Nusra leader Abu Mohammad al-Julani received multiple heavy fragmentation wounds and, having lost his hand, is in critical condition, according to several independent sources," Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said Wednesday. "Along with numerous (about 50) security guards, 12 field commanders of Jabhat al-Nusra, including the closest aide of Julani, were also killed," he added. The al-Nusra Front changed its name and merged with other Syrian terrorist groups to create Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS); however, the Russian Defense Ministry continues to use the group's original name. Russia, along with Iran and local militia forces, has been assisting the Syrian government in its fight against the terrorist groups wreaking havoc in the Arab country since 2011. Moscow has been conducting an anti-terrorist operation in Syria since September 30, 2015, at the behest of Syrian President Bashar Assad. The ongoing war in Syria has left an estimated 220,000 dead and displaced approximately 12 million people (the nation's pre-war population was over 20 million, but most refugees are internally displaced, living in government controlled regions). Many of those who have left the country have poured into nations such as Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan, while others have sought asylum in Europe, making it the largest humanitarian crisis since World War II, according to the United Nations. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Report: Sarin Gas Used in Syria Prior to Khan Sheikhun Attack By VOA News October 04, 2017 Syrian forces used sarin gas in an attack on an opposition-held town in March, five days before a deadly attack on Khan Sheikhun that drew a response from the U.S. military, according to a chemical watchdog group. The leader of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, Ahmet Uzumcu, told the French news agency, AFP, a test conducted by the group showed sarin gas was used during an attack on Al-Lataminah in northern Syria on March 30. He said 50 people were reportedly injured in the attack, but no one is believed to have died. The April 4 Khan Sheikhun attack that killed at least 83 people was previously believed to have been the first use of sarin in Syria since 2013, when hundreds of people were killed in Damascus. After the Khan Sheikhun attack U.S. planes destroyed the Syrian airbase believed to have been used to launch the sarin. The Syrian government has denied involvement in the attacks and has said it no longer holds any chemical weapons, after pledging to destroy its stockpiles under a 2013 agreement. But last month a U.N. war crimes investigation showed Syrian forces have used chemical weapons more than two dozen times, including in the Khan Sheikhun attack. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Taiwan to redefine its role in Asia: presidential advisor ROC Central News Agency 2017/10/04 17:13:21 Taipei, Oct. 4 (CNA) Taiwan's New Southbound Policy is the country's "regional strategy for Asia," as the country used to identify itself only with Northeast Asia but now wants to integrate itself more deeply into the South and Southeast Asia regions, presidential advisor Michael Hsiao () said Tuesday. Hsiao was briefing the press on the Yushan Forum, a major initiative of the President Tsai Ing-wen () administration aimed at establishing the country's role in the changing regional dynamics by creating an institutionalized multilateral dialogue platform on cooperation. It is slated to be launched Oct. 11. A leading pioneer in Southeast Asian studies, Hsiao told reporters that what he has observed in his long-term research is that "we [Taiwan] actually play no role in Asia." That is partly due to the fact that the Taiwanese society as a whole has long identified itself more strongly with Northeast Asia and has lost sight of countries in South and Southeast Asia, Hsiao said. "With the New Southbound Policy in place, we are trying to reassert our role." Hsiao said that Taiwan's new approach to forging ties with the countries covered by the New Southbound Policy is different from that of China, which some countries have characterized as a new form of "economic colonialism." Meanwhile, the environmental pollution associated with Taiwanese investment abroad, like the case of a Formosa steel plant in Ha Tinh, Vietnam, and the problems facing immigrant workers in Taiwan, most recently exposed by the shooting death of a Vietnamese worker by a Taiwanese police officer, are issues to be addressed under the policy, Hsiao added. With the essence of the policy as reflected in the issues for discussion at the Yushan Forum -- economic and trade issues, human resources, technological innovation, nongovernmental organization engagement, think tank cooperation, and youth dialogue -- Taiwan will redefine its role and image in the region, he said. In consideration of the possibility that China may try to sabotage the forum by discouraging the attendance of foreign speakers, the Prospect Foundation, which will host the event, said it will only reveal the lineup of the speakers "at an appropriate time." According to the organizer, the forum will feature 40 speakers from 15 countries in South and Southeast Asia, as well as from Japan, South Korea, the United States and Europe. Pressed by reporters, Lai I-chung (), president of the foundation, was hesitant to disclose any information as to what difficulties they encountered before the speakers agreed to attend the forum, but he said that "surely there existed pressure from China" to foil Taiwan's efforts to stage the event. Despite the pressure, Lai added, the forum has attracted interest in quite a few countries, indicating that they do not view their relationship with Taiwan as subordinate to their relationship with China and instead consider what Taiwan has to offer to enhance mutual cooperation. (By Shih Hsiu-chuan) Enditem/J NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Taiwan to see if Taiwanese elected to CPC National Congress legal ROC Central News Agency 2017/10/04 20:15:22 Taipei, Oct. 4 (CNA) The government will look into whether Lu Li-an (), a China-based Taiwanese woman who has been elected to attend the upcoming 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), has violated Taiwanese law, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said Wednesday. Lu, who is president of the Shanghai Taiwan Compatriots Friendship Association, is among a total of 2,287 delegates who have been elected to attend the 19th CPC National Congress slated for Oct. 18 in Beijing, according to Chinese media reports. The MAC said in a statement that it will check Lu's identity, whether she has household registration in China, and whether she has violated the Act Governing Relations between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area. According to Article 9-1 of the Act, the people of the Taiwan Area may not hold household registration in the Mainland Area or hold passports issued by the Mainland Area. If they do so, they shall be deprived of their status as people of the Taiwan Area, according to the MAC. Meanwhile, Article 33 of the Act stipulates that no individual of the Taiwan Area may become a member of or hold a position in agencies, institutions or organizations of the Mainland Area that are political parties, the military, the administration or political in any other sense, the MAC noted. In the statement, the MAC also called on Taiwanese in China to abide by the relevant Taiwanese regulations and to protect Taiwan's national security and interests. Lu was born in Kaohsiung in 1968 and is currently deputy dean at Fudan University's College of Foreign Languages and Literature in Shanghai, according to a report published Wednesday by Taiwan's Economic Daily News. She is among 10 Taiwanese nationals elected in June to attend the CPC National Congress and the only one born in Taiwan. The other nine were born in China or are second-generation Taiwanese based there, according to the newspaper report. (By Miao Zong-han and Evelyn Kao) Enditem/J NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Turkey court hands down life sentence to 34 over plot to kill Erdogan Iran Press TV Wed Oct 4, 2017 03:14PM A court in Turkey has sentenced 34 people to life in prison for attempting to assassinate President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during the failed coup of 2016. Turkish state television TRT reported that the court in the southwestern city of Mugla issued the ruling on Wednesday. The trial began on February 20. The defendants have been accused of killing two policemen during an attack on a luxury hotel in the Aegean resort of Marmaris, where Erdogan was on holiday with his family. The Turkish president reportedly fled the hotel shortly before it was stormed and flew back to Istanbul. Former Brigadier General Gokhan Sahin Sonmezates was among the defendants and was accused of directing the plot. The trial is one of many such processes taking place across Turkey to try those who were allegedly involved in the failed coup in July last year. Some verdicts have already been given in lower-profile cases but it is the first ruling involving top plotters. Turkey witnessed a coup attempt on July 15, 2016, when a faction of the Turkish military declared that the government of President Erdogan was no more in charge of the country. However, over the course of two days, the putsch was suppressed. Almost 250 people were killed and nearly 2,200 others wounded. The Turkish government accuses the US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen of having orchestrated the attempted coup. Gulen, a former Erdogan ally turned arch-foe, has denied the allegation. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Turkish president arrives in Tehran for talks with Iranian officials Iran Press TV Wed Oct 4, 2017 09:54AM Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has arrived in the Iranian capital, Tehran, for discussions with the country's senior officials on issues of bilateral and regional significance. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani officially welcomed his Turkish counterpart in Tehran on Wednesday. Erdogan is accompanied by a high-ranking delegation of four Turkish cabinet ministers of economy, energy, customs and culture as well as Turkish investors and business owners. Apart from political issues, bilateral economic ties will top the agenda of the planned talks between the Iranian and Turkish officials. The two neighboring countries are key economic partners and plan to enhance their annual trade volume to $30 billion. According to the head of Iran-Turkey Commerce Chamber, Reza Karami, Iran-Turkey trade volume in the first eight months of 2017 was over $7.25 billion. During the period, Iran's exports to Turkey amounted to $5.15 billion, while imports from the country reached $2.1 billion. The two countries have also taken measures to forge closer military cooperation. Just prior to Erdogan's visit, Turkish Chief of General Staff Hulusi Akar visited Tehran, where he sat down for talks with senior Iranian officials, including President Rouhani and Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Amir Hatami. Akar's visit followed a trip by Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Baqeri to Turkey in mid-August. Erdogan's visit, his second in three years, comes at a critical juncture on the regional political stage. Both Iran and Turkey have raised concerns about a secession push by Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdistan region. The Kurdistan Regional Government has come under international scrutiny for holding an independence referendum slammed by Baghdad as unconstitutional. Iran and Turkey, along with Russia, have also been mediating a peace process between the warring sides in Syria aimed at ending the deadly crisis plaguing the Arab state. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Turkey Opens First-Ever African Base in Somalia to Fight Al-Shabaab Sputnik News 23:18 04.10.2017(updated 23:23 04.10.2017) Turkey has opened its first overseas military base on the African continent, a large training facility in Somalia meant to train East African soldiers to better combat Islamic terrorism. The $50 million base opened on Saturday and is staffed with 200 Turkish personnel. However, they will soon be joined by over 10,000 Somali and African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) soldiers participating in the fight against Harakat al-Shabaab al-Mujahideen, or al-Shabaab for short. A branch of al-Qaeda, al-Shabaab has fought the Somali government in an eight-year civil war that has killed thousands and displaced millions. Although al-Shabaab was forced from major cities by 2012, the organization still exists in force as an aqueous terrorist and guerilla network that continues to sow chaos throughout war-torn Somalia. To better combat them, Somalia and the African Union are attempting to restructure their military and police on the model of Ankara. The Turkish military has ample experience fighting guerrillas in isolated and rural areas, such as the Kurdish rebels in southern Turkey as well as Daesh in Iraq and Syria. The AMISOM soldiers in Somalia are primarily drawn from Uganda, Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya and Djibouti. However, Somalia intends to eventually replace them with Somali troops and lessen their dependence on the African Union to protect themselves. "The Somali government is under constant reminder that time is running out for AU troops, and the only troops who can replace them are Somali soldiers," said Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed to Voice of America. Since a 2011 visit from then-Turkish prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan (now Turkey's controversial president), Ankara and Mogadishu have forged a strong diplomatic, economic, and military relationship. Turkey's single largest embassy is in Mogadishu and they have spent millions in humanitarian aid after the 2011 Somali famine that left 250,000 dead. Somalia is the centerpiece of Erdogan's pivot to Africa, which has seen Ankara open 27 new diplomatic missions across the continent and strengthen ties with countries like Ethiopia and Kenya. Writing for British International Affairs think tank Chatham House, Professor of International Affairs at The George Washington University David Shinn said that the realignment is "driven by the region's growing economic importance to Ankara; its interest in diversifying away from the Middle East; and the apparent desire for influence among sub-Saharan Africa's large Muslim population." Turkey is the second foreign country to open a base in Somalia the US allegedly operates a clandestine base in the Lower Shabelle region as well as an AMISOM-backed advisory field office in Mogadishu. The United Arab Emirates are expected to open a base in Somaliland, a self-declared state in Northern Somalia that is unrecognized by any state. Turkey also operates active military bases in Iraq, Northern Cyprus (a self-declared state only recognized by Turkey, considered to be part of the Republic of Cyprus by the rest of the world,) Qatar, and Syria. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Dozens Sentenced to Life in Prison Over Failed Turkey Coup By VOA News October 04, 2017 A Turkish court on Wednesday sentenced 34 people to life in prison for plotting to assassinate President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during a coup attempt last year. Those sentenced include several high-ranking generals and lieutenants who are said to have participated in a raid on Erdogan's hotel the night of the failed coup. Erdogan and his family narrowly escaped after the rogue soldiers stormed his hotel. The trial, which started in February, is one of many taking place to try those accused of participating in the failed coup. Verdicts in some lower level cases have already been handed down, but this marks the first ruling for alleged top-level plotters. Several of those on trial said it had been unfair and complained of mistreatment during their imprisonment. "From the moment I was arrested at the air base on July 16, I was treated like a criminal," Ergun Sahin, a former air force lieutenant, told the court. Another defendant, Gokhan Sen, said, "Words don't mean anything here as we didn't have chance to a fair trial. We are just the grass that elephants trampled on during their fight." The government has strongly defended the trial, insisting the judiciary is independent and the ongoing crackdown is necessary to protect Turkish democracy. More than 240 people died during the failed coup, not including those who launched the failed takeover. Turkish authorities have said they will not compromise in bringing the accused to justice. Since the failed coup, 50,000 people have been jailed pending trial and another 150,000 detained or dismissed from their jobs. Around 150 media outlets have been shut down and 160 journalists jailed, according to the Turkish Journalists Association. Turkey accuses U.S.-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen of masterminding the attempted coup. Gulen, though, a former ally of Erdogan's, has strongly denied those claims. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Following quite a long wait since its official introduction at the end of August, LG's V30 is now available in the US at two of the big four carriers. We're talking about Verizon and AT&T. At the same time, T-Mobile has started taking pre-orders for the handset, ahead of its launch that will happen on October 13. At Verizon, you can snatch an LG V30 for $840 all-in, or 24 monthly installments of $35. If you buy before November 6, you can score a $200 Visa prepaid card, and you will receive a free new Google Daydream View VR headset. AT&T is asking for $809.99 of you hard earned cash for the V30 if you want to pay it all at once. Alternatively, you can go the installment route, shelling out $27 per month for 30 months. The same Daydream View offer applies as for Verizon. Finally, T-Mobile will charge you $800 for the handset, which you can pay all at once or divided between $80 down and $30 monthly for two years. Interestingly, if you pre-order at the magenta carrier you can expect your unit to ship immediately, so you will probably have it in your hands way before the V30 officially becomes available in TMo stores on October 13. Via These are the best offers from our affiliate partners. We may get a commission from qualifying sales. Introduction This is it then. The long-awaited Finnish flagship that goes all in against the phones that rule today. The Finnish cameraphone returning to claim the prize that was once its birthright. Everybody bow and make way? No, it's not how it works. No story begins with a happy ending. Nokia can tell a few about life after death but HMD is not looking at a life of Sundays. The thing with Microsoft wasn't going anywhere but it still counts as a wasted second chance. The third time, failure is not an option. Nokia and HMD seem well aware of that and the Nokia 8 looks like it has adapted to the new reality fast. The flagship Nokia 8 is well-armed with the top-of-the-line Snapdragon 835, an impressive high-res LCD, premium aluminum unibody and the latest Android OS. The cameraphone Nokia 8 had no other choice perhaps than have its own take on the dual-camera outfit with two 13MP sensors, an optically-stabilized color one and a monochrome one. Another 13MP unit at the front is more than just a selfie cam - it does split-screen live streaming and has phase-detection autofocus. High-end ZEISS lenses in front of all three sensors mark the return of an iconic partnership. Nokia's OZO camera division is involved in the 8 too. It co-developed the 360 spatial surround audio recording, which will capture sound with a quality to match the sharpness of the 4K video. Another rare feature, binaural audio, is supposed to offer an even more immersive split-screen viewing experience. Nokia 8 key features: Body: 6000-series aluminum, IP54 splash resistance 6000-series aluminum, IP54 splash resistance Display: 5.3" IPS LCD, QHD resolution (554ppi), 700 nits brightness; Gorilla Glass 5; Glance screen 5.3" IPS LCD, QHD resolution (554ppi), 700 nits brightness; Gorilla Glass 5; Glance screen OS: Android 7.1 Nougat (basically stock) Android 7.1 Nougat (basically stock) Chipset: Snapdragon 835 chipset, 4GB RAM, 64GB of storage, microSD card slot Snapdragon 835 chipset, 4GB RAM, 64GB of storage, microSD card slot Main camera: two 13MP sensors (color + monochrome), 1.12m pixels, Zeiss lens with f/2.0 aperture; OIS on the color sensor, Laser and phase detection autofocus, dual-LED flash two 13MP sensors (color + monochrome), 1.12m pixels, Zeiss lens with f/2.0 aperture; OIS on the color sensor, Laser and phase detection autofocus, dual-LED flash Video: 4K video capture, 360 spatial surround sound with 3 microphones; YouTube and Facebook livestreaming (with picture-in-picture) 4K video capture, 360 spatial surround sound with 3 microphones; YouTube and Facebook livestreaming (with picture-in-picture) Selfie camera: 13MP sensor, 1.12m pixels, Zeiss lens with f/2.0 aperture, phase detection autofocus 13MP sensor, 1.12m pixels, Zeiss lens with f/2.0 aperture, phase detection autofocus Connectivity: single and dual SIM versions; Cat. 9 LTE (450/50Mbps), Wi-Fi ac, Bluetooth 5.0, ANT+, USB-C 3.1 (5Gbps) single and dual SIM versions; Cat. 9 LTE (450/50Mbps), Wi-Fi ac, Bluetooth 5.0, ANT+, USB-C 3.1 (5Gbps) Battery: 3,090mAh, Quick Charge 3.0 (18W) 3,090mAh, Quick Charge 3.0 (18W) Misc: Fingerprint reader, unlimited Google Photos storage Main shortcomings Battery capacity seems low Not fully water-proof No 1080p@60fps video recording The Nokia 8 seems so thoughtfully designed and made that we had to go nitpicking to find flaws. Modest battery capacity? We have yet to see the actual battery endurance. Aluminum 6000 instead of 7000? We seriously doubt it that another bendgate could be on the way. Splash-resistant but not water-proof? This could be it but it's still better that than nothing. Nokia has a legacy to protect and a future to build. Once an industry pillar, the brand has a long way to come back from oblivion. And while the Nokia 3, 5 and 6 surely helped restore some confidence, it's up to the 8 to rekindle the old glory. Or go down trying. Curious to know which way it's heading? So we are - but first things first. Nokias of the past have, over the years, received an almost ridiculous amount of praise for their solid construction. But does the newly revived Nokia brand still retain the same traits now that it's slapped onto Android smartphones? If we go by a durability test undergone by the Nokia 6, then the answer is a resounding yes. But what about the new flagship? We're talking about the Nokia 8, of course. To find out how durable it is, leave it to YouTube channel JerryRigEverything to perform a comprehensive torture test, as usual. Here it is, embedded below for your viewing pleasure. In case you can't watch the video, here are the highlights. The front glass scratches exactly as easily as you'd expect Gorilla Glass 5 to, no surprises there. Similarly, when a flame is applied to the screen the pixels it touches go black after ten seconds, but since it's an LCD they fully recover once the flame is extinguished. The back of the phone is aluminum, which means a razor blade will scratch and damage it. The entire back camera section (which also features the LED flash) is covered by glass, so it won't scratch as easily as if it were plastic. Moving on to the most important part, the Nokia 8 does not bend. Not from the front, not from the back. This despite the fact that it uses 6000 series aluminum, which Apple had to give up on and replace with a 7000 series alloy in order to not have its handsets bend. The shape of the aluminum inside the Nokia 8 contributes to its durability. So for now, Nokia's legacy is intact - at least from this point of view. Tomah High School conducted a panel to commemorate Hispanic Heritage Month Tuesday in the THS cafeteria. Topics discussed included information on the Hispanic population in Monroe County, its impact on the workforce and the future of the Hispanic community in the United States and Monroe County. In Monroe County approximately 2,000 residents are Hispanic, said panelist Alfonso Sanchez of the Lugar de Reunion, a Hispanic Resource Center in Sparta. He said that represents an increase of 17 percent over recent years. Not all of that population is Mexican, he said. Theyre mainly from Mexico, and (there are) some people from Peru and Bolivia, but very few, he said. Panelist Maria Reiland of the Wisconsin Job Center, said 83 percent of Hispanic people in the United States were born in this country. So when you see people that have dark hair, most of them were born in the United States, she said. The increase in residents has had a positive impact on panelist Amanda Wallermans dairy farm, Ridgeville Holstein, LLC. Wallerman said Hispanics have become a vital part of her farm, which normally employees between 12 to 14 people. She said 10 to 12 are Hispanic. She said its a misconception that Hispanics are hired because farmers pay them less. If one of you came to our farm right now, I would pay you the same price that Im paying my Hispanics ... your work ethic is what matters to me, she said. Wallerman said its important to dispel that myth that theyre cheap labor. No, theyre dependable labor. So for us, thats a big thing to have them be part of our crew and know that theyre going to be at work every day, and if theyre not, somebody that they coordinate with is going to be there. Panelist Betsy Breckenridge, an English Language Learner teacher at Western Technical College, agrees. My sister-in-law is a farmer in the state of Washington, berries mostly, and most of their workers are Latino as well, and its the exact same thing, she said. Its not about the wage, its not about what they pay, its what they get in return loyalty, hard work, work ethic. Its a family farm, and the employees have become part of the family and they take care of each other when people are ill ... theres a death in the family, everybody pulls together. She said its a misconception thats held across the country. I mean Im talking the state of Washington and here we are in Wisconsin, she said. So this is something for farmers nationwide, I think, and its a value that people recognize all over the place. Hispanics are invaluable, wonderful people, Wallerman said. She said they need people in their corner rooting for them. Theyre not what the media likes to portray them as, that theyre just across the border and theyre all bad people, she said. Theyre not, the majority of them are good, theyre just like you and me; they just want whats best for their family and try to make the best for their family. One obstacle the Hispanic population faces locally and one that can cause such a misconception is the language, Reiland said. You hear a lot of people saying, Well they dont want to learn English, she said. Its not that they dont want to learn English, its just difficult to learn another language, and to become fluent in another language takes years. Officer Guillermo Ortiz of Fort McCoy said Monroe County needs to be proactive by providing more opportunities and resources for immigrants to learn English and become fluent in the language. Breckenridge agreed but notes the difficulty of acquiring those resources. Coming from California, where our numbers are so high, every teacher in the state of California is trained in how to teach students who dont have English as their first language, she said. It is mandatory. Everyone has that training because our numbers are so high. In Wisconsin, although the numbers are growing, Western Technical (College) in Tomah doesnt offer English language classes because there arent enough students going there to justify that. However, racism is also a factor, Breckenridge said, and addressing that is another challenge. Education and training about discrimination are key, panelist Master Sargeant Freida Carter of Fort McCoy said, even if resources are tight. You have to get creative when you do provide that training because making people aware will do more for you than turning a deaf ear, she said. Carter said its important to make people aware of discrimination and what it entails. Some people dont know, she said. If Id been in Tomah, Wisconsin, my whole life, I many not know that what Im doing is discriminatory or even hurtful because, guess what, my mom did it, her mom did it and her mom did it. Comings & goings: Health bar, candle shop, fishing charter website A health bar and candle-making shop will cut their ribbons in the next few weeks while a charter fishing company launches its website. Sheraton Austin Georgetown Hotel & Conference Center announces the appointment of Patrick Taylor as executive chef. Chef Taylor will be responsible for the culinary direction of all food and beverage outlets for the hotel including the signature restaurant Brix And Ale, Jacks Lounge, banquets and catering.Bringing 15 years of culinary and hotel experience to the Sheraton Austin Georgetown, Chef Taylor was most recently the Executive Chef at The Westin Austin at the Domains Urban An American Grill where he focused on locally sourced ingredients and sustainable practices, working directly with local farms. Previous to that he was the Executive Chef at the Milwaukee Marriott Downtowns Millioke, which was awarded Marriotts prestigious Hotel Opening of the Year under his leadership. Prior to Millioke, Chef Taylor held various positions including a stint as sous chef at The Westin Austin at the Domain, executive chef at The Westin Houston Memorial City, regional executive chef at Cru A Food and Wine Bar overseeing three restaurants, and banquet chef at the Adolphus in Dallas, Texas. Chef Taylor hails from Texas and attended Le Cordon Blue in Minnesota. The award-winning hilltop Spa at Four Seasons Resort Seychelles is set to welcome Sandie Johannessen as Senior Spa Director. Currently holding the position of Senior Spa Director based in Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru, with regional responsibility in Asia Pacific, Sandie Johannessen has spent the past three and a half years at the helm of the multi-award-winning Spa and Ayurvedic Retreat, overseeing Spa operations on the 11-cabin Four Seasons Explorer, as well as the newly launched Ocean of Consciousness Spa at Four Seasons Private Island Voavah. With this move to Seychelles and into the Middle East and Africa region, Sandie will oversee a total of nine spas, including the launch of the organic spa at the upcoming Four Seasons Resort Seychelles at Desroches Island, which is set to open on March 1, 2018. Kempinski Hotels announces the appointment of industry veteran Jeff Lanzarotta to head up their North American leisure & luxury division as Global Director Sales. Lanzarotta joins the Kempinski team after a long career with Starwood Hotels & Resorts, where he acted as Director of Global Leisure & Luxury Sales in the US in his last position. Lanzarotta holds a degree in Hotel & Restaurant management and will continue to be based in Miami, Florida. As Kempinski celebrate their 120th anniversary the roster of luxury hotels and resorts continues to grow with the addition of iconic properties such as Gran Hotel Manzana Kempinski La Habana and Kempinski Grand Hotel Kempinski Riga, Latvia as their latest additions. London UK/Spokane WA At Magnuson Worldwide, America's fastest growing hotel brand, we are proud to announce the branding of the M Star Hotel Atmore. Formerly the Oak Inn, the M Star Hotel Atmore is in downtown Atmore off Main Street, 46 miles from Pensacola, Florida. Wind Creek Casino is 11 miles from the M Star. The property is close to many appealing outdoor activities at Westside Park, Magnolia Branch Wildlife Reserve and the Little River State Forest. Amenities at the M Star Atmore include free breakfast, free high speed wireless internet, free parking, and a seasonal outdoor pool. Thomas Magnuson, CEO of Magnuson Worldwide says: "We are delighted to be welcoming Dipan Patel, Anand Patel and the full team at the M Star Hotel Atmore to the Magnuson family." About Magnuson Hotels Founded in 2003 as the world's first independent hotel chain, today hotel owners can affiliate with Magnuson as an independent or a franchised brand. With a footprint that includes North America and Europe, the company remains true to the original ethos; providing comprehensive personalised support and customised technology for hotel owners to succeed in their local markets without typical corporate franchise expense or requirements. For more info: https://magnusonhotelsworldwide.com/. Alysha Smith VP of Operations & Development 8000148132 Magnuson Hotels SAVOR Chicago, the exclusive food and beverage provider to the nations largest convention center, McCormick Place, can now seamlessly, securely, and quickly manage the high volume of contracts and payments that the company collects from their clients. SAVOR Chicago provides food and beverage services to the 2.6 million square foot campus of McCormick Place. Utilizing Sertifi, SAVOR can now collect event contracts and client payments 100 percent digitally. Sertifi has also enabled SAVOR to modernize and simplify their process of maintaining PCI compliance, so employees are no longer burdened with inefficient fax machines, paper storage methods, and paper shredders. SAVOR Chicago uses Sertifi Closing Pro+ for its eSignature and online payment technology. The solution has made business frictionless at SavorChicago, allowing the company to: Reduce the time spent on contract and payment execution by 50% Schedule automatic reminders to clients for eSignature and payment, allowing more time for sales teams to focus on revenue-generating tasks Digitizes methods of PCI compliance, adding an extra layer of security The efficiency and security of Sertifi is celebrated by SAVOR employees and clients alike. Rayva Myles, SAVOR Chicago's Assistant Sales and Catering Director says, "In the past, a lot of our clients have had concerns about sending credit card information via fax. With Sertifi, they're confident their payment data is protected. Their information is encoded and encrypted, and no one is seeing it who shouldn't be seeing it." SAVOR Chicago sales and events team members now send all contracts and payment requests through Sertifi's easy-to-use web portal which is custom branded. Clients immediately receive a Savor-branded email enabling them to electronically sign the contract and submit payment details online. In addition to a heightened level of security, with Sertifi's modern methods of PCI compliance, as well as increased efficiency, with Sertifi's digitization of the contract execution process- SAVOR employees now have more time to focus on client relationships. Stephanie Dorsey, SAVOR Chicago's Regional Director of Finance says, "Sertifi helps employees have seamless relationships with our clients. Automatic reminders reduce follow up time and decrease accounts receivable. This, in turn, increases the time sales teams have available for clients and customer service." Connect with Sertifi Schedule a time to talk with Sertifi and learn more about how you can achieve frictionless business like SAVOR... Chicago. About SAVOR Chicago As the Western Hemisphere's largest convention center, McCormick Place welcomes 3 million international and domestic visitors every year. As the exclusive food and beverage provider at McCormick Place, SAVORChicago is very serious about providing an exceptional food experience. SAVOR is backed by the resources of parent company, SMG, the world leader in venue management, marketing, and development. About Sertifi Sertifi provides a complete agreement, payment, and authorization platform for the travel, events, and hospitality market. Brands like Hilton, Hyatt, and Marriott trust Sertifi to finalize contracts and collect payments in an efficient and secure way. Sertifi's easy-to-use platform helps tens of thousands of businesses in more than 135 countries, with $5 billion in payments processed through the system annually. With 12+ years of knowledge and insights within travel, events, and hospitality, Sertifi serves the unique needs of the market and is building a network that gives travelers across the globe a great, seamless experience from the start. Emily Coughlin Marketing Coordinator DENVER RLH Corporation (NYSE:RLH) today announced that as part of its commitment to its focus on franchising, its Board of Directors has approved the listing for sale of 11 of the company's remaining 18 owned hotels. The hotels that are not being listed at this time are generally newer joint venture acquisitions (Baltimore, Washington DC and Atlanta) in which additional time will help stabilize to higher revenues and profitability before marketing those properties. The remaining hotels are leasehold interests with no near-term plan for disposal. In recent years, RLH Corporation has refreshed its original portfolio of brands, acquired a number of new brands and associated franchise agreements, and has organically added additional franchise agreements to contribute to the earnings growth of the company. RLH Corporation has strategically chosen to focus on investing its capital in higher-margin hotel franchise business rather than making significant new investments in direct ownership of hotel assets. Today, the franchise portfolio stands at approximately 1,100 hotels compared to less than 100 three years ago. This growth has allowed the company to achieve critical mass in advertising, marketing and technology to provide greater value and support to its franchisees. Consistent with RLH Corporation's strategy of committing to franchising, the company intends to solicit offers to acquire the majority of its remaining owned hotels while seeking to maintain franchise or management contracts relating to those assets. RLH Corporation has engaged CBRE, the world's largest commercial real estate company, to immediately commence the marketing of these hotels. All of the listed hotels are owned through partnerships with outside investors. Working with its real estate investment partners, the company expects to sell these hotels in the coming months subject to continuing favorable market conditions. As its hotels are sold, the company will repay the long-term debt relating to those assets. As the hotel sales are achieved, the company's real estate-specific costs of interest, depreciation and amortization will be reduced. It is expected that the elimination of these real estate costs will enhance the company's ability to generate positive EPS in the future. Based upon an estimated range of disposition values, the company should realize a significant increase to its cash reserves and financial flexibility. Depending on strategic opportunities available in the market, the company intends to use its additional cash reserves and debt capacity to fund growth in RLH Corporation's franchise business. From time to time, RLH Corporation will consider limited real estate investments to secure franchise agreements, but would normally expect to take minority positions in hotels that are expected to be repositioned and sold within three to five years. The goal of the company's long-term strategy is to achieve most of its EBITDA from its franchise business and to aggressively grow its base of franchise agreements. The hotels currently being listed for sale with CBRE are the following: Hotel RL Salt Lake City, Utah Hotel RL Spokane at the Park, Washington Hotel RL Olympia, Washington Red Lion Hotel Pasco, Washington Red Lion Hotel Richland Hanford House, Washington Red Lion Hotel Port Angeles, Washington Red Lion Hotel Redding, California Red Lion Hotel Eureka, California Red Lion Hotel Boise Downtowner, Idaho Red Lion Hotel Templin's on the River, Post Falls, Idaho Red Lion Inn & Suites Bend, Oregon About RLH Corporation RLH Corporation is an innovative hotel company focused on the franchising of upscale, midscale and economy hotels. The company maximizes return on invested capital for hotel owners across North America through relevant brands, industry-leading technology and forward-thinking services. For more information, please visit the company's website at www.rlhco.com. Amy Koch 509.777.6417 RLH ALPHARETTA, GA The Rainmaker Group (Rainmaker), a leading provider of cloud-based hospitality revenue management software, today announced that it has ended the summer with record-setting performance and growth, deploying its solutions at more than 150 properties in 14 countries in July and August. The properties include hotels, resorts and casinos throughout North America, Europe, Asia and Australia. Among the company's recent implementations are: FIVE Palm Jumeirah Dubai; Palazzo Versace Dubai; Hotel Panorama Hong Kong; The Chattanoogan; and Fontainebleau Miami Beach. These world-renowned properties are using Rainmaker's cloud solutions to streamline operations, optimize revenue, improve RFP response performance and secure the most profitable guests. "Our solution suite continues to deliver outstanding results to hotels, resorts and casinos worldwide," said Tammy Farley, president of The Rainmaker Group. "I am proud of our entire team, who work diligently not only to bring state-of-the-art technology to market but also to provide a consistently high level of support to our customers around the globe. It is a privilege to help properties achieve their full potential, and we are excited to welcome our newest clients to the Rainmaker family." Rainmaker's product suite includes: guestrev , an intuitive and easy-to-use revenue management solution that analyzes total guest value across a hotel or casino property to forecast and price rooms. , an intuitive and easy-to-use revenue management solution that analyzes total guest value across a hotel or casino property to forecast and price rooms. grouprev , an innovative group pricing solution that streamlines the process of responding to group RFPs by analyzing historical data, future demand and price sensitivity to recommend the best pricing for group business. , an innovative group pricing solution that streamlines the process of responding to group RFPs by analyzing historical data, future demand and price sensitivity to recommend the best pricing for group business. revcaster , a powerful rate shopping tool that gives hoteliers access to real-time actionable market data, so that rates can be set against the competitive landscape. , a powerful rate shopping tool that gives hoteliers access to real-time actionable market data, so that rates can be set against the competitive landscape. revintel, an intuitive business intelligence solution that improves day-to-day revenue management by mining various data sets and providing deep insights at a granular level. About Rainmaker The Rainmaker Group, a Cendyn company, is the premier provider of revenue and profit optimization solutions to the hospitality industry. Rainmaker's intelligent profit platform helps hotels, resorts and casinos optimize revenue, drive increased profitability, save valuable time & outperform competitors. As part of Cendyn, Rainmaker offers a complete set of software services for the industry, aligning marketing, sales and revenue teams to optimize their strategies and drive performance and loyalty across their business units. To learn more about Cendyn and its suite of hotel revenue management and profit optimization solutions, visit LetItRain.com or www.cendyn.com. About Cendyn Cendyn is the leading innovative cloud software and services provider for the hospitality industry. With a focus on integrated hotel CRM, hotel sales, and revenue strategy technology platforms, Cendyn drives sales, marketing and revenue performance for tens of thousands of hotels across the globe. The Cendyn Hospitality Cloud offers a complete set of software services for the industry, aligning marketing, sales and revenue teams to optimize their strategies and drive performance and loyalty across their business units. With offices in Boca Raton, Atlanta, Boston, San Diego, London, Munich, Singapore, Sydney, Bangkok and Tokyo, Cendyn proudly serves clients in 143 countries, delivering over 1.5 billion data-driven, personalized communications on behalf of their customers every year. For more information on Cendyn, visit www.cendyn.com. Dana Glaze Marketing Manager 470-440-2041 Some of the largest and most glamorous hotel brands in the world are excited about Indonesia, and they have real cause to be because of the country's active hotel project pipeline. In fact, InterContinental Hotel Group, one of the leading hotel companies in the world, recently signed a dual-brand management agreement with PT Graha Agung Indahsentosa, which will involve the anticipated debut of two hotels: Holiday Inn Resort Bintan Lagoi Beach and Hotel Indigo Bintan Lagoi Beach, both of which are in Lagoi Bay, one of the prime tourist destinations in Bintan, Indonesia. These new properties are set to make their scheduled debuts in 2019. One look at Bintan is enough to see why such an important hospitality industry stakeholder would choose to make such an investment in the region. Bintan is known for its natural beauty, and it's located just off the coast of Singapore. It is connected to that city by ferry boats. In regards to the debut of these hotels and the dual-brand management agreement, Rajit Sukumaran, the chief development officer for IHG Asia, Middle East and Africa, has said, "Indonesia is a key market for IHG. It is a diverse market, has a strong leisure and business pull, and is well-placed for easy travel between Australia, Southeast Asia and Singapore." And IHG isn't the only company executing a plan to expand into Indonesia. The Langham Hospitality Group, which has a history that extends back to the opening of The Langham, London in 1865, is also looking at Indonesia to foster future growth. The brand is planning to make its debut in Indonesia in 2018 with a new hotel in Bali. Also, The Langham, Jakarta is slated to open in 2019 with plans calling for Langham Palace, Pandava Beach, Bali to open in 2020, all of which makes Indonesia a key part of Langham's strategy in the increasingly important Asia Pacific global hospitality region. According to information from the TOPHOTELPROJECTS database, Indonesia's current project pipeline is quite robust, with 118 projects slated to debut soon, creating a total of 22,958 new rooms for guests. Bali is the hub of the pipeline, with 29 projects slated for that city while Jakarta is expected to usher in 27 projects of its own. The expansion is center around this year and next, with 36 new projects slated for 2017 and 44 more projects set for 2018. Source: TOPHOTELPROJECTS Let's take a look at some ongoing projects in Indonesia: Four Points by Sheraton Bintan, Lagoi Bay Located on a site with a beach frontage spanning nearly 165 meters, the hotel is part of the Lagoi Bay mixed-use development, a new integrated resort destination spanning 1,300 acres on the northern end of Bintan [Read More] The Cordis Nusa Dua Bali Each Cordis hotel are individual in style, architecture and design, all of which are reflective of its location and culture, and tailored to the requirements of our guests, from the corporate travelers to honeymooners to multi-generational families [Read More] PARKROYAL Pecatu Bali Resort PARKROYAL Pecatu Bali Resort will be part of the 400-hectare Pecatu Indah Resort, an integrated development with planned facilities including a shopping mall and conference venues that can accommodate up to 12,000 people [Read More] Jule Grass Marketing Manager +49 4261 4140 309 TOPHOTELPROJECTS These days, anyone with a smartphone, internet connection and an opinion is a potential food critic, heaping kindness or criticism on your restaurant for the world to see. Results from BrightLocal's 2016 research revealed that 84% of consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations, and 90% will read up to ten reviews before making a decision to visit or not. This, coupled with an ever-growing variety of trusted platforms that accommodate customer reviews, means that online reputation management is becoming more and more crucial for the long-term survival of all restaurants, regardless of size. Platforms like TripAdvisor and Google continue to streamline the review submission process, and are placing an increased focus on restaurant reviews in the user journey. If anyone has left you a review online, these ratings are very likely to show up as soon as someone searches for your restaurant. Unfortunately, leaving it up to your guests to post reviews online of their own accord might not result in your online reputation being an accurate reflection of the experience you provide, as guests will often only go out of their way to review an establishment that has either fallen far short of or exceeded their expectations. The good news is that GuestRevu has found that when asked directly for a review, it is the guests whose expectations you did meet who are happy to oblige. But how does this affect your bottom line? A Harvard Business School study showed that a one-star rating increase on Yelp can result in a revenue increase of 9% Even just a half-star improvement on Yelp's five-star rating system makes it 30 to 49% more likely that a restaurant will be fully booked during peak hours This means that your revenue is directly impacted by how well you actively manage your reputation. But where to begin? Below, we take a look at three simple steps to a sterling online reputation for your restaurant. 1. Getting the lay of the land What are people currently saying about your restaurant? Do a Google search and trawl through as many review sites as possible to get a clear understanding of how your business comes across to the world, focusing especially on the first page of results. Some major review sites include Yelp, TripAdvisor, Google, OpenTable, The Fork, Dining City, Gayot, Zagat, Zomato and Foursquare. This will show you if there are any glaring issues that you need to address urgently. Next, do a search for your closest competition and make sure you're not missing any opportunities. These could include strengths that you share, or areas where you know you outperform them but maybe your customers don't know about. Do you serve the best pizza in town? Make sure your front of house and kitchen staff know what to improve on and where they are exceeding expectations. Tips: Set up a Google alert so that you receive an email whenever your restaurant is mentioned online Improve your Search Engine Optimisation (SEO). Search for things in your area that travellers would potentially search for, like attractions, accommodation and so on. Do you feature in the results? If not, improve your web content to include mention of these, increasing the likelihood that Google pulls up your restaurant as a result Once you have a better idea of where you stand, you can then focus on enhancing your reputation. 2. Improve your online reputation Just ask According to BrightLocal research, "7 out of 10 consumers will leave a review for a business if they're asked to". With some gentle prompting, you'd be surprised at how many customers will take the time to write a positive review. Send a follow-up email kindly encouraging customers to write a review, create a business card to hand out with the bill, and train staff to casually mention that, if the customers had a great experience (they'll be able to tell), your restaurant would appreciate an online mention. Remember, if you don't ask, the answer will always be 'no'. Harness the power of social media You can also use your social media channels to ask customers to share positive feedback or favourite moments. But to make it fun and interesting, why not run a social media competition offering discounts or freebies for the most creative food snap, for example. Social media is a great way to make social proof work for you. People will be far more inclined to visit if they see what a great time others are having, and this creates a knock-on effect that you can leverage off. Beyond encouraging others to tag your restaurant, make sure you post high-quality imagery of your finest dishes to get people drooling. At least the content you post is in your control. Offer a signature dish or service Think about those times you appreciated food or an experience enough to snap a pic or video and share on your social channels could you harness this for your restaurant? It could be a signature dish, special feature or weekly event that no one else offers. Businesses that have successfully done this have hit the online marketing payload. Set yourself apart from the rest, and you'll open yourself up to glowing reviews and positive promotion. Re-post positive reviews Utilise all available channels at your disposal to re-post positive reviews, and thank consumers for taking the time to write them (more on dealing with reviews below). Create a review page on your website, dedicate one social media post a week to reflect on good reviews, and even use your own premises if you can. Founder of First Page and online marketer Jeanna Barret shares an effective example: "Recently I ate at a brewery in Guerneville, California that had a chalkboard on the wall of their bar with one positive and one (funny) negative review from Yelp. The chalkboard showcased the positive side of their restaurant, but also made light of how ridiculous some online reviews can be. It showed the restaurant had clout, but also humour, and made me like the place even more." 3. Managing your online reputation Using trusted reputation management software By now you might be reading this and thinking, "This sounds like a lot of work." But it doesn't have to be. A solution like GuestRevu's reputation management tool can help by collating reviews from a selection of top review sites, and notify you whenever your restaurant is mentioned. It can also help you generate customer feedback with custom surveys, monitor the reputation of your competitors, and track the performance of your staff and managers all on one convenient dashboard. This certainly goes a long way towards taking the headache out of your job. Responding to reviews Perhaps the most important aspect of managing your online reputation is how well you respond to reviews, both good and bad (especially bad). Taking the time to respond to good reviews might seem pointless, but has important benefits not only does it encourage loyalty and turn those customers into brand ambassadors, but also leaves a positive impression for other potential customers scrolling through the reviews. When dealing with negative reviews, it's essential that you don't get defensive or angry. First, read the review thoroughly to make sure you understand all points made. Respond in a timely, respectful way that addresses all of the customer's concerns. Dealing with fraudsters and blackmailers While bad reviews are almost inevitable, you might also come into contact with unscrupulous individuals who write fake negative reviews in the hopes of gaining a free meal or bill reductions. If you believe the review is purely malicious, report it to the admin team on whatever platform it's posted on (most will allow you to do this). If justified, you can also write a well-worded response clearly outlining why the particular review is unfounded, so that other potential customers are made aware you are not at fault. Read more on dealing with blackmail here Managing your social media channels Don't let your Facebook page gather dust. If you can't be bothered to maintain it, why should customers bother interacting with you? Since January 2016, active social media users on mobile have grown by over 30%. That's an extra 581-million users. People are interacting online, and you need to be there with them. Social media is also a great place to monitor what people are saying about your brand. As you can see, managing your online reputation is incredibly important if you want to stay afloat in a highly competitive environment. Start by getting the lay of the land, move on to building a positive reputation online, and then manage it effectively with the tools available. GuestRevu helps hoteliers worldwide to listen to, learn and earn from their guests by enabling them to leverage the power of guest intelligence to build lasting loyalty and drive revenue. GuestRevu's mission is to give hoteliers tools they can use every day to develop a guest-centric culture in their hotels, enhance guest experience, optimise operations, and ultimately, to drive revenue using online surveys and reputation management. With their headquarters in the UK, GuestRevu is a TripAdvisor Platinum Review Collection Partner. For more information please visit www.guestrevu.com View source Before leaf-changing season kicks into full swing, check out our fall travel trends that reveal interesting insights into traveler search behavior. Our data* tells us where travelers to the US are coming from and what cities they're going to and compares their search behavior with those traveling domestically. Where do visitors to the US come from? Whether it's mother nature's fall foliage display in Upstate New York, summery temperatures in the Golden State, or various festivals across the whole country, the US fall season seduces visitors from across the globe. American residents traveling domestically account for 57% of all US searches,; far exceeding the number of travelers from any other country. Brits make up the biggest group of inbound travelers followed by visitors from Canada, Germany, Brazil, Australia, Argentina, Japan, Mexico, France, and Italy. What are the most popular destinations this fall? Across all markets, you can clearly see most destinations of choice are those boasting pleasant weather. American residents traveling domestically especially chase the golden sunlight streams with Florida, Nevada, and California as their top three spots. While warmer places also attract international visitors, the most sought-after destination this fall is New York State with 29% of all inbound searches. In regards to the city preferences, there's a variation within the top city rankings between the two groups of travelers. While Las Vegas crowns the list for US residents, New York City overtook Sin City for searches by international visitors. Orlando follows in third place in both rankings. What are travelers willing to pay and how long they will stay? Visitors seeking family-oriented destinations with proximity to various famous amusement parks search for the longest stays. Travelers visiting the amusement park capital of the world are no exception. Domestic and international travelers visiting Orlando pack their bags for five nights and eight nights and pay on average $110 and $107 per night, respectively. Some international travelers opt for more bang their buck, choosing nearby Kissimmee and staying for nine nights on average, with a cheaper average nightly rate of $73. When it comes to nationalities, visitors from Brazil and Argentina are looking for the longest getaway seven nights on average. On the other hand, Canadian travelers will take the shortest trips of just four nights on average. What else does the data reveal? International travelers heading to New York City this fall will pay an average room-night-rate of $268, which is 55% above the average of the top 10 destinations. While cities such as San Francisco, Honolulu, and Los Angeles are all well above the average when it comes to how much visitors pay for a hotel room, visitors to Kissimmee are clicking on the lowest price. For further insights and more detailed information about traveler behavior and popular destinations in the US, visit the trivago Hotel Manager Blog. *data gathered from all trivago.com searches in the US between June 1 August 2, 2017, for the period of October 1 November 30, 2017. Lenka Trckova Industry Management, English-speaking markets trivago View source 356 Room Loews Madison Hotel in Downtown Washington, D.C. Sold to Waterton Located at the intersection of M and 15th streets - just a half mile north of the White House - the property has been rebranded as The Madison, a Hilton Hotel. It will be managed by Hilton Hotels & Resorts. Waterton today along with an affiliate of private equity partner Walton Street Capital, L.L.C., announced the acquisition of the 356-room hotel formerly known as the Loews Madison in downtown Washington, D.C. Located at the intersection of M and 15th streets - just a half mile north of the White House - the property has been rebranded as The Madison, a Hilton Hotel. It will be managed by Hilton Hotels & Resorts. Built in 1963, the hotel originally opened as the Madison Hotel at a ceremony attended by President John F. Kennedy and has since hosted every U.S. president as an honored guest. Over the past 15 years, the property has received more than $75 million in capital improvements, last undergoing a full renovation in 2012. As a result, guest rooms, meeting space and public areas have been completely refreshed. Were excited that our first hotel investment in the D.C. market is a property with such a rich history in a prime location, said Nir Liebling, chief investment officer of hospitality at Waterton. Theres a tremendous opportunity here to reposition a premier destination for corporate and leisure travelers alike. The Madison currently features 12,000 square feet of meeting space, a business center, two lobby bars, a coffee shop and a fitness center. The new owners plan to make additional updates to various common-area elements on the first floor. These and other improvements will allow us to increase cash flows while elevating the guest experience through best-in-class service and a highly activated lobby, said Liebling. At the same time, well be preserving a piece of D.C. history through thoughtful changes that reflect the lodging preferences of todays modern travelers. In addition to offering proximity to the White House, the hotel at 1177 15th St. NW is close to the National Mall, Walter E. Washington Convention Center and other popular attractions throughout the capital. In addition, it is just one block from Thomas Circle and easily accessible via the Red, Blue, Orange and Silver Metro lines. The Madison is also close to nearby employment centers. The property sits across the street from Midtown Center, a $650 million mixed-use redevelopment project of the old Washington Post building, where Fannie Mae is relocating its headquarters next year. We expect to see a significant benefit by being so close to Fannie Mae, the largest local Fortune 500 company by revenue, said Liebling. That business, along with others in the immediate area, will generate strong demand for both hotel rooms and meeting facilities, allowing us to enjoy a competitive position in the submarket. W Rome Hotel Announced for 2021 W Hotels Worldwide today announced plans to open W Rome, offering a unique twist on La Dolce Vita in the capital city. Marking the first time that the iconic W sign will land in Italy, W Rome will be developed by Omnam Group through a real estate fund managed by Kryalos SGR. The hotel is set across two historic buildings in the energetic Via Veneto neighborhood and is scheduled to open 2021. "Rome is one of Italy's most stylish and fashionable cities, and therefore a perfect destination for the W brand," said Jenni Benzaquen, Vice President, Luxury Brands, Europe for Marriott International. "With its boundary-breaking design, buzzing spaces and unique style, W Rome will inject a new and decidedly social style of modern luxury to the Roman hospitality scene." Ideally situated near the famous Spanish Steps and the fashionable boutiques of Via Condotti, W Rome will soon be the city's must-visit location for locals and global nomads to mix and mingle. As a longstanding hub of Roman social life, Via Veneto has been the destination for pleasure-seekers for decades, offering guests the latest in fashion, a thriving dining scene, chic cafes and fabulous late-night haunts. Set to become the buzzing centerpiece of the neighbourhood, the hotel will feature 159 stylish guest rooms and suites, including a decadent Extreme WOW suite (the brand's take on the traditional Presidential Suite). On its expansive rooftop, W Rome will feature a signature destination bar where style-savvy guests and local trendsetters can take in sweeping cityscape views and enjoy the brand's playful approach to cocktail culture. Social spaces at W Rome include the W Living Room (the W brand's spin on the hotel lobby) along with two vibrant restaurants and over 120 square meters of ultra-modern event space. A FIT workout facility and a spa will offer W guests a chance to relax or work up a sweat. Throughout the hotel, guests will have unlimited access to the brand's signature Whatever/Whenever service, delivering whatever they want, whenever they want it. Advertisement "This collaboration reflects our ambitions for this distinctive landmark development, and we could not imagine a better or more qualified operator than Marriott International and its phenomenal W Hotels brand," said David Zisser, Founder and CEO of Omnam Group. "The combination of the central location and beauty of this historic building, together with the distinct personality and cutting-edge style of the brand, presents a prime opportunity to provide a new luxury hotel experience in Rome." W Rome will span two adjacent 19th century properties on Via Liguria. Originally intended for residential use, the commanding buildings previously operated as a hotel, as well as offices for government ministries and private companies. The structures will be carefully renovated and re-imagined to refresh the historic elements, while infusing the W brand's bold and inspiring design philosophy. "This latest signing shows that even in mature markets like Rome, W Hotels is fortunate to collaborate with visionary developers such as the Omnam Group who are equally passionate about creating an exciting and original hospitality experience," said Carlton Ervin, Chief Development Officer, Europe, Marriott International. "The choice of W Hotels for their prime development, reflects our shared confidence that the brand's inimitable offer will be perfectly attuned to this spectacular city to meet the needs and desires of future travelers in the Italian capital." "We are particularly excited to welcome the first W hotel in Italy, located in one of our most iconic buildings in Rome. Once again, this confirms Kryalos as a trusted and capable collaborator for leading international brands aiming to debut and set roots for successful growth in Italy" said Paolo Bottelli, CEO of Kryalos SGR. This announcement reaffirms the unstoppable growth of the brand in Europe, where W Hotels currently operates seven properties. Ten new W hotels are planned in the region, with the arrival of W Tel Aviv in early 2018, the opening of W Hotels in Madrid, Belgrade and Portugal's stunning Algarve coast in 2019, followed by Prague and Budapest in 2020. In addition to Rome, W Hotels is also slated to debut in Marbella and Edinburgh in 2021. W Hotels boasts a worldwide portfolio of more than 50 properties and is on track to reach 75 hotels by 2020. niu Bricks Hotel to open 2019 in Eppendorf, Germany In the Hamburg neighbourhood Eppendorf, NOVUM Hospitality is planning a new hotel of the millennial brand niu in the midst of imposing architecture and an abundance of water and green spaces. The niu Bricks in Eppendorf will be the third niu in Hamburg, after the niu Keg in Wandsbek and the niu Rough in Horn. Together with the S&P Commercial Development GmbH a Sontowski & Partner Group company the Hamburg Group is developing the 192-room niu Bricks in Osterfeldstrasse, to be completed by autumn 2019. The niu Bricks is the prelude to continued collaboration in the future. "We're on the same wavelength in our growth ambitions and are already looking forward to the many future possibilities which will open up thanks to our strategic long-term partnership with NOVUM Hospitality," explains Sven Sontowski, executive partner at S&P Commercial Development GmbH. In the Eppendorf niu niu Bricks the atmosphere combines all the attributes that one associates with urban living, contemporary style and human nature absolutely in keeping with the popular district. The name "Bricks" was inspired by the red brickwork found everywhere in Eppendorf. In the niu Bricks, Hamburg's brick architecture forms a symbiosis with the interior: here, a rough brick facade makes reference to the neighbouring buildings, thus creating an urban yet rustic loft character. A reception counter in a puristic industrial design and a spacious lounge with leather sofas and flexible pouffes invite guests to relax, work or meet with friends everything is open and alive. Eclectically assembled pieces of furniture surprise you wherever you look, yet complete the unique, cosy atmosphere. In addition, Hamburg is reflected in the hotel in its stylish plant partitions: these are essential protagonists in the new niu. Scandinavian vintage-design cushions, rustic wood elements, such as coffee tables with and without castors as well as sideboards in a metallic look, serve as accessories. From Living Lobby to Bistro to the Smart Room Eppendorf charm permeates the entire hotel. And it isn't just the design concept that is omnipresent: ultra-fast WiFi, USB ports, an integrated power supply and trendy background music are available everywhere. NOVUM Hospitality is already planning over 30 niu hotels, and the first is already due to open in November 2017 in Essen: the niu Cobbles. While you may not have the team, budget, or resources of a large hotel chain or an OTA, that doesnt mean you are out of the running in driving direct bookings. Instead, it means you need to get creative with your hotel marketing. Our latest eBook, Sojerns Guide to Boutique Hotel Marketing, holds tons of tips and techniques for making a big marketing splash on a little budget. Here weve highlighted four ways for you to do just that: 1. Dominate Search Engine Result Pages Search engines are the most popular online planning source for travelers. And the heavy hitters in the industry know it: Search represents 35% of all online ad spend for hotels. Compete on search with large chains and OTAs, equipped with massive hotel marketing budgets, isnt an easy feat, but is clearly worth it to capture all these lookers. Improving your SEO can certainly assist your SERP (Search Engine Result Page) ranking. But, more and more, search engines push organic results down the page, giving the top space to paid ads. In order to dominate in rankings, you need to have an SEM (Search Engine Marketing, also called Pay Per Click, or PPC) strategy. The need is even more apparent because third-party booking websites will bid on your propertys brand and key phrases, thereby showing up higher in the SERPs than your own listing for your property. Travelers, then, book through them rather than directly with you. If youre not bidding on your propertys brand and key phrases, traffic, and bookings will go to other websites. In our guide, we outline how exactly hoteliers can dominate their search engine results page and drive real hotel marketing performance. 2. Get Socially Savvy Social media isnt just a nice-to-have for smaller hotels. With everyone, and often their mom too, on a variety of social channels, you need to be present and engaged when and where everyone else is. But how can you do that effectively given the number of channels? Focus your efforts. Trying to hit every single social network is usually too time-consuming to do well. Instead, start your efforts by focussing on two. Use tools to smooth the process. Plan out your tweet or Instagram calendar with Buffer or Hootsuite. These tools allow you to schedule your promotions, so you dont have to sit behind a computer all day. These types of tools also optimize to tweet when your audience is online. Want even more help ensuring your social presence delivers value to your guests? Get the guide. 3. Keep Your Website Fresh Content is one of the most important aspects of a website. Big teams with large budgets work to ensure their websites are up to date, their CTAs convert, and are constantly testing multiple versions of Landing Pages at once. Just because you dont have as many resources doesnt mean you can pack a punch with your website. Focusing on a few key changes can make a sizeable impact over time, including: Keep content refreshed. New content boosts your SEO ranking because it shows youre an engaged and active participant on the internet. Change up your Call to Action (CTA). Your CTA should complete the sentence: I want to _________. Try new CTAs every few months to see what works and what doesnt. Get even more tips for keeping your content fresh and improving your hotel marketing with our guide. 4. Be Seen with Display Getting new guests to your property is no easy featespecially when you are competing with large chains and OTAs for the same booker. Prospecting via Display advertising is a great way to ensure youre getting in front of new travelers and driving them to book with you. For Example: A user searches for a hotel in New York, where your property is located. They use a search engine, an Online Travel Agency (or OTA) and a few competitor sites directly. This user is ideal for a prospecting because theyve shown interest in properties like yours and you know theyre in-market for travel. Using their own intent signals, prospecting allows you to reach them with an ad for your property, keeping your property top of mind when theyre ready to book. Want to learn more about Display? And how you can get them created at no cost to you? Check out our guide. About Catlyn Catlyn is Sojern's Senior Content Marketing Manager. She loves playing video games and hiking with her dog, Dottie. Her favorite part of travel is the food, preferring street food to fine dining. She holds a PhD in Philosophy. Yesterday, Drake University celebrated the one-year anniversary of what was a milestone in their schools history: Drake gracing their campus. As per the Des Moines Register, the Canadian rapper made his way to the school that bears his name in 2016, visiting the institution in the early morning hours after playing to a rabid crowd of 13,000-plus fans at the Wells Fargo Arena. The university, which is located in Des Moines, Iowa, shared a picture on their Instagram page commemorating the moment when the Canadian rapper first set feet on their campus. About 20 or so minutes later, Drizzy responded with this message: Be back soon. Of course, this sent the followers of the Drake University social media page into a fit of excitement, with a multitude of users practically begging him to come back to their school. Time for a commencement address invite? Better yet, get Aubrey hooked up with one of those honorary degrees? Just throwing out there, but seriously the interest is mutual. Drake University needs to get on this immediately. Speaking of over-the-top Drake fans, his dad Dennis may have just proved himself to be unmatched when it comes to public displays of affection for Drake the rapper. According to the report that we shared last week, Mr. Graham apparently got a large tattoo of his sons face on his right shoulder, with TMZ sharing the picture of the final product. While it may seem a little narcissistic to get your offsprings mug etched into your skin, when that offspring is Drake and worth the amount of money that hes pulled in over the course of his hip-hop career, you can appreciate where the emcees dad is coming from. Theres also the murmurs that Drizzy may be following up his 2011 album Take Care with a sequel of sorts. Even bigger news is that, based on some social media hints to support this theory, Drake may be enlisting the talents of fellow Canadian The Weeknd on a future cut from this project. Theres no indication that anything is imminent in terms of more music from Drake necessarily, but with pictures of him recording new material in Toronto made public already, theres no denying that something is on the way. Drake Chance the Rapper closed out his on-going tour Wednesday night in Los Angeles at the Hollywood Bowl, but for those of you who arent in the LA area to see the show go down live in person youre in luck. The Chicago rapper has decided to live stream his last show on Youtube and hes using the stream to benefit the victims of Hurricane Maria. Viewers at home have been encouraged to donate directly to Direct Relief, a global humanitarian organization committed to helping those affected by emergencies. For those interested in showing their support can do so by donating over at ChanceRaps.com. Watch the live stream go down while its still up, where the Chicago emcee also performs his new song with Daniel Caesar called First World Problems, which he debuted on Stephen Colbert last week. Watch it all go down (below). Update: The stream has ended, but well be sure to update you with some highlights and footage of the evening when they become available. Chance The Rapper isnt the only artist giving back to the hurricane relief efforts. Jay Z, Fat Joe, Carmelo Anthony, Remy Ma, and Pitbull are just some of the figures whove donated their time, money, and resources to help the hurricane-ravaged island. In fact, in similar fashion as tonights show with Chance, Jay Z is holding a benefit concert for Roc Nation artists & Tidal on October 17 in NYC. The event will feature performances by Cardi B, DJ Khaled, Joey Badass, and Tee Grizzley, ASAP Ferg, Vic Mensa, and more (See flyer below). In other related news, the Las Vegas shooter who killed 59 people Sunday night at the Mandalay Bay hotel had reportedly first targeted Chance The Rappers concert at the Life Is Beautiful Festival in Las Vegas the week prior. Senior law enforcement sources said that the shooter, Paddock, rented out numerous condos that overlooked the Festival, but for whatever reasons he didnt go through with his actions. But Chances show was originally intended to be the target of Paddocks senseless act. Read more on that story right here if you missed it Wednesday. Chance the rapper The shooter responsible for 58 deaths and hundreds injured in Las Vegas last week, had reportedly booked a hotel room overlooking the Lollapalooza festival just two months prior. The four-day festival, that is based in Chicago, ran from August 3rd to August 6th. TMZ reports that Stephen Paddock booked two rooms at a Michigan Avenue hotel, with a specific request to have his room overlook the venue at Grant Park. Stephen reportedly booked one room for August 1st (two days before the festival began) and the second for August 3rd. Both dates had an August 6th checkout, the same day the festival ended. Although Stephen never checked in to his booked hotel rooms (thankfully), its scary to think of what could have been, considering the view he had. His hotel room had the perfect birds eye view of the festival grounds and saw the entrance to the festival, which had around 400,000 guests pouring in and out. If an emergency was to happen, whether it be a shooting or just a quick escape needed, things would be hard as Lake Michigan is on one side of the grounds leaving only one main exit. We also learned yesterday that Stephen had rented out numerous rooms in a condo that overlooked the Life Is Beautiful Festival in Las Vegas, where Lorde and Chance the Rapper headlined. He rented rooms at The Ogden, a 21-story luxury condo building with perfect views of the Life Is Beautiful Festival grounds. UFC President Dana White has stepped forward since the massacre to donate $1M to the families of those affected. In addition to the fund, the UFC 216 pay-per-view event on Saturday, located at the T-Mobile Arena in Vegas, will see all proceeds dedicated to the entire city of Las Vegas. At the end of the day, this is our city we love this place, White told ESPN. The first thing when we got up this morning, everybody, personally, got it together and made sure anybody they know or love was OK. Then we came in here and made sure all of our employees are OK. Paddock In the wake of the tragic Las Vegas shooting, the gun control debate has inevitably reopened. Generally, the topic tends to emerge after every mass shooting, pitting Republicans and Democrats against one another on the political sphere. And, as is so often the case these days, artists and entertainers tend to enter the conversation, using their extensive platforms to share their own personal view on the matter. As you probably know, T.I. is no stranger to sociopolitical discourse, having voiced strong opinions on police brutality, Black Lives Matter, and various divisive issues. Now, TIP has delivered his own take on the ongoing gun control debate, and its bound to get people talking. TMZ caught TIP as he was heading to his car, and pressed him for his thoughts on gun control. T.I. seemed to be in a bit of a rush, but he ultimately delivered a bit of food for thought on the matter. When asked if gun laws should be reformed so that American citizens couldnt own assault rifles, TI responded by saying to me man, as long as the criminals have em, I think citizens should be able to have em. While the response comes off as a little jaded, T.I. does elaborate on a possible solution: I think there should be, like, mental evaluations. The same for people running for president, by the way, he concludes, with a smirk. While it wouldnt be a T.I. knowledge drop without a little shot at Trump, his equal opportunity stance on gun control does open some interesting doors. Would everybody running around packing weapons straight out of Grand Theft Auto ultimately decrease the number of shootings? However, T.I. is clearly a fan of the heavy artillery; in 2007, T.I.P was arrested for possession of illegal firearms, including unlicensed machine guns and silencers. What do yall think of TIPs comments? T.I. 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, Oct 5 (IBNS): DMCC, Dubai-based leading trade and enterprise hub for commodities, recently organised a programme called aDUBAI KOLKATA: The corridor between the Middle East and Eastern Indiaa in Kolkata. Trade and cultural links have tied the Gulf countries and India together over centuries. This programme aimed to foster much closer ties between the two regions. DMCC is a Government of Dubai entity, dedicated to enhancing Dubais position as the global gateway for trade by providing world-class physical, financial and smart infrastructure as well as regulatory frameworks, services, and expertise needed to build marketplaces for success. Gautam Sashittal, Chief Executive Officer, DMCC, said Valued at just US$180 million in the 1970s, compared to the US$50 billion we see today, the UAE-India partnership is a great example of how strong leadership and collaboration delivers. Our inaugural DMCC Made for Trade Live road show in Kolkata sets out to build on this success by connecting business leaders in Kolkata, West Bengal with Dubais pro-business community to unlock new opportunities and strengthen the future of trade for all." The Dubai-Kolkata corridor meet had been organised to enable DMCC members to connect with business interests in Kolkata, tapping its geopolitical area of more than 500 million people. By tapping into the inherent strengths of Dubai and Kolkata, the event aimed to boost exchanges and investments across the two cities, the organisers said. Likewise, businesses in Kolkata looking to expand into new markets will benefit from learning more about DMCC and its Free Zone offering. Ambarish Dasgupta Senior partner, Intueri Consulting LLP said, Multi country approach to doing business is a method many countries are adopting in the present state of global economy. Pacts are being signed between countries to bring about integration in business and bringing self sufficiency. West Bengal having a long coastline offers an excellent opportunity through its waterways as a trade route which is often a cheaper way of doing business than conventional routes. So this meet serves to connect the gateway of world Dubai to the gateway of eastern India and South East Asia-Kolkata and exchange business interests between the two corridors. Having explored Mumbai and Delhi ,DMCC is here to explore the inherent strengths of the region in manufacturing, services , and seek other business opportunities and offer the facilities of DMCC to set up business in Dubai." The keynote address on Indo-Arab Cooperation in Transport and Logistics was delivered by West Bengal minister Javed Ahmed Khan. "Today, in this event promoted by the DMCC, with the collaboration of Art Valley, we send forth a message of integration," said Khan. "Before the British Empire, another empire came to India and even to Bengal, it was the Roman Empire, where integration was the model. This integration event is aimed at forging new friendships between India and the Arab world and therefore also rebuilding and renewing existing ties." He said, "The DMCC, the worlds most effective Free Zone, shows us a model useful for Bengal in terms of a leading trade and enterprise hub for commodities." Prominent speakers at the conference also included Ahmad Sultan Al Falahi (Minister Plenipotentiary - Commercial Attache, Embassy of India), Krysta Fox (Executive Director, DMCC), Sanjeev Dutta (Executive Director, Commodities, DMCC), Pankaj Parekh (Chairman IICCI Eastern Regional Committee), Gautam Ray (Vice President, FOSMI), Zia Nafis (Director NTI Group, Adjoint Secretary of the CLC Tanners Association), Satyavrat Singh (CEO, JS Group), Amitesh Singh (CEO, Suman Forwarding Agency), representatives of IICCI, and Tanneries Association. The conference was designed and co-organised in partnership with ArtValley, an international organisation that hosts international projects for the promotion of cultural and business ties. Since weve been working for years to build bridges between areas experiencing growth and were already been dealing with exchanges between Italy and West Bengal, we also realised that trade between the Arab Gulf and Eastern India has a long history. The development of exchanges between the DMCC in Dubai, a world-class trading marketplace, and West Bengal, the area with the fastest-growing GDP, can bring major growth increases for both parties, said Prof. Alberto Cavicchiolo, Director, ArtValley. Mumbai, Oct 5 (IBNS): : SHAREit, an social content sharing platform, is all set to deepdive into the central states of India. To create higher brand recall and preference towards SHAREit among the youth, they have tied up with 20 colleges in Indore. SHAREit has also selected ambassadors from each campus who will play an important role in creating awareness about SHAREit and expanding their loyal user base in these markets. Summer Du, Marketing Director, SHAREit technology said: It was really nice interacting with the students and they are a very creative and energetic bunch. They like to share music, videos and popular games with their family and friends using SHAREit. They also helped us with some innovative ideas which we are considering as for SHAREit, our users are of prime importance and we ensure we deliver a superior experience.This is also the reason that contributes to billion user base worldwide, with almost 300 million from India. We will continue this program and meet for students to strengthen our growth in India. Adding to the SHAREits effort one of their ambassadors Riya Kohli, from Acropolis Indore said, This will undeniably help SHAREit to leverage their app features and rope in a good number of positive reviews and responses: Its an honor to be an ambassador of SHAREit. We as a team plan to promote SHAREit, through a booth near the college gate where we can interact with them during the students break hours. We are glad to meet SHAREit team in our college, who replicate our enthusiasm. With Summers speech, we got to know more about global marketing and some great tips about our career in the future. We got the opportunity to join SHAREit marketing activity; and certificate fortunate few also won SHAREits SHARING STAR certificates that we will cherish all our life. Guwahati, Oct 5 (IBNS) : An alleged hardcore militant belonging to the United Kuki Liberation Front (UKLF) was arrested by security forces in Manipuras Kakching district on Wednesday, officials said on Thursday. According to reports based on intelligence input, Manipur police had launched operation at Serou Lamkhai area in Kakching district and arrested a self styled sergeant of UKLF, identified as Kamkholun Guite. Security personnel recovered a 9 mm pistol with a magazine and other ammunition from his possession. Meanwhile, Assam Rifles recovered recovered one 9 mm Glock pistol and two magazines from a vehicle near Moreh town along the Myanmar border. Security personnel also arrested a person in connection with it. (Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath) New Delhi, Oct 5 (IBNS): Hinting at a landmark electoral reform in the country, Election Commissioner Of India, OP Rawat, on Thursday said the commission is ready to hold a joint election, Vidhan Sabha and Lok Sabha together, in 2018 if more machines are available. Supplementing the proposal put forward by the Modi government, Rawat told the media: "Simultaneous elections are possible in the country if more machines are available." Earlier, the central government has proposed for holding a unified election across all levels, panchayat, Vidhan Sabha and Lok Sabha. Now, the question has cropped up whether the government will push for a constitutional change to hold a joint election in all states and union territories of the country or only organise the Lok Sabha election with the poll bound states in 2018. Assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Tripura, Karnataka, Rajasthan and Mizoram are scheduled to be held in 2018. Though the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s ally partner in Bihar, the Janata Dal (United), has supported the central government's plan of unified election, the ruling party in West Bengal, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) objected to it, calling it "a wild idea". While the assembly election in Bihar is scheduled to be held in 2020, West Bengal still has more than three years to go for the state polls. Guwahati, Oct 5 (IBNS): Two students of Meghalaya's St Anthony's Higher Secondary School, who were allegedly kidnapped from Shillong, were rescued by Assam Police from Guwahati on Wednesday. According to reports, the two boys from Latimukhrah in Shillong went missing since October 3. Relatives of the minors lodged an FIR at Latimukhrah police station. Following the incident, Meghalaya Police contacted Assam Police and Guwahati City Police. The boys were first detected in the Adabari area of Guwahati on Wednesday and later traced to Jalukbari area. Subsequently, Assam Police handed over the duo to a Meghalaya police team. (Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath) Agra, Oct 5 (IBNS): Former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav, has been elected as the Samajwadi Party (SP) chief for five years, media reports said. Akhilesh has been chosen as the party chief at a national meeting in Agra on Thursday. The meeting was held at the Central Telegraph ground in Agra Cantonment. Former UP chief minister, Akhilesh Yadav, got himself into a bitter power tussle in the party before the 2017 assembly election in the state, to establish his hold on the party. However, SP, which had forged an alliance with the Congress to contest the assembly election 2017, was reduced to only 50 odd seats, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) swept the poll bagging 325 out of the 403 seats. Image: Facebook page of Akhilesh Yadav Addis Ababa/New Delhi, Oct 5 (IBNS): President of India Ram Nath Kovind, who arrived in Ethiopia on Wednesday, addressed an Indian community reception in Addis Ababa hosted by the Ambassador of India to Ethiopia, Anurag Srivastava. Speaking on the occasion, the President said Indian community in Ethiopia has been at the centre of India-Ethiopia relations. The President said as teachers and educators, the Indian community have given a helping hand to nation building in their host country. As entrepreneurs, they have created economic opportunities and imparted skills to local people. As tech-professionals and workers they have added value to Ethiopian industry. With hard work and dedication, the President said, the Indian community has built respect for itself within Ethiopian society. And yet it has retained and carried forward Indian values, family traditions and work ethic while adapting very well to this adopted home. The President said that Ethiopia, like India, is a land of diversity, of multiple languages and varied cuisines; of music, dance and drama. The Indian community here must take advantage of the local eclectic culture as well as showcase and share our own cultural diversity. The President said both India and Ethiopia have large young populations. The youth are the future, and it is from them that new ideas would come. He advised the Indian community to make special efforts to connect with Ethiopias youth. He stated that this would help them germinate their ideas to provide solutions for a better world, be it tacking climate change or skilling people. The President said the Government of India seeks sustained and proactive engagement with the overseas community. The purpose of this engagement is to provide an opportunity to familiarise the community with transformational changes taking place in India. The President said the Government of India cares for the overseas Indian community and keeps its promise to stand by them. He referred to efforts made to evacuate Indian citizens from Yemen (as part of Operation Rahat in 2015) and Libya, or more recently help individuals and families during the floods in parts of the United States. The event in Addis Ababa was attended by some 500 members of Ethiopias Indian community. The Indian community is spread all over the country and is 5,000 strong. Earlier on Wednesday, Dr Mulatu Teshome, the President of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, was present at the Bole International Airport to receive President Kovind. Subsequently, the Indian President was accorded a Guard of Honour and witnessed an Ethiopian cultural music performance. President Kovind is the first Indian President to visit Ethiopia in 45 years and the third overall. President V.V. Giri (1972) and President S. Radhakrishnan (1965) had previously travelled to Ethiopia. Image: PIB Ahmedabad, Oct 5 (IBNS) : Rejecting the plea of Zakia Jafri, the widow of the slain Congress MP Ehsan Jafri, The Gujarat High Court on Thursday upheld the closure report that gave a clean chit to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and 61 others in 2002 post-Godhra riots case, The Indian Express reported. The court also dismissed Jafris allegation against the accused that the riots were part of a larger conspiracy. However, allowed Zakia to approach higher forums for further investigation in the case. The trial court has self-limited itself in saying that further investigation, in this case, cant be ordered. This order of lower court deserves interference. So, the petitioner can raise the issue before the concerned court that is the same magisterial court, the division bench of the high court or supreme court, Justice Sonia Gokani said. The court observed that the magisterial court, which first accepted the closure report, was wrong in its judgment that it didnt have the power to order a fresh investigation. The court doesnt believe in the larger conspiracy theory propounded by the petitioners as the supreme court has monitored the investigation, Justice Gokani said. Zakia had moved the high court in 2014 against a closure report filed by Supreme Court-appointed SIT on the issue of a larger criminal conspiracy involving Modi and others behind 2002 riots cases. Her husband Ahsan Jafri was among the 69 victims in the Gulbarga Society arson. . The SIT had filed a closure report against Modi and other accused after an investigation. It said that there was not enough material to prosecute Haridwar/New Delhi, Oct 5 (IBNS): Spiritual institutions in India have been centres for the spread of social reform, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi while addressing a gathering to mark the inauguration of Umiya Dham Ashram in Haridwar, Uttarakhand, via video conferencing. The Prime Minister described tourism as an ancient concept in India, and a spiritual tradition. He said the Ashram will benefit the pilgrims coming to Haridwar. He said the idea of a Yatra existed as an integral part of Indian culture. "Through a Yatra, we get acquainted with various parts of the country that we may have never seen otherwise," he said. The Prime Minister said that the work being done by devotees of Ma Umiya has touched the lives of several people. They have spread awareness on gender equality. Goddess Umiya is the family deity (Kuldevi) of the Patidar caste, who primarily reside in Gujarat. He specially thanked the women of Mehsana district of Gujarat, who have furthered the message of "Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao." The Prime Minister appealed to all devotees of Ma Umiya to become Swachhagrahis, and add strength to the Swachh Bharat Mission. Image: PIB New Delhi, Oct 5 (IBNS) : The Indian Air Force (IAF) Chief B S Dhanoa on Thursday said India is fully prepared for full spectrum of air operations and respond to any challenge, media reports said. Addressing a press conference on the eve of the Air Force Day, he said, "IAF is prepared to fight at short notice in full synergy with other two sister services, should the need arise." "IAF has capability to carry out full spectrum of air operations," the Air chief said. On the issue of the tactical nuclear weapons of Pakistan,, Dhanoa also asserted "Air Force has the capability to locate, fix and strike across the border." Replying a question, Dhanoa said, "Surgical strike is a decision that has to be taken by Govt of India." The IAF chief, however, expressed concern over the losses during peace time. "Our losses during peace time are cause of concern. We are making concentrated efforts to minimize accidents and preserve our assets." Thiruvanthapuram, Oct 5 (IBNS) : BJP President Amit Shah on Thursday skipped the second leg of the party's padayatra in Kerala to make himself available for a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, reports said. BJP state president Kummanam Rajasekharan told reporters that Shah would be unable to attend the 'Janaraksha Yatra' owing to a meeting he has to attend with PM Modi in the national capital. The march, being organised in protest against "red and jihadi terrorism" would pass from Mambaram to Thalassery in Kannaur district. Thursday is the third day of the march that began on Tuesda On Wednesday, Uttar Pradesh Chief minister, Yogi Adityanath, had led the yatra and accused the left party of promoting "jihadi terrorism." BJP has been has been making a hard campaign in Kerala to give a jolt to the Communist Government. Guwahati, Oct 5 (IBNS) : At least eight new-born babies, aged between 2-4 days died in the past 24 in Assamas Fakkrudin Ali Ahmed Medical College at Barpeta. According to reports, five new-born babies died on Wednesday evening in a span of four hours, while three others died on Thursday. Local people and parents of the deceased infants alleged that the hospital does not have adequate supply of oxygen, which led the tragedy. Hospital authorities told the district administration representatives during preliminary investigations that the babies were underweight as their mothers did not get the required care during pregnancy. An official of the medical college hospital said there is a shortage of doctors. Assam health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has ordered an inquiry into the incident. He said the babies were kept in sick new born care unit and given proper medical attention. It is solely the critical nature of the cases that led to the deaths. Two mothers are below 20 years. Barpeta medical hospital is witnessing less infant mortalities this year as compared to the previous year's . The number of doctors in the child care unit is stable. We opened the sick new born care unit just two months ago," he said. However, several organizations including Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS), have demanded resignation of Himanta Biswa Sarma owning responsibility responsibility for the incident. According to the reports of Sample Registration System (SRS), the highest IMR in 2016 was reported in Madhya Pradesh (47) followed by Asam and Odisha (44). The lowest IMR was reported in Goa (8). (Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath) Kolkata, Oct 5 (IBNS): West Bengal President of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Dilip Ghosh claimed that he and few of his companions were beaten up by Trinamool Congress (TMC) activists and the followers of expelled Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) leader Binoy Tamang in Darjeeling hills on Thursday. According to reports, Dilip Ghosh was holding a party meeting in central Darjeeling on Thursday afternoon when protesters intervened and forced BJP leaders to postpone the meeting. BJP leaders alleged that while they were leaving the meeting-place, the mob suddenly attacked them without any provocation. "They had suddenly started assaulting us. Besides shouting 'Go Back BJP' slogan, they kicked us and beat us with sticks, rods and shoes," Dilip Ghosh told IBNS. BJP leaders and activists somehow managed to escape from the area and took shelter at Sadar Police Station in Darjeeling's Chowk Bazar area. "We are at Sadar Police Station now and I'm okay. But few of our activists got injured and they have been rushed to hospital," Ghosh added. "This was a pre-planned attacked carried out by TMC and Bijoy Tamang's followers," Dilip Ghosh alleged. "Police provided us absolutely no security today and we did not spot a single policeman between Sadar Police Station and the spot where we were attacked." BJP leaders said that a complaint has been lodged at the local police station while the party's central leadership has been informed about the incident. "We have lodged police complaint against 'unidentified' attackers as we could not recognize them. There are enough footage and pictures, using which police can identify the miscreants if they want," Dilip Ghosh said. Police said that a probe into the incident has been started "We received a complaint and have initiated investigation into the matter," a local police official told IBNS. Meanwhile, TMC Secretary General Partha Chatterjee accused BJP leaders for the incident. "Peace has been restored in Darjeeling hills and BJP leaders went there with an agenda to trigger tension again," Partha Chatterjee said. "Dilip Ghosh and other BJP leaders are responsible for today's incident." Darjeeling witnessed violent unrest over strikes by the GJM in past few months and on Sep 26 GJM called off the 'indefinite' shut down in the hills after 104 days following the appeal of Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh. (Reporting by Deepayan Sinha) Patna, Oct 5 (TheBiharPost/IBNS) : RJD chief Lalu Prasad was on Thursday quizzed by the CBI in the land-for-hotel scam in which his wife Rabri Devi and son Tejashwi Yadav are also accused. Prasad reached the CBI headquarters in Delhi before noon in the company of his daughter Misa Bharti. Soon thereafter, his questioning started. Prasad appeared before the CBI after defying three summons in the past. His son and former deputy chief minister of Bihar Tejashwi is scheduled to be questioned on Friday. Both are accused of awarding the maintenance contract for two IRCTC hotels to a private firm after receiving bribe of three acre land plots in Patna. The fresh case of corruption was registered against them in July last. The same month, the CBI conducted a raid at the residence of Prasad in connection with the scam which ultimately led to the break-up in the ruling Grand Alliance and formation of a NDA government led by same Nitish Kumar. However, the RJD leaders alleged the case was only a excuse for Nitish Kumar to walk out of the Grand Alliance and return to the BJP camp. thebiharpost.com Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 5 (IBNS): Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday over their 15-day long Jana Raksha Yatra, which was launched on Tuesday against an alleged Leftist violence in the state, media reports said. Making a scathing attack on the BJP and RSS, Vijayan said: "Nobody should think that they can intimidate us. If they think that they can do something here with old RSS faces in the centre and other states, they are wrong." Calling the yatra, which was launched by BJP president Amit Shah, to be unsuccessful, the chief minister said the saffron party is trying to destroy the secularism in Kerala with the power of the central government. "Kerala has no lessons of peace to learn from you people who consider Nathuram Godse as your god. If you are trying to threaten us, keep in mind that we always dare to take up such challenges," the CM added. Meanwhile, Shah on Thursday skipped the second leg of the party's padayatra in Kerala to make himself available for a meeting with prime minister Narendra Modi. BJP state president Kummanam Rajasekharan told reporters that Shah would be unable to attend the 'Jana Raksha Yatra' owing to a meeting he has to attend with PM Modi at the national capital. The march, being organised in protest against "red and jihadi terrorism" would pass from Mambaram to Thalassery in Kannaur district. On Wednesday, Uttar Pradesh chief minister, Yogi Adityanath, had led the yatra and accused the left party of promoting "jihadi terrorism." While walking in the roadshow, Adityanath told media: "The killings in Kerala prove the state government's indulgence in the hate crime. The government has created a jihadi atmosphere in the state." The fifteen-day Yatra has created a political battle in Kerala with the BJP and the ruling CPI(M) engaging in verbal exchanges. Reacting strongly to the BJP's yatra, the CPI(M) has put up a tweet to say: "Those who dont have time to check on the law and order situation in BJP ruled states are trying their best destabilise #Kerala." CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat also reportedly said: "Amit Shah is deliberately inciting violence against #CPIM leaders & its workers." The Yatra, which was launched by BJP president Amit Shah on Tuesday, is mainly to protest against the killings of BJP and RSS workers in the state. In one of the recent incidents, in August, an RSS worker was hacked to death by a group of assailants. While police say that there was personal enmity, the BJP alleged the hand of the CPI(M), the reports said. The family of Rajesh, the slain RSS activist, has blamed the ruling CPI(M) for his death. The BJP has been has been making a hard campaign in Kerala to give a jolt to the communist government. Kolkata, Oct 5 (IBNS): Trinamool Congress (TMC) Lok Sabha MP Aparupa Poddar appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday morning for interrogation in connection with the Narada sting operation when a team of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) reached former West Bengal minister Madan Mitra's flat in Kolkata's outskirts to reconstruct the transaction episode, sources said. After being summoned, TMC MP from Arambagh Lok Sabha constituency in Hooghly district of West Bengal, Aparupa Poddar, reached ED office at CGO Complex in Kolkata's Salt Lake area. She was interrogated for hours and her statement was recorded, according to sources. Earlier on Aug 31, Aparupa Poddar was questioned for hours by CBI in connection with the same case at her residence at Rishra in Hooghly district. Meanwhile, a four-member team of CBI visited former cabinet minister Madan Mitra's flat at Dakshineswar near Kolkata, where Narada News's former CEO Mathew Samuel allegedly handed over money to Mitra. Madan Mitra was with the CBI team during the reconstruction of the episode and claimed that he had cooperated with the probe agency. Mitra was quizzed by the CBI in connection with Narada sting operation last month. Since Mar 14 last year, news portal- Narada News- released several sting operation footage, where TMC's leaders, ministers, MPs and MLAs were allegedly seen accepting bribes. From the beginning, TMC leadership had claimed that the sting footage was doctored and a conspiracy of the opposition parties. After getting direction from the Calcutta High Court and Supreme Court, the CBI has started a probe into the case. On April 17, the investigation agency registered an FIR in connection with the case under several non-bailable sections against 12 influential leaders, cabinet ministers, MLAs and MPs of TMC and one senior IPS officer, who were seen allegedly taking bribes in the sting footage, reports said. Besides CBI, the Enforcement Directorate (ED), has registered a money laundering case in the Narada sting and currently investigating the case. (Reporting by Deepayan Sinha) Guwahati, Oct 5 (IBNS): Newly appointed Arunachal Pradesh Governor Brig (Dr.) B.D. Mishra (Retd) on Thursday chaired his first review meeting on developmental activities of the State with the senior officers of the State Government at Raj Bhavan in Itanagar. Chief Secretary Shakuntala D Gamlin along with Commissioners and Secretaries of various departments attended the meeting. Interacting with the senior officials, the Governor called upon them to put in their heart and mind in implementing the ongoing developmental projects and programmes. He advised them to take up work in a mission mode. The Governor emphasized on quality education, training and skill development, better healthcare facilities, cleanliness and end open defecation, timely and proper implementation of projects and pollution free environment and sustainable development. Expressing his concerns against corruption and leakage of public funds, he stressed on third party auditing, e-payment and payment through bank accounts he also stressed that there must be no complacent in taking precautions to mitigate and adept to disasters. Underscoring sense of security amongst the people, the Governor advised the Secretary Home and Director General of Police to ensure that no citizen of Arunachal Pradesh joins anti-national groups and work against the security and integrity of the Nation. While stating that he will take up the issues of the State with the Union Government, the Governor assured to voice the challenges of the people with the appropriate authorities. Issues including border area development, internet connectivity, roads, healthcare, waste management, environment and forests, Tirap, Changlang and Longding, State own resources and national flagship programmes were discussed in threadbare manner. Earlier, the Chief Secretary briefed the Governor on the overall developmental scenario of the State. The Commissioners and Secretaries of various departments also apprised him of their concerned departmental affairs. (Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath) Mumbai, Oct 5 (IBNS): After days of enduring media speculation, Bollywood actor Hrithik Roshan finally took to social media to clear the air, stating that he has been dragged into a dirty perverse mess. Posting a three page letter on the micro blogging site Twitter, the actor vented ire against the media, while taking a sly jab at Kangana, without naming her. Hitting out at the media, he said, "Just like a nagging health issue sometimes ignored can turn malignant, this situation for me has unfortunately turned malignant. In case of the matter at hand, it seems the media has no intention of letting go." He added that contrary to media reports, he never met Kangana in private. "The truth is, I have never met the lady in question one on one in my entire life. Yes, we have worked together, but there has been no meeting in private. Thats the truth," he said. "Women have suffered centuries of abuse at the hands of men and it infuriates me how some men can be so brutal and they deserve the harshest punishment. But by that logic if it ordains that one man can't be vulnerable and one woman can't be a liar, so be it. I'm ok with that too," the Bollywood superstar said. Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut last month broke her silence over her alleged relationship with industry mate Hrithik Roshan saying the conflict with the latter didn't die down rather had a proper end to it as the actor failed to prove any of his claims made against her. Kangana said: "He (Hrithik) claimed many things and said there is an imposter but failed to prove anything and the report of cyber crime [ of emails sent to the actor from the id of Kangana] is nil. Also he and his father [Rakesh Roshan] claimed to expose (me) but they didn't say anything." Upholding the report of the cyber crime cell, the Rangoon actress said nothing was found against her. The actress who had shared screen space with Hrithik in Krrish 3, even went on to say that she was afraid at the whole incident. "Of course I was afraid of it. Who wouldn't be? .....I didn't know I was a part of such a big scam. This person (Hrithik) has done prep. (preparation) for two years to put me behind bars for having an affair with him," alleged Kangana demanding an apology from Hrithik and his father Rakesh Roshan over the whole incident. Here's the full statement of Hrithik Roshan: "I choose to be on a path of creativity, productivity and constructive work. Anything that isn't in alignment with that, I tend to ignore, sidestep and treat as a distraction. I believe that ignorance, non reaction and staying on the path of dignity is the best way to discourage any persistent unwanted intrusions. But Just like a nagging health issue sometimes ignored can turn malignant, this situation for me has unfortunately turned malignant. In case of the matter at hand, it seems the media has no intention of letting go. I don't see any grace in adding to this circus by testifying in defence of my character in a situation that I have no involvement in whatsoever. I have been dragged into a dirty perverse mess without a choice in the matter. This is something that is not of my making. The truth is, I have never met the lady in question one on one in my entire life. Yes, we have worked together, but there has been no meeting in private. Thats the truth Please understand, I am not fighting against an allegation of an affair. Or being childish trying to uphold a good guy image. I am very aware of my faults, I am human. I am in fact protecting myself from something far more serious, sensitive and destructive than that. Sadly, very few from the media or the public seem to be interested in the truth. This has been a hard-learnt fact for me. If the people are comfortable with a lie because it doesn't threaten their model of the world where a girl is the victim and the man the aggressor then so be it. I am ok with that too. Women have suffered centuries of abuse at the hands of men and it infuriates me how some men can be so brutal and they deserve the harshest punishment. But by that logic if it ordains that one man can't be vulnerable and one woman can't be a liar, so be it. I'm ok with that too. An alleged 7-year long, passionate affair between two high profile celebrities with no trail left behind. No evidence, no paparazzi pictures, no witnesses, not even a memento in possession like a selfie taken at the alleged engagement which is claimed to have happened in Paris in Jan 2014. Nothing that constitutes an exchange or any sort of proof of a romantic relationship. Yet we want to believe the other party because the rhetoric is -why would a girl lie. My passport details show no travel outside the country in Jan 2014, which is the date that this alleged engagement supposedly took place. In Paris. The only so-called proof presented of this alleged "relationship", was a photoshopped picture in the media. This was immediately exposed, the very next day by friends including my ex-wife. These questions are not even asked, because we are taught to protect the woman, as we should. I myself have been brought up to think the same way, by my parents and the wonderful women in my life who have been my rock and support system. I'm deeply grateful to them. I will do my best to teach my children the same values of family and dignity. And yes, I will teach them to stand up for women. Always. There are 3000 one sided mails which either I have sent to myself or the woman in question has sent to me. The Cyber-Crime Dept. can prove or disprove either story, in just a few days. Towards that purpose, I have surrendered all my devices including laptops / phones etc which are still lying with the cyber cell , but the other party has refused to do so. The investigation hasn't been closed. This is not, and I repeat, not a lovers spat. I humbly request people to stop labelling it as one and, for a second, try and see it for what it really is. I have been harassed by this for 4 years and the well meaning and probably necessary social bias toward women has deemed me helpless in defending myself. I am not angry, I have seldom allowed anger into my life. I have not had a single fight in my life, with a man or a woman. Even in my divorce, there was no fight. I, and those around me, have always chosen peace. I am not here to accuse or judge anyone, but it's time I defend the truth because when truth suffers the collective consciousness of society suffers. Civilization suffers. Closer to home, families suffer. Children suffer." The post has so far received over 6.3 thousand likes and has been shared over 350 times. New York, Oct 5 (Just Earth News): Highlighting the problems posed by illicit financial flows globally, including undermining rule of law and human rights, a United Nations human rights expert has called on Switzerland to ensure that so called dirty money a which stems from tax evasion and corruption a does not enter its financial market. Despite significant efforts in adopting legislation and improving procedures to detect suspicious transactions, the risk that the Swiss financial market is used for money laundering remains, said Juan Pablo Bohoslavsky, the UN Independent Expert on foreign debt and human rights, in a news release issued by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). Facilitated by weak institutions and lack of good governance in countries of origin and financial opacity in countries of destination, illicit financial flows, such as money laundering are a particular concern in developing and under developed countries, syphoning money and resources which could have otherwise used for public services. In the case of Switzerland, the UN expert noted that the risk of money laundering is particularly highlighted by the involvement of several banks in the Petrobas corruption scandal and in the suspicious cash flows linked to the Malaysian sovereign fund 1MDB. It is especially troubling that these events are not from years ago the money was still being accepted until quite recently, added Bohoslavsky, who on Wednesday concluded his first official visit to the European nation. In the news release, the expert also underlined that criminal sanctions in Switzerland for assisting foreigners to evade taxes remained relatively weak noting that criminal liability arises only if the tax evaded in a foreign jurisdiction exceeds 300,000 CHF (about $307,500). He also urged that the staffing, resources and powers of the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority needed to be proportional to the size of the Swiss financial market, and those who infringed standards needed to be named to ensure individual corporate accountability. Further, noting that favourable tax arrangements in Switzerland made it attractive for multinational corporations to establish their headquarters in the country, but also provided incentives for profit-shifting, affecting tax revenues in foreign countries. I call upon the Swiss authorities to carry out a social and human rights impact assessment of the proposed corporate tax reform package, which should include an analysis of how the reforms will impact on tax revenues available for the realization of economic and social rights within Switzerland and for individuals living abroad, in particular in developing countries, said the UN expert. Bohoslavsky visited the country at the invitation of the Swiss authorities, where he met with Government officials as well as with leaders in the banking, financial and trading sectors, civil society and the academia in Bern (the capital), Basel, Geneva and Zurich. His findings and key recommendations will be presented in a comprehensive report to the Geneva-based Human Rights Council the highest UN intergovernmental forum on rights issues in March 2018. Independent Experts and Special Rapporteurs are appointed by the Human Rights Council to examine and report back on a specific human rights theme or a country situation. The positions are honorary and the experts are not UN staff, nor are they paid for their work. UN Photo/Jean-Marc Ferre Source: www.justearthnews.com New York, Oct 5(Just Earth News): Condemning an attack against a court house in the Libyan city of Misrata, the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) underscored that those behind the incident must be held accountable. At least three individuals were killed and more than 15 injured in the attack on Wednesday, the responsibility for which is claimed by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Daesh) terrorist group. Indiscriminate attacks against civilians, including employees of the judicial institutions, are violations of human rights and international humanitarian law and cannot be justified, the Mission said in a statement. Those behind on Wednesday's bombing and other such despicable acts must face justice. In the statement, the Mission also expressed its solidarity with the Government and people of Libya. It added that the Special Representative for the Secretary-General for the country and the head of UNSMIL, Ghassan Salame, expressed his condolences to the families of those killed and wished a swift recovery to the injured. UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe Source: www.justearthnews.com New York, Oct 5(Just Earth News): A three-day event on how to, among other things, improve womenas involvement in the aerospace sector as well as in the fields of science, technology and mathematics, kicked off on Wednesday under the leadership of two United Nations offices. The UN Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) and UN Women have teamed up in organizing a Space for Women Expert Meeting that will culminate at UN Headquarters in New York to share expertise, enhance partnerships and promote efforts to encourage women and girls to become involved in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education especially in developing countries. Space for Women is really a gender mainstreaming project where we will like to work with Member States; not only for STEM education but also to help young girls when they graduate to then find their place in their own society without being obliged to leave their own country, Simonetta Di Pippo, Director of UNOOSA, said prior to the event. The meeting will also delve into the role of space technology and science to fulfil Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5 on gender equality. And this has to be done with each Member State, and we will start with a small group of champions as I like to call them so, pilot countries with which we will develop this medium to long-term project, she added. With the most cross-cutting thematic priority of capacity-building for the twenty-first century, the event is discussing innovative approaches to meet the 2030 Agenda. Astronauts, diplomats, decision makers and experts from around the globe have converged in to discuss the creation of a dedicated Space for Women Project. In line with UNOOSAs vision to bring the benefits of space to humankind, the focus of the Project is to realize that women and girls are included in those benefits and that they play an active and equal role in space science, technology, innovation and exploration. On the final day of the event, a high-level panel on Space for Women, which will include UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, Di Pippo and UN Womens Deputy Executive Director Laskhmi Puri, will make recommendations to UNOOSA. The proposals, which will focus on using space to empower women, womens involvement in the aerospace industry and STEM fields, and how alliances can be made to move forward the project, will feed into the development of the 'Space for Women' project. The first UN Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space on the global governance of space activities, known as UNISPACE, was held in 1968 with subsequent others in 1968, 1982 and 1999. June 2018 will mark its 50th anniversary with a special segment of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, which will set the future course of global space cooperation to advance humanity. In December 1999, the General Assembly declared World Space Week to be celebrated internationally each year from 4 to 10 October. Photo: World Bank/Stephan Gladieu Source: www.justearthnews.com Las Vegas, Oct 5 (IBNS): Partner of Las Vegas shooter Stephen Paddock, Marilou Danley, who appeared before police recently, said that she had no idea what her partner was planning, according to reports. Meanwhile, the local police suggested that Paddock had been living a 'secret life', adding that he actually planned to escape following the massacre. However, as things unfolded on Sunday night, when the shooter killed at least 58 people and injured over 500 others while firing randomly, he also committed suicide to escape arrest. Earlier, on Tuesday, police found at least 42 guns and several loaded high capacity magazines after raiding his hotel room and his Mesquite, Nevada home. In another raid, officials recovered more explosives in Paddock's car at the hotel, along with about 1,600 rounds of ammunition, the BBC reported. Paddock had also booked into an apartment at the high-rise Ogden in downtown Las Vegas a week earlier. Artistes including Muse, Lorde and Blink-182 were due to play there in a week's time. Police are still probing the motive behind one of modern US' worst shooting case. "We don't understand it yet," Clark County Sheriff Joseph Lombardo told reporters at a press conference on Wednesday. Even though police maintain that they are yet to find a terror link, Lombardo said, "You've got to make the assumption he had to have some help at some point." Recording her statement, Danley said she was horrified by the "horrible unspeakable acts of violence", her partner had committed. "I loved him and hoped for a quiet future together," she added. Danley, a former casino employee, said that Paddock had surprised her with an air ticket to enable her to meet her family back in Philippines two weeks ago. He also wired her wired her $100,000 (75,400), explaining it was to buy a house, she said. "I was grateful, but honestly I was worried it was a way for him to break up with me. It never occurred to me in any way whatsoever that he was planning violence against anyone." Who is Stephen Paddock? According to records, Paddock is a former accountant, who lived in a desert community. The 64-year-old suspect had a pilot and hunting licence and was sans criminal record. Despite a claim from Islamic State, who shouldered responsibility for the attack, police are yet to establish a connection between the IS and Paddock. Officials are also looking for a motive behind his actions. Baghdad, Oct 5 (IBNS): Iraqi army claimed recapture of Hawija, an Islamic State (IS) stronghold on Wednesday, reports said. The army said that they killed at least 196 IS loyalists and recaptured 98 villages. With the latest recapture, only one area in Iraq remains under the IS. The leader of the operation, Lieutenant General Abdel Amir Yarallah, said on Thursday, that the troops "liberated the whole of the centre of Hawija and are continuing their advance." The forces also captured the Rashad air base, south of the city, which was used as a training ground by the militants. According to United Nations data, at least 78,000 civilians are still trapped in Hawija. The IS had captured the city in 2014, when the group proclaimed a caliphate under the leadership of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. The operation to recapture the city began two weeks ago, resulting in the exodus of about 12,500 people. New York, Oct 5(Just Earth News): One year has passed since Hurricane Matthew made landfall in southwest Haiti a leaving terrible destruction in its wake a but children and adolescents on the island still remain highly vulnerable to the effects of natural disasters and extreme weather events, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has warned. Hundreds of thousands of children had their lives turned upside down by Hurricane Matthew, said Marc Vincent, the head of the UNICEF country office in Haiti, in a news release issued by the agency. The courage and determination of families to recover and begin to rebuild their lives is admirable and [we are] is proud to be one of the organizations continuing to support them. In the immediate aftermath of the storm, UN mobilized its staff on the ground to respond to the most urgent needs, sending emergency aid for affected children and families, including clean water and sanitation. Working together with the Haitian Government and partner organizations, over the past 12 month, the UNICEF rehabilitated 120 schools damaged by the hurricane, enabling the return of more than 30,000 children to school. It also provided school furniture to some 139 schools and provided another 26,000 children with psycho-social support. In the Sud and Grand'Anse departments two of the worst hit parts of the island UNICEF helped screen 160,000 children for malnutrition in an ongoing programme, and organized a series of consultations with adolescents to enable them to express their concerns and ideas about risk and disaster management, with the results shared with local authorities. Recalling the destruction and feeling of despair, Bernard, a fourteen-year-old child from Roche-a-Bateau (in southern Haiti) said: After [Hurricane] Matthew passed, I thought it would be virtually impossible to continue living. All the trees were uprooted. But people are beginning gradually to recover, he added. Hurricane Matthew (Category 4) made landfall in Haiti on 4 October 2016. At the time, the very powerful and slow moving storm was described as the worst storm the country had seen in decades. As it passed over the country, the storm claimed hundreds of lives and destroyed critical infrastructure, including key bridges, communication links, and water and sanitation syste Photo: UNFPA/Eddie Wright Source: www.justearthnews.com New York, Oct 5(Just Earth News): The United Nations International Labour Organizationas 10th European Regional Meeting concluded on Thursday with a call for a future of work where partnerships play a key role in promoting dialogue, social progress and economic growth in the region. Addressing the closing session of the Regional Meeting in Istanbul, Turkey, ILO Director-General Guy Ryder said that while there is a considerable amount of uncertainty as to the direction the world of work is heading in, determination and ambition must replace optimism and pessimism. We all have to come together with a feeling of determination and ambition, he said, stressing that ambition means not accepting, not being passive spectators to processes of change, but instead having the determination to be the architects of change, so that the future of work can be shaped according to what we want. The three-day gathering focused on the dynamic processes shaping the future of work in the region, which include rapid technological advances, globalization, demographic trends, large movements of refugees and migrants, as well as environmental challenges. The so-named Istanbul Initiative presents a policy framework to maximize the benefits and minimize the risks relating to the future of work in the region. It also calls on the ILO to provide tripartite constituents in member States with the advice and support they need to design these policies. The ILO has not been a passive spectator to change over the past century. It has been a historic architect of change and we have done a lot to make sure that that change has bent in the direction of social justice. That is what we must continue to do, he concluded. The ILO European Regional Meeting takes place every four years. It brings together government, employer and worker representatives from 51 European and Central Asian countries. The theme of this years meeting was What future for decent work in Europe and Central Asia: Opportunities and challenges. Photo: UNDP Tajikistan Source: www.justearthnews.com New York, Oct 5(Just Earth News): Underscoring the critical important role teachers play in ensuring the future for every society, the United Nations on Thursday called for empowering educators with the freedom and support they need to undertake their vital mission. Being an empowered teacher means having access to high-quality training, fair wages, and continuous opportunities for professional development, the heads of key UN agencies and programmes said on Thursday in a joint message on World Teachers Day. Empowerment also means teachers having the freedom to support the development of national curricula, the professional autonomy to choose teaching methods and approaches and being able to teach in safety and security during times of political change, instability and conflict, they added. The joint message was issued by Irina Bokova, the Director-General of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO); Guy Ryder, the Director-General of International Labour Organization (ILO); Anthony Lake, the Executive-Director of UN Childrens Fund (UNICEF); Achim Steiner, the Administrator of the UN Development Programme (UNDP); and Fred van Leeuwen, the General-Secretary of Education International (a global federation representing organizations of teachers and other education employees). It emphasized that academic freedom while important for teachers at all levels of education is especially critical for higher-education to support the educators ability to innovate, explore, and stay up-to-date on the latest pedagogical research. This World Teachers Day, join us in empowering teachers to teach in freedom so that, in turn, every child and every adult is free to learn to the benefit of a better world, they urged. The importance of building a skilled, valued and empowered education workforce has also been underscored in the 2030 Agendas Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Target 4C of Goal 4, in particular, calls for substantially increasing the supply of qualified teachers by 2030, and in that context, underlines importance of international cooperation for teacher training in developing countries, especially least developed countries and small island developing States. Marked annually on 5 October since 1994, World Teachers Day commemorates the anniversary of the signing of the 1966 UNESCO/ILO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers the primary reference framework that addresses teachers rights and responsibilities at the global scale. The theme for this years commemoration is Teaching in Freedom, Empowering Teachers. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the 1997 UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Higher-Education Teaching Personnel, which complements the 1966 UNESCO/ILO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers, stressing the importance of teacher autonomy and academic freedom in building a world in which education and learning are truly universal. Photo: Dominic Chavez/World Bank. Source: www.justearthnews.com New York, Oct 5(Just Earth News): The human tragedy unfolding in southern Bangladesh is staggering in its scale, warned two senior United Nations officials on Wednesday as they wrapped up a mission to Coxas Bazar with calls for a asignificant increase in assistancea for the thousands of Rohingyas have settled in the area after fleeing violence in neighbouring Myanmar. We leave Bangladesh all the more determined that the United Nations do all it can to assist the Government of Bangladesh in coping with this crisis, said Mark Lowcock, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator and Anthony Lake, Executive Director of the UN Childrens Fund (UNICEF). In the last few weeks, well over half a million Rohingya people have crossed the Myanmar border in to Bangladesh, making this the worlds fastest developing refugee emergency. People arrive fearful, exhausted and hungry, and in desperate need of immediate help including shelter, food, clean water and sanitation, and healthcare, they asserted. They bring with them terrible accounts of what they have seen and suffered stories of children being killed, women brutalized, and villages burned to the ground. The UN officials lauded the Government and people of Bangladesh for its extraordinary spirit of generosity in opening the countrys borders and their providing relief to the refugees as an inspiring example of humanity. Explaining that the refugees are living in flimsy shacks in sprawling, densely-crowded sites that have sprung up to accommodate them with ever-growing risks for a disease outbreak they underscored the urgency for funding so that all refugees have access to food, shelter, water, sanitation facilities, health care and protective services. Conditions in the temporary settlements are dire. Without a significant increase in assistance, the refugees, who have suffered so much already, could face another catastrophe on top of the tragedies that caused them to flee their homes, they stressed. On Wednesday an update to the UN and the international aid communitys response plan was released, seeking $434 million to scale up the relief operation supporting the refugees and host communities. In support of this, an additional $12 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) has been allocated to help establish additional sites for newly arrived refugees. While the two senior UN officials welcomed assurances of close cooperation with the Government, they underscored that the appalling situation is not over as people continue to flee for their lives, crossing from Myanmar into Bangladesh and requiring immediate support. We call again on the Myanmar authorities to allow the full resumption of humanitarian action across all of Rakhine state, and will continue to advocate for conditions to be created that allow for people to safely, securely and voluntarily go home, they concluded. Photo: UNICEF/Brown Source: www.justearthnews.com Ottawa, Oct 5 (IBNS): The federal government has recently taken up a decision to relax some of the requirements necessary to attain the citizenship of the country. The new rules will be effective from next Wednesday. One of the significant changes which the federal government has brought, as mentioned in an official statement by Immigration Canada, will be the term of physical presence. As per the new rule, any citizenship seeker in Canada will now have to stay at least three out of five years in the country. Earlier, the requirement for physical presence was four out of six years. As per the new Bill C-6, any person above 55 years of age will not require to pass the language and knowledge test to attain citizenship. Earlier, the age range was 14-64. In another liberal reform, Canada will certainly provide one year credit to the international students, refugees and foreign workers for the time they spent in Canada before attaining citizenship as they are towards the residency requirements for citizenship. However, the fees to apply for the citizenship have been kept unaltered. The fees for the applicants for an adult and below 18 years have been kept at $630 and $100. In an interview, Immigration minister Ahmed Hussen, told the Star: "Citizenship is the last step in immigrant integration. Those unnecessary obstacles put in place by the previous government are hurting us as a country." "We are proud of these changes and are excited about it" the minister added. According to the government data, as accessed by the Star, the number of applicants were 108,635 in the last year that ended in March while the average application number touched 200,000 a year. The Bill C-6 has been amended and received the Royal assent in July. The amendment in the bill empowered Ottawa to strip citizenship from naturalised citizens for the crimes which have been committed after attaining citizenship. (Reporting by Souvik Ghosh) Ottawa, Oct 5 (IBNS): US president Donald Trump's education secretary, Betsy DeVos, has cancelled her Ontario visit, media reports said. DeVos, who is known to be a proponent of private schools, was scheduled to visit Toronto on Thursday. In a statement, the US Department of Education, said: "Due to last-minute scheduling issues that arose on both sides, Secretary DeVoss study trip to Ontario has been postponed." Secretary DeVos looks forward to learning more about and highlighting the innovative and successful ways Ontarios educational model is meeting the needs of students and families," the statement read. DeVos' arrival news has, however, enraged the teachers' union as they said the US education secretary prefers the private schools over public ones. Ontario Teachers' Federation president Chris Cowler said: "DeVos represents everything a public education advocate opposes." "She should keep her backwards ideas out of Ontario, Cowley added. On the other hand, the New Democratic Party (NDP), at the legislature asked the government to not allow DeVos to visit the schools in the province. Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario's president, Sam Hammond, told media: "Given her record of undermining her countrys public school system, I am struggling to understand why she is coming to Ontario. (Reporting by Suman Das) S&P500 (ES) Retests Key 4K Level Tradable Patterns - 49 minutes ago The S&P500 (ESZ22) is consolidating for a 3rd straight day after Thursdays massive 5% plus bounce, hesitating as it bumps up against the 61.8% Fib retrace of the August to October slide and the psychologically... ESZ22 : 3,985.75 (+0.50%) SPY : 395.12 (-0.85%) SPXS : 20.63 (+2.53%) SPXU : 15.64 (+2.42%) SPXL : 69.54 (-2.59%) Seasonal Trend Alert: Soybeans Blue Line Futures - Mon Nov 14, 6:41PM CST March soybean futures have trended higher for 14 of the last 15 years from November 16th to January 9th. The average profit has been roughly 65 cents, while the one loss (highlighted below, 2018) was... MacKenzie Scott acknowledges another $2B in donations AP - Mon Nov 14, 5:23PM CST Megadonor and novelist MacKenzie Scott announced almost $2 billion in donations in a short blog post Monday that emphasized her interest in supporting people from underserved communities $SPX : 3,957.25 (-0.89%) $DOWI : 33,536.70 (-0.63%) $IUXX : 11,700.94 (-0.98%) Hogs Close in Black to Start the Week Barchart - Mon Nov 14, 4:23PM CST Lean hog futures closed the Monday session with 27 to 57 cent gains. The USDA National Average Base Hog Price for Monday afternoon was $2.47 lower to $85.23. The CME Lean Hog Index was $88.63 on 11/10,... HEZ22 : 84.875s (+0.62%) HEJ23 : 94.375s (+0.29%) KMZ22 : 95.675s (+0.82%) Cotton Futures Fall Triple Digits Barchart - Mon Nov 14, 4:23PM CST Mondays cotton trade pulled prices 242 to 330 points lower, which erased all of last weeks gains. New crop Dec cotton closed at 77.06 cents per pound, a 8.22 cent discount to spot Dec. Stock market... CTZ22 : 85.46 (+0.21%) CTH23 : 83.81 (+0.23%) CTK23 : 82.69 (+0.23%) Thursday, Oct 5th, 2017 (8:30 am) - Score 785 The internet access division of high street retailer John Lewis has discounted the price of their up to 17Mbps unlimited broadband and phone line rental bundle, which includes free UK evening and weekend landline calls, from 26.50 to 20 inc. VAT per month for the first 12 months of service. New customers can also expect to receive 24/7 UK based customer support, PC security from BullGuard, unlimited usage and an included wireless router. However if you need a brand new line installed then theres still a 49.99 one-off charge. Take note that JLB appears to charge the same no matter where in the UK you live (avoiding the nasty rural vs urban price divide) and their services are provided via a Plusnet managed platform. Apparently the new special offer should be available to order until 21st November 2017. Thursday, Oct 5th, 2017 (2:19 pm) - Score 1,167 The Norfolk County Council (NCC) will next week debate the prospect of making a bid worth 13m to the UK Governments new 200m Local Full Fibre Network (LFFN) programme, which could help to bring Gigabit class FTTP broadband services to public sector sites and businesses. At present the regional Better Broadband for Norfolk (BBfN) project with Openreach (BT) is already working to ensure that 90% of the county can access a superfast broadband (24Mbps+) network by the end of 2017 (theyre on-target to achieve this) and after that they intend to expand the coverage to 95% by March 2020 (here). The council recently published an update on the progress of this project. Since then the Government has also launched a 10m pilot of their new 200m LFFN programme, which aims to test innovative ways of using ultrafast full fibre (FTTP/H) networks to connect businesses, homes and public sector sites across the United Kingdom. In keeping with that the NCC has already submitted an Expression of Interest (EOI) worth 13m. The prospect of a formal bid is due to be discussed at next weeks meeting of the councils Digital Innovation and Efficiency Committee on 12th October 2017, which outlines the following plan. Scope of Norfolks Proposed Bid The DCMS LFFN programme will include four main themes: harnessing long-term public sector internet demand, providing gigabit connection vouchers to increase business take-up, upgrading connections into public buildings with fibre and improving access to publicly-owned infrastructure. Although the Gigabit Voucher Scheme and Full Fibre Upgrades for Public Sector Sites streams are expected to form the body of Norfolks Challenge Fund bid. The expression of interest submitted demonstrates that Norfolk will create an integrated programme involving all four themes. Public Sector Anchor Tenancy Norfolks public sector organisations are currently identifying operational buildings where service delivery would be enhanced by full fibre connections, e.g. academy schools where Norfolk County Council host wireless (microwave) telecommunication hardware and there is benefit in switching to full fibre links. Gigabit Voucher Scheme Both interest in, and take-up of the Governments Broadband Subsidy Scheme in Norfolk has been amongst the highest in the UK. This demonstrates Norfolk can generate interest and then ensure this translates into take-up of a voucher scheme of the type proposed. Norfolk organisations have worked together to consider the likely requirements for a Full Fibre Voucher Scheme and how best to promote it. The following is seen as key: A Voucher Scheme which is customer driven, bottom up not top down from suppliers. Gigabit capable solutions, with customers able to purchase only the bandwidth needed, but able to easily increase capacity when their need grows. Allowing up-scaling over time. Grants reflecting actual cost to deploy, not a standard sum which could result in either grants exceeding the actual costs to deploy, or disadvantaging more rural businesses where implementation costs are higher and therefore excess civils costs may be payable. Options such as self-dig should be available to reduce the overall solution implementation cost, where the customer has the capacity to do this. Norfolk has practical examples where this has worked well, making solutions affordable when they would not otherwise have been. Full Fibre Upgrades for Public Sector Sites The public sector in Norfolk is beginning to explore the concept of Digital Hub sites where residents and businesses can access a full range of integrated digital based services from multiple organisations. Digital Hub sites would be located around Norfolk, offering digital ways to access services, for instance video calls to access specialist health consultations. It is envisaged these sites will offer Full Fibre Business Incubators Units, providing not just access to high speed broadband but a wide range of specialist support and advice services, to support start-ups. This approach is understood not to require state aid approval, as it would be similar to procuring a public sector network, albeit asset ownership requirements will need to be considered to ensure there are no state aid implications. Reuse of Public Sector Infrastructure Assets Norfolk County Council is conducting an audit of public sector owned assets that could be exploited. These include: office buildings, fire towers, wind turbines & retained schools. Property assets would be documented on an asset inventory which would be made available to support relevant activities associated with the other themes. Many other local authorities have also put together similar proposals and as usual the biggest risk is that quite a few of those may end up being rejected, particularly given the limited pot of money (200m isnt much to spread around when youre talking about expensive full fibre networks). NOTE: Match funding isnt required for these bids, although the Government are deemed more likely to support proposals which either have co-investment from bidders (capital funding or committed service charges over several years), or those projects that are most likely to encourage additional investment from other parties. Norfolks bid is understood to involve multiple organisations working as a consortium. Peter Dinham - retired in 2020. He is a veteran journalist and corporate communications consultant. He has worked as a journalist in all forms of media newspapers/magazines, radio, television, press agency and now, online including with the Canberra Times, The Examiner (Tasmania), the ABC and AAP-Reuters. As a freelance journalist he also had articles published in Australian and overseas magazines. He worked in the corporate communications/public relations sector, in-house with an airline, and as a senior executive in Australia of the worlds largest communications consultancy, Burson-Marsteller. He also ran his own communications consultancy and was a co-founder in Australia of the global photographic agency, the Image Bank (now Getty Images). UK-headquartered telecoms and data centre services company Colt Technology Services is deploying Cienas 6500 converged packet optical platform to expand its network across the Asia Pacific region. The deployment on the Colt IQ Network began in September and will support Colts growth across key Asia Pacific markets, including Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore. The deal will see Cienas 6500, powered by WaveLogic Ai, support the Colt IQ Network expansion across the Asia-Pacific region, which Colt says allows it to more efficiently deliver ultra-high bandwidth services and manage unpredictable traffic growth. Colt will also leverage Cienas unified management solution, designed to provide greater network control across domains and network layers, reducing troubleshooting and ensuring efficient use of resources. Colt says the Ciena deployment will also help strengthen intercontinental connections into Europe. This investment further reinforces Colts commitment to the Asia Pacific region. Many companies are looking to transform their digital infrastructure and Colts high-bandwidth services are designed to meet the ever-growing demand from enterprises for fast, secure and reliable direct connectivity to markets around the world, said Kenji Hioki, Asia CCO and regional executive, Colt. Our expansions in Hong Kong, Singapore and Japan enable the regions businesses to power their competitiveness and growth while future-proofing their connectivity needs. According to Gary Smith, president and chief executive, Ciena, Asia Pacific businesses are under increasing pressure to evolve their networks to support web-scale applications and cloud-based services. Leading operators like Colt are taking steps to help address this need by deploying new innovations that allow them to not only scale their networks, but add more programmability so that they can automatically adjust to meet changing user demands, Smith said. Colt recently marked the expansion of its metro area network in Singapore as well as the start of construction of the companys newest metro area network in Hong Kong. And Colt says that, once completed, its Singapore metro area network expansion is expected to offer carrier-grade connectivity of up to 100Gbps with coverage to more than 90% of Singapores enterprises. Similarly, Colt notes that Hong Kong metro area network brings high-bandwidth capabilities to Hong-Kong based enterprises and SMEs and MNCs in a variety of industries would be able to connect to both domestic and global markets quickly and securely through a single provider. Perth-based blockchain solutions firm DigitalX has been appointed as an adviser for the initial coin offering by blockchain energy trading company Power Ledger. This follows a pre-ICO or token generation event during which Power Ledger raised the equivalent of A$17 million in digital currency. Power Ledger is now offering 140 million POWR tokens as part of the main offering. The sale will end on 6 October. The company, a Perth-based start-up, uses blockchain technology to allow households to trade excess solar power over the electricity network. The POWR tokens will be auctioned to the public in order to generate interest from solar energy developers, renewable energy projects, retail investors and speculators. The tokens will be offered through the Ethereum cryptocurrency network in an uncapped price offer, meaning the final price will be determined by market demand. Last month, DigitalX acted as a guide for Europe-based Bankera in the biggest pre-initial coin offering, aimed at raising 25 million (A$37 million). DigitalX is quickly becoming a market leader for ICO advisory services and we are pleased to be able to work in a strategic role to the Power Ledger project," DigitalX chief executive Leigh Travers said. "Power Ledger is bringing sustainable energy to the peer-to-peer marketplace utilising blockchain technology and the engagement highlights Australia as one of the global leaders in Blockchain adoption." Retailer Origin Energy recently announced a three-month trial with Power Ledger to explore peer-to-peer energy trading across a regulated network. Blockchain technology and cryptocurrency underpins our business offering and we are excited to be working with Perth-based DigitalX said Power Ledger chairperson Dr Jemma Green. "The POWR tokens will be transferable on the Ethereum blockchain and can also be converted to Sparkz, which is the currency we have set up for users to trade electricity using the Power Ledger platform." It's almost one year since Oracle completed its acquisition of cloud-based ERP NetSuite. NetSuite says it is gaining the benefits of Oracle without pitfalls. Re-iterating why Oracle acquired NetSuite, chief executive Mark Hurd says the movement to the cloud is not simply a technical thing, it's a real business model and Oracle's strategy is to embrace that. "We started years ago at the application layer to rebuild the company, to build a suite of best-of-breed applications. We worked hard on this and will never stop. We will continue to support all our on-premises capabilities but our strategy is really to build out the most complete, most modern cloud portfolio on the market, including the platform and infrastructure layer," he said. "We believe the two biggest software categories have been database and ERP, and we believed the best two ERPs in the market were ours, Fusion, and NetSuite. "NetSuite originated in small to medium business and we had focused on some of the biggest and most complex companies in the world so our view was this was a smart complement, and now we have the two best ERP systems covering companies of all size. "The energy and spirit of all the acquisitions we do are different. We improvise depending on the situation and company we're working with. In this case, NetSuite brought a tremendous team. We wanted to give NetSuite all the best of Oracle, and not let any of the parts of Oracle that would hinder NetSuite get involved, and so far we've seen an acceleration of growth and the progress has been fantastic." Lee Thompson, NetSuite's Group vice-president and general manager JAPAC, says there are two differences with NetSuite since the Oracle acquisition. First, NetSuite gets the benefit of the Oracle brand and logo. "In Australia," he says, "NetSuite already had a brand, but when we try to push into other markets and geographies people have heard of Oracle even if they haven't heard of NetSuite, so it gives us great brand recognition." Secondly, Oracle has "phenomenally deep pockets," he says, "and can invest aggressively in new markets. We plan to grow into 12 to 28 countries in the next 12 months. "We're seeing tremendous growth and success. Oracle has been leaving NetSuite to operate as an independent operation as a Global Business Unit, or GBU, but we get the brand and the funding," Thompson said. Part of this growth is an official presence in New Zealand for the first time. NetSuite uses a hub and spoke model, Thompson explains. "A hub has resources sales, pre-sales, marketing and business development all centralised in a single location. We have five hubs in APAC and Japan. A spoke is a satellite sales office where we have NetSuite people so they can get closer to the customer and partners. We've opened up in Auckland only just recently and this augments our relationships with the partners." Graeme Burt, senior director, Growth and Emerging Business, JAPAC, concurs, adding "The customers will see much more presence from NetSuite and its partners, with complementary skills in the marketplace to help them. The customer piece is the most important part for us. We want to drive customer outcomes and end up with success stories." Evan Goldberg, founder and chief technical officer, NetSuite, says the Oracle acquisition "has allowed us to really focus on the customer size I think we're best for bigger than QuickBooks, but smaller than what would need Oracle or SAP". Oracle, with its many cloud apps, and NetSuite, with its singular cloud app, have come from different places. "Oracle has rebuilt everything from scratch in native cloud and Java, but their design centre is looking at companies who consume software in independent business centres. They provide for different applications which use a common data model," Goldberg says. "We came from a different place at NetSuite. Everything must be done once, and one way, and when we added Human Capital Management in SuitePeople we used the employee record but enhanced it. Everywhere you go it's the same employee record. This only scales so high, it's not plausible to implement one application in these very large companies. "As we went upmarket we found we were a piece of the puzzle. It makes us happy to do what we're doing and now we're back to what we designed around." "Prior to the acquisition, Oracle signalled its intent to stay the course with NetSuite," Thompson says, "and to retain NetSuite for small to medium organisations, to continue to develop the technology and to invest in the cloud technology. "Oracle has been consistent in doing what it said it would do. Oracle said it wanted to invest in NetSuite, giving it more localisations and more countries, and it has delivered this. We've seen this investment continually and ongoing. The key message really is Oracle has given NetSuite more, faster." As to whether Oracle's acquisition puts the handbrake on NetSuite adding any more significant functionality like it did in SuitePeople, Goldberg says, "Larry [Ellison] knows better than anyone we build one application. Larry spoke to our engineers and said he gets our value proposition and how we're architected to deliver on that value proposition. We will integrate things we don't see as being an important part of the core. We look at everything and ask does this have tight entanglement and if it does, then it's a candidate for addition, otherwise, we will integrate with partners." Regarding what's on the NetSuite roadmap, Goldberg said "We're going to deliver over the next 18 months on the promise I made at the first SuiteWorld, the thing that has got the most applause, which is super-easy pivoting of NetSuite data. It will be an analytics tool which makes it super-easy to find the data. "There are a couple of different ways to get data out of the system, but our customers have told us for several years that's one of the weakest parts of the user experience. "We have a unified analytics tool built into the core which we've been working on for several years. I know it's good; when I showed the first prototype five years ago it got the biggest applause. We've shown hints of it is, but we're really going to deliver." "Expanding international is the number one initiative, but next-gen analytics is the number one project. We have a team cranking away and I'm really, really excited about it. It will be real-time analytics built into NetSuite." The writer is attending Oracle Open World 2017 as a guest of the company. Australian blockchain payment company BitPOS has launched its own bitcoin ATM in Sydney powered by its own software platform and the BitPOS ID system. The official launch took place on Wednesday. BitPOS founding partner Jason Williams told iTWire that anyone who had a bitcoin wallet could now buy the cryptocurrency at the ATM using Australian dollars. He said the take-up across the country was not yet at a stage that could be described as big. Williams said that was one of the reasons why he, and his co-founder Alex Taylor, decided to launch the ATM so people could become familiar with the use of the cryptocurrency. We have written all the software, and designed our systems with the goal of keeping immaculate audit records of every ATM interaction, Williams said. Taylor and Williams have been involved in the business since 2012 and Williams said he was not in any way discouraged by the stance that some countries, China for example, have adopted against cryptocurrencies. Last month, Beijing was reported to have taken steps to shutter bitcoin exchanges in the country. However, other countries, like India and Japan, have hinted that they may develop their own cryptocurrencies. Williams said that no matter what kind of talk was coming from the political sphere, the only thing that businesses like BitPOS could do was to follow the laws, like the current anti-money laundering legislation. While not many vendors had taken up use of such currencies, he was of the opinion that its use would spread. There are no smartphone apps for using the ATM and Williams said this was a plus. There was a keypad and one could use a QR code to interact with the machine. Customers can ascertain the status of each ATM before they visit it, to see whether it is online, or offline. The Australian federal government and the governments of states and territories agreed today to set up a national facial recognition database which will also use drivers' licence photos. A meeting of the Council of Australian Governments agreed on setting up the national database, along with several other measures deemed to be improvements on the existing security arrangements. In a statement, the COAG said that agreement had been reached to "share and match identity information, with robust privacy safeguards, to prevent identity crime and promote law enforcement, national security, road safety, community safety and service delivery outcomes". The face matching services will include face verification service, face identification service, one person one licence service and a facial recognition analysis utility service. The agreement claims that the identity matching services will help to promote privacy " by strengthening the integrity and security of Australias identity infrastructure the identity management systems of government Agencies that issue Australias core identity documents such as driver licences and passports". The services will be used for preventing identity crime, general law enforcement, national security, protective security, community safety, road safety and identity verification. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said the new arrangement was an updating of the existing process to meet current needs. "This is not accessing information, photo ID information that is not currently available. We are talking about bringing together essentially federal government photo IDs, passports, visas and so forth, together with driver's licences," he said. Russian security firm Kaspersky Labs may have put itself squarely in the crosshairs of the lobby promoting the theory that Russia hacked the Democratic National Committee in 2016, by producing a paper that underscores the difficulty of attribution where cyber exploits are concerned. Before anyone leaps to any conclusion, make no mistake, the paper titled Walking in Your Enemys Shadow: When Fourth-Party Collection Becomes Attribution Hell is well-written and logically argued as is most of the material produced by Kaspersky's Global Research and Analysis Team. But with Kaspersky already having become collateral damage in the hysteria sweeping Washington, the report is very likely to elicit the reaction that it is trying to cover up the tracks allegedly left by the Russians (or their proxies) who breached the DNC. Briefly put, the paper deals with the way state actors borrow or steal techniques from others at the same level, and thus create a web that is difficult to trace to any particular actor. Attribution then becomes even more difficult than it is under normal circumstances. There is plenty of evidence from cases which Kaspersky has tackled and the arguments are water-tight. But at a time when it is an article of faith among Democrats and their supporters that their candidate, Hillary Clinton, lost last year's election because of Russia's intervention, such logic would, one fears, be seen as a cover-up. The facts say otherwise but then this is something like a religion, a cult, where logic is the first, second and last casualty. Even The Intercept, which has largely retained scepticism about the Russian hack theory, carries an article about the Kaspersky paper by former Wired staffer Kim Zetter which says: "The attacks last year on the Democratic National Committee, for example, were attributed to hacking groups associated with Russian intelligence based in part on analysis done by the private security firm CrowdStrike, which found that tools and techniques used in the DNC network matched those used in previous attacks attributed to Russian intelligence groups." No mention is made of the fact that CrowdStrike was asked by the FBI multiple times for access to the DNC servers and refused to grant access. Neither is there any mention of the fact that the chief technical officer of CrowdStrike, Dmitri Alperovich, is an associate of an anti-Russian outfit known as the Atlantic Council, a Washington think- tank that is kept afloat by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, the Ukrainian World Congress, the US State Department and others who have an interest in isolating or discrediting Russia. Zetter also writes: "Although the Kaspersky researchers believe the DNC attribution is correct, they say researchers need to be more cautious about assuming that when the same tools and techniques are being used, the same actors are using them." There is no reference to the DNC either in the short blog post by Kaspersky researchers Juan Andres Guerrero-Saade and Costin Raiu who wrote the paper in question or in the paper itself. So exactly where Zetter is getting these "facts" is a mystery. Kaspersky Lab staff have a tough time on their hands, being under scrutiny by the FBI and presumably watched also in other countries that unhesitatingly follow US policies on anything and everything (except guns). Thus, it may be time to think a little more before giving conspiracy theorists aka Democrats and their disciples any cause to make things any more difficult for the company to do business in the English-speaking world. The paper was presented at the 2017 VirusBulletin conference in Madrid. Security firm Symantec claims that exploit kits spread malware to users only at half the rate that email does, with one of every nine email users encountering malware in the first half of 2017. The claim was made in the company's latest Internet Security Threat Report, with this one concentrating on email threats. The report did not specify how many individuals were surveyed to arrive at this conclusion or the geographical regions covered, though presumably the data used was from Symantec's operations worldwide. Given the descriptions within the report, the users surveyed appear to be overwhelmingly Windows users. Other findings were that business email compromise scams targeted about 8000 businesses each month, with an organisation that was targeted receiving an average of 5.2 such scam emails in a given month. Symantec analyst Ben Nahorney said that 54% of email received by those surveyed was spam and this was expected to increase in the second half of 2017. An organisation that did not use spam filters had to effectively employ two people to manage the spam that every 100 employees received, Nahorney added. The report claimed that email was the most frequently used delivery mechanism for malware. "According to research we conducted across different threat vectors, no other distribution channel comes close: not compromised websites containing exploit kits, not network file sharing technologies like SMB, not malicious advertising campaigns that entice users to click on banner ads," Nahorney said. "In fact, a user is almost twice as likely to encounter malware through email than come across a malicious website." In terms of industry segments targeted, 23.8% of users in the wholesale trade industry were targeted, with mining (22.6%) and non-classifiable firms (20.3%) making up the top three. The top three malicious email subject lines were to do with a bill or invoice, delivery of a package and scanned documents. The report said that the primary method for distribution of malicious emails was through spambots, with Necurs being the main spambot responsible, even though it went missing in the first three months of 2017. Other spambots which were prominent in the period surveyed were BlankSlate (email subject and body empty), Fioesrat (used for attacking PHP servers), Silentbrute (usually sends an Office document), Pandex (also used to distribute ransomware), Oliner, Sarvdap, Emotet and Walkedac. In the case of business email compromise, the most common subject line was to do with payment. However there were also scams which aimed to obtain company documents, such as those to do with taxation. "One of the more interesting developments in the BEC sphere are attacks where the scammers are attempting to obtain other assets, as opposed to directly stealing money," Nahorney said. "In one BEC campaign early in 2017 the scammers appeared to be focused on obtaining the employees American tax form, the W2, from the targeted organisations." The report said that while the spam rate had fallen, it continued to make up more than half of the email received by those surveyed. "Based on median salary data from the US Census Bureau, spending 10 minutes managing spam adds up to US$4.51 per employee each day. Thats US$1177.42 spent annually for one employee to filter spam," Nahorney said. "For every 100 employees a business has, this comes out to US$117,741.67 per year. Thats the equivalent of having two full-time employees dedicated to simply managing spam a far less trivial figure." Graphics: courtesy Symantec Global ICT solutions and services provider Dimension Data and Deakin University are partnering in an initiative designed to further build Australias cyber security capabilities and boost the stocks of security professionals to meet future demands. The Victorian Government and two of Australias major banks the NAB and ANZ have also teamed up with Dimension Data and Deakin to support Deakins new Bachelor of Cyber Security degree. The degree includes industry certifications and internships, which are designed to ensure students are job-ready as soon as they graduate. Up to 50 of the first cohort of graduates will be get the chance to work at Dimension Data, Deakin, NAB or ANZ as organisations in Australia and around the world work to combat cyber crime, which is one of the biggest threats to organisations globally. Under the partnership, the Victorian Government is providing funding for four industry certification licences for each student undertaking Deakins Bachelor of Cyber Security, bringing to $1 million its total investment in the qualification. The announcement is the second stage of the partnership on the cyber-security degree originally made last year. According to Dimension Data, in conjunction with Box Hill Institutes Certificate IV in Cyber Security and the new Advanced Diploma of Cyber Security, Deakins Bachelor of Cyber Security provides a strong pathway to higher education in the rapidly developing field. Deakin University head of the School of IT, Professor John Yearwood, said the new course had been designed to ensure students were job-ready upon graduating. He said the course would strengthen cyber security capabilities to help address the current and future challenges across Australia and the world, while also boosting the innovation capabilities of organisations. Our new course, and this partnership, will help build confidence for businesses, consumers and the Australian economy, knowing that cyber resilience is being taught at the highest level, with Deakin providing world-class content. It will enhance cyber security collaboration between the government, education and industry sectors in Victoria and create jobs for the digital economy, which depends on the right security for public and consumer services to be safely accessed in todays globalised digital world. As part of the partnership, Dimension Data, ANZ and NAB have contributed to the course curriculum and will undertake ongoing reviews to ensure the curriculum remains relevant to industry requirements. They will also provide professional insights to students, advise them on what is needed in the industry and whats on the horizon, as well as providing 12-week internships for students. Duncan Brown, director of the Strategy and Innovation Office at Dimension Data, said the company was excited to be able to offer a pathway to employment as part of the guaranteed job places. Collaborating on Deakins Bachelor of Cyber Security degree takes our longstanding partnership with the University to the next level, he said. This initiative will help launch Australias future cyber experts into the workforce, ready to go at a time when cyber security expertise has never been needed more. Its been well documented that theres a global shortage of cyber security professionals. At the same time, employers often report that candidates for cyber security roles are not work-ready at the time of hire. We believe a holistic approach to education and training will help address these challenges and ensure that the next generation of graduates are set up for success from their first day in the cyber security arena. A new report says Apple's iPhone 7 "outsold all other smartphone models globally during the first six months of 2017", followed by the iPhone 7 Plus history will surely repeat in 2018? Ok, so Apple's iPhone X is obviously going to shake things up a bit for where the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus will emerge on the same version of this new report by IHS Markit at the same time in 2018, but it seems the only thing that will hold the iPhone X back is the number that Apple can make in any given timeframe. Still, that's all for the future, with IHS Markit's report nevertheless giving us some great info on just where the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus were positioned in the first half of this year, with the organisation stating that "iPhone models remain the most popular smartphones, maintaining their bestseller positions since launching." The number 3 smartphone is one most people in Australia and probably the US and the rest of the West may well not have heard of the Samsung Galaxy Grand Prime Plus, which almost sounds like one of Optimus Prime's relatives. In fourth spot came the iPhone 6s, with Samsung having a second smartphone in the top five slots, with the Galaxy S8 in fifth place, with "slightly less volume than the Galaxy S8 Plus", pipped at the post into sixth spot by the aforementioned S8. However, IHS Markit's analysts then state that "flagship models from Apple and Samsung had sluggish sales in the first half of 2017". We're told that although the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus iPhone models secured top positions in H1 2017, "shipment volume declined compared to their respective predecessor models, the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, during the same period in 2016". That said, the "smaller-screen 4.7-inch display iPhone models ranked in the top positions in first half of three consecutive years beginning in 2015. However, their market share continues to fall, dropping from 10% in 2015 to 7% in 2016, and 5% in 2017". Why this might be the case is not analysed, or at least, not in IHS Markit's media release. It is presumably explored in much more detail in the "IHS Markit Smartphone Model Market Tracker report", which as per usual with major reports is on sale to relevant parties at relevant prices. Meanwhile, IHS says "the Samsung Galaxy S8 flagship series recorded a smaller shipment volume this year", and this time, we get a suggestion as to why this might be the case. Jusy Hong, associate director mobile devices for IHS Markit, said: "This is likely because Samsung began selling the Galaxy S8 and S8+ models in April, a month later than last years launch of the S7 series. The shipment ranking of the Galaxy S8 Plus fell to number six, compared to the fourth-place Galaxy S7 Edge in 2016. As for the top 10 in aggregate for H1 2017, IHS said: "Five Samsung models, four Apple models, and one Oppo model ranked in the top 10 most-shipped smartphones in the first half of 2017", and adds that "the number of smartphone models with more than a million shipments per month increased in the first half of this year to 22 from 17 in 2016". Hong added: This is a direct result of smartphone OEM efforts to select and concentrate in order to improve product portfolios and increase profitability. In addition, more Chinese OEMs are selling their smartphone models outside of China, which intensifies competition and generates more globally popular models. Finally, the last snippet of free info before needing to invest in IHS Markit's report is that "among the 22 top-shipping models so far this year are eight Chinese models that shipped more than six million units in H1 2017: five from Oppo, two from Xiaomi and one from Huawei. Samsung had 10 models that shipped more than one million units per month respectively, while Apple had four". So, there you have it. How accurate this barometer is for the second half of 2017 sales and H1 2018 is yet to be seen, but if there is an upgrade super cycle attributed to the 8, 8 Plus and X, as was rumoured, as well as sales of flagships like the Note 8 and ever better mid-range models striving to include ever more flagship features, and 2018 could be the world of smartphones' most unpredictable yet! Digital transformation, innovation, disruption it all starts with IT talent. So, if youre thinking it seems counterintuitive to curtail benefits and perks that position you as an employer of choice for elite IT talent, youd be right. Yet companies continue to roll back remote work polices, spurring talented IT pros to reconsider whether they want to work there. Four years ago, Yahoos then-CEO Marissa Mayer learned this lesson the hard way, when she revoked the companys remote work policy and required employees to be physically working in a Yahoo office. In March of this year, IBMs Ginny Rometti made the same mistake, by issuing an ultimatum to employees: Come back to the office or find a new job. Both companies are struggling to maintain relevance in an industry where newer, more nimble companies are out-innovating and disrupting the establishment. Both Yahoo and IBM have been attempting to right the ship by doubling down on innovation and collaboration, which they believe can happen only if workers physically sit together. Its clear how that strategy has worked out for Yahoo. The verdict may still be out for IBM, but organizations that are tightening restrictions on remote and flexible work policies are looking at things the wrong way, says Vip Sandhir, CEO and founder of employee engagement platform HighGround. [ Learn the keys to a successful remote work strategy and how to win the war for top tech talent. | Keep up on the latest in IT leadership with our CIO Daily newsletter. ] The traditional 9-to-5 in an office is a thing of the past, Sandhir says. A flexible work environment whether its the option to [have] flex time, work from home occasionally or become a remote worker altogether is one of the biggest draws for employees in the modern age. For companies that value their employees, want increased engagement and productivity and want to retain workers and, dont we all? stripping away remote rights completely is a huge mistake, he says. Draining the talent pool Rescinding remote work opportunities may get your workforce physically together, but which members of your workforce are staying, and which are now frustrated, disengaged and looking for a new opportunity? Youre severely diminishing the quality of your existing workforce by revoking remote work capabilities, as Stephane Kasriel, CEO of Upwork, explains in this blog post for Fast Company, as well as impeding your ability to attract, hire and retain new talent, says Erika Van Noort, senior director of talent acquisition at Softchoice. One big advantage to supporting remote work is that it expands your talent pool beyond commuting distance around the office. Particularly for niche and highly technical roles, it helps to be able to recruit for these positions almost completely regardless of geography, Van Noort says. In fact, Softchoices recent employee collaboration study revealed that, of the 1,000 full-time, North American office workers surveyed, 74 percent would quit their jobs to work for a different organization that allows them to work remotely more often, even if their salary stayed the same. Many organizations are struggling to recruit skilled tech and IT workers as a result of the nationwide tech talent shortage, says Van Noort. But when employers [can] expand beyond those who would be able to physically work in their office, theyre able to be pickier when it comes to selecting qualified employees. On a broader scale, accepting remote workers is especially helpful for companies across all industries whose offices are located in less-populated areas that may have smaller talent pools. Considering that the number of organizations with work-from-home capabilities is rising, this is becoming a key differentiator for job applicants. Inflexible workplaces likely deter many prospective employees from applying, therefore limiting their talent pool, she says. As Kasriel notes, Flexible work isnt just the future of work its already here. Forcing people back into offices is like handing them all paper time cards and telling them to start punching in and out. Van Noort says this sentiment is backed up by Softchoices survey. Its important to note that as young, tech-savvy employees continue to enter the workforce, remote work expectations will only increase. Another interesting finding from our study was the difference between millennials and Baby Boomers when it comes to remote work expectations, she says. Compared to Baby Boomers, millennials are twice as likely to feel more productive and better-equipped working at home than at the office. In addition, 88 percent of millennials believe their employer should equip them with the technology to work remotely, according to the Softchoice survey. And its especially crucial that companies meet those expectations, now that millennials make up the largest portion of the global workforce, Van Noort adds. Otherwise, they will be challenged to sustain growth. Moreover, remote work increases an organizations ability to attract and retain diverse talent, says Omer Molad, CEO and co-founder of Vervoe, an ATS and online hiring assistant platform that replaces face-to-face interviews with simulations. Being deliberate about remote work allows companies to access global talent pools, Molad says. They can bring together a hugely diverse range of people, incorporating different cultures, perspective and philosophies. Each new person will add to the companys culture in a unique way. Not fit in, but rather add, and even challenge. The result is a rich tapestry of humanity, bound together by a common mission but diverse in every other way. For me, that beats sitting together, he says. Promoting productivity and inviting innovation Offering flexibility in the form of remote work doesnt have to be an all-or-nothing proposition, says Van Noort. Providing employees some flexibility and choice over where and when they work has a positive impact on long-term engagement, especially for working parents or employees with lengthy commutes, she says. The advantage that we discovered in our survey doesnt concern full-time remote employees, as much as it does workers who normally work at the office but who are provided with the technology and flexibility to work remotely on occasion, she says. We found the vast majority (85 percent) of North American office workers believe its important that their organization provides the technology support to work from home, even if its not on a full-time basis. The mistake that Yahoo and IBM both made is in equating innovation and collaboration with togetherness and placing those concepts at odds with productivity. This is a false correlation, says Vervoes Molad; theyre not mutually exclusive. People talk about productivity as the main benefit of remote working. I disagree. Its a huge benefit to be sure, but its not the biggest. Maybe thats why Yahoo and IBM banned remote working they saw it as a choice between innovation and productivity and chose innovation. But thats not the choice, he says. Both Yahoo and IBM were at points of inflection when they decided to bring their teams back to the office. They were facing significant business challenges in Yahoos case, arguably, an existential challenge and they thought that bringing everyone together would lead to innovation gains. It was a reactionary move by both companies, he says. Innovation and remote work dont have to be at odds. Some people might get their best ideas at the park, or in a co-working space. Then they might meet with colleagues the next day to kick things around, and then split up again. Why does it have to be all or nothing? I dont subscribe to this black and white way of looking at working. Remote work is not a binary thing, and it doesnt mean everyone works from home every day in their pajamas. Thats totally missing the point. There are so many ways companies, and teams within companies, can choose to organize themselves, he says. Organizations that provide their employees the autonomy to work where they want and when they want (within reason) stand to benefit greatly from increased engagement and productivity; and thus, greater innovation, says HighGrounds Sandhir. When you give your employees the ability to make their own decisions and trust them to do whats right, engagement skyrockets. And when engagement skyrockets, so does productivity. Want to know what happens when productivity skyrockets? Organizations see increased bottom lines. Its a true win/win, he says. Ironically, Kasriel says in his Fast Company article, in both a 2014 white paper by IBMs Smarter Workplace Institute and in a conference panel the company hosted just weeks ago, its own experts suggested that remote workers tend to be happier, less stressed, more productive, more engaged with their jobs and teams, and believe that their companies are more innovative as a result of flexible work arrangements. So, if youre looking for a way to boost innovation, productivity, engagement and your bottom line, the answer lies not in fewer opportunities for remote work and flexibility, its in offering more. Related articles Reddit Email 246 Shares By Jill Richardson | (Otherwords.org) | Wanting federal aid in a natural disaster isnt wanting everything done for you. Its what we should all expect. Hurricane-struck Puerto Rico wants everything done for them, says President Trump. Puerto Rico, an island of 3.5 million inhabitants all of whom are U.S. citizens gets nearly nothing done for it. Puerto Rico, a colony of the United States, has gotten a whole lot of nothing from Washington for a long time. Various U.S. laws along with irresponsible spending by previous Puerto Rican governments left the island in debt. Even before it was hit by two category 5 hurricanes, U.S. laws set up the circumstances that allowed a financial crisis to plague Puerto Rico and prevented the island from solving it. These laws have led many Puerto Ricans, including educated Puerto Ricans, to leave the island for the mainland. This further weakens the economy of the island. The islands years-long economic crisis was the backdrop for Hurricane Maria. Thanks in part to its outdated infrastructure, the island lost electricity for weeks, and many places are unreachable because of downed trees and other debris in the road. trump-tax-cuts-puerto-rico Khalil Bendib / OtherWords.org The recovery will take a long time, and it will cost a lot. Who knows how many people will die because they couldnt get dialysis while the power was out, or they ran out of food and couldnt reach help? Or who got sick from lack of clean water? Already the death toll has more than doubled as reports of these casualties surface. Whats clear is that Puerto Rico needed help anyway, and now they need it even more because of the storm. Americans should ask why we still have colonies in the 21st century. Puerto Rico lacks the rights of U.S. states. All U.S. states send representatives to vote in Congress, and therefore the citizens of those states indirectly have a say in the laws of the nation. Puerto Ricans are subject to U.S. laws but like the residents of Guam, the Virgin Islands, and other territories (plus the District of Columbia) get no say at all in the making of those laws. Puerto Rico isnt blameless for its debt, but U.S. laws are currently frustrating the islands attempts to get out of it. There may be differing opinions about what the U.S. should do about Puerto Ricos debt, but there cannot be two opinions about hurricane relief. If we dont help, U.S. citizens will suffer and die. Wanting your legal rights as citizens in the form of federal government aid in a natural disaster isnt wanting everything done for you. Its what we all expect, and should expect, as citizens of this nation. America shouldnt let down our citizens in Puerto Rico. We must help them in this crisis. OtherWords columnist Jill Richardson is the author of Recipe for America: Why Our Food System Is Broken and What We Can Do to Fix It. Distributed by OtherWords.org. Via Otherwords.org CBS This Morning: Inland Puerto Rico still suffering weeks after Hurricane Maria Reddit 17 Email 336 Shares John Feffer | ( Foreign Policy in Focus) | Germany funds foundations for its political parties. If the far right gets one, were one step closer to globalizing the alt-right. Germany got its very own electoral shock this week when the far right won 13 percent of the vote in countrys parliamentary elections. For the first time in more than half a century, the far right will be represented in the German parliament, with more than 90 seats. Although its now Germanys third most popular party behind the Christian Democrats (CDU) and the Social Democrats (SDP) the Alternative for Germany (AfD) is still too toxic to become part of a ruling coalition. But the AfD will have influence well beyond its numbers. In a nutshell, Deutsche Welle reports, things are about to get a lot nastier. The AfDs electoral victory has destroyed the taboo in Germany that has kept the far right on the fringes. It will inevitably pull the ruling Christian Democrats further to the right, particularly on social issues like immigration. It may even have an impact on the ongoing discussions about the fate of the European Union. Beyond Germany, the AfDs success will give a shot in the arm to other far-right formations, particularly after the National Fronts losses in the last French elections. Looking a little further down the road, if it manages to return to parliament in the next election, the AfD will qualify for government money to create its own party foundation, which will enable Germanys far right to spread its message all over the world. Europes rebellion against liberalism in both its economic and social versions is continuing to shake up politics as usual. An equally unsettling question, though, is how much it will shake up geopolitics as usual. What the AfD Wants The far right in Germany has followed much the same script as the Tea Party and the Trump movement in the United States. It began in 2013 with several academics angry about the Eurozone (and, by extension, the European Union). But just like economist Dave Brat was an obscure political hopeful until he started talking about the so-called threat of immigrants in Virginia and ended up taking House Majority Leader Eric Cantors seat in 2014 the AfD only became truly popular by stoking anti-immigrant sentiment. As Chancellor Angela Merkel of the Christian Democrats welcomed refugees into Germany in 2015 an influx, to date, of around 1.3 million people the AfD began to peel away support from the center-right CDU. Even the purportedly moderate faces of the AfD, like Jorg Muethen, have made statements like, in some German cities, I struggle to find Germans on the streets, thus equating German citizenship with skin color or other external markers. The party has advocated border controls effectively abrogating the Schengen system of free movement within many EU member states as well as new border patrols. Frauke Petry, a party leader who is also considered a moderate, has said that these new border police units should shoot at migrants if necessary as they try to make it into the country. Central to the anti-immigrant message has been Islamophobia. The party plastered the streets of Germany with posters like one that showed two young, bikini-clad women from behind that read, Burkas? We like bikinis. On Facebook, it distributed an ad showing bloody tire tracks with the caption, The tracks left by the world chancellor in Europe, linking Merkels refugee policy to terrorist attacks around the continent. The party has other deeply disturbing positions, like its denial of climate change. But what has caused some division within the party is its attitude toward German history. One party leader, Bjorn Hocke, has called for a 180-degree turnaround in German attitudes about the Nazi era. Since current German policy is firmly in the camp of condemnation of Nazis, its quite sobering to imagine the kind of policy that Hocke prefers. This German corollary to Trumps appeal to white supremacists and neo-Nazis has divided the party. Frauke Petry abruptly walked out of an AfD press conference this week after announcing that she wouldnt sit in parliament with the party faction. Reportedly, Petry has wanted to purge the party of its extremist elements at least those who take an extremist position on the history question just as Marine Le Pen attempted to clean up the National Front by kicking her anti-Semitic father out of the French far-right party. According to Spiegels analysis of AfDs likely MPs, 35 of 94 are right wing extremists. So, its not just about a purge of one or two bad apples. Expect the AfD to split along the same realo and fundi realist vs. fundamentalist fault line of the Greens. A key connection between AfD and Trump, the UK Independence Party, and right-wing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is their ad man, Vincent Harris. Hes responsible for the bikini and tire tracks ad campaigns. Hes adept at fusing anti-immigrant, Islamophobic, and race-baiting messages. But with one of his suggestions for the AfD, Harris went too far. The party rejected his suggestion of Germany for Germans as a campaign slogan. Perhaps it will resurface in the next election, if the so-called moderates abandon the party. Finally, what would a modern election be without Russian interference? In the lead-up to the election, several major newspapers noted that Russian involvement in the German vote was scant. Perhaps they spoke too soon. First to consider are the Russian speakers, those with German heritage whove relocated to Germany since the 1980s the right kind of immigrants from AfDs point of view. The AfD estimates that fully one-third of its support comes from this constituency, and it has helped the party become the second most popular one in former East Germany. Then there was the obligatory visit to Moscow, as Petry made her pilgrimage last February and met with, among others, the truly beyond-the-pale politician Vladimir Zhirinovsky. As the election entered its last phase, the usual trolls and Twitter bots came out to play, at least some of them Russians supporting AfD. Again, as with Trump, the Kremlin isnt interested in promoting a particular party in the hopes that it will win or reorient the countrys foreign policy. It simply wants to shake up a status quo that it perceives as tilted against Russia. Has the Right Already Won? Even though the radical right has lost some recent elections notably in France and in the Netherlands it has nevertheless transformed the debate in Europe. Consider the immigration situation. This month, the two-year program to relocate 160,000 migrants from Greece and Italy to other EU member states came to an end. It managed to relocate only 28,000 people, and only with great effort. Some countries notably Poland and Hungary refused to locate a single migrant. More than 20 member states failed to meet their obligatory target by 50 percent. Far right populists poisoned the discourse on immigration, denouncing millions of people as well as linking this scourge to the EU, multiculturalism, and liberal politics more generally. Throughout the continent, EU member states are tightening their immigration laws, increasing the number of deportations, and sweeping away informal settlements like the Jungle in the northern French town of Calais. The right-wing populists have already won the upcoming elections in Europe, no matter what the outcome is, writes Krsto Lazarevic in Deutsche Welle. The EU has done away with human rights and Western standards of civilization by cooperating with the Libyan coastguard, African dictators, and deporting people back to war zones. Then theres the issue of helping countries like Greece exit their perpetual financial crisis. Discussions this week between Athens and Eurozone officials seem to point the way toward fresh loans and the prospect of Greece becoming fiscally independent by next August. But if Merkel has to bring the Free Democrats into a coalition government, shell have to reckon with that partys red line on reforming the Eurozone to facilitate fiscal transfers to countries like Greece. The Euroskeptic AfD will rejoice. Elsewhere in Europe The French turned back the tide of hatred in the last presidential and parliamentary elections. The National Front, once seemingly on an unstoppable roll, now has only eight seats in parliament, and its leader Marine Le Pen presides over a fractious party. In the wake of Le Pens losses, pundits wondered if Trump has had a bracing effect on Europe. Europeans see how Trump has transformed the United States into a three-ring circus, and they want none of it. But thats France. Elsewhere, the far right continues its march. In Norway, for instance, the right-wing Progress Party pulled in a respectable 15 percent in September elections, good enough for it to continue as a coalition partner with the Conservative Party. But perhaps thats because the Progress Party, despite its anti-immigrant and pro-nationalist approach, isnt quite as crazy as the National Front. A more authentically radical right is poised to take over in Austria in elections next month. There, the far-right Freedom Party (FPO) is polling even better than the AfD in the low 20s. It would be doing even better if the center-right Peoples Party hadnt started to take up its anti-immigration, Islamophobic message. The bullet dodged at the end of last year when independent Alexander Van der Bellen defeated Freedom Party leader Norbert Hofer seems to have taken a boomerang trajectory. Worse, the center right in Austria, unlike its counterpart in Germany, has no problems with forming a government with the far right. Given that one-third of Austrians dont want to live next to Muslims more than in Germany or France or Switzerland it can count on considerable popular support for such a coalition. In the Czech Republic, meanwhile, a certifiably Trump-like figure is likely to win next months presidential election. Andrej Babis, currently the finance minister, is a billionaire whos skeptical of the European Union and wants to close the EUs borders to keep out immigrants. His involvement in a corruption scandal involving one of his enterprises illegally receiving EU subsidies oh, the hypocrisy! doesnt seem to have harmed his popular standing. The AfDs win may well encourage this political trajectory in Europe and beyond. Its still hard to imagine the party successfully pushing through legislation or having much impact on governance. But if the party gets above 5 percent of the vote in the next parliamentary elections, it will win the right to form its own international foundation. Of course, the Bundestag might deploy various stalling tactics to prevent such an official funding stream as it did when the left-wing Die Linke qualified but theres a strong bias in German political culture to observe the rules. Ive worked with German foundations all over the world: Friedrich Ebert (Social Democrats), Friedrich Naumann (Free Democrats), Heinrich Boll (the Green Party), and Rosa Luxemburg (Die Linke). Funded by German taxpayers, theyve all provided valuable support for civil society and in promoting useful exchange of ideas. The prospect of German government money helping to spread far right-wing politics globally is a nightmare scenario. Germany just took one step closer to helping globalize the alt-right and recycle from historys dustbin something that ought never again see the light of day: a Fascist International. John Feffer is the director of Foreign Policy In Focus and the author of the dystopian novel Splinterlands. Via Foreign Policy in Focus Related video added by Juan Cole: The rise of far-right populists in Germany | DW English Reddit 1 Email 683 Shares By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | Carol E. Lee at NBC reported Wednesday that last summer Rex Tillerson, the secretary of state, called Trump a f*cking moron. The remark came after a number of incidents in which Trump had contradicted Tillerson on policy, and directly after Trump made salacious remarks to a crowd of boy scouts. Tillerson at one point had led the Boy Scouts. The justice of Tillersons remark is obvious. Here are some examples: 1. Trump joined with Saudi Arabia in beating up on little Qatar, calling the small Gulf monarchy terrorists. Qatar hosts the US Air Force base al-Udeid and helped capture Khaled Sheikh Muhammad, proving itself a key ally in fighting extremism. For Saudi Arabia to accuse Qatar of fostering extremism is a bit rich, but Trump joined in. 2. The Iran nuclear deal is one of the more successful such negotiations in modern history and a model for how the UN Security Council could curb nuclear proliferation. Trump is determined to undermine the deal, which would reinforce the suspicions and militancy of countries such as North Korea, making it even more difficult to handle. 3. Trump pulled out of the Paris climate accords on the grounds that they are too constricting and detract from US sovereignty. But the accords allow each nation to set its own priorities! Even Tillerson, who when it comes to climate change, is Satan incarnate, wanted to stay in Paris (I presume because it could be used as a fig leaf for inaction on carbon dioxide emissions). 4. Trump went to Puerto Rico on Tuesday and made the presidency a laughingstock. He maintained that Katrina had been a much more devastating storm than Irma and that because they werent actually dead the Puerto Ricans werent suffering as much. We dont know the death toll in Puerto Rico because 95 percent of the island doesnt have electricity and not all the dead have been found by institutions of the commonwealth. Moreover, catastrophic hurricanes are not a race where one state wins and another loses. Then Trump gave out supplies at a church, including flashlights, but he remarked to recipients that they didnt need flashlights any more. They do. He made hurricane relief all about himself instead of about the victims. It was so bizarre a performance that moron doesnt begin to cover it. 5. Trump gave away US foreign policy to Exxon Mobil, the big oil company, which had been led by Mr. Tillerson up until his move to the State Department. The US should be making a frantic and concerted effort to get off fossil fuels, not coddling Big Oil interests. Appointing Tillerson to run the State Department, and letting him gut it in favor of lucrative oil deals for his former corporation is just about the most moronic thing you could imagine. - Related video: Secretary Rex Tillerson Does Not Deny Calling Donald Trump A Moron | MTP Daily | MSNBC VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Oct. 04, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pan Global Resources Inc. (Pan Global or the "Company") (TSX-V:PGZ) herein provides a progress update on the Aguilas Copper Project in Spain. Figure 1. Aguilas Project Location Figure 2. Torrubia - Torrechuela Cu anomaly Figure 3. Zumajo Trend Dump sample results Highlights: Assay results received for approximately 520 soil samples and 25 rock samples A 2.7 km x 300 m Cu-in-soil anomaly is evident over a northern section of the Torrubia structure. This includes pronounced soil Cu anomalies at Cerro Torrubia and Torrechuela. Rock samples from the same areas include several samples with >1% Cu. The Cerro Torrubia target area includes a 700 x 300 m anomaly with values up to 0.198% Cu and a 300 x 80 m anomaly to the south with up to 0.69% Cu. The Torrechuela target includes a strong copper anomaly over a 1200 x 140 m area with values up to 0.44% Cu. The soil results also indicate a potential parallel copper structure approximately 100 m East of Cerro Torrubia. Assays for 19 rock samples from mine dumps along a 6km section of the Zumajo lead-silver Trend average >8.8% Pb, 1.49% Cu, 2.62% Zn and 61.5 ppm Ag and best values >20% Pb (above upper detection limit), 20.7% Zn, 12.75% Cu and 235ppm Ag. A review of the Zumajo Trend indicates no significant exploration since a government study in the mid-1960s for Pb-Ag and no indication of previous Zn or Cu exploration and/or production. The only drilling was on a 600m section of the structure with several holes confirming Pb and some Cu mineralisation up to several metres thick (open at depth). The project area is being expanded following the recent results with new mineral rights applications adding approximately 2290 hectares (20% increase). Background The company manages the Aguilas Project through its agreement to acquire 100% interest in Spanish company, Minera Aguila SLU and the Las Aguilas I, II and III mineral rights, together referred to as the Aguilas Project. The mineral rights cover approximately 11,302.5 hectares within the Pedroches Batholith, in southern Spain (Figure 1). The Company also has a Letter of Intent, providing exclusive rights to acquire the Escacena mineral rights in the Iberian Pyrite Belt, in southern Spain. Results reported earlier in the year on the Aguilas Project included 106 rock grab samples of float and outcrop mainly from the Torrubia copper trend and a separate structure at Los Lazos. Approximately 60 samples returned >0.1% copper and 27 samples reported values ranging from 1% to 28% copper along with up to 33% iron, 1.7g/t gold, 17.5g/t silver and 0.13% cobalt. Copper is evident over a combined strike-length of more than 3km on the Torrubia Copper Trend associated with ancient mine workings, multi-stage hydrothermal quartz - hematite carbonate breccia and red rock alteration typical of hematite-dominant iron oxide copper gold (IOCG) style ore deposits. Pan Global is pleased to provide an update on exploration in the Aguilas Project, including results for the first phase of soil sampling on the Torrubia Copper Trend and new rock sample results mostly from mine dumps along a 6 km section of the Zumajo lead-silver trend. The project area has also been expanded. Soil sample results Torrubia Trend Results were received for the first ~520 soil samples collected over a combined 3.4 km of strike on the Torrubia copper trend. Samples were collected every 20 m along lines spaced 100m, 200m and 400m apart. The results highlight a large Cu-in-soil anomaly ( elevated Fe, Co, Ag, Au) over approximately 2.7 km of strike by 300 m width with values from >50 ppm (more than 2 x background) up to 0.67% Cu [Figure 2]. Rock samples from the same area include numerous samples with >1% Cu. Strong Cu-in-soil anomalies are clearly defined within this corridor at Cerro Torrubia and Torrechuela. The Cerro Torrubia target includes a 700 x 300 m soil Cu anomaly with up to 0.198% Cu and a 300 x 140 m soil Cu anomaly to the south with values up to 0.69% Cu. The two anomalies are partially separated by thin alluvial cover sediments. Previously reported rock grab samples in the same area included several samples with >1% Cu and up to 3.72% Cu, 1.8g/t Ag, 422ppm Co, 0.34g/t Au. The Torrichuela target includes a 1200 x 140 m soil Cu anomaly with values up to 0.44% Cu (in-fill sampling in progress). Previously reported rock samples in the same area also include several samples with >1% Cu and up to 8.43% Cu, 15.2g/t Ag, 1.5g/t Au, 0.12% Co plus a boulder of semi-massive sulphide with 28% Cu and 17.5g/t Ag. The results also show a 300m x 80 m copper-in-soil anomaly to the east of Cerro Torrubia indicating a parallel copper structure. The soil sampling program is being extended following the recent results. Rock sample results - Zumajo Pb-Ag Trend Reconnaissance exploration commenced along the Zumajo Trend with 19 rock samples collected from mine dumps along a 6km section of the structure from Mina San Juan to Mina San Cayetano [Figure 3]. Assay results for the dump samples collected to-date average >8.8% Pb, 1.49% Cu, 2.62% Zn and 61.5 ppm Ag and include best values of >20% Pb (above upper detection limit), 20.7% Zn, 12.75% Cu and 235ppm Ag. Samples with high lead and silver values are present at all the mine dumps visited so-far. The highest zinc values are from an area of semi-continuous small mine workings over several hundred metres along the Zumajo Trend between Mina San Juan and Mina San Rafael. The highest copper is reported in the dumps from San Cayetano, characterized by hypogene chalcocite-galena mineralisation. Copper mineralisation is also evident in some of the dumps at San Rafael and locally elsewhere along the trend. The results confirm the potential for zinc and copper associated with the lead-silver along the Zumajo structure. The results also suggest potential metal zonation from Pb-Cu to Pb-Zn within the structure. A dump sample from the Endrinal mine workings on parallel structure to the North of Zumajo returned 15% Pb and 177 g/t Ag. Zumajo Trend review Review of the historic Zumajo Pb-Ag mine trend within the Aguilas project area is continuing. The entire mine trend extends approximately 20 km northwest southeast through the Aguilas Project area. The review shows; No significant exploration on the Zumajo Trend for more than 40 years and no evidence of Cu or Zn production or exploration for these metals on the trend. Pb-Ag mining ceased in the mid-1900s with the deepest shaft/s reaching ~125 m depth with mineralisation open at depth and on-strike in many of the underground workings. The mines targeted high grade sulphide and non-sulphide Pb-Ag ores in veins and breccia within one or two structures up to 16 m wide. Zinc, copper, barite and fluorite mineralisation is also present. The last significant exploration was by the Geological and Mining Institute of Spain (IGME) in the mid-1960s which focused on an 800-1600 m section of the structure. Minor investigation was undertaken by several companies in the 1970s or 1980s, including mapping, surface sampling and IP (no data available). IGME completed TURAM electromagnetics, at least two (~30 m deep) exploration shafts and 15 drill holes (total ~2330 m) along 600 m of strike near the Zumajo-El Desquite mine workings. Eight of the drill holes cut intervals 1 to 10 m thick with Pb and some Cu mineralisation (open at depth), 5 holes were aborted or did not reach the target and no information available on 2 holes. There is no assay information. Expansion of the Aguilas Project area Following the recent results, the project area is being significantly expanded with the addition of the Las Aguilas V Investigation Permit application. The new mineral rights applications will add approximately 2290 hectares or a 20% increase in the total area to approximately 13,590 hectares. The new application covers the western extension of the Zumajo Pb-Ag trend, including the Pasquilin, Chinche and Tres Cruces mine workings. The mines were last in operation to at least 1958 and produced sulphide and carbonate ore. The area also contains several hematite-quartz breccia structures with similarities to the Torrubia Trend. A single rock grab sample near a trend of suspected shallow mine workings along one of the quartz-hematite breccia structures returned 0.27% Cu, 0.102% Co, 0.73% Pb and 5.2g/t Ag. Analytical methods and Quality Control All samples were submitted to ALS Laboratories in Seville, Spain. Rock samples were crushed, split and pulverized and then analyzed with a 36 element Mass spectrometry and ICP-AES analysis following a 4-acid digestion. Au was determined by 30g Fire Assay with ICP-AES finish. Rocks returning above detection for Cu, Pb and Zn were re-assayed using an ore grade analysis by conventional ICP-AES with a 4-acid digestion. All soil samples were dried and sieved to -180um in the laboratory and subject to aqua regia and/or 4-acid digest and assayed by Super Trace ICP for a large multi-element suite (up to 53 elements, including Au) and a selection of samples assayed for comparison by 30g Fire Assay with ICP-AES finish for gold. Quality Control procedures included review of ALS duplicates and checks, field duplicates, non-sequential sample numbering and results compared for a large selection of samples using aqua regia digestion versus mixed acid digestion, and Fire Assay versus ICP for Au. All samples were collected and transported under close supervision by experienced Geologists. Qualified Person Robert Baxter (FAusIMM), a Director of Pan Global Resources and a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed the scientific and technical information that forms the basis for this news release. Mr. Baxter is not independent of the Company. About Pan Global Resources Pan Global Resources Inc. is actively engaged in base and precious metal exploration in Spain, and is pursuing opportunities from exploration through to mine development. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 5, 2017) - International Battery Metals Ltd. (CSE: IBAT) ("IBAT" or the "Company") The Company is pleased to announce that it has commenced the testing and evaluation of the optioned Woodbury Carper Lithium Resource Project being 37,500 acres of oil and gas leases located in Cumberland and Jasper Counties Illinois. Through this initial program, the Company will advance its objectives of quantifying the lithium content of the brine on the optioned properties and exploring the application of different extraction methodologies. As announced in the Company's July 24, 2017 news release, lithium on these properties were discovered as a result of drilling three exploratory wells in the search for oil and gas from the New Albany Shale and Carper Sandstone. Readers are referred to that news release for further details. These initiatives reflect the Company's strategic move to focus on lithium in oil and gas brines in North America where it can utilize the latest lithium specific expertise and technologies as described in the Company's news release of October 2, 2017 in the best interests of the Company. TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Oct. 5, 2017) - Galane Gold Ltd. ("Galane Gold" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE:GG) is pleased to announce that it produced a total of 9,535 ounces of gold for the third quarter ending September 30, 2017. Furthermore, new data has resulted in the Company revising its current Tau underground mine plan to add a further 44,300 ounces of gold, as described below. The Company's Mupane property faced various challenges in the first two quarters of 2017 caused by higher than average rainfall and damage to its mill motor (as reported in its Management's Discussion & Analysis for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2017, a copy of which is available under the Company's profile on www.sedar.com). The third quarter production of 9,535 ounces of gold is representative of the expected quarterly production from Mupane under the current mine plan. The current mine plan for Tau prepared by the Company was based on the results of historic exploration and envisaged the mining of 85,000 ounces of gold over three and a half years as reported in the Company's press release of May 12, 2014.(1)(2) The new mine plan prepared by the Company has added a further 44,300 ounces of gold and an expected 20 months of additional production. The additional ounces and life can be attributed to the conversion of inferred mineral resources to measured and indicated mineral resources, as well as the discovery of the potential extension of the Tau mineralized body at depth as announced in the Company's press release of October 24, 2016.(3) These additional resources and the potential extension of Tau have not been incorporated into the existing resource model found in the Technical Report.(2) There has yet to be sufficient exploration on the potential expansion to extrapolate that it extends beyond the current mined area. Exploration drilling has commenced on the extent of this potential extension and the Company expects to provide an update on the results of this exploration early in 2018. Galane Gold CEO, Nick Brodie commented: "I am pleased that our strong management team reacted quickly and effectively to the issues presented to them in the first half of 2017 and have returned Mupane back to full production. With regards to Tau, our decision to move to underground operations has been supported again with the mineralized body proving to be more rich than originally envisaged. We are optimistic that our exploration program will confirm the extension of the Tau mineralized body at depth. We therefore expect that Tau will form the backbone of the operations for a time greater than that contemplated in the current mine plan." About Galane Gold Galane Gold is an un-hedged gold producer and explorer with mining operations and exploration tenements in Botswana and South Africa. Galane Gold is a public company and its shares are quoted on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "GG". Galane Gold's management team is comprised of senior mining professionals with extensive experience in managing mining and processing operations and large-scale exploration programmes. Galane Gold is committed to operating at world-class standards and is focused on the safety of its employees, respecting the environment, and contributing to the communities in which it operates. Notes Gold Standard Ventures Reports Opening Up New Targets at Dark Star, Dixie and Jasperoid Wash at Railroad Project Gold Standard Ventures Corp. (TSXV:GSV) (NYSE AMERICAN:GSV) (Gold Standard or the Company) today announced that results from 24 exploration holes have confirmed three high potential targets for resource expansion on its 100%-owned/controlled Railroad Project in Nevadas Carlin Trend. Gold Standards 2017 US$15.5 million exploration program includes up to 48,800 m of reverse-circulation (RC) and core drilling in 117 holes (see February 2, 2017 news release). The 24 initial holes drilled in this years program were located to validate key prospective targets for further drilling this year. Please click the following link to view Dark Star, Dixie and Jasperoid Wash drilling maps: https://goldstandardv.com/lp/darkstar-dixie-jasperoid-drill-maps/. The 2017 drilling continues to establish the Pennsylvanian-Permian age carbonate rocks as an important gold host on the Carlin Trend. Regionally, this highly prospective carbonate host section intersects the Carlin Trend in the southern portion of Gold Standards Railroad property. The gold mineralization at Dark Star, Dixie and Jasperoid Wash targets occurs in these favorable carbonate rocks. Jonathan Awde, CEO and Director of Gold Standard commented: These first 24 holes lay the groundwork for the next stage of exploration success at Railroad. At Dixie and Jasperoid Wash, the early results are highly reminiscent of our success at Dark Star, but with the advantage of having already unraveled many of the structural characteristics that account for better grades at Railroad. We are confident that these targets can open up into important discoveries and we are now mobilizing additional drill rigs to pursue them more aggressively. We are also confident that this years drilling will provide further evidence that the Dark Star and Pinion deposits merge into one larger deposit. Key Highlights In the east-central portion of Dark Star, DS17-14 intersected multiple zones of oxidized gold mineralization including 25.9m of 0.88 g Au/t. This intercept expands the Dark Star gold zone 140 meters to the east beyond the current resource block model. To the west of Dark Star, DS17-06 intersected 25.9m of 1.51 g Au/t approximately 70 meters west of the existing Dark Star block model. DS17-06 and DS17-14 confirm the openness and expansion potential of Dark Star. Also at Dark Star, core holes DS17-05, DS17-07 and DS17-09 returned 22.7m of 0.54 g Au/t, 41.2m of 0.56 g Au/t and 47.6m of 0.67 g Au/t respectively. These holes were designed to enhance and upgrade the geological understanding of wide-spaced, historic RC drill holes; to provide material for metallurgical samples within the current block model; and confirm tenor and grade of the block model at these locations. At the Dixie target, Gold Standard completed its first six holes into this target within the north-striking Dark Star Corridor. Core hole DX17-01 intersected multiple zones of gold mineralization including 25.9m of 0.76 g Au/t in altered Penn-Perm calcarenite and debris flow conglomerate similar to the Dark Star deposit approximately 3.5km to the north. The core hole was instrumental in verifying the Penn-Perm carbonate rocks as the host section at Dixie. Also at Dixie, RC holes DX17-03 and DX17-06 intersected 45.7m of 0.75 g Au/t and 44.2m of 0.48 g Au/t. These intercepts are reminiscent of early drilling completed by Gold Standard at Dark Star. At the new Jasperoid Wash target, which is located approximately 6 km south of the Pinion deposit, core hole JW17-01 intersected 103.7m of 0.56 g Au/t including a higher-grade zone of 30.5m of 0.93 g Au/t in pervasively oxidized and altered debris flow conglomerate in the favorable Pennsylvanian-Permian host section. The gold intercept is shallow, starting approximately 20m below the current topographic surface. This core hole twinned JW-9007, a 1990 Westmont reverse-circulation drill hole that intersected 117.4m of 0.51 g Au/t as described in a 1990 Westmont report. JW17-01 confirmed and upgraded the results in JW-9007, and secondly, confirmed that Pennsylvanian-Permian debris flow conglomerate the same host as the Dark Star deposit also hosts the gold mineralization at Jasperoid Wash. Gold Standard is expanding the drill rig count from 4 to 7 rigs, with most of the drilling focused at Dark Star, Jasperoid Wash and Dixie. Drilling will also focus on new targets between Pinion and Dark Star that were identified from two recently completed seismic lines. Mac Jackson, Gold Standards Vice President of Exploration stated: We opened a new chapter of exploration on the Carlin Trend with our Dark Star discovery leading to the recognition of the importance of Pennsylvanian-Permian carbonate host rock. Our initial drill tests of these rocks at the Jasperoid Wash and Dixie targets are very encouraging in that we have intersected shallow, Dark Star-like gold zones that remain open. The Jasperoid Wash and Dixie targets are located within the 20,941 gross acres (85 square kilometers) recently acquired by Gold Standard to the south of the Dark Star and Pinion deposits. We continue to drill these targets, as well as identify new untested targets, as we progress through this new chapter of exploration for Pennsylvanian-Permian hosted gold deposits on the Carlin Trend. Dark Star, Dixie and Jasperoid Wash drill results are as follows: Drill Hole Method Azimuth Incl. TD (m) Intercept (m) Thickness (m) Grade (g Au/t) DS17-01 RC/Core -90 61.4 No assays > 0.20 g Au/t DS17-01A Core -90 429.7 325.6 329.2 3.6 3.39 DS17-02 Core 90 -45 239.6 No assays > 0.20 g Au/t DS17-03 RC -90 550.3 38.1 39.6 1.5 0.22 DS17-04 RC 270 -70 471.0 234.7 257.6 22.9 0.57 DS17-05 Core 90 -60 234.3 42.6 43.4 0.8 2.34 114.9 116.1 1.2 0.21 134.7 137.9 3.2 0.35 142.4 144.7 2.3 0.22 145.9 147.4 1.5 0.34 151.1 173.8 22.7 0.54 DS17-06 RC 270 -70 532.0 76.2 88.4 12.2 0.45 Including Including 141.7 144.8 3.1 0.58 160.1 186.0 25.9 1.51 163.1 172.2 9.1 2.89 371.9 373.4 1.5 0.63 445.1 448.2 3.1 0.43 452.7 495.4 42.7 0.59 475.6 483.2 7.6 1.69 DS17-07 Core 123 -60 188.4 11.1 12.3 1.2 0.21 Including 38.1 39.6 1.5 0.22 83.5 124.7 41.2 0.56 90.8 108.2 17.4 0.91 DS17-08 RC 90 -80 385.7 128.0 131.1 3.1 0.22 155.5 157.0 1.5 0.24 208.8 234.7 25.9 0.32 239.3 251.5 12.2 0.31 265.2 271.3 6.1 0.29 318.5 321.6 3.1 0.23 326.2 333.8 7.6 0.26 338.4 350.6 12.2 0.55 DS17-09 Core 90 -55 293.6 32.0 34.1 2.1 0.26 Including 50.9 52.7 1.8 0.28 55.8 56.7 0.9 0.21 72.5 83.2 10.7 0.24 86.2 109.1 22.9 0.34 112.0 120.1 8.1 0.28 130.6 144.2 13.6 0.26 148.1 195.7 47.6 0.67 191.1 194.2 3.1 3.04 DS17-10 RC -90 453.0 207.3 211.9 4.6 0.28 Including Including Including 250.0 279.0 29.0 0.76 259.1 266.7 7.6 1.28 285.1 306.4 21.3 1.01 288.1 291.2 3.1 2.48 301.8 304.9 3.1 2.85 311.9 314.0 3.1 0.44 DS17-11 RC -90 544.2 No assays > 0.20 g Au/t DS17-12 RC 90 -45 708.8 No assays > 0.20 g Au/t DS17-13 RC -90 364.3 No assays > 0.20 g Au/t DS17-14 RC 90 -62 364.3 79.2 89.9 10.7 0.24 Including 106.7 108.2 1.5 0.23 114.3 126.5 12.2 0.24 137.2 163.1 25.9 0.88 150.9 161.6 10.7 1.44 DS17-15 RC 90 -75 806.4 No assays > 0.20 g Au/t DS17-16 RC 0 -45 484.8 No assays > 0.20 g Au/t DX17-01 Core 270 -50 445.7 64.6 67.0 2.4 0.20 Including 107.0 111.6 4.6 0.29 123.0 127.4 4.4 0.57 147.6 173.5 25.9 0.76 160.9 165.8 4.9 1.32 DX17-02 RC 270 -50 446.6 205.8 211.9 6.1 0.23 228.7 237.8 9.1 0.45 DX17-03 RC 270 -45 574.7 112.8 158.5 45.7 0.75 Including 143.3 150.9 7.6 1.32 164.6 173.7 9.1 0.43 DX17-04 RC -90 428.2 312.5 314.0 1.5 0.24 346.0 355.1 9.1 0.23 DX17-05 RC 270 -55 387.1 117.4 132.6 15.2 0.21 169.2 172.3 3.1 0.30 189.0 196.6 7.6 0.39 309.4 314.0 4.6 0.34 DX17-06 RC 270 -55 227.1 61.0 62.5 1.5 0.39 67.1 111.3 44.2 0.48 JW17-01 Core 090 -50 397.2 16.2 17.7 1.5 0.19 Including Also Including 26.2 129.9 103.7 0.56 60.7 68.3 7.6 1.32 60.7 91.2 30.5 0.93 133.7 139.6 5.9 0.25 144.7 149.1 4.4 0.25 220.7 223.8 3.1 0.26 228.4 232.3 3.9 0.24 * Gold intervals reported in this table were calculated using a 0.20 g Au/t cutoff (Dark Star and Dixie) or a 0.14 g Au/t cutoff (Jasperoid Wash). Weighted averaging has been used to calculate all reported intervals. True widths are estimated at 70-90% of drilled thicknesses. Sampling Methodology, Chain of Custody, Quality Control and Quality Assurance All sampling was conducted under the supervision of the Companys project geologists and the chain of custody from the project to the sample preparation facility was continuously monitored. Core was cut at the companys facility in Elko and one quarter was sent to the lab for analysis and the remaining material retained in the original core box. A blank or certified reference material was inserted approximately every tenth sample. The core and RC samples were delivered to either ALS Minerals or Bureau Veritas Mineral Laboratories preparation facility in Elko, NV where they were crushed and pulverized. Resulting sample pulps were shipped to either ALS Minerals or Bureau Veritas certified laboratory in Sparks, NV or Vancouver, BC. Pulps were digested and analyzed for gold using fire assay fusion and an atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) finish on a 30 gram split. All other elements were determined by ICP analysis. Data verification of the analytical results included a statistical analysis of the standards and blanks that must pass certain parameters for acceptance to insure accurate and verifiable results. Drill hole deviation was measured by gyroscopic down hole surveys that were completed on all holes by International Directional Services of Elko, NV. Final collar locations are surveyed by differential GPS by Apex Surveying, LLC of Spring Creek, Nevada. The scientific and technical content contained in this news release have been reviewed, verified and approved by Steven R. Koehler, Gold Standards Manager of Projects, BSc. Geology and CPG-10216, a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. ABOUT GOLD STANDARD VENTURES Gold Standard is an advanced stage gold exploration company focused on district scale discoveries on its Railroad-Pinion Gold Project, located within the prolific Carlin Trend. The 2014 Pinion and Dark Star gold deposit acquisitions offer Gold Standard a potential near-term development option and further consolidates the Companys premier land package on the Carlin Trend. The Pinion deposit now has an NI43-101 compliant resource estimate consisting of an Indicated Mineral Resource of 31.61 million tonnes grading 0.62 g/t Au, totaling 630,300 ounces of gold and an Inferred Resource of 61.08 million tonnes grading 0.55 g/t Au, totaling 1,081,300 ounces of gold, using a cut-off grade of 0.14 g/t Au. The Dark Star deposit, 2.1 km to the east of Pinion, has a NI43-101 compliant resource estimate consisting of an Indicated Mineral Resource of 15.38 million tonnes grading 0.54 g/t Au, totaling 265,100 ounces of gold and an Inferred Resource of 17.05 million tonnes grading 1.31 g/t Au, totaling 723,500 ounces of gold, using a cut-off grade of 0.2 g Au/t. The North Bullion deposit, 7 km to the north of Pinion, has a NI43-101 compliant resource estimate consisting of an Indicated Mineral Resource of 2.92 million tonnes grading 0.96 g/t Au, totaling 90,100 ounces of gold and an Inferred Resource of 10.97 million tonnes grading 2.28 g/t Au, totaling 805,800 ounces of gold, using a cut-off grade of 0.14 g Au/t for near surface oxide and 1.25 to 2.25 g Au/t for near surface sulfide and underground sulfide respectively. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Oct. 05, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Alio Gold Inc (TSX:ALO) (NYSE MKT:ALO) (Alio Gold or the Company), announces preliminary production results from its 100% owned San Francisco Mine in Sonora, Mexico for the Companys third quarter (Q3) ended September 30, 2017. The Company expects to release its full Q3 2017 results on November 9, 2017 and will host a conference call that same day (details at the end of this release). Third Quarter 2017 Highlights Produced 19,429 ounces of gold Maintained Q4 2017 guidance at 20,000 to 22,000 ounces of gold Reiterated full year 2017 guidance with range tightened to between 88,000 to 90,000 ounces Strengthened balance sheet with $68.5 million cash at September 30, 2017 Production at the San Francisco mine for Q3 and the nine months ended September 30 was 19,429 ounces and 67,488 ounces, respectively, said Greg McCunn, Chief Executive Officer. The third quarter was expected to be the most challenging period in the 2017 mine plan as we finished mining Phase 1 of the La Chicharra pit and had not fully completed the stripping of Phase 5 of the San Francisco Main pit. However, we did manage to source alternative ore to keep the crushers full and have now opened Phase 5. In addition, a second mining contractor has been mobilized to commence the pre-stripping of Phase 2 of the La Chicharra pit giving us more mining flexibility and capacity heading into 2018. Looking ahead, we remain on track to achieve our annual gold production guidance and have tightened the range to between 88,000 to 90,000 ounces. Our balance sheet was strengthened following the completion of the bought deal financing in July. With approximately $68.5 million in cash on hand as at September 30, 2017, we have now commenced our revitalization projects at San Francisco including pre-stripping, the crusher upgrade and power infrastructure upgrades. As we complete these important projects over the coming year, we will see improvements in gold recovery and operating costs. Mining and Processing Category Three months ended Sept 30 Nine months ended Sept 30 2017 2016 2017 2016 Ore Processed (t) 1,916,332 1,791,399 5,812,892 5,734,677 Average Grade Processed (g/t) 0.40 0.61 0.45 0.61 Waste Mined (t) 5,184,524 3,724,904 12,727,186 12,162,717 Total Mined (t) 6,830,131 5,469,985 17,966,165 17,755,794 Strip Ratio (W:O) 3.15 2.13 2.43 2.17 Gold Produced (oz) 19,429 24,052 67,488 75,036 Silver Produced (oz) 8,808 13,868 31,038 43,423 Sales and Revenue Gold produced and sold during the quarter was 19,429 ounces and 19,601 ounces, respectively. The average selling price realized was $1,278/oz resulting in $25.2 million in metal revenues. The Company had approximately $68.5 million in cash as at September 30, 2017, an increase from $35.9 million at June 30, 2017. Category Three months ended Sept 30 Nine months ended Sept 30 2017 2016 2017 2016 Gold Sold (oz) 19,601 23,327 67,144 74,468 Realized Gold Price ($/oz) $1,278 $1,338 $1,252 $1,240 Conference Call The Company will release its 2017 third quarter results prior to the market open on November 9, 2017, followed by a conference call and webcast at 11:00am (EDT). Third quarter conference call and webcast details: Date: Thursday, November 9, 2017 Time: 11:00am (EDT) Toll Free (US and Canada): (855) 427-9509 Toll Free (Outside North America): (210) 229-8822 Conference ID: 96572303 Webcast: https://edge.media-server.com/m6/p/6giz9ibu Replay: To be available at http://www.aliogold.com About Alio Gold Alio Gold is a Canadian gold mining company engaged in exploration, development and production in Mexico. Its principal assets include the producing San Francisco Mine in Sonora, Mexico and the development stage Ana Paula Project in Guerrero, Mexico. The Company also has a portfolio of other exploration properties, all of which are located in Mexico. Nine out of 10 holes from maiden drill program at Bouboulou intersected gold 4.41 g/t Au over 8.15m, including 23 g/t Au over 1m at Bouboulou 5.21 g/t Au over 3.05m, including 15.5 g/t Au over 1m at Bouboulou 1.04 g/t Au over 23m, including 4.1 g/t over 1m at Bouboulou 1.23 g/t Au over 9m, 1.1 g/t Au over 4m at Niangouela Sampling as high as 17.3 g/t Au at newly acquired Rakounga concession VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / October 5, 2017 / Nexus Gold Corp. ("Nexus" or the "Company") (TSX-V: NXS, OTC PINK: NXXGF, FSE: N6E) is pleased to announce initial assay results from its recent diamond drill programs conducted on both the Niangouela and Bouboulou gold concessions, in addition to sampling conducted at the newly acquired Rakounga gold concession, all located in Burkina Faso, West Africa. "We are very pleased with our assay results from both Bouboulou and Niangouela, as they have significantly furthered our exploration efforts," said President & CEO, Pete Berdusco. "Specifically, with Bouboulou, we have confirmed historical data, and the zones carrying high-grade gold. We extended intercept lengths with good mineralized continuity, and we've extended the depth of the mineralization. The next phases of drilling will continue to define the zones which are open in all directions with the goal of eventually defining a resource," continued Mr. Berdusco. Bouboulou Gold Concession - Phase One The Company has received results from all ten holes from its maiden diamond drill program at the Bouboulou concession which concluded in mid-July. Nine of the 10 drill holes successfully intersected significant gold mineralization. The highlights are as follows: BBL-17-DD-001 returned 6.19 grams per tonne gold ("g/t Au") over 1.0m; BBL-17-DD-002 returned 2.22 g/t Au over 1.0m; BBL-17-DD-003 returned 3.48 g/t Au over 1.52m; BBL-17-DD-004 returned 5.06 g/t Au over 1.52m; BBL-17-DD-006 returned 1.04 g/t over 23m, including 4.10 g/t over 1.0m; BBL-17-DD-007 returned 5.21 g/t Au over 3.05m, including 15.5 grams g/t Au over 1.0m; BBL-17-DD-008 returned 4.41 g/t Au over 8.15m, including 23 g/t Au over 1.50m. These and other intercepts are tabled below: Hole Dip From (metres) To (metres) Intersection (metres) Gold (grams /tonne) Zone BBL-17-DD-001 -50 32.30 35.35 3.05 0.52 Rawema And 64.30 79.50 15.20 0.50 And 136.36 138.41 2.05 3.07 Includes 137.41 138.41 1.00 6.19 BBL-17-DD-002 -50 62.78 71.93 9.15 0.45 Rawema And 150.13 155.21 5.08 0.60 Includes 154.21 155.21 1.00 2.22 And 189.75 199.94 10.23 0.54 Includes 198.90 199.94 1.04 2.04 BBL-17-DD-003 -50 47.55 53.64 6.09 0.46 Pelatanga And 70.41 71.93 1.52 3.48 BBL-17-DD-004 -50 35.07 36.59 1.52 5.06 Pelatanga And 166.16 168.16 2.00 0.56 And 178.3 179.30 1.00 1.50 -50 182.44 195.68 13.24 0.78 Bouboulou 2 Includes 187.54 188.54 1.00 4.10 192.63 193.63 1.00 1.12 194.63 195.68 1.05 1.95 BBL-17-DD-006 -50 182.44 195.68 23.38 1.04 Bouboulou 2 Includes 203.00 204.00 1.00 3.17 204.00 205.00 1.00 4.10 207.04 208.04 1.00 2.03 209.09 210.09 1.00 2.12 213.14 214.14 1.00 1.09 215.19 216.19 1.00 1.26 221.28 222.28 1.00 2.78 BBL-17-DD-007 -50 178.30 181.35 3.05 5.21 Koala Includes 178.30 179.30 1.00 15.50 BBL-17-DD-008 -50 97.01 105.16 8.15 4.41 Koala Includes 104.16 105.16 1.00 23.00 236.22 237.22 1.00 3.88 BBL-17-DD-009 -45 NSR Bouboulou 1 BBL-17-DD-010 -60 237.22 241.27 4.05 0.47 Bouboulou 1 Includes 239.27 240.27 1.00 1.67 Note all assay results represent intercept lengths and are not true widths The drill program instituted at Bouboulou was designed to test and extend either along strike or at depth the zones previously identified on the property. Drilling consisted of 10 holes totaling 2596 meters with two holes testing each of four identified zones (Rawema, Pelatanga, Bouboulou 2 and Koala) and one additional zone, Bouboulou 1, located at the southern boundary hosted on the recently acquired Rakounga property. "The gold mineralization remains wide open to depth and along strike at all of our Bouboulou targets, and a little surprise at Koala with two greater than 10-gram assays," said Senior Geologist, Warren Robb P.Geo. "I am really pleased with our results and look forward to expanding these zones at Bouboulou," continued Mr. Robb. Niangouela Gold Concession - Phase Two The Company is also reporting results from its phase two diamond drill program on the Niangouela concession, which concluded in mid-May. The phase two program consisted of 2549.5 meters of diamond drilling and 387 meters of trenching. The program was designed to test strike and depth extensions on the mineralized gold bearing shear zone, which the Company identified in the first phase of drilling reported in March 2017, and to test new targets identified by prospecting. Highlights of these holes are tabled below: DRILL HOLE From (m) To (m) Intersection (m) Au (g/t) NGL-17-DD-015 130.5 134.1 3.60 0.91 INCLUDES 132.2 133.1 0.90 2.59 NGL-17-DD-016 129.8 137.8 5.00 0.52 NGL-17-DD-017 121 123 2.00 0.52 NGL-17-DD-018 185 186 1.00 1.34 NGL-17-DD-025 79 87 9.00 1.23 INCLUDES 80 85 5.00 1.80 NGL-17-DD-027 21 25 4.00 1.10 includes 24 25 1.00 3.59 and 124 129 5.00 0.52 Note all assay results represent intercept lengths and are not true widths The phase two drill program tested the strike extension of the mineralized quartz vein and shear discovered in the first round of drilling and to test new areas of potential gold mineralization. Drill holes 15 to 25 were drilled to test the down dip and westerly extensions of the shear zone identified in our first phase of drilling. Holes 15, 16, 17, 18, and 25 successfully intersected the zone. The data indicates the high-grade portion (or shoot) of the shear zone is contained within approximately 225 meters of strike bounded by holes 18 and 24 on the west, and holes 13 and trench one, on the east. The gold mineralization has been verified to depths of 145 meters below surface. The structure remains open at depth. Holes 19-24 were drilled in a systematic fashion testing the westerly strike of the shear zone. Although all the holes did intersect the shear zone no economic gold intercepts were recovered. The 387 meters of trenching was completed in six trenches designed to test strike extension of the main mineralized zone and to test other quartz veins identified by prospecting. Trench 3 returned 0.34 g/t Au over 5m, including 1.56 grams g/t Au over 1m. The remaining trenches did not return significant results. All rock and drill core samples were analysed at either Actlabs Burkina SARL or ALS Global Burkina SARL Laboratory utilizing either fire assay or Aqua Regia digestion and atomic absorption finish. The company maintains a Quality Control and Quality Assurance program of inserting at regular intervals standards and blanks as well as requiring duplication of samples and comparisons of duplicates between commercial labs. "Its looking like the high-grade zones at Niangouela could be vertical flexes within the shear," said Senior Geologist, Warren Robb. "This latest round of drilling really helped us get a better understanding of the project dynamics, and I look forward to chasing and hopefully extending those 100-plus gram assays from earlier this year to depth," continued Mr. Robb. The Company is planning follow up work to include drill testing the main shear to depth. The main shear has displayed high-grade gold mineralization and as of the completion of the phase two drilling the zone remains open to depth. Rakounga Gold Concession - Sampling Results The Company is also pleased to report results from prospecting from artisanal workings on the newly acquired Rakounga property. In mid July as part of the company's due diligence program Nexus geologists prospected a single large orpaillage on the Rakounga property which is contiguous with the Bouboulou permit. Initial rock samples from dumps of the workings returned values up to 17.3 g/t Au. Additional samples returned values of 2.33 and 1.45 g/t Au, respectively. The orpaillage investigated measured over 800 metres along strike and workings extended up to 20 meters wide along the strike length. Company field crews are currently prospecting two newly found orpaillages (artisinal showings) roughly parallel to the one mentioned above. Court Says Popularity Of Cell Phones Not Enough For Probable Cause For A Search Dallas, Texas, 10/05/2017 /SubmitPressRelease123/ If you have a cell phone, youre in good company. According to the Pew Research Center on Internet & Technology, about 95 percent of Americans own a cell phone of some kind. Among those with phones, 77 percent have a smartphone. Theres no question that mobile phones are popular, but does being common mean a device is automatically subject to a search? Do the police have a right to grab one any time theyre searching a person or a house, just because a phone might have evidence on it? The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia said no in a 2-to-1 ruling in August 2017. Court Rejects Searches for Electronic Devices with Overbroad Warrants In the case, United States v. Griffith, the court actually applied its ruling to cases involving computers, phones, and other electronic devices. In the case, the police had obtained a warrant to search a mans home for cellphones or other electronic devices in connection with his suspected involvement in a 2011 murder. The man was later convicted of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. The court stated that the warrant was overly broad, as the police did not have probable cause to believe the man even owned a cellphone, or that any phones inside his residence had incriminating evidence on them. Furthermore, there was no logical reason to link the mans suspected crime being the getaway driver in a murder to a cellphone or any other electronic device. Just because a lot of people have phones, the court reasoned, does not mean police have carte blanche to seize them and search them anytime they feel like it. As the court stated, The assumption that most people own a cell phone would not automatically justify an open-ended warrant to search a home anytime officers seek a persons phone. Courts Must Suppress Evidence Seized Pursuant to an Unlawful Search During the search of the mans home, police found a gun that had been tossed out a window. They also seized six cellphones and a tablet computer that were inside the residence. The mans defense lawyers successfully argued that evidence involving the gun should have been suppressed, as it was seized pursuant to an unlawful search. Although the gun was the fruit of the search, its discovery was brought about by an unconstitutional search warrant. The court continued, Finding the existence of probable cause in this case, therefore, would verge on authorizing a search of a persons home almost anytime there is probable cause to suspect her of a crime. We cannot accept that proposition. If youve been charged with a crime, dont hesitate to speak to an experienced Texas criminal defense lawyer about your case. Sources: Dallas Criminal Defense Lawyer Broden & Mickelsen, LLP http://www.brodenmickelsen.com/ 2600 State St Dallas, Texas 75204 Main Phone: (214) 720-9552 source: https://www.brodenmickelsen.com/blog/appeals-court-says-popularity-cell-phones-isnt-enough-probable-cause-search/ Social Media Tags:Searches for Electronic Devices, Searches for Electronic Devices Dallas Criminal Defense Lawyer, Searches for Electronic Devices with Overbroad Warrants, Unlawful Search Newsroom powered by Online Press Release Distribution SubmitMyPressRelease.com Like Us on Facebook It's only fair to share... Pinterest Linkedin email Print Bronze Age site (Image credit: Llywelyn2000) A team of amateur archeologists excavating a Bronze Age site in the United Kingdom has unearthed a cache of unusual stone tools deposited in an ancient stream more than 4,000 years ago. The finds were made by members of the Clwydian Range Archaeology Group (CRAG) on a plateau near the Moel Arthur hill fort in northeast Wales. The Moel Arthur hill fort and five other hill forts in the region were built around 800 B.C., during the Iron Age in Britain. The Bronze Age site excavated by the CRAG team is thought to be much older: built around 2500 B.C., based on carbon dating of charcoal fragments. [Read full story about the excavations at the Bronze Age site] (Image credit: Ian Brooks/CRAG) The stone tools found by the CRAG team vary in size, from around 8.5 inches (220 millimeters) long down to about 2 inches (50 mm) long. They are made from slabs of hard limestone, and are roughly triangular in shape. About 20 have been found so far. Archeologists don't yet know what they were used for, but each shows heavy signs of wear and pitting at the sharpest end, indicating they have been used to hammer or chip away at other rocks. Archeologist Ian Brooks thinks they may have been used to chip away at rock faces and boulders to create marks and designs, such as ring shapes, a characteristic type of ornamentation found at many Bronze Age sites in Britain. Amateur archaeologists (Image credit: CRAG) The tools were found by volunteers from CRAG during excavations at the site near Moel Arthur in July and August this year. The group is made up of local amateurs who have spent several years working at the site under the guidance of professional archaeologists. Their finds so far suggest the site was occupied by an agricultural community around 4,500 years ago, when it was used for several different types of activity. Rituals? (Image credit: Ian Brooks/CRAG) The unusual tools have all been found in one location, at the bottom of what used to be an ancient stream that ran alongside the settlement. Brooks thinks they may have been deposited in the stream deliberately, perhaps in a ritual after they had been used for their purpose, whatever it was. He noted that many small objects from the Bronze Age in Europe have been found in what once were wet locations, such as swamps or bogs, and that they may have been deposited as a form of ritual offering. Odd objects (Image credit: Ian Brooks/CRAG) In addition to the unusual tools, excavations by the CRAG team of the Bronze Age site unearthed other objects that shed light on the lives of the people who lived there 4,500 years ago, including this arrowhead found this year. Geophysical surveys also suggest there was at least one roundhouse, a typical type of group dwelling during the Bronze Age in Britain, at the site. A large operation (Image credit: Ian Brooks/CRAG) Among the discoveries is an archeological feature known as a "burnt mound," which was excavated by the CRAG team in 2013. It contained the remains of a process for making relatively large amounts of hot water, by heating stones in a fire and then dropping them into a water-filled pit. It's thought the hot water may have been used for cooking, for brewing beer, or for making steam for a sweat lodge. Lots of history (Image credit: Ian Brooks/CRAG) The CRAG team intends to continue their excavations at the Bronze Age site near Moel Arthur, and to fully document the unusual tools and other finds. Their work has shown that the Clywdian Range of hills were occupied for thousands of years before the major hill forts were built in the area during the Iron Age. Researchers think the inhabitants of the site excavated by the CRAG team were agriculturalists who grew grain on the high land in the area, at a time when the low-lying Vale of Clwyd was probably too swampy for plowing. One of several (Image credit: Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales) Moel Arthur is one of at least six major hillforts in the Clywdian range. Three of them are very large, including Meol Arthur and the Penycloddiau hillfort, shown here. Their large size suggests to many archaeologists that their main purpose was not to defend against hostile human raiders. Instead, the hill forts may have been built to enhance the status of the communities that built them, or for ceremonial purposes, or for protecting communal herds of animals from predators like wolves and bears. Years of studies (Image credit: University of Oxford) Teams of archeologists from the University of Liverpool and the University of Oxford have spent several years studying some of the major hill forts in the region. Excavations by researchers from Oxford University at the Moel-y-Gaer hillfort, near the village of Bodfari, have found roundhouse dwellings and examined the construction of the earthen ramparts. Doctors in Mexico snapped a stunning photo of an acrobatic arthropod flipping and twirling. But the critter was far from a medical marvel rather, the crab-shaped parasite was a lowly pubic louse. The doctors spotted the pubic louse (Phthirus pubis) when they were examining a 65-year-old man who said he'd had severe itching in his groin area for the past six weeks, according to a brief report of the man's case, published today (Oct. 4) in The New England Journal of Medicine. In addition to the acrobatic louse, doctors found a louse nit, or egg, firmly attached to a pubic hair, according to the case report. The man had no lesions on his skin, the doctors wrote. [27 Oddest Medical Cases] Pubic pediculosis, or an infestation of pubic lice, is usually transmitted through sexual contact, but it can also be spread via clothing, bedding and towels, according to the report. The man in this case told doctors that he'd had no recent sexual contact. The lice can be found on coarse hair anywhere on the body, such as on the chest, armpit or leg; in the man's case, the infestation was limited to his pubic region. The man was treated with an oral anti-parasite medicine called ivermectin. He was examined and treated in Mexico; in the U.S., oral ivermectin isn't approved for the treatment of lice, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Instead, special lotions and shampoos are recommended. Two weeks after his treatment, the man's itching had stopped, and at a follow-up exam two weeks after that, doctors found no signs of lice. Originally published on Live Science. The genome of a female Neanderthal, whose bones were found in the Vindija Cave in Croatia (shown here), revealed our extinct relatives passed along genes that play roles in many diseases today. A female Neanderthal who lived in what is now Croatia 52,000 years ago is revealing that our "caveman" relatives may have passed on genes that play roles in cholesterol levels, eating disorders, arthritis and other diseases today, the researchers who sequenced her genome say. And some modern humans are carrying around more Neanderthal DNA than scientists had thought: The study found that the genomes of modern human populations that originated outside Africa hold between 1.8 and 2.6 percent Neanderthal DNA. That's much higher than previous estimates of 1.5 to 2.1 percent. Neanderthals were the closest extinct relatives of modern humans. Research over the past decade has revealed that Neanderthals interbred with the ancestors of modern humans who migrated out of Africa, contributing variants of genes that play a wide variety of roles in modern human biology, such as in depression, heart attacks, nicotine addiction and obesity. By extracting DNA from Neanderthal fossils, researchers sequenced the genomes of five Neanderthals. However, until now, just one of these yielded high-quality data that of a woman found in Denisova Cave, in the Altai Mountains in Siberia. The fossil of the woman, who lived about 122,000 years ago, is known as the Altai Neanderthal. [Denisovan Gallery: Tracing the Genetics of Human Ancestors] Now, scientists have fully sequenced the genome of another female Neanderthal this one from Vindija Cave, in Croatia who lived about 52,000 years ago. Prior work suggested that Neanderthals lived in Vindija Cave until relatively late in their history. Scientists estimate that Neanderthals in Europe went extinct around 40,000 years ago. Neanderthal genes In the new study, the researchers analyzed billions of DNA segments from a bone fragment discovered in 1980. It was challenging to find a bone from Vindija Cave that carried enough Neanderthal DNA to yield high-quality data and that had relatively little contamination from modern-human and other DNA, said lead study author Kay Prufer, a paleogeneticist at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany. "Advances in laboratory methods helped us to overcome some of these challenges, in combination with cheaper sequencing technology," Prufer told Live Science. The new findings suggest that, compared with the Altai Neanderthal, the Vindija Neanderthal was more closely related to the Neanderthals who interbred with the ancestors of modern humans living outside Africa. This closer relation allowed the scientists to identify an additional 10 to 20 percent more Neanderthal DNA in modern humans. [In Photos: Neanderthal Burials Uncovered] The newly identified Neanderthal gene variants found in modern humans play roles in blood levels of vitamin D and "bad" LDL cholesterol, as well as in eating disorders, body fat levels, rheumatoid arthritis, schizophrenia and responses to antipsychotic drugs, the study found. "Variants from Neanderthals are not necessarily bad for your health," Prufer said. "We find one variant that is associated with LDL cholesterol, and the variant we got from Neanderthals is associated with lower LDL cholesterol." Their findings also suggested that modern-human DNA entered the Neanderthal gene pool. The scientists estimated that modern human gene flow into Neanderthal populations occurred between 130,000 and 145,000 years ago, before the Altai and Vindija Neanderthals diverged. Neanderthal inbreeding In addition, by comparing the genomes of the Vindija Neanderthal and the Altai Neanderthal, the researchers found that the two were surprisingly similar. "The two Neanderthals were separated by thousands of kilometers and probably lived tens of thousands of years separated in time as well," Prufer said. "That is why it is so surprising to find them to be so similar." A small overall Neanderthal population size is the best explanation for this similarity, Prufer said. The fewer Neanderthals there were, the more likely it was that they had ancestors in common, he explained. Previous research suggested that the Altai Neanderthal's parents were half-siblings, prompting scientists to wonder if Neanderthals often interbred with family members. The new Vindija genome does not have similar incestuous patterns a finding that suggests the extreme inbreeding seen with the Altai Neanderthal may not have been common among Neanderthals. Still, Prufer noted that the two sets of chromosomes that the Vindija Neanderthal inherited from both of her parents carried only about 1.6 differences per 10,000 base pairs of DNA. (The double strands of DNA that make up each chromosome are made of sets of molecules known as base pairs.) "For comparison, modern humans in Africa have around 10 differences in 10,000 [base pairs], and Europeans and Asians around seven differences in 10,000 much more than we see in Neanderthals," Prufer said. "This shows again that Neanderthals lived in small populations." In the future, the researchers hope to obtain even more high-quality Neanderthal genomes. "More Neanderthal genomes will help us to better understand how they were related in space and time, but also to narrow down which Neanderthals contributed to disease," Prufer said. The scientists detailed their findings online Oct. 5 in the journal Science. Original article published on Live Science. Local News, Business & Finance, Community, Charity & Cause, Politics By Long Island News & PR Published: October 05 2017 Creation of MWBE Advisory Council to Increase MWBE Capacity, Certification, and Utilization. Albany, NY - October 5, 2017 - Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that the utilization rate for Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises participating in State contracts increased to 27.2 percent for the 2016-17 Fiscal Year, with MWBEs winning more than $2.2 billion in State contracts. The Governor also announced the MWBE Advisory Council and the launch of key technical assistance programs designed to increase the scope and capacity of MWBEs. "In New York, we know that our economy is strongest when everyone is empowered to participate, which is why we continue to work to increase access and opportunities to success for MWBEs, and this year's forum highlights the strength of that commitment," Governor Cuomo said. "Our State's MWBE utilization is higher than ever before and New York leads the nation in our efforts to strengthen a diverse, inclusive economy." This year, over 2,000 businesses, entrepreneurs, and government officials registered for the Forum - New York's largest annual business event. The Forum's theme, "Transformation 2017: ENGAGE, EMPOWER, ELEVATE" is designed to inform MWBEs of the strategies and resources necessary to win State contracts and grow their businesses. This year's Forum also continues the tradition of providing opportunities for MWBEs to build relationships with public and private sector decision makers as they pursue billions of dollars in State contracts. MWBE Utilization Rate The key to the success of the Governor's MWBE program is increasing the utilization of MWBE firms in State contracting. Governor Cuomo has set the nation's highest goal for MWBE contracts at 30 percent. Under the Governor's leadership, the rate has increased nearly every year since 2011. As a result, New York is leading the economic empowerment of MWBEs at every level. For the 2016-2017 Fiscal Year, the rate of MWBEs participating in State contracts increased to 27.2 percent, totaling more than $2.2 billion in State contracts. This rate of utilization not only reflects the highest percentage of State contracts awarded to MWBEs in the nation, but also the largest dollar value of contracts awarded. MWBE Advisory Council Governor Cuomo also announced the creation of the MWBE Advisory Council. The Council's mission is to advance innovative legislative, regulatory, and administrative recommendations designed to increase MWBE capacity, certification, and utilization to ensure that the State is able to meet and eventually exceed the Governor's statewide 30 percent MWBE goal. Under the Governor's direction, the Council will work with Alphonso David, Counsel to the Governor, State agencies and authorities, and members of the Legislature to examine prime contracting issues and develop strategies to increase MWBEs' access to capital so that MWBEs continue to grow and contribute to the State's economic development. The Council's recommendations will address and troubleshoot real and perceived disparities facing MWBEs, and strive to: Develop strategies to increase prime contracting opportunities for MWBEs; Increase MWBEs access to capital via State-sponsored and traditional, private sector lending programs; and Foster MWBEs participation in public and private equity deals involving State-sponsored development projects. MWBE Advisory Council Members are: Gerrard Bushell, Dormitory Authority of the State of New York; Terrence Clark, New York & New Jersey Minority Supplier Development Council, Inc.; Mylan Denerstein, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP; Ruth Hassell-Thompson, Special Advisor to the Governor; Charlie King, Mercury LLC; Jesus Linares, National Hispanic Business Group/Business Relocation Services, Inc.; Marc Morial, National Urban League; Nayan Parikh, Ashnu International Corporation; Hilda Rosario Escher, Ibero-American Action League; Blair Smith, National Action Network; Elinor Tatum, New York Amsterdam News;Sabrina Ty, New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation; and Sandra Wilkin, Women Builders Council /Bradford Construction. The MWBE Advisory Council builds on the success and recommendations of the statewide MWBE Team, first created by Executive Order in 2011 by Governor Cuomo. The MWBE Team was charged with exploring ways to eliminate barriers and expand the participation of MWBEs in state contracting. By 2014, a number of key initiatives advanced by the MWBE Team, including an improved online reporting system, a streamlined certification process, increased outreach initiatives, and a State-sponsored bonding program, were fully implemented and helped increase the State's MWBE utilization beyond the 20 percent goal that the Governor set in in 2011. After surpassing his earlier 20 percent MWBE goal, the Governor once again raised the bar and set a new statewide goal of 30 percent utilization at the 2014 MWBE Forum. The Carey Gabay Excellence and Innovation Awards The "Carey Gabay Excellence and Innovation Awards for Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprises" awards recognizes a select number of MWBEs for their entrepreneurial spirit and achievement in New York State contracting. This award is named in honor of Carey Gabay who was tragically killed as a victim of gun violence in September 2015 at the age of 43. Before his death, Carey served as an Assistant Counsel to Governor Cuomo and as First Deputy Counsel for Empire State Development. During his tenure with New York State, Carey worked tirelessly to ensure that the Governor's MWBE program was a success. This is the second year of honoring MWBEs that have built successful businesses due to their commitment to innovation and strengthening their communities, two principles that Carey Gabay lived by during his service to New York State. The 2017 Awardees for Entrepreneurial Spirit and Achievement as a New York State-Certified MWBE are: GCOM Software, Inc (Albany); RJ Enterprises (Long Island City); American Rated Cable and Communications, Inc. (Buffalo); and Accustaff Rafferty Enterprises, Inc. (Albany). NYS Business Growth Accelerator Program First announced by Governor Cuomo in the 2017 State of the State address, the Governor also announced the grantees for the Business Growth Accelerator Program: Women's Enterprise Development Center (White Plains); Syracuse University/South Side Innovation Center (Syracuse); and Business Outreach Center Network, Inc. (New York City). The Business Growth Accelerator creates an opportunity for participating MWBEs to receive intensive technical assistance and business development training through selected local providers with demonstrated experience in serving this business community. Three grant recipients selected by New York State to partner in this initiative will be tasked with implementing an 18-month program that includes seminars and individualized one-on-one business development assistance to participating MWBEs, with efforts focused on areas where there is a collective need for standard business acumen. Grantees will partner with local industry experts in delivering support and training on a range of business topics, including marketing, finance, contracting, and sales - tailored to the capacity needs of each participating MWBE firm. NYS MWBE Certification Assistance Program In addition, the Governor announced the grant recipients FOR the MWBE Certification Assistance Program: Towne Ryan & Partners (Albany); and Hofstra University (Long Island). The Certification Assistance Program will provide support to firms seeking NYS MWBE Certification and will allow firms to work directly with the grantees through one-on-one sessions to identify any deficiencies in their MWBE certification application that may affect the timeliness and ultimate certification decision by Empire State Development's Division of Minority and Women's Business Development. During his 2016 State of the State address, Governor Cuomo pledged to increase MWBE certification by an additional 2,000 businesses - and the State is on track to meet that goal by 2018. Under the Governor's leadership, more than 5,800 MWBEs have been newly certified since 2011. The New York State Directory of Certified Firms currently has over 8,300 certified firms, and is one of the largest listings in the nation of MWBE firms ready, willing and able to perform on public contracts. Access to Capital Initiatives and Support During the MWBE Forum's opening session, Alphonso B. David, Counsel to the Governor, highlighted state programs that provide financing for MWBEs. These programs provide MWBEs with the capital necessary to win larger contracts, promote job creation, enter new markets and strengthen our economy. Bridge to Success Loan Program : In March 2014, Governor Cuomo launched the "Bridge to Success" loan program to invest at least $20 million to expand access to short term bridge loans for New York State Certified MWBEs. The goal of the State's investment was to provide the qualified MWBEs the short-term support they needed to access up to $100 million in State contracts. Three years later, the State has already exceeded that goal, with 106 loans totaling just over $16 million supporting over $134 million in contracts for New York State MWBEs. Abad, 24, of Medford, New York was airlifted to Stony Brook University Hospital for treatment of serious, but non-life-threatening injuries. Padilla, 24, of Farmingville, New York was cited for Unlicensed Operation. He was not injured in the crash. Local News, Crime By Long Island News & PR Published: October 05 2017 SCPD: Two masked men, one armed with a handgun, entered a home and struggled with the occupant, who sustained a gunshot wound to his hand. Medford, NY - October 5, 2017 - Suffolk County Police Sixth Squad detectives are investigating a burglary at an occupied Suffolk County Police Sixth Squad detectives are investigating a burglary at an occupied Medford home that occurred on Tuesday, October 3, 2017. Two masked men, one armed with a handgun, entered a home on Eagle Avenue at 11:59 p.m. An occupant of the residence struggled with the intruders and sustained a gunshot wound to his hand. Two other occupants were on the second floor of the residence when the incident occurred and they were not injured. The two suspects fled without proceeds. You, dear reader, are clearly someone who pays attention to what Apple is doing. So heres a quick quiz: How many Apple Watches did Apple sell during its last financial quarter? If you answered, you were guessing. Apple doesnt disclose how many Apple Watches it sells, either by units or dollars. Unlike the iPhone, iPad, and Mac, which the company does break out, the Apple Watch is rolled into an Other Products category that also contains Apple TV and various other stuff. Apple says it has competitive reasons for not disclosing actual sales figure, but it still wants to boast about how well Apple Watches are selling. Which leads Apple to play a game thats common among tech and tech-related companies: providing superlatives without details. Bezos charts Perhaps the company thats most famous about this is Amazon. Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos loves to boast about how well Prime is doing, and how great Kindle sales are but he doesnt want to give specifics. Bezos takes it to a whole other level by frequently displaying charts in presentations with the Y axis removed. Amazon Amazon and Jeff Bezos, like a lot of companies (including Apple), offer vague figures when it comes to sales of certain products. These Bezos charts arent information freeIm going to assume that the relative height of the bars is accurate. But without knowing actual figures, all it does is show growth. Which is great, but is Amazon selling hundreds of Kindles, or thousands, or millions? Theres no way to know from the chart. Sometimes companies arent even kind enough to present their vague superlatives in chart form. The company most frequently assailed for providing superlatives without detail is Netflix. Despite the TV industrys obsession with ratings, Netflix plays it coy. The company will sometimes drop factoids about the most-rewatched Star Trek episodes, or what shows lead people into watch The Defenders, but actually disclosing how many people watch particular shows on Netflix? It rarely happens, though Netflixs Ted Sarandos did reveal how many people watched Beasts of No Nation that one time. CBS Star Trek: Discovery The past couple of weeks, Ive been enjoying Star Trek: Discovery on CBS All Access, which Ive subscribed to so that I can watch a new Star Trek series as its whats the streaming equivalent of airing? Made available. Anyway, Im not aloneCBS has been putting out press release after press release trumpeting its success in building a subscriber base on the back of Star Trek fans. Except guess whats missing? Actual subscriber figures! Instead, the press release says things like: Star Trek: Discovery has pushed the service a new record high for subscriber sign-ups in a single week. This builds on the momentum and previous record the series set around its Sept. 24 premiere which marked a record-breaking day, week and month for the service Following STAR TREK: DISCOVERYs premiere on Sunday, Sept. 24, CBS All Access daily growth in subscribers is up more than 200 percent year-over-year. In other words we know theyve broken the record they set the previous week. We know that daily growth is up 200 percent over the previous year. (Though daily growth in subscribers is itself a weird measurement.) Its all way better than it was before whatever that was. Is it a million new subscribers, or 20,000? We just dont know. Maybe they could make a Bezos Chart to help us out. Figuring out Apple Watch sales Anyway, to bring this back to Apple: I guess I can appreciate that the company wants to keep its sales details a secret. But on one level, its a bit silly, because theres plenty of context around Apple Watch sales. At Apples media event in September, Tim Cook said that Apple Watch is now the biggest watch business in the world, surpassing Rolexso if you know how well Rolex is doing, youve got an idea where Apple Watch sales must be. Just about every quarter, Cook and Apple characterize Apple Watch sales in some way, whether its that theyve had the best quarter yet, or experienced 50 percent year-over-year growth, which has allowed some wags to create sarcastic charts of Apple Watch sales in the style of Amazons. More seriously, if you analyze the size and growth of Apples Other Product category, you can make a pretty good guess about how Apple Watch sales are doing. Analyst Horace Dediu has been doing this all along, and his results are strong. Dediu says Apple has sold about 33 million Apple Watches since launch, generating about $12 billion in sales. Those arent bad numbers at all. Its a shame Apple wont give them to us directly, but its far from the only company playing this game. At University of California, Davis engineers managed to combine intravascular ultrasound with fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIm) inside a single catheter. The combined imaging modalities provide a new look inside of arteries, offering both a morphological picture as well as one that gives insight into the composition of plaques. While cath-lab techniques are now commonly used to detect and treat plaque build-up, diagnosing the actual problem typically involves angiographies, which can show the narrowing of vessel walls. The problem is that plaque can still be dangerous even if it doesnt constrict vessels, and the composition of such plaque can indicate how problematic it really is. The catheter uses ultrasound to see the shape of the interior of arteries, while fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIm), which measures how long a target fluoresces after being excited with laser light, provides biochemical data about plaques. Combined, the two imaging modalities may help doctors to diagnose plaque-related diseases, as well as to monitor how therapies are working out. So far the device has been tried in living pig hearts and inside of samples of human coronary arteries, but the researchers are already in talks with the FDA on getting regulatory approval to try the device on real patients. Heres two videos from the same artery. This first video combines ultrasound (grayscale) with FLIm (full color): This second video shows just the fluorescence signal, with blue representing healthy tissue while colors between yellow and red pointing to plaque and diseased tissue: Study in Scientific Reports: In vivo label-free structural and biochemical imaging of coronary arteries using an integrated ultrasound and multispectral fluorescence lifetime catheter system Via: UC Davis 5:01pm: Scott Miller of CBSSports.com says the Rockies are prepared to turn around and trade Street to another team. 4:08pm: Gonzalez confirmed his inclusion in the trade in a phone call to Jorge L. Ortiz of USA Today. 3:42pm: A Rockies spokesman told the AP that talks are fluid, and "everythings speculation." Heyman is now aboard with Gonzalez/Smith/Street as the package. Seems solid for one year of Holliday and the accompanying draft picks. 3:20pm: Susan Slusser spoke to Smith, who is flying to Denver for a physical. She agrees that Street and Gonzalez are the other two players. 2:54pm: ESPNs Jerry Crasnick confirmed Smith is in the deal. 2:39pm: Troy Renck says the As had been offering Street and Gonzalez. Meanwhile ESPN adds Ryan Sweeney and Gonzalez to their mix of players discussed. 2:30pm: Brown says the two teams have agreed in principle to a deal that will send Gonzalez, Smith, and Street to the Rockies. 2:24pm: The ESPN report now says Brett Anderson was under discussion as well as Smith. 2:03pm: The ESPN guys talked to As assistant GM David Forst, who said, "Its still an ongoing discussion." 2:00pm: Ken Rosenthal chimes in. The deal may not be finalized for about 48 hours. Players discussed over the weekend: Carlos Gonzalez, Huston Street, and Smith. Rosenthal says the As do not plan to flip Holliday or trade him in July. Rosenthal also says the As could increase payroll to as high as $80MM, which could mean $25-30MM to play with. 1:57pm: ESPNs Buster Olney and Jerry Crasnick say the two teams have agreed to terms, and believe pitcher Greg Smith was under discussion. 1:51pm: Yahoos Tim Brown also says a deal is close. 1:27pm: According to SI.coms Jon Heyman, the As traded for Rockies outfielder Matt Holliday. More as it comes in! 05.10.2017 LISTEN Three of Femi Kuti's nine children were adopted, the Nigerian afrobeats legend has revealed. The afrobeats king who is constantly travelling spoke about how much he loves his kids and how he perfectly combines his fatherly responsibilities and giant music career together. He also spoke about his influence on his children, especially his first son, Made, who has picked up his fathers music traits and plays a number of musical instruments. Femi said I am immensely proud of his dexterity. The music legend will perform live at the upcoming Felabration Music Festival slated for Monday, October 9 to Sunday, October 15 marking Fela Anikulapo Kutis 79th birthday. This years festival is themed The Prophecy. Nigerias fastest growing stout brand, Legend Extra Stout will also be on ground at the week-long musical event which attracts thousands of visitors annually from all over the world to the New Africa Shrine, an official tourist destination of The Lagos State Government. Legend Extra Stout hopes to connect with its existing and targeted consumers who will experience the unique bitter tasting stout in the midst of the fun and excitement that comes with the festival. Watch Femis interview LINK: With some few days to go for the release of 'Dont leave me alone' video by NanaYaa ft MzVee, Oneplay Media the management company for NanaYaa Thomas as she is known in real life has released some exclusive behind the scenes photos ahead of the official video release. The song that won NanaYaa Live 91.9fm Artiste of the month nomination for September, where she came in second place to Sarkodie is currently part of the top 10 songs banging in the capital and the video will push it to the top when out. Dont leave Me Alone video concept is simple - 'After hot arguments with her (NanaYaa) man, the guy plans a huge surprise for her at the end of her concert'. The story according to NanaYaa is to help couples in relationships to try work out their differences whenever it comes up than to just walk out or abandon the whole relationship. The video was shot by award winning director Hafiz Salifu Abdul of DC Films and comes on Monday. Check out the Behind the scenes photos. Nanayaa 4.jpeg Mzvee 1 .jpeg Nanayaa 2.jpeg As the world of comedy gets heated and moves to the next level, it is increasingly becoming clear each day why his fans affectionately call him the Joke. As he features in a stage play dubbed the ladder ,organized by the National Theater and the Nyansapo Productions, as part of celebrations to climax the National Theater Festival, at the National Theatre auditorium in Accra, comedian and actor, who also doubles as a musician and a dancer , Bismark Nii Odoi, once again caught the eyes of his fans, with his amazing natural prowess in comedy, making it uncomfortable without bursting into laughter, seeing him display in every second in every scene. Being his first stage comedy play, Bismark, with his Notorious nick name, Gatuso, this time exhibited how rude, arrogant and bully he can be in Prof. Chiberes class, to outsmart intelligent mates, in his quest to be part of the best two students to gain slots for an excursion to DC through Dubai, on the ticket of the Education Offices Science and Innovation Test. Every student in the class was excited about the opportunity to travel to DC including Prof. Chibere himself, knowing very well his position on the trip was secured, he decided to help two of the best students, who were his favorites to get selected for the trip. The other students, including almighty stubborn Gatuso, also expressed interest in the trip, and how they schemed to outwit the intelligent ones to pass the test for the opportunity to travel to DC, was something any comedy and stage play lover would not have afford to miss. The play also featured other vibrant actors like, Foster Romanus, Clemento Suarez, Kojo Delong, Robert KM Ahlijah, Pearl Korkor Darkey, the sensational comedy duo 2 idiots General Ntatia & Dr. So, Fred Amugi, Shaka, Rifkata, Jennie, Vivian and Mawuli Jasparo. Other production houses who were part of the festival were Roverman Productions and Ghana Dance Ensemble. The event was organized for the development of theatre and the way forward for encouraging more interests in theatre. Establishing collaborative governance" for peace-building has been discussed with world leaders at the 3rd Annual Commemoration of the World Alliance Religions' Peace (WARP) Summit held by Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL) under the UN ECOSOC in Seoul, Republic of Korea. On the third day of the summit, September 19th, sessions were held to focus on the region and sector-based peace projects. At the 3rd International Religious Leaders' Conference, around 300 religious leaders who worked for interfaith dialogues gathered to promote harmony of religions. The participants shared the progress reports of interfaith meetings through HWPLs WARP offices aiming to enhance mutual understanding and develop peacebuilding by religious leaders. Rev. Acharya Prem Shankaranand Tirth, Hindu High Priest of Shree Geeta Ashram of Delhi, emphasized the value and importance of the interfaith dialogue based on the scriptures by mentioning, The WARP Office taught us how to make religions one. The true discussion for harmony is not just comparing the knowledge of each other but it is a discussion in finding one complete truth. In addition, Mr.Man Hee Lee, Chairman of HWPL, stressed on the role of the religious leaders in the current global situation and the importance of their mission for world peace. He urged religious leaders to take the lead in realizing religious reconciliation and religious peace through communication. Religious leaders have to become the just and righteous scale measuring all religious scriptures. They gather all religious scriptures and work to define the trustworthy scripture with a legitimate standard at the WARP Office. Everything that religious leaders discuss must clearly be based on what is written in the scripture, which needs to be comprehensively analyzed and studied for the true alliance of religions. At the Region-Specific Discussion for the Implementation of the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW), experts in various fields such as government officials, civil society leaders, and media discussed how implement the peace projects in each region. The participants conceived peace projects in accordance with local conditions, such as implementing peace education and cultural programs, activating Legislate Peace campaigns which are supportive signing campaigns for the DPCW, establishing a peace network, and setting up a road map for peace policy during the roundtable discussion by country or continent. Also, they wrote proposals and signed agreements to implement the projects systematically in their country. The DPCW, drafted by HWPL advocating international cooperation for global peace, appealed to the participants in terms of inventing peace-specific policy making in countries for the legal foundation to promote peace. The DPCW serves as a framework of a robust, global infrastructure built by sovereign states on a foundation of tolerance, mutual understanding, and dialogue developed to resist conflict. I believe thatwe will be able to find out ways to cooperate together with all stakeholders to work toward promoting peace in each of our respective country. said H.E. Chin Malin,Undersecretary of State of Ministry of Justice. Representatives of women's organizations carrying out active peace movement from 53 countries shared the role of women leaders in the enactment of the effective international law for peace and the importance of networking for urging the DPCW in cooperation with International Womens Peace Group (IWPG) at 2017 IWPG Network Forum. Ms.Nam Hee Kim, Chairwoman of IWPG, said Let us all support the implementation of an international law in order to protect our children from the suffering caused by violence and aggression and instead nurture them in an environment of peace. Peace education should start from within the family. We should become the mothers who can proudly say that we work hard to inherit the world of peace. urging for the power of the world's 3.6 billion women in achieving world peace and their role in each field for the purpose of international law enactment. 04.10.2017 LISTEN Accra, Oct. 2, GNA - Professor Amos Sawyer, former President of Liberia, has called for greater citizen participation in the governance process in Africa. He said citizen's participation in the governance process could exact accountability, ensure transparency and encourage greater inclusion. Prof. Sawyer made the call in a speech read on his behalf, in Accra, at a two-day United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) High Level Policy Dialogue on the future of Governance in Africa. The dialogue was on the general theme: 'The imperative for imaginational new future for Governance in Africa: challenges and opportunities thoughts towards transformational Governance'. Prof. Sawyer said there was the need to elevate the place of citizenship in the discourse and action about governance and development, recognizing that only knowledgeable, efficacious citizens could sustain democratic governance and create development. 'In respect of this, programmes to nurture citizenship though education, and empower citizens to become valuable participants in governance processes and drivers of development must be accelerated by the government, and civil society organizations. 'Think tanks and institutions of learning must also cooperate and with the support of international partners to ensure broader participation,' he said. Prof. Sawyer said in the quest to develop and sustain good governance, attention to deepening meaningful participation of citizens had the potential to accelerate the achievement of many of the other tenants of good governance On elections, Prof Sawyer said: 'As we adapt electoral principles and institutions appropriate for sustaining electoral democracy in Africa, 'we have to remind ourselves that whilst electoral democracy is a critical component in a system of representative government, it is insufficient for attaining democratic governance; not even a properly functioning parliament'. He said low level of technical capacity of legislative staff, inability to serve constituency need, and a culture of corruption were among challenges that continue to retard parliaments in doing their work as a co-equal branch of government with the executive. He said strengthening staff capacity of legislative committees, so as to improve technical performances, and increasing openness of debates and voting, were often identified among the measures which could improve legislative performances. 'I believe one of the most effective measures to improve legislative performance is to increase the level of meaningful participation by constituencies with legislators and with local councils and assemblies. 'In some countries, sustaining this level and quality of engagement between legislators and constituencies might require the support to local people by civil society organizations. 'Needless to say, this is also a part of strengthening of state-society relations,' he added. Prof Sawyer said since independence, Ghana had been a crucible for the generation of political, social and economic ideas for development in Africa. He said Ghana had also provided leadership in conflict management and resolution in so many instances, especially here in West Africa; declaring that 'Liberians know this all too well and remain deeply grateful'. Dr Joyce Banda, former President of Malawi in her contribution, called for transparent and accountability leadership in Africa. She explained that transparency and accountability in leadership and empowering women and girls were the three important concepts for good governance. GNA By Iddi Yire, GNA Come and see ooooo! Come and see the gargantuan corruption and malfeasance happening in the University of Education, Winneba (UEW) after the Winneba High Court Judge has appointed an Ag. VC to manage the affairs of UEW. I am sure you will all agree with me that any Judge on this earth can scheme a judgement and will even have deciding cases to support his/her judgement. That was exactly what the Winneba High Court Judge, Justice George Atto Mills-Graves did when he granted an injunction application and asked the Pro VC (who has had a dream of becoming a VC) of UEW to step in the shoes of the VC. Anas has to investigate corrupt judges in Ghana again because some of them are still Let me chronicle the current happenings in UEW and you can judge for yourself what is really happening under the watch of a man of God who is supposingly coming to fight corruption. After the injunction application was granted by the Winneba High Court, within few days, the Ag. VC made some reshufflings and revoked some appointments made by a substantive VC. For instance, Jones Appiah-Kubi (whose house the cabal normally meet to plan their tribal Coup d'etat) was made the Ag. Director of Radio Windy Bay and the Ag. Director of Radio Windy Bay was moved to the payroll unit. Jones Appiah-Kubi was granted study leave with pay to pursue an M.A. programme. After his M.A., he decided to do a top up for an M.Phil. He wanted the University to pay for his expenses for the M.Phil. but he was told that he has to serve the University for a certain period before he could be supported for his M.Phil. programme. This is in line with university policy and has always been applied without exception, except in an era that we have an Ag VC who is directed by political agents on what should be done. After the injunction application was granted, Jones Appiah-Kubi applied for payment of his M.Phil. expenses and the Ag. VC. approved it but when it got to the finance section, the payment was not sanctioned initially because of financial regulations governing UEW expenses. I learnt when the application was returned to Ag. VC, he gave a proviso for the payment which finance section had to comply. So without due diligence, a gargantuan amount was paid to Jones Appiah-Kubi who is in the camp of the Effutu MP. It is an open secret that Effutu MP is behind the sad state of UEW currently. A Benz car belonging to UEW is now at the disposal of a council member, Nana Ghartey, the Chief of Effutu. UEW council paid a visit to Kumasi Campus recently and UEW has to assign a driver to chauffeur Nana Ghartey, a council member to Kumasi in the Benz car. If the expenses on the driver and the car is not corruption, then you can judge for yourself. The Benz car at the disposal of the Chief may seem to be a promise come true when Hon. Alex Afenyo Markin promised chiefs cars during his campaign for re-election last year. When the Ag. VC too was scheming to get the VCship in 2015, he promised Nana Ghartey that he will buy him a car if he supports him to get the VC position. The chief wrote to the flagstaff house that Effutu wants the man in BLACK CASSOCK. Now the man in BLACK CASSOCK is acting so the chief has UEW Benz at his disposal. This is the Catholic Priest, who is fighting corruption. God have mercy on his SOUL. Because of the UEW impasse, UEW council chairman is just calling for meetings of which allowances are paid. Definitely, he is himself is lining up his pocket since one term as Pro VC did not help him enough. These are the guys supposed to be ensuring financial sanity into UEW. God, be where you are for now for some people to repent before you come. Hon. Alex Afenyo Markin needs to be informed before any council meeting or management meeting. How can Profs stoop so low because of their stomach? Lol. Apparently UEW has become an annex of the NPP office in Winneba. This is sad indeed and Professors including specialists in CHARCOAL are blindly following for assurance of positionsI hope we remember that day when these positions mean nothing again. Ag. VC knowing, he has the backing of the current government decided to make corrupt appointments based on the isms (nepotism, favouritism, tribalism, politicism, etc.) and incompetence. This is not too unseal of him since his very being approves of these kinds of attitudes. Now, let me veer off a little bit. As of now, Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) and Bureau of National Investigations (B.N.I.) have come to find out whether there is any criminality that could be found against the VC and the FO. For now, let us wait for their reports. Let me take this opportunity to say ayeeko to staff who normally make photocopies for EOCO and BNI. Once again, let me put it on record that most of the procurement allegations by Supi who is fronting for a self-seeking, greedy and corrupt M.P., Hon. Alex Afenyo Markin were not sanctioned by Prof. Avoke. Also, let me put it on record again that the current government through Hon. Afenyo is bent on using the court system to oust the VC, Prof. Avoke, and the FO, Dr. Ackorlie. What they want to do now is to let Winneba High Court pass judgement on October 11, 2017 asking the VC and the FO to relinquish their posts and ask the Ag. VC to finish Prof. Avokes first term. Because of this article, they are likely to change their vicious plan. The scheme is, if the Winneba High Court gives a shambolic judgement, going for appeal and the judicial gymnastics, the Ag. VC will still be in charge of affairs. The Universitys lawyer, Peter R. Zwennes who is a member of the Ghana Immigration Service Council (appointed by the current government) and who has publicly demonstrated that there is no professionalism in his attitude towards the case (by way of utterances) is also to be part of the scheme and his role is to intentionally commit a blunder during the court proceedings and the case will turn in favour of Supi and co. With their getting these two innocent young men out, the Council chairman would have succeeded in his revenge trip back to UEW, and the priest would have fulfilled his dream of being called VC. The Ag. VC smiles at every event without any sign of remorse and yet stands before people to preach Jesus.... I am always grateful that I am not a Catholic, and surprised with the Catholic Church who criticised every national issue over their silence on this misconduct of their member. We wait to see the end of this mission. As for the morons like Alhassan Salifu Bawah, they dont mean well for UEW. Bawah is usually myopic in his write-ups and he always try to shield the facts. In his last write-up, I really could not understand his accusations that people have no knowledge of English when apparently, he does not know the difference between BELIEVE and BELIEF. I am sure my class six daughter even knows this. He talks too much (mostly full of chaff, and thinks he knows so much English). I suppose he learnt that in Iraq while serving with the UK army. Please, the quotation below is from a speech delivered by the Pro Vice-Chancellor, Prof. George K.T. Oduro at the UTAG National Congress and Handing Over Ceremony Held On Thursday, 22nd September, 2017, At The University of Cape Coast on the theme Depoliticizing Ghanas Education System: Towards a Policy Framework. CASE 3: NPP ERA This relates to some antecedents to the court ruling against the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Education, Winneba which has unfortunately created unnecessary tension on the campus of the University of Education, Winneba. Prior to the Court ruling that asked the Vice-Chancellor to step aside, the MP for the Effutu Constituency, Hon. Alexander Afenyo Markins, managed to obtain a letter (dated 6th January 2017) from the Co-Chair of the Presidential Transitional Team, Hon Senior Minister, Ing Yaw Osafo-Maafo appointing him as the leader of the Presidents Transition Team responsible for Transition activities in the University of Education, Winneba. By this arrangement, the Universitys management was to submit a handing over note to Hon. Afenyo Markins. Thank God, the authorities later saw the technical hitches in this transitional arrangement and therefore did not push it. Mr. Chairman this scenario constitutes a calculated attempt by an individual using political machinery to undermine transitional provisions prescribed in the Act establishing the University and hiding behind party politics to interfere with the governance structures in a University. Mr. Chairman, the cases cited above are clear examples of politicization through interference in University management and governance. I will make the full speech available later. The writer is an Alumnus of UEW Victor K. Owusu [email protected] Muslim immigrants and an advocacy group filed a fresh lawsuit against President Donald Trumps latest version of a travel ban that placed indefinite restrictions on the entry of citizens from eight countries to the United States. The suit filed late Monday in federal court in Maryland challenges a Sep. 24 Presidential proclamation limiting travel from Iran, Libya, Syria, Yemen, Somalia, Chad and North Korea. Certain government officials from Venezuela were also barred. Six individual plaintiffs who are U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents with Iranian relatives who could be blocked from coming to the United States, along with the group Iranian Alliances Across Borders, claim the ban violates an immigration law that prevents discrimination based on nationality. The complaint says that the majority of the people affected by the ban are Muslim and point to Trumps campaign promises for total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States. The suit says North Korea and Venezuela were added so Trump could cloak this latest iteration of his Muslim ban in religiously neutral garb by invoking a national security review. The latest ban goes fully into effect on Oct. 18 and could affect tens of thousands of potential immigrants and visitors. Trump has argued that the restrictions are necessary to tighten security and prevent terrorist attacks. Department of Justice spokesman Ian Prior said the agency will continue to vigorously defend the Presidents inherent authority to keep this country safe. Trumps proclamation followed on two earlier temporary travel bans against some of the same countries, after the government did a global review of information sharing and security screening protocols. The first ban issued soon after Trump took office in January targeted seven countries but was blocked by courts following a hasty implementation and chaotic scenes at airports. The second ban signed in March targeted six countries and was also blocked by lower courts. It was then partially revived by the Supreme Court in June. The third ban, with no clear end date, came out when the temporary measures expired. On Friday the American Civil Liberties Union said it was seeking to amend an existing lawsuit in Maryland federal court filed against the previous March 6 ban to include the latest proclamation. Legal experts say the new restrictions are likely on more solid footing, in part because they followed a detailed review by federal agencies. Brussels Airlines is looking to expand its operations in the country by increasing its flight frequency from five to six. The airline is currently flying five times a week to Ghanas capital, Accra. Flights are currently operated on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. The company has explained its flight schedule allows for smooth connections to many of its European destinations, including UK, Denmark, Germany, France and New York in the US. Speaking to Joy Business at the inauguration of the Airlines new office, Brussels Air Country Manager, Rita Macedo said the company may seize the future by increasing its flight schedules. She added that although it will be a complicated process, she said it is something that they are really looking forward to doing. Brussels Air's new office is located at the Ground floor of the Atlantic Tower at Airport city. According to the country manager the location was strategically chosen because of its proximity to the Airport. Guest at the inauguration included the Aviation Minister Cecelia Dpaah and her deputy Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah. Other stakeholders in the aviation industry were also in attendance. Aviation Minister, Cecelia Dapaah congratulated Brussels Airline for its achievements, encouraging it to do more business in Ghana. Next month will mark two years since Brussels Airlines commenced its operation in the country. The company is offering huge discounts on tickets to London and Europe destinations. The promotion ends in March, 2018. Mbera (Mauritanie) (AFP) - It is hardly the most inviting place to call home -- a sprawling tent city in a sea of reddish sand in southeastern Mauritania. But for the Malians who eke out a life here, the harsh Saharan desert is a haven compared to the violence and chaos back home. Tens of thousands have fled towns and villages in northern Mali to the safety of Mbera camp, 50 kilometres (30 miles) from the border. And for many of them, the craving to go back is offset by the wretched fate of those who have done so. Mohamed Ousmane Ag al-Khalifa arrived in the camp in 2012, fleeing Al-Qaeda-linked jihadist groups that seized key towns in northern Mali, exploiting an uprising by ethnic Tuareg-led rebels. In June 2015, the government and rebels signed a peace accord. Rocket attacks But -- as the shepherd and his family were to discover when they ventured back to the Timbuktu region six months later -- a deal on paper failed to end violence on the ground. "They had told us the peace agreement had been signed at the highest level," said Khalifa, a man in his fifties from the Tuareg tribe of Kel Tagamart, dressed in a black turban and pale green robes. "The week after we arrived back, the violence started up," he said. "Our home is on the River Niger, between Goundam and Timbuktu. There were regular rocket attacks on the army, and nomads or their cattle were frequently hit." He eventually scraped up the means to return to Mbera where despite the tough life, there is "peace and freedom". "Our dream of course is to go back, but I know what it's like over there," said Khalifa's wife, Aichetou Walet Mohamed Ousmane, breastfeeding one of their four children. According to UN estimates, around 195,000 people have been displaced by the violence in northern Mali. Around 55,000 have fled to other parts of the country and 140,000 have gone to Burkina Faso, Mauritania and Niger. Mbera itself houses more than 51,000 people, more than two-thirds of whom are from Mali's Tuareg and Arab ethnic groups. The urge to go home is strong. Mali, Mauritania and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) launched a programme of voluntary repatriation in June last year. By the end of 2016, more than 1,500 had signed up, said the UNHCR's senior official in Mbera, Henri-Sylvain Yakara. Many Malians in Mbera would love to go home but fear of violence by armed groups holds them back One of those who made the return trip was Issa Ag Mohamedoun,who went back home with his family to Haribongo, southeast of Timbuktu. Now they are back in Mbera, where their fifth child was born two months ago. For nearly a year, they lived under the threat of armed groups and thieves. "Robbers tied me and took everything we had," he said. "A short time after that, I scraped together whatever we had and we headed back to Mbera." 'Not for $10 million' The early exodus from the camp has dried up, with only a few hundred leaving so far this year, and has been counterbalanced by a flood of arrivals. Since September 2016, a wave of displaced people has come in from Timbuktu, Goundam, Mopti and Nampala. The camp is struggling with a shrinking budget, which has prompted a reduction in food rations and "malnutrition problems for some children", Yakara said. But when it comes to deciding between a rumbling stomach or heart-wrenching terror, Mohamedoun said there was only outcome. "I wouldn't go back to Mali even if you gave me $10 million," he said. "Life is more important than that." The coalition of stakeholders on the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) concession arrangement has warned Ghana runs the risk of missing out on the $498.2 million Millennium Challenge fund unless government explores an out of court settlement with the Public Utilities Workers Union (PUWU). PUWU has sued three institutions that are playing key roles in the privatisation of the power distribution company. The suit brought against ECG, the Attorney-General and the Millennium Development Authority (MiDA) is in respect of the non-payment of redundancy package to Union members. PUWU in a writ filed at the Accra High Court Tuesday argued the decision to hand over the nations power distributor to a concessionaire will affect its members for which reason a package needs to be given to its members. The Union said in the suit that discussions that went into negotiations for the sale of ECG did not factor the declaration of redundancy, despite the directive in Section 65 of the Labour Act, 2005 (Act 651). Although the Attorney-General, the Energy Minister and the Millennium Development Authority have started scrutinising documents of companies interested in managing ECG, stakeholders in power sector say the court action may halt the process if a judge grants PUWU an injunction. Power Compact Ghana signed the Power Compact with the United States of America acting through the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), an independent United States government agency, on the sidelines of the US Africa Leaders Summit in Washington DC on August 5, 2014. The Ghana Power Compact would provide Ghana with a grant sum $498,200,000 to improve the performance of Ghanas power sector, unlock the countrys economic potential, create jobs, and reduce poverty. About $350 million of the grant is being invested in ECG to make the countrys power distributor operationally and financially more efficient. Troublesome suit However, the suit against the privatisation process could stifle the release of the funds, says Dr Steve Manteaw, a member of stakeholder coalition. If we dont meet the deadline [early next year], we are likely to lose out on the Millennium Compact with respect to the ECG PSP [Private Sector Participation]. So I think that the government needs to act quickly to get the workers back to the negotiation table so that we can reach a settlement that is mutually acceptable to all stakeholders, he said. Steve Manteaw He urged the Energy Minister, Boakye Agyarko, to adopt a more friendly posture in addressing the demands of ECG workers. I have always expressed concern about the manner in which, the Minister of Energy, at every little opportunity, will castigate the workers and blame them for everything that has gone wrong in the power sector without touching on governments own complicity. We know that the workers have not done the best for ECG but we also know that governments interference in the affairs of ECG have contributed to bringing ECG where it is today. So when you are having dialogue, with the workers and at every least opportunity you castigate them and overlook governments own role in bringing the company to the point it has come to, it then begins, at some point, to smack of bad faith, he said. Six concessionaires Meanwhile, six companies have been shortlisted for the concessionaire arrangement. They are Tata Power Company Limited from India; Manila Electric Company from the Philippines; Ch Group Ghana with EDF and Veola Sa with Ghanaian address - Engie Services; SA from France, BXC Company Ghana Limited, registered and operating in Ghana; and Enel S. P. A. of Italy. At the first bidders conference held in September last year, where the bidders were announced, Mr Owura Kwaku Sarfo, the Chief Executive Officer of MiDA, said expectation were that bids would be received by October 2017 and a concession agreement signed with the selected concessionaire by March 2018. Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com The Global Business Forum on Africa, organized by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, is set to hold its fourth edition under the theme Next Generation Africa, at Dubai's Madinat Jumeirah from November 1st-2nd, 2017. The high-profile event, held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, will explore new opportunities to enhance economic cooperation and expand trade and investment ties between the Middle East and Africa. The two-day forum features a total of 24 sessions that will involve the participation of heads of state, ministers and dignitaries, policymakers, CEOs, prominent entrepreneurs, and heads of private banks, as well as UAE government and business leaders. H.E. Hamad Buamim, President and CEO, Dubai Chamber, said: African economies are witnessing remarkable growth at the moment, offering exciting business opportunities in a wide range of sectors. Therefore, it is an ideal time to examine these trends in more detail and determine how Dubai can play a greater role in facilitating Africa's future growth. H.E. Hamad Buamim, President and CEO, Dubai Chamber. Dubai Chamber's President and CEO, described the Global Business Forum on Africa as the largest event of its kind in the region which provides a unique platform for constructive dialogue between public and private sector stakeholders, adding that the event will seek to brainstorm sustainable solutions to the challenges facing African countries as they look to open up their economies to the world. Overview of key sessions H.E. Majid Saif Al Ghurair, Chairman, Dubai Chamber, will kick off the forum with a welcome address which will be followed by the opening session entitled Next Generation Africa. The session will highlight existing obstacles to trade, investment and prosperity, and examine the role that Africa's dynamic young entrepreneurs can play in resolving such challenges. Sessions on the first day will delve into the concept of leapfrogging and look at whether technology and entrepreneurship are enough to unleash Africa's economic potential and bring about inclusive growth. Leading figures from Rwanda, Estonia and Peru, will come together in a special session to discuss how countries can change existing perceptions and reinvent themselves as entrepreneurial hotspots. Other sessions will highlight key business opportunities and the investment climate in major African markets, tap into the insights of fintech experts in Africa and the UAE, and draw valuable lessons that the next generation of African leaders can benefit from. Entrepreneurship and Investment Opportunities The second day of the forum will resume with a VIP Masterclass, where delegates will be joined by leading African entrepreneurs to discuss successes, failures and lessons learned. Later in the day, influential heads of African states will tackle environmental issues in a session titled Coping with Climate Change: Future-Proofing Diversification. Other sessions will analyze key trends that are expected to drive the next phase of Africa's development, including industrialization, foreign investment, entrepreneurship, population growth, and rising incomes. The Global Business Forum series, launched by Dubai Chamber in 2012, focuses on Africa, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and Latin America. To date, the series has hosted 10 heads of state, 74 ministers and dignitaries, and 5,400 executives, as well as a host of influential decision makers from 65 countries around the world. Dubai Chamber is collaborating with the Economist Group in developing the content of the forum. The previous Global Business Forum on Africa in Dubai attracted more than 1,000 participants, while more than 100 bilateral investment meetings were held during the event. By: citifmonline.com/Ghana The United States Embassy in Ghana has welcomed back the 2017 Mandela Washington Fellows with a workshop and a cocktail reception. The Fellows interacted with Ambassador Robert Jackson, and shared amazing stories of their experiences, lessons acquired and skills gained. Ambassador Jackson said the US government was looking forward with great expectation to see how the fellows will put the skills gained to good use to the benefit of Ghana. Speaking to citifmonline.com, one of the fellows, Philip Osei Bonsu, thanked the Embassy, and said he was convinced that his colleagues will put to good use the skills gained for Ghana's benefit. In attendance were staff of the US Embassy, including Sophia Bosompem, Cultural Affairs Specialist, Sarah Shabbir, Cultural Attache, Rukmini Essel, Alumni Coordinator, Roberto Quiroz, Public Affairs Director, US Embassy Ghana. Ghana's Deputy Minister for Communications, Vincent Odotei-Sowah, representing the government, thanked the US government for its commitment towards nurturing Ghana's human resource, which will essentially accelerate the country's development, as the beneficiaries of the project contribute their quota to nation building. Earlier, the fellows were hosted briefly at the Flagstaff House by the President of the Republic of Ghana, Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo. In a related development, the maiden brainstorming session of the Mandela Washington Fellows Association of Ghana, was held to deliberate on the way forward for the association, and also officially introduce the national executives to members. The Association is made up of fellows from all the cohorts since 2014, and has Prosper Amuquandoh as President, Dr. Mary Eyram Ashinyo, Vice President, Mutaru Muqthar, Secretary, Nana Opoku Afriyie-Asante, Treasurer, Akosua Afriyie Osei-Appaw, Projects Director, and Philip Osei Bonsu, an astute broadcaster as the Media Relations and Publicity Director. About the YALI program Forty (40) Ghanaians participated in the United State of America's (USA) 2017 Mandela Washington Fellowship of the Young African Leadership Initiative (YALI). YALI was launched in 2010 by US president Barack Obama to invest in the next generation of African leaders and nurture them as they spur growth and prosperity, strengthen democratic governance, and enhance peace and security across Africa. The Mandela Washington Fellowship takes young African leaders to the United States for 6 weeks of leadership training and mentoring at twenty U.S. universities and colleges in three areas: business and entrepreneurship, civic engagement and public administration. By: Ebenezer Afanyi Dadzie/citifmonline.com/Ghana Photo Credit: US Embassy Ghana Mr. Daniel Agyenim Boateng 05.10.2017 LISTEN The ruling New Patriotic Party's (NPP's) Asanti Regional Acting Organiser, Mr. Daniel Agyenim Boateng was reported to be arrested by Tafo Pankrono police in the Asante Region for allegedly for defrauding some individuals. The Asanti Regional correspondent for Multimedia group who is also Luv FM's reporter, Erastus Asare Donkor reported on Joy FM afternoon news that Mr. Agyenim Boateng collected monies from some individuals with the promise to get them protocol entry into the Military and National Security. The story with the headline; NPP Asanti Regional Organiser arrested was published by adomfmonline.com and myjoyonline.com respectively on Monday, October 4, 2017. "The acting Ashanti Regional Organizer of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) has been arrested. According to reports, Daniel Boateng was picked up by Tafo Pankrono police for allegedly for defrauding some individuals. Luv FMs Erastus Asare Donkor who was the scene reported the suspect collect monies from some individuals with the promise to get them protocol entry into the military and National Security. He indicated that the complainant who collected monies from seven individuals with each paying GHC 2000 but Boateng after several months didnt fulfil his part of the bargain. "As an immediate measure, the victim lodged a complaint at the police leading to his arrest. Erastus Asare Donkor said the NPP acting Regional Organizer is currently writing his statement at the Tafo Pankrono Divisional Police Command", the journalist reported. In a quick rejoinder, the office of the Asanti Regional Acting Organizer of New Patriotic Party issued on Monday, October 4, 2017 by Mr. Boateng's personal assistants, Mr. David Tabi and Asiedu Agyapong Bismark have called on the general public to rubbish the story as malicious, unfounded and urged to treat with contempt it deserves. "For the records sake, we wish to state unequivocally that, the news item is a palpable lie, unfounded and mischievously motivated. Out of malice, the writer of the said publication even failed to acknowledge the basic fact that the NPP is a ruling party, not an opposition party". They are therefore calling on Erastus Asare Donkor of Luv FM to retract the story on any medium where it has traveled so far and also render an unqualified apology to Mr. Daniel Agyenim Boateng within 24 hours or face their wrath and legal actions. Meanwhile, this reporter, Daniel Kaku in a telephone interview with Mr. Agyenim Boateng, stated emphatically that he has neither been arrested nor invited by any police of defrauding people. Below is the full statement; *RE: THE ACTING ASHANTI REGIONAL ORGANIZER OF THE OPPOSITION NPP HAS BEEN ARRESTED* The attention of the office of the Ashanti Regional Organizer of New Patriotic Party, has been drawn to a news publication by one Erastus Asare Donkor of Luv FM, with the caption "THE ACTING ASHANTI REGIONAL ORGANIZER OF THE OPPOSITION NPP HAS BEEN ARRESTED". For records sake, we wish to state unequivocally that, the news item is a palpable lie, unfounded and mischievously motivated. Out of malice, the writer of the said publication even failed to acknowledge the basic fact that the NPP is a ruling party, not an opposition party. We are therefore demanding that, Erastus Asare Donkor of LUV FM who broke the said false and character defaming news to retract it on any medium where it has travelled so far, and apologize accordingly, within 24 hours or face our wrath and legal consequences. Thank you. Signed. Mr David Tabi Asiedu Agyapong Bismark Office of the NPP Ashanti Regional Organizer Source: Daniel Kaku Akaniem Junior High School in the Krachi Nchumburu district of the Volta region is 30 years old. Against this background, the Headmaster of the school, Samuel Woeko-Agbaklah, is calling on the government, stakeholders, NGOs and individuals to come to their aid to enable them expand their classrooms. He said three communities in the area are benefiting from the school adding that within a year to come, the school cannot accommodate more students. Mr. Woeko-Agbaklah made this known during the school's 30th anniversary celebrations recently held at Akaniem. He indicated the school seeks to use the anniversary celebrations to raise funds for infrastructure expansion. The Headmaster lamented that the school has no text books, furniture, written materials, computers and lacks teachers which is affecting the students academically. "I would therefore like to make a humble appeal to the government to come to our aid to support the children to enable them become good future leaders and great assets to the nation," he emphasized. The Member of Parliament for the Krachi Nchumburu Constituency, Hon John Majisi, who was the Special Guest, called on the students to take advantage of the FREE SHS policy as a stepping stone to academic success. The MP donated GHC500 cash to the school and promised to do more for the school He also pledged to support the school with computers, furniture, text books, written materials and a printer to enhance teaching and learning. "Every successful government roles out good policies that will help their country. It was the NDC administration that offered massive infrastructure that is helping the NPP government to implement the FREE SHS educational policy," the NDC MP stated. 05.10.2017 LISTEN The Constitution of NPP provides that an amendment may be proposed either by individual members or groups affiliated to the party, prior to its Annual National Delegates Conference, for consideration and adoption. Out of the recent National Delegates Conference held in Cape Coast (2017), so far, a 107 pages document, containing various kind of proposals was submitted seeking to amend the NPP National constitution, most significantly submitted by the Partys Constitutional Committee, the Members of Parliament (Majority Caucus), Individual members and some Identifiable Groups. This 107 pages document is made up of 17 Chapters, whereby each chapter represents each source of the proposals. I was asked by the NPP UK branch to also comment on the contents of the proposals therein. Reading through the Chapters, at least, some few reasonable suggestions have been made, however, there are some dangerous self-centred bad ones, have also been submitted, especially those submitted by the Members of Parliament (MPs). The Chapter Two, in the proposed document, was submitted by the Majority Caucus of parliament, and Chapter Three was also submitted individually by the Subin Constituency MP, Hon. Eugene Boakye Antwi respectively. Per this write-up, I will concentrate commenting on Chapter 2 & 3 since both chapters mirror each other in terms of the ideas and presumed purpose in their proposals and the obvious hidden intentions, and would kindly plead with the partys National Delegates never attempt to accept or adopt any of those dangerous, undemocratic provisions proposed by the Majority Caucus, pushing to get them inserted into the NPP Constitution. Those proposed amendments by the MPs, if adopted, will hang the spirit of patriotism in the party, and would be injurious to the strength of the party at all levels, would procreate momentous apathy amongst the elected executives at the constituencies at all levels, whereby the invariable principles of supportiveness that party enjoys and its needed most. The effects of the ideas proposed would give birth to grave disunity in the party. The well acclaimed egalitarian nature of the New Patriotic Party in Ghana would be impaired if what the MPs have proposed are implemented or adopted. The consequences at long run will be far-reaching for the party at all levels. As I point out few of the ideas theyve proposed to bring to light the latent aim of the MPs, as they seek to obtain absolute powers and authority to dictate to, and control the party at the constituencies and regional levels the way they choose, neglecting the mandate and responsibilities entrusted unto the hands of the partys elected executives in the constituencies. Some MPs argue that these ideas proposed, if adopted, would enable them avoid the recalcitrant constituency executive who are sometimes difficult to handle. This aim, if achieved, would be a recipe for ardent dissensions at the constituencies. Perusing the proposed documents, one thing very clear and needs immediate attention and amendment in the constitution, is the process or the method used by the party to collect the proposed amendments from members, before submitting to the National Delegates Conference. The process is conspicuously anaemic, and not properly structured. This paves way for anything at-all, called proposals, to find its way to the National Conference for consideration. A situation if diligence care is not taken, such morbid and unhealthy proposals maybe adopted in the heat of the compressed Conference, which would end up serving some parochial interest of certain individuals or some groups in the party. In fact, the essence of reviewing any policy or amending any national constitution should aim at fixing the ineffective or broken parts identified. A constitution of a political party or nation is not just amended for the sake of amending it, just because some groups or some individuals see that there is readily obtainable opportunity to do so. The internationally established standards dictates that an amendment to constitution should be designed to be extremely difficult to be amended so as to avoid aberrations. Reasons outlined for amendments to be effected in a national constitution should be salient, broad-minded and uttermost important. The brainstorms should meet all reasonableness and compellingly necessary before a section in a constitution should be altered, modified or deleted. Such amendments when effected should aim at fixing the apparent broken areas and problematic aspects in the constitution. As the saying goes, if it isnt broken, why fix it? The proposals submitted by the MPs are purported to fix no readily seen broken aspect in the NPP constitution, but to seek ways to serve their inward-looking interest, to enable them entrench themselves in their respective constituencies. Simply, the MPs have not given consideration to the general principles and over-all ideals of the party but ways to serve their egocentric desires. In my view, the first and uttermost urgent amendment needed in the NPP National Constitution, is a provision therein, to form at least a Three (3) or Five (5) Member Ad-hoc Committee constituted prior to an annual delegates conference, to receive all proposed amendments. This Ad-hoc Committee must have powers and authority to scrutinise each proposed amendment, sieve them, debate them, and scale them down before submitting the final screened proposed amendments to the General Secretary for circulation. This would ensure that only tangible proposals worth presenting to the National Delegates Conference would find their way to conference for consideration and acceptance. As it stance now, the General Secretary (GS) receives all proposed amendments directly, the General Secretary then compiles them for submission of the same at the National Delegates Conference. This process is easily to face objectionable and condemnatory feelings by some concerned delegates at the conference, just like what happened at the just ended delegates conference in Cape Coast. As observed, the General Secretary has no powers to reject any, or exude the proposed amendments or to scale them down but to compile all and submit all. Leaving this process to the outfit of the General Secretary alone, makes it quite dicey for him since he has no powers to object to or filter them. Moreover, the General Secretary wouldnt like to offend anybody by rejecting or altering any particular proposal since he maybe presenting himself before the same people for re-election. Some of the mind boggling proposed amendments found in the 107 pages document by the MPs are as follows; and these should have been questioned by a team of competent jurisdiction even before they could find their way to the national Delegates conference. CHAPTER 2 PROPOSED AMENDMENTS BY PARLIAMENT, MAJORITY CAUCUS. ARTICLE 6 CONSTITUENCY ORGANIOSATION. The Majority Caucus of NPP propose that the Constitution should be amended as follows: 1. The existing Constituency Executive Committee structure in Article 6(1.a) be removed, and be replaced with what they term Polling Station Executive Committee of (5) Five members per polling station, in Article 6(2.a). That, the Polling Station Executives will form what they term, The Basic Unit of Organisation of the Constituency. No more Constituency Executive Committee. The Article 6(1.a) of the current constitution states that, Each Constituency shall have a Constituency Executive Committee by the elected executives and their appointed deputies, to form the Constituency Executive Committee. They are to manage the day-to-day activities of the party in the constituency, but the MPs propose to replace this with what they call the Polling Agents Executives Committee. 2. The MPs propose that, all Constituency Polling Station Agents must be appointed by the MP or the Parliamentary Candidate (PC) upon his or her election at primaries conducted, as Article 6(2.b). By all standards, the Constituency Executive Committee must remain the sole management body of the party in the constituency, not this potentially chaotic ideas proposed by the MPs. 3. MPs proposed also that, the Members of Parliament or the Parliamentary Candidate elected should be given powers to select Nine (9) Members of his choice in the constituency, to form a Constituency Executive Committee, whereby the MP or PC would be the executive head of the party in the constituency. That, the Nine members the MP or PC would appoint will include at least three (3) elected persons. The elected persons for purposes of the quorum, shall include the Chairman or one of the Vice Chairpersons in the constituency. In the proposed Article 6(3.xvii, b,c,d), The Nine (9) Members, Who shall be chosen by the parliamentary candidate within one month after he has been elected at the constituency annual delegates conference from within the membership of the constituency party. Basically, this very proposal renders the elected constituency executives virtually powerless and useless. By this happening, will procreate huge division and would make way for the MP to dictate his terms solely, a recipe for acrimonious tendencies. 4. The MPs seek powers through the constitutional amendment to allow them appoint all the Polling Station Agents in their proposed Article 6(2.b). This very proposal contradicts their proposal in Art 6(1.a.iv), which states: the Polling Station Committee members shall be Appointed by the MP or the PC elected at the primaries, but in Article 6(1.a.iv) also states that, the Polling Station Agents of five (5), shall have duties including, to perform any other functions that would be assigned to them by a constituency Executive Member. The question is, as the MP appoints the Polling Station Agents, how could they take instructions from the Elected Executives in the constituency? Would these appointed Polling Station Agents also have voting powers to elect the same PC at the constituencys annual delegates conference? How could this be possible if the same are appointed the MP or the PC? The Constitution of Ghana demands that, the President elect should appoint a sizeable percentage of his Ministers of State from Parliament. This means that, when an MP becomes a Minister, he or she would have daunting responsibility to act as law maker with its responsibilities, and also to observe responsibilities of a Minister of Sates. In agreeable to sound judgement, why on earth, should an MP seek to take up the responsibilities of running and managing the day-to-day activities of the party in the constituency he represents, neglecting the comprehensive responsibilities in parliament and/or as Minister of State? This is overwhelmingly mind-boggling, if not for circumscribed intentions! Article 7 REGIONAL ORGANISATION. 1) The MPs propose that, the Regional Officers should also be elected by the MPs elected in the region. In Article 7(1.a) proposed, it states, Each region shall have a Regional Executive Committee. The regional Officers shall be elected at a meeting convened for that purpose by the members of Parliament in that region, five members of regions council of patrons and the founding members of the party in the region. I guess the question one would ask is, what is wrong with the current method used to elect the Regional Executives/Officers? The question is, in the Regions where New patriotic Party may have no MPs, who will be in positions to elect the Regional Officers as proposed by the MPs if accepted? I am seriously struggling to see the sense in all these propose amendments. It appears that, all the MPs seek to achieve, is to have absolute powers in the constituencies/regions to manipulate and control affairs in the party the way they want. This is very undemocratic and does not support the liberal principles and ideals of the party. AMENDMENT IN ARTICLE 11. 1) In Act 11(6), the MPs propose that, the Member of Parliament shall be the leader of the party, provided that where he or she loses the primaries, the Parliamentary Candidate elected shall become the leader. The question is, who becomes the leader if the Parliamentary candidate loses the general elections in the constituency? Again, what is actually the problem with the current provisions in the constitution, reasonably defined that, the Regional Chairperson shall be the executive head of the party at all times and convenor of Regional Executive meetings? Why cant the MPs concentrate on their parliamentary duties and responsibilities, then rather seeking to control the partys activities at the constituency? Honestly, the MPs proposed amendments would make the whole constitution too clumsy to follow. CHAPTER 3 THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT BY Hon. EUGENE BOAKYE ANTWI, SUBIN CONSTITUENCY MP. REQUEST TO AMEND ARTICLE 6. 1) Hon. Eugene Antwi also proposes that, Article 6(2) be amended to read as follows: Each Constituency shall have a constituency executive Committee which shall consist of; i(i) the MP, (ii) the PC (iii) the Chairperson, Vice-Chairpersonsand the rest of the elected and appointed executives. 2) That, Art 6(7) be amended to read as follows: That, the MP for the constituency shall be the Executive Head of the party in the constituency and convener of Meetings of the constituency executive committee. Where theres no MP, the PC shall the executive head of the party in the constituency and shall convene all meetings. Again, what would be the role of the Chairperson in the constituency? Hon. Eugene Antwi seeks that the following should also be inserted in the institution as article 11(6). This proposal is the most ridiculous and senseless aspect of of all the proposed amendments. Ministers, Deputy Ministers, CEOs, Deputy CEOs, MMDCEs and other government appointees, who are not members of parliament, and who intend to contest parliamentary primaries, shall Resign their respective positions, at least one (1) year before the date of the parliamentary primaries. Inasmuch as I may not be privy to the reasons why the MP proposes this, but just looking at the face of the proposition, one can easily conclude that the idea and the spirit behind it is ill-conceived, with the aim of making it extremely difficult for anybody or government officials to contest the sitting MPs. This suggestion by Hon. Eugene Antwi snacks of fear of fair fiercely contested competition, and depicts self-indulgence. Even the Ministers of State, when intend to contest the Presidential primaries when in power, do not resign one whole year before the date set for the primaries, they only resigned after picking their nomination forms to contest. We are interested to know the reasons why must one intend to contest MP primaries resign one good year before the date set for parliamentary primaries? This is absolutely absurd, and it is contrary to all reasons and common sense. Are the MPs who become Ministers also resign one year before or are exempted? Why only the CEOs, MMDCEs & other govt officials? Already, the MPs have an undue incumbency advantage over whoever intends to contest a sitting MP, wherefore, introducing this one resignation in a liberal Democratic party like NPP, would be injurious to the democratic principles of the party and will lead to many independent candidates. It is worrying why would the Members of Parliament insist that these venturesome and reckless ideas be inserted into the constitution. To serve what purpose? The MPs have been utterly unconcerned about the consequences of their proposed amendments but their self-centered interest. Their proposed amendments should not be entertained at all. Peter Antwi Boasiako. London, UK. 05.10.2017 LISTEN He is the Chief Executive Officer at Georgia Aerospace Systems and also the world renowned inventor with 7 US and worldwide patents in Fiber Optics over a period of six years. Dr. Thomas Mensah, the Ghanaian American has at least 14 patents to his name, in general and is the first black person to receive such a number of patents in a short number of years. In 2015, he was elected to the rank of Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors of USA. Dr. Mensah will be joined by Hon. Fred Brown and Mr. Bob Williams as honorees for the the 7th Annual 3G Awards in New York. Hon. Fred Brown The Honorable Fred Brown is the Chairman of The Black Republican Party of America. He was Recently Elected as the Head of the Republican National Committee In the Bronx. As CEO, he Is responsible for expanding the membership of the Black Republican Party and their critical role in Electing Donald Trump as the President of the United States. Bob Williams Mr Bob Williams is the Chairman of the Children's Education Fund for the Black Republican Party. Responsible for raising funds for Scholarship For African American Students. Some of the Ghanaian celebrities who will be honoured at the event include, Vivienne Achor, gospel duo Willie & Mike, among others. The 3G Media Awards 2017 is in recognition of exceptional leaders and their contributions to the Ghanaian and global communities. The event will be held on Saturday, November 11, 2017 at Pak Banquet Hall, 4229 Park Avenue Bronx, New York. The event will be co-hosted by Bernard Aduse Poku of Kumawood Fam and Ageorgia. DJs expected who are expected to grace the event include DJ Jeff, DJ Prince, DJ Prekese and Naasei. There will be a live musical performance from Akrofi and a host of others. This years event is being sponsored by KTA Moblie, Investigroup, Royal Olives, Royal Estates Group, 1st Family Home Care, MayJay Property Management etc. Supported by the Permanent Missions of Ghana in New York, the National Council of Ghanaian Associations, Ghana Chamber of Commerce USA, Vitalghradio, Highlife Radio, Golden FM, Worcester, Anokyekrom and Club Noamesco. Kumasi, Oct 03, GNA - Ghanaians have been asked to back the government's drive towards private-sector led growth of the national economy by developing strong taste for locally-made products. The Very Reverend Solomon Kwesi Bruce, Superintendent Minister of the Atonsu-Agogo Methodist Church, said local businesses should be aided to substantially increase their market share. This, he indicated, was the way to go to enable them to thrive - expand, create wealth and jobs for the people. He was speaking at a special service held to mark the end of the church's calendar year. 'Unleashing the economic potential in Africa' was the theme chosen for the programme. It provided the platform for the church to review its performance in the areas of evangelism, education, health and general wellbeing of the people. The Very Rev Bruce said the preference for imported poor quality products to what had been produced locally by many a Ghanaian consumer, was unhelpful to the growth of country's manufacturing sector. Things, he added, needed to radically change, if the one district one factory policy was to succeed - achieve the intended outcomes. He called for intensification of the national campaign to help all to understand why it was in everybody's interest that they patronized made-in-Ghana goods. The Very Rev Bruce said they could not continue to support the economies of other countries to the disadvantage of their own. He underlined the need to work harder to keep the economy going amid the intense competition brought about by globalization. He used the occasion to call for the government to act boldly to punish any corrupt public officials to make corruption a disincentive. He said given the enormous natural and human resources gifted the continent by God, there should be no reason for Africa to be poor. What was holding back its progress was corruption fueled by greed and selfishness on the part of people placed in positions of trust, he stated. He applauded the government for implementation of the free senior high school (SHS) policy, and rallied everybody to help sustain it on the path of success. GNA By Stephen Asante/Florence Afriyie Mensah, GNA Accra, Oct. 3, GNA - Ghana would be the first African country to host the World Tourism Forum-Africa Summit scheduled for October 10 and 11, 2017, at the Kempinski Gold Coast City Hotel in Accra. The Ghana event will have President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo -Addo as the Special Guest. The forum would bring together about 50 foreign media houses, 10 African Ministers, as well as Ambassadors, Chief Executive Officers of Tourism from other countries and stakeholders in the sector. Mr Akwesi Agyemang, Acting Chief Executive Officer of Ghana Tourism Authority, who announced this at a press conference to highlight activities for the event, said they were collaborating with three hotels, namely, Kempinski Gold Coast Hotel, Accra City Hotel and Urbano Hotel (formally Penta Hotel) at Osu to host the guests. He said prior to the event, there would be a regional tour for the guests on October 9, to some interesting tourism sites and monuments in the Central Region, followed by a welcome cocktail in the evening at the National Theatre in Accra. The CEO said the main event at the Kempinski Gold Coast Hotel on October 10, 2017 would be crowned with a Gala Dinner and Tourism Awards. 'On October 11, 2017 there will be another tour in the Greater Accra Region to interesting tourism sites,' and appealed to the local media to collaborate with the Local Organising Committee and the foreign media to sell the country to the outside world. He said there would be a Regional Training for stakeholders in the sector from October 12 to 17, 2017, by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation in Accra and urged the media to give the necessary support to the two events. Mrs Catherine Afeku, Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, said Ghana was chosen over other African countries to host the event because of her political stability. She said the proverbial Ghanaian hospitality as well as the safety measures put in place to ensure visitors transact their businesses devoid of fear, also put Ghana high above other African countries. The Minister noted that the World Tourism Forum is a classical event that would need the support of the media to tell Ghana's story to the world and urged the local media to show the country's genuine warmth, hospitality and generosity to their foreign counterparts. Mrs Afeku said after the forum, the GTA would issue a statement to showcase Ghana's capability as a tourism destination in Africa, saying that, 'let's help the foreigners to see Ghana through our eyes'. To the local media, she said, the forum is an opportunity for them to network with global media networks to sell themselves and also, by collaborating with the foreign media to sell Ghana's tourism potentials. GNA By Patience Gbeze/ Stella Asare, GNA 05.10.2017 LISTEN Accra, Oct. 3, GNA - A post-Ebola workshop on improving disease monitoring capacities and early warning systems in West Africa has opened in Accra with a call on countries to strengthen systems of prevention and early detection of emerging public health threats. 'Investing in Health Security should be seen by all as a major contribution towards sustaining our development goals and not to leave anyone behind,' Dr Badu Sarkodie, the Director of Public Health at the Ghana Health Services, said. He said there was the need for continued vigilance and readiness to respond to emerging outbreaks at all levels, especially at the borders. The workshop is being hosted in Accra by the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) for officers of health information management, diseases surveillance, technical health promotion, port health, veterinary and clinician as well as community health officers from the three 2014 West-African Ebola affected countries namely; Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia. Health officials from Cote d'Ivoire and Ghana are also participating in the workshop that would help build their personal and their countries' capacities to monitor diseases, especially at border districts. The overall objective of the workshop is to improve abilities of countries to rapidly identify diseases of public health importance and outbreak potential. It is also to help use Geographic Information System for enhanced diseases surveillance especially at the border areas and apply tools for disease risk assessment, vulnerability mapping and effective risk communication towards preparedness and outbreak control. Dr Sarkodie, who was speaking at the opening of the four-day workshop, said global threat of infectious disease outbreaks, such as avian influenza, meningitis and yellow fever, spreading from person to person and across borders, posed a serious public health risk to all countries. He said the Ebola outbreak in the West African sub-region and other emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases had revealed that Africa remained inadequately prepared to face the challenges with public health emergencies. Dr Sarkodie said: 'Although Ghana was spared the Ebola Virus Diseases (EVD) epidemic that affected West Africa, it was ranked the highest at risk after the affected countries. The country has been having frequent cholera outbreaks, experiencing one of its worst in 2014 with more than 28,000 cases and 218 deaths. 'CSM is endemic in the three regions of the north as well as adjacent districts and we experience periodic outbreaks,' he said. He said the vulnerable nature of the countries, especially low and middle income ones including Ghana, made it necessary to put in place adequate capacity for the implementation of international Health Regulations to prevent the disease. He said the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Project on; 'Supporting and Strengthening Sub-regional Post-Ebola Medical Surveillance and Socio-Economic Recovery Initiatives in West Africa,' under which the workshop fell, was designed to provide technical assistance and support at sub-regional, national and grassroots level to the three EVD affected countries and Cote d'Ivoire. Dr Sarkodie said Ghana would continue to support regional and continental efforts for the management and control of emerging disease. Mr Kaoru Yoshimura, the Ambassador of Japan, said his country, which was providing funds for the capacity building workshop, decided to respond to the outbreak of the EVD as part of the request by governments and international organisations to support the unfortunate situation. He said Japan had supported the fight against Ebola with over 127 million dollars through 2014 and 2015. 'Fortunately, today, Ebola is no more a talking point, and we are proud of the achievement. It is important for us to take into account the lesson learnt from this outbreak and continue working on the issues to prevent catastrophes in the future,' he noted. Professor Kwabena Mante Bosompem, the Director of NMIMR, said: 'Addressing issues of post-Ebola outbreak strengthens our human resources capacities to address and strengthen the implementation programme in a way that they can truly achieve their objectives in a sustainable manner'. GNA By Lydia Asamoah/William Fiabu, GNA Accra, Oct. 3, GNA - The Accra Metropolitan Assembly has launched the 'Think Clean Project' at Abossey Okai to ensure a filth-free environment. The launch was in collaboration with the Metropolitan Waste and Allied Services (MWAS) and the Abossey Okai Spare Parts Dealers Association. Mr Mohammed Nii Adjei Sowah, the Accra Metropolitan Chief Executive, who launched the project, said Abossey Okai would soon become a Model Business Enclave free from filth and to be replicated in other commercial business centres in Accra. Under the 'Think Clean Project,' shop owners in Abossey Okai would be registered at GH10.00 each whilst table top sellers would pay GH5.00 each at the end of every month to ensure the smooth running of the project. Mr Sowah commended the spare parts dealers association for their immense contribution during the national sanitation day exercise and urged them to continue supporting the project, which would be undertaken by MWAS in the area. He advised the people to be responsible by disposing off the filth they generate and warned that anyone found flouting the sanitation bye laws would be prosecuted. Mr Gershon Sogbey, the General Manager of MWAS presented over 200 waste bins in support of the project to be placed at vantage points in the area. He said the company would also deploy three compaction trucks, 10 tricycles, wheelbarrows, brooms, gloves and 90 member work force to make the programme a success. The company would further provide streetlights since their operations would normally be carried out at night. Madam Florence Larbi, a board member of MWAS expressed the company's happiness to be part of the project and urged everyone to help ensure a clean Abossey Okai. Mr Ebenezer Nii Narh Nartey, the Member of Parliament for Ablekuma Central urged shop owners, and traders in the area to regularly pay their tolls to enable the service providers to offset their operational cost. He also called on the management of the service providers to pay the cleaners on time to motivate them to give off their best while admonishing the cleaners not to take their work for granted. Mr Nartey assured the residents and shop owners of Abossey Okai of the construction of drainage system in the area to prevent flooding and the fixing of about 200 streetlights to curb stealing at night. Mr Clement Boateng, the Public Relations Officer of the Abossey Okai Spare Parts Dealers Association expressed gratitude to the AMA and the MWAS for the project Abossey Okai, adding that, a task force had been formed to ensure the compliance of the sanitation bye laws. GNA Accra, Oct 3, GNA - Indomie, the Leading noodles brand has announced that it will continue to support The Spelling Bee in the country for the next 10 years. Mr Mahesh Shah, the General Manager of De United Foods Industries Ltd (DUFIL) made this commitment at the launch of the 11th edition of the spelling competition in Accra. DUFIL the brand owner of Indomie. Mr Shah said Indomie has been the lead sponsor of the spelling competition since its inception and has remained committed to the cause. Mr Shah commended the Young Educators Foundation, the organisers of the Spelling Bee competition for their resilience and drive behind the competition. He explained that Indomie has consistently supported programmes meant for the development of children because they were the future of the nation. He stressed that supporting the competition and similar initiatives were an opportunity for Indomie to 'support in the development of future leaders, future doctors, future engineers, future teachers and make Ghana a better country. 'Indomie has been championing nutritious eating and seizes every opportunity to give free nutritiously prepared Indomie noodles to children in schools and at various events,' he added. He expressed the hope that the competition would continue to unearth great talents and win many more laurels at the international stage. Mr Shah said the launch of this year's Spelling Bee was also used to campaign for the promotion of Ghanaian languages. The organisers have decided to crusade on the use of local languages and how it is taught in schools. The organisers endorsed and commended Indomie for its sustained support towards the programme and hoped that others will emulate the good gesture. GNA Sorry, we can't find the content you're looking for at this URL. 05.10.2017 LISTEN Accra, Oct. 03, GNA - Washington DC, the American State, which hosts the second largest population of Ghanaians, outside Ghana, is poised to attract more visitors, especially from West Africa, with its partnership South African Airways. The partnership, to promote Destination DC, is an effort to showcase the many attractions that Washington has to offer visitors. Mr Elliot Fergusson II, President and Chief Executive Officer of Destination DC, the official destination marketing organisation for Washington DC, said while it was important to ensure the safety of Americans and visitors to America, it was also important to ensure that the messaging from officialdom did not make people feel unwelcome in America. 'We respect the intentions of the President to try to make sure that America is a safe place and therefore, try to keep terrorism out of the country but we want to make sure that the people don't feel welcomed overall,' he stated. Mr Fergusson was speaking at luncheon with a section of the media in Ghana to discuss Destination DC and its offerings for Ghanaian customers. Destination DC, he said, worked closely with the US Travel Association to deliver the messaging and also communicated with elected officials to communicate the importance and impact of international visitation and the economic spin from it. He said they had held discussions with the Secretary of Commerce, Secretary of the Interior, Secretary of Transportation, Homeland Security and all those who played a key role to make sure they understood the situation. Speaking on the attractions of DC as a travel destination, he explained that the city had a lot to offer beyond the 'official' impression portrayed on television. These include free access to a vast array of Smithsonian museums, theatre experiences and award-winning dining among others. The most important offering of Washington DC, he said, was affordability, as in many places such as the Smithsonian museums and zoo, which were free, thus reduced the budget for families and individuals visiting the city. For Ghanaian travellers who loved to shop; wanted cultural experiences, as well as touches of their own culture, while they were in DC, he said, the city had the second largest Ghanaian population outside of Ghana and also had an array of Ghanaian restaurants. 'plus all the cultural things you can see and do for free. The value added associated with making Washington DC a part of your itinerary in coming to the United States, in our opinion, is incredible, especially if you're spending the whole day doing things that are free, then you're able to spend more on a great meal, shopping or going to concert or sporting event in DC,' he stated. The city, he said, had invested about $11.8 billion in new developments, including two new museums, a wharf and hotels, among others. 'The Museum of the Bible, which is set to open next month in the heart of DC, will showcase the history and impact of the Bible,' he said. Destination DC is currently running a campaign dubbed 'MyDCcool', which originated from travellers calling DC, cool. Travellers in this campaign take and post photos of their experiences in DC. Ms Gloria Yirenkyi, Country Manager of South African Airways in Ghana, said the airline was currently the only one providing direct flights to Washington from West Africa, out of Accra and Dakar, Senegal, through Dulles airport in Washington. She said the developments in Washington, including developments at Dulles, would help to ease connections for the airline's passengers. 05.10.2017 LISTEN Accra, Oct. 04, GNA - Mr Yaw Osafo-Maafo, the Senior Minister, says it is high time the nation departs from the export of raw materials and adds value to her agricultural produce in order to maximise profit for infrastructural development. He said Ghana, and for that matter Africa, should move away from the paradigm of relying heavily on the export of raw commodities to generate income. He cited for instance, Ghana and La Cote d'Ivoire, the two countries that produced 60 per cent of the world's cocoa output, out of which they earned a paltry $5.5 billion from the cocoa value chain, while the chocolate producers rather earned a hooping $100 billion. 'We have a problem of earning a fair value of the cocoa value chain because we don't determine the world prices, therefore, the only solution is to process our cocoa beans here in order to create jobs for our people,' he said. Mr Osafo-Maafo said this when he contributed to a Roundtable Discussion on 'Democracy and Development in Africa: Trends and Paths' organised by the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), a policy think tank, in Accra, on Tuesday. The Senior Minister noted that the prices of cocoa in recent years had slumped on the global market from $3,000 to $1,750 per tonne, which should have resulted in the reduction of the prices paid to farmers, however, Government decided to subsidise it. Mr Osafo-Maafo, therefore, called for the expansion of the cocoa processing plants in the country, with available market for the finished products so that the nation would get a fair value for her products. He said African countries should take the education of their populations seriously because countries that were not endowed with raw materials like South Korea, Japan and Malaysia educated their citizens adequately, which they leveraged on to develop their economies to higher heights. 'In Ghana we have redefined our basic education to include senior high school level, and this is a very big jump, which should reflect in our democratic dividends,' he noted. This, according to him, would change the attitudes of Ghanaians in terms of their consumption, governance system and positively impact on the socio-economic development of the nation. He said: 'Education is a very key ingredient when we are talking about democracy, therefore, development and freedom should be given priority attention when developing the human index'. Professor Peter Lewis, the Vice Dean of the Academic and Faculty Affairs, Johns Hopkins University, School of Advanced International Studies, USA, in a presentation on the aforementioned topic, said African countries with dominant party system or multi-party democracy had enjoyed stable and prosperous economic fortunes from 1980s up to the year 2000, compared to those practising authoritarian system of governance, which had suffered decline in their economies. He said there was ample evidence to show that countries with good democratic system turned to produce better economic and education outcomes, which have had positive impact on their economies compared to those with authoritarian system of governance. He, therefore, suggested that African countries should adopt suitable system of governance that would inure to the benefit of their peoples, adding; 'African countries should continue to experiment to see the best system of governance for each country'. Dr Bossman Asare, the Head of Political Science Department, University of Ghana, who chaired the function, said African countries should work at entrenching the rule of law and building consensus on very important national issues, instead of playing politics with every issue. He noted that democracy should be used to cater for the welfare of the ordinary citizen, especially supporting the education of the vulnerable people and providing their basic needs. The event brought together policy analysts, government officials, civil society organizations, the diplomatic community and the media. 05.10.2017 LISTEN I have little doubt that Ibe Kachikwu, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and Energy, regrets the day that he left the relative comfort of the private sector and entered the stormy waters of Nigerian politics. I am sure that he curses the day that he met President Muhammadu Buhari, that he opted to join the APC and that he accepted the long-awaited and much sought after invitation to be a member of his troubled cabinet and fast-sinking government. As the saying goes, "not all that glitters is gold" and as the fiery and courageous black American civil rights leader and cleric, Malcom X, once said, "in the final analysis, whether he be a house nigger or a field nigger, a nigger remains a nigger and one day 'masser' still gonna give him a damn good whoppin!" Today Kachikwu has finally come to understand and hopefully accept the fact that no matter how much he tried to be a loyal and true member of Buhari's kitchen cabinet and inner circle and no matter how much he considered himself to be a key and indispensible member of the tyrant's feared and dreaded cabal, he remains nothing but the proverbial "house nigger" who is at best tolerated by his "masser" and owner and who is being played and upstaged by a very small boy and a relatively junior member of the Hausa Fulani ruling elite by the name of Maikanti Baru that has been mandated to run the affairs of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). The golden rule is as follows: all slaves and house niggers must know their place and they must never venture to cross the line or to join issues or cultivate the nerve and temerity to challenge the authority of ANY of the "masser's" sons, including the most trucluent, impudent, obnoxious, objectionable and stubborn ones. The "masser's" son may know next to nothing and he may be rotten and vile in all his ways yet his bloodline and race still sets him apart: he was "born to rule" and remains the head whilst house niggers like Kachikwu and the rest of us were "born to serve" and remain the tail. And that is the story of Nigeria. That is why a fine and upstanding Governor like Willie Obiano of Anambra state will sit before President Muhammadu Buhari, remove his beautiful fedora hat and place it on his lap like a pliant puppy and obedient little schoolboy and pay homage and obesience to the maximum dictator. He knows his place. He knows how to behave in front of "masser", he knows never to look him in the eye and he knows that "masser" is to be feared, reverred, worshipped and loved by every good house nigger and slave as if he were God. It is in this context that one must ask why Kachikwu should be in the least bit surprised that he has not been granted access to President Buhari and that the northern Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation has completely usurped his functions and undermined his authority? Did he really expect things to be any different in a Buhari administration? Has he forgotten that he is Igbo? Has he forgotten that his people are part of those that the President once disdainfully referred to as the "5 per cent"? When I said that Buhari hated the Igbo some time back many were shocked, many disputed my assertion, many were in disbelief and many were in denial even when the evidence to prove and substantiate my assertion was incontrivertible and compelling. Today a good number of hitherto and erstwhile doubting Thomas', cynics and skeptics have seen the light, finally agreed with me and voiced their observations and concerns loudly and publicly. The President himself affirmed our grave allegations and confirmed our worst fears during the course of his reprehensible, uninspiring and downright shameful Independence Day speech in which he insulted the Igbo elders and leaders and basicallly told them to go and control their children and wards. This is bad enough but permit me to share something with you today that is even more disconcerting and troubling: the truth is that deep down Buhari has nothing but contempt for southerners, Middle Belters and Christians. As painful as it is for some to hear and as difficult as it is for others to accept, there it is. That is the BITTER TRUTH! Sadly Ibe Kachikwu jumped in the sack with the wrong set of people. He got into bed with a brood of vipers and a horde of vampires who secretly hate and despise his own. He chose to wine and dine with an insatiable and rappacious set of self-seeking, self-serving, flesh-eating, blood-drinking, spirit-crushing, destiny-destroying and soul-wounding demons and devils and now the chickens have come home to roost. He chose to overlook the fact that to Buhari and his tiny cabal of ethnic and religious supremacists ALL southerners and Middle Belters are second class citizens and dispensable slaves. And neither will his mouthwatering and earth-shaking revelations about the monuemental fraud, graft and corruption that is going on under his watch at the Petroleum Resources Ministry in any way help or protect him. As a matter of fact his singing and spiling the beans will rather make things worse for him because sooner or later those he has courageously chosen to expose will hit back with all the force and fury of a wounded lion and with the venom and spite of a cuckolded husband and a cheated wife. From what I have seen and heard the truth is that the EFCC are already in the process of a detailed investigation and are closing in on him. These people are blackmailers and gangsters. To them siphoning 24 billion USD from the coffers of the Northern (sorry I meant "Nigerian") National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) by awarding questionable and fake contracts outside of due process means absolutely nothing. As a matter of fact that is what is expected of their cronies and agents. Where else will they get the money for Buhari's 2019 presidential campaign from? My friend and brother Reno Omokri captured the situation rather well when he wrote the following: "the first time Muhammadu Buhari was Petroleum Minister in the 1970s, Fela sang '2.8 billion Naira missing'. Now he is Petroleum Minister again and Kachikwu is singing $26 billion missing! Why is it that huge billions tend to go missing or spent without due process whenever Buhari is Minister of Petroleum? However, Kachikwu was naive for writing that letter to Buhari! He does not know that Baru was brought in to do exactly what he is doing!" Omokri is absolutely right. What a messy and stinking cesspool and pit of poisonous snakes Ibe Kachikwu has found himself in. And quite apart from all that it must be a living nightmare and pure hell for an intelligent, well-educated, enlightened, cosmopolitan, Harvard-trained former Shell executive and Federal Minister to have his powers curtailed and usurped and to be treated with contempt and disdain by the Chief Executive Officer of a corporation that is under his own Ministry! This is made even worse by the fact that that Chief Executive Officer probably, if at all, went to some fourth-rate rodent-infested "school" or "university" near the borders of Chad or Niger Republic or some other dubious institution of "higher learning" not too far from the dusty, dry and barren sand slopes of the Sahara desert. Poor Ibe Kachikwu! I guess that he has to live with the consequences of the choices that he has made. His situation reminds me of the verse in the Holy scriptures that says it is "a great evil under the sun when the sons of slaves ride around on horseback whilst the sons of the King are walk around on bare feet". This goes against the natura order of things and something ought to be done about it. My first prayer for him is that he does a thorough spiritual search and attempts to discover who and what his principal, President Muhammadu Buhari, really is and what he seeks to achieve in our country. My second prayer is that he finds the decency and courage to resign from the government that he serves before it is too late, before they turn on him and before he is thoroughly discredited and rubbished out of office by his traducers and powerful adversaries. And finally my third prayer is that he restores his confidence, his self-respect and his dignity, that he stops walking around barefoot, that he finds and puts on his royal shoes and that he mounts and rides his horse. Gone are the days that he should be running behind the carriages and horses of slaves and working for those that do not have ten percent of his wisdom and knowledge. He is far better than that. Yet whatever he chooses to say or do one thing is clear: in Nigeria the keepers of wealth are not the keepers of compassion. They are cruel and relentless and their greed and wickedness knows no bounds. They hate more than any other yet they accuse others of hate speech. They steal more than any other yet they accuse others ofstealing and corruption. They kill more than any other yet they accuse others of killing. They engender and enthrone modern-day apartheid, fascism and slavery more than any other yet they accuse others of espousing and enunciating their very own deep-seated and insidious intolerance and racism and their unbridled and perfdious religious bigotry. They are a government of double standards, lies and deceit. A government that uses its army to commit mass murder, genocide and ethnic cleansing against its own people. A government that protects, encourages and supports the barbaric activities of evi and deadly Janjaweed ethnic militias that slaughter and dispossess innocent souls, including defenceless women and children, in the name of herding cattle. A government that cannot stomach strong opposition or critical and consistent criticism. A government that is so terrified of its own shadow and that is so averse to righteousness, wholesomeness, equity and truth that it is ready to wipe out a whole race of people simply to deny them their right of self-determination and silence their voices. They are a government of the corrupt, for the corrupt and by the corrupt: a government whose sole purpose and not so hidden agenda is to re-establish the hegemony of the core Muslim north and turn the Nigerian people and state into a colony of servile vassals, gutless quislings, broken serfs and hopeless slaves. Yet they shall fail because, like the brilliant, beautiful, dazziling and passionate American Amazon, Dana Loesch, recently said, "we will shatter their violence of lies with the clenched fist of truth". They shall fail because history testifies to the fact that no matter how unyielding, brutal, savage, relentless, deceitful, mendacious and bloodthirsty they may be, the agents of satan and the forces of darkness have NEVER been able to conquer, defeat or overwhelm the children of God and the spirit of the people. It shall be no different in our shores. It is only a matter of time. The notion of a united Nigeria after the 2017 genocide against the Igbo and state-sponsored terrorism coupled with the wholesale rejection of the idea of restructuring by the core north is absurd and far-fetched. There cannot be peace where there is no justice. There cannot be tranquility and harmony where there is inequality. There cannot be love and peaceful co-existence where there is hate, condescension and fascistic philosophies. There cannot be camaraderie and fellowship where the tyrant unleashes the full force of his tyranny against the people. The fact of the matter is that if he continues to send his army to kill innocent civilians, if he refuses to bring to justice the military personnel that slaughtered the Shiite Muslims two years ago and that have been murdering young Igbos and IPOB members since he came to power and if he continues to condone the mass murder of northern Christians and Middle Belters by his Fulani kinsmen and herdsmen the resistance and opposition to his administration will continue to be relentless and the agitation for restructuring and the quest to exercise the right of self-deternination by the various ethnic groups in our country will continue to increase and become far more aggressive and pronounced. Many may suffer. Many may be killed. Many may be detained and incarcerated. Many may be wrongly accused, villified and in bondage. Many may be dispossesed, humiliated and scattered. Many may be tortured, brutalised, maimed and scarred and many may suffer all shades and manners of indignity, shame, poverty, lack, deprivation and hunger. Yet despite all these deep, harrowing and seemingly endless travails, one thing is sure: our liberation shall eventually come because no matter how dark the night, joy comes in the morning. The Bible says "many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord delivers him of them all". In the end God's glorious light shall bring the tyrant to his knees, dispel the darkness and break the chains of servitude, subjugation and evil. In the end deliverance, freedom, joy, peace, justice, abundance, vindication and the victorious lamp of liberty shall rise from Zion as the freedom bell rings and our nation is healed and restored. In the end the Lord's will shall be done, His counsel shall stand, His pupose shall be established, His name shall be glorified and we shall prevail. Beginning this month, the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC) is starting a project that promises to turn some deprived areas into smart communities. This is part of the government's digital Ghana agenda dubbed "it's digi-time in Ghana", which seeks to, among other things, boost internet and WiFi penetration and usage across the country, digitize all citizens information and government services to the public in a march towards making Ghana a smart country ultimately. Administrator of GIFEC, Kofi Asante, disclosed this to Adom News at the just-ended ITU Telecom World Conference in Busan, South Korea. GIFEC was part of the Ghana delegation led by Deputy Minister of Communications, Nenyi George Kojo Andah to the conference. GIFEC's role in the telecom industry has mainly been to use funds drawn from industry players, mainly telcos, to install infrastructure in unserved and underserved area so that telcos and ISPs could co-locate on them and provide service to residents of those areas. This role is important because some of those area don't present a good business case for each telco to invest money into installing their own infrastructure. Part of GIFEC's role is also to supply ICT equipment and solutions to various institutions and communities to help bridge the digital gap and ensure digital inclusion. Smart communities But Kofi Asante said GIFEC is now moving beyond putting up telecom masts and supplying computers to actually turn the deprived communities into smart ones through digitization, characterized by reliable WiFi connectivity on the back of which several services will run. He explained that the three-year pilot phase of the project, billed to take off this month, targets four strategically selected communities to begin with. The four communities are Berekum, a relatively large town; Asumura, a small cocoa-growing community; Goaso, where President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo launched the Food for Jobs project, and Asankragwa, another cocoa-growing area. Kofi Asante said "smart" in this sense would be to provide internet point of presence in all the selected communities and provide local WiFi connectivity with the view to including them in the information society, ensuring business is done in an accelerated manner and making life generally easier for residents. "We intend to provide at least 200 internet points of presence within every 25 kilometers radius in each selected community, to ensure they are thoroughly covered. "We also have at least two terabytes of cloud space above each of the communities, so we can put relevant and community-specific local content in that space for students, farmers, traders and various categories of people in the respective communities to access with their local WiFi even without internet connectivity," he said. He said the connectivity will come with applications that support e-Health, e-Education, public safety, e-policing, e-Agriculture, e-Commerce, and other applications to be designed and deployed based on the peculiarities of each community Sustainability The GIFEC Administrator said the WiFi access would be largely free, base on income levels, but for some communities, jobs will be provided for people to sell affordable vouchers to residents - and that is an innovative way of creating entrepreneurs and ensuring sustainability. He said the sustainability plan include training trainers to ensure that even people who cannot read and write are drawn into the national digital inclusion drive through tailor-made approach. "We have given ourselves three years to finish the pilot, after which we will replicate mainly in the district capitals across the country until everyone is covered - though it is ambitious we are very hopeful it will succeed and benefit greater majority of Ghanaians in the long run," he said. Currently, the GIFEC smart communities project is set to start on the back of the LTE infrastructure of the National Information Technology Agency (NITA) or from the Bureau of National Communication (BNC), with GIFEC's own Satellite Hub serving as a backhaul. But the Administrator said the long-term plan is for GIFEC to lay its own fibre into the remote communities in collaboration with the telcos because fibre has bigger capacities and promises better user experience. "We will tap on the telcos fibre arteries and extend capillaries to the remote communities that are not by the roadside to also have connectivity," he said. Meanwhile, GIFEC is also going to work with telcos to deploy the latter's Universal Mobile Telecommunication Systems (UMTS) on the 900MHz spectrum to extend 3G data services to the unserved and underserved area. New tower model Kofi Asante said added to that they have also adopted a new and cost-effective model of spreading telecom masts across the country, where they will collaborate with telcos and telecoms infrastructure companies to accelerate the installation of masts. He explained that the new model means GIFEC will play a facilitation role by selecting and securing the sites, while infrastructure companies provide the equipment and telcos provide the service and the two (telcos and equipment providers) will agree on a revenue share arrangement. "So far we have identified about 700 sites where masts can be mounted under the new model and we are starting with MTN and Huawei to mount 100 masts by the close of this year. "By the close of next year we will add another 200 and the following year another 400 will come on stream. The plan is to cover about 95 per cent of the unserved and underserved areas over the next four years," he said. GIFEC has therefore established a Sustainability and Partnership Unit (SPU) to oversee the implementation of the new model, and the Administrator said that it will help GIFEC spend much less to achieve more, so that the savings could be invested in areas where GIFEC's intervention is really needed. Young Adults Fellowship (YAF), a generational group in the Presbyterian Church of Ghana's Victory Congregation in the Kwesimintsim district in Takoradi has observed its 10 years of formation. The week long anniversary was dubbed "10 Years of Positive Contribution to the Church" with the focus on inculcating in the youth the relevance of availing themselves to the work of God. Reverend Ernest K. Asare, the Kwesimintsim district pastor encouraged the YAF members to take up leadership positions in the church with the aim of becoming Presbyters, Catchiest and reverend ministers. The Young Adults Fellowship (YAF) is a group for those between the ages of Thirty (30) and Forty (40) years established in 2007 having membership in almost all the branches of Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG) nationwide. As part of the celebrations, YAF members volunteered to paint the church building on the Kwesimintsim Highways and also donated two hundred (200) cement blocks to support the building of a new chapel in the area. Previous initiatives of YAF include: donations to children ward of Jemima Hospital in Takoradi, Rehabilitation of washroom in PCG Kwesimintsim and the donation of 25 Hymns books to the church choir. The local YAF President Mr. Thomas Narh Korley, revealed during the thanksgiving service that they have various plans to assist in the developmental agenda of the church. This according to him includes Evangelism to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ, establishing an ultra-modern business centre for the church, and provided assistance to the Young Peoples Guild (YPG), Junior Youth (JY) and Children Service of the church. Current local executives were introduced to YAF members during the eventful ceremony. They are Mr. Fred Antwi (vice president), Mr. Attuquaye Clottey (secretary), Mrs. Margaret Adobaw, (secretary), Mrs. Stella Korankye (asst. secretary), Mrs. Agartha Oppong (treasurer), Mr Alfred Amoafo (male organiser) and Mrs. Doris Affum (female organiser). The celebration ended with a fundraising campaign which generated over Five thousand cedis (5,000), with the funds planned to be used to develop the Young Adults in the Presbyterian Church of Ghana. Guinness Ghana Breweries Limited (GGBL) has held a stakeholders workshop to showcase and assess the socio-economic impact of their Local Raw Material (LRM) sourcing initiative on the Ghanaian economy. The stakeholder workshop is held bi-annually to review the impact of the companys LRM agenda on government and the communities in which GGBL operates. Sharing key findings of the socio-economic study, Senior Research Fellow at the Bureau of Integrated Rural Development of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Prof. Paul Sarfo-Mensah, said 25,000 small holder farmers spread across 7 regions directly benefited from GGBLs LRM initiative. Together with their dependents, the initiative has impacted an estimated 175,000 lives over the last 3 years, representing a 138% increase in lives impacted from 2013 2015. Other beneficiaries in the supply chain included hired labour, transport and other service providers among others. Mr. Gavin Pike Managing Director of GGBL said, Since 2012 GGBL has been at the forefront of championing the use of locally available raw materials in the production of our premium brands. From a modest 12% LRM use in 2012, Guinness Ghanas LRM usage has grown to 48%, impacted the lives of more than 25,000 farmers. He added our target is to source 70% of local raw materials by 2020 which should will have an incremental impact on the communities in which we operate. We can proudly say we are the largest users of local raw materials in the brewery industry in Ghana Dr. Nurah Gyiele, Minister of State in charge of Agriculture, who was keynote speaker said, one of our ambitions as a government to is to transform the lives of Ghanaians through sustainable job creation and we know that majority of our people are into farming albeit mostly subsistent. We also understand that to significantly transform the agriculture sector, there is so much more that can be done. We need our farmers to start thinking and moving towards commercial farming to ensure there is sustainable livelihood improvement. To make this happen, the appropriate policies must be developed and implemented. It is for this reason that the NPP government launched the Planting for Food and Jobs programme as well as the One District One Factory initiative. In support of GGBLs drive towards the use of local raw material in brewing, government in 2012 introduced a concessionary excise duty scheme for breweries using local raw materials and since the passage of this law, GGBL, which was already investing and using sorghum and maize for the production of it premium brands, significantly increased its usage of local raw materials (sorghum, maize and cassava). In October 2015, GGBL presented the progress made in developing the LRM supply chain to key stakeholders and shared the findings of a baseline socio-economic impact assessment undertaken by Deloitte-UK and the Bureau of Integrated Rural Development (BIRD) of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. This years study is a follow up on the baseline study which focused on establishing the total number of stakeholders impacted throughout the LRM value chain and the total direct and indirect jobs created and livelihoods supported by the local raw material sourcing as well as its tax effect on the economy, among others. Corporate Relations Director of GGBL, Mr. Gabriel Opoku-Asare said, GGBL remains committed to our vision of generating long-term business value with locally and sustainably sourced raw materials which meet quality standards and have a positive impact on the communities and environment in which we operate Key stakeholders at the workshop included the Deputy Minister for Finance, officials from the Ministry of Finance, Ghana Revenue Authority and service providers in the LRM supply chain among others. Dr. Kingsley Nyarko, Executive Director, Danquah Institute; Senior Lecturer, University Of Ghana SPEECH DELIVERED AT TESCON KNUST SPECIAL PROGRAM 1ST OCTOBER, 2017 I am greatly honored to speak to the topic, The Founding of Modern Day Ghana: The Historical Antecedents. This is an important topic, but I think at this time of our development, we should be talking about something different. I think we should be talking about how to deliver this country from the economic quagmire, and place it on the path of progress and development. But, as I have indicated earlier, the topic is important because it will help us to know our past, and how the past has shaped our future, and those who have contributed to the development of our nation. I think on a topic that bothers on our Statehood, nobody should attempt to focus on the superiority of one nationalist over the other; neither should there be a deliberate attempt to belittle the contributions of any personality towards the emancipation and development of our motherland. As much as possible, we should focus on sacrifice, commitment to the nation and appreciation of the efforts of our patriots regardless of political leanings. Ghana, our motherland, is a great land blessed with beautiful people and great minds; it is a land of enormous opportunities, resources and talents. With the uniqueness of our diversities, we stand a better chance of overcoming the obstacles that have brought nations on their knees if stand united and not divided. During the colonial rule, our forefathers had differences, yet, they came together to pursue a common and worthy endthe emancipation from colonial domination. Some had the vision, others carried the vision, and others made the vision a reality. We need to applaud them all; they all deserve their rightful place in the annals of our history. The vision is not ended, we have to carry the vision and see to its realization. We cannot achieve it when we allow extreme partisanship to take over our consciences. Mr. Chairman, I would like to state unequivocally, that Ghana was not founded on 6th March, 1957. Before 6th March 1957, Ghana existed. It was called the Gold Coast. Ghana had been colonized by the British; so on the day of independence, we only became free from colonial domination. So to equate the day of independence to the founding of the country is erroneous. Again, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah did not singlehandedly obtain independence for us; the journey to independence was a process. Our independence was attained by patriotic Ghanaians at that time. At a recent symposium organized by the Danquah Institute on 10th August, 2017, Dr. Vladimir Antwi-Danso, a leading member of the CPP, and a renowned scholar said, I know all about the CPPthe good and the bad. I am an intellectual. It cant be one founder of the nation. He continued, It is important to recognize the roles the UGCC played in attaining the independence. Mr. Chairman, have you ever seen one person giving birth before? On Friday, 4th August, 2017, the day UGCC was born, I published an article titled, The Struggle for Independence and the Unique Role of the UGCC. In the article, I clearly pointed out that the struggle for our independence was not achieved on a silver platter, but that several of our patriots sacrificed their energies, resources, and even their lives to ensure that we became free from colonial oppression. In every society, there were people who stood in the gap between the present and the future; these are individuals who wanted to leave an enduring legacy for posterity. These are people who came to the conclusion that they have to live for the future; never valued their existence until it was linked to the liberation of their people. We live to impact our world and leave a legacy for our generation and posterity. Because the meaningfulness of our existence lies in the impact we make on society, we need to consciously reward patriotism and nationalism and deeds that encourage others to sacrifice their lives for the benefit of society. Mr. Chairman, I would like to crave on your indulgence to ask this question, What will happen to Ghana should we have founders day? I ask this question because, when we detach ourselves from emotionalism, and extreme partisanship, we shall discover that, those who led the fight for our emancipation are all Ghanaians and patriotic ones as such. When partisanship and pettiness reign in any society, her progress is normally impeded. I am very much persuaded that we shall stand more united when we impartially accord our heroes their befitting role in our society. Sixty years before independence, a pressure groupAborigines Rights Protection Society (ARPS) was formed with the sole aim of safeguarding the property of the indigenes; when the colonial administration decided to introduce the Forest Ordinance in 1911, they resisted it. It was this same Society that stood behind the Big Six when they were arrested and detained, when the chiefs stood behind the Colonial Administration against their own. The leadership of the ARPS paid their dues in the fight towards our emancipation. I need also mention J. E. Casely Hayford, who formed the West African Conference in 1917, which later became the West African Congress in 1920. This was the first pressure group that clearly demanded self-determination from the colonial administration. Though it eventually demised, its role can never be pushed under the carpet. They came to the realization that the time had come for the indigenes to take their destiny into their own hands; they needed to determine their own future. Their aim was to invite the West African colonies under the British to demand self-determination and no taxation without representation. Three of their most crucial demands were self-government which should be implemented in order to enable peoples of African descent to be part of the governance of their own country, the granting of elective franchise, the abolishing of the system of nomination to the Legislative Council because of its undemocratic nature (Ofosu-Appiah, 1974). When J. B. Danquah returned home in 1927 after obtaining his doctorate degree, he created an intellectual ferment in the country. He established a law firm, as well as the first daily paper in the country. Together with journalists such as Nnamdi Azikiwe, K. A. B. Jones Quartey, they provided the enabling political atmosphere that raised national consciousness and awareness towards emancipation. Through their mediums, the indigenes were informed about happenings in the country, their depravity, and neglect to second-class citizens on their own land. It must be emphasized that it was through the hard work and sacrifices of the journalists that prompted the people to demand that a delegation of chiefs and the people be sent to protest at the colonial office in London over the Criminal Code (Amendment) Ordinance, popularly called the Sedition Bill, and the Water Works Ordinance of 1934. Dr. J. B. Danquah was the leader of the delegation as the secretary, and demanded, in addition to the two demands stated above, an increase in the number of Africans on the Legislative Council, the election of the provincial council members for the Eastern Province by the Whole Provincial Council, and non-chiefs becoming provincial members. In the 1940s, the desire for freedom was intensified as the intelligentsia gave their all and ensured that the people got involved in determining their own destiny. Thus, when J. B. Danquah and Mr. George Alfred Grant met in Sekondi, the plan to establish a political party was agreed on. Mr. Grant was not happy about the socio-economic problems at the time and said to Dr. Danquah, Danquah, the country is slipping down the hill, and what are you doing about it? Dr. J. B. Danquah replied, I am in your hands, Sir. This interaction led to a meeting among Dr. Danquah, Mr. F. Awoonor-Williams, Mr. R. S. Blay, and Mr. Grant. It was at this meeting that led to the eventual formation of the UGCC in Saltpond, on 4th August, 1947. This day, unarguably, represents the most important step towards the attainment of independence in the Gold Coast. At the inauguration, Mr. Grant was elected the chairman for the occasion, and Dr. J. B. Danquah delivered the inaugural address. Excerpt of the address reads, We have, as I said, come to Saltpond for a decision. We have come to Saltpond to ponder and to deliberate upon the ways and means to bring an end to this insecurity and this frustration. British freedom is a precious thing. But British freedom is not Gold Coast freedom. British freedom is grand to have, but you cannot have and possess British liberty in a Gold Coast atmosphere. We must have, here and now, if we are to be well governed, a new kind of freedom, a Gold Coast freedom, a Gold Coast liberty. The address was so potent and touching to the extent that it was able to create a national awareness, and craving for freedom. After the speech, which was greeted with deafening applause, Mrs. J. B. Eyeson mounted the podium and said, Dr. Danquah, we had in the past given enthusiastic support to the cause of the Church. Today it is the cause of the nation. Women of the country are behind you. (Ofosu-Appiah, 1974, p.52, 53). It must be stated without any shred of doubt, that the dawn of the UGCC prepared the grounds for our independence. In fact, it was the prelude to our independence. As the first political party in the country, the intentions and subsequent activities of our nationalists made the attainment of independence a reality. All this time, Mr. Chair, Kwame Nkrumah was not in the country; however, upon the recommendation to the executive committee of the UGCC by Mr. Arko-Adjei, he was invited to become the secretary of the convention. Because of the passion of the leadership of the UGCC towards the liberation of the people, they paid Kwame Nkrumahs travelling expenses, and he arrived in the country on 10th December, 1947. He was met at the Takoradi harbour by Mr. R. S. Blay who took him to his house at Sekondi. It must also be pointed out that, among the leadership of the convention, he was the only person who received monthly salary. For the other nationalists to use their own resources to bring Kwame Nkrumah back home and pay his salary to help in the struggle clearly shows their resolve and passion for freedom. This commitment towards liberation underscores the significant role of the UGCC towards our Statehood. It will therefore be a travesty if these gallant and noble men are denied their rightful place in our history. Events after the 1948 riotswhich led to the death of Sergeant Adjetey, Corporal Attipoe, and Private Odartey Lamptey, represent a watershed in our march towards freedom. The arrest and subsequent detention of the Big SIX (J. B. Danquah, Edward Akufo-Addo, Ako-Adjei, E. Obetsebi-Lamptey, William Ofori-Atta and Kwame Nkrumah) made the UGCC very popular among the grassroots. The cablegram that J. B. Danquah, a member of the executive committee of the UGCC sent to the Secretary of State for the colonies in the United Kingdom demanding the recall of Governor Creasy, the dispatch of a special Commissioner, the establishment of an interim government to be run by the UGCC, and a Constituent Assembly shows the UGCC was yearning for freedom. This revelation diffuses suggestions that the UGCC was against the independence of Ghana. This is an obvious distortion of our history. Although, the objective of the Convention was the attainment of self-government in the shortest possible time, it was steadily moving in that direction until Kwame Nkrumah broke away to form the Convention Peoples Party (when he was demoted to the position of treasurer)which was the party that had formed the government when we won independence on 6th March, 1957. Indeed Nkrumah has stated in his book Ghana: The Autobiography of Kwame Nkrumah, that he accepted the offer to be the General Secretary of the UGCC in order to form a different political movement. Clearly, he had an agenda unknown to those who offered him the opportunity to be part of the fight for freedom. We must also applaud Kwame Nkrumah for leading us to achieve independence. From the above, it is clear that patriotic Ghanaians fought for our emancipation. Those individuals, who led the way, deserve to be commended and applauded. But, for patriots like Mr. Alfred Grant, R. S. Blay, F. Awoonor Williams and Dr. J. B. Danquah, who came together to form a political party to salvage the country from its economic doldrums, and their invitation of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah to be part of the preparation towards independence, probably, 6th March, 1957 would have been a mirage. The independence of Ghana has been a struggleone that has involved nationalists of our dear nation. In the course of the struggle, some went through pain, others were maimed, and others lost their lives. They went through all these because they sought the best for the nation. They needed emancipation for the country so that they could determine their own destiny. Some of our forebears died through the struggle so we could live; it will be immoral if in chronicling the pillars of our nation, we deliberately exclude others as a result of politics. Let us, without discrimination honour the memory of our freedom fighters; let us make them fulfilled in their graves; let us make them relish their efforts that have brought us this far in our development. I favour founders day because of the belief that our attainment of independence was a collective effort, and also the undeniable fact that it will unite us as a people. 05.10.2017 LISTEN After weeks of intense cogitation, and being overwhelmed by emotions with the fear of forever being haunted by guilty conscience if something catastrophic happened to the woman in question, I have resolved to alert Ghanaian compatriots to her plight by putting out this publication in case someone out there could be of great help to her. This woman is currently detained in a psychiatric wing of a hospital under the British Mental Health Act. She is deemed a danger to herself and her three children hence the Social Services compulsorily removing her three children from her. The first two children had long been taken away from her while the last one has recently been taken as well when she threatened to kill herself if the children were not returned to her. She keeps telling the doctors she is not ill mentally or physically so they should allow her to go home. However, the doctors fear she will harm herself and her little child so they will neither let her go nor allow the child to be with her anymore following her threats to kill herself if they did not return her first two children to her. On three occasions that I have overheard her telephone conversations, she sounds very normal. She calls from the hospital where she has been sectioned for the past several months. I am not a doctor and have not met her personally but I have had the opportunity to speak to advise, and to give her words of encouragement over the phone on one occasion. I could conclude that her illness be whatever it is, is caused by heartbreak and neglect by those she expected to be the shoulders for her to cry on in times of her great need. Her husband with whom she had the first two children, understandably a Ghanaian in the British Army in the UK, left her. She was married to a second husband and had her last child by him. This man has also abandoned her. I do not know the causes of her unfortunate marriages but they are not the issues for discussion today but how she could be helped to overcome her illness and then be reunited with her children. To the psychologists and psychiatrists, could broken heart not cause stress and other ailments to the sufferer to finally culminate in her disputed mental illness? Again, could consolatory visits to such patients, emotional support and little financial assistance not help speed up the recovery or healing of such victims? One thing I find heartrending is the total abandonment of the woman by her church members. The very church members she congregated and worshipped with have denied her visits, denied her phone calls, and denied her prayers, let alone financial support. Is it how we fellowship with others in God? What I find quite weird about her church members, especially their Presiding Elder is their lack of comprehension of the very biblical tenets in which they hope to gain salvation to end up in Heaven one day. In the few months preceding her illness, the woman was said to have become rude towards some church members including the Presiding Elder. This was not her character as they knew her to be. Someone was able to foresee that there was something not right about her and advised those who felt hurt by her action to bear with her, interrogate her to find out what was bothering her and to pray for her. They refused, but kept saying she was getting rude. The more the person kept saying the woman might be sick hence needed their assistance, the louder the others kept shouting she was simply becoming unbecoming. In less than no time, she was sectioned as reported above. To her Church members who are Christians, regardless of being true or carnal-minded, the bible says in Matthew 18:21-22 21Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother who sins against me? Up to seven times? 22Jesus answered, I tell you, not just seven times, but seventy-seven times! and 1 John 4:20 -If anyone says, I love God, and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen I am neither condemning nor sanctioning their action but stating my views and disagreement with them on their strong unchristian line of action taken against her. Their Presiding Elder blatantly refuses to mention her to be prayed for during Church service. How I wish the Ghana High Commissioner to the UK could himself, or delegate someone from the High Commission to pay her a visit at the hospital. Such a visit could make a great difference in her life by speeding up her recovery. She is said to come from Kumawu-Bodomase although she had resided in Kumasi all her life until coming to Britain. I therefore have a duty to perform towards her recovery as well as getting her children back once she overcomes the problems causing her illness and making her feel suicidal. This publication is my first step in the right direction to securing her help. Whoever is ready to help her with advice, visits, and emotional support is welcome. They should please contact me on email address [email protected] for her details. We should not let her lose her children. We should not let her become a mentally deranged person. It is only by the positive steps we take today that can make the huge transformational difference that we seek for in her life. She says the Social Services are taking her children because they know she has nobody. This is because since she was sectioned, nobody has been visiting her. Yes we can, if we really want to save her life. We can start with visits to her. I shall officially convey her plight to the attention of the Ghana High Commissioner in the UK as well as certain dignitaries whose phone calls to her could be a great inspiration to her. In the meantime, let all concerned Ghanaians remember her in their daily prayers to the Almighty God. The Nova Wellness Center, an alternative healthcare facility that uses chiropractic, nutrition, exercise and massage to treat diseases, has been adjudged the best SME facility, health service delivery category, at this years Small and Medium Enterprises Ghana Awards (SMEGA 2016), held at the Banquet Hall, Accra. The chiropractic facility was chosen ahead of several other SMEs selected across the country. It took home a prestigious trophy, a citation, a certificate and an insurance cover from sponsors. The awards ceremony was put together by the SME Ghana Awards Scheme in partnership with the Ministry of Trade and Industry, World Association of SMEs, the Ghana Investment and Promotion Centre (GIPC), and Vodafone Business Solutions (VBS). The annual awards scheme was is to acknowledge, celebrate and encourage excellence among SMEs in Ghana, giving them the opportunity to gain valuable exposure. It is also to showcase Ghanas successful SMEs, and promote the roles these SMEs play in economic development. The theme for this years awards was : Sustaining Ghanas SMEs in a globally competitive market- Uncovering the Pillars of Profitable Growth in a digitised Business World Commenting on the award, Dr. Naa Asheley Dordor, lead Chiropractor at the Nova Wellness Center, said the award encourages her outfit to do more to reach more people. If more people are taking active steps to prevent them from getting sick then we'll have a healthier workforce to drive the nation forward. That is why we need to educate the masses about Chiropractic, exercise, rest and good nutrition, she stressed, showing appreciation to the organizers. She said incorporating these things into our daily lives is what will bring true health and wellness, and not the unnecessary use of drugs and or surgery. Also speaking at the event, the Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry, Mr Ahomka Lindsay reiterated governments resolve to empower local business to drive the economy of the nation. He advised business owners to tap into the several opportunities made available to them by government. Located off the Hilla Limman Highway, Accra, the Nova Wellness Center is a natural healthcare center with the primary aim of correcting spine and its associated disorders without surgery or medicine. They also provide physiotherapy and massage services. MTN Ghana, the leading telecommunications company in Ghana, has been awarded a gold accreditation against the Investors in People Standard, a demonstration of the business commitment to high performance through good people management. The accreditation is also in line with practices of high performing global companies. The Head of Investors in People,Paul Devoy said Investors in People Gold Accreditation is the sign of a great employer, an outperforming place to work and a clear commitment to success. Commenting on the award, an elated Human Resources Executive, Mrs.AmmaBenneh-Amponsah, indicated thatthe award is a testament to MTN Ghanas commitment to creating a great place to work, by investing in our human capital and acknowledging that the hearts and minds of our people are key to their success as a business. Our employees will continue to deliver the best customer experience whiles ensuring the benefits of a modern connected life are realized by all, she intimated. Mrs.Benneh-Amponsah dedicated the accreditation to all staff of MTN Ghana who have contributed in diverse ways in achieving the goals and ambition of the business. Headquartered in Accra, MTN Ghana provides about 500,000 jobs for Ghanaians through an ecosystem of partners and suppliers. The telecommunications giant has well-established people practices that promote sustainable improvement and encourage high performance among staff. The company has an in-house creche and gym. It also employs the services of an Occupational Therapist for its staff. Another significant initiative put in place by MTNs Human Resource is the flexi-hours, where staff get to choose the most convenient time to report to work. All these initiatives are to create a congenial atmosphere for all MTN staff in order to promote efficiency and enhance productivity at work. Investors in People is the international standard for people management, defining what it takes to lead, support and manage people effectively to achieve sustainable results. Underpinning the Standard is the Investors in People framework, reflecting the latest workplace trends, essential skills and effective structures required to outperform in any industry. Investors in People enables organisations to benchmark against the best in the business on an international scale. Some mobile money vendors have charged telecom giant, MTN, to work at reducing mobile money fraud on the company's network. Some victims of mobile money fraud called into the station during and after Citi FM's Business Today programme, which discussed the growing cases of mobile money fraud on Wednesday. According to statistics, at least fifty percent of Mobile Money subscribers have either experienced one form of fraud or have been a target for Mobile Money fraudsters. One of the vendors, who only gave her name as Mabel at Spintex, complained about a repeated act where cash sent are converted into airtime after which the receivers get calls from anonymous persons. I am a vendor and it is only MTN I have, this issue keeps recurring, sometimes when I transfer money, the receiver gets it in credit. Then they get a call from another person telling them to follow certain steps to convert into cash only for them to be swindled, she said. I had about three or four complains. My question is, how do the people know that the money has been sent to a receiver as credit. I think the system is compromised, she said. She added that, despite making complaints to MTN, the telecom operator informed her it will be unable to deal with the matter since the victims normally disclose vital information that grant access into the account. So I went to the MTN office to make a complaint and the lady who attended to me said there is nothing they could do about it because I am not the only one who has complained about the issue. But Manager in charge of Mobile Financial Services at MTN, Solomon Hayford debunked the claims. According to him, the station has always addressed suspected mobile money fraud with the CID when they are reported. These claims are not true; they are false. We have transaction record for all transactions since the start of the service. It is a mandatory requirement by the Electronic Money issuers' guideline that we keep transactional records for at least six years so that allegation is not true he clarified. He pointed out that, the situation is made difficult when mobile money users willingly give their account details, including secret pins to people. He emphasized that under no circumstances will an MTN worker demand for the pins of a mobile money account. Business Solutions Analyst at Ecrime Bureau, Philip Dankwa Debrah, advised that vendors as well as customers should be vigilant in their transactions to avoid getting swindled. We need to be very vigilant in terms of the processes. One way we can have it clear is that, if you are a mobile money merchant, and you have recruited somebody you may have to do background checks, due diligence checks on the person handling the transactions for you because it is very possible for business owners to bring in people who are equally criminals he advised. Head of Cyber Security of the CID, Chief Superintendant Dr. Herbert Yankson, pointed out some activities customers can avoid so they are not swindled. What we realize is that, a lot of them tend to believe whatever they are told. They tend to be so gullible and tend to believe whatever somebody calls them to say. They rather must do some form of due diligence to avoid any fraud attack he advised. By: Jessica Ayorkor Aryee/citibusinessnews.com/Ghana Some 50 award-winning teachers of second-cycle schools in the Ga-South Municipality embarked on a guided tour of West Hills Mall as part of activities marking the 2017 Municipal Best Teacher Award celebrations. The teachers were drawn from various schools operating under the ambit of the Ga-South Municipal Education Directorate and the Municipal Assembly. The 50 were selected for recognition at this years Best Teacher Awards ceremony slated for October 5, at the Inglisi-Amanfrom Municipal School and the group visit to West Hills Mall was one of the activities lined up to commemorate the occasion. Before touring the shops, the group was briefed by mall officials about the layout and various sections of the mall and the variety of goods and services offered by the shops. West Hills Mall, Ghanas most exciting family shopping destination, boasts of a wide range of Ghanaian and international products and services offered by over 60 line shops, among which are the accomplished food and grocery giant Shoprite and domestic appliance and utility specialists, Palace the two main anchors of the mall. Most of the teachers were however fascinated by what they saw at Edgars, the malls biggest clothing and fashion outlet, where they spent nearly 30 minutes of their time window-shopping all the departments in the store. During interactions with the teachers, Frank Crofie, Store Manager at Edgars, announced the start of a new one-week-long Markdown Promo which offers up to 75% discount on most items on display. This promo is open to all, but Im happy that youre the first to hear about it. We hope that each one of you will try to take advantage of this opportunity and get what you need within this one week period, Mr. Crofie told the excited teachers. Indeed, majority of the teachers live within the Ga South municipality where West Hills Mall is located and quite a number of them said they have had shopping experiences at the mall. I live at Odorkor and West Hills has been my mall ever since it opened three years ago. I come here at least twice every month for my groceries and drinks, said Anita Gyefour, Headmistress of Kokrobite Municipal Senior High School who was with the group. Madam Cynthia Adoni, Human Resource Manager at the Municipal Education Directorate who led the teachers, expressed the Education Directorates gratitude to the management of the mall for making time to accommodate the group at a rather short notice. Mr. Kobby Ampong, Marketing Assistant who conducted the teachers around said mall management was working closely with the tenants (shops) to give customers and patrons of West Hills Mall the most exciting shopping experience in the run up to the 2017 yuletide season. Taking overnight bus is often something many travellers don't look forward to due to the risks involved. The driver may overspeed in order to cover more kilometres, the bus may break down in the middle of nowhere and of course, there is little or no security. Hence, travellers either prefer to fly or take a day bus. Regardless, there are situations whereby you have no choice than to take a night bus. Will you abandon your journey at this point? No, you have to travel no matter how terrified you are. Do not worry, Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency, has got your back as we share tips for taking and surviving overnight bus trip. Take a reliable transporter You will find uncountable buses ferrying people to different destinations at terminals in Lagos. Do not just jump on anyone because of the enticing or giveaway price. Go to the main park to get a bus. Also, endeavour to book a bus in good condition so that you do not experience frequent bus breakdowns. If you do not want to go through this, you can call your friend to recommend good night buses before going to the bus station. Arrive early Travelling in the night does not mean you should arrive late at the park. If you do, you may not find any night bus. By 5pm, all the seats may have been sold out and by latest 6pm, they are off. So, arrive early. Do not keep money and valuables in one place No bus will stop for you to use ATM in case you need cash. Therefore, you should carry enough cash on you. This said, do not keep your money and other valuables in one place. Endeavour to distribute them into different places so that you will not be stranded in the event of theft. Be careful what you eat and drink Any food that will prompt you to use the restroom must be avoided. At the same time, do not drink too much water. The driver may just ignore your pleas to stop for you to ease yourself. Dress for the cold You might be sweating by the time you arrive at the bus station, but its amazing what a few hours of air-conditioning can do for your body temperature. Keep a warm jumper handy and consider taking a big scarf as well. You do not know when you may need it. Bring power bank and headphones Your headphones will come in handy when you are not talking to your seatmate. You can listen to your favourite song. As for the power bank, you can use it when your phone battery is low. The Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has said Ghanas digital addressing system which is expected to begin in two weeks time, will cost the country about $2.5 million. He noted that the system, which will be one of the most advanced in the world when rolled out, currently has 16.1 billion unique addresses. The addressing system, he said, is part of the institutional reforms by the government aimed at easing business registration and other accountability and management purposes. It is more advanced than the United States or the United Kingdom or Germany because they are stuck to old technology, and we are leapfrogging. We are going to a new technology; we are going to GPS-based technology, Dr. Bawumia said. The Vice President made the statement in a lecture dubbed 'Developing Stronger Economies for the African Continent: the Missing Link' at the 3rd Advancement Lecture Series 2017, organised by the Institutional Advancement Office of the University of Cape Coast on Wednesday. He explained that, the new digital addressing system, has unique postcodes for every location in Ghana, saying, We have been able to put together 16.1 billion addresses: every five by five metres square apart in Ghana has a unique address. What is even more exciting about this new addressing system is that, it was actually designed by Ghanaians in Dansoman. Our men and women are amazing, and they beat the international competition because we were wondering if our people can deliver it, he added. The digital addressing system is among a range of technological reforms by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government, aimed at ensuring efficiency on the delivery of services. Other similar projects include the roll-out of the National ID card as well as the paperless system adopted at the countrys ports. By: Joseph Ackon-Mensah/citifmonline.com/Ghana Former President John Dramani Mahama is leaving Accra today for Monrovia to lead the Observer Mission of ECOWAS to the October 10, 2017 Liberian general elections. As former Chair of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, President Mahama has been celebrated for his commitment to ensuring the stability of the sub-region and the continent generally. His tenure as Chair saw the quick handling of various sub-regional crisis including the Burkinabe Political turmoil, the election dispute in Togo and the outbreak of Ebola in three West African countries including Liberia. Since leaving Office in January, President Mahama has been helping to entrench democracy and stability in Africa. He has also been working with the African Development Bank to help improve agriculture. Joyce Bawah MOGTARI Special Aide Thursday October 05, 2017 President Akufo-Addo has given assurances that he will not amass the country's resources and wealth for his personal use, but use them judiciously for the country's development. He said, we [government] are going to ensure that all the money that is mobilized by the government is spent in dealing with the issues that concern our people and that they do not find their way into my pocket or the pocket of my ministers. We are not going to allow that to happen again. Akufo-Addo made the comment at a grand durbar of chiefs of the Upper East Region at Bolgatanga on Wednesday, 4th October, as he began his 2-day tour of the region. In addressing the concerns of the chiefs of the Upper East Region on the deplorable nature of their roads, President Akufo-Addo noted that, everywhere I go, the first thing people ask me is about their roads. So this unprecedented infrastructural development trumpeted by my opponent in the last election could not have been about roads, it must have been something else. You yourself, have pointed out how very poor your network is. We are going to work on it, he assured. He stressed that the government was seriously considering plans of improving the country's railway network. He described as the saddest and most egregious decisions to allow the railway network inherited from colonial times to get into disuse. It is absolutely essential for the rapid development of our country that we connect our country by railway, and we are going to do it. Very, very soon, the Minister for Railways is going to roll-out, before the country, the exact plan that we have to redevelop our railway infrastructure. You can be sure that you the people of the Upper East Region, will be right in the centre of those considerations for railway development, Akufo-Addo said. He also reiterated his commitment to ensuring universal access to electricity to all parts of the country, and with the Upper East being the part of the country with the least access to electricity, 60% access, the President stated that it is necessary that every effort is made to accelerate the provision of electricity to the Upper East. So this year, 2017, and 2018, a total of 660 communities in the Upper East will be connected to the electricity grid, to expand electricity access to all in the region, he added, receiving a rousing applause from the gathering. On the request made by the Chiefs for the revamping of the Pwalugu Tomato Factory and the Zuarungu Meat Factory, President Akufo-Addo assured that these two factories are receiving urgent attention from the Trades and Industry Minister, Alan Kyerematen. Akufo-Addo further appealed to the locals to support the government's programs to help transform the country. I need the support of all of you, whether you voted for me or did not, whether you have supported my party or have not supported my party. In the period of my mandate, I will need your support so that together we can rebuild Ghana and let the Black Star shine and shine again, he said. By: citifmonline.com/Ghana It came to us as a big shock that the number one gentleman of this land H.E Nana Addo Akuffo Addo during his working visit to the region on October 3, 2017, lied in open camera to the chiefs and people of Jambusi and the whole world that funding for the water project was secured in 2008 by Prez Kuffour and that he (H.E Nana Addo) was happy to commission it. The president is someone who has full access to every information in this country and cannot pretend not to have known the facts surrounding the Jambusi Water Project in the Upper West Region. It worth to note that funding for this life saving project for the people of Wa west district and Wa municipality was sourced by the previous NDC government under H.E John Dramani Mahama contrary to the lie H.E Nana Addo told that funding was secured by Prez Kuffour. The funding was through a loan facility between Ghana government and the Exim Bank of Korea in 2012 and we wish to remind the president that it was H.E John Dramani Mahama who was the president then and not Prez Kuffour. The then finance minister, Dr Kwabena Duffour presented the loan agreement to parliament on behalf of government. The parliament of Ghana passed a resolution for this facility on October 31, 2012. So the question is , how can the president say it was Prez Kuffour who secured this facility in 2008. The least H.E Nana Addo could have done was to cross check from the current majority leader Hon. Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu who was then the minority leader when the resolution for this facility was passed by parliament. .we now see a conspiracy among the people who live in Wa or close to Wa seriously affirming support for this project (Osei Kyei, 2012) on the floor of parliament during debate on the loan agreement for the water project. We also want to put on record that in 2007 the Hon MP for Wa Central Dr Abdul Rashid Pelpuo put a question to the then Water Resources, Works & Housing minister (Hon Hackman Owusu Agyemang) in parliament as to when Wa was going to benefit from a water project in order to stop the perennial acute water shortage in the municipality. It was shocking when the minister responded that Wa could only have access to such facility in 20 years time because the population in Wa then was very low to qualify for a whole water project. This response reflected the NPP tradition of marginalising the people of the upper west region. Such inhumane mind set of the NPP made them not to do anything significant for our people when they were in power. We therefore see this ill-informed behaviour of H. E. Nana Addo as a calculated attempt by the struggling NPP to steal projects executed by the previous NDC government in order to score cheap political points and we think its hurting our integrity as a country since the government of Korea won't be happy with such attempt by the president to rewrite facts of the loan agreement. As a first gentleman of our beloved country we feared what happened to Hon Adjoa Sarfo when she lied that she built the CDSHS in her constituency when infact the school was built by the ndc government under JDM, would happen to the president if he continued lying with funding for and projects initiated and or excuted by his predecessor. We wish to remind the Ghanaian people that was time we started to conduct a social audit on this Nana-Bawumia government and the NPP party who lied their way into power and are now being exposed as a result of their dishonest and deceitful governance. Not long ago the president attempted to change the history of this noble country to favour his family after he deceitfully claimed it was his government that was establishing a pineapple factory in Otuam in the Central Region which his predecessor H.E John Dramani Mahama cut sod for its commencement, in a bid to claim glory for his government's failure to implement the so called onedistrict-one-factory ambitious projects. We respectfully ask the president to deal with the the many cases of corruption in his government including the FSH.eg the $2.25m ken bond scandal, BOST fuel scandal, the Samuel Jinapor & Asenso vs A-Plus corruption saga at korle Bu . We are worried about Nana Addo's failing promise to fight corruption. We also call on him to deal with the insecurity in this country even though he inherited a secured and peaceful country from H.E John Dramani Mahama , the daily fuel price increases, the rising number of dismissal of public sector workers, the non payment of teachers' salaries and arrears and so on. Lastly, we are asking the president to desist from his deliberate efforts to rewrite the political history of this country to satisfy his ego and glorify his ancestors. We also advise him to learn from the humility of his predecessor H.E John Dramani Mahama who in building a United Ghana acknowledged the efforts of former Presidents : Rawlings, Kuffour and Atta Mills on the job 600 project for the members of parliament of Ghana. We pray the president to wake up on his job as the commander in chief of this country and stop the popularist politics he is trying to do with projects of the previous NDC government . .........signed........ *Cornelius Naasoa Wuobar* Goma (DR Congo) (AFP) - Ten fighters were killed Thursday when the army launched a pre-dawn attack on a militia in the restive eastern region of Democratic Republic of Congo, a military spokesman said. The assault targeted a group called the Mai-Mai Mazembe, which had taken up position in Kapanga, a locality in the Lubero district on the border with Uganda, the official said. "They have been dislodged. We found 10 corpses," Lieutenant Jules Tshikudi, a spokesman for the army in North Kivu province, told AFP. "Two solders were also injured in the fighting. Everything is under control in the area and we are conducting sweeping-up operations." Lubero is located about 300 kilometres (200 miles) north of North Kivu's capital Goma. Rich in minerals, eastern DR Congo has been unstable for more than two decades, gripped by fighting among several dozen local and foreign armed groups, many of which are accused of rape, killings and abductions of civilians. The Mai-Mai are self-described "self-defence" groups who were armed during the Second Congo War (1998-2003) by the authorities in the distant capital Kinshasa to help combat invading Ugandans and Rwandans. Many of the militiamen kept their weapons after the war. Fighting between their groups and the Congolese army has intensified since the beginning of the year, both in North Kivu and neighbouring South Kivu province. Senior Minister, Yaw Osafo Maafo, has called for a paradigm shift in Africa's trading pattern with the rest of the world. According to the Minister, it has become imperative for African nations to stop offering raw materials on the international front but undertake comprehensive processing of their tapped natural resources. I think it's the efficient use of resources we must all pay attention to, the Senior Minister said at a roundtable discussion organized by the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) on Tuesday in Accra. The discussions, led by Professor Peter Lewis of the John Hopkins University, School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) in the USA, was held under the theme: Democracy and Development: Trends and Paths. According to Mr Osafo Maafo, Africa cannot control its development if we continue to use raw materials as the basis of development. Most African economies in the post-independence era have remained colonial in outlook, mainly producing raw materials to feed industries in the western world. The end result has been little earnings from their trading activities with the outside world, as the lack of value-additions to their commodities does not allow for higher income generations on the global market. There have been series of calls over the years by some African leaders for nations on the continent to ensure value addition for their tapped resources, but ironically it has been more of talk than action, as the continent continues to lose out hugely from international trade due to the non-processing of its trading products. Mr. Osafo Maafo reiterated that owing to the development, Ghana and Cote d' Ivoire for instance, continue to lose out on the $100 billion world cocoa industry, even though the two countries are the largest producers of cocoa globally, with both supplying 60 percent of cocoa on the international market. According to him, domestic processing of commodities like cocoa needs to be taken seriously and a culture of consuming what is produced locally should be promoted across board. He could not fathom why Ghana and Cote d' Ivoire earned $2 billion and $3.7 billion respectively from cocoa trade on the world market in 2015 when the total amount earned that year from global cocoa sale was $100 billion. About the event The event sought to provoke discussions on the democratic and development path of African countries and the interlock between them. Prof. Lewis, in his presentation, focused on the period when African nations gained independence, through to the political and economic liberalization phases in the 1990s to date. By Melvin Tarlue Vodafone Business Solutions, in partnership with the China Europe International Business School (CEIBS), is to help SMEs in Ghana through a capacity building programme dubbed 'The master class.' The initiative is supposed to reward some Vodafone customers to gain certain vital skills to help grow their businesses. The first edition, which saw a total of 50 students, began on 30th September, 2017. Prof. Matthew Tsamenyi, Executive Director of CEIBS, lauded the initiative. He stated that the programme would immensely help the participants understand the business world and serve as an accelerator for their business growth. This class would serve as an incubator and accelerator programme to help the participants gain more market and grant them some financial wherewithal, he said. The major cause of unemployment in this country is not the lack of jobs, but primarily the issue of putting round pegs in square holes. He stated that there was no strong partnership between academia and business organizations. There are so many issues of unemployment, but there are also vacancies in the business organizations because employers are complaining the graduates we produce dont have the skills set, he added. He described the partnership as a step in the right direction to rectify the issue and noted that such partnerships between academia and business organizations would go a long way to reduce unemployment and increase productivity. Angela Mensah-Poku, Director, Vodafone Business Solutions, said her outfit would use the initiative to give back to its customers and also help keep the multinationals alive. She said her outfit helped to grow SMEs in September, which is the SME month for Vodafone Ghana. We tried to help SMEs all over grow their businesses. We were interested in letting them know how to use digital ways and technology to make their businesses better, she stated. She wished all the participants the best in their endeavors and told them that they have a great future ahead after the CEIBS programme. I pray you will be the next generation of Ghanaian multinationals, she said. By Akpene Darko-Cobbina & Melvin Tarlue A 25-year-old unemployed man, Venyo Yovo, has been arrested by the Juaso police in the Ashanti Region after he reportedly attempted to strangle an eight-year-old girl. Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Andrew Anyani, the Asante-Akim South Municipal Commander, confirmed this to the Ghana News Agency (GNA). The little girl had been asked by her elder sister to run an errand for her and was returning to the house when Yovo grabbed and dragged her into a nearby bush. There, he allegedly attempted to strangle her and the shrill cry of the victim attracted the attention of a woman, who rushed to her aid. Yovo, on seeing the woman, let go the girl and fled deeper into the bush but she raised an alarm and after intensive search, he was captured and handed over to the police. DSP Anyani said Yovo had already been put before the Konongo magistrate court to be remanded into police custody to allow for further investigation. He would return to court on October 16, DSP Anyani added. GNA The discovery of oil and gas in commercial quantities in the Western Region has ignited the need to train the youth in the necessary skills to enable them secure jobs and take up challenging roles in the industry. The Ministry of Energy in collaboration with the World Bank is therefore assisting the Takoradi Technical Institute (TTI) and five other institutions in the country to help train the youth for the oil and gas sector. Consequently, a centre to help train more qualified welders to meet industry standards particularly in the oil and gas sector, has been inaugurated at the Takoradi Technical Institute (TTI). TTI through the oil and gas capacity building project received a set of equipment to be installed for practical training. At the commissioning of the newly built Yinson Welding Training Centre, the Principal of Takoradi Technical Institute, Jonathan Tawiah stressed the need to give preferential treatment to technical institutions. He mentioned that the obligations of technical institutions had a bearing on the economic transformation of the country by churning out the relevant manpower for industries, adding that's why technical institutions must be given the needed attention and resources in order to execute their mandates. He pointed out that in spite of the numerous challenges facing the school, it could boast of two state of the art workshops, five laboratories and a well-controlled stimulator. Mr Lars Eck, Yinson, Country Director, Yinson Group, indicated that the company was committed to developing local capacities in the industry as a corporate social investment strategy. He pointed out In Ghana, Yinson Production operates the FPSO John Agyekum Kufour which employs many Ghanaians as part of the workforce. He continued The Yinson group, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ghana Education Service, the Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training in 2016 in that regard. Hon Joseph Cudjoe, Deputy Minister for Energy and the Member of Parliament for the area also stressed the need for the country to properly manage the key natural resource. He revealed that government would ensure that the appropriate policies and regulations were put in place to ensure the success of the industry. Dr Fred Kyei Asamoah, the Executive Director of COTVET, said the development of the National TVET qualification framework was to ensure that technical institutions produced qualified and certified personnel in line with industry standards. This will also serve as a measure to bridge the missing gap and enhance the employment regime, he added. Ms Heather Cameron, the Canadian High Commissioner to Ghana remarked this is a new future for Ghana's youth to better their lives through training. Nana Kobina Nketsia V, Omanhene of Essikado Traditional Area, who chaired the function called for continuous monitoring of industry players to ensure that they kept to their task. He called on the youth to study to enable them take advantage of the booming oil and gas sector in the country. From Emmanuel Opoku, Takoradi Earlier in the year, the Miss Ghana Organisation disclosed that one of its main aims is to affect lives positively via various social intervention projects. It is with that background Selina Osei Ford, a 22- year-old final year student of Ghana Technology University College studying accounting, wants to help mitigate the growing number of homeless kids on the street. Beauty queens in the past fought the cause, but there are still numbers of children on street trying to survive on their own. But Selina is sure of making a huge impact on the lives these kids if she is crowned Miss Ghana 2017. If given the opportunity to be Miss Ghana 2017, I will use the platform to educate people on the importance of keeping proper sanitation and also work with the Miss Ghana Foundation to help fight streetism, aged, health, education and other social issues, she said. Selina is representing the Central Region of Ghana at the 2017 Miss Ghana pageant which comes off this weekend on October 7 at the Banquet Hall in Accra. She described herself as someone who likes watching TV, listening to music and reading. I am God-fearing, respectful and humble. As a person, I believe that we are all unique in our own way and for that we should be bold to face out fears and challenge ourselves out of our comfort zone. My ambition is to be self-reliant, independent and a voice for women and children and also become an entrepreneur to create jobs for others and myself, she added. A 51-year-old woman, Arahamatu Zulkallia, whose daughter Sakina Mustapha is facing trial at a Sunyani Circuit Court for allegedly attempting to smuggle supposed heroine into the Sunyani Medium Prison, has also been arrested by the Berekum Police with dried leaves suspected to Indian hemp. The young woman was granted bail by the Sunyani High Court on 7th September, 2017 but ironically her mother, Arahamatu was also arraigned before a Berekum Circuit Court on the same day on the provisional charge of possessing narcotic drugs without lawful authority. The 51-year-old woman was granted bail to reappear on 27th October, 2017 while the daughter is also to reappear at later date before the Sunyani High Court. Briefing DAILY GUIDE about the arrest of Arahamatu Zulkallia, the Brong Ahafo Regional Crime Officer of the Ghana Police Service, Superintendent Nana Kwaku-Duah, said a police patrol team at Berekum received information that the woman was selling drugs in her house at Amangoasey, a suburb of the Berekum. The police patrol team, on 6th September, 2017, proceeded to the said house but upon seeing the police van, she took to her heels but was given a hot chase and arrested. When the house was searched, dried leaves concealed in four 'Ghana Must Go Bags' and a mini fertilizer sack, were found in hole in the goats' pen. According to police, the dried leaves were covered with black polythene and sawdust. This, according to the police, would have been difficult to detect without critical information. She was arrested and subsequently arraigned before court the following day on provisional charge of possessing narcotic drugs without lawful authority. The judge, Osei Kofi Amoako, after listening to the arguments of her lawyer, granted the accused bail on ill health grounds to reappear on 27th October, 2017. The suspected dried leaves have since been sent to the Police Forensic Unit in Accra for examination. From Daniel Y Dayee, Berekum The police have apprehended a 34-year-old former Community Policing Assistant (CPA) for posing as an officer of the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) of the Ghana Police Service to extort money from unsuspecting drivers. Daniel Boateng was arrest at National Theater area by the Accra Regional Police Command for extorting money from his victims on Tuesday morning upon a tip-off. Suspect, who has operated for the past seven years, is still in police custody. Confirming the story to DAILY GUIDE, ASP Efia Tenge, the Accra Regional Police Public Relations Officer (PRO), said suspect was recruited as a Community Policing Assistant in 2007 during the previous Kufuor administration at Oda. After the expiration of their module, all the CPAs were laid off. According to suspect, he tried several times to get enlisted into the Ghana Police Service but to no avail. Boateng, who has little knowledge about policing, acquired a set of police uniform and used it to extort monies from the public. Police intelligence indicates that the suspect had operated at Ofankor, Odorkor, Mile 7 and National Theater area. Police uniforms used by suspect have been retrieved by investigators handling the case while investigations into the matter continue. By Linda Tenyah-Ayettey ([email protected]) European Union (EU) Ambassador to Ghana, William Hanna, paid a day's working visit to the Western Region to inspect the progress made on the EU funded 96-kilometer Bogoso Junction-Ayamfuri road in the Prestea Huni-Valley District. The European Union Ambassador, accompanied by his wife Paola Fornari Hanna and EU Infrastructure Programme Manager, Jan Van Der Pkeg, paid a courtesy call on the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Tarkwa Nsuaem, Gilbert Ken Asmah. The MCE complained about the lack of drains at some portions of the road which would facilitate erosion. He also mentioned the lack of road signs and markings especially on climbing lanes to serve as warning to heavy-duty trucks. He, however, commended the EU delegation for the support and promised to offer them support in all endeavours. The EU Ambassador and his team later visited Bogoso where they called on the District Chief Executive for Prestea-Huni Valley District, Mozart Owuh. William Hanna explained that his visit was to enable his outfit identify some of the emerging challenges after the interim handing over of the road project about a year ago. We are here to inspect the project and take notice of all the problem so that we will profess remedy to them as required in the contract agreement, after which the official and technical handing over will be done, he added. He admitted that the Western Region contributes largely to Ghanas socio-economic growth and therefore needed more roads, especially feeder roads, so as to enable farmers get easy access to their farms and also transport their produce to the markets. The EU Ambassador hinted that EU has a policy of working with local authorities to help reduce poverty in partner countries such as Ghana. The Prestea-Bogoso DCE, Mozart Owuh, also mentioned the lack of branch or trunk roads as some of the challenges encountered after the interim handing over was done. He also cited wrong spelling of the names of some towns and villages on signposts. We have a number projects that will be incorporated in the One District, One Factory policy of the current government to create more jobs for the teeming youth, he said. This policy constitutes the basis for a grant contract between the EU and the Western Region, he added. The grant, he explained, had facilitated the collaborative engagement with relevant stakeholders in the field of agriculture, adding that we believe that the Planting for Food and Jobs programme will not be left out either in the policy framework as development partners. From Emmanuel Opoku, Takoradi 05.10.2017 LISTEN They are called Fall Armyworms because they mainly emerge and destroy crops in Northern and Southern America during the fall season. And when they attack crop fields, they march along the ground like a vast army of worms in search of more food. From an initial figure of 1,400 hectares of affected farmlands as at May this year, more than 112,000 hectares of farm fields have been invaded by the Fall Armyworm pests. In this second and concluding part of the Hotline Documentary christened, RAMPAGING SOLDIERS, we move the discussion forward from the vast devastation being caused by the pests and focus on possible options for effective combat in future. Two major concerns have dominated discussions since the outbreak of the Fall Armyworm pest. First, farmers complaining that the chemicals promised by government are not reaching them. And secondly, concerns that the chemicals being used by government under the free mass spraying exercise are failing farmers. Assin South District Chief Executive Derrick Owusu Ambrose The latter concern was first raised by the Assin South District Chief Executive Derrick Owusu Ambrose who heads a local taskforce leading the fight against the pests. He said: government has supplied chemicals. But it seems the rate at which the infestation is going, it is getting out of our hands. I dont know if there has been some sort of resistance to the chemicals we have been using. We have been spraying but these same farms, you see re-infestation. Farmers resort to crude methods Charles Nyaaba who is Programmes Officer of the Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana says its a widespread problem that is forcing farmers to rely on crude methods to deal with the pests. When I spoke to farmers in Tumu, they said they use omo and other detergents, put pepper inside and use to spray And according to them, this is more effective than the chemicals they receive, he said. But Dr. Irene Egyir of the School of Agriculture at the University of Ghana is cautioning against the practice. She notes that whiles these concoctions may yield short-term good results, the medium to long-term implications could be disastrous for humans. Dr. Egyir notes that unlike pesticides which have been tried and tested and there is evidence to show they will break down to less harmful substances upon consumption, same cannot be said for the detergents being used on the food crops. We dont know the residue levels of this concoctions, she said, hinting further, it may have health implications. Dr. Michael Osei Adu has been offering some suggestions on why the chemicals are failing the farmers. To be able to control them, three things are critical. How they move, how they breathe, how the feed. They quickly develop resistance to chemicals. So if you think this is working and you keep applying, within a short time they evolve and develop resistance to it, he explained. Is elimination of pests possible? Experts say the damage this year is extensive because the pesticides applied last year could not kill the Fall Armyworms completely. Agric Minister Dr. Akoto Owusu Afriyie is promising an end to the invasion this time around with the chemicals that have been imported. He told a media briefing: The experience we gained from last year was that the armyworm is very sensitive to the chemicals we applied and we are confident that once we have an adequate application, we will be able to eliminate the danger. Dr. Michael Osei Adu, Crop Scientist But Crop Scientist at the University of Cape Coast Dr. Michael Osei Adu says that is not realistic. From where I sit, I think elimination will be quiet difficult. They have these strategies and characteristics that makes it difficult to eliminate them. Its very difficult if not impossible to get them out. They love the tropical, sub-tropical environments and so they are here to stay, he said. Panic response When the outbreak was first reported, government announced the release of 16 million cedis for the purchase of chemicals for distribution to farmers. Government also set up a 16 member task force to help tackle the problem. But Dr. Michael Adu is not impressed. He describes governments effort at managing the problem as a panicky reaction. This one, it seems to me it was more of a panic response. So, we have not taken the three things I pointed out earlier into consideration. Did we actually think of how they move, how they breathe and how they feed before fashioning out the policy? Because if we are just giving out chemicals for spraying, have there been training? Dr. Adu quizzed. So the policy in itself, I wont fault it but I think its been a panic response, its been adhoc and there hasnt been adequate planning. And if we are not careful, the pests in Ghana, they are going to be resistant and they are going evolve, he warned. Food security under threat A recent report commissioned by the UK government and undertaken by the Center for Agric and Biosciences International CABI estimates Ghana may lose up to $163 million in 2017 as a result of the invasion. Across Africa, the loss will be 13 billion US dollars and will cause a 9 percent reduction in the continents GDP. Programmes Manager of the Peasant Farmers Association Charles Nyaaba fears the countrys food security is seriously threatened as a result of the pests because some farmers are refusing to plant this year. Many farmers who prepared their lands to plant, because of what happened to their colleagues, they stopped, he said. Member of Parliaments Food and Agriculture Committee Eric Osei Owusu is equally worried about the possible impact of the situation on the countrys food security. It is a very serious challenge for our farmers. And that is the reason why government should be proactive in fighting it. Its a serious threat to our food security, and especially with this planting for food and jobs, it has to be tackled head-on or else it will bring down this whole policy, he said. The National Buffer Stock Company is the foremost institution tasked with helping the country deal with food insecurity. They are supposed to stockpile food during the major seasons and release them onto the market during scarcity. Its Chief Executive Abdul Wahab Hanan admits the countrys food security will be hit badly by the Fall Armyworm pests. Its a threat to food security What we have lost is over 70,000 bags of maize. Its not the best but we are doing everything possible to curb the situation, he assured. To avert such threat in future, Dr. Ernest Teye of the University of Cape Coasts School of Agriculture is asking government to prioritise the Buffer Stock project. The armyworm that is coming up now, if we had advanced in our drying and dried enough and stored, we can at least be able to fight them head on and still have food in storage. But if we want to continue planting and eating, we are going to have a problem. Lets have a lot more dried food. Easy to plant transport, easy to store, he explained. Dr. Ernest Teye of the University of Cape Coast But Deputy Agric Minister Dr. Sagre Bambagni says the invasion is under control and the countrys food security is not at risk. The amount that has been destroyed is just about 6 percent of farm fields. We do not expect it to go up to 10 percent. We know that individual farmers might be affected but overall food security, we may even have net gain in terms of increase in food production, he explained. Various stakeholders are however not convinced. For most of our members from Ejura, Donkorkrom, Techiman, Kintampo, Garu, Zabzugu, Tumu, and elsewhere, the situation keeps increasing. I dont have any figures but from what I have from members, I have reason to believe that the problem has gone out of control, Charles Nyaaba of the Peasant Farmers Association said. The Ghana Agric Workers Union GAWU is not convinced either. The fact that we are unable to control it. Edward Karuweh who is Deputy General Secretary of GAWU told Joy Business. Member of Parliament for Mion Constituency Mohammed Abdul Aziz who recently summoned the Agric Minister to parliament over the armyworm issue is worried hundreds of farmers are struggling to pay back their debt as a result of the situation. In my constituency, some 600-700 hectares of farmlands have been affected. These peasant farmers go for credit to do an acre or two only for this Fall Armyworm to affect their farm, ravage their farm How will they pay the loans? he quizzed. How did the Fall Armyworms get here? The first incidence of the pest was recorded in Africa last year and has since spread like wild fire to more than 20 African countries including Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Kenya, among others. Dr. Michael Osei Adu wonders why officials at the countrys entry points could not work effectively to stop it. These pests have been classified according to the dangers they pose and Europe is able to intercept products that they believe have potential danger to their agriculture. What is the status quo at the port now in Ghana? Is it just you declaring what you are bringing in and somebody visually inspection them? If that is the case, then that is not good enough, he noted. So we need to have the tools. If we even need to have some quick diagnostic materials and the training to be able to quickly check these things that will be fine. Currently, the visual inspection is not good enough, Dr. Adu added. Dr. Audrey Vanderpuye of the School of Agriculture at the University of Cape Coast is asking government to better resource various agencies at the agric ministry to help avert such destruction in future. The Plant Protection and Regulatory Services Directorate (PPRSD) which is supposed to be the national plant protection organisation in this country must be resourced to do its work properly. Because the materials came through a consignment of goods. If they were well resourced, they would have determined at the port before bringing it in. They will probably have contained it at the port, she said in an interview with Joy news. So the PPRSD must be well resourced to do its work. There should be a surveillance team in the country and all they have to do is regularly monitor pests, relate them to the conditions of the environment so they can forecast whether there are likely to be outbreaks or not so farmers can put plans in place to manage them, Dr. Vanderpuye added. Environmental and climatic analyses of Africa show that the Fall Army Worms are likely to build permanent and significant populations in West, Central and Southern Africa, and spread to other regions when weather or temperatures are favourable. So how do we deal with them going forward? Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) officials have been offering some suggestions, cautioning government against over reliance on pesticides. Director of Flour Production and Protection Division at FAO in Rome, Hans Dreyer told Joy news in an interview: The main thing is to try to enhance biological control. The key recommendation is not to intervene too early with chemical products. Because if you intervene quickly with chemicals, you kill their natural enemies. What should be done differently? President of the Chamber of Agribusiness Executives Anthony Morrison says government needs to provide adequate support to extension agents if it is serious about dealing with the problem. Government must provide logistics to the extension offices. Because without them, farmers may not have the necessary logistics to stop the spread, he said. In Southern American countries, they have resorted to the use of Genetically Engineered crops to deal with the Fall Armyworm, a move Dr. Michael Adu believes Ghana can consider. Yes, I believe Genetic Engineering is something we need to exploit. Using Bt crops is one that we can exploit. But also using biopesticides. Some of them are produced from the Bt products where it becomes toxic to the pests. As a country, if we are serious about our food security, we cannot forever run away from genetic engineering. It holds potentials for us to exploit, he said. One thing is certain; the Fall Army Worms are here to stay. We can only hope agricultural officials on the continent will get on top of the situation before it gets any worse. Below is the link to the second part of the documentary: Story by Ghana| Myjoyonline | Joseph Opoku Gakpo | Joy News The attention of Patriarchal Princesses International (Sugardemministries) has been drawn to a benevolent gesture by the First Lady of the Republic of Ghana, Her Excellency Rebecca Akufo Addo. Her Excellency Rebecca Akuffo Addo recently rescued two girls trafficked into Ghana to practice prostitution. The girls aged 17 and 23 who have been practising prostitution since November, 2016 are currently under the care of Her Excellency. As an Organization that seek to uphold moral values prominently important in the society, we strongly believe this godly gesture by the First Lady highly deserves a standing ovation. The rescue by Her Excellency Rebecca Akufo Addo comes at a time when child sexual exploitation is a scourge on modern society and only few people seem to listen. Her restoration comes at a point when millions of children are trapped in child prostitution with no hope for freedom. Her Excellency Rebecca Akufo Addo has indeed fulfilled Gods word in Isaiah 58:7 which says, Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? We would like to use this opportunity to plead with young girls to be very vigilant especially on social media since that is one of the main channels evil minded persons use to trap innocent girls to perpetuate misconduct. While technology is now totally necessary given the way the world now works, in ways, it has stripped a section of the youth from their true personalities. LONG LIVE GHANA, LONG LIVE THE FIRST LADY, LONG LIVE PPI. SPOKESPERSONS Victoria Dede Nyarko- 0245142846 Nana Akua Asantewaa Ocran- 0242659994 Nana Ama Asantewaa Kwarkoh- 0244933893 The Minister for Zongo and Inner City Development, Abubakar Saddique Boniface, has alleged that a 73 million euro loan secured by the Kufuor Administration for the improvement of communities like Old Fadama cannot be traced. The loan was procured in 2007 and handed over to the John Mills administration after 2009, but 10 years later, Alhaji Saddique says you cant trace it [the loan]. This place as I stand here today, over the last 10 years, should have been a changed place. In 2007, I signed a loan for 73 million euro to change this place and move the whole of this place to Adjen Kotoku, he said at a Town Hall meeting organized by Gh One Television for residents of Old Fadama in Accra Alhaji Saddique, who was then the Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing, said he had invited the leadership of the entire area to his office and also created a market for the Konkombas to start before we finish Adjin Kotoku, but they politicized it. Today, where are we; One step forward, five steps backward. Adjen Kotoku, on the outskirts of Accra in Ga West Municipal District, has long been earmarked for the relocation of the market, and it was secured under the Kufuor administration for their relocation. The issue of the relocation came up in April 2017, after clashes between Konkombas and Dagombas at the Agbogbloshie Yam Market. It is believed the relocation will ensure stability in the area. Alhaji Saddique also spoke on the Korle Lagoon Restoration Project initiated under the Kufuor administration, for which he had envisioned the Konkombas gaining employment because the project was taking place in their vicinity, and the very people who will enjoy the facility must be made to work. But unfortunately, for the project, nobody knows where it is. I was there last two weeks with the World Bank people and most of the items there have been stolen, he said. Alhaji Saddique reminded that, ultimately Ghana was going to suffer because any government which comes will pay for it [the loan]. Your children and children's children are those who are going to pay for it he said. By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana ACCRA, Ghana - October 05, 2017, -/African Media Agency (AMA)/- Primrose Properties Ghana Ltd. ("PPG") is pleased to announce that it has received a follow-on investment from the Atlantic Coast Regional Fund ("ACRF"), managed by Advanced Finance and Investment Group ("AFIG Funds"). The investment is being used to fund the development of a middle-income housing community ("Project") in Sakumono, Accra. Commenting on the transaction, Mr. Eric Appiah, Managing Partner of Black Star Advisors, the management company of PPG, said: "We are pleased for the renewed vote of confidence from our partners at AFIG Funds. This follow-on investment helps to fulfil a key strategic priority for PPG to expand access to quality and affordable housing in Ghana, while preparing for scale in this market segment. With Ghana's housing deficit estimated at nearly 2 million units, PPG's expansion into the affordable housing segment could not be more timely." Mr. Patrice Backer, Chief Investment Officer of AFIG Funds said: "The follow-on investment was accelerated by the solid performance of ACRF's initial investment in PPG's nearly completed Rhombus, a six-storey Grade A commercial office and ultra-modern residential project located in Kanda, Accra. The follow-on investment will help PPG consolidate its operations as well as improve corporate governance standards." The Project comprises the construction of over 160 modern apartments and townhouses, targeting Ghana's growing middle class, in partnership with the Ghana Cement Company, the leading manufacturer and supplier of cement in Ghana. Niamey (AFP) - Three US Green Berets and an unknown number of Nigerien soldiers were killed in a clash on the Niger-Mali border, where Islamic State fighters have established a presence, officials from said Thursday. A joint US-Niger patrol fell into an ambush on Wednesday in the Tillaberi region in the country's southwest, requiring French Mirage 2000 fighter jets to be called in for air support. Niger's President Mahamadou Issoufou said there were many casualties in the battle, and US Africa Command said two more Special Forces troops were wounded. Another person from an unnamed country was also killed, according to the Pentagon statement, which did not specifically mention Nigerien casualties. "Our country has just been attacked once more by terrorist groups, an assault which sadly has resulted in a large number of casualties," Issoufou said in the capital Niamey. A French military spokesman said French helicopters had evacuated wounded from the scene and added that the fighting was continuing. "The Nigerien operation is still ongoing, from what I know," said French Colonel Patrik Steiger. "It is in the area of the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara," he said, using the name of the jihadist group's regional franchise. The Pentagon said the clash took place approximately 200 kilometers (120 miles) north of Niamey. That puts the attack near the border with Mali, where armed jihadists are known to operate. The two wounded US soldiers were evacuated to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany where they are in "stable condition," US Africa Command said. The report confirmed the little-known presence of US troops in the turbulent area, part of the poor and politically fragile Sahel region where jihadist groups are mounting an insurgency. Africa Command said in a statement that US Forces are in Niger "to provide training and security assistance to the Nigerien Armed Forces, in their efforts to counter violent extremist organizations in the region." Steiger said French fighter jets were sent to the scene as a show of force, but did not drop any munitions to avoid hitting the forces on the ground. Under the name Operation Barkhane, France maintains a 4,000-man mission in the region to shore up fragile Sahel countries against jihadists who have carried out a wave of bloody bombings, shootings and kidnappings. Extremist rebels Western militaries have been actively supporting Niger forces in their effort to prevent jihadist groups in the Sahel from establishing a strong presence in the country. In February and March troops from the United States, Belgium, Australia and Canada, including US Special Forces, conducted a 17 day training operation with Nigerien troops focused on fighting extremist insurgents. Issoufou did not put a number on how many Nigerien casualties there were in the clash. He called for a minute's silence "to the memory of our soldiers who have fallen on the field of honour" and to the memory of "all victims of terrorism." "Women and children pay a heavy price for terrorism, directly as innocent victims and indirectly as mothers and spouses," Issoufou said. Abidjan, Cote dIvoire, 5 October 2017 - The African Development Bank (AfDB) has issued the first Light Up and Power Africa Bond for SEK 733 million (approximately JPY 10 billion) sold to the Dai-ichi Life Insurance Company, Limited, the sole investor in the transaction. The Light Up and Power Africa Bond supports AfDBs ambition to achieve an important goal of realizing Africas energy potential and bridging the continents energy deficit. Over 645 million Africans have no access to energy. The electricity access rate for African countries is just over 40 percent, the lowest in the world. This undermines efforts to lift Africans out of poverty. Access to energy is crucial for the attainment of health and education outcomes, reducing the cost of doing business, unlocking economic potential, and creating jobs. Over 90% of Africas primary schools lack electricity while 600,000 Africans die each year due to a lack of clean cooking energy. Insufficient energy access handicaps the operations of hospitals and emergency services; compromises educational attainment; and drives up the cost of doing business. Energy access for all is therefore one of the key drivers of inclusive growth as it creates opportunities for women, youth, and children in urban and rural areas. The aspirational goal of this priority area is to help the continent achieve universal electricity access by 2025 with a strong focus on encouraging clean and renewable energy solutions. This will require generating 160 GW of new capacity, 130 million new on-grid connections, 75 million new off-grid connections and providing 150 million households with access to clean cooking solutions. As part of this effort, Kenya's Last Mile Connectivity Program II", an energy project that provides access to electricity in Kenya, aims to provide electricity to 1.5 million people mainly from low-income groups and micro-enterprises that improve living standards and support economic growth. Hassatou NSele, Acting Vice President, Finance and Treasurer of the AfDB Group, says - Our mission is the sustainable development of Africa and our core priorities are the High 5s: Light Up and Power Africa; Feed Africa; Industrialize Africa; Integrate Africa and Improve the Quality of Life for the People of Africa. We would like to thank Dai-ichi Life for their interest and investment in Light up and Power Africa Bond. Their role in this transaction is helping towards our goal of attaining universal electricity access by 2025, with a strong focus on encouraging clean and renewable energy solutions. The AfDB will use its best efforts to direct an amount equal to the net proceeds of the issue of the Notes to lending projects within the strategic Light Up & Power Africa priority, subject to and in accordance with the AfDBs lending standards. The proceeds of the Notes will be included in the ordinary capital resources of the AfDB and will be used for the general operations of the Issuer in accordance with the Agreement Establishing the African Development Bank. The Bond was offered to Dai-ichi Life in a private placement format with Deutsche Bank AG as the sole arranger of the bond. Summary Terms of the Bond Issuer: The African Development Bank (AAA/AAA/Aaa) Notional Amount: SEK 733 million (approximately JPY 10 billion) Tenor: 10 years Settlement Date: 21 September 2017 Maturity Date: 21 September 2027 Sole Lead Manager: Deutsche Bank AG About AfDB The African Development Bank (AfDB) Group is the premier development finance institution in Africa with a mandate to spur sustainable economic development and social progress on the continent, thereby contributing to poverty reduction. The Bank Group achieves this objective by mobilizing and allocating resources for investment on the continent, and providing policy advice and technical assistance to support development efforts. The African Development Banks authorized capital of approximately US $100 billion is subscribed to by 80 member countries made up of 54 African countries and 26 non-African countries. The AfDB has Aaa ratings assigned by Moodys, AAA rating assigned by Standard & Poors, AAA from Fitch Ratings and AAA from Japan Credit Rating Agency. For more information, visit www.afdb.org/en/ About Dai-ichi Life Insurance Company Dai-ichi Life Insurance Company is the third-largest life insurer in Japan. Through its history of more than 110 years, Dai-ichi Life has faced a great number of changes in both the times and society. To practice their management philosophy of Customer First, which they have emphasized through all of the stages of their long history, they have been working to change what needs to be changed in response to changes, in addition to maintaining their tradition. The Group companies will contribute to comfortable lives with peace of mind and the Development of local communities in their respective regions and countries, providing life insurance and related services by sharing the Groups principles (Mission, Vision and Values). Dai-ichi Life will continue to fulfill its social responsibilities as a responsible institutional investor by actively engaging in ESG investments that include providing funds to businesses and companies that deal will social challenges, while they secure investment returns through sophistication and diversification of investment methods. About Deutsche Bank Group Deutsche Bank provides commercial and investment banking, retail banking, transaction banking and asset and wealth management products and services to corporations, governments, institutional investors, small and medium-sized businesses, and private individuals. Deutsche Bank is Germanys leading bank, with a strong position in Europe and a significant presence in the Americas and Asia Pacific. Deutsche Bank Group in Japan offers a wide range of financial products and services to its Japanese and global clients through four main entities; Deutsche Securities Inc. Deutsche Bank AG, Tokyo Branch, Deutsche Trust Company Limited Japan, and Deutsche Asset Management (Japan) Limited. Our products and services meet the increasingly diverse and complex needs of its clients, by taking full advantage of its global network and depth of expertise. These days, it is not uncommon to hear Ghanaians announce proudly that Ghana is a Middle-Income Country (MIC). I must admit that I do not know what it means to live in a so-called MIC. However, I recently read an article by a journalist with Public Agenda where she bemoaned the fact that since Ghana gained a Middle-Income Country (MIC) status, funding to the voluntary, non-governmental sector has reduced significantly. I believe that as a Middle-Income Country we are required to live by certain standards. However, I quickly remind myself that this title was imposed by some foreigners sitting comfortably in their leather-bound chairs at the World Bank headquarters in Washington. A Middle-Income Country must have some attributes. I believe that such a country must have a well behaved middle class. For countries in both the Lower and Upper Middle-Income categories, the main issues may be related to providing citizens with services such as water and electricity, curbing corruption, and improving governance. (Read more: http://www.investopedia.com/terms/m/middle-income-ountries.asp#ixzz4uLdVURJ4 ). On this basis, I am not sure why Ghana even gained a classified as a MIC. However, one cannot doubt the fact that one of the attributes of a MIC is a huge middle class seeking the comforts of life, while the poor mass up at the fringes picking up crumbs from the table of the well to do. Yes, the Ghanaian middle class has expanded exponentially recently, benefitting from the disastrous Economic Recovery Programme (ERP) implemented with gusto by Jerry Rawlings and Dr. Kwesi Botchway (PNDC). Ghana even gained the status of IMF baby. Ghana today is a place of unaffordable and expensive high-rise buildings, expensive restaurants, increase in the number of domestic flights, expensive private schools and a political system and a constitution to match. This political system is called multi-party democracy except that in our case, it is a two-party system underpinned by a lot of smaller parties whose existence raises more questions than answers. The Ghanaian middle class, or call them the political elite, thinks it is growing, but some would argue that is stunted. In the case of Kenya, Hon Willy Mutunga (former Chief Justice of Kenya) described the Kenyan middle class as stunted, self-absorbed and unable to build a just, equitable, peaceful and prosperous society that guarantees material resources to all its citizens. (Willy Mutunga, Pambazuka, Sep.28, 2017). The same could apply to Ghana. The Ghanaian middle class, which can be defined to civil society, the legal fraternity, the state and civil bureaucracy, media, intelligentsia and the Diaspora is doing all it can to maintain its place in society where affluence and wealth compete in equal measure with inequality and deprivation. As Willy Mutunga asked of the Kenyan elite, our own political elite need to grow up and cease their superficial dramas and look past their noses to see that their theatrics have far-wider reaching consequences that affect millions of lives. Sometime in the 1970s, a former Head of State and a senior military man called General Akwasi Afrifah wrote to the then Head of State, General Kutu Acheampong, warning him that the behaviour of the senior military officers, and the steady rise in corruption will get senior officers in the army killed. His advice to General Kutu Acheampong was not taken. In the end, his prediction came through. They were all executed after the June 4, 1979 uprising. Today, the political elite in Ghana is hopelessly divided into NPP (the centre right new Patriotic Party) and NDC (the social democratic party). Both groups seem to have forgotten that by their actions, they are subverting the most important pillars of the Constitution, that of accountability and transparency. Take the case of the Muntie 3 who were arrested, and tried by a competent court and prison sentences imposed. A section of the elite held vigils, demonstrations, and paid visits to Nsawam prisons and campaigned to have them released. The aftermath of these campaigns will leave a sour taste in the mouths of anybody who has the slightest respect for the independence of the Judiciary. This week, we have seen a similar case emerging. Someone who calls himself party communicator (for non-Ghanaians it means someone who is paid by his or her political party to call radio phone in programmes and say nice things about their party, while slagging off opponents). Someone with such a title said some unprintable things about Ghanas current President. Once again, a section of the middle class is defending his right to defame, insult and say very uncouth things about the sitting President. This is how divided the elite in Ghana has become. On an issue such as Ghanas success at the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) judgement in favour of Ghana, where one thought would galvanise and unite the people of this nation, it was not to be. Partisanship took over the victory as some sections of the elite instead of celebrating a national victory as they would celebrate the victory of the national team, Blck Stars, sought to engage in a childish game of ping pong as to whose decision it was to go for international arbitration. These divisions have created a dangerously polluted political atmosphere in which truth is sacrificed on the altar of deliberate falsehood manufactured by political goons, and party allegiance have taken over allegiance to the Republic. In this environment, no one is judged safe. Principles have been thrown to the wind. Talk to any ordinary Ghanaian and what you hear are regretful moans about the poverty, elite corruption, the number of expensive cars bought with state resources, political vigilantism and the rise of youth gangs. These are toxic for any country, and the elite who are beneficiaries of this conundrum should be worried. Policemen and women, politicians, traders, doctors, and indeed all citizens have their images trashed by people whose understanding of the issues is at best vague, but have been licensed by their parties to behave as if there are no laws. Recently in Tamale, a gang of youth apparently linked to the ruling party resorted to violent behaviours. When asked on air what could be done, a leading member of the regional security council could be heard begging the youth to calm down, promising them; we will find you jobs. Where are the jobs? Plus, is this the response to criminal behaviour? State institutions have lost respect, and institutions such as the Presidency are not respected. The media is no better. Political interests have found expression in the ownership of media institutions. Ghanas flagship media organisation the Ghana journalists Association (GJA) was almost torn to pieces as different factions of the GJA vied for the attention of the rich and famous in Ghanaian society. In such an atmosphere, the fourth estate has lost the credibility and the vim to write with conviction and defend matters of national interest. The phenomenal and exponential increase in the number of privately owned FM radio stations, proliferation of newspapers, and the new dangerous definition of the right to free speech has contributed immensely to the inability of the press to challenge declining moral values and standards on public life. The middle-class owners of these stations seem to think this a boost listenership and encourage advertisers. Recently, when the National Communications Authority (NCA) sanctioned 131 radio stations for violating aspects of the Electronics Communications Act 2009 (Act775) by enforcing the rules, it was read as an attack on so-called anti Government. Some even claimed it is a violation of free speech. This is a country when kayayei (female head porters) were taxed viciously by the Accra metropolitan council until the New Patriotic Party abolished it. Even tis simple act of charity was opposed by some members of the now in opposition New Democratic Congress (NDC). Where is their sense of compassion? The political parties have ceded communication roles to party communicators. This is accentuated by the inability of the major political parties to rein in their members, and call them to order when they result to abuse and cheap political innuendoes. The result? The elite has created a toxic atmosphere in which it is difficult to know who controls in the Republic. For example, attempts by the current government to close the gapping loopholes in public expenditure and create some semblance of accountability are being seen as an attack on a particular party. Everything points to one fact. That the Ghanaian elite is refusing the learn the lessons of history. They have learned nothing to forget nothing. Some of us have lived in the best of times (the Kwame Nkrumah CPP era) and the worst of times. No one wants to return to the era in which people live constantly in fear. This calls for the Ghanaian elite, who live in a Middle-Income Country, to live by the rules and ensure that Ghana does not implode. It is also the time for the elite to grow up and behave like responsible citizens. Responsible citizens do not loot national resources carelessly. If we continue along this path, no ne can predict the future, but lessons in our own history has a lot to teach us. History teaches that citizens tend to rebel when they are fed up with being take for a ride. We saw it on June 4, 1979 and on December 31, 1981. History also teaches that a caring and responsible middle class can avoid these events, or reduce their possibility of occurrence. Writing about the Kenyan cases, (Willy Mutunga) had this to say: Competition for political power has become an industry for the elite. Within the national strategic plans and visions lurk personal plans and visions of the elite on how profits will be made, resources raided, wasted, pillaged, and grabbed, so billions are generated so they can buy the next election (Pambazuka, Sep.28, 2017). The million Cedi (Ghanaian currency) question is will the Ghanaian elite ever learn from the lessons that history offers us with the existing status quo? Zaya Yeebo is the Managing Editor of Public Agenda newspaper, and a writer on African and Ghanaian Affiars. 05.10.2017 LISTEN The IT Manager of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), David King Boison, has in a rejoinder denied playing any role in the award of procurement and usage of information technology (IT)-related projects of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), from 2014 to the early part of 2017. He has thus denied the report by the Daily Graphic which was published by citifmonline.com, on September 22, 2017, suggesting that the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), has begun investigations into the matter, following the interdiction of David Boison, who is said to have been implicated in an investigative report conducted by the authority from April to August 2017. According to him, he's unaware of an investigation by any state institution, because he has not committed any crime to warrant that probe. He however said he will readily avail himself to be probed to prove his innocence of need be. That the publication is a package of inaccuracies and falsehoods about him and that claims about his alleged involvement in procurement are pure fabrication and that said publication ought to be disregarded in its entirety as far as the allegations are about his alleged act of wrongdoing part of the rejoinder read. Below is the full Rejoinder as sent to the Daily Graphic and copied to citifmonline.com. REJOINDER: RE: EOCO INVESTIGATES IT MANAGER OF GPHA FOR ALLEGEDLY INFLATING PROJECT COST We are instructed by David King Boison, IT Manager of the GPHA, to file and request publication of this brief but important rejoinder to your publication (print and online) of 22nd September 2017 under the above-mentioned heading. This resort to a constitutional right to a rejoinder over your said publication is intended to afford him fair opportunity to state his side of the facts for the records, and it is hoped it will receive same prominence (print and online) as said publication. Our client informs us, and wishes you and your esteemed readers to know and be guided by the following: 1) That the publication is a package of inaccuracies and falsehoods about him and that claims about his alleged involvement in procurement are pure fabrication and that said publication ought to be disregarded in its entirety as far as the allegations are about his alleged act of wrongdoing. 2) That he is unaware of any probe whatsoever by any investigative institution of State though such has become necessary and that he would give his fullest co-operation to any investigations because same will only affirm paragraph (1) above. 3) That he has since his elevation to that office in March 2015, executed his assigned duties and responsibilities conscientiously earning him two prestigious national and international awards in his field of expertise, and that these have not only significantly enhanced the image of the GPHA, but also the technology university where he teaches Supply Chain and IT related programs. He, as PhD candidate recently won an award in the category of World Review of Business Research as Best Paper at the 8th Global Business Research Conference in Italy for a paper on Berth Optimization. 4) That the thrust and gravamen of said publication being the allegation attributed to a five-member committee of the GPHA that he, David King Boison, overpriced IT solutions contracts and received unlawful benefits as a result can only be laughable as his assigned responsibilities as IT Manager do not even remotely extend to pricing of any procurement or payment for same. 5) That as IT Manager he does not belong to the GPHA procurement department which by law has the mandate and is responsible for each of the procurements referred to in said publication, and it is unthinkable how such an officer can be said to have overpriced or been involved in overpricing and by extension paying/authorizing/advising payment of said procurements. 6) That it is a proven fact that the email message referred to in said publication as the single paramount evidence of his alleged involvement is a product of hacking (the institution has been fighting hacking for a while now) traced to a named IP address, and that neither he nor the alleged intended recipients of the said email ever received same. 7) That as earlier stated, he believes in due process and is standing ready to prove his innocence and assert his rights in a lawful forum in due course. We expect your kind co-operation in compliance with our client's constitutional right to a rejoinder. The Small Scale Miners Association (SSMA) has implored government to make Lands Minister John Peter Amewu, the head of the Inter-Ministerial Galamsey Taskforce. The Association said its members have found it difficult to work with the Science Minister, Professor Frimpong Boateng as the leader of the team because he is not directly in charge of mining. In an interview with Joy News' Latif Iddrisu Thursday, General Secretary of the Association, Godwin Armah said the fight against illegal mining will be won if the Lands Minister is put in charge of the Taskforce. We think the Lands Ministry should be playing the lead role and supported by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) because their main mandate is to look at mining in general, he said. Science Minister, Professor Frimpong Boateng The country has made some progress since the Inter-Ministerial Taskforce was inaugurated to clampdown on illegal mining localised as galamsey. Ghanas water bodies, forest reserves, and lands were attacked by activities of illegal miners. But some muddied waters including the Ankobrah River in the Western Region and Birim River in the Eastern Region have shown signs of recovering, the first time in many months. The progress is attributed to efforts of the team of police and military personnel sent to drive out illegal miners from their mining sites. But the Small Scale Miners Association that has maintained its members are legally registered to engage in mining said it will support government if the Lands Minister is made the head of the Galamsey Taskforce. We are pushing that the Lands Minister should lead the team to make everything easy for us, Mr Armah said. He also made an appeal to government to make some fund available to its members, claiming the anti-galamsey campaign has rendered its members jobless. The Association was in a crunch meeting with the Lands Minister and his two deputies over the continuous activities of some illegal miners. Paris (AFP) - A Paris court on Thursday fined French journalist and writer Pierre Pean 1,000 euros ($1,170) and ordered him to pay a symbolic one euro in damages in a libel case brought by Gabonese President Ali Bongo. In a 2014 book called "Nouvelles affaires africaines" ("New African Affairs"), Pean insinuated that Bongo was behind two attempts to assassinate Jean-Pierre Lemboumba, who was once a close aide to his father, former president Omar Bongo. The accusations were "very serious" but had "insufficient" facts to support them, the court ruled. However Bongo lost his complaint against other parts of the book in which Pean accused him of ordering the poisoning of Georges Rawiri, the president of Gabon's Senate, and of having fomented an "electoral coup d'etat" in 2009. The court ruled that Pean had produced "solid, varied, abundant and concurring" documents to justify the statements were made in good faith. Under France's libel laws, defendants must provide evidence that a statement was true or not defamatory or intended in good faith. The fines in France are modest by the standards of other countries. Pean's lawyer, Florence Bourg, said the ruling was "very positive overall," given that the passages about Rawiri had not been judged libellous. An attorney for Bongo, Delphine Meillet, said the president "is delighted that Pierre Pean has been sentenced for this tract, whose sole aim was to discredit and delegitimise him". Ali Bongo took over power from Omar Bongo, who ruled for 41 years until his death in 2009. Bongo was re-elected in August 2016 by just a few thousand votes, prompting the opposition to accuse the administration of electoral fraud. Gabon has large oil, mineral and tropical timber resources, and its per-capita national income is four times greater than that of most sub-Saharan nations. But about a third of its population of 1.8 million still live below the poverty line -- the result, say specialists, of inequality, poor governance and corruption. Tripoli (AFP) - Libyan authorities on Thursday demanded an explanation from Britain's foreign minister Boris Johnson over his remark on the need to "clear dead bodies" away in the strife-torn North African country. The foreign secretary has already come under fire at home over his assessment of an August visit to Libya that the country could attract foreign investment and tourists after the corpses from fighting were cleared. Fayez al-Sarraj, head of the internationally recognised Government of National Accord, met the British ambassador Peter Millett to demand an explanation of the "unacceptable" comment, according to the GNA's Facebook page. It quoted Millett as saying that Johnson was referring to the dead of the Islamic State jihadist group who had killed hundreds of Libyans. Libya's rival authorities in the east of the country, through parliament's foreign affairs committee, condemned Johnson's "irresponsible" comment that was "an affront to the dignity" of the Libyan people, demanding an official apology. Many ordinary Libyans went on social media to express their anger over the comment. Tunis (AFP) - Tunisia's first post-revolt municipal elections originally due to take place in December will be held in March, the authorities said Thursday, after they were postponed at the request of political parties. The decision to hold the elections on March 25 was taken after a closed-door meeting of the Independent High Authority for Elections with representatives of the government, parties and civil society. The long-delayed polls had been seen as the final stage in Tunisia's transition to democracy following its 2011 uprising which sparked the Arab Spring revolutions. The postponement had come at the request of parties which did not feel ready for the election. But now that a date has finally been set there will be hopes they can improve the lives of Tunisians frustrated over worsening conditions since the revolution. Following the uprising, municipalities were dissolved and replaced by "special delegations" -- provisional bodies set up to manage urban centres. This has coincided with falling standards of living in cities and towns where the collection of garbage has been random and quality of infrastructure deteriorated. At the election in March, almost five million Tunisians are to vote to elect the leaders of 350 municipalities. Turnout will be key, however, in a country where youths are largely disillusioned over their futures amid high unemployment. Tunisia has been praised for a relatively democratic transition over the past six years, during which a new constitution was adopted and legislative and presidential polls held in 2014. The Minister for Roads and Highways has disclosed that government has paid road contractors over 1 billion to facilitate work on stalled projects across the country. Kwasi Amoako Atta explained that work on most uncompleted road projects is at a standstill as the previous government failed to honour its promise of to contractors for over two years for work done. Speaking in Bolgatanga during the Presidents two-day working visit to the Upper East region, he said the payment will motivate the contractors to move to site to complete their assigned projects. A lot of road projects were suspended because between two to five years, contractors in this country were not paid for even genuine jobs done. But I am happy to announce that, within a period of eight months, government has paid contractors a little over 1 billion and disbursements for both Government of Ghana and Road Fund projects are currently going on, he said. The Member of Parliament for Atiwa West jabbed the Mahama administration for procuring loans to fix what the deplorable road network across the country. Regrettably, we realized that the total road network size of 72,000km of this country was in a deplorable state. Out of this, only 39 percent is considered motorable, but the rest is between fair and poor with greater proportion leaning towards poor, and you ask yourself, all the loans that we contracted where did the money go? he quizzed. According to him, contractors will not have an excuse to abandoned road projects they are working on across the country due to lack of payment because President Akufo-Addo has commenced disbursement. The Upper East Region has a total road size of 4,200km, and greater proportion of it fair or poor, but government is tackling it, and you can see that all the contracts that were abandoned for some time, the contractors are back working because government has paid them, he assured the resident. Story by Ghana| Myjoyonline | Abubakar Ibrahim President Akufo Addo, has assured the Chiefs and People of the Upper East Region of the government's commitment to revamp the defunct Tomato and Meat factories in the area. The President gave the assurance when the Upper East Regional Minister, Rockson Ayine Bukari, and the Vice President of the Upper East Regional House of Chiefs, Naba Baba Salifu Lemyaarum, jointly made the appeal to him, during his two-day visit to the region, to thank the people for endorsing him as the President of Ghana. The tour was also to interact with them to know their concerns and elicit their feedback on his policies and programmes. The opinion leaders told the President that the two factories were the major assets of the region, and that revamping them would not only create jobs, but also help create wealth and reduce migration from the area to urban centres. The President stated that, the Minister of Trade and Industry, Alan Kyerematen, was working hard to revamp the two factories, while the Government was also working at rehabilitating the Vea Irrigation Dam to boost irrigated-farming, and enhance the supply of potable water to the Bolgatanga Municipality and the Bongo District. The President thanked the Regional House of Chiefs and the Regional Minister for appreciating the Free Senior High School Policy and other flagships programmes, saying; although there were some teething problems with the implementation, the Government was doing everything possible to rectify them. He said he would ensure that all uncompleted school projects in the region were completed to absorb more Senior High School students as requested by the Regional House of Chiefs. The Free Senior High School has come to stay, those who thought it was a political gimmick have been proved wrong and we shall continue to roll out the policy to ensure that our children meet the current global standards in this 21st Century, particularly, in the area of ICT, the President stated. He said the Government had also intervened to save the National Health Insurance Scheme, which was on the verge of collapse as the Scheme owed 1.2 billion Ghana cedis; part of which had been settled. On Agriculture, the President stated that in his short period in office, about 200,000 farmers had been supported with subsidised fertiliser and other farm inputs under the flagship programme of Planting for Food and Jobs. In addition, farmers are now having access to Agriculture Extension Officers to educate them on good farming practices to help ensure food security, he stated. It is my hope that by the end of the tenure of my office, two and half million farmers in Ghana would have been supported to help feed the nation to stop the importation of food from other countries. He, however, called on the Chiefs and communities to support the Government to arrest those few selfish people who were trying to thwart the efforts, by smuggling the subsidised fertilisers to the neighbouring countries for sale. He said plans were also far advanced to ensure that 660 communities in the Upper East Region benefited from the Rural Electrification Project and reiterated the Government's commitment to the redevelopment of the railway industry. La Goulette (Tunisia) (AFP) - The number of illegal migrants leaving Libya for Europe has fallen by 20 percent so far in 2017, the European naval force charged with stopping people trafficking in the Mediterranean said Thursday. "We have seen a drop in the number of people leaving Libya for Europe this year, around 20 percent," Enrico Credendino, commander of the force, told a news conference aboard the Cantabria ship at the port of La Goulette, near Tunis. Summer saw a drop of 75 percent compared with the same period in 2016, with the number dying at sea falling by 60 percent, said the head of the EU's anti-trafficking operation dubbed Sophia. The decrease was explained in particular by the support given to the Libyan coastguard, which received four Italian patrol boats and training. "With the training we have done, they are now able to more effectively patrol territorial waters, fight all types of crime and also save lives," the commander said. The EU ambassador to Tunis, Patrice Bergamini, called on Tunisia to help neighbouring Libya with its "know-how" on migration in support of Operation Sophia. The European Union launched the anti-smuggling operation in 2015 after two shipwrecks killed 1,200 migrants in April that year. The operation, which claims to have intercepted 117 smugglers and seized 482 of their ships, has been criticised for failing to effectively stop the smugglers. The Ghana Fire Service has said its preliminary investigation has revealed that an electrical fault is most likely to have caused the fire that gutted the office of the Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA), contrary to widespread suspicion of arson. Speaking in an interview with Citi News' Anass Seidu, the Public Relations Officer of the Ghana Fire Service, Billy Anaglate, said they are currently investigating to ascertain the real cause of the fire. We are still investigating to know what exactly caused the fire. But our preliminary investigations pointed to electrical origin that the fire might have actually been caused by an electrical fault within the premises, but we are still investigating to unravel the exact cause, he added. Records of the Maritime Authority some dating back to 2002were destroyed when fire gutted parts of the authority's head office in Accra. The fire, which mostly affected the finance department of the GMA, reportedly took place a day ahead of an Economic and Organised Crime Offices (EOCO) forensic audit into the operations of the Authority. Unfortunately, we do not have a backup of what we lost, and the Authority has all this while been keeping records manually, the Director-General of the GMA, Kwame Owusu, noted. The police are currently investigating officials of the Authority over the fire. By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana Follow @AlloteyGodwin The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has confiscated about 100 vehicles across the country for non-payment of customs duties, with the promise to do more. GRA Commissioner-General, Emmanuel Kofi Nti said the presence of the vehicles in the country is illegal because the necessary permits were not procured. At a news conference in Accra Thursday, the GRA boss said the owners of the vehicles have violated Section (55) subsection (1) of the Customs Act (Act 891). He noted the law mandates persons who import vehicles into the country to pay import duties on them, a failure of which amounts to a breach. Mr Nti said the Authority will vigorously intensify its surveillance exercise to seize all vehicles whose owners have evaded tax payment. Statistics show that the number of vehicles on Ghanas roads have shot up from one million in 2001 to more than 1.5 million in 2015. But the GRA believes most of these vehicles were smuggled into the country through unapproved routes. GRA Director of Communications, Kwesi Bobo Ansah told Evans Mensah on Top Story that many people take advantage of ECOWAS 90-day protocol to evade tax payment. He said these people bring in their vehicles and instead of paying the customs duties after the 90 days, they try to shortchange the system. All that GRA is asking you to do is that after the 90 days if you want the car to remain in Ghana you will go and pay, he said. A car dealer, George Opoku Boateng confirmed that some of his colleagues deliberately bring in vehicles from Nigeria, Togo, and Benin to take advantage of the system. He explained that instead of sending the vehicles back to the respective countries at the end of the three-month ECOWAS Protocol, they end up using Ghanaian plate illegally. Mr Boateng believes the action by the GRA will bolster the confidence of Customs officials to ensure that no vehicle escape their notice at the various checkpoints. Story by Ghana| Myjoyonline | Austin Brakopowers Hmm, God is indeed awesome and his powers is just beyond humans comprehension as he has just proven that in the life of popular Yoruba actress, Taiwo Aromokun, as she just welcomed twins. The actress who happens to be a twin is already blessed with twins boys and now she has just welcomed another set of twins. The actress has been based in the US for a while now and sometime in July, she celebrated her twins who became a year older. Sharing the good news of the delivery of her twins she wrote, I am truly blessed and highly favour, when God talk about dancing all throughout this month ,I didn't know it will start very soon ,my people help me thank God ,who has made me laugh and dance for joy ,again by giving me another double Blessing of twins again ,,Abba father I am grateful ,I don't know why you love me so much ,welcome my bundle of joy, God bless both of you for me in Jesus name. As the wash up from Chinas crypto crackdown settles, one country has come out on top. Japan is now the largest bitcoin exchange market in the world. The island nation now commands 56% of all bitcoin exchange trading worldwide, processing twice as many trades as its US peers. The surge in trading in Japan has been attributed to the favourable treatment of trading platforms in the country. In fact, the Japanese government has authorised and licensed 11 exchanges in just the past week alone. That means the trading sites are now completely legal and are regulated. As bitFlyer (one of the approved exchanges) CEO, Yuzo Kano comments, Japan has been exploding with demand for both bitcoin trading as well as virtual currency services. The FSAs approval for bitFlyer to operate as a Registered Virtual Currency Exchange, and the agencys openness and forward thinking regulation could not come at a better time for the blockchain space. According to cryptocoinnews.com, bitcoins short-term price could come to rely on Japan as well as South Korea for stability. South Koreas government has stated that they will legalise bitcoin in the coming months. Which will also include making a framework for exchange platforms meaning that South Korea could soon follow Japans bitcoin boom. Hopefully Japan and South Koreas success will sway other governments to follow suit. Dont hold your breath for any commitment in the near future though. Pay Your Bills with Bitcoin In other bitcoin news from Japan, people can now pay their power bills with the coin. Japanese energy company Remixpoint Inc [TYO:3825] is now offering a bitcoin plan. And customers who pay with bitcoin even get a discount. Its always great to see more businesses offer bitcoin as a payment option. As more people accept bitcoin it will continue to grow. Remixpoint seem to have grasped just how advantageous it could be for their business as well, noting: We will promote the spread of virtual currency settlement in Japan by developing payment services that take advantage of the strength of reducing remittance and settlement costs, which is the original value of virtual currencies. Its great news for bitcoin adoption in the country, especially because this isnt just some small retailer. Remixpoint is a listed company, with a market cap of $642 million. Just another product added to the growing list that you can purchase with bitcoin. And if you want to get your hands on some bitcoin, we can show you how. Check out our full report right here for all the details. Regards, Ryan Clarkson-Ledward, Junior Analyst, Money Morning There are plenty of things in the world we understand. We understand how the sun rises and sets each day. We understand how trees absorb CO2 and expel oxygen. We understand that humans are complex organisms. We understand that the world we live in isnt always supposed to make sense. But there are also some things we simply cant get our head around. Things like how the US continues to do nothing about gun control. How Australia still cant legalise same-sex marriage. How the UK cant just leave the EU and be done with it. Perhaps the meaning of life is to understand that there are some things we will never understand. Maybe were also getting a bit too philosophical This is after all supposed to be an essay about markets and investment. Well there are plenty of things in the markets we also dont understand. We dont understand how layer upon layer of debt wont lead eventually to another massive crisis. We dont understand how the Aussie property market can continue on its merry way. We dont understand how a company like Tesla continues to rise on popularity and not much else. The debt issue and property issues are topic perhaps for another day. The Tesla issuewell thats something we can tackle right now. When youre right and wrong at the same time Its actually something weve tackled before. In fact in July 2016 we wrote, I dont think the demand for the Model X will hit the highs of the Model S. And I doubt the Model 3 will see the light of day before 2018. Meanwhile GM and others will gobble up customers. Cars like the Bolt will take market share away from Tesla. Being first to market tends to do that. Tesla could (and should) aim to be a niche car maker like Porsche Automobil SE [ETR:PAH3] or Ferrari NV [BIT:RACE]. This would be a market they could do well in. And I can see justification of a market cap around that of Porsche or Ferrari. Instead Tesla is worth around four times Ferrari. Its too inflated on hype and endless promises. However, if Teslas stock price were US$55, then Id call that fair value. But it seems Teslas ambition outweighs their talent. Trying to become a genuine mass market car maker is a stretch too far. And I think its all about to come crashing down around them. I think that by mid-2018, amongst delays and missed targets, Teslas stock will be closer to US$55 than US$255. And if youve got the guts, Tesla might just be the perfect stock to short. And in April this year we wrote, When looking at all the car companies in the world as an investment, there is only one. In our view, if you want to make money long term from a cracking car company, Ferrari is the one to invest in, not Tesla. When we wrote the piece about Ferrari they were trading at US$66.85. Today Ferrari stock is US$96.75. Thats a 44.7% return in almost bang on six months. Not a bad call. The thing about Ferrari though is they make a profit. They trade at a high earnings multiplebut they make a profit. Our Tesla call though Well in July 2016 Tesla was trading at US$220.40. We said short the company. We thought they were overpriced and were never going to deliver on their production goals. We were right about their inability to deliver their product. They are still yet to meet a production target. But that hasnt done anything except push the share price higher. We were very wrong about our short call. Today Tesla trades at US$355. Thats a 61% gain in about 15 months. It also makes Tesla almost three-times as big (in terms of market cap) as Ferrari. And heres the kickerTesla still doesnt make a profit. Our short call was wrong, we can accept that. But we still believe that Tesla is the most over-hyped stock in the world today. And convincing us even more that were not wrong on Telsa was their latest inability to hit their production targets. As we know, theyre looking to massively ramp up production for the Model 3. Except this from the The Independent, Tesla has fallen behind on production of its mass market Model 3 vehicle, making only 260 cars in the third quarter of 2017. Theres no typo there. Thats 260 Model 3s. And this is coming from a company expecting to make 5,000 per week by the end of this year. And 10,000 per week in 2018. They will not achieve those targets. They very well might in the next few years. But by then itll be too late and the EV market will be flooded with new models. Two ASX stocks set to dominate EV market At the Frankfurt Motor Show just a few weeks ago every major car maker outlined their EV plans. VW will electrify every single model in the group by 2030. They call it their Roadmap E. And its not just VWs that Roadmap E includes. Its also every Bugatti, Audi, Seat, Skoda, Porsche and Lamborghini all brands owned by VW. BMW will electrify their whole range by 2025. Tesla still has a bit of a runway to make inroads to the EV market. But we simply cannot understand their valuation considering the market dynamics and their inability to hit any production targetever. We still maintain Tesla is the most overpriced company in the world. They are a good company with a good product. But the market is pricing in hype and hope, not actual results. However while we think Tesla sucks as an investment at current prices, theres an upside to the EV story no matter how it plays out. In fact thanks to Roadmap E, Tesla and the changing dynamics of the car market, there are a couple of ASX listed stocks that could be set to shine. Well explain which stocks were talking about, why theyre on track to dominate the EV market, and how hard they might run tomorrowstay tuned for more. Regards, Sam Volkering, Editor, Australian Small-Cap Investigator Those with nothing to hide have nothing to fear. Its probably the most dangerous phrase youll hear in a liberal democracy. Dangerous, because it seems to have a certain logical sense. Especially when people are indeed fearful of their safety. And its basically what Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull was saying yesterday. As you probably heard, the Turnbull government yesterday announced a proposal that would see states hand over the identities of all Australian drivers in a bid to strengthen national security laws. It would mean authorities would be able to identify any Australian with a drivers license in seconds using facial recognition technology. A pretty drastic action, dont you think? Mr Molnar, a member of the Australian privacy foundation certainly does: There is no opt-out for this, so in a criminal justice context, this breaks down the conventional notion of a probable cause for stop and search powers. I mean this is the kind of government surveillance you expect to see in a futuristic dystopian nightmare, probably directed by Ridley Scott. Or written by George Orwell. Ill shortly give you three reasons why this approach is wrong. And why it wont even work. As well as a couple of companies creating the very tools that make this plan unworkable from a practical point of view. These are opportunities you can look to invest in privacy today Beware big brother First, Ill give you three reasons why this proposal is both dangerous and flawed. The first reason will be clear to anyone who tried to take part in the governments census in 2016. As you probably remember, this was a complete debacle. A prime example of government incompetence. Especially when it comes to tech. The site crashed for 40 hours as minor denial of service attacks made a mockery of the so-called security systems in place. The government sought to lay the blame at the feet at IBM. Sorry, but that wont wash. And now they want your biometric data, and the ability to store it and track you using video surveillance? What if a hacker gets into this centralised database and steals your identity details? They could easily create a trail of havoc for you to deal with. This is not a far-fetched notion. Its already happening. Just last month 145 million Americans had personal details stolen from a centralised database ran by consumer credit company Equifax. License numbers, security numbers and credit cards, all now owned by some malicious power. Luckily you can cancel and replace such things. Biometric data on the other hand? Well, thats not easily changed. Unless you know a good plastic surgeon! And just yesterday I read that the UK government was hit by 590 cyber-attacks in the last year. Let me be clear. Centralised databases ran by the governments are high value target. And personally, I dont trust an organisation that cant even run an online survey to secure my data! The second point is more dangerous in the long term. Who polices the police? Despite assurances and safeguards, theres no doubt that this information will become valuable for all sorts of inappropriate personal reasons to those in power. From the married police chief that suspects his wife of having an affair, to the ambitious politician looking to dig dirt on her opposition. The danger of such a system is that the privacy of the ordinary person is trampled while those in power retain the means to protect their own. A simple solution would be to require all politicians and government ministers to allow themselves to be tracked by GPS, for their emails to be public knowledge and their phones tapped so the general public can listen. Im not being ridiculous. Thats essentially what they are asking you to agree to. My last point is this. Such mass surveillance just doesnt work. As technology increases, so do the methods by which criminals use against us. Covata [ASX:CVT] has created a product which encrypts all messages so that only the specified users can access them. Its main customers are governments and big business with secret to keep. But it shows the technology exists. Cryptocurrency MaidSafe is creating an entire new internet where only you can control who sees your data. Cleverly, there is no centralised database to hack. Its all distributed around the world in tiny chunks, useless individually. Data is the new power Data is the new money of the 21st century. And naturally enough governments want to control data as much as central banks sought to control fiat money in the 20th century. You cant let them. Do we need a cyber security strategy? Yes of course. But not a lazy one that just tries to impinge upon citizens rights. Policing needs to be smarter. That includes sourcing good data. But its not a carte blanche under the threat of terrorism. Innocent until proven guilty is a crucial feature of our society. Mass surveillance and tracking go against the spirit of our society. A society that has thrived on the freedoms enshrined in individual rights. And a key right is the right to privacy. This is not some auxiliary right we can do without. Its the catalyst for human progress. Governments throughout history have always sought to increase their power in times of perceived chaos. And not to go too far, but Hitler decreed a state of emergency in 1933 that overrode the civil liberties of the constitution. It was in response to a fire in parliament which he blamed on the communists. This state of emergency remained in place for the rest of the Nazi regime. That could never happen here is a natural reaction, of course. And to be clear, I dont think it could. But you also have to remember the price of freedom is eternal vigilance. That might mean jumping at shadows sometimes. But these proposals are not shadows. They are dangerous. And they must not pass into law. Ill finish with one last quote. Its useful to draw upon the wisdom of others in moments like this. Those who sacrifice a bit of liberty for a bit of safety deserve neither. Benjamin Franklin Good investing, Ryan Dinse, Editor, Money Morning PS: There are a bunch of cryptocurrencies like MaidSafe that are working on privacy enabling technologies. You will start to hear a lot about them in the next 12 months. But to get in before the herd you have to act now. Click here to read more about the opportunity in cryptocurrencies. 'The big truck is still on ... Thursday, October 5, 2017 Jazmine Ulloa of the Los Angeles Times reports that, in a rebuke to President Trumps expanded immigration enforcement measures, Governor Jerry Brown today signed sanctuary state legislation, vastly limiting who state and local law enforcement agencies can hold, question, and transfer at the request of federal immigration authorities. Senate Bill 54, which takes effect in January, has been hailed as part of a broader effort by majority Democrats in the California Legislature to protect more than 2.3 million undocumented immigrants living in the state. Weeks before Browns signature made it law, it was met with swift denunciations from Trump administration officials and became the focus of a national debate over how far states and cities can go to prevent their officers from enforcing federal immigration laws. Here is my take on SB 54. Besides SB 54, Governor Brown today signed a package of bills to enhance housing, school, workplace and civil protections for Californias immigrants. This action protects public safety and ensures hard-working people who contribute to our state are respected, said Governor Brown. The Governor signed the following bills today: AB 21 by Assemblymember Ash Kalra (D-San Jose) Public postsecondary education: Access to Higher Education for Every Student. AB 291 by Assemblymember David Chiu (D-San Francisco) Housing: immigration. AB 299 by Assemblymember Ian C. Calderon (D-Whittier) Hiring of real property: immigration or citizenship status. AB 343 by Assemblymember Kevin McCarty (D-Sacramento) Public postsecondary education: holders of certain special immigrant visas. AB 450 by Assemblymember David Chiu (D-San Francisco) Employment regulation: immigration worksite enforcement actions. AB 699 by Assemblymember Patrick ODonnell (D-Long Beach) Educational equity: immigration and citizenship status. SB 29 by Senator Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens) Law enforcement: immigration. SB 54 by Senator Kevin de Leon (D-Los Angeles) Law enforcement: sharing data. A signing message can be found here. SB 68 by Senator Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens) Public postsecondary education: exemption from nonresident tuition. SB 156 by Senator Joel Anderson (R-Alpine) Military and veterans: transition assistance: citizenship. SB 257 by Senator Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens) School admissions: pupil residency: pupils of departed parents: residents of adjoining state or foreign country: school district reimbursement. Todays signings follow a series of actions by Governor Brown and his administration to bolster resources and support for the immigrant community. Since taking office, Governor Brown has signed the California Dream Act, which allows top students who are on the path to citizenship to apply for college financial aid and AB 60, which extends the legal right to drive on the states roadways to millions more Californians. The Governor has also signed legislation to help fund legal services for unaccompanied minors arriving in California from Central America as well as legal services to assist immigrants seeking naturalization and deportation defense; legislation to extend health care coverage and other protections to undocumented children in the state; and a number of other bills to enhance protections for immigrants. Last year, the Governor appointed a director of immigrant integration to serve as the statewide lead for coordinating immigrant services and monitoring the implementation of immigration assistance programs. Last month, Governor Brown signed legislation to provide $30 million in financial aid for immigrant students and legal services for young people with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status and the administration launched the California Immigrant Guide website to help connect immigrants with resources and services provided by the state. For full text of the bills, visit here. KJ https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/immigration/2017/10/breaking-news-california-becomes-sanctuary-state-in-rebuke-of-trump-immigration-policy-.html Yolo County Sheriff's Office Patrol Vehicle View Photos The Yolo County Sheriffs Office reports that a man from Calaveras County is behind bars for murder. The alleged crime occurred this past week at a home in the 24000 block of County Road 95 in the Woodland area, west of Sacramento. The Yolo County Sheriffs Office reports that 33-year-old Heder Migoya of Calaveras County allegedly stabbed to death 41-year-old Dustin Dougherty of Yolo County. Dougherty was pronounced dead by arriving first responders after Migoya had fled the scene. Migoya was later tracked down and taken into custody by Calaveras County sheriffs deputies. He was then transported to Yolo County where he faces a charge of murder. The Yolo County Sheriffs Office is not releasing any additional information at this time. It is unclear which community of Calaveras County Migoya resides. The motive for the assault is still under investigation. The victim, Dougherty, was the Harvest Manager at the Say Hay Farms located in Esparto. The company specializes in certified organic vegetables, fruits and eggs. The business announces that it plans to hold a public memorial for him this Sunday at the farm. There are no doubts that Africa is filled with numerous philanthropists. A charitable atmosphere is spread across the continent and in the last ten years, there have been a lot of new charity foundations and scholarship opportunities launched. Rich people do not only spend and invest money but try to help others to become a better version of themselves. Lets see who the most famous, kind-hearted philanthropists in Nigeria are. The top Nigerian billionaires not only spend their money on the own needs but also invest in the youths. They work on making the country better and stronger. The need to reach out to youths and those, who struggle with opening their own business is quite common these days. In addition, Nigerian businessmen also help those who have no opportunity to fund their own studies. These efforts are aimed at contributing to societys development. READ ALSO: Importance of entrepreneurship in developing countries Here, you can see the list of Nigerias top billionaires who inspire the young Nigerians to initiate some philanthropic initiatives themselves. The nation is looking forward to having a new generation of young leaders who will bring about great change in the country. Lets take a look at the people making a difference. Top 5 philanthropists in Nigeria Theophilus Danjuma The former Nigerian Defence Minister and Chairman of South Atlantic Petroleum has already donated over $100 million to charities. The TY Danjuma Foundation is considered to be one of Africas largest charity organizations and Theophilus Danjuma himself is regarded as Nigeria's top philanthropist. The TY Danjuma Foundation provides grants to some partners and non-governmental organizations in the fields of education, poverty alleviation, policy advocacy and free healthcare. TY Danjuma Foundation motivates individuals and private organizations as well to contribute to the civil societys development. He pays a lot of attention to effective investment in the Nigerian youths as they are the future of the nation. The Foundations biggest projects are the After Graduate Development Center (AGDC), which helps undergraduate students in the University of Benin; a project implemented in the university called Work Intelligent Nigerian Graduate (WINGS); and another project created in cooperation with Women in Management and Business (WIMBIZ) which is aimed at working with Nigerian women and young girls in Edo state. The largest project implemented is Young Girls/Women Leadership and Mentoring (YGWLM). In partnership with the African Women and Youth Organization (AWYO), the foundation created the Graduate Integration Programme (GIP) in Abuja. Tony Elumelu His $5million investment in a very small, almost dying bank was not the mistake at all. Two decades later, the weak and useless bank got transformed into the global, successful UBA bank. Tony Elumelu became the CEO of UBA and now shares his ideas and motivation with a smart and energetic generation of African entrepreneurs. He created the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) to have an impact on the development of African continent and focus on supporting young entrepreneurs in Africa. Tony Elumelu even came up with the special term Africapitalism, emphasizing the importance of competitiveness in the private sector. Elumelu sets the UBA bank as an example for all young businessmen, saying that this project helped him to establish the pan-African financial institution which now creates jobs for more than 25,000 employees. "Imagine if we created 1000 domestic pan-African companies like UBA in Africa now that is the impact. That is what drives me and that is why we started the Foundation, he says of his philanthropic drive. Tony Elumelu Foundation is assisting more than 1000 leading African SMEs to grow into global business and secure prosperity and wealth for both employees and employers. He also mentioned that it is possible to build a world-class business school in Nigeria and provide knowledge in energy, real estate, agribusiness, and hospitality sectors. Kola Aluko Kola Aluko is a self-made and very ambitious billionaire whose business interests are concentrated mostly in oil, gas, and aviation sectors. Kola Aluko has a great passion for motorsports. Kola is now 45-year-old and Forbes Africa has already ranked him as one of the 40th Richest Africans. It seems that Kola does not only want to be on the list of richest, successful African entrepreneurs but a role model for other people. His Kola Aluko Foundation has a great impact on not only Nigerian youths but all young dreamers on the African continent. His foundation does a lot for young talent to be heard and mostly help artist and musicians. "From an early age, I was very ambitious and I always knew I wanted to work for myself, says the Co-Chief Officer and Executive Director of Atlantic Energy; while also advising youths that the key is focus, focus and again focus. Identify the things you are good at, your strengths, and get to work on your weaknesses. The foundation sponsored the Nigerian Centenary Photography Exhibition in London and afterward Kola Aluko co-founded the Made in Africa (MiAF) project in cooperation with Ghanaian fashion designer, Oswald Boateng. MiAF was launched only four years ago but has already set the record as Africa's largest infrastructure investment ever made by the private businessman. Rochas Okorocha Rochas grew up on the dirty streets of Jos in Northern Nigeria and from the early years, understood that only the hard work, determination and courage can give him a better life. Okorocha is the governor of Imo State and the founder of the Rochas Foundation. The foundation works on assisting ambitious young Nigerians to get the education which they can not afford. The Rochas Foundation mostly focuses on the younger group of children and provides the educational activities, as well as health and social help. The foundation builds schools in Nigeria which offers the free tuition to the poor and underprivileged children across Nigeria. Over the past years, the Rochas foundation has put a lot of effort into making children appreciate studies and life itself. Today, Rochas has a record of more than 6000 children, who receive absolutely free education in secondary schools in Owerri, Ibadan, Gboko, Jos, and Kano states. In the near future, the Foundation is going to build a tuition-free university. Funso Alakija Funso is the only female philanthropist on the list but not the least in terms of success. She is ranked by Forbes as the worlds richest African woman and Nigeria's first female billionaire. Her net worth is more than $2.5 billion and her recent motto is as much of my life as I could to encourage people, to encourage others to get to where they should be, where they want to be. As a woman, it is not easy to reach the height of success as Funso did. But it is even harder to lead the life of philanthropist and manage your own business in the same time. Funso focuses on helping primarily women and young people. Her charity foundation is called the Rose of Sharon Foundation (ROSF) and its main goal is to help widows and orphans, through creating a common network. Alakija, being the CEO of the Rose of Sharon Group, has helped more than 2,751 widows and 963 widows children. These days, her foundations next aim is to help set up some schools in those areas in Nigeria, where the women struggle to combine the work and studies. Alakija believes in the success of this idea, saying: its a land flowing with opportunities, land flowing with milk and honey. It has its challenges, its faults, but Rome wasnt built in a day and we all have to come together to build our nation. The Nigerian businessmen are true inspiration for a lot of young Nigerians. While some billionaires do not focus on charitable activities, these top 5 philanthropists aim to make the country better. They launched their own foundation to make Nigeria and African continent more prosperous and its inhabitants happier. If you want to make the world and Nigeria a better place, start with yourself now and do what you can to give back. READ ALSO: Jim Ovia biography and story of success Source: Legit.ng - President Buhari is expected to meet with the minister of state of petroleum Ibe Kachikwu - The meeting is likely to centre on the content of his leaked memo - There are speculations that the NNPC will be probed President Muhammadu Buhari is expected to meet the minister of state of petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu, on Thursday, October 5, over his leaked letter to him. A letter sent to the president by the minister was leaked in which he alleged that $25 billion contracts have been wrongly awarded by Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Group Managing Director Dr. Maikanti Baru. The Nation reports that the meeting between the president and Kachikwu is expected to focus on the content of his memo which could instigate the probing of Baru. READ ALSO: Police apprehend notorious kidnappers in north (photos) A source close to the presidency who spoke on the issue said: The President will have a fact-finding session with Kachikwu on some of the claims in his August 30 memo. The President and cabinet members were shocked by the issues raised by the minister. This audience is already in the schedule of the President today. Kachikwu will have the opportunity to explain what went wrong in the NNPC and the insubordination of the GMD. For instance, the issue of lack of access to the President and sidelining him are really strange. Buhari wants to go into the details. President Buhari does not condone indiscipline. There is a high probability that some of the allegations were not brought to his notice. The real questions are: Why did GMD Baru sideline his supervising Minister? How did Baru get approval for the contracts? Could he have misled the government with a cover-up memo? Did anybody or group take advantage of the Presidents medical trip? The presidency may probe these allegations against Baru. The Presidency will certainly not spare the rod and the President is determined to get to the root of the $25billion contracts. Another government official who spoke on the condition of anonymity expressed shock over the issue especially with the leaked memo. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 new app He said: It is evident that there are some moles in this government. They want to do everything to pull down this administration. After addressing the key issues, the government will also ask the appropriate agencies to probe the leakage. If the minister is culpable, he might be sanctioned for alleged violation of his oath of office and oath of allegiance. The days of moles in government are numbered. Legit.ng had reported that Nigerian Senate constituted an ad-hoc committee to investigate alleged corruption in the NNPC. Kachikwu in a letter dated August 30, told the president that the conducts of the NNPC GMD were counterproductive to the countrys petroleum sector. Are Nigerians truly tired of President Buhari? - on Legit.ng TV: Source: Legit.ng On Nov. 1, Linn Benton Food Shares warehouse in Tangent received two truckloads of food and household supplies arranged by the local branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. - The leaked memo of Dr Ibe Kachikwu to President Muhammadu Buhari is still generating reactions across the country - The minister of state of petroleum had written the president seeking audience with him over the alleged insubordination of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) boss - Kachikwu accused the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Dr Maikanti Baru, of awarding contracts worth over $26 billion without the NNPC board approval which Kachikwu chairs The senator representing Kaduna Central senatorial istrict, Shehu Sani, has reacted to the leaked memo of Dr Ibe Kachikwu to President Muhammadu Buhari. Sani who appeared in Channels Televisions Politics Today programme on Wednesday, October 4, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to take serious action on the issues raised by the minister of state for petroleum. Senator Sani stated that if the allegations were not probed, it will spark negative conclusions that the presidency has been hijacked. READ ALSO: Kachikwu expresses displeasure over leakage of confidential document His words: The content of that letter and the allegations made raise a number of issues not only about the NNPC but about the whole structure of governance as it exists today, in the very sense that if a minister of state can say it has been difficult for him to access channels through which he can present his issues, I think there is a system disconnect and it is simply giving credence to the fact that there exists a government within a government. In some cases, they call them kitchen cabinet but this is not a kitchen cabinet. This is about some persons who have surrounded the president and are exercising power to their advantage and also manipulating power to their own interest. Senator Sani further stated that if President Buhari fails to address the issues raised in the memo, it will affect the reputation of his government. I am of the firm belief that if he is aware of this he would have taken action. And if he is not aware of it, this has been brought to the fore and now he can take action. But if he says he will not take an action on this issue then it will definitely stain the integrity and reputation of government. The problem is not about the issue coming to the spotlight, it is whether an action will be taken on it or not. So, if the president refuses to act on it that is when he will be in every way criticized. But if he takes an action on it, it will show that the party and the government is in tune with the spirit of accountability and probity, he said. He however assured Nigerians that regardless of what the president does, the Senate would not allow the matter to be swept under the carpet. He also expressed optimism that the committee the Senate set up to investigate the allegations will do a good job. Meanwhile, President Buhari is expected to meet Dr Kachikwu today, Thursday, September 5 over his memo to him. Reports say the meeting between the president and Kachikwu is expected to focus on content of his memo which could instigate the probing of Baru. READ ALSO: Resignation or sack: The untold dilemma of Buharis ministers Are Nigerians truly tired of President Buhari? - on Legit.ng TV Source: Legit.ng - The leaked memo of Dr Ibe Kachikwu to President Buhari is still a trending topic in Nigeria - Activist, Aisha Yesufu, has given her opinion on the issues raised by the minister of state of petroleum - Kachikwu had accused the group managing director of the NNPC, Dr Maikanti Baru, of awarding contracts worth over $26 billion without the NNPC board approval which Kachikwu chairs Bring Back our Girls co-founder, Aisha Yeseufu, has given her opinion on the issues raised by the minister of state of petroleum, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, in a leaked memo to President Muhammadu Buhari. Yesufu, a social activist and public commentator, took to her Twitter page on Wednesday, October 4, to criticize Buhari, with the way the minister was treated. She opined that the president was not interested in seeing the minister in response to claims by Dr Kachikwu that he has not been able to gain access to the Buhari. Dr Kachikwu's leaked memo to President Buhari has been on the lips of many Nigerians in the last 48 hours. Photo credit: Aso Rock READ ALSO: Kachikwu expresses displeasure over leakage of confidential document She tweeted: Stop saying Kachikwu has no access to the president. The president doesn't want to see Kachikwu period! Kachikwu is the minister of state of the ministry that gives Nigeria its highest income that Buhari is the minister. Buhari should be the one looking for Kachikwu. Kachikwu should be so overworked by Buhari himself and in close contact 24/7. She went on to suggest that President Buhari should be working very closely with Dr Kachikwu due to the corruption that took place in the last administration in the ministry and NNPC. She then alleges that the president was not angry at the corruption of the last administration, but at the fact that it wasn't his administration doing the corruption. She went on to advise supporters of the president to stop making excuses for him, adding that Nigeria is on an auto pilot running itself aground while President Buhari enjoys the perk of being called president and fawned upon. We want to blame everyone and everything but President Muhammadu Buhari and we keep giving him enabling environment to keep failing, she added. Meanwhile, the senator representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District, Shehu Sani, has reacted to the leaked memo of Kachikwu to President Muhammadu Buhari. Sani who appeared in Channels Televisions Politics Today programme on Wednesday, October 4, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to take serious action on the issues raised by the minister of state for petroleum. Senator Sani stated that if the allegations were not probed, it will spark negative conclusions that the presidency has been hijacked. His words: The content of that letter and the allegations made raise a number of issues not only about the NNPC but about the whole structure of governance as it exists today, in the very sense that if a minister of state can say it has been difficult for him to access channels through which he can present his issues, I think there is a system disconnect and it is simply giving credence to the fact that there exists a government within a government. In some cases, they call them kitchen cabinet but this is not a kitchen cabinet. This is about some persons who have surrounded the president and are exercising power to their advantage and also manipulating power to their own interest. READ ALSO: Resignation or sack: The untold dilemma of Buharis ministers Are Nigerians truly tired of President Buhari? - on Legit.ng TV Source: Legit.ng - 16 people have been reported dead in a boat mishap - The boat mishap happened between Kebbi and Niger states - Hussaini Abdullahi, the public relations officer of NSEMA, confirmed the incident Not less than 16 people have been reported dead in a boat mishap while trying to catch a glimpse of an Arabic inscription on a rock inside River Niger. Punch reports that the tragedy struck on Tuesday, October 4, between Rofia and Mauta in Agwata village in Borgu local government area of the state. Legit.ng gathered that the incident allegedly occurred when the boat carrying about 50 passengers coming from Zamare in Kebbi state hit a tree and capsized. READ ALSO: Why we are not bringing Diezani back to Nigeria to face trial - AGF It was learnt that 16 bodies were recovered, while two persons are still missing and the rest were saved alive by local divers in the area. Hussaini Abdullahi, the public relations officer of Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), confirmed the incident. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 new app Abdullahi said the agency was in touch with the community to get the accurate number of those involved in the accident. Meanwhile, Legit.ng had reported that a female pilgrim from Bauchi state was left in Saudi Arabia following the loss of her passport. Eid-el-Kabir: Why the ram killed must not exceed three days in your house - on Legit.ng TV Source: Legit.ng - The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said that it discovered 150,000 multiple registration - The commission said 3,000 of these multiple registrations were discovered in Taraba state alone - The commission also warned against underage age registration by INEC officials The Independent National Electoral Commission on Wednesday, October 4, said its Automated Fingerprint Identification Software (AFIS) had detected 3,000 persons found to have engaged in multiple registrations in Taraba. Muhammed Madagali, the acting resident electoral commissioner in the state, disclosed this at a stakeholders meeting in Jalingo, NAN reports. Madagali said about 150,000 multiple registrations had so far been fetched out of the register across the country through the software. The commission also warned against underage age registration by INEC officials. Photo source: Twitter, @inecnigeria READ ALSO: Why we are not bringing Diezani back to Nigeria to face trial - AGF He warned the electoral officers and other stakeholders against underage and multiple registrations. Anybody found guilty of multiple registrations will face the full wrath of the law, he said. Madagali said the commission was committed to registering every eligible voter in the state, in respective of religious or ethnic affiliation. Contributing, Dr Ben Ubeh, the Taraba chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), called on the electoral umpire to be transparent, and ensure equity and fairness in its dealings. READ ALSO: Another international media speaks about Nnamdi Kanus disappearance, predicts what will happen if he dies He said this was necessary to get the confidence of the people. Ubeh said that voters registration process was as important as the election. Also in his contribution, Chindo Bose, the state secretary of the Muslim Council, urged INEC to sensitise the people of the state on the electoral process to ensure popular participation. Legit.ng earlier reported that INEC had warned that the ban on the 2019 campaign is yet to be lifted. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app The commission's chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, warned all politicians to stop their campaigns for the 2019 general elections. Mahmood said campaigning before the ban is lifted remains illegal as the Electoral Act state the period of campaigning in public by every political party can only commence 90 days before polling day. Buhari 2019 posters hit the streets: Too early or too bad? on Legit.ng TV: Source: Legit.ng - Nnamdi Kanu's lawyer has urged a group, Lawyers of Conscience (LAWCONS), to meet him in court - The group had earlier called for the arrest of Kanu's lawyer, saying he is a member of the outlawed IPOB - Ifeanyi Ejiofor said the demand by the group for his arrest is an offshoot of inciting tantrums - He said he will not succumb to any threat, intimidation or harassment in carrying out his job The lawyer to the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has urged a group, Lawyers of Conscience, to meet him in court. Ifeanyi Ejiofor reacting to a demand by the group that he (Ejiofor) and some other members of the IPOB be arrested, said the publication is misleading and baseless. Ejiofor said the demand made by group is an offspring of inciting tantrums. However, stating that LAWCONS does not exist, Ejiofor called on the group and its leadership to meet him in court as a party to the suit already filed against the Nigerian army chief of staff, Tukur Buratai. He said: "From my far reaching research and extensive consultations, with the high echelon of the NBA, and other allied organizations, there is no such group, known and going by the name Lawyers of Conscience. READ ALSO: Another international media speaks about Nnamdi Kanus disappearance, predicts what will happen if he dies "Because if such persons exists, I will first extend my deepest sympathy to the supposed parents/guardians of this faceless group for wasting their hard earned resources, injecting these breeds of empty, and relatively uneducated rascals Into our poor society. "If I know them as lawyers, I would have also add that these manifestly uninformed political hirelings really need to go back to university to understand how law work." He also urged the group and its members to research and study more on the ethics of the law profession and its rules of professional misconduct. He said that even non lawyers seem to be more learned that the members of the group who have described themselves as lawyers of conscience. "From the poor content of the publication under reference, it depicts tantrums hurriedly put together by hungry motor park touts solely sponsored for a hatchet task. I will be failing in my duty as a lawyer if the intention of my rejoinder is to join issues with them on tantrums which does not bear the face of any known law. READ ALSO: Leaked memo: Buhari not interested in seeing Kachikwu - Aisha Yesufu "The publication which shows the level of frustration faced by the persecutors. I make bold to say therefore, that before the article will be given the undesired credit, I will request that the hoodlums who are acting the script written by their pay masters are fully unmasked. Removing their veil is significant in the circumstance, since they are operating under a pseudo name. It will assist with the full identities and particulars of the quacks behind the publication, for a job poorly executed. "Despite lacking in substance, and sound legal argument, such offensive tantrums had succeeded in exposing their sponsors the more. "Why are the persecutors afraid of returning back to the same court, they once enjoyed it's largesse? Particularly now a date has been fixed for definite hearing of our application to vacate the order purportedly proscribing IPOB?" the lawyer asked. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 new app The IPOB leader's counsel added that no amount of threat, intimidation or harassment will deter him from pursuing various federal government's infractions to its logical conclusion in court. Legit.ng earlier reported that LAWCONS demanded the arrest of Ejiofor and the media officer of the IPOB, Powerful Emma. The group of lawyers accused Ejiofor of fueling the agitation for Biafra. The group also warned the federal government of its plans to take legal actions if Ejiofor and the listed members of the IPOB are not arrested. Nnamdi Kanu's lawyer: my client is on a political trial - on Legit.ng TV Source: Legit.ng - Governor Fayose is under Fire from his political party, PDP - Party spokesperson, Dayo adeyeye, accused the governor of disrupting local government election plan - Adeyeye also accused Fayose of imposing age restriction for councillorship candidates Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti state has come under attack from the national secretary of his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dayo Adeyeye, over the local government primary elections in his state. Adeyeye accused Fayose of attempting to derail the LG election in his state by introducing rules and restrictions that do not exist in the Nigerian constitution, Premium Times reports. He said: In the first instance, Governor Fayose created his own constitution by fixing the maximum age for chairmanship candidates at 50 years while maximum age for councillorship candidate at 30 years against the provisions of Nigerian Constitution. READ ALSO: Let's meet in court - Nnamdi Kanu's lawyer tells group There is nowhere in the constitution that stipulates maximum age for any elective position. The primaries to elect the candidates for councillorship and chairmanship of various local governments commenced at the Government House instead of the various wards and local governments respectively. The governor is the electoral officer for the exercise. Thousands of our party people were subjected to untold hardships by sleeping on grasses, inside buses and car and concrete platform. The governor adopted Option A4 method that attracted a lot of people without any arrangement for accommodation of the delegates. Surprisingly, today, the party issued a statement that the governor had disqualified all chairmanship aspirants from Ado local government. Also, some LG chairmanship aspirants from Ido Osi, Moba and Ikole were included in the illegal disqualifications for unruly behaviours, thereby calling for fresh nomination before Friday for other interested aspirants. We believe that only a court of law can disqualify candidates for election not by executive fiat by the governor. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 news app Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that the 2019 presidential ambition of Governor Ayodele Fayose has hit the rocks even before it began as the PDP, under which he hopes to achieve this feat, has asked him not to waste his time. The party informed him the slot for the presidency had been zoned to the northern part of Nigeria adding that all its members were aware of this. The national publicity secretary of the PDP, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, who expressed shock at Fayoses ambition, urged the governor to respect the decisions taken by the party on zoning. 2019 presidency: Fayose versus Buhari, who will you vote for - on Legit.ng TV Source: Legit.ng - Reports from Edo state say a professor in the University of Benin (UNIBEN) has been killed - The report comes as security in Edo state has taken a nose dive in recent times - It is not clear if the professor was assassinated or it was a case of armed robbery A report by The Punch indicates that a professor in UNIBEN has been killed by unknown gunmen. The staff of the University, identified as Professor Paul Otasowie, was said to have been shot dead by the armed men in front of his residence. According to the report, the incident happened on Ekehuan road in Oredo local government area of the state on Wednesday, October 4. The late Professor Paul Otasowie. Source: Facebook READ ALSO: 16 pilgrims die in Kebbi, Niger state boat mishap It is however not clear if the the professor was assassinated or gunned down by suspected armed robbers. The late Professor Otasowie was a professor in the schools department of electrical and electronics engineering. Legit.ng observed that the late professor's Facebook page has been filled with messages bidding him goodbye. More messages... And more messages.... In another development, a group known as Behind Bars Intervention, has raised an alarm over the state of the Ogwashi Uku prison in Delta state, which they say has resulted to the death of one inmate, Smart Ohuzu. In a statement posted on Facebook, the group's leader, Prince Gwamnishu Harrison, who is an ex-awaiting trial prisoner, alleged that the Late Ohuzu died due to negligence by the prison authorities. Harrison stated that the deceased had just been remanded in the prison by a Delta state magistrate court. READ ALSO: 3 million children need emergency education support in Borno - UNICEF A woman laments on the abduction of her husband who is a staff of the University of Maiduguri, by Boko Haram on - Legit.ng TV Source: Legit.ng - Nigerian army troops on Wednesday, October 4, laid separate ambushes on Boko Haram terrorists in Borno state, recovering weapons and a motorcycle - The troops also successfully discovered and safely detonated an unexploded ordnance, and neutralized one terrorist who attempted to flee from the scene - 3 Boko Haram terrorists who disguised as Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) were also intercepted and forced to detonate their suicide vests, when trying to infiltrate a barrier Troops of the Nigerian army have recovered various weapons and a motorcycle, after ambushing Boko Haram terrorists in Borno state. Legit.ng notes that troops of the 151 and 202 Battalions of 21 Brigade Nigerian Army ambushed the terrorists in separate attacks on Wednesday, October 4. READ ALSO: Goodbye Diezani, you aren't coming home soon - Lauretta Onochie mocks former minister Troops from the 22 Brigade of Operation LAFIYA DOLE also intercepted Boko Haram terrorists later on in the day. The development was made public in a statement which was released by Brigadier General Sani Kukasheka Usman, director, army public relations. He stated: The Troops of 151 and 202 Battalions of 21 Brigade Nigerian Army, under Operation LAFIYA DOLE in furtherance of clearance and blockade Operation DEEP PUNCH II in separate but well-coordinated attacks simultaneously on Wednesday, 4th October 2017 at about 10:00am laid ambush on unsuspecting Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs) along Firgi-Pulka road in Bama Local Government Area of Borno state. The troops engaged the terrorists with a heavy fire causing the terrorists to abandon their weapons and flee in disarray with gun shot wounds. In the first instance upon exploitation, troops recovered from the ambush site one General Multi-Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG) and one motorcycle. They also successfully discovered and safely detonated an unexploded ordnance. However, the troops followed with a hot pursuit, neutralized one terrorist and recovered 6 bundles of zinc. In the same vein, crack troops of 22 Brigade of Operation LAFIYA DOLE displayed gallantry on 4th October at about 6:05pm by intercepting 3 Boko Haram terrorists disguised as Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and trying to infiltrate a barrier. The vigilant troops engaged the suicide bombers forcing them to hastily detonate their suicide vest. The troops recovered 2 AK-47 rifles, 2 magazines with several rounds of ammunition and amongst other items. "The troops action saved what would have been another evil machination of Boko Haram terrorists ploy to utilize suicide bombing to inflict heavy casualties on soft targets. See photos of some of the recovered items: 2 AK-47 rifles were recovered from the terrorists (Photo credit: Facebook: Aso Rock Villa) Various rounds of ammunition were also recovered during the raid (Photo credit: Facebook: Aso Rock Villa) The troops recovered a motorcycle which the terrorists used to carry out attacks (Photo credit: Facebook: Aso Rock Villa) PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that Nigerian troops battling Boko Haram in the north-eastern state of Borno recorded a major success against the terrorist group. Brigadier General Sani Kukasheka Usman, the director of public relations in the Nigerian army, confirmed that the terrorists were neutralized after they ran into a military ambush. Nigerian Air Force operations against Boko Haram - on Legit.ng TV: Source: Legit.ng Two members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the House of Representatives have defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC). The defectors are Zaphaniah Gisalo, Yusuf Tijani, House members representing Abuja municipal area council/Buari and Kogi state respectively. Gisalo is the chairman, house committee on FCT area councils. READ ALSO: International media writes about Kanu's disappearance, consequences They defection which took place on the floor of the House was greeted with protest by PDP lawmakers. Meanwhile, Legit.ng had reported that following a petition written by former First Lady, Patience Jonathan, the House of Representatives threatened to issue a bench warrant for the arrest of the acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app The House is threatening to take such action following Magus failure to honour the invitation extended to him by the committee on public petitions, over Mrs. Jonathans petition. The EFCC stages a walk against corruption - on Legit.ng TV: Source: Legit.ng - Three U.S troops and one partner nation member were killed in an ambush - The troops were killed in an ambush which took place 120 miles (193km) north of Niamey, the capital of Niger - The soldiers were part of a team assisting local forces when they were ambushed Three US soldiers and one partner nation member have been killed while two others wounded when a joint US-Nigerien patrol was ambushed in southwest Niger near the Mali-Niger border. A Nigerien security official also said five Nigerien soldiers also were killed in the attack. READ ALSO: International media writes about Kanu's disappearance, consequences According to CNN, two administration officials said the troops who were wounded have been evacuated to the capital, Niamey, and would soon be moved to Germany. The names of the officers are being withheld as part of the next of kin notification process. A US defense official speaking to CNN said that operations were underway in the area to locate the attackers. US Africa Command confirmed in a statement on Thursday morning, October 5, said: "US forces are in Niger to provide training and security assistance to the Nigerien Armed Forces, in their efforts to counter violent extremist organizations in the region." Meanwhile in a previous report by Legit.ng, troops of the Nigerian army have recovered various weapons and a motorcycle, after ambushing Boko Haram terrorists in Borno state. Troops of the 151 and 202 Battalions of 21 Brigade Nigerian Army ambushed the terrorists in separate attacks on Wednesday, October 4. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app Troops from the 22 Brigade of Operation LAFIYA DOLE also intercepted Boko Haram terrorists later on in the day. Nigerian Air Force operations against Boko Haram - on Legit.ng TV: Source: Legit.ng - Police have allegedly arrested two officers selling guns to robbers, kidnappers in Abia state - The arrested corporals are Mbara Udochukwu Force No. 46255 and Glory Eke Force No. 44269 - Udochukwu and Eke are not attached to the same division in the state The Nigeria Police Force in Umuahia, Abia state have allegedly arrested two corporals for selling revolver pistols to armed robbers, kidnappers and murderers. According to Sahara Reporters, the arrested corporals are Mbara Udochukwu Force No. 46255 and Glory Eke Force No. 44269. Legit.ng gathered that Udochukwu is attached to police zone 9 in Umuahia while Eke is attached to Isiala Mbaino division of the state. READ ALSO: 3 US and 5 Niger soldiers killed in ambush It was learned that Jude Madu, an ex-corporal, was also allegedly arrested on Saturday, September 9. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app Madu was allegedly arrested and found to be in possession of a phone belonging to Reverend Father Cyricus Onunkwo of Orlu Catholic Diocese, who was kidnapped on Friday, September 1, and found dead the following day. Meanwhile, Legit.ng had reported that Nigerian Senate launched an investigation into allegations of corruption leveled against Ibrahim Idris, the inspector general of police by Senator Isah Misau. Is the Nigerian police your friend? - on Legit.ng TV. Source: Legit.ng - The Ogun state police command parades suspected criminals at its headquarters at Eleweran, Abeokuta - The state commissioner of police, Ahmed Iliyasu, says the suspects were arrested from various locations in the state in an operation tagged criminals mop up - 31 suspected cultists were among those paraded The Ogun state police command has recovered 15 pump action guns and 14 cut to size locally made pistols from suspected criminals whose offences ranged from armed robbery, kidnapping impersonation to cultism, car snatching and ritual killing. READ ALSO: Canadian authorities speak as IPOB members protest in Canada The police made the disclosure on Wednesday, October 4, when it paraded the suspects at the commands headquarters at Eleweran, Abeokuta, The Punch reports. The state commissioner of police, Ahmed Iliyasu, said the suspects were arrested from various locations in the state in an operation tagged criminals mop up. Among those paraded were 31 cultists who were arrested at a hotel in Okeyidi area of Abeokuta, the state capital during an initiation ceremony. Others are two suspects, arrested for ritual killing, four for kidnapping, while Twenty-eight other suspects were arrested for armed robbery. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 new app The police also got a break in the operation as a member of the robbery gang who shot and wounded the divisional police officer of Ogbere police station on September 13, was paraded among the suspected criminals. Meanwhile, a report by The Punch indicates that a professor in UNIBEN has been killed by unknown gunmen. The staff of the University, identified as Professor Paul Otasowie, was said to have been shot dead by the armed men in front of his residence. According to the report, the incident happened on Ekehuan road in Oredo local government area of the state on Wednesday, October 4. It is however not clear if the the professor was assassinated or gunned down by suspected armed robbers. The late Professor Otasowie was a professor in the schools department of electrical and electronics engineering. Legit.ng visits kidnappers' den discovered in Lagos on Legit.ng TV Source: Legit.ng The memory of a beloved pet inspires one couple's fight against injustice. - President Buhari urges the Senate president Bukola Saraki to consider the expeditious confirmation of Aishah Ahmad as the deputy governor of the CBN - The new appointee is to replace a former deputy governor, who retired early this year - CBN denies that one of its directors was arrested by the EFCC President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of Aishah Ahmad as the new deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), subject to confirmation by the Senate. Ahmad is to replace a former deputy governor, who retired early this year. BREAKING: 2 members of House of Representatives dump PDP for APC In a letter to the Senate, the president urged the Senate president, Bukola Saraki to consider the expeditious confirmation of Ahmad, who would then resume work immediately. According to a statement on Thursday, October 5 from Femi Adesina, the special adviser to the president on media and publicity, the appointment is accordance with the provisions of Section 8(1) (2) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (Establishment) Act 2007. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app Similarly, the president asked the Senate to approve the confirmation of appointment of members of the monetary policy committee of the CBN. The new members are to replace four members, whose tenure expires at the end of this year. The nominees are: 1 Professor Adeola Festus Adenikinju; 2 Dr Aliyu Rafindadi Sanusi; 3 Dr Robert Chikwendu Asogwa 4 Dr Asheikh A. Maidugu. Meanwhile, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has denied that one of its directors had been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Isaac Okorafor, CBNs acting director of corporate communications, on Wednesday, October 4, in Abuja said that the report had no merit, NAN reports. Emir Sanusi blasts Nigerian leadership - on Legit.ng TV Source: Legit.ng - PDP has claimed that the alleged $25 billion NNPC scam was earmarked to fund President Muhammadu Buharis re-election - The minister of state for petroleum resources Dr. Ibe Kachikwu had in his letter to the president accused NNPC GMD, Maikanti Baru of corruption and insubordination - The party asked the president to suspend Baru without any further delay The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has claimed that the alleged $25 billion contract scam at the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is to fund President Muhammadu Buharis second term ambition in 2019. Legit.ng gathered that the minister of state for petroleum resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, in a leaked letter to President Buhari dated August 30, accused the Group Managing Director (GMD) Dr. Maikanti Baru of insubordination and corruption. The national publicity secretary of the PDP national caretaker committee, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, at a press conference on Thursday, October 5, expressed shock at the silence of President Buhari on the allegation. READ ALSO: APC declines comments on Kachikwus letter, says it wont speak on alleged corruption against NNPC boss Baru As a political party, we expect that the President, who prides himself as an indefatigable corruption fighter, would for once try to live above board, by genuinely allowing one of his own, accused of corruption, get properly investigated and prosecuted as a show of his impartiality in the war against corruption, the party said. PDP added that allegations levelled against Baru by Kachikwu were too grave to be swept under the carpet, insisting that the NNPC GMD should be treated like an accused person who should not have the opportunity to influence the investigation into his alleged misdeeds. It therefore, called for the immediate suspension of the Baru so that proper investigation could be carried out by the relevant anti-corruption agencies. The party said there is insincerity in President Buharis anti-corruption war, and challenged the president to correct the open impression Nigerians have about his so-called anti-corruption war. Ordinarily if there was sincerity in the anti-corruption war, President Muhammadu Buhari should not have waited for any prompting before he takes a decisive action on this matter. But as customary with his administration, we suspect that hes trying to shield Baru as he did for Babachir Lawal, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) whom he merely suspended to allow the hullabaloo generated by the fraud perpetrated in the management of the emergency fund for the IDPs, die down. Also up till now, we have never heard anything again about the millions of dollars and billions of naira discovered at an Ikoyi apartment. Nigerians have not forgotten the acts of illegality and double standard perpetrated by the president in refusing to hand over Babachir Lawal to the EFCC for proper investigation and possible prosecution for graft, but rather, preferring to give the task of investigation of the open sleaze to the Vice President, in a move not known to any law of this nation, the party said. PDP observed that the $25 billion scandal is less than 10 percent of the $2 billion arms deal fund allegedly converted by the former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki for which many people have been arrested and are being persecuted. Nigerians can now see the hypocrisy in the so called anti-corruption fight. We may as well say that the privileged class of APC members enjoys total immunity from the anti-corruption campaign. We have been saying this for months that the looting of the nations resources under this administration is record setting in the history of this nation and we are being proven right on daily basis by the little revelations that are being made by even those working under the administration, PDP said. The party wondered what gave the GMD the temerity to sideline a minister under whom he works and take decisions without consultation. This, it added, might be the fact that some that powerful people at the corridors of power were tacitly involved. If the Presidents powerful Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari could sit on the NNPC board and such a calamity is taking place without an eyelid being blinked, we are forced to believe that the stealing is being done to the advantage of the president who has shown by his body language that the only thing that matter most to him for now, is his second term ambition. "Will it be considered a hate speech if we say the money being stolen by President Buharis men are being kept aside into a special pool for the prosecution of his second term ambition? PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 new app We challenge the president to prove us wrong by allowing his allies being caught up in acts of brazen stealing of our commonwealth, get punished in accordance with the laws of the land. Anything aside this, we will take as confirmation of our suspicion that the rottenness is from the very top, PDP added. The party also demanded an order from the President to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other anti-graft agencies to immediately commence investigation into all issues of corruption levelled against Baru, as well as other persons who might have overtly or covertly participated in the illegal act. Meanwhile, Legit.ng had reported that Ibe Kachikwu called the attention of President Muhammadu Buhari to the alleged illegal practices and insubordination of the group managing director of the NNPC, Maikanti Baru. Are Nigerians truly tired of President Buhari? - on Legit.ng TV Source: Legit.ng - The police arrested the 11 kidnap suspects and paraded them in Abuja - The suspects are aged between 20 and 40 and had carried out their operations along major highways - The law enforcement agency says they would soon be arraigned The Nigeria Police Force has paraded 11 suspects described as vicious kidnappers, who until their arrest, held sway along the now very dangerous Abuja-Kaduna highway. Legit.ng learnt some of the suspects were also arrested along the Gwari-Funtua, Birnin Gwari-Kaduna and Kaduna-Kano highways The police, through its spokesperson, Jimoh Moshood, gave the names of the suspects as: The suspects being paraded. Credit: Nigeria Police Force 1. Hassan Ibrahim, a 40-year-old man and leader of the gang. A brand new AK47 rifle was allegedly recovered from him. READ ALSO: International media writes about Kanu's disappearance, consequences 2. Lukman Jubrin, a 24-year-old male 3. Yahaya Saibu, who is 25 years old 4. Victor Abila, 28 years old 5. Likita Umar, 27 years old 6. Abdullahi Haruna, 25 years old 7. Usman Marafa, 31 years old 8. Bello Abdullahi, who is 29years old. An AK47 rifle was reportedly recovered from him and another one from his gang. 9. Abdulmumin Alhaji, 27 years old 10. Bala Mohammed, 30 years old 11. Abubakar Mohammed, whose age could not be confirmed. The suspects as paraded in Abuja. Credit: Nigeria Polcie Force According to the police, 72 round of AK 47 ammunition, three locally made guns, cutlasses and charms were recovered from the suspects. The law enforcement agency also said it rescued four kidnap victims, three men and a woman from the suspects. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 new app They will be arraigned in court on completion of investigation. While appreciating the supports of the members of the public in the successes being showcased today, the renewed commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to prevent and detect crimes, most especially violent crimes such as kidnapping and armed robbery throughout the country remained unwavering and unequivocal, the police said. Legit.ng earlier reported how the Ogun state police command has recovered 15 pump action guns and 14 cut to size locally made pistols from suspected criminals whose offences ranged from armed robbery, kidnapping impersonation to cultism, car snatching and ritual killing. Evans the kidnapper lands in Kirikiri prison after first appearance in court - on Legit.ng TV Source: Legit.ng - Nigerian government has released N100bn sukuk bond proceeds - The bond according to the minister of finance, Kemi Adeosun, would be used to finance 25 road projects across the country - Adeosun assured that the over-subscription of the bond to the tune of N105.87bn was a sign of confidence in the Nigerian economy and the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari The federal government has released the proceeds of the N100bn sukuk bond for the financing of 25 road projects being handled by the federal ministry of power, works and housing across the country. Legit.ng gathered that the minister of finance, Kemi Adeosun, handed over the N100bn proceeds cheque to the minister of power, works and housing, Babatunde Fashola, in Abuja on Thursday, October 5. READ ALSO: Former First Lady Patience Jonathan reveals why EFCC is allegedly persecuting her, indicts ex-commission's boss Lamorde The federal government had issued the sovereign sukuk of N100bn in September. The bond which was successfully completed last week has a tenure of seven years. Minister of power, works and housing, Babatunde Fashola with minister of finance, Kemi Adeosun during the presentation of N100bn sukuk bond proceeds in Abuja. Photo credit: Facebook, Kemi Adeosun Adeosun said the oversubscription of the bond to the tune of N105.87bn was a sign of confidence in the Nigerian economy and the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. She added that the sukuk proceeds would unlock the potential of Nigeria. The minister said: This is the first sukuk bond issuance for Nigeria. It is about financial inclusion and deepening of our financial markets. The proceeds will be used to support government capital spending for 2017 the construction and rehabilitation of 25 key economic roads across the six geo-political zones of the country. The roads will ease commuting, spur economic activities across the country and further close our infrastructural gap. Each of the geopolitical zones of the country is expected to receive the sum of N16.67bn for road projects in the respective zones. The north central and southsouth zones accounted for five each of the 25 key economic road projects, while the North East, North West and South East have four road projects each. Three projects are to receive funding from the Sovereign Sukuk proceeds in the Southwest zone. Minister of power, works and housing, Babatunde Fashola with minister of finance, Kemi Adeosun during the presentation of N100bn sukuk bond proceeds in Abuja. Photo credit: Facebook, Kemi Adeosun Speaking at the handover ceremony, Fashola commended the finance minister, the Director-General of Debt Management Office, Ms. Patience Oniha and the financial advisers for the bond issuance for their painstaking efforts in realising the milestone. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 new app He assured the ministrys contractors that the Federal Government was committed to the funding of its infrastructural projects across the country. The representative of the contractors, Mousa Nahkia, expressed the contractors gratitude to Buhari, Adeosun and Fashola for making the money a reality. Meanwhile, Legit.ng had previously reported that President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of Aishah Ahmad as the new deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), subject to confirmation by the Senate. Market Survey: Traders say recession almost over as prices are gradually dropping - on Legit.ng TV Source: Legit.ng This is Naked Capitalism fundraising week. 878 donors have already invested in our efforts to combat corruption and predatory conduct, particularly in the financial realm. Please join us and participate via our donation page, which shows how to give via check, credit card, debit card, or PayPal. Read about why were doing this fundraiser, what weve accomplished in the last year and our current goal, funding our guest bloggers. Uber founder and ousted CEO Travis Kalanick end-ran other major Uber shareholders late last week by exercising his right to appoint two board members to fill vacant seats. That took place mere days prior to a scheduled board meeting that was to vote in major governance changes seen as necessary to cinch a hoped-for large share purchase by SoftBank. The trigger for Kalanicks move was apparently terms that would reduce his rights, including barring him from ever being CEO again. As was widely reported, the warring factions in the board have come to a truce. Per the Financial Times: Everyone felt they got part of what they wanted with the new deal, which was approved late on Tuesday. However, the agreement all hinges on the success of the SoftBank-led investment, and the governance changes will only take effect upon the close of that deal. Over the next two weeks, a group of investors including the SoftBank Vision Fund, Dragoneer and General Atlantic, will be working to find the right price for a massive tender offer, through which they will buy billions of dollars worth of Ubers shares from existing shareholders at a discounted valuation. All shareholders will be allowed to sell into the tender offer, including early investors, as well as early employees who may have hundreds of millions of dollars in Uber shares that they have not been able to liquidate. Some employees took to Twitter late on Tuesday to express their relief at finally being able to sell their shares. But the challenge will be to find a price that attracts enough sellers, and is also palatable to the buyers. The SoftBank consortium says it must buy at least 14 per cent of Ubers shares for the deal to go through, and a price that implies a $50bn valuation has been under discussion. The paperwork to kick off the process was set to be signed on Wednesday, with the tender offer expected to be launched two weeks later. About three-quarters of the funds will come from SoftBank, and about one-quarter from the Dragoneer consortium, said people close to the deal. The investors will also buy $1bn to $1.25bn of new Uber shares at a higher valuation of about $68bn for the company, in a face-saving move that will allow it to maintain the same eye-popping valuation at which it raised money last year. Mind you, all this does is solve Ubers most pressing issue, which was a power struggle in the board that was so serious that it threatened to tear the company apart. Uber still has its overarching problem of a lack of a path to profit at anything remotely approaching its current scale, let alone a reason to believe it has any hope of recovering years of massive subsidies to riders. Uber is a rare case of venture capitalists handing out money to large swathes of the great unwashed public. Hubert Horan gave his assessment: The news does change the near-term outlook for Uber, although not the long-term outlook. Specifically: 1. The unresolvable Board level conflicts had the potential to block any and all near-term company decisions. Those seem to have been papered over in ways that give everyone breathing room for a while. Until yesterday it would have been impossible to make any Board or executive appointments or for the Board to even talk about a possible SoftBank investment without interim steps indicating a clear victory of Kalanick over Benchmark or vice versa. By approving six more Board seats, youve kicked that can a bit further down the road. 2. The next critical issue is whether SoftBank actually makes an offer along the lines discussed in the press, and whether the Board can reach agreement on it. Several stories this week have emphasized that even with the governance changes, this isnt a done deal. It would obviously be a huge PR win for Uber; the problem is the underlying conflict between early and later investors who paid wildly different amounts for their shares. Yesterdays changes eliminated disproportionate votes-per-share, but not the disparity between the original cost per share. Im guessing that the discounts SoftBank would offer existing shareholders would suggest a valuation less that later round investors paid. Benchmark would still make a fortune if it sold at this discount, but it might force Fidelity or the Saudis to take big write-downs. Kalanick had fought the original SoftBank deal that Benchmark initiated arguing that early shareholders should not be allowed to cash out on hugely profitable terms unless all other shareholders had the same opportunity. This was undoubtedly motivated by his hatred of Benchmark, but it is a valid point. I presume yesterdays deal includes some arrangement that Benchmark and Kalanick could live with, but the press has ignored this issue, and so its unclear whether these later investors end up getting screwed. Benchmark has said they would drop their lawsuit over Kalanicks right to control board seats if a SoftBank deal happens; as yet no indication of whether Pishevar will drop his separate lawsuit about the reduction in their voting rights. As discussed previously, returns to SoftBank would require some combination of (a) screaming discounts (b) a deal that could directly lead to exercising effective control of the Board before long, and (c) deals that allow SoftBank to totally eliminate Uber as a competitor in major Asian markets. 3. The other short term critical issue is the Waymo lawsuit, where Waymo finally got access to a major internal Uber study of the Otto acquisition, and won a delay in the case so they could amend their complaint based on that information. Preliminary second/third had reports suggests that the new evidence adds lots of damning but circumstantial evidence supporting the claim that Uber and Kalanick actively conspired to steal the Otto team away from Waymo, but there are still no reports that evidence has emerged showing that Uber directly incorporated any Google IP into its driverless car program. If Waymo cant produce that evidence, the legal risks to Uber become much smaller. 4. If Softbank happens and Waymo cant produce the smoking gun, the press narrative will emerge that Uber has solved all its serious problems and is back on the path to glory. They wont be glory requires at an absolute minimum an IPO within the next 18 months at a valuation north of $50 billion. The numbers dont add up today, and they wont add up in 18 months, but it buys Uber an enormous amount of breathing room. In a new story today, the Financial Times describes how Uber has had a hard time retaining drivers and is under pressure from competition with Lyft to improve its relations with them, which above all means improving their economic deal. Uber cut fares and thus payouts to drivers in early 2016. From Daily Beast: A crowd of 600 drivers gathered outside the Uber office in Long Island City, Queens, to protest a 15 percent reduction in fares last month, which also means 15 percent lower wages. That pay cut is on top of Ubers 20 percent slashing of fares in 2014. All things being equal, drivers who began less than two years ago have seen their pay tumble a whopping 35 percent. Ubers own statistics even back up the claim that drivers are getting screwed. Uber also pointed out that any decrease in the overall fee paid by riders will affect their bottom line, too; the lower the total fare, the lower their commission, which is usually 20 percent to 25 percent. Later stories revealed other ways in which drivers are cheated. For instance, Ubers charges to riders are based on routing that is more costly than the one it tells drivers to take, which is also the one it uses to pay them. The Financial Times article says that driver turnover is 50% a year. That is much lower than the figures reported by Naked Capitalism readers who have been Uber drivers. One said that only 4% of Uber drivers stick with it for more than a year. Of course, Uber and the drivers whove given us intel likely differ on how much driving is required to be considered to be a current Uber driver. Needless to say, better treatment of Ubers drivers means higher costs, which conflicts with the companys pipe dream of a 2019 IPO. From the Financial Times: In the airport waiting lot in San Francisco, theres one topic that always sets Uber drivers tongues wagging: where are the best spots to spend the night sleeping in the car. Theres a McDonalds just down the street that has a spacious parking lot, and drivers say they can stay there overnight, unbothered. For those doing bar runs, theres a Safeway in the Castro district with room to park, although security guards there recently started cracking down on drivers sleeping in their vehicles. The parking lot of Planet Fitness, a gym, is also a popular spot, because drivers can easily take a shower in the morning. But during Ubers years of breakneck growth, the drivers were left behind. Lawsuit piled upon lawsuit, alleging that drivers were misclassified, or that their pay was not calculated correctly. Meanwhile lots of drivers voted with their feet: nearly half of Uber drivers in the US quit in less than a year, according to company statistics collected in 2013-2015. More and more have started driving for rival Lyft, which has been gaining market were sharing in the US, partly thanks to its pro-driver reputation Mr [Ronnie] Fernandez, who is looking for another job, says low pay is the drivers biggest problem. If you compare all your costs, the gas you buy, the maintenance, the oil changes, you are not making money, he says. Because Uber drivers are not employees, they are not entitled to San Franciscos minimum wage of $14 an hour and most say that, after costs, they are making less than that. Harry Campbell, who drives for Uber and Lyft and runs a consulting service, The Rideshare Guy, says: The average driver doesnt have a great sense of what their costs are. Weve been saying for some time that Uber exploits drivers lack of understanding of their own economics, particularly the cost of wear and tear on their car. One Uber driver went through the math in comments and said the effective pay was below minimum wage unless your car was at least six years old, something Uber discourages. How long Uber can keep this going is an open question. But even with a SoftBank investment, it is going to run out of road in the not-too-distant future. This is Naked Capitalism fundraising week. 880 donors have already invested in our efforts to combat corruption and predatory conduct, particularly in the financial realm. Please join us and participate via our donation page, which shows how to give via check, credit card, debit card, or PayPal. Read about why were doing this fundraiser, what weve accomplished in the last year and our current goal, funding our guest bloggers. From Altandmain: Just a heads up for NC readers living in NY: Democratic Primary deadline is Oct 13, 2017. See the following: LETTER: To vote in 18 Democratic Primary, register by Oct. 13 To register: 2018 Primary Voters: Be Aware of Friday the 13th (of October) NYSVoter Public Information Voter Registration Search You will need to get the relevant form from your County. So to be a registered party person, and vote in the Democratic Primary, it has to be done by Oct 13. NY due no doubt in part to these rules has a low turnout, so any primary votes count for a lot. ******* Tomb Of Real Santa Claus, St. Nicholas, Found By Archaeologists? International Business Times How one man changed fashion forever BBC How Deep Is Your Love? Laphams Quarterly. Brings to mind the Visconti film about Ludwig see it if you ever get the chance on a proper movie screen. LIVES ON HOLD: BALINESE GRANDMOTHER AWAITS MOUNT AGUNG ERUPTION SCMP Kazuo Ishiguro wins the Nobel prize in literature Guardian How Economics Is Forging Renewed Links With Social Sciences The Wire. And high time, too. Better than the headline. US$750,000 Rolls-Royce swallowed up after sinkhole suddenly appears in Chinese street SCMP. Is this video for real? Readers? Mackenzies messengers: A Raj-era painting shows how Indians helped the British map India Scroll.in Campaign rids Seattle of 2 million straws in September; vote which city is next Treehugger Why nation-states are good Aeon Harvey Weinstein Lawyers Battling N.Y. Times, New Yorker Over Potentially Explosive Stories (Exclusive) Hollywood Reporter David Geffen Criticizes Shameful Lack of Support for Concert Hall NYT Class Warfare Imperial Collapse Watch A significantly weaker America: Major study warns of eroding U.S. military Defense News. resilc: we need junta aid concerts. Health Care Big Brother Is Watching You Watch Kill Me Now China? North Korea Cold War radiation testing in US widespread, author claims ABC News (martha r) Video: Everyday Israelis express support for genocide Electronic Intifada. UserFriendly: God this video makes me think of the Hitler youth. New Cold War Ruth Bader Ginsburg Claps Back At Neil Gorsuch Above the Law Trump Transition A Dramatic Increase in Annual Average Temperatures for U.S. Cities This Decade Weather Underground Hurricane Alley Puerto Rico Catalonia Brexit Equifax Exclusive: SEC forensics unit sought resources, cyber training ahead of 2016 hack Reuters (martha r) India Antidote du jour (J-LS photo, September 2017): See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here. This is Naked Capitalism fundraising week. 889 donors have already invested in our efforts to combat corruption and predatory conduct, particularly in the financial realm. Please join us and participate via our donation page, which shows how to give via check, credit card, debit card, or PayPal. Read about why were doing this fundraiser, what weve accomplished in the last year and our current goal, funding our guest bloggers. By Robert Ayres, a Professor Emeritus at INSEAD, and Michael Olenick, a research fellow at INSEAD. Originally published at Olen on Economics The libertarian bible is Ayn Rands Atlas Shrugged. There are two groups of villains in Rands dystopia, looters and moochers. Heroes are producers, who create products and services. Ill reserve judgment on my own feelings on the book other than to say its a perennial favorite for conservatives. The Library of Congress ranks it as the most influential American book ever written. Rands looters are government officials who rig markets to favor various constituent groups, chief among them existing industries faced with disruptive technology. For example, one of her heroes builds a new type of steel and sells it to the heroine, who runs a railroad. Existing steel companies successfully pressure the government to nationalize the processes and patents for the common good. Rick Perry is Trumps appointee to the Department of Energy, an agency Perry once vowed to eliminate. Given the excitement in Trump-land many have forgotten about Perry. Sure, Perry is a bona fide idiot but in an administration where somebody called The Mooch, discussed, on-the-record, being cock-blocked by Trumps now former Chief of Staff, Perry begins to look almost normal. But make no mistake, Perry is the typical parasite weve come to expect from Trump. Perry has started a pre-ordained process to subsidize coal and nuclear plant operators, taxing people through artificially high electricity rates to subsidize costly coal and nuclear plants. Whats the problem with coal and nuclear plants, besides that theyre expensive? Coal pollutes. Badly. Nuclear, when it works well, leaves radioactive waste behind that has a half-life of 24,000 years. When it does not work well, like it didnt at Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, and Fukushima, it tends to create ecological disasters. Besides that the two sources of power have serious environmental problems theyre more expensive than alternative energy sources that do not. The US Energy Information Administration released a report on the various costs of energy, here. Spoiler alert: nuclear power costs a fortune to generate. Coal comes next. Then solar. Then wind. Then natural gas. Hydroelectric is marked N/A in 2015 but, in 2013, it was cheaper than coal. The price of wind declined 25% from 2013 to 2016 and the price of solar declined 67%. Assuming those price declines continue and with the newfound Chinese enthusiasm for renewables that seems a given it wont be long before renewables cost less than any fossil fuel. For Perry, the former Governor of Texas who works for a guy that promised to Make Coal Great Again this is a meltdown (I couldnt resist). Perrys still-in-existence Department of Energy has asked the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to begin the rule-making process to subsidize both the cost and profitsof coal and nuclear plants. Perrys puppet-masters constituents, with their aging nuclear and coal plants, argue that renewable energy from wind and solar is variable so that backup generators are sometimes needed for days with calm winds or cloudy skies. For now, lets ignore the rapid pace of battery progress (which Ill get to later) and take this assumption as true. There is an easy solution: turn on the inexpensive natural gas plants to make up the difference. In fact, right now, that is exactly how things work: energy companies constantly sell backup energy capacity to one another. But, under Perrys scheme, companies would be required to purchase a certain amount of this backup energy from fuel plants that store 90-days or more of fuel on-site. Why 90-days? Because its completely impractical to store 90-days of natural gas on-site but easy enough to store that much coal and nuclear fuel. This is an old-school Rand-style looter giveaway from a bunch of self-described conservatives trying to rescue a dinosaur industry thats choking the world. Just to clarify: Republicans, through Rick Perry, are working to increase electric bills to subsidize and protect coal and nuclear plant owners. Trump and Perry specifically require people to pay not only for plants but guaranteed profits to the owners of filthy old generation technology. Knock knock to objectvists Rand Paul and Paul Ryan, youll both be introducing veto-proof legislation to block this, right? Now lets return to the subject of standby electrical power generation. Of course it is needed and natural gas works just fine. End of argument. But even natural gas wont be needed indefinitely. There is plenty of capacity that either exists or is in the works and renewables are rapidly dropping in price and being installed. Germany, on average, produces 35% of overall electricity from renewables. But much of the remaining 65% is for factories so on weekends, where fewer factories operate, the percentage is even higher. On Sunday, April 30, 2017, Germany produced 85% of electricity used from renewables. Longer-term, the solution might come from cars. The price of electric cars is dropping quickly. Electric cars are simpler than internal combustion engines and experts agree will last far longer. More to the point, they already have enormous batteries. So cars can be charged from solar, during daylight hours, then used to power houses during evening hours, then be recharged, from wind power, during sleeping hours. Plus, the economies of scale will make batteries, for battery farms and in-home storage, both cheaper and more efficient over time. There are other systems to store renewable power and one or more will eventually be perfected. So the US already has plenty of back-up generation from low-cost natural gas and new technologies are likely to add more as they evolve. Perrys alleged problem isnt even real and his solution, subsidizing coal and nuclear plants, is a form of pure theft, a transfer from the most deserving, clean renewable and safe plants, to the least deserving, filthy and dangerous ones. Trump and his cronies cabinet are on-track to go down in history as the worst in US history, both individually and as a group. Thanks to Congressional dysfunction much of what theyve done is by decree and can be expeditiously undone once sanity is returned to the White House. Until then be prepared for higher electric bills to pad the pockets of people who built filthy coal plants decades ago. This isnt to say the original engineers were bad they used the technology they had but its been disrupted and thats how disruptive innovation works. Low-cost alternative technology that is not ideal is invented. It matures and eventually replaces the existing tech. This is almost always a good thing. Channeling Gandhi, first they ignored the new tech. They they laughed. Now theyve enlisted Rick Perry. But the fight is hopeless; it is only a question of when renewables will dominate, not if. By the way, for anybody interested here is how Rick Perry signs his name to official correspondence. (Natural News) The mainstream media wont dare mention the current climate research examining ancient evidence which suggests that heating and cooling cycles are a part of Earths natural processes, regardless of human population and activity. The current media bias wants us to believe that climate change is some new man-made threat that governments should take action against. Americans are shamed into believing that their carbon footprint must be restricted and their economy should be turned over to world governing bodies. Democratic support for global governance, weather manipulation and carbon taxes are just a few goals of this continuous promotion of man-made climate change. Climate change sensationalists even use extreme weather events to their ideological advantage, blaming hurricanes, floods, droughts, volcanoes and earthquakes on the population and human activities. Forcing the public to accept guilt for weather events and carbon levels is a telltale sign that sociopaths want their way. After examining ancient evidence, it becomes clear that weather and climate ebb and flow over time and are affected by phenomenon outside human influence, such as Earths orbit, tilt and changing distribution of solar radiation. Any heating/cooling patterns that are recognized today were also recognized tens of thousands of years ago, when human activity barely played a role. Instead of trying to guilt, scare and tax the population over the idea of cataclysmic climate change, more effort should be used to prepare for inevitable changes so that people are more ready to adapt to cycles that naturally take place on Earth. Rapid climate change took place 780 to 760 thousand years ago, as evidenced by Professor Hyodo Masayuki and a multi-organizational research team from the Research Center for Inland Seas, Kobe University. They found that the Earth went through a period of glacial and interglacial cycles that was caused by changes in the Earths orbital rotation and the tilt of its axis in relation to solar radiation distribution. The changes are known to climate scientists as Milankovitch cycles. Ironically, the Earths current orbital patterns are lining up in similar fashion. Changes in Earths climate are vastly out of human control. Furthermore, scientists at UNSW Sydney found a global warming period in Antarctica that took place 30,000 years ago. By sequencing carbon dating of a kauri tree preserved in a New Zealand peat swamp, they were able to explain why temperatures jumped several degrees centigrade in just a few decades, even during a glacial period. The rapid warming during a glacial period is known to climate researchers as a Dansgaard-Oeschger event. During this bipolar seesaw, temperatures will rise in the Arctic and cool over the Antarctic and vice versa. This cycle is often caused by deep ocean currents shutting down in the North Atlantic. By studying the lake sediments of that time, the researchers identified another phenomenon behind the rapid heating/cooling period of that time the simultaneous collapse of rain-bearing trade winds over tropical northeast Australia. Intriguingly, we found that the spike in temperature preserved in the Greenland ice core corresponded with a 400-year-long surface cooling period in the Southern Ocean and a major retreat of Antarctic ice, said lead author and UNSW scientist Professor Chris Turney. To test the theory, the researchers created a model simulating the rapid ice retreat and freshwater release around the Antarctic into the Southern Ocean. Their modeling matched the data and caused cooling in the Southern Ocean but left the remaining ocean water circulation unchanged. The influx of freshwater caused rapid warming in the tropical Pacific, setting off a chain of events in atmospheric circulation that led to much higher temperatures over the North Atlantic and the collapse of rain-bearing winds over tropical Australia. If anything is learned from this study, climatologists should note that any attempt to fix the Earths natural heating/cooling cycles could cause a ripple effect, leading to weather changes throughout the planet. Any attempt to manipulate cycles that are beyond human control could cause further, unprecedented shifts in climate. Check out ClimateScienceNews.com for more information on Earths natural cycles. Sources include: ScienceDaily.com ScienceDaily.com NaturalNews.com (Natural News) Most Left-wing American political figures, entertainers and academics speak highly of the United Kingdoms socialized medicine system, saying that the U.S. ought to emulate it. But they dont live there so they dont really know just how bad it is, and how close it is getting to collapse. In fact, the National Health Service is so chronically under-funded socialized medical systems require massive infusions of tax money that scores of senior physicians may begin refusing to take on new patients unless the government commits more financial resources, the UKs Daily Mail is reporting. The fact is, they really have few other choices. In a letter to Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt, the British Medical Association says that the government pledged to spend an additional 12 billion (about $16 billion) earlier this year, but that additional funding has yet to materialize, placing greater strains on an already financially burdened system. In the strongly-worded letter that was signed by Dr. Richard Vautry, the BMAs head of the GP Committee, the group said its members were threatening to turn away new patients en masse, adding that patient demand is so unprecedented that senior physicians are either retiring or quitting their profession. Besides needing additional funding to care for more patients, the BMA warned that NHS-run hospitals are falling apart, including surgery suites. Practices are reaching the point where closing their [new patient] lists seems the only viable way to ensure patient safety, he wrote. Because of a rising and aging population, surgeons and practitioners throughout England are being overwhelmed. On top of rising demand, there is a national shortage of doctors (and who really wonders why). The British government has said it would attempt to recruit an additional 5,000 family physicians by the 2020-21 timeframe, but the most recent data indicate that as many as 400 doctors per month are quitting. Many physicians are retiring way early in the 50s or they are moving abroad. Some have left to work in the private sector. In addition, the BMA is upset that a rescue package proposed by the NHS top officials for surgeries has not come through. The promised package would have provided an additional 2.4 billion for general practice until the 2020-21 timeframe for additional doctors and other staff, and for upgrading run-down surgery centers, the Daily Mail noted. However, the letter states, the funds are failing to reach frontline primary care services in a way that makes a tangible difference. (Related: As medical costs continue to skyrocket, restaurants are now adding surcharge fees to cover health insurance for employees.) In September, the BMA conducted a survey of 1,870 senior partner physicians; the organization found that more than half 54 percent said they were willing to stop taking new patients because they simply cant handle the additional load. They can do this legally as long as they obtain approval from local NHS managers on the grounds that patient safety is at risk by surgeries being overwhelmed, the Daily Mail reported. Some practices have already begun to stop taking new patients. Chronic government underfunding of the NHS is nothing new. In June 2014, the chairman of the BMA, Dr. Mark Porter, told doctors at the organizations annual conference that members should fight every day until an upcoming general election to expose the chronic lack of investment in the NHS, the UKs Independent reported. And yet, this is the kind of system envisioned by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., who has proposed a single-payer, Medicare-for-all system that would cost a mind-boggling $14-15 trillion over a decade, the Washington Post noted. How bad is a socialized healthcare system pushed by Sanders? So bad his own state balked at implementing the exact same plan because it was wait for it prohibitively expensive. There is nothing superior to a health care system that is exclusively free-market in its design that is to say, free from government regulatory and tax schemes. When competition, which is the bedrock of free market capitalism, is allowed to flourish, services become cheaper, better, and more efficient. We know this because this is the healthcare model America used to have, back when doctors still made house calls. J.D. Heyes is a senior writer for NaturalNews.com and NewsTarget.com, as well as editor of The National Sentinel. Sources include: CRNC.org Independent.co.uk DailyMail.co.uk TheNationalSentinel.com A highly elastic and adhesive surgical glue that quickly seals wounds without the need for common staples or sutures could transform how surgeries are performed. Biomedical engineers from the University of Sydney and the United States collaborated on the development of the potentially life-saving surgical glue, called MeTro. MeTro's high elasticity makes it ideal for sealing wounds in body tissues that continually expand and relax - such as lungs, hearts and arteries - that are otherwise at risk of re-opening. The material also works on internal wounds that are often in hard-to-reach areas and have typically required staples or sutures due to surrounding body fluid hampering the effectiveness of other sealants. MeTro sets in just 60 seconds once treated with UV light, and the technology has a built-in degrading enzyme which can be modified to determine how long the sealant lasts - from hours to months, in order to allow adequate time for the wound to heal. The liquid or gel-like material has quickly and successfully sealed incisions in the arteries and lungs of rodents and the lungs of pigs, without the need for sutures and staples. The results were published today in Science Translational Medicine, in a paper by the University of Sydney's Charles Perkins Centre and Faculty of Science; Boston's Northeastern University, the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University and the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) in Boston. MeTro combines the natural elastic protein technologies developed in collaboration with author and University of Sydney McCaughey Chair in Biochemistry Professor Anthony Weiss, with light sensitive molecules developed in collaboration with author and Director of the Biomaterials Innovation Research Center at Harvard Medical School Professor Ali Khademhosseini. Lead author of the study, Assistant Professor Nasim Annabi from the Department of Chemical Engineering at Northeastern University, oversaw the application of MeTro in a variety of clinical settings and conditions. "The beauty of the MeTro formulation is that, as soon as it comes in contact with tissue surfaces, it solidifies into a gel-like phase without running away," she said. "We then further stabilize it by curing it on-site with a short light-mediated crosslinking treatment. This allows the sealant to be very accurately placed and to tightly bond and interlock with structures on the tissue surface." The University of Sydney's Professor Anthony Weiss described the process as resembling that of silicone sealants used around bathroom and kitchen tiles. "When you watch MeTro, you can see it act like a liquid, filling the gaps and conforming to the shape of the wound," he said. "It responds well biologically, and interfaces closely with human tissue to promote healing. The gel is easily stored and can be squirted directly onto a wound or cavity. "The potential applications are powerful - from treating serious internal wounds at emergency sites such as following car accidents and in war zones, as well as improving hospital surgeries." Professor Khademhosseini from Harvard Medical School was optimistic about the study's findings. "MeTro seems to remain stable over the period that wounds need to heal in demanding mechanical conditions and later it degrades without any signs of toxicity; it checks off all the boxes of a highly versatile and efficient surgical sealant with potential also beyond pulmonary and vascular suture and staple-less applications," he said. The next stage for the technology is clinical testing, Professor Weiss said. "We have shown MeTro works in a range of different settings and solves problems other available sealants can't. We're now ready to transfer our research into testing on people. I hope MeTro will soon be used in the clinic, saving human lives." Elastagen Pty Ltd is commercializing the technology. Cigarette makers to alter health risk warnings on their labels Soon the US cigarettes companies would be published more blunt statements making people aware of the health risks that arise out of smoking. This came from the 1999 lawsuit that was brought by the federal government. According to the court, these corrective statements or direct health warnings are to be aired from next month on television and also appear in the newspapers. One of the statements for example reads, Smoking kills, on average, 1,200 Americans every day while another reads, Smoking is highly addictive. One of the statements is to say that they had intentionally designed cigarettes with enough nicotine to create and sustain addiction. Five such statements are to be released. They would appear as 30-second ads on television, the court advised, running once each week for a year, on major networks at prime time. In addition the companies are to run full-page ads in 45 newspapers around the country for the next half year. The ads would be run by Altria Group Inc. - parent company of cigarette-maker Philip Morris USA based in Richmond, Virginia, and Reynolds American Inc. along with several other cigarette makers. The lawsuit in 1999 had said that the labels and their warnings are not accurate and they are deceiving the public. According to Altria the manufacturers have reached an agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice regarding when they would release the ads. Murray Garnick, Altria's executive vice president and general counsel explained that this lawsuit was focusing on the industrys behavior in the 1950s and since then the whole industry has undergone a sea change. He added that they are now under the regulations of the FDA and are focused on the future and, with FDA in place, working to develop less-risky tobacco products. FDA plans study on effectiveness of the labels about cigarette smoking risks The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), this month plans to start an experimental study called Experimental Study on Warning Statements for Cigarettes Graphic Health Warnings. This would be a voluntary online consumer study that would gauge the effects of the health risk warnings that are placed on the cigarette labels. The proposal for the study was announced late September 2017 in the Federal Register. The participants would be assessed if the graphic warnings on the cigarette packs were actually having a greater public understanding regarding the negative health effects of smoking cigarettes. According to the statement, in 2009, Congress enacted the Tobacco Control Act. This modified the Federal Cigarette Labeling and Advertising Act and it was then that the FDA had issued regulations that all cigarette packs should carry color graphics depicting the negative health consequences of smoking. The FDA selected 9 images of these warnings, one of which was mandated to be placed over the labels by the companies. This came into place in June 2011. According to the FDA, this was done to encourage current smokers to kick the habit and discourage minors from starting to smoke. This was taken to court by R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. and four other cigarette manufacturers who said that imposition of these warnings violated the First Amendment. According to them, the public already know about the risks and these warnings are deterring consumers from buying a lawful product. The U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals supported the tobacco companies in 2012. In the court ruling (2-1), it was said, the First Amendment requires the government not only to state a substantial interest justifying a regulation on commercial speech, but also to show that its regulation directly advances that goal. Judge Janice Rogers Brown wrote in delivering the opinion of the court that the, FDA failed to present any data - much less the substantial evidence required under the [Administrative Procedure Act] - showing that enacting their proposed graphic warnings will accomplish the agencys stated objective of reducing smoking rates. As a response to that the FDA has planned this new study to check for the health impact of these graphic warnings on public understanding. References The discovery of antibiotics in the early part of the 20th century changed modern medicine. Simple infections that previously killed people became easy to treat. Antibiotics' ability to stave off infections made possible routine surgeries, organ transplants, and chemotherapy for the treatment of cancer. But because of overuse and misuse, antibiotics are losing their effectiveness. Many species of bacteria have evolved resistance to commonly used antibiotics and multidrug-resistant bacteria--so-called superbugs--have emerged, plaguing hospitals and nursing homes. Last month, the World Health Organization issued a dire warning: The world is running out of antibiotics. A new test developed at Caltech that identifies antibiotic-resistant bacteria in as little as 30 minutes could help turn the tide by allowing medical professionals to better choose which antibiotics to treat an infection with. A paper describing the method appears in the October 4 issue of Science Translational Medicine. When doctors treat patients with bacterial infections, they often skip over first-line antibiotics like methicillin or amoxicillin--drugs that bacteria are more likely to be resistant to--and go straight for stronger second-line antibiotics, like ciprofloxacin. This practice increases the chance that the treatment will be effective, but it is not ideal. That's because the increased use of second-line antibiotics makes it more likely that bacteria also will become resistant to these stronger drugs. "Right now, we're overprescribing, so we're seeing resistance much sooner than we have to for a lot of the antibiotics that we would otherwise want to preserve for more serious situations," says Nathan Schoepp, a Caltech graduate student and co-author of the study. The problem is that there has not been a quick and easy way for a doctor to know if their patient's infection is resistant to particular antibiotics. To find out, the doctor would have to send a sample to a testing lab, and wait two to three days for an answer. "Therapies are driven by guidelines developed by organizations like the World Health Organization or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention without knowing what the patient actually has, because the tests are so slow," says Rustem Ismagilov, Caltech's Ethel Wilson Bowles and Robert Bowles Professor of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering and director of the Jacobs Institute for Molecular Engineering for Medicine. "We can change the world with a rapid test like this. We can change the way antibiotics are prescribed." Ismagilov, Schoepp, Caltech graduate student Travis Schlappi, who is also a co-author, and their fellow researchers aimed to develop a test that could be completed during a single visit to the doctor's office. They focused on one of the most common types of infections in humans, urinary tract infections (UTIs), which 50 percent of women contract during their lifetimes. UTIs result in eight million doctor visits and one million ER visits each year in the United States alone. The researchers' new test works like this: A sample of urine (which may contain bacteria) collected from a patient with a UTI is divided into two parts. One part is exposed to an antibiotic for 15 minutes, while the other part incubates without antibiotics. The bacteria from each sample then are broken open (lysed) to release their cellular contents, which are run through a process that combines a detection chemistry technique called digital real-time loop-mediated isothermal amplification, or dLAMP, with a device called a SlipChip (SlipChips are a previous invention of Ismagilov and his Caltech colleagues). This combination replicates specific DNA markers so they can be imaged and individually counted as discrete fluorescent spots appearing on the chip. The test operates on the principle that typical bacteria will replicate their DNA (in preparation for cellular division) less well in an antibiotic solution, resulting in the presence of fewer DNA markers. However, if the bacteria are resistant to the antibiotic, their DNA replication will not be hampered and the test will reveal similar numbers of DNA markers in both the treated and untreated solutions. When used on 54 samples of urine from patients with UTIs caused by the bacteria Escherischia coli, the test results had a 95 percent match with those obtained using the standard two-day test, which is considered the gold standard for accuracy. Ismagilov and Schoepp plan to begin running the test on other types of infectious bacteria to see how well it performs. They also hope to tweak the testing procedures to work with blood samples. Blood infections are more difficult to test because the bacteria are present in much lower numbers than they are in urine, but such a test could help reduce mortality from blood-borne infections, which can turn fatal if not treated quickly. A 30 year old Australian woman presented to the doctors with numerous small lumps under her arms for around two weeks. When one of the nodes were put under the microscope, the doctors found pigments from tattoo ink that shed got 15 years back. They speculated that her immune system was not reacting to the tattoo ink now and thus the swollen lymph nodes. Her case details were published as a case report in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine this week. She underwent a whole body scan after her initial presentation as advised by the team of doctors to look for more such lumps within her body. The doctors suspected the rubbery painless lumps to be enlarged lymph nodes caused due to a lymph node cancer or lymphoma. The scan showed several more swollen lymph nodes in her chest including the roots of her lungs around her heart. She complained of no fever, weight loss or any other symptom characteristic of lymphoma. She had had a breast augmentation surgery at the age of 19 and complained of headaches once in a while. Otherwise she had no other symptoms. She was a nonsmoker and was on oral contraceptive pills. According to Dr. Christian Bryant, a hematologist at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney, who was part of the team of doctors treating the woman, the chance of this being a lymphoma is 99 percent. Lymphomas occur when the immune cells in the body become cancerous causing the lymph nodes to swell. Lymph nodes contain immune cells that may also swell up when there is a localized infection or inflammation. In this case, the doctors explain, the lymph nodes were swollen and inflamed because they were reacting to the old tattoo ink and were not cancerous. They removed the node in a short surgical process called a biopsy and looked at its specially stained sections under the microscope. They found it to be loaded with a black colored pigment. The pigment was from a 15 year old tattoo that covered her back and also a recent tattoo (2.5 years old) she had got on her shoulder. The lymphatic system and the immune cells are the surveillance system in the body. When they found the tattoo pigment they treated it as foreign material. This led to their ingesting the pigments and the immune cells loaded with these pigments travelled up the lymphatic system and got accumulated within the lymph nodes over years. Small foreign matter is usually digested by these cells. Since the pigments are too large for the cells to digest, they remained after so many years, explained the doctors. What makes this case different and uncommon is the fact that the swelling of the nodes too so many years. They could not identify the trigger that caused the lymph nodes to swell now after so many years. Bryant explained that the patient did complain of itching over the tattoo for a few days each month and a localized inflammatory reaction called a granuloma was never detected over her skin. The uniqueness of this case, Bryant said, was the fact that this is the first time swollen and pigmented lymph nodes were mistaken for lymphoma. He said that it is not possible to know how common this is despite the fact that so many people get tattoos these days. Lymphoma Lymphomas are cancers of the immune system. Cancer of the lymphoid tissue can be treated using anticancer drugs, radiation or bone marrow transplantation therapy. The likelihood of the cancer being curable depends on its type, its stage and its grade. Lymphoma forms around 5% of all cancers in the United States and nearly half of all the blood cancers. Lymphoma is the fifth most common cancer in the United Kingdom and the most common cancer to occur under the age of 30. There are many types of lymphoma but they are broadly categorized as Hodgkin's lymphoma and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. In 2008, the World Health Organization (WHO) introduced the latest classification system for these lymphomas which now lists 70 different forms which are broadly categorized into four groups. This classification system is based on the Revised European-American Lymphoma (REAL) classification system which divides the lymphomas according to cell type and cell characteristics. The four classes outlined by WHO include: Mature B cell cancers (Chronic lymphocytic leukemia - CLL, plasma cell cancers and Burkitt lymphomas). Mature T cell and natural killer (NK) cell cancer (Adult T cell leukemia/lymphoma, T cell prolymphocytic leukemia and primary cutaneous CD30-positive T cell lymphoproliferative disorders) Hodgkin lymphomas Lymphomas associated with HIV AIDS, chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Source: http://annals.org/aim/article/2656481/tattoo-pigment-induced-granulomatous-lymphadenopathy-mimicking-lymphoma The program for the first assembly of the World Congress on Targeting Metabesity is now available at www.metabesity2017.com. Metabesity refers to the major public health challengescardiovascular disease, cancer, dementia, diabetes and the aging process itselfall of which share metabolic roots. These root metabolic disorders can be targeted to preventnot just treatthese major diseases. This unique conference, featuring internationally-acclaimed experts and commentators, will be held 30-31 October 2017 in London. The Congress, co-chaired by endocrinologist and therapeutic development expert G. Alexander Fleming, M.D., Stanford University professor and therapeutic discoverer Lawrence Steinman, M.D. and UK healthcare think tank 2020health CEO Julia Manning, serves as a call to practical action for scientists, entrepreneurs, industry, healthcare providers and payers and governments across the globe. The Congress will generate road maps for "moon shot" programs aimed at preventing major diseases and extending healthy lifespan. "Scientific evidence has been accumulating over recent decades that major non-communicable diseases of aging, such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative disease and cancer, have common metabolic roots, and thus may be susceptible to common solutions," said Dr. Fleming. The Congress will assemble world-renown scientists with their peers in policy, industry, government and other disciplines to map a way forward that will involve innovative, large-scale coordination between the public and private sectors, and will have other major medical, policy and ethical ramifications. Examples of the diversity of distinguished speakers include: Neuroscience eBook Compilation of the top interviews, articles, and news in the last year. Download a copy today Dr. Steinman previewed the meeting: "Day 1 will focus on the emerging science that interconnects the major chronic diseases and the aging process. Day 2 will focus on clinical trials in the Metabesity space, and the challenges and opportunities for our current regulatory, clinical, financing, reimbursement and other paradigms." Ms. Manning added: "While the emerging science is exciting and promising, translating it into material gains in public health is as much a matter of design and will in policy and how we organize our societal efforts. The regulatory agencies currently have no framework for evaluating a compound that slows the aging process; industry and the capital markets will not easily self-organize to fund clinical trials that may require hundreds of thousands of subjects over decades to demonstrate prevention; how payers will look at prevention products is a new frontier. No one has better articulated this ecology than our keynote speaker, Professor Richard Barker OBE." "Our hope is that the Metabesity Congress will become a 'Davos-like' annual gathering that will build upon the initial call to action and road maps to actual translation of emerging scientific knowledge to help people live longer, healthier lives," said Thomas Seoh, CEO of Kinexum, a major sponsor of the event. Shlomo Bueno, CEO of Bioevents, the organizer of the Congress, added: "We are honored to be involved in this pioneering effort. Surprisingly for an inaugural congress, the Metabesity website has had tens of thousands of visitors, indicating great interest in the subject." 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 Marvel and the X-Men crossover for Revenge of the Brood and Lord of the Brood Captain Marvel and the X-Men are about to embroiled in a two-part Brood-centric story Egypt unearths 4,300-year-old Pharaonic obelisk in Giza province Cairo : Archeologists have discovered part of a Pharaonic obelisk dating back to about 4,300 years ago in Saqqara district on the outskirt of Egypt's Giza Province. Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) Secretary General Mostafa al-Waziri revealed the discovery of the upper part of an obelisk belonging to ancient Egyptian Queen Ankhesenpepi II, mother of Pharaonic King Pepi II of the Sixth Dynasty who ruled Egypt from 2278 to 2184 BC, Xinhua reported. The discovery was unearthed by a French-Swiss archaeological mission from Geneva University in cooperation and coordination with the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities. "The importance of this discovery is that it belongs to one of the females of the ancient royal family as she was the guardian of the throne during the first reign of her son who came to power at the age of six," Waziri was quoted as saying. He added that the mission also found an ancient cartouche on the side of the obelisk reading in Hieroglyphics the first letters of "Neferkare," the Horus throne title name of King Pepi II Neferkare. The discovered upper part of the obelisk, made of pink granite, is 2.5 metres high, which indicates that the total height of the complete obelisk might vary between five and six metres. Saqqara district, where several pyramids were found, used to be a burial ground for the pharaohs and served as the necropolis of an ancient capital city in southern Giza, known in ancient Egypt as Memphis. Elon Musk and Spacex could be within five years of radically altering space launch costs and capabilities. Elon and Spacex have been showing for several years that they can produce one time use launch for several times lower cost than established space launch companies. Spacex has achieved low cost and relatively rapid recovery and refurbishment of a first stage. The Space Shuttle and the US government had that goal in the 1970s but did ended up with billion dollar plus costs for relaunch and high labor refurbishment. The Spacex BFR (Big F**ing Rocket) will be two large stages and fully reusable. This will create the technological platform and capability for something closer to commercial aviation in terms of being similar to the reuse and reflight of planes. The largest uncertainty being the elasticity of demand for space. There also seems to be a shift in the science and medicine of life extension. Billionaires like Jim Mellon, Craig Venter, Peter Thiel and others are believing in radical life extension and investing in companies to develop that capability. Jim Mellon and Al Chalabis wrote a new book Juvenescence: Investing in the Age of Longevity. It is the first time that a group of financially influential individuals have come out and, at length and in detail, outlined why exactly they support the cause of rejuvenation research and why they think it has a good chance of success in the near future. Jim Mellons investment philosophy, which has led him to be recognised as one of the most successful investors of his generation, is underpinned by his ability to identify so-called money-fountains market trends which will lead to step changes and the resulting investment opportunities. This is the biggest money fountain idea that Al and I have ever seen. The longevity business has quickly moved from wacky land to serious science, and within just a couple of decades we expect average human life expectancy in the developed world to rise to around 110. Space launch has shown it can be more difficult, time consuming and costly to pursue less ambitious goals than it is to pursue radically transformative goals. NASA, Boeing and others had more money and resources than Elon and Spacex and pursued more timid projects. They spend far more money and more time and achieved less. For life extension, Harvard professor and serial entrepreneur George Church has said it is better to pursue age reversal than it is to try to slow aging. The reason is that a postdoc cannot complete an experiment in slowing human aging in a time that fits into their career. The experiment needs to have results in a year or at most a few years. Slowing human aging does not fit into the timeline of human scientific work. Thus the experiments at slowing aging are with mice and those experiments often do not transfer to humans. Thus it is only workable to try to have experiments to reverse aging. Look for popular awards and laureates in different fields, and discover the history of the Nobel Prize. Select the category or categories you would like to filter by Physics Chemistry Medicine Literature Peace Economic Sciences Select the category or categories you would like to filter by Physics Chemistry Medicine Literature Peace Economic Sciences Decrease the year by one - Choose a year you would like to search in Increase the year by one + You are clearly a super-user of NUVO.net. Thats a good thing. It means you depend on independent and local news sources to keep you informed. You are a smart person. Coincidentally, independent and local news sources depend on you too. 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. 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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 2016 presidential election vote among ... Voters in households without guns Voters in households with guns Hillary Clinton Donald Trump Americans are deeply split along demographic lines, but there arent many demographic characteristics that embody Americas cultural divide better than gun ownership. In the wake of the mass shooting in Las Vegas on Sunday, the polling firm SurveyMonkey published a pair of maps from its 2016 presidential election exit polls. It showed the electoral maps for voters who said they had a gun in their home, and for those who said they did not. In every state but Vermont perhaps the most liberal state in the country, but one where many, including Bernie Sanders, support gun rights voters who reported living in a gun-owning household overwhelmingly backed Donald J. Trump. The opposite is true for voters who said they did not live in a home with a gun. In all but one state that could be measured, voters overwhelmingly preferred Hillary Clinton. (The exception was West Virginia; not enough data existed for Wyoming.) Over all, gun-owning households (roughly a third in America) backed Mr. Trump by 63 percent to 31 percent, while households without guns backed Mrs. Clinton, 65 percent to 30 percent, according to SurveyMonkey data. No other demographic characteristic created such a consistent geographic split. Comparable to the Racial Divide American politics is deeply divided by race, and the gap between white and nonwhite voters is similar to the gap between households with guns and those without. But Mrs. Clinton won white voters, often by a wide margin, in 10 states and Washington, D.C., worth 139 electoral votes in all. And Mr. Trump may have been competitive among nonwhite voters in a few conservative states, like Oklahoma. (The poll data among nonwhite voters is sparse in several small states and subject to a considerable margin of sampling error.) Nonwhite voters White voters The split among white voters without a college degree and the rest of the country is also distinct. But Mr. Trump would have probably won without white working-class voters in several states, particularly in the Great Plains, according to the SurveyMonkey data. Everyone but working-class whites Working-class whites This is not to say that gun ownership is a bigger divide in American politics than race or the combination of race and education, or a bigger driver of Americas political divide. After all, part of the reason gun ownership splits voters so starkly is because gun owners are more likely than Americans generally to be white, less educated and living in a rural area. Over all, 83 percent of gun household voters were white in 2016, according to the SurveyMonkey data. But it might not be merely demographics. Mr. Trump appeared to fare better in the SurveyMonkey data among gun-owning households than non-gun-owning households even after considering the voters race and education. He won white voters without a degree who lived in gun-owning households by 74 percent to 21 percent. He even won college-educated white voters in gun-owning households, 60-34, and fared better among nonwhite voters in gun households, losing, 61-34. Mrs. Clinton won nonwhite voters over all, 75-21. Even so, education, race and religion tend to do a better job of predicting an individuals presidential vote choice. It is probably fair to say that gun ownership embodies Americas partisan divide more than it drives it. The Urban-Rural Divide Urban voters Rural voters For that same reason, density also comes close to approximating the divide between households with guns and those without. Not only does it correlate with gun ownership, but it also correlates with race and education. Marriage Unmarried voters Married voters Marriage rates are also correlated to todays political divide. Unmarried adults are likelier to be young and nonwhite, and concentrated in urban areas. But its not as strongly tied to a political issue. In this respect, gun ownership is unique among the demographic or household characteristics considered so far. Other categories that blur the line between demographics and issue politics like religion, union membership and military service dont yield such a pronounced split. Religious divisions Non-evangelical voters Evangelical voters Atheist or nothing in particular Protestant or Catholic voters Seldom or never attend church Attend church at least once a week Religiosity how often someone goes to church has been a strong predictor of party affiliation, with frequent churchgoers much more likely to be be Republicans. The political preferences of more religious Americans yield a deeply red map, with religious voters from just three (relatively large) states California, New York and Maryland preferring Mrs. Clinton. Nonwhite voters most likely represent a disproportionate share of Democratic-leaning religious voters in many of these states. On the flip side of this relationship are the religious nones, a large and growing group of voters who are atheist or do not identify with a religion. These voters tend to be younger than the overall electorate, one reason they strongly preferred Mrs. Clinton in 2016. Union membership Union member in household No union member in household 100% of Americans Support No sales to known or suspected terrorists Expand mental health treatment Stronger sentences for illegal guns Report lost or stolen guns Universal checks for gun buyers Bar sales to all violent criminals Bar sales to convicted stalkers Centralized record of gun sales Require safety training 3-day waiting period Bar sales to mentally ill Require gun safes Universal checks for ammo buyers Require gun licenses Fingerprint gun owners National gun registry Govt. buyback of banned guns Assault weapons ban Honor out-of-state conceal and carry permits Gun purchase limit Guns that microstamp bullets Ammo purchase limit School weapons ban Semiautomatic gun ban EXperts say not effective High-capacity magazine ban Experts Say Effective Workplace weapons ban Demonstrate a need for a gun 0% of Americans Support 3.5 4.0 4.5 5.0 5.5 100% of Americans Support No sales to known or suspected terrorists Expand mental health treatment Report lost or stolen guns Universal checks for gun buyers Stronger sentences for illegal guns Bar sales to all violent criminals Centralized record of gun sales 3-day waiting period Bar sales to mentally ill Require gun safes Fingerprint gun owners Universal checks for ammo buyers Require gun licenses National gun registry Govt. buyback of banned guns Assault weapons ban Honor out-of-state conceal and carry permits Guns that microstamp bullets Ammo purchase limit Gun purchase limit School weapons ban Semiautomatic gun ban High-capacity magazine ban EXperts say not effective Experts Say Effective Workplace weapons ban Demonstrate a need for a gun 0% of Americans Support 3.5 4.0 4.5 5.0 5.5 100% of Americans Support No sales to known or suspected terrorists Universal background checks Expand mental health treatment Bar sales to violent criminals Bar sales to mentally ill Require gun licenses Assault weapons ban Gun purchase limit School weapons ban EXperts say not effective Experts Say Effective Ammo purchase limit Workplace weapons ban Demonstrate a need for a gun 0% of Americans Support 3.5 4.0 4.5 5.0 5.5 Whenever a mass shooting shocks America, people ask if tighter gun-control measures could have prevented the slaughter. Gun violence researchers say that no law can eliminate the risk of mass shootings, which are unpredictable and represent a small minority of gun homicides over all. But there are a handful of policies that could reduce the likelihood of such events, or reduce the number of people killed when such shootings do occur. And several of them have strong public support. These are findings from surveys we conducted a year ago about the recurring problem of gun violence in the United States. We asked dozens of researchers in criminology, law and public health to assess a range of policies often proposed to prevent gun deaths. We also conducted a national poll to measure public support for the same set of measures. The policies in the upper right corner of our matrix are those that were deemed effective and popular. The most effective one, according to our experts, would be restricting gun sales to anyone found guilty of a violent crime. Under federal law, such limitations apply to those convicted of felonies or domestic violence crimes. That idea has not been debated much among federal policy makers. Expanding background checks for gun purchasers to a wider range of gun sales was also judged effective and popular. It is an idea that was considered by Congress in 2013, but failed to win enough votes to become law. Some popular measures, like strengthening sentences for illegal gun possession, were deemed less effective. And some measures that experts thought could reduce deaths, such as banning all semiautomatic weapons, were less popular, though a majority of people in our survey still approved. In general, the public was more accepting of measures limiting the types of people who could obtain weapons than of restrictions on the types of guns and accessories available on the market. The attack at a Las Vegas concert on Sunday was unusual even among mass shootings. Stephen Paddock, the shooter, appeared to have used modified semiautomatic weapons that fired at the rapid pace of a machine gun. Senator Dianne Feinstein of California has proposed legislation that would prohibit so-called bump stocks, the devices found on several of his guns. At least some Republicans in Congress have expressed openness to the idea. We did not ask specifically about bump stocks, but we did ask about a broader set of gun modification restrictions that were part of a 1990s law known as the assault weapons ban, and about outlawing large-capacity ammunition magazines that enable rapid fire. Our experts thought both ideas could reduce the death toll from mass shootings, but they were not among the most popular ideas with the public. Select Measures That May Help Prevent Mass Shootings NOTE: Starred measures have been passed by legislature or ballot initiative but have not yet been fully enacted. SOURCE: Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence When we developed our list of measures, we focused on policies that were not part of federal law. And we gathered ideas from advocates on the left and the right some part of the mainstream political conversation, and some extremely unlikely to be considered. No state has adopted more than a handful of the ideas our experts deemed to be effective, but some states have adopted more of our experts preferred measures than others. Nevada has adopted relatively few. In the accompanying table, we compared Nevada with California, which has been particularly aggressive about passing gun-control measures, and Mississippi, which is among the most permissive in its approach to firearms. The table omits policies that could be instituted only by the federal government. What Has Nevada Done? 100% of Americans Support Universal checks for gun buyers EXperts say not effective School weapons ban Experts Say Effective 0% of Americans Support 3.5 4.0 4.5 5.0 5.5 100% of Americans Support Universal checks for gun buyers School weapons ban EXperts say not effective Experts Say Effective 0% of Americans Support 3.5 4.0 4.5 5.0 5.5 In 2016, Nevadans narrowly approved a ballot measure that called for instituting a universal background check for all gun purchases. Currently, people who buy guns from a federally licensed dealer must undergo a background check, but not those who buy guns from individuals, including at gun shows or through internet classified sites. The ballot initiative has not yet been enacted. The governor and attorney general, who oppose the policy, have said it is unenforceable because the F.B.I. has not agreed to conduct the checks for the states, as specified in the measure. Advocates have protested, and are preparing to bring a lawsuit this month if no further action is taken. 10:19 p.m. While there was that slight delay, the suspect was no longer firing into the crowd. Kevin McMahill, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department undersheriff It remains unclear why Mr. Paddock did not fire more rounds, or when he turned one of his guns on himself. But it would take more than an hour after the shooting stopped, until 11:27 p.m., for a SWAT team to burst through the Vista Suites door after two breaching attempts. As the SWAT team was arriving, the authorities were evacuating guests from their rooms, starting from the 29th floor, where some officers apparently thought one gunman might be. On the 32nd floor, where Mr. Paddock had been staying, some guests left their rooms and ran down the hallway to the elevators in bare feet. Even as police officers closed in on Mr. Paddocks room, however, uncertainty persisted about whether he was the only gunman. It sounds like its confirmed there are at least two shooters with fully automatic weapons, an emergency responder said on the scanner at 10:27 p.m. The scanner also crackled with false reports of shots at other hotels. Some officers did not know for hours whether the festival area was secure. I was hearing traffic on the radio all night about shots at the Tropicana, shots at Caesars, said Travis Smaka, a trooper with Nevada Highway Patrol. Shots were being reported everywhere, it was impossible to know what was really going on. People were going in every direction and victims were all over. I spent the whole night thinking we were under attack. But the threat was just Mr. Paddock, and he had stopped shooting. Several emergency responders remarked in the minutes after 10:19 p.m. that they had not heard any shots in some time. The closest major trauma center, Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center, received word of the shooting from the police at 10:20 p.m., and activated its mass-casualty system one minute later. On Tuesday evening, Mr. McMahill was defensive as he described the period between the final shots and the SWAT teams arrival. While there was that slight delay, the suspect was no longer firing into the crowd, he said. With the floor secured and Mr. Paddock isolated by 10:58 p.m., according to audio from the police scanner, a SWAT team exploded two door-breaching devices, then broke in at 11:27 p.m. They found Mr. Paddock, dead of what seemed to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound, lying on the carpet among his guns, shell casings and ammunition. D-Syndicate raises its ugly head again: This time on the target are Hindu leaders Dawood Ibrahim of Tamil Nadu, Sridhar Dhanpalan commits suicide India oi-Vicky By Vicky Sridhar Dhanpalan, known as the Dawood Ibrahim of Tamil Nadu committed suicide by taking cyanide in Cambodia, the police has said. Dhanpalan was an illegal arrack seller turned land dealer. Dhanapalan's Indian passport had been blocked and he was being closely tracked by various agencies, including the Interpol. The incident was reported around 8pm on Wednesday. He was reportedly brought dead to a hospital in Cambodia after he took cyanide. Before his suicide, he called up his associates in Kancheepuram and told them he was going to die. He told them that the police was the main reason for his death as he was not able to come back to India. According to police sources, Dhanapalan dabbled in the oil business in Dubai but was forced to flee to Sri Lanka and then to Cambodia recently. As his passport was blocked, he took a boat to Colombo and then Cambodia. After Dhanapalan fled India in 2013, the police moved papers with the Centre and Interpol to get his custody. Of the 43 cases in which Dhanapalan was named, seven of them were murders. OneIndia News Digvijay may be chanting "Rohingya, Rohingya" during yatra: Sambit Patra India pti-PTI Bhopal, Oct 5: BJP leader Sambit Patra took a dig at Digvijay Singh over his stand against the proposed deportation of Rohingya Muslims, saying the Congress general secretary on 'Narmada Parikrama' could be chanting "Rohingya, Rohingya" instead of "Narmade, Narmade". "Digvijay Singh is taking dips in the Narmada nowadays, but with chants of 'Rohingya, Rohingya' instead of 'Narmade, Narmade'," Patra said, also a BJP spokesman, said delivering a lecture on 'National security and humanity' here. People like Digvijay Singh were shouting from the rooftops that Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar should be given shelter in the country, Patra said. Singh had recently questioned the government's move to deport Rohingya Muslims. He had told reporters in Raipur that the Indian government was helping Bangladesh rehabilitate Rohingyas fleeing Myanmar following a military crackdown, but at the same time it was not ready to give shelter to them in India. Singh (70), a former Madhya Pradesh chief minister, and his wife Amrita embarked on 3,300 km 'Narmada Parikrama', a walk along the banks of the holy river, from Narsinghpur district of Madhya Pradesh on September 30. Patra said that 40,000 Rohingya Muslims were living in the country illegally. "These are not refugees," the BJP spokesperson said. They were different from 14,000 Rohingya refugees who are living in India after acquiring documents from the United Nations, he said. "We want that these intruders (those living illegally) should be repatriated immediately," Patra said. There is no law for refugees in the country and India is neither a signatory to the 1951 refugees accord nor the 1967 protocol of the UN, he said. Rohingyas have a history of links to terrorism, Patra claimed. PTI JEE Main 2023 exam dates to be out soon: Check details 'Godwoman' Radhe Maa occupies SHO chair in Delhi, cops in trouble India oi-PTI New Delhi, October 5: Controversial self-styled godwoman Radhe Maa has kicked up a row by sitting on an SHO's chair at a police station and swaying with policemen at a Ram Lila function in New Dlehi. An embarrassed Delhi Police has ordered an inquiry into the incidents. A photograph purportedly taken at the Vivek Vihar police station shows Station House Officer Sanjay Sharma, draped in a red and gold shawl worn by Hindu devotees, standing next to the self-styled godwoman with folded hands. She also makes an appearance in a video recorded at a Ram Lila function at GTB Enclave where five police personnel from the GTB Enclave police station are seen singing patriotic songs as she sways to their tune. The five policemen in the video, which was uploaded on the godwoman's facebook page, are assistant sub-inspectors Braj Bhushan and Radhe Krishan, head constable Pramod, and constables Hitesh and Ravinder, a senior police official said. "An inquiry has been initiated against the SHO and five police personnel and they have been sent to district lines," Joint Commissioner of Police, Eastern Range, Ravindra Yadav said. An additional deputy commissioner of police-rank officer has begun an inquiry in the matter, he added. Recommended Video Radhe Maa dances as Delhi policemen sing songs, watch video | Oneindia News Speaking on the condition of anonymity, an official said the SHO had claimed that Radhe Maa was on her way to a Ram Lila function and had stopped at the police station to use its washroom. Earlier this year, a Mumbai-based woman had approached the Bombay High Court allegeding that Kaur instigated her in- laws to harass her for dowry. In 2015, a BJP MLA from Gujarat had demanded a probe against Kaur in connection with a case where seven members of a family committed suicide. Sukhwinder Kaur also known as Radhe Maa, who has attracted eyeballs for her glitzy pictures on social media, is at the centre of several controversies. PTI For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, October 5, 2017, 16:09 [IST] Who will win Gujarat 2022 polls? Here's what ABP-C-Voter survey says Gujarat polls 2022: A look at Congress' strengths and weaknesses [Explained] Gujarat HC rejects Zakia Jafri's plea in 2002 Gulbarg riots case India oi-Chennabasaveshwar By Chennabasaveshwar Recommended Video Gujarat HC rejects Zakia Jafri's petition against clean-chit to Narendra Modi in 2002 Gulbarg case | Oneindia News The Gujarat High Court on Thursday rejected Congress leader Ehsan Jafri's widow Zakia Jafri's petition filed against clean-chit to top politicians in 2002 Gulbarg riots case. The petition challenged the clean chit to the state's top politicians including then Chief Minister Narendra Modi and bureaucrats in the 2002 Gujarat riots case. Zakia Jafri's husband was one of the 69 people killed when a large mob attacked Gulbarg Society in Ahmedabad on 28 February 2002. Zakia Jafri had approached the high court in March 2014 against a lower court verdict accepting the SIT's report that concluded Narendra Modi, then chief minister, made enough efforts after the Godhra carnage to see that law and order situation does not deteriorate further. She had alleged there was a larger conspiracy behind the attack but a Supreme Court-monitored Special Investigation Team or SIT had not found any evidence to back this accusation. OneIndia News India's stand on Rohingyas gracious so far but housing them would be risky The Rohingya influx continues as Tripura police nets seven of them How trafficking of Rohingyas are taking place near Indo-Bangladesh border India oi-Oneindia By Oneindia Agartala, Oct 5: At a time when the Northeast region of India is on high alert over fears of Rohingyas from Myanmar entering its soil, emergence of evidence of trafficking of Rohingya refugees near the Indo-Bangladesh border has rattled the administration of the northeastern states sharing their borders with Bangladesh. A police official from Tripura said on Tuesday that three persons have been arrested from a village near the Indo-Bangladesh border in connection with "trafficking" of Rohingyas. Acting on a tip-off, sleuths of Assam and Tripura Police and BSF personnel raided the Nabadwip Chandra Nagar village on Monday evening and arrested Suman Chowdhury (35), Faruk Chowdhury (32) and Sahajahan Choudhury (38), SP, Sipahijala district in Tripura, Sudipta Das, told reporters. "On the basis of inputs of the Rohingya refugees, the Assam Police with help from the Tripura Police and the BSF arrested the three persons involved in trafficking," Das said. He said six Rohingyas were arrested on August 19 at Karimganj in Assam, and during interrogation, they confessed to have migrated from Myanmars Rakhine state, and were staying in Bangladesh as refugees. Recommended Video Rohingya crisis: Is Myanmar ready to take back Rohingyas ? | Oneindia News "They entered India with the help of a trafficking racket by using the sensitive corridor at Nabawip Chandra Nagar," Das said. The entire Northeast region shares more than 4,500 km of border with Bangladesh, China, Myanmar and Bhutan. The states of Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh share 1,643 km border with Myanmar. Hardly, the Indo-Myanmar border areas are being fenced or well-guarded. Moreover, India also has a porous border with Bangladesh, where most of the Rohingyas are currently fleeing to from their homeland. India also fears that Rohingya refugees from Bangladesh might enter the Northeast region through the porous Indo-Bangladesh border. Thus at a time when reports stated that more than 5 lakh Rohingyas have left Myanmar after violence erupted in Rakhine state since August 25, the Centre had alerted the state governments in the region to beef up security to stop any infiltration from both the Myanmar and Bangladesh sides. The Narendra Modi government in its affidavit submitted to the Supreme Court recently stated that the "illegal Rohingya immigrants" pose "security threat" and need to be deported soon. According to an estimate around 40,000 Rohingyas are currently staying in various parts of the country. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, October 5, 2017, 6:20 [IST] JNU emeritus professors accuse VC over breach of conventions India oi-PTI New Delhi, October 5: Jawaharlal Nehru University's Vice Chancellor M Jagadesh Kumar was accused by seven emeritus professors over breaching conventions and ignoring objections of the faculty over the decisions taken by him. The professors - Romila Thapar, Prabhat Patnaik, Zoya Hasan, Utsa Patnaik, H S Gill, Deepak Nayyar and Anil Bhatti - in a statement said that the decisions taken by Kumar were contradictory to the "established procedures". "This is not the way JNU has functioned in the past, when the VCs' decisions pertaining to schools and centres followed established procedures and had the support of faculty," they said. "In the past the conventions have not only protected academic quality, but also ensured academic autonomy in its functioning," they said, adding that Kumar ignored objections from the faculty. The vice chancellor was accused of breaching convention by appointing a professor as the dean of the School of Social Sciences by superseding five seniors. "No VC has in the past repeatedly gone against procedures of functioning. This is far too arbitrary an action to be passed over lightly," the statement read. It said that this was one among several arbitrary actions taken over the past two years. The case of Prof Nivedita Menon, who was removed from the chairpersonship of the Centre for Comparative Politics and Political Theory recently for alleged misbehaviour, was also mentioned in the statement. On October 3, two leading academics in a letter sought President Ram Nath Kovind's intervention in restoring the "atmosphere of healthy debate in JNU". The letter was accompanied by a petition signed by 1,800 academics from globally-reputed universities such as the Harvard and the Columbia, artistes and lawyers among others. The previous and the present office-bearers of the JNU Students Union and JNU Teachers Association have been protesting against the VC for breaching conventions on several matters. PTI For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, October 5, 2017, 19:27 [IST] Karnataka minister D K Shivakumar summoned yet again by IT, appears in person India oi-Anusha Karnataka energy Minister D K Shivakumar on Thursday was once again summoned by Income Tax officials in connection with raids carried out at his properties in August. The minister has appeared in person multiple times before the officials in the last two months. Fresh summons was issued by the Income Tax department after officials found the need to get clarification from D K Shivakumar, the man who singlehandedly took care of Congress MLAs from Gujarat when they were lodged at a resort in Bengaluru ahead of the Rajya Sabha polls in the state. D K Shivakumar appeared before the Income Tax officials as asked on Thursday. Bengaluru: Karnataka minister DK Shivkumar reached Income Tax office pic.twitter.com/Y6D5Nhe7mJ ANI (@ANI) October 5, 2017 Properties belonging to the minister, his family, and friends in various locations including Mysuru and New Delhi apart from Bengaluru were raided over a period of three days in August. All his associates and select family members were issued summons to appear before the IT sleuths. While the minister, backed by the Siddaramaiah government, has continued to allege that the Income Tax department was acting on the behest of the union government to harass leaders of the opposition party, he has cooperated with the probe and responded to all summons issued. D K Shivakumar was made responsible for 40 Congress MLAs from Gujarat who had been flown down to Bengaluru to allegedly stop the BJP from poaching them ahead of the Rajya Sabha elections. The exercise proved to be a huge success for the party with Ahmed Patel winning a Rajya Sabha seat along with BJP's Amit Shah and Smriti Irani. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, October 5, 2017, 14:15 [IST] Karti went abroad and tampered with evidence: CBI tells SC India oi-Vicky By Vicky 4-The Central Bureau of Investigation told the Supreme Court that Karti Chidambaram had gone abroad and tampered with the evidence by closing his foreign bank accounts. He also transferred the money when he went abroad, the CBI also said in the Supreme Court. Justifying the look out circular issued against the son of former union minister P Chidambaram, the CBI said if he is allowed to go abroad, he would further tamper with the evidence. Further the CBI asked the court to have a look at the confidential probe which shows foreign bank accounts were closed and money withdrawn by Karti when he had gone abroad in May and July. The CBI has been minimally intrusive and did not cross the limit while taking action against him. The CBI then placed the documents before the Bench in a sealed cover and urged the court to through it. You would be shocked, the CBI counsel also told the Bench. Appearing for Karti, senior advocate, Kapil Sibal opposed the move by the CBI to place the documents before the Bench. These documents cannot be submitted unless a copy of the same is furnished to me, Sibal argued. The court refrained from examining the documents for the time being and said that the purpose behind the look out notice had been served. This was to ensure that he cooperates with the ongoing investigation and make him available for trial, the court said. The Bench said that the purpose was to keep the agency informed before he left the country. This has been achieved as the High Court had directed Karti to give three days notice before leaving the country. You have the powers to take action under the Code of Criminal Procedure. It does not mean that the hands of the agency are tied, if there is no LoC, the Bench also observed. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, October 5, 2017, 10:34 [IST] "Kerala doesn't need peace lessons from Godse followers," Pinarayi Vijayan tells BJP India oi-Anusha Deeming the Bharatiya Janata Party's Jan Suraksha Yatra a 'wet cracker', Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that the state did not need peace lessons from them. Accusing the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and its leaders for murders in Kerala, Vijayan said that followers of Nathuram Godse had no right to preach peace. "Kerala has no lessons on peace to learn from people who consider Nathuram Godse their god. If you try to threaten us, remember that we are always ready to take up such challenges," he said reacting to Yogi Adityanath's statements on Wednesday. Vijayan accused the BJP of attempting to demolish secularism with the backing of the Union government. This in reference to the long list of union ministers, Chief ministers of BJP ruled states scheduled to take part in the yatra across Kerala. While Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath accused the Pinaryi Vijayan government of backing murders of Sangh workers, the Kerala Chief Minister in a series of tweets mocked his UP counterpart's claims. But dear I am sure this break (BEAUTIFUL-HAPPY-PEACEFUL KERALA trip) would help you to get rejuvenated for facing various issues in UP. Pinarayi Vijayan (@vijayanpinarayi) October 4, 2017 Vijayan while defending his government accused the RSS in Kerala of backing attacks on CPI(M) cadres. The BJP is holding a 15-day yatra against the alleged violence against Sangh Parivar workers in Kerala. Amit Shah inaugurated the same on Tuesday while Yogi Adityanath led it on Wednesday. Shah is expected to take the protest forward on Thursday. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, October 5, 2017, 11:06 [IST] Mallya laundered Rs 500 crore says ED India oi-Vicky By Vicky Rs 500 crore of the Rs 900 crore loan taken from the IDBI bank by former liquor baron Vijay Mallya had been laundered the Enforcement Directorate has said. This was stated in the affidavit filed by the ED in the UK before the Crown Prosecution Service. It may recalled that Mallya had been arrested and released on bail on Tuesday. The affidavit says that Mallya had diverted money to seven countries including, the US, UK, France, Ireland and Switzerland. Further the affidavit states that Mallya had used several shell companies and some of his legitimate companies to divert the money. There were dummy directors in the shell companies, but the control over business related to the transfer of funds were retained by Mallya. The extradition case will be heard next in December. Both the ED and the CBI pleas for extradition will come up for hearing together. OneIndia News Man hacked to death in Mangaluru, 'victim our worker,' claims BJP India oi-Anusha Two men returning from prayers in Karnataka's Mangaluru were hacked by a gang of unidentified miscreants on Wednesday evening. The entire gruesome act was caught on CCTV cameras installed nearby. One of the two, identified as Zubair was killed in the attack. Zubair and Elyas were returning from a mosque after offering prayers when they were waylaid by a gang of four men who hacked mercilessly. Zubair was killed on the spot while Elyas was rushed to the hospital with severe injuries. The incident took place right outside the Mukkacheri mosque in Ullal of Mangaluru. The communally sensitive Mangaluru has returned to normalcy after a spate of stabbing and violent incidents in the recent past. The Bharatiya Janata Party on Thursday claimed that Zubair, the man who was hacked to death, was a party worker. Rahim Uchil, a senior leader of the BJP's minority cell - who has received threats in the past for supporting the party- claimed that Zubair has been a BJP worker for almost a decade now. While the party has not claimed this to be an incident of political violence, the police who have registered a case in this regard suspect personal rivalry as the motive. In poll-bound Karnataka, the BJP has already attempted to make 'attacks on its workers' a key agenda. The police are now on the lookout for the assailants. CCTV footages from nearby cameras are being scrutinized to look for clues. OneIndia News MNS morcha: Next rally 'won't be peaceful', threatens Raj Thackeray India oi-Chennabasaveshwar By Chennabasaveshwar A public meeting held on Thursday in the wake of the stampede at the Elphinstone Road Station, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) Chief Raj Thackeray warned the government that if there is no change in the system of government then our next rally will not be peaceful. Raj Thackeray said, "We have organised this rally peacefully. But,if there is no change in the system of government then our next rally will not be peaceful". Raj Thackeray addressed a rally outside Western Railway headquarters at Churchgate Earlier, the Mumbai police had denied permission to MNS workers' rally to Western Railway HQ as planned by the party chief. The morcha was planned in the wake of the tragic stampede at the Elphinstone Road station which claimed 22 lives. Recommended Video Cricketer Pranav Dhanawade arrested after arguing with Mumbai police | Oneindia News MNS wanted to question railway authorities about facilities available at suburban railway stations. After Mumbai Police denied permission to MNS for morcha to Western Rly HQ. MNS workers protest in Metro Cinema area on #ElphinstoneStampede pic.twitter.com/4J4QM7TArf ANI (@ANI) October 5, 2017 However, MNS leader Nitin Sardesai said party would go ahead with the rally as planned. MNS chief Raj Thackeray had planned a 'Morcha' on October 5 to Western Railway headquarter at Churchgate to question them about their infrastructure. Raj Thackeray minced no words when he said, "Why do we need terrorists or enemies like Pakistan? It seems our own railway is enough to kill people". Also, Thackeray had said the Railways has blamed rains for the stampede but it was not the first time it rained in the city. He said, "It is not the first time that it rained in Mumbai. They (Railway) say it happened due to rains?" Do RAW, others get a raw deal in the name of 'intelligence failure'? Keep it clean, keep it safe: How the federal agencies raided the PFI Pvt foundations abroad are hurting India, counter narrative urgently, IB to PMO India oi-Vicky By Vicky The Intelligence Bureau has cautioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said that a narrative to malign the country is being set. The report by the IB was handed over to the PMO, National Security Advisor, Ajit Doval and the chief of the Research and Analysis Wing. The report specifically focused on the global documentation on slavery. The IB said that the document shows India as the home to the highest number of slaves in the country. A strong campaign to change the narrative and more importantly discredit the information is needed, the IB said. Recently the International Labour Organisation, Walk Free Foundation and a United Nations Agency released the "Global Estimates of Modern Slavery: Forced Labour and Forced Marriage." The IB says that the report would harm India's image and hence there is an urgent need to counter it and also discredit the information. The IB says that there are several corporations abroad which specifically fund NGOs to focus on alleged slavery in South India's textile industry. This amounts to 40 per cent of India's textile exports and such reports could damage the country's reputation. The IB wants the government to intervene and force ILO to disassociate with from WFF. The IB says that WFF is a private foundation and hence ILO should be urged to disassociate itself. Further the IB also wants a rejoinder issued to discredit the estimate stated by the WFF. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, October 5, 2017, 13:46 [IST] Raj Thackeray attempts to make Elphinstone stampede his route to relevance India oi-Anusha The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) that is being pushed into political oblivion in Maharashtra is hoping to revive its fortunes over the tragic Elphinstone stampede. The party has organized a massive rally in Mumbai over rail safety which is being led by MNC chief Raj Thackeray on Thursday. This is the only rally Raj Thackeray is leading in five years. Despite the Mumbai police refusing permission, the MNS is all set to hold a protest rally. Raj Thackeray will take part in the rally and walk near the Western Railway's headquarters in Churchgate station. The MNS wants to give Mumbaikars the feeling of standing in solidarity with them but the rally is more for its own political relevance in the state. The MNS does not have a single seat in the 288-seat Maharashtra assembly. The sole MLA from the party- Sharad Sonawane from Junnar constituency in Pune district- resigned from the assembly in February this year citing failure on protecting farmers of his constituency. The party does not have a hold over any civic bodies- the soul of all parties in Maharashtra. The last rally of the MNS led by Raj Thackeray himself was way back in August 2012. MNS has been on a political downward slide for 11 years now and the party and its chief seem to have realized that the time has come to reverse the trend. Despite being a partner in the government and head of Bruhanmumbai Municipal corporation, the Shiv Sena criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party over the tragedy. Taking a cue, the MNS to have jumped on the bandwagon of making politics out of a tragedy that killed 23 people. For days, MNS workers have been working overtime to ensure publicity of the rally. The party hopes to see at least 50,000 people gather for the protest at various places in Mumbai. MNS has been posting banners, posters on social media to create awareness, videos and photos are being used to create a visual impact and coax citizens into taking part in the protest. On Wednesday, MNS workers boarded local trains and distributed pamphlets and asked commuters to join 'the fight for their cause'. The cause, however, is more about MNS' political relevance in the state than anything else. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, October 5, 2017, 11:02 [IST] What is the status of the Gauri Lankesh murder probe India oi-Vicky By Vicky Karnataka Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy said earlier this week that the police have got definitive clues in the Gauri Lankesh murder case. The statement came at a time when the Special Investigation Team is yet to reveal any major breakthrough in the case. What is the current status of the case? While the SIT officials have not divulged all details as there are multiple angles and clues that have emerged. Recommended Video Gauri Lankesh murder : Karnataka Government says SIT has identified culprits | Oneindia News The SIT has the ballistics report that a 7.65 mm country made pistol was used in the murder. The SIT has learnt that the pistol is similar to the one used in the murders of rationalists M M Kalburgi, Govind Pansare and Narendra Dabholkar. The SIT is yet to receive the cartridges used in the above mentioned murders. Unless this material is received, it would be futile for the SIT to draw a comparison this early. Apart from the ballistics, the police has also gone through the footage obtained from 500 close circuit television cameras. Call records too have been scanned by the investigating agency. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, October 5, 2017, 10:01 [IST] Las Vegas gunman Stephen Paddock considered targeting locations in Chicago, Boston International pti-PTI Chicago, Oct 5: The Las Vegas gunman who carried out the deadliest mass shooting in recent US history also had researched possible attack locations in Boston and Chicago. Stephen Paddock had booked two rooms at Chicago's Blackstone hotel overlooking an expansive downtown park where the popular Lollapalooza music festival took place over four days in August, according to the website TMZ and NBC News. The 64-year-old gambler and retired accountant had also researched the city of Boston, NBC News reported, citing senior law enforcement officials who have been examining the gunman's electronic records. He never showed up for his Chicago booking, according to the media reports, but the August 2-5 timing may have offered Paddock an opportunity similar to the Las Vegas Strip concert Sunday night. -Hundreds of thousands attended the music festival at Chicago's Grant Park, including Malia Obama, the former president's daughter. In Las Vegas, Paddock rained bullets from a nearby hotel tower into crowds attending an outdoor country music festival, killing 58 and injuring hundreds more. Investigators have said the attack, the deadliest mass shooting in recent US history, was meticulously planned. "We are aware of the media reports and have been in communication with our federal partners," Chicago police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said in a statement. The hotel management company and Lollapalooza did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The Blackstone is a historic luxury hotel where heads of state including former president Jimmy Carter, and artists such as Nat King Cole and Rudolph Valentino have stayed. PTI No Indian troops in Afghanistan because of Pakistan considerations: US defence secretary Mattis International pti-PTI Washington, Oct 5: US Defence Secretary James Mattis has said that India's decision not to send troops to war-torn Afghanistan was perhaps guided by the Pakistan factor. Mattis praised India's contributions to Afghanistan's development before lawmakers at House Armed Services Committee, saying New Delhi has adopted a holistic approach in its assistance towards the country. "It is really a very holistic approach that India is taking. You'll notice I left off (Indian) boots (soldiers) on the ground because of the complexity that would bring to Pakistan," Mattis said yesterday in response to a question from Congressman Doug Lamborn during the Congressional hearing on South Asia. "We're trying to make this an inclusive strategy and we don't want them to get a sense that they're vulnerable to any Indian Army people from their western flank, that's not necessary," Mattis said. Mattis was in New Delhi last month and held talks with Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Sitharaman had ruled out any troop contribution in Afghanistan and said it will continue to provide development assistance to the country. Islamabad is opposed to any major role for India in neighbouring Afghanistan, saying a Kabul-New Delhi axis would be detrimental to Pakistan's strategic interests. During the hearing, Mattis insisted that an open border trade between India and Pakistan would help in bringing regional stability. "If there's any way for Pakistan and India to open their border to trade at great economic advantage to both of the countries, it would be a big help across the region," he said. Stability can follow economics as much as stability enables economics, he added. He hoped that they will eventually see that happen. "I believe India wants that to happen, but it's very hard to do that if your concern is that you open the border to one thing, and you get something else," Mattis said in an oblique reference to cross-border infilteration. Responding to a series of questions on the Indian role in Afghanistan, Mattis said, " New Delhi has been generous over many years with Afghanistan. Because of its very generous funding over the years, India has achieved a degree of affection from the Afghan people as a result. They intend to continue this effort and broaden it. Furthermore, they are providing training for Afghan military officers and NCOs at their schools." India, he said, is willing to do rehabilitation of Soviet-era equipment until they are replaced with American. That will take years, he noted. Furthermore, India has been providing and will continue to provide training for Afghan Army doctors and medics in the field so that the Afghan Army is able to take casualties and better sustain themselves thing, he said. Mattis said there are many areas where India and the US are natural partners for each other. The two countries, he said, are deepening and broadening the military-to-military relationship. "But it is not an exclusive strategy, exclusive of anyone. Any nation that wants to be part of the counter-terror effort and this stability effort in South Asia, can sign up," he said seeking to allay Pakistan's concern of being excluded. It is open to any nation that wants to move against terrorism and remove this threat to all civilised nations. Referring to his talks with the Indian leadership, Mattis said the US does not need to convince Indians that it doesn't have nefarious designs on the Indo-Pacific area. PTI Sushma Swaraj to lead govt delegation to Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas 2018 in Singapore International pti-PTI Singapore, Oct 5: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will lead a high-powered ministerial delegation to the ASEAN-India 'Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas' which will be held in Singapore next year, India's envoy said. "Minister Swaraj will lead the Indian delegation to the ASEAN-India Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas 2018 which will also be attended by Indian ministers and a number of chief ministers, besides business leaders and independent experts," Jawed Ashraf, India's High Commissioner to Singapore, said. He announced this at a media briefing and launch of the Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas 2018 to be held on January 6-7. Leaders from the region in different walks of life, including politics, business, government, academia, and culture from the 10-member Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) will also be speaking at the two-day gathering, which is expected to be the largest Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas meeting abroad. The Indian High Commission is targeting a participation of 3,000 delegates at the convention. The PBD 2018 is an important part of the celebration of 25 years of the ASEAN-India partnership, Ashraf said. An elaborate programme is planned covering ASEAN-India relations, role of diaspora in the dynamic bilateral partnership, history of the diaspora and its aspirations and achievements in the grouping's member countries, business, exhibitions and cultural events, ayurveda and yoga. There will also be competitions and events for the diaspora youth. "We hope to create platforms and channels that will enable our diaspora not only to connect more closely with each other in the region and with India, but also participate more intensively in promoting closer ties between India and ASEAN member countries," said the envoy. "ASEAN-India partnership as also India's relations with individual members have seen enormous progress in the past 25 years, he said, and the future for India and ASEAN and the relationship looks brighter," said Ashraf. He stressed on the event being one of the biggest platforms for people of South East Asia to get an in-depth understanding of Indian culture, business opportunities and the diversity of India's society. "Prosperity of both Indian and ASEAN markets is a work in progress for the next 25 years, which is to be built on the 25 years' achievement we have in a wide range of fields including defence," he said. ASEAN consists of 10 countries Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam. PTI New Jersey Takes on Australia's Online Gambling Problem Published October 4, 2017 by Elana K The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (NJDGE) recently came out with a letter warning the state's active online gambling operators not to conduct business in Australia, which New Jersey considers a black market. Australia has called upon an unlikely partner in its mission to stop online gambling operations within the country: New Jersey. Even more surprising? New Jersey has responded strongly. The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (NJDGE) recently came out with a letter warning the state's active online gambling operators not to conduct business in Australia, which New Jersey considers a black market. How did this strange partnership evolve? In September of this year, the Australian government started cracking down on online gambling operators, enacting a series of new restrictions meant to chase them out of the country. (And it was fairly successful at doing that). However, there are still a number of online gambling operators that remain, and this is where New Jersey comes in. After the restrictions were enacted, the Australian Communications and Media Authoritys Acting Chairman, Richard Bean, sent a letter to NJDGE Director David Rebuck, asking for his help deterring online gambling companies from operating in Australia. New Jersey to the Rescue New Jersey has been actively involved in preventing online gambling operators who serve in the state from serving in markets in which online gambling laws are not clear, or gray. In fact, in 2016 the NJDGE published an advisory bulletin on the topic. So when Australia requested help, Rebuck responded. His strongly-worded letter warned the states online gambling operators that doing business in Australia could lead to losing their license in New Jersey. every online gambling company that conducts business in New Jersey must comply with Australias new laws and cease offering all prohibited services to customers in Australia. Failure to do so many result in the Division taking regulatory action against your company, including finding your company unsuitable for licensure in New Jersey. Rebucks threat carries some real weight. As more and more states seek to online gambling, it would certainly hurt any company that was labeled a bad actor due to operating in Australia. For now, it seems that the partnership between New Jersey and Australia is one that is beneficial for both sides. From Jonathan Cook Website Over the past 18 months the British Labour party has been beset by a moral panic. According to pro-Israel activists in Labour, there has been a surge of anti-semitism in the party since Jeremy Corbyn became leader two years ago. Corbyn has broken with decades of party policy by placing a much stronger emphasis on the need to end Israel's oppression of the Palestinians. As we will show, these activists' concerns are much less about anti-semitism than about Corbyn and the trend he represents. Pro-Israel groups, who have strong backing among the party establishment opposed to Corbyn, fear he is changing the nature of the British political discourse about Israel and the Palestinians. Beyond this, they are worried that should Corbyn, or someone else from his wing of the Labour party, reach power, they will put the Palestinians at the heart of a Labour government's foreign policy. Much is at stake. A strange, if largely obscured feature of the supposed anti-semitism crisis -- set out at length in my f irst Mondoweiss article -- is that so many of those accused and convicted in Labour of this hate crime are Jews. The latest person accused by the party of anti-semitism -- and this week expelled -- is Moshe Machover, a mathematician and philosophy professor at the University of London. He was born and raised in Israel. Machover appears to be among the first Labour members to be netted by a rule change on anti-semitism introduced at the party conference last week. Activists in a new group called Jewish Voice for Labour, launched at the conference, had warned that the change in wording would allow the party bureaucracy to expel members for "thought crimes." As previously explained, the rule change was pushed hard by a powerful pressure group in Labour called the Jewish Labour Movement (JLM), which is the sister organization of Israel's own Labour party. The JLM helped create Labour Friends of Israel, which has traditionally been a key pro-Israel lobbying group among Labour members of parliament. Both organizations have clandestine ties to the Israeli government through Israel's London embassy, as was revealed earlier this year by an Al Jazeera undercover investigation. It secretly filmed this collusion in action, as pro-Israel Labour activists plotted to subvert Corbyn's leadership, even at the cost of irreparably damaging the party. In decrying an "anti-semitism plague" in Labour, the JLM and its supporters have claimed that they are not conflating anti-semitism with anti-Zionism. But Machover's case clearly illustrates that they are precisely doing that. Machover received a letter from Labour head office this week alleging that he had breached the party's anti-semitism rules with an article (PDF), paradoxically titled "Anti-Zionism does not equal anti-Semitism," in the newsletter of the Labour Party Marxists group. In it, Machover pointed out the widespread opposition of most Jews to the ideas propagated by the Zionist movement before the rise of Hitler, and the problematic ideological affinites between Zionists and anti-semites. He wrote: "The founder of political Zionism, Theodor Herzl, had pointed out that anti-Semitic regimes would be allies, because they wanted to get rid of the Jews, while the Zionists wanted to rid them of the Jews. That was the common interest." For this reason, observed Machover, quoting Zionist and Nazi leaders of the time, some Zionists welcomed the early policies of the Nazis, including even the notorious Nuremberg Laws of 1935. This was before the Nazis switched to a policy of extermination in the death camps. Both anti-semites and Zionists wanted Jews and non-Jews separated, and both rejected miscegenation. A similar argument, expressed more clumsily, led to the suspension of Ken Livingstone, a former London mayor, earlier this year. It is notable that the Labour party accused Machover of anti-semitism on the grounds that his article was likely to "cause offence to Jewish people." It begged the question: which Jewish people? That issue had, in fact, become a battleground at the conference. Jewish Labour party activists had set up a new group, Jewish Voice for Labour, to act as a countervailing force against the traditional dominance of the JLM in influencing the party's policies towards Israel and the Palestinians and against its accusations of anti-semitism by Corbyn supporters. Jewish Voice for Labour represents a broad range of Jews who have until now been marginalized in the Labour party, including trenchant critics of the occupation, anti-Zionists and supporters of BDS, the boycott movement. For the first time they have a collective voice within the party. As Machover observed, pro-Israel groups are in trouble in Labour and elsewhere. "They are losing credibility on the arena of what could be called international opinion, but -- more importantly -- they are losing the Jewish public outside Israel, especially those under 30. There is a clear generational shift in opinion. These people are becoming very critical of Israel and its colonisation project." The letter from Labour head office also accused Machover of violating the definition of anti-semitism produced last year by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), an inter-governmental body. The definition has been adopted by the Labour party, as well as by the British government. Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). From Nation of Change The most popular politician in America has now taken on the failed establishment consensus on national security as well as establishment domestic policy. Bernie Sanders (Image by ScottP-Photography) Details DMCA Senator Bernie Sanders received rapturous applause from progressives for his recent foreign-policy speech at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri. "One of the finest speeches of his career," wrote The Nation's John Nichols. "The progressive foreign policy speech we've been waiting for," said Stephen Miles. Jacob Heilbrunn of the more conservative National Interest suggested Sanders was bringing "regime change" to the liberal interventionism of the Democratic establishment. The reaction was understandable: The speech was like a thunderclap breaking the silence of any serious foreign-policy challenge from the left. The Sanders speech indeed opened a new debate and offered the first steps towards a fundamentally different policy, but it also leaves many questions unanswered. It elevated some new challenges to Democratic Party thinking, though not always with policies to match. Sanders's central contribution is to upend the military-dominated definition of national security. He elevated the threats posed by climate change, which he noted is "real and already causing devastating damage." Donald Trump, a climate-change denier, did not deign to mention the subject at all in his recent address to the United Nations. Sanders also called out the threat posed by extreme inequality and the "movement toward international oligarchy" in which "a small number of billionaire and corporate interests have control over our economic life." That's not a new argument from Sanders, but here he explicitly framed it as a matter of national security. "This planet," Sanders argued, "will not be secure or peaceful when so few have so much, and so many have so little... There is no justification for the incredible power and dominance that Wall Street, giant multinational corporations and international financial institutions have over the affairs of sovereign countries throughout the world." It is revealing that Trump, while trumpeting "America First" policies and state sovereignty in his address to the United Nations, made no mention of this reality. Sanders revived traditional liberal concerns about the domestic costs of policing the globe. He repeatedly emphasized the need to practice at home what we preach abroad, and to strengthen our own democracy and domestic defense of human rights in order to credibly advocate for those values abroad. In so doing, Sanders sought to define a new progressive internationalism. The United States should neither seek to "dominate the world" with its extraordinary military power nor to "shirk our responsibilities under the banner of America First," but instead practice "global engagement based on partnership." He directly indicted the interventionist thrust of U.S. policy, and said that while terrorists pose a threat, the war on terror as an "organizing framework" has been a "disaster," and has given terrorists exactly what they want. He criticized our sorry record of regime change -- from Mosaddegh's Iran to the invasion of Iraq -- and contrasted the horrible consequences of the Iraq debacle with the success of diplomacy in the Iran nuclear agreement. Sanders laid down markers for a new debate, particularly within the Democratic Party. Presidential and congressional candidates should be pressed to define their stance on climate change, global inequality, excessive military spending, and the costs of intervention. Sanders was one of only five Democratic senators to vote against the Republican initiative to lard another $80 billion onto the military budget, and those who voted for it should be questioned by their constituents. While Sanders redefined our security challenges in the Westminster speech, he offered few ideas on how to deal with them. The United States does have to "get serious" on climate change, but Sanders's only policy advice was to remain in the Paris climate agreements. He argued we have to "rethink" the militarization of the war on terror and courageously criticized U.S. support of Saudi Arabia's grotesque savaging of Yemen. Yet Sanders offered no way out of the endless wars without victory across the greater Middle East. Inequality, corruption, oligarchy, authoritarianism are "inseparable," and must be "fought in the same way," but Sanders offered no plan on how to do that. On North Korea, his policy is indistinguishable from that of Obama and Trump, albeit without the Trumpian bluster. Sanders said we are "confronted by North Korea," and called for international sanctions to force abandonment of nuclear weapons and missiles. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). From Empire Burlesque (This is my column from the latest edition of CounterPunch Magazine.) Bob Dylan (Image by badosa) Details DMCA As the title of this column suggests, I'm an admirer of Bob Dylan's work, from the world-shaking epics to the off-the-wall obscurities. But I admit that even I quailed this March when I heard he was about to release yet another collection of classic crooner covers -- in a three-record set, no less! I'd enjoyed his first couple of forays into this area, especially the moody "Shadows of the Night," where he sang with more genuine emotion than he'd shown in years on record. But the thought of 30 more of these seemed a bit much. I'm not one of those fans who requires Dylan to redefine the zeitgeist or hale souls out of men's bodies every time he strums a chord, but still, I would've preferred some new songs -- or his long-threatened album of Charley Patton covers -- to more mining of the Sinatra seam. Naturally, I bought the record the day it came out. And to my surprise, I found I couldn't stop listening to it. I understood the criticisms of "Triplicate": too much of a muchness, too creaky of a croakiness, too remote of a removeness from the contemporary world, etc. But the more I listened, the more I sensed something else going on. Not just a lightsome stroll through "the Great American Songbook." Not just an exercise in nostalgia, or a contrarian's nose-thumbing at his audience's expectations. Instead, what I heard was the careful construction of an alternative -- even radical -- worldview: a modern moral code masked (and anonymous) in archaic forms, a sharp counterpart and challenge to the prevailing zeitgeist. The album concerns itself entirely with demotic themes, the stuff of life for ordinary people: lost love, unrequited love, unfulfilled yearnings, the looming shadows of mortality, with occasional bursts of joy and gentle swagger ("the best is yet to come"). The vocal delivery in most of the songs surpasses "Shadows" -- and rivals anything in Dylan's canon -- for emotional depth, emotional reality. But with the whole "American songbook" to draw from, the selection of cuts on "Triplicate" shows an obvious crafting of a particular vision. Dylan himself described the triple album as a story, beginning with a jaunty fellow lightly repining over a lost girlfriend (regretting the "new blue pajamas" he'd bought for the affair) and ending with a love-broken man wondering why he'd even been born. At some point it occurred to me that the stories of the album, delivered by a male narrator, were describing -- and enacting -- nothing less than an alternative view of masculinity: a conception of manhood expressing itself in openness, tenderness and above all, vulnerability. Throughout the album, there is a courageous embrace of emotion and the possibility -- and acceptance -- of deep emotional pain. Indeed, in many of the songs, there is a sense of surrender: to fate, to time, to mortality, to the fragility of love, to the ending and rending of things. Here, across a full three albums, there are none of the withering put-downs that Dylan is famous for: no hoodoo women, no backstabbers, no soul-stealers, no Miss Lonely getting her righteous comeuppance from Napoleon in rags. There's just a series of ordinary men in ordinary life, hoping to be worthy of the woman they love or long for, or else ruminating -- not raging, not ranting -- about a wonderful, beguiling woman they've lost. There's no place in these songs for the triumph of the will, for braggadocio, for imposing one's desires through bluster and violence. A greater contrast to the present zeitgeist -- especially the imperial burlesque of our preening political, corporate and media elites -- can hardly be imagined. In a world where war is the prevailing metaphor and mode of being, where manhood is measured by the throw-weight of missiles and chest-thumping displays of dominance, here comes an old man quietly asserting the primacy -- and nobility -- of the loving heart, of brokenness and gentleness, of fierce, enduring passions bounded by a respect for the beloved, whatever the outcome of the encounter. In some ways, it reminded me of a phrase I once used -- in my brief stint as a Russian literature teacher -- to describe the not-dissimilar Weltanschauung found in the poetry of Boris Pasternak: "a power without the power of resistance" -- which in Pasternak's case, as with Tolstoy before him, nonetheless came to stand as a stark rebuke to the powers of their day. "Triplicate" is not on that level, of course, but it's striking that Dylan crafted this alternative Weltanschauung from old songs largely written by immigrants or the children of immigrants: survivors of repression, violence, bigotry and persecution. This was not the lineage of the Indian-killers and slavers, the aristocrats and robber barons who gave us the bellowing hoo-rah of "American Exceptionalism," now swelling in a spectacular excrescence in Washington. This was something more universal, more subtle, a work of spiritual depth hidden in a popular song. I think this is what Dylan meant when he said he wasn't covering the songs but uncovering them. He's brought back those depths in a kind of cultural alchemy, distilling a new sensibility through an old alembic. It's not likely to change the corrupted currents of this world, but it's an alternative worth attending to. Wayne LaPierre (Image by Gage Skidmore) Details DMCA It looks like the NRA has blinked. NRA CEO issued a statement, ""The NRA believes that devices designed to allow semi-automatic rifles to function like fully-automatic rifles should be subject to additional regulations." And Politico reports, "The National Rifle Association on Thursday called on the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to review whether bump fire stocks -- like the device used in this week's Las Vegas shooting massacre -- comply with current federal law." I'd say that this action by the NRA is a preemptive cover, so they look like they helped initiate this action, rather than be seen as dropping their guard and being weak, allowing ANY gun regulation, which, for a long time, has been their modus operandi. The good news is that even Republicans are talking about banning the gear that allowed the Las Vegas gunman to fire semi-automatic weapons as though they were machine guns. What's your take? Rob Kall Social Media Pages: Rob Kall is an award winning journalist, inventor, software architect, connector and visionary. His work and his writing have been featured in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, CNN, ABC, the HuffingtonPost, Success, Discover and other media. Check out his platform at RobKall.com He is the author of The Bottom-up Revolution; Mastering the Emerging World of Connectivity He's given talks and workshops to Fortune 500 execs and national medical and psychological organizations, and pioneered first-of-their-kind conferences in Positive Psychology, Brain Science and Story. He hosts some of the world's smartest, most interesting and powerful people on his Bottom Up Radio Show, and founded and publishes one of the top Google- ranked progressive news and opinion sites, OpEdNews.com more detailed bio: Rob Kall has spent his adult life as an awakener and empowerer-- first in the field of biofeedback, inventing products, developing software and a music recording label, MuPsych, within the company he founded in 1978-- Futurehealth, and founding, organizing and running 3 conferences: Winter Brain, on Neurofeedback and consciousness, Optimal Functioning and Positive Psychology (a pioneer in the field of Positive Psychology, first presenting workshops on it in 1985) and Storycon Summit Meeting on the Art Science and Application of Story-- each the first of their kind. Then, when he found the process of raising people's consciousness and empowering them to take more control of their lives one person at a time was too slow, he founded Opednews.com-- which has been the top search result on Google for the terms liberal news and progressive opinion for several years. Rob began his Bottom-up Radio show, broadcast on WNJC 1360 AM to Metro Philly, also available on iTunes, covering the transition of our culture, business and world from predominantly Top-down (hierarchical, centralized, authoritarian, patriarchal, big) to bottom-up (egalitarian, local, interdependent, grassroots, archetypal feminine and small.) Recent long-term projects include a book, Bottom-up-- The Connection Revolution, debillionairizing the planet (more...) The views expressed herein are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of this website or its editors. OpEdNews depends upon can't survive without your help. If you value this article and the work of OpEdNews, please either Donate or Purchase a premium membership. From Reader Supported News Scott Galindez speaking to a group of activists in Philadelphia during the 2016 Democratic National Convention. (Image by (video image: PRTV)) Details DMCA On Tuesday, September 26, Scott Galindez, longtime peace activist and firebrand progressive died at the Hospice of North Iowa. Scott succumbed to complications stemming from diabetes. Scott foretold his own passing in a heart-wrenching editorial published on Reader Supported News three days prior to his death, titled "The Most Important Legislation of My Lifetime." In the end, Scott made a decision on his own terms to forgo further dialysis treatments. He passed 10 days later. Scott was born July 6, 1965, near Utica, New York. He graduated from Clinton Central High School in Clinton, New York, and enlisted in the U.S. Army, where he was stationed in Hawaii. After military service he attended Syracuse University, graduating in 1989 with a degree in Communications and Political Science. Scott was first drawn to political action at Syracuse. He was at that point a Reagan supporter. In Scott's words, "The writings of El Salvador's slain archbishop Oscar Romero and the on-campus South Africa divestment movement converted him to an activist for Peace and Justice." As he became disillusioned by the Reagan-Bush years, he became increasingly active, attending rallies and seeking guidance from preeminent peace protest and civil rights icons of the day. Scott cited Philip Berrigan, William Thomas (William Thomas Hallenback Jr.), Mitch Snyder, Don White, Lisa Fithian, and Paul Wellstone as primary influences. Scott learned well. Personal sacrifice was his weapon against injustice. Whether it was climbing over the White House fence to draw attention to U.S. military aggression, only to be arrested, or arriving hours before an organizing event to help set up seating and staging apparatus for the event speakers, Scott saw sacrificing himself as an obligation in an unjust world. In the mode of Berrigan and the others. Scott was the co-founder of Truthout, both ideologically and in terms of his selfless labors. He worked tirelessly to get the organization off the ground before there was any funding at all. His vision for what the publication would stand for became a critical component of the DNA of Truthout and later Reader Supported News (RSN). Scott's journalism career was put on an abrupt albeit relatively brief hold in 2002, after he was arrested for trespassing at a demonstration at Vandenberg Air Force Base. He served six months in federal detention in Los Angeles, along with five co-defendants, for walking onto the Vandenberg grounds and painting peace slogans on a structure in a secure area. 2004 saw Scott, Marc Ash, and a full Truthout crew at the Republican National Convention in New York City. Navigating the maze of security and political personnel was a special challenge. Scott was a key player in engineering coverage of the event under difficult and often dangerous conditions. In 2005, Scott was Truthout's eyes, ears, and presence at Camp Casey. Camp Casey was an early Occupy-style demonstration organized by Cindy Sheehan, the mother of U.S. Army Specialist Casey Sheehan, killed in action in Iraq on April 4, 2004. It was one of the longest lasting and best-noted demonstrations of the Iraq war. Scott's reporting did much to propel public awareness of the demonstration's message and mission. After joining RSN in 2010, Scott re-established himself as a movement-building force. On scores of issues affecting everyday people, Scott was the first to see the threat and act on it, the first to see an opportunity and urge the organization to put our efforts behind it. Scott, longtime RSN contributor and Civil Rights attorney Bill Simpich, and courtroom sketch artist Kay Rudin teamed up in 2013 to cover the landmark trial of Army Private and whistleblower Bradley (Chelsea) Manning. At one juncture Bill Simpich, on behalf of RSN, filed a "Media Access Motion" to compel improved access for members of the media to cover a very restrictive environment. Ultimately the motion was denied, but access did improve. Scott understood early that the 2016 Bernie Sanders campaign for President would be a force. He made close contact and coverage of the campaign a central focus. True to form, Scott became a fixture on the Sanders campaign trail. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). From Palestine Chronicle BDS stands for "Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions." The BDS Movement was the outcome of several events that shaped the Palestinian national struggle and international solidarity with the Palestinian people following the Second Uprising (Intifada) in 2000. Building on a decades-long tradition of civil disobedience and popular resistance, and invigorated by growing international solidarity with the Palestinian struggle as exhibited in the World Conference against Racism in Durban, South Africa in 2001, Palestinians moved into action. In 2004, the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI) called for the boycott of Israeli government and academic institutions for their direct contributions to the military occupation and subjugation of the Palestinian people. This was followed in 2005 by a sweeping call for boycott made by 170 Palestinian civil society organizations. 1 -- What is the academic boycott? PACBI has served as a medium through which the Palestinian point of view is articulated and presented to international audiences through the use of media, academic and cultural platforms. Because of its continued efforts and mobilization since 2004, many universities, teachers' unions, student groups and artists around the world have endorsed BDS and spoken out in support of the movement. 2 -- Why is BDS important? In the absence of any international mechanism to end the Israeli occupation of Palestinian land, and the lack of international law being enforced, as expressed in dozens of un-implemented United Nations resolutions, BDS has grown to become a major platform to facilitate solidarity with the Palestinian people, apply pressure on and demand accountability from Israel and those who are funding, or in any way enabling, Israel's occupation of Palestine. 3 -- Is BDS a Palestinian or a global movement? The call for BDS is made by Palestinian society. This is important, for no one has the right to represent the Palestinian struggle but Palestinians themselves. However, the BDS movement itself -- although centred on Palestinian priorities -- is an inclusive global platform. Grounded in humanistic values, BDS aims to court world public opinion and appeals to international and humanitarian law to bring peace and justice in Palestine and Israel. 4 -- What are some of the historical precedents to BDS? The boycott movement was at the heart of the South African struggle that ultimately defeated Apartheid in that country. Roots of that movement in South Africa go back to the 1950s and 60s, and even before. However, it was accelerated during the 1980s, which, ultimately, led to the collapse of the Apartheid regime in 1991. There are many other precedents in history. Notable amongst them is the Boston Tea Party, protesting unfair taxation by the British Parliament; the Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1955 (which ushered in the rise of the Civil Rights Movement led by Martin Luther King. Jr.), and the Salt March led by Mohandas Gandhi in 1930 (which initiated the civil disobedience campaign that was a major factor leading to India's independence in 1947.) All of these are stark examples of popular movements using economic pressure to end the subjugation of one group by another. BDS is no different. Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Congress Switchboard: 202-224-3121 "Ever growing inequality and intense and growing political distortions have radically aggravated the top-down imbalance of power, undermining democracy. Rob Kall's book, Bottom-Up is a guide to taking back humanity's shared legacy of shared responsibility. A stimulating read and an important contribution!" Gar Alperovitz, author of What Then Must We Do? Straight Talk About the Next American Revolution. This article originally appeared at TomDispatch.com. We tend to think of them as separate and distinct wars: the war in Afghanistan, the war in Iraq. Yet it's not hard to trace the ways in which America's knee-jerk overreaction to the terrorist attack of 9/11 and the "preemptive" invasion of Iraq that followed in 2003 destabilized whole regions, spreading conflict like the plague. One war begot another, often right next door, just as the war in Iraq seemed to spill into neighboring Syria and set off its demolition, too. The infamous "surge" of more than 20,000 additional U.S. troops into Iraq in 2007 only accelerated the flight of Iraqis from their homes: more than a million of them were displaced within that country, while close to a million more crossed the border into Syria. Those Iraqi refugees generally had more money than their Syrian counterparts. With their arrival, schools and hospitals became overcrowded, food prices in Damascus rose 30% and rents 150%. Hard-pressed Syrians moved to run-down neighborhoods in Damascus, finding themselves second-class citizens in their own capital. As the number of refugees only increased, UNHCR, the U.N. Refugee Agency, found itself desperately overstretched, with money enough to help only with housing or food, not both. Poor Iraqi widows and single mothers eventually slid into the sex trade. Women danced in nightclubs where impoverished mothers sold their little girls into one-night "marriages" to high-rolling tourists from the Gulf states. And things only got worse. Such misery is contagious. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, having opened borders to Iraqis, feared the subversion of his own regime. He had always run a tight ship, much like his fallen autocratic neighbor Saddam Hussein. With the surge of Iraqis into Damascus, he doubled down. When I worked in the city in 2008, you could smell surveillance in the air. The same guy lounging in different neighborhoods. The lock picked. Papers rifled. A camera gone. The rising sense of something worse about to happen. The shadow of the war in Iraq fell across Damascus like a prediction. Less than three years later, in March 2011, peaceful protests began after 15 young boys were arrested and tortured -- a 13 year-old died -- for having written graffiti in support of the Arab Spring. Assad responded with deadly force and, by July, civil war was underway. To date, at least 465,000 Syrians have been killed, one million injured, and 12 million -- half the country's population -- displaced like the Iraqis before them. As for the U.S.: in 2016, we dropped 12,192 bombs on Syria although we are not officially at war with that country. That's more than the 12,095 bombs we dropped that same year on Iraq, with which we are no longer at war, and more than we have dropped on any country since the war in Vietnam. It's all about the unlimited license the war on terror has given the U.S. military. We now bomb "terrorists" wherever we "see" them (often among civilians), and currently not just in Syria and Iraq but also in Afghanistan, Yemen, Pakistan, Libya, and Somalia. Donald Trump, during his first six months in office, set an all-time presidential record, dropping 20,650 bombs on seven Muslim countries for reasons he did not explain, even as he nearly doubled the number of civilians being killed. And he's just getting started. TomDispatch managing editor Nick Turse brings us back to ground level today, as he writes about the courageous unsung local people, the "fixers," who make possible the faraway work of journalists like him and the prize-winning Canadian reporter Deborah Campbell whose extraordinary new book he discusses. Full disclosure: I'm a colleague and friend of both Nick and Campbell, whose riveting book takes you deep into the eerie police state that was Damascus before the bombs began to fall in Syria. Ann Jones The Journalist and the Fixer Who Makes the Story Possible? By Nick Turse We were already roaring down the road when the young man called to me over his shoulder. There was a woman seated between us on the motorbike and with the distance, his accent, the rushing air, and the engine noise, it took a moment for me to decipher what he had just said: We might have enough gas to get to Bamurye and back. I had spent the previous hour attempting to convince someone to take me on this ride while simultaneously weighing the ethics of the expedition, putting together a makeshift security plan, and negotiating a price. Other motorbike drivers warned that it would be a one-way trip. "If you go, you don't come back," more than one of them told me. I insisted we turn around immediately. Once, I believed journalists roamed the world reporting stories on their own. Presumably, somebody edited the articles, but a lone byline meant that the foreign correspondent was the sole author of the reporting. Then I became a journalist and quickly learned the truth. Foreign correspondents are almost never alone in our work. We're almost always dependent on locals, often many of them, if we want to have any hope of getting the story. It was never truer for me than on that day when I was attempting to cover an ongoing ethnic cleansing campaign in South Sudan. As the motorbike driver was topping off the tank with gasoline from a plastic water bottle, I had a final chance to think things over. We were going to cross the border from Uganda into South Sudan so I could gather evidence of a murder by government troops in a village garrisoned by those same soldiers. The driver hailed from one of the ethnic groups being targeted by South Sudan's army. If we were found by soldiers, he would likely be the first of us killed. The woman, Salina Sunday, was my guide. She was confident that she would be safe and didn't show an ounce of fear, even though women were being raped and killed as part of the ethnic cleansing campaign churning through the southlands of South Sudan, including her home village, Bamurye. Within minutes we were off again to find, if we were fortunate, the mutilated body of the murder victim; if we were unfortunate, his killers as well. I had met Sunday barely more than an hour earlier. I had laid eyes on the driver for the first time only minutes before we left. They were strangers and I was risking their lives for my work, for "my" story. The Fix is In When it comes to overseas newsgathering, it's the "fixers," those resourceful, wired-in locals who know all the right people, who often make it possible. Then there are the generous local reporters, translators, guides, drivers, sources, informants of every sort, local friends, friends of friends, and sometimes -- as in that trip of mine to Bamurye (recently recounted in full in the Columbia Journalism Review) -- courageous strangers, too. Those women and men are the true, if unsung, heroes behind the bylines of so many foreign correspondents. They're the ones who ensure that, however imperfectly, we at least have a glimpse of what's happening in far-off, sometimes perilous places about which we would otherwise be clueless. So when the great Iona Craig dons a black abaya and niqab, inserts her "brown tinted contact lenses to cover [her] green foreigner eyes," and blows the lid off a botched U.S. Navy SEAL raid in Yemen that killed at least six women and 10 children, she does it with the aid of fixer-friends. They are the ones who make the arrangements; who drive and translate; who, in short, risk their lives for her, for the story -- and for you. When Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist Daniel Berehulak produces an instantly iconic New York Times expose' of the brutal war on drugs launched by Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, veteran journalist and uber-fixer Rica Concepcion is also behind it. 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). A prominent opposition lawmaker in Cambodia has fled the country, saying yesterday that Prime Minister Hun Sen made direct threats against her and her colleagues and that she no longer felt safe in her own country. Mu Sochua, who serves as deputy president of the Cambodia National Rescue Party, left Cambodia on Tuesday, a day after Hun Sen warned of strong action against any other politicians who may have been involved in opposition leader Kem Sokhas alleged plot to overthrow the government. Kem Monovithya, the partys deputy chief for public affairs, said on Twitter late Tuesday that Mu Sochua had received a warning from a senior Interior Ministry official that she would be arrested. Opposition party president Kem Sokha was charged with treason for allegedly conspiring with the United States to topple the government, and could face up to 30 years in prison if convicted. He was arrested on Sept. 3 on the basis of videos from several years ago showing him at a seminar where he spoke about receiving advice from U.S. pro-democracy groups. His arrest in the middle of the night came amid a crackdown on the media. Almost half of the 55 opposition lawmakers have fled Cambodia since Kem Sokhas arrest. The situation is very serious and has direct impact on 2018 elections, Mu Sochua said yesterday in a text message to The Associated Press. I no longer feel safe inside the country. My voice needs to be heard inside and outside. Leaving Cambodia is not a choice, but surviving imminent arrest is necessary. Kem Sokha had been expected to lead his Cambodia National Rescue Party in next years election in a strong challenge against Hun Sen, who has held power for three decades. AP Monsanto's Roundup Kills (Image by JeepersMedia) Details DMCA If you haven't already, please check out my latest piece with The American Conservative, "What Trump's 'Warning' to Colombia Really Means." It goes into detail about the way in which America's drug war is selectively enforced to advance a Cold War-style agenda. The Trump administration has criticized Colombia's anti-drug efforts and pressured their country to reinstate its aerial fumigation program. This program was somewhat effective with reducing coca production, but this one method isn't a silver bullet for eliminating the drug supply. Also, aerial spraying does nothing to combat the demand for cocaine. Hence, cocaine supply always responds to demand and the production is displaced from one region to another. However, you may be wondering why Colombia discontinued this program. The problem is that it also results in widespread collateral damage. The chemical that is sprayed over the coca fields in Colombia, glyphosate, was banned by the Colombian Supreme Court in 2015 due to research by the World Health Organization, which pointed to a variety of negative environmental and health consequences. This aerial fumigation program is also unpopular with Colombia's farming sector because the spraying is indiscriminate and the chemicals kill all plants in the area, not just coca. In fact, the government of Colombia reached a $15 million settlement in a lawsuit with its southern neighbor, Ecuador, due to the damage from aerial spraying that drifted over the border. Despite these facts, Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, and the Trump administration have continued to bang the drum calling for the Colombian government to restore this program. Keep in mind, aerial spraying conveniently benefits a couple of politically-connected corporations. For fifteen years, the U.S. government contracted with the private defense company DynCorp to spray glyphosate, which is developed and patented by Monsanto, over the coca fields in Colombia. (Glyphosate is the key chemical in their weed-killer, RoundUp.) That brings up another interesting topic. The Trump administration is indirectly promoting Monsanto's interests at a time when other government entities are confronting the company's tactics. Case in point, Monsanto's officials and lobbyists were recently banned from the European parliament. Coincidentally, this decision came about after Monsanto's representatives declined to attend a meeting about allegations that their company manipulated safety studies related to glyphosate. (The New York Times also published an excellent article recently about the company's woes in the U.S.) Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Congress Switchboard: 202-224-3121 "Rob Kalls Bottom-Up: Tapping the Power of the Connection Revolution takes a very holistic view of bottom-up thinking and action, from changes in our psychology to our systems of work, living and governance. As someone who's been working to make bottom-up economics a reality for over 30 years, this book reinforces the need for and potential of redirecting our priorities-- and resources--from the few at the top to the many at the bottom." Anthony Flaccavento, author of Building a Healthy Economy from the Bottom Up 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. Two-horn devil (Image by guidosoraru.it) Details DMCA Each time, the horror of yet another mass shooting leaves us stunned, grief-stricken, and desperate for answers. But always lurking in the shadows, waiting to pounce, is a modern-day Cerberus. Like that three-headed hound of Greek mythology that patrolled the gates of hell, the National Rifle Association, the firearms industry, and their bankrolled politicians obstruct every step toward gun reform, ominously warning that any restrictions will make us helpless to protect ourselves. When it comes to promoting this manipulative "we'll all be helpless" mind game, the leading huckster is undoubtedly Wayne LaPierre, the NRA's longtime CEO. In an op-ed shortly after President Obama's re-election in 2012, LaPierre explained, "No wonder Americans are buying guns in record numbers right now, while they still can and before their choice about which firearm is right for their family is taken away forever." In the same piece, he described the NRA as "the indispensable shield against the destruction of our nation's Second Amendment rights" and "the only chance gun owners have to withstand the coming siege." That same year, a week after the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy, LaPierre called for armed security guards in every U.S. school, arguing "the only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun." And in a speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference, he listed "home invaders, drug cartels, carjackers, knockout gamers, and rapers, and haters, and campus killers, airport killers, shopping mall killers" among the threats that only assault-style rifles and other guns can stop. The NRA and gun lobby aggressively push these psychologically-potent appeals because they know nothing sells guns like fear -- including the fear of not having a gun. Indeed, in the aftermath of massacres, worries about gun restrictions often lead to sharp increases in handgun purchases. Sure enough, gun stocks rose on Wall Street in the days immediately following the Las Vegas attack. The bottom-line here is simple: easy access to deadly weapons means greater profits for gun manufacturers and dealers. At the same time, let's remember that our country's far-too-frequent mass shootings actually account for only a small part of the bloodshed. The number of deaths from gun violence in the U.S. this year -- including homicides and suicides -- is again likely to exceed 30,000. That figure is comparable to the number of Americans who are killed in automobile accidents. To help give their "we'll all be helpless" scare tactics the sheen of academic respectability, the gun industry has eagerly turned to the likes of economist John Lott, the high-profile promoter of the widely discredited thesis that more guns lead to less crime. Lott has argued that gun reform "will leave individuals more vulnerable and helpless" and that "instead of making places safer, disarming law-abiding citizens leaves them as sitting ducks." But his claims have collapsed under careful scholarly scrutiny. The prestigious National Research Council dismissed Lott's findings and his methodology, and researchers at Stanford and Harvard have shown that higher rates of household gun ownership are associated with higher, not lower, homicide rates, both nationally and in state-by-state comparisons. Of course, scientific evidence regarding gun violence isn't popular with many beholden members of Congress. For them, propaganda is just fine. In fact, thanks to NRA lobbying, Congress prohibits the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from even conducting research related to guns and public health. And let's not forget who's in the White House. Benefiting from millions of dollars of support from the NRA during his presidential campaign, self-proclaimed"true friend and champion" Donald Trump has opined, "You take the guns away from the good people, and the bad ones are going to have target practice." Making matters still worse, the NRA's messaging machine has been winning over large segments of the public as well. For the first time in decades, recent national polls have shown there's greater support for "gun rights" than for "gun control." This support is especially strong among those white Americans who mistakenly believe crime rates are rising. And whereas people used to report that hunting was their primary reason for owning a gun, now they say it's for personal safety. A fearful country is exactly what the NRA and gun industry want. But to protect their turf and profits even more, they also want us to believe there's yet another terrifying monster under our collective bed: the prospect of a future in which we're all disarmed and helpless to keep our loved ones safe. How can we resist these fearmongering ploys? By recognizing that sensible gun reform is only a phantom menace -- and that the real one looks like the deadly arsenal of firearms and munitions on the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Hotel in Las Vegas last Sunday night. Kid With Gun (Image by agitprop) Details DMCA I'm a progressive, who simply can't understand why we haven't passed, can't pass common sense gun control measures such as universal background checks, a ban on semi-automatic weapons and the high velocity ammunition that goes with them. Then there is the issue of mental health and the fact that on February 28, 2017 President Trump repealed the Obama ban on mentally ill people buying guns that was recently written into the Social Security Disability law. The problem for me and a great many others is that neither Trump's repeal nor the extraordinarily complex wrangling over the Second Amendment, freedom and public safety are easy issues with simple solutions. Beneath the well meaning Obama ban that came as a result of Newtown is a Duke University study of some 82,000 people with serious mental illnesses in Florida that found only minor differences between the number in the study and the general population that would use a gun to harm others or themselves. Thus the psychiatrist behind the study Professor Jeffrey Swanson says the Obama law was too restrictive on individual rights while proposing that an evidence based policy could resolve the issue. In July 2015 the Pew Research Center did a survey finding 79% of Republicans favored background checks for gun shows and private sales while 85% of Democrats favored them. It found 79% of Republicans favored laws to prevent the mentally ill from buying guns while 81% of Democrats favored them. The study found 55% of Republicans favored a federal database to track gun sales while 85% of Democrats favored one. It found that 48% of Republicans favored a ban on assault weapons while 70% of Democrats favored it. Interestingly the survey did not poll Independents who make up roughly 40% of the total adult population. For us liberals the Big Dog is the National Rifle Association and even though he's been gone since 2008, we remember Charlton Heston, AKA Moses standing before the assembled throng of the National Conference of the NRA in 2000 speaking these immortal words in defense of the Second Amendment: "From these cold dead hands!" While the NRA is still the Big Dog on Capitol Hill with its 4 million gun-carrying members it has company including a number of organizations that believe its members are wusses. Let's begin with the National Association for Gun Rights, it's 4.5 million members and one of its tag lines; "Guns save lives." This group is deep in the weeds doing work at the state level as well as the federal level and it has a remarkable primer on its website teaching its members and anyone else willing to read how politics really works and what actually scares the heck out of politicians. There are many more notable/notorious pro gun organizations including the Second Amendment Foundation which has a table of what it calls "Refuting statistics," that include the following statements: "There are an estimated 65 million handguns in private circulation in the United States according to FBI statistics." "Less than one handgun in 6500 is ever used in a homicide." According to my inelegant math that means approximately 10,000 will be used in a homicide. Another pro-gun group is Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership which may be best known for pushing the idea that gun control leads to totalitarianism and even genocide. It's founder, Aaron Zelman wrote a book entitled; "Death by Gun Control," and its website includes a chart showing "The Human Cost of Gun Control Ideas," relating gun laws directly to a chronological list of genocides. There are many more organizations but space and time limit a full examination. What there is is a large and multifaceted pro-gun lobby with bucks and brains and plenty of committed citizens that make up an ersatz armed militia of over 10 million members. As for gun control advocates I begin with ex-Congresswoman, Gabby Giffords, who's life changed forever on January 8, 2011 when she was shot along with 18 others during a constituent meeting in Tucson. Six people died that day and Giffords lives with a brain injury. Giffords and her husband former astronaut Mark Kelly founded Americans For Responsible Solutions and have raised awareness and millions of dollars to broaden and strengthen the background check system, limit access of domestic abusers to firearms, stop gun trafficking and more. They have put money into political campaigns to encourage and support like minded candidates. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Symbiote Lab Furniture Installed in Largest Hospital in North America Symbiote Lab Furniture Installed in Largest Hospital in North America ZEELAND, MICH., USASeptember 2017Symbiote, a manufacturer of innovative lab furniture, has completed the installation of three floors of laboratory furniture at the largest hospital in North America. At 20 stories tall and more than 3 million square feet, Canada is home to CHUM, short for Central Hospital University of Montreal. CHUM is a merger of three hospitalscombining teaching, research, and healthcareinto one mega destination.Specialty floors house teaching, centralized research and core labs. Symbiote furniture encompasses three floors.Floors are free of columns enabling an open design. Lab benches, mobile tables and casegoods are easy to move and reconfigure as needed.Researchers have adjustable workstations adjacent to and inside lab areas.Steel casework is placed along perimeters or underutilized areas to form specialized tasks around the core.Symbiote was founded in 1984 to develop custom solutions to compliment the Herman Miller Action Factory product line. This led to designing lab furniture for the Life Science, Tech and Aerospace markets. Headquartered in Zeeland, Michigan, Symbiote serves the U.S. market through a network of dealers and sales representatives.Symbiote, Inc.300 N. CentennialZeeland, MI 49464Media contact: Bob Kubasiak616.772.1790 x117bkubasiak@symbiote.com Global Magnesium Based Metal Matrix Composites Market, Key Trends, Demand, Growth, Size, Review, Share, and Analysis to 2020 http://www.marketintelreports.com/report/9dime8884/global-organic-pvc-stabilizers-market-research-report-2016 http://www.marketintelreports.com/pdfdownload.php?id=9dime8884 http://www.marketintelreports.com/purchase.php?id=9dime8884 www.marketintelreports.com 2016 Global Organic PVC Stabilizers Industry Report is a professional and in-depth research report on the world's major regional market conditions of the Organic PVC Stabilizers industry, focusing on the main regions (North America, Europe and Asia) and the main countries (United States, Germany, Japan and China).Browse 157 Pages of Recent Research report on Global Organic PVC Stabilizers Market Research Report 2016 to 2020 @Scope of the Reports:The report firstly introduced the Organic PVC Stabilizers basics: definitions, classifications, applications and market overview; product specifications; manufacturing processes; cost structures, raw materials and so on. Then it analyzed the world's main region market conditions, including the product price, profit, capacity, production, supply, demand and market growth rate and forecast etc. In the end, the report introduced new project SWOT analysis, investment feasibility analysis, and investment return analysis.Request Sample PDF Brochure@The report includes six parts, dealing with:basic informationthe Asia Organic PVC Stabilizers Marketthe North American Organic PVC Stabilizers Marketthe European Organic PVC Stabilizers Marketmarket entry and investment feasibilitythe report conclusionProcure this Report @About Us:MarketIntelReports (MIR) aim to empower our clients to successfully manage and outperform in their business decisions, we do this by providing Premium Market Intelligence, Strategic Insights and Databases from a range of Global Publishers. MIR intends to be a one-stop shop with an intuitive design, exhaustive database, expert assistance, secure cart checkout and data privacy integrated ensure that the database is constantly updated to dynamically meet the targeted, specific needs of our clients. MarketIntelReports currently has more than 10,000 plus titles and 35+ publishers on our platform and growing consistently to fill the Global Intelligence Demand Supply Gap.Contact us:Sales Manager: Srikanth VishnuMarket Intelligence Reports PTE. LTDNorth Bridge RoadHigh Street CentreSingapore (179094)sales@marketintelreports.comTelephone: 1-302-261-5343 Get the Best Online Personal Training with Mohamed Shaalan http://nosteroids.net/ A Personal Trainer that helps his clients to achieve their personal health and fitness goals, Mohamed Shaalan would help people reach their body goals in no time and without fuss.Mohamed Shaalan is proud to announce to the public the launch of NoSteroids online personal training service that will help anyone to reach their fitness goals, provide them with customized meal plan according to their preference, provide them with the best nutrition advice, and help them to change the bad habits that prevent anyone from reaching their objectives.The benefits of hiring Mohamed Shaalan as an online personal trainer vastly outweigh the disadvantages. One of the advantages is that he offers affordable packages. Also, anyone can train at their convenience and can choose the best time to workout. 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While the news will not surprise anyone living in the city, it should indicate the importance of monitoring ones market value to make sure salaries keep up.For some skill sets, a compensation package that was competitive 18 months ago may now be considered a low-ball offer. Other packages may emphasize benefits and perks that are just not in demand.Vaco Seattle, formerly Greythorn, has conducted annual market surveys for the past six years in order to provide up-to-date information regarding average salaries, benefits, perks, and motivation. The data is published in a free report.Ben Weber, Managing Anchor at Vaco Seattle, explained why the research was important to his team. Our annual market reports are designed to help candidates benchmark their current compensation, and help them evaluate their next career steps, whether that involves seeking out a new role or ensuring their current one remains a good fit, he said. Our clients also benefit, because they see what top talent actually desire and they can tailor their offers more appropriately.If youre interested in benchmarking your salary and benefits, please consider participating. The survey is now open, and all responses are anonymous. The survey takes 10 minutes, and upon completion Vaco Seattle will donate $1 for every response to the Apache Software Foundation.Take the survey here:***About VacoVaco offers consulting, contract and direct hire solutions in the areas of accounting, finance, technology, healthcare, operations and general administration. With over 30 offices across the nation and beyond, Vaco has been on the Inc. 5000 list of the nations fastest-growing private companies for the last nine years. Vaco is dedicated to developing creative client solutions, long term relationships and lifelong careers. For more information, visit vaco.com/seattle.Vaco Seattle40 Lake Bellevue Drive, Suite 200Bellevue, WA 98005 Nicaraguas ruling Sandinista Front (FSLN) has claimed a decisive victory in the countrys first elections since the revolution five years ago. Within hours of the count beginning, the leader of the countrys left-wing junta, Daniel Ortega, said he had gained nearly 70 percent of the vote in the presidential election. Mr Ortega said his party won a similar share of the vote in the parliamentary election. Mr Ortega said: We can already say that the FSLN is the clear winner of these elections by an ample majority. The Sandinistas nearest rivals have so far polled just 11 percent of the vote but Nicaraguas leading right-wing parties boycotted the ballots. Turnout was high with an estimated 83% of the countrys 1.5 million-strong electorate casting a vote. The Sandinistas have been at pains to convince the outside world, especially the US, that the elections were free and fair. Approximately 400 independent foreign observers, including a number of Americans, were in Nicaragua to monitor proceedings. The unofficial British election observer, Lord Chitnis, said proceedings were not perfect but he had no doubt the elections were fair. In 1979 the Sandinistas named after an assassinated former leader of Nicaragua ousted long-time dictator Anastasio Somoza. The Sandinistas have been at odds with the US ever since, especially since the superpower began assisting the partys main opponents, the Contras. The Contras, based in neighboring Honduras, are engaged in a guerrilla war aimed at ousting the Sandinista Front. Courtesy BBC News In context In spite of the Sandinista victory being declared fair the United States continued to oppose the left-wing Nicaraguan government. It increased its military activity in the region prompting fears in Nicaragua of an invasion. Eventually the US backed off but, unhappy at Nicaraguas ties with the Soviet Union, continued to fund the anti-Sandinista rebels, the Contras. However, during 1987-1988 the Nicaraguan leadership held talks and signed a peace agreement with the Contras. During elections in 1990 a US-backed centre-right National Opposition Union defeated the Sandinistas, ending their decade-long spell in power. CLOUD VERSUS ON-PREMISE CONTACT CENTRE DEPLOYMENT Cloud versus On-premise www.contactspace.com Cloud-based solutions are nothing new, and businesses are increasingly migrating their contact centres to the cloud. This article compares cloud-based versus on-premise contact centre deployments and offers some compelling reasons why you should move your contact centre to the cloud.Reducing On-site IT costs and Complexity.With on-premises contact centres, youll need to purchase expensive IT infrastructure; youll need to set aside a dedicated server room, and youll also need to look after your own maintenance and upkeep of hardware and software in every regard. An on-premise system is a capital expenditure that is beyond the budget of many small and mid-sized businesses.Cloud-based contact centres, on the other hand, are accessible through your browser, with the only requirements being that you have a reliable internet connection and a headset. Theres simply no expensive infrastructure to buy and maintain or to upgrade every few years either. Cloud-based systems are typically available under a subscription pricing model on a per user or concurrent user basis. 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Cloud solutions make it feasible to have a high-performing remote workforce, reducing costs associated with an in-house workforce, and offering good work-life balance through more flexible employment arrangements.As previously mentioned, contactSPACE makes full use of the AWS architecture, offering significant advantages over other cloud-based solutions, such as enabling organisations to scale infinitely without degradation to the service.Onboarding new staff is a simple process, and crucially the training of new staff is fast-tracked using scripting so they perform better, faster.In a previous article ("What's under the hood of your Contact Centre Solution?") we took a closer look at the technology behind cloud-based contact centres and we identified some architectural differences that play a significant part in performance and scalability.If youd like to discuss your contact centre requirements give us a call on 1300 360 533 or email us at info@contactspace.com to find out how we can make your life simpler.contactSPACE is a cloud-based contact centre solution which helps organisations improve the outcomes of their client interactions as well as eliminating the operational complexities which have plagued call centres for decades. 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This report consist of comprehensive market data, on a granular level, providing a holistic picture of the Power Distribution Switchboards market for maximum clarity and understanding.The Power Distribution Switchboards Market 2017 report includes Power Distribution Switchboards market Revenue, market Share, Power Distribution Switchboards industry volume, market Trends, Power Distribution Switchboards Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report.It shows manufacturing capacity, Power Distribution Switchboards Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2022.Sample Report Of Power Distribution Switchboards Market:Manufacturers Analysis and Top Players of Power Distribution Switchboards Market 2017 :SiemensCUBICEatonSchneider ElectricRollaPowerwellBeier Integrated SystemsGEDAC ELECTRICIEMC&S ElectricFirstly, the report covers the top Power Distribution Switchboards manufacturing industry players worldwide. It also characterizes the market based on geological regions like United States, Europe, Japan, China, Southeast Asia and Middle East and Africa. Furthermore the report covers Power Distribution Switchboards market on the basis of product types and its applications.The Power Distribution Switchboards report gives information on the top company profiles, market share, contact details and manufacturing cost analysis along with value chain analysis of Power Distribution Switchboards industry, Power Distribution Switchboards industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. 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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, USAContact: +1-214-661-1669Web: Market Assessment: Marine Signaling Devices Market 2017-2021 - E2S, Greatland Laser, Orion Safety Products, Weems & Plath https://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=1180520 https://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=E&repid=1180520 http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG A marine signaling device is an equipment used as a means of communication and navigation tool on the sea. All sea-going vessels are expected to carry a minimum number of marine signaling devices in accordance with the regulatory bodies. There are two types of marines signaling devices, namely visual and audible signaling devices. Visual devices are further categorized based on the use of fireworks, into pyrotechnic and non-pyrotechnic visual signaling devices.The global marine signaling devices market to grow at a CAGR of 3.67% during the period 2017-2021. The report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the global marine signaling devices market for 2017-2021. To calculate the market size, the report considers the demand for marine signaling devices.The market is divided into the following segments based on geography:- Americas- APAC- EMEAClick to get sample PDF with TOC:Technavio's report, Global Marine Signaling 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 vendors- Drew Marine Signal & Safety- E2S- Greatland Laser- Orion Safety Products- Weems & PlathOther prominent vendors- ACR Electronics- Echomax- Falcon Safety Products- Forespar- Glamox- Hella Marine- Kahlenberg Industries- KAMA INDUSTRIES- Marinco- NRS Solutions- Ocean Signal- Osculati- Perko- Pfannenberg- Plastimo- Rockwell Automation- Schmitt & Ongaro- SpinlockEnquiry:Key questions answered in this report- What will the market size be in 2021 and what will the growth rate be?- What are the key market trends?- What is driving this market?- What are the challenges to market growth?- Who are the key vendors in this market space?- What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the key vendors?- What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendors?ResearchMoz is the worlds fastest growing collection of market research reports worldwide. Our database is composed of current market studies from over 100 featured publishers worldwide. Our market research databases integrate statistics with analysis from global, regional, country and company perspectives. ResearchMozs service portfolio also includes value-added services such as market research customization, competitive landscaping, and in-depth surveys, delivered by a team of experienced Research Coordinators.Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-621-2074Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Email: sales@researchmoz.usFollow us on LinkedIn at: Manuka Honey Market Rests Hopes on Oral and External Use Products, Hospital & Household Applications QYResearchReports https://www.qyresearchreports.com/sample/sample.php?rep_id=910938&type=E https://www.qyresearchreports.com/sample/sample.php?rep_id=910938&type=D http://www.qyresearchreports.com The global manuka honey market has been prognosticated to earn demand from popular types of product such as external use and oral and applications such as household and hospital. QYReseachReports.com has made available another publication in its pharmaceuticals archive of market intelligence reports, which is titled Global Manuka Honey Market Research Report 2017. While the threat of substitutes and technological risks could have an unfavorable impact on the global manuka honey market, potential applications and opportunities from emerging regions have been anticipated to raise the hopes of industry players.Get free sample copy of the report at:The analysts authoring this report have brought to light the growth rate, market share, price, revenue, and production of each product type in the world manuka honey market. Likewise, the analysts have profoundly studied different application segments in terms of factors such as their rate of growth, share, and consumption in the world manuka honey market. The review period considered for the type and application analysis of the world manuka honey market is 20112016.Readers have been offered with a deep study of various regions and countries, such as Southeast Asia, Europe, North America, India, Japan, and China, deemed important for the growth and demand in the world manuka honey market. The prospect and status of each geography of the world manuka honey market have been analyzed taking into consideration the review period 20112016. For the same review period, the world manuka honey market has been researched according to value where determinants such as gross margin, price, revenue, and production have been considered. The regional analysis of the world manuka honey market is also performed as per the production, import, export, and consumption of each region and country discussed in the report.To check available discount on this report, visit at:Under manufacturing cost analysis, the authors of the report have discussed about the crucial raw materials, their price trend, important suppliers, and market concentration rate. The report has also discussed on the proportion of manufacturing cost structure where three critical elements such as manufacturing expenses, labor cost, and raw materials are focused upon. An analysis of the manufacture of manuka honey has been added to the report to help players take informed decisions in the world manuka honey market.Other aspects such as downstream buyers, raw material sources, upstream sourcing of raw materials, sourcing strategy, and industrial chain analysis have been elaborately explored in the report penned on the international manuka honey market. Along with a list of distributors and traders, the researchers have analyzed the positioning of the international manuka honey market based on three dynamics such as pricing strategy, brand strategy, and target client. For a study on marketing channel, the report has explored three vital subjects, viz. marketing channel development trend, indirect marketing, and direct marketing.In order to present a clear view of the competitive landscape of the international manuka honey market, the report has profiled 10 prominent industry players, viz. Waitemata Honey, Ora Honey, Cammells Honey, Mossops, Happy Valley, API Health, Pure Honey New Zealand, Manuka Health, Watson & Son, and Comvita.List of Tables and FiguresFigure Picture of Manuka HoneyFigure Global Production Market Share of Manuka Honey by Type in 2015Figure Product Picture of OralTable Major Manufacturers of OralFigure Product Picture of External useTable Major Manufacturers of External useTable Manuka Honey Consumption Market Share by Application in 2015Figure Hospital ExamplesFigure Household ExamplesFigure Other ExamplesFigure North America Manuka Honey Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2011-2021)Figure Europe Manuka Honey Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2011-2021)Figure China Manuka Honey Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2011-2021)Figure Japan Manuka Honey Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2011-2021)Figure Southeast Asia Manuka Honey Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2011-2021)Figure India Manuka Honey Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2011-2021)Figure Global Manuka Honey Revenue (Million UDS) and Growth Rate (2011-2021)Table Global Manuka Honey Production of Key Manufacturers (2015 and 2016)Table Global Manuka Honey Production Share by Manufacturers (2015 and 2016)Figure 2015 Manuka Honey Production Share by ManufacturersFigure 2016 Manuka Honey Production Share by Manufacturers...About QYReseachReports.comQYReseachReports.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 US:Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-618-1030Web:Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com Global Biomass Market - Comprehensive Analysis of World Markets, Trade | 2016-2024 Global Biomass Market https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=T&rep_id=1897 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=1897 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ Global Biomass Market: OverviewBiomass has gained popularity due to its significant role as a key renewable energy in the global energy mix. Extracted or generated from agricultural waste, forestry, and biogenic waste, biomass offer a wide range of fuels. The improving economics of energy production of biomass have radically improved its uptake as a potential fuel amongst several users.The researchers have thoroughly analyzed the global biomass market using a SWOT analysis and Porters five forces analysis. The former market measurement tool puts together an assessment of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats influencing the various segments of the global market. On the other hand, the Porters five forces analysis provides an examination of the competitive landscape and explains the bargaining power of suppliers and buyers. Furthermore, the report also includes recommendations and comments by the expert market leaders that corroborate the research.Browse Full Report With ToC @Global Biomass Market: Drivers and TrendsIn the wake of global warming and growing pressure on governments across the globe to reduce their carbon footprint, several regulatory authorities are turning towards usage of biomass. Thus, biomass is largely being used in heavy duty vehicles as diesel and CNG are being replaced for achieving a greener means of transport. Though expensive, bioethanol is steadily being adopted as a crucial fuel to drive the transportation sector. Governments and other environmentalists are urging even the passenger car users who spend on gasoline to start using bioethanol as it is biodegradable and has lesser toxicity. Thus, all of these efforts are likely to boost the overall market in the next few years.Counted amongst a key renewable source of energy, biomass is slowly gaining momentum and gearing up to dominate the energy mix of several countries. Historically, biomass has been used for cooking at home and for heating. However, with technological advancements and increasing research and development for making biomass more usable, it is expected to gain wider commercial applications. Today, the new-age application of biomass is being seen in efficient furnaces and boilers. The developing countries are still adapting to the modern uses of biomass as traditionally it was only used for heating. Most of the biomass for heating procured from solid fuels such as wood chips, wood logs, twigs, saw-mill residues, and pellets. Agricultural residues such as straw are also used to generate biomass in rural areas of several developing countries.Fill the form for an exclusive sample of this report @Global Biomass Market: Geographical OutlookGeographically, the global biomass market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Rest of the World. According to analysts, Asia Pacific region is poised to make a generous contribution revenue of the global market in the coming years. The growing energy demands due to the emergence of economies in Asia Pacific have led a spike in the demand for biomass.Analysts predict that Europe will see a prolific uptake of biomass boilers in the coming years as The European Union is working towards reducing carbon emissions by 80% by 2050. This move is expected to boost the demand for biomass in the region in the coming years to a significant degree. On the other hand, North America biomass market will surge at a slow pace during the forecast years.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: Copper Indium Gallium Selenide (CIGS) Solar Cells Market - Global Industry Analysis 2011-2019 Copper Indium Gallium Selenide Solar Cells Market https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=T&rep_id=2091 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=2091 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ CIGS (Copper indium gallium selenide) is a semiconductor with direct bandgap which is used for solar cells manufacturing. The absorber of CIGS is placed on a glass or plastic backing, together with electrodes on back and front for current collection. Since the material powerfully absorbs sunlight and has a higher absorption coefficient, comparatively as compared to other semiconductor material, a thin film is required. The devices which are prepared with CIGS fit in the PVs (photovoltaics) thin-film category. CIGS has several advantages of being able to be deposited on flexible substrate materials which produce lightweight and highly flexible solar panels. Efficiency improvements have made copper indium gallium selenide a leader among alternative cell materials.Browse Full Report With ToC @Copper indium gallium selenide is one of the three conventional thin-film PV technologies, the other two being amorphous silicon and cadmium telluride. Unlike these materials, CIGS layers are quite thin to be flexible which thus allows their deposition on flexible substrates. Conversely, since all these technologies usually use deposition techniques which require high-temperature, the cells deposited on glass give the best performance. This performance is marginal in comparison with modern polysilicon based panels. Advancements in low-temperature CIGS cells deposition have erased the performance difference, even with flexible designs.CIGS has remarkably a high absorption coefficient greater than 105/cm for 1.5 eV and high energy photons. CIGS solar cells having efficiencies of approximately 20 percent have been claimed by both the Zentrum fur Sonnenenergie und Wasserstoff Forschung (ZSW) and National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), which is till date record for any thin film solar cell. The thin film PV market is expected to grow rapidly over the forecast period. Hence, a strong incentive exists to improve and develop the deposition methods for such films which would allow increased throughput and low cost.Fill the form for an exclusive sample of this report @This research report analyzes this market depending on its market segments, major geographies, and current market trends. Geographies analyzed under this research report includeNorth AmericaAsia PacificEuropeRest of the WorldThis report provides comprehensive analysis ofMarket growth driversFactors limiting market growthCurrent market trendsMarket structureMarket projections for upcoming yearsAbout 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: Rosemary Extract Market in Top Countries Expects Growth from Sale of Carnosic & Rosemarinic Acid QYResearchReports https://www.qyresearchreports.com/sample/sample.php?rep_id=1224479&type=E https://www.qyresearchreports.com/sample/sample.php?rep_id=1224479&type=D http://www.qyresearchreports.com The global rosemary extract market in top countries of the world has been exclusively evaluated in a publication added by QYReseachReports.com, titled 2017-2022 Global Top Countries Rosemary Extract Market Report. The authors of this publication have predominantly focused on the demand and trends in 17 specific rosemary extract markets by country. Understood from the title of the publication, the 20172022 forecast period considered here has been kept in view to foresee the overall revenue, price, consumption by country, and sales by type and application of the market.Get free sample copy of the report at:The analysts have split the world rosemary extract market into Africa, the Middle East, Brazil, Australia, Southeast Asia, Korea, India, Japan, China, Russia, Italy, the U.K., France, Germany, Mexico, Canada, and the U.S. The prospect of each of these markets for rosemary extract has been calculated for the review period 20122022. However, for the review period 20122017, the analysts have attempted to estimate the price, revenue, sales, and market share by country. All of these factors have also been calculated according to type and application. On the basis of manufacturer, average price, sales, and revenue of the market have been projected for the recent years, i.e. 2015 and 2016.More light has been shed upon the world rosemary extract market by manufacturer with types of product, sales location, and manufacturing base distribution in mind. The report has also explained the competitive situations and trends prevailing in the market. In this regard, strategies such as expansion, mergers, and acquisition and market concentration rate have been analyzed. For a deeper study of key players operating in the market, the authors have shared the market share of top three and five manufacturers. Rosemary extract could find application in industries such as pharmaceutical, household chemicals, and food.To check available discount on this report, visit at:While analyzing the profiles of leading companies such as Danisco (DuPont), Kemin, Frutarom, Kalsec, and Naturex, the authors have dived into their latest updates and touched vital portions such as their main business, gross margin, price, revenue, and sales. Besides this, the specifications, applications, and products of rosemary extract, major competitors, sales location, and manufacturing base of each of the companies have been discussed in the report. Under geographical analysis, the report has explored key areas of the market such as import and export for the review period 20122017.The cost analysis of the international rosemary extract market has been performed while keeping in view manufacturing expenses, labor cost, and raw materials and their market concentration rate, suppliers, and price trend. Other factors such as industrial chain, downstream buyers, and sourcing strategy have been assessed to provide a complete and in-depth view of the market. Buyers of the report will also be exposed to a study on market positioning with factors such as target client, brand strategy, and price strategy taken into consideration.List of Tables and FiguresFigure Picture of Rosemary ExtractTable Product Specifications of Rosemary ExtractFigure Global Sales Market Share of Rosemary Extract by Types in 2015Table Types of Rosemary ExtractFigure Product Picture of Carnosic acidTable Major Manufacturers of Carnosic acidFigure Product Picture of Rosemarinic acidTable Major Manufacturers of Rosemarinic acidFigure Product Picture of Essential oilTable Major Manufacturers of Essential oilFigure Product Picture of OtherTable Major Players of OtherTable Rosemary Extract Consumption Market Share by Applications in 2015Figure Food industry ExamplesFigure Household chemicals ExamplesFigure Pharmaceutical industry ExamplesFigure Other industry ExamplesFigure United States Rosemary Extract Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure Canada Rosemary Extract Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure Germany Rosemary Extract Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure France Rosemary Extract Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)...About QYReseachReports.comQYReseachReports.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 US:Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-618-1030Web:Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com Reinforcement Material Market- Industry Insights and Opportunity Analysis, Forecast 2024 Reinforcement provides improved and tailored material properties with manufacturing flexibility. Particulate composite reinforcements are also used in conventional engineering methods such as injection molding, which has resulted in overall reduction in operational costs. Natural fibers such as flax, jute, kenaf, hemp, and sisal offer various benefits such as reduction in weight, cost, and recyclability. Reinforcements are used in composite materials to enhance properties such as stiffness and strength. Depending on the alumina-lime-borosilicate composition, glass fibers are considered the major reinforcements for polymer matrix composites, owing to properties such as low susceptibility to moisture, high electrical insulating properties, and superior mechanical properties. Request sample of Reinforcement Material Market: https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/310 Sheet structures of reinforced materials are used as heat shields, insulation shields for spark plug leads, and turbocharger hoses. Reinforcement materials are used in tires for trucks and cars, owing to properties such as superb abrasion, puncture and tear resistance resulting in long life. Military applications of reinforcement include a lightweight armor solution for protection against ballistic attacks. Continuous reinforcements are used in non-prestressed reinforced concrete for improving the load-carrying capability of the structure by providing high tensile strength and discontinuous reinforcements are added to improve the toughness needed to alter crack paths and cracking mechanisms. Reinforcement Material Market Taxonomy On the basis of material, the global market is segmented into: Carbon fiber Glass fiber Natural fiber Aramid fiber Steel rebar On the basis of end use industry, the global market is segmented into: Automotive Aerospace Consumer goods Construction Transportation In automotive application, glass reinforced plastics are widely used in bumpers, dashboards, body panels and intake manifolds. Brakes are manufactured from particulate composite consisting of carbon or ceramics particulates. Various plastic components are used in consumer products such as appliances, computer housings, toys, electrical products, cell phone casings, helmets, and office furniture. Natural fiber composites consisting of thermoplastic and thermoset matrices are used for door panels, seat backs, headliners, package trays, dashboards, and interior parts. Carbon fibers are made from organic precursors, including PAN (polyacrylonitrile), rayon, and pitches and offer highest stiffness, and strength among all the reinforcement materials. Reinforcement Material Market Outlook Need for Robust materials Expected to Boost Demand Asia Pacific is one of the major contributors to the global reinforcement material market. Rapidly flourishing urbanization and modern infrastructure coupled with increasing investments in high end for products for defense sector in emerging economies such as India and China has boosted the growth of reinforcement material in the region. According to IBEF, the Indian construction industry is associated with many foreign investors such as Hines (USA), Emaar Properties (UAE), Veolia (France), Alstom (France), Aqualyng AS (Norway), Ascendas (Singapore), Tishman Speyer (USA), The Trump Organization (USA), Hydro-Comp Enterprises (Cyprus), GIZ (Germany). This will give rise to new opportunities for the manufacturers in the reinforcement material market. India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF) is a Trust established by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Department of Commerce in collaboration with the Government of India with the purpose of promoting and creating international awareness of goods manufactured in India. Check the Trending Report of Reinforcement Material Market: https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/ongoing-insight/reinforcement-material-market-310 High initial price is one of the restraining factors for the reinforcement material market globally. Product innovation and increasing global reach are some of the strategies adopted by the top players in the reinforcement material industry. Research is being made on developing conductive reinforcements in plastics. Some of the companies operating in the global reinforcement material market are Teijin Limited, Toray Industries, Inc., Cytec Industries Inc., Honeywell International, Inc., Bast Fiber LLC, AgroFiber SAS, NFC Fibers GmBh, E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, 3B-The Fiberglass Company, Owens Corning, BASF SE, Jushi Group Co., Ltd., Mitsubishi Rayon Co. Ltd., Hyosung Corporation, and NJR Steel Holdings (PTY) Ltd. About Coherent Market Insights: Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity. Contact Us Mr. Shah Coherent Market Insights 1001 4th Ave, #3200 Seattle, WA 98154 Tel: +1-206-701-6702 Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.com Website: https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/ This release was published on openPR. Permanent link to this press release: Copy Please set a link in the press area of your homepage to this press release on openPR. openPR disclaims liability for any content contained in this release. Gaffers Tape Market-Trends, Outlook, Industry Insights and Forecast 2024 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/314 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/ongoing-insight/gaffers-tape-market-314 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/ Gaffers tape is meant for temporary use and is designed accordingly so as to leave no residue once removed. Earlier, duct tape was introduced in the packaging industry which created a revolution in the market. Duct tape is least preferred in the construction industry as it does not fare well in conditions wherein it is subjected to cooling and heating of the surface. The temperature variation causes the adhesion to fail over time. Gaffers tape was introduced in the market with improved properties and better performance despite temperature fluctuations. Packaging industry has seen a revolution in over the last decade with introduction of carton sealing, void fill, and pallet wrapping. Rising adoption of carton sealing in turn has increased demand for industrial tapes. Gaffers tape has witnessed increased acceptance due to growing demand for industrial tapes in the global packaging industry.Request Sample of Gaffers Tape Market:Gaffers tape, also known as camera tape, is a heavy cotton cloth pressure-sensitive tape that has high adhesive properties. Gaffers tape provides packaging companies with the freedom to use any type of packaging material without the use of solvent. The extensive growth of industrial tape industry has in turn propelled demand for gaffers tape. This trend is expected to continue over the foreseeable future. This is mainly attributed to increased consumption of gaffers tape in the construction, electronic, and automotive industries, among others.Gaffers Tape Market TaxonomyOn the basis of product type the global market is classified into:Cartoon fastening tapeMasking tapeElectrical tapeDouble sided tapeOn the basis of backing material, the global market is classified into:PolypropylenePVCPaperOn the basis of appearance, the global market is classified into:GlossMattOn the basis of application, the global market is classified into:AutomotivePackagingHealth and HygieneBuilding and ConstructionElectrical and ElectronicsThe application of gaffers tape has increased rapidly in the electronic industry owing to its properties such as adhesive holding capability, easy removability, and relatively better moisture resistance as compared to other conventionally used tapes such as duct tape, box sealing tape and adhesive tape. Masking tape is widely used in the decorating industry as it does not leave any residue on the surface. Gaffer tape is widely used in the film industry in stage decoration, to hold down lights and cables on the platform and for marking instruments.Gaffers Tape Market Outlook - Increasing Electrical and Electronics Industry Growth Leading to Augmented Demand for Gaffers TapeAsia Pacific is one of the largest markets for gaffers tape. This is mainly attributed to the rapidly growing construction industry in this region. According to India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF)a trust by the Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India,in FY2020 the Indian construction Industry is estimated to reach a value of US$ 5 billion. This inadvertently would boost growth of gaffers tape market in India. Also, gaffers tape market is expected to receive a boost in APAC region due to wide availability of Polypropylene, PVC, which is used as raw material for production of gaffers tape. Also the growth in automotive industry has further fueled consumption of gaffers tape in Asia Pacific region.Check the Trending Report of Gaffers Tape Market:With high ease of entrance for new manufacturers, the global gaffers tape industry has become highly fragmented. This had led to competition among manufacturers. This is expected to be one of the restraining factors in the gaffers tape market. However, the present focus of manufacturers is towards introducing ecofriendly technology in the market. The major players have adopted this strategy to maintain their position in the market. This approach is also expected to prove beneficial for the new entrants in the gaffers tape market over the forecast period. Some of the companies operating in the global gaffers tape market are KGaA, 3M Company, Avery Dennison, Can-Do National Tape, The Dow Chemical Company, Ashland Inc., H.B Fuller, Henkel AG & Co., Le Mark Group, and PROTAPES AND SPECIALTIES, INC.About Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact UsMr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.comWebsite: Epoxy Resin Market Analysis 2017-2023: Key Findings, Regional Analysis, Key Players Profiles and Future Prospects https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/1736 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/epoxy-resin-market-1736 Market HighlightsEpoxy resins are the highly preferred thermoplastics for manufacturing composite materials due to their properties such as external force proof, high thermal stability, moisture proof, and heat proof. The growth of the industry is highly dependent on the consumption of these resins in various industries such as construction, automotive, aerospace, electronics, marine among others.The construction industry is the largest consumer of such resins due to its corrosion resistance property. The construction industry consumes steel in all its major processes which makes it highly important for the using the right type of resin which isnt corrosive in nature when in contact with steel. Growing construction and automotive industries due to increasing disposable income along with changing lifestyle have been a major driving factor for the segment.Demand for epoxy resin in automobile and industrial applications is projected to grow. The growth is attributed to the qualities of these resins such as heat resistance. The industries demand for water borne coatings, powder coatings, electrical laminates, which is expected to further augment the growth of the market.Increased investment in R&D in the resins market by the manufacturers is expected to widen the scope of epoxy resin across various industrial applications. Global demand is also fueled by increased power installation capacity, especially wind energy.The Global Epoxy Resin Market is expected to cross USD 9 Billion mark at the end of the forecasted period and is expected to show a staggering growth at CAGR of approximately 6% from 2016 to 2022.Key PlayersThe key players of global epoxy resin market report include- BASF SE, Olin Corporation, 3M Company, Nan Ya Plastics Corporation, Momentive Performance Material Holding LLC, DuPont,Huntsman Corporation, Sanmu Group, Hexion Inc., Aditya Birla Chemicals Ltd., Kukdo Chemical Co. Ltd., Atul Ltd.Request a Sample Copy @Scope of the reportThis study provides an overview of the global epoxy resin industry, 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, and Rest of the World. The report also provides a forecast, focusing on the market opportunities for the next five years for each region. The scope of the study segments the global epoxy resin market as application and end-use. On the basis of application it is segmented as construction, automotive, power, aerospace, marine, consumer goods, and others. On the basis of end-use it is segmented as paints & coatings, wind turbine, adhesives & sealants, Composites, Electricals, and others.Market Research Analysis:The market is highly application based. Its dependency on the end-use industry has widened over a period of time. The properties of these resins such as external force proof, high thermal stability, moisture proof, and heat proof augments the market for epoxy resins. It is expected that the global epoxy resin market will advance with higher growth rate as compared to previous years. However the current challenge for the market is the fluctuating raw material prices and popularity of alternative resins.On the basis of region, APAC takes the lead as the largest market, followed by North America and Europe. APAC, due to its rapid urbanization and changing lifestyles have created an increased demand for automobiles. Also the increased investment in infrastructure to support the population growth in the region is the driving force. The region accounts for over 55% of market share in 2015, with China leading by country, and is expected to show similar results by 2022. North America was valued to have a market size of more than USD 1,200 million in 2015 due to increased demand from automotive and marine sectors. The trend is expected to be stable by the end of 2022.For further information on this report, visit @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 The Health Bureau (SSM) has suspended three physicians and initiated proceedings to terminate J Medical Center, the clinic that was the subject of last weeks crackdown against illegal medical clinics. The clinic was found to be operating illegally without proper licensing in addition to performing illegal medical procedures and the unlawfully possessing certain medications. The SSM acknowledged a complaint submitted by a local resident on September 28 and decided to take action against the clinic by preventatively suspending its operations along with three medical staff members. According to a statement from the bureau, the local resident complained of adverse reactions after undergoing an autologous fat transfer procedure (in the breasts) and an abdominal liposuction surgery at the J Medical Centre, which was performed to an inadequate standard. The SSM reaffirmed that according to the law currently into force, no private health care service providers are authorized to perform medical procedures such as liposuction and autologous fat transfer, noting that during the previous inspection to the clinic, SSM had discovered circumstantial evidence that it was performing the prohibited services. Since the evidence and testimony collected corroborate these facts, the SSM decided to suspend the licences three physicians operating in the establishment for their continued illegal operations that constituted a threat to public health. The statement clarified that the physicians and the clinic are now suspended from all operations for a period of three months. The SSM also noted that it will conclude the investigation procedures as fast as possible, adding, If the offenses are proven, the physicians and other employees from the Center will be punished according to the law. The health authority also warned the public not to engage in such treatments. Given that liposuction and autologous fat transfer need to be performed under the use of anesthetics and have require strict personnel requirements, as well as proper facilities and equipment, they enclose also serious risks of complications (such as fat embolism). People should take into account the risk of this [type] of surgery before they proceed with it as they may cause several health hazards and lead to adverse reactions and negative health consequences, the statement concluded. RM Conductive Inks Market- Industry Insights, Outlook,Trends, Industry Insights, and Forecast 2024 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/319 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/market-insight/conductive-inks-market-319 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/ Conductive ink results in a printed object, which conducts electricity. It is produced by infusing conductive substrates into ink. Conductive inks comprise silver, graphite, carbon, or any other type of precious metal coated base material. Conductive inks can be applied in different ways including, flexographic, screen print, spray, dip, stencil print, and syringe dispense, among others. Growing use of conductive inks in OLEDs, smart packaging, flexible displays, thin film transistors, and smart textiles is projected to surge the demand for conductive inks over the forecast period. Recent advancements in the printed electronics sector have enabled conductive inks find application in electronic and medical devices, which is projected to drive the market growth over the forecast period. Conductive inks are being widely used in flexible displays, smart lighting, RFID tags, and so on. Rising demand for miniaturized and efficient electronic devices is also fueling the market growth. Smart devices, touch screens, printed batteries, and printed sensors are some of the major application areas of conductive inks, which is contributing to the positive growth of the market globally.Request sample of Conductive Inks Market:The global conductive inks market is estimated to be valued at US$ 2,723.2 million in 2017 and is expected to witness a CAGR of 6.2% during the forecast period (2017 2025).Growing demand for miniaturized and efficient electronic devices drives the marketConductive inks are used in printed electronics for better electric conductivity and efficient operation. Silver conductive inks are primarily applied in PV cells and membrane switches, which is identified to be the prime trend in the global conductive inks market. Consumer goods is a key application industry of conductive inks, for example, smart packaging, which contributes significantly to the market growth. In addition, conductive inks find application in printed circuit boards and biosensors. Need for printed materials for smart textiles as well as wearable electronics, for example, health monitoring, smart and OLED displays, etc. is fueling the demand for conductive inks globally. Increasing adoption of diverse conductive inks in cutting-edge medical devices along with sensors and industrial equipment can be considered as a key driver for the market. The market in Asia Pacific is projected to gain traction over the forecast period, mainly due to the increasing application of conductive inks in smart devices, touch screens, sensors, and so on, mainly in China and Japan. However, the high cost of silver conductive inks along with fluctuating prices of conductive inks hinders market growth.Check the Trending Report of Conductive Inks Market:Significant application of conductive inks in advanced medical sensors to drive the market growthMarket for conductive inks is gaining traction globally as a result of high rate of commercialization of printed electronics in emerging economies along with rising consumption of smart devices, miniaturized devices, and printed batteries. In addition, growing application of conductive inks in different components of vehicles is another prominent driver for the market. Growing usage of conductive inks in medical sector, for instance, in medical sensors and other devices, is anticipated to surge the demand for conductive inks. Product innovation through research and development is one of the major approaches adopted by key players operating in the conductive inks market to strengthen their foothold globally. The launch of novel products such as gold, aluminum, and nickel based conductive inks is expected to bolster the market growth further.About Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact UsMr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.comWebsite: Calcium Hypochlorite Market - competitive insight and key drivers 2014-2020 Calcium Hypochlorite Market https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=T&rep_id=2506 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=2506 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ Calcium hypochlorite is one of the most widely used bleaching, sanitation and disinfecting agent in the world. It is an integral component of bleaching powder which also includes calcium chloride and slaked lime. Calcium hypochlorite is the second most used chemical type in the hypochlorite market, sodium hypochlorite being the most used type. However calcium hypochlorite has more available chlorine and is relatively more stable than liquid bleach. It is used in a variety of applications, the most important being as disinfectants and cleaners.Calcium hypochlorite is extensively used as a chlorine compound, which is highly effective against several micro organisms such as algae, bacteria, fungi, slime and other harmful and objectionable microorganisms which exist in the environment. The market is primarily driven by its use in swimming pools, hot tub water and spas. It is used in the swimming pools to kill thriving micro organisms which pose a threat to human health and prevent contamination. Strong solutions of calcium hypochlorite is used to disinfect and sanitize pool sides, pool bottom, diving boards, decks, ladders and other surfaces. It is used to It is also extensively used to treat water and disinfect sewages. It is commonly used as a bleaching agent and also finds application as industrial sanitizer. Another important application of calcium hypochlorite is in the municipal water treatment plants.Browse Full Report With ToC @The chemical is preferred over chlorine gas and liquid bleach in water treatment application. It is also very effective for treating wells, controlling and removing algae in reservoirs, filters and other equipments. Calcium hypochlorite in tablet form is also certified for drinking applications. Some other uses of calcium hypochlorite include sanitation of food and beverage containers, equipments in dairy farming, restaurants, farms and hospitals. It is also used to treat toxic waste water emitted by tanneries, textile mills, paper mills, and food processing plants among others.The market demand for calcium hypochlorite has been on the rise owing to the increased health and sanitation consciousness of the general population post the epidemic outbreak of swine flu, avian flu, cholera, pertussis, common flu, West Nile virus and various other diseases over the past decade.Despite its widespread use, calcium hypochlorite has market restraints in terms of health hazard. Inhalation or swallowing of the chemical is very dangerous and might be fatal for human. Owing to its strong oxidizing properties direct contact with any body part might cause chemical burns. The chemical requires storage in cool and well ventilated spaces and needs to be handled carefully in order to reduce accidental spillover.North America is the largest consumer of calcium hypochlorite in the world with the U.S. accounting for more than 90% of the regions consumption. Europe accounts for the second largest market share for the chemical, and Western European countries are the main consumers in the region. Asia Pacific region is one of the fastest growing markets for calcium hypochlorite. China is the major manufacturer as well as consumer of the chemical in Asia. Significant growth has also been witnessed in Middle East and South America as well.Fill the form for an exclusive sample of this report @Some of the major players operating in this market are Lonza, Huanghua Kaifeng, Arch Chemicals, Hubei Janfa, Ianghan Salt & Chemical Complex, Vats International, Nisso, PPG Industries, Tianjin Nanke, Tianjin Ruifuxin Chemical, Tosoh, Usolieximprom, Nankai Chemical and Yuzhoushi Weilite Chemical among many others.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: Corrosion Resistant Resin Market - Trends, Outlook, Industry Insights, and Opportunity Analysis, 2016-2024 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/323 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/ongoing-insight/corrosion-resistant-resin-market-323 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/ Resin is a highly viscous or solid substance which can be natural or of synthetic origin. Corrosion resistance resins are mainly formulated as isophthalic, vinyl ester, and terephthalic resins to impart desired property of corrosion resistance. Oil & gas, automotive, and marine industries have witnessed a surge in recent years. However, one of the major challenges faced by companies operating in these industries is corrosion. Corrosion leads to high monetary and property losses across the aforementioned industries. Corrosion resistant resin is witnessing increased acceptance in these industries, owing to its resistance to solvents, chemicals, moisture, and high temperature range. Corrosion resistant resin finds a wide range of application in glass containers, stainless steel, and painted steel, among others.Request Sample of Corrosion Resistant Resin Market:Growing demand for composite materials is one of the major factors boosting growth of corrosion resistant resin market. Moreover, conventionally used metals such as carbon steel and aluminum are being replaced by composites due to their added advantages such as cost effectiveness and low maintenance. Corrosion resistance materials are anticipated to witness high demand in the chemical industry, where losses due to corrosion leads to significant revenue losses. Consumption of corrosion resistant resins for application in equipment, structures and machineries is expected to increase in the near future.Corrosion Resistant Resin Market TaxonomyOn the basis of type of product type, the global market is classified into:EpoxyPolyesterVinyl EsterPolyurethaneOn the basis of application, the global market is segmented into:CompositesCoatingsOn the basis of end use industry, the global market is classified into:ChemicalInfrastructureOil & GasMarineFood and BeverageAutomotive and TransportationOthers (power generation, paper and pulp)Epoxy resin product segment is expected to remain dominant in the global corrosion resistant resin market, due to its excellent corrosion resistance property, easy application and affordable cost. Epoxy coatings are widely used to prevent corrosion in manufacturing equipment, tanks for corrosive chemicals, underground storage tanks, industrial scrubbers, effluent management, and pressure transfer pipe. Vinyl resin is used in marine industry to prevent the blistering of the hull ships. Replacing the conventional methods of applying protective paints by resin is increasing rapidly in various end-use industries such as infrastructure, oil & gas, and automotive, among others. This is mainly attributed to the properties of composites such as easy installation, corrosion resistance, and ease of operation at elevated temperatures.Corrosion Resistant Resin Market Outlook - Increasing Focus on Cutting Losses due to Corrosion Expected to Propel Market GrowthAsia Pacific is expected to be the most potential market for corrosion resistant resin manufacturers. Asia Pacific is projected to witness relatively high growth in terms of value over the forecast period. Rapidly increasing industrialization, GDP growth, and demand for improved and modern infrastructure in the region is expected to fuel the demand for corrosion resistant resins in the region, which in turn is anticipated to augment growth of the corrosion resistant resin market. According to India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF)a trust by the Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of Indiain FY2020 the Indian construction Industry is projected to be valued at US$ 5 billion. This is projected to create a highly conducive environment for growth of the market. Moreover growing foreign investments in industries such as infrastructure and transportation in growing economies such as India is expected to boost growth of corrosion resistant resin market in Asia Pacific. China is one of the major markets owing to its deep-rooted industrial base. Middle East and Africa are emerging markets for the corrosion resistant resins due to increasing application in the oil & gas industry. On the other hand, Europe and North America are expected to exhibit relatively slower growth in market size over the forecast period.Check the Trending Report of Corrosion Resistant Resin Market:Fluctuating prices of raw material is expected to be one of the restraining factors for the growth of corrosion resistant resin market over the forecast period. This is mainly due to fact that raw materials used for manufacturing corrosion resistant resins comprise majority of petroleum products. Some of the companies operating in the global corrosion resistant resin industry are Reichhold Inc., Huntsman Corporation, Olin Corporation, Scott Bader Company Limited, Ashland Inc., Aditya Birla Chemicals, Polynt Composites Inc.About Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact UsMr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.comWebsite: Nuclear Decommissioning Market 2017-2022 Key Players: Areva Group, Babcock International Group PLC, Studsvik, AECOM, Westinghouse Electric Analysis and Forecast Report https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/885183-global-nuclear-decommissioning-market-research-report-2017 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/reports/885183-global-nuclear-decommissioning-market-research-report-2017 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/checkout?currency=one_user-USD&report_id=885183 This report studies Nuclear Decommissioning in Global market, especially in North America, Europe, China, Japan, Korea and Taiwan, focuses on top manufacturers in global market, with capacity, production, price, revenue and market share for each manufacturer, coveringAreva GroupBabcock International Group PLCStudsvikAECOMWestinghouse ElectricRequest a Sample Report @Market Segment by Regions, this report splits Global into several key Regions, with production, consumption, revenue, market share and growth rate of Nuclear Decommissioning in these regions, from 2011 to 2021 (forecast), likeNorth AmericaEuropeChinaJapanKoreaTaiwanSplit by product type, with production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, can be divided intoPressurized Water ReactorBoiling Water ReactorGas-Cooled ReactorOther ReactorsSplit by application, this report focuses on consumption, market share and growth rate of Nuclear Decommissioning in each application, can be divided intoUp to 800 MW801 MW-1,000 MWAbove 1,000 MWAccess Complete Report @Table of ContentsGlobal Nuclear Decommissioning Market Research Report 20171 Nuclear Decommissioning Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Nuclear Decommissioning1.2 Nuclear Decommissioning Segment by Type1.2.1 Global Production Market Share of Nuclear Decommissioning by Type in 20151.2.2 Pressurized Water Reactor1.2.3 Boiling Water Reactor1.2.4 Gas-Cooled Reactor1.2.5 Other Reactors1.3 Nuclear Decommissioning Segment by Application1.3.1 Nuclear Decommissioning Consumption Market Share by Application in 20151.3.2 Up to 800 MW1.3.3 801 MW-1,000 MW1.3.4 Above 1,000 MW1.4 Nuclear Decommissioning Market by Region1.4.1 North America Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.2 Europe Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.3 China Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.4 Japan Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.5 Korea Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.6 Taiwan Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.5 Global Market Size (Value) of Nuclear Decommissioning (2012-2022)2 Global Nuclear Decommissioning Market Competition by Manufacturers2.1 Global Nuclear Decommissioning Production and Share by Manufacturers (2015 and 2016)2.2 Global Nuclear Decommissioning Revenue and Share by Manufacturers (2015 and 2016)2.3 Global Nuclear Decommissioning Average Price by Manufacturers (2015 and 2016)2.4 Manufacturers Nuclear Decommissioning Manufacturing Base Distribution, Sales Area and Product Type2.5 Nuclear Decommissioning Market Competitive Situation and Trends2.5.1 Nuclear Decommissioning Market Concentration Rate2.5.2 Nuclear Decommissioning Market Share of Top 3 and Top 5 Manufacturers2.5.3 Mergers & Acquisitions, Expansion3 Global Nuclear Decommissioning Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2012-2017)3.1 Global Nuclear Decommissioning Production and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)3.2 Global Nuclear Decommissioning Revenue (Value) and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)3.3 Global Nuclear Decommissioning Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.4 North America Nuclear Decommissioning Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.5 Europe Nuclear Decommissioning Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.6 China Nuclear Decommissioning Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.7 Japan Nuclear Decommissioning Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.8 Korea Nuclear Decommissioning Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.9 Taiwan Nuclear Decommissioning Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)4 Global Nuclear Decommissioning Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Regions (2012-2017)4.1 Global Nuclear Decommissioning Consumption by Regions (2012-2017)4.2 North America Nuclear Decommissioning Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)4.3 Europe Nuclear Decommissioning Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)4.4 China Nuclear Decommissioning Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)4.5 Japan Nuclear Decommissioning Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)4.6 Korea Nuclear Decommissioning Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)4.7 Taiwan Nuclear Decommissioning Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)5 Global Nuclear Decommissioning Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by Type5.1 Global Nuclear Decommissioning Production and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)5.2 Global Nuclear Decommissioning Revenue and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)5.3 Global Nuclear Decommissioning Price by Type (2012-2017)5.4 Global Nuclear Decommissioning Production Growth by Type (2012-2017)6 Global Nuclear Decommissioning Market Analysis by Application6.1 Global Nuclear Decommissioning Consumption and Market Share by Application (2012-2017)6.2 Global Nuclear Decommissioning Consumption Growth Rate by Application (2012-2017)6.3 Market Drivers and Opportunities6.3.1 Potential Applications6.3.2 Emerging Markets/CountriesContinuedPurchase Now @ABOUT US:Wise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe. Wise Guy Reports features an exhaustive list of market research reports from hundreds of publishers worldwide. We boast a database spanning virtually every market category and an even more comprehensive collection of market research reports under these categories and sub-categories.ADDRES:WISE GUY RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, HadapsarPune - 411028Maharashtra, India Polyphenylene Sulfide (PPS) Market- Industry Insights, Trends, and Forecast 2024 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/327 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/ongoing-insight/polyphenylene-sulfide-pps-market-327 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/ Polyphenylene Sulfide (PPS) is a semi-crystalline, high temperature engineering plastic, which is widely accepted across various industries for its remarkable features such as high mechanical strength, high temperature and chemical resistance. These properties of PPS make it an appropriate alternative of choice for various metals and thermosets. The demand for PPS has significantly increased in across applications such as automotive components, filter bag in coal boilers, and electrical & electronic products. Polyphenylene sulfide or PPS can be bought in diverse forms and grades, including fibers, films, coatings, filaments and compounds. Unfilled PPS resin holds the ability to be melt spun as well as melt blown, so as to offer fabrics and fibers that have applications in flame-resistant clothing, filtration media and conveyor belts. Various reinforcing materials such as glass fibers help in reinforcing polyphenylene sulfide to enhance its thermal and mechanical properties. PPS is generally applied in injection molding processes and can even be turned into films and coatings. These versatile properties make PPS a preferred choice for diverse applications across various industries.Request Sample of Polyphenylene Sulfide Market:Polyphenylene Sulfide Market TaxonomyOn the basis of application, the global market is classified into:AutomotiveElectrical & electronicsIndustrialFilter bagsAerospaceCoatingsOther applications (sterilizable medical, dental, and laboratory equipment, hair dryer grills, and components)Key players focusing on organic growth strategies to ensure sustainable growth in the polyphenylene sulfide marketVarious leading companies in the global polyphenylene sulfide market have been launching new products with more advanced features to increase the application area and in turn enhance market presence of the players. For instance, DIC introduced impact modified PPS, an elastomer-modified PPS, which possessed features such as elongation, improved strength, excellent performance even under high temperature and humidity, and low flash level. Apart from this, a few key companies are expanding their production facilities in order to cater to growing demand for PPS. For instance, in April 2014, Celanese Corporation, a specialty materials company, announced the expansion of its Nanjing, China manufacturing facility. The company added a new PPS compounding unit to the facility, which helps in replacement of thermo sets and metals in certain applications like aerospace, automotive and electronics. The PPS market is expected to witness increasing competition over the near future with emergence of various local players focusing on capitalizing on lucrative growth opportunities on offer in the market.Polyphenylene Sulfide Market Outlook Increased consumption of PPS in high-temperature applications driving market growthOwing to its properties such as superior performance, PPS finds wide application in high-temperature processes. This factor is projected to notably drive the market growth over the forecast period. Besides, the recyclable nature of PPS, along with its ability to increase fuel economy and cut emission levels, is expected to further increase its demand, globally. The products wide usage in different automotive components, such as transmission components, switches, coolant systems, and pistons, is also likely to drive the global polyphenylene sulfide market growth in the near future.Asia-Pacific market for polyphenylene sulfide is expected to witness the fastest growth, during 2016-2024. This growth can be owed to increased demand from emerging markets in the region, including India and China. On the contrary, factors such as easy availability of substitutes, such as PEEK and PEI, and price volatility of raw materials are projected to inhibit global market growth over the near future.Check the Trending Report of Polyphenylene Sulfide Market:The key players operating in the global polyphenylene sulfide market are Tosoh Corp., DIC Corp., Toray Industries Inc., Kureha Corp., Solvay SA, China Lumena New Materials Corp., Lion Idemitsu Composites Co. Ltd., FORTRAN Industries LLC, Initz Co. Ltd. and Zhejiang NHU Special Materials, among others.About Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact UsMr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.comWebsite: Landfill Gas Market - Research report 2014 : 2020 Landfill Gas Market https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=T&rep_id=2751 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=2751 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ Global Landfill Gas Market: OverviewLandfill gas (LFG) can be utilized for energy generation and to reduce methane emissions in the atmosphere to translate into positive outcomes for local communities. Landfill gas is obtained as a natural byproduct of microbial decomposition of organic matter in landfills. Landfill gas consists almost 50% methane, 50% percent carbon dioxide and a small percentage of complex organic compounds and other compounds.Landfill gas is utilizable for power generation as well as for piped gas. With the ever-increasing demand for energy, landfill gas plays a significant role in fulfilling the energy demand-supply gap. Municipal solid waste (MSW) account for a significant amount of landfill gas generation through the degradation of solid waste in landfills.Browse Full Report With ToC @The global landfill gas market can be segmented by geography and end user.The reports overview section presents a detailed qualitative analysis of drivers, challenges, and trends that exist in this market. Some other features of the report include: Competitive overview, market attractiveness analysis, Porters five forces analysis, and representation of market shares of key players in the market. Furthermore, new market entrants benefit from the list of recommendations that are a part of the report.The report has been prepared using primary and secondary sources and standard analytical tools to present an accurate assessment of the global landfill gas market. Analysts have described the vendor landscape of the market at length including the bargaining power of suppliers and buyers.Global Landfill Gas Market: Drivers and RestraintsThe top driver of the landfill gas market includes the ever-increasing demand for energy combined with the demand for reduced cost of energy. Landfill gas can be directly used in process heater and boiler dryers, infrared heaters, pipeline quality gas, leachate evaporation, and electricity generation. Waste composition, oxygen, temperature, physical geometry, and time duration of waste disposal are some of the parameters that decide the quality of the gas. Landfill gas is directly utilizable for boilers where it can replace natural gas. It is also used for heating infrared heaters and for providing power for energy intensive processes.Landfill gas has other distinguishable properties as well. It can be changed into high calorific gas by lowering carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and oxygen content. These gases can be further used for industrial and commercial undertakings.Landfill gas is utilizable for power generation for commercial and industrial needs depending on the quantity available. Due to their low cost and high efficiency, landfill gases are extensively used in internal combustion engines. Landfill gas can deliver an electrical efficiency from 42% to 90% if heat and power are combined.Fill the form for an exclusive sample of this report @However, the landfill gas market faces certain growth impediments as well. Moisture essential at a certain level for the survival of bacteria for the decomposition of organic waste is a major challenge for the market. The drop in moisture level leads to retarded biological processes that are associated with biological decomposition.Nevertheless, the increasing use of landfill gas for energy generation and the availability of municipal solid waste in abundance will extend new opportunities for players in this market.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: Global Fish Oil Market - Source Species, Application, Demand, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast to 2025 Fish Oil Market https://goo.gl/QCq4Xd https://goo.gl/HTKgBo www.crystalmarketresearch.com The Latest research study titled, Fish Oil Market by Products, Application - Global Industry Analysis and Forecast To 2025 published by Crystal Market Research, states that the fish oil market is projected to be around $4.90 billion by 2025.Get PDF copy of an Exclusive Report @:The global fish oil market was esteemed approximately USD 3.06 billion in 2016 and is anticipated to reach around USD 4.90 billion by 2025 with compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.39% over the forecast period. Fish oil is oil extracted from the oily tissues of fish. Fish oils comprise the docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), omega-3 fatty acids, and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) predecessors of few eicosanoids that are recognized to decrease inflammation in the human body, and have other health benefits, like handling hypertriglyceridemia, though claims of precluding strokes or heart attacks have not been defended.Omega-3 fatty acids and fish oil have been examined in an extensive variety of other environments, such as anxiety, clinical depression, macular degeneration, and cancer, so far benefits in these surroundings have not been confirmed. The fish utilized as sources that do not essentially produce omega-3 fatty acids, but rather collect them by eating either prey fish or microalgae that have compiled omega-3 fatty acids.The global fish oil market is anticipated to witness substantial growth over the forecast years owing to increasing aquaculture activities. Rising awareness regarding health importance of omega 3 among customer is driving the demand of fish oil over the forecast period. Nowadays, altering eating habits is boosting the demand for hydrogenized vegetable oils and margarine. Also, consumption of EPA and DHA fatty acid aids in eliminating bad cholesterol, coronary heart issues like strokes and blood pressure, which is prone to fuel the growth of the global market. Furthermore, rising utilization of fish oil as a vital ingredient in various beauty products such as creams, in all-purpose creams etc. is expected to promote market growth. Rising aquaculture activities, primarily in India and China, owing to suitable climate and plentiful of agricultural land is liable to fuel demand for animal-feed and fish-feed that contain fish oil. Increasing omega-3 consumption due to its wide health benefits is anticipated to encourage the global fish market growth over forecast years. However, the high price of the product coupled with a vast demand-supply gap might hinder the market growth over the projected period.Top Players in Market:The major market players in the global fish oil market are COPEINCA ASA, Croda Inc., EPAX AS, GC Rieber Oils, Omega Protein, Corpesca S.A., American Marine Ingredients and Colpex. On basis of products types, the global market is split into; Anchovy, Mackerel, Sardines, Cod, Herring, Menhaden, and Others. By application, the market industry is classified as; Aquaculture: Marine fish, Salmon & Trout, Crustaceans, Eles, Tilapias, Cyprinids, and Others; Animal Nutrition & Pet food; Pharmaceuticals and Supplements & Functional food. Geographically, the global fish oil market is segmented in regions which are; Europe (Germany, Spain, Italy, France, UK and Rest of Europe), Asia-Pacific (Japan, China, India, Australia, South Korea and Rest of Asia Pacific), North America (the United States, Mexico and Canada)and Rest of the World (Brazil, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, United Arab Emirates and Others).Browse full research report with TOC @:By Source Species Anchovy Mackerel Sardines CodBy Application Aquacultureo Salmon & TroutAbout Crystal Market Research:Crystal 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 Us:Judy304 South Jones Blvd, Suite 1896,Las Vegas NV 89107,United StatesToll Free: +1-888-213-4282Email: sales@crystalmarketresearch.comBlog: blog.crystalmarketresearch.comWebsite: Global Hybrid Adhesives & Hybrid Sealants Market 2017 Study by Volume(Sales, Revenues), Costs, Application https://www.qyresearchreports.com/sample/sample.php?rep_id=1295486&type=E http://www.qyresearchreports.com Qyresearchreports include new market research report Global Hybrid Adhesives & Hybrid Sealants Market Research Report 2017 to its huge collection of research reports.The comprehensive report here grandstands various perspectives having a place with the general Hybrid Adhesives & Hybrid Sealants market which verbalizes the present-day data and future disclosures with reference to the dynamic powers at play. The prime reason for the examination report is to offer the endorser with an expansive outline and make accessible the profitable actualities and records. The quantifiable and testing purposes of the examination besides executes data on issues, for example, drivers, shackles, and projections to gage the consequence of the general Hybrid Adhesives & Hybrid Sealants market through the cross of the said gage period in the examination report. The report in like way passes on a brief and world class record of the predefined market patterns, which incorporates several occurrences of the veritable focuses at work which are evaluated to trigger improvement in the market or may cause any negative effect.This report besides stations into the general Hybrid Adhesives & Hybrid Sealants market by fastidiously looking over the item and industrialized chain of the market. This is anticipated to likewise help in passing on honest to goodness information and data on compound portions of the applicable market, for example, material relating to techniques of the administering body in the typical and general strata, conveyance and transmission structure, imperatives, and advantages got for the contributed add up to.To Get Free Sample Copy of Report visit @List of Tables and FiguresFigure North America Hybrid Adhesives & Hybrid Sealants Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure Europe Hybrid Adhesives & Hybrid Sealants Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure China Hybrid Adhesives & Hybrid Sealants Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure Japan Hybrid Adhesives & Hybrid Sealants Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure Southeast Asia Hybrid Adhesives & Hybrid Sealants Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure India Hybrid Adhesives & Hybrid Sealants Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure Global Hybrid Adhesives & Hybrid Sealants Revenue (Million USD) Status and Outlook (2012-2022)Figure Global Hybrid Adhesives & Hybrid Sealants Capacity, Production (MT) Status and Outlook (2012-2022)QYResearchReports.com is an unimpeachable source of market research data for clients that comprise acclaimed SMEs, Chinese companies, private equity firms, and MNCs. We provide market research reports on various categories such as Energy, Chemicals, Alternative and Green Energy, Manufacturing, Machinery, Pharmaceuticals and Materials, and Glass.Contact usBrooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Web:Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com North America Childcare Software Market Outlook and Worldwide Foresight to 2022 Childcare Software http://bit.ly/2wy73Fh http://bit.ly/2fRgjB8 http://www.globalinforeports.com http://www.globalinforeports.com/blog Childcare Software, also called child care management software, is a type of technology that used for all kinds of child care centers, homes, associations to save child care time, make the work and life easier.Get a Sample of Tactical Communication and Protective System Market research report from Scope of the Report:This report focuses on the Childcare Software in North America market, especially in United States, Canada and Mexico. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, countries, type and application.Major Players Included in Tactical Communication and Protective System Market:SofterWareLadder SoftwareProcare SoftwareHi MamaJackrabbit TechnologiesLedger SoftwareKindertalesPersonalized SoftwareChildcare SageAnd Many OthersScope of the Tactical Communication and Protective System Industry on the basis of region:United StatesCanadaMexicoBrowse full Report with table of contents and data tables For Tactical Communication and Protective System Market Report @Market Segment by Type, coversCloud BasedInstalled-PCInstalled-MobileMarket Segment by Applications, can be divided intoNursery SchoolFamilyOthersAbout 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 Wolfram Carbide Powder Industry Developments and Forecast Analysis, 2017 market research Hub https://www.marketresearchhub.com/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=1332280 https://www.marketresearchhub.com/report/global-wolfram-carbide-powder-industry-2017-trends-and-forecast-report-report.html https://www.marketresearchhub.com/enquiry.php?type=enquiry&repid=1332280 http://www.marketresearchhub.com/ https://www.industrynewsanalysis.com/ Wolfram Carbide is a hard metal which is supplied in a form of powder for coating in the industries such as engineering, mixing and sealing techniques. During coating methods. The powder of wolfram carbide is sprayed to stick two work elements together during coating method. Wolfram powder not only helps in sticking the two elements together but also helps in obtaining the necessary harness in element. The powder of wolfram carbide is a basic and cheap component for several products which are used various applications such as power, automotive, mining and aerospace and aviation. According to the new research report titled, Global Wolfram Carbide Powder Industry 2017, Trends and Forecast, with the hardness capacity of 2300 HV Wolfram carbide is an excellent base that protect coating for long duration. This report has been added in the repository of Market Research Hub.Request For Free Sample Report:Global Wolfram Carbide Powder Industry: Inclusions and ExclusionsThe nine top most region/country markets such as Asia-Pacific, North America, U.K, Europe, China, Germany, South Korea and Japan are covered in this report. The report starts with definition and eventually application, classification and market overview are included in this report. This report has analyzed the global market condition consists of the profit, capacity, production, product price, demand, supply and the growth rate and forecast of the market. In the end, the report introduced investment feasibility analysis, new project SWOT analysis, and analysis of investment return.Global Wolfram Carbide Powder Industry: Key Research PointsThis research report has taken into consideration the following key points while examining global wolfram carbide powder industry.Basic informationWolfram Carbide powder market of AsiaWolfram Carbide powder market of North AmericaWolfram carbide powder market of Europe regionEntry in the market for new player and feasibility of investmentThe conclusion of reportThe report focuses on the outlook and status for major end users/applications, market share, sales/consumption and growth rate of wolfram carbide powder industry for the applications.Browse Full Report with TOC:What Does the Report Offer?This report offers the production overview of wolfram carbide powder along with its market share analysis. The report has covered import export consumption, cost price production value gross margin, demand supply shortage and overall demand overview. After the detail study of the market, landscape analysis, market development trend and product development history are provided in this report. Company profiles have been added in this report. Thorough information on marketing channel status, environmental analysis and new project investment feasibility analysis have been done to give a crystal clear picture about an entire market.Enquire About This Report: Enquire About This Report:About Market Research HubMarket Research Hub (MRH) is a next-generation reseller of research reports and analysis. MRHs expansive collection of chemicals industry 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: 800-998-4852 (US-Canada)Email: press@marketresearchhub.comWebsite:Read Industry News at - A Hong Kong domestic worker is challenging the citys infamous live-in rule and calling for the government not to dictate where such workers should live and sleep. The live-in rule, which is in force in Hong Kong but not in Macau, stipulates that imported domestic workers are required to live with their employers. It has been in force since 2003, implemented through standard employment contracts connected with visa applications. Violators of the rule may face up to 14 years in prison and a HKD150,000 fine. Critics have repeatedly called for its abolition as they say the law opens domestic workers to potential abuse, including being overworked and having their personal identity documents illegally confiscated. One Philippine domestic worker, Nancy Almorin, is now calling for employers to be given the choice to agree to domestic workers living outside of their premises. The landmark case could liberate some 200,000 domestic workers in the city from being required to live with their employers. Lawyers for Almorin argue that the current live-in rule may be unconstitutional as it endangers the rights of such workers by making them more vulnerable to abuse. According to the South China Morning Post, one of Almorins lawyers, Paul Shieh, is claiming that the immigration departments authority does not extend to decisions over where domestic workers should be permitted to reside. He said that if such authorities indeed lack this power, they should not be allowed to circumvent the requirement by making employment contracts include a live-in clause. Usually domestic workers live-in with their employers in Hong Kong, but this makes them vulnerable to abuse and working [overly] long hours each day, said Emerlina de Lina of Migrante Macau, a local domestic workers association. For this reason, they want [to be able] to live out. Last year, the Global Slavery Index listed Hong Kong as one of the worst places in the world at taking action against modern slavery. The condemnation followed other similar reports by entities such as the International Labour Organization, in claiming that domestic workers are at risk of exploitation, partly due to the live-in requirement. Macau has no equivalent rule and de Lina believes that this is one reason that the MSAR might be a more attractive destination for overseas domestic workers looking for this type of employment. Macau also offers more diverse work opportunities, such as in the citys hotels and restaurants, which might appeal to younger overseas workers. However, there are also factors in Macau that act as a disincentive, de Lina told the Times. There are no standard contracts in Macau so [domestic workers] can be paid whatever the employer wants, she noted, and it is indeed often difficult for such workers to negotiate their wage. Macau was not named in the 2016 Global Slavery Index, but representatives of overseas domestic worker associations in Macau highlighted at the time that it was not much better than its neighboring SAR. The representatives cited a lack of standard employment contracts, no minimum wage, and overly long working hours as the main reasons. Bus fare proposal unfair and discriminatory Migrante Macau chairperson Emerlina de Lina has described a new policy proposal to increase bus fares for non-residents as unfair and discriminatory. The government says that the proposed policy is a form of positive discrimination to give Macau ID holders greater advantages, and to reduce public subsidies spent on non-residents. It is so unfair and discriminatory to increase the bus fare for the lowest income workers, said de Lina yesterday. We are opposed to the increase because a lot of people will be affected. As many as 180,000 people could be impacted by the proposal, or more than a quarter of Macaus population. De Lina said that the bus is by far the most popular form of transport utilized by domestic workers in the city. In Hong Kong, there are other forms of transport, but in Macau there is only the bus and the taxis, [which] are too expensive. Migrante Macau will now consult with other associations representing overseas workers living in the city in a meeting planned for next week. De Lina also raised the idea of a protest in the near future should the proposal appear to be going ahead. During a TDM Forum debate yesterday, representatives of the three bus companies clarified that any extra revenue generated by the price hike would go to the government. Why Legal Process Outsourcing Market is Projected to Witness a Staggering Growth During 2013 to 2019? https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=2213 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=T&rep_id=2213 In the recent years, consumers have been pushing the downward trend in pricing and this has made corporations struggle for their survival. A growing concern of corporations in this era is increasing legal costs and the efforts to contain this cost have brought about the concept of legal process outsourcing (LPO). Favorable government policies are one of the key factors driving the growth of LPO.A sample of this report is available upon request @Further, the rising awareness among general counsels and general public is aiding in the growth of this market. Moreover, increasing technology applications such as offering highly secure enterprise class software including features such as portal website, collaboration, and document management market presents an opportunity for vendors.E-discovery was the most popular platform being deployed in LPO industry while litigation support, intellectual property (IP) support, contract drafting and review are among other major services being offered. Electronic documents contain a large amount of data and metadata and identifying and producing this information may often prove burdensome for in-house legal department. Outsourcing of this function helps by reducing efforts, reduces time consumption and proves to be cost-saving. LPO firms process electronic information using e-discovery and other software tools. These firms provide data experts with expertise in data formats, ESI processing, and the review platforms, thus improving efficiency of the process.The challenges to the growth of this market are concerns regarding security and confidentiality, quality and ethical implications. However, the marketplace has matured and many such concerns are being put to rest. Corporations are gaining from renewed incentives in assessing the value of a balanced outsourced and in sourced legal support model.Corporations today are taking a thoughtful approach toward LPO in order to achieve potential cost savings, focus their in-house legal workforce on higher workloads, improve service levels, and creating supplementary capacity for unexpected legal needs. Players in this market are trying to acquire certifications, non-disclosure agreements, building strong service-level agreements (SLAs) and maintain high physical security by using effective access control to enable data security and maintaining high confidentiality.Offshore LPO services involve outsourcing of legal support services to LPO firms in other jurisdictions. Until now offshore outsourcing held a majority of share of the total LPO market, however, onshore LPO has gained significant demand in recent years and is expected to grow at a rate higher than the global average.Onshore outsourcing is proving to be an attractive solution for corporations that prefer collaboration with organizations in the same jurisdiction and also helps enhance data confidentiality and improves the process efficiency owing to benefits of shared regulatory frameworks under the same jurisdiction.An emerging opportunity in this market exists in terms of offering hybrid service delivery model, i.e. combined onshore and offshore legal process outsourcing. The major legal areas which law firms cover are commercial laws, bankruptcy, banking laws, general corporate laws, civil rights and liberties, intellectual property laws, international business laws, criminal defense, financing/securities laws and tax laws. Basis of the services offered; the LPO firms may be categorized into full spectrum LPO providers, KPO providers, and legal support service providers.A majority of legal process outsourcing is done by countries such as the U.S., Canada and UK from countries including India, China, Israel, Philippines, South Africa and Latin America. India is most popular for LPO among North American corporations. The country offers competitive legal experts at a lower cost compared to North America. A major trend in the industry, key LPO players have physical presence in the U.S. and delivery centers in locations such as India and China.To view TOC of this report is available upon request @Key players in this market include Evalueserve SEZ, Mindcrest, Integreon Managed SolutionPangea 3, Wipro Ltd., Infosys Ltd., Cobra Legal Solutions, LLC, LawScribe, Inc., CPA Global Ltd., Lexadigm Solutions LLC, Legal Advantage, Lexplosion, LexSphere, LEX Outsourcing, Bodhi Global Services, Exigent Clutch Group, Quislex, UnitedLex, Acumen Legal Services Pvt. Ltd. and Clairvolex Knowledge Processes Pvt. Ltd.About USTransparency 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-U.S. OFFICE:State Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207 Resistance Calibrator Industry Technology, Trends, Development, Key Manufacturers Analysis and Forecast to 2025 The Insight Partners http://www.theinsightpartners.com/sample/TIPTE100000646 http://www.theinsightpartners.com/inquiry/TIPTE100000646 http://www.theinsightpartners.com/reports/resistance-calibrator-market Resistance calibrator is an electronic device which is used for measuring and rectifying the deviation in resistance occurs in the testing and measurement instruments. The major drivers for driving the resistance calibrator market are growing awareness of quality standards, more emphasis on preventive maintenance, and government regulations made for electronic instruments.Global Resistance Calibrator Market Analysis to 2025 is a specialized and in-depth study of the Resistance Calibrator industry with a focus on the global market trend. The report aims to provide an overview of global Resistance Calibrator market with detailed market segmentation by product/application and geography. The global Resistance Calibrator market is expected to witness high growth during the forecast period. The report provides key statistics on the market status of the Resistance Calibrator players and offers key trends and opportunities in the market.Request a Sample Report atKey Resistance Calibrator Market Players:1. OMEGA2. Shanghai Yihua V & A Instrument Co., Ltd.3. AOIP4. GHM Messtechnik GmbH5. FLUKE6. Time Electronics Ltd.7. Transmille Ltd8. GE Measurement and Control9. WIKA Alexander Wiegand SE & Co. KG10. Yokogawa Europe B.V.The report provides a detailed overview of the industry including both qualitative and quantitative information. It provides overview and forecast of the global Resistance Calibrator market based on product and application. It also provides market size and forecast till 2025 for overall Resistance Calibrator 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 Resistance Calibrator 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 Resistance Calibrator 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 High Temperature Coatings Market - Global Industry Insights, Trends, Size, Share, Outlook, and Opportunity Analysis, 2017-25 https://goo.gl/pXDJ8e https://goo.gl/EnnJuH https://goo.gl/22hvJG https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/ High Temperature coatings or HTCs are used to protect the systems which subjected to high temperature conditions on a regular basis. They are designed to withstand temperatures from 150OC to 800OC. The use of HTCs helps in reducing heat losses, keep corrosion under insulation (CUI) in check, reduce thermal fatigue and maintain efficiency. CUI is the petrochemical industrys worst complication. It occurs when moisture seeps into the insulation and the high temperature condition is optimal for corrosion. The application of HTCs helps keep the effect of moisture to a minimum and subsequently translates into energy and cost savings.Low consumer awareness in medium and small scale industries about high temperature corrosion risks is a major challenge for market players. Moreover, raw material availability is dependent upon the oil industry.Request Sample of High Temperature Coatings Market:High Temperature Coatings Market TaxonomyOn basis of Coating TechnologyLiquid CoatingSolvent borneWater bornePowder CoatingOthers (Laser, Radiation-cured etc.)On basis of Resin typeEpoxy-BasedAcrylic-BasedSilicone-BasedPolyethersulfone (PES)Polyester-BasedAlkyd-BasedOthersPefluoroalkoxy Alkanes (PFA)PEEKPolyphenylenesulfide (PPS)UrethaneHybridsVinyl-EsterOthersGet best discount ont this report:On basis of End UserEnergy & PowerOil and GasSolarWindOthersPetrochemical & Chemical IndustryMetal Processing IndustryCookware, Bake ware, and Small AppliancesMarineAutomotiveCoil CoatingsWoodstoves, Gas Stoves, and Barbecue GrillsAerospace & DefenseBuilding & ConstructionOthersLiquid Coatings, either hand applied or sprayed is losing its market, though, it is preferred over powder coatings when specialized paint colors and tolerances are required. Powder coatings offer better durability, toughness and have the environmental advantage of not having any solvents or VOCs.Epoxy phenolic coatings have high heat and chemical resistance are widely used as coatings in refineries, power generation and secondary containment. Silicone coatings can withstand high temperatures over 550OC. Polyesters tapes are used for masking applications in high temperature equipment. Acrylic coatings offer decorative properties such as color retention and gloss. They hold the largest market share in the HTC market.The largest end users are the energy and petrochemical industries due to use of heater-treater, separators, furnaces and transport of heated material. HTCs help decrease energy losses and reduce non-productive time. Automotive is also a major end user, coatings are applied on engine components and decreases effect of heat fatigue.Check The Trending Report of High Temperature Coatings Market:High Temperature Coatings Market OutlookAsia Pacific is the fastest growing and the largest market for high temperature coatings. The petrochemical industry has a marked shift from North America to India and China, due to low cost of labor and close proximity to major oil producing Middle East nations. Furthermore, energy, cookware and automobile markets have also grown due to population boom. This has driven demand for HTCs.North America has augmented HTC market growth, due to growing energy, automobile, electronics and construction sector. Increased shale gas production has driven growth the petrochemical industry as well. High thermal efficiency in chemical processing can help the manufacturers in this region to compete with low-cost products made in Asia. Europe is expected to lose its market share during forecast period due to decline of end-user industries.In Latin America, the growth of HTC market can be attributed to the energy and automotive industry. Brazil is expected to strongly drive growth in both E&P and refining. Political uncertainties and regulatory complications are hindering growth in other countries of the region.Middle East and North Africa are consolidated regions for oil and gas and petrochemicals. A return to political stability of Iraq, Syria, and Iran are having crucial advantage in the growth of the HTC market.The companies are adopting various organic and inorganic growth strategies in order to sustain their market position. Tnemec Co. launched Endura-Heat line of products that offer CUI protection at 650OC with custom color matching available. The key players in this market include Jotun A/S, Aremco, AkzoNobel N.V., Hempel, Belzona International Ltd., The Sherwin-Williams Company, PPG Industries Inc., The Valspar Corporation, Whit ford, Weilburger Coatings GmbH, Axalta Coating Systems, Carboline, Chemco International Ltd.About Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact UsMr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.comWebsite: Global Wolfram Carbide Powder Industry Developments and Forecast Analysis, 2017 https://www.marketresearchhub.com/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=1332280 https://www.marketresearchhub.com/report/global-wolfram-carbide-powder-industry-2017-trends-and-forecast-report-report.html https://www.marketresearchhub.com/enquiry.php?type=enquiry&repid=1332280 http://www.marketresearchhub.com/ https://www.industrynewsanalysis.com/ Wolfram Carbide is a hard metal which is supplied in a form of powder for coating in the industries such as engineering, mixing and sealing techniques. During coating methods. The powder of wolfram carbide is sprayed to stick two work elements together during coating method. Wolfram powder not only helps in sticking the two elements together but also helps in obtaining the necessary harness in element. The powder of wolfram carbide is a basic and cheap component for several products which are used various applications such as power, automotive, mining and aerospace and aviation. According to the new research report titled, Global Wolfram Carbide Powder Industry 2017, Trends and Forecast, with the hardness capacity of 2300 HV Wolfram carbide is an excellent base that protect coating for long duration. This report has been added in the repository of Market Research Hub.Request For Free Sample Report:Global Wolfram Carbide Powder Industry: Inclusions and ExclusionsThe nine top most region/country markets such as Asia-Pacific, North America, U.K, Europe, China, Germany, South Korea and Japan are covered in this report. The report starts with definition and eventually application, classification and market overview are included in this report. This report has analyzed the global market condition consists of the profit, capacity, production, product price, demand, supply and the growth rate and forecast of the market. In the end, the report introduced investment feasibility analysis, new project SWOT analysis, and analysis of investment return.Global Wolfram Carbide Powder Industry: Key Research PointsThis research report has taken into consideration the following key points while examining global wolfram carbide powder industry.Basic informationWolfram Carbide powder market of AsiaWolfram Carbide powder market of North AmericaWolfram carbide powder market of Europe regionEntry in the market for new player and feasibility of investmentThe conclusion of reportThe report focuses on the outlook and status for major end users/applications, market share, sales/consumption and growth rate of wolfram carbide powder industry for the applications.Browse Full Report with TOC:What Does the Report Offer?This report offers the production overview of wolfram carbide powder along with its market share analysis. The report has covered import export consumption, cost price production value gross margin, demand supply shortage and overall demand overview. After the detail study of the market, landscape analysis, market development trend and product development history are provided in this report. Company profiles have been added in this report. Thorough information on marketing channel status, environmental analysis and new project investment feasibility analysis have been done to give a crystal clear picture about an entire market.Enquire About This Report: Enquire About This Report:About Market Research HubMarket Research Hub (MRH) is a next-generation reseller of research reports and analysis. MRHs expansive collection of chemicals industry 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: 800-998-4852 (US-Canada)Email: press@marketresearchhub.comWebsite:Read Industry News at - Automotive Turbocharger Market Is Expected To Grow At A CAGR Of 7.97% By 2023 Automotive Turbocharger Market https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/4352 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/automotive-turbocharger-market-4352 Market Highlights:Automotive turbocharger is a turbine, which is driven by the energy of exhaust gas generated by the internal combustion engine. Typically, a turbocharger consists of two parts and they are a turbine and a compressor, which run parallel with the help of a shared shaft. A turbocharger improves the fuel efficiency of the engine by pushing more clean air in the engines to burn fuel and deliver greater power. The factor that are responsible for the growth of automotive turbocharger market are continuous growth in global automotive industry and stringent vehicle emission regulations.With the global economy undergoing an unprecedented level shift, major emerging countries such as China, India, Thailand, and Indonesia, are becoming manufacturing hubs for global automotive players. The total vehicle sales for the year 2015 was almost 90 million units and is expected to witness further boost and reach more than 100 million units by the year 2023. Another factor responsible for the increase in vehicle sales, is the macroeconomic development and the rise in the global middle class consumers. According to OICA, the sales of new vehicles have been increased from 2013 to 2016. In 2013, the number of vehicle sold were 85.6 million while in 2016 it was 93.8 million.Request a Sample Copy @Key Players of Automotive Turbocharger Market: Honeywell International Inc. (U.S.) BorgWarner Inc. (U.S) Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd (Japan) IHI Corporation (Japan) Continental AG (Germany) Cummins, Inc.( U.S.) Bosch Mahle (Germany) Bullseye Power, LLC (U.S.) Precision Turbo and Engine(U.S.) Fengcheng Xindongli Turbocharger Co., Ltd.( China)Market Research Analysis:Asia-Pacific region is expected to dominate the automotive turbocharger market due to the increase in the production of vehicles in emerging countries such as India and China. The growing vehicle production will indirectly boost the demand for turbocharger. Other factors that are responsible for the growth of Asia-Pacific region are large population base, growing demand for diesel vehicles, upcoming emission norms, and economic shifts. Asia-Pacific accounted for the largest market share of 40.75% in 2016 and is projected to grow at CAGR 9.16% during the forecast period. North America accounted for the second largest region in the automotive turbocharger market due to growing demand for new vehicles.Scope of the Report:This study provides an overview of the global automotive turbocharger market, tracking two market segments across four geographic regions. The report studies key players, providing a five-year annual trend analysis that highlights market size, volume and share for North America, Europe, Asia Pacific (APAC) and Rest of the World (ROW). The report also provides a forecast, focusing on the market opportunities for the next five years for each region. The scope of the study segments the global automotive turbocharger market by its type, application, and by region.By Type Gasoline Engine Diesel Engine New Energy EngineBy Application Passenger Vehicle Commercial Vehicle OthersBy Region North America Europe Asia Pacific Rest of the WorldBrowse Full Report @About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.In order to stay updated with technology and work process of the industry, MRFR often plans & conducts meet with the industry experts and industrial visits for its research analyst members.Contact:Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Automotive Engine Cooling System Market Trends, Development and Forecasts to 2022 ReportsWeb http://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW00011111627/sample http://www.reportsweb.com/global-automotive-engine-cooling-system-market-research-report-2017 http://www.reportsweb.com/buy&RW00011111627/buy/2900 http://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW00011111627/discount ReportsWeb.com has announced the addition of the Global Automotive Engine Cooling System Market Research Report 2017 The report focuses on major leading players with information such as company profiles, product picture and specification.Geographically, this report is segmented into several key Regions, with production, consumption, revenue (million USD) , market share and growth rate of Automotive Engine Cooling System in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast) , covering United States, EU, China, Japan, South Korea and India.Global Automotive Engine Cooling System market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer; the top players including BorgWarner, Continental AG, Delphi Automotive LLP, Sogefi, Schaeffler Group, Visteon Corporation, Calsonic Kansei Corporation, Valeo SA, Denso Corporation and Mahle GmbH.Get free sample copy of report atOn the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split into Water Pumps, Cooling Fluid-Coolant, Cooling Fan Control Module, Cooling Fan Module, Radiator, Radiator Hose and Others. 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 Automotive Engine Cooling System for each application, including Light Commercial Vehicle, Passenger Car and Heavy Commercial Vehicle.Browse complete report atTable of Content1 Automotive Engine Cooling System Market Overview2 Global Automotive Engine Cooling System Market Competition by Manufacturers3 Global Automotive Engine Cooling System Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2012-2017)4 Global Automotive Engine Cooling System Supply (Production) , Consumption, Export, Import by Region (2012-2017)4.1 Global Automotive Engine Cooling System Consumption by Region (2012-2017)4.2 United States Automotive Engine Cooling System Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)4.3 EU Automotive Engine Cooling System Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)4.4 China Automotive Engine Cooling System Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)4.5 Japan Automotive Engine Cooling System Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)4.6 South Korea Automotive Engine Cooling System Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)4.7 India Automotive Engine Cooling System Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)5 Global Automotive Engine Cooling System Production, Revenue (Value) , Price Trend by Type5.1 Global Automotive Engine Cooling System Production and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)5.2 Global Automotive Engine Cooling System Revenue and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)5.3 Global Automotive Engine Cooling System Price by Type (2012-2017)5.4 Global Automotive Engine Cooling System Production Growth by Type (2012-2017)6 Global Automotive Engine Cooling System Market Analysis by Application6.1 Global Automotive Engine Cooling System Consumption and Market Share by Application (2012-2017)6.2 Global Automotive Engine Cooling System Consumption Growth Rate by Application (2012-2017)6.3 Market Drivers and Opportunities6.3.1 Potential Applications6.3.2 Emerging Markets/Countries7 Global Automotive Engine Cooling System Manufacturers Profiles/Analysis7.1 BorgWarner7.1.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.1.2 Automotive Engine Cooling System Product Category, Application and Specification7.1.2.1 Product A7.1.2.2 Product B7.1.3 BorgWarner Automotive Engine Cooling System Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.1.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.2 Continental AG7.2.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.2.2 Automotive Engine Cooling System Product Category, Application and Specification7.2.2.1 Product A7.2.2.2 Product B7.2.3 Continental AG Automotive Engine Cooling System Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.2.4 Main Business/Business Overview8 Automotive Engine Cooling System Manufacturing Cost Analysis9 Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers10 Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/Traders11 Market Effect Factors Analysis12 Global Automotive Engine Cooling System Market Forecast (2017-2022)13 Research Findings and ConclusionPurchase this report -and get,Discount on report purchase -Contact Info:Name: Sameer JoshiEmail: sales@reportsweb.comOrganization: ReportsWebPhone: +1-646-491-9876ReportsWeb.com is a one stop shop of market research reports and solutions to various companies across the globe. We help our clients in their decision support system by helping them choose most relevant and cost effective research reports and solutions from various publishers. We provide best in class customer service and our customer support team is always available to help you on your research queries.505, 6th floor, Amanora Township,Amanora Chambers, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028 Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) Market - Industry Outlook by 2014-2020 Low Density Polyethylene Market - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=T&rep_id=3488 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=3488 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) is a thermoplastic polymer of ethylene made by process of free radical polymerization at high pressure. It has density in the range of 0.910g/cc to 0.940g/cc which results in low tensile strength but high ductility. LDPE offers high electrical & chemical resistance and transparency which makes it ideal to use in end industries such as flexible packaging, automotive, construction, green house, tunnels, insulation coax and others.Rising demand from automotive and construction industry is expected to drive LDPE market. Changing lifestyle and rising disposable income is driving the automotive market. LDPE offers transparency at low weight which is expected to boost the demand from automotive industry, owing to stringent government regulations to increase the vehicle efficiency. Further, growth of food packaging industry is expected to drive the market where transparency of the packaging is important and consumer groups prefer transparent packaging. Food packaging includes meat and poultry wrapping, snacks, dairy and sweets, baked goods and frozen goods. Owing to rising population, demand from construction industry is expected to boost the market in developing countries. Demand for energy efficient civil and industrial infrastructure in developed countries is expected to fuel LDPE market. In addition, government regulations in developing countries regarding energy efficient industrial infrastructure is anticipated to drive the market.Browse Full Report With ToC @Replacement of LDPE by linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) in many applications due to its low cost and environment regulations may hamper the market growth. Further, replacement by HDPE in agricultural films and volatility in raw material prices may hamper the market growth. Polyethylene is manufactured from petrochemical derivatives, rising crude oil price and complex manufacturing process may hamper the market growth. Rising demand for use of LDPE in medical film is expected to provide opportunity for market players in the near future. In addition, demand from molded laboratory equipments, injection moulding and adhesive laminate is expected to provide opportunities for LDPE market in the near future. Bio-derived polyethylene production from sugarcane by some companies in expected to open new opportunity in developing country such as Brazil.Europe was largest producer and exporter of LDPE and is expected to remain in the near future. Demand from automobile industry due to government regulations regarding vehicle efficiency is expected to drive the market in this region. Building energy efficient infrastructure is driving the demand for insulation products and is expected to drive the LDPE market. Asia Pacific region is expected to grow at higher pace owing to rising demand from automotive and construction industry. Large capacity additions in China and Middle East are expected to increase the supply of LDPE. Increase in industrial constructions in China is expected to drive the market in this region. North America region is expected to grow at moderate rate due to demand from food packaging industry and automotive industry.Fill the form for an exclusive sample of this report @Some of the key players in the Low Density Polyethylene market include British Polythene Industries, Borealis AG, Dow Chemical Company, GE Oil & Gas, Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LLC, Exxon Mobil Chemical Company, Huntsman Corporation, DuPont, Formosa Plastics Corporation, Ineos PLC, Nova Chemicals Corporation, PEMEX, LyondellBasell Industries, SINOPEC, Qatar Chemical Company Ltd SABIC, Westlake Chemical Corp. among others.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: Grinding Machinery Market Is Expected To Grow At A CAGR Of 4.2% By 2023 Grinding Machinery Market https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/3753 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/grinding-machinery-market-3753 Market Highlights:The grinding machine is an industrial equipment used for creating smooth surface finish by removing unnecessary or excessive amount of material on a given product. The grinding machinery market has been experiencing continuous evolution over the years to cater the various needs of diversified industry verticals. The applications of grinding machines includes grinding of tools & cutters and their resharpening.Request a Sample Copy @Key Players of Grinding Machinery Market: Amada Machine Tools Co. Ltd. (Japan) DANOBAT (Spain) ANCA Pty Ltd. (Australia) Junker (Germany) Korber AG (Germany) Fives (France) Gleason Corporation (U.S.) Hybrid Manufacturing Technologies (U.S.) Makino Milling Machine Co. Ltd. (Japan) JTEKT Corporation (Japan)Market Research Analysis:The global grinding machinery market has been analyzed based on the three segments, namely types, end-user and regions. On the basis of types, the global grinding machinery market is segmented as cylindrical, surface, gear, tool & cutter and others. The market is collectively driven by cylindrical, surface and gear grinding machines segments.Based on end-user, the global grinding machinery market is bifurcated as general machinery, automotive machinery, precision machinery, and others, among which, general machinery accounted for the largest share in 2016 and is anticipated to continue the dominance during the forecast period. The growth of this segment is driven by factors such as rapid growth in emerging economies, rising innovation & up gradation of machines and the establishment of new manufacturing units.Scope of the Report:This study provides an overview of the global grinding machinery 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 Asia-Pacific, North America, Europe and Rest of the World (ROW). The report also provides a forecast, focusing on the market opportunities for the next five years for each region. The scope of the study segments the global grinding machinery market by its types, by end-user and regions.By Types Cylindrical Surface Gear Tool & Cutter OthersBy End-User General Machinery Automotive Machinery Precision Machinery OthersBy Region Asia Pacific North America Europe Rest of WorldBrief TOC:1 Executive Summary2 Research Methodology2.1 Scope of the Study2.1.1 Definition2.1.2 Research Objective2.1.3 Assumptions2.1.4 Limitations2.2 Research Process2.2.1 Primary Research2.2.2 Secondary Research2.3 Market size Estimation2.4 Forecast Model3 Market Dynamics3.1 Market Drivers3.2 Market Inhibitors3.3 Supply/Value Chain Analysis3.4 Porters Five Forces Analysis4 Global Grinding Machinery Market, By Types4.1 Introduction4.2 Cylindrical4.3 Surface4.4 Gear4.5 Tool & Cutter4.6 Others5 Global Grinding Machinery Market, By End-User5.1 Introduction5.2 General Machinery5.3 Automotive Machinery5.4 Precision Machinery5.5 OthersContinueAccess Report Details @About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.In order to stay updated with technology and work process of the industry, MRFR often plans & conducts meet with the industry experts and industrial visits for its research analyst members.Contact:Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Global Business Support System Industry: Transition to Next Generation Network Creating Growth Opportunities QYResearchReports https://www.qyresearchreports.com/sample/sample.php?rep_id=870347&type=E https://www.qyresearchreports.com/sample/sample.php?rep_id=870347&type=D http://www.qyresearchreports.com Businesses across the globe are realizing the importance of cost effective business process so as to gain a competitive edge above the others. This is expected to fuel the adoption of business support system, states a report added by QYResearchReports.com. The report is titled Global Business Support System Market Research Report 2016, is now available for sale on the website of QYResearchReports.com. The report combines the data from past and present state of the market and predicts the market size for 2016. The report is a comprehensive analysis of the significant variables that will shape the business support system market and predicts the state of the market in different regions such as Asia Pacific, Europe, North America, and the Rest of the World (RoW).Get free sample copy of the report at:The application of machine-to-machine (M2M), Big data, and virtualization by network operators is increasing and this is creating a great need for network management services. Network management services are required so as to manage different critical network operations in organizations. Today network operators are moving towards NFV, SDN, and Cloud technologies, which help in the management of various critical network operations. To manage this high number of entities, business support systems come to the aid of network operators, helping them to remain competitive and effective.The worldwide adoption of business support systems has accelerated owing to support standards framed by various governments and communication service providers. The transition to next generation network is also creating many growth opportunities for the business support system market. However, the market experts have also found challenges that the business support system industry faces, which is restraining the growth of the market. A lack of specialists to operate and manage business support systems is creating a gap between order activation and processing. This is resulting in customer dissatisfaction and may hamper the markets growth. Another problem is the difficulty in deploying business support systems in traditional systems. The dynamic nature of the business in telecom sectors will also pose challenge for the market.To check available discount on this report, visit at:On the basis of geography, it is expected that North America will lead in 2016 and will be trailed by Europe due to a surge in the market for service assurance solution. The higher rates of 3G and 4G deployments in these regions are also acting as growth drivers for the market. By solution, the global business support system market can be segmented into product/service management, customer management, order management, and revenue management. Of these, the customer management segment is most likely to lead in 2016. By end user, the global business support system market can be segmented into banking, telecom enterprises, finance services & insurance, government, retail, and manufacturing. Of these, the telecom enterprise segment is witnessing a remarkable growth.Some of the key players in the global business support system market are: Ericsson, Accenture, Tech Mahindra, Amdocs, Hewlett-Packard (HP), Nokia Networks, Oracle Corporation, IBM, TCS, and Huawei Technology.List of Tables and FiguresFigure Picture of Business Support SystemFigure Global Production Market Share of Business Support System by Type in 2015Figure Product Picture of Type ITable Major Manufacturers of Type IFigure Product Picture of Type IITable Major Manufacturers of Type IIFigure Product Picture of Type IIITable Major Manufacturers of Type IIITable Business Support System Consumption Market Share by Application in 2015Figure Application 1 ExamplesFigure Application 2 ExamplesFigure Application 3 ExamplesFigure North America Business Support System Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2011-2021)Figure Europe Business Support System Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2011-2021)Figure China Business Support System Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2011-2021)Figure Japan Business Support System Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2011-2021)Figure Southeast Asia Business Support System Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2011-2021)Figure India Business Support System Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2011-2021)...About QYReseachReports.comQYReseachReports.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 US:Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-618-1030Web:Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com Exploration & Drilling Security Market - New Market Research Report Announced 2016-2024 Exploration & Drilling Security Market https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=T&rep_id=3660 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=3660 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ Global Exploration & Drilling Security Market: General OutlineThe international exploration and drilling security market has been leveraging the need of oil and gas companies to distribute supplies without interference and search, manage, and develop assets. Over a period of 25 years, the global demand for energy is anticipated to increase by an estimated 50.0%. Additionally, the exhaustion of current oil and gas reserves has extensively augmented production and exploration activities in the oil and gas industry. This has stimulated the requirement of a robust implementation of rigorous systems management with the employment of cutting-edge technology and unerring strategy.The report presented here follows a critical segmentation of the global exploration and drilling security market on the basis of technology and professional services. A study of the segments allows a profound analysis of the markets future to stay ahead of the competition.The analysts authoring the report on the world exploration and drilling security market have offered a scrupulous evaluation of the key competitive dynamics of the market to make informed decisions. Along with market projections for the forthcoming years, the comprehensive publication has shed light on the industry growth drivers, constraints, and current trends of the global market.Browse Full Report With ToC @Global Exploration & Drilling Security Market: Trends and OpportunitiesThere has been a substantial upsurge in the expansion of exploration sites and infrastructure development of exploration firms worldwide. This has increased their spending and investment ratio, thus concerning them to strengthen their security systems for safe operation at the exploration sites. Sites vulnerable to political attacks are demanding security service on an urgent basis. Moreover, factors such as terrorist attacks, cyber-attacks, attacks on supply infrastructure, and unnatural disasters are forcing companies to considerably invest in exploration and drilling security. In addition, infrastructure development of exploration firms in less developed regions has urged the need to look for reliable security services.The segmentation of the global exploration and drilling security market based on technology could include two broad classifications, viz. network security and physical security. With regard to professional services, risk management services and system design and integration services could be the chief segments.Fill the form for an exclusive sample of this report @Global Exploration & Drilling Security Market: Geographical AnalysisThe international market for exploration and drilling is anticipated to be bolstered by the rising drilling activities in the politically unstable locations of Africa and the Middle East. These segments are researched to be major potential geographies for the global market also due to their elevating offshore drilling activities that are inspiring exploration companies to invest heavily. In terms of weighty investments in exploration and drilling activities, South America is another prospective region to look for. Technology developers in North America are being encouraged to offer security solutions, owing to the surging drilling activities from unconventional sources.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: Cambodian carrier Lanmei Airlines completed its inaugural flight along the Macau-Sihanoukville route last week, a Cambodian civil aviation official told the Phnom Penh Post. The official said that the budget airline has already received its air operators certificate and commenced services. The airline will hold a ceremony on October 9 to celebrate the launch of the new route. The coastal city of Sihanoukville and the nearby islands are home to around a dozen or so of Cambodias casinos. The Macau market is a good opportunity for the airline as it will provide more options for casino tourists and workers, the official told the Phnom Penh Post. Expat workers in Macau can also come to Cambodia on tour packages [for their visa runs]. The airline plans to expand its Macau-Cambodia connection to the latters capital, Phnom Penh, which is home to about 1.5 million people or about 10 percent of the Cambodias population. Europe Spirometer Market by Focusing Top Companies: Midmark Corporation, Welch Allynalong,MGC Diagnostics Corporation Europe Spirometer Market Report till 2024 http://databridgemarketresearch.com/request-a-sample/?dbmr=global-spirometer-market http://databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-spirometer-market/ http://databridgemarketresearch.com/speak-to-analyst/?dbmr=global-spirometer-market http://databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-spirometer-market/ http://databridgemarketresearch.com/blog/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/data-bridge-market-research Spirometer Market report focus on Europe and Regional market, providing information on major players like manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, traders, customers, investors and etc.,By Product Type, End-Users, Distribution Channel, Country (Germany, France, United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Russia, Turkey, Belgium, Netherlands, Switzerland, Rest of Europe) Industry Trends and Forecast to 2024Europe Spirometer Market is expected to reach USD 362.0 million by 2024 from USD 177.8 million in 2016, at a CAGR of 9.4% in the forecast period 2017 to 2024. The new market report contains data for historic years 2015, the base year of calculation is 2016 and the forecast period is 2017 to 2024.The major factors driving the growth of this market are the increasing prevalence of respiratory diseases, increasing demand of homecare setting devices, rising number of smokers. On the other hand, weak reimbursement policies may hinder the growth of the market.Get a Free Sample of Europe Spirometer Market report Visit @Key Points:Becton Dickinson and company is going to dominate the Europe spirometer market following with Midmark Corporation and Welch Allynalong with others such as Futuremed , COSMED, MGC Diagnostics Corporation , NIHON KOHDEN CORPORATION, CHEST M.I., Inc, Medical International Research , Vitalograph, nddMedizintechnik AG, Schiller, Jones Medical Instrument Company, SDI Diagnostics,Geratherm Respiratory GmbH, Thor, Fukuda Sangyo Inc., CONTEC MEDICAL SYSTEMS CO. LTD., Koninklijke Philips N.V., CardioTech. Table-top spirometermarket segment is expected to dominate the Europe spirometer market. However, hand-held spirometermarket segment is expected to grow at the highest CAGR. Chronic obstructive lung disease is expected to dominate the spirometer market segment.Market SegmentationThe Europe spirometer market is segmented on the basis of Product type Technology Disease Disposable components Application End user Distribution channelOn the basis of product type, the Europe spirometer market is segmented into 3 types: table-top spirometer hand-held spirometer PC based spirometerOn the basis of technology, the Europe spirometer market is segmented into 3 types: Volume measurement spirometero Wet spirometerso Dry spirometers Flow measurement spirometero Pneumo-tachograph systemso Mass flow meters Peak flow meterOn the basis of disease, the Europe spirometer market is segmented into six types which include Asthma Bronchitis Emphysema Chronic obstructive Lung disease Lung cancerDetailed TOC and Inquiry & Sample of Europe Spirometer Market Report available Visit @On the basis of disposable components, the Europe spirometer market is segmented into three types which include Filters Sensors TubesOn the basis of application, the Europe spirometer market is segmented into two types which include Diagnostics TherapeuticsOn the basis of end users, the Europe spirometer market is classified into Hospitals Clinics HomecareOn the basis of distribution channel, the Europe spirometer market is classified over the counter and direct tender.Key Drivers:Some of the major factors driving the market for spirometer market are increasing prevalence of respiratory diseases, increasing demand of homecare setting devices, rising number of smokers. These factors increase the demand for devices such as table-top spirometer and hand held spirometer. According to World Health Organization, Eastern Europe is having considerably higher death rate in infants due to respiratory diseases than in Western Europe. Home diagnosis of pulmonary functions by using home care spirometry which is also known as ambulatory spirometry is primarily used by the lung transplant patients or elderly population. In Europe, smoking and respiratory infection is a major cause of lung diseases. As the number of smokers are increasing, the rising incidence of respiratory diseases are also increasing thus the market growth of spirometer is also expanding due to the increased diagnosis rate.For Any Query Speak to Expert Visit @Related ReportGlobal Spirometer Market Industry Trends and Forecast to 2024Global Spirometer Market, By Product (Table-top, Hand-held, Desktop) Technology {Volume (Wet and Dry), Flow (Pneumotachograph, Mass Flow Meter), and Peak Flow Meter (PFM)} Application (Diagnostic and Therapeutic) End-user (hospital, clinic and homecare) Distribution Channel (OTC and Direct Tenders) Geography (North America, Europe, APAC, Latin America, MEA) Industry Trends and Forecast to 2024Read More:About Data Bridge Market Research:Data Bridge Market Research set forth itself as an unconventional and neoteric Market research and consulting firm with unparalleled level of resilience and integrated approaches. We are determined to unearth the best market opportunities and foster efficient information for your business to thrive in the market. Data Bridge endeavors to provide appropriate solutions to the complex business challenges and initiates an effortless decision-making process.Contact:Vishal DixitData Bridge Market ResearchTel: +1-888-387-2818Email: Sales@databridgemarketresearch.comInvestor: investors@databridgemarketresearch.comVisit BlogFollow us on LinkedIn: Restaurants and Mobile Food Services Market 2017 by Strategies, Growth and Trends ReportsWeb http://www.reportsweb.com/Restaurants-And-Mobile-Food-Services-Global-Market-Briefing-2017 http://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW0001522987/sample http://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW0001522987/buying The Restaurants and Mobile Food Services Global Market Briefing Report from Publisher covers market characteristics, size and growth, segmentation, regional breakdowns, competitive landscape, market shares, trends and strategies for this market.The market characteristics section of the report defines and explains the market.The market size section gives the restaurants and mobile food services market revenues, covering both the historic growth of the market and forecasting the future.Drivers and restraints looks at the external factors supporting and controlling the growth of the market.For More Information About This Report:ScopeMarkets Covered: Full-Service Restaurants, Limited-Service Restaurants, Cafeterias, Grill Buffets, and Buffets and Mobile Food Services.Companies Mentioned: McDonald's, Yum! Brands, Darden Restaurants, Inc., Chick fil A, Chipotle, Bloomin' Brands, Inc., Restaurant Brands International, Brinker International, Inc., Cracker Barrel, McDonald's, Yum! Brands, Darden Restaurants, Inc., Chick fil A, Chipotle, Bloomin' Brands, Inc., Restaurant Brands International, Brinker International, Inc. and Cracker BarrelGeographic scope: Americas, Europe, Asia, Middle East and Africa, Oceania.Time series: Five years historic and forecast.Data: Market value in $ billions.Data segmentations: Regional breakdowns, market share of competitors, key sub segments.Sourcing and Referencing: Data and analysis throughout the report is sourced using end notes.Request Sample Copy At:Reasons to Purchase-Get up to date information available on the Restaurants And Mobile Food Services market globally.-Identify growth segments and opportunities.-Facilitate decision making on the basis of historic and forecast data and understand the drivers and restraints on the market.-Develop strategies based on likely future developments.-Gain a global perspective on the development of the market.Inquire 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 Why Commercial Printing Market is Projected to Witness a Staggering Growth During 2014-2020? https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=3236 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=T&rep_id=3236 Commercial printing industry refers to the services offered by printing industry for commercial applications. Commercial printing services include binding, composition, layout, graphic design, plate making and press production. Commercial printers are used to construct phone books, magazines, labels, catalogs, advertising brochures, newspaper inserts, corporate reports, direct mail marketing, for printing financial documents, business forms, promotional materials and training manuals.A sample of this report is available upon request @Besides paper printing, printing presses also print on apparels, textile products, metal, glass and plastics. Most of the commercial printing units offer multiple services such as design and prepress; printing; finishing that include binding, cutting, and folding along with fulfillment including storing, packaging and shipping. Services included in commercial printing are lithographic printing, screen printing, flexographic printing, gravure printing, book printing, quick printing, loose leaf binding, prepress and trade binding services.Offset technology is the most widely used commercial printing technology. However, there is a shift in trend presently in commercial printing from offset technology to digital high speed inkjet technology. The transformation is due to the fact that inkjet is more effective and efficient way to print mails and other complex personalized messages than the offset technology. Reduced costs for color printing and better return on investments are some of the other advantages that has resulted in wide doption of inkjet technology. The demand for commercial printing is majorly driven by advertising needs of businesses such as advertising firms and the volume of commercial printing is highly dependent on the growth of the economy, particularly the consumer spending power.Large printing presses gain profitability by bulk buying materials such as ink and paper, thus serving a large customer base nationwide and making effective use of presses. However, small press companies compete by offering a service to specific applications. The demand for printing services is recurring and depends on economic activities in the country, owing to which major players are prepared for demand fluctuations by deploying multifunctional printing equipment that caters to the demand of various printing applications.. Currently, the commercial printing market is facing many challenges. Digital technology is a major threat to the commercial printing market. Prices for digital printing are reducing below the offset printing prices, owing to which companies that delays to shift to digital printing are expected to be at risk.Decreasing sales and the plummeting unit selling prices are also factors hampering industry profit of the commercial printing market. Companies in commercial printing market require a substantial capital investment to remain competitive, however, with a reducing sales volume, maintaining consistent market share is a challenge.However, the current trends in the commercial printing market are helping sustainability of the market in the competitive environment. Some of these trends are, advancements in offset printing leading to lowered cost per page, mass customization of printing services that helps to cater variety of customers and new printing technologies such as digital plate making has enabled acquisition of a wide customer base.To view TOC of this report is available upon request @Some of the major companies in the commercial printing market include Cenveo, Inc., Quad/Graphics, Inc., R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company, Dai Nippon Printing Co. Ltd., Toppan Printing Co. Ltd., TC Transcontinental, Inc., Vistaprint NV, Bertelsmann SE & Co. KGaA, Lagardere SCA and Quebecor World, Inc. among others.About USTransparency 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-U.S. OFFICE:State Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207 Automotive Remote Diagnostics Market Is Expected To Grow At A CAGR Of 16.90% By 2022 Automotive Remote Diagnostics Market https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/1842 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/automotive-remote-diagnostics-market Market Scenario:Automotive remote diagnostics is a solution to monitor the health of a vehicle, figures the root cause of the issues and also enables the customer to access information about the vehicle. The awareness regarding vehicle diagnostics, the rising demand regarding safety and security of vehicles, and the growing inclination towards premium vehicles are some factors expected to drive the market. In connectivity segment, bluetooth is expected to have largest share in the automotive remote diagnostics market. As bluetooth offers various features and one of them is it connects the vehicle to the internet via smart phone to transfer data from and with server. There are various trends in the market such as integration of mobile phones with telematics systems and vehicle diagnostic-based insurance programs. The global Automotive Remote diagnostics market is expected to show a growth at CAGR of about 16.90% from 2016 to 2022.Request a Sample Copy @Key Players of Automotive Remote Diagnostics Market: Robert Bosch GmbH Continental AG Delphi Automotive PLC Onstar LLC Snap-On Inc. Magneti Marelli Softing AG VOXX International Corporation Vector Informatik Vidiwave Ltd.Regional Analysis of Global Automotive Remote diagnostics Market:The North America region has a largest share in the automotive remote diagnostics market. Also, Asia-Pacific is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. This region is led by China and India due to increasing population, increasing per capita income, improving living standards, and hence increasing demand for purchase of high end vehicles. And this will significantly drive the market of automotive remote diagnostics.Browse Full Report @About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.In order to stay updated with technology and work process of the industry, MRFR often plans & conducts meet with the industry experts and industrial visits for its research analyst members.Contact:Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Depth Research of Radiation Curable Coating Market forecast from 2016 to 2024 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/305 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-customization/305 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/ongoing-insight/polyacrylamide-market-305 Polyacrylamide is made up of acrylamide monomer and is water-soluble. It increases the viscosity of water and facilitates the flocculation of particles present in water.Polyacrylamide is used for water treatment and sludge dewatering of municipal wastewater, industrial wastewater, potable water treatment, air flotation, and primary settling. The wide use of polyacrylamide in wastewater treatment has fueled growth of polyacrylamide market globally. Polyacrylamide supports are usually gelatinous in appearance and soft in nature. They also exhibit low nonspecific binding character toward biomolecules, buffer stability, good pH and owing to totally synthetic nature, are resistant to microbial growthRequest a sample pdf Copy of report@Anionic polyacrylamide appear as white powder and have a molecular weight ranging from 6 to 25 million water soluble. This enables it to be dissolved in water in any proportion and insoluble in organic solvents. Characteristics include effective PH range of 7-14, high-polymer electrolyte, and electrolyte salt sensitive. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis is suitable for separation of molecules by size and can be applied in different systems subject to the sample and downstream applications. Polyacrylamide gels thinner than agarose gels are poured between glass plates. This facilitates resolving power albeit, allowing the investigator with the separation of nucleic acid molecules above a much larger size range.Polyacrylamide Market TaxonomyOn the basis of type of material, the global market is classified into:AnionicCationicNon-ionicOn the basis of end-use industry, the global market is segmented into:Mineral ProcessingWastewater treatmentPulp and PaperOil recoveryIn mineral processing, polyacrylamide is used for settlement/clarification of fine coal slurry in the thickening vessels, enhancement of solid-liquid separation coal with the help of filtration/centrifugation, settlement/clarification of the waste slurry and enhancement of solid-liquid separation of the tailings. In the paper and pulp industry, polyacrylamide is used as retention agent, dry strength agents and for filter aid. This has resulted in improved paper quality, enhanced physical strength of paper and reduced fiber loss. Drilling fluid additives, waste mud dewatering, enhanced oil recovery, oily water clarification, scale inhibition and as a drag reduced agentPolyacrylamide Market Outlook Rapid growth of Water treatment Market to Augment Demand for PolyacrylamideAsk for Customization @Excellent flocculating and coagulating properties has rapidly increased consumption of polyacrylamide in wastewater treatment. Asia Pacific is expected to be the most potential market for polyacrylamide manufacturers. This is attributed to booming mining industry in emerging economies such as India and China. According to IBEF, in 2015, India produced 91.46 million tons (MT) of finished steel and is the third-largest steel producer in the world. Rapidly increasing urbanization and allied sectors have caused a surge in mining activities and boosted the growth of polyacrylamide market. India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF) is a Trust founded by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Department of Commerce in collaboration with the Government of India with the aim of promoting and creating international awareness of goods manufactured in India.Fluctuating prices of raw material such as acrylonitrile is expected to be one of the restraining factors for growth of synthetic rope market over the forecast period. Mergers and expansions is one of the key strategies adopted by the top players in the polyacrylamide market to maintain their position. In April 2016, BASF SE set up a new bio-acrylamide manufacturing facility in Bradford. This will complement the companys product portfolio of polyacrylamide with improved supply reliability and operational efficiency. Some of the major companies operating in the global polyacrylamide market are Shandong Shuiheng Chemical Co., Ltd., The Dow Chemical Company, Kemira, Ashland Inc., BASF SE, Beijing Heng- Chemical Group Co., Ltd., Shandong Zibo East Polymer Co., Ltd., Group, and Xitao Polymer Co., Ltd.Browse full reportAbout Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact Us:Mr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702 Market Dynamics to Escalate Demand for E-Book Throughout 2014 to 2020 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=3237 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=T&rep_id=3237 An electronic book or e-book is a book in digital form and consist of both text and images. These books are readable on the electronic devices such as computer, mobile phone and tablets. Thus, the rising adoption of these smart devices is the major factor driving the global demand for e-books. Additionally, the environment protection campaigns from governments across the globe especially for saving trees is reducing the use of paper, which further increases the demand for e-books.A sample of this report is available upon request @Moreover, the emerging trend of collecting information online for research or educational purpose is adding to the growth of e-books market. The fragility of books to wear and tear and need of adequate care, combined with high cost is further negating the demand for books. The market finds tremendous growth potential in countries where customers can read in both English as well as their mother tongue. This directly has an impact on volume sales of e-books in a particular geography. However, it is important to consider regulatory framework for copyrights, which are important in e-books context. Thus, the potential threat of piracy is the major challenge for the growth of e-book market.The recent expansion of distribution platforms and channels, especially the e-retail, has brought publishing of e-books to an entirely new dimension. Globalization and digitization (internet) have made activities such as book launch an entirely global event, targeted towards global readers. As a result, the publishing groups now have widespread geographic reach. The British publishing houses, in particular lead the market in terms of geographic presence in all the commonwealth countries. The major publishers of the U.S. such as Bertelsmann, Hachette and Swedish Bonnier too have strong presence in the publishing market of North America and Europe.According to International Publishers Association, in 2013, the book publishing market was dominated by countries such as the U.S., China, Germany, Japan, France and United Kingdom, accounting for 60% market revenue share. However, the market for printed books is declining with the digitization of books and its easy availability and exchange over the internet. This trend is supporting the growth of e-book market in these geographies. Moreover, in countries such as the U.S and the U.K, the readers are adopting e-books at faster rates as compared to the printed books.The major players in the e-books value chain includes publishers, aggregators, distributors, service providers, educational organizations, professional organizations and online reading platform providers. There are several e-book publishers in market such as Dotbooks, Bloombury India, Completely Novels, Diamond Comics, Open Road Integrated Media, Publish Green, Morgan and Claypool Publishers, Lulu, Penguin Random House, Hachette, Harper Collins, Simon & Schuster and several others. The aggregators and distributors are basically companies that offer business to business (B2B) services. The aim of such companies is to connect the content and distribution services.There are several aggregators and distributors in the global e-book market such as ACK Media, Andrews UK Limited, Bookbaby, Smashwords, Pigeon Labs, Tertiary Publishing, Ciando, Dawson France, eBook Architects, Green Apple Data Centre, and Planet Media. In addition, there are many educational and professional organizations that play important role in offering professional education by publishing e-books. Some of the major educational organizations include Scholaristic India, Hurix, Learnetic, Piron Corporation, and Oneclick among others.In addition, there are several online reading platforms that allow publishers and authors to upload their books on the internet based platforms for commercial as well as non-commercial purposes. Moreover, the readers can review the books and give their valuable comment for the same.To view TOC of this report is available upon request @Some of the popular online platforms available in the market are 24 Symbol, Deutsche Digitale Bibliothek (DDB), La Librairie Numerique Africaine, Nubico, Skoobe and Yindo among others. The pricing strategy adopted by the players in e-book market varies as per the regional markets. This also helps in highlighting the publishers assessment towards the potential of the given geographical region for e-books market.About USTransparency 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-U.S. OFFICE:State Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207 Global Phototherapy Treatment Market Acne and Psoriasis North America and Europe Industry Analysis and Forecast 2017-2027 MRRSE https://www.mrrse.com/sample/3299 https://www.mrrse.com/north-america-and-europe-phototherapy-treatment-market https://www.mrrse.com/enquiry/3299 https://www.mrrse.com/ https://www.industrynewsanalysis.com/ A fresh report titled Global Phototherapy Treatment Market Acne and Psoriasis North America and Europe Industry Analysis and Forecast 2017-2027 has been included to the wide collection of research reports managed by Market Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE). In Canada, the majority of the psoriasis patients are mainly diagnosed by family physicians rather than by dermatologists. The reason behind this is the lack of dermatologists and related services in Canada. For instance, according to a report published by the Economist Intelligence Unit, Canada had less than 2 dermatologists per 100,000 individuals in 2015, which is very less when compared with European countries.Request For Free Sample Report:It has also been observed that family physicians typically prefer topical therapies than biologics/phototherapy to treat psoriasis conditions, while dermatologists prefer phototherapy more than the other available therapies/medications. This recent trend is boosting the phototherapy segment. While in the U.S. the growing population of adult women suffering from acne and psoriasis is an important factor driving revenue growth of the phototherapy segment. The population of adult women is rising with higher rates in North America than in European countries such as Germany, Italy, France and Spain. The growth in women adult acne conditions in North America is mainly due to increase in male hormonal (androgens) levels in females.Complementary therapies to treat psoriasis conditions and combination therapies are recent trends in Western Europe, which are creating a positive impact on the phototherapy segment in the regional marketComplementary therapies such as balneotherapy along with UV radiation is quite popular in Western European countries. Balneotherapy is the oldest treatment method available to treat the psoriasis condition. In this treatment, the patient undergoes a bath in high mineralized brine, which causes a mechanical removal of skin scales and increases the sensitivity of skin to UV radiation. Combination therapies are set to witness high potential in austerity driven markets in Europe as noted by many clinic managers. Faltering out-of-pocket expenses for a service that is considered as a desire or luxury coupled with a tricky pricing of combination treatments involving a device and a drug are factors successfully helping in generating revenue in the market. This trend is very prominent in countries such as the U.K. and Spain.Approved by the FDA to treat acne and psoriasis, blue light therapy dominates the North America and Europe phototherapy treatment marketBy phototherapy type, blue light therapy dominated the North America and Europe phototherapy treatment market for psoriasis and acne, and is expected to be the most lucrative segment over the forecast period, with a market attractiveness index of 3.3. By the end of 2027, the blue light phototherapy segment is projected to reach more than US$ 1,000 Mn, expanding at a CAGR of 6.7% over the forecast period. Revenue from the Narrowband UVB phototherapy segment in the North America and Europe phototherapy treatment market for psoriasis and acne is expected to grow 1.9x by 2027 end as compared to that in 2017. The Red Light Phototherapy and Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) Phototherapy segments represent the lowest market attractiveness index of 0.3 each.Browse Full Report With TOC:Availability of various treatments for acne and psoriasis and declining reimbursement rates are expected to hamper the growth of the phototherapy segmentVarious treatments are currently available in the market to treat acne and psoriasis conditions. For instance, to treat acne conditions various drugs are available in the market such as topical/oral antibiotics and retinoid and chemical peels, among others. Due to a lot of available treatment options, physicians prescribe different treatments according to the patients skin nature and availability of drugs. Owing to the many treatment options, very few physicians prescribe phototherapy to patients. Furthermore, availability of non-office based treatments to treat acne and psoriasis conditions has a negative impact on the growth of the phototherapy segment. Furthermore, the decline of reimbursement pay and lack of adequate phototherapy units in the market are projected to hamper revenue growth of the phototherapy segment over the forecast period.Enquire About this Report: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.comWebsite:Read More Related News: Couplings Market: New Study Offers Insights for 2014 to 2020 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=3928 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=T&rep_id=3928 Coupling is a machine element that attaches two mechanical shafts together by their ends for power transmission. It is primarily used to assist rotating machine components such as motors for driving conveyor belts. Couplings are also used to connect and disconnect various fluid systems such as oil, gas, air, and chemicals, and powder systems. Couplings prevent shafts to get disconnect during operation while some torque limiting couplings can restrict rotating motion when a specific torque limit is surpassed.A sample of this report is available upon request @Couplings also permit some degree of end movement or misalignment or both. Therefore, careful selection and installation of couplings that reduce downtime and maintenance cost offers cost advantages. Unlike the traditional nut and bolt joints, couplings are oil and lubricant free; they are light in weight, offer high torque, easy to mount and dismount, allow high range of misalignment and offers high resistance to environmental conditions. Couplings are of two types; flexible couplings that permit misalignment and rigid couplings that hold shafts precisely and firmly and do not permit misalignment.Couplings find wide applications in industries such as oil industry, natural gas industry, water treatment companies and chemical industry. Additionally, the market has witnessed increase in adoption for coupling in gas pipe construction industry. However, increasing cost of labor and deteriorating exports are factors responsible for alteration of the couplings market globally.With industries worldwide focusing majorly on improvement of energy efficiency, the demand for couplings is likely to witness growth traction in near future. Additionally, strategic expansions pertaining to the coupling market in the MINT nations (Mexico, Indonesia, Nigeria and Turkey) are likely to provide higher growth opportunities. However, product technology of industrial couplings has matured and therefore customers seek value additions as a key purchase criterion for couplings. Moreover, lack of new application potentials of the industrial couplings is hindering the market growth.The coupling industry has witnessed innovations in product technology. Some of the major trends that this industry follow include developing couplings that require less space, usage of low weight materials with better inertia qualities for manufacturing couplings. Optimized disc springs and usage of wear free materials also play an important role while designing couplings.The growth of the global coupling market in developed economies is likely to witness a slower growth over the forecast period. The restricted capital expenditures across various end user industries such as the manufacturing and oil and gas industry, has considerably constrained the market growth. However, the demand in emerging nations such as India, China, Russia, Brazil and the Eastern European countries is anticipated to boost market growth. This is mainly due to the fact that, these regions have become the global centers of the manufacturing industry. The material handling sector in Middle East and the mining industry in Africa are also expected to be the fastest growing regions for couplings in near future.To view TOC of this report is available upon request @Some of the major players in the global coupling market are Altra Industrial Motion Corp., Colossus, Dandong Colossus Group Co., Ltd., Daido Precision Industries Ltd., Emerson Electric Co., Industrial Clutch Parts Ltd., John Crane Ltd., KTR Kupplungstechnik GmbH, Chr. Mayr GmbH & Co. KG, Siemens AG, Unique Transmission Private Limited and Voith Turbo GmbH & Co. KG.About USTransparency 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-U.S. OFFICE:State Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207 Depth Research of Polyvinylidene Fluoride (PVDF) Market forecast from 2016 to 2024 Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) is a highly non-reactive thermoplastic fluoropolymer. It is chemically inert to most alcohols, acids, aromatic and aliphatic organic compounds, and chlorinated solvents. It offers properties such as low coefficient of friction, excellent intrinsic fire resistance, operability over a wide range of temperatures, good resistance to UV and radiation, capability for thermoforming, and can be easily joined by welding. Polyvinylidene fluoride is processed by various methods such as machining, injection and extrusion. It is widely used in coatings, lithium-ion batteries and photovoltaic films. Request a sample pdf Copy of report@ https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/309 Polyvinylidene fluoride hoses, pipes and tubes are used in the automobile fuel systems owing to the properties such as impermeable nature and chemical resistivity. In addition to this, PVDF fittings are also used in household and commercial buildings. This has rapidly increased consumption of polyvinylidene fluoride and boosted growth of the PVDF market over the last few years. Polyvinylidene fluoride membranes are highly preferred in various processes, including corrosive chemicals for pumps, manufacturing equipment and transportation containers due to excellent chemical resistance and freedom of operability at elevated temperatures. Polyvinylidene Fluoride Market Taxonomy On the basis of application, the global market is classified into: Pipes Fittings Coatings Sheets Tubes Films Powder Membranes Cables On the basis of product type, the global market is classified into: Alpha Beta Gamma Delta On the basis of end use industry, the global market is segmented into: Oil & Gas Chemical processing New energies Construction Polyvinylidene fluoride is used in oil & gas industry due to the enhanced properties such as low permeation, low surface energy, non-sticky and non-flammable nature, excellent chemical resistance, excellent aging, environmental stress crack resistance, consistent mechanical behavior over time and superior ductility /flexibility at low temperatures. Polyvinylidene fluoride coatings provide excellent chemical resistance at elevated temperature range. PVDF films are used for windmills which provide better resistance to tough environmental conditions and lower friction for turbine generators and windmill blades. Ask for Customization @ https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-customization/309 Polyvinylidene Fluoride Market Outlook Increasing Demand for Durable and Light Weight Materials to Fuel Market Growth Extensive use of polyvinylidene fluoride in the chemical processing, construction and oil & gas industry has led to rapid increase in the consumption of PVDF. This has amplified the growth of polyvinylidene fluoride market over the last few years. Asia Pacific is projected to be one of the major contributors to the polyvinylidene fluoride market. This is mainly attributed to rapidly growing urbanization coupled with increasing demand for advanced thermo plastic products in the region. In 2015, demand for plastic in China rose by 10% as compared to the previous year. Also, India has a well-established base for raw materials required for the plastic industry. This has attracted many polyvinylidene fluoride manufacturers to establish manufacturing units in the region. This trend is expected to be followed over the forecast period. Volatile price of polyvinylidene fluoride resin is one of the growth inhibitor for polyvinylidene fluoride market. Expansion in various geographies is one of the key strategies followed by the top players to maintain their position in the extensive use of polyvinylidene fluoride in the chemical processing, construction and oil & gas industries has in turn led to rapid growth of PVDF market over the last few years. Some of the major companies operating in the global polyvinylidene fluoride market are Daikin Industries ltd, Zhuzhou Hongda Polymer Materials Co. Ltd., (Japan), Shanghai 3F New Materials Company Limited, Kureha Corporation, Quadrant Engineering Plastics Products, Solvay S.A., Shanghai Ofluorine Chemical Technology Co. ltd., Dyneon GmbH and Zhejiang Fotech International Co. Ltd. Browse full report https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/ongoing-insight/polyvinylidene-fluoride-pvdf-market-309 About Coherent Market Insights: Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity. Contact Us: Mr. Shah Coherent Market Insights 1001 4th Ave, #3200 Seattle, WA 98154 Tel: +1-206-701-6702 This release was published on openPR. Permanent link to this press release: Copy Please set a link in the press area of your homepage to this press release on openPR. openPR disclaims liability for any content contained in this release. Global Wireless Power Transmission Market Register a CAGR of 19.2% from 2017 to 2025 MRRSE https://www.mrrse.com/sample/3334 https://www.mrrse.com/wireless-power-transmission-market https://www.mrrse.com/enquiry/3334 https://www.mrrse.com/ https://www.industrynewsanalysis.com/ A fresh report titled Global Wireless Power Transmission Market Register a CAGR of 19.2% from 2017 to 2025 has been included to the wide collection of research reports managed by Market Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE). This report analyzes and forecasts the market for wireless power transmission at the global and regional level. The market has been forecast based on revenue (US$ Mn) from 2017 to 2025. The study includes drivers and restraints of the global wireless power transmission market. It also covers the impact of these drivers and restraints on demand for wireless power transmission during the forecast period. The report also highlights opportunities in the wireless power transmission market at the global and regional level.Request For Free Sample Report:The report comprises a detailed value chain analysis, which provides a comprehensive view of the global wireless power transmission market. Porters Five Forces model for the wireless power transmission market has also been included to help understand the competitive landscape in the market. The study encompasses market attractiveness analysis, wherein end-users are benchmarked based on their market size, growth rate, and general attractiveness.The report provides the estimated market size of wireless power transmission for 2016 and forecast for the next nine years. The global market size of wireless power transmission has been provided in terms of revenue. Market numbers have been estimated based on key technology, range, application, and regional segments of wireless power transmission market. Market size and forecast for each major technologies, ranges, and applications have been provided in terms of global and regional/country markets.Global Wireless Power Transmission Market: SegmentationThe study provides a decisive view of the global wireless power transmission market by segmenting it in terms of technology, range, application, and region. These segments have been analyzed based on present and future trends. Regional segmentation includes the current and forecast demand for wireless power transmission in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. The report also covers demand for individual end-user segments in all the regions.Global Wireless Power Transmission Market: Competitive AnalysisThe study includes profiles of major companies operating in the global wireless power transmission market. Key players in the wireless power transmission market include SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS Co., Ltd., LG Electronics Inc., Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., Texas Instruments Inc., Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd, and others. Market players have been profiled in terms of attributes such as company overview, financial overview, business strategies, and recent developments. The market for wireless power transmission is primarily driven by the growing demand for wireless charging devices, increase in purchasing power, high degree of suitability, operation efficiency, low maintenance cost, digitalization, growing infrastructural activities, innovations of several technologies and ranges to form a complete wireless power transmission solution for various applications, such as consumer electronics, healthcare devices, and automotive.Global Wireless Power Transmission Market: Research MethodologyIn order to compile the research report, we conducted in-depth interviews and discussions with a number of key industry participants and opinion leaders. Primary research represents the bulk of research efforts, supplemented by extensive secondary research. We reviewed key players product literature, annual reports, press releases, and relevant documents for competitive analysis and market understanding. Secondary research also includes a search of recent trade, technical writing, internet sources, and statistical data from government websites, trade associations, and agencies. This has proven to be the most reliable, effective, and successful approach for obtaining precise market data, capturing industry participants insights, and recognizing business opportunities.Secondary research sources that are typically referred to include, but are not limited to company websites, annual reports, financial reports, broker reports, investor presentations, and SEC filings, internal and external proprietary databases, and relevant patent and regulatory databases, national government documents, statistical databases, and market reports, news articles, press releases, and webcasts specific to companies operating in the market, National government documents, statistical databases, and market reports, World Economic Forum, CBI Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Factiva, etc.Browse Full Report With TOC:Primary research involves e-mail interactions, telephonic interviews, and face-to-face interviews for each market, category, segment, and sub-segment across geographies. We conduct primary interviews on an ongoing basis with industry participants and commentators in order to validate the data and analysis. Primary interviews provide firsthand information on market size, market trends, growth trends, competitive landscape, and outlook, etc. These help validate and strengthen secondary research findings. These also help develop the analysis teams expertise and market understanding.The wireless power transmission market has been segmented as follows:Global Wireless power transmission Market: By TechnologyInductive CouplingResonant Inductive CouplingCapacitive CouplingOthers (Microwave, Laser Beam, Radio Frequency, etc.)?Global Wireless power transmission Market: By RangeNear FieldFar Field?Global Wireless power transmission Market: By ApplicationConsumer ElectronicsHealthcareAutomotiveIndustrialOthers (Drones, SPS, etc.)Global Wireless power transmission Market: By Region/Country/Sub-regionNorth America (U.S., Canada)Europe (Germany, France, U.K., Russia, Italy, Rest of Europe)Asia Pacific (China, Japan, India, ASEAN, Rest of Asia Pacific)Middle East & Africa (GCC, South Africa, Iran, North Africa, Rest of Middle East & Africa)Latin America (Brazil, Mexico, Rest of Latin America)Enquire About this Report: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.comWebsite:Read More Related News: A group of 20 foreign diplomats who visited Myanmars Rakhine state, where half a million ethnic Rohingya Muslims fled recent violence, have urged the government to allow access by humanitarian groups and by a United Nations fact-finding mission to investigate allegations of human rights violations. But the presidents office spokesman, Zaw Htay, told The Associated Press on Tuesday the government will stick by its earlier decision to bar the U.N. mission. It has said the group, assembled after similar violence last October, is interfering in Myanmars affairs. The diplomats, taken Monday on a guided government tour of the affected area, said in a joint statement that there is a dire need for humanitarian aid. The crisis in Rakhine has drawn international concern because of the exodus of more than 500,000 Rohingya to neighboring Bangladesh in just a months time. The violence began when the army retaliated for raids on government security posts on Aug. 25 by the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army, an insurgent group. Human rights groups charge that the army has abused and killed civilians and burned down thousands of homes. Rohingya are considered by many in Buddhist-dominated Myanmar to have poached land after immigrating illegally from Bangladesh. Advocates for the Rohingya insist many families have lived on the land for generations. The diplomats statement condemned the insurgents initial attacks as well as the violence that followed it. We saw villages which had been burned to the ground and emptied of inhabitants. The violence must stop, it said. The security forces have an obligation to protect all people in Rakhine without discrimination and to take measures to prevent acts of arson. They also said they encouraged the Myanmar government to move quickly to enable the voluntary, dignified and safe return to their places of origin of the hundreds of thousands of refugees who have fled to Bangladesh. We saw on our visit the dire humanitarian need. We call once more for unimpeded humanitarian access to northern Rakhine and resumption of life-saving services without discrimination throughout the state, they wrote. Representatives of U.N. agencies were also on Mondays tour. In a separate letter, the U.N. office in Myanmar said the visit was a positive step and such visits, under appropriate conditions, could help in our efforts to explore potential areas where the U.N. could cooperate with the Myanmar authorities in alleviating the dire situation in northern Rakhine. It expressed concerns similar to those of the diplomats. It said the U.N. delegation reiterated the need for a greater access for humanitarian and human rights actors to conduct comprehensive assessments of the situation on the ground in order to address the concerns and needs of all communities in affected areas, and called for unfettered media access and for the safe and sustainable return of the refugees to their areas of origin. AP Automotive Interior Leather Market Is Expected To Cross USD 32,000 Million By 2023 Automotive Interior Leather Market https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/3411 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/automotive-interior-leather-market-3411 Market Synopsis of Automotive Interior Leather MarketAutomotive interior leather is designed to provide comfort and to improve the visual appeal of the interior of the vehicle. It also leaves the vehicle with a remarkable appearance and feel. It is used widely for automotive interiors across the globe, especially in midrange and premium passenger vehicles. Growing spending capacity and rapid developments in automobile manufacturing, are pushing the market towards growth. The interior of a vehicle that adds to the aesthetic appeal of a vehicle, is also a major factor that influences consumer buying decision.Low cost, longer operational life and extended warranties are some factors helping the market growth while high initial investment and improper disposal of effluents, act as barriers for the interior leather insulated market.The global automotive interior leather market was valued at around USD 26,000 million in 2015 and is expected to cross USD 32,000 Million by 2023 at CAGR of 5.1 %.Request a Sample Copy @Key Players of Automotive Interior Leather Market: Johnson Controls Inc (U.S.) Toyota Boshoku Corporation (Japan) Lear Corporation (U.S.) Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd. (Japan) Faurecia S.A. (France) Gst Autoleather, Inc.(U.S.) DK Leather Corporation Berhad (Malaysia) BASF SE (Germany) Alea Leather Specialist Inc / Sunguard Group (U.S.) Grammer AG (Germany)Brief TOC:1 Executive Summary2 Research Methodology2.1 Scope of the Study2.1.1 Definition2.1.2 Research Objective2.1.3 Assumptions2.1.4 Limitations2.2 Research Process2.2.1 Primary Research2.2.2 Secondary Research2.3 Market Size Estimation2.4 Forecast Model3 Market Dynamics3.1 Market Drivers3.2 Market Inhibitors3.3 Supply/Value Chain Analysis3.4 Porters Five Forces Analysis4 Global Automotive Interior Leather Market, By Material4.1 Introduction4.2 Synthetic Leather4.3 Genuine Leather4.4 OthersContinueRegional Analysis of Global Automotive Interior Leather Market:Asia-Pacific is expected to remain the largest region due to continuously growing automotive sector, owing to the presence of manufacturers in the developing nations such as China and India. Increasing necessity of owning a car, and the improving living standard, are some of the factors that help in the market growth. Moreover, rapid economic growth and rising population are driving the demand for automotive interior materials in countries such as India.In North America, the U.S. has been showing steady growth and is one of the dominant automotive interior materials markets in the world.Browse Full Report @About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.In order to stay updated with technology and work process of the industry, MRFR often plans & conducts meet with the industry experts and industrial visits for its research analyst members.Contact:Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Viscosity Reducing Agents Market 2017 to 2022 Conco philips, NALCO, Halliburton, Flowlift Viscosity Reducing Agents http://bit.ly/2gcrTUD https://www.marketsresearch.biz/report/global-viscosity-reducing-agents-market-research-r-121456/ Viscosity Reducing Agents Market Research 2017A market study Global Viscosity Reducing Agents Market examines the performance of the Viscosity Reducing Agents market 2017. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Viscosity Reducing Agents market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Viscosity Reducing Agents market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.The Global Viscosity Reducing Agents Market 2017 report includes Viscosity Reducing Agents market Revenue, market Share, Viscosity Reducing Agents industry volume, market Trends, Viscosity Reducing Agents Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report.It shows manufacturing capacity, Viscosity Reducing Agents Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2022.Sample Report Of Viscosity Reducing Agents Market:Manufacturers Analysis and Top Players of Global Viscosity Reducing Agents Market 2017 :NuGenTec, FlowchemNALCOPartow Ideh ParsThomas Swan & Co LtdHalliburton, FlowliftQfloLubrizol Specialty ProductsConco philipsOil Flux AmericasThe Viscosity Reducing Agents market is divided into Six major geographical segments:1. United States2. China3. Europe4. Japan5. Southeast Asia6. India (Other Regions can be included)The competitive landscape of the global market for Viscosity Reducing Agents is determined by assessing the major industry manufacturers, production capacity, production capacity utilization rate, Viscosity Reducing Agents market's production chainanalysis, pricing by each manufacturer and the revenue generated by each manufacturer in the Viscosity Reducing Agents market globally.Access Report :The Viscosity Reducing Agents research report splits on the basis product types that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme, production and contribution to the Viscosity Reducing Agents market revenue worldwide. The Viscosity Reducing Agents research report also provides upstream and downstream analysis along with several data triangulation methods, to perform market estimation and market forecasting for the overall market segments and sub segments listed in this report, The Viscosity Reducing Agents market also shares list of major raw material manufacturers along with their manufacturing locations.Finally, Viscosity Reducing Agents 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:'marketsresearch.biz' is a single destination for all the industry, company and country reports. We have a leading market intelligence team which accredits and provides the reports of some of the top publishers in the field of the 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 Veterinary Vaccine Adjuvants Market 2017 to 2022 Aphios, Novavax, SEPPIC, SPI Pharma Veterinary Vaccine Adjuvants http://bit.ly/2fM5wEF https://www.marketsresearch.biz/report/global-veterinary-vaccine-adjuvants-market-researc-121452/ Veterinary Vaccine Adjuvants Market Research 2017A market study Global Veterinary Vaccine Adjuvants Market examines the performance of the Veterinary Vaccine Adjuvants market 2017. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Veterinary Vaccine Adjuvants market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Veterinary Vaccine Adjuvants market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.The Global Veterinary Vaccine Adjuvants Market 2017 report includes Veterinary Vaccine Adjuvants market Revenue, market Share, Veterinary Vaccine Adjuvants industry volume, market Trends, Veterinary Vaccine Adjuvants Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report.It shows manufacturing capacity, Veterinary Vaccine Adjuvants Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2022.Sample Report Of Veterinary Vaccine Adjuvants Market:Manufacturers Analysis and Top Players of Global Veterinary Vaccine Adjuvants Market 2017 :SEPPICSDA BIOBrenntag BiosectorSPI PharmaMVP LaboratoriesTj KaiweiNovavaxZhuoyueAphiosThe Veterinary Vaccine Adjuvants market is divided into Six major geographical segments:1. United States2. China3. Europe4. Japan5. Southeast Asia6. India (Other Regions can be included)The competitive landscape of the global market for Veterinary Vaccine Adjuvants is determined by assessing the major industry manufacturers, production capacity, production capacity utilization rate, Veterinary Vaccine Adjuvants market's production chainanalysis, pricing by each manufacturer and the revenue generated by each manufacturer in the Veterinary Vaccine Adjuvants market globally.Access Report :The Veterinary Vaccine Adjuvants research report splits on the basis product types that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme, production and contribution to the Veterinary Vaccine Adjuvants market revenue worldwide. The Veterinary Vaccine Adjuvants research report also provides upstream and downstream analysis along with several data triangulation methods, to perform market estimation and market forecasting for the overall market segments and sub segments listed in this report, The Veterinary Vaccine Adjuvants market also shares list of major raw material manufacturers along with their manufacturing locations.Finally, Veterinary Vaccine Adjuvants 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:'marketsresearch.biz' is a single destination for all the industry, company and country reports. We have a leading market intelligence team which accredits and provides the reports of some of the top publishers in the field of the 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 Upright Vacuums Market 2017 to 2022 BOSCH, Hoover, Dyson, Eureka, Panasonic Upright Vacuums http://bit.ly/2ypSQyV https://www.marketsresearch.biz/report/global-upright-vacuums-market-research-report-2017-121440/ Upright Vacuums Market Research 2017A market study Global Upright Vacuums Market examines the performance of the Upright Vacuums market 2017. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Upright Vacuums market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Upright Vacuums market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.The Global Upright Vacuums Market 2017 report includes Upright Vacuums market Revenue, market Share, Upright Vacuums industry volume, market Trends, Upright Vacuums Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report.It shows manufacturing capacity, Upright Vacuums Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2022.Sample Report Of Upright Vacuums Market:Manufacturers Analysis and Top Players of Global Upright Vacuums Market 2017 :HooverSharkDysonBISSELLBlack & DeckerEurekaDirt DevilPanasonicFuller BrushElectroluxDeLonghiHitachiBOSCHMaytagThe Upright Vacuums market is divided into Six major geographical segments:1. United States2. China3. Europe4. Japan5. Southeast Asia6. India (Other Regions can be included)The competitive landscape of the global market for Upright Vacuums is determined by assessing the major industry manufacturers, production capacity, production capacity utilization rate, Upright Vacuums market's production chainanalysis, pricing by each manufacturer and the revenue generated by each manufacturer in the Upright Vacuums market globally.Access Report :The Upright Vacuums research report splits on the basis product types that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme, production and contribution to the Upright Vacuums market revenue worldwide. The Upright Vacuums research report also provides upstream and downstream analysis along with several data triangulation methods, to perform market estimation and market forecasting for the overall market segments and sub segments listed in this report, The Upright Vacuums market also shares list of major raw material manufacturers along with their manufacturing locations.Finally, Upright Vacuums 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:'marketsresearch.biz' is a single destination for all the industry, company and country reports. We have a leading market intelligence team which accredits and provides the reports of some of the top publishers in the field of the technology industry. We are as a firm expertise in making extensive reports that cover all the necessary details about the market assessments such as major technological improvement in the industry.Contact Us5001 Spring Valley Road,Suite 400 East,Dallas, TX 75244, USA Global Form-Fill-Seal Machines Market Projected to Multiply CAGR of 5.7% During Forecast Period 2017 to 2025 MRRSE https://www.mrrse.com/sample/3371 https://www.mrrse.com/form-fill-seal-machines-market https://www.mrrse.com/enquiry/3371 https://www.mrrse.com/ https://www.industrynewsanalysis.com/ A fresh report titled Global Form-Fill-Seal Machines Market Projected to Multiply CAGR of 5.7% During Forecast Period 2017 to 2025 has been included to the wide collection of research reports managed by Market Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE). The report begins with an overview of the global form-fill-seal machines market, evaluating market performance in terms of revenue, followed by TMRs analysis of key trends, drivers, and restraints witnessed in the global market. Impact analysis of the key growth drivers and restraints based on the weighted average model is also included in the report.Request For Free Sample Report:Global Form-fill-seal Machines Market: Research MethodologyTo compute the market size, in-depth secondary research is done. Data points such as regional splits and market split by machine type, and packaging type has been assimilated to arrive at appropriate market estimates. The report comprises the forecast of the global revenue generated by the sales of form-fill-seal machines market.TMR triangulates the data via different analysis based on supply side, demand side as well as the dynamics of form-fill-seal machines market. TMR not only conducts forecasts in terms of value, but also evaluate the market on the basis of essential parameters, such as Year-on-Year (Y-o-Y) growth. This helps providers to recognize the future opportunities as well predictability of the market.Global Form-fill-seal Machines Market: SegmentationIn order to understand and assess opportunities in this market, the report is categorically divided into four key sections on the basis of packaging type, machine type, end-use industry and region. The report analyses the global form-fill-seal machines market in terms of value (US$ Mn) and volume (Units)Vital feature of this report is the analysis of the form-fill-seal machines market by region, packaging type, machine type and end-use industry; and the corresponding revenue forecast in terms of incremental dollar opportunity. This is traditionally overlooked while forecasting the market. However, incremental dollar opportunity is critical in assessing the level of opportunity that a provider can look to achieve as well as to identify potential resources from sales perspective of the global form-fill-seal machines market.To understand key segments in terms of their growth and performance in the form-fill-seal machines market, Transparency Market Research has developed a market attractiveness index. The resulting index should help providers identify existing market opportunities in the global form-fill-seal machines market.Browse Full Report With TOC:Global Form-fill-seal Machines Market: Competitive LandscapeIn the final section of the report, form-fill-seal machines market competitive landscape is included to provide a dashboard view of companies that manufacture form-fill-seal machines. The report contains company profiles of some of the players in the global form-fill-seal machines market.Some of the players operating in the global form-fill-seal machines market include Tokyo Automatic Machinery Works Ltd., Uflex Ltd., IMA Industria Macchine Automatiche SpA, Hayssen Flexible Systems Inc., Robert Bosch GmbH, Matrix Packaging Machinery LLC, Bossar Packaging SA, Ossid LLC, Nichrome India Ltd., Omori Machinery Co. Ltd., All-Fill Inc., Velteko S.R.O., Sacmi Filling SpA, Arpac LLC, Fuji Machinery Co., Ltd., Webster Griffin Ltd., Pakona Engineers Pvt Ltd., Mespack SL, Turpack makine sanayi ve Ticaret Ltd. Sti. And Fres-co System USA, Inc.By Packaging TypeCups & traysBags & pouchesBottles & ampoulesBlistersOtherBy Machine TypeVerticalHorizontalBy End-Use IndustryFoodDairyFrozen & chilled foodBakery & confectionarySnack barsReady mealsOtherBeveragePharmaceuticalChemicalOtherBy RegionNorth AmericaLatin AmericaEuropeMiddles East and Africa (MEA)Asia Pacific (APAC)Enquire About this Report: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.comWebsite:Read More Related News: Increasing Demand in Chemicals Industry Driving the Market Growth of Organic Chemicals Market Global Organic Chemicals Market https://goo.gl/Cs1Ny6 https://goo.gl/Cg6RgX https://goo.gl/vrnbXc Carbon and its various derivatives combine with elements such as hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur, to form organic chemicals. The derivatives exist either in carbon chain or carbon ring. Increasing global population and surging urbanization are expected to fuel growth of end-use industries such as agrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, food & beverages, and cosmetics in turn fueling growth of the organic chemicals market. Asia Pacific is growth engine of this market, mainly attributed to the strong economic growth in India and China. Ethyl alcohols, synthetic organic alcohols, synthetic flavors, and pesticides are among the most widely used organic compound used in various end-use industries such as pharmaceuticals, food & beverages, and fertilizers. As per The World Bank data, the consumption of food and beverages is increasing significantly across the globe. The market for food and beverages in the lower low income people is around US$ 5 trillion in emerging economies, which is expected to boost the food and beverages industry in countries such as China and India during the forecasted period.Request a sample copy of this report:Organic Chemicals Market Taxonomy:On the basis of product type, the global market is classified into:Acetic acidEthyl alcoholMethanolFormaldehydeAldehydesCitric acidKetonesAliphaticPolymersAmidesOthersOn the basis of end user, the global market is classified into:PharmaceuticalsPesticidesAgrochemicalsPlastics and polymersCosmeticsFood & BeveragesOthersOn the basis of geography, the global market is classified into:North AmericaU.S.CanadaEuropeU.K.GermanyItalyFranceSpainRussiaRest of EuropeAsia PacificChinaIndiaJapanASEANAustraliaSouth KoreaRest of Asia PacificLatin AmericaBrazilMexicoArgentinaRest of Latin AmericaMiddle EastGCC CountriesIsraelRest of Middle EastAfricaNorthern AfricaCentral AfricaSouth AfricaAccess Table of Content (TOC) of the report:Organic Chemicals Market Outlook Surge in Pharmaceuticals Industries Augmenting Market Growth:The last decade has witnessed a spike in incidence rate of various diseases. This in turn has led to increasing spending by various government and non-governmental organizations on developing effective drugs to combat such diseases, subsequently propelling growth of the pharmaceuticals industry. This trend is expected to prevail over the forecast period, consequently fueling growth of the organic chemicals market. Global giants in pharmaceuticals space, such as Pfizer spent US$ 7872 million in 2016, which increased by 2% as compared to 2015 and Novartis spent US$ 8400 million in 2016, which have significantly increased investment in R&D for effective drug development. While North America currently accounts for the largest share in the global organic chemicals industry, owing to a robust production base, emerging economies of Asia Pacific are projected to witness fastest growth in the market over the following decade. This is mainly attributed to rapid industrialization and benefits of economies of scale in countries such as China, Japan, and India.Organic chemicals Market Challenges Stringent Environmental RegulationsRising awareness regarding harmful health & environmental effects associated with manufacturing and use of organic compounds is expected to be one of the key challenges for the end user industry. For instance, on December 23, 2010, the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) of India implemented water (prevention and pollution control) act 1974 and air pollution act 1981. The law enforces strict regulation for production, use, import, and export of various hazardous chemicals such as phthalates, benzothiazole, among others. Treatment of hazardous waste chemicals prior to releasing in the environment, the organic chemical manufacturing company has to go through a series of complex processes. Moreover, the Chinese Ministry of Environmental Protection implemented penalty on manufacturer to lower the environmental pollution level, which led to shut down of many end user industries.Organic Chemicals Market Regulatory Scenario:Registration, Evaluation and Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) and Classification, Labelling and Packaging (CPL) regulationsRegulations regarding fertilizer productionRegulations regarding detergents productionRegulation regarding explosive productionRegulation regarding drug precursors productionResource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)Chemical Waste Disposal Law Govern by U.S. Environmental Protection AgencyKey players in the organic chemicals market include TCI America, BASF SE, PPG Industries, The Dow Chemicals Company, AkzoNobel, Royal Dutch Shell, Sinopec, ExxonMobil, Formosa Plastics, LyondellBasell Industries, DuPont, Ineos, Huntsmann and Reliance Industries. The market is fragmented, with some of the key companies in North America and Asia Pacific. Moreover, continuous development in R&D and M&A among the key players is expected to enhance their market opportunity.View this full report:About Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact Us:Mr.ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email:sales@coherentmarketinsights.com Stereo Microphone Market 2017 to 2022 Samson, Floureon, Sony, Zoom, Blue Stereo Microphone http://bit.ly/2wy4Eu7 https://www.marketsresearch.biz/report/global-stereo-microphone-market-research-report-20-121360/ Stereo Microphone Market Research 2017A market study Global Stereo Microphone Market examines the performance of the Stereo Microphone market 2017. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Stereo Microphone market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Stereo Microphone market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.The Global Stereo Microphone Market 2017 report includes Stereo Microphone market Revenue, market Share, Stereo Microphone industry volume, market Trends, Stereo Microphone Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report.It shows manufacturing capacity, Stereo Microphone Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2022.Sample Report Of Stereo Microphone Market:Manufacturers Analysis and Top Players of Global Stereo Microphone Market 2017 :SonyZoomAudio-TechnicaShureOlympusRODESamsonFloureonAKGBehringerSennheiserSmith-VictorBlueThe Stereo Microphone market is divided into Six major geographical segments:1. United States2. China3. Europe4. Japan5. Southeast Asia6. India (Other Regions can be included)The competitive landscape of the global market for Stereo Microphone is determined by assessing the major industry manufacturers, production capacity, production capacity utilization rate, Stereo Microphone market's production chainanalysis, pricing by each manufacturer and the revenue generated by each manufacturer in the Stereo Microphone market globally.Access Report :The Stereo Microphone research report splits on the basis product types that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme, production and contribution to the Stereo Microphone market revenue worldwide. The Stereo Microphone research report also provides upstream and downstream analysis along with several data triangulation methods, to perform market estimation and market forecasting for the overall market segments and sub segments listed in this report, The Stereo Microphone market also shares list of major raw material manufacturers along with their manufacturing locations.Finally, Stereo Microphone 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:'marketsresearch.biz' is a single destination for all the industry, company and country reports. We have a leading market intelligence team which accredits and provides the reports of some of the top publishers in the field of the 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 Stain Resistance Coatings Market 2017 to 2022 BASF, Eastman, Akzo Nobel, Nippon Paint Stain Resistance Coatings http://bit.ly/2yYeAyR https://www.marketsresearch.biz/report/global-stain-resistance-coatings-market-research-r-121352/ Stain Resistance Coatings Market Research 2017A market study Global Stain Resistance Coatings Market examines the performance of the Stain Resistance Coatings market 2017. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Stain Resistance Coatings market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Stain Resistance Coatings market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.The Global Stain Resistance Coatings Market 2017 report includes Stain Resistance Coatings market Revenue, market Share, Stain Resistance Coatings industry volume, market Trends, Stain Resistance Coatings Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report.It shows manufacturing capacity, Stain Resistance Coatings Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2022.Sample Report Of Stain Resistance Coatings Market:Manufacturers Analysis and Top Players of Global Stain Resistance Coatings Market 2017 :PPG IndustriesAkzo NobelE. I. Du Pont de Nemours and CompanyDow Corning3MSherwin-Williams CompanyNippon PaintBASFAxalta Coating SystemsThe Chemours CompanyLubrizolEastmanArkema Coating ResinsThe Stain Resistance Coatings market is divided into Six major geographical segments:1. United States2. China3. Europe4. Japan5. Southeast Asia6. India (Other Regions can be included)The competitive landscape of the global market for Stain Resistance Coatings is determined by assessing the major industry manufacturers, production capacity, production capacity utilization rate, Stain Resistance Coatings market's production chainanalysis, pricing by each manufacturer and the revenue generated by each manufacturer in the Stain Resistance Coatings market globally.Access Report :The Stain Resistance Coatings research report splits on the basis product types that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme, production and contribution to the Stain Resistance Coatings market revenue worldwide. The Stain Resistance Coatings research report also provides upstream and downstream analysis along with several data triangulation methods, to perform market estimation and market forecasting for the overall market segments and sub segments listed in this report, The Stain Resistance Coatings market also shares list of major raw material manufacturers along with their manufacturing locations.Finally, Stain Resistance Coatings 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:'marketsresearch.biz' is a single destination for all the industry, company and country reports. We have a leading market intelligence team which accredits and provides the reports of some of the top publishers in the field of the technology industry. We are as a firm expertise in making extensive reports that cover all the necessary details about the market assessments such as major technological improvement in the industry.Contact Us5001 Spring Valley Road,Suite 400 East,Dallas, TX 75244, USA Global Industrial Waste Management Market 2017 Business Key Players - Republic Services, Clean Harbors, Waste Connections, Stericycle https://www.fiormarkets.com/report-detail/118017/request-sample https://goo.gl/jZdh4R www.fiormarkets.com www.albaniantimes.com The Global Industrial Waste Management market 2017 report is a comprehensive and professional document to deliver the market research data that is relevant for the newly established players in the market. The major leading industry players over the globe are focused in the report with the information including company profiles, specifications and product picture, market share, contact information and sales.Download Free Sample Report @Brief Information of the Market Industrial Waste Management Report:The research study begins with selective knowledge of the global Industrial Waste Management market structure, Evaluates and outlines its different aspects and applications.Furthermore, Industrial Waste Management market report provides computable information, qualitative information sets and evaluation tools are provided in order to improve Industrial Waste Management analysis of the complete market scenario and future scope. The reports study helps in understanding the current trends in the global Industrial Waste Management market and Industrial Waste Management industry preferences insights and drivers, challenges and fortuity assists the readers for further planning.Various tools including positioning of Industrial Waste Management market key players and tempting investment scheme provides the beginners the worldwide competitive scenario of Industrial Waste Management market.The leading companies in the Global Industrial Waste Management Market mentioned in the report:Waste ManagementRepublic ServicesClean HarborsWaste ConnectionsStericycleUS EcologyRumpkeHeritage Environmental ServicesPerma-FixCasella Waste SystemsVeolia EnvironnementProgressive Waste SolutionsSuez EnvironnementTradebeAccess Full Report @In order to help industry experts and key decision makers, the Industrial Waste Management report also contains competitive illustration of the leading players in the global Industrial Waste Management market, tempting investment scheme market positioning of key manufacturers sections. Other in-depth analysis also included in the report.Further Aspects Covered in the Report:The global Industrial Waste Management market is broken into two major segments, each Type and Applications. The report exhibits the reasonable situation among the Industrial Waste Management market top manufacturing layers with sales, revenues, and market share. The subsections of the report unveils the market based on Industrial Waste Management type and application with sales market share, cost, size, market position and Industrial Waste Management Industry growth rate by type, application.The Conclusion:The aspects of the report explores Industrial Waste Management industry sales channels, distributors, traders, dealers, Research Findings and Conclusion, appendix and data source for Industrial Waste Management market.In the conclusion this report profiles the major issues that point out to the important data related to the key players involved in global Industrial Waste Management industry.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 ManagerOffice-102, Sanskriti AspirationsBaner Road, Pune,MH 411045IndiaPhone: (201) 465-4211Email: sales@fiormarkets.comWeb:Blog: Sample Dividers Market 2017 to 2022 Rainhart, Sepor, Gilson, Retsch, Gamet Sample Dividers http://bit.ly/2wyGPTc https://www.marketsresearch.biz/report/global-sample-dividers-market-research-report-2017-121260/ Sample Dividers Market Research 2017A market study Global Sample Dividers Market examines the performance of the Sample Dividers market 2017. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Sample Dividers market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Sample Dividers market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.The Global Sample Dividers Market 2017 report includes Sample Dividers market Revenue, market Share, Sample Dividers industry volume, market Trends, Sample Dividers Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report.It shows manufacturing capacity, Sample Dividers Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2022.Sample Report Of Sample Dividers Market:Manufacturers Analysis and Top Players of Global Sample Dividers Market 2017 :RetschFritschGametBeijing Grinder instrument equipmentGilsonHumboldt MfgELE InternationalSiebtechnik GmbhPreiser ScientificSCP ScienceStar TraceRainhartSeporThomas ScientificTM EngineeringOceanin StrumentsThe Sample Dividers market is divided into Six major geographical segments:1. United States2. China3. Europe4. Japan5. Southeast Asia6. India (Other Regions can be included)The competitive landscape of the global market for Sample Dividers is determined by assessing the major industry manufacturers, production capacity, production capacity utilization rate, Sample Dividers market's production chainanalysis, pricing by each manufacturer and the revenue generated by each manufacturer in the Sample Dividers market globally.Access Report :The Sample Dividers research report splits on the basis product types that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme, production and contribution to the Sample Dividers market revenue worldwide. The Sample Dividers research report also provides upstream and downstream analysis along with several data triangulation methods, to perform market estimation and market forecasting for the overall market segments and sub segments listed in this report, The Sample Dividers market also shares list of major raw material manufacturers along with their manufacturing locations.Finally, Sample Dividers 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:'marketsresearch.biz' is a single destination for all the industry, company and country reports. We have a leading market intelligence team which accredits and provides the reports of some of the top publishers in the field of the 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 The Consulate General of China in San Francisco confirmed on Tuesday that there have been no reports of casualties of Chinese citizens in the Las Vegas mass shooting. To protect the safety of Chinese citizens abroad, a working team of the Consulate-General of China in San Francisco arrived in Las Vegas on Monday, only hours after the deadliest mass shootings in modern American history, which left at least 59 people dead and about 527 others injured. It is our diplomats duty, said Zha Liyou, Deputy Consul General of the Peoples Republic of China in San Francisco, who lead the working team. The team has contacted local governments in Las Vegas and Clark County, visited hospitals caring for the wounded from the shooting, cooperated with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMDP) as well as the Clark Countys emergency operation center and the crisis command center in Las Vegas. To collect information of Chinese citizens in the city, the working team also visited local Chinese communities and spoke with travel agencies who are running Chinese tourist groups with the help of Chinas National Tourism Administration. So far, we have received no call or message for help from Chinese nationals, said Zha. We havent received any request for help from Chinese citizens via the Consular Protection 24-hour hotline, messaging platform or the hugely popular social-messaging platform WeChat. In recent years, more and more Chinese tourists have traveled to the United States. According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization, the number of global travelers will exceed 1.8 billion by 2030. China is considered the worlds fastest growing tourism market and will play a key role in the sectors development. In the first two days of Chinas National Day holiday which runs from Oct. 1 to 8, China reported double-digit growth in tourism revenue. Zha also provided many practical suggestions for Chinese tourists coming to the United States. First, its better to avoid some places, such as large gatherings of people, which provide attractive targets to those who wish to carry out an attack, he said. Chinese people are not used to places where public ownership of guns is legal, Zha added. Xinhua Global Chondroplasty Market: Major Players are B. Braun Melsungen AG, NuOrtho Surgical, Inc., Zimmer Biomet Holdings Inc., Smith & Nephew plc, Nebula Inc., Gpcmedical, Osiris Therapeutics, Inc., Sklar Surgical Instruments, Stryker Global Chondroplasty Market http://databridgemarketresearch.com/request-a-sample/?dbmr=global-chondroplasty-market http://databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-chondroplasty-market/ http://databridgemarketresearch.com/toc/?dbmr=global-chondroplasty-market http://databridgemarketresearch.com/speak-to-analyst/?dbmr=global-chondroplasty-market http://databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-bone-growth-stimulator-market/ http://databridgemarketresearch.com/blog/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/data-bridge-market-research Global Chondroplasty Market is accounted for USD 8.85 billion in 2016 growing at a CAGR of 7.2% during the forecast period of 2017 to 2024. The upcoming market report contains data for historic years 2015, the base year of calculation is 2016 and the forecast period is 2017 to 2024.Request for Sample Report @The market is segmented on the basis of product, type, application, and geography.By type, global chondroplasty market is segmented into radiofrequency ablation chondroplasty, abrasion chondroplasty, atellar chondroplasty, meniscal repair, tissue removal and others.On the basis of anatomy, global chondroplasty market is segmented into knee, shoulder, hip and others.Browse Full Report with List of Tables and Figures @On the basis of equipments, global chondroplasty market is segmented into shavers, rf devices, arthroscope and others.On the basis of end user, global chondroplasty market is segmented into hospital, orthopedic clinics, academic & research institute and others.Request for TOC:On the basis of geography, global chondroplasty market report covers data points for 28 countries across multiple geographies such as North America & South America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Middle East & Africa. Some of the major countries covered in this report are U.S., Canada, Germany, France, U.K., Netherlands, Switzerland, Turkey, Russia, China, India, South Korea, Japan, Australia, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and Brazil among others. In 2017, North America is expected to dominate the market.Ask For Analyst Call:Some of the major players operating in global chondroplasty market are B. Braun Melsungen AG, NuOrtho Surgical, Inc., Zimmer Biomet Holdings Inc., Smith & Nephew plc, Nebula Inc., Gpcmedical, Osiris Therapeutics, Inc., Sklar Surgical Instruments, Stryker among others.Other ReportGlobal Bone Growth Stimulator Market Industry Trends and Forecast to 2024Global Bone Growth Stimulator Market By Product (Device, Boner Morphogenetic Protein, PRP), Application (Spinal Fusion, Delay Union & Non-union Bone Fracture, Oral-maxillofacial), End User (Hospitals, Home Care, Academia, CROs), Geography (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Europe, South America, Middle East and Africa) Industry Trends and Forecast to 2024Report Access:About Data Bridge Market Research:Data Bridge Market Research set forth itself as an unconventional and neoteric Market research and consulting firm with unparalleled level of resilience and integrated approaches. We are determined to unearth the best market opportunities and foster efficient information for your business to thrive in the market. Data Bridge endeavors to provide appropriate solutions to the complex business challenges and initiates an effortless decision-making process.Contact:Vishal DixitData Bridge Market ResearchTel: +1-888-387-2818Email: Sales@databridgemarketresearch.comInvestor:investors@databridgemarketresearch.comVisit BlogFollow us on LinkedIn: Automated Hospital Beds Market Outlook 2017-2022 Stryker, Hill-Rom, Invacare Automated Hospital Beds Market http://bit.ly/2fLGw0t https://www.marketsresearch.biz/report/global-automated-hospital-beds-market-research-rep-120416/ https://www.marketsresearch.biz/ Global Automated Hospital Beds Market Research ReportA market study Global Automated Hospital Beds Market examines the performance of the Automated Hospital Beds market 2017. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Automated Hospital Beds market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Automated Hospital Beds market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.The Global Automated Hospital Beds Market 2017 report includes Automated Hospital Beds market Revenue, market Share, Automated Hospital Beds industry volume, market Trends, Automated Hospital Beds Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report.It shows manufacturing capacity, Automated Hospital Beds Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2022.To Get Sample Report Click Here:Manufacturers Analysis of Global Automated Hospital Beds Market 2017:StrykerHill-RomInvacareLinet GroupTransfer Master ProductsReverieNovaEHOBJoh. StiegelmeyerMerivaaraParamount BedMedlineThe Automated Hospital Beds market is divided into Six major geographical segments:1. United States2. China3. Europe4. Japan5. Southeast Asia6. India (Other Regions can be included)The competitive landscape of the global market for Automated Hospital Beds is determined by assessing the major industry manufacturers, production capacity, production capacity utilization rate, Automated Hospital Beds market's production chainanalysis, pricing by each manufacturer and the revenue generated by each manufacturer in the Automated Hospital Beds market globally.Browse Full Report, Here:The Automated Hospital Beds research report splits on the basis product types that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme, production and contribution to the Automated Hospital Beds market revenue worldwide. The Automated Hospital Beds research report also provides upstream and downstream analysis along with several data triangulation methods, to perform market estimation and market forecasting for the overall market segments and sub segments listed in this report, The Automated Hospital Beds market also shares list of major raw material manufacturers along with their manufacturing locations.Finally, Automated Hospital Beds 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:MarketsResearch.Biz is a single destination for all the industry, company and country reports. We have a leading market intelligence team which accredits and provides the reports of some of the top publishers in the field of the 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, USAContact: +1-214-661-1669Email: sales@marketsresearch.bizWeb: Thermal Management Hardwares Market Forecast 2017-2022 Zehnder, Nuociss, Laird Tech, Niagara Thermal, Moog Thermal Management Hardwares http://bit.ly/2fTiR1T http://www.spiremarketresearch.com/global-thermal-management-hardwares-sales-market-research-report-2017-demand-key-players-segmentation-and-forecast-to-2022 http://www.spiremarketresearch.com Thermal Management Hardwares Market Research 2017A market study Global Thermal Management Hardwares Market will help you understand, formulate and implement strategic decisions by offering critical data, insights and analysis from technology as well as commercial perspective on the Thermal Management Hardwares market. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Thermal Management Hardwares market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report consist of comprehensive market data, on a granular level, providing a holistic picture of the Thermal Management Hardwares market for maximum clarity and understanding.The Global Thermal Management Hardwares Market 2017 report includes Thermal Management Hardwares market Revenue, market Share, Thermal Management Hardwares industry volume, market Trends, Thermal Management Hardwares Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report.It shows manufacturing capacity, Thermal Management Hardwares Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2022.Sample Report Of Thermal Management Hardwares Market:Manufacturers Analysis and Top Players of Global Thermal Management Hardwares Market 2017 : Laird Tech Middle Atlantic USTC Advanced Cooling Technologies Moog Niagara Thermal Delta Cobham Plansee Zehnder Rettig ICC Vaillant Group Nuociss Nanshan King Admiral Longxing Group Foshan SunfarFirstly, the report covers the top Thermal Management Hardwares manufacturing industry players worldwide. It also characterizes the market based on geological regions like United States, Europe, Japan, China, Southeast Asia and Middle East and Africa. Furthermore the report covers Thermal Management Hardwares market on the basis of product types and its applications.The Thermal Management Hardwares report gives information on the top company profiles, market share, contact details and manufacturing cost analysis along with value chain analysis of Thermal Management Hardwares industry, Thermal Management Hardwares industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. Thermal Management Hardwares Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.Access Report :The Thermal Management Hardwares research report splits on the basis product types that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme, production and contribution to the Thermal Management Hardwares market revenue worldwide.Finally, Thermal Management Hardwares 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 single destination for all the industry, company and country reports. We have a leading market intelligence team which accredits and provides the reports of some of the top publishers in the field of the 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, USAWeb:Email: sales@spiremarketresearch.com Huge Demand and Focus on Innovation of Lubricant Chemicals Driving the Market Growth of Marine Lubricant Marine Lubricant Market https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/481 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/ongoing-insight/toc/481 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/ongoing-insight/marine-lubricant-market-481 Marine lubricant are the lubricant used in various marine ship applications such as engines, hydraulics, and compressors to maintain low temperature by dissipating the heat produced due to friction. Marine lubricants facilitate various functions such as removing contaminants, preventing wear in all forms, ensuring good bearing operation, completing gas sealing at piston ring level, prevention of corrosion, and reducing friction. Marine lubricants are mainly used in seashore countries. Marine lubricants find extensive application in shipping and oil & gas industries.Engines segment accounts for a sizeable share of the market due to the large application area, high consumption, and requiring large amount of lubricants. On the other hand, applications such as heat transfer fluids, gears, and turbines are also expected to drive market growth during the forecast period. The marine lubricants are important for the greater resistance to rust, lower viscosity loss and greater anti-wear capacity.Request a sample copy of this report:Marine Lubricant Market Taxonomy:On basis of product type,Mineral OilSynthetic LubricatorBio-basedGreaseOn basis of application,EngineCylinder OilSystem OilHydraulicCompressorGear OilTurbine OilHeat Transfer Fluids (HTFs)OthersOn basis of End-Use type,Oil & GasCargo ShipsTankersContainer ShipsOthersChoice of marine lubricant is largely dependent on machine, application, operating condition and environment. Mineral oil is better soluble with additives and it has the property to enhance the compatibility with seal and is of low cost. Synthetic lubricants are used at extreme environmental conditions and is relatively more expensive than mineral oil. Due to the increased environmental regulations and degradable property of bio lubricants, they are now gaining traction over other lubricants.Lubricants are available in various viscosities for different equipment function. Different lubricant are used in different equipment. The Ship loading capacities are also considered when selecting marine lubricants.Access Table of Content (TOC) of the report:Marine Lubricant Market Outlook - Surging Demand in Asia Pacific Augmenting Market Growth:Asia Pacific is estimated to be the largest market in the marine lubricant market, followed by Europe. China, India and Singapore are among the largest consumers of marine lubricants. The shipping of oil and gas is very high to meet the demand of fuel in these countries.Europe is estimated to be the second largest market in the marine lubricant industry. Though market share is expected to decline due to shifting of shipbuilding and shipping activities to Asia Pacific. This is due to cheap raw material and low labor costs in those countries.Middle East and Africa have small demand of marine lubricants compared to Asia Pacific. Middle East being a hub for oil and gas export, relies on shipping industry for transport of oil to Asian markets. The industry in this region is expected to grow.North America and Latin America are seeing poor growth in marine industry, partly due to energy self-sufficiency and poor port infrastructure in Latin America which discourages shipbuilding operations in this region.The infrastructure development and new alternatives technologies for the shipping industry are the main drivers for the marine lubricant market. The demand for eco-friendly bio-based marine lubricants are increasing due to the government regulations and environmental impact. The demand of base stock group II over base stock group I gives companies opportunity to target more costumers.Marine Lubricant Market Challenges This industry depends upon the trades of the countries over a large distances. The decrease in the trades restrain the growth of this industry. Also the sulfur and nitrogen content in marine lubricant is dangerous for the aquatic animals. Hence the government is implementing environment regulations against the marine lubricant industry. These are the challenges across marine lubricant market.Shell is one of the leading company in the major companies of marine lubricant market. The some of the major companies operating in the marine lubricant market are BP PLC, Royal Dutch Shell Plc, Exxon Mobil Corporation, Chevron Corporation, Sinopec Corporation, Lukoil, Idemitsu Kosan Co Ltd, and Total S.A.View this full report:About Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact Us:Mr.ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email:sales@coherentmarketinsights.com Dimethyl Sulfate Market - Global Industry Analysis and Future Growth Opportunities By 2023 Dimethyl Sulfate Market https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=T&rep_id=4955 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=4955 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ Dimethyl sulfate is also known as sulphuric acid dimethyl ester and commonly abbreviated as DMS. Dimethyl sulfate is a colorless oily liquid and it is soluble in aromatic solvents, water, and alcohol. It is a diester of sulfuric acid and methanol, and a strong methylating agent. It is a useful chemical for the manufacturing of a variety of household and industrial chemicals. For instance, dimethyl sulfate is used to produce surfactants, water treatment chemicals, pesticides, dyes, fabric softeners, and photographic chemicals. Dimethyl sulfate acts as a reagent for methylation of amines, thiols, and phenols. Dimethyl sulfate is the preferred methylating agent across industries due to the chemicals low cost and high reactivity. It is also used to manufacture perfumes and for the separation of mineral oils. Dimethyl sulfate is used in the manufacturing of pharmaceutical drugs. Furthermore, dimethyl sulfate under certain conditions is used as a catalyst, sulfonation agent, solvent, and stabilizer.Dimethyl sulfate is used as chemical intermediate, hence the global dimethyl sulfate market is anticipated to experience strong growth over the foreseeable future, owing to its numerous applications in different chemicals. Furthermore, the fabric softeners market is expected to experience strong growth during the forecast period, which would boost the demand for dimethyl sulfate, as the latter is used to manufacture fabric softeners. Dye manufacturers use dimethyl sulfate to manufacture various dyes and this is expected to boost the global demand for the chemical. Despite the low cost and high effectiveness of dimethyl sulfate, its high level of toxicity is expected to act as a hurdle for the global market in the forecast period.Browse Full Report With ToC @Asia Pacific is projected to be the fastest-growing market for dimethyl sulfate over the forecast period. The main reason for this is the industrial growth of developing countries of Asia Pacific, particularly China and India. In Asia Pacific, the agriculture sector is experiencing strong growth, which would complement the pesticide and agrochemicals market. Therefore, with rising demand from pesticide and agrochemical markets the consumption of dimethyl sulfate is likely to grow. Dimethyl sulfate is used to manufacture intermediate chemicals which are further used in the manufacture of pharmaceutical products. The growth in demand for pharmaceutical products is likely to reflect positively on the global demand for dimethyl sulfate. Numerous water treatment plants are operational in North America and Europe region due to government mandates to reuse and recycle waste water disposed from chemical manufacturing companies. This application is expected to propel the demand for dimethyl sulfate in these regions. Numerous countries in Asia Pacific and Latin America have undertaken initiatives to build water treatment plants in order to reuse the waste disposed from manufacturing plants. The market dynamics in Latin America, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East are favorable for the growth of the dimethyl sulfate market. The gradually improving economies of North America and Europe are also likely to provide impetus to the global market for dimethyl sulfate. The aforementioned factors is expected to positively impact the global dimethyl sulfate market. The dimethyl sulfate market would experience strong growth due to the projected growth of numerous applications in various end-user industries in the forecast period.Major companies operating in the global dimethyl sulfate market include DuPont (EI) de Nemours, BASF SE, Caledon Laboratories Ltd., Chevron Phillips Chemical Company, and CABB.Fill the form for an exclusive sample of this report @This research report analyzes this market on the basis of its market segments, major geographies, and current market trends. Geographies analyzed under this research report includeNorth AmericaAsia PacificEuropeMiddle East and AfricaLatin AmericaAbout 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: Aircraft Fuel Tanks Market Outlook 2017-2022 Boeing, TAG Aviation, UTC Aerospace Systems Aircraft Fuel Tanks Market http://bit.ly/2koHiWp https://www.marketsresearch.biz/report/global-aircraft-fuel-tanks-market-research-report-120364/ https://www.marketsresearch.biz/ Global Aircraft Fuel Tanks Market Research ReportA market study Global Aircraft Fuel Tanks Market examines the performance of the Aircraft Fuel Tanks market 2017. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Aircraft Fuel Tanks market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Aircraft Fuel Tanks market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.The Global Aircraft Fuel Tanks Market 2017 report includes Aircraft Fuel Tanks market Revenue, market Share, Aircraft Fuel Tanks industry volume, market Trends, Aircraft Fuel Tanks Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report.It shows manufacturing capacity, Aircraft Fuel Tanks Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2022.To Get Sample Report Click Here:Manufacturers Analysis of Global Aircraft Fuel Tanks Market 2017: Boeing TAG Aviation UTC Aerospace Systems Cobham GKN Aerospace ContiTechThe Aircraft Fuel Tanks market is divided into Six major geographical segments:1. United States2. China3. Europe4. Japan5. Southeast Asia6. India (Other Regions can be included)The competitive landscape of the global market for Aircraft Fuel Tanks is determined by assessing the major industry manufacturers, production capacity, production capacity utilization rate, Aircraft Fuel Tanks market's production chainanalysis, pricing by each manufacturer and the revenue generated by each manufacturer in the Aircraft Fuel Tanks market globally.Browse Full Report, Here:The Aircraft Fuel Tanks research report splits on the basis product types that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme, production and contribution to the Aircraft Fuel Tanks market revenue worldwide. The Aircraft Fuel Tanks research report also provides upstream and downstream analysis along with several data triangulation methods, to perform market estimation and market forecasting for the overall market segments and sub segments listed in this report, The Aircraft Fuel Tanks market also shares list of major raw material manufacturers along with their manufacturing locations.Finally, Aircraft Fuel Tanks 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:MarketsResearch.Biz is a single destination for all the industry, company and country reports. We have a leading market intelligence team which accredits and provides the reports of some of the top publishers in the field of the 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, USAContact: +1-214-661-1669Email: sales@marketsresearch.bizWeb: Offshore Decommissioning Market Key Players Analysis - Tetra Technologies, Inc., BP P.L.C., Statoil ASA, DNV GL, TechnipFMC PLC, AF Gruppen ASA, Ramboll Group A/S https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/2993 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/offshore-decommissioning-market-2993 Market HighlightsLow oil prices are negatively affecting the activities in many sectors of oil & gas industry, but decommissioning activity is set to increase in the environment of low oil prices due to the obsoletion of uneconomic platforms. Before the oil prices started falling, the global decommissioning market had been set for gradual growth. Further, ageing offshore infrastructure and increasingly stringent regulations drive investment, particularly in the two primary markets of the Gulf of Mexico and the North Sea.Offshore Decommissioning Market is expected to grow over the CAGR of around 4.5% during the period 2017 to 2023.The Offshore Decommissioning Market major is driven by the ageing offshore oil and gas infrastructure and the maturing oil fields. With the low prices of the oil, the maintenance of low production mature reserves is becoming more difficult. This in turn is driving the companies to accelerate their decommissioning activities for such oil and gas projects. The market is also driven by the strict rules and regulations and the stringent legal framework in all regions across the world.Key Players:The major players operating in this market, who have adopted these strategies are Tetra Technologies, Inc., (U.S.), BP P.L.C. (U.K.), Statoil ASA (Norway), DNV GL (Norway), TechnipFMC PLC (U.K.), AF Gruppen ASA (Norway), Ramboll Group A/S (Denmark), Aker Solutions ASA (Norway), Amec Foster Wheeler (U.K.), John Wood Group Plc. (Scotland), Claxton Engineering Services (U.K.), Allseas group SA (Switzerland) DeepOcean Group (Netherlands).Request a Sample Copy @Market Research AnalysisEurope is expected to be the largest region in the offshore decommissioning market. The growth in this market is driven majorly by activities undertaken in the U.K. and Norway. The U.K. offshore industry is a global leader in terms of mandatory and well-developed decommissioning guidelines. Authorities in Europe are undertaking various initiatives for driving operators towards decommission of the outdated infrastructure by providing expertise, policy support, and financial incentives.The report has been analyzed based on the service types, application and regions. Amongst all service types, the well plugging and abandonment segment is expected to dominate the offshore decommissioning market. The well plugging and abandonment is a major activity which is undertaken in the offshore decommissioning projects and it involves permanent and safe closures of the exploration wells. Production wells that can no longer be plugged for the prevention of oil and gas reservoir fluids from migrating up hole over time and possibly contaminating the fresh water aquifers. The increase in the regulatory requirements for the proper closures of the unproductive reserves and the increase in the environmental concerns is further leading to the growth of the well plugging and abandonment offshore decommissioning market. The various types of well plugging comprises of cement, bentonite & drilling mud and mechanical plugs among others.Scope of the ReportThis study provides an overview of the global offshore decommissioning market, tracking two market segments across four geographic regions. The report studies key players, providing a five-year annual trend analysis that highlights market size, volume and share for North America, Europe, Asia Pacific (APAC) and Rest of the World (ROW). The report also provides a forecast, focusing on the market opportunities for the next five years for each region. The scope of the study segments the global offshore decommissioning market by its service type, application and region.By Service Type Well Plugging and Abandonment Conductor Removal Platform Removal OthersBy Application Shallow Water Deep Water AreasBy Region North America Asia Pacific Europe Rest of the WorldFor further information on this report, visit @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 Aerospace Interior Adhesive Market Outlook 2017-2022 Henkel AG, Arkema, 3M, Huntsman Aerospace Interior Adhesive Market http://bit.ly/2ypEuyf https://www.marketsresearch.biz/report/global-aerospace-interior-adhesive-market-research-120360/ https://www.marketsresearch.biz/ Global Aerospace Interior Adhesive Market Research ReportA market study Global Aerospace Interior Adhesive Market examines the performance of the Aerospace Interior Adhesive market 2017. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Aerospace Interior Adhesive market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Aerospace Interior Adhesive market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.The Global Aerospace Interior Adhesive Market 2017 report includes Aerospace Interior Adhesive market Revenue, market Share, Aerospace Interior Adhesive industry volume, market Trends, Aerospace Interior Adhesive Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report.It shows manufacturing capacity, Aerospace Interior Adhesive Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2022.To Get Sample Report Click Here:Manufacturers Analysis of Global Aerospace Interior Adhesive Market 2017: Henkel AG Arkema 3M Huntsman Solvay Avery Dennison Hexcel Delo Industrie Klebstoffe Master Bond Perma BondThe Aerospace Interior Adhesive market is divided into Six major geographical segments:1. United States2. China3. Europe4. Japan5. Southeast Asia6. India (Other Regions can be included)The competitive landscape of the global market for Aerospace Interior Adhesive is determined by assessing the major industry manufacturers, production capacity, production capacity utilization rate, Aerospace Interior Adhesive market's production chainanalysis, pricing by each manufacturer and the revenue generated by each manufacturer in the Aerospace Interior Adhesive market globally.Browse Full Report, Here:The Aerospace Interior Adhesive research report splits on the basis product types that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme, production and contribution to the Aerospace Interior Adhesive market revenue worldwide. The Aerospace Interior Adhesive research report also provides upstream and downstream analysis along with several data triangulation methods, to perform market estimation and market forecasting for the overall market segments and sub segments listed in this report, The Aerospace Interior Adhesive market also shares list of major raw material manufacturers along with their manufacturing locations.Finally, Aerospace Interior Adhesive 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:MarketsResearch.Biz is a single destination for all the industry, company and country reports. We have a leading market intelligence team which accredits and provides the reports of some of the top publishers in the field of the 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, USAContact: +1-214-661-1669Email: sales@marketsresearch.bizWeb: Acetochlor Market Outlook 2017-2022 Monsanto, Syngenta, Dow AgroSciences, Bayer CropScience Acetochlor Market http://bit.ly/2yqD32v https://www.marketsresearch.biz/report/global-acetochlor-market-research-report-2017-120348/ https://www.marketsresearch.biz/ Global Acetochlor Market Research ReportA market study Global Acetochlor Market examines the performance of the Acetochlor market 2017. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Acetochlor market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Acetochlor market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.The Global Acetochlor Market 2017 report includes Acetochlor market Revenue, market Share, Acetochlor industry volume, market Trends, Acetochlor Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report.It shows manufacturing capacity, Acetochlor Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2022.To Get Sample Report Click Here:Manufacturers Analysis of Global Acetochlor Market 2017: Monsanto Syngenta Dow AgroSciences Bayer CropScience Shanghai Mingdou Agrochemical Company SinoHarvest Corporation Shenzhen Cropstar Chemical Industry Nantong Jiangshan Agrochemical & Chemical Shandong Qiaochang Chemical Shangdong Luba Jiangsu YangnonThe Acetochlor market is divided into Six major geographical segments:1. United States2. China3. Europe4. Japan5. Southeast Asia6. India (Other Regions can be included)The competitive landscape of the global market for Acetochlor is determined by assessing the major industry manufacturers, production capacity, production capacity utilization rate, Acetochlor market's production chainanalysis, pricing by each manufacturer and the revenue generated by each manufacturer in the Acetochlor market globally.Browse Full Report, Here:The Acetochlor research report splits on the basis product types that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme, production and contribution to the Acetochlor market revenue worldwide. The Acetochlor research report also provides upstream and downstream analysis along with several data triangulation methods, to perform market estimation and market forecasting for the overall market segments and sub segments listed in this report, The Acetochlor market also shares list of major raw material manufacturers along with their manufacturing locations.Finally, Acetochlor 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:MarketsResearch.Biz is a single destination for all the industry, company and country reports. We have a leading market intelligence team which accredits and provides the reports of some of the top publishers in the field of the 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, USAContact: +1-214-661-1669Email: sales@marketsresearch.bizWeb: Top 15 Petrochemicals Market Growth and Opportunity Analysis 2017-2025 Top 15 Petrochemicals Market https://goo.gl/ynBS6b https://goo.gl/jUYxWt https://goo.gl/GxAsCE Petrochemicals play an important role in the 21st century lifestyle and are utilized in various end use industries. The oil & gas Industry provides the feedstock in the form of crude oil, natural gas and their derivatives. Different kinds of processes employed on crude oil, and natural gas yield different products. The most sought-after product is ethylene, which holds a 25% market share in the global petrochemicals market. It is used as a feedstock for manufacture of polyethylene, polystyrene, ethylene glycol and ethanol. Ethylene is followed by benzene, propylene, xylene, butadiene in terms of market share. Some petrochemicals are used widely around the world in various application includes dyes, detergents, paint, plastic, rubber, textiles and fertilizers. The major drivers are the high dependency and lack of large scale alternatives to petrochemical products. The major competitor to petrochemicals are bio-based chemicals and as environmental consciousness increases, investment in bio-based chemicals is likely to escalate. In addition oil price instability also affects growth.Request a sample copy of this report:Top 15 Petrochemicals Market Taxonomy:On basis of type of PetrochemicalEthylenePropyleneBenzeneButadieneXylenesTolueneOn basis of type of Intermediate ChemicalsMethanolEthylene OxidePropylene OxideOn basis of type of polymerPolyethylene (PE)Polypropylene (PP)Polystyrene (PS)Polyester (PET)Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS)On basis of End User IndustryPackagingAutomobileConstructionElectrical & ElectronicsAviationConsumer GoodsOthersEthylene, propylene are the most dominant chemicals in terms of market share, and are major feedstock for the manufacture of polyethylene, polypropylene and polypropylene oxide. Xylene is projected to be the fastest growing petrochemical market due to demand for polyester fibers. Furthermore, chemicals such as methanol, ethylene oxide and propylene oxide are used as reaction intermediates for light olefins, ethylene glycol, and polyurethane plastics respectively. Moreover, ethylene Oxide is also used as a fumigant and disinfectant. All the end user industries are majorly dependent on polymers with polystyrene being the most widely used. PVC is commonly used for pipes, furniture, and flooring application; and polyethylene for plastic bottles to consume edible and non-edible liquids.The packaging industry is the largest end use market of petrochemicals. As the disposable incomes in the developing world rise, consumer demand for packaged materials rises as they seek quality assurance. The packaging industry is directly affected by consumerism. Other end use industries such as automobile, construction, electrical and consumer goods require petrochemicals for product manufacture, and the healthy growth of these industries directly affect petrochemical market growth.Access Table of Content (TOC) of the report:Top 15 Petrochemicals Market Outlook - Surging demand in Asia-Pacific Augmenting Market GrowthAsia Pacific market is a major processing hub for petrochemicals with India, China, and South Korea being major drivers. Six of the worlds ten largest refineries are in Asia Pacific with the largest being Reliance owned Jamnagar Refinery. This region has recently observed an upturn in consumption due to increased population. China has also claimed to have the worlds largest shale reserves but is unable to develop them due to water shortages. Technological Advancement in shale gas extraction is expected to complement growth.North America is a major processing hub. Feedstock is obtained from shale gas produced in the various US shale plays (Marcellus, Eagle-Ford, Permian, Barnett, Bakken and Niobrara). In addition, it is also one of the largest consumer of petrochemicals. Also, Middle East and North Africa are major sources of crude oil. There is also a significant presence of petrochemical industry in this region due to close proximity to crude oil source.Europe is a consumer market for petrochemicals with heavy dependency on North American and Asian markets. A west to east shift has been observed in the petrochemical market. Maturation in Europe has led to shifting of existing petrochemical infrastructure to countries such as India where labor is cheap.The growth focus is shifting to low cost feedstock availability such as CTO (Coal to Olefin), MTO (Methanol to Olefin), Shale Gas, Coal Bed Methane and bio feedstock to produce ethylene and propylene. These are considered as alternative processes for ethylene and propylene production. China has announced six CTO projects having total ethylene capacity of 1.62m tons/year.The major players in the Petrochemical Industry are BASF SE, ExxonMobil, The Dow Chemical Company, Shell Chemical Company, SABIC, Sinopec Limited, Lyondell Basell Industries, Total S.A., Sumitomo Chemical Co. Ltd., Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LLC and E. I. du Pont de Nemours and CompanyView this full report:About Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact Us:Mr.ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email:sales@coherentmarketinsights.com Chinas bike rental companies Mobike and Ofo are in talks to merge, Bloombergs Lulu Chen reported Tuesday. Theres not a sane mind in the world who doesnt think thats a good idea. One parallel is the merger of Didi Dache and Kuaidi Dache to form Didi Chuxing, which then eventually folded in Uber China. They are, of course, extremely different businesses. Car-sharing companies generally dont own inventory. This means theyre not spending buckets of money buying assets that get piled up like trash on sidewalks, nor do they have to worry about huge maintenance costs. And while they do dish out vast sums subsidizing drivers to get them to use the platform, rider-driver hookup services charge the consumer more than a token fee. Despite purchasing bikes by the ton Ofo and Mobike have more than 13 million combined they hardly charge anything for rental, making outsiders scratch their heads at how this can possibly make sense. But there is one factor ride-sharing companies dont enjoy: deposits. Beijing Mobike Technology Co. and Beijing Bikelock Technology Co. (trading as Ofo) require users to pay a surety upfront for the right to rent. With millions of users on their books, that translates into billions of dollars of cash on hand. Lets run the numbers. Mobike claims to have 100 million users, and it requires a 299 yuan (USD45) deposit (lets assume this surety is similar in all markets). That means it has just shy of 30 billion yuan, or $4.5 billion, in cash. Thats four times the amount VCs have thrown at it. The deposit pile at Ofo comes in at around 2 billion yuan, a lot less because it has fewer users and demands a smaller bond. It also allows deposit-free rental for some with a good Sesame Credit score. Compare the combined $4.8 billion of deposit money with the $2.3 billion CB Insights estimates the duo have raised through outside funding and you realize that in reality, the unwitting venture capitalists in all of this are actually Chinas millions of bike riders. With only 7 million bikes but 100 million users, Mobike holds 4,200 yuan cash per bike. Ofos numbers arent anywhere near as favorable. In theory, such funds are like callable deposits, but in reality, the process is a little more cumbersome most users wont bother asking for their money back because they plan to keep renting bikes. Executives from both rental companies have said publicly that this cash isnt being used to buy extra bikes or fund operations. I have no way of fact checking such an assertion, but assuming that its true, this would be the smartest move possible. Instead of frittering away 32 billion yuan on unprofitable assets such as bicycles, the companies can easily funnel those funds into money markets and other investments that earn around 4 percent annually. It may not make up for the billions burnt on bikes and operations, but babysitting cash is one easy way to make a dime. Tim Culpan, Bloomberg Global RV Reducer Market 2017 : Nabtesco, HarmonicDrive, Sumitomo Drive, SPINEA, Shaanxi Qinchuan Machinery Development RV Reducer http://www.marketsnresearch.com/request-for-sample.html?repid=18809 http://www.marketsnresearch.com/inquiry-for-buying.html?repid=18809 RV Reducer Market 2017A market study based on the " RV Reducer Market " across the globe, recently added to the repository of Market Research, is titled Global RV Reducer Market 2017. The research report analyses the historical as well as present performance of the worldwide RV Reducer industry, and makes predictions on the future status of RV Reducer market on the basis of this analysis.Get Free Sample Copy of Report Here :Top Manufacturers Analysis Of This Research Report1. Nabtesco2.HarmonicDrive3.Sumitomo Drive4.SPINEA5.Shaanxi Qinchuan Machinery Development6.Shanghai Mechanical & Electrical Industry7.Nantong Zhenkang8.Zhejiang Hengfengtai Reducer MFG9.Leader Harmonious Drive Systems10.Beijing CTKM Harmonic Drive Co., LtdThe report studies the industry for RV Reducer across the globe taking the existing industry chain, the import and export statistics in RV Reducer market & dynamics of demand and supply of RV Reducer into consideration. The ' RV Reducer ' research study covers each and every aspect of the RV Reducer market globally, which starts from the definition of the RV Reducer industry and develops towards RV Reducer market segmentations. Further, every segment of the RV Reducer market is classified and analysed on the basis of product types, application, and the end-use industries of the RV Reducer market. The geographical segmentation of the RV Reducer industry has also been covered at length in this report.The competitive landscape of the worldwide market for RV Reducer is determined by evaluating the various industry participants, production capacity, RV Reducer market's production chain, and the revenue generated by each manufacturer in the RV Reducer market worldwide.Enquire Here :The global RV Reducer market 2017 is also analysed on the basis of product pricing, RV Reducer production volume, data regarding demand and RV Reducer supply, and the revenue garnered by the product. Various methodical tools such as investment returns, feasibility, and market attractiveness analysis has been used in the research to present a comprehensive study of the industry for RV Reducer across the globe.About Us :Market and Research are a trusted brand in the research industry with capability of commissioning complex projects within a short span of time with high level of accuracy. At Market and Research, we believe in building long term relations with our clients. Our services cover a broad spectrum of industries including Energy, Chemicals and Materials, Automotive and Aerospace.Contact Us :Market and ResearchUnited States The Market for Bio-butanol Market Is Growing Progressively and the Trend Is Projected To Continue in the Next coming Years Bio-butanol Market https://goo.gl/k69wk5 https://goo.gl/WpoLxb https://goo.gl/34PnEg Bio-butanol is an alcohol, which is used as a fuel or organic solvent. It is prepared by fermentation of sugar, starch or cellulosic feedstock such as wheat, sugar beet, corn, straw, and wood. The purpose of using bio-butanol is to reduce consumption of crude oil. They have higher octane number, larger flammability limits, higher flash point and higher heat of vaporization. Bio-butanol easily blends with gasoline due to its low vapor pressure. It contains as much as energy as gasoline and its non-corrosive nature gives it advantage over bioethanol.Bio-butanol is also used as cleaner, adhesives, jet fuel, synthetic rubber, as a solvent in paints, bio-based plastics and fibers. They are also expected to meet 20% of the worlds fuel demands. The requirement for clean energy is the main driver for the use of bio-butanol.Request a sample copy of this report:Bio-butanol fuel Market Taxonomy:On the basis of raw material, the bio-butanol market is classified into:WheatSugar beetCornStrawWoodOthersOn the basis of application, the bio-butanol market is classified into:AcrylatesAcetatesGlycol ethersSolventsPlasticizersOthersOn the basis of end users, the bio-butanol market is classified into:Petrochemical industryAutomobile industryAviation industryConsumer goodsTextile industryOthersThe raw materials used in process of bio-butanol are wheat, sugar beet, corn, straw and wood. The availability of raw material is a major concern with the bio-butanol preparation process. The properties like polymer chain formation, blending, paint and cleaner makes it applicable for the products such as acrylates, acetates, glycol ethers, solvent and plasticizer. Bio butanol is used as a fuel in internal combustion engines in petrochemical and automotive industry. Bio-butanol has the potential to reduce carbon emissions by 85% compared to gasoline. It is a possible large scale alternative to gasoline.Access Table of Content (TOC) of the report:Bio-butanol Market Outlook:North America is the largest bio-jet fuel market due to the presence of low temperature weather in most of the countries followed by Western Europe which is second largest. Bio-butanol used in automobile sectors are the main reason for these largest market industry. Significant investment in R&D in these regions has resulted in alternatives for petroleum derived fuels.Asia Pacific is estimated to be the fastest growing market in the forecast period due to the population increase and demand for greener paints and coatings. India and China are expected to have the most demand in the bio-jet fuel market in the forecast period due to rise in the aviation and transportation segments.In Europe, demand for bio-butanol is increasing due to the government initiatives and stringent environmental regulations to shift away from petroleum products. These regulations are result of meeting the aims set out in Kyoto Protocol.In Middle East, the crude oil derived fuels such as gasoline, diesel, and kerosene and jet fuel are very cheap due to proximity to the resource. This makes it very difficult for bio-based alternatives to enter the market, as they are easily out priced.Bio-butanol Market ChallengesThe variation in availability and cost of raw materials is a major problem as it increases the production cost of bio-butanol. Currently, bio-butanol costs more than bio ethanol. Also the government regulations against the use of raw material are the challenges for the bio butanol market.Some of the key companies dominating the market are Biobutanol include Bioenergy International, Butalco GmBH, Cobalt Biofuels and Arbor Biofuels backed by oil manufacturers like TetraVitae Biosciences and Metabolic Explorers.View this full report:About Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact Us:Mr.ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email:sales@coherentmarketinsights.com Well Casing Market Outlook 2017-2022 Weatherford International, Tenaris, Vallourec Well Casing Market http://bit.ly/2yJR2wJ https://www.marketsresearch.biz/report/global-well-casing-market-research-report-2017-120288/ https://www.marketsresearch.biz/ Global Well Casing Market Research ReportA market study Global Well Casing Market examines the performance of the Well Casing market 2017. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Well Casing market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Well Casing market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.The Global Well Casing Market 2017 report includes Well Casing market Revenue, market Share, Well Casing industry volume, market Trends, Well Casing Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report.It shows manufacturing capacity, Well Casing Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2022.To Get Sample Report Click Here:Manufacturers Analysis of Global Well Casing Market 2017: Weatherford International Tenaris Vallourec TMK Antelope Oil Tool & Manufacturing Company Forum Energy Technologies Neoz Energy Centek Group Summit Casing Equipment National Oilwell Varco Sledgehammer Oil ToolsThe Well Casing market is divided into Six major geographical segments:1. United States2. China3. Europe4. Japan5. Southeast Asia6. India (Other Regions can be included)The competitive landscape of the global market for Well Casing is determined by assessing the major industry manufacturers, production capacity, production capacity utilization rate, Well Casing market's production chainanalysis, pricing by each manufacturer and the revenue generated by each manufacturer in the Well Casing market globally.Browse Full Report, Here:The Well Casing research report splits on the basis product types that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme, production and contribution to the Well Casing market revenue worldwide. The Well Casing research report also provides upstream and downstream analysis along with several data triangulation methods, to perform market estimation and market forecasting for the overall market segments and sub segments listed in this report, The Well Casing market also shares list of major raw material manufacturers along with their manufacturing locations.Finally, Well Casing 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:MarketsResearch.Biz is a single destination for all the industry, company and country reports. We have a leading market intelligence team which accredits and provides the reports of some of the top publishers in the field of the 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, USAContact: +1-214-661-1669Email: sales@marketsresearch.bizWeb: Cobalt Powder Market - Key Growth Factors and Forecast 2023 Cobalt Powder Market https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=T&rep_id=6499 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=6499 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ Cobalt is a hard, grey metal and is generally found in association with nickel in the Earth's crust. Cobalt has many industrial uses due to its unique properties such as retaining its strength at a high temperature, high melting point (1493C), high thermo-stability, being ferromagnetic, and being multivalent. All these properties of cobalt make it effective for enhancing catalytic action. As cobalt possess excellent chemical, physical, and mechanical properties, it is commonly used for fabricating various alloys which are used as wear resistant and high-temperature components, cutting tools, dies, saws, etc. Cobalt is an important ingredient for portable batteries. The growing demand for rechargeable batteries in mobile phones, laptop, tablets, and other portable electronics would be the major growth driver for global cobalt consumption.Browse Full Report With ToC @Cobalt has a wide range of industrial uses which varies from rechargeable batteries to aircraft engines. Furthermore cobalt is used for industrial chemical processes due to its catalytic properties and is used for the removal of nitrous oxide, desulphurisation of hydrocarbons and others. The typical properties of such as hardness and high temperature resistance of cobalt is used effectively to alloy with other metals. Cobalt alloys is suitable in turbine blades for gas jet aircraft engines and turbines. Various cobalt compounds are used as catalyst in chemical reactions. Furthermore, cobalts chemical and physical properties make it an essential ingredient for electroplating, coloring of pigments and ceramics, manufacture of automobile tires and permanent magnets. Cobalt powder is used as bonding tools in diamond industry and for high speed cutting tools it is used as binder for the production of cemented tungsten carbides. Owing to all such applications of cobalt, is growingly used in end-user industries such as electronic batteries, automotive tires, and other industries across the globe.The growing demand of automotive and electronic industry would have positive impact on cobalt powder market in years to come. Therefore, based on the uses of electronics, Asia Pacific is projected to be the fastest growing market for cobalt powder in the next six years. The main reason for this is the growing demand of electronics batteries from developing countries such as China and India. However, some countries of Africa, South America and the Middle East have shown economic and industrial growth since the last few years which would have a positive impact on the use of cobalt powder in various industries. The U.S. and countries of European region is would have major application of cobalt powder as they are recovering from the economic dispersion. All such factors would enhance the uses of cobalt powder across the globe. Considering this prospect automotive, batteries and other cobalt application related industries are expected to witness a strong growth in the coming years. Furthermore, the disposable income of individuals and increasing uses of portable electronics would have a tremendous market potential for cobalt powder. Due to this, the demand for cobalt powder in the automotive and electronic industry is anticipated to grow at an outstanding rate in the next few years.Some of the major companies operating in the global cobalt powder market are Sandvik Materials Technology, Umicore - Cobalt & Specialty Materials, Freeport Cobalt Oy, Sherritt International, Sumitomo Corporation, Minara Resources Pty Ltd., Eramet and Norilsk Nickel.Fill the form for an exclusive sample of this report @This research report analyzes this market on the basis of its market segments, major geographies, and current market trends. Geographies analyzed under this research report includeNorth AmericaAsia PacificEuropeMiddle East and AfricaLatin AmericaAbout 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: Natural Refrigerants Market - Market Future Growth Opportunities | 2023 Natural Refrigerants Market https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=T&rep_id=7694 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=7694 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ Natural refrigerants are synthesized through a biochemical processusing natural resources. Growing concern regarding global warming and other environmental issueshas increased the need for natural refrigerants. Natural refrigerants such as ammonia, carbon dioxide, and hydrocarbons are processed from natural resources and are more eco-friendly as compared to conventional refrigerants.On the basis of application, the natural refrigerants market can be segmented into industrial refrigeration, commercial refrigeration, domestic refrigeration, stationary air conditioning refrigerants, and mobile air conditioning refrigerants.The global natural refrigerants market can be bifurcated on the basis of type of product such as ammonia, carbon dioxide, and hydrocarbons.On a global scale, natural refrigerants are largely consumed for refrigeration and airconditioning purpose.Currently, natural refrigerants available in the market include ammonia, carbon dioxide, and hydrocarbons. Among hydrocarbons, the commonly used refrigerants include iso-butane, propane, and propylene. Natural refrigerants are chieflyemployed in industrial, commercial, and domestic refrigeration systems. Apart from these, natural refrigerants are consumed in mobile air conditioning and stationary air conditioning. In industrial applications, ammonia holds major share among other natural refrigerants due to its higher coefficient of performance (CoP), zero ozone depletion potential (ODP), lower cost,and leakage rate. Major factor restricting growth of the natural refrigerants market is the initial high cost of installation of refrigeration systems.Other challenges faced by HVAC contractors are toxicity and flammability limits that occurdue to use of highly concentrated ammonia in smaller refrigeration systems.Browse Full Report With ToC @Carbon dioxide is expected to hold the largest share of the global natural refrigerants market in commercial applications due to ease of handling. Recently, companies have started using ammonia along with carbon dioxide as a refrigerant in industrial applications due to its high performance. Natural refrigerants have low operating cost and are more effective than conventional refrigerants. HVAC manufacturers can focus more on employing these natural refrigerants for improving output performance of the system.Natural refrigerants are widely used in industrial refrigeration systems for condensing, cooling, and storage of reactive chemicals. In commercial application, natural refrigerants are used insupermarkets and high-end retail outlets for refrigeration of food and beverages, household refrigerators, and other portable cold storage systems. Furthermore, natural refrigerants are employed in domestic split air conditioners and air conditioners in vehicles.Growth in the commercial sector and flourishing automotive industry is driving growth of the natural refrigerants market in Europe and North America. Improved standards of living and high disposable income in Asia Pacific are primarily fueling growth of the natural refrigerants market. The hospitality industry is flourishing in the Middle East. This, in turn, is anticipated to boost demand for air conditioners and refrigerating systems.Some of the Key players in the global natural refrigerants market includeAirgas, Inc.,The Linde Group, A-Gas International, Hess Corporation, Sinochem, General Utilities, Puyang Zhongwei Fine Chemical Co.Ltd., HyChill, Engas Australasia, Tazzetti SpA, Deepfreeze Refrigerants Inc., and Shandong Yuan Chemical Co., Ltd. Global companies are investing more in R&D activities to develop new substitutes for conventional refrigerants.Fill the form for an exclusive sample of this report @This research report analyzes this market on the basis of its market segments, major geographies, and current market trends. Geographies analyzed under this research report includeNorth AmericaAsia PacificEuropeMiddle East and AfricaLatin AmericaAbout 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: Global Cloud Radio Access Network (C-RAN) Market Achieves Growth from Rapid OPEX, CAPEX Reduction QYResearchReports https://www.qyresearchreports.com/sample/sample.php?rep_id=1266094&type=E https://www.qyresearchreports.com/sample/sample.php?rep_id=1266094&type=D http://www.qyresearchreports.com The global cloud radio access network (C-RAN) market has been projected in a report added by QYReseachReports.com to be classified into centralization technology and virtualization technology according to type. Titled Global Cloud Radio Access Network (C-RAN) Market Size, Status and Forecast 2022, the report has also foreseen another classification based on application, which includes suburban and rural areas, high-density urban areas, targeted outdoor urban areas, and large public venues. Furthermore, the report has segregated the market into key geographies such as Southeast Asia, India, China, Japan, the European Union, and the U.S.Get PDF brochure of the report @The world C-RAN market has been anticipated to be pampered by opportunities arising from the swift reduction in operational expenditure (OPEX) and capital expenditure (CAPEX) and accessibility of 4G and 5G networks. The significant rise in the technological developments of optical and wireless communication systems have been predicted to set a strong foundation of growth in the market. The C-RAN technology could gain a telling prominence on the back of its operability to transmit data between the remote radio head (RRH) and base band unit (BBU) with the help of an economical transmission module.Dynamic resource allocation for supporting multi-vendor environments could be allowed with the use of real-time virtualization technology via cloud computing. Moreover, high scalable, low-cost, and latent-free networking modules could be allowed in the BBU pool with the implementation of data center networking technology. New-age enterprises continually tested by innovations and disruptive forces in the market have been forecasted to be transformed by the advent of C-RAN service providers. On account of an elevated adoption of rising technologies, the services market for C-RAN could garner a healthy growth in the foreseeable future.To check avail discount on this report, visit @In view of deployment venues, the world C-RAN market has been prognosticated to witness the dominance of large public venues such as event spaces, malls, and stadiums. The deployment of C-RAN could be mandated in these venues as they are usually flooded with large masses. Moreover, the fronthaul systems installed there are designed to serve a limited number of masses.On the geographical front, the international C-RAN market has been prophesied to gain a strong impetus from the growth of North America. The impressive growth of this region could ride on the high focus on innovative technologies bolstered through active research and development and developed economies such as Canada and the U.S. More opportunities have been envisioned to take shape in North America considering its greater long term evolution (LTE) subscriber base. Although there could be a high demand for advanced mobile services in the region, C-RAN deployments here have been envisioned to be significantly impacted by the availability of fiber. As a result, more operators could raise their outlay on fiber in the coming years.Some of the key players in the worldwide C-RAN market could be Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., Cisco Systems, Inc., and Nokia Corporation.List of Tables and FiguresFigure Cloud Radio Access Network (C-RAN) Product ScopeFigure Global Cloud Radio Access Network (C-RAN) Market Size (Million USD) (2012-2017)Table Global Cloud Radio Access Network (C-RAN) Market Size (Million USD) and Growth Rate by Regions (2012-2017)Figure Global Cloud Radio Access Network (C-RAN) Market Share by Regions in 2016Figure United States Cloud Radio Access Network (C-RAN) Market Size (Million USD) and Growth Rate by Regions (2012-2017)Figure EU Cloud Radio Access Network (C-RAN) Market Size (Million USD) and Growth Rate by Regions (2012-2017)Figure Japan Cloud Radio Access Network (C-RAN) Market Size (Million USD) and Growth Rate by Regions (2012-2017)Figure China Cloud Radio Access Network (C-RAN) Market Size (Million USD) and Growth Rate by Regions (2012-2017)Figure India Cloud Radio Access Network (C-RAN) Market Size (Million USD) and Growth Rate by Regions (2012-2017)Figure Southeast Asia Cloud Radio Access Network (C-RAN) Market Size (Million USD) and Growth Rate by Regions (2012-2017)Figure Global Cloud Radio Access Network (C-RAN) Market Share by Type in 2016Figure Centralization Technology Market Size (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2017)Figure Virtualization Technology Market Size (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2017)Figure Global Cloud Radio Access Network (C-RAN) Market Share by Application in 2016Table Key Downstream Customer in Large Public VenuesFigure Cloud Radio Access Network (C-RAN) Market Size (Million USD) and Growth Rate in Large Public Venues (2012-2017)Table Key Downstream Customer in Targeted Outdoor Urban AreasFigure Cloud Radio Access Network (C-RAN) Market Size (Million USD) and Growth Rate in Targeted Outdoor Urban Areas (2012-2017)Table Key Downstream Customer in High-density Urban Areas...About QYReseachReports.comQYReseachReports.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 US:Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-618-1030Web:Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com Toluene (CAS 108-88-3) Market Size 2017-2022 ExxonMobile Chemical, Sinopec, China National Petroleum Toluene (CAS 108-88-3) Market http://bit.ly/2hOOPwT https://www.marketsresearch.biz/report/global-toluene-cas-108-88-3-market-research-repo-120236/ https://www.marketsresearch.biz/ Global Toluene (CAS 108-88-3) Market Research ReportA market study Global Toluene (CAS 108-88-3) Market examines the performance of the Toluene (CAS 108-88-3) market 2017. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Toluene (CAS 108-88-3) market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Toluene (CAS 108-88-3) market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.The Global Toluene (CAS 108-88-3) Market 2017 report includes Toluene (CAS 108-88-3) market Revenue, market Share, Toluene (CAS 108-88-3) industry volume, market Trends, Toluene (CAS 108-88-3) Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report.It shows manufacturing capacity, Toluene (CAS 108-88-3) Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2022.To Get Sample Report Click Here:Manufacturers Analysis of Global Toluene (CAS 108-88-3) Market 2017: ExxonMobile Chemical Sinopec China National Petroleum Reliance Industries Shell BP Chemicals BASF Koch Industries JX Nippon Oil & Energy Formosa Plastics ConocoPhillips Total Petrochemicals Valero Energy Chevron Phillips Lyondellbasell Covestro Mitsui Chemicals NOVA Chemicals Sherwin-WilliamsThe Toluene (CAS 108-88-3) market is divided into Six major geographical segments:1. United States2. China3. Europe4. Japan5. Southeast Asia6. India (Other Regions can be included)The competitive landscape of the global market for Toluene (CAS 108-88-3) is determined by assessing the major industry manufacturers, production capacity, production capacity utilization rate, Toluene (CAS 108-88-3) market's production chainanalysis, pricing by each manufacturer and the revenue generated by each manufacturer in the Toluene (CAS 108-88-3) market globally.Browse Full Report, Here:The Toluene (CAS 108-88-3) research report splits on the basis product types that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme, production and contribution to the Toluene (CAS 108-88-3) market revenue worldwide. The Toluene (CAS 108-88-3) research report also provides upstream and downstream analysis along with several data triangulation methods, to perform market estimation and market forecasting for the overall market segments and sub segments listed in this report, The Toluene (CAS 108-88-3) market also shares list of major raw material manufacturers along with their manufacturing locations.Finally, Toluene (CAS 108-88-3) 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:MarketsResearch.Biz is a single destination for all the industry, company and country reports. We have a leading market intelligence team which accredits and provides the reports of some of the top publishers in the field of the 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, USAContact: +1-214-661-1669Email: sales@marketsresearch.bizWeb: Need for Protection against Untimely Hazards to Boost Uptake of Crop Insurance QYResearchReports https://www.qyresearchreports.com/sample/sample.php?rep_id=1315622&type=E https://www.qyresearchreports.com/sample/sample.php?rep_id=1315622&type=D http://www.qyresearchreports.com Qyresearchreports.com has added a new report to its research repository. The report is titled, Global Crop Insurance Market Size, Status and Forecast 2022. The report presents a comprehensive overview of the entire growth trajectory of the global market for data center infrastructure management throughout the course of the forecast period. Various segments have been taken into consideration to provide the readers a holistic view of the entire market scenario. The competitive landscape in consideration with the leading companies and the companies operating in the market has been highlighted and researched upon minutely. Various regions have also been explained where the market is operating successfully and the regions where the players might find lucrative opportunities in the future have also been mentioned in the report.Get PDF brochure of the report @Crop insurance is obtained by horticultural manufacturers, including agriculturists, ranger, and many others to secure themselves against either the loss of their harvests because of cataclysmic events, for instance, hail, dry spell, and flood, or the loss of income because of decreases in the costs of agrarian items. The two general classes of crop insurance are known as crop-revenue insurance and crop-yield insurance.A rancher or cultivator may want to grow a yield related with a specific characteristic that possibly fits the bill for a premium over comparative item trims, farming items, or subordinates thereof. The specific trait might be related with the hereditary organization of the yield, certain administration practices of the producer, or both. Nonetheless, numerous standard crop insurance strategies don't separate between ware yields and products related with specific characteristics. Appropriately, ranchers have a requirement for crop insurance to cover the danger of developing yields related with specific characteristics.To check avail discount on this report, visit @The worldwide crop industry has been developing quickly since the previous quite a while for the most part because of expanding demand for food, its adaptability and accessibility. Among the few assortments of yields accessible in the market, the interest for products, for instance, wheat, rice, peanuts, sunflower, dry consumable beans, soya beans, cotton, and potatoes among others are on an ascent because of its simple accessibility.Universally, the main considerations adding to the development of Crop protection industry is the higher farming protection premium from Thailand, India, and China. Alongside the Asia-Pacific region; European nations have had some type of product or domesticated animals protection for over a century. They are presently develop markets with high infiltration rates and offer far reaching hazard scope for agriculturists. The developing nations such as China and India that have prevailing with regards to setting up a solid crop insurance system, demonstrate that this achievement has been expected, in vast part, to open help conceded through premium sponsorships or reinsurance.Development of the crop insurance industry could likewise be credited to North America which presented the income based product protection and, all the more as of late, from developing markets, for instance, Brazil, India, and China driven by quickly expanding protection entrance. Agribusiness is viewed as an enhancing danger to other protection lines of business and is pulling in more reinsurance limit and collateralized reinsurance. Crop Insurance organizations are propelling new plans and receiving new procedures in the protection business part and making huge investments.Region-wise, the global market for crop insurance has been segmented into Southeast Asia, India, China, Japan, and the EU. On the basis of type, the market has been classified into crop revenue insurance, crop price insurance, and crop yield insurance. On the basis of application, the market segments into crop hail and MPCI. The companies operating in the market are ICICI Lombard, New India Assurance, Archer Daniels Midland, Tokio Marine, and Agriculture Insurance Company of India, among several others.List of Tables and FiguresFigure Crop Insurance Product ScopeFigure Global Crop Insurance Market Size (Million USD) (2012-2017)Table Global Crop Insurance Market Size (Million USD) and Growth Rate by Regions (2012-2017)Figure Global Crop Insurance Market Share by Regions in 2016Figure United States Crop Insurance Market Size (Million USD) and Growth Rate by Regions (2012-2017)Figure EU Crop Insurance Market Size (Million USD) and Growth Rate by Regions (2012-2017)Figure Japan Crop Insurance Market Size (Million USD) and Growth Rate by Regions (2012-2017)Figure China Crop Insurance Market Size (Million USD) and Growth Rate by Regions (2012-2017)Figure India Crop Insurance Market Size (Million USD) and Growth Rate by Regions (2012-2017)Figure Southeast Asia Crop Insurance Market Size (Million USD) and Growth Rate by Regions (2012-2017)Figure Global Crop Insurance Market Share by Type in 2016Figure Crop Yield Insurance Market Size (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2017)Figure Crop Price Insurance Market Size (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2017)Figure Crop Revneue Insurance Market Size (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2017)Figure Global Crop Insurance Market Share by Application in 2016Figure Crop Insurance Market Size (Million USD) and Growth Rate in MPCI (2012-2017)Figure Crop Insurance Market Size (Million USD) and Growth Rate in Crop Hail (2012-2017)...About QYReseachReports.comQYReseachReports.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 US:Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-618-1030Web:Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com Indonesian cards and payments industry 2017 - Current and Future Plans 2021 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/2368343-payments-landscape-in-indonesia-opportunities-and-risks-to-2021 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/conferences https://www.wiseguyreports.com/seminars SUMMARYWiseGuyReports published new report, titled Payments Landscape in Indonesia"Payments Landscape in Indonesia: Opportunities and Risks to 2021", report provides detailed analysis of market trends in the Indonesian cards and payments industry. It provides values and volumes for a number of key performance indicators in the industry, including cash, payment cards, and cheques during the review-period (2013-17e).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 (2017-21f). 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 Indonesian cards and payments industry, including -- Current and forecast values for each market in the Indonesian cards and payments industry, including debit, credit, and charge cards.- Detailed insights into payment instruments including cheques, cash, 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 Indonesian cards and payments industry.- Detailed analysis of strategies adopted by banks and other institutions to market debit, credit, and charge cards.GET SAMPLE REPORT @Scope- Bank Indonesia, the countrys central bank, is enhancing the security of payment systems in order to build customer confidence in payment cards. In this regard, the government has mandated the migration of all payment cards to EMV standards by December 31, 2021. Similarly, as of July 1, 2017 the central bank has mandated the adoption of six-digit PINs for debit and ATM cards, instead of four-digit PINs.- Consumers in Indonesia are gradually adopting contactless payments. Consequently, Visa launched its contactless service Visa payWave in Indonesia in September 2016. This service enables Visa card holders to make contactless transactions without a PIN for transactions below IDR1m ($74). Following this, Bank CIMB Niaga, Bank Tabungan Pensiunan Negara, UOB Indonesia, and Bank Mandiri adopted this technology.- To benefit from the expanding mobile payments market, domestic banks in Indonesia are launching their own mobile payment solutions. For instance, Bank Central Asia launched its mobile wallet Sakuku in September 2015, enabling customers to make instore and P2P payments and withdraw cash from ATMs. Similarly, Standard Chartered Bank launched its Straight2Bank wallet in July 2015. Earlier in 2013, CIMB Niaga Bank launched its mobile wallet Rekening Ponsel.Key points to buy- Make strategic business decisions, using top-level historic and forecast market data, related to the Indonesian cards and payments industry and each market within it.- Understand the key market trends and growth opportunities in the Indonesian cards and payments industry.- Assess the competitive dynamics in the Indonesian cards and payments industry.- Gain insights into marketing strategies used for various card types in Indonesia.- Gain insights into key regulations governing the Indonesian cards and payments industry.Table of ContentsMarket OverviewCard-based PaymentsE-commerce PaymentsAlternative PaymentsPayments Infrastructure & RegulationAppendixFor 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, India Flight Navigation System Market: Navigation Based Methodology to Model Supply Chain Systems https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/1633 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/flight-navigation-system-market Exclusive Summery About Report:According to the recent Market Study Report Global Flight Navigation System Market published by the Market Research Future; the market of Flight Navigation System is expected to grow at a CAGR of around 7% globally, during 2016-2021. The key factors driving the growth are increasing aircraft fleet, demand for avionics system with gen-next aircraft, demand for accurate flight navigation, capability of handling more air traffic, collision avoidance systems, gyroscopes, and integration of early warning radar.While commenting upon this deep diving study report, presented through more than 100 market data tables and figures, widely spread over 103 pages, the MRFR team Research Analysts further states, Advanced and efficient flight navigation systems are crucial for the safety and security of passengers and hence are in demand. Due to the advancement in technologies, the market has experienced a significant improvement in autopilot systems. It is expected minimize the human intervention and pilot workload. The flight management system aids in noise reduction and improves flight plans. The increasing demand will support the new-generation aircrafts to be equipped with the latest Navigation System to enhance the efficiency of these aircrafts.Request a Sample Report @Flight Navigation System Global Market Key PlayersSome of the key players in the Global Flight Navigation System Market identified by MRFR analysis are Honeywell, Moog Inc., Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, Rockwell Collins. Other prominent players identified by MRFR report on Global Flight Navigation System Market include - Boeing, Esterline Technologies, GE Aviation, Sagem, and Navtech.Flight Navigation System Global Market SegmentationThe Global Flight Navigation System Market is segmented in to 4 dynamics for an enhanced understanding; Segmentation by Flight instrument Segmentation by Application Segmentation by Product Segmentation by Region e.g. North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific & RoW.If you have any special requirements, please let us know and we will offer you the report as you want.For further information on this report, visit @Flight Navigation System Global Market Synopsis & ScenarioAs per the MRFR analysis, factors such as cyber-attack, high cost of autopilot system, and automation safety issue are identified as restraining factors to the market growth. However, the global market of Flight Navigation System is expected to post a stunning CAGR of ~ 7% during the forecast period 2016-2021.Demand of non-directional beacon, next generation avionics, and demand for aircraft condition monitoring system (ACMS) are the ongoing trends which will impact the market during the forecast period Owing to the demand for the most advanced navigation systems, which will ensure the safety and security of passengers, Sensors segment is expected to hold the largest share in market during the forecast period. Prominent airlines from the Middle East region such as Air Arabia, Qatar, Etihad, and Emirates Airlines are expected to contribute to the market growth of the flight navigation systems. The Middle East will witness the maximum traffic upsurge during the forecast period. RoW region is likely to rise at the maximum CAGR for flight navigation system market.Equipped with multiple systems such as autopilot, sensors, flight management systems, global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) and automatic direction finder, Flight navigation systems are used for guiding and controlling the aircrafts. Navigation systems function upon the instrument flight rules (IFR) or visual flight rules (VFR).Advanced FN Systems are proficient of handling large air traffic. The shift toward non-directional beacon (NDB) radio transmitters is expected to have positive impact on the industry. The advancement in en-route automation modernization (ERAM), flight management system, automatic dependent surveillance (ADS-B), aircraft condition monitoring system (ACMS), and GPS-aided geo augmented navigation (GAGAN) will proved to be efficient for controlling and managing aircrafts in the years to come.Table of Content1 Introduction1.1 Report Description1.2 Research Objective2 Executive Summary2.1 Key Findings / Highlights2.1.1 Investment Opportunities2.1.2 Market Startegies2.1.3 Latest Developments3 Scope Of The Study3.1 Markets Covered3.2 Years Considered For The Study (2016-2021)3.2 Geographic Scope3.3 Key Stakeholders8 Market Dynamics8.1 Drivers8.2 Restraints8.3 Opportunities8.4 Trends9 Market Segmentation9.1 By Flight Instrument9.2 By Product9.3 By Application9.3 By Region10 Global Flight Navigation System Market By Flight Instrument, 2016-202110.1 Market Size By Flight Instrument ($ Millions)10.1.1 Altimeter10.1.2 Gyroscope10.1.3 Autopilot10.1.4 Sensors10.1.5 Magnetic CompassContinued..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 Future+1 646 845 9312Email: akash.anand@marketresearchfuture.com Macau and Hong Kong passport- holders can now apply online for multiple-entry visas to visit Taiwan, the island-states authorities announced this week. However, residents of the territories who also hold other passports will not be eligible for this privilege, Taiwanese authorities cautioned. The latest change to visa requirements for residents of the two SARs follows other recent relaxations for single-entry and double- entry visas to Taiwan. Taiwans National Immigration Agency announced in December last year that it would permit SAR residents who arrive in Taiwan on cruise ships to apply for double-entry visas. The change was thought to impact around 20,000 residents of the two SARs who visited the island in 2016. Then in February this year, the Immigration Age cy opened online applications to SAR residents, meaning that they no longer had to visit the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office establishments in Hong Kong and Macau. According to media reports, obtaining a visa upon arrival in Taiwan will also remain an option for residents of Hong Kong and Macau. Visitors from the two SARs account for a significant portion of Taiwans visitors. Nearly 1 million people from Hong Kong and Macau visited the island in the first seven months of this year, up by 7.16 percent compared with the same period last year. The number of visitors has steadily risen and they have therefore grown in importance to Taiwans tourism sector over the past few years. Some 1.06 million Hong Kong and Macau visitors traveled to Taiwan in 2014, while 1.18 million and 1.26 million visited the island in 2015 and 2016 respectively. The rise in absolute figures is complemented by an increase in their proportion of Taiwans total number of visitors due to a decline in the number of mainland visitors. Mainlanders are less intent on visiting Taiwan since Tsai Ing-wen, the countrys president, assumed office in May 2016. Tsais refusal to endorse Beijings One China principle has caused the rift between the two states to widen, culminating in the severing of some cross-strait ties. Food Aluminum Foil Market Analysis, Size, Share, Growth and Forecast Report To 2017 http://reportbazzar.com/request-sample/RBPR2709201745237 http://reportbazzar.com/product/global-food-aluminum-foil-market-research-report-2017 http://reportbazzar.com/discount-form/RBPR2709201745237 ReportBazzar has released its latest research-based report entitled Food Aluminum Foil market. This comprehensive report provides a holistic approach to the market growth with a detailed and precise analysis of the overall competitive scenario of the Food Aluminum Foil market worldwide along with the key trends and latest technologies, playing a prominent role in the Food Aluminum Foil market growth over the next eight years.It also takes into account the market trends, aspects such as drivers, constraints, challenges, and opportunities that impact the market and presents statistical and analytical account on it. This research report features a comprehensive discussion about the current scenario to estimate trends and prospects of the Food Aluminum Foil market. Moreover, it provides dynamic and statistical insights pertaining to the market at both regional as well as global level.Get Free Sample Copy of this Report @:Application segments such as demolition and construction as well as products used in the manufacturing of engineering equipment come under heavy industries. In addition, heavy industries also include ancillary industries that have their relation with these applications. These industries are mostly capital intensive in nature, have huge barriers to entry and low transportability. The industry mostly includes heavy electrical, huge buildings and machine tools. Rising construction of high rise buildings is one of the primary growth factors of Food Aluminum Foil market.Recognizing the rising prevalence of Food Aluminum Foil market, this research report proves to be a primary source of guidance and detailed data on the market at global scale. The report evaluates the present scenario and status as well as changing trends in the market to project its outlook and prospects. This report is a systematic research study based on the market and analyzes the competitive framework of the global Food Aluminum Foil industry. A holistic report covers exhaustive information obtained from reliable industrial sources and through proven research methodologies. The data thus obtained is then combined with relevant tables and graphs to support the information revealed. Thus the report features graphs, figures, and data and provides a high-level blueprint of the global market.Browse full report with Table of Content @:Various competent analytical tools have been used to offer a comprehensive assessment of the market. The report comprises of each aspect of the global market for Food Aluminum Foil. Here, the market is basically segmented by its product type, application and region. It starts with the basic information and then advances to the market classification and segmentation based on different criteria. It analyses the key segments and the regional subdivision of the market and helps determine the future of the market in the global arena.Major regions, countries, and sub-segments have been analyzed for providing the better understanding of the market scope worldwide. The report studies the market by evaluating the manufacturers, manufacturing chain, contribution in the industry, regulations, prevalent policies and cost structures. The regional markets for the Food Aluminum Foil market are analyzed by evaluating the raw material price trend analysis, logistics, demand, and supply, production capacity, as well as the historical performance of the market in the given region.The report also provides insights on the competitive landscape of the global Food Aluminum Foil industry with the leading players profiled in the report. The company profiles, trends, tactics, merger & acquisitions, business strategies, financial metrics of the major participants operating in the global Food Aluminum Foil market have been reviewed in this study.Ask for Discount @:Some Points Of Table Of Content:1 Food Aluminum Foil Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Food Aluminum Foil1.2 Food Aluminum Foil Segment by Type (Product Category)1.2.1 Global Food Aluminum Foil Production and CAGR (%) Comparison by Type (Product Category)(2012-2022)1.2.2 Global Food Aluminum Foil Production Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20161.2.3 Heavy Gauge Foil1.2.4 Medium Gauge Foil1.2.5 Light Gauge Foil1.3 Global Food Aluminum Foil Segment by Application1.3.1 Food Aluminum Foil Consumption (Sales) Comparison by Application (2012-2022)1.3.2 Meat Snacks1.3.3 Dried Fruits1.3.4 Biscuits1.3.5 Drinks1.3.6 Other1.4 Global Food Aluminum Foil Market by Region (2012-2022)1.4.1 Global Food Aluminum Foil 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 Food Aluminum Foil (2012-2022)1.5.1 Global Food Aluminum Foil Revenue Status and Outlook (2012-2022)1.5.2 Global Food Aluminum Foil Capacity, Production Status and Outlook (2012-2022)2 Global Food Aluminum Foil Market Competition by Manufacturers2.1 Global Food Aluminum Foil Capacity, Production and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.1.1 Global Food Aluminum Foil Capacity and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.1.2 Global Food Aluminum Foil Production and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.2 Global Food Aluminum Foil Revenue and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.3 Global Food Aluminum Foil Average Price by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.4 Manufacturers Food Aluminum Foil Manufacturing Base Distribution, Sales Area and Product Type2.5 Food Aluminum Foil Market Competitive Situation and Trends2.5.1 Food Aluminum Foil Market Concentration Rate2.5.2 Food Aluminum Foil Market Share of Top 3 and Top 5 Manufacturers2.5.3 Mergers & Acquisitions, ExpansionAbout us:Reportbazzar.com is your trusted source for the most inclusive and informative assortment of market research reports designed to empower you with the latest in industry information that translates to time and cost savings for your business. We not only help you give wing to your latent business ideas but also facilitate you in taking the best informed and strategic decisions that guarantee success in your most promising business endeavors. Our intelligence database comprises of vast arrays of strategically analyzed and high-level market research reports that encompass all major industries worldwide. All the specialized research reports available at Reportbazzar.com are tailor-made to suit your every business need, no matter how diverse or demanding it is.Contact for more details:Report BazzarUnited States30 Wall Street, 8th floor,New York, NY 10005.US: +1 (212) 389-6363 Global Cosmetic Market 2017: Key Players Loreal, Pantene, Nivea, Lancome, Avon, Dove, Olay, Garnier, Neutrogena https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/899168-global-cosmetic-industry-market-research-report-2017 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/enquiry/899168-global-cosmetic-industry-market-research-report-2017 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/checkout?currency=one_user-USD&report_id=899168 SummaryWiseGuyReports.com adds Cosmetic Market 2017 Global Analysis, Growth, Trends and Opportunities Research Report Forecasting to 2022reports to its database.This report provides in depth study of Cosmetic market using SWOT analysis i.e. Strength, Weakness, Opportunities and Threat to the organization. The Cosmetic Market report also provides an in-depth survey of key players in the market which is based on the various objectives of an organization such as profiling, the product outline, the quantity of production, required raw material, and the financial health of the organization.Global Cosmetic Industry market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer; the top players includingLorealPanteneNiveaLancomeAvonDoveOlayEstee LauderHead&ShoulderChristian DiorChanelAveenoGarnierSchwarzkopfMaybelineClarinsShiseidoClean&ClearNeutrogenaNatureRequest a Sample Report @Geographically, this report is segmented into several key Regions, with production, consumption, revenue (million USD), market share and growth rate of Cosmetic Industry in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), coveringNorth AmericaEuropeChinaJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaOn the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoSkincareHair CareMake-upPerfumesOral CosmeticsOthersOn 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 Cosmetic Industry for each application, including< 15 Years Old15-25 Years Old25-35 Years Old35-50 Years Old>50 Years OldAt any Query @Table of ContentsGlobal Cosmetic Industry Market Research Report 20171 Cosmetic Industry Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Cosmetic Industry1.2 Cosmetic Industry Segment by Type (Product Category)1.2.1 Global Cosmetic Industry Production and CAGR (%) Comparison by Type (Product Category)(2012-2022)1.2.2 Global Cosmetic Industry Production Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20161.2.3 Skincare1.2.4 Hair Care1.2.5 Make-up1.2.6 Perfumes1.2.7 Oral Cosmetics1.2.8 Others1.3 Global Cosmetic Industry Segment by Application1.3.1 Cosmetic Industry Consumption (Sales) Comparison by Application (2012-2022)1.3.2 < 15 Years Old1.3.3 15-25 Years Old1.3.4 25-35 Years Old1.3.5 35-50 Years Old1.3.6 >50 Years Old1.4 Global Cosmetic Industry Market by Region (2012-2022)1.4.1 Global Cosmetic Industry 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 Cosmetic Industry (2012-2022)1.5.1 Global Cosmetic Industry Revenue Status and Outlook (2012-2022)1.5.2 Global Cosmetic Industry Capacity, Production Status and Outlook (2012-2022).7 Global Cosmetic Industry Manufacturers Profiles/Analysis7.1 Loreal7.1.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.1.2 Cosmetic Industry Product Category, Application and Specification7.1.2.1 Product A7.1.2.2 Product B7.1.3 Loreal Cosmetic Industry Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.1.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.2 Pantene7.2.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.2.2 Cosmetic Industry Product Category, Application and Specification7.2.2.1 Product A7.2.2.2 Product B7.2.3 Pantene Cosmetic Industry Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.2.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.3 Nivea7.3.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.3.2 Cosmetic Industry Product Category, Application and Specification7.3.2.1 Product A7.3.2.2 Product B7.3.3 Nivea Cosmetic Industry Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.3.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.4 Lancome7.4.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.4.2 Cosmetic Industry Product Category, Application and Specification7.4.2.1 Product A7.4.2.2 Product B7.4.3 Lancome Cosmetic Industry Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.4.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.5 Avon7.5.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.5.2 Cosmetic Industry Product Category, Application and Specification7.5.2.1 Product A7.5.2.2 Product B7.5.3 Avon Cosmetic Industry Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.5.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.6 Dove7.6.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.6.2 Cosmetic Industry Product Category, Application and Specification7.6.2.1 Product A7.6.2.2 Product B7.6.3 Dove Cosmetic Industry Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.6.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.7 Olay7.7.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.7.2 Cosmetic Industry Product Category, Application and Specification7.7.2.1 Product A7.7.2.2 Product B7.7.3 Olay Cosmetic Industry Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.7.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.8 Estee Lauder7.8.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.8.2 Cosmetic Industry Product Category, Application and Specification7.8.2.1 Product A7.8.2.2 Product B7.8.3 Estee Lauder Cosmetic Industry Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.8.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.9 Head&Shoulder7.9.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.9.2 Cosmetic Industry Product Category, Application and Specification7.9.2.1 Product A7.9.2.2 Product B7.9.3 Head&Shoulder Cosmetic Industry Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.9.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.10 Christian Dior7.10.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.10.2 Cosmetic Industry Product Category, Application and Specification7.10.2.1 Product A7.10.2.2 Product B7.10.3 Christian Dior Cosmetic Industry Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.10.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.11 Chanel7.12 Aveeno7.13 Garnier7.14 Schwarzkopf7.15 Maybeline7.16 Clarins7.17 Shiseido7.18 Clean&Clear7.19 Neutrogena7.20 NatureBuy Now @Continued....Contact Us: sales@wiseguyreports.comPh: +1-646-845-9349 (US) ; Ph: +44 208 133 9349 (UK)ABOUT US:Wise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe. Wise Guy Reports features an exhaustive list of market research reports from hundreds of publishers worldwide. We boast a database spanning virtually every market category and an even more comprehensive collection of market research reports under these categories and sub-categories.ADDRES:WISE GUY RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, HadapsarPune - 411028Maharashtra, India Aircraft Component MRO market: Integrated Machining Cost Calculations for commercial Aircraft https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/1665 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/aircraft-component-mro-market Exclusive Summery About Report:Outsourcing of aircraft MRO to third-party companies is one of the trending opportunities for the airline companies so as to reduce their aircraft MRO expenses, with more than 10-20% of saving. For example, in 2013, 65% of aircraft MRO was outsourced by airlines, across the globe. As a result, there has been an increased adoption of MRO outsourcing, of late, due to the growing awareness of its benefits, such as low labour rates and the availability of adequate spare parts.As of 2016, there were more than 22,000 active commercial wide body and narrow body aircraft across the globe. These existing commercial fleets are expected to be replaced by more than 40,000 new aircraft, over the next 20 years, and the global fleet is likely to reach 45,000 aircraft by 2036. Moreover, the high demand for air travel in the emerging regions, such as Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East, leads to an increase in the number of aircraft in these regions. As a result, approximately 22,000 commercial aircraft are expected to be delivered to these regions in the next 20 years. On the other hand, it is expected that over 15,000 commercial aircraft would be delivered in developed regions such as North America and Europe, by 2036.Moreover, the global military aircraft fleet, as of 2016, was over 53,000, with the U.S. having the largest share (26%) of the military planes, followed by Russia (7%), China (6%), and India (4%). With the increasing defense budgets in a number of countries, there have been high development and procurement of military aircraft, in the recent years. Hence, it is expected that the rapid fleet expansion would eventually drive the aircraft component MRO market.Request a Sample Report @Aircraft Component MRO Market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer; the top players including GE Aviation Honeywell Aerospace Lufthansa Technik Pratt & Whitney Rolls-Royce FL Technics Delta TechOps Barnes Aerospace AAR Turkish TechnicBased on application, commercial air transport accounted for the largest market share of 63.11% in 2016. Over the years, the aviation industry has been witnessing a steady growth, owing to the increased diversification among airlines, across the globe. Of late, the passenger traffic is expanding with resilience across the globe, despite a slight slowdown in the global economy. In recent years, the large aviation markets, such as the U.S., Europe, and Asia have witnessed increased expenses by passengers, due to the rising incomes of the expanding middle class population in these regions, which have resulted in the progress of the aviation industry. Moreover, global air travel has been made easier and convenient by the low cost carriers, whilst airlines are extending their services to various geographic locations. This results in an increased focus on the expansion of the aviation industry, around the world. As of 2016, there were over 23,000 airplanes in service, and the number is expected to double, over the next 20 years. To meet this growing demand of commercial aviation, it is important for the MRO service providers, across the globe, to ensure provision of efficient and high quality maintenance for airplane components.Military aviation segment accounted for the second largest market share in 2016. With the expected deployment of the much anticipated F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) plane, which has received a large number of orders from several countries, the MRO market for the JSF aircraft is expected to be relatively high. The U.S. DOD intends to have regional repair capabilities in Europe and the Pacific for all 774 components of the F-35 JSF. The plane is expected to replace the currently operating F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft. As a result, until the introduction of the JSF planes, it is expected that the MRO market for the F-16 aircraft would be growing over time. Therefore, it is expected that the component MRO market for military aviation planes would grow at a CAGR of 3.30%, during the forecast period.If you have any special requirements, please let us know and we will offer you the report as you want.For further information on this report, visit @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.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 Future+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Caps and Closures Detail Industrial and Market studies for Non-carbonated Beverages - U.S. Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2016 - 2024 https://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=995389 https://www.researchmoz.us/caps-closures-market-for-non-carbonated-beverages-us-industry-analysis-size-share-growth-trends-and-forecast-2016-2024-report.html "Caps and Closures Market for Non-carbonated Beverages - U.S. Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2016 - 2024" The Report covers current Industries Trends, Worldwide Analysis, Global Forecast, Review, Share, Size, Growth, Effect.Description-U.S. Caps & Closures Market for Non-carbonated Beverages: OverviewThis report provides forecast and analysis of the U.S. Caps & closures market for non-carbonated beverages. The study provides historic data of 2015 along with forecast from 2016 to 2024 based on volume (Million units) and revenue (US$ Mn). It includes drivers, restraints and the ongoing trend of the U.S. Caps & closures market along with their impact on demand during the forecast period. The report also comprises the study of opportunities available in the market for U.S. Caps & closures market.Get Sample Report With TOC @In order to provide the users of this report with comprehensive view of market, we have included detailed competitiveness analysis and company players. The competitive dashboard provides detailed comparison of U.S. Caps & closures market manufacturers on parameters such as companys revenue, unique selling propositions and key strategic developments. The study encompasses market attractiveness analysis, by cap type, material type and application type.U.S. Caps & Closures Market for Non-carbonated Beverages: Research MethodologiesMarket statistics have been estimated based on average consumption and weighted average pricing of U.S. Caps & closures market by cap type and the revenue is derived through regional pricing trends. Market size and forecast for each segment have been provided in the context of U.S. market. The U.S. Caps & closures market for non-carbonated beverages has been analyzed based on expected demand of the top three caps. Prices considered for the calculation of revenue are average prices obtained through primary quotes from numerous caps & closure manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors. All key end users have been considered and potential applications have been estimated on the basis of secondary sources and feedback from primary respondents. Market numbers for the U.S. cap type, material type and application segments have been derived using the top down approach. The market has been forecast based on constant currency rates.A number of primary and secondary sources were consulted during the course of the study. Secondary sources include Factiva, American Beverage Association, Packaging Digest, Beverage digest, and Hoovers, and company annual reports and publications.U.S. Caps & Closures Market for Non-carbonated Beverages: Competitive AnalysisThe report provides detailed competitive outlook including company profiles of key participants operating in the global market. Key players in the U.S. caps & closure market for non-carbonated beverages include, Closure Systems International, Inc., Silgan Plastic Closure Solutions, Bericap GmbH and Co KG, Global Closure Systems, AptarGroup, Inc., Berry Plastics Group, Inc., Amcor Limited, O.Berk Company, LLC, Blackhawk Molding Co. Inc. and Tecnocap S.p.A.The U.S. caps & closure market for non-carbonated beverages is segmented belowBy Cap TypeScrew CapsSnap On CapsPush On CapsBy MaterialPPLDPEPSHDPEPVCPETBy ApplicationBottled waterFruit beveragesReady to drink (tea & coffee)Sports beveragesOthers (energy drinks, non-dairy milk etc.)Full Report @ResearchMoz is the worlds fastest growing collection of market research reports worldwide. Our database is composed of current market studies from over 100 featured publishers worldwide. Our market research databases integrate statistics with analysis from global, regional, country and company perspectives. ResearchMozs service portfolio also includes value-added services such as market research customization, competitive landscaping, and in-depth surveys, delivered by a team of experienced Research Coordinators.Researchmoz Global Pvt. Ltd.90 State Street,Albany, NY 12207,United States,Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free),Tel: +1-518-621-2074 Mechanical Energy Storage Market Challenges, Key Players, Industry Segments, Development, Opportunities, Forecast Report 2023 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/3276 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/mechanical-energy-storage-market-3276 Market HighlightsA mechanical energy storage is a phenomenon normally used to store mechanical energy, which can further be converted into various forms of energy such as, heat energy, electricity etc. as per requirement. The main application of mechanical energy storage is to store energy and propagate it to the end user as per requirement. Mechanical energy storage is widely used by power plants, industrial plants and conventional electric utility companies, automobile and residential users.Mechanical energy storages are classified based on their end user as industrial, commercial and residential. The industrial application of mechanical energy storage system is extensive as it is used on large scale for this segment. Pumped hydro storage (PHS) accounts for more than 99% of bulk storage capacity worldwide: around 127,000 MW across 200 large sites, globally. Compressed air energy storage (CAES) works best at the production scale of 10MW to 100MW, and is used as a source of flexible resource to deliver continuous load response and peak-generation.mechanical energy storage market is expected to grow over the CAGR of around 6.5% during the period 2017 to 2023Request a Sample Copy @Key Players:The key players of global mechanical energy storage market are Voith GmbH (Germany), Sulzer Ltd. (Switzerland), DeWalt, (U.S), Ingersoll Rand (U.S), Hitachi, Ltd. (Japan), Porter-Cable (U.S), Kirloskar Pneumatic Co Ltd. (India), Atlas Copco AB (Sweden), Active Power Inc.(U.S), Beacon Power (U.S), Powerthru (Canada) Schwungrad Energie Limited, (Ireland).Taste the market data and market information presented through more than 50 market data tables and figures spread in 110 numbers of pages of the project report. Avail the in-depth table of content TOC & market synopsis on Mechanical Energy Storage Market Research Report- Forecast to 2023Scope of the ReportThis study provides an overview of the global mechanical energy storage 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 scope of the study segments the global mechanical energy storage market by its type, by end user and by region.By Type Pumped Hydro Storage (PHS) Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES) FlywheelsBy End User Industrial Commercial ResidentialBy Regions North America Asia Pacific Europe Rest of the WorldIf you have any special requirements, please let us know and we will offer you the report as you want.Table of Content1 Executive Summary2 Research Methodology2.1 Scope Of The Study2.1.1 Definition2.1.2 Research Objective2.1.3 Assumptions2.1.4 Limitations2.2 Research Process2.2.1 Primary Research2.2.2 Secondary Research2.3 Market Size Estimation2.4 Forecast Model3 Market Dynamics3.1 Market Drivers3.2 Market Inhibitors3.3 Supply/Value Chain Analysis3.4 Porters Five Forces Analysis4 Global Mechanical Energy Storage Market, By TypeContinueFor further information on this report, visit @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 System Infrastructure Revenue Detail Industrial and Market studies 2017-2021 https://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=1180489 https://www.researchmoz.us/global-system-infrastructure-revenue-market-2017-2021-report.html "Global System Infrastructure Revenue Market 2017-2021" The Report covers current Industries Trends, Worldwide Analysis, Global Forecast, Review, Share, Size, Growth, Effect.Description-About System Infrastructure RevenueThe global system infrastructure revenue market includes cloud software solutions that help in increasing the efficiency of IT systems used by an organization. These solutions help an organization in performing the basic tasks and support the workflow of its business. These software packages do not perform activities directly related to the business but are crucial for the smooth functioning of the business operations.Get Sample Report With TOC @Technavios analysts forecast the global system infrastructure revenue market to grow at a CAGR of 5.57% during the period 2017-2021.Covered in this reportThe report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the global system infrastructure revenue market for 2017-2021. To calculate the market size, the report considers revenue of both the major and other prominent vendors.The market is divided into the following segments based on geography:AmericasAPACEMEATechnavio's report, Global System Infrastructure Revenue 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 vendorsAWSGoogleIBMMicrosoftOracleOther prominent vendorsApprendaBungee LabsCAEngine YardQlikRACKSPACERed HatSalesforce.comSAPTelefnicaVMwareWiproMarket driverIncreasing shift toward service-oriented architecture (SOA)For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket challengeCloud-based solutions leading to system integration issuesFor a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket trendEmergence of database as a service (DBaaS)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?Full Report @ResearchMoz is the worlds fastest growing collection of market research reports worldwide. Our database is composed of current market studies from over 100 featured publishers worldwide. Our market research databases integrate statistics with analysis from global, regional, country and company perspectives. ResearchMozs service portfolio also includes value-added services such as market research customization, competitive landscaping, and in-depth surveys, delivered by a team of experienced Research Coordinators.Researchmoz Global Pvt. Ltd.90 State Street,Albany, NY 12207,United States,Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free),Tel: +1-518-621-2074 Global Fuel Card Detail Industrial and Market studies: Size, Trends & Forecasts (2017-2021) https://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=1273744 https://www.researchmoz.us/global-fuel-card-market-size-trends-and-forecasts-2017-2021-report.html "Global Fuel Card Market: Size, Trends & Forecasts (2017-2021)" The Report covers current Industries Trends, Worldwide Analysis, Global Forecast, Review, Share, Size, Growth, Effect.Description-Scope of the ReportThe report entitled Global Fuel Card Market: Size, Trends & Forecasts (2017-2021) provides an in-depth analysis of the global fuel card market with detailed description of market size and growth. The analysis includes market size in terms of value, market share by region and, addressable market. Fuel card penetration rate by region, on the basis of types of vehicle has also been provided.The report also provides brief regional/country analysis of Europe. The analysis include market sizing in terms of value and fuel spending. Europe is expected to dominate the global fuel card market in the forecasted period also.Get Sample Report With TOC @Furthermore, the report also assesses the key opportunities available in the market and outlines the market dynamics that are and will be accountable for growth of the industry. Growth of the global fuel card market has also been forecasted for the period 2017-2021, taking into consideration previous growth outlines, growth drivers and the existing and forthcoming trends.A brief company profiling of major players namely BP, WEX Inc., FLEETCOR and, Royal Dutch Shell has been provided in the report on the basis of aspects like business overview, financial overview and business strategies adopted by respective companies.Company CoverageBritish Petroleum (BP)WEX Inc.FLEETCORRoyal Dutch ShellRegion CoverageEuropeExecutive SummaryA card especially designed for the payment the fuel stations are known as fuel cards or fleet cards. The card is similar in appearance like a credit card, and works in a similar way.A wide variety of fuel cards are available in the market and each with different features and specifications. The most common types of fuel cards are: Branded Fuel Cards, Universal Fuel Cards and, Merchant Branded Cards. On the basis of type of vehicles, fuel cards are available for light fleets and heavy fleets.The global fuel card market has increased at a significant growth rate over the past few years and projections are made that the market would rise in the next four years i.e. 2017 to 2021. The global fuel card market is expected to increase on the back of rising demand for cashless fuel transactions, consolidation of the fragmented market, availability of a large number of value added services associated with fuel cards, etc. Yet the market faces some challenges such as rising competition from new entrants, changing legal framework, volatile oil prices, rising consumer expectations, etc.Full Report @ResearchMoz is the worlds fastest growing collection of market research reports worldwide. Our database is composed of current market studies from over 100 featured publishers worldwide. Our market research databases integrate statistics with analysis from global, regional, country and company perspectives. ResearchMozs service portfolio also includes value-added services such as market research customization, competitive landscaping, and in-depth surveys, delivered by a team of experienced Research Coordinators.Researchmoz Global Pvt. Ltd.90 State Street,Albany, NY 12207,United States,Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free),Tel: +1-518-621-2074 Global Foodservice Equipment Detail Industrial and Market studies: Industry Analysis & Outlook (2017-2021) https://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=1329705 https://www.researchmoz.us/global-foodservice-equipment-market-industry-analysis-outlook-20172021-report.html "Global Foodservice Equipment Market: Industry Analysis & Outlook (2017-2021)" The Report covers current Industries Trends, Worldwide Analysis, Global Forecast, Review, Share, Size, Growth, Effect.Description-The foodservice equipment industry involves those companies that manufacture the equipment needed to produce, transport, store, and serve food products. This type of equipment ranges from large freezers and ovens to small appliances sold at kitchen stores. Different versions of equipments are made for large manufacturers and smaller food providers. Foodservice equipment can be organized into six basic categories. Cooking equipments, storage and handling, kitchen purpose, refrigeration, serving and ware washing are the six main areas needed when running a hospitality business such as a restaurant or hotel. The exact type of foodservice equipment required depends on the type and size of the commercial eatery.Get Sample Report With TOC @Foodservice equipment industry is a prominent segment of the foodservice industry. The progress in the number of restaurants, hotels, fast food joints have led to the expansion of the foodservice equipment industry. Foodservice equipments help in preserving the sanitary and hygiene standards which is crucial in todays environment and various rules are laid down by different food regulatory bodies in order to maintain and regulate the standards since hygiene has become an essential issue in preserving good health.The global foodservice equipment market is set to experience favorable growth driven by factors such as rising global population, increasing number of restaurants, rapid urbanization, and development of tourism industry among others. The major trends observed include increased automation in kitchen equipments, development of quick service restaurants and technological advancements. However, the growth of this budding market is constrained by challenges such as high cost of foodservice equipments, stringent regulations and impact of economic downturn.The report Global Foodservice Equipment Market: Industry Analysis & Outlook (2017-2021) analyses the development of this market, with focus on North America, Asia-Pacific and Europe. The major trends, growth drivers as well as issues being faced by the market are discussed in detail in this report. The four major players: Rational AG, Illinois Tool Works Inc., Middleby Corporation and Welbilt, Inc. (Manitowoc Foodservice Inc.) are being profiled along with their key financials and strategies for growth. The report contains a comprehensive analysis of the global foodservice equipment market along with the study of the regional markets.Table of Content1. Overview1.1 Food Service Industry1.2 Components of Food Service Industry1.3 Food Service Equipment2. Global Foodservice Equipment Market2.1 Global Foodservice Equipment Market Forecast by Value2.2 Global Foodservice Equipment Market by Region3. Regional Market Analysis3.1 North America3.1.1 North America Foodservice Equipment Market Forecast by Value3.1.2 The U.S. Foodservice Equipment Market Forecast by Value3.1.3 The U.S. Foodservice Equipment Market Value by Products3.1.4 The U.S. Refrigeration Equipment Market Forecast by Value3.1.5 The U.S. Cooking Equipment Market Forecast by Value3.1.6 The U.S. Serving Equipment Market Forecast by Value3.1.7 The U.S. Foodservice Equipment Sales by End Market3.1.8 The U.S. Foodservice Equipment Market by Needs3.2 Asia-Pacific3.2.1 Asia Pacific Foodservice Equipment Market Forecast by Value3.2.2 China Foodservice Equipment Market Forecast by Value3.3 Europe3.3.1 Europe Foodservice Equipment Market Forecast by Value4. Market Dynamics4.1 Growth Drivers4.1.1 Rising Global Population4.1.2 Expansion of Restaurant Industry4.1.3 Declining Unemployment Rate4.1.4 Rapid Urbanization4.1.5 Development of Tourism Industry4.1.6 Accelerating Economic Growth4.1.7 Changing Lifestyle of Working Population4.2 Key Trends & Developments4.2.1 Increased Automation in Kitchen Equipments4.2.2 Development of Quick Service Restaurants4.2.3 Technological Advancements4.3 Challenges4.3.1 High Cost of Foodservice Equipments4.3.2 Stringent Regulations4.3.3 Impact of Economic Downturn5. Competitive Landscape5.1 Global Market5.1.1 Revenue and Market Cap Comparison5.1.2 Product Portfolio Summary by Key Companies5.1.3 Global Foodservice Equipment- Companies by End Markets5.1.4 Global Foodservice Equipment- Companies by Geographic Mix5.1.5 EBITDA Margin Comparison by Company5.2 North America5.2.1 North America Foodservice Equipment Revenue by Company5.3 Asia Pacific5.3.1 Asia Pacific Foodservice Equipment Revenue by Company5.4 EMEA5.4.1 EMEA Foodservice Equipment Revenue by Company6. Company Profiles6.1 Rational AG6.1.1 Business Overview6.1.2 Financial Overview6.1.3 Business Strategies6.2 Illinois Tool Works Inc.6.2.1 Business Overview6.2.2 Financial Overview6.2.3 Business Strategies6.3 Middleby Corporation6.3.1 Business Overview6.3.2 Financial Overview6.3.3 Business Strategies6.4 Welbilt, Inc. (Manitowoc Foodservice Inc.)6.4.1 Business Overview6.4.2 Financial Overview6.4.3 Business StrategiesList of TableKey Players - Revenue & Market Cap Comparison (2016)Product Portfolio Summary by Key Companies (2016)Global Foodservice Equipment- Companies by End Markets (2016)Global Foodservice Equipment- Companies by Geographic Mix (2016)Middleby Corporation Acquisitions (2016/2017)List of ChartTypes of Food ServiceFood Service Industry ComponentsFood Service Equipment TypesGlobal Foodservice Equipment Market Forecast by Value (2016-2021)Global Foodservice Equipment Market by Region (2016)North America Foodservice Equipment Market Forecast by Value (2016-2021)The U.S. Foodservice Equipment Market Forecast by Value (2016-2021)Full Report @ResearchMoz is the worlds fastest growing collection of market research reports worldwide. Our database is composed of current market studies from over 100 featured publishers worldwide. Our market research databases integrate statistics with analysis from global, regional, country and company perspectives. ResearchMozs service portfolio also includes value-added services such as market research customization, competitive landscaping, and in-depth surveys, delivered by a team of experienced Research Coordinators.Researchmoz Global Pvt. Ltd.90 State Street,Albany, NY 12207,United States,Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free),Tel: +1-518-621-2074 France ICT Investment Market 2017- Revenue, Price and Gross Margin Research Report 2017 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/2368351-ict-investment-trends-in-france-economic-reforms-and-digitization-are-fueling https://www.wiseguyreports.com/conferences https://www.wiseguyreports.com/seminars SUMMARYWiseGuyReports published new report, titled ICT Investment Trends in France"ICT Investment Trends in France", presents the findings from a survey of 120 French enterprises regarding their Information & Communications Technology (ICT) investment trends. The survey investigates how French enterprises currently allocate their ICT budgets across the core areas of enterprise ICT expenditure: hardware, software, IT services, communications, and consulting.The report illustrates the core technologies that enterprises are investing in, including IoT, cloud computing, security products, and network services. The survey also highlights the approach to purchasing technology adopted by enterprises in France. Through survey, the report aims to provide a better insight to ICT vendors and service providers when pitching their solutions to enterprises in France.Despite the recent political turmoil, France has been performing fairly well in terms of reducing unemployment rate, increasing FDI inflows, and improving trade imbalances.Furthermore, French economy represents approximately 15% of European GDP and its government is continuously putting major emphasis on digital transformation through its Digital Republic bill, passed in 2016.In particular, it provides an in-depth analysis of the following - How ICT budgets are set to change in 2017 in terms of their overall size- Allocation across the core elements of IT spend, including hardware, software, services, communications, and consulting- Distribution of ICT money in areas such as the networks, applications, service desk, and data centers- Which ICT functions French enterprises are interested in outsourcing- French enterprises investment priorities based on their budget allocations across core technology categories such as IoT, cloud computing, security products, and network services- Factors that are influencing French enterprises investments in each technology category- How French enterprises IT budgets are currently allocated across various segments within a technology category- French enterprises distribution of their ICT budget across various segments within a technology category- Vendor satisfaction ratings for various core and advanced technology categories- Insight into French enterprises preferred buying approaches- Business objectives that French enterprises are looking to achieve through their IT investment strategies- Factors that are influencing French enterprises decisions to select an ICT providerGET SAMPLE REPORT @Scope- The growing need for data storage, stringent network operation requirements, and popularity of cloud services are triggering investments in data centers, a trend that is set to continue in the coming years in France.- The new French government has implemented numerous structural reforms that has put the countrys economy in a strong position to witness sustained growth in 2017, thus providing a positive outlook for ICT investments.- The ICT expenditure in France is driven by investments in advanced technologies such as Internet of Things (IoT) and cloud computing as well as spending on enterprise applications and business intelligence. Therefore, IT vendors offering products and services in these domains clearly have high growth opportunities in this market.Key points to buy- Understand how the French enterprises ICT landscape is set to change in 2017 to prioritize your target market- Comprehend how ICT money are being allocated by French enterprises in specific verticals and size bands to improve your market penetration- Make effective business decisions by recognizing the opportunities within each of the core areas of ICT spend (hardware, software, IT services, telecommunications, and consulting)- Realign your sales initiatives by understanding the current strategic objectives of French enterprises- Enhance your market segmentation with the included, detailed breakdown of opportunities within selected technology categories (IoT, cloud computing, security products, and network services)- Prioritize your focus areas by understanding which factors are influencing French enterprises decisions when selecting an ICT provider- Understand the changes in customers priorities and identify the business objectives that French enterprises are looking to achieve through their ICT investment strategiesTable of ContentsKey findingsKey implications for ICT vendorsExecutive summarySurvey demographicsICT budget changesICT budget allocation by core technology areaHardware budget breakdownSoftware budget breakdownThird party IT services expenditureCommunications expenditureCloud computing budgetICT budget allocation by functionOutsourced IT functions..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, India Food-grade Alcohol Market 2017-2022: United States Consumption and Sales Analysis Market Report Food-grade Alcohol Market https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/1350894-united-states-food-grade-alcohol-market-by-manufacturers-states-type-and https://www.wiseguyreports.com/reports/1350894-united-states-food-grade-alcohol-market-by-manufacturers-states-type-and https://www.wiseguyreports.com/checkout?currency=one_user-USD&report_id=1350894 www.wiseguyreports.com United States Food-grade Alcohol MarketDescriptionWiseGuyReports.Com adds United States Food-grade Alcohol Market by Manufacturers, States, Type and Application, Forecast to 2022 Research To Its Database.Food-grade Alcohol also known as fermented distilled liquor, mainly using potato, Cereals, sugar as raw material after cooking, saccharification, fermentation and processing for food industry using aqueous alcohol, its flavor is divided into four parts: color, flavor and taste, and also refers to the content of distilled liquor in the aldehyde, acid, ester, alcohol and the four main impurities, different tastes and gas will make different flavor liquor.Scope of the Report:This report focuses on the Food-grade Alcohol in United States Market, to split the market based on manufacturers, states, type and application.Get sample Report @Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report coversArcher Daniels MidlandCargillMGP IngredientsJiangsu Huating BiotechnologyRoquetteFreresFonterra Co-operativeCristalcoGrain ProcessingWilmar InternationalManildraMarket Segment by States, coveringCaliforniaTexasNew YorkFloridaIllinoisMarket Segment by Type, coversFoodBeverageHealth care & PharmaceuticalsMarket Segment by Applications, can be divided intoFood & BeveragesHealthcare & PharmaceuticalsChemical IndustryReport Details @Table of Contents -Major Key Points1 Market Overview1.1 Food-grade Alcohol Introduction1.2 Market Analysis by Type1.2.1 Food1.2.2 Beverage1.2.3 Health care & Pharmaceuticals1.3 Market Analysis by Applications1.3.1 Food & Beverages1.3.2 Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals1.3.3 Chemical Industry1.4 Market Analysis by States1.4.1 California Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.2 Texas Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.3 New York Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.4 Florida Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.5 Illinois Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.5 Market Dynamics1.5.1 Market Opportunities1.5.2 Market Risk1.5.3 Market Driving Force2 Manufacturers Profiles2.1 Archer Daniels Midland2.1.1 Profile2.1.2 Food-grade Alcohol Type and Applications2.1.2.1 Type 12.1.2.2 Type 22.1.3 Archer Daniels Midland Food-grade Alcohol Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.1.4 Business Overview2.1.5 Archer Daniels Midland News2.2 Cargill2.2.1 Profile2.2.2 Food-grade Alcohol Type and Applications2.2.2.1 Type 12.2.2.2 Type 22.2.3 Cargill Food-grade Alcohol Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.2.4 Business Overview2.2.5 Cargill News2.3 MGP Ingredients2.3.1 Profile2.3.2 Food-grade Alcohol Type and Applications2.3.2.1 Type 12.3.2.2 Type 22.3.3 MGP Ingredients Food-grade Alcohol Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.3.4 Business Overview2.3.5 MGP Ingredients News2.4 Jiangsu Huating Biotechnology2.4.1 Profile2.4.2 Food-grade Alcohol Type and Applications2.4.2.1 Type 12.4.2.2 Type 22.4.3 Jiangsu Huating Biotechnology Food-grade Alcohol Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.4.4 Business Overview2.4.5 Jiangsu Huating Biotechnology News2.5 RoquetteFreres2.5.1 Profile2.5.2 Food-grade Alcohol Type and Applications2.5.2.1 Type 12.5.2.2 Type 22.5.3 RoquetteFreres Food-grade Alcohol Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.5.4 Business Overview2.5.5 RoquetteFreres News2.6 Fonterra Co-operative2.6.1 Profile2.6.2 Food-grade Alcohol Type and Applications2.6.2.1 Type 12.6.2.2 Type 22.6.3 Fonterra Co-operative Food-grade Alcohol Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.6.4 Business Overview2.6.5 Fonterra Co-operative News..CONTINUEDBuy Now@About UsWise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, Industryresearch reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe. Wise Guy Reports understand how essential statistical surveying information is for your organization or association. Therefore, we have associated with the top publishers and research firms all specialized in specific domains, ensuring you will receive the most reliable and up to date research data available.NORAH TRENTPartner Relations & Marketing Managersales@wiseguyreports.comPh: +1-646-845-9349 (US)Ph: +44 208 133 9349 (UK) Marking its first anniversary, the Macau Guia Circuit for Promotion and Development Association (APDCGM) is hosting several activities that seek to draw the attention of both locals and tourists to the importance of Macaus Guia Circuit and the need for it to be listed in UNESCOs world heritage inventory. The association is promoting a series of events that include an abstract art exhibition Abstractionism as well as talks to be held from today until October 11. Titled The Guia Circuit and its Future, the talks will be attended by several experts in the fields of architecture, engineering and anthropology. Yesterday, the talk series was inaugurated with Sir Albert Poon, a Hong Kong resident who has been racing in the Macau street circuit since 1959 (the 6th edition of Macau Grand Prix) and was the first Hong Kong driver to win the race back in 1964 while driving a Lotus 23. After racing non-stop for 20 years, the now 81-year-old Poon made his last appearance on the Guia track for the commemoration of Macau 60th Grand Prix Diamond Jubilee where he drove a Lotus Elise CR from a Lotus Greater China special event. Speaking to the Times, Poon acknowledged the differences between the old days and modern day racing especially in terms of safety and landscape. As he mentioned, the circuit remains exactly the same but the [surrounding] landscape has changed drastically. Sharing his experience accumulated throughout the years, racing in Macau is exactly what Poon is seeking to do, he said at yesterdays talk series. At the same table, and offering a little taster of his forthcoming talk, was architect Francisco Vizeu Pinheiro, who explained that he will address above all the historical buildings that can be found in the surroundings of Guia Circuit. He proposes an alternative historical walk that will include architectural works which, in his opinion, should be promoted side-by-side with the Grand Prix event. The possibility of also discussing some of the new buildings in the area is not excluded, but Pinheiro did not want to reveal too many details about his talk. Other guest speakers from the talk include the engineer Helder Santos along with Carlos Morais Jose, who will speak about insights that he has gleaned from his background as an anthropologist. The talks will occur alongside the abstract painting exhibition which opened on Tuesday evening at the RITZ Building gallery in Senado Square. During the exhibitions opening, the president of the association, Jose Luis Estorninho (who is also the artist) said prior to the ribbon-cutting ceremony that the purpose of the event was to draw attention to our goal to promote Guia Circuit to UNESCO heritage. We hope we can do this with the help of everyone. As for the works on display, Estorninho said they were very meaningful although all abstract art has the purpose of awakening the viewers own meaning and interpretation. He further noted that he was inspired by the theme of cross-activity. A total of 16 works on canvas are on display, most of them using mixed technics and oil or acrylic paint. From those, 12 were especially made this year for the occasion. Both the exhibition and the talk series have free admission. The talks start every day at 6 p.m. and will be conducted in Cantonese, English and Portuguese. Electrode Paste in Global Market 2017 By Manufacturers, Countries, Type And Application, Forecast To 2022 http://www.orbisresearch.com/contacts/request-sample/450780 http://www.orbisresearch.com/reports/index/global-electrode-paste-market-by-manufacturers-countries-type-and-application-forecast-to-2022 http://www.orbisresearch.com/contact/purchase/450780 Electrode Paste also known as Soderberg Electrode Paste made from mix of fractions of Calcined Petroleum Coke (CPC) or Electrically Calcined Anthracite Coal (ECA coal) mixed with Coal Tar Pitch as Binder and Anthracene Oil at a predetermined temperature. It is used as conductor in sub merged arc furnace under self-Baking process while manufacturing different types of Ferro Alloys and Calcium Carbides.Get PDF Sample of Electrode Paste Market Report@Scope of the Report:This report focuses on the Electrode Paste in Global market, especially in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, regions, type and application.Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report covers Elkem Yangguang Carbon Jinli Carbon Danyuan Carbon Ukrainskiy Grafit VUM Rheinfelden Carbon Graphite India India Carbon Redox Eastem Electrodes & Coke Dakang Fine Chemical GongYi Sanjing Hisea Energy Ningxia TLH Group Carbon ResourcesBrowse Full Report with TOC:Market Segment by Regions, regional analysis covers North America (USA, Canada and Mexico) Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy) Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia) South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia etc.) Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa)Market Segment by Type, covers Briquette Type TrapeziumType Cylindrical (Cylinder) TypeMarket Segment by Applications, can be divided into Ferro Alloy Calcium Carbide Metal Cleaning Process OthersPlace Purchase Order for this Report@There are 15 Chapters to deeply display the global Electrode Paste market. Chapter 1, to describe Electrode Paste Introduction, product scope, market overview, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force; Chapter 2, to analyze the top manufacturers of Electrode Paste, with sales, revenue, and price of Electrode Paste, 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 Electrode Paste, for each region, from 2012 to 2017; Chapter 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, to analyze the key regions, with sales, revenue and market share by key countries in these regions; Chapter 10 and 11, to show the market by type and application, with sales market share and growth rate by type, application, from 2012 to 2017; Chapter 12, Electrode Paste market forecast, by regions, type and application, with sales and revenue, from 2017 to 2022; Chapter 13, 14 and 15, to describe Electrode Paste sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers, Research Findings and Conclusion, appendix and data sourceTable of Contents1 Market Overview2 Manufacturers Profile3 Global Electrode Paste Market Competition, by Manufacturer4 Global Electrode Paste Market Analysis by Regions5 North America Electrode Paste by Countries6 Europe Electrode Paste by Countries7 Asia-Pacific Electrode Paste by Countries8 South America Electrode Paste by Countries9 Middle East and Africa Electrode Paste by Countries10 Global Electrode Paste Market Segment by Type11 Global Electrode Paste Market Segment by Application12 Electrode Paste Market Forecast (2017-2022)13 Sales Channel, Distributors, Traders and Dealers14 Research Findings and Conclusion15 AppendixList of Tables:Figure Electrode Paste PictureTable Product Specifications of Electrode PasteFigure Global Sales Market Share of Electrode Paste by Types in 2016Table Electrode Paste Types for Major ManufacturersFigure Briquette Type PictureFigure TrapeziumType PictureFigure Cylindrical (Cylinder) Type PictureTable Electrode Paste Sales Market Share by Applications in 2016Figure Ferro Alloy PictureFigure Calcium Carbide PictureFigure Metal Cleaning Process PictureFigure Others PictureFigure USA Electrode Paste Revenue (Value) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure Canada Electrode Paste Revenue (Value) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure Mexico Electrode Paste Revenue (Value) and Growth Rate (2012-2022), and moreOrbis Research is a single point aid for all your Market research requirements. We have vast database of reports from the leading publishers and authors across the globe. We specialize in delivering customised reports as per the requirements of our clients. We have complete information about our publishers and hence are sure about the accuracy of the industries and verticals of their specialisation. This helps our clients to map their needs and we produce the perfect required Market research study for our clients.Hector CostelloSenior Manager Client Engagements4144N Central Expressway,Suite 600, Dallas,Texas - 75204, U.S.A.Phone No.: +1 (214) 884-6817; +912064101019Email ID: sales@orbisresearch.com Specialty Malt Market - Growth, Trends And Forecasts (2017-2022) Specialty Malt Market https://goo.gl/2t6NdD https://goo.gl/SGiiMf https://goo.gl/Vuz5Gj https://www.qyresearchgroups.com The Global Specialty Malt Market Research Report 2017 to 2022 renders deep perception of the key regional market status of the Specialty Malt Industry on a global level that primarily aims the core regions which comprises of continents like Europe, North America, and Asia and the key countries such as United States, Germany, China and Japan.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Analysis of Specialty Malt Industry Key Manufacturers: Cargill Graincorp Axereal Soufflet Group Malteurop Agraria Viking Malt AB Ireks GmbH Simpsons Malt Limited Barmalt Malting India Pvt. Ltd.Report Includes:-The report cloaks the market analysis and projection of Specialty Malt Market on a regional as well as global level. The report constitutes qualitative and quantitative valuation by industry analysts, first-hand data, assistance from industry experts along with their most recent verbatim and each industry manufacturers via the market value chain.The research experts have additionally assessed the in general sales and revenue generation of this particular market. In addition, this report also delivers widespread analysis of root market trends, several governing elements and macro-economic indicators, coupled with market improvements as per every segment.Browse Complete 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 into:Roasted MaltCrystal MaltDark MaltThis report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, consumption (sales), market share and growth rate of Specialty Malt for each application, including:BrewingDistillingNon-alcoholic Malted BeveragesBakeryThe report is generically segmented into six parts and every part aims on the overview of the Specialty Malt industry, present condition of the market, feasibleness of the investment along with several strategies and policies. Apart from the definition and classification, the report also discusses the analysis of import and export and describes a comparison of the market that is focused on the trends and development. Along with entire framework in addition to in-depth details, one can prepare and stay ahead of the competitors across the targeted locations.Every regions market has been studied thoroughly in this report which deals with the precise information pertaining to the Marketing Channels and novel project investments so that the new entrants as well as the established market players conduct intricate research of trends and analysis in these regional markets. Acknowledging the status of the environment and products up gradation, the market report foretells each and every detail.So as to fabricate this report, complete key details, strategies and variables are examined so that entire useful information is amalgamated together for the understanding and studying the key facts pertaining the global Specialty Malt Industry. The production value and market share in conjunction with the SWOT analysis everything is integrated in this report.Check for Discount @Some points from TOC:-4 Global Specialty Malt Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Region (2012-2017)4.1 Global Specialty Malt Consumption by Region (2012-2017)4.2 North America Specialty Malt Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)4.3 Europe Specialty Malt Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)4.4 China Specialty Malt Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)4.5 Japan Specialty Malt Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)4.6 Southeast Asia Specialty Malt Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)4.7 India Specialty Malt Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)5 Global Specialty Malt Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by Type5.1 Global Specialty Malt Production and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)5.2 Global Specialty Malt Revenue and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)5.3 Global Specialty Malt Price by Type (2012-2017)5.4 Global Specialty Malt Production Growth by Type (2012-2017)6 Global Specialty Malt Market Analysis by Application6.1 Global Specialty Malt Consumption and Market Share by Application (2012-2017)6.2 Global Specialty Malt Consumption Growth Rate by Application (2012-2017)6.3 Market Drivers and Opportunities6.3.1 Potential Applications6.3.2 Emerging Markets/Countries...About Us:QY Research Groups is a company that simplifies how analysts and decision makers get industry data for their business. Our unique colossal technology has been developed to offer refined search capabilities designed to exploit the long tail of free market research whilst eliminating irrelevant results. QY Research Groups is the collection of market intelligence products and services on the Web. We offer reports and update our collection daily to provide you with instant online access to the world's most complete and current database of expert insights on Global industries, companies, products, and trends.Contact us:Email- sales@qyresearchgroups.comWeb- Logistics Services (3PL & 4PL) Market Projected to Amplify by 2022 Logistics Services Market https://goo.gl/GJiXDm https://goo.gl/rzTdY5 https://goo.gl/4nk1Y4 https://www.qyresearchgroups.com The Global Logistics Services (3PL & 4PL) Market Research Report 2017 to 2022 renders deep perception of the key regional market status of the Logistics Services (3PL & 4PL) Industry on a global level that primarily aims the core regions which comprises of continents like Europe, North America, and Asia and the key countries such as United States, Germany, China and Japan.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Analysis of Logistics Services (3PL & 4PL) Industry Key Manufacturers:DHL Supply Chain & Global Forwarding, Kuehne + Nagel, DB Schenker Logistics, Nippon Express, C.H. 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Moreover, key strategies in the market that includes product developments, partnerships, mergers and acquisitions, etc., are discussed. Besides, upstream raw materials and equipment and downstream demand analysis is also conducted.Report Includes:-The report cloaks the market analysis and projection of Logistics Services (3PL & 4PL) Market on a regional as well as global level. The report constitutes qualitative and quantitative valuation by industry analysts, first-hand data, assistance from industry experts along with their most recent verbatim and each industry manufacturers via the market value chain.The research experts have additionally assessed the in general sales and revenue generation of this particular market. In addition, this report also delivers widespread analysis of root market trends, several governing elements and macro-economic indicators, coupled with market improvements as per every segment.Browse Complete Report with TOC @The report is generically segmented into six parts and every part aims on the overview of the Logistics Services (3PL & 4PL) industry, present condition of the market, feasibleness of the investment along with several strategies and policies. Apart from the definition and classification, the report also discusses the analysis of import and export and describes a comparison of the market that is focused on the trends and development. Along with entire framework in addition to in-depth details, one can prepare and stay ahead of the competitors across the targeted locations.Market segment by Type, Logistics Services (3PL & 4PL) can be split into:TransportationWarehousingValue-added ServicesLead Logistics Provider Services/4PLOtherMarket segment by Application, Logistics Services (3PL & 4PL) can be split into:Consumer GoodsHealthcareIndustrialElementsFood, GroceriesAutomotiveTechnologicalRetailingOtherEvery regions market has been studied thoroughly in this report which deals with the precise information pertaining to the Marketing Channels and novel project investments so that the new entrants as well as the established market players conduct intricate research of trends and analysis in these regional markets. Acknowledging the status of the environment and products up gradation, the market report foretells each and every detail.So as to fabricate this report, complete key details, strategies and variables are examined so that entire useful information is amalgamated together for the understanding and studying the key facts pertaining the global Logistics Services (3PL & 4PL) Industry. The production value and market share in conjunction with the SWOT analysis everything is integrated in this report.Check for Discount @About Us:QY Research Groups is a company that simplifies how analysts and decision makers get industry data for their business. Our unique colossal technology has been developed to offer refined search capabilities designed to exploit the long tail of free market research whilst eliminating irrelevant results. QY Research Groups is the collection of market intelligence products and services on the Web. We offer reports and update our collection daily to provide you with instant online access to the world's most complete and current database of expert insights on Global industries, companies, products, and trends.Contact us:Email- sales@qyresearchgroups.comWeb- United States WIFI Chipsets Market Insights, Opportunity, Analysis, Growth Potential & Forecast 2017 - 2022 WIFI Chipsets Market https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/1466234-united-states-wifi-chipsets-market-by-manufacturers-states-type-and-application https://www.wiseguyreports.com/reports/1466234-united-states-wifi-chipsets-market-by-manufacturers-states-type-and-application https://www.wiseguyreports.com/checkout?currency=one_user-USD&report_id=1466234 www.wiseguyreports.com United States WIFI Chipsets MarketDescriptionWiseGuyReports.Com adds United States WIFI Chipsets Market by Manufacturers, States, Type and Application, Forecast to 2022 Research To Its Database.A wireless chipset is a piece of internal hardware designed to allow a device to communicate with another wireless-enabled device. This type of chipset can be found inside computers as well as a number of other wireless products. Types of hardware that might contain a wireless chipset include wireless Computer (Notbook and Desktop PC) hardware like wireless local area network (WLAN) cards and external WLAN adapters. Other types of hardware that might include a wireless chipset include routers and any other wireless devices that transmit or receive a wireless signal.Scope of the Report:This report focuses on the WIFI Chipsets in United States Market, to split the market based on manufacturers, states, type and application.Get sample Report @Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report coversBroadcomQualcomm AtherosMediaTekMarvellIntelRealtekSTMicroelectronicsTexas InstrumentsCypress SemiconductorMicrochipMarket Segment by States, coveringCaliforniaTexasNew YorkFloridaIllinoisMarket Segment by Type, covers802.11n802.11ac802.11adOthersMarket Segment by Applications, can be divided intoComputer (Notbook and Desktop PC)Smart Home DevicesMobile PhoneOthersReport Details @Table of Contents -Major Key Points1 Market Overview1.1 WIFI Chipsets Introduction1.2 Market Analysis by Type1.2.1 802.11n1.2.2 802.11ac1.2.3 802.11ad1.2.4 Others1.3 Market Analysis by Applications1.3.1 Computer (Notbook and Desktop PC)1.3.2 Smart Home Devices1.3.3 Mobile Phone1.3.4 Others1.4 Market Analysis by States1.4.1 California Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.2 Texas Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.3 New York Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.4 Florida Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.5 Illinois Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.5 Market Dynamics1.5.1 Market Opportunities1.5.2 Market Risk1.5.3 Market Driving Force2 Manufacturers Profiles2.1 Broadcom2.1.1 Profile2.1.2 WIFI Chipsets Type and Applications2.1.2.1 Type 12.1.2.2 Type 22.1.3 Broadcom WIFI Chipsets Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.1.4 Business Overview2.1.5 Broadcom News2.2 Qualcomm Atheros2.2.1 Profile2.2.2 WIFI Chipsets Type and Applications2.2.2.1 Type 12.2.2.2 Type 22.2.3 Qualcomm Atheros WIFI Chipsets Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.2.4 Business Overview2.2.5 Qualcomm Atheros News2.3 MediaTek2.3.1 Profile2.3.2 WIFI Chipsets Type and Applications2.3.2.1 Type 12.3.2.2 Type 22.3.3 MediaTek WIFI Chipsets Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.3.4 Business Overview2.3.5 MediaTek News2.4 Marvell2.4.1 Profile2.4.2 WIFI Chipsets Type and Applications2.4.2.1 Type 12.4.2.2 Type 22.4.3 Marvell WIFI Chipsets Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.4.4 Business Overview2.4.5 Marvell News2.5 Intel2.5.1 Profile2.5.2 WIFI Chipsets Type and Applications2.5.2.1 Type 12.5.2.2 Type 22.5.3 Intel WIFI Chipsets Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.5.4 Business Overview2.5.5 Intel News2.6 Realtek2.6.1 Profile2.6.2 WIFI Chipsets Type and Applications2.6.2.1 Type 12.6.2.2 Type 22.6.3 Realtek WIFI Chipsets Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.6.4 Business Overview2.6.5 Realtek News..CONTINUEDBuy Now@About UsWise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, Industryresearch reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe. Wise Guy Reports understand how essential statistical surveying information is for your organization or association. Therefore, we have associated with the top publishers and research firms all specialized in specific domains, ensuring you will receive the most reliable and up to date research data available.NORAH TRENTPartner Relations & Marketing Managersales@wiseguyreports.comPh: +1-646-845-9349 (US)Ph: +44 208 133 9349 (UK) Oil Water Separator Market Forecast and Trends Analysis Research Report 2017 ReportsWeb http://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW00011086384/sample http://www.reportsweb.com/global-oil-water-separator-market-forecast-to-2022 http://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW00011086384/discount http://www.reportsweb.com/buy&RW00011086384/buy/3480 ReportsWeb.com has announced the addition of the Global Oil Water Separator Market 2017 Forecast to 2022 The report focuses on global major leading industry players with information such as company profiles, product picture and specification.This report studies the Oil Water Separator market, Oil Water Separator is a device designed to separate oil from the wastewater effluents. 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This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, regions, type and application.Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report coversClarcorCompass Water SolutionsParker-HannifinAlfa LavalDonaldsonAndritzGEAWartsilaFiltrationContainment SolutionsRecovered EnergyZCLWesTech EngineeringWilbur EagleVisit for more Information @Market 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, coversGravity OWSCentrifugal OWSOthersMarket Segment by Applications, can be divided intoGeneral IndustryWater TreatmentOil & GasOthersInquire for Discount @Table of Contents1 Market Overview2 Manufacturers Profiles2.1 Clarcor2.1.1 Business Overview2.1.2 Oil Water Separator Type and Applications2.1.2.1 Type 12.1.2.2 Type 22.1.3 Clarcor Oil Water Separator Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.2 Compass Water Solutions2.2.1 Business Overview2.2.2 Oil Water Separator Type and Applications2.2.2.1 Type 12.2.2.2 Type 22.2.3 Compass Water Solutions Oil Water Separator Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.3 Parker-Hannifin2.3.1 Business Overview2.3.2 Oil Water Separator Type and Applications2.3.2.1 Type 12.3.2.2 Type 22.3.3 Parker-Hannifin Oil Water Separator Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.4 Alfa Laval2.4.1 Business Overview2.4.2 Oil Water Separator Type and Applications2.4.2.1 Type 12.4.2.2 Type 22.4.3 Alfa Laval Oil Water Separator Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)3 Global Oil Water Separator Market Competition, by Manufacturer4 Global Oil Water Separator Market Analysis by Regions5 North America Oil Water Separator by Countries6 Europe Oil Water Separator by Countries7 Asia-Pacific Oil Water Separator by Countries8 South America Oil Water Separator by Countries9 Middle East and Africa Oil Water Separator by Countries10 Global Oil Water Separator Market Segment by Type11 Global Oil Water Separator Market Segment by Application12 Oil Water Separator Market Forecast (2017-2022)13 Sales Channel, Distributors, Traders and Dealers14 Research Findings and ConclusionPurchase this Report @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 Sandpaper Market - Assessment, Intelligence, Share Analysis and Industry Growth Report 2017 Sandpaper Forecast https://goo.gl/24ZYka https://www.reportsmonitor.com/global-sandpaper-market-research-report-2017/ www.reportsmonitor.com Sandpaper MarketIn this report, the global Sandpaper 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 Sandpaper in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), coveringNorth AmericaEuropeChinaJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaFor Requesting a Sample Copy of This Report, Please Visit @Global Sandpaper market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer; the top players includingSaint-GobainKlingspor3MMirkaHermesSIAEkamantNihon KenshiGatorSankyo-RikagakuDeerfosKeystoneCarborundum UniversalUneedaKovaxAwukoTun JinnTOA-SankyoMalaniTaiyo KenmazaiDongguan Golden SunLuxin High-techFengmang GroupHubei YuliChangzhou KingcattleShandong Boss AbrasiveGuangdong Little SunHubei BaotaOn the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoSilicon Carbide (SiC)-SPAluminium Oxide-SPZirconia Alumina-SPCeramic Aluminium oxide-SPOn 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 Sandpaper for each application, includingWoodMetalVarnishingOthersBrowse Full Table of Contents and Report Description @Table of Contents2 Global Sandpaper Market Competition by Manufacturers2.1 Global Sandpaper Capacity, Production and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.1.1 Global Sandpaper Capacity and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.1.2 Global Sandpaper Production and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.2 Global Sandpaper Revenue and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.3 Global Sandpaper Average Price by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.4 Manufacturers Sandpaper Manufacturing Base Distribution, Sales Area and Product Type2.5 Sandpaper Market Competitive Situation and Trends2.5.1 Sandpaper Market Concentration Rate2.5.2 Sandpaper Market Share of Top 3 and Top 5 Manufacturers2.5.3 Mergers & Acquisitions, Expansion...5 Global Sandpaper Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by Type5.1 Global Sandpaper Production and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)5.2 Global Sandpaper Revenue and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)5.3 Global Sandpaper Price by Type (2012-2017)5.4 Global Sandpaper Production Growth by Type (2012-2017)6 Global Sandpaper Market Analysis by Application6.1 Global Sandpaper Consumption and Market Share by Application (2012-2017)6.2 Global Sandpaper Consumption Growth Rate by Application (2012-2017)6.3 Market Drivers and Opportunities6.3.1 Potential Applications6.3.2 Emerging Markets/CountriesContinuedAbout 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: Adaptive Security - Market Research by Type, Application & Key Player Forecast to 2022 Adaptive Security Market https://www.htfmarketreport.com/sample-report/724479-global-adaptive-security-market https://www.htfmarketreport.com/reports/724479-global-adaptive-security-market https://www.htfmarketreport.com/buy-now?format=1&report=724479 https://www.htfmarketreport.com/enquiry-before-buy/724479-global-adaptive-security-market Global Adaptive Security Market Size, Status and Forecast 2022 is latest research study released by HTF MI evaluating the market, highlighting opportunities, risk analysis, and leveraged with strategic and tactical decision-making support. This study recognizes that in this quick-evolving, competitive environment, up-to-date industry information is essential to monitor performance & make critical decisions for growth and profitability. It provides information on trends and developments, focuses on markets and materials, capacities, technologies, and on the changing structure of the Global Adaptive Security Market.The Global Adaptive Security Market consists of different international, regional, and local vendors. The market competition is foreseen to grow higher with the rise in technological innovation and M&A activities in the future. Moreover, many local and regional vendors are offering specific application products for varied end-users. The new vendor entrants in the market are finding it hard to compete with the international vendors based on quality, reliability, and innovations in technology.Get Access to sample pages @Global Adaptive Security market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer; the top players includes Aruba, Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company, Cloudwick, Cisco Systems, Fireeye, Juniper Networks, Rapid7, EMC RSA, Illumio, Panda Security & Trend Micro.Global Adaptive Security (Thousands Units) and Revenue (Million USD) Market Split by Product Type such as Solution & ServicesMarket Segment by Type 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022Solution xx xx xx xx xx Xx xx-Change (%) xx% xx% xx% xx% xx% xx% xx%Services xx xx xx xx xx Xx xx-Change (%) xx% xx% xx% xx% xx% xx% xx%Total xx xx xx xx xx xx xx-Change (%) xx% xx% xx% xx% xx% xx% xx%The research study is segmented by Application such as Endpoint Security, Cloud Security, Network Security, Application Security & Others with historical and projected market share and compounded annual growth rate.Global Adaptive Security Keyword (Thousands Units) by Application (2016-2022)Market Segment by Application 2012 2016 2022 Market Share (%)2022 CAGR (%)(2016-2022)Endpoint Security xx xx xx xx% xx%Cloud Security xx xx xx xx% xx%Total xx xx xx 100% xx%Geographically, this report is segmented into several key Regions, with production, consumption, revenue (million USD), and market share and growth rate of Adaptive Security in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast).This independent 112 page research with title Global Adaptive Security Market Size, Status and Forecast 2022 guarantees you will remain better informed than your competition. The study covers geographic analysis that includes regions/countries like United States, EU, Japan, China, India, Southeast Asia and important players/vendors such as Aruba, Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company, Cloudwick, Cisco Systems, Fireeye, Juniper Networks, Rapid7, EMC RSA, Illumio, Panda Security & Trend Micro. With n-number of tables and figures examining the Adaptive Security, the research gives you a visual, one-stop breakdown of the leading products, submarkets and market leaders market revenue forecasts as well as analysis to 2022.Further it focuses on Global major leading industry players with information such as company profiles, product picture and specifications, sales, market share and contact information. Whats more, the Adaptive Security industry development trends and marketing channels are analyzed.Read Detailed Index of full Research Study at @The study is organized with the help of primary and secondary data collection including valuable information from key vendors and participants in the industry. It includes historical data from 2012 to 2016 and projected forecasts till 2022 which makes the research study a valuable resource for industry executives, marketing, sales and product managers, consultants, analysts, and other people looking for key industry related data in readily accessible documents with easy to analyze graphs and tables. The report answers future development trend of Adaptive Security on the basis of stating current situation of the industry in 2017 to assist manufacturers and investment organization to better analyze the development course of Adaptive Security Market.The research insights solutions to the following key questions: What will be the market size and the growth rate in 2022? What are the key factors driving the Global Adaptive Security market? Who are the key market players and what are their strategies in the Global Adaptive Security market? What are the key market trends impacting the growth of the Global Adaptive Security market? What trends, challenges and barriers are influencing its growth? What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the vendors in the Global Adaptive Security market? What are the key outcomes of the five forces analysis of the Adaptive Security market?Buy this research report @There are 15 Chapters to deeply display the Global Adaptive Security market.Chapter 1, to describe Adaptive Security Introduction, product scope, market overview, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force;Chapter 2, to analyze the top manufacturers of Adaptive Security , with sales, revenue, and price of Adaptive Security , 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 Adaptive Security , for each region, from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, to analyze the key regions, with sales, revenue and market share by key countries in United States, EU, Japan, China, India, Southeast Asia;Chapter 10 and 11, to show the market by type and application, with sales market share and growth rate by type, application [ Endpoint Security, Cloud Security, Network Security, Application Security & Others], from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 12, Adaptive Security market forecast, by regions, type and application, with sales and revenue, from 2017 to 2022;Chapter 13, 14 and 15, to describe Adaptive Security sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers, Research Findings and Conclusion, appendix and data source.Get customization & check discount for report @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 Malaysia Power Market 2017- By Identify Key Strengths and Weaknesses of Important Market Participants 2030 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/2368459-malaysia-power-market-outlook-to-2030-update-2017-market-trends-regulations https://www.wiseguyreports.com/conferences https://www.wiseguyreports.com/seminars SUMMARYWiseGuyReports published new report, titled Malaysia Power MarketThis report elaborates Malaysia's power market structure and provides historical and forecast numbers for capacity, generation, and consumption up to 2030. Detailed analysis of the Malaysia power markets regulatory structure, import and export trends, competitive landscape, and power projects at various stages of the supply chain is provided. The report also gives a snapshot of the power sector in Malaysia on broad parameters of macroeconomics, supply security, generation infrastructure, transmission infrastructure, degree of competition, regulatory scenario, and future potential. An analysis of the deals market scenario in the countrys power sector is also included in the report.GET SAMPLE REPORT @Scope- Snapshot of the countrys power sector across parameters - macro economics, supply security, generation infrastructure, transmission infrastructure, degree of competition, regulatory scenario and future potential of the power sector.- Statistics for installed capacity, power generation and consumption from 2000 to 2016, forecast for the next 14 years to 2030.- Break-up by technology, including thermal, hydro, renewable and nuclear- Data on leading current and upcoming projects.- Information on grid interconnectivity, transmission and distribution infrastructure and power exports and imports.- Policy and regulatory framework governing the market.- Detailed analysis of top market participant, including market share analysis and SWOT analysis.Key points to buy- Identify opportunities and plan strategies by having a strong understanding of the investment opportunities in the countrys power sector- Identification of key factors driving investment opportunities in the countrys power sector- Facilitate decision-making based on strong historic and forecast data- Develop strategies based on the latest regulatory events- Position yourself to gain the maximum advantage of the industrys growth potential- Identify key partners and business development avenues- Identify key strengths and weaknesses of important market participants- Respond to your competitors business structure, strategy and prospects.Table of Contents1 Table of Contents2 Executive Summary3 Introduction4 Malaysia, Power Market, Snapshot5 Malaysia, Power Market, Market Analysis6 Malaysia, Power Market, Regulatory Scenario7 Malaysia Power Market, Capacity and Generation Overview8 Malaysia, Power Market, Transmission and Distribution Overview9 Malaysia, Power Market, Competitive Landscape: Snapshot of Leading Power Generating Companies10 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, India Carbomer Market Forecast and Trends Analysis Research Report 2017 ReportsWeb http://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW0001800453/sample http://www.reportsweb.com/global-carbomer-market-forecast-to-2022 http://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW0001800453/discount http://www.reportsweb.com/buy&RW0001800453/buy/3480 ReportsWeb.com has announced the addition of the Global Carbomer Market 2017 Forecast to 2022 The report focuses on global major leading industry players with information such as company profiles, product picture and specification.A carbomer is a homopolymer of acrylic acid, which is cross-linked, or bonded, with any of several polyalcohol allyl ethers. Usually appearing as a white powder, the compound is used as a thickener and emulsion stabilizer. Best known for its use in the cosmetic industry, it also has practical applications in medicine and hygiene. Many agencies consider the various types to be perfectly safe, although some of the substances used to neutralize their pH can be problematic.Request for Sample @Scope of the Report:This report focuses on the Carbomer 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 coversLubrizolTinci MaterialsSNF FloergerNewman Fine ChemicalEvonikSumitomo SeikaCorelDX ChemicalMaruti ChemicalsVisit for more Information @Market 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, coversCarbomer 940Carbomer 980Carbomer 934OthersMarket Segment by Applications, can be divided intoPersonal Care and Cosmetics IndustryPharmaceutical IndustryInquire for Discount @Table of Contents1 Market Overview2 Manufacturers Profiles2.1 Lubrizol2.1.1 Business Overview2.1.2 Carbomer Type and Applications2.1.2.1 Type 12.1.2.2 Type 22.1.3 Lubrizol Carbomer Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.2 Tinci Materials2.2.1 Business Overview2.2.2 Carbomer Type and Applications2.2.2.1 Type 12.2.2.2 Type 22.2.3 Tinci Materials Carbomer Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.3 SNF Floerger2.3.1 Business Overview2.3.2 Carbomer Type and Applications2.3.2.1 Type 12.3.2.2 Type 22.3.3 SNF Floerger Carbomer Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)3 Global Carbomer Market Competition, by Manufacturer4 Global Carbomer Market Analysis by Regions5 North America Carbomer by Countries6 Europe Carbomer by Countries7 Asia-Pacific Carbomer by Countries8 South America Carbomer by Countries9 Middle East and Africa Carbomer by Countries10 Global Carbomer Market Segment by Type11 Global Carbomer Market Segment by Application12 Carbomer Market Forecast (2017-2022)13 Sales Channel, Distributors, Traders and Dealers14 Research Findings and ConclusionPurchase this Report @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 Hong Kong Payment Market Analysis 2017 (By Segment, Key Players and Applications) and Forecasts To 2021 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/2368345-payments-landscape-in-hong-kong-opportunities-and-risks-to-2021 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/reports/2368345-payments-landscape-in-hong-kong-opportunities-and-risks-to-2021 www.linkedin.com/company/4828928 https://twitter.com/WiseGuyReports https://www.facebook.com/Wiseguyreports-1009007869213183/?fref=ts Pune, India, 5th October 2017: WiseGuyReports announced addition of new report, titled Payments Landscape in Hong Kong: Opportunities and Risks to 2021.Summary"Payments Landscape in Hong Kong: Opportunities and Risks to 2021", report provides detailed analysis of market trends in Hong Kong cards and payments industry. It provides values and volumes for a number of key performance indicators in the industry, including credit transfers, direct debit, cash, payment cards, and cheques during the review-period (2013-17e).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 (2017-21f). It also offers information on the country's competitive landscape, including the market shares of issuers and schemes.GET SAMPLE REPORT @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 Hong Kong cards and payments industry, including -- Current and forecast values for each market in the Hong Kong cards and payments industry, including debit, credit, and charge cards.- Detailed insights into payment instruments including credit transfers, direct debit, cheques, cash, 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 Hong Kong cards and payments industry.- Detailed analysis of strategies adopted by banks and other institutions to market debit, credit, and charge cards.Scope- With rising non-cash payments in the country, the need for a real-time payment processing system has intensified. In line with this the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) is working with Hong Kong Interbank Clearing to launch the Faster Payment System in 2018. Currently, the Hong Kong Dollar Clearing House Automated Transfer System, the countrys real-time gross settlement system, is accountable for settling high-value interbank transactions, while low-value transactions are processed through electronic clearing.- Alternative payments are gaining traction in the country. In June 2017 UnionPay launched its HCE- and tokenization-based m-payment service QuickPass, enabling users to pay using their UnionPay QuickPass chip card or mobile QuickPass-enabled smartphones and wearable devices at contactless POS terminals. Similarly, in May 2017 Samsung Pay was introduced in Hong Kong, allowing users to make purchases at participating stores with Samsung devices across all forms of terminals, including magnetic stripe, EMV, and NFC. Likewise, to offer convenient wallet top-up options, in June 2017 HKT Payments announced that Bank of China customers who use the Tap & Go wallet can instantly add funds through the Instant Bank Transfer option in the top-up menu. Further, Tap & Go consumers can recharge the wallet by using local coins at HEYCOINS kiosks.- Leading scheme providers such as Visa and Mastercard have also introduced payment solutions in Hong Kong. Mastercard launched the Masterpass digital wallet in July 2015, enabling customers to make online payments with a registered payment card using a mobile phone, without disclosing card details for every purchase. Similarly, Visa launched the Visa Checkout online payment service in December 2015, allowing users to pay for online purchases by smartphone. It stores users payment and shipping details and uses a username and password for authentication, streamlining the ordering process.Reasons to buy- Make strategic business decisions, using top-level historic and forecast market data, related to Hong Kong cards and payments industry and each market within it.- Understand the key market trends and growth opportunities in Hong Kong cards and payments industry.- Assess the competitive dynamics in the Hong Kong cards and payments industry.- Gain insights into marketing strategies used for various card types in Hong Kong.- Gain insights into key regulations governing Hong Kong cards and payments industry.Table of Content: Key PointsMarket OverviewCard-based PaymentsE-commerce PaymentsAlternative PaymentsPayments Infrastructure & RegulationAppendixContinuedACCESS REPORT @Get in touch:LinkedIn:Twitter:Facebook: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 RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersPune - 411028Maharashtra, India SPAIN Catalonias regional government mulled yesterday when to declare the regions independence from Spain, with some lawmakers saying it would happen Monday. As Spain grappled with its most serious national crisis in decades, a top EU official said Spain and Catalonia must talk with each other, even if Catalonia broke the law with an illegal referendum on independence. MALAYSIA On the third day of the trial of two women accused of killing the estranged half brother of North Koreas leader, defense lawyers sought to discredit the prosecutions case. The defendants have pleaded not guilty to the murder of Kim Jong Nam using banned VX nerve agent in Kuala Lumpur. More on p12 CAMBODIA A prominent opposition lawmaker in Cambodia has fled the country, saying yesterday that Prime Minister Hun Sen made direct threats against her and her colleagues and that she no longer felt safe in her own country. JAPAN The Japanese utility blamed for safety lapses in the Fukushima nuclear plant meltdowns has received its first approvals to operate reactors under stricter safety standards set since the 2011 disaster. More on p11 KURDISTAN With Turkeys president by his side, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani pledged yesterday that they would ensure borders in the region remain unchanged after the recent Kurdish independence referendum in Iraq. TURKEY A court in southwestern Turkey sentenced 40 people to life in prison yesterday, convicting them of charges that during last years failed coup. RUSSIA-VENEZUELA Russian President Vladimir Putin has hosted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, hailing him for reaching out to the opposition. Speaking at the start of their Kremlin talks, Putin noted that Venezuela is going through uneasy times and credited Maduro with succeeding in establishing some contact with opposition forces. US-CUBA The United States expelled 15 of Cubas diplomats Tuesday to protest its failure to protect Americans from unexplained attacks in Havana, plunging diplomatic ties between the countries to levels unseen in years. Global Photocopier Market Research Report 2017 - Canon, Eastman Kodak, Hewlett-Packard https://www.qyresearchreports.com/sample/sample.php?rep_id=1257116&type=E https://www.qyresearchreports.com/report/global-photocopier-market-research-report-2017.htm https://www.qyresearchreports.com/sample/sample.php?rep_id=1257116&type=D http://www.qyresearchreports.com Qyresearchreports include new market research report "Global Photocopier Market Research Report 2017" to its huge collection of research reports.The general market for Photocopier has been perceived on a few perspectives that are nearly there, and have adequately enhanced the growth in the market. The report moreover verbalizes unmistakable figures and data identified with the general Photocopier market. The key explanation behind the report is to details out certain positive and negative features about the market circumstance with the objective that potential investors have a reasonable and compact idea in regards to it. Specific knowledge information have been given a particular true objective to give a total all around analysis of the market to the clients of the report. The market report moreover intertwines highlights, for example, prospects, market figures, policies, restrictions, and drivers for measuring their result that are imperative for both the neighborhood and overall level. The examination likewise incorporate the fundamental market purposes of enthusiasm being proposed, which contains different features of the basic aspects which are foreseen to trigger advancement in the market or reason that will have a negative effect.Get Research Summary Of The Report:This report puts extra endeavors on the general market for Photocopier by successfully gaging the open doors and business shackle of the concerned market. This is depended upon to go as a supplementary guide in giving fitting bits of learning and information on different plots for the market, for example, information relating to traditions of the administration bodies in the local and worldwide level, development rate and course structure, limitations, volume traded, and income earned.Global Photocopier market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer; the top players includingBrother InternationalCanonEastman KodakHewlett-PackardSamsung ElectronicsRicohLanierToshibaBrowse Market Research Report @Table of ContentsGlobal Photocopier Market Research Report 20171 Photocopier Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Photocopier1.2 Photocopier Segment by Type (Product Category)1.2.1 Global Photocopier Production and CAGR (%) Comparison by Type (Product Category)(2012-2022)1.2.2 Global Photocopier Production Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20161.2.3 Photochemical2 Global Photocopier Market Competition by Manufacturers2.1 Global Photocopier Capacity, Production and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.1.1 Global Photocopier Capacity and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.1.2 Global Photocopier Production and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.2 Global Photocopier Revenue and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.3 Global Photocopier Average Price by Manufacturers (2012-2017)3 Global Photocopier Capacity, Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2012-2017)3.1 Global Photocopier Capacity and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)3.2 Global Photocopier Production and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)3.3 Global Photocopier Revenue (Value) and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)3.4 Global Photocopier Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)To Get Discount Of This Report Click here @List of Tables and FiguresFigure Picture of PhotocopierFigure Global Photocopier Production (K Units) and CAGR (%) Comparison by Types (Product Category) (2012-2022)Figure Global Photocopier Production Market Share by Types (Product Category) in 2016Figure Product Picture of PhotochemicalFigure Europe Photocopier Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure China Photocopier Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure Japan Photocopier Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure Southeast Asia Photocopier Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure India Photocopier Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure Global Photocopier Revenue (Million USD) Status and Outlook (2012-2022)About UsQYReseachReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYReseachReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.Contact Us1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Web:Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com Amorphous Alloy Transformer Market 2017 - STS, BRG, ABB, Hitachi, China Power Amorphous Alloy Transformer Market https://goo.gl/TkJ62F https://goo.gl/3WRbS4 http://www.apexresearch.biz Apex Research, recently published a detailed market research study focused on the "Amorphous Alloy Transformer Market" across the global, regional and country level. The report provides 360 analysis of "Amorphous Alloy Transformer Market" from view of manufacturers, regions, product types and end industries. The research report analyses and provides the historical data along with current performance of the global Amorphous Alloy Transformer industry, and estimates the future trend of Amorphous Alloy Transformer market on the basis of this detailed study. The study shares "Amorphous Alloy Transformer Market" performance both in terms of volume and revenue.Get Free Sample Copy of Report Here:Top Manufacturers Analysis of This ReportHitachiABBChina PowerVijaiPowerstarWilsonSTSBRGZHIXIN ELEVTRICZHONGZHAO PEIJICREATCEEGSUNTENTIANWEI GROUPThe market research report explores the Amorphous Alloy Transformer market across the globe along with major regions and countries. The research report provides a detailed study on each and every aspect of "Amorphous Alloy Transformer Market". The research report studies the entire value chain from raw material to end user industries. The report also shares import/export statistics along with production and consumption for all major regions and countries. Moreover, the research study classifies the Amorphous Alloy Transformer market based on major product types, application and end users industries of Amorphous Alloy Transformer. Besides, the report also covers geographical segmentation for Amorphous Alloy Transformer market. The report further provides production, capacity, price per region, gross margin, production cost, for all major regions and countries listed in report.The competitive landscape of the global market for Amorphous Alloy Transformer is determined by assessing the major industry participants, production capacity, production capacity utilization rate, Amorphous Alloy Transformer market's production chain, pricing by each manufacturer and the revenue generated by each manufacturer in the Amorphous Alloy Transformer market globally.Enquire Before Buying @The Global Amorphous Alloy Transformer market 2017 is further analyzed on the basis of product pricing, Amorphous Alloy Transformer production volume, data pertaining to demand and Amorphous Alloy Transformer supply, and the revenue garnered by the product. The report provides upstream and downstream analysis covering major raw material used in manufacturing of Amorphous Alloy Transformer along with detailed manufacturing sources. The report also shares list of major raw material manufacturers along with their manufacturing locations. Detailed raw material price trend analysis along with manufacturing cost analysis is also incorporated into the report. Various methodical tools such as investment returns, feasibility, SWOT analysis and market attractiveness analysis has been implemented in the research study to present a comprehensive, detailed study of the industry for Amorphous Alloy Transformer across the world.About UsApexResearch offer reports from top publishers and update to serve you with immediate on-line access to professional insights on global industries, companies, products, and trends. Customers can buys different reports across various categories such as Chemical and Material, Biotechnology, Healthcare, Food and beverages, Automobile and various sectors. Our Website offers safe and secure online ordering experience, convenient payment options.Contact UsFrank ValadezBusiness Development Executive| sales@apexresearch.biz Global Breast Cancer Screening (Mammography, MRI & Ultrasound) Market Size, Share - Forecast 2018 https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/sample/223102 https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/reports/223102/breast-cancer-screening-mammography-mri-market-research-reports.pdf https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/enquiry/223102 http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/ "The Latest Research Report Breast Cancer Screening (Mammography, MRI & Ultrasound) Market & Forecast - Worldwide provides information on pricing, market analysis, shares, forecast, and company profiles for key industry participants. - MarketResearchReports.biz"About Breast Cancer Screening MarketBreast cancer is the most common cancer among women in both the developed and developing world. Worldwide Breast Cancer Screening Market was in double digit Billion US$ for 2013. United States is the leading market for breast cancer screening globally. China is expected to maintain its 2nd position in the forecasting period due to hefty number of breast cancer cases. Worldwide Breast Cancer MRI Screening Market and Breast Cancer Ultrasound Screening Market are also growing year on year.Worldwide Breast Cancer Screening population is expected to be little less than 250 Million by 2018. For 2013; China contributes the largest pool of patients followed by United States. Both these countries control double digit population share. Brazil, Japan and Germany occupy the 3rd, 4th, & 5th position respectively.Get Sample copy of this Report @This is our 4th report on Cancer Sector. Renub Research study titled Breast Cancer Screening (Mammography, MRI & Ultrasound) Market & Forecast Worldwide analyzes the worldwide market for breast cancer mammography screening market, Breast cancer MRI screening market and breast cancer ultrasound screening market. This report studies separate comprehensive analytics for the 20 countries: United States, Canada, European Countries (United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Norway and Switzerland), Asian countries (India, China, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia and Brazil), Australia and New Zealand.Annual estimates and forecast are provided for the period of 2014 through 2018. A six year historic analysis is also provided for these markets. This 258 page report with 252 Figures and 14 Tables provides a complete analysis of top 20 countries of worldwide breast cancer screening market. All the 20 countries in the report have been studied from 7 viewpoints.Countries Breast Cancer Mammography Screening Population Scenario and ForecastCountries Breast Cancer MRI & Ultrasound Screening Population Scenario and ForecastCountries Breast Cancer Mammography Screening Market and ForecastCountries Breast Cancer MRI Screening Market and ForecastCountries Breast Cancer Ultrasound Screening Market and ForecastCountries Breast Cancer Screening Market and ForecastWorldwide Breast Cancer Screening Market and ForecastView Sample PDF @All the 20 Countries Studied In the Report are as FollowsUnited StatesCanadaUnited KingdomFranceGermanyItalySpainNetherlandsNorwaySwitzerlandIndiaChinaJapanKoreaSingaporeThailandMalaysiaBrazilAustraliaNew ZealandTable of Content1. Executive Summary2. Worldwide Screening Population Analysis2.1 Worldwide Breast Cancer Mammography Screening Population & Forecast2.2 Worldwide Breast Cancer MRI & Ultrasound Screening Population & Forecast3. Worldwide Breast Cancer Screening Market Analysis3.1 Worldwide Breast Cancer Screening Market & Forecast3.1.1 Worldwide Breast Cancer Mammography Screening Market & Forecast3.1.2 Worldwide Breast Cancer MRI Screening Market & Forecast3.1.3 Worldwide Breast Cancer Ultrasound Screening Market & Forecast4. Worldwide Breast Cancer Screening Population & Market Share Analysis4.1 Worldwide Breast Cancer Mammography Screening Population Share & Forecast4.2 Worldwide Breast Cancer MRI & Ultrasound Screening Population Share & ForecastSend An Enquiry Request @5. Worldwide Breast Cancer Screening Market Share Analysis5.1 Worldwide Breast Cancer Screening Market Share & Forecast5.2 Worldwide Breast Cancer Mammography Screening Market Share & Forecast5.3 Worldwide Breast Cancer MRI Screening Market Share & Forecast5.4 Worldwide Breast Cancer Ultrasound Screening Market Share & Forecast6. United Kingdom6.1 United Kingdom Breast Cancer Mammography Screening Population & Forecast6.2 United Kingdom Breast Cancer Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Ultrasound Screening Population & Forecast6.3 United Kingdom Breast Cancer Screening Market & Forecast6.3.1 United Kingdom Breast Cancer Mammography Screening Market & Forecast6.3.2 United Kingdom Breast Cancer Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Screening Market & Forecast6.3.3 United Kingdom Breast Cancer Ultrasound Screening Market & Forecast7. France7.1 France Breast Cancer Mammography Screening Population & Forecast7.2 France Breast Cancer Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Ultrasound Screening Population & Forecast7.3 France Breast Cancer Screening Market & Forecast7.3.1 France Breast Cancer Mammography Screening Market & Forecast7.3.2 France Breast Cancer Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Screening Market & Forecast7.3.3 France Breast Cancer Ultrasound Screening Market & Forecast8. Germany8.1 Germany Breast Cancer Mammography Screening Population & Forecast8.2 Germany Breast Cancer Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Ultrasound Screening Population & Forecast8.3 Germany Breast Cancer Screening Market & Forecast8.3.1 Germany Breast Cancer Mammography Screening Market & Forecast8.3.2 Germany Breast Cancer Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Screening Market & Forecast8.3.3 Germany Breast Cancer Ultrasound Screening Market & ForecastAbout 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 Cervical Cancer Test Market Research Report 2022: Pap Smear, HPV DNA, VIA https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/sample/910650 https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/reports/910650/cervical-cancer-test-patients-pap-market-research-reports.pdf https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/enquiry/910650 http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/ "The Latest Research Report Cervical Cancer Test Market & Patients (Pap Smear HPV DNA VIA) Asia (Japan, Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, India, China, Thailand, Indonesia) provides information on pricing, market analysis, shares, forecast, and company profiles for key industry participants. - MarketResearchReports.biz"About Cervical Cancer Test MarketCervical Cancer Test Market & Patients (Pap Smear, HPV DNA, VIA) in Asia (Japan, Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, India, China, Thailand, Indonesia) report published by Renub Research provides a comprehensive analysis of this market and future evolution over the next 5 years. This 121 page report with 118 Figures and 4 Table provides a complete analysis of top 8 Countries Cervical Cancer Test Market & Population. All the 8 Asian countries in the report have been studied from 3 viewpoints.Cervical cancer test market in Asian region is growing and expected to cross over Billion dollars by 2020. Despite declining women population, Japan has highest market share in cervical cancer test market. Whereas Indonesia is dominating in cervical cancer testing population followed by China. Growing women population, rising sum of structured cervical cancer programs introduced by governments and international NGOs and inception of low cost VIA test are some of the major growth drivers for the growth of cervical cancer test market in the developing countries.Get Sample copy of this Report @Asia Cervical Cancer Test Market, Volume & Mortality1. Cervical cancer Test Population (2008 2020)Pap smear test population (2008 2020)HPV DNA test population (2008 2020)VIA test Population (2008 2020)2. Cervical Cancer Mortality Population (2001 2011)3. Cervical Cancer Test Market (2008 2020)Pap smear test market (2008 2020)HPV DNA test market (2008 2020)VIA test market (2008 2020)All the 8 Countries studied in the report are as followsJapanKoreaSingaporeMalaysiaIndiaChinaThailandIndonesiaView Sample PDF @Data SourcesThis report is built using data and information sourced from proprietary databases, primary and secondary research and in-house analysis by Renub Research team of industry experts.Primary sources include industry surveys and telephone interviews with industry experts.Secondary sources information and data has been collected from various printable and non-printable sources like search engines, News websites, Government Websites, Trade Journals, White papers, Government Agencies, Magazines, Newspapers, Trade associations, Books, Industry Portals, Industry Associations and access to more than 1000 paid databases.Table Of Contents1. Executive Summary2. Asia Cervical Cancer Test (Screening) Population & Forecast3. Asia Cervical Cancer Test (Screening) Market & Forecast3.1 Asia Cervical Cancer Pap Smear Test (Screening) Market & Forecast3.2 Asia Cervical Cancer HPV DNA Test (Screening) Market & Forecast3.3 Asia - Cervical Cancer Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA) Test (Screening) Market & Forecast4. Asia Cervical Cancer Test (Screening) Population Share & Forecast4.1 Asia Cervical Cancer Test (Screening) Population Share & Forecast5. Asia Cervical Cancer Test (Screening) Market Share & Forecast5.1 Asia Cervical Cancer Test (Screening) Market Share & Forecast5.2 Asia Cervical Cancer Pap Smear Test (Screening) Market Share & Forecast5.3 Asia Cervical Cancer HPV DNA Test (Screening) Market Share & Forecast5.4 Asia Cervical Cancer VIA Test (Screening) Market Share & ForecastSend An Enquiry Request @6. Japan Cervical Cancer Test Analysis6.1 Japan Cervical Cancer Test (Screening) Population6.1.1 Japan Cervical Cancer Pap Smear Test Population & Forecast6.1.2 Japan Cervical Cancer HPV DNA Test Population & Forecast6.2 Japan Cervical Cancer Mortality6.3 Japan Cervical Cancer Test (Screening) Market6.3.1 Japan Cervical Cancer Test Market & Forecast6.3.2 Japan Pap Smear Test Market & Forecast6.3.3 Japan HPV DNA Test Market & Forecast7. South Korea Cervical Cancer Tests Analysis7.1 South Korea - Cervical Cancer Test (Screening) Population7.1.1 South Korea - Cervical Cancer Pap Smear Test Population & Forecast7.1.2 Korea Cervical Cancer HPV DNA Test Population & Forecast7.2 Korea Cervical Cancer Mortality7.3 Korea Cervical Cancer Test (Screening) Market7.3.1 Korea Cervical Cancer Test Market & Forecast7.3.2 Korea Pap Smear Test Market & Forecast7.3.3 Korea HPV DNA Test Market & Forecast8. Singapore Cervical Cancer Tests Analysis8.1 Singapore - Cervical Cancer Test (Screening) Population8.1.1 Singapore - Cervical Cancer Pap Smear Test Population & Forecast8.1.2 Singapore Cervical Cancer HPV DNA Test Population & Forecast8.2 Singapore Cervical Cancer Test (Screening) Market8.2.1 Singapore Cervical Cancer Test Market & Forecast8.2.2 Singapore Pap Smear Test Market & Forecast8.2.3 Singapore HPV DNA Test Market & Forecast9. Malaysia Cervical Cancer Test Analysis9.1 Malaysia - Cervical Cancer Test (Screening) Population9.1.1 Malaysia Cervical Cancer Pap Smear Test Population & Forecast9.1.2 Malaysia Cervical Cancer HPV DNA Test Population & Forecast9.2 Malaysia Cervical Cancer Test (Screening) Market9.2.1 Malaysia Cervical Cancer Test Market & Forecast9.2.2 Malaysia Pap Smear Test Market & Forecast9.2.3 Malaysia HPV DNA Test Market & ForecastAbout 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 Malaysia Payment Market 2017 - Current and Future Plans https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/2368346-payments-landscape-in-malaysia-opportunities-and-risks-to-2021 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/reports/2368346-payments-landscape-in-malaysia-opportunities-and-risks-to-2021 www.linkedin.com/company/4828928 https://twitter.com/WiseGuyReports https://www.facebook.com/Wiseguyreports-1009007869213183/?fref=ts Summary"Payments Landscape in Malaysia: Opportunities and Risks to 2021", report provides detailed analysis of market trends in Malaysian cards and payments industry. It provides values and volumes for a number of key performance indicators in the industry, including credit transfers, direct debit, cash, payment cards, and cheques during the review-period (2013-17e).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 (2017-21f). It also offers information on the country's competitive landscape, including the market shares of issuers and schemes.GET SAMPLE REPORT @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 Malaysian cards and payments industry, including -- Current and forecast values for each market in the Malaysian cards and payments industry, including debit, credit, and charge cards.- Detailed insights into payment instruments including credit transfers, direct debit, cheques, cash, 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 Malaysian cards and payments industry.- Detailed analysis of strategies adopted by banks and other institutions to market debit, credit, and charge cards.Scope- Malaysias payment card market has recorded strong uptake in contactless technology, with all major banks including Maybank, Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN), CIMB Bank, Public Bank, and Hong Leong Bank now offering contactless cards. The number of contactless POS terminals stood at 33,721 in 2016, increasing almost sevenfold from 4,839 terminals in 2015. To further encourage contactless payments, banks are launching innovative products. Maybank collaborated with Visa in January 2016 to launch an NFC wristband, Maybank Visa Payband, to enable its customers to make payments with a wave of the wrist.- A growing preference for secure electronic payments, growth in the young population, and deeper smartphone penetration have prompted banks, payment service providers, and telecom companies to launch new payment solutions to gain market share. Samsung Electronics, CIMB Bank, and Maybank all launched mobile wallets between 2016 and 2017.- To provide impetus to the e-commerce market, the Malaysian government implemented the DFTZ as part of the National E-commerce Strategic Roadmap. Launched in March 2017, this is a national initiative developed by the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation in partnership with Alibaba that aims to support digital services, international e-commerce, and internet-based innovations.Reasons to buy- Make strategic business decisions, using top-level historic and forecast market data, related to Malaysian cards and payments industry and each market within it.- Understand the key market trends and growth opportunities in Malaysian cards and payments industry.- Assess the competitive dynamics in the Malaysian cards and payments industry.- Gain insights into marketing strategies used for various card types in Malaysia.- Gain insights into key regulations governing Malaysian cards and payments industry.Table of Content: Key PointsMarket OverviewCard-based PaymentsE-commerce PaymentsAlternative PaymentsPayments Infrastructure & RegulationAppendixContinuedACCESS REPORT @Get in touch:LinkedIn:Twitter:Facebook: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 RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersPune - 411028Maharashtra, India Crude Sulfate Turpentine Market 2017- Arizona Chemical Company LLC, Harting S.A., Pine Chemical Group, Lawter Inc. Crude Sulfate Turpentine Market https://goo.gl/aqnQfF https://goo.gl/ioQwNo http://www.apexresearch.biz Apex Research, recently published a detailed market research study focused on the "Crude Sulfate Turpentine Market" across the global, regional and country level. The report provides 360 analysis of "Crude Sulfate Turpentine Market" from view of manufacturers, regions, product types and end industries. The research report analyses and provides the historical data along with current performance of the global Crude Sulfate Turpentine industry, and estimates the future trend of Crude Sulfate Turpentine market on the basis of this detailed study. The study shares "Crude Sulfate Turpentine Market" performance both in terms of volume and revenue.Get Free Sample Copy of Report Here:Top Manufacturers Analysis of This ReportInternational Flavors & Fragrances Inc. (IFF)Lawter Inc.DRT (Derives Resiniques ET Terpeniqes)Privi Organics LimitedRenessenz LLC (Symrise Ag)Dujodwala Paper Chemicals Ltd. (DPCL)Arizona Chemical Company LLCHarting S.A.Pine Chemical GroupThe market research report explores the Crude Sulfate Turpentine market across the globe along with major regions and countries. The research report provides a detailed study on each and every aspect of "Crude Sulfate Turpentine Market". The research report studies the entire value chain from raw material to end user industries. The report also shares import/export statistics along with production and consumption for all major regions and countries. Moreover, the research study classifies the Crude Sulfate Turpentine market based on major product types, application and end users industries of Crude Sulfate Turpentine. Besides, the report also covers geographical segmentation for Crude Sulfate Turpentine market. The report further provides production, capacity, price per region, gross margin, production cost, for all major regions and countries listed in report.The competitive landscape of the global market for Crude Sulfate Turpentine is determined by assessing the major industry participants, production capacity, production capacity utilization rate, Crude Sulfate Turpentine market's production chain, pricing by each manufacturer and the revenue generated by each manufacturer in the Crude Sulfate Turpentine market globally.Enquire Before Buying @The global Crude Sulfate Turpentine market 2017 is further analyzed on the basis of product pricing, Crude Sulfate Turpentine production volume, data pertaining to demand and Crude Sulfate Turpentine supply, and the revenue garnered by the product. The report provides upstream and downstream analysis covering major raw material used in manufacturing of Crude Sulfate Turpentine along with detailed manufacturing sources. The report also shares list of major raw material manufacturers along with their manufacturing locations. Detailed raw material price trend analysis along with manufacturing cost analysis is also incorporated into the report. Various methodical tools such as investment returns, feasibility, SWOT analysis and market attractiveness analysis has been implemented in the research study to present a comprehensive, detailed study of the industry for Crude Sulfate Turpentine across the world.About UsApexResearch offer reports from top publishers and update to serve you with immediate on-line access to professional insights on global industries, companies, products, and trends. Customers can buys different reports across various categories such as Chemical and Material, Biotechnology, Healthcare, Food and beverages, Automobile and various sectors. Our Website offers safe and secure online ordering experience, convenient payment options.Contact UsFrank ValadezBusiness Development Executive| sales@apexresearch.biz Automotive Seat Heater Market Size Estimated to Observe Significant Growth During 2016 - 2026 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-2062 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-2062 www.futuremarketinsights.com Increasing disposable income combined with consumer changing lifestyle is what drives development in the automotive industry. Currently, advancements in automotive industry is characterized by many factors namely speed, mileage, interior and exterior design elegance and others. Among them one of the most prominent factors that adds value to the customers is comfort. Thus in order to improve comfort for the rider while travelling long distance, automotive seat heater is one of the preferred device by major OEMs in four-wheel vehicles. Automotive seat heater is made from carbon fiber technology which easily fits at the bottom or back of the seat and can be easily integrated with cloth or leather covered seats.Global Automotive Seat Heater Market: DynamicsIncreasing demand for comfort and energy efficiency in passenger cars and commercial vehicles is primarily driving the growth of global automotive seat heater market. The customer base having high net worth usually prefers cars with high comfort features which makes premium car manufacturers to target such customers with advanced comfort features.Request For Report Sample@Integration of seat heaters with conventional glued fabric seat are some of the major challenges being faced by the aftermarket providers. Moreover, rising no of fire incidents in the seat due to seat heater coil is primarily decreasing consumer confidence towards adoption of automotive seat heaters. However, development in seat heater power supply and product material is expected to mitigate such effects in the near future. Technological advancements such as seat heater with short duration warming time usually (16-20 seconds) are also increasing the demands for seat heater in premium model vehicles. Moreover, declining cost combined with low penetration of automotive heat heaters in majority of vehicles is expected to create significant opportunity for new entrants in the global automotive seat heater market.Global Automotive Seat Heater Market: SegmentationThe global automotive seat heater market can be segmented on the basis of sales channel, vehicle type, and region.On the basis of sales channel, the global automotive seat heater market can be categorized asOEMAftermarketOn the basis of vehicle type, the market can be segmented asPassenger carsCompact and mid-sized carsExecutive carsPremium carsCommercial vehiclesHeavy trucks and busesThe aftermarket segment hold the largest market installation share primarily due to self-installation feature, declining cost and availability of product for different models.Global Automotive Seat Heater Market: Regional OutlookNorth America, Western Europe, and Japan are the prominent market for automotive seat heater market. Due to low temperate conditions in most parts of the western countries the demand for automotive seat heater systems is increasing. Changing lifestyle along with increasing urbanization and purchasing power is anticipated to drive the Asia Pacific automotive seat heater market during the forecast period.Visit For TOC@Global Automotive Seat Heater Market: Key PlayersSome of the key players identified across the value chain in the global automotive seat heater market are: II-VI Marlow, Inc. , Gentherm , Panasonic Corporation, Changchun SET Electronics Co., Ltd., Kongsberg Automotive, Guangzhou Tachibana Electronic Co., Ltd., I.G. Bauerhin GmbH, Seat Comfort Systems, Activline, Champion Seat Systems (Automotive concepts), Langfang Golden Time Technology Development Co., Ltd. and Roadwire LLC.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 Wireless Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems Industry Analysis, Size, Share Forecast Report 2017 https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/sample/1328169 https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/reports/1328169/global-wireless-intrusion-detection-and-market-research-reports.pdf https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/enquiry/1328169 http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/ "The Latest Research Report Global Wireless Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems (WIPDS) Industry 2017 Market Research Report provides information on pricing, market analysis, shares, forecast, and company profiles for key industry participants. - MarketResearchReports.biz"About Wireless Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems (WIPDS) MarketThe Global Wireless Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems (WIPDS) Industry 2017 Market Research Report is a professional and in-depth study on the current state of the Wireless Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems (WIPDS) market. Annual estimates and forecasts are provided for the period 2017 through 2022. Also, a six-year historic analysis is provided for these markets. The global market for Wireless Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems (WIPDS) is expected to reach about 1396.89 Million USD by 2022 from 673.27 Million USD in 2016, registering a Compounded Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 12.94% during the analysis period, 2016-2022.The report provides a basic overview of the Wireless Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems (WIPDS) industry including definition, classification, application and industry chain structure. And development policies and plans are discussed as well as manufacturing processes and cost structures.Get Sample copy of this Report @Then, the report focuses on global major leading industry players with information such as company profiles, product picture and specifications, sales, market share and contact information. Whats more, the Wireless Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems (WIPDS) industry development trends and marketing channels are analyzed.This report studies Wireless Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems (WIPDS) focuses on top manufacturers in global market, with production, price, revenue and market share for each manufacturer, coveringCiscoIBMCheck PointHPNetscoutAirWave (Aruba)Extreme NetworksFortinetForeScoutWatchGuardVenustechTopsecQihoo 360Market segment by regions, this report splits global into several key regions, with production, sales, industry, revenue, market share and growth rate of Wireless Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems (WIPDS) in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), likeNorth America (USA, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy)Asia (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia)ROW (Rest of the World)View Sample PDF @Split by product types, with production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, can be divided intoWireless Intrusion Detection Systems (WIDS)Wireless Intrusion Prevention Systems (WIPS)Split by applications, this report focuses on industry, market share and growth rate of Wireless Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems (WIPDS) in each application, can be divided intoFinanceGovernmentIT and TelecomHealthUtilitiesOtherIn a word, the report provides major statistics on the state of the Wireless Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems (WIPDS) industry and is a valuable source of guidance and direction for companies and individuals interested in the market.Table of Contents1 Wireless Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems (WIPDS) Industry Overview11.1 Wireless Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems (WIPDS) Definition11.1.1 Definition of Wireless Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems (WIPDS)11.1.2 Differences between IPSs, IDSs, and firewalls31.2 Wireless Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems (WIPDS) Classification Analysis41.2.1 Wireless Intrusion Detection Systems (WIDS)51.2.2 Wireless Intrusion Prevention Systems (WIPS)71.3 Wireless Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems (WIPDS) Application Analysis81.3.1 Application Finance91.3.2 Application Government91.3.3 Application IT and Telecom101.3.4 Application Health111.3.5 Application Utilities111.3.6 Other Application121.4 Wireless Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems (WIPDS) Industry Chain Structure Analysis131.5 Wireless Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems (WIPDS) Industry Development Overview131.5.1 Wireless Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems (WIPDS) Product History Development Overview131.5.2 Global Market Size of Wireless Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems (WIPDS) (2012-2022F)191.6 Wireless Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems (WIPDS) Global Market Comparison Analysis201.6.1 North America Status and Prospect (2012-2022F)201.6.2 Europe Status and Prospect (2012-2022F)211.6.3 Asia Status and Prospect (2012-2022F)221.6.4 ROW Status and Prospect (2012-2022F)23Send An Enquiry Request @2 Wireless Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems (WIPDS) Up and Down Stream Industry Analysis252.1 Upstream Industry Analysis252.1.1 Components of Wireless Intrusion Prevention System252.1.2 Upstream Raw Materials Price Analysis272.1.3 Upstream Raw Materials Sourcing272.1.4 Major Components of Major Wireless Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems (WIPDS) Manufacturers in 2016282.2 Down Stream Market Analysis292.1.1 Down Stream Market Analysis292.2.2 Major Downstream Buyers303 Global Wireless Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems (WIPDS) Manufacturers Profiles/Analysis323.1 Cisco Systems323.1.1 Company Profile323.1.2 Product Picture and Specifications333.1.3 Production, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis of Cisco353.1.4 Contact Information363.2 International Business Machines Corporation (IBM)373.2.1 Company Profile373.2.2 Product Picture and Specifications383.2.3 Production, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis of IBM393.2.4 Contact Information403.3 Check Point413.3.1 Company Profile413.3.2 Product Picture and Specifications423.3.3 Production, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis of Check Point453.3.4 Contact Information473.4 Hewlett-Packard (HP)473.4.1 Company Profile473.4.2 Product Picture and Specifications483.4.3 Production, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis of HP513.4.4 Contact Information523.5 Netscout Systems523.5.1 Company Profile523.5.2 Product Picture and Specifications533.5.3 Production, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis of Netscout553.5.4 Contact Information563.6 AirWave (Aruba)573.6.1 Company Profile573.6.2 Product Picture and Specifications583.6.3 Production, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis of AirWave (Aruba)593.6.4 Contact Information603.7 Extreme Networks613.7.1 Company Profile613.7.2 Product Picture and Specifications623.7.3 Production, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis of Extreme Networks633.7.4 Contact Information64About 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 Hosiery Market 2017 - Gildan Activewear, Jockey International, CSP International, L brands, Golden Lady SpA https://www.fiormarkets.com/report-detail/116984/request-sample https://goo.gl/iXmAvM www.fiormarkets.com http://longshortreport.com/ This report studies Hosiery 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, coveringHanesbrands Inc.CSP InternationalLVMHJockey InternationalGildan ActivewearL brandsGolden Lady SpARequest For Sample Report @By types, the market can be split intoBody StockingsKnee HighSocksTightsToe SocksOthersBy Application, the market can be split intoMenWomenBy Regions, this report covers (we can add the regions/countries as you want)North AmericaChinaEuropeSoutheast AsiaJapanIndiaAccess Full Report @Table of ContentsGlobal Hosiery Market Professional Survey Report 20171 Industry Overview of Hosiery1.1 Definition and Specifications of Hosiery1.1.1 Definition of Hosiery1.1.2 Specifications of Hosiery1.2 Classification of Hosiery1.2.1 Body Stockings1.2.2 Knee High1.2.3 Socks1.2.4 Tights1.2.5 Toe Socks1.2.6 Others1.3 Applications of Hosiery1.3.1 Men1.3.2 Women1.3.3 Application 32 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Hosiery2.1 Raw Material and Suppliers2.2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Hosiery2.3 Manufacturing Process Analysis of Hosiery2.4 Industry Chain Structure of HosieryFior 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: ICT Investment in Education Market 2017 - Current and Future Plans https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/2368358-ict-investment-trends-in-education-digital-transformation-influencing-institutions-it-investments https://www.wiseguyreports.com/reports/2368358-ict-investment-trends-in-education-digital-transformation-influencing-institutions-it-investments www.linkedin.com/company/4828928 https://twitter.com/WiseGuyReports https://www.facebook.com/Wiseguyreports-1009007869213183/?fref=ts Pune, India, 5th October 2017: WiseGuyReports announced addition of new report, titled ICT Investment Trends in Education: Digital transformation influencing institutions IT investments strategySummary"ICT Investment Trends in Education", report presents the findings from a survey of 158 educational institutions regarding their Information & Communications Technology (ICT) investment trends. The survey investigates how educational institutions currently allocate their ICT budgets across the core areas of enterprise ICT expenditure: hardware, software, IT services, communications, and consulting.The report illustrates the core technologies that enterprises are investing in, including security products, content management, IoT, and cloud computing. The survey also highlights the approach to purchasing technology adopted by educational institutions. Through survey, the report aims to provide a better insight to ICT vendors and service providers when pitching their solutions to educational institutions. The report focuses on educational institutions ICT expenditure trends for specific business areas and technologies, identifying the top three IT projects, and understanding the primary objectives of various systems components.GET SAMPLE REPORT @As technology takes over traditional learning to enable students access information from anywhere, on any device, and at their own pace, alternative mediums such as adaptive and blended learning are becoming a norm to impart education in schools and universities today. Consequently, survey reveals that a majority of respondents are keen on investing in core areas of technologies, including hardware, software, and IT services.In particular, it provides an in-depth analysis of the following -- How ICT budgets are set to change in 2017 in terms of their overall size- Allocation across the core elements of IT spend, including hardware, software, services, communications, and consulting- Distribution of ICT money in areas such as the networks, applications, service desk, and data centers- Which ICT functions educational institutions are interested in outsourcing- Educational institutions investment priorities based on their budget allocations across core technology categories such as security products, content management, IoT, and cloud computing- Factors that are influencing educational institutions investments in each technology category- How educational institutions IT budgets are currently allocated across various segments within a technology category- Educational institutions distribution of their ICT budget across various segments within a technology category- Vendor satisfaction ratings for various core and advanced technology categories- Insight into educational institutions preferred buying approaches- Business objectives that educational institutions are looking to achieve through their IT investment strategies- Factors that are influencing educational institutions decisions to select an ICT providerScope- The growing preference of smartphone apps, laptops, and iPads among students and teachers, as a means to collaborate and learn is encouraging institutions to increase their spend on client computing devices and sophisticated software.- In addition, a majority of educational institutions are currently investing in IoT solutions to automate tasks and enhance student reach or access to information.- Moreover, educational institutions are placing the highest importance to factors such as expertise in industry, price, financial stability, problem identification/consultation, breadth of offerings, and leading-edge technology for choosing their ICT vendors.Reasons to buy- Understand how the educational institutions ICT landscape is set to change in 2017 to prioritize your target market- Comprehend how ICT money are being allocated by educational institutions in specific geographies and size bands to improve your market penetration- Make effective business decisions by recognizing the opportunities within each of the core areas of ICT spend (hardware, software, IT services, telecommunications, and consulting)- Realign your sales initiatives by understanding the current strategic objectives of educational institutions- Enhance your market segmentation with the included, detailed breakdown of opportunities within selected technology categories (security products, content management, IoT, and cloud computing)- Prioritize your focus areas by understanding which factors are influencing educational institutions decisions when selecting an ICT provider- Understand the changes in customers priorities and identify the business objectives that educational institutions are looking to achieve through their ICT investment strategiesTable of Content: Key PointsKey findingsKey implications for ICT vendorsExecutive summarySurvey demographicsICT budget changesICT budget allocation by core technology areaHardware budget breakdownSoftware budget breakdownThird-party IT services expenditureCommunications expenditureCloud computing budgetICT budget allocation by functionOutsourced IT functionsICT investment priorities and vendor satisfactionSecurity productsContent managementInternet of Things (IoT)Cloud computingContinuedACCESS REPORT @Get in touch:LinkedIn:Twitter:Facebook: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 RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersPune - 411028Maharashtra, India What readers are saying "Blind Injustice," set to publish Oct. 10 by the University of California Press, is already earning high praise from reviewers, and is currently ranked No. 1 in Amazon.com's new releases in criminal evidence category. The high-stakes work [of exoneration] is costly, time-consuming, and frustrating, and it requires tenacity and compassion to persevere. Mark Godsey has what it takes.Time A master storyteller, Mark Godseys rare triple-perspective of prosecutor, innocence champion, and law professor creates a unique and beautiful voice that not only contributes significantly to the innocence movement but makes the book gripping and hard to put down. A must-read for anyone who cares about justice. Richard A. Leo, Hamill Family Professor of Law and Psychology at the University of San Francisco and author of Police Interrogation and American Justice Mark Godseys journey from prosecuting in the storied U.S Attorneys office in the Southern District of New York to 'innocence lawyer' in his hometown of Cincinnati has yielded an important, candid, and scholarly meditation on the cognitive traps that lead to wrongful convictions. This should be mandatory reading for all young federal and state prosecutors, not to mention judges and defense counsel. Barry Scheck, Professor of Law at Cardozo School of Law and cofounder of the Innocence Project This careful exploration of the psychology of criminal investigations, written in an accessible and conversational tone, exposes how even the best-intentioned officers can get evidence wrong and how we can restore truth to the criminal justice system. Brandon Garrett, Professor of Law at the University of Virginia School of Law and author of Convicting the Innocent: Where Criminal Prosecutions Go Wrong America is in desperate need of heroes, and Mark Godsey, the director and co-founder of the Ohio Innocence Project (OIP) and author of the compelling new book, Blind Injustice: A Former Prosecutor Exposes the Psychology and Politics of Wrongful Convictions, is one of the heroes we need now more than ever. These are stories that push well beyond inducing tears and chills; theyre stories of humanity serving humanity in ways we seldom observe, with the greatest dual rewards of freedom and justice waiting at the end. Bob Cesca, Salon.com Global Aluminum for Aerospace Industry Market 2017 - Dynamic Metals Ltd, Deville Rectification, Bralco Metals, Gould Alloys, Metalweb https://www.fiormarkets.com/report-detail/116977/request-sample https://goo.gl/wa2Xmw www.fiormarkets.com http://longshortreport.com/ This report studies Aluminum for Aerospace Industry 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, coveringAerocom Metals LimitedAleris Switzerland GmbhAlroBralco MetalsDeville RectificationDynamic Metals LtdGould AlloysKobe Steel, Ltd.Kumz Kamensk Uralsky MetallMaterion Brush LtdMetalwebParis Saint-Denis AeroSmacSmiths Advanced MetalsWestdeutscher Metall-HandelRequest For Sample Report @By types, the market can be split intoPlateRodSheetBy Application, the market can be split intoAeronauticalApplication 2By Regions, this report covers (we can add the regions/countries as you want)North AmericaChinaEuropeSoutheast AsiaJapanIndiaAccess Full Report @Table of ContentsGlobal Aluminum for Aerospace Industry Market Professional Survey Report 20171 Industry Overview of Aluminum for Aerospace Industry1.1 Definition and Specifications of Aluminum for Aerospace Industry1.1.1 Definition of Aluminum for Aerospace Industry1.1.2 Specifications of Aluminum for Aerospace Industry1.2 Classification of Aluminum for Aerospace Industry1.2.1 Plate1.2.2 Rod1.2.3 Sheet1.3 Applications of Aluminum for Aerospace Industry1.3.1 Aeronautical1.3.2 Application 21.3.3 Application 32 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Aluminum for Aerospace Industry2.1 Raw Material and Suppliers2.2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Aluminum for Aerospace Industry2.3 Manufacturing Process Analysis of Aluminum for Aerospace Industry2.4 Industry Chain Structure of Aluminum for Aerospace IndustryFior 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: Hyper Converged Infrastructure Market Analysis for 2025 - Global Market Forecast By Networking, Application, Opportunities and Future Trend The Insight Partners http://www.theinsightpartners.com/sample/TIPTE100000440 http://www.theinsightpartners.com/inquiry/TIPTE100000440 http://www.theinsightpartners.com/reports/hyper-converged-infrastructure-market Hyper Converged Infrastructure is a centralized approach to consolidate the entire data center infrastructure where the architecture is software-centric. The systems seeks to converge compute, storage and networking components all put together into a single system and eventually provide a unified management layer. Rising data security concerns and virtualization technology applications for servers and desktop infrastructures have proved conducive to the growth of the market in a very short period of time. It has evolved to an extent that today hyper-converged infrastructure comes either as an appliance or as a reference architecture or as a software.Global Hyper Converged Infrastructure Market Analysis to 2025 is a specialized and in-depth study of the Hyper Converged Infrastructure industry with a focus on the global market trend. The report aims to provide an overview of global Hyper Converged Infrastructure market with detailed market segmentation by product/application and geography. The global Hyper Converged Infrastructure market is expected to witness high growth during the forecast period. The report provides key statistics on the market status of the Hyper Converged Infrastructure players and offers key trends and opportunities in the market.Request a Sample Report atKey Hyper Converged Infrastructure Market Players:1. Nutanix2. Simplivity Corporation3. Pivot34. Atlantis Computing Inc.5. Dell EMC Corporation6. Stratoscale7. VMWare Corporation8. Cisco Systems, Inc.9. Scale Computing10. Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd.The report provides a detailed overview of the industry including both qualitative and quantitative information. It provides overview and forecast of the global Hyper Converged Infrastructure market based on product and application. It also provides market size and forecast till 2025 for overall Hyper Converged Infrastructure 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 Hyper Converged Infrastructure 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 Hyper Converged Infrastructure 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.533, 5th Floor, Amanora Chambers,Amanora Township, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028 Global Potato Chips Market to grow at a CAGR of 4.58% to 2017-2021 https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/sample/1326085 https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/reports/1326085/global-potato-chips-market-research-reports http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/ "The Report Global Potato Chips Market 2017-2021 provides information on pricing, market analysis, shares, forecast, and company profiles for key industry participants. - MarketResearchReports.biz"About Potato ChipsThe process of making potato chips involves potato slices being cut into thin slices that are deep-fried, baked, kettle-cooked, or popped until crunchy. Consumers across the globe tend to purchase potato chips more than any other snacks, as they are ready-to-eat and stomach-filling. And increasing snacking by consumers has also helped the market growth over the years. Hence, the potato chip category is more relevant than ever, in terms of snacks.Technavios analysts forecast the global potato chips market to grow at a CAGR of 4.58% during the period 2017-2021.Get Sample Copy Of This Report @Covered in this reportThe report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the global potato chips market for 2017-2021. 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:AmericasAPACEMEATechnavio's report, Global Potato Chips 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 vendorsCalbeeIntersnack GroupKelloggPepsiCoOther prominent vendorsArca ContinentalBurts Potato ChipsHaldiram Foods InternationalHain Celestial GroupHerr FoodsITCOld Dutch FoodsThe Lorenz Bahlsen Snack-WorldView Report @Market driverChanging taste preferencesFor a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket challengePrice fluctuations of potatoFor a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket trendInnovative product offeringsFor 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?You can request one free hour of our analysts time when you purchase this market report. Details are provided within the report.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.Mr. NachiketState Tower90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074Website:Email: sales@marketresearchreports.biz Global Narrow-Body Aircraft Engine Market to 6.1% CAGR to 2021 Analysis of CFM International, GE Aviation, International Aero Engines, Pratt & Whitney, and Rolls-Royce https://www.marketresearchnest.com/global-narrow-body-aircraft-engine-market-2017-2021.html https://www.marketresearchnest.com/purchase.php?reportid=264844 https://www.marketresearchnest.com/enquirybuy.php?reportid=264844 MarketResearchNest.com adds Global Narrow-Body Aircraft Engine Market 2017-2021 new reports to its research database. The report spread across 70 pages with tables and figures in it.The research analysts forecast the global narrow-body aircraft engine market to grow at a CAGR of 6.1% during the period 2017-2021.Narrow-body aircraft are mainly classified into single-aisle and regional aircraft. Single-aisle aircraft, powered by turbofan engines, have passengers seated in two-axial groups, with a capacity of up to six passengers abreast. Likewise, regional aircraft, powered by both turboprop and turbofan engine configurations, are operated in short-haul and medium-haul routes, where each aircraft carries comparatively fewer passengers than conventional single-aisle aircraft.Get more details about report at:Technavio recognizes the following companies as the key players in the global narrow-body aircraft engine market: CFM International, GE Aviation, International Aero Engines, Pratt & Whitney, and Rolls-Royce.Other Prominent Vendors in the market are: MTU AERO ENGINES.The latest trend gaining momentum in the market is Design innovations for engine parts. The noise generated by aircraft is mainly due to the unsteady airflow into the jet engine. It is a major concern for the aviation industry and the environment as the noise is very high and causes an increasingly acute environmental problem. Further, the noise pollution is increasing steadily with the exponential growth in air traffic. To address such concerns, the designs of narrow-body engines are being modified to adhere to the noise pollution limits set by various regulatory bodies such as FAA, EASA, and others.Order a Purchase Report Copy at(This is premium report, Single User License USD 3500 and Corporate User License USD 6000)According to the report, one of the major drivers for this market is Decline in fuel prices decrease operating cost of aircraft. The aviation industry is highly price-sensitive and competitive as the majority of customers prefer low-cost options over brand loyalty. Customers' preference has also gradually shifted toward air travel over land transport as the former offers time and monetary savings. With such increasing demand for air travel, the production of aircraft has also increased. This increase has been mainly witnessed in the regional travel aircraft segment, which uses narrow-body aircraft.Further, the report states that one of the major factors hindering the growth of this market is High cost associated with replacement of engines. The engines of narrow-body aircraft are heavily priced, and the cost of a single engine accounts for almost one-third of the total cost of a whole new jet. The average cost of an engine of a single-aisle aircraft is around $9.72 million, and the average cost of an engine of a regional jet cost around $4 million. The engine and the other components in narrow-body aircraft must be under constant supervision. In addition, engine MRO must be performed on a regular basis to ensure that the components are not damaged. As there is a high demand for narrow-body aircraft, the chances of replacing the engine with better performance one are higher but the risk associated (risk of compatibility, payload-carrying capacity, and adequate thrust generation) is also high, making it unsafe, dangerous, and more prone to damage and failure of the entire aircraft.The study was conducted using an objective combination of primary and secondary information including inputs from key participants in the industry. The report contains a comprehensive market and vendor landscape in addition to a SWOT analysis of the key vendors.Inquire before buying this report atMarketResearchNest.com is the most comprehensive collection of market research products and services on the Web. We offer reports from almost all top publishers and update our collection on daily basis to provide you with instant online access to the worlds most complete and recent database of expert insights on global industries, organizations, products, and trends.Mr. Jeet JainSales Managersales@marketresearchnest.com+1-240-284-8070 / +44-20-3290-4151 Crash Barrier Systems Market Dynamics, Segments and Supply Demand 2016 - 2024 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=T&rep_id=6224 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=6224 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Global Crash Barrier Systems Market: OverviewThe global crash barrier systems market is estimated to grow at a progressive rate, owing to the rising opportunities in emerging economies across the globe. Furthermore, the rising investment in infrastructure development, including airports and roads, especially in developing nations and the high growth of the automotive industry are some of the key factors estimated to accelerate the growth of the global market. The research report analyzes the global crash barrier systems market on a global basis and throws light on the key growth prospects and the latest trends in the market.The report talks about the market dynamics that are expected to affect the overall industry and examines their impact in the next few years. Furthermore, the key segmentation of the global crash barrier systems market has been presented in the study in order to offer a strong understanding of the overall market. The key growth factors, recent developments, restraints, and the limitations in the market have been highlighted. Furthermore, a thorough overview of the competitive landscape of the market, presenting insights into the company profiles and their product portfolios.View TOC for this Market Report @Global Crash Barrier Systems Market: Drivers and RestraintsThe rising awareness among consumers regarding the importance and benefits of safety measures is one of the vital factors expected to encourage the growth of the global crash barrier systems market in the forecast period. In addition, the growing focus of key players on offering additional rigidity to the barrier system in order to maximize safety is likely to drive the demand for crash barrier systems in the near future.On the other hand, the high-cost severity owing to the barrier collision is one of the vital factors projected to restrict the growth of the global market crash barrier systems in the forecast period. In addition, the volatility in the cost of raw materials and the interference of highway agencies are some of the other factors likely to hamper the growth of the market in the near future. Nevertheless, the rising popularity and demand for flexible crash barriers are estimated to generate promising opportunities for the key players in the global market.Global Crash Barrier Systems Market: Region-wise OutlookAccording to the research study, the global market for crash barrier systems can be classified in terms of geography into North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, and the Rest of the World. Among these regions, Asia Pacific is expected to grow at a fast pace throughout the forecast period and account for a massive share of the global crash barrier systems market. The tremendously rising population and the growing need to offer safety systems are some of the key factors estimated to encourage the growth of the crash barrier systems market in Asia Pacific.Furthermore, the rising number of accidents taking place in developing economies in Asia Pacific, owing to the casual approach towards road safety regulations is anticipated to generate promising opportunities for the key players operating in the market. In addition, the growing focus on industrialization and the rapid growth of the construction sector are some of the primary factors estimated to fuel the growth of the overall market in the next few years.For more information on this report, fill the form @Key Players Mentioned in the Research Report are:Some of the leading players operating in the crash barrier systems market across the globe are Nucor Corporation, Arbus Limited, Hill & Smith Holdings PLC, NV Bekaert SA, Valmont Industries, Inc., Transpo Industries, Inc., Lindsay Corporation, Trinity Industries, Inc., Avon Barrier Corporation Ltd., and Tata Steel Limited. With the increasing number of players, the global market for crash barrier systems is expected to witness stiff competition in the next few years. The growing emphasis on new product development is expected to generate promising opportunities for the growth of the overall market throughout the forecast period.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 Military Personal Protective Equipment Market Is Expected To Reach US$19.09 bn By The End Of 2024 At A CAGR Of 6.1% Military Personal Protective Equipment Market https://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=1009139 https://www.researchmoz.us/military-personal-protective-equipment-market-global-industry-analysis-size-share-growth-trends-and-forecast-2016-2024-report.html https://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=E&repid=1009139 http://www.researchmoz.us/ http://marketresearchlatestreports.blogspot.in/ Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Military Personal Protective Equipment Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2016 - 2024" to its huge collection of research reports.Military personal protective equipment has become a crucial and standard element of soldier equipment. One of the major factor driving the market is the increasing role of ground troops in different parts of the world such as Iraq, Afghanistan and India among others. The demand for military personal protective equipment is anticipated to be driven by modernization initiatives undertaken by several large defense spenders globally and various internal security threats, such as organized crime and terrorism among others.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Global Military Personal Protective Equipment Market: Drivers and TrendsOne of the major factor driving the market is the increasing role of ground troops in different parts of the world such as Afghanistan, Iran and Iraq among others. As of 2014, there were 8 active military conflicts and 10 official wars known by the United States. In addition, there were also other violent clashes relating 64 countries and 576 separatist and militias groups. In 2016, in wars between Syria and Iraq, Afghanistan, South Sudan, the Lake Chad basin and Yemen helps the military personal protective equipment market to grow at a high CAGR which in turn is expected to boost the market.Body armor (IBA), improved outer tactical vest (IOTV), advanced combat helmet (ACH), pelvic protection systems (PPS), life safety jacket, military combat eye protection (MCEP) and others sectors are the various product types of the military personal protective equipment market. Among various product types of the military personal protective equipment market body armor (BA) is the held the major market share in 2015 and expected to be the same during the forecast period of 2016 2024.Global Military Personal Protective Equipment Market: SegmentationThe military personal protective equipment market has been segmented on the basis of application into army, air force, navy and others. Among various application of the military personal protective equipment market army held major market share in 2015 followed by navy and is expected to be remain the same during the forecast period of 2016 2024. Several countries are focusing on manufacturing better military personal protective equipment such as lightweight under suits, ballistic inserts, combat helmets and advanced night vision equipment that provide the benefits of enhanced protection and comfort to ground, navy and air forces. In 2015, the market is expected to be dominated by North America followed by Europe and Asia Pacific. In addition, Asia Pacific occupies more than 20% of the global market share, is driven by developing economies such as India, South Korea, Japan and China among others which are performing soldier modernization programs.Browse Detail Report With Full TOC @Global Military Personal Protective Equipment Market: Regional OutlookBy geography, the military personal protective equipment market is classified into five regions namely North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa and Latin America. In 2015, North America holds the largest market share in the military personal protective equipment followed by Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America and Middle East & Africa. However, in 2024 Asia Pacific is anticipated to be the largest market for military personal protective equipment market followed by North America. China held the largest share for the military personal protective equipment market in Asia Pacific in 2015. It is also expected to experience healthy growth in the coming years. Growing research and development activities started by different research organizations acts as a driving factor of the market. In addition, growing concerns over the safety and protection of the forces is expected to propel the growth of the market.Key Players Mentioned in this Report are:Key players profiled in this report include 3M Ceradyne (United States), ArmorWorks (United States), Eagle Industries Unlimited Inc (United States), BAE Systems (United Kingdom), DSM Dyneema (United States),Armorsource (United States), Du Pont (United States), Honeywell Advanced Fibres and Composites (United States), Revision Military Inc. (United States) and GentexCorporatio Corporation (United States) among others.The segments covered in the Military Personal Protective Equipment market are as follows:Global Military Personal Protective Equipment Market: By Product Type- Body Armor (IBA)- Improved Outer Tactical Vest (IOTV)- Advanced Combat Helmet (ACH)- Pelvic Protection Systems (PPS)- Life Safety Jackets- Military Combat Eye Protection (MCEP)- OthersGlobal Military Personal Protective Equipment Market: By Application- Army- Air Force- Navy- OthersGlobal Military Personal Protective Equipment Market: By Geography- North America- U.S.- Canada- Mexico- Europe- U.K.- Germany- France- Italy- Rest of Europe- Asia Pacific- India- China- Japan- Rest of Asia Pacific- Latin America- Brazil- Rest of Latin America- Middle East and Africa- Saudi Arabia- United Arab Emirates- Rest of Middle East and AfricaMake an Enquiry of this report @About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.ResearchMozState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesEmail: sales@researchmoz.usWebsite @Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Tel: +1-518-621-2074For More Reports Visit @ Syngas and Derivatives Market anticipated to rise at a CAGR of 9.40% between 2016 and 2024 - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/sample/198366 https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/reports/198366/syngas-and-derivatives-global-market-research-reports https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/category/26 https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/enquiry/198366 http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/ MarketResearchReports.Biz presents this most up-to-date research on "Syngas and Derivatives Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2016 - 2024"Global Syngas and Derivatives Market: OverviewSyngas is a mixture comprising of hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and very often some carbon dioxide. It normally contains carbon in it as it is derived from feedstock such as coal, petroleum, natural gas and others.Get Sample copy of this Report @ It is majorly used as a fuel and for manufacturing of other chemicals. Chemicals, power generation, liquid fuels and gaseous fuels are the major end-user industry where syngas finds application.The report estimates and forecasts the syngas and derivatives market on the global, regional, and country levels. The study provides forecast between 2016 and 2024 based on volume (MWth) with 2015 as the base year. The report comprises an exhaustive value chain analysis for each of the product segments. It provides a comprehensive view of the market. Value chain analysis also offers detailed information about value addition at each stage. The study includes drivers and restraints for the syngas and derivatives 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 syngas and derivatives 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 Porters Five Forces Model to determine the degree of competition in the syngas and derivatives 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 share, raw material availability, 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.View Report @ Global Syngas and Derivatives Market: SegmentationThe study provides a comprehensive view of the syngas and derivatives market by dividing it on the basis of end-user and geography segments. The syngas and derivatives market has been segmented into chemicals, power generation, liquid fuels and gaseous fuels based on end-user. End-user segment have been analyzed based on historic, present, and future trends.Regional segmentation includes the current and forecast demand for syngas and derivatives in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa (MEA). Additionally, the report comprises country-level analysis in terms of volume for end-user segments. Key countries such as the U.S., Germany, France, the U.K., Spain, Italy, India, China, South Africa, Mexico, and Brazil have been included in the study. Market segmentation includes demand for individual end-user in all the regions and countries.Global Syngas and Derivatives Market: Competitive AnalysisThe report covers detailed competitive outlook that includes market share and profiles of key players operating in the global market. Key players profiled in the report includes Air Products and Chemicals Inc., Air Liquide SA, BASF SE, Sasol Limited, Siemens Ag 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).Secondary research sources that were typically referred to include, but were not limited to company websites, financial reports, annual reports, investor presentations, broker reports, and SEC filings. Other sources such as internal and external proprietary databases, statistical databases and market reports, news articles, national government documents, and webcasts specific to companies operating in the market have also been referred for the report.In-depth interviews and discussions with a wide range of key opinion leaders and industry participants were conducted to compile this research report. Primary research represents the bulk of research efforts, supplemented by extensive secondary research. Key players product literature, annual reports, press releases, and relevant documents were reviewed for competitive analysis and market understanding. This helped in validating and strengthening secondary research findings. Primary research further helped in developing the analysis teams expertise and market understanding.Browse more Power Market Research Reports @The global syngas and derivatives market has been segmented as follows:By FeedstockCoalPetroleumNatural Gas/Biomass WasteOthersBy Production TechnologyPartial OxidationSteam ReformingBiomass GasificationOthersBy End UserChemicalsPower GenerationLiquid FuelsGaseous FuelsRequest for Enquiry @By RegionNorth AmericaU.S.CanadaEuropeGermanyFranceU.K.ItalySpainRest of EuropeAsia PacificChinaIndiaJapanASEANRest of Asia PacificMiddle East & AfricaGCCEgyptSouth AfricaRest of Middle East & AfricaLatin AmericaBrazilMexicoRest of Latin AmericaAbout usMarketResearchReports.biz is the most comprehensive collection of market research reports. MarketResearchReports.Biz services are specially designed to save time and money for our clients. We are a one stop solution for all your research needs, our main offerings are syndicated research reports, custom research, subscription access and consulting services. We serve all sizes and types of companies spanning across various industries.Contact usMr. NachiketState Tower90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074Website:E: sales@marketresearchreports.biz Global Wood Preservative Chemicals Market Size, Share | MarketResearchReports.biz https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/reports/1279337/wood-preservative-chemicals-global-market-research-reports https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/sample/1279337 https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/enquiryBuy/1279337 http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/ Latest industry research report on: Global Wood Preservative Chemicals Market : Industry Size, Share, Research, Reviews, Analysis, Strategies, Demand, Growth, Segmentation, Parameters, ForecastsGlobal Wood Preservative Chemicals Market: OverviewWood 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.Complete Report Details @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.Request For Sample 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.Have Any Query? Ask Our Expert @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.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 & DeckingMarineConstructionOthersAbout 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 Food Packaging Market Dynamics, Segments and Supply Demand 2015 - 2023 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=T&rep_id=7283 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=7283 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Food Packaging Market: SnapshotFood packaging market is arguably the biggest application segment of the packaging sector and accounts for over one-third of the total global packaging market. From an international perspective, the market for food packaging is at an intriguing stage where the market has reached at a stagnant point the developed nations while evolving nations are fast catching up to the newer technologies and supply chain management.Good food packaging offers protection and can improve the shelf-life of products which consequently attracts more number of customers. The market for food packaging is expected to grow in the coming years as numerous production facilities are being set up to catch up with the latest trends coming up in the market. Also, world is experiencing rapid changes in lifestyle and food preferences that are coupled with growing population and economic growth of the respective region. All these factors have been influential in shaping up the global food packaging market. In addition to this, people are preferring processed food as result of shifting population dynamics from rural to urban areas.View TOC for this Market Report @With rising awareness about environmental pollution and global warming, more people are not preferring to use eco-friendly food packaging techniques. This has created a significant impact on the growth of the global food packaging market. Moreover, rising disposable incomes of the people around the world, growing demand for ready-to-eat food, and rising awareness about the packaged food among the customers complement the development of the global food packaging market.Food packaging market is by far the largest application segment of the packaging industry, accounting for more than one-third of the global packaging market. From a global perspective, the food packaging market is at a very interesting situation, where the market has almost reached a plateau in terms of technology in the more developed nations in North America and Europe, while the emerging countries of Asia Pacific region are playing catch up to the packaging technologies and food supply chain management. Different types of food products require varied packaging types according to their individual usage and perishability.The sea change in food habits and preference for processed food has propelled the food packaging market in the past. The market for packaged food has already reached a holistic level in North America and Western Europe, while rapid lifestyle changes and economic growth, coupled with rising population in Asia Pacific countries such as China and India, has spiked the growth rate of food packaging in the region. The growth rate in South America and the Middle East is also on the higher side compared to the developed economies. The main reason for increasing preference for processed food is the shifting population dynamics towards urban centers from rural areas. This has resulted in the advent of dual income urban families, who prefer processed food due to time constraints. Packaged food has evolved from super markets to neighborhood stores in countries such as China, India, Brazil and Thailand among others. The market dynamics in North America and Europe however, is governed by branding activities undertaken by food processing companies.Tremendous opportunity exist in the food packaging market in emerging economies as the food packaging technology is in its growth phase in this region. Antimicrobial packaging technique is of particular interest as it helps to improve the shelf life of perishable food products. The market is however, slightly restrained by the declining growth in North America and Europe.The food packaging market can be segmented into application segments such as convenience foods, confectionary items, dairy items, fruits and vegetables, meat and sauces and dressings. The popularity of the different food applications is different across the globe. For instance packaged meat is making foray into Asia Pacific region while it is mainstream in North America and Europe. Materials used to package food can also be segmented into plastic, paper & board, metal and glass. They may also be classified as rigid, semi-regid and flexible by type of packaging material. The preferences for different packaging materials also vary with regions due to the food habits specific to the regions. Flexible packaging accounts for the largest share of food packaging.For more information on this report, fill the form @North America is the largest food packaging market followed by Europe and Asia Pacific. However the growth rate exhibited by these regions has subsided considerably as the market is close to its peak. The growth parity is however, restored by the high growth regions of Asia Pacific and South America. China and India have exhibited exceptional growth potential and is expected to overtake the market leading position from North America in the near future.Some of the major players in the food packaging market are American Packaging Corporation, Anchor Packaging, Crown Holdings, Inc. and Bemis Company, Inc., among many others.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information. 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: Travel Services Market In India To Grow At A CAGR Of 18.46% During The Period 2017-2021 Key vendors - Cox & Kings, MakeMyTrip, SOTC, Thomas Cook, Yatra Travel Services Market In India https://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=1180498 https://www.researchmoz.us/travel-services-market-in-india-2017-2021-report.html https://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=E&repid=1180498 http://www.researchmoz.us/ http://marketresearchlatestreports.blogspot.in/ Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Travel Services Market in India 2017-2021" to its huge collection of research reports.Travel services are categorized in to public and private services that provides travel and tourism related services to the public. Based on the services offered, the travel services market is segmented into six: hotel accommodation, domestic flight, rail ticket, domestic bus, taxi or cab, and holiday package. On the basis of the mode of booking, the travel services market is segmented as online mode and offline mode.Technavios analysts forecast the travel services market in India to grow at a CAGR of 18.46% 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 travel services market in India for 2017-2021. To calculate the market size, the report considers the travel services delivered by various service providers.Travel Services Market in India 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 vendorsCox & KingsMakeMyTripSOTCThomas CookYatraOther prominent vendorsAirbnbBusindia.comCleartripExpediaIRCTCMeruOlaOYO RoomsTreeboUberBrowse Detail Report With Full TOC @Market driverStrategic alliances such as mergers and acquisitionsFor a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket challengeLack of adequate infrastructureFor a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket trendAvailability of innovative mobile travel appsFor 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.ResearchMozState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesEmail: sales@researchmoz.usWebsite @Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Tel: +1-518-621-2074For More Reports Visit @ Marine Lubricants Market Expanding at a CAGR of 4.17% from 2016 to 2024 - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/sample/167328 https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/reports/167328/marine-lubricants-global-industry-market-research-reports https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/category/50 https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/enquiry/167328 http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/ MarketResearchReports.Biz presents this most up-to-date research on "Marine Lubricants Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2016 - 2024"Global Marine Lubricants Market: OverviewLubricants play a vital role in the reduction of friction and wear and tear of operating parts of different machines. The movement of certain mechanical parts is operational only in the presence of lubricants.Get Sample copy of this Report @Marine lubricants minimize the wear and tear between different machine parts and improve their output efficiency. Marine lubricants have numerous uses in the shipping industry, as a result of which different types of engine oil, hydraulic oil, and grease are developed.Ships require marine lubricants for smooth functioning of machineries and components installed on them. Marine lubricants are effective in eliminating the harmful effects of friction. Introduction of the aviation transportation mode has hampered the water transport mode. However, owing to the high cost of aviation transportation, water transport has regained its popularity. Thus, the growing water transport worldwide is expected to fuel the demand for marine lubricants in the next few years. Group I base oils are getting scarce as well as expensive and witnessing fluctuations in demand. This is likely to result in shutdown of Group I refineries. The inadequate supply of bright stock material has propelled the discovery of alternatives, which also are inadequate. Thus, shortage of supply is expected to hamper the marine lubricants market in the near future.Global Marine Lubricants Market: Research MethodologyThe report estimates and forecasts the marine lubricants market on the global and regional levels. The study provides forecast between 2016 and 2024 based on volume (kilo tons) and revenue (US$ Mn) with 2015 as the base year. The report comprises an exhaustive value chain analysis for each of the segments. It provides a comprehensive view of the market. Value chain analysis also offers detailed information about value addition at each stage. The study includes drivers and restraints for the marine lubricants market along with their impact on demand during the forecast period. The study also provides key market indicators affecting the growth of the market.View Report @ The report analyzes opportunities in the marine lubricants market on the global and regional level. Drivers, restraints, and opportunities mentioned in the report are justified through quantitative and qualitative data. These have been verified through primary and secondary resources. Furthermore, the report analyzes substitute analysis of marine lubricants and global average price trend analysis.The report includes Porters Five Forces Model to determine the degree of competition in the marine lubricants market. The report comprises a qualitative write-up on market attractiveness analysis, wherein end-users and regions have been analyzed based on attractiveness for each region. Growth rate, market size, raw material availability, profit margin, impact strength, technology, competition, and other factors (such as environmental and legal) have been evaluated in order to derive the general attractiveness of the market. The report comprises price trend analysis for marine lubricants between 2016 and 2024.Global Marine Lubricants Market: SegmentationThe study provides a comprehensive view of the marine lubricants market by dividing it into product, application, operation type, and geography segments. The products have been segmented into mineral oil, synthetic oil, and bio-based oil. The applications are segmented into engine oil, hydraulic oil, turbine oil, gear oil, heat transfer fluids (HTFs), compressor oil, grease and others. The operation types have been categorized as inland and offshore. These segments have been analyzed based on historic, present, and future trends.The product segment includes lubricants formulated from base oils such as mineral oil, synthetic oil, and bio-based oil. Out of these three types, mineral oil-based marine lubricants significantly dominate the market, followed by synthetic oil-based marine lubricants. Mineral oil falls under group I, II and III by API specification. Synthetic oil can be categorized as fully synthetic (group III, IV and V) and semi-synthetic which is the mixture of synthetic and mineral oil. Bio-based lubricants are obtained from either vegetable oil or animal oil.The application segment includes engine oil, hydraulic oil, turbine oil, gear oil, heat transfer fluids (HTFs), compressor oil, grease and others. The most consumed marine lubricants are engine oil, gear oil, hydraulic oil and grease. Following engine oil, the second most consumed marine lubricant is hydraulic oil. Even though engine oil segment held significant share of the marine lubricants market, hydraulic oil segment is expected to exhibit major growth potential during the forecast period. Regional segmentation includes the current and forecast consumption of marine lubricants in North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Middle East & Africa (MEA). Market segmentation includes demand for consumption in all the regions individually.Browse more Petroleum Market Research Reports @ Global Marine Lubricants 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 include Royal Dutch Shell plc, ExxonMobil Corporation, BP PLC., LUKOIL Marine Lubricants DMCC, Chevron Corporation, and Total Lubmarine. 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).Secondary research sources that were typically referred to include, but were not limited to, OPEC Annual Statistical Bulletin, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC), Independent Chemical Information Service (ICIS), International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), International Maritime Organization (IMO), 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.Request for Enquiry @The global marine lubricants market has been segmented as follows:By Product AnalysisMineral oilSynthetic oilBio-based oilBy ApplicationEngine oilHydraulic oilTurbine oilGear oilHeat Transfer Fluids (HTFs)Compressor oilGreaseOthersBy Operation TypeInlandOffshoreBy RegionNorth AmericaU.S.CanadaLatin AmericaBrazilMexicoRest of Latin AmericaEuropeGermanyFranceU.K.SpainItalyRest of EuropeAsia PacificChinaJapanIndiaASEANRest of Asia PacificMiddle East & AfricaGCCSouth AfricaRest of Middle East & AfricaAbout 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 usMr. NachiketState Tower90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074Website:E: sales@marketresearchreports.biz North America Depression Drugs Market by Manufacturers, Countries, Type and Application, Forecast to 2022 https://www.worldwidemarketreports.com/sample/11099 https://www.worldwidemarketreports.com/market-insights/north-america-depression-drugs-market-by-manufacturers-countries-type-and-application-forecast-to-2022 Depression is a mental health issue. It's a condition that starts most often in early adulthood. It's also more common in women. However, anyone at any age may suffer from depression. Depression affects the brain, so drugs that work in the brain may offer hope. Common antidepressants may help ease your symptoms, but there are many other options as well. Each drug used to treat depression works by balancing certain chemicals in your brain called neurotransmitters. Depression Drugs is drugs used for Depression.Scope of the Report:This report focuses on the Depression Drugs in North America market, especially in United States, Canada and Mexico. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, countries, type and application.Request Sample Copy of Research:Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report covers:Intellipharmaceutics,Pfizer,Eli Lilly,Astrazeneca,Lundbeck,Allergan,GSK,Otsuka Pharmaceutical,Takeda,NHU Group,Shionogi,APOTEX,Kanghong Pharma,HUAHAI,.Market Segment by Countries, covering:United States,Canada,Mexico,Market Segment by Type, covers:SSRIs,SNRIs,Others,.Market Segment by Applications, can be divided into:Hospitals,Clinics,Others,.There are 15 Chapters to deeply display the North America Depression Drugs market.Chapter 1, to describe Depression Drugs 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 Depression Drugs, 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 Depression Drugs, 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, Depression Drugs 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 Depression Drugs Research Findings and Conclusion, Appendix, methodology and data sourceBrowse Full Report at:About Worldwide Market Reports:Worldwide Market Reports is your one-stop repository of detailed and in-depth market research reports compiled by an extensive list of publishers from across the globe. We offer reports across virtually all domains and an exhaustive list of sub-domains under the sunThe in-depth market analysis by some of the most vastly experienced analysts provide our diverse range of clients from across all industries with vital decision making insights to plan and align their market strategies in line with current market trends. Worldwide Market Researchs well-researched inputs that encompass domains ranging from IT to healthcare enable our prized clients to capitalize upon key growth opportunitiesand shield against credible threats prevalent in the market in the current scenario and those expected in the near future.Contact Us:Mr. ShahWorldwide Market Reports1001 4th Ave, #3200Seattle, WA 98154, U.STel: +1 415 871 0703Email: sales@worldwidemarketreports.com North America Medical Ventilator Market by Manufacturers, Countries, Type and Application, Forecast to 2022 https://www.worldwidemarketreports.com/sample/11114 https://www.worldwidemarketreports.com/market-insights/north-america-medical-ventilator-market-by-manufacturers-countries-type-and-application-forecast-to-2022 A medical ventilator is a mechanical ventilator, a machine designed to move breathable air into and out of the lungs, to provide breathing for a patient who is physically unable to breathe, or breathing insufficiently.Scope of the Report:This report focuses on the Medical Ventilator in North America market, especially in United States, Canada and Mexico. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, countries, type and application.Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report coversResmedMedtronicBD (Carefusion)Philips HealthcareGE HealthcareInvacareTeijin PharmaFisher & PaykelDrager MedicalDeVilbisseVent MedicalMarket Segment by Countries, coveringUnited StatesCanadaMexicoMarket Segment by Type, coversNon-invasive VentilatorInvasive VentilatorMarket Segment by Applications, can be divided intoHome UseHospitals & ClinicsOthersRequest Sample Copy Of This Report:There are 15 Chapters to deeply display the North America Medical Ventilator market.Chapter 1, to describe Medical Ventilator 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 Medical Ventilator, 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 Medical Ventilator, 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, Medical Ventilator 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 Medical Ventilator Research Findings and Conclusion, Appendix, methodology and data sourceComplete Report Details @About Worldwide Market Reports:Worldwide Market Reports is your one-stop repository of detailed and in-depth market research reports compiled by an extensive list of publishers from across the globe. We offer reports across virtually all domains and an exhaustive list of sub-domains under the sunThe in-depth market analysis by some of the most vastly experienced analysts provide our diverse range of clients from across all industries with vital decision making insights to plan and align their market strategies in line with current market trends. Worldwide Market Researchs well-researched inputs that encompass domains ranging from IT to healthcare enable our prized clients to capitalize upon key growth opportunitiesand shield against credible threats prevalent in the market in the current scenario and those expected in the near future.Contact Us:Mr. ShahWorldwide Market Reports1001 4th Ave, #3200Seattle, WA 98154, U.STel: +1 415 871 0703Email: sales@worldwidemarketreports.com Global Smart Parking System Market Research Report 2017 : Gemalto NV, CPI Card Group, Cubic Market Research Reports https://www.qyresearchreports.com/sample/sample.php?rep_id=946281&type=E https://www.qyresearchreports.com/report/global-smart-parking-system-market-research-report-2017.htm Qyresearchreports include new market research report "Global Smart Parking System Market Research Report 2017" to its huge collection of research reports.The research report on the global Smart Parking System market looks into current and historical values to present projections for vital market indicators. It studies regional as well as key domestic markets to present a satisfactory picture about the growth of the global market for Smart Parking System over the forecast period.The report is compiled in a chapter-wise layout with each chapter systematically divided into sub-sections for easy browsing. The annex section provides the feasibility and profitability analysis of new ventures and new investments in the Smart Parking System market in the upcoming years.The introductory part of the report includes terms and terminologies, conventions, and notations that are relevant in the context of Smart Parking System market. This is followed by a discussion on industry statutes, industry chain structures, and industry growth policies that are in the purview of the Smart Parking System market. Demand and supply logistics, production capacity, product pricing and profit, and import/export behavior are the key parameters that have been studied across regional markets of Smart Parking System.This report studies Smart Parking System 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, coveringHIDGemalto NVNXP SemiconductorsCPI Card GroupCubicXeroxIn this report, standard analytical tools are used to assess market attractiveness of new investments in the Smart Parking System market. Included in the report is a SWOT analysis of key players in the market and insights into their winning strategies and competitive hierarchy in the global market for Smart Parking System. The results obtained using industry-centric analytical tools help to understand the developments in the Smart Parking System market right from historical years to the end of the forecast period that market players can leverage for gainful opportunities.Enter your information below to receive a free sample copy of this report @Table of Contents1 Smart Parking System Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Smart Parking System1.2 Smart Parking System Segment by Type1.2.1 Global Production Market Share of Smart Parking System by Type in 20151.3 Smart Parking System Segment by Application1.4 Smart Parking System Market by Region1.5 Global Market Size (Value) of Smart Parking System (2012-2022)2 Global Smart Parking System Market Competition by Manufacturers2.1 Global Smart Parking System Production and Share by Manufacturers (2015 and 2016)2.2 Global Smart Parking System Revenue and Share by Manufacturers (2015 and 2016)2.3 Global Smart Parking System Average Price by Manufacturers (2015 and 2016)2.4 Manufacturers Smart Parking System Manufacturing Base Distribution, Sales Area and Product Type2.5 Smart Parking System Market Competitive Situation and Trends3 Global Smart Parking System Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2012-2017)3.1 Global Smart Parking System Production and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)3.2 Global Smart Parking System Revenue (Value) and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)3.3 Global Smart Parking System Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.4 North America Smart Parking System Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.5 Europe Smart Parking System Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.6 China Smart Parking System Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7 Global Smart Parking System Manufacturers Profiles/Analysis7.1 HID7.1.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Its Competitors7.1.2 Smart Parking System Product Type, Application and Specification7.1.2.1 E-Toll7.1.2.2 Request Tracker7.1.3 HID Smart Parking System Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2015 and 2016)7.1.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.2 Gemalto NV7.2.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Its Competitors7.2.2 Smart Parking System Product Type, Application and Specification7.2.2.1 E-Toll7.2.2.2 Request Tracker7.2.3 Gemalto NV Smart Parking System Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2015 and 2016)7.2.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.3 NXP Semiconductors7.3.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Its Competitors7.3.2 Smart Parking System Product Type, Application and Specification7.3.2.1 E-Toll7.3.2.2 Request Tracker7.3.3 NXP Semiconductors Smart Parking System Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2015 and 2016)7.3.4 Main Business/Business OverviewBrowse Press Release of this Research Report:List of Tables and FiguresFigure Picture of Smart Parking SystemFigure Global Production Market Share of Smart Parking System by Type in 2015Table Smart Parking System Consumption Market Share by Application in 2015Figure Global Smart Parking System Revenue (Million UDS) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Table Global Smart Parking System Production of Key Manufacturers (2015 and 2016)Table Global Smart Parking System Production Share by Manufacturers (2015 and 2016)Table Global Smart Parking System Revenue (Million USD) by Manufacturers (2015 and 2016)Table Global Smart Parking System Revenue 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 US:1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia Teleconsultation and Telecollaboration Sofware Market Size, Status and Forecast 2021 Market Research Reports https://www.qyresearchreports.com/sample/sample.php?rep_id=898433&type=E https://www.qyresearchreports.com/report/united-states-eu-japan-china-india-and-southeast-asia-teleconsultation-and-telecollaboration-sofware-market-size-status-and-forecast-2021.htm Qyresearchreports include new market research report "United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia Teleconsultation and Telecollaboration Sofware Market Size, Status and Forecast 2021" to its huge collection of research reports.The Teleconsultation and Telecollaboration Sofware report is a professional study of the United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia Teleconsultation and Telecollaboration Sofware industry that scrutinizes vital indicators relevant to the progression of the said market for the period between 2017 and 2022. The market study on the United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia Teleconsultation and Telecollaboration Sofware market examines historical statistics, based on which projections are presented herein. The report studies regional segments of the United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia Teleconsultation and Telecollaboration Sofware market, with a further analysis of major national markets in these regions.The report is presented in a chapter-wise layout followed by an annex section. It report begins with a prelude of the United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia market for Teleconsultation and Telecollaboration Sofware, progressing into terms and terminologies, categorizations, and prime applications. It presents an analysis of the Teleconsultation and Telecollaboration Sofware industry by examining industry chain, product categorization, industry plans, manufacturing chain, cost structure, and so on. The regional segments are analyzed with respect to demand and supply logistics, product pricing and profit, import/export behavior, and production capacity and its maximum utilization.This report studies the global Teleconsultation and Telecollaboration Sofware market, analyzes and researches the Teleconsultation and Telecollaboration Sofware development status and forecast in United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia. This report focuses on the top players in global market, likeA&D MedicalBiotronikCardiocomDebiotechEvident Health ServicesEvident Health ServicesFuzeBoxGemalto / CinterionHome Healthcare Hospice and Community Services (HCS)IBMWith the help of analytical tools for the feasibility and profitability of new investments, the report presents market attractiveness for the aforementioned forecast period. The SWOT analysis of key players in the Teleconsultation and Telecollaboration Sofware market presents insights into their winning strategies and the competitive hierarchy. These results obtained using analytical tools help to understand the changing competitive hierarchy of the United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia Teleconsultation and Telecollaboration Sofware market right from historical years until the end of the forecast period. This helps to understand the winning imperatives for key markets players to gain competitive advantage in the Teleconsultation and Telecollaboration Sofware market in the upcoming years.KNOW MORE WITH FREE SAMPLE STUDY @Table of Contents1 Industry Overview of Teleconsultation and Telecollaboration Sofware1.1 Teleconsultation and Telecollaboration Sofware Market Overview1.1.1 Teleconsultation and Telecollaboration Sofware Product Scope1.1.2 Market Status and Outlook1.2 Global Teleconsultation and Telecollaboration Sofware Market Size and Analysis by Regions1.3 Teleconsultation and Telecollaboration Sofware Market by End Users/Application2 Global Teleconsultation and Telecollaboration Sofware Competition Analysis by Players2.1 Teleconsultation and Telecollaboration Sofware Market Size (Value) by Players (2015-2016)2.2 Competitive Status and Trend2.2.1 Market Concentration Rate2.2.2 Product/Service Differences2.2.3 New Entrants2.2.4 The Technology Trends in Future3 Company (Top Players) Profiles3.1 A&D Medical3.1.1 Company Profile3.1.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.1.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.1.4 Teleconsultation and Telecollaboration Sofware Revenue (Value) (2011-2016)3.1.5 Recent Developments3.2 Biotronik3.2.1 Company Profile3.2.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.2.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.2.4 Teleconsultation and Telecollaboration Sofware Revenue (Value) (2011-2016)3.2.5 Recent Developments3.3 Cardiocom3.3.1 Company Profile3.3.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.3.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.3.4 Teleconsultation and Telecollaboration Sofware Revenue (Value) (2011-2016)3.3.5 Recent Developments4 Global Teleconsultation and Telecollaboration Sofware Market Size by Application (2011-2016)4.1 Global Teleconsultation and Telecollaboration Sofware Market Size by Application (2011-2016)4.2 Potential Application of Teleconsultation and Telecollaboration Sofware in Future4.3 Top Consumer/End Users of Teleconsultation and Telecollaboration Sofware11 Market Forecast by Regions and Application (2016-2021)11.1 Global Teleconsultation and Telecollaboration Sofware Market Size (Value) by Regions (2016-2021)11.2 Global Teleconsultation and Telecollaboration Sofware Market Size (Value) by Application (2016-2021)11.3 The Market Drivers in FutureView TOC (table of content), Figures and Tables of the Report:List of Tables and FiguresFigure Teleconsultation and Telecollaboration Sofware Product ScopeFigure Global Teleconsultation and Telecollaboration Sofware Market Size (2011-2016)Table Global Teleconsultation and Telecollaboration Sofware Market Size and Growth Rate by Regions (2011-2016)Figure Global Teleconsultation and Telecollaboration Sofware Market Share by Regions in 2015Figure United States Teleconsultation and Telecollaboration Sofware Market Size and Growth Rate by Regions (2011-2016)Figure EU Teleconsultation and Telecollaboration Sofware Market Size and Growth Rate by Regions (2011-2016)Figure Japan Teleconsultation and Telecollaboration Sofware Market Size and Growth Rate by Regions (2011-2016)Figure China Teleconsultation and Telecollaboration Sofware Market Size and Growth Rate by Regions (2011-2016)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 US:1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com North America Cyber Insurance Market to Witness a Pronounce Growth During 2022 https://www.worldwidemarketreports.com/sample/8859 https://www.worldwidemarketreports.com/market-insights/north-america-cyber-insurance-market-by-manufacturers-countries-type-and-application-forecast-to-2022 Cyber-insurance is an insurance product used to protect businesses and individual users from Internet-based risks, and more generally from risks relating to information technology infrastructure and activities. Risks of this nature are typically excluded from traditional commercial general liability policies or at least are not specifically defined in traditional insurance products. Coverage provided by cyber-insurance policies may include first-party coverage against losses such as data destruction, extortion, theft, hacking, and denial of service attacks; liability coverage indemnifying companies for losses to others caused, for example, by errors and omissions, failure to safeguard data, or defamation; and other benefits including regular security-audit, post-incident public relations and investigative expenses, and criminal reward funds.Request a sample pdf Copy of report@Scope of the Report:This report focuses on the Cyber Insurance in North America market, especially in United States, Canada and Mexico. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, countries, type and application.Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report coversAmerican International GroupThe Chubb CorporationZurich Insurance CoXL Group LtdBerkshire HathawayAllianz Global Corporate & SpecialtyMunich Re GroupLloyd'sLockton CompaniesAON PLCMarket Segment by Countries, coveringUnited StatesCanadaMexicoMarket Segment by Type, coversSmall Medium EnterpriseLarge Medium EnterpriseMarket Segment by Applications, can be divided intoHealthcareRetailFinancial ServicesInformation Technology and ServicesOthersBrowse full reportThere are 15 Chapters to deeply display the North America Cyber Insurance market.Chapter 1, to describe Cyber Insurance 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 Cyber Insurance, 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 Cyber Insurance, 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, Cyber Insurance 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 Cyber Insurance Research Findings and Conclusion, Appendix, methodology and data sourceAbout WMRWorldwide Market Reports is your one-stop repository of detailed and in-depth market research reports compiled by an extensive list of publishers from across the globe. We offer reports across virtually all domains and an exhaustive list of sub-domains under the sun.The in-depth market analysis by some of the most vastly experienced analysts provide our diverse range of clients from across all industries with vital decision making insights to plan and align their market strategies in line with current market trends. Worldwide Market Researchs well-researched inputs that encompass domains ranging from IT to healthcare enable our prized clients to capitalize upon key growth opportunitiesand shield against credible threats prevalent in the market in the current scenario and those expected in the near future.Contact Us:Mr. ShahWorldwide Market Reports1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154,U.STel: +1 415 871 0703Email: sales@worldwidemarketreports.com Worldwide Deep brain stimulation (DBS) Market Outlook to 2022: Emerging Trends and Will Generate New Growth Opportunities Status Deep brain stimulation Market https://www.reportsmonitor.com/request-sample/?post=371067 https://www.reportsmonitor.com/make-enquiry/?post=371067 http://www.reportsmonitor.com New report of Deep brain stimulation (DBS) market Report communicates about the manufacturing process. The process is analysed thoroughly with respect three points, viz. raw material and equipment suppliers, various manufacturing associated costs (material cost, labour cost, etc.) and the actual process of whole Enterprise Deep brain stimulation (DBS) market. The Enterprise Deep brain stimulation (DBS) Industry research report is a resource, which provides technical and financial details of the Enterprise Deep brain stimulation (DBS) Market (Volume and Value).Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a neurosurgical procedure involving the implantation of a medical device called a neurostimulator (sometimes referred to as a 'brain pacemaker'), which sends electrical impulses, through implanted electrodes, to specific targets in the brain (brain nuclei) for the treatment of movement and neuropsychiatric disorders. DBS in select brain regions has provided therapeutic benefits for otherwise-treatment-resistant disorders such as Parkinson's disease, essential tremor, dystonia, chronic pain, major depression and obsessivecompulsive disorder (OCD).Get Sample PDF of Deep brain stimulation (DBS) Market Report @Deep brain stimulation (DBS) Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report covers: Medtronic, Boston Scientific, St Jude Medical, Beijing Pins, SceneRay.In this introductory section, the Deep brain stimulation (DBS) industry research report incorporates analysis of definitions, classifications, applications and industry chain structure.Deep brain stimulation (DBS) Market Segment by Regions, regional analysis covers: North America (USA, Canada and Mexico), Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy), Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia), South America (Brazil, Argentina, and Columbia), Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa)Deep brain stimulation (DBS) Market Segment by Type, covers: Single-channel DBS, Dual Channel DBS.Deep brain stimulation (DBS) Market Segment by Applications, covers: Parkinsons disease, Essential Tremor, Dystonia, Others.Scope of Report: This report focuses on the Deep brain stimulation (DBS) 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.Pre Order Enquiry for Deep brain stimulation (DBS) Market report @Next part of Deep brain stimulation (DBS) Market Research Report contains additional information like key vendors in Market space, Deep brain stimulation (DBS) Market opportunities and threats faced by the vendors in the Global Deep brain stimulation (DBS) Market , opportunities, market risk and market overview. The process is analysed thoroughly with respect three points, viz. raw material and equipment suppliers, various manufacturing associated costs (material cost, labour cost, etc.) and the actual process.About UsReports Monitor (ReportsMonitor.com) is a platform for companies looking to meet their 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. The prime focus is to get reliable data, 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: United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia Bispecific Antibody Therapeutic Market Size, Status and Forecast 2021 Market Research Reports https://www.qyresearchreports.com/sample/sample.php?rep_id=897716&type=E https://www.qyresearchreports.com/report/united-states-eu-japan-china-india-and-southeast-asia-bispecific-antibody-therapeutic-market-size-status-and-forecast-2021.htm https://www.qyresearchreports.com/sample/sample.php?rep_id=897716&type=D Qyresearchreports include new market research report "United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia Bispecific Antibody Therapeutic Market Size, Status and Forecast 2021" to its huge collection of research reports.The United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia Bispecific Antibody Therapeutic market is being molded by various factors, an in-depth assessment of which has been provided in the report. The research study classifies those as growth drivers and restraints. It analysis their effect on the growth-path of the market from 2017 to 2022. It also glances at the recent trends in the market.The report also uses popular analytical tools, namely Porters Five Forces and SWOT analysis to gauge the bargaining power of suppliers and buyers and the threat from substitution and new entrants. All these helps to provide an accurate picture of the prevalent competition in the United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia Bispecific Antibody Therapeutic market.The team of analysts behind preparing the report understand that it is important for companies to chart their marketing strategies carefully. To that end, they have collated pertinent information in the form of charts and tables and also furnished helpful suggestions to enable companies beat competition. The report is a repository of exhaustive information aimed at providing insight into the United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia Bispecific Antibody Therapeutic market to its stakeholders.Request for the Report Sample:This report studies the global Bispecific Antibody Therapeutic market, analyzes and researches the Bispecific Antibody Therapeutic development status and forecast in United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia. This report focuses on the top players in global market, likeAmgenMerrimack PharmaceuticalsAffimedMerusOncoMed PharmaceuticalsIn addition, the report also studies the effect of latest domestic and international policies on the United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia Bispecific Antibody Therapeutic market. It divides the market based upon parameters. Factors impacting the growth across the segments are analyzed thoroughly and opportunities are reviewed.To study the vendor landscape in the United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia market for Bispecific Antibody Therapeutic, the report lists and scrutinizes some of the prominent participants. It throws lights on their product offerings, sales, revenues, strategies, and growth trajectories.Table of Contents1 Industry Overview of Bispecific Antibody Therapeutic1.1 Bispecific Antibody Therapeutic Market Overview1.1.1 Bispecific Antibody Therapeutic Product Scope1.1.2 Market Status and Outlook1.2 Global Bispecific Antibody Therapeutic Market Size and Analysis by Regions1.3 Bispecific Antibody Therapeutic Market by End Users/ApplicationBrowse full table of contents and data tables of Report @2 Global Bispecific Antibody Therapeutic Competition Analysis by Players2.1 Bispecific Antibody Therapeutic Market Size (Value) by Players (2015-2016)2.2 Competitive Status and Trend2.2.1 Market Concentration Rate2.2.2 Product/Service Differences2.2.3 New Entrants2.2.4 The Technology Trends in Future3 Company (Top Players) Profiles3.1 Amgen3.1.1 Company Profile3.1.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.1.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.1.4 Bispecific Antibody Therapeutic Revenue (Value) (2011-2016)3.1.5 Recent Developments3.2 Merrimack Pharmaceuticals3.2.1 Company Profile3.2.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.2.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.2.4 Bispecific Antibody Therapeutic Revenue (Value) (2011-2016)3.2.5 Recent Developments3.3 Affimed3.3.1 Company Profile3.3.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.3.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.3.4 Bispecific Antibody Therapeutic Revenue (Value) (2011-2016)3.3.5 Recent Developments4 Global Bispecific Antibody Therapeutic Market Size by Application (2011-2016)4.1 Global Bispecific Antibody Therapeutic Market Size by Application (2011-2016)4.2 Potential Application of Bispecific Antibody Therapeutic in Future4.3 Top Consumer/End Users of Bispecific Antibody Therapeutic11 Market Forecast by Regions and Application (2016-2021)11.1 Global Bispecific Antibody Therapeutic Market Size (Value) by Regions (2016-2021)11.2 Global Bispecific Antibody Therapeutic Market Size (Value) by Application (2016-2021)11.3 The Market Drivers in FutureTo Get Discount Of This Report Click here @List of Tables and FiguresFigure Bispecific Antibody Therapeutic Product ScopeFigure Global Bispecific Antibody Therapeutic Market Size (2011-2016)Table Global Bispecific Antibody Therapeutic Market Size and Growth Rate by Regions (2011-2016)Figure Global Bispecific Antibody Therapeutic Market Share by Regions in 2015Figure United States Bispecific Antibody Therapeutic Market Size and Growth Rate by Regions (2011-2016)Figure EU Bispecific Antibody Therapeutic Market Size and Growth Rate by Regions (2011-2016)Figure Japan Bispecific Antibody Therapeutic Market Size and Growth Rate by Regions (2011-2016)Figure China Bispecific Antibody Therapeutic Market Size and Growth Rate by Regions (2011-2016)Figure India Bispecific Antibody Therapeutic Market Size and Growth Rate by Regions (2011-2016)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 US:1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com Ozone Generation Technology 2017 Global Market - Technologies, Applications, Verticals, Strategies & Forecasts Ozone Generation Technology 2017 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/687164-global-ozone-generation-technology-market-2016-2020 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/enquiry/687164-global-ozone-generation-technology-market-2016-2020 WiseGuyReports.Com Publish a New Market Research Report On - Ozone Generation Technology 2017 Global Market - Technologies, Applications, Verticals, Strategies & Forecasts.The analysts forecast the global ozone generation technology market to grow at a CAGR of 8.07% during the period 2016-2020.Ozone consists of three molecules of oxygen atoms; in other words, it is a triatomic form of oxygen. Though ozone is present in the atmosphere, it is an unstable and reactive gas. In an ozone generator, the ambient air is pulled into the chamber. A filter placed within the generator, prevents dust and other foreign particles from entering the core of this chamber. A fan inside the chamber accelerates the speed at which the air is circulated within the unit. Inside the chamber, a high-voltage corona mechanism converts the oxygen (O) to ozone (O). A stainless steel grill protects the ozone from human intervention. In the last stage, ozone exits the machine where it oxidizes harmful contaminants and odors/smoke to purify water and air.Get a Sample Report @For more information or any query mail at sales@wiseguyreports.comCovered in this reportThe report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the global ozone generation technology market for 2016-2020. To calculate the market size, the report considers the revenue garnered by ozone generator vendors.The market is divided into the following segments based on geography: Americas APAC EMEAThe report, global ozone generation technology 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 Degremont EBARA Fuji Electric Mitsubishi Electric ToshibaOther prominent vendors DEL Ozone Bharat Light Machine Pacific Ozone Technology Absolute Systems International Ozone Technologies Ozocan Primozone Chemtronics ORAIPL METAWATER Xylem Water Solutions Ozonia ESCOMarket driver Key ozone sanitation benefits for soil For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket challenge Stringent rules and regulations regarding ozone standards For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket trend Development of containerized ozone generators 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?Ask Query @Table Of Contents Major Key PointsPART 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 Five forces analysisPART 06: Market segmentation by application Global ozone generation technology market by application Global ozone generation technology market by drinking water segment Global ozone generation technology market by industrial water segment Global ozone generation technology market by wastewater segment Global ozone generation technology market by air treatment segmentPART 07: Market segmentation by geography Global ozone generation technology market by geographical segmentation Ozone generation technology market in EMEA Ozone generation technology market in APAC Ozone generation technology market in AmericasPART 08: Market drivers Need for potable water Rise in application of ozone technology Growing impact of industrialization Need for safe and clean waterPART 09: Impact of driversPART 10: Market challenges Lack of awareness about ozone generation technology Stringent rules and regulations regarding ozone standards Intense competition between local and global vendorsPART 11: Impact of drivers and challengesPART 12: Market trends Demand for water and air treatment in emerging countries Development of containerized ozone generators Growing demand for rental systemsPART 13: Vendor landscape Competitive landscape Other prominent vendorsPART 14: Key vendor analysis Degremont EBARA Fuji Electric Mitsubishi Electric ToshibaContinue.For more information or any query mail at sales@wiseguyreports.comABOUT US:Wise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe. Wise Guy Reports features an exhaustive list of market research reports from hundreds of publishers worldwide. We boast a database spanning virtually every market category and an even more comprehensive collection of market research reports under these categories and sub-categories.Office No.528,Amanora Chambers,Magarpatta Road,Hadapsar,Pune-411028. Patient Engagement Solutions Market Report for Period 2017 IBM, McKesson Corporation, Healthagen, GetWell Network, Cerner Corporation, Orion Health and Others Patient Engagement Solutions Market https://goo.gl/ZqMQsn https://goo.gl/ZqMQsn https://goo.gl/ZqMQsn http://marketreportscompany.com Global Patient Engagement Solutions market report provides detailed analysis of companies namely Medecision, Athenahealth, Healthagen, Allscripts, GetWell Network, Lincor Solutions, Orion Health, Cerner Corporation, IBM, Epic Systems, McKesson Corporation and Others. This report study includes global market statistics and analysis for example, company performance, historical analysis 2012 to 2016, market forecast 2017 to 2023 in terms of volume, revenue, YOY growth rate, and CAGR for the year 2017 to 2022, etc.The term "patient engagement" has become entrenched in the healthcare lexicon. Many healthcare networks and payers are now striving to achieve the Institute for Healthcare Improvements Triple Aim.Request for Free Sample Copy of Global Patient Engagement Solutions Market 2017Top Company Profiles and Analysis included in this report:Cerner CorporationIBMEpic SystemsMcKesson CorporationMedecisionAthenahealthHealthagenAllscriptsGetWell NetworkLincor SolutionsOrion HealthOthersGlobal Patient Engagement Solutions Market: Key Product TypeWeb-basedCloud-basedOn-premiseOthersGlobal Patient Engagement Solutions Market: Key Application TypeHealth ManagementSocial and Behavioral ManagementHome Health ManagementFinancial Health ManagementOthersGlobal Patient Engagement Solutions Market: Key RegionNorth America (USA, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia, Italy and Others)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India, Southeast Asia and Others)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia and Others)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa and Others)The Global Patient Engagement Solutions Market analysis report provides detailed value chain for analysis of Global Patient Engagement Solutions Market. The value chain helps to analyze major upstream in raw materials, major equipments, manufacturing process, downstream customer analysis and major distributor analysis.The report also covers in-depth description, competitive scenario, wide product portfolio of prime players active in this market and business strategies adopted by competitors along with their SWOT analysis. Side by side, it also explicitly provides information about mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, and all the other important activities happened in current and past few years. The Global Patient Engagement Solutions Market report explores manufacturers competitive scenario and provides market share for all major players of this market based on production capacity, sales, revenue, geographical presence and other major factors.Enquire before Buying @Table of Contents:1 Market Overview1.1 Market Segment Overview1.1.1 Product Definition1.1.2 Market by Type1.1.2.1 Web-based1.1.2.2 Cloud-based1.1.2.3 On-premise ........................Continue (Global Patient Engagement Solutions Market Research Industry Report is prepared with the help of extensive primary and secondary sources, directories, journals, newsletters and with the help of third-party application like Hoovers, Factiva, Bloomberg, Businessweek, etc.About Us:Market Reports Company is a global research and consulting company. We provide customized reports. We can study and analyze any market based on wide range of parameters. We can provide market insights for any particular region, country across the globe within shortest possible turn around time.What we offer: Customized Reports: we provide customized report study on any market or industry. Region Specific Study: If you need region specific or if you are searching for particular region market study then, we have expert research team for that. How we work: We work in all domains and industries, you name it and we provide the market research industry report analysis of it. Expertise: Superior Research Team, 24*7 Customer Care ServiceContact UsJason Smith,Sales Manager, Global Business Development,Website:Email: jasonsmith@marketreportscompany.comContact us: +1-888-220-3424Address: 20 N State Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60602 United States Pallet Conveyor Market Report for Period 2017 till 2022 MSK Covertech, TGW Logistic, KG Logistics, Omini, Okura, Damon, Witron, Hytrol, Interroll, Krones, Swisslog and Others Pallet Conveyor Market https://goo.gl/HPLSF8 https://goo.gl/HPLSF8 https://goo.gl/HPLSF8 http://marketreportscompany.com Global Pallet Conveyor market report provides detailed analysis of companies namely Beumer, System Logistic, Interroll, Krones, Damon, Witron, Knapp, inform, Okura, Bastian Solutions, KG Logistics, Omini, Dematic, Intelligrated, Swisslog, MSK Covertech, TGW Logistic, Mecalux, Hytrol and Others. This report study includes global market statistics and analysis for example, company performance, historical analysis 2012 to 2016, market forecast 2017 to 2023 in terms of volume, revenue, YOY growth rate, and CAGR for the year 2017 to 2022, etc.Pallet Conveyor is a type of conveyor that transport pallets from one point to another. It is also a mechanically-operated material handling equipment, which are used to transport material within premises.This report is mainly focus on the pallet conveyors for EURO pallet, GMA pallet, GKN Chep pallet, plastic pallet etc. The conveyors can bear 500 to 5000 pounds of weight, so it can also be called for heavy duty pallet conveyors. The belt type products usually cannot bear the products above 100 kg, so it is not included in this report.Request for Free Sample Copy of Global Pallet Conveyor Market 2017Top Company Profiles and Analysis included in this report:DematicIntelligratedSwisslogMSK CovertechTGW LogisticMecaluxHytrolBeumerSystem LogisticInterrollKronesDamonWitronKnappinformOkuraBastian SolutionsKG LogisticsOminiOthersGlobal Pallet Conveyor Market: Key Product TypeHassOthersGlobal Pallet Conveyor Market: Key Application TypeFoodCosmeticMedicalOthersGlobal Pallet Conveyor Market: Key RegionNorth America (USA, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia, Italy and Others)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India, Southeast Asia and Others)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia and Others)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa and Others)The Global Pallet Conveyor Market analysis report provides detailed value chain for analysis of Global Pallet Conveyor Market. The value chain helps to analyze major upstream in raw materials, major equipments, manufacturing process, downstream customer analysis and major distributor analysis.The report also covers in-depth description, competitive scenario, wide product portfolio of prime players active in this market and business strategies adopted by competitors along with their SWOT analysis. Side by side, it also explicitly provides information about mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, and all the other important activities happened in current and past few years. The Global Pallet Conveyor Market report explores manufacturers competitive scenario and provides market share for all major players of this market based on production capacity, sales, revenue, geographical presence and other major factors.Enquire before Buying @Table of Contents:1 Market Overview1.1 Pallet Conveyor Introduction1.2 Market Analysis by Type1.2.1 Drag Chain1.2.2 Roller (driven or gravity)1.2.3 Plastic Type1.2.4 Slat Type1.3 Market Analysis by Applications1.3.1 Retail/Logistic1.3.2 Industrial1.3.3 Food1.3.4 Beverage (separate from Food)1.3.5 Other........................Continue (Global Pallet Conveyor Market Research Industry Report is prepared with the help of extensive primary and secondary sources, directories, journals, newsletters and with the help of third-party application like Hoovers, Factiva, Bloomberg, Businessweek, etc.About Us:Market Reports Company is a global research and consulting company. We provide customized reports. We can study and analyze any market based on wide range of parameters. We can provide market insights for any particular region, country across the globe within shortest possible turn around time.What we offer: Customized Reports: we provide customized report study on any market or industry. Region Specific Study: If you need region specific or if you are searching for particular region market study then, we have expert research team for that. How we work: We work in all domains and industries, you name it and we provide the market research industry report analysis of it. Expertise: Superior Research Team, 24*7 Customer Care ServiceContact UsJason Smith,Sales Manager, Global Business Development,Website:Email: jasonsmith@marketreportscompany.comContact us: +1-888-220-3424Address: 20 N State Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60602 United States Non-Stick Pans Market Report for Period 2017 till 2022 TTK Prestige, Hawkins Cookers, Sanhe Kitchenware, Cooker King, NEWELL, BERNDES, Maspion, Neoflam and Others Non-Stick Pans Market https://goo.gl/BZX8Ds https://goo.gl/BZX8Ds https://goo.gl/BZX8Ds http://marketreportscompany.com Global Non-Stick Pans market report provides detailed analysis of companies namely TTK Prestige, Hawkins Cookers, Cuisinart, Le Creuset, Cinsa, China ASD, Nanlong, Sanhe Kitchenware, Cooker King, TianXi Holding Group, SEB, Meyer Corporation, NEWELL, BERNDES, Maspion, The Cookware Company, Neoflam and Others. This report study includes global market statistics and analysis for example, company performance, historical analysis 2012 to 2016, market forecast 2017 to 2023 in terms of volume, revenue, YOY growth rate, and CAGR for the year 2017 to 2022, etc.This report studies the Non-Stick Pans market. Non-stick pan is a type of pans with non-stick surface or coatings, which is engineered to reduce the ability of other materials to stick to it.For non-stick cookware, the non-stick coating allows food to brown without sticking to the pan. Non-stick is often used to refer to surfaces coated with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), a well-known brand of which is Teflon. With the health concerns centered on PTFE in recent years, Ceramic coatings are developed as a newer material in the world of nonstick cookware. Its widely considered to be the safest and most environmentally friendly option. Ceramic is free of PTFE and PFOA (more on PTFE and PFOA below).Request for Free Sample Copy of Global Non-Stick Pans Market 2017Top Company Profiles and Analysis included in this report:SEBMeyer CorporationNEWELLBERNDESMaspionThe Cookware CompanyNeoflamTTK PrestigeHawkins CookersCuisinartLe CreusetCinsaChina ASDNanlongSanhe KitchenwareCooker KingTianXi Holding GroupOthersGlobal Non-Stick Pans Market: Key Product TypePTFE-based Non-Stick PansCeramic-based Non-Stick PansOthersGlobal Non-Stick Pans Market: Key Application TypeCommercialResidentialOthersGlobal Non-Stick Pans Market: Key RegionNorth America (USA, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia, Italy and Others)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India, Southeast Asia and Others)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia and Others)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa and Others)The Global Non-Stick Pans Market analysis report provides detailed value chain for analysis of Global Non-Stick Pans Market. The value chain helps to analyze major upstream in raw materials, major equipments, manufacturing process, downstream customer analysis and major distributor analysis.The report also covers in-depth description, competitive scenario, wide product portfolio of prime players active in this market and business strategies adopted by competitors along with their SWOT analysis. Side by side, it also explicitly provides information about mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, and all the other important activities happened in current and past few years. The Global Non-Stick Pans Market report explores manufacturers competitive scenario and provides market share for all major players of this market based on production capacity, sales, revenue, geographical presence and other major factors.Enquire before Buying @Table of Contents:1 Market Overview1.1 Non-Stick Pans Introduction1.2 Market Analysis by Type1.2.1 PTFE-based Non-Stick Pans1.2.2 Ceramic-based Non-Stick Pans1.3 Market Analysis by Applications1.3.1 Commercial1.3.2 Residential1.4 Market Analysis by Regions........................Continue (Global Non-Stick Pans Market Research Industry Report is prepared with the help of extensive primary and secondary sources, directories, journals, newsletters and with the help of third-party application like Hoovers, Factiva, Bloomberg, Businessweek, etc.About Us:Market Reports Company is a global research and consulting company. We provide customized reports. We can study and analyze any market based on wide range of parameters. We can provide market insights for any particular region, country across the globe within shortest possible turn around time.What we offer: Customized Reports: we provide customized report study on any market or industry. Region Specific Study: If you need region specific or if you are searching for particular region market study then, we have expert research team for that. How we work: We work in all domains and industries, you name it and we provide the market research industry report analysis of it. Expertise: Superior Research Team, 24*7 Customer Care ServiceContact UsJason Smith,Sales Manager, Global Business Development,Website:Email: jasonsmith@marketreportscompany.comContact us: +1-888-220-3424Address: 20 N State Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60602 United States Membrane Electrode Assemblies Market Report for Period 2017 till 2022 Johnson Matthey, Wuhan WUT, Dupont (Chemours), Gore, Giner, Greenerity and Others Membrane Electrode Assemblies Market https://goo.gl/NPvWqP https://goo.gl/NPvWqP https://goo.gl/NPvWqP http://marketreportscompany.com Global Membrane Electrode Assemblies market report provides detailed analysis of companies namely Ballard, Greenerity, Wuhan WUT, IRD Fuel Cells, Giner, HyPlat, 3M, Dupont (Chemours), Gore, Johnson Matthey and Others. This report study includes global market statistics and analysis for example, company performance, historical analysis 2012 to 2016, market forecast 2017 to 2023 in terms of volume, revenue, YOY growth rate, and CAGR for the year 2017 to 2022, etc.The Membrane Electrode Assembly (MEA) is the core component of a fuel cell that helps produce the electrochemical reaction needed to separate electrons. On the anode side of the MEA, a fuel (hydrogen, methanol etc.) diffuses through the membrane and is met on the cathode end by an oxidant (oxygen or air) which bonds with the fuel and receives the electrons that were separated from the fuel. Catalysts on each side enable reactions and the membrane allows protons to pass through while keeping the gases separate. In this way cell potential is maintained and current is drawn from the cell producing electricity.Request for Free Sample Copy of Global Membrane Electrode Assemblies Market 2017Top Company Profiles and Analysis included in this report:3MDupont (Chemours)GoreJohnson MattheyBallardGreenerityWuhan WUTIRD Fuel CellsGinerHyPlatOthersGlobal Membrane Electrode Assemblies Market: Key Product Type3-layer MEA5-layer MEAOthersGlobal Membrane Electrode Assemblies Market: Key Application TypeHydrogen Fuel CellsMethanol Fuel CellsOthersGlobal Membrane Electrode Assemblies Market: Key RegionNorth America (USA, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia, Italy and Others)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India, Southeast Asia and Others)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia and Others)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa and Others)The Global Membrane Electrode Assemblies Market analysis report provides detailed value chain for analysis of Global Membrane Electrode Assemblies Market. The value chain helps to analyze major upstream in raw materials, major equipments, manufacturing process, downstream customer analysis and major distributor analysis.The report also covers in-depth description, competitive scenario, wide product portfolio of prime players active in this market and business strategies adopted by competitors along with their SWOT analysis. Side by side, it also explicitly provides information about mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, and all the other important activities happened in current and past few years. The Global Membrane Electrode Assemblies Market report explores manufacturers competitive scenario and provides market share for all major players of this market based on production capacity, sales, revenue, geographical presence and other major factors.Enquire before Buying @Table of Contents:1 Market Overview1.1 Membrane Electrode Assemblies Introduction1.2 Market Analysis by Type1.2.1 3-layer MEA1.2.2 5-layer MEA1.2.3 Other1.3 Market Analysis by Applications1.3.1 Hydrogen Fuel Cells1.3.2 Methanol Fuel Cells1.3.3 Others........................Continue (Global Membrane Electrode Assemblies Market Research Industry Report is prepared with the help of extensive primary and secondary sources, directories, journals, newsletters and with the help of third-party application like Hoovers, Factiva, Bloomberg, Businessweek, etc.About Us:Market Reports Company is a global research and consulting company. We provide customized reports. We can study and analyze any market based on wide range of parameters. We can provide market insights for any particular region, country across the globe within shortest possible turn around time.What we offer: Customized Reports: we provide customized report study on any market or industry. Region Specific Study: If you need region specific or if you are searching for particular region market study then, we have expert research team for that. How we work: We work in all domains and industries, you name it and we provide the market research industry report analysis of it. Expertise: Superior Research Team, 24*7 Customer Care ServiceContact UsJason Smith,Sales Manager, Global Business Development,Website:Email: jasonsmith@marketreportscompany.comContact us: +1-888-220-3424Address: 20 N State Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60602 United States Load Cell Market Report for Period 2017 till 2022 Honeywell, Mettler Toledo, MinebeaMitsumi Inc., ZEMIC, Spectris, Novatech Measurements Limited, Thames Side Sensors Ltd, Yamato Scale Co., Ltd. and Others Load Cell Market https://goo.gl/CNs66i https://goo.gl/CNs66i https://goo.gl/CNs66i http://marketreportscompany.com Global Load Cell market report provides detailed analysis of companies namely PCB Piezotronics, Inc., Flintec, Honeywell, Yamato Scale Co., Ltd., Interface, Inc., Kubota, Rice Lake Weighing Systems, Novatech Measurements Limited, Thames Side Sensors Ltd, LAUMAS Elettronica, ZEMIC, Spectris, Vishay Precision Group, Mettler Toledo, MinebeaMitsumi Inc., A&D and Others. This report study includes global market statistics and analysis for example, company performance, historical analysis 2012 to 2016, market forecast 2017 to 2023 in terms of volume, revenue, YOY growth rate, and CAGR for the year 2017 to 2022, etc.A load cell is a transducer that is used to create an electrical signal whose magnitude is directly proportional to the force being measured. The various types of load cells include hydraulic load cells, pneumatic load cells and strain gauge load cells.Load cells work by converting a weight reading into a signal that is then read by a computer located somewhere else, called the terminal. Load cell technology is easily integrated into many kinds of instruments, machines, vehicles and other devices.Request for Free Sample Copy of Global Load Cell Market 2017Top Company Profiles and Analysis included in this report:ZEMICSpectrisVishay Precision GroupMettler ToledoMinebeaMitsumi Inc.A&DPCB Piezotronics, Inc.FlintecHoneywellYamato Scale Co., Ltd.Interface, Inc.KubotaRice Lake Weighing SystemsNovatech Measurements LimitedThames Side Sensors LtdLAUMAS ElettronicaOthersGlobal Load Cell Market: Key Product TypeSingle Point Load CellCompression Load CellShear Beam Load CellS-Type Load CellOthersGlobal Load Cell Market: Key Application TypeIndustrialMedicalRetailTransportationOthersGlobal Load Cell Market: Key RegionNorth America (USA, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia, Italy and Others)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India, Southeast Asia and Others)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia and Others)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa and Others)The Global Load Cell Market analysis report provides detailed value chain for analysis of Global Load Cell Market. The value chain helps to analyze major upstream in raw materials, major equipments, manufacturing process, downstream customer analysis and major distributor analysis.The report also covers in-depth description, competitive scenario, wide product portfolio of prime players active in this market and business strategies adopted by competitors along with their SWOT analysis. Side by side, it also explicitly provides information about mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, and all the other important activities happened in current and past few years. The Global Load Cell Market report explores manufacturers competitive scenario and provides market share for all major players of this market based on production capacity, sales, revenue, geographical presence and other major factors.Enquire before Buying @Table of Contents:1 Market Overview1.1 Load Cell Introduction1.2 Market Analysis by Type1.2.1 Single Point Load Cell1.2.2 Compression Load Cell1.2.3 Shear Beam Load Cell1.2.4 S-Type Load Cell1.2.5 Others........................Continue (Global Load Cell Market Research Industry Report is prepared with the help of extensive primary and secondary sources, directories, journals, newsletters and with the help of third-party application like Hoovers, Factiva, Bloomberg, Businessweek, etc.About Us:Market Reports Company is a global research and consulting company. We provide customized reports. We can study and analyze any market based on wide range of parameters. We can provide market insights for any particular region, country across the globe within shortest possible turn around time.What we offer: Customized Reports: we provide customized report study on any market or industry. Region Specific Study: If you need region specific or if you are searching for particular region market study then, we have expert research team for that. How we work: We work in all domains and industries, you name it and we provide the market research industry report analysis of it. Expertise: Superior Research Team, 24*7 Customer Care ServiceContact UsJason Smith,Sales Manager, Global Business Development,Website:Email: jasonsmith@marketreportscompany.comContact us: +1-888-220-3424Address: 20 N State Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60602 United States Laser Marking Machine Market Report for Period 2017 till 2022 Trotec, FOBA, Trumpf, Rofin, Huagong Tech, Tianhong laser, Amada Miyachi, Laserstar, Schmidt, Eurolaser, Keyence, SIC Marking and Others Laser marking machine Market https://goo.gl/2M1LUp https://goo.gl/2M1LUp https://goo.gl/2M1LUp http://marketreportscompany.com Global Laser Marking Machine market report provides detailed analysis of companies namely Videojet, Epilog Laser, Schmidt, Eurolaser, Keyence, SIC Marking, Amada Miyachi, Laserstar, Universal Laser Systems, Mecco, Huagong Tech, Tianhong laser, Hans Laser, Telesis Technologies, Trumpf, Rofin, TYKMA Electrox, Trotec, FOBA, Gravotech and Others. This report study includes global market statistics and analysis for example, company performance, historical analysis 2012 to 2016, market forecast 2017 to 2023 in terms of volume, revenue, YOY growth rate, and CAGR for the year 2017 to 2022, etc.Laser marking machine is a type of machine that use laser beam to make permanent marking in various surface materials.Laser marking machines are used in a dynamic, highly adaptable process for high-speed character, logo, graphic, bar code and 2D Data Matrix marking. Laser marking is highly readable and leaves a permanent mark that enables effective traceability and is capable of withstanding harsh environmental conditions.Request for Free Sample Copy of Global Laser Marking Machine Market 2017Top Company Profiles and Analysis included in this report:Hans LaserTelesis TechnologiesTrumpfRofinTYKMA ElectroxTrotecFOBAGravotechVideojetEpilog LaserSchmidtEurolaserKeyenceSIC MarkingAmada MiyachiLaserstarUniversal Laser SystemsMeccoHuagong TechTianhong laserOthersGlobal Laser Marking Machine Market: Key Product TypeFiber TypeCO2 Lasers TypeSolid State Lasers TypeOthersGlobal Laser Marking Machine Market: Key Application TypeElectronicsPrecision InstrumentsFood and MedicineAuto partsHardware ProductsPlastic PackagingOthersGlobal Laser Marking Machine Market: Key RegionNorth America (USA, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia, Italy and Others)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India, Southeast Asia and Others)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia and Others)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa and Others)The Global Laser Marking Machine Market analysis report provides detailed value chain for analysis of Global Laser Marking Machine Market. The value chain helps to analyze major upstream in raw materials, major equipments, manufacturing process, downstream customer analysis and major distributor analysis.The report also covers in-depth description, competitive scenario, wide product portfolio of prime players active in this market and business strategies adopted by competitors along with their SWOT analysis. Side by side, it also explicitly provides information about mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, and all the other important activities happened in current and past few years. The Global Laser Marking Machine Market report explores manufacturers competitive scenario and provides market share for all major players of this market based on production capacity, sales, revenue, geographical presence and other major factors.Enquire before Buying @Table of Contents:1 Market Overview1.1 Laser Marking Machine Introduction1.2 Market Analysis by Type1.2.1 Fiber Type1.2.2 CO2 Lasers Type1.2.3 Solid State Lasers Type1.2.4 Others1.3 Market Analysis by Applications1.3.1 Electronics1.3.2 Precision Instruments1.3.3 Food and Medicine1.3.4 Auto parts1.3.5 Hardware Products1.3.6 Plastic Packaging1.3.1 Others........................Continue (Global Laser Marking Machine Market Research Industry Report is prepared with the help of extensive primary and secondary sources, directories, journals, newsletters and with the help of third-party application like Hoovers, Factiva, Bloomberg, Businessweek, etc.About Us:Market Reports Company is a global research and consulting company. We provide customized reports. We can study and analyze any market based on wide range of parameters. We can provide market insights for any particular region, country across the globe within shortest possible turn around time.What we offer: Customized Reports: we provide customized report study on any market or industry. Region Specific Study: If you need region specific or if you are searching for particular region market study then, we have expert research team for that. How we work: We work in all domains and industries, you name it and we provide the market research industry report analysis of it. Expertise: Superior Research Team, 24*7 Customer Care ServiceContact UsJason Smith,Sales Manager, Global Business Development,Website:Email: jasonsmith@marketreportscompany.comContact us: +1-888-220-3424Address: 20 N State Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60602 United States Karl Fischer Titrators Market Report for Period 2017 till 2022 HIRANUMA SANGYO, Analytik Jena, Mettler Toledo, HACH LANGE, Huazheng Electric, Hanna Instruments, ECH and Others Karl Fischer Titrators Market https://goo.gl/Y4RU4x https://goo.gl/Y4RU4x https://goo.gl/Y4RU4x http://marketreportscompany.com Global Karl Fischer Titrators market report provides detailed analysis of companies namely Xylem, Mitsubishi Chemical, Hanna Instruments, ECH, GR Scientific, Inesa, Huazheng Electric, Metrohm, Mettler Toledo, HACH LANGE, HIRANUMA SANGYO, Analytik Jena, KYOTO ELECTRONICS and Others. This report study includes global market statistics and analysis for example, company performance, historical analysis 2012 to 2016, market forecast 2017 to 2023 in terms of volume, revenue, YOY growth rate, and CAGR for the year 2017 to 2022, etc.A Karl Fischer titrator, also known as a KF titrator, is used to determine the amount of water in a sample. Because the presence of water can affect many characteristics of a product, including reactivity, stability, and quality, KF titration is important to and is used in many industries. Food, oil, pharmaceutical, and semiconductor industries all use Karl Fischer titrators to maintain the quality of their products. There are two methods that can be used in Karl Fischer titration: volumetry, in which the amount of reagent that has been used determines the amount of water, and coulometry, in which an electrolysis reaction occurs and the amount of electricity used tells us the amount of water in the sample.Request for Free Sample Copy of Global Karl Fischer Titrators Market 2017Top Company Profiles and Analysis included in this report:MetrohmMettler ToledoHACH LANGEHIRANUMA SANGYOAnalytik JenaKYOTO ELECTRONICSXylemMitsubishi ChemicalHanna InstrumentsECHGR ScientificInesaHuazheng ElectricOthersGlobal Karl Fischer Titrators Market: Key Product TypeCoulometric TitrationVolumetric TitrationOthersGlobal Karl Fischer Titrators Market: Key Application TypePetroleum ProductsPharmaceutical ProductsFoods and BeveragesOthersGlobal Karl Fischer Titrators Market: Key RegionNorth America (USA, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia, Italy and Others)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India, Southeast Asia and Others)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia and Others)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa and Others)The Global Karl Fischer Titrators Market analysis report provides detailed value chain for analysis of Global Karl Fischer Titrators Market. The value chain helps to analyze major upstream in raw materials, major equipments, manufacturing process, downstream customer analysis and major distributor analysis.The report also covers in-depth description, competitive scenario, wide product portfolio of prime players active in this market and business strategies adopted by competitors along with their SWOT analysis. Side by side, it also explicitly provides information about mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, and all the other important activities happened in current and past few years. The Global Karl Fischer Titrators Market report explores manufacturers competitive scenario and provides market share for all major players of this market based on production capacity, sales, revenue, geographical presence and other major factors.Enquire before Buying @Table of Contents:1 Market Overview1.1 Karl Fischer Titrators Introduction1.2 Market Analysis by Type1.2.1 Coulometric Titration1.2.2 Volumetric Titration1.3 Market Analysis by Applications1.3.1 Petroleum Products1.3.2 Pharmaceutical Products1.3.3 Foods and Beverages1.3.4 Other........................Continue (Global Karl Fischer Titrators Market Research Industry Report is prepared with the help of extensive primary and secondary sources, directories, journals, newsletters and with the help of third-party application like Hoovers, Factiva, Bloomberg, Businessweek, etc.About Us:Market Reports Company is a global research and consulting company. We provide customized reports. We can study and analyze any market based on wide range of parameters. We can provide market insights for any particular region, country across the globe within shortest possible turn around time.What we offer: Customized Reports: we provide customized report study on any market or industry. Region Specific Study: If you need region specific or if you are searching for particular region market study then, we have expert research team for that. How we work: We work in all domains and industries, you name it and we provide the market research industry report analysis of it. Expertise: Superior Research Team, 24*7 Customer Care ServiceContact UsJason Smith,Sales Manager, Global Business Development,Website:Email: jasonsmith@marketreportscompany.comContact us: +1-888-220-3424Address: 20 N State Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60602 United States Isolated Gate Drivers Market Report for Period 2017 till 2022 Analog Devices, Infineon, Broadcom, Texas Instruments, On Semiconductor and Others Isolated Gate Drivers Market https://goo.gl/7kYf7f https://goo.gl/7kYf7f https://goo.gl/7kYf7f http://marketreportscompany.com Global Isolated Gate Drivers market report provides detailed analysis of companies namely Broadcom, Silicon Labs, On Semiconductor, ROHM Semiconductor, IXYS, Texas Instruments, Analog Devices, Infineon, STMicroelectronics and Others. This report study includes global market statistics and analysis for example, company performance, historical analysis 2012 to 2016, market forecast 2017 to 2023 in terms of volume, revenue, YOY growth rate, and CAGR for the year 2017 to 2022, etc.This report studies the Isolated Gate Drivers market. A gate driver is a power amplifier that accepts a low-power input from a controller IC and produces a high-current drive input for the gate of a high-power transistor such as an IGBT or power MOSFET. Gate drivers can be provided either on-chip or as a discrete module.Request for Free Sample Copy of Global Isolated Gate Drivers Market 2017Top Company Profiles and Analysis included in this report:Texas InstrumentsAnalog DevicesInfineonSTMicroelectronicsBroadcomSilicon LabsOn SemiconductorROHM SemiconductorIXYSOthersGlobal Isolated Gate Drivers Market: Key Product TypeIsolated IGBT Gate DriverIsolated MOSFET Gate DriverOthersGlobal Isolated Gate Drivers Market: Key Application TypeIndustrialAutomotiveEnterpriseTelecommunicationsOthersGlobal Isolated Gate Drivers Market: Key RegionNorth America (USA, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia, Italy and Others)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India, Southeast Asia and Others)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia and Others)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa and Others)The Global Isolated Gate Drivers Market analysis report provides detailed value chain for analysis of Global Isolated Gate Drivers Market. The value chain helps to analyze major upstream in raw materials, major equipments, manufacturing process, downstream customer analysis and major distributor analysis.The report also covers in-depth description, competitive scenario, wide product portfolio of prime players active in this market and business strategies adopted by competitors along with their SWOT analysis. Side by side, it also explicitly provides information about mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, and all the other important activities happened in current and past few years. The Global Isolated Gate Drivers Market report explores manufacturers competitive scenario and provides market share for all major players of this market based on production capacity, sales, revenue, geographical presence and other major factors.Enquire before Buying @Table of Contents:1 Market Overview1.1 Isolated Gate Drivers Introduction1.2 Market Analysis by Type1.2.1 Isolated IGBT Gate Driver1.2.2 Isolated MOSFET Gate Driver1.2.3 Others1.3 Market Analysis by Applications1.3.1 Industrial1.3.2 Automotive1.3.3 Enterprise1.3.4 Telecommunications1.3.5 Other........................Continue (Global Isolated Gate Drivers Market Research Industry Report is prepared with the help of extensive primary and secondary sources, directories, journals, newsletters and with the help of third-party application like Hoovers, Factiva, Bloomberg, Businessweek, etc.About Us:Market Reports Company is a global research and consulting company. We provide customized reports. We can study and analyze any market based on wide range of parameters. We can provide market insights for any particular region, country across the globe within shortest possible turn around time.What we offer: Customized Reports: we provide customized report study on any market or industry. Region Specific Study: If you need region specific or if you are searching for particular region market study then, we have expert research team for that. How we work: We work in all domains and industries, you name it and we provide the market research industry report analysis of it. Expertise: Superior Research Team, 24*7 Customer Care ServiceContact UsJason Smith,Sales Manager, Global Business Development,Website:Email: jasonsmith@marketreportscompany.comContact us: +1-888-220-3424Address: 20 N State Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60602 United States Industrial Food Cutting Machines Market Report for Period 2017 till 2022 Urschel Laboratories, GEA Group, Stephan Machinery, Deville Technologies, Holac Maschinenbau, Cheersonic and Others Industrial Food Cutting Machines Market https://goo.gl/TXShmd https://goo.gl/TXShmd https://goo.gl/TXShmd http://marketreportscompany.com Global Industrial Food Cutting Machines market report provides detailed analysis of companies namely Weber Maschinenbau GmbH, Holac Maschinenbau, Cheersonic, Jaymech Food Machines, KRONEN GmbH, Sormac, Stephan Machinery, Deville Technologies, FAM, EMURA FOOD MACHINE, Urschel Laboratories, GEA Group, TREIF Maschinenbau and Others. This report study includes global market statistics and analysis for example, company performance, historical analysis 2012 to 2016, market forecast 2017 to 2023 in terms of volume, revenue, YOY growth rate, and CAGR for the year 2017 to 2022, etc.This report studies the Industrial Food Cutting Machines market, industrial food cutting machines is one kind of food processing equipment, usually used in various food processing industries such as potato processing plants, meat processing plants, fruits and vegetables processing plants, cheese processing plants, confectionery products processing plants, and fish and seafood processing plants.Request for Free Sample Copy of Global Industrial Food Cutting Machines Market 2017Top Company Profiles and Analysis included in this report:FAMEMURA FOOD MACHINEUrschel LaboratoriesGEA GroupTREIF MaschinenbauWeber Maschinenbau GmbHHolac MaschinenbauCheersonicJaymech Food MachinesKRONEN GmbHSormacStephan MachineryDeville TechnologiesOthersGlobal Industrial Food Cutting Machines Market: Key Product TypeFood SlicersFood DicersFood ShreddersOthersGlobal Industrial Food Cutting Machines Market: Key Application TypeCheeseMeatFruits and VegetablesOthersGlobal Industrial Food Cutting Machines Market: Key RegionNorth America (USA, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia, Italy and Others)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India, Southeast Asia and Others)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia and Others)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa and Others)The Global Industrial Food Cutting Machines Market analysis report provides detailed value chain for analysis of Global Industrial Food Cutting Machines Market. The value chain helps to analyze major upstream in raw materials, major equipments, manufacturing process, downstream customer analysis and major distributor analysis.The report also covers in-depth description, competitive scenario, wide product portfolio of prime players active in this market and business strategies adopted by competitors along with their SWOT analysis. Side by side, it also explicitly provides information about mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, and all the other important activities happened in current and past few years. The Global Industrial Food Cutting Machines Market report explores manufacturers competitive scenario and provides market share for all major players of this market based on production capacity, sales, revenue, geographical presence and other major factors.Enquire before Buying @Table of Contents:1 Market Overview1.1 Industrial Food Cutting Machines Introduction1.2 Market Analysis by Type1.2.1 Food Slicers1.2.2 Food Dicers1.2.3 Food Shredders1.2.4 Others1.3 Market Analysis by Applications1.3.1 Cheese1.3.2 Meat1.3.3 Fruits and Vegetables1.3.4 Others........................Continue (Global Industrial Food Cutting Machines Market Research Industry Report is prepared with the help of extensive primary and secondary sources, directories, journals, newsletters and with the help of third-party application like Hoovers, Factiva, Bloomberg, Businessweek, etc.About Us:Market Reports Company is a global research and consulting company. We provide customized reports. We can study and analyze any market based on wide range of parameters. We can provide market insights for any particular region, country across the globe within shortest possible turn around time.What we offer: Customized Reports: we provide customized report study on any market or industry. Region Specific Study: If you need region specific or if you are searching for particular region market study then, we have expert research team for that. How we work: We work in all domains and industries, you name it and we provide the market research industry report analysis of it. Expertise: Superior Research Team, 24*7 Customer Care ServiceContact UsJason Smith,Sales Manager, Global Business Development,Website:Email: jasonsmith@marketreportscompany.comContact us: +1-888-220-3424Address: 20 N State Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60602 United States Global Savory Snacks Market 2017-2021 Trends and Opportunity - Diamond Foods, Kellogg, Lamb, PepsiCo Savory Snacks, Latin America Savory Snacks, Savory Snacks Industry, Savory Snacks, Savory Snacks Size, Savory Snacks, Savory Snack https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/1055 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/savory-snacks-market-1055 Global Savory Snacks MarketStudy Objectives of Savory Snacks Market To provide detailed analysis of the market structure along with forecast for the next 5 years of the various segments and sub-segments of the Global Savory Snacks Market To provide insights about factors affecting the market growth To Analyse the Global Savory Snacks Market based on various factors- price analysis, supply chain analysis, porters five force analysis etc. To provide historical and forecast revenue of the market segments and sub-segments with respect to four main geographies and their countries- North America, Europe, Asia, and Rest of the World (ROW) To provide country-level analysis of the market with respect to the current market size and future prospective To provide country-level analysis of the market for segment by types and regions To provide strategic profiling of key players in the market, comprehensively analysing their core competencies, and drawing a competitive landscape for the market To track and analyse competitive developments such as joint ventures, strategic alliances, mergers and acquisitions, new product developments, and research and developments in the Global Savory Snacks MarketMarket Synopsis of Savory Snacks MarketThe demographic and economic changes such as rising urbanization, increasing per capita income, and need for convenience have been shaping the global savory snacks market. The developing countries seem to offer more opportunities for the market as compared to their developed counterparts. Earlier snacks were considered as stop-gap food between the meals for a change of taste and mood; however in the current scenario they are now being consumed among meals in several developed countries. The busy lifestyles are leading people to eat more of packaged food including snacks, bakery and confectionary products. People consume snacks while driving, watching movies, partying, web-surfing, and during the office break hours.Key Findings Asia-Pacific is expected to dominate the global savory snacks market surpassing the revenues of North America during the forecast period Japan and China together are expected to account for about 15% of the global savory snacks market, in terms of value, by 2020 India, China and Mexico are expected to be the most lucrative market during the forecast period due to their high growth rate Sales through supermarkets and hypermarkets is expected to increase during the forecast period due to increasing urbanizationSample Report @SegmentationThe global Savory Snacks markets are segmented into types which primarily include potato chips, processed snacks, popcorn, nuts and others.Key PlayersThe leading market players in the global Savory Snacks market primarily include: PepsiCo Kraft Foods Group Inc, ConAgra Foods CALBEE, Diamond Foods General Mills, Inc Intersnack Group GmbH & Co. KG Lorenz Bahlsen Snack-World Group Kellogg Company Orkla ASA and others.The market report for Savory Snacks 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.Browse Complete Report @Table of Content:1 REPORT PROLOGUE2 MARKET INTRODUCTION2.1 DEFINITION2.2 SCOPE OF THE STUDY2.2.1 RESEARCH OBJECTIVE2.2.2 ASSUMPTIONS2.2.3 LIMITATIONS2.3 MARKET STRUCTURE3 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY3.1 RESEARCH PROCESS3.2 PRIMARY RESEARCH3.3 SECONDARY RESEARCH3.4 MARKET SIZE ESTIMATION3.5 FORECAST MODEL4 MARKET DYNAMICS4.1 DRIVERS4.2 RESTRAINTS4.3 OPPORTUNITIES4.4 MEGA TRENDS4.5 MACROECONOMIC INDICATORS5 MARKET FACTOR ANALYSIS5.1 VALUE/SUPPLY CHAIN ANALYSIS5.2 PORTER'S 5 FORCES ANALYSIS6 GLOBAL SAVORY SNACKS MARKET: BY TYPES6.1 INTRODUCTION6.2 HISTORICAL MARKET GROWTH6.3 Y-O-Y GROWTH PROJECTIONS BY TYPES6.4 MARKET SIZE BY TYPES6.4.1 POTATO CHIPS6.4.2 PROCESSED SNACKS6.4.3 POPCORN6.4.4 NUTS6.4.5 OTHERSContinued@..........................................................Contact: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.Office No. 524/528, Amanora Chambers Magarpatta Road, HadapsarAkash Anand,Market Research Future+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Glass Mat Market Report for Period 2017 till 2022 Taiwan Glass, Texas Fiberglass, Nippon Electric Glass, China Beihai, Owens Corning, Jushi Group and Others Glass Mat Market https://goo.gl/3Pi93U https://goo.gl/3Pi93U https://goo.gl/3Pi93U http://marketreportscompany.com Global Glass Mat market report provides detailed analysis of companies namely CPIC, Nippon Electric Glass, Nitto Boseki, China Beihai, Jiangsu Changhai, Texas Fiberglass, Jiangsu Jiuding, Owens Corning, Jushi Group, Binani Industries, Saint-Gobain, Taiwan Glass and Others. This report study includes global market statistics and analysis for example, company performance, historical analysis 2012 to 2016, market forecast 2017 to 2023 in terms of volume, revenue, YOY growth rate, and CAGR for the year 2017 to 2022, etc.This report studies the Glass Mat market, Glass Mat isGlass mat (or glass veil) is a non-woven material composed of randomly sized fiberglass that is uniformly distributed and bonded together by organic additives. The mat forming process produces a fabric that is strong, stable and heat-resistant. Customers can specify weight and other physical characteristics of the glass filament mat, such as stiffness and porosity.Request for Free Sample Copy of Global Glass Mat Market 2017Top Company Profiles and Analysis included in this report:Owens CorningJushi GroupBinani IndustriesSaint-GobainTaiwan GlassCPICNippon Electric GlassNitto BosekiChina BeihaiJiangsu ChanghaiTexas FiberglassJiangsu JiudingOthersGlobal Glass Mat Market: Key Product TypeChopped Strand Glass MatContinuous Filament Glass MatOthersGlobal Glass Mat Market: Key Application TypeConstruction & InfrastructureAutomotiveIndustrial & ChemicalMarineOthersGlobal Glass Mat Market: Key RegionNorth America (USA, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia, Italy and Others)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India, Southeast Asia and Others)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia and Others)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa and Others)The Global Glass Mat Market analysis report provides detailed value chain for analysis of Global Glass Mat Market. The value chain helps to analyze major upstream in raw materials, major equipments, manufacturing process, downstream customer analysis and major distributor analysis.The report also covers in-depth description, competitive scenario, wide product portfolio of prime players active in this market and business strategies adopted by competitors along with their SWOT analysis. Side by side, it also explicitly provides information about mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, and all the other important activities happened in current and past few years. The Global Glass Mat Market report explores manufacturers competitive scenario and provides market share for all major players of this market based on production capacity, sales, revenue, geographical presence and other major factors.Enquire before Buying @Table of Contents:1 Market Overview1.1 Glass Mat Introduction1.2 Market Analysis by Type1.2.1 Chopped Strand Glass Mat1.2.2 Continuous Filament Glass Mat1.3 Market Analysis by Applications1.3.1 Construction & Infrastructure1.3.2 Automotive1.3.3 Industrial & Chemical1.3.4 Marine........................Continue (Global Glass Mat Market Research Industry Report is prepared with the help of extensive primary and secondary sources, directories, journals, newsletters and with the help of third-party application like Hoovers, Factiva, Bloomberg, Businessweek, etc.About Us:Market Reports Company is a global research and consulting company. We provide customized reports. We can study and analyze any market based on wide range of parameters. We can provide market insights for any particular region, country across the globe within shortest possible turn around time.What we offer: Customized Reports: we provide customized report study on any market or industry. Region Specific Study: If you need region specific or if you are searching for particular region market study then, we have expert research team for that. How we work: We work in all domains and industries, you name it and we provide the market research industry report analysis of it. Expertise: Superior Research Team, 24*7 Customer Care ServiceContact UsJason Smith,Sales Manager, Global Business Development,Website:Email: jasonsmith@marketreportscompany.comContact us: +1-888-220-3424Address: 20 N State Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60602 United States Nursing Care Market trends estimates high demand by 2021 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/3581 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/3581 www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ Nursing care refers to collaborative and autonomous care of individuals of all ages, group, communities and families by skilled person or nurses. Nurses are trained professionals which promote health and prevent diseases. Nurses help patient to cope up with illness and provide assistance to patients in medical procedures. Nurses are responsible for assessing patient, giving medicines and treatments. Nurses also develop and manage nursing care plans. Nursing care includes prevention and cure of diseases. Nursing care includes approaches of personalized care with more safety, convenience and comfort.Request Sample Copy of the Report@Nursing care includes people who need intensive rehabilitative care such as people with physical disabilities and long term care. Nursing care helps in delivering right care to right people at right time. Nursing care also provides assurance of quality healthcare services to patients. Proper nursing care provides satisfaction to the patients and thus helps in making them reliable to hospitals. Nursing care is a long term care plan and includes nursing homes, home care, hospice care and assisted living. Nursing care model comprises team nursing, primary nursing and progressive patient care. Primary nursing includes comprehensive and personalized care through the same nurse throughout the period. Progressive patient care is a systematic grouping of patient on the basis of the degree of illness rather than on the basis of medical specialty. Consumerism, Staff mix, human development, economics, diverse populations, politics, technology and client acuity are some of the important elements which should be considered in nursing care.North America followed by Europe is dominating the global nursing care market due to high healthcare expenditures. The U.S. is dominating the North American nursing care market due to increasing prevalence of diseases. Asia is expected to show high growth rate in the next five years. Some of the key driving forces for nursing care market in emerging countries are increasing aging population and increasing number of hospitals.In recent time there is increased demand of nursing care due to rising aging population. Rising concern for better healthcare and increasing prevalence of various diseases such as diabetes and cancer are some of the key factors driving the growth of the global nursing care market. In addition, increasing healthcare awareness and long term care system is also fuelling the growth of the global nursing care market. However, lack of reimbursements for nursing care and high cost of healthcare is restraining the growth of the global nursing care market. In addition, lack of skilled professionals is also restraining the global nursing care market.Request TOC of the Report@Rise in personalized care would develop an opportunity for the growth of the global nursing care market. However, lack of proper healthcare system in rural areas and availability of less number of trained nurses are some of the key challenges for the growth of the global nursing care market. Increasing home care market is one of the trends for the global nursing care market. Some of the major companies operating in the global nursing care market are Emeritus Corporation, Genesis Healthcare, Life Care Centers for America, Kindred Healthcare and Extendicare.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 data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.Contact UsTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Medical Ultrasound Equipment Market show exponential growth by 2021 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/3585 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/3585 www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ Medical ultrasound refers to a technology that uses high frequency sound wave to produce diagnostic images. Medical ultrasound is also known as sonography. Medical ultrasound is a non-invasive and safe procedure for examination of body parts such as the heart, organ and blood vessel in the abdomen and joints. Medical ultrasound uses non ionizing radiation and has greater sensitivity compare to other clinical examination. Medical ultrasound images are taken with the help of ultrasound gel. Ultrasound gels are conductive medium used by technicians and physicians before diagnosis of patient for clear diagnostics images. Medical ultrasound displays its output in various form such as audio, visual and graphics. Musculoskeletal, thyroid and scrotal ultrasound are some other procedure used to diagnose diseases. Medical ultrasound is performed by technologist with the help of ultrasound machines.Request Sample Copy of the Report@Transducer probe, central processing unit, disk storage device are some important parts of the ultrasound machines. Medical ultrasounds are used in case of abdominal, cardiac, maternity, gynaecological and urological examinations. Medical ultrasound is also used in breast and small tissues examinations. Sonar device is most commonly used ultrasound equipment. Some of the medical applications of ultrasound are foetal monitoring, diagnostic imaging and blood flow management. Medical ultrasound imaging is also used in medicine as it provides guidelines to doctors through precise medical procedures. Ultrasound is less expensive as compares to other surgical procedure.North America followed by Europe is dominating the global medical ultrasound equipment market due to increasing numbers of diagnostic imaging centres and increasing adoption of technologically advanced imaging systems. Asia is expected to be the fastest growing market due to modernization in healthcare infrastructure and rising prevalence of diseases. Japan is dominating the Asian medical ultrasound equipment market due to availability of technologically advanced manufacturers such as Toshiba and Hitachi.In recent time there is increased use of medical ultrasound equipments due to rising demand for point-of-care testing and increasing number of diagnostic procedures. Rise in patients awareness, rising demand for non-invasive solution and technological advancements are some of the key factors driving the growth of the global medical ultrasound equipment market. In addition, rising demand for better diagnostic treatment is also fuelling the growth of the global medical ultrasound equipment market. However, risk of high radiation and high cost of medical imaging are some major factors restraining the growth of the global medical ultrasound equipment market. In addition, safety and security of patients information is also restraining the growth of the global medical ultrasound equipment market.Emergence of Portable and hand held ultrasound system would develop opportunity for the global medical ultrasound equipment market. However, increasing adoption of refurbished imaging system could lead a challenge for the global medical ultrasound equipment market. Increasing use of 3D and 4D ultrasound imaging and increasing adoption of ultrasound imaging in the field of cardiology, oncology and emergency medicine are some of the trends for the global medical ultrasound equipment market.Request TOC of the Report@Some of the major companies operating in the global medical ultrasound equipment market are Agfa-Gevaert NV, GE Healthcare, Boston Scientific, Hitachi Medical Corporation, Toshiba Medical System Corporation, Philips Healthcare and Siemens Healthcare.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 data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.Contact UsTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Hepatitis B Vaccines Market : Analysis and Forecast by 2021 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/3600 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/3600 www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ Hepatitis B refers to an infectious disease that is caused by hepatitis B virus. Symptoms of this disease are not visible in initial stages and develop after few weeks only. Hepatitis B virus is transmitted by exposure to infectious blood or body fluids of an infected person. This disease may even occur from the birth. Hepatitis B may be caused by blood transfusions, healthcare setting, sharing razors and dialysis. Hepatitis B vaccine refers to a vaccine that is developed for prevention of hepatitis B virus infection. Hepatitis B vaccine consists of viral envelope proteins and hepatitis B surface antigens (HBsAg). Hepatitis B vaccine is produced by using yeast cells. Medication course for hepatitis B vaccine consists of two or three injections. These injections are given at a time interval of about one month. The first and second doses provide full protection against infection.Request Sample Copy of the Report@Final or third injection is given to prolong the effect of hepatitis B vaccine. As a result of this medication, an immune system is developed in the patients body which produces an antibody to HBsAg. This antibody is called as anti-HBs. This antibody provides protection against hepatitis B infection. In addition, immune system memory helps to provide resistance against hepatitis B virus. The global market for hepatitis B vaccine is growing at a significant rate due to increasing number of cases with hepatitis B infection. In addition, growing population and growing awareness for improved healthcare facilities is increasing the global market for hepatitis B vaccine. Various types of hepatitis B vaccines are available in the market, such as recombinant DNA vaccines that is produced by insertion of hepatitis B virus.North America dominates the global hepatitis B vaccines market due to increasing prevalence of hepatitis B infection cases and improved healthcare facilities in the region. In addition, government initiatives and more awareness among the people are some of the major factors driving the hepatitis B vaccines market. Asia, followed by Europe, is expected to experience high growth rate in the next few years in hepatitis B vaccines market. China and India are expected to be the fastest growing hepatitis B vaccines markets in Asian region. This is due to large investment by various major companies in these countries. Some of the key driving forces for hepatitis B vaccines market in emerging countries are large pool of patients, rising government funding and improvement in the healthcare facilities.One of the major factors driving the global hepatitis B vaccines market includes increasing number of hepatitis B infection cases. In addition, increasing awareness about the treatment of disease and government initiatives are driving the global hepatitis B vaccines market. However, some of the factors such as high cost and non-willingness by people for any kind of vaccination are restraining the global hepatitis B vaccines market.Growing demographics and economies in the developing countries such as India and China are expected to offer good opportunities for global hepatitis B vaccines market. In addition, growing awareness and innovation of some new type of medications with better efficiency are expected to offer good opportunity for global hepatitis B vaccines market. Inadequate coverage of vaccines is one of the major challenges faced by global pediatric interventional cardiology devices market. Some of the latest trends that have been observed in global hepatitis B vaccines market include companies involved in mergers and acquisitions. In addition, it has been observed that companies are involved in R&D and product launches of more efficient products.Request TOC of the Report@Some of the major companies involved in global hepatitis B vaccines market are Merck, GlaxoSmithKline, Sanofi Pasteur and Human Biologicals Institute, a division of Indian Immunologicals Limited. Some other companies dealing having significant presence in the global hepatitis B vaccines market are Dynavax Technologies, LG Life Sciences, Janssen Pharmaceuticals and Kaketsuke.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 data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.Contact UsTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Hernia Repair Devices Market Intelligence with Competitive Landscape 2021 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/3603 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/3603 www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ Hernia refers to the projection of a viscus or part of a viscus through an abnormal opening in the walls of its containing cavity. As compared to others, hernia is more common is geriatric population. Hernia may be of many types depending on its location, such as femoral hernia, umbilical hernia, paraumbilical hernia, epigastric hernia, lumber hernia and others. Different approaches may be followed for treatment of different type of hernia. Surgery is commonly recommended for treatment of most types of hernias. It is done to prevent complications such as obstruction of bowel or strangulation of tissue. Hernia repair devices refer to the medical devices that are used of treatment of hernia. The global hernia repair devices market is growing at a significant rate due to increase in the hernia cases and growing awareness for the same.Request Sample Copy of the Report@On the basis of products and segments, the hernia repair devices market can be segmented into polymers, biologic materials, surgical instruments, endoscopy equipment and prosthetic mesh. On the basis of procedures, the hernia repair devices market can be segmented into open-tension repair, tension repair laproscopic tension-free repair and others.North America dominates the global hernia repair devices market due to increasing prevalence of hernia disorder cases and improved healthcare facilities in the region. In addition, government initiatives and more awareness among the people are some of the major factors driving the hernia repair devices market. Asia, followed by Europe, is expected to experience high growth rate in the next few years in hernia repair devices market. China and India are expected to be the fastest growing hernia repair devices markets in Asian region. This is due to large investment by various major companies in these countries. Some of the key driving forces for hernia repair devices market in emerging countries are large pool of patients, rising government funding and improvement in the healthcare facilities.Some of the various factors driving the global hernia repair devices market are increasing geriatric population and rising demand for advanced biologic meshes. In addition, increased adoption of tension-free hernia repair procedures and growing awareness for availability of different hernia repair devices are driving the global hernia repair devices market. However, high cost involved and lack of skilled professionals are some of the major factors restraining the global hernia repair devices market.Growing demographics and economies in the developing countries such as India and China are expected to offer good opportunities for global hernia repair devices market. In addition, growing awareness and innovation of some new type of medications with better efficiency are expected to offer good opportunity for global hernia repair devices market. Some of the recent trends that have been observed in the global hernia repair devices market include shifting focus towards composite mesh.Request TOC of the Report@In addition, it has been observed that companies dealing with hernia repair devices are involved in mergers and acquisitions. Some of the major companies dealing in the global hernia repair devices market are B.Braun Melsungen AG, Cook Medical, Inc. and Covidien Plc. Some other companies having significant presence in the global hernia repair devices market are C. R. Bard, Inc., Ethicon, Inc., Life Cell Corporation, Olympus Corporation and W.L.Gore & Associates.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 data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.Contact UsTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Mechanical Ventilators Market Growth to be Driven by Technological Advancements 2021 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/3632 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/3632 www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ Mechanical ventilator is a device which is used in the management of patients breathing problems. It is the last choice for a patient who is suffering from breathing problems and cannot maintain adequate oxygenation to maintain life. Mechanical ventilators are mainly used in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), apnea, acute lung injury and hypoxemia.Sometimes, the device is also known as ventilator, breathing machine or respirator. Usually, a patient is connected to the mechanical ventilator through a tube, known as endotracheal tube which is placed in the windpipe. Sometimes, patients can use mechanical ventilation that assists breathing through a mask and mouthpiece. However, this may not work in severe respiratory problemsRequest Sample Copy of the Report@Based on type of pressure, mechanical ventilators are divided into two main types: positive pressure mechanical ventilators and negative pressure mechanical ventilators. Positive pressure mechanical ventilators involve air being pushed into the trachea of the patient. However, in negative pressure mechanical ventilators, the air is sucked inside the body.The global mechanical ventilators market is segmented into critical care ventilator, neonatal ventilator and portable and transport ventilator. Critical care ventilator is the largest segment of the global mechanical ventilators market.In terms of geographic, North America dominates the global mechanical ventilators market. This is due to increasing prevalence of respiratory disorders and improved reimbursement policies in the region. In addition, increased healthcare awareness is also supporting in growth of mechanical ventilators market in North America. The U.S. represents the largest market for mechanical ventilators followed by Canada in North America. In Europe, France, Germany and the U.K. holds major share of mechanical ventilators market. However, Asia is expected to show high growth rates in the next five years in global mechanical ventilators market. This is due to increasing awareness among people about various acute and chronic respiratory diseases in the region. Several government associations have launched various programs to raise awareness among people about respiratory diseases. Improving healthcare infrastructure has also fueled the growth of mechanical ventilators market in the region. Japan, China and India are expected to be the fastest growing mechanical ventilators markets in Asia.In recent time, increasing number of geriatric populations is key driver for the global mechanical ventilators market. Geriatric patients require long-term ventilation for the treatment of chronic respiratory diseases which increases the demand of mechanical ventilators. Increasing prevalence of COPD and technological innovations in the field of positive pressure airway devices are also contributing in the growth of global mechanical ventilators market.However, high capital requirement is key restraint for the global mechanical ventilators market. In addition, risks associated with mechanical ventilation procedures also hamper growth of the market. For instance, the endotracheal tube in the windpipe makes it easier for bacteria to get into the lungs which develop infection, known as pneumonia. Moreover, mechanical ventilators push air into the lung. It may expand lung and injure it.Request TOC of the Report@Some of the major companies operating in the global mechanical ventilators market are Teleflex Incorporated, Acoma Medical Industry Co., Ltd., Bunnell, Inc., Bio-Medical Devices International, Inc., Drager Medical GmbH, Covidien PLC, GE Healthcare Ltd., Philips Respironics, Inc. and Maquet GmbH & Co. KG.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 data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.Contact UsTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Mass Spectrometry Market Plan, Supply and Revenue to 2021 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/3634 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/3634 www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ Mass spectrometry is a technique which is used in the identification of various types of chemical present in the sample. It is also used in the quantification of amount of specific chemical in the sample. Mass spectrometry is very common technique in analytical laboratories which helps in the study of biological and chemical properties of compounds. In life science area, mass spectrometry is primarily involved in the characterization and sequencing of proteins. It identifies and quantities crucial proteins involved in disease and altered phenotypes and recognized diagnostic biomarkers for treatment.Request Sample Copy of the Report@The global mass spectrometry market is categorized based on various technologies and by applications. Technology segment includes gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight spectrometry (MALDI-TOF), triple-quadrupole liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, quadrupole-time of flight liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and others. MALDI-TOF is the fastest growing sub-segment in global mass spectrometry market. This is due to increased usage of the technology in clinical diagnostic field.Application segment is further sub-segmented into pharmaceutical, environmental testing, food and beverages testing, biotechnology, industrial chemistry and others. Pharmaceutical segment is the largest sub-segment in global mass spectrometry market. This is due to increased usage of mass spectrometry in drug safety. Mass spectrometry also reduces costs associated with drug discovery procedures.In terms of geographic, North America dominates the global mass spectrometry market. This is due to increased government investments in biotechnology and biomedical areas. In addition, increased research in the field of proteomics is also supporting in the growth of mass spectrometry in the region. The U.S. represents the largest market for mass spectrometry techniques followed by Canada in North America. In Europe, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the U.K. holds major share of mass spectrometry market. However, Asia is expected to show high growth rates in the next five years in global mass spectrometry market. This is due to many companies constructing their manufacturing and research facilities in the region. In addition, increasing number of conferences and exhibitions by manufacturing companies to promote mass spectrometry technology is also contributing in the growth of mass spectrometry market in the region. Japan, China and India are expected to be the fastest growing mass spectrometry markets in Asia.In recent time, increasing government spending in life science research and increased R&D spending in pharmaceutical industry are some of the major drivers of global mass spectrometry market. In addition, growing food concerns in food and beverages industry has also fueled the growth of global mass spectrometry market. Moreover, technological advancement in mass spectrometry also attracts end users to adopt the technology.However, high cost of instruments is key restraint of global mass spectrometry market. In addition, lack of skill labor to operate expensive instruments also obstructs the growth of global mass spectrometry market. Increasing mergers and collaborations between key players is key trend of the global mass spectrometry market.Request TOC of the Report@Some of the major companies operating in the global mass spectrometry market are Danaher Corporation, Shimadzu Corporation. Waters Corporation, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc., Bruker Corporation, PerkinElmer, Rigaku, Bio-Rad Laboratories, Jeol Ltd. and Agilent Technologies.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 data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.Contact UsTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Meningococcal Vaccines Market to Record Study Growth by 2021 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/3640 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/3640 www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ Meningococcal vaccines are used in the treatment of meningitis, septicemia, meningococcemia and pneumonia. Meningitis is characterized by inflammation of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. This type of inflammation is caused by infection of bacteria, viruses and by drugs.Request Sample Copy of the Report@Based on various cause of the disease, meningitis is classified into two main types: non-infectious meningitis and infectious meningitis. Non-infectious meningitis is a type of aseptic meningitis. Aseptic meningitis is caused by something other than the bacteria that typically cause acute meningitis. Non-infectious meningitis does not spread from person to person. Infectious meningitis is further sub-divided into bacterial meningitis, fungal meningitis, viral meningitis and parasitic meningitis. Bacterial meningitis is extremely severe form of the disease which is caused by bacteria such as Haemophilus influenzae, Neisseria meningitidis and Streptococcus pneumonia. These bacteria can spread from person to person through coughing and sneezing. Viral meningitis is mainly occurred by diarrhea causing virus. Fungal meningitis is rare in healthy people. However, person who has an impaired immune system is more prevalent with this form of the disease.Septicemia arises from infections throughout the body. It includes infections in the lungs, urinary tract and abdomen. Meningococcemia is also caused by bacterium Neisseria meningitidis.The global meningococcal vaccines market is segmented into conjugate vaccines, polysaccharide vaccines and combination vaccines. Conjugate vaccines reduce incidences of bacterial meningitis. This is due to prolonged immunization influence of the vaccine which is developed for various serogroups of bacteria. Major brands of conjugate vaccines include MenAfriVac, Nimenrix, Menactra, Meningitec, NeisVac-C and Menveo.Polysaccharide provides immunity for a short period of time. Major brands of polysaccharide vaccines include NmVac4, Menomune, Bi Meningo, Mencevax and Quadri Meningo.Combination vaccines are prepared with the combination of other microorganism. Major brands of combination vaccines include Menitorix and MenHibrix.In terms of geographic, North America dominates the global meningococcal vaccines market. This is due to increased healthcare awareness in the region. The U.S. represents the largest market for meningococcal vaccines followed by Canada in North America. In Europe, France, Germany and the U.K. holds major share of meningococcal vaccines market. However, Asia is expected to show high growth rates in the next five years in global meningococcal vaccines market. This is due to increasing awareness among people about meningitis in the region. Several government associations have launched various immunization programs and awareness campaigns to provide education about meningococcal disease. Japan, China and India are expected to be the fastest growing meningococcal vaccines markets in Asia.In recent time, increased government support is key driver for the global meningococcal vaccines market. Various government associations have launched mandate immunization programs for school children. This increases the demand of meningococcal vaccines to provide immunity against meningococcal disease.However, stringent regulations hamper the growth of global meningococcal vaccines market. Increasing mergers and acquisitions between manufacturing companies and government bodies and rapid product launches are some of the major trends of global meningococcal vaccines market.Request TOC of the Report@Some of the major companies operating in the global meningococcal vaccines market are GlaxoSmithKline plc, JN-International Medical Corporation, Novartis International AG, Sanofi SA, Pfizer, Inc. and Baxter International, Inc..About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.Contact UsTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Pain Management Devices Market share will expand till 2021 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/3641 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/3641 www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ Pain is an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience caused due to tissue damage or illness. It is caused due to injury and various diseases such as osteoarthritis, chronic arthritis, diabetic neuropathy, multiple sclerosis, stomach ulcer, fibromyalgia and cancer. It can be classified on the basis of duration as acute pain and chronic pain. Acute pain is sudden onset of pain where as chronic pain persists for long periods. Chronic pain is mainly caused due to aging conditions of bone and joints and nerve damage and injury. Pain is managed by a particular set of drugs or devices to treat pain. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulators, neuro-stimulators, analgesia infusion pumps and radiofrequency ablators are some of the pain management devices. Most of these devices block the pain gate mechanism, to block the passage of pain signals to the brain. Radiofrequency ablators destroys nerves by generating heat to block the pain signals, Similarly, neuro-stimulator devices uses mild frequencies of current to block the passage of pain signals. These devices help in treating various painful conditions such as cancer, musculoskeletal injury and neuropathic pain. Pain management devices help to reduce the risk of long term narcotics, non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and other pain relieving medications.Request Sample Copy of the Report@North America dominates the global market for pain management devices due to large number of aging population and favorable regulatory and healthcare reforms such as the U.S. Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010. Asia is expected to show high growth rates in the next five years in global pain management device market. China and India are expected to be the fastest growing pain management devices markets in Asia-Pacific region. Some of the key driving forces for pain management devices market in emerging countries are large pool of patients, increasing healthcare expenditure and rising government funding and initiatives.In recent times there is increased use of pain management devices due to rise in aging population. Increase in cancer population, increasing prevalence of lifestyle associated disease and increasing neuropathic disorders are some of the key factors driving the growth for the global pain management devices market. In addition, increasing healthcare awareness and rise in healthcare expenditure are also fuelling the growth of global pain management devices market. However, side effects such as skin hypersensitivity, redness and hyper-pigmentation and availability of substitutes such as pain relief medications are some of the major factors restraining the growth for global pain management devices market.Request TOC of the Report@Technological advancement of pain management devices would develop opportunity for the global pain management devices market. However, high cost involved in manufacturing of pain management device could lead a challenge for the global pain management devices market. Increasing demand of spinal cord stimulation device for neuropathic, chronic and refractory pain is the trend for the global pain management devices market. Some of the major companies operating in the global pain management devices market are Medtronic, Inc., B. Braun Melsungen AG., Boston Scientific Corporation, Hospira, Inc., Baxter International, Inc., DJO Global LLC., St. Jude Medical, Inc., Bio-Medical Research Ltd., Smith Medical, Pain Management, Inc., Kimberly-Clark Healthcare and Stryker Corporation.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.Contact UsTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Fabric Softener Market Report for Period 2017 till 2022 Colgate, Henkel, Lvsan, P&G, Mitsuei, Pigeonand, Werner & Mertz Others Fabric Softener Market https://goo.gl/8r1Zdu https://goo.gl/8r1Zdu https://goo.gl/8r1Zdu http://marketreportscompany.com Global Fabric Softener market report provides detailed analysis of companies namely Scjohnson, Werner & Mertz, Sodalis, KAO, Lion, Mitsuei, Pigeon, AlEn, Blue Moon, Lvsan, P&G, Unilever, Church & Dwight, Colgate, Henkel, Ecover and Others. This report study includes global market statistics and analysis for example, company performance, historical analysis 2012 to 2016, market forecast 2017 to 2023 in terms of volume, revenue, YOY growth rate, and CAGR for the year 2017 to 2022, etc.Fabric softener is a product used while laundering to make clothes soft and eliminate static cling. Depending on the brand one purchases, it can be added at the beginning of the laundry cycle at the same time detergent is dispensed or during the rinse cycle. It can also come in sheets to be placed in the dryer.Request for Free Sample Copy of Global Fabric Softener Market 2017Top Company Profiles and Analysis included in this report:P&GUnileverChurch & DwightColgateHenkelEcoverScjohnsonWerner & MertzSodalisKAOLionMitsueiPigeonAlEnBlue MoonLvsanOthersGlobal Fabric Softener Market: Key Product TypeType 1Type 2OthersGlobal Fabric Softener Market: Key Application TypeType 1Type 2OthersGlobal Fabric Softener Market: Key RegionNorth America (USA, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia, Italy and Others)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India, Southeast Asia and Others)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia and Others)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa and Others)The Global Fabric Softener Market analysis report provides detailed value chain for analysis of Global Fabric Softener Market. The value chain helps to analyze major upstream in raw materials, major equipments, manufacturing process, downstream customer analysis and major distributor analysis.The report also covers in-depth description, competitive scenario, wide product portfolio of prime players active in this market and business strategies adopted by competitors along with their SWOT analysis. Side by side, it also explicitly provides information about mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, and all the other important activities happened in current and past few years. The Global Fabric Softener Market report explores manufacturers competitive scenario and provides market share for all major players of this market based on production capacity, sales, revenue, geographical presence and other major factors.Enquire before Buying @Table of Contents:1 Market Overview1.1 Fabric Softener Introduction1.2 Market Analysis by Type1.2.1 Type 11.2.2 Type 21.3 Market Analysis by Applications1.4 Market Analysis by Regions........................Continue (Global Fabric Softener Market Research Industry Report is prepared with the help of extensive primary and secondary sources, directories, journals, newsletters and with the help of third-party application like Hoovers, Factiva, Bloomberg, Businessweek, etc.About Us:Market Reports Company is a global research and consulting company. We provide customized reports. We can study and analyze any market based on wide range of parameters. We can provide market insights for any particular region, country across the globe within shortest possible turn around time.What we offer: Customized Reports: we provide customized report study on any market or industry. Region Specific Study: If you need region specific or if you are searching for particular region market study then, we have expert research team for that. How we work: We work in all domains and industries, you name it and we provide the market research industry report analysis of it. Expertise: Superior Research Team, 24*7 Customer Care ServiceContact UsJason Smith,Sales Manager, Global Business Development,Website:Email: jasonsmith@marketreportscompany.comContact us: +1-888-220-3424Address: 20 N State Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60602 United States Midstream Oil and Gas Industry Market 2021 Share, Growth and Regional Forecast ReportsWeb http://www.reportsweb.com/saudi-arabia-midstream-oil-and-gas-industry-outlook-to-2022 http://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW00011075720/sample http://www.reportsweb.com/buy&RW00011075720/buy/1500 ReportsWeb.com published Saudi Arabia Midstream Oil and Gas Industry Outlook to 2022 from its database. The report reviews top companies involved and enlists all trials pertaining to the company. Report provides latest news for the past three months."Saudi Arabia Midstream Oil and Gas Industry Outlook to 2022-Market Forecasts for Oil Storage, Pipelines and Gas Processing", is a comprehensive report on midstream oil and gas industry in Saudi Arabia. The report provides details such as name, type, operational status and operator for all active and planned (new build) oil storage terminals, major trunk pipelines and gas processing plants in Saudi Arabia till 2022. Further, the report also offers recent developmets and latest contracts awarded in the country's midstream sector.For more information about this report:Scope-Updated information related to all active and planned oil storage terminals, major trunk pipelines and gas processing plants in the country, including operator and equity details-Key mergers and acquisitions, partnerships, private equity and initial public offerings in the country's midstream oil and gas industry, where available-Latest developments and awarded contracts related to midstream oil and gas industry in the countryRequest Sample Copy atReasons to buy-Gain a strong understanding of the country's midstream oil and gas industry-Facilitate decision making on the basis of strong historic and forecast of capacity data-Assess your competitor's major oil storage terminals, major trunk pipelines and gas processing plants in the country-Analyze the latest developments and awarded contracts related to the country's midstream oil and gas industryTable of Content1 Table of Contents 12. Introduction 73. Saudi Arabia Oil Storage Industry 94. Saudi Arabia Oil and Gas Pipelines Industry 375. Saudi Arabia Gas Processing Industry 1456. Recent Contracts 1697. Recent Developments 1968. Appendix 204Inquire before Buying atContact Us:Call: +1-646-491-9876Email: sales@reportsweb.comAbout ReportsWeb:ReportsWeb.com is a one stop shop of market research reports and solutions to various companies across the globe. We help our clients in their decision support system by helping them choose most relevant and cost effective research reports and solutions from various publishers. We provide best in class customer service and our customer support team is always available to help you on your research queries.Pune:505, 6th floor, Amanora Township,Amanora Chambers, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028 Algeria Midstream Oil and Gas Industry Market Trends and 2021 Forecast ReportsWeb http://www.reportsweb.com/saudi-arabia-midstream-oil-and-gas-industry-outlook-to-2022 http://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW00011075720/sample http://www.reportsweb.com/buy&RW00011075720/buy/1500 ReportsWeb.com published Algeria Algeria Midstream Oil and Gas Industry Outlook to 2022 from its database. The report reviews top companies involved and enlists all trials pertaining to the company. Report provides latest news for the past three months."Algeria Algeria Midstream Oil and Gas Industry Outlook to 2022-Market Forecasts for Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), Oil Storage, Pipelines and Gas Processing", is a comprehensive report on Algeria Midstream Oil and Gas Industry in Algeria. The report provides details such as name, type, operational status and operator for all active and planned (new build) LNG terminals, oil storage terminals, major trunk pipelines and gas processing plants in Algeria till 2022. Further, the report also offers recent developments, financial deals as well as latest contracts awarded in the country's midstream sector.For more information about this report:Scope-Updated information related to all active and planned LNG terminals, oil storage terminals, major trunk pipelines and gas processing plants in the country, including operator and equity details-Key mergers and acquisitions, partnerships, private equity and initial public offerings in the country's Algeria Midstream Oil and Gas Industry, where available-Latest developments, financial deals and awarded contracts related to Algeria Midstream Oil and Gas Industry in the countryRequest Sample Copy atReasons to buy-Gain a strong understanding of the country's Algeria Midstream Oil and Gas Industry-Facilitate decision making on the basis of strong historic and forecast of capacity data-Assess your competitor's major LNG terminals, oil storage terminals, major trunk pipelines and gas processing plants in the country-Analyze the latest developments, financial deals and awarded contracts related to the country's Algeria Midstream Oil and Gas Industry-Understand the country's financial deals landscape by analyzing how competitors are financed, and the mergers and partnerships that have shaped the marketTable of Content1 Table of Contents 12. Introduction 73. Saudi Arabia Oil Storage Industry 94. Saudi Arabia Oil and Gas Pipelines Industry 375. Saudi Arabia Gas Processing Industry 1456. Recent Contracts 1697. Recent Developments 1968. Appendix 204Inquire before Buying atContact Us:Call: +1-646-491-9876Email: sales@reportsweb.comAbout ReportsWeb:ReportsWeb.com is a one stop shop of market research reports and solutions to various companies across the globe. We help our clients in their decision support system by helping them choose most relevant and cost effective research reports and solutions from various publishers. We provide best in class customer service and our customer support team is always available to help you on your research queries.Pune:505, 6th floor, Amanora Township,Amanora Chambers, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028 Argentina Midstream Oil and Gas Industry Market Trends and 2021 Forecast ReportsWeb http://www.reportsweb.com/saudi-arabia-midstream-oil-and-gas-industry-outlook-to-2022 http://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW00011075722/sample http://www.reportsweb.com/buy&RW00011075722/buy/1500 ReportsWeb.com published Argentina Midstream Oil and Gas Industry Outlook to 2022 from its database. The report reviews top companies involved and enlists all trials pertaining to the company. Report provides latest news for the past three months."Argentina Argentina Midstream Oil and Gas Industry Outlook to 2022-Market Forecasts for Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), Oil Storage, Pipelines and Gas Processing", is a comprehensive report on Argentina Midstream Oil and Gas Industry in Argentina. The report provides details such as name, type, operational status and operator for all active and planned (new build) LNG terminals, oil storage terminals, major trunk pipelines and gas processing plants in Argentina till 2022. Further, the report also offers recent developments, financial deals as well as latest contracts awarded in the country's midstream sector.For more information about this report:Scope-Updated information related to all active and planned LNG terminals, oil storage terminals, major trunk pipelines and gas processing plants in the country, including operator and equity details-Key mergers and acquisitions, partnerships, private equity and initial public offerings in the country's Argentina Midstream Oil and Gas Industry, where available-Latest developments, financial deals and awarded contracts related to Argentina Midstream Oil and Gas Industry in the countryRequest Sample Copy atReasons to buy-Gain a strong understanding of the country's Argentina Midstream Oil and Gas Industry-Facilitate decision making on the basis of strong historic and forecast of capacity data-Assess your competitor's major LNG terminals, oil storage terminals, major trunk pipelines and gas processing plants in the country-Analyze the latest developments, financial deals and awarded contracts related to the country's Argentina Midstream Oil and Gas Industry-Understand the country's financial deals landscape by analyzing how competitors are financed, and the mergers and partnerships that have shaped the marketTable of Content1 Table of Contents 12. Introduction 73. Saudi Arabia Oil Storage Industry 94. Saudi Arabia Oil and Gas Pipelines Industry 375. Saudi Arabia Gas Processing Industry 1456. Recent Contracts 1697. Recent Developments 1968. Appendix 204Inquire before Buying atContact Us:Call: +1-646-491-9876Email: sales@reportsweb.comAbout ReportsWeb:ReportsWeb.com is a one stop shop of market research reports and solutions to various companies across the globe. We help our clients in their decision support system by helping them choose most relevant and cost effective research reports and solutions from various publishers. We provide best in class customer service and our customer support team is always available to help you on your research queries.Pune:505, 6th floor, Amanora Township,Amanora Chambers, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028 Bangladesh Midstream Oil and Gas Industry Market 2021 Share, Growth and Regional Forecast ReportsWeb http://www.reportsweb.com/bangladesh-midstream-oil-and-gas-industry-outlook-to-2022 http://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW00011075723/sample http://www.reportsweb.com/buy&RW00011075723/buy/1500 ReportsWeb.com published Bangladesh Midstream Oil and Gas Industry Outlook to 2022 from its database. The report reviews top companies involved and enlists all trials pertaining to the company. Report provides latest news for the past three months."Bangladesh Bangladesh Midstream Oil and Gas Industry Outlook to 2022-Market Forecasts for Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), Oil Storage, Pipelines and Gas Processing", is a comprehensive report on Bangladesh Midstream Oil and Gas Industry in Bangladesh. The report provides details such as name, type, operational status and operator for all active and planned (new build) LNG terminals, oil storage terminals, major trunk pipelines and gas processing plants in Bangladesh till 2022. Further, the report also offers recent developments, financial deals as well as latest contracts awarded in the country's midstream sector.For more information about this report:Scope-Updated information related to all active and planned LNG terminals, oil storage terminals, major trunk pipelines and gas processing plants in the country, including operator and equity details-Key mergers and acquisitions, partnerships, private equity and initial public offerings in the country's Bangladesh Midstream Oil and Gas Industry, where available-Latest developments, financial deals and awarded contracts related to Bangladesh Midstream Oil and Gas Industry in the countryRequest Sample Copy atReasons to buy-Gain a strong understanding of the country's Bangladesh Midstream Oil and Gas Industry-Facilitate decision making on the basis of strong historic and forecast of capacity data-Assess your competitor's major LNG terminals, oil storage terminals, major trunk pipelines and gas processing plants in the country-Analyze the latest developments, financial deals and awarded contracts related to the country's Bangladesh Midstream Oil and Gas Industry-Understand the country's financial deals landscape by analyzing how competitors are financed, and the mergers and partnerships that have shaped the marketTable of Content1 Table of Contents 12. Introduction 73. Saudi Arabia Oil Storage Industry 94. Saudi Arabia Oil and Gas Pipelines Industry 375. Saudi Arabia Gas Processing Industry 1456. Recent Contracts 1697. Recent Developments 1968. Appendix 204Inquire before Buying atContact Us:Call: +1-646-491-9876Email: sales@reportsweb.comAbout ReportsWeb:ReportsWeb.com is a one stop shop of market research reports and solutions to various companies across the globe. We help our clients in their decision support system by helping them choose most relevant and cost effective research reports and solutions from various publishers. We provide best in class customer service and our customer support team is always available to help you on your research queries.Pune:505, 6th floor, Amanora Township,Amanora Chambers, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028 Poland Midstream Oil and Gas Industry Market 2021 Key Manufacturers Analysis ReportsWeb http://www.reportsweb.com/poland-midstream-oil-and-gas-industry-outlook-to-2022 http://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW00011075723/sample http://www.reportsweb.com/buy&RW00011075723/buy/1500 ReportsWeb.com published Poland Midstream Oil and Gas Industry Outlook to 2022 from its database. The report reviews top companies involved and enlists all trials pertaining to the company. Report provides latest news for the past three months."Poland Poland Midstream Oil and Gas Industry Outlook to 2022-Market Forecasts for Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), Oil Storage, Pipelines and Gas Processing", is a comprehensive report on Poland Midstream Oil and Gas Industry in Poland. The report provides details such as name, type, operational status and operator for all active and planned (new build) LNG terminals, oil storage terminals, major trunk pipelines and gas processing plants in Poland till 2022. Further, the report also offers recent developments, financial deals as well as latest contracts awarded in the country's midstream sector.For more information about this report:Scope-Updated information related to all active and planned LNG terminals, oil storage terminals, major trunk pipelines and gas processing plants in the country, including operator and equity details-Key mergers and acquisitions, partnerships, private equity and initial public offerings in the country's Poland Midstream Oil and Gas Industry, where available-Latest developments, financial deals and awarded contracts related to Poland Midstream Oil and Gas Industry in the countryRequest Sample Copy atReasons to buy-Gain a strong understanding of the country's Poland Midstream Oil and Gas Industry-Facilitate decision making on the basis of strong historic and forecast of capacity data-Assess your competitor's major LNG terminals, oil storage terminals, major trunk pipelines and gas processing plants in the country-Analyze the latest developments, financial deals and awarded contracts related to the country's Poland Midstream Oil and Gas Industry-Understand the country's financial deals landscape by analyzing how competitors are financed, and the mergers and partnerships that have shaped the marketTable of Content1 Table of Contents 12. Introduction 73. Saudi Arabia Oil Storage Industry 94. Saudi Arabia Oil and Gas Pipelines Industry 375. Saudi Arabia Gas Processing Industry 1456. Recent Contracts 1697. Recent Developments 1968. Appendix 204Inquire before Buying atContact Us:Call: +1-646-491-9876Email: sales@reportsweb.comAbout ReportsWeb:ReportsWeb.com is a one stop shop of market research reports and solutions to various companies across the globe. We help our clients in their decision support system by helping them choose most relevant and cost effective research reports and solutions from various publishers. We provide best in class customer service and our customer support team is always available to help you on your research queries.Pune:505, 6th floor, Amanora Township,Amanora Chambers, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028 Automotive Steering Wheel Switch Market Report for Period 2011 till 2023 ZF, Delphi, Orman, Alps, Tokai Rika, Valeo, Panasonic, Leopold Kostal and Others Automotive Steering Wheel Switch Market https://goo.gl/dzgYRq https://goo.gl/dzgYRq https://goo.gl/dzgYRq http://marketreportscompany.com Global Automotive Steering Wheel Switch market report provides detailed analysis of companies namely ZF, Delphi, Orman, Alps, Tokai Rika, Valeo, Panasonic, Leopold Kostal and Others. This report study includes global market statistics and analysis for example, company performance, historical analysis 2012 to 2016, market forecast 2017 to 2023 in terms of volume, revenue, YOY growth rate, and CAGR for the year 2017 to 2023, etc.This report studies the automotive steering wheel switch market. It used to allow more functions to be controlled without increasing the number of switches on the steering wheel, enabling drivers to select and operate more vehicle functions while keeping their hands on the wheel.Request for Free Sample Copy of Global Automotive Steering Wheel Switch Market 2017Top Company Profiles and Analysis included in this report:ZFDelphiOrmanAlpsTokai RikaValeoPanasonicLeopold KostalTOYODENSOMarquardtLS AutomotiveChangjiang AutomobileOtherGlobal Automotive Steering Wheel Switch Market: Key ProductSplitModularGlobal Automotive Steering Wheel Switch Market: Key ApplicationPassenger VehicleCommercial VehicleGlobal Automotive Steering Wheel Switch Market: Key RegionNorth America (USA, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia, Italy and Others)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India, Southeast Asia and Others)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia and Others)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa and Others)The Global Automotive Steering Wheel Switch Market analysis report provides detailed value chain for analysis of Global Automotive Steering Wheel Switch Market. The value chain helps to analyze major upstream in raw materials, major equipments, manufacturing process, downstream customer analysis and major distributor analysis.The report also covers in-depth description, competitive scenario, wide product portfolio of prime players active in this market and business strategies adopted by competitors along with their SWOT analysis. Side by side, it also explicitly provides information about mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, and all the other important activities happened in current and past few years. The Global Automotive Steering Wheel Switch Market report explores manufacturers competitive scenario and provides market share for all major players of this market based on production capacity, sales, revenue, geographical presence and other major factors.Enquire before Buying @Table of Contents:1 Market Overview1.1 Automotive Steering Wheel Switch Introduction1.2 Market Analysis by Type1.2.1 Split1.2.2 Modular1.3 Market Analysis by Applications1.3.1 Passenger Vehicle1.3.2 Commercial Vehicle1.4 Market Analysis by Regions....................ContinueGlobal Automotive Steering Wheel Switch Market Research Industry Report is prepared with the help of extensive primary and secondary sources, directories, journals, newsletters and with the help of third-party application like Hoovers, Factiva, Bloomberg, Businessweek, etc.About Us:Market Reports Company is a global research and consulting company. We provide customized reports. We can study and analyze any market based on wide range of parameters. We can provide market insights for any particular region, country across the globe within shortest possible turn around time.What we offer: Customized Reports: we provide customized report study on any market or industry. Region Specific Study: If you need region specific or if you are searching for particular region market study then, we have expert research team for that. How we work: We work in all domains and industries, you name it and we provide the market research industry report analysis of it. Expertise: Superior Research Team, 24*7 Customer Care ServiceContact UsJason Smith,Sales Manager, Global Business Development,Website:Email: jasonsmith@marketreportscompany.comContact us: +1-888-220-3424Address: 20 N State Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60602 United States Calcium Magnesium Carbonate Market Report for Period 2011 till 2023 Lhoist Group, Imerys, Liuhe Mining, Omya Group, Sibelco, Specialty Minerals, Cemex, Nordkalk, Beihai Group and Others Calcium Magnesium Carbonate Market https://goo.gl/cdES9M https://goo.gl/cdES9M https://goo.gl/cdES9M http://marketreportscompany.com Global Calcium Magnesium Carbonate market report provides detailed analysis of companies namely Lhoist Group, Imerys, Liuhe Mining, Omya Group, Sibelco, Specialty Minerals, Cemex, Nordkalk, Beihai Group and Others. This report study includes global market statistics and analysis for example, company performance, historical analysis 2012 to 2016, market forecast 2017 to 2023 in terms of volume, revenue, YOY growth rate, and CAGR for the year 2017 to 2023, etc.Calcium magnesium carbonate, also called dolomite, is a naturally occurring double carbonate consisting of a structural arrangement of calcium carbonate CaCO3 and magnesium carbonate MgCO3. The nodular particle shape of dolomite crystals has similarities to marble ones. Therefore, dolomite is often present together with marble. Its sedimentary origin had been subjected to high pressure and temperature (metamorphosis) during movements in the earths crust.Request for Free Sample Copy of Global Calcium Magnesium Carbonate Market 2017Top Company Profiles and Analysis included in this report:Lhoist GroupImerysLiuhe MiningOmya GroupSibelcoSpecialty MineralsCemexNordkalkBeihai GroupE. Dillon & CompanyGraymontWancheng MeiyeLongcliffe QuarriesJindu MiningCarriere de MerlemontNittetsu MiningArihant MinChemDongfeng DolomiteJinding Magnesite GroupPT Polowijo GosariMINERARIA DI BOCA SRCarmeuseDanding GroupMulti MinShinko KogyoSamwha GroupOtherGlobal Calcium Magnesium Carbonate Market: Key ProductCalcium DolomiteMagnesia DolomiteOthersGlobal Calcium Magnesium Carbonate Market: Key ApplicationConstruction MaterialsIndustrialAgriculturalOtherGlobal Calcium Magnesium Carbonate Market: Key RegionNorth America (USA, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia, Italy and Others)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India, Southeast Asia and Others)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia and Others)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa and Others)The Global Calcium Magnesium Carbonate Market analysis report provides detailed value chain for analysis of Global Calcium Magnesium Carbonate Market. The value chain helps to analyze major upstream in raw materials, major equipments, manufacturing process, downstream customer analysis and major distributor analysis.The report also covers in-depth description, competitive scenario, wide product portfolio of prime players active in this market and business strategies adopted by competitors along with their SWOT analysis. Side by side, it also explicitly provides information about mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, and all the other important activities happened in current and past few years. The Global Calcium Magnesium Carbonate Market report explores manufacturers competitive scenario and provides market share for all major players of this market based on production capacity, sales, revenue, geographical presence and other major factors.Enquire before Buying @Table of Contents:1 Market Overview1.1 Calcium Magnesium Carbonate Introduction1.2 Market Analysis by Type1.2.1 Calcium Dolomite1.2.2 Magnesia Dolomite1.2.3 Others1.3 Market Analysis by Applications1.3.1 Construction Materials1.3.2 Industrial1.3.3 Agricultural1.3.4 Other....................ContinueGlobal Calcium Magnesium Carbonate Market Research Industry Report is prepared with the help of extensive primary and secondary sources, directories, journals, newsletters and with the help of third-party application like Hoovers, Factiva, Bloomberg, Businessweek, etc.About Us:Market Reports Company is a global research and consulting company. We provide customized reports. We can study and analyze any market based on wide range of parameters. We can provide market insights for any particular region, country across the globe within shortest possible turn around time.What we offer: Customized Reports: we provide customized report study on any market or industry. Region Specific Study: If you need region specific or if you are searching for particular region market study then, we have expert research team for that. How we work: We work in all domains and industries, you name it and we provide the market research industry report analysis of it. Expertise: Superior Research Team, 24*7 Customer Care ServiceContact UsJason Smith,Sales Manager, Global Business Development,Website:Email: jasonsmith@marketreportscompany.comContact us: +1-888-220-3424Address: 20 N State Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60602 United States Cesium Iodide Market Report for Period 2011 till 2023 Saint Gobain S.A., Amcrys Hamamatsu Photonics K.K., Scintacor, Radiation Monitoring Devices, Inc., EPIC Crystal Company Limited, Shanghai SICCAS, Shanghai Ucome and Others Cesium Iodide Market https://goo.gl/MBpXQ4 https://goo.gl/MBpXQ4 https://goo.gl/MBpXQ4 http://marketreportscompany.com Global Cesium Iodide market report provides detailed analysis of companies namely Saint Gobain S.A., Amcrys Hamamatsu Photonics K.K., Scintacor, Radiation Monitoring Devices, Inc., EPIC Crystal Company Limited, Shanghai SICCAS, Shanghai Ucome and Others. This report study includes global market statistics and analysis for example, company performance, historical analysis 2012 to 2016, market forecast 2017 to 2023 in terms of volume, revenue, YOY growth rate, and CAGR for the year 2017 to 2023, etc.This report studies the Cesium Iodide market, mainly focus on the caesium iodide crystals. The most important use of Caesium iodide. Caesium iodide (chemical formula CsI) is the ionic compound of caesium and iodine. It is often used as the input phosphor of an X-ray image intensifier tube found in fluoroscopy equipment. Caesium iodide photocathodes are highly efficient at extreme ultraviolet wavelengths. Cesium iodide is a scintillation material with a high gamma-ray stopping power due to its relative high density and effective atomic number. It is used either in its undoped form or doped with sodium or thallium for scintillation counting. CsI has not high resistance to thermal and mechanical shock due to the absence of a cleavage plane. Compared to NaI (Tl) it is relatively soft and plastic material.The global Cesium Iodide market will reach xxx Million USD in 2017. The objective of report is to define, segment, and project the market on the basis of product type, application, and region, and to describe the content about the factors influencing market dynamics, policy, economic, technology and market entry etc.Request for Free Sample Copy of Global Cesium Iodide Market 2017Top Company Profiles and Analysis included in this report:Saint Gobain S.A.AmcrysHamamatsu Photonics K.K.ScintacorRadiation Monitoring Devices, Inc.EPIC Crystal Company LimitedShanghai SICCASShanghai UcomeOtherGlobal Cesium Iodide Market: Key Product TypeCsI (Tl)CsI (Na)CsI PureGlobal Cesium Iodide Market: Key ApplicationHealthcareIndustrial UseOthersGlobal Cesium Iodide Market: Key RegionNorth America (USA, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia, Italy and Others)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India, Southeast Asia and Others)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia and Others)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa and Others)The Global Cesium Iodide Market analysis report provides detailed value chain for analysis of Global Cesium Iodide Market. The value chain helps to analyze major upstream in raw materials, major equipments, manufacturing process, downstream customer analysis and major distributor analysis.The report also covers in-depth description, competitive scenario, wide product portfolio of prime players active in this market and business strategies adopted by competitors along with their SWOT analysis. Side by side, it also explicitly provides information about mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, and all the other important activities happened in current and past few years. The Global Cesium Iodide Market report explores manufacturers competitive scenario and provides market share for all major players of this market based on production capacity, sales, revenue, geographical presence and other major factors.Enquire before Buying @Table of Contents:1 Market Overview1.1 Cesium Iodide Introduction1.2 Market Analysis by Type1.2.1 CsI (Tl)1.2.2 CsI (Na)1.2.3 CsI Pure1.3 Market Analysis by Applications1.3.1 Healthcare1.3.2 Industrial Use1.3.3 Others1.4 Market Analysis by Regions1.4.1 North America (USA, Canada and Mexico)1.4.1.1 USA Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.1.2 Canada Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.1.3 Mexico Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.2 Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy)1.4.2.1 Germany Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.2.2 France Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.2.3 UK Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.2.4 Russia Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.2.5 Italy Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.3 Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia)1.4.3.1 China Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.3.2 Japan Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.3.3 Korea Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.3.4 India Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.3.5 Southeast Asia Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.4 South America, Middle East and Africa1.4.4.1 Brazil Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.4.2 Egypt Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.4.3 Saudi Arabia Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.4.4 South Africa Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)....................ContinueGlobal Cesium Iodide Market Research Industry Report is prepared with the help of extensive primary and secondary sources, directories, journals, newsletters and with the help of third-party application like Hoovers, Factiva, Bloomberg, Businessweek, etc.About Us:Market Reports Company is a global research and consulting company. We provide customized reports. We can study and analyze any market based on wide range of parameters. We can provide market insights for any particular region, country across the globe within shortest possible turn around time.What we offer: Customized Reports: we provide customized report study on any market or industry. Region Specific Study: If you need region specific or if you are searching for particular region market study then, we have expert research team for that. How we work: We work in all domains and industries, you name it and we provide the market research industry report analysis of it. Expertise: Superior Research Team, 24*7 Customer Care ServiceContact UsJason Smith,Sales Manager, Global Business Development,Website:Email: jasonsmith@marketreportscompany.comContact us: +1-888-220-3424Address: 20 N State Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60602 United States Caustic Soda Market Report for Period 2011 till 2023 Dow Chemical, OxyChem, Axiall, Olin Corporation, Formosa Plastics Corporation, Tosoh , Inovyn, Asahi Glass, Covestro, Shin-Etsu Chemical, AkzoNobel and Others Caustic Soda Market https://goo.gl/kKQoTk https://goo.gl/kKQoTk https://goo.gl/kKQoTk http://marketreportscompany.com Global Caustic Soda market report provides detailed analysis of companies namely Dow Chemical, OxyChem, Axiall, Olin Corporation, Formosa Plastics Corporation, Tosoh , Inovyn, Asahi Glass, Covestro, Shin-Etsu Chemical, AkzoNobeland Others. This report study includes global market statistics and analysis for example, company performance, historical analysis 2012 to 2016, market forecast 2017 to 2023 in terms of volume, revenue, YOY growth rate, and CAGR for the year 2017 to 2023, etc.Sodium hydroxide is also known as caustic soda, caustic, and lye. Anhydrous (100%, solid) caustic soda has a chemical formula of NaOH and a molecular weight of 40.00.It is available commercially in the form of liquid, solid, flakes, or particles. Sodium hydroxide has diverse industrial applications due to its strong alkaline nature. It is integral to the manufacture of petroleum products, pulp and paper, alumina, textiles, and soaps and detergents, along with its application in chemical processing, water treatment and petroleum processing.Request for Free Sample Copy of Global Caustic Soda Market 2017Top Company Profiles and Analysis included in this report:Dow ChemicalOxyChemAxiallOlin CorporationFormosa Plastics CorporationTosohInovynAsahi GlassCovestroShin-Etsu ChemicalAkzoNobelHanwha ChemicalSolvayLG ChemicalTokuyama CorpSABICKemiraBasfAditya Birla ChemicalsGACLJoint Stock Company KaustikSanmar GroupUnipar CarbocloroBraskemKem OneVinnolitEvonikVESTOLITTessenderlo GroupErcrosChemChinaXinjiang Zhongtai ChemicalXinjiang TianyeShaanxi Beiyuan GroupShandong JinlingSP Chemical(Taixing)Shanghai Chlor-alkaliShandong Haili ChemicalShandong Huatai GroupNantong Jiangshan Agrochemical & ChemicalsOtherGlobal Caustic Soda Market: Key Product Battery TypeLiquid Caustic SodaSolid Caustic SodaCaustic Soda FlakeCaustic Soda ParticleGlobal Caustic Soda Market: Key ApplicationPulp and PaperTextilesSoap and DetergentsBleach ManufacturingPetroleum ProductsAluminum ProductionChemical ProcessingGlobal Caustic Soda Market: Key RegionNorth America (USA, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia, Italy and Others)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India, Southeast Asia and Others)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia and Others)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa and Others)The Global Caustic Soda Market analysis report provides detailed value chain for analysis of Global Caustic Soda Market. The value chain helps to analyze major upstream in raw materials, major equipments, manufacturing process, downstream customer analysis and major distributor analysis.The report also covers in-depth description, competitive scenario, wide product portfolio of prime players active in this market and business strategies adopted by competitors along with their SWOT analysis. Side by side, it also explicitly provides information about mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, and all the other important activities happened in current and past few years. The Global Caustic Soda Market report explores manufacturers competitive scenario and provides market share for all major players of this market based on production capacity, sales, revenue, geographical presence and other major factors.Enquire before Buying @Table of Contents:1 Market Overview1.1 Caustic Soda Introduction1.2 Market Analysis by Type1.2.1 Liquid Caustic Soda1.2.2 Solid Caustic Soda1.2.3 Caustic Soda Flake1.2.4 Caustic Soda Particle1.3 Market Analysis by Applications1.3.1 Pulp and Paper1.3.2 Textiles1.3.3 Soap and Detergents1.3.4 Bleach Manufacturing1.3.5 Petroleum Products1.3.6 Aluminum Production1.3.1 Chemical Processing....................ContinueGlobal Caustic Soda Market Research Industry Report is prepared with the help of extensive primary and secondary sources, directories, journals, newsletters and with the help of third-party application like Hoovers, Factiva, Bloomberg, Businessweek, etc.About Us:Market Reports Company is a global research and consulting company. We provide customized reports. We can study and analyze any market based on wide range of parameters. We can provide market insights for any particular region, country across the globe within shortest possible turn around time.What we offer: Customized Reports: we provide customized report study on any market or industry. Region Specific Study: If you need region specific or if you are searching for particular region market study then, we have expert research team for that. How we work: We work in all domains and industries, you name it and we provide the market research industry report analysis of it. Expertise: Superior Research Team, 24*7 Customer Care ServiceContact UsJason Smith,Sales Manager, Global Business Development,Website:Email: jasonsmith@marketreportscompany.comContact us: +1-888-220-3424Address: 20 N State Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60602 United States Clinical Immunoanalyzer Market Report for Period 2011 till 2023 Roche Diagnostics, Abbott, Siemens, Beckman Coulter, Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics, Bio-Rad, BioMerieux, DiaSorin, Werfen Life and Others Clinical Immunoanalyzer Market https://goo.gl/xFBYNX https://goo.gl/xFBYNX https://goo.gl/xFBYNX http://marketreportscompany.com Global Clinical Immunoanalyzer market report provides detailed analysis of companies namely Roche Diagnostics, Abbott, Siemens, Beckman Coulter, Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics, Bio-Rad, BioMerieux, DiaSorin, Werfen Life and Others. This report study includes global market statistics and analysis for example, company performance, historical analysis 2012 to 2016, market forecast 2017 to 2023 in terms of volume, revenue, YOY growth rate, and CAGR for the year 2017 to 2023, etc.Clinical Immunoanalyzer detect and quantify specific analytes in blood or in samples of body fluids by utilizing immunoassay methodologies such as immunoprecipitation, particle immunoassays, immunonephelometry, radioimmunoassay, enzyme immunoassay, fluorescent immunoassay, and chemiluminescent immunoassays.The global Clinical Immunoanalyzer market will reach xxx Million USD in 2017. The objective of report is to define, segment, and project the market on the basis of product type, application, and region, and to describe the content about the factors influencing market dynamics, policy, economic, technology and market entry etc.Request for Free Sample Copy of Global Clinical Immunoanalyzer Market 2017Top Company Profiles and Analysis included in this report:Roche DiagnosticsAbbottSiemensBeckman CoulterOrtho-Clinical DiagnosticsBio-RadBioMerieuxDiaSorinWerfen LifeThermo Fisher ScientificTosoh CorporationRandox LaboratoriesSnibeTransasiaOtherGlobal Clinical Immunoanalyzer Market: Key Product TypeCLIAELISARIAFIAOtherGlobal Clinical Immunoanalyzer Market: Key ApplicationHospitalClinicOthersGlobal Clinical Immunoanalyzer Market: Key RegionNorth America (USA, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia, Italy and Others)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India, Southeast Asia and Others)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia and Others)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa and Others)The Global Clinical Immunoanalyzer Market analysis report provides detailed value chain for analysis of Global Clinical Immunoanalyzer Market. The value chain helps to analyze major upstream in raw materials, major equipments, manufacturing process, downstream customer analysis and major distributor analysis.The report also covers in-depth description, competitive scenario, wide product portfolio of prime players active in this market and business strategies adopted by competitors along with their SWOT analysis. Side by side, it also explicitly provides information about mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, and all the other important activities happened in current and past few years. The Global Clinical Immunoanalyzer Market report explores manufacturers competitive scenario and provides market share for all major players of this market based on production capacity, sales, revenue, geographical presence and other major factors.Enquire before Buying @Table of Contents:1 Market Overview1.1 Clinical Immunoanalyzer Introduction1.2 Market Analysis by Type1.2.1 CLIA1.2.2 ELISA1.2.3 RIA1.2.4 FIA1.2.5 Other1.3 Market Analysis by Applications1.3.1 Hospital1.3.2 Clinic1.3.3 Other1.4 Market Analysis by Regions1.4.1 North America (USA, Canada and Mexico)1.4.1.1 USA Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.1.2 Canada Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.1.3 Mexico Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.2 Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy)1.4.2.1 Germany Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.2.2 France Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.2.3 UK Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.2.4 Russia Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.2.5 Italy Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.3 Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia)1.4.3.1 China Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.3.2 Japan Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.3.3 Korea Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.3.4 India Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.3.5 Southeast Asia Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)....................ContinueGlobal Clinical Immunoanalyzer Market Research Industry Report is prepared with the help of extensive primary and secondary sources, directories, journals, newsletters and with the help of third-party application like Hoovers, Factiva, Bloomberg, Businessweek, etc.About Us:Market Reports Company is a global research and consulting company. We provide customized reports. We can study and analyze any market based on wide range of parameters. We can provide market insights for any particular region, country across the globe within shortest possible turn around time.What we offer: Customized Reports: we provide customized report study on any market or industry. Region Specific Study: If you need region specific or if you are searching for particular region market study then, we have expert research team for that. How we work: We work in all domains and industries, you name it and we provide the market research industry report analysis of it. Expertise: Superior Research Team, 24*7 Customer Care ServiceContact UsJason Smith,Sales Manager, Global Business Development,Website:Email: jasonsmith@marketreportscompany.comContact us: +1-888-220-3424Address: 20 N State Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60602 United States CTO Distillation Market Report for Period 2011 till 2023 Kraton, Westrock (Ingevity), Forchem, Georgia-Pacific, Eastman, Harima, OOO Torgoviy Dom Lesokhimik, Lascaray, Segezha Group and Others CTO Distillation Market https://goo.gl/4mH2eA https://goo.gl/4mH2eA https://goo.gl/4mH2eA http://marketreportscompany.com Global CTO Distillation market report provides detailed analysis of companies namely Kraton, Westrock (Ingevity), Forchem, Georgia-Pacific, Eastman, Harima, OOO Torgoviy Dom Lesokhimik, Lascaray, Segezha Group and Others. This report study includes global market statistics and analysis for example, company performance, historical analysis 2012 to 2016, market forecast 2017 to 2023 in terms of volume, revenue, YOY growth rate, and CAGR for the year 2017 to 2023, etc.Crude Tall Oil (CTO) is a by-product of the kraft pulping process used by many paper mills. Tall oil soap is collected at the mills and then acidulated to make crude tall oil. It is a mixture of fatty acids, rosin and Rubber neutral materials and forms water-in-oil emulsions and stabilizes mud systems at high bottom-hole temperatures. The CTO can then be further refined through the fractionation process to separate it into the components of tall oil fatty acid, tall oil rosin, distilled tall oil, pitch and heads. (GP-CTO),The global CTO Distillation market will reach xxx Million USD in 2023. The objective of report is to define, segment, and project the market on the basis of product type, application, and region, and to describe the content about the factors influencing market dynamics, policy, economic, technology and market entry etc.Request for Free Sample Copy of Global CTO Distillation Market 2017Top Company Profiles and Analysis included in this report:KratonWestrock (Ingevity)ForchemGeorgia-PacificEastmanHarimaOOO Torgoviy Dom LesokhimikLascaraySegezha GroupIOPDRTOtherGlobal CTO Distillation Market: Key Product TypeTall Oil Fatty Acids (TOFA)Tall Oil Rosin (TOR)Tall Oil Pitch (TOP)Distilled Tall Oil (DTO)Global CTO Distillation Market: Key ApplicationFuel and Fuel AdditivesSurfactantMining and Oilfield ChemicalsCoating and InksRubberOthersGlobal CTO Distillation Market: Key RegionNorth America (USA, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia, Italy and Others)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India, Southeast Asia and Others)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia and Others)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa and Others)The Global CTO Distillation Market analysis report provides detailed value chain for analysis of Global CTO Distillation Market. The value chain helps to analyze major upstream in raw materials, major equipments, manufacturing process, downstream customer analysis and major distributor analysis.The report also covers in-depth description, competitive scenario, wide product portfolio of prime players active in this market and business strategies adopted by competitors along with their SWOT analysis. Side by side, it also explicitly provides information about mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, and all the other important activities happened in current and past few years. The Global CTO Distillation Market report explores manufacturers competitive scenario and provides market share for all major players of this market based on production capacity, sales, revenue, geographical presence and other major factors.Enquire before Buying @Table of Contents:1 Market Overview1.1 CTO Distillation Introduction1.2 Market Analysis by Type1.2.1 Tall Oil Fatty Acids (TOFA)1.2.2 Tall Oil Rosin (TOR)1.2.3 Tall Oil Pitch (TOP)1.2.4 Distilled Tall Oil (DTO)1.3 Market Analysis by Applications1.3.1 Fuel and Fuel Additives1.3.2 Surfactant1.3.3 Mining and Oilfield Chemicals1.3.4 Coating and Inks1.3.5 Rubber1.3.6 Others1.4 Market Analysis by Regions1.4.1 North America (USA, Canada and Mexico)1.4.1.1 USA Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.1.2 Canada Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.1.3 Mexico Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.2 Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy)1.4.2.1 Germany Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.2.2 France Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.2.3 UK Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.2.4 Russia Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.2.5 Italy Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.3 Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia)....................ContinueGlobal CTO Distillation Market Research Industry Report is prepared with the help of extensive primary and secondary sources, directories, journals, newsletters and with the help of third-party application like Hoovers, Factiva, Bloomberg, Businessweek, etc.About Us:Market Reports Company is a global research and consulting company. We provide customized reports. We can study and analyze any market based on wide range of parameters. We can provide market insights for any particular region, country across the globe within shortest possible turn around time.What we offer: Customized Reports: we provide customized report study on any market or industry. Region Specific Study: If you need region specific or if you are searching for particular region market study then, we have expert research team for that. How we work: We work in all domains and industries, you name it and we provide the market research industry report analysis of it. Expertise: Superior Research Team, 24*7 Customer Care ServiceContact UsJason Smith,Sales Manager, Global Business Development,Website:Email: jasonsmith@marketreportscompany.comContact us: +1-888-220-3424Address: 20 N State Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60602 United States Wind Power in Chile Market Outlook to 2030 ReportsWeb http://www.reportsweb.com/wind-power-in-chile-market-outlook-to-2030 http://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW00011075715/sample http://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW00011075715/discount "Wind Power in Chile, Market Outlook to 2030, Update 2017-Capacity, Generation, Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE), Investment Trends, Regulations and Company Profiles", is the latest report from Publisher, the industry analysis specialists that offer comprehensive information and understanding of the wind power market in Chile.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 Chile (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 Chile 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.Complete report is available atScopeThe report analyses global renewable power market, global wind power (Onshore and Offshore) market, Chile power market, Chile renewable power market and Chile 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 Chile 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 Chile 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 Chile wind power market with installed capacity and generation trends and major active and upcoming wind projects.-Deal analysis of Chile 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.Request a Sample copy atReasons 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 Chile 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 industry's 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.Complete report is available at1.2 List of FiguresFigure 1: Wind Power Market, Global, Cumulative Installed Capacity Share by Country (%), 2016 8Figure 2: Power Market, Chile, Cumulative Installed Capacity by Type of Power Plant (%), 2016 9Figure 3: Carbon-di-oxide Emissions from Energy Consumption, Global (MT), 2001-2016 12Figure 4: Primary Energy Consumption, Global (Mtoe), 2001-2030 14Figure 5: Renewable Power Market, Global, Cumulative Installed Capacity by Source Type (MW), 2006-2030 20Figure 6: Renewable Power Market, Global, Cumulative Installed Capacity Split by Source Type (%), 2016 and 2030 22Figure 7: Renewable Power Market, Global, Net Capacity Additions by Source Type (MW), 2016-2030 24Figure 8: Renewable Power Market, Global, Comparison by Cumulative Installed Capacity of Technology, 2016-2030 26Figure 9: Renewable Power Market, Global, Power Generation (GWh), 2006-2030 28Contact 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 Thermal Power in Russian Federation Market Outlook to 2030 ReportsWeb http://www.reportsweb.com/thermal-power-in-russian-federation-market-outlook-to-2030 http://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW00011099609/sample http://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW00011099609/discount Thermal Power in Russian Federation, Market Outlook to 2030, Update 2017 -Capacity, Generation, Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE), Investment Trends, Regulations and Company ProfilesSummary"Thermal Power in Russian Federation, Market Outlook to 2030, Update 2017 -Capacity, Generation, Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE), Investment Trends, Regulations and Company Profiles", is the latest report from Publisher, the industry analysis specialists that offer comprehensive information and understanding of the thermal power market.The report provides in depth analysis on global thermal power market with forecasts up to 2030. The report analyzes the power market scenario in Russian Federation(includes thermal, nuclear, large hydro, pumped storage and renewable energy sources) and provides future outlook with forecasts up to 2030. The research details thermal 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 Russian Federation thermal power market. A detailed coverage of energy policy framework governing the market with specific policies pertaining to thermal is provided in the report. The research also provides details of active thermal power plants in the country, upcoming thermal installation details and company snapshots of some of the major market participants.Complete report is available atScopeThe report analyses global thermal power market, Russian Federation power market and Russian Federation thermal power market. The scope of the research includes --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.-Detailed overview on the global thermal power market with installed capacity and generation trends, market forces analysis (drivers, restraints and challenges), installed capacity by fuel type, installed capacity split by region, installed capacity split by major countries and cross country comparison among thermal sources such as coal, oil and gas.-Power market scenario in Russian Federation and provides detailed market overview, installed capacity and power generation trends by various fuel types (includes thermal, nuclear, large hydro and renewable energy sources) with forecasts up to 2030.-Detailed overview of Russian Federation thermal power market with installed capacity and generation trends, installed capacity by fuel type, net capacity addition by fuel type, owners share, market size of major equipments such as steam generator and turbine, and information on major active and upcoming projects.-Key policies and regulatory framework supporting thermal power development.-Company snapshots of some of the major market participants in the country.Request a Sample copy atReasons to buyThe report will enhance your decision making capability in a more rapid and time sensitive manner. It will allow you to --Identify key growth and investment opportunities in Russian Federation thermal power market.-Facilitate decision-making based on strong historic and forecast data for thermal power market.-Position yourself to gain the maximum advantage of the industry's 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.List of TablesTable 1: Carbon Dioxide Emissions from Energy Consumption, Global (MT), 2001-2016 12Table 2: Primary Energy Consumption, Global (Mtoe), 2001-2030 14Table 3: Thermal Power Market, Global, Installed Capacity (MW), 2006-2030 18Table 4: Thermal Power Market, Global, Cumulative Installed Capacity Share by Region (%), 2016 and 2030 19Table 5: Thermal Power Market, Global, Cumulative Installed Capacity Share by Country (%), 2016 and 2030 21Table 6: Thermal Power Market, Global, Cumulative Installed Capacity Share by Segment (%), 2016 and 2030 22Table 7: Thermal Power Market, Global, Power Generation (GWh), 2006-2030 24Table 8: Thermal Power Market, Global, Generation Share by Region (%), 2016 and 2030 26Table 9: Thermal Power Market, Global, Generation Share by Country (%), 2016 and 2030 28Table 10: Thermal Power Market, Global, Generation Share by Segment (%), 2016 and 2030 29Get Discount 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 Positioning 5G Telco Case Studies-Eighteen profiles of leading mobile data operators worldwide as they prepare for 5G ReportsWeb http://www.reportsweb.com/positioning-5g-telco-case-studies-eighteen-profiles-of-leading-mobile-data-operators-worldwide-as-they-prepare-for-5g http://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW0001881555/sample http://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW0001881555/discount Positioning 5G Telco Case Studies-Eighteen profiles of leading mobile data operators worldwide as they prepare for 5GSummary"Positioning 5G Telco Case Studies" a thematic research report by Publisher delves into 5G technology and applications as applicable to 18 major telecoms service providers around the world. It examines their strategic motivations and network milestones with specific focus on South Korea Japan the US China and Europe. 5G will for the first time go beyond increased bandwidth and capacity as was the focus of previous wireless generations adding low latency high density and high reliability.Data and insights for this report were derived through a mix of desk-based secondary research and qualitative primary research. Primary research involves in-depth interviews with market players and the secondary research effort includes obtaining relevant data and intelligence through publicly available sources regulatory authority publications trade associations specialist databases and company financial reports presentations and press releases.Complete report is available atThe report is structured as follows-- Operator Case Studies This section begins with an overview and compiles profiles of eighteen of the world's mobile operators that are more advanced in mobile data. They include four operators in the US nine in Asia Pacific four in Europe and one in the Middle East. The profiles provide a broad overview of network milestones encompassing both developments in 4G and announced plans for 5G and examine the motivations and opportunities for different operators en route to 5G.- Key findings and recommendations We conclude the report with a summary of the opportunities challenges and success factors in deploying 5G as well as recommendations for network operators and vendors.Scope- 5G goes beyond previous wireless generations with additional capabilities beyond increased bandwidths and capacities resulting in new opportunities but also additional challenges in complexity.- 5G is gaining momentum given that standardization timelines have been brought forward. As a result in Japan South Korea and USA all the major operators are planning to launch IMT 2020 based services during 2019. Important events such as Olympics are an additional driver in a number of countries.- The 28GHz frequency band is enjoying the most initial focus and will support early services in South Korea and US although it is not available in all regions. The 3.5GHz frequency band has by some way the broadest support across key regions including US where it is to become available as shared spectrum. Many other high frequency bands are also being considered notably 2.5GHz 4GHz and 39GHz; these will be complemented by low frequency bands also including 600MHz 700MHz and 1.3GHz.- The 5G business case for operators depends very much on small cell deployment and the associated availability of high capacity backhaul.Request a Sample copy atReasons to buy- This report provides a global view of the network milestones and envisaged opportunities in deploying 5G and growth trends for eighteen of the world's most advanced providers of mobile telephony.- This analysis is useful for telecom executives to evaluate their position vis-a-vis the major growth opportunities in 5G and make informed decisions about strategic investments value proposition and growth strategies to rapidly grow their 5G networks.- The report provides valuable insights about variety of approaches operators are taking with the evolution of the 5G family of technologies.- The report allows comparison of network readiness and 5G roll out progression among operators in different countries.List of FiguresExhibit 1 5G as a proportion of total mobile subscriptions 6Exhibit 2 LTE penetration of mobile subscriptions by operator YE 2016 8Exhibit 3 AT&T LTE penetration and network milestones 9Exhibit 4 AT&T's network virtualization schedule 10Exhibit 5 Verizon LTE penetration and network milestones 11Exhibit 6 Verizon key 5G partnerships and alliances 12Get Discount 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 Enhanced Vision Systems Market with Focus on Current and Future Plans 2023 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/2958 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/enhanced-vision-systems-market-2958 Market Research Future published a research report on Global Enhanced Vision Systems Market Research Report- Forecast 2023 Market Analysis, Scope, Stake, Progress, Trends and Forecast to 2023.Market Synopsis of Enhanced Vision Systems MarketMarket Scenario:Enhanced vision system is a type of imaging camera that detects infrared energy radiating from objects andforms a real-time video image which can be displayed on a dedicated video display screen. The primary purpose of enhanced vision systems is improving situational awareness. An enhanced vision system helps in eliminating the visual effects of darkness and turns it into daylight on display screen. As the darkness is eliminated it helps the pilot in avoiding clouds at night, thereby improving night vision. During the day, when the smoke and fog are not easily visible to naked eye, the system enables the pilot to see through smoke, haze and smog.Get Sample of Report @Based on technology, the millimeter wave radar segment of the enhanced vision systems market is projected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. Active sensors like millimeter wave (MMW) radars help in achieving a reliable vision that facilitates safe navigation. Among all imaging sensors, the most promising one for enhanced vision systems is the MMW radar as it has the lowest weather dependency.Various authorities like U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), need to approve the manufacturing of components before installing them onboard. It is also difficult to obtain approval for the replacement of conventional systems onboard on the aircraft as it involves high investments.The global Enhanced Vision Systems Market is expected to grow at approx. USD 262 Million by 2023, at 4% of CAGR between 2017 and 2023.Study Objectives of Enhanced Vision Systems Market: To provide detailed analysis of the market structure along with forecast of the various segments and sub-segments of the Enhanced Vision Systems market. To provide insights about factors affecting the market growth. To analyze the Enhanced Vision Systems market based porters five force analysis etc. To provide historical and forecast revenue of the market segments and sub-segments with respect to four main geographies and their countries- North America, Europe, Asia, and Rest of the World (ROW). To provide country level analysis of the market with respect to the current market size and future prospective. To provide country level analysis of the market for segment on the basis of type, application, end -users and region. To provide strategic profiling of key players in the market, comprehensively analyzing their core competencies, and drawing a competitive landscape for the market. To track and analyze competitive developments such as joint ventures, strategic alliances, mergers and acquisitions, new product developments, and research and developments in the Enhanced Vision Systems Market.Key PlayersThe prominent players in enhanced vision systems market are Astronics Corporation (U.S.), Elbit Systems Ltd. (Israel), Esterline Technologies Corporation (U.S.), Honeywell International, Inc. (U.S.), L-3 Communications Holdings, Inc. (U.S.), MBDA (U.K.), Opgal (Israel), Rockwell Collins, Inc. (U.S.), Thales Group (France), United Technologies Corporation (U.S.) among others.Segments:Enhanced vision systems market can be segmented on the basis of following:By Component: Camera Sensors Display Processing unit Control electronicsBy Technology: Infrared Synthetic vision Millimeter wave radar Global positioning systemBy Platform: Fixed wing Rotary wingRegional Analysis:The regional analysis of enhanced vision systems market is being studied for regions such as Asia Pacific, North America, Europe and Rest of the World. It has been observed that North America is estimated to account for the largest share of the market, whereas Asia-Pacific projected to grow at the fastest rate during the forecast period. Due to the presence of large OEMs and growing demand for private and regional jets, North America region has been dominating the market share of enhanced vision systems market.Get complete Report @Intended Audience Technology investors Consumer wearable manufacturers Healthcare-related product manufacturers Integrated device manufacturers (IDMs) Wearable electronics technology platform developers Original manufacturers (OEMs) Surface mount component device distributors and providers Research/Consultancy firmsAbout Us: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 Hemostats - Medical Devices Pipeline Assessment, 2016 ReportsWeb http://www.reportsweb.com/hemostats-medical-devices-pipeline-assessment-2016 http://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW0001193383/sample http://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW0001193383/discount SummaryPublisher's Medical Devices sector report, "Hemostats - Medical Devices Pipeline Assessment, 2016" provides an overview of Hemostats currently in pipeline stage.The report provides comprehensive information on the pipeline products with comparative analysis of the products at various stages of development. The report reviews major players involved in the pipeline product development. It also provides information about clinical trials in progress, which includes trial phase, trial status, trial start and end dates, and, the number of trials for the key Hemostats pipeline products.This report is prepared using data sourced from in-house databases, secondary and primary research by Publisher's team of industry experts.Complete report is available atScope- Extensive coverage of the Hemostats under development- The report reviews details of major pipeline products which includes, product description, licensing and collaboration details and other developmental activities- The report reviews the major players involved in the development of Hemostats and list all their pipeline projects- The coverage of pipeline products based on various stages of development ranging from Early Development to Approved / Issued stage- The report provides key clinical trial data of ongoing trials specific to pipeline products- Recent developments in the segment / industryRequest a Sample copy atReasons to buyThe report enables you to -- Formulate significant competitor information, analysis, and insights to improve R&D strategies- Identify emerging players with potentially strong product portfolio and create effective counter-strategies to gain competitive advantage- Identify and understand important and diverse types of Hemostats under development- Develop market-entry and market expansion strategies- Plan mergers and acquisitions effectively by identifying major players with the most promising pipeline- In-depth analysis of the product's current stage of development, territory and estimated launch date1.2 List of FiguresFigure 1: Hemostats - Pipeline Products by Stage of Development 10Figure 2: Hemostats - Pipeline Products by Segment 11Figure 3: Hemostats - Pipeline Products by Territory 12Figure 4: Hemostats - Pipeline Products by Regulatory Path 13Figure 5: Hemostats - Pipeline Products by Estimated Approval Date 14Figure 6: Hemostats - Ongoing Clinical Trials 15Get Discount 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 5G Technology Overview Use Cases and Demand Forecast Addressing Latency Reliability and Network Density Opens Up New Business Opportunities Reportsweb http://www.reportsweb.com/5g-technology-overview-use-cases-and-demand-forecast-addressing-latency-reliability-and-network-density-opens-up-new-business-opportunities http://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW0001835833/sample http://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW0001835833/buying ReportsWeb.com published 5G Technology Overview Use Cases and Demand Forecast Addressing Latency Reliability and Network Density Opens Up New Business Opportunities from its database. The report reviews top companies involved and enlists all trials pertaining to the company. Report provides latest news for the past three months.Original Content:"5G Technology Overview, Use Cases and Demand Forecast" is a thematic research report by Publisher that gives an overview of the 5G technology and the main trends worldwide. Data consumption is set to grow fourfold in the next five years. 5G will, for the first time, go beyond increased bandwidth and capacity, as was the focus in previous wireless generations, adding low latency, high density and high reliability. These capabilities will enable a variety of use cases, opening the door to new, predominantly business focused services such as self-driving cars and smart cities.For more information about this report:Report Scope- 5G goes beyond previous wireless generations, with additional capabilities beyond increased bandwidths and capacities, resulting in new opportunities but also additional challenges in complexity.- 5G is gaining momentum, given that standardization timelines have been brought forward. As a result, in Japan, South Korea and USA all the major operators are planning to launch IMT 2020 based services during 2019. Important events such as Olympics are an additional driver in a number of countries.Request Sample Copy atReasons to buy- The report provides a global view of the opportunity in deploying 5G and growth trends in terms of subscriptions, as well as new use cases with customized communications.- This analysis is useful for telecom executives to evaluate their position vis-a-vis the major growth opportunities in 5G and make informed decisions about strategic investments, value proposition and growth strategies to rapidly grow their 5G networksTable of ContentsTerminologyStandardsRadio and SpectrumSpectrum AvailabilitySpectrum and Radio NetworksSpectrum BandsSmall CellsBackhaul OptionsBackhaul: Full Duplex TransmissionRevenue Growth Backdrop to 5GInquire before Buying atReportsWeb.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 Elastomeric Infusion System Market: Market Estimation, Dynamics, Regional Share, Trends, Competitor Analysis 2012-2016 and Forecast 2017-2023 https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com/market-reports/global-elastomeric-infusion-system-market/#ulp-4H8Z4LpNMLEuOnnx https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com/market-reports/global-elastomeric-infusion-system-market/#ulp-c654SbFYO64MsOhu https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com/market-reports/global-elastomeric-infusion-system-market/#ulp-14mlyhjMGhVjZqa3 https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com/market-reports/global-elastomeric-infusion-system-market/ The positive growth factors for elastomeric infusion system market is increase in adoption, growing demand for small disposable infusion pumps, and its wide range of application in various fluid drug delivery systems. In addition, increase in number of surgeries as a result of increased rate of hospitalization that ultimately increases the demand for elastomeric pumps for postoperative pain management conditions. Elastomeric infusion pump system offers several advantages over electronic pumps including portability, feasible demonstration, low weight, size, ease of use, and less interference with sleep. However, difficulties in detection of delivery rate accuracy, and abnormal drug delivery are restraining factors for growth of the market. Furthermore, increasing R&D costs and frequent product recalls, mostly due to design flaws, are expected to hamper the elastomeric infusion system market.A sample of this report is available upon request :Elastomeric infusion system market has been segmented on the basis of product type, indication and end-userBased on product type, elastomeric infusion system market is segmented intoContinuous Rate Elastomeric Infusion SystemVariable Rate Elastomeric Infusion SystemBased on indication, elastomeric infusion system market is segmented intoPain ManagementInfectious Disease treatmentInversional ChemotherapyIron ChelationBased on end-user, elastomeric infusion system market is segmented intoHospitalsAmbulatory Surgical centresHomecare SettingsTo view TOC of this report is available upon request :Elastomeric infusion system market is expected to show significant growth rate owing to rise in demand for disposable ambulatory infusion pumps. Market players are actively participating in innovative strategies to expand their market share. For instance in April 2017, B. Braun Medical Inc. launched esaypump home infusion therapy app, offers educational content to clinicians and patients on safe usage of B. Braun Medicals easypump elastomeric infusion pump. Furthermore, companies are focusing on collaborations and mergers & acquisitions to expand their market share. For instance, in January 2015, Fresenius Kabi (Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA) entered into multiyear distribution agreement with Halyard Health to distribute Halyard Healths disposable elastomeric intravenous infusion pumps. By this agreement Fresenius Kabi expanded the product portfolio.Need more information about this report :Geographically elastomeric infusion system market has been segmented into following regions Viz. North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. North America is largest in terms of value in elastomeric infusion system market followed by Europe. North America accounts highest market share due to increased prevalence of chronic diseases like gastrointestinal complications, abdominal herniae and increased number of surgeries. Asia Pacific expected to show fastest growth rate due to the development of healthcare infrastructure leading to more construction of small and mid-sized hospitals, and increasing number of local players and start-up firms entering this market. The Middle East and Africa region is projected to be a potential market for elastomeric infusion system owing high prevalence rates of chronic diseases that require surgical procedure but less disease awareness among the patients.Get access to full summary:Some of the players in elastomeric infusion system Market includes B. Braun Holding GmbH & Co. KG (Braun Melsungen AG.) (Germany), Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA (Fresenius Kabi AG) (Germany), Halyard Health, Inc. (U.S.), Leventon S.A.U (Spain), Ambu A/S (Denmark), Baxter International Inc. (U.S.), Nipro Corporation (Japan), and Woo Young Medical Co. (Jincheon) to name a few.Precision Business InsightsPrecision Business Insights is one of the leading market research and business consulting firm, which follow a holistic approach to solve needs of the clients. We adopt and implement proven research methodologies to achieve better results. We help our clients by providing actionable insights and strategies to make better decisions. We provide consulting, syndicated and customised market research services based on our client needs.Precision Business Insights mission is to provide high-quality market research reports and generate key insights to our clients. PBIs approachable strategies are to help clients to make key decisions for business growth.Precision Business Insights vision is to become most valued partner to fortune 500 companies by providing agile, accurate, and actionable market insightsPrecision Business Insights,Kemp House,152 160 City Road,London EC1V 2NXEmail: sales@precisionbusinessinsights.comToll Free(US): +1-866-598-1553 UK Protection Insurance 2017-Critical Illness & Income Protection ReportsWeb http://www.reportsweb.com/uk-protection-insurance-2017-critical-illness-and-income-protection http://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW00011075788/sample http://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW00011075788/buying ReportsWeb.com published Protection Insurance Market from its database. 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."UK Protection Insurance 2017: Critical Illness & Income Protection", discusses income protection and critical illness insurance, looking at market size with regards to changes in contracts and premiums, in addition to claims. It highlights the barriers to consumer engagement, how products are distributed, and the main market players and their propositions. It provides five-year forecasts of market size in premiums to 2021, and discusses how the market is likely to change as healthcare technology is developed.For more information about this report atThe income protection and critical illness insurance markets continued to grow in 2016. Their year-on-year percentage growth outstripped the total protection market, highlighting a growing market for illness-and injury-oriented products. However, together they still only account for less than 10% of the total protection market in terms of contracts and premiums. Protection products remain complex, and are still sold and not bought, making advisors key to distribution. Income protection in particular is highly reliant on advisors, and this is not likely to change soon. Meanwhile, individuals are beginning to purchase critical illness insurance independently online without advice, although advisors will remain key. To maintain market growth, providers and advisors must continue to build consumer engagement with these products.Scope-Income protection grew by 7.4% to 119,459 in contracts and 10.8% to 48.3m in premiums from 2015 to 2016.-Standalone critical illness insurance grew by 50.5% to 28,751 in contracts and 47.3% to 14.1m in premiums from 2015 to 2016.-Legal & General dominates the critical illness insurance market, holding a 25.4% market share in 2016. LV= and Friends Life dominate the income protection market, with 27.3% and 23.1% shares respectively in 2016.Request a sample copy atReasons to buy-Understand the barriers of uptake for critical illness and income protection, and learn how to increase consumer engagement.-Explore how the distribution landscape is changing for these products.-Discover which providers lead the critical illness and income protection markets.-See how critical illness and income protection are forecast to grow over the next five years.Companies MentionedLegal & GeneralAvivaVitalityFriends LifeRoyal LondonLVAIGInquire for Report atContact Us:Call: +1-646-491-9876Email: sales@reportsweb.comReportsWeb.com is a one stop shop of market research reports and solutions to various companies across the globe. We help our clients in their decision support system by helping them choose most relevant and cost effective research reports and solutions from various publishers. We provide best in class customer service and our customer support team is always available to help you on your research queries.505, 6th floor, Amanora Township,Amanora Chambers, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028 Global Europe Influenza Market : Market Estimation, Dynamics, Regional Share, Trends, Competitor Analysis 2012-2016 and Forecast 2017-2023 https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com/market-reports/global-europe-influenza-market/#ulp-4H8Z4LpNMLEuOnnx https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com/market-reports/global-europe-influenza-market/#ulp-c654SbFYO64MsOhu https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com/market-reports/global-europe-influenza-market/#ulp-14mlyhjMGhVjZqa3 The Europe Influenza market is growing at a significant CAGR due to increase in geriatric population. Increase in vaccination awareness, rising investment by companies in research and development activities, and increasing number of immunization programs organized by the government are the major factors fuelling the growth of Europe influenza market over the forecast period. The major market players have great pipeline products, Initiatives by government bodies such as WHO to ECDC to control and prevent influenza, technological advancements in diagnostic tests also fuel the growth of Europe influenza market over the forecast period. However, lack of required funding, limited opportunities for the production of vaccines, and stringent regulatory policies for new product approvals might hamper the growth of Europe Influenza market. Due to limitations in current technologies, the lengthy production times (approximately seven months), increasing prices of Influenza diagnostic kits, and difficulties in the storage of inventory also hinder the Europe influenza market.A sample of this report is available upon request :The Europe influenza market is segmented on the basis of product type, distribution channel, and end userBased on drug class, Europe influenza market is segmented into the following:Anti-viral drugsZanamivirOseltamivirAmantadineRimantadineOthersInterferonsVaccinesTrivalentQuadrivalentBased on route of administration, Europe influenza market is segmented into the following:OralParenteralOthersBased on end-user, Europe influenza market is segmented into the following:Hospital pharmaciesRetail pharmaciesOthersTo view TOC of this report is available upon request :Several international players in Europe are actively involved in the development of vaccines and drugs for influenza treatment to increase its market share. Vaccines are majorly preferred for the influenza treatment which is key revenue contributor for the growth of Europe Influenza market share. Launching of new products, technological innovations, and approvals from European Medical Agency for various drugs might fuel the growth of Europe Influenza market. For instance, in July 2016, Sanofi Pasteur MSD announced the approval of the latest addition to its family of influenza vaccines in the UK. Similarly, during 2009, three vaccines Celvapan, Pandemrix, and Focetria were authorized as the mock-up vaccines and converted into the pandemic-influenza vaccines after the identification of A/H1N11 flu strain. Similarly, two vaccines Humenza and Arepanrix were authorized using the emergency procedure and contributed renewed interest in the Europe influenza market.Need more information about this report :Europe holds a dominant share in the global influenza market. The largest share is attributed to rising awareness regarding the influenza virus and disease, raising investment by companies in research and development, and increasing number of immunization programs organized by the government are some of the factors driving the Europe Influenza Market. The increase in the prevalence of influenza in the European region is a major driving factor for the growth of European Influenza market. According to EMEA, approximately 15,000 people die of the severe consequence of influenza. Similarly, change in lifestyle, food habituations, and climatic conditions in European countries such as Austria, Germany, U.K., Spain, and Switzerland, among others also increase the growth of Europe Influenza market.Get access to full summary:https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com/market-reports/global-europe-influenza-market/Some of the players in Europe influenza market are AstraZeneca (U.K.), F. Hoffmann-La Roche (Switzerland), GlaxoSmithKline Plc. (U.K.), Novartis AG (Switzerland), Sanofi (France), Protein Sciences Corporation (U.S.), Emergent Biosolutions (U.S.), BioCryst Pharmaceuticals.Inc. (U.S.), and Abbott Laboratories Inc. (U.S.) to name a few.Precision Business Insights is one of the leading market research and business consulting firm, which follow a holistic approach to solve needs of the clients. We adopt and implement proven research methodologies to achieve better results. We help our clients by providing actionable insights and strategies to make better decisions. We provide consulting, syndicated and customised market research services based on our client needs.Precision Business Insights mission is to provide high-quality market research reports and generate key insights to our clients. PBIs approachable strategies are to help clients to make key decisions for business growth.Precision Business Insights vision is to become most valued partner to fortune 500 companies by providing agile, accurate, and actionable market insightsPrecision Business Insights,Kemp House,152 160 City Road,London EC1V 2NXEmail: sales@precisionbusinessinsights.comToll Free(US): +1-866-598-1553 Pharmaceutical Grade Sodium Chloride Market Report for Period 2017 till 2022 Hebei Huachen, Swiss Saltworks, Sudsalz Gmbh and Others Pharmaceutical Grade Sodium Chloride Market https://goo.gl/Pz1HWw https://goo.gl/Pz1HWw https://goo.gl/Pz1HWw http://marketreportscompany.com Global Pharmaceutical Grade Sodium Chloride Market report provides detailed analysis of companies namely Hebei Huachen, Swiss Saltworks, Sudsalz Gmbh and Others. This report study includes global market statistics and analysis for example, company performance, historical analysis 2012 to 2016, market forecast 2017 to 2023 in terms of volume, revenue, YOY growth rate, and CAGR for the year 2017 to 2023, etc.Sodium chloride (NaCl) is the chemical name for salt. Sodium chloride occurs naturally as the mineral halite. Commercially, it is obtained by the solar evaporation of salt water, or by mining. It is a component of sodium chloride injections USP, and has production uses in pharmaceutical processing.Request for Free Sample Copy of Global harmaceutical Grade Sodium Chloride Market 2017Top Company Profiles and Analysis included in this report:K+SAkzonobelCargillHebei HuachenSwiss SaltworksSudsalz GmbhTata ChemicalsCheetham SaltSalinenDominion Salt Ltd.US SaltOthersGlobal Pharmaceutical Grade Sodium Chloride Market: Key Product TypeAPI-NaClHD-NaClOthersGlobal Pharmaceutical Grade Sodium Chloride Market: Key ApplicationInjectionsHemodialysisOral Rehydration SaltsOsmotic AgentOthersGlobal Pharmaceutical Grade Sodium Chloride Market: Key RegionNorth America (USA, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia, Italy and Others)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India, Southeast Asia and Others)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia and Others)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa and Others)The Global Pharmaceutical Grade Sodium Chloride Market analysis report provides detailed value chain for analysis of Global Pharmaceutical Grade Sodium Chloride Market. The value chain helps to analyze major upstream in raw materials, major equipments, manufacturing process, downstream customer analysis and major distributor analysis.The report also covers in-depth description, competitive scenario, wide product portfolio of prime players active in this market and business strategies adopted by competitors along with their SWOT analysis. Side by side, it also explicitly provides information about mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, and all the other important activities happened in current and past few years. The Global Pharmaceutical Grade Sodium Chloride Market report explores manufacturers competitive scenario and provides market share for all major players of this market based on production capacity, sales, revenue, geographical presence and other major factors.Enquire before Buying @Table of Contents:1 Market Overview1.1 Pharmaceutical Grade Sodium Chloride Introduction1.2 Market Analysis by Type1.2.1 API-NaCl1.2.2 HD-NaCl1.3 Market Analysis by Applications1.3.1 Injections1.3.2 Hemodialysis1.3.3 Oral Rehydration Salts1.3.4 Osmotic Agent1.3.5 Other1.4 Market Analysis by Regions.....................Continue (Global Pharmaceutical Grade Sodium Chloride Market Research Industry Report is prepared with the help of extensive primary and secondary sources, directories, journals, newsletters and with the help of third-party application like Hoovers, Factiva, Bloomberg, Businessweek, etc.About Us:Market Reports Company is a global research and consulting company. We provide customized reports. We can study and analyze any market based on wide range of parameters. We can provide market insights for any particular region, country across the globe within shortest possible turn around time.What we offer: Customized Reports: we provide customized report study on any market or industry. Region Specific Study: If you need region specific or if you are searching for particular region market study then, we have expert research team for that. How we work: We work in all domains and industries, you name it and we provide the market research industry report analysis of it. Expertise: Superior Research Team, 24*7 Customer Care ServiceContact UsJason Smith,Sales Manager, Global Business Development,Website:Email: jasonsmith@marketreportscompany.comContact us: +1-888-220-3424Address: 20 N State Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60602 United States Water Filters Market Report for Period 2017 till 2022 Honeywell, GE, Everpure and Others Water Filters Market https://goo.gl/pJ7TrV https://goo.gl/pJ7TrV https://goo.gl/pJ7TrV http://marketreportscompany.com Global Water Filters market report provides detailed analysis of companies namely Honeywell, GE, Everpure and Others. This report study includes global market statistics and analysis for example, company performance, historical analysis 2012 to 2016, market forecast 2017 to 2023 in terms of volume, revenue, YOY growth rate, and CAGR for the year 2017 to 2023, etc.This report studies the Water Filters market, which removes impurities by minimizing contamination of water using a fine physical barrier, a chemical process or a biological process. Filters cleanse water to different extents for purposes such as providing agricultural irrigation, accessible drinking water, public and private aquaria, and the safe use of ponds and swimming pools.Request for Free Sample Copy of Global Water Filters Market 2017Top Company Profiles and Analysis included in this report:SundyleeHanstonDoultonFlanne3MDolonsHoneywellGEEverpureMideaCillitAmway eSpringEcowatergdQinyuanStevoorTORAYHaierCulliganGREERoyalstarWattsJoyoungQuanlaiBRITAOthersGlobal Water Filters Market: Key Product TypeReverse Osmosis Water FilterUltrafiltration Membrane Water FilterOtherGlobal Water Filters Market: Key ApplicationHouseholdCommercialOthersGlobal Water Filters Market: Key RegionNorth America (USA, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia, Italy and Others)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India, Southeast Asia and Others)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia and Others)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa and Others)The Global Water Filters Market analysis report provides detailed value chain for analysis of Global Water Filters Market. The value chain helps to analyze major upstream in raw materials, major equipments, manufacturing process, downstream customer analysis and major distributor analysis.The report also covers in-depth description, competitive scenario, wide product portfolio of prime players active in this market and business strategies adopted by competitors along with their SWOT analysis. Side by side, it also explicitly provides information about mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, and all the other important activities happened in current and past few years. The Global Water Filters Market report explores manufacturers competitive scenario and provides market share for all major players of this market based on production capacity, sales, revenue, geographical presence and other major factors.Enquire before Buying @Table of Contents:1 Market Overview1.1 Water Filters Introduction1.2 Market Analysis by Type1.2.1 Reverse Osmosis Water Filter1.2.2 Ultrafiltration Membrane Water Filter1.2.3 Other1.3 Market Analysis by Applications1.3.1 Household1.3.2 Commercial1.4 Market Analysis by Regions.......................Continue (Global Water Filters Market Research Industry Report is prepared with the help of extensive primary and secondary sources, directories, journals, newsletters and with the help of third-party application like Hoovers, Factiva, Bloomberg, Businessweek, etc.About Us:Market Reports Company is a global research and consulting company. We provide customized reports. We can study and analyze any market based on wide range of parameters. We can provide market insights for any particular region, country across the globe within shortest possible turn around time.What we offer: Customized Reports: we provide customized report study on any market or industry. Region Specific Study: If you need region specific or if you are searching for particular region market study then, we have expert research team for that. How we work: We work in all domains and industries, you name it and we provide the market research industry report analysis of it. Expertise: Superior Research Team, 24*7 Customer Care ServiceContact UsJason Smith,Sales Manager, Global Business Development,Website:Email: jasonsmith@marketreportscompany.comContact us: +1-888-220-3424Address: 20 N State Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60602 United States Bret Stephensthe notorious climate change denier on the New York Times editorial pagewrote an op-ed that sent conservative Twitter into a fury today, titled Repeal the Second Amendment. He made a good point in this tweet promoting the piece. The more closely one looks at what passes for common sense gun laws, the more feckless they appear. https://t.co/ZIX3hXH66J Bret Stephens (@BretStephensNYT) October 5, 2017 Stephens also opened the column with an unimpeachable truth: From a law-and-order standpoint, more guns means more murder. States with higher rates of gun ownership had disproportionately large numbers of deaths from firearm-related homicides, noted one exhaustive 2013 study in the American Journal of Public Health. The statistics paint a very clear picture of destruction following the path taken by guns, and given America's ever-expanding pool of blood, it's reasonable to wonder why we even need guns in the first place given that 78% of us don't own one. The problem is that this discussion is purely theoretical, as there are so many guns out there that it's impossible to recapture every single one at this point. Picture what it would look like, to repeal the second amendment and force people to give up a large part of their arsenal. Sure, you could try a buyback program like Australia (historically, those haven't worked here), but what about those who don't put a dollar value on their guns? Three percent of the adult population owns 50% of all guns, and a large segment of those do so because they're worried that the government will come to take their guns one day. Trudging down this path would prove some of the most unhinged people in this country right, and would undoubtedly create a ripple effect similar to the election of Donald Trump. Plus, if we were left with no other option than to go into people's homes and confiscate their weapons, that would surely result in more death and destruction. The second amendment contains a provision stating that our Militia be well regulated, so the central problem now is a lack of judicial enforcement of that maxim. We can make progress to reduce gun violence in this country, but a big reason why liberals can't advance sensible gun regulations is because most arguments demonstrate little knowledge of how guns work. Take this tweet for example. While the guns Stephen Paddock used in Las Vegas fired automatic rounds, they were perfectly legal under ATF rules https://t.co/K8RlG5v282pic.twitter.com/pdewa9BOwU CBS News (@CBSNews) October 4, 2017 Theres no such thing as automatic rounds; there are automatic weapons, and they can fire a variety of rounds. This isnt rocket science. Ive fired guns twice in my life and I know the basic A, B, Cs of how these modular weapons are constructed and classified thanks to a cursory study of war while I was in college (and #realtalk: playing a lot of first person shooters). We can take steps to reduce gun violence in this country, but confiscating weapons on a mass scale would not solve our problem of needless bloodshed. Our efforts must start with banning inaccurate terms like assault weapon, as I wrote in my primer on the worst arguments youll hear against gun control. side note: the term assault weapon is one that sounds specific, but really isnt. If were talking about automatic weapons, those are virtually impossible to obtainalthough there are attachments that enable semiautomatics to function like automatics, which is what might have happened in Las Vegas. Saying that we should ban all assault weapons isnt very specific, as all it takes is a modification or two for a gun to slip in and out of that amorphous definition. Proponents of gun control must learn more about guns if we are to argue for regulation effectively. If you cant define something, you cant regulate it. And besides, if you look closely at the 33,000 gun slayings every year, the regulations that we regularly discuss would have done little to prevent any of them. Per a former researcher for FiveThirtyEight in The Washington Post: As my co-workers and I kept looking at the data, it seemed less and less clear that one broad gun-control restriction could make a big difference. Two-thirds of gun deaths in the United States every year are suicides. Almost no proposed restriction would make it meaningfully harder for people with guns on hand to use them. I couldnt even answer my most desperate question: If I had a friend who had guns in his home and a history of suicide attempts, was there anything I could do that would help? However, the next-largest set of gun deaths 1 in 5 were young men aged 15 to 34, killed in homicides. These men were most likely to die at the hands of other young men, often related to gang loyalties or other street violence. And the last notable group of similar deaths was the 1,700 women murdered per year, usually as the result of domestic violence. Far more people were killed in these ways than in mass-shooting incidents, but few of the popularly floated policies were tailored to serve them. Repealing the second amendment or banning all guns is an overly simplistic solution to a wildly complex problem. It assumes that all we need to do is (try to) remove a weapon that anyone can use from the public sphere, and the violence will stop. But its not that simple. On a statistical scale, mass shootings are an anomaly in our gun crisis, yet most of the regulation that we speak of is reverse engineered to stop those tragedies. Banning semi-automatic weapons wont do a damn thing to save the lives of thousands of women terrorized by abusive men. If we are to seriously address the scourge of gun violence in this country, we must tailor policies geared towards particular problems, as the scale of the issue is so large that it has subdivisions. We must create outreach programs to those considering suicide. Banning guns will do nothing to improve the poverty and desperation that is at the root of all street violence, so more robust economic policies are needed there. We must devote more police resources to protecting women abused by men, and ensure that those men are unable to obtain firearms. This would go a long way towards solving the mass shooting crisis too, as many of these infamous disgruntled men have abused women prior to their rampages. What we are beginning to learn is that most of the core solutions to ending gun violence have little or nothing to do with guns, and the regulations that dominate anti-gun discussion would reduce the number killed in mass shootings, but wouldnt do much more. I understand the impulse to make sweeping changes when it seems like all other avenues are blocked by an intransigent lobbying arm of the gun manufacturers, but if there is one thing that we have learned from guns, its that silver bullets can do far more harm than good. Jacob Weindling is a staff writer for Paste politics. Follow him on Twitter at @Jakeweindling. Fix it or nix it. That was approach suggested by both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Republican advisors to President Donald Trump, and that seems to be the approach hes taking. The Washington Post reports that Trump plans to announce that he will decertify the Iran nuclear deal agreed upon in 2015 in favor of a tougher policy. Iran had agreed to the deal in 2015 with the U.S. and five other countries, promising to limit their nuclear activity. Now, President Deals is saying its not in the United States national interest. He is expected to make a speech on Oct. 12 announcing his plan to move away from the deal. WaPo notes that this could likely lead to tougher sanctions against Iran, as the Trump administration blames the country for terrorist activity in the Middle East. Every other country involved has no desire to renegotiate the deal, so theres no way for Trump to fix it. Since apparently those are the only two options and he cant just leave the agreement be, his only choice is to nix it. The British Prime Minister, Theresa May, just passed. Not literally. Metaphorically, I mean. I should clarify: the physical person of Theresa May continues to live. Her eyes contain, and reflect, light; her heart pumps blood. Theresa Mary May, from Eastbourne, married to Philip May, is registered as functioning and breathing by all important authorities. If a doctor scrutinized her, he would report that the PM had every sign of life: pulse, speech, muscle response, eating, coughingthe works. But her career has vanished, gone completely. Her authority and majority were taken by the last election. Her political moment in Manchester was snatched away by her rival (and current Foreign Secretary) Boris Johnsona shaggy pool of Eton cliches given life. And what little remained of her power was buried yesterday, thanks to her keynote at the British Conservative Party Conference in Manchester. The speech was legitimately terrible. It was possibly the worst address by a public figure since Thomas Edison granted the power of speech to humans in 1920. Yes, Im making this claim in a world that contains Donald Trump. She coughed, she fell silent, she stole planks from Labour, she got trolled by a prankster. In the last two years, there have been two major mistakes in British political life: Brexit, and this speech. You can watch the highlights here, but please be aware that even this doesnt do justice to the sheer awkwardness and incompetence on displaykeep in mind that the Tories planned everything, and that May was on home turf in front of the friendliest possible crowd: After Mays oration, what was left of the PM fell down the well, Hoffa-style. A dreadful, inexplicable silence swallowed May, a quiet you could feel from across the ocean. It was perceivable, physical, tangible absence of meaninglike peeking at a broken church bell thats got the clanger missing. I watched Mays whole speech. May is the inheritor of David Camerons poor choices. Cameron, the former Tory Prime Minister, unwittingly drove his country to Brexit in June 2016. Down he went, and May took his place as Conservative leader and PM. To secure her majority Post-Brexit, May called for a snap election, back in April. All the talking heads in Europe and America said Corbyns Labour was unelectable. Elite wisdom was as reliable as ever: in June, Jezza Corbyn gained thirty seats. The UK General Election was the mammothest Labour Party swing since 1945, a ten-percent growth, larger than huckstering Tony Blair in 1997, almost as huge as Clem Attlees gain after World War II. A socialist nearly unseated Theresa May and her Round Table of corporate squires. The Manchester speech was supposed to be Mays response to Corbyn. There were hints it would be dreadful. The Telegraph reported the tone was going to be stupendously out-of-touch: The Prime Minister admitted to Andrew Marr that [the election losses] came about because she failed to make the case to voters as to why they should choose Conservative principles such as sound money over Corbynism: We thought there was a general consensus on [the importance of free market economies] and we now see that there wasnt and we now need to make those arguments again. When May rose to deliver her defense of Conservatism, the hall was chock-a-bloc full of the clotted cream of the Tory party. It all went so well until she opened her mouth. Excruciating was the word I kept seeing. CNN had the dry details, but they really didnt do the event justice: May, who lost her overall governing majority in the last election, had hoped to relaunch her premiership with her keynote speech. But soon after beginning her address, she was accosted by comedian Lee Nelson, real name Simon Brodkin, who strolled up to the stage and handed her a P45 a form that UK employees are given when they leave a company, similar to a pink slip in the US. Brodkin, who has performed similar stunts in the past, including throwing money over former FIFA President Sepp Blatter at a press conference in 2015, told reporters that he was put up to it by Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, a former rival to May in her leadership bid. Boris told me to do it, he was heard as saying presumably in jest. The Independent called it The stuff of unimaginable nightmares. Another writer in the same paper argued that It is likely to go down as one of the most painfully agonising political speeches to watch in recent history. In the audience, the gathered Tories wore restrained, polite faces, all the better to mask their internal screaming. Row after row of unsmiling bank clerks, hedge fund managers, and small-caliber realtors. They had all the solemnity of a troupe of sea-lions waiting for public execution. The Ancient Egyptians believed the soul had five sections: the Ren, the Ba, the Ka, the Sheut, and the Jb. You could see all five parts leave every member of the audience during the Prime Ministers speech. It reminded me of the scene in Clockwork Orange where Alex is forced to watch ultraviolent scenes as Beethoven jams in the background. Mays text sometimes read like a telegram from the Democratic Party of 2015: Britain leading the world in tackling climate change, eradicating global poverty, and countering terrorism wherever it rears its head. Same sex marriage on the statute book, so that two people who love each other can get married, no matter what their gender And a National Living Wage giving a pay rise to the lowest earners introduced not by the Labour Party, but by us, the Conservative Party. So let us never allow the Left to pretend they have a monopoly on compassion. You could almost forget her government had tried to create a dementia tax, where homeowners would pay huge sums for long-term medical care. Given the Conservatives history, its hard to read Mays words and not understand it as the Tories desperately chasing after Jezzas vote share. Yall got any more of that millennial justice? The general election had been ample vengeance for years of austerity, and May didnt grasp it. Sure, May preached about free schools and praised the National Health Service but then she returned to conservatisms chief role: praising rapacious capitalism. That idea of free and open markets, operating under the right rules and regulations, is precious to us. ... So dont try and tell me that free markets are no longer fit for purpose. That somehow theyre holding people back. Precious. What a porcupine quill lobbed through the heart! Theresa, the free market is absolute garbage. It was never fit for purpose. And how awkward for you, that you would use the somehow theyre holding people back line. Especially when the British people have a literal, recent example of physically being held by market-created force: the flaming Grenfell Tower in the center of London. The free market is a trash scow filled with the bodies of the poor. With a bracelet displaying famous Communist Frida Kahlo on her left wrist, May praised the one percent: So while we will never hesitate to act where businesses arent operating as they should, let this party celebrate the wealth creators, the risk takers, the innovators and entrepreneurs. During the speech, she began to lose her voice. I forget if that happened before or after she slandered Labour as anti-Semitic. At the moment she began to cough, the faces of the Tory Cabinet ministers were studies in restrained, contained despair: quiet desperation is the English way. But their eyestheir eyes told a different story. The Cabinets pupils shimmered in silent, wolfish anticipation. All of them had battled for power after Cameron. Was this Mays last stand? Could they be next in line for the Tory throne? In a downward spiral of public terror, May kept joking about her coughs until it became obvious to the rally the PM was on the verge of death. She summoned many leathery rasps, but her voice kept giving out. At times, she was rendered to gasps only birds and saints could understand. By the time it ended, everyone watching, including me, was filled with Titanic -style pity. How could anyone have thought this icy voyage was a good idea? Shane Ryan suggested the May fiasco was straight from Armando Iannuccis amazing political satire The Thick Of It. I was reminded of another British comedy, Look Around You. Either way, the unreality came thick as tornado winds. The honest question is, why is life so intent on mimicking art? Why does the world insist on outdoing our satire? Is the universe, in some sense, aware of our activities, and always one step ahead of us, ready to mock us? Twitter was an encyclopedia of shade: So there we are. https://t.co/OMNfD5W1Mn Tom Hamilton (@thhamilton) October 3, 2017 The British dream pic.twitter.com/e42SeCKxyr Tom Hamilton (@thhamilton) October 4, 2017 Can I just point out that Theresa May is wearing a bracelet of Frida Kahlo, a member of the Communist party who LITERALLY DATED TROTSKY pic.twitter.com/CR13geaO7n HannahJane Parkinson (@ladyhaja) October 4, 2017 If the Conservative party could refrain from using our music in future. x florence welch (@flo_tweet) October 4, 2017 Senior Cabinet ministers watching Theresa May's speech. pic.twitter.com/hcXkeOzKsj Pippa Crerar (@PippaCrerar) October 4, 2017 Theresa May stumbling around telling people to feel bad for her cause she sucks but is working on it is the greatest second act in politics Partisan Gridlock (@ByYourLogic) October 4, 2017 Theresa May standing in front of a bunch of crumbling letters while projecting competency filled my soul with joy https://t.co/edR07cliA8 Adam H. Johnson (@adamjohnsonNYC) October 4, 2017 ever since i saw the news about theresa may's conference speech i've been laughing like mr burns laughing at the crippled irishman libby watson ???? (@libbycwatson) October 4, 2017 this is an action film's final-scene sad pan over the corpse-strewn battlefield pic.twitter.com/nypABDrLxo Sam ???? Kriss (@sam_kriss) October 4, 2017 May, or someone on her staff, managed to jest in the face of oncoming political oblivion: After the tragedy of Theresa May, I expect the Tories will finally appoint their Waterloo, Boris Johnson, as the next leader. The fiasco in Manchester is instructive. When closely-choreographed events go awry, its typically the press who carp. Trump showed us that our mass scolding is less potent than we imagined. But my God, there are metaphors and then there are metaphors. The British Dream was the title of Mays speech, and how appropriate: even in fantasy, Britain is falling apart. Behind Mays platform was the slogan A COUNTRY THAT WORKS FOR EVERYONE. As she talked, the letters of the motto fell off, one by one. When it comes to dreams, sometimes there are no wordseven in England. Letters to the Editor: Election deniers and threats to democracy Also: Really think about the future of short-term rental policy Bluegrass Team rider Liam Moynihan putting the new products through their paces Skinny Line Skinny Elbow D30 Skinny Knee Skinny Armor Lite Solid Line Solid Elbow Solid Knee D30 Solid Armor B+S Bluegrass have redeveloped their whole product line starting from scratch for 2018 and onwards. The Italian brand, which is an offshoot of the classic MET Helmets marque, now offers knee, elbow, and core protection in two distinct lines Skinny and Solid. The Skinny line is focused towards longer trail and enduro rides with an emphasis on comfort and fit. The Solid line is orientated towards racing and bike park days with a higher level of protection.Both ranges are then split between two price points, one with D30 padding and one using a more affordable dual density foam. Bar the pad material, Bluegrass were keen to point out that regardless of price the protection uses almost identical construction methods and both pads are certified to the same CE levels just because you have less to spend doesn't mean your protection should be compromised. The following is a quick insight into the new range; more information can be found on the Bluegrass Eagle website The Skinny Elbow and Knee guards use extended sleeves to help with a secure and comfortable fit, they use silicone bands on the on the hems to keep them in place. Sizing on all 2018 Bluegrass knee and elbow pads are XS to XL. The D30 versions cost 99 for the knee pads and 90 for elbows, the more affordable foam version costs 50/45.The D30 back protector is the only option for the Armor Lite, it is shaped to be neckbrace compatible and is CE Level 2 certified. The wide back protector is also designed to protect shoulder blades and the upper back and is claimed to weigh 530g. The stretch mesh fabric is lightweight, and uses a silicone hem at the waist and has elastic loops to hook onto your pants or shorts.The Solid Elbow and Knee guards are bulkier than the Skinny line and include some extra features like adjustable hem straps with velcro. The knee pads also have a side zip, so riders can remove the pads without taking off shoes and plenty of care has been taken to ensure the zips don't irritate your skin. There are extra pads surrounding the main protective piece, to add extra protection around joints and materials are thicker and harder wearing ward off pedal pins and gravel slides. Again there are five sizes and standard and D30 options. The prices are higher at 75/70 and 120/110 for the D30The Solid Armour Back and Shoulders uses the same D30 back plate as the Skinny Armour, but with added D30 shoulder pads, there are also soft foam pads on the chest. Vaportech fabric should keep you cool and there is an option to store a 1.5-2.0litre bladder in the back plate pouch. There are two side pockets to keep money or a lift pass, making it a good park riding and downhill option when you don't need to carry tools or tubes.We met Bluegrass in Finale Ligure, the day following the EWS final to check out the new line. We did a couple of runs to try out the pads and will be putting them through their paces during this winter for a long-term test. Our initial thoughts are that they are a big improvement on previous offerings from Bluegrass, having a great attention to detail. Using professionals like Liam Moynihan from the Dudes of Hazard and Team BH Miranda Racing's Karim Amour and Alex Cure, they appear to have built a great protection lineup to stand proudly in the huge range of products on the market.For more information head to the Bluegrass Eagle website. Last month the Fanohge Coalition sent a simple survey to all candidates seeking to represent Guam in I Liheslaturan Guahan, as its attorney ge Read more19 candidates take stand on CHamoru self-determination, future status, Marine buildup The report offers a detailed insight into the upstream raw material analysis and downstream demand analysis along with crucial elements Research Trades PR-Inside.com: 2017-10-05 14:34:16 Press Information Research Trades Office No.10, Wing C, Rajhans, Baner, Pune-45, India Deepak Chaudhari Digital Maraketing Executive 7507349866 email https://www.researchtrades.com/ # 412 Words Office No.10, Wing C, Rajhans, Baner, Pune-45, IndiaDigital Maraketing Executive7507349866 - Festive Month Offer -20% discount on purchase of reports from 1st October to 31st October.For more offers post 31st October, kindly contact us. * Terms & Conditions apply!!Contact No. : +16269994607 (US), /+91 7507349866 (IND)Email: sales@ researchtrades.com Report Overview:The report offers a detailed insight into the upstream raw material analysis and downstream demand analysis along with crucial elements of China Chinese Car Carrier Market report for furthermore highlights key proposals for new project development along with offering an assessment of investment feasibility analysis. This study is a useful guide to all investors to identify the lucrative market avenues across different segments and geographical regions. The market entry conditions along with emerging avenues will help the new entrants to gauge the pulse of the market. Furthermore, the study tracks industry news in terms of new mergers and acquisition made by prominent companies to expand their product offerings across various countries. The report is a useful guide to market players, all stakeholders, interested market participants and investors to formulate their strategies.A car carrier, known variously as a car-carrying trailer, car hauler, auto transport trailer, etc., is a type of trailer or semi-trailer designed to efficiently transport vehicles via truck. Modern car carrier trailers can be open or enclosed. Most commercial trailers have built-in ramps for loading and off-loading cars, as well as power hydraulics to raise and lower ramps for stand-alone accessibility.Get sample copy of this report @ https://www.researchtrades.com/request-sample/1240112 Scope of the Report:This report focuses on the Chinese Car Carrier in China market, to split the market based on manufacturers, Regions (Province), type and application.Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report covers Miller Industries, CIMC, Boydstun, Cottrell.Market Segment by Regions (Province), covering South China, Southwest China, East China, Northeast China, North ChinaMarket Segment by Type, covers Open-Air Car Carrier & Enclosed Car CarrierMarket Segment by Applications, can be divided into Automobile Sales Servicshop 4S, Terminals, Others.Key Chapters of this report1 Market Overview1.1 Chinese Car Carrier Introduction1.2 Market Analysis by Type1.2.1 Open-Air Car Carrier1.2.2 Enclosed Car Carrier2 Manufacturers Profiles2.1 Miller Industries2.1.1 Profile2.1.2 Chinese Car Carrier Type and Applications2.1.2.1 Type 12.1.2.2 Type 23 China Chinese Car Carrier Market Competition, by Manufacturer3.1 China Chinese Car Carrier Sales and Market Share by Manufacturer (2016-2017)3.2 China Chinese Car Carrier Revenue and Market Share by Manufacturer (2016-2017)3.3 China Chinese Car Carrier Price by Manufacturers (2016-2017)3.4 Market Concentration RateContinueBrowse this complete report @ https://www.researchtrades.com/report/china-chinese-car-carrier-market-by-manufacturers-regions-province-type-and-application-forecast-to-2022/1240112 Europe Cardiac Assist Devices Market PR-Inside.com: 2017-10-05 09:30:10 Press Information Market Data Forecast Market Data Forecast, Inc. 2nd Floor, Lakeview Plaza, Kavuri Hills, Hyderabad, Telangana 500033, India. +1-888-702-9626 (U.S. TOLL FREE) Contact@marketdataforecast.com Abhishek Shukla Sales Manager 888-702-9626 email http://www.marketdataforecast.com # 899 Words Market Data Forecast, Inc.2nd Floor, Lakeview Plaza, Kavuri Hills, Hyderabad, Telangana 500033, India.+1-888-702-9626 (U.S. TOLL FREE) Contact@marketdataforecast.comSales Manager888-702-9626 The Europe market for cardiac assist devices is estimated at $396.6 Million in 2016 and is poised to reach $602.4 Million by 2021, growing at a CAGR of 8.72%. Diseases of the heart and circulatory system (cardiovascular disease or CVD) are the main cause of death in Europe: accounting for over 4 million deaths each year. Nearly half (47%) of all deaths are from CVD (52% of deaths in women and 42% of deaths in men). The main forms of CVD are coronary heart disease (CHD) and strokeTo meet the increasing demand for cardiac therapies in the European countries, the Cardiac Assist Devices (CAD) are used in patients suffering from End-Stage Congestive Heart Failure, where the chances of survival through medications alone is minimal. These devices are used as a Bridge-To-Transplantation (BTT), Bridge-To-Recovery (BTR) or Destination Therapy (DT), depending on the requirement of the patient and the severity of the disease. Upsurge in the aging population in developed countries along with scarcity of donor organs have also added to the growing need for development of these devices. Various pipeline products are going through clinical trials and the approval of these novel technologically advanced products that are more efficient and minimally invasive will further increase the demand for cardiac assist devices in the future.View full report @ http://www.marketdataforecast.com/market-reports/europe-cardiac-assist-devices-market-30/ Existence of alternative treatment like pacemaker, heart transplantation and etc. and the associated compatibility issues with the device implantation, such as respiratory failure, development of blood clots and device failure restrain the market growth. Adding to these, surgical impediments such as kidney failure, bleeding, Infection and occurrence of stroke are also acting as a barrier in the adoption of such devices.The Europe cardiac assist devices market is segmented on the basis of type into Ventricular Assist Devices (VAD), Intra-Aortic Balloon Pumps (IABP) & Total Artificial Heart (TAH). Further the Ventricular Assist Devices is divided into Right Ventricular Assist Device (RVAD), Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD), Bi-Ventricular Assist Device (Bi-VAD) & External Ventricular Assist Devices.Key points from TOC: Introduction Research Methodology Overview Drivers, Restraints, Opportunities, and Challenges Analysis (DROC) Market Segmentation Strategic Analysis Market Leaders' Analysis Competitive Landscape Market Outlook and Investment OpportunitiesGet free sample report @ http://www.marketdataforecast.com/market-reports/europe-cardiac-assist-devices-market-30/request-sample In addition, On the basis of geography, the European market is analysed under various regions namely, Spain, Germany, UK, France, Italy. The Europe region accounts to about 16% of the Global cardiac assist devices market.Thoratec Corporation, MAQUET GmbH & Co, Teleflex Incorporated, Berlin Heart GmbH, Abiomed, Inc., HeartWare International, SynCardia Systems, Inc. are the leading market players with dominance over 60% of the market. Thoratec Corporation and Berlin Heart are the prominent players in the VAD segment whereas Teleflex and MAQUET are dominant players in the Intra-Aortic Balloon Pumps (IABP) segment. SynCardia is the foremost company to provide the only Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Total Artificial Heart (TAH).Scope of the report: Global, regional and country-level analysis and forecasts of the study market; providing Insights on the major countries/regions in which this industry is blooming and to also identify the regions that are still untapped Segment-level analysis in terms of technology, component, and type along with market size forecasts and estimations to detect key areas of industry growth in detail Identification of key drivers, restraints, opportunities, and challenges (DROC) in the market and their impact on shifting market dynamics Study of the effect of exogenous and endogenous factors that affect the global market; which includes broadly demographic, economics, and political, among other macro-environmental factors presented in an extensive PESTLE Analysis Study the micro environment factors that determine the overall profitability of an Industry, using Porters five forces analysis for analysing the level of competition and business strategy development A comprehensive list of key market players along with their product portfolio, current strategic interests, key financial information, legal issues, SWOT analysis and analyst overview to study and sustain the market environment Competitive landscape analysis listing out the mergers, acquisitions, collaborations in the field along with new product launches, comparative financial studies and recent developments in the market by the major companies An executive summary, abridging the entire report in such a way that decision-making personnel can rapidly become acquainted with background information, concise analysis and main conclusions Expertly devised analyst overview along with Investment opportunities to provide both individuals and organizations a strong financial foothold in the marketBuy now @ http://www.marketdataforecast.com/cart/buy-now/europe-cardiac-assist-devices-market-30 Some other potential players in the market include Jarvik Heart, Inc. and Terumo Corporation. Braile Biomedica Ltd., CardiacAssist, Inc., CardioBridge GmbH, Carmat SAS, Cleveland Heart, Inc., CorAssist Cardiovascular Ltd., Evaheart Medical USA, Inc., Leviticus Cardio Ltd., MyoCardioCare, Inc.About Market Data Forecast:Market Data Forecast is a firm working in the area of market research and business intelligence. With rich experience in research across various business domains, they cater to the needs of both individual and corporate clients. From all-encompassing umbrella markets to extremely specific niche markets covering all the major regions across the globe as part of the research scope, their research services offer one of a kind specialities with competitive pricing options. For more information, kindly visit, www.marketdataforecast.com Contact:Abhishek ShuklaSales Manager (International Business Development)Market Data ForecastDirect Line: +1-888-702-9626Mobile: +91 998 555 0206Mail: abhishek@ marketdataforecast.com Visit Market Data Forecast Blog @ http://www.marketdataforecast.com/blog/ View latest Press Releases of MDF @ http://www.marketdataforecast.com/press-releases Europe Feed Yeast Market PR-Inside.com: 2017-10-05 10:43:24 Press Information Market Data Forecast Market Data Forecast, Inc. 2nd Floor, Lakeview Plaza, Kavuri Hills, Hyderabad, Telangana 500033, India. +1-888-702-9626 (U.S. TOLL FREE) Contact@marketdataforecast.com Abhishek Shukla Sales Manager 888-702-9626 email http://www.marketdataforecast.com # 748 Words Market Data Forecast, Inc.2nd Floor, Lakeview Plaza, Kavuri Hills, Hyderabad, Telangana 500033, India.+1-888-702-9626 (U.S. TOLL FREE) Contact@marketdataforecast.comSales Manager888-702-9626 The Europe Feed Yeast Market has been estimated at USD 12.65 Billion in 2016 and is projected to reach USD 19.55 Billion by 2021, at a CAGR of 9.10% during the forecast period from 2016 to 2021. Animal feed yeast are live micro-organisms as feed supplements for ruminants by feeding large amounts of beneficial microbes to livestock under stress or confronted with a disease challenge. Yeast product supplements can beneficially modify microbial activities, fermentative and digestive functions in the rumen. Modern livestock industry practices inevitably increase the risk of clinical and subclinical enteric diseases. To deal with these challenges, yeast feed is an ideal option.The growth in compound feed consumption is driving the demand for feed yeast in European countries. Along with it, high per capita consumption of meat and consumer demand for nutrition rich meat products, Standardization and regulatory initiatives from the EU are affecting growth in the eastern and central parts of Europe. The regulations imposed by Governments have pressure on the manufacturers to search for cheaper, safer and effective raw materials.Get a comprehensive overview of the Europe Feed Yeast Market:The Europe market for feed yeast is segmented on the basis of type into Live yeast, Spent yeast & Yeast derivatives. And on the basis of type of animals the market is analysed for Swine, Poultry, Cattle, Aquatic animals, Pet animals & Others. The poultry segment takes the largest market share for feed yeast trailed by the swine segment.Scope of the report: Global, regional and country-level analysis and forecasts of the study market; providing Insights on the major countries/regions in which this industry is blooming and to also identify the regions that are still untapped Segment-level analysis in terms of technology, component, and type along with market size forecasts and estimations to detect key areas of industry growth in detail Identification of key drivers, restraints, opportunities, and challenges (DROC) in the market and their impact on shifting market dynamics Study of the effect of exogenous and endogenous factors that affect the global market; which includes broadly demographic, economics, and political, among other macro-environmental factors presented in an extensive PESTLE Analysis Study the micro environment factors that determine the overall profitability of an Industry, using Porters five forces analysis for analysing the level of competition and business strategy development A comprehensive list of key market players along with their product portfolio, current strategic interests, key financial information, legal issues, SWOT analysis and analyst overview to study and sustain the market environment Competitive landscape analysis listing out the mergers, acquisitions, collaborations in the field along with new product launches, comparative financial studies and recent developments in the market by the major companies An executive summary, abridging the entire report in such a way that decision-making personnel can rapidly become acquainted with background information, concise analysis and main conclusions Expertly devised analyst overview along with Investment opportunities to provide both individuals and organizations a strong financial foothold in the marketGet accurate market forecast and analysis on the Europe Feed Yeast Market Request a sample to stay up-to-date on the main trends affecting this market:Furthermore, on the basis of geography, the Europe market is analysed under various regions namely, Spain, Germany, UK, France, Italy. Europe market constitutes to around 23% of the global feed yeast market in 2016. Europe is the second largest region in consumption of feed yeast and the market is expected to grow at the steady rate during the forecast period. The future of the feed yeast market in Europe is very bright due to the increasing focus of various governments on feed cost reduction and boosting animal productivity.In Europe feed yeast market, several prominent companies are taking initiatives in the development and manufacturing of feed yeast. Some of the leading players in this industry include, Alltech, Angel Yeast co., Ltd, Cargill Inc., Nutreco N.V., Lesaffre Group, Biomin GmbH and ADM.Inquire Before buying @About Market Data Forecast:Market Data Forecast is a firm working in the area of market research and business intelligence. With rich experience in research across various business domains, they cater to the needs of both individual and corporate clients. From all-encompassing umbrella markets to extremely specific niche markets covering all the major regions across the globe as part of the research scope, their research services offer one of a kind specialities with competitive pricing options. For more information, kindly visit, www.marketdataforecast.com PR-Inside.com: 2017-10-05 13:24:05 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 407 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 FSCwire / Press ReleaseThe following press release was disseminated by FSCwire for CIBT Education Group Inc.--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---Vancouver, British Columbia (FSCWire) - CIBT Education Group Inc. (TSX:MBA). has issued a press release with the following headline:GEC(R) Flagship Project GEC Education Mega Center" Receives First and Second Reading Approval by Surrey City CouncilTo 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 CIBT Education Group 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/CIBT Education Group Inc.Source: CIBT Education Group Inc. (TSX: MBA, OTCQX: MBAIF, ISIN: CA17163Y1025)Date: October 05, 2017Time: 7:00 AM EDT--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---The story mentioned above was issued on behalf of CIBT Education Group 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.) The report offers a detailed insight into the upstream raw material analysis and downstream demand analysis along with crucial elements Research Trades PR-Inside.com: 2017-10-05 11:19:49 Press Information Research Trades Office No.10, Wing C, Rajhans, Baner, Pune-45, India Deepak Chaudhari Digital Maraketing Executive 7507349866 email https://www.researchtrades.com/ # 426 Words Office No.10, Wing C, Rajhans, Baner, Pune-45, IndiaDigital Maraketing Executive7507349866 - Festive Month Offer -20% discount on purchase of reports from 1st October to 31st October.For more offers post 31st October, kindly contact us. * Terms & Conditions apply!!Contact No. : +16269994607 (US), /+91 7507349866 (IND)Email: sales@ researchtrades.com Report Overview:The report offers a detailed insight into the upstream raw material analysis and downstream demand analysis along with crucial elements of Global Amenity Kits Market report for furthermore highlights key proposals for new project development along with offering an assessment of investment feasibility analysis. This study is a useful guide to all investors to identify the lucrative market avenues across different segments and geographical regions. The market entry conditions along with emerging avenues will help the new entrants to gauge the pulse of the market. Furthermore, the study tracks industry news in terms of new mergers and acquisition made by prominent companies to expand their product offerings across various countries. The report is a useful guide to market players, all stakeholders, interested market participants and investors to formulate their strategies.This report studies the Amenity Kits market. An amenity kit is a compiled package of amenities given out to travelers. Airlines often give out amenity kits on flights, especially to higher-paying customers, which may include toiletries and sleep aids, such as eye masks, earplugs, toothpaste, and more.Get sample copy of this report @ https://www.researchtrades.com/request-sample/1240084 Scope of the Report:This report focuses on the Amenity Kits in Global market, especially in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, regions, type and application.Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report covers 4Inflight, Aire Inflight, AMKO, AVIDMarket 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, covers First Class, Business Class, Economy Class.Market Segment by Applications, can be divided into Women, Men, Kids.Key Chapters of this report1 Market Overview1.1 Amenity Kits Introduction1.2 Market Analysis by Type1.2.1 First Class1.2.2 Business Class1.2.3 Economy Class2 Manufacturers Profiles2.1 4Inflight2.1.1 Business Overview2.1.2 Amenity Kits Type and Applications2.1.2.1 Type 12.1.2.2 Type 23 Global Amenity Kits Market Competition, by Manufacturer3.1 Global Amenity Kits Sales and Market Share by Manufacturer3.2 Global Amenity Kits Revenue and Market Share by Manufacturer3.3 Market Concentration Rate3.3.1 Top 3 Amenity Kits Manufacturer Market ShareContinueBrowse this complete report @ https://www.researchtrades.com/report/global-amenity-kits-market-by-manufacturers-countries-type-and-application-forecast-to-2022/1240084 Persistence Market Research PR-Inside.com: 2017-10-05 07:56:53 Press Information Persistence Market Research Pvt.Ltd. Contact Us Persistence Market Research 305 Broadway 7th Floor, New York City, NY 10007, United States, USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353 Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.com Web: http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com Shahir Bansode Digital Marketing Executive 800-961-0353 email https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com Published by Abhishek Budholiya +1-347-918-3531 e-mail http://www.futuremarketinsights.com # 674 Words Contact UsPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb: http://www.persistencemarketresearch.comDigital Marketing Executive800-961-0353Abhishek Budholiya+1-347-918-3531 ID Card printers are specialty printing devices that prints permanent or temporary impression on to predefined size Identity cards. The ID card printer operates on the same principle as any other desktop printer but its card feeding mechanism is where the difference lies. The printers are customized to fit only cards enabling it to print at a high speed with an improved efficiency. ID card printers are supplied to the customers with its own proprietary software to manage print quality and speed. ID card printers available in the market are capable of printing on special purpose cards a magnetic striped card, smart cards, cards with in built RFID technology and contactless cards. Some manufacturers, in order to gain higher customer base and market share offer ID card printers with an in built laminating system to improve the longevity of the card. Manufactures of ID card printers differentiate the pricing of their products on the basis of the amount of cards it can print on a daily basis. With the advantages of specific printing capabilities and improved speed, ID card printers market is anticipated to grow positively in all the regions in the upcoming years.A sample of this report is available upon request @ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/18370 ID Card Printers Market DynamicsThe world of today is geared towards technological advancements, data driven automation in every aspect with miniaturization taking the centre stage, therefore, a simple card has served more than its purpose of just an identification tool to an advanced data carrying device. This factor is the primary reason behind the growth of the ID card printer market from the global perspective. The utilization of cards has grown profoundly from past couple of years. Urbanization and increase in the size of working population has effectively aided in the growth of the ID card printer market and is anticipated to remain so in the upcoming years.Though ID card printer offers its customers quick and easy solution for printing cards, integration of day to day processes and operations with a smartphone can come across as a restraint for the growth of the ID card printer market, in other words, smartphones has a huge potential to be utilized as a tool for maintaining and storing data that used to be imprinted on the ID card thereby effectively replacing it.ID Card Printers Market: SegmentationID Card Printers Market can be segmented as follows;By Printer type, the ID Card Printers market can be segmented as:Desktop ID Card PrinterIndustrial ID Card PrinterOthersBy Printing Technology, the market can be segmented as:Direct TransferRetransferRewritableBy Print Color Scheme, the market can be segmented as:MonochromeColorBy Printability, the market can be segmented as:Single SidedDouble SidedID Card Printers Market: Regional OutlookThe ID card printer market is anticipated for a positive in the North American region owing to large working class population. The same can also be said for the European region where the market for ID card printer is expected be on the same levels as the North American region in the upcoming years. Urbanization and large presence of middle class population relegated to office jobs in prominent countries of the Asia Pacific region such as China and India is also anticipated to drive the market in the forecast period. Middle East and Africa region is also expected to witness an upsurge in the market in the upcoming years owing to the migration of large number of professionals in the region from other developing countries.To view TOC of this report is available upon request @ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/18370 ID Card Printers Market: Market ParticipantsExamples of some of the major players in the Global ID Card Printers market, identified across the value chain include:Entrust Datacard CorporationHID Global CorporationEvolis S.A.NBS TechnologiesZebra Technologies CorporationI.T. Engg. Co., Ltd.IDP Co., Ltd.Brady CorporationKanematsu USA, Inc.Magicard Ltd.Matica Technologies AGMF Group SrlOrphicard Tech Pvt. Ltd.Valid USA Transparency Market Research PR-Inside.com: 2017-10-05 15:03:04 Press Information Transparency Market Research Contact Us- U.S. OFFICE: State Tower, 90 State Street, Suite 700, Albany NY - 12207 Mahendra seo 5186181030 email https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ # 655 Words Contact Us-U.S. OFFICE:State Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207seo5186181030 Governance Risk and Compliance (GRC) can be defined as a collective term which accounts for an organizations approach towards Governance, risk management, and compliance. GRC is a platform that aims to coordinate information and processes through governance, risk management and compliance so as to function in a more efficient manner, coupled with effective data sharing which helps avoid wasteful overlaps.The major factors driving the growth of Governance Risk and Compliance (GRC) Services market across all regions is increasing need among organizations to enhance their operational activities by ensuring optimal resource usage and to streamline business processes and the increasing need for solving operations related issues quickly. However, fluctuating regulatory policies and lack of awareness within organization are some of the factors acting as restraints for Governance Risk and Compliance (GRC) Services market, and are anticipated to adversely affect the growth of the market in the years from 2015 2017.The Governance Risk and Compliance (GRC) Services market can be classified on the basis of solutions, deployment type, end user, industry vertical and geography. On the basis of solutions, the Governance Risk and Compliance (GRC) Services market is divided into audit management, risk management, policy management, compliance management and others. On the basis of deployment type the Governance Risk and Compliance (GRC) Services market is bifurcated into on premise and cloud based. Most of the companies are shifting towards deployment automation on cloud platforms as it is more convenient and cost effective. On the basis of end-user, the overall market has been divided into small enterprise, medium enterprise and large enterprise. On the basis of industry verticals the Governance Risk and Compliance (GRC) Services market has been classified into Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance, Construction and Engineering,A sample of this report is available upon request @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=29102 Energy and Utility, Government, Healthcare, Manufacturing, Mining and Natural Resources, Retail and Consumer Goods, Telecom and IT, Transportation and Logistics and Others. Out of these sectors the financial services sectors holds the largest market share of the Governance Risk and Compliance (GRC) Services market and is expected to do so in the forecast period. This is due to the increasing number of data being generated in the financial services sectors which includes banks, insurance and reinsurance companies, etc.On regional basis, the Governance Risk and Compliance (GRC) Services market has been divided into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa and Latin America. North America accounted for the largest share of the overall market, followed by Europe in 2016. Both these regions are expected to retain their positions in the next five years due to high focus on innovations obtained from research and development and technology. The Asia-Pacific region is about to witness major growth in this market mainly due to the increasing technological adoption and wider demand among enterprises for Governance Risk and Compliance (GRC) Services to manage consistent data and induce control and visibility mechanisms in the region.In the current scenario, the global GRC market is highly fragmented. However, there is presence of few well established players. Also, these players have deeply penetrated into the GRC market by introducing new competitive products in the market. The companies are strengthening their position through merger & acquisition and continuously investing in research and development (R&D) activities to come up with solutions to cater the customers requirement. Furthermore, GRC solution providers are planning to invest in advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence with a target to provide cost competitive product in the market.To view TOC of this report is available upon request @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=T&rep_id=29102 The key players profiled in the Governance Risk and Compliance (GRC) Services includes SAS Institute Inc., IBM Corp, SAP SE, EMC Corporation, Microsoft Corporation, Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. (FIS), Oracle Corporation, Thomson Reuters Corporation, Newport Consulting Group, Llc and BWise BV etc. Transparency Market Research PR-Inside.com: 2017-10-05 15:12:54 Press Information Transparency Market Research Contact Us- U.S. OFFICE: State Tower, 90 State Street, Suite 700, Albany NY - 12207 Mahendra seo 5186181030 email https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ # 655 Words Contact Us-U.S. OFFICE:State Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207seo5186181030 Governance Risk and Compliance (GRC) can be defined as a collective term which accounts for an organizations approach towards Governance, risk management, and compliance. GRC is a platform that aims to coordinate information and processes through governance, risk management and compliance so as to function in a more efficient manner, coupled with effective data sharing which helps avoid wasteful overlaps.A sample of this report is available upon request @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=29102 The major factors driving the growth of Governance Risk and Compliance (GRC) Services market across all regions is increasing need among organizations to enhance their operational activities by ensuring optimal resource usage and to streamline business processes and the increasing need for solving operations related issues quickly. However, fluctuating regulatory policies and lack of awareness within organization are some of the factors acting as restraints for Governance Risk and Compliance (GRC) Services market, and are anticipated to adversely affect the growth of the market in the years from 2015 2017.The Governance Risk and Compliance (GRC) Services market can be classified on the basis of solutions, deployment type, end user, industry vertical and geography. On the basis of solutions, the Governance Risk and Compliance (GRC) Services market is divided into audit management, risk management, policy management, compliance management and others. On the basis of deployment type the Governance Risk and Compliance (GRC) Services market is bifurcated into on premise and cloud based. Most of the companies are shifting towards deployment automation on cloud platforms as it is more convenient and cost effective. On the basis of end-user, the overall market has been divided into small enterprise, medium enterprise and large enterprise. On the basis of industry verticals the Governance Risk and Compliance (GRC) Services market has been classified into Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance, Construction and Engineering, Energy and Utility, Government, Healthcare, Manufacturing, Mining and Natural Resources, Retail and Consumer Goods, Telecom and IT, Transportation and Logistics and Others. Out of these sectors the financial services sectors holds the largest market share of the Governance Risk and Compliance (GRC) Services market and is expected to do so in the forecast period. This is due to the increasing number of data being generated in the financial services sectors which includes banks, insurance and reinsurance companies, etc.On regional basis, the Governance Risk and Compliance (GRC) Services market has been divided into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa and Latin America. North America accounted for the largest share of the overall market, followed by Europe in 2016. Both these regions are expected to retain their positions in the next five years due to high focus on innovations obtained from research and development and technology. The Asia-Pacific region is about to witness major growth in this market mainly due to the increasing technological adoption and wider demand among enterprises for Governance Risk and Compliance (GRC) Services to manage consistent data and induce control and visibility mechanisms in the region.In the current scenario, the global GRC market is highly fragmented. However, there is presence of few well established players. Also, these players have deeply penetrated into the GRC market by introducing new competitive products in the market. The companies are strengthening their position through merger & acquisition and continuously investing in research and development (R&D) activities to come up with solutions to cater the customers requirement. Furthermore, GRC solution providers are planning to invest in advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence with a target to provide cost competitive product in the market.To view TOC of this report is available upon request @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=T&rep_id=29102 The key players profiled in the Governance Risk and Compliance (GRC) Services includes SAS Institute Inc., IBM Corp, SAP SE, EMC Corporation, Microsoft Corporation, Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. (FIS), Oracle Corporation, Thomson Reuters Corporation, Newport Consulting Group, Llc and BWise BV etc. PR-Inside.com: 2017-10-05 06:15:12 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 Maxtech Ventures Inc.--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---Vancouver, British Columbia (FSCWire) - Maxtech Ventures Inc. (CSE:MVT). has issued a press release with the following headline:Maxtech Introduces S.K. Sarawagi as New Strategic PartnerTo 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 Maxtech Ventures Inc., or to see additional press releases issued by this company, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser: http://www.fscwire.com/public-company/Maxtech Ventures Inc.Source: Maxtech Ventures Inc. (CSE: MVT, OTC Pink: MTEHF, WKN: A1W3JE, ISIN: CA5777282073)Date: October 05, 2017Time: 12:15 AM EDT--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---The story mentioned above was issued on behalf of Maxtech Ventures Inc. and disseminated through FSCwire.About FSCwireFSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.), is a global newswire dissemination, SEDAR, SEDI, and EDGAR / XBRL service provider.FSCwire is a full service global newswire dissemination company and is fully approved by all exchanges in Canada and the U.S. Press releases can be distributed for all sizes of public, private or not for profit companies and any other organization requiring news distribution. In addition to individual companies; public relations, communications and investor relations firms trust FSCwire to distribute press releases for their respective clients.In addition to newswire dissemination FSCwire also offers EDGAR, XBRL, SEDAR, SEDI, and additional services for publicly traded companies. For more information, please go to our website: http://www.fscwire.com Maximum News Dissemination by FSCwire. http://www.fscwire.com Copyright 2017 - FSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.) Middle-East And Africa Tumor Ablation Market By Technology (Radiofrequency Ablation Devices, Microwave Ablation Devices, Cryoablation Devices And Other Ablation Devices) By Treatment (Surgical Ablation, Laparoscopic Ablation And Percutaneous Ablation) By Application (Liver Cancer, Breast Cancer, Lung Cancer, Prostrate Metastasis And Other Cancer), Browse And Choose From Our World Class Research Reports PR-Inside.com: 2017-10-05 11:23:08 Press Information Market Data Forecast Hyderabad, India Abhishek Sales manager +1-888-702-9626 email http://www.marketdataforecast.com/ # 502 Words Hyderabad, IndiaSales manager+1-888-702-9626 According to the report Middle East and Africa Tumor Ablation Market, published by Market Data Forecast the Market was worth USD 37.50 million in 2016 and estimated to be growing at a CAGR of 11.66%, to reach USD 65.10 million by 2021. Tumors are the group of abnormal cells that accumulate together and form lumps. Tumor ablation is a minimally invasive procedure which is used to destroy cancer cells in the chest, lung and liver.Rising Prevalence of cancer is proportional to the growth of tumor ablation market. According to the recent statistics published by the WHO, cancer accounts for 13% of the deaths worldwide. Cancer incidence is expected to increase by 70% over the next couple of decades.Browse market data tables and in-depth TOC of the Middle East and Africa Tumor Ablation Industry to 2021 @ http://www.marketdataforecast.com/market-reports/middle-east-and-africa-tumor-ablation-market-479/ Middle-East & Africa tumor ablation market is driven by factors such as growing aging population and increasing number of people affected with cancer. Increasing demand for minimally invasive cancer treatment procedures and growing awareness about the benefits offered by ablation procedures over the conventional surgical procedures are also some of the key factors adding up to growth of the market. However key challenges related to ablation procedures and strict regulatory guidelines are hindering the growth of the market.Free sample of the report is available @ http://www.marketdataforecast.com/market-reports/middle-east-and-africa-tumor-ablation-market-479/request-sample Middle-East & Africa tumor ablation market is segmented by technology, treatment and application. Based on technology the market is sub-segmented as Radiofrequency Ablation Devices, Microwave Ablation Devices, Cryoablation Devices and other Ablation Devices. Radiofrequency devices are the dominating technology segment accounting for a share of approximately 35% attributed to its vital role in solid tumour removal in the body. On the basis of treatment the market is segmented as Surgical Ablation, Laparoscopic Ablation and Percutaneous Ablation. Surgical Procedures segment accounted for a prominent share of around 37% owing to increasing prevalence of liver and breast cancers. By application Middle-East & Africa tumor ablation market is segmented as Liver Cancer, Breast Cancer, Lung Cancer, Prostrate Metastasis and other cancer.Based on geography Middle-East & Africa Tumor Ablation market is segmented into Middle-East and Africa. Middle-East accounted for the largest share of the market due to high disposable income and wide spread awareness about various ablation procedures where as Africa is estimated to be the fastest growing region due to high prevalence of the disease in the region.Inquire before buying @ http://www.marketdataforecast.com/market-reports/middle-east-and-africa-tumor-ablation-market-479/inquire Some of the key companies dominating the market include Medtronic Plc., Boston Scientific Corporation, Galil Medical Inc., Angiodynamics, Mermaid Medical, HealthTronics, EDAP TMS S.A., SonaCare Medical, Misonix, Inc. and Neuwave Medical, Inc.About Us:Market Data Forecast is a firm working in the area of market research and business intelligence. With rich experience in research across various business domains, we cater to the needs of both individual and corporate clients. Our analyst team comprises expert professionals in market research, who with their collective knowledge and skillset dedicatedly serve clients from various industries and regions. Transparency Market Research PR-Inside.com: 2017-10-05 06:50:45 Press Information Transparency Market Research State Tower, 90 State Street, Suite 700, Albany NY - 12207 United States Atul Kirtane Junior SEO +1-518-618-1030 email https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com # 620 Words State Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesJunior SEO+1-518-618-1030 Methylcyclohexane, saturated hydrocarbon, is an organic compound with the molecular formula CH3C6H11. It is a colorless liquid with a faint petroleum-like odor. Hydrogenation of toluene results in the formation of methylcyclohexane. It is chemically stable, possesses non-toxic characteristic, and is more environmental friendly than toluene. Hazardous solvents such as toluene and tri-chloro ethane are widely being replaced by methylcyclohexane in various applications. Methylcyclohexane is used as a dye solvent in optical disc manufacturing, solvent for adhesives, paints, and inks. It is extensively employed as a green solvent in the adhesive industry. Other industrial applications include laboratory chemicals, machinery manufacturing and repair, rubber manufacturing, and nylon production. Rise in demand for automobiles, consumer electronics, etc., is likely to drive the methylcyclohexane market. The health and environmental effects of toluene are compelling manufacturers to replace it with a substitute such as methylcyclohexane methylcyclohexane in various applications. However, methylcyclohexane possesses a few characteristics that make it hazardous to health and the environment. Cyclohexane is responsible for the formation of petrochemical smog and leads to air pollution. When released in air, cyclohexane breaks down into its component chemicals. It does not bind well with soil and mixes with underground water. Methylcyclohexane is hazardous to aquatic life. Furthermore, prolonged exposure to methylcyclohexane results in several adverse health effects. The need for substitutes for methylcyclohexane is rising owing to the increase in health hazards from its usage and implementation of stringent government norms on environmental pollution.A sample of this report is available upon request @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=28295 Based on end-use, the methylcyclohexane market can be segmented into industrial and consumer products. Under the industrial segment, methylcyclohexane is typically used in adhesives and sealant chemicals, fuels and fuel additives, functional fluids (closed systems), solvents, etc. Under the consumer product segment, methylcyclohexane is used in adhesives and sealants, fuels and related products, plastics, and rubber products, etc. Demand for consumer electronics and automobiles has been rising constantly across the globe, especially in developing regions such as Asia Pacific. Rubber and plastic products are extensively used in the automobile and electronics sectors. Furthermore, demand for adhesives and sealants is anticipated to increase during the forecast period owing to the rise in usage of adhesives and sealants in the paper, packaging, and the construction industries. Increase in demand for automobiles, electronic goods, and adhesives & sealants is estimated to drive the demand for methylcyclohexane in the consumer product segment.To view TOC of this report is available upon request @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=T&rep_id=28295 In terms of geography, the global methylcyclohexane market can be segregated into North America, Latin America, Asia Pacific, Europe, and Middle East & Africa. The methylcyclohexane market in Asia Pacific is likely to expand significantly during the forecast period, owing to the rapid growth of automobile, electronic goods, and adhesives & sealants sectors in the region. The industrial usage of methylcyclohexane is also projected to contribute significantly to the market in the region, led by the rapid industrial and infrastructural development in developing countries such as China and India in Asia Pacific.Key players operating in the global methylcyclohexane market include Chevron Philips Chemicals, TASCO Group, Jiangsu Yangnong Chemical Group, Changyi Daan Fine Chemical, Dechang Chemical, Total, Huntsman, Sankyo Chemical, Maruzen Petrochemical, SK, and Changde Chemical.Get access to full summary @: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/methylcyclohexane-market.html The methylcyclohexane market is anticipated to expand significantly during the forecast period, due to its increasing use in automotive, electronic goods, construction, and paper & packaging industries. The high usage can be ascribed to factors such as rising population, economic development, and increasing disposable income in emerging economies such as China and India in Asia Pacific. North America Clinical Trials Market by phase (Phase I, Phase II, Phase III), by design (Interventional trials, Observational trials, Expanded Access trials), by indications (Blood disorders, Cancer, Circulatory, CNS, Congenital, CVS, Dermatology, Infections, Mental disorders, Gastrointestinal) and by Region - Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecasts (20162021) We Think Through Different Layers, We Work Across Different Verticals. PR-Inside.com: 2017-10-05 13:37:01 Press Information Market Data Forecast 2nd Floor, Lakeview Plaza, Kavuri Hills, Hyderabad, Telangana Abhishek Shukla Sales Manager +1-888-702-9626 email http://www.marketdataforecast.com/ # 586 Words 2nd Floor, Lakeview Plaza, Kavuri Hills, Hyderabad, TelanganaSales Manager+1-888-702-9626 Market Data Forecast recently published a report on the North America Clinical Trials Market which estimates the market to grow from USD 4.87 Billion from 2016 to USD 6.96 Billion with a CAGR of 7.4 %.View report at: http://www.marketdataforecast.com/market-reports/north-america-clinical-trials-market--1658/ Clinical Trials are research studies performed on humans to gain specific information about biomedical interventions. Clinical trials assess the safety and efficacies of new therapeutics, drugs, vaccines, devices or other interventions. Trials can be quite costly, depending on a number of factors. The sponsor may be a governmental organization or a pharmaceutical, biotechnology or medical device company.Download free sample report: http://www.marketdataforecast.com/market-reports/north-america-clinical-trials-market--1658/request-sample The DROC Analysis contains some of the factors that have major effects on the market dynamics be it positive or negative. Few factors analysed in the section are increasing research and development expenditure, wide range of diseases in the market, shrinking clinical research workforce and Stringent regulations.The products are segmented based on Phase, design, Indications and studied for a deep-level understanding of the Clinical Trials market. Each sub segment is accompanied with Market Size Estimations and Y-o-Y Forecasts as well.Request before buying: http://www.marketdataforecast.com/market-reports/north-america-clinical-trials-market--1658/request-discount Based on Phase Phase I Phase II Phase IIIBased on design Interventional trials Observational trials Expanded Access trialsBased on Indications Autoimmune Blood disorders Cancer Circulatory CNS Congenital CVS Dermatology Ear Gastrointestinal Genitourinary Infections Mental disorders Metabolic Musculoskeletal Nose OphthalmologyBuy now: https://www.marketdataforecast.com/cart/buy-now/north-america-clinical-trials-market--1658 North American Market is studied in geographic perspective by segregating the market shares between USA and Canada. The study identifies USA as the predominant market in the North American region and it holds well in the Global Market too.As per the report, companies like Chiltern, Omnicare, PPD, Parexel, Kendle, Quintles, ICON Plc, and Charles River are contributing a fair share to the North American Clinical Trials Market.Scope of the North America Clinical Trials Market: Regional and country-level analysis that provides an innate perspective of USA and Canada Market to that of the North American region To detect major focus areas of industrial growth Segment-level analysis on basis of Phase, Design, Indications along with market size forecasts and y-o-y estimations are provided Detailed explanation of major drivers, restraints, opportunities, and challenges (DROC) that affect the market and impact the ever-shifting market dynamics PESTLE and Porters Five Forces Analyses that examine the macro & micro environmental factors such as political influence, technological prowess, industry rivalry to name a few. An extensive listing of major market players along with company overview, product portfolios, key financial information (subjected to availability), SWOT analysis and analyst overview to study and sustain the market environment mergers, acquisitions, collaborations in the field along with new product launches, comparative financial studies and recent developments in the market by the major companies all rolled out into Competitive landscape Expertly devised Market Outlook comprising the Investment opportunities to provide both individuals and organizations a strong financial foothold in the market.About Market Data Forecast:The publisher of this report is Market Data Forecast whose forte lies in Market research and Business Intelligence. Handling both individual and corporate clients across multiple business domains they offer syndicated/customized research to suit the clients research objective. Their research reports section offers a wide variety of market studies ranging from all-encompassing comprehensive market studies to product specific niche markets covering North America among other regions of the global market as well. For more info kindly visit, www.marketdataforecast.com Offshore Corrosion Protection Market PR-Inside.com: 2017-10-05 09:23:35 Press Information Transparency Market Research 90 State Street, Suite 700, Albany Rohit Bhisey Head Of Marketing +1-518-618-1030 email https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/offshore-corrosion-protection-market.html # 629 Words 90 State Street, Suite 700, AlbanyHead Of Marketing+1-518-618-1030 Corrosion is caused by the reaction between metal and gasses in the environment. Deterioration in metal surface can be proximately reduced by changing the type of environment or removing the metal. Metal corrosion can be controlled by limiting the contents in environment such as chloride, sulfur, or oxygen. Offshore oil & gas exploration, transportation, and refining activities lead to deterioration of metals owing to reaction with various chemicals and gaseous present in the environment.Galvanic corrosion often attacks offshore rigs, ship hulls, and oil & gas pipelines. Various regulatory bodies such as Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the National Association of Corrosion Engineers (NACE) have levied stringent regulations on the usage of the corrosion protection method or products for operators safety. NACE has designed the standards for quality of coatings applied externally and internally to pipelines in order to mitigate corrosion. In order to maintain technical standards for construction, operation and survey of vessels, offshore structures, oil platform, and submarine by various non-governmental organization named as classification society. Classification societies such as the Lloyd's Register, the American Bureau of Shipping, and Indian Register of Shipping carry out regular surveys to ensure compliance with the standards.Browse Full Report With ToC @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=T&rep_id=28352 The offshore corrosion protection market can be segmented into technique, application, and region. Based on technique, the market can be divided into coatings, corrosion inhibitors, and cathodic protection. Coatings are used on pipelines to protect them from deterioration. Common types of coatings are painting and plating. These provide effective corrosion protection and esthetic appearance. Corrosion inhibitors are split into liquid phase inhibitors (LPIs) and volatile corrosion inhibitors (VCIs). Cathodic protection is more effective in preventing corrosion for offshore based industries. Cathodic protection can further be divided into two forms: sacrificial anode cathodic protection (SACP) and impressed current cathodic protection (ICCP). SACP is widely used, as it is more economical and easier to employ than ICCP.Based on application, the market can be segmented into pipelines, rigs, platform, ships, offshore wind turbine, and others. Transportation or supply of products such as natural gas, crude oil, and intermediate products from various modes such as pipelines and marine are being increased in past few years and this factor is expected to propel the market growth over the forecast period. This will drive the demand of corrosion prevention market during forecast period. Based on region, the offshore corrosion protection market can be segregated into North America, Latin America, Asia Pacific, Europe, and Middle East & Africa.North America is the key region of the market owing to the presence of major oil & gas exploration companies in the U.S. and Canada. Infrastructure developments and government initiatives in these countries are further propelling the offshore corrosion protection market. Rapid technological advancements and infrastructure development in the oil & gas sector are also expected to drive the demand for offshore corrosion protection during the forecast period. By increasing demand of energy in various countries, are highly dependent on export and import led to increase the demand of cargo vessels. This is anticipated to boost the offshore corrosion protection market in the near future. Increase in demand for oil and gas due to the rapid rise in population and growth in industrialization in Asia Pacific are augmenting the offshore corrosion protection market in the region.Fill the form for an exclusive sample of this report @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=28352 Key players operating in the global offshore corrosion protection market are Southern Cathodic Protection, 3M Company, The Valspar Corporation, AkzoNobel N.V, Chase Corporation, Jotun A/S, Hempel A/S, Axalta Coating System Ltd., Kansai Paints Co. Ltd., The Sherwin-Williams Company, RPM International, Inc., Aegion Corporation, Ashland Inc., and BASF SE. PR-Inside.com: 2017-10-05 14:37:39 Press Information Published by Abhishek Budholiya +1-347-918-3531 e-mail http://www.futuremarketinsights.com # 643 Words Abhishek Budholiya+1-347-918-3531 Organic feed is a type of feed that is produced by methods obey the standards of organic farming. Organic simply ingredients that the feed/food/crop cannot be genetically modified, treated with fungicides/pesticides/insecticides etc., fertilized with chemical fertilizers. All organic ingredients and products should be manufactured according to the guidelines stated by the National Organic Program .Organic feed products cannot contain any kind of medications, animal by product and chemical preservatives. It almost takes two to three years to become a certified producer of organic feed. Animal feeds play an important role in the global food industry, enabling economic production of animal proteins across the globe. Organic feed now has become one of the most important component to ensure enormous amount of animal protein.Visit For TOC @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=T&rep_id=28853 Organic Feed Market Segmentation:Organic Feed market is segment on the basis of species, ingredients, distribution channel and region. On the basis of species the market is segmented into poultry, swine, ruminants, aquaculture, horse and dogs, others. Among all the segments poultry accounts the maximum market share (approximately 47%), followed by swine with approximately 26%. On the basis of ingredient organic feed market is segmented into corn, wheat, barley, soybean, rapeseed and others. Among all the segments market share of corn is the highest which accounts for approximately for 76%, followed by wheat with 21% approx. On the basis of distribution channel organic feed market is segmented into supermarkets/hypermarkets, specialty stores and online stores. Supermarkets/hypermarkets is anticipated to hold a relatively high share in the organic feed market. Online stores have also contributed significantly to the growth of organic feed market over the forecast period.Organic Feed Market Regional Outlook:Regional segment for the market of organic feed is divided into five different regions: North America, Europe, Latin America, APAC, and Middle East & Africa. Among these segment Asia Pacific is expected to have the major market share globally, as it is the largest producer and consumer of organic feed. In North America market the countries like U.S. and Canada are generating the major revenue.Organic Feed Market Drivers:The rising economic growth in developing economies has been a key factor driving the growth of the global organic feed market in recent years. Availability of a wide variety of organic feed is resulting in increasing consumer base and this is expected to fuel market growth over the forecast period. Growing trend towards vertical integration (contract farming) has been driving demand for organic feed across the globe. Investment on the research and development of the organic feed will probably be a major factor for the companies those who wants to increase the market share of the organic feed market. Companies should also meet the changing demands of the consumers. Expenditure on advertisement of organic feed product will also help the industries to create opportunities and increase its market share. The use of social media will further boost the growth of the industries offering organic feed. In order to expand product portfolio several companies have already entered into joint ventures to increase the production of organic feed products, these kind of steps are defiantly going to drive the market of organic feed in the forecast period.Request Report Brochure @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=28853 Organic Feed Market Key Players:Some of the 10 key players in organic feed market are Cargill Inc, New Hope Liuhe Co.,Ltd ., Purina Animal Nutrition LLC, Wens Food Group, CPP China, BRF S.A. Tyson Foods, Inc. East Hope Group Co Ltd, Ja Zen-Noh Meat Foods Co.,Ltd ., Jiangxi Shuangbaotai Industry Co., Ltd., ForFarmers N.V., Tangrenshen Group Co., Ltd., Nutreco N.V., Guangdong Haid Group Co., Limited, C. P. Foods, Nonghyup Feed, Inc., Guangzhou Yuetai Group Co., Ltd., and Dachan Food (Asia) Limited among others. Future Market Insights has announced the addition of the Photoluminescent Film Market: Global Industry Analysis 2012 2016 and Opportunity Assessment; 2017 2027" report to their offering. Photoluminescent Film Market PR-Inside.com: 2017-10-05 08:03:56 Press Information Future Market Insights Abhishek Bhudoliya 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: http://www.futuremarketinsights.com email Published by Abhishek Budholiya +1-347-918-3531 e-mail http://www.futuremarketinsights.com # 641 Words Abhishek Bhudoliya616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: http://www.futuremarketinsights.comAbhishek Budholiya+1-347-918-3531 The photoluminescent films are films that absorb light and convert that light energy into visible wavelength of light. Photoluminescent in films is one of the form of light emission which is initiated by excitation of photons. They are ideal solution for emergency exits and directional signage in hips, airlines, buildings, ferries, railcars due to its superior luminosity and conformability. There are several factors that influence the photoluminescent films to glow for long in the dark the biggest factor would be how much amount of light energy it absorbs before the source of light is removed, if the photoluminescent film is left in light for a longer period of time it will glow for significantly longer period of time than left in the light for brief time. Initially if the source of light is removed the photoluminescent film will emit the energy rapidly as the photons move quickly, where about 80-85% of light emery will be exhausted for the first thirty minutes of being removed from the source of light and the glow will eventually fade as the energy is used. The photoluminescent films can be recharged as many times as required as the phosphor in those tapes can take absorb light and emit energy as many times as required.Global Photoluminescent film Market: Market DynamicsPhotoluminescent films market is driven by safety product applications, as they provide safety way guidance system as they dont need electricity to glow in the dark if they are properly maintained. in emergency situations where there is power failure the photoluminescent films will immediately light the way to safety even in smoke condition. The photoluminescent films are most effective in areas that are frequently exposed to light and have shorter periods of darkness, like the photoluminescent films are used widely in warehouse where lights are always on which ensures that that photoluminescent films will be always charged and would glow in the event of power failures. The restrain to photoluminescent film market would be that the light energy might only last for few hours.Request For Report Sample@ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-4350 Global Photoluminescent film Market: Market segmentationOn the basis of product type, the global photoluminescent film market is segmented into:SheetsRollsOn the basis of end users, the global photoluminescent film market is segmented into:Automobile IndustryFood & Beverage IndustryPharmaceutical IndustryTransport & logistic IndustryManufacturing IndustryOn the basis of material finishing, the global photoluminescent film market is segmented into:Satin finishMatt finishOn the basis of material, the global photoluminescent film market is segmented into:PaperPlasticPPPEPETOn the basis of composition, the global photoluminescent film market is segmented into:FacestockRelease linerAdhesiveGlobal Photoluminescent film Market: segmentation overviewManufacturing industry has higher rate of usage of photoluminescent film, similarly photoluminescent films are widely used in safety applications, followed by Transport & logistic Industry. The photoluminescent films market has sluggish growth rate in the food and beverage industry.Global Photoluminescent film Market: Regional overviewBased on the geographies, the global photoluminescent film market is fragmented into seven key regions- Latin America, North America, Eastern Europe, and Western Europe, Middle East & Africa, Asia-Pacific except Japan and Japan. Among the regions mentioned above Asia Pacific is expected to have a higher growth rate in the forecasted period due to the growing demand for photoluminescent films from the manufacturing industry, followed by Western Europe and Eastern Europe. Middle East and Africa and Latin America are expected to grow at a sluggish rate over the forecasted period.Visit For TOC@ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-4350 Global Photoluminescent film market playersSome of the market players identified in the global photoluminescent film market includes:Steinhauer + Co3MDHgateZhejiang Minhui Luminous Technology Co.,Ltd Innova Solutions.Jessup Manufacturing CompanyEverGlow NA Inc.L & B GROUP CO., LTD PR-Inside.com: 2017-10-05 06:01:13 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 Rockcliff Copper Corporation--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---Toronto, Ontario (FSCWire) - Rockcliff Copper Corporation (TSX Venture:RCU). has issued a press release with the following headline:Rockcliff Acquires Gold Property, Snow Lake, ManitobaTo 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 Rockcliff Copper Corporation, 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/Rockcliff Copper CorporationSource: Rockcliff Copper Corporation (TSX Venture: RCU, WKN: A142TR, ISIN: CA77288Q1057)Date: October 05, 2017Time: 12:01 AM EDT--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---The story mentioned above was issued on behalf of Rockcliff Copper Corporation 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: 2017-10-05 21:22:34 Press Information Published by Abhishek Budholiya +1-347-918-3531 e-mail http://www.futuremarketinsights.com # 479 Words Abhishek Budholiya+1-347-918-3531 Spinal laminoplasty is a surgical procedure performed to remove pressure from the spinal cord. In laminoplasy, an extra space is made in the spinal canal by creating a gate or opening in the lamina of the vertebrae for the ease of spinal cord movement. This procedure is recommended, when a patient is having pain due to compression of spinal cord against the wall of spinal canal. Laminoplasty is a preferred procedure over laminectomy as it does not involve the removal of lamina from the spine. When laminoplasty involves only one vertebra, it is known as single level and when involves more than one, called as multilevel. On the basis of vertebral position, it is classified as cervical laminoplasty, lumbar laminoplasty, sacral laminoplasty and thoracic laminoplasty. Cervical laminoplasty involves the surgical procedure of lamina in the neck region while lumbar laminoplasty, sacral laminoplasty and thoracic laminoplasty involves the hinging of lamina of lumbar, sacral and thoracic regions respectively. Various laminoplasy devices available in the market are Center Piece Plate Fixation System by Medtronic, Inc. and MOUNTAINEER Spinal System by DePuySynthes, a part of Johnson & Johnson family of companies.Request Sample Copy of the Report@One of the key factors driving the growth of the market for spinal laminoplasty is the advantages associated with laminoplasty as it enables stability and preserves movement in the vertebrae. Other factors expected to drive the market are technological advancements leading to minimally invasive procedure and increasing incidences of age related spinal degeneration. At present, North America is the largest market growing due to high adoption rate of laminoplasty procedure as doctors in United States and Canada are much more aware about the technologies. North America is followed by Europe and Asia-Pacific. In Asia-Pacific, the market will experience a growth under the influence of changing perceptions of medical professionals towards new technologies and burgeoning medical tourism industry due to low cost of surgery. In Asia and Latin America, the cost for spinal laminoplasty is less than half of the price in United States and United Kingdom. The average cost for minimally invasive spinal laminoplasty in India is around USD 8000, while in South Korea is around USD 14000 compared to USD 36,000 in United States.Some of the key players operating in this market include Medtronic, DePuySynthes, Synthes Spine, Zimmer Spine, Raymedica, NP Solutions, Vertebral Technologies, Cryo Life, Pioneer Surgical technologies, Replication Medical and Arthro Kinetics.Request TOC of the Report@This research report analyzes this market depending on its market segments, major geographies, and current market trends. Geographies analyzed under this research report includeNorth AmericaAsia PacificEuropeRest of the WorldThis report provides comprehensive analysis ofMarket growth driversFactors limiting market growthCurrent market trendsMarket structureMarket projections for upcoming years PR-Inside.com: 2017-10-05 21:22:39 Press Information Published by Abhishek Budholiya +1-347-918-3531 e-mail http://www.futuremarketinsights.com # 427 Words Abhishek Budholiya+1-347-918-3531 The term sterilization refers to any procedure that helps in destroying all forms of microbial life and transmissible agents. Transmissible agents are bacteria, fungi, spore forms and virus. These micro-organisms and transmissible agents are present on the surface of medical instruments, contained in medication, fluid and biological culture media. Sterilization helps in making these culture media infection free by applying heat, pressure, chemical and filtration. This process disables the infectious protein like prions of the micro-organism and hence results in infection free medium.Request Sample Copy of the Report@Sterilization is achieved through various methods such as steam sterilization, heat sterilization, chemical sterilization, radiation and sterile filtration. In steam and heat sterilization, the artifacts which are to be sterilized are placed in a steel container and subjected to high temperature. These containers are incorporated with numerous parts that help in maintaining temperature and pressure inside the container. In chemical sterilization, various chemicals such as ethylene oxide, nitrogen dioxide, bleach, ozone, phthalaldehyde, glutaraldehyde, formaldehyde, hydrogen peroxide, peracetic acid, and silver are used. In radiation sterilization, rays like gamma, ultraviolet, electron beam and X-rays are used. These processes may sometime destroy liquid medium along with the micro-organism. To overcome this situation, sterile filtration is performed where the fluids are passed through very minute pores whose size ranges from 20 to 50 nm. These small pores do not allow the micro-organism to pass since size of these organisms is larger than the pores.This market is expected to grow due to rise in safety processes of the various medical institution and research laboratories. In addition rise in number of surgeries and would consequently increase the demand of infection free instruments. In addition, drug preparations also require high sterile medium which would also augment the growth of this market. Moreover, the governments have made stringent rules for various medical institutes to sterile instruments after every use which would also trigger the growth of this market.Request TOC of the Report@Some of the market players in this industry segment are Roche, Pfizer, Becton Dickinson, Advanced Sterilization Products, Belimed AG and bioMerieux amongst other significant players.This research report analyzes this market depending on its market segments, major geographies, and current market trends. Geographies analyzed under this research report includeNorth AmericaAsia PacificEuropeRest of the WorldThis report provides comprehensive analysis ofMarket growth driversFactors limiting market growthCurrent market trendsMarket structureMarket projections for upcoming years Ultrasound Gel Market PR-Inside.com: 2017-10-05 09:27:02 Press Information Transparency Market Research 90 State Street, Suite 700, Albany Rohit Bhisey Head Of Marketing +1-518-618-1030 email https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ultrasound-gel-market.html # 598 Words 90 State Street, Suite 700, AlbanyHead Of Marketing+1-518-618-1030 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 Full Report With ToC @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=T&rep_id=28367 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.Fill the form for an exclusive sample of this report @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=28367 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. TWIN FALLS A build-your-own pizza chain, a dog kennel and a new retail eyewear store are just a few businesses that received building permits in September, rounding out a successful year of commercial building. The city has released its final building department permit report for the 2017 fiscal year. While permit numbers are down slightly from the previous year and total value of new construction was nearly 28 percent lower the city does not appear to be in any slowdown. Especially when you look at the 16 commercial additions and remodels issued just this past month, including a new restaurant at Canyon Park West. Blaze Pizza franchise owner Rachelle Fenderson-Ngo said her restaurant could open as early as mid-November on Fillmore Street near Zions Bank and Noodles & Co. Blaze Pizza is based out of California and has a business model similar to Chipotle but with pizza. Its build-your-own, fast-fired artisan pizza, Fenderson-Ngo said. Customers will be able to walk in and order a customized personal-sized pizza for around $8. Most of the ingredients are as organic as you can get, she said. The restaurant also has eight signature pizzas to choose from. Pizzas are cooked within minutes through a gas-fired oven with visible flames. Customers will also be able to order online or through an app. Fenderson-Ngo, who owns the Jimmy Johns franchise in Twin Falls, said she became interested in Blaze Pizza after reading about it and eating at one in Boise. She plans to hire 35 to 40 people to get the restaurant up and running. Also in September, Burger King received a building permit to construct a restaurant near the intersection of Cheney Drive West and Washington Street North. KFC and Journeys got permits to remodel their buildings, and Eyemart Express filed for a new tenant remodel at 1605 Blue Lakes Blvd. N. No. A. A dog kenneling business, A Box of Barks, received a building permit for a remodel at 456 Madrin St. New single-family home permits were surprisingly low in September, when the city issued only 13 permits. For the fiscal year, Twin Falls approved 224 single-family home permits, 12 fewer than the 2016 fiscal year. But Building Official Jarrod Bordi previously told the Times-News that any year the city issues more than 200 home permits is an indicator of a strong housing market. Heres a recap of how Twin Falls fared with building permits from September 2016 to October 2017: 3,258 The total number of all permits issued (less than a half-percent drop from prior year) $103,522,498 Estimated value of work for all permits (down 27.7 percent) $1,137,639 Revenues the building department collected from permit fees 32 New commercial building permits issued (14.3 percent higher than prior year) 100 Commercial addition and remodel permits issued (up 2 percent) 114 The number of miscellaneous commercial permits issued (down 17.4 percent) 224 The number of new single family home permits issued (5.1 percent drop) 98 The number of residential remodel permits issued (up 14 percent) TWIN FALLS The monthly meeting of the National Association of Employed and Retired Federal Employees will be held at 11:30 a.m. Monday, Oct. 9, at the Loong Hing Restaurant, 1719 Kimberly Road,, Twin Falls. The speaker for the meeting will be Bill Carberry, manager of Joslin Field, Magic Valley Regional Airport. This is a chance for government employees and retirees to discuss their changes in benefits. Come and bring a friend who qualifies for this group. Information: 208-732-0360. Editors note: This Hidden History column first ran Feb. 27, 2014. In mid-January 1898, President William McKinley ordered the U.S.S. Maine to Havana as a symbol of U.S. support of Cuban independence from Spain. A month later, the ship exploded in the harbor, killing 266 of the 355 men aboard. Although Spain denied any connection to the explosion, the U.S. Navy disagreed. Many Americans took up the cry, Remember the Maine! To hell with Spain! In March, the Navy concluded that a mine had destroyed the ship. The following month, McKinley asked Congress to send troops to the harbor and 10 days later ordered a blockade of Cuba. Spain declared war on the U.S., which reciprocated. The Spanish-American War lasted only a few months. The treaty called for Spain to grant Cuba its independence and to turn over the Philippines, Puerto Rico and Guam to the U.S. A decade later, much mystery still surrounded the explosion. The Maine was raised in 1912 and closely examined, but the conclusion was the same: A mine caused the explosion, the Navy said. Spain, however, was eventually cleared of all responsibility for the explosion that destroyed the battleship. In 1913, artist Charles Keck sculpted a plaque commemorating the lives lost on the ship and more than a thousand casts were made from bronze salvaged from the wreckage. It is said that each of the 89 survivors, as well as the families of the men that died, received a memorial plaque, while others were spread throughout the country. One of the new plaques landed in Twin Falls in August that year and credit for bringing it to town was incorrectly given to U.S. Rep. Addison T. Smith. Addison Avenue is named for Smith, who was a Republican from Twin Falls. But Smith quickly corrected the error with a letter to the editor of the Twin Falls Times. After a little research, the newspaper gave proper credit for the plaque to U.S. Sen. William Borah, a prominent Boise attorney. The plaque is owned by the Twin Falls County Historical Society and displayed at the county museum. BOISE Idaho Power added more than 120,000 pan-sized rainbow trout to popular spots along the Snake River this week. On Wednesday, 4,000 rainbow trout were released at Centennial Park near Twin Falls. More than 52,000 fish were released at C.J. Strike reservoir south of Mountain Home split between Cottonwood and Jacks Creek access points. An additional 15,000 trout were released into the Lower Salmon Falls reservoir near Bell Rapids. Some of the fish released at Centennial Park and Bell Rapids have jaw tags. Anglers who catch a jaw-tagged fish should note the tag number, the date the fish was caught, the location and whether the fish was released. Call 1-800-388-6011 to be eligible for a $1,000 drawing. The tagging program helps the company evaluate the success of our stocking efforts, Idaho Power fisheries biologist Ben Reingold said in a statement. Idaho Powers federal licenses to operate hydroelectric facilities on the Snake River require the company to provide recreational opportunities for the public. The fish released this week were raised in the Hagerman Valley and average 10-12 inches long. Fish that arent caught right away can grow several inches-per-year, especially in C.J. Strike which provides excellent food and habitat for trout and other game species. For more information about tagged trout or Idaho Powers fish programs, visit idahopower.com/fish. 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. Marc Shenkman, President of Priority Financial Network, joined CMLA members in Washington DC to meet and talk with the CFPB, Administration & Senate Banking members. Media Contact Sandy Adler ***@priorityfinancial.net 818-223-9999 Sandy Adler818-223-9999 End -- Marc Shenkman, President of Priority Financial Network, joined CMLA members in Washington DC to meet and talk with theAdded to that were discussions about changes in post-disaster policies to allow more efficient resolution of damage assessments for homes where the loan has closed but does not have an FHA insurance certificate.Mr. Shenkman and the other CMLA members met and talked with the Acting FHA Commissioner, Chief Economist for Vice President Pence and a senior counsel for the House Financial Services Committee. The status of both regulatory reform and GSE reform were key topics for Mark Calabria and Clinton Jones, Chief Pence Economist and Senior House Financial Services Counsel.CFPB Director, Richard Cordray met with CMLA members to discuss ways for mid-size and small lenders to get more direct, written answers from the CFPB on regulatory issues and interpretations. Mr. Shenkman and the other CMLA members met with the staffs of Senators from the Senate Banking Committee to urge consideration of their co-sponsorship of CMLA's regulatory reform bill, which would exempt small lenders from CFPB supervision and enforcement. CMLA members then met with the Republican and Democratic staffs of the Senate Banking Committee to discuss both regulatory reform and GSE reform.According to Mr. Shenkman, "We (CMLA members) got the opportunity to explain to Richard Cordray how independent Mortgage Bankers have the enhanced ability to understand borrower's unique needs and service them at a personalized level big banks are not set up to do." Shenkman further explains, "I felt a high sense of confidence after meeting with Mr. Cordray that he took our input to heart and is motivated to make real changes that will help Independent Loan Bankers like Priority Financial Network and the other CMLA members."Priority Financial Network was founded in 1999 by Ben Hunnicutt and Marc Shenkman. Each partner brings over 30 years of lending and mortgage experience and expertise. Priority Financial Network operates as a privately-owned Mortgage Banker and offers their clients a diverse portfolio of loan options to fit any loan scenario. Priority Financial Network provides borrowers with the advantages and resources of larger financial institutions, but with the flexibility and agility to make split-second decisions that can make the difference that enables loans to close. Priority Financial Network is licensed in multiple states and is committed, through their proprietary process, to providing an experience to their client's that is simple and stress-free from beginning to end.Call Priority Financial Network at (818) 223-9999, info@priorityfinancial.net or www.priorityfinancial.net . Priority Financial Network is the dba for BM Real Estate Services, Inc. NMLS 13098 | BRE 01273595. 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. The sixth annual Boston Teen Author Festival took place on September 23 at the Cambridge Public Library and the Cambridge Rindge and Latin School in Cambridge, Mass. The event drew more than 500 readersup from roughly 300 last yearfor a series of breakout sessions with YA authors, signings, photo-ops, and more. Read on for some highlights from the days festivities. The Family Portrait panel poses for a group photo, complete with accessories. (From l.): Moderator Kat Cho, S.K. Ali, Jen Malone, Benjamin Alire Saenz, and Sarah Nicole Lemon. Photo: Ashley and Jeff Poreda Authors and readers awaiting the start of the intro panel, in which all 40 authors presented their latest books, before breaking out into panels. (Back row, from l.): Lilliam Rivera, Jason Reynolds, and Brendan Reichs. Photo: Ashley and Jeff Poreda The group Q & A featured the festivals full lineup of writers, including Leigh Bardugo (center), Ashley Herring Blake (immediate r. of center), Akemi Dawn Bowman, and Susan Dennard. Photo: Ashley and Jeff Poreda Stacey Lee (l.), Adam Silvera, and Lana Popovic get ready to work some magic at the Fantastical Four panel. (From l.): Axie Oh, Linsey Miller, and S.M. Park meet and greet fans. Photo: Mei Lin Barral Photography Hundreds of readers turned out for the signing session that took place at the end of the day. (From l.): Rhoda Belleza, Katie Bayerl, Tara Altebrando, S.K. Ali, and Kristy Acevedo. Photo: Mei Lin Barral Photography HarperCollins Leadership (HCL), a new imprint launching at HarperCollins next week, is focusing on content designed for individuals looking for inspiration, insight, and tools to help activate their inherent leadership potential, according to the publisher. Brian Hampton, who is also publisher and senior v-p of HarperCollins Christian Publishings Nelson Books division, will lead the new imprint. Jeff James will serve as v-p of marketing for HCL. The first book to be published under HCL will be Building a StoryBrand: Clarify Your Message So Customers Will Listen by Donald Miller, author of the bestselling 2003 memoir Blue Like Jazz (Thomas Nelson) and founder-CEO of the StoryBrand marketing services firm. The book goes on sale October 10. A second book, Developing the Leader Within You 2.0 by John C. Maxwell, will be published under HCL on January 16. It is an updated reprint of the book, originally published in 2000 by Thomas Nelson. In addition to book publishing, HCL will release ancillary content for each title, including online learning tools such as video courses, blogs, podcasts, and digital apps. Building a StoryBrand and Developing the Leader in You 2.0 will each come with related video e-courses from the authors and free digital tools available on HCLs website. We are thrilled about this new opportunity to come alongside emerging leaders, both in businesses and communities, providing a versatile platform to communicate their messages in creative and effective formats, Hampton said in a statement. The goal, added Hampton, is to publish 12 titles annually. Although both HCL authors were previously published under HarperCollins Christians Thomas Nelson division, and the new imprint is housed within HarperCollins, and is not aimed for a religious market. Body cameras for the Mooresville Police Department have arrived. Find out when they will be used. Well-intentioned warnings to journalists were circulating early this week as the news of the Las Vegas massacre broke. The Society of Professional Journalists urged accuracy, fairness and respect. Poynter Institute cautioned reporters to avoid speculating on mental illness and told editors not to use images that glorify the shooter. But the purveyors of viral lies werent listening to this good advice, and never will. Facebook and Google served up disinformation on their all-powerful platforms. They promoted rumors that not only named the wrong gunman but blamed his supposedly liberal politics. Social media has become totally weaponized, Kara Swisher, co-founder of the technology news site Recode, said at a conference Tuesday. The former Wall Street Journal and Washington Post reporter couldnt be more right. And the managing editor of the fact-checking website Snopes.com warned that its getting more polarized. Theres this mad scramble to paint the guy as a Democrat or a Republican, so they can cheer, Brooke Binkowski told the Guardian. A lot of this is pushed by trolls deliberately to muddy the conversation. The worst of it this week probably was the falsehood, spread on the anonymous message site 4chan that the shooter was someone named Geary Danley, using his Facebook likes to show that he was a Trump-hating liberal. It quickly made its way into prominence through the big social media sites. The Las Vegas tragedy is only the latest example. Were only now beginning to get a grip on social medias role during last years presidential election. CNN reported Wednesday that Russian-backed advertising on Facebookdamaging to Hillary Clintonwas targeted at her campaigns weak spots in Michigan and Wisconsin. She lost both states by narrow margins, and they were important to Donald Trumps electoral college triumph. The ads employed a series of divisive messages aimed at breaking through the clutter of campaign ads online, including promoting anti-Muslim messages, according to the CNN story. These platforms couldnt be more powerful or influential. (Facebook now has 2 billion monthly users. Googles parent company is worth more than $600 billion.) Millions get their newsor what looks like newsfrom these behemoths. At a time when the truth is under assault, including from the Oval Office, its clear that the weaponizing trend couldnt be more damaging. Whats far less clear is what should be done. This week, the platforms made their usual weak-tea excuses, accompanied by vague pledges of reformdelivered in the equally familiar robotic prose: Unfortunately, early this morning we were briefly surfacing an inaccurate 4chan website in our Search results for a small number of queries. Within hours, the 4chan story was algorithmically replaced by relevant results. This should not have appeared for any queries, and well continue to make algorithmic improvements to prevent this from happening in the future. Facebooks response had a similar mind-numbing tone. To be fair, theyve made a start. Under fire, Facebook has announced that it will hire 1,000 people to review ads. (This after dismissing a host of editorial employees not too long ago.) In a full-page print ad in Wednesdays Washington Post, Facebook said it would fight election interference. And both companies have supported news literacy efforts and journalistic initiatives. Granted, an obvious solution is elusive. No amount of fixing Facebook or Google will address the underlying factors shaping the culture and information wars in which America is currently enmeshed, wrote Danah Boyd in Wired. Undeniably true, as is her point that its hard to define fake news in a terribly divided society. (The presidents definition, for example, is anythingtrue or falsethat paints him in a negative light.) Still, there is such a thing as verifiable reality. There is such a thing as valid, fact-based journalism. And while it may be hard to pin down, there is such a thing as truth. Margaret Sullivan is The Washington Posts media columnist. Previously, she was The New York Times public editor, and the chief editor of The Buffalo News, her hometown paper. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has said he believes most foreign troops will be able to leave the country "within four years." "Within four years, we think our security forces would be able to do the constitutional thing, which is the claim of legitimate monopoly of power," Ghani said in an interview with the BBC broadcast on October 5. He said that Afghan security forces turned the corner in the fight against the Taliban and "in terms of management and leadership, things are really falling into place." The Afghan government is struggling to beat back insurgents in the wake of the exit of most NATO forces in 2014. A U.S. report found earlier this year that the Taliban controls or contests control of about 40 percent of the country, and security forces are also fighting against militants affiliated with the extremist group Islamic State (IS). The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has recently unveiled a strategy to try to defeat the militants after nearly 16 years of war, and officials said more than 3,000 additional U.S. troops are being sent to the country to reinforce the 11,000 U.S. troops already stationed there. Trump has made an open-ended commitment to Afghanistan, saying U.S. troop levels will be based on "conditions on the ground, not on arbitrary timetables. Based on reporting by the BBC Amnesty International (AI) says thousands of Afghans are being put in danger by European governments by forcing them home, where they face the risk of human rights abuses including torture, kidnapping, and death. In a report on asylum seekers being returned to Afghanistan from Europe, published on October 5, the London-based human rights group accuses Europe's leaders of a "brazen violation of international law" by forcing their repatriation in increasing numbers. "In their determination to increase the number of deportations, European governments are implementing a policy that is reckless and unlawful," Anna Shea, AI's researcher on refugee and migrant rights, said in a statement accompanying the report. "Willfully blind to the evidence that violence is at a record high and no part of Afghanistan is safe, they are putting people at risk of torture, kidnapping, death and other horrors," Shea added. The report outlines "harrowing" cases of Afghans who have been forcibly repatriated from European nations such as Norway, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Germany. It says some of those forcibly returned have been killed, injured in bomb attacks, or live in constant fear of persecution for their sexual orientation or religion. And some of these returnees include unaccompanied children and young adults who were children at the time when they arrived in Europe, according to the report. 'Dangerous Situation' Several people the group interviewed for the report were sent to parts of Afghanistan they did not know, despite the "dangerous situation and impunity for crimes such as torture." According to official European Union statistics, the number of Afghans returned by European countries to Afghanistan nearly tripled in 2016 to 9,460 from 3,290 the previous year. Meanwhile, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) says that the numbers of civilian casualties rose to 11,418 people last year with attacks on civilians occurring in every part of the country. "These returns brazenly violate international law and must stop immediately," according to AI Afghanistan researcher Horia Mosadiq. "The same European countries that once pledged support for a better future for Afghans are now crushing their hopes and abandoning them to a country that has become even more dangerous since they fled." The Canadian Parliament has stepped closer to final approval of its version of the U.S. Magnitsky Act, which sanctions Russians for alleged human rights abuses, a move that has brought threats of retaliation from Moscow. The Canadian lower house on October 4 unanimously passed the bill that calls for the freezing of assets and visa bans on officials from Russia and other nations considered to be guilty of human rights violations. The "Law on Victims of Corrupt Foreign Government" would also prevent Canadian firms from dealing with foreign nationals who are responsible for, or complicit in, extrajudicial killings, torture, or other gross violations of internationally recognized human rights. The legislation will now go to the Senate for final approval and then on to Governor General Julie Payette for royal assent. "Should [the bill] be passed by the Senate and receive royal assent, it will enable Canada to sanction, impose travel bans on, and hold accountable those responsible for gross human rights violations and significant corruption," Canada's minister of foreign affairs," Chrystia Freeland, said after the vote. The United States passed the Magnitsky Act in 2012 with similar sanctions for Russians alleged to be involved human rights violations. The law was inspired by Russian lawyer Sergei Magnitsky, who helped uncover a massive tax-fraud scheme in Russia but was arrested by authorities and died in a Moscow jail in 2009. His friends and family say he was tortured while incarcerated, and a Council of Europe investigation concluded the conditions leading up to his death amounted to torture. The U.S. Senate in 2016 passed an annual defense-policy bill that included the Global Magnitsky Act, which built on the original Magnitsky Act. It aimed to target human rights abusers worldwide with sanctions. Britain has also passed legislation inspired by Magnitsky's death with similar sanctions. In anticipation of the Canadian Parliaments actions, Russia on October 4 said it would retaliate tit-for-tat over the law. After the vote, the Russian Embassy in Ottawa said the parliament's decision was a deplorably confrontational act blatantly interfering into Russias domestic affairs. The statement added that it runs against common sense and Canadian national interests isolating Canada from one of the key world powers. It said the hostile move will be met with reciprocal countermeasures, although it was not specific. After the United States adopted the law in 2012, Moscow in retaliation blocked Americans from adopting Russian children. Based on reporting by Reuters, Interfax, CBC, and The Ottawa Citizen The Kremlin is upset with Canada. It is all up in arms about something called Bill S-226. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova called it an "anti-Russian action" and threatened retaliation against it. And the Russian Embassy in Ottawa called it "a deplorably confrontational act blatantly interfering in Russias domestic affairs." So what exactly is Bill S-226? Well, it's otherwise known as the Justice For Victims Of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act. The bill allows the Canadian government to sanction, freeze the assets of, and deny entry to foreigners from any country -- and I stress any country -- which is responsible for corruption, extrajudicial killings, torture, or other human rights violations. Now, why would the Kremlin be so threatened by that? How is that inherently anti-Russian? Unless, of course, Russia is engaged in systematic state-sponsored corruption, extrajudicial killings, torture, and other human rights violations. Now, despite the Kremlin's threats and an intensive lobbying campaign by pro-Kremlin front groups, the bill unanimously passed its third and final reading in the lower house of Canada's Parliament last night. It still must pass the Canadian Senate and be approved by the Governor General to become law. Bill S-226, the Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act, is of course informally known as the Sergei Magnitsky Act, named for the Russian lawyer who died in prison after exposing a massive official corruption scheme. It's the latest part of an overdue message from the West to the world's kleptocrats and autocrats: If you want access to Western markets, Western banking systems, and Western societies, you need to abide by Western rules and Western norms. And the fact that Putin's regime is threatened by that says quite a bit about Putin's regime. Keep telling me what you think on The Power Vertical's Twitter feed and on our Facebook page. BRUSSELS -- The European Parliament has adopted a resolution condemning Russian verdicts against dozens of Crimeans who opposed Moscow's seizure of the peninsula and demanding the release of those who are behind bars. In a resolution adopted on October 5, the parliament sharply criticized verdicts against nearly 50 Crimean Tatars and other opponents of the Russian occupation and takeover of the Ukrainian Black Sea region in 2014. It condemned the recent convictions and sentences against Crimean Tatar leaders Ilmi Umerov and Akhtem Chiygoz by Russian-imposed courts on the peninsula, and called for their "immediate and unconditional release." It also condemned the conviction of Crimean journalist Mykola Semena and demanded that all charges against him be "immediately and unconditionally dropped." In the resolution, lawmakers urged the European Union to impose sanctions on Crimean and Russian officials who are directly responsible for the cases of Semena, Umerov, and Chigoz. They called for "unhindered access of international human rights observers, including specialized structures of the UN, OSCE [Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe] and [the Council of Europe], to the Crimean Peninsula in order to investigate the situation on the peninsula and for the establishment of [an] independent monitoring mechanism." Semena, an RFE/RL contributor, was convicted on September 25 on separatism charges and handed a 2 1/2-year suspended sentence and a ban on future journalistic activity. Umerov was convicted of separatism on September 27 and sentenced to two years in a colony settlement, a penitentiary in which convicts usually live near a factory or farm where they are forced to work. Chiygoz was convicted on September 11 of organizing an illegal demonstration and sentenced to eight years in prison. Russia seized Crimea in March 2014, sending in troops and staging a referendum denounced as illegal by dozens of countries, after Russia-friendly Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych was pushed from power by mass protests in Kyiv. The United States and the EU have condemned Russia's prosecution of Crimeans who opposed its seizure of the peninsula. A UN human rights report issued on September 25 said that Russia's occupation of the region has been marked by disappearances and torture, infringements of the Geneva Conventions, as well as violations of international law. With reporting by Rikard Jozwiak in Brussels The United States has imposed sanctions on a network of entities and individuals that it says are involved in supplying Russia with military technology to use in its war against Ukraine. The Treasury said in a statement on November 14 that the sanctions targeted a "transnational network procuring technology that supports the Russian military-industrial complex." In addition, it also designated a global network of financial facilitators, enablers, and others associated with two key Kremlin-linked elites whose fortunes are intertwined with the West. In all, the actions designated 14 individuals and 28 entities, and identified eight aircraft as blocked property. Washington has targeted sanctions at major military industrial firms in Russia and made moves to cut off exports of U.S.-made components and U.S. technologies that have been used in some of Russia's military hardware. This has pushed the Kremlin to seek other military suppliers such as Iran, which has supplied Moscow with drones that are said to be part of Russia's barrage of air attacks on cities across Ukraine in recent weeks. "The United States will continue to expose and disrupt the Kremlin's military supply chains and deny Russia the equipment and technology it needs to wage its illegal war against Ukraine," Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said in a statement. "Today's actions demonstrate Treasury's steadfast commitment to targeting people around the world aiding [Russian President Vladimir] Putin's war effort and the crony elites who bankroll his regime. Together with our broad coalition of partners, we will continue to use our sanctions and export controls to weaken Russia's military on the battlefield and cut into the revenue Putin is using to fund his brutal invasion." Milandr, a Russian microelectronics company that the United States says is part of Moscow's military research and development structure, was placed on the list, as well as three entities tied to the company and several company executives. The sanctions also targeted the family of billionaire oligarch Suleiman Kerimov, who was already placed on the list in September, and a network of people around businesses he is linked to. Kerimov, a trained economist who made a career investing in distressed companies in Russia, is considered to have close ties with Putin. In May, Fiji seized a $300 million yacht he owns at the request of the United States. It is now impounded in San Diego, California. The sanctions target Kerimov's wife, children, and a nephew, four French real estate firms controlled by one of his daughters, and several Swiss nationals linked to Kerimov's companies. Among them is Swiss national Alexander-Walter Studhalter, who was placed under sanctions along with Russian businessman Murat Aliyev for their involvement in more than a dozen companies in Kerimov's financial network, according to the Treasury Department. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken described Studhalter as "a key player in Kerimov's financial network." Blinken said he was designated along with eight Studhalter-linked entities across five European countries and two of Kerimov's adult sons who hold leadership positions in their father's companies. In addition, the Treasury Department placed a block on eight small jet aircraft it said were luxury planes used by Kerimov's family, leaving them potentially vulnerable to seizure. The sanctions freeze any U.S. assets belonging to the foundation and generally bars Americans from dealing with it. Those dealing in certain transactions with the foundation also risk sanctions. In response to Moscow's unprovoked war against Ukraine, the United States will continue to disrupt Russia's military supply chains and impose high costs on President Putin's enablers, it said, as well as all those who support Russia's brutality against its neighbor. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the Western alliance is assessing whether Russia has pulled out all troops sent to Belarus for joint exercise Zapad 2017 last month. Speaking in Brussels on October 5, Stoltenberg told RFE/RL that NATO "closely monitored" the drills, but that it was too early to make any final assessment about Russia's withdrawal. (RFE/RL) BRUSSELS -- NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg says the Western alliance is assessing whether Russia has pulled out all the troops it sent to Belarus for joint exercises last month that were watched warily by neighbors. Speaking in an interview in Brussels on October 5, Stoltenberg told RFE/RL that NATO "closely monitored the Zapad exercise" but that "it is too early to make any final assessment" on the drill. "The important thing is that any troops can only stay in Belarus with the consent of the government in Belarus, and the Russian minister of defense has announced that they have withdrawn all the troops," he said, adding: "We are now assessing this. The September 14-20 war games in Belarus and parts of western Russia triggered concerns in neighboring NATO nations already wary of Moscow's intentions after its annexation of Ukraines Crimean Peninsula in March 2014 and military interference in eastern Ukraine. Moscow and Minsk said the maneuvers involved some 12,700 troops in the two countries combined, but Western officials have said the true number may have been around 100,000. On September 30, Moscow denied a claim made by the Ukrainian military chief of staff, Viktor Muzhenko, that Russia left troops in Belarus after the drills. The Belarusian Defense Ministry had said that the last train of Russian troops who participated in the Zapad 2017 military drills left Belarus on September 28. Stoltenberg told RFE/RL that the Western military alliance currently doesnt see any imminent threat against any NATO ally, but he added that what we see is a more assertive Russia, a Russia which has implemented a significant military buildup over many years, increased defense spending, more modern capabilities, exercises of its forces, and a Russia that has been willing to use military force against its neighbors, especially in Ukraine. The NATO chief also admitted that the relationship between NATO and Moscow has deteriorated over the last years, especially since the illegal annexation of Crimea and Russia's continued efforts to destabilize eastern Ukraine and its support to the separatists there. Despite the tensions, NATO has kept dialogue with Russia open via the NATO-Russia Council, which last met in Brussels in July. Although few concrete outcomes have been achieved following several rounds of talks, envoys of Russia and NATO are poised to meet again in the autumn. Russia is there to stay, NATO doesn't want a Cold War, we don't want a new arms race. Therefore, we also reach out to Russia for political dialogue, Stoltenberg said. Speaking about a Russian proposal to send United Nations peacekeepers to eastern Ukraine, Stoltenberg said the troops should patrol the whole conflict zone including the border between Russia and the separatist-held parts of Ukraine's Donetsk and Luhansk regions, which Kyiv says is used to ship weapons and military personnel in from Russia. We welcome all ideas and proposals that can help us implement the Minsk agreement, meaning respect the cease-fire, withdrawal of heavy weapons, he said. The war between Russia-backed separatists and Ukrainian government forces has killed more than 10,000 people in eastern Ukraine since April 2014. The conflict has persisted despite an agreement signed in Minsk in February 2015 and a September 2014 deal that was also signed in the Belarusian capital that called for a cease-fire and set out steps to end the conflict that have gone largely unimplemented. Sanctions imposed by the European Union, the United States, and other countries have not prompted Russia to abandon its support for the separatists or fulfill its commitments under the Minsk agreements. Police in Moscow detained Russian opposition politician Aleksei Navalny's election campaign chief, Leonid Volkov, on October 5 just hours after he was released, his lawyer says. Meanwhile, a coordinator of Navalnys presidential campaign in Rostov-on-Don has also been detained. Volkov's lawyer, Ivan Zhdanov, wrote on Twitter that his client was detained again despite a Moscow court decision earlier on October 5 to canceled a lower court's decision to sentence his client to 20 days in prison. It was not immediately clear why Volkov was detained again. Zhdanov earlier said that the case against Volkov was sent for reinvestigation to Nizhny Novgorod, where he was initially arrested. Navalny and Volkov were found guilty of calling for an unsanctioned rally in the western Russian city of Nizhny Novgorod and sentenced to 20 days in jail each by different courts in Moscow on October 2. Navalny is campaigning for next year's presidential election on March 18. In Rostov-on-Don, campaigners in that southern city said that Anastasia Deineka was detained on October 5 by officers of the local branch of the Antiextremism Center, a federal agency under Russia's Interior Ministry. It is not immediately clear why Deineka was detained. Activists said the detention might be an attempt by local authorities to prevent Navalny's supporters from holding an unsanctioned rally planned for later this week. Deineka is one of many Navalny staffers or supporters to face prosecution as the anticorruption crusader mounts an effort to run in Russia's March 2018 presidential election. His supporters plan to organize mass rallies across Russia on October 7, despite the Kremlin's warning that organizers of unsanctioned public gatherings will be prosecuted. The Moscow homes of several employees of a civic movement established by exiled former tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky have been searched by Russian police. Open Russia said in an October 5 statement on its website that Moscow investigators searched the homes of the chief editor of the organization's website, Veronika Kutsyllo and the parents of Open Russia chairman Aleksandr Solovyov. It said they also searched the homes of the website's administrator, Artyom Minich, and a daughter of the organizations investigative center, Andrei Konyakhin. Well-known political observer and columnist Stanislav Belkovsky said that investigators also searched his Moscow apartment and took away his computers and telephones. Belkovsky said that they had a warrant saying the search was linked to investigations into Yukos. The federal Investigative Committee said in a statement later that the searches were conducted in connection with a longstanding case against the former owners and executives of Yukos, which was founded by Khodorkovsky and was once Russia's largest oil company. The statement indicated that the Russian authorities are continuing to investigate the case as part of efforts to protect itself against efforts by former Yukos shareholders to win $50 billion in damages from the government through international courts. It said that investigators and police searched the homes and offices of people connected with Open Russia who it claimed are "financed from abroad from the accounts of organizations controlled by Khodorkovsky" and other former Yukos officials whom Russian courts have convicted of embezzling millions of dollars through machinations with sales of the company's oil -- charges the former tycoon and his supporters say are absurd. Yukos was dismantled after the 2003 arrest of Khodorkovsky, who was later convicted of financial crimes in two trials his supporters say were engineered by the Kremlin to thwart his funding of opposition parties, punish him for challenging President Vladimir Putin, and justify the transfer of his oil company's main production assets into state hands. Khodorkovsky spent 10 years in prison and left Russia upon his release after being pardoned by Putin in 2013. He lives in Western Europe. Open Russia chairman Solovyov pointed out on Twitter that he was in eighth grade in 2003, when the case against Yukos was launched. The searches come ahead of a March election in which Putin, who critics say has tightened control over Russia since 2000 through politically-charged moves such as the prosecution of Khodorkovsky, is widely expected to seek and secure a new six-year term. In April, the Russian Prosecutor-General's Office declared Open Russia an "undesirable organization and accused it of conducting antigovernment activities. Rights watchdog Amnesty International has accused the Russian authorities of attempting to impose a full ban on the group. With reporting by Dozhd The head of Russia's main security agency says it has identified four Russian citizens suspected of organizing a wave of anonymous bomb threats that have prompted mass evacuations across the country. Federal Security Service (FSB) Director Aleksandr Bortnikov said on October 5 that the four suspects are living abroad and that they have accomplices inside Russia, according to Russian news agencies. He didnt give the identity of the suspects or describe the motives behind the hoax bomb threats. The bomb threats have prompted evacuations of tens of thousands of people at schools, malls, theaters, universities, hotels, government buildings, and transport facilities since September 10. Bombs have not been discovered in any of the cases. Bortnikov said the economic damage from the massive evacuations topped 300 million rubles ($5.2 million) during the first days, while the calls continued for weeks after that. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said that the threats are "telephone terrorism" and that "all necessary measures are being taken" to find the perpetrators. Based on reporting by AP, TASS, and Interfax Russian President Vladimir Putin has hosted Saudi King Salman for talks at the Kremlin, in the first official visit to Russia by a reigning Saudi monarch. Putin hailed the visit as a "landmark" event as he welcomed King Salman at the Kremlin on October 5. "I'm sure your visit will boost the ties between our countries," he added. "We aim to strengthen our relations in the interests of peace and security, in the interests of developing the world economy," the Saudi monarch responded. He also said that that Riyadh is "eager to continue the positive cooperation between our nations in the world oil market." Relations between the worlds two largest oil-export nations have often been strained. During the Cold War, the Saudis helped arm Afghan rebels fighting against the Soviet occupation. More recently, the two countries have had differences over Iran, Saudi Arabias main rival in the Middle East, and the war in Syria. Riyadh supports U.S.-backed rebels fighting against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government, while Russian troops and Iranian militias have backed Assad in the countrys six-year civil war. Despite regional disagreements, Russia and Saudi Arabia found common ground on energy policy in November, when they worked together to secure a deal between OPEC and other oil producers to cut production in an effort to drive up oil prices. Briefing the media on the talks between Putin and the 81-year-old king, the Russian and Saudi foreign ministers focused on the common ground between the two countries. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the two leaders had a "friendly and substantial discussion based on a desire by Moscow and Riyadh to consistently grow mutually beneficial partnerships in all spheres." He also said the two agreed on the importance of fighting terror and of finding peaceful solutions to conflicts in the Middle East. Speaking alongside Lavrov, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said that Moscow and Riyadh agreed on the need to preserve Syria's territorial integrity. "We believe that new horizons have opened up for the development of our relations that we could not previously have imagined," he also said. Lavrov also said the two sides signed a whole package of intergovernmental and interdepartmental agreements, and large-scale commercial contracts." The deals included preliminary agreements on the purchase of S-400 air-defense systems, Kornet antitank guided-missile systems, and multiple rocket launchers, according the state-owned Saudi Arabian Military Industries. It did not specify the potential value of the deals but said the procurement was "based on the assurance of the Russian party to transfer the technology and localize the manufacturing and sustainment of these armament systems in the Kingdom." Russian and Saudi officials also signed an agreement on the creation of a $1 billion joint investment fund, Reuters reported. Another memorandum of understanding was signed under which Sibur, Russia's largest producer of petrochemicals, would explore cooperation with Saudi Arabia. With reporting by AFP, AP, Reuters, and Interfax Russia's Defense Ministry has drafted legislation to ban social-media posts by professional military personnel on security grounds. The bill was published on October 4 on the federal portal for draft legal regulations. An explanatory note accompanying the draft says that the restrictions are necessary because photos, videos, and other material uploaded to the Internet can be used by special services of foreign states and terrorist organizations. It also says that automatic geolocation can show where soldiers are deployed. The bill would affect "contract" soldiers who can be sent abroad, but not conscripts. The proposed legislation is expected to come into force in January 2018, Russian news agencies reported. Similar restrictions have already been introduced for staff of two Russian state security bodies: the Federal Security Service (FSB) and Federal Protection Services (FSO). Based on reporting by Interfax, the BBC, and rg.ru The CIA has released newly declassified documents showing that U.S. intelligence agencies were aware of Russia's impending launch of the Sputnik 1 satellite -- an event that shocked the American public when the news broke exactly 60 years ago. The documents released on October 4 show that President Dwight D. Eisenhower had advance knowledge of the Soviets' work on Sputnik, which was launched on October 4, 1957. The documents indicate that Eisenhowers administration and U.S. intelligence and military officials not only knew that the Soviet Union was planning to launch Sputnik, but that it could be put into orbit by the end of 1957. Sputnik measured 58 centimeters (22 inches) in diameter and weighed 83.6 kilograms (184.3 pounds). The launch, considered a major victory for the Kremlin, shocked the American public, many of whom had believed the United States was far ahead of the Soviets militarily and scientifically. The event also launched the space race between the two countries, leading to the eventual landing of the first man on the moon by the United States in 1969. "History changed on October 4, 1957, when the Soviet Union successfully launched Sputnik I," NASA said in a statement marking the anniversary. "That launch ushered in new political, military, technological, and scientific developments. While the Sputnik launch was a single event, it marked the start of the Space Age and the U.S.-U.S.S.R space race." Based on reporting by AP, AFP, and TASS WASHINGTON -- Three powerful Russian businessmen who control the countrys largest commercial bank have filed the second of two defamation lawsuits in connection with a salacious intelligence report involving President Donald Trump. The lawsuit, filed October 3 by Pyotr Aven, Mikhail Fridman, and German Khan, alleged that the intelligence report, known commonly as the Steele dossier, harmed their professional reputations and [impaired] business opportunities that resulted from the blatantly false and defamatory statements and implications about them. The suit, filed in U.S. federal court in Washington, D.C., targets the private Washington-based research and intelligence firm Fusion GPS, founded by a former Wall Street Journal reporter. The dossier was compiled by a former British intelligence agent initially for Trumps Republican rivals, and funding for the report was later taken over by Democratic opponents. After circulating among several news organizations who sought to corroborate its allegations, the dossier was published in full in January by BuzzFeed, which the three sued earlier this year, also for defamation. A spokesperson for Fusion GPS did not immediately return an e-mail seeking comment. BuzzFeed faces another separate but similar lawsuit from a Russian businessman. Aven, Fridman, and Khan are the primary owners of Alfa Bank, a major Russia investment bank that was named in part of the dossier as being part of Russian government efforts to influence the 2016 U.S. presidential election. All three are considered to be so-called oligarchs, wealthy businessmen who once wielded substantial political power in Russia but have been largely reined in by President Vladimir Putins Kremlin. Alfa Bank reportedly came under FBI investigation for what appeared to be mysterious computer transmissions between its computer servers and that of Trumps private business organization. The FBI has never commented on the inquiry, but The New York Times later reported investigators had concluded there was nothing amiss. Fusion GPS has also been under scrutiny for its work with Natalya Veselnitskaya, a Russian lawyer who has sought to undermine a 2012 U.S. law that sanctioned several Russians deemed to have committed human rights abuses and other crimes. Veselnitskaya met with Trumps eldest son in June 2016, after an associate promised Trump Jr. with potentially damaging information about Trumps presidential rival, Democrat Hillary Clinton. ON MY MIND The would-be emperor sees the relationship as imperial. The master gamer views it as transactional. It's a dysfunctional marriage between two wary partners that has survived on mutual convenience and inertia for more than 17 years. And whether it will last into its second decade is anybody's guess. If there is one thing that last month's Zapad 2017 military exercises illustrated, it was the escalating strain on the strategic partnership between Vladimir Putin and Alyaksandr Lukashenka. As Grigory Ioffe notes in a piece featured below, Belarus frustrated Russia's efforts to turn Zapad into a psyop to spook the West. "Moscow had long insisted on the offensive character of the exercises, Belarus had nevertheless invited several international observers, especially those from Ukraine, without coordination with Russia," Ioffe writes. "Consequently, both President Vladimir Putin and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu did not visit Belarus during the drill, and the Russian military commanders did not stay for a ceremonial meal right after the event." Lukashenka, moreover, did not visit a Russian military installation with Putin as planned. The Belarusian elite, meanwhile, is splitting. A faction of technocrats including Foreign Minister Uladzimer Makey, Security Council Secretary Stanislau Zas, Deputy Prime Minister Vasil Matsyusheuski is pushing economic reform to reduce Minsk's dependency on Russia. Another group, led by Interior Minister Ihar Shunevich and KGB Chairman Valery Vakulchyk are pro-Moscow. Some informed Minsk-based political analysts have told me privately that they are convinced that the Kremlin is considering removing Lukashenka in favor of a more pliant figure. They also say Lukashenka is wise to this and is planning fresh efforts at reorganization of his security structures to root out potential Kremlin moles. That, of course, is all unconfirmed and difficult to substantiate at this point. But what is clear is that we will all need to brush up on our Minsk Kremlinology soon. Post-Zapad Belarus, it appears, could be about to get very interesting indeed. IN THE NEWS The Moscow homes of several employees of Open Russia, a civic movement established by exiled former tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky, have been searched by Russian police. The Canadian Parliament has stepped closer to final approval of its version of the U.S. Magnitsky Act, which sanctions Russians for alleged human rights abuses, a move that has brought threats of retaliation from Moscow. Kurt Volker, the U.S. special envoy for efforts to end the conflict in eastern Ukraine, says he will meet with Kremlin aide Vladislav Surkov on October 7 in Serbia's capital, Belgrade. The CIA has released newly declassified documents showing that U.S. intelligence agencies were aware of Russia's impending launch of the Sputnik 1 satellite -- an event that shocked the American public when the news broke 60 years ago. Less than six months before Russia's next election, President Vladimir Putin says he has not yet decided whether to seek a new six-year term. Jailed opposition politician Aleksei Navalny has called on Russians nationwide to protest on President Vladimir Putins 65th birthday on October 7, despite a Kremlin warning that organizers of unsanctioned public gatherings will face prosecution. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who is facing international isolation amid unrest in the Latin American country, has publicly thanked Puitn for backing him. WHAT I'M READING Catalonia, Europe, Russia, And Crimea In a commentary for Republic.ru, Andrei Arkhangelsky critiques pro-Kremlin pundits who are claiming that the Catalonian referendum illustrates that the European Union will share the fate of the Soviet Union. There has also been a fair amount of commentary in the Russian media comparing the Catalonian and Crimean independence referendum. Both Vladislav Inozemtsev in Gazeta.ru and Leonid Bershidsky in Bloomberg explain why the comparison is inappropriate. Russian Soft Power In Kazakhstan The Central Asian Institute for Strategic Studies has just published a report on Russian soft power in Kazakhstan. Putin's New Governors In Republic.ru, Tatyana Stanovaya looks at Putin's new policy in appointing regional governors. Ignoring Putin In a piece for Novoye Vremya-New Times, Andrei Kolesnikov and Yevgenia Albats argue that Russian officials increasingly feel they can ignore Putin's wishes. The authors cite the case of the European University of St. Petersburg, which has been denied an extension of its license despite Putin's interventions. Putin's Pal Kim Andrew Osborn has a piece in Reuters explaining why Putin has been protecting the regime of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The Stagnation Budget In an editorial, Nezavisimaya Gazeta looks at Russia's proposed new three-year budget, arguing that "in Soviet times, the authorities promised citizens constantly rising living standards and they misled them. But the current authorities are instead promising an increase in poverty and they arent misleading anybody." Belarus After Zapad In the Jamestown Foundation's Eurasia Daily Monitor, Grigory Ioffe looks at the "limits on Belarus's sovereignty" in the aftermath of the Zapad 2017 military exercises. Assessing Georgia's Abkhazia Policy In a commentary for Civil.ge, Tornike Sharashenidze of the Georgian Institute for Public Affairs explains why Tbilisi's Abkhazia policy has failed. U.S. officials say President Donald Trump will likely deliver an Iran policy speech next week, just days ahead of the October 15 deadline to certify whether Tehran is adhering to a landmark 2015 nuclear deal with global powers. The officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, on October 4 said the White House has tentatively scheduled the speech for October 12 in Washington. Trump faces an October 15 deadline to notify Congress whether Iran is still complying with the nuclear accord and that the deal serves American interests. If the administration does not recertify by the deadline that Tehran is in compliance with the agreement, the Republican-controlled Congress would have 60 days to decide whether to reimpose sanctions on Tehran suspended under the accord. Under U.S. law, the sanctions can be waived for a maximum of 120 days, meaning the U.S. government must review the situation every four months. As part of the landmark 2015 deal, Tehran agreed to curtail its nuclear activities in exchange for relief from international sanctions. Other signatories to the accord are Russia, China, Britain, France, and Germany. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said on October 4 said the State Department will provide the president with several options regarding the Iran nuclear deal ahead of the deadline. "We'll have a recommendation for the president. We're going to give him a couple of options of how to move forward to advance the important policy towards Iran," Tillerson told reporters. Tillerson earlier said changes were needed in the nuclear deal before the would agree to continue supporting it. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis on October 3 said the United States should remain a party to the nuclear agreement unless it is proven that Tehran is not abiding by the deal or that it's not in the U.S. national interest to do so. Asked during a testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee whether he thinks it is in the national security interest of the United States to stay a part of the accord, Mattis replied, "Yes, Senator, I do. With reporting by AP and Reuters U.S. President Donald Trump has said Iran is not living up to the "spirit" of its nuclear deal with world powers, an assessment that followed media reports that he intends to decertify the landmark 2015 accord. Trump made the statement during an October 5 meeting with military leaders at the White House, 10 days before his deadline to decide whether to certify that Iran is in compliance with the deal. "We must not allow Iran...to obtain nuclear weapons," he said. He added that "the Iranian regime supports terrorism and exports violence, bloodshed, and chaos across the Middle East. That is why we must put an end to Iran's continued aggression and nuclear ambitions. They have not lived up to the spirit of their agreement." His comments followed several media reports earlier in the day that he intends to announce plans to decertify the deal, a move that would give the Republican-controlled Congress 60 days to decide whether to reinstate sanctions on Tehran that were suspended under the agreement. Trump has repeatedly denounced the deal signed under his predecessor, Barack Obama. He told the UN General Assembly last month that it was "one of the worst and most one-sided transactions the United States has ever entered into." The Washington Post first reported his intention to decertify the deal, and several other news outlets cited unidentified U.S. officials as confirming The Washington Post report. White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders told reporters in Washington on October 5 that Trump had made "a decision" on the matter, adding that his primary focus "has been a comprehensive strategy on how to deal with Iran." "The president is going to make an announcement about the decision that he's made on a comprehensive strategy that his team supports, and we'll do that in the coming days," Sanders said. Asked on October 5 about his planned decision, Trump said, "You'll be hearing about Iran very shortly." As part of the landmark 2015 deal, Tehran agreed to curtail its nuclear activities in exchange for relief from international sanctions. Other signatories to the accord are Russia, China, Britain, France, and Germany. Supporters of the deal say an arms race could erupt in the Middle East should it collapse, while critics say it gave too many concessions to Tehran without requiring it to halt its nuclear program completely. Many Republicans in Congress are critical of the accord, while the world powers that are party to the deal strongly favor it. A senior Democratic aide in the U.S. Senate, meanwhile, said that "Democrats believe the president should make the certification, full stop." "The maximum point of leverage to address Iran's nefarious activities is now, before his expected terrible decision," the aide said on condition of anonymity. Media reports say Trump will make the announcement in a speech slated for October 12, but that the timing could change. With reporting by The Washington Post, Reuters, AFP, CNN, the Los Angeles Times, and dpa KYIV -- While activists in Ukraine have welcomed news that Petro Poroshenko conceded to their demand to create an anticorruption court on October 4, their enthusiasm was curbed knowing that legislation that could hinder corruption investigations is awaiting the president's signature. The concession came just a day after parliament approved and sent on a contentious bill that would leave room for appeals that could handcuff the new court, a development that activists said was emblematic of Ukraine's postrevolution struggle against entrenched corruption. Poroshenko, who had resisted the demands of activists and Western allies to create an anticorruption court and even spoke out against doing so at the annual Yalta European Strategy (YES) forum in front of European leaders in Kyiv last month, gave in surprisingly and suddenly, saying that he would take responsibility for the creation of the court. But he did so with a caveat -- that once signed into law there also be a new "specialized anticorruption chamber in the new Supreme Court that would be the appellate body in all anticorruption cases." The Supreme Court has been heavily scrutinized of late, with the selection process for a new judge mired in scandal as 30 of the 120 candidates put forth failed to meet ethical standards or account for their assets, according to reports that cite the Public Integrity Council, a civil-society watchdog. Still, anticorruption activists -- who say they have been targeted as part of a months-long campaign of intimidation and harassment, allegedly at the behest of government officials and vested interests who want to discredit them and see the push for an anticorruption court stopped dead in its tracks -- were elated. "Do you believe in miracles? Anti-'anticorruption court' campaign failed & President is ready to lead this reform. Huge intermediate victory," reform activist Olena Halushka tweeted. "Vroom-vroom-vroom! Ooh la la! Bua ha ha!" wrote a surprised Daria Kaleniuk, executive director of the Kyiv-based NGO Anticorruption Action Center (AntAC) and a major proponent of the special court. "Now we expect the Presidential draft law on Anticorruption Court in the next days to be introduced in Rada," she added. Indeed, the process is still far from completion; hence the more cautiously optimistic message from Kaleniuk's colleague and head of the board at AntAC, Vitaliy Shabunin. "One and a half years of work by many very cool people and teams. This is far from a victory, but a serious step toward it," he wrote on his Facebook page. While it remains unclear as to why, exactly, Poroshenko flipped on the issue, there is talk among some observers that the international pressure had become unbearable. Especially, they say, from the Venice Commission, an advisory body of the Council of Europe that is made up of constitutional-law experts. Washington and the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv, in particular, have also been staunch supporters of the anticorruption court. One Step Back The news momentarily alleviated stress over what activists characterized as a negative development the day before. Ukraine's parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, on October 3 passed a judicial-reform bill that some believe would make it almost impossible to investigate many criminal cases, including corruption cases against senior officials. Poroshenko must sign the bill for it to become law, or veto it. The president has not signaled which way he is leaning, though it was his ruling party that helped push the bill through parliament. The bill was filed by Radical Party lawmaker Andriy Lozovy, who is suspected by the Prosecutor-General's Office of evading 1.83 million hryvnyas (roughly $63,300) in taxes and could escape criminal responsibility should it pass, presenting a serious conflict of interest, said Serhiy Gorbatuk of the Prosecutor-General's Office, according to the Kyiv Post. The Kyiv Post, which reported on the bill's passage and its details, said the legislation would also enable the functioning of the controversial new Supreme Court. Ukraine has expelled a Russian TV journalist whom the country's main security agency accused of delivering "deceitful, anti-Ukrainian" reports from areas in eastern Ukraine that are held by Russia-backed separatists. NTV correspondent Vyacheslav Nemyshev, whose deportation was announced by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) on October 5, is the second Russian reporter to be expelled in recent weeks for what Kyiv describes as "spreading Russian propaganda." He is prohibited from entering Ukraine for three years, the SBU said. In a statement, the security agency said Nemyshev was detained for a "minor legal violation" in Kyiv on October 4 and that police found accreditation documents issued by separatists in the Donetsk region. It said that Nemyshev "damaged Ukraine's national interests" by working in 2016-2017 in separatist-held territory, where it said he prepared "a series of deceitful anti-Ukrainian [reports] for media on the orders of his Russian supervisors." That may have been a reference to Nemyshev's superiors at NTV, a pro-Kremlin channel that broadcasts nationwide and is majority-owned by state-controlled Russian natural gas giant Gazprom. Nemyshev's deportation came after Anna Kurbatova, a correspondent for Russia's state-run Channel One television, was expelled for similar reasons on August 30. Her expulsion drew criticism from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) media freedom representative and other press freedom advocates. Kyiv has banned more than a dozen Russian television channels since 2014, accusing them of spreading propaganda amid a continuing war between Kyiv's forces and the Russia-backed separatists. On August 29, the SBU said it had barred two Spanish journalists over their coverage of the war in eastern Ukraine -- a move media groups decried as an attack on free speech. Russian-Ukrainian relations soured badly after protesters angry over the Ukrainian government's abandonment of a landmark deal with the European Union pushed Moscow-friendly President Viktor Yanukovych from power in February 2014. Russia seized control of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in March 2014, after sending in troops, and backs the separatists in the war that has killed more than 10,000 people in eastern Ukraine since April 2014. TASHKENT -- Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoev and his Kyrgyz counterpart, Almazbek Atambaev, on October 5 reiterated the two neighboring Central Asian nations' readiness for closer cooperation. Mirziyoev said at talks with Atambaev in Uzbekistan's capital, Tashkent, that "in a very short period of time" Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan "managed to reach a very high level of cooperation that will allow us to move to even closer ties." Mirziyoev mentioned that, since his visit to Kyrgyzstan last month, several border crossings between the two countries have been reopened. On the eve of Atambaev's visit, Mirziyoev signed a law on the delimitation of 85 percent of the 1,280-kilometer long common border. According to the law, more than 1,170 kilometers of the border are now considered fully established. Atambaev signed an equivalent law on October 2. On September 5, the two presidents signed an agreement on the delimitation of 85 percent of their common border. The border between the two Central Asian neighbors has been a major bone of contention in bilateral ties since 1991, when they gained independence from the Soviet Union. Over the past decades, there have been numerous incidents along the border which in some cases involved gunfire. The situation began to improve following the death last year of Uzbekistan's long-time authoritarian president, Islam Karimov. Mirziyoev, who took over after Karimov's death, has said that improving ties with Uzbekistan's neighbors is a major priority of his foreign policy. Border sections still have an undefined status around the Uzbek exclaves of Sokh and Shahimardan in Kyrgyzstan, and the Kyrgyz exclave of Barak in Uzbekistan. Human Rights Watch (HRW) says that Uzbekistan's government has recalled some students and workers from forced labor in the cotton fields, but that more political will is needed to completely end the practice in the Central Asian country. In an October 5 statement citing the Cotton Campaign, a global labor-rights group, HRW said university students and some health and education workers were allowed to leave the cotton fields, but "other workers remained there involuntarily or faced extortion to pay workers to replace them if they left." "It is crucial for Uzbekistan's international partners to urge the government to allow all involuntary workers to return from the fields without penalty, including being required to pay for someone else to work in their place, and to monitor and publicly report on findings," Umida Niyazova, director of the Uzbek-German Forum for Human Rights (UGF) was quoted as saying in the HRW statement. Boycott Campaigns Uzbekistan, one of the world's leading cotton exporters, for years has mobilized students as well as staff at schools and medical clinics and hospitals to pick cotton. It gave up using minors in 2015 under international pressure that included boycott campaigns. On September 21, Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov ordered officials to recall students as well as education and medical workers who had been picking cotton under threat of punishment since the harvest began on September 10. They had been summoned to the cotton fields despite an August decree banning recruiting these professional categories. Students began to leave various regions for home later on September 21. "Bringing students home from the fields is a significant change and shows the importance of political will in ending forced labor," Niyazova said. The move to end the practice follows reforms by President Shavkat Mirziyoev, who came to power after authorities announced the death of Islam Karimov, who had ruled with an iron fist since the Soviet era, in September 2016. UN Speech Mirziyoev addressed forced labor in his speech to the UN General Assembly on September 19. "It was the first time an Uzbek president has acknowledged the issue on the international stage, after a decade of campaigning by the Cotton Campaign and allies and international pressure from governments and other stakeholders," the HRW statement said. The Cotton Campaign is a global coalition of human rights, labor, investor, and business organizations dedicated to eradicating child labor and forced labor in cotton production. HRW urged the Uzbek government to allow rights activists to freely monitor the scaling-down of the practice. "It is premature to speak about meaningful reform in Uzbekistan if activists are still threatened with detention and violence," said Steve Swerdlow, a Europe and Central Asia researcher at Human Rights Watch. "President Mirziyoev's government should send an unambiguous message to independent activists and cotton monitors that their work is valued and that they will be free to monitor this cotton harvest without retaliation or interference," Swerdlow said. Independent journalist Solijon Abdurahmonov has been released after more than nine years in prison in Uzbekistan. Abdurahmonov, 67, told RFE/RL after his release on October 4 that he is grateful to "all who have been fighting for my release all these years." Before his arrest in 2008, Abdurahmonov wrote frequently about human rights in the autonomous region of Karakalpakstan and about environmental issues related to the Aral Sea. He contributed to RFE/RL and the independent news site Uznews.net. Abdurahmonov was arrested after police said they found drugs in his possession, and was sentenced to 10 years in prison after a trial he contended was retaliation for his journalism in the tightly controlled Central Asian country. He has maintained his innocence, saying the drugs were planted in his car by police. Abdurahmonov's release came a day after a prominent human rights activist, Agzam Farmonov, whose 2006 extortion conviction was widely seen as politically motivated, was released after more than 10 years in prison. Several public figures, journalists, and politicians jailed on politically motivated charges have been released since President Shavkat Mirziyoev came to power following the death of longtime autocrat Islam Karimov last year. Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL) has revealed that their Next Gen Verna has started journey with a huge success. Hyundai confirms more than 25,000 Verna bookings with 1.5 lakh enquiries since launch in India on August 22, 2017. YK Koo, MD & CEO, HMIL says, The Next Gen VERNA has outperformed in India once again with more than 20,000 bookings and 150,000 enquiries in a short span of 2 months of its launch in India. We are extremely thankful to our Indian customers for their trust in brand Hyundai. The Next Gen VERNA is beyond the ordinary, a global product that personifies Hyundais Modern Premium Brand and a landmark in Hyundai growth story winning many prestigious accolades worldwide. Presented as Intelligent by Design with Human Technology Connect, new Verna is creating new benchmarks in its segment. Next Gen Verna bookings are almost double of Hyundai India monthly target. Built on the K2 platform similar to Elantra, Next Gen Verna brings together Futuristic Design, Dynamic Performance, Super safety, New Technology & Advanced Features. Vernas SUPER BODY STRUCTURE frame is built of 50% Advanced High Strength Steel (AHSS) for super strength and safety. For Oct 2017, Hyundai India reports sales of 49,588 units, which is a decline as compared to October 2016 sales when the company sold 50,017 units. Rakesh Srivastava, Director Sales and Marketing, HMIL says alongwith 5th gen Verna, strong demand for Grand i10, Elite i20 and Creta helped the company. The market is rife with speculations on GST cess increase. Challenges have been posed by floods in many states. Hyundai India looks forward to a period of strong buying in the festive season owing to good monsoon. Owing to floods and waterclogging this week, Hyundai Motor India Ltd will offer a Special Service Support Package for Hyundai car owners affected in Mumbai and Vapi. A Service Operation Squad and 30 emergency road service vehicles are deployed for relief services. Y K Koo, MD & CEO says Hyundai is a caring and customer centric brand. Complimentary Road Side Assistance (18001024645/0124-4343937) will enable towing operations. 350 technicians are are at it to bring affected vehicles upto date. Hyundai spare parts supplier MOBIS has prioritized order of spare parts for Mumbai and Vapi workshops to expedite the process. Straight shot up U.S. 31 to I-94 finally open in Berrien County Last few miles had been unfinished since 2004 because of a lack of money to pay for it. Spend many months attached to the ISS and see how well you grow. This article was originally published at The Conversation. The publication contributed the article to Space.com's Expert Voices: Op-Ed & Insights. Will we someday colonize space? Will our children visit other planets? To achieve goals like these, well need to crack one crucial challenge: how to feed ourselves for long periods away from Earth. A trip to Mars would take months, and exploring the depths of the galaxy would take even longer. Provision of nutritious food for travelers is a significant obstacle. While stockpiling food is an option, storing enough to last many months strains weight and space limitations in spacecraft and missions could easily outlast food shelf life. Growing food in space will be essential. Essential and not necessarily easy. The conditions in the vacuum of space are quite harsh compared to Earth. Seeds in space must be able to withstand large doses of ultraviolet and cosmic radiation, low pressure and microgravity. Believe it or not, the first space travelers were seeds. In 1946, NASA launched a V-2 rocket carrying maize seeds to observe how theyd be affected by radiation. Since then, the scientific community has learned a great deal about the effects of the space environment on seed germination, metabolism, genetics, biochemistry and even seed production. Astrobiologists David Tepfer and Sydney Leach recently investigated how seeds would do back on Earth after spending extended periods on the International Space Station. The experiments they conducted on the EXPOSE missions were much longer than many other ISS seed experiments, and placed the seeds on the outside of the station, in the dead of space, rather than inside. The goal was to understand not only the effects of long-term radiation exposure, but a bit about the molecular mechanisms of those effects. Seeds have some defenses Seeds possess a couple of remarkable traits that Tepfer and Leach hypothesized would give these model space travelers a fighting chance. Seeds protect their important insides with a strong external seed coat. (Image credit: LadyofHats/Wikimedia) First, they contain multiple copies of important genes what scientists call redundancy. Genetic redundancy is common in flowering plants, especially food products such as seedless watermelon and strawberries. If one genetic copy is damaged, theres still another available to do the job. Secondly, seed coats contain chemicals called flavonoids that act as sunscreens, protecting the seeds DNA from damage by ultraviolet (UV) light. On Earth, our planets atmosphere filters out some harmful UV light before it can reach us. But in space, there is no protective atmosphere. Would these special features be enough to let the seeds survive or even thrive? To find out, Tepfer and Leach conducted a series of experiments both outside the International Space Station and back on Earth with tobacco, Arabidopsis (a flowering plant commonly used in research) and morning glory seeds. The EXPOSE-R experiment attached to the exterior of the International Space Station. (Image credit: NASA, CC BY) Bombarded with energy Their EXPOSE-E experiment flew to the International Space Station (ISS) in 2008 and lasted 558 days so just under two years. They stored the seeds in a single layer on the outside of the ISS behind a special kind of glass that let in ultraviolet radiation only at wavelengths between 110 and 400 nanometers. DNA readily absorbs UV radiation in this wavelength range. A second, identical set of seeds was on the ISS, but shielded completely from UV radiation. The purpose of this experimental design was to observe the effects of UV radiation separately from other types of radiation like cosmic rays that are everywhere in space. Tepfer and Leach chose tobacco and Arabidopsis seeds for EXPOSE-E because both have a redundant genome and therefore good odds for survival. They also included a genetically engineered variety of tobacco with an antibiotic resistance gene added; the plan was to later test this gene in bacteria and determine if there was any damage. In addition to normal Arapidopsis, they sent up two genetically modified strains of the plant that contained low and absent UV-protective chemicals in their seed coat. They also sent purified DNA and purified flavonoids. This gave the researchers a wide range of scenarios by which to understand the effects of space on the seeds. A second ISS mission called EXPOSE-R included only the three types of Arabidopsis seeds. These received a little over double the dose of ultraviolet light because of the longer experiment time, 682 days. Lastly, researchers performed a ground experiment back in the lab that exposed Arabidopsis, tobacco and morning glory seeds to very high doses of UV light for only a month. After all these various exposure conditions, it was time to see how well the seeds could grow. The Expose-R experiment was equipped with three trays containing a variety of biological samples including seeds. (Image credit: NASA, CC BY) What would researchers reap? When the seeds returned to Earth, the researchers measured their germination rates that is, how quickly the root emerged from the seed coat. The seeds that had been shielded in the lab did the best, with more than 90 percent of them germinating. Next came the seeds that had been exposed to UV radiation for one month in the laboratory, with better than 80 percent germinating. For the space-traveling seeds, more than 60 percent of the shielded seeds germinated. A mere 3 percent of space UV-exposed seeds did. The 11 Arabidopsis plants that did grow from both the wild type and genetically engineered seeds did not survive once planted in soil. Tobacco plants, however, showed reduced growth but that growth rate recovered in subsequent generations. Tobacco has a much heartier seed coat and a more redundant genome, which may explain its apparent survival advantage. When the researchers plugged the antibiotic resistance gene into bacteria, they found it was still functional after its trip to space. That finding suggests its not genetic damage thats making these seeds less viable. Tepfer and Leach attributed the reduced germination rate to damage to other molecules in the seed besides DNA such as proteins. A redundant genome or built-in DNA repair mechanisms werent going to overcome that damage, further explaining why the Arabidopsis plants didnt survive transplanting. In the ground experiments, the researchers found that radiation damage is dose-dependent the more radiation the seeds received, the worse their germination rate. These discoveries could inform future directions for research in space agriculture. Scientists may consider genetically engineering seeds to have added protection for the cellular machinery critical for protein synthesis, such as ribosomes. Future research will also need to explore further how seeds stored in space germinate in microgravity, rather than on Earth. As researchers add to the knowledge of how space affects plants and their seeds, we can continue to make the strides necessary toward producing food in space. It will be a crucial step toward sustainable colonies that can survive beyond the comfortable confines of Earths biosphere. Gina Riggio, Ph.D. Student in Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Arkansas A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket moves to the launch pad carrying the classified NROL-52 spy satellite for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office ahead of a planned launch from Florida's Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on Oct. 5, 2017. Editor's note: The launch of the NROL-52 spy satellite launch was delayed for the third day in a row today, Oct. 7, this time due to a telemetry transmitter problem on the satellite's Atlas V rocket. United Launch Alliance will replace and test the transmitter and select a new launch date once that work has concluded. Our preview story was originally posted Oct. 4, and updated Oct. 5 and 6 for the earlier weather-related launch delays. The United States is launching another spy satellite on a secret mission early Saturday (Oct. 7) after a one-day delay, and you can watch the liftoff live. The NROL-52 satellite is scheduled to launch atop a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida at 3:59 a.m. EDT (0759 GMT). You can watch it live here at Space.com beginning at 3:39 a.m. EDT (0739 GMT), courtesy of ULA. The mission was originally scheduled to lift off Thursday morning (Oct. 5), but unacceptable wins prevented launch, ULA representatives said. A second launch attempt early Friday was also prevented by foul weather. You can also follow the action live directly at ULA's website: http://www.ulalaunch.com A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket topped by the NROL-52 spy satellite is rolled to the pad at Floridas Cape Canaveral Air Force Station ahead of a planned Oct. 5, 2017, launch. (Image credit: United Launch Alliance/Jeff Spotts) NROL-52 will be operated by the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), which manages the country's fleet of spy satellites. NRO missions tend to be classified, so it's unclear what exactly NROL-52 will be doing as it circles Earth. Thursday's launch comes less than two weeks after ULA's previous NRO launch. On Sept. 24, an Atlas V lofted the NROL-42 satellite to orbit from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. Follow Mike Wall on Twitter @michaeldwall and Google+. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook or Google+. Originally published on Space.com. A Japanese reporter at a Caltech news conference asked Barry Barish (left) and Kip Thorne (second to the right) how they felt at 2:45 a.m. PDT, when the Nobel Prize committee called the winners. At events celebrating the 2017 Nobel Prize in physics Tuesday (Oct. 3), three scientists revealed their humorous and touching reactions to discovering that they had received one of science's greatest honors. "I was in bed! My wife, who doesn't sleep well, answered the phone," Rainer Weiss, one of the winners, said candidly during a news conference Tuesday at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he is an emeritus professor. "We were all quite nude ... Now that you asked, I'm telling you!" Early Tuesday, the Nobel Prize in physics was awarded to Weiss, Barry Barish and Kip Thorne for discovering the space-bending proof that time and space are linked like a fabric, and that there are massive forces, like black holes, that can stretch it. Weiss, along with Barish and Thorne, both with the California Institute of Technology, produced the first physical evidence of space-time flexing from the collision of two black holes. On Sept. 14, 2015, their work on the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) finally validated a century-old theory. Albert Einstein first predicted gravitational waves more than 100 years ago, in his 1916 famous paper proposing general relativity. He imagined them to be the ripple effects caused by the interactions of ultramassive objects. According to Weiss, LIGO detected a change in instrument length of less than 1/1000 the size of a proton. After four decades of pursuing evidence that could detect the gravitational waves that Einstein believed to exist, the ambitious LIGO project succeeded in, as Thorpe put it on Tuesday, "a half century quest." "My feelings at the time were a complicated mixture of being thrilled and being humbled," Barish said at a Caltech news conference on Tuesday. In fact, it was such an honor to receive the award that Weiss was initially a bit skeptical when he received the call. It took some deduction to make sure he wasn't being pranked, he said at the MIT news conference. "All I know is that I figured it wasn't a phony," Weiss said. "I'll tell you why. The guy had this very subtle Swedish-English accent, and I said, 'That guy probably is all right, unless they're pulling a spoof on me.' It could have been anybody in the group calling me up. I can't give you a better answer." (Swedish and Norwegian institutions bestow the prestigious award, which is what made that regional accent a key piece of evidence.) Back at the Caltech news conference, Thorne got choked up as he discussed how LIGO's success paves the way for future research and the astrophysical questions that can soon be explored. "I am really moved by the vision of what's going to be done in the coming decades particularly, exploring the birth of the universe," he said. "And they are dreams that I still hold near and dear to myself." Follow Doris Elin Salazar on Twitter @salazar_elin. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com. New upgrades to a NASA radiation laboratory will let researchers explore the deadly environment astronauts encounter beyond Earth's magnetic field. Radiation is the silent killer of space exploration. Astronauts can't sense their exposure to it, and over time it can lead to problems such as cancer or heart disease. Before humans can venture to Mars a mission that NASA hopes to start in the 2030s scientists will need to figure out how to protect the travelers on their long journey. Martian astronauts will be unprotected by Earth's magnetic field, and therefore exposed to galactic cosmic radiation from charged particles (ions) emanating out of supernova explosions. They also will receive radiation doses from the sun especially during coronal mass ejections that often happen with solar storms and as they travel through the Van Allen radiation belts encircling Earth. [How Radiation in Space Poses a Threat to Human Exploration Explained (Infographic)] NASA's Space Radiation Laboratory has already collected plenty of data on sources of Earth radiation, which ranges from X-rays to CAT scans to radon emissions in the house. (Radiation from space is deflected by our atmosphere and magnetic field.) But space radiation is different from Earth's electromagnetic radiation: It consists of a rain of particles that are traveling at close to the speed of light. Space radiation has enough energy to hit the nuclei in shielding material and human tissue, NASA officials have said, breaking these apart into new particles called secondary radiation. "Where we lack data, and we have a large amount of uncertainty, is the biological consequences of space radiation. So really, the next steps and the ongoing steps are to try to understand those exposures better, and the biological consequences that follow them," said Tony Slaba, a research physicist at NASA's Langley Research Center in Virginia, in a video by NASA EDGE on YouTube. Radiation upgrades Recently, NASA's Space Radiation Laboratory received upgrades that will help researchers better understand space radiation and its effect on biology. The NASA lab, which is located at the U.S. Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory on Long Island, can now better simulate galactic cosmic radiation. These upgrades were detailed in the journal ScienceDirect last year. Researchers can now switch ion types and energy intensities within minutes to better simulate the conditions of outer space. This used to be hard to do in the lab, but a software control was added to make it easier to switch targets, NASA officials said in a statement. During the upgrade, engineers upgraded the cooling system in an electron beam ion source magnet for higher energy currents, and they added new probes to two of the beamline's magnets to make it faster to set changes. The upgrades produce several benefits, according to the statement. The lab now covers more of the galactic cosmic-ray spectrum. The beam is larger, meaning it is easier to radiate several samples at the same time. Dose delivery is more accurate because of precision control, and experiments can provide a more uniform radiation field intensity. "Imagine ion trajectories to be similar to rain; sometimes there is a downpour (solar particle event) and sometimes there is a light drizzle or heavy, sparse droplets (similar to galactic cosmic radiation)," Lisa Carnell, the lead of NASA's space radiation medical countermeasure team, said in the statement. "With the upgrades we can simulate different types of ion rain with multiple types of ions sequentially, versus only one type of ion at a time." NASA's Galactic Cosmic Ray simulator, at the agency's Space Radiation Laboratory, was upgraded to more easily switch radiation beams, ion species and energies so researchers can simulate the space environment. (Image credit: NASA) Preparing for Mars NASA's Space Radiation Laboratory is just one of a few United States labs that can create heavier ions (charged particles). This is useful not only for cancer research, where heavy ion therapies can help eliminate tumors, but also for generating realistic exposures for an astronaut on a two- to three-year mission to Mars. NASA can use this research to help establish lifelong radiation limits for astronauts, according to the statement. The current limit for low-Earth-orbit missions is a 3 percent increase in lifelong excess cancer risk. By comparison, measurements from the Curiosity rover suggest that a Mars landing and return mission of 860 days (2.3 years) would deliver a dose to astronauts of 1.01 sieverts, which is about a 5 percent increase in lifelong excess cancer risk. (The European Space Agency has a lifelong limit of 1 sievert.) "[Our research] helps the astronauts not only from the short-term effects of radiation, but also the long-term health effects," Lisa Simonsen, a space radiation element scientist at the NASA Langley Research Center, said in another NASA EDGE video on YouTube. NASA studies lifelong cancer risk caused by radiation, as well as damage to the brain, central nervous system and heart, which can develop vascular disease with exposure to radiation. NASA is also preparing several parallel technologies for better astronaut protection, the researchers said. This includes meters to measure radiation levels on the International Space Station, a hybrid electronic radiation assessor for the next-generation Orion spacecraft and the radiation assessment detector on the Curiosity rover. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com. Update for 5:02 p.m. EDT: Vice President Mike Pence's first meeting of the revived National Space Council has ended. You can watch a full replay above. Below, you can see brief recaps of Pence's opening comments for the meeting, as well as those of some industry panelists. Read our full story: The Next Giant Leap: US Will Return to the Moon, Pence Says Pence convened the meeting from the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Virginia. Acting NASA Administrator Robert Lightfoot also participated, along with Trump administration cabinet members and senior officials, and aerospace industry leaders. There were three panels of speakers covering ongoing civilian space exploration work by Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Orbital ATK; new commercial space projects by SpaceX, Blue Origin and Sierra Nevada Corp.; and presentations on space as a national security asset by former NASA Administrator Mike Griffin, former head of STRATCOM and retired Adm. James Ellis, and astronaut Pamela Melroy, DARPA's former deputy director of the Tactical Technology Office. Here are Pence's opening comments: SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell spoke during the second panel on commercial spaceflight. She outlined SpaceX's ongoing work for reusable rockets and spacecraft, including the "Big Falcon Rocket" and "Big Falcon Spaceship," which the company plans to use to transport humans to Mars, to the moon and around the Earth. Watch Shotwell speak here: Blue Origin CEO Bob Smith gave council members an update on his company's goals of flying passengers and payloads to space using its suborbital New Shepard rocket and spacecraft, as well as the New Glenn rocket. Smith said Blue Origin, which was founded by Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos, will begin flying people to space within the next 18 months on New Shepard. The company is also planning to begin testing its new BE-4 rocket engine "soon." See Smith's comments here: Rounding out the commercial spaceflight panel for the council was Fatih Ozmen, CEO of Sierra Nevada Corp., which is building the uncrewed Dream Chaser space plane to fly cargo to the International Space Station for NASA. Ozmen stressed the need to extend the life of the ISS as part of a long-term future in space. See his opening remarks here: The third and final panel during today's National Space Council meeting was centered on national security. During the discussion, Griffin, who led the space agency from 2005 to 2009, told the council that the U.S. military space assets must be able to support "domain awareness" for military operations on land, in the air and at sea. Watch his opening comments: Melroy, one of the only women to command NASA's space shuttles, told the council that timely situational awareness is a vital need for the U.S. military in space, adding that it's the difference between knowing what's going on at a certain time, and conducting a forensic study after the fact. See her opening comments: The National Space Council was last active in the early 1990s, and this new incarnation, re-established June 30 by executive order, is also intended to give direction to U.S. space policy. In addition to Pence, the National Space Council's members include: Rex Tillerson, secretary of state; James Mattis; secretary of defense; Wilbur Ross, secretary of commerce; Elaine Chao, secretary of transportation; Elaine Duke, acting secretary of homeland security; Mick Mulvaney, director, Office of Management and Budget; H.R. McMaster, national security adviser; Daniel Coats, director of national intelligence; Robert Lightfoot, acting NASA administrator; Michael Kratsios, deputy chief technology officer of the United States; Gen. Paul J. Selva, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Space.com managing editor Tariq Malik and senior producer Steve Spaleta contributed to this report. Email Sarah Lewin at slewin@space.com or follow her @SarahExplains. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com. Astronauts Richard Arnold (bottom) and Joseph Acaba are pictured during a spacewalk in March 2009. The two astronauts were visiting the space station as STS-119 mission specialists aboard space shuttle Discovery. Two astronauts will take a spacewalk outside the International Space Station (ISS) today (Oct. 5), kicking off a trifecta of spacewalks set to take place over the next two weeks. In this first spacewalk, NASA astronauts Randy Bresnik and Mark Vande Hei will replace an aging machine called the Latching End Effector (LEE) at the end of the Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS), or Canadarm2. The LEE works like a hand at the end of the robotic arm and grapples incoming cargo spacecraft like SpaceX's Dragon and Orbital ATK's Cygnus. At about 8 a.m. EDT (1200 GMT), Bresnik and Vande Hei will exit the Quest airlock and head out into the void of space to swap out the old LEE with a new one. The 6.5-hour spacewalk is expected to wrap up at around 2:30 p.m. EDT (1830 GMT). You can watch all the action in a livestream here, courtesy of NASA TV. Live coverage of the spacewalk will begin at 6:30 a.m. EDT (1030 GMT), when the two spacewalkers will put on their spacesuits. European Space Agency astronaut Paolo Nespoli and NASA astronaut Joe Acaba will assist the spacewalkers with their suits and help them out the door. [Space Station Photos: Expedition 53 Mission Crew in Orbit] During three spacewalks on Oct. 5, 10 and 18, astronauts will replace an aging Latching End Effector (LEE) at the end of the Canadarm2 robotic arm. The LEE works as the "hand" of Canadarm2 and is used to grapple incoming cargo spacecraft. (Image credit: NASA) "The major objective of this first spacewalk is to swap out the degraded Latching End Effector on the Canadarm2 with an identical unit that's currently located on the mobile transporter" outside the space station, Judd Frieling, NASA's spacewalk flight director, said at a news conference Monday (Oct. 2). Frieling said wear and tear on the LEE became problematic in August, when the latches inside the grapple fixture "stalled out" and "required a little bit more force than normal to extend." This came as no surprise, however, as the two LEEs on Canadarm2 have already exceeded their life expectancy, said Tim Braithwaite, the ISS program liaison for the Canadian Space Agency. Components of the LEEs were designed to last 10 to 15 years, and it's been 16 years since they were installed. "We're actually very pleased that both LEEs lasted this long," he said. "We thought we'd probably be doing this maintenance before now." When the spacewalk begins, Nespoli will head to the robotic workstation, where he will be able to remotely operate Canadarm2 and help the two spacewalkers reach the LEE at the end of the arm. Nespoli will position the LEE between the two spacewalkers as they dangle from foot restraints on the space station's truss. While conducting a spacewalk during shuttle mission STS-123 in 2008, NASA astronaut Rick Linnehan is anchored to the end of Canadarm2. Expedition 53 astronauts Mark Vande Hei and Joe Acaba will also "stand" on Canadarm2 during spacewalks on Oct. 10 and Oct. 18. (Image credit: NASA) After loosening some bolts and screws, the spacewalkers will stow the degraded LEE outside the space station and replace it with a spare LEE. Then, they'll gather their tools and head back to the Quest airlock. The next two spacewalks, on Oct. 10 and Oct. 18, will focus on lubricating the joints in the new LEE using a device called a ballscrew lubrication tool, or BLT. Bresnik and Vande Hei will conduct the second spacewalk together. For the third spacewalk, Acaba will join Bresnik instead. Today's spacewalk marks the third of Bresnik's career and the first for Vande Hei. To tell the two apart during the webcast, look for the red stripes on Bresnik's suit. As extravehicular crewmember 1 (EV 1), Bresnik gets to wear the suit with red stripes on it, while Vande Hei (EV 2) will wear a plain white suit. Email Hanneke Weitering at hweitering@space.com or follow her @hannekescience. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com. A New Team Stephane Corvaja/ESA On Aug. 14, 2017, European Space Agency (ESA) astronauts Samantha Crisoforetti and Matthias Maurer trained with their counterparts with the China National Space Administration (CNSA) in Yantai, China. For the first time, non-Chinese astronauts participated in this sea survival training. See photos of how this first-of-its-kind joint space exercise here. Training Stephane Corvaja/ESA Chinese astronauts returning from space must be prepared for a water landing. In a first, ESA astronauts join a CNSA training for sea survival. Crossing Boundaries Stephane Corvaja/ESA ESA astronauts Samantha Cristoforetti and Matthias Maurer, with an ESA flight surgeon and training specialist, participate in a briefing during the sea survival training to learn about cultural differences and approaches. A New Suit Stephane Corvaja/ESA ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti wears a Chinese flightsuit. During the "superbly planned and conducted" training, Cristoforetti had the opportunity to "practice capsule egress in the ocean with decent waves." Shenzhou Mock-up Stephane Corvaja/ESA Part of the sea survival training included the group wearing pressure suits inside a Shenzhou spacecraft mock-up that was dropped into the ocean. Riding Atop the Capsule Stephane Corvaja/ESA ESA's Matthias Maurer climbs from the Shenzhou capsule. Before jumping into the inflatable boat, Maurer changed into a insulation and buoyancy suit. Jumping In Stephane Corvaja/ESA During the training, Maurer jumped from the capsule into the ocean as a Chinese astronaut waited in the inflatable boat. If By Sea Stephane Corvaja/ESA Another part of the sea survival training included practicing rescue procedures with a ship and a helicopter. And By Air Stephane Corvaja/ESA A helicopter raises sea survival participants out of the ocean. A New Experience Stephane Corvaja/ESA ESA's Samantha Cristoforetti jumped from the Shenzhuo capsule during the sea survival training. Collaborating at Its Best Stephane Corvaja/ESA ESA's Cristoforetti took part in the CNSA's sea survival training with Chinese colleagues in Yantai, China. London, Oct 2, 2017 (SPS) - British non-governmental organization for solidarity with Western Sahara, "Western Sahara Campaign," reiterated its call for the mandate of the United Nation Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) to be extended to include human rights monitoring in the occupied territories. The NGO, in a statement, condemned "the brutality of Moroccan occupation authorities against Saharawi citizen because of their participation in peaceful protests, expressing solidarity with the Saharawi political prisoners of Gdeim Izik and calling for their immediate and unconditional release." It also urged the UN Security Council to assume its duties, making it possible for Western Sahara people to exert their right to self-determination. "Abuses against Saharawi people's rights by Moroccan occupation authorities will continue until the UN implements the international law," the British NGO stressed, calling for Western Sahara people's right to self-determination. According to its forward-looking agenda for October, the Security Council has scheduled another briefing on Western Sahara to discuss the situation in the non-autonomous territory. The UN is about to relaunch mediation efforts, early November, to resume talks between the Polisario Front and Morocco. (SPS) 062/SPS/APS G oldman Sachs has signed a lease on offices in a Frankfurt skyscraper as it prepares to move jobs out of the UK ahead of Brexit. The US investment bank, which employs about 6,000 people in London, is to let the upper floors of the Marienturm tower, a 38-storey building under construction in the heart of the German city's business district. The company announced earlier this year it was to relocate workers as part of "contingency plans" for the UK's departure from the European Union. The bank will rent 10,000 square metres across eight floors of the Frankfurt tower, enough office space for about 1,000 workers. "This expanded office space will allow us to grow our operations in Germany to continue serving our clients, as well as provide us with the space to execute on our Brexit contingency plan as needed, said a Goldman Sachs spokesman. The bulk of the banks European operations are currently in Britain, though it also has offices in Frankfurt, Paris and Dublin. Richard Gnodde, chief executive of the companys European arm, has said the bank would begin shifting hundreds of UK jobs to Germany and France next year. More could follow depending on the terms of the Britains exit from the EU. What our eventual footprint will look like will depend on the outcome of negotiations and what we are obliged to do because of them, said Mr Gnodde in April. Several other big banks are preparing to shift operation away from the UK, with experts warning of an exodus of financial jobs from the City. Deustche Bank said it could relocated up to 4,000 jobs nearly half its UK workforce to Frankfurt and other European cities. JP Morgan has bought a new office building in Dublin as it prepares to double its 500 staff in the Irish capital, while HSBC, Morgan Stanley, Lloyd's and Citigroup are also set to move employees. Brexit could cost the UK as many as 30,000 financial jobs in total, according to Brussels economic think tank Brugel. T he free-market ideologues driving the Brexit process believe exporting is all about price. If you want to sell more, drop the price. If you cannot drop the price far enough, give up that activity and do something else where you can be competitive. If everyone does that, nations will gradually come to specialise in what they do best and the world will be a more efficient place. As a theory it was developed almost 200 years ago by David Ricardo, and as theory it should work, provided everybody does it. In reality, however, nobody does. The years of poverty, waste and dislocation which have to be endured in the uncertain hope of getting to the Promised Land mean it is not worth the risk. And you would be mad to try it on your own because you will simply be fleeced by everyone else. However, the mad professors of free-market economics think it is a good idea because they assume the move from one activity to another will be seamless, instant and painless, and no one will cheat. This means they refuse to recognise how long it will take to adjust to find new skills and markets, and they dont have to worry about what people will do meanwhile. They simply ignore the costs, the bankruptcies, the unemployment, the absence of skills, and the reality that with our housing market most unemployed families simply cannot afford just to up sticks and move from one end of the country to another in search of work. The skilled engineers scraping a living as Uber drivers for decades while the economy changes shape, the lack of self-worth this brings and the depression and despair among the unemployed just dont exist in the free marketeers theoretical world. The feelings of the white mice are not allowed to get in the way of the experiment. Bank of England Governor Mark Carney understands this, which is why in a speech last month he warned that supply will drop as capacity linked to Europe becomes obsolete, talked of the weaker real incomes likely to accompany a move to the new trading relationship with the EU, and said that it was unlikely that new deals will make up for what is lost in the short term. To those in the know his audience of bankers this was as blunt a warning as you could get. But it goes over the heads of normal people. Most of those most likely to be affected, those who will actually suffer the pain, havent a clue what he is getting at nor understand the brutal reality behind his economic schmaltz. But there are others they could listen to. Businessman Tom Browns recently published book Tragedy and Challenge describes the reality for an engineering business trying to export from Britain today. He writes that to survive as an international manufacturer, companies have had to become highly specialised. Their skills, technology and capital equipment cannot be changed swiftly to meet the needs of new customers in new markets. David Davis: Brexit talks have taken 'decisive steps' forward Furthermore, in his experience the great majority of countries have no demand for the advanced engineering products anyway. This is because they are usually components, which form part of a much larger whole. Thus the typical business relationship is between sophisticated EU customer and a British supplier for the long-term they spend two years collaborating on the development of a component and then 10 years supplying it. This business is huge. Carney said that the proportion of British exports by value which were components or intermediate goods as he called them had gone from 20% to 33% in the past 20 years as international supply chains became the norm. Today, as Carney says, we dont just export to Europe, we export through Europe to the rest of the world. Thus we make the wings for the Airbus civil airliners which are assembled in France. When that business is taken away by Brexit there is unlikely to be much demand from our former colonies for the aircraft wings on their own. Most customers also want the bit in the middle that you sit in. That is why leaving the EU is so misconceived. A further point is that just as British weather comes from abroad so do the economic storms. Carney says that one-third of economic shocks and 70% of the variation in UK financial conditions are a result of something happening overseas. This will become even worse and the economy even more volatile when we are detached from the anchor of the EU. But volatility is a nightmare for an exporter. The pound goes up and down like a yo-yo and a 10% swing can turn what was a profitable export into a loss-maker overnight. This can also affect domestic companies doing purely domestic business because firms such as Jaguar Land Rover will expect everything to be priced in euros, so sterling fluctuations affect that business too. Brown says that small companies cannot take that kind of uncertainty so dont export much. Big companies solve the problem by moving their whole plant overseas where it can operate close to and in the same currency as the customer and so escape the volatility. They see the growth of Asia and other such regions as an opportunity for local manufacture, not direct exports from the UK. Of course this also moves all the jobs abroad. Thus British company GKN is a huge supplier to the German motor industry but from plants on the Continent not in the UK. Brexit makes it likely that many more will follow particularly in the motor industry. There are people warning about this, but the message is not getting through to a Prime Minister more concerned with surviving in office than confronting the hard truths of Brexit. The fact that it has resulted in talk of a transition period is cold comfort because to be useful rather than simply delaying the inevitable it needs to be 20 years. A two-year transition will serve only to allow business and the City to form an orderly queue for the life boats. As in the Titanic the rest of us will be remain locked below decks, while Liam Fox sings Abide with Me. O nly briefly in the last paragraph of his article [Comment, October 3] does Iain Dale diagnose the root cause of the Conservative Partys problems. The internecine squabbles over party leadership or the tortured debate between a hard or soft Brexit are all mere symptoms of an existential malaise. What does the Conservative Party stand for any more? In trying to ape Labour by making a small reduction in tuition fees or easing reluctantly the public-sector pay freeze, the Conservatives will always be a pale imitation of Jeremy Corbyns Labour. Just as Labour has shifted Left, the Conservatives need to offer a real choice on the Right. What is wrong with a low corporation tax, low regulation economy that encourages entrepreneurship and innovation? Post-Brexit, would we rather be a version of Singapore or Venezuela? Whats wrong with a two-tier health service where the rich pay to expedite their treatment, filling the coffers of the NHS and thereby funding better services for everyone? The Conservative Party is yearning for a radical, imaginative vision to unite around, one that offers real solutions to todays pressing problems not the diffident, embarrassed defence of conservatism that has become a hallmark of the party today. Haroon Abbasi Priti Patel is living in a parallel universe when she claims the Conservatives are the party that transforms lives, as she did at the Tory conference on Tuesday. The abysmally managed rollout of universal credit has left grown men and women having to go to food banks because they do not have sufficient money to feed themselves and their families. Schools are facing a terrible funding squeeze in my area they are relying on the generosity of parental contributions to stay afloat financially. It is time ministers looked around themselves to see the real impact of their policies before making fanciful claims about their achievements. Chris Key For the first time since she arrived in power I saw a Theresa May who made me believe that if we go through Brexit under her leadership, we will be fine. Her speech at the Conservative Party conference was uplifting and authoritative. She owned up for the mistakes made during the election campaign and pinpointed the areas which need improvement, most notably housing and tackling mental health provision. Maybe her best attribute is leading in times of adversity. When Tory politicians appear to be at odds with each other she brings about unity. If the country will be harmed by the effects of Brexit, she can put us back on track. Jean Williams Boris the buffoon should quit now The list of former foreign secretaries includes William Hague, Jack Straw and David Miliband, politicians who have earned the respect of the British people. The same cant be said of Boris Johnson. This role was clearly a step too far for him but his latest mistake is unforgivable, joking how Libya has to clear the dead bodies away as if those lives meant nothing. Considering his previous history of gaffes, such as claiming Barack Obama interfered with Brexit because of his part-Kenyan ancestors, he is no longer fit to represent us. Theresa May should hand him his P45. James Wright Following Boris Johnsons ill-judged comments regarding Libya, it occurs to me that the Conservatives might yet be able to form a functioning Cabinet. Theresa May could be the next John Major the only thing she has to do is clear the dud ministers away. Julian Self Start Brexit trade talks immediately The Government, in good faith, has agreed to the EUs timetable for the Brexit talks. It is now becoming obvious that these are going nowhere. We should never have agreed to the EU timetable. It is now time for a complete reboot we need to insist that trade talks begin immediately. If the EU refuses we should start preparations for Plan B. Our back-up plan is leaving the EU without a deal. While it is not the best option for the UK or the countries remaining in the EU, the EUs main concern seems to be looking after the organisation itself. It wants to make withdrawal from the EU extremely painful and difficult, which would discourage other countries from leaving. Brian Smith The small print on gun law in the US The small print on gun law in the US The prevailing interpretation of Americas constitutional right to bear arms is at the heart of the gun control problem, not least because it wilfully distorts the obvious meaning and context of the Second Amendment. The right of the people to bear arms is linked directly to the need for a well-regulated militia. Its context implies integrity of purpose under military discipline, whereas the modern interpretation refers merely to a right to own battlefield weapons in family homes. Rev Dr John Cameron Who says men can't safeguard children? In response to your story [Women-only taxi firm for toddlers travelling solo, October 3], do we truly believe that children are only safe in the care of a female driver? Child safeguarding is not a gender issue. This service is irresponsible as it suggests men are inappropriate carers. First we heard about female-only train carriages, suggesting that all men are potential rapists, now we also cannot be trusted with children. I hope we can do better in showing that men can be positive role models in the care and supervision of children. Steve Chilcott State funding is vital for driving innovation In your editorial you claim social media and smartphones are the products of private enterprise [Comment, October 3]. This is simply not true. Yes, today there are many popular platforms where the final stages of development are driven by private companies. But almost every brand builds on state-funded foundations: for example, the US militarys development of GPS and the Arpanet, Tim Berners-Lees invention of the worldwide web at CERN, and a myriad of smaller, more incremental advances from universities around the world. A healthy research and development environment surely needs both the market and the state, with the latter subsidising (and even commissioning) blue skies projects which dont necessarily have any obvious or immediate commercial application. Dr Carl Thompson University of Surrey Ban pillion riders in central London On Tuesday I witnessed a motor scooter phone-snatch. If pillion riders were banned in central London, offenders would be easy to catch and a ban would not affect genuine delivery riders, who should welcome the resultant reduction in scooter thefts. Tourists and students would be less scared to come to the capital. Transport for London now provides an adequate system day and night for travellers on the Tube. Perhaps it is time it turned its attention to what is a growing problem? Dr Chris Williams Shameful way to treat a hero Florin Morariu, the hero of the Borough Market attack, has gone back to Romania amid suggestions that his landlord feared revenge attacks and therefore asked Morariu to leave his accommodation. Morariu asked the authorities to help him find a new place to live but to no avail. The story was translated into hes a scrounger and asking for benefits which, of course, was untrue. How sad that a real hero has fled because of bigotry. Tony Howarth B en Luke shares his pick of the best young artists to look out for at this year's Frieze Art Fair. Hannah Black Beginning, End, None, 2017 Arcadia Missa, London, price not disclosed (but less than 10k) Hannah Black, Beginning, End, None, 2017 / Adrian Lourie A dense three-screen film which takes on the meaning of cell in its broadest sense, with computer images of a panoptic Cuban prison design and allusions to cells as factories for organisms, among much else. Political agency, the body and identity loom large. Anna Uddenberg Cuddle Clamp, 2017 Kraupa-Tuskany Zeidler, Berlin, 35k Anne Uddenberg, Cuddle Clamp, 2017 / Adrian Lourie Assembled from materials including car parts, styrofoam and fake fur, this sculpture initially appears playful but grows subversive. Like an airline seat made by Surrealists, it is fetish furniture, luxury in the form of an available body. Charlie Billingham Work Out, 2017 Travesia Cuatro, Madrid, Guadalajara, 13k Charlie Billingham, three paintings of Gillray cartoons against a wallpaper backdrop with goldfish and lilypads / Adrian Lourie Billingham creates paintings based on the caricatures of Gillray and Rowlandson, whose sharp language he loosens. Hes also created a stencilled decorative mural for the Travesia Cuatro booth, featuring goldfish and lily pads. Takuro Kuwata Various works, 2017 Alison Jacques Gallery, London, larger pieces $25k Takura Kuwata, various works, 2017 (Adrian Lourie) Kuwatas smaller sculptures are as alluring and yet repulsive as those in Regents Park: lumpy, confectionary-coloured pots with molten gold puking from them. A leading light in the surge of artist-ceramicists. Frieze Art Fair 2017 - In pictures 1 /12 Frieze Art Fair 2017 - In pictures A visitor poses in front of an art work by Czech Repblic artist Anna Hulacova entitled 'Ascension Mark I' during a photocall for the Frieze Art Fair in London AFP/Getty Images Charlie Billingham, three paintings of Gillray cartoons against a wallpaper backdrop with goldfish and lilypads Adrian Lourie Anne Uddenberg, Cuddle Clamp, 2017 Adrian Lourie A visitor poses in front of an art installation by Greek artist Angelo Plessas entitled 'Talismania (Extropic Optimisms), 2015' during a photocall for the Frieze Art Fair in London AFP/Getty Images Hannah Black, Beginning, End, None, 2017 ( Adrian Lourie A visitor poses in front of an art installation by Polish artist Alicja Kwade, entitled "TrialTurn, 2017" during a photocall for the Frieze Art Fair in London AFP/Getty Images A visitor poses in front of paintings by Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson, entitled 'Four deep sea zones' during a photocall for the Frieze Art Fair in London AFP/Getty Images A visitor poses in front of an art installation by British artist Tony Cragg entitled 'Castor & Pollux, 2016' during a photocall for the Frieze Art Fair in London AFP/Getty Images Visitors pass an art installation by South Korean artist Do-Ho Suh, entitled 'Main entrance, 388 Benefit Street, 2016' during a photocall for the Frieze Art Fair in London AFP/Getty Images A visitor poses for a photograph in front of an art installation by German artist Raphaela Simon, entitled 'Boden, 2016' during a photocall for the Frieze Art Fair in London AFP/Getty Images A visitor poses in front of an art installation by German artist Norbert Bisky, entitled 'Fluidum, 2017' during a photocall for the Frieze Art Fair in London AFP/Getty Images A visitor poses in front of an art installation by US artist Judith Bernstein, entitled 'Cactus Cactus, 1999' during a photocall for the Frieze Art Fair in London AFP/Getty Images Anna Hulacova Ascension Mark I, 2017 Hunt Kastner, Prague, 25k This turquoise-and-white installation, shown in the main image, is a beacon from across the busy fair, and it rewards getting up close. Figures with faces replaced by images of an iron and an electric shaver and a ceramic glove producing foam bubbles are among its skewed takes on the domestic world. F ive of the worlds biggest female artists have created original works for the November issue of Harpers Bazaar. Gillian Wearing, Tracey Emin, Yoko Ono, Maggi Hambling and Jenny Holzer have been commissioned to make artworks for the fifth annual edition of Bazaar Art, which comes free with the magazine. This years edition will celebrate the achievements and creative endeavours of female artists. Wearings cover features one of her typical mask images. Entitled Mirror Face, it shows Wearing holding a looking glass with a mask of her face from 17 years ago. She said that it was inspired by the idea that we are permanently subjective, our bodies and looks change over the course of time. Emins cover, entitled The Dream to Dance With You, is a picture of a woman in a ball gown. She said of the image, I am one of the last great romantics. The idea of wearing a beautiful dress and being whirled around on a dancefloor made me feel passionately alive. Holzers said that her cover is a watercolour of a document The Terrorist Threat to the US Homeland: An FBI Assessment, whilst Yoko Onos commented that her simple white cover was inspired by the ideas that art expresses yourself and life is beautiful. The best exhibitions to see this autumn 1 /14 The best exhibitions to see this autumn Basquiat: Boom For Real Tove Jansson Rachel Whiteread Opera: Passion, Power and Politics Lawrence K. Ho Los Angeles Times Getty Images Harry Potter: A History of Magic Jasper Johns: Something Resembling Truth Jasper Johns / VAGA, New York / DACS, London 2017 From the Vapor of Gasoline Hyundai Commission Cezanne Portraits image courtesy National National Gallery of Art, Washington Dali/Duchamp Monochrome: Painting in Black and White The State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow Hernan Bas Gerald Scarfe: Stage and Screen Jake & Dinos Chapman: The Disaster of Everyday Life Hamblings image, called To The Party, is a colourful painting which she said was inspired by a childhood memory of the packaging of Kayser Bondor underwear. Shocking pink and black, sophisticated, glossy and seductive...a tantalising promise of mysterious things to come, she said. The issue goes on sale on October 6. A lmost two-thirds of schoolchildren would not mind if social media had never been invented, according to a new survey. The study of 5,000 students at independent and state schools in England found that youngsters were aware of the negative impacts apps like Instagram and Snapchat had on their emotional wellbeing, with more than half saying theyd experienced abuse or had their confidence knocked online. As well as 63 per cent admitting that they would not care if it didnt exist, 71 per cent also revealed that theyd taken temporary digital detoxes to escape the negative effects of social media. The survey, which was commissioned by Digital Awareness UK, shows evidence of a growing change in mood towards social media among young people who cited bullying, abuse and fake news as some of the reasons they disliked being active on virtual networks. Over half (57 per cent) said they had received abusive comments online, while 52 per cent said that social media makes them feel less confident about their physical appearance or how interesting their life is. Despite this, 56 per cent admitted to being on the edge of addiction when it comes to checking their social media apps on a regular basis. Earlier this year, a study of young people from the Royal Society for Public Health revealed that Instagram is the worst social media network for mental health. The photo-based platform was associated with high levels of anxiety, depression, bullying and the fear of missing out. Best books on mindfulness 1 /14 Best books on mindfulness Find your inner peace with our pick of the best mindfulness and meditation books... Mindfulness: a practical guide to finding peace in a frantic world This bestseller will get you in the right frame of mind for 2016. Based on Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) a successful form of brief meditation this book's success relies on the way in which authors Mark Williams and Danny Penman optimistically focus on adding joy to your life as opposed to ridding it of unhappiness. 10.50, Amazon, Buy it now Anti-Stress Dot-to-Dot Always thought that dot-to-dots were an activity for children? Apprently you're wrong be wrong the pictures in this book, featuring elegant buildings and nature scenes, will relax and focus your mind in a way you never thought a dot-to-dot book could. 5, Amazon, Buy it now I Am Here Now This will help enhance both your observation and creativity; with an audio track (featuring musings from mindfulness teacher Tara Brach) and a field notes page for recording purposes, I Am Here Now will enable your thoughts and emotions to take on a new lease of life. 7, Amazon, Buy it now The Mindful Workplace What better time to deploy the theories of mindfulness than at work? This book, filled with Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) techniques, provides an eight-week training course to keep your workplace attitude at its peak. 30.50, Amazon, Buy it now Get some headspace This book from Andy Puddicombe, founder of popular digital health platform Headspace, attempts to get people to take ten minutes out of their day for meditation purposes. Once the technique's been learned, these skills will stay with you for the rest of your life. 10, Amazon, Buy it now The Mindfulness Colouring Book Much like the dot-to-dot book above, this pocket-sized adult colouring book is the perfect activity for a 10-minute breather. Consider your stress and anxiety soothed. 4, Amazon, Buy it now The Little Book of Mindfulness In this day and age, it's more important to be in the moment than ever this book will help you with that. From Dr Patrizia Collard, these brief practices will rid your day of stress and have you feeling more optimistic. 4, Amazon, Buy it now Body Calm The saying mind over matter derives from the idea that our minds have the power to control our bodies if we really want them to. Equally, mental stress can have a damaging effect on our bodies. Newbigging teaches us a new self-healing meditation technique to help keep our bodies healthy and to understand the source of common stress and anxiety triggers. 11, Amazon, Buy it now The Power of Now The Power of Now has become one of the most famous mindfulness books out there. Helping us to tap into our innermost Being, Tolle guides us through various techniques to help us understand that the present moment is all that really matters. 8, Amazon, Buy it now A Mindfulness Guide for the Frazzled An ambassador for mental health awareness, Ruby Wax OBE has helped to make mindfulness accessible to all. Having suffered from depression herself, in this book she explores how modern living is causing us more stress and anxiety than ever as we know and see too much. Included are mindfulness exercises and tips for everyone from babies to adults; all with sound underlying scientific reasoning. 4, Amazon, Buy it now In reaction, digital detoxing - when a person makes a conscious decision not to go online or use connected devices - has become a growing trend amongst Britons, according to a report from Ofcom. A study by the media and telecoms regulator showed a third of UK internet users were choosing to distance themselves from their phones. The phenomenon has also been popularised by celebrities like Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran who have publicly silenced their Twitter and Instagram accounts. Embracing the digital detox: Taylor Swift / Getty Images Charlotte Robertson, of Digital Awareness UK, said it was a matter of concern to see the emotional impact social media is having on young peoples health and well-being but was pleased to see that students were developing smart strategies such as digital detoxing. Research has found that shutting off from technology can improve your mental health in several ways. Here, Tanya Goodin, author of self-help book Off, gives you five benefits you might notice if you choose to take a holiday from social media. 1. Your sleep will improve All that staring at screens is having an impact on your sleep and, if your work is very screen-dependent, chances are you will have noticed this already. The blue light that's used in all screen-based devices interferes with the release of melatonin (the brain chemical that makes you feel sleepy) and leaves you feeling alert and awake - struggling to fall sleep. Ditch your screens, for even a few hours a day, and you'll fall into a much deeper slumber at night time. 2. You'll be less stressed and anxious Researchers in Sweden have found that high phone use is particularly associated with stress in women and a second piece of research also found a link between heavy smartphone use and increasing anxiety levels. The more frequently you check your phone the more your dopamine levels rise in your brain - dopamine makes you anticipate and respond to rewards - so you just keep checking your phone more and more. Put your phone away and feel stress and anxiety melt away. 3. Your neck and back will thank you 'Tech neck' is the snappy name that's been coined for the neck and shoulder pain that develops when you stay hunched over your phone screen for long periods. In time this can even deepen into muscle strain and disc injury. Take breaks from looking down and help your neck and back decompress by looking up instead. 4. Your focus and concentration will improve The attention spans of goldfish are the subject of many jokes. But in the last couple of years average human attention spans have actually fallen below those of goldfish. Many researchers believe that so-called 'multi-tasking' on multiple screens (and jumping between multiple apps) is to blame. Building in longer periods of digital detox into your schedule, and practicing focusing on one thing at a time, will help you relearn how to focus again. 5. You'll be a lot happier Studies show that both adults and children who spend a lot of time on their phones, and particularly on social media, are more likely to suffer from depression. Removing social media apps from your phone, or better still cutting down on the hours you spend on your phone, will definitely help to make you feel happier L ord Alan Sugar has ruffled feathers by insisting that women just need to ask to be paid more in order to narrow the gender pay gap. His comments came after news broke of the gender pay gap being just over 9 per cent at the BBC. The pay rise discussion is amongst the most difficult in the work place for both sides, that is and requires a certain skill set if it is to be successful. With a recent study once again affirming that the gender pay gap exists, the topic of how to negotiate a pay rise that matches your skills, efforts and qualifications is as relevant as ever. You will never be able to walk into a pay rise negotiation and be 100 per cent certain that you will walk out successfully. However, there are a few measures that successful businesswoman and entrepreneur Alexandra Arens suggests you take to increase your chances. Having worked in many large companies, including in the banking industry, Alexandra has recently launched her own interiors brand in the UK, Claribel. She feels passionately that women should have the same career opportunities as men. Here are her six tips for asking for a pay-rise at work: 1. Ask for the promotion or the pay raise If you don't ask for it, there is a big chance you will not get it. While there are incredibly sensitive and alert bosses, quite often managers are just as burdened meeting their own deadlines and KPIs. While hard work often speaks for itself, it quite often needs a little push. It is up to us to push forward our ideas, bring attention to the results achieved, and finally, ask for that promotion or pay raise. This is a difference in a approach that men have versus women, and it took me a long time to realise how important it is to make your goals known. 2. Research Knowledge is power. Your manager has access to your performance records but they will also try to test you in order to determine if they should really give you that pay rise. Do your research internally and externally. Investigate how much other people in similar roles are paid and what the market value of your job description is. Do personal research by reflecting on your career to date - ascertain what you have achieved for the company and have a list of your key accomplishments ready so you can justify your request. The best books to help you succeed - in pictures 1 /9 The best books to help you succeed - in pictures Get ahead with these career boosting books TED Talks: The Official TED Guide to Public Speaking by Chris Anderson Whether youre delivering a presentation to your boss or addressing a room full of people, learning how to speak well publicly is trickier than you think. Written by Chis Anderson the head of TED and therefore the master of public speaking this guide is filled will all the tips you need to deliver a great talk. From controlling your nerves and avoiding those vocal ticks to planning and delivering your piece, this book will teach you to master one of the most necessary skills for getting ahead at work. 12.99, Amazon, Buy it now Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg As the COO of Facebook and Mark Zuckerbergs second-in-command, Sheryl Sandberg is one of the most successful business women in the world. In this seminal bestseller, she addresses the reasons why many women have struggled to get ahead at work, despite their capability. The idea that women need to lean in and speak up more at work is not only the title of the book, but has become a bastion of the equality argument. This isnt just a great read for ambitious women; men can learn a lot about being inclusive in the workplace too. 6.29, Amazon, Buy it now Designing Your Life by Bill Burnett & Dave Evans One of the hardest things to master is a good balance between your working and personal life. With reports that only 30 per cent of works actually take a proper lunch break, its easy to see how the pressures of that never ending to-do list can slip out of whack. This book teaches you how to design a way of thinking that will help you build the life you want. Focused on building a life that is fulfilled and joyful, rather than just successful, it will help you look at some of lifes troubles and biggest questions from a fresh perspective. 6.29, Amazon, Buy it now What Colour Is Your Parachute? by Richard N. Bolles When we first start applying for jobs, we often have no idea how to navigate the market and make ourselves stand out. School or university can often feel like a bubble that doesnt equip us for the practicalities of the real world and we end up feeling like were stumbling around in the dark. Bolles book touches on every aspect of getting a job, from creating a great CV and cover letter to navigating interviews and finding a job you love. This is a great read for graduates looking for practical guidance. 15.99, Amazon, Buy it now How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie In the age of social media, having the ability to network and get on with people is more valuavle than ever before. Although written 80 years ago, this book remains as relevant today as it did in the 1930s. Cited by many of the most successful people in the world as a source of inspiration, this is the ultimate tome to help you improve your social skills. A master of self-improvement, Carnegie will teach you to perfect the art of communication and improve relationships in every area of your life. 6.29, Amazon,Buy it now Pivot by Jenny Blake Changing careers can be a daunting but rewarding thing. In this practical, how-to guide, Jenny Blake - the creator of Googles Career Guru Programme breaks down the steps of turning your dream into a reality in four simple stages. For those overwhelmed by the seemingly mammoth task of changing careers, Blake offers a helpful hand and allows you to clearly see before you the path to doing it successfully. 13.48, Amazon,Buy it now 3. Ask for face-to-face time and schedule a meeting Some things are better done in person. If you want to address the possibility of a promotion, book a time for a personal meeting with your line manager. This way, you can ensure that both sides have a dedicated time slot in the diary to discuss this. A face-to-face meeting is the best way to approach these conversations as it gives transparency. Youll be able to read your managers expression and body language to determine how to approach and proceed with the conversation. When asking for a face-to-face meeting, be conscious of your line managers diary and time. They may not have the immediate time or space to fully evaluate your eligibility for a promotion. Your manager has just come back from a stressful business trip? Give them time to settle back in. A tight deadline is looming for the team? Appreciate that this might need to take priority. Dont use this as a reason to delay for too long though it is easy for this to become a pitfall. Being too mindful and allowing the meeting to get continuously pushed back might mean a colleague beats you to it, or you lose your confidence and competitive edge. 4. Sell yourself Analysing your job performance since your last review will also help you to quantify why you should get that pay rise. Asking for more money essentially is a sales pitch. You need to present a convincing argument to your boss, as to why they should reward your hard work. Have confidence in your achievements. Talk through the upcoming meeting with a partner or close friend and practice role-playing how the meeting could unfold. This way you will feel prepared to highlight your successes and confidently answer questions your manager might ask. 5. Accept criticism This one is important because despite a valid argument, you may not be successful in negotiating a higher salary. However, you will always step away from the conversation with insight into what you need to do in order to achieve your goal of getting the next pay increase. Instead of being personally offended, accept and welcome the input youre given. Be clear on the goals you have been given and set a personal target to achieve these before revisiting the conversation in the future. 6. Stay professional Dont get emotional. Dont get angry or make jokes about your job - a pay rise negotiation is the least appropriate place for this. If you cannot keep a professional attitude, it runs the risk of an outright no and damages your professional image. Perception is everything in one-to-one meetings. You need to confidently (but not arrogantly) show your worth and prove your value to company. A record number of hardback books were released today on the biggest publishing day of the year with JK Rowling going up against debut novelist Cara Delevingne. Bake Off winner Nadiya Hussain and comedians Dawn French, Matt Lucas and Miranda Hart are among the authors of 505 titles released on what is known in the publishing world as Super Thursday. Publishers release titles today to give authors the best chance of getting a slice of the lucrative Christmas gift market. Figures suggest 35 per cent of the UKs book trade is done in the last three months of the year. Kate Skipper, Waterstones buying director, said: Super Thursday always feels like Christmas come early for booksellers. Any occasion that puts a spotlight onto books and generates conversation among readers is always a good thing. The pleasure of a good bookshop relies on its ability to help their customers discover something new that they love whether thats a book published that very day or a title thats been in print for many years. Dawn French attending the World premiere of Absolutely Fabulous The Movie (Ian West/PA ) / Ian West/PA Among the 2017 predicted top sellers are Frenchs autobiographical Me. You. A Diary, Harts childrens debut The Girl with the Lost Smile and model Delevingnes teen novel Mirror Mirror. She attended a book signing at Waterstones Piccadilly yesterday, showing off her book and new hair. The 25-year-old debuted a brown pixie crop days after being seen at Fashion Week with a platinum blonde look. Terry Pratchett will posthumously release Father Christmas Fake Beard and Rowling is releasing Wizarding World: A Magical Yearbook, days after she released an illustrated edition of the Prisoner of Azkaban. In the food section, highlights include Mary Berrys Household Tips and Tricks, Bake Me a Festive Story by Bake Off winner Nadiya Hussain, and River Cafe 30 by Ruth Rogers.Physical book sales are up seven per cent and e-book sales are down by four per cent. Meryl Halls, from the Booksellers Association, told BBC News: It [the book] has definitely had a comeback. Customers want the physical item, they want something gorgeous. Gifting is a really important part of the market, especially at Christmas time. People want to give a gift, you cant give a voucher very effectively. It is much nicer to wrap up a book and give it to a family member. D ark days are here again, so a holiday cant hurt. Like heat-seeking missiles we launch ourselves from Britains gloom-soaked shores in the direction of anywhere that will take us, seeking a little vitamin D to restore our sun-deprived souls. So... ...whats stopping you? The collapse of Monarch Airlines this week has ruined the plans of 750,000 customers and caused thousands of job losses, while the US has had to contend with a Trump slump of 0.9 per cent in tourism this year. It is far too early to know whether the mass shooting in Las Vegas on Monday will affect tourism in the sixth most-visited city in the US, although statistics from Visit Orlando show the mass shooting at Pulse nightclub last June has not been detrimental. When cities are struck by tragedy, its more important than ever to show support, says travel magazine Globetrenders editor, Jenny Southan. Not just by posting a picture on social media but by actually travelling there, so long as your trip wouldnt put you in danger. Although there is often a dip in tourism after incidents such as the Paris attacks, things tend to recover as people realise that life has to go on. Natural disasters such as earthquakes and hurricanes are a different matter. Southan also advises reading up on your rights under EU Regulation 261/2004 by visiting caa.co.uk if youve been affected by Ryanair or Monarch. The original scorchers Getty Images Where to go, then? Virgin Airways reports that Orlando, Barbados, Dubai, Mexico and Las Vegas are the top-five sun-seeking destinations for British travellers. These destinations have continually increased their British visitor numbers thanks to iconic attractions such as Walt Disney World in Orlando, and the pristine beaches in Barbados, says Joe Thompson, managing director of Virgin Holidays. Hot new things If you dont want to go with the crowd, take the road less travelled Lanzarote is shaking off the Lanzagrotty tag with its dramatic landscapes and surprising arts scene, thanks to artist and architect Cesar Manrique who was born in Arrecife back in 1919. Step outside the more obvious tourist traps and youll find empty beaches, volcanic vineyards and pretty whitewashed towns all set below mostly year-round blue skies and just a four-hour flight from London, says Roxane Gergaud, co-founder of travel site, Doris & Dicky. Jordan is an option, with a 400-mile trek across the country running from Umm Qais in the north all the way to the Red Sea in the south open since March. Tel Aviv is also abuzz with foodies, culture-freaks, and sophisticats. A Friday night party: Tel Aviv, Jerusalem beach / Getty Images Thats thanks, in part, to the prevalence of new hotels: Dave West is the newest boutique to open within the Browns Hotel family, the Setai Jaffa opens in January 2018 near the Old City of Jaffa, while the The Poli House by Karim Rashid has an atmospheric rooftop bar and pool in a Bauhaus building. The top 25 cheapest city breaks in Europe 1 /33 The top 25 cheapest city breaks in Europe Bratislava, Slovakia Typical price per night: 36 Shutterstock Athens, Greece Typical price per night: 36 Milos Bicanski/Getty Images Vilnius, Lithuania Typical price per night: 35 Maciej Lulko/Flickr Istanbul, Turkey Typical price per night: 27 Chris McGrath/Getty Images Belgrade, Serbia Typical price per night: 27 Shutterstock Wrocaw, Poland Typical price per night: 32 Janek SkarzynskiFP/Getty Images Toulouse, France Typical price per night: 36.50 Rob DeGraff/Flickr Ljubljana, Slovenia Typical price per night: 36.50 Pedro Szekely/Flickr Thessaloniki, Greece Typical price per night: 28 Shutterstock Zadar, Croatia Typical price per night: 36.50 Min Zhou/Flickr Riga, Latvia Typical price per night: 36.50 AFP/Getty Images Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Gran Canaria Typical price per night: 33 Shutterstock Sofia, Bulgaria Typical price per night: 28 Dennis Jarvis/Flickr Tbilisi, Georgia Typical price per night: 24 Shutterstock Nantes, France Typical price per night: 38 AFP/Getty Images Palermo, Sicily Typical price per night: 36.50 Shutterstock Budapest, Hungary Typical price per night: 36 GLars Baron/Getty Images Catania, Sicily Typical price per night: 35 Carlos Bustamante Restrepo/Flickr Leipzig, Germany Typical price per night: 32.50 Shutterstock Krakow, Poland Typical price per night: 32 Jan Kucharzyk/Getty Images Zagreb, Croatia Typical price per night: 32 Shutterstock Saint Petersburg, Russia Typical price per night: 28.50 Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images Bucharest, Romania Typical price per night: 28 Shutterstock Warsaw, Poland Typical price per night: 32 Shutterstock Kiev, Ukraine Typical price per night: 28.50 Marco Verch/Flickr Flights we fancy A new easyJet flight to Seville, coupled with still scorching temperatures, has ensured it prime billing. British Airways launches new flights to Tenerife this autumn, while low-cost airline Norwegian will be increasing flights from the end of October to Boston, LA and Oakland. If youre looking to avoid paying high prices for an autumn escape, beware of half term (October 23-27) and the weekends either side, cautions Southan, who also tips the new web portal Kayak Trends which aggregates data from 1.5 billion searches to identify the best times and destinations to book for the cheapest getaways. Break out. A leading trauma surgeon has told how the number of patients treated for gunshot injuries at a major London hospital has doubled in the last five years. Martin Griffiths, a consultant vascular and trauma surgeon, said medics at the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel where he works were expecting to treat 50 to 60 victims of gun crime this year alone. He said the hospitals major trauma centre had seen a bigger rise in gunshot injuries compared to knife wounds and that the average age of victims was getting younger. Dr Griffiths, who works with at-risk teenagers to prevent them from becoming involved in gangs and violent crime, made the remarks at a meeting held by the London Assembly Police and Crime Committee on Thursday. Leading trauma surgeon Doctor Martin Griffiths speaks at a meeting held by by the London Assembly Police and Crime Committee / London Assembly Last year, gun crime offences in London increased for a third year running and by 42 per cent, from 1,793 offences in 2015/16 to 2,544 offences in 2016/17. Police have seized 635 guns off the streets so far this year. Dr Griffiths, who also teaches medical students, said: Our numbers of victims of gun injury have doubled [since 2012]. Gunshot injuries represent about 2.5 per cent of our penetrating trauma. Year on year, we have seen a 20 to 30 per cent rise in the past two or three years. We will admit 50 to 60 patients this year with gunshot injuries. Gun crimes have increased in London Well also seen a dozen or so under the care of our pre-hospital team who will die at the scene of injury. Dr Griffiths said the average age of gun crime victims needing treatment at the hospital had decreased from 25 to the mid to late teens since 2012. He added that medics at the Barts Health hospitals major trauma centre in Whitechapel had seen a bigger rise in patients with gun injuries rather than knife wounds and that most were caused by pistols or shotguns. Tackling gun crime: Met Police commander Jim Stokley Met Police commander Jim Stokley, who was also invited to speak at the meeting, said that handguns and shotguns were the weapons of choice and that 46 per cent of Londons gun crime discharges were gang-related. He said: We believe that a lot of it is associated with the drugs trade, and by that I mean people dealing drugs at street level and disagreements between different gangs. Detective Chief Superintendent Kevin Southworth, head of the Mets Trident and Area Crime Command, said: Seventy per cent of crimes we recover a cache of class A drugs with the weapon. Dr Griffiths said he believed that introducing at-risk young people to a victim of gun crime who has been left disabled could be a useful prevention technique. When you talk to people about knife and gun injury, they think theyre going to either be alive and fine or dead but they are very concerned about cosmetic injuries about colostomy bags about smelling bad, about being disfigured and about being disabled and those are much more horrific than being alive or dead. I think thats where the real leverage comes from when were talking about gun injury, he said. I think meeting a gun victim who has been disabled is much more of a powerful stimulus for change. He added that most victims of violence often want to retaliate and that investing in supporting families and building communities could help to prevent that. We need to fund initiatives properly and deliver into the community; that way we will have success. We need long-term planning and delivery. Its about planning from birth through to death and helping to support and build communities. Its not about sticking plasters, its not about sewing up patients, its about preventing injuries, understanding communities, supporting communities, and investing in youth. P olice are hunting a man after a schoolgirl was sexually assaulted on a bus in north London. The 17-year-old was travelling to school at about 8.30am on the upper deck of a Route 43 bus when a man boarded and sat next to her. After a short while he placed his hand on her right knee, Scotland Yard said. The victim, described by police as "shocked and frightened", pulled her knee away. The man continued to touch her inappropriately several more times. The suspect boarded the bus, which was travelling from Muswell Hill Road towards Archway, near Archway underground station. He exited the bus on Holloway Road by the Nags Head Public House. Detectives have released an image of a man they would like to speak to after the incident on June 9. He is described as a black man, aged between 30 and 40-years-old, around 5ft 10ins tall, with facial stubble. He wore a navy top with black nylon jogging bottoms. PC Paul Greenfield, of the Roads and Transport Policing Command, said: Everyone has the right to expect to use public transport without fear of becoming a victim of crime. Were asking the public to help us find this man so we can ensure he doesnt commit any more offences. Anyone with information is asked to contact PC Paul Greenfield on 07769281515, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Alternatively you can tweet @MetCC with any information. T he landlord of a gastropub in south London today described being held hostage at gunpoint with his customers in a terrifying robbery. A group of men wearing balaclavas and white overalls and armed with a handgun and knives shouted, Wheres the safe? as they stormed the H G Wells pub in Worcester Park on Sunday. A barman was stabbed in the leg during the raid, which began at 10pm, an hour before closing time. Staff and the few remaining customers were herded into a cramped back office, locked inside and guarded by the gunman as the gang tried and failed to remove the safe. The robbers ransacked the pub looking for money before escaping with a quantity of cash in a silver Vauxhall Astra. Their victims called police and the injured man was taken to hospital. He has since been released. Landlord Raul Dolores, 40, said: It was a traumatic experience. We couldnt believe these guys. They were armed and held us hostage in the office at the back. We didnt do anything to resist but they stabbed one of my staff. Another member of staff, who did not want to be named, said: I just stood there frozen. I couldnt move. We didnt want to give them a reason to hurt us. We just wanted them to go. Police described the robbers as black. There have been no arrests. Mr Dolores, who has been manager at the pub since February, said: We are just so grateful that we are all healthy and my friend was not seriously injured. Ive given him a few days off but he is OK. The support from our regulars has been fantastic, they are helping us get back to normal. The Victorian pub is named after the author H G Wells, who lived nearby. Witnesses or anyone with any information should call Flying Squad detectives on 020 8785 8655 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. A new form of IVF treatment is launching in London which will make the capital the cheapest place in the UK for users, it was claimed today. It is the first time the ground-breaking technology is available on a commercial basis in the UK and is set to cut IVF costs by at least 50 per cent, its developers say. Pioneered by fertility doctor Professor Geeta Nargund, the treatment will be available at a new clinic in Harley Street, with users saving up to 2,250 per cycle. Professor Nargund said she wanted to improve access to IVF treatment as increasing cuts to NHS funding were leaving many families unable to afford treatment. The amount of free IVF on the NHS for childless people varies across the country, with some areas offering up to three rounds of treatment, and others zero. Research has shown that private IVF can cost 7,175 for a full treatment cycle. The new clinic, called ABC IVF, uses a technology called the Simplified Culture System (SCS), pioneered by US scientist Professor Jonathan Van Blerkom at the University of Colorado, in collaboration with The Walking Egg Foundation, where Professor Nargund is a board director. With standard IVF, the incubator system relies on an expensively equipped laboratory. According to the clinic, the new generation micro-lab in the SCS system is smaller than a shoe box. Combined with a reduced amount of drugs, more woman-friendly medication, and a far simplified patient pathway, it has resulted in 90 healthy babies born globally and at least 47 ongoing pregnancies. Professor Nargund said: This is a transformative moment for IVF treatment and we are delighted to bring this technology to UK patients. We have pioneered this in an attempt to help those who are priced out of the private IVF market. We believe that this treatment has the potential to end the IVF postcode lottery and significantly increase accessibility, innovation and price transparency. About one in four couples have unexplained fertility problems, leading many to turn to IVF. The chances of success vary hugely according to the age of the woman and the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority says there is a 32 per cent chance of a live birth from one cycle for women under 40. This falls to 12 per cent for those aged 40-42 and four per cent for those over 42. Some fertility doctors remain sceptical about the IVF industry, saying the best way to get pregnant is to have regular unprotected sex. Professor Van Blerkom, the inventor of SCS, added: It is my hope that its successful utilisation will provide infertile couples, who either have no access to treatment or cannot afford it, a new opportunity to fulfil their dream for a much-wanted family. For more information visit https://www.abcivf.co.uk/ S adiq Khan has hinted that there is still hope for Uber on London's roads after "constructive" talks were held. The Mayor said he was satisfied with the firms global CEO Dara Khosrowshahis apology after Transport for London stripped the company of its licence last month. Speaking to LBC, he said recent developments had given him confidence that the discussion was moving in the right direction. Mr Khan said the regulator had a constructive meeting with Uber, but added that there is further work to do. The way to resolve differences is constructively, round a table, rather than through litigation," he said. It comes after TfL refused to renew the firm's licence on the grounds of "public safety and security implications". Uber has said it will appeal against the decision. It can continue to operate during that process. Mr Khan said the firms apology bodes well with regards to the humility that he said was not shown by the company before its London licence was removed. Uber loses licence to operate in London - reaction highlights "What gives me confidence about the TfL decision is the fact that the global chief executive officer for Uber apologised to London and he met some of the drivers when he came to London," he said. "I think that bodes well with regards to the humility, which hasn't been shown by Uber London or Uber UK. And his apology demonstrates what many of us know, which is that TfL has a very important job to do as a regulator. Dara Khosrowshahi said he accepted Uber had to make changes to survive / Getty The talks were being held following an approach from Uber and at Mr Khan's request. Some 3.5 million passengers and 40,000 drivers use the service in London, according to Uber. The app enables users to book cars using their smartphones and is available in more than 40 towns and cities across the UK. TfL has a number of concerns about Uber, including its approach to reporting serious criminal offences, how drivers' medical certificates are obtained, how criminal record checks are carried out, and its use of technology which allegedly makes it harder for law enforcement to monitor it. Mr Khosrowshahi took over at Uber in August after predecessor Travis Kalanick resigned following a series of scandals. The new boss has apologised for "the mistakes we've made" and accepted that the company had "got things wrong". More than 850,000 people have signed an online petition launched by Uber, urging TfL to reverse its ruling. T ory chairman Sir Patrick McLoughlin faced calls to resign today as MPs loyal to Theresa May demanded blood over her speech shambles. One furious backbencher told the Standard: Patrick is a Filofax chairman. We need a Facebook chairman. "He should have resigned the day after the disastrous election night. He should now be sacked. Another said: Somebody has to take responsibility for the shambles of the past week, frankly. Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May struggles with her water after she suffered a coughing fit / Reuters "Everyone likes Patrick but he has completely f***ed up. The word is that he tried to resign after the election but she got him to stay on. Friends of Sir Patrick say he is feeling bruised by the attacks and fear he is being set up to take responsibility for the incident. They say he is a party loyalist and would resign without fuss if Mrs May asked him to but they also point out that he opposed Mrs Mays disastrous decision to hold the snap election in June. Simon Brodkin, who does pranks under the name Lee Nelson, is led away from the Tory conference by police / PA One of the key figures in the election, Mrs Mays former aide Nick Timothy, said this weeks conference had failed to address the key challenges of Brexit and the electorates desire for change. Writing in the Daily Telegraph, he said: Confronted with these challenges the Conservatives failed to rise to the occasion at their conference, just as they have failed to do so since the election result sparked their crisis of confidence. Knives are also out for Boris Johnson, whose headline-hogging behaviour overshadowed the conference. The fake P45 that was given to the Prime Minister bearing the words 'neither strong or stable' Several MPs are understood to have asked for it to be discussed by the 1922 Committee executive on Wednesday next week. Downing Street was saying nothing, and there was speculation among MPs that Sir Patrick, the well-liked former coal miner who has served four prime ministers as a minister, will emerge as a fall-guy for a catastrophic series of mishaps that turned Mrs Mays fightback speech into a fiasco. Lee Nelson interrupts Tory Conference - In pictures 1 /14 Lee Nelson interrupts Tory Conference - In pictures Comedian Simon Brodkin, hands Prime Minister Theresa May a 'P45' in character as Lee Nelson during her keynote speech at the Conservative Party Conference Reuters The prankster was ushered out of the Tory conference afterwards Reuters He gave a thumbs up to senior Tories after what was described as a major security breach Jeremy Selwyn The comedian ruffled the Prime Minister's feathers with his prank PA The 'P45' form had the words 'neither strong or stable' printed on it PA A close-up of Theresa May being handed the form Reuters The form that was given to the Prime Minister Jeremy Selwyn He addressed senior members of the conservative party. Here the Prankster speaks to Amber Rudd Jeremy Selwyn Comedian Simon Brodkin, also known as Lee Nelson is led out of the Conservative Party Conference PA He was promptly ejected from the auditorium Jeremy Selwyn Simon Bodkin, also known as Lee Nelson being put into a police van after confronting Prime Minister Theresa May during her keynote speech PA Cabinet minister Greg Clark, an ultra loyalist, praised the Prime Ministers guts and grace when her speech was derailed by a prankster who handed her a P45, by a cold that left her spluttering and croaking, and bits dropping off the stage set. But Business Secretary Mr Clark made little attempt to defend Sir Patrick during a morning round of media interviews. He said it was a serious incident that comedian Simon Brodkin got within touching distance of the Prime Minister and pointed out that could have been someone with violent intent. When asked if the chairman was culpable, he said: I dont know what part of the weakness of the system it was, but it clearly needs to be established. Brandon Lewis, the Immigration Minister, was reported to be a potential replacement as chairman. Critics of Mr Johnson, the Foreign Secretary, say his behaviour will be debated as part of an inquest into the conference next week. The PM was handed a piece of paper marked P45 A 1922 Committee executive member said: There were mutterings within the parliamentary party about him making comments before his speech. I think he saved himself by his speech, which showed he still has a huge amount of popularity. We will be having a post mortem on Wednesday about all of this. Boris will definitely come up. Mr Johnson overshadowed the official agenda by setting out alleged red lines over Brexit. He later made a gaffe about clearing dead bodies away in Libya. A senior Tory MP said: Boris Johnson is in serious trouble. A lot of the MPs feels he hijacked the conference. When we get back next week the conversation will take place at the 1922 Committee. Theresa May's conference speech was interrupted by prankster Lee Nelson, real name Simon Brodkin / Jeremy Selwyn I wouldnt underestimate the anger that has been felt towards him. The self-serving indulgent behaviour. We havent got a Foreign Secretary at the moment and he didnt give a speech on foreign affairs. Some MPs say there is talk of getting 48 backbenchers to write to 1922 chairman Sir Graham Brady asking him to seek Boriss resignation. Currently 48 MPs is the number needed to trigger a vote of confidence in Mrs Mays leadership. Sir Patrick McLoughlin is facing calls to quit over the fiasco of Theresa May's speech The senior Tory said: This is unprecedented. There has never been a situation before where they want a cabinet secretary sacked. Around 30 MPs are said to have indicated they are could form a delegation to ask Mrs May to step down. The same number are said to be willing to write letters to force Mrs May out, up from 26 before the speech fiasco, according to a former minister keeping tally. Mr Clark insisted there was no mood in the party for a leadership challenge. A lot of the people who were there in the hall and watching it on TV will have admired, frankly, the guts and the grace the PM showed, he told Today. He called for the party to be effective and cool-headed in government, and said there would be no patience for any distractions. A number of Cabinet ministers telephoned the Prime Minister after her speech to promise their backing. Backbencher Mark Pritchard tweeted that a small number of colleagues were on manoeuvres. Today he predicted: Attempts to drum up a delegation of 30 MPs to try & force PM out - will fail. Also cowardly. If any MPs want her out - there is 1922 process. With no agreement on a new permanent leader, some MPs think a caretaker could replace Mrs May until after Brexit in March 2019, with the names of Brexit Secretary David Davis and loyalist Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon being touted. Some even think Father of the House Kenneth Clarke might make way for Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson by quitting his safe seat and forcing a by-election. Business minister Margot James blamed embittered ex-ministers for any plotting against Mrs May. That sort of thing is rife in politics, she told BBC Newsnight. There are some ex-Cabinet ministers or ex-ministers who are extremely embittered individuals who just want to get their own back on the fact that they dont feel recognised. Sir Patrick was born in Stafford to a family of pit workers. He joined the National Union of Mineworkers but worked through the 1984-85 strike, speaking at Tory party conference about his experience as a working miner. An MP since 1986 he became junior Transport Minister under Margaret Thatcher in 1989, Transport Secretary under John Major, was David Camerons chief whip in 2010, and chairman since 2016. A pple is investigating complaints from several disgruntled customers who reported that their brand new iPhone 8 Plus handsets burst open while charging. Social media users have shared images of their devices online, showing the screen splitting away from the main body of the mobile. At least five cases have been reported around the world and technology giant Apple has confirmed it is looking into the supposed problem. It was not immediately clear what caused the damage, but some have speculated the batteries may have swelled while charging due to gases inside. The fault was reported in places including Taiwan, Japan, and Hong Kong last week. The Taiwanese customer told Chinese local media her phone had burst open while charging with an official Apple power adapter. The handset has been returned. Another customer in Japan said their new mobile had been delivered to them and the screen was already partly detached, according to the Independent. It comes after Samsung was last year forced to recall its popular Galaxy Note 7 after many reported that their handsets had exploded due to a battery fault. The new iPhone 8 was launched on September 22, and features a glass and aluminium design, an A11 Bionic chip and wireless charging. An Apple spokeswoman today said the company is looking into the claims. She added that the problem appeared to be a battery swelling issue. F ormer prime minister Sir Edward Heath would have been interviewed over allegations of child abuse - including the rape of an 11-year-old boy - if he were still alive, a controversial police report revealed today. Sir Edward would have faced questioning under caution over claims by seven individuals over offences allegedly committed between 1956 and 1992 according to the findings of the heavily-criticised 1.5 million probe. The claims included an allegation that Sir Edward raped an 11 year-old during a paid sexual encounter in a private home, indecently assaulted a 10-year-old in a chance encounter in public and indecently assaulted a 15-year-old boy during three paid sexual encounters. The claims which Wiltshire Police said he would have faced questioning over also included an allegation he indecently assaulted an adult in public and a 15-year-old during a chance encounter in a public building. Chief Constable Mike Veale of Wiltshire Police revealed the contents of the 1.5m report today He is also said to have indecently assaulted an adult in a paid sexual encounter when consent was withdrawn. A further claim that Sir Edward assaulted a boy aged between 12 and 14 during a chance encounter would have prompted police to question him, although officers admitted there was undermining evidence in this case. The extraordinary claims are revealed today in the report by Wiltshire Police into a total of claims of abuse by 40 individuals. The force said the findings should not be an indication of guilt but said there was sufficient suspicion to interview Sir Edward about child sex abuse. The report states that none of the seven alleged offences occurred while Sir Edward was prime minister but three occurred while he was a minister from 1961 to 1964. Police found that there was undermining evidence in the case of allegations made by 19 individuals, while three people who made claims admitted later they had been mistaken in identifying Sir Edward as perpetrator. Ten allegations were made by a third party - including two claims involving alleged victims who were dead. The findings of the two-year investigation are expected to be condemned by friends and relatives of the former prime minister who are highly critical of the way the inquiry has been run. Loading.... Today ahead of the reports publication, former colleagues of Sir Edward, who died in 2005 aged 89, branded the investigation a wild goose chase. Wiltshire chief constable Mike Veale was accused of conducting a fishing expedition amid claims that Heath has been the victim of bogus allegations by fantasists, said Sir Edwards. Former aide Robert Vaudry, accused the force of leaking details of the report in advance to spin the allegations, and called for an internal police inquiry into the investigation, known as Operation Conifer. Mr Vaudry, who served as Sir Edwards private secretary from 1988 to 1992, criticised Wiltshire Police chief constable Mike Veale, who has been accused of conducting a witch hunt against Sir Edward. In numbers Forty-two disclosures, or allegations, were made relating to 40 separate individuals Allegations covered 14 different UK police force areas Alleged offences spanned 1956 to 1992 Sir Edward would have faced an interview under caution over seven sex crime claims if he were alive today 10 - the age of the youngest alleged victim in those seven accusations 24 people, including police officers and staff and eight retired detectives, worked on the investigation 1,580 lines of inquiry were generated, 203 of which were not completed as they were deemed irrelevant or disproportionate 284 witness statements were taken 43 of Sir Edward's former private secretaries and office staff were interviewed 19 allegations did not meet the threshold for an interview under caution Three claims were a case of mistaken identity 10 claims were made by third parties and three complainants were anonymous. Six people named Sir Edward in accusations of satanic or ritual abuse - two of the alleged victims died before the probe began and police found no corroborative evidence. 1,484,251 - the total cost of Operation Conifer He told the Standard: He should ask the Independent Police Complaints Commission to investigate himself, whatever the report says. Clearly one can question whether this has been handled appropriately or not. Mr Vaudry feared the handling of the investigation had forever tarnished the former Prime Ministers name, regardless of the findings. He said: My children now, when they look up Ted Heath, the first stories are about whether he is a paedophile. And thats always going to be the case. In particular, friends of Heath were furious when police made an appeal for information outside the gates of his former home. The inquiry follows the discredited Met Operation Midland investigation into claims by a witness known as Nick about a Westminster paedophile ring. Scotland Yard abandoned the inquiry last year and a former judge who reviewed the police methods identified 43 separate blunders and said it was time for police to stop automatically believing alleged victims accounts. Sir Edward, who served as Prime Minister from 1970 to 1974, died in 2005 aged 89. His grandson Lincoln Seligman today renewed his call for an independent judge to review the finding. Speaking before the report was released he condemned it as ill-conceived, saying police had acted as judge and jury and were now happy to walk away leaving the claims on the table. He added: I think it is grossly unjust. We want a judge led review of the procedures and the evidence, it is the only way to get fairness. He has condemned the report as innuendo that will forever tarnish his godfathers legacy. Mr Seligman, 67, said : I know there are genuine victims of child abuse out there but not by Edward Heath. If you appeal for victims to come forward then you are bound to get some who are absolute fantasists. It was unfair of the polife to appeal for victims because that pre-supposes guilt. That has been the constant theme of this investigation. B ritain's first female head of the Supreme Court today called for more women to be recruited to the countrys top court, vowing to avoid the special place in hell for those who pull up the drawbridge behind them. Baroness Hale of Richmond, who was sworn in this week as the president of the Supreme Court, said she was delighted Lady Justice Black was joining her as the courts second female appointee since it was set up in 2009. But she said that she was determined that her new colleague would soon be joined by a succession of other female justices as she vowed to encourage greater diversity in the judiciary. Lady Hales comments at her first news conference since taking up her post as the countrys most senior judge will reinforce her reputation as a campaigner for equality. They come amid concern that, despite efforts to improve its diversity, the judiciary is too dominated by older, white men who were privately and Oxbridge-educated. The Progress 1000, in partnership with Citi, and supported by Invisalign, is the Evening Standards celebration of the people who make a difference to London life. #progress1000 The most recent figures show only 28 per cent of court judges are female. But Yorkshire-born Lady Hale, who was educated at a state school, said she was delighted at long last to welcome another woman to the court. She added: I think it was Madeleine Albright who said there is a special place in hell for first women who pull up the drawbridge after them, and I have been wanting to avoid that special place ever since I became a Law Lord in 2004. I just hope that it wont take another 13 years before a third, fourth or fifth woman joins the court. Lady Hale said she and her new deputy president, Lord Mance, wanted to improve the service we offer by ensuring future judgments were high quality, well-reasoned and explained as clearly as we can. She said she was also determined to improve the ways we communicate the importance of the rule of law and ensure cases before the court were dealt with as speedily as possible. A restaurant in the south of France has banned the use of mobile phones - and started turfing out diners who use them at the table. Waiters blow a whistle and show a yellow card to first offenders who use their phones while eating at Le Petit Jardin in Saint-Guilhem-le-Desert, near Montpellier. A red card is shown to repeat offenders, which means expulsion from the restaurant. The owner, Jean-Noel Fleury, also refuses to serve ketchup, fizzy drinks and manufactured mayonnaise at the eatery, which is in a popular tourist spot overlooking the Herault gorges. Le Petit Jardin: The restaurant's staff issue a warning to customers caught using their phones at the table, and kick out repeat offenders / Google Mr Fleury said customers are often surprised when the waiter produces a yellow card, but usually take it with good humour. The customer is king when he behaves himself well, Mr Fleury told The Times. If he behaves badly he should not forget that we cut off the kings head 200 years ago. The restaurant has a four-star rating on Tripadviser. Reviews generally support the ban. At last a restaurant where you can have a rare moment of conviviality. No mobiles at the table, no soda, no Coke, just local products, one customer wrote on Tripadvisor. A giant python which attacked a man on his way home from work has fed an entire village. Robert Nababan, a security guard, reportedly wrestled with the 26 ft (7.8m) python when he stopped to move it out of the road. Despite being seriously injured by the reptile, Mr Nababan survived the attack. The snakes enormous body was then strung up for display at a village in Indonesia, before it was chopped up, fried and eaten. Mr Nababan told Indonesian news outlet Detik: "I tried to catch it, my hand was bitten, and I managed to wrestle it." The victim of the python's attack is still recovering in hospital / AFP / Getty Images The 37-year-old did not give an exact reason for why he tried to catch the python, but said there were villagers who could not cross the road because of the snake. Varying reports say he was either trying to keep scared villagers safe or that he wanted to clear the road. The wounds from the snakes bite were so deep Mr Nababans left arm was nearly severed. He was taken to hospital in Pekanbaru city, where he is still recovering, said Elinaryon, head of the Batang Gansal district government. T he Las Vegas gunman may have scoped out bigger music festivals before Sundays atrocity and planned further attacks including a car bombing. US officials said on Thursday that in the days and months before the shooting, Stephen Paddock booked hotel rooms overlooking two other music festivals. He booked rooms overlooking the Lollapalooza festival in Chicago in August and the Life Is Beautiful show near the Vegas Strip in late September, authorities said. Police are still desperately trying to piece together his movements before he carried out the deadliest mass shooting in modern US history, which left at least 59 dead and more than 500 injured. Las Vegas Shooting - In pictures 1 /18 Las Vegas Shooting - In pictures People run for cover at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival Getty Images Concertgoers carry a person away Getty Images Police officers telling people to take cover near the scene AP Broken windows seen on a high floor in the Mandalay Bay hotel facing the scene of the mass shooting at the Route 91 Harvest festival on Las Vegas Boulevard EPA Concertgoers scramble for shelter Getty Images Festival-goers run while ducking for cover Getty Images A police officer takes cover behind a patrol vehicle AP A couple comfort each other Getty Images Las Vegas police stand guard along the streets outside the festival grounds of the Route 91 Harvest Getty Images Concertgoers fleeing Getty The crowd at the festival Getty Images Concertgoers fleeing Getty Images A woman sits on a curb at the scene of a shooting outside of a music festival along the Las Vegas Strip AP Police and rescue personnel gather at the intersection of Las Vegas Boulevard Getty Images It is still unclear why the high-stakes gambler opened fire on a crowd of 22,000 on Sunday night from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay hotel casino in Las Vegas. Investigators looking into Paddock also came across mention of Fenway Park, Boston police spokesman Mike McCarthy said, though he provided no further details. Authorities previously disclosed that the 64-year-old had 1,600 rounds of ammunition in his car, along with fertiliser that can be used to make explosives and 50 pounds of Tannerite, a substance used in explosive rifle targets. The profile developed so far is of a "disturbed and dangerous" man who acquired an arsenal over decades, Sheriff Joseph Lombardo said. But investigators have been frustrated to find that he lived a "secret life," Mr Lombardo said, "much of which will never be fully understood". Trump Praises First Responders Of The Las Vegas Tragedy The weekend before the massacre, he rented a room through Airbnb at the 21-storey Ogden condominiums in downtown Las Vegas and stayed there during a music festival below that included Chance the Rapper, Muse, Lorde and Blink-182. "Reasons that ran through Paddock's mind is unknown, but it was directly at the same time as Life Is Beautiful," the sheriff said. Police were reviewing video shot at the high-rise to check Paddock's movements. His renting the condo was curious because as a high-roller, he could have easily got a free room at one of the casino hotels on the Vegas Strip. In early August, Paddock booked a room at Chicago's 21-storey Blackstone Hotel that overlooked the park where the Lollapalooza alternative music festival was being held, though there is no evidence he actually stayed there, a law enforcement official said. Las Vegas Shooting Victims - In pictures 1 /24 Las Vegas Shooting Victims - In pictures Bailey Schweitzer was among the 59 killed in the US's worst ever mass shooting Tony Burditus saw his wife Denise die in the shooting Off-duty police officer Charleston Hartfield was among the victims Victim Rachael Parker was a police records technician for California Police AP Adrian Murfitt, 35, a fisherman, was shot in the neck AP High school secretary Lisa Romero died in the shooting Moth-of-three Neysa Tonks was killed The death of Canadian Jordan McIldoon, 23, was confirmed by his parents Jessica Klymchuk Facebook School office manager Susan Smith was among those killed Facebook Sandy Casey was shot dead at the concert Student Quinton Robbins, 20, was also killed in the gun massacre A memorial fund has been set up for victim Angela Gomez San Bernardino County official Dana Gardner was among the victims Country music fan John Phippen died at the scene Chris Roybal served in Afghanistan with the US navy Mother-of-three Hannah Ahlers was among the victims Facebook Young Lawyer Jennifer Irvine Facebook The hotel confirmed a Stephen Paddock made a reservation but said he never checked in. Lollapalooza draws hundreds of thousands of music fans every year to Grant Park. Although Paddock killed himself as a Swat team closed in, the sheriff said it appeared he had planned to survive and had an escape plan. The news comes as the National Rifle Association (NRA) said bump-stocks used by Paddock to turn semi-automatic rifles into fully automated weapons should be subject to tougher regulations. However the organisation, which holds a powerful sway over members of Congress, dismissed some of the initial response from lawmakers who pressed for more gun control. The NRA said: "Banning guns from law-abiding Americans based on the criminal act of a madman will do nothing to prevent future attacks." A Las Vegas shooting victim climbed out of his hospital bed to meet Donald Trump despite being badly wounded in the leg. Thomas Gunderson was hailed as tough by the US president after struggling to his feet for a handshake in a mark of respect for the President and First Lady. Mr Trump and his wife Melania were touring the hospital ward meeting some of the hundreds of people shot by Stephen Paddock at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival. Mr Gunderson, from California, said he was shot in the leg as he tried to help victims of the massacre and credits two police officers for saving his life. In a video posted on Facebook, he can be seen attempting to sit up in bed as the President and the First Lady arrive in his room. Hi, Thomas. How are you? No, dont get up. Dont get up, Mrs Trump can be heard saying in the clip which has been viewed more than 10 million times. Hey, this guy looks tough to me, the president adds as Mr Gunderson rises to his feet. He later wrote on Facebook: I will never lie down when the President of this great country comes to shake my hand! There may be plenty of issues in this country but I will always respect my country, my president and my flag. Shot in the leg or not, I will stand to show my President the respect he deserves! Mr Trump described shooting victims as the "most amazing people" and praising medics for doing an "indescribable" job after visiting University Medical Centre on Wednesday. Some of the patients Mr Trump and first lady Melania Trump met with "were very, very badly wounded," the President said, "and they were badly wounded because they refused to leave." He added: "They wanted to help others because they saw people going down all over." M exicos biggest university has sparked a social media outcry after advertising a conference on feminism with no female panellists. The National Autonomous University of Mexico began advertising the conference on a pink flyer earlier this week. But all 11 members of the sessions two panels are male. One person who spotted the flyer posted a picture of it to Twitter, writing: Feminism in Mexico. Do you see any women on the list of speakers? Exactly. However it soon emerged that the gender imbalance was a deliberate move by the conferences organisers. The event will be moderated by Marta Lamas, one of Mexico's most prominent feminists. Called Marta Lamas in dialogue with XY, a reference to the male chromosome, the debate will be different and provocative, according to Lamas. I have spent 48 years discussing feminism on panels only with women, she told the BBC. And this time I thought, 'Okay, let's see what men have to say' ... I am trying to change the world for men, too. Lamas, who helped choose the panellists, said she had expected some backlash but not online outrage. On Twitter, one woman called it the pinnacle of mansplaining. Another asked, Whats next? A conference on racism with only white people? The event was organised by the universitys humanities department in honour of Lamas 70th birthday. The anthropologist and political science professor has written several books on feminism and in the 1980s led a successful campaign to decriminalise abortion in Mexico. T he Prince of Wales released a rehabilitated turtle back into the sea on his official visit to Malta. Charles had earlier said decisive action must be taken to save the worlds marine life and oceans. He placed the female loggerhead turtle on to the golden sand at a beach in Malta after warning that the threat to the planet's marine ecology has reached a critical point where plastics are "now on the menu". Prince Charles watched as the turtle, named Denise and estimated to be 18 years old, made her way into the water at Golden Bay, after recovering from breathing problems caused by plastic she had eaten. Official visit: Prince Charles releases a rehabilitated turtle into the sea on Golden Bay beach in Malta / PA Standing on the beach in his tailored suit and shirt and tie, Charles also helped to release two other loggerheads, also cared for by the Nature Trust Malta, which had both been snagged by fishing hooks. He first picked an eight-year-old turtle named Tomisina, who had had a fishing hook removed from her throat - probably caused by trying to eat fish used for bait - and then helped Kirby, aged 15, who had a hook removed from a flipper. When Kirby moved slowly along the sands and stopped, the Prince joked: "As long as it doesn't turn turtle - it's so marvellous." The Prince also helped two other turtles / PA Speaking at an ocean conservation conference, the Prince highlighted how plastics were increasingly found in fish caught for the dinner table. In his keynote address, he told delegates at the Our Ocean conference in St Julian's: "As many of you know so well, the eight million tonnes of plastic that enter the sea every year - through our own doing I might add - is now almost ubiquitous. "For all the plastic that we have produced since the 1950s that has ended up in the ocean is still with us in one form or another, so that wherever you swim there are particles of plastic near you and we are very close to reaching the point when whatever wild-caught fish you eat will contain plastic. "Plastic is indeed now on the menu." A rchaeologists say they may have discovered the remains of Saint Nicholas, who inspired the legend of Santa Claus. Researchers believe the body the fourth-century bishop, famed for his secret gift-giving, lies beneath a church in his birthplace in southern Turkey. Saint Nicholas of Myra, as he was known, was buried at the church that shares his name in the Mediterranean town of Demre, near Antalya, following his death in AD 343. His bones were long thought to have been later smuggled to the southern Italian town of Bari as parts of the Byzantine empire fell to Muslim invaders 700 years after his death. But a team of Turkish archaeologists using ground-penetrating scans discovered an intact temple under Saint Nicholas Church and believe his tomb remains intact. After studying local documents, they concluded the bones taken from Demre may have belonged to a local priest rather than the saint. The temple on the ground of the church is in good condition. We believe that it has received no damage so far," Cemil Karabayram, Antalya's director of surveying and monuments, told Hurriyet Daily News. "We claim that St. Nicholas has been kept in this temple without any damage." Saint Nicholas Church in Demre, where archaeologists believe the bishop was buried / /Creative Commons Archaeologists are looking for a way of reaching the remains without harming the church. The discovery is predicted to bring visitors from around the world if confirmed. The worlds eyes will be set on here," said Mr Karabayram. "If we get the results, Antalyas tourism will gain big momentum. We will start discussions at an international level after the excavations." Saint Nicholas is widely venerated across many branches of Christianity. Born to wealthy parents, he is said to have discreetly distributed his fortune among the poor, inspiring the myth of Santa Claus. T he Spanish government has insisted it will not be blackmailed by Catalonias leaders as tensions continue to rise over the regions push for independence. Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont was also told he must return to the path of law before any negotions could take place. The strongly-worded statement followed a blistering attack by Mr Puigdemont on King Felipe last night, accusing him on TV of deliberately ignoring millions of Catalans and siding with Madrid. Spain has been plunged into its biggest constitutional crisis in months following an independence refendum poll on Sunday that was marred by violence as police tried to enforce a Spanish court ban on the vote. Catalan officials say 90 per cent of those who voted backed independence, although offical results have yet to be announced. Protests: Thousands of people demonstrate at University square, in downtown Barcelona, on October 3 / EPA Mr Puigdemont told the BBC he would declare independence at the end of this week or the beginning of next. The Catalan government has said there will be an extraordinary meeting of parliament on Monday to discuss the next move. King Felipe VI made a TV address on Tuesday night, calling Sundays vote illegal and undemocratic. That prompted the rare public attack on the monarch from Mr Puigdemont who accused the king of adopting the Spanish governments position. Without specifically mentioning plans for an independence declaration, he added: I am sure that in the next few days we will show the best of our country when the institutions of Catalonia will have to apply the results of the referendum. Today we are closer than yesterday to our historic wish. Switching to Spanish from Catalan, he thanked Spanish citizens who had sent their solidarity to Catalonia. Catalonia referendum: Hundreds injured as police fire rubber bullets at protesters Mr Puigdament added: The moment calls for mediation. But the Spanish government showed little sign of wanting to seek compromise. The government will not negotiate over anything illegal and will not accept blackmail, Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said in a statement. Nearly 900 people were hurt on Sunday as police violently tried to enforce a Spanish court order suspending the vote, which the government had declared illegal. Some police officers were seen firing rubber bullets, storming into polling stations and pulling women by their hair. Some 33 police officers were also injured. Opinion polls conducted before the vote suggested a minority of around 40 percent of residents in Catalonia backed independence. But a majority wanted a referendum to be held, and the violent police crackdown angered Catalans across the divide, appearing to boost support for independence. P resident Donald Trump has declared he has total confidence in Rex Tillerson even though his Secretary of State reportedly once called him a moron. Mr Trump dismissed the claim that Mr Tillerson denigrated him following a meeting with the US national security team as totally phony. Insisting the NBC TV network in the US made the story up, the president last night praised Mr Tillerson, 65, for speaking out against claims that he was in open revolt against Mr Trump. The Secretary of State said he has never considered leaving his job and claimed he was committed to Mr Trumps foreign policy goals. NBC had earlier reported that Mr Tillerson, the former chairman and CEO of ExxonMobil, had come close to resigning in the summer but agreed to stay on in the job until the end of the year. There has never been a consideration in my mind to leave, said Americas top diplomat. I serve at the appointment of the president, and I am here for as long as the president feels I can be useful to achieving his objectives. Asked specifically whether he called Trump a moron, Mr Tillerson stopped short of denying it. Im not going to deal with petty stuff like that. Im not going to be part of this effort to divide this administration, he said. Rumours have been swirling of discord between Mr Tillerson and the White House over the handling of crisis abroad. For example, the Secretary of State confirmed at the weekend that the US had reached out to the North Koreans in a bid to cool tensions over the rogue regimes missile only for Mr Trump to tweet on Sunday that he was wasting his time trying to negotiate with Pyongyang. When the president caused outrage by saying some very fine people marched with white supremacists in Charlottesville earlier this year, Mr Tillerson remarked: The president speaks for himself. C aroline Flack is reportedly being lined up to fill in for Ant McPartlin on Im A Celebrity as he continues to recuperate in Los Angeles. The Love Island presenter is thought to be in talks to step in and host the show alongside Dec Donnelly, should McPartlin choose not to return this year. Filming for the new series has already been pushed back after McPartlin flew to LA following his recent stint in rehab. While show producers have insisted that McPartlin is all set to return, Flack is now bookies favourite to step in if he decides against it. Much-loved hosts: Ant and Dec will hopefully be back to host the show / ITV Usually, Z-list celebrities are scrambling to appear on Im A Celebrity as contestants but now it seems like a top job might be available, said a spokesperson for PaddyPower. Caroline might have copped a lot of Flack for her time fronting X Factor, but her experience on Love Island should serve her well for going Down Under. Ant McPartlin in profile ITV bosses are thought to have pushed back initial filming dates for the annual reality show while McPartlin recuperates in the US. According to reports, a promotional shoot was due to take place at Pinewood Studios but has now been delayed until he is back in the country. I'm A Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here 2016 1 /72 I'm A Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here 2016 Scarlett Moffatt in the Bishtucker trial 'Cavern of Claws' ITV/Rex Scarlett Moffatt is the 2016 winner of 'I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!' with Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly ITV/Rex Joel Dommett, Scarlett Moffatt, Adam Thomas are the final three contestants in 'I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!' ITV/Rex Martin Roberts holds a Lobster in his mouth for his Bushtucker Trial on I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!' ITV/Rex Lisa Snowden leaves the I'm A Celebrity 2016 camp ITV Larry Lamb and Martin Roberts have an intense discussion ITV/Rex Danny Baker is the first contestant voted off I'm A Celebrity camp ITV Sam Quek, Ola Jordan, Adam Thomas and Wayne Bridge take oart in The Dingo Dollar Challenge: Get The Measure of It ITV/Rex Martin Roberts and Ola Jordan compete in the Bushtucker Trial: Bush Brewery ITV/Rex Adam takes revenge on Martin for spilling water all over his bed ITV/Rex 'Claim of Thrones' Bushtucker Trial ITV/Rex Adam Thomas, Martin Roberts, Sam Quek, Wayne Bridge in 'Claim of Thrones' Bushtucker Trial ITV/Rex Martin Roberts hugging trees ITV/Rex Adam Thomas gets stuck into the 'Food Factory' Bushtucker Trial ITV/Rex Lisa Snowdon in the shower ITV/Rex Wayne Bridge gets all emotional ITV/Rex Joel Dommett and Carol Vorderman get to grips with 'Simply the Nest' in the Dingo Dollar challenge ITV/Rex Martin Roberts during 'Hell Hollow' Bushtucker Trial ITV/Rex Martin Roberts gets tearful in camp ITV/Rex Danny talks to the celebs about his cancer ITV/Rex The blue and yellow teams battle it out in Hungry Games Part 2 ITV/Rex Ola Jordan showers ITV/Rex Scarlett Moffatt ITV/Rex Sam Quek and Martin Roberts attack the Rank Tanks in The Hungry Games Part 1 ITV/Rex Sam Quek and Martin Roberts during the Rank Tanks in The Hungry Games Part 1 ITV/Rex Carol Vorderman has a massage in camp ITV/Rex Joel Dommett takes part in 'The Great Ascent' Bushtucker Trial ITV/Rex Jordan Banjo, Ola Jordan and Kiosk Keith take part in 'Dingo Dollar Crazy Golf' ITV/Rex Joel Dommett, Scarlett Moffatt, Sam Quek and Carol Vorderman relax in camp ITV/Rex Wayne Bridge, Scarlett Moffatt and Joel Dommett in 'Dingo Dollar Crazy Golf' ITV/Rex Ant and Dec make a controversial joke on Stephen Hawking ITV Scarlett Moffatt pull a face during a moment in camp ITV/Rex Adam Thomas in 'Stranded' the overnight challenge ITV/Rex Jordan Banjo feels a bit homesick on 'I'm a Celebrity .. Get me out of here!' ITV Ola Jordan, Carol Vorderman, Sam Quek and Scarlett Moffatt strike a pose in the jungle ITV/Rex Jordan Banjo and Wayne Bridge in 'Stranded' the overnight challenge ITV/Rex Lisa Snowdon takes a refreshing dip ITV/Rex Scarlett Moffatt during her 'I'm a Celebrity Big Bush Bake Off' Bushtucker Trial ITV/Rex Carol Vorderman during her 'I'm a Celebrity Big Bush Bake Off' Bushtucker Trial ITV/Rex Scarlett Moffatt during her 'I'm a Celebrity Big Bush Bake Off' Bushtucker Trial ITV/Rex Scarlett Moffatt and Carol Vordermanduring her 'I'm a Celebrity Big Bush Bake Off' Bushtucker Trial ITV/Rex Sam Quek consoles Scarlett Moffatt after their 'Tomb of Torment' Bushtucker Trial ITV/Rex Ola Jordan in the shower ITV/Rex Sam Quek, Scarlett Moffatt and Ola Jordan in the shower ITV/Rex Sam Quek, Scarlett Moffatt, Jordan Banjoa, Lisa Snowdon, Wayne Bridge, Ola Jordan, Joel Dommett, Adam Thomas and Carol Vorderman enter camp for the first time ITV/Rex James Jordan wants a mud fight between Sam Quek and Ola Jordan ITV/Rex Scarlett Moffatt's canoe capsizes on I'm A Celebrity ITV Carol Voderman walks the plank ITV/Rex Larry Lamb and Scarlett Moffatt head for camp in the 'Cruel Canoe' Challenge ITV/Rex Carol Vorderman takes a break in camp ITV/Rex Ola Jordan gets used to her new surroundings ITV/Rex Sam Quek parachutes from the helicopter in the Sky Challenge ITV/Rex Wayne Bridge, Joel Dommett and Adam Thomas hit the Jungle shower ITV/Rex Lisa Snowdon looks a tad nervous before her 'Sky Challenge' into camp ITV/Rex It would have been the first day filming but with Ant away, there is no way they could get started, a source told the Sun. Hes gone to get away from the spotlight. Hes in recovery and its important he has time and space. Crew members are due to fly out to New South Wales in the next few weeks to start preparations for the seventeenth series of the show. The popular TV presenter spoke publically about his battle with alcohol and prescription painkillers earlier this year, thanking fans and his wife for their continued support. Evening Standard has contacted ITV for comment. 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. PILSUNG RANGE, Republic of Korea (September 18, 2017) -- A U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer, flanked by Republic of Korea Air Force F-15K Slam Eagles, drops a 2,000 pound live munition at Pilsung Training Range, South Korea as a part of a show of force mission in response to North Korean unsanctioned intercontinental ballistic missile tests. The most recent test took place last Friday and overflew the Japanese island of Hokkaido, resulting in increased tensions in both Japan and the Republic of Korea. The training mission conducted by the U.S. and Republic of Korea reaffirmed the capability of both nations to conduct air operations in tandem during a war-time capacity. (U.S. Air Force photo by Capt. Mike Karnes) X 0 20 Help Keep Us Soaring We need your help! Our subscription base has slowly been dwindling. We need your help in reversing that trend. We would like to add 20 new subscribers this month. Each month we count on your subscriptions or contributions. You can support us in the following ways: While the Arab coalition has control of the air and can accurately hit targets anywhere in the country, on the ground the government and the coalition do not have enough troops to control all of the country. The Iran backed Shia rebels and some Sunni groups control most of the northwest (to the Saudi border), the capital and key towns and cities that must be fought over and garrisoned before the government can claim more territory. The government and coalition forces have taken some of the Red Sea coast but have not got enough troops to stop the rebels from moving about and continuing to receive weapons and other equipment smuggled in by Iran. Large areas in the east and south are controlled or, more frequently contested by separatist tribes that will work with AQAP (Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula), especially if the local AQAP faction contains members from that tribe and AQAP pays it way. Because of longstanding popular support for Islamic terrorism in these parts of Yemen as well continued support from wealthy Arabs in the region (including Saudi Arabia) AQAP survives. But it is not thriving. Attacks are still carried out but less frequently. American surveillance and airstrikes are having an effect on AQAP but that does not change the fundamentals; tribal support and cash flow. The Arab coalition has internal disagreements which limit what the group can do. What all the coalition members share (aside from oil wealth) is fear of Iran. What is going on in Yemen reinforces that fear. Iran has created a serious threat to the Gulf Arabs while spending far less than the half billion dollars a month the Yemen effort is costing the Arab coalition. Iran has only a handful of Iranians in Yemen. Most of what are described as Iranians in Yemen are Lebanese (Shia Arabs belonging to Hezbollah). The Iranians have always been able to do a lot more with a lot less and this worries the Arabs more than anything else. The Shia rebels are now threatening to use their Iranian ballistic missiles to hit the UAE base across the Red Sea in Eritrea. At the very least that causes the Arabs to consider moving one of their few Patriot units to Eretria. One of those units has already been moved to Yemen after a ballistic missile hit a coalition base. The Shia rebels also threaten to attack oil tankers (especially Saudi ones) moving through the Red Sea (to reach the Suez Canal and European customers. If that happens it means more Saudi naval forces must come from the Persian Gulf, where most Saudi warships confront Iran. While the Yemeni Shia appreciate all this clever support from Shia Iran a growing number of Shia rebels have quietly (so far) expressed concern about the ultimate usefulness of Iranian support. Iran has a long tradition of using and abandoning Arab allies, and treating its own Arab minority with great disdain and cruelty. An indication of this possibility is the loss of their Shia Arab ally former president Saleh. Apparently Saleh calculated that it was time to switch sides (an ancient, but dangerous, tradition in Arabia). Saleh is not definitely lost to the cause, at least not yet. Saleh is the kind of guy who always considers counter offers. The Yemen government continues to accuse Iran of exercising control over the Yemeni Shia rebels and deliberately (but discreetly) sabotaging peace negotiations that the Shia rebels otherwise appear to find acceptable. Several times recently peace negotiations with the rebels seemed to achieve some real progress only to have the rebels later cancel the deal for no reason other than what appears to be Iranian interference. Iran denies such involvement but then Iranian long denied assisting the Yemeni rebels until the evidence became impossible to deny. Now Iran admits backing the rebels but denies exercising a veto over negotiations between the Yemen government and the Shia rebels. The United States, which participates in the naval blockade of Yemen, points out that Iran is obviously getting major items smuggled in on a regular basis. The blockade ships have had to deal with naval mines, anti-ship missiles and explosive boat attacks that could all be tracked back to Iran. On land there is evidence Iran has brought in ballistic missiles that are now used because the rebels have exhausted the supply they obtained in 2014-15. Most of those missiles are intercepted (using American made and Saudi operated Patriot missiles) over Saudi Arabia, where fragments of the ballistic missiles can be collected and analyzed. This makes it clear where the missiles came from. Iran has also sent in more, and larger, UAVs for the rebels to use (and increasingly lose do to equipment failure or being shot down). Maintaining the naval blockade and keeping all those Patriot air defense units on constant alert is expensive and all because of Iran is still getting enough missile components smuggled in (and assembled) to maintain the ballistic missile threat. The one specific rebel (and Iranian) vulnerability is the Red Sea port of Hodeida which currently is the only way for the rebels to accept legitimate imports. Those aid shipments contain a lot of smuggled items. This has been the main port for the delivery of foreign aid for civilians in rebel held areas and, in theory, government controlled areas. The UN has been, without much success, trying to get the rebels to allow the UN to police the port and basically control the smuggling and diversion of foreign aid the rebels have been engaged in. Evidence of rebel theft of foreign aid and depriving civilians of essential supplies is piling up and has become difficult to ignore. But Iran has organized an effective media and diplomatic campaign to divert pressure from Hodeida to the impact of the Arab coalition airstrikes on Yemeni civilians. These casualties are largely the result of the rebels deliberately moving and hiding in the midst of civilians. This does offer a lot of protection but does not make the rebels immune to air attack. Iran would use air power the same way the Arabs do and have when they had the opportunity during the 1980s war with Iraq. It was Iran that began using ballistic missiles against Iraqi cities (which were closer to the border than major Iranian cities were). These tactics are being used once more in Yemen but have been thwarted so far by Arab anti-missile defenses. But the Iranians are much better at manipulating the mass media and UN politics (where the Arabs have spent a lot more money for access and influence over the past few decades) and are demonstrating that and enjoying the pain it is causing the Arabs. . Iran has had a number of notable failures in Yemen. Arab air defenses (especially against ballistic missiles) have been particularly effective and that is discouraging to Iran. So has the competence of the Gulf Arab Air Forces in carrying out a sustained aerial campaign using modern aircraft. The coalition had over 200 combat (mostly) and support aircraft, including several dozen helicopters (most of them armed). That proved to be untrue because crew killed when aircraft (20 so far) were lost were named, hailed as heroes and their careers were described in detail. Most of the aircraft lost were Saudi (12) followed by the UAE (5) with Morocco, Jordan, Bahrain losing one each. That was roughly in proportion to how many aircraft each coalition member contributed. Thus the aircraft lost were One Typhoon, two F-15s, three F-16s, one Mirage 2000, five AH-64s and four other helicopters plus at least five large UAVs. After the Saudis the UAE was the largest contributor of aircraft. The UAE sent in about 40 F-16Es (mostly) plus some Mirage 2000s and one aerial refueling aircraft. UAE later sent in more AH-64s and light attack aircraft (armed with Hellfire missiles). The UAE also set up an air base across the Gulf of Aden in Eritrea with at least five Mirage 2000s, three AT-802 light attack aircraft, UH-60 and CH-47 helicopters and several Chinese made CH-4 UAVs (similar to the American Predator). This was mainly to tighten the naval blockade that Iran was sometimes evading to get weapons to the Shia rebels. What scared the Iranians was the skill levels of the Arab aircrew. These pilots had little or no combat experience but since mid-2014 many of them had been flying combat missions against ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) in Iraq and Syria and the air campaign in Yemen demonstrated these pilots, and their ground support facilities, could handle a surge (several sorties a day for weeks) and then thousands of more sorties over more than a year of operations. The coalition thought they got most of the Yemeni ballistic missiles but it was later found that several had survived but none of those fired at targets in Saudi Arabia (where most were aimed) hit anything because the Saudi Patriot anti-missile capability worked. A ballistic missile hit a coalition base in Yemen during September 2015 and in response the UAE brought in a Patriot battery and other anti-aircraft systems which prevented further losses like that. Another Iranian loss was the inability to blame the outbreak of cholera on the coalition. Iran claimed the deadly cholera was caused by airstrikes but even the most pro-Iran public health specialists could not get behind that. So far nearly 800,000 people in 22 of 23 provinces has been infected and about 2,200 have died. This began in April when living conditions in Saana declined to the point that there was an outbreak of cholera (that is spread by infected water and food). The disease spread from the capital and intensified. This is all because the rebels have not put a priority on maintaining the quality of the water supply. Iran blames the people fighting the rebels, especially Saudi Arabia. But the main problem is the corruption. Aid groups complain that they have to divert money from buying and importing food to medical supplies in order to deal with the cholera outbreak. Asking donor states (and private foundations or individuals) for more money doesnt work when the destination is a place like Yemen. Because of the Internet donors can more easily exchange information on the success or failure of their efforts. Yemen most frequently comes up on the losing side because of the rampant corruption and banditry. October 2, 2017: In the northwest (Hajjah province) a Saudi airstrike near the Saudi border killed five Shia rebel leaders attending a secret meeting that got found out. October 1, 2017: In the north, near the capital Sanaa an American MQ-9 UAV crashed. The U.S. Air Force said the incident was still being investigated but that it appears the UAV was shot down. September 29, 2017: The UN has agreed to send a war crimes investigation team to Yemen to try and document accusations that both sides are deliberately using tactics that cause enormous harm to the civilian population. The Arab coalition has resisted this effort, backed by Iran, because the Iran backed Shia rebels have proved better able to keep independent investigations out of their territory and it is easier to hide the efforts to keep food and other aid from hostile civilians than it is to hide the activity of Arab coalition air attacks. The Arab coalition does not trust the UN because the UN officials have proved easy for the rebels to bribe or intimidate. This is a common problem worldwide and the UN would rather not dwell on it. September 25, 2017: The government blames the Shia rebels for delaying efforts to work out a peace deal. This may be the main reason former president Saleh, a key ally of the rebels, is trying to back out of that alliance. September 23, 2017: In the northwest another rebel ballistic missile was shot down by Saudi Patriot anti-missile missiles after it crossed the border into Saudi Arabia (Asir province). This ballistic missile appeared to be headed for the city of Khamis Mushait rather than the nearby King Khalid Air Base. In March 2017 there was a similar attack involving four ballistic missiles, at least one of them headed for the air base. The Arabs point to these Iranian ballistic missiles and Iranian UAVs as pretty clear evidence that Iran was still smuggling weapons in. Iran denies everything and when confronted with physical evidence insists that the Yemeni Shia made they stuff locally, obtaining technical help via the Internet. In the north (Sanaa) an American oil specialist was kidnapped in the capital in a public place. The American had been working for the government owned oil company since the 1980s. September 15, 2017: In the south (Abyan province) three captured al Qaeda men admitted they had killed a Yemen army colonel (who was an intelligence specialist) in August. That sort of thing was not unusual, but one of the interrogators was a son of the murdered colonel and he promptly (and without permission) shot the three men dead. Apparently there will be no formal punishment of the young officer and this is largely attributed to the circumstances, including that the colonel and his family belong to a very powerful Sunni tribe in the south. September 14, 2017: In the south (Abyan province) an American UAV used a missile to kill three AQAP Islamic terrorists by destroying their vehicle while it was on a country road. September 13, 2017: In the south (Abyan province) a Saudi Typhoon fighter suffered some equipment failure during a low altitude support mission and crashed. The pilot was killed. September 12, 2017: A Roman Catholic priest from India was freed from captivity in Yemen with the help (unspecified) of the Omani government. This all began in March 2016 when a group of ISIL gunmen attacked an old age home in the port of Aden run by an Indian charity. The Islamic terrorists killed 16 people (including four elderly Indian nuns) and kidnapped the Indian priest. AQAP promptly denied any involvement but ISIL said nothing and there were soon rumors that ISIL had the Indian priest. It is unclear who was holding the priest as even the captive priest was unclear what group he was being held by. September 10, 2017: Off the southern coast a UAE aircraft went down due to equipment failure and the pilots was killed. The aircraft type has not been released yet. September 9, 2017: In central Yemen (Baida province) American UAVs attacked two targets and killed five AQAP Islamic terrorists. For its part, Mattel told the Post that it had decided to cancel the toy in July, after its new chief technology officer had canned plans for the product as part of an ongoing effort to deliver the best possible connected-product experience to the consumer. In the end, the fact that the Aristotle could stand in for a normal, flesh-and-blood parent led government officials to ask Mattel to not bring the toy to market, according to a report by The Washington Post. Sen. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Rep. Joe Barton (R-Tex.) were concerned about the toys effect on privacy, specifically the children in its care. According to a demonstration at the Consumer Electronics Show this past January, Aristotle consisted of two components: a webcam/baby monitor, and a cylindrical speaker that chatted back and forth with kids. Evoking the design of Google Home, the speaker also had colored LEDs embedded deep within. These lights could perform night-light duties as well as change colors in response to questions, or as parts of games. Perhaps more importantly, the Aristotle used Microsofts Cognitive Services, an AI technology that Mattel said would eventually be replaced with its Cortana digital assistant. It was a fairly high-profile win for Microsoft, which has said that it is trying to build Cortana into a range of products and services. So far, though, its only Cortana-powered product appears to be the Harman Kardon Invoke, a smart speaker due this fall. Meanwhile, Google and Amazon have announced several products powered by the Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa Voice service respectively, including smart speakers such as the new Google Home Mini. Amazon has partnered with a range of other manufacturers to embed Alexa into their products as well, including, most recently, Sonos and its new Sonos One speaker. Why this matters: Amazon, Apple, Google, and Microsoft would have you believe that smart speakers are increasingly necessary as digital assistants around the home. But where kids are concerned, legislators and parents alike are increasingly suspicious of toys that interact and learn from children. The Post story notes that Mattel cancelled Hello Barbie, an interactive Barbie doll that listened to and learned from its owners. And, of course, theres the perpetual concerns about webcam hacking and other ways of monitoring your children that can be twisted for other purposes. Google on Wednesday launched a bevy of new products into its growing hardware and software ecosystem at its Made by Google event. Many of the new devices are infused with artificial intelligence capabilities. Since last year and since Google I/O, weve been working hard, continuing our shift from a mobile-first to an AI-first world, Google CEO Sundar Pichai told the gathering. We are rethinking all our core products and working hard to solve user problems by applying machine learning and AI. Home Improvement Among the new entries are two new smart speakers that target both the mass market and the audiophile niche, and two next-generation upgrades to the companys Pixel phone line. The Google Home Mini is a US$49 smart speaker that is as small as a donut and enclosed by fabric, thus designed to fit comfortably in any room in a home. The new Home Max, Googles premium smart speaker, is designed to compete directly with the Apple HomePod and sophisticated devices from Sonos and Harman Kardon. It comes with 20 times more power than the original Google Home and Smart Sound technology that adjusts the sound based on its location in a room. Focus on Cameras Google announced its new Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL smartphones, touting their highest-ever smartphone camera ratings from independent camera expert DxOMark. The camera takes motion photos that is, it captures a few seconds of video around each still shot. It also features optical and electronic video stabilization for smoother videos. With augmented reality stickers, Pixel users can add emojis and virtual characters to photos. Pixel 2 and XL users will get an exclusive preview of Google Lens, accessible through Google Assistant, which uses machine learning and computer vision to find landmarks, books, music and art. The phones have a Snapdragon 835 processor and operate on Android 8.0 Oreo. The battery lasts all day and gains up to seven hours of life with only a 15-minute charge. The phones will receive monthly security updates and are water- and dust-resistant to an IP67 standard. The Pixel 2 comes with a 5-inch cinematic OLED display and pricing starting at $549. The Pixel 2 XL has a 6-inch OLED 18:9 display that allows for immersive viewing. Its starting price is $769. Both devices are available for preorder at the Google Store and other outlets in the United States, Canada, Germany, Puerto Rico and the UK. Real-Time Translation Google also introduced its first set of wireless headphones, Pixel Buds, at Wednesdays Made by Google event. The buds provide 24 hours of listening time on a charge and can translate language in real time using Google Assistant technology. They are available for preorder in the U.S., priced at $159. Google also launched a new Daydream View headset with high-performance lenses. It comes in new fog, charcoal and coal colors and can be used with Pixel and other VR-ready mobile phones. Google announced that 250 apps and games are now available for Daydream, up from the 25 apps and games available last year. Combo Device Google also announced the Google Pixelbook designed to combine the best features of a laptop, tablet and smartphone. The device is the companys thinnest and lightest portable computer, at only 10.3mm thick (less than half an inch) and weighing 1.3 kilograms (just under 3 pounds). The Pixelbook can function as a normal laptop with a foldable keyboard. In tablet mode, users can watch videos or view other content, read books or take notes. Tent mode makes it easy to follow a recipe in the kitchen. It uses the Chrome OS with Intel i5 and i7 processors. It has 10 hours of battery life and 512 GB of storage. The compatible Google Pixelbook Pen uses machine learning for handwriting recognition. The Pixelbook is the first laptop with built-in Google Assistant. It allows users to download apps that normally can be used only on a smartphone or tablet. It is available for preorder in three configurations starting at $999, with the pen sold separately for $99. Assistant Everywhere Googles chief message at the event appeared to be that Google Assistant widely regarded as the best artificial intelligence and machine learning technology in the space will be available to users everywhere, whether at home or on the go. I think what they are really trying to say is that people have really easy access, Mark Beccue, principal analyst at Tractica, told TechNewsWorld. How many touchpoints can I have to make it easy to access Google Assistant? Some critics have criticized Googles price points for the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL, suggesting the company is leaving money on the table, noted Charles King, principal analyst at Pund-IT. However, Google is much more interested in making its ecosystem available on a broader range of devices than Apple and Samsung can offer, he told TechNewsWorld. Overall, the key message for all their hardware products is Google Assistant and thats another differentiator for Google, said Jitesh Ubrani, senior research analyst at IDC. While Apple does a great job at providing a consistent experience across their devices, Google is focused on providing a custom experience, he told TechNewsWorld. To me, that has more stickiness. Apple plans to refresh its iPhone, TV and watch lines at an event scheduled Sept. 12, The Wall Street Journal reported Monday. In addition to upgrading its iPhone 7 models, the company is expected to debut a new mobile phone to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the brand, which the press has dubbed iPhone 8. It reportedly will have an OLED display with barely any bezel, a fingerprint scanner at the rear of the phone, and support for facial recognition and wireless charging. Reduction of the bezel, the area around the display, allows Apple to fit a 5.8-inch screen in a form factor just slightly larger than the current 4.7-inch iPhone 7. Apple plans to hold the event in Apple Park at the newly constructed Steve Jobs Theater, according to the Journal. Pricing for the iPhone 8 is expected to start at US$1,000, while pricing for the new iPhone 7s and 7s Plus models will be in line with current pricing, which starts at $649. The refresh of Apple TV reportedly will include 4K HDR output, and some models of the new Apple Watch will include LTE cellular support. Potential Shipment Delays If the Sept. 12 date is solid, then Apple likely will start collecting preorders for the new products by Sept. 15 and start shipping a week or two later. That might not be the case for the iPhone 8, however. I dont know if the totally redesigned phone will be shipping by the end of September. It seems a fair bet it wont, said Bob ODonnell, chief analyst at Technalysis Research. Im sure theyll have the 7s ready to ship, but its very unclear when the redesigned phone will get out the door, he told TechNewsWorld. Its not unprecedented for Apple to delay shipments of the advanced model of a product, noted Ross Rubin, the principal analyst at Reticle Research. Compared to iPhones in the past, there are a number of new components in the iPhone 8, including the first major change in display technology since the first iPhone, he told TechNewsWorld. That change alone could hold up shipments. There are fewer suppliers available for OLED displays, and Apple usually has pretty demanding specifications for its components, Rubin said. Fevered Anticipation Although the arrival of a new iPhone always creates a buzz, the anticipation around this round of models appears to be particularly high. Anticipation has been high because this is the 10th anniversary iPhone and people are expecting it to have significant new features, observed Tim Bajarin, president of Creative Strategies. Anticipation levels for an iPhone havent been at this level since the release of the first Plus model of the mobile, noted Technalysis ODonnell. When Apple jumped to a bigger screen size, that made a huge difference for a lot of people, he said, but even that doesnt compare to this at all. As high as anticipation levels are, it remains to be seen if the enthusiasm extends beyond the Apple faithful. The company is in an enviable position insofar as having a large, dedicated customer base that enthusiastically gobbles up new iPhones regardless of how good or costly they are, said Charles King, principal analyst at Pund-IT. Im not sure whether the current hoopla will sizably increase the size of that group, he told TechNewsWorld. Strategic Leaking Helping to build anticipation for the next generation of iPhones, especially the iPhone 8, has been a steady flow of rumors and leaks. It does seem like the churn of rumors about the new iPhones started earlier and has been more continuous than previous Apple handsets, observed Pund-ITs King. The supply chain has been very talkative over the last few months, Creative Strategies Bajarin told TechNewsWorld. Apple fans should avoid getting too invested in rumors, though, warnedKevin Krewell, principal analyst at Tirias Research. There are leaks, but we dont know if all the details are correct, he told TechNewsWorld. Some could be misdirection or wishful thinking. High-Stakes Game Apple may have more to gain or lose with this product refresh than with many previous ones. I believe the stakes are higher than ever for Apple, said Patrick Moorhead, principal analyst at Moor Insights and Strategy. Anticipation is high, and Apple finally has some competition in the super-premium smartphone market from the Samsung Note8, he told TechNewsWorld. Apple raises the bar for itself every time it releases a new iPhone, Bajarin noted, but since this is the 10th anniversary edition, there is a bit more interest when it comes to how many new things Apple will add to this model than its added in past models. Apple may not be the only company hoping that the iPhone 8 fulfills the buildup of anticipation. There have been signs that smartphones as a segment are reaching a plateau, King said. As a result, a lot of folks, including competitors, are hoping the new iPhone will help revive the market and open new vistas. Previously known as Arrow Launcher, Microsoft is aiming to create a more fluid experience when switching between Android and Windows 10. Microsoft Launcher allows continuity for editing documents, sharing photos, and provides the ability to pin contacts to your home screen. A personalized feed is also included in the launcher to keep you up to date on calendar events, news, and changes to documents or contacts. The feed is able to be selected as your home screen instead of a regular page full of apps. Another useful feature included is gesture customization. If your current Android skin does not support the commands you want, Microsoft Launcher likely does. Double tapping to lock your device and swiping up for an app drawer are key inclusions. Admittedly there could be a few more gesture options available, but I had no problems with the choices provided. A minor inconvenience that I ran into while using the app drawer is that it is easy to accidentally open an app on the regular dock while trying to close the app drawer. One of the features that I miss on my Galaxy smartphone is that live wallpapers were removed. Microsoft provides wallpapers through Bing that can be refreshed daily. This is not unique to Microsoft Launcher, but it is worth mentioning. I chose to disable the feature in the end and keep a static wallpaper since some of the images used made it difficult to read app names and other text on the home screen. Microsoft Launcher is available in preview form on the Play Store. There is no official timeline for when the preview tag will be dropped from the title, but with the upcoming Fall Creators Update for Windows 10 on October 17, it would seem reasonable that Microsoft may advertise their own launcher at the same time or shortly thereafter. Brazil's vice-president-elect and coordinator of the transition team of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's government, Geraldo Alckmin, asked Jair Bolsonaro's government for access to complete... | Read More Oliver Hoffmann Takes Over As The New Head Of Technical Development At Audi Sport INGOLSTADT, October 5, 2017: Oliver Hoffmann (40) took over as Head of Technical Development at Audi Sport GmbH on October 1. He succeeds Stephan Reil (52) in this role, and is now responsible for the upcoming product campaign from the Audi subsidiary brand. By 2020, the number of Audi Sport series production models is set to increase from 11 to 16. Most recently, Oliver Hoffmann worked on powertrain development at AUDI AG. His previous professional roles both in Germany and abroad include quality management at Automobili Lamborghini and at the Audi factory in Gyor, Hungary, as well as the development of the V10 high-performance engines used in the Audi R8 (combined fuel consumption in l/100 km: 12.4 - 13.6; combined CO2 emissions in g/km: 309 - 283**). Hoffmann was born in 1977 in Hanover and studied mechanical engineering. With the appointment of Oliver Hoffmann, we have gained a highly qualified manager for the Technical Development division, says Stephan Winkelmann, CEO of Audi Sport GmbH. With his experience and skills, Hoffmann will help to realize the expansion of the Audi Sport brand. Hoffman has taken over as Head of Technical Development at Audi Sport GmbH from Stephan Reil. Part of the foundations of Audi Sport, Reil has been responsible for the development of all vehicle projects since the first Audi RS 4 Avant in the year 1999. Through his dedication and hard work over many years, Stephen Reil has contributed significantly to the growth and success of Audi Sport, emphasizes Stephan Winkelmann. Reil is taking on a new role within AUDI AG. Consumption figures for the specified models: Audi R8: Combined fuel consumption in l/100 km: 12.4 - 13.6** Combined CO2 emissions in g/km: 309 - 283** **Figures are dependent on the variant. Harvey Weinstein and Lisa Bloom. Variety and The Hollywood Reporter revealed yesterday that Harvey Weinstein has assembled an intimidating team of lawyers, publicists, and crisis managers to prepare for two potentially explosive stories about improper workplace behavior and sexual allegations against him. The New York Times and The New Yorker have apparently been working on the reports about his personal behavior for some time, and something could break as early as next week. Of course, there have been rumors about Weinstein and his interactions with women for years, but now he may finally have to reckon with them in a very public way. Celebrity attorney Lisa Bloom is going to help him, she confirmed yesterday. After it was reported that she had taken Weinstein on as a client, she told Variety, Harvey Weinstein is obviously excellent at assembling a legal team. Bloom is no stranger to high-profile cases, but it is odd that she is choosing to represent someone who may be accused of sexual impropriety and improper workplace behavior. Bloom is famous for defending victims of sexual harassment and assault, most recently Blac Chyna, Mischa Barton, and multiple harassment victims of Bill OReilly. After Fox News finally fired OReilly in April, she tweeted, When women speak our truth the old order shatters. We slayed the dragon. So why would Bloom defend Weinstein? Its complicated, surely, but its worth pointing out that he optioned her book about the Trayvon Martin case, Suspicion Nation, back in March. Variety reported at the time that it was a competitive auction and that several other studios were interested. Weinstein may not have known then that the Times and New Yorker were preparing stories about him, but Ronan Farrow, who is reporting for The New Yorker, has apparently been digging into the allegations for a year. We have reached out to Bloom for comment and will update if we hear back. This undated photo provided by Eric Paddock shows his brother, Las Vegas gunman Stephen Paddock. (Courtesy of Eric Paddock via AP) Brother of Vegas Gunman Wanted by Police: Report The brother of Las Vegas gunman Stephen Paddock is wanted by police for unrelated charges, it was reported. Bruce Paddock, 57, is wanted in Los Angeles County for a slew of violations, TMZ reported, citing police records. He was arrested for vandalism three years ago after he jacked up a moving companys property, TMZ said. At the time, he plead no contest and got 150 hours of community service. He didnt show for a 2016 court date, and a judge issued a bench warrant. Bruce has a long rap sheet, according to the website, which includes arrests for arson, burglary and criminal threats. Bruce isnt the same brother who gave a number of interviews to the media about Stephen following the shooting. Stephen, 64, is accused of killing at least 58 and injuring hundreds more in a shooting spree on Sunday night at a country music festival. What we know is that Stephen Paddock is a man who spent decades acquiring weapons and ammo and living a secret life, much of which will never be fully understood, Clark County Sheriff Joseph Lombardo told reporters on Wednesday night, Reuters reported. Lombardo said he found it hard to believe that the arsenal of weapons, ammunition and explosives recovered by police in their investigation could have been assembled by Paddock completely on his own. You have to make an assumption that he had some help at some point, Lombardo said. Before his Las Vegas attack, Paddock booked rooms in a Chicago hotel that overlooked the site of the August Lollapalooza music festival, USA Today reported on Thursday, Oct. 5, citing an unnamed law enforcement official. It was unclear if Paddock ever used the room or was in Chicago during the festival, the newspaper quoted the official as saying. We are aware of the media reports and have been in communication with our federal partners, Chicago police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said about the report. Some 489 people were also injured when Paddock strafed an outdoor concert with gunfire on Sunday night from his 32nd-floor suite of the Mandalay Bay hotel on the Las Vegas Strip. He then took his own life. Reuters contributed to this report. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during question period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Sept. 28, 2016. (The Canadian Press/Sean Kilpatrick) Canadian Lawmakers Call to Join US Missile Defense in Light of North Korea Threat Conservative lawmakers in Canada are calling on Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus government to re-consider joining the United States in its missile defense program. The calls come in the wake of increasing threats on the West from North Koreaincluding the nuclear attack of cities in the United Statescoupled with an alarming advancement of Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) capability being demonstrated by the communist regime. Canada first decided against joining Americas advanced missile defense program in 2005. The last six months have been a gamechanger, Canadian conservative foreign affairs critic Erin OToole said, the Toronto Star reported. Accordingly, were urging the government to fill the one gap that exists in North American defence. Trudeau said in August that his government has no intention of joining the program. We will always take the decisions in terms of what is the best interests of Canadians, Trudeau said at the time. And our long-standing positions on those two issues are not going to be changed any time soon. Despite that, several Canadian lawmakers say they were alarmed after learning that it is not a priority for the United States to defend Canada against a ballistic missile attack from a foreign enemy. Last month, Canadas highest ranking officer at the North American Aerospace Defend Command (NORAD) said that the U.S. policy is to not defend Canada if it is targeted in a ballistic missile attack. Were being told in Colorado Springs that the extant U.S. policy is not to defend Canada, said Lt.-Gen. Pierre St-Amand, deputy commander of Colorado-based NORAD, the Toronto Star reported at the time. President Trump has frequently called out its allies for not contributing their fair share for military defense. Most NATO members are not spending the 2 percent of GDP required of them on defense. The United States spends more than any other NATO member on defense, spending 3.6% of its GDP last year. President Donald Trump (L), greets Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the White House in Washington on Feb. 13, 2017. (Mark Wilson/Getty Images) The United States has significantly increased its spending on missile defense since the Trump administration came in. The Pentagon is receiving an additional $440 million for its missile defense programs within the next few weeks. North Koreas Rapid Development NORAD Commander Gen. Lori J. Robinson said that shes been surprised by the rapid development of North Koreas ballistic missile technology. Even in my very short time in NORTHCOM and my very short time of watching what hes doing, the amount of things that hes increased in his capability and capacity has been amazing, Robinson said at an event in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 27. We look at the fact that hes tested 30 percent more than his father and grandfather combined, Robinson said. Last week Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said that Kim Jong Un has tested an estimated 85 ballistic missiles since coming to power in 2011. North Korean state media announced last week that its state nuclear program was nearing completion. While some technical problems remain in the regimes nuclear program, U.S. military officers, including Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Joseph Dunford, believe its only a matter of time before those are resolved. Dunford told the Senate Armed Services Committee on Sept. 26 that the United States should assume North Korea is already capable of hitting the U.S. mainland with a nuclear weapon. TAOYUAN, TaiwanWith posters, program booklets, and DVDs, about a dozen Shen Yun Symphony Orchestra fans gathered around Milen Nachev, the orchestras conductor, to get his autograph. They were among about 70 people who bid farewell to the orchestra at Taoyuan International Airport on Oct. 4. I saw the performance at Zhongli Arts Hall on Sept. 20. I liked the performance so much, for it brought me much-needed peace, said Kate Chen, a product quality engineer. So today, I came with much gratitude, and I want to express my hope that they will be back next year. Based in New York, Shen Yun Symphony Orchestra comprises musicians from world-renowned Shen Yun Performing Arts, which has expanded to five touring groups since its debut in 2006. This year marks the second year that the orchestra has traveled to Taiwan, where it put on 15 performances in two weeksall nearly sold-out. For many concertgoers in Taiwan, it was their second experience with the orchestra. Debbie Chang, 23, an elementary school teacher in Taoyuan, raved about Mr. Nachevs humorous interactions with the audience. A huge fan of Shen Yuns orchestra, Ms. Chang said it had become part of her daily life. Shen Yun has its own YouTube channel, so I visit the channel every now and then to see if the company posts anything new, Ms. Chang said. With the orchestras next stop in Toronto on Oct. 11, Ms. Chang had this to say: You must go see it! A Warm Reception in Taiwan For Mr. Nachev and members of the orchestra, the Taiwan tour has always been specialfor the way audience members react to the music, the standing ovations, and at least two or three encores, Mr. Nachev said. One reason the orchestras music has deeply resonated with people in Taiwan is that they find common ground with the orchestras missionthe revival of traditional Chinese culture. While such culture has been lost in modern-day China, it has flourished on the island. Alistair Crawford, trombone player for the orchestra, couldnt agree more: People are always enthusiastic here. They really seem to understand the culture on quite a deep level, and they really appreciate what we are doing. Eric Robins, a Shen Yun trumpet player, appreciated the hospitality he experienced in Taiwan. The weather is very warm, but the people are even warmer. In America, we call it southern hospitalitywhen you are always welcomed with open arms. I feel Taiwan really has that attribute [as well], Mr. Robins said. Shen Yuns Unique Music The orchestras music is unique in beautifully bringing together Western and Chinese instruments. For many musicians in the orchestra, this was a new experience. Everyday I work with Chinese composers, and we share our experience, said Mr. Nachev, a graduate of the St. Petersburg Conservatory in Russia who had already established his career as a conductor before joining Shen Yun. This way, I can learn much faster about Chinese music, about Chinese traditions, and about Chinese instruments. In the all-original compositions, Chinese instruments, such as the pipa and erhu, carry the melodies to give the music pieces their unique flavor, while Western instruments provide a rich foundation, according to Shen Yuns website. Mr. Robins, who holds a masters degree from the New England Conservatory, explained how, as a trumpet player, he is able to bring out the unique Chinese flavor. I just always look for the melody. I never try to play anything technically, but only musically, he said. I am really trying to bring out the lines that the melody is trying to show, no matter what sort of technique is represented in that composition. But beyond the instrumentsthe unique combination of East and Westthe orchestra stands out as one-of-a-kind compared with other orchestras in the world, Mr. Nachev says. We are not only going to amuse people, but we are also going to inspire their spirit, he said. The message we are sending is the message of humanity, the message about the culture, about the emotions, about the spirit, and about belief. Having concluded the Asian leg of the 2017 Concert Tour, the orchestra will perform at Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto on Oct. 11, returning to the venue after last years successful engagement there. The Canadian trip will be followed by performances in Boston, New York, and Washington, D.C. Reporting by NTD Television and Frank Fang New York-based Shen Yun Symphony Orchestra comprises musicians from the five Shen Yun Performing Arts touring companies. The Epoch Times considers Shen Yun Performing Arts the significant cultural event of our time and has covered audience reactions since the companys inception in 2006. Final Words of Ambassador Killed in Benghazi Attacks Are Revealed by Bodyguard A bodyguard has revealed the last words of former U.S. Ambassador to Libya J. Christopher Stevens, before his death in Benghazi, Libya, in September 2012. Agent Scott Wickland testified this week that Stevens told him, When I die, you need to pick up my gun and keep fighting, The Associated Press reported. Wickland was the first government witness at the trial for Ahmed Abu Khattala, a Libyan who is suspected of plotting the attack that killed Stevens and three other Americans. Wickland said that during the attack, the weapons fire and explosions produced thick smoke that blinded the three. They dropped to the floor and crawled, and he said that he was trying to lead them to a bathroom where he could close the door and open a window. Jury trial of Ahmed Abu Khattala, suspected mastermind of the 2012 Benghazi attack, has the potential to showcase the value of prosecuting terrorism cases in American courts rather than military tribunals. https://t.co/TV3oi3hxnc pic.twitter.com/kTyyNDDwHh The Washington Times (@WashTimes) October 1, 2017 Ahmed Abu Khattala is going on trial for the attacks that killed four Americans https://t.co/r3fn23TQh0 pic.twitter.com/1UNv1BRujz Mother Jones (@MotherJones) September 27, 2017 I was breathing through the last centimeter of air on the ground, Wickland said. Im yelling, Come on. We can make it. Were going to the bathroom. Within 8 meters, they disappeared. But, he said, they disappeared after that. To this day, I dont even know where they went. I was right next to them, and then thats it, Wickland said. I had my hand on Ambassador Stevens. I could hear Sean shuffling. Abu Khattala is being tried in a U.S. district court, a civilian court. In a statement, defense attorney Jeffrey Robinson described Abu Khattala as a Libyan patriot who fought to topple the regime of Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi in 2011. He didnt shoot anyone. He didnt set any fires. He did not participate in the attacks, Robinson said. But prosecutor John Crabb said he is just as guilty for planning the attack, setting it in motion, and encouraging others to do his dirty work, CNN reported. Crabb said that the suspect hates Americans with a vengeance. Abu Khattala, the man accused of being responsible for leading the attacks on #Benghazi trial begins this month. May we never forget ?? pic.twitter.com/qqIkrRSUG2 E I ? (@passionatechica) September 8, 2017 He faces 18 charges related to the violence that began Sept. 11, 2012, which includes murder of an internationally protected person, providing material support to terrorists, and destroying U.S. property. Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens choked to death by thick black smoke. Sean Smith choked to death by thick black smoke. Glen Doherty and Tyrone Woods were blown apart by mortar fire, Crabb added. The Ineos plant in Grangemouth, Scotland, as the first shipment of shale gas from the United States arrived in Britain on Sept. 27, 2016. (ANDY BUCHANAN/AFP/Getty Images) Fracking in Scotland Could Be Banned Indefinitely The Scottish government announced an effective ban on fracking on Tuesday, Oct. 3. Energy Minister Paul Wheelhouse said that an existing moratorium on fracking from 2015 that put planning approvals in the country on hold for unconventional oil and gas extraction, including fracking, would continue indefinitely. Fracking cannot and will not take place in Scotland, he said. Frackingor hydraulic fracturinginvolves drilling deep into the Earth to reach shale formations. A mixture of water, chemicals, and other ingredients, such as sand, are then pumped into the rock at high pressure, causing the rock to fracture. This releases the gas and oil trapped in the rock, which is then extracted. The technique is controversial because critics say that the fracking fluid can contaminate drinking water. There are also concerns that fractures in the rock could cause earth tremors. Fracking advocates say that there are only risks to water if safety protocols are not followed, and that it is an economical source of energy that creates jobs. The decision to ban fracking in Scotland came after the government held a public consultation that showed there was overwhelming support for the ban, the Scottish government said. Having taken account of the interests of the environment, our economy, public health and the overwhelming majority of public opinion, the decision I am announcing today means fracking cannot and will not take place in Scotland, Wheelhouse told members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs). A vote in the Scottish Parliament that is expected to happen later this year would finalise the ban. But with only the Tories, which make up 24 per cent of Parliament, opposed to it, it is very likely the ban will continue. The public consultation received over 60,000 responses, of which around 99 per cent were opposed to fracking and less than 1 per cent was in favour, the government said. Scottish Greens MSP Mark Ruskell welcomed the ban, but felt that it needed to be stronger. We are still a long way from turning a planning moratorium into a watertight ban that can resist legal challenge from powerful companies like Ineos [an oil and gas firm that owns a petrochemical plant], he said. Mary Church, head of campaigns at Friends of the Earth Scotland, was similarly concerned that the extension of the planning moratorium did not go far enough. She said in a statement that the Scottish government should go further than relying on planning powers to give effect to this ban, and instead commit to passing a law to ban the fracking industry for good. The Scottish Conservatives called the decision to ban fracking short-sighted and economically damaging. According to the Scottish governments own scientists, the extraction of shale from Scotland, with the right safety checks, could be done safely, said Scottish Conservative shadow finance secretary Murdo Fraser. It could also support thousands of jobs and deliver economic benefits to communities. When speaking of the governments own scientists, Fraser was referring to a review of underground coal gasification published in 2016, a spokesperson for the Scottish Conservatives said. The review was lead by Professor Campbell Gemmell from the University of Glasgow, who was appointed by the Scottish government. The review suggests that underground coal gasification, a technique similar to fracking but that uses fire to extract gas from coal instead of a water mixture that fracking uses to extract gas from shale, could be viable, but only if the industry can satisfy certain requirements. In the executive summary of the report, Gemmell concludes: At this point, it does not appear, that the tests could be met. In which case, it would appear logical, the current moratorium being justified, to maintain it, or, as in Queensland, [Australia] to progress towards a ban for the foreseeable future. As circumstances suggest, either arrangement could be revisited in due course. Fraser points out that the Scottish government is happy to receive shale from the U.S. to refine at Grangemoutha major industry in itselfyet doesnt want to have that technology here. It could also support thousands of jobs and deliver economic benefits to communities, he said. Ineos said the ban would be a blow to Scotland by negatively affecting jobs, energy security, and growth. A 2013 report commissioned by the Scottish government identifies areas that need more research and public consultation. Like the 2016 report, it suggests that the industry might be able to develop safely subject to robust regulation being in place. Tom Pickering, operations director at Ineos Shale said: It is a sad day for those of us who believe in evidence-led decision making. The Scottish Government has turned its back on a potential manufacturing and jobs renaissance and lessened Scottish academias place in the world by ignoring its findings. Harvested Alive Documentary Inspires Texas A&M Students to Take Action COLLEGE STATION, TexasA showing of the award-winning documentary Harvested Alive at Texas A&M University on Sept. 28 left audience members wanting to spread the word about atrocities taking place in China. The film tells the story of a 10-year-long investigation by the World Organization to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong (WOIPFG) into the crimes of mass forced organ harvesting in China. Reports by former Canadian Secretary of State (Asia-Pacific) David Kilgour, international human rights lawyer David Matas, and investigative journalist Ethan Gutmann, as well as by WOIPFG, have previously marshalled the evidence showing that there has been mass killing of prisoners of conscience to supply Chinas transplantation industry with organs, starting soon after the Chinese regimes persecution of Falun Gong began in July 1999. Harvested Alive also presents this evidence, but it does so to make the case that the organ harvesting in China is a state-directed crime. As director Jun Li told The Epoch Times in a previous interview, These are not doctors acting in their individual capacity, but the entire state apparatus that is committing this heinous crime. The order to pillage the organs of Falun Gong practitioners came from the top down. The film quotes former Politburo member Bo Xilai as saying that then-Communist Party leader Jiang Zemin had issued the order of live organ harvesting from Falun Gong practitioners. Significance Organized by the university chapter of Amnesty International, the showing of the award-winning filmwhich in January won Hollywood International Independent Documentary awards in the categories of director and foreign documentary featurehad created some buzz on campus. The registration was full two days prior to the event, and as a result, many people inquired if they could still attend as unregistered guests. Many viewers showed up early to get their seats, and a handful could not be admitted after all the seats were filled. The full house of 180 was moved by the film, as evidenced by the discussion that followed, with remarks by College Station Mayor Karl P. Mooney setting the tone. What are you going to do to be significant in this world? How are you going to make a difference? You can make a difference, Mooney said. Some of you have parents, friends, grandparents who might need a transplant, and you can discourage them from going to China, from utilizing this particular source, Mooney said. Thats one step. Take the knowledge that you gained tonight, establish a purpose for your life, and strive to be significant! Mooney broadened his talk from what the audience members could do in response to the film, to what the United States could do. The U.S. has taken one step with H.Res.343, back in June of 2016, Mooney said. That House resolution expresses concern regarding persistent and credible reports of systematic, state-sanctioned organ harvesting from non-consenting prisoners of conscience in the Peoples Republic of China, including from large numbers of Falun Gong practitioners and members of other religious and ethnic minority groups. Mooney said he hoped the Senate would now pass a similar resolution. I hope that President Trump will look at it particularly once the Senate comes up with the resolution, Mooney said, and decide [on] the appropriate avenue of communication to China. You cant turn a deaf ear [on this]. Taking Action In the audience were over a dozen members of the Corps of Cadets, a uniformed, student military organization at Texas A&M. The film is extremely eye-opening, said cadet David Campbell. It breaks my heart to see something so awful is happening in the world, and it makes me want to continue my academics so I can make a positive change in the future. Cadet Robert Riegert said: This film motivates me to protect my family and the families that cant protect themselves. So as a cadet, thats what I come away with tonight. Campbell agreed with one of Mooneys suggestions, discouraging others from going to China for transplants. I have family members who are going through surgeries, Campbell said. The very first thing I was thinking as the documentary was ending is that when I get out of here, I will immediately tell them, Dont go to China to get these procedures. Riegert wants to spread the word about what he learned from the film. We will do as much as we can to get the word out. It shouldnt be happening. We will do what we can to help stop it, he said. Faviana Soto, an international studies student, said: This issue is going to reach people in Honduras because I will tell my family members and my friends and share the documentary with them. This is a very good start to exposing this issue. The documentary is free to download from the films website, HarvestedAlive.com, and so can easily be shared. Many of the audience members signed a petition urging Texas senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz to co-sponsor the resolution S.Res.220. That resolution, which is being considered by the Senate during this session of Congress, expresses solidarity with Falun Gong practitioners who have lost lives, freedoms, and rights for adhering to their beliefs and practices and condemns the practice of non-consenting organ harvesting. Stephen Gregory contributed to this report. The secondary fence of the U.S.-Mexico border is near an area popularly known as "Smuggler's Gulch," in San Diego on July 12, 2017. The Border Patrol added a second layer of concertina wire along the bottom of the fence which helped curtail assaults on agents. (Joshua Philipp/The Epoch Times) House Committee Passes $10 Billion Funding for Border Wall A border security bill that includes $10 billion in spending for a border wallwall, fencing, technology, air assets, and other barrierswas passed by the House Homeland Security Committee on Oct. 5. In addition to the wall funding, the bill would add 5,000 Border Patrol agents and 5,000 Customs and Border Protection officers. The bill, named Border Security for America Act, includes $5 billion to help combat illicit drug trafficking at major ports of entrymost drugs enter the country over bridges and airports, rather than over the border. Funding up to $35 million would be available to deploy the National Guard to help with aviation and intelligence support along the southwest border, especially in Texas, which has called for help in securing the border. Texas has one of the more difficult borders to secure, due to much of the border being the Rio Grande. Most of the nations illegal border crossers come over the river in the Rio Grande Valley. The bill, introduced by Rep. Michael McCaul (RTexas), also targets visa overstayers by fully rolling out biometric entry and exit systems at all air, land, and sea ports of entry. A significant portion of the illegal immigrants in the United States are visa overstayers. In 2016, more than 544,000 people on visas who were supposed to leave the United States, did not, according to the Department of Homeland Security. Labourers work on a prototype of a border wall that could be built along the border between the United States and Mexico on Sept. 28, 2017. (OMAR MARTINEZ/AFP/Getty Images) Committee votes for the bill followed party lines with an 1812 split and, if brought to a vote in the House, it is expected to pass. However, it would likely die in the Senate, where it needs 60 votes. Republicans hold 52 seats in the Senate and the Democratic leadership has vowed to oppose a wall. The construction of a border wall along the southwest border has been a key promise of President Donald Trump, and one he is adamant in fulfilling. The new bill is aligned with Trumps executive order, Border Security and Immigration Enforcement Improvements introduced during the first week of his presidency. The order asked for the immediate construction of a physical wall on the southern border, monitored and supported by adequate personnel so as to prevent illegal immigration, drug and human trafficking, and acts of terrorism. Trump has consistently mentioned the construction of a border wall throughout his presidency, and tweeted on Sept. 14: The WALL, which is already under construction in the form of new renovation of old and existing fences and walls, will continue to be built. Submissions for wall prototypes were solicited earlier in the year and the eight winning companies broke ground on their designs in San Diego at the end of September. They are expected to take 30 days to build. Four of the prototypes will be made of concrete, while the other four will be constructed of alternate or other materials, according to Customs and Border Protection (CBP). All eight prototypes will be between 18 and 30 feet high and designed to deter illegal crossings in the area in which they are constructed and will inform future design standards which will likely continue to evolve to meet the U.S. Border Patrols requirements, CBP said in a statement. An iPhone 7 Plus with its new dual camera is displayed at Puerta del Sol Apple Store. (Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images) iPhone 7 Saves Womans Life During Vegas Massacre A taxi driver posted a photo of an iPhone that saved a womans life during the Las Vegas massacre on Sunday, Oct. 1, Business Insider reported. A photo of the iPhone shows shattered glass and what appears to be impact damage from a bullet. The woman told the cab driver who snapped the photo that it was. The damage can be seen on the bottom edge of the iPhone, showing where the bullet penetrated both the hard plastic protective case and into the iPhone inside. Las Vegas concertgoer's life is saved by her IPHONE after a bullet shatters rose gold handset during deadly attack pic.twitter.com/R1RE1mt1Oy Pst. Gbenro (@gbenro) October 4, 2017 The identity of the woman was not disclosed and she has yet to be interviewed. While the phone looks like it was indeed struck by a bullet, an expert would be needed to verify why the bullet didnt completely penetrate the iPhone. The gunman, Stephen Paddock, was using very powerful weapons. The distance from the shooter, the velocity of the bullet, and the angle it hit the iPhone would have to be taken into account. At least 58 people died after the gunman opened fire at a country music festival in Las Vegas, shooting at people attending the outdoor country rock concert from the window of his 32nd floor hotel room. Police said when they finally got to Paddock over an hour later, he had already killed himself. Paddocks girlfriend, Marilou Danleywho authorities recently upgraded to a person of interest in the investigation after initially clearing herreturned to the United States on Oct. 4 for questioning. Paddock had sent her to her native Philippines before he went to the hotel. He also wired $100 thousand to the Philippines, presumably for Danley, though authorities did not confirm the recipient. Danley is currently with the FBI in Los Angeles for questioning to find out a motive for what turned out to be the largest mass shooting in U.S. history. Paddock had no criminal record and doesnt appear to have been connected to any extremist groups. His father, however, was a convicted bank robber who was in prison during Paddocks childhood, and spent years on the FBIs most wanted after escaping from prison. From NTD.tv This undated photo provided by Eric Paddock shows his brother, Las Vegas gunman Stephen Paddock. (Courtesy of Eric Paddock via AP) Las Vegas Gunman Booked Rooms Near Lollapalooza: Reports Las Vegas gunman Stephen Paddock may have set his sights on another music festival. In August, he booked a hotel room in Chicago with a room facing the Lollapalooza music festival, according to a law enforcement official, who spoke to USA Today. In killing 58 people and wounding hundreds more, the 64-year-old fired from a suite on 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay hotel in Las Vegas on Sunday night, Oct. 2. He had about two dozen guns. But two months earlier, he booked one room at the Blackstone Hotel starting on Aug. 1, two days before the Lollapalooza festival opened. He booked another room on Aug. 3 at the Blackstone. The Blackstone confirmed to USA Today that the rooms were booked in his name, but he didnt stay there during those dates. The rooms had a checkout date of Aug. 6, which corresponded with the final day of Lollapalooza. Its not clear if he was in Chicago during the festival, a law enforcement official told the newspaper. Lorde, Chance the Rapper, and Arcade Fire played at Lollapalooza this yearwith about 100,000 people attending. Former President Obamas daughters, Malia and Sasha, attended the festival. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel also showed up, reported the Chicago Tribune. The Chicago Police Department is now investigating reports that he booked rooms there. We are aware of the media reports and have been in communication with our federal partners, said Anthony Guglielmi, Chief spokesman for the police department. Las Vegas Sheriff Joseph Lombardo told reporters Paddock also rented several rooms via Airbnb at The Ogden hotel in Las Vegas last month. The dates corresponded with the Life is Beautiful music festival held from Sept. 22-24. Was he doing pre-surveillance? said Lombardo. We dont know yet. Citing law enforcement sources, NBC News reported that he had researched locations in Boston. But investigators probing Sunday nights shooting are still confused by Paddocks motives. What we know is that Stephen Paddock is a man who spent decades acquiring weapons and ammo and living a secret life, much of which will never be fully understood, Clark County Sheriff Joseph Lombardo told reporters on Wednesday night, Reuters reported. Lombardo said he found it hard to believe that the arsenal of weapons, ammunition and explosives that were found by police in their investigation could have been procured by him on his own. Police suspect that he may have received help. Stephen Paddock, 64, the gunman who attacked the Route 91 Harvest music festival in a mass shooting in Las Vegas, is seen in an undated social media photo obtained by Reuters on October 3, 2017. (Social media/Handout via Reuters) Las Vegas Gunman Stockpiled Weapons over Decades, Planned Attack LAS VEGASThe Las Vegas gunman who killed 58 people and himself in the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history stockpiled weapons and ammunition over decades, and meticulously planned the attack, authorities believe. But what led Stephen Paddock, 64, to unleash the carnage he did remains largely a mystery. What we know is that Stephen Paddock is a man who spent decades acquiring weapons and ammo and living a secret life, much of which will never be fully understood, Clark County Sheriff Joseph Lombardo said at a news briefing on Wednesday night Lombardo said he found it hard to believe that the arsenal of weapons, ammunition and explosives recovered by police in their investigation could have been assembled by Paddock completely on his own. You have to make an assumption that he had some help at some point, Lombardo said. Some 489 people were also injured when Paddock strafed an outdoor concert with gunfire on Sunday night from his 32nd-floor suite of the Mandalay Bay hotel on the Las Vegas Strip. He then took his own life. There is evidence that Paddock tried to survive and escape. He also may have scouted out the location, renting a room at the Ogden, a nearby hotel, during the Life is Beautiful festival a week earlier, Lombardo said. Police recovered nearly 50 firearms from three locations they searched, nearly half of them from the hotel suite. Twelve of the rifles there were fitted with so-called bump stocks, officials said, allowing the guns to be fired almost as though they were automatic weapons. Lombardo said investigators were examining the possibility Paddocks purchase of more than 30 guns in October 2016 may have been precipitated by some event in his life. He did not elaborate. There remained no evidence as yet to indicate terrorism in the shooting spree, said Aaron Rouse, FBI special agent in charge of the Las Vegas field office. Paddocks girlfriend Marilou Danley was questioned by the FBI on Wednesday and said in a statement she was unaware of the Paddocks plans. He never said anything to me or took any action that I was aware of that I understood in any way to be a warning that something horrible like this was going to happen, Danley, 62, said in a statement released by her lawyer Matt Lombard. Danley returned late on Tuesday from a family visit to the Philippines. She is regarded by investigators as a person of interest. Lombard said his client was cooperating fully with authorities. A Federal Bureau of Investigation official in Las Vegas, meanwhile, said no one has been taken into custody. Australian Citizen An Australian citizen of Filipino heritage, Danley said she flew back to the United States voluntarily because I know that the FBI and Las Vegas Police Department wanted to talk to me, and I wanted to talk to them. Danley, who was twice married before her relationship with Paddock, became a focus of the investigation for having shared his retirement community condo in Mesquite, Nevada, northeast of Las Vegas, before leaving the United States for the Philippines in mid-September. FBI agents met her plane at Los Angeles International Airport before interviewing her, two U.S. officials briefed on the case told Reuters. Investigators questioned her about Paddocks weapons purchases, a $100,000 wire transfer to a Philippine bank that appeared to be intended for her, and whether she saw any changes in his behavior before she left the United States. Danley said Paddock had bought her an airline ticket to visit her family and wired her money to purchase property there, leading her to worry he might be planning to break up with her. Paddocks brother Eric told reporters the $100,000 transfer was evidence that Steve took care of the people he loved, and that he probably wanted to protect Danley by sending her overseas before the attack. She arrived in Manila on Sept. 15, flew to Hong Kong on Sept. 22, returned to Manila on Sept. 25 and was there until she flew to Los Angeles on Tuesday night, according to a Philippine immigration official. Discerning Paddocks motive has proven especially baffling given the absence of the indicators typical in other mass shootings. He had no criminal record, no known history of mental illness and no outward signs of social disaffection, political discontent or extremist ideology, police said. Reuters Las Vegas Gunmans Girlfriend Says No Advance Knowledge of Massacre LAS VEGASThe girlfriend of the Las Vegas gunman who killed 58 people and himself in the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history was questioned by the FBI on Wednesday and said she had no idea he was planning violence against anyone. A candlelight vigil is held at Zack Bagans Haunted Museum in remembrance of victims following the mass shooting along the Las Vegas Strip in Las Vegas, Nevada on Oct. 3, 2017. (REUTERS/Mike Blake) Marilou Danley, who returned late on Tuesday from a family visit to the Philippines and is regarded by investigators as a person of interest, said through a lawyer that the carnage Stephen Paddock unleashed while she was abroad caught her completely unaware. He never said anything to me or took any action that I was aware of that I understood in any way to be a warning that something horrible like this was going to happen, Danley, 62, said in a written statement read to reporters by her attorney in Los Angeles, where she was being questioned. I knew Stephen Paddock as a kind, caring, quiet man. I loved him and hoped for a quiet future together with him, she said. It never occurred to me in any way whatsoever that he was planning violence against anyone. Her lawyer, Matt Lombard, said Danley was fully cooperating with the investigation. Danley, an Australian citizen of Filipino heritage, said she flew back to the United States voluntarily because I know that the FBI and Las Vegas Police Department wanted to talk to me, and I wanted to talk to them. Fifty-eight people died and more than 500 were injured when Paddock, 64, strafed an outdoor concert with gunfire on Sunday night from his 32nd-floor suite of the Mandalay Bay hotel on the Las Vegas Strip. He took his own life before police stormed his room, where they found as many as 23 guns, bringing the total death toll to 59. Twelve of his rifles were fitted with so-called bump stocks, officials said, allowing the guns to be fired almost as though they were automatic weapons. Following the Money Investigators, at a loss to determine a motive for Sundays bloodshed, have focused on Danley, who had shared Paddocks retirement community condo in Mesquite, Nevada, northeast of Las Vegas, before leaving the United States for the Philippines in mid-September. Federal Bureau of Investigation agents met her plane at Los Angeles International Airport and took her away for questioning, two U.S. officials briefed on the case told Reuters. A woman leaves flowers at a makeshift memorial on the Las Vegas Strip for victims of the Route 91 music festival mass shooting next to the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada on Oct. 3, 2017. (REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson) The officials said that as of midday Wednesday, there was no indication she was aware of Paddocks plans. Investigators questioned her about Paddocks weapons purchases, a $100,000 wire transfer to a Philippine bank that appeared to be intended for her, and whether she saw any changes in his behavior before she left the United States. Assuming she had no role in his actions, the most important thing is any light she can shed on Paddocks motive, said one official, who spoke about the investigation on condition of anonymity. Danley said in her statement that Paddock had bought her an airline ticket to visit her family and wired her money to purchase property there, leading her to worry that he might be planning to break up with her. Paddocks brother Eric told reporters the $100,000 transfer was evidence that Steve took care of the people he loved, and that he likely wanted to protect Danley by sending her overseas before the attack. She arrived in Manila on Sept. 15, flew to Hong Kong on Sept. 22, returned to Manila on Sept. 25 and was there until she flew to Los Angeles on Tuesday night, according to a Philippine immigration official. Discerning Paddocks motive has proven especially baffling given the absence of the usual indicators that have emerged in other mass shootings. He had no criminal record, no known history of mental illness and no outward signs of social disaffection, political discontent or extremist ideology, police said. A U.S. official familiar with the investigation said there was no evidence that Paddock had contacts with any extremist groups, or that he might have sought out militant groups online that could have incited him to carry out a mass shooting. Alexandria Sage and Sharon Bernstein A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-700 passenger jet taxis on the tarmac after arriving at Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles on April 5, 2011. (Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) Lawyer: Woman Removed From Southwest Flight Was Racially Profiled The lawyer for a woman who was seen being dragged off a Southwest Airlines flight in Maryland said that she never claimed her allergy to dogs was life-threatening. Anila Daulatzai, 46, reportedly told the crew that she was allergic to two dogs traveling on the plane. They told her that she could manage by sitting away from the dogs in the rear of the plane, attorney Arjun Sethi said in a statement posted on his website. Professor Daulatzais story has gone untold. She discussed her non-life threatening allergies to dogs with Southwest representatives upon entering the aircraft, and together they decided that she could manage by sitting away from the dogs towards the rear of the plane, he wrote. Professor Daulatzai never asked for the dogs to be removed from the plane, did not request an EpiPen, nor did she ever claim that her allergies were life-threatening, he added, saying that this was contrary to Southwests statement and a number of media reports on the incident. A video captured her being taken off the plane. A Southwest representative asked her to leave the plane on Sept. 26 from Baltimore to Los Angeles, CBS News reported. She refused and they got the Maryland Transportation Authority involved to take her off the plane. Despite her clear attempt to resist a law enforcement officer, Ms. Daulatzai was professionally removed from the aircraft within the guidelines of the MDTA Police, a statement from the police agency said. Sethi said that Daulatzai, a Muslim, was racially profiled by police. Police pulled her from her seat by her belt loop, dragged her through the aisle exposed with torn pants, and humiliated her for the world to see in a now viral video, Sethi said, adding that Daulatzai is pregnant with her first child. She was charged with resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, and other offenses. Professor Daulatzai suffered physical injuries and mental trauma, required emergency care at a local hospital, including for her pregnancy, and is under continuing medical care. Professor Daulatzai has also received hate mail, including racist messages and threats of further violence. There was an attempted break in into her home. She has since left her home, fearing for her safety, Sethi claimed. Southwest apologized for the incident but attempted to clarify the issue. There was one emotional support animal and one pet onboard the aircraft, the company told CBS News. Our policy states that a customer (without a medical certificate) may be denied boarding if they report a life-threatening allergic reaction and cannot travel safely with an animal onboard. Another passenger, Bill Dumas, said he recorded the now-viral incident. In the video, the woman can be heard saying, What are you guys doing? as they grab her and pull her down the planes aisle. Dumas told NBC that the woman claimed to have a deadly allergy to dogs, asking that the animals are removed. The woman also asked crew members for an injection to help deal with her symptoms. My dad has surgery tomorrow. Im sorry, my dad has a surgery. What are you doing? she tells the officers as they arrive and attempt to remove her from the plane. Cmon, lady. Lets go, an officer tells the woman. As the woman starts to resist, the officer the grabs her and then drags her down the aisle. Dont touch me! Im walking! she says. I cant walk. Hes got my leg, she replies to another passenger, who tells her to comply with the officers. As she is pushed to the door, she then tells them: Im a professor! What are you doing?! Man Shot in Upper West Side Manhattan, Suspect Found Dead A shooting in Manhattan has left at least one persona construction workerdead. The incident took place on West 59th Street and 11th Avenue. Witnesses said that shooting took place on the 39th floor of a building, according to MailOnline. Police sources told the New York Post that the gunman killed himself afterward. Watch live: NYPD swarms block on Manhattan's West Side as they investigate shooting pic.twitter.com/WijLvfZN0h NBC New York (@NBCNewYork) October 5, 2017 A man has been killed in a shooting on Manhattan's Upper West Side. pic.twitter.com/4Ytaf1l1eR UUGANBAT Tumur (@Uuganbatt) October 5, 2017 The victim was identified as a construction foreman. Police officers were seen swarming the area and evacuating workers. Other workers said that the suspect was a disgruntled former employee who had been fired days ago. Other details were not made immediately clear. The Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas on Oct. 4, 2017. (Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images) Man Who Covered Woman in Viral Photo Is a US Army Soldier The man who was photographed covering a woman in a viral Las Vegas massacre photo was identified as a U.S. Army soldier. The picture of Matthew Cobos was snapped by a Getty photographer. He was lying on top of a young woman in an attempt to shield her from the bullets on Sunday night. Cobos and the woman appear to be in the middle of the concert. According to MailOnline, he ran into the danger zone to help people during the carnage. Stephen Paddock, 64, was identified by officials as the gunman who opened fire on 22,000 country music fans at the Route 91 Harvest festival. He was firing down on a crowd from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay hotel and casino. Cobos attempted to cover the womans eyes from seeing the bloodshed around her. The Getty photographer, David Becker, captured that moment. Becker said on Tuesday, Oct. 3, that the two managed to escape shortly after the photo was taken. God Bless matthew cobos for being brave and protecting this woman. He risks his own life to protect someone else. #PrayForVegas pic.twitter.com/ABVALOr1nt YMVAL_ (@yoelivaldez) October 5, 2017 Cobos, it was reported, then ran back into the danger zone to help others who had been injured after the woman was got to safety. To stop bleeding, he apparently used a belt as a tourniquet and placed his fingers in bullet holes of victims. Lets continue to honor the heroes who rose from this tragedy to aid others. #MatthewCobos https://t.co/8Lyb3OWAeQ Maurice Peterson (@OregonPioneer) October 5, 2017 The report said that hes back in California with his family, but he lives in Hawaii where hes a cavalry scout. The identity of the woman was not revealed. Paddock sprayed bullets continuously on the concert crowd of 22,000 people for about 10 minutes, starting at 10:05 p.m. PT (1:05 a.m. ET on Monday), according to Clark County Sheriff Joseph Lombardo. Police blew open Paddocks hotel room door 75 minutes after the shooting started, finding he had killed himself, Reuters reported. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis speaks with U.S. military and NATO leaders during a visit to the Resolute Support headquarters in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Sept. 27, 2017. (DoD photo by Air Force Staff Sgt. Jette Carr) Gen. Mattis Gives Taliban an Ultimatum Defense Secretary James Mattis has given the Taliban an ultimatum under the new U.S. strategy in Afghanistan. He said the war to eradicate the terrorist organization will only be stopped under one condition: that it abandons terrorism. It is time for the Taliban to recognize they cannot kill their way to power, nor can they provide refuge or support to transnational terrorists who intend to do us harm, Mattis said, during an Oct. 3 hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee. He said a political settlement in Afghanistan is only possible if the Taliban rejects the support of terrorism. President Donald Trump outlined his new Afghan strategy on Aug. 21. He announced the United States would not abandon its war in Afghanistan, but would begin fighting with a clear goal to eliminate terrorists. Our troops will fight to win. We will fight to win. From now on, victory will have a clear definition: attacking our enemies, obliterating ISIS, crushing al-Qaeda, preventing the Taliban from taking over Afghanistan, and stopping mass terror attacks against America before they emerge, Trump said. Trump also said the United States would no longer try to conduct nation-building missions where it tries to install its own form of government in other countries. We are not asking others to change their way of life, he said, but to pursue common goals that allow our children to live better and safer lives. According to Mattis, who recently returned from a visit to Afghanistan, the new strategy is working, and it has won broad support among U.S. coalition allies. Violence and progress in Afghanistan continue to coexist, but the uncertainty in the region about the NATO campaign has been replaced by certainty due to the implementation of President Trumps new South Asia strategy, Mattis said. This strategy had been welcomed almost uniformly by leaders in the South Asia region as well as by the 39 countries contributing troops to the NATO-led campaign, he said. Mattis said forecasts that the Taliban would launch a major offensive have remained unfulfilled, and said U.S. and coalition forces are holding the line. Under the Afghan strategy, the war against the Taliban is primarily being fought by Afghan National Security Forces, which has been able to push back the Taliban. Mattis said that while the Taliban still attempts to seize district or provincial centers before the end of this fighting season, they have generally been forced into decentralized, small-scale ambushes and the use of improvised explosive devices. He said the new strategy has caused the Taliban to expend resources, constrain their movements, and limit the Talibans ability to conduct major offensives. He added, Were already starting to see the psychological impact of the new strategy, both militarily and in the Afghan governments push to eliminate corruption. Our goal is a stabilized Afghanistan achieved through an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned peace process, he said. U.S. and NATO forces are primarily providing military advisers to the Afghan forces at the battalion and brigade levels, and each adviser team is also accompanied by tactical aid units that can support Afghan forces with fire support. Mattis noted that starting in September, for the first time in this long fight, all six Afghan military cores are engaged in offensive operations. He also said that NATO has agreed to send an additional 3,000 troops for adviser roles in the coming months, and that 15 nations have signaled that they will increase their support. We must always remember we are in Afghanistan to make America safer and to ensure South Asia cannot be used to plot transnational attacks against the U.S. homeland or our partners and allies, Mattis said. He added, Our South Asia strategy reinforces to the Taliban that the only path to peace and political legitimacy is through a negotiated settlement. McDonalds Manager Arrested for Selling Drugs Out of Cookie Bags at 24 Hour Location A McDonalds manager was arrested for selling cocaine while serving food. Authorities arrested him after he sold cocaine to them when the main entrance was supposed to be closed. He would open the counter and seating area after hours to allow drug customers to enjoy their food and buy drugs instead of using the drive thru, New York Post reported. The conduct was so blatant it would be comical if he werent committing a serious narcotics crime, said Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget G. Brennan. Ordering coke took on an entirely different meaning on the night shift at this McDonalds. The McDonalds where 26-year-old night shift manager Frank Guerrero worked was located in the Soundview section of the Bronx, in New York City. He sold undercover police $10,900 in drugs on eight separate occasions, Daily News reported. The three-month investigation was called Operation Off the Menu. Authorities ordered increasing amounts of drugs in subsequent visits to the 24 hour McDonalds location. Guerrero dispensed the drugs using various means. I've found a lot of stuff in my Mcdonalds. Not crack cocaine. A NYC Mcdonalds manager arrested for selling 11k of it to undercover officer pic.twitter.com/Uqak995eqN Chris Stewart (@CStewartWPTV) October 5, 2017 In some cases he hid the drugs in a soap dispenser. In others he put them in cookie bags that sat alongside burgers and fries. Police raided Guerreros home and found 200 grams of cocaine and $5,300 in cash. His 2-year-old son was present at the time of the raid, along with his girlfriend, Leidy Cabral Castillo. Police found the drugs in a dresser in the playroom of Guerreros son. Guerrero faces numerous counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance. He and his girlfriend also face multiple counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance and unlawfully dealing with a child. Guerrero worked at the McDonalds location for eight years. In June, Kiro 7 reported on Papa Johns Pizza employees who sold drugs out of pizza boxes in the parking lot. They were in a Washington state location of the pizza chain. Five people were arrested. Police called the investigation Operation Extra Olives. Two employees, including an a manager, were arrested at a New Hampshire Burger King in January for selling marijuana to people who asked for extra crispy fries. They were arrested after an undercover officer asked for extra crispy fries, and received his food along with a coffee cup filled with marijuana, Vice reported. From NTD.tv North Korea Cutting Gas Sales to All But Elites, Report Says New sanctions imposed on North Korea last month are starting to have an impact on the reclusive communist state. The sanctions are now having so much of an impact that gas sales have been banned for most North Koreans. Japanese newspaper The Asahi Shimbun reported that only elite officials and military officials are still able to purchase gas. All other North Koreans are unable to buy gas no matter how much money is offered, a source told the newspaper. Only officials with a special license plate starting with the numbers 727 can still buy the gas. The drastic measures taken by North Koreas leadership came despite large stockpiles of gas that the regime has been collecting since the beginning of this year. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said last month that the rogue state had begun hoarding gas in anticipation of the election of Americas new president. Since his inauguration, President Donald Trump has taken a hard line on the communist regime, which has often called for the destruction of the United States and its allies. Early last month the U.N. Security Council passed a new set of sanctions pushed by the United States in response to North Koreas sixth underground nuclear test. The sanctions ban all gas sales to North Korea and limit the amount of refined and crude oil that can be sold to it. Trump had wanted a complete ban on oil exports but received pushback from China and Russia. Last week North Korea made a rare admissionthe sanctions are having an effect. An article published by its official state mouthpiece said that the newly imposed sanctions were creating a colossal amount of damage. The North Korean regime abides by its military first strategy, which puts the needs of its military officials and personnel above anything else. The regime spends up to 24 percent of its GDP on military expenditures, according to the most recent numbers from the State Department. By comparison, NATO members have a target of spending 2 percent of their GDP on defense each year, with most members falling short of that. The United States spent 3.6 percent of its GDP last year on defense. North Koreas focus on its military is seen by its leaders as the key to guarantee their power both domestically and internationally. North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un, who inherited the countrys nuclear programinitially started by his grandfather, Kim Il Sung, and further advanced by his father, Kim Jong Ilhas sped up its process. Since coming to power in 2011, Kim Jong Un has conducted an estimated 85 missile testsfar more than his father and grandfather combined. CIA analyst Yong Suk-Lee said on Wednesday that Kims main focus is on staying in power. He wants to rule for a long time and die in his own bed, Yong said at an event at George Washington University. This tight grip on power comes at a large price for North Koreas citizens, many of whom live in abject poverty. At any one time the regime has hundreds of thousands of North Koreans in its notorious prison camps. Induced starvation is common among prisoners, who are driven to catch and eat rodents, frogs, and snakes, the U.S. State Department said in a report last month. A former North Korean prison guard is cited in the report saying that many prisoners were like walking skeletons, dwarfs, and cripples in rags. Other prison guards said they were taught not to view prisoners as humans. North Korean prisons contain torture chambers in which prisoners are forced to sit on their knees for extended periods of time while being beaten by guards. Guards severely beat prisoners for even the slightest movements, the report cited a former prison guard as saying, adding that prisoners detained in the punishment chambers were often crippled after three months and dead within five months. Similar torture methods are still widely used in communist China, where prisoners of conscience such as practitioners of Falun Gong, Christians, Uyghurs, and human rights lawyers continue to be tortured and killed. The logo of the National Rifle Association is seen at an outdoor sports trade show on February 10, 2017 in Harrisburg, Penn. (DOMINICK REUTER/AFP/Getty Images) NRA Calls for Regulations on Gun Modification Used by Vegas Shooter The National Rifle Association calls for additional regulations on bump fire stock, a device used by the Las Vegas shooter that allows a semi-automatic rifle to function like an automatic. Despite the fact that the Obama administration approved the sale of bump fire stocks on at least two occasions, the National Rifle Association is calling on the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE) to immediately review whether these devices comply with federal law, the NRA stated in an Oct. 5 release. The NRA believes that devices designed to allow semi-automatic rifles to function like fully-automatic rifles should be subject to additional regulations. The shooter, Stephen Paddock, 64, had many of his rifles outfitted with a bump fire stock devicea modified part that allows for rapid fire while dodging the laws banning automatic weapons. That way, Paddock was able to fire hundreds of rounds in some 10 minutes from his 32nd floor hotel room, killing 59 and injuring over 450 at a crowded country music concert down below. Semi-automatic rifles, which can be legally purchased in America, allow only one shot per firing. The bump fire stock is a modified stock (the part of the gun set against the shoulder) that allows the shooter to press the trigger repeatedly at a high rate. It includes a grip that keeps the trigger finger at a static position. The shooter fires the gun by pushing the barrel forward, thus pressing the trigger against the static finger. As the round is fired, the recoil from the shot sends the body of the gun back, where it slides about an inch inside the modified stock. As the shooter keeps pushing the barrel forward, the gun slides out of the stock about one inch and the trigger is pressed against the finger again. Multiple video demonstrations online show the bump fire stock can make a semi-automatic rifle achieve a rate of fire similar to an automatic. At least manufacturer of bump fire stocks, Slide Fire, states on its website it submitted the part to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and had it approved. The argument for the legality of bump fire stocks is that the rifle itself remains semi-automatic. The stock only helps the shooter press the trigger much faster. The shooter also used 60 and 100-round magazinessome of the largest available. Police said he had 22 rifles and a handgun in his hotel room. Another 19 guns were found in his Mesquite, Nevada, home. The NRA warned against trying to disarm Americans at large based on the Las Vegas shooting. Banning guns from law-abiding Americans based on the criminal act of a madman will do nothing to prevent future attacks, it stated. Police said Paddock shot himself in the room. His motive remains unclear. Police hope to get some answers from his girlfriend Marilou Danley, who was in the Philippines, her home country, during the shooting and returned to Los Angeles on Tuesday, Oct. 3. Former vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, Guo Boxiong, at far right, on March 5, 2013. (Goh Chai Hin/AFP/Getty Images) Ousted Chinese Military Boss Guo Boxiong Attempts Suicide in Prison, Says Hong Kong Magazine As the former vice chairman of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)s Central Military Commission, Guo Boxiong wielded great power. Now, purged and imprisoned, he has become suicidal, according to a report in a Hong Kong-based magazine. Guo was a trusted ally of former Chinese Communist Party leader Jiang Zemin. With Guo as his supporter, Jiang was able to retain his position as chairman of the Central Military Commission for two more years after he had retired as Party leader in 2002. Jiang was a coldblooded leader who use violent tactics to ensure his power: he supported the crackdown on student democracy activists during the Tiananmen Square massacre and launched a nationwide genocide to eliminate adherents of the Falun Gong spiritual practice. While Guo had Jiang as his political patron, he took bribes to grant promotions and military posts, and got kickbacks when the state purchased military goods. Hong Kong newspaper Apple Daily reported that Guo accepted hundreds of million yuan in bribes. All this led to his downfall. In July 2016, he was sentenced to life imprisonment for corruption. After all, current leader Xi Jinping is in a political tug-of-war with Jiang and those still loyal to him. As part of Xis anti-corruption campaign, he has taken down Guo and many other high-level generals in the military who are part of Jiangs faction. Now in prison, Guos life is in stark contrast to the high-flying lifestyle he once had. A recent story in the Hong Kong magazine Chengming reported that Guo Boxiong has attempted suicide while in prison. Chengming has often broken important stories about the Communist Party elite in China, but also runs some stories that cant be corroborated. Earlier in March, Guo was given permission to spend recreation time at an open field in the Beijing suburbs belonging to the air force. While strolling around, Guo suddenly rushed toward the street and headed straight for a nearby lamppost, smashing his head repeatedly. He was sent to a hospital, where medical staff discovered his skull was fractured. He was in a coma for two weeks, and returned to prison in mid-June after treatment. Even when he was awaiting trial in 2015, Guo seemed to be suicidal. On Aug. 12, 2015, during a break session in court, Guo ran toward a window and attempted to jump out, according to the Chengming report. He ended up injuring his head and had to get stitches and stay in the hospital for half a month. In October that year, he requested painkillers from his guards, saying that he was in pain. While guards went to consult the doctor, Guo used towels in his cell to form a rope around his neck. He pulled on the rope tightly and lost consciousness. He was again sent to a hospital for emergency treatment. A month later, Guo attempted to bite off his tongue one morning while having breakfast. His hospitalization afterward resulted in his next court session getting postponed. A Moon Festival greeting card, sent by a Falun Gong practitioner from Chinas Ningxia Autonomous Region, to the founder of the spiritual practice. (Minghui.org) People Across China Send Moon Festival Greetings to Falun Dafa Founder Oct. 4 is the Mid-Autumn Festival (or Moon Festival) in China, a joyful tradition and time for family reunions. Across the nation people are celebrating their good fortune and sharing appreciation for their family members. Some people are also considering the plight of fellow Chinese who cannot find so much to celebrate. I am saddened by the persecution and pain that Falun Gong practitioners have gone through. On this occasion of the Moon Festival, I wish them well and a happy Moon Festival. Shanghai resident, Wang Kouma In China, every day for the past 18 years, people who practice the meditation exercises called Falun Dafa have endured state-sponsored persecution. They face the possibility of arrest, imprisonment, torture, and even death. Falun Dafa teaches Truth, Compassion, and Tolerance. The ruling Chinese Communist Party sees these values as being in opposition to their totalitarian, atheistic principles, and they see the popularity of the practice as a threat to their iron grip on Chinas populace. I would like to wish all Falun Gong practitioners a happy Moon Festival. Happy Moon Festival to Master Li Hongzhi. Falun Gong is a very kind group. It is only beneficial to society. If everyone were like Falun Gong practitioners, society would become very peaceful. Beijing lawyer, Yu Wensheng Since July 1999, people in China who believe in Truth, Compassion, and Tolerance have lived in perilor died at the hands of the communist regime. Yet faith in the teachings of Truth, Compassion, and Tolerance has guided practitioners through the darkest depths of persecution: through the torture chambers deep beneath Chinese prisons, through the loss of family members, through some of the worst cases of abuse humans have ever inflicted upon fellow humans. Falun Gong is beneficial to society and mankind. It is only good for society and brings no harm to society. The crackdown on Falun Gong is absolutely wrong. There will definitely be a new judgment on Falun Gong in the future. Former president of China Military Academy Publishing House, Xin Ziling Along with the physical persecution, the Chinese regime also created a massive public relations campaign to slander Falun Dafa. The state-run media accused practitioners of terrible crimes, called it a destabilizing force in society, and encouraged all citizens to turn against practitioners. As time passed and more Chinese citizens came to meet and know Falun Dafa practitioners, these ordinary citizens began to realize that the state propaganda was a lieFalun Dafa practitioners wanted more than anything to be good people, to live by those principles of Truth, Compassion, and Tolerance. Mr. Li Hongzhi [teaches] Truthfulness, Compassion, and Tolerance. If everyone followed Falun Gong, Chinese peoples morality would become very good. China as a nation would become very good. I would like to wish Master Li a happy Moon Festival. Shanghai resident, Mr. Wu For years, Falun Dafa practitioners have created traditional cards celebrating the Moon Festival, offering thanks for the blessing of learning the practice. These cards tell how Dafa practitioners have managed to find compassion for their persecutorsthey have found peace in knowing that their guiding principles work in even the worst situations. They give thanks for these principles, and to Mr. Li Hongzhi, the man who first taught these principles publicly, starting in 1992. Im very grateful to Falun Gong founder Mr. Li Hongzhi. Many of my friends and family members have indeed become very caring and willing to help others after they started practicing Falun Gong. They are a very compassionate group of people. Falun Gongs principles of Truth, Compassion and Tolerance, are pure qualities that cut through a society full of moral decay and absence of faith. Journalist, Huang Jinqiu Lately a new phenomenon has arisen in China. Despite the persecution, despite the propaganda campaign, and despite government spies everywhere who report people who do not help persecute Falun Dafa, many Chinese people have been moved to send their own Moon Festival greeting cards to practitioners and to Master Li Hongzhi. It was only after I came to the United States that I learned [the truth about Falun Gong]. Falun Gong is a faith. Its a righteous faith and true faith. After interacting with Falun Gong practitioners, I find them very sincere in their speech. I feel they have very high-level understanding and their cultural heritage is rich. This is not achievable by ordinary people. So I really admire them and envy them. I would like to use this opportunity to send holiday greetings to Falun Gong Master Li Hongzhi and his students. I feel very honored. New immigrant to the United States from China, Tom Liang People who do not practice Falun Dafa but who have met those who do, are amazed at the kindness and the resilience practitioners show. Chinese people who were told that Falun Dafa practitioners were criminals, have come to learn that Falun Dafa practitioners can be counted on to tell the truth, can be trusted in times of trouble, and will be tolerant in times of strife. Chinese people who have learned the truth about Falun Gong are increasingly speaking outand for this years Moon Festival, have offered up an array of beautiful cards expressing their hope for a better future for Falun Dafa and a better future for all of China. Falun Gong has made great contributions to traditional Chinese culture and moral culture. I think they are the hope of China. Freelance writer, Tang Cailong From NTD.tv A Russian soldier fires ann air defense rocket during military drills outside the Russian southern town of Yeisk on August 1, 2015. (Sergei Venyavsky/AFP/Getty Images) Russian Submarines Fire Missiles at Militant Targets in Syria During Saudi Kings First State Visit Two Russian submarines fired 10 Kalibr cruise missiles from the Mediterranean Sea at militant targets in Syrias Deir al-Zor province in an effort to support a Syrian army offensive, Russian news agencies cited the Defence Ministry in Moscow as saying on Thursday (October 5). The ministry posted video footage of missiles being launched at sea and air-shots of targets being hit. Earlier on Thursday, Russia s Rossiya 24 state television channel cited the Russian defense ministry as saying a Russian air strike killed 49 Nusra Front militants including seven of its field commanders in Syrias Idlib province. Nusra Front severed ties with al Qaeda last year and rebranded to head the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham alliance. Russia said on Wednesday it had critically injured a leader of the Tahrir al-Sham militant group, Abu Mohamad al-Golani, with an air strike in Syria that also killed 12 of his field commanders. Golani is now in a coma, Russian news agencies cited Russias defense ministry as saying on Thursday. Russian President Vladimir Putin has received Saudi Arabias King Salman in the Kremlin on Thursday (October 5) for talks which were expected to focus on a wide range of issues from cooperation on oil production to differences over Syria and Iran. It is the first visit to Moscow by a reigning Saudi Monarch. Riyadh supports rebels fighting President Bashar al-Assads forces while Russian troops and Iranian militias have sided with Assad. This leaves Moscow aligned with Saudi Arabias arch-rival Iran, whose influence Riyadh fears is growing in the region. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump visit a victim of the Las Vegas massacre on Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2017. (Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead) Teen Who Met Trump in Hospital Says He Was Super Nice and Comforting Tiffany Huizar was shot in the stomach and elbow during the Las Vegas massacre on Sunday, Oct. 1, in which 58 people were killed and hundreds injured. She was rushed to a hospital where doctors performed a surgery to remove the bullet the next morning. On Wednesday, Oct. 4, President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were at Huizars bedside. She said she was surprised at how nice the president wasa far different picture from what she was shown on social media. He was super nice. He wasnt who we see on social media, she said. He was much more comforting. I dont know his tone of voice and the way he was. Huizar, 18, is from Santa Anna, California. Although she is recovering, her vitals are unstable, since she had to wait overnight for the bullet to be removed from her abdomen, according to a GoFundMe page set up to aid with her recovery. Huizar is a senior at the Segerstorm High School. She faces a long recovery, but her family plans to be by her side along the way. President Trump also visited other patients at the hospital and later met with law enforcement officers. We know that your sorrow feels endless, Trump said at the meeting with police. We stand together to help you carry your pain. Youre not alone. We will never leave your side. On Wednesday, the girlfriend of the Las Vegas gunman who killed 58 people, and then himself, in the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history, was questioned by the FBI and said she had no idea he was planning violence against anyone. Marilou Danley, who returned late on Tuesday from a family visit to the Philippines and is regarded by investigators as a person of interest, said through a lawyer that the carnage Stephen Paddock unleashed while she was abroad caught her completely unaware. He never said anything to me or took any action that I was aware of that I understood in any way to be a warning that something horrible like this was going to happen, Danley, 62, said in a written statement read to reporters by her attorney in Los Angeles, where the FBI was questioning her. An FBI official in Las Vegas, meanwhile, said no one has been taken into custody. But Clark County Sheriff Joseph Lombardo told reporters he found it hard to believe that the arsenal of weapons, ammunition, and explosives recovered by police in their investigation could have been assembled by Paddock completely on his own. You have to make an assumption that he had some help at some point, Lombardo said at a news briefing. Lombardo said the attack was the obvious outcome of meticulous planning. What we know is that Stephen Paddock is a man who spent decades acquiring weapons and ammo and living a secret life, much of which will never be fully understood, the sheriff said. Nearly 500 people were also injured when Paddock, 64, strafed an outdoor country rock concert with gunfire on Sunday night from his 32nd-floor suite of the Mandalay Bay hotel on the Las Vegas Strip. He took his own life before police stormed his room, bringing the total death toll to 59. Police recovered nearly 50 firearms from three locations they searched, nearly half of them from the hotel suite. Twelve of the rifles there were fitted with so-called bump stocks, officials said, allowing the guns to be fired as though they were automatic weapons. In response to a question, Lombardo said investigators were examining the possibility Paddocks purchase of more than 30 guns in October 2016 may have been precipitated by some triggering event in his life. He did not elaborate. If Paddock did have any accomplices, there remained no evidence as yet to indicate terrorism in the shooting spree, said Aaron Rouse, FBI special agent in charge of the Las Vegas field office. Earlier in the day, President Donald Trump visited Las Vegas, marking the first time since taking office that he has had to confront a major mass shooting. Reuters contributed to this report. From NTD.tv The scene of a train derailment in Atlanta, Ga. (Atlanta Fire Rescue) Train Cars Crash Into Home in Atlanta, Sending Resident to Hospital A freight train derailed and crashed into a south-west Atlanta home on Thursday, Oct. 5. One man inside the house was transported to a hospital, but was in stable condition, according to Sgt. Cortez Stafford, Atlanta fire department spokesman. About 14 of the almost 200 train cars derailed near Andrews and Eason Streets at about 3 a.m. The cars rammed into a two-story house and knocked it off its foundation. CSX train derailment in SW Atlanta. https://t.co/VMlwX5DbBh Atlanta Fire Rescue (@ATLFireRescue) October 5, 2017 The train belonged to the CSX Corporation. There are no reports of any leaks or spills of freight from the train at this time, CSX spokesman Rob Doolittle told AJC.com. And CSX personnel are working with Atlanta police and firefighters to assess the situation while maintaining the safety of nearby residents. Watch: BREAKING: 1 injured, train derails and crashes into house in NW #Atlanta https://t.co/rK0eccYzbC pic.twitter.com/wgwUmloN3n John Spink (@johnjspink) October 5, 2017 The train was traveling from Waycross to Cincinnati, Ohio. It had three locomotives, 68 loaded cars, and 123 empty cars, he said. BREAKING: 1 injured, train derails and crashes into house in NW #Atlanta https://t.co/rK0eccYzbC pic.twitter.com/9IMGr61ytL John Spink (@johnjspink) October 5, 2017 The crash sounded like an explosion, said Tomaya Tucker, a neighbor of the injured man. She ran out to check what happened. I was scared. Scared for them, she said. Shifts Foundation: 1 injured, train derails and crashes into house in NW #Atlanta https://t.co/rK0eccYzbC pic.twitter.com/MXVUcFmvnz John Spink (@johnjspink) October 5, 2017 She said the idea that one of the trains that passed by several times a day would come off the tracks never crossed her mind. When we first moved up here, she said. We would only going to be worrying about the noise. We never would think something like that. Watch: neighbor describes waking up as train derails and crashes into house in NW #Atlanta https://t.co/rK0eccYzbC pic.twitter.com/yj5SquPnf2 John Spink (@johnjspink) October 5, 2017 She said the man just had the house fixed after trees fell on the house during a tornado. Thats sad. That house is too beautiful for something happening like that, she said. Almost 800 people died last year in more than 11,000 railroad-related incidents, according to the Federal Railroad Administration, including crashes and derailments as well as people struck by trains. Hunewill Ranch in California is One of the Rare Places in America Where the Cowboy Life PersistsAnd You Can Go Experience It The British Columbia Civil Liberties Association alleges Canada's spy agency overstepped the law while monitoring environmental activists. (The Canadian Press/Sean Kilpatrick) Watchdog Dismisses Environmental Spying Complaint, Prompting Appeal OTTAWAA federal watchdog has dismissed a complaint from a civil liberties group alleging Canadas spy agency overstepped the law while monitoring environmental activists. The British Columbia Civil Liberties Association is now asking the Federal Court to toss out the Security Intelligence Review Committees decision. The association filed a complaint with the review committee in 2014 after media reports suggested the Canadian Security Intelligence Service and other government agencies considered opposition to the petroleum industry as a threat to national security. The complaint letter also cited reports that CSIS had shared information with the National Energy Board about so-called radicalized environmentalist groups seeking to participate in the boards hearings on Enbridges Northern Gateway pipeline project, which would have seen Alberta crude flow westward to Kitimat, B.C. In addition, the association alleged that CSIS had shared information with oil companies and held secret conferences with these petroleum industry players at its headquarters. The complaint cited records, released through the Access to Information Act, that suggested certain organizations were viewed as potential security risks simply because they pushed for environmental protections. The association argued CSISs intelligence gathering violated the law governing the spy service, which forbids CSIS from collecting information about Canadians unless there are reasonable grounds to suspect they constitute a threat to national security. The review committee held closed-door hearings in Vancouver in August 2015. The association called witnesses from environmental and public-interest organizations including LeadNow, ForestEthics Advocacy Association, the Dogwood Initiative, and the Sierra Club of British Columbia. In the newly filed application to the Federal Court, the civil liberties association says the review committees decision to dismiss the complaint contains errors of law and should be set aside. It wants the court to order the committee to take a fresh look at the complaint. The association is also challenging the committees decision to prohibit it from publicly disclosing or speaking about the evidence of its own witnesses or its final submissions. The prohibition means the association is uncertain as to whether it can make public the review committees 58-page decision, since it includes summaries of evidence. This decision is deeply troubling because it keeps individual complaints and decisions essentially secret and inhibits public dialogue and debate about national security matters, said Paul Champ, a lawyer for the association. From The Canadian Press Woman in North Carolina Goes Missing in Area Where 3 Found Dead A woman in North Carolina has been reported missing near where the bodies of three other women were found earlier this year. Abby Patterson, 20, was last seen leaving her home in Lumberton, North Carolina, getting into a brown Buick on Sept. 5. She told her family she would be gone for an hour, but when an hour came and went, her mother called her to find out where she was. The phone went straight to voicemail and Patterson has not made contact with her family since, which they say is very unlike her. Patterson lives in Florida and was in North Carolina for a few days to visit her mother. We talk or text every day, Samantha Lovette, Pattersons mother, told Fox News. She described Patterson, the youngest of her three children, as bubbly and free spirited. Abby Patterson. (Lumberton Police Department handout) Abby Patterson. (Lumberton Police Department handout) Pattersons disappearance follows the deaths of three women in the area, although police do not know if they are linked. On April 18, investigators discovered the body of Christina Bennett, 32, inside an abandoned home in the city. They also found the remains of Rhonda Jones, 36, in a nearby trash can the same day. The remains of Megan Oxendine, 28, who was interviewed by CBS affiliate WNCN at the time Jones body was discovered, were found on June 3 about 500 feet away from the other womens remains. Oxendine described herself as a friend of Jones. The womens bodies are undergoing autopsies to determine the cause of death. The bodies had no obvious signs of trauma, according to the police report. An FBI spokesperson told Fox News that the bureau is helping with the investigation. The man who Patterson was last seen with has been identified by police and is being questioned, Fox News reports. We think its someone she knew, but were not sure, Lumberton Police Department Captain Terry Parker told Fox News. Police are investigating Pattersons disappearance as a missing person case, and are asking anyone with information on any of the women to call (910) 671-3845. Several sightings of her have been reported, but none confirmed, Parker said. From NTD.tv 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. What's next for SD Gov. Kristi Noem as she heads into her second term? politics Bank of Montreal and Toronto-Dominion Bank are emerging as the banks of choice for Canadas burgeoning marijuana industry, even as some lenders shun the sector. With less than a year to go before Canada plans to legalize recreational pot in July, and 16 years after making it legal for medical use, Bank of Montreal and Toronto-Dominion are providing business accounts to at least 21 cannabis companies, according to interviews with 45 firms tied to the drug. Alterna Savings and Credit Union Ltd. is top among co-operative lenders. Canadian banks are warming to an industry avoided by banks in the U.S., where marijuana is outlawed federally. Most U.S. banks have refused to do business with pot companies to avoid accusations of money laundering and other criminal violations that could bring jail time. Canadas recreational pot sales are forecast to reach $6 billion by 2021, surpassing the $1.3-billion estimate for the mature medical marijuana market. Ontarios government is already forging ahead with plans to set up its own weed stores, though using the drug for pleasure still carries a social stigma in many circles. Different lenders have been quicker than others to move into this industry, but this is understandable as public perceptions are still evolving, Basem Hanna, chief executive officer of Mississauga, Ont.-based TerrAscend Corp. said by email. There could be a significant first-mover advantage to the financial institutions that are getting involved with the legal cannabis industry already. Read more: Snoop Dogg invests in Toronto-based seed-to-sale cannabis tracking software Niagara College launches program in cannabis production Wynne promises to work with mayors on marijuana legalization Bank of Montreal provides accounts to at least a dozen companies, including Aphria Inc., CannTrust Holdings Inc. and Invictus MD Strategies Corp., as well as investment firms Cannabis Wheaton Income Corp. and CannaRoyalty Corp. We provide deposit accounts and related services to businesses operating legally within this emerging sector on a case-by-case basis, spokesperson Paul Gammal said in an email. We will continue to monitor the industry and consider offering further services as it matures. Toronto-Dominion, Canadas largest lender, is banker to at least nine producers including MedReleaf Corp., Cronos Group Inc., TerrAscend and Beleave Inc. The lender assesses banking and loan applications from businesses in any legalized industry on a case-by-case basis, bank spokesperson Elizabeth Lewis said. Bin Huang, CEO of Victoria, B.C.-based Emerald Health Therapeutics Inc., said the company won over Bank of Montreal by explaining the industry and directing its local bankers to the federal governments Health Canada agency to prove Emerald is legal. Huang says she hasnt had any issues with the Toronto-based lender or other banks, but said thats not the case for many others in the industry. There has been a reluctance from the big banks because they are really risk averse and theres also some confusion and misunderstanding, she said. Were legal, were licensed, but they still think when youre in the cannabis business that its just a grey area thats the misperception and it takes time to educate. Royal Bank of Canada and Bank of Nova Scotia are among those that shut out pot companies, and both have shuttered accounts of those in the industry. Changing rules may prompt them to reconsider. RBC currently does not provide banking services to companies engaged in the production and distribution of marijuana, spokesperson AJ Goodman said. We recognize that the legislative landscape is evolving and we are undergoing a review of our policies. Scotiabank spokesperson Rick Roth said that should there be significant change to industry legislation or regulation, we will revisit our risk assessment and make risk policy adjustments if warranted. While many banks have shied away, credit unions have stepped up. Alterna has embraced firms dropped by banks. This is a legal, legitimate business and therefore it should be able to be provided the appropriate banking services, Alterna CEO Rob Paterson said in a phone interview. Ottawa-based Alterna provides banking to about half of licensed producers, according to Paterson. The licensed producers are very sophisticated and structured, so theyre easy to actually do business with, he said. Clients include Canopy Growth Corp. and Aurora Cannabis Inc., Canadas two largest producers by market value, and Green Organic Dutchman Holdings Ltd., which secured a $5-million credit line in September. Canopy turned to Alterna after Royal Bank withdrew services from what was Canadas first publicly traded pot stock. Cannabis companies may miss out on the benefits of dealing with big banks, including better access to debt financing, more favourable terms and their investment-banking expertise. Still, MedReleaf landed a $20-million credit agreement with a major Canadian bank in April, the Markham-based company said in a filing. CEO Neil Closner wouldnt disclose the banks name, but says the commitment could signal changing sentiment. It has sort of broken the ice and another one might follow, provided that its a business that makes sense, Closner said in an interview. The big banks are also staying away from investment banking in the sector. That gaps been filled by smaller firms such as Canaccord Genuity Group Inc., Clarus Securities Inc. and Mackie Research Capital Corp. which have provided services including stock sales and reverse takeovers. MedReleafs $100.7-million IPO in May was led by GMP Capital Inc., while CanniMed Therapeutics Inc.s $69-million IPO in December was led by AltaCorp Capital Inc. Part of the banks reluctance may simply be the industrys size and profitability. Three-quarters of the 73 publicly traded companies have a market value below $100 million and only a handful are profitable, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. As a few of the larger ones begin to make more money or make money at all I think some of the banks will line up and get more interested, Closner said. Read more about: SHARE: Used around the world, a small door with a cradle compartment tucked inside is an option of last resort for mothers unable or unwilling to care for their newborns. The boxes that allow mothers to anonymously and safely abandon their babies are known by several names angel cradles, baby boxes, baby hatches. In Canada, two infants are known to have been abandoned in the seven years since the countrys first angel cradle became available at St. Pauls Hospital in Vancouver. Outside of angel cradles, abandoning a child under the age of 10 is an indictable offence under the Canadian Criminal Code. The United States, on the other hand, has expansive safe haven laws that allow newborns to be safely surrendered at specific locations. As of 2017, more than 3,000 infants have been given up across the U.S. according to the Chicago-based Save Abandoned Babies Foundation. Dr. Geoffrey Cundiff, regional head of obstetrics and gynecology for Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, said different regulations along with Canadas much stronger social safety net contributes to the discrepancy. I think its the accessibility, said Ellen Campbell, CEO and founder of Abuse Hurts, of the difference in abandonments in the U.S. versus Canada. They just make it so easy for an ambulance to come pick a woman up, or she can go to a police station or a fire hall, Campbell said. Two babies have been left at St. Pauls Hospitals angel cradle in Vancouver since it was installed in 2010. Covenant Health in Edmonton opened two angel cradles at Grey Nuns Community Hospital and Misericordia Community Hospital in May, 2013. Neither has been used. If its never used, thats fine, said Gordon Self, vice president of mission, ethics and spirituality at Covenant Health. Because what we want to have happen is that if people who feel they cant come forward, for whatever reason, to remind people that theres a really good existing safety net; where if people can get access to help, thats preferable. However, if they cant, then at least theres this failsafe or stopgap measure. In the U.S., the Safe Haven Baby Boxes organization is the driving force behind implementing baby drawers and boxes in Indiana and Arizona. Monica Kelsey, founder and president of the non-profit, said 10 babies were put into drawers and eight were surrendered at locations with boxes. All 50 states have enacted safe haven legislation. Also known as Baby Moses laws, new mothers can relinquish their newborns to designated locations like hospitals, police stations and fire halls anonymously and without fear of criminal prosecution. Since 2001 in California, a state with approximately the same population as Canada, 882 children have been safely surrendered and 176 were abandoned. Self emphasized that angel cradles are a way of augmenting the existing safety net, not replacing it. If we can kind of get the appropriate resources to support people, that to me is what the angel cradle can help to raise awareness about, Self said. Its not just about the baby thats abandoned its about anybody in society thats at risk of abandonment. Abandonment is really what it comes down too. A parent, like a mother, whos hiding her pregnancy whether shes conscious of it or not, may already be feeling abandoned by society. SHARE: In August an 18-year-old Englishwoman named Alicia Bettsworth lathered her face and body in three layers of ultra dark tanning lotion and fell asleep before she could wash the stuff off. According to the UK Sun, the paper she was later quoted in, Bettsworth woke up the next day in a panic. She had the complexion of a burnt yam. Once I got over the shock I started laughing and thought it was hilarious, she told the paper. Its such a me thing to do. Its also such a teen thing to do: not only dousing oneself in cheap tanning lotion (every white adolescent girl has been there) but falling asleep when one really ought to stay awake. Napping at inappropriate times is practically a teenage rite of passage. Sometimes it yields harmless, albeit embarrassing results (Bettsworths face has since returned to its natural hue). But other times oversleeping and the general exhaustion that compels it produces another not so harmless result: spotty attendance at school, irritability, and even anxiety and depression. The latter is the subject of a new study published in Sleep Health: Journal of the National Sleep Foundation, indicating that a major reason teens are sleepy and moody is not because God made them that way but because they go to school too early in the morning. The study, spearheaded by University of Rochester Medical Center professor Jack Peltz, suggests that teens who start school before 8:30 a.m. may be at a greater risk of experiencing depression and anxiety. The researchers collected data, via an online tool, from nearly 200 American students aged 14-17 and divided them into two groups: students who start school before 8:30 a.m. and students who start school after that time. The students were then asked to record their experiences regarding quality of sleep and mental health in a sleep diary. The result? Students who arrived later to school after 8:30 experienced fewer depression and anxiety symptoms than those who started earlier. In other words, a little more sleep can go a long way. It seems an obvious conclusion but its not. Its not obvious because we tend to view extreme fatigue in teenagers the way we view scraped knees in little kids as an inevitable fact of life. And an endearing one too. The sleepy teenager is a fixture in pop culture and even in this very newspaper: the syndicated comic strip, Zits, stars a shaggy haired high-schooler who is consistently bleary-eyed and beat. In one instalment he walks through his familys kitchen with a mattress affixed to his back. Adolescence, we are led to believe, is sleep personified. But what if it doesnt have to be? What if the negative consequences of teenage exhaustion, everything from napping at inappropriate times to flunking out of school to becoming depressed, arent the sole product of biology, but rather of a deeply flawed, man-made schedule? A schedule that serves working adults at the expense of their kids? Plenty of research now exists in addition to the study described above indicating that teens do not get enough sleep and that they might be adequately rested should school start a little later, but many Canadian high schools have not adjusted their start times to reflect this. They should. Of course scheduling isnt everything. A 9 a.m. start time isnt likely to improve a kids mental health if every night she falls asleep with her iPhone buzzing beneath her pillow after binge-watching 13 Reasons Why on her laptop in bed. Its impossible to discuss sleep hygiene without addressing the enormous impact technology has had on our ability to get a decent rest. Scrolling social media in the dark under the covers and binge-watching shows before bed these are widespread habits among parents and teens both (I know someone in her mid-60s who recently watched the entire first season of the sci-fi horror show, The Mist, on Netflix in a single day). In other words, teens arent the only demographic whose sleep is suffering at the moment. But they are the most vulnerable. We should amend our schedules to set them up for success. Theyll wake up refreshed, ready to learn and hopefully (for all the Alicia Bettsworths out there) the same colour as when they went to bed. Correction: In my Sept 28 column, A smooth running TTC would be cooler than a hyperloop to Montreal I suggested incorrectly that TTC streetcars derail on a regular basis, forcing drivers to leave their posts to get their vehicles back on track. According to the TTC, streetcars do not derail regularly, and when they do they are not repaired with passengers present. I mistook the operation of a manual switch (a process that does require the driver to leave the vehicle) for derailment. I apologize for the error. Emma Teitel is a national affairs columnist. SHARE: CALGARYLawyers for two brothers with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder who repeatedly raped a teenage girl say their clients should spend years in prison. Sentencing arguments continued Thursday for Corey and Cody Manyshots, who pleaded guilty in October 2015 to kidnapping, uttering threats, sexual assault and robbery. Coreys lawyer, Mitch Stevenson, is asking for about 6 years behind bars, including time already in custody. Alain Hepner, who is representing Cody, has proposed a total sentence of about nine years. Court has heard the brothers suffer from fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, have poor cognitive function and struggle with mental illness. These two men fell through the cracks of life, he told court. They didnt stand a chance from the minute they were born. The pair approached a 17-year-old girl at a northeast Calgary bus stop in November 2014, forced her into an alley and sexually assaulted her. The brothers, both in their 20s, then abducted the Grade 12 student and took her to their home, where they sexually assaulted her another 15 times until she was able to escape about eight hours later when they fell asleep. Reports presented as evidence say the two should be in a structured, supervised environment where their unique needs can be addressed. Hepner said there is no treatment for FASD, but he hopes there is a way the brothers can get the support they need to lead a meaningful life once their sentence ends. The Crown had earlier proposed a 12-year sentence. Crown prosecutor Jonathan Hak there is a relatively high risk the two will reoffend and they show little empathy for the victim. Having the brothers stay voluntarily at a residential facility following their sentence should not be seen as a solution, he added. I think in the real world, thats not going to happen, he said. Hepner presented a statement on behalf of his client, who he said cannot read, in which he said he is sorry for causing pain to the victim and that he wants to get counselling. The defendants mother, Angelina Manyshots, also addressed the court. I really love my sons, she said. Ill do everything I can to help them. Provincial Court Judge Terry Semenuk said he expects to deliver his decision on Jan. 26. Read more about: SHARE: Donald Trump makes no secret of the fact that hes anything but an environmentalist. Where his regressive policies will lead is the subject of constant debate, but it stands to reason that they may cloud the future for Canadas clean-technology sector. Yet the situation is far from black and white. Close examination shows that not all the fallout from the Trump factor is bad. In fact, the controversial U.S. presidents greatest impact on cleantech may not even come from all the eco-backtracking he has done. That backtracking is hard to ignore. During the G20s Hamburg summit in July, he made good on his threat to withdraw from the Paris climate accord. That leaves the United States as one of just three nations not taking part in the UN-led agreement to combat global warming by reducing greenhouse-gas emissions. (The other two? War-torn Syria and Nicaragua, which generates all of 0.03 per cent of the worlds emissions.) Since moving into the Oval Office, the president has also issued an executive order to roll back the climate-change policies of his predecessor, Barack Obama, put a climate-change denier in charge of the Environmental Protection Agency (and cut its funding considerably), loosened restrictions on coal-fired power generation, and introduced a budget that would defund a popular, renewable-energy program. Trumps eco-backtracking a boon for Canadian cleantech companies What Trump is doing is bad for the environment theres no question about that, says Tom Rand, managing director of Toronto-based ArcTern Ventures, which invests in climate-focused startups. How much impact will this have on global efforts to fight climate change? That remains to be seen. However, he adds, despite Trumps insistence that oil and clean coal remain vital to Americas economic growth, his policy reversals do create opportunities for Canadian cleantech companies. Why? Because Ottawa is doing what Washington is not. This is a nascent industry thats just beginning to grow and, for any industry to grow, it needs government support, Rand says. So, with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau focusing on a sector that Trump is ignoring, well have a much healthier cleantech ecosystem in Canada. We will take market share. Without public programs such as low-cost debt for early commercial deployments, American cleantech is likely to weaken, if not shrink. Private investors could fill the void, Rand admits, but few seem interested these days. Investor interest in cleantech has waned over the years, he says, adding that at one time, as many as 300 venture funds were in the sector. Today there are five. According to the Brookings Institution, a Washington-based public-policy research agency, venture-capital investment in U.S. cleantech last year was 25 per cent below that of 2011, falling from $7 billion (U.S.) to $5.24 billion. Cleantechs share of the overall venture-capital pie dropped even more, from almost 17 per cent in 2011 to just below 8 per cent in 2016. Returns were better in traditional software, explains Marty Reed, chief executive officer of Vancouver-based cleantech fund Evok Innovations. Its a competitive world and, if VCs can invest elsewhere with a much higher return than they would get from cleantech, why wouldnt they? Read more: Putting the internet on an energy diet Canadas cleantech industry is having a back-to-the-future moment Greening the fleet: Driving efficiency in the heavy transportation sector Canadian companies set to clean up in U.S. market On a more positive note, says ArcTerns Rand, a diminished U.S. industry will leave a space that Canadian companies can fill, especially with demand for clean technologies growing in Europe and the developing world. But despite the Trump administrations stance, the U.S. likely will also remain a solid market. Not only is there state-level green legislation in places such as California, Colorado and New York, Reed says he also expects U.S. corporations to make significant cleantech investments in the near future. Walmart, for one, is committed to reducing their greenhouse-gas emissions by a gigaton by 2030, he explains. One gigaton, or a billion metric tons, is equal to a years worth of emissions from no fewer than 211 million passenger vehicles. To meet such an ambitious target, Walmart plans to reduce its own carbon output by 18 per cent while, more importantly, asking its major suppliers to make up the rest. The move is being driven purely by economics, Reed says. The average Walmart shopper may not be environmentally focused, but Walmart is dedicated to delivering value goods, and achieving efficiencies with clean technology can help them with this goal. Ottawa steps in to boost Canadian cleantech The Canadian government is very focused on the environment, and offers innovative cleantech companies an array of grants, tax credits and other forms of financial aid. The 2017 federal budget has committed $430 million (Canadian) to research and development for clean energy, transportation and natural-resource innovation, with an additional $14.5 million set aside for a national cleantech-data strategy. The budget will also funnel close to $1.4 billion over three years to the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) and Export Development Canada (EDC) in a bid to leverage private-sector investment and give cleantech firms more access to equity financing, working capital and project financing. Both BDC and EDC are still working to finalize the scope of this investment project. EDC spokesperson Phil Taylor notes that the 2017 budget stipulates the money should go to enabling first-of-its-kind, capital-intensive, early-commercial-scale clean technology deployment. As well, the feds have earmarked $400 million for Sustainable Development Technology Canada, an arms-length federal government foundation that funds innovation and cleantech demonstration projects. But even with such a supportive ecosystem, there are still obstacles for Canadian cleantech entrepreneurs. One big challenge, says Evoks Reed, is the general reluctance of Canadian businesses and governments to try new technologies. Another challenge is money. Even with the new funding, when compared to the U.S., there arent as many funds available here for early-stage companies trying to get commercial projects off the ground. This can have a dangerous ripple effect, he explains. What youll see with the majority of cleantech companies is their first customer is in the U.S., so they set up their sales and marketing firms over there, then hire a CEO from the U.S. and, the next thing you know, the whole company is there. If we dont get more aggressive, Reed argues, well produce great science and a decent number of small companies funded largely by Canadian taxpayers and, when they reach a certain level, U.S. companies will acquire them. Could Trump spark a brain drain to the U.S.? One of Trumps election promises could accelerate this potential migration despite the fact it has little to do with the environment. This X factor, says Vancouver lawyer Cheryl Slusarchuk, is Trumps vow to lower the tax rate for U.S. corporations. A specialist in cross-border mergers and acquisitions, Slusarchuk took part, along with Rand and Reed, in a recent Globe Series debate on the Trump factor. She pointed out that, because the corporate tax in Canada is 28 to 39 per cent, in the long term, I think we will have leakage to the U.S., where there isnt that kind of tax burden. But there is also an upside. Slusarchuk said that even if companies resist the sirens cross-border call, they will still likely cash in on the plan to drop U.S. corporate taxes as low as 16 per cent. For those that have their technology ready, she explained, the tax cut will free up money for capital expenditures. Which could mean big sales. Walmart isnt the only big U.S. firm in the market for tech thats clean and green no matter what Donald Trump has to say about global warming. This article is part of a series on the Future of Energy & Environment featured in MaRS, a publication that highlights the people and companies in MaRS Discovery Districts network, and the innovations that touch our lives. Learn more about the Future of Energy & Environment here. Read more about: SHARE: When it comes to defending Canada from potential missile strikes, domestic politics has always muddied strategic defence considerations. Canadian sovereignty. Our role as honest broker. Our fear of sparking an arms race. Our relationship with the United States. And, more often than not, the popularity, or lack thereof, in Canada of the man in the White House. It has often kept the bureaucracy and military thinkers at odds with the politicians. But sometimes, its more a matter of trying to determine what Canada would get out of joining a U.S.-led ballistic missile defence (BMD) program. If you believe federal politics in this country can, at times, seem like the same debate, every 10 to 20 years or so, we may be at that point again with a debate about joining with the U.S. on BMD looming. Twice before, Canadian prime ministers have kicked the tires then backed away. Brian Mulroney said thanks, but no thanks, to Ronald Reagans 1985 Star Wars program. Paul Martin more famously finally said no to George W. Bush on ballistic missile defence 20 years later. Now Conservatives, who didnt even talk about continental missile defence during nine years of Stephen Harper governments, are challenging the Liberals to engage in BMD defence with the Donald Trump administration. It is irresponsible for Prime Minister Trudeau and Minister Sajjan to not acknowledge that the threat environment has changed dramatically, says Conservative foreign affairs critic Erin OToole. OToole is correct. Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan acknowledges that. The capability of North Korea to launch a missile that can reach North America is continuing apace, and most analysts believe it is just a matter of time before that capability is reached. The war of words between Trump and Kim Jong Un has only ratcheted up worldwide tension. Sajjan preferred to talk about NORAD modernization when questioned by reporters this week, but did appear to leave the door open a crack when it came to engaging the Trump administration. This is a double-edged sword for the Trudeau Liberals. Engaging with such a president so unpopular here would hurt them domestically. Yet, if the Liberals could link BMD talks with relief in NAFTA, or the softwood lumber or aerospace industries embroiled in trade disputes, they might be able to withstand the heat. The problem is whether Canadian membership matters to the U.S. When Mulroney walked away from Reagans much-derided Star Wars plan, a land and space-based missile shield for the U.S., it did not hurt relations. Martin was being urged by the bureaucracy to get with the Bush plan because Washington was still smarting from Jean Chretiens decision to sit out the presidents coalition of the willing in Iraq. A yes would be key to Canada-U.S. harmony. But, according to those on the inside in 2005, that same bureaucracy could not spell out exactly how it would work and what benefits there were for Canada. Bush came to Canada in 2005 and shilled for Canadian participation, overriding an agreement from officials from both countries that missile defence would be kept off the table. Martin reacted by finally rejecting participation after a protracted domestic debate. Yes, it was unpopular in Canada and the historical narrative says Washington was upset, but one former official in the Martin PMO remembers a call with then-U.S. deputy defence minister Paul Wolfowitz, who told the Canadians he understood the decision and said the door was open should minds be changed. Then he immediately changed the topic, asking the Canadians if they knew Romeo Dallaire because he had just seen Hotel Rwanda, and he wanted to meet the Canadian general who heroically tried to stop the Rwandan genocide. He was played by Nick Nolte in the movie. So far, calls to join the BDM have been limited to north of the border. No one in the Trump White House is calling for Canadian participation. Last month, NORADs senior Canadian, deputy commander Pierre St-Amand, shocked Ottawa by telling the parliamentary defence committee it is not U.S. policy to shoot down a missile targeted at Canada, leaving Canada potentially defenceless in case of an attack. Canada will have the warning, we will know where the missile is going, then Canada would silently sit by as the U.S. decided whether to defend against the missile or not. Heading to Washington to ask Trump for protection will surely start the domestic debate here. But the Liberal government might be wise to endure that debate in return for protection in uncertain times. Tim Harper writes on national affairs. Tjharper77@gmail.com Twitter: @nutgraf1 Read more about: SHARE: Sidewalk Labs, a sister company of tech giant Google, is the preferred partner to build a high-tech smart neighbourhood on Torontos east downtown waterfront, the Star has learned. The board of Waterfront Toronto, the federal-provincial-city agency overseeing the so-called Quayside project, is expected to vote at an Oct. 20 meeting whether to confirm the agencys staff recommendation arising from a rigorous competitive bid process launched in May. If confirmed by Waterfront Torontos board, the choice of a firm owned by Google holding company Alphabet Inc. would be a big high-tech feather in the cap of the city currently chasing the second headquarters of Amazon and other innovation opportunities. Quayside is envisioned by the agency as a testbed for cutting-edge technology as well as a bustling, functioning neighbourhood, with homes, offices, retail and cultural space, near Queens Quay E. and Parliament St. This is very big news for more good jobs on our waterfront, said Councillor Paula Fletcher. Expediting plans for waterfront transit will be critical for its success. A source familiar with the outcome of Waterfront Torontos request-for-proposal told the Star on Wednesday that Sidewalk Labs is Waterfront Torontos preferred proponent to help build the precedent-setting waterfront community. Waterfront Toronto, Google and Mayor John Torys office all refused comment Wednesday, citing confidentiality and the integrity of the bid process. Sidewalk Labs is Alphabets urban innovation unit, with a stated goal of reimagining cities from the Internet up. Dan Doctoroff, the companys chief executive and co-founder, told a conference in New York City last May that his company was looking into developing a large-scale district to act as its smart city test bed. The community would be universally connected by broadband and could have, Doctoroff said, prefab modular housing, sensors to constantly monitor building performance, and robotic delivery services to cut residential storage space, website The Architects Newspaper reported in May. Improving transportation would be a focus, possibly with self-driving cars and design to encourage biking and walking, he told the conference. World-leading environmental sustainability could include thermal exchange systems to capture wasted building heat, and smart sensors to limit energy use. Waterfront Toronto says the 4.9-hectare (12-acre) site will be a testbed for emerging technologies, materials and processes that will address these challenges and advance solutions that can be replicated in cities worldwide. The agency said the winning bidder must propose plans to foster sustainability, resiliency and urban innovation; complete communities with a range of housing types for families of all sizes and income levels; economic development and prosperity driving innovation that will be rolled out to the rest of the world; and partnership and investment ensuring a solid financial foundation that secures revenue and manages financial risk. Development of the three publicly owned blocks at the east end of Queens Quay will eventually include redesign and reconstruction of the intersection of Queens Quay and Parliament Street. Toronto tech leaders at a Smart Cities event in Toronto last May said the city is on the cusp of a tech boom, noting talk of Google interest in the city and Ubers decision to make Toronto a hub for driverless car research. Read more about: SHARE: Two woman are dead, and a man is seriously injured after two collisions in a five-hour span overnight in Toronto. The first fatal injury occurred near York Mills and Don Mills Rds. after a hit and run. At around 11:10 p.m., a 63-year-old woman was walking on the sidewalk when she was struck by a blue Nissan Rogue, said Toronto police spokesperson Const. Clint Stibbe. Paramedics confirmed the woman had no vital signs when paramedics arrived and was pronounced dead at the scene. Police are searching for the vehicle and asking the driver to speak to a lawyer and come forward. The identity of the deceased woman has not been released. About four hours later, at around 3:30 a.m., on Yonge St. north of Lawrence Ave., Toronto police said a man and a woman, both 21 years old, were struck by a vehicle as they were hailing a cab. The woman suffered from life-threatening injuries and died in hospital Thursday morning. The man was in serious but stable condition. Police said the driver of the car remained at the scene. Investigations into both collisions are still ongoing. With files from Alina Bykova SHARE: In the vast expanse of Toronto its cloud-scraping apartments holding together some two million residents one woman reached out for the aid of her neighbours in the early hours of Wednesday morning. But Liz Bertorellis door knocks went unanswered. So began a millennial saga that has captured social medias attention with a mix of pity and amusement. Bertorelli dropped her phone from her balcony. She could see it, but she couldnt reach it. So she took to Twitter using a friends phone to chronicle her attempts to retrieve her cellphone. What did I do tonight? Oh ya know, dropped my phone off balcony to the unit below, the first dispatch said at 4:48 a.m., an attached photo showing the mobile device lying on the balcony of the unit below. While drop tests have become something of a staple to measure the durability of new mobile devices (allocated amateur scientific measures like waist height and head height drops by savvy tech-testers) Bertorelli was less than pleased with the balcony-height test shed inadvertently conducted. Watchin notifications roll in from afar is devastating, she tweeted plaintively. Her tweet immediately resonated, with over 6,000 social media users interacting with the first message alone. Bertorelli continued to document the process. She lobbed a written note over the balconys edge; it landed, perfectly, on the neighbours outdoor table. The wind, however, had other ideas. Noooo, note blew off the table, came the update at 1:06 p.m. As the hours rolled on, Bertorellis retrieval efforts became increasingly ridiculous. Ive got a Swifter and duck tape (sic), read another, followed by an image of all the long objects she could find, like a broom and a guitar. She mused on a more philosophical meanings. Thought: is this how Romeo and Juliette felt? She tweeted out photos of drones, asking for internet advice on whether to engage the technology in her rescue pursuits. There were updates on the door-knocking attempts, to no avail. Her neighbours simply werent home. An ominous weather forecast photo warned of a storm coming. A friend arrived, and they drank to the electronic devices looming fate. Bertorelli lowered a plastic bag on a string in an attempt to shield it from the rain. May the odds be ever in your favour, sweet prince, she wrote at 4:40 p.m. The string of tweets roused the aid of the internet, with users offering their best advice. Even British actor Stephen Fry got in on the saga, chiming in that the tension was almost unbearable. Bertorelli replied back, pointing the famous Brits attention to the Trevor Project while he waited for an outcome. The Trevor Project provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBTQ+ youth across the country. Their website cites 45,000 calls to their Lifeline in one year. When eyes were on Bertorellis Twitter account for the comical saga, she urged Twitter users to donate. Im getting followers right now, so I might as well do something, she told the Star Thursday afternoon. As well as her day job, shes been a merchandiser for Toronto Pride through her apparel company, so the Trevor Project had always been on her radar, she said. Of course, theres no way to know for sure what it was about Bertorellis plight that captured internet traction. Forbes has previously cited an average of 500 million tweets being posted each day, leaving the creation of a viral post somewhat of an elusive ideal. But, while Bertorelli is keeping a sense of perspective Im lucky enough to own and pay for a phone to begin with, and Im obviously just making fun, she told the Star, chuckling she maintains that theres something universal to her plight. Every single person whos lucky enough to have some sort of device has feared or been in this situation before, she said, noting that her phone is filled with cherished and valuable information, from photographs to contacts. So from that perspective, its an emotional connection that we probably all share, she said. Finally, just after 9 p.m. Thursday, Bertorelli managed to use part of a drone to snag the phone and pull it up to her balcony. Read more about: SHARE: Visible minorities make up more than half of Torontos population, but only 3.3 per cent of corporate boards and 9.2 per cent of the private sectors senior management, a new study finds. While the percentage of women on large corporate boards has steadily grown, from 14.8 per cent in 2012 to 23.6 per cent in 2017, the representation of visible minorities in leadership has stalled, inching up from 2.8 per cent to 3.3 per cent over the five years, said the study by Ryerson Universitys Diversity Institute, released Wednesday. Diversity is more than gender, said Wendy Cukier, the institutes founder and professor at the Ted Rogers School of Management, at a forum on advancing diversity and inclusion in Canadian Business. If you look at the minority representation on boards, it is not a pretty picture. The six-year study, funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, analyzed data on senior leaders from the largest organizations in Greater Montreal and the GTA in six sectors elected, public, private, volunteer, education and agencies/boards/commissions. Although the representation of women has improved, the gains are primarily made by white women, said Cukier. While equally represented in the workforce, white women outnumber racialized women 16 to 1 on corporate senior management teams, noted Cukier. In Toronto, 24 per cent of companies have more than 30 per cent women on their boards while 28 per cent have none. By contrast, only 3 per cent of firms have 20 per cent visible minorities on their boards and 90 per cent have none. In Montreal, where minorities make up more than 20 per cent of the population, almost 10 per cent of corporate boards actually had more than 40 per cent women, while 25 per cent had none. Only 3 of 60 of the largest companies there had any racial minorities on their boards. We have a problem, said Cukier, adding that the research findings underline the significance of moving forward two government bills currently before the Parliament and Queens Park that aim at tracking racial diversity data in organizations. Navdeep Bains, federal minister of innovation, science and economic development, said Bill C-25, which is now before the Senate, requires publicly traded corporation to report on diversity data and policies. Diversity is not just the right thing to do. It has a strong economic case, Bains told the Toronto forum attended by business leaders, diversity and industry experts. Canadian competitiveness and strength and resourcefulness come from our people and diversity. Michael Coteau, Ontarios children and youth services minister and minister responsible for anti-racism, said Bill 114 will extend reporting requirements on race, gender and other demographic characteristics to provincially-funded agencies. Eliminating systemic racism and advancing racial equity is integral to our plan to create jobs, grow our economy and help people in their everyday life, said Coteau, who was also on the panel. We believe that data is the foundation of an effective strategy to advance inclusion. Tiffany Gooch, a public affairs consultant in Toronto, said she was not surprised by the little progress made by visible minorities as the hope was that changes would trickle down from gender diversity to other aspects of diversity representation. You need a critical mass for any conversation to take on, said Gooch, who believes both proposed government bills can help build a good foundation for meaningful conversations about organizational diversity. Andi Shi, executive director of the Chinese Professionals Association of Canada, was disappointed by the poor minority representation in leadership roles despite Canadas celebrated pride in multiculturalism. There is still the unconscious assumption that racial minorities are not good enough, and the fear that we are not going to perform as good as a white person, said Shi. We need quotas to force organizations to make changes. Overall in 2017, women are faring well in taking senior leadership positions in all sectors in Toronto compared to private companies, representing 42 per cent in agencies, boards and commissions, 40.1 per cent in education, 42.5 per cent in the volunteer sector, 44.4 per cent in the public sector, and 41.5 per cent among elected officials. However, visible minority representation is still dismal in 2017 in all areas, accounting for just 17.2 per cent in agencies/boards/commission, 23.1 per cent in education, 12.3 per cent in the volunteer sector, 9 per cent in the public sector, and 29.8 per cent among elected officials. SHARE: Will Spains most explosive crisis in a generation turn even more violent and become a nightmare for all of Europe? That possibility is now becoming real as a toxic mix of unbridled nationalism and incompetent politicians takes hold of that countrys future. At issue is the apparent determination of the separatist government of Catalonia, one of Spains wealthiest regions, to declare unilateral independence. Its leaders claim this will happen in a matter of days even though Spains national government and its courts declare this would be illegal. If undeterred, this will be a historic collision between two extreme and stubborn sides that is certain to end badly. We saw a preview of that last Sunday as Catalonia held a banned referendum on independence amid horrific scenes of police violence. The Spanish government did its best to block the voting, and its brutal efforts were dramatically captured on television. There were scenes of Spanish police smashing their way into polling stations, dragging out voters, firing rubber bullets into crowds and beating pro-independence demonstrators. More than 900 people were injured. But still, the Catalan government claimed, somewhat incredibly, that it received a clear mandate for its region to secede. According to official figures, 2.26 million people voted, a turnout of 43 per cent of eligible voters, with 90 per cent supporting independence. Although Catalonias story is rich and distinct, with a history dating back nearly 1,000 years, its present-day drama is unfolding in a 21st-century Europe that is already fragmented and under siege. Whether ethnic or religious, the reawakening of identity in this globalized world is rocking the traditional institutions of state. As this develops, populism and nationalism are increasingly filling the void for the many people who feel excluded. In Europe, these aftershocks were evident in the Brexit vote last year in the U.K., the Scottish referendum in 2014, the rise of the far right in elections in France, Germany and the Netherlands this year, and the emergence of anti-immigrant governments in Poland and Hungary. It is because of this European context that the clash between the leaders of Spain and Catalonia is so dangerous. Catalonia is one of Spains most prosperous regions with a distinct language, history and culture. Until Francisco Francos dictatorship from 1939-75, Catalonia experienced broad autonomy within Spain but Franco suppressed that. After he died, the region was once again granted some autonomy. But Catalans have long complained that Madrid was siphoning their wealth, and contributing little back to Catalonia. They wanted more autonomy and were granted that in 2006. But four years later, Spains Constitutional Court reversed much of that. Its action angered many Catalans and support for outright independence shot up. Catalonias separatist party won power in 2015 and promised to hold an independence referendum. This vote finally occurred last Sunday even though the Spanish government had declared it illegal. Most opinion polls suggest that a majority of Catalans would still prefer to remain as part of Spain but with increased autonomy. Pro-independence support peaked at 49 per cent in a poll in 2013 but has dropped since then. A poll last July suggested that 49 per cent of Catalans were opposed to independence, with 41 per cent in favour. Ultimately, what may help the cause for Catalan independence is the ineptness of its adversary. The Spanish government, led by Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, has resisted all calls for negotiation. For its part, the Catalan side claims it is open to mediation. But Madrid inflamed Catalans with its brutal handling of Sundays vote. If the Catalan government goes ahead with a unilateral declaration of independence, there arent many options for the Spanish government. The most likely is that the prime minister would invoke Article 155 of the constitution that would effectively mean that Madrid would rule Catalonia. Catalonias autonomy would be suspended and its political leaders likely arrested. An irony of this drama is that not only does Spain have a lot to lose in this crisis, but so does Europe as a whole. However, the European Union is wary about interfering in the internal affairs of its member states and has so far been on the sidelines. This will need to change if a disaster is to be avoided. The obvious way out for Spain and Catalonia is negotiation and, ultimately, enhanced autonomy for the region. The only question is how do they get from here to there, without blowing up their country. Tony Burman is former head of Al Jazeera English and CBC News. Reach him @TonyBurman or at tony.burman@gmail.com. Read more about: SHARE: WASHINGTONDays before President Donald Trump has to make a critical decision on whether to hold up the Iran nuclear deal, Defence Secretary Jim Mattis openly split with him on abandoning the agreement, the second senior member of the presidents national security team to recently contradict him. Mattis told senators on Tuesday that it was in Americas interest to stick with the deal, which Trump has often dismissed as a disaster. Absent indications to the contrary, it is something that the president should consider staying with, Mattis told members of the Senate Armed Services Committee after being repeatedly pressed on the issue. Read the latest news on U.S. President Donald Trump The comments were the latest example of how Trumps instincts on national security to threaten North Korea with destruction and tear up an Iran accord that most experts and allies say is working are running headlong into opposition from his own National Security Council. But rather than keep those arguments inside the White House Situation Room, where similar battles have played out over many presidencies, Trumps key advisers are making no secret of their disagreements with their boss. Mattis came to office with well-established, hawkish views of Iran, whose support of Syrias government and of Hezbollah, he believed, had cost American lives. But he has always taken the position that if he had to confront Iran, he would rather confront a non-nuclear Iran, and that the agreement was preventing the country from possessing or making enough bomb-grade material for a weapon. Asked on Capitol Hill on Tuesday whether he had changed his view, Mattis said he supports the rigorous review that he has got going on right now. When that answer did not satisfy the committee, Sen. Angus King, asked whether the defence secretary thought holding onto the nuclear pact is in the interest of the national security of the United States. Mattis, a retired Marine general, paused before replying: Yes, senator, I do. Read more: U.S. to send strategic military assets to South Korea to deter the north, Seoul says Iranian foreign minister scolds Trump for tweet about nonexistent missile launch Trump told reporters hed made up his mind on this Iran nuclear deal. He didnt warn his secretary of state An administration official said that no difference existed between the presidents views and those of his secretary of defence on the Iran deal. But the evident dissonance between the president and his senior national security advisers has taken on greater consequence in the cases of Iran and North Korea, which are potentially questions of war or peace. Amid the simmering North Korean crisis, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson told reporters in Beijing over the weekend that he was keeping a couple, three channels open to Pyongyang to defuse the situation. The next morning, he was slapped down by Trump, who read newspaper accounts of that conversation and tweeted save your energy Rex, complaining that Tillerson was wasting his time trying to negotiate with Little Rocket Man, the presidents derisive nickname for Kim Jong Un, the North Korean leader. White House officials said Trump was angry that his secretary of state was suggesting it was time to talk with North Korea, when official administration policy is that the North must earn the right by halting missile and nuclear tests for an unspecified period of time. It was hardly the first time that Tillerson, who is widely reported to be frustrated in the job, has publicly split with the president. In August, he conceded that he had argued in favour of keeping the Iran deal, saying he had differences of views from the president. At the same time, he acknowledged that Iran continued to support terrorism and was failing to comply with what he called the spirit of the agreement. At the meeting with reporters in the U.S. ambassadors residence in Beijing, Tillerson hinted he was pressing Trump to certify to Congress once again that Iran is in compliance with the agreement despite Trumps declaration in August that he would have declared the country non-compliant 180 days ago. Trump must make that decision anew by Oct. 15. But his choice is not necessarily the final word on the deal. Even if he decertifies the agreement, Congress could hold back on restoring the economic sanctions that the United States agreed to ease in exchange for Iran halting its nuclear weapons program. If Congress did not act, the deal would be preserved. I dont want to suggest to you that were not going to stick with the Iranian deal, Tillerson said. The president will have to make that decision; ultimately, its what he wants to do. Mattis told lawmakers on Tuesday that Tillerson was probing opportunities to talk with North Korea and sidestepped questions about the presidents tweets about his secretary of state. And at his confirmation hearing in January, Mattis described the Iran deal as flawed but said the U.S. should remain committed to it, and to working with the other nations that negotiated it: Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China. I think it is an imperfect arms-control agreement its not a friendship treaty, Mattis said at the time. But when America gives her word, we have to live up to it and work with our allies. In the first eight months of the Trump administration, Mattis has made a habit of navigating Trumps bombast with measured often seemingly contradictory statements. He has warned about the potential for huge loss of life if the Korean crisis ended up resuming the war that ended in an armistice in 1953. Taken by surprise by the presidents tweet declaring a ban on transgender members of the military, he quietly got wording into the final executive order that gave him time to delay, or upend, the ban. Inside the Pentagon, Mattis and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr., have told aides they are worried that abandoning the Iran deal could make it harder to convince North Korea that the United States would stick with any diplomatic agreement it might be able to reach to head off or at least pause the growing confrontation. Dunford testified at the same hearing alongside Mattis, and while he did not take a position on the Iran deal, his description about whether Tehran is violating the accord was at odds with the administrations talking points. He said Iran is not in material breach of the agreement and that it had delayed the development of a nuclear capability by Iran. White House officials, by contrast, have said that Iran was violating hortatory language in the agreement about fostering better relations, even if it is not reprocessing plutonium and enriching uranium, the two pathways to a bomb. Diplomacy Works, an Iran deal advocacy group run by former secretary of state John Kerry, who negotiated the accord, lauded Mattis support for the pact. The presidents most senior security adviser now joins the likes of the United States closest allies and the International Atomic Energy Association in confirming that the Iran nuclear deal is not only working, and that Iran is in compliance, but that it remains the best agreement to protect American interests, the group said in a statement. On the campaign trail, Trump repeatedly threatened to tear up the deal, and negotiate a better one. In August, Trump also said that Iran is not in compliance with the agreement and they certainly are not in the spirit of the agreement in compliance. Read more about: SHARE: James Duff was some eight takes into the scene when he was shot at for the first time. Wearing black ski masks and armed with airsoft guns, Duff and another actor were filming at a bar in Crawfordsville, Indiana, for a low-budget film called 10 to Fire, a local production of mostly volunteers about a dystopic future where everyone is armed. But unbeknownst to the actors on set, a worried citizen had called 911 to report an armed robbery in progress at the Backstep Brewery, a bar just blocks away from Crawfordsvilles police station. Duff was walking backward out of the bar with the airsoft gun in hand when the police officers arrived, in a confrontation captured in a tense video by a police body camera. Drop the gun! one of the officers yelled, drawing his weapon and firing off a shot when Duff did not instantly comply. The shot missed Duffs head by about two inches, he said. The police officer continued to yell at Duff to drop the gun and get on the ground. Were doing a movie, Duff told him. Excuse me? The officer replied, continuing to point his gun at Duff and urging the other actors to stay inside the bar. The story of the on-set mishap Sept. 26 has ricocheted out of this town of 16,000 northwest of Indianapolis and around the world, after the body camera footage from the officer who discharged his weapon was released this week. No one was injured in the shooting, but Duff, a 48-year-old concrete and construction worker acting in his second movie, says he hasnt felt the same since. He remembers the bullet whizzing by his head, a big breeze. They didnt even give me a chance, Duff said in a phone interview Wednesday, more than a week after the shooting. Duff said he cant get the episode out of his mind when he is awake and has been having nightmares where he replays it in his sleep. I woke up Thursday morning screaming my head off, he said. I think about it all of the time. The police said that Duff failed to release the weapon immediately video shows him attempting to take off the mask before he drops the gun. Duff said he had just been trying to determine what was going on. He said he was handcuffed for about 10 minutes, and interviewed by detectives at the police station. Montgomery County Prosecutor Joseph Buser announced Monday that no one would be charged in the incident. In 2010, a film crew shooting a hostage scene in a Long Island convenience store was raided by 20 officers, though the actors were able to identify themselves before shots were fired. In Pittsburgh the same year, the filming of a horror movie left a hotel room splattered with a blood-like substance, empty bottles of booze and even a piece of fake scalp, resulting in a police investigation into what the chief later joked was the most gruesome crime scene hed ever scene. And a film roll from a 1990 cop comedy starring Dan Aykroyd, Loose Cannons, which depicted a Aykroyd standing over a body, drew suspicion after being found in a Calgary landfill by a worker decades later. In Duffs case, the situation was compounded by a few factors. The crew had not notified the police about the filming. The airsoft guns had been clipped of their identifying orange nozzles. And Duff exited the building by himself, with the crew still filming inside and hidden from police. It was an easy oversight, but it was a critical oversight, said Steve Hester, 63, a former community college custodian whos directing the film. We were basically only a block and a half away from the police station. We werent thinking. I had a policeman tell me not to make things look so real and I told him then I needed to quit my job, because thats my job, making things look real, he said. Footage shot that day by the films crew captures the filming of the scene inside the building. After Duff exits to the street, walking backward, shouting can be heard outside the building. He appears to turn around, the gun still in his hand, before the shot is fired. The actor playing the other bandit curses and goes to pull off his mask. My first thought was a firecracker went off, said Philip Demoret, co-owner of the film company and the second bandit in the scene. The film crew has been inundated with interview requests the last few days, Demoret said. I think I need an agent, he said. Duff says he plans to finish the filming of 10 to Fire in the hopes of furthering his new acting career. Im hoping someday it will go somewhere, maybe someday Ill hit Hollywood, he said. Hopefully, if I continue to be the bad guy, the next script notifies the police department. Crawfordsville Police Chief Mike Norman said that similar situations could be avoided with better communication with the police. The film is scheduled to be released in the town next year. SHARE: WASHINGTONU.S. President Donald Trump plans to announce next week that he will decertify the international nuclear deal with Iran, saying it is not in the national interest of the United States and kicking the issue to a reluctant Congress, people briefed on an emerging White House strategy for Iran said Thursday. The move would mark the first step in a process that could eventually result in the resumption of U.S. sanctions against Iran, which would blow up a deal limiting Irans nuclear activities that the country reached in 2015 with the U.S. and five other nations. Trump is expected to deliver a speech, tentatively scheduled for Oct. 12, laying out a larger strategy for confronting the nation it blames for terrorism and instability throughout the Middle East. Under what is described as a tougher and more comprehensive approach, Trump would open the door to modifying the landmark 2015 agreement he has repeatedly bashed as a raw deal for the United States. But for now he would hold off on recommending that Congress reimpose sanctions on Iran that would abrogate the agreement, said four people familiar with aspects of the presidents thinking. All cautioned that plans are not fully set and could change. The White House would not confirm plans for a speech or its contents. Trump faces an Oct. 15 deadline to report to Congress on whether Iran is complying with the agreement and whether he judges the deal to be in the U.S. national interest. The administration looks forward to sharing details of our Iran strategy at the appropriate time, said Michael Anton, spokesman for the White House National Security Council. Other people familiar with the nine-month review of U.S. military, diplomatic, economic and intelligence approaches toward Iran spoke on condition of anonymity because aspects of the policy are not yet set and Trump has not announced his decision. Trumps senior national security advisers agreed within the past several weeks to recommend that Trump decertify the agreement at the Oct. 15 deadline, two of those people said. That would start a 60-day congressional review period to consider the next steps for the United States. On its own, the step would not break the agreement among Iran, the United States and other world powers, but would start a clock on resuming sanctions that the United States had lifted as its part of the deal. The administration has begun discussing possible legislation to strengthen the agreement, congressional aides and others said. That is the fix it or nix it approach suggested by both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Republican Sen. Tom Cotton a leading Republican hawk on Iran. It is an uncertain prospect, and many supporters of the deal consider it a dodge. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said last month that he will not reopen the deal for negotiation. Separately, representatives of Iran, China and Russia told Secretary of State Rex Tillerson the same thing during a meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly session, two senior diplomats familiar with that meeting said. Read more about: SHARE: BAGHDADIraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced Thursday that Iraqi forces have driven Daesh, also known as ISIS, from one of the extremists last strongholds in the country, the northern town of Hawija. The victory came as Baghdad and Iraqs Kurdish region remain in a political deadlock following a controversial Kurdish independence referendum. But on the battlefield Iraqi and Kurdish forces continue to collaborate, squeezing the jihadis who once controlled nearly a third of the country. Al-Abadi made the declaration at a news conference in Paris with French President Emmanuel Macron, who has offered to help mediate between Iraqs government and the autonomous Kurdish region, which voted for independence last week. I want to announce the liberation of the city of Hawija today, al-Abadi said, calling it a victory not just for Iraq but for the whole world. Read more: Canadian special forces leave Mosul as they prepare for new battle in Iraq Iraqi prime minister declares town of Tal Afar fully liberated from Daesh Iraqi forces, U.S.-led coalition launch assault to reclaim Daesh-held Tal Afar Still, Abadis government is struggling to contain the fallout from the independence vote, which, while not binding or expected to lead to the formation of a Kurdish state anytime soon, was rejected as illegal by the Baghdad government as well as neighbouring Turkey and Iran. Iraqs central government has imposed a flight ban on the Kurdish region, while Turkey and Iran have sent troops to the land-locked regions borders to signal their opposition to any redrawing of the map. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday appeared to threaten a blockade of the Kurdish region, saying: All airspace will be closed, flights have already been banned. . . . Soon the borders will be closed too. Macron expressed concern about the escalating dispute. He said France supports the territorial integrity of Iraq and called for national reconciliation and inclusive governance, noting Frances close ties to the Kurds. He said dialogue is the only path out of the crisis, and said France is ready to contribute actively to mediation. Despite the political wrangling, the Kurdish forces, known as the Peshmerga, and the Iraqi army have kept up co-ordination in the Hawija area as the last pockets of Daeshterritory are retaken, U.S. coalition spokesman Ryan Dillon told The Associated Press. As Iraqi security forces continue to push (Daesh) up against the Kurdish defensive line . . . youre going to find Kurdish Peshmerga forces killing or capturing [Daesh] fighters that have been pushed out of Hawija city, he said, referring to the extremists by an alternate acronym. Iraqi forces have driven Daesh from nearly all the cities and towns it seized in the summer of 2014, including the countrys second-largest city, Mosul, which was liberated in July following a months-long offensive. Tal Afar, west of Mosul was retaken by Iraqi security forces in August; hundreds of Daesh fighters and their families handed themselves over to Kurdish security forces in the days after. The extremists are now mainly concentrated in a region straddling the Iraqi-Syrian border, and still control a cluster of towns in the far west of Iraqs sprawling Anbar province, where another U.S.-backed Iraqi offensive is underway. Iraqi officials often declare victory before the fighting has completely ended, and Dillon said troops in and around Hawija were flushing out the remaining militants in the area. Iraqi forces launched the operation to retake the town, which lies 240 kilometres north of Baghdad, late last month. The U.S.-led coalition issued a statement welcoming Iraqs swift and decisive victory in Hawija. Our Iraqi partners fought bravely and professionally against a brutal and determined enemy, safeguarding innocent civilians throughout the entire campaign, said Lt. Gen. Paul E. Funk II, the commander of the coalition in Iraq. Still, the Kurdish referendum has been an unwelcome distraction for the Western powers focused on the war against Daesh, forcing military planners to divert resources for contingencies that could follow the unresolved dispute, said Dillon. Macrons offer to mediate between the Iraqi government and the Kurds had reportedly run into resistance from the Iraqi government ahead of al-Abadis visit because of the French presidents insistence on Kurdish rights. Al-Abadi said Thursday that Iraq is for all Iraqis and the constitution guarantees the rights of all its citizens. We are not looking for any confrontations, we dont want animosity, he said. But the authority of the federal state should impose its will and no one should attack the federal authority. The central government and the Kurds have long bickered over the sharing of oil wealth and the fate of disputed territories, many of which are now controlled by Kurdish forces but lie outside their autonomous region. Iraqs parliament, which is dominated by Shiite Arabs, has called for harsh measures in response to the Sept. 25 referendum, including sending federal troops to retake the contested, oil-rich city of Kirkuk, which is held by Kurdish forces but claimed by Baghdad. Al-Abadi has ruled out any military response to the Kurdish vote but has said Iraqi forces will respond to any violence. Al-Abadi and Macron also discussed efforts to promote investment and reconstruction in Iraq, where entire neighbourhoods in several cities have been reduced to rubble by the fight against Daesh, and where more than 3 million people have been displaced. France confirmed a 30 million euro loan for Iraqi reconstruction, and appears eager to play a big economic role in Iraqs future. French oil company Total, long a player in the region, and other companies were to meet with Abadis delegation in Paris later Thursday. Read more about: SHARE: WASHINGTONIt was everywhere: The worst mass shooting in U.S. history On Twitter. In private conversations. Even in news headlines. Was it accurate? It is true a gunmans killing of 58 people and injuring more than 500 in a mass shooting Sunday in Las Vegas was the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history, with the total carnage worse than last year, when a gunman killed 49 people in Orlando. The United States has a long history of gunmen shooting down dozens sometimes hundreds of people at one time. Here are a few other examples of those incidents: The 1921 Tulsa Race Riot: As many as 300 people were killed, 35 city blocks were burned and more than 800 people were hospitalized over Memorial Day weekend in 1921 when a white mob attacked black residents of the citys Greenwood District. The neighborhood was one of the wealthiest black communities in the country at the time and had earned the nickname Black Wall Street. In addition to guns, planes reportedly dropped burning balls of turpentine on the rooftops of black residents. (Source: Tulsa Historical Society and Museum) Authorities late Tuesday released bodycam footage from officers with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department who responded to the mass shooting at a concert. (The Associated Press) The Elaine Massacre: After black sharecroppers met in Elaine, Ark., in 1919 with union leaders to discuss more equitable treatment by white plantation owners, the sheriff of Phillips County led a group of white men to intercept a rumored insurrection among the black men. The mob of whites began killing black people on sight, with the number of deaths of blacks reaching into the hundreds. (Source: Equal Justice Initiative) The Sacramento River Massacre: Explorer John C. Fremont, motivated by the idea of Manifest Destiny, disobeyed orders from the U.S. government to set out with an expedition for the Rocky Mountains, and went to California instead. Upon arrival in 1846, he heard a rumor that a group of Native Americans was preparing to attack the men. Fremont led his men, carrying pistols and rifles, up the Sacramento River to find the members of the Wintu tribe. Upon discovering the group, Fremonts men fired on the men, women and children, killing at least 120 of them. (Source: An American Genocide: The United States and the California Indian Catastrophe, 18461873) The Washington Post wrote about why its hard for media organizations to consistently define what qualifies as a mass shooting even as they report on them. Mass shooting is a term without a universally-accepted definition, which complicates news coverage of events such as Sundays massacre in Las Vegas. Stephen Paddocks rampage clearly meets any mass-shooting standard (58 people dead and more than 500 others injured), but the question is how it fits into a broader trend. Theres also some debate over whether the different nature of the shootings in previous eras of history are in the same vein as todays mass shootings. More dramatic cell phone video has emerged of the terrifying moment a gunman fired a hail of bullets on an outdoor country music festival on the Las Vegas Strip, killing at least 58 people and injuring more than 500. (The Associated Press). Individuals leading packs to kill groups of people with guns arent viewed as mass shootings because the modern definition of mass shootings has come to be viewed as the act of a lone gunman shooting sometimes randomly into a public space. Some have argued this narrow definition of one person using guns to kill groups of people erases the thousands of people who have been killed by guns in a single incident. One reason its problematic as well as insensitive not to reference them is because the modern shootings invoke cries of This is not who we are. Those claims fail to acknowledge mass shootings have been a part of this country for quite some time. Its part of the American experience: We deal with mosquitoes in August, airport delays around Thanksgiving, expensive health care and the potential of being shot, at any time, by a semiautomatic weapon as we try to go about the most boring, precious, asinine aspects of our daily lives, wrote The Posts Monica Hesse. While mass shootings in the style of what we saw Sunday seem to be part of the American experience, much of the history of killing large groups of people with guns is connected to another experience common in, but not unique to, America: white supremacy. Significant time will be spent trying to uncover the motives of Stephen Paddock, a man whose actions seemed to surprise his own brother. The motives of many of the massacres throughout American history are not in question. SHARE: BARCELONA, SpainSpains constitutional court on Thursday suspended a session of the Catalan regional parliament to pre-empt separatist lawmakers from approving a unilateral declaration of independence. The courts decision is a further escalation in the territorial conflict over Catalonia, which held an independence referendum Sunday that Spanish courts declared illegal and suspended. The latest move by the court is unlikely to resolve the dispute, Spains worst constitutional crisis since it embraced democracy in the 1970s. Read more: Quebec passes unanimous motion condemning Spains authoritarianism over Catalonia Catalonia calls for international mediation as Spain vows to stand ground after independence vote Catalan government plans to declare independence as EU officials urge dialogue with Spain Although there was no immediate reaction from Catalan authorities, separatist lawmakers could schedule another session, meet in an alternative venue or show up in defiance of the court order as scheduled Monday, which could prompt the police to intervene. Catalan separatists say they are entitled to an independent state because of the regions distinct language and culture. They say the referendum on independence was overwhelmingly approved, though less than half of eligible voters went to the polls, which Spanish national police tried to block, clashing with civilians. The constitutional court made its decision at the request of the Catalan chapter of the Socialist party. The Socialist leadership in Madrid opposes Catalan secession, but has also been raising the pressure on Mariano Rajoy, Spains conservative prime minister, to clarify what steps he will take to help defuse the conflict. Rajoy has at his disposal a series of emergency powers to take full administrative control of Catalonia, including suspending the regional parliament for as long as deemed necessary. Speaking before the courts ruling, Rajoy did not detail his plans, but urged the separatists to abandon their planned independence declaration so that more harm can be avoided. In an interview with EFE, Spains national news agency, Rajoy did not offer to hold talks with separatists and instead said that the best solution, on which I think we all agree, is a return to legality. Read more about: SHARE: QUETTA, PAKISTANA suicide bomber struck a Shiite shrine packed with worshippers in a remote village in southwestern Pakistan on Thursday, killing 20 people and leaving at least 25 wounded, a provincial government spokesman and the police said. Within hours, Daesh, also known as ISIS, claimed responsibility for the attack. The bomber detonated his explosives vest when he was stopped for a routine search by a police officer guarding the shrine in the village of Jhal Masgi, about 400 kilometres east of Quetta, the capital of Baluchistan province. Anwarul Haq Kakar, spokesman for the provincial government, said the death toll could rise further as some of the wounded remained in critical condition. Mohammad Iqbal, a district police chief, said five children, a woman and one police officer were among those 20 people killed in the bombing. He said they found body parts of the attacker and investigators were trying to determine who was behind the bombing. Sarfraz Bugti, the provincial home minister, said terrorists have shown their inhumaneness by attacking innocent civilians at the shrine. Atif Ali Shah, the custodian of the shrine, told reporters that had the attacker managed to enter the shrine, there would have been many more casualties. The police officer who stopped the bomber and other guards who rushed to the scene saved many lives, he said. Hundreds of devotees were present at the shrine for a monthly gathering when the bomber hit. Local TV footage showed people crying for help in the immediate aftermath of the attack. Just hours earlier, Pakistani army spokesman Maj. Gen. Asif Ghafoor said the military had received credible reports of upcoming terror attacks. Ghafoor told a news conference in the garrison city of Rawalpindi that the government has been alerted about possible attacks. The claim by the Daesh affiliate in Pakistan came later Thursday, in a statement posted on the Daesh-linked Aamaq news agency. Daesh and other Sunni extremists perceive Shiites as apostates who should be killed and have carried out many such attacks in the past, targeting minority Shiite Muslims in Baluchistan and elsewhere in the country. Pakistani Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi condemned the attack, saying that terrorists have no religion and that his government will act against militants with full might. In June, at least 75 Shiite Muslims were killed in twin bombings at a market in Parachinar in the countrys northwest. At the time, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, a sectarian Sunni extremist group, claimed the bombings in Parachinar, which is a majority Shiite town. In February, a Daesh suicide bomber struck inside a famed Sufi shrine in southern Sindh province, killing 88 worshippers as they performed a devotional dance known as dhamal. Baluchistan, which shares a border with Sindh province, has also been the scene of a low-level insurgency by Baluch nationalists and separatists demanding more autonomy and a greater share in the regions natural resources such as gas and oil. However, Islamic militants have also carried out scores of attacks in the province. Read more about: SHARE: PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITIA UN peacekeeping mission in Haiti that has helped maintain order through 13 years of political turmoil and catastrophe is coming to an end as the last of the blue-helmeted soldiers from around the world leave despite concerns that the police and justice system are still not adequate to ensure security in the country. The UN planned to lower its flag at its headquarters in Port-au-Prince during a ceremony Thursday that will be attended by President Jovenel Moise. After a gradual winding down, there are now about 100 international soldiers in the country and they will leave within days. The mission will officially end on Oct. 15. Immediately afterward, the UN will start a new mission made up of about 1,300 international civilian police officers, along with 350 civilians who will help the country reform a deeply troubled justice system. Various agencies and programs of the international body, such as the Food and Agricultural Organization, will also still be working in the country. It will be a much smaller peacekeeping mission, said Sandra Honore, a diplomat from Trinidad and Tobago who has served since July 2013 as the head of the UN mission in Haiti known as MINUSTAH, its French acronym. The United Nations is not leaving. MINUSTAH began operations in Haiti in 2004, when a violent rebellion swept the country and forced then-president Jean-Bertrand Aristide out of power and into exile. Its goals included restoring security and rebuilding the shattered political institutions. In April, the Security Council deemed the country sufficiently stable and voted to wind down the international military presence, which then consisted of about 4,700 troops. Many Haitians have viewed the multinational peacekeepers as an affront to national sovereignty. UN troops are believed to have inadvertently introduced the deadly cholera bacteria to the country and have also been accused of causing civilian casualties in fierce battles with gangs in Port-au-Prince and of sexually abusing minors. But the mission, with additional help from the U.S. and other nations, is also credited with stabilizing the country, particularly after the January 2010 earthquake, and building up the national police force. The job may not be complete but they have essentially done much of what they were originally designed to do in terms of preventing any kind of armed takeover of the state, in terms of increasing the safety of civilians, said Mark Schneider, a senior adviser with the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. It takes work to maintain that and Haiti needs to maintain that. Read more: UN fund to help victims of sex abuse by peacekeepers grows to $1.5 million Congo leads world in sex abuse allegations made against UN peacekeepers: AP investigation MINUSTAH, Schneider said, has been key in helping Haiti develop a credible civilian national police from almost zero to its current level of about 15,000 officers, which most experts believe is still too small for a country of nearly 11 million. The police force was intended to replace the army, which was disbanded by Aristide in 1995 because of its repeated role in a series of coups and that the Haitian government is now seeking to reconstitute over international objections. Haiti needs an atmosphere of peace so we can take responsibility for ourselves, said Haitian Sen. Jacques Suaveur Jean. We dont need foreign soldiers. The new UN mission will consist of seven police units that can respond to major incidents, in addition to officers deployed throughout the country to advise and assist their Haitian counterparts. Civilians will also be working with the government to improve the countrys justice system, which the State Department said in this years annual human rights report has serious flaws, including severe prison overcrowding, prolonged pretrial detention and an inefficient judiciary. Honore, in an interview ahead of Thursdays ceremony, cited the training and hiring of police officers as one of the UN successes. MINUSTAH had already been scaling back before the Security Council voted to end the mission. In the aftermath of the earthquake, which killed 96 UN personnel, including former head of mission Hedi Annabi, the number of troops reached more than 10,000. But when Honore arrived there were about 6,200 soldiers from around 20 countries, a figure that dropped again by nearly a third within two years. The cholera outbreak, which started in October 2010 after peacekeepers from Nepal contaminated the countrys largest river with waste from their base, killed an estimated 9,500 people and irrevocably damaged the reputation of the organization in Haiti. Many critics felt the UN did not adequately respond to the outbreak, something the organization sought to later remedy. It was a fundamental error because it undermined the image not just of MINUSTAH, but of the international community, Schneider said. Read more about: SHARE: CALGARYHudson Mack says he doesnt know the cost of his Victoria-based sons intensive medical care after being shot Sunday at the Route 91 Harvest music festival in Las Vegas, only that hes sure its already catastrophic. Like many who make a short trip to the United States, his 21-year-old son Sheldon didnt buy travel health insurance before crossing the border, and is now facing the potential of a staggering medical bill after the deadliest mass shooting in modern American history left him with gunshot wounds that required major surgery. Its a lesson to Canadians to not cross the border without coverage, said Mack. Thanks to a patchwork of funds for victims of violent crime, however, Mack says at least they might not have to worry about the hospital bills, on top of the emotional toll the family is facing. Emotionally, its been hellish, Mack said. We didnt know what we were going to find when we got down here. So this has been terrible for Sheldon, a horrible thing for him, and a very difficult thing for us. He said hes been told Nevada has a fund for victims of violent crime who dont have insurance, while the FBIs mass casualty unit may help him get Sheldon home, which hes hoping will happen as soon as this weekend. The Canadian consulate is also helping, with the potential to tap into a government program that provides financial assistance for Canadians victimized abroad, though the program is capped at $10,000 and doesnt cover lost wages. Friends have also set up an online crowdfunding page at GoFundMe to help with Sheldons recovery, as have friends of several other Canadians injured in the attack. Read more: B.C. man who survived after being shot in the head in Las Vegas begins long trip home As heart-wrenching stories of victims emerge, police say the Las Vegas gunmans motive remains elusive Web of supports help B.C. parents who lost their only child in Las Vegas attack Mack said hes not sure he would have set up the account on his own, but that its good to see people want to help. Therell be a need for that money down the road because theres going to be counselling and ongoing emotional support that Sheldon and the others are going to need after this. Canadian tourists Braden Matejka and Amanda Homulos said they went to Las Vegas to celebrate Matejka's birthday last Thursday, when the couple unexpectedly got caught up in a mass shooting that left 58 dead and hundreds injured on Sunday. (The Associated Press) Money is also being raised online for Ryan Sarrazin of Camrose, Alta., who, according to a GoFundMe page started by Tamara Johnson, was seriously injured after being shot at the concert. This fund is to assist medical and travel expenses for Ryan and his family, she said on the funding page, which has already surpassed the original goal of $50,000 and is nearing the $75,000 mark. In a statement posted on the page, Sarrazins family thanked those who have supported them, while asking for privacy going forward. The Sarrazin and Moore families would like to extend our sincere gratitude and deep appreciation for all the contributions to the GoFundMe page as well as all the prayers and well wishes we have received. Braden Matejka from Lake Country, B.C., has also started a GoFundMe campaign with a goal of $25,000, saying on the page that the money will help cover his required time off work and other recovery costs after being shot in the back of the head. Victims may also find help from a general GoFundMe campaign started by Las Vegass county, which has already raised more than $9 million (U.S.), though it does not specify how much, if any, will go to Canadians. Canadian travel health insurance policies generally have at least a million dollars of coverage, said Will McAleer, president of Canadas Travel Health Insurance Association. Once contacted, insurance companies will contact next of kin, co-ordinate with doctors and hospitals and manage care and flights home, so its important to have insurance, and your insurance card ready. However, Canadians shouldnt expect much support from their provincial coverage, where the daily coverage ranges from between $50 and $400 depending on the province, McAleer added. The amounts that youd be paid for under a provincial medical plan are certainly insignificant, theyre almost non-existent. He said intensive medial care for an emergency such as a critical gunshot wound can cost upwards of $10,000 an hour as teams of specialists go into action. For significant emergencies, its not even a fraction of the coverage. SHARE: WASHINGTONThe federal Fish and Wildlife Service on Thursday declined 25 separate petitions to list a variety of species as endangered or threatened, including the high-profile Pacific walrus, which is contending with sharp climate change trends in the Arctic where it spends much of its life atop floes of floating sea ice. The agency also declined a listing petition for the Florida Keys mole skink, a subspecies of lizard that lives on beaches and in coastal forests that face rising seas and were just swept by Hurricane Irma. The service determined that while the skinks habitat could shrink by as much as 44 per cent at the high end, most of the habitat and soils that the species needs will remain into the foreseeable future, at least out to the year 2060. Other rejected listings included Bicknells thrush, a songbird that lives at high mountain altitudes, the Big Blue Springs cave crayfish, and the Kirtlands snake. Fourteen separate species of Nevada springsnails were also rejected for listing. In making these 12-month findings, we considered and thoroughly evaluated the best scientific and commercial information available regarding the past, present, and future stressors and threats, the agency wrote. Gavin Shire, a spokesperson for the Fish and Wildlife Service, noted that the agency has proposed to list a number of fish species, including the small but colourful candy darter, which lives in parts of Virginia and West Virginia. But at least one environmental group thinks the petitions are being rejected too cavalierly. Theres a lot of opposition to endangered species protections within the Department of Interior, and this kind of blanket rejection for all these species just really highlights that, said Noah Greenwald, who heads up the endangered species program at the Center for Biological Diversity, which requested a number of the species listings. Greenwald said the Fish and Wildlife Service actually had to make decisions about 62 possible listings by the end of September. He said that 29 have been rejected, six species were protected, and six decisions have been delayed thus far. Twenty-one more decisions are yet to come. Greenwald did not see a pattern in the protections and rejections, though he noted that one of the protected species, the Guadalupe fescue, is a type of grass that grows only in Big Bend National Parkmeaning it doesnt threaten any industry operations. Similarly, the iiwi (or scarlet honeycreeper) in Hawaii was protectedits range is limited to mountaintops in Maui and the Big Island and doesnt threaten industry, either. In contrast, a number of these [denied] species are threatened by climate change, Greenwald said. They include the Florida Keys mole skink, Bicknells thrush and the Pacific walrus. Stuart Pimm, a scientist at Duke University who specializes in endangered species and biological diversity, said he was struck by the many diverse ways in which some of the species at issue are affected by climate change. Its an extraordinary collection of species that shout how pervasive climate change is in destroying biodiversity and, indeed, destroying natural environment, said Pimm. They stretch from my home in the Florida Keys all the way up to the Arctic, and they are things from rising sea level to things like the Bickles thrush, which is a mountaintop species. Thats how pervasive climate change now is. As for the failure to list any of the species, Pimm said, its spectacular cowardice on the part of the Fish and Wildlife Service, who dont have the courage to do what they are charged with doing, which is to evaluate the scientific evidence, and not kowtow to undue political pressure. But Shire, the Fish and Wildlife Service spokesperson, countered that the rejections do not reflect skepticism regarding climate change. Our decisions on whether or not to list a species under the Endangered Species Act are always based on the best available science, he said by email. Each species is assessed individually on its merits, which include population status, trend and any conservation efforts that are underway to protect it against future declines. Shire added that while Trump administration officials at the Interior Department review listing decisions, the science is undertaken by career federal biologists, who make the determination whether or not a species merits listing. U.S. President Donald Trump has not yet nominated a director of the Fish and Wildlife Service, which is charged with many endangered-species decisions. Others are made by the National Marine Fisheries Service of the Department of Commerce. In the case of the Pacific walrus, perhaps the highest-profile species of the current bunch, the Fish and Wildlife Service defended the decision by arguing that the walruses have shown an ability to adapt to sea ice loss that was not foreseen when the Service last assessed the species in 2011. Given these behavioural changes, the Service determined that it could not predict, with confidence, future behavioural responses of the species beyond 2060. One form of adaptation that the service discusses is that walruses could spend more time on landsomething that we have seen recently with dramatic walrus haulouts along the Alaskan coast. These events have raised concerns that walruses may not be able to access food as easily, or that some individuals could be trampled in the tightly packed herds, which can number in the thousands of individuals. While it is likely that the increased use of land habitat will have some negative effects on the population, the magnitude of effect is uncertain given the demonstrated ability of Pacific walruses to change their behaviour or adapt to greater use of land, the service said. The Interior Department is not the only part of government balking at some proposed endangered species listings. On Wednesday, the House Natural Resources Committee passed five bills amending the Endangered Species Act. They include one measure allowing for the consideration of economic factors in listing decisions and another measure curtailing protections under the act for the grey wolf in Wyoming and around the western Great Lakes. The goal of the Endangered Species Act is to recover species, Rep. Jack Bergman said of the grey wolf during a committee meeting in September, noting that its numbers have rebounded. Wouldnt the limited resources of U.S. Fish and Wildlife be better utilized [for species] that are at actual serious risk of extinction? Many congressional Republicans view the Endangered Species Act as an outdated law used to bigfoot state-level efforts to manage wildlife. Environmentalists, meanwhile, more often than not prefer federal intervention, since they see states as more willing to cater to industry interests. The ESA is a landmark statute created with noble intent, Rep. Rob Bishop, chairperson of the House Natural Resources Committee, said in a statement Wednesday. It also includes fatal design flaws that inhibit greater success and handicap state-led, science-based recovery strategies. These bills may not become lawthere is a long history of trying to amend the Endangered Species Actbut, meanwhile, Pimm said he struggled to see how the 25 separate listing petitions all could fail. One by one, you might want to quibble, he said. But for all of them? Read more about: SHARE: This article is the Saskatchewan governments response to a collaborative reporting project published on Monday by the Toronto Star, National Observer, Global News and four journalism schools about the public health concerns of hydrogen sulphide emissions in southeastern Saskatchewan. Also known as sour gas, hydrogen sulphide is a poisonous, corrosive and flammable gas that can leak from wellheads, tanks and flare stacks in oilfields. It should be stressed that protecting the health and safety of Saskatchewan citizens is the number one priority for the Government of Saskatchewan. We take our responsibilities seriously. The government has taken a number of measures to strengthen its oversight of sour gas management within the oil and gas industry. These include: Increased inspections of wells and facilities that process high volumes of sour gas (in the summer of 2015 the Ministry of the Economy conducted 4,251 site inspections in southeast Saskatchewan and 12 compliance notices were issued. None involved high risk releases of sour gas.) Collection of gas composition data to better identify those wells and pools that have a high-percentage of sour gas production. A new reporting category for sour gas emissions was added as part of its incident reporting which was fully operational at the beginning of June. More field inspectors in the Estevan area to strengthen inspection and enforcement activities. The acquisition of highly sensitive hand-held sour gas measurement devices that allow field inspectors to quickly identify the source of sour gas odours. The deployment of forward looking infrared (FLIR) cameras to identify gas leaks and venting at wells and facilities. Field testing of truck-mounted mobile gas detection equipment that allows for sweeps of large areas to identify potential sources of sour gas emissions. New air monitoring stations. In addition, a new field services branch was created to strengthen on-the-ground inspection and enforcement activities with additional resources shifted to field operations in southeast Saskatchewan to support sour gas management. Read more: Public safety is the number one priority, Saskatchewan government says after toxic gas investigation That rotten stench in the air? Its the smell of deadly gas and secrecy Two years ago, the ministry launched an integrated resource information system (IRIS) that provides tools for managing inspection and incident reporting. IRIS has substantially improved the ministrys ability to track and analyze incident and inspection data, including those tied to sour gas. In 2014, the Government of Saskatchewan introduced a new cost-recovery levy tied to oil and gas wells that is being used to fund increased regulatory programming, including the purchase of new equipment, the hiring of additional field staff, the development new data systems, and increased technical training. In 2017, the levy was expanded to pipelines, which will assist in supporting new programs to better manage pipelines used to gather sour gas. Altogether, funding for regulatory programs has increased by $4.5 million since the levy was introduced in 2014, including an additional $1.35 million in 2017-18. There has been a marked improvement in air quality in southeast Saskatchewan in terms of sour gas levels. Air quality standards consistently show that air quality standards are being met. The inspection activities by the ministry confirm the sour gas management practices of industry operators have improved. Nancy Heppner is Saskatchewans Minister of Energy and Resources. SHARE: Last month, two well-known Americans former president Barack Obama, and whistleblower Chelsea Manning were supposed to visit Canada. But while Obama was welcomed like a hero, Manning who was prosecuted by the Obama administration for leaking materials that included evidence of American atrocities was banned. Two weeks ago, Canadian border officials prohibited Manning from entering the country: a decision that Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale said he was unlikely to interfere with. Obama, in contrast, was eagerly embraced when he arrived in Toronto to deliver a speech last Friday. He was greeted by throngs of admirers and acclaimed by media commentators, whose only disappointment was that Obama was not more forthcoming in criticizing his successor. The celebration of Obama as the antithesis to Donald Trump ignores the continuities between them. Trumps presidency is dangerous because of Obamas policies, which expanded presidential powers to use violence without constraint or scrutiny including through his administrations treatment of whistleblowers like Chelsea Manning. As president, Obama claimed the authority to engage in covert wars without congressional authorization, bypassing legal provisions meant to prevent the president from initiating military action without the approval of Congress. Obama used the Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) passed by Congress in 2001 which permitted action against Al Qaeda in the wake of 9-11 as legal authority to wage war against an ever-expanding list of terrorist organizations. For example, Obama used the AUMF to justify the campaign against Daesh (also known as ISIS) in Iraq and Syria, even though Daesh publicly split from Al Qaeda in 2014. In 2016 alone, the Obama administration dropped more than 26,000 bombs on seven different countries. Obamas manipulation of the AUMF transmuted it into a licence for open-ended aggression: hazardous in the hands of any president, potentially catastrophic in the hands of Donald Trump. As president, Obama increased the use of drones outside official theatres of war, raining death on thousands of people, including unknown scores of civilians. At the same time, his government successfully fought to preclude judges from reviewing drone killings, keeping the use of lethal force behind a wall of secrecy and unaccountability. In 2013, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International accused the Obama administration of possibly committing war crimes in Pakistan and Yemen but the victims of U.S. drones have received no justice, or even an acknowledgement that they have been wronged. As president, Obama condemned and discontinued Bush-era policies of torture but refused to criminally prosecute those responsible (as required by international law), setting a precedent of impunity for torturers. Under Obama, the only official punished in connection with the U.S. torture program was John Kiriakou: the ex-CIA employee who blew the whistle on it. Indeed, as president, Obama prosecuted more than twice as many whistleblowers as all previous administrations combined stifling a vital source of information about state practices shrouded in a veil of secrecy. [The Obama administration] is the most closed, control freak administration Ive ever covered, said David Sanger, veteran Washington correspondent for the New York Times, in 2013. One of the whistleblowers attacked during Obamas presidency was Chelsea Manning, a veteran of the war in Iraq whose leaks exposed American war crimes. Most infamously, video footage showed soldiers gunning down Iraqi civilians from an Apache helicopter in Baghdad, and then referring to the casualties as dead bastards. None of the documents that Manning publicized were top secret; the Defense Secretary at the time, Robert Gates, acknowledged that while the leaks were embarrassing, the alarmism over their impact was significantly overwrought. And yet, Manning was sentenced to 35 years in prison, and subjected to treatment the UN described as cruel and inhuman. Obama commuted Mannings sentence earlier this year. But as director of the Courage Foundation Sarah Harrison observed, the commutation will not make good the harm done on Obamas watch. Chelseas conviction set a terrible precedent that is left entirely intact Who knows what Donald Trump will do with this precedent, and these powers, that Obama has left him? In his speech last week in Toronto, Barack Obama hailed those who work to pull [the arc of the moral universe] in the direction of justice. But as president, Obama not only failed to pull with the champions of justice; he often punished them. This is how an apparently liberal, progressive leader laid the groundwork for a menace like Trump: an important lesson for Canadians to heed. Azeezah Kanji is a legal analyst based in Toronto. She writes in the Star every other Thursday. Read more about: SHARE: There are times when one community within the Canadian mosaic experiences particular trauma such that succor is in order. Today, that community is Canadian Muslims. MP Iqra Khalid knew this when she proposed M-103, a private members motion designed to fight Islamophobia. Now, the parliamentary hearings flowing from M-103s recommendations provide all Canadians with an opportunity to stand up to Islamophobia. No one understands this situation better than Canadian Jews. There was a time in this country where Jews were unwelcome, seen as swarthy crooks and objects of suspicion. Attitudes softened somewhat after it became clear that such bigotry through shameful episodes like the banning of the M.S. St. Louis had led Canada to be complicit in the Nazi genocide of six million Jewish men, women and children. But discrimination against Jews in Canada continued. Until the Canadian Jewish Congress challenged it in court in the early 1950s, Jews were often barred from purchasing land. Employers discriminated against applicants with Jewish-sounding names. Some resorts and country clubs kept their doors closed to Jews, and Jewish doctors were banned from practicing in some hospitals. And into the 1960s, there were strict quotas placed on the number of Jews allowed into universities. While anti-semitism remains a scourge worldwide, in Canada it now hovers along the edges of society. Not so Islamophobia which is, unfortunately, front and centre. With the horrific mosque attack in Quebec City last January, Canadian Muslims now have the tragic distinction of being the only people in the countrys history to have been gunned down in their house of worship. Incredibly, in the weeks following, anti-Islam protests took place across downtown Toronto. And two months after the massacre, a protestor ripped up and stomped on a Koran at a Peel District school board meeting. And then there are the quiet prejudicial attitudes. A 2017 poll revealed that only 4 per cent of Canadians would find it unacceptable for their son or daughter to marry a Christian. That number jumps to 32 per cent when the hypothetical betrothed is Muslim. M-103 follows in the tradition of supporting particular targeted groups as needed. But that support has sometimes come decades too late. In fact, it wasnt until 2015 that a parliamentary motion was passed unanimously decrying anti-semitism. Whats more, unlike the anti-semitism motion, the text of M-103 is fully inclusive. Not only does it condemn Islamophobia, it points to the need to oppose all forms of systemic racism and religious discrimination. Yet critics of the motion continue to air doubts that opposing Islamophobia is worthy of Canadas attention. In a briefing note to the parliamentary committee tasked with reviewing the motions recommendations, retired Canadian Forces major Russ Cooper has expressed concern that the motion will trample free speech. Similarly, Jay Cameron of the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms warns that if M-103 is legislatively codified, the unconstitutional infringement of freedom of thought, belief, expression and religion is inevitable. And Father Raymond De Sousa told the hearing that to focus on one religion alone, as M-103 suggests, would be unwise. All these arguments are red herrings. M-103 does nothing to change the Criminal Code. Canadas strong speech protections remain in place. And neither does M-103 restrict anti-bigotry to one religion. Its language, as weve stressed above, is fully inclusive. As Canadian Jews we understand the need for memory. With the legacy of Jewish suffering, it has become an article of faith to commemorate persecution. What were seeing here, sadly, is that when it comes to oppression of Canadian Muslims, there are too many attempts by too many Canadians to forget. M-103 is an attempt to resist this collective amnesia. When it comes to Islamophobia, we fear that too many of the testimonies at the hearings to date, coupled with the many Canadians who said they would have voted against the motion, reveal the scope of the very problem the critics are claiming does not exist. Bernie M. Farber is the former CEO of Canadian Jewish Congress and the recently-retired executive director of Mosaic Institute.Mira Sucharov is associate professor of political science at Carleton University. SHARE: Stock futures were higher as Wall Street attempted to keep a days-long record-breaking run going. Dow Jones Industrial Average futures rose 0.02% on Thursday, Oct. 5, S&P 500 futures increased 0.02%, and Nasdaq futures gained 0.1%. All three benchmark indexes ended the session on Wednesday, Oct. 4, at record highs, albeit with just small gains. Wednesday marked the third straight record close in a row for the Dow, the Nasdaq's fourth, and the S&P 500's fifth. Weekly jobless claims in the U.S. saw a sharp decline in the past week, according to the Labor Department. The number of new claims for unemployment benefits fell by 12,000 to 260,000. The less volatile four-week claims average dropped 9,500 to 268,250. Claims in recent weeks have shown the initial impact of hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria. The number of new applications for unemployment benefits had seen an uptick. The string of hurricanes could also affect the official U.S. jobs report, which will be released on Friday, Oct. 6. Economists surveyed by FactSet anticipate 80,000 jobs to have been added to the U.S. economy in September, a sharp slowdown from the 156,000 jobs added in August. The measure has not fallen below the 100,000 mark since March and has only been below that threshold four times in the past five years. The U.S. trade deficit dropped in August to its lowest level in 11 months, falling by 2.7% to $42.4 billion. Imports slipped 0.1% to $237.7 billion, while exports increased by 0.4% to $195.3 billion. Also on the economic calendar Thursday: factory orders for August at 10 a.m. ET. It's a busy day of Fedspeak. Federal Reserve Governor Jerome Powell will discuss treasury markets at a New York event at 9:10 a.m., San Francisco Fed President John Williams will deliver the keynote address at the Community Banking in the 21st Century Conference in St. Louis, at 9:15 a.m., Philadelphia Fed President Patrick Harker will participate in a Q&A at 9:30 a.m., and Kansas City Fed President Esther George will speak at an Austin, Texas, conference at 4:30 p.m. L Brands Inc. (LB) - Get Free Report fell 3.5% in premarket trading evev after reporting improving same-store sales trends. Same-store sales fell by 2% in September, half the rate of decline in August. Overall sales at the Victoria's Secret parent increased 1.1% to $981.6 million. L Brands said the recent hurricanes hurt sales by a full percentage point and that its exit of the swim and apparel categories hit same-store sales by three percentage points. Constellation Brands Inc. (STZ) - Get Free Report jumped 6% on Thursday after topping second-quarter earnings estimates. Net income rose to $2.48 a share from $1.75 a year earlier. Adjusted earnings of $2.47 a share, higher than an estimated $2.17 a share. Net sales of $2.08 billion also came in higher than anticipated. Strong beer sales offset weaker wine and spirits sales. Updated from 7:41 a.m. ET, Oct. 5. More of What's Trending on TheStreet: Join Jim Cramer, CNBC's Jon Najarian and Other Experts Oct. 28 in New York Jim Cramer will host CNBC's Jon Najarian, TD Ameritrade's JJ Kinahan, famed analytics expert Marc Chaikin and other market mavens on Oct. 28 in New York City to share successful strategies for active investors. You can join them as they discuss how smart investors can make the most of options trading, futures contracts, fundamental and quantitative analysis and great ETFs to buy right now. Participants will also get a chance to meet Jim and other panelists and take photos. When: Saturday, Oct. 28, 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Where: The Harvard Club of New York, 35 West 44th St., New York, N.Y. Cost: Special early bird price: $150 per person. (Normal price: $250) Click here for the full conference agenda or to reserve your seat now. While AT&T (T) - Get Free Report Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Randall Stephens spoke at Vanity Fair's New Establishment Summit in Los Angeles Wednesday, he was clearly very aware of the debate over consumer privacy in Washington. "This is the issue of the day," Stephenson said. Noting the concerns in Washington, he suggested that corporations ignore data privacy "at their own peril." As Hollywood and technology executives have been talking about the future of media at the magazine's confab, former Equifax (EFX) - Get Free Report Chairman and CEO Richard Smith has faced scrutiny in House and Senate hearings about the company's massive security breach. Lawmakers have questioned how Equifax protected its data, and whether it even deserves to have some information without consent from consumers. Using consumer data to boost ad sales is a central focus of AT&T's purchase of Time Warner (TWX) for $85.4 billion, or $108.7 billion including the assumed debt. Stephenson said that DirecTV has been able to charge two to three times the amount that legacy media can bill for advertising, because the data AT&T can glean from its network helps advertisers to focus their ads. AT&T plans to use its consumer data to drive a similar increase in the ad rates that Time Warner charges for Turner's networks. Media and tech companies need to think about how they deal with consumer privacy in general, Stephenson suggested. "The world is moving to place [that] a lot people in this room would not like," he said, an "opt-in world" in which consumers have to give approval for how corporations use their data. More of What's Trending on TheStreet: AT&T has experimented with giving customers financial incentives in exchange for using their information in Austin, Texas, he said. For high-speed broadband connections that cost $100 per month, AT&T has offered a discounted rate of $70 if the customer allows the telecom to use their data to sell ads. Acceptance rates have been from 94% to 96%, Stephenson said. If AT&T can boost its ad rates to multiples of what Time Warner currently charges, Stephenson said, the company could reduce the number of spots that it airs and differentiate its programming from other networks. The AT&T CEO suggested that antitrust regulators actually like the kind of vertical consolidation that brings together media distribution and content creation. The deals would allow AT&T to squeeze out costs and offer deals such as its $10 per-month DirecTV Now streaming service to customers who also subscribe to its wireless service, he said. Of course, antitrust regulators may also question the concentration of power within one company, and consider the effect that the purchase of Time Warner would have on competing network operators. As for consumer data and privacy, Stephenson suggested that tech and media companies come up with their own solution before lawmakers act. "If we wait for somebody else to deal with it," Stephenson said, "we probably aren't going to like the answer." The European Central Bank has started seriously discussing digital currencies including bitcoin, governing council member Ewald Nowotny told Austria's Trend magazine. Nowotny said the "hype" around digital currency is "dangerous and deeply dubious." The governing body has also been considering regulation specifically geared toward initial coin offerings, or ICOs. "We're discussing in the ECB to put concrete legal restrictions in place," Nowotny said. ICOs are a means of raising funds in a cryptocurrency venture and are often considered a strategy that bypasses rigorous regulation in the capital-raising process. In an ICO, part of the cryptocurrency raised is sold to early backers, usually in exchange for either legal tender or bitcoin. China banned ICOs in the country last month. "In China, there is a particular problem because bitcoins are used as an instrument for capital flight and to bypass legal regulations," Nowotny said. "It doesn't have this dimension here, yet." More of What's Trending on TheStreet: Ally Financial Inc., a digital financial-services company, provides various digital financial products and services to consumer, commercial, and corporate customers primarily in the United States and Canada. It operates through four segments: Automotive Finance Operations, Insurance Operations, Mortgage Finance Operations, and Corporate Finance Operations. The Automotive Finance Operations segment offers automotive financing services, including providing retail installment sales contracts, loans and operating leases, term loans to dealers, financing dealer floorplans and other lines of credit to dealers, warehouse lines to automotive retailers, and fleet financing. It also provides financing services to companies and municipalities for the purchase or lease of vehicles, and vehicle-remarketing services. The Insurance Operations segment offers consumer finance protection and insurance products through the automotive dealer channel, and commercial insurance products directly to dealers. This segment provides vehicle service and maintenance contract, and guaranteed asset protection products; and underwrites commercial insurance coverages, which primarily insure dealers' vehicle inventory. The Mortgage Finance Operations segment manages consumer mortgage loan portfolio that includes bulk purchases of jumbo and low-to-moderate income mortgage loans originated by third parties, as well as direct-to-consumer mortgage offerings. The Corporate Finance Operations segment provides senior secured leveraged cash flow and asset-based loans to middle market companies; leveraged loans; and commercial real estate product to serve companies in the healthcare industry. The company also offers commercial banking products and services. In addition, it provides securities brokerage and investment advisory services. The company was formerly known as GMAC Inc. and changed its name to Ally Financial Inc. in May 2010. Ally Financial Inc. was founded in 1919 and is based in Detroit, Michigan. Best Buy Co., Inc. retails technology products in the United States and Canada. The company operates in two segments, Domestic and International. Its stores provide computing products, such as desktops, notebooks, and peripherals; mobile phones comprising related mobile network carrier commissions; networking products; tablets covering e-readers; smartwatches; and consumer electronics consisting of digital imaging, health and fitness, home theater, portable audio comprising headphones and portable speakers, and smart home products. The company's stores also offer appliances, such as dishwashers, laundry, ovens, refrigerators, blenders, coffee makers, and vacuums; entertainment products consisting of drones, peripherals, movies, music, and toys, as well as gaming hardware and software, and virtual reality and other software products; and other products, such as baby, food and beverage, luggage, outdoor living, and sporting goods. In addition, it provides consultation, delivery, design, health-related, installation, memberships, repair, set-up, technical support, and warranty-related services. The company offers its products through stores and websites under the Best Buy, Best Buy Ads, Best Buy Business, Best Buy Health, CST, Current Health, Geek Squad, Lively, Magnolia, Best Buy Mobile, Pacific Kitchen, Home, and Yardbird, as well as domain names bestbuy.com, currenthealth.com, lively.com, yardbird.com, and bestbuy.ca. As of January 30, 2022, it had 1,144 stores. The company was formerly known as Sound of Music, Inc. The company was incorporated in 1966 and is headquartered in Richfield, Minnesota. Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. manufactures, and distributes life science research and clinical diagnostic products in the United States, Europe, Asia, Canada, and Latin America. The company operates through Life Science and Clinical Diagnostics segments. The Life Science segment develops, manufactures, and markets a range of reagents, apparatus, and laboratory instruments that are used in research techniques, biopharmaceutical production processes, and food testing regimes. It focuses on selected segments of the life sciences market in proteomics, genomics, biopharmaceutical production, cellular biology, and food safety. This segment serves universities and medical schools, industrial research organizations, government agencies, pharmaceutical manufacturers, biotechnology researchers, food producers, and food testing laboratories. The Clinical Diagnostics segment designs, manufactures, sells, and supports test systems, informatics systems, test kits, and specialized quality controls for clinical laboratories in the diagnostics market. This segment offers reagents, instruments, and software, which address specific niches within the in vitro diagnostics test market. It sells its products to reference laboratories, hospital laboratories, state newborn screening facilities, physicians' office laboratories, and transfusion laboratories. In addition, the company offers products and systems to separate complex chemical and biological materials, as well as to identify, analyze, and purify components. The company offers its products through its direct sales force, as well as through distributors, agents, brokers, and resellers. Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. was founded in 1952 and is headquartered in Hercules, California. Powerball numbers for Monday, Nov. 14, 2022 Here are the winning Powerball numbers and results for the lottery jackpot drawing on Monday, Nov. 14, 2022. A novel of adventure and human frailties, which also introduces a politically incorrect but contentious possible solution to the unknown origins of the Maori immigrants to New Zealand. In 1282, Carlos, Marquis do Tuella de Tanez, became the head of one of Portugal's most influential and wealthiest families. It was a time of change and discovery. In Iberia, the Moors were finally being driven out of western Europe, philosophers all over Europe were attempting to expand their knowledge of the world, and inventors were desperately trying to find patrons to finance their work. In 1286, Carlos de Tanez took advantage of this change, and set sail on a voyage of discovery that took him across to the mouths of the Amazon and the River Plate, around Cape Horn and into the Pacific, touching on the outskirts of the Inca empire, the Polynesian islands, and the virgin lands of what is now New Zealand. His ship the Hahviccii Grande was a hybrid caravel, and the largest ocean going ship of its time, and possessed characteristics and innovations that only someone of immense wealth and dedication could ever hope to gather together at that time. Gathering workers and women from the Americas and the Pacific islands, he finally abandoned them all into four small settlements in the future New Zealand, before setting sail to return to Europe, thereby providing the ancestors of the Maori people. 21 Chapters 56000 words Kerry Dillon Published by Dolphin Books Ltd New Direct from publisher. Unlimited Supply ITCs SME Competitiveness Outlook 2017 finds that deep regional integration generates more value-chain activity and helps improve SMEs competitiveness. Trade agreements with investment provisions encourage greater domestic value added than stand-alone bilateral investment treaties. Comprehensive trade agreements that provide for deep regional integration are better at connecting small businesses to value chains and ultimately better for building more inclusive growth. According to the International Trade Centres SME Competitiveness Outlook 2017 The Region: A Door to Global Trade, deeper regional integration turns out to be a major success factor in developing multi-country value chains, which in turn raises the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This finding is particularly interesting given the current debate on the utility of expanding the content and depth of trade agreements. Released today, the 2017 edition of the SME Competitiveness Outlook combines data analysis, academic insights and case studies to provide guidance for policymakers, business managers and trade and investment support institutions on how best to help SMEs navigate regional trade as a springboard to move up the value chain and increase the chances of going global. The report contains thought leader contributions from Thahirwa Dieudonne, Managing Director, Gashora Farm, Rwanda; Tony O. Elumelu, Founder, the Tony Elemelu Foundation; Mukhisa Kituyi, Secretary-General, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development; Susana Malcorra, Minister Advisor, Government of Argentina; and Ying McGuire, Global Vice-President, Technology Integration Group. The report finds that trade agreements especially deep integration deals that combine trade provisions with those on foreign investment are associated with increased domestic value added for exports. The conclusions are drawn on novel econometric analysis of 261 bilateral and multi-country trade agreements involving more than 150 countries and territories. While trade agreements that include investment provisions are associated with a 2% increase of the domestic content in value-chain exports, stand-alone bilateral investment treaties do not have an effect on domestic value added. Increasing value-chain activity in turn appears to boost the competitiveness of SMEs more than it does that of larger domestic companies. The report finds that for each additional policy area such as investment, dispute settlement, competition policy, intellectual property or environmental provisions covered by a countrys trade agreements, there is a 2.5% increase in the countrys integration into value-chain trade. More significantly, this leads to a 1.25% reduction in the competitiveness gap between small and large firms. This can have substantial impacts given that this reduction represents, for example, the difference between the competitiveness gap in countries like Botswana and Ecuador and that in Eastern European countries that belong to highly competitive regional value chains. Increased firm-level capacity of SMEs implies being in a better position to be selected by international buyers, to operate successfully within value chains and to upgrade or expand within such chains. Overall it increases SMEs bargaining power within the value chain and reduces the risk of being locked into the lower ends of value chains. Being able to negotiate better contracts with their buyers also puts SMEs in a position to offer better terms to their own employees. Gender is also a feature of the Outlook, with findings showing that there has been an increase in provisions covering gender equality and SMEs in trade agreements. In 1995-1999, 14% of trade agreements had references to gender equality; in 2010-2016, 47% of agreements referred to gender equality. SME provisions were part of only 6% of trade agreements in 1995-1999, whereas in 2010-2016, 25% of trade agreements contained SME provisions. Including provisions on gender equality and SMEs has to be part of modern trade agreements, said ITC Executive Director Arancha Gonzalez. Even when they are not legally binding, they send an important signal that efforts need to be made to create a level playing-field for all. It is all about the need for greater coherence between economic and inclusiveness policies. The potential of SMEs to connect to foreign markets depends on the extent of value-chain activity nearby, Gonzalez said. As this report shows, most value-chain activity takes place within regional value chains, with suppliers serving lead firms in the regional hub. This means that creating an environment that facilitates regional value chain activity is important for the inclusiveness of trade. The report also examines recent regional infrastructure initiatives such as Chinas Belt and Road Initiative that explicitly recognize the interaction between infrastructure, trade and regional integration. Regional competitiveness In line with other research, the report shows that regional value-chain activity is highest in Europe, Asia and North America. ITCs competitiveness analysis, based on firm-level capacity, strength of the ecosystem and the national environment, makes it possible to assess why this is the case. While trade and investment policies play an important role, they are not the sole determinant. Among the reports findings are that traditional headquarter economies in Europe (for example, France and Germany) and Asia (for example, Japan and the Republic of Korea) are surrounded by countries with a strong supplier base that facilitates regional value-chain activity. Both regions are also characterized by the emergence of new headquarter economies, notably China in the Asian region. In contrast, the top competitiveness performers in Latin America and the Caribbean are weaker than their European and Asian counterparts, and are not fully exploiting the potential to become headquarter economies. Africa, meanwhile, remains split in two, with countries north of the Sahara serving value chains headquartered in Europe, while regional value-chain activity remains weak elsewhere on the continent. The 50 country profiles contained in the report allow readers to develop a deeper understanding of which sectors have the potential to attract foreign investors and how national suppliers are positioned to serve or lead international value chains. In addition, the report contains five detailed stories of successful supplier integration: cocoa in Ghana, the automotive industry in Hungary, horticulture in Kenya, the electronics industry in Indonesia and the aerospace industry in Morocco. Together, they provide useful insights into the components of an effective value chain strategy. Key findings of the Outlook include: Deep regional trade integration can help deliver more inclusive economic growth. Deep integration trade deals spur activity in cross-border value chains for goods and services. Increasing value-chain activity helps boost the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises. Narrowing the competitiveness gap between small and large firms helps reduce income inequality. Bilateral investment treaties do not measurably stimulate domestic value-added in exports through value chains. Integrating investment provisions in trade agreements does. Investment into regional infrastructure has to be part and parcel of regional trade and investment strategies and cannot only come as an afterthought. Lack of regional hubs means sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America (excluding Mexico) are less integrated in international value chains than Asia, Europe and North America (including Mexico). China has the capacity to act as a headquarter economy in Asia and a number of Eastern European countries can move into this position in Europe. Regional top performers like South Africa in Africa and Chile and Colombia in South America are the most likely candidates to take up positions as headquarter economies. Background The following countries are profiled in the competitiveness index: Argentina; Bangladesh; Barbados; Bhutan, Brazil; Burkina Faso; Cambodia; Chile; China; Colombia; Costa Rica; Cote dIvoire; Ecuador; Egypt; Ghana; Guinea; India; Indonesia; Jamaica; Jordan; Kazakhstan; Kenya; Lebanon; Madagascar; Malawi; Malaysia; Mauritius; Mexico; Morocco; Namibia; Nepal; Nigeria; Paraguay; Peru; Poland; Russian Federation; Rwanda; Senegal; Slovakia; South Africa; Sri Lanka; Thailand; Trinidad and Tobago; Tunisia; Turkey; Ukraine; United Republic of Tanzania; Uruguay; and Viet Nam. For further background on the SME Competitiveness Outlook, please click here. The current intra-regional trade in the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa is US$20 billion with a potential of over US$82.3 billion. This figure has risen from US$3.2 billion in 2000 when the Free Trade Area was launched. The paradox is that the products are produced and exported to the rest of the world and at the same time imported from the rest of the world into the region, COMESA Secretary General Sindiso Ngwenya said on 3 October 2017. He was addressing Ministers of infrastructure responsible for transport, communications, energy and information technology during the opening of their 10th meeting in Lusaka, Zambia. Ngwenya said the huge trade potential was in textiles, wooden furniture, horticulture, household items, confectioneries, hides and skins, footwear and leather products, sugar confectioneries, tobacco and precious metals. He noted: Member States have the highest potential in producing and exporting the products whose total value is approximately ten times that of existing trade. COMESA has identified the absence of cross border production networks which would result in intra industry trade between and among firms within the region as major trade barrier. Hence, addressing transport and logistic challenges is fundamental to the COMESA agenda of inclusive and sustainable industrialization in unlocking the trade potential and making the region more competitive. Mr Ngwenya added: While we have made considerable progress in establishing favourable trading arrangements among ourselves, we need to ensure our productive side is properly structured. Zambias Acting Minister of Transport and Communications Mathews Nkhuwa opened the meeting. He called on member states to put in place policies, systems, institutions and resources to ensure adequate infrastructure capacity in terms of quantity and quality. A report presented to the Ministers at the meeting highlighted notable infrastructural projects that have been completed. These include the first phase of the standard gauge railway between Mombasa and Nairobi which will eventually connect Kenya to Ethiopia, Uganda and South Sudan. Ethiopia has also completed constructing a 750-kilometer standard gauge railway which will connect to Djibouti. In the energy sector, the region currently has a total installed power generation capacity estimated at 65, 791 megawatts as at the end of 2016. This is a 36% increase from 2012 figures of 48,352 megawatts. On ICT, COMESA countries represent 37% of the internet users in Africa. There is therefore needed to do more to enable majority of Africans have access to ICT services. The Ministers meeting comes to an end Wednesday, October 4th with the adoption of various recommendations that have been prepared by the committee of the technical experts on infrastructure. Please enter the email address associated with your User account. Your username will be emailed to the email address on file. Please enter the email address associated with your User account. Your username will be emailed to the email address on file. Please enter the email address for your account. A verification code will be sent to you. Once you have received the verification code, you will be able to choose a new password for your account. Please enter the email address for your account. A verification code will be sent to you. Once you have received the verification code, you will be able to choose a new password for your account. This Trade Update provides a snapshot of South Africas trading relationship with Egypt. The aim is to give an idea of South Africas trade relations with Egypt, and the major products or sectors that South Africa is trading in. All data is sourced from the United Nations (UN) International trade Centre (ITC) TradeMap database. The data analysed in this report is over a 10-year review period from 2007-2016, thus the review period referred in this paper will imply the period between 2007 and 2016. South Africas interest to strengthen trade relations with Egypt has been demonstrated by the agreement between the two countries to reconvene, as a matter of priority, the South Africa-Egypt Joint Bilateral Commission with the aim of consolidating areas of cooperation and to identify new areas of collaboration. The focus on Egypt and Africa in general comes as no surprise given South Africas economic dominance and the prospects of expanding its trade beyond SADC. Trade Performance Despite the potential that Egypt offers for South African businesses, bilateral trade has been minimal although there has been some growth over the past decade. One of the major obstacles limiting increased bilateral trade has been the strong competition faced by South Africa from European, American and Middle Eastern products and companies, which have historically had strong trade ties with Egypt. From a global perspective, Egypt does not feature amongst South Africas top export destinations or import sources. The same can be said for intra-Africa trade, where both exports and imports account for less than 1% of South Africas trade with Africa. In both cases Egypt is ranked 16th top trading partner of South Africa in terms of imports and exports. Since 2007, South Africa has maintained a trade surplus with Egypt, although in recent years between 2011 and 2014, the gap reduced before increasing again in 2015 and 2016. Latest available data reveals that in 2016, South Africas exports to Egypt were over US$ 207 million while imports were just above US$ 58 million. This Trade Update provides a snapshot of South Africas trading relationship with Egypt. The aim is to give an idea of South Africas trade relations with Egypt, and the major products or sectors that South Africa is trading in. All data is sourced from the United Nations (UN) International trade Centre (ITC) TradeMap database. The data analysed in this report is over a 10-year review period from 2007-2016, thus the review period referred in this paper will imply the period between 2007 and 2016. South Africas interest to strengthen trade relations with Egypt has been demonstrated by the agreement between the two countries to reconvene, as a matter of priority, the South Africa-Egypt Joint Bilateral Commission with the aim of consolidating areas of cooperation and to identify new areas of collaboration. The focus on Egypt and Africa in general comes as no surprise given South Africas economic dominance and the prospects of expanding its trade beyond SADC. Trade Performance Despite the potential that Egypt offers for South African businesses, bilateral trade has been minimal although there has been some growth over the past decade. One of the major obstacles limiting increased bilateral trade has been the strong competition faced by South Africa from European, American and Middle Eastern products and companies, which have historically had strong trade ties with Egypt. From a global perspective, Egypt does not feature amongst South Africas top export destinations or import sources. The same can be said for intra-Africa trade, where both exports and imports account for less than 1% of South Africas trade with Africa. In both cases Egypt is ranked 16th top trading partner of South Africa in terms of imports and exports. Since 2007, South Africa has maintained a trade surplus with Egypt, although in recent years between 2011 and 2014, the gap reduced before increasing again in 2015 and 2016. Latest available data reveals that in 2016, South Africas exports to Egypt were over US$ 207 million while imports were just above US$ 58 million. 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. Hello Hello, First time trip to Vietnam coming up in early November. Flying in to HCMC then bussing to Mui Ne for 2 night stay, and want to go to Hoi An from Mui Ne. Can't decide if it's better to bus from Mui Ne to Nha Trang and take the daily AM flight to Da Nang or bus back to HCMC and fly from HCMC to Da Nang, many flights a day. Both appear to be about a 5 hr bus ride...Thoughts? Thanks! Marc Hey traveling friends! I want to ask for your advice. I'm planning a trip in February. I'd like to spend a month in 4 countries (1 week per country) and I already know I HAVE to visit: Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam. Most likely flying to Bangkok from Mexico City. I'm trying to figure out the 4th country: Laos? Myanmar? Even maybe Malaysia, Singapore? Taiwan? I haven't checked prices for Indonesia or the Philippines, but if it's easy / cheap, I'd consider those as well. What do you think? When I'm traveling to many countries at one, I like to see a bit of everything, meaning I'd rather visit Laos over Myanmar, if it's got different landscapes, culture, etc. from Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam. I know every country is different from the other, but I hope you catch my drift. Obviously consider cheaper and less touristic = better. Also, if it's a better choice to just leave it at those 3 countries and spend more time in each of them, that could also work. Just looking for some guidance. Thanks for sharing your wisdom with me! We are planning a trip to vietnam/cambodia next March. Arrangements going well but after flying to Phu Quoc from Can Tho we wanted to get the hydrofoil back to Ha Tien and then make our way across the border to Sihanoukvile. Is this possible in a day? One site I looked at says Hydrofoil at 9.45am but another says only in late afternoon. I don't want to prebook accommodation in Sihanoukville if we can't make it there in 1 day. Anybody have a suggestion best way to go? Is your company in need of the most reliable and efficient best Best Jasmine Tea s in the market? Your good luck led you to the ideal situation, so congratulations! You are in the best possible place. By eliminating the need to read through dozens of Best Jasmine Tea reviews, we are saving you time and stress. Many customers find it difficult to decide which Best Jasmine Tea product to buy. The dilemma is brought about by the many types of Best Jasmine Tea in the market. This comprehensive guide will provide you with a clear understanding of how you may choose the most suitable Best Jasmine Tea available in the market. - NASA and IEBC failed to reach an agreement after holding a meeting on Tuesday, October 3 - IEBC boss Wafula Chebukati contracted NASA leaders' claims that there was no agreement on their demands - Among the things they failed to agree on are the contracts awarded to OT-Morpho and Al-Ghurair - IEBC also refused to sack its staff as demanded by NASA on grounds that it would compromise conduct of the fresh election - They, however, agreed on how forms 34A and 34B should look like in the repeat poll NASA leaders and the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission boss Wafula Chebukati on Tuesday, October 3, held an unsuccessful closed-door meeting at the Bomas of Kenya. The meeting was meant to solve issues raised by the opposition regarding the repeat poll slated for Thursday, October 26. NASA has tabled irreducible minimums demands which it wants IEBC to effect before the fresh election is conducted. NASA leaders held a meeting with IEBC but failed to agree on a number of issues Photo: Facebook/Musalia Mudavadi READ ALSO: MCAs from CJ Maraga's backyard refuse to adjourn assembly to welcome Uhuru However, IEBC told its leader Raila Odinga and his colleagues that the demands could not be met as IEBC is contract and time-bound. NASA has demanded that 12 officials of the commission, led by CEO Ezra Chiloba, be sacked for allegedly bungling the election annulled by the Supreme Court. However, Chebukati told the opposition that such a move would jeopardise the process of conducting a repeat poll withing 60 days as ordered by the court. READ ALSO: Uhuru to campaign in CJ David Maraga's backyard On cancellation of tenders to OT-Morpho and Al-Ghurair, IEBC said such a move would bring about legal implications as the contracts were binding. OT-Morpho has been contracted to provide technology for IEBC while Al-Ghurair has been printing ballot papers for the election. NASA has accused OT-Morpho of colluding with some IEBC officials and the Jubilee government to cook figures to help President Uhuru Kenyatta win. DP William Ruto also led his Jubilee team to meet IEBC on the same day and had a successful meeting Photo: Facebook/William Ruto READ ALSO: It's impossible to hack IEBC servers-Chiloba On Al-Ghurai, the opposition believes its directors have friendship ties with Uhuru's family and the company secretly printed more extra ballots to help Uhuru stuff and win. However, IEBC agreed to NASA's demands that the forms 34B being printed be standardised in all pages to avoid any confusion during tallying of results. Initially, the forms were only standards in the cover page but the rest were blank. READ ALSO: I'm not concerned with NASA demos against me-Chiloba However, as Raila said thereafter, there was no agreement reached and added that anti-IEBC demos will continue on Friday to force IEBC staff to quit. This comes amid calls for the opposition and the Jubilee party to shelve their hard-line stances to allow IEBC conduct the fresh election smoothly. Among those piling pressure on NASA and Jubilee party are the National Council of Churches in Kenya, the foreign envoys in Kenya and the United Nations. IEBC meets NASA and Jubilee principals Have something to add to this article or suggestions? Send to news@tuko.co.ke Source: TUKO.co.ke - Several churches in Kisumu will hold a prayer rally for NASA leader Raila Odinga - The churches will pray for him as he faces off with President Uhuru in the fresh election - They will also pray for peace and tranquility in the country - Raila will also embark on campaigns after the prayers to urge his supporters to turn out in large number on election day National Super Alliance (NASA) leader Raila Odinga's quest for the presidency is set to receive a boost after several churches organised a rally to pray for him ahead of the repeat poll. The various churches in Kisumu county will hold the prayers on Saturday, October 7, at the Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) in Kisumu's Milimani area. The prayers have been organised in a way that the bishops will first pray for the former prime minister in an enclosed place before the main rally that will be attended by residents. Raila Odinga prayed in Jerusalem ahead of the August 8 election Photo: Facebook/Raila Odinga READ ALSO: Investigations begin against Raila and Kalonzo over their threats to stop repeat poll Bishop Ogonyo Ngede of Power of Jesus Around the World Ministries told the Standard that preparations are at an advanced stage. ''We have moved around and made adequate arrangements to host Raila and pray for him as he prepares to go to the ballot again," he said. The men of cloth also said they will be praying for peace in the country and the right leader. Raila is facing a gruelling battle with Uhuru for the presidency Photo: Facebook/Raila Odinga READ ALSO: Tragedy as embattled former Youth Fund boss is found dead in her Kileleshwa house Raila is set to face off with President Uhuru Kenyatta in a mouthwatering battle after the Supreme Court invalidated Uhuru's win in the August 8 election. Raila has indicated this will be his last shot at the country's top seat having missed in his last three attempts. IEBC meets NASA and Jubilee principals Source: TUKO.co.ke - For the first time ever, photos of lawyer Miguna Miguna's family have emerged much to the excitement of Kenyans - The vocal lawyer is a father of five; four girls and one boy who seems to have inherited his looks - All his kids live in Canada to what Miguna says is a bid to protect them from the dangers of his involvement in active politics An old photo of vocal city lawyer Miguna Miguna's family has excited Kenyans on social media. The fearless Miguna Miguna,who unsuccessfully contested for the Nairobi Gubernatorial seat has always kept his private life intimate,and even hiding his family from the glare of the press. However,an old photo that has fast gone viral online has given Kenyans an exclusive view into Miguna Miguna's large and humble family. READ ALSO: William Ruto explains why he blocked Miguna Miguna on Twitter Miguna Miguna and his lovely wife Jane in a past photo: Photo: Migunamiguna.com READ ALSO: Miguna Miguna could be headed to NASA and TUKO.co.ke has the details TUKO.co.ke has learnt that Miguna Miguna is a father of five beautiful children who bare similar resemblance to him. The kids,four girls and one boy live in Canada,where Miguna Miguna says they are safe from any harm that may come from his political rivals. READ ALSO: 13 Responses from Miguna Miguna on Twitter that proves he is hard to deal with Miguna Miguna and his lovely family in a past photo: Photo: Miguna Miguna READ ALSO: Uhuru lost squarely to Raila- Miguna Miguna The law man turned politician has severally spoken about his children and family but has never really shared their photos. The photos came quite as a surprise to most Kenyans who have never seen his beautiful family.Miguna Miguna is married to one Jane ,who is the mother of their five children. Jane lives in Canada with their Children in a bid to protect them from the dangers of Miguna Miguna's involvement in active politics. Source: TUKO.co.ke 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. It was fun in the sun on Sunday as the Aranguez savannah was the place to crown winners of t The situation in the anti-terrorist operation (ATO) zone in Donbas remained tense at the end of the past day, with militants violating the ceasefire 19 times, the press center of the ATO headquarters has reported. According to the report, the ATO forces fired back 12 times. Two Ukrainian servicemen were injured as a result of the fighting. "After 18.00, the enemy twice used grenade launchers and small arms to fire at our positions on the outskirts of Avdiyivka. The pro-Russian mercenaries used the same weapons three times near Nevelske. At about 20.00, as a result of hostile grenade launch fire near Novoselivka Druha, one of our servicemen was wounded," the report says. In the Luhansk sector, at the end of the day, the invaders fired from 82mm mortars at Ukrainian fortified positions near Krymske. Near the same village, the enemy actively used grenade launchers and large-caliber machine guns. "In the Mariupol sector, one Ukrainian warrior was wounded yesterday afternoon as a result of a combat confrontation near Krasnohorivka. In addition, our strongholds near Vodiane came under enemy fire from large-caliber machine guns and small arms last night," the headquarters reported. op It is very important for Ukraine now to have friends who provide support in opposing Russian aggression, Ukrainian Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak has said. He stated this at a briefing in Lublin on Thursday, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. "It is very important for Ukraine today to have friends who support us in the struggle for independence, in the fight against Russian aggression. Today we have inspectors from Poland, Lithuania, the United States and other countries that help us, and we want to thank them for this," Poltorak said. He also thanked his Polish and Lithuanian colleagues, Antoni Macierewicz and Raimundas Karoblis, for attending an Independence Day parade in Kyiv on August 24. "You showed the whole world that Ukraine did not remain one on one with Russia, that all of Europe, the whole world supports us," Poltorak said. According to him, a "historic event" took place in Lublin today, as the Lithuanian-Polish-Ukrainian brigade (LitPolUkrBrig) received the last signs of a military formation - a battle flag. "Today the brigade got the name of Prince Ostrogski, who is an important figure for Ukraine, Poland and Lithuania. Today this brigade received a military banner, which is a symbol of honor and dignity for every military man," the minister stated. According to him, the historicity of this event lies in the fact that the brigade was created not for the sake of aggression, but for the sake of peace. "The main goal of this unit is to preserve peace," Poltorak said. op Ukraine, Poland and Lithuania have concluded a tripartite agreement on cooperation in functioning of the Lithuanian-Polish-Ukrainian Brigade (LitPolUkrbrig). The document was signed by defense ministers of the three countries Stepan Poltorak, Antoni Macierewicz and Raimundas Karoblis in Lublin, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. "This agreement changes the form of the brigade. From now on, the brigade will be able to take part in activities, holding of which is necessary when the peace is under threat. It is a good sign that will allow our peoples, primarily the brigade, to act for the sake of security of Central and Eastern Europe," Polish defense minister Macierewicz said. He stressed that the brigade was an example of the path which the three peoples choose: the path of unity in opposing enemies, the path of mutual assistance. "Today we want and we will help Ukraine, which was attacked by Eastern imperialism, for the sake of securing peace, cooperation and good future for our peoples," Macierewicz stressed. ol Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics explains that Ukraine's partners set the task of preserving a financial and intellectual package to support reforms in the country. The Latvian Foreign Minister said this in an interview with Ukrinform. "One of the most important tasks of Ukraine's partners is the preservation of a financial and, I would say, intellectual package to support reforms in Ukraine," Rinkevics said. In his view, the second stage of reforms "concerns not only the quantity and quality of laws but their implementation as well" and is more complicated than the first stage of the adoption of laws necessary for positive changes. At the same time, the head of the Latvian Foreign Ministry stressed that Ukraine "can become strong only if it carries out reforms and implements the needed changes." ol Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman is convinced that Ukrainians are involved in development of innovative products around the whole world, and every effort must be exerted to develop such products in Ukraine. Groysman said this, speaking at the Kyiv International Economic Forum, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. "Ukrainians are involved in creation of innovative products in every corner of the world. We must do everything possible to ensure that these products are created in our native Ukraine," the Head of Government said. According to him, Ukraine now faces important decisions on establishment of innovative and industrial parks, where the domestic innovative product can be created. "Therefore, our plan is as follows: we must elaborate new legislation on privatization in the country. We are deeply convinced that we will manage to elaborate such legislation this year. We should elaborate a full-fledged legislation on the formation of industrial parks as an important factor in the development of the national economy," Groysman stressed. The Ukrainian Prime Minister also recalled that the draft state budget for 2018 for the first time provided for financing the Innovation Support Fund. ol Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman has said that the US corporation General Electric will help Ukraine to modernize Ukrainian railways. He stated this at the International Economic Forum in Kyiv on October 5, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. Yesterday I complemented talks with the company General Electric. We have agreed that we will unite our efforts to modernize the entire system of Ukrainian railways. We will not just purchase needed products from General Electric, but we will jointly produce these products in Ukraine," Groysman said. According to him, the cooperation will begin with the 10% localization of production in the territory of Ukraine, while then it is expected to reach the figure of 40%. iy The decentralization process initiated in Ukraine by its central authority is currently held successfully, and it has already obtained positive results. Head of the Cooperation Programmes at the EU Delegation to Ukraine Berend de Groot said this at a meeting with the leadership of the Kherson Regional State Administration on Thursday, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. "Two years ago, when the Government of Ukraine started the decentralization reform, we and other international partners decided to help and to support this reform. When we look at this [the decentralization reforms in Ukraine] from the international level, we will see that this reform is quite successful, taking into account the time span and the results that we see now," he said. At the same time, he noted that "despite the fact that we have achieved a lot [in the implementation of the decentralization reform in Ukraine] we have not yet reached a final point." Berend de Groot also emphasized that such reform is not an easy process for any country. ish Iran and Ukraine are interested in creating joint agricultural enterprises. This was discussed during the meeting of the leadership of the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the delegation of the Islamic Republic of Iran, which took place in Kyiv. "The parties discussed the possibility of buying out the operating agricultural companies and creating joint ventures with Ukrainian partners. The members of the delegation [of Iran] are interested in taking on lease the agricultural lands for growing wheat, corn, soybeans, rapeseed, etc. In addition, the Iranian side does not mind buying finished products. The ambitious project is designed to supply the needs of the Gulf countries market which shows a great demand for agricultural products," the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry notes. Currently, 40 companies with Iranian capital are registered in Ukraine. The share of agricultural and food products is more than 60% in the structure of Ukraines exports to the Islamic Republic of Iran. Iran is an active importer of Ukrainian grain crops. ol Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin will be on a working visit to the Republic of Latvia on September 29-30. "Within the framework of the Riga Conference, Pavlo Klimkin will take part in a number of panel discussions, in particular with Valdis Dombrovskis, the Vice President of the European Commission for Euro and Social Dialogue, in the interactive discussion "Ukraine: Eastern Stronghold of Europe" and Linas Linkevicius, the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Lithuania, in the session "Ukraine: Future Alternatives"," the press service of the Foreign Ministry reports. Bilateral component of Ukrainian-Latvian cooperation will be discussed during a meeting of Klimkin with his Latvian counterpart and during a meeting with the president of Latvia. During the visit, the Ukrainian foreign minister together with Minister of Education and Science of the Republic of Latvia Karlis Sadurskis will sign an agreement between the Government of Ukraine and the Government of the Republic of Latvia on cooperation in the field of education, science, youth and sports. ish A meeting of the Trilateral Contact Group on the peaceful settlement of the conflict in Donbas has begun in Minsk. Darka Olifer, the spokesperson for Ukraine's representative in the group, former Ukrainian president Leonid Kuchma, wrote this on Facebook on Wednesday. "A meeting of the Trilateral Contact Group has begun in Minsk," she wrote. As Ukrinform reported, a meeting of the working groups of the Trilateral Contact Group was held earlier on October 4. According to the media, it is expected that during the meeting the parties will discuss the issues of implementation of previously reached agreements in the field of security, preparation for the exchange of prisoners, restoration of the infrastructure of the region, political settlement of the conflict. ish Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin will make an official visit to India on October 5-6, the press service of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has reported. "The main goal of the visit by the Ukrainian foreign minister to the Republic of India is to restore the practice of regular high-level contacts (the last visit at the ministerial level was made in 2011) between the two countries, in particular, to coordinate the algorithm of measures aimed at restoring the bilateral dialogue at the highest level in 2018," reads the report. It notes that during his visit Klimkin is to hold talks with Indian Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj, as well as with other Indian high-ranking officials. The sides are to discuss interaction as part of international organizations, bilateral cooperation and, in particular, preparations for the sixth meeting of the Ukrainian-Indian intergovernmental commission on trade, economic, scientific, technical, industrial and cultural cooperation, which is scheduled for the beginning of November. op First Vice Prime Minister - Economic Development and Trade Minister of Ukraine Stepan Kubiv will be on a working visit to Estonia on October 5-6, the ministrys press service reports. "First Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine Stepan Kubiv will be on a working visit in Tallinn (Estonia) on October 5-6, 2017. Together with representatives of EU institutions, he will attend a ministerial meeting dedicated the digital economy of the Eastern Partnership countries, reads the report. Also, a meeting of First Vice Prime Minister Stepan Kubiv and Prime Minister of Estonia Yuri Ratas is expected to take place, the ministry reports. iy Ukraine and Qatar intend to intensify trade, economic and investment cooperation, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministrys press service has reported following an official visit of Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin to the State of Qatar on October 4. During the visit to the city of Doha, Foreign Minister Klimkin met with Prime-Minister, Minister of Internal Affairs of Qatar Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser Al Thani, Qatar Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Qatar Sultan Al-Mreikhi, reads the report posted on the ministrys website. The parties stressed the importance of maintaining regular political dialogue between the two states, as well as mutual interest to enhance trade, economic and investment cooperation, and to deepen the existing potential of interaction in agricultural and energy spheres. Also, Foreign Minister Klimkin expressed gratitude for the consistent position and consequent support of Qatar for Ukraines international initiatives aimed at protecting its sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity. iy Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has tabled in the Verkhovna Rada a revised draft law on the creation of the necessary conditions for a peaceful settlement of the situation in selected districts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions. The respective revised draft law, No. 7164 of October 5, was published on the website of the Verkhovna Rada on Thursday. The text of the bill retains the proposal to amend the Ukrainian law on the special procedure for local self-government in certain districts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions. It proposes that Article 1 of this law have the following wording: "Under this law, a special procedure for local government is introduced in certain districts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, which include districts, towns, villages, which are determined by the decision of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine for a period ending one year from the date of entry into force of the law of Ukraine on the creation of the necessary conditions for a peaceful settlement of the situation in certain districts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions." At the same time, the new amendment states that the special order of local self-government in certain districts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions will come into force after the withdrawal of all illegal armed units, their military equipment, as well as militants and mercenaries from Ukrainian territory. The Ukrainian law the special order of local self-government in certain districts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions was adopted by the Verkhovna Rada on September 16, 2014. The president signed it on October 16, 2014, and the law came into force on October 18, 2014. Meanwhile, only Article 1 of this law was in force, and it concerned the introduction of a special procedure for local self-government in certain districts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions for three years. Other articles of this law, in accordance with the final provisions, are effective "from the day of the acquisition of authority by local self-government bodies in certain districts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions elected at the extraordinary elections held in accordance with the Constitution of Ukraine, this and other laws of Ukraine." op Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will pay an official visit to Ukraine on October 9 to attend the sixth meeting of the High-level Strategic Council between Ukraine and the Republic of Turkey. This is stated on the website of the Turkish president. "Bilateral and regional issues will be discussed in detail at the council meeting in Kyiv, which will be chaired by Turkish President Erdogan and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko," the statement reads. The Turkish leader will meet with Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada Andriy Parubiy and Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman. During the visit, new areas of cooperation to deepen the strategic partnership with Ukraine will be discussed, and various documents and protocols will be signed in this direction. In addition, the parties will discuss the Crimean issue and the situation of the Crimean Tatars. ish The European Parliament (EP) will demand that the Russian regime free Ukrinform journalist Roman Sushchenko, as well as all other Ukrainian political prisoners of the Kremlin. This is stated in a draft resolution of the EU's legislative body, which will be voted in Strasbourg on Thursday, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. The document is devoted primarily to the cases of the leaders of the Crimean Tatar people, Akhmet Chiygoz, Ilmi Umerov, and journalist Mykola Semena. The name of the Kremlin's political hostage, Roman Sushchenko, is mentioned in the draft resolution along with 46 other Ukrainian citizens unlawfully imprisoned in Crimea and on Russian territory. The European Parliament strongly condemns the violation of human rights by the Russian occupation regime in Crimea, demands the immediate release of illegally imprisoned Ukrainian citizens and consistently supports the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine. In addition, MEPs demand that additional personal sanctions be imposed against judges and prosecutors who trump up politically motivated cases against Ukrainians. op 10/05/2017 By Karen Angelo Maura Walshs talk on campus about preparing for natural disasters was scheduled long before anyone heard of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma or Maria, but her timing couldnt have been better. We wanted to give our students a behind-the-scenes look at how public health crises such as hurricanes could affect their role in health care, says Dean Shortie McKinney of the Zuckerberg College of Health Sciences. Mauras words of advice couldnt have been more timely as Texas, Florida, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico suffer the aftermaths of an active and devastating hurricane season. The health care administration alumna and former leader of a 15-hospital health care system in Texas returned to campus recently to share her experience managing a command center during and after Hurricane Ike. The Category 2 storm struck the Houston-Galveston area in 2008 with 110 mph winds and 19-foot storm surges. At the time, Walsh '80 was division president of Hospital Corporation of Americas (HCA) Gulf Coast Division, with 15 hospital CEOs reporting to her. Her presentation, The Eye of the Storm: Disaster Preparedness in Healthcare, attracted students, faculty and staff, including the universitys disaster preparedness team and emergency managers from Lowell General Hospital, Middlesex Community College, the City of Lowell and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. A big takeaway from Maura Walshs presentation that resonated with our table of emergency managers was the importance of making sure that employees who are on site or on call during a hurricane disaster are fully cared for and supported, says Rich Lemoine, UMass Lowells executive director of environmental and emergency management. This includes taking care of their families and even their pets, and providing the essential resources of food, water, shelter and gasoline for their vehicles so that they can do their jobs keeping the public safe. Prepare, Prepare, Prepare Days before Ike struck, Walsh and her team set up a communication system connected to local, state and federal authorities, tested emergency generators and secured medical supplies and transportation vehicles, planes and helicopters for evacuations. Hospitals become the safety net within the community during times of crisis, said Walsh. Our first concern during Ike was to keep our patients and staff safe, but we also supported the community in any way we could. The hospitals relocated 365 critical patients and neonatal babies to other hospitals, imported more than 150 nurses and set up a website that provided real-time information on bed availability and damage to hospitals. Making sure the hospitals could feed and house people from the community was a high priority, Walsh noted. Many people in the community who got stranded sought shelter at one of the hospitals. This was a public health emergency, so we never turned anyone away, she said. During the Storm: Expect the Unexpected No matter how much an organization prepares, Walsh said, it needs to expect the unexpected. The surprises came quickly as Walsh managed the main command center for three days. A nursing home dropped off 40 residents at an emergency room, local police and fire department staff sought a safe place to stay and the families and pets of hospital staff needed shelter. We constantly had to think on our feet and make quick decisions to keep people safe, said Walsh, who slept on a cot for three nights in a conference room converted into the main hurricane command center. One of many lessons that she shared was knowing who on your staff can jump into different roles when faced with a crisis. Our CFO suddenly became the transportation manager, and certain staff members became day care providers and gas station attendants, she said. When one hospital flooded, patients had to be evacuated by air. Winds ripped off the side of the Clear Lake Medical Center building and the roof off Mainland Medical Center. In the end, within the nine hospitals in the path of Ike that housed and fed patients, staff, families and citizens, no lives were lost. Our ability to keep communication open with city, state and federal officials was critical to address any public health issues, she said. People Respond Beyond Expectations After the hurricane passed and recovery began, the people of Houston showed their true spirit of camaraderie by helping each other, said Walsh. The resiliency of people to help one another sent chills down my spine. When you think they cant go any further, they do. It was beyond my expectations, she said. One challenge after the storm was the safe transport of nurses and other medical staff to the hospitals to care for patients. Staff were able to borrow large prison vans to take hospital staff to work. Another issue was the increase in demand to decontaminate people who were wading in toxic water. But staff set up tents outside the hospital to manage the influx of people. We appreciated hearing advice and lessons learned from Maura Walsh, says Lemoine. She is the real-deal emergency manager who skillfully guided her team and their hospital facilities, employees and patients to safety. Cambodians flocked to Buddhist pagodas last week to pay respect to the spirits of their ancestors during the Pchum Ben holiday, but some also communed with the ghosts of the past in a different way: through film. The new Hollywood movie First They Killed my Father, directed by Angelina Jolie and based on a memoir by Khmer Rouge survivor Loung Ung, was released in theaters on September 8, and has been playing to packed houses. The film was the first Hollywood film to be shot entirely in the Khmer language, on location in Cambodia. At screenings attended by VOA Khmer, local viewers responded strongly to the films narrative, whispering animatedly to family members when onscreen moments reminded them of their own lives, and laughing at the screenplays few moments of levity. Many wept openly at the films portrayal of the brutality and privations of the Khmer Rouge regime, which saw more than 1.7 million Cambodians perish due to executions, forced labor, and starvation. But they burst into applause when the film ended on a hopeful note, with Loung and four of her siblings reuniting to perform a traditional Buddhist memorial ceremony for the spirits of their parents and dead sisters. After the screenings, theatergoers said they were moved by the films emphasis on the endurance of family relationships across time and space. Some said it helped them better understand their own ancestors, living and dead, and planned to use the story of Loung as a jumping-off point to discuss their own family history. Two-thirds of Cambodians were born after the fall of the Khmer Rouge in 1979, and often struggle to comprehend the magnitude of their parents and grandparents suffering. It is equally hard for parents to convey the scope of history to their children, said Nheb Ngi Veng, 62, who watched the movie with his wife and two sons. As a young boy in peaceful 1960s Cambodia, he found it impossible to believe his mothers tales of the cruelty of Khmer Issarak guerilla fighters marauding through the countryside. Today his own sons, in their 20s, are equally incredulous about his stories of the Khmer Rouge regime, during which he did heavy forced labor in the countryside. It still sounds unbelievable to me that Cambodia ever fell so low like this, he said. His wife, Suy Siv Teng, 58, who emerged from the theater gripping the hands of their two sons, said the movie had brought back chilling memories for her. In particular, she was struck by the deep emotion in the scene when Loungs mother ordered her children to leave her and pretend to be orphans. The move saved their lives, but she would die without seeing them again. Talking about the film and remembering it again, right now, I feel goosebumps, Ms. Siv Teng said, rubbing her arms. In April 1975, when the Khmer Rouge stormed Phnom Penh, she was living in the capital as a student. When communist soldiers ordered the citys inhabitants to leave immediately, she thought the evacuation would be temporary. Instead, she did not return for years. I told my sons when we were watching the film how I brought nothing but some books for studying, because I was afraid I would not be able to keep up with my class when I came back, she said. Unfortunately we could not come back and I was ordered to throw away the books. In interviews, Angelina Jolie has emphasized that a key goal of First They Killed My Father was to capture a childs eye perspective on war, famine and genocide. Preap Lina, who is in her 40s, spent the formative years of her childhood living under Khmer Rouge rule. Last week she brought 11 of her children, nieces, and nephews to see the film, saying she was glad to finally have the chance to show them what her early life was like. I just want to remind them of those experiences I used to face when I was young, which the young generation thinks could not have happened, she said. One of her daughters, 22-year-old Rath Panhanita, said her mother often urged her to toughen up. After watching the film, which showed a young girl forced to labor in rice paddies and plant grenades as a child soldier, she said she could understand that perspective better. Mom wanted us to see that generation, how difficult it was, wanted us to come to understand it, so we will not be so fussy, she said. That means that in a difficult situation, we must overcome it, like they did in their generation. The scene that depicts Loungs father being marched away by soldiers, ultimately to be executed, also made a vivid impression on Ms. Panhanita. I love my father just like that girl loved her father, she said. Imagine how I would feel if my father was taken away like that. Not everybody was eager to see their painful experiences replayed on the big screen. Chan Lyda, 28, an online marketer, said the Khmer Rouge era was still so raw for her parents that they refused to come see the film with her. But even without their presence, the movie gave her a new sense of empathy for what they had gone through, she said. Her parents often told her about how difficult their early lives were, about the years when they had no possessions but their bare hands. But to her, these were just stories. Ms. Lyda still does not have a good sense of what happened to her parents during the Khmer Rouge years, or how many of her family members died. But after seeing the film, she was clear about what the experience must have been like. If I were under that regime, I would not be alive, she concluded. It was miserable. People were forced to work very hard and starved. Almost half of Cambodias opposition lawmakers have left the country or are in jail, including most of its leadership, as proceedings to dissolve the party move forward. It was no longer possible to save democracy from inside Cambodia, said Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) leader Mu Sochua who fled on Tuesday saying shed been tipped off her arrest was imminent. If there is no democracy and if there is only intimidation and arrest, I think we must find alternative means to push, to promote, and to save democracy in our country, she said from an undisclosed location abroad. Opposition on the run It was better to advocate outside the country than be jailed under a co-opted legal system, said Sochua, who has called for targeted international sanctions on ruling party leaders. A complaint requesting the dissolution of her party was filed by the Cambodian Youth Party yesterday - citing the widely decried treason charge CNRP leader Kem Sokha was arrested on in September. A controversial recent legislative amendment allows the dissolution of a party found to undermine the security of the nation. Treason charges On Monday, Prime Minister Hun Sen warned the treason case against Sokha would be extended, potentially resulting in the arrest of other opposition lawmakers. We are conducting further activities. [I] want to send a message that it will not just be done with the arrest of only one person because this is a preparation and a systematic act, he said. So, I just said this, and other people can understand and they have been conducting rude activities in the three-province already, he said, referring to Kampong Thom, Preah Vihear, and Siem Reap, all of which Mu Sochua had recently visited. CNRP chief whip Son Chhay, who is one of the last remaining party leaders in the country, told VOA last week prior to Sochuas departure that 22 opposition lawmakers had flown to different countries to brief their overseas constituents on the present crisis. I think it is beyond what we call the red line. But I know that the alternative for the future of Cambodia must lay in the election, must hang on the practice of democracy, he said. Inside we feel that its unacceptable. This crisis is serious against the democracy in our country, he said, adding the party would continue to wait and observe rather than pull out of the elections completely yet. At the time he said he was confident many of the lawmakers oversees would come back in October. Opposition leaders have left country Those abroad include deputy party president Eng Chhay Eang, spokesman Yim Sovann, deputy public affairs head Kem Monovithya (a daughter of Kem Sokha), spokesman Yem Ponhearith and president of the partys youth wing, Hing Soksan. Kong Sophea and Nhay Chamroeun, who were brutally assaulted by members of Prime Minister Hun Sens Bodyguard Unit outside the National Assembly in 2015, are also outside the country. Pol Ham, who is also one of the few remaining senior CNRP leaders left in Cambodia, declined to comment yesterday. Mao Monyvann, who also sits high in the party hierarchy, said the party would stay strong at the grassroots level even in the absence of many leaders. To me, I decided already that I continue to stay with the men and women activists, particularly the 5,007 commune councilors and other leaders. The important thing is that the party president is placed in jail. So, I continue to lead and maintain the sustainability of the party, he said. He added that no matter how tense the political situation got, there would eventually be a compromise between the opposition and ruling parties with international pressure just one factor in that process. Khieu Sopheak, spokesman for the Ministry of Interior, told VOA Wednesday that no new arrest warrants had been issued in connection with Kim Sokhas treason case, although he alleged Mu Sochua had broken the law by installing banners calling for her party leaders release. Sochua, is among at least seven lawmakers who are still under criminal prosecution for their role in a violent demonstration that took place in July 2014. CNRP Senator Hong Sok Hour is serving seven years and lawmaker Un Sam An faces up to five for charges related to statements or postings they have made about Cambodias contentious border with Vietnam. China backs the government Sebastian Strangio, author of "Hun Sens Cambodia," said trying to ramp up international pressure against Hun Sen from abroad was unlikely to prove an effective strategy for CNRP leaders while the prime minister enjoyed such strong support from China. This, of course, is precisely Hun Sens aim. With most of its senior leaders now exiled, in hiding, or behind bars, it is hard to see how the party can mount an effective campaign at the 2018 election, he wrote in an email. CNRP leaders would obviously be better off campaigning from within Cambodia, but the governments repression is making that nearly impossible for the time being. Given recent events, it is unclear whether the CNRP will even exist by the time of the election, he added. David Boyle contributed to this report. The human rights group Amnesty International urged European nations on Thursday to stop sending Afghans who do not qualify for asylum back to their deeply unsafe home country, saying the policy risked causing serious harm to those affected. The call comes after a steady rise in violence over recent years as the Taliban has gained ground across the country and cities including the capital Kabul have been hit by a wave of suicide attacks. Amnesty International is calling on all European countries to implement a moratorium on returns to Afghanistan until they can take place in safety and dignity, the group said in a report issued on Thursday. Sharp increase in return of refugees It said the Afghan government should not cooperate with sending people back, despite its dependence on foreign aid. The report follows a sharp increase in the number of Afghans returned from Europe, either as a result of forced deportation or assisted voluntary return. It said the total almost tripled from 3,290 to 9,460 between 2015 and 2016. In their determination to increase the number of deportations, European governments are implementing a policy that is reckless and unlawful, said Anna Shea, Amnesty International's Researcher on Refugee and Migrant Rights. She said governments were being wilfully blind to evidence that violence was at a record high. Afghans have been among the main groups of asylum seekers in Europe, with 108,455 first time asylum seekers registered in the European Union in the 12 months to the end of June, second only to Syrians, according to EU statistics agency Eurostat. However numbers have fallen over the past year, dropping 24 percent between the first and second quarters and 83 percent between the second quarter of 2017 and the same period in 2016. Afghanistan 'deeply unsafe' European governments, faced by voters angry at hundreds of thousands of arrivals from the Middle East, Africa and South and Central Asia over recent years, have cracked down, pledging to send rejected asylum seekers back to their home countries. The policy has proved particularly controversial in Afghanistan, where many European governments say that despite widespread violence, safety is sufficient to allow returns to some parts of the country. According to United Nations figures, at least 1,662 civilians were killed and 3,581 wounded in the first half of the year, with nearly 20 percent of civilian casualties coming in the capital Kabul itself. Afghanistan is deeply unsafe, and has become more so in recent years. Yet European countries are returning people to Afghanistan in increasingly large numbers, even as the violence in the country escalates, the report said. The regional Catalan government plans to declare independence in the coming days from Spain, the latest twist in a constitutional crisis between Spain's central government in Madrid and separatists in the northeast. What that independence declaration will actually mean for the prosperous region and how Spain, the European Union and the international community will react are all big unknowns. Here's a look at how the standoff is evolving: Bloodied referendum The whole conflict over a self-determination vote has been dragging on for six years but Catalan separatists finally staged such a referendum on Sunday despite Span's insistence it was illegal and an order by Spain's top Constitutional Court order that it be suspended while judges deliberate on its legality. Spanish police, following orders from a judge to prevent the referendum, clashed with voters and supporters Sunday, resulting in over 900 people receiving medical attention. Photographs and videos of police pulling voters out by their hair and kicking them on stairs flashed around the world, sparking criticism, but Spain says the police did what they had to do. Massive protests and a strike took place Tuesday in Catalonia against the police actions and the situation in the northeastern region is close to boiling point. Questionable result The way the independence referendum was held has raised a host of complaints about its legality and validity. The vote did not have any census controls, electoral board or official vote-counting teams or international observers of any weight. After Spanish police started seizing ballot boxes, Catalan officials allowed voters to vote wherever they liked. Catalan authorities claimed some 2.3 million people less than half the region's electorate voted in the referendum Sunday. Many of those opposed to independence are thought to have stayed at home. Of those who voted, some 90 percent voted yes to independence but they are still just 40 percent of the region's total number of voters. Regional President Carles Puigdemont proclaimed a victory, saying the vote entitled Catalonia to be recognized. Spain cried foul and most governments backed it. New European state? Spain one of Europes oldest countries has existed with more or less the same borders for some 500 years. But that could change Monday if Puigdemont and his supporters have their way. The regional leader has pledged independence will be declared within days. No one, however, seems keen to recognize Europe's newest state. The European Union has said it wont and international bodies have uniformly demanded that Catalonia do things the right way and obey Spain's constitution. What happens next? Its anybodys guess what might happen if the prosperous northeastern region of Catalonia does actually try to secede. Puigdemont has not given any clear idea of what the new Catalan state would look like or would do regarding key issues such as borders with the rest of Spain and France, its defense and foreign affairs, tax collection and management of key infrastructure such as airports, ports, rail transport and nuclear stations, most of which are controlled by Spain. Without an agreement with Spain and that's not on the cards anytime soon its hard to see how the fledgling state could even exit. Many think the declaration could be more a symbolic gesture. Problems would immediately pile up for the new country. The European Union has already said it would be expelled from the bloc and its shared currency, the euro, and would have to reapply to rejoin, a lengthy, uncertain process. Reining in the rebels On paper, Spain seems to have the upper hand. By law, its entitled to take control of any of its regions and suspend their self-governing powers if they are seen to disobey their obligations to the state. A more extreme option would be to have the national parliament declare a state of emergency in Catalonia, suspend civil rights and even impose martial law. Dialogue is a third option which EU officials have urged but both sides seem to want their trains to crash head-on first and see who comes out worse. Two fearless Asian women who have risked their lives campaigning against religious extremism one of whom was murdered last month won a joint award on Thursday for their common courage. Gauri Lankesh, 55, a outspoken Indian newspaper editor, was shot dead outside her home by unidentified assailants in the southern city of Bengaluru, at a time of rising nationalism and intolerance of dissent in the country. "This award is a morale booster for people who want to write and fight," Lankesh's sister, Kavitha, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation by phone. "It honors what Gauri stood for that you cannot silence me." Lankesh shared the annual Reach All Women in WAR (RAW in WAR) Anna Politkovskaya Award with Gulalai Ismail, 31, a peace activist who has faced death threats for speaking out against the Taliban in northwest Pakistan. Concerns about press freedom are mounting in India, where journalists seen as critical of Hindu nationalists are often insulted on social media and women reporters have been threatened with assault. "People are wondering if they should get into journalism at all," said Lankesh's sister. "There is an apprehension among people who want to do ethical work." Lankesh, the editor and publisher of a weekly Indian tabloid, was a staunch critic of right-wing, political ideology. She often wrote about religious violence and the malaise of India's hierarchical caste system, and she criticized the rise of hard-line Hindu groups since the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) swept to power in 2014. 'Common struggle and courage' Nearly 1,500 miles (2,414 kilometers) away in Pakistan's northern city of Peshawar, co-winner Ismail said she felt numb with grief when she heard about Landesh's slaying. "It was heartbreaking that an advocate of democracy, a courageous voice, was silenced," she told the Thomson Reuters Foundation by phone from Peshawar. "This award recognizes our common struggle and courage." Ismail co-founded the advocacy group Aware Girls when she was 16 to challenge violence and oppression of women in northwest Pakistan. She also trains young peace activists in democracy to counter militant radicalization. Ismail has been threatened with violence on social media, branded as Islamophobic for speaking out against extremism, and accused of atheism. "My home has been attacked twice," she said, describing how four armed gunmen tried to force their way into her home when she was delayed at the airport. "I have been branded a traitor." The award marks the 11th anniversary of the killing of Politkovskaya, a Russian investigative reporter who uncovered state corruption and rights abuses, especially in Chechnya. She was shot dead in the lobby of her Moscow apartment block at age 48 on October 7, 2006. RAW in WAR, a London-based, nongovernmental organization supporting women human rights defenders and victims of war, also honored Rohingya refugee Jamalida Begum, who spoke out publicly about her rape by Myanmar security forces. Bangladesh is building the world's largest refugee camp to house over half a million Rohingya who have fled Myanmar, officials said Thursday. Refugees who are currently scattered in 23 camps along the border will be transferred to one central camp in Cox's Bazar, Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya, minister for disaster management and relief, said Thursday. Chowdhury said that all other camps would be closed after the transfer is complete. "Our target is, Myanmar citizens who came to Bangladesh since 1978, keeping them all in one place," the minister said. The massive flood of Rohingya refugees reaching Bangladesh since August has brought the total who have arrived since 1978 to more than 800,000. The world's largest refugee camp until now is considered to be the Bidi Bidi camp in Uganda, with an estimated population of 285,000. Kenya's sprawling Dadaab camp has about 245,000 residents. Meanwhile, the United Nations, which has praised Bangladesh for its generosity in accommodating Rohingya refugees, said Thursday its response plan to the crisis had been revised to $434 million to help more than one million people in Bangladesh including Rohingya refugees who arrived before August 25 and local host communities. The Trump administration has also said that $28 million of a total of $32 million promised in aid for the conflict will support Bangladesh. In recent weeks, more than a half-million Rohingya Muslims have fled Myanmar, where they face human rights violations and discrimination. Rohingya militants attacked Myanmar security forces in late August. Since then, analysts and rights workers say, the military has carried out a brutal crackdown, burning villages and killing women and children as they fled. Myanmar authorities say clashes have stopped, but the exodus continues daily by the thousands into neighboring Bangladesh. Brazil's scandal-plagued political class voted on Wednesday to set up a 1.7 billion reais ($542 million) fund with taxpayer money to finance election campaigns, making up for a dearth of private funding ahead of next year's general election. A ban on corporate donations coupled with the drying up of under-the-table contributions and kickbacks in the wake of the country's biggest corruption scandal have left lawmakers struggling to raise campaign funding. The lower house of Congress approved a bill that had passed the Senate and will take funds from pork barrel appropriations and government payments to buy TV and radio time for parties. The fund was meant to be part of improvements to Brazil's discredited political system to reduce a proliferation of parties that has made it hard to govern Latin America's largest nation without unwieldy coalitions based on self-interest. The Senate unanimously approved on Tuesday a constitutional amendment that limits coalitions to parties with similar platforms, but it will go into effect in the 2012 elections. More than 100 lawmakers are targeted by the Car Wash corruption investigation that uncovered a network of bribes from private companies seeking to win contracts or influence policies, and even implicated President Michel Temer and several of his cabinet ministers. Critics of the campaign fund said it was aimed at providing funding for lawmakers seeking re-election to shield themselves from prosecution for corruption. "It is shameful that this fund will be used by unethical politicians who should not be sitting here in Congress," said Julio Delgado, leader of the Brazilian Socialist Party (PSB). "Not a single lawmaker under investigation has opposed it." Backers of the use of public money for campaigns argued that organized crime would step in to finance politicians if funding was lacking. The sprawling Car Wash graft investigation that convicted dozens of executives from Brazil's main contractor companies has shut down the flow of undeclared payments to politicians. "What most worries them is where they will get money for their campaigns now that companies cannot donate and are not willing to engage in illegal contributions," said Lucas de Aragao, partner at political risk consultancy Arko Advice. On the positive side, he said, Congress set a threshold for parties to be able to access public funding and free TV time based on the votes they win, which will help reduce the number of parties, today totaling 35. The teachers' strike in Cameroons two English-speaking regions is coming up on 11 months with no end in sight, though the government tells VOA that talks are ongoing. Thousands of teachers celebrated World Teachers Day Thursday in Cameroons capital. Twenty-six-year-old Ernestine Tabe left her school in the English-speaking town of Kumba last month to look for a job in Yaounde. She had been without salary for five months due to the ongoing strike. "I decided to come here in order to get myself involved in teaching, so that the zeal in me would not die down, because as a teacher you are always eager to teach others to know, she said. Most of the schools were sealed in Cameroons two anglophone regions, the northwest and southwest, last November when lawyers and teachers went on strike demanding reforms to address what they describe as the overbearing use of French in the bilingual country. Gideon Tanda is a leader of one of the teachers trade unions that called the strike. "You take a francophone teacher and send to the anglophone section of the country and an anglophone teacher to the francophone part of the country to go and be teaching French instead of the subject that he was trained for," he said. "What do you think? That person cannot perform. There is bad faith. Government is not listening, and it is so deplorable now that we have had a lot of killing," he said. "People are on the run, others are nowhere to be found, just missing. I feel terribly bad as a teacher that at this point in time people have to miss classes for a whole year and they are about to miss another year. Anglophone separatist groups joined the movement demanding the English-speaking regions form a new state they call Ambazonia. Calls for independence Tens of thousands of people took to the streets in the regions earlier this week to support the independence calls. Security forces squashed the demonstrations, killing at least 17 people according to Amnesty International. VOA spoke to Teachers Association of Cameroon leader Valentine Tameh by phone from the northwestern town of Bamenda. "We are asking for teachers to be redeployed into classrooms where their operational language permits them to operate," said Tameh. "We are asking for exams of francophone orientation to be taken out of the English-speaking subsystem of education. We asked for the creation of a polytechnic [school] to take care of anglophone students." Assurances Since the strike began the government says it has recruited 1,000 English-speaking teachers, paid subsidies to private schools, and some jailed leaders of teachers unions have been freed. The governor of the southwest region, Bernard Okalia Bilai, is urging teachers to return to their classrooms. He says the state is here to guarantee their security. He says officials will continue to talk to address the teachers grievances throughout the year. Schools in the two anglophone regions that have defied the call to strike have been targeted by arson attacks. Militant separatist groups are believed to be responsible, and some parents say it is not safe for to send their children back to school. The government estimates just 20 percent of students expected in the English-speaking regions have shown up for class since the school year began in September. The standoff between Madrid and supporters of independence in Spains wealthy Catalan region has stirred separatist feelings far beyond the Spanish borders. Politicians across the globe criticized armed Spanish police who used truncheons and rubber bullets on voters, injuring hundreds in a crackdown on Sundays secession vote, considered illegal under Spains 1978 Constitution. Several politicians from regions with their own separatist movements said it was time for politics to resolve the crisis in the euro zones fourth-biggest economy. Catalan leaders said the result showed its people wanted to leave Spain and it would push ahead with secession. Madrid has ruled out talks until, it said, Catalonia acts within the law. The solution is political. It wont be through repression, it wont be through brutality, and what needs to happen is a political discussion. I think thats reality, Quebecs premier Philippe Couillard told reporters. He drew parallels for a potential solution to his own province, which has held two referendums on whether to separate from Canada and the last of which in 1995 was narrowly defeated. Other politicians called on the European Union, currently facing a huge challenge to its unity in Britains impending exit from the bloc, to intervene in a deepening crisis that has shaken the euro and Spanish stocks and bonds. They said it was a matter of human rights. Joanna Cherry, a lawmaker from the Scottish National Party, called on the EU to up its game. Her party lost a legally binding referendum on Scottish independence from the UK in 2014 -- the terms of which were hammered out between both sides. The SNP-led Scottish government is urging talks to let Catalans decide their own future. Spain will maintain that this vote is not legitimate, but the strength of feeling demonstrated cannot be ignored by Spain, it said. Matt Carthy, European lawmaker for Irish nationalists Sinn Fein whose aim is to unite British-run Northern Ireland with the Irish Republic, called the EU a shower of utter hypocrites. The EU has ignored a vicious assault on EU citizens in Catalonia because they had the audacity to vote, he told fellow European lawmakers in an emotionally-charged speech. We are told the EU stands for peace, democracy and human rights. Where were those values on Sunday? Disproportionate violence Opinion polls conducted before the Catalan vote suggested a minority of around 40 percent of Catalans backed independence, but a majority wanted a referendum to be held. Catalan officials released preliminary referendum results showing 90 percent support in favor of breaking away, but turnout was 43 percent and low among those who favor remaining part of Spain mainly boycotted the ballot. Spains constitution determines that the majority which counts is Spain as a whole, not Catalonias 5.3 million voters. Irelands prime minister Leo Varadkar has said his government respects Spains constitution but he also described the violence as disproportionate and counterproductive. Spains deputy prime minister and European Commission First Vice President Frans Timmermans have said the use of force was proportionate. Turkey, which condemned last weeks referendum for Kurdish independence in northern Iraq, also spoke of the importance of respecting Spanish law and territorial integrity. We believe that Spain () will overcome such challenges and establish a national dialogue environment through a democratic approach, Turkeys foreign ministry said. In Serbia, officials accused the EU of double standards by refusing to recognize Catalonias vote and at the same time supporting the independence of Serbias former province Kosovo. Another would-be breakaway group, the Movement for the Autonomy of Slask (RAS) which wants autonomy for Polands Slask region, said that events in Spain were proof of the temptation to use repression to control political dissent. The European community should work out rules and procedures for solving similar conflicts, it said. Its indifference with respect to the forceful repression of aspirations of Catalan people for self-rule will be interpreted as a sign of weakness and will deepen the confidence crisis that many Europeans feel toward EU institutions. The global chemical weapons watchdog said Thursday it found traces of sarin following an attack in northern Syria in late March, days before a deadly strike using the same nerve agent in another Syrian town. The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) said that tests found traces of sarin or sarin-related chemicals in Ltamenah after a March 30 attack that injured 50 people. No deaths were reported. The organization didnt release further details. Days later, an April 4 attack in the nearby town of Khan Sheikhoun killed nearly 100 people. Syria has denied responsibility for that attack. An OPCW-United Nations probe is expected to apportion blame later this month for the Khan Sheikhoun attack. The OPCW said that the work of its fact-finding mission, which is probing chemical attacks in Syria, continues. Once the fact-finding mission concludes its assessment of the incident, a report will be made available, the OPCW said in a written statement. The organizations director-general, Ahmet Uzumcu, briefed member states on the latest findings earlier this week. Syria joined the OPCW in 2013, under threat of possible U.S. military strikes in the aftermath of a chemical weapons attack on a Damascus suburb. Washington and U.S. allies accused the Syrian government of being responsible for the attack, but Damascus blamed rebels. The United States U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley said in a statement Wednesday OPCW Director-General Ahmet Uzumcu had reported yet another instance of the use of the deadly chemical agent sarin, in a part of the country under routine attack by the Syrian regime. For years the Assad regime has used chemical weapons to murder and terrorize innocent Syrian civilians, Haley said. Unfortunately, its clear that the Syrian regime not only lied about the extent of their chemical weapons program, but that they will continue to refuse to cooperate with watchdog organizations like the OPCW. We cannot stop future chemical weapons attacks until we are able to hold the Syrian regime accountable. A chemist says he found a byproduct of VX nerve agent on the shirt of the Indonesian woman on trial in Malaysia for the murder of the half brother of North Koreas leader. The testimony Thursday was the first evidence linking VX to either of the two suspects. Previous witnesses have testified the nerve agent was found on Kim Jong Nams body and belongings and have identified acute VX poisoning as the cause of Kims death. Government chemist Raja Subramaniam told the court he found VX acid, a byproduct of the banned chemical weapon, on Siti Aisyahs sleeveless T-shirt. He further testified that he found traces of VX nerve agent and its precursors on the clothing of the Vietnamese suspect, Doan Thi Huong. His testimony has now linked VX to both women accused of smearing Kim Jong Nams face with poison in a brazen assassination at the Kuala Lumpur airport in February. Raja said VX will degrade when it reacts with water, leaving detectable byproducts, and a person can fully decontaminate their hands by washing and scrubbing. Human Rights Watch urged Uzbekistan on Thursday to stop new politically motivated arrests at a time when it has been freeing some prominent political prisoners, saying such a "revolving door" cast doubt on its announced reform drive. In less than two weeks, the Central Asian nation has released two dissidents imprisoned under the previous president, Islam Karimov, while detaining two others. The releases have been welcomed by the West, but the New York-based Human Rights Watch said the fresh arrests "cast a pall over what would otherwise be a sign of hope." Human rights activist Azam Farmonov was freed on Tuesday after 11 years in prison and Solijon Abdurakhmanov, a journalist imprisoned since 2008, was released on Wednesday. They joined a string of Karimov-era political prisoners set free by his successor, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who took power in the mostly Muslim nation of 32 million people following his autocratic predecessor's death in September 2016. Mirziyoyev, who seeks to attract foreign investment to modernize Uzbekistan's Soviet-style economy, has ordered some 16,000 people struck off a blacklist of potential extremists and dissidents and taken other steps to liberalize the country. But when one of those dissidents, prominent writer Nurulloh Muhammad Raufkhon, returned from exile last month, he was detained and charged with spreading anti-government propaganda. The writer was later released but still faces the charges. Another dissident, Bobomurod Abdullayev, a journalist accused of publishing stories critical of the government on an opposition website, was also arrested and charged last month. He remains in detention. "The release of Azam Farmonov and Solijon Abdurakhmanov after long years of abuse was positive news, but there should be no revolving door for political arrests," said Steve Swerdlow, Central Asia researcher at Human Rights Watch. "President Mirziyoyev should see to it that all political prisoners are released and that all of Uzbekista's citizens are guaranteed the fundamental right to peacefully express critical opinions." In Raufkon's case, Uzbek police have said that while he may have been struck off the blacklist, the charges against him - leveled in absentia in May - were never dropped and he did not contact authorities about them before returning to Uzbekistan. Police have not commented on Abdullayev's status. President Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday that Turkey would soon close its border with northern Iraq and shut its air space in response to last week's Kurdish independence referendum. Erdogan, who held talks in Tehran on Wednesday with Iranian leaders, also said Turkey would decide jointly with Iran and Iraq's central government in Baghdad whether to cut oil exports from Kurdish northern Iraq. His comments came 10 days after Kurds in northern Iraq voted overwhelmingly for independence, alarming Baghdad, Iraq's neighbors and Western powers who fear the vote could trigger further conflict in the Middle East. Turkey tightened controls at its main border crossing into Iraq in the immediate aftermath of the vote and suspended flights to northern Iraq. It has also held joint military exercises with Iraqi troops on the border. But it has not yet implemented threats to impose wider sanctions on the Kurdish region or to cut off the hundreds of thousands of barrels of Kurdish oil exported daily via Turkey to world markets. "Flights to northern Iraq have already been suspended, the air space and borders will also close soon," Erdogan said in a speech in the Turkish capital, Ankara. He said the decision to hold the referendum showed the "perfect ingratitude" of the Kurdish Regional Government in northern Iraq, after years of close commercial and political ties with Turkey. "Invaders" Earlier, Erdogan told Turkish media on his return from Iran that Ankara, Tehran and Baghdad would jointly decide on whether to close the taps on the Kurds' oil export pipeline, adding that it was time for the KRG to take a step back. "The northern Iraqi leadership is drunk with the result of the referendum, it's not aware of what it is doing or what kind of steps it's taking," he said. Erdogan also criticised the inclusion of the oil-rich city of Kirkuk in the referendum, saying that Kurds had no legitimacy there and that they were "invaders" in the region. During a joint news conference with his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani on Wednesday, Erdogan said Turkey was considering further measures against northern Iraq, and the two leaders promised to work together against the independence drive. The Kurds are the region's fourth-largest ethnic group, spread across Iran, Turkey, Syria and Iraq. All of those oppose any moves towards a Kurdish state, but the Kurds have been building strong international ties. Last month, Russian oil major Rosneft clinched a gas pipeline deal in Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan to help it become a major exporter of gas to Turkey and Europe. The pipeline will be constructed in 2019 and exports will begin in 2020. On Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that it was in no-one's interest to cut off oil supplies from Iraq's Kurdistan, which would raise oil prices. Erdogan, however, brushed off those concerns, saying the final decision would be made by Turkey, Iran and Iraq. California Governor Jerry Brown signed sanctuary state legislation Thursday that extends protections for immigrants living in the United States illegally a move that gives the nation's most populous state another tool to fight President Donald Trump. Brown's signature means that police will be barred from asking people about their immigration status or participating in federal immigration enforcement activities starting January 1. Jail officials will be allowed to transfer inmates to federal immigration authorities only if they have been convicted of certain crimes. "These are uncertain times for undocumented Californians and their families, and this bill strikes a balance that will protect public safety, while bringing a measure of comfort to those families who are now living in fear every day," Brown said in statement. It was one of several immigration-focused bills that Brown signed Thursday, which was also the final day for young immigrants to renew their permits under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program that protects them from deportation. Trump intends to end the program if Congress doesn't act on it. California is home to an estimated 2.3 million immigrants without legal authorization. Increased danger seen The Trump administration said the sanctuary state bill would make California more dangerous. The state "has now codified a commitment to returning criminal aliens back onto our streets, which undermines public safety, national security and law enforcement," Devin O'Malley, a spokesman for the U.S. Department of Justice, said in a statement. The measure came in response to widespread fear in immigrant communities following Trump's election. He railed against immigrants in his campaign and promised to sharply ramp up the deportation of people living in the U.S. illegally. Democrats hope blocking police from cooperating will limit the reach of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers. The bill "will put a large kink in Trump's perverse and inhumane deportation machine," Democratic Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon said at a news conference in Los Angeles celebrating the signing. De Leon's bill cleared the Legislature with support only from Democrats. Republicans said it would protect criminals and make it harder for law enforcement to keep people safe. Scaled back The bill, SB54, originally would have severely restricted the authority of police officers to cooperate with federal immigration authorities. At Brown's insistence, it was scaled back to allow cooperation in jails. Police and sheriff's officials, including jail officers, will still be able to work with federal immigration authorities if a person has been convicted of one of about 800 crimes, mostly felonies and misdemeanors that can be charged as felonies. But they will be barred from transferring immigrants to federal authorities if their records include only minor offenses. The changes persuaded the California police chiefs association to drop its opposition, while sheriffs elected officials who run jails remained opposed. ICE Acting Director Thomas Homan has condemned the measure, saying California is prioritizing politics over public safety. California's Democratic political leaders have enthusiastically battled Trump and his administration with lawsuits, legislation and fiery public rhetoric, particularly about immigration and the environment. Among other things, the other bills signed Thursday by Brown will limit federal immigration authorities from entering schools and workplaces without warrants; prohibit landlords from reporting tenants to ICE; and stop local governments from contracting with for-profit companies and ICE to hold immigrants. Few activities affected Some law enforcement officials say the impact of the sanctuary measure likely will be minimal because it bans immigration enforcement activities that few agencies participate in. Immigrant rights advocates say it's important to codify restrictions with the force of law while adding new ones. For them, it's a rare victory during Trump's presidency. The measure was dubbed a sanctuary state bill because it sought to expand so-called sanctuary city policies that have long been in place in some of California's biggest cities, including Los Angeles and San Francisco. Brown, though, has resisted the label. In his signing statement, he noted the bill does not prohibit ICE from operating in California. "They are free to use their own considerable resources to enforce federal immigration law in California," Brown wrote. De Leon put it somewhat differently. "It won't stop ICE from trolling our streets," he said. Greece welcomed Wednesday a decision by senior archaeologists to conditionally permit a major tourism project in Athens, saying it cleared the way for the country to turn the site into one of Europes biggest coastal resorts. The 8-billion-euro ($9.4 billion) project to develop the disused Hellenikon airport site is a key term of Greeces international bailout and is closely watched by its official creditors and potential investors in the crisis-hit country. Greek developer Lamda signed a 99-year lease with the state in 2014 for the 620-hectare (1,530-acre) area, once the site of Athens airport. But the project has faced delays, partly over a long-running disagreement between developers and those who fear it will damage the environment and cultural heritage. Protection urged for part of site After three inconclusive meetings in recent weeks, the Central Archaeological Council, an advisory body, recommended Tuesday that about 30 hectares (74 acres) of the 620-hectare plot under the project be declared an archaeological site. The decision is fine, Deputy Economy Minister in charge of investments, Stergios Pitsiorlas, told Reuters. The fact that a small area is declared of archaeological interest shields the whole process from future litigation. Pitsiorlas said the recommendation meant that archaeologists will have a closer supervision of construction work. Backed by Chinese and Gulf funds, Lamda submitted its detailed development plan for Hellenikon in July, setting off a licensing process that will wrap up with a decree. The Council approved the plan Tuesday and designated specific areas where construction should not be allowed. It was not immediately clear how the Councils recommendation could affect Lamdas construction plan. Impact on development Lamda said it was waiting to be officially notified over the decision before making any public statement, saying the importance of the archaeological findings has been included from the beginning in the companys undertakings. It said it should be able to assess the impact of the Councils decision on its development plan once it has reviewed the resolutions and accompanying diagrams. The recommendation is not binding, however, the culture ministry always respects the bodys decisions. Greece on Monday overcame another hurdle to the project by winning an appeal over objections by forestry officials. Hellenikon has become a major political issue in Greece, which is slowly emerging from a multi-year debt crisis. Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, whose leftist party strongly opposed it before coming to power in 2015, is now seen as keen to implement the deal to help boost economic activity and reduce unemployment, the euro zones highest. Referring to the councils decision, Deputy Foreign Minister Giannis Amanatidis said it was a complicated process which was resolved in the best possible way. The Trump White House, Republican lawmakers and America's most powerful gun rights organization are signaling willingness to discuss restricting a weapons accessory known as bump fire stocks. It is a rare break from their generally strong opposition to any new gun controls. Bump stocks, as they are commonly called, were little known until it was publicized this week that the gunman who killed 58 people and wounded hundreds in Las Vegas had the accessory on 12 of the weapons found in his hotel room. "We're certainly open to having that conversation," White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders told reporters. "This is a president who is very committed to doing every single thing he can every single day to protect American lives," including what she referred to as "legislative fixes." Asked about bump stocks as he began a meeting with U.S. military leaders on Thursday evening, President Donald Trump said, "We'll be looking at that over the next short period of time." The National Rifle Association, which strongly opposes gun control proposals, now says it favors a review of the legality of bump stocks, which enable semiautomatic weapons to discharge bullets without the shooter having to pull the trigger each time, effectively making them as fast as machine guns. "The National Rifle Association is calling on the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to immediately review whether these devices comply with federal law," it said in a statement. "The NRA believes that devices designed to allow semiautomatic rifles to function like fully automatic rifles should be subject to additional regulations." The NRA is a major contributor to political campaigns, especially those of Republican members of Congress, making its beneficiaries reluctant to break with the association's policies. The speaker of the House of Representatives, Paul Ryan, now is also saying bump stocks should be examined. "Clearly, that is something we need to look into," the Wisconsin Republican lawmaker said Thursday in a television interview. A number of Republican senators, including the Judiciary Committee chairman, are expressing interest in convening hearings on the issue. Republicans, and some Democrats, historically have resisted efforts to restrict gun ownership, which is protected by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. More than two dozen Democrats in the Senate have joined Dianne Feinstein of California in backing new legislation to ban bump stocks, maintaining that the devices exploit a loophole in existing law. But passage of any such legislation would depend on the support of the majority Republicans. In an interview with VOA's Persian service, Democrat Chris Murphy of Connecticut said the majority of Americans say automatic weapons should not be legal in this country. "The only place that the argument is really happening is in Washington. So we are, you know, trying to build a political movement all around the country to force Congress to listen to the vast majority of the country that wants common-sense gun laws. That's a process, that might not, you know, happen in a year or two, but ultimately I don't think that 90 percent of the American public who want stronger gun laws can't be listened to," he said. The ATF, the federal firearms bureau, approved the sale of bump stocks in 2010 after determining they did not violate federal law. In its approval letter, the ATF wrote "the 'bump stock' is a firearm part and is not regulated as a firearm." A leader of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence called the willingness among the White House, the gun lobby and lawmakers of both parties to discuss banning bump stocks "at least a step" that was encouraging. "It's great. I look forward to engaging in a bipartisan dialogue," Brady Co-president Avery Gardiner told VOA. Gardiner said that with more than 90 percent of Americans supporting enhanced background checks for gun sales, those who resist stricter regulations on firearms face being "on the wrong side of history." In the United States, "93 people die every day from gun violence, and we need solutions that address this problem comprehensively," Gardiner said. The Brady campaign is named after James Brady, the White House press secretary who was permanently disabled after being shot in the head during the 1981 attempt to assassinate President Ronald Reagan. The decades-long debate about gun control in the United States has been revived by the Sunday night shooting in the largest city in Nevada, the deadliest mass shooting in modern American history. Stephen Paddock had planned to escape his 32nd-floor room in the Mandalay Bay hotel, but he decided to leave a note and commit suicide as a SWAT team closed in, according to Sheriff Joseph Lombardo of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Authorities said they still were attempting to determine the killer's motive for the attack and whether he had any accomplices. VOA's Wayne Lee in Washington contributed to this report. The first month of the Islamic calendar, Muharram, is not a very big deal for most Indonesians, outside of New Years Day. But every night of Muharram since it started on Sept. 21, hundreds of Shia Muslims have come together at a tile-clad building in South Jakarta to ceremonially mourn the death of the prophet Muhammads grandson. They listen to a live or streaming sermon in Bahasa Indonesia or Farsi and pray, often tearfully. The mourning rites of Muharram are an important Shia tradition, but as Indonesias Shia minorities face growing intolerance, they have steadily lowered their profile. So this months nightly gatherings at the Islamic Cultural Center (ICC), which was built in 2002 with funding from Iran, are among the largest sites of Shia activity in the whole country. Over 99 percent of Indonesian Muslims belong to the Sunni denomination, but that belies Shia cultural influence in the worlds largest Muslim-majority country. (Sunni and Shia are the two major Muslim denominations, which diverged early in Islamic history over a debate on the rightful successors to the prophet.) Shia Islam may have been the first strain to reach Indonesia, through Arab traders who reached Aceh around the 12th century, and Shia traditions like veneration of the dead and visiting shrines are still observed in pockets across Indonesia, even by Sunnis. But most of Indonesias roughly one million Shia are concentrated in the Jakarta metro area, and the ICC is a nexus of their community. Iranian Outpost in Indonesia ICC, clad in blue and white ceramic tiles imported from Iran, is handily the most striking building on its drab, but busy, South Jakarta road. Its open seven days a week and has a large Indonesian-language library, decorated with photos of the Ayatollah of Iran and framed posters for Iranian tourist sites. Ali Hussain Alatas, the ICCs secretary, is a Hadrami, Yemeni diaspora who have lived in Indonesia for centuries, often as prosperous traders. He grew up in Central Java and studied for five years in Qom, Iran, the global center of Shia scholarship. In Jakarta, we rarely have problems carrying out our activities, whether they are classes or religious celebrations, said Alatas, over cups of tea at the Center. We maintain good relations with Nahdlatul Ulama, Muhammadiyah, and the government. But cultural understanding has really decreased in recent years. ICC offers classes in religion, Arabic, and Farsi, and facilitates scholarships to Iran. It has also become an inadvertent community center for Jakartas sizable refugee community from Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iran, many of whom have been trapped in Indonesia for years after Australia closed its maritime borders to refugees in 2014. There were hundreds of young Afghan men and families last Thursday night at ICC, enough to spill out from the Farsi sermon to the steps outside. Growing Intolerance In 2012, an East Java branch of the National Ulama Council issued a fatwa against Shia Muslims, calling them deviants, and the same year, several Shia were driven out of their homes. There has been a trickle of anti-Shia violence since then, and in 2014, a National Anti-Shia Alliance of Indonesia was founded in Bandung, West Java. Our goal is to provide information to Muslims throughout Indonesia about the Shi'ite heresy and awaken Muslims who have been affected by Shi'ite heresy to return to the true teachings of Islam according to the Quran, said Athian Ali Muhammad Dai, a Javanese cleric who leads the Alliance. When pressed for reasons why he felt Shiism posed a threat to Indonesia, he listed contract marriages, which he claims have created an epidemic of HIV and fatherless children in Iran, and a culture of self-harm during the Muharram mourning rituals, which he said were so inhuman, even animals do not do it. Culture Wars Just a five-minute walk from ICC is LIPIA, the Saudi-funded university that opened in 1980 and is a major outpost of Saudi proselytization in Indonesia. This makes a narrow strip of Warung Jati Barat Road a microcosm of the Muslim worlds arch-rival spheres of influence. Iran and Saudi Arabia have been waging cultural proxy wars ever since the 1979 Iranian revolution: both are large, oil-rich theocracies with aspirations to set the agenda for the global Muslim community. Alatas said the ICCs location was just a coincidence, but went on to denounce Wahhabism, a derogatory label applied to Saudi Salafism. There is growing intolerance against our community, when Islamic radicalism arising from Saudi Wahhabi beliefs is the real threat, he said. He claimed that LIPIA students sometimes come to discreetly browse the ICC library, perhaps, he said, seeking an alternative to the puritanical ideology taught at LIPIA. Irans imprint on modern Indonesia is negligible compared to that of Saudi Arabia, whose institutions have supported some of the nations most prominent conservative politicians and independent figures, like Habib Rizieq Shihab, leader of the thuggish Islamic Defenders Front. The growing popularity of Saudi Salafism has often been linked to intolerance against Shia and Ahmadiyya, another Muslim minority group, in Indonesia. But its not quite so simple: several mainstream, so-called moderate Indonesian organizations like Nahdlatul Ulama embrace anti-Shia rhetoric too. The National Ulama Council has distributed pamphlets against Shia and Ahmadiyya, said Noorhaidi Ismail, a professor at State Islamic University of Yogyakarta. The government has developed an anti-Shia discourse because they periodically need a common enemy. In my opinion, it is not the Salafis who are responsible for this intolerance. Being Shia in Indonesia sometimes its easy, sometimes its hard, said Rohma, a 40-something Indonesian woman who cleans ICC during the day. She converted to Shiism after working in Saudi Arabia for five years, during which she developed a distaste for Salafism and eventually the Sunni faith in general. I like the Shia tradition, she said. It is simple, I believe in it, and I like these people here for me, it is worth it. This story was facilitated in part by the Pulitzer Center for Crisis Reporting. Iraqi forces have captured the town of Hawija from Islamic State militants, the countrys prime minister said Thursday. Haider al-Abadi declared victory during a joint news conference with French leader Emmanuel Macron in Paris, calling it a victory not just for Iraq, but for the whole world. U.S.-backed Iraqi government troops, along with Iranian-backed Shi'ite paramilitary groups known as Popular Mobilization Forces, carried out the offensive on Hawija, which began on September 21. Lt. Gen. Paul Funk, commanding general of the joint task force in Iraq, commended the Iraqi troops on retaking the city, saying they fought bravely and professionally against a brutal and determined enemy. According to a task force press release, the battle took 14 days, and more than 1,000 terrorists reportedly surrendered. The northern Iraqi town was one of the last strongholds for IS, which now only holds smaller pieces of Iraqi territory near the border with Syria. The group also still controls a few clustered towns in Iraqs far western Anbar province. Iraqi forces have retaken nearly all the land once held by IS jihadis, including Mosul, the countrys second-largest city, which was conquered in June. No immediate details were available about the fate of civilians in the city. As many as 78,000 civilians were trapped in Hawija by the fighting, according to U.N. estimates. An estimated 12,500 people fled Hawija since the operation began to retake the town and surrounding areas. A spokesman for the coalition, Ryan Dillon, lauded the victory on Twitter, saying Iraqi forces were continuing to crush ISIS in Hawija pocket. He said Abadis pledge to liberate all Iraqi territory and to cleanse it from terrorists" was "close" to being fulfilled. LINGAYEN, PangasinanGov. Amado I. Espino III has asked all chiefs of offices and chiefs of hospitals for the use of the updated seal of the province of Pangasinan as officially recommended by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines. All chiefs/heads of office/hospital and all employees are hereby enjoined to adopt/use the new seal of the province recommended by the NHCP in all their letterheads, calling cards and other official usages deemed appropriate/necessary effective immediately, Espino stated in the memorandum he issued on Sept. 29. Last April 24, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan approved Provincial Resolution No. 309-2017 entitled Approving the Modified Design and Symbolism of the Proposed Seal of the Province as Recommended by the NHCP. The resolution ratified the use of NHCPreviewed official seal and official flag of the province of Pangasinan. Resolution author, Board Member Jeremy Agerico Rosario, said the SP interposes no objection to the NHCPs modified design and symbolism of the proposed seal of the province, which is in pursuance to the basic heraldic rules as provided in Republic Act 8491, otherwise known as the Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines and Memorandum Circular No. 92-30 issued by the Department of the Interior and Local Government. ADVERTISEMENT Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. President Donald Trump's pardon of former Sheriff Joe Arpaio's conviction for disobeying a court order in an immigration case will stand after a judge on Wednesday rejected arguments that it would encourage government officials to flout similar judicial commands in the future. U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton cited U.S. Supreme Court precedent in formally dismissing the criminal case against the former six-term sheriff of metro Phoenix known for his harsh treatment of inmates and immigration enforcement crackdowns. She held off on ruling on Arpaio's request to throw out all orders in the case, including a blistering 14-page ruling in which the judge explained her original reasoning in finding that Arpaio was guilty of a crime. I have concluded the pardon is valid, Bolton said. The hearing Wednesday came five weeks after Trump pardoned Arpaio's conviction for intentionally defying a 2011 court order to stop his traffic patrols that targeted immigrants. The former sheriff, who didn't attend Wednesday's hearing in federal court, was accused of continuing the patrols for 17 months so that he could promote his immigration enforcement efforts in a bid to boost his successful 2012 re-election campaign. Arpaio, who endorsed Trump and appeared alongside him at rallies during the 2016 campaign, has acknowledged prolonging the patrols, but insisted his disobedience wasn't intentional and blamed one of his former attorneys for not adequately explaining the order's importance. Critics say the August 25 pardon removed the last chance at holding Arpaio legally accountable for a long history of misconduct, including a 2013 civil verdict in which Arpaio's officers were found to have racially profiled Latinos in the sheriff's immigration patrols. The order that Arpaio acknowledged violating was issued by U.S. District Murray Snow in the profiling case. Prosecution is over' Prosecutor John Keller said it was appropriate to dismiss the case against Arpaio. This prosecution is over, Keller said. The defendant will never be held accountable for his contempt of Judge Snow's injunction. Bolton has previously said case law suggests a pardon doesn't erase a recipient's underlying record of conviction and instead is aimed at lessening or canceling punishment. The pardon had previously led the judge to cancel Arpaio's sentencing hearing. The judge is considering a request from Arpaio to throw out the ruling that explains his guilty verdict. In the ruling, Bolton cited television interviews and news releases in which the sheriff made comments about keeping up the patrols, even though he knew they were no longer allowed. Arpaio's attorneys have said the requests are aimed at clearing Arpaio's name and barring the ruling's use in future court cases as an example of a prior bad act. This is a matter of basic fairness, said Arpaio attorney Jack Wilenchik. Lawyers who won the racial profiling verdict against Arpaio had argued earlier that the decision explaining the guilty verdict should remain intact to serve as a rebuke of the sheriff's actions and as a deterrent to other politicians who might want to disobey a judge's orders. Several legal advocacy groups had requested that the pardon be declared invalid or unconstitutional, arguing that letting it stand would encourage future violations of court orders. More than 30 Democrats in Congress also had asked Bolton to declare the pardon invalid and move forward with sentencing, saying the clemency is an encroachment by Trump on the power and independence of the courts. Since the pardon, Arpaio has said he did nothing wrong, criticized Bolton as biased and called the offense behind his conviction a petty crime. Arpaio, who was defeated last year in the same election that sent Trump to the White House, is now talking about getting back into politics. The lawyer for the girlfriend of Las Vegas shooter Stephen Paddock said the woman had no idea Paddock was planning any violence. Marilou Danley spent much of the day Wednesday being questioned by FBI agents in Los Angeles, where she arrived from the Philippines late the day before. Danley's lawyer, Matthew Lombard, told reporters she was in the Philippines to visit family. Paddock sent her $100,000 while she was there, telling her to buy a house. WATCH: Attorney Reads Danley Statement on Las Vegas Shootings Danley was worried Paddock was breaking up with her, her lawyer said, adding that Danley regarded Paddock as a "caring, quiet man." Trump praises police While investigators sought to unravel the mystery of what caused Paddock to kill 58 people and wound nearly 500 others, President Donald Trump was in Las Vegas, trying to console victims and meeting with police and first responders. Trump, speaking next to first lady Melania Trump, praised emergency workers and medical staff who responded to the massacre. "What I saw today is just an incredible tribute to professionalism," Trump said. "It makes you proud to be an American." During prepared remarks at local police headquarters, in front of police officers and Nevada politicians, Trump said, "We cannot be defined by the evil that threatens us," noting that "Americans defied death and hatred with love and with courage" in selflessly coming to aid of others at peril to their own lives during the attack. The shooting happened Sunday night on the Las Vegas Strip, a popular American tourism destination. Police said Paddock, 64, from his 32nd-floor room at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, fired on a crowd of 22,000 people attending a country music festival. Authorities said Paddock fatally shot himself as police moved in. "The fact that he had the type of weaponry and the amount of weaponry in that room, it was pre-planned extensively, and I'm pretty sure he evaluated everything he did in his actions, which is troublesome," Sheriff Joseph Lombardo of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department told reporters Tuesday. Trump called Paddock " a sick, demented man." Gun control debate The shooting reignited a decades-old debate about guns in America. The president, when asked at a hospital about gun control, replied, "We're not going to talk about that today." Investigators found 23 guns inside Paddock's hotel room and 12 "bump stock" devices that can enable a rifle to fire continuously. The gunman also had set up multiple cameras looking into the hallway outside the room, apparently to monitor the police response. Another 26 guns were found at two of Paddock's homes in Nevada. Lombardo has expressed confidence that his investigators, along with federal authorities, will determine Paddock's motivation for carrying out the worst mass shooting in modern American history. Days and months before carrying out the worst mass shooting in recent U.S. history, Stephen Paddock rented hotel rooms overlooking other music festivals in Las Vegas as well as in Chicago, law enforcement authorities said. Media reports citing law enforcement officials say Paddock reserved two rooms in Chicago overlooking the Lollapalooza festival, which draws hundreds of thousands of music fans yearly, in August. Paddock did not check in to the room and it is unknown whether he was in Chicago that weekend, as first reported by TMZ. Rooms were also reserved in Paddock's name in a Las Vegas building that overlooked the Life is Beautiful alternative music festival a week before he attacked a country music festival late Sunday, Sheriff Joseph Lombardo of Clark County said. Hotel employees at Las Vegas' Mandalay Bay resort, from where Paddock shot and killed 58 people before killing himself, said that he had specifically requested an upper-floor room with a view of the Route 91 Harvest music festival. Authorities are still searching for a motive for the attack. President Donald Trump visited Las Vegas Wednesday to console victims and meet with police and other first responders. Speaking next to first lady Melania Trump, he praised emergency workers and medical staff who responded to Sunday's massacre. "What I saw today is just an incredible tribute to professionalism," Trump said. "It makes you proud to be an American." Trump praised first responders, who said they were able to respond so quickly to the attack because of a new emergency program they had trained in and tested for years. "Our training paid off. It was much bigger than we ever imagined but we were able to handle it," Clark County Fire Chief Greg Cassell told reporters Thursday. Sheriff Lombardo said it is crucial to talk to anyone who knew gunman Paddock in the hunt for possible accomplices. Meanwhile, the number of wounded in the Sunday night massacre has been lowered from more than 500 to 489. Lombardo said some victims were counted twice in the confusion following the shooting. Earlier Wednesday, the lawyer for Paddock's girlfriend, Marilou Danley, said Danley had no idea Paddock was planning any violence. "He never said anything to me or took any action that I was aware of that I understood in any way to be a warning that something horrible like this was going to happen," Danley said in a statement read by her attorney, Matthew Lombard. Danley spent much of the day being questioned by FBI agents in Los Angeles, where she arrived from the Philippines. Her attorney said she was in the Philippines to visit family. Paddock sent her $100,000 while she was there, telling her to buy a house. Investigators found 23 guns inside Paddocks hotel room and 12 so-called "bump stock" devices that can enable a rifle to fire continuously. The gunman also set up multiple cameras looking out into the hallway outside the room, apparently to monitor the police response. Sheriff Lombardo said Paddock fired about 200 rounds of ammunition into the hallway outside his suite, wounding a security guard who had come to investigate. The wounded guard stayed in place to help police despite his injuries. Another 26 guns were found at two of Paddock's homes in the state of Nevada. A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers unveiled legislation on Wednesday that would overhaul aspects of the National Security Agency's warrantless internet surveillance program in an effort to install additional privacy protections. The bill, which will be formally introduced as soon as Thursday, is likely to revive debate in Washington over the balance between security and privacy, amid concerns among some lawmakers in both parties that the U.S. government may be too eager to spy on its own citizens. The legislation, written by the House Judiciary Committee, is seen by civil liberties groups as the best chance in Congress to reform the law, known as Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, before its expiration on December 31. Senior U.S. intelligence officials consider Section 702 to be among the most vital tools they have to thwart threats to national security and American allies. Foreign suspects It allows U.S. intelligence agencies to eavesdrop on and store vast amounts of digital communications from foreign suspects living outside the United States. But the program, classified details of which were exposed in 2013 by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden, also incidentally scoops up communications of Americans, including those with targets living overseas. Those communications can then be subject to searches without a warrant by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. A discussion draft of the legislation, a copy of which was seen by Reuters, partially restricts the FBI's ability to access American data collected under Section 702 by requiring the agency to obtain a warrant when seeking evidence of a crime. That limit would not apply, however, to requests of data that involve counterterrorism or counterespionage. The narrower restriction on what some have called a "backdoor search loophole" has disappointed some civil liberties groups. Several organizations sent a letter this week saying they would not support legislation that did not require a warrant for all queries of American data collected under Section 702. Renewal for six years The legislation would also renew the program for six years and codify the National Security Agency's decision earlier this year to halt the collection of communications that merely mentioned a foreign intelligence target. But that codification would end in six years as well, meaning NSA could potentially resume the activity in 2023. The spy agency has said it lost some operational capability by ending so-called "about" collection due to privacy compliance issues and has lobbied against a law that would make its termination permanent. Republican senators introduced a bill earlier this year to renew Section 702 without changes and make it permanent, a position backed by the White House and intelligence agencies. But that effort is expected to face major resistance in the House, where an influential conservative bloc of Republicans earlier this year said it opposed renewal unless major changes were made, reflecting disagreement within the majority party. Separately, Senators John Cornyn of Texas, the No. 2 Republican in the chamber, and Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein of California are working on Section 702 legislation that may also be introduced this week and include fewer reforms. Democratic Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon and Republican Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky are also planning to introduce a bill that would require a warrant for any query of Section 702 involving data belonging to an American. It began when a Libyan militia paid by Italy to stop migrants heading to Europe intercepted a group of human traffickers offshore. That confrontation has spiraled into a weeks-long battle among rival militias for control of a Libyan coastal city that has left dozens dead. The bloodshed in the city of Sabratha is in part an unexpected consequence of Europe's effort to stem the flow of migrants from Libya across the Mediterranean. It illustrates how easily things can escalate out of control in the chaos of the North African country, where three different governments claim authority and the real power in many areas lies with local militias. The Sabratha fight has expanded, bringing in outside factions, including Khalifa Hifter, the strongman who controls eastern Libya and is a rival of the weak, internationally recognized government based in Tripoli, headed by Fayez Serraj. Hifter appears to be using the conflict to obtain a foothold in the western part of the country. Thousands of families have fled Sabratha, according to the Red Crescent and local officials. Fighting has endangered the city's dramatic antiquity site - the remains of a 1,800-year-old Roman city. At one point, a militia besieged opposing fighters holed up inside the ruins, with snipers positioned on top of the monuments. Photos on line showed bullet holes in one monument. This is a war that started between human traffickers, then snowballed into an ideological and political one, said al-Tahar al-Gharabili, head of the Sabratha Military Council, which answers to Serraj's government. Over the summer, Italy began funneling cash and logistical support to two major militias in Sabratha after they agreed to stop their involvement in human trafficking and instead act as a police force against it, stopping migrant boats. The deal was made through Serraj's government, and the two militias - the Martyr Anas al-Dabashi militia, better known as al-Ammu's militia, and Brigade 48 - were nominally turned into arms of its security forces. The deal led to a dramatic drop in migration from Sabratha, a city on the western side of Libya's Mediterranean coast that used to be the main launching point for migrant boats. But voices in Libya decried the deal, fearing that the salaries and supplies would enrich the militias and make them more powerful. The boost to one side threw off the balance of power in Sabratha, triggering a backlash from other local militias. Al-Gharabili said the conflict began when, last month, a force from the al-Ammu militia clashed with traffickers off shore, thwarting an attempt to move multiple boat-loads of migrants. The traffickers came from the al-Wadi district, in eastern Sabratha. Because of al-Ammu's crackdown, hundreds of migrants had been stuck in al-Wadi unable to leave, and the traffickers were desperate to move them, al-Gharabili said. The situation exploded, he said. The next day, September 17, a paramilitary force allied to al-Wadi opened fire on members of al-Ammu's militia, killing one and wounding others. Since then, at least 93 people have been killed, including eight civilians, and more than 180 wounded in battles that have carved up the city, according to Essam Karrar, the head of Sabratha Civil Society Federation. Fighting the past few days has been more intense even than during the 2011 civil war, al-Gharabili said, as militias this week tried to capture al-Ammu's headquarters, a former resort called Shahrazad. Hospitals, hotels and homes have been hit. The core of the conflict is between al-Ammu and Brigade 48 militias on one side and, on the other, the al-Wadi militia and the Anti-ISIS Operation Room, a force of army officers created to fight the Islamic State group. All the factions involved are nominally under the authority of Serraj's government - underscoring how little power it actually has over any of them. Bashir Ibrahim, the al-Ammu spokesman, acknowledged that the deal with Italy was one trigger of the Sabratha fighting. Certainly, this is among the reasons, he said. It's about power. Al-Ammu's opponents depict it as a terrorist group linked to Islamist factions and portray themselves as seeking to re-establish state control and stop trafficking. An al-Wadi spokesman, Hussein al-Alagi, called the Italian deal a disaster that reinforces a bunch of criminals and terrorists. An Operations Room spokesman, Saleh Graisia, told the AP that the time has come to remove the tumor that has been growing in Sabratha, referring to the al-Ammu militia. The fight has grown more complicated as Hifter has thrown his support to the forces fighting al-Ammu. In a statement to the Italian media outlet ADNkronos, Hifter said the fighting in Sabratha was a legitimate war against armed groups that embrace terrorism and human trafficking. Hifter is backed by the eastern-based parliament that is the rival of Serraj's government, and he has spoken in the past of moving into the west. He has also sought to boost his legitimacy in international eyes, urging Europe to support him as a force to stop migration across the Mediterranean. A Hifter spokesman, Col. Ali al-Mosmari, vowed on Twitter that the assault would continue until the whole city is terrorist-free. Al-Gharabili said Hifter is working closely with the Anti-ISIS Operation Room, something the group's spokesman denies. One of his top commanders recently visited the Operation Room, and another senior Hifter associate recruited men from the area to create a force fighting alongside it, al-Gharabili said. Also, the al-Wadi militia is believed to be made up of ultraconservative Salafi Islamists known as the Madkhalis who are longtime allies of Hifter in the east. Al-Alaqi said the force is made up of moderate Muslims and denied it has direct contact with Hifter, saying they only share common interests. Al-Gharabili said he believes Hifter is trying to gain influence in western Libya as leverage in talks with Serraj's government, perhaps ultimately hoping to control of Sabratha, a nearby oil facility and the border crossing into Tunisia further west. He said Serraj's Defense Ministry has ordered the creation of a force from fighters around the west to move into Sabratha and stop the fighting. This is no longer a Sabratha war, it's the entire western region, he said. It also leaves uncertain the future of Europe's effort to stop migrants by enlisting local forces. Ibrahim from al-Ammu lamented that fighting has turned brother against brother in Sabratha. Members of the large al-Dabashi family belong to factions on both sides. Sabratha is like a mosaic. You arrange it in a way that give you a beautiful picture or in a way that turns very ugly just like now, he said. Suffering itself after two major earthquakes last month, Mexico plans to send aid including water and electricity experts to Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory reeling from the devastation of Hurricane Maria. The gesture, announced by the Mexican government on Wednesday, follows an awkward series of exchanges between Mexico and the United States over emergency aid in recent weeks. Mexico plans to send some 30 tons of bottled water, mosquito repellent and specialists in power generation, transmission and distribution from the state power utility, Mexico's foreign ministry said in a statement. The Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) team would work to mitigate the damage and assist in restoring power supply after Maria, the ministry said. The strongest hurricane to hit Puerto Rico in nearly 90 years, Maria caused at least 34 deaths and inflicted widespread damage to homes and infrastructure, including wiping out power across the Caribbean island. Mexico has had strained relations with its northern neighbor since U.S. President Donald Trump took office in January, promising to build a wall along the U.S. southern border to keep out illegal immigrants and drugs. Mexico had planned to send material assistance to the United States after Hurricane Harvey, which hit Texas in late August, but later withdrew the offer after the first of the two quakes struck southern Mexico in early September. Trump was criticized in Mexico for the time he took to offer condolences to his Mexican counterpart, Enrique Pena Nieto, over the first quake, which killed at least 98 people. The U.S. president later said he had been unable to reach Pena Nieto because of poor cellphone reception. Ironically, after Maria struck Puerto Rico, the local cellphone operator of Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim proved more reliable than some U.S. competitors during the early days of the communications outage across the island of 3.4 million people. Europe-based Russia experts are receiving news of Jon Huntsman's ambassadorship with a mix of skepticism and eager anticipation that strained ties between Washington and Moscow could improve during his tenure. The new U.S. ambassador to Russia presented his diplomatic credentials Tuesday to Russian President Vladimir Putin at a Kremlin ceremony, a move that marks the beginning of his appointment. Receiving Huntsman, Putin characterized the current state of bilateral relations as unsatisfactory, but called for "constructive, predictable, and mutually advantageous cooperation," and expressed his hope that Huntsman's arrival will mark the beginning of a new chapter in bilateral relations. Huntsman, a former Utah governor who has twice served as a U.S. ambassador, arrived Sunday in Moscow to take over from John Tefft, who left Russia two days earlier after serving in Russia for three years, a period that was marred by a deep and rapid deterioration of ties, unseen since the end of the Cold War. The relationship soured even further in recent months following a series of expulsions of diplomats and closures of diplomatic missions. "John Huntsman is the first ambassador of the Trump era in Russia, because the previous ambassador, John Tefft, was a career diplomat and was appointed by President Obama," said Konstantin Eggert, regular commentator and program host at independent Russian broadcaster TV Dozhd. Speaking with VOA's Russian Service, Eggert said Huntsman's personal background differs significantly from this two immediate predecessors, which may prove a diplomatic game changer. "Huntsman is not just a political appointee, but a person with experience that none of the previous political appointees of the last era had neither Robert Strauss nor Michael McFaul," Eggert said. "This is a governor, a billionaire, twice an ambassador in Singapore and in China and in this sense Huntsman is a person who feels very confident," Eggert added. "He has [personal and professional options] to which he can safely retreat if something goes astray with his work." As one of the leaders of the Atlantic Council," he said, Huntsman "is a person with political convictions. "This does not mean that he will necessarily be an ambassador who will ideologize any of his contacts with the Russian side, but he certainly has red lines from which he will not retreat," Eggert said. "Oddly enough, some Russian 'hawks' believe those who take such tough positions are actually easier to negotiate with." These characteristics, combined with Huntsman's Mormon background, should appeal to many top Russian officials. "The advantages are that people in Moscow like to communicate with people who have direct access to top management in this case, the U.S. congressional leadership," said Eggert, referring to Huntsman's high-level contacts within both the Republican and Democratic parties. Huntsman, who once called for President Donald Trump to drop out of the presidential race, won easy confirmation as U.S. ambassador last week. He was the nation's top diplomat to Singapore under President George H.W. Bush and ambassador to China under President Barack Obama before returning to the U.S. to run for president in 2012. Although Trump has called Russia's interference in the 2016 presidential election a hoax pushed by Democrats to sully his victory at the polls, Huntsman said at his confirmation hearing last week that there is no question, underline, no question that Moscow interfered. He also said he would not hesitate to remind Russian officials they are accountable for their actions. Andrei Kolesnikov, a senior fellow and chair of the Domestic Politics and Political Institutions Program at the Carnegie Moscow Center, says all of these variables create a less optimistic outlook. "It seems to me that, by and large, Huntsman will have little opportunity to change anything," he told VOA, citing prevailing diplomatic turmoil between the countries. "He's almost at an impasse before he starts his work, because relations are currently so fraught with mutual suspicion and tension that the groundwork for any meaningful improvement is absolutely minimal." Huntsman comes into office with a drastically reduced staff after the Russian Foreign Ministry ordered the U.S. to cut its embassy and consulate staff in Russia by 755, or by two-thirds, heightening tensions between Washington and Moscow after U.S. Congress approved sanctions against Russia. In response, the U.S. suspended issuing non-immigrant visas in Moscow for a week in August and stopped issuing visas at its consulates elsewhere in Russia. Relations between Russia and the United States cooled following Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014 and its support for separatists in eastern Ukraine, where fighting since 2014 has left 10,000 people dead. Reports of Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election put a further damper on hopes for better ties that the Kremlin had pinned on Trump's presidency. In August, the U.S. adopted a new package of stiff financial sanctions, aimed at punishing Moscow for interfering in the election and for its military aggression in Ukraine and Syria, where the Kremlin has backed President Bashar al-Assad. This story originated in VOA's Russian Service. Some information used in this report came from AP. For every U.S. president, there comes a time to assume the role of the nation's comforter-in-chief, a leader who seeks to bring the country together and lift spirits in the midst of a national tragedy. President Donald Trump found himself in that situation this week, consoling survivors of the worst mass shooting in recent U.S. history and traveling to Puerto Rico to comfort those devastated by Hurricane Maria. The day after the tragedy in Las Vegas, Trump sounded a somber note at the White House: "May God give us the grace of healing and may God provide the grieving families with strength to carry on." Later in the week, Trump traveled to Las Vegas, where he consoled the wounded and survivors and paid tribute to first responders who rushed to the scene. "We stand together to help you carry your pain. You are not alone. We will never leave your side," he said. Help for Puerto Rico A day earlier, the president had been in Puerto Rico, pitching in on the relief effort and meeting with residents. At several points during his visit, Trump seemed determined to push back at critics who complained that his administration had been slow to respond to the devastation wrought by Hurricane Maria. WATCH: National Tragedies Thrust Trump Into Role of Comforter-in-chief "Most of the hospitals are open, or at least partially open, but most of them now are open," Trump told residents. "And again, the job that has been done here is really nothing short of a miracle." The Las Vegas massacre and the hurricane aftermath in Puerto Rico presented the president with a new and decidedly different test of his leadership qualities. Big shoes to fill Trump follows in the footsteps of past presidents who have taken on the role of national healer, including President Bill Clinton, who comforted survivors and those who lost family members in the bombing of the federal building in Oklahoma City in April 1995. "You have lost too much, but you have not lost everything," Clinton said at a memorial service four days after the bombing. "And you certainly have not lost America, for we will stand with you for as many tomorrows as it takes." In September 2001, it was up to President George W. Bush to both mourn and unify the country following the terrorist attacks of September 11. "We will rally the world to this cause by our efforts, by our courage. We will not tire, we will not falter and we will not fail," he told a joint session of Congress. In December 2012, President Barack Obama sought to bring comfort and unity at a prayer vigil for the 26 mass shooting victims 20 of whom were children at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. "God has called them all home. For those of us who remain, let us find the strength to carry on and make our country worthy of their memory," he told members of the Newtown community two days after the attack. In 2015, Obama also led a gathering in singing the Christian hymn Amazing Grace at a memorial service for the Reverend Clementa Pinckney, one of nine African-Americans killed by a racially motivated gunman at their church in Charleston, South Carolina. Trump's challenge Trump was elected president as an agent of political change. But in the wake of a national tragedy, analyst John Fortier said he now faces a different test. "There will be more divisiveness when the [political] parties disagree about what to do about the aftermath in Las Vegas, but I think the president has played that role traditionally in Las Vegas," said Fortier, who is with the Bipartisan Policy Center in Washington. He said Trump has demonstrated "less divisive moments" as president, particularly his deal with Democrats to put off a clash over the federal budget. "Trump has assumed the traditional role, but it was marred a bit in Puerto Rico, with the controversy over the relief effort with local officials on the ground there. But the aftermath was broadly what we expect presidents to do. In Las Vegas, his role there has been more traditional," Fortier said. Some of Trump's critics also seized on some of his comments during his visit to Puerto Rico, especially his eagerness to defend his administration's response to the relief demands there and criticism of Puerto Rico's precarious financial situation. "Well, Puerto Rico, I thought, was typical Trump. It was about being divisive, not being a uniter," said Jim Kessler with Third Way, a center-left public policy research organization in Washington. "I think he is more comfortable being in the dividing role. I think that he feels it helps him personally, it helps his political agenda. This is how he got elected," Kessler said. Trump's duties as "comforter in chief" may last a bit longer, but his next major political challenge is getting his congressional agenda back on track, beginning with tax reform. Both Kessler and Fortier are guests this weekend on VOA's "Encounter" program. The winner of this years prestigious Nansen Refugee Award sees hope in bringing education to the children of Boko Haram, the militant group in northeastern Nigeria that with its very name opposes Western education. Zannah Mustapha has made it his mission to provide a better future through education for the children displaced by the Boko Haram insurgency. Mustapha sees his role as that of an umpire arbitrating between competing forces. As a lawyer, he is considered well suited for this role and has successfully mediated between the Nigerian Government and Boko Haram for the release of 103 girls held hostage, including 82 of the so-called Chibok girls. As an educator who has admitted children of Boko Haram widows into his school, he has gained the trust of the militant group. The irony of teaching the children of Boko Haram insurgents who with the very name of their group proclaim that "Western Education is Forbidden" is not lost on him. Despite the groups brutality, he told VOA, Boko Haram is concerned about the welfare of its children. Mustapha recalled how during a period when tensions were high he called some of the Boko Haram widows and said well, let us come and find a way - something that will say this is what we can do. Mustapha said he has accommodated Boko Harams religious precepts by agreeing to have girls wearing the hijab and knee-length dresses and by asking the mothers to spell out what they wanted for their children. Do you want to have futures for these children? he asked. How do you plan one? They said we should teach them the Koran. I said yes. We accepted Koran would be one and then English and Math. I did not introduce anything to them. I made them to say it - that they want it. Mustapha opened a school in Maiduguri, Nigeria, for displaced and orphaned children back in 2007, two years before the insurgency began. These children now have completed secondary school and are preparing to go to university. Zannah Mustapha sees his classrooms as a sign of the reconciliation he hopes to achieve in this war-torn region. 21 Saudis and one Qatari national have been arrested for igniting public feelings through social media. The arrested, all men, according to the Presidency of the State Security circulated video clips on social networking sites to disturb public order and stir up feelings. The State Security said the men are being investigated adding that it is also looking into their affiliations without releasing much information on the content of the clips. If charged, the men could face up to five-years jail sentences. Authorities have not disclosed the identity of the Qatari national. The kingdom, Egypt, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain have severed ties with Qatar, busting air, sea and ground links with the tiny gas-rich gulf country. In another security forces operation, 24 people, all Saudis, were arrested in Hail province. The men are accused of provoking sedition. They are also accused by of spreading lies and exaggerations about their circumstances, on social media networks. It is unclear whether the two cases are linked. The State Security however says it will respond firmly and resolutely to those who seek to undermine the security of the homeland and its stability. The two incidents take place in a context of major national crackdown on dissent. Several scholars and top clerics were arrested last month on trumpeted charges however the reports say the dissenters called for end to the diplomatic isolation of Qatar. They also spoke out against claims that King Salman was on the verge of abdicating in favor of his son and Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman. 4 Performers of the Voala hanging from an aerial sculpture, perform the Muare Experience during the Seoul Street Arts Festival in Seoul, South Korea. Almost half of Cambodias opposition lawmakers have left the country or are in jail, including most of its leadership, as proceedings to dissolve the party move forward. It was no longer possible to save democracy from inside Cambodia, said Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) leader Mu Sochua who fled on Tuesday saying shed been tipped off her arrest was imminent. If there is no democracy and if there is only intimidation and arrest, I think we must find alternative means to push, to promote, and to save democracy in our country, she said from an undisclosed location abroad. Opposition on the run It was better to advocate outside the country than be jailed under a co opted legal system, said Sochua, who has called for targeted international sanctions on ruling party leaders. A complaint requesting the dissolution of her party was filed by the Cambodian Youth Party yesterday - citing the widely decried treason charge CNRP leader Kem Sokha was arrested on in September. A controversial recent legislative amendment allows the dissolution of a party found to undermine the security of the nation. Treason charges On Monday, Prime Minister Hun Sen warned the treason case against Sokha would be extended, potentially resulting in the arrest of other opposition lawmakers. We are conducting further activities. [I] want to send a message that it will not just be done with the arrest of only one person because this is a preparation and a systematic act, he said. So, I just said this, and other people can understand and they have been conducting rude activities in the three province already, he said, referring to Kampong Thom, Preah Vihear, and Siem Reap, all of which Mu Sochua had recently visited. CNRP chief whip Son Chhay, who is one of the last remaining party leaders in the country, told VOA last week prior to Sochuas departure that 22 opposition lawmakers had flown to different countries to brief their overseas constituents on the present crisis. I think it is beyond what we call the red line. But I know that the alternative for the future of Cambodia must lay in the election, must hang on the practice of democracy, he said. Inside we feel that its unacceptable. This crisis is serious against the democracy in our country, he said, adding the party would continue to wait and observe rather than pull out of the elections completely yet. At the time he said he was confident many of the lawmakers oversees would come back in October. Opposition leaders have left country Those abroad include deputy party president Eng Chhay Eang, spokesman Yim Sovann, deputy public affairs head Kem Monovithya (a daughter of Kem Sokha), spokesman Yem Ponhearith and president of the partys youth wing, Hing Soksan. Kong Sophea and Nhay Chamroeun, who were brutally assaulted by members of Prime Minister Hun Sens Bodyguard Unit outside the National Assembly in 2015, are also outside the country. Pol Ham, who is also one of the few remaining senior CNRP leaders left in Cambodia, declined to comment yesterday. Mao Monyvann, who also sits high in the party hierarchy, said the party would stay strong at the grassroots level even in the absence of many leaders. To me, I decided already that I continue to stay with the men and women activists, particularly the 5,007 commune councilors and other leaders. The important thing is that the party president is placed in jail. So, I continue to lead and maintain the sustainability of the party, he said. He added that no matter how tense the political situation got, there would eventually be a compromise between the opposition and ruling parties with international pressure just one factor in that process. Khieu Sopheak, spokesman for the Ministry of Interior, told VOA Wednesday that no new arrest warrants had been issued in connection with Kim Sokhas treason case, although he alleged Mu Sochua had broken the law by installing banners calling for her party leaders release. Sochua, is among at least seven lawmakers who are still under criminal prosecution for their role in a violent demonstration that took place in July 2014. CNRP Senator Hong Sok Hour is serving seven years and lawmaker Un Sam An faces up to five for charges related to statements or postings they have made about Cambodias contentious border with Vietnam. China backs the government Sebastian Strangio, author of "Hun Sens Cambodia," said trying to ramp up international pressure against Hun Sen from abroad was unlikely to prove an effective strategy for CNRP leaders while the prime minister enjoyed such strong support from China. This, of course, is precisely Hun Sens aim. With most of its senior leaders now exiled, in hiding, or behind bars, it is hard to see how the party can mount an effective campaign at the 2018 election, he wrote in an email. CNRP leaders would obviously be better off campaigning from within Cambodia, but the governments repression is making that nearly impossible for the time being. Given recent events, it is unclear whether the CNRP will even exist by the time of the election, he added. David Boyle contributed to this story. The Pakistani army on Thursday confirmed that a plan was in place to try to integrate militant-linked groups into the mainstream of the country's politics. Milli Muslim League (MML), a new militant party controlled by Islamist Hafiz Saeed, backed a candidate in the September by-election for a seat vacated by ousted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in the eastern city of Lahore. The United States has offered a $10 million bounty for Saeed's capture. Reuters reported last month that the foray into politics by MML and other Islamists groups followed the integration plan. Three of Sharif's confidants and a retired army general said it had been presented by Inter Services Intelligence to Sharif last year, but the then premier had rejected it. Army spokesman Major-General Asif Ghafoor told a news conference in Islamabad the plan was aimed at developing a constructive role for them. Asked about the MML party loyal to Hafiz Saeed, whom the United States and India accuse of masterminding the 2008 Mumbai attacks that killed 166 people, the army spokesman said it was part of "a process that has started." "It is in my knowledge that the government has started some discussion over it, that, how do we mainstream them, so that they could do constructive contribution," Ghafoor said. A government spokesman did not respond to calls. House arrest Pakistan's interior ministry has asked the country's electoral commission not to register Saeed's party, but hasn't taken any other steps to stop it. Another militant party is campaigning for a by-election later in October. It remains unclear whether the army or the ISI went ahead with its plan despite Sharif's rejection, or if the military and the civilian government have recently agreed on the idea. Another Islamist designated a terrorist by the United States, Fazlur Rehman Khalil, told Reuters he too planned to form his own party soon. Within two weeks of Sharif's ouster, the MML party was announced. It later got the backing of Saeed and his lieutenants in the by-election to secure five per cent of the vote. The other hardline party, Tehrik-e-Labaik Pakistan, gained over six per cent of votes by riding on the back of a blasphemy killer Mumtaz Qadri whom it called a hero and a martyr. Saeed has been under house arrest since January in the eastern city of Lahore. MML is the political wing of Saeed's charity Jamaat-ud-Dawa, JuD. JuD and Khalil's Ansar ul-Umma organisation are both seen by the United States as fronts for militant groups the army has been accused of sponsoring against neighbours, arch-foe India and Afghanistan a charge the army denies. Reports of the plan to bring militant-linked groups into the political mainstream have stirred debate at home and abroad. Womens rights groups on Thursday denounced police raids on their offices in several Polish cities that resulted in the seizing of documents and computers, a day after women staged anti-government marches to protest the countrys restrictive abortion law. The raids took place Wednesday in the cities of Warsaw, Gdansk, Lodz and Zielona Gora. They targeted two organizations, the Womens Rights Center and Baba, which help victims of domestic violence and which also participated in this weeks anti-government protests. Womens rights activists said Thursday the loss of files would hamper their work, and accused authorities of trying to intimidate them. Prosecutors denied the accusation, saying the timing of the raids a day after the womens marches was purely coincidental. Some fear the ruling Law and Justice party, led by Jaroslaw Kaczynski, is following in the footsteps of neighboring Hungary, where non-governmental groups have faced harassment under Prime Minister Viktor Orban. This is an abuse of power because even if there is any suspicion of wrongdoing, an inquiry could be done in a way that doesnt affect the organizations work, Marta Lempert, the head of the Polish Womens Strike, which organized this weeks street protests, told The Associated Press. The womens groups said they were told by police that prosecutors were looking for evidence in an investigation into suspected wrongdoing in the Justice Ministry under the former government. At the time the Justice Ministry provided funding to the womens groups. We are afraid that this is just a pretext or warning signal to not engage in activities not in line with the ruling party, The Womens Rights Center said in a statement. Anita Kucharska-Dziedzic, who heads the group Baba, said police entered her office in Zielona Gora, western Poland, on Wednesday at 9 a.m. and worked until 6 p.m. removing files. She told the AP her group has never been aware of any wrongdoing by Justice Ministry officials that her group was in contact with. She also said she now expects to have problems continuing her projects due to the loss of files, and is also concerned because the documents contained private information on domestic abuse victims who have sought the groups help. Jacek Pawlak, a spokesman for prosecutors in Poznan, where the investigation is being led, said the raids were part of an ongoing investigation but would not divulge what the probe was about. He said there was no attempt to harass the womens organizations. This weeks street demonstrations came on the first anniversary of a mass Black Protest by women dressed in black that stopped a plan in parliament for a total ban on abortion. Despite that success the womens rights activists marched to protests the fact that abortion is still illegal in most cases, calling for a liberalization of the law. Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted Saudi Arabia's King Salman for talks in Moscow on Thursday in the first official visit of a Saudi monarch to Russia that was expected to focus on oil and the war in Syria. At the Kremlin's opulent St. Andrew's Hall, Putin in televised remarks hailed the king's visit as a "landmark" event. Salman in his reply called Russia a "friendly nation" and said his country is committed to strengthen ties "in the interests of peace and security." Relations between the two countries have often been strained. During Cold War times, the Saudis helped arm Afghan rebels fighting against the Soviet invasion. The kingdom, much like Russia, has been hit by the fall in oil prices since mid-2014. Despite regional disagreements, the two major oil-producing nations found common ground on energy policy in November, when they led a deal between OPEC and non-OPEC states to cut production in a bid to shore up crude prices. So far that deal is holding and prices have recovered slightly to above $50 a barrel. In an apparent reference to the output deal, Salman told Putin on Thursday that Saudi Arabia is "eager to continue the positive cooperation between our nations in the world oil market, which fosters global economic growth." Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak told Russian news agencies earlier Friday that non-OPEC states would be willing to extend the output cut "if necessary." Russia and Saudi Arabia on Thursday also announced major investments and joint ventures to further cement relations, with Putin and Salman signing deals from arms sales to cooperation in space. Trade volume between the two countries reached $2.8 billion last year, according to official Saudi press. Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, the kingdom's sovereign wealth fund, announced in 2015 plans to invest $10 billion in Russia over the next five years, though only a fraction of that has so far been put up. The Saudis have also been eyeing Russian nuclear power technologies and appear ready to expand food imports from Russia, which is set to remain the world's biggest wheat exporter this year. Food security is a major concern for Saudi Arabia, which stopped local production of livestock feed and wheat due to water scarcity. Analysts say Salman's trip to Moscow is the clearest sign yet that Russia's strategy in the Middle East, including its high-risk show of military power in Syria, has paid off. Salman's visit caps off a number of visits to Russia over the past two years by Gulf royals, including by his heir and son. "A number of Gulf leaders have been going with greater regularity to Moscow and I think for a simple reason: Russia has made itself much more of a factor in key parts of the Middle East as the U.S. has taken a step back in some ways, particularly in Syria," said Brian Katulis, a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress. The Saudi monarch's visit comes after decades of strained relations. More recently, tensions were high over the war in Syria. Russia and Iran have staunchly backed Syrian President Assad while Saudi Arabia has supported the Sunni rebels fighting to oust him. However, relations have begun to improve in recent years and Salman's heir, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has held several meetings with Putin. Salman said at the talks in Moscow that Saudi Arabia calls for a political solution in Syria that "guarantees security and stability and the preservation of Syrian sovereignty." Earlier on Friday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Russia thinks highly of Saudi Arabia's role in arranging talks between the Syrian government and the oppositions in Geneva. At the core of Saudi Arabia's regional woes is its rival Iran, which is backed by Russia. The Shiite-led regional power has spread its footprint throughout the region, particularly in Iraq and Syria. Saudi Arabia is at war with Iranian-allied rebel fighters in Yemen and is embroiled in a diplomatic standoff with Qatar, which has found support from Tehran. Though Salman's visit signals closer Russian ties with Sunni Arab Gulf states, Russia's support for Iran is not expected to change. The U.S., meanwhile, remains Saudi Arabia's top weapons supplier and its most critical Western ally. Anna Borshchevskaya, a fellow at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, says Russia has no capacity to replace the United States as Saudi Arabia's key ally. "That said, it's clear that Russia has been able to play a weak hand very well and step into vacuums everywhere where the U.S. has treated," he said. Saudi-U.S. ties were strained under the Obama administration over its backing of a nuclear agreement with Iran and its handling of the Syrian conflict. Relations improved under the Trump administration, but Washington's focus in Syria continues to be on fighting the Islamic State group, not on ousting Assad. A retired U.S. Army colonel and founder of a U.S.-based nonprofit Haitian diaspora organization has been indicted on charges that he tried to bribe foreign officials involved in an $84 million port project in Haiti. Joseph Baptiste, who has a dental practice in the Washington suburb of Silver Spring, Maryland, was charged Wednesday with six violations, including one count each of conspiracy and of money laundering. The indictment was filed in the northeastern state of Massachusetts. Baptiste is alleged to have carried out parts of his bribery plan in its capital city, Boston, as well as in Haiti. The case grew out of a 2014 U.S. government investigation into some Haitian-American business people suspected of trying to bribe Haitian government officials to get favorable business deals in the Caribbean country. In the indictment, Baptiste, 64, is accused of conspiring "to bribe foreign officials to obtain and retain business" connected with the port project in Mole-Saint-Nicolas, an area along Haitis northwest coast. It also accuses him of trying to funnel a $50,000 payment through the nonprofit he founded, the National Organization for the Advancement of Haitians Inc. (NOAH). The organization supports democracy in Haiti, as well as medical and humanitarian relief there, according to the information service Guide Star. The indictment alleges that Baptiste used the money for personal gain. Baptistes lawyer, Donald LaRoche, told VOA his client had received $50,000 for investment purposes only. "They dont have any proof that this was for corruption," LaRoche said when reached by phone Thursday. LaRoche said he expected Baptiste to be arraigned in a Massachusetts court sometime next week. The Miami Herald, in a story published Wednesday, noted that Baptiste was "a highly sought-after member of the Haitian-American community." It said he also "informally advised the U.S. State Department" on Haiti issues and "regularly hosted Haitian dignitaries and Democrats running for U.S. office at his home" in Fulton, Maryland. A phone call Thursday to the number listed for NOAH was answered by an employee at Baptistes dental practice. Baptiste was unavailable for comment. VOA Creole Services Jean-Pierre Leroy contributed to this report. Saudi Arabias King Salman is in Moscow for the first ever visit by a Saudi monarch to Russia. During the four-day visit, the king is scheduled to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin for talks on issues ranging from oil to Syria. The visit reflect strengthening ties between two historic rivals, pushed closer by a mutual need to stem the drop in global oil prices. The rivalry between two of the worlds largest oil producers goes back to the Cold War when the Saudis helped arm Afghan rebels fighting against the Soviet invasion. More recently, tensions were high over the war in Syria, in which Russia has staunchly backed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad while Saudi Arabia has supported the rebels trying to overthrow him. A thaw between Moscow and Riyadh helped push through Novembers deal in which OPEC and 10 other oil-producing countries, including Russia, agreed to cut their production in a bid to combat a supply glut and shore up crude prices. A slew of investment deals, including nuclear power technologies and expanded food exports are expected to be signed during the trip. Asked about ties with Riyadh during a panel discussion at an international energy conference Wednesday, Putin responded that Moscow doesn't see close U.S.-Saudi relations as an obstacle for closer cooperation with the Saudis, and added that alliances tend to shift. Is there anything in the world that stays unchanged?'' Putin said. "I think that all things change. While investigators attempt to unravel the reason for the worst mass shooting in recent U.S. history, President Donald Trump went to Las Vegas to console victims and meet with police and other first responders. Trump, speaking next to first lady Melania Trump, on Wednesday praised the emergency workers and medical staff who responded to Sundays massacre. What I saw today is just an incredible tribute to professionalism, Trump said. It makes you proud to be an American. He added more praise on Twitter Thursday morning. "So wonderful to be in Las Vegas yesterday and meet with people, from police to doctors to the victims themselves, who I will never forget!" Possible accomplices? Meanwhile, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Sheriff Joe Lombardo said it is crucial to talk to anyone who knew gunman Stephen Paddock in the hunt for possible accomplices. Considering the number of weapons Paddock collected and explosives he had stockpiled in his car, Lombardo told reporters he finds it hard to believe Paddock could have carried out the massacre on his own. On Sunday night, Paddock fired into a crowd attending a country music concert across from the Mandalay Bay hotel, killing 58. Lombardo said Paddock spent decades living what he calls a secret life and that concealing his activities all those years was well thought out. But the sheriff declined to provide any details on what has been uncovered so far about Paddock because he said he does not want to say something that could drive anyone with information underground. Lombardo said there were signs in Paddocks hotel room that he planned to escape after his shooting rampage. Paddock shot himself in the mouth as police zeroed in on his room. Quick reaction by police, hotel security Describing a timeline of events, Lombardo said it took police and Mandalay Bay hotel security 12 minutes after the first shots were heard to determine they came from the 32nd floor, where Paddock had rented a suite. Lombardo called that reaction time phenomenal. The sheriff also said Paddock had taken a room in another Las Vegas hotel one week earlier while an alternative music festival was in town. But it is unclear what his intent was. WATCH: Las Vegas Shooting Timeline: Shots Fired Over 10-Minute Period The number of wounded in the Sunday night massacre has been lowered from more than 500 to 489. Lombardo said some victims were counted twice in the confusion following the shooting. WATCH: Attorney Reads Danley Statement on Las Vegas Shootings Gunmans girlfriend Earlier Wednesday, the lawyer for Paddocks girlfriend, Marilou Danley, said Danley had no idea Paddock was planning any violence. He never said anything to me or took any action that I was aware of that I understood in any way to be a warning that something horrible like this was going to happen, Danley said in a statement read by her attorney, Matthew Lombard. Danley spent much of the day being questioned by FBI agents in Los Angeles, where she arrived from the Philippines. Her attorney said she was in the Philippines to visit family. Paddock sent her $100,000 while she was there, telling her to buy a house. Danley was worried Paddock was breaking up with her, her lawyer said, adding that Danley regarded Paddock as a caring, quiet man. President visits with victims The president and first lady, at University Medical Center, met with eight families of those who had been wounded and also went to the bedsides of some who had been shot, White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said. During prepared remarks, in front of police officers and Nevada politicians on a stage at local police headquarters, Trump said, We cannot be defined by the evil that threatens us, noting that Americans defied death and hatred with love and with courage in selflessly coming to aid of others at peril to their own lives at the concert. I thought the president captured the spirit of America at a time we needed to heal, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy said to reporters at the White House South Portico after getting off the presidents helicopter Wednesday night. I thought he did an excellent job and the support that he got throughout to heal our nation and bring us back in a time of need. There is currently no evidence to indicate the shooting was terrorism, FBI Special Agent in Charge Aaron Rouse told reporters in Las Vegas on Wednesday. Gun control debate The shooting on the Las Vegas Strip, a popular American tourism destination, has reignited a decades-old debate about guns in America. The president when asked at the hospital about gun control replied, Were not going to talk about that today. Investigators found 23 guns inside Paddocks hotel room and 12 so-called bump stock devices that can enable a rifle to fire continuously. The gunman also set up multiple cameras looking out into the hallway outside the room, apparently to monitor the police response. Sheriff Lombardo said Paddock fired about 200 rounds of ammunition into the hallway outside his suite, wounding a security guard who had come to investigate. The wounded guard stayed in place to help police despite his injuries. Another 26 guns were found at two of Paddocks homes in the state of Nevada. Spains Constitutional Court has ordered the suspension of a Catalonian special parliamentary session next week, during which regional leaders plan to vote to break away from Spain. A spokeswoman for the court said judges "ordered the suspension of the plenary that has been called for Monday in the [Catalan] parliament" as the constitutional court hears appeals against it. Catalonian lawyers have said the session would be illegal because it deals with the referendum vote over the weekend, which had already been suspended by the Constitutional Court. WATCH: Catalans Worry About Future as Tensions With Madrid Continue Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy also called on Catalonian authorities to cancel plans to break off from Spain, in order to avoid greater evils. In an interview with Spains official EFE news agency, the prime minister called on Catalonian leaders to return to legality with the affirmation that there will be no unilateral declaration of independence. On Wednesday, regional president Carles Puigdemont called for dialogue between the two sides, but would not renounce plans for secession next week. Spain's Catalonia region, which held an independence referendum Sunday amid a violent crackdown by federal police, could declare independence as early as this week. Puigdemont told the BBC the regional government would act once final vote counts are in. Catalonia authorities said 90 percent of those who voted Sunday wanted to break away from Spain and declare an independent republic. Voters braved sometimes violent attempts by federal police to close polling stations and prevent Catalans from casting ballots in the referendum, which Spain's high court had earlier declared invalid. Local authorities said about 900 people were injured in confrontations with police. The crackdown prompted international criticism and calls for talks between Madrid and the regional government. Labor strikes and protests shut down transportation and businesses across Catalonia on Tuesday, while Spain's king criticized the regional government, saying its "irresponsible behavior" put the stability of Catalonia and all of Spain at risk. At 52 years old, with two grown children, Newton Gunathileka thought he should be working less by this point. Instead he has never worked so hard and earned so little. Gunathileka, from the Sri Lankan village of Periyakulam, in the North Western Puttalam District, is among hundreds of thousands of rural Sri Lankans who have borne the brunt of the worst drought in four decades. He has not seen any substantial rains on his farm in at least a year and has lost two harvests, resulting in a loss of more than 200,000 Sri Lankan rupees ($1,325) and growing debts. He has now abandoned his two acres of rice paddy land and spends his time looking, mainly unsuccessfully, for other work in 40 degree Celsius heat. "There is no work. Everyone, big or small, has lost out to the drought," he said. According to data released in September by the United Nations, there are hundreds of thousands of households like Gunathileka's facing serious food security issues in Sri Lanka. With rice production for 2017 expected to be the lowest in a decade, "over 300,000 households (around 1.2 million people) are estimated to be food insecure, with many households limiting their food intake and in some cases eating just one meal a day," the United Nations update said. The worst affected areas are the North Western, North Central, Northern and South Eastern Provinces that rely heavily on agriculture. The U.N. Office in Colombo said that affected households were in some cases limiting their food intake, which was hampering people's day-to-day lives. Eating their seed Gunathileka, who hails from the North Western Province, said his family was now eating some of the rice that he had put away to use as seed for the next growing season. "For the next month or two we are okay with rice, but we have been limiting eating meat, eggs and vegetables we buy from outside. The other big problem I have is my children's higher education. If we can't get a harvest at least by the end of the year both of them will have to work," he said. His daughter is taking a course in secretarial work while the son is getting ready to sit university entrance exams. The family now survives on about Rs 800 ($5) or less a day, and both Gunathileka and his wife earn cash doing whatever work they can find. The U.N report also said that household debt was rising due to the drought. A World Food Program survey released in August said that debts of surveyed families had risen by 50 percent in the last year. "Households reported that the amount of money owed in formal loans has not increased, indicating that families are turning to informal lenders for credit," the WFP survey said. Gunathileka said that he was thinking of using the deeds to his paddy rice land as collateral and seeking a small loan from local money lenders. "The banks will not lend because I can't show any income. [But] if I don't get to pay back the money lenders, I lose my land," he said. Rain and aid Government officials said they anticipated the island had weathered the worst of the drought, and rains expected in late October would bring more relief. Recent rains have dropped the overall number of people affected by drought from 2.2 million a month ago to 1.7 million now, said G.L. Senadeera, director general of the government Disaster Management Center. He said the government planned to distribute relief food packs worth Rs 5000 ($34) to about 200,000 drought-hit families and provide compensation up to Rs 8500 ($56) per acre for harvest losses this year. The government's drought relief efforts, which began in August and were accelerated in September, officials say, are expected to cost about Rs 2.5 billion (about $16 million), according to the Treasury department. The World Food Programme said in its August report that of 81,000 families surveyed in the 10 worst-hit districts, only 22 percent had access to government relief by early August. For now, Gunathileka and his wife look up to the sky each time they step out looking for work. "All we see are clear skies. All we want to see are dark clouds over the horizon," he said. 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. Students who attended for-profit colleges were twice as likely or more to default on their loans than students who attended public schools, according to a federal study published Thursday. The report by the National Center of Education Statistics looks at students who began their undergraduate education in 2003 and defaulted on at least one loan over the next 12 years. Fifty-two percent of the students who attended for-profit schools defaulted on their loan. Thats compared to 17 percent for those who attended a four-year public institution and 26 percent at community college. The report also finds that the for-profit students defaulted on their federal student loans in greater numbers than their predecessors eight years before. The report comes as Education Secretary Betsy DeVos rewrites rules that had been put in place by the Obama administration to protect students who said they were defrauded by their for-profit colleges. The study also found that this group of students is defaulting on their federal student loans in greater numbers than their predecessors eight years before. Default rate Of the students who started college in 2003, 27 percent had defaulted on at least one loan after 12 years, the study found. For those who started their undergraduate education in 1995, the default rate was 18 percent. The rate of full repayment was 20 percent in the younger group, compared to 24 in the older group. Robert Kelchen, a professor of education at Seton Hall University, suggested that the higher rate among the 2003 freshmen might be due to them entering the labor market at the height of the Great Recession. Default rates were higher for those students who never completed their education, the study said. Degree completion is a key component of a students ability to repay their loan, said Joshua Goodman, a professor of public policy at Harvard University. Simply attending college without completion doesnt really pay off. Among borrowers in the 2003 group, the median amount owed after 12 years was $3,700 for those who earned undergraduate certificates, $11,700 for students getting associates degrees and $13,800 for bachelors degrees or higher. President Donald Trump insists that his Secretary of State Rex Tillerson "never threatened to resign" said labeled a news report about tensions between the two men "Fake News." Trump took to Twitter Thursday morning to criticize and NBC news report that Tillerson was "on the verge" of resigning earlier this year, after months of tensions and reported frustration with the president, and only remained at the urging of Vice President Mike Pence. The NBC News report also said Tillerson had called Trump a "moron" following a meeting with other top officials at the Pentagon in July. On Wednesday, Tillerson refuted suggestions that he was close to stepping down. "To address a few specifics the vice president has never had to persuade me to remain because I have never considered leaving this post," Tillerson said. When asked about if he referred to Trump as a "moron" Wednesday, Tillerson did not deny it. But he said he was not going to deal with "petty" stuff, and instead praised Trump and his foreign policy goals, which he said "break the mold" of what is achievable. At Wednesdays State Department briefing, spokesperson Heather Nauert explicitly denied that Tillerson had called the president a moron, saying he does not use that kind of language. On Capitol Hill Wednesday, Bob Corker, the Republican chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said Tillerson is in a very frustrating position and is not being supported in the way that he should. Corker, who is not running for re-election, said he strongly supports the secretary of state and other Cabinet members. "I think Secretary Tillerson, Secretary Mattis and Chief of Staff Kelly are those people that help separate our country from chaos," he added. The NBC News report and Tillerson's statement comes just days after Trump appeared to undercut his top diplomat, saying Tillerson is "wasting his time" trying to negotiate with North Korea's leader, Kim Jong Un. In a series of tweets the president said: "Save your energy Rex, we'll do what has to be done!" Tillerson, in Beijing on Saturday, had acknowledged the United States has direct diplomatic channels through which to negotiate with Pyongyang about North Koreas continued nuclear and ballistic missile tests. Veteran foreign policy analyst Michael O'Hanlon, with the Brookings Institution, told VOA he thinks Trump's tweets on Tillerson and North Korea are "regrettable." "I think its regrettable that President Trump so directly and tactlessly undercut his secretary of state," O'Hanlon said. "It would have been much wiser, and achieved whatever beneficial effects Trump needed to achieve, to say 'Tillerson has a daunting path ahead, but I wish him well, and North Korea better appreciate that in any negotiation, we will be proceeding from a position of strength with serious and firm demands.' The incident concerning North Korea was the latest in reported tensions between Tillerson and Trump, despite repeated denials from State Department and White House officials. In an August television interview with Fox News Sunday, Tillerson was asked about Trumps much criticized response to deadly violence in Charlottesville, Virginia, following a rally by white supremacists which resulted in clashes with counterprotesters. Trump sparked outrage by initially blaming both sides for the unrest. Lawmakers from Trump's Republican Party and many social commentators accused the president of failing to single out unacceptable racial partisans for condemnation. Tillerson said at first: "I don't believe anyone doubts the American people's values or the commitment of the American government, or the government's agencies to advancing those values and defending those values." When asked specifically about Trumps values, Tillerson replied, "The president speaks for himself," without further explanation. A Tillerson aide later denied that the remark constituted a criticism of Trumps values, but declined to soften the comment. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has warned that his country will close its border with Iraqi Kurdistan as part of new sanctions following an independence vote by Iraqi Kurds earlier this month. The announcement follows Erdogan's visit Wednesday to Tehran. All air spaces will be closed, the flights already are suspended. Who will come? How will you go? Soon, the borders also will be closed. How will you be able to exit and enter?" Erdogan said to a meeting in Ankara. No timetable The Turkish president said the planned new measures would be coordinated with Baghdad and Tehran, but he gave no timetable on their introduction other than saying it would be soon. The Iraqi Kurdish independence referendum earlier this month, in which, Kurds voted more than 92 percent in favor, has been strongly condemned by Baghdad, Ankara and Tehran, all which claim that independence would create regional instability. Ankara also fears Iraqi Kurdish independence would fuel secessionist demands from its own restive Kurdish minority. Erdogan claimed Thursday the Iraqi Kurdish independence was part of a wider conspiracy against his country. This encircling is not just limited to our physical borders, Erdogan said. I am talking about a bigger plot including our territory. We will spoil that plot as we have spoiled others, with Gods will and my nations strength. Ankara fears that Syrian Kurds on its border also have secessionist aspirations. Kurds use Turkish pipeline Erdogan on Thursday, while traveling back from Tehran, said a decision to ban Iraqi Kurdish energy exports would be coordinated with Tehran and Baghdad. Iraqi Kurds export about a half-million barrels of oil daily through a Turkish pipeline to world markets, which provides crucial financial support. If Ankara did close the pipeline, it could cause risk Moscow's displeasure, with a Russian oil company having major investments in Iraqi Kurdistan. But Erdogan appeared to play down such concerns, saying Russian President Vladimir Putin would be happy with an oil export embargo because it would increase oil prices. President Donald Trump is likely to decertify the nuclear deal with Iran and turn it back to Congress for possible renewed sanctions, senior U.S. officials said Thursday. Trump is expected to announce his plans in a speech next week in which he will say the agreement is not in the U.S. national interest, the officials said. This would not scrap the 2015 deal, but instead return it to Congress. Lawmakers would have 60 days to decide whether to reimpose sanctions that were suspended under the agreement. A decertification could also open the door to renegotiate the deal, although Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has said that is not an option. Trump has to announce every 90 days whether Iran is in compliance. His next deadline is October 15. Meeting with his top military aides at the White House Thursday, Trump repeated his assertion that Iran has not lived up to "the spirit of the agreement." "The Iranian regime supports terrorism and exports violence, bloodshed and chaos across the Middle East. That is why we must put an end to Iran's continued aggression and nuclear ambitions," he said White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders did not say Thursday what the president planned to do, other than saying he would "make an announcement about the decision that he's made on a comprehensive strategy that his team supports" in the coming days. Iran signed the agreement with the former Obama administration in 2015, along with Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia. Curb on uranium enrichment The agreement primarily calls on Iran to curb its uranium enrichment program so it can no longer be able to build a nuclear bomb. In exchange, the U.S. and its allies would lift many of the sanctions that have wrecked the Iranian economy. Iran has so far been in compliance with the agreement, but the White House has accused Iran of violating the "spirit" of the deal. Trump has fiercely criticized it as a one-sided deal that gives Iran all the advantages. The administration has also continued to accuse Iran of sponsoring terrorism and calling for Israel's destruction. Mohammad Saleem was born and raised in Myanmar. But at no time in his 30 years of life did the government ever recognize him as a citizen. He finally attained some of that long-awaited recognition in exile with an official identification card issued not by Myanmar, but by the Bangladesh Department of Immigration and Passports. Saleem, a Rohingya Muslim who lived in northern Myanmar, is one of more than half a million members of the minority ethnic group who have fled across the border to Bangladesh since late August after their homes were set ablaze by security forces and Buddhist mobs. Most people in Myanmar see the Rohingya as foreigners, even though most were born there. Bangladeshi authorities are now carrying out the immense task of registering the newly arrived refugees and issuing laminated identification cards that list their name, age, and place of birth. The cards identify the refugees as Myanmar Nationals. Posing for a photograph at a refugee camp in Kutapalong, Saleem said he never had an identity card before. After entering Bangladesh as part of the mass influx on Sept. 26, he was finally issued one on Sunday. The cards are so precious that he said he put those of his wife and daughter around his neck for safekeeping when they went to bathe. I was not happy in Myanmar because they are killing people and destroying everything, Saleem said. That is why I came here. I am happy to be in Bangladesh. The Rohingya have been denied basic rights and freedom of movement in Myanmar for decades. Though members of the long-persecuted minority first arrived generations ago, most were stripped of their citizenship in 1982, rendering them stateless. Shilan Zhao, former wife of fugitive Chinese official Jianjun Qiao, pleaded guilty earlier this year to charges by the U.S. government of conspiring to commit immigration fraud related to the EB5 investor visa program. Zhao agreed to forfeit millions of dollars worth of several properties in the United States and to cooperate with the investigation on Qiao, who is wanted by the Chinese government on corruption charges. Qiao escaped to the U.S. with Chinese public funds. But there are other fugitives from China living in the United States, some connected to Beijings elite, who have so far been outside the reach of Chinese law enforcement. Law enforcement cooperation To try to bridge differences, the two countries hold regular dialogues. In recent months, Washington and Beijing have been working to increase cooperation on law enforcement, repatriations, counter-narcotics, counterterrorism and combating cybercrime. On Wednesday, the U.S. and China held a high-level, bilateral Law Enforcement and Cyber Security Dialogue, one of four such meetings agreed to by President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in April. The high-level talks also addressed disagreements between the two countries with frank discussions on immigration and fugitives. U.S. officials had lodged complaints that Beijing is not making enough effort to repatriate illegal Chinese immigrants staying in the United States. Washington also protested that some Chinese security officials used visitor visas to enter the U.S. while conducting official business or attempting to repatriate Chinese fugitives. Billionaires allegations Meanwhile, Guo Wengui, a Chinese billionaire wanted by Beijing, is scheduled to hold a news conference in Washington Thursday to discuss high-level corruption in Chinas ruling elite. Guo has made allegations of massive corruption within the highest levels of the Communist party. Chinese prosecutors are building a sprawling case against the New York-based real estate tycoon, who is being investigated in at least 19 major criminal cases. Allegations against him include bribing a top Chinese intelligence official, kidnapping, rape, fraud and money laundering. On Twitter, he dismissed the allegations from China, calling the red notice by Interpol suicidal behavior coming from truly corrupt officials who fear I will expose their crimes. Sources told VOA that Beijing is seeking help from the U.S. to repatriate Guo, who is seeking political asylum in the U.S. State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert told VOA she did not know if discussion of Guos case came up in Wednesdays meeting. [Department of] Justice and Homeland Security have the lead on that one, Nauert said. High-level talks Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan, Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Elaine Duke co-chaired Wednesdays dialogue on the U.S. side, with Guo Shengkun, state councilor and minister of public security, on the Chinese side. Nauert said of Wednesdays meeting: Consistent with the results-oriented approach of this administrations policy toward China, the dialogue facilitated forthright and detailed discussions, and resulted in bilateral cooperation on priority issues, including immigration. As Moscows propaganda efforts targeting Americans are under scrutiny by Congress, some lawmakers are pushing for increased support for U.S. government-funded broadcasting in Russia. Lawmakers issued the calls Wednesday during a meeting of the Helsinki Commission, an independent U.S. government agency that monitors democracy and human rights in Europe. A free press is now more important than ever, and absolutely necessary to counter an increasingly bold [Russian President] Vladimir Putin, said Congressman Steve Chabot. The hearing came hours after the Senate Intelligence Committee briefed the public on its ongoing investigation into attempted Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Committee leaders said they havent concluded whether there was collusion between Moscow and officials linked to President Donald Trumps campaign. Goal to create chaos But the senators said there is a consensus among their members and staff that they trust the conclusions of the U.S. intelligence community that Russia sought to influence the 2016 vote. It seems the overall theme of the Russian involvement in the U.S. election was to create chaos at every level, said Committee Chairman Richard Burr, a Republican. U.S. officials believe Russia was behind the hacking of the Democratic National Committee and the email account of John Podesta, the campaign director of former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. They also say Russia exerted influence through state-funded media outlets, such as RT and Sputnik, and Russia-linked content on social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter. Putin hell-bent on destroying media In addition to his efforts to subvert U.S. democracy, Putin is also hell-bent on destroying the independent pressbecause it is a threat to his rule, said Congressman Chabot. To help counter those efforts, Chabot and Congressman Adam Schiff told the Helsinki Commission that the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), which oversees VOA and U.S. other international broadcasters, is essential. A strong, independent free press is a natural obstacle to Putins grand strategy. We must continue to support efforts by the BBG and VOA, the Voice of America, to provide a balanced and comprehensive platform in the region, Chabot said. Increased persecution Journalists in Russia and other post-Soviet states face increasing violence and intimidation, panelists at the commission warned. At least nine journalists have been killed in Russia over the past decade, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), which says nearly all the perpetrators have gone free. Additionally, CPJ has documented at least 13 separate cases over the past eight months in which journalists in Russia have been threatened, physically attacked, or killed in apparent retaliation for their work. Russia has also cracked down on Internet use. During the past year, Moscow has banned virtual private networks (VPNs) that allow users to access banned sites, as well as anonymous use of online messaging services. Moscow ranks 148 out of 180 countries in press freedom, according to the latest annual ranking by Reporters Without Borders. Seven other post-Soviet states appeared in the bottom 20 percent of the rankings. VOA Russian Service It is in this environment that we - the Voice of America - operate, VOA Director Amanda Bennett said. Our mandate from Congress is to bring Americas story to the world, explain U.S. policy, and foster responsible discussion with accurate, objective, and comprehensive journalism. VOA today broadcasts throughout Russia and post-Soviet states in six languages. Its Russian Service first went on the air in 1947. Threats and intimidation are not new for us, but in recent years, we have seen increased harassment by Russian authorities, unexplained bureaucratic delays, and increasingly negative public rhetoric about VOAs journalism, Bennett said. But the problem isnt unique to Russia, warns CPJs Nina Ognianova. She said receding media freedom throughout Europe and in the U.S. has emboldened authoritarian governments in Moscow and other post-Soviet states to crack down on independent media. The U.S. military has confirmed three U.S. service members were killed and two others injured when a joint U.S.-Niger military patrol was attacked Wednesday in southwestern Niger. A U.S. defense official confirmed to VOA Thursday that the soldiers killed in the attack were members of the U.S. Armys special forces, also known as Green Berets. A statement from U.S. Africa Command says one soldier from a "partner nation" also was killed, whom a U.S. official confirmed was a member of the Niger Armed Forces. Emmanuelle Lachaussee, an official at the French embassy in Washington, told VOA that French forces helped evacuate the U.S. soldiers after the assault. No one has claimed responsibility for the attack on the patrol of about 10 U.S. and Nigerien soldiers. AFRICOM says the attack took place about 200 kilometers north of Niger's capital, Niamey, not far from the Niger-Mali border. The United States has about 800 service members in Niger to provide support for the U.S. embassy and counter-terrorism training for government forces battling Islamist militant groups. Joint Staff Director Lieutenant General Kenneth Frank McKenzie, Jr. told reporters at the Pentagon Thursday that America has increased its military presence in Niger in recent years, calling the U.S.-Niger military relationship a very good success story. He cautioned, however, that U.S. troops remain at risk during their missions in the African nation, adding that the troops killed on Wednesday died in combat. Nigeria-based Boko Haram operates in eastern Niger, while Algeria-based al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and pockets of Islamic State fighters operate in the west. AFRICOM said the U.S. personnel were "providing advice and assistance to Nigerien security force counter-terror operations" when the patrol came under hostile fire Wednesday. It said the two wounded soldiers were evacuated in stable condition to Landsthul Regional Medical Center in Germany. The White House said President Donald Trump was briefed on the attack. The United States says it is deeply concerned about authorities in Turkey arresting a local employee of the U.S. consulate in Istanbul. Turkish media reports say the employee, identified by the initials M.T., is accused of attempting to overthrow the constitutional order and Turkeys government, and alleged to have ties to exiled cleric Fethullah Gulen. The U.S. Mission to Turkey said in a statement Thursday it believes the allegations to be wholly without merit. It further objected to the way the case was being handled, expressing concern at what it said were Turkish government sources leaking information and leaving the employee to be tried in the media instead of a court. Turkey accuses Gulen, who lives in the United States, of masterminding a failed coup attempt in 2016. Turkish authorities have since jailed 50,000 people in a crackdown that has also included firing tens of thousands of people from government jobs and shutting down more than 100 media outlets. Gulen has denied the accusations from President Recep Tayyip Erdogans government. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has visited Belarus, emphasizing plans to bolster military ties with the ex-Soviet nation. Speaking at the start of Thursday's talks with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Maduro said that "cooperation in the military sphere has been very successful and we need to expand it." Maduro didn't elaborate and details of military cooperation aren't immediately known. Lukashenko said that Belarus would like to develop cooperation with Venezuela in energy, agriculture and construction. Belarus, Russia's neighbor and ally, has exported wheat, fertilizers and medicines to Venezuela. Maduro's visit to Belarus comes a day after his trip to Russia, where he met with President Vladimir Putin and thanked him for political and diplomatic support. Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen said Wednesday that the Fed is committed to making sure that the regulations it imposes on the nation's community banks are not overly burdensome, noting a proposed rule issued last week to simplify requirements governing how much capital these banks must hold. In remarks to a community banking conference in St. Louis, Yellen said the proposed new rule on capital requirements was the latest effort by regulators to ease burdens on smaller banks. She says the Fed is seeking to increase the number of community banks eligible for less frequent examinations and loosen requirements for property appraisals on commercial real estate transactions. Yellen has defended the tougher regulations imposed following the 2008 banking crisis but has said there is room to ease regulatory burdens on smaller banks. "For community banks, which by and large avoided the risky business practices that contributed to the financial crisis, we have been focused on making sure that much-needed improvements to regulation and supervision are appropriate,'' Yellen told the conference. During last year's election campaign, Donald Trump attacked the Dodd-Frank Act passed by Congress in 2010 to prevent future crises as a disaster that he said had stifled the economy by limiting bank lending. Yellen, however, has said that the major parts of Dodd-Frank have made the financial system safer and should be retained. The Botswana government says President Robert Mugabe's recent attack on its President Ian Khama over the Africa Union (AU) chairperson elections held early this year, are unfortunate and inaccurate. In a statement, Botswana's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Relations, said out of respect for Mugabe's advanced age, it will not comment further on the matter as "it understands that allowances need to be made (due to age)". Mugabe (93) unexpectedly laid into Khama during an official visit to South Africa on Tuesday, accusing the Botswana President of failing his Foreign Affairs and International Relations Minister, Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi, who stood for the AU elections but lost to Chad's Moussa Faki in January. "We worked hard, they worked hard, sweated. They sweated, you sweated, we sweated, but one man did not sweat. He sat at home and expected wonders to happen, but that did not happen. Everybody just said you (Venson-Moitoi), we have not seen your president here, he does not attend meetings. What will happen if we placed the organization (AU) in his hands. She had worked hard and we were sorry that she lost. But we knew in advance that we were trying the impossible one," Mugabe said during a meeting with his South African counterpart, Jacob Zuma. But Botswana, in a statement released through Venson-Moitoi's ministry, said Mugabe's remarks are unfortunate and inaccurate. "The ministry chooses not to comment any further out of respect for President Mugabe's advanced age and as such, understands that allowances need to be made. The Botswana government did not elaborate on allowances. President Khama has over the past few years urged President Mugabe to step down and be replaced by a young leader, who may be capable of revamping the countrys declining economy. Mugabe has dismissed such remarks as wishful thinking. The Zimbabwean ruler is expected to contest the next presidential election at the age of 94. The Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) has urged local people to disregard a message circulating on social media platforms claiming that the ZNA has recommended the suspension of all demonstrations due to heightened political clashes in the ruling Zanu PF party and opposition parties. In a statement signed by the Army Public Relations director, Lieutenant Alphios Makotore, the army said, The ZNA would like to categorically state that it does not communicate its activities and or intentions through social media. The social media article must therefore be discarded and dismissed with the contempt it so deserves. The ZNA noted that the unsigned statement circulating on social media did not originate from the ZNA. The fake statement, widely distributed on Facebook, Twitter and messaging application, WhatsApp, urged Zimbabweans to stop public protests with immediate effect. No one has claimed responsibility for circulating the statement. President Robert Mugabes government recently claimed that some people in Zimbabwe are using social media to circulate messages, which are undermining the countrys economy resulting in price increases and hording of cash. Zimbabwe does not have a law blocking the use of social media like Facebook and other social media platforms. Parliament has already tabled a cyber security bill aimed at blocking the abuse of social media. According to the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services, Samuel Kundishora, the bill is a solution to the growing abuse of social media. Critics claim that it is designed to snoop on citizens using social media for personal, political and business purposes. Support us - Help us upgrade our services! Maintaining our website and our free apps does require, however, considerable time and resources. We're aiming to achieve uninterrupted service wherever an earthquake or volcano eruption unfolds, and your donations can make it happen! Every donation will be highly appreciated. Improved multilanguage support Tsunami alerts Faster responsiveness Design upgrade Detailed quake stats Additional seismic data sources Download and Upgrade the Volcanoes & Earthquakes app to get one of the fastest seismic and volcano alerts online: Android | IOS to get one of the fastest seismic and volcano alerts online: We truly love working to bring you the latest volcano and earthquake data from around the world.We need financing to increase hard- and software capacity as well as support our editor team.If you find the information useful and would like to support our team in integrating further features, write great content, and in upgrading our soft- and hardware, please PayPal or Online credit card payment )., these features have been added recently: A staff member sets the stage before a news conference in September in which Republicans announced their plans for changes to the tax code. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images) Republicans plunged into negotiating the future of popular tax breaks for homeowners and large families Wednesday while moving to shore up party unity around a tax plan that critics fear would raise taxes on some in the middle class and add to the deficit. Top tax writers are working to persuade rank-and-file Republicans to set aside their focus on maintaining tax breaks, such as the ability to deduct state and local taxes, and on dramatically expanding the child-care tax credit so that they can set their sights on the greater goal of passing a package that fulfills the GOP promise of cutting taxes for most people. Theres a lot of fear out there about changing the code, said Rep. Tom Reed (R-N.Y.), a member of the Ways and Means Committee. People are just risk-averse. House Ways and Means Chairman Kevin Brady (R-Tex.) is leading five policy sessions over two weeks, as part of a broader push by GOP tax writers to win over colleagues whose votes will be critical to passing a tax bill by the end of this year. Brady also huddled at a downtown steakhouse Monday night with a small group of GOP lawmakers from high-tax states seeking a compromise on the contentious issue of the proposed elimination of the deduction for state and local taxes. Among options under discussion: giving individual taxpayers a choice of deducting mortgage interest or state and local taxes, but not both, or capping the deductibility of property taxes on high-value homes. Lawmakers have a tricky task ahead to write detailed legislation without alienating members, who will be under intense pressure from constituents and lobbyists to preserve cherished tax breaks. Each detail the lawmakers fill in will crystallize who will win or lose as a result of changes to the tax code and could fracture support for the plan. At particular issue has been the proposed expansion of the child tax credit and whether Republicans should save the widely used deduction for state and local taxes. I think that the sales job of tax reform was botched from the beginning, in that the president was promising everybody a big tax cut and now theyre going down that road and if theres a big tax cut and there are losers, everyone gets upset, said Marc Goldwein, senior policy director at the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. The reality of tax reform is it creates winners and losers, and if we dont want to create any losers, were limited to the tax cuts. One message Republicans have been trying to communicate about the web of changes in the tax plan is that people will gain a much larger standard deduction but that will mean a loss of individual deductions that are an important benefit for a minority of taxpayers. The debate over the state and local tax deduction has emerged as one of the biggest fights ahead. The deduction, taken by most voters who itemize their taxes, is particularly valuable in high-tax states, such as New York, New Jersey, California and Connecticut. If lawmakers attempt a limited repeal of the state and local tax deduction, they could make the tax code even more complicated, have uncertain effects on revenue and also risk the ire of the powerful real estate lobby. Rep. Chris Collins (R-N.Y.) described two of several options that were discussed at the Monday night dinner. One would give individual taxpayers a choice: deduct their mortgage interest or deduct their state and local taxes, but not both. In New York, Collins said, it is not unusual for taxpayers to pay yearly taxes of $20,000 or more on a modest single-family home outstripping their mortgage interest liability. Another option, he said, would be to cap the deductibility of property taxes on high-value homes. Many Republicans from high-tax states such as New York, California and Illinois say theyre comfortable getting rid of a tax break for the rich, especially when the rich are Democrats. Democrats represent the majority of the states and congressional districts where the state and local tax deduction is heavily used. It is bad public policy, said Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.). It is mostly a tax cut for the rich. Im not the party of the rich. Its on the left, and they want to protect it. The real estate industry has slammed the idea of eliminating the state and local tax deduction, and a major lobbying group said that although the idea of giving homeowners an option to choose deductions hasnt been formally proposed, it could result in a tax increase on millions of homeowners. Asking homeowners to choose between the mortgage interest deduction and the state and local deduction they enjoy today is asking them to give up an incentive for homeownership and to suffer a drop on the value of their home, William E. Brown, president of the National Association of Realtors, said in a statement. Such a proposal would also erode much of the simplification thats been promised throughout these discussions. Lawmakers face a similar challenge in deciding how much to expand the widely used child tax credit. Republicans have argued that expanding that credit would be a boon to middle-class families, and a number have rallied around a proposal from Sens. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Mike Lee (R-Utah) to double its value. If lawmakers decide to double the child tax credit and phase it out at higher income levels, it could help shelter large families who would lose the benefit of the personal exemption, worth $4,050 per family member. An analysis of the entire tax plan that assumed the credit would be increased by 50 percent found that it would increase the deficit by $2.4 trillion over a decade, $900 billion more than Senate Republicans have agreed to in their proposed budget resolution. According to Goldweins estimates, doubling the tax credit would add another quarter-trillion to the cost. Leaders are in the process of convincing members they may have to moderate their expectations about expanding the child tax credit. Its something that tremendously helps middle-income families, said Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), a top deputy to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.). Id like to double it, but a lot of it will depend on what we have space for. The challenge is that the pieces of the tax plan fit together differently for each family and taxpayer. Once the details of the plan are known, it will be even clearer who will lose which could help torpedo the whole effort. In an editorial published on Breitbart News, Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) indicated that any plan that raised taxes on anyone would be a non-starter. This isnt about the tax cut being perfect. Its just about it not being a tax HIKE because of some policy wonk goal no one in America is asking for, Paul wrote. Mike DeBonis contributed to this story. Kazuo Ishiguro speaks to the media in the garden of his home in London after being awarded the 2017 Nobel prize in literature. (Neil Hall/Epa-Efe/Rex/Shutterstock) In 2016, the Swedish Academy shocked, delighted and, yes, outraged the world by awarding the Nobel Prize in literature to American musician Bob Dylan. Even Dylan seemed ambivalent about the honor, refusing to acknowledge it for days and then declining to attend the awards ceremony. [Does a musician have any right to win the Nobel Prize in literature?] The academys ways are mysterious, but this years choice British novelist Kazuo Ishiguro certainly looks like a course correction, a return to mean, as it were. Sara Danius, permanent secretary of the academy, said she hoped the committees choice would make the world happy. It has. Very happy. Ishiguro is the traditional "great" writer everybody likes to see win the Nobel Prize. Japanese-born and 62 years old, he's known across the globe for "The Remains of the Day" and "Never Let Me Go," best-selling novels both adapted into well-received movies. He's popular but not pop, liberal but not a wacky communist, mature but not is-he-still-alive? If you belong to a book club, you've read at least one of his books. He is, in other words, the kind of choice that makes us think the Swedes know what theyre doing as when they picked beloved Canadian short-story maestro Alice Munro in 2013, as opposed to when they selected Italian left-wing playwright-provocateur Dario Fo in 1997. But at least one very important person doesnt see anything corrective about the Swedes latest choice. Among those who werent disappointed by Dylans win last year is the new laureate himself. Bob Dylan was my creative hero when I was growing up, Ishiguro said Thursday by phone from London. When he won the Nobel, I was ecstatic. Its an added thrill that I follow directly in his footsteps. Thats not surprising. While some Nobel Prize-winning writers have been known for works of arid intellectuality, Ishiguro is after something else entirely. Im not a message person, he said. Its been important to me that my work works through the emotions. I went into this because I wanted to share emotions with people, rather than intellectual ideas. Yes, I use words, and ideas certainly go in there, but, for me, the reason I want to write novels instead of essays is because I want to say, This is how this one person over here feels and you recognize it. Thats an important thing to do, a simple thing to do, to try to connect with each other. Others reactions to the news have been overwhelmingly positive if surprised. Ishiguro's wife, Lorna MacDougall, saw the announcement first on her phone. "I thought it was fake news," she said from London. "When I got home today, there was the whole world press in our little suburban street." Salman Rushdie, a longtime contender himself for the Nobel Prize, issued a statement: Many congratulations to my old friend Ish, whose work Ive loved and admired ever since I first read A Pale View of Hills. And he plays the guitar and writes songs too! Roll over Bob Dylan. Britain's former poet laureate Andrew Motion told the Guardian, "Ishiguro's imaginative world has the great virtue and value of being simultaneously highly individual and deeply familiar a world of puzzlement, isolation, watchfulness, threat and wonder. How does he do it? Among other means, by resting his stories on founding principles which combine a very fastidious kind of reserve with equally vivid indications of emotional intensity. It's a remarkable and fascinating combination, and wonderful to see it recognized by the Nobel Prize-givers." Im not a message person, says Ishiguro, shown here talking with reporters in London Thursday. Its been important to me that my work works through the emotions. (Neil Hall/Epa-Efe/Rex/Shutterstock) Joyce Carol Oates, a novelist whose name is often mentioned as a possible Nobel winner, tweeted: "Ishiguro very deserving. Beautiful melancholy work. Favorite is 'Never Let Me Go.' " Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Richard Ford commended the academys choice. Im thrilled for Ish to win, and personally for him, as hes an old pal, he wrote via email. Hes the genuine article: uncommonly serious and complex of thought, but not unmirthful, and not sobersided. And hes immensely readable. What else would you want from a Nobel laureate? And, of course, his American publisher is delighted, too. Sonny Mehta, Ishiguros editor at Knopf, said, Ive always thought that Ish is an amazing writer. The breadth of his work as a novelist is astonishing. Weve had the good fortune of being his publisher since The Remains of the Day, a book that readers around the world have come to cherish. This acknowledgment from the Swedish Academy is the most wonderful news. Knopf immediately announced plans to print 200,000 copies of Ishiguros backlist, including 75,000 copies of Never Let Me Go, 50,000 for Remains of the Day and 25,000 for Buried Giant. Ron Charles is the editor of Book World. Rana Javadis Enghelab Street, Tehran, on view at Hillyer Art Space. (Rana Javadi/Hillyer Art Space) In a show titled Urban Mapping, its inevitable that someone would invoke the French idea of the flaneur, whose avocation is simply to walk and experience the city. But the captioned Polaroids in Arash Fayezs Ramblings of a Flaneur dont document Paris. They show Tehran, where public and private have a different significance than in the West. Thats a perplexity hardly addressed in this group show at Hillyer Art Space. Arash Fayezs Passing by Martyr Kaveh in the Dark, from the series Ramblings of the Flaneur, at Hillyer Art Space. (Arash Fayez/Hillyer Art Space) Iranian directors such as Jafar Panahi set their films in public spaces because they cant represent womens domestic lives honestly; censors wont allow the depiction of women as they live at home, free of chadors and such. Urban Mapping was curated by an Iranian woman, photographer Gohar Dashti, yet it doesnt mention this issue. There are relatively few women or men in these photo and video works, which favor wide angles and empty spaces. The most populous images are archival: Rana Javadis street shots of anti-shah protesters in 1978-1979. Headless bodies move in a swimming pool in Siavash Naghshbandis video, seen from beneath the waters surface. People lie on pavement in Raoof Dashtis video, in which humans are an urban capillary system. Another video is a self-portrait of assimilation: Fayez trims his beard to look more American, having rambled to San Francisco. Mehdi Vosoughnia contemplates near-empty lots and courtyards in one of Tehrans oldest neighborhoods; Behnam Sadighi does something similar in a suburban area. Mehran Mohajer looks at the city through a pinhole camera whose long exposures obliterate human presence. Saba Alizadehs Light and Soil. (Saba Alizadeh/Hillyer Art Space) The only artist who considers the public-private divide is Saba Alizadeh, who photographs fabric printed with pictures of people and draped over furniture in front of an open window. Inside and outdoors, individual and society, the home and the world all are tangible in these canny works. They demonstrate that conveying Iranian urbanity requires a special artfulness. You cant get it just by walking around. Urban Mapping: Public Space Through the Lens of Contemporary Iranian Artists On view through Oct. 29 at Hillyer Art Space, 9 Hillyer Ct. 202-338-0325. hillyerartspace.org. Nevermind, Azizam Nowruz, the Iranian new years celebration, is in the spring, but one of its customs is now swimming in the window at Transformer. That goldfish, one of millions bought annually to symbolize life, is the most traditional thing about Nevermind, Azizam, a show by three Iranian American women. Anahita Bradberry contributes neon sculptures. The geometric ones are abstractions; another writes "azizam" (Persian for "sweetheart") in light blue script. Alexandra Delafkaran works in a more venerable medium ceramics. Rather than make functional objects, though, she crafts bulbous shapes akin to root vegetables and human organs. Also included are kaleidoscopic collages by Sheida Soleimani, who fractures pictures of women in standard Iranian garb. That these works mostly reflect the domestic realm is underlined by Delafkarans set of pillows, each imprinted with the shrugging word nevermind. The pillows represent the artists cross-cultural stance one foot in a Tehran sitting room, and the other in an American art-school classroom. Nevermind, Azizam On view through Oct. 14 at Transformer, 1404 P St. NW. 202-483-1102. transformerdc.org. Maggie Michaels Residual: Constructing Magic Skies, on view at G Fine Art. (Dan Steinhilber/Maggie Michael/G Fine Art ) Maggie Michael Everything goes into Maggie Michaels eclectic abstractions, including ink, clay, charcoal, collage, river water and acrylic, spray and house paint as well as literary and art-history references. Metallic rust makes an appearance in Cubes and Pyramids Share the Same Base, the D.C. painters show at G Fine Art. But the striking thing about Michaels most recent works, from a series dubbed Residual, is their spareness. Although thats not unprecedented, the artist is better known for bustling visual dialogues that feature playful gambits such as dried paint nailed to the canvas. This selection includes one example of that, as well as a few pictures whose gestures nearly fill the plane. Yet openness is more common, even in one vertical canvas that includes a plant form (unusual for Michael) and poured red patterns that resemble a circulatory system. Most airy are the two Residuals, stained with rust and clay as well as pigment. Although the pictures are largely flat, their contours and tones invoke abstract steel and iron sculpture. Rather than mash actual pieces of metal into the mix, Michael suggests another art form altogether just with glimmers and residue. Maggie Michael: Cubes and Pyramids Share the Same Base On view through Oct. 14 at G Fine Art, 4718 14th St. NW. 202-462-1601. gfineartdc.com. Sondra N. Arkins Installation Detail, at the American University Museum. (Sondra N. Arkin/American University Museum, Katzen Arts Center) Jefferson Place Gallery and Arkin, Belmar & Early The Jefferson Place Gallery is remembered mostly for its association with the Washington Color School. But many sorts of artists exhibited there during its 18-year run. All of the venues six originators were linked to American University, so that institutions museum is the logical place for Making a Scene, a retrospective of the gallerys first six years. The show features more than two dozen artists, 11 of them founding members of the gallery, which began as a cooperative 60 years ago. There are soft abstractions by D.C. colorists Tom Downing and Howard Mehring, and a picture made by Gene Davis before stripes became his field. But among the other highlights are disparate pieces such as Jack Tworkovs charcoal drawing, Fred Maroons photos of European scenes and Claire Falkensteins chrysalis-like form in welded copper. The array evokes the era but doesnt favor a particular mode. (There's more information at jeffersonplacegallery.com, an in-development website devised by the show's curator, John Anderson, with Day Eight, a local arts nonprofit group.) Detail from Joan Belmars Time/Space. (Joan Belmar/American University Museum, Katzen Arts Center) For an immersion in contemporary D.C. art, Twist Layer Pour divides the museums second floor among three minimalist, site-specific installations. Mary Early fills the tricky area with the curved wall with hundreds of identical segments of yellow wax, neatly arranged on the floor or tied together and suspended vertically. At the other end are Sondra N. Arkins black-wire sculptures, some also dangling; their white backdrops capture the complex shadows cast by the skeletal forms. Between is Joan Belmars exploration of circular forms, some of which wrap a rounded pillar. The off-the-shelf ingredients include LEDs, silver mirror film and clear plastic cups, but they combine into an interplanetary environment. Making a Scene: Jefferson Place Gallery and Twist Layer Pour: Sondra N. Arkin, Joan Belmar, Mary Early On view through Oct. 22 at the American University Museum at the Katzen Arts Center, 4400 Massachusetts Ave. NW. 202-885-1300. american.edu/museum. Jesper Christensen, right, plays Norways King Haakon VII, the king who had to decide to resist or surrender to the Nazis. (Samuel Goldwyn Films/Nordisk Film Production/Newgrange Pictures) Staff writer Norway was pulled into World War II when Germany invaded the previously neutral country on April 9, 1940. But conventional warfare there lasted only two months, until Norway surrendered to the Nazis on June 10. The Kings Choice looks, with a microscope, at those first couple of days of occupation, skirmishing and confusion. No one in this slow-moving Norwegian drama, which has been shortlisted for a 2017 Oscar nomination for best foreign-language film, seems more confused at least initially than Norwegian King Haakon VII (Jesper Christensen) who, as the story begins, is shown to be a slightly befuddled old man with a bad back, playing with his grandchildren. But befuddlement abounds. Theres Col. Birger Ericksen (Erik Hivju), who cant immediately decide whether to fire on the German ships that have slipped, undercover over darkness, into the harbor outside the fort under his command. And then theres German envoy Curt Brauer (Karl Markovics), who keeps arguing for a negotiated settlement despite the clear preference of the military brass for plowing ahead with their battle plans, with or without a treaty. The films title refers to a decision resist or surrender that ultimately falls on Haakon, the figurehead of a constitutional monarchy in which decisions had been traditionally left to the prime minister and his cabinet. For the most part, the film switches back and forth between Haakon, in flight from the advancing Germans with his government, and Brauer back in Oslo, whom Hitler has authorized to pressure the king into concession if he can find him. Set up like a suspense thriller, with on-screen titles that count down the minutes not days or weeks The Kings Choice has the feel of a film that probably played better in its native country. The performances are fine and nuanced, but the stakes seem, for some reason, more theoretical than actual. Vidkun Quisling, the Norwegian officer and politician who eventually ran Norways puppet government under Nazi occupation, and whose last name has become synonymous with traitor, is only mentioned and never seen. That lends The Kings Choice the feeling of a chess game, not a matter of life and death. Unrated. At Landmarks E Street Cinema. Contains some violent war imagery. In Norwegian and German with subtitles. 133 minutes. Scott Kellum, 30, web designer, and Vivian Roussel, 26, front desk manager. (Daniele Seiss/For The Washington Post) New Orleans native Vivian Roussel, 26, a front desk manager at a luxury property, came to the District in 2009 to study at American University and now calls the city home. This friendly and independent gal digs Medieval Times, man buns, gumbo and tall, moderately healthy gentlemen who are fit enough to get me out of a burning building. Enter Scott Kellum, 30, a Web and app designer, who grew up in Northern Virginia but spent much of his young-adult life in New York, where he attended the Parsons School of Design. He digs Hedwig and the Angry Inch, building electric skateboards, and Queen Latifah. Both Scott and Vivian were looking for a reprieve from what Scott calls Tinder hell. Vivian said: Im the worst at swiping, and Im not a great texter. Im much better in person. Its hard to translate my quirky sarcasm via text. Scott, who ended an eight-year relationship in New York in 2015, has very few expectations of dates anymore and refers to app dates as meetings. Scott said he preferred dating in college, when you would see these people who you might date or dated every day, so you are kind of forced into a situation where you are accountable for your actions in a way. You cant just ghost somebody and disappear. He met Vivian at Dupont Circles Mission, a bar and restaurant featuring Mexican fare and margaritas on tap. Scott identifies as demisexual, meaning, as he explained, it takes a little while for me to get to know somebody and actually build an attraction. However, upon meeting Vivian, he was instantly interested. She had really pretty eyes, he said. The feeling was mutual. He had kind eyes, which you dont see in a lot of people, Vivian said. It may seem like a weird thing to say, but eyes are really important. They settled in at a corner table, ordered guac. Vivian was ready to split a pitcher of margs when she found out Scott doesnt drink. It was probably the first sober date Id been on in a very long time, she said. Scott encouraged her to drink whatever she wanted, but she stuck with good old H2O. They shared dating war stories: Scott broke up with a woman who he had thought was woke but frequently used the word retarded. Besides dating a low-key racist, Vivian said her worst date was a guy who didnt pick up on her clear lack of interest and kept trying to make out with her in a movie theater. With Scott, she told me later, she was excited to have a real conversation and talk about comfort levels, political correctness, cultural sensitivity. Meanwhile, Scott, who comes across as quiet at first, said Vivian made me feel really comfortable just being myself. She was pretty open and honest about herself, and I just kind of returned that energy. No awkwardness. I didnt feel like I had to hide any aspects of myself or try to be somebody else to impress her. Over salmon, tacos and more water, they talked about their high school days. Vivian attended an all-girls boarding school and became confident in my awkwardness. Scott talked about being an art nerd in high school and a scene kid. It was cool that he wasnt afraid to tell me that he wore eyeliner in high school, she told me later. Most dudes would have been like, I cant share this information. Its too dark of a past. Vivian also liked that Scott was honest about needing time to feel attracted to someone. Im the same way, she said. It is rare that someone would openly say they dont get excited about people. At the end of the meal, the pair discussed wanting to see the Dupont Underground art exhibit, and thats when Scott smoothly asked for her digits and said they should go. They ended the night with a hug. Vivan thought the date had gone well, until Scotts parting words to her: Lets keep in touch. "I'm thinking, Oh, god. This didn't go well. That sounds so business-y," she said later. Much to her relief, he sent her a nice text later that night. Rate the date Vivian: 4.5 [out of 5]. I don't like to give anyone top marks. I'm kind of a tough critic. A 5 would be a date with Jake Gyllenhaal. Scott: 4.5. It was everything I could hope for in a date ... but there's still more I need to figure out about her. Update Scott and Vivian went out again. Vivian says the vibe was friendship-y. Scott agrees and hopes they keep in touch. Zimbabwes President Robert Mugabe on Wednesday tanked the South African government for giving Zimbabwean nationals employment opportunities. Mugabe who was in official visit in South Africa, said many of Zimbabwe nationals in the country have found incomes through employment. Mugabe acknowledged that some Zimbabweans were in South Africa illegally, and others did bad things. President Jacob Zuma has called for the urgent establishment of a one-stop border post between South Africa and Zimbabwe to avoid unnecessary delays. Note that Zimbabwe has an unemployment rate of more than 85%, according to the countrys umbrella labour body, the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions. Zimbabwe Statistics Agency puts the figure at 11%. Under long-time President Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe has suffered mass unemployment, a collapse of many public services. Zimbabwes economy will grow by 3.7% in 2017, according to the finance minister, despite a public sector wage bill devouring much of the governments expenditure. According to the government, the growth would be boosted by the farming sector, which is forecast to grow by 21.3% this year, along with mining which will grow by 5.1%. Hospital workers carry Malala Yousafzai, 14, after gunmen shot the childrens rights activist in the head in Pakistan in October 2012. (MOHAMMAD REHMAN/AFP/Getty Images) OCT. 9, 2012 On this day, Malala Yousafzai, then 14, was boarding a school bus in Pakistan when a gunman appeared, asked for her by name and shot her in the head. The Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack on the ninth-grader, who had gained international attention in 2009 for documenting Taliban atrocities using a pen name for the BBC's Urdu service. "Many Pakistanis view Yousafzai, who also promoted literacy and peace, as a symbol of hope in a country long beset by violence and despair," The Washington Post's Richard Leiby and Michele Langevine Leiby wrote in a front-page account that appeared the next day. She eventually recovered and continued her activism. At 17, she became the youngest winner of the Nobel Peace Prize. Now 20, she announced in August that she had been accepted at Oxford University. The Justice Department declined to bring charges against Lois Lerner (shown in 2014), a former IRS official caught up in a controversy over the processing of applications for tax-exempt status. (Lauren Victoria Burke/AP) It all seemed to add up. At least it did then. The Internal Revenue Service, according to outraged Republicans and many media accounts at the time, targeted tea party organizations and other conservative nonprofit groups that were seeking tax-exempt status between 2010 and 2012. Critics said the tax agency had subjected the targeted groups to extra scrutiny, questioning and long delays, largely because their names suggested they would be political opponents of the Obama administration and the Democratic Party. The allegations formed one of the best-known scandals of former president Barack Obama's administration and led to months of congressional hearings, official investigations and damning news coverage. Now, it seems, it wasnt so simple. A report released Thursday by the Treasury Department's inspector general for tax matters indicates that the IRS also singled out nearly 150 organizations whose names suggested they were affiliated with liberal organizations. Without specifically characterizing the politics of the groups, the report said the IRS initiated reviews when applicants' names included words such as "occupy," "progressive" and "green energy" between 2004 and 2013. The same Treasury watchdog had said in 2013 that the IRS reviewed about 250 conservative-sounding groups, with names that included words such as "tea party" or "patriot." That report fueled the scandal narrative: "This was a targeting of the president's political enemies, effectively, and lies about it during the election year so that it wasn't discovered until afterwards," Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), the chairman of the House oversight committee, said at the height of the controversy in 2013. The new finding suggests Republicans and the media provided an incomplete or even misleading account of what the IRS was up to when it was reviewing political organizations that sought tax-exempt status. While not of the order of the news media's credulous (and flawed) reporting about supposed weapons of mass destruction in Iraq before the U.S. invasion in 2003, the report offers a check on the prevailing narrative of the time. It may also offer a measure of vindication to Obama, at least according to one of his senior advisers. The Obama administration was often accused of Nixonian wrongdoing, Eric Schultz, the former presidents spokesman and a deputy White House press secretary under him, said Thursday. At some point, I lost track of how many Watergates we had. But we live in an environment where the more hyperbolic your allegation is, the more likely it will get headlines, no matter its veracity. This report substantiates our argument that our White House did not politicize the IRS, but those allegations, A1 material at the time, have lived online for four years and now that the public has moved on, theyre proven false. The original allegations were given broad play by mainstream media outlets, including The Washington Post. In May 2013, it was the subject of thousands of news articles and TV segments. A CNN reporter framed it this way at the time: "The smell of scandal has given this administration, suddenly, the appearance of having been thrown off balance." The story line was perhaps most eagerly embraced by conservative media outlets, which cited it as evidence of corruption by Obama and the IRS. The characterization of one-sided treatment persists; Breitbart News reported last month that the Department of Justice was declining to investigate "IRS suppression of tea party groups" (Breitbart's editor did not return a request for comment). To be sure, the head of the IRS' tax-exempt organizations division, Lois Lerner, contributed to the furor at the time. As the controversy began in early May, Lerner apologized to tea party and conservative groups for unwarranted scrutiny; she also cited the Fifth Amendment and declined to testify before Issa's committee. We were deliberately kept in the dark, said Kurt Bardella, Issas spokesman at the time. If the IRS had said We dont know, it would have been better than saying nothing. Gray areas did emerge during the controversy. In a front-page story in July 2013, the New York Times reported that a "more complicated picture [was] now emerging," based on investigations by Congress and the IRS that showed that liberal groups had been subjected to long delays in approving their applications, too. The Post reported a similar story a few days later. By that time, however, the burst of news coverage of the issue may have done its damage. When the story first gained traction in mid-May, Obama's approval rating in a CNN poll was 53 percent. By mid-June, it had slumped to 45 percent in the same poll, a level it stayed at for many months. The issue might have become part of what Dartmouth political scientist Brendan Nyhan has called the "scandal attention cycle" the rapid surge of attention as reporters race to cover an issue followed by a similar decline as the news media loses interest. "The problem is that it often takes time for the full set of facts to come out," Nyhan has written. "By that time, the story is old news and the more complex or ambiguous details that often emerge are buried or ignored." Indeed, the original claims by Republicans were widely reported "without much investigation," said DeWayne Wickham, dean of the journalism school at Morgan State University and a former columnist for USA Today. News organizations, Wickham said, do too much repeating and not enough reporting. As a result, journalists often use the work of other journalists as the primary source of the news they report. In the case of the IRS story, this problem was compounded by an obsession that a lot news organizations have with proving they are balanced in their coverage of the warring between the political right and left. The lesson journalists can learn is to be much more skeptical of what seems clear-cut, said Lisa Shepard, a media ethics professor at the University of Arkansas. "I've learned from studying the fake-news phenomenon in depth that if something taps into your, 'That's outrageous' button, you need to slow down [and] go deeper into exploring that it might not be true," she said. A pair of moose in Alaskas Denali National Park. Save $500 on land-and-cruise trips there in 2018. (Jessica Matthews/For The Washington Post) The weeks best travel bargains around the globe. Land Book by Nov. 1 and save $100 on any International Culinary Tours trip. The deal applies to food-centric tours in Bali, Italy, Portugal, Burma (also known as Myanmar), Spain and France. For example, with the discount, the 10-day Bali trip costs $1,895 per person double and includes three-star hotel accommodations in Ubud and Seminyak; daily breakfast, seven lunches and six dinners; three cooking classes with market visits; yoga class; several excursions, such as a visit to a coffee and tea plantation, an artisan chocolate factory and the Ubud Monkey Forest; transportation; and taxes. Depart March 31 or April 14. Info: 800-341-8687, internationalculinarytours.com. The four-star Hotel Husafell, near the Langjokull Glacier, has a Northern Lights special in Iceland. The Northern Lights & Krauma Baths deal costs $225 per person double and includes two nights' lodging, with a free Northern Lights wake-up call; daily breakfast; access to the Husafell thermal swimming pool and the new Krauma geothermal nature baths; WiFi; parking; and taxes. Valid through March 1. By comparison, a two-night stay alone starts at nearly $600. Info: hotelhusafell.com/tilbod/northern-lights-krauma-nature-spa. Receive a free fourth night at the Red Frog Beach Island Resort & Spa in Bocas del Toro, Panama. Rates vary by season and accommodations. For example, through Dec. 18, four nights in a one-bedroom villa with a private pool starts at $897, plus $90 in taxes a savings of $329. The Island Nights package also includes airport transfers, one 60-minute massage, two canopy zip line passes, access to the new beach club, two cocktails and WiFi, an added value of about $235. Book at 970-367-4811. Info: www.redfrogbeach.com/island-nights. Sea With John Hall's Alaska, save $500 on Denali Explorer land-and-cruise trips in 2018. The 13-day Alaskan adventure starts at $4,999 per person double (was $5,499) and includes six nights on Alaskan Dream Cruises's Baranof Dream, Celebrity's Millennium or Royal Caribbean's Radiance of the Seas; accommodations in Anchorage, Denali National Park, Talkeetna and Seward; 35 meals; Alaskan land guides; land transportation, including the Alaska Railroad; airport transfers; most gratuities; daily excursions, such as a visit to Wolf's Den Kennel and a Kenai Fjords National Park cruise; and taxes. Book by Jan. 1. Select departures June through September. Info: 800-325-2270, www.kissalaska.com/denali-explorer.html. Book by Oct. 8 and receive cabin upgrades and a $50 shipboard credit per cabin on select Carnival cruises departing through December 2018. For example, an oceanview cabin on the six-night Eastern Caribbean cruise departing Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on Dec. 3 starts at $632 per person double, including tax; upgrade is valued at about $40. Request the Plan a Cruise Month sale. Info: 800-764-7419, www.carnival.com. Air Alaska Airlines is offering sale fares of $138 round trip from Reagan National to Dallas Love Field for travel through Nov. 15. Other airlines are matching, but fare typically starts at $175. Virgin America, which Alaska Airlines acquired last year, operates the flights. Restrictions include a 21-day advance purchase. Book by Monday at www.alaskaair.com. Package Troy Tours is offering a six-night tour of Israel starting at $1,299 per person double. The trip includes round-trip air from Washington Dulles to Tel Aviv; three nights' hotel in Jerusalem, two nights in Acre and one night in Netanya; 12 meals; land transport; guided tours; airport transfers; and taxes. For lowest price, depart Jan. 20 or 27. Priced separately, hotel and airfare alone start at about $1,100. Info: 310-417-3460, www.troytours.com. Carol Sottili, Andrea Sachs Submit travel deals to whatsthedeal@washpost.com . Prices were verified at press time Thursday, but deals sell out and availability is not guaranteed. Some restrictions may apply. Alexandria These were among incidents reported by the Alexandria Police Department. For information, call 703-746-4444 or visit alexandriava.gov. SEXUAL ASSAULTS Ascot Ct., 5500 block, 7:30 p.m. Sept. 25. A sexual assault was reported. King St., 3300 block, 3 p.m. Sept. 21. A sexual assault was reported. An arrest was made. ASSAULTS Braddock Rd. E., 400 block, 7:09 p.m. Sept. 24. An assault was reported. An arrest was made. Braddock Rd. W., 4700 block, 2:47 a.m. Sept. 23. An assault was reported. Bruce St., 3900 block, 4:37 p.m. Sept. 20. An assault was reported. Chambliss St. N., 1000 block, 5:05 a.m. Sept. 24. An assault was reported and property was stolen. An arrest was made. Four Mile Rd., 600 block, 5:26 p.m. Sept. 23. An assault was reported. An arrest was made. Gadsby Pl., 2500 block, 11:11 p.m. Sept. 20. An assault was reported. Glebe Rd., E., unit block, 5:30 p.m. Sept. 22. An assault was reported. Henry St. N., 800 block, 3:40 a.m. Sept. 21. An assault was reported. An arrest was made. King St., 3300 block, 4:21 p.m. Sept. 21. An assault was reported. Mount Vernon Ave., unit block, 6:23 p.m. Sept. 23. An assault was reported. An arrest was made. Pickett St. S., unit block, 4:01 p.m. Sept. 21. An assault was reported. Quantrell Ave., 5800 block, 10:41 p.m. Sept. 21. An assault was reported. Reynolds St. S., 300 block, 10:45 p.m. Sept. 24. An assault was reported. Taney Ave., 5300 block, 5:32 p.m. Sept. 23. An assault was reported. Van Dorn St. S., 900 block, 6:01 p.m. Sept. 18. An assault was reported. Whiting St. S., 100 block, 5:57 p.m. Sept. 24. An assault was reported. Whiting St. S., 300 block, 1:37 a.m. Sept. 24. An assault was reported. An arrest was made. 28th St. S., 3100 block, 8:59 p.m. Sept. 22. An assault was reported. THEFTS/BREAK-INS Commonwealth Ave., 1500 block, 12:10 p.m. Sept. 23. A theft was reported. Commonwealth Ave., 3700 block, 10:58 p.m. Sept. 22. Property was entered. An arrest was made. Dewitt Ave., 2400 block, 11:54 p.m. Sept. 20. Property was stolen. Duke St., 3100 block, 7 p.m. Sept. 24. A theft was reported. Duke St., 4600 block, 6:48 a.m. Sept. 22. A theft was reported. Duke St., 5300 block, 11:54 a.m. Sept. 21. A theft was reported. Edsall Rd., 5700 block, 9:03 p.m. Sept. 25. A theft was reported. Edsall Rd., 6100 block, 3:51 p.m. Sept. 23. A theft was reported. Eisenhower Ave., 2200 block, 1:42 p.m. Sept. 22. A theft was reported. Eisenhower Ave., 4800 block, 10:12 a.m. Sept. 19. A theft was reported. Fayette St. N., 500 block, 5:23 p.m. Sept. 24. A theft was reported. Fort Worth Ave., 3900 block, 6:21 p.m. Sept. 22. A theft was reported. Holmes Run Pkwy., unit block, 10 p.m. Sept. 18. Property was stolen. Imboden St. N., 500 block, 11:14 a.m. Sept. 25. A theft was reported and property was damaged. Jefferson Davis Hwy., 3400 block, 9:05 a.m. Sept. 21. An employee theft was reported. King St., 600 block, 2:05 p.m. Sept. 21. An employee theft was reported. An arrest was made. King St., 3200 block, 9:42 p.m. Sept. 24. Property was entered. An arrest was made. King St., 3600 block, 5:21 p.m. Sept. 21. A theft was reported. Main Line Blvd., unit block, 7:21 p.m. Sept. 23. Property was stolen. Merton Ct., 5800 block, 6:10 a.m. Sept. 22. A theft was reported. An arrest was made. Payne St. N., 600 block, 6:48 p.m. Sept. 22. Property was entered. An arrest was made. Pitt St. N., 800 block, 10:16 p.m. Sept. 22. A theft was reported. Reynolds St. S., 200 block, 3:14 p.m. Sept. 25. A theft was reported. Sanger Ave., 5600 block, 10:05 p.m. Sept. 21. A theft was reported. Seminary Rd., 4600 block, 12:49 p.m. Sept. 21. A theft was reported and property was damaged. Seminary Rd., 4600 block, 5:27 p.m. Sept. 21. A theft was reported. Seminary Rd., 5000 block, 8:45 p.m. Sept. 19. A theft was reported. Swann Ave., 300 block, 10:35 a.m. Sept. 22. A theft was reported. Van Dorn St. S., 100 block, 12:49 a.m. Sept. 24. Property was entered. Van Dorn St. S., 100 block, 6 p.m. Sept. 22. A theft was reported. Van Dorn St. S., 200 block, 8:57 a.m. Sept. 24 A theft was reported. An arrest was made. Washington St. N., 800 block, 2 p.m. Sept. 25. A theft was reported. Whiting St. S., 400 block, 8 a.m. Sept. 21. A theft was reported and property was damaged. Woods Pl., 1000 block, 1:30 p.m. Sept. 22. A theft was reported. Yoakum Pkwy., 200 block, 1:30 p.m. Sept. 24. Property was entered. MOTOR VEHICLE THEFTS Luna Park Dr., 200 block, 12:57 p.m. Sept. 23. A vehicle was stolen. Payne St. N., 500 block, 10:32 p.m. Sept. 24. A vehicle was stolen. VANDALISM Braddock Rd. W., 4500 block, 12:14 p.m. Sept. 24. Property was damaged. Duke St., 5000 block, 2:19 a.m. Sept. 23. Property was damaged. Mount Vernon Ave., 2400 block, 1:30 p.m. Sept. 24. Property was damaged. Reynolds St. S., 400 block, 9:41 a.m. Sept. 21. Property was damaged. Stevenson Ave., 5900 block, 9:51 a.m. Sept. 21. Property was damaged. An arrest was made. Stevenson Ave., 6100 block, 12:05 p.m. Sept. 25. Property was damaged. Arlington These were among incidents reported by the Arlington County Police Department. For information, call 703-558-2222 or visit newsroom.arlingtonva.us. SEXUAL ASSAULTS Wilson Blvd., 5200 block, 1:12 a.m. Sept. 24. A male passenger in a ride share inappropriately touched a female passenger. He got out of the vehicle and fled from the scene. Police canvassed the area with negative results. An investigation is ongoing. ASSAULTS Abingdon St. S., 3000 block. A harassment incident was reported. Courthouse Rd. S., 1200 block, 2:30 to 3:30 a.m. Sept. 26. After a verbal altercation, three male perpetrators assaulted a man, causing lacerations to his face. The man was treated in a hospital. An investigation is ongoing. Fairfax Dr. and N. Randolph St., 12:35 a.m. Sept. 25. An assault was reported. Fern St. S., 1300 block. Threats were reported. Garfield St. N., 1000 block. An assault was reported. Joyce St. S., 1100 block. Threats were reported. Moore St. N., 1800 block. An assault was reported. Ohio St. N., 2400 block. An assault was reported. Pierce St. N., 1500 block, 4:38 p.m. Sept. 24. Two people fought. Randolph St. N., 1000 block, 2:03 a.m. Sept. 23. Two people fought. Scott St. N., 1200 block, 3:46 p.m. Sept. 20. Two people fought. Troy St. N., 1700 block, 5:19 p.m. Sept. 22. An assault was reported. Washington Blvd., 2700 block. An assault was reported. Wilson Blvd. and N. Highland St., 1 a.m. Sept. 23. After a verbal dispute, a man hit a male victim on the head and fled from the area. The victim followed and found the man at an intersection. Another fight occurred, and the victim was struck in the face and suffered a laceration. He was treated at the hospital. An investigation is ongoing. Yorktown Blvd., 5200 block. An assault was reported. 15th St. N., 2000 block, 12:03 a.m. Sept. 21. An assault was reported. 28th St. S., 1400 block. An assault was reported. 31st St. S., 4500 block. An assault was reported. MISSILE TO AN OCCUPIED VEHICLE Interstate I-395 and Washington Blvd., 1:28 p.m. Sept. 22. Following a verbal dispute over vehicles merging lanes, a man threw a cup of coffee at another driver's vehicle. No injuries were reported. An investigation is ongoing. INDECENT EXPOSURE Randolph and N. 17th streets, 4:42 p.m. Sept. 22. A woman observed a man fondling himself inside a vehicle. An Alexandria man, 27, was charged. ROBBERIES Glebe Rd. S., 200 block, 8:56 p.m. Sept. 24. A man robbed a service station of cash, merchandise and gas. An investigation is ongoing. THEFTS/BREAK-INS Army Navy Dr. and S. 28th St. A theft was reported. Campbell Ave., 4200 block. Property was stolen from a vehicle. Carlin Springs Rd. S., 200 block. Property was stolen from a vehicle. Clarendon Blvd., 1500 block. A theft was reported. Columbia Pike, 4900 block. A shoplifting incident was reported. Frederick St. S., 1000 block. Property was entered. George Mason Dr. and S. Frederick St. A theft was reported. Glebe Rd. and N. Pershing Dr., 10 p.m. Sept. 23. A theft was reported. Glebe Rd. N., 700 block. A theft was reported. Glebe Rd. N., 800 block. An employee theft was reported. Glebe Rd. S., 1900 block. Property was stolen from a vehicle. Harrison St. N., 2400 block. Property was stolen from a vehicle. Harrison St. S., 800 block. A theft was reported. Hayes St. S., 1100 block. A theft was reported. Hayes St. S., 1200 block. A theft was reported. Jefferson Davis Hwy., 2000 block. Property was stolen from a vehicle. Joyce St. S., 1100 block. A theft was reported. Lee Hwy., 4700 block, 9:12 a.m. Sept. 20. A customer reported fraudulent activity on a credit card after purchasing gas at this location. Police recovered a skimming device from one of the gas pumps. An investigation is ongoing. Little Falls Rd., 6600 block. Property was stolen from a vehicle. Mckinley Rd., 1700 block. Identity theft was reported. Old Dominion Dr., 4000 block. A theft was reported. Quincy St. N., 1100 block,4:15 p.m. Sept. 22 to 9:20 a.m. Sept. 25. Property was stolen from a business entered by force. An investigation is ongoing. Stafford St. N., 1300 block. A theft was reported. Uhle St. N., 1700 block, 5 p.m. Sept. 12 to 2 p.m. Sept. 19. Property was stolen from a residence. An investigation is ongoing. Wakefield St. S., 900 block. A theft was reported. Washington Blvd., 3000 block, 9:53 p.m. Sept. 25. Property was stolen from a business. An investigation is ongoing. Wilson Blvd., 1200 block. Two thefts were reported. Wilson Blvd., 1500 block. Four thefts were reported. Wilson Blvd., 2200 block, 7:59 p.m. Sept. 23. A shoplifting incident was reported. Wilson Blvd., 2600 block. A theft was reported. Fourth St. N., 3700 block, 10 p.m. Sept. 22. Property was stolen from a vehicle. 10th Rd. N., 3100 block, 11:45 p.m. Sept. 22. Property was stolen from a vehicle. 15th St. S., 800 block. A theft was reported. MOTOR VEHICLE THEFTS Army Navy Dr., 800 block, Sept. 22. A black 2017 Mazda CX-9 was stolen. Jefferson Davis Hwy., 2600 block, Sept. 25. A burgundy Toyota Highlander was stolen. Randolph St. N., 800 block, 1 p.m. Sept. 20. A vehicle was stolen. Randolph St. N., 800 block, Sept. 22. A black 2017 Yamaha Moped was stolen. Fifth St. S., 3700 block, Sept. 21. A white 1988 Acura Legend was stolen. VANDALISM Army Navy Dr., 800 block. A vehicle was damaged. Columbia Pike, 3800 block. A vehicle was damaged. Frederick St. S., 1100 block. Property was damaged. Highland St. N., 1000 block. A vehicle was tampered with. Pershing Dr. N., 2500 block. Graffiti was reported. The outcome of Virginias race for governor, the countrys marquee statewide election this year, will have widespread significance for the states roughly 1.29 million schoolchildren, political observers and education experts say. The governors race matters a whole lot for what public education will look like in Virginia in the days ahead, said Sally Hudson, an assistant professor of public policy, education and economics at the University of Virginia. The contest pits Republican Ed Gillespie, who has received more than $100,000 in donations from the family of U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, against Democrat Ralph Northam, who has accepted at least $465,000 from teachers unions. Gillespie and Northam both want to boost teacher pay Virginia ranks 32nd in the nation in that category support more workforce training and rework the state's Standards of Learning tests, a measure for school accountability and student achievement. But they diverge sharply when it comes to public charter schools and using tax dollars to help parents pay tuition at private schools. Gillespie wants to expand the states charter schools beyond the eight in operation. As a state senator Northam voted against loosening restrictions that govern the establishment of charter schools, and as a candidate for governor he has advocated investing in traditional public schools. The state's current governor, Democrat Terry McAuliffe, vetoed a bill advanced by the Republican-controlled legislature last year that would have permitted the state to create regional charter schools without permission from local school boards. Supporters say charter schools, which are publicly financed but privately run, provide alternatives to underperforming traditional schools. Tightly regulated charter schools, such as the nationwide KIPP network, particularly its schools in Boston, have been relatively successful, Hudson said. Fears surrounding charter schools are driven by the concern that we would get the worst version of them, she added. Critics argue they siphon money from traditional public schools, exacerbate segregation and, in many cases, perform no better. They point to charter schools in Michigan, DeVos's home state, as a cautionary tale. You open the door to further stratification in a public school system that is already very stratified, said Genevieve Siegel-Hawley, an educational leadership professor at Virginia Commonwealth University. The fact that the General Assembly has sent charter bills to McAuliffe on an annual basis and that he has stopped them means that the governors office carries a lot of weight. Research on the impact of vouchers is mixed. A study released earlier this year found that D.C. students enrolled in the only federally funded private-school voucher program in the country fared worse on standardized tests within a year than their counterparts who remained in traditional public schools. An analysis released last week of students enrolled in Florida's private-school voucher program found they were more likely to enroll in college than peers who remained in public school, but many left before earning a degree. FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: Ed Gillespie, Republican gubernatorial candidate left) and Ralph Northam, Democratic candidate. (Bill O'Leary/The Washington Post) [Group that runs D.C. voucher program says Trump administration wants to expand it.] Asked whether Gillespie supports private-school vouchers, campaign spokesman David Abrams did not provide a direct answer. He said Gillespie would support legislation for education savings accounts, such as one proposed by Republican lawmakers last year that would allow parents who remove their children from public schools to receive 90 percent of the state funding that would have been spent on their child. They would be able to use the funds for private-school tuition, tutoring, books and other educational costs. Northam is opposed to that idea and would be a brick wall against any effort to take away resources from our students and put them in the hands of unaccountable, private organizations, according to his spokesman, David Turner. DeVos family donations The Virginia Education Association, which represents 50,000 of the states educators, has loudly endorsed Northam, leveling a television attack ad at Gillespie and sponsoring a website that asserts, Ed Gillespie: Bad for Schools. Bad for Kids. The association says Gillespies plan to cut taxes will reduce funding available for public schools, a charge the Gillespie campaign says is untrue. VEA President Jim Livingston said Gillespie would serve as a conduit for the policies of DeVos, who has been trying unsuccessfully, so far to promote taxpayer-funded private-school vouchers on the federal level. Gillespie has received upward of $100,000 in campaign donations from members of the DeVos family, including her husband, according to information culled by the nonprofit Virginia Public Access Project. A spokesman for the DeVos family noted that Betsy DeVos has not personally donated to Gillespie. Friends, in-laws and others have the right and the freedom to make donations that fit with their own individual philosophical approach, DeVos spokesman John Truscott said in an email. It would be irresponsible for any organization to presume they know the intent of an individuals reason for supporting a candidate. DeVos, a former chair of the Michigan GOP, and her husband, Dick DeVos, heir to the Amway fortune, are longtime donors to local, state and federal Republican campaigns as well as to conservative political action committees and think tanks. Betsy DeVos defended their political giving in a 1997 op-ed in Roll Call in which she said her family was the largest contributor of soft money to the Republican National Committee. I have decided to stop taking offense, she wrote, at the suggestion that we are buying influence. Now I simply concede the point. They are right. We do expect something in return. We expect to foster a conservative governing philosophy consisting of limited government and respect for traditional American virtues. We expect a return on our investment. [DeVos family donated to the senators who voted to confirm her] The Northam campaign has seized on that connection. Gillespie would bring Betsy DeVoss pro-voucher ideology into Virginia classrooms at the expense of our kids, Turner, the Northam spokesman, said in an email. Abrams, Gillespies spokesman, said in an email that the candidate is grateful for the DeVos familys support and is laser focused on policies that ensure every child in Virginia has access to a high quality, safe and student-focused education. He added, National teachers unions oppose innovative reforms that empower parents like Eds plan does, and want a governor who will maintain the education status quo like Lt. Gov. Northam would. Northam has received $320,000 in campaign contributions from the National Education Association and $20,000 from the VEA, according to Virginia Public Access Project. The nations second-largest teachers union, the American Federation of Teachers, has given $125,000 to Northam. Voters: K-12 a top concern Voters recently polled by the Wason Center for Public Policy at Christopher Newport University said improving K-12 public education should be the top concern of the states next governor. That finding was surprising, given that Virginia students generally fare better academically compared with their peers elsewhere. Education received little attention from the candidates at their first two debates. The states fourth- and eighth-graders performed better in reading and in math than the national average, according to the most recent National Assessment of Educational Progress, which has measured student achievement across states for more than two decades. Both candidates have made lofty promises about investing in public education and have vowed to protect school funding. But both have also called for tax cuts that would affect the revenue the state relies on to pay for public services such as education. Gillespie has said he would reduce individual income tax rates by 10 percent and Northam has called for eliminating the 2.5 percent state sales tax on groceries for people with low incomes, as part of a broader tax overhaul. An analysis from the Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis estimated that Gillespie's tax cut would cost $1.4 billion once fully implemented. The candidate has said his plan would include revenue triggers that would base the income-tax cuts on meeting certain state revenue levels. But those triggers, according to the left-leaning think tank, only signal when to implement cuts and do not account for whether they would make fiscal sense. The Commonwealth Institutes examination of Northams plan estimated that it would cost the state $381 million at full implementation. I dont know where . . . they would find the money, said Chris Duncombe, a Commonwealth Institute policy analyst. And I think thats particularly true for the Gillespie campaign. Hudson, the University of Virginia professor, said both candidates offer concrete policy proposals. Much hinges on whether voters believe the candidates will make good on them. A lot of this comes down to trust, she said. Former congresswoman Donna F. Edwards is running to succeed Prince Georges County Executive Rushern L. Baker III (D), who is term-limited and running for Maryland governor. (Astrid Riecken for The Washington Post) Former congresswoman Donna Edwards holds a town hall meeting with labor activists at the headquarters of UFCW Local 400 in Hyattsville on July 19. Union members have tried to draft Edwards to run for Prince Georges County executive. (Astrid Riecken for The Washington Post) Former congresswoman Donna F. Edwards will run for Prince George's county executive, a first foray into local politics for the progressive populist who lost a bid for the U.S. Senate in spring 2016. Grass-roots activists had been pushing Edwards to compete for the 2018 Democratic nomination since April. State Sen. C. Anthony Muse (D) and Prince George's State's Attorney Angela Alsobrooks (D), as well as former Obama administration official Paul Monteiro, are also seeking the Democratic nomination to lead Maryland's second-largest jurisdiction. Edwards made her announcement Thursday on social media. I am an independent decision-maker, Edwards said in a YouTube video. Were going to create a government that is transparent, that is open, that is accessible. That way our county will be more competitive in the region, and the voters, the people who live in Prince Georges County, the businesses that want to operate in the county have confidence that were going to do the right thing. The decision to enter the race comes after months of conversations with family, elected officials, members of the business community and union leaders. There are some people who just want to be elected; Im not one of those people, Edwards said during a recent interview. I want to be county executive because I believe on the ground, in the communities, you can actually do some really great things that will benefit people and will make a difference. Edwards was introduced to local politics nearly two decades ago as a community activist opposed to the original plans for National Harbor in southern Prince Georges County. A lawyer who struggled early in her career with student debt and poverty, she co-founded the National Network to End Domestic Violence before becoming executive director of a foundation that handed out grants to progressive causes. In 2008, Edwards defeated longtime incumbent Rep. Albert R. Wynn (D-Md.) in the Democratic primary and then won his seat in Congress. Edwards, 59, said her background as a community activist, her work in the nonprofit and for-profit sectors, and her time in Congress have provided her with a unique experience that will serve her well as county executive. I believe that I have a history of both service and work that is exactly the breadth of experience and work that a county executive needs, Edwards said. Im not a one-trick pony. The first African American woman elected to Congress from Maryland, she branded herself as an unflinching progressive who brings her perspective as a black woman to political arenas dominated by white men. Donna F. Edwards. (Astrid Riecken for The Washington Post) Edwards had the backing of national groups such as Emilys List and Democracy for America in the 2016 Senate primary. She blamed her loss to then-Rep. Chris Van Hollen on what she called a lack of support for candidates of color from the states Democratic establishment. But some Democrats said they were supporting Van Hollen because they believed Edwards had not provided strong constituent services or logged significant legislative accomplishments while in office. Even as she weighed whether to run for county executive, Edwards continued to speak out on national issues. She appeared on Fox News Sunday this week to discuss issues including the devastation in Puerto Rico, the meaning of Colin Kaepernick taking a knee and infighting among Republican leadership. On the program, she said Kaepernicks actions were meant to draw attention to police brutality and injustices against black Americans. It didnt have to do with dishonoring the flag, disrespecting the country, she said. Addressing a crowded union hall in Landover in July, Edwards spoke about economic development, schools and responsive governance in Prince George's County. She described being stopped at a pharmacy by a woman who said changes to her trash pickup schedule left her garbage can overflowing for days after a family gathering. When elected leadership doesnt understand how people live their lives and provide the basic kinds of services, the little things can start to get on your nerves, Edwards said. If she . . . believes that I can do something about picking up her trash, then she will trust me to do the stuff thats really hard. Edwards, who grew up in a military family, has lived in Prince Georges County for 35 years. Her decision to enter the race, she said, is about being productive and contributory in the place that I call home. County Executive Rushern L. Baker III (D), in office since 2010, is term-limited and running for governor. Among the candidates to succeed him, Muse has spent more than 20 years in Annapolis and lost a race for county executive in 2002. Alsobrooks, the states attorney since 2011, has been building support for years and is running on a three-pronged pledge of safe communities, a strong and vibrant commercial tax base, and quality education. Edwards, who has had strong support from Prince Georges voters in her previous runs for Congress, said she plans to focus her campaign on improving the school system and increasing jobs by growing the economy and capitalizing on the countys technology assets. BETHESDA, MD - An apartment building soars over a parking lot, believed to have been built over an African American cemetery, in Bethesda, Maryland on January 27, 2017. Historians and activists fear that the area's history is literally being paved over by development. (Michael Robinson Chavez/The Washington Post) Negotiations between a Baptist church in Bethesda and a county commission have reached an apparent impasse over a controversial redevelopment project on what is believed to be an historic African American cemetery. The black cemetery is said to be beneath land north and northeast of the Westwood Tower Apartments on Westbard Drive. Since 1997, the county's housing opportunities commission has leased the Westwood Tower property to provide affordable housing. The site is targeted for redevelopment by Regency Centers, a Florida-based company that also owns the Westwood Shopping Center. But leaders from the Macedonia Baptist Church want to see a museum and a memorial on the land commemorating the black community that existed along River Road until the mid-20th century. On Wednesday, roughly a dozen people affiliated with the church protested at a housing commission meeting, hoisting cardboard gravestones and chanting Vote! Vote! Vote! Though the commission designated meeting time for public comments, protesters interrupted the session to ask commissioners to vote to give the church access to the property so it could begin a study of the cemetery. They also asked that the commission vote in favor of the cemeterys taking precedence over plans for future development. The commission repeatedly said it was unable to vote on the issue because it is currently a defendant in a related lawsuit filed in Montgomery County Circuit Court by residents who argue that they would be harmed by the Westbard development plan. We came here because we need the commission to vote, we actually want you to vote, said Marsha Coleman-Adebayo, chair of Macedonias social justice ministry. There will be no vote on this issue while it is in litigation, responded Jackie Simon, chair of the housing commission. In the spring and summer, the housing commission, Macedonia Baptist Church, the county and other involved parties took part in county-sponsored mediation regarding the Westbard property. County Executive Isiah Leggett (D) and Council President Roger Berliner (D-Potomac-Bethesda), had said in March that mediation was necessary "to assist those who believe their ancestors were buried on this site." But negotiations crumbled last month after mediators said the parties could not decide on a date for their third session. Church members argued that mediators unilaterally cancelled the sessions despite the fact that all participants had signed up for one or more offered dates. The mediator decided to call off the mediation without asking anyone, Coleman-Adebayo said. The commissions executive director, Stacy Spann, declined to participate in a third mediation, concerned that issues raised in the first two sessions were not kept confidential and sensitive information ended up in the lawsuit pending in circuit court, according to county officials. Issues alleged in the complaint were very close to what we had discussed in the mediation, said Ramona Bell-Pearson, assistant chief administrative officer in the County Executives Office. The HOC director became very concerned. An attorney from the housing commission would continue to take part in the mediation, said Shauna Sorrells, director of legislative and public affairs for the commission. But church members said they would not participate in a third session unless Spann returned to the table, Bell-Pearson said. Spann agreed to rejoin negotiations at the end of August, according to Sorrells. Yet on Sept. 20, mediators sent an email cancelling future sessions. We have offered numerous dates and times and sent out two polls, but have not been able to come up with a date and time that works for all the key parties to this dispute, the email read. Christopher Page, executive director of the mediation group, said the door is still open for parties to work towards a solution. In mediation, people share their feelings and their values, and sometimes their feelings and values are seen through their lens, Page said. Were trying to get them to see what the other person is saying. The U.S. Consulate in Benghazi is seen in flames on Sept. 11, 2012. (ESAM OMRAN AL-FETORI/Reuters) On a rooftop at a CIA base in Benghazi, Libya, as he bled from his skull, gaping arm and a nearly severed leg, State Department diplomatic security agent David Ubben noted that three lethal mortar rounds had fallen closely clustered. The mortar attack over 45 seconds in September 2012 killed two of his comrades and wounded him. They all seemed to land within meters of each other, in an area the size of maybe that conference table, Ubben, 36, testified, pointing Wednesday to prosecutors eight-seat table at the Washington trial of accused attack ringleader Ahmed Abu Khattala. The tight pattern, he testified, and the timing of the strikes moments after a CIA security contractor team arrived from the airport and took up position on an north-facing wall, suggested a precision attack by well-trained adversaries using targeting equipment. Ubbens dramatic yet clinically calm testimony on the third day of the murder and terrorism conspiracy trial of Abu Khattala, 46, helped lay a cornerstone of the U.S. government case against the Libyan militia leader. He has pleaded not guilty to 18 charges accusing him of leading an attack Sept. 11, 2012 on a U.S. diplomatic compound and, after midnight struck, of an assault Sept. 12 on a CIA annex. In an indictment after Abu Khattala's June 2014 capture in Libya by American commandos and in opening statements Monday, Justice Department prosecutors told jurors that Abu Khattala thought the diplomatic mission was cover for an illegal U.S. intelligence facility in Benghazi, allegedly asking at a meeting in a mosque a year before the attacks, "How can we allow spying among us?" [Thirteen days in the history of the accused leader of the Benghazi attacks] Ubben appeared to serve at least two purpose for prosecutors. Under questioning by Assistant U.S. Attorney Julieanne Himelstein, he proposed a plausible and crucial link between Khattala and the two attacks separated by several hours. He also gave the Washington jury a compelling and sympathetic portrait of human suffering and bravery. It is gruesome to look at, Ubben said offhandedly at one point, lifting a pant cuff to show jurors his leg injury, and raising his hair to show a nearly ear-to-ear scar from skull surgery to repair shrapnel damage that tore across his head. Abu Khattala led a brigade absorbed by the Ansar-Al Sharia militia, a U.S.-designated terrorist group whose immediate public claim of responsibility for the mission attack was confirmed by U.S. investigators. Prosecutors allege it was only after Abu Khattala traveled after midnight to a militia headquarters with maps, charts, computers and other sensitive information looted from the diplomatic site that the secret CIA annex about a mile away came under small-arms fire, at about 12:45 a.m. On Monday, defense lawyers said Abu Khattala came to the mission out of curiosity, was directing traffic to keep bystanders safe and entered only after the fighting was over and Americans had left. Defense attorney Jeffrey D. Robinson reminded jurors that although prosecutors said Abu Khattala masterminded the conspiracy, they acknowledged he was home by the time of the lethal mortar strikes on the annex at 5:45 a.m. You dont go home if you are planning and leading an attack on a C.I.A. annex, Robinson said. In a court filing to U.S. District Judge Christopher R. Casey Cooper, who is presiding over the trial, prosecutors said they plan to introduce evidence that Abu Khattala had access to and was skilled with mortars, and trained at least one of his men who was caught in surveillance video participating in the mission attack in firing mortars. Ubben testified that the map over his desk in a mission office and others like it contained grid coordinates for the CIA post 55J, he said a map the same size and color of rolled-up or folded maps that surveillance video showed a looter carrying out of the office in the attack. But Ubben, under questioning by Robinson, replied that he did not have information about Abu Khattalas activities that night. You dont know anything about what Mr. Khattala did? the attorney said at one point. Thats correct, Ubben said. U.S. Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens and State Department communications aide Sean Patrick Smith died of smoke inhalation in the fiery diplomatic mission, and CIA contractors Tyrone S. Woods and Glen A. Doherty died in the mortar attack on the CIA annex. Speaking in a level, dispassionate tone broken only rarely by deadpan humor, Ubben described recovering the body of Smith from the burning villa andriding in an armored vehicle through a partial roadblock of Libyans on the streets while evacuating to the CIA annex, where he at one point volunteered to relieve the CIA security contractors on the roof. Well, the first mortar exploded . . . I was hit by shrapnel on my left side into my temple, obscuring his vision with blood, said Ubben, a U.S. Army veteran of Iraq. Ive been under mortar fire fairly frequently in my life . . . I heard that whistling sound so I knew we were going to get more. The next mortar hit to his left, silencing the returning fire of Woods and Doherty, who were killed. A third round struck on his right very close. I could feel the heat from the blast. It was intensely painful. A lot of light, Ubben said. Ubben's lower right leg was mostly severed. He tried to apply a tourniquet from his medical kit, but said when he could not perform the two-handed operation, I went and looked at my left arm, and I had a grapefruit-sized chunk taken out above the elbow . . . I thought, Thats great, and noted Im going to need a second tourniquet. With casualties mounting, the Americans evacuated to the Benghazi airport. A powerful colleague carried the 6-foot-4-inch, 220-pound Ubben down a ladder, Ubben testified. He rode to the airport lying in a litter in the back of small SUV whose rear hatch could not be shut because of Ubbens height. The whole route I was sliding out the back. I had to shout at the driver to stomp on the brakes so momentum would move his body toward the front of the small SUV. With my good leg, Ubben said, he braced himself. So theres a little bit of comedy there. Ubben said his condition was stabilized after two weeks at the U.S. military hospital in Landstuhl, Germany, and he spent 15 months undergoing 40 surgeries, including major operations as frequently as every 48 hours. Through the grace of God and because of the excellence of the doctors, nurses and therapists at Walter Reed [National Military Medical Center], and lot of hard work, I was able to save my leg more or less and relearn how to walk and how to run, Ubben said. Theres no normal. Im now a new person . . . But yes, at this point Im able to perform and do my duties at a high level. Montgomery County police charged Nhan V. Bui and three other men with attempted murder for a 1994 triple shooting in Silver Spring, officials said. (NA) Montgomery County police charged four men for involvement in a 1994 shooting in Silver Spring, in which three people were wounded and which may be connected to activity from a criminal street gang that was active in the 1990s, officials said. Authorities charged the men with attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder for the June 21, 1994 shootings in the 8500 block of Piney Branch Road, police said in an statement. Police identified the men as: Phuoc V. Phan, 43, of an unknown address; Hiey Hien Vo, 42, of the 8900 block of Albert Stewart Lane in Silver Spring; Nhan V. Bui, 44, of an unconfirmed address; and Kha Ngoc Do, 43, of the 13100 block of Tamarack Road in Silver Spring. According to police, Bui is currently serving a sentence at a federal prison in Petersburg, Virginia, while Phan and Do were already in the Montgomery County detention center on unrelated charges. Police did not release information about Vos whereabouts. Investigators said the men were associated with the So Koh street gang, which was active in the state in the 1990s. Attempted murder suspect Hiey Hien Vo was one of four men charged by police in a 1994 shooting, police said Wednesday. (Montgomery County Police Dept.) Police said that several members of the gang remain persons of interest in a 1997 double homicide inside Kings Kitchen Chinese Carryout in Silver Spring. Anyone with information in either case is asked to contact investigators at 240-773-5100. The former head of a D.C. charity meant to benefit Vietnam veterans, who embezzled about $150,000 of donations to spend on women he was involved with, was sentenced Thursday to five months in prison. John Thomas Burch, 75, of Alexandria, who pleaded guilty in June to wire fraud, was the president of the National Vietnam Veterans Foundation until last year. U.S. District Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson also ordered Burch to pay a $75,000 forfeiture judgment, U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu and FBI Washington Field Office chief Andrew Vale said in a statement. Burch admitted misappropriating $149,317 of donations marked for veterans family members with young children in poverty between 2012 and 2016. He gave the money to acquaintances with whom he had relationships, and claimed reimbursements for visits to clubs, meals and hotel stays that were not related to the charity. Burch had unilateral control over the NVVFs Emergency Assistance Program, and could pay out $100 to $300 without oversight. The organization disbanded last year. Former congressman William J. Jefferson will go free from prison after a federal judge in Alexandria vacated his convictions on seven of 10 corruption charges and said Jefferson should get a new sentence in what remains of his case. Jefferson, a Democrat from Louisiana, was convicted in 2009 of bribery and fraud and sentenced to 13 years in prison after a long-running FBI investigation into schemes involving African businesses. In a memorable aspect of the case, the government said Jefferson had stashed in his freezer $90,000 in cash that he intended as a foreign bribe. Judge T.S. Ellis III ruled that in light of the Supreme Court's decision last year in the case of former Virginia governor Robert F. McDonnell, not all of Jefferson's behavior rose to the level of public corruption defined by the high court. No one reading this opinion should conclude that Jefferson was innocent of crime; he was not innocent of crime, Ellis wrote in throwing out most charges on which Jefferson had been convicted. Even by McDonnells standard he engaged in and was convicted of some criminal conduct. Jefferson, 70, was found guilty at trial of using his congressional office as a criminal enterprise to enrich himself, soliciting and accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes to support his business ventures in Africa. The former congressman clearly engaged in a conspiracy to bribe foreign officials, Ellis wrote, most famously with the money in his freezer that was intended for the vice president of Nigeria. And the judge said enough evidence was presented at trial to show that Jefferson used his position as a congressman to pressure the U.S. Trade and Development Agency to fund a study of a fertilizer project in Nigeria in exchange for bribes. But other behavior did not include "official acts" as defined by the Supreme Court in the McDonnell case, Ellis ruled, because Jefferson merely set up meetings and expressed support for a high-tech company called iGate looking to break into the Nigerian market. The overwhelming weight of the governments case with respect to the iGate scheme was focused on constituent services and other activities that were not criminal, Ellis wrote. The Supreme Court ruled that McDonnells promotion of a nutritional supplement, which likewise included meetings and expressions of support, were not direct, corrupt uses of his office as governor. While Jefferson did pressure African officials, Ellis said, official acts committed abroad are not covered by the bribery statute. Jefferson already has served more than the five-year term he was handed on the bribery counts, and the rest of his sentence was set to run concurrently on all charges. Jeffersons time served leaves him facing resentencing on one count that still might expose him to extended prison time. But the judge said he should be set free pending a new sentencing hearing set for Dec. 1 because there is no guarantee that he would get a prison term longer than the time he already has served. The judge also gave the government until Oct. 16 to tell him whether federal prosecutors intend to retry Jefferson on the vacated counts and on what legal grounds. Ellis cautioned in a footnote that either side could appeal his order but that a request for a stay pending appeal would probably not be granted. Joshua Stueve, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Virginia, said they are weighing the decision about retrying Jefferson. Robert Trout, who represented Jefferson, said defense attorneys were reviewing the judges order, but we are obviously pleased that Judge Ellis has ordered Mr. Jeffersons immediate release. Jefferson's original sentence was the longest ever imposed on a member of Congress for corruption charges. A Kentucky businessman also went to prison for bribing Jefferson, as did a former congressional aide. Jefferson is one of several politicians to benefit from the Supreme Courts ruling on McDonnell, which has made it significantly more difficult for prosecutors to prove public corruption. Former New York State Assembly speaker Sheldon Silver saw his convictions overturned earlier this year, as did former New York State Senate majority leader Dean Skelos. In both cases, an appeals court ruled that jurors had been given too broad a definition of public corruption. The trial of Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), taking place in New Jersey, is a test of whether prosecutors can win a corruption conviction under the new standard. A relatively unified party base gives Democrat Ralph Northam a clear lead over Republican Ed Gillespie heading into the final month of the Virginia governor's race, according to a new Washington Post-Schar School poll. Northam leads Gillespie by 53 percent to 40 percent among likely voters, with 4 percent supporting Libertarian Cliff Hyra. The advantage is similar to a Post-Schar School poll this spring but larger than in other public polls of likely voters released over the past month, most of which found Northam up by single digits. But the race is still fluid, with a sizable number of likely voters 1 in 4 saying they could change their minds before Nov. 7. Theres a lack of intensity right now, said Mark Rozell, dean of the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University, which co-sponsored the survey. Many fewer people than typically at this stage are paying close attention, and the candidates at this point have really not excited the electorate. . . . A lot can change in the next month. If I were the Northam campaign, I would not feel too comfortable right now. Gillespie could close the gap by consolidating support among Republicans, who historically have been more apt than Democrats to vote in low-turnout, off-year elections. Confederate monuments and illegal immigration have played prominently during the campaign, but voters say they care more about health care, the economy and education. [Read full poll results] While the governors race the nations only competitive statewide contest this year is seen nationally as an important test of electoral politics in the President Trump era, the average Virginian seems uninspired. [For the latest on the governors race, join the Posts Virginia politics Facebook group here] Fewer than 6 in 10 registered voters, 58 percent, say they are following the race closely 10 percentage points lower than a similar point in the 2013 gubernatorial race. Northam is the sitting lieutenant governor and a pediatric neurologist. Gillespie is a longtime GOP operative who led the Republican National Committee and nearly unseated U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D) in 2014. Democrats also have the advantage in the race for state attorney general, where incumbent Mark R. Herring leads Republican challenger John Adams 52 percent to 41 percent among likely voters. Trump and his actions in nearby Washington continue to distract and preoccupy Virginia voters. Roughly 6 in 10 Virginia likely voters disapprove of his performance as president, and more than 8 in 10 Trump detractors support Democrat Northam. But in a positive sign for Gillespie, just over half of all likely voters say Trump is not a factor in their choice. Some 17 percent of voters say they plan to vote to send a message of support for Trump, while 30 percent say they are voting to express disapproval. Those who oppose Trump often do so vehemently. Rita Chavez, a nurse from Northern Virginia, said her dislike of Trump will cause her to vote against the issue that matters most to her. I am pro-life, and I have always voted pro-life, and unfortunately, Im going to have to vote Democratic knowing that theyre pro-choice, Chavez, 45, said. She said that she finds Trump insulting to immigrants and people with disabilities and that any Republican would have to repudiate Trump to win her vote. Nearly 7 in 10 likely voters said they feel that Gillespie supports Trump, a perception that continues to hound his candidacy. While Trump is unpopular in Virginia the only Southern state to vote for Hillary Clinton last fall most Republican likely voters 82 percent approve of Trumps job performance. Gillespie cannot afford to alienate them as he tries to woo independent and moderate voters turned off by the president. That creates a difficult tightrope act to perform, Rozell said. Gillespie is using some of these issues like immigration to drive the conservative vote, which he has not solidified, but he has to expand his support among groups of voters hes not doing well with, particularly women [and] people in the D.C. suburbs and exurbs, where theyre not as conservative. How he pulls this off is his candidacy going forward. Northam has a few factors working in his favor at this stage, according to the survey of 1,121 adults, including 720 likely voters, conducted Sept. 28 through Oct. 2. Among likely voters, a near-unanimous 97 percent of Democrats support Northam, compared with 89 percent of Republicans who back Gillespie. Among independents, 47 percent back Northam, while 40 percent support Gillespie, a margin within the range of sampling error. While Gillespie draws 51 percent of white likely voters compared with 41 percent for Northam and 4 percent for Hyra, the Democrat has a huge edge among African American likely voters with 90 percent support and nonwhites in general, at 80 percent. Women are also a big factor in Northams support, with 58 percent favoring the Democrat compared with 37 percent for Gillespie among likely voters. Male likely voters split 48 percent for Northam and 43 percent for Gillespie. As has been the case in recent years, populous Northern Virginia is leaning heavily toward the Democrat. Northam garners 61 percent of voters in the D.C. suburbs and 55 percent in the exurbs, compared with 35 percent for Gillespie around D.C. and 33 percent in the exurbs, where Hyra peaks at 8 percent. Gillespie has a big edge in the rural, southwest portion of the state, with 53 percent to Northams 37 percent. But Northam has a comfortable margin in Hampton Roads and the Richmond area. Gillespie, who has proposed an across-the-board 10 percent cut to Virginias income tax, leads Northam by 58 percent to 36 percent among likely voters who say the economy is most important in their choice. Scott Parker, a 49-year-old owner of a construction business, said Gillespie represents capitalism at its finest and would be the best governor to support the private sector. But the Hanover County resident said that business has been picking up in the past year and that he thinks the economy is doing fine. I dont think [Gov. Terry] McAuliffe has ruined anything, but I just think it can be better, said Parker, who is drawn to Gillespies promise of income tax cuts. Elizabeth Rodgers said she prefers Gillespie because of his focus on Virginias economy and public safety. Northam seems like a nice guy but should stick to medicine, she said. She considers herself an independent, but she liked Trump and wants her governor to support him, too. Trump is president; its important to support him, said Rodgers, a Norfolk resident in her early 50s. Northam is strongest among health care-focused voters, garnering 73 percent support, as well as those focused on education, 72 percent of whom support him. Among all registered voters, 28 percent said health care is the most important issue that affects their vote, while a similar 26 percent chose the economy and 19 percent named education. Gillespies campaign has focused heavily on undocumented immigrants, highlighting crimes by the MS-13 gang and criticizing Northam for opposing a measure to ban the establisment of sanctuary cities, localities where local police would not enforce federal immigration laws. Yet just 10 percent of likely voters say illegal immigration is their top concern and Virginia does not have any sanctuary cities. [Gillespie tries to tie Northam to MS-13 in ad; Democrats compare it to Willie Horton] More broadly, a 59 percent majority of registered voters say illegal immigration is not a problem in their part of Virginia, a flip from 2007, when 53 percent of voters said it was. Gillespies position on abortion he wants the procedure banned with certain exceptions appears to be a liability, as well. A 55 percent majority opposes a ban on abortions except in cases of incest, rape or to save a pregnant womans life, while 37 percent support it. Among the majority who oppose this restriction, about 7 in 10 likely voters support Northam. On another contentious issue, the Post-Schar School poll finds that a 57 percent majority of registered voters think Confederate monuments should be kept on government property, while 31 percent want them removed. After a violent clash in August led by white supremacists around a Confederate statue in Charlottesville, Northam called for the statues removal. He later said the decision should be left to localities. Gillespie has said the statues should remain but historical context be added. [In the former capital of the Confederacy, debate over statues is personal and painful] Travis Farmer, 46, a taxi driver in Harrisonburg, said he felt disconnected from the race but would vote for Northam. In addition to the economy and education, hes concerned about police violence against African Americans and feels the Democrats are more sensitive to that. Northam has an edge over Gillespie in personal popularity. By 44 percent to 28 percent, more registered voters have a favorable than unfavorable impression of him, while voters are split on Gillespie 38 percent favorable and 37 percent unfavorable. Both men lack widespread enthusiasm among their supporters. Democrats appear to have an edge on engagement this year. A 67 percent majority of Democratic registered voters say they are absolutely certain to vote or have already cast an absentee ballot, compared with 57 percent of Republicans. This dynamic, along with greater levels of past election turnout, is one reason Northams 10-point advantage with registered voters stands at 13 points among likely voters. In the June primary election, Democratic voters outnumbered Republicans by a roughly 3-to-2 margin. The Post-Schar School poll was conducted Sept. 28 through Oct. 2 among a random sample of 1,121 Virginia adults. The margin of sampling error is plus or minus 3.5 percentage points among the sample of 1,000 registered voters and 4.5 points among the sample of 720 likely voters. For vote choice questions, an eight-point difference between candidates is the threshold for statistical significance. Fenit Nirappil and Emily Guskin contributed to this report. Virginia Democrat Danica Roem launched a TV ad campaign Thursday thats meant to overwhelm longtime Republican incumbent Del. Robert G. Marshall with media exposure not normally seen in a local state election. In the ad, which is airing on CNN and a few other cable channels with audiences in the 13th District, Roem stakes a claim in a fight against plans by Dominion Energy to run power lines through the Haymarket area a battle that Marshall has helped lead. When Dominion wouldnt tell us who owned the Haymarket data center, I didnt stop until the truth came out, Roem says in the ad, which points viewers to a 2014 article Roem wrote for the Gainesville Times, where she worked as a reporter. That story first revealed that the power line project is linked to a computer data center owned by a subsidiary of Amazon. The ad is the first of several planned by Roems campaign to air on TV through the November election, revealing the spending power she has accrued in her bid to become the first openly transgender person to win elected office in Virginia. Roems campaign said the total cost of the first ad buy was not finalized, but the candidate said more than $100,000 worth of air time had been reserved. Roems candidacy has drawn national attention and donors because she has a chance to make Virginia electoral history. Another ad, which has been posted on YouTube but has not yet aired on television, highlights Roem's transgender status, in what she said was meant as a positive message for transgender teens. It was was produced in reaction to Marshall's insistence on referring to her as a male. So far, Roem has been able to control a large part of the narrative in her race with Marshall by outraising the 13-term incumbent 5 to 1, pulling in nearly $374,000. Marshall, who has refused to debate Roem, has nonetheless balked at her message, calling the Democrat disingenuous and pointing out that most of Roem's money has come from outside Virginia, mainly from LGBT groups. Roem's new ad, titled "Beat," attacks one of Marshall's strengths with voters in the Haymarket and Gainesville area, where Dominion plans to construct a 5.1-mile power line route near a computer data center owned by a subsidiary of Amazon, whose founder and chief executive, Jeffrey P. Bezos, owns The Washington Post. Marshall has played a leading role in that fight, introducing legislation in recent years that either sought to restrict where utility companies can build power lines or where data centers can be constructed. None of those bills have gone anywhere, however. Roem has mostly stayed out of that fight as a candidate. But she donated $1,000 from her campaign to the Coalition to Protect Prince William County to help in that groups legal challenge of the power line project. Marshall said the TV ad gives the false impression that Roem has done more on the issue, saying she has not attended any meetings about the power lines as an activist or candidate. View Graphic The latest stories and details on the 2017 Virginia general election and race for governor. For Danica to claim some affinity or interest or caring at all about this issue is specious, Marshall said. Danica wants to claim this personal sweat equity in the process, and there is none. Roem said the main purpose of the Beat ad is to show voters that she is intimately familiar with the areas problems after working for more than nine years as a local reporter, writing what she said are more than 2,500 articles over that time. Now, Im running for delegate to bring a reporters eye to Richmond, Roem said in the ad. The political arm of the Northern Virginia Technology Council declined to endorse in the governors race, after supporting the Republican nominee in every gubernatorial contest since it was formed in 2002. The decision to remain neutral is a particular setback for GOP nominee Ed Gillespie as he seeks to consolidate support from the business community. He faces Democrat Ralph Northam, the sitting lieutenant governor, on Nov. 7. The influential business group also increased its threshold for endorsements this year, requiring support from two-thirds of the 25-member board of trustees instead of a simple majority. That change followed a raucous 2013 cycle when allies of then-Democratic candidate Terry McAuliffe tried to pressure the group to drop its endorsement of Republican Ken Cuccinelli. But this year, the council said it was content with either gubernatorial candidate. FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: Ed Gillespie, Republican gubernatorial candidate left) and Ralph Northam, Democratic candidate. (Bill O'Leary/The Washington Post) We believe that both of these candidates would substantially advance our regional and statewide technology economy and our global competitiveness, NVTC TechPAC Chairman Jeff Novak said in a news release. [Interested in Virginias governors race? Follow on our Facebook group] A spokeswoman for the group declined to make Novak, or any other person involved in the endorsement, available for an interview. The organization is endorsing Attorney General Mark Herring (D) in his re-election bid, re-enforcing its support for his candidacy four years ago. The council represents about 1,000 companies employing 300,000 in the Washington region. Gillespie has attracted support from other business groups, including the Virginia chapter of the National Federation of Independent Businesses as well as the political arm of the influential Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce, which backed McAuliffe in 2013. A Washington Post poll released Thursday found Northam had a 13-point lead, but the race is still fluid because one in four voters say they may change their mind and many haven't tuned in. View Graphic The latest stories and details on the 2017 Virginia general election and race for governor. Gillespie has made cutting taxes and reducing business regulation central to his campaign. Northam supports state funding for workforce training and free community college for certain high-demand fields. Both campaigns sought to put a positive spin on the technology councils non-endorsement. The Virginia business community knows Ed will be a governor who will restore the Commonwealths rightful place as one of the best states in the nation to start and grow a business, said Gillespie spokesman Dave Abrams. Im proud to have been a strong partner with NVTC for the last decade, Northam said in a statement. They understand the importance of diversifying Virginias economy and investing in education to make sure we have the skilled workforce for the future. HOUSE REPUBLICANS have said they might be open to legislation that would ban the type of firearm accessory that enabled the Las Vegas killer to fire his semiautomatic rifles as rapidly as machine guns. Given Congresss decades-long refusal to adopt any type of gun control, any step in the right direction probably should be encouraged. But lawmakers are kidding themselves and not serving the public interest if they think this gesture is enough to stem the weapons that make the United States an outlier for gun violence. The revelation that the man responsible for Sunday's massacre of at least 58 people used "bump stocks" to transform his weapons prompted Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) to revive a push to ban the devices. House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) both said Thursday that lawmakers will consider the measure. Even the National Rifle Association acknowledged the devices should be subject to regulation. Automatic weapons are illegal or heavily restricted, so how does it make sense to allow a device the main purpose of which is to circumvent those rules? But an even better question is why focus solely on bump stocks "a goofy little doodad," in the words of a former firearms official while ignoring the danger posed when people are allowed to purchase and possess assault-style weapons that were designed for war, with the capacity to kill in large numbers. Citing the rising number of mass shootings as a "serious public health issue," the American College of Physicians on Monday called for a ban on automatic and semiautomatic weapons. Little wonder that doctors would be opposed to these weapons; they know better than anyone the devastation to human flesh and bones. "If you're struck in the liver with an AR-15, it would be like dropping a watermelon onto the cement. It just is disintegrated," Denver Health trauma surgeon Ernest E. Moore told Post reporters who interviewed Las Vegas medical personnel who were rattled by battlefield-type wounds. Its little wonder that assault-style rifles have emerged as a weapon of choice for mass shooters. Not only are they capable of firing many rounds of ammunition in a relatively short period of time, but a shooter doesnt have to be particularly adept to do great damage. Semiautomatic guns were used in the slaughter of schoolchildren at Sandy Hook Elementary School, at the cinema in Aurora, Colo., and at Orlandos Pulse nightclub. Assault weapons were outlawed in 1994, but the ban expired in 2004, and Congress opted not to renew it. That Ms. Feinstein narrowly tailored her bill to something even the national gun lobby wont oppose suggests there is still not the political will to get these weapons off the streets or to explore other possible solutions. When House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) was asked if the bill banning bump stocks might be a slippery slope toward other gun restrictions, she answered, I certainly hope so. To which we say, amen. Karl Denzer is an executive at a financial services company and frequent traveler to Japan. It was fall in Tokyo, and Saki Arai needed a gun. Saki manages the Bistro Hibino and wanted to hunt wild game for her farm-to-table restaurant. If Saki lived in, say, Tulsa, instead of Tokyo, getting a gun would have been almost as simple as buying a gallon of milk. She would visit one of the 20 licensed firearm dealers in the area, present her driver's license, fill out a couple of forms and leave the store with her gun. In Japan, however, obtaining a firearm isn't so easy. Sakis first step was to attend a one-day training session organized by the Tokyo police, held once a month for those interested in acquiring a gun license. On a crisp September day, Saki and her husband, Tak, took off work to attend the beginner class, which started promptly at 9 a.m. Throughout the course of the day, the officer in charge outlined the steps they would need to follow and the responsibilities of owning a gun. The couple paid 6,800 yen about $60 for the session and were provided with several books to review for a test they had to complete that afternoon. After they finished the class and passed the exam, they were instructed to contact their local police prefecture to apply for training at a licensed shooting range. They prepared the items they would need for their application; a certificate of residency, photo identification, a list of past jobs and addresses. Saki and Tak were required to visit a mental-health professional to be assessed for competency to own a firearm. When they completed the interview, they received a certificate. Next, Saki and Tak visited their neighborhood police station, where they were directed to an officer sitting up straight in his chair in a crisp blue suit. He invited them to sit and asked them several questions. Why do you want a gun? Where do you live and what do you do for a living? Do any of your relatives have mental-health issues? Each answer was carefully documented, and one hour after arriving, they left the station. In the days that followed, their application was checked against police databases a process similar to our national background check and subsequently they were notified they were approved to move to the next step, a training session at the Narita Shooting Range, about 90 minutes by car from Saki and Taks apartment. When they arrived, they were served tea and told what to expect from their day: a classroom overview followed by a written exam covering gun safety, training on the range and a target session. After an hour of instruction and the exam, they headed to the range to practice. Both Saki and Tak passed the exam. Over the next few days, a policeman made an unannounced visit to Taks office, where he conducted separate interviews with two employees. He also went to Sakis restaurant and visited several of their neighbors, whom he asked questions such as Do you ever hear screaming voices from their apartment? The officers who handle these interviews have wide discretion to deny an application to anyone they deem high-risk. Their decision is final. Saki and Tak are both responsible, law-abiding people, and it was not a surprise when they received notice that they could move to the next step selecting a gun and making a formal submission to the National Police Agency. They collected and mailed in all of the necessary documents. In just under two months, they received their temporary license, required by gun shops to complete a sale. At the Shibuya Juho-ten (Royal Gun Shop), near Shibuya metro station, they each picked out an $800 Remington shotgun; however, they were not yet allowed to take them home the shop was required to hold them until their official license was issued. With a letter from the shop, they went back to their prefecture police station a few days later to make their final application and receive their license. It was now January, winter in Tokyo. Four months after starting their process, they joined the small number of Japanese citizens who own guns. After obtaining hunting permits, Saki and Tak packed up their Remingtons, bird calls and waders and embarked on trips to Ibaraki prefecture, a popular duck-hunting spot about three hours away. The ducks they shot were given to Sakis chefs, who served them with fresh maitake mushrooms. They now can hunt freely, but they are still bound by firearm regulations. For example, each time they visit a gun shop to purchase shotgun shells, they need to present their license. The store uses this to record how much ammunition they buy. They are also required to log these purchases in their bullet-tracking book, along with a record of each time they fire. They had to take their guns for inspection at their police prefecture after three months to ensure that there have not been any modifications made without authorization. They also underwent an unannounced home inspection to assess how they store their guns and ammunition. The requirements for storage include keeping the guns and bullets in separate rooms and providing for wall-mounted lockers. While lengthy and complex by U.S. standards, the entirety of the process Saki and Tak went through is designed to manage the risks inherent in firearms. There is no question that Japan's approach places a burden on those who wish to bear arms, but it also limits the ability of someone who is dangerous to get a gun. It's hard to argue with the results: In 2015, there were more than 13,000 non-suicide gun deaths in the United States; in Japan, there was only one. Japan is the second-largest developed economy in the world and has brought us many innovations, including bullet trains, Pokemon and Blu-ray discs. Maybe one innovation we have overlooked is what it can teach us about a truly well-regulated firearm market. Columnist Amazon, which has made this city the epicenter of a retailing revolution, is not the Northwest's only commercial disrupter. In the nearby city of Everett, Liberty Ziska and some other bikini baristas, giving new meaning to coffee as a stimulant, have provoked the City Council to pass, unanimously, ordinances requiring baristas to be less nearly naked when they work. The baristas, in turn, have hired a lawyer and made an argument that is germane to current disputes about freedom of speech. Their argument, they might be surprised to learn, is Aristotelian. Sort of. Everett has not succumbed to Pecksniffian Comstockery: The police chief and city attorney allege that bikini barista stands attract a clientele that sometimes behaves badly, and that some of the baristas do, too. The city reports "a proliferation of crimes of a sexual nature occurring at bikini barista stands," which it primly suggests has something to do with "the minimalistic nature of the clothing worn by baristas." Seattle's ABC affiliate reports that "in 2014, the owner of Java Juggs pleaded guilty to running a brothel out of several stands." Henceforth the baristas must wear at least shorts and tank tops. The new dress code cannot be faulted for vagueness. Indeed, it has notable specificity (it mentions the "bottom one-half of the anal cleft" and is even more detailed about breasts) that has the baristas incensed about the examinations and anatomical measurements that law enforcement might require. What makes this a matter of more than mere ribaldry is that the baristas have unlimbered heavy constitutional artillery. They fire it in ways pertinent to the manner in which freedom of speech is debated and defended or not where it is most important and most besieged: on campuses. The baristas say: The ordinances banning bikinis violate the First Amendment because they are content-based and viewpoint-based restrictions that impermissibly burden and chill their freedom to convey their messages of female empowerment, positive body image and other things. Their bikinis are a branding message communicating approachability and friendliness. The ordinances regulate only speech common and fundamental at bikini barista stands, targeting them because Everett does not agree with their message and restricting channels of communication. Ziska says that if clothing covers the tattoos on her legs, arms, wrists, back, neck and hips, she cannot have such interesting conversations with customers. Brittany Giazzi and Leah Humphrey argue similarly about their piercings and scars, respectively. Never mind the baristas further barrage of allegations in their everything-but-the-kitchen-sink complaint e.g., that the ordinances are an equal-protection violation because they target women (a protected class) and do not burden men. Instead, note how strenuously, even imaginatively, Ziska and her co-workers strain to argue teleologically. In recent lectures at Georgetown and American universities in Washington, Greg Weiner, an Assumption College political philosopher and frequent contributor to the Library of Law and Liberty website, urged participants in the campus arguments to reason as Aristotle did. That is, to be less deontological (rights-based in their advocacy) and more teleological (ends-based). To argue deontologically is to treat speech as an autonomous good, regardless of its moral or social purpose, if it has one. To argue teleologically is to stress why for what purpose we should value speech. Aristotle here he was not the baristas' ally defined human beings as language -using creatures, which makes the expressive value of tattoos, piercings, body parts, etc., less than fundamental. The Supreme Court's First Amendment jurisprudence, Weiner notes, has generally accorded the most robust protection to speech , and speech that is political, broadly defined concerned with securing the goods of self-government. The fundamental purpose (telos), although not the only purpose, of the right to free speech is to protect a panoply of other rights. So, the First Amendment rightly protects not just speech but also expression, and a free society should give generous protection even to expressions that serve no public purpose but just make the expressing people happy. But speech about the pursuit of truth, justice and other important public matters the sort of speech central to academic institutions merits more rigorous protection than the baristas right to display, among much else, their tattoos, piercings and scars. Everett should have some latitude to balance other public goods against the expressive pleasure and even commercial advantages that Liberty Ziska and her colleagues derive from sartorial minimalism. Universities should protect almost absolute freedom for arguments about politics, classically and properly defined broadly as the subject of how we should live. Read more from George F. Will's archive or follow him on Facebook. Editorial page editor, 2000-2021 The Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded three times to people imprisoned or under house arrest. On Friday, the Nobel committee should add a fourth: Liu Xia. Not that the prize has brought great good fortune. Only one of the three, in fact, lived to enjoy any measure of freedom: Burmas Aung San Suu Kyi. She won the prize in 1991 but was confined by her Southeast Asian nations military junta to house arrest for most of the next two decades, before finally entering a power-sharing arrangement with her former captors. The first imprisoned winner was Carl von Ossietzky, a German journalist and critic of the Nazi government who was awarded the prize in 1936. Adolf Hilter was so angry that he declared no German would ever accept a Nobel Prize. Hitler would not allow von Ossietzky to travel to Norway to accept the prize, and the Norwegian royal family, fearful of angering the dictator, also stayed away from the ceremony. Von Ossietzky died in a prison hospital in May 1938. His story resonates eerily with that of the third captive winner, Liu Xiaobo. China's regime also was furious that the Nobel committee dared recognize this brave and humane campaigner for democracy. Liu Xiaobo, who was awarded the prize in 2010, also died in a hospital, also never having regained his freedom. At the time of his death, less than three months ago, he was 61 years old. Which is where his wife, Liu Xia, comes in or should. Liu Xiaobo won the prize "for his long and nonviolent struggle for fundamental human rights in China." He fought, always peacefully, for a more democratic China that would follow its own constitution. That was more than China's bullying Communist rulers could stand. He was sentenced to 11 years in prison "for the crime of speaking," as the Nobel website says. And even when he was seriously ailing and desperate for treatment in a Western hospital, the regime still would not let him go. Through Liu Xiaobo's years of confinement, Liu Xia paid a heavy price. Though she was never charged with a crime, she was held under a suffocating house arrest, preventing her from almost all communication with the outside world. Once, as she left a courthouse in 2013 where her brother was on trial, she managed to shout to reporters, "I am not free. If they tell you I'm free, tell them I'm not free." Even with her husband's death, she was not freed. Mourning for her husband took place under strict surveillance. Afterward, an American lawyer pressing her case, Jared Genser, called the "cruelty that has been heaped on" her "astonishing and extraordinary." There is no basis in law in China for her detention, and she desperately needs the worlds help to be freed, Genser said then. Liu Xia, as Human Rights Watch noted recently, is a courageous figure in her own right, a photographer and a poet as well as her husband's artistic collaborator and defender. "I am not a vassal of Liu Xiaobo," she wrote in 2009. In the Nobel acceptance speech that he was never permitted to deliver, Liu Xiaobo said he still believed in "the advent of a future free China." For there is no force that can put an end to the human quest for freedom, and China will in the end become a nation ruled by law, where human rights reign supreme, he said. But his most passionate words were reserved for Liu Xia and her selfless commitment. Your love is the sunlight that leaps over high walls and penetrates the iron bars of my prison window, stroking every inch of my skin, warming every cell of my body, allowing me to always keep peace, openness, and brightness in my heart, and filling every minute of my time in prison with meaning, he wrote. Chinas Communist rulers thumbed their nose at the Nobel Peace Prize, ostensibly the worlds most prestigious honor and got away with it. Given Chinas growing economic clout, and the regimes willingness to use that clout for foreign-policy ends, fewer and fewer governments will make any fuss, no matter how China abuses its own citizens. What better way for the Nobel committee to defend the values that both Liu Xiaobo and Liu Xia stand for than to award her the prize that he was never permitted to accept? Read more from Fred Hiatt's archive, follow him on Twitter or subscribe to his updates on Facebook. THANKS TO the unanimous counsel of his national security team, President Trump appears to be edging away from his long-standing threat to junk the international accord that limits Irans nuclear program. But it seems likely that he will embark on a dangerous and pointless game of brinkmanship with Tehran by refusing to recertify the deal to Congress. Such a declaration would be manifestly dishonest, and it could trigger a process that could cause the agreement to unravel. But it would spare the president from a duty he finds loathsome: certifying every 90 days that President Barack Obamas signature foreign policy achievement is intact. The accord the Obama administration fashioned in 2015 is flawed. But there isn't much question that Iran is abiding by terms that drastically limit its stockpile of nuclear materials and make it virtually impossible to produce an atomic weapon in the next decade. The International Atomic Energy Agency has repeatedly certified Iran's compliance; according to Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, the U.S. intelligence community agrees. "Iran is not in material breach of the agreement, and I do believe . . . [it] has delayed the development of a nuclear capability," Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Joseph F. Dunford Jr. testified to Congress this week. Mr. Trump nevertheless is said to be leaning toward decertifying Iran under legislation Congress passed. Doing so would not by itself rupture the accord; instead, it would give Congress a 60-day window to decide on reimposing sanctions. Decertification would require the administration to advance problematic claims contradicting Mr. Mattis and Mr. Dunford. It might protest that there have been no inspections of Iranian military sites; but then the United States has not provided evidence to the IAEA that such visits are needed. Mr. Trump could assert that the deal is no longer in the U.S. national security interest but how, then, to justify subsequent waivers of sanctions? Most proponents of decertification don't favor rupturing the deal through the immediate reimposition of sanctions. Instead, they say the administration should use the uncertainty as leverage to induce European governments to join the United States in pressing Iran for amendments. There are certainly improvements to be made: Sunset provisions will lift some of the restrictions on Iranian nuclear activity in eight to 13 years, and Tehran's continuing development of long-range missiles is not blocked by the pact. French President Emmanuel Macron, for one, has said he would be open to pursuing a follow-up deal. But Iran is unlikely to agree to such modifications at least not without major new concessions from the United States. If the Islamic regime continues to comply with the existing deal, the implicit U.S. threat that it will follow decertification with withdrawal will look hollow; in the absence of proven Iranian violations, Washington will have no European support. In any case, nothing prevents the Trump administration from enlisting U.S. allies in a new negotiating effort without the show of decertification. The show, however, may be the point for Mr. Trump. Congress could spare him the pain of appearing to validate Mr. Obamas legacy by removing the certification requirement. Failing that, it should, at least, not compound his folly: It should not rupture a status quo that, for all its flaws, is preventing the eruption of another nuclear crisis. Columnist Christine Emba is a Post opinions writer and editor. Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free? Will you buy the cow if theres a milk substitute on the market? Is buying even a good idea or will a lease do? And what does the cow think about all of this? Happily for those who prefer not to equate women with barnyard animals, that particular metaphor has largely fallen out of use. But the questions underlying it endure. Mark Regnerus, a sociologist at the University of Texas at Austin, sets out to address them in his alarmingly titled new book, "Cheap Sex: The Transformation of Men, Marriage, and Monogamy." Regneruss answers are not particularly uplifting. But neither will they be surprising to anyone who has observed the world of mating and dating over the past decade or so. Still, the frank way that Regnerus delivers his findings feels unusually bracing. And while theres room to question his conclusions, Regnerus asks us to first set aside our idealistic blinders and hear him out. So lets try. The cheap sex of the books title refers to the way that sexual acts have become radically less costly over the past half century, in economic and social terms. Widespread contraception makes sex less risky, online dating makes it more accessible and high-quality pornography is easy to find if you cant avail yourself of the real thing. But such radical change is rarely without consequence. To measure it in the realm of our relationships, Regnerus relies on the concept of sexual economics, in which mating is seen as a marketplace. In this view, women are gatekeepers to a limited, highly desired product: sex. In exchange for access to this product, men proffer commitment, fidelity and resources. Regnerus believes that the sharp drop in the value of sex has shifted the market, even its more conservative parts, leading to a massive overall slowdown in the creation of committed relationships like marriage, in large part because men see less of a need to make themselves into appealing long-term partners. Of course, there are many reasons besides sex to enter into a committed relationship, and most people eventually do it just takes them longer now. Unfortunately, however, this lengthened timeline doesnt always align with womens preferences. One piece of evidence: Births from assisted reproductive technology, often a last resort as fertility wanes or a suitable partner cant be found, jumped by 70 percent between 2000 and 2013. Regneruss findings may not be in line with our egalitarian ambitions, a fact that critics of his book have pointed out, vociferously. But how things should be often has little bearing on how things are. Yes, advances in education, the workplace and the sexual realm have helped women in incontrovertible ways. Marriage is no longer the sole key to a good life, and we have time and freedom to choose. Yet among younger women, especially those who want that sort of traditional relationship, there increasingly seems to be a vague dissatisfaction with the state of things. Why, when women have gained so much power, are we so often at impasse in our romantic relationships? Why do men our age seem so unmotivated to grow up and so ambivalent about committing? As uncomfortable as it may be to contemplate, the shifts this book describes may provide an inkling of an explanation. Regnerus states his findings baldly, and he has little patience for those who would prefer to focus on the upsides of such shifts. When it comes to commonly held modern ideals of gender egalitarianism, individualism, the assumption that men might seek to improve themselves even without outside prodding his response is skepticism bordering on exasperation. In the domain of sex and relationships, men will act as nobly as women collectively demand, he writes. This is an aggravating statement for women to read, no doubt. They do not want to be responsible for raising men. But it is realistic. A jaundiced eye, to be sure, but before dismissing it outright we might try it out on Hugh Hefner, perhaps America's foremost advocate for cheap sex, and the way his story has been told since his death last week at age 91. He was a champion of sexual liberation, we're told. An activist for freedom of all kinds! These principles feel right to celebrate, and many eulogists have. But fewer seem willing to prod the trade-offs inherent in what Hefner promoted. Has all this sexual liberation made it easier for some to prey on others? And more deeply: How does a focus on individual fulfillment change the way we function as a society? Throughout his book, Regnerus prods the reader to be skeptical of utopianism and see the world as it is. Its a useful, if unpleasant, reminder for an era in which our goals seem both loftier and further out of reach than ever. Sex may be cheap now, but talk has always been. Jimmy Carter, the 39th president of the United States, is founder of the nonprofit Carter Center. As the world knows, we face the strong possibility of another Korean war, with potentially devastating consequences to the Korean Peninsula, Japan, our outlying territories in the Pacific and perhaps the mainland of the United States. This is the most serious existing threat to world peace, and it is imperative that Pyongyang and Washington find some way to ease the escalating tension and reach a lasting, peaceful agreement. Over more than 20 years, I have spent many hours in discussions with top North Korean officials and private citizens during visits to Pyongyang and to the countryside. I found Kim Il Sung (their Great Leader), Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the Supreme Peoples Assembly, and other leaders to be both completely rational and dedicated to the preservation of their regime. What the officials have always demanded is direct talks with the United States, leading to a permanent peace treaty to replace the still-prevailing 1953 cease-fire that has failed to end the Korean conflict. They want an end to sanctions, a guarantee that there will be no military attack on a peaceful North Korea, and eventual normal relations between their country and the international community. I have visited with people who were starving. Still today, millions suffer from famine and food insecurity and seem to be completely loyal to their top leader. They are probably the most isolated people on Earth and almost unanimously believe that their greatest threat is from a preemptory military attack by the United States. The top priority of North Koreas leaders is to preserve their regime and keep it as free as possible from outside control. They are largely immune from influence or pressure from outside. During the time of the current leader, Kim Jong Un, this immunity has also applied to China, whose leaders want to avoid a regime collapse in North Korea or having to contemplate a nuclear-armed Japan or South Korea. Until now, severe economic sanctions have not prevented North Korea from developing a formidable and dedicated military force, including long-range nuclear missiles, utilizing a surprising level of scientific and technological capability. There is no remaining chance that it will agree to a total denuclearization, as it has seen what happened in a denuclearized Libya and assessed the doubtful status of U.S. adherence to the Iran nuclear agreement. There have been a number of suggestions for resolving this crisis, including military strikes on North Koreas nuclear facilities, more severe economic punishment, the forging of a protective nuclear agreement between China and North Korea similar to those between the United States and South Korea and Japan, a real enforcement of the Non- Proliferation Treaty by all nuclear weapons states not to expand their arsenals, and ending annual U.S.-South Korean military exercises. All of these options are intended to dissuade or deter the leadership of a nation with long-range nuclear weapons and that believes its existence is threatened from taking steps to defend itself. None of them offer an immediate way to end the present crisis, because the Pyongyang government believes its survival is at stake. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson's statement last week that "we have lines of communications to Pyongyang. We're not in a dark situation" is a good first step to defusing tensions. The next step should be for the United States to offer to send a high-level delegation to Pyongyang for peace talks or to support an international conference including North and South Korea, the United States and China, at a mutually acceptable site. IN LITTLE more than a month, a half-million Rohingya Muslims in Burma's Rakhine state have been forced into a terrified exodus to Bangladesh. They fled the Burmese military, which burned villages and reportedly shot men, women and children in retaliation for an attack on 30 police posts by a Rohingya militant group. The scorched-earth campaign against the Rohingya has been called a "textbook example of ethnic cleansing" by the U.N. high commissioner for human rights, Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein. An urgent, stern and unmistakable response is necessary. The de facto leader of Burma, Aung San Suu Kyi, has been justifiably criticized for failing to find her voice, the eloquence of a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, during this brutal crackdown. But the chief perpetrators are in the military, with whom she shares power. The army was undoubtedly furious over the militant attacks on police posts Aug. 25, but the subsequent response was entirely disproportionate, another chapter in the long and painful persecution of the Rohingya in Buddhist-majority Burma, also called Myanmar. Any response must now make clear to military leaders that inflicting such misery on a whole population is intolerable. As a start, the Rohingya must be allowed to return, immediately. The worst thing that could happen would be if temporary flight turned into permanent expulsion. The government should allow more humanitarian organizations to bring aid to the Rohingya, and open up the region to international inspection and investigation, especially following the finding in late September from Human Rights Watch that the onslaught amounted to crimes against humanity under international law, including forced population transfer and deportation, murder, and sexual violence. The U.N. Security Council must move beyond mere discussion and forcefully express the world's disgust and support new sanctions. President Barack Obama last year relaxed many of the U.S. economic and financial sanctions on Burma that had been imposed during the decades of military rule, a gesture to progress that included the 2015 elections that brought Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy to power. By lifting sanctions, Mr. Obama was not only acknowledging progress but also making a wager on future gains. The Rohingya calamity is a large reversal of those hopes. It is time for the Trump administration to impose targeted sanctions on military commanders and others who supported the Rohingya atrocities. The military in Burma never entirely relinquished power. It still controls key ministries, a quarter of the seats in parliament and significant business enterprises. Twenty-two senators, led by John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Benjamin L. Cardin (D-Md.), have suggested to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson that the administration consider this a case for the Global Magnitsky Act, which allows the president to impose sanctions on individuals "responsible for extrajudicial killings, torture, or other gross violations of internationally recognized human rights." If the right people can be identified, this would seem to be what the law was made for. More Rohingya are now in Bangladesh than in Burma. Failing to respond to their plight and persecution would compound the crime of their expulsion. I try to say, Thank you for your service to members of the armed forces as often as I can. Our troops not only make countless sacrifices for our country but also risk their lives to protect the liberties our Constitution provides. They deserve our thanks and much more. If you share that view, then tomorrow, when you say your morning farewells to your children, your spouse or other loved ones, you should thank them for their service, too. Because our Congress has decided that they must put their lives at risk of a mass shooting at school, work or a country music festival to protect a peculiarly absolutist view of the Second Amendment. The risk they are taking is not trivial. In the past five years, about seven times more Americans have been killed in mass shootings (1,715) than were killed in military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan (260). Gun rights zealot Bill O'Reilly encapsulated this thinking when he said that the Las Vegas mass slaughter was "the price of freedom. . . . The Second Amendment is clear that Americans have a right to arm themselves for protection. Even the loons." Never mind that other countries England, France, Germany manage to be "free countries" without enduring anywhere near the number of mass killings that have become routine here. The United States has had nearly double the number of mass shootings of 24 other wealthy industrialized nations combined over the past 30 years. For some reason, freedom is this costly only in the United States. Is this truly a price we must pay for freedom? Not according to our courts. Yes, the National Rifle Association has done more than any other organization to shape the makeup of our federal judiciary pressing senators to block Merrick Garland in 2016, paving the way for the Gorsuchization of the Supreme Court. But the Supreme Court has never held that people have a right to own military-style weapons or large-capacity gun clips. Nor are such restrictions unimaginable. Congress passed a ban on assault weapons and large-capacity gun magazines in 1994, only to watch it expire 10 years later. Congress passed mandatory background checks on gun buyers in 1993 but stood idly by as loopholes and poorly maintained databases limited their effectiveness. It requires no intellectual breakthrough to restore the assault weapon ban, ban magazines holding more than 10 rounds, tighten loopholes in the background check system and ban "bump stocks," the tools used in Las Vegas to convert semiautomatic weapons into automatic killing machines. Would pressing such an agenda be political suicide? True, the NRA has President Trump and many members of Congress quivering in fear. Never mind that Trump wrote in his book "The America We Deserve" that he "support[s] the ban on assault weapons." Former Trump strategist Stephen K. Bannon told a reporter this week that a Trump reversion to that position was "impossible" and would be "the end of everything." But its also worth remembering that three of the leaders who steered passage of the 1990s gun-control measures were a senator from Tennessee who sponsored the background check bill, a Senate committee chairman who navigated the assault weapons ban through that body and a New York congressman who faced down his committee chair and leadership to get the measures to the presidents desk. Al Gore, Joe Biden and Charles E. Schumer hardly saw their careers end as a result. Perhaps we are dulled by a defeatist mind-set when it comes to action on guns. Why do we bend to the nonsense that immediately after an attack is "not the time" to have this conversation? Since the United States experiences one mass shooting on average, every day, we have no choice but to discuss common-sense gun measures on the day of an attack. Why do we accept the conventional wisdom and the prescription to "be smart" and acknowledge that all gun-control measures are doomed: Is the gun lobby "being smart" when it continues to block gun-safety measures that have overwhelming public support? And why do we accept the ridiculous cliche that "you can't regulate evil"? Don't we ban cheating old people out of their savings or putting razor blades in apples on Halloween because one of the first purposes of government is, in fact, to stop evildoers? Our country and our Congress need to shake off the smart conventional wisdom and become as determined, as fierce and as extreme as those who insist that the price of freedom is living with Wild West laws in an era of weapons of mass destruction on our streets. The Constitution does not require our loved ones to face the daily risk of being the next victims of a mass shooting, and the NRA does not get the final word in mandating it: That is up to our representatives and senators and a president who promised the American people, on his first day in office, that such American carnage [would] stop . . . right now. President Trump, there have been more than 250 mass shootings since you spoke those words. We're waiting. After the week's news of Cabinet secretaries taking vacations courtesy of the American taxpayer, my anger was piqued when reading the Sept. 30 news article "Taxpayers covered part of tab on VA secretary's sightseeing days in Europe." As a clinical psychologist, I provide mental-health services to veterans through the Veterans Choice Program, started a few years ago to reduce wait times for veterans by credentialing civilian health providers to treat veterans. Despite the cumbersome credentialing and claims processes and the low fees paid by the Department of Veterans Affairs, it is a privilege to work with veterans. From them, I regularly hear about the long delays in obtaining health services and medical equipment. My own experience with Veterans Choice has given me an extremely frustrating window into the inefficiencies and inadequate staffing of VA. Claims for services I provided almost a year ago have yet to be processed because they werent received or are missing information I have already given numerous times, and it is virtually impossible to reach a human being to resolve problems. (I have twice waited on hold for six hours, to no avail.) The VA system is making it unaffordable for me to provide treatment to veterans, and I know of other health-care providers who have stopped for this reason. Can Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin think of no better use for VA funds than a cruise on the Thames? Colette de Marneffe, Takoma Park WEDNESDAY'S news conference by Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr (R-N.C.) and Vice Chairman Mark R. Warner (D-Va.) raised more questions than it answered on the state of the committee's probe into Russian election interference. But it did make one thing clear: The investigation is far from over. Updating the public on an effort that has now gone on for nine months, Mr. Burr and Mr. Warner emphasized both the volume of work they've completed thus far and the volume they have yet to do. Mr. Burr stated that the committee members "trust the conclusions" of the intelligence community's January report that the Russian government sought to undermine the integrity of the 2016 election though he later indicated some doubt over the report's conclusion that the Kremlin supported Donald Trump over Hillary Clinton. Importantly, we learned that the committee continues to study whether collusion took place between the Kremlin and the Trump campaign. And Mr. Warner made clear that Russian efforts to create chaos are ongoing, both in the United States and in Western Europe. To some extent, the news conference demonstrated progress. Mr. Burr pointed to areas of the investigation that are close to being wrapped up most notably, former FBI director James B. Comeys memos regarding his interactions with President Trump, about which the chairman stated that the probe has reached a logical end. Yet Mr. Burr and Mr. Warner also cautioned that the investigation has a long way to go. Previously, Mr. Burr had indicated his hope that the committee could finish its work by the end of 2017. On Wednesday, while he hinted that he'd still like to wrap up by December, he also emphasized that the probe has become increasingly complex and that the committee will need to take its time. Many aspects of the committees work remain murky, including the precise scope of its investigation. Mr. Burrs statement that the committee has completed its work on Mr. Comeys memos raises the question of whether Mr. Burr and Mr. Warner consider the presidents possible obstruction of the FBI probe into election interference to be within the scope of their work. Nevertheless, Mr. Burr and Mr. Warners investigation remains the most serious effort besides that of special counsel Robert S. Mueller III to get to the bottom of just what happened during the 2016 election. Their news conference is an encouraging sign that the Intelligence Committees leaders are approaching their task seriously and without partisanship. Now, they have the responsibility to follow through and resist pressure from the White House and Mr. Trumps allies in Congress to wrap up their investigation prematurely. Russian active measures did not end on Election Day, Mr. Warner told the media, urging state election officials to fortify their systems in the coming months. His comments remind us why this investigation is so important. Its a matter not just of uncovering a past attack on American democracy by a foreign power but also of understanding and preventing similar attacks going forward. He and Mr. Burr should take the time they need to get it right. Principals and protesters stand in front of the Supreme Court while the justices hear arguments on gerrymandering on Oct. 3 in Washington. (Bill O'Leary/The Washington Post) In his Oct. 1 op-ed, "Avoiding the political thicket," George F. Will explained why the Supreme Court has refrained from trying to establish rules on gerrymandering. His arguments, though, did not address what has long been problematic and is now increasingly obvious and divisive. In North Carolina, to take one example, party affiliation is just about evenly split between Republican and Democratic, and yet 80 percent of the people elected to represent that population in Congress are Republicans. Mr. Will ignored that gerrymandering in states such as North Carolina leaves a disproportionate percentage of the population severely underrepresented and not just along racial lines. It was wrong in the past, and it is wrong now. Gerrymandering may be a political thicket, but the Supreme Courts hesitancy to tackle the weightier problem of legislation without fair representation will fast lead the nation into political quicksand. Joe Moran, Durham, N.C. George F. Will cautioned the Supreme Court against fashioning a new standard for redrawing congressional districts. His treatment erred in two ways. He assumed that those calling for change have partisan motives. But in my blue state (Maryland), Democrats are pushing for reform alongside Republicans as vigorously as the Wisconsin plaintiffs are. Solid-blue, solid-red districts ensure "tenure for life" in Congress. They make party primaries critical and general elections meaningless. All voters suffer. Also, he called the proposed standard an efficiency gap greater than 7 percent a concocted metric plucked from the ether. To act, the court must concoct some metric. When pushed into the abortion-wars thicket, it plucked a third-trimester standard. Advances in reproductive technology drove court action there. Here, the advance is in data processing, which now enables the winning side to create single-party districts with hairline precision. A legislative response is blocked by incumbents self-interest. The court must halt our political systems self-destructive slide toward far-right and far-left warring camps. Mr. Will noted that this practice has been around since 1788. If longevity of past practice always barred the doorway to the court, what a hobbled, frozen, dysfunctional society would be ours today. Bruce L. Reynolds, Potomac Dozens of people attend a vigil on Oct. 4 in Newtown, Conn., remembering the people killed in Sunday's shooting in Las Vegas and calling for action against guns. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Because the government refuses to pass serious gun-control legislation, there is a good solution for forcing it to do so. The international community should boycott all travel to the United States until serious gun-control action is taken that will convince the world it is reasonably safe to travel here. I have friends in Europe who refuse to travel to the United States due to gun violence. We need all international travelers to do the same. It is the only answer. Jim Coyle, Falls Church I woke up Monday morning to the news of mass killings in Las Vegas. With a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach, I tried to go about my business, with varied success. I remember feeling this way on April 19, 1995; April 20, 1999 ; and Sept. 11, 2001. I worked then for the Federal Bureau of Prisons. One thing I learned during those years is that we can all have what Alexander calls a "terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day." This is why I refuse to own a gun. As a former weapons-trained law enforcement officer, I have a healthy appreciation for guns. You can feel mighty powerful holding an M-16 assault weapon especially after you just shot a round perfectly onto the target during annual training. But what happens if you take a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day and infuse it with a weapon and ammo stored in your home? Lots of terrible, horrible, no good, very bad things. We can debate the Second Amendment together another time. Suffice it to say Ive stood face to face with men like Stephen Paddock, and nothing is going to convince me that anyone needs to own dozens of guns. Stacy Korbelak, Odenton Legislators, have some empathy and put yourselves in the position of the survivors and the families of the dead. If you can't conjure any empathy over gun violence, then get out of public office, because so many of us who do vote are sick and tired of your procrastination, refusing to take definitive action to make our surroundings and social venues safe. Show loyalty to the safety and interests of the American people instead of bowing to the National Rifle Association. Be creative in coming up with solutions. Instead of working on tax reform, which may hurt many of us, introduce legislation that places inordinately high taxes on ammunition and bans certain types of it. Carole Jennings, Silver Spring After reading the Oct. 3 editorial "The worst kind of American exceptionalism," I urge all Americans to study the reasonable and effective rules controlling gun ownership that Australia enacted under a right-wing prime minister, John Howard. There are extensive police checks, a written test and a waiting period before licenses are issued for a specific weapon. It works well. As an American who spends a lot of time down under, I am heartbroken to see that it can be done and that thousands of American lives could be saved. Nicholas Hammond, Washington After Sunday's shooting in Las Vegas, I want to ask our lawmakers, when will my rights be considered? When will they address my rights to feel safe, to allow my children to go to large gatherings or even go to school, to pray in church, to ride Metro without fearing that some evil person who has purchased guns legally will start firing his or her weapons at me or my loved ones? The people of this country are tired of hearing that the National Rifle Association is invincible. Im tired of hearing prayers for the people who were injured. Take action. Protect your constituents with stricter gun-control measures. Martha Yates, Arlington I am a gun rights advocate and firmly support the Second Amendment. I own handguns. I learned to shoot at an early age from my father, who was in law enforcement. I am an infantry combat veteran of the Korean War. I am absolutely opposed to civilians owning any form of assault weapons and multi-round magazines. The only reason for these weapons is to kill people, and they belong in law enforcement and the military. My proposal: Let shooting ranges have these weapons and rent them to people to shoot on the premises. Carroll Rueben, Montclair GARY COHN, a Trump administration cheerleader for tax reform, said recently that the administration is "trying to get rid of all of the loopholes and all of the deductions that mostly wealthy people use." Unfortunately, that is not the case. The administration tax plan does not target "all" of the deductions that mostly wealthy people use. It takes aim at one that wealthy people in mostly Democratic states use disproportionately and leaves others hardly touched. Inasmuch as the plan contains any details on how it would pay for the tax cuts it envisions, the proposal stipulates that it would preserve two of the most expensive and wealth-favoring tax breaks: the deductions for home mortgage interest and for charitable giving. Still on the chopping block, however, is the state and local tax deduction, which helps taxpayers in high-tax states more than those in low-tax states. Eliminating it would wallop blue states such as California, New York and Illinois while leaving red states such as Texas relatively unscathed. True, wealthy people reap most of the state and local tax-deduction benefits. But that is also true of the tax breaks the administration is protecting. The plans cynicism is transparent. Mr. Cohn, director of the National Economic Council, also told Bloomberg TV that the administration's position is not set in stone. "We are willing to work with the tax writers on the other dials that we have in the system," he said, indicating that lawmakers could find other ways of paying for tax-rate cuts. They might have to. Big blue states still have Republican lawmakers in the House who will fight to preserve the state and local tax deduction. Some swing states also have large numbers of people who take advantage of the tax break. The New York Times reported Tuesday that Capitol Hill Republicans are already looking for other options. Republicans will be tempted to jettison all responsibility and simply enact a big, deficit-widening tax cut instead of trying to close anyones loopholes. That would be disastrous for the economy, for future generations and for the credibility of the GOP, which has spent the past decade pretending to care about the national debt. There is a fairer way, which would close loopholes without singling out one tax break, one area of the country or one set of wealthy people. Congress could limit the total value of the tax breaks of any kind that taxpayers can claim. Americans would still be able to deduct mortgage interest, charitable giving or state and local taxes from their taxable incomes. But they would face stricter limits on how much they could benefit overall from holes in the tax code. This idea is not new, and it is not partisan. Mitt Romney and President Trump each proposed some form of this plan in the 2012 and 2016 presidential races, respectively. President Barack Obama advanced his own version during his second term. Depending on how lawmakers crafted it, the policy could raise huge amounts of money almost exclusively from the wealthy across the country. A deduction cap would also face political resistance. But it would be a fairer, more honest, more balanced policy than what the administration is peddling now. The moment was as remarkable as it was unprecedented: A sitting U.S. secretary of state took to the microphone to pledge his fealty to the president despite his well-documented unhappiness in the job and the growing presumption in Washington that he is a short-timer. Rex Tillerson said Wednesday he would stay as long as President Trump wants him to, and Trump said he has full confidence in the former ExxonMobil chief executive. Shortly afterward, Tillersons spokeswoman also felt compelled to publicly deny an NBC News report that Tillerson had called the president a moron, and she said he was determined to remain in his job. But Tillersons move on Wednesday to reassure Trump of his convictions may well be too little and too late for the long term, according to the accounts of 19 current and former senior administration officials and Capitol Hill aides, most of whom spoke on the condition of anonymity to offer candid assessments. The already tense relationship between the two headstrong men one a billionaire former real estate developer, the other a former captain of the global oil industry has ruptured into what some White House officials call an irreparable breach that will inevitably lead to Tillersons departure, whether immediately or not. Tillersons dwindling cohort of allies say he has been given an impossible job and is doing his best with it. For months now, Trump has been piqued by rumors of disloyalty that have filtered up to him from Foggy Bottom, the home of the State Department. In private meetings, the president has also been irked by Tillersons arguments for a more-traditional approach on policies, from Iran to climate change to North Korea, and by Tillersons visible frustration when overruled. Trump has chafed at what he sees as arrogance on the part of an employee. And as Tillerson has traveled the globe, Trump believes his top diplomat often seems more concerned with what the world thinks of the United States than with tending to the presidents personal image. [Tillerson vows to stay on amid tensions with Trump] Meanwhile, Tillerson who ran one of the world's largest corporations with near-dictatorial control has struggled to submit to the whims and wishes of a boss who governs by impulse. Deliberative in style, he has been caught off-guard by Trump's fiery and injudicious tweets and repulsed by some flashes of the president's character, such as when Trump said there were "fine people" among those marching at a deadly white supremacist rally in Charlottesville. "The president speaks for himself," Tillerson said at the time. Tillerson has also been uncomfortable with the chain of command in the West Wing, sometimes table dropping his proposals in meetings springing PowerPoint slides on his national security colleagues without advance notice. He, from my perspective, is in an incredibly frustrating place, Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) said of Tillerson on Wednesday, calling him one of several administration officials separating our country from chaos. He ends up not being supported in a way that I would hope a secretary of state would be supported, Corker said. Two career businessmen with different worldviews and management styles, Trump, 71, and Tillerson, 65, came together in something of an arranged marriage last December. Each has been exasperated at the way the other has handled his job, current and former officials said. But tensions escalated badly over the past few weeks as Tillerson and his small circle of aides clashed with White House officials over matters as big as the direction of U.S. policy in Afghanistan and as small as Tillersons habit, according to White House officials, of neglecting to return phone calls. Tillersons public remarks Wednesday came after months of disagreements between Tillerson and the White House over staffing and administrative matters at the State Department and a disconnection over what Trump saw as Tillersons conventional approach to policy matters. Over the weekend, Trump contradicted Tillerson on diplomatic relations with North Korea and its leader. Trump tweeted that the secretary of state was "wasting his time trying to negotiate with Little Rocket Man" the president's nickname for North Korea's Kim Jong Un. Tillerson has repeatedly ended up on the losing side of important policy discussions, and people familiar with White House views say Trump resents him for the debates he has won, including a grudging decision last month to add U.S. forces to the inconclusive 16-year war in Afghanistan. [Tillersons news conference, annotated] "Rex Tillerson has been dealt a bad hand by the Potus & has played it badly. For both reasons he cannot be effective SecState & should resign," Council on Foreign Relations president Richard N. Haass wrote on Twitter ahead of Tillerson's statement Wednesday. Haass, a former top State Department official, declined an interview request but also wrote that it would be hard for anyone to do the job well. He cited a Trump policy agenda that includes separating the United States from trade deals such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership and international compacts such as the Paris climate accord, Trump's Twitter habit, plus a lack of staff and money. The White House thinking is unequivocal that hes going to be gone soon, but the assumption is that hes going to quit on his own so Trump can say, Thank you for your year of service, said a former senior official who has held recent meetings at the White House. Tillerson entered office as one of the mainstream foreign policy and national security voices around Trump, putting him at odds with Trumps first national security adviser, Michael Flynn, and his former chief strategist, Stephen K. Bannon. He also held an uncertain balance of power with Trumps son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner, whom Trump tasked with seeking Middle East peace and describes as a key foreign policy adviser. Tillerson has complained about the fuzzy lines of authority and about being cut out of some decisions involving Kushner, two people familiar with his thinking said. Kushner has told others in the administration that Tillerson is too dismissive of colleagues. Trump himself has groused that Tillerson is insufficiently supportive during national security meetings, speaking little and sometimes in clipped tones. Tillerson clashed with other Trump advisers over the administrations approach to the Iran nuclear deal, and whether Trump should certify to Congress this month that the landmark agreement is in the U.S. national interest. Tillerson has argued internally that it is, despite what he calls serious flaws in the deal, and Defense Secretary Jim Mattis went public Tuesday with the same argument. But Trump has strongly suggested he will go the other way and has bristled at being "steered" toward what he views as an inauthentic position, several people familiar with the dispute said. Tillerson would not say Wednesday whether he agrees with Mattis, whose own position within the administration appears more solid. In this case and others where they have disagreed, Tillerson advocated what Trump has complained is a totally conventional position that is at odds with Trumps break-the-mold philosophy. Trump, for example, was incensed last weekend when he thought Tillerson was freelancing a diplomatic overture to North Korea, one official said. [Analysis: Tillerson sure made it sound like he called Trump a moron] Trump has said he believes talking to North Korea has failed for three decades and he sees no reason it would work now. His is the traditional, establishment model, one person who has discussed Tillersons views with Trump said of Tillerson. Its the same foreign policy that John Kerry had, and its the same foreign policy that Hillary Clinton had. It is not America leading. It is America trying to be cordial and collegial with everybody. On Wednesday, Tillerson praised the foreign policy model that Trump espouses and against which Tillerson himself has argued in a series of internal debates. Trumps national security team is united in doing great things for the United States of America to make America great again, Tillerson said, echoing Trumps campaign theme. He loves his country, he said. He puts Americans and America first. Hes smart. He demands results wherever he goes and he holds those around him accountable. Trump responded favorably. I was very honored by his comments, he told reporters during a visit to Las Vegas. Total confidence in Rex, I have total confidence. The White House and State Department both denied the NBC report that Tillerson had insulted Trump after a national security meeting at the Pentagon over the summer by referring to him as a moron. But West Wing aides said the rumor of such a remark had floated in the halls before the NBC report Wednesday. Tillerson declined to directly address the name-calling detail, calling it petty and an example of Washington backbiting that is foreign to him. But his spokeswoman, Heather Nauert, said later in the day that Tillerson had explicitly denied it in a conversation with her. The secretary did not use that type of language to speak about the president of the United States, she said. The secretary does not use that language to speak about anyone. He did not say that. Tillerson and his aides first found themselves at odds with some Trump aides months ago, when the chief diplomat launched a management overhaul at State that is projected to take years, to the annoyance of some senior White House officials eager to fill jobs. Tillerson, in turn, was annoyed by what he saw as chaos and ineptitude in the administration that continued for months, people familiar with his thinking said. He also complained to friends about competing power centers and a culture of backstabbing within the Trump administration that is very different from the top-down corporate culture he left. That same corporate experience gave Tillerson a background in the sensitivities and demands of a large and diverse workforce, and appeared to inform his clear disagreement with Trump over Charlottesville. [Flashback: Tillerson spends his first weeks isolated from an anxious bureaucracy] Vice President Pence at one point tried to help ease tensions, counseling Tillerson that he should take up any concerns he has directly with the president in private, rather than airing his grievances publicly, a White House official said. But Pence was described as very annoyed Wednesday after a State Department spokesman, R.C. Hammond, claimed in the NBC report that Pence had urged Tillerson not to resign and had asked Tillerson whether U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley was a problem for the administration. The vice presidents office put out a statement Wednesday denying those parts of the report, while Hammond took to Twitter to apologize, writing, I spoke out of line about conversations I wasnt privy to. Nauert said Tillerson never considered resigning from his post, and for those who want him to do so, go ahead and keep pushing because that will only strengthen his resolve to stay. Still, Tillersons tenure remains decidedly uncertain, and many in the West Wing and in Congress suggested Wednesday that a Rexit was still likely by early 2018. Tillerson also remains isolated in political Washington, with few confidants aside from Corker on Capitol Hill. He has met only twice with Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), the chairman of the Armed Services Committee and his partys leading voice on national security. One of those meetings was before Tillersons Senate confirmation. Tillerson has no help. No team, no natural allies, and hes not hiring anyone, one former senior official said. Theres a kind of death spiral. Carol Morello and Karoun Demirjian contributed to this report. Seema Verma, who heads the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, was told by the president to deny changes that Iowa officials were proposing in their Affordable Care Act marketplace another administration move to undermine the law, ACA supporters say. (Pete Marovich/Bloomberg News) For months, officials in Republican-controlled Iowa had sought federal permission to revitalize their ailing health-insurance marketplace. Then President Trump read about the request in a newspaper story and called the federal director weighing the application. Trumps message in late August was clear, according to individuals who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations: Tell Iowa no. Supporters of the Affordable Care Act see the presidents opposition even to changes sought by conservative states as part of a broader campaign by his administration to undermine the 2010 health-care law. In addition to trying to cut funding for the ACA, the Trump administration also is hampering state efforts to control premiums. In the case of Iowa, that involved a highly unusual intervention by the president himself. And with the fifth enrollment season set to begin Nov. 1, advocates say the Health and Human Services Department has done more to suppress the number of people signing up than to boost it. HHS has slashed grants to groups that help consumers get insurance coverage, for example. It also has cut the enrollment period in half, reduced the advertising budget by 90 percent and announced an outage schedule that would make the HealthCare.gov website less available than last year. The White House also has yet to commit to funding the cost-sharing reductions that help about 7 million lower-income Americans afford out-of-pocket expenses on their ACA health plans. Trump has regularly threatened to block them and, according to an administration official who was not authorized to speak publicly, officials are considering action to end the payments in November. The uncertainty has driven premium prices much higher for 2018. A possible move by the Treasury Department to ease the requirement that most Americans obtain coverage could further erode a core element of the law. On Friday, Sen. Margaret Wood Hassan (D-N.H.) called on the administration to abandon its attempts to sabotage health care markets and raise health care costs for millions. Such efforts, warn health advocates as well as state and local officials, will translate into more uninsured Americans. In Ohio, the Trump administration has already inflicted the damage, said Lisa Hamler-Fugitt, executive director of the Ohio Association of Foodbanks. After its nearly $1.7 million enrollment-assistance grant was cut 72 percent last month, the group decided it no longer could effectively participate. We are past the point of no return on this, Hamler-Fugitt said. HHS has told its regional administrators not to even meet with on-the-ground organizations about enrollment. The late decision, which department spokesman Matt Lloyd said was made because such groups organize and implement events with their own agenda, left leaders of grass-roots organizations feeling stranded. I dont think its too much to ask the agency tasked with outreach and enrollment to be involved with that, said Roy Mitchell, executive director for the Mississippi Health Advocacy Program, which receives no federal funding for its ACA efforts. Theres money for HHS to fly around on private jets, but theres not money and resources to do outreach in Mississippi. [The first Affordable Care Act enrollment season of the Trump era is still a mystery] Administration officials make no apologies for actions scaling back federal support for the ACA, also known as Obamacare. Trump, Vice President Pence and those carrying out the law at different agencies take most every opportunity to claim that it is failing. HHS Secretary Tom Price's abrupt resignation Friday, prompted by the furor over his use of expensive chartered planes for work trips, is not expected to shift this overall approach. Obamacare has never lived up to enrollment expectations despite the previous administrations best efforts, Lloyd said in an email last week. The American people know a bad deal when they see one, and many wont be convinced to sign up for Washington-knows-best health coverage that they cant afford. Trump and his aides also are looking for ways to loosen the existing law's requirements, now that the latest congressional attempt to repeal it outright has failed. The Treasury Department may broaden the ACA's "hardship exemption" so that taxpayers don't face costly penalties for failing to obtain coverage, a Republican briefed on the plan said. That is sure to depress enrollment among the younger, healthier consumers whom insurers count on to help buffer the health-care costs of sicker customers. We should fully expect the Trump administration to take a more activist route to deal with Obamacare, given the inability of Congress to move through with a repeal-and-replace bill, said Lanhee Chen, a research fellow at Stanford Universitys Hoover Institution. While the laws open enrollment period has attracted the most public attention, a more obscure battle within the administration over several states proposed changes for their marketplaces speaks volumes about the presidents approach to the law. It was a Wall Street Journal article about Iowas request that provoked Trumps ire, according to an individual briefed on the exchange. The story detailed how officials had just submitted the application for a Section 1332 waiver a provision that allows states to adjust how they are implementing the ACA as long as they can prove it would not translate into lost or less-affordable coverage. Iowas aim was to foster more competition and better prices. The story said other states hoping to stabilize their situations were watching closely. Trump first tried to reach Price, the individual recounted, but the secretary was traveling in Asia and unavailable. The president then called Seema Verma, administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the agency charged with authorizing or rejecting Section 1332 applications. CMS had been working closely with Iowa as it fine-tuned its submission. State Insurance Commissioner Doug Ommen has repeatedly described the Iowa Stopgap Measure as critical to expanding marketplace options there. The plan would abolish the ACA exchange there and convert consumer subsidies into a type of GOP-styled tax credit. New financial buffers would help insurers handle customers with particularly high medical expenses. Without the measure, "over 20,000 middle class farmers, early retirees and self-employed Iowans will likely either go uninsured or leave Iowa," Ommen warned in a Sept. 19 statement. Those who sign up for 2018 exchange coverage face premium rate increases of 57 percent on average from the single insurer participating. Some administration officials are still pressing for the waiver to be granted, according to interviews with several Republicans. The HHS spokesman confirmed last week that Iowas application has been deemed complete and is currently under review but did not address the presidents directive on the matter. [At Trumps urging, states move Medicaid in a conservative direction] Eliot Fishman oversaw such waivers at CMS during the previous administration and said in an interview that President Barack Obama weighed in on those decisions only in unusual cases toward the end of the process. Things that are tough calls typically go to the president, but they go with a [staff] recommendation that often carries a great deal of weight, said Fishman, now senior director of health policy for the liberal health-care advocacy group Families USA. Iowa is not the only red state to chafe at the administrations unwillingness to allow more flexibility. On Friday, Oklahoma sent a letter to Price and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin saying it was withdrawing its federal waiver request because administration officials had not provided an answer "after months of development, negotiation, and near daily communication over the past six weeks." While we appreciate the work of your staff, the lack of timely waiver approval will prevent thousands of Oklahomans from realizing the benefits of significantly lower insurance premiums in 2018, wrote Terry Cline, the states health secretary. In at least one case, CMS has approved a waiver in a way that upended a state's plan to maximize health coverage for its residents. Minnesota applied to CMS for permission to establish a reinsurance program, which can lower premiums by giving insurers a guarantee that they will have limited financial exposure for customers with particularly high medical expenses. The agency informed Gov. Mark Dayton (D) on Sept. 22 that it would provide $323 million for the program since the lower premiums would mean savings to the federal government on subsidies to Minnesotans with ACA health plans. But, Verma added, the federal government also would cut $369 million in funding for a separate program aimed at residents who earn between 138 percent and 200 percent of the federal poverty level and dont qualify for the same subsidies. Minnesotas entire congressional delegation, Democrats and Republicans alike, issued a joint statement saying they were disappointed that our state is facing a last-minute penalty and exploring possible paths forward. Sen. Patty Murray (Wash.), the top Democrat on the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, said Trump should devote time to forging a bipartisan agreement to stabilize the ACA marketplaces. If he is only interested in sabotaging the market, that is a dangerous road for him to ride, because he will own it, she said. Amy Goldstein contributed to this report. People wait in line to attend the fall session of the Supreme Court, on Oct. 2, 2017, in Washington. (Mark Wilson/Getty Images) The Trump administration told the Supreme Court on Thursday that there is no reason for the court to rule on the legality of the presidents previous ban on travel from certain countries and that lower-court rulings against the presidents position should be erased. Opponents of the ban, who had persuaded two appeals courts to block the executive order, said the court should continue to review the cases. Even if not, they said, the lower-court rulings should stand. The justices asked for the new briefing about whether the issue was moot since President Trump announced a replacement travel ban last month. The court canceled an oral argument on the issue scheduled for next week. [White House announces expanded travel ban] The cases raise complicated and far-reaching issues about the presidents powers, and many legal experts believe the court may not want to jump in unless it is necessary. It is unclear when the court will rule on whether to proceed. Solicitor General Noel J. Francisco said the new proclamation means that temporary measures under review at the Supreme Court have been superseded. If this court were to continue to hear these appeals, it would be asked to decide questions with no ongoing practical import, Francisco wrote. He also said two rulings that went against Trump by a panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit should be vacated. If allowed to stand, the lower courts decisions threaten to undermine the executives ability to deal with sensitive foreign-policy issues in strategically important regions of the world, Francisco wrote. The previous order was challenged by the state of Hawaii and the American Civil Liberties Union as an illegal ban on Muslims. Hawaii and the ACLU were representing those with family members affected by the ban. [ACLU to challenge Trumps latest travel ban] The 90-day ban on their relatives has now been converted into an indefinite ban with the potential to separate their families, and thousands of others, for years, wrote ACLU lawyer Omar C. Jadwat, asking the court to keep the cases alive. And the religious condemnation of the earlier Executive Order is not dissipated by [the new one], which despite some new window dressing continues to relay a message of disparagement to the plaintiffs and other members of their faith. But both the ACLUs submission and the one from Hawaii seemed to acknowledge the possibility that the court would pass on reviewing the old executive orders. The court will soon have another opportunity to determine the legality of the Presidents actions in the context of the new order because legal challenges to it are underway, wrote Washington attorney Neal K. Katyal, representing Hawaii. A federal judge in Maryland said this week that those suing over the previous travel ban could amend their complaint and file a request for a preliminary injunction to block the new one. A hearing in the case is scheduled for Oct. 17. But both challengers said it would be unfair to wipe out lower court decisions because of the governments actions. Any mootness would be entirely the consequence of the governments voluntary actions in managing the timing of the bans, in declining to seek a swift hearing on the merits, and in rebottling its old ban in a new order, Katyal wrote. It would be profoundly inequitable to permit the government to use these maneuvers to obtain the very relief it sought on the merits: vacatur of the injunctions, he wrote. [The puzzling inclusion of Chad in Trumps new travel ban] The latest travel ban could block the issuance of tens of thousands of visas each year to people who want to immigrate to the United States or to come on business or as tourists, according to a Washington Post review of State Department data. In some ways it is more expansive than the second executive order it replaced remaining in effect indefinitely and imposing restrictions on eight, rather than six, countries. But unlike the previous ban, the restrictions vary from place to place, and countries that increase their cooperation and information-sharing with the United States might be able to find their way off the list. The proclamation was issued after a lengthy process in which U.S. officials reviewed vetting procedures and sought information from countries around the world. Those that were either unwilling or unable to produce the data the United States wanted ended up on the banned list. For Syria and North Korea, the presidents proclamation blocks immigrants wanting to relocate to the United States and nonimmigrants wishing to visit in some capacity. For Iran, the proclamation blocks both immigrants and nonimmigrants, although it exempts students and those participating in a cultural exchange. The proclamation blocks people from Chad, Libya and Yemen from coming to the United States as immigrants or on business or tourist visas, and it blocks people from Somalia from coming as immigrants. It names Venezuela, but it blocks only certain government officials and their families. Sudan, which was covered by the previous ban, was removed from the list. Matt Zapotosky contributed to this report. The White House has approved eight flights on military jets for Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to travel to destinations from West Virginia to Italy, an investigation by the agencys watchdog found, a use of government planes that was legal but poorly justified by the Trump administration. In a review of nine requests for Mnuchin to fly on government planes to business meetings in London, Canada, Miami, New York and elsewhere the office of Treasury Department Inspector General Eric Thorson found that Trump officials cut corners as they tried to justify the trips, as federal travel regulations require. Thorson counsel Rich Delmar, who investigated the flights, also warned the administration that although the travel was legal, just because something is legal doesnt make it right. Quoting from a Trump administration White House memo on travel, Delmar wrote in a 21-page report late Thursday: Even when the criteria [of federal regulations] allow for the use of Government-owned, rented, leased, or chartered aircraft, departments and agencies should still consider whether commercial air travel is a more appropriate use of taxpayer resources. . . . With few exceptions, the commercial air system used by millions of Americans every day is appropriate, even for very senior officials, Delmar said in the report. [Treasury inspector general to review Mnuchins flight to Fort Knox] The review opens a window on a cost of government business that, while justified in Mnuchins case because of his need for secure communications aboard planes, is nonetheless pricey. The tab for him and his staffers to fly on a C-32 jet to Bari, Italy, in May to attend the Group of Seven finance ministers conference ran to $314,442 at an hourly rate of $15,944, for example. When Mnuchin flew from Trump Tower in New York back to Washington after President Trump summoned Cabinet members for his speech after the violence in Charlottesville, Va., in August, the 179-mile trip cost taxpayers $15,112. And when Mnuchin, his wife, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and other officials flew to Louisville and Fort Knox in Kentucky in August on an Air Force C-37B to visit the U.S. Mint and then view the solar eclipse, the government paid $26,900. [Treasury secretarys wife boasts of travel on government plane] Mnuchin took four other trips on military jets. The total cost of the trips Mnuchin has taken on military planes so far came to $811,000. The White House has also approved one other military flight later this month for Mnuchin, but he has not taken it yet. Mnuchin reimbursed the government for the cost to fly his wife, Louise Linton. Mnuchin is one of five members of Trumps Cabinet whose travel on military or private charter flights has come under scrutiny from the public and lawmakers on Capitol Hill. Inspectors general have opened investigations into the travel habits of former health and human services secretary Tom Price who was forced to resign last week after racking up at least $500,000 in taxpayer-funded charter flights Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Priutt, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke and Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin. The Washington Post reported last week that Shulkin took a 10-day trip to Europe in July with his wife and two top aides that mixed meetings on veterans health issues with four days of sightseeing at taxpayer expense. His wifes airfare and meals were covered by the government. The Mnuchin review was prompted by news reports about Mnuchins flights, which included a request to have a government plane fly him and Linton to Europe this summer for their honeymoon. That request, which Treasury officials said was made to guarantee access to secure communications during the trip, was withdrawn before any flight. A Treasury spokesman said in an emailed statement that the review confirmed that each of the Secretarys uses of government aircraft was approved by the White House. The Department followed the same approval procedures and provided the White House the same level of justification as in previous administrations, including the Obama Administration, the statement said. The agency said it would incorporate enhancements the report calls for in future travel requests. But Delmar said he found a disconnect between the rules requiring government officials to document why they need to travel by military jet and whether the trips meet the standard of White House Support Missions and the actual amount of proof provided by Treasury and accepted by the White House in justifying these trip requests. Delmar found that the proof in Mnuchins case cut corners. My summaries show that in almost all cases a single boilerplate statement constituted the whole analysis and justification for designation and use of military aircraft, despite the fact that [the accepted rule] clearly calls for a more rigorous and complete provision of facts and arguments, Delmar wrote. The language that was frequently used read, Due to scheduling, logistics,and communications needs, the use of reimbursable military aircraft, preferably a C-40, is requested. To be eligible as a White House Support Mission, the president must have specifically directed that the trip be taken and the official must justify why a commercial airline is not an option. The agency must explain why government planes are more cost-effective than commercial, if, for example, the number of people traveling is large enough to justify the extraordinary cost of a government flight. The watchdog found no detailed analysis along these lines. A flight to Palm Beach, Fla., by Mnuchins top aide, Eli Miller on the private jet of a hedge fund billionaire and major contributor to Republican campaigns is under separate review by the inspector generals office after The Post reported on the trip. The News in Brief Russian Diplomat: NATO Activities in Georgia Serious Threat to Russian Security NATO activities in Georgia pose a serious threat of destabilization in the South Caucasus and to the security of the Russian Federation, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin said at his meeting with the co-chairs of the Geneva International Discussions on September 26. According to the statement of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Karasin told the OSCE and UN diplomats that NATOs increasingly active role in the region was dangerous. The Alliances military infrastructure is expanding in Georgia, military exercises are held regularly, with their scale increasing every year, and NATO standards for the armed forces and their management are being introduced, he noted, claiming that this posed serious threat of destabilization in the South Caucasus and to the security of the Russian Federation, the Republic of Abkhazia and the Republic of South Ossetia. The Deputy Foreign Minister added that in this context the need for reaching legally binding agreements on the non-use of force between Sokhumi and Tskhinvali on the one hand and Tbilisi on the other is becoming more acute. Co-chairs of the Geneva International Discussions from OSCE and UN, Gunther Bachler and AnttiTurunen, met with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin to exchange views on the preparations for the new round of talks in Geneva, scheduled for October 10-11. (Civil.ge) ,b>24 years pass since the fall of Sokhumi 24 years have passed since Sokhumi, the capital of Abkhazia, fell in the hands of secessionist forces. Military confrontation in Abkhazia began on August 14, 1992. In September of 1993, the Abkhazian Guards, an armed formation created by the Head of Abkhazias High Council VladislavArdzinba, violated the ceasefire agreement and opened fire on the National Guards of Georgia, who had entered Abkhazia in order to protect Sochi-Inguri part of Georgian railways. The State Council of Georgia decided to send the National Guards to Abkhazia, after having Vladislav Ardzinbas consent, on August 11, 1992. In spite of the agreement, the Abkhazian Guards confronted Georgias national Guards and it was followed by a war. Military activities lasted for 13 months and 13 days and ended with the fall of Sokhumi on September 27, 1993. (IPN) EU supports establishment of Farmers Council in Georgia The Farmers Council is a new body that has recently been created in Georgia in order to determine and eliminate problems faced by the agricultural sector in Georgian regions. Composed of 120 farmers from 60 Georgian municipalities, this new consultative body will be involved in legislative decision-making processes on agriculture-related issues. Furthermore, the Council will actively facilitate the implementation of projects necessary for the development of farmers' activities. The Farmers Council was created under the auspices of the Georgian Farmers Association (GFA) and aims to extend the GFA communication network on the municipal level. The Council was established with the support of the European Union (EU), under its ENPARD project implemented by CARE International, and the project "Improving Regional Food Security through National Strategies and Small Holder production in the South Caucasus implemented by Oxfam. The formation of the Council was initiated by GFA in December 2016, while the presentation of the new body was held ON September 26. (Agenda.ge) An earlier version of this article misidentified the state of Sen. Dan Sullivan. He represents Alaska. This version has been corrected. President Trump is expected to announce next week that he will decertify the international nuclear deal with Iran, saying it is not in the national interest of the United States and kicking the issue to a reluctant Congress, people briefed on the White House strategy said Thursday. The move would mark the first step in a process that could eventually result in the resumption of U.S. sanctions against Iran, potentially derailing a deal limiting Irans nuclear activities reached in 2015 with the United States and five other nations. But Trump would hold off on recommending that Congress reimpose sanctions, which would constitute a clearer break from the pact, according to four people familiar with aspects of the presidents thinking. The decision would amount to a middle ground of sorts between Trump, who has long wanted to withdraw from the agreement completely, and many congressional leaders and senior diplomatic, military and national security advisers, who say the deal is worth preserving with changes if possible. This week, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr., the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, expressed qualified support for the deal during congressional testimony. And Mattis suggested he did not believe taking the step to decertify would scuttle the agreement. Trump is expected to deliver a speech, tentatively scheduled for Oct. 12, laying out a larger strategy for confronting the nation he blames for terrorism and instability throughout the Middle East. Officials cautioned that plans could still change, and the White House would not confirm plans for a speech or its contents. Trump faces an Oct. 15 deadline to report to Congress on whether Iran is complying with the agreement and whether he judges the deal to be in the U.S. national security interest. The administration looks forward to sharing details of our Iran strategy at the appropriate time, said Michael Anton, spokesman for the White House National Security Council. The fate of the nuclear pact is only one consideration in that larger strategy, U.S. officials said, although given Trumps focus on the deal as an embarrassment, it is the most high-profile element. The agreement signed under President Barack Obama was intended to close off the potential for Iran to quickly build a nuclear bomb by curbing nuclear activities the United States and other partners considered most troubling. It allowed some uranium enrichment to continue for what Iran claims is peaceful medical research and energy; the country says it has never sought nuclear weapons. In exchange, world powers lifted crippling U.S. and international economic sanctions. At issue now is the fate of U.S. sanctions lifted by Obama and, by extension, whether the United States will move to break the deal. That could open an international breach with European partners who have warned they will not follow suit. Outreach for a transatlantic understanding about reopening or supplementing the deal is likely to be part of Trumps announcement, according to one Iran analyst who has discussed the strategy with administration officials. Several other people familiar with a nine-month review of U.S. military, diplomatic, economic and intelligence policy toward Iran spoke on the condition of anonymity because aspects of the policy are not yet set, and Trump has not announced his decision. Trump said last month that he had decided what to do on Iran but that he would not divulge the decision at that time. Welcoming military leaders to a White House dinner Thursday night, Trump said Iran had not lived up to its end of the nuclear bargain. The Iranian regime supports terrorism and exports violence, bloodshed and chaos across the Middle East, he said. That is why we must put an end to Irans continued aggression and nuclear ambitions. They have not lived up to the spirit of their agreement. The presidents senior national security advisers agreed within the past several weeks to recommend that Trump decertify the agreement at the Oct. 15 deadline, two of those people said. The administration has begun discussing possible legislation to strengthen the agreement, congressional aides and others said a fix it or nix it approach suggested by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Sen. Tom Cotton (Ark.), a leading Republican hawk on Iran. But the prospects of such an approach are highly uncertain, and many supporters of the deal consider it a dodge. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said last month that he will not reopen the agreement for negotiation. Separately, representatives of Iran, China and Russia told Secretary of State Rex Tillerson the same thing during a meeting on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly session last month, two senior diplomats familiar with that meeting said. [U.S., Iran accuse one another of undermining nuclear deal] Cotton appeared to preview the main elements of the administrations plan this week, although he said he does not know exactly what Trump plans to do. The two met Thursday at the White House. In a speech Tuesday at the Council on Foreign Relations, Cotton said Trump should decline to certify the deal and begin the work of strengthening it. He said decertification should be based on a finding that the deal is not in the U.S. vital national security interest, citing the long catalogue of the regimes crimes and perfidy against the United States, as well as the deals inherent weakness. But Cotton said he would not push for the immediate reimposition of sanctions, as some conservative lawmakers and outside lobbying groups are doing. He laid out proposals for Congress to pass new stipulations for U.S. participation in the deal, including elimination of the sunset clauses under which restrictions on some Iranian nuclear activities expire after several years, tougher inspections requirements and new curbs on Irans ballistic and cruise missile programs. Cotton claimed that a unified statement from Congress would help Trump forge a new agreement among European and other allies and strengthen his hand for renegotiation. The world needs to know were serious, were willing to walk away, and were willing to reimpose sanctions and a lot more than that, Cotton said. And theyll know that when the president declines to certify the deal, and not before. In the Senate, plans have been underway for months to respond to a presidential decertification. Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, has been Capitol Hills point person on discussions with the White House. Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin (D-Md.) and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) also have been made aware of plans being discussed with the White House and State Department. McConnell is not eager to take on the issue at a time when the Senate calendar is full and midterm elections are only a year off, according to congressional aides and a Western diplomat who has met with him. Hes not excited about getting the Old Maid, said the diplomat, referring to the card game where the player left holding a certain card is the loser. Still, Republican leaders say they are confident that they can craft a legislative response to the presidents decision that can address deficiencies in the deal and avoid turning the issue into a political litmus test for the GOP. Some Republicans have also been urging the president to take a critical public stance against the deal without blowing it up. The president should come out and say, Hey, were going to enforce this, and right now I think these different provisions are being violated, Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) said last week, adding that Trump should tell Iran it has a limited window to fix problems. If they dont, do what [then-Secretary of State] John Kerry and Barack Obama said they were going to do, which is snap back sanctions. Rep. Adam B. Schiff (D-Calif.) said a decertification would undermine global confidence in the deal and in U.S. commitments generally. If the president fails to certify the deal while saying Iran is complying with it, its a destructive political gesture, Schiff said. [Text of Iran nuclear deal] Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D- Calif.) said that beginning a process that could result in the United States withdrawing from the Iran deal would go against "advice from his own national security team and our closest allies." Unilaterally abandoning this agreement will make the world less safe, she said in a statement. A half-dozen Democrats who went to the White House on Wednesday evening to meet with national security adviser H.R. McMaster came away with the impression that he agreed with Mattis and Dunford. The group who visited with McMaster to discuss Iran included Cardin and Sens. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), Christopher A. Coons (D-Del.), Joe Manchin III (D-W.Va.), Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.) and Angus King (I-Maine), according to a person familiar with the meeting. Sen. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) called the nuclear deal very, very flawed but not completely ineffective a common view among Republicans and a potential starting point for negotiations with Democrats. What we have to figure out is how to actually accomplish what we were well on our way to do before Barack Obama gave them a patient pathway to a nuclear bomb, Gardner said, referring to what he and other Republicans see as the deals failure to prevent Iran from developing weapons down the road. Those concerns are one of the main areas that Republicans are planning to address in their legislative response to the presidents decision, according to a person familiar with plans being hammered out between the White House, State Department and Capitol Hill. Abby Phillip and Ed OKeefe contributed to this report. A bipartisan group of senators on Wednesday unveiled the latest attempt to reduce the length of mandatory prison terms for drug offenders, a move that directly challenges Attorney General Jeff Sessionss ongoing efforts to wage a new war on drugs by pursuing maximum possible penalties. The joint effort, led by Sens. Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa) and Richard J. Durbin (D-Ill.), would reduce the length of mandatory minimum sentences for repeat nonviolent drug offenses and eliminate the three strike provision that requires a life sentence. It also expands the conditions under which judges can elect to take advantage of safety valves that let them issue sentences shorter than mandatory minimums for low-level crimes and clarifies that mandatory sentences for firearms used during a drug crime apply only to repeat offenders. Not every aspect of the bill is a reduction in sentencing. It also issues a handful of new mandatory minimum sentences for domestic abusers who cross state lines, people who export arms to blacklisted countries or terrorist groups, and dealers and traffickers of heroin-laced fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that is significantly more potent and deadly. The terms of the criminal-justice bill are largely the same as legislation Grassley and Durbin introduced last year that drew 37 Senate co-sponsors, 17 of them Republicans. But Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), under pressure from then-Sen. Sessions and others, never put it on the floor for a vote. Now Sessions is expected to angle against the legislation from his perch in the Trump administration, where earlier this year in a memo he ordered federal prosecutors to seek "the most serious, readily provable offense . . . those that carry the most substantial guidelines sentence, including mandatory minimum sentences." [Sessions issues sweeping new criminal charging policy] Drug trafficking is an inherently dangerous and violent business, Sessions said at the time. Sessions said that his order was meant to focus resources on the most hardened criminals. But the directives blanket approach effectively upended an Obama-era policy of avoiding pursuing charges for certain criminals that would result in long prison sentences. Faith in mandatory minimum sentencing was more widely held during the height of the war on drugs in the 1980s and 1990s. But in more recent years, members of both political parties have argued that meting out the toughest possible punishment to all offenders, even for low-level drug crimes, is filling jails with people who do not need to be incarcerated, at a high cost to the public, financially and socially. Members of the Senate Judiciary Committee have spent five years hammering out the specifics of the criminal-justice bill that was reintroduced Wednesday. Mandatory minimum sentences were once seen as a strong deterrent. In reality they have too often been unfair, fiscally irresponsible and a threat to public safety, Durbin said in a statement accompanying the release of the bill. Given tight budgets and overcrowded prison cells, our country must reform these outdated and ineffective laws that have cost American taxpayers billions of dollars. The reach of the Senates bill is limited. It would apply only to federal courts, while the bulk of low-level drug offenses are prosecuted in state courts. Should the legislation pass, however, it will be a pivotal moment for sentencing-overhaul efforts nationally. For now, senators backing the bill are working to build their list of sponsors to impress on leaders particularly McConnell that the effort has a critical mass of support and can pass. They are also inviting input from the administration. Thus far, Sessions has not been the Trump administrations point person on criminal-justice policies instead, senators have been speaking periodically with the presidents son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner about the legislation. Formal hearings on the legislation are also expected, though none have been scheduled. This bipartisan compromise ensures that these consequences fit their crimes by targeting violent and career criminals who prey on the innocent while giving nonviolent offenders with minimal criminal histories a better chance to become productive members of society, Grassley said in a statement released with the bill. This bill strikes the right balance of improving public safety and ensuring fairness in the criminal justice system. Bill sponsors include Sens. Mike Lee (R-Utah), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.), Patrick J. Leahy (D-Vt.), Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Roy Blunt (R-Mo.). Sari Horwitz contributed to this report. Read more at PowerPost A group of male greater sage grouses perform mating rituals for a female grouse, not pictured, on a lake outside Walden, Colo. (David Zalubowski/AP) The Trump administration took another step in reopening a conservation controversy over the sage grouse a chickenlike bird whose fate squabbling environmentalists and Western states alike thought the Obama administration had resolved. On Thursday, the Bureau of Land Management issued a formal notice of its intent to reconsider a plan to protect the greater sage grouse, a Western bird that makes its home in the sea of sagebrush that stretches from California to Colorado. The complex conservation plan was born out of negotiations between the Interior Department, the BLMs parent agency, and Western governors, who sought to keep the bird off the endangered species list and avoid the stringent restrictions such a listing would impose on states. So together, states and the federal government developed 98 sage grouse habitat management plans in 10 states. But the Interior Department, now under new management, considered the Obama-era deal to be out of balance. To see if they limit jobs and energy development, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke asked in June for a review of plans to protect the sage grouse. Published in August, a 53-page report concluded that management responsibility for the bird, known for its flamboyant mating dance, should be shifted to the states. The BLM is committed to being a good neighbor and cooperating with its partners at all levels of government, BLM acting director Michael D. Nedd said in a statement, adding that the agency was particularly interested in hearing from Western governors. But some Western governors, including the two co-chairs of the interstate Sage-Grouse Task Force, already have expressed their reservations about the Interior Departments review. We understand that you are considering changing the Departments approach to sage-grouse, moving from a habitat management model to one that sets population objectives for the states, Govs. Matt Mead (R-Wyo.) and John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) said in a May 26 letter to Zinke. We are concerned that this is not the right decision. Yet two weeks later, Zinke kicked off the review. And Mead, at least, is still apprehensive. We cant have wholesale changes in wildlife management every four or eight years, he told his states Casper Star-Tribune this week. I dont think that is the best way to sustain populations or provide the necessary predictability to industry and business in our states. On Thursday, environmental groups were even more direct, immediately condemning the decision. They dont seem to care what the public or states want, said Nada Culver, a senior counsel at the Wilderness Society, noting that the BLM has acknowledged that more than 350 species of plants and animals depend on the sage grass ecosystem. We all like to talk about the funny little bird, she added. But the bird is not alone here. Whit Fosburgh, president of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, said part of the apprehension in the West came from fear that rolling back protections could shrink the sage grouses numbers and lead to an endangered species listing. If they go too far in unraveling the basic framework of the agreement, he said, it will lead to a listing. Thats what everyone was trying to avoid. Still, industry groups, including the National Mining Association and the Western Energy Alliance, praised Interiors announcement. This damaging and unnecessary ban would have barred mining on 10 million acres of mineral-rich lands, further increasing our import dependence, NMA President Hal Quinn said in a statement. Read more at PowerPost An earlier version of the story misstated the period covered by the inspector general's review. The new TIGTA report examines cases between 2004 and 2013. The previous report examined cases between 2010 and 2012. A federal watchdog has identified scores of cases in which the Internal Revenue Service may have targeted liberal-leaning groups for extra scrutiny based on their names or political leanings, a finding that could undermine claims that conservatives were unfairly targeted under President Barack Obama. The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) reviewed cases between 2004 and 2013, which includes the period TIGTA previously examined in a 2013 report that faulted the IRS for using inappropriate political criteria to select groups for heightened scrutiny. That earlier report found that 96 groups with names referencing Tea Party, Patriot or 9/12 were selected for intensive review between May 2010 and May 2012, and the House Ways and Means Committee later identified another 152 right-leaning groups that were subjected to scrutiny. Those findings fueled accusations by Republican lawmakers that the Obama administration engaged in politically motivated targeting of conservatives. [Everything you need to know about the IRS scandal in one FAQ] But Democrats have long challenged those claims, arguing that liberal-leaning groups were given close scrutiny alongside the conservative groups. The 2013 TIGTA report, they argued, was based on selective criteria that omitted numerous nonconservative groups that were also subjected to close IRS review. The new report examines a broader range of criteria used by the IRS. It does not characterize the politics of the groups that were selected for scrutiny, a TIGTA spokeswoman emphasized Wednesday. But many of the 17 criteria the report examined had obvious political overtones including affiliation with the now-defunct Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN), as well as names referencing Progressive, Green Energy, Medical Marijuana, and Occupy. Together, the watchdog identified 146 cases in which the IRS examined groups for suspicion of engaging in disallowed political activity using those criteria. Eighty-three of those were definitively chosen for scrutiny because of the selection criteria, the inspector general found; the report could not definitively determine how the other cases were chosen. The Washington Post reviewed a version of the TIGTA report dated Sept. 28 that has been circulated to various lawmakers and committees on Capitol Hill. The full report is set to be released to the public Thursday. The new report reiterates the inspector generals earlier criticism of the IRS review process at the time, calling it inappropriate to target groups for scrutiny based on their names rather than on actual evidence of illicit political activity that would leave them ineligible for tax exemptions. [House GOP leaders final report on IRS targeting accuses agency of culture of bias] Groups that were selected for review waited months years, in some cases for their applications to be reviewed and were subjected to onerous and, in some cases, improper requests for information on their donors and activities. For instance, IRS personnel were told starting in 2010 to watch out for groups that had affiliations with ACORN, a national network of community-based organizations that had collapsed amid allegations of wrongdoing by conservative activists. Ultimately, at least 13 applications for tax exemptions were flagged for scrutiny based on possible ACORN ties, and most of those groups waited over a year for their cases to be resolved, the report said mirroring many of the allegations leveled regarding conservative groups. The report does not make recommendations for further changes to IRS policy, noting that the agency has completely revamped the process for reviewing tax-exempt applications since the period in question. Other entities have examined the IRSs handling of nonprofit groups at the time and concluded that conservatives were affected disproportionately. The Senate Finance Committee, for instance, concluded in 2015 that most of the groups whose applications were given extra scrutiny were Tea Party and conservative groups but also acknowledged that some left-leaning groups experienced lengthy processing delays and inappropriate and burdensome requests for information. [IRS admits targeting conservatives for tax scrutiny in 2012 election] Four years after the targeting allegations prompted the resignation or retirement of three top IRS officials, the controversy has continued to simmer in Republican circles. GOP lawmakers this year pressed the Justice Department under President Trump to revisit the matter and prosecute former IRS official Lois Lerner, who directed the unit that screened organizations for tax exemptions, for obstruction of justice. In a letter to congressional officials last month, Assistant Attorney General Stephen Boyd said that the Justice Department determined that reopening the criminal investigation would not be appropriate based on the available evidence. Lerner has denied any criminal wrongdoing. House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady (R-Tex.) lambasted the decision. It sends the message that the same legal, ethical, and Constitutional standards we all live by do not apply to Washington political appointees who will now have the green light to target Americans for their political beliefs and mislead investigators without ever being held accountable for their lawlessness, he said in a Sept. 8 statement. Brady said in a statement Wednesday that the new TIGTA report reinforces what government watchdogs and congressional investigators have confirmed time and time again: bureaucrats at the IRS, such as Lois Lerner, arbitrarily and haphazardly administered the tax code and targeted taxpayers based on political ideology. He pledged to continue holding the IRS accountable for their actions. Rep. Sander M. Levin (D-Mich.), who served as the top Democrat on the Ways and Means Committee during the height of the IRS scandal, said Wednesday that the report confirmed political manipulation by the Republicans. They were trying to squeeze whatever political juice they could out of this, he said. Incompetence is different than a political witch hunt. There never was one, at least one that anybody could identify. Read more at PowerPost Roy Moore didnt travel to Washington on Wednesday to kiss and make up with the Republican leaders who opposed his nomination to fill the Senate seat formerly held by Attorney General Jeff Sessions. He came to continue the revolt. Moore didnt meet with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) or stop by the White House to make nice with the forces that tried to defeat him. Instead, he huddled with Stephen K. Bannon, President Trumps former chief strategist and one of Moores most outspoken advocates, and spent time in the office of a House Republican from Alabama. The latest skirmish in the escalating war for the soul of the GOP was more than awkward: It was a window into what might be coming for Republicans next year, when hard-right conservatives emboldened by Moores runoff victory last week against Sen. Luther Strange (R-Ala.) are likely to target still more establishment incumbents. It also has immediate and potentially dire implications for the GOPs slim working majority in the Senate. Although Moore still faces a general election on Dec. 12, he is widely seen as the front-runner in that race, given Alabamas heavy conservative tilt. The growing hostilities threaten the effort by Senate GOP leaders to foster enough unity in their ranks to pass a sweeping rewrite of the nations tax laws which they are wagering is the only thing left that can reverse the political damage the party has sustained this year. Moore is seen as a wild card who could complicate, if not derail, that task. The controversial former judges Washington debut as the Alabama GOP nominee was highly unusual. His trip was a surprise to many party officials, who said they did not hear from him or his team in advance. [Republicans are keeping Roy Moore and his controversial views at arms length] Rather than meeting with McConnell, Moore was on the House side of the Capitol on Wednesday. In a brief interview as he left the office of Rep. Robert B. Aderholt in the afternoon, Moore said he had no meetings set up with McConnell or members of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, the Senate majoritys campaign arm, which spent millions trying to defeat Moore in the primary. Nothing confirmed, he said casually, as an aide tried to head off questions. Asked why he decided to come to Washington, Moore simply replied: Beautiful place. In the evening, Moore met with the NRSC chairman, Sen. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), according to a Republican close to Gardner and a second Republican familiar with the talk who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe the closed-door session. Moores campaign declined to comment. The meeting appeared to be hastily arranged, given Moores afternoon remark and Gardners uncertainty earlier in the day, as he and other Republicans struggled to save face. "I haven't looked at the schedule I don't know that yet," Gardner said around midday, when asked whether he planned to meet with Moore. Even Sen. Richard C. Shelby (R-Ala.) was left in the dark. Once he calls me, Ill meet with him, said Shelby. He said he had not spoken to Moore since his Sept. 26 victory over Strange. Shelby, McConnell, Gardner and much of the mainstream wing of the party aggressively backed Strange, who was appointed to fill the Sessions seat. So did Trump. But Moores pitch as a strict Christian conservative and Washington outsider, which was bolstered by support from Bannon, proved to be the better fit for the restive primary electorate that had grown frustrated with Republican lawmakers. After eight months in which the Republican-controlled government fell short of its seven-year goal of dismantling the Affordable Care Act and failed to produce any major legislation, party officials are bracing for a similar backlash in other places across the country. We want outcomes. And clearly not getting to a point where we think were moving health-care in the right direction was very disappointing, said Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.). While Stranges most prominent backers promptly endorsed Moore after he won, he has shown considerably less interest in aligning with them. There are strong hints of the company Moore plans to keep if he wins in December. On election night, he named three senators most known for taking defiant stands against GOP leaders, saying that he had spoken with each before giving his victory speech: Rand Paul (R-Ky.), Mike Lee (R-Utah) and Ted Cruz (R-Tex.). Moores itinerary on his first trip to Washington reflected the theme, with his Wednesday evening plans expected to include Lee and Cruz, and a private meeting planned with Paul on Capitol Hill on Thursday. Former South Carolina Republican senator Jim DeMint, a longtime McConnell foil now running the Conservative Partnership Institute, plans to meet Thursday with Moore to talk policy, said several people who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss private plans. One of the reasons Republicans spent so much money to defeat Moore was a fear that his views would make it harder to strike compromises needed to pass legislative priorities such as tax cuts. Good luck moving President Trumps growth agenda forward, Scott Reed, the senior political strategist for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, said last week after the election. The deadline for tax reform just became December 12th. [Who is Doug Jones, and can he defeat Roy Moore in conservative Alabama?] By some measures, Republican prospects for passing a bill by then are slim, given the existing challenges associated with wrangling enough support among current GOP lawmakers who, even without Moore in the mix, have shown a tendency to disagree on major policy decisions. Ive maintained all along, contrary to some of our colleagues who have felt that tax reforms going to be a lot easier than health care, that tax reform is going to be enormously complex and challenging, said Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), a top McConnell lieutenant. At Moores meeting with Bannon on Wednesday morning, the two men compared notes on messaging and political strategy for the coming general-election fight against Democratic nominee Doug Jones. The judge obviously really likes and respects Steve, and Steve really likes and respects the judge, said Andrew Surabian, senior adviser to the conservative advocacy group Great America Alliance, who attended the meeting Wednesday. Some Republicans worry that Moore is a general-election liability who could alienate moderate voters with his controversial positions and past. He was twice ousted as chief justice of the Alabama Supreme Court once for defying the U.S. Supreme Court's legalization of same-sex marriage and another time for refusing to remove a monument to the Ten Commandments installed at the courthouse. Bannon and other Trump loyalists are bent on repeating their success in Alabama in some of the 2018 contests already taking shape. The White House has also signaled hostility toward several incumbent senators. [Roy Moore disrupts U.S. Senate race in Alabama and prepares for new level of defiance in Washington] In remarks to Republican donors Tuesday, Vice President Pence's chief of staff, Nick Ayers, endorsed a "purge" of GOP lawmakers disloyal to Trump's agenda. Politico first reported the comments. Mica Mosbacher, a Republican fundraiser who attended the event, said many attendees agreed with the sentiment. They are extremely disappointed in the do-nothing Congress, said Mosbacher, who is affiliated with America First Policies, a pro-Trump organization. But in some corners of Capitol Hill, Ayerss remarks were met with a different response. Asked whether the comments amounted to an effective strategy for the party, Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) responded, Probably not, with a tone suggesting the answer should be obvious. But in a yet another sign that not all Republican senators are on the same page, one of Scotts colleagues reacted very differently. I can tell you that people are upset that Republican senators are not backing the agenda of this president, said Sen. David Perdue (R-Ga.), a Trump ally. Moores ascent and the broader GOP war also jeopardizes Trumps attempt to build a bipartisan agreement to protect thousands of young undocumented immigrants from deportation, according to several Republican aides on Capitol Hill. While GOP lawmakers met with Trump this week to talk about framing an agreement on conservative terms, congressional aides said more Republicans may still be wary of backing a deal on that issue because they fear primary repercussions if they align against the far-right wing of the party. White House officials announced no plans for a Moore visit. Aides did not expect that to change, although they noted that the president is busy with the federal response to Las Vegas and recent hurricanes. While Moore has been highly critical of McConnell, he has been warm to Trump, even as the president campaigned for his opponent. McConnells office confirmed that Moore and the majority leader spoke briefly by phone the day after Moores victory. But on Wednesday, others were getting face time. Aderholt, after meeting with Moore in his office Wednesday, played down the significance of the gathering. Just a meet-and-greet, he said. Michael Scherer and Robert Costa contributed to this report. Read more at PowerPost The long-simmering debate in this country over gun rights took a dramatic turn Thursday when the National Rifle Association unexpectedly joined an effort to restrict a device used to accelerate gunfire in the Las Vegas massacre. The NRAs announcement gave political cover to a growing number of Republicans who have indicated a willingness to consider regulating bump stocks, devices that allow a legal semiautomatic rifle to mimic the rapid discharge of a fully automatic weapon. Less clear is whether the move signals an opening for further action on an issue that has divided the nation and produced virtually no new restrictions in recent years despite a steady stream of mass shootings. The NRA believes that devices designed to allow semi-automatic rifles to function like fully-automatic rifles should be subject to additional regulations, read a statement issued by the powerful organization Thursday. Federal law enforcement officials have said that Las Vegas gunman Stephen Paddock fired weapons outfitted with bump stocks Sunday, leaving 58 dead and hundreds injured in a matter of minutes. Experts have said that audio of the attack makes clear that the shooter unleashed a torrent of bullets faster than he could have fired without adapting his rifles. As the countrys largest gun rights group, the NRA exerts considerable influence among conservative voters who support the organization and on the GOPs approach to gun policy. Many Republicans have operated under the fear that opposing NRA positions could lead to primary challenges. But public opinion is also on the minds of Republicans as they head into a midterm election year that is expected to be contentious. Regulating bump stocks could help the party combat perceptions that it has done nothing to address the mass shootings. The sheer carnage of Sundays attack is fueling lawmakers interest in the issue, said Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.). Look at Las Vegas. Thats how I account for it, McCain told reporters. Americans are horrified by it. Theyre horrified, and they should be. Still, even after the groups announcement Thursday, only a handful of Republicans had stepped forward to consider examining bump stocks. [Gunman used modified weapons, tiny cameras to carry out attack] House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.), House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) all said Thursday that lawmakers will consider further restrictions on the devices. More than a dozen Senate Republicans said they were open to the possibility. A few of Congresss most conservative lawmakers as well as some of its most avid supporters of gun rights said the restrictions were worth consideration. I didnt know what a bump stock was until this week, Ryan said at a news conference in Chestertown, Md. A lot of us are coming up to speed. . . . Having said that, fully automatic weapons have been outlawed for many, many years. This seems to be a way of going around that, so obviously we need to look how we can tighten up the compliance with this law so that fully automatic weapons are banned. White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders welcomed the NRAs position and said President Trump wants to be part of a conversation about cracking down on bump stocks. Were open to having that conversation, Sanders said during Thursdays White House press briefing. We think we should have that conversation, and we want to be part of it moving forward. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) stuck out as one of the only members of Republican congressional leadership who had not indicated he was on board. He told reporters Tuesday that it is completely inappropriate to politicize an event like this and declined to answer further questions on the subject. The NRAs position Thursday reflected an about-face on a long-standing position of opposing most gun restrictions, a position founded on the philosophy of the slippery slope that allowing such legislation would beget still more, until law-abiding gun owners were deprived of their Second Amendment right to bear arms. On Thursday, the NRA blamed the Obama administration for authorizing the sale of bump stocks in 2010, based in part on the manufacturer's claim that the device was intended to assist people with "limited mobility" in their hands. At the time, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives concluded that the bump stock "has no automatically functioning mechanical parts or springs and performs no automatic mechanical function when installed," according to a letter from the bureau that the manufacturer, Slide Fire Solutions, posted to its website. "Accordingly, we find that the 'bump-stock' is a firearm part and is not regulated as a firearm under Gun Control Act or the National Firearms Act." In the joint statement from the NRAs executive vice president and chief executive, Wayne LaPierre, and Chris W. Cox, executive director of the NRA Institute for Legislative Action, the group called on ATF to again review whether these devices comply with federal law. [The forgotten NRA leader who despised the promiscuous toting of guns] Advocates for greater regulations on guns questioned the sincerity of the NRA and Republican leaders, given their unwillingness to support more-substantial restrictions such as an assault-weapon ban. The gun lobby has for years boosted devices that effectively convert rifles into machine guns and boasted that you can get away with guns that mimic fully automatic fire, said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety, the gun-control advocacy group founded by former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg. So its hardly a surprise that theyre calling for a review of bump stocks by a friendly regulatory agency rather than legislation from Congress. The organization also does not have long-standing connections to the companies that make bump stocks, which do not have much history of lobbying. A recent search of contributions to federal political campaigns, for instance, turned up none from Slide Fire. And few lawmakers knew what a bump stock was before this week. Talk of the device has taken over Capitol Hill since the shooting, the worst in modern American history. At least a dozen of the 23 firearms recovered from Paddocks hotel room were modified to include the accessories, which can be purchased online for a few hundred dollars. Some lawmakers turned to YouTube to watch videos showing how the devices work. Thats what I did yesterday, said Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine). I dont think most people in the Senate were familiar with this. Support for a possible ban has started to coalesce around several pieces of legislation. One measure, unveiled Wednesday by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), would ban the sale, transfer and manufacture of bump stocks, trigger cranks and other accessories that can accelerate a semiautomatic rifles rate of fire. [Will Congress ban bump stocks, a gun accessory used in the Las Vegas attack?] Feinsteins bill had support from 38 Democrats as of Thursday morning, including Sens. Bill Nelson (Fla.) and Claire McCaskill (Mo.), who both face uphill fights for reelection next year in conservative states. The notion that were allowing an add-on that allows people to convert a semiautomatic weapon to an automatic weapon weve got to address that, McCaskill said. In the House, a bill from Rep. Carlos Curbelo (R-Fla.) would focus on bump stocks but leave out restrictions on other gun accessories. Curbelo said he had been flooded with requests from Republicans who want to sign on to the measure, which he planned to introduce Friday. I think we are on the verge of a breakthrough where when it comes to sensible gun policy, said Curbelo, a moderate Republican who represents a Miami-area district. Rep. David N. Cicilline (D-R.I.) introduced legislation similar to Feinsteins in the House. It had attracted 140 sponsors as of Wednesday night. [The NRAs game-changing decision to disarm on bump stocks] Democrats electoral map might complicate the debate. Ten Democratic senators, including McCaskill, face reelection bids in mostly rural states that Trump easily won in the 2016 election. Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.), another such Democrat, said in a statement that she did not know much about bump stocks, and I first want to learn more about them. Sen. Joe Manchin III (D-W.Va.) said that Feinsteins idea sounds sensible and reasonable to me, but he planned to consult hunters in his state before taking a position. Sen. Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.) issued a statement: This is a critical and timely issue. I am very concerned about bump stocks, and I am closely reviewing recently proposed legislation. In a sign of the far-reaching interest in the issue, even Sen. James M. Inhofe (R-Okla.), an ardent conservative, suggested he is open to supporting the bill. Not yet, he said. I think I probably will eventually. [Frantic switchboard calls, geometry of fire led police to killer] On Thursday, a pair of lawmakers began an effort that could preempt legislation on bump stocks. Two House Republicans with military backgrounds, Reps. Mike Gallagher (Wis.) and Adam Kinzinger (Ill.), were gathering signatures for a bipartisan letter asking ATF to revisit its 2010 administrative determination that bump stocks are legal. A group of Democrats made the same request in their own letter to ATF. Former ATF assistant director Michael Bouchard said in an interview that bump stocks serve no purpose other than someone to have it and say, This is cool. It serves no purpose for anything, said Bouchard, who ran the agencys regulatory and criminal field operations. Not for sporting, not for target practice, not for hunting. David Chipman, a former longtime ATF official who now works as a senior adviser to the gun-control group Americans for Responsible Solutions, said firearm technology has outpaced the law. Our legislators move at a crawl, and our technology is moving at warp speed, he said. Aaron Davis, Sean Sullivan, Sari Horwitz and Paul Kane contributed to this report. Read more at PowerPost A court sketch shows Abdelkader Merah, left, and Fettah Malki, right, in a Paris courtroom during their trial for complicity in a series of shootings commited by Merahs brother in 2012. (Benoit Peyrucq/AFP/Getty Images) This was the case that started it all: the first chapter in France's struggle with homegrown Islamist violence. In 2012, between March 11 and March 19, Mohammed Merah, a 23-year-old French citizen of Algerian origins, murdered seven people: first three French police officers, and then a rabbi and three children at a Jewish school in the southwestern city of Toulouse. The Merah affair was a shock at the time pointing to an attacker raised in France rather than a militant who slipped into the country to carry out previous Islamist-linked strikes for groups such as Lebanons Hezbollah or factions that grew out of Algerias civil war in the 1990s. In the years since Merahs bloodshed, the episode has come to reflect the elements in many other recent attacks: youth against authority, Islamist extremist against Jew, and, perhaps most of all, French against French. This week, the Merah case was brought to trial in Paris, although Merah was killed at the end of his rampage. On the stand now are two of his alleged accomplices: Fettah Malki, 34, accused of providing Merah with a weapon, and Merahs older brother, Abdelkader Merah, 35, suspected of helping his sibling steal the scooter later used in the attacks. The elder Merah was born in France, and Malki came to France from Algeria when he was 11. [Murder of Jewish woman in France ignites debate over word terrorism] But for many, the trial is about more than seeking convictions. Its real purpose is seeking answers about the origins of a relentless wave of terrorism in France ranging from major carnage in Paris and Nice to smaller strikes such as a knife slashing that killed two people in Marseille last Sunday. This trial is historic, said Patrick Klugman, a lawyer representing Samuel Sandler, the father and grandfather of Merahs Jewish victims, in opening remarks Monday. Merah is dead, but it is essential to understand what happened for the memory of the victims and their families, he added. Jonathan Sandler, a rabbi, was 30 when he was killed. His sons, Gabriel and Arieh Sandler, were 5 and 3, respectively. If convicted, Malki faces up to 20 years in prison, and Abdelkader Merah up to a life sentence. Verdicts are expected Nov. 3. In recent years, no other country in Western Europe has been hit by the same frequency of terrorist violence. Gilles Kepel, an acclaimed French political scientist, recently observed in a best-selling book that Islamist-inspired violence is not exclusively French, but the French case is stronger and deeper than those of other neighboring countries. Since the beginning of 2015 alone, nearly 240 people have been killed in attacks linked to Islamist groups such as the Islamic State. Significantly, the majority of perpetrators have been longtime legal residents in France or French citizens. Others have had passports from other European Union countries. [Why populists didnt win in Frances presidential election] Youth radicalization has been a particularly perplexing problem for authorities in France, which has Western Europes largest Muslim population. More French citizens have decamped to fight for the Islamic State in Iraq, Syria or other locations across the Middle East, according to terrorism experts. Of the roughly 6,000 fighters who left Europe to join the Islamic State, approximately 1,800 were French. Merahs attack believed to be linked to al-Qaeda predated the emergence of the Islamic State. But his actions have inspired a lot of radicalized individuals . . . He was someone who by his actions encouraged so many others to follow, said Jean-Charles Brisard, director of the Paris-based Center for the Analysis of Terrorism, a security think tank. Notably, police records show that Merah was mentioned in social media posts by many in the immediate circle of Abdelhamid Abaaoud, the Belgian-Moroccan mastermind of the November 2015 Paris attacks, which claimed 130 lives. For others especially France's Jewish community, the largest in Europe the Merah case foreshadowed the anti-Semitism often on display in a number of other terrorist attacks that followed. In January 2015, following the attack on the offices of the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo, a related terrorist affiliated with the Islamic State targeted a kosher supermarket on the outskirts of Paris, killing four people. In April 2017, Sarah Halimi, an orthodox Jewish schoolteacher, was murdered in her Paris apartment and thrown from the window. Those attacks and others spurred a spike in immigration to Israel by French Jews, although departures have recently dropped. "This trial is also about anti-Semitism that kills and wants to put our modern societies in danger," said Francis Kalifat, the director of the Representative Council of French-Jewish Institutions, France's largest Jewish advocacy organization, in a statement. Read more Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world Like Washington Post World on Facebook and stay updated on foreign news An initial version of this article incorrectly referred to the possible target of an electronic disruption that also affected cellphone service in Western Latvia. It is Swedens Oland Island, not Finlands Aland Islands. Troops take part in joint Russian-Belarusian military exercises near the town of Borisov, Belarus, on Sept. 20, 2017. (Sergei Gapon/AFP/Getty Images) Latvia's intelligence services are examining a partial disruption of the nation's cellular network and emergency-services hotline that may have been a fresh example of Russia's electronic-warfare capabilities, Latvian and NATO officials said. The break in cellphone service in western Latvia and the 16-hour outage of the country's equivalent of 911 came around the time of recent major Russian military exercises that were a powerful demonstration of the Kremlin's ability to wage modern war. If confirmed as attacks, the electronic breakdowns would show another capability in the Kremlin's arsenal not just the reborn, muscular tank army and the accurate long-range missiles that were on display during the "Zapad" exercises, but also the capacity to disrupt civilian communications remotely. Such a tool could severely hamper Western authorities' ability to organize a quick civilian response in case of war. NATO officials already are concerned that Russia's potent antiaircraft missile technology gives the Kremlin effective control of most of Baltic airspace if there were a conflict. [What would a Russia-NATO war look like? Russias wargaming it right now.] Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics said authorities do not believe their country was directly targeted in the Aug. 30 incident that disrupted cellular service in the western Kurzeme region for seven hours. Instead, he said, Latvia may have been in the path of a broader electronic disruption directed at Swedens Oland Island. NATO officials said that Russia possesses electronic-warfare assets in its Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad and that at least one ship with that technology was in the Baltic Sea during the war games. Our authorities are analyzing a pattern of communications disruption that appears to have originated during the Zapad exercise against Oland Island, with some direct impact to Latvia, Rinkevics said. The island is located in a key spot in the Baltic Sea. Sweden, which is not a member of NATO, held major military exercises last month that included the participation of U.S. forces. Rinkevics said Latvian authorities also are examining possible Russian involvement in a Sept. 13 outage of Latvias emergency phone hotline. Nothing has yet been proved, he said. Spokesmen for the Swedish Defense Ministry and the Swedish Armed Forces said they were not aware of any cellular disruption on their territory at the time of the incidents in Latvia. Officials also are looking at other explanations for the outages, which one characterized as not posing a major security threat. During the Zapad exercises, which ended Sept. 20, there were some unusual things going on, Rinkevics said. It hasnt happened since the end of the exercises. It didnt happen three months ago. I wonder why. He said that the Latvian foreign ministry has not formally complained to its Russian counterpart because the intelligence services have not yet made a conclusive assessment. Two other senior NATO officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss preliminary assessments of the exercises, echoed the Latvian concerns while also cautioning that Western intelligence services have yet to reach conclusions. A third senior NATO official said the alliance believes Russia used jamming technology and drones during the exercises that it has also used in Ukraine and Syria. The Russian Defense Ministry did not respond to a request for comment. Sept. 14 was the officially declared start of the joint exercises in Belarus and Russia's western regions, but senior NATO diplomats said military activity intensified weeks before. NATO leaders say Russian military planners evaded transparency requirements by claiming that a single major exercise was actually a series of smaller ones that fell below reporting levels designated by international agreements. The Kremlin denies the accusation. [Heres what pro-democracy activists in Belarus fear most about Russias war games] NATO allies watched the exercises carefully to learn more about the Russian militarys modernization efforts and also to guard against any possible incursion into allied territory. In the end, allied officials say, between 40,000 and 60,000 troops participated in the exercises, well above the 13,000 threshold that triggers transparency requirements. This was a demonstration of muscle. This was not defensive but offensive, Rinkevics said, echoing the broader Baltic and NATO assessment. The U.S. Armys senior commander in Europe, Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges, said Russia has been honing its cyberwarfare capabilities since the 2014 annexation of Ukraines Crimean Peninsula. It has used electronic blocking and jamming techniques against the Ukrainian military, which has fought Russian-backed forces in eastern Ukraine since shortly after Russia took Crimea. Theyve put on display a significant electronic-warfare capability that is powerful, sophisticated, Hodges told reporters in Brussels. A lot of this was on display during the exercise. Read more: The Baltics tangled geography that has both sides feeling surrounded This tiny stretch of countryside is all that separates Baltic states from Russian envelopment Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world Like Washington Post World on Facebook and stay updated on foreign news Iraqi forces have reclaimed the town of Hawijah from the Islamic State, Iraq's prime minister said Thursday, though fighting continued in pockets of the last significant urban territory controlled by the militant group. Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi made the announcement from Paris, where he was meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron to discuss a growing crisis over an independence referendum held by Iraqs Kurds. Macron offered to mediate between the Iraqi central government and the Kurds, even as other regional powers have taken steps to isolate the Kurdish region in retaliation for last weeks vote. France has been a traditional proponent of Kurdish self-determination, but Macron said Iraqs territorial integrity must be maintained dashing hopes by Kurdish officials that France would become one of the few countries to support a possible break from Baghdad. Hawijah, about 140 miles north of Baghdad, also marked an important test of military coordination between Kurdish forces, known as peshmerga, and Iraqi government troops. The town is in Kirkuk province, an oil-rich region that is hotly disputed by both Arabs and Kurds and has been a focal point in decades-old discord between Baghdad and Kurdish leaders over borders. [The Islamic State is on the run in Iraq] The United States opposed the Kurdish referendum, claiming it would threaten cooperation between Iraqi and Kurdish forces in the fight against the Islamic State at a time when the extremist group is reeling from consecutive military defeats. In a statement, the U.S.-led coalition fighting the Islamic State said some 1,000 Islamic State fighters surrendered during the fight for Hawijah a notable figure because Iraqi and American officials had estimated there were some 1,500 fighters in the town before the battle was launched. Hundreds of suspected militants are now being held at a Kurdish intelligence facility in Dibis, about 27 miles northeast of Hawijah. Todays victory demonstrates we are stronger together, and this coalition remains committed to supporting our partners in the tough fight ahead as we continue our mission to defeat ISIS, Lt. Gen. Paul E. Funk II, a senior American commander, said in a statement Thursday congratulating the Iraqi and Kurdish forces. Hawijah was a strategic position for the Islamic State, also known as ISIS and ISIL, giving it a base in central Iraq to launch attacks in surrounding provinces. The battle to reclaim the town was launched Sept. 21 and involved a mix of Iraqi forces backed by American airstrikes. The fight for Hawijah was one of the few remaining areas in which Iraqi and Kurdish parties were cooperating. Last week, Kurdish authorities held a unilateral referendum on independence, which was approved by nearly 93 percent of voters in the semiautonomous Kurdish region of northern Iraq. The vote was opposed by the Iraqi central government, the United States, Turkey, Iran and others. It has set off a string of recriminations and threats of a total economic blockade of the Kurdish region by Iraq, Turkey and Iran all of which have held military exercises as a warning to Kurdish officials. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told Turkish media Thursday that Turkey, Iran and Iraq would decide together whether to choke off the flow of oil from the Kurdish region. [A year after ISIS] The Popular Mobilization Forces, an umbrella group of militias aligned with the Iraqi government, strongly opposed the Kurdish independence referendum as well. They participated in the Hawijah battle, putting them in proximity to Kurdish peshmerga forces and raising fears of clashes between the groups. In a joint news conference with Macron, Abadi said there is no military option to resolve the dispute between Baghdad and the Kurdish region. The relatively swift fight in Hawijah has mimicked Augusts battle for the northern city of Tal Afar, where the militants put up mild resistance before surrendering or withdrawing. One suspect, who spoke in the presence of his captors, said he and others had fled toward Kurdish lines because they feared they would be treated more far harshly by Iraqi troops. The battles for Hawijah and Tal Afar mark a dramatic turnaround in the Islamic State's ability to hold ground and inflict significant damage in Iraq. Iraqi and U.S. officials involved in the campaign to eradicate the group said the Islamic State was exhausted and severely depleted during the grueling nine-month battle for Mosul, the largest city in northern Iraq and the most important territory the militants held after their 2014 sweep of northern and central Iraq. Also facing the ongoing battles to evict the group from the Syrian cities of Raqqa and Deir al-Zour, the Islamic State has ceded roughly 90 percent of the territory it once controlled. In Iraq, the group now controls only a string of small towns in the vast desert of western Anbar province along the Syrian border. Iraqi forces launched a campaign there last month and expect a tough fight in an area that is difficult to control. It is in that porous border region that U.S. and Iraqi officials believe the group's leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, is hiding. Last week, the Islamic State released an audio recording purported to be of Baghdadi defying Russian claims that the reclusive leader was killed over the summer. El-Ghobashy reported from Cairo. Kareem Fahim in Dibis contributed to this report. Read more: Iraqi forces reclaim city of Tal Afar after rapid Islamic State collapse The Islamic State is on the run in Iraq, but some major battles remain Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world Like Washington Post World on Facebook and stay updated on foreign news It was different in the light of day. There was no sound of blaring sirens, no pop, pop, pop of gunfire, no screams. Just a quiet, sprawling lot of cars abandoned by those, like Kassidy Owen, who escaped with their lives. Its strange to hear the silence, Owen said, because all I remember was the noise. The 22-year-old was one of dozens of concertgoers who returned to the scene of the Route 91 Harvest festival on Wednesday morning to retrieve the vehicles they left behind as they fled from a gunman raining down bullets from high above in the tower of the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino across the street. Survivors of the deadly mass shooting in Las Vegas on Sunday needed their cars to move on with their lives to get back to work, to school, home. It was the first time they were returning to a scene that would forever alter them, when joy and celebration and music turned into bloodshed and chaos and horror. Before they could move forward, they had to go back to the place where they thought they were going to die. On the night of the shooting, Owen texted her mother at 10:14. Mom There is a shooter Mom Call me Its an active shooter People are dead Kassidy Owen, 22, left, and Taylor Schmidt, 21, both of Las Vegas, are shown on Wednesday. They survived the mass shooting Sunday evening, but the sounds of the gunshots haunt them. (Salwan Georges/The Washington Post) Owen had run to her car to hide and had tried to drive away, but she couldnt. People were running, bodies dropped to the ground, and cars bottlenecked in the parking lot. During a brief pause during more than 10 minutes of gunfire, she worried the lights of her SUV made everyone inside a shining target. Theyre shooting again! her best friends brother screamed. Turn off the car! Thats when she got out and fled. I just remember slamming the door and running, Owen said. [Frantic switchboard calls, geometry of fire, led police to killer on Mandalay Bays 32nd floor] Now, nearly three days later, she was back, sitting in the drivers seat of her SUV. Her eyes were puffy and red. This was a long way from over. You just keep hearing the gunshots in your head, Owen said. Survivors leave after picking up their cars from the Las Vegas venue where a mass shooting killed dozens and injured hundreds. (Salwan Georges/The Washington Post) Carlos Alfaro-Sandoval had jumped into the back of a police cruiser Wednesday morning with officers who escorted him through a lot cordoned off by police tape and fencing to look for his white truck. As he rode through, he noticed shattered glass on the ground, bullet holes in the concrete walls. It should be in that back parking where they had all the employees park with all those white tents, he told officers as they pulled up to a lot that was sectioned off. Thats unfortunately going to be the closed lot, the officer told him. They released cars from there but then the FBI thought there was going to be something related in the parking lot over there. Alfaro-Sandoval worked as a bartender at the country music festival. Upon hearing the gunfire, he briefly took cover but decided he had to start moving. He left his truck, backpack and tip money and just ran. [Girlfriend of Las Vegas gunman: It never occurred to me . . . that he was planning violence] Ive got a 4-month-old and a 7-year-old, Alfaro-Sandoval said. Thats why I ran. He was hoping to reunite with his truck Wednesday to start returning to a routine life. Not being able to access it meant one thing: Having to return yet again some other day. The sleep is not fun. You start seeing the little visions or hearing the pops and people falling and just blood, Alfaro-Sandoval said. Thats the worst part. We were just jumping over people who were laying down or trying to help people up, but they couldnt get up because they were . . . His voice trailed off, too traumatized to say it: dead. Stephen Charshafian, 59, speaks about Sunday nights mass shooting and recalls helping wounded people. He and his wife hid inside their SUV until hearing a bullet hit the car, so they ran. (Salwan Georges/The Washington Post) Before Wednesday, the last time Stephen Charshafian saw his maroon SUV, he and his wife were inside hoping to escape the rapid fire of bullets cutting through the night. There, the 59-year-old military veteran heard the strike of metal on metal. Charshafian knew that sound immediately. They werent safe from the rounds hurling toward them. It sounded like it had ripped right through the car, Charshafian said. He and his wife bailed and scrambled out into a neighborhood, leaving his wallet and cash inside the abandoned vehicle. Here he stood, again, on the same street where just days ago he had loaded wounded and bleeding concertgoers into the back of a Jeep and helped direct ambulances and traffic through the chaos. Charshafian choked back tears recalling the carnage and the brief moment he had been separated from his wife. Charshafian of Long Beach, Calif., had thought about moving to Las Vegas before the shooting because the schools are better, theres less graffiti, and its a cleaner place. Thats not going to happen now. I dont want to stay any longer than I have to, Charshafian said, his voice quaking. I need to get away from here. Charshafian had gone back to the lot twice in previous days before he was able to retrieve his Ford SUV on Wednesday. After inspecting a small dent beneath the license plate where it looked like a bullet left a scar Charshafian and his wife hopped in, finally able to drive away. Russian government hackers lifted details of U.S. cyber capabilities from a National Security Agency employee who was running Russian antivirus software on his computer, according to several individuals familiar with the matter. The employee had taken classified material home to work on it on his computer, and his use of Kaspersky Lab antivirus software enabled Russian hackers to see his files, the individuals said. The case, which dates to 2015 and has not been made public, remains under investigation by federal prosecutors. The NSA declined to comment on the breach, which was first reported by the Wall Street Journal. The employee involved was a U.S. citizen born in Vietnam and had worked at Tailored Access Operations, the elite hacking division of the NSA that develops tools to penetrate computers overseas to gather foreign intelligence, said the individuals, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing case. He was removed from the job in 2015, but was not thought to have taken the materials for malicious purposes such as handing them to a foreign spy agency, they said. The theft of the material enabled the Russian government to more easily detect and evade U.S. government cyberespionage operations, thwart defensive measures and track U.S. activities, the individuals said. It is the latest in a series of damaging breaches of the NSA in recent years and is among the first concrete indications of why the U.S. intelligence community believes that Kaspersky Lab software operates as a tool for Russian espionage. [U.S. moves to ban Kaspersky software in federal agencies amid concerns of Russian espionage] The breach serves as a stark warning not just to the federal government, but to states, local governments and the American public of the serious dangers of using Kaspersky software, said Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), a vocal critic of Kaspersky who has pushed for the softwares ban in federal networks. The material the employee took included hacking tools he was helping to develop to replace others that were considered compromised following the breach of NSA material by former contractor Edward Snowden, said one individual familiar with the matter. The Washington Post reported the 2015 removal of the employee last November. [Pentagon and intelligence community chiefs have urged Obama to remove the head of the NSA] The incident underscores the risks of using products as seemingly innocuous as antivirus software, which can be leveraged for national security purposes. The breach predates last years arrest of former NSA contractor Harold T. Martin III, who was accused by officials of carrying out what is said to be the largest theft of classified information in U.S. history. Martin pleaded not guilty this year to violating the Espionage Act and is awaiting trial. The intelligence community has long assessed that Kaspersky has ties to the Russian government. A Russian law requires telecommunications companies in the country to provide access to their networks. Kasperskys servers are located in Moscow, which means that customer data flowing through its servers passes through those same telecom providers networks, a person familiar with the matter told The Post. Kaspersky Lab said in a statement that it does not have inappropriate ties to the Russian government. Kaspersky Lab has not been provided any evidence substantiating the companys involvement in the alleged incident, the company said, and it is unfortunate that news coverage of unproven claims continue to perpetuate accusations about the company. Last month, the U.S. government moved to ban the use of Kaspersky security software by federal agencies over concerns it had ties to Kremlin cyberespionage activities. The Department of Homeland Security ordered civilian agencies to identify Kaspersky Lab software on their networks and remove it after 90 days unless otherwise directed. The government said the move was done on the grounds that Kaspersky had connections to the Russian government and that its software posed a security risk. Months earlier, the General Services Administration removed Kaspersky from its list of approved vendors, suggesting a software vulnerability existed with Kaspersky that could give Moscow backdoor access to the very systems the company said it protects. Its a lot harder to beat your opponent when theyre reading your playbook, and its even worse when someone on your team gives it to them, said Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.). Russia is a clear adversary in cyberspace and we cant afford these self-inflicted injuries. All antivirus products, including Kasperskys, run in similar fashion. The product is placed on a clients computer to detect malicious software. To keep the detection capability up to date, the software routinely connects to the antivirus company. That connection is a double-edged sword. It allows the software to be updated, but it also provides an opportunity for the company to inspect files on the computer and to remove them. At a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing in May, the chiefs of six major U.S. spy agencies all said they would not use Kaspersky software on their computers. The companys founder, Eugene Kaspersky, graduated from a KGB-supported cryptography school and had worked in Russian military intelligence. Shaheen has called for a hearing on the matter. The strong ties between Kaspersky Lab and the Kremlin are extremely alarming and have been well documented for some time, Shaheen said. Its astounding and deeply disturbing that the Russian government continues to have this tool at their disposal to harm the United States. [This story has been updated to reflect the employees U.S. citizenship.] Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has shown no signs of wavering in his push for marijuana legalization, which he promised in his successful election campaign two years ago. (Pool photo by Ukas Michael/Getty Images) Canada is set to become the first advanced industrialized nation to legalize and regulate marijuana from production to consumption by next July, but increasingly, Canadians are wondering: What's the hurry? The government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is pressing ahead with legislation to legalize cannabis, a move that a majority of the Canadian public supports. But stakeholders such as police chiefs and psychiatrists are urging caution and even delay, worried that a rush to legalization will encourage consumption among young people and increase the incidence of impaired driving. Under the proposed legislation, the Canadian government would license the growing of cannabis by tightly regulated producers and set standards for potency and penalties for abuse; the provinces would decide on methods for distribution. If legislation is ready to go in July 2018, policing will not be ready to go in August. Its impossible, Rick Barnum, deputy commissioner of the Ontario Provincial Police, told the health committee of Canadas House of Commons last month as it studied the proposed law. Barnum was part of a contingent of police chiefs from across Canada expressing concern that there isn't time to train enough police officers to detect impaired driving among cannabis users and that if police are not ready for legalization, organized crime will take advantage of the situation to secure its hold on the market. Medicinal marijuana plants flower in Smith Falls, Ontario. (Lars Hagberg/AFP/Getty Images) Doctors are also worried by the legislation, which will set the minimum age for consumption at 18, although Canadas 10 provinces will be permitted to raise the minimum age if they wish. The Quebec Association of Psychiatrists has called the proposed law unacceptable, arguing that cannabis use in young people can lead to attention deficit and memory problems as well as an increased risk of psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia. The group wants to set the minimum age at 21 or older, ban all advertising of cannabis and prohibit the growing of cannabis at home. (The proposed law would limit cannabis growers to four plants per household for personal use.) When you expose a growing brain to cannabis, you actually change the way it grows and matures, said Karine Igartua, president of the Quebec psychiatry group. Opinion surveys continue to show that Canadians support legalization in principle. But in a recent survey conducted by Nanos Research, 57 percent expressed a lack of confidence that the federal and provincial governments will be ready with a legal framework for cannabis sales by next July. And 48 percent are worried that legalization would lead to increased consumption by youths. People are still quite supportive of the legalization of marijuana, but they want the government to get it right, pollster Nik Nanos said, noting that approval of legalization has been in the range of 60 percent in several surveys. Trudeau shows no signs of wavering in his push for legalization, which he promised in his successful election campaign two years ago. The current framework is hurting Canadians, he said recently. Criminal gangs and street gangs are making millions of dollars of profits off the sale of marijuana, and we need to put an end to this policing that does not work. [The unbelievable popularity of Canadas Justin Trudeau] In the United States, 29 states and the District of Columbia have legalized marijuana in some form, with nine jurisdictions allowing recreational use of pot, but cannabis remains illegal at the federal level, leading to a patchwork of regulations and enforcement. The Canadian process is designed to result in full legalization across the country. Uruguay is the only country with a full regime for the legalized sale of cannabis, although a complication with U.S. banking regulations could imperil the country's new marijuana market. Trudeaus government hopes that legalization will reduce access to marijuana by underage users. Bill Blair, a former Toronto police chief who is now a member of Parliament and Trudeaus point person on cannabis legalization, said he understands public skepticism over whether the legislation will achieve this goal. But he says Canada already has the highest rates of pot usage among young people in the industrialized world. You cant regulate something thats prohibited, he said. That is why the government plans to retain all of the current sanctions against the illegal production and distribution of cannabis. And it plans to add as a new offense the sale of cannabis to those 17 and younger, with a maximum penalty of 14 years in prison. Blair said he received plenty of candid advice from Colorado, Washington and other states that have legalized recreational marijuana. In particular, Colorado officials suggested that Canadian authorities start off strict and relax regulations later. Doing the opposite is much more difficult, he said. That is one reason that the Canadian government will not be ready with rules governing the sale of edibles by July 1. Such rules will come later, after more study, so edibles will remain illegal. Youll be able to make your own cake [with legal cannabis], but you wont be able to sell it until there are strict rules in place, Blair said. He also gave assurances of strict controls on branding for cannabis sales. There will be limits on how branding can be displayed so it cant be used for marketing to kids, he said. Another way that marijuana legalization is shaping up differently from the U.S. experience is the decision by Ontario, Canadas most populous province, to directly control marijuana sales through a network of up to 150 outlets run by a subsidiary of the provincial alcohol monopoly. Ontario Finance Minister Charles Sousa said the provincial government intends to shut down pot dispensaries that have popped up around the province and restrict sales to its own outlets. The province of Quebec is believed to be leaning in the same direction. The private dispensaries, which now offer medical marijuana and had hoped to expand into the recreational market, plan to fight back. Paul Lewin, a Toronto lawyer specializing in cannabis cases, says Ontarios marketing plan will not succeed and will force the dispensaries underground. In the places where it will be a monopoly, it will fail, Lewin said, calling the proposed state-run monopoly a new form of prohibition. The province [of Ontario] just wants a lot of money, Lewin said. How profitable the cannabis market ends up being for the government remains to be seen. While officials such as Blair concede a need to keep prices high to discourage consumption among young people, they are aware that if prices are too high, illicit producers will stay in business. On Tuesday, Trudeau announced to provincial leaders that the federal government plans to impose a tax of $1 about 80 U.S. cents per gram on cannabis costing up to $10 a gram, plus 10 percent on cannabis priced above $10 a gram. He promised that the federal government would split the revenue 50-50 with the provinces, but the premiers have argued for more. As for the push for a delay in the legalization date, Blair remains determined. Its important that we get this done, he said. The price of delay is continued deaths on our roadways, continued jeopardy for kids and billions of dollars in profits for organized crime. Read more: Meet the Sikh politician who might out-Trudeau Justin Trudeau Build that wall? Some Canadians are calling for more border control, too Canadas infrastructure projects take off while Trumps plans sputter 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... Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 05/10/2017 (1867 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. NEW YORK Movie mogul Harvey Weinstein is on indefinite leave from the company he co-founded while an internal investigation into numerous sexual harassment allegations against him is completed, The Weinstein Co.s board of directors announced Friday. We strongly endorse Harvey Weinsteins already announced decision to take an indefinite leave of absence from the Company, commencing today, the board said in a statement. As Harvey has said, it is important for him to get the professional help for the problems he has acknowledged. Next steps will depend on Harveys therapeutic process, the outcome of the boards independent investigation and Harveys own personal decisions. The announcement came a day after The New York Times reported that the co-chairman of the Weinstein Co. has over the years reached at least eight legal settlements with women over alleged harassment. FILE - In this March 2, 2014 file photo, Harvey Weinstein arrives at the Oscars in Los Angeles. Weinstein is taking a leave of absence from his own company after The New York Times released a report alleging decades of sexual harassment against women, including employees and actress Ashley Judd. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File) Attorney John Kiernan of the firm Debevoise & Plimpton LLP was named the head of the investigation. The Weinstein Co. board did not give a time frame for when the investigation would be completed. We believe it is important to learn the full truth regarding the articles very serious accusations, in the interests of the Company, its shareholders and its employees, the company said. The statement was signed by four board members: co-chairman Bob Weinstein, who is Harvey Weinsteins brother, Tarak Ben Ammar, Lance Maerov and Richard Koenigsberg. The statement was not signed by several businessmen who were part of The Weinstein Co. board before the story broke. They did not return messages seeking comment Friday. Board member Dirk Ziff, a billionaire investor, resigned Thursday. Representatives did not immediately respond to questions about Weinsteins status with the film company. A person familiar with the boards deliberations but unauthorized to speak publicly told The Associated Press earlier Friday that Weinstein would be suspended from the company. Fridays statement only said it strongly endorsed Weinsteins decision to take the indefinite leave of absence. Weinsteins attorneys also did not respond to emails seeking comment Friday. Weinstein has had a powerful perch in Hollywood for three decades, producing films like Pulp Fiction and Shakespeare in Love, for which he won an Oscar. But his stature has diminished in recent years and his company has suffered from a string of executive exits, layoffs mounting lawsuits and delayed releases. The New York Times expose chronicled allegations against Weinstein from actress Ashley Judd and former employees at both the Weinstein Co. and Weinsteins former company, Miramax, over the course of several decades. The report made an enormous impact felt throughout the movie industry and elsewhere. This abuse of power must be called out, however powerful the abuser, and we must publicly stand with those brave enough to come forward, wrote actress America Ferrera on Twitter. Many others, including Lena Dunham and Brie Larson also added their voices to the uproar. FILE - In this Feb. 10, 2016 file photo, Harvey Weinstein attends amfAR's New York Gala honoring Harvey Weinstein in New York. Weinstein is taking a leave of absence from his own company after The New York Times released a report alleging decades of sexual harassment against women, including employees and actress Ashley Judd. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP, File) The board of directors has pressured Weinstein to step down from the company he helped create, said a person familiar with the boards deliberations who was not authorized to speak publicly. Weinstein has resisted, hoping to weather the storm. Discussions between Weinstein and the board have been heated and contentious, the person said. Leadership of The Weinstein Co. will be assumed by Bob Weinstein and David Glasser, the companys chief operating officer. Weinstein on Thursday issued a lengthy statement that acknowledged causing a lot of pain. He also asked for a second chance. But Weinstein and his lawyers, including Charles J. Harder, have criticized the New York Times report in statements and interviews, though neither has referenced anything specific. We are confident in the accuracy of our reporting, said a New York Times spokesperson in a statement. Mr. Weinstein was aware and able to respond to specific allegations in our story before publication. In fact, we published his response in full. In an interview with The Associated Press on Friday, Weinstein attorney Lisa Bloom both defended Weinstein and acknowledged hed been stupid. She saluted the women who have come forward to allege wrongdoing but said many allegations were overblown and consisted of Weinstein telling a woman she looked cute without my glasses. Congressional Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, on Friday began giving charities thousands of dollars in donations they had received from the disgraced Hollywood titan. Weinstein and his family have given more than $1.4 million in political contributions since the 1992 election cycle, nearly all of it to Democratic lawmakers, candidates and their allies, according to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics. The biggest beneficiary of funds from Weinstein and his family was the Democratic National Committee, which received about $800,000 in several of its accounts, according to the centre. Democratic National Committee spokeswoman Xochitl Hinojosa said the party plans to give more than $30,000 to Emilys List, Emerge America and Higher Heights. This combination photo shows actors, Rose McGowan at a premiere in Los Angeles on April 15, 2015, left, and Ashley Judd in Beverly Hilla, Calif. on July 25, 2017. Producer Harvey Weinstein is taking a leave of absence from his company after The New York Times released a report alleging decades of sexual harassment against women, including employees and actress Ashley Judd. The Times reports two company officials say at least eight women have received settlements, including actress Rose McGowan. (AP Photo/File) Rutgers University says it will not return a $100,000 donation from movie mogul Harvey Weinstein for a position named after womens rights advocate Gloria Steinem. The university said Friday that Weinsteins donation was one of more than 425 that has been used to Gloria Steinem Chair in Media, Culture, and Feminist Studies at the school. The school says it can think of no better use of the donation than to apply it to the position and its work. ___ Associated Press writers Alan Fram in Washington and Jocelyn Noveck in New York contributed to this report. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 04/10/2017 (1868 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Some of the worlds most important thinkers on the entire spectrum of global energy issues will be in Winnipeg next week for the Generation Energy conference organized by Natural Resources Canada and hosted by Winnipeg MP and Natural Resources Minister Jim Carr. The two-day conference (Oct. 11-12) will feature presentations from such heavyweight energy actors as Fatih Birol, executive director of the International Energy Agency, economic and social policy theorist Jeremy Rifkin and Eldar Saetre, CEO of Norways Statoil. The conference is the culmination of a six-month process that Carrs department has been engaged in to solicit ideas and opinions from Canadians about Canadas energy policy into the future. The online effort generated more than 200,000 responses. Fred Chartrand / The Canadian Press Files The enterprise is designed to provide high level, international perspective for the current governments efforts to produce a well-rounded energy policy. We are looking for a set of policies that can knit the impressive assets that we boast in Canada so that we can at the same time take full advantage of the bounty of conventional resources we have while we develop with the private sector renewable sources of energy through innovation and R&D and clean technology, Carr said. The scores of presenters among the 600 expected attendees include leaders in the energy industries, renewable energy, energy efficiency and technology and innovation. It is probably the most impressive and diverse group of energy thinkers that have ever been brought together into one place at the same time certainly in Canada, and I would argue internationally as well, Carr said. One of the conference presenters, Scott Vaughan the CEO of the Winnipeg-based International Institute of Sustainable Development said, The conference is pulling together all the different moving parts and looking at it and saying what does it all mean? Absolutely, this is the most important energy meeting that has ever been convened in Canada. And, if you look at the single most important gathering in the world next week, it is going to be in Winnipeg. Carr, the former longtime CEO of the Business Council of Manitoba (and a former editorial writer at the Winnipeg Free Press) said he was particularly thrilled to be hosting such an august assembly in Winnipeg. Carr said: We signed the North American MOU (memorandum of understanding) on continental energy in Winnipeg (in February 2016) with secretaries (Ernest) Moniz and (Pedro Joaquin) Coldwell (from the U.S. and Mexico). I am doing my best to establish Winnipeg as a world-leading centre in future energy policy. Because we really are important in our production of clean energy. The conference comes at a time when the federal governments approval of the Trans Mountain pipeline is under a legal microscope as Indigenous and environmental groups and British Columbia cities argue the process was incomplete and failed to take into account the impact the pipeline could have on everything from killer whales to waterways. The $7.4-billion pipeline project is being built by Trans Mountain, a subsidiary of Kinder Morgan, to more than double the capacity of an existing line between Edmonton and Burnaby, B.C. Carr said the conference comes at very important moment in time because of the imperative of climate change and the inevitable transition over time to renewable sources of energy and clean tech. But he said Canadas traditional sources of energy are still important. Thats why we approved the Trans Mountain expansion project and Enbridge Line 3, because we want to expand our exports market, he said. Ninety-nine per cent of our export in oil and gas goes to the one county, the U.S. We want to expand markets and market access is important We believe a safer way of transporting those fuels is through pipeline rather than railroad. All of this will be up for discussion. martin.cash@freepress.mb.ca with files from The Canadian Press Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 04/10/2017 (1868 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. A strike by Winnipeg airport workers is officially over. Union members ratified a deal today, reached earlier this week between Winnipeg Airports Authority and the Public Service Alliance of Canada. About 150 airport employees including managers, tradespeople and administrative workers went on strike July 24. They were without a contract since June 30, 2016, and cited issues such as work being contracted out to non-union employees, wages and pension-plan changes. WAYNE GLOWACKI / FREE PRESS FILES Airport workers were picketing on Wellington Avenue at Century Street last month. Our priorities for this round of contract negotiations were to give WAA the stability needed to move the company forward as our industry changes and evolves. This agreement delivers on these priorities, said Barry Rempel, Winnipeg Airports Authority President and CEO. The new collective agreement includes a 10 percent salary increase over the 6 years of the agreement that will expire June 30, 2022. The new agreement also provides a healthcare spending account, increases to the overtime meal rate and standby pay, modernizes terminology, and removes some pre-existing redundant language in the contract. This is a fair agreement that addresses our members concerns, said Marianne Hladun, regional executive vice-president of the Public Service Alliance of Canada, Prairie Region. We are so proud of our members as they prepare to get back to their work. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 05/10/2017 (1867 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. A former high school staffer who was convicted of sexually exploiting a student under her supervision is maintaining her innocence as she faces a minimum one-year jail sentence. The Crown is expected to ask for a five-year prison sentence for Sheryl Dyck, who was convicted of one count of sexual exploitation in June after Court of Queens Bench Justice Richard Saull decided he didnt believe Dycks denial of wrongdoing and instead found the teen victim credible. But the sentencing was delayed Thursday so Dyck could be assessed by a psychologist before the judge decides on an appropriate penalty. Saull said he wanted the court to have as much information as possible about Dycks circumstances before he considers her sentence. She remains free on bail until her new sentencing date on January 19. Dyck worked as an educational assistant at Elmwood High School in 2014 before she was suspended after the 17-year-old boys mother made a complaint to the school about Dycks involvement with her son. In his decision after the criminal trial, Justice Saull said he believed Dyck supplied alcohol and drugs to the student, who was 16 at the time, and had sexual intercourse with him on his 17th birthday. GOOGLE MAPS Elmwood High School Nearly a dozen of Dycks friends and family showed up to court in Winnipeg Thursday morning, voicing their disbelief and dissatisfaction with the justice system. They said they were blindsided by the sentencing process and claimed they were misled into believing they were not allowed to attend Dycks public trial in the spring. Dyck, a married grandmother in her mid-40s, spoke to reporters outside court, again denying any wrongdoing. Im innocent, Dyck said, flanked by her adult daughter and her husband. She maintains that her accuser made up false allegations to get back at her. A publication ban is in place on the victims identity. I feel victimized by the way the justice system works. Ive worked hard all my life. Ive instilled good values in my children. Ive helped a lot of troubled youth. I feel that I am a victim of this justice system. She spoke following an emotionally-charged court appearance during which Dycks daughter and her son-in-law from Calgary stood up to tell the judge about Dycks good character. Her daughter, Chantel Lorteau, described Dyck as the familys rock, and explained that she helps care for her grandchildren who have medical issues. My mom, she is a very beautiful, loving soul, Lorteau said. I just believe this is a big mistake. Dyck is represented by defence lawyer Gisele Champagne, but she said Thursday she is seeking a new lawyer. After the trial, Justice Saull rejected the idea that the now-19-year-old man hatched a diabolical plan to bring false allegations against Dyck. He also relied on video surveillance footage that showed Dyck and the teen at a Main Street liquor store together while the teen was supposed to be in school. That happened about two weeks after Dyck was suspended from her job at the high school. The teen told court he believed their sexual encounters were consensual even though he was underage and Dyck held a position of trust over him. He had been reluctant to make a police complaint and initially didnt want to testify in court against Dyck. Her family said they believe the teen has been manipulated by the justice system. katie.may@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @thatkatiemay This is a historic day, we see the first uninterrupted train service from Baku to Kars Turkish Ambassador to Georgia This is a historic day. We see the first uninterrupted train service from Baku to Kars. Azeri colleagues came from Baku with their trains to Tbilisi, we joined them this morning in Tbilisi and we continued all the way to here. Another train is on its way to Kars. So this is a dream come true. The Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway the foundation of which was established almost ten years ago and it has finally been completed, Turkish Ambassador to Georgia Zeki Levent Gumrukcu has declared.According to him, the railway will play a very significant role in bilateral relations.First of all, I would like to congratulate the governments and people of Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan on this great achievement. This is not only going to bring the three countries closer but two continents Europe and Asia. Transportation between these two continents is increasing every single day. I think this is going to be a huge addition to what we already have in place, the Ambassador remarked.I attended the meetings today. We already have many customers waiting to use this line. So, hopefully, within a months time we will have commercial, regular train services carrying cargo from China, Kazakhstan through Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey. This is going to change the landscape of the whole region, Zeki Levent Gumrukcu said.A test train traveled from Baku via Tbilisi to Kars with Azeri, Georgian and Turkish officials onboard. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 05/10/2017 (1867 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. OTTAWA Winnipeg leads the country in reported sexual assault cases, according to a new study. However, advocates say its a good sign, showing police take such investigations seriously. A Statistics Canada report published this week found Winnipeg had the highest annual average rate of sexual assaults reported to police from 2009 to 2014, compared with 32 other urban areas. Winnipeg has more than twice as many reported sexual assaults per capita as places like Ottawa or Abbotsford, B.C. However, Karen Busby, director of the Centre for Human Rights Research at the University of Manitoba, says the data speak to a proactive system that takes sexual assault seriously. I think the only inference that you can draw is the (Winnipeg) police are more likely to lay charges when a complaint is made, she said. In February, a Globe and Mail investigation into how police across Canada deal with sexual assault found drastic differences. Nationally, police dismiss on average one-fifth of sexual-assault allegations, with some rejecting more than half as unfounded. The Winnipeg Police Service dismissed just two per cent of such allegations. Insp. Kelly Dennison, who leads specialized investigations, said the force decided years ago to collect forensic evidence first, and refer all sexual assault cases to specially trained officers. We like to think its obvious. The trauma that encompasses sexual assault is lifelong. Its life-changing, Dennison said. You dont have to physically have the scars of being a sexual assault victim. The police link victims to local counselling groups, and local nurses are trained on how to gather evidence without hurting victims. Busby says most psychological research shows a sexual assault victim can better explain what happened after having time to sleep, shower, eat and gather their thoughts. Its going to result in more charges being laid, if theyre committed to doing investigations in ways that ensure that complainants can tell their stories in an appropriate and trauma-informed way. Yet Busby warns sexual assault investigations will always have difficulty landing convictions, because the legal systems credibility rests on proving convictions beyond a reasonable doubt. Tuesdays study found just 41 per cent of all sexual-assault complaints handled by Canadian police ended up in charges during the six-year survey period. Warren Silver, a Statistics Canada analyst, said previous reports suggest just one-fifth of sexual-assault victims report to police. The report also found 48 per cent of sexual assaults are reported to police within a day of when they occurred, compared with 88 per cent for physical assaults (such as being punched). This is the first time ever that we looked at the time between when a crime happened, and when it was reported to police, Silver said. The median delay in reporting sexual assaults was 25 days, with it often taking longer when the alleged perpetrator is known to the victim. The study also found females account for 87 per cent of sexual-assault victims, while males make up 98 per cent of alleged assailants. Half of male victims are aged 13 or younger, compared with 18 years old for females. Silver said anecdotally, men who were sexually assaulted as children are less likely to tell police, even years later. Dennison said Winnipeg police are constantly adapting how they investigate sexual assaults, entering a recent partnership with Ka Ni Kanichihk medicine lodge. The police are also participating in a two-year University of Manitoba study aimed at understanding how many Winnipeg sexual assault cases dont reach trial, and why. Similarly, Silver said Statistics Canada will soon look at how many sexual assault charges end up proceeding to trial. dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca Police-reported sexual assaults in Canada Opinion Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 05/10/2017 (1867 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. A draft Climate and Green Plan Town Hall Toolkit circulated internally within the Manitoba government, and obtained by The Canadian Press, proposes a flat $25 carbon tax. While this is only a discussion document, and not yet policy, its a worrying sign of what the much-trumpeted made-in-Manitoba climate policy might look like: a piece of largely pointless window dressing. A carbon tax is simply a price applied to something that emits carbon, normally applied on a per-tonne basis. In B.C., for example, they levy a $30 per tonne tax on carbon by applying an additional price to fuels. Such a price is an important part of a comprehensive strategy to address climate change, and in order to accomplish something, it should have three qualities. It should be effective, fair and transformative. On the criteria of effectiveness, a standalone $25 tax is not even in the ballpark. Left to carbon pricing alone, Simon Fraser University economist Marc Jaccard reckons wed be talking about a $200 per tonne tax on carbon by 2030 in order for Canada to comply with its international commitments (a 30 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030). Anything less than $200 per tonne requires additional policies to directly cut emissions. JUSTIN SAMANSKI-LANGILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Premier Brian Pallister opposes a federal carbon tax and instead favours a made-in-Manitoba climate and green plan that he says would be better tailored to the provinces reality. Luckily, there are some very effective regulatory tools that dont involve putting a direct price on carbon and Manitoba should consider making such regulation part of an effective plan to reduce our emissions. The biggest reduction attributed to any Canadian policy pricing or otherwise came from Ontarios ban on coal-fired electricity generation. Similarly, B.C.s zero-emission electricity generation requirement has produced triple the estimated reduction achieved by their $30 carbon tax. Jaccards proposals, however, also include a role for pricing at a modest $40 per tonne, which is well above what the Manitoba government seems to be considering. Regulation also has costs, of course (thats the point, because it is meant to discourage fossil-fuel use), but a smart mix of regulation and pricing is likely to be more effective and politically palatable than the sticker-shock of a $200 per tonne tax. On the issue of fairness, the tax should protect those most vulnerable to increased costs for basic needs. A flat tax per tonne of carbon means that low-income people will be paying a higher proportion of their income for the same cubic metre of natural gas to heat their home or the same tank of gas. This inequity can be addressed through the allocation of the revenue generated by the tax. A portion of it has to protect those most vulnerable to the price shock low-income Manitobans who need to heat their homes and get around town. Something similar to B.C.s Low Income Credit could do the trick, whereby larger offsetting tax credits are provided for low-income households, getting progressively smaller before vanishing at the top end. B.C. has faltered by failing to adjust this credit as they have increased the amount of the tax, but the basic idea is a good one. Finally, a good carbon tax should spur a transition away from fossil fuels. Again, while a modest tax should encourage consumers to drive a bit less and moderate the thermostat, such behavioural change wont be enough. Spurring a transition is largely about what should be done with the revenue and how it can be used as part of a real plan to build a green economy. Manitobas emissions profile is different than much of Canadas and not, as Premier Brian Pallister claims, because we are already doing our share of reducing emissions. In terms of per-capita emissions, we are in the middle of the provincial pack. Our total emissions have ticked slightly upward since 2005 and are up about 12 per cent from 1990. However, because we are largely hydro-powered, our biggest contributors to emissions are transportation (about 40 per cent mostly stemming from a huge increase in SUV and light-duty truck use), agriculture (about a third, stemming from livestock-related methane and nitrous oxide from soils) and heating (less than one-fifth). A portion of revenue should be dedicated to building a clean and green economy targeting these sources. We need a revolution in the way we move people and goods, a less carbon-intensive means of heating our homes and buildings on the cold prairie and a strategy to move toward zero carbon agricultural practices. All of this, like any historical technological or industrial shift, will require various kinds of public supports, incentives and infrastructure (such as the automobile and fossil fuels, to take just a couple of handy examples). Climate change is no longer impending. It is happening now. To say, in that context, that we cant afford to price carbon is nonsense. People are already paying for it, by way of property destruction, lost lives and displacement. If thats the argument we intend to listen to, then we should be honest and say, We refuse to pay our way. Let somebody else foot the bill. To keep things from getting a great deal worse, we have got to get the carbon monkey off our back. If our climate policy in Manitoba is summed up in a farm-exempt $25 flat tax, the monkey will be in no rush to budge. Mark Hudson is an associate professor of sociology at the University of Manitoba and is on the steering committee of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, Manitoba division. On October 1, the Network Enforcement Act took effect in Germany. Under the cover of a fight against fake news and hate speech, it creates a legal framework for censorship of the Internet. The law requires operators of Internet platforms with over two million users to remove or block obviously unlawful content within 24 hours of receipt of a complaint. In what are called less obvious cases, a seven-day period applies. A platform must regularly report on its handling of complaints. If it does not comply, it faces fines of up to 50 million euros. The assumption behind the law is the expectation that companies will opt to delete a controversial post rather than risk severe financial penalties. There are no sanctions against platforms that erase legitimate posts. In this way, the basic rights of users are undermined. When the bill was passed in the Bundestag (the federal parliament) at the end of June , the World Socialist Web site warned of a major attack on freedom of expression, adding that the law turns giant corporations such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube into prosecutors, judges and juries, determining what is and is not permitted on the Internet. There is a transitional period ending in January 2018, during which time social networks must take measures to implement the new legal requirements. Facebook already announced in August that it was setting up a new data centre with 500 employees in Essen to handle take-downs; one already exists in Berlin. This is where Facebook systematically carries out censorship of the Internet. A spokesman proudly told business daily Handelsblatt, We have already made considerable progress in the removal of illegal content. It is still unclear which Internet platforms will be affected by the new law. The text of the law, which was published on September 7, defines social networks as telemedia service providers operating for-profit platforms on the Internet for the purpose of enabling users to share any content with other users or make it available to the public. All online platforms which, in the eyes of the Federal Office of Justice, meet this definition must undergo scrutiny in the coming months. According to the news weekly Der Spiegel, this includes not only well known social media platforms such as Facebook, YouTube and Twitter, but also other networks such as the photo sharing site Flickr, the video portal Vimeo, the social news aggregator Reddit, the blogging platform Tumblr and the Russian equivalent of Facebook, VKontakte. The Federal Office of Justice has set up a new department with two units, one to deal with questions of principle and one for individual cases. Half of the 50 new employees will begin work next week, according to Der Spiegel, to determine the number of registered members of each platform. Networks with more than two million registered users will then have to comply with the new law from January of 2018. Networks are obligated to appoint a contact person in Germany who will be responsible for user complaints and will answer queries by the investigators within 48 hours. This is to ensure that deleted posts, which the provider must retain, can be effectively used in prosecutions. Facebook, which cooperates closely with the US government in the field of Internet censorship, is implementing these regulations swiftly and obediently. Questioned by broadcaster Bayerischer Rundfunk, a Facebook spokeswoman stated: We have our own team for cooperation with law enforcement agencies, which consists largely of former employees of law enforcement agencies. The task of this team is to answer queries from the law enforcement agencies. At the same time, Internet platforms are now permitted, for civil law purposes, to provide information on the authors of posts that evoke complaints. The only requirement is an order from a regional court. Up to now, such personal data could already be provided to police and secret services. This tightening of the telemedia law is another attack on anonymity and privacy on the Internet and prepares the ground for the targeted intimidation of political opponents. Although numerous associations and experts, including eight out of ten experts at a hearing in the Bundestag, declared the bill unconstitutional, Social Democratic Party (SPD) Justice Minister Heiko Maas whipped it through parliament in a few months. It is no coincidence that the SPD is playing a pioneering role in the implementation of censorship measures. It conducted itself as a law-and-order party in the recent general election campaign and has tried to overtake the Christian Democrats and the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) from the right. The new law is part of a political offensive against the working class, which is entering a new phase following the election. The incoming German government will speed up the arming of the state at home and abroad. The myth of the fight against right-wing hate speech and fake news serves as a pretext to silence left-wing and critical voices on the Internet. A look at recent months and years is sufficient to demonstrate that the day-to-day producers of fake news and lies can be found in the executive offices of the political establishment and the mainstream media. Who invented the story of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq in 2003 to reduce a whole region to rubble? Who propagated and supported the Maidan movement in Ukraine in 2014 as a supposed revolution in order to strengthen right-wing extremism and nationalist forces and foment conflict with Russia? Who used the lie about mass rape in Cologne on New Years Eve 2015/2016 to ignite a wave of anti-refugee sentiment? And who spread images of alleged left-wing extremist violence at the G20 summit in Hamburg to criminalize left-wing opponents and ban left-wing websites such as linksunten.indymedia.org? All of these state propaganda campaignsgenuine examples of fake newshave served to legitimize wars, repression and witch-hunts, with catastrophic consequences for millions of people. Even the justification for the new law is fake news, to use its own terminology. The law is not, as claimed, predominantly directed against hate crimes, right-wing extremism or racism, but rather against left-wing opposition. It is especially those posts and articles that uncover the crimes of capitalism and the return of German militarism that are thorns in the side of the ruling elite. This is particularly clear in light of the censorship being carried out by Google. In April, Google modified its search algorithms allegedly to promote authoritative content and downgrade fake news and conspiracy theories in Google searches. In fact, this has been used to censor left-wing, progressive and anti-militarist websites, which have since recorded a massive decline in traffic from Google searches. The World Socialist Web Site has been hit particularly hard. As Googles censorship and the collaboration of Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg with the US government show, Germanys Network Enforcement law is part of an international phenomenon. Similar mechanisms have been and are being created worldwide to control and censor the exchange of opinions on the Internet. According to Reporters Without Borders, the new German law has already served as a model for Russia. In mid-July, deputies of the pro-Putin party United Russia introduced a very similar bill to control social networks and explicitly cited the German law. When the Russian counterpart is adopted, it will also come into effect on January 1, 2018. The European Union is also working to reduce freedom of expression on the Internet. A week ago, the EU Commission published guidelines for online platforms to proactively identify and remove illegal content. The press release states that the EU Commission will closely monitor and evaluate the progress of online platforms in the coming months, in order to decide whether legislative measures to complement the existing legal framework may be necessary. The bourgeoisie is aware of the danger it confronts from social media. The global networking and mobilization of the working class using the Internet is causing concern for governments and think-tanks worldwide. The Science and Politics Foundation recently published a study on Urban Protests in the Digital Age. It states that decision-makers and experts increasingly regard the occupation and blockade of public squares, streets or buildings as a global political challenge. The study continues: This politicization of the streets is being amplified by the accelerated digital and often (audio) visual distribution of protest activities via social media. It allows events to be visible all over the world. Barely concealed divisions in the Trump administration over foreign policy were again exposed yesterday. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson was forced to address a well-sourced NBC report that he called Trump a moron at a meeting at the Pentagon of top Trump officials in July and was on the verge of resigning. In careful comments to the media, Tillerson denied he considered resigning and rejected the suggestion that Vice President Mike Pence and other officials persuaded him not to do so. He brushed aside, but did not deny, calling Trump a moron at the Pentagon meeting, and went on to praise the president and his foreign policy. Notwithstanding concerted efforts by Tillerson, Trump and various administration spokespersons to downplay any breach, the secretary of state has been publicly at odds with the presidentmost sharply over the intensifying drive to war against North Korea. In an extraordinary rebuke to Tillerson last weekend, Trump declared the secretary of state was wasting his time by telling reporters he was exploring the possibility of talks with North Korea to defuse the dangerous confrontation on the Korean Peninsula. Trumps outright repudiation of negotiations with Pyongyang was not only a slap in the face to Tillerson but to the Chinese leaders, with whom Tillerson had just held talks. Whatever differences exist between Trump and Tillerson are purely tactical. Tillerson is just as committed as Trump to waging war against North Korea if it fails to accept US demands to abandon its nuclear arsenal. Nevertheless, given the enormity of a conflict that could cost the lives of millions and plunge the world into war, he has held open the possibility of negotiating an agreement with North Korea to denuclearise. By ruling out talks with North Korea, Trump appears to be already committed to the path of provocation and a war that would, as he warned at the UN, totally destroy a country of 25 million people. Trump declared in his tweet last weekend to Tillerson: Save your energy Rex, well do what has to be done. In testimony to the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday, Defence Secretary James Mattis cautiously defended Tillerson, saying he fully supported the secretary of states efforts to find a diplomatic solution but remains focussed on the defence of the United States and our allies. When asked about Trumps dismissal of negotiations as a waste of time, Mattis attempted to minimise the divisions in the administration. Tillerson was only probing for opportunities to talk with the North, Mattis said. Were not talking with them, consistent with the presidents dismay about not talking with them before the time is right. Nevertheless, Mattis also tacitly set himself against the president when he told the same committee hearing that he supported the 2015 agreement with Iran to severely restrict its nuclear programs. If we can confirm that Iran is living by the agreement, if we can determine that this is in our best interest, then clearly we should stay with it, he said. Trump has repeatedly denounced the Iran deal, declaring it to be one of the nations worst and most one-sided transactions ever. The US has called for it to be renegotiateda step opposed by other signatories, including key European allies, Britain, France and Germany, that have invested heavily in Iran. While the US Congress eventually agreed to the 2015 deal, it required the US president to certify every three months that Iran was in compliance with the terms of the agreement. According to the Washington Post, Trump is preparing to deliver a major policy speech on Iran next week ahead of the next deadline for recertification on October 15. If Trump declares Iran not in compliance, the US Congress could then re-impose crippling sanctions, effectively scuttling the deal. Such a move would fly in the face of the International Atomic Energy Agencys determination that Iran is complying and would dramatically raise tensions not only with Tehran but with major European powers, as well as Russia and China. Three months ago, Trump threatened not to recertify Irans compliance but was reportedly talked out of doing so by his top advisers, who offered a face-saving device. The Washington Post indicated that Tillerson, Mattis and others were attempting to do the same again. Tillerson told reporters yesterday: Well have a recommendation for the president. Were going to give him a couple of options of how to move forward. Republican Senator Bob Corker, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, underscored the deep divisions running through the Trump administration and the political establishment as a whole. Asked if he supported Tillerson, Corker declared yesterday: As a team, Tillerson, Mattis and [White House Chief of Staff John] Kelly help separate us from chaos, so I absolutely support them. Absolutely. If would be completely wrong to view Tillerson, Mattis, Kelly and others as some sort of anti-war faction in the American ruling elite. All of them back the criminal, ongoing wars in Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan and the accelerating preparations for war in Asia and Europe. Rather, as the US has confronted one debacle after another, divisions have opened up in Washington over the timing and conduct of new wars. The bitter campaign over alleged Russian inference in the 2016 presidential election in support of Trump reflects sharp differences over whether Russia or China pose the greater threat to US global dominance. In the final analysis, the reckless and fascistic character of the Trump administration is the expression of the crisis of US imperialism as it desperately seeks to use its military might to arrest its historic decline as the expense of its rivals. The political turmoil and upheaval in the White House is another warning that the US is careering toward another disastrous war on the Korean Peninsula. Having deliberately inflamed tensions through its repeated threats against North Korea, the Trump administration has created a situation where any incidentdeliberate or accidental, major or minorcould trigger a conflict. An important cross-section of workers and students attended the Socialist Equality Groups public meeting in Lower Hutt on October 1. Those in attendance voiced their concerns about the danger of nuclear war, the promotion of anti-immigrant racism by New Zealands political elite and the necessity for a socialist and internationalist movement of the working class. Eugene, a university student and part-time hospitality worker, said he found the main report to the meeting very persuasive and well-researched. I knew absolutely nothing about the rearmament and the preparations for war because this hasnt been made any kind of electoral or campaign issue. If were going to get pulled into some broader strategy against China, the fact that no-one is talking about it is rather worrying, and points to an extreme failure in New Zealands political class It seems like almost every major political organisation on what calls itself the left in New Zealand is behind this in some way or another, which seems rather worrying. Raised in a Labour Party household, Eugene said: I assumed that Labours positions were what they said they were. I called myself a socialist without really ever realising what it was. Eugene said he wanted to get more involved and get a better understanding of the processes and the history and what socialism actually means. Obviously theres been a considerable lurch rightward in New Zealand politics in the past few decades or so It looked like the parties that Id assumed to have left positionsLabour and the Greensdidnt seem to be actually taking any serious attempts to address the failures of capitalism and the world financial system that were exposed in the market crashes My movement toward socialism has been facilitated by the same factors that have been moving a lot of young people toward socialism recently, which is the general collapse of the capitalist systems promise to try and uplift the lives of the people who live under it. Daniel, a public servant and supporter of the SEG, said the trade union-funded Daily Blog has been pursuing a nationalist agenda for a long time, blaming things on immigrants. Daniel added: I have absolutely no doubt that the US seeks to influence what happens here, and theyve been involved in removing prime ministers overseas, in Australia. The anti-China campaign in New Zealand, he continued, hasnt been very successful in shifting public opinion because the vast majority oppose war. The Maori nationalist Mana Party, he said, had got worse and worse. Referring to Mana leader Hone Harawiras recent call for the death penalty for Chinese drug smugglers, Daniel said: No reasonable people would advocate for executing people. Commenting on Harawiras failure to regain his seat in parliament in the election, having lost it in 2014, Daniel added: Maori nationalism only has so much traction. It doesnt provide social goods, it is simply based on ethnic politics which denies the essential class nature of the economy. Ross, a rail worker, said the meeting report exposed the contemptible conspiracy of silence by all parliamentary parties supported by the pseudo-left and unions of the danger of World War III. English and Ardernrespective leaders of the National and Labour partiesRoss continued, did not seriously discuss the threat of war because they seek to become the next leader of New Zealand imperialism. Labour, Greens and NZ First falsely pretended they were friends of the workers... by blaming Chinese workers, immigrants, for all the countrys problems. Not a word on the class character of the NZ Rich List Whichever party makes up the next government with NZ Firsts Winston Peters, it will be reactionary and devoted to attacking workers and preparing for war alongside US imperialism. It will also advance a New Zealand version of McCarthyism, where opponents of war and inequality are seen as foreign threats. Ross compared this with claims by former Democratic Party presidential candidate Hillary Clinton about Russias Vladimir Putin having stolen the 2016 US election from her. In reality she lost because she is a hated enemy of the American working class. Ross said the question and answer session at the SEG meeting was interesting. He noted, in particular, the discussion on how to patiently explain to fellow workers, to develop their class consciousness and build new fighting organisations like rank-and-file committees that can actually wage a socialist battle, instead of class collaboration. David, a meatworker, also opposed the nationalist and anti-immigrant campaign that pretends the problems of capitalism can be explained by blaming the Chinese. He drew attention to a map displayed during the report that revealed the extent of US military bases across the Pacific. This showed that it is not China that is the imperialist power in the region. The threat of nuclear war is very real, and it is not coming from China. On October 1, the Socialist Equality Group (SEG) held a public meeting entitled After the New Zealand election: The way forward in the fight against war, in the working-class suburb of Lower Hutt, near the capital, Wellington. The meeting discussed the looming threat of war and the suppression of this vital issue throughout the election campaign. Following an inconclusive result in the September 23 poll, National and Labour are both vying to form a coalition government with the right-wing, anti-Asian NZ First Party. The audience was a cross-section of workers from a range of industries, including hospitality, rail, meat processing, the public service and childcare. Several workers attended following the intervention of the SEG in recent struggles in the meat industry and railways, where it is fighting to advance a socialist perspective for workers to defend jobs and living standards against the betrayals of the trade unions. In the main report, leading SEG member Tom Peters began by declaring: The danger of war is the most pressing question facing the working class in every country. As the election campaign was unfolding, US President Trump was making ever-more reckless threats to annihilate North Korea. The US is in a deep economic crisis and its ruling class is trying to reverse its decades-long decline using military force. While the entire planet risks a war between nuclear-armed powers, this issue, Peters continued, was barely discussed during the election campaign by any of the parties or the corporate media. He explained there was political silence by all the major parties on this question because all agree with the military-intelligence alliance with the US. In the working class there is widespread opposition to war. None of the parties wanted to make it an election issue, he said. When Prime Minister Bill English was earlier asked what he would do if Trump asked New Zealand to join a war against North Korea, English said: We would consider it. Peters also noted that Labour Party leader Jacinda Ardern was carefully promoted as a progressive leader and appeared at protests early this year against Trumps inauguration. He said: She claims that her values are not Trumps, but she and the Labour Party are fully in favour of an alliance with American imperialism. The speaker said the National Party government had sought to strengthen military ties with the US, while not endangering New Zealands relationship with China, its second-largest trading partner. Peters explained that sources close to the US government and intelligence agencies intervened in the New Zealand election in an effort to whip up anti-Chinese hysteria, and to push New Zealand politics into a much more explicit alignment with the US drive to war against China. Anonymous claims were published 10 days before the election that the Security Intelligence Service (SIS) had investigated National MP Jian Yang as a potential spy. Just three days before the ballot, the New Zealand Herald produced a lengthy article based on a report by Anne-Marie Brady, from the Washington DC-based think tank, the Wilson Centre. Peters described Bradys document as a McCarthyite screed that essentially implies that because of the close business ties between New Zealand and China, Beijing has achieved a high level of control over the National Party government in particular, and also the Labour Party to a lesser degree. The speaker warned: Make no mistake this is not a piece of academic research; it is part of a campaign directed by elements close to the US government, including its political supporters in New Zealand, aimed at shifting official politics further into line with the build-up to war. NZ First leader Winston Peters, who founded his party on the basis of opposing Asian immigration and is an admirer of Trump, has taken up Bradys demand for a special commission of inquiry to investigate Chinese influence in NZ politics. The speaker stressed that the Maori nationalist Mana Party and its allies in pseudo-left groups, such as Socialist Aotearoa, have played a key role in stoking anti-Chinese xenophobia since 2011. Mana leader Hone Harawira recently called for Chinese drug dealers to be executed and the party joined Labour in scapegoating Chinese immigrants for the housing crisis. The SEG speaker warned: There are great dangers in the present situation, because of the lack of a party that genuinely represents the working class and fights for socialism. This is highlighted in the New Zealand election, where a Trump-like party of nationalism, racism and militarism now holds the balance of power and all other parties are adapting to it. This is why it is urgent to build genuine Marxist parties in every country to unite the working class internationally. In just a few weeks we will mark 100 years since the Bolshevik Party led the Russian Revolution. The revolution was the first and only time when the working class seized power, overthrew the ruling class and established a workers state. Against every other tendency in World War I, the Bolsheviks insisted on the need to transform the war into a class war. This experience contains immensely important lessons for us today. Peters concluded by urging those in attendance to read the World Socialist Web Site and join and build the SEG as the New Zealand section of the International Committee of the Fourth International, the world Trotskyist movement. Peters report was followed by extended discussion with audience members seeking clarification on a range of crucial issues. This included questions on Chinese operations in the South China Sea, the definition of imperialism, the practical steps necessary to carry out a socialist revolution, and life in a socialist society. There was also lengthy discussion on how to form politically independent rank-and-file workers committees. The authors also recommend: No clear winner in New Zealand election [25 September 2017] No to war and social inequality! For world socialism! Statement of the Socialist Equality Group on the New Zealand election [19 September 2017] The Socialist Equality Party (Australia) has once again successfully verified that it meets the requirements of the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) to remain on the list of registered political parties. Registered status ensures that the partys name will appear on the ballot paper in federal elections alongside our candidates, rather than the candidate being described as independent or having no political identification at all. The so-called major partiesthe Liberal-National Coalition, the Labor Party and the Greenscollaborate to impose anti-democratic and arbitrary membership tests on parties that have no representation in parliament. The implicit aim is to exclude political challenges, under conditions of growing alienation among masses of ordinary people, from the existing political establishment. Currently, registration requires a party to provide the AEC with the details of between 500 and 550 members and to pass an eligibility review after each election. The review involves the AEC vetting the submitted members to ensure the name and address of each person matches their registration details on the federal electoral roll. Any discrepancy can result in members being excluded from the list, and the party potentially being issued a notice of deregistration. AEC officers then conduct a random survey of a percentage of members, questioning them as to whether they do, indeed, belong to the party. Some parties have been deregistered because a handful of people, for whatever reason, have declined to confirm membership. The SEP insists that all like-minded people have the democratic right to form a political organisation of their choice and seek to win support for its program and policies. Moreover, they should be able to do so without intrusive, potentially intimidating and time-consuming examinations of their membership by a government authority. In 2007, the SEP decided to gain registered status, despite our opposition to the AECs anti-democratic requirements. Under conditions in which our election campaigns and other activities are regularly subjected to virtual blanket censorship by the establishment media, having the party name on the ballot paper assists those workers and youth who want to vote for a socialist and internationalist perspective to identify our candidates. As in all previous reviews over the past 10 years, the SEP provided the AEC with the details of more than 500 dues-paying electoral members. All those who were contacted during the random survey confirmed their membership. The registration of the SEP is an important expression of the base of political support that has been built for the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI) in the working class in Australia since 1972, when a section of the world Trotskyist movement was re-established in the country. The party has had a long, active and principled presence in key working class areas and the World Socialist Web Site has a significant audience. Among the more than 500 electoral members are workers and youth who joined in response to the ICFIs consistent struggle to alert the working class to the dangers of war. The fight to build an international anti-war movement on the basis of a socialist program was at the centre of the SEPs campaign for the July 2, 2016 election. Others have joined as a byproduct of the SEPs fight against the destruction of public education, health care, working conditions and other fundamental social and democratic rights. Above all, the support for the ICFI is the outcome of the decades-long struggle to delineate a genuine socialist and internationalist perspective from every form of nationalism and opportunism. SEP members are educated in the unbridgeable political differences that exist between the world Trotskyist movement and organisations such as the Labor Party, the trade unions, the Greens and various pseudo-left groupings. The SEP extends our public thanks to all current electoral members and our broader base of supporters. We encourage all those who want to become active in the day-to-day work and campaigns of the party to apply for membership in one of our branches. Now is the time to take up the fight for genuine socialismagainst war, social inequality and oppression. We also appeal for financial support. A generous donation from every member would enable us to expand the fight for a socialist perspective in Australia and the Asia-Pacific region, and develop our editorial contributions to the WSWS. Donations can be made via PayPal or by contacting us here and asking for bank transfer details. The Alternative for Germanys (AfD) electoral triumph has triggered horror and resistance from the vast majority of working people. But the ruling elite considers the presence of the right-wing extremists in the Bundestag (parliament) as an opportunity to shift official politics further to the right and make right-wing extremist positions socially acceptable once again. German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier (Social Democrats, SPD) left no doubt about this. He used his speech on German Unity Day on Tuesday to advocate cooperation with the AfD, call for a harder line on refugee policy, and speak the language of German patriotism. Although Steinmeier employed worn-out phrases and rhetorical devices, he was absolutely clear on the central issues. With regard to the AfDs electoral success he stated, We cannot allow hostility to emerge from our differencesout of disagreements no irreconcilability. This offer to reach an understanding with the AfD ran like a red thread through Steinmeiers entire speech. Sealed off from the population in a high-security zone, as even the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung remarked, he asserted in the Rheingoldhalle that flight and migration became the issue that has affected our country more over the past two years than any other. The humanitarian concern for the refugees fate displayed by millions of people was thus placed by Steinmeier on the same level as the AfDs slogan that a limited acceptance of refugees was a betrayal of our own people. In all seriousness, he described this neo-Nazi slogan as a moral pole against which it is necessary to remove the walls of irreconcilability. Steinmeier got to work straight away on this, propagating some of the right-wing extremists central demands. Germany has to take back the right to decide who is being politically persecuted and who is fleeing from economic distress, blustered the president. In reality, not only are people who fled extreme poverty being deported en masse already, but also refugees from wars, who according to the Geneva Convention must be granted protection. Instead, Steinmeier wants to organise migration according to the interests of German big business. He called for an immigration system which directs and controls migration according to our stipulations. Anyone coming to Germany must not only learn the language, stated Steinmeier, but also adopt certain convictions. The rule of law, respect for the constitution, the equality of man and woman are basic tenets of life in Germany, he said. This is based, among other things, on an enlightened German patriotism. This right-wing tirade from Germanys president can only be understood in the context of the deep gulf between the politics of the ruling elite and the sentiments of the vast majority of the working population. It is no accident that Steinmeier, Chancellor Merkel and Co. had 4,000 police officers to protect them from the population. Substantial sections of Mainz city center were transformed into areas on lockdown. To impose war and social cutbacks, the ruling class is ready to mobilise the dregs of society and to resort to dictatorial measures. In this context, Steinmeiers speech is highly significant. Four years ago, then-President Gauck used the period between the election and the coalition negotiations to introduce for the incoming government a new foreign policy line, which had been previously worked out by influential think tanks, political parties and the newspapers. In his speech of October 3, 2013, Gauck called for a foreign policy shift in the direction of militarism and great power policies. Following lengthy coalition talks, the Bundestag elected the new government of the Christian Democratic Union and SPD on December 17, 2013. Just six weeks later, new Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier delivered a speech at the Munich Security Conference in which he proclaimed the end of German military restraint and stated, Germany is too big to comment on world politics from the sidelines. The return of German militarism was subsequently systematically implemented. The German armed forces are currently deployed in 18 foreign interventions, have stationed combat troops on the Russian border, and have been implicated in major war crimes in Afghanistan and Syria. Over the coming years, the astronomical sum of 130 billion in additional extra spending for the armed forces is planned. The programme of the incoming government was also discussed in detail by think tanks and influential newspapers in the months prior to this years election. The unanimous tone was that Germany must dominate Europe and rearm itself as a military power so as to be able to play a global role and stand up to the United States. The new government has to launch a major military build-up to enforce the interests of German big business as far afield as the South China Sea, it was argued. The AfDs rise is the direct product of this policy, which has been advocated by all established parties. War and militarism are inseparable from nationalism, xenophobia and the strengthening of the repressive state apparatus. The right-wing extremists were deliberately promoted and built up by the media. Now, their presence in the Bundestag is being used to shift the entire political framework further right and press ahead with militarism. Steinmeier left no doubt about this. As in 2013, the presidents speech on German Unity Day served to introduce the new governments agenda. In the case of the SPD politician Steinmeier, this also applies to the opposition. The SPD, together with the Left Party, are preparing to attack a coalition of the CDU, neo-liberal Free Democrats and Greens from the right. SPD parliamentary group leader Andrea Nahles, as well as her counterpart in the Left Party, Sahra Wagenknecht, have criticised Merkels refugee policy from the right and have adopted many of the AfDs positions. On Tuesday, Toyota wound up production at its plant in Altona, a working-class suburb in southwest Melbourne. The closure marks the end of the companys 54-year Australian manufacturing operation. The shutdown left 2,700 workers unemployed, and threatens tens of thousands more jobs in the car components industry. The Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU), which covers car workers, previously oversaw the shutdown of Fords production in Melbourne and Geelong in October last year, eliminating the 600 remaining jobs. Once Holden closes its operation in South Australia, in less than three weeks, a further 944 workers will be left unemployed, and car production will cease in Australia. A University of Adelaide study in 2014 predicted this would result in the destruction of some 200,000 jobs across the country. The string of shutdowns is an indictment of successive Labor governments, at the state and federal level, and the trade unions. Having imposed round after round of sackings, speed-ups and cuts to conditions, the unions, functioning as an industrial police force of the car corporations, have done everything they can to ensure orderly closures. On Tuesday, Toyota held a private event for its sacked employees. Speaking via video link, the companys global manager Akio Toyoda expressed his sincere appreciation again to you, our dedicated employees. Different Toyota models were driven around the plant. As always, a large private security force was on hand to keep workers in check. These cynical exercises, promoted by the unions, have become the norm for the car giants. Ford raffled off several cars as part of its final celebration. Holden is planning a street party. The reality is that after extracting vast profits from their employees, Ford, Toyota and Holden, have decided their Australian operations are not providing a sufficient return for their ultra-wealthy shareholders. They have thus ended manufacturing, wreaking social havoc on devastated working-class communities. This is part of a global restructuring by the major car producers, aimed at taking advantage of poverty-level wages and economies of scale in Asian manufacturing hubs. Workers in every part of the world, from Asia and the US and Europe, are paying the price. Toyota has been engaged in a continuous overhaul of its operations over the past decade, which has included plant closures in the United States and elsewhere, and the stepped-up exploitation of its Japanese workforce. As a result, the second largest car company in the world registered a 2016-2017 operational profit of $US16.28 billion. The unions, taking their nationalist and pro-capitalist program to its logical conclusion, support this global race to the bottom, helping companies pit workers against each other along national lines. The AMWU, working with Toyota and the major companies, drove down wages and conditions over the past 20 years, seeking to ensure Australian car manufacturing was internationally competitive. At the Altona Toyota plant, the union enforced enterprise agreements in 2008 and 2011 that included real wage cuts and shorter working hours. In 2011, the union enforced 350 sackings and collaborated in the expansion of casualised and temporary labour. The union supported a series of massive subsidies to the car companies, by the former federal Labor government, which came with the proviso of a stepped-up assault on jobs, wages and conditions. In 2014, the union insisted workers had to accept Toyotas closure announcement, and suppressed any resistance. Since then, the AMWU has assisted Toyota with a highly planned transition of its Australian operations away from manufacturing to sales and distribution. At the same time, the union helped the company squeeze as much profit as possible out of its workforce. Until Tuesday, Toyota continued day and night shifts, making certain the production goal of 61,000 vehicles for the year was attained. AMWU National Vehicle Division secretary Dave Smith bragged of the unions role on Monday, declaring: This is the best performing Toyota plant in the world, for efficiency, for quality, right to the end. Toyota, with the backing of the AMWU, established a paltry $32 million fund to provide re-training programs for workers. The federal Liberal-National government and the Labor Party opposition issued statements promoting such programs. Similar hollow declarations were made after Ford closed. Both the company and the government asserted they had spent millions on retraining workers. But only around half of those workers have found new jobs over the past year. Many are working casually on far lower conditions and pay. Research conducted in 2008, after the closure of Mitsubishi in Adelaide, showed that just one-third of workers gained permanent work six months after the closure. The rest were either unemployed, under-employed or forced into retirement. This is part of a broader corporate offensive against jobs, wages and conditions, following the collapse of the mining boom, amid a deepening crisis of Australian capitalism. Massive job cuts have been imposed in the energy sector, telecommunications, and virtually every other industry. A Roy Morgan survey in August found that more than 10 percent of the national workforce, more than 1.2 million people, were out of work. In the working-class suburb of Elizabeth, in Adelaide, where Holden is closing its plant, unemployment has been estimated at 33 percent. In other words, car workers are being thrown onto the scrapheap, deepening an unprecedented social crisis. Ronnie, a 60-year-old worker with 23 years experience at the Altona plant, spoke to WSWS reporters on the day of the closure. I am really worried about the young ones at the factory, he said. They all have mortgages that they have to pay. Im not sure how they are going to do it. Toyota arent happy with the amount of their profits they are making so they are closing, even though there has been cost cutting, which has made things harder and harder for us. Ronnie commented: The union always works with the company. When I first started working, I paid $8 dues to the union. Now we pay double that. Pointing to the corporatised character of the unions, he noted: They will be unhappy when GM closes in South Australia, because they will receive less union dues. The role of the unions underscores that jobs and conditions can be defended only through a rebellion against these pro-business organisations. The closure of the car industry demonstrates that workers in every sector of the economy must develop independent organisations of struggle, including rank-and-file committees, to prosecute a struggle against the corporate elites offensive. These would be tasked with breaking the isolation imposed by the unions, unifying workers across the country and internationally, and developing coordinated industrial and political action. Above all, what is required is a socialist perspective, aimed at establishing a workers government, which would place the banks and major corporations under public ownership and democratic control. This is the only means of opposing the continuous destruction of jobs, and the reduction of workers to conditions not seen since the 1930s. We have a tragedy. What happened in Las Vegas is, in many ways a miracle, President Donald Trump said outside the White House this morning, before heading to Marine One en route to Puerto Rico. The [Vegas] police department has done such an incredible job, Trump told reporter, adding, and we will be talking about gun laws as time goes by. He did not elaborate and returned to his first theme: I do have to say how quickly the police department was able to get in was really very much of a miracle. Theyve done an incredible job. The gunman who murdered 59 people and wounded another 500+, was a sick, demented man with a lot of problems I guess and were looking into him. Hours earlier, CBS late-night host Stephen Colbert dared Trump to enact even some small step toward sensible gun regulation, telling Trump, You do not owe the Republicans anything. You know the Republicans tried to stop you from being president. Well, screw em! But Trumps former chief strategist Steve Bannon this morning told Axios that even a whiff of any gun regulation coming from the general direction of the White House would be the end of everything. Related stories 'Monday Night Football' Falls Double-Digits In Viewers & Demo - Update Las Vegas Gunman Planted Cameras Around Hotel Suite, More Weapons Found Jennifer Lopez & Others Postpone Las Vegas Shows In the Wake Of Shooting - Update Denzel Washington was neck-and-neck with Casey Affleck for much of the 2016-17 awards season. The actor earned universal acclaim for his lead role in Fences, which he previously won a Tony for on Broadway, but his work couldnt beat Affleck for the Best Actor Oscar. Washington didnt end up winning the gold, but hes got another shot at it this year thanks to Roman J. Israel, Esq., the new drama from Nightcrawler director Dan Gilroy. Read More: Roman J. Israel, Esq. Review: Denzel Washington Is a Great Character in a Dull Movie Washington plays the titular Roman J. Israel, a liberal lawyer who finds out some unsettling things about his firm that go against his moral code of helping the poor and dispossessed. The discovery leads Israel down an existential crisis and forces him to take legal action into his own hands. Colin Farrell and Carmen Ejogo co-star. Roman J. Israel, Esq. had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival last month, where Washington earned strong reviews for playing another of Gilroys memorable characters. Nightcrawler star Jake Gyllenhaal rode a wave of critical buzz to become an Oscar dark horse, yet he didnt end up with a nomination. Washington is more of an Oscar favorite, however, and even the less-than-favorable reviews still consider him the highlight of the film. Roman J. Israel, Esq. opens Nov. 3 via Columbia Pictures. Watch the first trailer below. Sign Up: Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Sign up for our Email Newsletters here. Related stories: One can only assume from Frances McDormands array of interesting roles that the character actress is a bit quirky, and a new profile in the New York Times Magazine paints her that way. Among the many fascinating tidbits about the Academy Award winner including how she doesnt own a full-length mirror, hates having her photo taken, refuses hair/makeup/wardrobe for photo shoots, and wouldnt let the interviewer into her home because she does not like articles where actors reveal their private lives is a story about the unusual origin of her wedding band. Frances McDormand and Joel Coen attend the premiere of the miniseries Olive Kitteridge during the 71st International Venice Film Festival in 2014. (Photo: Alessandra Benedetti/Corbis via Getty Images) The Fargo talent, whos been married to director and frequent collaborator Joel Coen, of Coen Brothers fame, since 1984 and has been making movies with him even longer revealed that the band shes worn until recently belonged to her husbands ex-wife, whom he divorced in the late 70s after a brief marriage. Yes, you read that right. In fact, straight from the article itself: Until recently, her wedding band was a ring once owned by Coens first wife, which McDormand adopted, thinking it shouldnt go to waste. Frances McDormand wearing a gold band, as well as another ring, on her middle finger in 1994, 2003, and 2014. (Photos: Getty Images) How thrifty. Clearly McDormand, 60, had no superstition about wearing her husbands ex-wifes ring, and the decision didnt bring them any type of bad luck. They met when McDormand was 24 and auditioned for Coen and his brother Ethans first feature film, 1984s Blood Simple. She landed the part despite telling Joel that she couldnt make it to a callback because her then-boyfriend was appearing on a soap opera and she had to watch it, but thats another story which ended up being her movie debut. They moved in together almost immediately but waited 10 years to marry. The year after their wedding, 1995, they adopted their son, Pedro McDormand Coen, from Paraguay. It was a revelation that I could have a lover who I could also work with and I wasnt intimidated by the person, McDormand told the New York Times Magazine about their relationship. It was: Wow! Really! Oh, my God! I can actually love and live not subvert anything, not apologize for anything, not hide anything. Story continues As for Coens first wife, theres not much out there about her, including her name. The book The Coen Brothers: Interviews (2006) described the marriage as brief and said that it ended in 1979, several years before he met McDormand. (The book noted that the woman concerned wishes to retain her privacy.) The relationship brought Coen to Texas, he noted in an article in Texas Monthly . I came to Austin in 1979 because I was married to a woman in the graduate program in linguistics at the University of Texas, he wrote. Meanwhile, Kelley L. Ross, PhD, who ran for Congress in 2006, wrote on his website about attending UT at the same time as Coen. He said he was friends with the couple, referring to the woman by the alias Nan, and even gave them his old bed. However, he wrote, I was away for the summer, and when I got back I called up their house. Nan was away, but Joel was there. I didnt realize until Nan returned to Austin herself that she and Joel had already broken up. Nan was even already involved with her future next husband, whom she had met in the linguistics department. Frances McDormand, pictured in September at the Toronto Film Festival, has been wearing one silver or platinum band on her ring finger as of late. (Photo: GP Images/WireImage) Given that brief and unremarkable history, were surprised that McDormand chose to adopt the ring and wear it for more than two decades. It doesnt seem as if there was much sentimental value to it and both she and Coen (she refers to them in the article as the McCoens) had quite a few paychecks under their belts by the time they were married, so she could have gotten a new ring with no history. But its not really that out there. It may seem unusual to some, but I think that if he had possession of his first wifes ring, and Frances loved the design of it, why not wear it? Anne Chertoff, whos the wedding trends expert and editor at WeddingWire, tells Yahoo Lifestyle. Now more than ever, theres no must-follow rules with getting married, except that you need a license to make it legal. She continues, A wedding ring is a symbol of a couples love and commitment to each other and can truly be anything from a classic gold band to a diamond ring to matching tattoos, which some celebs have been known to do. So anything goes. In this case, anything did go and the ring from Coens first marriage stayed on McDormands hand for more than 20 years. The actress who seems to have worn it on her middle finger, judging from photos (perhaps it was too big?) doesnt tell the Times Magazine why she stopped wearing it, just noting it was something that happened recently. And that too feeds into the mysteriousness and quirkiness about her. Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle: Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. The News in Brief Key Points of Newly Adopted Constitution The Parliament of Georgia approved on September 26 amendments to the constitution on its third and final reading with 117 lawmakers voting in favor and two against it. Two parliamentary parties - the United National Movement and the European Georgia - did not take part in the vote. Under the new constitution, direct presidential elections are to be abolished and the country will transfer to fully proportional parliamentary representation, completing its evolution towards a parliamentary system. Below are the key points of Georgias new constitution: President The President remains the head of state; the commander-in-chief; and representative in foreign relations; but no longer ensures the functioning of state bodies within the scope of his/her powers granted by the Constitution; The President loses the right to request particular matters to be discussed at the Government session and participate in the discussion; The President will no longer be elected through direct ballot, transferring the mandate to the college of electors composed of 300 members, including MPs, local and regional government representatives. 2018 presidential election, however, will still be held directly; The President will be elected without prior debate on the Parliament floor through open ballot and will serve for a term of five years (six years in 2018-2024). The same person may serve as the President for two terms only; The eligibility age for the President increases from 35 to 40. The change applies to residence requirements as well; a potential candidate has to have lived in Georgia for at least 15 years. He/she, however, is no longer required to have lived in Georgia for the last three years before the election; The National Security Council, which organizes the military development and defense of the country and was led by the President under the previous constitution, will no longer exist. Instead, the newly adopted constitution establishes the National Defense Council, which will function only during martial law to coordinate the work of the constitutional bodies, and will consist of the President, the Prime Minister, Parliamentary Chairman and the Head of the Armed Forces of Georgia. Parliament 2020 Election Parliamentary election will be held using the current mixed electoral system, where voters elect 73 MPs in majoritarian, single-seat constituencies, while the remaining 77 seats are distributed proportionally in the closed party-list contest; The threshold for entering the Parliament will be reduced to 3% and parties will be allowed to form electoral blocs (the latter to be adopted in subsequent constitutional amendments). From 2024 Parliament will transfer to fully proportional representation; Electoral blocs will no longer be allowed. The 5% threshold will remain intact; Votes of the parties that fail to cross the threshold will be entirely transferred to the winner (the change is to be abandoned in subsequent constitutional amendments in favor of fully proportional allocation of undistributed mandates); MPs nominated by one political party can only form one parliamentary faction; Candidacy age increases from current twenty-one to twenty-five years. Prime Minister/Government The Prime Minister organizes the Government activities and appoints and dismisses ministers; The Prime Minister is accountable for the activities of the Government before the Parliament. He/she will present the annual report on the implementation of the Government Program to the Parliament. Other Provisions Article 78 in the transitional provisions stipulates that the constitutional bodies shall take all available measures within their competence to ensure Georgias full integration into the European Union and the North-Atlantic Treaty Organization; Kutaisi is no longer defined as a parliamentary location; Marriage is defined as a union between a woman and a man for the purpose of creating a family; The prosecutors office will longer function under the Ministry of Justice and will serve as an independent body accountable to the Parliament. The chief prosecutor, elected by the Parliament for a term of six years, will run the office; The Public Defender is to be elected for a six-year term. The same person may serve as a public defender for one term only. (civil.ge) Ukrainian Presidential Administration refuses to issue copy of decree on deprivation of MikheilSaakashvilis citizenship The Ukrainian Presidential Administration refused to provide a copy of Petro Poroshenko's decree concerning the deprivation of citizenship for Mikheil Saakashvili to the Dostup Do Pravda media outlet. "The requested information on the deprivation of citizenship of Ukraine is confidential and concerns other person's rights and interests protected by law. We have not received a written request in accordance with the Ukrainian legislation," said a spokesperson for the Administration. Dostup Do Pravda is going to appeal to the court, as they believe that the damage inflicted by the issue of this information is not superior to the public interests. (IPN) Photo: Getty. On Monday Megyn Kelly Today was preempted for NBC's coverage of the shooting that killed at least 59 people and injured at least 527 in Las Vegas the night before. But on Tuesday Kelly went on air to address the attack. First, she expressed how upset she was to hear about the news. But then she pivoted to some controversial statements about gun control. "Now we inevitably struggle, in vain, to make sense of it all, trying to rationalize an irrational act," Kelly said. "I think we feel like finding the motive will help us understand better, help us feel like the next one may be preventable, if we can only understand this one. But the truth is, we never really change anything after these situations, do we? And the mass murders keep coming. They keep coming and they come and they come, over and over again. So many now that we stop and say 'Oh, God' when we see it, then we move on, perhaps a little too quickly." She continued, "I do feel helpless in these times. Do you? The mental health laws are not going to change, and we know it. The gun laws? Right. And even if they did change, you would still get people like this guy, and we know it. From the look of things, this is a guy who was a lone shooter, no history of violence, no record, no red flags, no anything. No anything in this case, not yet anyway. A retired accountant who had a girlfriend, who was supposedly happy, decided to murder a group of innocent people here in the land of the free. So how exactly do we make sense of that?" Her guest, journalist Tom Brokaw, expressed a different opinion. "We are where we are because of the power of people who wanted these kinds of guns, and the NRA managed to organize them and get them as a political force in America," he said. "Were a long way away from that second amendment in which we said that a well-regulated militia is important to our country." Kelly cut him off: "Got it. Gotta leave it at that, Tom. Thank you to our entire panel. Were up against a hard break, apologies, Tom Brokaw," she said. "Sorry, theyre wrapping me hard because we got a hard break coming up. But listen, this debate will not end now. There are people who defend the second amendment who believe you cant legislate against evil, and those who believe we have to have an honest conversation. Gotta leave it at that." Story continues While it appeared to some like she was trying to silence his viewpoint, Brokaw told The Washington Post that they really did have to go to a commercial break, which she was repeating to him just because he didn't hear her at first. Despite Kelly's claim that this still would've happened with stricter gun control laws in place, research shows that these laws do affect people's safety. There's a correlation between state gun control laws and the number of gun deaths in each state, and the U.S. has a huge number of gun deaths compared with other countries. U.N. data show that the U.S. has over 21 times the firearm deaths of Australia, which has seen a dramatic decline in gun-related deaths ever since passing stronger gun control legislation in the nineties. And women in the U.S. are 11 times more likely to die at the hands of guns than those in other high-income countries, according to a study in the Journal of Trauma. People on Twitter have called Kelly out for mourning the lost lives in Vegas while also defending something that contributed to them. This story originally appeared on Glamour. More from Glamour: 13 Celebrities Who Have Hot Siblings 34 Times Kate Middleton and Prince William Gave Us Major Relationship Goals 17 Magnificent Engagement Rings Fit for Rock Stars, Royalty, or Real Housewives Here's How Much the Apartments in Friends, The Big Bang Theory, Sex and the City, and More Would Really Rent For Ryan Reynolds Reveals He Fell in Love With Blake Lively While on a Double Date With Someone Else The Most Popular Beauty Products on the Internet People are horrified and scared in the wake of Sunday nights mass shooting of concertgoers in Las Vegas. Unfortunately, this isnt the first time this kind of attack has happened in the U.S., which has left many people with the same question: What should I do if Im in the same situation? There are many potential variables when it comes to mass shootings, but the actions you can take to help ensure the safety of you and your loved ones are the same. John Matthews, executive director of the Community Safety Institute and a former chief of police, has analyzed mass shootings dating back to 1980 and looked at decisions made by those who survived. He now trains people how to respond in the midst of a shooting, just in case. If youre going to an outdoor event, then you have the potential to be in one of these situations, he tells Yahoo Lifestyle. 1. Memorize your exits. When you first go to an event or space, he recommends knowing where the exits are, including secondary exits like a fire escape. So many times people default going out the way they came in, and thats where you see huge crowds, he says. Then, point them out to the people youre with. You dont need to be paranoid, but you need to be prepared, he says, likening it to having a fire escape plan. Its also a good idea to establish a safe meet-up place, like a cafe down the street, if the worst happens and you get separated. People flee the Route 91 Harvest music festival grounds in Las Vegas after a shooter was reported on Oct. 1. (Photo: David Becker/Getty Images) 2. Leave the kill zone as quickly as possible. If youre in a crowd and someone starts shooting, dont crouch and wait. Do what you can to get out of the way ASAP. Were trained that if youre in an ambush to get out of the kill zone as quickly as possible, Joe Plenzler, a retired Marine combat veteran, tells Yahoo Lifestyle. Speed is safety. Dont wait to see what everybody else is doing if something bad happens, take action immediately, J. Pete Blair, PhD, a professor of criminal justice at Texas State University, executive director of the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training Center, and co-author of Active Shooter Events and Response, tells Yahoo Lifestyle. Story continues 3. Get out of the shooters line of vision. If youre in a confined room, seeking cover is crucial, says Matthews. Look for anything thats going to stop bullets like a vending machine, curb, or concrete pillar, he says. And if you cant find cover, look for something that can conceal you, like a vendors tent if youre in an outdoor space, or chair, if youre indoors. If you can stay out of the shooters line of sight, your chances of surviving go up instantly, he says. Fifty people were killed and more than 50 others injured at Pulse nightclub, in Orlando, Fla. (Photo: Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times) 4. Stay low to the ground and zigzag. Its important to be constantly assessing the situation and looking for an opportunity to exit, Matthews says. When you run, stay low to the ground and zigzag between cover and concealment, if possible, to try to get as far away as possible. 5. If people are getting trampled, try to find protection. If the crowd is moving fast and you fear you could be trampled, the experts recommend looking for a large object to stand behind. Big speakers, big light stands, look for a structure and get behind it, says Matthews. Let the crowd go around you theyre not going to try to mow down a structure. And stay behind that structure, he notes. Its also going to give you some degree of concealment from the shooter. 6. Tell your kids they need to listen to you and carry them if you can. If you have a child with you, Matthews recommends telling them that youre going to take care of them and that they need to listen to you. Let them know that youre there, youve got a plan, and youre going to take care of them, he says. Pick them up and carry them if you can. After the Manchester, England, shooting. (Photo: Getty Images) 7. Stay off your phone. If you think of it, silence your phone (if youre in a confined space), but otherwise stay off of it. Some people were filming during the Las Vegas attacks, but Matthews says thats really not a good idea since it can distract you from your surroundings. Stay off your cellphones you could end up being the next victim, he says. 8. Lock or barricade yourself in. If youre in an area where youre trapped, like an office, try to deny access to your location by closing, locking, and barricading the door, Blair says. 9. Defend yourself as a last resort. And, as a last resort, defend yourself. You have a legal right to protect yourselfthis person is trying to murder you, Blair says. But again, this is the last resort. In about one in five of these events, somebody successfully defended themselves and they were unarmed, he says. Blair stresses that these kinds of attacks are infrequent. Dont live your life in fear, but its worth spending a few minutes to pay attention to your surroundings, he says. If something happens, youll be prepared. Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle: The basic first aid that can save lives in mass shootings Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. Jake Bright is a writer and author in New York City. He is co-author of The Next Africa. More posts by this contributor MEST appointed Aaron Fu as its new Managing Director, as the Accra based incubator scales up its presence across Sub-Saharan Africa. Founded in 2008, MEST operates as a training program and seed fund for African innovators to build successful commercial tech companies. Fu told TechCrunch he plans to focus on the incubators continued expansion. The organization currently has offices or on ground presence in Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa. It actively recruits in those countries and Cote dIvoire. MEST is in the process of opening physical incubator spaces in multiple countries. We want to connect our startups to markets, resources customers, and teams from all across Africa to make their dream of building truly pan African companies a reality, said Fu. Liquid Telecom announced a partnership with Microsoft to accelerate cloud adoption in Africa. Through MSs Cloud Solution Provider program, Liquid Telecom will offer African businesses cloud services and products, such as Microsoft Azure, Microsoft Dynamics 365, Microsoft Office 365, and Enterprise Mobility Suite. The program will also extend to startups and accelerators, Liquid Telecoms Group Head of Innovation Partnerships Oswald Jumira confirmed to TechCrunch. A subsidiary of EcoNet wireless (which was founded by Zimbabwean mogul and philanthropist Strive Masiyiwa) Liquid Telecom has been expanding its mobile and ISP product presence across Africa. Y-Combinator-backed French language VOD startup Afrostream shuttered, ending subscription services in 24 African and 5 African countries. In a Medium post, Founder Tonje Bakang laid out a candid post-startup failure assessment of the entire journey, translated here. The high price of acquiring content as a legal streaming subscription service versus the pervasiveness of illegal movie sites offering it for free were the leading demerits. Story continues All in all Bakangs after-action-report reads as a solid briefer on the economics of VOD in Africa (and globally) and the travails of a startup founder from fundraising to profit seeking. His parting shots compared it to dating. As in any relationship, the fear of suffering in the end must not obscure all the happiness that precedes, said Bakang. It is exactly the same as entrepreneurship. After a failure, you have to start again. Sounds like Bakang plans to turn the Afrostream shutdown into a fail up experience. And on the ascending phase of the startup lifecycle, AirBus held its inaugural BizLab pitch event in Nairobi targeting African startups using UAVs, 3D printing, smart sensors, and IoT. The 11 finalists included Kenyan design venture Kuunda 3D and Ugandan UAV environmental monitoring company ESSIPS International. Kenyan startup Illuminium Greenhouses was crowned the winner for its use of digitally controlled solar greenhouses and SMS activated irrigation systems to boost the prospects for smallholder farmers. And concluding on African tech competitions, the agenda for TechCrunchs Startup Battlefield Africa was announced. See below and the competition online streaming October 11 from Nairobi! More Africa Related Stories @TechCrunch African Tech Around the Net The Obamas celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary Tuesday and everyone on social media was like, "awwww, so cute!" SEE ALSO: Michelle Obama shares the cutest throwback wedding photo to celebrate 25 years with Barack We already knew the former president enjoys making grand sentimental gestures and this special occasion was no exception. He dropped a surprise video dedicated to Michelle at the end of her appearance at the Pennsylvania Conference for Women with Shonda Rhimes: "I had to crash this party because today we've been married for 25 years," he apologised on the big screen before launching into a super sweet tribute to his wife. You can read the whole speech here: After watching the video, a blushing, emotional Michelle told the audience: "I better get home." Watch the whole sequence and try not to well up (jump to 53:55): Bill Clinton is the latest famous face to dig up an embarrassing photograph of his teenaged self. The former president shared the snap on Twitter Wednesday as part of Late Show host Stephen Colbert and actor Nick Krolls #puberme campaign to raise funds to help Puerto Rico recover from Hurricane Maria: Colbert and Kroll vow to donate money to a Puerto Rico hurricane relief fund each time a celebrity shares an amusing photograph from their puberty years. The pair launched the initiative last week, and posted these gawky pictures to get the ball rolling: Stephen Colbert, left, and Nick Kroll, right, launched the #puberme campaign last week. They posted these photographs online to get the ball rolling. (Photo: YouTube) Dozens of other celebrities have since taken part, including actors America Ferrera and Amy Schumer, as well as former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Click here to see who else shared their mortifying pictures with the world. Related Coverage Celebrities Share Mortifying Puberty Snaps To Raise Money For Puerto Rico Puerto Rico Is A Lesson In Community Trump's Visit To Puerto Rico Also on HuffPost Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. PureWow King Charles is taking on yet another important role that was previously held by his late father, Prince Philip. This week, the royal family released a brand-new portrait of the monarch, as he officially takes on the role of Park Ranger of Windsor Great Park. In the photograph, His Majesty is standing next to a giant oak tree in an open field while the sun shines brightly. King Charles looks like a whole new man in the pic and is dressed in a camel-colored suit and holding a cane in his hand. Vi Cops say a New Jersey boy was killed this week in a car crash that occurred as his father was allegedly fleeing police. Christopher Kuhn, 27, of Hamilton, fled a Pennsylvania Walmart after allegedly stealing $228 worth of merchandise, according to police. Read: 9-Year-Old Honored For Saving Her Mom's Life After Car Crash: 'I Couldn't Be Prouder of Her' Cops say Kuhn ran a red light and T-boned another car, which crashed into a third vehicle. His 2-year-old son was in the car and ejected into the roadway, according to an affidavit. Even more shocking is the allegation that Kuhn fled from the scene of the accident, stepping over his injured son. Kuhn was later apprehended by police on foot. The boy was taken a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. No other serious injuries were reported in the accident, CBS News reports. A witness reportedly told police the suspect did not put the boy into a safety seat, though one was allegedly discovered lying near where the boy was found. Read: 13 People Dead and 31 Injured in One of California's Deadliest Highway Crashes Kuhn was charged with third-degree murder, homicide by vehicle, endangering the welfare of children, as well as six other charges. He remains held on $5 million cash bail. Watch: Teen Who Allegedly Livestreamed Crash That Killed Sister, 14, Said She Did It to Raise Money for Funeral Related Articles: Ottawa (AFP) - Canada's trade deficit widened in August to Can$3.4 billion (US$2.7 billion) on falling exports, the government statistical agency said Thursday. The figure topped analysts's forecast of a Can$2.65 billion deficit, as other recent indicators appeared to show the economy heating up. Following two consecutive steep monthly decreases, exports fell a further 1.0 percent in August to Can$43.6 billion, led by falling foreign demand for Canadian consumer goods, chemical, plastic and rubber products, and ores and minerals, according to Statistics Canada. The drop in consumer goods exports was attributable to a decrease in foreign sales of pharmaceutical and medicinal products, mainly to Italy. The close of the snow crab fishing season also pulled down seafood exports. Exports of radioactive ores and concentrates, meanwhile, fell after the shutdowns of uranium refining facilities. Total imports were virtually unchanged in the month, with slight upticks in imports of motor vehicles and parts, and ores and minerals, partially offset by a drop in imports of clothing from Bangladesh. Canada's trade surplus with its neighbor the United States narrowed from Can$3.2 billion to Can$2.3 billion as exports fell and imports rose. Notably the Canadian dollar gained 0.5 cents US from July to August. Increased exports to Britain (unwrought gold) and Japan (coal and canola) were partially offset by lower exports to China (canola) and India (uranium). Mark Warner Richard Burr The chairman and the vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Richard Burr and Mark Warner, told reporters on Wednesday that the committee had concluded, for now, that it trusts the intelligence community's assessment, published in January, outlining why and how Russia interfered in the 2016 US election. In a wide-ranging press conference on the status of the committee's investigation into Russian meddling, the senators also said the committee was continuing to look into whether President Donald Trump's campaign colluded with Russian officials. The declassified version of the intelligence community's report said "Russia's goals" in meddling in the election "were to undermine public faith in the US democratic process, denigrate" Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, and "harm her electability and potential presidency." The report also said Russia aimed to help Trump win the election. Burr said the committee had interviewed every official who had a hand in writing the assessment, adding that staff and lawmakers spent "nine times as long" reviewing the report as the officials spent writing it. Over the past eight months, Burr said, the committee has conducted over 100 interviews that yielded nearly 4,000 pages of transcripts. It has also reviewed almost 100,000 pages of documents, ranging from highly classified intelligence to emails and cyber analysis, he said. The committee has also interviewed every relevant official from the Obama administration about President Barack Obama's response to Russia's election interference, Burr said. "The issue of collusion" between the Trump campaign and Russia "is still open," he said. He did not elaborate, except to say that the committee had not come to any conclusions and that the investigation is ongoing. Burr said the committee had examined some of the most controversial moments of the election, including an event at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, DC, last year to celebrate Trump's first major foreign-policy speech as a candidate. The Russian ambassador to the US, Sergey Kislyak, attended the event and spoke with high-level campaign officials like Jeff Sessions, now the attorney general, and Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law who's now a top White House adviser. Story continues The committee interviewed seven people present at the event, and their testimony was consistent, Burr said. But investigators will continue to examine the event as additional information becomes available. The committee also interviewed "every person involved" in what many perceived as a weakening of the GOP's campaign platform on Russia and Ukraine. Burr said the committee was still looking into the platform change. Regarding the memos that James Comey, the former FBI director, wrote about Trump's attempts to end the investigation into his former national security adviser, Michael Flynn, Burr said "the committee is satisfied that this issue has reached a logical end" as it related to the committee's Russia investigation. Congressional investigators are also examining how Russia used Facebook, Twitter, and Google to target political ads and spread misinformation during the election. The tech giants came under intense pressure to disclose everything they knew about how foreign actors had exploited their platforms after Facebook said last month that 470 "inauthentic accounts" linked to Russia had purchased political ads between 2015 and 2016. Warner said he believed it was "important for the public to see" the ads purchased by the Russia-linked accounts, adding that the use of political advertising on social media "may double or triple again in the next election cycle." "I was concerned at first that some of these companies did not take this threat seriously enough," Warner said. "But I believe they're recognizing that threat now, and they are providing us with information." Burr said the committee had "hit a wall" regarding the verification of the collection of memos about Trump and Russia written by Christopher Steele, a former British spy. He said the committee's inquiries and requests for an interview with Steele had "gone unaccepted." It is unclear whether Steele is cooperating with Robert Mueller, the FBI's special counsel who is conducting a parallel investigation into Russia's election interference. A similar probe by the House Intelligence Committee is ongoing. Burr said the committee had been "incredibly enlightened" at its "ability to work backwards" from the dossier between November 2016 until June 2016. But "getting past that point has been somewhat impossible," Burr said. NOW WATCH: The mysterious life of the wife of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un More From Business Insider A pair of House Democrats sent a letter to White House counsel Don McGahn on Thursday calling on him to revoke the security clearances of two of President Trumps top advisers: his daughter Ivanka Trump and her husband, Jared Kushner. In the letter, Reps. Don Beyer, D-Va., and Ted Lieu, D-Calif., cited concerns about Ivankas and Kushners reported use of private email, as well as issues with their ethics forms. A statement announcing the letter accused the couple of a brazen disregard for ethics and an apparent intention to skirt good governance rules. The push from Lieu and Beyer, who are among the fiercest critics of the White House, comes after a slew of headlines about Ivankas and Kushners email usage. Last month, Politico reported that the couple used private email addresses to conduct White House business a potential violation of ethics regulations. USA Today subsequently said their email traffic was rerouted through President Trumps real estate company, the Trump Organization, in the wake of the revelations. According to CNN, McGahns office began conducting a review of White House officials use of private email following the reports. Recent press investigations highlight severe credibility issues with Ivanka Trump, a White House official, close advisor, and daughter to the President, Beyer and Lieu wrote, adding, The White House is conducting an investigation into the disturbing actions of Ms. Trump, Mr. Kushner, and others. The security-clearance issue has drawn added scrutiny because in last years election campaign, Donald Trump repeatedly attacked his Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton, for her use of a personal email address during her tenure as secretary of state. Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Calif., front row, left. (Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images) Beyer and Lieu also pointed to a report published by McClatchy on Tuesday that said Ivanka and Kushner were fined $200 for missing deadlines for their required financial forms. The congressmen also cited a New Yorker article from Oct. 4 that detailed how Ivanka and President Trumps eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., were nearly indicted in 2012 for allegedly misleading prospective buyers as they worked on one of Trumps real estate developments. Story continues These new revelations, along with the ongoing White House probe of Ms. Trumps private email use, have compromised Ms. Trumps integrity and credibility. We are requesting that the White House immediately revoke her security clearance pending an investigation into her actions, wrote Beyer and Lieu. White House press secretary Sarah Sanders declined to comment when asked about the Democratic lawmakers letter. We do not discuss security clearances, she told Yahoo News Thursday. Beyer and Lieus letter is the latest in an ongoing push by Democrats and other Trump administration opponents for Ivanka and Kushner to be removed from their roles as top White House advisers. Critics have argued it is inappropriate for the presidents family members to have senior roles in the West Wing. There also have been concerns about the pairs security clearance forms. Kushner has updated his paperwork at least three times to disclose more than 100 meetings with foreign contacts. Beyer and Lieu were among a group of five Democrats who wrote a letter to the FBI in April, calling for Kushners clearance to be revoked because of these omissions in his forms. The letter Beyer and Lieu sent to the White House counsel on Thursday reiterated the request to immediately revoke [Kushners] security clearance. In July, Beyer led a group of more than 20 Democratic members of the House of Representatives who asked for the FBI to review Ivankas security clearance forms in light of the revelations about her husbands paperwork. _____ Read more from Yahoo News: Photo credit: Westend61 / Getty From Country Living UK Learning a foreign language can undoubtedly be a source of pride. Whether it's something you're only likely to need on holiday, or whether it's more essential to your day-to-day life, it enables you to master new environments, better understand different cultures and ingratiate yourself with the locals. The benefits, however, go beyond being able to order dos cervezas at a Spanish bar, or rattling off a list of German words. According to a wealth of research, learning a second language can actually improve your brain health, stimulating multiple areas of your brain and even fending off cognitive decline in old age. Below, we run through how learning a language can feed your mind and what the experts suggest you can do to reap the benefits. It's comparable to physical exercise Think of the brain as a muscle if you work it out often enough, and in the right ways, you improve its strength and agility. According to Dr Thomas Bak, a cognitive neuroscientist at the University of Edinburgh, the analogy goes even further than you might suspect. He believes that, for optimum brain health, language learners should hone their skills for around five hours a week around the same time period we should devote to physical activity. But even if it's just a quick burst every day, that's a lot better than nothing. As with physical exercise, consistency rather than raw ability is key to reaping the benefits. "I would say five hours a week is probably a good amount of mental exercise," says Dr Bak. "By analogy, if I can swim perfectly but only do so once a year, it won't help my health, but if I swim rather awkwardly but do it twice a week, it might be very effective." It stimulates many parts of your brain When it comes to language learning, you're not only memorising rules, vocabulary and pronunciation (all of which are likely to improve your memory overall), you're engaging in a feat of multitasking. Story continues According to a 2011 study by Penn State University, bilingual speakers are better at editing out irrelevant information, prioritising tasks and 'mental juggling'. This is because they're used to switching between one linguistic structure and the next. Bilingual people are also better at observing their surroundings and spotting misleading information. Photo credit: mrPliskin / Getty Even if you never attain native speaker proficiency, you're still likely to improve your mental alertness and astonishingly increase the size of your brain. Bak feels that learning a language is particularly good mental exercise (more so, than say, playing a game or doing a crossword) because of its breadth of focus. As he explains: "My idea is, the more versatile the activity, the better for cognitive function. Language is one of the broadest ways of stimulating the brain: you have different sounds, different words and concepts, different ideas of grammar, and you also have different social interactions. I would say any type of mental activity that involves a lot of layers has a stronger effect than a narrow one." You can reap the benefits at any age but older might be better! Controlling for other factors, bilingual speakers who succumb to dementia do so around four years later than the rest of the population. For most people, the first signs appear at 71 years old, whereas for those who speak a second language, the average age of onset is 75. Bak,who conducted the largest study in this field, believes this effect is due to improvements in people's attention mechanism: 'The idea is that not necessarily that bilingualism improves your memory, but that it improves your use of memory. Because of their greater ability to focus their attention, people are able to cope better with loss of brain cells we call this "cognitive reserve".' Bilingual people also tend to recover faster from strokes. In another of Bak's studies, involving 600 stroke victims, 40.5% of the multilingual participants had normal mental functions afterwards, compared to just 19.6% of monolinguals. Age, then, is no excuse not to learn a language. While young children do have heightened abilities in this regard, there's no reason you can't conjugate your verbs once you leave school. As Bak points out: "People always say if you don't speak a language younger you'll never speak it, but from the point of view of health benefits I'd say it's the opposite the later the better." The best strategy differs for every person Ignore anything that claims to offer the one true secret to language proficiency the best strategy for learning languages varies from person to person. And although some people are naturally more cut out for languages than others, it's all about finding a method that matches your natural learning style. Brain imaging studies have shown, for instance, that people who are good at picking up sequences and patterns learn particularly well through immersion in a language. Others may fare better learning the rules by rote. Whatever approach you favour, it doesn't take much to make a very real difference to brain health. As Bak points out: "The really important message is we have quite a lot in our hands that we can do." You Might Also Like Senator introduced similar bill in wake of 2012 Newtown massacre Bump stocks enable semi-automatic weapons to fire like machine guns NRA calls for additional regulations on bump stocks Senator Dianne Feinstein and Senator Richard Blumenthal launch their effort to ban the sale and possession of bump stock equipment. Photograph: Call/Sipa USA/Rex/Shutterstock Democrats on Wednesday lined up behind a bill that would outlaw the the sale and possession of bump stocks, a device the Las Vegas gunman used to retrofit his weapons with rapid-fire capabilities, leaving 59 victims dead and more than 500 injured in just nine minutes. Senator Dianne Feinstein, a longtime advocate of stricter gun control, introduced the bill, which she had first brought forward after 20 children and six adults were killed in the shooting at Sandy Hook elementary school in December 2012. The earlier bill, which would have reinstated a federal assault weapons ban, failed by a wide margin in the Senate. Wednesdays more narrowly tailored legislation would ban the import, sale, manufacturing, transfer or possession of a trigger crank, a bump-fire or similar devices that can retrofit semi-automatic weapons to fire at nearly the same rate as automatic ones, which are heavily regulated. After Sandy Hook, when 20 first graders were slaughtered, I thought for sure we would act. After Orlando I thought we would act, Feinstein said, listing mass shootings that have stunned the nation. And now after Las Vegas, I hope senators will finally summon the political courage to stand up and say, Enough is enough. Bump stocks are legal and can be purchased online for less than $200. A semi-automatic weapon can typically fire between 45 and 60 rounds per minute. When retrofitted with a device, the weapon can fire between 400 and 800 rounds per minute a rate similar to an automatic weapon, according to Feinstein. The purchase of automatic weapons has been severely restricted since the 1930s, and in 1986, legislators banned the transfer or possession of machine guns by civilians, though the measure grandfathered in weapons produced before that year. Story continues Feinstein has a long history of pushing for tighter gun laws, dating back to the assassination of the San Francisco mayor George Moscone and supervisor Harvey Milk. Feinstein was the first to discover Milks body and deliver the news to the public. I know what guns can do, Feinstein said. But what happened in Las Vegas this week, she said, is taking it into war. An official with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) told reporters on Tuesday that multiple bump stocks had been found in the hotel room used by the shooter, identified by police as Stephen Paddock. Feinstein dismissed criticism from Republicans, including the Senate majority leader, who on Tuesday said he found it particularly inappropriate to politicize an event like this. There is no better way to honor the 59 people who were slaughtered than to take action to prevent this from happening yet again, said Feinstein, a senator from California. If not, then when will we ever do it? Several other Democrats have said they too plan to reintroduce legislation that has previously failed to win support. Connecticut senators Christopher Murphy and Richard Blumenthal, both of whom became fierce advocates for gun control after Sandy Hook, said they planned to introduce bills, respectively, to expand the national gun background check system and close a loophole that allows licensed dealers to sell a weapon if the FBI fails to complete a background check on the buyer within three business days. Though Feinstein has yet to find a Republican co-sponsor to sign on to the bill, her colleagues have said they believe that this legislation represents the best hope for finding common ground between the parties. In an early sign, a handful of congressional Republicans have indicated that they would be open to the legislation. John Cornyn of Texas, the number two Senate Republican, said as a hunter and sportsman he did not understand the use of the bump stock and wanted to have a hearing on it. Senator Ron Johnson, a Republican of Wisconsin, told reporters on Wednesday that he has no problem banning bump stocks. In the aftermath of the Newtown shooting, many Republicans similarly expressed a willingness to revisit gun control legislation. But lobbying by the NRA ultimately proved more powerful and no progress was made. Feinstein pleaded with Americans who are upset by what they saw in Las Vegas to join their fight. Please, Mr and Mrs America, help us, she said. We know the power thats on the other side. You have to stand up and help us. In the House of Representatives, meanwhile, David N Cicilline, a Republican, and nearly 100 co-sponsors introduced a similar proposes legislation targeting bump stocks. The Automatic Gunfire Prevention Act would ban the manufacture, possession, transfer, sale, or importation of bump stocks. No person should possess a device that turns a semi-automatic rifle into the equivalent of a machine gun, said Cicilline, who serves as vice-chair of the House gun violence prevention task force. Washington (AFP) - Forty-seven firearms from three locations. Piles of ammunition, and devices that converted assault rifles to automatic weapons that fired like machine guns. How did Las Vegas gunman Stephen Paddock, who shot and killed 58 people from his 32nd story hotel window, amass an arsenal of firearms? In the United States, and particularly in states like Nevada, it's easy. And totally legal. Although the country is notorious for its lax gun laws, there are some restrictions on multiple sales of handguns. But if someone wants to build up a cache of rifles the way Paddock did, they could do so without anyone noticing. Most gun sales are by federally licensed vendors who must put buyers through background checks. The FBI will run their name through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, which refers to three databases of offenders. Those databases are not always perfect, relying on often spotty reporting from the states. Dylann Roof, the white supremacist who killed nine people in an African-American church in Charleston, South Carolina on June 17, 2015, cleared a handgun purchase background check just weeks before, despite having a drug conviction on his record. - No apparent red flags - But if a person's record is clean -- and Paddock evidently did not raise any red flags -- he can buy as many guns as he wants. There are some controls, points out Laura Cutilletta, the legal director at the Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence. Licensed gun dealers, who handle perhaps 60 percent of all firearm sales, have to report multiple handgun sales to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. "Multiple" means two or more guns to the same purchaser within five business days. Even then, Cutilletta says, "There is no requirement that law enforcement investigate." Three states -- California, New York and New Jersey -- prohibit sales of more than one handgun in 30 to 90 days, with slight variations between them. Story continues Beyond that, the country is an open market, with private sellers of used guns in most states not having to run background checks, and few restrictions on long gun purchases. In Nevada, where gun laws are particularly lax and enforcement more so, it would have been easy for Paddock to accumulate all the guns he had unnoticed. "There is no way that ATF or the FBI would know," said Cutilletta. - Easy to convert to automatic - But what stood out in Sunday's massacre, when Paddock unloaded his guns on a crowd of 22,000 at a country music concert, was the rapid pace of fire. According to reports, he had modified some of his guns to work like automatic weapons, like machine guns, able to shoot many hundreds of rounds a minute with one trigger pull. Automatic weapons have been banned in the United States for three decades. But converting a semi-automatic weapon, including the AR-15 and AK-47-type assault rifles widely available in US gun shops, into an automatic weapon is easy. For $40 you can buy a trigger crank, a small device that can be attached to the trigger. It can make the gun fire three or four times with each turn of the crank, significantly faster than using a finger to pull the trigger. For as little as $99, you can get a bump stock, a spring-loaded stock that, with one pull of the trigger, keeps the weapon firing using its own recoil. It can enable the weapon to fire at a rate of 600 rounds a minute or more. Trigger cranks and bump stocks are completely legal, they even come with ATF certifications that they do not constitute an illegal conversion of the guns. Las Vegas Sheriff Joseph Lombardo confirmed Tuesday that Paddock had at least one of the devices. Leaked photographs from the hotel room showed that Paddock also had a large stock of ammunition. That side of the guns industry is also little-regulated, with only restrictions on sales of certain types of ammunition like armor-piercing bullets. Otherwise, anyone can buy bullets in volume -- with no questions asked. President Donald Trump totally chose the wrong word to describe his meeting with victims of the Las Vegas massacre. Trump tweeted on Thursday morning that it was so wonderful to greet some of those injured by a heavily armed gunman who opened fire on the crowd at Sundays Route 91 Harvest Festival. Nearly 60 people were killed and more than 500 were hurt. So wonderful to be in Las Vegas yesterday and meet with people, from police to doctors to the victims themselves, who I will never forget! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 5, 2017 Trump visited Las Vegas on Wednesday. He also met with police officers and doctors who responded to the attack. He said the trip was something he will never forget. Trumps use of wonderful did not go down well on Twitter. Many people called him out for making a tragedy sound like good news. The presidents ham-handed description comes after Elaine Duke, the acting secretary of homeland security, called the federal response to Hurricane Maria tearing into Puerto Rico a good news story. A sampling of responses to Trumps wonderful tweet are below: Why is everything you do "wonderful" and great. What happened in Vegas and Puerto Rico was disasters! Nothing wonderful about them!! Ed Krassenstein (@EdKrassen) October 5, 2017 Heartbreaking would have been a better word, but..... it's you so my every expectation has been lowered to Dotard level. Casa Chi Chi (@CasaChichi) October 5, 2017 He has no concept of empathy & people other than himself, just because they kiss his ass because he's president it's "wonderful" David Amoyal (@DavidAmoyal) October 5, 2017 How can it be Wonderful to face a catastrofic situation ? Gote W. Larsson (@GWLarsson) October 5, 2017 Thank you for not throwing anything at them. Nice show of restraint boys are stupid (@chicabella) October 5, 2017 I dont think wonderful is the right word Better brush up on your vocabulary VA Cat Lady (@VACatLady) October 5, 2017 Positivity at its worst form Firdaus Amri (@FirdsAmri) October 5, 2017 Wonderful? This is and was a tragedy advocate (@brooklynspecial) October 5, 2017 So wonderful? Try... I wish I had met all the wonderful, inspiring, brave folks in Las Vegas yesterday, under different circumstances. Carly (@ondinemonet) October 5, 2017 It was wonderful? Please have your people explain what words are (the best words) and which ones are appropriate for certain situations. Justin Smith (@74IrishDaddy) October 5, 2017 Are you not aware that you are making unspeakable tragedy sound like good news? DavidLaw (@DavidLawTennis) October 5, 2017 Waiting for Trump to announce the 1st Annual Hunger Games any day now... Devin Duke (@sirDukeDevin) October 5, 2017 Bloke's beyond. wonderful adjective inspiring delight, pleasure, or admiration; extremely good; marvellous. Gareth Davies (@GD10) October 5, 2017 I wouldn't consider mourning to be "wonderful"! IR.net (@IRdotnet) October 5, 2017 Related Coverage Story continues Kimmel Cries For Las Vegas Why the Vegas Shooting Happened How The Las Vegas Massacre Unfolded Also on HuffPost Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. Mr Trump's call for an investigation into the media comes after Senate Intelligence committee says Russia collusion issue 'is still open': AFP/Getty Donald Trump has urged the Senate Intelligence Committee, which is currently investigating him over alleged ties to Russia during the 2016 election, to launch a new probe into the "fake news" media. It comes after the committee's chairman Richard Burr said the investigation "has more work to do" to determine whether there was collusion between Russian officials and members of Mr Trump's election team. Writing on Twitter, Mr Trump made the call for an investigation into fake news networks 24 hours after naming US news organisations NBC and CNN as dishonest. NBC news is #FakeNews and more dishonest than even CNN, Mr Trump wrote. They are a disgrace to good reporting. No wonder their news ratings are way down! On Wednesday NBC reported that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson called the President a moron at a Pentagon meeting in July, citing several senior Whitehouse officials. This week the news outlet reported Mr Tillerson was on the verge of resigning over the summer, citing senior administration officials. Mr Tillerson rapidly issued a statement to reporters that said: I have never considered leaving this post. However, he did not issue an outright denial of having described Mr Trump as a moron, saying, Im not going to deal with petty stuff like that. Mr Trumps call for an inquiry also comes one day after after Mr Burr said the Senate Intelligence Committee is still examining whether Russia colluded with Trump campaign advisers in efforts to influence the 2016 election. The collusion issue is still open, Mr Burr said, adding the panel had confirmed the findings of US intelligence agencies which had found Russia did interfere in the election. Mr Trumps call for the committee, which is responsible for overseeing the intelligence agencies and bureaus of the US government, to examine news reporting in the US is the latest indication of his frustration with the medias coverage of his administration. Eight of 19 of the Presidents tweets and retweets in the last 48-hours have referenced fake news or the media. Jeopardy! has an emerging star on their hands with returning champion Austin Rodgers. The contestant entered the seventh day of competition with a very impressive $257,700 in winnings over 6 days. Jeopardy! fans cant stop talking about him on Twitter, and even host Alex Trebek has taken to the charismatic contestant. Trebek told viewers, Yeah, I like his sense of humor, and I must confess, Im in awe of this young man our champion Austin Rogers. Its easy to see why people like the bartender from New York; during todays game he swept the first category, Classic Pop. He also likes to make huge wagers when landing on Daily Doubles. Even when hes wrong, he manages to be entertaining. Todays final clue was The latitude and longitude given by the narrator of this 1938 play would set it in Massachusetts, not New Hampshire. Rogers wagered $7,000 on the answer: Taco. Rogers did end up winning, and extended his winnings to $278,300. Who knows how long his winning streak will last? Hopefully for a very long time. Check your Jeopardy! station listings for local air dates and times. Watch as Steve Harvey shows off his dance moves on Celebrity Family Feud: Read more from Yahoo Entertainment: Tell us what you think! Hit us up on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, or leave your comments below. And check out our host, Kylie Mar, on Twitter, Facebook,or Instagram. Ankara (AFP) - President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday warned that Turkey would "soon" close its border crossing with Iraqi Kurdistan and airspace after the disputed referendum on independence. Iraqi Kurdish leaders went ahead with the September 25 poll on independence despite fierce objections from neighbouring countries including Iran and Turkey. "Air space will be closed ... the border will also be shut soon," Erdogan said in a televised speech. "How will you (the Iraqi Kurds) have imports and exports then?" he added. "The clock is ticking against them," said Erdogan. In the wake of the non-binding poll, which was overwhelmingly won by the 'Yes' camp, Erdogan has repeatedly told Arbil the Habur border crossing would be closed but this has yet to happen. Turkish carriers have already suspended their flights to Iraqi Kurdistan, although this was in line with an order from Baghdad rather than a reprisal from Ankara. Turkey fears the vote will embolden its own sizeable Kurdish minority, and is eager to work with Iran and the central government in Baghdad to block it. Erdogan's comments came a day after a key visit to Tehran where both countries presented a united front in their opposition to Iraqi Kurdish aspirations of independence. He reaffirmed his belief that only Israel was in favour of Iraqi Kurdish independence. "They are not your friends," he said. But some analysts argue Turkey will be wary of cutting off economic ties with Iraqi Kurdistan as this risks hurting the domestic Turkish economy. Erdogan's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) government has forged close ties with Iraqi Kurdish leader Massud Barzani, enjoying burgeoning trade ties and Arbil exporting the region's oil through the Turkish port of Ceyhan. By Ece Toksabay and Tuvan Gumrukcu ANKARA (Reuters) - President Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday that Turkey would soon close its border with northern Iraq and shut its air space in response to last week's Kurdish independence referendum. Erdogan, who held talks in Tehran on Wednesday with Iranian leaders, also said Turkey would decide jointly with Iran and Iraq's central government in Baghdad whether to cut oil exports from Kurdish northern Iraq. His comments came 10 days after Kurds in northern Iraq voted overwhelmingly for independence, alarming Baghdad, Iraq's neighbors and Western powers who fear the vote could trigger further conflict in the Middle East. Turkey tightened controls at its main border crossing into Iraq in the immediate aftermath of the vote and suspended flights to northern Iraq. It has also held joint military exercises with Iraqi troops on the border. But it has not yet implemented threats to impose wider sanctions on the Kurdish region or to cut off the hundreds of thousands of barrels of Kurdish oil exported daily via Turkey to world markets. "Flights to northern Iraq have already been suspended, the air space and borders will also close soon," Erdogan said in a speech in the Turkish capital, Ankara. He said the decision to hold the referendum showed the "perfect ingratitude" of the Kurdish Regional Government in northern Iraq, after years of close commercial and political ties with Turkey. "INVADERS" Earlier, Erdogan told Turkish media on his return from Iran that Ankara, Tehran and Baghdad would jointly decide on whether to close the taps on the Kurds' oil export pipeline, adding that it was time for the KRG to take a step back. "The northern Iraqi leadership is drunk with the result of the referendum, it's not aware of what it is doing or what kind of steps it's taking," he said. Erdogan also criticized the inclusion of the oil-rich city of Kirkuk in the referendum, saying that Kurds had no legitimacy there and that they were "invaders" in the region. During a joint news conference with his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani on Wednesday, Erdogan said Turkey was considering further measures against northern Iraq, and the two leaders promised to work together against the independence drive. The Kurds are the region's fourth-largest ethnic group, spread across Iran, Turkey, Syria and Iraq. All of those oppose any moves toward a Kurdish state, but the Kurds have been building strong international ties. Last month, Russian oil major Rosneft clinched a gas pipeline deal in Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan to help it become a major exporter of gas to Turkey and Europe. The pipeline will be constructed in 2019 and exports will begin in 2020. On Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that it was in no-one's interest to cut off oil supplies from Iraq's Kurdistan, which would raise oil prices. Erdogan, however, brushed off those concerns, saying the final decision would be made by Turkey, Iran and Iraq. (Writing by David Dolan and Dominic Evans; Editing by Andrew Heavens) Tehran (AFP) - Turkey and Iran presented a united front in their opposition to Iraqi Kurdish aspirations of independence, during a visit Wednesday by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan that signals a warming of ties. "Some leaders of Iraq's Kurdistan region have made erroneous decisions which must be corrected," Iran's President Hassan Rouhani said after talks with Erdogan, visiting Tehran for the first time since 2015. "Iran, Turkey and Iraq are obliged to take serious and necessary measures," he said in reference to retaliatory measures adopted since Iraqi Kurdistan's disputed September 25 independence referendum. Erdogan, in a translation on Iranian state television of his comments, warned of "stronger" measures to follow and said the autonomous Kurdish region in northern Iraq would remain "isolated". Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who also met with Erdogan, said "the referendum in Iraqi Kurdistan was a betrayal". Iran and Turkey needed to "take serious, political and economic (measures) together", he said in a statement after their meeting. The two governments fear the secession of Iraq's Kurds would stoke separatist sentiment among their own large Kurdish minorities and are eager to work together with the federal government in Baghdad to block it. Both Iran and Turkey have held military manoeuvres close to their borders with Iraqi Kurdistan to ratchet up the pressure on Kurdish leaders. Those exercises have also involved forces of the federal government in Baghdad, which has demanded the annulment of the vote which returned a 92.7 percent "yes" for independence. Baghdad imposed a ban on all international flights to Kurdish airports on Friday prompting an exodus of foreigners. Iran has ordered a halt to all trade in fuel products with Iraqi Kurdistan and has said it will allow Iraqi federal forces to deploy at its border crossings with the region. Story continues Turkey has threatened to close its land border and halt the export of oil from Iraqi Kurdistan to the Turkish port of Ceyhan, an economic lifeline. Since 1984, Turkey has battled rebels of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) which has rear bases in northern Iraq and which initially sought to create a breakaway state. Two Kurdish rebel groups are active in Iran -- the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran (KDPI) and the Party of Free Life in Kurdistan (PJAK). - Pragmatism - Iran and Turkey have been rivals for centuries but have recently sought to forge a pragmatic relationship, with the Islamic republic strongly supporting Erdogan after last year's failed coup. The two governments have taken opposing sides in the six-year civil war in Syria but relations have thawed this year with them both joining Russia as co-sponsors of peace talks which began in Kazakstan in January. Rouhani and Erdogan said they believed those talks would bring peace. They spoke of the deployment of their own forces to control "de-escalation" zones they decided on in mid-September. "From the point of view of Iran and Turkey, Iraq and Syria are indivisible and independent entities, and we do not accept border changes," Rouhani said. On the economic front, Rouhani and Erdogan underlined the goal of tripling two-way trade to $30 billion in 2018, to be processed in their own currencies, easing the pressure on Iran whose banking sector is subject to US sanctions. The atmosphere for the talks was a far cry from Erdogan's last visit to Tehran in April 2015 when a speech he gave just days before sparked demands from some Iranian lawmakers for it to be cancelled. The Turkish leader had accused Iran at the time of seeking to "dominate the region" and demanded that it withdraw its troops from Iraq and Syria. HOUSTON (Reuters) - Exxon Mobil Corp said on Thursday it is evacuating all staff from its Lena platform in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico ahead of Tropical Storm Nate. The storm is expected to strengthen into a hurricane by the weekend and move up the center of the Gulf as it makes landfall on the Louisiana coast sometime early Sunday. The Lena platform is located about 110 miles (177 km)southeast of New Orleans. (Reporting by Ernest Scheyder) (Giphy) In 2014, Toronto couple Jason and Jodi Chapnik launched a suit against their neighbours for renovating their home in the swanky Forest Hill area to look too much like their own house. They sought over $2.5 million in damages and a court-ordered redesign of the alleged copycat Tudor-style property, the Toronto Star reports. But this isnt the strangest legal issue in Canadian real estates recent past. Some of the highlights or neighbourly low points include dog excrement, flare guns and escaped cattle. Seniors gone wild in Abbotsford, B.C. A seniors-only retirement home in British Columbia was terrorized when an older man married to a younger woman moved in to 55-and-over, kid-free building The Carlisle. According to 2014 court documents, the couple allegedly egged cars; broke chairs in the recreation room; opened and closed the parking garage gates in the middle of the night to disturb residents; punched holes in walls and wrote lurid notes containing the details of alleged affair between the male owner of a certain unit and a female living on the floor above. The wife of the couple in question had some grievances of her own. She alleged, among other things, that her car was spray-painted with the words Rat, Pig and Cow. She also purported that a member of building management fired a flare gun at her car, and another resident hid under a blanket in the back seat of a car to take photos of her. The National Post also reports she alleged receiving a note under her door on Christmas Eve of 2010 referencing a website on how to commit suicide. Perhaps the most disturbing report of the goings-on in the Carlisle is that the wife claims the president of the condo complex made a slashing motion across his throat when he passed her in the hallway, according to The Province. The B.C. provincial court judge assigned to rule on the lawsuits said it was so bizarre that it is difficult to believe that it is happening in real life rather than in a fictional story. Story continues Wrong turn in Saint-Augustin-De-Desmaures, Que. A woman visiting an acquaintance near Quebec City, Que., was standing on the front deck when she asked to use the toilet, The Sun reports. The homeowner gave her directions to the bathroom, and believing she had come to the correct door, the woman opened it and stepped inside. She fell down a flight of stairs and was knocked unconscious, and friends later discovered her lying in a pool of blood in the basement. She claimed to have suffered a head injury, fractured facial bone, broken wrist and bruises, and sued the homeowner for $228,000 in 2013 claiming that safety standards were not met. She also included an expert report saying that a landing must be built for doors opening into staircases. Mountain of manure in Indian Mountain, N.B. New Brunswick couple Lee and Shirley Murray set out to make life very unpleasant and smelly for their neighbours, the Gallants, by leaving a gargantuan pile of manure at the edge of their property. The pile, first appearing in November 2013, was so large it could be see via satellite imagery, the National Post reports. But thats not all. A judge ruled, in January 2017, that the Murrays were deliberately harassing their neighbours by using a snowblower to send rocks onto their neighbours property. They were also found to have wilfully released 50 cattle onto the Gallants lawn, resulting in animal excrement and hoof prints all over the grass. Kindergarten teacher needed in Forest Hill, Toronto An exasperated Toronto judge dismissed a lawsuit between two Forest Hill couples and told them to stop acting like children. The suit started with a bag of dog faeces allegedly dropped by Audrey Taerk into a garbage can belonging to her neighbours, Paris and John Morland-Jones. The Morland-Joness, in return, set up 24-7 surveillance on the Taerks through security cameras pointed at their house. An affidavit in the case stated that things were so tense that Ms. Morland-Jones would shout obscenities at Mr. Taerk whenever he walked by, resulting in Mr. Taerk carrying a voice recorder with him, the National Post reports. In the end, the judge decided that the accusations were not for the court to consider, writing there is no claim for pooping and scooping into the neighbours garbage can, and there is no claim for letting Rover water the neighbours hedge. The dangers of whining in Fort McMurray, Alta., In an interesting twist, a judge in Fort McMurray came down hard on a couple who complained about a nearby family too much. Glenn and Deanne Mutter filed so many grievances against their next-door neighbours their kids were too noisy, they parked too close to their driveway, they stared at them, they tossed dog faeces into shared spaces the RCMP filed charges against the Mutters themselves. Justice W.P. Sullivan ordered the Mutters to stop persecuting their neighbours, calling them self-righteous, entitled, passive aggressive, aggressive, disingenuous and prone to exaggeration, and ordered them to pay the defendants court costs, which were in excess of $35,000. I find that Mr. & Mrs. Mutter are both bullies, that will go to whatever lengths to bully their neighbours, the judge wrote in his decision, according to the Edmonton Journal. They will use all the authorities that are available to them by law to pursue an unceasing campaign of harassment against their neighbours. Karen Weaver (left), the mayor of Flint, Michigan, and Carmen Yulin Cruz, the mayor of San Juan, Puerto Rico. (Photo: Getty Images) The mayor of Flint, Michigan, sent a supportive letter to the mayor of San Juan, Puerto Rico, encouraging her to keep fighting for the safety of her citizens following President Donald Trumps visit to survey hurricane damage. Flint Mayor sends letter to San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz: I am "outraged by the lack of active engagement from this administration" pic.twitter.com/dIr5X2jmao NBC Politics (@NBCPolitics) October 5, 2017 President Trumps phrase, They want everything to be done for them, broke my heart, and the hearts of many Americans, Flint Mayor Karen Weaver said in the letter Wednesday to Carmen Yulin Cruz, referring to a comment Trump made about Puerto Rican officials last week. He made the comment after Cruz, whose city is Puerto Ricos largest, complained about the federal response to the damage wrought to the island by Hurricane Marie. Unfortunately, his visit to Puerto Rico, this week, did not assure me of healing and I was hoping for healing and instead his comparisons and complaints gauged deeper wounds, Weaver said. Trump, while in Puerto Rico on Tuesday, said Maria was not a real catastrophe like Hurricane Katrina, given that many more people died in the 2005 storm that hammered Louisiana and Mississippi. He also complained that helping Puerto Rico recover from Maria would affect the federal budget, and he casually threw paper towels at suffering survivors. Prior to his visit, Trump had attacked Cruz for poor leadership. ...Such poor leadership ability by the Mayor of San Juan, and others in Puerto Rico, who are not able to get their workers to help. They.... Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 30, 2017 The people need a voice, and as elected officials, we are the voice of the people that we took an oath to serve, Weaver said in her letter. I commend you for shouting, screaming, yelling if necessary to get the response the people of San Juan deserve. It is our duty to our citizens. It is our families, our friends, and our neighbors, we are serving. Story continues Weaver knows all-too-well what its like to confront a civic catastrophe and what it takes to protect the public she has had to deal with Flints water crisis since she won election in November 2015. Beginning in 2014, citys water source was contaminated with lead a problem caused by an effort to save money and exacerbated by city and state officials who downplayed the crisis. In her letter, Weaver noted that Flints still drink bottled or filtered water while they wait for the more than 18,000 lead-tainted service lines to be replaced, a task that remains years from completion. This is why I feel a special sisterhood, and connection to your concern for your community, and your desperate plea for action, Weaver said to Cruz. We cannot sit idly back and allow more people to become infected with disease and illnesses. We cannot allow the slow walking of aid, and the tying of victims hands with bureaucracy. It is fair for us to demand clear answers. Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. As part of a huge push to redefine itself as a true mobility company, rather than just a carmaker, Ford's new CEO, Jim Hackett has pledged to put connectivity at the heart of its upcoming models. This move, outlined as the company formally announced its monthly sales performance, will see 100% of new Ford cars sold in its native US roll off the production line with integrated connectivity as standard before the end of 2019. "Ford was built on the belief that freedom of movement drives human progress," said Hackett, "It's a belief that has always fuelled our passion to create great cars and trucks. And today, it drives our commitment to become the world's most trusted mobility company, designing smart vehicles for a smart world that help people move more safely, confidently and freely." Connecting cars to each other, the cloud and the web is a crucial step in the journey towards true autonomous vehicles. However, in the short term, that same connectivity will enable Ford cars to be used for ride sharing and the gig economy. In this regard, it is also aiming to make 90% of new cars it sells outside the US connected by 2020. As well as digital trends, the company is looking to capitalize on the continuing SUV boom. It is to invest a further $7 billion in its SUV and truck business that was originally earmarked for car development. What's more it's reallocating one third of its budget for engine development. Money that was going to be used to further improve its gasoline powertrain lineup is now set to be invested in electric and plug-in hybrid systems instead. Services in the spotlight Ford is attempting to give its customers what they need and what they desire in order to remain relevant as the automobile goes through its greatest evolution in the past 100 years. And to do that, it has to look to the future rather than continue with its existing approach. "We must accept the virtues that brought us success over the past century are really no guarantee of future success," said Hackett. Story continues However, the company also needs to increase its margins, not only to remain profitable, but in order to have the necessary funds for R&D so that it can continue to innovate in terms of electrification or autonomy. And this goal -- Ford wants an average 8% margin on each car sold -- can be achieved in part by unlocking new revenue streams, such as offering paid-for services via its new cars' standard web connectivity. And it can also reduce costs and cut delivery times by ditching unnecessary options and non-standard equipment. For example, there are around 35,000 option combinations for the current model year Fusion but that will be cut down to just 96 for the next model. "We believe Ford will achieve its competitive advantage by focusing deeply on our customers -- whether they're drivers, riders or cities -- and that's where we are playing to win," Hackett said. Berlin (AFP) - Germany's former top spy, Werner Mauss, was Thursday given a two-year suspended sentence and ordered to donate 200,000 euros ($235,000) to charity as he was convicted for tax evasion. The 77-year-old dubbed the "German James Bond" was found guilty of stashing undeclared assets in offshore accounts and shortchanging the state of millions in taxes between 2002 and 2011. Judge Markus van den Hoevel said he took into account Mauss' "impressive life achievement" in handing down the verdict which fell far short of the six years and three months' imprisonment sought by the prosecutor. Mauss had denied the charges and claimed the accounts were set up to channel funds used in operations to free hostages. The former agent was unable to mount a "proper defence" because he was still bound by confidentiality agreements linked to his decades of undercover work, his lawyers said. Investigators first got on his trail after one of his aliases was found among names of UBS account holders on a CD which the state of North-Rhine Westphalia had purchased from a whistleblower. Mauss agent had apparently failed to declare an account held with the Luxembourg subsidiary of UBS. He was briefly detained in late 2012 before making a four-million-euro payment to the tax office. He also paid bail of one million euros, according to the indictment read out in court. After the UBS revelation, his name subsequently emerged in connection with several shell companies listed in the so-called Panama Papers -- leaked documents from Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca that exposed the murky offshore financial dealings of the rich and famous. On his website, Mauss says he was "involved in the smashing of more than one hundred criminal groups and in the arrests of around 2,000 individuals" during his long career in the secret services. He notably claims to have helped negotiate the release of hostages in Colombia, and boasts of tracking down 41 barrels of toxic waste that had gone missing after an explosion at a chemical plant in Italy in 1976. Ashley Judd has gone on the record to accuse Harvey Weinstein of sexual harassment. A New York Times expose published on Thursday alleges "decades of sexual harassment" by The Weinstein Co. mogul. Weinstein "has reached at least eight settlements with women" the paper reported, citing two unnamed sources. The Times article, bylined by investigative reporters Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey, arrives a day after news broke that the paper, along with The New Yorker magazine, were independently pursuing stories about the personal behavior of Weinstein. Weinstein hired multiple attorneys in an effort to combat the story, including celebrity lawyer Lisa Bloom and Charles Harder, who represented Hulk Hogan in its fight with the now defunct website Gawker. Weinstein's statement to the Times read: "I appreciate the way Ive behaved with colleagues in the past has caused a lot of pain, and I sincerely apologize for it. Though Im trying to do better, I know I have a long way to go." More to come. A security guard killed the python, which was blocking traffic - AsiaWire/Facebook A security guard has killed a huge python which was blocking traffic as it crossed a road in Indonesia, wrestling with the 23-foot reptile which savaged his arm. Robert Nababan was driving on a moped in Riau Province on the Indonesian island of Sumatra when he came upon the snake blocking traffic as it tried to edge across a road, according to local media. Nababan and two other passers-by tried to move the huge predator off the road. The details of the encounter remain unclear, but Nababan ended up in hospital after the python sunk its razor sharp teeth into his arm while trying, as pythons do, to coil around the 37 year old. Speaking from his hospital bed, Nababan told Indonesian TV reporters that : I tried to catch it. It bit my arm, and we wrestled for a while. But the massive snake came out second-best, and is now strung up by thick rope from two pillars in a yard near where the deadly tussle took place. Slash and burn land and forest clearances - usually to ready land for palm oil plantations - are common in the region where the snake was killed. The snake came out second-best and is now strung up in a village Nababan has been described as a palm oil plantation worker, so either he or one or more of the passers-by were likely carrying some sort of heavy blade that could have been used to kill the snake. The snake was likely a reticulated python, the worlds longest reptile measuring up to 23 feet and capable of eating fully grown pigs, and occasionally, humans. Snake attacks | How common are snake attacks in the UK? On March 27 the body of Akbar Salubiro, a 25-year-old farmer in Sulawesi, a large island in eastern Indonesia, was found inside the stomach of a 23 feet long reticulated python. Robert Nababan was in a fight to the death with the python (AsiaWire) A security guard in Indonesia is recovering in hospital after winning a brutal fight to the death against a giant PYTHON. WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGES Brave Robert Nababan says he came across the 23ft serpent on a road on his way home from work in the Indragiri Hulu Regency of Riau Province in north-western Indonesia. The python has been strung up like a washing line after the deadly fight (AsiaWire) Mr Nababan saw the snake while travelling home from work (AsiaWire) The 37-year-old was riding his moped home from his job when he saw two pedestrians blocked from crossing the road by the huge snake. From his hospital bed, he related the story of how he had tried to get hold of the snake to move it. He said: I tried to catch it. It bit my arm, and we wrestled for a while. MOST POPULAR STORIES ON YAHOO UK Theresa Mays keynote Conservative Party conference speech interrupted by P45 stunt Stourbridge murder: Homeless Aaron Barley jailed for life for stabbing mother and son Donald Trump said he turned his back on dying man aged 80 because it was disgusting Boris Johnson slammed by top Tories over dead bodies Libya comment Final MH370 report calls planes disappearance an almost inconceivable mystery The wrestle was clearly brutal as Mr Nababan suffered deep lacerations to his left arm and hand. It was also reported that he was suffering from exhaustion, hinting that the fight with the snake went on for some time. Grisly proof of the win could be seen in Mr Nababans village as the snakes body was seen strung across washing line trees like a washing line. It is not known how the snake was killed as Mr Nababans family ordered journalists out of the hospital before he could finish his story. The security guard is recovering in hospital after the fight (AsiaWire) The unlucky python may be a reticulated python (Python reticulatus), the largest specimens of which can sometimes reach 23 feet. The Guinness World record for the longest snake ever to be held in captivity was for a reticulated python called Medusa that measured a whopping 25ft and two inches. Members of Congress said on Wednesday that they have not come to any final conclusions in their investigation into whether any presidential candidates colluded with Russian intelligence operatives during last Novembers election. The issue of collusion is still open, Sen. Richard Burr, the North Carolina Republican who chairs the Senate Intelligence Committee, said at a widely attended hearing in the Capitol Building. He added that the committee continues to investigate both intelligence and witnesses, and that he hopes the investigation will conclude by the end of the year. Burr and Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, stressed that while they have not obtained any proof of a campaign colluding with Russia, and that last Novembers vote tallies were not altered by Moscows efforts, there is little question that Russia tried to interfere in the process. Warner said there was a large consensus that [Russian operatives] hacked into political files and released those files in an effort to influence the election. Russian intelligence is determined, clever, and I reckon that every campaign official should take this seriously as we approach the coming elections, Burr said. The lawmakers emphasized the breadth of their investigation, which began in January. A graphic poster onstage at the press conference indicated their inquiry had so far involved more than a hundred interviews and yielded more than 4,000 pages of transcripts. The press conference came two days after Facebook gave congressional investigators more than 3,000 political ads displayed on the social media site that had been traced to Russia. Burr and Warner said they would not be releasing these ads, but Burr said the ads targeted every group in America. They were indiscriminate, Burr said. [The] overall theme of Russias involvement in the U.S. election was to create chaos at every level. They have been pretty darn successful. According to the lawmakers, Russias interference campaign continues to this day. The Russian active measure efforts did not end on Election Day 2016, Warner said. They did not just take place in the United States. Weve seen concerns raised in France, the Netherlands, Germany. By Vladimir Soldatkin, Katya Golubkova and Jack Stubbs MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday a deal between OPEC and rival oil producers to reduce production could be extended to the end of 2018, a longer timeframe than others have suggested, in a bid to curb a supply glut. The pact between the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, Russia and other producers on cutting output by about 1.8 million barrels per day (bpd) is now due to expire in March. "Everyone is interested in a stable market. What we did with OPEC, I believe, is beneficial for all the global economy," Putin told an energy forum in Moscow attended by several OPEC oil ministers. "When we decide on whether to extend or not, we will decide on the timeframe. But on the whole, if speaking about a possible extension, this should be at least until the end of 2018." The Russian president's comments raise the prospect of a longer extension than others have mentioned. Saudi Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih and other OPEC ministers have suggested prolonging the deal by months but not until the end of 2018. The participants in the output deal are showing more confidence that the supply cuts, which began in January, are starting to erode a glut. With help also from rising demand, oil last week reached almost $60 a barrel, its highest in more than two years. Putin said he expected the world oil market soon to be balanced. Oil, which began to slide from more than $100 in mid-2014 due to excess supply, was trading just below $56 on Wednesday. [O/R] Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said the possibility of extending the pact to the end of 2018 had been discussed at his meetings in Moscow on Wednesday with fellow energy ministers. He met ministers from Venezuela, Qatar and Iran. "They are also ready, in the case of necessity, to secure an extension of the deal," Novak told reporters. OPEC ministers attending the Moscow event said they were considering extending the deal or making a deeper cut. The accord has already been extended once at OPEC's last meeting in May, but producers have so far balked at a larger cut. "It depends on a collective decision and consensus within OPEC, but I think there is no objection against this proposal," Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh told Reuters when asked whether there were talks on deepening or extending the cut. Asked to specify whether he meant no objection to deeper cuts, he replied: "Yes. I'm discussing." Venezuela's oil minister, Eulogio del Pino, also said there were discussions on whether to cut further or extend the deal. Any move would also require the support of OPEC's de facto leader Saudi Arabia. Falih said in July that an extension of the agreement would most likely be needed into the second quarter of 2018 as a minimum. OPEC has been urging other producers to join the supply pact but has yet to secure pledges to do so. Del Pino said an extra 10 to 12 producing countries in South America and Africa had been invited to participate. (Reporting by Vladimir Soldatkin, Katya Golubkova and Jack Stubbs; Additional reporting by Olesya Astakhova and Darya Korsunskaya; Writing by Alex Lawler; Editing by Dale Hudson, Edmund Blair and Jane Merriman) Sulaimaniyah (Iraq) (AFP) - Ex-Iraqi president and Kurdish leader Jalal Talabani died on Tuesday in Germany, officials in his party told AFP. Talabani, 83, was Iraq's president from 2005 to 2014 and a key figure in Iraqi Kurdistan, where voters last week overwhelmingly backed independence in a disputed referendum. "Our leader died in Germany," an official with Talabani's Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) said. A family member said Talabani's health had taken a turn for the worse and he been transported to Germany, along with his wife and two children, before the referendum. Iraqi Kurdish lawmaker Zana Said paid tribute to Talabani as "the only president whose death saddens Arabs, Kurds and all other ethnicities". "We pray to God that his death will help to bring back good relations between the brothers of Iraq." Talabani's death, following a decades-old struggle for Kurdish statehood, came after Iraq's Kurds voted 92.7 percent in favour of independence in the September 25 referendum. The vote, rejected by Baghdad as illegal, has put deep strain on ties between the Kurds and central Iraqi authorities, who have cut off international flights to the region and threatened further action. Talabani was an avuncular politician and a skilled negotiator, who spent years building bridges between the country's divided factions, despite his efforts for Kurdish independence. Born in 1933 in the mountain village of Kalkan, he studied law at Baghdad University and did a stint in the army before joining the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) of Mullah Mustafa Barzani, father of current Kurdistan regional president Massud Barzani. Talabani took to the hills in a first uprising against the Iraqi government in 1961 but famously fell out with Barzani, who sued for peace with Baghdad, and joined a KDP splinter faction in 1964. Eleven years later, he established the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) after Barzani's forces, abandoned by their Iranian, US and Israeli allies, were routed by Saddam Hussein's army. Story continues He became president in April 2005 after the first post-Saddam election in Iraq and continued in the post until 2014, when he was replaced by the current president, Fuad Masum. Iraq's head of state plays a largely ceremonial role and is elected by members of parliament. In August 2008, the married father of two underwent successful heart surgery in the United States, then in 2012 he was flown to Germany after suffering a stroke, casting doubt over his ability to ever return to Iraq. He did go back in July 2014, with Iraq in crisis after the Islamic State group had taken control of swathes of the country, and was replaced by Masum following a parliamentary election. Ranya (Irak) (AFP) - Ismael Nuraddini peers into a hole in the earth of Iraq's Kurdistan region at what researchers believe could be remnants of a lost city dating back more than 2,000 years. Pointing around the Qalatga Darband site, he recounts the discoveries of two statues that may help to prove this was once a thriving hub founded by one of the ancient world's most powerful rulers -- Alexander the Great. "One of them looks like Aphrodite, the goddess of beauty in ancient Greece. The other one could be Alexander," Nuraddini, 62, tells AFP. Until recently the dig, some 330 kilometres (200 miles) northwest of Baghdad, was buzzing with activity as a team of 15 archaeologists from both Iraq and abroad worked under the stewardship of the British Museum in London to uncover more invaluable treasures. But now the site is silent as the foreign experts -- two Britons and a Hungarian -- packed up and left last week to avoid becoming stranded after a spat between Iraq's central government and the Kurdish authorities over a disputed independence referendum that saw Baghdad cut international air links to the region. "This is the first time researchers from abroad have had to leave," said student Rzgar Qader Boskiny, who has been working on a neighbouring dig. "They even stayed here when the Islamic State group came near," he said referring to the jihadists. - Alexander's lost city? - The sudden disappearance of foreign experts has left Nuraddini guarding Qalatga Darband. That is a major job for the self-taught man from the nearby town of Ranya who in 2013 helped to guide foreign researchers to the 60-hectare site perched on the edge of a lake. Archaeologists who have been working on the site describe the find as "exceptional", but it will take the British Museum project years longer to determine if it genuinely was linked to Alexander the Great. Some believe it could be a major city from Alexander's empire that was lost from historical records for millennia. Story continues But even if those hopes prove unfounded, it is still an important find. "It was a strategic town, maybe even a provincial capital, that controlled the routes linking different worlds -- Mesopotamia, Persia and Ancient Greece," said Jessica Giraud, the head of French archaeological mission in the region. While the hunt for more clues about Qalatga Darband has ground to a halt, it was assistance from an unlikely source flying overhead that helped experts hone in on the ruins. - CIA spy images - Archaeologists used declassified images taken by the CIA's Cold War spy satellite programme in the 1960s to help them survey the site and better focus their explorations. An image of the area from 1967, seen by AFP, shows the outlines of ancient walls, roads and what appears to be a large building that researchers think was a fort and a temple. "Now we use these images for all our missions," said Giraud. "Thanks to them we have managed to speed up our searches fivefold." A joint French-Iraqi mission to map archaeological finds has already found some 354 sites in the region. Experts put the density of finds down to fertility of the land and the fact that the area was at the crossroads of major kingdoms. The British Museum project began last autumn and is set to run until 2020, but the current disruptions could mean delays in answering questions surrounding Qalatga Darband. For now only Nuraddini and student Rzgar are left pottering around the abandoned equipment at the site, their lone companion a fisherman drinking tea in the shade of his pick-up. They are hoping that the Iraqi and Kurdish authorities can patch up their differences, which will mean a lifting of the ban on flights to the region. "If this suspension lasts for a long time I fear it will have a negative impact on our work," said Rzgar. "When the team return then the golden age of archaeology can resume." Hawija (Iraq) (AFP) - Iraqi forces retook one of the Islamic State group's last two enclaves in the country on Thursday, overrunning the longtime insurgent bastion of Hawija after a two-week offensive. IS once held one-third of Iraqi territory but it has suffered loss after loss this year and now only controls a slither of land in the Euphrates Valley near the Syrian border. "I announce the liberation of the city of Hawija," Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi told a news conference in Paris. "All that remains is the strip on the border with Syria." Iraqi forces celebrated after entering the town, posing with upside down IS flags and flashing V-for-victory signs after riding in on tanks and armoured personnel carriers, an AFP photographer reported. "Today we are in Hawija and thank God it is completely liberated," said Zamer Jabbar, a member of the Shiite-dominated Hashed al-Shaabi paramilitary units fighting against IS alongside government forces. Hawijah, 230 kilometres (140 miles) north of Baghdad, was at the centre of a pocket of mainly Sunni Arab towns that were among the final holdouts from territory seized by the jihadists in 2014. The town had been an insurgent bastion since soon after the US-led invasion of 2003, earning it the nickname of "Kandahar in Iraq" for the ferocious resistance it put up similar to that in the Taliban militia's citadel in Afghanistan. The area's mainly Sunni Arab population is deeply hostile both to the Shiite-led government in Baghdad and to the Kurds who form the historic majority in adjacent areas. Government forces bypassed it in their advance north to second city Mosul last year, which culminated in the jihadists' defeat in the emblematic bastion in July. - 'Victory for whole world' - Hawija lies between the two main routes north from Baghdad -- to Mosul and to the city of Kirkuk and the autonomous Kurdish region -- and its recapture is both a symbolic and a strategic victory for the government. Story continues "This a victory not only for Iraqis but also for the whole world," Abadi said, as he announced the town's recapture after talks in Paris with French President Emmanuel Macron. France is part of a US-led coalition that has been backing the campaign against IS. There was no immediate word on the fate of civilians in Hawija. The United Nations said this week that an estimated 12,500 people had fled since the launch of the offensive to retake the town and surrounding areas last month. The UN's humanitarian affairs office said the number of people still in the town was unknown but could be as high as 78,000. It said humanitarian agencies had set up checkpoints, camps and emergency sites capable of receiving more than 70,000 people who could flee. The Norwegian Refugee Council said many of those arriving in the camps had little more than the clothes on their backs. "In addition to the terror they have experienced during years under the control of the IS group, many of the families who are arriving are malnourished," said its acting area manager, Silvia Beccacece. - Dwindling 'caliphate' - The US-led coalition congratulated the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) for the "swift and decisive victory" against IS in Hawija after a "hard fought" battle. "The government of Iraq and the ISF, with the support of the global coalition, have liberated more than four million Iraqis and reclaimed over 41,500 square kilometres (16,000 sq miles) of land once held by ISIS," it said in a statement. It warned, however, that "an ISIS presence remains in Iraq, and the Coalition will continue to stand side-by-side with the ISF in their collective mission to defeat ISIS". IS, also known as ISIS or ISIL, seized swathes of territory in Iraq and Syria during a lightning offensive in the summer of 2014 that was followed by its declaration of a cross-border "caliphate". Last week, it was ousted from Anna, one of three towns it still held in the Euphrates Valley, and Iraqi forces are preparing to advance upstream towards the other two, Rawa and Al-Qaim. Provincial civil defence chief General Fawzi Yassin said it had taken until Thursday to clear nearly 1,000 mines and booby-traps that the jihadists had planted in and around Anna. Town council chief Abdel Karim al-Ani told AFP: "This clearance operation is going to allow the displaced to return to their homes." The battle to retake Hawija has been overshadowed in recent weeks by Baghdad's dispute with Iraqi Kurdistan over the oil-rich autonomous region holding a non-binding referendum on independence. Regional tensions have also soared since 92.7 percent of Iraqi Kurds voted for independence on September 25, and Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday warned Turkey would "soon" close its border crossing with Iraqi Kurdistan and airspace. The US-led coalition is also backing an Arab-Kurdish alliance, the Syrian Democratic Forces, that is battling to oust IS from its de facto Syrian capital Raqa. The SDF has captured about 90 percent of Raqa and is fighting fierce battles with remaining IS jihadists. IS's other main stronghold in Syria is the eastern province of Deir Ezzor, which borders IS-held territory in Iraq. Two separate offensives are under way against the jihadists in Deir Ezzor -- one by the SDF, the other by government forces supported by Russia. Ivana Trump apparently has the unofficial role of Twitter adviser to the president. The first wife of President Donald Trump spoke with CBSs Jim Axelrod about her relationship with her ex-husband, revealing that they talk about once a week and that he asks for her advice on whether or not to tweet. I said, I think you should tweet. Its a new way, a new technology. And if you want to get your words across rightly, without telling The New York Times, which is going to twist every single word of yours, this is how you get your message out, she said. What does Ivana Trump tell the president about using Twitter? She talks with @JimAxelrod for @CBSSunday. MORE: https://t.co/CEqeA8jbxD pic.twitter.com/PjtNZ0VokF CBS News PR (@CBSNewsPress) October 5, 2017 And she thinks critics just need to get used to it. Well, its a tweeting president, she said. This is his new way, how to put the message across. And hes right. The former fashion model married Trump back in 1977 and they divorced in 1992. She is the mother of Donald Jr., Ivanka and Eric. While she may be unofficially advising Trump on Twitter, the president apparently offered her the official role of U.S. ambassador to her native Czech Republic, but she declined. Its four years in Prague, so bye-bye to Miami, bye-bye to New York in spring and fall, bye-bye to Saint-Tropez in summer, she told the New York Post last month. I like my freedom and I want to do what I want to do, go wherever I want to go, with whomever I want. I dont need the prestige, and its an 8-to-12 job. The full interview will air Sunday on CBSs Sunday Morning at 9 a.m. Donald Trump and Ivana Trump in September 1984. (Photo: Sonia Moskowitz/Getty Images) Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. The creator of a magical community thinks President Donald Trump is living in a fantasy world. After Trump lashed out at NBC News on Twitter Wednesday, J.K. Rowling summed up the presidents response to fake news in a single tweet, posting an image that showed all of Trumps tweets about NBC and pairing it with a hilarious caption. His harshest critics must acknowledge that @realDonaldTrump shows true leadership in the war on reality, she wrote. His harshest critics must acknowledge that @realDonaldTrump shows true leadership in the war on reality. pic.twitter.com/mKAZRYPc2Q J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) October 4, 2017 The presidents latest attack on the media comes after U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson held an impromptu press conference Wednesday, where he responded to a NBC News report that alleged he had threatened to quit his job and called Trump a moron over the summer. During the presser, Tillerson praised the president, calling him smart, and said he would never leave his post. Yet Tillerson never denied that he called Trump any names. Trump then dubbed NBC News fake. NBC news is #FakeNews and more dishonest than even CNN. They are a disgrace to good reporting. No wonder their news ratings are way down! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 4, 2017 Rowlings tweet comes a day after the president tossed rolls of paper towels into a crowd of Hurricane Maria survivors during his first visit to Puerto Rico after the storm devastated the U.S. island territory two weeks ago. It was a move that the mayor of San Juan, Carmen Yulin Cruz, called terrible and abominable. Story continues This is also not Rowlings first foray into Trump-related criticism. The author also called the commander-in-chief a tiny, tiny, tiny little man in May after he shoved aside Montenegros Prime Minister at the NATO summit in order to shove his way to the front of a crowd. Also on HuffPost Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. Baghdad (AFP) - Former Iraqi president Jalal Talabani, who died Tuesday aged 83, was a charismatic leader of the Kurdish independence struggle who became Iraq's first non-Arab head of state. The veteran pragmatist was elected by parliament to the largely ceremonial role in 2005, two years after the US invasion that toppled his sworn enemy Saddam Hussein, and stayed in the position until 2014. He won plaudits during his tenure for trying to build bridges between Iraq's warring factions at the height of sectarian bloodletting between the Sunni and Shiite communities. Widely known as "Mam (Uncle) Jalal", the barrel-chested Talabani performed a delicate balancing act in a fraught region and was seen as being close to both the United States and its rival Iran. - Kurdish struggle - Talabani long dominated Kurdish political life along with the current leader of Iraqi Kurdistan Massud Barzani. Born in 1933 in the rustic village of Kalkan in the mountains, as a young man he was quickly seduced by the Kurdish struggle for a homeland to unite a people scattered across Iraq, Iran, Turkey and Syria. After studying law at Baghdad University and doing a stint in the army, Talabani joined the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) of Mullah Mustafa Barzani, Massud's father, and took to the hills in a first uprising against the Iraqi government in 1961. But he famously fell out with Barzani after he sued for peace with Baghdad -- the start of a long and costly internecine feud among Iraqi Kurds. Talabani joined a KDP splinter faction in 1964, and 11 years later established the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) after Barzani's forces, abandoned by their Iranian, US and Israeli allies, were routed by Saddam Hussein's army. His long career in troubled modern Iraq witnessed some of the lowest moments in Kurdish history. A renewed uprising in the 1980s against the Saddam regime sparked the notorious Anfal campaign of 1988 in which the army razed hundreds of Kurdish villages and gassed thousands of people. Story continues More tragedy was to come in the aftermath of the 1991 Gulf war, when the Kurdish uprising collapsed, prompting hundreds of thousands of people to seek refuge on the mountainous borders with Iran and Turkey in the heart of winter. Western intervention allowed the Kurds to re-establish control over the three most northerly provinces of Iraq, but the rebel enclave fell far short of Kurdish claims for full independence amid Turkish opposition to statehood. The rivalry between Talabani and the Barzanis, which degenerated into all-out war in 1993, finally led to rapprochement in 2002, when it became clear that Washington intended to topple Saddam. - Health problems - After his rise to the presidency following the first post-Saddam elections in Iraq, Talabani strived to smooth strained ties with Syria and Iran to help end their suspected support for the insurgency in Iraq. He was chosen again as president twice in 2006 and 2010. While he struggled to bring together Iraq's disparate factions, the married father-of-two also battled a string of health problems. In August 2008 he underwent succesful heart surgery in the United States and in 2012 he was flown to Germany after suffering a stroke. Talabani eventually returned to Iraq in July 2014, just as the Islamic State group seized control of much of the country, and was replaced by his ally Fuad Masum. The death of the veteran leader in Germany came just over a week after a controversial referendum that saw over 92 percent of Kurds vote for independence. The ballot, rejected by Baghdad as illegal, has caused major tensions between the Kurds and central Iraqi authorities, which have cut off international flights to the region and threatened further action. A Texas judge has temporarily blocked the state from handing over voter information to President Donald Trumps commission on voter fraud, saying doing so could jeopardize privacy. State District Judge Tim Sulak on Tuesday granted a League of Women Voters request for a temporary restraining order, blocking Texas Secretary of State Rolando Pablos (R) from disclosing information sought by the federal probe. The Trump commission requested voter data from all 50 states on June 28, setting off a wave of concern from election officials about surrendering the sensitive data. Some states refused to comply, while others said state laws prevented them from cooperating. So far, 19 states and one county in Hawaii have turned over information to the commission, according to documents filed in a separate lawsuit. The injury resulting from such acts will be irreparable, Sulak wrote in his order blocking Texas from disclosing voter data. If the private information contained in the Texas Computerized Voter Registration List is transmitted without appropriate safeguards, it is likely to become public. Releasing that information, the judge added, could violate the plaintiffs privacy rights and lead to chilling of their First Amendment rights. The ruling is a victory for the League of Women Voters of Texas and the state conference of the NAACP, which brought the lawsuit, as well as other voting advocates who say Trumps commission will try to twist the data to create an exaggerated picture of voter fraud in the United States. Several studies and investigations have shown it is not a widespread problem. Sam Taylor, a spokesman for the Texas secretary of state, declined to comment on the restraining order, citing pending litigation. He noted the office receives hundreds of requests for voter information each year. The voter fraud commission didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. Andrew Kossack, the commissions designated federal officer, said in a court filing Friday that voter information provided to the commission would not be made public to safeguard personal privacy. Story continues Texas election law sets certain qualifications for when election officials can release voter information. They cannot disclose any information containing a voters Social Security number to anyone who plans to use it for a commercial purpose. Texas must do what is required under state law and protect voter information in their possession, said Elaine Wiant, president of the League of Women Voters of Texas, said in a statement. In addition to a handful of lawsuits at the state level, Trumps commission is facing several lawsuits in federal court. Some of those lawsuits argue that the commission didnt perform a necessary review for collecting state data. So far, federal judges have declined to block the commission from collecting information. The commission has indicated it plans to match voter data with a Department of Homeland Security database of non-citizens to identify voter fraud. That method has been used in the past and has produced unreliable results. A hearing in the Texas lawsuit is scheduled for Oct. 16 in Austin. Read the full order below: Texas Voter Data temporary restraining order by Samuel Levine on Scribd Related Coverage Trump's Voter Fraud Probe Requests Voters' Personal Information Trump's Election Investigation Is Already Facing Trouble New Document Shows Inner Workings Of Trump's Voter Fraud Probe Also on HuffPost Alabama State Capitol (Montgomery, Ala.) Pictured on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2012. (AP Photo/Dave Martin) Alaska State Capitol (Juneau, Alaska) Pictured on Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2011. (AP Photo/Chris Miller) Arizona State Capitol (Phoenix) Pictured on Friday, April 23, 2010. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images) Arkansas State Capitol (Little Rock, Ark.) Pictured on Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2011. (AP Photo/Danny Johnston) California State Capitol (Sacramento, Calif.) Pictured on Thursday, Jan. 5, 2006. (Photo by David Paul Morris/Getty Images) Colorado State Capitol (Denver) Pictured on Thursday, Oct. 26, 2006. 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By Parisa Hafezi and Tulay Karadeniz ANKARA (Reuters) - Iran and Turkey should prevent Iraq's Kurdistan region from declaring independence, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Wednesday after meeting Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan in Tehran, state TV reported. Relations have generally been cool between Shi'ite Iran and mainly Sunni Turkey, a NATO member. But both have been alarmed by the Iraqi Kurds' vote for independence last month, fearing it will stoke separatism among their own Kurdish populations. "Turkey and Iran must take necessary measures against the vote ... and Baghdad should make serious decisions ... serious and rapid decisions must be taken," Khamenei was quoted as saying. "The Iraqi Kurdish secession vote is an act of betrayal toward the entire region and a threat to its future." Iran and Turkey have already threatened to join Baghdad in imposing economic sanctions on Iraqi Kurdistan and have launched joint military exercises with Iraqi troops on their borders with the separatist region. Erdogan, who was on a one-day trip to Tehran, said earlier that Ankara was considering taking further measures against Iraqi Kurdistan. "We have already said we don't recognize the referendum in northern Iraq... We have taken some measures already with Iran and the Iraqi central government, but stronger steps will be taken," he said. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Erdogan vowed to work closely together to prevent the disintegration of Iraq and Syria and to oppose the Iraqi Kurds' drive for independence. "We want security and stability in the Middle East ... The referendum in Iraq's Kurdistan is a sectarian plot by foreign countries and is rejected by Tehran and Ankara," Rouhani said, according to state TV. "We will not accept a change of borders under any circumstances." KHAMENEI BLAMES ISRAEL, U.S. Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region said on Tuesday it was calling presidential and parliamentary elections for Nov. 1. Baghdad responded by announcing further punitive measures. The central government, its neighbors and Western powers fear the vote in favor of secession could spark another, wider conflict in the Middle East region to add to the war in Syria. They fear it could derail the fight against Islamic State. The Kurds are the regions fourth-largest ethnic group, spread across Iran, Turkey, Syria and Iraq, all of which oppose any moves toward a Kurdish state. Khamenei accused Iran's arch foe the United States of planning to create a new Israel in the Middle East by supporting the Kurdish vote in Iraq. "America and Israel benefit from the vote ... America and foreign powers are unreliable and seek to create a new Israel in the region," he said. The United States opposed the referendum as a destabilizing move at a time when all sides in the region are still fighting Islamic State. Erdogan, whose security forces have been embroiled in a decades-long battle with Kurdish separatists in southeast Turkey, repeated his accusation that Israel was behind the Iraqi Kurds' referendum. "There is no country other than Israel that recognizes it. A referendum which was conducted by sitting side by side with Mossad has no legitimacy," he said, referring to the Israeli intelligence agency. Israel has denied Turkey's previous claims of involvement in the vote, but has welcomed the Kurds' vote for independence. Rouhani also said that Tehran and Ankara planned to expand economic ties. "Turkey will import more gas from Iran... Meetings will be held to discuss the details," he said. (Writing by Parisa Hafezi, additional reporting by Tuvan Gumrukcu, Dirimcan Barut, Daren Butler; Editing by Hugh Lawson) MOSCOW, Oct 4 (Reuters) - The Kremlin said on Wednesday it was ready to discuss the possible restructuring of Venezuela's debts to Russia if Caracas raised the issue in forthcoming talks. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro earlier on Wednesday raised the possibility of his country's debt to Russia being restructured. Speaking at an energy forum in Moscow, Maduro said Caracas would meet all of its debt obligations however. Maduro is due to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin for talks later on Wednesday. "If this issue is raised by our Venezuelan partners, then certainly it will be discussed," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told a conference call with reporters. "This issue certainly needs serious discussion." (Reporting by Dmitry Solovyov; Editing by Andrew Osborn) Marilou Danley, left, during a trip to the Philippines in 2013 with Stephen Paddock, far right, the gunman responsible for 58 deaths in Las Vegas - Facebook The girlfriend of the Las Vegas mass murderer has described him as a "kind, caring, quiet man" as police pored over the gunman's "secret life". Marilou Danley was interviewed by FBI agents on Wednesday in a bid to discover the motive of Stephen Paddock, who is said to have spent decades acquiring weapons. There was no evidence at this point to indicate that the mass shooting was terrorism, FBI Special Agent in Charge Aaron Rouse told a news conference, adding no one had been taken into custody as a suspected accomplice. Ms Danley said in a statement that she had no clue he was planning the massacre that left 59 dead and more than 500 injured in America's worst ever mass shooting. Air Force One departs Las Vegas past the broken windows on the Mandalay Bay hotel, where shooter Stephen Paddock conducted his mass shooting along the Las Vegas Strip in Las VegasCredit: Reuters "I knew Stephen Paddock as a kind, caring, quiet man. I loved him and hoped for a quiet future together with him. "He never said anything to me or took any action that I was aware of that I understood in any way to be a warning that something horrible like this was going to happen." Ms Danley said in the statement that Paddock had told her two weeks ago that he had found a cheap plane ticket for her to visit family in the Philippines. "Like all Filipinos abroad, I was excited to go home and see family and friends. While there, he wired me money, which he said was for me to buy a house for me and my family." Still claiming to show Marilou Danley, girlfriend of the Las Vegas gunman, arrived at Los Angeles International AirportCredit: NBC News She said she became concerned at that point, thinking he wanted to break up with her. "It never occurred to me in any way whatsoever that he was planning violence against anyone." She added that she was praying for the victims of the massacre. "I am a mother and grandmother and my heart breaks for all who have lost loved ones," she said. Stephen Paddock with Marilou Danley More details emerged on Wednesday showing the extent to which the attack was meticulously planned. Paddock had 1,600 rounds of ammunition and several containers of an explosive commonly used in target shooting that totalled 50 pounds in his car, Clark County Sheriff Joseph Lombardo said. But the sheriff said he didn't know what, if anything, Paddock planned with the explosives. Story continues The shooter also sprayed 200 rounds of gunfire into the hallway when an unarmed security guard, identified as Jesus Campos, approached his hotel room. The security guard, who was hit in the leg, then helped a group of police officers clear out rooms on the 32nd floor of the hotel, before they finally got to Paddock. Jesus Campos, an unarmed security guard for the Mandalay Bay, stopped the massacre by approaching the shooters room and drawing fire. Hero. dylan (@dybry21) October 4, 2017 Lombardo said Paddock planned to survive and escape from the hotel, but he didn't say how. "We have produced a profile of someone who is disturbed and dangerous," Lombardo said. Lombardo told reporters he found it hard to believe that the arsenal of weapons, ammunition and explosives recovered by police in their investigation could have been assembled by Paddock completely on his own. "You have to make an assumption that he had some help at some point," Lombardo said, adding that the attack was the obvious outcome of meticulous planning. "What we know is that Stephen Paddock is a man who spent decades acquiring weapons and ammo and living a secret life, much of which will never be fully understood," the sheriff said. The 64-year-old high-stakes gambler and real estate investor specifically requested an upper-floor room with a view of the music festival when he checked in last Thursday, according to a person who has seen hotel records turned over to investigators but wasn't authorized to speak publicly and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity. Authorities have said he brought 23 weapons in 10 suitcases into the room and set up cameras inside and out to watch for police closing in on him. But Lombardo said on Wednesday that none of the cameras was recording. Speaking to first responders in the city, Donald Trump said the killer must have had his "wires screwed up". The president, who made a private visit to a hospital with his wife, Melania, said investigators were learning a lot more about Paddock. Flanked by doctors at the hospital Mr Trump said he had met terribly wounded patients who were some of the most amazing people and had shown tremendous bravery. Mr Trump said he had invited them to the White House. He said: The only message is were with you 100 per cent. Believe me, Ill be there for them. We have a great country and we are there for you. He added: Its a very, very sad day for me, personally. During his visit Mr Trump deflected a question about whether the US has a problem with gun violence. "We're not going to talk about that today," he said. Mr Trumps motorcade passed close to the Mandalay Bay Hotel where Paddock, 64, launched his devastating attack on Sunday night. Ms Danley, 62, arrived at Los Angeles airport on Wednesday morning on a flight from the Philippines. She was pushed through the airport in a wheelchair by FBI agents who took her to their field office for questioning. Reynaldo Bustos, her brother, told ABC News that he spoke to his sister following the shooting. "I called her up immediately and she said, Relax, we shouldnt worry about it. Ill fix it. Do not panic. I have a clean conscience," Bustos told ABC News in the Philippines. Ms Danley is an Australian citizen and her sisters there said they believed she was sent away by Paddock to the Philippines a week before the shooting. It also emerged that Paddock may have intended to target a bigger Las Vegas outdoor music festival the previous weekend. He tried unsuccessfully to book a room overlooking the Life is Beautiful event where performers included Damon Albarns band Gorillaz. That festival was attended by 50,000 people each day. There were unconfirmed reports a receipt for Paddocks last room service meal at the Mandalay Bay showed there may have been an additional person in his room, and it was also disclosed that Paddock had been taking the anti-anxiety drug Valium. Paddock was prescribed 50 tablets on June 21. Andrew McCabe, FBI Deputy Director, said he was surprised at the lack of an apparent motive. He said: This individual and this attack didnt leave the sort of immediately accessible thumbprints that you find on some mass casualty attacks. Related Video: By Lisa Baertlein and Manuel Mogato LOS ANGELES/MANILA (Reuters) - The girlfriend of a retiree who killed 58 people and then himself in a shooting rampage in Las Vegas arrived from the Philippines in Los Angeles, where FBI agents hoped to question her about the massacre, law enforcement officials said. Marilou Danley, who U.S. authorities have described as a "person of interest" in the investigation, left Manila on Tuesday evening aboard Philippine Airlines Flight PR 102, according to Philippines immigration spokeswoman Antonette Mangrobang. The non-stop flight arrived as scheduled at about 7:30 p.m. local time on Tuesday (0230 GMT Wednesday) at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), according to the airline tracking website FlightAware.com and passengers from the flight. Mangrobang told Reuters by text message there was no information about whether Danley was traveling with anyone else. A police official in Manila and a law enforcement official in the United States, both speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters that Danley left the Philippines unescorted but was being met by Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents in Los Angeles. The U.S. source said Danley was not under arrest but that the FBI hoped she would consent to be interviewed voluntarily. The police official in Manila said Danley's trip back to the United States "was coordinated with FBI authorities" and that she was returning to clear her name of any involvement in the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history. Stephen Paddock, her live-in companion who killed himself moments before police stormed the Las Vegas hotel suite he had transformed into a sniper's nest on Sunday night, left no clear clues about why he staged his attack on an outdoor concert below the high-rise building. Law enforcement authorities are hoping to obtain some answers from Danley, who according to public records and police shared Paddock's condo in a retirement community in Mesquite, Nevada, about 90 miles (145 km) northeast of Las Vegas. Story continues The Philippine police official said authorities in Manila were told that Paddock used identification belonging to Danley, who has an Australian passport, when checking in to the Las Vegas hotel. Investigators are also examining a $100,000 wire transfer that Paddock sent to an account in the Philippines that appeared to be intended for Danley, a senior U.S. homeland security official told Reuters on Tuesday. The official, who has been briefed regularly on the probe but spoke on condition of anonymity, said investigators were working on the assumption that the money was intended as a form of life insurance payment to Danley. The official said U.S. authorities were eager to question Danley about whether Paddock encouraged her to leave the United States before going on his rampage. Danley arrived in Manila on Sept. 15, more than two weeks before the mass shooting in Las Vegas, then flew to Hong Kong on Sept. 22 and returned in Manila on Sept. 25. She was there until she flew to LAX on Tuesday night, according to a Philippine immigration official who spoke on condition of anonymity. Danley, an Australian citizen aged 62 who is reported to have been born in the Philippines, was not seen by reporters in any public area of the LAX arrival terminal. A flight attendant from the plane declined to comment, as did an airline manager at the terminal, citing privacy concerns, when asked if they had seen Danley. One passenger told Reuters she overheard members of the flight crew saying that one of them had escorted Danley from the plane. The New York Times reported Danley has a daughter who lives in Los Angeles. (Reporting by Lisa Baertlein in LOS ANGELES and Manny Mogato in MANILA; Writing by John Chalmers and Steve Gorman; Editing by Paul Tait) By Alexandria Sage and Sharon Bernstein LAS VEGAS (Reuters) - The girlfriend of the Las Vegas gunman who killed 58 people and himself in the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history was questioned by the FBI on Wednesday and said she had no idea he was "planning violence against anyone." Marilou Danley, who returned late on Tuesday from a family visit to the Philippines and is regarded by investigators as a "person of interest," said through a lawyer that the carnage Stephen Paddock unleashed while she was abroad caught her completely unaware. "He never said anything to me or took any action that I was aware of that I understood in any way to be a warning that something horrible like this was going to happen," Danley, 62, said in a written statement read to reporters by her attorney in Los Angeles, where the FBI was questioning her. A Federal Bureau of Investigation official in Las Vegas, meanwhile, said no one has been taken into custody. But Clark County Sheriff Joseph Lombardo told reporters he found it hard to believe that the arsenal of weapons, ammunition and explosives recovered by police in their investigation could have been assembled by Paddock completely on his own. "You have to make an assumption that he had some help at some point," Lombardo said at a news briefing. Lombardo said the attack was the obvious outcome of meticulous planning. "What we know is that Stephen Paddock is a man who spent decades acquiring weapons and ammo and living a secret life, much of which will never be fully understood," the sheriff said. Nearly 500 people were also injured when Paddock, 64, strafed an outdoor concert with gunfire on Sunday night from his 32nd-floor suite of the Mandalay Bay hotel on the Las Vegas Strip. He took his own life before police stormed his room, bringing the total death toll to 59. Police recovered nearly 50 firearms from three locations they searched, nearly half of them from the hotel suite. Twelve of the rifles there were fitted with so-called bump stocks, officials said, allowing the guns to be fired almost as though they were automatic weapons. In response to a question, Lombardo said investigators were examining the possibility Paddock's purchase of more than 30 guns in October 2016 may have been precipitated by some triggering event in his life. He did not elaborate. If Paddock did have any accomplice, there remained no evidence as yet "to indicate terrorism" in the shooting spree, said Aaron Rouse, FBI special agent in charge of the Las Vegas field office. Earlier in the day, U.S. President Donald Trump visited Las Vegas, marking the first time since taking office that he has had to confront a major mass shooting. 'CARING, QUIET MAN' In her statement after being questioned in Los Angeles, Paddock's girlfriend Danley insisted she knew Paddock as "a kind, caring, quiet man." "It never occurred to me in any way whatsoever that he was planning violence against anyone." Her lawyer, Matt Lombard, said Danley was "fully cooperating" with the investigation. Danley, an Australian citizen of Filipino heritage, said she flew back to the United States voluntarily "because I know that the FBI and Las Vegas Police Department wanted to talk to me, and I wanted to talk to them." Danley, who was twice married before her relationship with Paddock, became a focus of the investigation for having shared his retirement community condo in Mesquite, Nevada, northeast of Las Vegas, before leaving the United States for the Philippines in mid-September. FBI agents met her plane at Los Angeles International Airport before interviewing her, two U.S. officials briefed on the case told Reuters. As of midday Wednesday, there was no indication she was aware of Paddock's plans, they said. Investigators questioned her about Paddock's weapons purchases, a $100,000 wire transfer to a Philippine bank that appeared to be intended for her, and whether she saw any changes in his behavior before she left the United States. "Assuming she had no role in his actions, the most important thing is any light she can shed on Paddock's motive," said one official, who spoke about the investigation on condition of anonymity. Danley said Paddock had bought her an airline ticket to visit her family and wired her money to purchase property there, leading her to worry he might be planning to break up with her. Paddock's brother Eric told reporters the $100,000 transfer was evidence that "Steve took care of the people he loved," and that he likely wanted to protect Danley by sending her overseas before the attack. She arrived in Manila on Sept. 15, flew to Hong Kong on Sept. 22, returned to Manila on Sept. 25 and was there until she flew to Los Angeles on Tuesday night, according to a Philippine immigration official. Discerning Paddock's motive has proven especially baffling given the absence of the indicators typical in other mass shootings. He had no criminal record, no known history of mental illness and no outward signs of social disaffection, political discontent or extremist ideology, police said. Trump, touring a hospital in Las Vegas, told reporters Paddock was "very demented," and he asked Lombardo if investigators were any closer to establishing a motive. "We've had a couple good leads and we're working our way through it," Sheriff Joseph Lombardo told the president. (To view a graphic on the Las Vegas attack, click http://tmsnrt.rs/2yRHHDI) (Additional reporting by Steve Holland and Lisa Girion in Las Vegas, Karen Freifeld and Jonathan Allen in New York, Lisa Baertlein in Los Angeles, Manuel Mogato in Manila and John Walcott and Mark Hosenball in Washington; Writing by Daniel Trotta and Steve Gorman; Editing by Jonathan Oatis, Toni Reinhold, Grant McCool) The killer was a white guy, a Christian by birth if not belief. He was not radical, just a crazed man given the means by the gun lobby to terrorize innocent concertgoers in Las Vegas on Sunday night, shooting to death 59 of them. Stephen C. Paddock was, by all accounts so far, an ordinary American. That is what most terrifies the right. And so, some on the far right have convinced themselves that Paddock could not be what he seems, what the authorities say he is. They say factsalternative facts, perhapswill inevitably reveal the truth, even as mainstream media outlets do everything they can to skewer that reality, so as not to offend the sensibilities of coastal elites. This is how America grieves and mourns in 2017. 10_04_Las_Vegas David Becker/Getty The lack of certitude about Paddock was conveyed by President Donald J. Trump himself, who on Tuesday was asked if the 64-year-old killer could have been a member or supporter of the Islamic State group (ISIS). There is no evidence whatsoever that that was the case, and although ISIS did attempt to take responsibility for the attack, this was almost certainly what Politico called the terrorist organization's desire for publicity. The FBI has said ISIS is not responsible for the attack. Senator Richard M. Burr, who heads the Senate Intelligence Committee, similarly asserted that "it doesn't seem to have a terrorism nexus." And if some international organization were directing Paddock, Trump would have surely known as much from the Presidents Daily Briefing, which would have given him a clear overview of terrorist activity around the world. I have no idea, the president said. Many of Trumps most extreme and vociferous supporters do have an idea. And while they cannot prove that Paddock was at all radicalized, they continue to insinuate that he may have been. They do so in part by calling press reports about Paddock fake news, insisting that some other truth is out therea truth that, presumably, speaks Arabic. Story continues Clark County Sheriff Joseph Lombardo, one of the law enforcement officials who has been leading the investigation into Sundays massacre, gave credence to this conspiracy theory during a Tuesday press conference. You know, did this person get radicalized unbeknownst to us? he wondered. His statements, as well as those of Trump, have afforded conspiracy theorists all the license they could hope for. Screen Shot 2017-10-04 at 2 CNN The Twitter feed of Jack Posobiec, a right-wing conspiracy theorist who recently started a pro-Trump political action committee, is a perfect illustration of this strategy, which can be called: Delegitimize and Insinuate. Even though he seems to acknowledge that Paddock is not an ISIS recruit, planting doubt about the veracity of news reports sows confusion and prevents Americans from talking about the one issue the right is desperate to avoid: guns. Screen Shot 2017-10-04 at 2 Twitter It's clear Paddock was committing this atrocity for a cause, said loyal Trump surrogate and radio host Bill Mitchell. Considering the nature of his victims, most likely #Antifa or #ISIS or both. Tomi Lahren, the Fox News commentator, voiced a similar sentiment: Media focusing on guns. There's something bigger here. I think there's something more about Paddock and his gf that hasn't been revealed. Laura Loomer, another right-wing activist, tweeted that FBI stood for Federal Bureau of Islam, suggesting that law enforcement officials were downplaying an ISIS connection. Conspiracy theorist Mark Dice agreed, asserting that the FBI has covered up mass shooters' motives in the past. They redacted all references to Islam that Pulse night club shooter made to 911, a reference to the mass shooting in Orlando, Florida, in the summer of 2016. That was, until Sunday, the most deadly shooting in modern American history. The extreme suspicion of federal law enforcement recalls, in some ways, the deadly 1992 raid on Ruby Ridge, Idaho, and the following years siege of the Branch Davidians compound in Waco, Texas. It is a longstanding fear of the far right that Washington will send its jackbooted government thugs to root out Americans whose views didnt accord with the mainstreamand who protect their lands, and beliefs, with guns. The paranoia, therefore, is not new. Only now it is being fueled by the president of the United States. Related Articles (Photo: Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) LAS VEGAS It was just after 9:40 p.m. when Donny Lee, his wife and some friends watched country superstar Jason Aldean take the stage to close out the Route 91 Harvest festival, a three-day country music celebration that drew fans from around the country to the famed Las Vegas Strip. Lees group was among the 22,000 people packing the 15-acre open-air venue for three days of country-tinged revelry in the nations most prominent party city. Held in a former parking lot near the Luxor and Mandalay Bay resorts, the festival known as the neon sleepover billed itself as a relatively intimate chance for country fans to see some of their favorite artists in one place. For many attendees, the early fall gathering this year celebrating its fourth anniversary had become an annual tradition. It was the last night of the festival, and the grounds were packed. When Jason Aldean came up, we were at our seats, standing there, singing, dancing, Lee, who works as an investigator in the Orange County Sheriffs Department and who was off-duty at the time, recalled. As were standing there, we hear the first few gunshots. Around 10:15 p.m., a few bars into Aldeans 2012 hit When She Says Baby, a rapid series of pops echoed across the festival grounds. The first few were muted, nothing like the rapid sounds many would have immediately recognized as gunfire. My wife looked at me and asked me what it was, Lee said. I didnt think it was gunshots, because it was too subdued and if it was gunshots it was something small and farther away. For a brief moment, the bangs went silent. Cassie Burgoon, who has traveled from Rancho Cucamonga, California, each year to attend the festival with her mom, heard the initial shots as well. Out of nowhere, everyone heard about five pops and saw a little bit of smoke, and we all looked around thinking maybe it was a firecracker. I thought to myself, Thats weird, why is someone lighting off fireworks in a big crowd like this? Thats so dangerous, said California-based concertgoer Michaela Gallo. Story continues Aldean continued to play for a few moments before abruptly running backstage. It was then the crowd began to realize something had gone horribly wrong. There was a little bit of a pause, I would say 10 seconds, a short pause, Lee remembered. Then you heard some rapid fire, the first barrage of rapid fire. We heard guys behind us say Run, and thats when we knew, Burgoon said. It just kept going and going. The shots never stopped after those first five. A chaotic scene on the festival grounds Chaos broke out as fans scrambled to escape the shots raining down on them from seemingly all directions. Stephen Craig Paddock, 64, had opened fire on the crowd from his suite on the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay hotel, roughly 400 yards from the festivals main stage. Police believe Paddock, who checked into the hotel on Thursday, smashed two of his rooms windows with a hammer or similar object, positioned two rifles with scopes on tripods in front of those windows and began firing. He set up cameras inside and outside of his hotel room, possibly to monitor who was entering the hallway. Equipped with more than 20 guns and a large cache of ammunition, Paddock fired off hundreds of rounds in a span of roughly nine minutes. After some time, Paddock is believed to have turned one of his guns on himself, taking his own life before authorities could reach his room. Down on the festival grounds, people screamed as they fled the stage area, some throwing themselves to the ground to avoid the bullets. Some people crawled, looking for anything they could use to shield themselves. Others made a run for the fences, hauling themselves and others over the barriers separating the grounds from the rest of the strip. Lee, the off-duty cop, started yelling at people: We need to go, we need to start moving. Other concertgoers were telling people in the crowd to stay down, but 18 years of experience told Lee he had to keep moving. My wife was behind a trash can, and as shes behind it, the trash can got hit by what I can only assume was a bullet, because there was nobody around and the trash can gets jolted away from her, Lee said. You hear the bullets hitting the bleachers and all around you. A cowboy hat lies in the street after shots were fired at the Route 91 Harvest music festival. (Photo: David Becker via Getty Images) It was so loud and it just kept going and going, said Shauna Vasquez of Midland, Texas. We saw a guy behind us drop down and he was shot in the head, so we just all dropped to the ground. His wife was screaming at him to wake up. We crawled over people and everything, she continued. She lost her shoes, she said, and her husband had someones blood on his shirt. I just remember the faces of the people who were lying there lifeless. At one point, everywhere Lee looked, he saw people down, bleeding out and severely wounded. There were people carrying a female who had obviously been shot and looked like she was deceased, he remembered. There was another person who was down and had been shot. There were people who were deceased all around us. At one point, I thought, Why isnt he dead yet? Where are the cops? They should be shooting at him and taking him down! Brandi Klemme Quan of Rossmoor, California, told HuffPost. I had no idea or even thought for a second that [the] gunman was up in his hotel room, shooting at us as we were sitting ducks in that wide open space with nowhere to hide. Backstage was just as confusing and chaotic. Gallo, who was there to see friends play in the band Big & Rich, was hanging out in the backstage area when she moved to the side of the stage to see some of Aldeans set. After Aldean left the stage, Gallo and her friends sought shelter behind a tour bus. We couldnt tell where it was coming from, if it was multiple people shooting, she said. At times it sounded really close, [at] other times far away. It was very confusing. Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. (Photo: David Becker via Getty Images) The escape Police, meanwhile, began to piece together and respond to what was happening. Its coming from upstairs in the Mandalay Bay, one officer said on the police scanner. I see the shots coming. Las Vegas Metro Police Department, their officers, were absolutely heroes through this whole entire thing, Lee said. While everyone was running way, they were running towards that, even though they knew they were outgunned. Between bursts of gunfire, Lee and his friends were trying to find an escape route, but exits were bottlenecked with mobs of people trying to escape the venue. People are running all over the place. No amount of training prepares you for something like this, Lee said. At one point, he and his friends crawled under the bleachers for safety, but he quickly realized they had to keep moving if they were going to survive. They kept moving, but he wasnt going to head out without some protection, Lee said. He found a two-foot piece of pipe under the bleachers and took it with him so that I had something in case we ran into somebody as we came around the corner. Exiting the venue would prove extremely difficult for many. Survivors spoke of entry gates that appeared to be blocked off as the chaos grew, and openings in fences too small for more than a single person to fit through. Brent Poppen of Paso Robles, California, who uses a wheelchair and was watching the concert from a raised platform reserved for accessible seating, said a wave of thousands of people rushed toward where he was sitting when the gunfire broke out. Youd hear popping going off with guns, and every time there was a pop it would just cause an influx of hysteria, he said. With the help of a friend and his wife, Poppen made his way down a ramp, across the rubble of garbage, folding chairs and downed fences strewn about the venue, through a walkway, and eventually back to his hotel, the Hooters Casino Hotel, where other victims also fled to. Theres literally blood all over the carpet, on the walls, he said. When you open the elevator doors, the floor was full of blood. By the time Paddock stopped shooting, he had killed at least 58 people and injured more than 500 others. Broken windows are seen on the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. (Photo: David Becker via Getty Images) Hotel guests on lockdown As the shooting unfolded, Mandalay Bay guests were placed under lockdown and given few details about what was going on. Brian Buonassissi of New York was in his room on the 27th floor when the gunfire began. He and other guests received an automated call on the hotel phones telling them to stay in their rooms with the doors locked. I put a chair against the door, he said. I didnt really know what was going to happen. By 10:25 p.m., police had figured out which room the shots were coming from and had surrounded the hallway. They breached the room nearly an hour later, and found the shooter dead from an apparent self-inflicted wound. Those staying on the 32nd floor the same floor from which Paddock carried out the massacre were evacuated by SWAT teams. Other hotels across the city also took in an influx of festival-goers fleeing the chaos on the strip. False rumors spread about multiple shooters across the city and bomb threats at nearby hotels. We had no idea what was accurate, Gallo said. Survivors scrambled to get in touch with loved ones and post on social media to let their friends know they were OK. We were just up all night making phone calls, Poppen said. You dont sleep. Lee, meanwhile, had run with his wife to the nearby Tropicana casino, still unsure if there were multiple shooters or if the threat was ongoing. The information people were giving was all over the place security telling you to lay down, telling you to run, he said. All I knew is we needed to continue moving. So we move through the Tropicana, yelling at people to move, move. They eventually made their way into the MGM Grand, coming upon an exterior emergency door that an MGM security guard tried to block them from using. I sternly told him, No, we are going this way, and I [opened] the door myself, Lee said. They burst into a high-stakes poker room where no one seemed to know what was going on just down the strip. Theres bloody people, muddy people, dirty people who are running for their lives, and the people playing slot machines are totally oblivious about what is going on, Lee said. It was almost like youre running by and theyre so entranced by the machines theyre playing that theyre like zombies, pulling the arms, totally oblivious. It was really a surreal feeling. A vigil on the Las Vegas Strip for the victims of the Route 91 Harvest country music festival shootings. (Photo: Denise Truscello via Getty Images) Details begin to emerge about what happened As Sunday turned into Monday, initial details of the polices investigation emerged. At an early morning press conference, Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo said at least 20 people had been killed and 50 had been injured. By 8:30 a.m., the death toll had risen to 58, while the number of people injured swelled to 515. Police offered more information on Paddock he lived in an upscale retirement community in nearby Mesquite; hed frequented Las Vegas hotels and casinos; he had more than a dozen firearms and thousands of rounds of ammo stockpiled at home but had no answers as to why he decided to carry out the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history. Police began to identify some of those killed in the massacre. One victim was an off-duty Las Vegas policeman. Another was a grandmother of five. Some Las Vegans gathered at City Hall Monday evening to hold a vigil, lighting candles to represent each victim. Everybody in this community has been so touched by the loss of these lives and the horror of the mentally sick, horrible human being who has taken into his hands devastation and imprinted in our minds forever a day that really doesnt belong in our fabulous, beautiful city, Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman told the crowd. We know that we have the resilience to move forward. Belongings were scattered and left behind at the site of the shooting. (Photo: Drew Angerer via Getty Images) Hospitals quickly overwhelmed by hundreds of patients At least five area hospitals took in hundreds of victims, calling in reinforcements to help treat scores of traumatic injuries. Ashley Juste, a trauma nurse who used to work at Sunrise and went to the hospital to help Sunday evening, told CBS News of horrific injuries and frantic family members. According to doctors, the hospital had 30 operating rooms working at once. All gunshot wounds. Extremities, ankles, hands, chests, arms, some people who were more severe were taken to the operating room right away because they were very, very critical, Juste said. A lot of people frantic, asking for their family members, people asking for their spouses... but theres so many people there, no one has a name. Everyone comes under an alias, because theres just too many patients to get names down, so that was very hard. There were about 190 people taking up every single bed possible, every single room possible, every single hallway possible, Rep. Ruben Kihuen (D-Nev.), who visited Sunrise Hospital Sunday night, told NPR. Every single nurse, every single doctor from all over the city came and are assisting a lot of these victims. Over at University Medical Center, every bed was full. We had people in the hallways, people outside and more people coming in, Dr. Jay Coates told ABC. Karissa Barcelo, who lives nearby on the Strip, heard news of the shooting and set off for Sunrise Hospital to see how she could help. When she arrived, the medical center was in pure chaos, she said. Barcelo offered to help in any way she could, but was turned away due to the sheer number of people flooding the hospital. By 4 a.m., people eager to help the victims had lined up outside blood banks across the city. By mid-afternoon, many of those centers were at capacity and couldnt accept any more volunteers. One survivor even took it upon herself to bring her truck to the scene to help transport victims to nearby hospitals. Johanna Ernst and George Sanchez. Sanchez was shot in the arm Sunday night. (Photo: Matt Ferner) Life in Vegas carries on On Tuesday, security tightened further at Mandalay Bay and around it. Staff barred reporters and other media from the casino floor. Police and federal investigators surveilled a crime scene consisting of multiple city blocks, leaving some businesses closed and apartment complexes cordoned off within the affected area. Tourists gathered on Las Vegas Boulevard and on a bridge that crosses it, gawking at the closed-down blocks of the strip. Some visitors took selfies in front of the Excaliburs faux-castle exterior, the throng of media and police, or the towering Mandalay Bay itself, with its two gaping window holes from which Paddock had opened fire. Balloons and bouquets of flowers peppered the streets that remained open. Tourists roamed the boulevard with beers and novelty cocktails. A couple in a rented convertible, phones held aloft, snapping selfies in front of the cordoned-off zone, pulled into a parking lot and shouted, What happened? Among those walking around on the strip Tuesday afternoon were Johanna Ernst and George Sanchez, two survivors of Sundays shooting. Sanchez was shot in the arm while diving for cover near the sound booth at the festival stage. The two were eventually reunited outside the venue. The bullet that hit Sanchez is still in his left arm, he said. This puts everything into perspective, most definitely. You cant pinpoint one emotion, you cannot, Sanchez said. Weve gone through anger, weve gone through pain, being grateful for being alive of course, the sorrow for all those that are not with us. Its a range of emotions. But most of all were grateful to be here. Hayley Miller and Nick Robins-Early contributed reporting. Also on HuffPost Candles are lit during a vigil held at Las Vegas City Hall. A crowd starts to gather for the vigil. Mourners place candles and flowers down on the ground during the vigil. A crowd gathers together for a candlelight vigil held on the north end of the Las Vegas strip. Mourners attend a candlelight vigil at the corner of Sahara Avenue and Las Vegas Boulevard. A vigil on the Las Vegas strip for the victims. People attend a candlelight vigil at the University of Las Vegas student union. People hold up candles during a vigil on the Las Vegas strip. People attend a candlelight vigil at the University of Las Vegas student union. People pray together during a vigil at Guardian Angel Cathedral. Candles make up a large vigil on the Las Vegas Strip. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. (LAS VEGAS) The Las Vegas gunman transferred $100,000 overseas in the days before the attack and planned the massacre so meticulously that he even set up cameras inside his high-rise hotel room and on a service cart outside his door, apparently to spot anyone coming for him, the authorities said Tuesday. Meanwhile, investigators are taking a harder look at the shooters girlfriend and what she might have known about the attack, with the sheriff naming her a person of interest and saying the FBI is bringing her back to the U.S. on Wednesday for questioning. Authorities are trying to determine why Stephen Paddock killed 59 people in the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history. They have been speaking with girlfriend Marilou Danley, 62, who was out the country at the time of the shooting and in the Philippines on Tuesday, and we anticipate some information from her shortly, Lombardo said. Lombardo said he is absolutely confident authorities will find out what set off Paddock, a 64-year-old high-stakes gambler and retired accountant who killed himself before police stormed his 32nd-floor room. Paddock transferred $100,000 to the Philippines in the days before the shooting, a U.S. official briefed by law enforcement but not authorized to speak publicly because of the continuing investigation told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. Investigators are still trying to trace that money and also looking into a least a dozen reports over the past several weeks that said Paddock gambled more than $10,000 per day, the official said. The cameras Paddock set up at the Mandalay Bay hotel casino were part of his extensive preparations that included stockpiling nearly two dozen guns before opening fire from his perch on the closing night of a three-day country music festival below. I anticipate he was looking for anybody coming to take him into custody, Lombardo said. During the Sunday night rampage, a hotel security guard who approached the room was shot through the door and wounded in the leg. Story continues The fact that he had the type of weaponry and amount of weaponry in that room, it was preplanned extensively, the sheriff said, and Im pretty sure he evaluated everything that he did and his actions, which is troublesome. Lombardo said the investigation is proceeding cautiously in case criminal charges are warranted against someone else. This investigation is not ended with the demise of Mr. Paddock, the sheriff said. Did this person get radicalized unbeknownst to us? And we want to identify that source. In addition to the cameras, investigators found a computer and 23 guns with him at the hotel, along with bump stock devices that can enable a rifle to fire continuously, like an automatic weapon, authorities said. Nineteen more guns were found at Paddocks Mesquite home and seven at his Reno house. Video shot outside the broken door of the room show an assault-style rifle with a scope on a bipod. The sheriff said an internal investigation has been launched to find out how that footage was obtained. Some investigators turned their focus Tuesday from the shooters perch to the festival grounds where his victims fell. A dozen investigators, most in FBI jackets and all wearing blue booties to avoid contaminating the scene, documented evidence at the site where gunfire rained down and country music gave way to screams of pain and terror. Shoes, baby strollers, chairs, sunglasses, purses. The whole field was just littered with things, said Nevada Attorney General Adam Laxalt after touring the site Monday. There were bloodstains everywhere. More than 500 people were injured in the rampage, some by gunfire, some during the chaotic escape. At least 45 patients at two hospitals remained in critical condition. All but three of the dead had been identified by Tuesday afternoon, Lombardo said. As for what may have set Paddock off, retired FBI profiler Jim Clemente speculated that there was some sort of major trigger in his life a great loss, a breakup, or maybe he just found out he has a terminal disease. Clemente said a psychological autopsy may be necessary to try to establish the motive for the attack. If the suicide didnt destroy Paddocks brain, experts may even find a neurological disorder or malformation, he said. He said there could even be a genetic component to the slaughter: Paddocks father was a bank robber who was on the FBIs most-wanted list in the 1960s and was diagnosed a psychopath. The genetics load the gun, personality and psychology aim it, and experiences pull the trigger, typically, Clemente said. Paddock had a business degree from Cal State Northridge. In the 1970s and 80s, he worked as a mail carrier and an IRS agent and held down in an auditing division of the Defense Department, according to the government. He later worked for a defense contractor. He had no known criminal record, and public records showed no signs of financial troubles, though he was said to be a big gambler. Nevadas Gaming Control Board said it will pass along records compiled on Paddock and his girlfriend to investigators. No affiliation, no religion, no politics. He never cared about any of that stuff, his brother, Eric Paddock, said outside his Florida home. He said he was at a loss to explain the massacre. The FBI discounted the possibility of international terrorism early on, even after the Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack. ___ Regina Garcia Cano, Sally Ho and Brian Skoloff in Las Vegas; Brian Melley in Los Angeles; and Sadie Gurman and Tami Abdollah in Washington contributed to this report. Destiny Albers, a woman in the crowd during Sunday night's mass shooting in Las Vegas, wept in her mother's arms Tuesday as they visited a makeshift memorial near the Mandalay Bay hotel where Stephen Paddock opened fire. "She called me on the phone and told me she loved me, she had to help her girlfriend or she would die," her mother Bonnie Albers, who drove through the night from California, told AFP. "You hear ta-ta-ta, then silence, and I thought it was the end." Jennifer Zuccolo, a Canadian tourist, brought a teddy bear to the corner of the busy crossroads on South Las Vegas Boulevard -- one of a stream of people who paid their respects with candles, balloons and messages of peace and hope. "I get comfort from a teddy bear, so I would hope that everyone else would, she said. Visiting Las Vegas with a friend, she was set to return to Toronto Tuesday night. "I'm at a loss for words that this could even happen, that somebody could even do this. It's absolutely disgusting that somebody would do this. I really can't wait to understand why, or even you know, some kind of answers," she added. At 17 years old, Briana Calderon is Vegas born and bred -- never imagining the horror of Sunday night would arrive on her doorstep. Along with friends Cinthya Olivera and Roberto Lopez, she paid tribute at the memorial Tuesday. - 'Everybody knows everybody'- "Our life has changed, she said. "Vegas is pretty small, so it hits everybody, everybody knows everybody. A lot of our families work here, it could have been our parents, it could have been anybody, it could even have been us." "It's scary to think you really aren't safe anywhere," she added, suggesting tourist hotspot Las Vegas makes a "really good target" for terrorism. But Lopez was more defiant. "Afraid? No, we are more cautious now," he insisted. Previously unknown to the authorities, shooter Stephen Paddock killed 58 and wounded over 500 Sunday night, in the most deadly shooting in recent US history. He fired at the crowd for nearly ten minutes, according to police. Story continues After searching his 32nd-floor hotel room in Las Vegas and home in Mesquite, Nevada, authorities later discovered he was in possession of an arsenal of 42 firearms, explosives and thousands of rounds of ammo in the hotel room and a house he owns in Reno. Police have categorized Paddock as a "lone wolf," insisting he acted alone. The Islamic State group claimed he was a convert to Islam and one of their "soldiers," but the FBI said there is absolutely no evidence to support this. "There is some changes in our life, we are more cautious," saidCinthya Olivera. But she believes the solidarity locals have shown to the victims is something good that has emerged from the terror. "Today more than ever the communities are together, there for each other, everyone is connected," she added, having spent the morning off school to donate blood following an appeal from the authorities. "We wanted to donate our blood for people in critical condition," Cinthya explained. Taylor Winston found a pick-up with keys left inside to transport shooting victims to hospital: Taylor Winston/Facebook An Iraq veteran who stole a pick-up truck during the Las Vegas shooting to drive victims to the hospital has released a text message conversation he shared with the car's owner. Taylor Winston, 29, was at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival with friends when Stephen Paddock began spraying the crowd with automatic gunfire from a nearby hotel. Three days after the worst shooting in US history, the truck's owner sent the ex-marine the message: "Hey Taylor told you might have the keys to my truck?? "All I won't [sic] is the key. Other then that it's all water under the bridge to me and hows the people you hauled doing?" Mr Winston replied: "I have em for ya. When do you want to meet for em? We're at the Monte Carlo. "I took about 30 critically injured to the hospital. Your truck was extremely important saving those peoples lives. I don't know if they all made it." Mr Winston, a sergeant who served from 2006 to 2011, commandeered the vehicle after finding the set of keys inside the truck. "I saw a field with a bunch of white trucks...I tested my luck to see if any had keys," he told CBS News. "We started looking for people who needed taking to hospital, there was just too many and it was overwhelming how much blood was everywhere." He told the injured to apply pressure to wounds as he attempted to speed to Desert Springs Hospital Centre "before they bled out". He fears some of his passengers, who included a woman with neck and chest injuries, may have died. "I cant be for certain," he said. "Theres a few that I dont think probably made it. They were pretty limp when we were pulling them out of the truck, but they still had a pulse, so Im hoping for the best." Mr Winston estimates he transported between 20 and 30 people to the hospital in multiple trips. Las Vegas Sheriff Joseph Lombardo said on Wednesday the number injured in the attack was 489, and the death toll still stands at 58. Story continues It is understood the keys have now been returned to their owner. Related Video: Watch news, TV and more Yahoo View, available on iOS and Android. LAS VEGAS The car alarms began echoing around the Route 91 Harvest Festival grounds late Wednesday morning, beeping here and there, disturbing a site that has been mostly still and quiet since police put it on lockdown in the hours after a gunman rained bullets down on unsuspecting concertgoers Sunday night in one of the worst mass shootings in modern history. It was the sound of people trying to find their cars in one of the several dusty parking lots, abandoned when they had run for their lives from a scene of unimaginable bloodshed and mayhem. One by one, police escorted people through roads still sealed off with crime tape, back through a church parking lot, into the shadow of the festival grounds across the street from the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, in clear sight of the two broken windows used by shooter Stephen Paddock to target his victims. The survivors approached the police line with a look of dread on their faces, seemingly never wanting to return to a place they had barely escaped. And almost all left with tears streaming down their faces, the memories of that night having rushed back as they performed the simple task of trying to return some normalcy to their lives. People on Wednesday pick up their cars from the venue where the Las Vegas mass shooting occurred. (Photo: Salwan Georges/The Washington Post via Getty Images) Related slideshow: Scenes from Las Vegas mass shooting >>> I didnt know it would be so hard, a woman tearfully told reporters through her open car window as police officers lifted the crime tape for her to drive through. Wiping her eyes, she still wore a paper wristband that said Sunday, which served as her admission for the final day of the country music festival. She said she hadnt been able to take it off. She had ridden in a police SUV, the windows down, as she clicked her key fob trying to remember where she had left her white Toyota. When she saw the festival grounds and Mandalay Bay in the distance, the memories all came rushing back the pop-pop-pop sound of gunfire, the screams, bodies falling and a stampede of people desperately trying to escape. Choking up, the woman said she couldnt say more. Otherwise, I wont be able to drive, she said, slowly pulling away. Story continues Investigators at the festival grounds across the street from the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino on Tuesday. (Photo: Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP) And so it went for hours, the alarms beeping on and off. A few hundred yards away, teams of FBI investigators walked in packs, fanning out in spots all over the concert site. They moved slowly, one step at a time, meticulously looking for evidence as investigators continued to try to piece together the puzzle of why Paddock, a 64-year-old real estate investor and avid gambler with no history of violence, had so viciously and ruthlessly attacked a city where he had been a regular visitor for years. Three days after the attack, the mystery of why Paddock did what he did only seemed to deepen, as law enforcement officials told reporters they had found evidence that the gunman had intended to survive his rampage and that he likely had help as he meticulously plotted his attack. Related slideshow: Makeshift memorials pay tribute to Las Vegas shooting victims >>> Joseph Lombardo, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department sheriff who has become the face of the investigation, told reporters Wednesday that a timeline cobbled together through video of the event suggested Paddock shot at concertgoers for just 10 minutes from 10:05 to 10:15 p.m. on Sunday. In that short period, he killed 58 people and injured nearly 500 though he likely intended the death toll to be worse. A source told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that it appears Paddock used one of the two windows he busted out in his Mandalay Bay suite to shoot at a pair of fuel tanks just beyond the concert site near the runways of McCarren International Airport, just a few blocks away. The tanks were breached but did not explode, the source said. Paddocks rampage was interrupted by Jesus Campos, a Mandalay Bay security guard who approached the room after calls from guests. Paddock had seen Campos coming through cameras he had set up to monitor the hallway, including a baby monitor he had concealed on a room service cart. (Despite speculation to the contrary, Lombardo said none of the camera feeds were recording.) Lombardo said Campos, who was shot in the leg, was lucky to be alive. He said police had recovered upwards of 200 shell casings in the hallway from where Paddock had blasted through the door of his hotel suite on the casinos 32nd floor. But Camposs arrival coincided with the end of the attack. Police said Paddock did not fire any shots after 10:15 p.m., even though his arsenal, which included 23 firearms, was far from depleted. Police finally breached Paddocks suite at 11:20 p.m. and found him dead at 11:28 p.m. more than an hour after the gunfire ended. It was unclear what exactly Paddock was doing during that hour, but Lombardo said the gunman planned to escape and was likely considering his own fate though the sheriff repeatedly declined to offer further details. Downstairs, where the gunmans car was parked in the casinos garage, police found several pounds of material that could be used to make explosives, including ammonium nitrate and another 1,600 rounds of ammunition. Clark County Commissioner Steve Sisolak, left, and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Sheriff Joe Lombardo leave a media briefing at police headquarters in Las Vegas on Wednesday. (Photo: Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via AP) At the same time, Lombardo confirmed that Paddock had rented a room at a condo building in downtown Las Vegas the previous weekend. The room, rented through the site Airbnb, overlooked the Life Is Beautiful music festival, featuring acts like Chance the Rapper and Lorde. Was he casing that event? We dont know, the sheriff said. Authorities said they were still trying to piece together what Paddock had been up to in the days leading up to Sept. 28, when he first checked in to Mandalay Bay and spent time gambling before unleashing his attack. Through police initially suggested he was a lone wolf gunman, Lombardo seemed to cast doubt on that theory Wednesday, telling reporters he found it nearly impossible to believe that Paddock had no help in assembling his arsenal and plotting the attack. Related slideshow: The front page: How newspapers portrayed the Vegas massacre >>> You have to make an assumption that he had some help at some point, Lombardo told reporters. You look at the weapon obtaining, the different amounts of [explosives] available, do you think this was all accomplished on his own? On face value, youve got to make the assumption he had to have some help at some point. Among those people investigators are looking to for answers is Marilou Danley, Paddocks girlfriend, whom he had flown to the Philippines in the days leading up to the attack. Described as a person of interest, she spoke to the FBI for hours Wednesday in Los Angeles, where she had returned late Tuesday night. In a statement read by her attorney, she denied any knowledge of Paddocks plot. Referencing $100,000 he wired to her ahead of the attack, she explained that at the time she thought it may have been his way of ending their relationship. Agents from the FBI use binoculars from the broken window where Stephen Paddock opened fire at the Mandalay Bay Resort. (Photo: Gregory Bull) An FBI official repeatedly declined to say what Danley told them but suggested she is still cooperating with the investigation. Police still have no real answer to Paddocks motive, and Lombardo, frustrated and fatigued, openly questioned if anyone would ever truly understand why the shooter did what he did. Related slideshow: Trump visits Las Vegas after deadly mass shooting >>> What we know is that Stephen Paddock is a man who spent decades acquiring weapons and ammo and living a secret life, much of which will never be fully understood, he said. _____ Read more from Yahoo News: @alextdaugherty Incoming Democratic state Sen. Annette Taddeo didn't get the same national attention as other special election candidates in recent months. But the 50-year-old Colombian-American businesswoman and former congressional candidate differed from better-known figures like Jon Ossoff in Georgia and Rob Quist in Montana in one notable way: she won. Taddeo defeated former state Rep. Jose Felix Diaz last week in a Miami-area special election even though Diaz was better-funded. And as national Democrats begin to campaign for Doug Jones in an Alabama Senate special election against Republican Roy Moore, Taddeo is urging the likely flood of liberal interest groups interested in flipping Attorney General Jeff Sessions' old senate seat and other upcoming races in Virginia to put aside intra-party differences and communicate. "One clear thing that happened here is that there were a lot of different organizations and groups wanting to help," Taddeo said. "We got to make sure that the egos are left at the table and that everyone one has one goal." Taddeo noted that during Ossoff's campaign, which received record amounts of money, different groups didn't necessary work together as well as they could have. "There would be people knocking on that door and finding out that five other people had been to the door that day," Taddeo said. "We need to silo the responsibilities and make sure everyone is working toward that one goal." Taddeo was part of a press call with Latino Decisions, a Democratic-leaning polling firm, to announce the results of a new poll that shows Donald Trump is losing support among Florida Hispanics. Nearly two-thirds of Florida Hispanics disapprove of Trump's job performance while 76 percent of Hispanics nationwide disapprove of Trump's performance. "The poll is significant because it's proof that President Trump and the Republican Party are alienating Latinos of all backgrounds and all political stripes," said Rep. Darren Soto, D-Kissimmee. Immigration reform and the Dream Act is the most important issue facing the Hispanic community that Congress and President Trump should address, according to the poll. The poll, which included 369 Florida Latinos, was conducted on Sept. 20 and has a margin of error of 3.5 percentage points. In a welcome breath of fresh air,Vogue Italiais turning the spotlight toward women over 60 for its Timeless Issue. Lauren Hutton is the magazines gorgeous October cover star, gracing three separate covers. At 73 years and 11 months, shes the oldest woman to ever grace the cover of any edition of Vogue. Tina Turner previously held the record at 73 years and 4 months, according to Womens Wear Daily, and surprise, surprise Vogue Italia conceded that men older than 73 have indeed been cover stars before. A post shared by Vogue Italia (@vogueitalia)on Oct 3, 2017 at 11:51pm PDT While it seems silly that a magazine should be lauded for acknowledging that women over 60 are people, fashion is a notoriously exclusive industry. In Huttons accompanying Vogue Italia interview, she talksabout thinking her career was overwhen she hit 40. When I was 47 I returned to modeling and I asked that my photos shouldnt be retouched, she said. Women stopped me on the street and told me that for a long time they felt ignored and invisible and seeing me in magazines made them feel that they werent invisible anymore. A post shared by Vogue Italia (@vogueitalia)on Oct 4, 2017 at 1:18am PDT And while Hutton has been modeling for decades, she said shes never felt prouder in [her] life after landing this particular Vogue cover. Ive had a record, 27 covers of American Vogue, and Ive had 13 other Vogue covers, but this is the most important I have ever done, the one that has made me feel most useful, Hutton said. Ive been thinking about it for a while, but it took Vogue Italias courage to make it true. She added, This is a cover that can change society, because it shows a woman who is vibrant, attractive, who still laughs, and who for the first time is a woman my age. A post shared by Vogue Italia (@vogueitalia)on Oct 4, 2017 at 2:39am PDT And to the rest of the fashion industry, take note. Related... We Want More Of 73-Year-Old Lauren Hutton In This Calvin Klein Ad Story continues Fired Vogue Editor Lucinda Chambers Explains Why She Hasn't Read Vogue 'In Years' Pregnant Serena Williams Is Radiant And Barefoot In Vogue This article originally appeared on HuffPost. via @lesleyclark WASHINGTON -- In a Capitol riven by partisan divisions, Rep. Carlos Curbelo, a Florida Republican, says he thought it might help matters to work across the aisle with his Democratic Hispanic colleagues. In February, he met with the chairwoman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and asked about joining. Eight months later, he's still waiting for an invitation. "I just don't understand what's so difficult," Curbelo said Wednesday. "They have to decide if this is the Congressional Hispanic Caucus or if its the Congressional Hispanic country club for liberals." Its a work in progress, insists caucus chair Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham, a Democrat from New Mexico, who joked that his request is moving far faster than anything that ever happens in Congress. She called it a good approach to start with allowing Curbelo to sit on the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, a non-profit affiliated organization, before expanding the caucus. Its not true that its not happening and its also not accurate to say that its a done deal, Lujan Grisham said of allowing Curbelo to join. The caucus really has to have a discussion because we talk about legislative strategy that can sometimes be partisan. She called it a difficult path, but said conversations are ongoing with the caucus members. The caucus at one time included members from both parties, but several Republicans from Florida walked out over differences on Cuba policy and formed their own group. That rift still resonates, though it happened before her tenure, Lujan Grisham said, adding that she fears the group could again get bogged down by partisan squabbling. More here. Photo credit: REX/Shutterstock via Associated Press @ByKristenMClark Florida Virtual School the states official provider of online-only learning plans to accept 20,000 students from Puerto Rico who have been displaced by Hurricane Maria. The resource is available to those students regardless of whether theyre still in Puerto Rico or have since relocated to Florida, Gov. Rick Scott said in an announcement Thursday. Families in Puerto Rico have experienced extreme devastation of their homes and communities due to Hurricane Maria. As they work to rebuild their lives, these families should not have to worry about their children falling behind in school, Scott said, touting that Floridas public schools offer a world-class education. Details here. -- via @learyreports WASHINGTON - Several Republican members of Congress support a ban on the kind of device the Las Vegas gunman used to greatly increase the rate of firing, a sign of possible movement on gun restrictions. Its a given that Democrats support legislation to ban bump-stocks, and many will argue that its only a small step. But the GOP as a whole has long resisted any new gun regulations until now. So far, Republican Reps. Carlos Curbelo, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Gus Bilirakis and Vern Buchanan have said they would support a ban. "I believe it's time Congress seriously consider the legality of bump stocks," Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart told the Miami Herald, who is joining three other lawmakers asking the Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms bureau to "reevaluate the Obama administration's 2010 approval of bump stocks," Diaz-Balart's office said. Since 1998, Diaz-Balart has gotten more money in direct campaign contributions from the National Rifle Association than anyone else in Florida, according to an analysis from the Washington Post. The Tampa Bay Times asked all Florida Republican House members as well as Sen. Marco Rubio and will update this space if they respond. --with Alex Daugherty Photo credit: John Locher, Associated Press Concentration camps have been in existence for more than a hundred years. What's more, every country has at some point used them. Andrea Pitzer arrests her reader with these two startling facts at the beginning of her grueling yet engrossing study, "One Long Night: A Global History of Concentration Camps." Trawling archives and drawing on testimonies from prisoners and guards, Virginia-based Pitzer reveals how concentration camps evolved over the course of the past century and became not a desperate measure for safeguarding a nation but a byword for injustice and a blight on humanity. Pitzer opens in 1890s Cuba with Spanish forces implementing the extreme strategy of reconcentracion. Three hundred thousand Cuban civilians were herded into makeshift camps, or "miniature citadels of suffering." There they battled disease and starvation and, like future concentration camp prisoners, faced an uncertain future. The book's standout chapters focus on the devastation wreaked by Soviet Russia and Nazi Germany. The first gulag was established in 1923 on the Solovetsky Islands in the White Sea, after which whole archipelagoes proliferated across the land. In these frozen-over hells, inmates worked until they dropped. Pitzer notes that, "For the rest of the century the Gulag would serve as a model and a muse for other revolutionary states," and in later sections she examines the "stepchildren of the Gulag" in Cambodia, North Korea and China. As Mao Zedong chillingly pronounced in 1927, "it is necessary to create terror for a while in every rural area." Pitzer's other prominent chapter tracks the ugly expansion of the Third Reich and the grotesque development of its Konzentrationslager system. We go from the first camp, which opened a mere month after Hitler assumed power in 1933, to bigger fortresses such as Dachau, and then arrive at the Final Solution and "the apotheosis of horror," the death camps, where the detainee was reduced "not to a number but to nothing." "Anything was possible at Auschwitz, and nothing made sense," Pitzer writes. Concentration camps should have died after the abomination of Auschwitz. Instead they multiplied, rearing their ugly heads in the likes of Kenya, Chile and Myanmar. The book ends where it began, in Cuba, specifically Guantanamo, a place which Pitzer argues has gone from refugee camp to detention camp to concentration camp. For some, this will be a contentious claim. It isn't the only one. This critic was unconvinced by the inclusion of World War I internment camps for enemy aliens hardly comparable with, say, Bergen-Belsen. There are also notable omissions: Pitzer devotes only two paragraphs to the bloodbath that was the Balkans in the 1990s, and doesn't venture at all into the Middle East. But what Pitzer does relate is consistently fascinating. Her book is at its most absorbing, and affecting, when it follows the fates of individual prisoners real people who suffered, endured and articulated the unspeakable. Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr.s office was busy probing a felony fraud case involving siblings Ivanka Trump and Donald Trump Jr. in 2012. But after Donald Trumps personal attorney, Marc Kasowitz, intervened, the investigation was dropped within months, according to a report from ProPublica, The New Yorker and WNYC published on Wednesday. The presidents eldest children were being investigated for allegations they used false information to lure prospective buyers at the Trump SoHo, a hotel and condominium development. Prosecutors were probing whether their actions violated the Martin Act, a New York law banning false statements about real estate sales, and indictment seemed like a real possibility, according to the report. A lawsuit filed by condo buyers was settled in 2011, The New York Times reported, but the DAs criminal investigation continued. The settlement forbade lawsuit plaintiffs from cooperating with the DAs probe. Kasowitz joined the case in the spring of 2012. He went to Vances office that May to argue that any inflated claims made by the Trumps didnt amount to criminal misconduct. Three months later, Vance told his office to drop the investigation, according to the report, which cited 20 sources familiar with the investigation, court records and other public documents. Earlier in 2012, Kasowitz donated $25,000 to Vances re-election campaign, the report says. Vance reportedly returned the donation just before his meeting with Kasowitz. I did not at the time believe beyond a reasonable doubt that a crime had been committed, Vance told reporters for Wednesdays article. I had to make a call and I made the call, and I think I made the right call. Kasowitz had no influence, and his contributions had no influence whatsoever on my decision-making in the case. Kasowitz contended hes never made a contribution to anyones campaign, including Cy Vances, as a quid-pro-quo for anything. Months after the DA dropped the investigation, Kasowitz threw Vance a fundraiser and personally donated almost $32,000, according to the report. He hosted another one the following year and raised an additional $18,000. Vance said he now plans to give back the contributions. Story continues This was a two-year investigation that never produced sufficient evidence to support a criminal prosecution, Joan Vollero, Vances director of communications, told HuffPost in a statement. During the investigation, the luxury apartment purchasers reversed course and took the position that the sellers had not committed any crime against them. No outside attorney influenced any decision in this matter. A spokesman for Vances campaign denied the DA was swayed by campaign contributions. Contributions have never influenced Cy Vances work and never will, the spokesman said in a statement. Every contribution is vetted through a rigorous process, accepted when appropriate, and returned when flagged. Thats exactly what happened in this instance. Had Mr. Kasowitz had any influence over the matter, his 2013 contribution would have been flagged and returned. HuffPosts requests for comment from the White House, Kasowitz and the Trump Organization werent returned. Read Wednesdays full article here. This article has been updated to include a statement from Vances campaign. Ivanka and Donald Trump, Jr. arrive for the Presidential Inauguration of Trump at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., U.S., January 20, 2017. (Photo: POOL New / Reuters) Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. First Lady Melania Trump has been mocked for wearing sunglasses at night [Photo: Getty] After visiting Puerto Rico on Tuesday, then heading to Las Vegas the following day, Melania Trump returned to the White House late Wednesday. Wearing a black lace skirt with a cotton sweater, she accessorized with a patent leather belt, high heels, and sunglasses at night. People took to Twitter to mock the first lady for her eyewear choice. So do we think Melania wears the big sunglasses so she can hide an eye roll? pic.twitter.com/HZhF6RAhvx Reitwoman (@reitwoman) October 4, 2017 Why the sunglasses at night, Melania. Denise (@DeniseTut) October 5, 2017 I wear my sunglasses at night So I can so I can Forget my name while you collect your claim pic.twitter.com/34dUnkqtsX Viscountess Sharilyn (@sharilyn) October 5, 2017 FLOTUS was also criticized for wearing sunglasses to meet Puerto Rico residents earlier in the week, with some saying her mirrored shades made her seem aloof and unapproachable. Melania wears her mirrored sunglasses & hat pulled low so she can really project warmth & caring to the people of #PuertoRico alison wonderland (@Alisonnj) October 3, 2017 A few social media users jumped to her defense: Story continues Melania doesn't care about your 'public plea' to remove her sunglasses and heels. It's none of your business what she wears !!!! Julie Williams (@mssilvercity) October 5, 2017 To the dorks criticizing Melania for wearing sunglasses at night: Trumps just viewed devastation in PR, shooting in Vegas, must be hard.. Western_Veteran (@Jim_in_Colo) October 5, 2017 Lots of Trumps fashion choices have been ridiculed on the internet as of late. After the storm stilettos shaming when visiting Hurricane Harvey destruction in Texas, she was chided weeks later for wearing Timberland boots to assess Hurricane Maria damage. Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle: Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. Melania Trump's latest fashion move is raising some eyebrows. After returning from Las Vegas to visit the victims of the horrific mass shooting that occurred over the weekend at the Route 91 Harvest festival, the first lady walked hand-in-hand with President Trump on the South Lawn in an all-black look that sparked controversy. U.S. President Donald Trump, right, waves while walking with U.S. First Lady Melania Trump towards Marine One to depart for Paris on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Friday, Nov. 9, 2018. French President Emmanuel Macron hosts leaders from around the globe this weekend to commemorate the end of World War I, an effort to unite them against the kind of nationalism that drove the conflict a century ago and which appears to be gaining strength again. Photographer: Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images The 47-year-old beauty wore a Dolce & Gabbana pencil skirt, a black long sleeve and a chunky leather belt that accentuated her teeny waist. However, it was her sunglasses -- that she was wearing in the dark -- that garnered major criticism. "I'm making a public plea to Melania Trump: stop with the sunglasses (and the heels at disaster areas)," one Twitter user wrote. Another user posted: "I wonder if Melania Trump wears big sunglasses in public so no one can see her rolling her eyes at the B.S. her hubby says." RELATED: Melania Trump's outfit in Puerto Rico: US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump step off Air Force One upon arrival at Luis Muiz Air National Guard Base in Carolina, Puerto Rico on October 3, 2017. Nearly two weeks after Hurricane Maria thrashed through the US territory, much of the islands remains short of food and without access to power or drinking water. / AFP PHOTO / MANDEL NGAN (Photo credit should read MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images) The first lady was also criticized just a day earlier in Puerto Rico, where she was also sporting sunglasses while greeting victims of Hurricane Maria. Several people took to Twitter to express their outrage that she didn't remove her sunglasses while in Puerto Rico. Melania donned white denim, a army green jacket and a pair of Timberland boots upon landing in San Juan. Just hours earlier, she was spotted leaving the White House in a midnight blue sweater, cigarette trousers and a pair of her go-to stilettos in a navy hue, defying critics for the third time with her ensemble. For more on Melania's Puerto Rico fashion, watch the video above. RELATED: Melania Trump's controversial Hurricane Harvey ensemble: By Boureima Balima NIAMEY (Reuters) - French and Nigerien troops were conducting operations on Thursday in a region of Niger where three U.S. Army Special Forces members were killed the day before, becoming the first American soldiers to die in West Africa in decades. Three Nigerien soldiers were also killed and two U.S. soldiers wounded in the attack, which took place in a southwestern Niger region where insurgents are active, U.S. Africa Command spokeswoman Robyn Mack said. France's regional Barkhane force was asked to support a counterattack after the Niger and U.S. troops were ambushed, French army spokesman Colonel Patrick Steiger told a news conference in Paris. "It's not clear if the attackers knew the Americans were present," said a Western security source. "Initial information suggests there was a trap that appeared designed to get them out of their vehicles and then they opened fire." Insurgents in the area include militants from al Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb and a local branch of Islamic State, Mack said. The Western security source said al Qaeda and a relatively new group called Islamic State in the Greater Sahara were the main suspects, although no one had yet claimed responsibility. Two other Niger security sources said four military helicopters had been sent to the region and that reinforcements arrived on Thursday morning in the Tillaberi area, where the attack took place. The Pentagon declined to discuss details, citing ongoing operations, but said the U.S. forces were part of a growing mission to bolster Niger's armed forces' ability to battle militants. "We extend our deepest condolences and sympathies to the families of the fallen, and those injured in this attack," Pentagon spokeswoman Dana White told a news briefing. AMBUSH Nigerien army Colonel Abou Tague said the joint Nigerian-American patrol on the Mali-Niger border was ambushed by militants riding "in a dozen vehicles and about 20 motorcycles near the village of Tongo Tongo." He cited intense fighting, saying the joint Nigerian-American force "showed courage." He said four Nigerien soldiers were killed and eight were wounded. A statement by U.S. Africa Command on Thursday said one unspecified "partner nation member" had died but did not name the nation. In a speech on Thursday, Niger President Mahamadou Issoufou condemned the attack. "Our country has just been the victim of a terrorist attack that claimed a large number of victims," he said. Islamist militants form part of a regional insurgency in the poor, sparsely populated deserts of West Africa's Sahel. Jihadists have stepped up attacks on U.N. peacekeepers, Malian soldiers and civilian targets since being driven back in northern Mali by a French-led military intervention in 2013. Malian militant groups have expanded their reach into neighboring countries, including Niger, where a series of attacks by armed groups led the government in March to declare a state of emergency in the southwest. The European Union has pledged tens of millions of euros to a new regional force of five Sahelian countries - Niger, Mali, Chad, Burkina Faso and Mauritania - in a bid to contain Islamist militant groups. The United States also views the region as a growing priority. Rinaldo Depagne, West Africa project director at International Crisis Group, said the borderlands between Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso were "becoming a new permanent hotbed of violence", threatened by increasingly organized militant groups. "This shows the level of organization of these groups and also their confidence," Depagne said. Andrew Lebovich, a visiting fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, said Wednesday's attack revealed how U.S. training of Nigerien forces "has accelerated and also verged into ongoing military operations". The United States has about 800 service members in Niger, where it operates surveillance drones out of a $100 million base in the central city of Agadez to support the country's efforts to combat jihadists and protect its porous borders. It has also sent troops to supply intelligence and other assistance to a multinational force battling the Nigerian Boko Haram militants near Niger's border with Nigeria. (Additional reporting by Adama Diarra and Cheick Diouara in Bamako, David Lewis in Nairobi, Emma Farge in Dakar, Joe Bavier in Abidjan and Phil Stewart in Washington; writing by Aaron Ross and Phil Stewart; editing by Joe Bavier, Larry King and Jonathan Oatis) Note: This post contains language that may offend readers. By Aug. 28, 1967, Black Milwaukee had grown tired and frustrated. Tired of living in substandard housing, tired of their overcrowded neighborhoods and tired of economic inequalities in their city, the young Black members of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored Peoples (NAACP) Youth Council, the Commandos, and their adviser, Father James E. Groppi, joined forces with Alderwoman Vel Phillips. Together, they engineered a march to demand fair housing in Milwaukee. And for 200 consecutive nights, they kept marching. Fair housing in Milwaukee had been a primary concern for Black Milwaukeeans long before 1967. In the 1960s, the city of Milwaukees Black population was concentrated on the north side, which was colloquially referred to as the inner core. As Milwaukees Black population grew following World War II, and as manufacturing jobs began leaving the city, the inner core became overcrowded, and lax enforcement of the citys building codes led to dilapidated housing. Moreover, white landlords and homeowners outside of the inner core refused to rent or sell to African-Americans. What would my neighbors think if I sold my home to niggers? said one white homeowner to a then 19-year-old Prentice McKinney when he and his older brother, a Vietnam Vet, went to purchase a home for their mother. Black people were essentially stuck in the inner core due to racist housing practices. In 1962, Alderwoman Phillips, who made history in 1956 when she became the citys first African-American and first woman to be elected to the Common Council, introduced a fair housing ordinance that would make it illegal to deny housing to African-Americans because of their race. Phillips hoped to put an end to racist housing discrimination through her fair housing ordinance. The ordinance was voted down 17 to 1. Phillips was the sole vote in favor. The ordinance would continue to be voted down each of the three times she brought it up to the Common Council between 1962 and 1968. Story continues By Aug. 28, 1967, Black Milwaukeeans, mobilized by their frustrations of living in a system where they lacked a political voice, took to the streets in peaceful protests. The first of 200 consecutive nights of marching began as 200 members of the NAACP Youth Council, the Commandos, Father James E. Groppi, Alderwoman Vel Phillips and at least 50 white parishioners from St. Veronica Church (on the south side, where Father Groppi had previously been an assistant pastor) marched from the predominately Black north side of Milwaukee to the predominately white south side of Milwaukee. The marchers were met by as many as 13,000 angry white counter-protesters, who hurled bottles, bricks, racial slurs and feces at participants. Archival footage from the marches capture how chilling and menacing the white backlash was to the peaceful protestors. But intimidation tactics didnt work. The marchers continued to demonstrate from late summer through Milwaukees brutal winter and into spring. The 200th march took place on March 14, 1968. The participants suspended their marches at that point but later staged the largest of their marches after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., who had early in the movement sent a note of support to the marchers. On April 8, 1968, 15,000 people marched for Dr. King, continuing their approach to nonviolent protesting on which their movement had been built. On April 11, 1968, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act, which had been influenced by the demonstrations in Milwaukee. And on April 30, 1968, the marchers achieved victory when Milwaukees Common Council passed the Fair Housing Ordinance that made housing discrimination in the city of Milwaukee illegal. The March on Milwaukee (Aug. 28, 1967 through April 30, 1968) remains a radical act of civic participation. Radical because the marchers exercised a dynamic principal: the sustained engagement in public and peaceful protest by the citys most overlooked population the poor, Black and/or young people of Milwaukee. The marchers were met by as many as 13,000 angry white counter-protesters, who hurled bottles, bricks, racial slurs and feces at participants. Despite the radical nature of the marches, this era of the citys history has been almost erased from the local and national consciousness. The erasure has been both physical and metaphorical, as the physical buildings most important to the struggle for open housing, such as St. Boniface Parish, were torn down. As a current local organizer and community member, Adam Carr, has stated, it is as though the city suffers from a collective amnesia. The marches have been collectively forgotten and with them the radical legacy of Black, poor, and youth-led organizing in our city. This collective amnesia is unsurprising when one remembers that Milwaukee continues to be the nations most segregated metropolitan area. Fifty years later, the anniversary of the March on Milwaukee provides a time for the city to both recognize and reignite the spirit of the original marches to build the Milwaukee that we need, one that is fair, collaborative and racially just. Were doing so through our celebration called 200 Nights of Freedom, a community-based initiative of 200 consecutive nights of free public programs inspired by the original spirit of the marches. 200 Nights of Freedom is the central program of the March on Milwaukee 50th Anniversary Celebration, and it is fundamentally a means of recognizing the past so that we can reignite our present-day communitys commitment to justice and equity. Recognition: The Dreams of Our Elders As a person raised by Haitian and Yoruba elders, I have been told throughout the course of my life the importance of respecting ones elders. Respecting elders is not just about giving deference to old people. It is fundamentally an act of honoring history and experiences: the accumulated lessons of those who have come before us. Indeed, honoring ones elders puts into practice the familiar and transcultural adage that in order to know where youre going, you have to know where you come from. What better place to learn then from the feet of our elders? Despite the radical nature of the marches, this era of the citys history has been almost erased from the local and national consciousness. When I joined the March on Milwaukee 50th Anniversary Coordinating Committee in June of 2016, I had no idea learning at the feet of the elders meant I would become a privileged keeper of both their stories and, in some ways, their failed dreams. Over the course of learning about the history of the marches, I and the other young (i.e., those born after 1968) members of the coordinating committee have had a chance to experience what historian Manning Marable referred to living Black history, to place Black historical narratives at the center and to, consequently, see how these histories can and have shaped the course of Milwaukees past, present and future. Witnessing the living Black history of the original marchers has often meant learning details about the marches from original marchers and coordinating committee members, such as NAACP Youth Commandos Prentice McKinney and Fred Reed, NAACP Youth Council member Dr. Shirley Butler and Dr. Margaret Peggy Rozga, who married Father Groppi after he left the priesthood. I learned some of the marchers, like current Wisconsin Congresswoman Gwen Moore, snuck out of their bedroom windows in order to participate in the movement. Or that my own husbands grandmother, Juanita Adams, who marched for fair housing and the desegregation of Milwaukee Schools while six months pregnant, pushed her body against the pouring spout of a cement truck to prevent the building of a segregated school. Father Groppi, Alderwoman Vel Phillips, Prentice McKinney and others However, I have also learned that despite the fact a fair housing ordinance was passed by the city of Milwaukee, many of these original marchers look at the world 50 years later and wonder what, if anything has changed. Wisconsin leads the nation in Black male incarceration. With regard to fair housing, as Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity Executive Director Brian Sonderman noted on a panel on housing rights in Milwaukee, Black home ownership in Milwaukee has never been more than 50 percent. Access to property means access to a political voice, says Prentice McKinney, a former leader of the NAACP Youth Commandos. But with our prisons filled with Black bodies and the tight grip of segregation and economic inequality that chokes the citys most disenfranchised (Black and brown people), it is both understandable and heartbreaking to see that 50 years after Milwaukees civil rights moment, the city of Milwaukee still has much to learn from our past in order to build a brighter future. Re-Ignition: 200 Nights of Freedom In the world of 2017, where racist rhetoric has been normalized on the federal stage and where public and peaceful acts of protesting such as taking a knee during the national anthem have led to continued counter-protesting, the question remains: Is it still possible to build the Milwaukee (or, for that matter, the nation) that we all need? The March on Milwaukee 50th Anniversary Coordinating Committee charges: yes. However, that yes comes with recognizing the marches with bringing the unknown and forgotten history to the fore so that it might reignite the spirit of activism in our city. The marchers are a testimony to what indigenous, grassroots, youth- and people of color-directed organizing can accomplish: effective change and radical humanizing of Black and brown people on the local and national level. Despite the fact a fair housing ordinance was passed by the city of Milwaukee, many of these original marchers look at the world 50 years later and wonder what, if anything has changed. 200 Nights of Freedom builds on the stamina of 200 consecutive nights of marching. It is a community-driven initiative of 200 nights of free public programs that are inspired by the spirit of 1967-1968 marches. 200 Nights of Freedom works to build the city that we need by challenging some of our most challenging present-day realities in Milwaukee: our hyper-segregation, our resultant silo-ing and the at times frustrating inability for community members to work collaboratively to achieve equity. In other words, 200 Nights of Freedom is a way for community members to see the work being produced in our city by amazing present-day organizers while daring themselves to cross the very viaducts and imagined borders that keep present-day northsiders (African-Americans) from connecting with present-day southsiders (now predominately Latinx) and area suburbs (predominately white). Since weve kicked off on Aug. 28, 2017, weve seen an amazing mosaic of work contributed from our collaborators and partners across all areas of Milwaukee. Organizations new and old have seen the marches as a catalyst for their own work and honored the connections between activism led by youth and people of color, then and now. Organizations such as Urban Underground, an organization that works throughout Milwaukee, but especially in the Sherman Park area, to promote safe and sustainable communities through various youth-led social justice campaigns. Urban Underground has been instrumental and receptive to recognizing the marchers and using them to reignite their own causes, including arts-based activism in the form of silk screening workshops and T-shirt projects, as well as a recent publication called Youth Rise MKE. The organization Voces de La Frontera has been a vigilant leader in the fight for immigrant rights, including protesting against anti-immigrant bill AB190. Concurrently, the organization Uplifting Black Liberation and Community (UBLAC), a coalition of Black women, queer and trans people, have led Milwaukees own Black Lives Matter movement, promoting Black liberation through tools for self-sustainability and connection. Their efforts have spanned micro-community building events, such as potlucks, to massive efforts to organize citywide, including the Sept. 30, 2017 Black Womens Empowerment March. And these are just a few ways organizations in our city have been working and continue to work to realize the dreams of our elders. In their efforts to mobilize across the citys historic boundaries and through youth-led, people of color, and women-centered paradigms, they are working to build the Milwaukee we need: not simply 200 Nights of Freedom, but freedom and equity for the generations that have yet to come those who will inherit this city and its organizing history. We are still at the beginning of our initiative. However, were excited to see how the community will continue to respond to the prompt and platform of 200 Nights of Freedom. By Nidal al-Mughrabi GAZA (Reuters) - Mohammad Dahlan, who played a key backroom role in a major new effort for Palestinian unity, has said a two-state peace agreement with Israel was impossible and healing wounds from a civil war that split Palestine was now a priority. Once of the fiercest foes of Hamas, the Islamist group that seized the Gaza Strip in a civil war in 2007, Dahlan, a member of the rival mainstream Fatah party, spoke to Reuters after a unity cabinet held its first meeting in the enclave in three years. "The internal Palestinian situation is more sacred, is more important and is more useful now than the so-called negotiation," the veteran politician said of talks with Israel that collapsed in 2014 over issues such as Israeli settlement-building in occupied territory and Fatah-Hamas reconciliation. A former peace negotiator with Israel who speaks Hebrew and who was born in a refugee camp, Dahlan, 56, noted Jewish settlement in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, areas captured in a 1967 war and which Palestinians seek along with Gaza for a future state. "There is a complete Judaisation of the West Bank, not only of Jerusalem. It has become impossible for the two-state solution to be implemented, therefore, there is no political horizon," he said in the rare interview. Israel has built about 120 settlements in the West Bank. About 350,000 settlers live there and a further 200,000 in East Jerusalem, among about 2.6 million Palestinians. Fatah, led by the secular heirs of Yasser Arafat, runs the West Bank, heads the internationally recognized Palestinian Authority and has been responsible for negotiations with Israel. Its rival Hamas, an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood, drove Fatah forces loyal to President Mahmoud Abbas from Gaza and has run the tiny coastal strip that is home to two million people. EGYPT AND HAMAS Relations eased on Monday, when Hamas handed over control of Gaza to a unity government. Although it agreed to the deal three years ago, the decision to implement it marks a striking reversal for Hamas, considered a terrorist group by Israel, the United States and most powerful Arab countries. Officials on both sides of the Palestinian divide and in other Arab countries say Dahlan, based since 2011 in the United Arab Emirates, was behind an influx of cash to prop up Gaza, and a detente between Hamas and Arab states including Egypt that led the group to dismantle its shadow government last month. "It was an honor for us ... that we succeeded to have those understandings between Hamas and Egypt," Dahlan said by telephone from Abu Dhabi. The former Gaza security chief said he had kept silent during mediation efforts but decided to speak out now that they have borne fruit. Dahlan said Egypt, which has accused Hamas of aiding an Islamist insurgency in the Sinai peninsula across the border from Gaza, held meetings with senior officials of the group, which denies aiding the militants. Both sides agreed to shore up security along the border and prevent militants from crossing. "Without reconciling with Hamas and without Hamas understanding the needs of the Egyptian national security there can be no serious (Palestinian) reconciliation, and no one but Egypt is capable of playing an effective role," Dahlan said. Cairo will host Hamas and Fatah officials next Tuesday for further talks on power-sharing and the holding of Palestinian elections long-delayed by the internal rift. A first sign of discontent surfaced with Hamas criticizing Abbas's decision to await the outcome of the talks before lifting sanctions he has imposed on Gaza. "GOOD THINGS ON THE WAY" In the interview, Dahlan called on Hamas "to show more patience because all the good things are on the way" thanks to Egyptian mediation. He dismissed any notion that Egypt, with the UAE and Saudi Arabia, was pursuing Palestinian reconciliation as part of any wider U.S.-initiated push for a regional peace deal with Israel. "The chances of the so-called deal of the century is zero because (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu does not want peace and he imposed a reality of 700,000 settlers in the West Bank and in Jerusalem that made it impossible for the two-state solution to be implemented," Dahlan said. Netanyahu on Tuesday warned Palestinians against engaging in "bogus reconciliations" under which Hamas kept its military arm in Gaza which bristles with hundreds of its rockets. Turning to Palestinian politics, Dahlan, who recently formed the "Fatah Reformist and Democratic Party" to challenge Abbas - now in the 12th year of a four-year term - accused him of committing "crimes and mistakes" but said he was ready to reconcile with the 82-year-old leader to reunite the Fatah movement. "The ball is in his court and we are ready whenever he is," said Dahlan, in exile since 2011 after quarrelling with Abbas. Ambitious and charismatic, he has long been suspected of harboring designs to succeed Abbas. Dahlan said his strong ties with the UAE helped him to raise hundreds of millions of dollars in aid for Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem in the past 10 years. A recent poll by the West Bank-based Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey showed that those who still support Fatah in Gaza are shifting loyalty to Dahlan. His popularity among Gazans has risen over the past nine months from nine to 23 percent. Dahlan said he was not "obsessed" by opinion polls and a decision on whether he would run for a president would await until an election date is set. (Editing by Jeffrey Heller and Peter Millership) While Senate Banking Committee hearings can be stodgy affairs, they are no means grounds for a top hat and tux. Which is why the dapper character stood out in Wednesdays testimony with former Equifax CEO, Richard Smith. Well, that and the monocle and bright white mustache. The now-viral footage features the iconic mascot from the Monopoly board game lurking behind Smith as he gave his testimony. Monopoly Man played by Amanda Werner, the campaign manager of Americans for Financial Reform and Public Citizen, was there to protest the Equifax data breach that compromised the personal information of 143 million Americans and more specifically, resulted in forced arbitration clauses, which according to Werner functions essentially as Get Out of Jail Free cards for large banks. The Monopoly man is sitting behind former Equifax CEO Richard Smith at this Senate hearing pic.twitter.com/pYGsztYH6l Josh Billinson (@jbillinson) October 4, 2017 Werners groups, part of an alliance known as the Coalition for Sensible Safeguard, have a summary of their position on their website: Forced arbitration clauses buried in the fine print of take-it-or-leave-it contracts may be the single most important tool that predatory banks, payday lenders, credit card companies and other financial institutions have used to escape accountability for cheating and defrauding consumers. In short, the group is protesting on behalf of people who arent multi-million dollar entities. The day before Smiths Wednesday testimony, the retired executive claimed full responsibility while also blaming the whole thing on a nameless individual. With this going down in the month of October, it means one thing: topical Halloween costume inspiration. The Mr. Monopoly costume says youre politically driven and internet-savvy and its not a difficult costume to pull off, either. Heres all youll need: Story continues Hello! The Monopoly Man is here to raise attention to Equifax's get-out-of-jail-free card, forced arb. #RipoffClause https://t.co/RL7LF9ZtaX pic.twitter.com/9NjrzDxDlv Amanda Werner (@wamandajd) October 4, 2017 A cheap tux. Cobble something together from your closet, or just ask someone. Thrift stores are also an option. A top hat. Again, thrift stores, or just a local Halloween shop. Cheap red bowtie. Nothing too fancy the costume will do that for you. Black, grey, or white suit pants. The character has been officially portrayed wearing slacks of all three colors at different times. A wooden cane. Youd think a rich asshole with the name Pennybags would have like, some polished rare animal bone or whatever, but a classic wood cane is what he carries. Go figure. Monocle: OPTIONAL. Werner used theirs to amazing comedic affect, but Pennybags actually doesnt wear a monocle. Fake $100 bills. Oddly enough, you see these in dollar stores. And to top it off, print out Get Out of Jail Free cards and hand them out at the party. If youre feeling especially into it, print out the ones Werner handed out outside the hearing. Perhaps youll help change minds during the spookiest night of the year. Photos via Getty Images / Mark Wilson Photos via Getty Images / Mark Wilson Written by Eric Francisco More articles by Eric Follow Eric on Twitter tweetshare More From Inverse Earlier this week, reports emerged that film executive Harvey Weinstein was lawyering up for two potentially explosive stories about him. One of those stories, by The New York Times, appears to have arrived. The Times story, titled Decades of Sexual Harassment Accusations Against Harvey Weinstein, describes damning accusations from Weinsteins current and former employees and associates so damning that Weinstein is taking a leave of absence from The Weinstein Company. Weinstein did not deny the Times findings, writing, I so respect all women and regret what happened, the paper reports. Instead, he said he was working with therapists and taking leave to deal with this issue head on. He added: I appreciate the way Ive behaved with colleagues in the past has caused a lot of pain, and I sincerely apologize for it. Though Im trying to do better, I know I have a long way to go. The story opens with an account from actress Ashley Judd: Two decades ago, the Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein invited Ashley Judd to the Peninsula Beverly Hills hotel for what the young actress expected to be a business breakfast meeting. Instead, he had her sent up to his room, where he appeared in a bathrobe and asked if he could give her a massage or she could watch him shower, she recalled in an interview. The piece mentions several other instances in which Weinstein is accused of appearing nearly or fully naked in front of someone or asking them to be present while he bathed or repeatedly ask[ed] for a massage or initiating one himself. The Times said it discovered previously undisclosed allegations against Mr. Weinstein stretching over nearly three decades and reported that hes reached at least eight settlements with women, according to two company officials speaking on the condition of anonymity. Other accusations in the Times report include: 1) The code of silence Weinstein reportedly enforced: Employees of the Weinstein Company have contracts saying they will not criticize it or its leaders in a way that could harm its business reputation or any employees personal reputation, a recent document shows. And most of the women accepting payouts agreed to confidentiality clauses prohibiting them from speaking about the deals or the events that led to them. Story continues 2) A reported exchange with Emily Nestor, a law and business school student: [She] accepted Mr. Weinsteins breakfast invitation at the Peninsula because she did not want to miss an opportunity, she later told colleagues. After she arrived, he offered to help her career while boasting about a series of famous actresses he claimed to have slept with, according to accounts colleagues compiled after hearing her story and then sent on to company executives. 3) An undisclosed settlement reportedly reached with actress Rose McGowan: In 1997, Mr. Weinstein reached a previously undisclosed settlement with Rose McGowan, then a 23-year-old-actress, after an episode in a hotel room during the Sundance Film Festival. The $100,000 settlement was not to be construed as an admission by Mr. Weinstein, but intended to avoid litigation and buy peace, according to the legal document, which was reviewed by The Times. Ms. McGowan had just appeared in the slasher film Scream and would later star in the television show Charmed. She declined to comment. 4) A reported meeting with Italian model Ambra Battilana: In March 2015, Mr. Weinstein had invited Ambra Battilana, an Italian model and aspiring actress, to his TriBeCa office on a Friday evening to discuss her career. Within hours, she called the police. Ms. Battilana told them that Mr. Weinstein had grabbed her breasts after asking if they were real and put his hands up her skirt, the police report says. The Times suggests that the accusations against Weinstein appear to be at odds with his public actions, including his support for feminist icons like Hillary Clinton and Gloria Steinem and his participation in a womens march in Park City, Utah. Attorney Lisa Bloom, previously a staunch defender of victims of sexual harassment and assault, will be representing Weinstein, whose company optioned her book. According to the Times, Bloom responded to its findings by calling Weinstein an old dinosaur learning new ways. Read the entire report here. If you have more information about Harvey Weinstein, send us an email: scoops@huffingtonpost.com. Also on HuffPost Ashley Judd Ashley Judd told the New York Times that Harvey Weinstein invited her to his hotel room and asked her if he could give her a massage or if she wanted to watch him shower. She told the Times that she thought, How do I get out of the room as fast as possible without alienating Harvey Weinstein? Gwyneth Paltrow Gwyneth Paltrow told the New York Times that Weinstein touched her inappropriately. I was a kid, I was signed up, I was petrified, she said, noting that when Weinstein found out she told her then-boyfriend Brad Pitt, "I thought he was going to fire me." Angelina Jolie I had a bad experience with Harvey Weinstein in my youth, and as a result, chose never to work with him again and warn others when they did, Angelina Jolie told the New York Times. This behavior towards women in any field, any country is unacceptable. Kate Winslet Kate Winslet told Variety that she had heard rumors of Weinstein's behavior for years. "I had hoped that these kind of stories were just made up rumours, maybe we have all been naive," she said. "And it makes me so angry. There must be no tolerance of this degrading, vile treatment of women in ANY workplace anywhere in the world. Meryl Streep Meryl Streep told HuffPost that the women who came forward about Weinstein's behavior are "heroes." The disgraceful news about Harvey Weinstein has appalled those of us whose work he championed, and those whose good and worthy causes he supported," she said in a statement. Rose McGowan Rose McGowan has been vocal about the scandal since the New York Times published its bombshell report on Weinstein's alleged misconduct. McGowan, the Times said, was one of several women with whom Weinstein reached a financial settlement following the alleged abuse. After The Weinstein Company fired Harvey, the actress and director called on the rest of the studio's board to resign. "They knew," she said in a tweet. "They funded. They advised. They covered up. They must be exposed. They must resign." Ben Affleck "I am saddened and angry that a man who I worked with used his position of power to intimidate, sexually harass and manipulate many women over decades," Ben Affleck posted on Twitter. "The additional allegations of assault that I read this morning made me sick." Actress Rose McGowan denounced Affleck for implying that he didn't know of the abuse before this week, saying that the pair had previously discussed Weinstein's treatment of her. "You lie," she tweeted. Lena Dunham 'Girls' co-creator and star Lena Dunham penned an op-ed for the New York Times calling on more men to speak out against Weinstein and others like him. "Abuse, threats and coercion have been the norm for so many women trying to do business or make art," she wrote. "Mr. Weinstein may be the most powerful man in Hollywood to be revealed as a predator, but hes certainly not the only one who has been allowed to run wild. His behavior, silently co-signed for decades by employees and collaborators, is a microcosm of what has been happening in Hollywood since always and of what workplace harassment looks like for women everywhere." George Clooney In an interview with The Daily Beast, George Clooney said that, for decades, he'd heard rumors about Weinstein, but dismissed them as gossip. Calling Weinstein's behavior "disturbing" and "indefensible," Clooney said he had no idea of the severity of the accusations. "A good bunch of people that I know would say, Yeah, Harveys a dog or Harveys chasing girls, but again, this is a very different kind of thing," the actor told the Daily Beast. "This is harassment on a very high level. And theres an argument that everyone is complicit in it. I suppose the argument would be that its not just about Hollywood, but about all of usthat every time you see someone using their power and influence to take advantage of someone without power and influence and you dont speak up, youre complicit. And theres no question about that." Jennifer Lawrence Jennifer Lawrence won an Academy Award for "Silver Linings Playbook," which The Weinstein Company distributed. She called the alleged harassment "inexcusable and absolutely upsetting." "I worked with Harvey five years ago, and I did not experience any form of harassment personally, nor did I know about any of these allegations. This kind of abuse is inexcusable and absolutely upsetting," Lawrence said in a statement. "My heart goes out to all of the women affected by these gross actions. And I want to thank them for their bravery to come forward." Hillary Clinton Weinstein was a major Democratic Party benefactor, having donated to or raised money for a host of candidates, including Hillary Clinton. Clinton said that she "was shocked and appalled by the revelations about Harvey Weinstein. The behavior described by women coming forward cannot be tolerated. Their courage and the support of others is critical in helping to stop this kind of behavior." Barack and Michelle Obama Weinstein visited the White House multiple times while Obama was in office after having raised huge funds for his presidential campaign. Earlier this year, Malia Obama also reportedly worked for the Weinstein Company. "Michelle and I have been disgusted by the recent reports about Harvey Weinstein," the Obamas said in a statement. "Any man who demeans and degrades women in such fashion needs to be condemned and held accountable, regardless of wealth or status. We should celebrate the courage of women who have come forward to tell these painful stories. And we all need to build a culture -- including by empowering our girls and teaching our boys decency and respect -- so we can make such behavior less prevalent in the future." Judi Dench Judi Dench, who won an Oscar for her performance in the Weinstein-backed "Shakespeare in Love" and was nominated for two other films under his wing, denounced the alleged abuse. "Whilst there is no doubt that Harvey Weinstein has helped and championed my film career for the past 20 years, I was completely unaware of these offenses which are, of course, horrifying and I offer my sympathy to those who have suffered, and whole-hearted support to those who have spoken out," she said in a statement. Leonardo DiCaprio Leonardo DiCaprio worked with Weinstein on blockbuster films like Gangs of New York, The Aviator, and Django Unchained. "There is no excuse for sexual harrassment or sexual assault-- no matter who you are and no matter what profession," DiCarpio said in a Facebook Post. "I applaud the strength and courage of the women who came forward and made their voices heard." Jessica Chastain Jessica Chastain has been one of the most outspoken critics of Weinstein and of Hollywood's complicity since The New York Times published its damning report. "I was warned from the beginning" about Weinstein, she said in a tweet. "The stories were everywhere. To deny that is to create an environment for it to happen again." Julianne Moore Moore, who starred in the Weinstein-backed film "A Single Man," tweeted that "coming forward about sexual abuse and coercion is scary and women have nothing to be gained personally by doing so. But through their bravery we move forward as a culture, and I thank them. Stand with @AshleyJudd @rosemcgowan and others." Colin Firth Calling Weinstein a "frightening man to stand up to," Colin Firth told The Guardian that reading about the allegations gave him "a feeling of nausea." It must have been terrifying for these women to step up and call him out. And horrifying to be subjected to that kind of harassment. I applaud their courage." Tamron Hall Its a womans worst nightmare to be in a situation where you believe someone more powerful has control over your life, former "Today" show host Tamron Hall told HuffPost. She called the allegations against Weinstein "horrifying." Blake Lively Blake Lively spoke out against Weinstein in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter. The actress said that she was unaware of the abuse but admitted that "it's devastating to hear." "It's important that women are furious right now. It's important that there is an uprising. It's important that we don't stand for this and that we don't focus on one or two or three or four stories. It's important that we focus on humanity in general and say, 'This is unacceptable.'" Julia Roberts Julia Roberts gave a statement to People, saying, A corrupt, powerful man wields his influence to abuse and manipulate women. Weve heard this infuriating, heartbreaking story countless times before. And now here we go again. I stand firm in the hope that we will finally come together as a society to stand up against this kind of predatory behavior, to help victims find their voices and their healing, and to stop it once and for all." Ryan Gosling I want to add my voice of support for the women who have had the courage to speak out against Harvey Weinstein, Gosling wrote in a note on Twitter. Like most people in Hollywood, I have worked with him and Im deeply disappointed in myself for being so oblivious to these devastating experiences of sexual harassment and abuse. He is emblematic of a systemic problem. Men should stand with women and work together until there is real accountability and change. Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. Surgeons in the Netherlands recently performed a procedure requiring immense precision as it's carried out on super tiny blood and lymphatic vessels. The surgery is extremely difficult to do and only a handful of surgeons are willing to do it. But for this particular procedure, Maastricht University Medical Center+ surgeons utilized a robot that was built to perform these sorts of complex microsurgeries right alongside doctors. The robot was developed by a company called Microsure and it works by converting the motions of surgeons' hands into more precise, localized and tremor-free movements. The surgical task was to connect tiny lymphatic vessels to small nearby veins in order to alleviate a condition called lymphedema that features a buildup of lymphatic fluid. Lymphedema often occurs as a result of cancer treatments that disrupt the drainage of lymphatic fluid, causing severe swelling and pain. The patient that underwent the surgery is doing well. "We are very pleased and proud that the first intervention using our robot has been a success, and that the surgeons are enthusiastic," Microsure CTO Raimondo Cau said in a statement. Cau says that the next steps are to expand the types of surgeries Microsure's robot can assist with including tissue reconstructions and tumor removals. And its robot joins others that have begun to take some of the reins away from people. A robot just recently performed a tooth implantation all on its own in China and two different robots have been used to complete delicate eye surgeries. You can check out a video of Microsure's robot below. When the University of Montana ended a lengthy search for its new president Tuesday by announcing candidate Seth Bodnar had accepted the position, the reaction by students on campus was not so much muted as nonexistent. While the head of the student government said his peers are excited about the announcement, of the 20 students around campus who spoke to the Missoulian on Wednesday, none reported having any opinion on Bodnar. Freshman Amanda Finley said she read a short bio on each of the finalist candidates who came to campus last month, but didnt attend any of the visits and didnt know that Bodnar had been selected. Eleven other students said they only knew the selection was made because they received an email from the school, but hadnt followed the process and didnt have any opinion on Bodnar or the other finalists. Eight said they werent aware UM was even searching for a new president. Cale Patenaude, a senior studying management information systems, said he was busy with schoolwork and other things, and didn't follow the search, but saw the campus-wide email announcing the selection Tuesday. His friend, sophomore Jason Haroldson, was in the same position. Im just glad its over finally, he said. *** Braden Fitzgerald, president of the Associated Students of the University of Montana, said his initial reaction when he heard Bodnar was chosen to lead the school was excitement, and he thinks thats the feeling shared by his peers. The theme that Im hearing is students are ready to get behind a leader, he said. In general they want to hear about hope. They want to hear a position of change thats also grounded in the history of the school. Fitzgerald also was a member of the search committee that reviewed applications and conducted interviews with potential candidates for the lead job at UM. He said Bodnar was well-received by students when he visited the campus in September. I think the student body felt inspired for the first time in awhile, he said. LAS VEGAS (Reuters) - There was no evidence at this point to indicate that the mass shooting in Las Vegas this week was terrorism, a Federal Bureau of Investigation agent told a news conference on Wednesday. FBI Special Agent in Charge Aaron Rouse also said federal authorities have questioned the girlfriend of the gunman and no one has been taken into custody as a suspected accomplice. (Reporting by Jon Herskovitz; Editing by Sandra Maler) The National Rifle Association, a major gun rights advocacy group that has spent millions of dollars lobbying against gun control legislation, says bump stocks like the ones used by the Las Vegas shooter this past weekend should be subject to additional regulations. Wayne LaPierre, the NRAs CEO and executive vice president, issued a joint statement Thursday with Chris Cox, the executive director of the Institute for Legislative Action, the lobbying arm of the NRA. In the aftermath of the evil and senseless attack in Las Vegas, the American people are looking for answers as to how future tragedies can be prevented, LaPierre and Cox said in the statement. Unfortunately, the first response from some politicians has been to call for more gun control. While the NRA executives pushed back against banning guns on the criminal act of a madman, they said that devices designed to allow semi-automatic rifles to function like fully-automatic rifles should be subject to additional regulations a surprising concession from a group that has been hell-bent on torpedoing almost any type of gun control measure. .@NRA breaks silence, says bump stocks should be "subject to additional regulations" pic.twitter.com/vXSYv3BOyH Hayley Miller (@hayleymiller01) October 5, 2017 In an increasingly dangerous world, the NRA remains focused on our mission: strengthening Americans Second Amendment freedom to defend themselves, their families and their communities, the statement concluded. Fully automatic weapons are strictly regulated under federal law, but bump stocks offer gun owners a relatively easy and cheap way to get around such restrictions. Police discovered a cache of weapons, including 12 firearms outfitted with bump stocks, when they stormed the two hotels rooms in the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino where 64-year-old Stephen Paddock fired hundreds of rounds into a crowd of 22,000 concertgoers on Sunday. Hundreds of people were injured and at least 59 were killed, including Paddock, who died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. Story continues The gun range at the NRAs headquarters in Fairfax, Virginia, doesnt allow the use of bump stocks, an NRA employee confirmed to HuffPost on Thursday. The NRA did not immediately offer a response to HuffPosts question about why or when this rule was implemented. President Donald Trump (center) stands beside NRA CEO and executive vice president Wayne LaPierre (right) and NRA-ILA executive director Chris Cox (left). The NRA donated over $30 million to Trump's presidential campaign in 2016. (Photo: JIM WATSON via Getty Images) Bump stock sales have surged in the wake of Sundays mass shooting the deadliest in modern U.S. history as gun enthusiasts worry lawmakers will move to ban the device. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), an avid proponent of tighter gun control legislation, introduced a bill Thursday that would ban the use and possession of bump stocks. The only reason to modify a gun is to kill as many people as possible in as short a time as possible, Feinstein told reporters. While the bill currently is without Republican support, some GOP lawmakers, including House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), have said they would be willing to consider such legislation. But the NRA, which claims to have 5 million members, has repeatedly helped sink numerous efforts by Congress over the years to pass gun control legislation. The gun rights group noted in its statement Thursday that the Obama administration approved the sale of bump fire stocks on at least two occasions. The National Rifle Association is calling on the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE) to immediately review whether these devices comply with federal law, the statement read. What isnt mentioned in the statement is the fact that the NRA worked to prevent Congress from voting on a 2013 bill, also sponsored by Feinstein, that would have outlawed bump stocks. After stating Thursday that bump stocks should be subject to more regulations, the NRA encouraged Congress to pass a concealed carry reciprocity bill, which would significantly loosen gun restrictions by requiring states to recognize concealed carry gun permits from all other states. Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. The White House and National Rifle Association both came out in favor of reviewing regulations of bump fire stocks, the device that contributed to the deaths of 58 people in the Las Vegas mass shooting Sunday night. The NRA believes that devices designed to allow semi-automatic rifles to function like fully-automatic rifles should be subject to additional regulations, said the NRA in a statement released Thursday afternoon, its first public comments since the shooting. Bump stocks are modifications that enable a semiautomatic rifle to fire faster, allowing them to shoot hundreds of rounds per minute. They were originally created with the idea of making it easier for people with disabilities to shoot, but their demand has skyrocketed in the wake of the mass shooting as gun owners anticipate additional regulations on the devices. Bump stocks were found on twelve of the nearly two dozen firearms recovered from the hotel room of Las Vegas shooting suspect Stephen Paddock. It was reported Thursday that the NRA had banned bump stocks at its own firing range in Fairfax, Va. While the NRA came out in favor of tighter regulations on bump stocks, it stopped short of voicing support for stricter gun laws across the board. In the same statement in which it endorsed the added bump-stock regulations, it also stated that banning guns would only increase crime and that Americans live in an increasingly-dangerous world. A bump stock that attaches to a semi-automatic rifle to increase the firing rate is seen at Good Guys Gun Shop in Orem, Utah, on Oct. 4, 2017. (Photo: George Frey/Reuters) In Thursdays White House briefing, press secretary Sarah Sanders said that the administration would like to be part of that conversation about bump stocks, but that President Trump was a strong supporter of the Second Amendment, and that hasnt changed. House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., said Thursday in an interview that bump stocks are clearly something we need to look into. Rep. Carlos Curbelo, R-Fla., planned to introduce legislation Thursday that would ban the sale of the devices. Republican senators John McCain of Arizona, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Mike Rounds of South Dakota expressed interest in the issue to reporters. Story continues Im going to wait until this reports out from the police and get all that information, said Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, chair of the Judiciary Committee. However, not all Republicans were in favor of the idea. I think people ought to follow their heart, but they ought to take their brain with them, said Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., in an inter;iew with Yahoo News about his opposition to bump stock changes. This is not about bump stocks; this is about a longstanding assault against the Second Amendment. Liz Goodwin contributed to the reporting of this story. Read more from Yahoo News: Manila (AFP) - The Philippines' military chief hailed the United States as his nation's "number one ally" and announced a return of regular war games, following President Rodrigo Duterte's call for warmer ties. Duterte last week vowed to be "friendly" with the United States, signalling an end to relentless criticism that included a vow to end all joint military exercises and branding then US president Barack Obama a "son of a whore". Military chief General Eduardo Ano, returning from Hawaii where he met US Pacific Command chief Admiral Harry Harris last week, said Thursday the allies had agreed to increase joint military exercises for 2018 after they were scaled down this year. "The president said: 'I want to be friendlier to the US'. So we have a closer relationship and more exercises," Ano told reporters in Manila. "He (Duterte) said to continue engagement with the United States. They are still our number one ally." Ano said the joint exercises next year would focus on counter-terrorism, disaster response and even territorial defence. As he sought to loosen his nation's alliance with the United States, Duterte also looked to build warmer relations with China and Russia. During a visit to Beijing a year ago he announced his nation's "separation" from the United States. He later explained he was angry at Obama for criticising his war on drugs, which has since seen thousands killed and led rights groups to warn Duterte may be orchestrating a crime against humanity. Duterte said last week the dispute was "water under the bridge" as he thanked the United States for helping the Philippines fight Islamic militants who have occupied parts of the southern city of Marawi since May 23. The US has provided intelligence, weapons and training to local forces trying to retake Marawi. The fighting has claimed more than 900 lives and raised fears the Islamic State group is trying to establish a Southeast Asian base in the Philippines. Story continues Ano said on Thursday the Philippines would still pursue closer defence ties with China. Ano was speaking at a ceremony at which China turned over 3,000 assault rifles and ammunition worth 168 million pesos ($3.2 million) to the Philippine military for use in fighting terrorism. "The US is not our enemy. China is not our enemy. Our utmost priority is the interest of the country," Ano said. Two convicts who escaped a prison in Canada were recaptured in the most ironic place. Police officers in Edmonton found Kelsie Laine Marie Mast, 23, and Samantha Faye Toope, 20, inside an adventure game companys escape room at 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, according to media reports. Authorities described the escapees as violent offenders with a history of weapons offenses. They jumped a fence at the Edmonton Institution for Women around 24 hours earlier and escaped. Escaped prisoners Kelsie Laine Marie Mast, left, and Samantha Faye Toope, right, were arrested at an escape room challenge business. (Photo: Edmonton Police) A local resident recognized the wanted women and tipped cops to their presence at Sidequests Adventures, a downtown business that hosts interactive games where players have to solve puzzles to leave a locked room. Co-owner Rebecca Liaw was showing the women the escape room when officers found them. Its funny and ironic that escaped convicts run into an escape room and get caught, Liaws husband and fellow co-owner, Jonathan Liaw, told The Edmonton Journal. Police returned the women to Correctional Service Canada. Its unclear what new charges they face. Related Coverage Man Arrested On Meth Charges Wears Ironic T-Shirt In Mug Shot Police Arrest Stabbing Suspect With 'Psycho' Forehead Tattoo Man Accused Of Paying Stripper For Lap Dance With Fake $100 Bill Also on HuffPost David Ziskowski and Megan Ohara Authorities say David Ziskowski and Megan Ohara left the woman's name and telephone number in the guestbook of a South Florida art gallery before stealing about $6,000 worth of jewelry. Darrin Farmer Darrin Farmer, a local judge of elections in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, was arrested after allegedly failing to show up to the polls Tuesday and instead deciding to work as a jitney driver for the day. Quanta'e Powell Powell is accused of running naked around a Florida apartment complex in Feb. 2012. A police report on Powell's arrest notes that, ""Statements from the defendant were not possible as he would only state he loved cocaine and needed more cocaine." Darron Lynn Koenig Koenig was accused in Feb. 2013 of throwing hammers at Texas construction workers and then baracading himself inside his residence when police arrived to question him, according to the Houston Chronicle. Garrett Michael Hoover Hoover was arrested for disorderly conduct in South Carolina on Nov. 16, 2012. But, more importantly, he's "down to boink." Sean Carl Payne Payne is accused of being so drunk that a police officer had to hold his head up for his mugshot after he was arrested in Oct. 2012 by Humble, Tex. cops. Terry Smith Officers in Port Orange, Fla., say Terry Smith allegedly tried to rob a taxi and, in the process, left his wallet in the cab. William Kise After crashing his Mustang into an Indianapolis home, William Kise's first question to the victims was reportedly, "You want some pizza?" Michael Don Mitchell Michael Don Mitchell, 38, is accused of stealing $87 in cash and change from a home in Lakeport, Tex., as well as a can of Chef Boyardee ravioli. Investigators identified him by the spaghetti sauce around his lips and mouth. Arthur Brundage Police in Syracuse, N.Y., say Arthur Brundage robbed a bank and then came back to claim he was shortchanged on the loot. Daniel Selmon Police in Aurora, Ill., say they discovered Daniel Selmon was growing marijuana when they spotted a large bonfire he allegedly lit to keep the plants warm. Raymond Garcia Raymond Garcia, 45, was arrested after cops saw him fighting a street sign. Phillip Beach Phillip Beach is accused of trying to steal a boat by jumping in the water and pulling it as he swam. He was arrested for felony theft. John Caruso John Caruso is accused of squirting dish soap in his girlfriend's mouth in an attempt to stop her from cursing. Cristian Villarreal-Castillo Sheriff's deputies responding to a burglary call say they found Cristian Villarreal-Castillo, a 20-year-old man, asleep on the kitchen floor of a home in Oregon. Chad William Forber Chad William Forber, 41, has been charged with possession of methamphetamine, resisting or obstructing a peace officer and possession of drug paraphernalia, stemming from an incident where he was found naked in public covered in nothing but Crisco. Johnny Broestler Johnny Broestler, 46, is accused of smearing dirty underwear on another man's face after an argument about rent. Joyce Coffey Joyce Coffey was arrested four times in 26 hours for blasting the AC/DC song "Highway to Hell" and other loud music from her home and for throwing a frying pan. LaKeisha Nicole Brown LaKeisha Nicole Brown, 24, of Longview, Tex., is accused of running an SUV over five people playing dominoes in a car port. James David Gray James David Gray was charged with his fifth DUI when police in Ocala, Fla., pulled him over for driving drunk on a lawnmower. Terry Davis Terry Davis is accused of stealing a textbook called "Resolving Ethical Issues" from the University of Louisville's Health Sciences Center and then later trying to resell the book to a rival book store. April Hill April Hill, 22, of Greenville, Indiana, was arrested on preliminary charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated with a blood-alcohol content of 0.15 or higher and a felony count of disturbing a train bed. Eric Butkiewicz Patriotically-adorned Butkiewicz, 31, was arrested in the wee hours of the morning after Independence Day for allegedly dealing drugs at Miami's posh Fontainebleau Hotel. Rhonda Washington Rhonda Washington, 33, of Bryan, Tex., is accused of stabbing her husband because she didn't like his Facebook update. She maintains that she stabbed him with keys because she was mad he was doing PCP in the house. Naked Chainsaw Lindsay Medd Stevens was arrested by police in Knoxville, Tenn., for indecent exposure after his neighbor saw him cutting a tree down -- while completely in the buff. Knox County sheriff's deputy Scott Ritch told WATE-TV that he saw Stevens standing completely nude in his yard cutting a tree, only to run inside his house when he saw the officer. Jason Dornhoff Jason Dornhoff was arrested after he wrote a bomb threat on the back of a job application, police said. Cops searched his truck, but found no explosives. Robert Gernot Germot was accused of threatening his neighbor by saying, "When I get done taking a s--t, I'm gonna kick your f---ing a--!" Ilyass Nabih and Thony Sengsoulya Ilyass Nabih and Thony Sengsoulya, both of Nashua, New Hampshire, were arrested on drug charges in June 2012 after authorities spotted them allegedly trying to shoot up heroin while parked outside the Lawrence Police Station in Massachusetts. Vladimir Mishkov Mishkov is accused of masturbating in front of a jail employee on his way to court to face a previous flashing charge. Kelsey Smith In June, 2012, Smith was accused of driving under the influence and of spitting blood on law enforcement officers in Volusia County, Fla. Raymond Carl Knudson Raymond Carl Knudson pleaded guilty June 25 to sticking up a Bank of America branch in April, a crime he confessed within minutes of committing. Kola J. McGrath Kola J. McGrath was arrested for sneaking into her boyfriend's apartment complex by hiding in a small pink suitcase in Portland, Ore. The police searched the apartment of Curtis T. Lowe after being informed that a man had kidnapped a woman, put her in a suitcase, and taken her into the building. They found McGrath hiding in a closet. Houaka Yang Houaka Yang, 20, of Wisconsin, accidentally videotaped his confession and identified himself on tape with a camcorder he stole. Once the video camera was recovered, the victim uploaded Yang's clip to YouTube. Pocahontas Luerissie Ashley Ross -- who is also a stripper called Pocahontas -- was arrested in February after she allegedly lured a man to his death and shot another in two robberies in Houston. Read more. Clyde Hobbs Clyde Hobbs was arrested in May, 2012 for allegedly calling 911 at least 17 times -- to talk dirty to operators. He'd been arrested several times in the past for the same crime. When cops arrived to collar him, Hobbs asked, "Are you here to arrest me again?" Read more. Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. Photo credit: Porsche From Road & Track This story was updated 03/28/2019. It will be continually updated as we learn more. Porsche stunned the world two years ago with the debut of its all-electric Mission E sedan concept, later promising it'd go into production as the Taycan in 2020. The spy photos seen throughout this post provide an early look at a Taycan prototype testing in public near Porsche's development center in Weissach, Germany. Here's everything we know about this incredibly exciting car. Porsche Is Aiming for a Sub-Eight Minute Nurburgring Lap Porsche is letting loose a few more details as the months wind down until the Taycan is finally revealed. One that stuck out to us-the car should be capable of a sub-eight at the Nurburgring. Porsche hasn't done it yet, but its simulations indicate that it's possible. For a fun comparison, the Porsche 911 GT3 made headlines 20 years ago when it ran a 7:56 on the track-faster than any production road car yet. Progress is an electric luxury sedan being able to achieve the same feat. It Can Slide Photo credit: Porsche Over at Roadshow, Tim Stevens got to ride along in a near-production Taycan during winter testing way up north in Sweden. There was some sideways action. The Taycan has a version of Porsche Stability Management (PSM, that allows for some yaw in PSM Sport mode, and a lot of yaw when it's switched off. Stevens also reports that the top-spec Taycan he was riding in had a two-speed transmission and a limited-slip differential at the rear, which should make sliding on low-grip surfaces easier. It's Called the Taycan At first, we thought Porsche would just call this car the "Mission E," but the company has announced that won't be the case. It'll be called the Taycan, pronounced tie-con. It's a Eurasian word that translates, roughly, to "lively young horse." "Our new electric sports car is strong and dependable; its a vehicle that can consistently cover long distances and that epitomizes freedom," Porsche CEO Oliver Blume said in a statement announcing the name. Story continues Photo credit: Porsche It'll Be Priced Between the Cayenne and Panamera Speaking to Automotive News, the model-line director for the Taycan, Rober Meier, said "we're expecting a price somewhere between a Cayenne and a Panamera," when asked how much the EV will cost. In the US, the Cayenne starts at just under $66,000, while the Panamera starts at $85,000. So perhaps the Taycan will start in the $75,000 range. Of course, there'll be model variants offering more performance, so consider $75,000 a base price. Photo credit: Porsche You Can Put Down a Deposit Now On Porsche's website, there's a form for those who want to register their interest in buying a Taycan. Once that form is filled out, a Porsche dealer will contact those interested, who can then put a deposit down on the upcoming electric sedan. A Manhattan Porsche dealer told us the deposit is $2500. The Production Car Will Look Like the Concept Photo credit: TaycanForum.com The Mission E concept combined futuristic looks with classic Porsche proportions to stunning effect, and thankfully the production car will too. Oliver Blume told Car magazine that the production car is "very close to what you saw two years ago at Frankfurt. It will be exciting but a bit different from the concept." The folks over at TaycanForum.com previewed the design in the rendering you see above. Don't expect the suicide doors of the concept to make production, though. It's Not An Electric Panamera Photo credit: Brian Williams/Spiedbilde Yes, Porsche already sells a sedan, the Panamera, but it's not just modifying that car to create the Taycan. Instead, the Taycan will ride on its own bespoke platform, internally called J1, with its lithium-ion battery making up the floorpan between the its two axles, just as on a Tesla. This platform will also underpin Audi Sport's first EV, the upcoming e-Tron GT four-door. Bentley's first EV will also ride on the J1 platform and there's a rumor that Lamborghini is working on an electric car based off the Taycan, but we'll believe that when we see it. There Will Be Model Variants, Possibly Including a Wagon Photo credit: Porsche Porsche doesn't just make one 911, and the same will be true for the Taycan. Car magazine spoke with Porsche boss Oliver Blume who confirmed that the car will likely follow Porsche's model preexisting hierarchy-that means you can expect a Taycan S, or a Taycan GTS. Maybe not a Taycan Turbo, though, since it won't actually have turbos. Automobile Magazine got to drive an early Taycan prototype and reported the car will be initially offered with three power outputs 402 hp, 536 hp, and 670 hp. Like a Tesla Model S, the Taycan will have electric motors at the front and rear axles for all-wheel drive, but Porsche might eventually sell an entry-level rear-drive version. Car magazine also got spy photos of what appears to be a Taycan wagon, or "Sport Turismo," in Porsche speak. We're praying this body style makes it into production. It's Got a Clever Drivetrain Photo credit: Porsche The Mission E concept offers 605 hp from its all-electric drivetrain, which consists of two permanent=magnet synchronous motors at each axle. These are the same sort of motors used in the three-time-Le-Mans-winning 919 LMP1 hybrid, and can recover heat energy from braking. With this setup, Porsche promises that the Mission E concept hits 60 mph in 3.5 seconds, 124 mph in under 12, and that it'll run a sub-8:00 lap at the Nurburgring Nordschleife. The production Taycan will likely get four-wheel steering and torque vectoring as well. Porsche boss Oliver Blume promised in 2015 that the production carwould drive like a true Porsche. Typically, that means good things. It'll Have Two Battery Capacity Options Car and Driver, which recently drove the Mission E Cross Turismo Concept, reports the production Taycan will be offered with a choice of battery packs-one offering around 80 kWh and another offering 95 kWh. If you want the most horsepower, you'll need the biggest battery. Stefan Weckbach, head of EV development at Porsche, also told Car and Driver the Taycan will have a battery cooling system. Porsche wants the Taycan to offer consistent, repeatable performance, and keeping the battery within an ideal operating temperature is essential for this. It'll Offer 800-Volt Fast Charging, Granting 60 Miles of Charge in 4 Minutes Photo credit: Porsche At its Supercharger stations, Tesla uses 480-volt chargers that can provide its cars with around 170 miles of driving range in 30 minutes. Porsche is working on an 800-volt system that can provide around 250 miles of range in just 15 minutes. Or, according to CEO Oliver Blume, over 6o miles of range in just four minutes! Of course, these 800-volt chargers won't be plentiful, so the Taycan will be able to be charged on a 400-volt system or a typical household plug. Speaking to Automotive News, Porsche Cars North America CEO Klaus Zellmer said that the company will build a network of 500 fast chargers for the US. The chargers will be installed at Porsche dealers and other highway locations across the country. It'll Get Carbon-Ceramic Brakes (Presumably as an Option) Spy photos from TaycanForum.com show a Taycan prototype sporting big brakes with huge yellow-painted calipers. Those are almost assuredly carbon-ceramics, which Porsche offers as an option for all its cars. Some of the other cars pictured have white calipers and mirror-finish discs-most likely Porsche's surface-coated brakes available on the Cayenne. It'll Be the First of Many Electric Porsches Photo credit: Mate Petrany / Road&Track The Taycan's platform is scalable, and Porsche is reportedly already working on a smaller version of the car. At the Geneva Motor Show in March, Porsche showed off the striking Mission E Cross Turismo concept, a lifted wagon that shows off what's possible with this platform. Car and Driver reports that Porsche is very seriously thinking about putting the Cross Turismo into production. Porsche also announced that it will invest $8 billion by 2022 in electrification, a large part of which will go towards developing the Taycan and cars based on its platform. We should look at the Taycan as a preview of what's to come for Porsche. While the 911 will always have a flat-six behind its rear axle, it's entirely possible that future generations of the Panamera, Macan, and Cayenne might be electric only. The Taycan is Porsche's first foray into all-electric cars, but it won't be its last. It'll Be On Sale By 2020 Photo credit: Porsche Barring any delays, the Taycan should go on sale sometime before the end of 2019 as a 2020 model year car. We wouldn't be surprised to see it debut in production form at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2019, the same place the concept debuted back in 2015. The Taycan will break new ground for Porsche, and while that's scary, it's also incredibly exciting. We can't wait to drive it and see what the future holds for one of our favorite automakers. Photo credit: Porsche ('You Might Also Like',) A sampling of heart-stopping footage recorded on police body cams, which show officers responding to Sunday's mass shooting, has been released by Las Vegas Metropolitan Police. Authorities arrived at a chaotic scene as Stephen Paddock unleashed a hail of bullets down 32 stories from his Mandalay Bay hotel room and into an unsuspecting crowd of concertgoers. Watch: Cop Fires at Actor Playing Robber in Heart-Pounding Mix-Up Caught by Body Cam The first-person footage plays out like a video game with far higher stakes as officers attempt to ensure the safety of survivors and secure the area, despite mounting chaos and confusion. Officers are heard screaming "Get down!" to terrified festival attendees as the seemingly unending barrage of bullets rings out overhead. It's a nightmare that turned real for concertgoers and for the officers of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, who also released audio from dispatch radio recorded during the massacre. "We've got shots fired ... at the Route 91. Sounded like an automatic firearm," an officer said early on in the assault. "It's coming from upstairs! From the Mandalay Bay. Upstairs at Mandalay Bay. Halfway up, I see the shots coming from Mandalay Bay halfway up! We have an active shooter! We have an active shooter inside the fairgrounds!" Minutes later, as reports came through of "many people down" in the festival, an officer reported being just one floor away from the shooter: "I'm inside the Mandalay Bay on the 31st floor. I can hear the automatic fire coming from one floor ahead, one floor above us," an officer said. Watch: Mom of 4, Husband Who Shielded Wife Among 59 Confirmed Dead in Las Vegas Massacre It was another several minutes before Paddock's room was found and he was discovered by SWAT members, dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Before he took his own life, the 64-year-old was able to murder at least 59 people and injure more than 500. Story continues Watch: Survivor in Las Vegas Massacre Says Officer Saved Her Life: 'He Never Left Me' Related Articles: Mayor John Engen is among the community and campus leaders pleased to see General Electric executive Seth Bodnar selected as the next University of Montana president. "My view is that the University of Montana needs leadership and vision that's a little bit out of the box, and I think Seth really brings that to the institution, and his background is such that we're going to have lots of opportunities to work together," Engen said Wednesday. This week, the Montana Commissioner of Higher Education announced that Bodnar, the nontraditional candidate with a corporate and military background, had accepted an offer to be head of UM. The hire is pending approval by the Montana Board of Regents, but the regents discussed the finalists Monday in a private session to give the commissioner direction after hearing a recommendation from the search advisory committee. *** Diana Six, professor of forest entomology/pathology, said Bodnar is a good choice for UM and represents a good direction. Bodnar was top in his class at West Point and spent eight years in the U.S. Army, including commanding a detachment of Green Berets. "Higher education is changing really fast, so I think we need a very nimble leader, someone who is in tune with new directions and is very supportive of innovation," Six said. "And so I think people felt like maybe it was time for someone who had their finger on the pulse of future directions." Six, one of 20 search committee members, said she believes the regents listened to the advisers in making their choice, and the committee had listened to the campus, although she said any decision won't please everyone. She also said giving Bodnar the nod took much discussion because he does not have significant experience inside higher education. Sometimes, academia can move at a glacial pace and be slow to encompass change, Six said. She worried that Bodnar, as strong as he was, would appear to offer too much change too fast to be the top pick. "But it didn't turn out that way. Maybe we've come to a place as an institution where we see the need for some big, positive changes, and we're ready to actually move faster," Six said. *** As head of the faculty union, Paul Haber has both worked with the administration and gone up against it, and he said he's looking forward to working with Bodnar. He believes the new president will build on the progress that UM leaders have made and will govern with meaningful input from faculty, staff and student leaders. "Early conversations that I've had with him suggest to me that he brings a leadership style that will fit well with and strengthen the shared governance model," Haber said. On campus, Bodnar listened well, asked good questions and responded candidly, Haber said. He also said the new president will roll up his sleeves and get to work and learn the things he needs to know. Haber said Bodnar knows his own strengths, he's been in different environments, and he knows he's entering another new culture going from the corporate world and the military into higher education. "I think the really important thing that the campus community needs to do and wider constituencies as well is come to Seth with an open mind and do what you can to help him be successful," Haber said. "Where he goes, the rest of us go in the collective enterprise." *** Susan Hay Patrick, a community leader and chief executive officer of United Way of Missoula County, said she appreciated Bodnar's passion for developing leaders and teams. Bodnar is 38, more than a couple of decades younger than the average university president, and Patrick said she also appreciates it when decision-makers recognize the talents of younger leaders. "I was surprised by the choice, but in a good way because I think we need to explore new options," Patrick said. The United Way board has much support from faculty and staff at UM, and it's also had board representation from campus, she said. Patrick said both organizations play roles in building better community. From her vantage, the CEO has seen nonprofits rise and fall, and she said a good leader at UM will be mindful not only of the things that need to be changed, but of the university's long and successful history. That requires listening to those who have "weathered the storms and been with the institution for a long time." "I think good leaders are humble and are good listeners, and that Stephen Covey admonition to seek first to understand rather than to be understood is good advice for any leader," Patrick said of the author of "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People." Dean Chris Comer said he plans to approach the selection of Bodnar with much optimism and hope. Comer oversees the College of Humanities and Sciences, the largest on campus. "Deans always try to assess faculty interest, and there was certainly a big buzz when he came to campus, and I think that continued after his departure," Comer said. Comer, also on the search committee, said Bodnar's age doesn't bother him, but his short experience in higher education has been outside the norm, at least in the past. "It's normal for there to be a little bit of skepticism on campus because he hasn't gone through the ranks and been an academician, but we would not be the first campus to choose somebody who is not in the classic mold," Comer said. "That's happened more frequently lately." At the same time, Comer said risk exists in selecting any candidate, and bringing in Bodnar means choosing someone whose leadership skills are palpable. Bodnar wants to build teams and get moving at UM. "I think we go with that. That's a way forward, and I think we have to embrace it," Comer said. *** Mayor Engen, also represented on the search committee, said the group kept its eyes on the prize, which was finding the best candidate for this time and place. He said the committee didn't veer from the mission and presented high-quality candidates to the regents. The mayor said he's had a good relationship with former UM President Royce Engstrom and current interim President Sheila Stearns, and he anticipates the tie between the campus and city will only grow with Bodnar at the helm. The campus and community already both work on housing and business development. But Engen said the relationship can expand to social justice issues by using models from Europe that bring different disciplines together to address critical community needs, a conversation he's already having with UM. Children who grow up in Missoula, for instance, should understand the opportunities that living in a university community affords them, he said. And they should see a clear path to education that will make their lives better and more stable. "We need to figure out ways to plan together, to exploit in the best sense of the word the talent that's at the university and the talent that exists in the community. And I'm really excited. I think this is an exciting time for both the university and for the city," Engen said. Saudi Arabias King Salman arrived in Moscow on Wednesday in the first-ever official visit by a Saudi monarch to Russia, in a mission that signals an expanding Russian role in the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East as the Syrian civil war approaches an endgame. The kings visit to Moscow would have been unthinkable just two years ago, when Russia intervened in the Syrian conflict on the side of President Bashar Assad. Russian airpower helped turn the tide of the war, supporting Assads troops as they moved to crush an armed insurrection that raged since 2011. Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states sided with the opposition, and those governments are now grappling with the reality that Assad will not be ousted. For Russia, King Salmans trip illustrates its growing footprint in the politics of the Middle East after its military rescued the Assad regime from the threat of collapse. Under President Vladimir Putin, Russia has become a key broker in the political struggle in Libya, and is improving ties with predominantly Sunni Arab Gulf states who seek Russias help in curbing the influence of Iranan ally of Moscow and an archrival of Saudi Arabia. Putin has shown a striking ability to transcend traditional dividing lines in the region, also cultivating ties with Israel, Palestinian factions, and Egypt. For the Russians its definitely continuing to project the image of a great power in the Middle East, says Yury Barmin, an expert on Russian relations in the Middle East, speaking from Moscow. Theyre looking to create new contexts, to create new partnerships where they could be seen as an influential actor, he added. The emerging partnership between Russia and Saudi Arabia is fueled by a shared economic lifeblood: oil. The two states are now leading an initiative to cut world oil production in order to drive prices up, reversing a catastrophic slide in the price of crude that resulted from the North American shale oil boom. Russia is now the largest country outside of the oil producers cartel OPEC that is complying with the plan to curb production. The two countries produce nearly a quarter of the worlds oil between them, and crude is a critical source of revenue for both states. Story continues Saudi Arabia is expected to expand its oil ties with Russia during King Salmans visit. Saudi Aramco, the giant state oil company, is expected to sign a series of agreements with Russian companies on energy initiatives. Saudi Arabia is also considering investing largest oil drilling contractor, Eurasia Drilling Co, according to Bloomberg. The final shape and scale of any investment has yet to be announced, and past Saudi-Russian economic cooperation has failed to materialize. The visit suggests the Saudi government is pursuing a more balanced approach to the U.S.-Russian rivalry, a move that poses strategic questions for Washington. Saudi Arabia is one of the United States closest allies in the Arab world, and it has traditionally been aligned against Russia, dating back to Saudi Arabias support for anti-Soviet mujahideen in Afghanistan in the 1980s. Along with other Gulf states, the Saudis embraced the election of President Donald Trump, who they hoped would end years of friction with President Barack Obama, whose initial embrace of the Arab Spring uprisings, mild prodding on human rights, and nuclear diplomacy with Iran alienated the autocratic regimes along the Persian Gulf. Yet, despite feteing Trump during the presidents first foreign voyage in May, the Saudi governments enthusiasm has faded as the Trump administration has struggled to find ways to check the expansion of Irans influence on the ground in the region. Pro-Iranian militias are playing a key in the battle to degrade the Islamic State in Iraq. Iran also sent its forces to aid the Assad regime in Syria. In June Saudi Arabia led a quartet of countries imposing sanctions on neighboring Qatar, demanding that the tiny nation end its unusually warm ties with Iran, but the dispute settled into a standoff. Its not necessarily an indication that theyre moving away from the United States, but I think theyre hedging their bets a little bit on the U.S., says Gerald Feierstein, the former U.S. ambassador to Yemen and the current director of Gulf affairs at the Middle East Institute in Washington. They want to make sure that theyve got a number of different addresses that they can visit to pursue their own interests, he said. The shifting Saudi Arabia-Russia relationship is also a stark illustration of how regional powers are dealing with a new phase of the conflict in Syria. With Russian and Iranian backing, the Assad regime has ensured its own survival inside a rump state within Syria. The armed rebellion against Assad is now confined to isolated enclaves in Syrias northwest, southwest, and the outskirts of Damascus. The United States and the United Kingdom also recently ended clandestine programs that had provided aid to the rebels. Analysts say that Russias ability to outflank western powers in Syria is reshaping the face of the region. Russias resilience in the face of such efforts has been strengthened by the lack of serious Western action to push for political change in Syria. These dynamics have come to define a new balance of power in the Middle East, says Lina Khatib, the head of the Middle East and North Africa Program at Chatham House in London. Arab states are now faced with the challenge of maintaining their relevance in the face of this change, and this means needing to keep lines of communication with Russia open. One mystery about the Kings visit was why the kingdoms other high-profile leader, his 32-year-old son and newly appointed Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, did not join him on the trip. He had been expected to attend the high-stakes diplomatic mission, which offered an opportunity to demonstrate his legitimacy as a future head of state. A bulletin on Saudi Arabias official news agency gave no explanation why the crown prince did not travel with the king, saying only that he had tasked Mohammed Bin Salman with managing the states affairs in his absence. Members of the Milwaukee County Sheriff's department erect a fence around Sherman Park after disturbances following the police shooting of a man in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. August 15, 2016. REUTERS/Aaron P. Bernstein Shots fired! Shots fired! Weve all heard this phrase used in dozens of movies and cop shows over the years. We never stop to think about the real-world implications of these words. The implications can often be tragic for law enforcement officers, their departments, the family members of a person shot by the police and, in many instances, for the community in which it occurs. Far too many times over the past several years, the implications of shots being fired by the police have been explosive. My home, Milwaukee, was in the national spotlight just a little over a year ago because of an officer-involved shooting. Based on conversations Ive had with police officers, the last thing they want to do is fire their service weapon. Despite this sentiment from law enforcement, youd be hard pressed to convince some in the African-American community this is a true statement. Police-involved shootings have become so commonplace, were generally not surprised when they occur anymore. Viral videos in the aftermath of police shootings and especially killings of African-Americans has led to tremendous national debate in recent years. These events are nothing new; however, the fact that people have mobile phones and instant access to social media platforms has increased awareness of how widespread the issue has become. On a hot day in August of last year, Milwaukee police officers pulled over a vehicle due to what they referred to as suspicious activity. This is not unusual in our city. The Milwaukee Police Department (MPD) routinely pulls over hundreds of thousands of drivers each year. A draft report of a U.S. Department of Justice collaborative reform initiative review, a voluntary review requested by Milwaukee Police Chief Edward Flynn, showed huge disparities in traffic stops. Looking at data from 2013-2015: The Milwaukee Police Department conducted 415,579 traffic stops. African-Americans in Milwaukee made up 40 percent of the citys population but accounted for 65.9 percent of all traffic stops. Whites made up 37 percent of city residents but only accounted for 21 percent of traffic stops. Story continues Even in mostly white neighborhoods, African-Americans made up a substantial percentage of people pulled over by police. In Districts 1 and 2, where African-Americans made up 8.4 percent and 7.9 percent of the population, respectively, African-Americans represented 66 percent and 64 percent of drivers stopped by police. In District 6, African-Americans made up only 3.1 percent of the population but represented 64 percent of traffic stops. Whites made up 70.3 percent of the population but represented only 22 percent of stops. African-Americans were overrepresented as traffic stops in six of the seven police districts. On Aug. 13, 2016, a routine traffic stop led to a foot chase that ended with 23-year-old Sylville Smith being shot and killed by officer Dominique Heaggan-Brown. The officer was charged with first-degree reckless homicide but found not guilty in June of this year. Within hours of the shooting, a large crowd gathered just three blocks from my home to observe the aftermath. As the crowd grew larger and more squads arrived on the scene, anger among members of the crowd eventually led to harsh words and, later, violence. Young people from around the city descended on the Sherman Park neighborhood as word of the shooting spread like wildfire on social media. Kimberly Neal, sister of Sylville Smith, speaks at a vigil after disturbances following the police shooting of a man in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. August 14, 2016. REUTERS/Aaron P. Bernstein Just as the cities of Ferguson, Missouri and Baltimore, Maryland exploded in rage after the deaths of Michael Brown in 2014 and Freddie Gray in 2015, the death of Sylville Smith was the spark that led to days of civil unrest and confrontation between police and residents. Anger and frustration combined to create a toxic mixture that was the genesis of the rage that followed. Nearly a dozen businesses were set on fire, police cars were damaged and a young man was shot during the tense days following Smiths death. It was amazing to see the speed at which local, national and even international media deluged the area around Sherman Park, a mere five blocks from my home. From the outside looking in, it appeared the entire city was in flames. Friends and family from around the country inquired about my well-being. Most of the fires were set eight blocks away from the park itself. Only the BP gas station, which had been the scene of a controversial shooting by an employee angry about teens shoplifting that summer, was set afire in the immediate vicinity of the shooting of Smith. MILWAUKEE, WI - AUGUST 14: A police officer stands guard in front of the damage to the BP gas station after rioters clashed with the Milwaukee Police Department protesting an officer involved killing August 14, 2016 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Hundreds of angry people confronted police after an officer shot and killed a fleeing armed man earlier in the day. (Photo by Darren Hauck/Getty Images) Despite the limited number of fires set, perception became reality, as parts of the city were partially shut down. Those outside the area assumed the worst, while those of us close by knew it was not all that bad. The interaction between riot-clad police and civilians never erupted into the chaos we saw in Ferguson. Race relations in Milwaukee have been strained for an extended period of time. High-profile police-involved deaths of African-Americans in the city have been happening since before I arrived in 1973 from Mississippi. Residential segregation has been the norm in the city for at least the past century. A poor relationship between the police and residents of the African-American community stretch back many decades. Discrimination in workplaces in the mid-20th century, combined with the eventual de-industrialization of the city, has created wide gaps in every measure of health and welfare of the African-American community. The events in Sherman Park brought all of the disparities to the surface. The death of Sylville Smith was the spark that led to days of civil unrest and confrontation between police and residents. African-Americans are well aware of these conditions, because we live in largely African-American neighborhoods on the north side of the city. Most whites in the metropolitan area live in neighborhoods with few people of color. Milwaukees metropolitan area is made up of four counties: Milwaukee, Waukesha, Ozaukee and Washington. The latter three are known as the WOW counties. According to U.S. Census data:* 91 percent of African-Americans in the metropolitan area live within the boundaries of the city of Milwaukee. Whites make up more than 80 percent of the population in 15 of the 18 suburbs of Milwaukee. In six of the Milwaukee suburbs, the percentage of whites is more than 90. Whites make up 86.4 percent of the suburban population within Milwaukee County. In the WOW (Waukesha, Ozaukee and Washington) counties, whites make up 95.7 percent, 95.3 percent and 96.7 percent of the residents. *Source: 2010 Census Summary File 1, Tables P5, P8, PCT4, PCT5, PCT8, and PCT11. The 1938 Residential Security Map, also known as Redlining Map of Milwaukee, described the African-American section of town as the Negro slum area and prevented African-Americans from purchasing homes by making mortgages impossible to get. African-Americans were forced to rent from white owners or bought homes on contract. This arrangement made it easy to lose a home simply by being late or missing a single payment. According to historian James W. Loewen, many communities in Wisconsin were what he calls sun down towns. These are places where African-Americans were forced to leave town by the time the sun went down.For decades, suburban communities were kept white by the use of racial restrictive covenants. These covenants were legally enforceable contracts imposed in a deed upon the buyer of property and not completely outlawed until 1968. They were the primary tools used to keep African-Americans in their place. One such covenant, written in the city of South Milwaukee in December 1937 and set to expire in January 2024, stated unequivocally that: At no time shall any such lot or any building thereon be purchased, owned, leased, occupied or used by any person other than Citizens of the United States of America, of the White Race. This provision shall not apply to domestic servants, which may be employed by the owner or occupant of any such lot or building thereon. A legacy of segregation has kept African-Americans and whites living in separate worlds in Milwaukee and throughout the state. Many whites work in the city but drive home to the suburbs at the end of their workday. For a variety of reasons, many whites say they are afraid to come into the city. Many whites avoid downtown Milwaukee, not knowing that it has transformed into a nearly all-white enclave, with expensive condos and lofts sprouting up on nearly every corner over the past 10-20 years. This gentrification the displacement of mostly poor African-American and Latino residents by well-to-do whites has expanded rapidly into areas close to downtown. Those of us in the African-American community seem to be in near constant conversations about these issues. The voices of our youth were at their loudest during the unrest last August. Few people could hear the message they were sending. The unrest led to a constant stream of conversations and suggestions about what could be done to fix the problems. Lots of promises have been made since August 2016, but most would tell you that little has changed. Money has been earmarked for projects, numerous community groups have convened meetings and a beautiful new mural has been completed recently, but no major changes have happened. The problems in Milwaukee are big and have come to be over time. However, most of the suggested solutions are short term or will take an extended period of time to see if they have any impact. There has been a monumental shift in the nature of the economy in Milwaukee since the post-WWII days, when we were called the nations machine shop. For decades, the good jobs in Milwaukee were in manufacturing. Several large recessions and massive deindustrialization have wreaked havoc on our job market. African-American and Latino residents have borne the brunt of the burden this has brought about. MILWAUKEE, WI - AUGUST 15: Members of the Milwaukee County Sheriff Dept. secure Sherman Park after a 6pm curfew was enacted after a second night of clashes between protestors and police August 15, 2016 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Hundreds of angry people have confronted police after an officer shot and killed a fleeing armed man. (Photo by Darren Hauck/Getty Images) Up until the late-1970s, the foundation of our economy was still manufacturing. We made electrical equipment used around the world; made large numbers of small engines; produced massive amounts of leather products, manufactured locks, and car and truck frames; produced a variety of metal products in our foundries; and we were the largest producer of beer in the world hence our name, Brew City. These manufacturing facilities provided access to well-paying, stable jobs. You could work in these factories and live the American dream buying a home, sending your children off to college, taking nice vacations and retiring with a nice pension. Our economy floundered as owners of these factories relocated to the suburbs, the South and eventually overseas. Factories downsized and eventually closed their doors permanently throughout the central city. A city that once had a vast network of family-supporting jobs left neighborhoods bereft of employment, and many families left the city. Big companies like A.O. Smith, Master Lock, Harnischfeger, Cutler Hammer and others left shells of themselves behind. The neighborhoods around these plants deteriorated. The Milwaukee I so fondly remembered as a child disappeared. The mom and pop grocery stores that provided credit for families in need were no longer supportable by the residents in those neighborhoods. Budget cuts to social safety net programs under both the Carter and Reagan administrations made it increasingly difficult to survive in Milwaukee. Homes that had at one time been well taken care of began to fall into a state of disrepair. The owners no longer had the disposable income required for upkeep of the properties. Decades of intense residential segregation had kept most African-Americans confined in the central part of the city in the same neighborhoods where the effects of the job losses were the worst. For some Milwaukeeans, escaping to the suburbs, which saw a smaller level of manufacturing job losses, became the obvious solution. Eventually, the unemployment rate among African-Americans skyrocketed. This led to a mass exodus from the central city. The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Center for Economic Development called this a hollowing out of the inner city in a 2002 report. They discovered the neighborhoods designated as the inner city lost more than 45 percent of its population from 1970 through 2000. This exodus took place in the 1970s and again in the 1990s. Those who left in many cases poor African-Americans moved to the northwest part of the city or fled Milwaukee completely. I was matriculating through high school as these changes were occurring in the late-1970s. For the most part, I did not notice them. My family moved from Mississippi to Milwaukee in 1973. Job opportunities in Milwaukee were significantly better than in my hometown. I attended second grade my last year in Mississippi, and I had some white classmates. It had taken a long time for the schools to comply with the Supreme Courts 1954 Brown v. Board desegregation decision. I discovered years later Milwaukees school system had also ignored this mandate. Attorney Lloyd Barbee sued the board of school directors in 1965 in an attempt to desegregate the schools in Milwaukee. Finally, in 1976 the Supreme Court ruled that the city must figure out how to end segregation in its schools. Three years later, they had a plan and began desegregating. I started high school that year. I had white classmates for the first time since moving to Milwaukee. I rode the city bus to the south side of town to attend high school after attending all-African-American schools from third through eighth grade. I had never really paid attention to the fact I had no white classmates prior to this point. Nor did I notice the extreme residential segregation in Milwaukee. The segregation we see in Milwaukee currently stretches back decades. Data from the 2010 U.S. Census shows Milwaukee is the most segregated metropolitan area in the country. Although cities like Chicago, Detroit and Cleveland are highly segregated as well, it looks demonstrably different in Milwaukee. One big factor is the demographics of the suburbs surrounding the city. Ninety-four percent of the African-Americans in Milwaukee County live within the city of Milwaukee even those with the economic means to live elsewhere. Those few who live in the suburbs in 2010 were concentrated in the cities of Glendale, West Milwaukee and Brown Deer, primarily. Although cities like Chicago, Detroit and Cleveland are highly segregated as well, it looks demonstrably different in Milwaukee. As the economy of the inner city deteriorated, jobs became more available in the suburbs. Inner city residents without cars have a difficult time getting to where the jobs are outside the city. Our county transit system saw major cuts under former County Executive (now Wisconsin Governor) Scott Walker. The cuts restrict access to many of the jobs in the region. A large number of residents in Milwaukee lack valid drivers licenses. For many years, the city would suspend drivers licenses for two years for failure to pay municipal citations for things as trivial as jaywalking, loitering and other non-driving related offenses. Its now been lowered to a one-year suspension, but the damage has been done. Combining this with federal cuts in funding for drivers education programs, and you had a perfect formula for creating a crisis. Currently, nearly 30,000 African-American males in Milwaukee County dont have a valid drivers license. This takes us back to the issue that led to the traffic stop that ended with the killing of Sylville Smith. In 2007, Milwaukee police registered 52,399 traffic stops. By 2012, that number had risen to 196,904. It became normal for Milwaukee police to pull people over in the African-American community. Police claim this increase was related to crime, but their own data shows that from 2007-2011, the total number of crimes in the city decreased significantly each year, from 48,040 in 2007 to only 35,528 in 2011. Other data show subject stops, also known as stop and frisk, increased from 14,258 in 2007 to 71,905 by 2012. Both types of stops have decreased significantly in recent years, but contact with police has become a constant thread in the lives of African-American males. In April 2014, 31-year-old Dontre Hamilton was sleeping on a bench at Red Arrow Park in downtown Milwaukee a public park open to all. Workers at a Starbucks located in the park called police saying they were bothered by Hamiltons presence. A squad from the Milwaukee Police Department arrived, and officers talked to Hamilton and discovered hed done nothing wrong. The officers told the Starbucks employees that he had every right to rest in a public park if he chose to do so. The officers left, and the workers called again. The same officers returned and reiterated to the workers that Hamilton was doing nothing wrong. Unfortunately, a second squad arrived after they left. Officer Christopher Manney came and attempted to give Hamilton a pat down. An altercation ensued, and Hamilton gained access to the officers baton. Manney pulled his service weapon and shot Hamilton 14 times. He died on the sidewalk at the park near the bench on which hed been peacefully resting earlier. The officer was eventually fired for not following department protocol but not for killing Hamilton. Both the District Attorneys office and the Department of Justice failed to bring charges in the case. Manney filed a disability claim over the stress related to the incident prior to being fired. Hes now collecting a significant portion of his salary in disability benefits. Hamiltons family won a settlement after three years of battle with the city. WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 9: Maria Hamilton, founder of Mothers For Justice United, cries as she gets a hug from Pastor Traci Blackmon at the Million Mom March in Washington, DC on May 9, 2015. Her son Donte, who had been with paranoid schizophrenia, was shot and killed by a Milwaukee police officer in 2014. Maria along with hundreds of supporters and other mothers turned out for the Million Mom March to protest child gun deaths, including those at the hands of police. The women marched to the offices of the Department of Justice and presented their demands for justice and racial equality, in the names of their slain children. Among those demands, asking that the federal government keep a registry of officer-involved shootings and investigate each one, the halt of supplying police forces with military equipment, and that body cameras not have the ability to be turned off and on by officers. (Photo by Linda Davidson / The Washington Post via Getty Images) Dontre Hamilton and Syville Smith became the Mike Brown and Philando Castille of Milwaukee young African-American men who died in encounters with police. Despite efforts on the part of many, there have been few substantial changes in the relationship between the police department and the African-American community since August 2016. Last February, the local American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed suit against the police department over their stop and frisk policies. Police Chief Ed Flynn vigorously defends the department and denies racial animus on their part. Police and community dialogues have taken place in several neighborhoods this past year. Despite this, tensions are still high between the African-American community and the police. Recent changes in federal immigration policies under President Trump has led many within the Latino community to fear cooperating with police. As a result, both of the largest non-white groups in the city have a poor relationship with the police. I left Milwaukee in 1983 to join the U.S. Navy and traveled the world for six years. I returned to a city that was strange to me. Gangs from Chicago had arrived in Milwaukee by the early 1980s, and many young people from the African-American and Latino communities had joined them. Crack cocaine and other drugs flooded into the city, providing access to a new, highly visible yet in many ways underground economy. Job prospects for young African-American and Latino males became bleak due to cuts in federal jobs programs under the Reagan administration. For many, the only attractively paying jobs were involved in this new drug economy. Even though most young men avoided this dangerous business, policing policies made them all suspects. Violent confrontations over drug territories mirrored the crime wave during Prohibition. The murder rate rose to levels unseen in the city and peaked in 1991. Innocent bystanders, including children in many cases, were caught in the crossfire. The federal War on Drugs came to Milwaukee, with millions of dollars for more police officers and eventually military hardware. More district attorneys were hired, and prisons were built at a dizzying pace and they began to fill up with African-American and Latino males. Eventually, we arrived at a time when Wisconsin had the highest incarceration rate of African-American males in the nation. Central city zip code 53206, where I grew up as a child, now has the highest incarceration rate in the country. A criminal justice apparatus that acts like a revolving door is what we now have in Wisconsin. Thousands of men leave Wisconsin prisons each year, and far too many return after having their supervised release revoked. Ive witnessed the perfect storm of mass incarceration, concentrated poverty, residential segregation and deindustrialization destroy the Milwaukee I knew as a child. The state of Wisconsin has become the worst place to live in America for African-American children, according to a study by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, which states, Children of color face enormous barriers to educational and financial achievement with Wisconsin ranking last in the disparity between white children and their non-white peers. Using 12 indicators of well being, Wisconsin ranks last for African-American children and 10th best for white children. Ive witnessed the perfect storm of mass incarceration, concentrated poverty, residential segregation and deindustrialization destroy the Milwaukee I knew as a child. It is sad to see my home undergoing such a resurgence in economic development, with billions of dollars flowing into the city in the past several years, but little of it reaching the African-American community thats most in need. The long legacies of segregation and discrimination have cast a long shadow in Milwaukee. We still struggle to create a city where everyone can share in its success. Economic disparities still plague the city. We have the lowest numbers of African-American- and Latino-owned businesses of similar-sized cities in the nation. I fear economic progress will continue to bypass the African-American and Latino communities, where far too many still suffer with high levels of underemployment and unemployment. Our public schools have been crushed by the weight of budget cuts over the past decade. More and more young people have become disenchanted and disconnected from the city. These young people are the ones we saw in Sherman Park last year. They feel no real connection or camaraderie with their city. The challenges we face are immense. The work required to create the type of change wed like to see requires tremendous effort and financial resources. I work each day to bring awareness to how weve gotten to this place, so we as citizens can understand that the city didnt just fall apart because people didnt work hard enough. The people did not fail the city. The city has failed them. The NSA suffered a serious breach in 2015, exposing the agency's cyberwarfare strategy, including its own defenses and methods of attacking foreign networks, reports The Wall Street Journal today. Russian intelligence is said to be behind the attack, and software from Russia-based Kaspersky labs is suggested to have been their vector. Amazingly, the data in question is reported to have been taken home by an NSA contractor, who was somehow compromised through their use of Kaspersky's antivirus software. How exactly this would work is not explained, although it is speculated that it may be related to the practice of downloading and storing files it thought were suspicious (e.g. malware executables) on its servers. We've contacted the company for more information. Kaspersky Labs has come under fire this year as fears of Russian interference in U.S. affairs were stoked by innumerable cybersecurity incidents and alleged links to the present administration. Just last month the company's software was banned from use in both the executive branch and parts of Congress. Kaspersky denies "inappropriate ties with any government" and maintains that the allegations are unfounded. While the methods are unclear, that there was a breach is much more certain. The WSJ reports that breach was major enough to be given a code name and to have prompted admonition from the highest levels of the agency. The material stolen is said to include not just descriptions of how the NSA conducts its operations, but some actual code used to attack and defend. The breach was never disclosed; it occurred some time in 2015 but was only discovered in Spring of 2016. That certainly would have given Russian intelligence a head start during an election year destined to be marred by serious cybersecurity incidents. Beirut (AFP) - A Russian air strike killed 38 civilians on Wednesday as they tried to cross the Euphrates river to escape fighting in eastern Syria's Deir Ezzor province, a monitor said. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, based in Britain, said nine children were among those killed as they tried to cross the river aboard rafts, escaping from areas where Russian-backed regime forces are battling the Islamic State group. The monitor, which earlier gave a toll of 20 in the strikes, said the dead included an Iraqi family. Deir Ezzor borders Iraq and civilians have fled into the province to escape the battles against IS in their own country. Two campaigns are being fought against IS in east Deir Ezzor, with one on the western side of the Euphrates river that slices diagonally across the province led by Syrian troops and backed by ally Russia. The second is being fought by the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, an alliance of Kurdish and Arab fighters, on the eastern bank of the river. The Observatory relies on a network of sources inside Syria, and says it determines whose planes carry out raids according to type, location, flight patterns and munitions used. The group has reported hundreds of civilians killed in operations against IS in Deir Ezzor and neighbouring Raqa province, where the SDF is fighting with US support to capture the former jihadist bastion Raqa city. On Tuesday, the Observatory said a US-led coalition strike in Raqa killed at least 18 civilians. The coalition says it takes all measures possible to avoid civilian casualties and that it investigates each credible allegation. Last month, it acknowledged the deaths of over 700 civilians in its strikes in Syria and Iraq since 2014. Russia has not acknowledged any civilian deaths from its strikes since its intervened in Syria's war in 2015, and dismisses the Observatory's reporting as biased. The deaths in Deir Ezzor on Wednesday prompted outrage from the opposition Syrian National Coalition which described the incident as a "heinous crime". More than 330,000 people have been killed in Syria since the conflict began in March 2011 with anti-government protests. Moscow (AFP) - Saudi Arabia's King Salman arrived in Moscow on Wednesday, the first official visit to Russia by a ruler of the Sunni state. His three-day trip is expected to focus on energy and the Syrian conflict. Salman could be seen descending an escalator from his plane in Moscow's Vnukovo airport after landing around 1600GMT. The escalator however stopped midway, forcing the king to wait. He eventually walked down on to damp tarmac where he was met by Russian officials and a military brass band. Saudi Arabia and Russia are heavily dependent on oil exports and the plunge of the price of crude that began in 2014 lashed both of their economies. Salman will meet President Vladimir Putin on Thursday and they are expected to discuss extending oil production cuts ahead of the OPEC oil cartel meeting in November. OPEC and some other non-member producers, including Russia, have agreed to cut crude output which has helped prop up oil prices. On Wednesday Putin said an extension of the OPEC deal was possible and could last "at least to the end of 2018". OPEC and its allies agreed from the beginning of 2017 to cut their production by around 1.8 million barrels per day for six months. It was subsequently extended through March 2018. Riyadh has had to slash subsidies and delay major projects since the mid-2014 price on crude, and Salman is keen to continue efforts to control output to bolster prices. The king is also set to met Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev on Friday before leaving Russia on Saturday. Russian energy minister Alexander Novak told TASS news agency on Wednesday that Saudi Arabia is investing $1 billion into energy projects in Russia though he did not give details or specify if these deals would be signed during the visit. Vedomosti newspaper reported Wednesday that Saudi Arabia's sovereign fund is also eyeing investment into a toll road project in Moscow, which would be the first one for the capital. While they are partners on the oil market, on the foreign policy front, Moscow and Riyadh land on opposite sides of the Syrian conflict, with Russia supporting the regime of Bashar al-Assad while Saudi Arabia supports his opposition. The Kremlin said ahead of the visit that Salman and Putin will discuss "the situation in the Middle East and North Africa, especially focusing conflict situations in the region." The two also diverge on Yemen, where a Saudi-led coalition has been bombing Huthi rebels since 2015, drawing criticism from Moscow. Protecting the innocent in soft target environments like public concerts is the sort of thing homeland security planners lose sleep over because theres almost nothing you can do, a security official tells PEOPLE. This is the nightmare scenario, the official says about the carnage at Sunday evenings Route 91 Harvest country music festival in Las Vegas, which left at least 59 people dead and wounded hundreds of others in the deadliest mass shooting in modern American history. The guy had the perfect snipers nest, says the official, who is not authorized to speak to the press and spoke on the condition of anonymity. He picked his target, and he picked his spot. So-called soft targets are vulnerable public areas with high occupancy and limited protection. The security official tells PEOPLE the shooter, 64-year-old real estate investor and high-stakes gambler Stephen Paddock, likely spent weeks if not months planning Sundays deadly attack. According to authorities, Paddock opened fire from his 32nd-floor hotel room at the Mandalay Bay casino on the 22,000 concertgoers below. He was later found dead of an apparent suicide. Twenty-three guns were reportedly found with him. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Click here to get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter. Describing the shootings as reminiscent of the 1963 attack on President John Kennedy, the official likens the Las Vegas assault to an assassination. Someone takes the high ground and picks off targets who dont see it coming, the official says. A lot of care and planning went into both incidents. We studied this scenario and tried to learn from it. This type of attack from high ground remains a vulnerability that needs to be addressed in some way, according to the official, though options are limited. What are you going to do: put a bulletproof barrier around every building? the official says. Story continues The scene in Las Vegas following a deadly mass shooting near the Mandalay Bay casino on Sunday night What the Government Recommends Homeland security methods for large crowds typically include measures such as metal detectors, bag searches and bomb-sniffing dogs, the official says. Now, measures sometimes also include concrete barriers and sand-filled garbage trucks to block vehicle-ramming against pedestrians. The unexpected, though, is just that: Some things you cant reasonably plan for, the official says. Scott McConnell, a Department of Homeland Security spokesman, tells PEOPLE the agency works with local government officials and private business to provide expert counsel and recommendations about protective measures that can be implemented at public venues. McConnell says those recommendations include maintaining closer relationships with local law enforcement. Businesses are further encouraged to plan for how you would respond to a deadly shooting spree. In addition, the DHS recommends employee training for potentially lethal situations, McConnell says. Any suspicious activity should also be reported to law enforcement. PEOPLEs special edition True Crime Stories: 35 Real Cases That Inspired the Show Law & Order is on sale now. Describing the departments recent efforts in Nevada, McConnell says: Over the last year, DHS has conducted 17 critical infrastructure assessments with partners in the Las Vegas area. During that same time period, DHS has conducted eight counter-improvised explosive device and risk mitigation training courses for 161 public and private sector security partners. Since 2011, DHS has held seven active shooter workshops in Nevada, including five workshops in Las Vegas and two in Reno. The workshops drew close to 750 participants from federal and local government as well as nonprofit and private organizations. The DHS also maintains a central web page dedicated to active shooter preparedness for citizens, human resources and security professionals and law enforcement, with links to in-depth resources, ranging from online training to awareness materials to planning guidance and classroom training information. A fact sheet with a number of resources for communities and businesses is available here. The scene at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival in Las Vegas after a gunman opened fire there on Sunday night In a statement following the shooting, the chairman of MGM Resorts International, which owns the Mandalay Bay, said, Our primary focus and concern in the hours since the shooting has been cooperating with law enforcement and taking actions to support the victims and their families, our guests and employees. Were grateful for all who have helped first responders, the police and citizens who have acted in countless ways to assist. While information is still being gathered we are beginning to hear stories of great courage and humanity, the chairmans statement continued, deferring further questions about the investigation to law enforcement. Were working with law enforcement in every way possible, the chairman said, adding, Please pray for all the victims of this horrific event, our Las Vegas community and all our employees who are working tirelessly to provide support at a very difficult time. The FBI has said that, so far, there is no connection between Paddock and international terrorism, while a federal counter-terrorism source told PEOPLE, Something triggered this guy. He seemed to act out of nowhere. What happened: Was it domestic problems? Mental illness? Revenge? Or did he join ISIS? We have to consider everything. As investigators continue to probe a possible motive for the attack, it also remains unclear how, exactly, Paddock was able to bring so many weapons apparently undetected into the hotel. He likely didnt just walk into the lobby with the weapons on a cart, the security official says. Probably he broke them down and carried them up in pieces and assembled them inside his room. A hotel most likely would not want to do bag-checks on guests or install security guards to swab peoples hands, as is sometimes done at airports, the official says. Theyre not going to wand everyone who shows up at the hotel. Even a metal-detector might have been useless in this case, according to the official: In some places, people carry weapons. Its not against the law. Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) called on Facebook to release thousands of Russia-linked political ads that it has turned over to the Senate Intelligence Committee, which is investigating Russias interference in the 2016 election. Warner, the vice chair of the committee, told reporters that at the end of the day its important that the public see these ads. Facebook has not made the ads public, but said that they have identified about 3,000 ads, primarily those that are issue-oriented rather than advocating for a specific candidate. Warner and Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.), the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, held a press conference to a packed room of journalists on Capitol Hill. The intent of the press conference was to give an update on the committees investigation. Burr said that the committee would not make the Facebook ads public. We wont release the documents provided to our committee, period, he said, although he said they were fine if Facebook and other platforms did so themselves. Attention in recent weeks has focused on the role of social media companies, after Facebooks announcement that Russia-linked firms bought about 3,000 political ads from 2015 to 2017. Twitter last week said that it shut down more than 200 accounts linked to Russian sources that were also involved in placing ads on Facebook. Warner said that representatives from Twitter, Facebook, and Google have been invited to testify at a Nov. 1 public hearing before the committee. Burr said that the subject matter of the ads seemed to be to create chaos in every group they could possibly find in America, noting that the ads show that the Russians were indiscriminate in who they were helping. But Warner said that the Russians used social media firms by creating false accounts that would drive interest toward stories and groups to sow chaos and division in our country. Story continues I fear if you add up all those things it was a decent rate of return, Warner said. Warner was initially concerned that social media companies did not take this threat seriously enough, but said that he has been seeing greater levels of cooperation. There has been some speculation that there is pressure on Burr to conclude the investigation, particularly from Trump circles, but he said that the issue of collusion is still open. The committee is still investigating whether the Russians had any coordination with members of Trumps campaign, and he suggested that they were still examining just how Russians knew where to target social media spots. He also noted that their inquiry had expanded slightly beyond its original intent. Burr said that he still holds hope of reaching a conclusion to their investigation by the end of the year and to make their findings public prior to the start of the primaries for 2018 midterm election races. Burr and Warner warned that Russian sources are continuing to try to influence elections, not just in the U.S. but in other countries like France where recent national votes have been held. The Russian efforts, Warner said, did not end on Election Day in 2016. The Russian intelligence service is determined and clever, and I recommend that every campaign and every election official take this very seriously, Burr said. Warner is working on legislation with Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) to require greater disclosure of the sources of digital political ads. He said that the requirements would be the lightest touch possible, and similar to rules the rest of the media already have. Related stories Facebook Connects Video Copyright-Flagging System to Third-Party Tools Facebook Estimates 10 Million U.S. Users Saw Russia-Linked Political Ads Facebook Pledges to Hire 1,000 More Ad Reviewers Amid Russian Political Scandal Subscribe to Variety Newsletters and Email Alerts! Register for more free articles. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! Already a Subscriber? Already a Subscriber? Sign in Terms of Service Privacy Policy Dubai (AFP) - Somali refugees are fleeing war, cholera and hunger in Yemen, the United Nations said Thursday, with 10,000 expected to return home to a country they escaped over conflict and poverty. Somalis make up 91 percent of refugees and asylum seekers in Yemen, with the United Nations reporting some 256,000 Somalis based in camps in the war-torn country. Thousands have headed to Yemen since the start of 2017, despite a conflict in the Arabian Peninsula country that has killed thousands and a cholera outbreak threatening nearly one million people. But up to 10,000 Somali refugees are now trying to flee Yemen, the UN refugee agency UNHCR said. Two boats chartered by UNHCR and the UN migration agency IOM have already left Yemen's port of Aden for the Somali port of Berbera, most recently on Sunday. A third vessel may also depart later this month, UNHCR said, on a journey of 16 to 18 hours. "In total, 284 Somali refugees have returned from Yemen already in the past three weeks," UNHCR's Yemen spokeswoman Shabia Mantoo said Thursday. "This is an ongoing process and full funding to support the process is yet to be received. So the return programme will continue over 2018 as well," she told AFP. While Somali refugees in Yemen largely hail from southern Somalia and the northwestern region of Woqooyi Galbeed, most returnees are heading to the capital Mogadishu, the target of a deadly bombing last month. Access to food, shelter and medicine remains a challenge in Somalia, which has been torn by decades of conflict and ranks second on the 2017 fragile states index. Since 2007, Shabaab jihadists have been fighting to overthrow the African country's internationally backed government, repeatedly attacking both civilian and military targets. The Yemen conflict has claimed the lives of more than 8,500 people since 2015, when an Arab military coalition led by Saudi Arabia joined the government's fight against a rebel alliance. Story continues The war has pushed 17 million people to the brink of famine, in what the United Nations this year called the "largest humanitarian crisis in the world". Yemen is also facing port and airport blockades and a cholera outbreak that the International Committee of the Red Cross estimates has killed more than 2,100 people since April. IOM estimates around 55,000 migrants have left the Horn of Africa headed for Yemen since the start of the year, many of them from Somalia. In August, at least 56 Somali and Ethiopian migrants drowned when a human smuggler forced them into choppy Arabian Sea waters before reaching the Yemen coast. You may not instantly recognize the name "Yukai Engineering," but you may have already come across its earlier products like the Necomimi brainwave cat ears or the Bocco "family robot" at some point. At CEATEC, the Japanese company unveiled its latest wacky product, the Qoobo "tail therapy" robot. This is essentially a cushion with a realistic cat tail that reacts to stroking and patting, such that it's able to comfort its "owner" like a real pet would simply through tail wagging. To make it more lifelike, Qoobo also wags its tail randomly when it is left alone for too long. As a cat owner myself, I was surprised by how realistic the tail moved, especially with how its wagging intensity increased as I petted it harder (my cat would eventually warn me with a bite). Interestingly, the stroking detection is mostly done with just one accelerometer inside the body, according to CEO Shunsuke Aoki. He added that despite the cat-like appearance, the realistic tail movement is actually based on research on both cat and dog behavior. Still, I'd like to think of Qoobo as more of a cat, and that's me speaking as an owner of both a cat and a dog. The idea of Qoobo originated from one of Yukai Engineering's 20 employees in an internal competition about half a year ago. The designer had a cat, but since the apartment she moved into didn't allow pets, she had to leave her cat with her parents. This inspired her to come up with a lifelike pet substitute that would make her feel better whenever she thought of her cat. And of course, this would double as a therapy robot for potentially treating depression and anxiety, as not everyone has access to a therapy cat or dog for various reasons -- be it costs, allergies or the aforementioned apartment restrictions. Qoobo will be launched via a crowdfunding platform later this year for around $100, and it's expecting a June 2018 delivery. It'll have two color options: "husky gray" and "French brown." The final product will have an eight-hour battery life with USB charging, though Aoki has yet to decide where to place the USB port. Admittedly, we had a good laugh about this, too. Story continues Update: Qoobo is now on Kickstarter, and it didn't take long before it reached its funding goal. Update 2: Qoobo is now available for pre-ordering in the US for $89 each (be sure to select "US Dollar" at the top right corner of the page). Spains King Felipe VI weighed in on the countrys growing political crisis Tuesday, slamming what he called the irresponsible leaders who pushed for Catalonias independence referendum as hundreds of thousands took to the streets to protest police violence at polling stations. The 49-year-old monarch, who rarely comments on the countrys politics, criticized pro-secession leaders as a threat to Spains democratic stability with Sundays referendum, which passed with 90% of the 2.3 million votes cast, according to the Associated Press, with turnout less than 50%. Today Catalan society is fractured and in conflict, King Felipe VI said. They [Catalan leaders] have infringed the system of legally approved rules with their decisions, showing an unacceptable disloyalty towards the powers of the state, he added, emphasizing the importance of preserving Spains national unity. Sundays referendum was met with violence from Spanish police, who fired rubber bullets and injured more than 900. On Tuesday, workers unions held strikes and 700,000 demonstrators took to the streets of Barcelona, AP reports. Read more: Catalonia Just Voted for Independence From Spain. Heres Why That Is Unlikely to Happen Catalonia, Spains richest region with its own distinct language and traditions, has long held that it contributes more to Spains economy than it receives in return about one-fifth of the GDP. A symbolic referendum in 2014 also passed with overwhelming support, but was poorly attended. Catalonian President Carles Puigdemon has announced plans to declare independence in the coming days. Madrid (AFP) - Spain braced for more protests Saturday despite tentative signs that the sides may be seeking to defuse the crisis after Madrid offered a first apology to Catalans injured by police during their outlawed independence vote. Catalan leaders had threatened to declare independence unilaterally and Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy vowed to stop them, rejecting calls for mediation in a dispute that has drawn cries of concern even from Barcelona and Real Madrid footballers. Spain's deepest political crisis in decades has raised fears of further unrest in the northeastern region, a tourist-friendly area of 7.5 million people that accounts for a fifth of Spain's economy. Opponents of secession have called for demonstrations around Spain and a major rally in Barcelona on Saturday. Also Saturday, people who support dialogue to end the crisis plan to gather in a bid to pressure mayors nationwide. The anonymous initiative, which spread across social media, seeks to promote talks using the slogan: "Spain is better than its leaders". "It's the moment to come together to tell (our leaders) that they are incapable and irresponsible," the group's manifesto reads. The gathering will start from around midday (1000 GMT). A "patriotic" march will start around the same time in central Madrid, organised by people who support a united Spain. Friday saw the first signs the sides may be willing to step back from the brink in a political conflict that risks destabilising Europe. After days of ill-tempered rhetoric, the central government said it regretted the injuries and suggested Catalonia should hold a regional election to settle the crisis. Catalan government minister Santi Vila, a close of ally of regional president Carles Puigdemont, meanwhile told broadcaster Rac1 that his side could consider a "ceasefire" in the dispute, to avoid a further crackdown by Madrid. Businesses and the government kept up economic pressure on Catalonia however, with several big companies announcing moves to shift their legal domiciles to other parts of Spain. Story continues - 'We deeply regret' - Puigdemont postponed an appearance in the regional parliament at which some leaders were hoping for a declaration of independence, a spokesman said -- gaining time and easing tensions. It was unclear what he planned to say at the session. Spain's central government apologised on behalf of police to people hurt in last Sunday's referendum disturbances. "I can do nothing but regret it, apologise on behalf of the officers who intervened," said the government's representative in Catalonia, Enric Millo. Central government spokesman Ignacio Mendez de Vigo also said later he "regretted" the injuries. "It would be good to start mending this fracture... through regional elections," he told a news conference. In Madrid meanwhile, Catalonia's police chief and two prominent separatist leaders avoided being remanded in custody at a court hearing Friday over sedition accusations. The court summons raised tensions, but, despite the gravity of the accusations, the court did not issue a custodial order that could have further escalated the dispute. - Economic pressure - Spain's Constitutional Court on Thursday ordered the suspension of a session scheduled for Monday in the Catalan parliament at which some leaders have called for an independence declaration. If Catalonia declares independence, Spain could respond by suspending the region's existing autonomous status and imposing direct rule from Madrid. On another front, the government in Madrid pushed ahead with a measure to pressure Catalonia economically. It passed a decree to make it quicker for businesses to shift their legal domiciles away from one region to another. Energy company Gas Natural and Catalonia's two biggest banks, Sabadell and CaixaBank, said they were shifting their legal headquarters out of Catalonia. Sources who asked not to be named told AFP that some customers had been withdrawing money from their bank accounts over concerns for the political situation. With its own language and cultural traditions, demands for independence in Catalonia date back centuries but have surged during recent years of economic crisis. The Catalan government later on Friday published final results from the referendum vote indicating that 90 percent of voters backed the region breaking away from Spain. Voter turnout was 43 percent. Recent polls have indicated that Catalans are split on independence, though leaders warned the violence during the referendum turned many against the state authorities. Switzerland said Friday it was "in contact" with both sides in the crisis but stressed that formal mediation could not begin until both camps were ready. Madrid has said there will be no talks or mediation until the Catalans abandon the independence bid. By Carlos Ruano and Andres Gonzalez MADRID (Reuters) - Spain's government will issue a decree on Friday making it easier for firms to transfer their legal base out of Catalonia, two sources said, in a move that could deal a serious blow to the region's finances as it considers declaring independence. The decree is tailor-made for Spanish lender Caixabank, sources familiar with the matter said, as it would make it possible for the bank to transfer its legal and tax base to another location without having to hold a shareholders' meeting as stated in its statutes. "The government is working on changing the law so that it's no longer need to have a shareholders' meeting, which would delay a change of the legal base in a case of emergency," one of the sources said. The government and Caixabank declined to comment. The board of Caixabank will meet on Friday to study a possible transfer of its legal base away from Catalonia due to the political uncertainty in the region, a source familiar with the situation said. Caixabank is Catalonia's biggest company by market value and accounts for around 50 percent of the region's banking sector. Another Catalonia-based bank, Sabadell, Spain's fifth-biggest lender, decided on Thursday to move its base from Catalonia to Alicante, on Spain's eastern coast. Catalonia's parliament was planning to declare independence on Monday, after a banned referendum marred by violence last weekend. That plan was cast into doubt on Thursday when Spain's Constitutional Court ordered that Monday's session of the Catalan parliament be suspended. The political crisis was "generating uncertainty that is paralyzing all investment projects in Catalonia," Spanish Economy Minister Luis de Guindos told Reuters on Thursday. "I'm convinced that, right now, not one international or national investor will take part in a new investment project until this is cleared up," he said. Shares in Sabadell and Caixabank have been pummeled this week. Reports they might move caused the stocks to surge on Thursday - Sabadell rose 6 percent and Caixabank 5 percent. NO IMPACT ON ECONOMY Government plans to sell a stake in state-run lender Bankia have also been put off because of the uncertainty, de Guindos said. Madrid will look at the placement again once the Catalan situation had been resolved, he said. However, Catalonia's planned unilateral declaration of independence has not had any impact on Spain's overall economic output, de Guindos said, reiterating that he expected growth of more than 3 percent this year. Financial markets have been shaken this week by fears that secession would undermine the euro zone's fourth-biggest economy, dealing a heavy blow to Spain's finances and sending the Catalan economy into a tailspin. Catalonia is a center of industry and tourism that accounts for a fifth of Spain's economy, a production base for major multinationals from Volkswagen to Nestle, and home to Europes fastest-growing sea port. News earlier this week that two small listed Catalan companies, Eurona Wireless Telecom and Oryzon Genomics, had decided to shift their head offices improved their share price. Both declined to say whether they were responding to Sunday's vote. Spain's bond and stock markets both staged a recovery on Thursday after the Constitutional Court's decision and a Bloomberg report that Catalan separatists were looking at putting off a declaration of independence to create room for a negotiated settlement with Spain. The nation's borrowing costs hit a seven-month high on Thursday, though investors showed solid interest in a government bond auction. "WORRIED AND SCARED" Many Spanish business leaders and foreign companies with operations in Catalonia have expressed concern this week. "As a businessman, as a Spaniard and as a person, I am very worried and I am scared by what's going on (in Catalonia)," said Juan Roig, chairman of Spain's biggest food retailer, Mercadona. The influential Catalan business lobby Cercle d'Economia said on Wednesday it was extremely worried by the prospect of Catalonia declaring independence from Spain and called for leaders from both sides to start talks. Dutch paint maker Akzo Nobel, which has several plants in Catalonia, said it was monitoring developments. "From a business perspective, we are best served by a stable environment and will adapt when necessary," said Akzo Nobel spokeswoman Diana Abrahams. German carmaker Volkswagen was earlier this week forced to halt production briefly on one of three production lines at the Catalonia plant of its Spanish unit, SEAT, when protests disrupted parts supply. Stoppages also affected production at Nestle's instant coffee plant in Girona. SEAT said on Thursday it was operating its business as usual. "It is too early to make an assessment on what could happen," a spokesman said. "The company is closely monitoring how the current situation is evolving." (Additional reporting by Paul Day and Robert Hetz in Madrid and Toby Sterling in Amsterdam; Writing by Mark Bendeich and Adrian Croft; Editing by Julien Toyer and Catherine Evans) Stella McCartney is garnering attention for her spring collection, which showed Monday during Paris Fashion Week. But it wasnt praise for her sustainable practices or fresh designs that created the buzz. Shes facing backlash for her use of ankara prints, a staple in West and Central African fashion, which she sent down the runway on non-black models. Only a few black models were included in the show overall. Not everyone is pleased with this homage. (Photo: Victor VIRGILE via Getty Images) McCartney collaborated on the show with Vlisco, a long-time and well-known maker of ankara prints, which are also known as Dutch wax prints. According to its website, the company has been designing and manufacturing distinctive fabrics loved by African women since 1846. She was quickly accused of cultural appropriation on social media, where people called her out for the underrepresentation of black models on the runway and romanticizing the basic African designs that grandmothers wear... daily. These are basic African designs our grandmothers wear these daily... any credit to African designers? Faith Diplomacy (@ImaniSheilah) October 4, 2017 Something my mum has been wearing for years when she wants to make stew https://t.co/V30QYaoOHV Fourens (@NnennaSays_) October 3, 2017 How are you going to use African culture as your "inspiration" yet not even attempt to have African women represented on your runway? Amarachi Nwosu (@AmaraWorldWide) October 2, 2017 We all know African prints are awesome & beautiful, appreciate them, but dont make it look like you just discovered them #stellamccartney Literandra (@literandra) October 4, 2017 And they got a white woman wearing it OhGenevieve (@genevieveyah) October 3, 2017 Fashion writers had mixed responses to the runway show: The Washington Posts Robin Givhan was put off by McCartneys use of acid-wash denim, while the Sydney Morning Heralds Annie Brown acknowledged that what qualifies as cultural appropriation using designs and ideas from cultures that are not your own for gain can be tricky in fashion, and pointed out the industry clearly needs to be more racially diverse. Story continues ...[W]hile it may be true that there is no such thing as an original idea, and designers will always pay homage to eras, places, communities, techniques and aesthetics that inspire them, that also doesnt mean helping yourself carte blanch to other cultures. When does borrowing become problematic, nay racist? When the context is missing? When the representation of the culture isnt properly and fairly realised? When its plain old insensitive? When the balance is out of whack? Perhaps all of the above. Culture site OkayAfricas response was pointed: Dear Western fashion houses, please stop taking designs that Africans have been wearing for years, calling them your own, and charging people out the ass for them. A spokesman for Stella McCartney told HuffPost the designs were about celebrating a unique textile craftsmanship, its culture and highlighting its heritage, noting Vlisco helps maintain [the] heritage of ankara. Stella McCartney's spring collection. (Photo: Victor VIRGILE via Getty Images) He noted Vlisco has also worked with other designer labels, including Comme des Garcons and Viktor & Rolf. This, of course, does not let designers off the hook: Comme des Garcons came under fire for not using black models at all when it collaborated with Vlisco for an Africa-themed fashion show in 2015, according to Quartz; nor is this the first time McCartney has been accused of insensitivity. Ankara prints were originally inspired by Indonesian designs and created in The Netherlands. They were introduced to markets in West Africa after they failed to take off in Southeast Asia, according to Quartz. But they did take off in West Africa, and HyperAllergics Sarah Archer pointed out in 2016 that the designs are so synonymous with African culture that their origin cannot be used as a way for designers to justify using them as their own. To some extent, the question of whether Vlisco is truly African or not is moot, because the fabric so readily and indelibly signifies the fashion and style of West African women; it might be like asking if denim is really American given the complex global history of indigo, she wrote. At this point, Vlisco is about much more than just the fabric as an object of fashion. The ecosystem and visual language of its trade is a cultural phenomenon in which women entrepreneurs flourish, and individuals can forge and display their identities through design. Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. A design by African designer Patricia Waota made with Vlisco during the 170th anniversary of the manufacturer in Abijan, November 2016. (Photo: ISSOUF SANOGO via Getty Images) British-Nigerian model and actress Eku Edewor, one of many who responded by commenting on McCartneys Instagram, explained that just because the cloth was originally called Dutch Wax doesnt mean its evolution in West Africa can be discounted. I think its rather unfair to essentially wipe out the history of how this fabric came to be owned culturally by West Africans simply because the technique didnt originate here, she wrote. Its popularity evolved in our hands, according to West African taste and became a part of West African culture. Some of the more famous Ankara patterns are made up of symbols synonymous with Yoruba culture that women of generations past can understand. Liberian designer Charlene Bendu Dunbar, owner and creative director of Suakoko Betty, said McCartneys collection is dope, but that the use of African prints is always bittersweet. On one hand, any time African culture and design are being celebrated or put on a platform, Im all for it, she told HuffPost. On the flip side, designers need to give credit that these are African-inspired looks and make sure they do business in ways that benefit the economies (as in African countries) that these designs are pulled from (as [Stella] does with the Ethical Fashion Initiative). Mariatu Turay, founder and owner of the contemporary African clothing website Gitas Portal, said there is nothing wrong with using commercial African prints, but that the appropriation lies in trying to redefine ownership, failing to acknowledge smaller brands and those from an African heritage who wear such prints and designs on a daily basis. A more concerted effort by all brands to actually seek and work with designers they draw inspiration from is the first step toward making an instance like this less troubling, she said. The frustration comes from using our prints and then attempting to tell us, Africans and those of African heritage, that its not ours. Related... Is This The Right Way For Fashion To Do Cultural Appropriation? If You Don't Get The Problem With Cultural Appropriation, Listen To This 2016 Is The Year Of Celebrities Apologizing For Cultural Appropriation Also on HuffPost This article originally appeared on HuffPost. Police believe that Stephen Paddock had plans to escape after the massacre: AFP/Getty Images The gunman in the most deadly mass shooting in modern American history had plans to escape after the carnage. In the days following the attack, officials have combed through the crime scene and Stephen Paddocks affairs, trying to determine if anybody else may have been involved, and what may have motivated him to shoot down on concert-goers from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino. Many of those answers still remain a mystery. Yes, Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo said Wednesday when asked if the shooter had planned to escape after the killing. He did not elaborate how: I cant tell you. Mr Lombardo was later asked if the shooter had help. Youve got to make the assumption he had to have some help at some point, he responded. Maybe hes a super guy, maybe he was working out all this on his own, but it would be hard for me to believe that. Paddock killed himself after the deadly shooting 59 people were killed and 489 were injured as police circled in on his hotel suite. As police began to investigate, the reason for the attack was not immediately certain. Officials initially referred to him as a lone wolf who was solely responsible for this heinous act. The news that he may have had help adds a new twist in this already confusing tale. The shooters girlfriend, Marilou Danley, returned from a trip to the Philippines Wednesday, and denied any knowledge of the attack. Ms Danley, who officials have called a person of interest, said that Paddock had surprised her with a plane ticket to see her family just over two weeks ago. While there, he wired her $100,000 and told her to buy a home for her and her family. She said in a statement released by her lawyer that she feared that might be his way of breaking up with her, but nothing more. She returned to the US voluntarily, and was not arrested by the FBI upon arrival. The statement, like comments from Paddocks brother the day after the shooting, expressed shock. Story continues I knew Stephen as a kind, caring, quiet man, her statement read. I loved him and hoped for a quiet future together. He never said anything to me, or took any action that I was aware of that I understood in any way to be a warning that something horrible like this was going to happen. The claim by Ms Danley that she was unaware is likely to come as a blow to the investigation, but investigators are still likely to try to extract as much information as possible from her about her interactions with Paddock, who has been described by neighbours as a man who kept mostly to himself. Mr Lombardo called Paddock disturbed and dangerous during a Wednesday night press briefing, and said that he had fired continuously for 10 minutes Sunday night. He had gathered 47 guns sine 1982, and had purchased 33 of them, mostly rifles, in the last year alone. Some of those purchases were made just three days before the attack, according to an agent with the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Paddock had rented another room in downtown Las Vegas around the time that the alternative music festival Life is Beautiful was being held, sometime between September 22 and 24.It wasnt clear why he had done so, or if he had initially planned on attacking that festival instead of the Route 91 country music festival. Police recovered items and video from that hotel as well. Casino regulators are taking a close look at the shooters gambling habits he is known to have had a taste for high-stakes video poker and are reviewing dozens of financial reports filed recently when he bought more than $10,000 in casino chips. Investigators are also reviewing records to determine if he had disputes with fellow casino patrons, or the casinos themselves. Las Vegas police were able to rapidly track down "psychopath" shooter Stephen Paddock as he carried out his deadly assault on concert goers after a smoke alarm was triggered in his room. Police stormed the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino on Sunday from where the 64-year-old had been raining gunfire onto crowds below, killing 59 and injuring at least 500 more. The retired accountant killed himself before police arrived, but an arsenal of 23 weapons was found in the room, including two "bump stock" devices used to let rifles fire continuously. The attack was meticulously planned but an oversight by Paddock led to police being able to pinpoint his exact location. Smoke filled the hotel room as he unloaded round after round into crowds, triggering the alarm and leading police to his door, Randy Sutton, a retired lieutenant with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, told the Washington Post. He rained down hell on those people. Hundreds of rounds. The sheriff said that there were several firearms found in the room. He was extremely well armed. He must have brought plenty more ammunition, already loaded into magazines," he added. The alarm allowed the SWAT team to home in on Paddock's position within 20 minutes of the first 911 call. A floor-by-floor search of the hotel, which has 3,309 rooms and a 135,000-square-foot casino, would have taken considerably longer. US President Donald Trump praised the rapid police response to the shooting in the aftermath, calling it a "miracle". The police department, theyve done such an incredible job, he said. And well be talking about gun laws as time goes on. But I do have to say, how quickly the police department was able to get in was really very much of a miracle. Theyve done an amazing job. It took 72 minutes from the first 911 call being placed to when police eventually stormed Paddock's room. Beirut (AFP) - The Syrian army and allied fighters drove the Islamic State group from their last positions in the central province of Hama on Wednesday after heavy fighting, a monitor said. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitor of the war, said IS was no longer present anywhere in the province for the first time in three years. The army, backed by ally Russia, launched a campaign against IS in Hama in early September, capturing some 50 villages and the strategic town of Uqayribat, the Observatory said. "On Wednesday, regime forces managed to take control of all the last remaining villages in the hands of Daesh (IS) in eastern Hama province after more than a month of fierce clashes between the two sides," Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman said. The monitor said more than 400 IS fighters and nearly 190 Syrian soldiers and allied militiamen had been killed in the fighting. There was no immediate announcement in Syrian state media, but the Al-Watan newspaper, which is close to the government, reported that "the army has taken complete control of eastern Hama province." "Daesh is no longer present in Hama province," it added. The government holds large parts of Hama province, and all of the provincial capital. But jihadists and other rebels hold pockets of territory in the northeast and south. IS's loss of Hama province comes after they were forced in June to withdraw from their last positions in Aleppo province further north. The jihadist group is also facing multiple offensives elsewhere in the country. The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, an alliance of Kurdish and Arab fighters, is battling to oust IS from their onetime stronghold of Raqa. The SDF is also fighting IS in neighbouring Deir Ezzor province, where the regime is waging its own campaign against the jihadist group as well. More than 330,000 people have been killed in Syria since the conflict began with anti-government protests in March 2011. Nantou City (Taiwan) (AFP) - For years Huang Sheng-yi helped feed Taiwan's addiction to the betel nut, planting thousands of the trees on his mountainous farm. Today he has felled most of them, incentivised by the government to grow something else, as part of its push to reduce availability of the nut, which is a stimulant and also a known carcinogen linked to oral cancer. But the green nut, which is often wrapped in a betel leaf spread with slaked lime to enhance the stimulative effect, is still ubiquitously available at roadside kiosks across the island and chewed by millions daily. The chance of a betel nut user developing oral cancer is 28 times the average person, according to the health ministry. "Simply promoting the health risks is not enough. Betel nut chewing is too deeply ingrained in society," says Chuang Li-chen, project manager at Sunshine Social Welfare Foundation, an NGO that offers rehabilitation services for oral cancer survivors. Since a 2003 study confirmed betel nut as a carcinogen there has been a gradual decline in popularity, although around two million people still chew the nut, according to government figures. The nut, which stains users' teeth blood red, remains popular among the working class, particularly men, who rely on its stimulant properties to better cope with long hours of manual labour. - Addictive and deadly - The government is attempting to reduce the amount of betel nut available as part of its plan to tackle the issue. It subsidises farmers as much as Tw$250,000 ($8,315) per hectare if they convert to other crops. Huang now grows oil-seed camellia which produces an edible extract often likened to olive oil at his farm in Lugu town in the central county of Nantou. However, the 57-year-old says many are still hesitant to make the leap. It will be more than two years before he can harvest the oil-seed camellia, he says, and he is only able to stay afloat because he has another tea-growing business. Story continues "Farmers are reluctant because managing a new crop is much harder," he told AFP. "There needs to be even greater guidance and incentives to really make a difference." Authorities concede the programme has not yet made a significant dent since it started in 2014. Of the 42,940 hectares of betel plantations on the island, only 435 have changed crops under the initiative, although more may have done so without government assistance. But Su Mao-hsiang, deputy director of Taiwan's agriculture and food agency says applications have risen this year off the back of government offers of more support. "We hope more farmers can participate in the conversion," he told AFP. Betel nut has been part of Taiwan's aboriginal culture for thousands of years, used in ceremonies and rituals. At the height of its popularity it was known as "green gold" because it was such a lucrative crop -- second only to rice in value -- and many had come to rely on it for their livelihood. Its skinny palms still pervade parts of the rural landscape and flashing signs at roadside kiosks flag down drivers, although they are lower key than in the past. Young women in skimpy outfits -- known as "betel nut beauties" -- often used to staff the stands are less common now after the government crackdown. - Causes oral cancer - Despite the various measures to curb production and use, campaigners say there is still too little awareness of the damage betel nut can cause. Former addict Chen Yung-an wishes he had believed his doctor when told he had early signs of oral cancer two decades ago. "I didn't think it was possible. Other people chewed it for years and nothing happened to them," said Chen, now 53, who had a tumour removed three years ago, taking out a chunk of his right jaw. Chen went through 200 a day at the peak of his habit, saying it served as a social lubricant among co-workers. "In the rural areas betel nut is like fruit. We didn't have the concept that it was bad for us," he told AFP. "It felt uncomfortable whenever my mouth wasn't moving. While driving back I would buy Tw$200 to eat on the car." "My mouth would only rest when I was sleeping," he explained. Today he is limited to eating soft and bite-sized foods to avoid choking and has not worked since the disfiguring surgery. "Of course it's hard to find a job now. I would have to face the looks people give me," he told AFP. The disease can take 10 to 20 years to develop, which means many people do not seek treatment until it is too late, said Chuang. Only about half of the population is aware of the fact that the betel nut directly induces cancer, even without any other additives, she adds. "We've let the betel nut industry develop for decades. We can't just ignore the livelihoods of these growers and vendors," said Chuang. It needs more coordination between education, agricultural and economic departments, she says. "We need a comprehensive approach to effectively tackle this problem at its roots." Eric Elander had good reason to hail the announcement Tuesday night that the University of Montana had settled on Seth Bodnar for its next president. It meant his daughter is coming home. Yes, we are proud of Seth Bodnar and Dr. Chelsea Elander Flanagan Bodnar, Elander, owner of Sp2m Marketing in Missoula, posted on Facebook. They will be a huge benefit to the Missoula community, and the University. What other University can say their President and First Lady are both Rhodes and Truman scholars? Chelsea Bodnar is a Harvard-educated pediatrician who grew up in Missoula and even lived on the UM campus when she was in first grade. Her mother, Rita Sommers-Flanagan, was head resident at Aber Hall at the time while pursuing a doctorate in psychology. I have lived in one other country and six other states since leaving Montana, and all of those experiences have only reminded me what a unique, creative, passionate, beautiful place this is, Bodnar said Wednesday in an email. I am enjoying the waves of joy that hit me as it sinks in that our children are now going to have the chance to grow up here and have the strong Montana roots that are such a unique and amazing gift. Her birth parents divorced when she was young. Both had remarried, Eric to Terri Elander and Rita to John Sommers-Flanagan, as Chelsea went through Paxson Elementary and Washington Middle schools before graduating from Hellgate High in 1995. I have lived vicariously through Chelsea her whole life, said Terri Elander, a longtime public relations and tour marketing director for Missoula Community and Missoula Childrens Theater. When she was in fifth grade she very much wanted to be a doctor, and thats what she decided to do. She always made interesting, exciting, bold choices in her life, and we just enjoy her adventures and visits and try to support them. Chelsea Elander spent the fall after high school as an intern in Washington, D.C. At the time she was the youngest intern U.S. Senator Max Baucus had ever had. She kind of took the place by storm, Eric Elander recalled. They had a real respect for her, which was interesting for someone her age. His daughters college options boiled down to two Dartmouth and Montana State. We let Chelsea make the decision, and she chose MSU, Eric said. I think she bought into the idea that if she worked hard it wouldnt be nearly as expensive and she could get just as good an education and have as many opportunities there. It worked out. Chelsea Elander met Bodnar in the early 2000s at the University of Oxford in England. Both were there on Rhodes scholarships, he from Pennsylvania via the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, she from Missoula by way of Montana State University in Bozeman. The Bodnars married in Coeur dAlene in December 2005. Chelsea was finishing her last year at Harvard Medical School. Seth had just returned from Iraq, where he commanded a 40-man infantry rifle platoon in training and counterinsurgency operations. Twins Margaret and Davis were born to the Bodnars in 2010 in New York, where Seth was an assistant professor of economics at West Point. Chelsea, a fellow at the Institute of Medicine, worked in pediatric health care quality. She spent much of her pregnancy commuting between New York and Washington, D.C, mostly throwing up in a garbage can at every station along the way, she said. Their third child, Nora, came along in October 2013 in Erie, Pennsylvania, after her husband had joined the private ranks of General Electric. Chelsea Bodnars stepfather, John Sommers-Flanagan, is a clinical psychologist and professor of counselor education at UM. Her mother, Rita, is a professor emeritus at UM and lives on the ranch in Absarokee that her great-grandparents homesteaded. Bodnar takes her station as a fifth-generation Montanan to heart. Though her children were born far away, her mother brought a jar of dirt from Montana into the delivery room for each so I could say that my kids were born on Montana soil, Chelsea said. I really didnt want to break the line of native Montanans. They are amazing parents in that they are so engaged with the children, Terri Elander said. Chelsea had that growing up, an only child for most of the time with four parents. They have such grit. Theyre raising their children to be strong, independent, thoughtful thinkers who have fun. Theyre both really smart, really intelligent, and theyre both really nice, Eric Elander said. Ive listened to Chelsea talk about Seth and, besides the fact that she thinks hes pretty good-looking, she talks a lot about how hard it is for people to get a picture of the whole concept of being a servant leader like he is. She said people are just really going to be surprised. Chelsea Bodnar founded Ohana Pediatrics, described on its website as "a pediatric virtual care platform that builds communities of practicing, local docs to extend after hours care options." Bodnar said Ohana's goal is "helping the best pediatricians, the ones whose parents already trust when they have questions about the health of their children, to find new ways to use technology to work together, supporting each other as well as their patients. Even though her family lived in Florida at the time, I thought of the doctors in Montana as the perfect group to pilot a collaborative concept, she said. I am hopelessly optimistic about the social fabric of the state. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana and Medicaid have pledged their support to bring Ohana to life for families in Montana, Bodnar said. I have just struggled to find the right funding sources for a double bottom-line venture like this. Seth Bodnars name first surfaced as a finalist for the UM president position in September. A month earlier Chelsea Bodnar left the kids with him to travel back in her hometown, where she was a featured speaker at the Last Best Conference at the Wilma Theater after first stopping at Fort Peck to work on childrens health issues. She spoke, Bodnar said, about the challenges of being an established pediatrician and taking a leap into the world of entrepreneurship, where its far more difficult to understand and define success. I felt I had to be a lot braver and more creative. A Texas church recently voted to stop hosting weddings as long as its denomination prohibits clergy from officiating same-sex marriages. The First United Methodist Church in downtown Austin announced on its website that its congregation had voted 93 percent in favor of the new resolution to align its wedding policies with its strongly-held principle of full inclusion of all persons. People who scheduled their weddings before the resolution was announced would still be able to continue them as planned, the church said. But the clergy would not schedule new ceremonies. The church published a video on its Facebook page on Thursday explaining the process that led to its decision. This is a step we feel called to take as we continue to strive for change in the wider church, the Austin churchs senior pastor, Rev. Taylor Fuerst, said in the video. The house of worship is formally affiliated with the United Methodist Church, which does not permit clergy to officiate same-sex weddings. The U.S. Supreme Court legalized gay marriage in all 50 states in a landmark ruling in 2015. But in the UMC, clergy risk being defrocked if they oversee such unions. The UMCs constitution states that all persons are of sacred worth. But the denominations Book of Discipline holds that homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching. Current policies bar self-avowed practicing homosexuals from being ordained and prohibit pastors and churches from performing or hosting same-sex weddings. We support laws in civil society that define marriage as the union of one man and one woman, the UMC website states. In its resolution, the Austin church argued that the denominations policies regarding marriage and sexuality are incompatible with the inclusive teachings of Jesus Christ, as well as our United Methodist Constitution, and are fundamentally contrary to our mission and to our service to each member of the church. Fuerst said the congregation was inspired to take action after three same-sex couples all of whom were prominent members and leaders in the church were forced to wed in alternate locations given the denominations stance. Story continues They didnt even have the option to wed in the church, the pastor told HuffPost. Their weddings were joyful, beautiful occasions, but it was painful to have the shadow of this exclusion over so many people who are faithful, growing disciples of Christ and leaders in our congregation. It goes directly against what we believe Jesus taught and revealed to us about God in scripture. The UMC boasts more than seven million members in the United States alone and has long struggled to come to an agreement about how to minister to LGBTQ people. UMC clergy members in Michigan, Pennsylvania and New York have come under fire in recent years for officiating at same-sex weddings. Methodist minister Rev. Frank Schaefer was defrocked in 2013 for officiating at his sons marriage to another man. He was reinstated in 2014. The denomination does not permit openly gay individuals to be ordained, a policy that inspired more than 100 pastors, deacons, elders and candidates for ministry to release a letter publicly coming out as LGBTQ just one day before the churchs top policy-making body convened for an annual conference last year. Over 1,500 other clergy members subsequently released a letter of support for their LGBTQ colleagues, urging the UMC to end discrimination based on gender or sexual orientation. Other churches have previously adopted similar measures like the First United Methodist Churchs recent effort, including Green Street Church in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, which voted in 2013 not to host any weddings until the denomination lifted its ban on same-sex marriage. I do not see it as an act of exclusion for straight couples, but an invitation for all people to be in solidarity with those who are excluded, Rev. Kelly P. Carpenter, the churchs senior pastor, said in a pastoral letter at the time. The Austin churchs decision offers a similar act of solidarity without violating the UMCs Book of Discipline. Boards of trustees of local congregations set their own facility-use policies, Bishop Robert Schnase, who leads the UMCs Rio Texas Conference, said in a statement. This was a decision made at the local level in compliance with our rules. But church members say they hope the move will send a message to the denominations leaders, as well as to the LGBTQ community. This vote demonstrates that our members are willing to sacrifice a position of privilege in order to stand in solidarity with those who are discriminated against, Davis Covin, a church member who helped draft the resolution and whose husband is also a leader in the church, told the United Methodist News Service. I think this also serves as a great example to the children and youth in our church by showing that our members strive for social justice and equality for all Gods children, he added. Fuerst said she was hopeful that the UMC would adopt more inclusive policies and that someday the resolution would become obsolete. I dont know whether our action will effect change in the UMC policy, but I do hope it will give courage to other congregations and their leaders, to consider how God may be calling them to act, she told HuffPost. We are not powerless; we can make change right where we are. Also on HuffPost Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. The scene of Stephen Paddocks hotel room. It has led to renewed calls for gun control Stephen Paddock killed 58 people when he opened fire on innocent festival goers in Las Vegas. The horrific atrocity is the most deadly shooting in modern US history, and has prompted renewed calls for gun control in a country where it is incredibly easy to purchase firearms. Pictures, obtained by Boston News 25, have emerged showing the semi-automatic rifles found in his hotel room, as well as spent rounds of ammunition and a hammer. Under the second amendment of the American Constitution, US citizens are given the right to bear arms but critics claim that this constitutional right is the precise reason why gun massacres are seemingly so regular in America. Donald Trump said in the aftermath of the atrocity that he would talk about gun control at some point but in a visit to Las Vegas on Wednesday, the US President demured. His trip to the site of the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history was the first time he has had to deal directly with the aftermath of a major shooting rampage of the type that have killed hundreds of people in recent years in the United States. Donald Trump is greeted by survivor family members Shelby Stalker and Stephanie Melanson (Reuters) But, during the visit, Trump deflected a question about whether the United States has a problem with gun violence. Were not going to talk about that today, he said. Many have pointed out the seeming inconsistencies in U.S. law as to what products might be deemed dangerous enough to be illegal. Here are a few items that are banned in the US: Kinder Eggs. Picture: REX For European kids, Kinder Eggs are a staple of childhood. Chocolate on the outside, a toy on the inside. Its a simple delight, but one that Americans cant enjoy after they were banned in 1930. A spokesperson for US Customs and Border protection previously said: While sold in many countries, this product is banned from the US because young children can choke on it. Working together at the Import Safety Commercial Targeting and Analysis Center, these partner agencies are able to coordinate and streamline federal efforts to address import safety issues, including the illegal importation of Kinder Eggs. Story continues 2. Childrens Books Banned, apparently (Picture: Flickr) Its near impossible that a childrens book could ever cause a massacre, but alas theyre banned in the US, kind of. A Federal court ruling forbids the sale of childrens books printed before 1985, due to the possibility of them containing lead. 3. Milk Dont take unpasteurised milk across state lines (AP Photo/Toby Talbot, File) Again, a dairy product that is unlikely to cause countless deaths, but America isnt taking any chances. Unpasteurised milk cant be sold between state lines. A further Twenty US states prohibit the sale of raw milk entirely. You cant be too careful, can you? 4. Haggis A favoured delicacy of the Scottish, but you wont find it over the pond. Its illegal to important haggis into America because it contains sheep lungs an ingredient that doesnt pass the regulations of the US Food and Drug administration. MOST POPULAR STORIES ON YAHOO UK Theresa Mays keynote Conservative Party conference speech interrupted by P45 stunt Stourbridge murder: Homeless Aaron Barley jailed for life for stabbing mother and son Donald Trump said he turned his back on dying man aged 80 because it was disgusting Boris Johnson slammed by top Tories over dead bodies Libya comment Final MH370 report calls planes disappearance an almost inconceivable mystery 5. Bingo games In North Carolina, its illegal to hold a bingo game for more than five hours unless it is being held at a fair. Seems logical. 6. Cheese Cheese, anyone? (Pictur: REUTERS/Alessandro Bianchi_ Obviously not all cheese, but the Sardinian Casu Marzu is banned on US soil because of how it is produced reportedly made by placing fly larvae into Pecorino cheese in order to speed up the fermentation. The larvae hatch which in turn makes the cheese a nice, creamy texture, although youre advised to eat it before the maggots die. Tasty. 7. Mirabelle plums Banned in America, but with no real explanation as to why A healthy sweet treat, but one that isnt available in the US due to bizarre import laws stopping the French fruit from ever being consumed on US soil. The precise reason for the ban has never quite been revealed. A colorized scanning electron micrograph image made available by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows the O157:H7 strain of the E. coli bacteria. (Photo: Janice Carr/CDC via AP) Every time we think weve gotten ahead of the bugs, they come back stronger and fitter, said Ramanan Laxminarayan, director of the Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics & Policy (CDDEP). It is the ability to mutate that has given rise to superbugs that resist some or, increasingly, all of the antibiotics that were hailed as miracle drugs in the last century, creating one of the biggest threats to global health, food security and development today, according to the World Health Organization. For years, experts have warned against the overuse of antibiotics in livestock and fish farming, which stave off infections in animals in crowded living conditions and also help animals gain weight faster, making them ready for slaughter sooner. The phenomenon, along with over- and unnecessary prescription of antibiotics and a lack of a new class of antibiotic drugs, have promoted the growth of resistant bacteria. As susceptible microbes are killed off, the resistant survivors thrive and multiply. Today, a growing number of bacterial infections, including pneumonia, tuberculosis and gonorrhea, are more difficult to treat because of such resistance at least 2 million people become infected with bacteria resistant to antibiotics and at least 23,000 people die each year in the U.S. as a direct result of such infections, according to the CDC. This scale-up in antibiotics, primarily as a substitute for good nutrition and hygiene in livestock production, is simply unsustainable and will be devastating to efforts to conserve the effectiveness of our current antibiotics, said Laxminarayan, the senior author of a new study focusing on antibiotic use in livestock. We already face a crisis, but continuing to use medically important antibiotics for growth promotion in animals is like pouring oil on a fire. Over the last 10 to 15 years, resistance has grown from under 2 to 3 percent to between 30 to 80 percent [encountered in humans globally], Laxminarayan told Yahoo News. Thats a big deal. We now have patients who have completely untreatable infections in every part of the world. Story continues The new research from the CDDEP analyzed and described a comprehensive strategy for preserving antibiotic effectiveness by reducing antibiotic use in farm animals up to 80 percent globally by 2030. To reduce antibiotic use in livestock, the authors of the study, which was published in Science, suggested three interventions: regulations on the use of antibiotics in farm animals; limiting meat intake; and the imposition of taxes on veterinary antibiotics. One can safely predict that the bugs will outsmart us every time, said Laxminarayan. At last years U.N. General Assembly, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) was of top importance. Dr. Margaret Chan, director general of the World Health Organization, called it a major global threat. At this years summit, the WHO reinforced its intention to combat superbugs. This is only the fourth time a health issue has been taken up by the U.N. General Assembly the others were HIV, noncommunicable diseases and Ebola so the serious nature of AMRs effects should not be taken lightly, said Dr. Dean Hart, a professor at the Columbia University School of Medicine. Grass-fed, antibiotic- and growth-hormone-free cattle at Kookoolan Farm in Yamhill, Ore., on April 23, 2015. (Photo: Don Ryan/AP) As the largest consumer of veterinary antimicrobials in the world, China needs to take a leading role in combating AMR, the researchers said. The country recently promulgated new nutritional guidelines recommending 40 to 70 grams less than 2.5 ounces of meat per day, which is about half the current consumption level in the country. China is also phasing out certain drugs in livestock that are still used in Europe. If followed, the measure could have a substantial impact on reducing antimicrobial consumption and, in turn, resistance. The U.S. has introduced a voluntary ban on the use of antibiotics for growth purposes. McDonalds announced in August a 10-year plan to phase out antibiotics in its poultry production chain beginning in 2018. The U.S. also has seen a large shift to organic consumption based on consumers greater awareness of the potential dangers of antimicrobial resistance. Still, demand for organic products is a luxury most of the worlds population simply cant afford the benefits of eating strictly organic products, especially in Third World countries, said Hart. When compared with other developed nations, Denmark and Germany are quite conservative when it comes to using antibiotics and results show that those populations have lower levels of AMR, said Hart. Interestingly, the U.S. shows relatively moderate levels of resistance even though the population uses antibiotics heavily. Of note, the quality of a countrys health care system also seems to have a direct relation to antibiotic resistance levels, said Hart. EU countries have very high standards, but antibiotic use is too high. Venezuelas health care system is far less robust; this means antibiotics are far scarcer, and AMR is relatively lower. Hart also pointed to pharmaceutical manufacturers as obstacles in the fight against AMR. We are a country that buys drugs, and a lot of them, at much higher prices than the rest of the world, he said. The antibiotic market is huge business for these companies, and the push to develop the new superdrugs is something that affects their bottom line. While treatment with older forms of antibiotics can often be effective and serve the greater good of humanity, the inclination of doctors is almost always going to be to use the latest and greatest new medicine available. Hart argued that awareness is the most important factor: Doctors should be advised to first treat bacterial infections with older forms of antibiotics that have a proven track record of being effective. Patients should understand that antibiotics have zero effect on viral infections such as the flu or the common cold. The next super-infection can be just around the corner, and we must be prepared. _____ Read more from Yahoo News: As luxury cars come, the Toyota Century has occupied its own very special niche. There haven't been that many generations of the Century built since the first version was unveiled 50 years ago: The initial car survived with relatively minor changes until 1997, and the second generation was at a glance nearly identical, except for one noteworthy thing the V12 engine. Unlike the first, V8-engined Centuries, the 1997-2016 car was powered by a five-liter 12-cylinder, which produced 280 horsepower (of course it did). That engine was Toyota's first V12, and it made the Century the sole Japanese V12 production car. And now it is no more, as the new Century for the new century again makes do with a V8 engine, albeit with hybrid tech. The change is in favor of improved fuel consumption. The new 2018 Century will be formally introduced in the Tokyo Motor Show. And very formal it is, with the lines drawn in conservative fashion, the design treading somewhere near recent Rolls-Royces and classic Lincoln Continentals. You couldn't mistake it for anything else, and the cloth interior in the sumptuously equipped car is worth noting: no noisy leather for the discerning customer. There's plenty of legroom available thanks to the wheelbase of over 10 feet, and audio and air conditioning can be controlled from the rear seat via the prominent touchscreen. The car will be made available to customers in mid-2018; traditionally, Japanese politicians and industry leaders have been seen traveling in a Toyota Century. There is also a custom-made royal edition, which still uses the V12 engine. One other significant nameplate used by Toyota since forever is the Crown, and it too is reborn for the next decade. The Crown Concept has Toyota combining connected tech with driver involvement, as the carmaker says the Crown has benefitted from Nurburgring testing as well as the implementation of shared traffic information technology it calls ITS Connect. Ottawa (AFP) - TransCanada announced Thursday it was abandoning its bid to build an east-west pipeline that would have moved crude from Alberta's oil sands to refineries on Canada's Atlantic coast. The 4,500-kilometer (2,800-mile) Energy East pipeline, which would have carried 1.1 million barrels of oil per day, had presented an opportunity to wean Canada off foreign oil as refineries in eastern Quebec and New Brunswick rely mostly on imports. But it faced stiff opposition from environmental groups and several municipalities in Quebec concerned about possible spills affecting groundwaters and rivers along its path. "After careful review of changed circumstances, we will be informing the National Energy Board that we will no longer be proceeding with our Energy East application," company chief executive Russ Girling said in a statement. The project -- involving the conversion of a natural gas conduit from Alberta to Quebec and the construction of new pipes on the last leg to New Brunswick -- was first proposed in 2013 when oil prices were near US$100 per barrel. But as prices tumbled and regulatory hurdles aimed at protecting the environment multiplied, the business case for Energy East became weaker. During a lengthy consultation process, tweaks to the Can$16 billion (US$13 billion) project were made to try to appease critics, including the scrapping of a marine terminal that would have created an opportunity to export oil to Europe but negatively impacted beluga whale calving grounds in the Saint Lawrence River. In the end environmental concerns trumped potential economic gains. Conservative MP Lisa Raitt blamed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's tightening of regulations requiring downstream oil and gas greenhouse gas emissions to be considered as part of the approvals process for new energy projects. These new rules are "onerous" and have created an uneven playing field with foreign oil companies, she said. Story continues - 'Disastrous energy policies' - "Today's announcement is not the result of a sudden decision by TransCanada. Instead, today is a result of the disastrous energy policies promoted by Justin Trudeau and his failure to champion the Canadian energy sector," Raitt said. "Everything Justin Trudeau touches becomes a nightmare." Natural Resources Minister Jim Carr, however, rejected her criticisms, calling TransCanada's move a "business decision" and pointing to the Liberal government's approval of two other pipelines under a similar set of criteria. "While we recognize the current market challenges related to lower commodity prices, we are seeing signs of growth in the sector," he said. New Brunswick Premier Brian Gallant went further in saying he believed the project would have been approved if TransCanada had continued with the process. While Alberta premier Rachel Notley and business associations also lamented its demise, environmental groups and Quebec leaders rejoiced and praised citizen groups that played a key role in the fight against the pipeline. The project's cancellation is a "serious blow to the Canadian economy," as it would have created thousands of jobs, said Chamber of Commerce president Perrin Beatty. "The world is changing and the end of the oil era is in sight," countered Greenpeace's Patrick Bonin. Cancelling the Energy East project will cost TransCanada Can$1 billion, but allow the company to refocus resources on its Keystone XL project to move Alberta oil to refineries in the US Gulf Coast. The project is awaiting approval from the US state of Nebraska. Last November, before US President Donald Trump gave a green light for Keystone XL, Ottawa agreed to allow Kinder Morgan to triple the capacity of its Trans Mountain pipeline from Alberta to the Pacific Coast and Enbridge's Line 3 to the United States. At the same time, Ottawa rejected a third proposal to build a new pipeline across British Columbia's temperate rainforest. Those decisions, along with stepped up Pacific marine protections and emergency responses to oil spills, were seen as a compromise to diversify markets for landlocked Alberta's abundant oil while acknowledging environmental perils. The Trans Mountain project, however, continues to face pushback, with a coalition of indigenous tribes, environmental groups, municipalities and the new British Columbia government going to court last Monday to try to stop its construction. Paris (AFP) - Clemence Zamora-Cruz was just six years old when she realised she wanted to change her gender. It was the start of a journey she said was full of pain. "I was immediately punished," said Zamora-Cruz, who was born a boy but came out as transgender as a child. "When you're identified as a boy but you feel you're a girl, people seek to normalise you." Zamora-Cruz, who was born in Mexico, said she endured spitting, hair pulling and beatings: "For me, this normalisation was done through violence." She fled to France aged 20, after years of suffering and months of living on the street. While studying, some professors refused to acknowledge her chosen gender identity and she was once fined for "fraud" when her papers still listed her gender as male. "The transition never stops," the long-haired brunette said. "It is the experience of a lifetime." A transgender person who is transitioning is shifting into their new gender identity by changing their "physical and sexual characteristics from those associated with their sex at birth," explains the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association in the US. It can be a complex process that might include surgery and body modification, but not always. - 'Torture' of surgery - For Zamora-Cruz, now 42 and married, it also meant facing invasive questions about her transition, which she equates to "harassment". After years of fighting by the LGBT community, France in October 2016 made it easier for trans people to legally change their gender. While the official figure of trans people in France is 30,000, activists say there are tens of thousands more. For Christelle, who does not want her last name to be published, it would take 34 years and three suicide attempts to start her journey to transitioning. "I knew since I was very little," the French woman said, "but I had to find the courage to talk about it." Story continues After she came out her wife left and her son stopped talking to her. Later came the "torture" of surgery. Electrolysis, a procedure to remove individual hairs from the face for example, made her feel like she was experiencing "thousands of bites" at every session. In Thailand, her male-to-female gender reassignment surgery to remove her male genitals and create a female anatomy left her in tears daily. "But I had to go through it in order for me to have a normal personal life," she said. - 'No other choice' - Christelle, 45, continues to work in the military after her transition and is now happily married to a soldier. Together they had a child through assisted reproductive technology. "If I had not gone through a transition, I wouldn't be here," Christelle said. "That's a given." Thierry Gallarda, a psychiatrist who specialises in transgender issues, said for many transgender people, the choice to transition is the only viable one. "If there is one common point in all of these trajectories is the idea of inevitability," Gallarda said. "For all of my trans patients, there is no other choice". While it brings joy, for certain body types the change can be more difficult. It is much easier for some transgender people to go through a female-to-male conversion than it is the other way around, endocrinologist Catherine Bremont said. Testosterone, the hormone given to trans men, for example has a very rapid effect on the hair and voice, making it deeper. "Whether men are tall, short, bald, hairy, muscular or small, we never question their manhood," Bremont said. "But for a woman, there will be required standards". It is also easier to transition if you are young and healthy and you are able to afford the required operations. According to sociologist Arnaud Alessandrin, less than half of trans people go through gender reassignment surgery. But in their search to discover who they are, they are all likely to suffer discrimination. Washington (AFP) - Three US soldiers and one from another nation were killed when a joint US-Niger patrol was ambushed near the border with Mali in southwest Niger, the Pentagon confirmed Thursday. The Pentagon said two other US soldiers were wounded in the attack which took place while they were assisting Nigerien counter-terror operations in the troubled area. The attack took place approximately 200 kilometers (120 miles) north of Niamey in southwest Niger, the US Africa Command said in a statement from its headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany. That put the attack on the border with Mali, where violent jihadist groups are known to operate. The slain soldiers were not identified, but media reports say they were Green Beret special forces in Niger to train local forces. The nationality of the fourth person killed was not given. The two wounded US soldiers were evacuated to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany where they are in "stable condition," the African Command said. The report confirmed the little-known presence of US troops in the turbulent area, part of the poor and politically fragile Sahel where jihadist groups are mounting an insurgency. "US Forces are in Niger to provide training and security assistance to the Nigerien Armed Forces, in their efforts to counter violent extremist organizations in the region," the Africa Command said. By David Shepardson and Richard Cowan WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Trump administration on Wednesday asked U.S. lawmakers to approve $29 billion in disaster relief funds to assist victims of recent hurricanes that hit Texas, Florida and Puerto Rico. The aid request includes $12.8 billion in new funds to help storm victims and $16 billion to defray debt in the federal government's flood insurance program. The White House said the program would reach the limit of its borrowing authority late this month. The administration also wants another $576.5 million to pay for fighting wildfires in the western United States. Separately, the White House budget director, Mick Mulvaney, asked federal agencies in a memorandum Wednesday to estimate by Oct. 25 how much additional funding they will need for "long-term disaster recovery." He said agencies should only identify costs related directly to recent storms to "support recovery and rebuilding from these recent hurricanes." The White House said the disaster funding will ensure it has enough funds to provide support through Dec. 31 and earlier this week had about $10 billion on hand. The White House told Congress it is committing $200 million a day for recovery efforts. The White House said it forecasts the National Flood Insurance Program, which insures about 5 million homes and businesses, will have hurricane losses of about $16 billion and proposed cancelling $16 billion in debt for the program. The administration proposed a series of reforms to the program, including phasing out issuing policies for newly constructed homes and for commercial customers after 2021. The administration also wants to establish means testing to ensure the insurance remains affordable for low-income policyholders and to discontinue coverage for homes that are hit by repeated storms. Congressional leaders expressed support for the plan, but flood insurance program reforms will face some opposition. Congress approved a $15.25 billion aid package last month. House Speaker Paul Ryan said "more is clearly needed, and this funding request will help meet that need." Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell also praised the request. Representative Nita Lowey, a New York Democrat, praised the new request but added "far more will be necessary." She said Congress should add additional funding "for flexible Community Development Block Grants; rebuilding coastlines, roads, transit systems, airports, ports, and other infrastructure; small business loans; and repairs to military installations and other federal facilities damaged in the storms." (Reporting by Richard Cowan and David Shepardson; editing by Diane Craft and Jonathan Oatis) President Donald Trumps lawyers asked a court to dismiss a lawsuit against his ban on transgender individuals serving in the military. The Justice Department called the challenge premature in a brief submitted in the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday. Trump first announced a ban on transgender individuals serving in the military in a series of tweets in July. Trump did not consult with the Joint Chiefs of Staff before making the announcement. Several top officials, including Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Joseph Dunford, have publicly disagreed with the ban. Any individual who meets the physical and mental standards should be allowed to serve in the military, Dunford told the Senate Armed Services Committee late last month. Trump signed a memo banning transgender individuals from serving on a Friday evening in August as Hurricane Harvey then a Category 4 storm barreled toward Texas. Human rights groups filed lawsuits against the ban days later. The legal challenge to Trumps action is premature because, based on his memo, no policy change to the status quo will be effective until at least after January 2018, the government lawyers argue. Jennifer Levi, Director of GLADs Transgender Rights Project, said the Justice Departments request to dismiss the lawsuit reads like pure fiction. It states a fantasy that the presidents announcement of a ban on military service for transgender people has changed nothing, Levi said. Thats simply not true. Every day this reckless ban stays in place, our military strength is diminished and our country is less safe for it. Read the Justice Departments filing below: Doe v Trump by Anonymous 2lblWUW6rS on Scribd Also on HuffPost A man holds up a sign during a protest against racism gathered in front of the White House, on August 14, 2017 in Washington, DC. Protestors rally on Fifth Avenue near Trump Tower. Hundreds of protesters gather outside of Trump Tower. A woman raises her fist at the front of a march down Washington Avenue to protest racism and the violence over the weekend in Charlottesville, Virginia. Protestors rally on Fifth Avenue near Trump Tower ahead of President Donald Trump's arrival, August 14, 2017 in New York City. Supporters of anti-Trump protestors hold up signs inside Trump Tower ahead of President Donald Trump's arrival, August 14, 2017 in New York City. Pedestrians walk past a 15-foot tall inflatable rat in the likeness of U.S. President Donald Trump at the corner of Fifth Avenue and 59th Street up the road from Trump Tower, August 14, 2017 in New York City. A President Donald Trump supporter (left) argues with anti-Trump protesters as they gather outside of Trump Tower. Protestors rally on Fifth Avenue near Trump Tower. Hundreds of protesters gather outside of Trump Tower. Protestors rally on Fifth Avenue. A man holds up a sign during a protest against racism in front of the White House. Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. Seven people sat in the Lewis and Clark Village community room Wednesday night, all candidates in the two most crowded races in this fall's city elections. Coincidentally, four candidates Jon Wilkins, Chris Badgley, Greg Strandberg and Jesse Ramos are running in Ward 4 and three Jon Van Dyke, Tom Winter and Heather Harp in Ward 3. The candidates answered questions written by the more than 30 attendees on topics ranging from the city budget, to snow plowing, to the Day of the Dead parade. I dont think theres a huge disparity in the values between us, Van Dyke said while looking at his Ward 3 opponents. The difference is how we prioritize them. Harp said shed be an advocate for the unprotected, and said her teaching experience and time as a financial advisor (along with service on various local boards) gave her a broad range of skills to lead Missoula. Winter thought Missoula was at a pivotal point, which is what drew so many people to run. The next five to 10 years could see Missoula becoming another Bozeman, or Jackson, Wyoming, he said, if the wrong decisions are made. Wilkins leaned on his accomplishments, ticking off various ordinances hed worked on over the last 12 years on City Council and the many times hed personally looked into an issue after a constituent brought it up. I work hard for Ward 4 and I always have and I always will, he said. Im not gonna promise things that I cant deliver, Badgley told the crowd. But I will make decisions based on information, on facts and based on what you all say. Strandberg came equipped with pages of numbers hed culled from the citys budget, citing around $27 million of spending (through Urban Renewal Districts, independent agencies like the parking division, and the general fund) he found unnecessary. So much of that could go toward needed items, Strandberg thought, such as subsidizing housing or increased snow plowing services. Or, it could simply lower taxes. Ramos as well focused on the budget. He works as a financial advisor (as has Harp) and rejected her opinion that there was little, or no, fat in the city budget. I dont know where to begin, he said. Theres always fat to trim. The citys total fiscal year 2018 budget was $209 million and Ramos thought there had to be ways to bring that down. He brought up the idea of zero-based budgeting to start the yearly process. We have a spending problem, not a revenue problem, Ramos said. Wilkins said the majority of the tax increases came from voter-approved bonds, like the library, Fort Missoula Regional Park, the 2006 open space bond and others. Those are what your biggest increases are, he said. Its not the city budget. Van Dyke proposed enlisting enthusiastic citizens to help the city in grounds keeping or street repair. Rather than cutting any full-time employees on staff, look for services that civic organizations can do, at no cost to the city, he said. Almost all agreed there needed to be more back-and-forth between the city and citizens during budgeting times. Winter believed the City Council wants constituents to understand the budget, but that citizens also have a responsibility to read, investigate and learn about the process. Wilkins agreed, saying he was tired of seeing two or three people during councils Wednesday committee meetings, and then hearing all the complaints later. Badgley suggested online question submissions during council meetings, so people wouldnt have to be there in person to get an answer or give their comment. Most were against the Missoula County Fairgrounds request to be included in an Urban Renewal District (URD), which would allow the county to apply for funds stored up from city taxes. I dont see the necessity for it, Van Dyke said, though he said he was excited about the proposed designs. Ramos agreed and went further, calling URDs deceptive, and said it made no sense to have city taxpayers fund a county-wide redevelopment project. Harp, while not strongly supportive, did say she was happy to see the county acknowledge the fairgrounds influence on that area of the city, and thought it was a good step to working together, rather than ignoring the relationship. The citys Office of Neighborhoods put on the forum, with mediator Cynthia Manning, from the Community Dispute Resolution Center, hosting. Candidates from Wards 5 and 6, as well as mayoral candidates John Engen, the incumbent, and Lisa Triepke, will speak Thursday in the C.S. Porter school cafeteria, starting at 6 p.m. Power plants account for almost 40 per cent of US carbon emissions: Lukas Schulze/Getty Images The Trump administration reportedly plans to repeal the Clean Power Plan, a game changer of a piece of Obama era climate change legislation. Reuters said it had seen a document distributed to members of the agencys Regulatory Steering Committee about issuing a proposal to repeal the rule and opening up a comment period for replacement legislation. The CPP, called a game changer by the Union of Concerned Scientists in 2015 after it was passed into law, regulates the carbon emissions of power plants. According to the Washington DC-based organisation, power plants account for almost 40 per cent of the countrys emissions - more than every car, truck, and plane in the US combined. If left in place, the CPP would reduce power plants carbon emissions by 2030 to a level 32 per cent lower than they were in 2005. This is the first step in the administrations repeal of much of the federal governments environmental regulations, a strategy made clear in a 28 March executive order signed by the President. Opponents of the CPP went to court in 27 states to oppose it. The DC Circuit Court of Appeals had suspended the regulation at the request of the Trump administration in April 2017 and set a 6 October deadline to get a report for the EPA about it will proceed, which could explain the timing of the intention to repeal being made public now. According to the document, the agency will be developing a rule similarly intended to reduce CO2 emissions from existing fossil fuel electric utility generating units but no details were outlined in it. Every state would have its own plans to reach its own, various emissions targets under the CPP if it were left in place. The Obama administration saw it as the main means of meeting targets outlined in the Paris Agreement on climate change, which was signed by nearly 200 countries in December 2015, in an effort to reduce global carbon emissions and help poor countries adapt to an already-changed planet. Story continues However, in June, Mr Trump announced he would be withdrawing the US from the deal because he believed it put American workers at an economic disadvantage. Janet McCabe, head of the EPAs Office of Air and Radiation during the Obama administration, told Reuters the actual repeal and replace of CPP may take several years because the EPA is using the advanced notice of proposed rulemaking procedure to gather input on a replacement. Some groups, like the conservative Texas Public Policy Foundation, have called for a repeal without replacement. But, others want some sort of replacement in order to avoid legal action by environmental advocacy groups and possibly state and local governments. The formal announcement is expected by the end of the week. The EPA did not immediately respond to a request for comment. By Mark Hosenball WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The special counsel investigating whether Russia tried to sway the 2016 U.S. election has taken over FBI inquiries into a former British spy's dossier of allegations of Russian financial and personal links to President Donald Trump's campaign and associates, sources familiar with the inquiry told Reuters. A report compiled by former MI6 officer Christopher Steele identified Russian businessmen and others whom U.S. intelligence analysts have concluded are Russian intelligence officers or working on behalf of the Russian government. A spokesman for special counsel Robert Mueller declined comment. The FBI also declined comment. Three sources with knowledge of Mueller's probe said his investigators have assumed control of multiple inquiries into allegations by U.S. intelligence agencies that Russia interfered in the election to benefit Trump, a Republican. Russia has repeatedly denied any meddling in the election. Two officials familiar with the investigations said that both Mueller's team and the Senate Intelligence Committee are seeking any evidence that former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort or others who had financial dealings with Russia might have helped Kremlin intelligence agencies target email hacking and social media postings undermining Trump's election opponent, Democrat Hillary Clinton. On Wednesday, the Senate panel's chairman Richard Burr told reporters that the issue of whether Trump's campaign colluded with Russia remains an open question. "We have not come to any determination on collusion," Burr said. Trump, who has called allegations of campaign collusion with Moscow a hoax, has faced questions about the matter since he took office in January. Trump was told by former FBI director James Comey that Steele's report contained salacious material about the businessman-turned-president. Burr said on Wednesday that the Senate panel had made several attempts to contact Steele and to meet him and "those offers have gone unaccepted." "The committee cannot really decide the credibility of the dossier without understanding things like who paid for it, who are your sources and sub-sources," Burr said. Burr said the panel wanted to finish its investigation by the end of the year. Although several news organizations, including Reuters, were briefed on Steele's dossier before the election in November, most decided not to report on the material because its inflammatory and sometimes salacious content could not be verified. In a report published in January four U.S. intelligence agencies said they took the dossier's allegations seriously. Separately, three Russian businessmen, Mikhail Fridman, Petr Aven and German Khan have sued Washington investigations firm Fusion GPS and its founder, Glenn Simpson, with allegations that they were libeled in Steele's dossier. A spokeswoman for Simpson and Fusion GPS declined to comment on the lawsuit filed on Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Washington. The lawsuit said that Steele's reports were "gravely damaging" to the businessmen because they accused them "of criminal conduct and alleged cooperation with the 'Kremlin' to influence the 2016 presidential election." The information on Trump collected by Steele, whom officials say was one of MI6's most respected Russia hands, was laid out last year in political "opposition research" initially financed by supporters of one of Trump's Republican primary election opponents. After Trump won the Republican nomination in July, backers of Clinton picked up the support of Steele's work. The lawsuit said the dossier's allegations are false in implying an improper "ongoing" relationship between the businessmen, the Alfa Group financial company in which they were investors and Russian President Vladimir Putin, and that a Russian government official acted as middleman in such contacts. (Reporting By Mark Hosenball; Additional reporting by John Walcott; editing by Grant McCool) The Trump administration is poised to scrap a policy limiting greenhouse gas emissions from power plants, furthering its attack on the United States efforts to combat climate change. The Environmental Protection Agency is prepared to issue a proposal to repeal the Clean Power Plan, according to a 43-page draft document obtained by HuffPost. The agency argues that the Obama-era policy exceeds the EPAs statutory authority. The EPA has not determined if it will introduce a replacement rule to regulate greenhouse gases from power plants, or what such a rule would look like, according to the document. The EPA is considering whether it is appropriate to propose such a rule, and it plans to solicit information on emission reduction systems, the draft states. EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt said Monday that he would sign the proposal the next day. President Donald Trump has repeatedly condemned the Clean Power Plan, calling it stupid and a crushing attack on American industry. In March, he signed an executive order demanding that the EPA review the policy. Repealing it would fulfill a major campaign promise. However, Vox notes that the EPA would have to go through a lengthy possibly years-long rule-making process to fully repeal the Clean Power Plan. That timeline contradicts Trumps declaration last month that the policy was already as good as dead. Did you see what I did to that? Boom, gone, he told a cheering crowd in Alabama at the time. Former EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy said the looming proposal was a wholesale retreat from EPAs legal, scientific and moral obligation to address the threats of climate change. This administration is using contrived problems with our energy system to take money out of consumers pockets and giving it to fossil fuel companies, so they can force a shift away from clean energy and back to dirty fossil fuel. Thats not back to basics, thats just plain backwards, she said Friday, referring to Pruitts so-called Back-To-Basics agenda. Story continues When the Clean Power Plan was unveiled in 2015, it was hailed as the strongest action ever taken by a U.S. president to combat climate change. Many scientists and environmentalists saw the policy, which aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions from power plants by 32 percent by 2030, as the most important tool in the federal governments arsenal to help the U.S. meet its Paris Climate Agreement goals. Trump announced in May that the U.S. would withdraw from the global climate deal, making it one of three countries not in the accord. However, the Clean Power Plan has had its fair share of opponents. More than two dozen states challenged the Clean Power Plan in court, prompting the Supreme Court to temporarily block it. The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals had set a deadline for Friday to hear from the EPA on how it plans to move forward with the policy. Myron Ebell, director of the Center for Energy and Environment at the Competitive Enterprise Institute, who previously served as Trumps EPA adviser, said Friday that he hopes the Clean Power Plan will be rescinded in its entirety. Scrapping the Clean Power Plan is a key part of President Trumps de-regulatory agenda, which is designed to get the economy moving again, he said in a statement. This rule and other greenhouse gas emissions rules are depressing investment and job growth in resource and manufacturing industries. Ebell is a longtime climate change denier and has called the environmental movement the greatest threat to freedom and prosperity in the modern world. This article has been updated with additional details from the EPA document, as well as comments from McCarthy and Ebell. Alexander C. Kaufman contributed reporting. Related Coverage Scott Pruitt Has Sued The Environmental Protection Agency 13 Times. Now He Wants To Lead It. Betsy DeVos Visits Science Fair, Refuses To Talk About Climate Science How Leaving The Paris Accord Will Hurt Our Health Also on HuffPost Strengthen city, county and state climate efforts If the federal government refuses to stand up against climate change, itll be more important than ever for cities, counties and states to pick up the slack and become climate leaders. That means committing to divest from fossil fuels, embrace clean energy, set emissions targets and develop climate action plans, among other measures. The ominous signals coming out of D.C. point to even more work needed at the city and state level, said Kate Kiely, national media deputy director at the Natural Resources Defense Council. In November, the NRDC announced partnerships with 20 cities across the country from St. Paul, Minnesota, to Houston, Texas, to make strides in renewable energy. According to Brune, cities could have an especially big influence in the climate change fight. We should be pushing cities to go 100 percent clean energy and to reject natural gas and coal and other fossil fuels, he said. A majority of people now live in cities, so this could have a dramatic impact. In the U.S., at least 20 cities have made commitments to rely completely on clean energy. People should organize and get their own cities to move forward, Brune said. Contact your mayor, city council, or county or state representative and get them to set a timeline to stop using fossil fuels. Push companies and institutions to divest from fossil fuels There are a lot of things that the president cant undo. He cant stop the fact that solar and wind are cheaper than coal and gas. He cant change the fact that dozens of businesses have already committed to clean energy, Brune said. As of December, more than 640 institutions worldwide, including several universities, churches and for-profit companies and banks, have pledged to divest from their fossil fuel investments. According to Go Fossil Free, a 350.org campaign, the commitments amount to more than $3.4 trillion. Consumers should petition companies to ditch their fossil fuel investments, and students should urge their schools and colleges to do the same. As we wrap up the hottest year in history, we know that investments in the fossil fuel industry fund these climate impacts. Thats why its more critical than ever that we push our institutions to divest from the fossil fuel companies that are knowingly perpetuating the climate crisis, Lindsay Meiman, U.S. communications coordinator for 350.org, told HuffPost. Want to push a company, school or place of worship to divest from fossil fuels? 350.org has a list of resources to help you start a campaign. Or find an existing one to get involved in. Put your money where your mouth is Petitions and protests can be powerful, but moving your money speaks volumes too. As a consumer and as an investor, ensure you're not personally financing climate change. This means, for example, choosing banks that are free of fossil fuel connections. Your ATM card or checking account or your mortgage, these should not be financed by companies that are taking your checking fees or other payments to subsidize the Dakota Access Pipeline or finance drilling offshore. Make sure your money aligns with your values, Brune said. In September, Amalgamated Bank became the first North American bank to commit to divest 100 percent from fossil fuels. Aspiration has bank accounts that are fossil fuel-free, and Beneficial State Bank has credit cards that dont invest in fossil fuels. Anthony Hobley, CEO of the Carbon Tracker Initiative, said consumers should also ensure that their pensions, 401(k) or other retirement savings accounts are similarly not underwriting fossil fuel companies. A lot of pressure can be made through the financial industry, Hobley said from London. Ordinary people who hold pensions can put pressure on companies through their pensions. Put pressure on the people who manage your money and thats one way to keep pressure on those companies too. The financial services companies that manage retirement accounts arent used to getting many letters from the people whose money they manage, Hobley added. It wouldnt take much of an organized effort for them to take notice. Are your investments supporting fossil fuels? FossilFreeFunds.org is a web tool that allows people to check whether their individual investments or employer-provided 401(k) is supporting coal companies, oil and gas producers, and fossil-fired utilities. Making a "financial case" for clean energy Hobley believes the best chance we have of convincing Trump to care about climate change is to make a compelling financial case for renewables. With new clean energy technologies getting more efficient and cheaper than fossil fuels, a transition to renewables is inevitable, said Hobley. Its just a matter of time. Trump can no more stop this transition than a previous U.S. president couldve stopped the transition from steam locomotives to the automobile or the typewriter to the computer. The technological genie is already out of the bag, he said. Its not a case of if, but when. But the when is important because of the 2 degrees budget, and thats where a lack of political leadership or resistance can have a real impact. Clear political leadership from both the U.S. and China could mean a "smoother" and faster transition to clean energy. A lack thereof, however, could make it easier for big oil and gas companies to stay in denial and that would be to their detriment, Hobley said. It would mean pouring more money, billions or trillions of dollars, into fossil fuel assets that we simply dont need. Trump now has the opportunity to make the United States a leader in clean energy. These are complicated and highly technical products, Hobley said. With an educated and skilled workforce, these are the kinds of things that should be manufactured in the U.S. Creating new jobs was a central part of Trumps election platform. Maybe someone should remind him that the clean energy industry creates more jobs per unit of energy than coal and natural gas. In 2015, the number of U.S. jobs in solar energy overtook those in oil and natural gas extraction for the very first time. A 2015 report by NextGen Climate America found that a transition to clean energy would add a million jobs by 2030 and up to 2 million jobs by 2050, while increasing the nation's gross domestic product by $290 billion and boosting household income. We should be citing such figures and urging utility companies and public utility commissions to embrace clean energy. (Public utility commissions regularly hold hearings that are open to the public. Attend them, and voice your thoughts!) Speak out! Whats the single biggest way you can influence climate change? According to the NRDC, its speaking up. Talk to your friends and family, and make sure your representatives are making good decisions, Aliya Haq, deputy director of NRDCs Clean Power Plan Initiative, wrote in a blog post. The main reason elected officials do anything difficult is because their constituents make them. In the coming months and years, there will be mass mobilizations that folks should join to push back against Trumps regressive policies and hateful rhetoric, said 350.orgs Meiman. Folks can engage online by joining online actions, signing petitions and contributing their voice on social media to push back on Trumps agenda. You can also participate in protests in your area or join and support local nonprofits in their fight against climate change. Reduce your own carbon footprint Power your own home with renewable energy, invest in energy-efficient appliances and lightbulbs, and remember to weatherize. Building heating and cooling are among the biggest uses of energy, said NRDCs Haq. Make your home more energy-efficient by sealing drafts and ensuring your home is adequately insulated and ventilated too. Also consider changing your diet. Cut down on meat consumption or even eliminate it from your diet completely, Brune said. I do think that people can have a powerful impact on the environment just by eating less meat. It takes 14 times as much biologically productive land to produce 1 ton of beef as it takes to produce 1 ton of grain, according to the Global Footprint Network. Global livestock is also responsible for 14.5 percent of all anthropogenic carbon emissions, data from the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization shows. Driving a fuel-efficient vehicle is another way to reduce your carbon footprint. You can also take steps to be more fuel efficient when you're on the road, no matter what car you drive. Support environmental journalism A major shortcoming of journalists during the presidential election was their failure to highlight climate change as a vital topic and to force Trump (and Hillary Clinton, too) to address this crisis. Over the next four years, Trump needs to be held accountable, and the press must make climate change a central issue in his presidency. The Society of Environmental Journalists, a nonprofit membership organization supporting environmental journalists in the U.S. and around the world, aims to improve the quality, accuracy and visibility of reporting on the environment. You can also support nonprofit environmental news outlets such as Inside Climate, Grist and High Country News. Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. Rex Tillerson The NBC News report on Wednesday that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson called President Trump a moron was simultaneously worrying, hilarious, and a relief. Worrying because its a terrible thing when your worst fears seem to be confirmed that even Trumps most trusted appointees lack faith in his ability to do the job he was elected to do. Hilarious because, well, moron is a funny word, and one that is so precisely apt, it prompts the kind of surprised amusement that is the very definition of humor. And a relief because finally someone besides your neighbor, and perhaps you, is saying this out loud it reassures one that one is not alone in the world. So how did the various media cover what Jimmy Kimmel called the M word story? MSNBC, as you might imagine given its corporate connection to NBC and its liberal tilt, was all over this. All In With Chris Hayes did a segment on it, as did Ari Melber guest-hosting The Rachel Maddow Show. It was the lead story for Lawrence ODonnell, the only primetime news host whom one can easily imagine calling one of his own employees a moron. Over on Fox News, however, there was far less mention of moron. Did Tucker Carlson address it on Wednesday? Not that I noticed. Sean Hannity? Nada. Shunted back to the afternoon, The Five did a segment on it, with the only plausible response: As Jesse Watters said, everyone calls their boss a moron, right? On her new show, The Daily Briefing, Dana Perino said that it was remarkable that Tillerson had come out to address this, which was a polite tiptoe around the fact that Tillersons response to the NBC report never actually denied hed called the president a moron. For late night television, moron was a gift. Stephen Colbert has long approached Trump from this angle not that the president deserves criticism of his ideas and policies, but more that Trump is intellectually and emotionally unfit to occupy the office. Thats why on Wednesday night, in talking about Trumps North Korea tweets, whose content directly undermines Tillersons efforts at diplomacy, Colbert put one of the Little Rocket Man tweets onscreen and said, Spoken like a true moron. Story continues Jimmy Kimmel, in whom the various recent health care bills have sparked a fresh political conscience, also leapt on the story. Kimmel made sure to add that one of the reporters covering it, MSNBCs Stephanie Ruhle, said that according to her source the phrase Tillerson actually used to describe Trump was an effing moron. (Hilariously, Joe Concha of the blog The Hill a media reporter who frequently pops up on Tucker Carlson Tonight to give right-wing criticisms of the media wrote a column yesterday saying the NBC report was flawed and dishonest because NBC failed to use the F word in its initial report.) Why is this story significant, in media terms? Because it breaks down another barrier. It demonstrates that the instincts so many citizens have about the president, conclusions that had heretofore been considered too rude to say in public but which are widely felt, are shared at the highest levels of government. I also think its comforting. I have always assumed that the vast majority of Republicans who voted for Trump were intelligent people who had watched him during the campaign and arrived at the conclusion that Trump is whatever your variation on moron is, but made the calculated decision that he was a moron-agent-for-change and worth a gamble vote. Im glad to see that sort of thinking confirmed. Sad, but glad. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert airs weeknights at 11:35 p.m. on CBS. Jimmy Kimmel Live airs weeknights at 11:35 p.m. on ABC. Read more on Yahoo Entertainment: President Trump urged the Senate Intelligence Committee to switch its focus from Russian meddling in the 2016 election to investigating fake news in the U.S. Why Isnt the Senate Intel Committee looking into the Fake News Networks in OUR country to see why so much of our news is just made up-FAKE! Trump wrote on Twitter Thursday morning. Rex Tillerson never threatened to resign. This is Fake News put out by @NBCNews. Low news and reporting standards. No verification from me, he added. The president was referring to two events from Wednesday: An NBC News report saying Secretary of State Rex Tillerson considered resigning, and a press conference by the leaders of the Senate Intelligence Committee discussing Russian efforts to influence the election. Those leaders Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., and Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va. held a press briefing to discuss their investigation into Russia buying ads on social networks such as Facebook and Twitter in an apparent effort to influence the results of the 2016 election. CNN reported Wednesday that Russia had geo-targeted ads to Wisconsin and Michigan, two states Trump won by narrow margins. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Chairman Richard Burr, R-N.C., left, and Vice Chairman Mark Warner, D-Va., update reporters on the status of their inquiry into Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. elections on Oct. 4. (Photo: J. Scott Applewhite/AP) Burr said during the statement that the committee would continue to investigate any potential collusion between Russia and the Trump campaign. This statement and reports from intelligence agencies run counter to the presidents stance that no one knows whether Russia tampered with the 2016 election. No, not investigating news organizations, said Burr Thursday morning when asked whether his committee would be following the presidents suggestion. Warner is a co-sponsor of legislation that would require digital platforms to disclose more information about any entities that buy political ads on their networks. If you see an ad on a social media site, Americans should know whether the source of that ad was a foreign entity, said Warner, and if you see something trending, you should know whether that trending is generated by real individuals or bots or falsely identified accounts. Story continues Trump was also angry about the NBC News report from Wednesday morning that Tillerson had called him a moron and thought about quitting the position earlier this year. Tillerson gave a statement after the report circulated refuting the idea that he had ever considered quitting and complimenting Trumps intelligence, but declined to elaborate on whether or not he had insulted the president. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson walks to a podium before making a statement at the State Department Oct. 4, 2017, in Washington, D.C. (Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images) NBC News later reported that Tillerson had actually called Trump a f***ing moron, while CNN confirmed the moron comment through its sources. The State Department issued a clarification later Wednesday saying that Tillerson hadnt called the president a moron and that he doesnt use that kind of language. Trump spent his flight to Las Vegas where he was meeting with victims of and first responders to Sunday nights mass shooting tweeting about supposedly fake news and demanding an apology from NBC. One potential barrier to Trumps request of legislators investigating and regulating the press is the First Amendment, which explicitly states: Congress shall make no law prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press. (Cover tile photo: Yahoo News photo illustration; photos: Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP, Win McNamee/Getty Images, Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Read more from Yahoo News: The president and first lady visited Nevada after Trump was repeatedly criticized for making inappropriate comments in the wake of several national tragedies Donald Trump used a politically delicate visit to Las Vegas in the wake of the deadliest mass shootings of modern times to praise the courage of victims and police on Wednesday, but flatly refused to engage in a wider discussion about gun violence. Despite a renewal of efforts in Washington to reform the countrys gun laws, the US president declined to answer a question about the countrys problem with gun violence. Were not going to talk about that today, he said. Also on Wednesday, an attorney for the Las Vegas shooters girlfriend, Marilou Danley, said Danley had no knowledge of any plans by him to commit a massacre. Danleys lawyer, Matthew Lombard, said she planned to cooperate fully with the investigation of Stephen Paddock. Lombard added that his client said she was surprised when Paddock, a high-stakes gambler, sent her $100,000. She said she had not been expecting the money and it had made her worried that he was breaking up with her. Trump and the first lady arrived in the Nevada gambling capital shortly after 9.30am, after Air Force One landed at an airport adjacent to the Mandalay Bay hotel and casino, the location from which a gunman rained down bullets on thousands of people at a country music festival on Sunday night. Speaking at the citys University Medical Center shortly after meeting injured victims, Trump refused to engage with a question about gun violence in America. He praised hospital staff, police, and victims some of whom, he said, were badly wounded only because they returned to the concert venue to help others. He said he had invited victims to the White House, telling them: If youre ever in Washington, come on over to the Oval Office. He added that his message to victims of the tragedy was: We are there for you. And theyre there for us. Story continues He described the shooter, Stephen Paddock, as a very sick man and a very demented person, but said there was not yet information about his motives. You will know very soon if we find something. Were looking very, very, hard. Paddock, 64, killed 58 people and injured nearly 500, using an arsenal of 23 weapons that included semi-automatic assault rifles that appeared to have been been legally modified so that they functioned more like fully automatic machine guns. A semi-automatic hunting rifle with a high-capacity detachable magazine is displayed at a gun store in Rocklin, California. Photograph: Rich Pedroncelli/AP Its a very sad thing, Trump told reporters shortly before leaving the White House. Were going to pay our respects and to see the police who have done really a fantastic job in a very short time. He added: Its a very, very sad day for me, personally. Trumps visit to Las Vegas comes at a critical stage for the investigation into the shooting, and the president, before departing from Washington, suggested significant information would be made public imminently. Law enforcement officials described the shooting as a meticulously planned attack from a 32nd-floor window of a tower in the Mandalay, but they concede they have struggled to ascribe a motive to the killer. Paddocks girlfriend, Marilou Danley, a 62-year-old grandmother described as a person of interest, arrived back in the US late on Tuesday from the Philippines, where she had been traveling at the time of the attack, to be questioned by the FBI. Marilou Danley. Photograph: -/AFP/Getty Images The White Houses cautious choreographing of the Las Vegas visit comes after Trump has been repeatedly criticized for making inappropriate or inflammatory comments in the wake of several national tragedies since becoming president. While on route to Las Vegas, Trump appeared animated by other matters, tweeting: NBC news is #FakeNews and more dishonest than even CNN. They are a disgrace to good reporting. No wonder their news ratings are way down! The message appeared to be a reference to an NBC report that the secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, recently called the president a moron during a cabinet-level meeting a report that has not been disputed by Tillerson. Asked about Tillersons reported remark during his visit to the hospital, Trump replied: It was fake news. It was a totally phoney story. It was made up by NBC. They just made it up. On Tuesday, during a fraught trip to hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico, Trump offended some locals by complaining that relief efforts had put the US budget a little out of whack. The president used clumsy phraseology on Tuesday when, previewing his trip to Las Vegas, he said that what had occurred in the city was in many ways, a miracle. During his attack on Sunday, Paddock planted surveillance cameras outside his hotel room, apparently to look out for Swat teams approaching in the corridor outside during the attack, and used bump stocks to modify semi-automatic rifles so they could fire a rapid, continuous flow of bullets into a crowd of more than 20,000 at the Route 91 Harvest festival. The result was carnage, with concertgoers fleeing in every direction, unaware of where the shooting was coming from. Officials have said they know of no religious or political beliefs that could explain Paddocks shooting spree. A wealthy, retired accountant and high-stakes gambler, with a pilots license and property investments across the US, Paddock lived with Danley in a quiet retirement community in the city of Mesquite, an hours drive from Las Vegas. Law enforcement officials said they hoped their conversations with Danley, which were continuing on Wednesday when Trump arrived in the city, would yield important clues. They have declined to comment on the significance, if any, of a disclosure from the Philippines National Bureau of Investigation that she received a $100,000 wire transfer from Paddock last month. Danleys sister, who lives in Queensland, Australia, described Marilou as a good person and said she would not have known anything about Paddocks plot. Danley arrived in the Philippines on 15 September, according to documents obtained by the Associated Press news agency. She then left for three days and returned again on 22 September, a full week before the attack. I know that she dont know anything as well, like us. She was sent away. She was away so that she will be not there to interfere with what hes planning, the sister, whose name was not revealed, speculated to the Seven Network. She said Marilou was madly in love with Paddock. An Australian man who is in a relationship with Danleys sister came forward Wednesday to give one of the more detailed insights into the killer, outside comments from Paddocks family, who said they were stunned by his actions. The man, who declined to give his identity, told the Guardian he came to know Paddock intimately in recent years, staying with him in the Philippines and the US. He described him as a extremely intelligent, methodical, conservative individual who was nonetheless guarded. But nothing at the time, including their robust discussions about US gun laws, rang alarm bells to suggest that he was capable of such an inhumane, terrible, vicious act. He said that Paddock had a gun room at the home he shared with Danley in a retirement community in Mesquite, and recounted conversations he had with the killer about the second amendment to the US constitution and the right to bear arms. Those debates have been reignited in Washington, following a familiar pattern after mass shootings in America, in which prominent Democrats call for restrictions on gun ownership and Republicans mostly adhere to the demands of the powerful National Rifle Association. This week Democratic senators outlined a menu of gun control measures they plan to introduce, including efforts to expand background checks and restrict people convicted of domestic violence from obtaining a firearm. The California senator Dianne Feinstein reintroduced a bill that would prohibit bump stocks, which can currently be purchased over the internet for $99. But Senate Republicans and the White House argue it is too soon for a debate on any new measures that would limit gun violence. Before departing Las Vegas, Trump held a press conference, reading from prepared remarks at the citys police department, where he was surrounded by politicians, law enforcement officials and attendees of the concert who had been praised for their courage. He praised the incredible character, courage, and resolve of Nevadans. In the depths of horror we will always find hope in the men and women who risk their lives for ours. The mass murder that took place in America on Sunday night fills Americas heart with grief. America is truly a nation in mourning. He added: In the months ahead, we will all have to wrestle with the horror that unfolded this week, but we will struggle through it together. The Associated Press contributed to this report Corey O'Connell and Kristin Lauritsch, two young woman adopted from South Korea by white parents. Welcome to The Story We Share, a series of Q&As that profile two people with similar identities but who live in very different places. As part of HuffPosts Listen To America tour, were exploring how peoples lived experiences overlap and diverge depending on their zip codes. What is the American Experience? It depends where you look. *** In 2015, the controversy surrounding Rachel Dolezal, a white woman in Spokane, Washington living her life as a black woman, introduced the novel idea of transracial identity. In that context, transracial meant identifying with a race other than your own, but the word, for decades, has already had a significant use for children adopted by families of a different race than their own. Adoptees may face all kinds of hurdles, but transracial adoptees can face a specific kind of hardship given the fact that they grow up in between two worlds, or sometimes in one with a foot standing precariously, hesitantly in the other. In that way, Corey OConnell, a 29-year-old grad student and nonprofit database consultant based in Brooklyn, but who grew up in New Jersey, and Kristin Lauritsch, a 27-year-old Peace Corps Volunteer from Virginia but currently stationed in South Africa, share a lot in common. Both young women are South Korean transracial adoptees, raised by white parents in predominantly white towns. But each have been on two very unique journeys in coming to terms with and processing what it means to be adopted and American. Below, Corey and Kristin share how growing up with white adoptive parents in two different communities has shaped their perspective, and their lives. HuffPost: Where were you born? At what age were you adopted? And where did you grow up? The only photo Corey has of herself in Korea. Corey (New Jersey): I was born in Pusan, South Korea, immediately placed in a foster home, and adopted when I was 4 months old. I grew up in Toms River, New Jersey. Story continues Kristin (Virginia): I was adopted when I was 5 months old from Chollabuk-do, South Korea. I lived in New York until I was four at which time my family moved to the suburbs outside of Richmond, Virginia. Growing up outside of the former capital of the confederacy, there are still a lot of people with outdated mindsets. I was raised in an area thats predominantly white with limited racial or cultural diversity. Tell me about your parents, what were they like when you were growing up? Corey (New Jersey): My parents are both white, both retired educators. My dad was a curriculum supervisor for my school district and my mom was everyones favorite math & science teacher. They were always (and still are) extremely warm, loving, encouraging, and supportive. When/how did you and your parents first discuss the fact that you were adopted? Corey (New Jersey): My being adopted was something I never remember NOT talking about. I have a younger sister who was also adopted, so I had to meet with the social workers and adoption agency representatives when I was a small child. Every year, my family celebrates the days that my sister and I arrived from the airport, our Special Days, and to me, its more significant than my birthday in a lot of ways. As soon as I was able to write, my parents sat down with me and helped me write a scrapbook with the story of my adoption how they had wanted a child, they were so excited and prepared my bedroom, all my relatives went to the airport with them to pick me up, and after that we were a family. We would read it together every year on my Special Day. I was taught from a young age to own my story and embrace the fact that it was different from most of my peers. Kristin (Virginia): I had a really amazing conversation once talking to a man who had adopted his son with his partner. We were discussing sexuality, and he talked about how he never discovered he was gay, he just always knew. He asked me when did you know you were adopted? which absolutely clicked for me because I too, just always knew. When I shared the story with my mom, she told me that she and my dad had actually had a conversation with me before I started kindergarten, but I dont have any memory of it. When did you first begin to think about race? Corey (New Jersey): I remember being in kindergarten and playing Power Rangers or Captain Planet at recess. All the other kids always told me I had to be Trini, the Yellow Ranger, or the Gi, the Water Planeteer, because they were Asian and I looked like them. Even when I wanted to be Kimberly, the Pink Ranger, or Linka, the Wind Planeteer, I was told, You dont look like them so you cant. At Halloween, I was Belle from Beauty & the Beast because I loved books just like she did, but everyone told me I should have been Jasmine, because I looked like her. I never understood why I had to look like a character in order to like them. My mom also tells me that when everyone brought in baby pictures and people would try to guess whose was whose, I never understood why everyone automatically identified me, the only Asian kid in the class. For a long time, these were just things that happened... I never thought much about them until I was older. The first time I really thought about the dichotomy between my Irish name and my race was when I took an online course in 9th grade through Johns Hopkins Universitys Center for Talented Youth. Almost all the other students had Western first names and Asian surnames, like Joyce Chang or Michael Kim. I realized that if they only saw my name on all my posts, they would have no idea I was an Asian girl, not a white boy. Kristin (Virginia): Unfortunately I was not very aware of race growing up and had never really processed what it meant to be Asian or anything other than white. Although I was not conscious of race at a younger age, I was not immune to its effects. Its impossible not to think about race right now in the States, and living in South Africa, a country thats still healing post-Apartheid, has also led me to reflect a lot on race, identity, and privilege. How do you feel about whiteness? Corey (New Jersey): I have a lot of complex feelings about whiteness. Culturally, Im not Asian at all. I grew up with white parents in a white town with mostly white friends. Culturally, I feel white. Over time, Ive realized that often, I only ever feel like a person of color when other people treat me differently because I am a person of color. I still get stereotyped, fetishized, and harassed for it. I still get pigeonholed by both white and nonwhite people. I often feel guilty because I recognize that I come from a position of privilege as an East Asian versus other Asians and other people of color, and because I come from a white middle class family, and it makes me feel like Im not enough of a person of color to claim to be oppressed in any way. But at the end of the day, in the United States, Asians are still persecuted. We still suffer from prejudice and bigotry, from the persistence of the model minority myth and lack of representation in media or politics. I sometimes struggle with reconciling the fact that my identity was shaped by the white culture and family I grew up in, but that same culture is, in ways, harmful to me and people who look like me. It feels hypocritical at times to criticize whiteness when I am, in ways, complicit in perpetuating the oppressive social structures that support white supremacy, purely because I was raised as belonging to that culture and that is what is familiar to me. I try hard to check my privilege and educate myself about others struggles. Its an on-going journey. Kristin (Virginia): Whiteness is something that Ive been struggling with, because culturally I am white. In recognizing my own internalized oppression, its been difficult to figure out how to move forward. A lot of who I am is influenced by whiteness, but I dont necessarily have strong cultural ties that would make exploring Asian culture feel authentic. Have you ever felt the need to become more connected to/learn more about your Asian side? Corey (New Jersey): As I was adopted through the Holt Agency, there was a built-in support group for families like mine: mostly Asian children and non-Asian parents. I was a little interested in the culture as a child, but as I grew older, that small interest dissipated completely, and I didnt try to revive it. I had other friends more interested in learning Korean or Mandarin, in taking classes to learn more about the cultures of the countries where they were born, but the more I thought about it, the more I felt that where I was born didnt define me in any material way. I didnt feel like I should feign an interest in Korea just because I was born there, when I had literally no ties to the country or culture otherwise. I dont think that its wrong or weird for other adoptees to be interested in their birth countries I know a lot of other Korean adoptees in particular who are around my age have been going back to visit Korea but I also dont think its wrong or weird for me to not be interested. Kristin (Virginia): Im interested in Korean culture but to the same extent Im interested in other cultures in general. It doesnt feel authentic or innate to me at this point. Growing up, my parents made an effort to connect me to my Asian side, but I wasnt interested. I recently heard that by 15 months children have already started identifying differences in race. At a young age I had already decided that I wanted to assimilate with those around me, which meant eschewing my Asian side. More recently I have been thinking about traveling to South Korea. People have asked me before if I have any interest in returning and for a long time my answer was always not particularly. However, at some point I had to self-reflect as to why I have such a strong interest in travel and experiencing new places and cultures but have never wanted to visit the place where I was born. It brings up a lot of questions, a lot of which I dont think Ive been ready to confront... but its a work in progress, so well see. Were there other POC/Asians in your town/school growing up? If not, how did you navigate being the only one? If yes, were you able to connect/relate to them? Corey (New Jersey): There were barely any other people of color in my schools growing up. My hometown was literally 89.9% white, mostly people of Irish and Italian descent. In high school, my white friends would tell me that they would forget that Im Asian because I was no different from them beyond my physical appearance. Others would say, Youre only Asian when its convenient for a joke. I would laugh good-naturedly because I was a teenager and I didnt want to be perceived as that person who didnt have a sense of humor or made everything about race, especially when ultimately, I didnt feel remotely defined by my race. By then, I had a few other Asian friends who came from Asian families, but even then, I felt I had more in common with my white friends. I always felt a little on the outside with my Asian friends in a way I didnt feel with my white friends, even though many of my white friends would make racist jokes to me pretty often. I can recall those racist jokes, the crude caricatures drawn in my yearbook, the racist things said about other people of color, the casual use of racial slurs, and part of me wishes I had been capable of telling these people that these things werent okay not so much for me, but for everyone else who they behaved this way towards. I didnt have the right words or understanding to be able to do this when I was younger, but I wish I had. Kristin (Virginia): I grew up in a predominantly white community. In elementary school there were few POC and only one other Asian American student who was one of my best friends up until I changed elementary schools in third grade. Afterwards, we lost touch. My high school was more diverse, but there was still little Asian American representation. I was aware of being different and singled out but never confronted those feelings. Instead, I directed my energy into fitting in with my peers, who were predominantly white. Was there a specific moment you can remember where you and your parents talked openly and honestly about race? Have you always been able to do so? Corey (New Jersey): The only specific conversation I can remember right now is when my parents explained to me that I am Korean, and I am American, but I am not Korean-American. I dont really remember any others, but my parents have always been very present and willing to listen. Theyve always been pretty progressive. When I mention the casually racist or prejudiced things that people say to me at hair salons, restaurants, and so on, my parents get more indignant than even I do, and apologize to me for having to go through this. I think theyre aware that they cant truly comprehend what its like to experience these things, and I appreciate that they recognize that but still always back me up, no matter how minor an incident seems. Do you have siblings? How has that informed your identity? Corey (New Jersey): I have a younger sister who is also adopted, not related to me by blood. Some of my earliest fully-formed memories are of picking her up at the airport when I was 4. I never felt like our being adopted had any impact on our relationship as sisters she never felt like less of my sister because she was adopted, the same way my parents never felt like they werent my real parents because Im adopted. Kristin (Virginia): Im an only child, and despite the bad rep that only children get I think its played a vital role in developing my identity and personality. As a result I am very independent and self-sufficient, and its also given me the opportunity to explore and figure myself out without the pressure of following in the footsteps of an older sibling. What do you feel about people who say that transracial adoption is wrong/leaves POC children at a disadvantage? Corey (New Jersey): I dont think that as a general statement, transracial adoption is wrong or bad or a disadvantage for children of color. I think it very much requires for the adoptive parents to be aware of what theyre signing up for. They need to understand, especially if they adopt an older child of another race from a different country, that there might be some emotional problems and growing pains too many adopted children end up being abandoned again because of this lack of understanding in advance. Also, I think white parents in particular need to understand that there will be things that their child experiences as a person of color that they can never fully understand, and their child might need to be exposed to a more diverse group of peers and adults to feel comfortable with themselves. Even as a child, the adoptee will see and experience the world differently than the parents will because of the color of their skin. I think adoptive parents need to really be prepared for that... as much as they could be, at least. Kristin as a baby with her family. Kristin (Virginia): Personally, I very much so appreciate the experiences that being a transracial adoptee has given me and was adopted into a family that I love and that loves me incredibly. I am privileged to have had a successful adoption, which I know is unfortunately not the case for everyone. There are undoubtedly challenges that come along with transracial adoption. I think that its important to acknowledge race and that adoptive parents should be aware and sensitive to the challenges they and their children will face. There are steps that can be taken to build consciousness and awareness for both the adoptee and his or her parents in regards to race and identity. But at the end of the day, in my opinion, giving a child the opportunity to grow up with a loving family takes priority over the challenges transracial adoption presents. What, if anything, has been the greatest lesson youve learned growing up as a transracial adoptee? Corey (New Jersey): I used to really struggle with the idea that culturally, I felt white, and racially, Im Asian, so when people see me, they automatically assign me a Korean identity that I dont feel is an accurate representation of me. At the same time, people who see me only on paper assume from my name that Im a white man. Even now, I sometimes feel like I dont fit in anywhere: Im not racially white so Im not white, Im not Korean enough culturally to identify as Korean, and as an Asian, Im not enough of a person of color to even call myself that. More and more, though, Ive become comfortable with the idea of existing between fixed identities. I dont have to be Korean or Asian. Your identity can be fluid, and you can create a space for whatever you feel you are, even though other people will always try to label you as one thing or another for their own comfort. Ive also learned to reserve judgement and try not make assumptions about other peoples identities by extension. Its so conditioned in us to do this, I understand why people do it to me but understanding doesnt make it any easier. Kristin (Virginia): Being other and not fitting neatly into a predetermined box is a unique experience that is hard to describe to those who have not had the experience, but its helped me build empathy and a sincere interest in understanding varied perspectives. Its part of who I am. What is one thing you want people to know about being an American, transracial adoptee? Corey (New Jersey): When people ask where Im from, I tell them New York or New Jersey. When they follow up with, Yeah, but what ARE you? I usually say, American. The fact that I was born in another country doesnt make me less American. It sounds really corny, but my heart and life are here, and thats what matters. Kristin (Virginia): You know the old adage you cant judge a book by its cover? As trite as it sounds, its true. Dont make assumptions about peoples abilities, families, and backgrounds and that goes for all people, not just those of us who are adopted. Its easier said than done, and our brains are hardwired to make assumptions. Take into account the millions of images our brains are infiltrated with from media and social media, we develop a lot of ideas about how people should sound or dress or behave based on how they look. But its up to us to challenge ourselves and give people a clean slate; really take the time to get to know individuals for who they are. These interviews have been edited for length and clarity. Berlin (AFP) - Seven motorists were killed in north and eastern Germany on Thursday as fierce winds toppled trees onto cars during an intense storm that also forced many train services to be cancelled. Police in Hamburg said a tree fell on a car containing two women -- killing one and leaving the other with serious injuries. Another driver was killed in Berlin, rescue workers said. Several others were injured as the heavy winds swept through the German capital before weakening later in the day. Most of those injured were struck by falling tree branches. A truck driver was also killed by a falling tree on a main road in the northeastern state Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, police told news agency DPA, and a female driver was killed in the Brandenburg region when a tree hit her car. Three more people were killed in similar incidents, according to local authorities. The German weather service (DWD) predicted that hurricane-force winds would continue to lash northeastern Germany into the evening Thursday. State-owned rail operator Deutsche Bahn ordered a halt to trains across northern Germany, especially the Hamburg-Berlin line, as many routes were blocked by fallen trees. Many services were also cancelled in the country's east, as were urban S-Bahn trains in capital Berlin. Berliners packed into trams and underground services to escape the powerful gusts of wind, which threw traffic signs and advertising billboards to the ground. Firefighters in the German capital were on high alert after receiving 50 emergency calls in the space of half an hour, while their colleagues in Hamburg reported responding to over 800 calls. In Berlin meteorologists said that wind gusts of up to 120 kilometres per hour could be expected. Berlin zoo was closed to the public in the early afternoon. The two airports in the capital continued to operate as normal. The United States was one of 13 nations, including some of the most repressive nations on Earth, to oppose against a United Nations motion condemning the death penalty for those in same-sex relationships, blasphemers and adulterers. The United States voted in Geneva against a United Nations Human Rights Council motion entitled The Question of the Death Penalty on September 29. The motion called for countries where the death penalty is legal to ensure it is not imposed in a manner that is arbitrarily or in a discriminatory manner or for forms of conduct such as apostasy, blasphemy, adultery and consensual homosexual relations. The United States was joined by Botswana, Burundi, Egypt, Ethiopia, Bangladesh, China, India, Iraq, Japan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates in voting against the measure, which passed anyway, with 27 votes. Rights activists have condemned the Trump administration and its U.N. ambassador, Nikki Haley, for refusing to back the measure, with the Human Rights Campaign slamming the decision as beyond disgraceful. Ambassador Haley has failed the LGBTQ community by not standing up against the barbaric use of the death penalty to punish individuals in same-sex relationships, said Ty Cobb, director of HRC Global in a statement. Susan Rice, ambassador to the U.N. under Barack Obama, said "shame on US!" in reaction to the vote. "I was proud to lead U.S. efforts at UN to protect LGBTQ people, back in the day when America stood for human rights for all," she tweeted. Late Tuesday, Haley denied that the U.S. backed the death penalty for gay people, amid the mounting criticism. Fact: There was NO vote by USUN that supported the death penalty for gay people. We have always fought for justice for the LGBT community, tweeted Haley. Fact: The vote that took place in Geneva is the same US vote that took place under the Obama admin. It was not a vote against LGBT. Story continues State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert added that the U.S. unequivocally condemns the application of the death penalty to homosexuality, adultery, and religious offenses. We voted against that resolution because of broader concerns with the resolutions approach in condemning the death penalty in all circumstances, and it called for the abolition of the death penalty altogether, Nauert said in a statement. The U.N. resolution in fact calls for states which have not abolished the death penalty to consider doing so. Seven countries abstained from the vote. Haley is partially correct: Previous administrations have also refused to back motions critical of the death penalty, but some have chosen to abstain from votes. No U.S. administration has backed a measure condemning the death penalty. In 2014 the Obama administration abstained from a resolution on capital punishments in the Human Rights Council, which did not highlight LGBT rights. "International law does not prohibit capital punishment when imposed and carried out in a manner that is consistent with a states international obligations," said Ambassador Keith Harper. "We therefore urge all governments that employ the death penalty to do so in conformity with their international human rights obligations." In its statement following Friday's vote, U.S. mission to the UN spokesman Jason Mack said: "We reaffirm our longstanding position on the legality of the death penalty, when imposed and carried out in a manner consistent with a states international obligations," but makes no mention of upholding the rights of those unfairly subject to the death penalty highlighted in the motion. The U.S. has long executed more criminals than other nations. According to Amnesty International, the U.S. is seventh on the list of 10 nations in the world with the highest number of executions. The U.N. vote comes a week after the Trump administration argued in court that federal anti-discrimination law does not protect gay people from being fired by their employers because of their sexuality. Related Articles Spotify has curated playlists reflecting the local flavor of each stop on HuffPosts Listen to America tour using location-based data to find out what people are really listening to in 20-plus cities. Check back for more from Sept. 12 through Oct. 30. Milwaukee, Wisconsin, likes any excuse to celebrate. With a German Fest, Irish Fest, IndyFest and a number of others, the City of Festivals definitely lives up to its name particularly around the time Summerfest overtakes the lakefront for an 11-day music spectacular, which this year drew more than 800,000 people. A couple weeks later, the Violent Femmes drew a hometown crowd of their own, decades after forming in the city. An array of R&B and hip-hop acts have also sprung out of Milwaukee; Eric Benet hails from here along with Rico Love and the Rusty Ps. Rappers Coo Coo Cal and Munch Lauren got their start along the Lake Michigan coastline, too, as did the Talking Heads Jerry Harrison and a couple names in jazz Woody Herman and the Lynne Arriale Trio. More than other places around the U.S., people in this dairyland city appreciate a mix of country and pop, with country acts Old Dominion, Cole Swindell and Scotty McCreedy getting especially more play in this region alongside the Lumineers, MisterWives, Grouplove and Beck. Finally, some popular Top 40 tracks complete the list: Spotify playlists for the Listen to America campaign were created by looking at each locations most popular songs (streaming in the highest numbers at time of publication), distinctive songs (currently being streamed more in this city compared to all other cities in the world) and tracks from local artists. While many picks are data-driven, some songs are handpicked from data lists to assure the playlists reflect a variety of genres and decades, as well as a healthy gender balance. Urban Outfitters is selling Army surplus clothing. (Photo: Urban Outfitters/Getty Images) Some vintage and well-worn clothing resells for so cheap, you can buy it in bulk by the pound. But Urban Outfitters, through its Urban Renewal line, is marking up some surplus items from the military to an insane degree. Amid the usual assortment of Urban Renewal clothing on the site are three surplus items pulled directly from military bases. From stonewashed camo pants to a military jacket and cozy fleece, the pieces pictured on the site are selling for high prices, despite their origins. A current member of the military spoke to Yahoo Lifestyle about the items for sale, saying that its more confusing than it is offensive. Vintage Surplus Cozy Fleece Jacket, $59. (Photo: Urban Outfitters) Vintage Surplus Military Jacket, $69. (Photo: Urban Outfitters) Vintage Stonewashed Camo Surplus Pant, $69. (Photo: Urban Outfitters) I am not sure why they would try and sell a fleece that is clearly Army surplus and for a completely insane price. The Army buys these fleeces and gear from the lowest bidder, the member explained. I am definitely missing the connection on how an Army surplus item, thats not cute, passes for fashion. Who wants to wear a fleece with velcro straps that are meant to hold name tapes? I certainly never want to wear my Army issued gear when I dont have to. A U.S. Army veteran who served in Afghanistan wearing the same cozy fleece. (Photo: Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images) Aside from the complete lack of style or quality that the pieces have, the fleeces in particular are known for getting passed around military bases where theyre hardly taken care of. Whether worn through dirt or illness, the active military member noted that the zip-ups are quite the opposite of clean. And if there are pieces left in good condition, there are likely better places for them to end up. If there is a surplus of perfectly good fleece jackets, they should have been donated to people who need them and cannot afford anything else, the member said. Men and women shopping at Urban Outfitters for a fleece are definitely not deprived of their basic needs. If they truly wanted to wear Army gear then they should serve themselves. Army surplus can be traced back to the earliest wars that required military uniforms. The mass-produced outfits worn to pieces during the war were eventually sold to stores in order to recoup some of the money lost during wartime, or they were otherwise disposed of because they were too worn out. Whatever their fate, theres no doubt that the pieces are less than glamorous. Story continues The Pennsylvania-based brand Urban Renewal has been called out in the past for selling unreasonably priced products, with people noting that much of the inventory is picked up from flea markets and yard sales. Urban Outfitters didnt respond to requests for comment, but customer reviews of each of the items range from political opinions on the matter to consumers simply evaluating their purchase. While some people have come forward on the site to express the irony and controversy in Urban Outfitters selling these items, one person pointed out just why they shouldnt be sold, without even realizing it. (Photo: Urban Outfitters) To my surprise, I received a 10% discount at IHOP and an elderly gentleman thanked me for my service! the customer wrote. So cute! The jacket is already paying for itself. The jacket may be paying for itself, but the issues behind the sale of it are certainly speaking for themselves as well. Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle: Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. Istanbul (AFP) - The United States on Thursday said it was "deeply disturbed" over the arrest by Turkish authorities of a local staffer working at its consulate in Istanbul, saying the charges against him were baseless. The employee was remanded in custody by an Istanbul court late Wednesday on accusations of links to the group of US-based preacher Fethullah Gulen, blamed by Ankara for last year's failed coup against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, state-run Anadolu news agency said. The man has been formally charged with espionage and seeking to overthrow the Turkish government, it added. "The United States government is deeply disturbed by the arrest of a locally employed staff member," the US embassy in Ankara said in a statement. "We believe these allegations to be wholly without merit," it added. This is the first time a US embassy or consulate worker has been arrested as part of the investigation into the failed coup. The statement also condemned leaks in the local press which it said came from Turkish government sources that were "seemingly aimed at trying the employee in the media rather than a court of law." The case had been detailed earlier in the week by pro-government Turkish media, including the Aksam daily. "Baseless, anonymous allegations against our employees undermine and devalue this longstanding relationship" between the two NATO allies, the statement said. - 'Due legal process' - The American embassy has repeatedly railed against unsubstantiated claims made against Washington in the pro-Erdogan press, including of a US hand in the failed coup which the United States has always denied. The charges against the staffer relate to December 2013 corruption allegations that touched Erdogan's inner circle and the authorities claim were cooked up by Gulen in a bid to seize power. The staffer is accused of having contact with former pro-Gulen police as well as ex-prosecutor Zekeriya Oz who was central to presenting the claims and is now a fugitive. Story continues Erdogan's spokesman Ibrahim Kalin indicated a key figure in the case of the employee was Adil Oksuz, who Ankara believes was the top civilian leader in the coup bid but is on the run. Kalin recalled that Turkish authorities believe a telephone call was made from the US consulate to Oksuz on the night of the failed coup. "Since he (the employee) was detained then arrested, there must be serious evidence," Kalin told TRT Haber. Kalin said the staffer's role in the consulate did not mean there would be a "presumption of innocence", but prosecutors would conduct the probe meticulously. Turkey has pressed Washington for the extradition of the Pennsylvania-based Gulen, who denies any link to the coup bid. The lack of movement on the issue has further strained ties already fraying over Washington's support for a Syrian Kurdish militia Ankara deems to be a terror group. - 'Continue to engage' - Turkish officials had expressed hope of a new page in Ankara-Washington relations under President Donald Trump. But ties have strained further after members of Erdogan's security detail were indicted by US authorities after clashes with protesters during an official visit this year. Meanwhile American pastor Andrew Brunson, who ran a church in the western city of Izmir, has been held by Turkish authorities since October 2016 on charges of being a member of Gulen's group. Erdogan suggested last month that Turkey could release him in exchange for Gulen but Washington showed little interest in the proposal. The American embassy said the United States will "continue to engage" with Ankara to ensure its employees and US citizens are accorded "due legal process". Some 50,000 people have been detained under the state of emergency imposed in the wake of the failed coup, a crackdown that critics say has been excessive in scale. Kalin insisted Turkey had never made an illegal extradition request from the US. "We have said return these people as part of the extradition agreement. Let them be tried here" in Turkey, the spokesman said. The gunman who opened fire on a crowd of thousands in Las Vegas on Sunday night sent his girlfriend to the Philippines days before his attack so that she wouldnt interfere, her sisters claimed in a new interview. Marilou Danley, 62, reportedly arrived back in the U.S. late Tuesday two days after police say her boyfriend, 64-year-old Stephen Paddock, gunned down 58 people and injured more than 500 others at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival. Las Vegas authorities described Danley, reportedly an Australian citizen who has lived in the U.S. for years, as a person of interest in the investigation, but they have not been more specific. Danley was not arrested after landing and has not been charged in connection with the shooting, according to the Times, which reports that she had been in the Philippines since Sept. 25. She could not immediately be reached for comment by PEOPLE. The extent of Danleys knowledge about or connection if any to Sundays mass shooting remains unclear. Her sisters said they believe Paddock sent her on the trip to the Philippines two weeks ago so she wouldnt try to disrupt the attack. I know that she doesnt know anything as well, like us, one of the sisters, who both asked to remain anonymous, told 7 News in Australia. She was sent away. She was away so that she will not be there to interfere with what hes planning. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Click here to get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter EXCLUSIVE: Marilou Danley, girlfriend of the Las Vegas gunman, arrived at Los Angeles International Airport. More: https://t.co/LObba2CM6i pic.twitter.com/mpqNMKNqEJ NBC News (@NBCNews) October 4, 2017 Marilou Danley Before the shooting, Paddock wired $127,000 to the Philippines, though the recipient of those funds remains unclear, according to 7 News. Story continues He sent her away so that he can plan what he is planning without interruptions, one of Danleys sisters told the outlet. In that sense, I thank him for sparing my sisters life. But that wont be to compensate the [58] peoples lives. She didnt even know that she was going to the Philippines until Steve said, Marilou, I found you a cheap ticket to the Philippines, the sister said. Police say Paddock fired down onto a crowd of more than 22,000 people just after 10 p.m. on Sunday from his 32nd-floor hotel room at the nearby Mandalay Bay casino. According to authorities, the gunfire continued off and on for about nine to 11 minutes. Paddock was found dead in his room of a self-inflicted gunshot wound before midnight, as law enforcement closed in. PEOPLEs special edition True Crime Stories: 35 Real Cases That Inspired the Show Law & Order is on sale now. Marilou Danley is my sister. Shes a good person and gentle soul. A mother, a grandmother, a sister, a friend, one of her sisters told 7 News. The other sister said Danley probably was even [more] shocked than us because she is more closer to him [Paddock] than us. No one can put the puzzles together, no one except Marilou, because Steve is not here to talk anymore, the sister said. Only Marilou can maybe help. Paddocks family has echoed that confusion, with his brother saying he was dumbfounded by the shooting. How to Help Friends and family are asked to report missing people believed to be connected to the shooting using the hotline 1-800-536-9488. A victims fund has been started on GoFundMe by Steve Sisolak, the Clark County, Nevada, commission chair. Other groups providing relief include the local chapter of the American Red Cross and the National Compassion Fund. Donald Trump may not have yet weighed in on how he feels about Elon Musks electric cars, but the Tesla chief can count at least one powerful head of state among his potential customers. Russian President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday he would be interested in driving a Tesla with one rather large caveat. Why not? Putin said at an energy forum in Moscow, according to Bloomberg News. What do you think that well only be riding in carts or something? No, we wont be riding in carts. Or on tanks? Putin, however, took issue with one of the most fundamental selling points of the Tesla and other electric vehicles that they are environmentally friendly. He argued that, since the electric cars are still charged using an energy grid that makes heavy use of coal and oil, they arent as clean as their reputation suggests. Thats why a motor fuel such as natural gas, in our view, is ultimately much more environmentally friendly than electric cars, he said. While Putins argument isnt without some merit, its also not exactly surprising a head of state would speak in his national interest, and Russia is second only to the United States in global natural gas production. Exactly how a Tesla would fit into Putins car collection is unclear. One report indicates he has as many as 700 cars, official records only report three automobiles: two Soviet-era Volga cars from the 1960s and a Lada Niva, a popular Russian 4x4. Photos via Getty Images / Adam Berry Photos via Getty Images / Adam Berry Written by Alasdair Wilkins More articles by Alasdair Follow Alasdair on Twitter tweetshare More From Inverse Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke has good reason to worry about loyalty and respect among his staff, says a scientist-turned-whistleblower who resigned from his agency post Wednesday citing Zinkes poor leadership and resume of failure. During a speech to an oil industry group last week, Zinke said: I got 30 percent of the crew thats not loyal to the flag. The former Montana congressmans comment was met with outrage, including from a trio of groups representing retired Interior employees, which called the remarks ludicrous and deeply insulting. Joel Clement who blew the whistle on the Trump administration in July, alleging that he was reassigned for warning about the dangers of climate change to Alaska natives told HuffPost late Wednesday, hours after submitting a fiery resignation letter, that morale at the agency is in the toilet. Under Zinke and and President Donald Trump, he said, Interior employees are constantly looking over their shoulder, and those in management positions are walking around miffed that they are not part of key agency decisions. The secretary has lost the respect of far more than 30 percent of the staff, Clement said. Zinkes approach to running the agency was on display during a hearing of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources last month. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) took the opportunity to question John Ruhs, acting deputy director of operations at Interiors Bureau of Land Management, about a number of inaccuracies he identified in a leaked copy of Zinkes national monuments report, in which the interior secretary recommended Trump shrink or otherwise modify at least 10 protected sites. Heinrich asked Ruhs if local BLM staff who manage a pair of New Mexico monuments on the administrations chopping block were consulted as part of the administrations review. Ruhs said BLM did answer questions and provide data as necessary, but that it was not involved in writing the report or asked to fact-check it for accuracy before it was sent to the White House. Story continues Clement called Zinkes monuments report par for the course. When he gets briefed for a meeting, he receives briefing documents from career staff and he never reads them, Clement said of Zinke. When he delivers a product, like the review of the national monuments, its sloppy and its full of errors. And you can tell that the career staffs never had a look at that. Hes trying to do this with his team of political temps. Clement added that the workforce is not fooled by its secretarys compliments three days after his loyalty comment, Zinke told The Daily Signal the department has great people or the efforts to boost morale. You cant make up for that lack of respect by throwing a video game and a couple of dog days in there, he said. Everyone just sort of rolls their eyes. Clement was referring to Zinkes establishment of Doggy Days at Interior, when employees are allowed to bring their canine companions to work, and the installation of a Big Buck Hunter arcade game in the cafeteria, a bizarre attempt to highlight the contributions the hunting and fishing communities make to conservation. Clement drew national attention in July with a scathing op-ed in The Washington Post, accusing the administration of silencing science and sidelining him in hopes that he would quit. The seven-year Interior employee was among dozens of senior Interior staff reassigned in June as part of a sweeping reorganization transfers now under investigation by the departments inspector general. Clement went from being director of the departments Office of Policy Analysis where, among other responsibilities, he detailed the effects of global warming on Alaskas native communities to a senior adviser at an office that, as he described it, collects royalty checks from fossil fuel companies. After being pulled away from the job he loved, Clement struggled to envision a future at Interior. It became increasingly clear that the new post was not the right fit. Zinkes remarks about loyalty proved the final straw. Its profoundly offensive because it portrays a lack of understanding about the civil service and the mission of the agency, he told HuffPost. It made it clear that what hes trying to do is not work with the career staff and advance the mission hes trying to undercut the agency and its mission. And it became very clear that his interests were aligned with special interests, like the oil and gas industry. Interior did not immediately respond to a request for comment for this article. The departments press secretary Heather Swift has previously come to Zinkes defense, telling The Washington Post that his comment about loyalty was not a literal comparison to the flag of the U.S. or even the administration. In the military structure, to which the secretary was alluding, the flag represents the command of an organization and the policies and procedures it seeks to implement, Swift told the Post. Since being sworn in in March, Zinke has met with a slew of oil and gas executives, and has spoken at industry conferences and a trade groups board meeting. On social media, he posts regularly about fossil fuels, while rarely mentioning the renewable energy sector. And like other Trump team officials, including Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt, Zinke has worked to roll back regulations to combat climate change, and worked to ensure a better future for coal, oil and gas. Still, he insists that he and Trump dont pick winners and losers and that he favors an all-of-the-above energy strategy. Meanwhile, conservation has taken a clear backseat, as the administration pushes for so-called energy dominance. Clement said that while there is still an all-out assault on climate science, it is less flagrant than in the months after Trump first took office. In order to make a difference in the field, however, Clement realized he had to move on. Zinkes accusation about allegiance which appeared to reflect the administrations wider mistrust of the people it employs made the decision to quit a no-brainer, Clement said. And while he hopes to inspire other federal employees to speak out about whats going on, Clement says its important that talented people remain at Interior, to hold Zinke and the administration accountable and not let them run roughshod over such agencies. In his resignation letter addressed to Zinke, Clement wrote: My thoughts and wishes are with the career women and men who remain at DOI. I encourage them to persist when possible, resist when necessary, and speak truth to power so the institution may recover and thrive once this assault on its mission is over. As for his next move, Clement doesnt have anything lined up. But he plans to do what he can to continue supporting those inside the department, and to be a voice for them. Im thinking of setting up a hotline, a tip line, so that they can reach out to someone and not be worried about it, he said. But of course Im going to need to find a job real soon. Read more about Clements resignation here. Also on HuffPost Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. Willem Dafoes resume is peppered with A-list co-stars Gene Hackman, Laura Dern, Tom Cruise, Madonna, Denzel Washington but his new movie, The Florida Project, pits him opposite show-stopping newcomers. The results yield some of the most dynamic work of Dafoes 37-year career. What initially sounds like a gimmick director Sean Baker cast non-professional actors as denizens of a shabby motel outside Disney World turns into a cinematic gem. Dafoe plays Bobby, the motels gruff but compassionate manager, who is used to accommodating strapped boarders living on the fringes of society, a la 6-year-old Moonee (Brooklynn Prince) and her volatile, unemployed mother (Bria Vinaite, discovered by Baker via Instagram). Moonee spends her days making mischief and becoming a lovable foil to Bobby, who doubles as landlord and unlikely father figure. For Dafoe, whose distinctive cheekbones and oceanic eyes give him one of Hollywoods most eclectic faces, working with novices unstudied in the proverbial craft of acting was a feast. Its not a stretch to imagine the beguiling man who once played Jesus in Martin Scorseses The Last Temptation of Christ becoming a de facto messiah to his younger colleagues. Of course, he wouldnt see it that way. HuffPost sat down with Dafoe in New York earlier this week. For someone who is best known for portraying villains and weirdos, he was refreshingly smiley. Willem Dafoe stars in "The Florida Project." (Photo: A24) I watched The Last Temptation of Christ the other day. Oh, I havent seen it in a long time. Its wild to think about: There you were playing Jesus in a Martin Scorsese movie, less than a decade after youd been cut from Heavens Gate. That was one of my most engaging and most challenging and most fun experiences. And to ride that wave as it entered the world to so many protests from Christian fundamentalists. Well, thats a different thing. But to actually make it, to work with a master filmmaker, with material that he was passionate about, that was rich material, and then to do it for a budget which meant we couldnt sit in it. You had this master filmmaker, this auteur, great material, but we shot it like a low-budget movie: fast, decisive, exhausting. Story continues Yet it was released by a major studio. That movie wouldnt get made today. No. It probably got made because he gave them another movie. In fact, I know it. The Scorsese way. It might have been The Color of Money. Sounds about right. It was bittersweet to see Harry Dean Staton in the movie. Poor Harry Dean. Well, 91. Thats not bad. He had a good run. It was also your first collaboration with Harvey Keitel. You guys seemed to become the primo onscreen villains, probably not by design. For certain people. Right, its all relative. Laura Dern recently said your Wild at Heart character is the creepiest in cinema history. Maybe. That was a pretty good character. Willem Dafoe and Brooklynn Prince star in "The Florida Project." (Photo: A24) You dont seem particularly interested in method theory and all that highfalutin talk about craft. In working with non-professional actors, does that make it Easier? Yeah. Was it a treat to work with non-actors? Yes! Yeah. Yeah. And, you know, some of my favorite performances are by people. [Laughs] Some of them happen to be actors. Im always interested in that kind of tension you have when you watch something and you arent conscious of a craft you see people, you dont see craft. Youre not concentrating on, oh, how brilliant that turn is, or, oh, he did that so wonderfully. Youre thinking, wow, how beautiful people are, or, oh, I never thought that. All the worldly stuff is left out, so you want to disappear into the reality. And of course thats limited, and it depends on what kind of movie. In some movies, you do want a performance thats in your face and theatrical. But for something like this, clearly, you want to disappear in the fact that the other actors are a combination of street casting and people that live at where were shooting and new actors and children. Its all mixed, and my job is to fit in, to find my place in that environment, in that ecology. I like that because it forces you to surrender to an alternate reality, and thats the first condition for pretending. Thats the first condition for making something: that its not to service you its to service something thats greater than you. I embrace that situation, and I say, Great. You have all these different perspectives; you have all these different experiences. Im good with dealing with 6-year-olds. Theyre going to challenge me in a way that one of my contemporaries cant. What was the first day of shooting like? Ah, well, thats very particular because I hate first days. Im always nervous on the first day because its always a struggle to know what youre doing. And when I say know what youre doing, Im not talking about performance Im talking about what is this, where are we, what are we doing, whos who, what do I feel? You have to find naturalism in that unfamiliar chemistry. Yeah. But I will say, one thing that I do remember thats close to the first day is I did some excursions and some interviews and the normal research to understand that place and also help with character choices, from everything to costume to the way I would say things, my accent, that sort of thing. I did that normal stuff, but I wasnt necessarily hanging out, for example, with Bria and Brooklynn before I did a scene with them. I remember specifically when I went to their room, which was already dressed and was where they were kind of living, that when I met Bria, all tatted out and green in her hair and pierced and full of attitude, I thought, Shes not an actress. She cant be an actress. This is too good. This is too real! Where did they find her? And then of course Brooklynn was a real firecracker. The combination of the two, I thought, This is good. I can deal with this in the context of Bobby, the manager of the motel. And thats where it starts. Of course, with time, just through playing the scenes, you get close and you have a relationship. The nature of the film is such that much of it feels improvisational. Compared to other movies youve done, would you describe the experience that way? Yeah, I think thats right. Well, I hate to compare because you say that and now Im running through my catalog to see if theres exceptions. Never say never, and never say sure, you know? But one thing I hear is that it has a kind of authenticity of behavior that only can happen sometimes with improvisation because theres an accidental quality to it, an unpolished quality, a flawed, real-life quality to it. As quickly as I say that, I think about the directors youve worked with, even the ones who write their own material Abel Ferraras a good example. A lot of his stuff is sometimes very written, but inside of whats written, theres lots of improvisation. Harvey Keitel, Willem Dafoe and Barbara Hershey star in "The Last Temptation of Christ," released in 1988. (Photo: Sunset Boulevard via Getty Images) But not with someone like David Lynch, right? No. Hes very precise. And Wes Anderson, you may do something to prepare or to find something, but he sees the movie before you even arrive. He might as well just hand you a play-by-play. Yeah, which is a beautiful thing. I like it. I like it all ways thats my thing. We mentioned that todays studios would be unwilling to make Last Temptation of Christ. Im thinking about the back half of your resume, which has a handful of big-budget tentpole projects. Was there a moment when you realized that was the way Hollywood was going and decided to play along? It doesnt seem like your brand, so to speak. No, I mean, if youre talking about something like Spider-Man, I liked Sam Raimi. It was a good role. It was a double role, and I [liked that there was] action in it, because I love doing physical stuff and I have some facility with that stuff. In fact, I perform from a very physical place, usually. My body is my friend its the motor, its the intelligence. But its not that calculated. I never think about where Hollywood is going. I try to think about where it is, but its case by case. I dont worry about Hollywood. I worry about what interests me, because its got to be specific to me. Otherwise, I wont be able to contribute in a full way. What do you think of where Hollywood is right now? It depends on where you sit. Thats an impassable question, for me, anyway. But in terms of the roles that are coming across your desk? You know, as I get older, the range is wider. Im finding a wider range of situations and kinds of roles. Theres always the specter of ageism lurking. Im not that old, but its always in the background. Theres more possibility than ever before. The Florida Project opens in New York and Los Angeles on Oct. 6. It expands to additional cities throughout the month. Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. Also on HuffPost: This article originally appeared on HuffPost. Photo credit: Hearst Communications, Inc. All rights reserved From Harper's BAZAAR When it comes to royal family style, the British royals are typically the first to come to mind. But Queen Letizia and King Felipe of Spain are giving the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge some serious style competition. Over the weekend, the Spanish royal family had a very well-dressed (and well-coordinated) outing while vacationing in Palma de Mallorca, Spain together. Queen Letizia and King Felipe brought their daughters, Princess Sofia and Princess Leonor, on a visit to the Can Prunera Museum in coordinating summer looks. Opting for a shift dress, studded sandals, and a straw tote, Queen Letizia went for an all-white color palette. King Felipe, meanwhile, went for an all-blue ensemble and meeting them both in the middle, Sofia and Leonor wore white and blue striped dresses. Have you ever seen a family match so well without looking like a cheesy holiday card? The royal family of Spain has officially achieved the impossible. Your move, William and Kate. You Might Also Like Sharing is caring! 357 shares Share 301 Tweet 52 Pin 4 As we evolve into a more digital age, where information is shared in the blink of an eye, the mysteriousness of destinations around the world begins to shrink. We plan our trips on blogs and get inspired on Instagram, and we often know quite a bit about a place before we ever step foot off the plane there. The more I travel the world, the harder it is I have found to be completely surprised anymore; that initial joy of wow, I wasnt expecting that is much less frequent, the more stamps I collect in my passport. When I hopped off the plane in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, I knew I was in for a lot of surprises. While I did some planning and research before I flew halfway around the world to Central Asia, I avoided looking at visual sites and limited my serious planner side, hoping to be surprised. And guys, surprised I was! If I had to hanker a guess, I would say most of you guys dont know anything about Kyrgyzstan, from where its located to how to spell it to whats famous for, Kyrgyzstan has definitely been flying under the radar for international travelers for years. But not anymore. With a strategic goal of boosting tourism, and knowing theyve got a lot to offer, Kyrgyzstan is working hard to get the attention it deserves. While I didnt know much about this stunning country, I certainly left two weeks later almost overwhelmed with things I learned and with a newfound love for this amazing land and people. Bottled down, here are 12 things you probably didnt know about Kyrgyzstan. Enjoy! 1. There are some huge mountains More than 90% of Kyrgyzstan is covered in mountains. There are even three 7,000 meter peaks here. So if you are a mountain fiend like I am, well this is the place for you. They are fairly accessible if youre willing to walk or ride. Its really cheap to hire guides and porters and horses to head into the hills, and trust me, itll be the highlight of your trip. 2. And also a ton of lakes There are about 2000 lakes in Kyrgyzstan, most of them small mountain lakes. In Kyrgyz, the word for lake is kul something youll see a lot. Lake Issyk-Kul is where we spent most of our time on the trip. Its the region with some of the best infrastructure and tourism development, and the huge lake there is magical. Its the second largest mountain lake in the world, 182 kilometers long and up to 60 kilometers wide. Its a whopper. But what makes Issyk-Kul really awesome is that its warm and never freezes. In fact, its a bit salty. Even more random, the Black Plague is thought to have originated here. 3. It is the definition of a cultural melting pot One of the biggest surprises for me in Kyrgyzstan is the wide variety of culture and ethnic groups that make up the country. The main language is Russian but also everyone speaks Kyrgys too. Believed to be descended from 40 original tribes, the main current religion is Islam. But, if Im being honest here, it didnt really feel like any other Islam country Ive ever been to before. About half the people are ethnic Kyrgyz, the rest are Russian, Uzbek, Tatar, Ukrainian, and even ethnic Chinese Muslims called the Dungan people. We spent a fair bit of time in Karakol with some of the local Dungan folk, and it was so fascinating to learn about how they ended up there. And dont even get me started on the food. 4. Yurts, yurts everywhere If you visit Kyrgyzstan, you will spend a lot of time in yurts. They are everywhere. Though the area we were in was more modern, and while traditional nomadic culture is being preserved, most people live in houses and modern apartments in the cities. We only saw the more authentic kind of yurts once we were high in the hills among the nomad shepherds, and even then the yurt is often been replaced by a more modern tent. One of the best ways to stay is at the yurt camps; theyre everywhere and super cheap. Its a kind of accommodation that kinda reminds me of Southeast Asia but even better, holing up by the lake in a yurt of your own drinking .60 cent beers and getting a tan and gorging yourself on homemade meals in the communal yurt. They are an awesome way to stay in Kyrgyzstan. 5. Bridenapping is definitely a thing Now here is something Ive never seen before and rarely, if ever, heard about on my travels. Bride kidnapping, ala kachuu in Kyrgyz, which means grab and run. Despite being illegal in Kyrgyzstan, kidnapping brides is pretty common. It ranges from an elaborately staged consensual kidnapping between a couple have have been dating and are already engaged (usually in cities) to definitely not consensual grabbing a woman and forcing her into marriage (more often in rural places). Even nowadays its estimated that half of all marriages in Kyrgyzstan resulted from bridenappings and two thirds are non-consensual. 1 out of ever 10 girls is married before they turn 18. So, um, yeah. Watch two really good videos about it here and here. 6. Its one of the easiest Central Asian countries to visit Kyrgyzstan is currently visa-free for 45 countries (most of the EU, USA, Canada, New Zealand, Austalia etc.) for up to 60 days, making it the easiest of the Central Asian countries to visit as a tourist. The United States has had strong ties to Kyrgyzstan since the collapse of the Soviet Union, giving over $2 billion in economic and tourism development through USAID (The U.S. Agency for International Developmen, with Kyrgyzstan being is the only freely elected parliamentary democracy in post-Soviet Central Asia. I traveled to Kyrgyzstan with USAID and was fascinated by the close ties with America. Even more interesting, after decades, USAID is ending in Kyrgyzstan next year after the US State Department awarded a human rights award to Azimzhan Askarov, a journalist and activist currently serving a life sentence in Kyrgyzstan. 7. The food is delightful My only comparison for Kyrgyz food before I headed over was Mongolia, and after a month there in 2014, I set the bar extremely low when it came to foodie expectations. My bag was stuffed full of granola bars in preparation for meals of sheeps heads and horse meat. However, let me tell you, the food in Kyrgyzstan is fabulous! Barbecued meats, all the noodles, tons of flavor and spices, and of course, lots of dumplings, I definitely put on weight on the trip. 8. But the mares milk Forget Coca Cola, like Mongolia and many of its Central Asian neighbors, fermented mares milk is often the drink of choice. And to the untrained palate (mine), its revolting. And will probably give you the runs too. Best avoided. From personal experience. 9. The World Nomad Games are a must! Every two years the World Nomad Games are held in Cholpon Ata in an arena that rivals something from Gladiator, and its basically the Olympics for Central Asian nomad culture where they compete in 16 traditional games and sports. While I missed it visiting in 2017, it looks like its on for 2018 and you can be rest assured Ill be back for it. 10. Lets play, naming your ancestor One of our young guides told me that in Kyrgyzstan every kid learns and memorizes seven generations back of their fathers and grandfathers. Growing up American (well I guess Im still American) I feel like the respect for your ancestors has been culturally lost in recent decades. I certainly cannot name anyone past my grandparents, what about you? Be honest. Its refreshing and borderline jarring to be faced with a culture whos primary importance, i.e. family and the past, is so different than your own which really just focuses on the present. It puts things in rather harsh perspective and it makes me wish I focused more on family. Sorry mom! 11. If you want to fit in, put jam in your tea Tea drinking is a huge part of the culture in Central Asia and is no exception in Kyrgyzstan. You meet someone, you share a cup of tea. There are often elaborate rituals around how the tea is served, who serves is, what it all means, thats almost incomprehensible to us outsiders. But if you want to fit in with the locals, next time youre offered a cup of tea, add a spoonful of jam into it. Go for the raspberry. While Im pretty sure this is a tradition that dates back to Soviet times (dont quote me but I think they do the jam + tea thing in Russia too) its one I definitely can get behind. 12. Its the most beautiful place youve never heard of and nows the time to go We all know the phrase hidden gem is totally overused when it comes to travel, but in this case, its a perfect fit. Tourism has only recently begun to be more established in Kyrgyzstan, and only in certain parts of the country. If you are an intrepid, curious traveler who wants to get off the beaten path (yes yes YES) then start looking at flights to Bishkek. Now is the time to visit Kyrgyzstan. Just wait to be surprised. Have you been to Central Asia? Is Kyrgyzstan on your bucketlist? What place has surprised you the most traveling? Spill! Many thanks to USAID for hosting me in Kyrgyzstan, like always Im keeping it real, all opinions are my own, like you could expect less from me. One or more vandals shot up, smashed and burned Crow Agency's water treatment facility, causing an estimated $1 million in damage Wednesday morning, the tribe's water authority director said. Someone had opened the facility's doors overnight with a carpentry claw and gone through the building shooting, smashing and burning just about everything in sight, said Candy Felicia, who is the director of the Crow Tribe's Water Authority. "So they went inside and they broke everything possible, shot up as many things as they could and tried to burn everything they could possibly burn," Felicia said. "I feel like ultimately they tried to burn the plant down." While the concrete structure didn't burn down, the Crow Tribal government is treating the situation as a worst case scenario, urging Crow Agency's residents not to drink or touch the water while the Environmental Protection Agency conducts lab tests on water samples. Other restrictions on water use include use for pets, making ice, brushing teeth, shaving, preparing food, bathing, showering, hand washing, doing laundry or cleaning. "Do not boil the water," the release states. Speaking Wednesday evening, Felicia said she hopes those safety tests produce results within 48 hours. In the meantime, the tribe plans to provide water to the affected area with about 1,600 residents including delivering temporary showers and bottled water, Felicia said. She said Crow Tribal Chairman Alvin "A.J." Not Afraid met Wednesday morning with Bureau of Indian Affairs Superintendent Vianna Stewart and other "key players" including Indian Health Services to make a plan. If the water is deemed safe for consumption, Felicia said a BIA-operated water treatment facility should be able to meet the community's needs while repairs are conducted on the damaged facility. "Then we will go from there. Pretty much week-by-week," she said. It could take "several weeks to possibly a couple months to get everything assessed and fixed and replaced," Felicia said. The water can be used for flushing toilets and putting out fires, Felicia said. "There is no confirmation of any contamination as of yet, but because it was sabotaged so terribly, we can't afford to take any risks," she said. "We have an elderly home, a hospital, a couple schools, Head Starts. It's imperative that we take every precautionary measure until immediate test results prove otherwise. Just leave it (the water) alone." Felicia said she was stunned by the scope of the damage. "I got out of my vehicle and (the police) said it had been robbed and vandalized. I couldn't believe it. They destroyed so much," she said. "They cut wires, they burned wires, they shot everything up. There's shotgun holes everywhere in the plant." Papers were burned and it appeared a welding torch might have been used for some of the damage, Felicia said. The BIA and FBI are investigating the incident. A Laurel Middle School student had a gun both on and off school property after hours earlier this week, the school superintendent wrote in an email to parents and guardians Wednesday. "The safety of our students is of the utmost importance to us, as we know it is to you, too," Filpula wrote in the email. "We appreciate your concern for all of our students." The Northern Cheyenne Constitutional Court on Thursday issued an emergency order declaring that ongoing efforts to remove Tribal President Jace Killsback from office are illegal. The ongoing removal effort is constitutionally deficient, the court stated in its ruling. The ruling states the removal effort violates Killsbacks right to due process. The court also ruled that the people behind the effort refused to swear under oath that their allegations were true. This removal effort is an illegal campaign started by a small group of dissidents. It is not based on any facts or any laws, Killsback said in a statement. A large majority of the Northern Cheyenne Tribes voters elected me to serve as tribal president last year. This removal campaign is an attack on their right to vote for their leaders. I will continue to serve in office to protect the rights of all tribal members, and do the job I was elected to do. Under tribal law, the Constitutional Court cannot order the members of the Tribal Council to stop violating the law. But, it can rule that certain conduct is illegal. The Courts Thursday ruling makes it clear that if certain members of the Tribal Council continue efforts to remove the tribal president under the existing petition they will be violating the law, Killsback said. On Sept. 27, Tribal Council member Dana Eaglefeathers filed a complaint with the Tribal Council seeking Killsback's removal. The complaint alleged Killsback lacks the qualifications to hold his position, failed to perform the duties assigned to him, and that he is guilty of gross neglect. Eaglefeathers complaint, however, included no details of explanation backing up the allegations, the Constitution Court ruled Thursday. Additionally, the complaint is not a sworn complaint, ruled the three-member court, which includes Steven T. Small, Michael A. Monson and Brian M. Murphy. When reached by The Gazette, Eaglefeathers declined to comment. The ruling came in response to an Emergency Complaint for Declaratory Relief filed by Killsback Oct. 4. CROW AGENCY Crews of Crow Tribe employees worked into the night Wednesday and again Thursday morning to deliver trailer-loads of bottled water to homes in Crow Agency, where the municipal water supply has been shut down after a break-in at the water treatment plant. The tribes chairman, A.J. Not Afraid, declared a state of emergency Wednesday after workers at the water treatment facility discovered the plant had been broken into overnight and much of its contents had been destroyed. Citing concerns that the water supply may have been compromised by the vandalism, the tribe issued an advisory to city residents not to touch the municipal water supply until testing determines it's safe. The shutdown applies to about 1,600 residents in the city, said Candy Felicia, who is the director of the Crow Tribe's Water Authority. She estimated the vandalism caused at least $1 million in damage to the facility. "We are looking at approximately three months or more to get it up and running," Felicia said. "The main thing is we've got to get all this equipment replaced. It has to be bought out of state." Officials sent water samples to a lab in Helena for testing and hoped to have results back later in the day, said Environmental Protection Agency On-Scene Coordinator Martin McComb, who arrived with an EPA emergency response crew from Denver on Thursday morning. The tribal plant is definitely going to be down for a little while, McComb said after an initial assessment. But an adjacent water treatment plant managed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs was unaffected, and he said it would be able to temporarily satisfy demand. In the meantime, water sitting in the distribution lines running throughout the town may still be contaminated. If that water turns out to be contaminated, Felicia said, flushing out that water could take another week or two. About 20 employees with the tribe and the Crow Tribal Housing Authority were loading cases of bottled water onto trucks and delivering them to residents throughout Crow Agency, said Laura Little Owl, director of the tribe's Fish and Game Department, who was helping coordinate water distribution. We probably worked until about 9 last night and delivered a case to every home in Crow Agency, Little Owl said. Laura Rideshorse, the Crow Disaster and Emergency Services Coordinator, said the Red Cross has contacted her office to offer help, and would also be supplying bottled water once the tribes resources are exhausted, if necessary. The federal Department of Veterans Affairs had also offered to help provide water to veteran residents affected by the outage, Rideshorse added. The Crow Agency School was closed Wednesday and Thursday as a result of the water issue, said Hardin Public Schools Superintendent Dennis Gerke. The school district is awaiting word from the EPA before deciding whether to close the school through the rest of the week. Investigators with the Federal Bureau of Investigation were also at the plant Thursday morning. Those at the scene declined to comment, and an FBI spokesman in Billings said the agency is investigating, but would not comment on whether any arrests had been made. A suspect was taken into custody at some point on Wednesday in connection with the break-in, according to Jared Stewart, a media liaison for Not Afraid. Stewart said he didnt have any additional information on the case, however. At the tribes water treatment building, a wrenched-open door offered a glimpse of overturned filing cabinets and other furniture, with papers burned and strewn across the floor. A shotgun appeared to have been fired through the window of a door into a small, adjoining building in the back of the plant, where bullet holes riddled the regulator on a tank of chlorine used to treat water, as well as the wall behind it. The chlorine tank itself was not damaged, McComb said. Much of the equipment inside the facility had also been burned and shot, said Tanner Black Eagle, the lead operator at the plant who was among the employees to see the damage firsthand when he arrived at work Wednesday. He noted that a large amount of chemicals appeared to have been dumped into the system, possibly compromising the treated water in the clear well. The normally sealed hatch to the clear well had been forced open, he said. Thats my main concern, is the possibility of contamination, even the oils on your hands thats how crucial it is that that is sealed, Black Eagle said, adding that broom handles and other objects had been thrown in. Referring to Filter Aid," a treatment chemical used at the facility, he added, We only use one gram per gallon, and they dumped 40 pounds of that stuff throughout the system. Plant foreman Brewster Pretty On Top said it will take time to repair the computer system that controls the plants operations, which he said had also been shot during the break-in. Thats the heart and soul of the water treatment system, Pretty On Top said. Felicia also said the plant wouldn't reopen without substantially beefed-up security, including guards keeping watch around the clock. "Weve worked really hard to get the plant to where its at these past few months," she said. "Its pretty much a whole new crew thats come aboard. Were going to rebuild. Were going to go on. This time we just have to be a bit smarter about security." Like you, Im grateful I get to call Montana home. Ive always said one of the best decisions I ever made was picking my great-great grandmother, who homesteaded east of Conrad and got our family to Montana. Montana offers an unmatched quality of life we offer a work force that is unmatched with a strong work ethic that is passed on from generation to generation in Montana. And now with technology, we can grow more good-paying jobs that allow Montanans to stay in the state we love. Thats because technology has removed geography as a constraint. We can build world-class businesses in Montana. Thats why one of the first actions I took as your U.S. senator was to host the first Montana High Tech Jobs Summit. This summit brought together Montanans and global leaders in technology to my hometown of Bozeman, the same place where I helped grow RightNow Technologies into the areas largest commercial employer. And now, just two years later, Im co-hosting the second Montana High Tech Jobs Summit in Missoula on Oct. 9. Missoula is a leader in high-tech innovation and entrepreneurialism. The Montana High Tech Jobs Summit will be held on the campus of the University of Montana on Oct. 9. We have a great lineup of keynote speakers who will discuss opportunities in tech, including the president of Microsoft, vice president of T-Mobile, chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and chairman of the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee. Together we can encourage the growth of high-tech jobs in Montana. These are good-paying jobs that will not only allow our state to grow economically, it will ensure that the kids were training at our universities and colleges can stay in Montana, which is why Im hosting this event at the University of Montana. As Ive traveled the state, Ive seen the impact that technology has had on dozens of small Montana businesses. From Proof Research in Columbia Falls to Blackfoot Communications, who are working to expand and improve internet access, Montana is becoming a hub of innovation and technological success. At RightNow Technologies, where we created 500 high-paying Montana jobs, our recruiting slogan was work where you also like to play. The areas largest employer is a global business based in Bozeman, just a short drive to Yellowstone National Park. And throughout the Montana High Tech Jobs Summit we will learn together what it takes to create jobs in our back yard so we can continue to get outdoors and enjoy what makes Montana great: the Beartooths, Glacier Park, Holland Lake and the Spanish Peaks. You wont want to miss this great event, so register now at montanatechsummit.com while space is still available! The future of Montana belongs to us all and we already know technology is the future. See you there. This week the University of Montana announced that the new year will bring a new president to campus: Seth Bodnar, currently a senior executive at General Electric, has been selected by the Board of Regents to become the universitys 18th president starting on Jan. 1, 2018. The announcement capped a search process that began nearly one year ago, in November 2016, when Commissioner of Higher Education Clayton Christian asked previous president Royce Engstrom to step down. Sheila Stearns, a former commissioner of higher education, has acted as interim president in the meantime. First of all, Stearns has earned this editorial boards appreciation and thanks for providing a steady hand and capable leadership during an unprecedented time of challenges and transitions for the university. She has not only held the helm while the university saw its budget was reduced and staff let go, she worked hard to ensure robust discussions took place before making the tough decisions on where to make unpopular cuts. Ultimately, Stearns deserves a great deal of the credit for gracefully steering the university onto more solid footing and positioning it for a brighter future under new leadership. Next, of course, we would like to warmly welcome Bodnar to Missoula and wish him all the best in his critical position as the head of university. His ability to rise to the demands of his new role is of the utmost importance not only to the campus community of students, staff and faculty, but to all Missoulians as well as generations of alums who maintain ties with their beloved university from locations across the nation and the world. Bodner, already has ties to Missoula through his wife, Chelsea Elander, a pediatrician who was born in Missoula. A Rhodes scholar, he was ranked first in his class at West Point and holds two masters degrees from the University of Oxford in England. He served in the the 101st Airborne Division and the U.S. Army's First Special Forces Group and was a Green Beret. His time at GE has also been marked by excellence, with a meteoric rise from the companys first-ever chief digital officer to president of Digital Solutions for Transportation to senior executive. He was one of 99 official applicants for the president position, and one of only four finalists chosen by a search committee consisting of 20 members of the student body, faculty, staff, regents and community. Interestingly, Bodnar was a finalist for dean of UMs School of Business Administration last year, but declined the position to stay on at GE as the company underwent its own turbulent transitions. In person, Bodnar comes across as articulate, energetic and confident. His financial and business background point to strengths in planning and team-building in particular, and shows a promising record of achieving difficult goals. However, not holding a doctorate nor boasting a long career in academia, as well as being relatively youthful at age 38, Bodnar is considered the unconventional choice for president and, as such, he is certain to have his critics. We would only ask them to keep an open mind, even as we all keep a watchful eye, and give Bodnar a chance to be judged on his performance. He does, after all, have has his work cut out for him. Over the past few years, UM has taken a hard hit to its image with a federal investigation into its handling of sexual assaults on campus. It has weathered a steep decline in student enrollment, and a corresponding decline in its budget even as tuition costs nationally trend upward. UM must continue working to repair its reputation by building strong community relationships and improving transparency. Its new leader must be a passionate advocate for higher education, in particular the value of liberal arts, and for sufficient state funding. Bodnar will be tasked with putting together a strong administration, something he has addressed in public comments about the need to name a strong provost. While student retention has already improved and freshman enrollment appears to have stabilized, Bodnar must push hard to promote enrollment and smooth out institutional hurdles, such as the inefficient delivery of need- and merit-based financial aid. He needs to help UM define its mission and, even more essential, its relevance for the decades that lie ahead. In meeting these challenges, Bodnar should not hesitate to tap into the deep wealth of experience and expertise available right on campus through UMs world-class faculty and staff. Most importantly, in the years to come, he must maintain a campus culture of openness, honesty and willingness to engage in tough discussions with the wider community. So long as he does, Bodnar ought to have the full support of the university, of Missoulians and of Montanans. His success will be our success too. The mayor's race in Missoula seems an ideal opportunity for a discussion of how we govern ourselves at the local level. To many of us, local government seems expensive, inefficient, inept and authoritarian. And we are suspicious of our leaders. Local governments in Montana fund their activities with property taxes because income taxes are the purview of state and federal authorities and we consistently refuse to approve a general sales tax. What do local government leaders and realtors have in common? They like higher property values. For realtors it means larger commissions, for local government leaders it means larger tax collections to fund their activities. And they both like growth and development. For residents and businesspeople it means a continuing spiral of higher home costs and business expenses. It's fairly obvious we're not going to shrink government in western Montana by reducing and restricting services, so perhaps the candidates should discuss how we lower costs. An obvious way: streamline services and eliminate duplication. Consolidate the city and county governments in Missoula County. One road, one fire, one police department; the list goes on. Deliver services for considerably less and give us taxpayers some relief. Sounds like the ghost of Rob Natelson to me. Don Larson, Seeley Lake I've been watching the documentary "The Vietnam War." I did not serve in Vietnam but I did serve during the Vietnam War. As someone who lived through that tumultuous period, I find the 10 episode film to be a respectable summary for anyone who did not live though those times. For me, as it must be for many others who lived through that era, what remains is an overwhelming cynicism and utter distrust of the motives and actions of politicians and governments ours or anyone else's! For many of us, we have come to believe if a politician opens his mouth, what is about to come out will be something less than the truth. Our government has betrayed us over and over again and they continue to this day to carry on that tradition. If there is anything the younger generations takes away from this film, I hope it is this never ever assume your government has your best interest in mind. Be vigilant, question everything, and above all, if your government says it's time to put your life on the line, make damn sure you fully understand their true motives and not the patriotic hogwash they are using to motivate you. Jim Watts, Missoula Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price has recklessly spent $400,000 of the taxpayers money on costly chartered airplane flights for such purposes as having lunch with his son in Florida. Then, using fake news to its fullest extent, the White House announces that Price will reimburse the government. But he is reimbursing only $51,000 of that amount. That is like an ordinary citizen buying a $42,000 automobile and only paying $7,000 because he or she occupies one seat in the vehicle which seats six. The average citizen would be hauled into court, found guilty, and fined. In fact, I and millions of average taxpayers in this nation should get a massive payback from lending institutions for what was paid for home mortgages. After all, I occupied only 1/5 of our home. If this type of math or logic were used by third graders in the school system where I am a school trustee, those students would fail. Why does the Trump administration feel it can use such sloppy math? Ernest Scherzer, Trout Creek One thing most Montanans agree on is we love our nationally acclaimed Wildernesses and dont want to see them harmed. Whether we hike, fish, hunt, ride horsepack, or just stand in awe of these wild gems, Montanas designated Wildernesses are the pride of our state. We might fight like hell over whether to designate this area or that one as new Wilderness, but the Bob Marshall, Scapegoat, Selway-Bitterroot, Absaroka-Beartooths, and our other protected Wildernesses are sacred to Montanans of all stripes. That is, apparently, all stripes except Congressmen Greg Gianforte, who just voted to effectively repeal the Wilderness Act and open places like the Bob to endless forms of habitat manipulation, predator control, road building, and anything else that might be construed as benefiting hunting, angling, recreational, shooting, or wildlife conservation. This stealth attack on the Wilderness Act comes in the form of H.R. 3668, the Sportsmens Heritage and Recreational Enhancement (SHARE) Act, introduced by Rep. Jeff Duncan of South Carolina. It would affect every Wilderness in the nation, including all of Montanas wilderness gems. By nearly unanimous vote, Congress passed the 1964 Wilderness Act in order to protect Americas wildest landscapes. The law describes Wilderness as an area where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man ... retaining its primeval character and influence, without permanent improvements or human habitation, which is protected and managed so as to preserve its natural conditions. The Wilderness Act is essentially natures Bill of Rights, places where we humans, out of a sense of respect, humility and foresight, have agreed to let nature be. Since passage of the Wilderness Act, the National Wilderness Preservation System has grown to include 110 million acres in more than 760 units. The SHARE Act would turn the Wilderness Act on its head allowing endless habitat manipulation and modification, including logging, chaining, herbicide spraying or myriad other offenses done under the guise of wildlife conservation or for providing hunting, fishing, and recreational shooting experiences. While such management might be fine for a Texas game farm, they represent a dramatic change for the Wilderness Act, which for over 50 years has required the preservation of wilderness character as the top priority for public Wildernesses. The SHARE Act would also allow the construction of temporary roads, dams, or other structures in Wilderness, again if done under the guise of benefiting hunting, angling, recreational shooting, or wildlife conservation. And all such projects would be exempt from any environmental review or public scrutiny under the National Environmental Policy Actin essence making Wildernesses some of the least protected of all public lands. The bill is being pushed at the behest of the Safari Club International and a few like-minded groups that are upset that Wildernesses around the country arent managed like game farms, something Montanans roundly rejected at the ballot box not long ago. Not satisfied with the rich diversity of life our Wildernesses hold or with the special experiences that Wilderness provides, these groups want Wilderness managed solely to benefit their idea of hunting and to favor the animal species they want to shoot. Even if it means building a road or a dam, clearcutting a forest, or wiping out native predators to meet their hunting or angling goals. Montanans who love our wildest, best places and dont want them degraded for a selfish few should contact Rep. Gianforte and urge him to remove the Wilderness gutting provisions from the SHARE Act. Before its too late. Twin Falls, ID - An arrest was made late morning Oct. 3 for the death of his baby back in June. The baby was left in a car in the middle of a summer day and died. Kathy Shockley, a neighbor to the family, says, "When there's death of a child for any reason, it's a horrible, horrible thing." Although she was not home at the time when the baby died, she heard what happened. "I don't really know a lot. I wasn't here when it happened," she says. Police arrested Richard Ross a few months after investigation. "I don't understand how people can forget a child," says Shockley. After dropping his wife off at work, the report says, 'he smoked some more marijuana and tried to put the baby down for a nap but she wouldn't sleep.' Police reports show he left his ten-month-old baby in the car because she was still sleeping after driving around to a few places and then checked on her by walking onto the front deck that was about 15 feet away from the car. The baby was found unresponsive when authorities came to the scene and Ross was trying to do chest compressions and later died. A few days after the incident, the police report shows officers checked temperatures inside the car in the same location and seat temperatures went up to 130 degrees. The police report says Eva Ross, the wife and mother of the baby, was at work while the incident occurred. Shockley says, "I don't really know them very well. I've always liked her very well. She's very personable." Authorities charged Ross with involuntary manslaughter and the preliminary hearing is on Oct. 13. The police report states officers talking to the pathologist and received an autopsy on the baby. She had died 'as a result of hypothermia due to being left in an area with elevated temperatures.' We reached out to multiple family members and tried to talk to other neighbors but they did not want to comment. Your sister. Your mother. Your girlfriend or wife. Your grandmother. Four women. All a part of your heart, all a part of your life. And, according to national statistics, one of them has been a victim of domestic abuse. Over 25 percent of women have been a victim of domestic violence at one or more points in their lives, and 80 percent of the time, if children have been involved, they have witnessed or been a victim to that abuse themselves, said Charla Schafer, executive director of the Muscatine Center for Social Actions domestic violence shelter. Thats one reason why Domestic Abuse Awareness Month is important. But the official designation of October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month should only be one of twelve months in which providing care for the victims and building the social scaffolding to eliminate the abuse is a priority, Schafer said. Its a year-long thing for us, and for everyone, she said. These are people you know, you care about, people in our community, women and children, who need our help. I think that, as a community, to support our neighbors and to help them when theyre at their lowest points and under the worst circumstances is the true sign of a strong community. Along those lines, MCSA has a number of charity events planned for this month, the inaugural of which was the first BBQ Rib Competition for Charity and Open and brought in huge crowds this past weekend at Chamberlin Heating & Air Conditioning. Were not sure of how much money it raised yet, but it was packed pretty much the whole day. So thats looking really good, and Chamberlin very generously has offered to match dollar-for-dollar, so were very grateful to them for that, Schafer said. Were very grateful for all of the help the community has offered us and were happy that weve had a number of community organizations like Chamberlin step up to help us. Thats been deeply needed, as all state and federal funding for the shelter was cut in 2014, leaving MCSA to rely on donations and fundraisers. Two other fundraisers coming this month include the River Cities Throwdown rock concert, featuring 20 bands from 11:30 a.m. to midnight Oct. 14 at Pearl City Station, and A New Salon and Spa and Grandma Cindys Kitchens Yard Sale and Bake Sale from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 22 at Grandma Cindys Kitchen, 5900 S. Highway 61. Both will be donating proceeds to the shelter, helping to raise awareness. Every penny counts, Schafer said. Its incredibly important to have a local shelter and to provide what we are able to provide to women and children, a safe space for them to go, where they know they will be welcomed, said Judy Yates, MCSA Domestic Violence Shelter Coordinator. Its important because, when women leave, we want them to be able to come to a place in their community, so they dont lose that. If they have to leave town, to go to a bigger city, because thats the only place for them to find a shelter, they can lose their jobs, theyre leaving behind friends and family, their children can end up having to leave their friends and schools, and that makes it all the more difficult for them to leave the abusive situations. So, having a local shelter and having the funding for all that we do is critical. Both women agree that the citizens of Muscatine have been extremely positive and generous in supporting their cause, and are certain that will continue with support of the events they have planned this month, as well as others throughout the year. In 2014, the shelter was going to be closed, and the community came together to raise the money to keep it open, Schafer said. Theres been a consistent component in our community of support for our shelter or it wouldnt exist. MCSA is very proud to have that support and to be a part of this community. For more information on upcoming events, Domestic Violence Awareness Month or MCSA, visit www.mcsaiowa.org or call (563) 264-3278. MUSCATINE With fewer employees than in previous years, the Muscatine County Courthouse is looking at ways to make the best use of its space. In June, the Iowa Supreme Court approved the fiscal year 2018 budget, which extended a statewide hiring freeze from last year. The freeze resulted in more than 150 vacant positions in Iowa, and last winter, the legislature de-appropriated more than $3 million from the judicial branch. Courts across the state have been struggling to manage with fewer employees, reduced hours and fewer services, including in Muscatine County. On Monday, Muscatine County District Court Clerk Jeff Tollenaer updated the Board of Supervisors on the ongoing budget problems. Since December, Tollenaer said two people have retired, which initially were considered vacancies. "Those are no longer vacancies, with the budget now, those positions are gone forever," he said. The budget for the current fiscal year, almost $15 million less than what the judiciary said it needed, has also resulted in counties sharing district judges. Muscatine County, which typically has two district judges, now has one on most days. Also, civil and family cases, including protective orders and divorces, are being delayed. Some districts, Tollenaer said, have opted to delegate one clerk to work for several counties. "A clerk could manage up to four offices, and I don't think they have to be contiguous anymore," he said. "(We're) lucky we only have to manage one office." With no plan to fill vacancies any time soon, Tollenaer is looking to consolidate the courthouse's offices. He is planning to move all nine employees to the first floor, then keep one employee on the third floor for court attendance. "It's been difficult to staff two offices and keep those functional," he said. He expects bringing employees from the second to first floor will offer opportunities for cross-training and improve human resources. The leftover space, plus currently unused space, he said, could also be better utilized. The courthouse has one large "middle" room, which was previously the old Board of Supervisors meeting room. He said that space could be transformed into an attorney-client conference room or a medical examiner space. Board of Supervisors Chair Jeff Sorensen said the courthouse has long-needed more space for attorneys to meet with clients, or people to have private conversations about sensitive cases. Tollenear said they could use additional rooms for private meetings, mental health commitments, domestic abuse cases and mediation. "The Iowa Supreme Court is going to make mediation mandatory," Tollenaer said. "Mediators come in, meet with people (about) family law, and try to work out issues before it goes to a court hearing or trial. We're the only district that does not do that ... and we're going to need a private area to do that." District Court Administrator Kathy Gaylord said it is becoming a trend at courthouses to have multi-purpose rooms, and the county should consider creating spaces that can fit multiple needs. While some space will not be able to be utilized for a while, including a vault area with 15,000 paper records, plans for office consolidation coincides with potential updates at the courthouse. Muscatine County has hired a firm to design a new third-floor District Courtroom, which will include technology upgrades, improvements to the judge's bench and jury box, plus a holding area for prisoners. At Monday's meeting, board member Robert Howard said he wants the county to consider long-range plans for the courthouse, so it does not spend money each year on improvements. He asked courthouse staff to consider further, potential cuts and budget restraints in the consolidation process. The Muscatine Fire and Police departments, plus the sheriff's office, encourage all community members interested in learning more about public safety to attend the open house. Participants will be able to tour the fire station and meet members of the team. There will be a smoke house to teach people how to safely exit a smoke-filled atmosphere, a rope rescue demonstration, a sprinkler trailer, K9 demonstration and hands-on CPR training. 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 [] On Sept. 19, Valentin Fuentes Villanueva got the news that no one wants to hear. Six members of his extended family had been killed during the 7.1 magnitude earthquake in Central Mexico. I was in shock, said Villanueva. Its hard to believe something like that can happen in a minute. Villanueva has lived in Napa for the past 14 years. He has two children in Napa schools, including one at McPherson Elementary. In addition to his full-time job on the night shift at Walmart, Villanueva also works as a part-time yard duty supervisor at McPherson. At the moment the quake hit, Villanuevas six family members in Mexico, plus eight other people, were attending a small baptism service at the Santiago the Apostle Catholic Church in Atzala, Puebla. The city is about 20 miles from the quakes epicenter. A total of 11 people were killed, including Villanuevas aunt, two cousins, the husband of one of those cousins and two school-age children of those cousins. The baby who was being baptized, a 3-month old girl, also was killed, along with her sister and mother, according to the Los Angeles Times. The priest, the priests assistant and the babys father were the only survivors, CNN reported. The death toll at the church was among the highest number of casualties in one place during the quake., the Times reported. AIR Worldwide, a Boston-based catastrophe modeling consultant, estimated the losses from the Sept. 19 earthquake at $2 billion. More than 350 people in Central Mexico were reported killed. Its hard to think of the tragedy, said Villanueva, during an interview at McPherson Elementary School on Monday. Im very sad, Villanueva said in Spanish. Devastated, Villanueva and his wife, Maria Araceli, began to think of how to help pay for the funerals and recovery. Villanueva, 39, said he grew up in Atzala, a town of about 1,200 residents. Villanueva said due to work and finances he was not able to travel to the funerals for his family members and the other victims. Besides, hed rather save the money he would have used to travel to Mexico and send those funds to his family instead, he said through a translator. He also wants to help his family members to rebuild their homes, which were also severely damaged. Many are now living in tents or other temporary shelters. After Villanueva and his wife asked to sell tamales at the school to raise money, the school not only agreed, they helped raise more funds for the family by hosting a tamale breakfast. One school employee, Fabiola Osorio, also started a GoFundMe page to help the victims. In just over a week, more than $4,800 has been raised. Osorio said there was no question that the school wanted to help. The GoFundMe page was an easy way to collect any donations. Im very grateful to see the support for the quake victims, Osorio said. There are a lot of bad things happening in the world and seeing that there are people with good hearts gives me hope. After seeing the response from the school community and GoFundMe page, Villanueva said he was also grateful. I never thought so many people would want to help, he said. Troy Knox, principal of McPherson, said Villanueva and his family are woven into the fabric of our school. For example, Youll see Valentin greeting families first thing the morning with a smile on his face. He and his wife are highly visible in our school, and very involved. The outpouring of love and support has been really heartwarming, said Knox. Its nice to see our school community helping others. Im so touched and honored to be part of this experience. Osorio said that as long as people keep making donations, the GoFundMe page for the Villanueva family and others in Atzala will remain active. California legislators had a rare opportunity this year to make a significant improvement in the lives of millions of children at little or no cost and they muffed it. Senate Bill 328, which would prohibit Californias middle and high schools from beginning classes before 8:30 a.m., passed the Senate but was overwhelmingly rejected by the Assembly just before it adjourned this month for the year. It was a win for the California School Boards Association and the California Teachers Association, which opposed the bill as an incursion on local control, but it was a big loss for kids. Every medical authority, including the Center for Pediatric Sleep Disorders, the American Academy of Pediatrics and Stanfords Center for Sleep Sciences and Medicine, said that starting classes too early conflicts with the natural circadian rhythms of adolescents. Weve all seen them trudging along sidewalks in the near-dark of winter mornings, sleep-deprived zombies who arent alert enough to absorb learning in the first hours of school. Opponents of later classes often say something to the effect that kids should just go to bed earlier. But that, scientists have concluded, just doesnt work because of the genetic makeup of adolescent bodies. They are programmed to remain awake too late to get the eight hours of sleep they need, if they must wake up at dawn, or even earlier, to get to class on time. There is simply no controversy, Stanford Professor Rafael Pelayo wrote in response to contentions by the bills opponents. Adolescents in the United States are sleep-deprived and it is affecting their health. After the California School Boards Association lobbyist testified against the bill in an Assembly hearing, Pelayo and other medical authorities sent letters protesting what they said was inaccurate and misleading data used by the opponents, twisting scientific studies to the organizations benefit. A recent Rand Corporation study declared that while changing to later start times may require adjustment and incur some costs, it would pay off in much-improved educational outcomes and economic gains from those better outcomes. Even after just two years, Rand said, the study projects an economic gain of $8.6 billion to the U.S. economy, which would already outweigh the costs per student from delaying school start times to 8:30 a.m. There is, in other words, no rational argument to be made against it. Nor is there really any rational argument about the state stepping in, because the state already dictates a number of student health and safety standards. What we have here is another example of how real-world educational politics work. While everyone says its all about the kids, in reality its all about the adults. One of those disappointed by the Assemblys inaction is Joy Wake, a suburban Sacramento resident whos been trying to persuade the San Juan Unified School Board to go to an 8:30 start time. Shes angry that her own Assembly member, Democrat Ken Cooley, refused to meet with her and other advocates and then voted against the bill, but she says theyll try again next year to revive the measure, carried by Sen. Anthony Portantino, D-Glendale. How can we accept a local policy that forces millions of students to do something that hurts their health? she asks. How, indeed? On Jan. 27, 1838, a tall, obscure 28-year-old named Abraham Lincoln took the stage at the Lyceum in Springfield, Ill., to speak out against a wave of mob violence that took place along the dividing fault line on slavery in the United States. In his remarks, the young speaker grappled with the consequences of such divisions and lawlessness in a country still so young that one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, Charles Carroll, was still alive at the time of his remarks. Early in his remarks, Lincoln contemplated how the fledgling nation might "expect the approach of danger": "Shall we expect some trans-Atlantic military giant, to step the Ocean, and crush us at a blow?" he asked, and then responded with both confidence and clarity, "Never!" But, where then might the danger come from? He offered an often-cited answer that today seems even more chillingly prophetic, "If it ever reach us, it must spring up amongst us. It cannot come from abroad. If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher." Indeed, our leaders seem to have turned a blind eye to a domestic enemy that is far more dangerous than all the terrorists of the world added up: The gun lobbies and others have turned gun ownership in the United States from a reasonable right into a national pathology, largely through their obstruction of the most common-sense gun controls. Terrorists have killed approximately 3,000 Americans since 2000. Of those, 2,902 were killed on 9/11. Another 80 or so have died since. But this year more than 35,000 Americans will be killed due to gun violence, and more than 100,000 will be injured. More than 10,000 of these will be murdered. Others will die of self-inflicted wounds, due to accidents or in incidents with police. If a foreign enemy were to inflict such a toll on our country, we would be up in arms. Indeed, we suffer roughly a 9/11 every month thanks to gun violence - more Americans have died from firearms in the past 50 years than we have lost in all the wars we have ever fought. But we let the blood flow. Some, like Bill O'Reilly, the disgraced conservative journalist, tweeted out in the wake of the violence this week in Las Vegas that such losses are the "price of freedom." No. The price of freedom is having to listen to the reckless, feckless tools of the gun lobby. The losses we are suffering in our own streets are casualties of a war we are waging against ourselves. Defenders of the so-called "right to bear arms" invoke the Second Amendment to the Constitution as if it were a sacrament, without concern for the fact that the word "arms" no longer means what it did to the Founders who were concerned with preserving militias. Beyond this, gun lobbyists argue that military-style assault weapons are needed for sportsmen. Craven politicians support this reason - even though it is hardly sport to hunt with an AK-47. In any case, hunting itself is a barbaric and unnecessary throwback to another era we'd best be done with. The United States has about 4.4 percent of the world's citizens but "almost half" of the world's civilian-owned guns, according to Vox. Among the world's 22 most-developed countries, according to a study done by the American Journal of Medicine, Americans are 10 times more likely to die of gun violence than in those countries; our gun murder rate is 25 times higher, and our gun-related suicide rate is eight times that of the other nations. We have half the population of those 22 countries - and 82 percent of the gun deaths. That is the real American exceptionalism. It is the view that the rules of civilization, though proven and written in blood on the pages of history, do not apply to us. We take the same stance about providing health care to our people as the lone developed nation not to offer health care as a right to all - and thousands die. We fail to reinvest in our infrastructure - and we become weaker. We lag in investing in education - and we become less competitive. We are doing as the young Lincoln predicted. We are waging a war against ourselves. When Lincoln spoke, he was condemning the disregard for law in a racist America. But we must ask whether, even in his darkest fantasy, he could have foreseen today's twisting and abuse of the legislative and executive systems to savage the lives of Americans by saturating our communities with the tools of our own destruction. Visiting Alaska is like being in a National Geographic special. There wasnt a day during my trip that I didnt find myself repeatedly saying, if not overusing the exclamation, wow in response to what I saw. Alaska is crazy beautiful, and sometimes even crazy sounding with its animal life. I say crazy because there were times when I thought the majestic, and seemingly endless scenery couldnt be entirely real. That I must have been daydreaming at least some of the time. But I can attest that my time up north was not embellished by figments of my imagination. Many people who visit Alaska do so by cruise ship. In fact, some of my friends asked me if I was going on a cruise when I told them I was going to vacation in Americas 49th state. My trip involved flying into Anchorage, the states largest city, and driving hundreds of miles to places like Seward and Denali National Park. Ordinarily, spending hours and hours driving in a car wouldnt be much of a vacation. But when youre logging serious mileage in Alaska, the long drives dont seem that long at all because your eyes are constantly transfixed by the landscape. Take my first day, for example. Flying into Anchorage can be something of a crapshoot when it comes to weather and visibility. Overcast skies, Im told, arent uncommon, and can impair the vantage of your window seat while your plane makes its descent towards Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport. I was lucky. It was partly sunny that day as we came out of the clouds. The first thing I saw were towering cinnamon-colored mountains just on the outskirts of Anchorage. A few moments later, we were banking over an immense bay that borders the other end of this deep-water port city. After landing and getting into the rental car, we drove south toward Seward on a highway that goes through an immense valley. Thats when I saw the first, second, and third glacier of my life. Glaciers arent exactly a common sight in Alaska, but it sure seemed that way. You can drive less than an hour outside Anchorage and spy from your car seat one frozen river of ice after another, each hovering between snow-capped peaks. These were the first of many wow moments I had on a trip that was only hours old. The opening of my vacation also involved seeing grizzly bears, moose, caribou, wolves, porcupines and bald eagles from a distance of only a few feet away. All of these animals can be seen in the wild of Alaska, if not just off the road in many cases. The ones I witnessed on my first day were living at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, which rescues and cares for creatures large and small that can no longer survive on their own. Moose are a common sight in Alaska. There are road signs everywhere, including on the streets of Anchorage a city of 300,000 residents warning of moose crossings. A couple days later, while on our way to Denali National Park, we came around a long bend in the highway and abruptly pulled the car over. Three moose including a bull sporting an impressive set of antlers were standing just off the shoulder, grazing away. I later learned they love munching on the wild blueberries that grow in Alaska. Its one thing to see deer just off the road in Napa. Its quite another to see an animal that can stand 7 feet tall at the shoulder and weigh 1,500 pounds hanging out near the interstate. But thats Alaska. No matter how many Nature programs on PBS or NatGeo series you watch, the terrain and species of Alaska are something to behold with your very own eye. Or ear. Alaskas state bird is the willow ptarmigan, which locals refer to as snow chickens. Their feathers change from brown in the summer to white in winter. But the really distinguishable thing about the ptarmigan is their call. They produce a guttural sound that is almost cartoonish. You can find examples on YouTube. Amy Carabba-Salazar, a former broadcast news anchor and journalist with a background in marketing, has been appointed CEO/president of the St. Helena Chamber of Commerce, effective Oct. 18. Amy Carabba-Salazar is a renowned journalist with an extensive background in communications and a track record of implementing successful marketing campaigns, said Marcus Marquez, the chambers board chair. I look forward to working with her to help St. Helenas local businesses thrive year-round. Carabba-Salazar replaces Pam Simpson, who left the Chamber in August after six years as CEO/president. According to the Chamber, Carabba-Salazar will be responsible for expanding digital resources for community members, strengthening Chamber operations, increasing membership, managing the flow of visitors, and driving marketing initiatives. Im excited to join such an amazing, historic community, Carabba-Salazar said in a statement. St. Helena is truly the heart of Napa Valley, with an incredible variety of wineries, restaurants, hotels and shops, many of which are multi-generational family businesses. My goal is to build genuine relationships and support sustainable economic growth through targeted, creative approaches to achieve tangible results for businesses. Carabba-Salazar spent more than 12 years as a TV news anchor in markets such as San Diego, Las Vegas and most recently Sacramento with ABC News 10. Her role as an award-winning journalist expanded outside of the television studio after she was hired to help market and promote local businesses, the Chamber said in a statement. Additionally, for more than two years, she served as communications director in the social media world, where she was responsible for creative direction, brand management, product launches and campaign strategies. Climate Change: The Global Health Response will be the focus when more than 200 students from around the world gather at Emory for the fourth annual American Mock World Health Organization Conference, Oct.13-15. Emory's chapter of the American Mock World Health Organization (AMWHO) is hosting the conference for the second consecutive year. Founded in 2015, AMWHO Emory is one of 21 chapters affiliated with the national organization. The goal of the conference is to encourage participants to expand [their] knowledge of global health issues, think critically about the political, economic and cultural barriers that challenge global health leaders, and work together in drafting resolutions that will be sent to the World Health Organization [WHO] in Geneva, Switzerland," according to its website. Conference participants will divide into groups representing five geographic areas that span approximately 190 countries, says Ashwini Krishnamurthy, executive co-director of the event. Each group will develop resolutions to address some of the international communitys most pressing health-related challenges around climate change. When the participants reconvene in plenary session, each group will present its resolutions for review and critique by others. The best will be forwarded for review and response to WHO international headquarters. While the focus is global health, the conference is a valuable experience for many students pursuing other career paths, Krishnamurthy notes. We encourage participation by students in disciplines like environmental science, political science and public policy, says the Emory junior with a double major in finance and human health. Last year, we even had students with debate backgrounds attend. Conference speakers are an interdisciplinary mix of experts in global health and associated fields, including scholars from Emory and other higher education institutions, as well as representatives from government and nongovernmental agencies. A panel discussion will feature 10 experts in fields ranging from climate change and health to law and government. The keynote speaker for the opening ceremony is Daniel Rochberg, chief strategy officer for the Climate@Emory initiative, instructor in the Rollins School of Public Health and co-founder of the Georgia Climate Project. Rochberg served for 17 years in the Bush and Obama administrations and was a member of delegations to multiple United Nations climate and development conferences. The closing keynote speech will be delivered by Thomas H. Armbruster, former U.S. ambassador to the Republic of the Marshall Islands. During more than a quarter century in foreign service, his postings also include Cuba, Finland, Mexico, Russia and Tajikistan. Armbruster is fluent in Spanish and Russian. According to Krishnamurthy, AMWHO nurtures the global health experts of tomorrow, and the conference at Emory will help equip participants to improve health conditions around the world and prevent future health crises. This conference recognizes that we all share an increasingly interconnected planet where our actions influence health and well-being beyond our immediate surroundings, says Krishnamurthy, who was born and raised in a small town in Missouri. When poor health conditions in one country can impact populations thousands of miles away overnight, global health must become the concern of every nation and every member of our global community. Lateregistrationis available for $74 through Oct. 7. Nonparticipatingobserversmay register for $30 for all sessions or $15 for the Friday plenary sessions at which region-specific groups of participants will present and discuss their resolutions. Healthy Emorys Know Your Numbers screenings, held at 85 onsite events at Emory Healthcare and Emory University earlier this year, provided over 7,300 Emory employees with important information about their health and well-being. The screenings, which measured key biometric numbers including blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose, and body mass index (BMI) and body composition, also served as a springboard to action for employees. Since then over 500 additional employees have completed their screenings with their doctor, CVS MinuteClinic or Emory Employee Health Services. We were very pleased with this years screenings, not only with the high participation numbers, but also with our employees feedback about the events," says Michael Staufacker, director of health management. "Our exit surveys showed that 96 percent were satisfied with their experience, but more importantly, 84 percent reported increased knowledge and motivation to take action to improve their health. One of the reasons we offer these screenings is to build awareness with employees about their health and how their daily choices can make a big impact," he explains. "Emory provides employees with substantial support and resources that support employees health and well-being. 2017 Know Your Numbers summary Provant Health, the third party vendor that conducted Emorys health screenings, summarized the 2017 screening data in an aggregate report: Total Cholesterol: 67 percent of employees were at low risk; 33 percent were at moderate or high risk. HDL Cholesterol: 48 percent of employees were at low risk; 52 percent were at moderate or high risk. Total Cholesterol/HDL Cholesterol Ratio: 65 percent of employees where at low risk; 35 percent were at high or moderate risk. Glucose: 93 percent of employees were in the normal range; 7 percent were in the range of possible pre-diabetes or diabetes. Blood Pressure: 59 percent of employees were in the normal range; 36 percent were in the pre-hypertensive range; and 5 percent were in the hypertensive range. Body Mass Index (BMI): 36 percent were in the normal range; 33 percent were in the overweight range; and 32 percent were in the obese range. Body Composition: 37 percent were in the optimal range; 36 percent were in the moderate risk range; and 28 percent were in the high-risk range. 2017 is the fifth year that Emory has offered an online health risk assessment (HRA) on Aetnas website for employees. This assessment (in addition to biometric screenings) also helps build employee awareness and can be the starting point for healthy behavior change. Comparing Emorys organization-wide aggregate HRA data (2014-2016), progress has been made in a number of key health behaviors: The percentage of employees consuming five or more servings of vegetables and fruits a day increased from 14 percent in 2014 to 32 percent in 2016. The percentage of employees consuming a lower fat diet increased from 48 percent in 2014 to 57 percent in 2016. The percentage of employees who reported having a colonoscopy increased from 28 percent in 2014 to 35 percent in 2016. The percentage of employees who reported having a Pap test increased from 64 percent in 2014 to 67 percent in 2016. The percentage of employees who reporting having a mammogram increased from 39 percent in 204 to 47 percent in 2016. There are still several opportunities for employees to Know Your Numbers and earn an Emory medical plan incentive of $150. Learn more. The National Science Foundation has awarded another $20 million to Emory Universitys Center for Selective C-H Functionalization, to fund the next phase of a global effort to revolutionize the field of organic synthesis. Our center is at the forefront of a major shift in the way that we do chemistry, says Huw Davies, professor of chemistry at Emory and the director of the Center for Selective C-H Functionalization (CCHF). This shift holds great promise for creating new pathways for drug discovery and the production of new materials to benefit everything from agriculture to electronics. The CCHF began as an NSF Center for Chemical Innovation in 2009, with a seed grant of $1.5 million and four collaborating universities. In 2012, the NSF awarded the CCHF its first $20 million, enabling it to grow to encompass 16 U.S. institutions and seven industrial affiliates, including six major pharmaceutical companies and one of the largest U.S. chemical suppliers. The center also built global connections with major players in C-H functionalization in Japan, South Korea and the U.K. The CCHF has led the way for explosive growth in the field of C-H functionalization, publishing more than 200 papers on the topic through its collaborators. It has developed dozens of new catalysts for C-H functionalization, including four major classes from the Huw Davies group. The past five years weve developed the fundamentals for C-H functionalization and documented that the concept is viable, Davies says. Now were ideally positioned to maximize the further development of this chemistry and move forward to apply it. Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-05 01:36:56|Editor: An Video Player Close Chinese Consul General in New York Zhang Qiyue (L) and Anthony Malkin, CEO and Chairman of Empire State Realty Trust, flip the switch to light the model of Empire State Building during a ceremonial lighting ceremony to celebrate the traditional Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival at the Empire State Building in New York City, the United States, on Oct. 4, 2017. Tower lights of New York City's landmark Empire State Building will shine in red and gold at sunset Wednesday in honor of Mid-Autumn Festival, which falls Oct. 4 this year. (Xinhua/Li Muzi) NEW YORK, Oct. 4 (Xinhua) -- Tower lights of New York City's landmark Empire State Building will shine in red and gold at sunset Wednesday in honor of Chinese traditional Mid-Autumn Festival, which falls Oct. 4 this year. Tonight, the Empire State Building's "tower light will shine in red and gold, with colorful moons and lanterns in the mast to celebrate this joyous holiday," said Anthony Malkin, CEO and Chairman of Empire State Realty Trust. Lighting scheme is designed by world-renowned lighting designer Marc Brickman. Before flipping the switch for the lighting, Zhang Qiyue, consul general of China in New York, said China-U.S. relationship has maintained a generally positive momentum since the beginning of this year. "The two sides have since this year set up four dialogue mechanisms, one of them called social, cultural, and people-to-people dialogue," said Zhang. "I think this lighting ceremony, or event like this are part of this social, cultural dialogue and events," the Chinese diplomat added. For years, this New York landmark has been celebrating Chinese Lunar New Year in lights. Zhang said this year's Mid-Autumn Festival event marks a new initiative. "We hope this tradition could be kept," she said. The Mid-Autumn Festival is one of key traditional festivals in China which falls on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month. It is the time when the moon is said to be at its brightest and fullest. In western calendar, the day usually occurs sometime between the third week of September and the second week of October. This day is also considered a harvest festival, a time for relaxation and family reunion. Since 1976, the Empire State Building's tower lights have maintained a tradition of changing color to recognize various occasions and organizations throughout the year. Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-05 01:41:57|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close by Li Jizhi, Elina Xu HELSINKI, Oct. 4 (Xinhua) -- "At the moment when our guide disappeared in the dense forest, I saw a gibbon standing at the foot of a tree. In the following seconds, I held my breath and felt the sweat dripping." "Suddenly some shadows popped up to the sky, and I turned the 400 mm lens in the direction and caught a rare picture of the animals." It is a narration by Norwegian photographer Roy Mangersnes in his publication of the memory of a photo expedition around the Tongbiguan Nature Reserve in China's Yunnan Province May. The gibbon with white eyebrow shown in Mangersnes' works is a unique endangered wild animal in China, which has just been officially named Sky Walker Gibbon in 2017, said Yin Feng, director of the Department of Science Popularization at China Wildlife Conservation Association. Mangersnes spent several days in the Tongbiguan Nature Reserve and saw the Sky Walkers twice, and every time he had only two or three minutes to take photos of them. The rare experience was shared by Swedish photographer Staffan Widstrand, who participated in a joint project touring China in 2015 and 2016. Once he went through the hardships to reach a place at an altitude of 5,000 meters on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, and took pictures of Pallas's cats with a long shot, making the cute animal to become an online star in China. A good photo comes from not only personal effort of a photographer but also the governmental and public support in protecting the wildlife. "All this is a major, positive step for nature conservation in China," Widstrand told Xinhua. "All the bigger wildlife and a lot of the smaller, were earlier heavily hunted, but now both hunting and rifles are generally banned in most of China, these species are protected by law and a number of huge nature reserves have been created. This has been so successful that many of the protected species now seem to begin to thrive also outside the protected areas," he added. After years of efforts, populations of the critically endangered species, such as giant panda, crested ibis, Chinese crocodile, Tibetan antelope, are increasing steadily, according to Yin. The number of wild giant panda reached 1,864 by the end of 2013, increasing by 268 from the previous investigation years before. The habitation areas of giant pandas also significantly increased by 11.8 percent. To promote the protection of Chinese wildlife, Chinese photographer Xie Jianguo initiated a project named "the Natural Images of China", through which he has invited international outstanding photographers including Mangersnes and Widstrand to visit wildlife habitats in China. The project has been supported by governmental institutions. According to Xie, many foreign photographers have been amazed by the variety of wild animals in China. "China not only has giant pandas" is a common reaction. The photographers have shot many unique or rare species other than giant panda, such as golden monkeys, sky walker gibbons, takins, clouded leopards, golden cats, nippons, crested ibises, macaques, green peacocks, Blyth's tragopan, Asian water monitors, King cobras and so on. Yin noted that photography is an important means for people to know wild animals. The lately discovered Nujiang golden monkey, white cheek monkey among others were found just through photographing. Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-05 02:27:15|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close MOSCOW, Oct. 4 (Xinhua) -- The Russian military on Wednesday accused the United States of providing help to Syrian terrorists in attacking the government troops and threatened to destroy attackers in the U.S.-controlled Syrian area. "The main obstacle to the completion of the destruction of Islamic State (IS) in Syria is not the fighting ability of terrorists, but the American colleagues' support and flirting with them," Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Maj.-Gen. Igor Konashenkov said. He said in a statement that on Thursday IS terrorists carried out a series of attacks on the advancing Syrian government troops from a 50-km zone around the city of Al-Tanf on the Syrian-Jordanian border, where a U.S. military base was located. During one of the attacks, about 300 IS militants advanced on dozens of SUVs area to the city of Al-Qaryatain in the central Syrian province of Homs successfully bypassing all the hidden posts of Syrian troops, Konashenkov said. He said this move could be possible if the terrorists had exact coordinates, "which could only be obtained through aerial reconnaissance, processed by specialists and then carefully transferred to the militants to carry out sabotage and terrorist actions." On the same day, IS militants conducted a series of coordinated attacks on other posts of the Syrian troops located along the strategically important Palmyra-Deir al Zour highway, which the government army successfully repelled. "If the U.S. side considers such operations as unforeseen 'accidents', the Russian air force task group in Syria is ready to begin a complete destruction of all such 'accidents' in the area under its control," Konashenkov said. Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-05 03:02:27|Editor: Song Lifang Video Player Close European Union Commissioner for European Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn (R) speaks during a press conference in Tripoli, capital of Libya, on Oct. 4, 2017. EU announced on Wednesday that it has allocated 300 million euros (353 million U.S. dollars) to help restore stability and security in Libya, Johannes Hahn said. (Xinhua/Hamza Turkia) TRIPOLI, Oct. 4 (Xinhua) -- EU announced on Wednesday that it has allocated 300 million euros (353 million U.S. dollars) to help restore stability and security in Libya, an EU official said. EU Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Commissioner Johannes Hahn said the fund will also help government structures and sectors to restore balance and stability in performance. He made the remarks in a press conference in Tripoli following a meeting with the Libyan UN-backed prime minister, Fayez Serraj. "The EU has allocated 300 million euros to support the rehabilitation and assistance programs of health, environment and migrants aid, as well as supporting small and medium enterprises and facilitating the applications of Libyan students to study in EU countries," Hahn added. Hahn also affirmed Europe's support for the efforts of the head of UN Support Mission in Libya, Ghassan Salame. He expressed hope that the recent UN-sponsored meetings in Tunis on amending the Libyan political agreement would contribute to ending Libya's political division and unifying the government. Enditem U.S. President Donald Trump shakes hands with Russian President Vladimir Putin during the their bilateral meeting at the G20 summit in Hamburg, Germany July 7, 2017. (Xinhua/REUTERS) MOSCOW, Oct. 4 (Xinhua) -- The fundamental mutual interests of Moscow and Washington, including fighting terrorism, will help to improve their relations, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday. Addressing a plenary session of the Russian Energy Week, which kicked off in Moscow on Oct. 3, he said the two countries share fundamental interests, including energy policies, fighting cybercrime, non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, anti-terrorism efforts and dealing with regional conflicts. "I think these fundamental mutual interests will sooner or later change the nature of Russian-U.S. relations for the better," Putin said. "Some forces are making use of Russian-American relations to resolve internal political problems in the United States," he said. The REW, being held in Moscow and St. Petersburg, will end on Oct. 10. Participants will discuss prospects for the development of the core sectors of the economy, including oil, gas, coal and petrochemical industries. On Tuesday, Putin had said that Russia is ready to cooperate with the United States on the basis of equality. While accepting the diplomatic credentials of new foreign ambassadors, including the new U.S. envoy to Russia Jon Huntsman, Putin called the current level of Russian-U.S. relations "unsatisfactory". He said Russia advocates constructive, predictable and mutually beneficial cooperation based on the principles of equality, mutual respect, respect of national interests and non-interference in each other's internal affairs. Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-05 03:27:36|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close OTTAWA, Oct. 4 (Xinhua) -- Ottawa's Beijing Week, part of 2017 Ottawa Welcomes the World, kicked off at Lansdowne Park here on Wednesday, with performances of acrobatics, folk music, and traditional Chinese operas. Themed with "Greetings from Sister City," the Beijing Week also features shows of Chinese tea art, sales of local delicacies, and demonstration of traditional craftsmanship that are recognized as intangible cultural heritage including cloisonne, paper-cutting, and Beijing embroidery. Visitors are able to enjoy the "Charming Beijing" photo exhibition and exhibition of cultural and creative technologies, and participate in promotional events on Beijing tourism, 2019 China Beijing International Horticultural Exposition, and 2022 Beijing Olympic Winter Games. Tonight, coinciding with China's Mid-Autumn Festival, Beijing Week will bring a traditional Chinese cultural feast to all participants. Visitors can not only enjoy dances, Peking Opera, acrobatics, folk music, but also have a taste of Chinese moon-cakes and Beijing local delicacies. Beijing Week, hosted by the People's Government of Beijing Municipality and Chinese Embassy in Canada, presents the best wishes from Beijing, for the 150th confederation of Canada, said Zhao Haisheng, the minister-counselor of cultural affairs at Chinese embassy in Ottwa. Since establishing the sister-city relations in 1999, Beijing and Ottawa have achieved fruitful exchanges and cooperation results. Beijing Week is an important sister-city exchange program of Beijing in 2017. It aims to strengthen the mutual understanding and friendship between Beijing and Ottawa and lay a solid foundation for future cooperation in various fields, added Zhao. Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-05 03:32:37|Editor: An Video Player Close A handout picture provided by the Iranian Presidency shows Iran's President Hassan Rouhani (R) shaking hands with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during a welcome ceremony in Tehran on October 4, 2017. (AFP PHOTO) by Hassan Rouhvand TEHRAN, Oct. 4 (Xinhua) -- Iran and Turkey have now chosen to converge in the face of common challenges they experience in the region, an Iranian political expert said on Wednesday. Fluctuations in political ties pertaining to certain regional issues, particularly those of the Syrian conflicts, over the past five years, seem to have given way to closer and "brotherly" ties of Tehran and Ankara under the pretext of new developments in their brothers with Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region. On Wednesday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrived in Tehran seeking to mend ties in line with the attempts began last month when the Chief of Staff of Iranian Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Baqeri made a visit to Ankara and responded by his counterpart on Monday. Jafar Haqpanah, the political expert of the regional issues, responds cautiously to Iran and Turkey's closer relations at this juncture, saying that dissimilar interests are behind this alliance. WHY CONVERGENCE AT THIS JUNCTURE? In essence, Iran and Turkey's opposition to the Kurds' independence referendum in Iraq is different, Jafar Haqpanah told IRAN daily on Wednesday. "While Iran has fears of a foothold for Israel near its borders, Turkey is worried about the restive situation of the Kurd populated areas within its territory," Haqpanah said. The Iranian expert suggested that this tendency to connect at this particular instance is subject to change under unpredictable conditions in the region. Although the recent developments have brought two neighbors together, Turkey has shown that it follows pragmatic policies when its economic and national interests are at stake. As Turkey's foreign minister said in his latest trip to Erbil, the capital of the Iraqi Kurdish region, despite all Ankara's political pressures against the region, his country might maintain its economic ties with the Kurds. On the other hand, Iran's relations with the United States and its stance against Israel will not allow Tehran to, strategically, accept the formation of a state near its borders which is supported by Israel and is potentially a security threat, Haqpanah said, arguing that Iran's opposing position to the Kurds' move is "much stronger". Iran and Turkey have also shown that they are sensitive about the security issues which might threaten both countries. Iran supported Ankara against July 2016 coup in Turkey. Besides, Ankara was not totally loyal to crippling western sanctions against Tehran during 2009-2013. Also, the successful cooperation of Tehran, Moscow and Ankara over resolving the Syrian crisis, and the coordinated measures of Iran and Turkey to support Iraq are the causes for the elevated relations between the two neighbors at the regional and international levels. Despite the struggles for influence geo-politically in the region, both countries have been cautious not to drive the differences to the level of crisis politically and economically, Haqpanah said. The recent convergence between Tehran and Ankara and Iraq forms another tripartite alliance in the region and the reason is to counter common security threats, he said. In the past months, the top military officials of the three countries held separate meetings and this is "an embodiment of publicizing serious military cooperation" in the face of common challenges, he added. Above all, "there is a principle of mutual need between Tehran and Ankara," he said, adding that, despite all the rivalries for regional influence, the history of both countries are intertwined politically, economically and culturally. "Iran and Turkey are cognizant that they are the eternal neighbors," he concluded. Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-05 03:47:41|Editor: ZD Video Player Close Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May delivers her keynote speech on the last day of the Conservative Party Annual Conference in Manchester, Britain on Oct. 4, 2017. (Xinhua/Han Yan) LONDON, Oct. 4 (Xinhua) --- British Prime Minister Theresa May set Britain on a course Wednesday aimed at giving new hope to the dreams of young people struggling to get a home of their own. But her keynote speech at the end of the Conservative conference in Manchester centered on her message "building a country that works for everyone" will be remembered for a catalogue of disasters. "Everything that could have gone wrong did go wrong in a speech designed to unite the Conservatives behind their leader," said a report in the Guardian newspaper. A prankster managed to get through a strict security net and handed a note to May as she delivered her speech to a hall packed with thousands of delegates during liver coverage on television. The prime minister then struggled through most of the speech, suffering for bouts of coughing, eased only a little by a cough speech handed over by the Chancellor Philip Hammond. Then some of the letters started to drop from the backdrop screen behind her rostrum. The prankster, comedian Simon Brodkin handed May a fake P45 form, the official letter handed to people when they lose their jobs. He was bundled away by security staff and later handcuffed as police carried out a body search. May was given a rousing reception from her audience after managing to complete her speech. The chain of disastrous events captured the headlines in newspapers and in broadcast media. Reaction to her speech was swift from the rival opposition Labour Party as well as the business world. Shadow Chancellor, Labour's John McDonnell said: "By the time the current leader of the Conservative Party eventually finished speaking, she had a total of 15 billion pounds in spending commitments just in this parliament without a single reference to how the money will be found to pay for them. The Conservative magical money tree returns." Carolyn Fairbairn, head of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) said: "In response to the profound challenges and opportunities of Brexit and creating a fairer and more prosperous economy, the Prime Minister planted important stakes in the ground. "She has recognised the fundamental importance of good government working in partnership with responsible business to improve lives. The Prime Minister's praise for the risk takers, innovators and entrepreneurs and business, large and small, was refreshing and important to hear. But markets are not perfect and the UK's business community recognises the power of effective state intervention." Fairbairn said on Brexit it was important to see a continuation of the positive tone from May's big Florence speech. "The next stage must be urgent action to agree the standstill transition with EU partners by the end of the year, and the shape of the final deal as early as possible in the New Year. Every day wasted is lost investment and new jobs not created." Dr. Adam Marshall, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said: "Unequivocal backing for wealth creators, risk-takers and entrepreneurs is critical to the confidence of firms all across the UK. Firms will appreciate Theresa May's clear support for the role of business in society and for the EU nationals who contribute so much to our businesses and communities. The government must continue to underline, loudly and clearly, that EU nationals living and working in the UK are welcome, wanted and appreciated." He added that a mission statement for growth was needed from the government, with action to fix the fundamentals, and prepare the country for a period of change." The Daily Telegraph, which described May's speech as descending into chaos, reported that a Downing Street aid said the prankster had been arrested. Conservative chairman Sir Patrick McLoughlin said there will be investigation into what happened. Local media reported that the prankster had official accreditation to be at the conference. A number of MPs at the event questioned the lapse in security, particularly after the Manchester terror bombing which occurred this year just a few hundred meters from the conference center. Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-05 05:18:06|Editor: Song Lifang Video Player Close MEXICO CITY, Oct. 4 (Xinhua) -- Mexico City suspended on Wednesday the search for survivors in buildings brought down by the magnitude 7.1 earthquake on September 19, after rescue workers brought out the body of a man from an office building. Mexico's undersecretary for human rights, Roberto Campa, announced the end of rescue efforts after the final victim was found dead in the ruins of an office building in the central neighborhood of Roma. For the last two weeks, rescue corps from around the world have labored at Alvaro Obregon 286, with 49 bodies being found in the rubble. "The task was concluded, all the bodies were rescued and handed over in Alvaro Obregon, as confirmed by their families," Campa wrote on Twitter. The building was the only one of the 38 which collapsed in Mexico City where rescue efforts were still ongoing. "This was the last spot, Alvaro Obregon, there will no longer be the search for more people...we no longer have any missing people," said Mexico City Mayor, Miguel Angel Mancera, in a television interview. According to Mancera, Mexico City saw 228 deaths, with a total of 369 nationwide. 74 people died in Morelos, 45 in Puebla, 15 in the State of Mexico, six in Guerrero and one in Oaxaca. The tasks will now focus on removing the rubble of the fallen buildings and avoid further collapse. Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-05 05:33:10|Editor: An Video Player Close Daniel Rosen (second from right), founding partner of Rhodium Group, is in a dialogue session at a forum at Asia Society in New York on Oct. 3, 2017. (Xinhua/Xu Xingtang) NEW YORK, Oct. 4 (Xinhua) -- A close China watcher said here Tuesday that if China keeps its current pace in innovative industrial development, the innovative activity share in its total output will likely surpass that of the United States in about 18 months. Daniel Rosen, founding partner of Rhodium Group, said at a forum at Asia Society that in the second quarter of 2012, innovation accounted for 30 percent of total Chinese output, while today the share has come up to around 34 percent. "It seems like a small difference, but was in fact very significant," he said. The innovative industry share in industrial value-added of the United States has been stable at about 34.5 percent over the past few years, while that of European Union and Japan stand at roughly 37 percent and 47 percent, respectively. The study comes from an interactive online dashboard called The China Dashboard: Tracking China's Economic Reform Program, a newly designed program by Asia Society Policy Institute and Rhodium Group that assesses the ongoing impact of economic reforms on Chinese growth potential. Next week the dashboard will be made live, and an analysis of the data in the 10 areas will be published, which range from fiscal policy to domestic financial system reform to cross-border investment reform, Rosen said. He previewed the dashboard and chose innovation as an example of the 10 areas that the program tracks, noting that China's innovative activities have been increasing fast, especially over the past two years. The analysis will look at the details of the growth rate of this innovative share to find out if it is really sustainable, or if it is just a cycle that might come down and need a longer time to get to the U.S. levels. There is also discussion of could something go wrong, it could permanently impair China's progress toward that innovation share of the economy, he said. He compared some of China's critical economic indicators in 2000 and 2015 to show its share growth in global economy. For example, in 2000, China accounted for about 3.9 percent and 3.4 percent of global exports and global imports. In 2015, they rose to the vicinity of 14 percent and 10 percent, respectively. More shocking is China's outbound investment, which rose from 0.1 percent of the global outbound flows in 2000 to just shy of 9 percent in 2015. He stressed that as a nation of about 1.4 billion people and about 12 trillion U.S. dollars of economic activity, China's economic policy reforms in the coming years will have massive consequences and implications not only for China itself, but also for the world as a whole. Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-05 06:43:27|Editor: Song Lifang Video Player Close British former prime minister Gordon Brown delivers his keynote speech on the Sustainable Silk Roads Conference held in Edinburgh, Britain on Oct. 4, 2017. China and Eurasia's engagement with Europe is the "biggest story in town" for the global economy, said Brown on Wednesday on the Sustainable Silk Roads Conference. (Xinhua/Deng Qian) Edinburgh, Britain, Oct. 4 (Xinhua) -- China and Eurasia's engagement with Europe is the "biggest story in town" for the global economy, said British former prime minister Gordon Brown Wednesday on the Sustainable Silk Roads Conference held in Edinburgh, the capital city of Scotland. Organised by the University of Edinburgh's Confucius Institute, the two-day conference on Oct. 4-5 will seek to shed light on China's One Belt and One Road Initiative (OBOR) and the opportunities it offers to Scotland. Brown referred to the economic crisis of 2008 and the profound change in the world economy. Before 2008, the majority of trade, manufacturing and investment was in Western nations, America and Europe. He said that had started to change because of China, and now the majority of trade, manufacturing and production is in the emerging parts of the world, a fundamental seismic change. That is why the Silk Road project is so important, "it is a big idea, and I think we sometimes in the West don't understand how big an idea it is." The former British prime minister highly praised the achievements of China in development. Now this is a time of the re-emergence of China as an important global economic power. "No other country in the world has ever enjoyed 30 years of consistently high economic growth in the way that China has." "I don't think anyone should underestimate the economic and social achievements of China over these years." "This is the background of the Silk Road Project," he added, noting "I don't think we should underestimate the importance of the Silk Road." He believed the world will need reformed global institutions, from an updated World Bank and IMF to an expanded G20, to cope with the rise of China and Asia. Brown said the cooperation between the West and China may be needed to halt the regional crisis and prevent future financial crisis. What was needed was an inter-connected world, he said, adding the Silk Road Project was the embodiment of an inter-connected world. Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-05 07:08:30|Editor: Song Lifang Video Player Close ABUJA, Oct. 4 (Xinhua) -- A total of 22 people have been confirmed dead following a boat mishap in central Nigeria, according to a local emergency official on Wednesday. Seven people were rescued from the accident on Tuesday, said Hussaini Ibrahim, spokesman for the Niger State Emergency Management Agency in central Nigeria. The incident occurred around Mahuta community in Agwara local area of the state when the boat hit a log of wood inside the river and capsized. He said the deceased were traveling from Yauri, a town in the northwestern state of Kebbi to Manhuta, in Niger State, the official said. The official told Xinhua an investigation was underway further confirm the cause of the accident. Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-05 09:18:50|Editor: Song Lifang Video Player Close BRUSSELS, Oct. 4 (Xinhua) -- The European Union's (EU) new anti-dumping rules will not be in full compliance with the European bloc's World Trade Organization (WTO) obligations, a leading European international trade lawyer told Xinhua in an interview Wednesday. The European Parliament's negotiating team and the EU ministers in Strasbourg struck an informal agreement on Tuesday on the EU's anti-dumping proposal, which was adopted by the European Commission in November 2016. The new rules, introducing "significant market distortions" other than the "analogue country methodology" when calculating dumping margins, still need to get the green light by the International Trade Committee of the European Parliament on Oct. 12 and by the full house at the November plenary session in Strasbourg respectively. Then after it is adopted by the Council of the European Union, the legislation is expected to enter into force before the end of the year. The EU said in a statement the rules are formulated in a country-neutral way and in full compliance with the EU's WTO obligations. "I do not believe so for even one minute," said Edwin Vermulst, a partner of the VVGB international law firm in Belgium, commenting on the statement. Vermulst believed that the new methodology for calculating dumping margins is repackaged "non-market economy methodology." "Although it appears to be non-discriminatory, it in fact continues to target China," he said. According to Section 15 of China's WTO accession protocol, the trading partners of China must rely on the prices and costs of Chinese producers in the calculation of their dumping margin since the expiry of the 15 year-period after China acceded to the WTO. In accordance with the accession protocol signed when China joined the WTO in 2001, the surrogate country approach expired on Dec. 11, 2016. In other words, no more "analogue country methodology" or "non-market economy methodology" should be applied towards Chinese companies since Dec. 11 last year. Vermulst told Xinhua the new rules go even further than the EU's cost adjustment practice in the Argentina and Indonesia biodiesel cases and such practice were already condemned by the WTO Appellate Body as being in violation of the WTO Anti-Dumping Agreement. In the case of EU anti-dumping measures on biodiesel from Argentina, the WTO dispute settlement body has ruled the EU's practice of disregarding the respondent's cost of inputs due to distortion in the input market and replacing that with an undistorted benchmark to be incompatible with discipline of the WTO agreements. Under the new methodology, the burden of proof to demonstrate the market distortion has shifted from exporting producers to the complaining EU industry and the investigating authority. In order to help the EU industries to overcome the difficulties in assembling and producing such evidence, the Commission may make up its report describing the specific situation concerning the market distortion in a certain country or a certain sector. Such a report has the value of evidence, and thus can be relied upon by the EU industries in support of their complaints and claims. Vermulst said the EU has already prepared a very thick report of more than 400 pages on distortions in the Chinese economy, so it seems extremely likely that, as soon as the new law is adopted, the report will be used as evidence for distortions. "As you can imagine, as it was the Commission that prepared the report in the first place that then will have to decide whether distortions exist in a particular investigation," Vermulst said. "It will become a self-fulfilling prophecy." Furthermore, he said the inclusion of labor and environmental standards as a relevant element (as a result of pressure from the European Parliament) introduces a new element in anti-dumping law and practice that no other WTO member has ever incorporated or used. Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-05 09:28:52|Editor: Song Lifang Video Player Close TUNIS, Oct. 4 (Xinhua) -- Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi Wednesday visited a new wastewater treatment plant project which has been entrusted to a Chinese hydroelectric engineering and construction company. With a total cost of 61 million dinars (25 million U.S. dollars), the Sousse wastewater treatment project, which is three quarters completed and located on the east coast of Tunisia, will particularly benefit the agricultural sector since the treated water will be used to irrigate groundwater. "It calls for an average of 250 workers per month with a Tunisian majority, and it covers an overall area of 13 hectares. For the financing of this project, Tunisia holds 60 percent, while the remaining 40 percent come from a German financial institution," said Zaher Guigua, head of the Tunisian construction project. The effective operation of this wastewater treatment plant is divided into two phases, respectively scheduled for May 2018 and December 2018. "The Tunisian Sousse wastewater treatment project is currently the largest project under construction in Tunisia. After the completion, this purification factory will treat 60 percent of the life and industrial water in Sousse," said Hu Pingjun, manager of the Sousse wastewater treatment project. "With its global investment potential, China will be able to play a great role in the recovery of the Tunisian economy, particularly in certain sectors including major infrastructure projects, urban sanitation and waste water," said Riadh Mouakhar, Tunisian minister of local affairs and the environment. According to the minister, Essebsi's visit to this project is part of a tour scheduled in the province of Sousse, and "the importance of this project in the process of global development has aroused the interest of the Tunisian president." "This new wastewater treatment plant," he said, "will have, once completed, a grand impact on the beautification and the improvement of the entire province of Sousse in light of many assets, including water recycled for the agriculture sector." In addition, the Tunisian minister added, "this project is distinguished by the fact that it will also favor the production of electricity by cogeneration, which will reduce the operating cost, essentially based on energy." Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-05 09:43:54|Editor: ZD Video Player Close LOS ANGELES, Oct. 4 (Xinhua) -- The girlfriend of Stephen Paddock, the Las Vegas shooter who killed at least 59 people and injured more than 500 others in the deadliest shooting in U.S. history, said here Wednesday she was not aware that Paddock was planning violence against anyone. "It never occurred to me in any way whatsoever that he was planning violence against anyone," said Marilou Danley in a statement read by her attorney outside the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Los Angeles office. "He never said anything to me or took any action that I was aware of and that I understood in any way to be a warning that something horrible like this was going to happen," said Danley. "I knew Stephen as a kind, caring, quiet man," the statement said. "I loved him and hoped for a quiet future together." Danley said that she was devastated by the deaths and injuries in the awful event. "I am a mother and a grandmother, my heart breaks for all who have lost loved ones." According to the statement, before the mass attack, Paddock bought Danley a ticket to visit her family in the Philippines and also wired her money to help her purchase a home. "I was grateful, but honestly, I was worried, that first, the unexpected trip home, and then the money, was a way of breaking up with me," she said. "I will cooperate fully with investigation," she said, promising to tell anything she knew about Paddock to the FBI and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Danley, 62, returned to the United States Tuesday night from the Philippines, her home country, and was met by FBI agents at Los Angeles International Airport. Danley lived with Paddock in Mesquite, Nevada, a town of about 18,000 people located 120 km northeast of Las Vegas. U.S. law enforcement officials hope that Danley can provide an insight into what led Paddock to carry out the massacre. Paddock, a 64-year-old gambler and real estate investor, rained bullets from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino on the Las Vegas Strip into an outdoor music festival with more than 22,000 concert-goers. Law enforcement officials believe that Paddock acted alone in the mass shooting and have said that Danley is a person of interest. Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-05 11:59:11|Editor: Song Lifang Video Player Close YANGON, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- Eight Hindu women along with eight children, taken away to Bangladesh by Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) extremist terrorists in August from Myanmar's northern Rakhine state, have been brought back to homeland, the official Global New Light of Myanmar reported Thursday. The 16 people, abducted to a refugee camp in the neighboring country by the terrorists, returned to Myanmar under police escort after a demand by the Myanmar side through diplomatic channel during a visit to Bangladesh early this week of a Myanmar delegation, led by Minister at the State Counselor's Office U Kyaw Tint Swe. The returned Hindu women, who are from Yebawkya village in Maungtaw, recalled a bloody massacre by the ARSA terrorists of at least 45 Hindu men who ended up in mass grave, the authorities said. A group of about 500 ARSA extremist terrorists raided the Yebawkya village on Aug. 25 morning, killing all Hindu men and throwing them into mass graves, leaving the eight women and the eight children survived. The graves were uncovered on Sept. 24-25 by the security forces on information. The spate of violence prompted some 30,000 locals in the northern state to flee south to Mrauk U, Sittway, Kyauktaw and Minbya, while hundreds of thousands of Muslims fled to Bangladesh border. Meanwhile, Myanmar's National Human Rights Commission on Wednesday stressed emphasis in a statement on long-term peace and stability in the rehabilitation process in the northern state, calling for strict scrutiny of returnees to ensure extremist terrorists are excluded. Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-05 13:24:22|Editor: ZD Video Player Close CANBERRA, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- The leaders of Australia's governments have agreed to strengthen the nation's anti-terrorism laws. Leaders of Australia's states and territories met with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull at a Coalition of Australian Governments (COAG) meeting focused on counter-terrorism in Canberra on Thursday. Under new laws agreed on Thursday, Australian authorities will be allowed to detain and question a person who has been arrested on suspicion of terror-related activities for 14 days without pressing charges. "It's important that someone has been arrested can be detained while evidence is gathered," Turnbull told a press conference on Thursday afternoon. A national facial biometric database combining federal forms of identification with state driver's licenses will also be established to help law enforcement instantly identify a suspected criminal or terrorist. Under the current system, it can take up to seven days for authorities to confirm a person's identity from an image. "State and territory road agencies have been providing this information manually for a very long time. To say that it was inefficient is an understatement," Daniel Andrews, Premier of Victoria, said. Andrews dismissed privacy concerns around the new database, saying civil liberties were a "luxury" in the face of a "very real terror threat." "We are going to have to curtail the rights and freedoms of a small number of people in order to keep the vast majority of Australians safe," he said. "That is challenging. But it is necessary. "It would be unforgivable to think that we could have done more and we chose not to, because of national concerns about civil liberties instead of the very real concerns and the very real threats that terrorism poses to every Australian in every community across our country." Two new criminal charges were also established by COAG for possessing terrorism-related information materials and conducting terrorist hoaxes. Australia's national disaster information system, which provides people with information about disasters in their area, will also be expanded to provide information about acts of terrorism. Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-05 13:44:28|Editor: Song Lifang Video Player Close Yi Xiaozhun, WTO's Deputy Director-General, speaks during the Singapore-WTO Policy Dialogue on the World Trading System for Senior Government Officials from Asia and the Pacific in Singapore, Oct. 5, 2017. The two-day event is the preparatory workshop for the 11th World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial Conference that will be held in Buenos Aires in December.(Xinhua/Then Chih Wey) SINGAPORE, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- Singapore- WTO Policy Dialogue on the World Trading System for Senior Government Officials from Asia and the Pacific was launched in Singapore on Thursday. The two-day event is the preparatory workshop for the 11th World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial Conference that will be held in Buenos Aires this December. It is jointly organized by Singapore's Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI), WTO, Singapore Cooperation Programme and S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies. Yi Xiaozhun, WTO's Deputy Director-General, said in his opening remarks that the dialogue would provide an opportunity for senior government officials in the Asia-Pacific region to exchange views and brainstorm on issues and challenges confronting the Multilateral Trading System, in light of recent developments in the global economy. He said the system needs to keep pace with the evolving challenges and to be improved constantly. Yi told Xinhua on the sideline of the dialogue that the Asia-Pacific region has been considered as a top supporter of the Multilateral Trading System and free trade. He expected that the dialogue participants could set targets and plans at the event on how the Asia-Pacific economies could communicate with other economies, including those from Africa and Latin America and the developed economies, and push them to strive for a common goal. Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-05 13:49:29|Editor: Jiaxin Video Player Close CANBERRA, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- Australia's opposition leader Bill Shorten has called for convicted gun smugglers to face a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. Shorten, leader of the Australian Labor Party (ALP), also called for the government, led by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, to extend Australia's national gun amnesty until the end of 2017 to get more dangerous weapons off the streets. Speaking in the wake of a mass shooting in Las Vegas which left at least 59 people dead and more than 400 injured, Shorten said more could be done to protect Australians from gun violence. The most infamous terrorist attack on Australian soil, the Lindt Cafe Siege in Sydney in December 2014 which left three people dead, was carried out with an illegal firearm. "It's a sad fact that an illegal gun was used in the Lindt Cafe Siege. We should do everything we can to stop this sort of tragedy ever happening again," Shorten told Australian media on Thursday. More than 28,000 firearms were surrendered in the three months of the National Firearms Amnesty, the first of its kind since automatic weapons were criminalized in 1996. Shorten said despite the success of the scheme, law enforcement experts estimated that as many as 600,000 illegal guns remained in circulation. "This is just far too many," he said. "Australians are rightfully proud of our gun laws, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't do more. "We need to let well-meaning Australians hand in any guns, especially high-powered, military style weapons that they shouldn't have." Shorten's comments came as leaders from Australia's states and territories arrived in Canberra for a special Coalition of Australian Governments meeting with Turnbull with an exclusive focus on counter-terrorism. Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-05 14:26:51|Editor: Song Lifang Video Player Close This is an archive photo of SS Macumba, a merchant ship that was sunk by a Japanese air attack during WWII. Australian scientists have discovered a World War II shipwreck off the coast of the Northern Territory (NT), solving one of the country's oldest maritime mysteries. (Xinhua/Australian War Memorial) Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-05 14:34:38|Editor: Song Lifang Video Player Close BAGHDAD, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- The Iraqi security forces on Thursday fully liberated the city of Hawijah from Islamic State (IS) militants and continued hunting down the extremist militants around the city, the Iraqi military said. Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-05 14:39:41|Editor: An Video Player Close WASHINGTON, Oct. 4 (Xinhua) -- China and the United States held their first law enforcement and cybersecurity dialogue here Wednesday, during which the two sides reached broad consensus on issues of counterterrorism, counter-narcotics, cybersecurity and immigration. The meeting was co-chaired by visiting Chinese State Councilor Guo Shengkun, also minister of public security, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Acting Secretary for Homeland Security Elaine Duke. Guided by the consensus reached by Chinese President Xi Jinping and his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago, Florida, in April, the two sides agreed to stick to mutual respect, equivalence, frankness and a pragmatic attitude, make full use of the dialogue mechanism and further strengthen the communication and cooperation in fields of law enforcement and cybersecurity. China and the United States will also work together to achieve more results as Trump's state visit to China in November approaches. The dialogue is one of four high-level communication mechanisms established during the Mar-a-Lago meeting between the two leaders. During the meeting, Guo called on the two sides to focus on cooperation and manage their differences, promote bilateral cooperation on law enforcement and cybersecurity to become a new highlight of China-U.S. ties, and make relentless efforts on promoting global safe governance and co-creating a universally safe human community of shared destiny. China is willing to strengthen cooperation with the United States in areas of counter-terrorism, combating transnational crime and counter-narcotics, and taking care of bilateral vital concerns in law enforcement, Guo said. The two sides will also continue to push forward pragmatic cooperation in tackling cyber crime, counter-cyber terrorism and cyber security, guaranteeing bilateral benefit and promote a peaceful, safe, open, cooperative and orderly cyber space, Guo added. The U.S. side stressed the importance of bilateral cooperation in law enforcement and cybersecurity, acknowledging that the two sides face common threats as well as interests in such areas. The United States also agreed to work with China to use the dialogue mechanism to strengthen bilateral cooperation in related areas, promote specific cases through dialogue with the Chinese side and work to yield more outcomes to benefit both countries and their peoples. Chinese and U.S. officials from related departments also attended the dialogue. Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-05 15:14:46|Editor: Song Lifang Video Player Close SINGAPORE, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- U.S. destroyer John S. McCain departed from the Changi Naval Base in Singapore Thursday for Yokosuka, Japan, after its collision with an oil tanker in August that killed 10 sailors on board. According to a statement issued by the U.S. 7th Fleet, McCain would head for Yokosuka, where the fleet is headquartered for further repair, after it underwent temporary patch-up during its six-week stay in Changi. Before the destroyer embarked on the trip, crew members, technicians and divers had conducted damage assessments and maintenance. Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-05 15:49:56|Editor: Song Lifang Video Player Close SUVA, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- More than 200 participants from 21 Pacific countries have been meeting here over the past three days, to discuss the economic standing of 4.5 million women and girls across the greater Pacific region. Even though women made up half of the region's population, they continued to be economically underrepresented due to discriminatory laws, and the social and cultural norms which place unrealistic expectations on women's responsibilities for home and family care, according to a statement released by the Pacific Community (SPC) office in Suva on Thursday. The 13th Triennial Conference of Pacific Women concluded on Wednesday but gender issues will continue to be in focus as the 6th Meeting of Pacific Ministers for Women that opened Wednesday evening continues here on Thursday. Over the three days of meetings, government officials and civil society representatives discussed the continuing challenges of closing the economic gender gap, increasing women's job opportunities and breaking down the barriers that hold women from fully contributing to the Pacific economy. High level delegates at the event included President of the Republic of Marshall Islands Hilda Heine, Vice President of Kiribati Kourabi Nenem, Fijian Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation Mereseini Vuniwaqa, Australian Ambassador for Women and Girls Sharman Stone and Director General of the Pacific Community Colin Tukuitonga. In her opening address, Heine emphasized the direct connection between the economic empowerment and Pacific resilience. "Where women are able to achieve their economic potential, economies grow and societies prosper, families are wealthier, and more resilient to adverse economic situations. We must show courage and strength and promote gender equality and women's economic empowerment in everything that we do, because if we do not, what do we tell our women, our daughters, our mothers, our aunts and nieces in the remote communities," said Heine. Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-05 15:49:57|Editor: Song Lifang Video Player Close CABINDA, Angola, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- The construction works of the passenger terminal and the breakwater of the Cabinda port in northwestern Angola are going smoothly, according to one senior official of the port Wednesday. Artur Carvalho, administrator for the port's technology and operation department, told a press conference that 28 percent of the construction has been complete, and that half of the work for the concrete foundations of the terminal's main building were done. The two projects are contracted by China's state-run hydraulic engineering company CGGC based in the central Chinese city of Wuhan. Carvalho said the two projects are vital to local economic development. The port plays a strategic role in the region's industrial development, especially in the oil and gas sector, he said. The port will meanwhile support trade with the Republic of the Congo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, he said. The two Chinese-contracted projects of the Cabinda port are planned to be completed between June and July 2018. A trainee works at the China-Kenya Solid State Lighting Technology Transfer Center in an industrial park in Machakos county, Kenya, April 24, 2015.(Xinhua/Sun Ruibo) by Christine Lagat and Wang Xiaopeng NAIROBI, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- Esther Apetet's childhood dream was fulfilled last month when she secured an admission at Kenya Technical Trainers College (KTTC) to pursue a diploma in mechanical engineering. Defying stereotypes to enroll in a discipline that has for decades been shunned by Kenyan girls, the 19-year-old college student is determined to succeed and leave behind a legacy worth emulating. Apetet's institution was a beneficiary of several computer numerically controlled (CNC) machines supplied by China's AVIC International Holding Corporation in July as part of its ambitious goal to help transform vocational training in Kenya. During an interview with Xinhua on Tuesday at her vocational training center located on the outskirts of Kenya's capital, Nairobi, Apetet hailed the state-of-the-art machines, saying they had inspired her to pursue engineering with vigor. "I would like to thank Chinese companies for providing machines that are easier to use and I look forward to acquiring technical skills that will enable me to become self-employed in future," said Apetet, who majors in automotive engineering. She noted that automated milling machines supplied by the Chinese company were a departure from their manual counterparts in terms of efficiency and speed. "These machines look modern and upgraded. They are computerized and easier to operate unlike the manual ones. I expect to learn how to use the machines within a short period," Apetet told Xinhua. Collins Muriithi, her 19-year-old schoolmate, was equally excited by the prospect of learning how to operate the computerized milling machines that have elevated the prestige of his vocational training institution. Kenyan Transport and Infrastructure Cabinet Secretary Michael Kamau (3rd R) inspects check-in self-service equipments at the new terminal of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi, capital of Kenya, July 4, 2014. The JKIA new terminal building, which was built by Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) International Holding Corporation, started a test on Friday. The building, with a construction area of 25,000 square meters, will start a three-week trial operation on July 8. (Xinhua/Meng Chenguang) "We thank the Chinese company for equipping these modern machines that are easier to operate by both students and tutors," said Muriithi. He is pursuing a diploma in mechanical engineering and production option, looking forward to acquiring practical skills that will enable him to stand out in the job market. Kenya Technical Trainers College, one of the oldest vocational training centers in the country, is set to transform teaching of engineering disciplines. Hilda Omwoyo, deputy principal in charge of academic affairs at KTTC, said the conventional and automated milling machines provided by the Chinese firm would boost skills acquisition and employability among young learners. "The equipment will improve standards in technical and vocational training in this institution. They will boost industrial skills of trainees and tutors," said Omwoyo. She added the modern machines and equipment would help bridge skills gap that is responsible for high youth unemployment in Kenya. Two trainees operate a testing system at the China-Kenya Solid State Lighting Technology Transfer Center in an industrial park in Machakos county, Kenya, April 24, 2015. Chinese and Kenyan investors on Friday launched a technology transfer and training center to promote assembling of solar lighting systems so as to meet a huge demand for green energy sources in the East African nation. (Xinhua/Sun Ruibo) TWO-PHASE PROJECT AVIC International signed with Kenya's Ministry of Education in 2010 an agreement worth about 30 million U.S. dollars on the phase I of Kenya-China project on the establishment of technical and vocational laboratories in Kenya. The Chinese company helped equip 10 vocational and technical institutions in the country and provide solutions on areas including curriculum content and instructor training. About 15,000 Kenyans were trained in the phase I of the project. In 2013, the company inked the agreement on the phase II of the project, which is valued about 158 million dollars and will equip a total of 134 institutions of technical and vocational education and training across the county. According to the company, about 1,500 teachers and some 150,000 students will be trained in phase II, which is scheduled to end in 2020. Zhao Leilei, a manager in charge of the program, said the rest of the equipment in the phase II of the project will be handed over to the Kenyan institutions by the end of 2018. In addition to equipping these institutions, the company also sponsored Kenyan engineering students to pursue post-graduate degrees in China. Likewise, the Chinese firm has been providing internship opportunities to Kenyan youth pursuing technical courses in universities and mid-level colleges. According to Zhao, the company has signed similar agreements on vocational training with other African countries including Uganda, Zambia and Ghana. Kenyan Cabinet Secretary for ICT Joe Mucheru speaks at the graduation ceremony of Huawei digital skills development program in Nairobi, capital of Kenya, on April 26, 2017. Thirty Kenyan youth drawn from low income families on Wednesday graduated from a six-week digital skills development program funded by Chinese telecommunications giant, Huawei. The youth underwent an intensive training program to upgrade their skills in computing, use of internet and entrepreneurship. (Xinhua/Pan Siwei) LIFE-CHANGING EXPERIENCE Joseph Nyakundi, a 23-year-old former cleaner, is currently stationed at Technical University of Kenya's revamped workshop, where he operates with ease the automated machines provided by the company. The university is among the first Kenyan institutions to receive the Chinese machines in 2012. Nyakundi participated in the first edition of Africa Tech Challenge (ATC) in 2014, which was sponsored by AVIC International. The event provided him a platform to hone his skills in operating industrial machines. "Am currently able to operate a wide range of computerized machines to produce metal parts. The machines supplied by the Chinese company are efficient and easy to use by ordinary learners," said Nyakundi. He looks forward to becoming an accomplished machine operator and be a part and parcel of Kenya's industrial transformation. Joseph Barasa, a mechanical engineering graduate in his early 30s, had accomplished an unusual feat by assembling a car at the university's workshop, using state-of-the-art machines provided by the company. Barasa participated in the 2015 edition of ATC, where his engineering prowess received a huge boost. Chinese worker Liu Bin (R) from the Thika project team of China Wuyi Company Limited teaches local worker John Murtith to drive a pavior at the construction site of a crossroad along Nairobi-Thika highway on July 18, 2011. China Wuyi Company Limited has employed nearly ten thousand person-time local workers during their nine years in Kenya. Through technical training for local workers, the company has been serving for Kenya's construction and development. (Xinhua/Zhao Yingquan) "I have been yearning to apply theories learned in the classroom to solve every day challenges affecting our society. Skills upgrade and modern machines provided by China will enhance realization of our industrialization dream," said Barasa. Perry Ajuma, a 23-year-old holder of a diploma in mechanical engineering, hailed the internship at Technical University of Kenya, where she is honing her expertise in the use of automated machines to produce metal parts. The bubbly young engineer thanked China for facilitating her acquisition of technical skills that would be useful in future. Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-05 16:50:08|Editor: ZD Video Player Close President Trump's motorcade arrives at University Medical Center of Southern Nevada in Las Vegas, theUnited States, on Oct. 4, 2017. U.S. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump traveled to Las Vegas on Wednesday to show their support for the victims of Sunday's shooting massacre. (Xinhua/Wang Ying) by Peter Mertz LAS VEGAS, the United States, Oct. 4 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump's four-hour trip to Las Vegas Wednesday, while well received by some, added fuel to the conversation over gun control. "It's unfortunate the president failed to mention the most important aspect of the horrific Las Vegas massacre - that responsible gun control laws could actually stop the carnage," said Seattle attorney and Washington-DC insider David Richardson. Advocates of gun control were active on the social media. "I'm angry that somebody died because the Republicans, with their leader, are very good at going to gun violence memorials, but not very good at preventing them," Juan Zepeda wrote on the Los Angeles Times website. "Listening to him is painful," Carol Crommett posted on the Boston Globe website. Some took the chance to vent their rages at the country's racial problems. "He probably won't even mention that the security guard who helped prevent more shootings was Hispanic!" Joanne Cordero, a physical therapist from Brooklyn, posted on the New York Daily News website. However, Richardson told Xinhua that Trump may see his approving rate rise after the incident. "You can expect Trump's ratings to rise after this unspeakable tragedy," Richardson said, "Americans tend to pull together when the chips are down." According to a Politico/Morning Consult poll conducted over last weekend, the president's approval rating was 45 percent, compared to 49 percent who said they viewed him negatively. On the ground in Las Vegas, the president received good marks from first responders, victims, and hospital staff who met him Wednesday. "It was a great honor to meet the president - he came in, cracked a joke, said he was very proud of us, and that the world was watching," said Steve Grammas, President of the Las Vegas Police Protective Association. Grammas also defended Trump's three-day delay getting to the Nevada desert to offer support. "Bringing him here early may have caused problems," Grammas told Xinhua. "We were still dealing with a lot down here - getting some officers rest, and getting things back to normalcy - so his early arrival may have hurt that," Grammas said. Judd Frazier, a Las Vegas hospital staffer told Xinhua, "I think it's great that he came and visited the people here, they need that, they need the support, and the country needs to unify." Nevada state trooper Jeremy Tye told Xinhua, "It means a lot to us to have the president here ... It was great." Victim Thomas Gunderson, who was shot in the leg, put a short video on Facebook showing President Trump and Fist Lady Melania stopping by the hospital he was in. "There may be plenty of issues in this country but I will always respect my country, my president, and my flag," Gunderson wrote. Stephen Paddock, a 64-year-old gambler and real estate investor, rained bullets from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino on the Las Vegas Strip onto an outdoor music festival with more than 22,000 concert-goers late Sunday night. At least 59 people were killed and more than 500 others wounded in the deadliest shooting in U.S. history. Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-05 16:55:10|Editor: Mengjie Video Player Close NEW YORK, Oct. 4 (Xinhua) -- China-U.S. tourism is on a growth trajectory and has helped expand people-to-people and cultural exchanges between the two countries, a U.S. tourism expert said. Chris Thompson, president and CEO of Brand USA, an organization dedicated to marketing the United States as a premier travel destination, told Xinhua on Wednesday that bilateral tourism plays a critical role in "bringing cultures and people together for greater understanding." "In the case of our two nations where the cultures are very different, and the language is obviously a barrier, travel really serves a great way of introducing the destination to the individuals," he said. According to Brand USA, China has become the number one market for U.S. travel and tourism exports and is its largest market in terms of spending. In 2016, almost 3 million Chinese people visited the United States, compared with less than 400,000 in 2007, and spent 33 billion U.S. dollars in tourism expenses. Thompson said they expected "an additional 3 million Chinese visitors in the next three to four years." The number of Americans visiting China has also grown rapidly over the past few years. The latest statistics show the number of American tourists traveling to China increased by 10.7 percent last year. The two-way tourist flow has not only brought economic benefits to both countries, the expert said. "The economic contribution is the one that gets talked about most often because it defines travel as an export. But the soft diplomacy benefits are just as important," he noted. Having visited China many times before, Thompson believes that "There's nothing like travelling to a destination to really learn about the heart and soul" of the place. He mentioned that every time he went to China, he "was able to get to know the people better, learn new nuances of the language better." "The experiences always favorably enhanced my opinion of China. I think that's also the case (for people) coming into the United States," he said. Thompson, who has been in the travel business for 35 years, said tourism has benefited China-U.S. relations in recent years. In November 2014, the two countries extended visa validity for tourists from one to 10 years. Last year, the two sides launched the 2016 China-U.S. Tourism Year. The visa policy and the year of tourism program have both paid great dividends, Thompson said, adding that leaders of the two sides have created an important platform to "talk about the positive economic and diplomatic contributions of travel and tourism." "That really helps us realize all the benefits we were looking to accomplish," he said. Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-05 17:00:12|Editor: Mengjie Video Player Close COLOMBO, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- The world's biggest book sale, better known as the "Big Bad Wolf book sale," got underway in Sri Lanka's capital Colombo on Thursday with 1.5 million books on sale. Founded by Managing Director Andrew Yap and Executive Director Jacqueline Ng in Malaysia, the sale is aimed at encouraging the reading of English books at reasonable prices. This year's sale, inaugurated in Colombo by Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam, will be open 24 hours a day, providing book enthusiasts the opportunity to shop non-stop for 10 consecutive days. It will end on Oct. 15. The Big Bad Wolf is backed in Sri Lanka by ProRead Lanka (Pvt) Ltd, a firm with a mission of spreading knowledge with affordable books, and is also supported by the Ministry of Education. Nishan Wasalathanthri, director of ProRead Lanka (Pvt) Ltd. said that they were excited about the opportunities that the Big Bad Wolf Book Sale can offer avid Sri Lankan readers and parents. "From the very beginning, we identified the need for a book sale of this nature in Sri Lanka, and we are positive that the visitors to the sale will be delighted with the choice of books available, as well as the many activities that we have lined up to encourage a more knowledge-sharing community," he said. According to media reports, the Big Bad Wolf held its first sale in 2009 in Selangor state in Malaysia. It has also been held in Thailand and Indonesia. Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-05 17:05:13|Editor: Song Lifang Video Player Close Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua (R), Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana (C) and Gen. Eduardo Ano, the chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines attend a handover ceremony in Metro Manila, the Philippines, Oct. 5, 2017. The Philippine defense department received on Thursday a second batch of military equipment that China donated to help the Philippines fight terrorism. (Xinhua/Rouelle Umali) MANILA, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- The Philippine defense department received on Thursday a second batch of military equipment that China donated to help the Philippines fight terrorism. Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua handed over the equipment to Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and Gen. Eduardo Ano, the chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), during a ceremony at the AFP headquarters in Metro Manila. Zhao told reporters that the delivery of the weapons and ammunition is China's commitment to building "a friendly and cooperative relationship" with the Philippines. "We're now fighting terrorism together, we need to work together to enhance trust so that we can build good cooperation between our militaries. That will contribute to peace and stability in this region," Zhao said. The donation, which includes rifles, ammunition and sniper scopes, is the second batch of armaments that China handed over to the Philippine government this year. In accepting China's arms donation, Philippine defense and military authorities lauded China's contribution to maintaining peace and fighting terrorist groups in the Philippines. "The continued support of China to the Philippines signifies a new era in our countries' goodwill relations. This paves the path for a broader and stronger Sino-Philippine security cooperation in the future," Lorenzana said. Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-05 17:20:19|Editor: Mengjie Video Player Close PHNOM PENH, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia exported 421,966 tons of milled rice in the first nine months of 2017, a 17 percent rise compared with the same period last year, according to the latest report on Thursday. China is the top buyer of Cambodian rice, followed by France and Poland, said the report released by the Secretariat of One Window Service for Rice Export, adding that 60 countries and regions had purchased Cambodian rice. Export to China accounted for 124,760 tons, or 29.5 percent of the total exports, during the January-September period this year, the report said. Cambodia is expected to export 200,000 tons and 300,000 tons to China in 2017 and 2018, respectively. The Southeast Asian country produces over 9 million tons of paddy rice a year. With this amount, it has over 3 million tons of milled rice for annual export. Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-05 17:40:26|Editor: Mengjie Video Player Close TOKYO, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- A total of 12 people were missing after a fishing vessel from the Chinese mainland collided with a tanker of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region early Thursday in international waters some 400 km north of the Oki Islands in western Japan, according to the Chinese Consulate-General in Osaka. Four of the 16 crew members on board the fishing vessel have been rescued, while 12 others were still missing, said the consulate-general. The Japan Coast Guard has set up a response unit and sent three patrol vessels to the area where the accident happened. The consulate-general immediately set up an emergency response unit headed by the consul general upon receiving the report about the accident. It has sent a working group to the scene to help with the rescue and is keeping contact with the Japan Coast Guard. Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-05 17:45:28|Editor: Mengjie Video Player Close KABUL, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has signed a project document aimed at supporting and strengthening Afghan electoral institutions and their operations, the mission said in a statement Thursday. The Project Document was signed on Wednesday in Kabul at the first meeting of the Project Board, providing the legal and financial framework allowing the UN and donors to support and strengthen Afghanistan's electoral institutions, including Independent Election Commission (IEC) and the Electoral Complaints Commission (ECC). "Under Resolution 2344 (2017), the UN Security Council requested UNAMA to support Afghan authorities in the organization of elections, and to strengthen the integrity, sustainability and inclusiveness of the electoral process. Supporting strong and independent electoral management bodies will be a key feature of these efforts in the lead up to elections," the statement read. "There is a great need for all those concerned to redouble their efforts to implement reforms and conduct the necessary preparations to realize credible elections," Tadamichi Yamamoto, UN Secretary-General's Special Representative for Afghanistan and head of UNAMA, was quoted in the statement as saying. The statement noted that critical decisions are urgently required for the electoral process to move forward, as is public outreach to build trust in the electoral institutions. First parliamentary election in the post-Taliban country was held on Sept. 18, 2005 while the second parliamentary polls took place on Sept. 18, 2010. However, the 2015 parliamentary polls were delayed and the IEC has planned to hold the next parliamentary election on July 7, 2018 for electing members of the 249-seat lower house of parliament for a five-year term. Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-05 17:45:29|Editor: Mengjie Video Player Close KUALA LUMPUR, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- The ticket price for the high speed rail linking Kuala Lumpur and Singapore is expected to cost 44 to 48 U.S. dollars per trip, an analyst of a think tank said on Thursday. The assumption was based on an estimated cost of 20 billion to 25 billion Singapore dollars (14.8 billion to 18 billion U.S. dollars) for the 350-km or 90-minute journey from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur, the capital city of Malaysia. according to Singapore's Institute of Southeast Asia Studies (ISEAS)'s senior fellow Francis Hutchinson. Civil infrastructure such as tunnels and bridges may cost up to 15 billion Singapore dollars (11 billion U.S. dollars), he said during a presentation at a conference. Meanwhile, around 5 billion Singapore dollars (3.5 billion U.S. dollars) may be allocated to laying of tracks, electrification, systems integration. Other costs include land acquisition, and the train themselves, which may worth up to 1.7 billion Singapore dollars, he added. Despite only 4 percent of the rail works will be conducted in Singapore, Hutchinson opined that the construction cost for Singapore's may be much higher than Malaysia's, mainly due to its underground works. Malaysia and Singapore's governments signed a bilateral agreement on Dec. 13, 2016 to construct the high speed rail. The rail will open with eight stations with operations of the Express Service between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore targeted for commencement by 2026. The major infrastructure project has drawn interests from countries with high speed rail expertise and technology like China, Japan, South Korea and European countries. Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-05 18:00:34|Editor: Mengjie Video Player Close BEIJING, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- China Development Bank (CDB) accumulatively extended loans of more than 50 billion U.S. dollars to 43 African countries in the first half of this year. Wang Yongsheng, vice president of CDB, said Thursday that the capital has been used to support the development of agriculture, manufacturing industry, infrastructure and to improve people's livelihood. The bank has so far reached consultation agreements with 18 African countries and used its advantages in long-term and larger loans to help African countries grow domestic financial markets. It also initiated the China-Africa Development Fund and launched a special loan targeting Africa's small and medium-sized enterprises. The bank's outstanding loans to Africa total 36.8 billion U.S. dollars, according to Wang. Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-05 18:00:35|Editor: Mengjie Video Player Close NAIROBI, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- The African Development Bank (AfDB) is currently looking for a co-financing partner to fund the 445 km Kenya-Tanzania highway, officials said. AfDB Chief Regional Program Officer Lawson Zankli told Xinhua in Nairobi in a recent interview that his bank has tentatively set aside 300 million U.S. dollars towards the road project that runs along the East African Coastline from Malindi in Kenya to Bagamoyo in Tanzania. "We are looking for partners to bridge the remaining 485 million dollars required to complete the transnational highway," Zankli said. The project will consist of rehabilitation of 215 km of bitumen road on the Kenyan side and upgrading from gravel to bitumen standards of 230 km on the Tanzanian side. Zankli said that AfDB is to play a catalytic role in attracting funding from other partners. AfDB's board is expected to approve funding in mid 2018 to pave way for actual construction by the end of next year. Zankli said that environmental and social impact studies for the road project are currently ongoing. He noted that the road is expected to boost the key economic activities along the Indian Ocean coast such as tourism. "The improved infrastructure will help in easing movement of tourists along the Kenya-Tanzania coastline," he said. AfDB's current portfolio of projects in the Eastern Africa region is about 9 billion dollars, out of which about 70 percent is committed on transport, energy and water infrastructure projects. The Eastern Africa region includes Burundi, Comoros, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Seychelles and Uganda. For the coming three years, the pan-African bank's pipeline projects in the region will total an additional 6 billion dollars. Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-05 18:05:37|Editor: Mengjie Video Player Close by Julius Gale JUBA, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on Thursday expressed concern about the fate of people wounded in the fighting around Waat, in South Sudan's Bieh state, and requested all sides to allow the wounded access to health care. The ICRC in a statement issued in Juba reminded all sides involved in the hostilities to respect and protect those not taking part in the fighting, including wounded combatants. "The ICRC has been able to evacuate several wounded combatants so far and we stand ready to do it again. We are discussing with all sides to the conflict to ensure that the wounded have access to the medical assistance they are entitled to," ICRC's head of delegation in South Sudan, Francois Stamm said. Fresh clashes erupted early this week between government forces and rebels loyal to the country's former deputy president Riek Machar known as SPLA-IO, which left over 90 killed and dozens injured, according to the South Sudan army (SPLA). SPLA spokesman Lul Ruai Koang blamed opposition fighters for obstructing evacuation efforts by the ICRC on Wednesday, alleging that rebel fighters fired shells at the airstrip as the ICRC team tried to evacuate their wounded soldiers. Lam Paul Gabriel, Deputy Spokesman of the rebels denied all the accusations, saying that the government is trying to restrict the ICRC to only rescue wounded government soldiers and leave out the rebels. "Fighting is still ongoing and we are in full control of the airstrip. But the government is putting the ICRC under huge pressure not to assist our fighters, which is not acceptable," Gabriel told Xinhua by phone. The Red Cross said since the beginning of 2017, they have evacuated more than 590 people wounded in fighting and other situations of violence across South Sudan, and it has treated a total of 1,046 people affected by the conflict. "We remind all parties involved in the fighting about their obligation to allow the war wounded prompt access to medical assistance," Stamm said. "There are rules in war and it is crucial that international humanitarian law (IHL) be respected and that those affected by the fighting are protected," he added. South Sudan has been embroiled in more than three years of conflict that has have taken a devastating toll on the people of South Sudan. A peace pact signed in Addis Ababa in 2015 under intense international pressure was shattered again following renewed violence between rival government and opposition troops in the capital Juba in July 2016. The conflict has since spread to other regions which enjoyed relative peace, causing mass displacement of least 4 million people from their homes, ethnic polarization and tribal violence that has killed tens of thousands of people. Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-05 18:30:47|Editor: Song Lifang Video Player Close HANOI, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam's cashew nut exports in the first nine months of this year surged 26.6 percent on-year to nearly 2.6 billion U.S. dollars. Specifically, Vietnam exported 260,000 tons of cashew nuts, up 1.1 percent, according to the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on Thursday. The United States, the Netherlands and China continued to be the main importers of Vietnamese cashew nuts, which consumed 36.6 percent, 15.9 percent and 11.3 percent of the country's total export value, respectively. Vietnam would make cashew export turnovers of 3 billion U.S. dollars this year, the Vietnam Cashew Association said, noting that the figure was a target earlier set for 2020. Last year, the country exported 347,000 tons of cashew nuts worth over 2.8 billion U.S. dollars. Vietnam's cashew-growing area dropped to 290,000 hectares in 2015 from 440,000 hectares in 2007, according to the ministry. In 2016, the area increased by 5,600 hectares. Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-05 18:35:48|Editor: Song Lifang Video Player Close LAS VEGAS, the United States, Oct. 4 (Xinhua) -- The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) and the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) provided on Wednesday night the latest update on investigation into the Las Vegas Strip mass shooting Sunday. The death toll now stands at 59, including the suspect, with 489 injured, confirmed Joseph Lombardo, sheriff of LVMPD. A total of 317 injured victims have been discharged from local hospitals. At a news conference Wednesday night, Lombardo released details from the investigation into the deadly mass shooting by Stephen Paddock, a 64-year-old gambler and real estate investor. Details released included an official timeline of how police responded Sunday night to the shooting spree when Paddock rained bullets from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay hotel into a crowd of more than 22,000 people attending Route 91 Harvest Country Music Festival. The first shot was fired at 10:05 p.m. Sunday, and ended at 11:27 p.m. when the suspect was confirmed down. It took 75 minutes to enter the shooter's suite. Police reached the 32nd floor of the hotel within 12 minutes of the first shots being fired. No suicide note was found inside Paddock's hotel suite. Investigators recovered 1,600 rounds of ammunition and at least three hunting scopes. Two cameras installed for surveillance were found in a room service cart outside of the hotel room, an additional camera was found on the hotel room door's peephole, and another camera was discovered in a baby monitor found in the living room of the hotel suite. Lombardo also said none of the cameras that Paddock put up in his hotel room at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino was recording as he fired down onto the crowd. Around 200 rounds were fired in the hotel hallway where a hotel security guard was shot. "It was miraculous the hotel security guard survived," Lombardo said. Investigators also discovered over 50 pound explosives and 1,600 rounds of ammo inside the suspect's vehicle parked at the Mandalay Bay. Police confirmed Paddock rented a room via Airbnb at the Ogden during the Life is Beautiful festival weekend, which took place from Sept. 22 to 24., just a week before the mass shooting. FBI special agent Aaron Rouse and city officials joined Lombardo during a press conference at Metro PD headquarters Wednesday afternoon. "We have no one in custody. We have found no evidence to indicate this was terrorism," Rouse said. The FBI on Wednesday turned its probe to Marilou Danley, the girlfriend of the gunman, who arrived at the Los Angeles international airport on Tuesday night. In a statement read by her attorney outside the FBI's Los Angeles office, Danley said she was not aware that her boyfriend was planning violence against anyone. LVMPD also released dramatic footage on Wednesday, showing officers' reactions at the frantic moments when one of their own was shot in a barrage of bullets fired by Paddock from the 32nd floor of a hotel. The worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history was the 273rd mass shooting in the United States in the 275 days of 2017 so far, according to the non-profit organization Gun Violence Archive. Mass shootings, a nearly daily occurrence in the United States, are when four or more people are slain by gunfire in one incident, according to the group. Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-05 18:45:50|Editor: Song Lifang Video Player Close JAKARTA, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- Corruption eradication commission in Indonesia (KPK) has cooperated with the U.S. federal bureau of investigation (FBI) to gather and seek evidence in a mega corruption case which involves Indonesian high profile politicians, official of the watchdog disclosed here on Thursday. The electronic identity card (e-ID) graft case occurring from 2011 to 2012 has led to financial loss of 2.3 trillion rupiah (about 172.6 million U.S. dollars) of the state. "We have set up cooperation with the FBI in relation with gathering and seeking evidence in the United States," spokesman of the KPK Febri Diansyah said. A recent court session in the United States has unveiled evidence linked with the case, said Febri. "There are evidences indicating flowing of funds to officials in Indonesia which are being also processed in a court in the United States," he revealed. The spokesman said that the KPK will keep coordinating with the FBI to follow up the evidence. The Indonesian government has struggled to combat seismic graft which has been one of the bottlenecks in improving investment climate. The photo taken by Swedish photographer Staffan Widstrand on April 21, 2015 in the Sichuan province shows Tibetan macaques. Tibetan macaques are very social animals and are constantly interacting with one another. (Photo courtesy of Staffan Widstrand) by Li Jizhi, Elina Xu HELSINKI, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- "At the moment when our guide disappeared in the dense forest, I saw a gibbon standing at the foot of a tree. In the following seconds, I held my breath and felt the sweat dripping." "Suddenly some shadows popped up to the sky, and I turned the 400 mm lens in the direction and caught a rare picture of the animals." It is a narration by Norwegian photographer Roy Mangersnes in his publication of the memory of a photo expedition around the Tongbiguan Nature Reserve in China's Yunnan Province May. The gibbon with white eyebrow shown in Mangersnes' works is a unique endangered wild animal in China, which has just been officially named Sky Walker Gibbon in 2017, said Yin Feng, director of the Department of Science Popularization at China Wildlife Conservation Association. Mangersnes spent several days in the Tongbiguan Nature Reserve and saw the Sky Walkers twice, and every time he had only two or three minutes to take photos of them. The rare experience was shared by Swedish photographer Staffan Widstrand, who participated in a joint project touring China in 2015 and 2016. Once he went through the hardships to reach a place at an altitude of 5,000 meters on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, and took pictures of Pallas's cats with a long shot, making the cute animal to become an online star in China. A good photo comes from not only personal effort of a photographer but also the governmental and public support in protecting the wildlife. "All this is a major, positive step for nature conservation in China," Widstrand told Xinhua. "All the bigger wildlife and a lot of the smaller, were earlier heavily hunted, but now both hunting and rifles are generally banned in most of China, these species are protected by law and a number of huge nature reserves have been created. This has been so successful that many of the protected species now seem to begin to thrive also outside the protected areas," he added. After years of efforts, populations of the critically endangered species, such as giant panda, crested ibis, Chinese crocodile, Tibetan antelope, are increasing steadily, according to Yin. The number of wild giant panda reached 1,864 by the end of 2013, increasing by 268 from the previous investigation years before. The habitation areas of giant pandas also significantly increased by 11.8 percent. To promote the protection of Chinese wildlife, Chinese photographer Xie Jianguo initiated a project named "the Natural Images of China", through which he has invited international outstanding photographers including Mangersnes and Widstrand to visit wildlife habitats in China. The project has been supported by governmental institutions. According to Xie, many foreign photographers have been amazed by the variety of wild animals in China. "China not only has giant pandas" is a common reaction. The photographers have shot many unique or rare species other than giant panda, such as golden monkeys, sky walker gibbons, takins, clouded leopards, golden cats, nippons, crested ibises, macaques, green peacocks, Blyth's tragopan, Asian water monitors, King cobras and so on. Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-05 19:40:53|Editor: Song Lifang Video Player Close Photo taken on Oct. 5, 2017 shows a scene of the Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) of donor nations in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan. The SOM of donor nations opened in Afghan capital of Kabul on Thursday, to discuss progress and achievements in the country's development and reform agenda. (Xinhua/Rahmat Alizadah) Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-05 19:36:08|Editor: Mengjie Video Player Close Giant panda Nuan Nuan eats at Malaysia's national zoo in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Oct. 5, 2017. Nuan Nuan (meaning warmth in Chinese), the first Malaysian-born female giant panda cub, will head back to China on Nov. 14, more than two years after her parents unexpectedly gave birth to her on Aug. 18, 2015. (Xinhua/Chong Voon Chung) KUALA LUMPUR, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- Nuan Nuan (which means warmth), the first Malaysian-born female giant panda cub, will head back to China on Nov. 14, more than two years after her parents unexpectedly gave birth to her on Aug. 18, 2015. Wan Junaidi, Malaysia's minister of natural resources and environment, made the announcement at a farewell ceremony on Thursday at Malaysia's national zoo. Nuan Nuan, like its name, has brought so much joy to all Malaysians and visitors to the Giant Panda Conservation Center (GPCC) of the national zoo, said Wan Junaidi at the ceremony. Over the past 26 months, Nuan Nuan's growth and development has been good, said Wan Junaidi, adding she is currently active, bonds well with her mother and in good health. Describing sending back the panda cub as "a very difficult decision to make," Wan Junaidi said Malaysia is returning Nuan Nuan to China to give her sufficient time to adapt to her natural habitat, citing an agreement reached between China and Malaysia which stipulated that any giant panda born in Malaysia shall be returned to China once the cub has reached its maturity age of two years old. Mat Naim, director of the GPCC, told Xinhua that Nuan Nuan is currently undergoing crate training where she is put into a special cage for a few hours a day, a necessary step for the panda cub to familiarize itself with the limited space of movement when going on a plane. When talking about the possibility for Nuan Nuan's parents, the two pandas loaned by China to Malaysia in 2014, to have another baby panda, Wan Junaidi said he was told that "because of the environment here is something unique, and the possibility is high and it's not a possibility but it's high probability" to bear another cub. Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-05 19:41:12|Editor: ZD Video Player Close WELLINGTON, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- Lower rainfall in the South Island led to well below average inflows to southern hydro lakes and a reduction in hydro generation in the June 2017 quarter, according to the New Zealand Energy Quarterly released on Thursday. The latest New Zealand Energy Quarterly, released by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), covers the period from April to June. It provides quarterly data and analysis on energy supply, demand, prices and associated greenhouse gas emissions. "In the June 2017 quarter, there was higher rainfall in the North Island," James Hogan, MBIE's Manager of Energy and Building Trends said in a statement. While this led to a significant increase in North Island hydro generation and went some way to cover the lower output from the South Island, the overall picture is that hydroelectric generation was 2.2 percent lower than the same period in 2016, Hogan said. The supply was maintained by increased gas-fired electricity generation, which led to the renewable share of electricity generation falling just below 80 percent, which was the lowest quarterly level in two years, he said. Electricity demand from the residential sector returned to 2015 levels, Hogan said, adding that residential demand was up 4.3 percent from the June 2016 quarter, when warmer than usual temperatures lowered household electricity use. "While there was low rainfall in parts of the South Island, increased rainfall in the rest of the country lowered the need for irrigation in this quarter. As a result, electricity demand by the agricultural sector was down 17.4 percent from the June 2016 quarter," Hogan said. Total energy use of gas increased 2.4 percent in the June 2017 quarter in New Zealand, as more gas was used to generate electricity, the quarterly said, adding that there are no significant changes in energy prices and associated greenhouse gas emissions in this quarter. Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-05 20:11:22|Editor: Mengjie Video Player Close HANOI, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- Studying Chinese, one of the world's most spoken languages, has not only brightened the career paths for Vietnamese students, but also enriched their lives culturally with impassioned values. "Learning Chinese is so much fun because I can come to understand many good songs and rhythms," said Ha Kieu My, a third-year student at the Hanoi-based Foreign Trade University, who was a finalist at the 2nd Chinese singing contest held by the Confucius Institute in Vietnam on Wednesday night. At the music competition, held under the framework of the Chinese Culture Week in Vietnam and Confucius Institute Day 2017, some 11 finalists from six universities in Hanoi performed Chinese songs of all genres, from classic to modern, before hundreds of excited fans in the audience. Sitting in the crowded theater of Hanoi University, a fourth-year student of Chinese, Bui Thanh Huyen, said she has been fond of Chinese music since she was a little girl. "The gentle, rhythmic pronunciation of the Chinese language makes songs sound more melodious. When you listen to it, you feel like a beautiful world is opening up for you," Huyen told Xinhua, with dreamy eyes. According to Huyen, Vietnamese students like her manage to find many hobbies related to their linguistic major. "Thanks to our language studies we can enjoy Chinese films, reality shows, Chinese novels and so on. We are so lucky that we can also be entertained by what we study, unlike students of other foreign languages who are struggling just to remember words," Huyen smiled, her eyes beaming. As a senior student, Huyen does not seem to worry about her future since her major in Chinese provides her with lots of opportunities. We have many choices after graduation. We can apply for higher education with Master's programs taught in Chinese, she explained. "Or, if we think really optimistically, we can go to work, as many large multinational companies are Chinese and the Chinese language is widely-used around the world," she said excitedly, thinking about her rosy future. However, the young girl said that she wished that more China-related activities could be held at her school, the Foreign Trade University, instead of just at other universities. "We do not have so many Chinese students and lecturers in our schools, and contests are not held on our campus. I think I am a little bit jealous of other universities like today's host Hanoi University," Huyen smiled. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Cultural Counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Vietnam, Peng Shituan, also one of the competition's judges, said that culture, in particular music and this contest, is a bridge of friendship that promotes understandings between the two country's peoples and brings them closer. He said he hoped that more and more activities like this would be held in the future to intensify cultural exchanges. Echoing Tuan's view, Nguyen Vinh Quang, vice chairman of the Vietnam-China Friendship Association, could not hide his happiness at seeing young Vietnamese students enjoying discovering Chinese cultural values, saying that it would further cement the long-term friendship of both countries. Quang himself went on to perform a flute repertoire, which both surprised and captivated the enthusiastic audience. At the end of the three-hour contest, with an incredible performance of the song "Hua xin", student Ha Vi Hoa from Phuong Dong University, Hanoi, came away with the first prize. Nguyen Thi Cuc Phuong, vice principal of Hanoi University happily thanked all participants for their enthusiasm in joining the contest. Aside from the singing competition, the Institute had successfully organized a series of other events a week earlier for students, lecturers and scholars, which were very well-received. These included a Chinese Character Dictation Competition, "Sinophile" Chinese Culture Trivia Competition, and helping students to practice for the Chinese language test. Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-05 20:16:23|Editor: Song Lifang Video Player Close VALLETTA, Oct. 5 (Xinhua)-- The European Commission is dedicating nearly 560 million euros (657 million U.S. dollars) with 36 concrete ocean actions, Commission Vice President Frederica Mogherini announced at the Our Ocean conference 2017 being held in Malta on Thursday. Mogherini said that the sea is increasingly sick and insecure. "By 2050 the oceans could contain more plastic than fish. And the poison that we throw into the water comes back to us, to our tables, in the food we eat," she added. The rise of sea levels is already forcing millions of people to leave their homes and migrate. Meanwhile, the ocean is becoming a security threat. For these reasons, the EU is putting nearly 560 million euros into 36 tangible actions to foster healthier, cleaner, safer and more secure seas. These actions involve six categories: maritime security, marine pollution, blue economy, climate change, marine protection and sustainable fisheries. A significant portions of funds -- 35.7 million euros -- will go directly to the Southeastern African coastline to fight piracy, especially along Somalian coast. In addition, EU announced a gradual phase-out by the end 2017 of all single-use plastic cups in buildings and meetings, including water fountains and vending machines. "The health and safety of our ocean is a national security issue, and yet it cannot be guaranteed by any individual nation alone. What brings us here today is the urgent and inescapable need for international cooperation on maritime issues," Mogherini said. Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-05 20:21:25|Editor: Song Lifang Video Player Close ISTANBUL, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- Five members of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) were killed Thursday during an operation in Turkey's southwestern province of Mugla, local media reported. According to the Hurriyet daily, police and gendarmerie forces, acting on an intelligence tip, launched a joint operation against seven PKK militants in Mugla's Koycegiz district. Two PKK rebels escaped during the clashes and the operation was still underway to capture them, the daily said. Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu, while addressing the parliament on Thursday, said PKK militants had infiltrated into Turkey's Aegean and Mediterranean regions via Syria's port city of Latakia, despite intensive operations by Turkish armed forces in the region. The PKK, which has been fighting for autonomy in Turkey's southeast region for over 30 years, is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States and the European Union. The group resumed its armed campaign against the Turkish government in July 2015, ending two years of peace talks with Ankara. Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-05 20:21:26|Editor: Song Lifang Video Player Close GAZA, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah concluded Thursday the first official visit to Gaza Strip since December 2014, aiming at reconciliation with Islamic Hamas movement. During the four-day visit, Hamdallah and his cabinet ministers as well as chiefs of security took over responsibilities in the coastal enclave from the Hamas movement. Before leaving Gaza Strip, Hamdallah visited the water desalination project in Gaza city. He said to reporters that "achieving national reconciliation is a national interest and an internal Palestinian issue." He also criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over his recent statements concerning the reconciliation, saying he will ignore "any statements that come in the way of the reconciliation, because without national unity, there is no Palestinian cause, no national project and no Palestinian state without Gaza Strip." Netanyahu earlier said "he doesn't accept an illusional (Palestinian) reconciliation where Hamas doesn't recognize Israel and a homeland for the Jewish nation as one of three conditions it should agree to." Speaking to reporters at the end of his visit, Hamdallah stressed the importance of the upcoming talks in Cairo between Islamic Hamas movement and Palestinian President's Fatah party, along with other factions. The arrival of Hamdallah's government in Gaza to take over administration from Hamas resulted from an Egyptian-brokered agreement reached in Cairo last month between Hamas and Fatah. The parties are scheduled to hold an assessment meeting in Cairo next week, where they will discuss the progress of the government's first week of work in Gaza. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday said "the meeting is "important and crucial," and "aims to lay foundations and go into the specific details of the next steps." He said the Palestinians hope to succeed in this mission "because unity is our goal and we are counting on it," adding that "without unity, there will be no Palestinian state." Abbas also said that Fatah Revolutionary Council, the group's parliament, is to convene in Ramallah on late Thursday to "widely discuss the reconciliation" after Hamas dissolved its Gaza Affairs Committee. "The road now is widely open to talk about national unity," said Abbas. Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-05 20:26:29|Editor: Song Lifang Video Player Close RABAT, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- A total of 15 people have been arrested for suspected links to the seizure of a record 2.59 tons of cocaine in Morocco, local media reported on Thursday. The Moroccan police announced that they had seized the record amount of cocaine after raids in the coastal cities of Skhirat and Bouznika, dozens of kilometers away from Rabat, and the northeastern city of Nador. The police also seized rifles, 105 kg of cannabis, six vehicles and 480,000 U.S. dollars in cash. The suspects were Moroccan Dutch and Moroccan Spanish, Abdelhak El Khiam, director of Morocco's Central Bureau for Judicial Investigation, was quoted as saying by daily Al Ahdath Al Maghribia. The suspected masterminds of the network are two Dutch citizens of Moroccan origin who are currently serving sentences over accusation of drug trafficking operations, the same source added. El Khiam said the dismantlement of the drug trafficking network involved more than four years of surveillance and investigations. He underlined that investigators believed the drugs were shipped from Venezuela for distribution in Morocco as well as in Europe or the United Arab Emirates. "The drug networks of South America are currently trying to make use of the African route, via the countries in South Sahara where there is little control," he pointed out. Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-05 20:31:32|Editor: Song Lifang Video Player Close Tripoli, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- The municipal council of the western Libyan city of Sabratha revealed Thursday that 3,000 families had fled their homes because of the military clashes in the city. "Initial statistics monitored by the Crisis Committee of the Council revealed that 3,000 families had fled their homes," The council said in a statement. Aid will be delivered to the 1,000 displaced families with the assistance of the Libyan Red Crescent, the statement added. Sabratha, some 70 km west of the capital Tripoli, has been witnessing violent clashes since mid September between rival armed groups. The conflicts have so far killed dozens of people, injured hundreds and forced a number of inhabitants to flee their homes. The clashes broke out after a member of an armed group affiliated with the city's military council was killed by the rival anti-IS operation chamber. Following the 2011 uprising that toppled former leader Gaddafi's regime, Libya has been plagued with escalating violence and unrest. Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-05 20:36:34|Editor: Mengjie Video Player Close BEIJING, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- Ping'an Bank's newly announced anti-fraud system can identify fraudulent credit card transactions within 0.2 of a second, making it the fastest of its kind in China, according to the bank. The system, which was put into use last year, but only formally announced last month, allows the bank to stop credit card fraud the instant it occurs, while many of their competitors react only after the transaction has been made, said Zhang Shen from Ping'an's risk management department. "Once a card has been stolen it's very difficult to prevent the first fraudulent transaction, because a real-time response requires the bank's anti-fraud system to make precise decisions very quickly," he said. Statistics from the Ministry of Public Security showed that credit card crime has surged in China, with more than 63,000 cases filed in 2016, accounting for one-third of the country's total financial crime. Hu Yuefei, president of Ping'an Bank, said the company's system conducts round-the-clock surveillance of credit card accounts and identifies abnormal user behavior based on big data analysis within an average response time of no more than 0.2 of a second. "We can ensure no money is lost from a stolen account," Hu said. Since the system was activated in January 2016, more than 800 million transactions have been monitored, with 65 million yuan in both direct and indirect losses avoided. The technology is a part of the bank's moves to develop smart banking, Hu said, adding that financial technology has become all the more important in improving operation efficiency and service quality as competition between banks gets fiercer. Ping'an Bank has invested 1.2 billion yuan into research and development of financial technology during the first half of the year, up 20 percent year on year. Its technical team has increased from 200 to more than 1,800 staff members In late September, Agricultural Bank of China (ABC) announced that customers no longer need to insert their bank cards to withdraw money from ATMS at three branches in Jinan, Shandong Province. ATMs will scan the account holders face to access their account. The technology will help eliminate the risk of copied or fake bank cards, and lower the possibility of cards being damaged or confiscated by ATMs, according to Zhang Baojing from ABC. "It will enhance the customer experience," he said. Other banks, such as China Merchants Bank and Construction Bank of China, have also introduced similar technology in their ATMs. From 2018, ATMs installed in ABC branches in Tianjin Municipality,Shaanxi, Hunan and Hubei provinces will be paper-free. Customers will be able to scan the screen with their mobile phone to receive an electronic receipt of the transaction. Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-05 21:01:41|Editor: Song Lifang Video Player Close ANKARA, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- The United States Embassy in Turkey on Thursday slammed the arrest by Turkish authorities of Istanbul consulate staff, saying that Washington "is deeply disturbed by the arrest." The employee, identified only by Metin Topuz, was remanded in custody by an Istanbul court late Wednesday on accusations of links to the group of U.S.-based preacher Fethullah Gulen, blamed by Ankara for last year's failed coup attempt. "The United States government is deeply disturbed by the arrest of a locally-employed staff member of the U.S. Consulate General Istanbul on October 4, " the U.S. embassy said in a statement. The employee with Turkish nationality was charged with "political and military espionage" and "attempting to remove the constitutional order," according to Anadolu Agency. However, the U.S. statement said allegations against U.S. employees were "baseless" and harmed the relations between Washington and Ankara. "We believe these allegations to be wholly without merit," it added. "The United States will continue to engage with the Turkish government to ensure that employees of the U.S. government, as well as American citizens in Turkey, are accorded due legal process in accordance with the Turkish constitution and international legal norms," it stressed. Source:Xinhua| 2017-10-05 21:16:46|Editor: Mengjie Video Player Close A worker inspects as he dries the noodles in Xiasi Village of Kaili City of southwest China's Guizhou Province Oct. 5, 2017. The noodle, a fine, soft but elastic product, deserves high reputation in local market. (Xinhua/Cai Xingwen) Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-05 21:16:45|Editor: Song Lifang Video Player Close VALLETTA, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- Some 70 percent of plastic bottles will be reclaimed through a nationwide refund scheme by 2019, Malta's Prime Minister Joseph Muscat announced at the Our Ocean conference 2017 being held in Malta on Thursday. Muscat said that plastic bottles are not the only issue, and plastics since the 1940s are still dispersed in the environment. To begin reducing plastic waste, Malta will create marine protected areas in 30 percent of its waters by 2018. This is adding to the already established protected area that is larger than the island itself. The new marine protected area will help to protect caves and coral reefs. A management plan for the area will be developed by 2020. Malta also plans to build a Commonwealth Small States Centre of Excellence that will provide practical support to maintain the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals and give additional support in marine protected area management,Muscat added. "Malta is at the forefront of ensuring that our oceans remain preserved for our future," he concluded. Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-05 21:41:52|Editor: Zhou Xin Video Player Close Chairman of the Iranian Parliament's National Security Commission Alaeddin Boroujerdi (C) speaks at a press conference held in Damascus, capital of Syria, on Oct. 5, 2017. A visiting Iranian official on Thursday described the independence bid of Iraq's Kurdistan region as the creation of "a new Israeli entity" in the region. (Xinhua/Ammar Safarjalani) DAMASCUS, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- A visiting Iranian official on Thursday described the independence bid of Iraq's Kurdistan region as the creation of "a new Israeli entity" in the region. "What happened in the (Iraqi) Kurdistan region, from the perspective of Iran, is totally rejected and we will not tolerate the formation of a new Israeli entity in the region," said Chairman of the Iranian Parliament's National Security Commission Alaeddin Boroujerdi in a press conference held in Damascus. Late last month, the Kurds in Iraqi Kurdistan voted for independence from Iraq amid a barrage of international and regional opposition. The independence referendum has sparked tension between Bagdad and Kurdistan regional government, with Bagdad taking several punitive measures against Kurdistan including halting air flights to the region. Although the vote is non-binding and is not expected to result in immediate independence, both Turkey and Iran have closed their borders with Iraqi Kurdistan. Meanwhile, Boroujerdi said that the regional and international stances toward Syria are changing step by step. "We are optimistic and see good in what is currently going on," he said. He stressed that his country would continue to provide full support to the Syrian government. The Iranian official also accused the United States of aiding the Islamic State (IS) militants. "The latest measures by the United States, including transporting IS leaders and providing medical treatment to them, indicate who is standing behind terrorism," he said. Iraqi Kurds celebrate with the Kurdish flag in the streets of the northern city of Kirkuk on September 25, 2017 as they vote in a referendum on independence. (AFP PHOTO) DAMASCUS, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- A visiting Iranian official on Thursday described the independence bid of Iraq's Kurdistan region as the creation of "a new Israeli entity" in the region. "What happened in the (Iraqi) Kurdistan region, from the perspective of Iran, is totally rejected and we will not tolerate the formation of a new Israeli entity in the region," said Chairman of the Iranian Parliament's National Security Commission Alaeddin Boroujerdi in a press conference held in Damascus. Late last month, the Kurds in Iraqi Kurdistan voted for independence from Iraq amid a barrage of international and regional opposition. The independence referendum has sparked tension between Bagdad and Kurdistan regional government, with Bagdad taking several punitive measures against Kurdistan including halting air flights to the region. Although the vote is non-binding and is not expected to result in immediate independence, both Turkey and Iran have closed their borders with Iraqi Kurdistan. Meanwhile, Boroujerdi said that the regional and international stances toward Syria are changing step by step. "We are optimistic and see good in what is currently going on," he said. He stressed that his country would continue to provide full support to the Syrian government. The Iranian official also accused the United States of aiding the Islamic State (IS) militants. Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-05 22:01:58|Editor: Song Lifang Video Player Close DUBAI, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- Share price indexes from Kuwait to Dubai lost ground on Thursday following a roller coaster-week in the energy market and in the corporate sector. In Kuwait, the KSE Price Index fell 0.45 percent to 6,662.11 amid lackluster trading. Kuwait derives 95 percent of its national revenues from oil. The price of oil stabilized on Thursday above 50 dollars per barrel (159 liters) after it fell sharply when the September rally was abruptly halted at 53.08 dollars per barrel earlier this week. The Dubai Financial Market (DFM) General Index slipped 0.21 percent to 3,591.10 after early gains melted again, pushing the gains into the red. Construction giant Arabtec fell the most, ending off two percent at 2.94 dirham (0.80 dollar). Dubai-based energy, building maintenance and plumbing firm Drake and Scull International or DSI advanced 2.40 percent to hit 1.71 dirham (0.46 dollar), representing a four-month high. DSI posted strong gains during the week after the financially distressed company said earlier in the week in a filing to the DFM that it completed a capital restructuring program which it implemented at the start of the current fiscal year. The firm also received 500 million dirham (136 million dollars) from investment firm Tabarak. The Dubai-based investment firm became in April this year DSI's majority owner. In Riyadh, the Tadawul All-Share Index which measures the performance of listed Saudi Arabian companies declined by 0.36 percent to reach 7,259.22 points. Earlier in the week, Dr. Fahad Al-Turki, Chief Economist at Jadwa Research in Riyadh said "Economic data for August continued to show mild improvements in activity." In addition, "Doubts over TASI's inclusion into the FTSE Russell emerging markets index (...) were realized as Saudi Arabia was denied admission to the index over the last weekend, although it is expected to meet the criteria in March 2018," said Al-Turki. Earlier in the day in Moscow, Saudi Minister of Energy Khalid Al-Falih said during Saudi King Salman's historic visit to Russia that the world's most valuable energy firm Saudi Aramco was "on track" to list five percent of its capital "in the second half of 2018." The listing of the state-run oil and gas firm could be valued at around 100 billion dollars, analysts estimate and is part of the government's Saudi Vision 2030 masterplan to spur the privatization of the economy. The Doha-based Qatar Exchange finished the trading week (which ends in the Islamic world on Thursday as Friday marks the weekend) 1.59 percent lower at a multi-year low at 8,152.98. Since the Saudi-led Arab Quartet and its allies severed diplomatic ties with Qatar and imposed air, sea and land boycott against the gas-rich Gulf state in June this year, the Qatari gauge retreated by 17.84 percent. Photo taken on Oct. 4, 2017 shows New Frontier Armory, a gun store in Las Vegas, Nevada, the United States. (Xinhua/Wang Ying) by Peter Mertz LAS VEGAS, the United States, Oct. 4 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump's four-hour trip to Las Vegas Wednesday, while well received by some, added fuel to the conversation over gun control. "It's unfortunate the president failed to mention the most important aspect of the horrific Las Vegas massacre - that responsible gun control laws could actually stop the carnage," said Seattle attorney and Washington-DC insider David Richardson. Advocates of gun control were active on the social media. "I'm angry that somebody died because the Republicans, with their leader, are very good at going to gun violence memorials, but not very good at preventing them," Juan Zepeda wrote on the Los Angeles Times website. "Listening to him is painful," Carol Crommett posted on the Boston Globe website. Some took the chance to vent their rages at the country's racial problems. "He probably won't even mention that the security guard who helped prevent more shootings was Hispanic!" Joanne Cordero, a physical therapist from Brooklyn, posted on the New York Daily News website. However, Richardson told Xinhua that Trump may see his approving rate rise after the incident. "You can expect Trump's ratings to rise after this unspeakable tragedy," Richardson said, "Americans tend to pull together when the chips are down." According to a Politico/Morning Consult poll conducted over last weekend, the president's approval rating was 45 percent, compared to 49 percent who said they viewed him negatively. On the ground in Las Vegas, the president received good marks from first responders, victims, and hospital staff who met him Wednesday. "It was a great honor to meet the president - he came in, cracked a joke, said he was very proud of us, and that the world was watching," said Steve Grammas, President of the Las Vegas Police Protective Association. Grammas also defended Trump's three-day delay getting to the Nevada desert to offer support. "Bringing him here early may have caused problems," Grammas told Xinhua. "We were still dealing with a lot down here - getting some officers rest, and getting things back to normalcy - so his early arrival may have hurt that," Grammas said. Judd Frazier, a Las Vegas hospital staffer told Xinhua, "I think it's great that he came and visited the people here, they need that, they need the support, and the country needs to unify." Nevada state trooper Jeremy Tye told Xinhua, "It means a lot to us to have the president here ... It was great." Victim Thomas Gunderson, who was shot in the leg, put a short video on Facebook showing President Trump and Fist Lady Melania stopping by the hospital he was in. "There may be plenty of issues in this country but I will always respect my country, my president, and my flag," Gunderson wrote. Stephen Paddock, a 64-year-old gambler and real estate investor, rained bullets from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino on the Las Vegas Strip onto an outdoor music festival with more than 22,000 concert-goers late Sunday night. At least 59 people were killed and more than 500 others wounded in the deadliest shooting in U.S. history. Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-05 22:27:04|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close by Denis Elamu JUBA, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- Eleven South Sudanese rebels on Thursday defected to the government in order to participate in the ongoing national dialogue process launched last year by President Salva Kiir. General Gabriel Gatwech Puoch from the SPLA-In opposition (SPLA-IO) faction under First Vice President Taban Deng Gai said the 11 returnee rebels, including two Brigadiers, arrived in Juba from the Ugandan capital, Kampala. "I have been sent to Kampala by Taban Deng to meet those who have called for peace and some of them have come with me. We are delighted that people are now ready to talk and air out differences through the national dialogue," Gatwech said in Juba. He added that some of the returnees had fled to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in the wake of the renewed July violence last year that pushed Machar out of the capital. Brigadier Jeremiah Sero, who is among the returnee rebels, said they came to be part of the national dialogue process and that peace will only come from local solution. "We have heard this call to join the national dialogue, because it's South Sudanese who will bring peace to our country. I call on our comrades still in the bush to join this process," said Sero who was among rebels that fled with Machar to DRC during violence last year. Meanwhile, Brigadier Okello Odongo who was with the rebels in Magwi County, Imatong state said more rebel fighters are ready to renounce rebellion for the national dialogue. "This is high time that we welcome everybody who has left this country because of grievances to return and help build the country. There are number of soldiers that are ready to come but delayed due to facilitation," he disclosed. "Right now as we talk already there are forces gathering, building up in cantonment sites. And with my coming I believe that even the (rebel) remnants still in the bush will join us," he added. South Sudan descended into violence in December 2013 after political dispute between President Salva Kiir and his former deputy Riek Machar led to fighting that pitted mostly Dinka ethnic soldiers loyal to Kiir against Machar's Nuer ethnic group. The 2015 peace agreement to end the violence was again violated in July 2016 when the rival factions resumed fighting in the capital forcing the rebel leader Machar to flee into exile. The conflict has killed tens of thousands and displaced millions that have sought refuge in neighboring countries. Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-05 22:37:08|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close SHEBERGHAN, Afghanistan, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- A Taliban key commander was killed following an airstrike in northern Afghan province of Jawzjan, police said Thursday. Turan Amrullah, Taliban senior military commander for Jawzjan and Faryab provinces, who has long been pursued by security forces, was killed together with scores of his fighters early Thursday morning, after an airstrike targeted terrorists' hideouts in Darzab district of Jawzjan, Sayed Sarwar Hussaini, spokesman of Police 707 Pamir Zone based in the area, told Xinhua. No comment had been immediately made by Taliban on the incidents. The Taliban insurgency spreads from its traditional strongholds in the south and east to the once peaceful region in the north, where the militants have been recruiting from among the youth. Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-05 22:37:09|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close ANKARA, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- Turkey will close border gates with northern Iraq soon as part of the measures against the Iraqi Kurdish independence vote, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday. In a speech at the Presidential Complex in Ankara, Erdogan said that Turkey, Iraq and Iran are considering a joint blockade on Iraqi Kurdistan region after the independence referendum by the Iraqi Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) on Sept. 25. "On one side is Iran, on the other side is Turkey, in the south is Iraqi administration, in the west is Syria... What can you do? Where can you go?" the Turkish President said. "All the airspaces will be closed, flights are already banned. Borders will be closed soon, how will you conduct entrance and exit?" He added. His remarks came after a one-day visit to Tehran where he discussed with his Iranian counterpart joint measures to be taken against the Iraqi Kurds as sanctions to their ambitions for independence. Turkey has vowed to take any necessary measures, including political, economic sanctions and military intervention, to retaliate for the Kurdish independence referendum. Ankara launched joint military exercises with Iraqi troops on their borders, threatening to join Baghdad and Tehran to cut off flow of oil from northern Iraq which is a vital revenue for the region. Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-05 22:37:10|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close ISLAMABAD, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan on Thursday rejected recent remarks by senior U.S. officials that Pakistan security agencies have links with the Afghan armed groups and that there are sanctuaries of terrorists in Pakistan. Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff General Joseph Dunford, in his recent statement, has leveled allegations on Pakistan's intelligence agency maintaining contacts with the Afghan terrorist groups. "We have time and again rejected these allegations. Pakistan has done enough to erase the footprint of terrorism from its soil through indiscriminate counter terrorism operations against all terrorist outfits," the Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman Nafees Zakaria said. "Our counter-terrorism operations were without any discrimination and we have successfully erased the footprint of terrorists from our soil. There are no safe-havens in Pakistan," the spokesman said at his weekly briefing. He said the sanctuaries people are talking about are "located in the ungoverned spaces of Afghanistan," adding that in the wake of U.S. President Donald Trump's policy review on Afghanistan and South Asia, Pakistan, at the highest level, has clearly underlined that the country should not be made a scapegoat for failures in Afghanistan. He said Pakistan's sincerity and commitment to taking action against terrorist groups should not be doubted. To a question about cross-border terrorism, the spokesman said Pakistan is fully committed to addressing this issue with Afghanistan through effective border management, and has also taken concrete measures in this regard, adding Pakistan has suffered due to terrorist attacks by terrorists from Afghan side. Regarding Pakistan's Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa's visit to Afghanistan over the weekend, he said the army chief held "constructive and useful engagements with both political and military leadership of Afghanistan." "Pakistan as a policy, participates in all forums that are geared towards bringing peace and stability in Afghanistan. Pakistan has offered training and equipment in the field of counter terrorism and border management," Zakaria said. Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-05 22:52:16|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close MOGADISHU, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- Somalia security forces on Thursday killed at least three Al-Shabaab militants and injured four others in heavy fighting with the insurgents in Bariire location in southern region. Deputy Governor of Lower Shabelle region, Abdifitah Haji Abdulle, told reporters that Al-Shabaab militants attacked Somalia National Army base in Bariire, sparking fierce fighting between the army and insurgents. "Terrorists attacked army bases in Bariire location in Lower Shabelle region today, then fighting broke out that lasted about two hours. Somali National Army killed 3 Al-Shabaab militants and wounded 4 others," Abdulle said. Abdulle added that there were no casualties on Somali National Army side during the fighting in the area. A resident in Bariire told Xinhua by phone that residents have deserted the town due to fears of retaliatory attacks by the insurgents. "I cannot tell the number of casualties of the fresh fighting today, but casualties will only be from warring sides here because residents were displaced already," the resident said. Al-Shabaab militants did not comment on the latest assault in Bariire town which is about 60km south of the capital Mogadishu. At least 18 Al-Shabaab militants were killed last week after they raided a military base in Bariire town. Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-05 22:57:19|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close BAGHDAD, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- The Iraqi security forces on Thursday fully liberated the city of Hawijah and nearby town, while continuing to hunt down the extremists in the remaining area in the west of Kirkuk, said the Iraqi military. The army's 9th Armored Division, federal police, interior ministry's Rapid Response forces, and six brigades of the paramilitary Hashd Shaabi forces took part in the battle to liberate Hawijah, some 45 km west of Kirkuk, Lt. Gen. Abdul Amir Yarallah, commander of Hawijah operations, said in a statement. The troops continued their advance outside the city to clear the rural area, known as Hawijah Pocket, from IS militants who fled the city as the security forces stormed their stronghold in Hawijah, Yarallah said. The troops have begun the operation to clear the outskirts of Hawijah on Wednesday and have swept the other neighborhoods inside the city Thursday morning. The troops continued chasing IS militants during the day and liberated many villages around Hawijah before they pushed into the nearby town of Ryadh and took full control of its neighborhoods, Yarallah said in a separate statement. The battles in Hawijah Pocket ended fast, indicating that the extremist group has suffered dramatic decline in its ability to cling to the ground, according to military officials. The battles in Hawijah were part of an offensive that began on Sept. 29 when the Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced the launch of the second phase of offensive to dislodge IS militants from their stronghold in the city and surrounding areas. The operation to free Hawijah came as tensions are running high between Baghdad and the semi-autonomous region of Kurdistan after the latter held a controversial independence referendum. The referendum was opposed by many countries because it would threaten the integrity of Iraq and it could undermine the fight against IS militants. In addition, neighboring countries such as Turkey, Iran and Syria see that such a step would threaten their territorial integrity, as larger populations of Kurds live in those countries. Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-05 22:57:20|Editor: Zhou Xin Video Player Close Photo taken with mobile phone on Oct. 5, 2017 shows local people gather at the blast site in southwest Pakistan's Jhal Magsi. At least 15 people were killed and 20 others injured when a suicide blast ripped through a shrine in Pakistan's southwest Balochistan province on Thursday evening, local Urdu media reported. (Xinhua/Stringer) ISLAMABAD, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- At least 15 people were killed and over 20 others injured when a suicide bomber blew himself up at the entrance gate of a shrine in Pakistan's southwest Balochistan province on Thursday evening, officials said. Confirming the death toll, spokesperson of Balochistan government, Anwaar ul Haq Kakar said that the killed people also included a policeman. Provincial Home Minister of Balochistan Sarfraz Bugti said the blast happened during the Urs (death anniversary of the shrine's saint) celebrations at the Fateh Pur shrine. He said the bomber blew himself up near the entrance gate of the portion allocated for women in the shrine, located in Jhal Magsi area, some 300 km away from provincial capital of Quetta. The minister said the bomber tried to enter the shrine, but blew himself up when the on-duty policeman stopped him for frisking. Police said there were around 800 to 1,000 people inside the shrine when the incident happened. The shrine is located at a remote place and the nearest hospital in the area can only accommodate 12 people, so the rescue teams are shifting the injured people to hospital in neighboring districts. Locals said the death toll is feared to rise as it may take rescue teams two to three hours to reach the hospitals in neighboring areas. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet. Investigations into the incident are underway. This is the third suicide attack on shrines in Balochistan over the last one year. Both of the previous attacks were claimed by the ISIS. Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-05 23:02:22|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close ROME, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- An estimated 17,500 Italian students are studying Chinese in high school, according to the ninth report by the National Observatory on School Internationalization and Student Mobility unveiled at the Italian Ministry of Education earlier this week. The findings indicate more and more Italian students like learning Chinese. The new report was based on a survey by the Interculture Foundation and Ipsos market research firm on the state of Chinese instruction in the Italian school system and on how Italian 14 to 18-year-olds perceive China. It showed that 0.67 percent of Italy's high school population is studying Chinese in 279 out of 3,636 high schools surveyed. As well, 57 percent of schools with Chinese language on their curriculum require students to sit the written Chinese Proficiency Test (HSK) for non-native speakers, 41 percent have included Chinese among their state exam subjects, and 47 percent said they intend to do so in the near future. On the international student exchange front, some 500 Italian students have gone to China between 2003 and 2015, with the lion's share, or 81 percent, participating since 2008. Three 17-year-old Italian exchange students were also on hand at the presentation of the findings on Tuesday in Rome. Among them was Alessia, who comes from the small town of Latina near Rome, and studied 10 months in Harbin hosted by a Chinese family. Dressed in a white Chinese qipao, Alessia said she fell in love with China and called her host family members "mom, dad, and sister." Matteo, also from Rome, studied Chinese in a Beijing boarding school for ten months. He said that despite difficulties caused by lifestyle differences, he enjoyed the experience very much and considered it very useful. For Matteo, learning Chinese is hard, and it takes commitment and consistency. International exchange students are ambassadors who build "cultural, friendship and professional bridges," commented Interculture Foundation president Roberto Ruffino. Interculture started bilateral student exchanges with China 20 years ago, when three Italian students traveled to study there. Today, 108 Italian students are spending a year abroad in China, Ruffino said. Sinologist Marco Croce, who is in charge of the exchange program with China, said he hopes for an increasingly culturally open China, and for more Chinese exchange students in Italy. In his view, China will become so important in the near future that it will be crucial to learn its language and culture. There are about 20,000 Chinese students in Italy and some 6,000 Italian young people studying in China, he said. Photo taken on Oct. 4, 2017 shows New Frontier Armory, a gun store in Las Vegas, Nevada, the United States. (Xinhua/Wang Ying) by Matthew Rusling WASHINGTON, Oct. 4 (Xinhua) -- In the wake of the worst mass shooting in U.S. history, Democrats on Wednesday began a push to tighten gun control, although they are unlikely to get far, experts said. Sunday saw the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history. The identified shooter, Stephen Paddock, attacked concert-goers at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas and later took his own life, killing at least 59 people and injuring more than 500 others. Local police found over a dozen additional firearms and explosives in his room, according to local authorities and news reports. In light of the horrific event, Democrats on Wednesday pushed for new gun control legislation. Congressman John Lewis, who has spearheaded the push for tougher laws, called for Americans to have "moral courage" in this issue. All Congressional members should have courage to bring common-sense gun control to a vote, Lewis said Wednesday at a press conference at the U.S. Capitol building. However, experts said Democrats are unlikely to get far in gun control for the following two reasons: First, Republicans, supporters of the constitutional right to bear arms, control both the Congress and the White House, and GOP lawmakers are firmly against anti-firearms legislation. Second, there is historical precedent. Even after the 2012 shooting incident at Sandy Hook elementary school in the U.S. state of Connecticut, which resulted in the deaths of so many children, Democrats failed to pass a gun control bill. "If they can't get any (gun control) measures after Sandy Hook, I find it hard to believe they can get any measures through a GOP-controlled congress," Republican Strategist Ford O'Connell told Xinhua. Indeed, a large chunk of Americans own guns, and firearms are a part of the culture of self-sufficiency and independence ingrained in the United States. According to a report published in June by Pew Research Center, a Washington-based think tank, 48 percent of Americans either say they grew up in a household with guns or currently own guns, and around seven in ten say they have at some point fired a gun -- even those who have never owned a firearm. O'Connell said Democrats may ignore the importance of guns to the owners. "This is something that fires up the Democratic base," he added, speaking of the gun control debate. Many recent firearms legislation debates have occurred amid bitter partisan rivalry, the likes of which have not been seen in decades in Washington. At the same time, some Republicans said Wednesday they would be willing to consider a ban on "bump stocks" -- a device speeding up a gun's rate of fire. The Senate's No. 2 Republican, Sen. John Cornyn, said he'd like to have a hearing on bump stocks in order to learn more about that issue. Still, that is a small issue in the overarching gun control debate, experts noted. Americans have a long and complex relationship with firearms. The right to bear arms is enshrined in the Constitution, the highest legal authority in the United States. Experts differ on the details, but the nation's founding fathers viewed an armed population as necessary to keeping the nation safe from foreign invaders. Moreover, historians say that some regions were once sparsely populated. In those areas that were short of security forces, citizens needed firearms to protect their land and families. Pew Research also found that despite disagreements, gun owners and non-owners have reached many agreements, including restricting access to guns for individuals with mental illnesses and those who are on federal no-fly or watch lists. Gun owners themselves also have diverse views on gun policy due to their party identification, according to the Pew Research report which surveyed 3,930 adults, including 1,269 gun owners. The survey found that self-protection tops the list of reasons for owning a gun, with 67 percent of firearms owners giving this answer. For most gun owners, having a firearm is tied to their sense of personal freedom, with 74 percent of gun owners saying the right is essential, compared with 35 percent of non-gun owners. Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-05 23:17:26|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close JINAN, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- During the National Day holiday, many Chinese travelers are enjoying smoother travel experiences thanks to pilot programs using face recognition to replace IDs checks at railway stations, hotels, banks and restaurants. At the entrances to Jinan railway station in the capital of Shandong Province, passengers put their ID cards and tickets on the gate machines and infrared cameras scan their faces before allowing them into the station. The station no longer has staff checking the tickets and ID cards of passengers. Queues at the entrances moved smoothly using the new system. "It only takes three seconds for passengers to pass through the gate using the new facial recognition system. It saves manpower and avoids errors in manual checks," said Cheng Xiaowei, a staff member at the station. Many hotels in Jinan have also adopted a facial recognition system to check guests' identities. The system takes just 10 seconds to confirm the identity of the guest. Even if a hotel guest does not have their ID card, the system can still confirm their identity. At three Agricultural Bank of China branches in the city, customers no longer need to insert their bank cards into ATMs to withdraw money. The machine scans the account holder's face to access their account. The bank has limited the daily withdrawal amount to 3,000 yuan (452 U.S. dollars). Longmen Grottoes in central China's Henan Province has become the country's first scenic spot using the facial recognition system for entrance. The technology cuts time for tourists passing through from three seconds to one. Through the grottoes' mini app on the WeChat app, tourists can buy an electronic ticket and create a pass by taking a head photo and enter their personal information. Then they can just "walk in" at the special entrance. Diners at a new KFC outlet, called KPro, in Hangzhou of east China's Zhejiang Province are able to pay by scanning their faces at an ordering kiosk and entering a phone number. "Maybe in the future, I don't need to bring my cell phone anymore when going out. I just need my face," said tourist Huang Zhengyu who experienced the "Smile to Pay" method. "Young people prefer facial recognition and it has great potential. More applications of the technology will come to our lives as it continues to improve," said Feng Wei from Shandong University. A report on global artificial intelligence by investment company Sequoia Capital and ZhenFund, a Beijing-based seeding company, showed that about 15,000 patents have been made public in computer vision, 55 percent are from China. China's Forward-looking Industry Institute says that the facial recognition market in China surpassed 1 billion yuan (about 150 million U.S. dollars) in 2016, and is expected to hit 5.1 billion yuan by 2021. SenseTime, a Chinese startup focusing on facial recognition and AI deep learning, raised 410 million U.S. dollars in July. It is the largest private financing round ever closed by an AI startup. Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-05 23:27:29|Editor: Zhou Xin Video Player Close PARIS, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday offered mediation to help ending the political crisis between Baghdad and Erbil, urging both parts to start talks soon. "France has always been extremely sensitive and concerned about Kurds' situation, but we want the stability of Iraq, the territorial integrity of Iraq and a strong state in Iraq," Macron said. "It is vital in the coming weeks and months that a dialogue begins that respects the unity, integrity and sovereignty of Iraq within the framework of the constitution and recognizing Kurdish rights," he added. Macron said: "France is ready -- if Iraqi authorities wish -- to actively contribute to mediation launched by the UN." At a joint press meeting with visiting Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi, the French president called on officials in Baghdad to press through "national reconciliation to establish inclusive governance that meets the aspirations of all the components of Iraqi society, including the Kurds of Iraq." Abadi said he would "respect the aspirations of all citizens, including the Kurds," and called on Erbil "to work together." "We do not want an armed confrontation, we don't want clashes. However, the federal authority must prevail and nobody can infringe on the federal authority," he stressed. On Sept. 25, Iraqi Kurds voted for independence in a referendum that Baghdad described as illegal, warning that such a move would fuel tension in the country where military forces are still fighting Islamist insurgents near the border with Syria. Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-05 23:27:30|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close by Ejidiah Wangui NAIROBI, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's Antonia Lelokong, a 28-year-old widow, bears the scorching sun in a small village in northern Kenya as she waited for her turn in the queue to receive her food ration. The mother of two has since February been relying on these food rations to feed her young family as the region has been listed among the worst drought-hit in the East African country. Lelokong is among thousands of women and children who have been put on relief assistance in the region as Kenya experienced two consecutive seasons of failed rains in 2016. "Were it not for the relief assistance, my children would have starved to death. I lost my husband a few months ago so I don't have anyone to depend on," said Lelokong with her two children in tow and an infant strapped on her back. Through donations raised by ChildFund Kenya, an international child development organization, Lelokong is assured of having something to feed her children on daily. ChildFund Kenya has so far raised more than 1.3 million U.S. dollars in its efforts to provide relief assistance to distressed children and mothers in Kenya especially in the northern region. According to Anne Goddard, ChildFund International president, even though the organization is yet to meet its target of raising 2.3 million dollars to help the hunger-stricken regions, the amount raised so far has helped put 88,000 women and children in various regions on relief assistance. "Additional funding is needed so we can fully implement the emergency response and mitigate risks of a worsening drought situation in some parts of the country," said Goddard. Since February, ChildFund has distributed over 3,734 tonnes of food items including unimix flour, corn soya blend, plumpy sups, maize, beans, rice, cooking oil and salt in different regions. In Samburu County, home of Kenya's nomadic pastoralists, ChildFund has distributed over 49 tonness of food items to 3,298 people, including 2,155 children in 79 Early Childhood Development (ECD) centers and 1,143 pregnant and lactating women. But even as such organizations continue with their efforts to rescue starving Kenyans, the number of those in need of relief assistance continues to grow by the day. Harold Kimenchu for instance, lost his 78-year-old mother recently and the final diagnosis from her physician was starvation. His worry now is who the hunger will claim next in his family as he can barely afford a meal a day to feed his family of eight. "I'm a mason and my income is barely enough to feed the family, my wife has been helping but now due to the ongoing drought, there are no jobs in the farms where she used to work," he explained to Xinhua. His two-acre piece of land sparks no hope for the 48-year-old father as all the crops he planted around March have dried up. "We have no hopes of harvesting anything from our farms as all we planted has dried up, the situation has been worsened by the fact that last year we didn't manage to get any harvests from our farms either," said Kimenchu. Kenya's capital Nairobi has not eluded the hunger situation either. Thousands of residents living in the city's informal settlements are among those listed as in dire need of relief assistance. According to a recent report by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the number of Kenyans in dire need of food stands at 3.5 million, up from the 2.7 million forecast in March. The number of children under the age of five facing Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) is estimated at 104,614. If projections by the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) are anything to go by, there could be an upsurge in Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) especially in regions classified as Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASAL) in October. To avert the crisis, the NDMA recommends scaling up of supplementary feeding in worst hit areas as well as the provision of water and health services to curb breakouts of diseases such as cholera. Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-05 23:37:33|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close NEW DELHI, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- At least six people were killed and four others injured after being struck by lightning in southern Indian state of Karnataka Thursday, police said. "The incident took place at Nandinathapura village in the state's Mysuru district when the victims were returning home after grazing cattle," a senior police official said. It suddenly started raining and to take cover, the victims rushed to a nearby temple but that place was hit by a thunder bolt and lightning. "While six were killed on the spot, those injured have been admitted to a local hospital, where their condition is said to be serious," the official said. The bodies have been handed over to the families of those killed, he added. Lightning is common in India, particularly during the monsoon months. A number of people get killed every year by lightning strikes. File Photo: Tourists celebrate in the Golden Dragon Parade in Los Angeles, the United States, Feb. 1, 2014. The 115th Golden Dragon Parade was held to celebrate Chinese Lunar New Year. (Xinhua/Zhang Chaoqun) NEW YORK, Oct. 4 (Xinhua) -- China-U.S. tourism is on a growth trajectory and has helped expand people-to-people and cultural exchanges between the two countries, a U.S. tourism expert said. Chris Thompson, president and CEO of Brand USA, an organization dedicated to marketing the United States as a premier travel destination, told Xinhua on Wednesday that bilateral tourism plays a critical role in "bringing cultures and people together for greater understanding." "In the case of our two nations where the cultures are very different, and the language is obviously a barrier, travel really serves a great way of introducing the destination to the individuals," he said. According to Brand USA, China has become the number one market for U.S. travel and tourism exports and is its largest market in terms of spending. In 2016, almost 3 million Chinese people visited the United States, compared with less than 400,000 in 2007, and spent 33 billion U.S. dollars in tourism expenses. Thompson said they expected "an additional 3 million Chinese visitors in the next three to four years." The number of Americans visiting China has also grown rapidly over the past few years. The latest statistics show the number of American tourists traveling to China increased by 10.7 percent last year. The two-way tourist flow has not only brought economic benefits to both countries, the expert said. "The economic contribution is the one that gets talked about most often because it defines travel as an export. But the soft diplomacy benefits are just as important," he noted. Having visited China many times before, Thompson believes that "There's nothing like travelling to a destination to really learn about the heart and soul" of the place. He mentioned that every time he went to China, he "was able to get to know the people better, learn new nuances of the language better." "The experiences always favorably enhanced my opinion of China. I think that's also the case (for people) coming into the United States," he said. Thompson, who has been in the travel business for 35 years, said tourism has benefited China-U.S. relations in recent years. In November 2014, the two countries extended visa validity for tourists from one to 10 years. Last year, the two sides launched the 2016 China-U.S. Tourism Year. The visa policy and the year of tourism program have both paid great dividends, Thompson said, adding that leaders of the two sides have created an important platform to "talk about the positive economic and diplomatic contributions of travel and tourism." "That really helps us realize all the benefits we were looking to accomplish," he said. File photo shows Nigerian girls protest against the abduction of Chibok school girls by Boko Haram militants at the Ministry of Education in Abuja, Nigeria, April 14, 2015. The Day of the African Child has been celebrated on June 16 annually since 1991. It is marked to raise awareness of the continuing need for improvement of the education provided to African children. (Xinhua/Yang Yang) ABUJA, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- A total of 52,311 children in Nigeria's Borno State have become orphans following attacks by terror group Boko Haram in the country's northeast region. Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State on Thursday told reporters in Maiduguri, the state capital, that some 54,911 women were also widowed by Boko Haram's mindless attacks. According to Shettima, if not checked and put under control, this situation might cause an increase in the humanitarian crisis in the state and Nigeria's northeast region at large. "If we fail to take care of these orphans and widows 10 to 15 years down the line; if we do not provide a good home for them, believe me, they will not take care of us," he said. The official said the state authorities had identified education as a veritable solution to the challenge, noting the government was poised to invest in education together with various intervention programs launched in collaboration with the central government, the United Nations, and global development partners. The Borno State authorities had also embarked on massive reconstruction and rehabilitation of residential homes, schools, clinics and public structures in communities liberated from the insurgents. Boko Haram has been blamed for the deaths of more than 20,000 people and displacing of 2.3 million others in Nigeria since their insurgency started in 2009. Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-06 01:18:09|Editor: Zhou Xin Video Player Close ADDIS ABABA, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- Ethiopia and India on Thursday signed various partnership agreements aimed at strengthening ties between the two countries. The partnership agreements, which were signed in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa by visiting Indian President Ram Nath Kovind and Ethiopian President Mulatu Teshome, include agreements in trade, information technology and media sectors. Kovind, who is the first Indian president to visit Ethiopia in over 45 years, discussed various bilateral and multilateral issues with senior Ethiopian government officials and met the Indian community in Ethiopia. A 30-member Indian business delegation comprising of representatives from different industries has also accompanied the visiting Indian president to Ethiopia. According to the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the trade and economic relation between the two countries has witnessed an increase during the past years and the opening of Indian Export Import (EXIM) Bank East African branch in Addis Ababa back in 2010 has further propelled investment conditions for Indian investors to invest in Ethiopia. Over 584 Indian companies have invested over 2 billion U.S. dollars in Ethiopia's various areas, including textile and garments, education, technology, among other sectors. Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-06 02:48:34|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council on Thursday urged parties in Mali to work for peace after political strife in the country in the past months almost derailed the implementation of a peace agreement. French ambassador to the United Nations Francois Delattre, who is president of the Security Council for October, said the council has agreed to deliver a strong message to parties in Mali. "There was consensus among all the members of the council ... (on) the need to send a firm message to the parties in Mali regarding the necessity to make significant progress in the implementation of the peace agreement," Delattre told reporters after a council meeting on Mali. He said the Security Council also agreed to work toward coordination of the activities of the UN peacekeeping mission in Mali and a newly established joint military force of five countries in the region. Mahamat Saleh Annadif, the special representative of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for Mali, told the Security Council that over the past months, the debate on the revision of the Malian Constitution as well as clashes between the two signatories to the peace agreement have almost derailed the implementation of the agreement. While these crises have been averted, Annadif called on all parties to redouble their efforts to re-establish confidence, commit to reforms and provide peace dividends to the Malian people. Briefing the Security Council via a video link from the Malian capital city of Bamako, Annadif warned that the UN peacekeeping mission in the country is confronted with major challenges related to the activities of extremist and terrorist groups, as well as criminal networks. He also called for protection of peacekeepers in Mali, saying the almost daily loss of peacekeepers is becoming unbearable. He noted that only 35 percent of the humanitarian response plan has been funded so far. Mali is plagued by a civil war and the rise of Islamist militants. Tuareg rebels in the north began to fight for independence in January 2012, and after a military coup that ousted Malian President Amadou Toumani Toure in March, declared independence of their own state -- Azawad. Tuareg rebels and Islamist groups, which were allies for the independence of Azawad, turned their guns against each other over division in ideology. In a few months' time Tuareg rebels lost control of most of northern cities to the Islamists. The Malian government had to ask for foreign military help to fight Islamists. Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-06 02:58:38|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May delivers her keynote speech on the last day of the Conservative Party Annual Conference in Manchester, Britain on Oct. 4, 2017. (Xinhua/Han Yan) LONDON, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- More members of the prime minister's governing cabinet and leading Conservatives rallied around Theresa May Thursday as the fall-out from her disastrous conference speech continued. Britain's political world was posing the question: are May's days at 10 Downing Street numbered? It was a full-house Wednesday as thousands of loyal Conservatives eagerly awaited May's end-of-conference closing speech. It had been billed as an upbeat message, intended to invigorate the party after it lost over control in the June snap general election. A prankster breached strict security to approach the platform where May had just started her keynote speech, in which she said sorry for the election disaster. He handed her a fake P45, the official notice handed to people when they lose their jobs. May then struggled her way through her speech, coughing and spluttering, and letters on the messages in the backdrop behind her started to fall off. Instead of headlines that would have spelled out May's future plans, virtually every national newspaper in Britain zoomed in on a conference that will be remembered for its string of disasters, and provide a feast of material for political satirists. "May on final warning" was the front-page headline in the Times, while the Guardian splash headline read: "Coughing and spluttering - May's British dream turns into a nightmare". The Daily Express front page offered support to May with the headline: "Trust Theresa's Fighting Spirit". Former government minister Ed Vaizey said in a radio interview Thursday a number of May's own MPs "pretty firmly" want her to resign. Home Secretary Amber Rudd was the latest cabinet member to rally around May Thursday. The Daily Express newspaper, under the headline: "May could be gone by Christmas as MPs plot after disastrous speech" claimed up to 30 MPs were plotting her demise. Media reports claimed a number of MPs wanted May to go Rudd, who as Home Secretary is Britain's main interior minister, told journalists: "Theresa May has my full support." George Freeman, who heads May's policy board, said a leadership challenge was not in the interests of the party or the country. Conservative MP Nadhim Zahawi said in an interview May had shown her "grit and determination" in the face of adversity and "of course would stay on as leader". Zahawi told Britain's Channel 4 News: "When she gets a good deal from our Euro partners the whole narrative will change. She is focused and will deliver." There were even comforting words for May from London's Labour mayor Sadiq Khan. Speaking on local radio in London, Khan said: "I feel sorry for Theresa May, she had an awful, awful day yesterday. Not just one thing going wrong but a snowballing of things going wrong, and I've got to be honest as a human being, as a politician I feel for her." Away from the harsh political world, a leading academic said May would stay on as prime minister. Professor Jon Tonge from the politics department at the University of Liverpool, told Xinhua: "Theresa May will stay on two grounds. She is committed to Brexit and there is no obvious alternative." Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-06 03:13:41|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini addresses a joint press conference of Our Ocean Conference 2017 in St. Julian's, Malta, on Oct. 5, 2017. The two-day conference aims to inspire joint solutions and gather ambitious commitments to conserve and sustainably use the oceans. Plastic pollution has been a hot topic at the meeting. (Xinhua/Yuan Yun) VALLETTA, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- "By 2050, the oceans could contain more plastic than fish. And the poison that we throw into the water comes back to us, to our tables, in the food we eat," EU foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini warned Thursday. Mogherini made the remarks at Our Ocean Conference 2017 being held in Malta. The two-day conference aims to inspire joint solutions and gather ambitious commitments to conserve and sustainably use the oceans. Plastic pollution has been a hot topic at the meeting. According to Britain's Prince Charles, who gave a keynote speech at the conference, eight million tons of plastic waste entering the oceans annually. "Plastic is indeed now on the menu," he said, "Wherever you swim, there are particles of plastic near you." Attendees at the meeting don't just sit and prattle about the general principle, they put forward measures to tackle the issue. Mogherini, on behalf of the European Commission, announced an ambitious package of 36 actions to foster healthier, cleaner, safer and more secure seas. Of this package, the Commission committed the phase-out by end 2017 all single-use plastic cups in water fountains and vending machines in all its buildings and meetings. Charles called for a circular economy, which allows plastic to be recovered, recycled and reused instead of created, used and then thrown away. Malta's Prime Minister Joseph Muscat declared that some 70 percent of plastic bottles will be reclaimed through a nationwide refund scheme by 2019. Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-06 03:13:43|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close MOSCOW, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- The massive bomb threat phone calls in Russia last month were carried out by four Russian nationals abroad along with their domestic accomplices, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) said Thursday. "We have established that...those are Russian citizens. I can say with absolute certainty that these are four people who are currently abroad," FSB director Alexander Bortnikov told local media following a joint meeting of special services, security bodies and law enforcement agencies. The four suspects also had "accomplices who are staying in the territory of Russia," Bortnikov added, without further elaborating. Currently the FSB is working with the aforementioned agencies on tracking down the suspects both at home and abroad, he said. A wave of anonymous calls about planted bombs in various administrative and commercial buildings swept across Russia since early September, during which nearly 800,000 people were reportedly evacuated in 120 Russian cities, with all calls proved to be hoaxes. According to the FSB director, damages caused by the "telephone terrorism" so far reached up to over 300 million rubles (5.2 million U.S. dollars). Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) and Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud attend a welcoming ceremony in the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, on October 5, 2017. (KREMLIN PHOTO) MOSCOW, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- Deals worth at least 2.1 billion U.S. dollars were signed during Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud's first visit to Russia, the Kremlin said Thursday. The Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia, Saudi national oil company Saudi Aramco, and the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) signed an agreement to set up an energy investment fund of 1 billion U.S. dollars, a Kremlin statement said. The PIF and RDIF also agreed to establish another 1-billion-dollar high technology investment fund, it said. In addition, the Saudi fund will invest 100 million dollars in the construction and operation of roads, railways, city transport and other public-private projects in Russia. Russian state arms export agency Rosoboronexport and Saudi Military Industries Corporation signed a contract for the licensed production of Kalashnikov AK103 assault rifles and cartridges in Saudi Arabia, as well as a memorandum on the purchase of Russian military products and localization of their production. Russian and Saudi government bodies also sealed memorandums on cooperation in outer space exploration, information and communications, trade, economy, in particular oil-processing projects, science, technology and agriculture. Before the signing of the documents, King Salman had talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. They discussed bilateral cooperation in trade, investment, culture and humanitarian sectors as well as international issues. "It was a very meaningful conversation, substantive and very confidential," Putin said afterwards, calling the visit a "landmark event" which will enhance relations between Moscow and Riyadh. King Salman said Saudi-Russian relations were characterized by similar views on many regional and international problems. "We strive to continue positive cooperation between our countries to achieve stability in the world oil markets, which contributes to the growth of the world economy," he said. It is the first time that a reigning Saudi Arabian monarch has visited Russia since the founding of the Middle Eastern country in 1926. Putin paid a state visit to Saudi Arabia in 2007. Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-06 03:33:48|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close NEW YORK, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- Oil prices snapped a three-day losing streak to settle higher Thursday, amid expectations that the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and other major oil producers would extend production cut agreement. Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that a pledge by the OPEC and other producers, including Russia, to cut oil output to boost prices could be extended to the end of 2018, instead of expiring in March 2018, according to media reports. Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said on Thursday that Moscow would support new countries joining the agreement to restrict oil supply. Saudi Arabian Minister of Energy and Industry Khalid Al-Falih also expressed optimism over the extension of output caps ahead of Saudi king's "landmark" visit to Russia on Thursday. Analysts said that bullish comments from the Russian and Saudi energy ministers gave strong supports to oil prices. The West Texas Intermediate for November delivery increased 0.81 U.S. dollar to settle at 50.79 dollars a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, while Brent crude for December delivery added 1.20 dollars to close at 57.00 U.S. dollars a barrel on the London ICE Futures Exchange. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-06 03:53:54|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close DUBLIN, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- Due to the expected strong Irish economic growth, a neutral fiscal package in the forthcoming budget is the most appropriate policy at this time, according to the country's leading think tank on Thursday. "Given the pace of growth over the past number of years, there is certainly no case for the government to stimulate economic activity with the budgetary package," the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) said in its latest quarterly economic commentary. The ESRI said the most prudent course of action to take is to adopt a neutral fiscal policy, "which neither stimulates nor contracts economic activity." The ESRI said Irish economic growth is set to remain strong in 2017 and 2018. "We are now increasing our forecast for 2017 to 5 percent for GDP. This is up by over 1 percent from the last commentary; our GDP forecast for 2018 is marginally increased to 4 percent," it said. In light of the government's intention to increase capital spending to 7.8 billion euros by 2021, the ESRI said this increase will expand economic output and also cause deterioration in the public finances. Such a capital plan will have to be carefully implemented in order to comply with the fiscal rules, it said. Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-06 03:58:57|Editor: Zhou Xin Video Player Close CAPE TOWN, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) - President Jacob Zuma on Thursday added his voice to the chorus of condemnation against the ruthless killing of eight women. "Such outrageous and inhuman action against defenceless women is a gross violation of the right to human life as enshrined in the Constitution," Zuma said. The eight women, who belonged to one family, were killed in Embangweni Village near Greytown in KwaZulu-Natal Province on Tuesday night when unknown gunmen stormed two family homes a few meters apart and opened fire. The killers then doused the houses with petrol and set them alight. The motive for the killing is unknown and details regarding the murder remain sketchy. Zuma reiterated that violence against women has been declared a priority crime by the government. Many perpetrators are being caught and are given long jail terms due to the cooperation of the public by coming forward with information, the president said. "All forms of violence against women, children and the elderly should never be tolerated in our society," said Zuma. South Africa has been gripped by a surge of killing of women and children this year. In May, a three-year-old girl was raped and murdered by a family friend in Cape Town. It followed the murder of a teenage girl by her boyfriend in Johannesburg after a heated argument. Since the beginning of this year, about 30 female killings have taken place in South Africa, shocking the nation that has been already plagued by rampant crimes. South Africa has among the highest rates in the world for the rape and murder of women. Statistics show that a woman is killed every eight hours in South Africa. More than 1,000 women are killed by intimate partners each year. Intimate partner femicide, which is the most serious form of domestic violence, is the leading cause of the murder of women in South Africa. A study by the South African Medical Research Council showed that the vast majority of female homicides went unpunished, with less than 38 percent of intimate-partner femicides leading to conviction in less than two years. Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-06 04:34:07|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close by Mahmoud Fouly CAIRO, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- The recent Turkish-Iranian approach following the massively-approved independence referendum of Iraqi Kurdistan region is likely to hinder the Kurdish secession dream, said Egyptian political experts. On Wednesday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan paid a visit to Tehran, where he met with his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani and supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. They vowed to boost bilateral cooperation and voiced rejection to the Kurdish independence vote. A week earlier, official results of the Iraqi Kurdish referendum showed 92.73 percent of voters supporting independence and statehood, a move rejected by several Arab and regional states as well as the Cairo-based Arab League. SECESSION DELAY "I believe the Turkish-Iranian approach is likely to delay the secession but not stop it," said Mohamed Abbas Nagi, an expert of Iranian affairs at Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies. "There are no indications that the Kurds are moving forward to implement the vote result despite the big nod," he noted. Erdogan's visit to Iran seems consistent with the recent approach between the two regional powers, as it came just days after the visit of the Turkish chief of staff to Tehran in return for his Iranian counterpart's visit to Ankara two weeks ago. "The Iraqi chief of staff also visited Tehran and Ankara, which indicates that there is military coordination between the three countries to deal with the Kurdish issue," Nagi told Xinhua. Nevertheless, the Egyptian expert rules out the possibility of a joint military action against Iraq's Kurdistan as long as the latter has not started to turn the referendum results into reality. "For the time being, they just exercise economic and political pressures on the Kurds on the basis of the possibility of delaying the secession move," he explained. As the largest stateless community in the Middle East, there are about 18 million ethnic Kurds in Turkey, 5 million in Iran, 5 million in Iraq and 2 million in Syria, which explains the concerns and the growing coordination between Iran and Turkey where the Kurds are also seeking self-determination and independence. "We, as Iran and Turkey, only recognize the central government in Baghdad," Erdogan said during his visit to Iran. Rouhani also referred to the Kurdish referendum as a mistake. "We do not accept disintegration of the states in the region. In our eyes, Iraq is a unified and independent country and so is Syria," he said. Nagi believes the ball is now at Kurdistan's court. "The procedures that will be taken by Kurdistan will determine the next move of Iran, Turkey and Iraq," he said. GULF, ISRAEL DISTURBED The Kurdistan issue seems to have pushed Iran, Turkey and Iraq into the same bloc despite their historical conflicts. Iran and Turkey have a history of stiff competition in regional projects and hold different positions on the ongoing Syrian conflict, where Iran supports the current regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad while Turkey strongly rejects it. Iran and Iraq had an eight-year war that ended in 1988 and left about a million dead. However, the Iranian-Turkish current approach is believed to be disturbing for oil-rich Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states including Iran's rival Saudi Arabia, as well as the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, which always accuse Iran of interfering in their domestic affairs and attempting expansion and hegemony in the Middle East. "The Iranian-Turkish approach is not restricted to the issue of Kurdistan region but also has to do with the Syrian issue and the ongoing security arrangements in the Gulf region, in addition to their bilateral issues," said Tarek Fahmy, a political science professor at Cairo University. The ongoing approach between the two regional powers has disturbed some other regional parties including the Gulf states, Israel as well as some states concerned about Turkey's moves in the region, Fahmy noted. "Turkey adopts the principle of political opportunism. When Erdogan visited Saudi Arabia he failed to obtain a military base there. He then interfered in the anti-Qatar blockade by some GCC states and later turned to Iran," he said. Iran also has direct interests not only in the issue of the Kurds but also in attracting Turkey for economic and strategic interests, the professor added. During Erdogan's visit to Tehran, the two countries announced intention to increase their annual trade and economic transactions from 10 billion U.S. dollars to 30 billion dollars. Iran also urged Turkey to extract more natural gas from the Islamic republic's gas fields and increase investments in its energy sector. "Iran-Turkey approach may have a serious impact on the future of the Turkish-Israeli relations in the coming period, as it may have negative repercussions on the continuation of military cooperation between Turkey and Israel in the future," said Fahmy. The Egyptian professor believes the coalition of Iran and Turkey against Kurdistan's secession is a strong factor that could prevent the creation of a Kurdish state. "Turkey and Iran have great weight in the region and have interests in preventing the extension of the Kurdish issue to other countries. Their coordination, together with Iraq, is at the highest level, and if a blockade is imposed on the Kurds by the three countries, the project of the Kurdish state will definitely be postponed," Fahmy noted. Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-06 04:54:12|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close RIYADH, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- Saudi authorities said on Thursday that it bust a terror cell linked to Islamic State (IS) militant group in Riyadh. The operation, which was carried out in three locations, resulted in the death of two IS militants and arrests of five others, Saudi Presidency of State Security said in a statement. The first militant blew himself up, while security forces killed the second one who refused to surrender, it added. Security forces also seized Kalashnikov rifles, live ammunition and chemicals used to make explosives, the statement noted. Saudi Arabia has been engaged in an anti-terror war following a series of IS-claimed deadly blasts across the kingdom in recent years. U.S. President Donald Trump meets with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey during the U.N. General Assembly in New York, U.S., Sept. 21, 2017. (Reuters photo) ANKARA, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- Arrest of a local employee working at the U.S. Consulate General in Istanbul over charges of "espionage" ignited new unease to already strained ties between Ankara and Washington. Metin Topuz, with Turkish nationality, was remanded in custody by an Istanbul court late Wednesday on accusations of "political and military espionage" and "attempting to remove the constitutional order," according to state-run Anadolu Agency. The United States expressed immediate discontent over the arrest of Topuz, who was allegedly linked to the followers of the U.S.-based Fethullah Gulen accused by Ankara of plotting a failed coup attempt on July 15, 2016. The United States also criticized the way of conducting the arrest of its employee, saying that the allegations on Topuz "are wholly without merit." "The United States Government is deeply disturbed by the arrest of a locally-employed staff member of the U.S. Consulate General Istanbul on Oct. 4, and by leaks from Turkish government sources seemingly aimed at trying the employee in the media rather than a court of law," the U.S. Embassy said in a written statement on Thursday. "We will continue to engage with the Government of Turkey to ensure that employees of the U.S. Government, as well as American citizens in Turkey, are accorded due legal process in accordance with the Turkish constitution and international legal norms," read the statement. The embassy stressed that "baseless and anonymous against our employees undermine and devalue this longstanding partnership." Metin Topuz was detained four days ago under great secrecy over security reasons and arrested on Wednesday. Anadolu said Topuz had connections with former police chiefs and a fugitive prosecutor Zekeriya Oz, who is believed to be members of the Gulen movement, now listed by Ankara as a terror group called Fethullah Terrorist Organization. Zekeriya Oz was a prominent actor of the December 2013 corruption probe, which targeted some members of the Turkish government and the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). Authorities have determined "intense phone conversations" of Topuz with Adil Oksuz, one of the key suspects of July 15 coup attempts, and his colleagues, Turkey's Presidential Spokesperson Ibrahim Kalin said in a televised interview on Thursday. "There is a judicial process ongoing. He will be questioned. The process is conducted within the framework of the evidence," he added. Kalin underlined that every country must address its own interests in international relations. In a statement released late Thursday, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said the name of the suspect is not among the official list of staff of the U.S. Consulate General in Istanbul, and he does not have a diplomatic immunity. The relations between Turkey and its traditional ally the United States have gone from uneasy to challenging after the coup attempt last year. Turkey's demand for extradition of Gulen falls on deaf ears in Washington as the latter asks for more evidence. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan earlier said that Ankara had sent "85 boxes of concrete evidence" regarding Gulen Movement's involvement in the coup attempt for assessment by U.S. judiciary, but no steps have been taken yet. Another local employee of the U.S. consulate in the southern province of Adana, Hamza Ulucay, was arrested on charges of being a member of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) on March 7. The U.S. support for Syrian Kurdish fighters of People's Protection Units (YPG) and the Syrian Democratic Union Party (PYD) also fuels the tension between the two NATO allies. Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-06 05:14:19|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close WARSAW, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- Breaking up unity, equality and solidarity rules in the European Union (EU) leads to the risk of disintegration, Polish President Andrzej Duda said Thursday after meeting with visiting Bulgarian counterpart Rumen Radev. At a joint press conference with Radev, Duda said the main subject of the meeting was EU's future in the context of Bulgaria holding a 6-month rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2018. Duda named three rules which he said should be respected in the EU under every circumstance -- unity, equality and solidarity. Duda claimed that both Poland and Bulgaria have the same stance over the migrant crisis. "We are against relocations and against any quota system as well," he said. "For Poland as well as for Bulgaria, a watertight system is one of the most important challenges for us to take on, so that nobody could freely cross the border," he added. Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-06 05:14:20|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close HOUSTON, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- A plane carrying medical supplies and food has departed from Houston, the U.S. state of Texas on Thursday for Puerto Rico that was ravaged by Hurricane Maria. "We're not just sending supplies, but we're going there ourselves," Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said at a briefing. Houston is sending canned food, water as well as treatment systems to Puerto Rico. The flight is to arrive in the early evening on Thursday. Four members of the Houston City Council plan to meet Puerto Rico representatives at the San Juan airport for a short meet-and-greet. Since the storm made landfall on Sept. 20, Hurricane Maria has wreaked havoc on the island of Puerto Rico, causing a level of widespread destruction and disorganization paralleled by few storms in American history. On Tuesday, the governor of Puerto Rico updated the island's death toll to 34. Two weeks after Hurricane Maria made landfall, only 5.4 percent of citizens on the island have electricity, while 12.1 percent have cell service, the U.S. Department of Defense said on Wednesday. Puerto Rico is a Caribbean island and unincorporated U.S. territory with the capital and largest city of San Juan. Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-06 05:24:23|Editor: Zhou Xin Video Player Close BRUSSELS, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- Belgium's federal prosecutor and his French counterpart have found an agreement on Thursday afternoon to have Paris terror suspect Salah Abdeslam attend his trial in Brussels in December, local media reported. Jailed in France since he has been arrested on March 18 of 2016, Abdeslam, a Belgian-born French national, is the last survivor of the group that launched the Paris terror attacks in November 2015. Abdeslam and his accomplice were captured in Brussels after having fired on police officers. Abdeslam is expected to attend in trial from Dec. 18 to 22. The Belgian federal prosecutor's spokesman, Eric Van Der Sypt, said in a statement that both prosecutors found an agreement to ensure the attendance of Abdeslam to his trial. However, that decision still needed to be reviewed by Brussels' criminal court and its equivalent in France. Abdeslam and its accomplice Sofian Ayari were charged with attempted terrorist murder over the shooting in Brussels, where the third accomplice Mohamed Belkaid was killed. Three police officers were injured during that gun battle. Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-06 05:59:30|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ANKARA -- Turkey, Iran and Iraq will jointly decide on closing the flow of oil from northern Iraq, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan told reporters Thursday on his return flight from Iran after one-day trip. "In the case of northern Iraq, Iran, Iraq and Turkey will form a tripartite mechanism, and will decide on cutting off the oil pipeline from the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG)," Erdogan was quoted by Hurriyet Daily News as saying. (Turkey-Iran-Iraq) - - - - ANKARA -- Turkey will close border gates with northern Iraq soon as part of the measures against the Iraqi Kurdish independence vote, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday. In a speech at the Presidential Complex in Ankara, Erdogan said that Turkey, Iraq and Iran are considering a joint blockade on Iraqi Kurdistan region after the independence referendum by the Iraqi Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) on Sept. 25. (Turkey-Kurdish Independence Vote) - - - - DOHA -- Qatar and the United States are holding a workship on fighting terror financing as part of their joint efforts to combat terrorism, local media reported Thursday. The two-day technical exchange workshop on Domestic Designation opened on Wednesday, in line with the efforts by Qatar to establish an integrated and operational system for domestic designation, the reports said. (Qatar-U.S.-Workship-Terror Funding) - - - - TEHRAN -- Iran's atomic chief said on Thursday that the nuclear deal reached between Iran and the world powers in 2015 is not renegotiable, Press TV reported. "We have emphasized repeatedly that the nuclear deal (known as JCPOA) is not renegotiable," said Ali Akbar Salehi, head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), in the Italian capital of Rome. (Iran-Nuclear Deal) Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-06 06:14:34|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close ALGIERS, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- Algerian Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia said on Thursday that the relaunch of the proposed shale gas projects will not harm the health of Algerians, according to a statement by the PM. "The resumption of the projects will be accompanied by explanations to the public and dialogue with the people of the regions concerned. Nothing will be done by endangering the health of the Algerians; nothing will prevent Algeria from exploiting its wealth for the benefit of Algerians," Ouyahia said. Last Sunday, Ouyahia stressed the need to invest in shale gas given the enormous deposits in the country during his visit to a petrochemical center. He also noted that the government is encouraging investment in this resource, while stressing that it is not an adventurous step but an option to guarantee the country's energy future. Energy Minister Mustapha Guitouni last Monday said that the shale gas issue was still in the study stage and will be treated in a "suitable" way like which is being done in other countries. In 2015, people in southern areas of Algeria expressed their refusal to the government's decision to start exploring shale gas deposits there. Faced with the discontent of those fearing disastrous impact on the environment and groundwater, the government reassured that it will only launch exploration studies. According to the assessments carried out by Algerian state-owned oil company Sonatrach with international oil companies on five Saharan basins, Algeria has 4,940 trillion cubic feet (TCF) of reserves of shale gas, of which 740 TCF are recoverable. Algeria ranks 4th in terms of technically recoverable resources in the world after the United States, China and Argentina, according to a report by the International Energy Agency on shale gas in 2013. Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-06 06:19:36|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close TRIPOLI, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- The Libyan government said on Thursday that Hungary prepares to reopen its embassy in the country. The announcement came after a meeting between UN-backed deputy Prime Minister Ahmed Maiteeq and Hungarian Ambassador to Libya Bela Marton in the capital Tripoli, media office of the prime minister said in a statement. Marton said Hungary will send a technical team in November to prepare for the return of the Hungarian Embassy in Tripoli. For his part, Maiteeq welcomed the return of the Hungarian Embassy, saying this step "will facilitate joint cooperation between the two countries, especially in economic and technical fields." Foreign missions in Libya evacuated from Tripoli in 2014 after violence erupted between rival armed groups, which eventually resulted in the current political division. Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-06 06:19:37|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close HELSINKI, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- A majority of the members of parliament of Finland wants to stop the practice of requiring a labor market assessment prior to giving a work permit to persons from outside the European Union and the European Economic (ETA). So far, non-EU/ETA citizens can get a work permit only if labor authorities agree that the recruitment does not hamper employment of EU citizens. The present system is not applied to specialist level job seekers and only concerns lower level workers. The parliamentary members' initiative was handed in earlier this week with signatures of more than a 100 MPs out of the total of 200. The initiative says the current system causes more harm to the labor market than good, according to media reports on Wednesday and Thursday. The first signatory of the initiative, MP Anna Kontula of the Left League, said the current system decreases the autonomy of employees. In the current system, a non-EU worker gets a permit for one specific job. He or she cannot change jobs without a new clearance. In this situation, the worker is more prone to accept a low salary, the signatories maintain. The issue of opening the labor market to ordinary workers from outside the EU/ETA has been controversial in recent years. The idea was earlier promoted by pro-business think tanks. Therefore, the lately support from the political left surprised many. The initiative attracted signatories from the whole political spectrum except the ruling Center Party, the anti-immigration Finns Party and the break-away Blue Party. The plan has split political parties. For example, chairman of the Left League Li Andersson did not sign "due to the resistance on the unions". The plan has met strong political resistance from the trade unions. The central organization of blue collar workers SAK opposed the idea of giving up assessment of the labor market needs "at a time unemployment is high in Finland and the control of employment conditions is superficial". The signatories maintain however, that if a non-EU employee is not tied to one job, he or she can better defend his or her rights better either through trade unions or asking labor protection officials to help. Arrivals would still need a work permit and control of the contract. In neighboring Sweden, labor market assessment requirement has been given up. Finnish unions refer to the complaints from Swedish labor unions that the "free entry" has increased the vulnerability of non-EU workers and also the illegal purchases and sales of work permits. Parliamentary initiatives with a majority have a good chance of becoming law. Having just been handed in, the processing schedule of the initiative is not known at this time. Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-06 06:24:39|Editor: Zhou Xin Video Player Close HELSINKI, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- Finnish industries fear a shortage of steel and higher prices may occur as a result of the possible EU actions on imports from China and some other countries, local media reported on Thursday. Business Daily Kauppalehti quoted buyers of steel as saying the price level for the end users has risen drastically and there have been problems in availability. Unnamed Finnish steel buyers told Kauppalehti the companies that need steel "pay the highest price for the protection of European steel industry" as they are at the end of the chain. They said a shortage is intolerable in the situation when factories using steel are working at full capacity. The EU should choose a middle-of-the road line in its penalty tariffs, they said. Kauppalehti analyst Ilkka Sinerva reported that the increased tariffs targeting the imports of hot rolled coil steel have caused price increases in the whole production chain. Forty percent of hot rolled coil used in the EU area is being imported from outside the EU and the European Economic Area (ETA). Also the price of rebar steel, used in concrete construction industry, has increased. A business director of SSAB, the largest steel producer in the Nordic area, declined to comment the price levels. He said SSAB's plants in Raahe and Haamenlinna in Finland are working at full capacity. Wholesale sources told Kauppalehti that the delivery time of some qualities has risen from the 8-to-10 weeks to 12-to-14 weeks. Topi Paanen, CEO of Peikko Group, a leading Finnish user of steel in construction elements, complained to Kauppalehti that the EU steel producers failed to provide enough products. European industries warned of upcoming shortages already this past summer. As a result, the EU commission decided to delay new penalty duties, but a new round of penalties is a pending issue that concerns the end users. President of India accorded Ceremonial Welcome, holds talks with President of Djibouti; Agreement signed between the two countries Djibouti, Thu, 05 Oct 2017 NI Wire The President of India, Ram Nath Kovind, was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Presidential Palace in Djibouti this morning (October 4, 2017), on the second day of his visit to the African country. He inspected a Guard of Honour along with the President of the Republic of Djibouti, Mr Ismail Omar Guelleh. The President also led delegation level talks with his counterpart. An agreement to establish regular political consultations between India and Djibouti, at the level of the Foreign Office, was signed in the presence of the two Presidents. During wide-ranging talks with his Djiboutian counterpart, President Kovind - the first Indian President to visit Djibouti made specific reference to areas of common concern and interest such as terrorism; renewable energy and particularly Djiboutis support for membership of the International Solar Alliance; maritime cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region; and technical and capacity building assistance by India to enhance employment opportunities for Djibouti's young people. President Kovind specifically thanked President Guelleh for Djiboutis support during Operation Rahat, undertaken by India in 2015 to evacuate its citizens from conflict-hit Yemen. Later in the day, the President attended a State Banquet Luncheon hosted by the President of the Republic of Djibouti. Thereafter, President Kovind left for Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital, on the second leg of his two-country visit to Africa. In Addis Ababa, Dr Mulatu Teshome, the President of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, made a special gesture in being present at the Bole International Airport to receive President Kovind. Subsequently, the President was accorded a Guard of Honour and witnessed an Ethiopian cultural music performance. President Kovind is the first Indian President to visit Ethiopia in 45 years and the third overall. President V.V. Giri (1972) and President S. Radhakrishnan (1965) had previously travelled to Ethiopia. The President will conclude the day by addressing an Indian community reception in Addis Ababa. His visit to Ethiopia continues Today (October 5). Source: PIB Remarkable team work and output shown by ISRO is a model for other departments and institutions: Vice President Andhra Pradesh, Thu, 05 Oct 2017 NI Wire Inaugurates week long celebration of World Space Week The Vice President of India, M. Venkaiah Naidu has said that the remarkable team work and output shown by Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) over the years is a model for other departments and institutions. He was addressing the gathering after inaugurating the week long celebrations of World Space Week, in SHAR, Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh today. The Governor of Andhra Pradesh, Shri E.S.L. Narasimhan, the Chairman, ISRO, Shri Kiran Kumar and other dignitaries were present on the occasion. The Vice President said that his heart swells with pride with Indias prowess in space technology as country marches ahead to conquer new frontiers in space exploration. It is a double delight to him to be here as this internationally-renowned rocket launching site is located in his native district of Nellore, he added. The Vice President said that a thousand years ahead of Europeans, Indian savants knew that the zero and infinity were mutually inverse notions. He further said that with the launch of the first sounding rocket from Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launch Station (TERLS) in 1963 and the first Satellite, Aryabhata in 1975, India has made giant strides and has emerged today as one of the leading space faring nations in the leadership of visionaries like Prof. Vikram Sarabhai, Prof. Satish Dhawan and former President, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. The Vice President said that by putting 104 satellites into orbit in one go and placing the heaviest Indian satellite, GSAT-19 weighing 3,136 kg in its orbit earlier this year, Indias space scientists and technologists have not only done the country proud but made the world to sit up and take note of its accomplishments. It is not a question of mere technological advancement, but achieving launch after launch successfully at much lesser costs of similar missions in advanced countries which makes every Indian proud, he added. The Vice President said that this space port on the spindle-shaped island is one of the busiest satellite launch centres in the world and catering to global needs by truly epitomising Indias philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam. He further said that all the activities of ISRO have been centred on societal applications. ISRO now stands as one of the most reputed and leading space agencies in the world and is a huge source of inspiration to students and young and upcoming scientists, he added. The Vice President made a visit to the Vehicle Assembling Unit at the SHAR. Following is the text of Vice Presidents address: ISRO Chairman, Shri Kiran Kumar, distinguished scientists, brothers and sisters! As I step into this busy space port at Sriharikota, my heart swells with pride. It symbolises Indias prowess in space technology as the country marches ahead to conquer new frontiers in space exploration. It is a living monument to the efforts of scores of visionaries, thousands of engineers and scientists who made this possible; who dared to dream and shape that dream into reality. In fact, it is a double delight to me to be here because this internationally-renowned rocket launching site is located in my native district of Nellore. As I was coming here, I was just thinking how cosmology, creation of universe, sun, moon, stars, galaxies and planets have fascinated man from times immemorial. Indeed the concept of time and space, cosmology, creation of universe is not new to Indians. The celebrated astrophysicist Carl Sagan pointed out that Hinduism is the only religion in which the time scales correspond, no doubt by accident, to those of modern scientific cosmology. Its cycles run from our ordinary day and night to a day and night of Brahma, 8.64 billion years long. Longer than the age of the Earth or the Sun and about half the time since the Big Bang, said Sagan. Many other scholars and savants from India and other countries studied the role of science in ancient India. French historian of mathematics, Georges Ifrah, who is the author of the book, Universal History of Numbers said: The Indian mind has always had for calculations and the handling of numbers an extraordinary inclination, ease and power, such as no other civilisation in history ever possessed to the same degree. So much so that Indian culture regarded the science of numbers as the noblest of its arts. A thousand years ahead of Europeans, Indian savants knew that the zero and infinity were mutually inverse notions. Since the baby steps with the launch of the first sounding rocket from Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launch Station (TERLS) in 1963 and the first Satellite, Aryabhata in 1975, India has made giant strides and has emerged today as one of the leading space faring nations, thanks to visionaries like Prof. Vikram Sarabhai, Prof. Satish Dhawan and former President, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. By putting 104 satellites into orbit in one go and placing the heaviest Indian satellite, GSAT-19 weighing 3,136 kg in its orbit earlier this year, Indias space scientists and technologists have not only done the country proud but made the world to sit up and take note of its accomplishments. It is not a question of mere technological advancement, but achieving launch after launch successfully at much lesser costs of similar missions in advanced countries which makes every Indian proud. As many as 209 foreign satellites from 28 countries were launched in missions undertaken by ISRO. ISRO scientists have also achieved what others could not doputting spacecraft in orbit around Mars in the very first attempta remarkable feat indeed! While mentioning about low cost, the one thing that comes to my mind, not only mine but of every Indian, is the prestigious Mars Orbiter Mission which has taken India to the red planet at a much lower cost compared to other space agencies and that too in the maiden attempt, which is indeed a unique achievement. I appreciate the dedicated efforts put in by all of you in achieving the historic milestone. I am extremely happy that today you are having the men behind that mission, Shri A.S. Kiran Kumar, your Chairman and Shri P. Kunhikrishnan, your Director to lead you to greater heights and bring more and more laurels to the nation. Only some days ago, Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) completed three years. Another proud achievement was the discovery of water on moon by Chandrayaan-1. Today, this space port on the spindle-shaped island is one of the busiest satellite launch centres in the world and catering to global needs by truly epitomising Indias philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam. All the activities of ISRO have been centred around societal applications. ISRO now stands as one of the most reputed and leading space agencies in the world and is a huge source of inspiration to students and young and upcoming scientists. From communication to weather forecasting to telemedicine and disaster warning, ISROs efforts have enabled our nation to achieve self-reliance in most of our communication and earth observation requirements and helped in enhancing the living standards of the people. I am aware that weather predictions by ISRO Satellites when cyclones like Phylon and Hudhud hit Odisha coast led to saving of many lives. ISROs contributions were also recorded with gratitude during the recent Vardhah cyclone for timely and accurate prediction. India was lucky that the countrys space programme took wings under the visionary leadership of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai. In his autobiography, Wings of Fire, former President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam said: I consider Prof. Sarabhai as the Mahatma Gandhi of Indian Science generating leadership qualities in his team and inspiring them through both ideas and example. I am glad his great vision is still being carried forward by all of you with India being second to none in using advanced technology for exploring new frontiers and to ultimately benefit the common man, which should be the basic objective of any science-related activity. Some of you here must have also had the privilege of working with Dr. Kalam, who had worked with single-minded devotion for the success of Indias first Satellite Launch Vehicle, SLV-3 and also with Prof. Satish Dhawan, among others all of whom had contributed immensely with their management and leadership styles towards the rapid strides India achieved in the space sector. Extending support to South Asian countries with the launch of a dedicated satellite, GSAT-9 by GSLV-F09, is another commendable achievement of ISRO. I am happy that ISRO had a very successful mission of heavy lift launcher GSLV Mk3 in the first attempt itself. We are also in the elite club of nations having cryogenic and re-entry technologies. The remarkable team work and output shown by this organization over the years is a model for other departments and institutions. After showing to the world how excellence could be achieved at minimal costs, I am told that you are immediately planning your second mission to moon, including a lander and a rover for scientific experiments. I also learnt that you have plans to reach the sun, like Adithya mission, and you are also developing technologies for Human Space programme. Before coming to this function, I visited the huge facilities being built at SHAR to meet the challenging demands of the future.. There, I could understand the dedicated and untiring efforts that went into the launch of three different launch vehicles in the shortest time span of two months. I wholeheartedly appreciate each one of you for that. At this juncture, I recollect my earlier visit to this place with Honourable Prime Minister, when Shri Kunhikrishnan explained the details of French satellite, SPOT-7 mission by our PSLV-C23 as the Project Director. Now, when he is the Director, I could see that SHAR is undergoing a massive infrastructure development, under the guidance of Chairman, ISRO, to meet the future requirements. I am informed that once the second vehicle assembly building, which is three times bigger than the present one, is commissioned and augmentation of other facilities is completed, the number of launches per year can be more than doubled, leading to self-reliance in space launch. I once again laud all of you for your skills, knowledge, dedication and sincerity over the years for the various milestones achieved by ISRO. I am told that various outreach programmes like quizzes and essay competitions, exhibition and arranging visits to school students are being organized during the World Space Week. Such programmes will increase the awareness on space-related activities among the youngsters and inspire them. I also appreciate the steps you are taking to reach out to every nook and corner of this state and the neighbouring states to encourage and attract young minds. Today, I am happy to be with you in Sriharikota for the inaugural function of this week long celebration of World Space Week. I am also happy to have the presence of Shri Kiran Kumar, Chairman, ISRO who is leading this great organisation to laudable heights. My best wishes for the success of all your future endeavours. JAI HIND! Source: PIB The former President of Nigeria and one of the founders of the Peoples Democratic Party, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, IBB, has thrown his weight behind the former Governor of Ogun State, Otunba (Engr.) Gbenga Daniel (OGD) in his bid to become the National Chairman of the party describing him as the breathe of fresh air. IBB made this declaration at his Hilltop residence in Minna, Niger state on Wednesday when OGD alongside his powerful delegation paid him a visit in furtherance to his nationwide consultation. Speaking during the visit, Daniel said he had come to confer with the former President on his ambition, noting that no serious politician in the country would embark on such an important national task without seeking the wisdom and blessing of the former President. Responding, President Babangida said he was quite elated when he learnt that Otunba Gbenga Daniel was interested in offering his service to the country. He said: I was elated when I first heard that you were interested in volunteering yourself for this great service to our country, you represent the breadth of fresh air that the Party deserves at this stage. I know OGD very well and I know his unparalleled capacity for work. I have a strong conviction that with OGD as chairman, the Party can be turned around again. I am supporting you because I know you very well. OGD, youre my Chairman in waiting Gen. Babangida thereafter hosted the delegation to a private meeting. Reno Omokri, the former Special Adviser on New Media to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, has said under the President Muhammadu Buharis administration there is no more Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, but Northern Nigeria Petroleum Corporation. The former Presidential aide made the remark while reacting to the squabble between the Minister of State for Petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu and the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Dr . Maikanti Baru. Kachikwu had earlier accused the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Dr . Maikanti Baru of insubordination and humiliation. The Minister also expressed disappointment at the fact that the petition he sent to the President on the matter could be leaked to the public. In a series of tweets on his twitter handle, Omokri said though Buhari claimed he wanted to fix Nigeria but Kachikwu has exposed the fact that he is out to steal, kill and destroy the country. The tweets read, If Ibe Kachikwu does not understand the difference between 97% and 5%, I bet you that he has learnt his lesson at the cost of $26 billion! Those waiting for President @MBuhari to deal with Baru will wait long. Has he dealt with Babachir or Ikoyi billions? Anticorruption my foot! President @MBuhari told Nigerians his government came to fix Nigeria. But thanks to Kachikwu we now know it came to STEAL, KILL and DESTROY! $26 billion corruption exposed in NNPC. Who knows whats going on in NPA, NCC & NERC. You wont know PMBs corruption till he leaves power! Anti corruption my foot. Amaechi, Babachir, Oke and now Baru. $26 billion contracts awarded without due process. What a corrupt government! Just imagine what would have happened if a minister accused @GEJonathans govt of awarding $26 billion contracts without due process! If President Buhari truly has integrity, if his anti corruption war is not a cover for an anti PDP war then Baru/NNPC must be investigated. Very sad that even the Minister of state for Petroleum resources cant even see the President who is the minister of Petroleum resources! Kachikwu didnt get the memo. Theres no Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation any more. It is now Northern Nigeria Petroleum Corporation. The Group Managing Director, Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, Maikanti Baru, on Wednesday reopened the NNPC depot in the Apata area of Ibadan, Oyo State after some years of inactivity. Baru said that President Muhammadu Buhari was concerned about ease of fuel distribution and supply to every part of the company, which he said informed his commitment to upgrading of storage facilities across Nigeria. He stated that the reopening of the depot would ease the stress of transporting fuel from Lagos to Ibadan. He said, I want to commend President Buhari for his commitment to the upgrading of storage and distribution facilities across the country. With the reopening of the depot, avenue for employment opportunities and socio-economic advancement has been created. The NNPC GMD also urged the Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, to ensure provision of adequate security for the various facilities at the depot. The Chairman of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers, Suleiman Oladiti, commended the Federal Government for deeming it fit to restore the depot and other ones across the country. He said, With the turnaround of the depots in Aba, Ejigbo, Lagos, Mosimi, Kano and now Ibadan, the government has set the pace for steady supply of oil across the country. The Senator representing Bauchi Central Senatorial District, Hamman Misau, has opened a can worms against the Inspector General of Police, Idris Kpotun Ibrahim. Raising through order 43, Misau a former Police officer explained that he was attacked by the Inspector General of Police because he revealed corrupt activities under the current IGP, while the Senate was on recess. He also disclosed that the IG was in extra marital affairs with one Amina and another Esther, but eventually wedded Amina secretly in Kaduna after being impregnated. Mr President, distinguished colleagues, instead of the IGP to address the issues I raised in my capacity as the Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, he was busy attacking me, he said. The IGP has been in sexual relationship with two female serving Police officers, that is one Amina and Esther. He impregnated Amina and did a wedding secretly in Kaduna. As a former Police officer, I can say authoritatively that it is wrong for an officer to have a relationship with female Police officer because of the nature of that work, Misau insisted. He further said that Police is a non profit generating organisation, but there were instances where officers were posted to oil and other multinational Companies for fees. He said the IGP never remit those monies into the federation account. The lawmaker faulted the manner which promotion of officers were being handled by the current IGP of Police, adding that officers pay as much as N500,000 to get promoted. Misau sought the intervention of Senate to look at the situations, where single powerful individuals could have close to 30 Police officer guarding them, while commoners living in communities do not have police around them. Senator Hamman Misau and the IGP have been at each others jugular over bribery allegations against the Nigeria Police. The detention, according to Anadolu, was part of a widening crackdown by the government following the 2016 failed coup attempt. The suspects were detained for allegedly using ByLock, an encrypted messaging app which the government said was used by the network of U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, blamed by Ankara of orchestrating July abortive coup. Gulen, who has lived in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania since 1999, denies involvement. Anadolu said that 101 of the suspects were from the Finance Ministry and 32 from the Labour Ministry. It said that two of the suspects from each ministry were active workers. Since then, more than 50,000 people have been jailed pending trial over links to Gulen, while 150,000 people have been sacked or suspended from jobs in the public and private sectors. Rights groups and some of Turkeys Western allies have voiced concern about the crackdown, fearing the government is using the coup as a pretext to quash dissent. The government says only such a purge could neutralise the threat represented by Gulens network, which it says deeply infiltrated institutions such as the army, schools and courts. In a latest development, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan was quoted by media as saying that Turkey, Iran and Iraq will jointly decide on closing the flow of oil from northern Iraq. That was a retaliatory move after the Kurdish region voted for independence. Erdogan while speaking to Anadolu and other media including broadcasters NTV and CNN Turk on his return flight from a one-day trip to Iran, criticised the inclusion of the city of Kirkuk in the referendum. He said that Kurds had no legitimacy there. Iran and Turkey have already threatened to join Baghdad in imposing economic sanctions on Iraqi Kurdistan and have launched joint military exercises with Iraqi troops on their borders after northern Iraqs independence referendum last month. In September, Russian oil major Rosneft had clinched a gas pipeline deal in Iraqs autonomous Kurdistan to help it become a major exporter of gas to Turkey and Europe. The pipeline will be constructed in 2019 and exports will begin in 2020. Two and a half tons of cocaine with a street value of 2.7 billion US dollars were seized by the Moroccan security services, in their largest ever operation, showing the efficiency of the countrys drugs control strategy. This biggest drug bust was announced Wednesday by Moroccos Central Bureau for Judicial Investigation at a press conference. The Bureau chief Abdelhak Khiame said the drugs were seized in the Atlantic coastal towns of Skhirat and Bouznika and the Mediterranean town of Nador. He also announced the arrest of 13 people and seizure of cars, rifles and $480,000 in cash. The captured dealers include some holding dual citizenship (Moroccan-Dutch or Moroccan-Spanish citizenship). Two of them, considered as the brains of the network, are also in custody from a previous arrest. The cocaine came in batches from Mexico and Venezuela, and was destined for sale in Morocco and beyond, explained Mr. Abdelhak Khiame. This impressive drug seizure shows that the North African Kingdom, which has long been considered as a transit country for cocaine trafficked to Europe, is increasingly becoming a target too. Over the past decade the flow of cocaine from South America to West Africa, and subsequently through North Africa to Europe and the Middle East, has expanded rapidly. The UN Office on Drugs and Crime estimates that between 20 and 40 MT of cocaine transits the region annually in route to Europe. Morocco works closely with the United States and European partners to combat drug trafficking. The Central Bureau of Judicial Investigation was established in 2015 and is among the agencies with authority to conduct counternarcotics investigations. US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) opened a Rabat office in July 2015 to provide support, assistance, training and information sharing. The so-called Islamic State group (IS) Wednesday claimed credit for the attack on a court house in the city of Misrata in which four people including a security officer have been confirmed dead. The group swiftly on its media agency Amaq said its commandos raided the court building. Reports say three men arrived in a car, pushed through the entrance of building to have access to offices located inside. They exchanged fire with judicial police and security force units which arrived on the site. One jihadist blew up himself on the second floor, blowing up windows and causing important damages. Another terrorist was killed and the third arrested in the shootout which lasted for over half an hour. 15 people were seriously injured in the attack which took place during a court session. Accounts say the group attacked the complex over claims that some of its fighters were brought for trial and the city mayor, Mohamed Eshtewi told reporters that there was trial of IS captives. Misrata controlled by forces loyal to UN-backed Presidential Council (PC) has not witnessed attacks since 2015. The city forces known as Bunyan Marsous backed by the PC and the US airpower got rid of IS in the city of Sirte following months of fighting which started in May. Authorities last week warned that the terror group is regrouping outside Sirte. The latest attack came few days after US airpower conducted several airstrikes last week and the week before against positions of the terrorist group. 17 jihadists were killed in the first sortie which took place one week ago. Three vehicles used by the terrorist to convoy fighters in and out were destroyed. IRS Commissioner John Koskinen. Photo: Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images Four and a half years ago, the IRS revealed that it had subjected numerous conservative political groups to excessive scrutiny, delays, and demands for paperwork. A scandal was born. President Obama apologized, newspaper headlines confirmed the agencys guilt, and Congress scheduled investigatory hearings to confirm its suspicion that the Obama administration has sicced the agency on its enemies just like Nixon, whose name was invoked with frequency. Last night supplied the latest and probably final proof that the entire scandal was a fever dream. The Obama administration didnt use the agency to target its opponents; indeed, as we now know conclusively, the IRS did not target conservatives at all. The sorry episode reveals a great deal about Washington but nothing whatsoever about a liberal bureaucratic plot. The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration reviewed a decade of IRS handling of political organizations. It found that scores of liberal groups were subject to the same heavy scrutiny that conservative groups faced. This merely certified what had been perfectly clear all along. Within months of the targeting scandal breaking, evidence was already available to show that the IRS was giving political activists on the left the same treatment as those on the right. (The New York Times reported on this as early as June 2013.) Subsequent hearings turned up no evidence Obama had ordered the IRS to target conservatives because the IRS did not in fact target conservatives. The fact some conservatives had a hard time dealing with the IRS did not prove the IRS is targeting conservatives any more than some conservatives having a hard time renewing their drivers licenses would prove the DMV is targeting conservatives. And yet the scandal has lived on and on in the conservative mind. House Republicans have demanded the impeachment of the IRS commissioner; The House Republicans website continues to insist The American people deserve answers; last month, Republicans expressed outrage that the Department of Justice declined to prosecute former IRS official Lois Lerner, whose name has become a right-wing trigger-phrase akin to Benghazi. Nobody has ever told the Republican base there is no IRS scandal. Pro-Trump and Never Trump Republicans are united in their fixed belief in this unicorn. Charlie Sykess new book, How the Right Lost Its Mind, which is primarily dedicated to the rise of the right-wing fever swamp and the role of the conservative media in allowing its fantasies to swell unchallenged, casually mentions in the section explaining why conservatives have some legitimate grievances IRS targeting of Tea Party groups. Fervently anti-Trump conservatives like Michael Gerson, George Will, Noah Rothman, and many others continue to cite the nonexistent scandal as if it were a real thing. It has become a cliche to point to some long-standing feature of right-wing politics and conclude this is why Trump won. But it is also a point with a high degree of truth. Conservatives spent decades building a closed epistemology of alternative facts, and Trump repurposed it for his own ends. Uncorked. Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images On Wednesday, NBC News reported that Rex Tillerson had once referred to President Trump as a moron, and had considered resigning from his role as secretary of State. In response, Tillerson gave a speech saying that hed never thought of quitting his job. He neither confirmed nor denied the moron bit. So, the D.C. press corps looked elsewhere for answers. Eventually, a reporter asked chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Bob Corker if he had any special insight into what Tillerson might think of the presidents intellect. .@SenBobCorker: "I think Sec. Tillerson, Sec. Mattis and Chief of Staff Kelly are those people that help separate our country from chaos." pic.twitter.com/NjuRX59s6A CSPAN (@cspan) October 4, 2017 Corker refused to address that question directly, insisting that he does not talk about private conversations. But the Republican senator went on to suggest that the president is an agent of chaos and if Tillerson ever disparaged him in a moment of frustration, well, it was probably justified. I think secretary Tillerson, secretary Mattis, and chief of staff Kelly are those people that help separate our country from chaos, Corker said. And I support them very much. I see whats happening here, Corker continued. I deal with people throughout the administration, and [Tillerson], from my perspective, is in an incredibly frustrating place. He ends up not being supported in the way that I hope a secretary of State would be supported. But I never, ya know, I have no knowledge of the comments or anything else. Asked whether he had meant that Tillerson separated America from Trumps chaos, Corker replied that Tillerson, Mattis, and Kelly worked hard to make sure that the policies we put forward around the world are sound and coherent but that there are other people within the administration, in my belief, that dont. Corker did not specify whether Donald Trump was one such person. This is not the first time that the Tennessee senator has publicly suggested his partys sitting president is unfit for office. Following Trumps praise for the very fine people who marched with neo-Nazis in Charlottesville, Corker said in August that the president has not yet been able to demonstrate the stability nor some of the competence that he needs to demonstrate in order to be successful. But the senators latest rebuke of the president may have special significance. Late last month, Corker announced that he would not seek reelection next year. In a statement, he suggested that the most important public service I have to offer our country could well occur over the next 15 months, and I want to be able to do that as thoughtfully and independently as I did the first 10 years and nine months of my Senate career. Since then, Corker has exercised such independence by insisting that he would never vote for a tax-cut bill that adds one penny to the deficit. If that stance is sincere, then Corkers vote is irrevocably lost. The Republican Party simply is not interested in revenue-neutral tax reform theyre interested in breaking Uncle Sams piggy bank and shaking out the change into their donors eager hands. And yet Corker has left himself some wiggle room to betray his pledge, by suggesting that he could accept a dynamic score of the bills budget effects which is to say, a score that assumes accelerated economic growth will make up some revenue so long as said score is reasonable. Corkers remarks Wednesday are one indication that he really does intend to make the most of his political invulnerability and thus, that when he says reasonable, he means it. And that could be a big problem for Mitch McConnell. A lot of things can happen when a senator stops being polite and starts being real but the GOP leadership may soon find that tax reform isnt one of them. Undated photo of Marilou Danley released by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. The girlfriend of Las Vegas shooter Stephen Paddock made her first public comments about the tragedy on Wednesday evening, saying she had no inkling that he was planning Sundays attack on the Route 91 Harvest music festival, which left 58 people dead and hundreds wounded. I knew Stephen Paddock as a kind, caring, quiet man, Marilou Danley said in a statement read by her attorney. He never said anything to me or took any action that I was aware of that I understood in any way to be a warning that something horrible like this was going to happen. Danley, 62, has been in her home country of the Philippines for the last two weeks, and returned to the U.S. on Tuesday night after authorities called her a person of interest in their investigation. She said she went home to visit her family at Paddocks suggestion, and when he wired her money reportedly $100,000 she thought the trip and the gift might be his way of breaking up with her. In an interview with Australias Channel 7, Danleys sister, who was not named, suggested that Paddock sent his girlfriend away to keep her from undermining his plans. I know she doesnt know anything as well like us, said the sister. She was sent away. She was away so that she would not be there to interfere with what hes planning. Eric Paddock, the shooters brother, suggested Paddock was trying to protect Danley. He manipulated her to be as far away from here and safe when he committed this, Eric Paddock said. The people he loved he took care of, and as he was descending into hell he took care of her. But others suggested there was a darker side to their relationship. Esperanza Mendoza, the supervisor of a Starbucks in Reno, Nevada, that the couple frequented, told the L.A. Times that employees often saw him berate her. He would glare down at her and say with a mean attitude You dont need my casino card for this. Im paying for your drink, just like Im paying for you. Then she would softly say, okay and step back behind him. He was so rude to her in front of us, Mendoza recalled. Danley, who is not in federal custody, said she intends to cooperate fully with investigators. Anything I can do to help ease suffering and help in any way, I will do, she said. Here is Danleys statement in full: Las Vegas. Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images In the immediate wake of Sunday nights massacre in Las Vegas, journalists and horrified viewers quickly began asking a set of questions that have become sadly familiar: Why did Stephen Craig Paddock do what he did? How did he get his weapons? What policy changes could have prevented this catastrophe? But another, more meta question also bubbled up shortly after news of the shooting began to spread: Is the media contributing to these attacks through how it covers them? This, too, has become a fairly standard question to ask in the age of mass shootings, and a number of smart people have decided the answer is yes. Their argument is summed up concisely by the Texas State University researchers behind the website Dont Name Them them being shooters who argue that Some shooters are motivated by a desire for fame, notoriety, and/or recognition, it is a mistake for journalists to grant them exactly that, in part because doing so can inspire copycast. Zeynep Tufekci, a University of North Carolina psychologist and New York Times columnist who writes about the intersection of technology, culture, and politics, has also been covering the copycat issue for a while. Here are some highlights from a tweetstorm she posted Monday on the issue, drawing on some of her past work on this issue: It is perfectly possible to cover such a horrible event without excessive focus on the killer, or exact methods in painstaking detail. zeynep tufekci (@zeynep) October 2, 2017 Mass killers come in a variety motivations, but they all want ATTENTION ON THEIR TERMS. Zero reason why we should comply so easily. zeynep tufekci (@zeynep) October 2, 2017 There is no need for videos of panicked people on loop, or the killer's face endlessly flashed to have a sensible coverage or discussion. zeynep tufekci (@zeynep) October 2, 2017 The road map to sensible coverage is possible, and I wrote about it in multiple pieces. Need editorial guidancethe opposite of censorship. pic.twitter.com/aiBG6K8h15 zeynep tufekci (@zeynep) October 2, 2017 For ex: CNN autoplays video with sound of automatic fire. One, you're autoplaying a snuff film. Two, that's exactly what inspires copycats. zeynep tufekci (@zeynep) October 3, 2017 This particular type of mass murderer is killing *for* the infamy. That's the goal. Why does media comply so meekly? https://t.co/0f0I086F1Z zeynep tufekci (@zeynep) October 3, 2017 +recommentation isn't "hide method." It's "don't go into excessive details that plant seeds of ideation with step-by-step detailed tracing." zeynep tufekci (@zeynep) October 3, 2017 At first glance, these seem like fairly reasonable requests, like a way for the institution of journalism to play the role of a responsible curator of information rather than a crass sensationalizer of violence. But if you actually dig down into these suggestions, its unclear exactly what it would look like for outlets to follow them, or how they could do so while still retaining their responsibilities to provide accurate breaking news. Lets grant that there are fairly gross, exploitative ways to cover tragedies blurring the line between real-life violence and action movies and all outlets should avoid them. But Tufekci and other media critics are making a more substantive critique than that. And it isnt a particularly realistic one. In a 2015 column about the murder of a Virginia TV reporter and her cameraman captured on live TV and in a surreal first-person video on the killers Facebook feed, for example, Tufekci explained: [Covering these events more responsibly] doesnt mean censoring the news or not reporting important events of obvious news value. It means not providing the killers with the infamy they seek. It means somber, instead of lurid and graphic, coverage, and a focus on victims. It means not putting the killers face on loop. It means minimizing or not using the killers names, as I have done here. It means not airing snuff films, or making them easily accessible on popular sites. It means holding back reporting of details such as the type of gun, ammunition, angle of attack and the protective gear the killer might have worn. Such detailed reporting can give the next killer a concrete road map. When a violent act occurs, everyone wants to know who did it and what it was like to be there. This is human nature. People will seek out any information they can about the perpetrators and the nature of the attack. Thats why information about a given killer and photos and video of a given attack always dominate the news so much: this is what people want to know. What quantity of photo-showing or name-naming would reduce the risk of copycats? How much video replaying is too much? These questions are particularly pointed in the age of fake news, a subject Tufekci has written about at length. If media outlets dont provide useful, attention-grabbing information about an attack, it will only become easier for hoaxsters, trolls, and gonzo ideological (mostly far-right) outlets to carve out an even bigger place in the conversation. We should want outlets to provide the real name of the attacker, and real information including, yes, hard-to-watch video about what went down. This can serve as a partial bulwark against the spread of false and needlessly inflammatory nonsense. As Tufekci and others have noted, there is fairly solid evidence that media coverage can lead to copycat attacks. But there could also be benefits to airing detailed information about these attacks: Detailed reporting on the Columbine High School massacre, for example, garnered plenty of information about how Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris carried out their attacks, from their training in its run-up to where they got their arsenal, that could help future family members or school administrators notice warning signs they might otherwise miss. So it could both be the case that certain types of detailed reporting could occasionally inspire copycats and that in the long run, society is better off for having this information be available. Finally, its worth pointing out that mass shooters always have been and always will be famous. That is what happens when you do a horrible thing that garners a great deal of attention, and theres really no way around it. Its unfortunate that there is a small subset of deeply disturbed people who could be swayed by this fact, but its simply silly to pretend that it will ever be the case that mass shooters will not garner significant attention for their crimes especially in the social-media age, when the question of which information gets passed around is determined by hundreds of millions of people instead of a small group of elite media outlets. In short, saying We should try to prevent mass shooters from becoming famous is a bit like saying We should try to stop 14-year-olds from being fascinated by sex. Its a nice sentiment, and if there were any way to accomplish it it would probably improve society a bit but given that humans are humans, it just isnt a realistic goal. People in Newtown, Connecticut, attend a vigil remembering the victims of the massacre in Las Vegas on October 4, 2017. Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images In the wake of the murder of 20 children and six adults in Newtown, Connecticut, Democratic senator Dianne Feinstein introduced a bill that would have reinstated the federal assault-weapons ban. It failed, like every piece of new gun-control legislation since 2007. Just a day after Stephen Paddock opened fired on a music festival in Las Vegas, killing 58 people and wounding hundreds, journalists were already writing articles explaining how, even after the worst mass shooting in U.S. history, the Republican-controlled Congress wouldnt do something about gun laws. Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein decided to push the issue anyway, introducing a bill on Wednesday that focused on one small part of her 2013 bill: banning bump stocks. The device makes semiautomatic weapons, which are legal, function like automatic weapons, which have been mostly illegal for decades. Twelve of the weapons found in Paddocks hotel room were fitted with bump stocks, which allowed him to fire on the crowd of 22,000 at a much faster rate. In a somewhat surprising development, a handful of Republican lawmakers responded by saying theyre open to banning bump stocks or at least talking about it. The bill currently has no GOP sponsors, but Senator Ron Johnson, a Wisconsin Republican, told reporters, I have no problem banning those. Other Republicans were undecided, but said theyd consider the subject. Senator Lindsey Graham said the ban is something Id be interested in looking at to see if a law change would matter. Would it affect things? Id be willing to look at that. Senator John Thune said a ban is worth having a conversation about, and some of our members agree with that. I own a lot of guns, and as a hunter and sportsman, I think thats our right as Americans, but I dont understand the use of this bump stock, said Senator John Cornyn, the No. 2 Republican in the Senate, adding, It seems like its an obvious area we ought to explore and see if its something Congress needs to act on. Even some pro-gun House Republicans said they were interested in the proposal. This is such a new component to me, I have no idea how it operates, how simple it is, said Representative Jeff Duncan. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives approved the goofy, little doodad during the Obama administration, as it did not technically alter a guns trigger mechanism. The New York Times explains: The device replaces a rifles standard stock, which is the part held against the shoulder. It frees the weapon to slide back and forth rapidly, harnessing the energy from the kickback shooters feel when the weapon fires. The stock bumps back and forth between the shooters shoulder and trigger finger, causing the rifle to rapidly fire again and again. The shooter holds his or her trigger finger in place, while maintaining forward pressure on the barrel and backward pressure on the pistol grip while firing. Heres what it looks like in action: Bump stocks which cost less than $200 increase a semi-automatic rifles rate of fire from between 45 to 60 rounds per minute to between 400 to 800 rounds per minute. Thats the same rate of fire as automatic weapons, Feinstein said. The only reason to modify a gun is to kill as many people as possible in as short a time as possible. The prospect of Congress doing something that could potentially cut down on the number of victims in the next mass shooting is encouraging, but the sense that Republican lawmakers deserve credit for even entertaining the idea says a lot about the sad state of the gun-control debate. Plus, it seems very possible that Republicans ultimately wont embrace this small and relatively clear-cut gun measure. Some immediately ruled out even discussing a bump-stock ban. Im a Second Amendment man, said Senator Richard Shelby of Alabama. Im not for any gun control, okay? None. Once like-minded pundits mobilize on the issue, Republican lawmakers will likely become less willing to talk. Breitbart has already posted a passionate defense of bump-stock devices. It argues Americans have a constitutional right to experience the fun of mimicking automatic fire, and its elitist to implement a ban when its still legal to own certain extremely expensive antique machine guns: Typical leftist war on the poor A ban on bump-stock devices takes away the $200 device poorer citizens can buy to at least pretend to be shooting the real machines they will never be able to afford. Of course, theres also the National Rifle Association, which spent $52.6 million on bolstering GOP candidates in 2016, and has yet to weigh in on the issue. For those desperate to see action on gun violence after Las Vegas, the slim hope that Congress could ban bump stocks does seem better than nothing. But it shouldnt obscure the fact that most Republican lawmakers are choosing not to work toward reducing the horrifically high number of mass shootings in the U.S. Trump speaks at the U.N., where he railed against the Iran deal. Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images President Trump will decertify the Iran nuclear deal next week, allowing Congress to decide how to proceed with the deal that he once promised to rip up, according to multiple reports. In a speech planned for Thursday, October 12, Trump will announce that the deal, which provides Iran with sanctions relief in exchange for limits to its nuclear program, is no longer in the best interest of the United States. That will kick the issue to Congress, which will have 60 days to take next steps. If one of those next steps is to reinstitute sanctions on Iran, then the deal will be dead. The 2015 deal was negotiated by the Obama administration, alongside other major global powers, and Trump has always hated it. Over the years he has called the deal a complete catastrophe and the worst deal ever, among other things. On Wednesday, Politico described the White House strategy as wounding the Iran deal. Trump, the report says, will not suggest Congress pass new sanctions, which would dissolve the deal. Instead, after decertifying it, the White House will try to strengthen the deal. Theres a problem with that approach though. Irans president Hassan Rouhani has said its a nonstarter. After Trump railed against the deal yet again in a speech to the United Nations last month, Rouhani said clearly and definitively that the nuclear deal cannot be renegotiated. With tourists paying as much as $500 (Shs 1.8m) per head per night for accommodation in lodges such as Apoka in the Kidepo Valley national park, many Ugandans say it is expensive to tour their country. As a result, the local tourism market remains largely untapped, with the industry left to largely foreign tourists with heavy spending power. Things could turn out different though, with the country set to host its first-ever conservation and tourism investment forum slated for October 6, 2017 at the Lake Victoria Serena resort in Kigo. Foreign tourists take pictures of giraffes in Murchison Falls national park The forum seeks to convince investors from all over the world to invest in areas surrounding Ugandas national parks. Addressing journalists at the Uganda Media Centre on Monday, Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities minister Ephraim Kamuntu called the forum a unique venture that will give private investors an opportunity to pursue conservation-friendly investments in five national parks of Queen Elizabeth, Kidepo, Murchison Falls, Semiliki and Kibaale. Discussions on public private partnerships will also be held. This is a selected group of high-end investors with interest in conservation. We must utilise the natural resources we have without compromising those people who will come after us, Kamuntu said. The minister noted that specific eco-friendly spots within the national parks have already been identified for investment, ranging from hotels to lodges. Aerial view of River Nile According to figures from the ministry of tourism, the sector accounts for about 23 per cent of the countrys foreign exchange earnings annually. According to Andrew Seguya, the executive director of Uganda Wildlife Authority, interested investors will have to remit some of their earnings for the development of local communities. Stephen Asiimwe, the Uganda Tourism Board executive director, said even with much of the infrastructure which facilitates tourism in place, the country is still faced with a problem of poor-quality services like accommodation, which keeps out a certain class of visitors who prefer high quality. We are targeting high-end people. If these investors put in place first-class facilities, very many rich people around the world will jet in here and tour, he said. The Kampala City Carnival is to cost Shs 1.31 billion, the organizing committee chairperson, Prof John Ddumba-Ssentamu has revealed. The three-day carnival kicks off this Friday with a charity concert to raise money for the refurbishment of Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) primary schools. KCCA manage s 79 primary schools on behalf of the central government. The concert will be held at Kololo Independence grounds. The key performer at the concert is Tanzanian music star Diamond Platinumz. KCCA executive director Jennifer Musisi at a recent city festival The charity concert will cost Shs 417 million but only Shs 370 million has been committed by sponsors. The city authority projects to collect Shs 289 million that will go towards renovation of schools. The second event is a motor rally taking place on Saturday. The motor rally will cost Shs 170 million but only Shs 95 million has been received from sponsors, leaving a short fall of Shs 75 million. The Authority anticipates collecting only Shs 10 million in revenue from the rally. The festival will cost Shs 723 million but only Shs 509 million has been received from the sponsors - leaving a short fall of Shs 214 million. The Authority expects to collect Shs 547 million. In total, the festival will cost Shs 1.3bn but KCCA has only received Shs 976 million from sponsors leaving a short fall of Shs 334 million. The festival organizing committee chairperson, Prof Ddumba did not explain how the budget short fall will be met. The festival is funded by the private sector, which in turn gets advertising space. After last year's festival, the Authority appointed a committee to look into its organization, which revealed that technical wing managed to raise 60 per cent of the budgeted money. Kennedy Okello, the Nakawa II councilor who chaired the committee, said organisers never revealed how they funded the budget shortfall. Another committee chaired again by Okello, was appointed last month to probe this year's festival arrangements and make recommendations on how it can be managed. On funding, the committee recommended that the KCCA technical wing should interest central government in taking over or contributing towards festival and make it a national tourism event. It also called for timely audit of every festival before another cycle comes. "And the committee further recommended that the Authority considers seeking support of the Local Government in funding the festival as sponsor fatigue sets in or handover the festival to the central government as a tourism activity. That, the Directorate of Audit carries out timely audit of the festival and a report submitted to the authority before the next cycle of organising the festival begins", said Okello. Ddumba, the former Makerere University vice chancellor welcomed the committee's recommendations on encouraging government to inject money in the festival, arguing that it helps them to have control of the events because private sector funders attach strings to their money. "Since now all the funding is coming from the private sector it becomes extremely hard for us to dictate to the people who are giving us the money how to spend their money...", Ddumba said. City councilors cautioned against extravagancy that has been exhibited at the previous festivals such as hiring expensive cars or chopper for the executive director to fly around Kampala. Christians in Kitanga Catholic Parish in Kabale Diocese are demanding for an apology from area Resident District Commissioner Darias Nandiinda over comments he made against parish priest, Rev. Fr. Gaetano Batanyenda. While appearing on radio stations in Kabale last week, Nandiinda described Fr. Batanyenda as an expired priest, saying he should retire from service and go home. He also attacked the priest for being at the forefront of those decampaigning the proposed scrapping of the presidential age limit from the Constitution. Kabale RDC Darius Nandiinda Nandiinda vowed to mobilize Christians to shun Kitanga Catholic Church, should Fr. Batanyenda continue sabotaging the proposed amendment on the age limit. The RDC's utterances have drawn angry reactions from faithfuls, saying they are aimed at witch hunting and intimidating their priest from speaking on their behalf. They want Nandiinda to apologise to the priest and the parishoners. Fred Kyenserikora, the head of catechist, Kitanga parish, says there is no way Nandiinda can step in the area to mobilize Christians to shun praying from Kitanga church. He says the utterances of the RDC directed at Fr Batanyenda show that the RDC isn't a good leader. "The RDC doesnt know what he is talking about. There is no way he will step in Kitagata parish. Fr Gaetano is always telling the truth thats why the RDC is witch hunting and intimidating him. But he cant intimidate him, were happy with the achievements of our parish priest. We want an apology", said Kyenserikora. Fideris Turyasingura, the parish secretary says as Christians they are ready to lynch Nandiinda should he dare step in the parish to decampaign their priest. He says as Christians they are behind the statements of their priest on the age limit debate. "As the RDC, he earns his living from the Office of the President, so when he hears someone talking about the mistakes the president is doing, he has to say that. When he comes to Kitanga he will face the greatest challenge in his life because the people of Kitanga are in support of Fr Gaetano, and they are happy with what he is doing. He has to come and apologise to the Catholics of Kitanga parish because the statements he made that he will to come and mobilise them, starting from where? He has no base to start from, as a Ugandan he has to defend the Constitution", said Turyasingura. "Two, he was among the people who were debating it in the Constituency Assembly so he has to defend it [Constitution]. He is aware of what is happening and what was written and why they did arrive at such things like age limit", he added. Papius Tumwesigye, a concerned faithful from Bucundura Catholic center, says that there is no way Nandiinda can shut down Fr. Batanyenda from criticizing the constitutional amendment. He says the proposed amendment is only meant to benefit a few selfish and greedy leaders. Tumwesigye wants Nandiinda to apologize for his statements, saying Fr. Batanyenda has played a big role as a voice for the voiceless. "I know they have teargas and everything but it is impossible to fight Fr Gaetano because God is the one who sent him to Kitanga parishHow can Fr. Gaetano stop talking when his Christians are suffering with bad governance in Uganda. The RDC should come to Fr. Gaetano and ask for forgiveness", Tumwesigye said. Fr. Batanyenda says he will not stop advocating for good governance and better service delivery despite the intimidation from Nandiinda. "Who is he telling that am expired? Is it my Bishop, is it my people that am serving? Hes dreaming. I know in trying to say this, he is trying to please his boss, President Museveni. He wants to be heard so that Museveni keeps him in this position of RDC where he gets free money, free car, almost free everything. Who tells him that am expired, he threatened that he is coming here in Kitanga parish to tell my catechists and the Christians that they shouldnt listen to me. If they dont listen to me, does he want them to listen to him?This is our work to be the voice of the voiceless. My role as a priest, am supposed to be a shepherd to safeguard his sheep from the wolves. Now in Uganda there are so many wolves. These wolves dont like to hear us saying anything", said Fr. Batanyenda. But Nandiinda says he will not apologize to Fr. Batanyenda. He accuses the priest of diverting from his role to preach the gospel in favor of tarnishing the image of President Museveni and the NRM government. Recently, the Igara West MP, Raphael Magyezi presented a private member's bill in parliament seeking the scrapping of article 102 (b) of the Constitution, which caps the president's age at 75 years. The move is seen as an attempt by the ruling National Resistance Movement party legislators to pave way for president, Museveni to seek re-election in 2021 when clocks his retirement age. Gen Qamar Bajwa visit to Kabul wrote a new chapter in ending Afghan conflict: US Defence Secretary WASHINGTON: Chief of the Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwas visit to Kabul earlier this week presages a new chapter in ending the Afghan conflict, says US Defence Secretary James Mattis. Appearing before two congressional panels on Tuesday, Secretary Mattis also revealed that the United States had chalked out a plan for reengaging Pakistan for resolving bilateral differences. Right now, based on a very recent visit by the chief of army staff from Pakistan, there is actually optimism [here] and in Kabul that his visit presages a new chapter, Mr Mattis told the Senate Armed Services Committee. Secretary Mattis and Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen Joseph Dunford appeared before the Senate and House Armed Services Committees to brief lawmakers on the situation in Afghanistan. We were encouraged, just this week, with General Bajwas visit to AfghanistanHe had very good meetings with Afghan leadership. Our leadership was engaged in those meetings as well, said Gen Dunford. Mr Mattis said the US assistant secretaries and national security staff would visit Pakistan soon for talks on how to reengage Islamabad in efforts to eradicate terrorism. And these visits will be followed by himself and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, he told the House Armed Services Committee. I would like to think we will be successful, but that the United States has an enormously powerful number of options if not, said Mr Mattis. I think that right now with the growing consensus against terrorism, theyll find themselves diplomatically isolated, theyll find themselves economically in increasing trouble as countries that are damaged by this terrorism coming out of there say enough is enough and take steps, he said. In the morning session, Mr Mattis told the committee that the US would try one more time to work with Pakistan on the Afghanistan front before President Donald Trump turned to other options to address Islamabads alleged support for militant groups. At the House committee, Gen Dunford accused Pakistani intelligence agencies of having links with certain terrorists group and urged them to sever those ties. I think its clear to me that the ISI has connections with terrorist groups, said the general while responding to a question from Senator Joe Donnelly. Gen Dunford, is it your sense that the ISI is still helping the Taliban? Senator Donnelly asked. Gen Dunford said he believed a multilateral approach might help in bringing changes in Pakistans behaviour. Secretary Mattis backed this claim, acknowledging that Pakistani intelligence agencies were helping the Taliban. We have seen havens left to the terrorists own devices. We have seen the government of Pakistan come down on terrorism, while ISI appears to run its own foreign policy, he said. Mr Mattis said the Trump administration was very clear and firm in what it expected from Pakistan and was using all options to bring about that change. There are a number of lines of effort being put together now in Secretary of Treasurys office, Secretary of States office, my own office, the intel agencies. We are also working with Secretary General Stoltenberg to ensure that Natos equities are brought to bear, Mr Mattis said, responding to a question on why would Pakistan change its mind on terrorist safe havens this time. Pakistan is USA reliable partner: US Secretary of State WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said after a meeting with Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif on Wednesday that he believed the United States had a reliable partner in Pakistan. In his brief remarks to the media following the meeting, Secretary Tillerson expressed concerns about the future of Pakistans government, stressing that Washington wanted a stable government in Islamabad. While the secretarys remarks about the future of US and Pakistans relationship came as a pleasant surprise for Pakistan observers in Washington, his comments on stability of the government in Islamabad alarmed many. This marks the first time a US official has publicly addressed the political conflict in Islamabad, clearly backing the political setup. When asked if the meeting with Pakistans foreign minister had convinced him that the United States had a reliable partner in Pakistan, Secretary Tillerson responded: Yes, I believe we do. The top US diplomat added that US-Pakistan relationship held extraordinary importance in the region. And as we rolled out the South Asia strategy, we spoke about it in a regional context, he said. It is not just about Afghanistan. This is about the importance of Pakistan, and Pakistans long-term stability as well, said Mr Tillerson, directly addressing Islamabads fear that Washington continued to view its relationship with Pakistan from the perspective of neighbouring Afghanistan, and in doing so, ignored Islamabads interests. Although the question put to him did not mention the political situation in Pakistan, Mr Tillerson used the opportunity to address it. We have concerns about the future of Pakistans government too, in terms of them we want their government to be stable. We want it to be peaceful. And many of the same issues theyre struggling with inside of Pakistan are our issues, he said. The secretary of state added: So, we think there is an opportunity for us to strengthen that relationship. Were going to be working very hard at all levels, from the State Department to the Defence Department to our intelligence communities, as well as economic, commerce opportunities as well. This was an obvious reference to concerns, expressed both publicly and privately, by US and Pakistani officials since Aug 21, when President Donald Trump announced his new strategy for South Asia in a speech from the White House. Informed leaks to the media indicated that the US-Pakistan relationship was on the brink of a break-up. Even on Wednesday, a number of news outlets in the US and Pakistan reported that the Trump administration could strike Pakistan out of its list of major non-Nato allies and stop, or greatly reduce, its economic and military assistance to Islamabad. Some reports also talked about the possibility of expanding drone strikes inside Pakistan to target alleged terrorist safe havens. Secretary Tillerson, however, reemphasised the need to engage with Pakistan at all levels instead of walking away from it for rebuilding a relationship that has been and continue to be mutually beneficial. He explained that the new US strategy for South Asia really is a regional approach, and Pakistan is critical, I think, to the long-term stability of the region. Later, the Pakistan Embassy issued a statement, saying that Foreign Minister Asif and Secretary Tillerson had met at the State Department on Wednesday for an exchange of views on bilateral and regional issues of mutual interest. Mr Asif, who is visiting Washington at Secretary Tillersons invitation, said that Pakistan and the United States shared a common desire for peace and stability in Afghanistan and the region at large, the embassys statement said. Mr Asif had pointed out that Pakistan was winning its war against terrorism, and in contrast to other countries, the incidence of terrorism in Pakistan had seen a marked decline. This has also had a salutary impact on economic and commercial activity which was made possible because Pakistan had pursued zero-tolerance and indiscriminate approach in its campaign against all terrorist and militant groups, he said. The minister informed the secretary of state about the strong public reaction in Pakistan to the US administrations South Asia Policy based on inadequate recognition of Pakistans sterling contribution in the fight against terrorism. The embassy said that Secretary Tillerson had acknowledged and appreciated the sacrifices rendered by the people and armed forces of Pakistan in the struggle against terrorism. He said that Pakistans interests and concerns would be accommodated since its role was critical to President Trumps South Asia Strategy. He added that future stability of Pakistan was an important element of the US strategy. Why was I ousted, I am still unsure: Nawaz Sharif LAHORE: Ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif Wednesday said the people have proved that the top courts verdict which disqualified him was not the real verdict. Congratulating his partys supporters on victory in NA-120 by-election, the newly re-elected PML-N chief said, You have proven that this [victory] is the real verdict and not the verdict that came before. You have not won just one constituencys election but were witnesses in the court of truth, the former prime minister said as he addressed his partys Youth Convention in Lahore. In his address, Nawaz said nefarious designs would not keep Pakistan from progressing. He said that he wishes to shower flowers on every single voter of NA-120 constituency for supporting Maryam Nawaz whilst he was getting his wife Kulsoom Nawaz treated in London, adding that the partys victory in NA-120 was a golden page in history. He said that PML-N will form the next government after sweeping the next elections due in 2018. Nawaz Sharif assured the charged party workers that sanctity of their vote would be restored. The conditions under which the election was contested... I want to congratulate you from my heart ... I want to kiss all your foreheads, the former premier said, adding, If this passion continues, Pakistan will only move forward. The old traditions will break. The sanctity of your vote will be revived. I have a lot of faith in this passion ... it will change Pakistans fate. The former premier recounted his governments accomplishments since the beginning of his tenure in 2013. He said that the PML-N had promised with the masses that power outages would be curbed in its tenure and its efforts stand vindicated today. He said that industries are flourishing today and Karachi is returning to normalcy. He said the PML-N government has reduced load shedding in the country and has worked tirelessly to set up more power plants in the country unlike previous government which did not fulfill their promises. Power plants which take 20 years were set up in 20 months, he said, claiming that electricity is being provided uninterrupted to the people now. He said the PML-N government had ended prolonged hours of power outages in the country, and help lift the industrial sector. Every nook and corner of Pakistan has electricity now. Workers, farmers, women, students, everybody has electricity, the PML-N chief claimed. Gas loadshedding, he added, has reduced as well as fuel prices. Nawaz further maintained that the credit for curbing terrorism in the country went to his government too. Despite all that, I was removed from office, he said. Pakistan was moving forward and the sword of disqualification was thrown our way, Nawaz said. Do you know why it was thrown our way? he asked, while dismissing the allegation that he had accepted a salary from his sons company in Dubai. Why was I ousted, I am still unsure, he said, adding that he was merely removed for not claiming his salary from his sons firm. The people have still not accepted the verdict that removed me, he said, adding that the determination of the people will change the destiny of Pakistan. Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a meeting with former prime minister and PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif at his residence in Jati Umra on Wednesday. According to reports, the two leaders discussed political situation in the country. The developments after the election of Nawaz Sharif as party chief also came under discussion. Nawaz Sharif is reportedly set to leave for London on Thursday at 11:00am through PIA flight PK-757. Sources said the former premier has booked the return ticket for January 5. The mathematical (and other) thoughts of a (now retired) math teacher, KINGSBURY This is not your fathers BOCES. District Superintendent James Dexter said the organization has made a conscious effort to break down the stigma that BOCES is a place for students who could not make it in regular school. The Washington-Saratoga-Warren-Hamilton-Essex BOCES offers training for a variety of careers such as in engineering, truck driving, nursing and culinary arts in its 31 school districts. Dexter gave a brief presentation Wednesday to Sen. Elizabeth Little, R-Queensbury, who enjoyed lunch prepared by culinary students and got a chance to tour the Southern Adirondack Education Center on Dix Avenue. Little said it is important to prepare students for a variety of important and lucrative careers. We all know that plumbers make more money many college graduates, so do electricians, she said. Dexter said the organization has rebranded its career and technical education program as CTE and launched a new logo and website at www.careerandteched.org. Among the other careers that BOCES trains students in are automotive, carpentry, conservation and forestry, cosmetology, heating, ventilation and air conditioning repair, horse care, horticulture and advanced technology, according to a news release. Dexter said BOCES also has stepped up its marketing efforts, including producing television commercials and buying targeted advertising on social media, so information about their programs comes up during relevant searches. Officials also have mailed out glossy brochures similar to the mailings that politicians send. BOCES has also revamped its special education programs, according to Dexter. School districts are bringing more special education programs in house, so BOCES is specialized in services that the districts cannot provide. The program has been renamed the Exceptional Learners Division. BOCES also rebranded its program for adult learners as ETA Employment Training for Adults. People can train to be a certified nursing assistant, obtain a commercial drivers license or learn about machine tool technology. Dexter said BOCES does not get school funding for these programs because these are not students. However, it does receive some funding through social service agencies. This is more of our service to our community. Economic development is about people having skills, he said. Little said it is important that people receive training for area jobs. BOCES officials highlighted other programs including the Early College Career Academy, which allows students to earn high school and college credit in careers such as advance manufacturing, information technology, new media and business entrepreneurship. Among other programs that BOCES has that people may not know about are the Skills Training and Education Program for students who are disengaged in a regular school setting. It is really about having a diversity of programs, according to Tony Muller, assistant superintendent for BOCES. Our goal is not to get every student here. Its to get the right student here, he said. Dexter said this rebranding is not changing the core mission. Were always going to be BOCES. Were proud of that, he said. Dexter said that BOCES also has invested in improving the facilities and purchasing new equipment. Building G at the Southern Adirondack Education Center campus, which housed the special education programs, received a much-needed facelift for a much-better learning environment. Dexter said it is important to have quality facilities. They dont have to be fancy, but they should look nice, he said. BOCES receives about $800,000 annually from its member school districts that it sets aside for capital improvements, according to Dexter. The organization has been saving money for a couple of years in order to do these larger upgrades. About 160 students participate in the BOCES heavy equipment program, where the students can earn their CDL license. Among the new equipment was a loader, bulldozer and an environmental conservation vehicle. Little said it is good that the organization is increasing its profile, so more people are aware of what it does and students learn about occupations. The kids dont understand that there are jobs here in our community. They could work at Finch (Paper) and have a wonderful career for the rest of their lives, she said. FORT EDWARD The Hampton man who stole cash and guns from his girlfriend's relatives' home is headed to state prison after pleading guilty to a felony burglary count in Washington County Court. Kevin D'Allaird, 37, pleaded guilty to second-degree burglary for the June 15 theft of $1,100 cash and two rifles that police determined were traded for heroin in Schenectady. Police seized heroin and needles from him and his girlfriend when arresting them days later. He agreed to a plea deal that is expected to include a seven-year prison term to be followed by five years on parole when he is sentenced Oct. 26 by Judge Kelly McKeighan. D'Allaird was also charged with using a stolen credit card at a store in Greenwich before the burglary occurred. That charge will be dropped as part of the plea deal. D'Allaird's girlfriend, Jill M. Bassett, 26, was also charged and pleaded guilty to felony burglary as well. She was sentenced to probation and to participate in the county's felony drug treatment court. Its easy to hide in New York City if you stay out of trouble. That was the message a felon who police have been seeking for more than four years had for investigators who finally tracked him down this week in an apartment in Brooklyn. Jermaine Thompson has been on the run since April 2013, when he was allegedly part of a group that robbed drug dealers at gunpoint in a motel on Route 4 in Hampton. The victims retaliated hours later by summoning a crew from Connecticut that shot up two house trailers and a vehicle in Whitehall with a semiautomatic rifle. The two violent acts, rare in rural Washington County, spawned numerous criminal cases, and the convictions of eight people who were involved in the shooting, robbery and/or drug activity that created the strife between two gang-tied organizations. State Police knew four men went into Hampton Motel the night of April 11, 2013, but only three were identified. Two were convicted of felonies and sentenced to state prison, but one was never identified. The fourth was Thompson, who returned to New York City shortly after the robbery, he and his crew fleeing moments before the trailer park shooting when they learned that retaliation was coming. He has remained on the lam since, despite the efforts of a variety of State Police and New York Police Department investigators who believed he was in New York City. He was on parole for a 2012 felony drug conviction as of April 2013, and absconded from parole, Warren County Assistant District Attorney Travis Brown said. (The Warren County District Attorneys Office prosecuted the robbery case when appointed as a special prosecutor, because Washington County prosecutors were handling the shooting portion of it.) Thompson, 25, used the street name Nino when he was in the Glens Falls region in 2012-13, but changed his street name to Main in recent years, in part to avoid detection from police, authorities said. State Police did not disclose how they located him in the Prospect Heights section of Brooklyn, but said he knew how to lay low. He said, Its easy to hide in New York City if you stay out of trouble, State Police Investigator David Mosher explained. He pleaded not guilty Thursday to a six-count indictment that includes felony counts of robbery, burglary and conspiracy and lesser counts for the gunpoint theft of money, video game players, a laptop computer, iPhone and a DVD player from people staying in Hampton Motel. Brown asked Washington County Judge Adam Michelini to jail Thompson without bail, pointing to a criminal record that includes a prior felony drug conviction, a robbery arrest in New York City and a warrant for violating parole. Michelini agreed, directing Thompson to be back in court on Dec. 22. The defendants lawyer, Washington County Public Defender Michael Mercure, said he had no comment on the case Thursday. FORT EDWARD A former part-time corrections officer at Washington County Jail was arrested Thursday for allegedly having sexual contact with a female prisoner in the jail, police said. Brandon M. Donaldson, 22, of Whitehall, was charged with two felony counts of third-degree criminal sexual act after an investigation by the Washington County Sheriffs Office. Donaldson is not accused of forcing the woman to have sex, but under state law, inmates can not legally consent to sexual contact with jail staff, and encounters are crimes. Donaldson was a part-time guard at the jail for about two years, and was fired after police determined the veracity of allegations, Washington County Sheriff Jeff Murphy said. Murphy said the investigation began in recent weeks with a tip about contraband potentially being brought into the jail, and police then learned of allegations that a prisoner and staff member had been involved sexually. Both the inmate and Donaldson cooperated with investigators, the sheriff said. The Washington County District Attorneys office presented the evidence to a grand jury, which indicted Donaldson. Murphy said the alleged sexual encounters did not occur in a cell, but in an area of the jail where Donaldson arranged to meet with the prisoner. He said the inquiry was ongoing, and did not rule out additional arrests. Court records show that Donaldson told police that the encounters occurred in a slop closet and that the inmate, whose family he knew from the Whitehall area, flirted and initiated physical contact. He wrote that he felt bad and knew the encounters should not have happened. Murphy said other officers had reported that the inmate had been flirtatious with them as well. The inmate flashed her breasts at him at one point, then sent him pictures of herself in lingerie through social media when she got out, he told police in a statement filed in Washington County Court. The woman was in jail at the time on charges stemming from a home burglary and has since pleaded guilty to a felony, and was sentenced to probation and to participate in the countys drug treatment court. The sheriff said policies and procedures will be analyzed to lessen the likelihood these types of incidents occur. We will learn from this and make ourselves better, he said. We are committed to running a professional operation. Unfortunately, these things happen, and when they do, we will make sure they are investigated and those involved are held accountable. Donaldson was arraigned in Washington County Court on Friday afternoon and released on his own recognizance. His lawyer, John Oswald, said he had no prior criminal record and was a lifelong resident of Whitehall who had no family elsewhere and nowhere to flee. He is due back in court on Dec. 8. The charges are each punishable by up to 4 years in state prison. CHESTER For the owner of Natural Stone Bridge & Caves, their brush with Hollywoods biggest stars in recent days started with one of their business pamphlets winding up in the hands of a television filming location scout. The scout was trying to find places to shoot scenes for a television show based on the 2015 prison escape from Clinton Correctional Facility, and he stopped by the Pottersville tourist spot one day in June, asking to talk to the owners. Greg Beckler chatted with the gentleman. They talked about the show possibly using some of the parks 1,000 acres, which include Catamount Mountain, numerous hills, fields and swamps like the areas of Clinton and Franklin counties, where the escapees fled. The scout liked the remote location, on a dead end with legitimate Adirondack terrain. They looked around a bit, and he was all excited, taking lots of pictures and wanted to bring his boss, a location manager, back to take a look with some others. That visit occurred a few weeks later, but when concerns were raised afterward about the site being too far from the production companys New York City headquarters, Beckler and his family thought they had been ruled out. Then, all of the sudden we got a call that we were on again, he said. In July, they arranged for a visit by movie star Ben Stiller, who is serving as director and executive producer for Escape at Dannemora, and 20 or 25 other bigwigs. They traveled around on all-terrain vehicles the Becklers had to buy and borrow to accommodate everyone, and they could tell Stiller was enthralled. Ben kept jumping out and saying, This will be great for this scene, this lookout will be great for this scene, Beckler recalled. So a contract was ironed out, with the Becklers agreeing to a compensation package Greg Beckler would not detail, and the family awaiting the arrival of film crews to begin setup. First they told us they would film at the end of August, then they said around Labor Day, he said. The preparation for shooting the scenes eventually began during mid-summer. The Becklers had to improve some of the hiking trails and access roads on the property and call in arborists to make sure trees were safe for camera operators who would climb them. Camera operators were suspended from rock cliffs for one scene, and a water truck was brought in for rain during another. Equipment began trickling in during the late summer, and as they got closer to the planned filming days last week, the number of trailers, vehicles and workers who arrived was a sight to behold. It was pretty amazing, Beckler said. It was like a traveling small city. Some of the movie worlds biggest stars were on site for the show, including Benicio del Toro and Patricia Arquette. Del Toro is portraying escapee Richard Matt, Arquette the prison employee who helped him and cohort David Sweat escape. The stars were whisked in and out of the scenes for their lines, not left waiting around so they would be able to stay in character better, Beckler said. But they also worked very long hours, with caterers bringing breakfast in to a wood-floored tent at 4:30 a.m., shooting starting as early as 6:30 a.m. and running well into the evening, Beckler said. The Pottersville property was used as a base while producers filmed other scenes elsewhere in Chester, including O.P. Fredericks Restaurant near Loon Lake, a spot off Igerna Road and Main Street. The whole Beckler family was called in to action, as Becklers father, Ed, wife, Dee, son, Bryan, daughter, Jenn and Jenns boyfriend, John Maday, all helped the film crews. Bryan Beckler was Stillers unofficial driver, while Jenn Beckler is a trained wilderness first responder whose skills were put to use as safety officer. With cell service spotty, the crews used the familys landlines, including in the Beckler home on site. At one point, a writer who needed peace holed up in the home as well, Beckler said. Through it all, the Becklers kept their well-known caves and gift shop open. (The caves were not used during the filming.) Actors and support staff rented 150 or so hotel and motel rooms in Lake George and Bolton during their stay. Beckler said numerous local businesses benefited, from convenience stores to restaurants, equipment rental businesses and contractors who provided gravel. The production was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but Beckler said the return of quiet to the remote wooded park was welcome. It was a little stressful for our regular staff, Beckler said. I really enjoyed it, but its nice to be getting back to normal. The show is scheduled to be released on Showtime in 2019. FORT EDWARD The Fort Edward man who was being sought by police for a day and a half because he allegedly threatened to kill a police chief after pointing a gun at dogs surrendered to Fort Edward Police late Thursday. Devin A. Pratt was arraigned in Fort Edward Village Court on two felony counts of criminal possession of a weapon, and bail was set at $75,000 cash or $150,000 bail bond. He was not able to post it as of late Thursday. Earlier in the day, Pratt emailed a Post-Star reporter, saying he did not make any threats to kill Fort Edward Police Chief Justin Derway, and that the rifle that police seized from him was legal and purchased last year from a licensed New York state dealer. I did not threaten Derways life to any third party. However, I did tell Derway to his face while he was yelling and pointing in mine that if he put his hands on me I would kick his ass, Pratt wrote. Pratt wrote that he has retained counsel and planned to surrender with different law enforcement agencies other than Fort Edward Police. He did not disclose his location at the time. Police have been searching for him since Tuesday, after a string of encounters that started when officers were called about a man pointing a rifle at dogs on Culvert Street. Derway said Pratt was found to have an AR-15 rifle that was later deemed illegal, and he made threats to third parties about Derway. A warrant for his arrest on a felony count of criminal possession of a weapon was issued, police said. Pratt, who is a vice president of the Bay Ridge Volunteer Fire Company, said he and Derway knew each other through fire service, have had political differences and have never gotten along. Pratt, 43, said he pointed the rifle at two pit bulls that attacked his dog as he walked it on a leash and were approaching his property again. He yelled at them as well, and they backed off. The dogs owner was not around, and he pointed out that he called 911 to report the situation. Pratt said his dog was injured and needed veterinary care. Derway then arrived and took the rifle, and when Pratt asked for a receipt for it, a confrontation ensued in the police station and the chief refused, Pratt wrote. Pratt said he went to the Fort Edward courtroom next door to ask for judicial intervention, but the chief ordered him to leave or be arrested. Police later concluded that the gun was illegal, although it was not specified how, and filed the felony charges. Derway said a second charge was added after consultation Thursday with the Washington County District Attorney's Office. Pratt, though, wrote that the gun was purchased from a licensed dealer, and that he made no modifications to the rifle that would make it noncompliant. The fire company has suspended Pratt, pending the outcome of the police investigation. Welcome Guest! You Are Here: Best Travel Apps For 2022 Finding Peace of Mind: Discover These Five Places in Europe to Unwind Q. I understand there are few if any NGOs (non-governmental organizations) operating in Puerto Rico. So where can we send a check to help with the relief effort? -- Mike A. According to an article by PBS NEWSHOUR http://to.pbs.org/2fwM2HH posted in Sept. 25 titled, "HURRICANE MARIA: How you can help hurricane victims in Puerto Rico," here are some of the organizations you can contact to help: United for Puerto Rico (spearheaded by the First Lady of Puerto Rico) Former U.S. presidents have expanded their One America Appeal to include recovery efforts in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Save the Children, which focuses specifically on the needs of families and their children. Global Giving has a $2 million goal for victims of Hurricane Maria. GoFundMe has also created a hub that includes all campaigns for Hurricane Maria. You also can find campaigns for individual families seeking help for their loved ones. Q. Going east on I-80 and getting off at the 1st exit after crossing the river, there has been a massive clean up going on at the exit. Who is cleaning out this area that the tornado had passed over a few years ago and why are they doing it? They have really removed a ton of brush and trees. -- Sharon A. Living Lands & Waters, East Moline, launched a massive, two-year Interstate 80 gateway restoration project according to a news release posted Feb. 21, 2017. The the 28-acre land restoration kick-off was scheduled to begin Friday, Feb. 24, the news release stated. The land restoration initiative is one of Illinois' largest in recent history according to the release. "It will encompass a complete restoration of two tracks of land back to a native prairie." A tornado uprooted trees and caused extensive damage in March of 2016. The land is situated where Interstate 80 crosses the Mississippi River and the Illinois Welcome Center overlooks the area. More than 40,000 motorists pass by the area each day, the release said. The Illinois Department of Transportation granted Living Lands & Waters permission to work on the state right of way along Interstate 80. The Illinois DOT and Living Lands and Waters share a goal of creating an "inviting area that showcases the natural beauty of the state to visitors of the Illinois Welcome Center and all travelers entering Illinois from the west," the release said. Chad Pregracke, president and founder of Living Lands & Waters, said 25 local certified local arborists began major restoration during the Feb. 24 kickoff. Hundreds of local volunteers also will be involved over the next two years to "fully restore the area back to its native landscape," the release said. Living Lands & Waters is appealing to area businesses and groups for financial support of the two-year project. Workday team-building events is a major part of the project for the organizations involved. Sponsor groups will remove invasive species, plant native trees, shrubs, grasses and wildflowers. Man accused of injuring cop is unfit for trial A Rock Island man who police say beat a Rock Island police officer unconscious last month has been found unfit to stand trial. Cartier J. Leflore, 35, will be remanded to the custody of the Illinois Department of Human Services to see if he can attain fitness, according to court records. A status hearing is scheduled for Nov. 2. He is charged with aggravated battery-great bodily harm to a peace officer, a Class 1 felony; aggravated battery, a Class 2 felony; and disarming a peace officer, a Class 1 felony. At 6:17 p.m. Sept. 21, the Rock Island Police Department received a 911 call and later determined that it was related to a domestic disturbance. Officers were dispatched to 219 21st St. The first officer on scene immediately went to an apartment in the residence where he encountered Leflore, according to police. The officer attempted to arrest Leflore for domestic battery, but Leflore began battering the officer, according to police. The officer was knocked unconscious, and Leflore took the officer's stun gun before fleeing the apartment, according to police. He was located at 23rd Street and 3rd Avenue by other officers a short time later and was taken into custody after the officers subdued him with their stun guns, according to police. Waterloo police arrest 2 from Davenport Two Davenport residents were arrested after they allegedly broke into a Waterloo home and had two youths help them carry stolen property. Police also recovered a stolen Hyundai that had been taken from Davenport and a stolen Volkswagen Jetta taken from a Waterloo address. Joshua Isaac Davis, 18, was arrested for third-degree burglary and two counts of second-degree theft. The youths' aunt, Alicia Ordinia Privett, 25, was arrested for second-degree theft, third-degree burglary and two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Waterloo police received a report of a break-in at 813 Kern St. around 4:20 p.m. Tuesday and a report of a Volkswagen taken from a garage at 1109 Bertch Ave. that same afternoon. A few hours later, officers received a complaint about an erratic driver on Rhey Street and found the stolen Hyundai parked nearby. While they were investigating, Davis walked to the vehicle and tried to open the door. He ran when he saw police and was detained a short distance away, according to court records. Officers found items stolen from the Kern Street home in the vehicle, and the Volkswagen keys were in Davis's pocket, records state. Witnesses told police that Privett had led Davis and the two youths girls ages 14 and 16 to the Kern Street home. One of the girls helped carry stolen items, and the other drove one of the stolen cars from the scene, records state. Waterloo Courier The spirit of Buffalo Police Chief Terry "T.J." Behning, now at University Hospitals in Iowa City, was present at Thursday's assembly to honor "every day heroes," or first responders. Buffalo Elementary School in Buffalo was the site of the assembly, and some of the students wore T-shirts that read: #TJStrong The event was combined with an anti-bullying program conducted by school counselor Tara Appel. First responders who were honored included police officers from Buffalo, Walcott and Davenport, the MEDIC EMS team from Blue Grass, and several military veterans from the Blue Grass American Legion. The highlight of the hour-long assembly, however, was a video message sent by Behning. "Thank you, thank you, thank you," he said in the message from his hospital room. "You would not believe all the support ... it makes me feel great! "Everything is going well ... the signs you made me are straight-awesome," Behning said. "I love you guys! Thanks!" Buffalo officer Josh Bujalski, among those honored on Thursday, said T.J. and his wife, Heidi, have been in good spirits since he was injured Sept. 25. Behning was hurt when his squad car was struck at the intersection of Scott County Road Y40 and Iowa 22. He was trying to deploy stop sticks in response to police pursuit involving a person who allegedly was driving a stolen vehicle. The driver of the truck, Logan Jeffery Shoemaker, 20, was arrested shortly after the crash and faces multiple charges, including attempted murder of Behning. Buffalo students ended the assembly by singing the school's song, which begins: "Our schools in Buffalo, Iowa, USA! I like my school in every way!" As they left school for the day, they were given candy provided by a Behning family member. CEDAR RAPIDS - If confirmed for a national post, Iowas agriculture secretary said Thursday he would ensure crop insurance remains as a support for the countrys farmers. I read it as I wrote it. Crop insurance is the most important part of the farm safety net, Bill Northey said in opening remarks during a hearing on his nomination to serve in the U.S. Department of Agriculture. While our farm safety net has worked for many, many producers, I do also hear that there are producers who are left out. I am committed to this committee to work with you to make sure all producers have the risk management tools that they need, Northey added. The U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee held a hearing for just over an hour Thursday to vet Northeys nomination to serve as the USDAs Undersecretary for Farm Production and Conservation. The hearing also included Nebraska Department of Agriculture Director Greg Ibach, who has been nominated to a separate USDA position. Committee Chairman Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kansas, hailed Northey and Ibach as farmers with boots-on-the-ground experience. They know what weighs on the minds of farmers and ranchers, the challenges they face on daily basis, and the focus and drive they put into their lifes work, Roberts said. The committees ranking Democrat, Sen. Debbie Stabenow of Michigan, pushed Northey to expand access to crop insurance and prioritize land and water conservation practices. I know you personally understand that agriculture needs to be a part of the solution in addressing water quality issues, Stabenow said. If confirmed for this role, I urge you to continue to prioritize the protection of our land and our water. President Donald Trump officially selected Northey in September to serve in the USDA. The FPAC secretary would oversee three USDA agencies: the Farm Service Agency, the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Risk Management Agency. Programs under the role would include crop insurance, conservation, disaster assistance and producer lending services, Roberts said Thursday. Northey told committee members of conservation efforts in Iowa, including the states nutrient reduction strategy and planting of cover crops. The momentum is really growing. Do we have a long ways to go? Absolutely. We have lots more that needs to get done, but what Im excited about is the momentum, both in the interest of farmers and outside groups, Northey said. Northeys nomination still requires a vote by the Senate Agriculture Committee and then the full Senate. Were going to do that as expeditiously as we possibly can, Roberts said of his committees vote. Both of Iowas U.S. senators, Republicans Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst, are members of the Agriculture Committee. Should the Senate approve his nomination, Northey would be sworn in to the post and resign as Iowas Agriculture Secretary. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds would appoint Northeys replacement, who would serve the rest of his term. The state position is up for election in 2018. A spokeswoman for the governor said Thursday her office still is gathering resumes and did not have an update on possible successors. Northey, a Spirit Lake corn and soybean farmer, has served in multiple roles with state and national farm groups. A Republican, he is currently serving his third term as the states agriculture secretary and is a state co-chair of Reynolds 2018 gubernatorial campaign. I will be an advocate within the administration for the producers in the countryside, Northey said at Thursdays hearing. Northey, 58, graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in agricultural business and received a masters in business administration from Southwest Minnesota State University. He and his wife, Cindy, have three children. Introducing Northey on Thursday, Grassley hailed him for his leadership during an outbreak of avian flu in Iowa two years ago and his conservation work in the state. Perhaps his most important quality is his vision that he has shown leading the Iowa Department of Agriculture. As an example, Bill was focused on water quality issues in Iowa years before many farmers and press outlets became engaged, Grassley said. Grassleys grandson, state Rep. Pat Grassley, is among the names circulated as possible replacements for Northey. CEDAR RAPIDS Sen. Chuck Grassley believes there still is time to prevent the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency from implementing changes in the Renewable Fuel Standard that could do severe harm to the biofuels industry. After speaking with President Donald Trump, Grassley and fellow Iowa Republican Sen. Joni Ernst, and Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Nebraska, announced they will meet Oct. 17 with EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt to discuss the future of the standard. Renewable fuels advocates are concerned over the EPAs announcement it might lower required levels of advanced biofuels for 2018 and that exports of traditional ethanol could count toward meeting that. Although Trump pledged during the 2016 election campaign he would support renewable fuels, Pruitt has been critical of the rule. Maintaining or increasing the standard is important because weve kind of reached the breaking point on getting ethanol out (and) mixed as E10, Grassley said Wednesday. Ethanol advocates want to develop the market for E15 a blend of gasoline and 15 percent ethanol. To do that, Grassley said its important not to screw around with the standard in a way that could discourage investment in getting E15 distributed to retailers. Grassley also wants a change to the renewable volume obligations, which the EPA uses to implement the fuel standard, so the higher ethanol blend could be sold year-round in all parts the country. Although Grassley did not say Trump offered any assurance the EPA wont lower the required levels for advanced biofuels, his expectation is that the agency will follow the law. That means these cutbacks by EPA cant go through, he said. The EPA has not finalized the proposed changes and is seeking input from stakeholders. I think public comments are going to make some difference, Grassley said. A ministry hoping to help formerly incarcerated women change their lives for the better is looking to establish a boardinghouse in Davenport's 8th Ward. Women in Spiritual Hope Ministries Inc., or WISH, has entered into a purchase agreement with John and Maura Burche for 5210 N. Division St. and has applied for the rezoning of the property so it can house more than four unrelated boarders at a time. "These are women that want to change," Executive Director and co-founder of WISH Ministries Lynn Johnson said during Tuesday's public hearing before the Plan and Zoning Commission. "I do a jail ministry in Scott County and Rock Island. I see women every day that want to change, but have no other choices." Johnson called her ministry "hope for the hopeless," including women who had grown up with abuse and alcoholism and had fallen through the cracks before turning to crime. The Division Street duplex, which has three bedrooms in each unit, is currently zoned R-4, moderate density dwelling district, which Community Planning and Economic Development Director Bruce Berger said allows for five or fewer unrelated tenants. WISH Ministries is seeking to rezone the property to C-O, office-shop district, which fits the resident occupancy the ministry is seeking. "We're asking to increase the limit to six women we can serve at one time," Johnson said. "People who been incarcerated have no place to go except back to the street, back to drugs and back to prostitution." Brett Marshall, the attorney representing the ministry, said the property to the north is zoned C-O so the thought was to remain consistent. While the ministry seeks to provide faith-based support services, it will not require Planned Institutional District-Housing and Support Services zoning. "From a use standpoint, WISH Ministry is proposing to acquire and become a rental property owner/manager," Berger wrote in an email. "They have indicated that they will have leases with individuals who are no longer under supervision with the Department of Justice or Corrections. Rather, they will voluntarily enroll in a year-long lease program wherein WISH will provide faith-based, counseling/case management as needed so that use does not trigger the PID-HSS code." Johnson said the boardinghouse would be a secure facility where tenants will have to check in and check out and could leave only with a friend unless it's to head to work. Tenants will not be allowed visitors and children are not allowed on the premises. Each boarder would sign an agreement to live on the premises for one year and would pay the ministry $100 per week for rent. Andrew Smith, a property owner within 200 feet of the proposed location, spoke out against the rezoning, citing safety concerns and the presence of a school within a mile of the boardinghouse. Wood Intermediate School is north on Division Street. "You're putting criminals in my neighborhood and that's just not fair to us," Smith said. Johnson said the property's sale in contingent on rezoning. In 2004, the property's current owners, who were part of a management company, were ordered to no longer have contact with tenants and prospective tenants after the conclusion of two civil suits alleging sexual harassment. In the suits, Judge John Nahra found that John Burche's behavior, promising rent reductions or gifts for sex, entering or being on the premises without necessity, constituted harassment. The Burches appealed the decision in which parts were both affirmed and remanded to district court. Excised from the requirements was the need for the Burches to hire an independent management firm. If the property becomes non-functioning, Johnson said the ministry would give the property to 180 Zone ministries, another nonprofit organization. The Plan and Zoning Commission will discuss the rezoning at its Oct. 17 meeting. Working alone Wednesday in the shadowy depths of the Putnam Museum in Davenport, a first-time visitor to the Quad-Cities felt at home, more than 6,000 miles from his native Japan. It marked a reunion of sorts for Masaru Aoki, an expert doll conservator, and Miss Hokkaido Iowas historic Japanese Friendship Doll. I met her in 1988, said Aoki, a representative from the Yoshitoku Doll Company in Tokyo, who traveled here this week to assess the delicate artifacts condition. (Shes) very cute. The 32-inch doll, created almost 100 years ago in Japan, returned there temporarily in 1988 to be conserved. Draped in a silk kimono, the composite wood piece features human hair and glass eyes. A passport that accompanies the doll, also known as Miss Hanako Hohkai, dates back to October 1927. Earlier that year, children in the U.S sent 12,739 blue-eyed dolls to Japan as a gesture of friendship. They arrived shortly before March 3, 90 years ago, for Hina Matsuri, the traditional Japanese doll festival. In return, Japan sent 58 dolls to the U.S., 51 from the countrys states or provinces known as prefectures, six from large cities and one from the Empress. They were distributed throughout the states, including Iowa, where Miss Hokkaido landed at what then was called the Davenport City Museum in 1929. Aokis notes showed that 11 of the Friendship Dolls since have gone missing. The majority of them, however, reside in public museums and libraries, while a small number have private owners. The New York-based National Council of Churches of Christ initiated the cultural exchange in response to the Immigration Act of 1924, which prohibited East Asians from immigrating to the U.S. Christina Kastell, curator of history and anthropology at the Putnam, called it a valiant effort on both of their behalves. Although relations worsened dramatically during World War II, Kastell said the museums doll still serves its original purpose, more than 70 years after the attack on Pearl Harbor and the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. One of the missions of the Putnam is to connect people of the Quad-Cities with people and cultures of the world, so thats her job for us, Kastell continued. Shes connecting Quad-Citians to Japan in a very real way. When the Putnam affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution in 2010, the governmental agency deemed Miss Hokkaido a National Treasure. The dolls ensemble features dozens of miniature accessories, including a pair of tea sets, a lacquered chest of drawers and parasols. For preservation purposes, the doll rarely leaves its protected space in the museums collection storage. This past spring, however, the doll visited Adams Elementary School in Davenport. Now, the Putnam and Adams each plan to send an American Girl Doll to a school in Hokkaido, the most northerly of Japans four main islands. Wed like our kids to be able to Skype and talk with their kids, Kastell said. In the spring, the Putnam plans to exhibit Miss Hokkaido, along with Miss Miyagi, a fellow Japanese Friendship Doll on loan from a private collection in Kansas. We try to get her out every few years, but her silk is very fragile, Kastell said. We dont want it to fade again, so we cant have her out permanently. Its that tightrope we have to walk all the time between preservation, exhibition and education. The museum requested Aokis presence here this week to prepare the doll for its upcoming show. On Wednesday morning, he positioned the relic on a work table in the museums basement and mended its slightly damaged left leg. He also restored the dolls weathered clothing. Earlier in the day, he surprised Putnam staff when he pressed against the dolls belly, producing a squeaking sound. We had no idea she did that, Kastell said. The Putnam covered Aokis airfare and stay at the Isle Casino Hotel Bettendorf, but he is performing the work for free. Im happy to handle the doll, he said with a smile, later unveiling one condition. I hope Ms. Hokaido will come back to Japan. Replied Kastell: Id be happy to bring her. Aoki is scheduled to speak this weekend at the Greater Kansas City Japan Festival before returning home. Classes at North go as normal, despite threats About 300 of the 1,100 students enrolled at Davenport's North High School were absent today, following social media threats surfacing Tuesday evening about a shooting at the school, Dawn Saul, spokesman for Davenport Community Schools said today. The Davenport Police Department had a strong presence at the school, and students and teachers all of whom reported for duty "are moving forward with a normal school day," Saul said mid-morning. The police department and school district administration "assessed the source and content of the media posts and determined there was no credible threat; therefore, it was decided that school would continue on a normal schedule today (Wednesday)," according to an email signed by Superintendent Art Tate sent this morning to all district parents and employees. Davenport Police Major Jeff Bladel said the threats originated in Johnston, Iowa, near Des Moines, where parents and students began receiving text messages Monday night that they would be killed. In response, the Johnston Community School District canceled classes on Tuesday. Eventually, Bladel said, a vague electronic mention was made about a shooting at North High School. Although the message did not mention a town many school districts have North high schools the message eventually was picked up by people in the Quad-Cities, and was brought to the police department's attention, Bladel said. "Then we did what we always do, which is diligently follow up and work with the other police departments" to determine what is going on and what the response should be, he said. Anyone receiving threats is asked to call the police department at 563-326-7979. Alma Gaul Plea deal reached in 2015 Moline homicide A Rock Island man has accepted a plea deal with prosecutors for his part in the 2015 stabbing death of 21-year-old Adagio McGee of Moline. Demetrius Montez Anderson, 28, pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree murder during a hearing Tuesday in Rock Island County Circuit Court. Anderson was sentenced to 9 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. According to Rock Island County Circuit Court electronic records, Anderson will receive credit for the time he has been held in the Rock Island County Jail since his arrest Jan. 28, 2016. He also will receive day-for-day credit in prison. A charge of first-degree murder was dismissed per the plea agreement. On Oct. 24, 2015, Anderson stabbed McGee in the chest during an altercation in the 700 block of 18th Avenue in Moline, Moline police said. McGee was taken to Trinity Rock Island for treatment and then released. On Nov. 2, 2015, police learned he died at a residence in Rock Island. Rock Island County Coroner Brian Gustafson said at that time that an autopsy indicated McGee died from a cardiac tamponade, or blood around the heart, which was a direct result of a puncture injury he received. After he completes his prison sentence, Anderson must serve for three years on supervised release. Thomas Geyer WATERLOO -- Two Davenport residents were arrested after they allegedly broke into a Waterloo home and had two youths help them carry stolen property. Police also recovered a stolen Hyundai that had been taken from Davenport and a stolen Volkswagen Jetta taken from a Waterloo address. Joshua Isaac Davis, 18, was arrested for third-degree burglary and two counts of second-degree theft. The youths' aunt, Alicia Ordinia Privett, 25, was arrested for second-degree theft, third-degree burglary and two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Waterloo police received a report of a break-in at 813 Kern St. around 4:20 p.m. Tuesday and a report of a Volkswagen taken from a garage at 1109 Bertch Ave. that same afternoon. A few hours later, officers received a complaint about an erratic driver on Rhey Street and found the stolen Hyundai parked nearby. While they were investigating, Davis walked to the vehicle and tried to open the door. He ran when he saw police and was detained a short distance away, according to court records. Officers found items stolen from the Kern Street home in the vehicle, and the Volkswagen keys were in Davis's pocket, records state. Witnesses told police that Privett had led Davis and the two youths girls ages 14 and 16 to the Kern Street home. One of the girls helped carry stolen items, and the other drove one of the stolen cars from the scene, records state. Waterloo Courier As a teacher and father tired of war, I feel obliged to bring some historical information to syndicated columnist Cal Thomas ahistorical praise on Sept. 24 of a warmongers United Nations speech about the country Martin Luther King Jr. correctly recognized as the greatest purveyor of violence. Donald Trump was correct in his campaign trail assertion that the United Nations is not a friend of democracy. The main reason? The U.N. Security Council, with its five permanent members that veto whatever they like, as the U.S. does when we frequently disregard much of what the rest of the world would like to do, like nuclear disarmament. Trumps open threats to sovereign nations are violations of the U.N. founding charter; theyre also par for the course. Thomas praise of rhetoric about destroying a nation of 25 million people is the kind of childish defense of a violent playground bully, though multiplied by many orders of magnitude. The U.S. has little right to speak about democracy in Iran. Back in 1953, the U.S. and Britain overthrew the democratically elected Mohammad Mossadegh in our effort to support the Shah because Mossadegh was trying to keep some of the money from their oil within the country. Learning history means understanding context. I urge Thomas and all of us to study it. Thus far, it has generally followed the maxim of Thucydides: The strong do as they wish, while the weak suffer as they must. We can change that; we must change that. Bobby Wengronowitz Davenport Editors note: Wengronowitz is visiting assistant professor Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Welfare, Augustana College The global elitists, liberals and mainstream media (MSM) continue their daily assault on President Trump in efforts to impede and destroy his agenda. His agenda is for America, their agenda is not. In essence, hes a patriot, theyre not. Their efforts are despicable. They purposely generate lies and deception in trying to deceive the American people. President Trump is trying to do some good things for America, even in light of their consistent and fabricated assaults against him. MSM is not reporting on many of the good things that Trump is doing, such as his pursuit of energy independence, in the same manner that they ignore real collusion matters, like the Clinton Foundation and the Russian uranium deal. Climate change is a scam; Trump knows this, and so do many Americans. He withdrew from the costly Paris climate accord, which would have severely hurt the American economy. He directed the Environmental Protection Agency to rescind President Obamas Clean Power Plan, which would lead to skyrocketing electricity rates. He expedited the Keystone XL pipeline. He opened the door for a modernized American coal industry. He's overturning all the Obama obstacles to fracturing, which Hillary Clinton would have dramatically increased. Hes attempting to create increased jobs in the energy for Americans. People need to realize they have a president who is truly for the American people, and they need to support him. Vote out the Democrats and RINO (Republican In Name Only) Republicans. Vote for tea party candidates and those with Judeo-Christian values. Michael Imhof Aurora, Illinois BELLE FOURCHE The Belle Fourche Community Hall was full Thursday evening of Sept. 28 when the Black Hills Roundup Ag Committee welcomed over 200 people to the 33rd Annual Agri-Business Appreciation Banquet. The event is hosted to recognize agriculture and the Belle Fourche area business community serving agriculture. Master of Ceremonies, Gary Wood from the Belle Fourche Chamber of Commerce, spoke to the exciting times ahead for the Belle Fourche community. He noted that there were interesting events that have taken place and are in the planning stages. The three individuals were introduced who have made an impact in the ag arena. As each short bio was read, a slide show was used to familiarize the crowd with the recipient. The 2017 winners were Turbiville Electric, Ag Business of the Year; Keith and Yvonne Franke, Ag Person of the Year; and Brodie and Samantha Limpert, Young Ranch Family of the Year. Two Hay Springs natives are among the LEAD 36 class participants who will travel to Chile, Argentina and Uruguay to learn about international agricultural practices and policies. Joe Dorhorst, who still lives in Sheridan County, and Shane Terrell, who now lives in Gothenburg, are in their second year of their Leadership Education Action Development program, sponsored by the Nebraska Agricultural Leadership Council. The program aims to develop agricultural leaders through a series of seminars and two travel seminars. Fellows participate in 12 three-day seminars at various locations across the state, focusing on a wide range of disciplines and educational content. The first year includes a 10-day national travel trip to cap the state and national curriculum, while the second year includes a 14-16-day international trip to augment the programs look at global issues. Both Dorhorst and Terrell said the LEAD has broadened their understanding of national and world topics. I had high expectations for the program going in, said Terrell. His father, Vern, is a graduate of LEAD 8, and his father-in-law and uncles also went through the training. Its exceeded my expectations, he said. The most valuable thing is learning how to dialogue with people with other opinions. The program forces participants out of their own little corner of the world, Dorhorst added. Theyve been able to see everything from traditional practices to those incorporating agri-tourism into the industry to make them sustainable. Dorhorst learned about LEAD from Terrells uncle, and said hes glad he listened. The fifth generation rancher said its taught him better communication skills and helped him develop a better understanding of ag policy. The groups national seminar took them to Kansas City, Washington, D.C., and Chicago. All of that was very interesting, said Dorhorst, who grows corn, beans and alfalfa and has a cow-calf operation in the Mirage Flats area, where his family homesteaded in 1891. The LEAD class met for the first session of its second year on the campus of Chadron State College at the end of September. People from other parts of the state dont get out to this part of the state very often, Hejny said. Easy access to groceries and healthcare are sometimes taken for granted in other areas of the state, and its important to make sure they understand the challenges their counterparts in the Panhandle face. It just puts a new perspective on things, Hejny said. Dorhorst and Terrell both strongly recommend the program to other agricultural producers. Theres definitely a commitment, but its worth it, said Terrell, who works as a veterinarian, consulting with feedlots in Nebraska, Kansas and Colorado. The Meade County Commission met in regular session on Wednesday, Sept. 27. The session started with a discussion with citizens that live on and use Pleasant Valley Road. The road has been very muddy and slippery after the recent rains. The Highway Superintendent explained that they were re-grading the road and had loosened it up just before the rain started. The rain lasted about 4 days. The intent was to re-grade, bring new rock with no fines and repack the road. That is still the plan. Once dried up, the highway department was going back to finish re-grading and haul gravel the week of October 1. Not sure how the rain this week has affected progress, but the County will continue to work n this road until it is a good gravel road. The Commission voted 4 to 1 to pass a delete resolution for the South Dakota Department of Transportation to stop working on the paving of Elk Vale Road and Elk Creek Road. The County will take a lump sum payment of the State Transportation Improvement Funds and will complete just the Elk Vale portion of the project. The Elk Creek portion of the project has been canceled indefinitely. The plan is to start working on Elk Vale next year. We shall see. We have been planning to start working on it for the last three years. Most of the meeting was spent working on the final budget for 2018. The provisional budget was increased by $85,000 to cover increased contingency funds, increased staffing in the Treasurers office, and increased funding for Sturgis Economic Development. In addition, funding was added to the highway department to complete the Elk Vale project grading. This increase is paid for out of reserves, since the money from the state transportation dollars will be paid to Meade County in 2017. Employee Health costs are projected to increase 27.5% next year... That will take all of the allowable (by state law) increase for the Consumer Price Increase (1.0%) and for growth, new construction, (1.933%) and additional funds which we normally spend on new projects like road improvements. In addition, the Commission voted, 4 to 1, to increase the property taxes for the county by an additional 2.9%to put the money in reserves for future projects. Your County property taxes will go up by a total of 5.833%. We scheduled several public hearings for vacating partial plats and for the 1st reading of Ordinance 34, the building permit ordinance. These hearings are scheduled for October 25 at 1:00 PM. We honored Mr. Charles Pickett as our Veteran of the Month. Americas criminal justice system is far from perfect. In Pennington County and Rapid City, the situation is no different. But on Wednesday morning, funding for much-needed local reform was given a major boost when the Pennington County Sheriffs Office and 7th Circuit Court were awarded a $1.75 million grant from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. The grant is part of the Safety and Justice Challenge, a more than $100 million nationwide initiative to reduce overincarceration in Americas jails. Pennington County was one of eight counties selected out of a pool of about 200 jurisdictions in 45 states and territories. It was by far the least populated county to receive an award. Other counties receiving awards include large cities such as Boise, Idaho, Charlotte, N.C., Chicago, Los Angeles, Memphis, Tenn., and Portland, Ore. Over the past two years, the foundation has awarded Pennington County about $500,000 as seed money for initiatives including the Young Adult Diversion program. To date, that program has diverted almost 300 eligible defendants ages 18-25 from the criminal justice system to other forms of rehabilitation such as community service and educational programs. The Rapid City Police Department has implemented a shoplifting cite and release program, issuing citations to more than 800 people as opposed to arrest and detainment. At the same time, the county and city began the Safe Solutions Program, which diverts intoxicated people away from arrest and detainment and into a sobering center with detoxification services, with 1,517 referrals made in the last six months of 2016. That program and others including community outreach to the Native American population, increased attorney presence at defendants' initial court appearances to secure lower bond requests, expediting judgments and decreasing pretrial detention periods through streamlined procedures by the court and States Attorney Office have demonstrated the areas progress and promise for more in the future. We recognize that one of the reasons I think were funded is that we have a disparate impact on our Native American community in terms of incarceration here, 7th Circuit presiding judge Craig Pfeifle told the Journal in an interview. Though Native Americans compose around 10 percent of the countys population, they represent approximately 51 percent of the daily jail population, according to a joint news release from the police department, sheriff's office, 7th Judicial Court and the Safety and Justice Challenge. Many of those arrests could be avoided, too, with nonfelony arrests representing 70 percent of arrests in Pennington County, signifying an over-reliance on incarceration for low-risk, nonviolent offenders and exacerbating a jail system already under duress. In 2014, the average daily inmate count in Pennington Countys jail was 434, nearly nine times the count of 51 in 1970. Additionally, in May 2016, 56 percent of the jails population was composed of defendants simply awaiting trial proceedings. The overarching goal of the various programs underway and to be implemented is to reduce the local jail population by 20 percent to 24 percent over the next two years. Policymakers hope initiatives like the Safe Solutions Facility which will move into the countys new health facility at 200 Kansas City St. when its completed in spring 2018 and increase its number of beds from seven to 42 will help achieve this end. Funds will also be used to jump-start a risk assessment program to prevent situations like Crystal Pumpkin Seed, who sat in jail for 48 days in 2015 because she couldnt post her $100 bail. By analyzing defendants' flight risk, propensity for violence, the nature of the offense and their criminal background, determinations can be made as to whether to detain or release the person with some sort of monitoring like an electronic bracelet or periodic alcohol/drug testing. The county estimates it costs about $80 per day to house an inmate in its jail. We have a certain population in our community that churns through all of our systems, and whats the most efficient and effective way to deal with them? Pennington County Sheriff Kevin Thom said in an interview. I think these are some of the initiatives to help address that. Eric Whitcher, director of the public defender's office, agreed. This initiative is so exciting because its great for taxpayers, its great for people, its great for a reduction in crime and were looking for ways to use the criminal justice system in a smart and efficient way, he said. Turning away from the numbers, Whitcher noted the brutal toll the criminal justice system can take on peoples lives for nonserious crimes. He pointed to a recent study that found that as little as three days in jail increases, rather than decreases, a persons chance of returning to jail in the future. We represent these folks and we watch their lives be so devastated by even a short period of time in jail, and oftentimes they lose their job, they lose their housing, they dont know where their children are, Whitcher said. Thomas Raymond, a member of the police department's Community Advisory Committee, said hes seen firsthand the compassion of people like Pfeifle and Thom, and hoped that the community would notice that in the future, too. The real aspect is the humanity of things, he said of the initiatives currently underway and planned for the coming months and years. We need to do something to help people help themselves because we cant do it for them. In time, he hopes, the communitys perception and fear of law enforcement will subside and evolve into appreciation. Its about breaking down that barrier, said Raymond, who is also a former police officer and sheriff's deputy. It (law enforcement) is about helping people. Thats what its really about." Rapid City police were searching Wednesday for two people in connection with the death of a man who was shot at an East Boulevard North home that afternoon. Maricelo Garcia, 21, and Cierra Walks, 19, both of Rapid City, were described as possibly armed and dangerous. According to a news release, police believe they could be driving an early 2000s white Oldsmobile Bravada. The SUV may still have temporary, paper dealer plates. If you contact this vehicle or these people, do not approach them. Contact 911 immediately, Assistant Police Chief Don Hedrick said in a Facebook live video posted at 7:45 p.m. They are wanted for questioning in the shooting of a man at a residence in the 600 block of East Boulevard North. The shooting occurred around 2 p.m. in the doorway of the house, investigators said. Police and first responders arrived at the scene a short time later and "life-saving measures were attempted, Hedrick said. The victim was transported to the hospital, but we learned this evening that the victim passed away from his injuries. The mans name was not released, pending notification of family. Police said the man was hit in the chest by a single bullet from a pistol. "This was not a random shooting. The victim and suspect knew each other," Police spokesman Brendyn Medina said at the scene Wednesday afternoon. The house where the shooting occurred was empty when police arrived, Medina said, and it was not immediately clear if the victim lived there. "Our hearts go out to the victim's family during this tough time, Hedrick said in the video, but I can assure you that our detectives and investigators are working tirelessly to hold those responsible accountable. This is the seventh homicide case in Rapid City this year, two short of the record-setting homicides in 2015. This year opened with a killing, in the early hours of Jan. 1, when a man was fatally stabbed in the 300 block of East Adams Street. The attacker, Joseph Rich, pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter and was sentenced in July to 10 years in prison. The five other cases are still being prosecuted, with the most recent involving the death of 31-year-old Cari Cline in July. Police are seeking a manslaughter arrest warrant against her boyfriend, Benjamin Quiver, who is detained at the Pennington County Jail on other charges. Woodpeckers found in the Black Hills will not be listed as threatened or endangered, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has decided. The decision was published Thursday in the Federal Register. The 2012 petition to list the Black Hills and Oregon-Cascades/California populations of black-backed woodpeckers as a threatened or endangered species was filed by the John Muir Project of the Earth Island Institute, of California; the Center for Biological Diversity, of Arizona; the Blue Mountains Biodiversity Project, of Oregon; and the Biodiversity Conservation Alliance, of Wyoming. The groups based their petition partly on a genetic study that showed differences between individual woodpeckers in three areas of the species' range. The groups said the study justified a new taxonomic split of the species into three subspecies, and the groups sought protections for the rarest subspecies found in the Black Hills and parts of Oregon and California. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service disagreed with the claims in the petition. "Based on our review of the best available scientific and commercial information, as well as the expert opinion of the scientific community," said the agency's written decision, "we find that the Oregon-Cascades/California and Black Hills populations are not subspecies." Therefore, the agency said, neither of the population groups meets the criteria for being listed as threatened or endangered. That means there will be no special protections granted for the birds, such as the preservation of designated habitat. The listing petition was opposed by the logging industry, because it could have led to a reduction or elimination of logging in areas frequented by the birds. Ben Wudtke, forest programs manager for the Black Hills Forest Resource Association, a logging-industry group, issued a written statement supporting the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service decision. "This decision by the FWS affirms that the broad population of this species of woodpecker is not threatened by forest management actions in the Black Hills," Wudtke said. Noah Greenwald, endangered species director at the Center for Biological Diversity, issued a statement condemning the Trump administration for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's refusal to list the black-backed woodpecker and 24 other species. "This is a truly dark day for Americas imperiled wildlife," Greenwald said. "You couldnt ask for a clearer sign that the Trump administration puts corporate profits ahead of protecting endangered species." Chad Hanson, an ecologist for the John Muir Project of Earth Island Institute, was similarly disappointed. "The Trump administration's decision here is based on politics and economics, not science," Hanson said in emailed comments to the Journal. "The black-backed woodpecker is one of the rarest birds in the western United States, and it is seriously threatened by both logging and fire suppression." Black-backed woodpeckers are about the size of robins. Males and young black-backed woodpeckers have a yellow crown patch, while the female crown is black. The birds have sooty-black dorsal plumage that camouflages them against the charred bark of burned trees, where they peck for insect larvae. The birds are found in the forests of Alaska, Canada, Washington, Oregon, California, the Northern Rockies, South Dakota, Minnesota and New England. Firefighters hoped to have a lingering, smoky blaze at a construction debris waste site near Box Elder controlled by Thursday morning. The fire had been burning at the Windy Flats Rubble Site located about 12 miles north of Box Elder since late Sunday. Inspectors had been working with the operator of the rubble site to get the fire under control since Monday morning, said Jim Wendte, engineering manager in the South Dakota Department of Environmental and Natural Resources' waste management program. Were cautiously optimistic its not going to go on much longer, Wendte said Wednesday afternoon. Wendte described the facility as an inert waste landfill for disposal of construction and demolition debris. Rubber tires are also accepted at the facility, but are stored away from the area of the fire. Wendte said smoke from burning construction materials, including some asphalt roofing shingles, was being carried by the prevailing winds. That smoke, heavy at times, prompted complaints from residents downwind of the rubble site. Monday nights near- or below-freezing temperatures helped hold the smoke close to the ground. Obviously we cant discount certain things, but the primary irritant is going to be the smoke, he said. Wendte said the rubble site operator didn't detect any signs of smoke or fire while checking the site Sunday morning. The fire broke out sometime late Sunday. While a cause hasnt been determined, its not uncommon for other waste products, including hot ashes, to be brought into the rubble site, Wendte said. It might sit and smolder for a while and eventually kick up some flames, he said. Theres no way to know what caused it, only that it was unintentional and accidental. Owners of Alfa Group file defamation lawsuit against author of "Trump dossier" MOSCOW, October 5 (RAPSI) Owners of Russian consortium Alfa Group Mikhail Fridman, Petr Aven and German Khan have filed a defamation lawsuit against Fusion GPS company and its head Glenn Simpson over publication of information contained in the so-called "Trump dossier", court documents available to RAPSI read on Thursday. The plaintiffs stated that during the 2016 U.S. presidential elections opponents of Donald Trump hired Simpson to compile a dossier containing damaging information about the candidate. The document in question in many ways was focused on Trumps alleged relations with Russia and Russian meddling with the elections in the United States. According to the plaintiffs, authors of the dossier mentioned Alfa in one of the reports and claimed that its owners are implicated in the scandalous allegations involving Russia and President Trump as well as other criminal activities, including corruption. Defendants knew that this Report was not verified, and that it defamed Plaintiffs on its face. Defendants could easily have removed that Report from the Dossier before they started peddling the Dossier to media and journalists in September and October 2016. They chose not to do so, the lawsuit reads. In May, the plaintiffs filed a similar lawsuit against U.S. media company Buzzfeed and its employees, who published the same dossier in January. The plaintiffs asked a court to recover compensation of at least $25,000 for each of them and to fine Buzzfeed with a sum established during the hearings. Navalny appeals his 20-day detention for unauthorized rally MOSCOW, October 5 (RAPSI) Russian opposition politician Alexey Navalny has appealed his 20-day-long detention for repeated violation of regulations on organization of public events after an unauthorized rally in Nizhny Novgorod, the Moscow City Courts press-service told RAPSI on Thursday. The appeal will be considered by the court on October 6. On October 2, the Simonovsky District Court of Moscow found Navalny guilty of administrative violation related to organization of public rallies and detained him for 20 days. The politician was arrested by police when he was preparing to leave for Nizhny Novgorod, where he planned to hold a rally, unauthorized by authorities. According to prosecutors, Navalny and other politicians called for a rally in Nizhny Novgorod on September 29. The rally was not authorized by the citys administration despite similar rallies being recently approved by nine other Russian cities. In 2017, Navalny was repeatedly detained for participation in rallies, notably ones that took place on March 26 and June 12. CODY, Wyo. A Wyoming school district is surveying its staff about the possibility of allowing them to be armed while on the job. The Park County School District 6 board in Cody has been considering allowing armed staff after the state Legislature passed a law permitting districts to do so for security reasons. Wyoming has many rural schools that are far from law enforcement. The Cody Enterprise reports that several board members indicated that they might base at least some of their decision on adopting the armed staff policy on whether a sizable percentage of staff like the idea in general and whether they would be willing to participate in the program. The state Education Department recently released suggested guidance for districts considering armed staff. The man and woman accused of killing two people in Missoula in August pleaded not guilty during a Wednesday court hearing. Augustus Standingrock and Tiffanie Pierce each were charged with deliberate homicide and accountability for deliberate homicide after the remains of two bodies were found in the basement of a house in Strand Avenue on Aug. 17. After almost a month of attempts including the use of DNA and dental records to identify the victims, Sheriff T.J. McDermott confirmed they were 15-year-old Marilyn Pickett and 24-year-old Jackson Wiles. Standingrock and Pierces hearings Wednesday were a procedural step to start a criminal case in Missoula County District Court. County Attorney Kirsten Pabst said prosecutors will not seek the death penalty in the case, saying her interpretation of a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision is that Montana's mechanism for executions is illegal. "The U.S. Supreme Court has made it abundantly clear that our death penalty scheme is unconstitutional," she said. According to court documents filed in the case, Pierces roommate went to police on Aug. 17, saying he woke up to the sound of screams and found Pierce and her boyfriend Standingrock taking a shower to wash off blood. Pierce told the roommate Standingrock brought two people home and attacked one, and that she attacked the other when they tried to flee, according to an affidavit. Police searched the home that afternoon and, in the basement, found human remains in plastic tubs filled with chemicals. They also found knives and an ax covered in blood and human tissue, according to court documents. Pierce and Standingrock were arrested at the home. The same day that police searched the house, deputies found Wiles car near Bonner. Inside was his wallet as well as Picketts phone, which was covered in blood according to court documents. In the river nearby, officers found plastic garbage bags with bloody clothing inside. On Wednesday, Pabst told retired District Court Judge James Wheelis who has been brought in to oversee the cases that Standingrocks behavior and threats while in the jail made him a security risk to transport to court for future hearings. She also said Pierce has created quite a security concern for detention staff. Standingrocks attorney Colin Stephens said he would discuss the matter but felt that, given the seriousness of the charge, his client should be in court for all proceedings. At the time of their arrest, both defendants had other legal entanglements. Police were investigating Pierce for her alleged involvement in a July home invasion and stabbing on Montana Street. No charges have been filed against her from that incident. Standingrock had been released after serving a portion of previous felony sentences for assault with a weapon and criminal endangerment. Both Pierce, 23, and Standingrock, 26, continue to be held on $2 million bail. Guwahati, October 5 : Assam and Meghalaya Governor Banwarilal Purohit who left for Tamil Nadu this morning to assume the charge of Governor of Tamil Nadu, thanked the people Assam for their all-out cooperation that he received during his tenure in Assam. Governor Purohit took over the charge of the Governor of Assam on August 22, 2016 and in the span of little more than a year in office, he took keen interest in the socio, political and cultural affairs of the states besides others. Purohit has been appointed and shifted as the Governor of Tamil Nadu vide a Rashtrapati Bhawan communique on September 30 last. During his tenure, he travelled length and breadth of the State and moved by the amiable nature of the people of Assam and Meghalaya, the Governor commented. In a message on Thursday before departing for Tamil Nadu, Governor Purohit said that, he is moved by the affable nature of the people of Assam and Meghalaya who gave him all support and love to be in the gubernatorial position of the state andwork for development of Assam and Meghalaya. He also conveyed his gratitude to the political parties, organisations, educational institutions and people at large to work to contribute to the growth of Assam and Meghalaya which is full potentialities and possibilities. Earlier Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal bade farewell to Assam Governor Banwarilal Purohit who has been appointed and shifted as Governor of Tamil Nadu. Sonowal bade farewell to him at Loka Priya Goinath Bordoloi International Airport this morning and presented him with traditional Assamese Gamocha and Sarai. Deputy Speaker of Assam Legislative Assembly Dilip Kumar Paul, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary, PWD Minister Parimal Suklabaidya, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister Rihon Daimary, Irrigation Minister Ranjit Dutta, Chief Secretary VK Pipersenia, Director General of Assam Police Mukesh Sahay and several other senior civil and police administration officers were present at the farewell programme. (Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath) Guwahati, October 5 : Two students of Meghalaya's St Anthony's Higher Secondary School who were allegedly kidnapped from Shillong were rescued by Assam police from Guwahati on Wednesday. According to the reports two boys from Latimukhrah in Shillong went missing since October 3 and relatives of the minors lodged an FIR at Latimukhrah police station. Following the incident, Meghalaya police had contacted with Assam police and Guwahati city police had detected them at Adabari area in Guwahati on Wednesday and later traced them at Jalukbari area. Meanwhile, Assam police had handed over duo to Meghalaya police team. (Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath) Guwahati, October 5 : A hardcore militant belonging to United Kuki Liberation Front (UKLF) was arrested by security forces in Manipur's Kakching district on Wednesday, officials said on Thursday. According to the reports, based on intelligence input, Manipur police had launched operation at Serou Lamkhai area in Kakching district and arrested a self styled sergeant of UKLF identified as Kamkholun Guite. Security personnel had recovered a 9 mm pistol with a magazine, ammunition in possession from him. On the other hand, troops of Assam Rifles had recovered huge cache of arms and ammunition which were kept concealed inside the fuel tank of a vehicle near Moreh town along with Myanmar border. The Assam Rifles troops had recovered one 9 mm Glock pistol, two magazines. Security personnel also arrested a person in connection with it. (Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath) Guwahati, October 5 : At least eight new born babies, aged between 2-4 days were died in past 24 in Assam's Fakkrudin Ali Ahmed Medical College at Barpeta. According to the reports, five new born babies died on Wednesday evening within 4-hour, while three others died on Thursday. Local people and parents of the deceased infants alleged that, there have no adequate oxygen supplied in the medical college hospital which led the incident. Hospital authorities told the district administration representatives during the preliminary investigation that, the mothers of the inborn babies were not getting the required care during their pregnancy leading to underweight foetus. An official of the medical college hospital said that, the government run hospital is facing shortage of doctors. Assam health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has directed an inquiry into the incident and asked the director of Assam health department to look it. The Assam health minister said that, there were in sick new born care unit and proper medical proper attentions were given. 'It is solely the critical nature of the cases that led to death. Two mothers are below 20 years of age. Barpeta medical is witnessing less infant mortalit this year comparative to previous years. There are stable number of doctors in the child care unit and just two months back we have opened the sick new born care unit,' Himanta Biswa Sarma said. On the other hand, several organizations including Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) had demanded resignation of Himanta Biswa Sarma to take responsibility into the incident. Assam witnessing a high infant mortality rate in the country. According to the reports of Sample Registration System (SRS), the highest IMR in 2016 was reported in Madhya Pradesh (47) followed by Asam and Odisha (44). The lowest IMR was reported in Goa (8). (Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath) Prime Minister and Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba Kathmandu, Nepal: Prime Minister and Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba has suggested the CPN Maoist Center Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal to go away from the government. According to a reliable source close to the Nepali Congress, Prime Minister Deuba will shack to all the ministers participated in the government from the CPN Maoist Center even if the party ignores the suggestion to leave the government. Prime Minister Deuba has reached on the conclusion to run the government sans of Maoists support after he gets clear hints to support the government from the democratic forces of the country. A meeting of the six parties convened at Prime Minister Deubas official resident, Baluwatar on Wednesday evening had decided not only to run the government but also to forge electoral alliance in the upcoming elections. Likewise, the meeting had also decided to form a seven-member taskforce to finalize details for forming a broader democratic alliance. With the support of the Rastriya Janta Party-Nepal (RJP-N), the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum Loktantrik led by Bijaya Kumar Gachchhadar, Rastriya Prajatantra Party led by Kamal Thapa and Rastriya Prajatantra Party (Prajatantrik) led by Pashupati Samser Rana and the Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum-Nepal led by Upendra Yadav, the Deuba led government will secure majority in the parliament to run the government. Such a political development was made after the two major leftist forces CPN-UML, CPN Maoist Centre) and the Baburam Bhattarai-led Naya Shakti Party-Nepal announced a broader electoral alliance with the aim to capture the state power in the hand of the communist parties through the upcoming elections. These three parties had also agreed even to unite under the name of Nepal Communist Party after the elections. Golez: This is danger! China historically starts land grab by deploying fishing boats in advance. DFA should protest! China envoy insists on right of China to fish around Pag-Asa. The sea around Pag-Asa Island up to 12 nautical miles is our territorial sea per RA 9522. Chinese fishing vessels have no right to fish there. https://t.co/RE37IJ3r1k Chinese ambassador Zhao Jianhua invokes commitment to the Declaration of Conduct, an agreement China has repeatedly violated in the past Published 12:11 PM, October 05, 2017 MANILA, Philippines Chinese ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua insisted on the rights of the Chinese to fish near Pag-asa (Thitu) amid protests against their presence around sandbars near the Philippine-occupied island in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea). "You may see some presence of Chinese ships or presence of Filipino ships but that's a part of what we say overlapping of disputed area," Zhao said on Thursday, October 5, when asked about the reported presence of Chinese ships near Pag-asa. "It's quite natural to see some of the fishing boats to be there. They are carrying out their daily fishing. You don't have to be alarmed. Both Chinese and Filipino side have a clear understanding of what they are doing," Zhao added. The ambassador said there was no cause for alarm because China was committed to a peaceful resolution of disputes. He said China would strictly abide by Article 5 in the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC). China, however, has violated the DOC when it reclaimed 7 reefs in the West Philippine Sea. There were concerns that China was eyeing to occupy the sandbars near Pag-asa Island that have long served as traditional fishing grounds for Filipino fishermen in the island. A bamboo pole was reportedly planted on one of the sandbars to fly the Chinese flag, but this was later denied by the Philippine government. (READ: 5 Chinese ships spotted near Pag-asa sandbars Concerns about the presence of Chinese vessels were first raised by Magdalo Representative Gary Alejano in August. He again aired his concern on October 3 because the Chinese ships apparently didn't leave the area around Pag-Asa Island. Zhao said Chinese moves to sell or donate defense assets to other claimants in the South China Sea "demonstrates that China has no intention at all to settle it by force." "As far as military-to-military relations is concerned, we are enhancing our respective relations with all the claimant states including the Philippines, Vietnam, and Malaysia. We are even exporting submarines, missiles to some of the claimant states," he said. He reiterated calls to look at the "bigger picture" when examining the relationship between the Philippines and China. "We do have disputes. But we have to put it in proper context. I said repeatedly earlier. It only constitutes 1% of our overall bilateral relationship. We need to look at the bigger picture and focus on friendship and cooperation," he said. President Rodrigo Duterte ushered in warmer ties with China after a bitter conflict over maritime territory. Rappler.com (ehudlaniado.com) - September was dominated by two events the upcoming holiday season, and the Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair. The upcoming season is starting to have a positive impact on the diamond industry, and the levels of demand are rising in the US. The Hong Kong trade fair went better than expected, yet traders were left with the following question: are we actually turning a profit, considering the cost of rough diamonds, and the achievable polished prices? Education Reporter Mathew Burciaga is a Santa Maria Times reporter who covers education, agriculture and public safety. Prior to joining the Times, Mathew ran a 114-year-old community newspaper in Wyoming. He owns more than 40 pairs of crazy socks from across the globe. Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. A young girl emerges from a dark alleyway and stumbles into a hospital. Trying to keep her identity anonymous, she requires a particularly sensitive procedure. What led to the unusual injury? The girl, composed and in a soft voice, announces: rape. The procedure requires parental consent notwhistanding the circumstances. Her brother arrives on the scene as a substitute. The procedure cannot be performed unless parents arrive. The siblings quietly disappear into the dark. The scenario repeats itself in a different hospital, although the roles change. They are a young couple who have just experienced their first night together. Identification is missing and parents are once again required to authorize any further proceedings. The mysterious pair continues a nocturnal tour of hospitals in order to rectify the result of the indiscretion before the sun rises and the minor incident swells into an affair, prejudice and social stigma. The young couple wandering health-care institutions of modern Tehran are the protagonists of Iranian writer-director Ali Asgaris first feature effort Disappearance, which he co-penned with the writing partner Farnoosh Samadi. The primary shapes of an urban thriller are progressively rearranged into a cross-over of faux noir and a coming-of-age story, doubling as a social commentary. Ultimately, the young lovers resort to a friend from medical circles to be hooked-up with a doctor willing to undo the damage, but for a price. Asgari channels through the story and the incident, placing the young couple in a rift. The older generation still very much respects traditions rooteds in society, while the younger generation attempts to defy them, eventually finding themselves under the thumb of patriarchal conservatism. The collision forges a tension permeating the mundane reality of society. The incident and its consequence, not so uncommon among youth, serve two primary functions. As a screenwriting device, it sets the plot into motion and also serves as a ticking timebomb, adhering to the conventions of the thriller genre, tailored for discreet social commentary. The other function provides a means to open a discussion about the generational schism in society. Asgari avoids any direct confrontation regarding the conflicting situation fueled by religious tradition or any historic precedent, using mostly elegant implications. Another young Iranian filmmaker, Shakram Mokri, revealed that his 2-hour, single-shot marvel Fish and Cat was inspired by horror films, using almost self-contained scenes to suggest the tension experienced in the daily lives of modern Iranians, rather than exposing it directly. Mokris choice was deliberate and not motivated by Iran's censorship policy. Asgari appears to operate in the same manner, orchestrating the social message not as only a story, but as an experience. Disappearance tracks the drudgery of walking the extra mile when one's lifestyle does not conform to the one imposed by society. The young couple trying to camouflage their indiscretion meet passive-aggressive scorn by the hospital staff, the older and more conservative generation, after revealing the reason of the injury. Asgari makes it easy to imagine the shaming stigma and prejudice branded on the young, who have their whole lives ahead of them. Disappearance operates beyond any type of political statement, It's a humane story, adopting the perspective of compassionate understanding. The writer-director steers clear of any teenage rebellion kind of indictment of society for backward or limited thinking, imbuing the film with a forlorn cloak of the night, in which both young lovers understand the gravity of the situation. Besides the quest to rectify the situation, the Disappearance side-plot unspools as a test of their relationship and the unspoken question: Was all this really necessary? The film epicts a painful process of conforming to society respecting the country's traditions in order to not overly complicate one's life, addressing directly the life of young society in modern Tehran. The collision of two generations, basically children and their parents, is not violent, however the mute allegation on both sides Asgari, as a part of the younger generation, has lived through the conflicts and transformed the experience into a story short of narrow-sighted moralizing and accusations. Shot on handheld cameras, Disappearance balances a slow pace with longer shots of prolonged uncertainty, and a shaking rush of despair, all of which inject the story with unpronounced implications and a dense atmosphere. 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). It seems like Congress is now also criticizing Twitter for its seeming inaction with regards to the racism running rampant on its platform. According to Adweek, Representatives Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ) and Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO) sent a letter (embedded below) to Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, expressing concern over the fact that Twitter seems like it's "being used for the purpose of propagating hate and undermining democracy" (where have they been> They also specifically called out how Russian agents used the platform to exploit people's prejudices and influence the 2016 presidential election, echoing the same criticism that's been leveled at Facebook as of late. It's notable that the representatives' letter also calls out Twitter's decision not to ban the sharing of heinous racist ideologies, and how this ultimately contributed to events like the "Unite the Right" rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, where one woman was killed by a man who drove his car through a crowd of counter-protesters. If you've spent any time on the platform, you already know how reports of racism, sexism, anti-Semitism, and more are often left unheard, with Twitter explaining that those threats don't necessarily go against their Terms of Service. A running "joke" on the platform is that Dorsey and company seem more focused on developing useless "features" like longer tweets than they do taking care of their marginalized users and stemming harassment. Biz Stone, Twitter's co-founder, recently became the target of much ridicule as he tried to criticize people for complaining about Twitter's abuse problem. Y'all pile on us. You really think the issue doesn't weigh on us? And you're so dismissive of the Trust and Safety team. We're all people. Biz Stone (@biz) October 1, 2017 The irony of this tweet, as many have pointed out already, is that it attempts inspire sympathy only for the Trust and Safety team, insisting that they, too, are human. Of course they are nobody was arguing that but at the core of many people's complaints is the fact that this team is either too small to handle the enormity of the problem, or they seem to not treat Twitter's userbase as human themselves. Stories abound of how the company has let reports of threats go unanswered and unresolved. Perhaps even more ironic than that is how Stone writes, "Y'all pile on us." As any person belonging to a marginalized community can tell you, getting "piled on" is, tragically, par for the course for existing on Twitter (and social media in general for that matter). Business Insider reported on the many, many Twitter users who came out against Stone's comments, sharing their own stories of the Trust and Safety team's numerous failings. According to their report, one user, @stonekettle, wrote: "Dude, stop. I've reported/blocked hundreds of bots, trolls, bigots, haters, racists, etc. You don't care. You don't do ANYTHING about it ... I've been attacked by actual Nazis on this platform. Twitter did NOTHING. Trust and Safety. Hilarious." I handle your lack of protection from abusive accounts by no longer reading mentions from anyone I don't follow. Great business model! Molly Knight (@molly_knight) October 1, 2017 The longest criticism comes in the form of a long tweet thread from Yonatam Zunger, an ex-Google employee who worked on policy for Google Plus and YouTube. That particular thread touches on many of the concerns shared between Twitter users and the Representatitves Coleman and Cleaver. Zunger wrote: "It's hard to think of a single case where Twitter's answer wasn't 'allow everything, make it users' responsibility to block.' Even when it was very clear that this imposed unscalable burdens on individual users, silenced *their* speech, or created public risks. And Trump using Twitter was clearly far too exciting to leadership as well: 'OMG we're right in the middle of the political process!' "Twitter chose to optimize for traffic at the expense of user experience. That's why GamerGate, that's why Trump, that's why Nazis." Essentially, Zunger argues that in making a play for popularity and traffic, Twitter forsook their users' experience. Reps. Coleman and Cleaver expressed the same worry, suggesting that in choosing to do nothing about the racists who flooded the platform, they provided a space for that bias, prejudice, and hatred to grow, dividing the country. Moreover, Reps. Coleman and Cleaver certainly aren't the only members of the federal government to call out Twitter for their failings regarding the Russia investigation, either. Previously, Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) expressed disappointment with Twitter's internal investigation, saying that their work was "basically derivative" of Facebook's own investigation. The representatives later urge Twitter to action, attempting to remind them of their responsibility as a social network and a platform. They wrote: "Further, Twitter has a responsibility to help guard against actions of foreign governments to undermine our democracy and cause cultural divisions in our country. We rely on Twitter to adopt common-sense measures to hold these account-holders accountable, with consequences for sharing hateful and violent messages that put the lives of Americans at risk and meddle in our democracy." The reps later suggest an alternate course of action if Twitter should fail to meet their requests: Congressional intervention. At the letter's conclusion, they express concern over how "insufficient government oversight" over Twitter "is inadvertently leading to deeper racial divisions and threats to our democracy. If Twitter continues to prove unable or hesitant to grasp the seriousness of this threat and combat the radicalized climate that is being stimulated on your platforms, we, as Members of Congress, will be left with little option but to demand for increased regulations and government oversight of this industry to address these problems." It's hard to tell if the government can do a better job of cracking down on Twitter's issues, and frankly, the idea of making Twitter a federally regulated resource is one that's hard to imagine. But if Twitter continues to be forced into the center of our democratic process, and as long as the President continues to use the platform to make fun of or provoke other countries, heads of state, journalists, and private citizens, government regulation may very well be an inevitable step but that's when you cue the "free speech" police. Related: Twitter Reinstates Account Of Literal Nazi Richard Spencer A long discussed, previously quashed plan to close down a block of Vallejo Street in North Beach in front of the Church of St. Francis from Assisi to create Piazza Saint Francis, The Poets Plaza, has once again been dismissed by the SFMTA Board*, which has approval power over all such road closures. The plan, first conceived by SF's senior poet laureate and longtime North Beach denizen Lawrence Ferlinghetti, has been pushed for years by onetime supervisor Angela Alioto, and she came with a cadre of a couple dozen supporters to the Tuesday meeting. But they were met with almost twice as many in opposition to the plan, as the Examiner reports. The plaza, envisioned as a cobblestoned space at the foot of the church's steps complete with trees, benches, and a water feature, had some support from the neighborhood, though Alioto told the Chronicle she believed some of the opposition was lying about being from North Beach because, as she said, "I've never seen them." Among the opposed is Supervisor Aaron Peskin, who apparently sided with neighbors worried about the traffic problem created if this partial block between Grant and Columbus were to be blocked. Ferlinghetti chimed in, via a recorded message (he is 98 years old and was not able to attend), saying that neighbors were afraid of some "carmageddon" that he implied was ridiculous. SFMTA Board Chair Cheryl Brinkman said that while the board generally supported walkable plazas like this, not enough community outreach had been done thus far.* The Examiner says that "Alioto can say arrivederci to the piazza," but this thing has been declared dead before, and it's been over 18 months since it last seemed dead in the water, so who knows. Update: Ms. Alioto has joined in SFist's commenter pool and she clarifies, regarding Tuesday's meeting, "They didn't vote at all!!!...There was no vote, this was informational" and she adds "We will be back." * This post has been corrected to show that the SFMTA did not yet take a vote on the plaza. Previously: Lawrence Ferlinghetti Reflects On How SF Has Changed Over His 64 Years Here Above we see the gun that was used to fire at least three shots in a late September Nob Hill hostage incident that resulted in the shooting of the alleged hostage-taker, 46-year-old Damian Murray. Previous police reports detailed how Murray was accused of barricading himself inside his apartment with his wife and two children ages 5 and 11, that SFPD felt they had no choice but to enter the apartment once they heard gunshots after a three-hour standoff, and that police shot Murray once theyd gone in. (Murray died shortly after being transported to the hospital.) At a Tuesday town hall meeting in the neighborhood, police released new information regarding the September 24 incident which are detailed by Bay City News. Notably, they released an image of the handgun Murray allegedly used though declined to say whether Murray was holding the handgun when he was shot and released the officers bodycam video, but only 20 seconds worth of it. The video is over 60 minutes in its entirety, SFPD chief William Scott told Bay City News. But the majority of it depicts our tactical teams entry tactics and it also depicts crimes victims, including juvenile victims, and per our policy we will not release those portions of the video. Police also noted the names of the special operations bureau officers who fired shots, 15-year SFPD officer Jason Robinson, and nine-year veteran officer Wilrolan Ravelo. We responded to a domestic violence situation where after three hours of negotiating, the incident developed quickly into a life-or-death situation, commander Greg McEachern said at the meeting. One neighbor thought quickly and recorded audio of the incident, audio that indicates at least eight shots were fired in the standoff. The neighbor, who identified herself to Bay City News simply as Cindy, noted that one bullet entered the apartment of her 92-year-old mother who also lives in close vicinity. Shes quite shaken by it, nothing like this has ever happened like this in the neighborhood, Cindy said to BCN. She didnt look out the window and Im glad she didnt. Related: SFPD Officer's Wife Among The Dead After Vegas Shooting Recently on the WNYC radio show and podcast Radiolab, producers delved into the moral minefield of a local scandal of sorts that erupted in the wake of an attempted assassination of President Gerald Ford outside the St. Francis Hotel in Union Square in 1975. Radical leftist politics, a misguided and perhaps mentally unstable housewife, and the burgeoning gay rights movement collided with mainstream journalism and the president of the United States in a tricky, sad tale that left one man's life in ruins, all because he may have saved the president's life. The story begins with a first-person account from the attempted assassin herself, Sara Jane Moore, who was freed on parole a decade ago and is now 87 years old. On September 22, 1975, she was 45 years old and had been married and divorced five times, with four children. As she tells Radiolab, she had just dropped off her nine-year-old at school and went down to Union Square with a diabolical goal in mind. She parked in the underground garage beneath the park, and joined a crowd of people on the Powell Street sidewalk across from the hotel who were waiting to get a glimpse of Ford. She says she waited an hour or two, and was jostled in the crowd, including being pushed by a tall blond man who she thought was being fresh, who would turn out to be Oliver Sipple. Sipple had heard in passing that the president was in town and decided to go have a look. He had served in the Marines in Vietnam and was discharged in 1968 after being injured in combat, and likely had what we would now call PTSD. He moved to San Francisco after becoming acquainted with Harvey Milk in New York the two actually shared a boyfriend, the same character who inspired "Sugar Plum Fairy" in the lyrics to Lou Reed's "Walk on the Wild Side" and he quickly became active in the gay rights movement, thanks to Milk. And that day in 1975, when he saw Sara Jane Moore raise a gun out of her purse and aim it at the president, he either bumped her and caused her to miss (as some accounts have it), or as Moore remembers, she missed, had no plans to take a second shot, and Sipple grabbed her arm and pushed it down to her side until police could make their way to her. (An image of the moment can be seen here.) Squeaky Fromme two weeks earlier in Sacramento. In an interview in 2009, one of the only ones Moore has given about her motives she declined to get into them again with Radiolab Moore said she had become convinced by the likes of the Symbionese Liberation Army and other radical left groups that America needed a violent revolution to overcome its problems, and she hoped to help spur one with the assassination.) As Radiolab goes on to explain, Sipple took to heart Milk's calls for gay people to come out, because it was only through visibility that gay people would find acceptance, and for all intents and purposes Sipple was out to many friends in SF, frequented gay bars, and was active in the Imperial Court with Jose Sarria. But what followed in the days after Moore's assassination attempt and national coverage declaring Sipple a hero is where one begins to get uncomfortable both with Milk's hard-charging ideology at the expense of a person's privacy, and with journalists who took that and ran with it as newsworthy. Milk took the opportunity of Sipple's sudden fame to call Herb Caen at the Chronicle and make sure he knew that Sipple was gay. Caen wasn't able to reach Sipple to confirm this, but he heard from a second source that Sipple was, indeed, an out homosexual, and decided to drop the detail of Sipple being celebrated among friends in a gay bar in one of his daily columns, a couple days after the attempted assassination. From Caen's column, the story of Sipple's sexuality got to an LA Times bureau reporter in San Francisco, and from there went quickly "viral" as such things were not called back then, being picked up by several newspapers and subsequently several national news broadcasts. The angle at the time was that President Ford was being somewhat slow in publicly thanking Sipple for his heroism, and that the reason was because he was gay. A week or so later, Ford would thank Sipple in a letter, however by then, Sipple's parents and siblings in Michigan had disowned him, and his own mother had hung up on him. Following months of anguish over this, Sipple filed a $15 million lawsuit in San Francisco court against the Chronicle, the LA Times, and multiple other newspapers alleging a violation of his privacy. The case would drag on for years after that, finally being decided in favor of the newspapers in May 1984. The verdict: Sipple had not been entirely private about his sexuality, he had become a public figure by saving the president's life, and because of the gay rights movement his sexuality had necessarily become a part of a newsworthy story. It is a fascinating case to look back on now, and one that is apparently taught in some law schools. Radiolab examines it via the moral ambiguity of occasions like this when one man's happiness and keeping a secret from his family is sacrificed for a greater good in this case showing that a gay person could be an ex-Marine and a hero. That was Milk's goal, and as the story goes, Sipple must have forgiven him for that, because he remained friends with Milk until Milk's own assassination in 1978. The sad epilogue to the story came via an interview with one of the pillars of the local LGBTQ community, Wayne Friday, who passed away in 2016. Radiolab got a transcription of the interview and had an actor do a dramatic reading of it, which you should listen to if you're interested. In short, Sipple spent his later years as a broken man, seriously alcoholic, living in a small apartment on Van Ness and blowing his disability checks at Queen Mary's Bar (now Aunt Charlie's) in the Tenderloin, often buying drinks for the bar the day he cashed his check. To the end, Friday said, Sipple would cry on his shoulder about the fact that no one remembered him as a hero. They just remembered him as "a faggot." Friday remarked how, when Sipple died in 1989 at the age of 47, hardly anyone came to his funeral, despite all those drinks he bought. Previously: The SF Assassination Attempt on Gerald Ford To go with their new plan to help curb homelessness by 50% by 2020, San Francisco is proceeding with a proposal to build modular housing for the homeless at Seventh and Mission. According to the Chronicle, this plan is notable because it's the first time that the local building trades union have agreed to not step in the way of new multifamily residential construction. Kate Hartley, director for the Mayor's Office of Housing and Community Development, spoke with the Chron about their accord with the unions, saying, "They understand that housing the homeless in San Francisco is vitally important. Our goal is to build units as fast as possible, so we can get people off the streets as fast as possible." The details of the deal make it hard to deny that this could have a positive impact on the city's most intractable problem. The modular housing will be built on vacant land located at 1068 Mission St., right behind the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals building, which was recently ceded from the federal government to the city. It'll be donated to the city for only $1, but the caveat is that this project has to be built and finished within three years of the transfer. Hartley pointed out to the Chronicle that "[with] conventional construction we would never make that deadline." But since they're able to use off-site modular construction, the project can be finished that much faster. Previously, Google made headlines as they considered modular housing to help with their own employee housing crisis. For that, they turned to a Vallejo startup called Factory OS. They ended up ordering 300 units from them, likely to be placed somewhere on North Bayshore in Mountain View. That particular parcel of land also made news as Google is currently battling with the city of Mountain View over how to portion out development of the area, demanding more office space. Regarding San Francisco's previous issues with modular housing, developer Patrick Kennedy tried to propose a similar idea last fall, only his suggestion was to use shipping containers instead of pre-fabricated modular structures like these that were recently used in a Bayview project. Just like with the current plan, the main problem with Kennedy's plan was that trade unions weren't happy with the fact that these shelters would be constructed in China instead of the U.S. As well, the current "homeless czar" Joseph Kositsky expressed concern over how Kennedy planned for these structures to be placed on federal land. Again, the city's current plan addresses both of these issues specifically, with trade unions agreeing to step aside in order to make sure the shelters go up, and the federal government turning over the land to the city for that token $1 price tag. Related: First Homeless Navigation Center Abandons Permanent Housing Placement Promise Avoid the area of Fell Street at Baker Street due to #SFPD activity. Expect @sfmta_muni and #SF traffic delays. pic.twitter.com/0etXDL2jxq San Francisco Police (@SFPD) October 5, 2017 The day after a fatal collision killed a San Francisco man, police said that the intersection remained the site of an investigation into the crash. It was 5:22 p.m. Wednesday when a 90-year-old SF resident since identified by the San Francisco Medical Examiner's office as David Grinberg was struck at the intersection of Baker and Fell Streets, police said Thursday morning. According to the San Francisco Police Department, a 28-year-old woman "was driving down the street when she contacted" Grinberg. Grinberg was transported to an area hospital, and died at 11:30 that night, the Chron reports. Additional details on the crash, including which party had the traffic signal, were not provided by police. The SFPD did confirm, however, that the driver had not been arrested following the fatal collision. As of 6:22 a.m. Thursday, police said via Twitter that the intersection remained the site of an investigation into the crash. At 6:57, police tweeted that the scene had been cleared and that traffic to the area was no longer disrupted. #SFPD has cleared the scene. @sfmta_muni and #SF traffic is no longer effected. San Francisco Police (@SFPD) October 5, 2017 Related: Driver Arrested After Allegedly Killing Woman On San Francisco Sidewalk A teen enjoying an afternoon at Dolores Park was attacked and robbed by a gang of suspects Wednesday, only the latest such incident in what appears to be an increasingly troubled area of the city. According to the San Francisco Police Department, the 17 year old victim was at Dolores Park from 2-6:35 p.m. Wednesday. At some point during that visit the SFPD was not able to be more specific as of publication time a group of twelve people approached the victim. Police say the dastardly dozen "then assaulted him and took his property," including his cell phone, his cash, his wallet, and (perhaps most oddly) his belt. All twelve then fled in an unknown direction, police say, and haven't been seen since. Attacks and muggings by groups of people have become distressingly commonplace at Dolores Park in recent months, with a three-on-one mugging in August and a five-on-one chase and beating in the park in May. Most notable, perhaps, is an August 3 shooting in the park that injured three people, an attack that began when as many as six men stormed the bridge to the park, masked by bandanas. As of publication time, no arrests have been made in any of these cases, and police seem stymied on how to prevent incidents like these in the future. According to an SFPD source who spoke with Mission Local following the shooting, "Youll see a ramped-up effort for a month, two months. And then its back to business." "You cant sustain it," the police source says. "Cops, at this point, are like firefighters. Theres a big fire at Dolores Park? Go put it out. Monitor it a while. And then, in the future, you and I will be having this same conversation. Related: Dolores Park Neighbors Say Footbridge Has Become Magnet For Hard Drug Sales Train fares can be purchased online at www.dsvn.vn, vietnamrailway.vn and vetau.com.vn, or at the train stations nationwide. Accordingly, train timetable will start from February 2, 2018 - March 4. Vietnam Railway will offer 10 trains on Hanoi-Sai Gon route; one train on routes from Sai Gon to Da Nang, Thanh Hoa, Vinh and Dong Hoi; 24 trains on Sai Gon- Quang Ngai/ Quy Nhon/Nha Trang/Phan Thiet/Lao Cai/Vinh/Hai Phong routes; 9 trains from Sai Gon to Tam Ky,Hue, Da Nang, Dieu Tri and Nha Trang per day during the holidays. Vietnam Railway plans to install automatic ticket checking apparatuses at stations in Hanoi, Da Nang and Sai Gon in November. The company continues to offer special promotional program for people under preferential treatment policy, including Vietnamese heroic mothers, children with disabilities, disabled people, war veterans, wounded soldiers, the elderly. In order to restrict speculation in train tickets, the station will only accept and release the tickets when passengers provide their identity card or other personal papers which have photographic identification. By BICH QUYEN Translated by Kim Khanh SIOUX CITY | The Sioux City Public Museum will hold a free screening of the film "CinemAbility" followed by a community discussion Wednesday evening. The film, by award-winning Hollywood producer and director Jenni Gold, examines the historical portrayal of disability in film and television -- from Charlie Chaplin to the X-Men -- and its impact on society. The discussion to follow will be led by Don Dew, of Disabilities Resource Center of Siouxland. The three-hour event will begin 6 p.m. Wednesday at the museum, 607 Fourth St. It is sponsored by the Sioux City Human Rights Commission and Disabilities Resource Center of Siouxland. Attendees must pre-register by Monday by calling 279-6985. WESTFIELD, Iowa | Plymouth County authorities are investigating a complaint from Westfield city officials about the possible misappropriation of city funds. Westfield Mayor Mike Tadlock confirmed that an arrest warrant has been issued for former city clerk Angela Sorensen. Tadlock said Sorensen resigned in August. He declined further comment, saying the city's attorney had advised him not to share any other information. The Plymouth County Sheriff's Office received the complaint Sept. 7 and is investigating, Sheriff Mike Van Otterloo said in a news release issued Thursday. Van Otterloo said no further information would be released because the investigation is not complete. The city's attorney, Jessica Noll, of Sioux City, said she could not comment because the investigation is ongoing. Jennifer Campbell of the Iowa State Auditor's office said the agency is currently "conducting some procedures" and reviewing the city's financial activities. Tadlock said his small town of 131, located 21 miles northwest of Sioux City, has hired a new clerk, who will begin work next week. The city of Westfield's budget estimates total expenditures of $195,100 for the fiscal year that began July 1. SIOUX CITY | A threat to North High School sent via text message to a Sioux City family Tuesday is believed by police to be a copycat of similar messages sent to families in a central Iowa school district the day before. Police have determined the Sioux City threat was non-credible and are cooperating with other agencies, including the FBI, to investigate where it came from. Sioux City Schools held classes as usual Wednesday. Supt. Paul Gausman said he received word shortly after 9 p.m. Tuesday that a family had received a message threatening harm to North High School. The district contacted Sioux City Police and began checking to see if any others had received a similar message. As of late Wednesday morning, Gausman said, no one had. The message came from the same phone number that sent a series of similar threatening messages to families in the Johnston School District Tuesday morning. Those messages had prompted Johnston to close for the day, but classes were set to resume two hours late Wednesday after police deemed the threat non-credible. Sioux City Police Lt. Brad Bollinger said authorities believe the message was a copy of the one sent to numerous Johnston families, and that it had been sent by a separate person duplicating the phone number. He said other Midwest school districts had also received similar messages that were "pretty much word-for-word" with what Sioux City had received. "It appears to be the same hoax threat across the Midwest," Bollinger said. "It appears to be about any city that has a North High School." Gausman said he decided to hold classes Wednesday after authorities made it clear they believed the threat was non-credible. The North High building was swept before classes, and nothing was found. "We took it very seriously, but at this point in time, with that being the only number that it came from, we believed it was the best thing to begin school on time today," he said. Bollinger said he was not sure at this point how the sender found the phone number. Gausman said the school did not have any databases hacked. Schools in Algona, Iowa, also reportedly closed Wednesday after receiving an unspecified threat. In eastern Nebraska, Plattsmouth Community School District canceled classes following a threat of a shooting Wednesday at Plattsmouth Middle School. Bollinger could not confirm whether those schools were involved in the same threat. Gausman said about a half-dozen students stayed home from classes Wednesday, and they will receive an excused absence. "We completely respect the parents and their decision," he said. Anyone who receives further messages from that number can report them to the Sioux City Police Department. Editor's note: This is the fifth in a series of profiles on the nine candidates running for three open Sioux City Council seats in Tuesday's primary election. Local attorney Dan Moore is looking to land his second four-year term on the Sioux City Council in November's election. Moore, who won election in 2013 and now serves as the city's mayor pro tem, says he wants to continue what he sees as exciting progress and development locally. Moore is among three current council members and six challengers vying for three open seats in Tuesday's primary election. Residents will vote to narrow the field to six candidates in advance of the Nov. 7 general election. Sioux City's council seats are officially nonpartisan. Age: 64 Occupation: Lawyer Elected office experience: Completing first four-year term on Sioux City Council. Previously served several years on the City Planning and Zoning Commission, including a term as chairperson. Currently the city's Mayor Pro Tem. Top issues for 2018: 1. Deal with the challenge of shrinking labor pool that is essential for continued economic growth. 2. Provide more transparency for economic development in Sioux City and showthe return on investment. The people of Sioux City deserve to know if their tax dollars are generating a return in the form of additional and higher-paying jobs. Also, assist businesses expanding or locating in Sioux City, and advertise that Sioux City is "open for business." Make it easier to do business at City Hall. 3. Renew focus on job creation, quality of life enhancement, ways in which the city can strengthen police and fire protection for every neighborhood in Sioux City, including the changes that are coming in ambulance service. Why should residents vote for you? These are great times to be a resident of Sioux City. We have seen a steady growth in new jobs like the ones created by the successful opening of Seaboard Triumph. Quality of life enhancements are also obvious as the city has updated our parks and trail systems and built Cone Park, which will open this winter. I am proud to have been a part of this progress, but there is still a lot of work to do. Sioux City continues to deal with the challenge of a shrinking labor pool that is essential for continued growth. We need to pull out all the stops to attract new families to Sioux City and encourage our own home-grown talent to stay home. Editor's note: This is the sixth in a series of profiles on the nine candidates running for three open Sioux City Council seats in Tuesday's primary election. Denny Quinn, who's lived in Sioux City for more than three decades, is running for his first term on the City Council to continue a career of public-sector service. Quinn, 68, is a Vietnam veteran, former police officer and a retired transportation specialist with the Sioux City Community School District. He is among six challengers and three current council members vying for three open seats in Tuesday's primary election. Residents will vote to narrow the field to six candidates in advance of the Nov. 7 general election. Sioux City's council seats are officially nonpartisan. Age: 68 Occupation: Retired from Sioux City Community Schools Transportation Elected Office Experience: None Top issues for 2018: 1. Develop job opportunities in the area so that our kids and grandkids can stay here no matter what careers they want to pursue. 2. Build a pathway in the center of town across the railroad tracks. 3. Develop downtown, possibly removing parking meters. 4. Aid our existing businesses any way we can to ensure they have an even playing field with any new businesses. Why should residents vote for you? SIOUX CITY | The chairman of the Woodbury County Board of Supervisors said the verbal sparring between two of his fellow supervisors over a hot button issue went far beyond required decorum, adding Wednesday he feared the situation could escalate. Board Chairman Matthew Ung took to social media on Twitter and Facebook early Wednesday morning to say he thought of sumo wrestling when pondering the "uncalled for invitation to a physical altercation" by Supervisor Marty Pottebaum during Tuesday's weekly board meeting. The situation unfolded during debate on a controversial measure for the county to pull out of a regional organization that delivers mental health services to low-income residents. As of July 1, 2018, Woodbury County will no longer be part of Sioux Rivers Regional Mental Health and Disability Services, which also includes Sioux and Plymouth counties. Twenty minutes into the one-hour, 45-minute discussion, Pottebaum, the only Democrat on the five-member board, pushed back on the assertion by Supervisor Jeremy Taylor that he was most concerned about the unprofessional leadership of Sioux Rivers, rather than continued taxpayer funding from the agency to a Sanford Center program for school children. Pottebaum spoke in reference to Taylor, "That's just wrong, to use this platform, whether it be a personal vendetta or a long-time personal problem." Taylor quickly interjected, "Point of order, Mr. Chair. We have in our by-laws not assigning or questioning motive, which is exactly what Supervisor Pottebaum's comments are doing." Ung told Pottebaum to "please be careful," while at the same time Pottebaum responded to Taylor, "You're absolutely right, because that is what I am doing." Taylor again spoke to Ung, saying Pottebaum was "in violation of the by-laws." At the same time, there was cross-talk among the elected officials, and Pottebaum could be heard ending a phrase with "Fire me." Ung said, "I cannot fire you, but you are out of order." Pottebaum then responded, "I'm not sure you're big enough to push me into a corner." In a Wednesday interview, Ung said that description is what made him picture two large wrestlers: "That's what sumo wrestling is, pushing and shoving." Asked if he felt threatened by Pottebaum's statement, Ung said he was afraid the incident could escalate, since a few minutes before that, Pottebaum had said, "I've never lost my temper, I am getting pretty close." Pottebaum on Wednesday addressed his pushing comments from the board meeting. "I was more joking about them having these silly rules," Pottebaum said. "I've served on a ton of boards and I've never seen another board say you can't question another board member. If I think they are doing something wrong, I will speak up. And I suppose I will get my wrist slapped." The county supervisors in March 2017 updated by-laws to include the Manner of Acting under the Article V section on meetings. That passage reads in part that elected officials "shall be respectful of other elected officials and avoid referencing or questioning the motives of another elected official." There is no enforcement teeth with the by-law rules, said Woodbury County Auditor Pat Gill, who is sometimes tapped as a resource to recap the by-laws as board meetings play out. Pottebaum and Rocky De Witt voted against the Sioux Rivers resolution Tuesday, while Ung, Taylor and Keith Radig cast the three votes that settled the departure decision. The Sioux Rivers CEO, Sanford officials and others wanted Woodbury County to hold firm and not exit. According to fire fighters on the scene, the blaze originated in the second floor. Fire fighters attempted to battle flames from the roof, but found the footing too unsafe. After attacking the fire with a ladder extension and putting it out, fire fighters ran a high-power fan through the home to rid it of smoke. AKRON, Iowa | Flood warnings are in effect for the Big Sioux River at Akron and the Vermillion River near Wakonda, South Dakota. The National Weather Service in Sioux Falls issued the warnings Wednesday night. The Big Sioux flood warning is in effect until Sunday evening. The river was expected to rise above the 16-foot flood stage Thursday and crest near 17.5 feet by Friday before falling below flood stage on Saturday. At 17 feet, the river would flood about 6,500 acres of farm land. The Vermillion River warning is in effect until Saturday morning. The river was expected to rise above its 14-foot flood stage near Wakonda Thursday, crest near 15 feet Thursday and fall below flood stage on Friday. Minor flooding is expected along both rivers. The warnings include rain expected to fall through Thursday. Additional rain on Friday could affect river crest forecasts. After Woodbury County Board members laid out three years of fundamental problems with the Sioux Rivers mental health regional board and staff - voiced under then-Chairman Mark Monson to then-Chairman Jeremy Taylor to myself as chairman today - we still had several people on Tuesday caution us against a rushed decision to leave Sioux and Plymouth counties as we endeavor to provide legally acceptable and fiscally responsible mental health services to our constituents in Woodbury County. What I want to do here is share a concise version of my comments regarding the Sanford Center at this week's Board of Supervisors meeting. First, I want to be very clear: The Sanford Center does good work with its K-5 after-school program, ACT prep program and gang prevention program. As for mental health services, the Sanford Center feels the rules have changed and they are targeted. My response to the executive director then and now is that the rules have been unfair to them from the beginning. Im talking about the Memorandum of Understanding held between Sioux Rivers and the Sioux City School District which funds the majority of the Sanford Centers budget. The mental health region funds $260,000 and the school district, with a budget in the millions for at-risk programs, puts in only $30,000. Why are the political cannons facing one member county of a mental health region thats told by state law that juvenile mental health is outside the scope of core services? This, right here, is the politicization we all claim to lament. So Im taking the politicized bull by the horns and calling upon members of the Sioux City School Board to put their money where their mouth is. If this is a good program as their constituents have expressed and as their superintendent has written to the Sioux Rivers Regional Board, then step up. Its not rocket science to deduce that parents would expect their taxes to the school district should pay for school-based programs. Lets not teach our kids that the ends justify the means fund this the right way. - Matthew Ung, chairman, Woodbury County Board of Supervisors Kudos to South Dakota Sen. John Thune who, when interviewed about what Americans should do about gun violence, eschewed the usual NRA talking points, reached deep inside himself, and coughed up a new answer: Americans must learn to protect themselves from the inevitabilities of living in a free society like ours. They have to learn to make themselves "small" - become smaller targets. SIOUX CITY | The clean, geometric, sometimes black, sometimes gray works of art draping beds and walls today are not your grandmother's quilts. Borders and flowers are out. Solid colors and modern designs are in. "They're not as into what you think of as floral applique," Jane Vereen, a quilting instructor at Heart & Hand Dry Goods Company, said of the women in their 30s who are taking up quilting because they want to make a special keepsake for their new baby boy or girl. "It's not necessarily a country look anymore." That country look, however, is still popular with traditional quilters. Although quilting continues to grow in popularity, Heart & Hand Dry Goods Company owner Ann Brouillette, said the average quilter in Sioux City is between 60 and 80 years of age. A 2014 Quilting in America survey found that there are more than 16 million active quilters in United States who spend a whopping $3.76 billion a year on the fiber art. "(Quilting) just keeps getting more and more popular. I think a lot of it is due to Pinterest," Brouillette said of the image-collecting site, which is also frequented by artists, crafters and foodies. "We'll get young people and older people who are retiring and want to take up quilting." A lost art As a child, Brouillette said she loved going to the fabric store to pick out patterns. Brouillette's mother made all of her clothing, and she, too, picked up sewing. But at age 16, Brouillette drifted from making clothes to quilts. "My first quilt was made out of all the leftover fabrics from making clothes," said Brouillette, who went on to major in fiber arts at Iowa State University and has been in the quilting business for 20 years. "I've been quilting ever since." Vereen also got her start sewing her own clothing in junior high and high school. Quilting didn't appear on her radar until a friend asked her why she had never made a quilt. In the early 1980s, Vereen she sat down with a small group of young, newly married women to quilt for the first time. She found a supportive, social atmosphere in which to learn to piece together a blue and white calico quilt with muslin. "One of the women in the group taught us one block at a time," she recalled. "It just kind of took off from there. I just enjoyed having something come together under my hands that didn't have to fit my body." This process of hand-quilting, Brouillette said, is a lost art. Today, quilters bring the top of their quilts, as well as the batting and the backing, to Brouillette's store, 3011 Hamilton Blvd., to be stitched together in a pattern that runs across the quilt. A computerized quilting machine does the work, because frankly, Vereen said most women today don't have time to hand-quilt. "It's really changed the face of quilting because people can do the part of quilting that they like the best, which is piecing the top together," Vereen said. "The machine will stitch the stitching. It can be an overall complete same pattern over and over or if you're really, really good at the computer part of it, you can individually place changes in the pattern all over it -- that's called custom quilting." Getting started A first-time quilter sees a beautiful photo of a finished project on Pinterest, walks into Heart & Hand Dry Goods Company and points to her smartphone asking, "How do I make this?" While Vereen finds quilting to be a soothing, stress-relieving activity, she said not everyone will see it that way. "A lot of them have stuck with us. We see many, many of the same people," she said. "Once in a while, we'll get someone who'll say, 'This was not for me.'" Brouillette cautions beginners to start small with a table runner until they learn how to put together the basics -- squares, half-square triangles and flying geese. They'll also learn the process of adding borders and sashing and the basic terminology of quilting. "Don't make your king-sized quilt," she said. "You'll start and you'll give up because you won't know what you're doing. It's very overwhelming." Brouillette said you'll need the following supplies to quilt: Sewing machine (cleaned and oiled) Cutting mat Ruler Rotary cutters Pins Small scissors Thread Seam ripper 100 percent cotton fabric Pattern or pattern book Iron Ironing board Making a basic queen-sized quilt, Brouillette estimates would cost about $350 -- which includes fabric and professional machine quilting. Landscape and abstract art quilts, which are hung on walls like paintings and entered in quilting competitions, cost much, much more to create. Although Vereen said quilting instruction videos are available on the internet, she said independent brick and mortar quilting stores are the best places to learn how to quilt. "We help them with problems they're having with construction of the quilt. We offer space back here if they want to use one of our machines to work out what they're doing," she said. "It's a hobby. It's supposed to be fun. If it's causing you to pull your hair out while you're home because you can't figure out what the instructions say, we don't want that." Fabric selection is something Brouillette said new quilters struggle with. She can point them to a wide selection of precut fabric that lets them skip hours spent with a scissors. These precuts are called layer cakes, jelly rolls and charm packs, depending on their sizes. "They're ready to sew together. If you wanted to sew one to the other, you could," Vereen said. "Lots of times we just take a pack of 5-inch squares and have (customers) start sewing them together in rows. We teach them how to press correctly and sew the rest together until they have a cover the size they want." Vereen said the time spent cutting, sewing and pressing is worth it. "When you're working on something for hours and hours at home and you bring it in and you stand up in front of other appreciators and hold it up and they all go, 'Ooh! Aah!' you're back at that sewing machine the next day," she said. International Relations October 5, 2017 Ingo Schmidt Conservatives: Overestimating their Popularity For a Germany in which we live well and happily. Maybe it was just this less than catchy campaign slogan that cost Angela Merkels conservative CDU so dearly at the polls; leaving the party at a record low of 26.8 per cent of the total vote. What is more likely, though, is that the slogan was better at revealing chancellor Merkels state of mind something like: A Germany that should be happy that I govern it so well than capturing the mood of many of her erstwhile supporters. The conservatives had little sense that terrorism and refugee hysteria were much more than media spectacles. The hysteria indicates how much the so-glad-its-not-as-bad-as-elsewhere mood that helped to elect Merkel in the aftermath of the Great Recession and after the Euro-crisis had given way to a much more pessimistic zeitgeist. Locked into the corridors of power, Merkel and her party underestimated the shift from positive to negative outlooks amongst significant parts of the electorate. Social Democrats: Stumbling over the equity-employment trade off The Social Democratic Party (SPD) failed doing the splits. One foot, notably at the beginning of Martin Schulzes campaign, moved toward genuine social democratic policies. The reward: A massive surge in the polls and party membership. Yet, while the campaign went on, the other foot moved toward the embrace of the social counter-reforms that, in the early 2000s, former chancellor Gerhard Schroder forced through party and parliament at the cost of losing the left wing of the SPD, which merged with the then existing Party of Democratic Socialism into Die Linke. For years, corporate media and Merkel praised the Schroder-cuts as trigger of an employment boom. In fact, Merkel won the last two elections resolutely by propagating the view that Germany had found the magic formula to prosperity while the rest of the world went bust. Crediting Schroder rather than herself as originator of this formula gave her an aura of modesty in a political world mostly inhabited by bullies and big mouths. And, of course, it was a constant reminder to social democratic supporters, who are usually more concerned with social justice than conservatives, that it was their chancellor who cut the German welfare state to size. Vote share in % Change in % from 2013 election CDU 26.8 -7.4 CSU 6.2 -1.2 SPD 20.5 -5.2 Die Linke 9.2 0.6 Greens 8.9 0.5 FDP 10.7 6.0 AfD 12.6 7.9 The Bavarian CSU (Christian Social Union) and the CDU (Christian Democratic Union) in the rest of the country form a joint conservative caucus in the federal parliament. SPD Social Democratic Party of Germany, FDP Free Democratic Party (liberal), AfD Alternative for Germany (far right). [German federal election, 2017] The SPD tried twice to cash in on their alleged role in boosting employment. They failed twice and decided to have it both ways this time: Advocating social justice and taking credit for advancing employment at the price of escalating inequality. Voters, proving that they are much smarter than politicians usually think they are, figured that this was a contradicto in adjecto. Some among them may also have had doubts whether a trade off between equality and employment exists in the first place. Whatever issues voters had with the SPD, their electoral results went from bad to worse, reaching, like the CDU, an all-time low of 20.5 per cent. Die Linke: Unable to capitalize on widespread tastes for welfare state policies Die Linke is puzzling. Founded as a merger of left-wing social democrats who defected from Schroders Third Way SPD and the PDS, which came out of East Germanys former ruling Socialist Unity Party, Die Linke had social justice written on its birth certificate. It furthers constant debate around the question how social justice could be realized in a world of class struggle from above and economic stagnation. These debates deliver a plethora of facts and arguments to hammer out election campaigns. One of its frontrunners, Sarah Wagenknecht, routinely deconstructed neoliberal mythologies about the welfare state and union triggered crises and developed alternative policies out of the rubble of these mythologies. This ability made her something like a media darling. But neither Wagenknechts media presence nor the endless hours party activists spent on the campaign trail helped to translate the widespread taste for social justice, time and again revealed in opinion polls, into rising support for Die Linke. When the SPD candidate Schulz hinted at a social democratic turn early in his campaign, SPD ratings shot up. When these hints turned out as fake news, SPD ratings collapsed but it still wasnt Die Linke that benefited from the widespread taste for social democratic policies that the SPD couldnt satisfy. Compared to the last elections, Die Linkes share of the total vote improved by a meagre 0.9% to 9.2 per cent. The Greens: From greening the old left to elitist lifestyle policies The Greens share Die Linkes inability to capitalize on widespread discontent. However, the difference between the two is that Die Linke aims at turning discontent with economic and social conditions into a social force that could change these conditions. The Greens, once a vanguard of greening old left agendas, would be content to attract voters from governing parties to increase their electoral market share within largely unchanged conditions. As a social force, they mostly represent a saturated middle class engaging in greened conspicuous consumption to distinguish itself from the cheap-deal chasing classes. Locked into self-chosen exclusivity, they have a hard time gaining shares in mass democratic voter markets. But this doesnt mean that they are locked out from the corridors of power. At the time of writing, it seems that 8.9% of the total vote suffice as entry ticket to a coalition government with the conservatives and the liberal FDP. The Greens emerged at the tail end of the rebellious 1970s as an attempt to transform the still existing zeal of the new social movements into an institutional presence against the rising tide of neoliberalism. The new social movements, to be sure, were triggered by insufficiencies of the old left. Tragically, efforts to green the old red agenda failed inside the movements and the Green party also. This opened the door for their transformation into a rather elitist middle-class party. A position it shares with the liberal FDP. Liberals: Organize opportunism embraces economic nationalism After WWII, this party of organized opportunism gave democratic cover to some old Nazis, though most of them joined the conservatives, and free traders. This strange mix was only possible under Cold War conditions. When policies of detente softened these conditions and the 68 rebellion signalled the coming of a new world, the FDP shed its Nazis and reinvented itself as a party of social liberalism and became a coalition partner of the SPD in the late 1960s. In the 1950s and into the early 1960s, the still Nazi-enriched liberals had been loyal to the equally Nazi-staffed conservatives. The late 1960s social liberal incarnation of the FDP didnt last long; it had barely begun when a combination of economic crises and various social movements represented a double threat to profit rates. Under those conditions, the social democratic left failed to forge a bloc with unions and other social movements that would have pushed the entire party from the post-WWII class compromise to a socialist reformism consciously deepening the crisis of profitability to further socialist transformation. Yet, efforts to do so were enough for the liberals to renew their alliance with the conservatives. Being a catchall party with support from farmers, the petty bourgeoisie and even layers of the working class, the conservatives were slow and hesitant to embrace the neoliberal creed capitalists adopted in response to the crisis of profitability. The liberals with a smaller support base less reliant on the social layers supporting the conservatives became the vanguard of neoliberalism in Germany. They were so true to their principles that eventually many of its long-time supporters realized that they had long denied stakes in the welfare state and that future doses of neoliberal policies might kill these stakes. As a result, the FDP failed to pass the 5% mark necessary to gain seats in parliament in the 2013 elections but, scoring 10.7% of the vote, had quite a comeback this time around. The liberals had refined their neoliberal commitments, inextricably linked to free trade in the past, by calling upon the state to secure the gains from international economic activity for German citizens. In a time of economic instability and stagnation where even many middle-class people fear they might fall behind, this economic nationalism has more voter appeal than the unrepentant free trade commitments of the pre-Great Recession and pre-Euro-crisis years. Far right AfD: Neoliberalism wrapped in Deutschland uber alles Even more successful than liberals at rebranding as economic nationalists was the far right AfD by wrapping its programmatic commitment to neoliberal counter-reforms into thick layers of racism, Islamophobia and, more recently, anti-Semitism supplemented with praise for Germanys Nazi-past. This brew allowed the AfD to increase its vote share by 7.9%, a little more than the losses suffered by the conservatives, to 12.6 per cent. All other parties campaigned in an ideological field demarcated by neoliberal economics, by conjuring up its past glory, like the conservatives, amending it with touches of social justice, green or assertive foreign policies, like the social democrats, Greens and liberals respectively, or by advocating for the transformation of the neoliberal order into a new kind of welfare state or even a socialist order, like Die Linke. The AfD abandoned the economic field entirely and moved on to politically greener, or maybe browner, fields of race and nation. In a softer version these are presented as culturally inherited identities, in a hard-core version they are biologically determined. Deutschland uber alles is the key message in both versions. Fear Takes Centre Stage All other parties consider the AfD as a threat to democracy and social cohesion in Germany. To be sure, most parts of the Bavarian CSU and parts of the CDU understand this threat as some other party, the AfD, occupying an ideological field they had reserved for themselves in the past even though they made less noise about it than the AfD. Apart from this qualification, the shock about the AfDs rise is genuine but pretty helpless, too. Expressions of this shock adopt the far right agenda so that the AfDs preferred scapegoats refugees have taken centre stage in political discourse while they are marginalized economically and socially. Other parties dont share the AfDs message, at least not as blatantly as the AfD puts it forward. They may even oppose it. But by focusing so much on refugees they contribute to the shift in discourse from economics to race and nation. Sure enough, many people who feel the pinch of economic insecurity see refugees as unwanted competitors for jobs or welfare provisions. This economic rationale would actually be open to debates seeking policies to reconcile domestic concerns about job and income security with refugee concerns about exactly the same issues. This is what Die Linke tried. Occasionally, Wagenknecht added a dose of anti-refugee sentiment to her economic messaging while other parts of the party came to a moral defense of refugees that put the left classic argument that capitalism is based on a scarcity of jobs on hold as far as refugees were concerned. For most parts of the election campaign, though, Die Linke managed to present refugees as a particularly vulnerable part of a working class undergoing massive transformations. The recomposition of the working class in Germany, as elsewhere, certainly has something to do with the influx of refugees and immigrants. But it also has to do, in quantitative terms probably more so, with outsourcing, privatizations, relocation of operations and automation. Combined with pressures on wages, the lowering of social standards and public service cuts this recomposition leads to massive insecurities. They are particularly hard felt, though to different degree by different layers of the working class, because long established forms of representation, through unions, parties, civil society organization and the media were thrown into crises by waves of economic restructuring. A decline of membership in unions and civil society organizations, increasing volatility in the electoral system, most recently illustrated by the fall and rebound of the FDP and the rise of the AfD, and the social media spectacle testify to this crisis of representation. This crisis renders frames through which workers and layers of the middle class could make sense of their respective economic and social conditions obsolete. As a result, objectively existing and increasing insecurities are perceived as unintelligible threats. Fear reigns supreme and eclipses reason. The new German angst is projected onto refugees and immigrants. Arriving at a time of present-day insecurities and dismal outlooks onto the future, foreigners who run for their lives or look for a brighter future unleash the ghosts of history amongst wide swaths of the German population. The conservatives were still living in the recent past when Germany looked like an island of stability in a sea of economic turmoil. Pointing at high levels of employment and balanced budgets, they were quiet about increasing inequalities and insecurities. Yet, these are important concerns for growing numbers of people. Tragically, thinking about economic and social issues is still dominated by the neoliberal imperatives of competitiveness, deregulation and balanced budgets. Alternative ways of economic thinking that can explain growing inequality and insecurity as outcomes of neoliberal policies, thereby articulate growing discontents and rally for policy alternatives, remain in the shadow of the neoliberal populism that dominates public debates for decades. Die Linke tried hard to strike a different economic chord but it either wasnt heard or didnt resonate. Economic reasoning and neoliberalism, even if, or maybe because, it is more of a religion than reasoning, are widely seen as one and the same. This is not only true for 99% of economic professors, 90% of politicians but also the vast majority of the population. Consequently, people finding themselves at the losing end of neoliberalism often express their discontent in non-economic terms. Thats why the AfDs wrapping their own brand of neoliberalism in a diversity of chauvinistic identity covers was so successful. Finding a different economic language that the discontented can understand and clearly distinguish from the neoliberal creed is possibly the key challenge for Die Linke and the left outside the party to counter the pull to the right that currently dominates politics in Germany. Miami-Dade County will not be joining Delray Beach, Wellington and a number of other Florida jurisdictions banning the harmful practice of gay conversion therapy. In a 4 to 7 vote, Miami-Dade commissioners concluded that the ordinances wording was too broad and could potentially affect pastors sermons and parents concerns over their childs sexual activity. The proposed ordinance, the commissioners believe, would violate a parents right to make decisions concerning their childrens mental health. In this case, my problem is with the rights of parents, said Commissioner Rebeca Sosa according to The Miami Herald. Sosa voted against the ban. If you make a decision about your children that, in the end, is wrong, thats your responsibility I think government has to be respectful of that right. Also voting against the ban were Commissioners Esteban Bovo, Jose Diaz, Jean Monestime, Joe Martinez, Xavier Suarez and Javier Souto. Why is this even in front of us? asked Commissioner Martinez. You cant tell me what I should tell my child, or what I cant. Youre stepping into my house. Commissioners in favor of the ordinance recognize assuming a childs sexual identity needs to be fixed is ultimately harmful a belief backed by many medical organizations. The American Psychological Association has linked conversion therapy to depression, substance abuse and even suicide, and these risks are particularly acute for youth, said Youth Policy Council Coordinator of NCLRs BornPerfect Campaign to End Conversion Therapy Carole Reyes said when Wellington moved to ban the practice. The commissioners voting yes on the ban were Bruno Barreiro, Diana Levine Cava, Audrey Edmonson and Sally Heyman. What youre doing is telling that child youre not accepting them as they are, Edmonson said. Miami, Miami Beach and other parts of Miami-Dade county already ban conversion therapy. This ordinance would have applied to outside city limits. Broward county cities, such as Wilton Manors, also ban the practice. Wilton Manors Vice Mayor Justin Flippen faced conversion therapy in his youth. Conversion therapy is so harmful and rejected, he said according to the Herald. Being gay is not a choice. It is not a preference. It is a part of me as much as my eye color is. Palm Beach county is currently drafting regulations to ban therapists from trying to change a childs sexual identity, according to the Sun Sentinel. Cities that currently ban conversion therapy include West Palm Beach, Wilton Manors, Key West, Tampa, Miami Beach, Wellington, Delray Beach and more. It is an unfortunate setback for Miami-Dade County, but should have no effect elsewhere in the state. Last night the Oakland Park City Commission unanimously passed a ban on First Reading, Rand Hoch, president of the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council. Hoch and the PBCHRC have been instrumental passing similar bans throughout Palm Beach County. We also have some things in the pipeline before year's end here in Palm Beach County. I have advised the appropriate elected officials and staff about the loss in Miami-Dade and no one is even considering backing off from their support of the proposed bans we are working on in Palm Beach County. 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. Le Collectif Cheikh Yassine a organise un certain nombre dactivites et de festivites pour les enfants de Gaza sous le theme La joie des enfants de Gaza pour lAid . Ces activites ont commence le premier jour de lAid et continue jusquau 4eme jour de lAid dans la bande de Gaza. Plusieurs activites, ont ete organisees parmi lesquelles : des competitions recompensees par des prix, des jeux, des animations et des chants presentes par un groupe ainsi que des distributions de cadeaux et daides financieres. BEAM NASA NASA is exploring options with Bigelow Aerospace to extend the life of the privately owned Bigelow Expandable Activity Module. Known as BEAM, the module is attached to the International Space Station and continues to perform well during its technology demonstration mission. NASA has issued a synopsis of an intended contract action to partner with Bigelow Aerospace to extend the life of the expandable habitat and use it for long-term in-orbit storage. This step continues NASAs commitment to expand private-public partnerships, scientific research and commercial applications aboard station to maximize the benefits from humanitys premiere laboratory in microgravity. NASAs use of BEAM as part of a human-rated system will allow Bigelow Aerospace to demonstrate its technology for future commercial applications in low-Earth Orbit. Initial studies have shown that soft materials can perform as well as rigid materials for habitation volumes in space and that BEAM has performed as designed in resistance to space debris. BEAM launched on the eighth SpaceX Commercial Resupply Service mission in 2016. After being attached to the Tranquility Node using the stations robotic Canadarm2, it was filled with air to expand it for a two-year test period to validate overall performance and capability of expandable habitats. Since the initial expansion, a suite of sensors installed by the crew automatically take measurements and monitor BEAMs performance to help inform designs for future habitat systems. Learning how an expandable habitat performs in the thermal environment of space and how it reacts to radiation, micrometeoroids and orbital debris will provide information to address key concerns about living in the harsh environment of space. This extension activity will deepen NASAs understanding of expandable space systems by making the BEAM a more operational element of the space station to be actively used in storage and crew operations. Space station crew members have entered BEAM 13 times since its expansion in May 2016. The crew has conducted radiation shielding experiments, installed passive radiation badges called Radiation Area Monitors, and they routinely collect microbial air and surface samples. These badges and samples are returned to Earth for standard microbial and radiation analysis at the Johnson Space Center. The original plan called for engineers to robotically jettison BEAM from the space station following the two-year test and validation period, allowing it to burn up during its descent through Earths atmosphere. However, after almost a year and a half into the demonstration with positive performance, NASA now intends to continue supporting BEAM for stowage use and to allow Bigelow Aerospace to use the module as a test-bed for new technology demonstrations. A new contract would likely begin later this year, overlapping the original planned test period, for a minimum of three years, with two options to extend for one additional year. At the end of the new contract, the agency may consider further life extension or could again consider jettisoning BEAM from the station. Using the space inside BEAM would allow NASA to hold between 109 to 130 Cargo Transfer Bags of in-orbit stowage, and long-term use of BEAM would enable NASA to gather additional performance data on the modules structural integrity, thermal stability and resistance to space debris, radiation and microbial growth to help NASA advance and learn about expandable space habitat technology in low-Earth orbit for application toward future human exploration missions. Given that the volume of each Cargo Transfer Bag is about 1.87 cubic feet (0.53 cubic meters), use of BEAM for stowage will free an equivalent space of about 3.7 to 4.4 International Standard Payload Racks, enabling more space in the ISS for research. With an extension of the partnership, Bigelow also would be able to continue to demonstrate its technology for future commercial applications in low-Earth orbit. The public-private partnership between NASA and Bigelow supports NASAs objective to develop deep space habitation capabilities for human missions beyond Earth orbit while fostering commercial capabilities for non-government applications to stimulate the growth of the space economy. Many coffee shops seem to struggle when it comes to striking the right balance between authenticity and trying to be on brand. Realness is often found in imperfection, in intentionally eschewing some aspect of a full cafe experience. I do coffee, why would I care whats on the walls? But some shops can lean too far to the other side and feel overly designed, curated to the point of sterility. And then there are shops like Indy Coffee in San Antonio, Texas, whose brand identity is articulate and flawlessly executed all the while being a genuine expression of owners Alex Lee and Jake Scott. This brand identity is something that can only be described as West Texas punk rock. Its Vans Sk8-Hi hi-tops meets American traditional tattooing, seen through a dusty Midland-Odessa lens. And its this aesthetic that brings Indy to life. Walking in through the back of the shop, I was greeted first by an aroma familiar to anyone who grew up in Texas, that of burning pinon wood. As I turn the corner, past the skateboard decks hanging on the wall emblazoned with a radical Virgin Mary, I notice the very same adobe tepee incense burner that would emit aromatic smoke daily in my childhood living room. Moving farther into the space, the unmistakable warmth of vinyl can be heard over background cafe chatter of a busy Friday afternoon. Right now its Waylon and Willy. Next up is Wu Tang. Indys interior is full of Texas iconography: a cow skull hanging on the main wall, Lone Star beer cans repurposed into cacti planters, traditional cotton Texas and American flags. The owners have added some personal touches as well, some for sale and some for show. It is these itemsthe tattoo-ready flash art on the walls, the Zippo lighters Scott has etched with various designs, the hand-stitched patches made in collaboration with Austins Die Trying TXthat elevate the aesthetic beyond simply West Texas and into something uniquely Indy. And interestingly enough, very few of these designs relate to coffee. Alex and I have a lot of interests outside of coffee and we wanted to bring in those other elements and share them, says Scott. We think of Indy not only as a coffee shop but as a platform to share and showcase all the other things were into. Everything ties into that Texas/American Southwest aesthetic. We really wanted to incorporate those elements with a well-curated, cohesive collection. But Indy isnt a slave to brand or ideology. Many decisions about the shop were informed by the companys history, in particular, its beginnings as a coffee truck. Back before Lee and Scott opened this spacecoming up on two years nowIndy was a cramped, no-frills affair. This meant serving batch brew instead of pour-overs and only using alternative milks for espresso-based beverages because there was no room for two types of milk. Both remain staples at Indys brick-and-mortar spot. Even their choice of roasterBrooklyns Parlor Coffeehappened more by chance than by choice. Early on in the truck days, we were looking to bring in an out-of-state roaster, says Scott. We hate over-saturation and believe it is our job to bring in and share unique products with our city. Alex was in NYC getting coffee at Kinfolk, which worked with Parlor at the time. He had a cup of coffee he really dug, so he brought a bag back, we cupped it, and we loved it. But with the cafe, Indy has room to spread out. This end to their austerity measures comes in the form of a reclaimed Texas longleaf pine bar top created by Adam Young of Old Crow Custom Works using 130-year-old lumber pulled from a defunct Waco schoolhouse. On top of this sturdy piece of Central Texas history sits a two-group La Marzocco GB5 and a black Mazzer Major grinder (adorned with skateboarding stickers of course) that form the espresso program. Another addition the larger space has afforded is a small but well-executed food program. The menu offers coffee-shop standards such as daily pastries, yogurt and granolas, and avocado toast (though Indys version has been given a Southern twist with the addition of lime, queso fresco, and red chili flakes). But Indys originals are the best part of the food program: a rotating selection of scratch biscuit sandwiches. During my visit, the chorizo and house-made pineapple jam biscuit stole the show; the sweetness and the spice were balanced beautifully and paired exceptionally well with an alternative milk cappuccino. It would be easy to discredit the quality of the coffee and the service at Indy simply because its branding is so on point. I mean, a real coffee shop wouldnt burn incense or serve only batch brew or only use alternative milks (and if they did, you certainly wouldnt hear the end of it), right? And yet, Indy is a real coffee shop, and a damn good one. The thoughtfulness that is evident in its branding is just as present in its coffee servicebatch brew includedand in its food selection. Its the execution of this thoughtfulness that makes Indy unique. Its West Texas punk rock. Its Alex Lee and Jake Scott. Zac Cadwalader is the news editor at Sprudge Media Network, and a staff writer based in Dallas. Read more Zac Cadwalader on Sprudge. Mets Hall trotted into a hot pace to take the top, and maintained and expanded his lead while going on to post a 1:52.4 open-length win in the fourth of five divisions of the Trixton International Stallion Stakes (ISS), sponsored by Deo Volente Farms, on Thursday, October 5 at the Red Mile. Sitting second as Farsetti Hanover sprinted to the quarter in :26.4, Mets Hall took the front while moving into the backstretch. He clicked off the opening half in :54.4 and held control at the three-quarters in 1:24.1. He then went on to kick away from the pocket-sitting Farsetti Hanover into the stretch. Dawson Springs, who rode cover around the turn, closed for third. Owned by Stroy Inc. and Andy Miller Stable Inc., Mets Hall, by Cantab Hall and out of the Mutineer mare Mets Inn, won his fifth race in eight starts this season. He has now compiled $127,135 in earnings. The $2.80 winner is conditioned by Julie Miller and was driven by Andy Miller. Mets Hall, pictured victorious during International Stallion Stakes action at the Red Mile (Nigel Soult) Following a disqualification, Night Rhythm was placed first in the opening division of the ISS. He took over the top spot from Shoshie Deo, who interfered with the 6-5 post time choice, the favoured Wolfgang, down the backstretch, which caused him to lose stride. Night Rhythm launched for the top and grabbed the lead before trotting a quarter in :28.1 while Shoshie Deo trotted in second. Into the backstretch, Seven Iron tipped first over and advanced toward the leader while Wolfgang rode his cover briefly, and cleared the top before a :57 half. Patent Leather rushed first over after the half and took the lead from Seven Iron while moving into the turn. Shoshie Deo, who was shuffled to third, tipped wide while moving to the three-quarters, pressured the pacesetting Patent Leather in 1:26.1 before powering to the lead in the stretch. Night Rhythm, who was shuffled to fourth, fanned off the rail and trotted down the centre of the track while Patent Leather faded at the inside in third. Shoshie Deo held a one-length advantage on Night Rhythm at the line, while Patent Leather was third and Seven Iron was fourth. With Shoshie Deo disqualified to sixth, Night Rhythm, by Muscle Hill and out of the Andover Hall mare Tail Of Night, won his second race in what was his sixth start. He has now earned $77,552 for owners Lindy Farms of Connecticut and Robert Rudolph. Trained by Frank Antonacci and driven by Scott Zeron, Night Rhythm paid $26.80 to win. Night Rhythm, pictured victorious during International Stallion Stakes action at the Red Mile (Nigel Soult) Fourth Dimension brushed to the front and coasted to a lifetime-best 1:52.4 win in the second ISS division. After having sat third while Hat Trick Habit posted a :28.3 opening quarter, Brian Sears then tipped Fourth Dimension wide and rushed to take control before three-eighths. Leading unchallenged through a :57 half and three-quarters in 1:25.2, Fourth Dimension turned for home clear of Hat Trick Habit, who was chasing from second. Crystal Fashion, who rallied off cover down the centre of the track, grabbed second. Hat Trick Habit settled for third. By Chapter Seven and out of the Muscle Hill mare Corazon Blue Chip, Fourth Dimension, who is owned by Courant Inc., won his fifth race in what was his seventh start. He has now earned $129,700. Trained by Marcus Melander, Fourth Dimension paid $5.40 to win. Fourth Dimension, pictured victorious during International Stallion Stakes action at the Red Mile (Nigel Soult) Quality Kemp sat the pocket and slingshotted past the 3-2 post time favourite and tempo-setter, Keystone Apache, to win the third ISS split in 1:54.3. Matt Kakaley sent Quality Kemp for the lead, and Quality Kemp trotted a quarter in :28.3 before yielding to Keystone Apache after the :57.1 half. Sitting as Keystone Apache trotted to three-quarters in 1:25.4, Quality Kemp remained at the rail until pulling wide into the eighth pole, where he trotted one-and-three-quarter lengths clear of My Lindy Winner, who rallied down the centre of the track into second. Keystone Apache shortened in stride and held on for third. Returning $26.60 to win, Quality Kemp, by Muscle Hill and from the Credit Winner mare Impressive Kemp, broke his maiden in what was the tenth start of his career. The Ron Burke trainee has earned $67,962 this season for owners Burke Racing Stable, Silva, Purnell and Libby, Weaver Bruscemi, and Michelle Yanek. Quality Kemp, pictured victorious during International Stallion Stakes action at the Red Mile (Nigel Soult) Scoring his fifth consecutive win and besting Peter Haughton-winner You Know You Do, Fashionwoodchopper won the final ISS division in 1:53. Cant Afford It took the early lead, as he trotted a quarter in :28.3 before Fashionwoodchopper moved from the pocket to take the lead heading to the half. Timed in :56.1, Fashionwoodchopper was unpressured moving into the far turn, while You Know You Do, who was trotting in fifth, began a first-over move towards the leader. You Know You Do trotted up to Fashionwoodchoppers wheel at three-quarters in 1:25.1, but stalled into the stretch. Fashionwoodchopper held a narrow lead through the stretch, with Cant Afford It attempting to shake out of the pocket and Samo Different Day swooping into contention in the final strides. Fashionwoodchopper held a half-length lead at the line, with Samo Different Day second and Cant Afford It third. Winning his fifth race in eight starts this season, Fashionwoodchopper, by Donato Hanover and from the Muscles Yankee mare Woodshopper, has earned $234,818 for owner Fashion Farms LLC. Trained by Jim Campbell and driven by David Miller, Fashionwoodchopper paid $4.80 to win. Fashionwoodchopper, pictured victorious during International Stallion Stakes action at the Red Mile (Nigel Soult) Grand Circuit racing will continue at the Red Mile on Friday, October 6 with five divisions of the Muscle Hill ISS Two-Year-Old Filly Trot, sponsored by Southwind Farms. The nine-race program will also feature a $7,642.48 Pick-4 carryover, which will start with the sixth race on the card. First-race post is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. EDT. (Red Mile) Cumberland, Rhode Island native Mike Eaton has been racing in New England for over 30 years but he is currently enjoying what looks to be his best season yet. Proof of that is having two of his stable members capture both top trots on Thursday afternoon at Plainridge Park. In the $14,000 Open Handicap trot, Black Broadway (Mike Eaton) settled in fourth off the gate momentarily before Eaton decided to come early and rolled off the pylons before the quarter. From there Black Broadway was parked every step the rest of the mile chasing the front running Wind And A Prayer (Nick Graffam). Despite solid fractions and the appearance of tiring around the final turn, Black Broadway caught a second wind, chased down Wind And A Prayer and then held off a fast closing Bloodstockshalltab (Jimmy Whittemore) to win right at the wire in 1:55.1. It was the seventh win of the year for Black Broadway ($8.40) who now has $69,400 on her card for 2017. And in the co-featured $10,000 conditioned trot, Shorething Fashion (Jimmy Whittemore) was parked out the entire mile before tipping three and then four deep around the last turn and trot away to win by almost two-lengths in 1:55.3. Shorething Fashion ($5.60) now has eight wins on the year with $52,177 on the card. Both horses are owned by Eaton and Bob McHugh. For this year Mike Eaton trainees have won 39 races out of 179 starts and $274,564 in purses, giving him a .348 UTR. He is currently the fifth leading dash winning trainer at Plainridge with 31 wins, ninth for UTR (.323) and sixth in earnings ($205,337). For his career Eaton has 714 wins and $1.87 million in earnings. This year he has already exceeded his highest previous annual earnings total ever ($170,145) and is only nine wins away from tying his best one-year win production ever (48). Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Friday with post time set at 2:30 p.m. (Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts) Nothing is more deplorable than hijacking human tragedy to push an unrelated political agenda. A mass murderer taking the lives of some 60 people in Las Vegas this week has nothing to do with the majority of lawful firearms owners in the United States who arent and have no intention of ever killing another human being. Yet the knee-jerk reaction of many emotionally-driven people in the face of an overwhelming tragedy is to shift public debate back to gun control and even banning guns altogether. Emotional and irrational responses in the face of overwhelming circumstances is part of human nature and require patience. Yet another part of being human is then appealing to our ability to reason. To reason we must have facts. Upon examining the following 6 facts, we will see that access to firearms has no significant relationship to violence and that violence is driven by another entire set of factors that must be addressed if we honestly want a more peaceful and prosperous world. 1. According to the FBI , more people die of barehanded assaults in the US per year than all rifle violence (assault rifles included) combined. In fact, homicide via personal weapons like hands and feet is more than double homicides carried out with rifles. Most gun homicides are carried out by handguns in some of Americas most destitute communities where national and local governments have failed to keep up with infrastructure, providing education, or economic opportunities. Cities like Detroit who have had their industry shipped overseas and their infrastructure left to in some cases literally rot. 2. According to the According to the Small Arms Survey conducted by the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva, Switzerland, the United States has the most guns per capita of any other nation on Earth at 112 guns per 100 people. Second place goes to Serbia at 58.21 guns per 100 people. Based on this and assumptions that access to firearms equates directly to more violence, we would expect to find the United States and Serbia at the top of list regarding both homicides, and gun related homicides, yet this is not the case at all. 3. Highest homicide rate on Earth goes to El Salvador with 108.64 murders per 100,000 people. The United States comes in at number 94 with a murder rate of 4.88 per 100,000 people. 4. El Salvadors gun homicides are at around 26.49 per 100,000 people while the US comes in with 3.60 gun homicides per 100,000 people. Honduras comes in first place with 66.64 gun homicides per 100,000 people. Nations topping the list of gun homicides together with total homicides reveal little relationship between the number of guns per capita and actual violence. In fact, despite the immense amount of firearms in the United States, the United States has a relatively low homicide and gun-related homicide rate. This is why gun ban advocates often attempt to cite gun related deaths which includes accidents and suicide instead of citing gun-related homicides even when advocating gun bans after high profile mass shootings and murders. 5. Gun ban advocates often claim the United States cannot be compared with failed states and instead should be compared with advanced states like Denmark, Sweden, etc. This is called cherry picking and is a logical fallacy, not rational or honest debate. Neither El Salvador nor Honduras are failed states according to the Fragile States Index. And neither Denmark nor Sweden have a Detroit like the US does. During a debate, all data must be considered, not conveniently and conditionally picked through so the numbers add up in ones favor. 6. Despite the UK and Japan both being gun free according the the United Nations ( Despite the UK and Japan both being gun free according the the United Nations ( summarized on Wikipedia here ) the UK has a higher total number of murders (594) than Japan (395) despite having half of Japans population (UK: 65.64 million, Japan: 127 million). For those tempted to claim that the UK isnt actually gun free, realize that according to USA Today only about 50-60 murders a year in the UK are attributed to firearms, and if negated, still leaves the UK with higher total murders, and a still much higher murder rate than Japan. Concluding Thoughts All 6 facts tell us that violence is driven by socioeconomic factors, not access to firearms. If firearms drove violence, the United States would be by far the most violent nation on Earth, followed by Serbia they are not. The UK and Japan would have roughly the same rate of homicides they do not. If you truly care about a more peaceful world, address the root causes of violence which is clearly, obviously not access to weapons. Those who intentionally stir hysteria and prey on the emotions of well-meaning people to push issues like gun control have ulterior motives and coincidentally allow all of the actual factors that drive violence socioeconomic disparity and destitution to continue or even expand. If you are truly against violence, you must truly commit yourself to understand what really causes it, and not indulge in emotional campaigns pursuing irrational measures that not only will not stop violence, but will invite great amounts of the very exploitation and injustice that drives violence. Banning guns did not stop terrorists in Europe from obtaining completely illegal AK-47s used in Paris, France killing over 130 people, nor did banning guns stop a terrorist from using a truck in Nice, France to take the lives of over 80 people. Gun bans did not stop the alleged hijackers of the planes used on September 11, 2001 to kill nearly 3,000 people. They used box cutters. Those who are determined to carry out premeditated mass murder like that which unfolded in Las Vegas, will do so no matter what implements they have at their disposal. Figuring out what factors actual cause an individual or organization to contemplate and carry out mass murder is the only way to stop or reduce future acts of violence. Examining the heavily medicated, violent, and intentionally divided population of America and and the socioeconomic doldrums they inhabit would be a good place to start. This article was originally published by Land Destroyer Report where all images were sourced. It's Election season and our editor's mailbox is overflowing. Who do your neighbors support? Read about it here. Woodland police are understaffed and overworked, city officials say, and the small town hopes to beef up its police force with funding from a property tax increase proposed on the November ballot. The 38 percent tax hike would allow the department to hire two new officers and a sergeant and buy the equipment associated with new hires, such as police vehicles, safety gear and weapons. An owner of a $200,000 home would pay about $155 more annually in city property taxes. Advocates of the ballot measure say the funding is sorely needed to expand Woodlands 10-officer police force, which is understaffed compared to national averages. There are about 1.7 officers per 1,000 population in Woodland, according to the department. The average for small cities is 2.4 officers per 1,000 population. Critics dont challenge the need for more officers in Woodland, which has a higher crime rate than other small cities in the area. But they say the city should find the money in its existing budget. Over the last five years, Woodlands crime rates have fluctuated between 76.4 Group A crimes per a 1,000 population to about 100 crimes per a 1,000 population, according to the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs. Last year, the city saw its rate shoot up to 105 crimes per a 1,000 population, up from 86.7 crimes per a 1,000 population the year earlier. (Group A crimes are serious offenses ranging from the murder, rapes, robberies and drug cases down to motor vehicle thefts, other property crimes and weapons violations.) In comparison, Kalamas Group A crime rate was 52.8 per 1,000 population last year, while Ridgefields was 28.8 per 1,000 population and La Center was 28.9 per 1,000 population. Along with a relatively higher crime rate, Woodlands growing population is putting more strain on police. Between 2014 and 2016, officers saw the volume of calls for service expand by 25 percent from about 6,700 calls in 2014 calls to 8,400 calls in 2016, according to the police department. Call volumes are expected to hit 9,000 by the end of this year. That has steadily pushed up overtime costs, city officials say. Last year the city spent roughly $210,000 on police overtime. So far this year it has spent $104,000. In recent years, former chief Phil Crochet recommended hiring four additional officers and interim Police Chief Garry Lucas suggested the department needed about seven more officers, according to Mayor Will Finn. This Novembers ballot measure would only get the department to meet about half of those recommendations. Finn, who also is a member of the Washington State Patrol, said the property tax hike is the only viable way to pay for a bigger police force. If it passes, I think its going to be great but its still not going to solve the problem. Were still going to have a deficit in employees, Finn said. But it will help. Critics of the ballot measure argue that the city should find money for the additional hires within its existing revenues. Councilwoman Jennifer Heffernan said she is reluctant to ask voters for more money, although she ultimately voted to put the measure on the ballot because she wants to see the police department expand. We knew we couldnt keep spending $200,000 a year in overtime cost because we were understaffed and that we needed to do something to address the issue, Heffernan said. Even so, Heffernan argued that the city could free up funds for more officers by eliminating the city administrator position or taking other measures. Peter Boyce, who was hired as the first city administrator last May, now makes $164,000 annually, including salary and benefits. Do I support asking more of (voters) money when I think we havent done everything we can do with the money we have? No, I dont, but it doesnt hurt to ask, Heffernan said. Finn flatly rejects the idea that the city budget can accommodate the additional officers, and he argues the city must continue to fund the newly-created administrator position to continue to run efficiently. Where is this magical bag of cash laying around? Finn said. There is no dedicated source of funding in the budget for hiring new officers. Without the tax increase, Finn said the city would have to make cuts in other services if it wanted to hire more police officers. The measure would increase taxes by $0.78 per $1,000 of assessed value, for a total levy rate of $2.84 per $1,000 of assessed value. The levy would raise $617,000 next year. The owner of a $200,000 home would pay about $568 in annual city property taxes, up from $412 currently. A citizens committee of volunteers who studied the police staffing recommended the city pass the levy, which is one of three new taxes Woodland voters will have to consider on their ballots, including another proposal from the city to raise the sales tax by 0.2 percent for road improvements. The other tax is a bond request from the pool and recreation district. Finn said he did not know whether having multiple tax proposals on the ballot could discourage voters from approving the public safety levy. I think were addressing the needs that have been brought before us, and that is more police officers and better roads, Finn said. And well let the community decide what they think is important. Veterans from Southwest Washington will have an additional avenue for sharing their stories as part of the Veterans History Project with the Library of Congress. U.S. Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler is partnering with the history project to collect stories from men and women who have served in the military. Herrera Beutler announced she will host a Vancouver-area event where she, her staff and members of the military community will be conducting one-on-one, 30-minute interviews with Southwest Washington veterans about their wartime experiences. The interviews will then be submitted for preservation as part of the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress. The congresswoman said she received so much interest she decided to add a second event in Lewis County. Dates and times to be announced. All Southwest Washington veterans are invited to participate and share their stories. Those who wish to participate, should RSVP by contacting Louise Fendrich in Jaimes Vancouver office at 360-695-6292 or louise.fendrich@mail.house.gov. KALAMA This citys voters will have three distinct choices for mayor next month. With Mayor Pete Poulsen retiring after 16 years, theres plenty of daylight separating the candidates seeking to fill his shoes. And the proposed methanol refinery has become a major focal point of the campaign. Rosemary Siipola is an experienced elected official with a lengthy public-sector resume. Mike Reuter is campaigning against a plan to build one of the worlds largest methanol plants in the citys backyard. Meanwhile, public records indicate that write-in candidate Tom Merz could technically be ineligible to hold office but he's still campaigning vigorously for the job. Poulsen has thrown his support to Siipola, a current Kalama City Council member and retired transporatation planner. Shes also a proven campaigner: In 2015 she unseated longtime incumbent Don Purvis by winning roughly twice as many votes. The 62-year-old has also displayed a strong command of key issues, devoting thousands of words on her campaign website to outlining positions on public safety, stormwater management and the citys downtown development plan. Siipolas name will appear next to Kalama Planning Commission member Mike Reuter's on the Nov. 7 ballot. Reuters mayoral bid, in part, represents a one-man crusade against Northwest Innovation Works' proposed $1.8 billion methanol plant. The city has never held a public vote on the plant, which hit a recent snag in the permitting process with the state Department of Ecology. The mayoral race could be the first chance for the citys 1,700 registered voters to formally register how they feel about the project. Other than political, persuasive influence, the city has no formal say about the project, which is located outside city limits. Initially open to the methanol plant, Reuter said in an interview that he changed his mind after spending more than a year researching the issue. On Wednesday, Reuter posted 72 pages of notes to his campaign website that he said help explain his opposition to the project. Then theres Merz, a military veteran and paramedic who grew up in Kalama but only registered to vote there shortly after purchasing his home in April. That puts him well short of the one-year residence period required under state law for candidates in cities with a mayor-council form of government. Still, that hasnt dissuaded Merz, who so far has chosen not to speak with The Daily News. If elected, voters in Kalama would have three days to challenge Merz's eligibility in Cowlitz County Superior Court. Merz, who has garnered support from conservative voices on social media, has touted his career as an emergency responder. He opposes a proposal to build a new $2.7 million police station at Maruhn Park that needs at least 60 percent support from voters in next month's general election. Methanol concerns The Northwest Innovation Works project is estimated to create 192 permanent jobs with a $21 million payroll in addition to roughly 1,000 construction jobs. It would also generate $36 million in state and local taxes, according to an environmental impact statement conducted by the port and Cowlitz County. About a year and a half ago, I wasnt sure whether I was for it or against it, Reuter said. Reuter said his first concern was about whether the city has the firefighting capacity to extinguish a serious methanol fire. Hes also worried that the steam plumes from the plants cooling towers would negatively impact homeowners property values. Reuter said he was alarmed when Tacoma decided to pass on a nearly identical project. I asked myself: Why would they turn it down? he said. So Reuter did his own research. After poring over thousands of pages of records, attending dozens of public meetings, watching hours of video and researching other cities with methanol plants, Reuter said he became convinced that the project is a bad deal for the city. Reuter argues that only a small fraction of jobs at the plant would go to local residents. He also said the city will not collect additional property tax revenue from the project because its located outside of the city limits on land leased from the port. (It is, however, located within the boundaries of the Kalama School District.) As Mayor, Reuter said he would push for a full cost-benefit analysis and use his position to negotiate the best deal possible for the city. If theyre going to build it, I want something thats going to pencil out for Kalama, he said. Reuter said hes also concerned that the project would lead to a massive transfer of natural gas from the Pacific Northwest to Asia, which he sees as a potential national security risk. Im sure China is laughing about this, he said. Reuter said one of his other top priorities would be to improve how the city communicates with its residents. Most of the citys problems have been from a lack of information and communication, he said. Change done with you or to you In contrast, Siipola supports the ports plans for the methanol plant. The project, which is also backed by Gov. Jay Inslee and former Gov. Gary Locke, is the most appealing out of a handful of recently proposed fossil fuel projects in Cowlitz County, she said. I believe this thing will be built to spec and it will be built right, she said. The plant would also lead to an infusion of research and development funds for Southwest Washington, Siipola said. She also noted that Northwest Innovation Works has proposed creating a special program through Lower Columbia College to train future plant workers. But with that said, Siipola says she doesn't know why Reuter is making the plant a campaign issue because it falls outside of the citys jurisdiction. Siipola said its important for the city and the port to work together, as they have recently on the master plans for the Spencer Creek business park but ultimately the methanol plant is the ports project. We dont try to influence each other; we try to support each other, she said. As the citys longest-serving mayor, Poulsen said he views Siipola as the best candidate for the job. Shes been in government long enough that she could slide right into the job with as few interruptions as possible, he said. Over the course of her career, Siipola has worked as a senior transportation manager for the city of Portland and the Cowlitz-Wahkiakum Council of Governments. In addition to implementing a recent grant-funded economic development plan, Siipola said one of her top priorities would be addressing the citys flooding problems. The stage is set for us to move forward, she said. "The real question is: Do you want change done with you or to you?" Eligibility problems? Merz is a write-in candidate whose name wont appear on the ballot. According to Samuel Satterfield, Kalamas attorney, its the city councils responsibility to confirm and swear in newly elected mayors. If Merz were to win and a Kalama voter challenged his eligibility in court, the judge could then block him from taking office, Satterfield said. The City Council could also refuse to confirm Merz if a resident were to present proof that he had not lived in Kalama for a year prior to the election. "The city will cross that bridge if it comes to be that he gets elected mayor," Satterfield said. For his part, Merz doesn't think he has an eligibility problem. But in an interview with KLTV that aired on Wednesday, he also said the city has not told him whether he's eligible to serve as mayor. "If I'm elected, we'll find out if I'm eligible," he said. In the interview, Merz admitted that he has not lived in Kalama for a full year prior to this fall's election. However, he also said that he maintained a residence in Kalama at his father's house while he was working as a paramedic in Wahkiakum County. "I had dual residence," he said. Voting records show that Merz cast general election ballots in Wahkiakum county from 2013 to 2016. According to public documents from the Cowlitz County Assessors Office, Merz and his wife purchased their home in Kalama on April 13, 2017. In the interview, Merz said he's disappointed with the city's current leadership and opposes plans to increase taxes to pay for public works projects. All three candidates are expected to take questions from voters at a public forum Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Kalama Community Building on Elm Street. In February 2017, the TDN editorial board wrote an editorial in support of the Toledo School Districts proposed $14.2 million bond. The bond vote failed by about 60 votes and now the district is back proposing a slightly cheaper alternative. We support this newer bond proposal totaling $12.9 million, and urge Toledo School District voters to support it as well. Toledo High School is a mess plain and simple. The high school either needs to be updated or plans need to be made to merge the high school with another school district, which would mean busing kids somewhere else to attend classes. We would like to see Toledo High School updated. As we chronicled last February, the school is in dire need. The roof leaks in so many spots its hard to count. The movable walls may have been a good idea in the mid-1970s, but in reality they are a safety hazard and impair learning by making classrooms too loud. Every aspect of Toledo High School needs an overhaul, including locker rooms, bathrooms, the kitchen, classrooms, walls, the intercom system, the shop, the running track and just about anywhere else you want to look. Last February, Toledo voters said, No to the $14.2 million bond. We heard many folks voice concern that building maintenance was not kept up to par for years, thus the school fell into disrepair. This argument has some truth to it according to Superintendent Chris Rust. Regardless, lets look at this in terms of the home you live in. If you didnt make any significant updates to your home for 25 years wouldnt it be in need? You bet it would. People dont seem to dispute the school needs updating. The reality seems to center around paying more in taxes. Toledo voters clearly dont want to pay higher property taxes. Well, we agree higher property taxes are not popular. The TDN editorial board is typically against any increase in taxes, rates or fees. But in some cases we support paying more and think you should, too. According to Rust, the School Facilities Committee looked at numerous options before settling on another bond offering. Among them, the committee looked at closing THS and moving the students to the middle school. This solution isnt feasible because there is not enough room at the middle school to house all the students. We asked Rust about merging the Toledo School District with a neighbor perhaps Castle Rock. Neighboring districts dont have enough room for the Toledo High School students, and if they did, Toledo residents could end up paying for levies from other districts, too. Some people think the new school funding legislation which passed will reduce property taxes, but thats not necessarily true. Once the levy swap goes into place, Toledo taxpayers will have higher taxes in 2018, then school related taxes will go back down to about 2017 levels in the year 2019. If a capital bond levy is passed this year, by 2019, taxpayers will pay more than they pay now. The biggest problem is there are no good alternatives to passing the bond. If the bond is voted down, the school could end up being condemned and students shipped elsewhere. Homeowners will wind up paying increased property taxes for busing and other costs for the students to attend high school in a different school district. If the bond doesnt pass now, but passes a year or two from now, it will cost more. Rust loosely figures each additional year costs another $1 million or so of additional cost as the building continues to deteriorate. Other aspects of this bond measure are pride and community. The situation regarding the high school has gone on far too long. When we visited the school last year, it was clear the kids desperately wanted to see their school get a makeover. The entire area is proud of the school and its rich history. The community would never be the same if the high school closed it just wouldnt. While some folks dont want to pay higher taxes, were sure they still support the school. Another reason to get the bond passed is financing rates are very low right now. This proposed bond would be paid off in about 20 years, but with great financing rates currently available, the bond possibly could be paid off much sooner. Both the Longview and Kelso School districts recently announced their existing bonds were refinanced at historically low rates of about 1.49 percent, saving taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars. The TDN editorial board urges you to vote Yes on the Toledo School bond. WASHINGTON Fake news has come to the high court. At Tuesdays argument before the Supreme Court about gerrymandering the science of using map-drawing and Big Data to keep ruling parties in power even when a majority votes for the opposition Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. was searching for a way to uphold the unsavory practice. But there was a problem: Gerrymandering is making a mockery of the right to vote in Wisconsin, the focus of the case before the court, where a redrawn map allowed Republicans to hold more than 60 percent of the state assembly while getting less than half the vote. And so Alito resorted to subterfuge. He waited until the closing minutes and hit Paul M. Smith, the lawyer arguing against the Wisconsin plan, with the last question of the argument. You paint a very dire picture about gerrymandering and its effects, Alito said, but I was struck by something in the seminal article by your expert, Mr. McGhee, and he says there, I show that the effects of party control on bias are small and decay rapidly, suggesting that redistricting is at best a blunt tool for promoting partisan interests. So he was wrong in that? The question baffled Smith, who said he would need to see the context. Well, Alito retorted, thats what he said. No, it isnt. I called Eric McGhee, the expert, after the argument. The quote Alito pulled was not from the seminal article McGhee co-wrote proposing the legal standard for gerrymandering at the center of the case. It was from an earlier McGhee paper, using data from the 1970s through 1990s. In the paper at the center of the case, by contrast, we used updated data from the 2000s, McGhee told me, and the story is very different. Its gotten a lot worse in the last two cycles. ... The data are clear. Why would Alito resort to this sleight of hand? Perhaps because its clear that if he stuck to the facts, hed have to acknowledge that the growing abuse of gerrymandering threatens democracy. Political gerrymandering has become dramatically more precise in disenfranchising voters with the revolution in data analytics both in states such as Wisconsin and in Congress, where Democrats need to win the popular vote by more than seven points to break even in the House. (Democrats abuse gerrymandering, too, though they hold power in fewer states.) Theres also no obvious legal reason that the court cant intervene to curb the practice on grounds of free speech or equal protection. Whats really behind all of this, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg said during arguments, is the precious right to vote. If you can stack a legislature in this way, what incentive is there for a voter to exercise his vote? Smith predicted that if the court fails to intervene in Wisconsin, youre going to have a festival of copycat gerrymandering the likes of which this country has never seen. ... The country is going to lose faith in democracy. Three members of the courts conservative bloc Alito, Neil Gorsuch and John Roberts Jr., the chief justice were searching for reasons not to intervene. (A fourth, the silent Clarence Thomas, previously voted against court involvement.) That likely leaves the decision to Anthony M. Kennedy, who is more prone to bouts of fairness than his conservative colleagues. In an unusual soliloquy, the chief justice argued that the court shouldnt get involved in the Wisconsin case because then it would have to intervene in others. Its going to be a problem here across the board, he lamented. The poor dears. Maybe, given that democracy is at stake, they could shorten their summer holiday, which just ended Monday? Roberts continued: The intelligent man on the street will deduce that, if the Supreme Court rules with Democrats in a gerrymandering case, it must be because the Supreme Court preferred the Democrats over the Republicans. ... And that is going to cause very serious harm to the status and integrity of the decisions of this court in the eyes of the country. Now hes worried about the public standing of the court? After Bush v. Gore, campaign finance rulings that give the wealthy dominance over elections, and the brazen politics of the Merrick Garland fiasco? In the gerrymandering case, the justices have a chance to restore integrity by defending the principle of one person, one vote. Alternatively, the five Republican appointees can defend their patrons by allowing this perversion of democracy to continue. Iraq forces retake centre of IS bastion Hawija Iraqi forces and fighters from the Hashed al-Shaabi advance towards the Islamic State (IS) group\'s stronghold of Hawija on Wednesday. AFP, Baghdad : Iraqi forces said Thursday they had retaken the centre of Islamic State group stronghold Hawija and were pushing forward in their assault on one of the last IS enclaves in the country. Troops, police and paramilitaries "liberated the whole of the centre of Hawija and are continuing their advance," the operation's commander, Lieutenant General Abdel Amir Yarallah, said. Government and allied forces backed by a US-led coalition launched an offensive last month to oust IS from Hawija, a longtime insurgent bastion. The town is among the final holdouts from the territory seized by the jihadists in 2014 and its recapture would leave only a handful of remote outposts in IS hands. Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi was due to meet French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris later on Thursday for talks on the campaign against IS, which is backed by a US-led coalition including France. The United Nations said on Tuesday that an estimated 12,500 people had fled Hawija since the launch of the offensive to retake the town and surrounding areas last month. The UN's humanitarian affairs office said the number of people still in the town was unknown but could be as high as 78,000. It said humanitarian agencies have set up checkpoints, camps and emergency sites capable of receiving more than 70,000 people who could flee. Hawija, 230 kilometres (140 miles) north of Baghdad, is one of just two significant areas of Iraq still held by IS, along with a stretch of the Euphrates Valley near the Syrian border which is also under attack. It has been an insurgent bastion since soon after the US-led invasion of 2003, earning it the nickname of "Kandahar in Iraq" for the ferocious resistance it put up similar to that in the Taliban militia's citadel in Afghanistan. The town's mainly Sunni Arab population is deeply hostile both to the Shiite-led government in Baghdad and to the Kurds who form the historic majority in adjacent areas. Hawija lies between the two main routes north from Baghdad-to second city Mosul, recaptured from IS in July, and to the city of Kirkuk and the autonomous Kurdish region. Last year, government forces bypassed the area in their advance north to Mosul, which culminated in the jihadists' defeat in their most emblematic bastion. IS has been forced out of most of the territory it seized in Iraq and Syria during a lightning offensive in the summer of 2014 that was followed by its declaration of a cross-border "caliphate". The US-led coalition is also backing an Arab-Kurdish alliance, the Syrian Democratic Forces, that is battling to oust IS from its de facto Syrian capital Raqa. The SDF has captured about 90 percent of Raqa and is fighting fierce battles with remaining IS jihadists. IS's other main stronghold in Syria is the eastern province of Deir Ezzor, which borders IS-held territory in Iraq. Two separate offensives are under way against the jihadists in Deir Ezzor-one by the SDF, the other by government forces supported by Russia. The capture of Hawija brings them into direct contact with Kurdish Peshmerga fighters who control Kirkuk, a multi-ethnic region claimed by both Baghdad and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). Kirkuk shaped up as a flashpoint last month when the KRG included the city in a referendum on Kurdish independence in northern Iraq. Iraq launched its offensive on Sept. 21 to dislodge Islamic State from the Hawija area, where up to 78,000 people were estimated to be trapped, according to the United Nations. The militants continue to control the border town of al-Qaim and the region surrounding it. They also hold parts of the Syrian side of the border, but the area under their control is shrinking as they retreat in the face of two different sets of hostile forces - a U.S.-backed, Kurdish-led coalition and Syrian government troops with foreign Shi'ite militias backed by Iran and Russia. Copyright 2021 New Nation. All Rights Reserved by thedailynewnation.com Herbs that reduce anxiety and depression Life Desk : Mother Earth has provided herbs to cope with anxiety and depression 'diseases' as well. Anxiety and depression are the two most commonly reported psychiatric conditions and they generally occur together in a person. Both conditions are recurring or chronic and may require long term treatment. Although conventional drug therapies for the disorders are easily available, financial, cultural, or personal reasons may cause the individual to seek alternative therapies. Herbs and herbal products may be slower acting than conventional drugs but they provide an inexpensive, effective way to treat the root cause of the disease rather than treat just the symptoms. The following herbs are effective to a certain degree in reducing (sometimes curing) anxiety and depression. Holy basil (tulasi, Ocimum sanctum) - Holy basil soothes and calms the nerves, according to the Indian traditional medicine. Research too has confirmed the fact that basil helps with anxiety disorders. For example, a study of 35 people given 500mg per capsule of tulasi twice a day for two months showed not only a significant reduction in their generalized anxiety disorders but attenuation of its correlated stress and depression too. No wonder, tulasi is one of the ingredients in Manasamitra Vataka, an Ayurveda formulation that treats anxiety disorders. Kava (Piper methysticum) - Kava has also been proved effective in treating anxiety. Number of studies have shown anxiolytic (reducing anxiety) effects of kava to be superior to that of placebo. Actually, it is the only herb that is demonstrably effective in reducing anxiety. However, use it cautiously since kava has adverse effects such as liver damage. Kava is also known to interact with levodopa and alprazolam causing extrapyramidal symptoms or lethargy. Lemon balm (Mellissa officinalis) - Also known as sweet balm, this lemon-scented herb is found worldwide. A study published in the 2004 issue of Psychosomatic Medicine revealed that lemon balm administered to people during gave short-term anxiolytic effects to them. A more recent study found that rosmarinic acid in the leaf extract gave the plant its anxiolytic and anti-depression effects. It acted by increasing the GABA levels in the brain thus reducing anxious behavior. The researchers of this study made an interesting observation; they found that the effect of lemon balm extract was significantly higher in female lab animals than in males. Males required the highest dose to have the same effect. Passion flower (Passiflora incarnata) - Passion flower has been used since ages to reduce stress and anxiety. The whole plant except for the roots show anxiolytic activity. However, pharmacologic work on this plant are inadequate, so it is difficult to say how the herb acts to relieve anxiety. Chamomile (Matricaria recutita) - Chamomile is used as a traditional herbal remedy for its calming effect since the ancient Rome and Greek period. Studies too have established its function as an anxiolytic and anti-depressive agent. The mode of antidepressant action in chamomile is unknown but it is known to be independent of anxiolytic action. Some studies suggest that the flavonoids in chamomile exert an antidepressant effect by modulating the neurotransmission of noradrenalin, dopamine, serotonin, and GABA levels. Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) - Also called the maiden hair plant, Ginkgo has been used in Chinese traditional medicine for treating various health disorders. The extract is particularly helpful with concentration problems, depression, anxiety, dizziness, tinnitus and headaches. The herb apparently works by dilating blood vessels to increase blood flow, reducing blood viscosity, reducing free radicals in the body, and also by modifying neurotransmitter systems. Although some studies reported beneficial effects of Ginkgo at doses of less than 200mg per day for 12 weeks with no side effects, big trials showed inconsistent results. Other studies reported no benefits as regards anxiety and depression. Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) - Yarrow is a medicinal plant used in traditional medicine to treat gastrointestinal disorders, inflammation, anxiety and insomnia. A study done to investigate the effect of yarrow on acute and chronic anxiety disorder indicated that the herb exerted anxiolytic effect at doses that did not alter locomotor activity. Its behavior was similar to that of diazepam. -Internet Medical student commits suicide Chittagong Bureau : A student of Chittagong Medical College allegedly committed suicide by hanging herself at Boalkhali Municipality Sadar of the district on Tuesday night. The deceased was identified as Sherin Akter Rekha, 23, daughter of Saleh Ahmed, hailed from Doliler Baperbari of Boalkhali Municipality Sadar of the district also a fourth-year student of the medical college hospital. Quoting the victim's relatives, Salehuddin Chow-dhury, officer-in-Charge (OC) of Boalkhali thana, said Sherin might have committed suicide by hanging herself over family feud. She was rushed to the Chittagong Medical College and Hospital (CMCH) where attending doctors declared her dead. Mason electrocuted: A Mason was electrocuted while working at an under-construction building beside Patenga Neval Academy under Patenga thana in the city early Wednesday. The deceased was identified as Abdul Hoque, 35, son of Bazlur Rahman, hailed from Feni district. Police outpost sources at Chittagong Medical College and Hospital (CMCH) said Abdul Hoque was electrocuted while working at the under-construction building in the area at about 5 am today. Rohingyas not to be included in voter list: Div Commissioner Commissioner of Chittagong Abdul Mannan addressing a workshop at Chittagong Circuit House as chief guest on Tuesday morning. ChittagongBureau : Divisional Commissioner of Chittagong Abdul Mannan asked all not to include the Rohingya people in the voter list. "We have to resist all steps of Rohingya people to be included in the voter list of Bangladesh." Addressing the workshop held at Chittagong Circuit House on Tuesday morning as chief guest, Divisional Commissioner of Chittagong Abdul Mannan also said, Pime Minister Sheikh Hasina showed maximum humanity to the tortured Rohingya refugees. But, she directed all of us particularly government officials to take step for not including the Rohuingyas in the updated voter list. "So, we have to work to exclude the Rohingyas from voter list." He said the root level politicians should do their duties honestly. If the officials and locals find any Rohingya people at any spot in the city they should inform the law enforcers and administration. "The Rohiongyas should be sent to camps immediately." Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Chittagong Mohammed Zillur Rahman Chowdhury chaired the program. He said there are many Rohingyas living in Chittagong including the metropolitan areas. Director of LGRD Depok Chakraborti addressed the function as special gust. Among others, Deputy Director of district administration Nayeb Ali, Rangunaia Upazila Chairman Muhammad Ali Shah, Anwara Upazila Chairman Touhidul Haque Chowdhury, Municipality Mayor of Chandanaish Mahabubul Alam Khoka, Municipality Mayor of Banshkhali Selimul Haque and representatives of Union councils addressed the meeting. Earlier, on August 26, Election Commission (EC) declared 30 upazilas of Chittagong, Cox's Bazar, Bandarban and Rangamati vulnerable for illegally living Rohingyas. Saudi King, Putin eye energy, arms deals AFP : On a landmark visit to Russia, Saudi Arabia's King Salman and President Vladimir Putin were set on Thursday to clinch a host of multi-billion-dollar energy and defence deals despite discord over the Syrian war. The first official trip to Russia by a Saudi monarch will also see the leaders of the world's largest energy exporters discuss an extension of an OPEC agreement to cap oil output. "This is the first visit by a Saudi Arabian monarch in the history of our relations and that in itself is a landmark event," Putin said as he welcomed King Salman to Moscow in an ornate gilded Kremlin hall. "I'm sure your visit will boost the ties between our countries," he said. "We aim to strengthen our relations in the interests of peace and security, in the interests of developing the world economy," the Saudi king responded. Citing Russia's energy minister Alexander Novak, the Financial Times reported that Russia and Saudi Arabia were expected to sign deals worth over $3 billion (2.5 billion euros), including a $1 billion energy investment fund and a $1.1 billion agreement for Russia's petrochemicals giant Sibur to build a plant in Saudi Arabia. Russia's Kommersant business daily reported Putin and Salman were also due to discuss an arms deal worth more than $3 billion, to supply Riyadh with S-400 air defence systems. Russia and Saudi Arabia are heavily dependent on oil exports and the global plunge of the price of crude that began in 2014 lashed both their economies. OPEC members have joined with Russia and other countries in cutting crude output in a pact that has helped prop up prices. Putin said on Wednesday it was possible to extend an OPEC deal to cap oil output "at least until the end of 2018". The current agreement runs until March 2018. "We strive to continue the positive cooperation between our countries to achieve stability on world oil markets which promotes the growth of the world's economy," Salman said in Moscow. The leaders held one-on-one talks, followed by broader discussions. Once they sign the expected deals, Putin will host a state dinner for Salman. "The political will of Moscow and Riyadh for deeper cooperation on the widest range of issues is clear," Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists ahead of the meetings. The 81-year-old Saudi monarch's three-day visit got off to an awkward start on Wednesday evening after landing at Moscow's Vnukovo-2 airport when the escalator he uses to descend from his plane malfunctioned. The escalator stopped midway, forcing the king to walk down himself, to be met by Russian officials including deputy prime minister Dmitry Rogozin and a military brass band. His delegation of around 1,000 people occupied all the available hotel rooms in five-star hotels around the Kremlin, including one entire hotel, state RIA Novosti news agency reported. Salman arrived in Moscow along with Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih, Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir and Minister of State Musaed al-Aiban. The head of Saudi's state-owned oil giant Aramco Amin Nasser told Rossiya 24 state television ahead of the talks that the company would sign agreements with Russia's Gazprom, Gazprom Neft and Sibur energy companies as well as with an affiliate of Lukoil. It is time for stronger monetary union Petros Fassoulas : He has already been quite vocal about his ideas, although his plans to work with Berlin to strengthen the eurozone following the German elections might have been complicated by the results (and subsequent coalition negotiations). Nevertheless, Germany remains a key ally, and eurozone reform is of utmost urgency. But Macron faces the danger of losing his footing if he doesn't properly prioritise. His advocacy for a European Finance Minister and a eurozone budget are essential to strengthening the monetary union, and already has some support from other member states, but vying for an entirely new eurozone parliament and a multi-speed Europe will cloud the debate and weaken the reform effort. The role of the FDP in the German election notwithstanding, it is possible that the near future will see the creation of a European Minister of Finance in some form or another. It is one of Macron's central proposals, which German Chancellor Angela Merkel said (prior to the election) she could support, and Commission President Juncker called for the post in his State of the European Union address earlier this month. This is crucial to increase transparency in decision-making, and will help to make governance and management of financial affairs more democratic. This new post should have strong executive powers and be responsible for both supervising EU budget and economic policies, and for dealing with potential future crises. Macron's proposal for a eurozone parliament, however, will only serve to further muddy the institutional waters and increase redundancy. The existing European Parliament is well-suited to EMU scrutiny and legislation, which it can perform in conjunction with the proposed Finance Minister. All EU member states are welcome to join the eurozone and most have a legal responsibility to do so, so MEPs from all member states have a vested interest in eurozone affairs. To ensure accountability, the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs should be strengthened, fully involved in decision-making, and given the role of appointing and dismissing the Finance Minister. Establishing a eurozone budget should be a priority in future talks. Juncker has opposed it, proposing instead a budget line within the established EU budget, and so Macron should stand strong on this point. Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy is on board, and Merkel is open to it. Though Juncker groups it with the eurozone parliament as a parallel institution, a devoted eurozone budget would provide a shock absorber for future upsets, encourage necessary structural reforms in economic policy, and provide an investment opportunity for member states during recessions. The newly-established Finance Minister, working with the European Parliament, would also oversee and manage this budget. As Juncker has noted, the eurozone will account for 85% of the EU's GDP after Brexit. The gap left in the budget will warrant a complete rethink of EU budget priority areas, and a separate eurozone budget should remain untouched by this overhaul. But cuts should be made with a scalpel, not a hatchet, and priorities should be based on the Future of Europe debates across European institutions. British Prime Minister Theresa May's offer to continue paying into the EU budget through 2020 could buy some time - it should not be taken for granted. Macron and other EMU reformers need to prioritise existing own resources and the creation of substantial new ones. Introducing Eurobonds could provide another form of risk-sharing and common issuance of debt. Though Merkel has spoken out against common issuance (and the FDP appears against it), her partnership with Macron will provide him (and other member states) with the platform to change her mind. Other new own resources could be combined in different areas to minimize potential flaws and balance their strengths. Recommending a multi-speed Europe, as Macron does, contradicts the goal of strengthening the EMU. As Juncker said, the Euro is the currency of the European Union, and eventual adoption is one of the tenants of membership and should be the ultimate goal. The process of deepening and further integrating the Monetary Union requires all member states to get involved - their proposals need to be a part of the discussion. For a group of "avant-garde" members to move forward without the rest would widen the gap between eurozone and non-eurozone member states, and would detract from the efforts toward stabilisation. I remain optimistic about the future of the EMU. Much of what is on the table can be vital to a deeper monetary union and an all-inclusive, integrated, future-proof eurozone. Macron and Merkel could be a powerful team, but ambitious reforms will necessitate domestic compromises and require the involvement and support of all member states and other stakeholders. What is at stake is far too important, and achieving it will require the input and buy-in of all member states and representatives of society at large - business, trade unions, NGOs, and all those that strive for a better, united Europe. (Petros Fassoulas is Secretary-General of European Movement International). Syndicates stealing grains from Government depots POWERFUL syndicates of black marketers are stealing grains from the government's storage depots in the capital and elsewhere with support from some food department officials. They are so powerful that even MPs cannot take their rice or wheat supplies for emergency relief distribution from the food department's storage depots unless parts of the shipments were left behind for these groups. It happens with all the supplies for Open Market Sale as well as the ration supplies for the Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Party and possibly with the other forces. This hideous crime has recently been exposed by Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), when their mobile court seized two trucks immediately after they left the Food Department's Central Storage Deport at Tejgaon carrying 30 tonnes of rice in 1,000 sacks, each containing 30 kg, for emergency relief distribution among victims of flood at Shyampur in the capital. Selecting 70 sacks on random basis, the RAB mobile court found that each sack contained rice ranging from 12 to 20 kg. People behind these are so powerful that they take cuts from emergency relief supplies intended to be distributed among disaster affected people, found in a recent investigation by RAB. RAB officials have disclosed the way of their crime. The pilferage starts right inside the storage depots of the government by illegally opening the sacks. The rice and wheat sacks are then weighed in tampered scales for delivery to the recipients. The delivery documents are manipulated at the 3rd stage and in the 4th and final stage pilfered rice and wheat are filled in new sacks and sold in the black market. The black marketers' syndicates follow a complicated but almost foolproof method of operation. Food officers ignored repeated requests of lawmaker, over phone to ensure that no rice was taken out from his shipments. RAB has sent its investigation report to the Anti-Corruption Commission for action. Their investigation found the involvement of at least two food inspectors, four sub inspectors, and the CSD head guard. A CSD manager said that they blacklisted 21 food handlers and suspended a food inspector and two sub-inspectors in connection with the incident. The suspended officials include two granary in-charges and weighing bridge scale in charge. Other suspects are also under scrutiny. The Anti-Corruption Commission however on Wednesday said that it began investigations into the allegations of pilferage of food grains by syndicates comprising of government officials, dealers and hoarders. All these corruptions are happening in large scale everywhere because there is no accountability at any level of the government functionaries. The government itself is too busy in self-praise and looking for ways to remain in power at whatever costs that may be needed. Spain suspends Catalan parliament session A demonstration in Barcelona against Catalonia\'s independence referendum. Internet photo The Guardian : Spain's constitutional court has suspended a Catalan parliament session planned for Monday in an attempt to block an expected declaration of independence by the Catalan president, Carles Puigdemont. Upholding a challenge by Catalonia's Socialist party, which opposes secession from Spain, the court ruled that allowing the regional parliament to meet and declare independence would violate the rights of the party's MPs. In a televised address on Wednesday evening, Puigdemont said his government was planning to take the results of Sunday's referendum to the Catalan parliament over the next few days. "I have to represent all of Catalonia's citizens," said Puigdemont, who also repeated his calls for dialogue and mediation with Madrid. "On Sunday we had a referendum under the most difficult circumstances and set an example of who we are. Peace and accord is part of who we are. We have to apply the results of the referendum. We have to present the results of the referendum to parliament." Speaking ahead of Thursday's court decision, the Spanish prime minister, Mariano Rajoy, warned that the situation could escalate further if the Catalan government carried on the path of a unilateral declaration. "Is there a solution? Yes, there is," Rajoy told the Spanish news agency Efe. "And the best one would be a return to legality and the swiftest possible confirmation that there won't be a unilateral independence declaration, because that way still greater harm could be avoided." More than 900 people were injured on Sunday after Spanish police attempted to halt an independence vote by raiding polling stations, beating voters and firing rubber bullets at crowds. In an interview with the German newspaper Bild on Thursday, Puigdemont said he had not discounted the possibility that he could be arrested, but said he was not afraid. 1 lakh BD workers unemployed in Bahrain Reza Mahmud : Around one lakh Bangladeshi workers are now unemployed in Bahrain due to ongoing economic depression of the country. Experts and expatriate Bangladeshis in Bahrain said the tiny Arab country is now facing huge economic depression after the Qatar crisis developed. They said that a significant portion of Bahrain economy was depended on its rich neighboring country Qatar which is now paralised over the gulf political crisis started four months back. "For the last decades, the shops and markets of Bahrain were dependent on the buyers coming from m Qatar. The Qatari people used to travel Bahrain regularly to buy various products from there. But after boycotting Qatar by Bahrain with the leading Arab country Saudi Arabia alongside United Arab Emirates and Egypt, the economic crisis has been created there," Iqramul Islam, a long time Bangladeshi expatriate in Manama, told The New Nation recently. Iqramul Islam came to Dhaka one month ago to enjoy his yearly vacation. He left the country last week. During a meeting with this reporter he described the struggling lives of expatriates in Bahrain. Iqramul Islam said, "Around 50,000 Bangladeshi workers in Bahrain were unemployed for a long time. After the Gulf crisis on Qatar issue, the newly created economic recession pushes fresh one lakh Bangladeshi workers unemployed in the country." He also said, "Earlier, many people from Qatar regularly traveled to Bahrain. They used to buy huge quantities of burkha, cosmetics, clothing, jam, jelly, fruits and other products from different markets in Manama. After boycotting Qatar, the retails markets lost those Qatari consumers. Int`l orgs` involvement must in regn process PM's security adviser, Army Chief visit Balukhali Rohingya camp Security experts have laid emphasis on the official involvement of international organizations, like United Nations or International Organization for Migration, in the biometric registration activities of the Rohingya people apparently to increase credibility of the programme. At present, the Department of Immigration and Passport [DIP] has been conducting the biometric registration of Rohingyas with the help of Bangladesh Army and Border Guard Bangladesh. But local sources said the progress is very slow and it will take huge time to bring about 600,000 new Rohingyas under the registration programme. Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya, Minister for Disaster Management and Relief, on Thursday said biometric registration of about 61,000 Rohingyas has been completed since August 25 to October 4. The Minister, however, did not say how much time would take to complete the overall registration programme. In this backdrop, the experts opined that Myanmar could play trick by not accepting the reregistered Rohingyas as its nationals, if international organizations are not involved in the registration process. Director General of DIP Major General Md Masud Rezwan on Wednesday said several international human rights and voluntary organizations, including UNHCR and IOM, were involved with the biometric registration of the Rohingyas. But the reality is quite different. Local sources from Cox's Bazar told The New Nation that UNHCR and IOM are helping the DIP with logistic support and engaging some volunteers. These international organizations have no 'official involvement' with the registration process. There is widespread apprehension that a critical situation may arise in future as Myanmar's State Counsellor Office in a statement on Tuesday said it will take back Rohingya refugees from Bangladesh after verification in accordance with the 1992 Joint Statement. The joint statement, which was signed between Dhaka and Naypyidaw on April 28, 1992, only the registered Rohingya refugees willing to return home can be repatriated if they possessed valid identity documents. According to the statement, some 236,495 Rohingya people were repatriated in line with the agreement. Whereas just one day ago on Monday, Myanmar State Counsellor's Office Minister Kyaw Tint Swe met Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali in Dhaka to discuss repatriation issue of the Rohingyas and assured repatriation of Rohingyas. A senior official of the Disaster Management and Relief Ministry requesting anonymity said on Thursday the matter would be informed to the high-level of the government. "Later, we'll take initiatives to involve international organizations, such as UN or IOM, officially in the biometric registration programme," he said. Meanwhile, Prime Minister's Defence and Security Adviser Major General [Retd] Tarique Ahmed Siddiqui and Chief of Army Staff General Abu Belal Muhammad Shafiul Huq visited Balukhali in Ukhia yesterday to see the health camp and relief distribution among Rohingyas. Senior army officials, including General Officer Commanding of 10 Infantry Division Major General Maksudur Rahman, were also present there. Rohingyas to be moved in one site 1000 acres extra land allocated fot Kutupalong camp Staff Reporter : All Rohingya refugees, who arrived in Bangladesh fleeing violence in Myanmar, will be moved to the Kutupalong refugee camp in Ukhiya upazila of Cox's Bazar district, said Disaster Management and Relief Minister Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya. "An additional 1,000 acres forest land will be allocated for expanding the Kutupalong refugee camp, increasing the allocated land to 3,000 acres. The new land will be allocated to bring all Rohingya refugees under one site," Maya said at a press conference at his ministry's conference room on Thursday. The Minister also said the Rohingya refugees who entered Bangladesh since 1978 and are staying in temporary camps will also to be brought to the camp. "More than 75,000 sheds have been constructed in the camp so far and the government will construct a total of 150,000 sheds to accommodate the Rohingya people there," he added. Efforts are underway to recover those Rohingyas who have taken refuge in the hilly areas outside the camp. Rohingyas currently in areas of Bandarban will be moved to this camp starting October 3. Maya said over half a million Rohingays have arrived in Bangladesh between August 25 and October 4 this year. Of them, 61,000 have had their biometric data registered. It will take two to two and a half months to complete the whole process. "Two lakh Rohingya people have been vaccinated and 61,000 have received Vitamin A," he added. The government has decided to construct 17,500 latrines in addition to 3,500 latrines that were already built in the camp, the Minister said. For access to safe drinking water, 1,528 tube wells have also been installed, Maya said. A police station and a fire service station will also be set up within the camp. The Minister also warned against doing politics over the Rohingya issue. "The Foreign Ministry has sent a letter informing us to refer to the Myanmar nationals currently taking refuge in Bangladesh as 'forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals," said Disaster Management and Relief Secretary Shah Kamal. Following a series of attacks on border police posts and an army camp, the Myanmar military began a crackdown in Rakhine State on August 25, which led to a mass exodus of Rohingyas in Bangladesh. Prior to the latest influx, nearly 400,000 Rohingyas had earlier arrived in Bangladesh in the past few decades, fleeing violence in Myanmar. Khaleda's Defence Counsel Akbar dies during cross-exam Court Correspondent : Senior advocate TM Akbar, who was a council of Zia Charitable Trust graft case accused Monirul Islam Khan, APS to former Dhaka City Mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka died while cross-examining a witness in the Special Judge Court-5 of Dhaka yesterday noon. Judge Dr Md Akhteruzzaman was conducting the makeshift court at Bakshibazar Alia Madrasa ground of the old city. TM Akbar fell unconscious while cross-examining an investigation officer of the Anti Corruption Commission . "He collapsed on the floor and was rushed to the BIRDEM Hospital, where the physicians declared him dead" said Nuruzzaman Topon, a lawyer representing BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia in the case. TM Akbar, 86, was enlisted as a lawyer on November 26, 1967. He left behind his two sons, two daughters and numerous lawyers, admirers and well-wishers to mourn his death. He was a veteran criminal lawyer for the lower court. The Undead Archives I have finally salvaged my pre-Blogger TDR archives and added them into Blogger. They are almost totally in the form of one giant post for each month. And the formatting strayed from the originals. Sorry. But historians everywhere can rejoice that this treasure trove of my thoughts is restored to the world. NORWAY -- Residents in Norway who are late paying their sewer bills could find themselves in a mess soon. Police Chief Scott Ward reported at Norway Town Council's Oct. 2 meeting that cut-off taps for those customers who had not paid their sewer bills were being installed and water service to those customers would soon be turned off. If a customer's sewer tap is cut off and sewer backs up onto their property, the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control will fine the customer $10,000 per day, Ward said. Mayor Ann Johnson noted that two customers who were in arrears recently paid their sewer bills, and she recommended that anyone else who hasn't paid their bills do so immediately. Also during the meeting, Ward reported the town had been fairly quiet in terms of crime recently, although a couple of arrests for credit card transaction fraud were made. He also reported that Norway did not receive the DUI grant the police department had applied for; however, Ward said he is preparing other grant applications designed to supplement the police force. In the monthly water and sewer department report, Ward said SCDHEC did not cite the department for any violations last month. He said one leak was repaired and new chemicals had arrived for the wastewater treatment plant. Johnson announced that the 2017 Norway Christmas Parade is scheduled for 4 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 2. The grand marshal will be the Rev. James Holiday, pastor of Bushy Pond Baptist Church, she said. Tracie Clemons, who recently coordinated the Hunter-Kinard-Tyler School Homecoming event, told council she would like to help with the parade and other upcoming town events. She offered to share a list of possible parade participants with Coker Fogle, parade chairman. Councilman Gregg Covington asked if the H-K-T band would be available for the parade, and he was told the school does not have a band director despite the fact the band continues to practice on its own. The school will be contacted to see if the band will be able to participate in Norway's Christmas Parade. The mayor said she spoke with the H-K-T art teacher about the possibility of her art classes painting a replica on the wall beside the old town hall of the Norway flag that was donated to the town by the late Edna Marie Bates. She said the teacher liked the idea and hoped to have the project completed by the end of the semester. Toni Hydrick of the Norway Beautification Committee reported price estimates are being obtained for a lighted sign to advertise town events. Johnson suggested that if the committee purchases such a sign, it be placed in front of Norway Town Hall. During public comments, Hydrick noted that it took law enforcement approximately 90 minutes to respond to a three-vehicle wreck on Sept. 21. She said the wreck victims, including an infant, were from out-of-town. Hydrick asked that the town make public the name and number of a law enforcement contact person who can be reached in such cases. She said she contacted the South Carolina Highway Patrol, the Orangeburg County Sheriffs Office and 911 in an effort to get law enforcement to the wreck scene and it still took about 90 minutes for someone to get there. A family member of one of the wreck victims who was notified was able to drive from Lexington and arrive before any law enforcement officers were on the scene, Hydrick said. In other business, Covington reported Norway's contract with SCE&G for the new LED streetlights was being reviewed prior to being signed by town officials. A strengthening tropical system in the western Caribbean is forecast to move northward into the Gulf of Mexico. It could bring rain and thunderstorms to The T&D Region by Sunday. Orangeburg County Emergency Services Director Billy Staley said the county is monitoring the storm, but its impact wont really be known until the weekend. "The main threat we see right now is severe weather when it comes through," Staley said. But generally storms that come through the Florida Panhandle dont cause as many problems for the region as the ones that come through the Atlantic. The National Weather Service is forecasting Orangeburgs chance of rain will increase to about 40 percent Saturday night and reach 60 percent Sunday. Theres a 50 percent chance of rain Monday. "There will be moisture wrapping around the north side of it with scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms Sunday," National Weather Service Meteorologist Rachel Cobb said. "Sunday night into Monday there will be heavier rain, possibly in the stronger thunderstorms, and there could be isolated severe weather including tornadoes, she said. The tropical system formed off the coast of Nicaragua Wednesday morning as a tropical depression with sustained maximum winds of 35 miles per hour. The system was forecast to become Tropical Storm Nate as it continued to head north through the Gulf of Mexico. It could reach the Florida Panhandle by Sunday morning as a hurricane. Though the path will fluctuate between now and the weekend, Cobb said The T&D Region could see sustained winds of 20 mph with gusts potentially up to 30 mph or 40 mph. Cobb encourages residents to monitor the storm. For the past two years, The T&D Region has been hit by storms during early October. Last Oct. 7-8, Hurricane Matthew dumped about 7-1/2 inches of rain on Orangeburg and brought wind gusts of about 64 miles per hour. The storm downed trees and power lines, knocking out power to about 53,000 local residents. Some were without power for a week. The overall value in residential, commercial and public damage reached almost $7.3 million. Two years ago, what has been coined a 1,000-year flood dumped about 10.5 inches of rain on Orangeburg between Oct. 2-5. Some areas in the eastern part of Orangeburg County saw about 20 inches of rain. The flood impacted 7,400 homes and property owners, causing about $2.8 million in individual home and property damage. Thats on top of the close to $1.2 million in damage to public infrastructure in the three T&D Region counties. The rainfall was associated with a low-pressure system that developed off the Southeast coast and Hurricane Joaquin, a category 4 storm. The low-pressure system combined with moisture from the hurricane to cause rain to fall over the same area for several days. S.C. States College of Education, Humanities and Social Sciences and the Department of English and Modern Languages will host the 2017 South Carolina Project on Language and Culture Conference this Friday, Oct. 6, in the Fine Arts Building on campus. The event is free and open to the public. The keynote address will be given at 9:30 a.m. Additionally, the first conference session will take place from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., and the second session will take place from 1:30 to 5 p.m. The conferences keynote speaker, Dr. Will Goins, is the chief and chief executive officer of the Cherokee Indian Tribe of South Carolina-ESCIUT- Inc., which is a statewide alliance of state- and federally-recognized tribal members. A descendant of the Eastern Band Cherokee, Tuscarora and Cheraw Indians, Goins' address will be titled, Mother Earth, Father Sky: The Reality of Native America. Goins has worked diligently for many years to help shape a Native American policy agenda that addresses issues at the core of indigenous identity, such as the protection of and access to sacred sites, religious freedom, treaty rights, mascot abolition, equality and language revitalization. He hopes to offer cultural insight to conference attendees and aspires to continue to fuel his passion for community servitude. The vivid storyteller, artist and cultural presenter earned a bachelors in anthropology and communications from George Washington University. Goins also earned his doctoral degree from Pennsylvania State University. He is the president of the Interfaith Partners of South Carolina. For more information about the conference, contact SCPLC Director Dr. Sukari Salone at ssalone@scsu.edu or Arah Pinson, instructor of English and modern languages, at apinson@scsu.edu. More information is also available at www.scsu.edu. While in Congress, Tom Price of Georgia was a fiscal hawk. An orthopedic surgeon-turned-politician, Price was Budget Committee chairman when he joined the Trump administration as the official destined to author a new health care bill to replace the Affordable Care Act, better known as Obamacare. As much as the repeal-and-replace for Obamacare has not gone as the administration and Republican leaders in Congress had anticipated, history will record that Prices Washington demise was not about what he failed to do as Health and Human Services secretary. Price brought himself down, having little choice but to resign Friday in the face of disapproval from President Donald Trump and just about everyone else. After being such a conservative on spending and making headlines in the past with criticism of travel by House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and other officials from the Obama administration, Price embarked on a similar course. Rather than traveling on commercial aircraft or driving, Price has been booking private flights, including one from Washington to Philadelphia. Observers were rightly flabbergasted. Of all the people that might have been expected to be frugal, Price would be him. Amid growing furor over what may be hundreds of thousands of dollars spent by the secretary on private planes and travel, Price agreed to repay $51,887.31 for his own travel costs. It was too little and too late. Trump publicly expressed his unhappiness with the situation. And privately, according to The Associated Press, the president told associates Price had become a distraction. Trump felt that Price was overshadowing his tax overhaul agenda. Plus the flap prompted scrutiny of other Cabinet members' travel, as the House Oversight and Government Reform committee launched a government-wide investigation of top political appointees. Other department heads have been scrambling to explain their own travel. Though Price found few defenders, there are those doing comparative math. They contend Obama administration officials took 94 private flight during the first eight months compared to 77 by Trump officials in the same amount of time. No matter, with the president promising to drain the swamp in Washington, the Price track record was simply not explainable and could not be justified. He had to go. By Azernews By Laman Ismayilova The Week of the Italian Language will be held in Baku on October 16-23. The opening ceremony will take at the International Mugham Center on October 16, Trend Life reported. The event is held by the Italian Embassy in Azerbaijan with the support of the International Mugham Center. The Week of the Italian Language in the World is an international event aimed at promoting the Italian language as the representative language of the classical and contemporary culture. Every year the diplomatic and cultural network of the Foreign Ministry and International Cooperation of Italy chooses a theme for this initiative and organizes a series of events in the third week of October. Launched in 2001, by an agreement between the Foreign Ministry and the Accademia della Crusca, under the High Patronage of the President of the Republic, the initiative has grown from edition to edition, involving, in addition to Italian Cultural institutes, also Embassies and Consulates. The central theme for 2017 is Italian at the Cinema, Italian in the Cinema". The evening will feature works from famous Italian films. Honored artists Farida Mamedova (soprano) and Siruz Mammadov (trumpet) will perform the popular melodies from beloved Italian movies. A special guest is Francesco Bruni, a famous Italian filmmaker and screenwriter. Bruni`s last masterpiece, presented in 2017, is Tuttoquellochevuoi (Everything you want). For this movie, he was awarded with a prize at the NastrodArgento 2017 (Silver ribbon) for the Best Screenplay. Tickets for the concert are sold at all ticket offices in Baku. By Azernews By Sara Israfilbayova An expanded plenary session of the Scientific and Advisory Council under the CIS Anti-Terrorism Center (ATC) and the 7th regional expert consultation of representatives of law enforcement authorities, special services agencies of CIS countries kicked off in Baku on October 5. Deputy Director of the CIS Anti-Terrorism Center Marat Abdyraev noted that the ways to combat the remote impact applied by international terrorist organizations for recruiting supporters among citizens of the CIS countries are being discussed. "This meeting is held for the first time in Baku, and we express our gratitude to the leadership of the State Security Service of Azerbaijan for the created conditions," Abdyraev added. The purpose of the consultation is to further strengthen cooperation between CIS special services, exchange experience and create effective technologies with extremism and terrorism. The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) is free association of sovereign states formed in 1991 by Russia and 11 other republics that were formerly part of the Soviet Union. The CIS functions include coordinating its members policies regarding their economies, defense, immigration policies, environmental protection, and law enforcement. The CIS united Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Ukraine. However, in 2008 Georgia withdrew its membership. Indosuez Wealth Management Group, the global wealth management business line of Credit Agricole Group, has announced the appointment of Sebastian Graewert as head of the Dubai Representative Office of CA Indosuez (Switzerland) SA. In his role, Graewert will contribute to the expansion of the banks Ultra High Net Worth client base in the region. He has an international private and investment banking career and has held a variety of senior leadership roles. He spent 14 years with Credit Suisse working in London, Zurich and Dubai focusing on investment banking services for the UHNWI wealth management clients. He then joined UBS in Dubai as the head of the representative office before moving to Singapore as cluster head for the Mena region out of Asia. He will report to Francois Farjallah, Indosuez Wealth Managements global head of the Middle East. Farjallah commented: We have an established relationship with the Ultra High Net Worth community in the region and Sebastians appointment will help to further expand our client base in this market. With increasing wealth creation, we consider the UHNWI segment as a high growth market, as part of our Shaping Indosuez 2020 corporate project. - TradeArabia News Service Kuwait Finance House Bahrain (KFH-Bahrain) has named Adel Mohammed Sarea as the winner of the first luxury apartment in Marassi Al Bahrain, a leading project in Diyar Al Muharraq, in the second draw of Libshara Investment Savings Account campaign. The draw was held recently at the KFH-Bahrain headquarters located in the Bahrain World Trade Centre under the supervision of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism and in presence of several officials from KFH-Bahrain. As part of this promotion, KFH is rewarding nine winners with luxury apartments at Marrasi Al Bahrain. An additional 85 winners will get monthly prizes worth $140,000; this includes a grand prize of $50,000; two prizes of $10,000; and two prizes of $5,000, said the statement from KFH Bahrain. Furthermore, 40 winners will receive $1,000 each and ten winners from the special accounts categories, namely Our Ladies, Our Children, Our Savers and Our Cards - will receive $500 each, it stated. Lauding the winner, Khalid Rafea, the executive manager and head of retail banking group at KFH-Bahrain, said: "In addition to the luxury apartment in one of Bahrains leading real estate projects, Marassi Al Bahrain, Sarea will also enjoy the complimentary access to Marrasi Al Bahrains beach as well as future direct accessibility to Marassi Galleria Mall once it is constructed." With 8 remaining luxury apartments and valuable cash prizes, we would like to extend our best wishes to future winners in the upcoming draws. It is our pleasure to invite everyone to increase their deposits and investment period to increase their chances of winning many exciting prizes, he added. The Libshara Savings Investment Account is a Shariaa compliant savings scheme that offers clients valuable monthly prizes. For every BD50 or its equivalent in US dollars saved for a period of 30 days prior to the end of the month, clients are entitled to enter the raffle and can increase their chances of winning one of the many exciting prizes. An investment period of 90 days is equal to one chance at entering the raffle draw, whereas 180 days gives two chances and 360 days is three chances. On his win, a thrilled Sarea said: "Since I started saving with Libshara, I had always dreamt about winning the grand prize. I would like to thank KFH-Bahrain for giving me this opportunity and I advise everyone to start investing with Libshara Account so they can win such valuable prizes."-TradeArabia News Service Batelco, a leading digital solutions provider in Bahrain, has been presented with the Top Project Execution Award for the Telecom Sector at the annual GEC Awards ceremony recently held in Dubai, UAE. Batelco was recognised for its Superfast Fibre Network. The prestigious GEC (Global Enterprise Connect) Awards event is hailed as the benchmark for outstanding performance throughout the Middle East and Africas IT industry, where leading players in the ICT domain compete for the winning titles. The award entries are scrutinised by a jury of professionals using strict criteria to ensure that the deserving companies are lauded for their innovation and successful efforts. The prestigious Top Project Execution Award for the Telecom Sector validates Batelcos major project to deploy nationwide Superfast Fibre throughout the Bahrain, a statement said. The winners were awarded at a star-studded dinner at the Rixos Premium attended by senior executives, personalities and VIPs from leading regional establishments. - TradeArabia News Service Unique Group (UG), a leading integrated subsea and offshore solution providers, has executed a dealer agreement with Norwegian-based Kongsberg Maritime (KM) AS. As part of the agreement, Unique Groups Cape Town office will offer KMs underwater mapping and navigation solutions to customers in Nigeria and Kenya. The Kongsberg range of underwater mapping products includes the EM 712RD, EM 2040C and 2040P, EA440/EA640, the Geoacoustics range among others. The underwater navigation products include the uPAP range of underwater positioning systems and the cNODE underwater positioning transponders. Konrad Mech, director subsea channel management at Kongsberg Maritime AS, commented: Were pleased to appoint Unique Groups South Africa office as a market representative of our underwater mapping and navigation solutions in Nigeria and Kenya. The move is strategic for Kongsberg in expanding its international reach, especially in the African sub-continent. "We have had an association with Unique Group for the Middle East region that spans over two decades. Our synergic interest to establish market presence in Africa will help strengthen the partnership over the years ahead. We value their seamless sales support and service structure and are confident that their team can provide first hand assistance to customers using our product lines. The new partnership will allow Unique Groups Survey Equipment division to add a wide range of underwater mapping and navigation products to its extensive line of superior quality equipment, said Sharad Kumar, director of business development at Unique Group. The move is strategic for Unique Groups plans for the African sub-continent that includes extending the capabilities to the East through Kenya and West through Nigeria, apart from the existing services offered from our base in South Africa. This is in line with the global perspective on African development. UG also has a DP training center in Nigeria with KM that is approved by the Nautical Institute. "Were hopeful that our successful business relationship developed over these years will further strengthen with this partnership for a new region and we look forward to extending this to a few more countries in the region over the next couple of years, he further added. Headquartered in Norway, Kongsberg Maritime AS has been delivering systems for dynamic positioning and navigation, marine automation, handling systems, safety management, cargo handling, subsea survey and construction, among many others. Unique Group delivers bespoke, off-the-shelf engineering solutions and cost efficiencies across the oil and gas supply chain - onshore and offshore, surface and subsea. It employs over 500 people worldwide through its seven multi-site divisions: Survey Equipment; Marine & Subsea; Diving & Life Support; Buoyancy & Ballast; On-Site Engineering; Specialised Boats and Medical Technology. Its 200-plus dedicated engineering specialists work across nine strategically important global oil and gas regions - US, UK, Europe, Singapore, India, South Africa, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and UAE. - TradeArabia News Service It is possible to extend the agreement with Opec on oil production reduction, but it is necessary to proceed from the situation on the oil market in March 2018, when the term of the current agreement expires, said Russian President Vladimir Putin. "We are in constant dialogue (with partners) and, depending on the situation in March 2018, we will make a decision on the need to extend the agreement with Opec to reduce oil production, Putin was quoted as saying by Russian news agency Tass. "I do not rule out that we may extend it," Putin said. "We are in contact with our key partners, both with Opec in general, and with the main producers. We will have the pleasure and honour to welcome the King of Saudi Arabia very soon in Russia. We will certainly talk about it [extension of the agreement with Opec]." The Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference's (Adipec) Security in Energy Conference will focus on strategies to mitigate cyber crime risks and deploy defence mechanisms to protect critical industry systems and infrastructure. Organisers of the second annual Security in Energy conference, to be held in Abu Dhabi in November, say that oil and gas has been exposed as a prime target for cyber criminals after the industry was singled out during international ransomware attacks. Co-located within the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (Adipec), Security in Energy recognises the increasingly critical importance of IT systems to oil and gas operations. Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, hosted by the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), and organised by the Global Energy division of dmg events, Adipec is one of the worlds leading oil and gas events, and the largest in Africa and the Middle East. Adipec will be held at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre from November 13 to 16, with the Security in Energy Conference to be held on November 14 and 15. There have been two major ransomware attacks in the first half of 2017. The second of these, the NotPetya attack at the end of June, appears to have specifically targeted oil and gas companies. According to analysis by Kaspersky Labs, just three business sectors accounted for around 80 per cent of targets. Oil and gas accounted for around 25 per cent, a close second to the finance sector, and just ahead of manufacturing. Cybercrime is a serious problem for any business, but recent incidents raise concerns that oil and gas companies will be high-priority targets for attacks, said Christopher Hudson, president Global Energy at dmg events, which organises Adipec in partnership with Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc). The Security in Energy conference provides a robust discussion specific to the needs of this industry, helping companies ensure that strong defences are in place, Hudson said. Recent reports predict the Middle East cyber security market will grow from $11.38 billion in 2017 to $22.14 billion by 2022. Adipecs Security in Energy Conference delivers the latest market intelligence in energy security protocols, and places a spotlight on the best innovations, security practices and crisis planning within the industry. Specific conference sessions will cover key topics in cyber security, including ransomware; the internet of things (IoT); the convergence of operating technology and IT; security and compliance risks in cloud computing; risk management for supply chain and business continuity and the use of big data and analytics. Keynote addresses will focus on the balance between investment and risk, and the impact of regional collaboration on oil and gas security, with discussions to include both defensive and offensive approaches to security. The conference programme is planned to offer immediate relevance to oil and gas. For example, there will be a significant discussion of threats to critical infrastructure, where attacks could cause widespread operational disruption and safety risks. It will offer insights into and front-line protection strategies, whether for new systems, or by retrofitting of existing industrial control systems to build secure and resilient operations. There will also be a dedicated Security in Energy zone within the Adipec exhibition halls. Illicit cyber activity is here to stay, said Don Randall, former head of security and chief information security officer for the Bank of England, who will be sharing his expertise during the conference. But understanding the motivation of the perpetrators, with appropriate responses and education, can substantially reduce the risk and harm. The list of speakers will feature leading figures from organisations tasked with tackling cybercrime in the Middle East, including: Ahmed Alshemaly, director, Cyber Defense Centre, National Electronic Security Authority (NESA), UAE; Eng Ibrahim AlShamrani, executive director of operations, National Cyber Security Center, Ministry of Interior, Saudi Arabia; and Mohammed Bushlaibi, forensic analyst, Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA), UAE. They will speak alongside renowned international experts. According to Accentures High Performance Security 2016 Report, 96 cyberattacks were reported over 12 months by oil and gas company heads, while 55 per cent of oil and gas leaders say the need to fill cybersecurity gaps in end point or network security is their most pressing concern. The Cisco 2017 Annual Cybersecurity Report estimates that the frequency of ransomware attacks is growing by around 350 per cent each year. The tools to conduct an attack are easy to obtain and easy to use. Ransomware is even available as a software-as-a-service subscription. While the number of attacks is increasing, there are concerns that some oil and gas companies have reduced their security budgets as they struggle to balance cost and risk at a time when finances are under pressure, leaving themselves dangerously exposed. The Security in Energy conference sessions will aim to bridge this awareness gap, emphasise the importance of building a solid defence platform against cyber-attacks and understanding the fallout of an attack and its implications to business, said a statement. "Cybercrime is a threat to the global economy, said Sandip Patel, QC, a UK-based lawyer and leading international expert on prosecuting cybercrime cases in court, and one of the speakers at the Security in Energy conference. Some estimates cost it at more than 445 billion dollars, but the true cost is far greater as many countries do not report on this." By co-locating security within Adipec, one of the worlds most important strategic gatherings for top global oil and gas executives, Security in Energy ensures that the integrity of systems is part of a broader discussion of industry issues. Reducing cost and improving efficiency are important messages in oil and gas today, and many companies are investing in technology to reduce their costs, said Hudson. Keeping that technology safe and secure needs to be a number one priority. It needs to be as much a concern for the chief executive officer as it is for the chief information officer. Security in Energy recognises that this is a core issue for a modern business, and cannot be pushed into a departmental silo. - TradeArabia News Service Bahrain national carrier Gulf Air today celebrated World Tourism Day in collaboration with the University of Bahrain. Recognising distinguished students of the Universitys Media, Tourism and Arts Division, Gulf Air awarded them complimentary flights to some of its newest destinations: Tbilisi, Georgia Colombo, Sri Lanka Athens, Greece. Presenting the tickets to the University of Bahrains hHead of Media, Tourism and Arts Division Dr. Abdul Nasser Fattah Allah, Gulf Air corporate communications manager Ahmed Al Anzoor stressed the importance of tourism studies to further promote Bahrain as a destination for a broad spectrum of global visitors. In return, Dr. Fattah Allah expressed gratitude and appreciation for the airlines gesture and collaboration that encourages students to excel in their studies. As the national carrier of Bahrain, and an integral national infrastructure asset, Gulf Air prides itself on having a special connection with the Bahraini community and is involved in various Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives with a number of local organizations, the airline said in a statement. Since 1980, the United Nations World Tourism Organization has annually celebrated World Tourism Day on September 27. Its purpose is to foster awareness among the international community of the importance of tourism and its social, cultural, political and economic value. This years theme is Sustainable Tourism a Tool for Development. - TradeArabia News Service The International Air Transport Association (Iata) has called for greater urgency in the partnership between governments and airlines to keep aviation at the leading edge of industries in managing their climate change impact. The call came on the eve of the first anniversary of the historic global agreement on a Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (Corsia) at the 39th Assembly of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Corsia was a historic demonstration of what can be achieved when governments and industry work together. Implementing it will be a critical enabler of aviations commitment to carbon neutral growth from 2020. But our ultimate goal is much more ambitiouscutting net emissions to half their 2005 levels by 2050. Along with implementing Corsia we must move much faster on key issues such as the development of sustainable aviation fuels and the reform of air traffic management, said Alexandre de Juniac, Iatas director general and CEO. Specifically, airlines are looking to work with governments in four areas to accelerate the sustainability agenda: Broadening the coverage of Corsia: With 72 countries set to volunteer from the initial voluntary period (commencing in 2021) Corsia will cover more than 80 per cent of international aviation. Thats an impressive start. But Corisa will be an even bigger success if more countries join in. Now is the time for the industry, along with those governments already on board, to step up efforts to broaden participation, said de Juniac. Preparing for Corsia implementation: Airlines will need to establish systems for monitoring, and verification of carbon output; and for the purchase of offsets. It is important that governments finalize the technical details of Corsia early on so that these systems are ready when Corsia is implemented. Promoting the development of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) and new technologies: Airlines are increasing the numbers of commercial flights using sustainable fuel year-on-year. But production levels at competitive cost are only able to satisfy a small portion of flights. Our call for government action on SAF is clear: they should be given the same incentives as alternative fuels for other sectors. And we have also made it clear that we are not interested in alternative fuels that disturb the ecological balance, said de Juniac. Improving Infrastructure: Significant emissions reductions could be delivered by improving infrastructure efficiency, particularly air traffic management. Air navigation services remain stuck in the architecture of the mid-20th century, while aircraft embrace the technology of the 21st century. The political issues which create artificial borders in the sky must be tackled to unlock emissions savings and generate economic opportunities. Speaking at the conclusion of the Sustainable Aviation Summit in Geneva, organized by the Air Transport Action Group (ATAG), de Juniac stressed the importance of the vision and leadership that the industry had shown in driving environmental sustainability so far. Sustainability is a team effort. Policy is in the hands of governments, but it is strengthened by the expertise, experience and vision that the aviation industry brings to the table. By working together we have a great opportunity to shape the future of an already critical industry. Aviation connects 4 billion passengers a year and in doing so it supports 63 million jobs and $2.7 trillion in economic activity. We have a great responsibility to protect these economic and social benefits for future generations by meeting our climate change commitments. We cannot afford to be complacent about our progress. We must not rest until the Business of Freedom is the Sustainable Business of Freedom, said de Juniac. - TradeArabia News Service Hilton has committed a total of $50 million over the next five years towards the Hilton Africa Growth Initiative to support the continued expansion of its Sub-Saharan African portfolio. These funds are intended to support the conversion of around 100 hotels (roughly 20,000 rooms) in multiple African markets into Hilton branded properties, namely into its flagship Hilton Hotels & Resorts brand, the upscale DoubleTree by Hilton and the recently launched Curio Collection by Hilton. Patrick Fitzgibbon, senior vice president, Development, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Hilton said: Hilton remains committed to growth in Africa having been present on the continent for more than 50 years. The model of converting existing hotels into Hilton branded properties has proved highly successful in a variety of markets and we expect to see great opportunities to convert hotels to Hilton brands through this initiative. It enables us to rapidly grow our portfolio and delivers returns for owners by increasing exposure of their business to more international, inter-regional and domestic travellers, and specifically to our 65 million-plus Hilton Honors members, who look to stay with us in our suite of industry-leading brands. We see huge potential here in key cities and airports, as well as allowing us to develop our offering in resorts and safari lodges. These hotels will receive all the benefits associated with Hiltons industry-leading brand proposition and world-class commercial platforms. Guests will also be able to take advantage of Hiltons innovative technology platforms such as online check-in and the ability to choose individual rooms when booking via the Hilton Honors App. Fitzgibbon added: The range of brands we have at our disposal allows owners the flexibility to pick the right fit for their property. We have already deployed this initiative in the signing of two hotels: our first DoubleTree by Hilton property in Kenya, and our first hotel in Rwanda, and expect to be able to announce further additions before the end of this year. DoubleTree by Hilton Nairobi Hurlingham The first hotel to benefit from this initiative is the 109 guest room Amber Hotel on Nairobis Ngong Road, which will re-launch under the upscale DoubleTree by Hilton brand. The hotel, which opened in 2016, is currently undergoing a series of renovations and will join the brand by the end of the year. Following the refurbishment, the hotel will be known as DoubleTree by Hilton Nairobi Hurlingham and will continue to be operated by the owner under a franchise agreement through the leadership of its current general manager, Elisha Katam. DoubleTree by Hilton Kigali City Centre The 153-room Ubumwe Grande Hotel in the Kigali central business district will trade under the upscale DoubleTree by Hilton brand when it fully converts in 2018. This franchised property with 134 guest rooms and 19 apartments opened in September 2016. The hotel will undergo some changes in order to rebrand and will be Hiltons first property in Rwanda. Once rebranded, the hotel will trade as the DoubleTree by Hilton Kigali City Centre. Hilton currently operates 19 hotels in the Sub Saharan Africa region with a further 29 in its pipeline. It has held a presence on the African continent for over 50 years. - TradeArabia News Service The Interior Departments decision to make potentially broad changes to federal protections for sage grouse shook Wyoming on Thursday, the energy rich state that built the foundation of sage grouse management in the west. Interior is seeking public input on some of the staples of federal plans that precluded sage grouse from an Endangered Species Listing two years ago, including caps on the amount of land use activities that can take place near important breeding and nesting grounds and the boundaries that surround crucial habitat. The announcement kicks off a 45-day comment period. Its a blow to environmental advocates, who say the bird has already lost significant portions of its habitat, about 75 percent, to allow for varying degrees of development. But its an opportunity for others, ready for a chance to amend provisions that limit either grazing or energy development. Wyoming is considered key to the birds survival, and has emerged as a leader in sage grouse conservation over the last decade. It is largely responsible for the strategy mimicked by the feds, which entails identifying crucial habitats and surrounding them with the best protections. After years of wrangling, Wyoming ranchers, oil and gas companies and environmental advocates paired with state and federal agencies on the states management team to build the Wyoming plans. The state has been a leader, intent on protecting its energy economy and preserving sage brush habitat. As such, it has the most to lose if the plans fail. Advising caution Todays suggested changes to federal management plans were expected, but diverse leaders in Wyoming, including Gov. Matt Mead, have spent the last few months cautioning against aggressive updates. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke said the sage grouse strategies had stoked anger, and needed to include more western voices. He has also made it clear he wants to open more lands to oil and gas development and initiated a 60-day review of the plans earlier this year. Mead repeated his earlier admonishment to the feds in a statement Thursday, noting that it was state and federal plans that kept the bird from being listed as an Endangered Species. As BLM looks to make changes to its federal plans, I would encourage the agency to find ways to better align with Wyomings state plan, he said. There are positive changes that can be made to the federal plans, but we should be careful and thoughtful about how we do that. Many environmental groups in Wyoming have criticized Zinkes comments as uninformed and voiced outrage Thursday. Middle of the road environmental groups, say changes should be minor, not wholesale. For Brian Rutledge, conservation policy and strategy advisor for the Audubon Society, the Interiors narrative of state cooperations and fairness to energy development is a false flag. Concessions to energy have already been made, he said. The compromise wasnt because we wanted less land for the bird, Rutledge said. We were trying to make room for humans, and human expression at the same time. It was frankly a compromise loaded to the human side. There are groups in Wyoming that say the federal sage grouse plans did not do enough to protect the grouse from further declines. For them, the Interiors direction plays chicken with extinction. The Department of Interior is now abandoning all pretense of protecting sage-grouse in a stampede to ramp up commercial exploitation of public lands, said Erik Molvar of Western Watersheds, the group that filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 2007 forcing a decision on listing the grouse before its numbers declined further. Room for change One of the hallmarks of Wyomings work on the grouse is that it brought diverse interests to the table. After Thursdays announcement, some remained positive that federal updates were necessary. Jim Magagna, of the Wyoming Stock Growers Association, said he understood the fears from environmental groups, but said that no one in the grazing world wants to go too far in unraveling the plans. Those who want wholesale changes that would damage Wyomings efforts over the years are probably in the minority, he said. There are, however, a few issues that should be clarified or adjusted for ranchers in the federal plans which went farther than Wyomings, he said. At the end of the day, Wyomings conservation efforts will remain in place regardless of the federal changes, he said. Western Energy Alliance, an industry group, said the plans were built on exaggerations of industrys impact on the bird and ignored the way new technology has reduced the footprint of oil and gas drilling on the landscape. The plans discouraged on-the-ground, local conservation efforts and ignored state plans, except for Wyomings, in favor of a top-down, one-size-fits-all approach, said President Kathleen Sgamma, in a statement Thursday. Sgammas organization, based in Colorado, was not one of the industry partners that developed Wyomings approach to management, but has been vocal in its support of changes to the federal plans in recent months. The nod to Wyomings sole influence is not insignificant. While Wyoming shot forward to protect its energy economy from the fallout of an ESA listing, other states were less influential on the federal plans. Rep. Ron Bishop, R-Utah, has repeatedly advocated for changes. Speaking to another BLM decision Thursday withdrawing a proposal that would have restricted hard rock mining on 10 million acres of the sage brush ecosystem for up to 20 years Bishop applauded Zinkes efforts. States have proven to be more than capable of managing wildlife and conservation within their borders and will continue to be the best advocate for the species, he said of sage grouse protections. Secretary Zinke is developing a better policy through input from states and people on the ground with local knowledge and expertise. The cry for state leadership strikes some in Wyoming as odd, given that the state was so involved in sage grouse management up to this point. Mary Throne, a Democrat running for governor in the state, pointed out that the plans were Wyoming-grown. I dont know why D.C. has to come in and tell us to go back to the drawing board, she said Thursday. Sometimes the state-driven decisions that are tailored to your specific circumstances are better. Differing views Many who are closely involved with sage grouse management in Wyoming have said the plans to protect the bird should be continually reviewed to ensure that the strategies are working. Industry groups, included those involved in developing Wyomings plans, have said the feds took things too far. For Rutledge, an influential voice in Wyomings sage grouse debate, the hope now is that there are moderate industry voices that stand up for the plans. At the end of the day, the Western governors particularly from Wyoming, Colorado and Nevada, are needed to keep the plans from falling apart in the Interior Departments hands, he said. We already gave up nearly 70 percent of the habitat, Rutledge said. What else can we give up and (still) hang on to any of these species. Arno Rosenfeld contributed to this report. For five hours on Dec. 14, 2012, Alissa Parker waited in a fire station conference room to hear whether her 6-year-old daughter was alive. She knew that a gunman had killed 20 children in Sandy Hook Elementary but held out hope that Emilie had made it out. Maybe she was in the hospital, she thought. Maybe she was with a neighbor who had picked her up. She thought of how she would snap a picture of the bouncy blond child when she found her and would send the picture to worried relatives hundreds of miles away proof that, despite the horror, everything was OK. As she sat in the room, removed from the chaos of reporters and emergency responders down the block, she thought about how her daughters classroom was only three doors from the schools main entrance. Nobody wanted to give any information to her or the other parents. It wasnt until the governor arrived later that day that Parker knew. She asked him if there were children still fighting for their lives in the hospital, that maybe her Emilie was one of them. Those children have since expired, the governor said, deflating those hopes. Almost five years later, those words stick with Parker, who visited Casper on Tuesday to help Wyoming educators improve safety in their own schools. The visit came two days after another mass shooting, when a gunman fired into a Las Vegas country music concert, murdering at least 58 people and injuring more than 500. Parker stood Tuesday at the front of a bland conference room in the Ramkota Hotel and recounted, in a matter-of-fact voice, how the gunman stalked the halls of her daughters school. She noted how easy it was for him to gain access to the school through a window, how he casually murdered the staff and students inside. There is only one person to blame for Sandy Hook, she told the educators and law enforcement attending the School Safety Conference. But there are lessons to learn from that day, she said. Since Emilies death, working to improve school safety has become Parkers life work. Lessons learned In the weeks after the shooting, Parker reached out to another mother, Michele Gay, whose daughter was also killed. The girls had been in the same class, and Gay had invited Emilie to her daughters birthday party, scheduled for Dec. 15. The women leaned on each other as they processed information about the shooting as it was released. They sat and talked about the mechanics of the day their daughters died, how the police responded, the confusion, the seeming lack of a plan. In those conversations, they noted small changes that could have made a difference that day and, if implemented widely, could perhaps save lives in the future. Together, the two women founded Safe and Sound Schools, an organization dedicated to improving school safety. They talked with experts and created a source of consolidated knowledge for educators. Parker presented some of those solutions at the conference Tuesday. They ranged from the simple installing classroom doors that can be locked from the inside to the more long-term, like implementing first-aid training for all staff and students. She emphasized the importance of creating a communication plan before an emergency strikes. Effective communication saves lives, she repeated throughout her presentation. She warned against the false security of thinking such a horror would never happen in each persons hometown. Before the shooting, Newtown was a quiet community and attracted residents, like her family, with its low crime rate. Parker travels two or three times a month to present the organizations work. Its tiring, especially with two daughters at home, but satisfying nonetheless. Shes watched as the organizations solutions have increasingly become the norm for schools and their communities. The long flights and emotional energy spent repeating her story are worth it, Parker said, if she can help prevent future tragedies. I wont give up trying to protect these innocent kids, she said. Hope and healing At the end of her presentation Tuesday, she flashed a large picture of Emilie on the screen. For the first time during her hour-long talk, Parker choked up. This is usually where I lose it, she said. But she has found solace in her work and hope in some small moments that followed Emilies death, she said. She showed a photo of the airplane that brought her daughters body to Utah for her funeral. Behind the huge jet, dozens of airport workers stood in a line, their forms silhouetted by the orange lights on the runway. That was every worker that was there that night, Parker said. They came to honor her. Parker is still healing. She is still learning how to live in the world after Sandy Hook. Emilie wouldve turned 11 this year. For all those who also lost loved ones in shootings since Sandy Hook, she offered simple advice: You will have to find your individual path through grief. Its going to be a lifetime process, she said. Casper police Sgt. Dan Dundas set daily priorities for his patrol team Wednesday morning in an unusual location Metro Coffee Co. Just north of a dozen officers, including Interim Chief Steve Schulz, circled up in the back of the coffee shop at 6:50 a.m., while a smattering of private citizens looked on from surrounding couches. The gathering, which fell on National Coffee with a Cop Day, is part of a new initiative by the Casper Police Department to connect officers with the community they serve. The initiative, called Our Community, also includes intermittent foot and bike patrols downtown and more frequent appearances at community events. The effort also focuses on being more sensitive to the needs of domestic violence and sexual assault victims. The department recently opened a new soft interview room to help victims feel safer while talking to investigators. Officers are also receiving new training for interviewing victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. Police appeared later Wednesday morning at four other coffee shops to chat informally with locals. At Metro, Dundas mentioned this weeks shooting in Las Vegas before asking officers to pick up new body armor intended for use in an active shooter situation. The department had announced the body armor Tuesday on Facebook, noting, Hopefully this gear will never be used, but we want to make sure our community is protected in case something ever happens. Dundas called for officers at Metro to do their paperwork near crosswalks, in an attempt to ensure drivers would yield to pedestrians, before thanking citizens for showing up and asking for input. Thank you, Cheryl Pieri said, breaking the silence. I love your videos. Dundas hosts lighthearted Facebook videos that highlight the departments most wanted suspects. Sundays installment had racked up 20,000 views by Wednesday morning. After returning chairs and tables to their original locations, officers headed out to patrol assignments and other coffee shops. Speaking after the event, Lt. Jeremy Tremel said he expects both police and private citizens to grow more comfortable with the public briefings. Schulz has said he the community team briefings will be held once or twice a month. A handful of days after the Natrona County School District announced it may close four schools next year, its top officials worked to dispel common concerns about the plans. For example, the district isnt closing small and inefficient schools because of their educational quality but because of costs, said Michael Jennings, the districts executive director of human resources. Theyre giving a great education, he said. On Friday, the district announced that its board of trustees will vote on the closures, which also include four other buildings that dont currently house students. The recommendations are a product of falling elementary enrollment and recent cuts to the districts budget. Its the second straight year that the board has considered closing a school. The in-use schools that may close are Frontier Middle and University Park, Mountain View and Willard elementary schools. The recommendations also call for the closure of Willow Creek Elementary, North Casper Elementary, Westwood and the districts special education building. Jennings, along with Rick Skatula, the executive director of school improvement, and Dennis Bay, executive director of business services, said Wednesday morning that the four schools checked all of the boxes for a district thats trying to cut costs while its enrollment falls. *** Mountain View is at less than half capacity, and the district has 970 empty elementary seats. Willard and University Park are nearly at capacity, but theyre small schools, officials reason, and their populations can be absorbed by vacant spots at larger elementaries while the district saves on administrative costs. Frontier is also small relative to other traditional middle schools in the district and was described by board chairman Kevin Christopherson as failing academically. For the officials, the recommendation may have been relatively clear. But other parts of the proposal have caused confusion in the broader community. For instance, Frontier Middle shares a building with Casper Classical Academy. Though a district press release says Frontier is slated for closure, that refers to the school as an institution. Should the board approve it, the classical academy would remain open and would take over the building, while Frontier would cease to exist. *** Some staff at the schools who learned about the potential closures about an hour before media did on Friday afternoon have also asked why officials cant use construction money to help supplement the cuts made to the general budget. Thats still a major source of confusion for our public, said Jennings, who was one of the district administrators who studied school closures for a board subcommittee. The reason the district cant mix the two is that its legally prohibited: Construction dollars are allocated from the Legislature, based on analysis by the School Facilities Commission and the Select Committee on School Facilities, on a per-project basis. Operations funding, meanwhile, comes in a lump-sum block grant from the Wyoming Department of Education and is tied to the states funding model. The two funding sources are separate, both in where they come from and for what they can be used. Bay said money allocated to rebuild Kelly Walsh High couldnt have been transferred to pay for anything else at the district even maintenance of other buildings. *** Jennings, Bay and Skatula said that some potentially affected staff had also expressed concern about layoffs. The district in July approved a budget that absorbs nearly $4 million in cuts from the state, a result of a downturn in the energy economy. But it avoided layoffs, and officials reiterated Wednesday morning that the board hopes to leave layoffs as a cost-cutting method of last resort. Jennings said that the district should be able to absorb the proposed school closures without any staff member being served a pink slip. He couldnt rule out layoffs as a result of future state action but said that from what the district knows now, staff should be safe. There had also been concern from at least one parent at another school about class size, said spokeswoman Tanya Southerland. Most of the districts K-3 classrooms have 18 students. Fourth- and fifth-graders are typically in classes with 25 peers, while older students are generally are in classes with 32 students. Jennings said that theres no overcrowding in the district. To the contrary, he repeated that there are 970 open seats in the lower grade levels. Even if the district closes the three elementary schools and the students go elsewhere in Natrona County, there will still be 200 empty spots. Still, none of those questions or concerns was the top priority for the staff members of the four schools that may close at the end of this academic year. First and foremost, their number one concern, Whats going to happen with our kids? Skatula said. Thats their primary concern. They do have concerns about, Whats going to happen to me, but those questions came much later than, Whats going to happen with our kids and our families? The Natrona County Fire Protection District announced Wednesday that it lifted a partial ban on outdoor fires. The announcement comes after a two-and-a-half-month ban on campfires and charcoal fires in the county due to dry and windy conditions. The fire district noted that conditions are still dry, despite recent rain. Along with the announcement, the district offered general fire safety tips, including: keeping a 15-foot clearing around any fires. staying by any fire you start to ensure it doesn't grow out of control. keeping a method to extinguish the fire readily available. The ban was lifted one day earlier than the district had predicted they would. Non-recreational open burns still require a county permit, which can be picked up at the fire district office at 555 N. Robertson Road. Large wildfires have raged through the West this summer, as close as Medicine Bow National Forest. Several smaller fires also ignited around the Casper area. Wind brought smoke from wildfires in Montana and Idaho to Casper in early September. At the time, Wyoming Medical Center warned residents to avoid exercising outdoors. The parking lot at Marana's about-to-open Chick-fil-A restaurant was cordoned off Wednesday afternoon and transformed into a campground. Folks set up pop-up tents and canopies and settled in for what has become a beloved tradition when a new Chick-fil-A opens: Be among the first 100 people in the door on opening day and you win a year's worth of chicken sandwich meals. But there's a hitch: You have to spend the day and night before in the parking lot. If you leave, you lose your spot. Not a problem for the 58 people who had staked out campsites and set up tents by midafternoon. Moms and dads called in sick to work or took vacation days; Christine Staten who lives nearby pulled her 8-year-old daughter Paige out of school. "I told them the truth, that we were camping out at Chick-fil-A," she admitted with a smile and quick chuckle. "Hey it's worth it," she added as Paige sipped from a soda cup. The prize translates to a Chick-fil-A meal a week for 52 weeks, and that was incentive enough for Becky Davis to get up well before dawn and make the 30-minute drive from Sahuarita. She made a pitstop on Tucson's south side to pick up her friend Monica Alegria and they drove the extra 20-minute trip to arrive in Marana at 4:30 a.m. "I love Chick-fil-A," said Davis, who works from home writing curriculum for Tucson megachurch Victory Worship Center. She often takes her laptop and sets up a remote office of sorts at Chick-fil-A. "It's a safe place to go to eat and to work," she said, adding that she appreciated the company's Christian philosophy that keeps the grills and fryers off and the doors closed on Sundays. Chick-fil-A Marana, 3943 W. Ina Road in front of Target, officially opens at 6:30 a.m. Thursday. The parking lot campers will be the first ones through the door, said the restaurant's owner Brian White, a recent transplant from Georgia whose background includes selling running shoes. Those who arrived early Wednesday like Davis and Alegria were treated to free breakfast. White and his staff also fed them lunch and dinner, and planned to give the campers cookies and milk Wednesday night. (It's not like they could bring in a grill and make their own dinner, and it would have been kinda awkward for the campers to trot across Ina Road to the McDonald's.) And White and his staff put them to work filling plastic bags with ingredients for jambalaya. The goal was to create 10,000 of those bags and donate them to the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona. "It's a fun kind of camping time but the people can help out, too," White said, standing in the dining room just after 3 p.m. as dozens of campers filled bags with beans, rice and spices in an assembly line operation that covered several tables. The pre-opening campout and community service project started in Phoenix 14 years ago and has since spread to every Chick-fil-A opening around the country. There are over 2,000 restaurants nationwide; with the Marana restaurant, the Tucson area now has five Chick-fil-A locations, including one tucked into the University of Arizona Student Union Memorial Center. Roxy and Neil Tomkinson of Red Rock are old pros at the Chick-fil-A free-food-for-a-year grand-opening campouts. Wednesday's was the seventh for Roxy, the fifth for her school-teacher husband. Each year, thousands of Arizona residents email or call Rosie Romeros radio show with questions about everything from preventing fires in their chimneys to getting rid of tree roots invading their sewer system. His goal is to provide answers that suit the specific lifestyle wherever someone lives in Arizona. QUESTION: I had ceramic tile laid down eight months ago in my house with tiles that simulate wood planks. Now I see voids of about one-inch-long in the grout between the tiles in several places. Is that a technical problem of some kind? ANSWER: If that is happening in multiple areas, the tile installer must have used too much water when he mixed the grout or when they washed it afterward. This is an issue that can be fixed. But dont let the contractor put new grout on top of the old grout. He needs to take 60 percent of the old grout out in order to fix it. Call your contractor soon to notify him of the problem. Be sure to take lots of photographs of the floor in its current state. If your contractor is reluctant to do the repair, put the situation into writing and send a letter to him via certified mail with a return receipt requested. If he still refuses to make repairs, you can go to the Arizona Registrar of Contractors with your problem. You have two years from the day he finished the job to get the registrars help. So, hang onto your initial contract. One final note: The contractor may have to stain the grout in order to make everything look uniform again. Q: I have tankless water heater that is about 2 years old. Recently, Ive had problems with it shutting off automatically. When I go out to the electric panel, the breaker for the heater is in the off position. I move it back to on and then sometime later it will shut off again. I dont think anyone is turning it off deliberately. I kept the panel locked up and it happened during that time as well. A: One of our favorite electricians tells us that there is one brand of tankless water heaters that can shut down like that when its having problems. He recommends having an electrician check to see if youre having a problem with your electrical line. If thats not the issue, the unit itself may need to be repaired or replaced by a plumber or manufacturer. Q: We would like to build an addition to our house with a couple of bedrooms plus some new storage space, but we dont know where to start. Should we hire a designer or architect or do we need a general contractor instead? A: You probably can hire a general contractor that does design-build work. If you think you need outside designs done as well, ask your contractor for the names of possible architects. But once you have an architect, you want the general contractor to go with you to every meeting with that architect so that the drawings and designs are done properly. In doing a major remodeling project, you want to have at least three meetings with any general contractor youre interested in hiring before you sign a contract. Be sure to visit the office of the contractor and visit some homes that the contractor has worked on. When you have some good choices, ask yourself, Who do I trust the most? Which contractor would I want to have on the job on the day that something goes wrong? Thats because no matter how good the contractor is, something will go wrong, but your contractor should be able to deal with the issue. Sometimes the most difficult thing about going out to lunch is as simple as choosing a restaurant. Don't fret! USA Today's 10Best was created just for dilemmas such as these, narrowing down the plethora of Tucson restaurants to the best choices to fit each occasion. It's safe to say that all 10 spots on the 10Best lunch list are mouthwatering and there's no shortage of variety in the locations they served up. Tucson Tamale Company features more than 30 different tamales, including vegetarian and vegan options. "The menu is eclectic and fun. Try the green corn tamales, a house favorite, or the Arizona, which is stuffed with chipotle beef," 10Best says in the article. "There are also delicious breakfast and dessert tamales so you can start your morning--and finish your meal--just right." Also on the list is Roma Imports, which 10Best says "celebrates the spirit of the traditional Italian deli by staying true to its roots." Roma Imports houses a huge selection of Italian food items, including the ever popular "Ultimate Roma" sandwich, made with capocolla, genoa salami, fresh mortadella, provolone, and roasted red peppers. "On the hot side of the menu, you can't beat the "Roma Signature," a slow roasted pork shoulder marinated with mustard and beer, then topped with a crunchy slaw," according to 10Best. Another one of 10Best's picks for best lunch spot, Calle Tepa specializes in street food from Jalisco, along with fresh ingredients and attention to detail. "Here is everything you would want from a fast-casual Mexican food cafe: homemade recipes, made-from-scratch salsas, and pillowy tortillas cooked in front of you," 10Best says in the article. "Brought to you by the folks behind Tucson's Guadalajara Grill, Calle Tepa offers a homespun take on great Mexican food." Check out the full list here and start making plans for lunch. PHOENIX Judges cannot impose enhanced sentences on those convicted of soliciting sex with a minor when it turns out there was no child to begin with, the Arizona Supreme Court ruled Wednesday. In their unanimous decision, the justices upheld a lower court ruling that said Dale A. Wright can be found guilty even though the person he contacted actually was a postal inspector. In that ruling, the Court of Appeals said the crime of solicitation does not require that a victim actually engage in the conduct or that there is an actual victim. The justices said the offenses can be designated as a "dangerous crime against children,'' allowing a judge to place Wright on lifetime probation. But Chief Justice Scott Bales said it's quite something else to impose longer prison terms based on the supposed age of the non-existent child who, by definition, was never molested in the first place. Bales said that's not how the law is worded, and was not the intent of lawmakers who enacted it more than three decades ago. Wright was convicted in 1992 after pleading guilty to two counts of soliciting to have sex with a minor. That was based on his soliciting a postal inspector, posing as a mother of two children younger than 13, to have sex with her children. After being sentenced to 10 years in prison, he was placed on lifetime probation as the offenses he was trying to commit are designated by law as "dangerous crimes against children.'' When the state sought to have his probation revoked the ruling does not explain why Wright asked the court to look at the question of whether the offenses to which he pleaded guilty fall into the "dangerous crimes against children'' category. The appellate court concluded they do, saying it's irrelevant that there never was a child victim. That paved the way for him to be sent back to prison. But that still left the question of how much more time Wright would have to serve. And that goes to the question of whether the presumptive 10-year term for a dangerous crime against children was proper. Bales said it was not. He pointed out that the sentencing scheme prescribes the harshest penalties when the victims are youngest and most vulnerable, and when the touching is most invasive. "The severity of punishment decreases where the victim is old or the touching not completed,'' the chief justice continued. "These graduated sanctions suggest that the Legislature similarly intended less severe punishment when there is no actual child victim.'' Bales said that is backed up by legislative history. "The concept behind these increased sentences is that the young people are scarred for life,'' Bales quoted then-Sen. Peter Kay, sponsor of the 1985 legislation, saying at that time. "Thus the purpose of the statute was to provide enhanced punishment for offenders who harmed actual not fictitious children,'' Bales said. If lawmakers wanted increased penalties in these circumstances they could have written the measure to say they apply even in cases where there is "a person posing as a minor under the age of 15,'' the chief justice wrote. Wednesday's ruling requires that Wright be resentenced. The presumptive term available under the new court ruling is 3 1/2 years. Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery, whose office prosecuted Wright, said he agrees with the ruling. PHOENIX An attorney for the state says a judge she has no legal right to tell the Legislature it isnt providing enough money for school construction and repair. In new court filings, Brett Johnson acknowledged that the Arizona Supreme Court ruled more than than two decades ago that the state has an obligation to ensure that schools meet minimum adequacy standards for everything from building safety to equipment needs. The justices said at the time that it was unconstitutional to put that burden solely on local taxpayers, as it created gross disparities and left children in some schools without adequate education opportunities. But Johnson told Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Connie Contes that she is powerless to rule on a claim by school districts that the amount of money being provided by the state is inadequate. The question of how much should be appropriated for any particular item in a given year is clearly committed by our Constitution to those acting in a legislative capacity, he said. That theme was echoed in filings by attorney Bill Richards, who separately represents House Speaker J.D. Mesnard and Senate President Steve Yarbrough. Richards told Contes that what the school districts want would improperly intrude on matters preserved to the discretion of the legislative branch. He said it would put the judge in the position of deciding what he called political questions regarding the degree and nature of funding provided for or related to public school capital facilities. But Mary OGrady, who represents the school districts that sued earlier this year, said it is clearly within the power of courts to determine if lawmakers are meeting their constitutional obligations to provide adequate facilities for public education. Judges are also empowered to tell them to fix it, OGrady said. At that point it would be up to legislators to determine how, though that decision could lead to further litigation if challengers remain dissatisfied. But the case is clearly about money. Tim Hogan, another attorney representing challengers, says lawmakers are shorting schools each year for the capital funds they need to the tune of about $300 million. And he said the cumulative loss to schools from the failure to properly fund capital needs is now close to $2 billion. The lawsuit traces back to 1994. Prior to then, construction of new schools and needed repairs were presumed to be solely the responsibility of local districts. But in a historic ruling that year, the high court said that created gross inequities and left some schools and students without adequate facilities. Some districts have schoolhouses that are unsafe, unhealthy, and in violation of building, fire and safety codes, the justices said, noting schools without libraries, laboratories or gymnasiums. But in other districts, there are schools with indoor swimming pools, a domed stadium, science laboratories, television studios, well-stocked libraries, satellite dishes and extensive computer systems. All that, they said, runs afoul of a state constitutional obligation to maintain a general and uniform school system. After several more rulings, lawmakers eventually created the School Facilities Board to come up with minimum guidelines and created a system to both finance new schools as needed as well as provide $200 million a year for upkeep. The only thing is, lawmakers have not fully funded that formula for years. The result, according to challengers, has been a shortage of funds to pay not only for repairs but for other needs ranging from school buses to textbooks. And that forces the districts to use locally raised funds assuming voters are willing to go along to pay for needs the Supreme Court concluded are the states responsibility. OGrady said Johnsons claim that Contes cannot hear the challenge is based on a flawed reading of the lawsuit. She said what the Supreme Court ruled in 1994 was that the state has to have standards for what constitutes adequate classrooms. And youve got to have funding to meet the standards, she said. OGrady is seeking a ruling that the money being provided does not satisfy the constitutional and court-ordered requirement to meet those standards and ensure educational opportunities. That issue, she said, is absolutely within the reach of the courts. And OGrady said if Contes agrees with challengers that the funding is inadequate, then it kicks back to the Legislature for a remedy, meaning the courts are not infringing on legislative prerogatives assuming whatever they decide makes the funding scheme constitutional. Questions of the power of judges aside, Johnson also contends that the districts themselves have no right to be in court in the first place. He said only those who have suffered a particularized injury to themselves have a right to assert any claim that the money they are getting is constitutionally inadequate. Instead, Johnson said, the lawsuit contends the overall amount of dollars available to fund new buildings statewide and maintain the ones that already exist is inadequate. And Johnson said there is no evidence that the districts that filed suit had actually asked for cash from the School Facilities Board, which evaluates needs and distributes money. He said only if they are first turned down might they have a legal claim. OGrady brushed those claims aside. Our issues are not about funding for particular projects, she said. She agreed that such a request would go to the board. Our lawsuit is about the structure of the system overall and whether the structure of the system overall satisfies constitutional requirements, OGrady continued. This isnt about one district needing money for a specific project. Contes is set to hear arguments in December. Criminal charges have been dropped against a former University of Arizona dean accused of raping and injuring an unconscious woman at his Catalina Foothills home. Former UA pharmacy dean Jesse Lyle Bootman, who has maintained his innocence since he was charged in 2015, will not face trial after an out-of-town prosecutor cast doubt on the likelihood of obtaining a conviction. The Pima County Attorneys Office turned the case over to a Maricopa County prosecutor a few months ago after defense lawyers claimed the local law-enforcement establishment was biased in favor of Bootmans accuser. Bootman, 67, was charged with sexual assault, sexual abuse, aggravated assault, kidnapping and drugging the accuser with a prescription sleep aid. The woman sustained a broken nose and other injuries in what authorities described as a brutal attack. In an email statement Wednesday, Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery said new information came to light that challenged the initial assessment that we could prove the charges filed beyond a reasonable doubt. He said the new information sprang from a related civil lawsuit launched by the alleged victim. The civil case raised questions about the depth of the relationship between Bootman and his accuser prior to the alleged sexual assault, court records show. Testifying in a civil deposition, the woman described Bootman as a former business contact, virtually the same description she gave Pima County sheriffs investigators. She said she had no sexual relationship with him. Under questioning, it emerged the woman spent a weekend in San Diego in 2011 at a condominium Bootman owned there. Under oath, she said she spent the weekend alone. But Bootmans lawyers filed documents with the court including airline tickets, cellphone and email records that showed she and Bootman made plans to meet up and stay at his place together. Bootman purchased both of their airline tickets, the documents showed. Though nothing in the written exchanges was sexually suggestive, Bootmans lawyers maintained the two were lovers who spent the night in a romantic relationship. The defense said the San Diego trip supported Bootmans contention that the woman was a willing participant in the 2015 incident for which he was criminally charged. Because of the discrepancies, defense attorneys filed a motion accusing the woman of perjury and requesting she be barred from testifying if the criminal case went to trial. That motion was still awaiting a judges ruling when the charges were dropped. Questions surrounding the nature of prior interactions between the victim and the defendant and the circumstances surrounding the allegations of a sexual assault cannot be satisfactorily addressed at this point in time with the available evidence, Montgomery, the Maricopa County attorney, said in explaining the decision to drop charges. He said his office filed a motion Tuesday to dismiss the case without prejudice. This would allow us to refile the case should additional evidence come forward that permits us to reassess the likelihood of securing a conviction and prove a case beyond a reasonable doubt. Attorney William Walker, who represents Bootmans accuser in the civil lawsuit, said the civil case will go ahead as planned. The dismissal of criminal charges will have no impact. We intend to go forward and prove his liability for the womans injuries, Walker said. Civil lawsuits use a lesser standard of evidence than criminal cases, so a defendant who is not convicted criminally can still be found liable for damages in civil court under the same set of facts. I think the Maricopa County Attorneys Office simply dropped the ball on this, Walker said. They did not understand the nature of the case. Pima County Attorney Barbara LaWall volunteered to transfer the case to a Maricopa prosecutor earlier this year after Bootmans attorneys raised an allegation of prosecutorial bias. The defense claimed Bootmans accuser had an overly cozy relationship with local prosecutors and law enforcement because she was a key witness years ago in a high-profile criminal case. LaWalls office disputed the claim. LaWalls office had no comment Wednesday on the Maricopa prosecutors decision to drop charges. Bootmans legal team put out a news release Tuesday saying the former UA dean is incredibly thankful to finally put this matter to rest and to move on from this terribly painful chapter in his life. He looks forward to continuing with his personal and professional endeavors now that this is over, said the statement from defense attorneys Joshua Hamilton, Clay Hernandez and Rick Lougee. Hamilton, reached by phone, said he didnt know if Bootman intended to stay on at the UA, where he has been on leave with pay since 2015. Bootman was removed as dean and banned from campus in the wake of the criminal charges but still draws a $253,000 annual salary. UAs public relations staff could not be reached for comment Wednesday on Bootmans status at the university. PHOENIX A Sedona resident will get his chance to prove state utility regulators illegally withheld information about a study of the health effects of smart meters. In a ruling Tuesday, the state Court of Appeals said Warren Woodward is entitled to have a judge determine whether the Arizona Corporation Commission acted improperly in refusing to disclose some details. Attorneys for the regulators claimed a variety of reasons for denying access to documents, including that some would disclose the state of mind of those writing it. Judge Diane Johnsen, writing for the unanimous three-judge panel, said Woodward may be legally entitled to share what he already knows of the information he was initially denied, information a trial judge told him he had to keep to himself. That could undermine public confidence in the commissions decision to allow utilities to effectively force the radio-transmitting electric meters onto their customers. According to court documents, Woodward found evidence that commission staffers may have had input into what was supposed to be an independent investigation by the Department of Health Services into whether the meters and the radio emissions they make can affect residents of the homes where they are installed. Woodward said he also has other evidence the health department study may have been skewed because of commission influence. ACC had their fingerprints all over this study from beginning to end, he said, saying commission staffers provided the health department with studies claiming the meters are safe and said, basically, in so many words, this is what were looking for. Commission spokeswoman Holly Ward declined to discuss any of the specifics. She said her agency will await some direction from the Yavapai County Superior Court judge who now gets to decide what more Woodward can make public and whether the commission acted illegally in keeping information from him in the first place. Smart meters provide a utility with regular updates via radio signals of each customers usage. Most major electric companies use them as an alternative to having staffers go out and physically read meters. In fact, the commission has said utilities can charge an additional monthly fee to customers who have health concerns and want to opt out of the smart meters. In a 2014 study done for the commission, the health department found there are studies that show radio frequencies might affect human physiology. However, these studies cannot conclude that the cellular changes necessarily lead to disease, the report says. Separate testing to determine the maximum exposure someone might get from a meter in a worst-case scenario concluded that the levels of radio frequencies were below levels of public health concern. With the available information, exposure to (smart) meters are not likely to harm the health of the public, the report concluded. Woodward then sought records on the study, including communications among commissioners, staffers and the health department. Some of what the commission provided him had multiple words, sentences and, in some cases, even pages blacked out. When he filed suit, Jeffrey Paupore, an acting judge in Yavapai County, decided to review the undredacted version of the records. He also gave a copy to Woodward so he could make his arguments about why he was entitled to the information. Paupore eventually ruled that since Woodward got the information, the lawsuit was moot though he barred Woodward from distributing what he had. Johnsen, in Tuesdays ruling, said Paupore should not have issued such a blanket restraining order. A prior restraint is the most serious and least tolerable infringement on First Amendment rights, she wrote. She said Paupore made no findings to support his order. Tuesdays ruling now requires Paupore to consider both whether the commission improperly withheld public documents in the first place a finding that could force the commission to pay all of Woodwards out-of-pocket costs as well as the validity of the gag order. In the meantime, through his court filings, Woodward already has made public some of what he got. For example, the commission refused to disclose one email thread as attorney-client privilege. But Woodward said it turns out that it was about setting up a meeting between commission staffers and the health department to review the study the commission had asked be performed. This is an opportunity for us to look at the DHS report before it is sent over to the ACC, wrote Jodi Jerich, then the commissions executive director. Woodward also claims the commission, which was supposedly looking for an impartial report on the meters, was looking for studies to whitewash the effects of the smart meters and sending them to the health department. He said the commission, having sought the health study, should have taken a hands-off approach. Thats not what happened, Woodward said. The redactions also hid the fact that some of the health department study was done at the home of the commissions chief engineer. Woodward also found an email from then-Commissioner Brenda Burns to a staffer was completely blacked out under the claim of state of mind. He said it turns out that Burns wanted the staffer to give me some quotes so she could make comments at an upcoming meeting. Commission attorney Andy Kvesic on Tuesday defended the exclusion based on state of mind, saying thats just a different way of concluding that commissioners and their staffs are entitled to a legislative privilege to shield communications that are part of reaching a decision. A pedestrian struck and killed by a minivan on the north-side of town Monday night was identified as David Rhoades. He was 66. Rhoades was not in or a near a crosswalk, said Sgt. Kimberly Bay, a Tucson Police Department spokeswoman. Shortly after 8:15 p.m. on Oct. 2, officers went to the 1700 block of East Prince Road, for reports of a serious crash involving a pedestrian, said Bay. Paramedics with the Tucson Fire Department arrived first at the crash and gave first aid to Rhoades, but he was pronounced dead at the scene, Bay said. The driver of the minivan wasn't injured and remained at the scene, Bay said. Traffic detectives learned that the 2004 Oldsmobile minivan was headed west on Prince from North Campbell Avenue in the curb lane, with another vehicle driving next to it in the median lane. The vehicle in the median lane began to slow and the pedestrian, who was crossing the road from south to north, was struck by the minivan, Bay said. Police do not believe that speed or alcohol were factors in the case, Bay said. No citations were issued and the investigation is ongoing. Since January, there have been 45 traffic fatalities in the city, compared to 41 at this time last year, according to police data. For the new Border Patrol chief in Tucson, moving agents closer to the border is a top priority. Rodolfo Karisch took over as chief of the Tucson Sector Aug. 20 after serving as chief in the Del Rio Sector in Texas. He invited the news media for a meet-and-greet Wednesday at sector headquarters in Tucson. Karisch said he wants to focus on forward deployment at the border and increase access to the border, where he said 19 percent of the area cant be reached by road. More incentives are needed for agents who work in Ajo and other remote areas, he said, noting it can be difficult for a family to move to areas that dont have hospitals or other amenities. He plans to continue the use of forward operating bases, which have been a source of complaints from agents due to their far-flung locations and, at times, poor living conditions. Karisch said the bases need to be clean and well-equipped. More technology is needed at the border, he said, such as the sectors pilot program for portable drones that can be used in mountainous areas. In addition to stopping illegal immigration and drug smuggling, which he attributed to the appetite for drugs in the United States, he said he wants to make border areas safe for people to enjoy the parks and natural areas. The sector could use more agents, but the administrations push to hire 5,000 more agents does not have funding attached, which means hell have to wait and see what happens. The treatment of border crossers after being arrested is the subject of a civil lawsuit in federal court in Tucson. Karisch said the Border Patrol is improving conditions while border crossers are processed, such as providing better sleeping mats. Simply because somebody has been taken into custody by us does not mean that we should mistreat them, he said. Members of the Tohono Oodham Nation are directly impacted by border policies and Karisch said he already met with the nations leadership. At the end of the day, its about dialogue, its about respect, he said, adding that he plans to continue cultural-awareness training for agents. He also wants to continue to build relationships with the Mexican government and consuls from Central American countries. Before joining the Border Patrol in 1986, he worked in the El Paso Police Department for three years. Karisch worked for the Border Patrol in Yuma and his father used to work in the mines in Ajo. SAN FRANCISCO (AP) Netflix is raising the price for its most popular U.S. video streaming plan by 10 percent a move that could boost its profits but slow the subscriber growth that drives its stock price. The change announced Thursday affects most of Netflix's 53 million U.S. subscribers. WHAT GOES UP Netflix will now charge $11 per month instead of $10 for a plan that includes HD and allows people to simultaneously watch programs on two different internet-connected devices. The price for another plan that includes ultra-high definition, or 4K, video, is going up by 17 percent, to $14 from $12 a month. A plan that limits subscribers to one screen at a time without high-definition will remain at $8 a month. The increase would be the first in two years for Netflix, although it won't seem that way for millions of subscribers. That's because Netflix temporarily froze its rates for long-time subscribers the last two times it raised its prices, delaying the most recent increases until the second half of last year for them. Netflix isn't giving anyone a break this time around. It will start emailing notifications about the new prices to affected subscribers Oct. 19, giving them 30 days to accept the higher rates, switch to a cheaper plan or cancel the service. WHY PRICES ARE RISING The price increase are being driven by Netflix's desire to fatten its profit margins as it spends more money to finance a critically acclaimed slate of original programming that includes shows such as "House of Cards," ''Orange Is The New Black," ''Stranger Things," and "The Crown." Those series' success helped Netflix land more Emmy award nominations than any TV network besides HBO this year. It's also the main reason Netflix's U.S. audience has nearly doubled since the February 2013 debut of "House of Cards" kicked off its expansion into original programming. But paying for exclusive TV series and films hasn't been cheap. Netflix expects to spend $6 billion a year alone on programming this year, and the expenses are likely to rise as it competes against streaming rivals such as Amazon, Hulu, YouTube and, potentially, Apple for the rights to future shows and movies. Both Amazon (at $99 per year, or about $8.25 per month) and Hulu ($10 per month) now offer lower prices than Netflix. POSSIBILITY OF BACKLASH Netflix believes its price rate is justified by recent service improvements, such as a feature that allows people to download shows onto phones or other devices to watch them offline. But Netflix subscribers have rebelled against price increases in the past, most notably in 2011 when the company stopped bundling its streaming service with its DVD-by-mail service, resulting in price increases of as much as 60 percent for customers who wanted both plans. Netflix lost 600,000 subscribers and its stock price plummeted by 80 percent in the subsequent backlash. The company rebounded strongly, though, propelling its stock from a split-adjusted low of $7.54 in 2012 to about $184 now. And Netflix blamed a temporary slowdown in subscriber growth last year on the lifting of its price freeze on long-time customers who decided to drop the service rather than pay slightly more money. Enough is enough! Americans are killing Americans at the rate of over 33,000 deaths annually. When will legislatures stand up to the gun lobby and pass reasonable gun control legislation? It is the government's responsibility to make our lives safer. They express prayers and thoughts for the victims, but do nothing. Trump says the Las Vegas killing was pure evil, but to do nothing about gun violence is also evil. An assault weapon ban was passed in 1994, but 10 years later, the Bush administration and Congress let it expire. This opened up the floodgates for assault weapons a huge blunder. Law abiding citizens have the right to own firearms for legal purposes, but that right should not be absolute when it comes to military assault weapons. Nothing prevents the government from adopting sensible gun legislation, which includes background checks for all gun sales and closing all loopholes. How many more killings will it take before they take action? The USA needs to change our gun culture. Gun ownership is protected by the Constitution, but the right to use or discharge guns is not. Nor should the Second Amendment be interpreted as license for possession of any kind of gun imaginable. Changing that culture will not be achieved simply by changing any specific law, and certainly not by suggesting expansive mental health evaluations and treatments. The culture needs to change to continue to embrace acceptance of the Second Amendment, but to recognize that guns are dangerous weapons, and they should be treated as such. A key example of a first step is currently before the U.S. Congress regarding the legalization of silencers. We dont need them, and the Constitution does not protect them. Criminals and terrorists would be delighted to have free access to them. There is no good argument for silencers except for the money to be made by the gun industry and furtherance of a culture of gun violence. Our elected representatives should vote no. I am responding to the letter writer who said "this is not the time" for politics after the Las Vegas massacre. Well, has enough time elapsed that we can talk about Orlando, San Bernadino, Charleston, Newtown, Aurora or Tucson? How about Virginia Tech or Columbine? Should we go back to the University of Texas tower shooting in 1966? Is 50-plus years a comfortable enough time to wait for "such statements and activities" by politicians? Hundreds of cabbies in Hanoi are placing bumper stickers on the back of their vehicles in opposition to the Vietnamese Ministry of Transports decision to allow ride-hailing apps Uber and Grab to be piloted in several locales. The demonstration is a joint effort by prominent taxi brands in Hanoi such as Mai Linh, Vina, My Dinh, Sao Thu Do, and Hoan Kiem. We object to the wrongful pilot scheme approved in Decision 24 by the Ministry of Transport; We demand an immediate stop in issuing more logos for pilot vehicles; and 50,000 vehicles under Decision 24 reported a revenue of VND18 trillion [US$793 million] but only pay VND15.8 billion ([$696,000] in taxes are among the stickers now common on Hanois cabs. Decision 24, issued in January 2016 by the Ministry of Transport, allows ride-hailing apps to be legally piloted in five provinces and cities in Vietnam, including the capital. The two-year pilot scheme launched in January last year as a means of paving the way for taxi-hailing apps such as Uber and Grab to become licensed to legally operate transportation services Vietnam. Last Tuesday, the Hanoi Taxi Association sent a formal petition to multiple Vietnamese leaders and relevant authorities demanding that the pilot program be prematurely terminated by the end of September and a review be issued to evaluate its consequences. The petition said the pilot scheme has led to insecurities within the community and calls for the immediate cessation of allowing cab-hailing services to contract with more drivers. It also requested that Grab and Uber publicize data on the number of vehicles operating under their service and the number of trips made by its drivers to ensure that they are adhering to regulations on maximum working hours and speed limits. However, Do Quoc Binh, chairman of the Hanoi Taxi Association, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on Wednesday that the bumper stickers were the spontaneous ideas of separate taxi firms and have nothing to do with the association. They have the right to put bumper stickers on their vehicles as a demonstration of their objection to the decision, which violated their rights. The stickers draw public attention to the situation, Binh explained. Traditional taxicabs and technology-assisted taxis a nickname coined by local media to refer to services such as Grab and Uber have been engaged in a feud since the latter entered the local market. Taxi associations in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City have repeatedly called for stricter regulations on their technology-based rivals. Meanwhile, Grab and Uber drivers have faced assaults by conventional xe om drivers who feel the harsh competition has put a strain on their livelihoods. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Prudential Plc has kicked off the sale of its Vietnam consumer finance unit, which could fetch up to $150 million, as the UK firm sharpens focus on its core insurance business in the Southeast Asian nation, people familiar with the process said. An adviser has been appointed as part of the sale process of Prudential Vietnam Finance Company Ltd, which is in an early stage, two of the sources said. They said interested buyers include private equity firms and financial services companies, though Reuters was not able to ascertain names of potential bidders. A sale of Prudential Vietnam Finance, which offers personal and mortgage loans, would mark Prudentials first major asset divestment since it named its former group CFO, Nic Nicandrou, as the head of its Asia business last year. The move comes as some global insurers, including AXA are similarly looking to sell smaller and non-core units in Asia to better focus on their main insurance businesses in a region that is attractive due to low insurance penetration, but is also hyper competitive. Prudential has a separate insurance business in Vietnam, which is much smaller compared to its major Asian markets that include Hong Kong, Singapore, China and Indonesia, and which it plans to focus on after the finance unit sale, said the people, who did not wish to be named as they were not authorized to speak to the media. A Hong Kong-based spokeswoman for Prudentials Asia unit declined to comment on the possible sale of the Vietnam consumer finance unit. Started in 2007 as the first fully foreign-owned consumer finance company in Vietnam, the insurer's finance unit had about 300,000 customers by October 2016, its website showed. Annual premium and contribution equivalents, a key growth metric for insurers, in Vietnam rose to 62 million pounds ($82 million) in the first half of 2017, compared to 914 million pounds in Hong Kong and 144 million pounds in Indonesia. Prudential reported a 25 percent rise in first-quarter new-business profits in May worldwide, and its operating profit rose to 2.36 billion pounds in the first half, also boosted by growth in Asia. The insurer, however, has been selling or restructuring some units to save costs - last month it sold its broker-dealer network in the United States for $325 million and merged its M&G asset management and UK and European insurance businesses. The Vietnam Asset Management Co (VAMC), a central bank-run firm formed to deal with bad loans, has met 60 percent of its target for 2017 and is actively working to resolve the remaining 40 percent of its goal by year end. The VAMC has resolved around VND13 trillion (US$572.69 million) worth of bad debts in the year to date, and expects to handle another VND9 trillion ($396.48 million) in the last quarter of 2017 in order to meet its goal. The asset management company buys the countrys bad debts from banks, which effectively means moving the nonperforming loans from the credit institutions balance to its own before resolving them. In August, VAMC decided to seize the ill-fated Saigon One Tower, a $256 million building used by its developer as collateral for a VND7 trillion ($308 million) loan to the asset management company. The seizure came after the debtor repeatedly failed to clear the bad debt that had earlier been sold by a group of lenders to VAMC. The move has kick-started a rush for other banks to put collateral assets of bad debtors on auction to resolve the nonperforming loans. VAMC itself is also in the process of auctioning several collateral assets in order to resolve the bad debts it has purchased. Of these, the most remarkable one is a set of eight land plots a two-party consortium known as Hoan Cau Co. had previously mortgaged for a VND2.4 trillion ($105.73 million) loan with Sacombank. The land plots total 51,454 square meters and were valued at VND2,418 billion ($106.52 million) when Sacombank offered the mortgage to the consortium. However, the huge debt eventually became a nonperforming loan, forcing Sacombank to sell it to VAMC in August this year. VAMC is seeking an independent unit to evaluate those pieces of land, a move seen as preparation for the auction of its collateral assets. In mid-September, VAMC also purchased a debt the Ba Dac Co. Ltd. owed to Vietinbank, and is scheduled to auction off its collateral later this month. Even banks that do not sell bad debts to VAMC are taking steps to seize or auction the mortgaged assets of debtors. Since the beginning of September, Techcombank seized 55 collateral assets, in the form of cars, production lines, and real estate, in order to retrieve its nonperforming loans. Meanwhile, Vietcombank and Agribank announced plans to liquidate collateral assets under their management. As the bad debt resolving market has gotten increasingly active in the last few months, bad debtors are now publicized, information that was previously inaccessible. Many individuals and organizations have also embraced the news and opportunities to buy good properties or assets at reasonable prices through the auctions and liquidations. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! A New York-based trading company is recalling a Vietnamese-made instant coffee product after discovering the manufacturer failed to declare milk allergens among its ingredients. Vinacafe's 'Wake-Up' instant coffee mix contains undeclared milk allergens which pose a risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reactions for consumers who are allergic to milk allergens, Hong Lee Trading Inc. said in its announcement. The recalled instant coffee mix was in distribution throughout New York, New Jersey and Connecticut before Hong Lee Trading began urging consumers to return the packets to the place of purchase for a full refund, according to an announcement posted on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration website. The recall was initiated after routine sampling by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Food Inspectors and a subsequent analysis by Food Laboratory personnel revealed the presence of milk allergens in the product which had not been declared on its label. Hong Lee Trading noted, however, that no illnesses or allergic reactions involving the product have been reported. A Wake-Up instant coffee pack is seen from behind in this photo provided by the FDA. Vinacafe is a brand name of Vincafe Bien Hoa, a joint stock company located in Dong Nai Province, neighboring Ho Chi Minh City. A Vincafe Bien Hoa representative told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that the recall campaign involving its instant coffee is only due to a labeling error, not product quality. The Vietnamese company has shipped 43,797 cardboard boxes of Wake-Up coffee to the U.S. so far in 2017. Of those, only 100 boxes out of 4,300 shipments delivered to Hong Lee Trading were improperly labeled, the representative underlined. Vincafe Bien Hoa is reprinting the labels and plans to send them to the U.S. to resolve the issue, he added. This is a mistake in the labeling process for the products involved and has nothing to do with their quality, the company representative said. In the worst-case scenario, if the FDA rejects our relabeling solution, we will compensate Hong Lee Trading with 100 new correctly labeled boxes. This is not the first time Vinacafe Bien Hoa has had its instant coffee mix recalled in North America due to mislabeling. In November 2014, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency also asked the Vietnamese firm to recall a batch of products that failed to declare milk allergens on its labels. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Tran Giang Le Vu, 38, a marketing consultant in Ho Chi Minh City who has traveled to over 40 countries on four continents, has narrated a thrilling six-day climb to Mount Kilimanjaro, and urged thrill-seekers to make it to the summit once in their lifetime. Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa and the tallest freestanding mountain on earth. The first leg of the taxing expedition. Photo: Tran Giang Le Vu Crowned by an everlasting snow-cap, this resplendent mountain stands tall inside the Kilimanjaro National Park of Tanzania, at 5,895m above sea level, and is considered a national gem. After arriving in the African country, Vu and 11 other trekkers spent one day resting and acclimatizing before embarking on their journey, one which would soon push them to breaking point. Departing at 1,800m from the Machame Gate, the group trekked 11 kilometers through expanses of rain forest featuring century-old trees which appeared through the mist. The sunset from Machame Camp. Photo: Tran Giang Le Vu After five hours of walking amidst the clouds that first afternoon, they arrived at Machame Camp, where they would spend their first night at an altitude of 2,835m. On the second morning, they proceeded to Shiva Cave, perched some 3,750m above sea level. The 5km trek over steep rocky slopes proved arduous. Pitching tents at night at Shiva Cave. Photo: Tran Giang Le Vu Reward came as the extreme hikers crossed the heather moorlands brimming with knee-high shrubs and wild flowers in full bloom. After six hours of hiking to Shiva Cave for lunch and a rest, Vu and the others covered a short distance on foot to adapt themselves to the 4,000 meter-plus altitude before descending to a camp at 3,750m for a well-earned nights sleep. It was freezing cold when they woke up on the third morning, with dew from the previous night condensing into a layer of thin ice on their tents as the temperature dropped to minus 8C. The Alpine Desert dotted with rugged black rock. Photo: Tran Giang Le Vu As it gradually got warmer, the climbers ascended to a height of 4,600m to reach Lava Tower Camp. As few plants can survive at this height, what unfolded before them were arid expanses dotted with jagged rocks of various sizes. After eating lunch and acclimatizing to an altitude of 4,600m, the group moved back down to Baranco Camp at 3,900m, which was located across rows of huge groundsel trees and babbling springs formed by melted ice. Food and drinks used during the journey. Photo: Tran Giang Le Vu More than 100 tents of various colors where the hikers would sleep could be seen from afar. Then came morning four the journeys decisive day. At an altitude of 3,900m, the trekkers made their way slowly through the steep, treacherous Baranco Wall to the other side of the Kilimanjaro summit. Food and drinks used during the journey. Photo: Tran Giang Le Vu The ascent, considered a scramble in climbing terms as hikers have to move on hands and feet, was the most thrilling of the expedition. From the other side, they could see the summit amidst more glaciers, which motivated them to cover another 10km and reach Barafu Camp at a height of 4,673m. At the camp, the groups final rest stop before attempting to reach the peak, they began to feel the toll a lack of oxygen was taking on them. Food and drinks used during the journey. Photo: Tran Giang Le Vu The temperature hovered at around 0C by day and plummeted to minus 20C at night. With up to five layers of clothing, two pairs of socks, gloves, scarves and caps, the trekkers started their quest to the Kilimanjaro summit at 12:00 am sharp the fifth morning. They joined other groups and stumbled their way by moonlight in a long line. Food and drinks used during the journey. Photo: Tran Giang Le Vu Snow on the Kilimanjaro peak mirrored the glistening moonlight, giving it the appearance of a pearl crown. The trails then turned even more precipitous as the group approached the summit. The air they breathed was dry, freezing cold and paralyzing, forcing them to stop from time to time and take sips of hot ginger tea to keep themselves warm. The trekkers take on a steep cliff to get to the other side of the Kilimanjaro peak. Courtesy of Tran Khac Tung At around 3:00 am, the hikers had to struggle hard to stay alert and fight off drowsiness. You cannot fall asleep, or youll die, the guides and porters kept telling them. At 6:00 am, the group was awed by the overwhelming dawn splendor. The trekkers plod through expanses of huge Groundsels, which are among the few plants that can survive the hostile environment. Photo: Tran Giang Le Vu Spurred on, they then proceeded to Stella Point, the second highest peak of Mount Kilimanjaro at 5,756m. The distance from Stella Point to Uhuru, the highest peak of Kilimanjaro at 5895m, was a mere 2.3km away, but it proved a daunting task for most members of Vus group, who were by now drained and gasping for air in the minus 20C temperature. Their persistence paid off though, as they finally set foot on Uhuru. A moonlit night on the Kilimanjaro peak. Courtesy of Ngo Hai Son Being on top of Africa, Vu and the others were elated and felt as if they were giants amidst a resplendent landscape. The climbers then returned quickly to Barafu Camp for a rest before their bodies succumbed to oxygen deprivation. They then descended to High Camp at 3,950m, where they pitched their tents and stayed the night. Dawn at the Kilimanjaro peak. Photo: Tran Giang Le Vu On the sixth day, the happy trekkers left Kilimanjaro behind and successfully wrapped up the 70km adventure. A certificate for conquerors of Uhuru, the highest summit of Mount Kilimanjaro. Photo: Tran Giang Le Vu From Hanoi, prospective trekkers can fly to Nairobi, Kenya, and take another flight to Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. From Kilimanjaro, it takes two hours by bus to Moshi City. The Kilimanjaro trek can take several different routes, but the Machame Gate route which takes five to seven days is considered the best. One of the glacier walls on Kilimanjaro. Photo: Tran Giang Le Vu Tour prices vary depending on the number of participants and routes, with packages generally fluctuating from around US$1,500, including a $150 daily fee per person to the mountains management. Trekkers are also expected to ensure they are in the best physical condition by working out intensively before setting out on their adventure. The moon is seen at 5:00 am on Kilimanjaro. Photo: Tran Giang Le Vu Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The term 'utopia' evokes the ideals of a perfect society. Yuji Miyata, a 35-year-old Japanese man, says adding an ecological pillar to the community is the best and most logical way to bring that perfection into reality. Miyata aims to bring a sense of utopia to Vietnam through his Ekopia project. According to the projects website, the Ekopias goal is to establish an Ecological Social Community Center where residents can experience true happiness amongst fresh air, fine foods, and top-notch facilities. The project is based on a five-pillar approach to creating a utopian community: organic farming using sustainable development practices, organic restaurants and cafes, care centers for the elderly, education for children, and the combination of local volunteer opportunities and cultural centers for learning. Miyatas inspiration for Ekopia is driven by what he views as societys current shortcomings: a sense of personal disconnection and self-centeredness, poor food quality, air contamination, and a severely degraded environment. While these are worldwide issues, Miyata chose Vietnam as the launching point for Ekopia due to its war-torn past. He believes that the countrys ability to heal itself after tragedy has made its people particularly aware of the power of unity. The Japanese idealist also has his own personal reasons for believing in the inherent generosity of Vietnamese. Yuji Miyata and Vietnamese orphans in a supplied photo On a global trek in 2009, it was Vietnamese in the poor northern province of Ninh Binh who helped him after he fainted from fatigue. Determined to put theory into practice, Miyata has gone to great lengths to seek support. A management student from RMIT University in Ho Chi Minh City, Pham Hoang Ngoc Lan Vy says Ekopia can fill the gap in awareness that is currently missing in today's society. Ngo Minh Phuong, also an RMIT student, acknowledges the feasibility of the project and agrees with the volunteer environmentalist student group at her school that Ekopia is truly a benevolent cause. Miyata has already visited Sunny Farm in Long An Province, 35km from downtown Ho Chi Minh City, to begin research on the project. The farm focuses on progressive agricultural techniques and serves as a physical platform for young students to broaden their agricultural know-how and improve their soft skills. Walking to convey education, peace message In 2009, Miyata visited Vietnam and trekked the length of the country. He grew plants, visited orphanages, emphasized the importance of education, and taught local children to love the Earth. A part from a peace message, Miyata also underlined the significance of youth education, believing that instilling a sense of global responsibility in children is the only way to make a better world. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The owners of a diner in the southern Vietnamese province of Long An have been fined VND4 million (US$176) for overcharging a group of customers. Pham Thanh Long, chairman of the Peoples Committee in Thu Thua District, confirmed on Wednesday that the eatery, located along a section of National Highway 1 in Thu Thua District, had been penalized for the violation. The administration in Nhi Thanh Commune, Thu Thua District, was also put under review for allowing an environment in which this situation, and similar situations, could occur. On the afternoon of September 4, a group of six diners arrived at an eatery owned by Do Thanh Nhan and his wife Nguyen Thi Phuong Khanh. The group ordered six rice dishes, each of which included ribs, eggs, vegetables, and a cup of iced tea. The guests were in such shock at the VND1.2 million ($53) bill that they immediately reported the incident to the Peoples Committee of Nhi Thanh Commune. Officers from the Nhi Thanh administration arrived at the eatery to make a report of the case and negotiate with the sellers. The eatery owners eventually agreed to lower the price from VND1.2 million to VND400,000 ($18). Since the incident, a specialized delegation of inspectors has examined operations at nearly 60 roadside restaurants along National Highway 1, National Highway 62, and National Highway N2 in Thu Thua District. The delegation found that several facilities were unable to present business licenses, food safety certificates, and menus with dish prices as per regulations. Inspectors encouraged violating eateries to comply with regulations. A hotline was also set up for customers to report being ripped off. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Parking garage managers in Ho Chi Minh City buildings have been asked to take preventative measures against potential flooding at their facilities. The requirement issued by the municipal Peoples Committee is an important step in safeguarding vehicles from floodwater damage. A total of 15 inundated parking facilities, primarily in District 2, were recorded between June 21 and October 2, according to the citys Department of Firefighting and Prevention Police. Colonel Nguyen Quang Nhut, chief of staff of the fire department, said that parking basements in the neighborhood are equipped with drainage systems and water pumps. The pumping machines, however, have low capacity and are thus unable to cope with serious flooding, Col. Nhut elaborated. In a recent inspection by the Department of Construction on 89 buildings across the southern hub, developers of 37 buildings failed to present plans for drainage systems in their parking basements. In most cases, the underground parking lots are inundated as floodwater flows into the venues from the streets and nearby sewer systems, a representative from the construction department said. In order to solve the issue, a building must be equipped with suitable drainage pump systems to prevent flooding and be designed in such a way that water cannot flow into the basement from surrounding roads. In 2016, torrential rain caused the underground parking lot at 5 Nguyen Sieu Street, District 1, to be heavily flooded, causing the vehicles inside to be submerged. Dang Cong Duy Khanh, the owner of the lot, was forced to pay 10 percent of the repair cost for his customers. Learning from the previous lesson, Khanh equipped the venue with a high-capacity pump and erected several brick walls around the parking lot to protect it from street water. Thanks to his efforts, the parking basement stayed dry during recent downpours, according to the manager. Developers of other buildings have also adjusted their designs and improved their drainage systems to prevent inundation. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! It will take roughly a fortnight for the massive number of pigs to be incinerated. A police raid late last Thursday on the Xuyen A slaughterhouse in Ho Chi Minh Citys outlying Cu Chi District uncovered thousands of pigs being injected with sedatives shortly before being slaughtered. The slaughterhouse is the largest in the southern metropolis, capable of processing over 5,000 pigs each night in order to supply local markets and supermarkets the following morning. On Monday, Tran Vinh Tuyen, deputy chairman of Ho Chi Minh City, issued a dispatch requesting that the 3,750 pigs at Xuyen A which tested positive for the sedative drug Combistress be incinerated as a preventative measure against risks of exposing consumers to sedative residues and foot-and-mouth disease. The move is a break with traditional responses to such incidents in Vietnam, which usually call on waiting for the drugs to excrete from animals bodies before they are slaughtered. Sedated pigs found during a police raid on the Xuyen A slaughterhouse in Cu Chi District, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Police The use of sedatives on animals to keep them calm during transportation is allowable by law in Vietnam, though there is typically a week-long waiting period required between sedation and slaughter in order to allow the animals to discharge the drugs. The practice of injecting pigs with sedatives to calm them before slaughter in an attempt to make their meat softer and more visually appealing can lead to consumers being exposed to drug residues and lead to multiple health risks in humans, according to Dr. Le Thanh Hien, dean of the infectious diseases and animal health faculty at Nong Lam University. According to the Food Safety Management Board of Ho Chi Minh City, the pigs will be put down before being transported to the Dong Thanh Landfill in rural Hoc Mon District for incineration. As the landfills incinerators can only process 180-250 pigs per day, it is estimated that it will take roughly half a month to handle the massive number of drug-exposed swine. A source close to Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper revealed that the entire incineration process will cost nearly VND4.5 billion (US$198,000) and be carried out at the expense of the violating slaughterhouses. With the price of pork currently at VND30,000 ($1.32) per kilogram, the violators are on the line for VND10 billion ($440,000) in damages. Deputy chairman Tran Vinh Tuyen has also requested that the names of 13 slaughter businesses involved be made public and called on tighter controls over pork quality in the city. A worker disinfects a section of the Dong Thanh landfill in Cu Chi District, Ho Chi Minh City, where the pigs are stored. Photo: Tuoi Tre A worker disinfects a truck transporting the pigs. Photo: Tuoi Tre A worker puts on protective gear before making contact with the pigs. Photo: Tuoi Tre A worker puts on protective gear before making contact with the pigs. Photo: Tuoi Tre A pig is moved from a truck to the incinerator. Photo: Tuoi Tre A pig is moved from a truck to the incinerator. Photo: Tuoi Tre A pig is moved from a truck to the incinerator. Photo: Tuoi Tre Each pig is wrapped in a plastic bag and put into a garbage bin for storage while waiting to be incinerated. Photo: Tuoi Tre Each pig is wrapped in a plastic bag and put into a garbage bin for storage while waiting to be incinerated. Photo: Tuoi Tre Pigs are transported into the incinerator. Photo: Tuoi Tre Pigs are transported into the incinerator. Photo: Tuoi Tre Pigs are transported into the incinerator. Photo: Tuoi Tre A worker operates the incinerator. Photo: Tuoi Tre Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! TEN has backtracked on plans to stage a Live Australian Survivor finale. In July TEN announced: This year, the winner of Australian Survivor will be announced in an epic Live finale. After season one, viewers demanded a Live finale and Network TEN has delivered. All 24 contestants will come together, in front of a Live audience, for the announcement of the winner and the reunion special. Filming will take place tonight in Sydney, ahead of Tuesdays broadcast, falling well short of a Live finale. In the US the finale opens Live in studio with host Jeff Probst and audience, before the pre-recorded episode rolls, culminating in a final tribal council & vote. The winner is announced Live to air as part of the Reunion episode. Neither TEN nor Endemol Shine replied to enquiries. TV Week Deputy Editor Thomas Woodgate has been promoted to Editor, following the resignation of Emma Nolan. He has been in the media industry for 15 years joining Bauer Media in 2014 and has held the Deputy Editor role for the past 18 months. After joining the TV Week team over three years ago, Im excited to continue championing the TV Week brand and leading our highly-talented team as Editor. I am committed to building on its reputation as one of the countrys most trusted and much-loved magazine brands, whilst finding new ways to connect with our audience, he said. With more channels, more shows, and more platforms than ever before, I look forward to guiding our loyal audiences through the ever-changing face of TV with advice on the best shows to watch and how to find them. Former Glee star Mark Salling, 35, has pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography and now faces four to seven years in a US prison. In a plea agreement filed with the US District Court for the Central District of California he pleaded guilty to one felony count of possession of child pornography involving a prepubescent minor. The filing states that more than 50,000 images and videos of child porn and erotica were found on his laptop, in addition to about 4,000 images and 160 videos of child porn found on his USB flash drive. The plea deal will see him register as a sex offender with 20 years of supervised release. He will also pay $50,000 in restitution to each of the victims who request it. Salling was first arrested for possession of child pornography in December 2015 following a raid on his residence. In May 2016, he was indicted on two counts of child porn, and charged with receiving and possessing child porn on his laptop and a USB flash drive. After the case was referred to federal authorities, he pleaded not guilty in June 2016. In 2013, Salling was sued for sexual assault and battery by a woman who alleged that he had unprotected sex with her despite demands he wear a condom. Despite his denials, a judge sided with the Plaintiff, demanding Salling pay her a whopping $2.7 million. Salling filed a countersuit for defamation of character. The case was later settled out of court. Salling played bad-boy Noah Puck Puckerman on Glee from 2009 to 2015. He visited Australia in 2009 during a Glee promotional tour. Source: Variety Help India! By Siddhant Mohan, TwoCircles.net As the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) is celebrating the birth bicentenary year of its founder Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, the AMU Vice Chancellor, Professor Tariq Mansoor has appealed the students to cooperate in maintaining a peaceful and academic environment in the varsity campus. Support TwoCircles We are celebrating the birth bicentenary year of our most revered founder, Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, said the Vice-Chancellor adding that this year has been a juncture where the university has reinforced the commitment to Sir Syeds mission by revisiting AMUs glorious history and asserting our formidable presence on the educational map of the Nation through laurels and achievements earned by students and teachers. However, the appeal to maintain a peaceful environment inside the campus has little to do with the birth celebration of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan. The appeal is directed towards the upcoming students union election in the University. Prof M Shafey Kidwai, PRO at AMU, told TwoCircles.net, The statement, as well as the appeal, is sent to media houses to call peace on the campus. Recently, AMU students sat on protest demanding announcements of Students Union election, a demand which was met in few days. Now the Aligarh Muslim University is all scheduled to go under elections in mid-November. That is one reason that the University is celebrating the bicentanary anniversary of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, but the statement was issued keeping the elections in mind, added Kidwai. AMU VC Prof Mansoor added, I appeal to you (students) to continue working in a positive and constructive manner for safeguarding and strengthening the reputation and image of the University. He pointed out that even if some elements attempt to create chaos and disorder in the University on frivolous issues, it is the duty of all of us to exercise restraint and act in a responsible and mature manner and not allow anybody to spread rumors for the purpose of misguiding. He further pointed out that since AMU has always been a unique amalgam of the democratic spirit and traditional values and to sustain this, the election process of AMU Students Union and representatives of the students to AMU Court must be conducted in a peaceful and orderly manner. I seek your cooperation and constructive participation in safeguarding your interests in the University and also to take AMU to even better position in the country and the world, said Prof Mansoor, while concluding his appeal. There is one man to blame for this current Brexit impasse; David Cameron. A man so complacent that he failed to prepare any contingency plans in the likely event of Britain voting to leave the EU. A former prime minister who, instead of being honest and declare that he would resign if he lost last year's EU Referendum, vowed to stay on regardless. Yet we all know he chose to do the opposite. For all of Theresa May's faults, she has inherited an unfortunate mess. She had to call a general election to strengthen the Conservatives' majority to force Brussels to listen to her. Yet even if she achieved that outcome, Juncker would not have done that. Last year, the Prime Minister had to establish a new department to design contingency plans in a compressed period of time before she decided to trigger Article 50. They rebuke every proposal the Government makes Even though she has provided the EU with an offer of a transitional deal, they rebuke every proposal the Government makes. It is no wonder Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt dubbed the European Commission as "arrogant." There is nothing she can offer which will force the trading bloc's officials to listen. However, it appears that the Civil Service has prepared contingency plans in the likely event of "no deal." The Head of the Civil Service, Sir Jeremy Haywood, has responded to claims from senior Tories that the Civil Service has not issued plans for the UK to trade on WTO rules. Europhile ministers fear that if Britain walks away from the Brexit negotiations, borders will be hit by delays and cash would have to be spent on customs to pay for hiring people to process items previously waved through ports. Sir Jeremy has insisted preparations are in hand to ensure ports, trading links and airlines can still operate if Britain trades with the EU on WTO rules. Brexit Secretary David Davis informed delegates at the Conservative Party Conference that there is a special department in Whitehall dedicated to creating plans for the possible event of "no deal." No details for these plans have been disclosed, but if what Sir Jeremy and Mr. Davis say is true, it is time to leave these discussions. The EU knows that Britain holds all the cards in these talks. They are frightened that when they lose the UK's budgetary contributions, they will suffer. They fear German car manufacturers and French winemakers will turn against the European project if they fail to implement a trade deal with the UK. The trading bloc's survival is riding on these talks. Britain wins somehow Whichever option the UK chooses for post-Brexit EU trade, Britain wins somehow. Its future beyond the EU is positive. Brussels know that if they provide the UK with a generous free trade deal, other nations will want the same. This is the beginning of the end of their dream of European federalism. When students explore the EU's end in years to come, Brexit will be the most significant factor. Other events will have played a part; the Italian banking crisis, open borders and, more recently, Catalonia declaring independence from Spain. Brussels has created its own problems due to its authoritarian nature. It's time Mr. Davis called Mr. Barnier's bluff; if the Civil Service has truly prepared for a "no deal" scenario, it's time to walk away. Last year's vote to leave the EU has revealed the "inner arrogance" of the Brussels elite, according to Jeremy Hunt. The Health Secretary lambasted the European Commission's sense of self-importance whilst speaking live to LBC from this week's Conservative Party Conference. He attacked the institution for delaying Brexit by rejecting the UK Government's "generous" divorce offers. He said the way the European Commission has been behaving since the vote is "very disappointing." Mr. Hunt accused the trading bloc of constantly "demanding more and more from Britain" Does the EU want a friendship with Britain going forward? The Health Secretary, who campaigned for the UK to remain in the trading bloc last year, posed the question as to whether or not the EU wants a friendship with Britain going forward. He said this is no longer a debate about whether Brussels will allow a hard or a soft Brexit, but whether they want a messy divorce or not. Meanwhile, Conservative backbencher Peter Bone launched a scathing attack on EU officials, saying they would rather inflict damage on their own people than help make Brexit Britain a success. He told Express.co.uk at the Conservative Party Conference that Brussels will use this process to warn other member states about the consequences of leaving. The veteran backbencher said Brussels is transfixed on turning the EU into a European superstate and if other countries witness how successful Brexit Britain will be, other nations will be persuaded to leave too. The MP for Wellingborough warned that the price of their own stubbornness will be pain. Fury has erupted among Conservative ranks in the European Parliament Fury has erupted among Conservative ranks in Brussels as two Tory Members of the European Parliament, Richard Ashworth and Julie Girling, broke ranks with their colleagues and voted with self-appointed Brexit negotiator Guy Verhofstadt to delay moving the discussions forward to trade. Senior sources at the Conservative Party Conference disclosed to The Daily Express that they were angry both MEPs had done that when the Prime Minister just demanded party loyalty. EU officials have insisted that progress be made on three crucial areas- the divorce bill, Ireland and EU citizens' rights- before discussions on trade commence. The British Government believes it is time to move on, but the European Commission's President, Jean-Claude Juncker, and the EU's Chief Negotiator, Michel Barnier, disagree until these three issues are resolved. Sufficient progress has been made Brexit Secretary David Davis told delegates at the Conservative Party Conference that sufficient progress has been made during the negotiations. He has urged Brussels to prepare for the next stage. Mr. Verhofstadt contradicted the Brexit Secretary by holding a non-binding vote on Tuesday night on whether sufficient progress had been made. 557 MEPs voted in favour of a resolution that sufficient progress had not been made, with 92 voting against and 29 abstentions. The motion accuses the UK of failing to present concrete proposals moving forward. Mr. Ashworth and Ms Girling were accused of putting their own Remainer views above the national interest by voting alongside Mr. Verhofstadt. One senior Conservative source told The Daily Express that their behaviour is completely unacceptable. They accused them of delaying crucial trade talks and undermining Britain's negotiating position. Mr. Ashworth and Ms Girling were approached for comment by Express.co.uk, but declined to do so. International Trade Secretary Liam Fox mocked the vote, saying it will have no impact on Brexit at all. He said the European Parliament will have no final say on the trade deal. Instead, that will be down to the heads of government in the European Council, who will then inform the European Commission of their instructions on how to negotiate moving forward. Mr. Fox added he was not surprised by the vote. Electric cars are expected to rule the roost within the next few years. While China is determined to impose a ban on gasoline-powered cars, California also plans to embrace this mode of propulsion. General Motors and Ford Motor are the largest Automakers in the United States, and they want to toss aside fossil fuels. General Motors announced plans to have 20 new all-electric models by 2023 and two of these could enter the market within the next 18 months. Ford Motor envisages putting up 13 models within the next few years. Fossil fuel cars must go New York Times reports that the concept of electric cars is yet to capture the imagination of buyers. This is evident from the sale of battery-powered electric vehicles in the first eight months of 2017. According to Hybridcars.com, the sale of such cars adds up to a minuscule one percent of the market in spite of federal tax incentives. Obviously, it does not project a very bright future, and automakers in California must evolve suitable strategies to attract the buyer. The push to switch over to electric cars is a result of global pressure to curb global warming, and countries must abide by emission standards. They must also adhere to deadlines for eliminating gasoline-powered cars within a generation. Therefore, German automakers Volkswagen and Daimler want to flood the market with hundreds of thousands of these vehicles in the coming years. Volvo, the Chinese-owned Swedish luxury brand, plans to convert its entire facilities to manufacture either electric cars or hybrid vehicles powered by both batteries and gas. Future of electric cars China could dictate the future market of electric cars because it already has sales of electric vehicles in large numbers which could exceed 400,000 by 2019. That would translate into nearly two-fifths of the world market and is the prediction of LMC Automotive which is a global consulting company. Britain and France have announced plans to ban the sale of conventional automobiles powered by gasoline and diesel, and have indicated a tentative timeframe of 2040. However, China has not set any date. In this connection, California Gov. Jerry Brown feels his state should follow suit, and he asked his chief auto-emissions regulator to examine the subject. In the opinion of Mark Reuss, President of G.M., this is a transition period, and his company has not formulated any timetable for total removal of gasoline. By 2023 its new electric models will appear but, G.M. will continue to build cars, trucks and sport-utility vehicles that operate with internal combustion engines. Ford Motors is another automaker which expects to produce an electric car that can go 300 miles without a recharge. This could become a reality by 2020 and would be a big leap because the normal range of present models is around 100 miles. This is not an attractive proposition for a section of consumers. Recess is over Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn both looked like they were having the time of their lives during the summer break, but the time for relaxing has come to an end. The last time we saw the opposing figureheads in Parliament, May had barely managed to form a government, whereas Corbyn had gained 30 seats in the general election and was prepared to offer stern opposition to the weakened Tory government. The time for speculation has now come to an end, as MPs have gathered in the House of Commons, fully rested and raring to go. The main issue that we have seen all over social media and other news platforms has been Brexit. Britain leaving the European Union has been at the centre of every political discussion since early 2016, and that topic doesn't seem to be going anywhere. David Davis updated parliament on the first Tuesday back, claiming that 'concrete progress' has been made in the Brexit negotiations. It seems the government has secured healthcare rights for British people living abroad, a right that allows them to access healthcare outside of the UK. Amid reports that the UK had agreed to pay the EU 50 billion, Davis was quick to suggest that no fee had been agreed for a 'divorce bill,' as some have cunningly coined it. Meanwhile, Shadow Brexit Secretary Keir Starmer is concerned about the slow progress being made by the Conservative government, a feeling that many others have also been expressing. It seems the Labour party are not happy with what has been achieved so far, they seem to expect the Conservatives to have done much more than they have already. The vote on the repeal bill This will be the first topic up for debate this year, and it seems to be an important one. It seems the opposition have unanimously decided to vote against the government, in hope of preventing this bill from being passed. The purpose of this bill, is to provide the government with astounding amounts of power that have not been seen before in a bid to ensure a 'calm and orderly' Brexit. Due to time constraints, mainly due to the delaying of this process thanks to an arduous general election campaign, it seems the UK is running out of time to complete what is needed, before the deadline in March of 2019. To ensure that no more time is wasted, the government plans to pass a bill that will allow them to introduce laws, without the approval of parliament, to speed up the Brexit process. Of course the laws being passed can only be related to Brexit and are only intended to save time, as opposed to debating them in parliament and wasting valuable hours that could have been spent negotiating. There is one issue, this would give the government unlimited amounts of power, allowing them to pass laws as they please. These are laws that could shape the future of the United Kingdom and allowing them this power could be potentially life changing for some.It seems that the Liberal Democrats and the Labour Party will be opposing this bill, but with the the DUP strengthening May's hand, she may pass this first hurdle unscathed. What next? The bill is up for debate in the following days, something one wouldn't want to miss. With parliament divided on the issue of Brexit, it will be truly interesting to see what they decide when it come to this. The Labour Party has it's own divisions on Brexit, but they are still actively disagreeing with the government's plans and are outraged that their voice is not being heard. Should this bill be passed, we could enter an era of turmoil as many will feel that democracy has been opposed. No one can truly know which deal is the best for the UK, but it will undoubtedly be exciting to see how this all pans out. Following the worst mass shooting in United States history on Sunday night, reactions came pouring in following the tragedy in Las Vegas. One person who made sure to give her thoughts was former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton who wasted no time singling out the National Rifle Association (NRA) during a multi-tweet post on Twitter. Hillary on Vegas On Sunday night outside of the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, thousands were on hand to enjoy the final night of the Route 91 Harvest Festival. As country music star Jason Aldean performed for those in attendance, shots were fired into the crowd from high up above. Hundreds of rounds scattered in the area, as panic quickly ensued. Minute by minute screams could be heard along the Vegas strip, as videos were uploaded onto social media from those on the ground. As law enforcement arrived, they made their way to the 32nd floor of a nearby hotel where the shooter had been located. However, before the police could make their way inside the room in question, the suspect had taken his own life, but not before killing at least 50 and injuring more than 400. The suspect has since been identified as Stephen Paddock, a 64-year-old resident of Mesquite, Nevada, which is located right outside the city of Las Vegas. In response, Hillary Clinton gave her thoughts in a series of October 2 posts on social media. The crowd fled at the sound of gunshots. Imagine the deaths if the shooter had a silencer, which the NRA wants to make easier to get. Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) October 2, 2017 Taking to Twitter on Monday morning, Hillary Clinton didn't hold back her thoughts, while highlighting the tragic nature of the shooting in question. Clinton expressed her sadness, saying that the entire nation was "grieving" with the victims, describing the shooting as a "cold-blooded massacre." Our grief isn't enough. We can and must put politics aside, stand up to the NRA, and work together to try to stop this from happening again. Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) October 2, 2017 Hillary Clinton then turned her attention to the NRA, as the debate and conversation over gun control became front and center once again. "Imagine the deaths if the shooter had a silencer, which the NRA wants to make easier to get," she added. In her third and final tweet regarding the issue, Clinton doubled down. "Our grief isn't enough," the former Democratic nominee noted, stating, "We can and must put politics aside, stand up to the NRA, and work together to try to stop this from happening again." Las Vegas shooting: 50 people dead 406 people transported to hospital Shooter deadhttps://t.co/Nsz6Rnsw7U pic.twitter.com/WqyfQUMBXT NBC News (@NBCNews) October 2, 2017 Trump's response While Hillary Clinton was giving her reaction to the mass shooting in Las Vegas, Donald Trump sent out his "warmest condolences and sympathies" to the victims on Twitter, before elaborating further in a speech at the White House. As the nation mourns yet another senseless tragedy that claimed the lives of dozens of innocent Americans, only time will tell what the next step will be for the country moving forward. At least 50 people were killed and more than 400 wounded in the worst mass shooting in American history. The maniac Stephen Paddock shot from the balcony of a hotel in Las Vegas a thousand times against the crowd that was at a music festival. The bloody shooting spread terror among the Americans. Las Vegas attack: The Mandalay Bay Resort You can see horrible scenes of the savagery that shows the blood-filled music concert seats, after the shots from a balcony at casino Mandalay Bay Resort.' At least four long sequences of shots heard over a period of more than a minute, which is believed to be shot with a semi-automatic rifle. The devastating attack, which started shortly after 10 pm on Sunday (1st), is larger than the shooting in Pulse nightclub last year which left 49 people dead in Orlando, Florida. Those at the festival threw themselves on the ground to protect themselves from the shots as bullets passed over people. Traumatized witnesses said they saw victims hit in the head. The bullets created an echoing effect around the tall buildings, increasing terror and panic as people became confused as to where the shootings originated. 'Stephen Paddock': The suspect killed by SWAT teams The suspect in the shooting was found dead on the 32nd floor of Mandalay Bay Resort after SWAT teams stormed the hotel room. Police have confirmed that the "lonely wolf" was Stephen Paddock, 64 years. According to the police, an arsenal of at least eight weapons was found in the assassin's room. The man is believed to be a grandfather, who lived in a remote home in the Mesquite desert, 80 miles northeast of Las Vegas, near the border of the state of Arizona. However, police said they had found a 62-year-old woman, Marilou Danley, who was reported by CBS to be Paddock's wife and sought for interrogation by police. Donald Trump tweeted: 'God bless you!' The White House has said President Donald Trump is being briefed on the situation. Trump made a publication on his official Twitter account: "My warmest condolences and compassion for the victims and families of the terrible massacre in Las Vegas. God bless you!" About 22,000 spectators were at the country music concert and dodged the fires to preserve their lives. Terrorist attacks are increasing in North America and Europe. Only this year, several terror attacks have been recorded, some are more serious than common. This time, Las Vegas was the target of the radicals. Marilou Danley, the girlfriend of the gunman behind the deadliest mass shooting in modern America, said in a statement read by her attorney in a press conference on Wednesday that she was not aware that something horrible like this was going to happen. The transcripts of that statement are provided by Buzzfeed News. Danley arrived at Los Angeles International Airport on Tuesday night from Manila, Philippines. She immediately met with FBI investigators but she is not in custody. Matthew Lombard, her attorney, said that he and his client are currently cooperating with the FBI and Las Vegas police about the investigation. She described Stephen Paddock as a kind, caring man in a statement read by her attorney, Matthew Lombard, on Wednesday. She claimed that she did not see any warning signs that Stephen Paddock was planning the horrible attack and she believed that, sending her to the Philippines, and giving her money, was Paddock's way of breaking up with her. She added in her statement that she loved Paddock and hoped for a quiet future with him. Motive behind the Las Vegas shooting incident The motive behind the deadliest mass shooting in the history of the United States is still unknown to the investigators but the police said it was obviously premeditated. The police recovered 47 firearms from the suspect in three different locations. The firearms were found in the hotel he stayed during the attack and from his two houses in Nevada. According to The Telegraph, the investigators said on Tuesday that their top priority is to find the motive behind the horrible attack. The investigators are searching for clues in the gunmans house and the room at Mandalay Bay. The investigators are also searching for the motive through Stephen Paddocks girlfriend, who already denied the knowledge about the attack, but is currently cooperating with the investigation. Who is the girlfriend of the gunman? Marilou Danley, a 62-year-old Australian citizen, is described as a friendly mother and grandmother by her relatives. She was born in the Philippines on December 12, 1954, but later moved to Gold Coast Westland, Australia in 1980 with her young daughter, Sheila. She married a local and became a citizen in Australia. In 1990, she moved to the United States with her 15-year-old daughter to marry an Arkansas man named Geary Danley, who was a FedEx auditor. They settled in Memphis before retiring to Nevada. Marilou Danley met Stephen Paddock while she was still married to her ex-husband. They started dating in 2013 and has been living with Paddock in Mesquite, Nevada. At The Washington Post's Cybersecurity Summit on Tuesday, the cybersecurity coordinator of the White House, Rob Joyce, stood for the end of Social Security numbers (Ssn). They were used to verify Americans' identities. According to Joyce, "the Social Security Number has outlived its usefulness," the Hill reported. Among the mentioned problems was the inability to change the SSN even after your data has been stolen, which leads to the lack of secrecy. The necessity of cybersecurity regulation Earlier, when the company Equifax was hacked, the SSNs of around 145 million US citizens were revealed. Joyce appealed to Congress, noting that the regulation of cybersecurity is extremely necessary. Joyce added that the White House should be more transparent in the Vulnerabilities Equities Process. It is aimed to choose the hacking techniques which can be left secret for using them for espionage. Several major companies stated their disagreement with Joyce, noting that it is necessary to fix any security vulnerabilities in software or hardware. Joyce stated that the White House officials and federal agencies are aiming to set clearer rules. He revealed the new information that the secret vulnerabilities are reviewed every half a year. On Tuesday, the former Equifax CEO Richard Smith also announced that now it is high time to cancel the Social Security number as a national identifier, Ars Technica reported. He said that "I personally know my Social Security number has been compromised at least four times in my lifetime." Any violations of the cybersecurity demonstrate that the Social Security number had never been intended to be a universal ID form. The breaches can influence US residents' financial lives, so the lawmakers are intending to tighten regulations on the ID security issue. The White House is aiming to remove vulnerabilities According to the experts, the malicious attacks Wannary and NotPetya spread because of the vulnerabilities. Microsoft had succeeded in removing them less than a month before the attacks. Joyce mentioned the federal ban on Russian Kaspersky Lab software, which had been imposed in the fear of being co-opted by Russians. Joyce considers that Russia did not use American firms to protect its cyber systems. Joyce said that the White House officials had started the process of changing the way of developing international rules for cyber diplomacy. Rex Tillerson, the US Secretary of State, is allegedly annoyed with Donald Trump for a number of reasons. According to a report from NBC, Tillerson called Trump a moron after Trump gave a controversial speech to the Boy Scouts. They further argue that Tillerson is frustrated with Trump for consistently undercutting him and he doesn't agree with Trump's positions on numerous foreign policy issues. Tillerson has denied these claims. After this denial, Trump went to Twitter and accused NBC of deliberately fabricating this report. NBC has stated, unequivocally, that they stand by their reporting that Rex and Donald are not getting along. Secretary of State Tillerson called Donald Trump a moron and has wanted to resign on multiple occasions. https://t.co/E1gMfLRwSc Shaun King (@ShaunKing) October 4, 2017 The tension between Trump and Tillerson becomes public The disagreements between the two of them have spilled into the public. However, it seems that Tillerson has been frustrated with Trump for a while now. It is further alleged that Donald is upset with Rex for his response on Trumps comments after the tragedy in Charlottesville. Nevertheless, the majority of their disagreements stem from their opposing views on how to handle foreign policy. NBC states that Rex felt undermined by Trumps response to his diplomatic efforts dealing with North Korea. In a series of tweets by the president, he told Rex he was wasting his time trying diplomacy with Rocket Man. These tweets came right after Tillerson had stated that the US would seek diplomatic options in responding to the tension with North Korea. There are other instances in which Tillerson and Trump clashed. In one instance, Rex requested that countries ease their blockade of Qatar. After that request, the president said the Saudi-led effort was necessary, which directly conflicts with what Rex requested. Trump also disagreed with Tillerson on how to handle the crisis in Venezuela. In addition, the president denied his request that the US should force Israel to repay money he felt the US was owed. Tillersons tenure as Secretary of State has been rocky There have been complaints about the way Tillerson has run the State Department. Sources close to the situation have said that he does not return phone calls, has failed to hire enough staff in the State Department, hes clashed with Jared Kushner, Trumps son-in-law, on foreign policy, and refused to speak with the media at times. It is no wonder that Donald and Rex are reportedly in opposition to each other. Tillerson seems to be a difficult Secretary of State and Trump seems to be a more difficult boss. Although Tillerson, today, denies there was any friction between the two, it is obvious that something is transpiring. It must be noted that Rex didnt expressly deny calling Trump a moron. Reporter: The report says you called Trump a "moron" Tillerson: "I'm not going to deal with petty stuff like that"https://t.co/QuDwgKhyCd pic.twitter.com/02P1kk1jvg CNN (@CNN) October 4, 2017 If Rex decides to stay as the Secretary of State, it will be interesting to watch the two men interact after this report from NBC. Gun Control advocates ranging from late night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel to just about any random Democratic member of Congress are beating their breasts, crying at times, raging at others, while calling for" something to be done!" John Lott provides a reality check for such proposals. The experience of Europe proves that common sense gun control measures are futile where stopping Mass Shootings are concerned. Almost as important, terrorists have learned to use motor vehicles as weapons of mass destruction. Europe as a killing field for terrorists Ever since the 1970s, Europe has been a killing field for terrorists of various stripes, starting with Black September and the Red Army Faction and currently ISIS. Many countries of the European Union have a total ban on semi-automatic weapons. Nevertheless, terrorists have found ways to obtain automated weapons to commit mass murder. Moreover, some terrorists have used motor vehicles, such as happened recently in Nice and London, to mow down people on the street as efficiently as if they used an AK-47. The carnage is similar between Europe and the United States During the Obama years, Lott points out, there were 29 (four victims of more) mass shootings in the United States and 26 in Europe. The casualties in each region of the world were of similar numbers, despite the existence of the 2nd Amendment in the United States and strict gun bans in Europe. The bottom line One of the dirty little secrets that is often forgotten when the hysteria over a mass shooting bubbles up is that gun deaths in the United States have declined over time. According to an article in the Washington Post from a couple of years ago, in 1993 there were seven homicides by firearms per 100,000 people in the United States. By 2013 that rate had been cut in half with 3.6 gun murders per 100,000 people occurring. A number of factors can be attributed to the decline in gun deaths, including more effective policing, to less alcohol being consumed, even to the removal of lead from paint, a source of brain damage in the young that can lead to violent behavior. Gun violence in the United States tends to concentrate in locales such as Chicago that have instituted common sense gun laws. The old cliche that when guns are outlawed only outlaws have guns seems trite, but it applies in this case. However, the imperative to do something, anything, even something that is futile or counterproductive is hard to resist. Some sober thought should be applied, however, when dealing with gun violence. We are living in a time when our smartphone or tablet may have a disembodied female voice that communicates with us and handles instructions ranging from contact calling, schedule setting, and web searching. Foremost among these digital assistants is Apples very own iPhone companion Siri, and until recently her search engine of choice when looking up info from the internet is Microsofts Bing. That changed when Apple reconfigured Siri to use Google. The official reason for the change was a better web search experience, but instead, it seems that Siri has started getting some facts jumbled. On late Wednesday, information went viral that the Apple assistant apparently thinks that the national anthem for Bulgaria is the hit reggaeton number Despacito. Embarrassing error The Republic of Bulgaria is a southeastern European country that was once part of the Soviet Union sphere of influence, until the collapse of the Communist bloc in the early 1990s. Its national anthem, verifiable online when using search engines is called Mila Rodino or Dear Motherland. But if an iPhone or iPad user were to have put the question verbally to Siri in the middle of this week, she would have answered instead that Bulgarias anthem is Despacito, a song by Puerto Rican artists Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee. One of the Siri users who realized this issue quickly spread the word on Reddit. Pretty soon more Apple gadget owners were asking their versions of the digital assistant what Bulgarias national anthem was, verifying that Siri always returned Despacito as a result. There could be no musical confusion between that and Mila Rodino either, with its operatic orchestration being a far cry from the catchy Latino beat of the reggaeton song. Interestingly, other digital helpers like Google Assistant, Amazons Alexa and Microsoft Windows 10s Cortana all got it right. Quiet repair Apples switchover from Microsoft Bing to Google as the source search engine used by Siri from last week has been touted as a possible suspect for the assistants misinformation. The Google change also applied to other systems in Apples wider network, like Spotlight on Macs and iOS Search. The legendary computing giant affirms that they continue to maintain good working relationships with both Microsoft and Google, though it still does not quite explain the Despacito debacle. And no explanation might be forthcoming. Apple has quietly patched the problem, making Siri correctly give Mila Rodino as Bulgarias national anthem. Despacito by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee, with a remix featuring Justin Bieber, recently broke the record for the most streamed song online in history. On YouTube it eventually overtook See You Again by Wiz Khalifa as the most-viewed video. You can check Siri on that. According to an article from The Washington Post, Egypt was caught last August attempting to purchase 30,000 rockets from North Korea in a since foiled deal. The fallout from this has affected the United Nations and Egypt's relationships with both America and North Korea. How the North Korean ship was caught In August 2016 a secret message was sent by U.S. intelligence services in Washington D.C. to Cairo alerting them of an unknown vessel named the Jie Shun. The ship was headed toward the famed Suez Canal. It was flying Cambodian colors but had sailed from North Korea with unknown cargo. When the ship entered Egyptian waters customs agents rushed the vessel and discovered its cargo. Hidden underneath crates of iron ore covered by bulky tarps was over 30,000 rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs). United Nations probe uncovers deal A United Nations (U.N.) investigation was then launched to find out who the buyers were. The investigation uncovered an elaborate arrangement in which wealthy Egyptian business executives ordered the RPGs for a grand total of $23 million. These rockets were ordered for the country's military, with great effort made to keep the deal as hidden as possible according to what American officials familiar with the situation told The Washington Post. The U.N. determined in their investigation that this was the largest seizure of ammunition in the history of sanctions against North Korea. Egypt's relations with America and North Korea The revelation of this incident has since prompted a number of intense and mostly private American complaints about Egypt's effort to obtain the banned weapons, despite the country saying they cooperated and were transparent with officials from the U.N. However, American officials with knowledge of the situation say Egypt only acted because they were basically forced to. These same officials told The Washington Post that this was only one of a number of shady deals that caused the Trump administration to delay $300 million in military aid to the country this summer, some of which was later cut. Last month it was reported by South Korea's Yonhap News Agency that Egypt cut military ties with North Korea. The country's defense minister made the announcement during his visit to Seoul. Speculation is that Egypt got the message that it cannot have military relations with both America and North Korea, so they cut ties with the latter. A team of archaeologists in Turkey believe that they may have discovered the tomb of Santa Claus in the city of Demre. With this discovery, they may be close to changing conventional thought in terms of where the remains of one of Christianity's saints are located. Meanwhile, the top-level of the ancient Roman Colosseum will finally be opened up to the public for the first time. This comes after decades of that area being closed due to restoration work being done on the ancient stadium. How the tomb was found Archaeologists accidentally discovered an undamaged site containing a tomb that they believe belongs to Saint Nicholas of Myra (270-343), who is the historical inspiration for Santa Claus. The tomb was found at St. Nicholas Church, which is located in the country's southern Antalya province in the modern-day city of Demre. Saint Nicholas himself was born in the nearby city of Patara. He spent most of his life in Myra (now Demre), where he was buried. The head of the province's Monument Authority told the Daily Sabah that the tomb was found when electronic surveys showed gaps beneath the church. However, the tomb will be difficult to access due to mosaics on the floor of the church above it. Each tile will have to be loosened from the mosaics so that they can be removed together in a mold. Most believe that Saint Nicholas' remains were taken during the crusades to Bari, Italy in the 11th century. They have since laid in the Basilica di San Nicola. It is now thought by the Turks that the wrong bones were removed and taken abroad. A first for visitors to the Roman Colosseum Yesterday, the officials who run the Roman Colosseum showed off the newly restored fourth and fifth levels of the historic stadium during a media tour. This marks the first time in forty years that these levels of the famous landmark have been accessed by non-workers. The Italian Culture Minister, Dario Francheschini, was also on hand to visit the new levels. They will be opened to tourists for guided tours starting on November 1st, along with a connected hallway that has never been opened to the public. The Colosseum, one of the most famous architectural works of the Romans, was opened in 80 A.D. The new levels opened were the furthest away from the action and were reserved for the plebeians. Today, however, they will offer visitors spectacular and amazing views of the entire stadium and surrounding cities. This past Sunday tens of thousands of Cameroonians in the country's English-speaking regions came out in force to show that they want independence from the country's French-speaking majority. However, these protests ended in violence in the Central African nation and these regions have now been put on lockdown. Protests by English speaking Cameroonians According to the International Business Times, the country's military has been heavily deployed to the English-speaking regions of Cameroon following Sunday's protests. Local media in the country is reporting that security forces shot 17 people dead, with some even being shot by military helicopters. There were also six soldiers who got severely wounded and at least 40 people who were arrested. The protesting English-speakers thumbed their nose at security forces and bans imposed on gathering in certain locations, as they held up flags to show they want independence. According to Amnesty International, this past Sunday was the 56th anniversary of the incorporation of the English-speaking regions into the country. Amnesty International has also called out the ongoing campaign to silence any form of dissent by the government and for violence by them to stop. They also called on the protesters to be peaceful and not incite violence themselves. How the protests started and the response to them Those protesting for independence made no specific demands or declarations. However, these protests have been going on for some time, with accusations that the French-speaking majority discriminates against them. This all started last November when teachers and lawyers called for a strike to halt what they perceived as an overuse of the French language. Schools have been closed in the English-speaking regions of the country since then. Over time the strike turned violent when separatist protesters started joining in demanding complete independence. Meanwhile, organized rallies have been held in all major towns in Cameroon's French-speaking areas to denounce the separatist groups. President Paul Biya has made it known that he is not open to any kind of negotiations with the separatists. Why is Cameroon split like this? Prior to World War I, what is now Cameroon was a German colony called Kamerun. Following the war, England and France each took some of the former colony. In 1960 French Cameroun became independent. One year later the Northern British Cameroons voted to join Nigeria, while the Southern British Cameroons voted to become part of Cameroon. Both English and France are official languages in the country, but France is the dominant language in the country as eight of the ten provinces are French dominated. Ruan Chenhai lives in a container in Xiaoshan district in Hangzhou, the capital of East China's Zhejiang province, paying rent of 1,200 yuan ($180) a month. [Photo/VCG] A businessman became an online sensation after photos of his rented apartment in a container were found attractive by netizens. Ruan Chenhai, born in the 1970s, now lives in a container in the Xiaoshan district of Hangzhou, the capital of East China's Zhejiang province, at a rent of 1,200 yuan ($180) a month. His hometown is in Taizhou in the same province, about 270 kilometers away from Hangzhou, where he runs a start-up. In the past, he travelled frequently between the two cities and spent about 6,000 yuan to stay at hostels in Hangzhou each month, a rate much higher than the container. He said he needed money for his business and could not afford to buy an apartment now. The simple life in the container helps him think, he said. Beijing and Washington have reached "wide-ranging consensus" in their inaugural US-China Law Enforcement and Cybersecurity Dialogue and pledged to ramp up cooperation in areas including counterterrorism, fighting transnational crime and cybercrime, and counter-narcotics, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a press release on Wednesday. The dialogue was held in Washington and co-chaired by State Councilor and Minister of Public Security Guo Shengkun, US Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Elaine Duke. In line with the consensus reached by President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump, the two sides agreed to increase dialogue and cooperation in the areas of law enforcement and cybersecurity and add to the outcome of Trump's state visit to China in November, according to the release. Guo said that proceeding from the dialogue, both sides should focus on collaboration and manage their differences, to ensure that law enforcement and cybersecurity cooperation will become a highlight of China-US relations in the new era, and make unyielding efforts to promote global security governance and build a community of shared future and security. "China is ready to work together with the US side to increase cooperation in areas including counterterrorism, fighting cross-border crimes, bringing back fugitives and recovering their assets, counter-narcotics and judicial assistance, and address the important concerns of the two countries in law enforcement," Guo said, according to the news release. Guo also said the two sides should continue their programmatic cooperation on fighting cybercrime, cyber-terrorism and other areas, to build a peaceful, secure, open, cooperative and orderly cyberspace. The US side agreed that strengthening cooperation in law enforcement and cybersecurity is important to both countries and the world. The two sides face some common threats in both law enforcement and cybersecurity and have "broad common interests", according to the Chinese press release. The US side is willing to work with the Chinese side to push forward the handling of specific cases through dialogue and produce more cooperative results to benefit the peoples of the two countries, according to the release. Heather Nauert, spokeswoman for the US State Department, said on Wednesday: "Consistent with the results-oriented approach of this administration's policy toward China, the dialogue facilitated forthright and detailed discussions and resulted in bilateral cooperation on priority issues including immigration, counterterrorism counter-narcotics, counterterrorism and also cybersecurity." With the conclusion of the Law Enforcement and Cybersecurity Dialogue, the first round of the four cabinet-level dialogues agreed to by the two presidents at their Mar-a-Lago meeting in Florida in April has been completed. The inaugural high-level dialogue on diplomacy and security took place in June, and the high-level dialogue on economy was held in July, followed by the first US-China Social and Cultural Dialogue last week. Contact the writers at huanxinzhao@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. HA NOI The Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) said that the Ministry of Finances proposed fee cuts was a positive move, but stronger cuts or even abolishments were needed to support businesses. The VCCI said that many kinds of fees were unnecessary, such as the fee for certifying business information, which was VN20,000 (US$0.9). Although the fee was low, it was unnecessary, VCCI said, adding that it was compulsory for firms to publish their information on the national portal about business registry. So, paying fees to get this information is unreasonable, it said. Regarding the fee for verifying the origin of fishery raw materials, the finance ministry proposed a cut by 10 per cent from VN700,000 to VN630,000, which was still high and burdened businesses, the VCCI noted. The VCCI said that a small-sized fishery processing company must have around 220 certificates about the origin of materials for exporting to the European markets per year, which would cost the firm VN154 million overall. The fee remained a burden to businesses, especially exporting firms, the VCCI said, adding that the firms proposed to cut the fee to around VN100,000 to VN350,000 per certificate. au Anh Tuan, head of the VCCIs Legal Department, expected the Ministry of Finance to implement more fee cuts. In the short term, fee collection might drop, but in the long term, the fee cuts will promote the development of businesses, and as a result, tax collection will improve and jobs will be created for the sustainable development of the economy, Tuan said. It was estimated that the collection of fees and charges accounted for 3 per cent to 5 per cent of the total budget revenue. The Vietnamese Government has targeted the year 2017 to reduce the costs of businesses. However, the ministry has proposed to increase the value-added tax from 10 per cent to 12 per cent to cope with the shrinking budget revenue and public overspending. - VNS HA NOI The EU is set to rule this month on the Vietnamese seafood industrys compliance with its regulations on illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, and the US has just announced new rules relating to the same issue. Facing scrutiny from two significant seafood markets, Vietnamese seafood exporters are anxious, and worried that both their fellow companies and the Government arent doing enough to meet importers requirements. Earlier this year, the EU fisheries working group announced that Viet Nam is likely to receive a yellow card from EU inspectors, particularly if it did not fulfill IUU fishing requirements related to anti-mining. Such a ruling could have far-reaching implications for the countrys seafood exporters. September 30 was the deadline for Viet Nam to show improvements on the requirements, and the ruling will be issued at the meeting on October 20 by the EU mission to the Government Office, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, VASEP and some agencies related to IUU. A yellow card creates nervousness among EU retailers about seafood imported from that country, and they may look elsewhere to buy. Other import markets will also strengthen checks of seafood exported by that country. If a country gets a red card, its seafood products will be banned in the EU. Chairman of Thuan Phuoc Seafood and Trading JSC Tran Van Linh said that although the companys exports of seafood to EU account for less than 10 per cent of the total export value, the company has still been working with other enterprises to fight against IUU fishing. If the EU issues a yellow card to Viet Nam, it will affect the image and reputation of Viet Nams seafood export in the world market, said Linh. According to a list provided by the Viet Nam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), 57 Vietnamese businesses have committed to combat IUU fishing. These enterprises will only purchase seafood from licensed fishing vessels and only import legally exploited seafood. The list includes several businesses that have never exported to the EU, but want to demonstrate the Vietnamese fishing communitys commitment to addressing the problem. But some of the committed companies say their efforts alone arent enough. Vo Quang Vinh, deputy general director of Cau Tre Company, which has been exporting seafood to the EU for over 20 years and joined the VASEP list, said State action is necessary to protect the reputation of Vietnamese seafood. The EU does not just judge based on a few firms but on the whole community, including many other businesses that are exporting to the EU, said Vinh. Therefore, if only some enterprises in the process of participation in the assessment do not meet the requirements will affect the entire seafood businesses. He said the State needed to enact clear regulations to guarantee that the origin of fishing vessels is easily traceable. Experts from VASEP said that businesses need to set up an alliance to meet the requirements of food safety, traceability and operational transparency at every step of the seafood production process. At the same time, enterprises should strictly implement internal regulations, such as not buying seafood from illegal fishing vessels, fishing without licences or fishing with prohibited tools. Such regulations can protect the reputation of Viet Nam seafood in the world market. Speed is important, as the US is also set to enact new regulations to eliminate IUU-caught seafood among its imports. The American regulations are part of the Seafood Import Monitoring Programme, which establishes reporting and recordkeeping requirements to prevent IUU-caught and or misrepresented seafood from entering US commerce, with the goal of protecting the national economy, global food security and the sustainability of shared ocean resources. The US regulations will take effect on January 1, 2018. VNS HA NOI In an effort to fuel a start-up boom, the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) is drafting a decree to create a legal framework for funding start-ups. The ministry said that raising funds is prerequisite for start-ups success. Due to their high risk of failure, these fledgling companies often face difficulty in accessing bank capital. Currently, Viet Nam only has a legal framework for securities investment funds, which by law must be founded with a large amount of capital, and are not often equipped or prepared to invest in start-ups. Thus, it is important to create a legal framework for funding start-ups as well as policies to promote this activity, the ministry said. In the draft decree, the ministry proposed two models for accredited investors, including venture capital corporations and venture capital funds. The venture capital corporations and funds would be provided with tax incentives, the draft said. However, investors must meet financial requirements for founding venture capital corporations and funds. They must have had an average annual income of VN200 million (US$8,800) in the two most recent years and minimum total assets of VN500 million for individual investors and VN1 billion for organisational investors. The draft is now open for public comments on the MPIs website mpi.gov.vn. Viet Nam is witnessing an increasing presence of foreign venture capital funds, such as CyberAgent, 500 Start-ups and Golden Gate Ventures, as well as growing interest in funding start-ups from big companies and private investors. Nevertheless, these companies have yet to establish a concrete legal framework or a defined fund raising mechanism, and so do not possess any legal status in the eyes of administrative agencies. There were also local investment funds, such as VCBF - a joint venture between Vietcombank and Franklin Templeton Investment, but they nearly did not invest in early stages of start-ups because they perceive it as too risky. FPT Venture is the only local fund that is active in funding start-ups from day one, assuming the heavy risk this entails. Despite the existence of venture capital funding for Vietnamese start-ups, the MPI reports that most Vietnamese start-ups raise capital from investors and organizations, including venture capital firms, in modest sums, from US$5,000 to $50,000. The MPI hopes the new legal framework will spur greater lending from existing venture capital firms. The Government of Viet Nam is working to promote a start-up wave in the country, with a national project of building a start-up ecosystem by 2025. A circular on venture capital fund was also being drafted. - VNS HA NOI Viet Nam can achieve a whopping 56 per cent annual rise in export turnover this year to reach US$275 billion, a senior official has said. Minister and Chairman of the Governments Office, Mai Tien Dung, said at a press conference on Tuesday that this achievement is possible with concerted efforts by all stakeholders including businesses, ministries and agencies. If this target is achieved, it would far exceed the target of $188 billion set for the year. The target was later revised to $202 billion. Dung, who based his statement on a new report by the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT), said exports had already posted an impressive 19.8 per cent year-on-year increase in the first nine months of the year. According to the General Statistics Office (GSO), exports by the domestic sector in the first nine months touched $43.2 billion, a 16.8 per cent increase, while those of the foreign-invested sector was $110.8 billion, an increase of 21 per cent. The United States remained the largest consumer of Vietnamese goods at $31.2 billion, followed by the EU and China at $28.4 billion and $21.9 billion, respectively. Import turnover during the first nine months jumped 23.1 per cent year-on-year to $154.5 billion, with imports by the domestic sector touching $61.3 billion, an 18.7 per cent increase, and that of the foreign-invested sector rising 26.1 per cent to $93.2 billion. China continued to be the largest importer of Vietnamese goods at $41.6 billion, a year-on-year surge of 15.6 per cent. The Republic of Korea (RoK) and ASEAN came second and third with $33.9 billion and $20.6 billion, respectively. Viet Nams trade deficit for the periods is estimated at $500 million. The trade deficit incurred by the domestic sector totaled $18.08 billion, and that of the foreign-invested sector was $17.64 billion. Potentials, challenges Experts have said that the growth potential for exports is very high, with Vietnamese goods and commodities present in nearly 200 countries and territories. Along with the focus on exports to key markets with high purchasing power like the US, the EU, Japan, RoK, China and ASEAN, Vietnamese goods have also expanded to Africa and Latin America. However, the country is expected to face many obstacles and challenges ahead, including competition from other countries dealing in similar commodities and goods, pressure from anti-dumping lawsuits, and other trade barriers arising out of increasing protectionism in importing countries. Moreover, Vietnamese exports are still focused on scale and quantity rather than quality and value, the experts said. Tran Thanh Hai, deputy director of the MOITs Export Department told the Thoi bao Kinh te Viet Nam (Vietnam Economic Times) newspaper that although Viet Nam had joined the global supply chain, its role remains modest. The countrys export turnover was still heavily dependent on exports of FDI enterprises, with their contribution much higher than that of domestic firms. Besides, Hai said, FDI firms have not supported local businesses in strengthening their presence in the global supply chain. The under-developed supporting industry is also hindering domestic firms by forcing them to import a large quantity of components, he said. Hai also stressed that most Vietnamese enterprises have not fully grasped and updated their knowledge of FTA provisions, and this restricts their ability to make proper business plans before exporting. He said domestic firms need to increase their competitiveness by improving corporate governance and applying technological innovations. In the processing and manufacturing sectors, enterprises will find it difficult to sustain their exports if they ignore development of the supporting industry, Hai said, adding this task must be accorded top priority. He said it was very important that the localisation rate in key industries like mechanical products, electronic components and devices, textiles and footwear increases significantly in the near future. VNS HA NOI PetroVietnam Power Corporation (PV Power) will sell 20 per cent of its shares at its initial public offering (IPO) in late November or early December, Vietnam News Agency reported on Wednesday. PV Power General Director Nguyen Xuan Hoa said the proportion of shares sold to the public during the IPO will be 20 per cent, instead of 4-5 per cent as previously announced. This increase in the number of shares is because many investors are interested in energy stocks and it is also in line with the stance of the State steering committee on corporate equitisation. Under the PV Powers equitisation plan submitted to the Government on August 15, PV Powers business operation is not listed in the industries of which the State must have controlling stake. Thus, from now until 2018, the State will reduce its ownership from 100 per cent to 51 per cent. Specifically, 28.882 per cent of the shares will be sold to strategic investors, 20 per cent will be publicly traded through the IPO and 0.118 per cent will be issued to employees. According to Hoa, if PV Powers equitisation plan is approved by the Prime Minister in October, PV Power will quickly launch an IPO in late November or early December. The sale of PV Power shares to strategic investors will also be made following the IPOs success. Hoa added that PV Power held a roadshow to introduce the companys potential to investors ahead of the IPO, which included the participation of many domestic and foreign financial institutions and funds such as Dragon Capital, Standard Chartered, VietFund AM and Mirae Assets Global Investments, as well as Duxton, Phatra Capital and City Pacific. PV Power is the second-largest electricity producer in Viet Nam after Electricity of Vietnam. PV Power is managing plants with total capacity of 4,208MW. Last year, the companys plants generated 21 billion kWh of electricity output. VNS HA NOI Can Tho City expects to export its first batches of rice to Iran in the last quarter of 2017, Huynh Trung Tru, deputy director of the citys Department of Industry and Trade, said. At a meeting to review import-export activities organised by the citys Peoples Committee on Wednesday, Tru said a company in Iran in August directly dealt with a rice firm in Can Tho to finalise a contract to export to Iran 100,000 tonnes of rice from now until the end of the year. Previously, Can Tho did not export rice to this market, the official said. According to Tru, if rice shipment to Iran meets favourable conditions, the city hopes that the partner will sign a longer term contract next year. Tru said demand for rice imports has increased in many markets such as Bangladesh, the Philippines and Iran. For the Bangladesh market alone, the country needs to import some 500,000 tonnes. "Particularly, in October 2017, they demand for 250,000-300,000 tonnes, Tru said, adding that local firms have probably registered with the Viet Nam Food Association (VFA) to participate in bidding for the shipment of rice. In the first nine months of 2017, the citys total rice export volume reached over 638,000 tonnes, bringing turnover of US$262 million, up 22 and 20 per cent year-on-year, respectively. According to reports of the citys Department of Industry and Trade, the localitys export revenue from January to September reached over $1 billion, a surge of 16.9 per cent compared with the same period last year. The city also imported goods worth $321 million, up 47.6 per cent from the same period last year, driven by the increased purchase of equipment and machines for production. According to VFA, in the first nine months of the year, the country exported 4.57 million tonnes of rice, reaping a turnover of $2.02 billion, rising by 20.8 per cent in volume and 18.6 per cent in value against the figures of the corresponding period last year. The association forecasts that in 2017, the countrys rice exports will reach some 5.7 million tons, including 1.8 million tonnes in the last quarter, and 800,000 tonnes higher than 2016. VNS BINH PHUOC Some 800 litres of oil leaked into Bung Duc spring in Chon Thanh Districts Minh Hung Ward on Tuesday, causing pollution. On Wednesday, Binh Phuoc Province Police collaborated with other functional forces to handle the situation. According to the initial investigation, a fault in a flow line of Binh Phuoc Green Solution Production and Trading Corporation in Minh Hung 3 Industrial Zone Chon Thanh District, resulted in 800 litres of rubber oil spewing into Bung Duc spring. Following heavy rain, the oil flowed into the concentrated drainage of Minh Hung 3 Industrial Zone and then into the spring, about 500m away. On Wednesday morning, residents of Minh Hung Ward detected slick on the surface of the water. They then tried setting a fire by throwing burning wood into the spring. The Environmental Police Department under the provincial police immediately collaborated with relating agencies to address the spill. Water samples were also taken to determine the pollution level of Bung Duc spring. At present, the police are consolidating the dossiers to further investigate the case. VNS HA NOI Faculty and students of the HCM City Conservatory of Music will get opportunities to hone their talents at the Tchaikovsky Moscow State Conservatory under an agreement between the two conservatories. The agreement, signed last Monday, will foster co-operation between the two sides in education and research, information exchange and the organising of concerts and music festivals. In doing so, it will promote cultural understanding and academic fellowship. "The co-operation will create more favourable conditions for the HCM City Conservatory to improve its training quality," said Associate Professor Ta Quang ong, directory of the conservatory, at the singing ceremony in HCM City. "It is a long time since Viet Nam has signed a co-operation agreement with Russia on music development. The conservatory is the only one in Viet Nam to seek opportunities and promote co-operation with other music academies in the world," he added. Under the agreement, short-term exchange visits up to three weeks will be held for conducting master-classes and lectures and performing concerts. Student-exchange activities are also planned. The two conservatories will undertake joint research, develop collaborative projects, organise scientific seminars, collaborate on publications; and boost exchanges for studying and developing the musical cultures of both countries. They will also organise concerts and music festivals, introducing musicians of both nations. "This agreement is not the first co-operation between Viet Nam and Russia," said Professor Aleksander Sokolov, rector of the Moscow Conservatory. "Dozens of Vietnamese students have studied at the Moscow Conservatory in the past and they have been veteran musicians making great contribution to develop music in Viet Nam." "They take good use of Russian performing arts school and bring it into play in their homeland." Tchaikovsky Moscow Conservatory has 160-year history to train thousands of gifted musician in Russia including Sergei Rachmaninoff and Alexander Scriabin. Many Vietnamese musician generations have studied in the conservatory since 1960s, like composer o Nhuan, Peoples Artist ang Thai Son and Bui Cong Duy. HCM City Conservatory is one of three biggest music schools in Viet Nam. It has trained many students who have gained regional and international fame. Every year, it sends students to music schools in Europe and America. In June, the conservatory signed co-operation agreements with Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music in Hungary and Bratislava Conservatory in Slovakia. VNS Nguyen Quoc Hung, director general of the State Bank of Viet Nams Credit Department speaks to the Thoi bao Kinh te Viet Nam (Viet Nam Economic Times) newspaper on the need to extend credit to fishing households to help them stay at sea. Will you further explain Government Decree 67 on lending credits to fishing households, either to buy or build new fishing boats or to refurbish their old ones? In the first eight months of 2017, commercial banks committed to lending over VN10.353 trillion (US$455.53 million) to fishing households which are beneficiaries of Government Decree 67. Of this amount, VN 9.153 trillion ($402.73 million) has been disbursed, an increase of 19.3 per cent compared to 2016. Under Government Decree 67 issued in July, 2014, 28 coastal localities had successfully processed 2,057 fishermens dossiers for making new fishing boats. But until now, only 1,236 have been submitted to banks, of which 106 have either been withdrawn or rejected by the banks due to their failure to meet bank requirement. By now, some debts are overdue and some have become bad debts. The debts are worth hundreds of billions of ong. Do you have any comments on the serious outstanding problem? Risks have been incurred by the banks. In my opinion, this problem should be attributed to the Government Decree and the poor co-ordination between concerned agencies, particularly boat owners - the borrowers. When the due date came, many didnt have money to pay back their debts. This is the key reason leading to overdue and bad debts. Bad debts have been reported in 12 of the 28 coastal provinces and cities. A total of almost VN636 billion ($28,000), including the 12 overdue debts, have been turned into bad debts totalling almost VN174 billion ($7,650). The key reasons leading to these problems include the low quality of some new fishing boats, including inappropriate designs coupled with some owners lacking the appropriate skills to operate them. All lending banks have lamented that insurance for the new vessels is for only three years, while the operating cycle of the boats is between 11-16 years. How should we solve this problem? If there is no insurance, fishermen will not go to the high sea for fishing. This will make the banks worry they might lose their investment. More recently, the Ministry of Finance issued an instruction asking insurance companies to extend their insurance scheme under Decree 67 until December 31 this year. The Government Decree states clearly that boat owners will receive annual financial support for insurance of the vessels. It also states clearly that if any damage occur to the boat, if the boat is insured, the settlement will be based on the boat insurance agreement. That means that fishing boats insurance must be extended from three to 11 years for steel boat hulls and 16 years for composite hulls. This will become a big problems for the banks! According to the development plan for offshore fishing fleets, the number of fishing boats has already surpassed the targets. Does the Credit Department have any comments on this issue? In my opinion, the Government should reconsider whether the banks should continue to extend the credit policy to build new vessels or not; or to up grade the existing fleet. It is suggested that we should focus on investment in fishing logistics, including fish processing, to improve the quality of processing. In addition, we should also invest in improving the skills of fishermen, particularly their skills. The Government and concerned agencies have seen eye to eye on the need to revise Decree 67. In your opinion, what contents in the document should be given attention? There are four points that should be considered. They are: First, the number of the fishing boats and their power; Second, we need to have specific rules on how to settle debts when vessels are of low quality or the manufactures do not follow the design models. Third, the Government should have a special article on the finding new boat owners if one dies or is too ill to continue work. And finally, the Government should agree to financial support for boat owners to buy insurance. VNS Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) receives Kanji Hayama, former president of the Japans Taisei Corp., in Ha Noi yesterday. VNA/VNS Photo Thong Nhat HA NOI Viet Nam is committed to creating favourable conditions for Japanese businesses to invest in the country, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc told Kanji Hayama, former president of the Japans Taisei Corp., in Ha Noi yesterday. Recalling the companys efforts in handling the collapse of the Can Tho Bridge 10 years ago, Phuc lauded Taiseis contributions to Viet Nams socio-economic growth via its construction of many large-scale infrastructure projects. He said Viet Nam highly values its extensive strategic partnership with Japan, which is the countrys leading ODA provider and 4th biggest trade partner. Japan is also the second biggest foreign investor in Viet Nam. Phuc expressed his hope that Taisei will continue its good performance in Viet Nam, thereby enhancing Viet Nam Japan ties. Hayama expressed his gratitude for support from the Vietnamese Government for his companys operation in the country, particularly in dealing with the collapse of the Can Tho Bridge. He said he visits Viet Nam every year to pay tribute to victims of the accident. Hayama said he believes that Taiseis fully committed to support the future development of Viet Nam. VNS Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) yesterday praised the dedication of outgoing Bulgarian Ambassador Evgueni Stefanov Stoytchev to boosting Viet Nam-Bulgaria relations. VNA/VNS Photo Thong Nhat HA NOI Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc yesterday praised the dedication of outgoing Bulgarian Ambassador Evgueni Stefanov Stoytchev to boosting Viet Nam-Bulgaria relations. Receiving the Bulgarian envoy whod come to bid the PM farewell, Phuc also thanked Bulgaria for its support in recent years, particularly in training thousands of Vietnamese undergraduates and postgraduates. He proposed that Bulgaria, as the European Unions rotational Chair from January 2018, supports Viet Nam in deepening ties with the EU and push for the early signing and ratification of the EU-Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA). The relations between the two countries have made significant progress but was yet to match the potential on both sides, he said, adding that he hopes their co-operation will be accelerated in all fields. He also hoped that, with his experience and knowledge of Viet Nam, the ambassador will continue to cultivate friendship between the two nations. Ambassador Stoytchev highlighted the long-standing friendship between Viet Nam and Bulgaria and expressed his appreciation for the support his mission received from Vietnamese ministries, agencies and local governments. Viet Nam has been and will continue to be Bulgarias key partner in Southeast Asia, he said. He agreed that there are still a lot of potential for the two countries to tap in trade and investment and looked forward to firms from both sides getting more opportunities to expand this partnership. VNS HA NOI With traditional medicine still popular in Viet Nam, many breast cancer patients use unscientific and useless herbal cures to fight tumours, leaving them with more dangerous cancer and often severe side effects, according to doctors. Recently, the Ha Noi Oncology Hospital received a female patient with swollen breasts covered in ulcers, which had begun to pus and bleed. The 52-year-old patient from Ha Nois Son Tay District had earlier been diagnosed with second stage breast cancer. Doctors had advised her that in this stage, she was likely to recover if she followed their treatment regime strictly. Instead, the woman refused and went to a herbal doctor on the advice of her neighbours. After applying the herbs the doctor provided, she found her breasts were hot and hurt, but believed that the herbs were effective. She only went to hospital when her condition became more serious. Doctors at the Ha Noi Oncology Hospital said that she suffered from a serious infection caused by the herbs. The infection spread to her armpit, forcing doctors to remove all the infected skin. Her tumour also spread to different organs, with her cancer in the final stages. Doctor Le Hong Quang, head of the Breast Ward under the National Hospital for Cancer Diseases, said that he had seen many similar cases. The treatment is very difficult because at that time their skin and flesh decomposes, he said. Doctor Quang added that as well as women in impoverished, rural areas, educated women in the capital city also lack knowledge about cancer. They often refuse to be treated with scientific methods, but think herbs will remove tumours naturally, he said. As a result, their condition gets worse quickly, their cancer moves to later stages, causing a lot of problems for treatment, and even they face death, he said. Every year, the Breast Ward of the National Hospital for Cancer Diseases treats 1,800-2,000 patients. The average age of the patients is 45-55 whereas the average age of European female cancer patients is 55-70. More than 80 per cent of the patients have to have one or both of their breasts removed. Associate professor Tran Van Thuan, director of the National Hospital for Cancer Diseases, said that women over 40 years old should regularly check their breasts for lumps and have periodic health checks to discover the disease early. With early discovery, the rate of recovery can reach 80-90 per cent, he said. VNS Gia Loc HCM CITY Phan Thanh Tien can now focus on his work at a garment company in HCM Citys Cu Chi District as his 4 -year-old son is being taken care of at an officially licensed public kindergarten in the industrial park where he works. The Tay Bac Kindergarten is just opposite to where I and my wife work. Its very convenient for us to pick him up, Tien said. During previous school years, Tien had sent his son to a privately owned kindergarten, but, even though it had received a license from the city, the space was too small and hot, he said. At Tay Bac Kindergarten, 106 children are enrolled, 80 per cent of whom are daughters and sons of workers at the industrial park. In Binh Tan District, Nguyen Thi Thanh Toan, principal at the April 30 Kindergarten in Vinh Loc Industrial Park, said that 80 of its 362 kids are children of workers. The number of workerschildren attending the school rose by 30 compared to last year, Toan added. Because many workers live in the industrial parks apartment building or near the park, they want their children at the kindergarten, she added. Ngo Van Tuyen, head of the Education and Training Division in Binh Tan District, said that since workers contributed to the citys economic development, the citys responsibility was to ensure there were kindergartens and schools for their children located near or in industrial parks. Last year, more public kindergartens such as Mai Vang, Tan Tao, Tan Tao A and o Quyen began providing care services for children of workers in industrial parks. For this academic year, three more public kindergartens Thien Te, Cat ang, and Hong Ngoc are being built near Pou Yuen Industrial Park in the district and will open next year, he said. At a conference on building schools for the 2017-2018 academic year in HCM City held in mid-August, deputy head of the citys Department of Education and Training, Le Hoai Nam, said the city has 17 public kindergartens in or near its industrial parks and processing export zones. Overtime services In 2016, the city Peoples Committee approved a pilot programme at kindergartens at industrial parks and processing export zones that extended hours to 5:30pm and to Saturday, instead of the previous Monday through Friday until 4pm, for children of factory workers who work overtime at the IPs and zones. The pilot services began at kindergartens in the Linh Trung 1 and 2 export processing zones in Thu uc District and the April 30 Kindergarten in Vinh Loc Industrial Zone in Binh Tan District. In the 2017-18 academic year, two more HCM City districts provide overtime services for workers who have kids at nurseries and kindergartens in Tan Thuan Export Processing Zone in District 7 and Tay Bac Industrial Park in Cu Chi District. Fifty per cent of overtime charges are paid by the citys State budget, while the remaining 50 per cent comes from parentspayments and support from companies. Teachers who have voluntarily registered to work overtime are paid VN33,000 (US$1.5) per hour for Monday through Friday and VN44,000 ($2) per hour for Saturday. Le Hoang An of Mekong Delta Province of Tien Giang, who works at a company in the Vinh Loc Industrial Park and has a three-year-old son, said that overtime services at the April 30 Kindergarten had been helpful. In the past, I often brought my child to the company on Saturday because no one at home could take care of him, he said, adding that sometimes he sent his child to the house of a relative or neighbour. Nguyen inh Duy, who works at a company in District 6, said: I send my two children to the care services and overtime services at the April 30 Kindergarten. I no longer worry about picking them up when my wife and I work late. Tien of ong Thap Province said that he would plan to use overtime services at the Tay Bac Kindergarten if he has to work extra hours. Vo Thi Vung, principal of Tay Bac Kindergarten, said the number of kids using overtime services at the kindergarten was still not high, possibly because the service was still new and workers were still concerned about quality. Only four kids are being taken care of until 5:30pm or 6:30pm on Monday through Friday, so the kindergarten is free to take care of kids during overtime hours. We are ready for the workerskids, she added. Toan of the April 30 Kindergarten said that overtime services were only allowed for kids aged 3 to 5, so workers with younger children must send them to family-based nursery establishments. Overtime services are expected to be offered at all industrial parks and export processing zones in the city during the 2018-19 school year. Tuyen of Binh Tan District said the city should have more preferential policies for the private sector to build standard kindergartens in or near industrial parks and export processing zones in the city to ensure safety for workers kids. VNS Viet Nams new law on State Compensation Liability is expected to create transparent mechanisms for compensating people mistreated by authorities, Deputy Minister of Justice Nguyen Khanh Ngoc said yesterday. Photo phapluatvn.vn HA NOI Viet Nams new law on State Compensation Liability is expected to create transparent mechanisms for compensating people mistreated by authorities, Deputy Minister of Justice Nguyen Khanh Ngoc said yesterday. The law was adopted by the National Assembly in June and will go into effect next year. Speaking at a Justice Ministry meeting on preparations for implementing the law, deputy minister Ngoc said the 2017 State Compensation Liability law was expected to address shortcomings of the previous legislation adopted in 2009. Nguyen Van Bon, director of the ministrys State Compensation Department, said that under the new law, more people would be eligible for State compensation, including individuals or organisations harmed by officials in admnistrative, legal and law enforcement proceedings, their heirs or their representatives. The law also extends the statute of limitations for initiating a lawsuit from two to three years. Compensation claims must be handled within 71 days instead of 125 days as regulated in the 2009 law. The law stipulates that negotiations must be held between the plaintiffs and the State over compensation demands. Unsuccessful negotiations can then be followed by a lawsuit. Some 250 claims were submitted under the 2009 law, but compensation was paid on time in only one case, whereas other claimants waited for a long time, even years. Authorities hope that shortening the mandatory handling of claims will alleviate this problem. Under the new law, State employees involved in mistreatment of residents must pay a sum equal to 30-50 times their monthly salary if the mistreatment is not serious enough for them to be charged with a crime. The compensation under the previous law is limited to 30 times the officials pay. During the last seven years, officials only contributed about VN676 million ($30,000), or merely 6 per cent, to the total amount the State had to compensate residents. The biggest number of compensation claims so far involve wrongdoing in judicial proceedings, together with misconduct in administrative management and law enforcement procedures. More than VN56 billion ($2.5 billion), about half the total figure the Government compensated the residents, were paid out in such claims. The biggest settlement so far - VN23 billion ($1 million) - was paid under a November 2015 court order to Luong Ngoc Phi, wrongly convicted of tax evasion and appropriation of state property in 1999, who spent 15 years clearing his name. Early this year, Huynh Van Nen from Binh Thuan Province, who spent 17 years in jail after being falsely convicted of two murders in the 1990s, was offered compensation of over VN10 billion. Nen is the only man in Viet Nam to have been wrongfully convicted of two murders. VNS HA NOI Associate Professor Luong Ngoc Khue, head of the Health Ministrys Department of Medical Examination and Treatment, has asked K (Cancer) Hospital to review its treatment procedure of a female patient who died after a drug was injected. The 45-year old patient, who is a teacher hailing from central Nghe An Province, was diagnosed with cervical cancer and underwent surgery to cut her cervix in May this year at Nghe An Oncology Hospital. On September 21, she was transferred to K Hospital in Tan Trieu Commune, Thanh Tri District, Ha Noi because her cancer had returned. Doctors at K Hospital conducted X-ray and ultrasound tests. On September 29, the patient was injected with ultravist 80ml, a contrast medium, before the tests. Following the tests, she began experiencing difficulty in breathing and developed rashes and edema. Upon being diagnosed with anaphylactoid shock, the patient was moved to the Emergency Medicine Department. However, on September 30, she died. According to the initial diagnosis of the hospital, the patient died after suffering from anaphylactoid shock caused by the contrast medium. Khue called the death of the teacher an unfortunate and rare case at the hospitals Radiology Department. He asked doctors to learn from the incident and review treatment procedures not only in this case, but also all for other patients being treated at the hospital. The hospital must conduct an autopsy and report the result to the Health Ministry to clarify the cause, he said. Medical contrast medium is a substance used to enhance the contrast of structures or fluids within the body during medical imaging. It is commonly used to enhance the visibility of blood vessels and the gastrointestinal tract in X-rays, ultrasounds and computed tomography scans. According to Doctor Nguyen Tien Quang of K Hospital, the result of controlled clinical trials in which ultravist injection was administered to 1142 patients showed that as many as 273 had developed side effects following the injection. Seven out of ten people who suffered from anaphylactoid shock died within five days. In Viet Nam, between 2006 and 2011, 134 patients developed side effects after injection of contrast medium, including Telebrix, Ultravist and Xenetic. Doctor Quang said most anaphylactoid shock cases are unpredictable. To clarify the cause, a professional council must conduct a forensic exam. VNS HCM CITY Conjoined twins joined at the coccyx area were succesfully separated at the Childrens Hospital II, announced the hospital officials at a press conference on Wednesday. The twins are 14-month-old ieu Thi Bao An and ieu Thi Bao Han from Binh Phuoc Province. They are recovering and will be discharged next week. The two infants were hospitalised on July 26, two days after birth. After several consultations and referrals, on August 23, the twins were separated after an 11.5 hour-long surgery. According to Tran ong A, former director of the Childrens Hospital II, twins conjoined at the coccyx area is extremely rare. This is only the 29th such case in the world. Since their spinal cords are joined where cerebrospinal fluid and nerves run, the surgery is fraught with various difficulties. Pham Ngoc Thach, director of the hospital, said that in the next six weeks, doctors will examine the twins anal skin. If things look positive, doctors will form real anuses for them since they are using false ones. Their recovery can only be determined once they turn three years old. The hospital will cover all the costs of treatment for the twins and continue to support them in their next surgery. VNS HA NOI A project, entitled Gender-sensitive community-based disaster risk management project in ethnic minority areas of North-West Viet Nam, has helped to improve peoples resilience to natural disasters. It has also helped in strengthening the capacity of ethnic minority groups in 12 communes and wards of northern Lai Chau and Son La provinces. This was told to participants at a workshop held in Ha Noi on Thursday to review outcomes of the project. With a total budget of VN39 billion (US$1.73 million), the project was implemented by the Viet Nam Red Cross, with support from the Ready Fund through the French Red Cross, the American Red Cross and French Development Agency (AFD) from April 2014 to September 2017. The project helped to build a group of capable officials in disaster management from provincial to community levels and contributed to the communitys vulnerability reduction through mitigation constructions. The communitys awareness was strengthened through awareness-raising campaigns on disaster preparedness, with a communication toolkit specifically-designed for people of North-West Viet Nam, and gender issues were integrated in all project activities. There are still plenty of similarly vulnerable and low resilient locations in Viet Nam. Implementing activities together with the Viet Nam Red Cross, represents probably one of the most important factors to ensure sustainability, said Eric Legendre, head of Delegation of the French Red Cross in Viet Nam. Today, the Viet Nam Red Cross has the know-how, the human resources and the tools to scale-up and replicate the same activities in other vulnerable locations of Viet Nam. They usually dont have the funds to implement these activities, added Legendre. After 42 months, the project carried out 12 vulnerable and capacity or community-based disaster risk assessments. Two provincial disaster response teams, 12 community action for disaster response (CADRE) teams with 320 members have been established, trained and equipped. More than 55,000 people and 2,063 students were trained on disaster preparedness and gender equality knowledge. Some 36 disaster response manoeuvres were organised, with the participation of 2,245 people and 2,840 students and teachers. Some 48 teachers were trained on disaster preparedness and safe school measures, and 288 others have undergone first aid training. Throughout the project development, implementation and monitoring process, gender integration was an important and constant element of all project activities. VNS HA TINH Lightning occurred yesterday in the central region, killing one people in Ha Tinh and two others in neighbouring Nghe An Province. The three dead include one child. In Ha Tinh, au XuanVuong, a resident of Xuan Giang Commune in Nghi Xuan District, left home early in the morning to catch birds in a local field. After the thunder accompanied by rain abated, his family rushed to find him lying dead in the field due to burn injuries caused by lightning. Le Hong Luu, the commune chairman, said local authorities have warned locals of the threat of lightning while working in the open field, but not many consider it could be fatal. In Nghe An, lightning at the same moment as Ha Tinh, killed Nguyen Huu Dinh and his four-year-old daughter while they were asleep in their home in Thanh Chuong Districts Thanh Xuan Commune. Nguyen Khanh Thanh, the commune chairman, said Dinhs family was poor and the five members live in a cottage-like simple house located in a remote area near the local forest. Thanh added that the Dinhs older daughter escaped being struck by lightning as she was scared of thunder and moved to her moms bed before the strike occurred. The commune has donated some funds and is assisting Dinhs family following the loss. VNS HA NOI The Health Ministry has launched a project wherein by 2020, all pharmacies will be required to sell antibiotics only to patients carrying doctors prescriptions. The ministry will work with local health departments in the first phase, to conduct the project in the northern provinces of Nam inh, Vinh Phuc, central city of a Nang and Mekong Delta province of Can Tho. In the second phase, between 2018 and 2020, the project will be expanded to other provinces and cities, nationwide. The project aims to tighten the control over prescriptions and selling prescribed drugs, to reduce antibiotic resistance, misuse and abuse. According to a survey related to antibiotic prescriptions at pharmacies in northern localities, awareness of residents about antibiotics and antibiotic resistance remains low, especially among those in rural areas. In urban areas, 88 per cent of antibiotics are sold without prescriptions, while it is 91 per cent in rural areas. The latest information released showed that some 30 per cent of patients at the National Childrens Hospital suffer from drug-resistant bacteria stemming from the improper use of antibiotics. VNS HA NOI Health experts called on doctors and medical staff to tighten infection control to minimise cases of infection acquired at hospitals and medical facilities at a ceremony on Wenesday in Ha Noi. The event is part of Saint Paul General Hospitals campaign to increase health workers awareness and practices in connection with hospital-acquired infection prevention as part of efforts to minimise bacteria transmission between health workers and patients. Hospital-acquired infection is one of the health sectors biggest concerns and challenges in Viet Nam and the world. Hospital infection leads to an increase in fatality rate and prolongs patients treatment time and expenses, hospital director Nguyen inh Hung said at the launch ceremony. Hung said hospital infection could be prevented through effective implementation of infection control programmes, of which hand hygiene was undisputedly the single most effective infection control measure in prevention of hospital-acquired infection, especially transmission of antimicrobial resistance. A doctor performs cleaning hands at the event. Hand hygiene is undisputedly the single most effective infection control measure in prevention of hospital-acquired infection. VNS Photo Thanh Hai Hung said the campaign, titled Protecting life: Lets clean your hands, aimed to strengthen awareness, knowledge and practices on hand hygiene of health workers involved in patient care at the hospital. Statistics from the health sector revealed that some 7 per cent of illnesses in the country are due to hospital-acquired infection. A treatment course with antibiotics for 7 to 10 days after surgery is seen as a popular method at many medical facilities, which, however, has a high risk of antimicrobial resistance and resulted in increasing expenses for patients in Viet Nam. According to the World Health Organisation, some two million patients contract hospital-acquired infections, of which 90,000 die yearly due to health workers not closely following personal hygiene regulations at hospitals, especially washing hands before direct contact with patients. VNS Chu Lan Huong Recently, a father of two secondary students in HCM City sent a letter to the Government asking for the dissolution of parents associations in schools. Why the ire towards these seemingly mild, inoffensive collections of helpful parents? Binh, the father, had a reason. One week into the new school year, his family received a letter from the association asking for a so-called voluntary financial contribution to make a wooden floor for a classroom. Binh flatly refused. Many thousands of parents nationwide share his concern about the voluntary fees. For many years, it has been a back-to-school tradition: parents receive a long list of projects, from installing air conditioners to organizing after-school activities to providing water for students to hiring caretakers for trees in the schoolyard. And all of these projects require parents financial support. Most of parents pay the fees even if theyre annoyed about the burden, because they worry that their children will lose face if it is discovered that their parents didnt pay. Binh, however, refused the fees and insisted that they were reasonless. He argued that there was no way the air conditioners or wooden floor could be broken after one year of use. Binhs letter to the Government spurred an outpouring of support from parents who have shared his resentment, but kept it quiet, for a long time. They praised the brave fathers argument that parents associations should not be able to manipulate parents into supplying the school with unending money. In any country, the basic role of the parents associations is to bring schools, students and parents together to further improve education quality and support students and parents. But in recent years, the role of associations has changed for the worse. Many schools and principals, hiding under cheerful-sounding label of socialising educationwhich actually just means parents share more financial burdens with public schoolshave lobbied parent associations to raise funds for schools because the schools are not allowed to collect any fees beyond the basic ones. In an interview with the website zing.vn, Dr. Vu Thu Huong, a lecturer at the Ha Noi Pedagogic University, expressed her support for the idea of dissolving the parents association in schools. According to the lecturer, the associations in recent years have become gun-folders for collecting excessive donations, while they do little to improve students classroom experiences. Notably, the parent associations agree with the schools proposals and collect money but do not supervise the fund expenditures. In fact, many schools and principals have been discovered to use the fund for improper purposes, and even for personal spending. Thus, many parents, and even some educators, have concluded that parents associations are ripe targets for financial abuse. Wise and polite fund-raising Before we hastily dissolve the associations, however, we should consider other possibilities. Although the status quo is irritating and untenable, we ought to ensure that schools have vehicles for promoting parental involvement and gaining support for extra projects. Otherwise, our childrens education could be damaged. We can look abroad for examples of how parent associations ought to work. In other countries, parents associations voluntary fundraisers for schools are normal and popular. But they go about this project differently than the way Vietnamese associations operate. Frankly, they raise funds wisely and politely. My friends, who have been living in the United States and United Kingdom for more than 15 years and have secondary school-age children, said that the roles of parents association in the countries are the same as in Viet Nam. They support the school and students education activities and act as bridges between parents and schools. Fundraising is part of this job. Normally, the association would meet with the schools leaders and find what the school needs money for in the new school year. The fund-raising activities would be carried out during the school year. They raise funds in many ways instead of just collecting cash from parents. For example, they organise charity fairs, cake sales, disco nights, or called parents to contribute school supplies, or set up carpools for student field trips. The funds could be used for many other activities such as building a new library, equipping labs or buying more toy castles in the playgrounds. Contribution was absolutely voluntary. Raising funds by this way was actually effective and did not put undue pressure on parents. The job of parent associations was to turn activities into cash. My friend said last school year, his sons school raised more than US$150,000, which was used for upgrading the schools facilities. At some schools, strong and active associations could raise millions of dollars. Importantly, the fundraising must be transparent, supervised by the associations and clearly communicated to each parent. Thus, Vietnamese parent associations should adopt some of these methods. But we shouldnt dissolve them altogether. Hopefully Binh will find this a suitable compromise. VNS BARCELONA Spains government defiantly rejected calls for mediation Wednesday over Catalonias push for independence, which the countrys king warned was endangering national stability. As the European Union urged dialogue to ease the standoff between separatists in the northeastern region and Madrid, Catalan leaders said they could unilaterally declare independence as early as October 9. The tone of the crisis sharpened with Catalonias president denouncing the kings intervention and Spains government rejecting any possible talks. "The government will not negotiate over anything illegal and will not accept blackmail," said a statement from Prime Minister Mariano Rajoys office. The dispute is Spains worst political crisis in decades and images of police beating unarmed Catalans taking part in Sundays banned independence vote sparked global concern. Catalonias president Carles Puigdemont called the central governments policies "disastrous" as the regions leaders pushed on with its bid to break away from Spain, angering Madrid and raising the risk of further unrest. Spains key IBEX 35 stock index plunged by more than three percent Wednesday in the ongoing turbulence, with some big Catalan banks down more than 5 per cent. "Political risk is back on the agenda in Europe," NFS Macro analyst Nick Stamenkovic said. AFP Hermes has long been a proponent of traditional artisanal crafts, from Touareg silversmiths in the Niger delta to lacquerware painted by hand in Vietnam, retailing goods made by craftsmen the world over in its posh stores. Despite their disparate and sometimes exotic origins, such items are always sublimely designed and almost absurdly expensive. And so it is with Hermes watches, which have featured a staggering variety of exotic dials including straw marquetry, French lacquer and crystal glass dials specially made by its subsidiary, Cristalleries Saint Louis. For its latest trio of timepieces, Hermes has turned to ancient arts from the East and West that mirror each other: Persian miniature painting and enamel miniature painting. As is tradition, Hermes once again transposes scarf designs onto the dials. The Dans un Jardin Anglais silk scarf depicts a wintry landscape, having been designed by Alice Shirley as part of Hermes Spring-Summer 2015 collection, while the iconic Promenade de Longchamp dates to 1965, a design by Philippe Ledoux showing the Parisian social scene at the racecourse. Both are based on the elegant Slim dHermes wristwatch. Both designs are recreated in miniature with Persian miniature painting, a technique that requires powdered camel bone and deft hands. The dial base is made of finely ground camel bone mixed with a mystery resin, giving it a porous surface that absorbs colour applied with a fine-tipped brush. Natural pigments, including saffron, walnut, henna, pomegranate, lapis lazuli and turquoise, are ground to a fine powder and bound with gum Arabic, ensuring greatest possible depth of colour. Gold and silver leaf, a common element in Persian miniature painting, are then added. Then a protective cellulose varnish is applied to the dial once its completed to guard against oxidation. Both watches feature a white gold case measuring 39.5mm and the self-winding H1950 movement made by Hermes affiliate Vaucher, a movement maker majority owned by Parmigiani. Each motif will run in 12-piece limited edition. The Slim dHermes Dans un Jardin Anglais is priced at 55,000, or US$61,800 while the Slim dHermes Promenade de Longchamp is priced at 60,000, or US$67,000. The third watch is the one-off Arceau Tyger Tyger, a motif once again drawn from another of Alice Shirleys scarves. Transferring the design from silk to metal was the work of renowned enameler, Anita Porchet, a frequent collaborator of Hermes. The dial consists of both cloisonne and miniature enamel painting crafts that are equated with patience, a trained eye, and a steady hand. Layers of enamel powder are mixed with essential oils and applied on a white gold dial disc using an extremely fine brush, forming the base of the design. Each layer requires baking, resulting in multiple elaborated firings to intensify the colours, or alter their translucency. Porchet then uses thin gold wires to mark the outlines of the feline and solders them onto the base to create enclosed cells which are further filled with colour enamel. The dial is once again fired in a kiln at a temperature of 800C. Once completed, a layer of clear enamel is then applied over the painting to give it a glossy finish. The Arceau Tyger Tyger is based on the stirrup-inspired asymmetric case that made its debut in 1978, here in white gold with a diameter of 41mm. Its powered by the H1937 automatic, also produced by Vaucher. The Tyger Tyger is a one-of-a-kind watch, with only a singular example having been made, and is priced at 118,000 or US$133,900. AMVETS events are scheduled EVANSDALE The Evansdale AMVETS will serve breakfast from 8 to 11:30 a.m. Sunday. There also is bingo on Wednesday at 6:15 and 7 p.m. Community meals also are planned from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. every Monday. TSC market set for Saturday WATERLOO Customers of the Waterloo Tractor Supply store are welcome to shop crafts, produce and other local goods at the TSC Farmers Market on Saturday. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. local farmers and crafters will showcase and sell their homemade and homegrown goods in front of the Tractor Supply store at 4040 University Ave. To participate in the Farmers Market, sign up at TSCEventPartners.com or call the store at 232-6517. Audubon group meets Tuesday CEDAR FALLS The second meeting of the Prairie Rapids Audubon Society this fall will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday at First Presbyterian Church, Ninth and Main streets. The program will be Tales of a World Birder, presented by Stephen Dinsmore, a wildlife ecology professor at Iowa State University. Dinsmore has studied birds on all seven continents; he will share photographs and stories of his experiences, especially in Central and South America and the Caribbean. All are welcome. Coin club hosts meeting, auction WATERLOO The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Coin Club will host its monthly meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Waterloo Center for the Arts, 225 Commercial St., in the Schoitz Room III. An auction will follow the business meeting. Visitors are welcome and may bid on the auction lots if they wish. For more information and an auction list, go to www.w-cfcoinclub.com. CF Lions Club meets Monday CEDAR FALLS The Cedar Falls Lions Club will hear from Cedar Valley United Way President Sheila Baird at the lunch meeting at noon Monday in the Windridge building on the Western Home Communities south campus. Guests are welcome. Quota nut sales are underway WATERLOO Quota of Waterloo nut sales have begun. October public sales are set for 1 to 3 p.m. Oct. 19 at Bridges in Waterloo; 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 13 at Sartori Memorial Hospital cafeteria, Cedar Falls; 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 14 at a Dunkerton school event; 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 27 at Covenant Medical Center; 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 21 and 28 at Calico Hen House; and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 28 at a Clarksville school event. People also can call a Quota member or email at quotaofwaterloo@gmail.com. Navajo healing subject of talk CEDAR FALLS The Scalpel and the Silver Bear: The First Navajo Woman Surgeon Combines Western Medicine and the Traditional Healing will be discussed Monday at Cedar Valley Discuss and Discover Diversity event at the Cedar Falls Public Library. All residents of the Cedar Valley are invited and welcomed. The meeting and discussion begin at 4:30 and end at 6 p.m.; people may leave early if necessary. Kathryn Rogers will lead the discussion and an introduction to Navajo healing principles. This short book offers intriguing ideas about humane health care. No requirement is necessary to join the discussion. CV3D is a discussion of books sponsored by the Cedar Falls American Association of University Women. FAYETTE A Fayette man has pleaded guilty to charges connected with guns found at his home in June. Joshua Glen Sargent, 33, pleaded to a single charge of felon in possession of a firearm on Sept. 27 in U.S. District Court in Cedar Rapids. Sentencing will be at a later date. According to court records, authorities searched Sargents home in June while they were investigating a series of burglaries in the LaCrosse, Wisconsin, area the prior month. Sargent allegedly sold a stolen Winchester Model 1897 shotgun and a Browning 12-gauge shotgun to a person on Postville for $1,300, court records state. On June 26, authorities searched his home and found a .45-caliber Ruger New Vaquero revolver and a 10mm Wilson Combat pistol. Sargent is barred from handling firearms because of a 2016 conviction for second-degree theft in Fayette County. Mark Capers, 47, told police he encountered the group of six in the area of Western Avenue and Belmont Street around 8 p.m. Wednesday. Two of the suspects had handguns and demanded money, and Capers turned over $500 in cash and other items. ALGONA --Threats via social media prompted three North Iowa school districts to go into lock-down Wednesday afternoon, while another canceled classes for the day. Algona and Clarion-Goldfield-Dows school officials reported receiving threats against their districts late Tuesday night and Wednesday afternoon. One person was taken into custody in relation to threats made against Algona Schools, Superintendent Marty Fonley said in a district post on Facebook Wednesday evening. Wednesday evening a 16-year-old Algona youth was charged with threat of terrorism, a Class D felony, for making a threat of violence on a social media post Tuesday evening, said Kendall Pals, Algona police chief. The district had canceled classes Wednesday but planned to resume school as normal Thursday. The threat itself has been deemed, by law enforcement, to be non-credible and a completely isolated incident involving one individual, Fonley said in the post. There has been no connection found between this incident and what is happening in other places throughout the state and nation. Johnston Schools, located in suburban Des Moines, canceled classes Tuesday and started late Wednesday due to threatening text messages parents and others received. Investigators said they couldnt substantiate "any credible or imminent threat" against the district, and noted similar threats have been reported across the country. "Some of these are likely to be copycats or and hoaxes, others may be a continuation of threats from the group that initially targeted Johnston, the Johnston Police Department said in a news release Wednesday. The department said the threat has been deemed as a cyber-crime in which hackers prey upon our worst fears in a day and age where school violence has become all too real. "Basically, being general here, it was a threat of violence at the school," Pals said Wednesday. The district referred to it as an unspecified threat against the Algona school system. As a result of a social media threat against Clarion-Goldfield-Dows, the district and neighboring Eagle Grove and Belmond-Klemme went into lock-down Wednesday afternoon. The lock-down was later lifted. CGD "had information about a social media message in which a person made an indirect threat on a school we assumed to be in our area, no name," Superintendent Bob Olson said via email Wednesday afternoon. Olson wouldn't say what the message involved, or what type of social media it was posted on. The message had been shared with a "student at a local high school," the Wright County Sheriff's Office said in a news release. "We take these threats very seriously and will work closely with local law enforcement and the school districts to ensure the safety of their students and staff," Wright County Sheriff Jason Schluttenhofer said in the release. Schluttenhofer said there is "no credible threat to any of our schools." Law enforcement will be present at local schools the next few days as a precaution. CDD was in lock-down until law enforcement declared an "all-clear," Olson said. The district had planned to dismiss early at 1:30 p.m., but Olson said buses and students were held until the "all-clear" was issued around 2:20 p.m. Citing ongoing investigation, Olson said he wasn't able to provide any additional information. Other schools throughout the state have also reported receiving threats this week. On Wednesday, officials in eastern Iowa said they were investigating and monitoring threats posted on social media about a possible shooting at Davenport North High School. Davenport Schools said in a statement classes would continue as usual, as law enforcement had determined the threats were not credible. About 300 of the high school's 1,100 students stayed home Wednesday. Storm Lake High School in northwestern Iowa was evacuated Monday afternoon after a bomb threat was discovered written on the wall of a men's restroom. The building was later determined to be safe. WASHINGTON, D.C. If confirmed for a national post, Iowas agriculture secretary said Thursday he would ensure crop insurance remains as a support for the countrys farmers. I read it as I wrote it. Crop insurance is the most important part of the farm safety net, Bill Northey said in opening remarks during a hearing on his nomination to serve in the U.S. Department of Agriculture. While our farm safety net has worked for many, many producers, I do also hear that there are producers who are left out. I am committed to this committee to work with you to make sure all producers have the risk management tools that they need, Northey added. The U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee held a hearing for a little more than an hour Thursday to vet Northeys nomination to serve as the USDAs undersecretary for farm production and conservation. The hearing also included Nebraska Department of Agriculture Director Greg Ibach, who has been nominated to a separate USDA position. Committee Chairman Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kansas, hailed Northey and Ibach as farmers with boots-on-the-ground experience. They know what weighs on the minds of farmers and ranchers, the challenges they face on daily basis, and the focus and drive they put into their lifes work, Roberts said. The committees ranking Democrat, Sen. Debbie Stabenow of Michigan, pushed Northey to expand access to crop insurance and prioritize land and water conservation practices. I know you personally understand that agriculture needs to be a part of the solution in addressing water quality issues, Stabenow said. If confirmed for this role, I urge you to continue to prioritize the protection of our land and our water. President Donald Trump officially selected Northey in September to serve in the USDA. The FPAC secretary would oversee three USDA agencies: the Farm Service Agency, the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Risk Management Agency. Programs under the role would include crop insurance, conservation, disaster assistance and producer lending services, Roberts said Thursday. Northey told committee members of conservation efforts in Iowa, including the states nutrient reduction strategy and planting of cover crops. The momentum is really growing. Do we have a long ways to go? Absolutely. We have lots more that needs to get done, but what Im excited about is the momentum, both in the interest of farmers and outside groups, Northey said. Northeys nomination still requires a vote by the Senate Agriculture Committee and then the full Senate. Both of Iowas U.S. senators, Republicans Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst, are members of the Agriculture Committee. Should the Senate approve his nomination, Northey would be sworn in to the post and resign as Iowas Agriculture Secretary. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds would appoint Northeys replacement, who would serve the rest of his term. The state position is up for election in 2018. A spokeswoman for the governor said Thursday her office still is gathering resumes and did not have an update on possible successors. Northey, a Spirit Lake corn and soybean farmer, has served in multiple roles with state and national farm groups. A Republican, he is currently serving his third term as the states agriculture secretary and is a state co-chair of Reynolds 2018 gubernatorial campaign. Northey, 58, graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in agricultural business and received a masters in business administration from Southwest Minnesota State University. He has three children with his wife, Cindy. SIOUX CITY Debi Durham is happy to report her eight-month battle with uterine cancer is nearing an end. In an interview Wednesday, Durham, Iowas economic development director and a Sioux City resident, for the first time publicly shared her story as a cancer survivor, which started with a diagnosis in February. I called the doctor and said, I think there is something wrong. I need to get in, Durham recalled. When I told them my symptoms, they concurred it was something that couldnt be put off. I got a call less than a week after that it was cancer ... I knew it was not going to be a good diagnosis, so I was somewhat prepared for it. But I have to tell you, Im a person of faith. Ive had perfect peace from day one on this cancer journey. Surgery was performed almost immediately afterwards in Omaha in early March. She then went through multiple chemotherapy treatments in Sioux City. Today she is in the final stage of radiation treatment in Des Moines, all while still fulfilling her duties leading the states Economic Development Authority. I have to say, treatments arent easy, but overall, Ive done very, very well and maintained pretty much a full-work schedule the entire time, which I think has helped me at least mentally and emotionally, she said, expressing gratitude to her family and IEDA team. There were days where I could not do what I needed to do and they were quick to step in. So I have not let cancer define who I am. I dont think about it every day. I focus on my treatment and getting well. Durham served as president of the Siouxland Chamber of Commerce and The Siouxland Initiative for 15 years before then-Gov. Terry Branstad picked her to lead the IEDA in 2011. In between treatments, Durham was able to attend a trade mission trip to Israel last month with Gov. Kim Reynolds, the former lieutenant governor who succeeded Branstad this spring after he resigned to become U.S. Ambassador to China. While Durham shared her diagnosis with family and friends, including a post on her personal Facebook page in March, she said she was reluctant to discuss her illness publically as a way to controlling the story of her cancer journey. And now with a good prognosis, she wants to give back. When I finally started telling people, an individual wrote to me that knew cancer too well. Not only he had it, but his wife (had it too.) He said Debi, welcome to the cancer club. You are going to realize it is a very big one. You will be overwhelmed with the outpouring of support. Accept it with grace and find a way to pay it forward. Durham said throughout treatments she found it troubling some health insurance policies do not cover the purchase of expensive wigs for those, like herself, that lose their hair through the course of treatment. I think that is unfortunate, she said. Whether a woman wants to wear a wig or not after cancer treatment ... it not being affordable (shouldnt) be the impediment to that. As a result, Durham agreed to co-host a fundraiser/cocktail party dubbed Wig Out Thursday at the June E. Nylen Cancer Center, where she has received treatment. Tickets to the private fundraiser quickly sold out. One hundred percent of the proceeds are going to the Cancer Center for wigs because they give away a lot of wigs and I think that is something insurance companys need to reevaluate, she said. But it is one of those things that is part of the cancer journey ... Its a small thing that I can do to pay it forward. Durham says she will have a few more doctors visits every few months but, for the most part, all indications point to her winning the battle with cancer. Im a new grandmother, she said. I plan on being, God willing, there to see my grandchild grow up ... I said to someone one day, I have never cried over cancer but when I found out I was going to be a grandmother, I wept for a week. Absentee ballots now available WAVERLY -- Bremer County Auditor Shelley Wolf said absentee ballots for the Nov. 7 city elections for all cities in Bremer County are available through the mail and in the Bremer County Auditors Office. Voters may cast an absentee ballot in the Auditors Office in the Bremer County Courthouse, 415 E. Bremer Ave., during regular office hours from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, through Nov. 6 for the cities of Denver, Readlyn, Sumner and Waverly. Absentee ballots may be cast for the cities of Frederika, Janesville, Plainfield and Tripoli until 11 a.m. Nov. 7 due to their polls not opening until noon Election Day. Absentee ballots also may be cast through the mail. To do so, a request must be made in writing and must include your name, date of birth, home address (not P.O. box), where your ballot should be mailed if different than home address, what election you are requesting a ballot for, your signature and date. Request forms are available in the Auditors Office and online at www.sos.state.ia.us/pdfs/absenteeballotapp.pdf. All requests for ballots to be mailed must be received in the Auditors Office by 5 p.m. Nov. 3. Ballots requested through the mail must be returned to the Auditors Office before polls close Election Day or be postmarked by midnight Nov. 6. For more information, call 352-0340. EMS town hall meeting slated WAVERLY -- The EMS Association of Bremer County, Bremer County Emergency Management and Bremer County Health Department will host a town hall meeting to present Crisis in EMS. The town hall meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Lyceum on the Wartburg College campus. All are encouraged to attend the meeting. According to Bremer County Emergency Management Coordinator Kip Ladage, emergency medical services in rural Iowa are at a critical point. Across the state there are EMS agencies struggling to provide care. We can no longer assure staffing at all times," he said. Wartburg board adds members WAVERLY The Wartburg College Board of Regents recently announced two new members. Steve Meirink, a 1999 graduate from Eagan, Minn., was elected to a three-year term. He is executive vice president and general manager of financial services for Wolters Kluwer, a global company providing information, software and services to the health care, tax, finance, legal and regulatory industries. He has served on two Wartburg task forces focused on technology and engineering science in 2017. Meirink will serve on the boards Business and Finance Committee. Mike Franzman, a 2000 graduate now living in Bettendorf, has been selected president-elect of the Wartburg Alumni Board. He joins the Board of Regents as an ex-officio member during the years he is president-elect (2017-19) and president (2019-21). Franzman is the owner of Quad Cities Periodontics and an adjunct assistant professor at the University of Iowa College of Dentistry. Tom Buchheim, a 1993 graduate from Sun Prairie, Wis., has moved into the role of Alumni Board president and will continue as an ex-officio member of the board from 2017 to 2019. He is the executive social media adviser for American Family Insurance. LAS VEGAS Country artist Jason Aldean was nearing the end of his set Sunday night on the Las Vegas strip when Katie Burgett started hearing loud pops. Everyone thought it was fireworks, the Sioux City woman said. Then a few seconds later it did it again two more pops (Aldean) stopped and looked around and started running off the stage and everyone was screaming to get down. Burgett and her best friend had traveled to Las Vegas for Harvest Festival, the three-day country music mega concert that quickly turned into the site of the deadliest mass shooting in American history. A shooter rained gunfire down on the more than 20,000 spectators from the 32nd floor of the nearby Mandalay Bay casino hotel. Shortly after she heard the second round of shots, Burgett said she and a friend got low to avoid the hail of gunfire. We were seeing the bullets ricocheting off the metal we were lying near, she said. I was trying to pull my friend closer and people were freaking out and running and we kind of stayed behind a little ways because we didnt know what to do. Eventually, Burgett and her friend decided to make a break for it. She said by the time they started running, most of the crowd had already dispersed and she described the situation as being like a moving target. We were running and a girl in front of us got hit, Burgett said. There was blood and bodies everywhere. We got into a tent and people were throwing tables around and the shots, they werent stopping. Burgett isnt sure how but they escaped the venue. She remembers seeing cars pulling up and people jumping into them and the drivers speeding off and others just running away and screaming. The pair eventually wound up at the Hooters Casino Hotel with another concert-goer they met on the run. We ended up with a gal who was by herself she had lost her people (she repeated) I dont know where they are at, I dont know where they are at, Burgett said. A little while later, a guy and a lady came running up to her and we were so happy, and then the guy looked at her and started bawling and said, We lost so-and-so; she got shot in the head. Some other Siouxlanders also got caught up in the mass shooting. From a locked office on the ground floor of the Mandalay Bay, Kaitlyn Mohrhauser watched surveillance camera footage of heavily armed police officers responding to the shooting. For four hours, the Sioux City woman and the man who was working at the jewelry store in which she took cover watched television monitors showing the camera footage, uncertain of what was going on and when it would be safe to come out. "That was the scary part. We didn't even know when to leave," said Mohrhauser, who was staying at the Mandalay Bay with her husband, Joe. Finally, Mohrhauser and the worker saw an officer enter the store, and they came out of the office. The officer arranged for Mohrhauser to be escorted to her room, about eight floors above the room in which police believe the gunman holed up and fired the shots that killed at least 59 people and injured more than 500 others who were attending the music festival across the street. The Mohrhausers had flown into Las Vegas Saturday to see a Depeche Mode concert that same night. They had dined at the Golden Nugget Sunday evening before returning to the Mandalay Bay. Joe was tired and went to bed. Kaitlyn went down to the lobby/casino area at about 10:15 p.m., Las Vegas time. "I hadn't been there for more than a couple minutes when a heavily armed police officer came running in full speed and about 10 more followed him in and one of them yelled, 'There's an active shooter in the building, everyone take cover,'" Mohrhauser said. Mohrhauser hadn't heard any shooting or seen any of the commotion outside, but she immediately ran to the elevator, which police had blocked. She turned and ran in another direction, ducking inside a jewelry store in the hotel lobby. They went to a back office and locked the door, watching the scene outside the store on the surveillance monitors. "Cops with weapons were running past, one after another," Mohrhauser said. Friends in Sioux City who were still awake and watching the news began texting Mohrhauser updates about what was going on. Mohrhauser posted a message to her Facebook page to let friends know she was OK. Knowing Joe was sleeping, Mohrhauser didn't call him out of fear he'd leave the room to come find her. Instead, she texted him, "I am safe. Do not leave the room" so that if she wasn't back when he woke up, he would see her message. After Mohrhauser was returned to her room, she woke Joe up and told him what had happened. "I kind of thought I was still dreaming," he said. At 4:30 a.m., a police officer pounded on their door, telling them to stay inside. It was the last they heard from authorities. They poked their heads out at 9 a.m., and a security guard told them it was safe to come out. By early Monday afternoon, Mohrhauser still hadn't slept, and she was amazed at the change in a city that's normally buzzing with activity. "There aren't a whole lot of people around, and everybody's being really somber and being really nice to each other. You could really see an elevated level of kindness," she said. "It's just quiet." The Mohrhausers planned to make their final night in Las Vegas a low-key affair before flying home Tuesday. "Right now we're just interested in getting home to our family," Kaitlyn Mohrhauser said. Burgett spoke to the Journal Monday night from McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas, where she was preparing to board a flight home to Sioux City. Burgett still has her wristband from the show on and doesnt plan to ever manually remove it. She said when she and her friend spotted other people wearing them at the airport they just stopped and hugged each other without any need to verbalize what they survived. When asked what is it like to live through a national tragedy, Burgett did not mince her words. Its absolutely terrifying and devastating, she said. The guilt that I am having now for running past bodies is hard. We just kind of keep losing it here and there. Were both just really struggling. WATERLOO -- A Waterloo native is the executive officer of a U.S. Marine Corps company helping with hurricane relief efforts in Puerto Rico. He and other military personnel were visited and praised by President Donald Trump this week. Marine 1st Lt. Wayne R. "Buster" Worthington Jr. is part of a 160-Marine unit working in the wake of Hurricane Maria, said his father, Wayne R. Worthington Sr. of Cedar Falls, a financial planner with TrueNorth Wealth Management. As the executive officer, Buster Worthington works directly under the company commander, his father said. The company, based at Camp Lejeune N.C., was originally dispatched to St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands for relief efforts associated with Hurricane Irma. Then Hurricane Maria swept though the Caribbean. Worthington's company bivouacked in Panama until the storm passed, then was dispatched to Puerto Rico. Trump shook Worthington's hand as he met with aboard the USS Kearsarge in the Caribbean off Puerto Rico on Tuesday. The president was there to discuss relief efforts in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands with Navy and Marine Corps leadership. "This is some ship," said Trump. "It has done a tremendous service for Puerto Rico and for the U.S. Virgin Islands." Kearsarge, an amphibious assault vessel, and the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit are assisting with relief efforts. The Department of Defense is supporting the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the lead federal agency, in helping those affected by Maria. "It's great," Wayne Sr. said of his son's service. For Buster, he said, "it's an awesome experience and exhilarating to support the country. He loves his work. But it's a challenge" being away from his wife, Aynne, a native of Tennessee. They were wed in 2016. The lieutenant recently served in the Middle East and the Mediterranean as a combined anti-armor team platoon commander with the 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment. His unit was in the middle of additional training at Camp Lejeune when they were dispatched for hurricane relief. Buster graduated from Waterloo West High School in 2010 and the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Md., in 2014. He has been in the Marines 3 1/2 years. He has siblings in each branch of service: sister Kate is a lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force; brother Jack will graduate from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., in 2019 and sister Edie is in the Navy ROTC program at Iowa State University in Ames. Many major retailers will be closed on Thanksgiving Day Email To : Multiple e-mail addresses must be separated with a comma character(maximum 200 characters) Email To is required. 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Took five days to get everything done. I am worn out and will just post some images for today Nice trip, Estonia was nice as always, train travel as always and people were good and pleasant to meet and talk with. Estonia has become home away from home. Just as Ukraine use to be I stayed at the Center Hotel and it was fantastic as the last time I recommend them if you travel to Estonia and to Tallinn Will be back tomorrow, I am tired and sore. Need to rest and recover. I do not sleep the best on trains, but they are lots of fun and you meet lots of interesting people. The difference between train travelers and plane travelers is the speed you demand to get where you are going. Cost is about the same. Just the people are different Travel by train to see life, travel by plane to skip life That is how I look at it WtR teleSUR speaks to Iraqi Ambassador to Russia Haidar Mansour Hadi about the controversial referendum. On Sept. 25, 92 percent of the total of 8.4 million Iraqi Kurdish population voted "yes" to independence in a referendum on whether to secede from Iraq. That was a symbolic step for the ethnic group composed of by more than 30 million people spread across five countries. They decided to settle in lands of their own in northern Iraq, where Iraqi Kurdistan is made up of three provinces run by an autonomous regional government and protected by their own security services. Iraqi Ambassador to Russia Haidar Mansour Hadi pointed out that "the referendum was a severe violation to the Iraqi Constitution, that represents the social contract between all Iraqi components, ratified by the Kurdish people in a way exceeded other Iraqi provinces: Erbil 99.36 percent, Dohuk 99.13 percent and Sulaimania 98.96 percent votes." Noting that the people who are claiming to secede from Iraq are genuine participants in the Federal Government since 2003, the Iraqi official said that the Kurds cannot justify a secession. "The Kurdish people are part of Iraqi people." Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has called on foreign states to stop cooperating with Iraq's autonomous and oil-rich Kurdistan on issues in the oil sector, and also demanded that all border posts with Turkey, Syria and Iran be placed under Baghdad's supervision, closing airports. Turkey also responded aggressively, threatening military action and sanctions in order to force the Kurds to "give up on this adventure that can only have a dark end. As the Kurdish leadership is claiming that Baghdad is punishing the Kurdish people by closing borders and airports for trying to express their rights, Haidar has observed that the Iraqi Federal Government has full rights to control the airports in the Kurdistan region of Iraq, subject all border crossings to federal authorities and close all non-official ports. "As the Kurdish people are part of Iraqi people, the governmental procedures are basically addressed to deter the Kurdish government for fragmenting Iraqs unity and preserve its regional position," he said. "Oil exporting, foreign trade, investments, bank transactions and the diplomatic and consulate representations are subjected to the federal government authority," added the Iraqi diplomat to Russia. The international community and regional neighbors have opposed the referendum, but there is only one government all over the world which has openly supported it: the State of Israel, which has been condemned by several international organizations for crimes against humanity in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. An Iraqi senior government official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that "Tel Aviv is only interested on weaken Iraq." Haidar added that "the Kurdish people are part of the Iraqi people, and the governmental procedures are basically addressed to deter the Kurdish government from fragmenting Iraqs unity, and preserve its regional position." As Lebanese journalist and political commentator Osama al-Sharif wrote in the Jordan Times, Netanyahu and his far right allies know very well that a unilateral Kurdish decision to cede from Iraq in the absence of an agreement over a number of contentious issues, least of which is the future of oil-rich Kirkuk province, would trigger a civil war that is likely to spill over." In the mid 1960s and 70s, Mossad planned and funded a Kurdish Army to fight Iraqi troops in northern Iraq, and other Israeli enemies in the Middle East: Syria and Egypt. One of the Zionists' partners then was Mullah Mustafa Barzani, Masoud Barzani's father, currently the (illegal) President of Kurdistan, and Nechirvan Idris Barzani's grandfather, Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) a nephew of Masoud Barzani, who rules the region without any legal basis since 2015. In 2013, he concluded his eight-year term in the Kurdish Presidency, extended by two years by the local Parliament but, since the mandate totally expired, Barzani has prevented the members of Parliament from setting up new elections. As observed the website The Moon of Alabama, Barzanis corrupted power has also been propelled by the United States oil interests in the region. "The Kurds pumped and sold oil without the consent of Baghdad. Corruption rules in Kurdistan and the regional government had to rob local banks to find fresh money. That still wasnt enough to pay salaries. The Barzani family mafia has robbed the region blind. To keep going, the local government needs to annex more riches and widen its business base." In August 24, 2015, The Jerusalem Post reported that a majority of Israeli oil imported is from Kurdistan. "Importing crude from Erbil (capital of the KRG) could be geopolitically, economically favorable for Jerusalem. Israel had imported as much as 77 percent of its oil supply from Kurdistan (KRG) in recent months, bringing in some 19 million barrels between the beginning of May and August 11," the publication wrote. "During that period, more than a third of all northern Iraqi (KRG) exports, shipped through Turkeys Ceyhan port, went to Israel, with transactions amounting to almost $1 billion. On Sept. 26, an official within Irans Expediency Council, Ali Akbar Velayati, said before the vote that the existence of a secessionist Kurdish state in Iraq would only benefit the United States and the Zionist regime of Israel, both of whom seek to colonize and dominate the Middle East. Asked about the Kurdish claim that the vote acknowledges their contribution in confronting Islamic State group after it overwhelmed the Iraqi Army in 2014, Haidar said that the Kurdish referendum undermines international efforts to combat terrorism, especially the battle against Daesh. "Its considered a danger on the security of the region. Not just Kurdistan fought ISIS. All Iraqis fought hand in hand and sacrificed their lives in order to win the war against ISIS." "Since 2003, our Kurdish brothers were an important part of the Iraqi political process we together, as Iraqis, worked closely to convince the U.S.-led forces to leave Iraq after signing a strategic agree with the United States," added the Iraqi Ambassador. Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani said before the vote that Kurds will not declare independence, but "will engage in serious negotiations with Baghdad." Haidar observed that from the beginning, Kurds wanted their own independent state. "I would strongly disagree with what Prime Minister of Kurdistan said." "The Federal Government in Baghdad refuses any negotiation with the Kurdish leadership, unless they admit the referendum results are void, and the referendum itself is a violation of the Constitution," remarked the Iraqi diplomat to Moscow. Edu Montesanti is an independent analyst, researcher and journalist whose work has been published by Truth Out, Pravda, Global Research, the Brazilian magazine Caros Amigos and numerous other publications across the globe. WILMINGTON, NC, October 05, 2017 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Diamante Daniel has announced the release of 'It Starts With A Change - Endangered Animals And Climate Change In Pennsylvania'. Climate change. What do we imagine when we hear the words? Increasing temperatures? Rising sea levels and flooded cities? Drought that causes starvation of millions of people? Many books have been written about the impact of climate change on people's health and well-being. What is less well known is that climate change may impact animals around us, not only in some far off place but those living near us, in our home states or countries. Amongst them, the most vulnerable are those already endangered. Diamante focuses on the precious endangered animals that live in Pennsylvania, her home state, and presents factual information regarding what will happen if climate change occurs in the PA region. She also lays out why readers should care and what they can do about it. Diamante fully covers all the bases, including animals that live in the wetlands, grass, forests, water and caves. The endangered animals covered in the book include mammals, birds and fish. "I love animals, and I don't want to lose any single one of them," Diamante stated. "I believe we can save all of the species, if we do what is needed." Diamante Daniel is available for media interviews and can be reached using the information below or by email at [email protected]. 'It Starts With A Change' is available at Amazon. Diamante Daniel is a 7th grade student at the Wissahickon School District, Ambler, Pennsylvania. She published her first book, Rocks And Stones Around The World, when she was 10 years old and attended 4th grade. She is the winner, together with her sister, of the international MPACGroup Top Design Award 2016 of the Cubes in Space Program for the design of an experiment, which measures the intraocular pressure during the ascending phase of a rocket flight. Students from 22 countries participated in this competition. Her experiment was launched into space on the CIS SR-3 mission June 24, 2016 from the NASA Wallops Facility. Additional experiments designed by her were launched by a NASA stratospheric balloon from Fort Sumner, New Mexico in September 2016, and again on rocket mission in June 2017 from the NASA Wallops Facility. # # # Oct 5, 2017 | By Tess The Spanish foundation for medullary injury (FLM) has teamed up with the Vodafone Spain foundation to develop and launch a new initiative that will offer people with spinal cord injuries and spinal-related disabilities technological training. The program, which will feature 3D design and 3D printing courses, is aimed at providing independence and employment options to people with limited mobility due to spinal conditions. FLM and Vodafone Spain have launched the new Integral Training Plan for New Technologies (Plan Integral de Formacion en Nuevas Tecnologias) in a bid to improve equal opportunity for those suffering from debilitating spinal cord injuries. Aimed at helping the physically disabled find employment, the program will offer courses and training in various technology-related fields, including robotics, 3D scanning, 3D design, and, of course, 3D printing. Other courses will include Android basics and community management training. These subjects have been chosen for a number of reasons: first and foremost because tech jobs are in high demand, as companies are increasingly transitioning into the digital age. Second, because these jobs require knowledge more than they require physical mobility, people with spinal injuries would not be at a disadvantage. There is also an interesting rehabilitation aspect to the training initiative which is worth talking about. It comes in the form of a course called Lego Mindstorm Education EV3. This course will reportedly consist of building a robot prototype from Lego pieces and robotic accessories. According to FLM and Vodafone, by having the participants work with their hands in some capacityassembling plastic blocks with the goal of building a robotthey will potentially be able to improve their dexterity. The FLM is a Spain-based nonprofit organization which was founded with the express goal of providing comprehensive rehabilitation services for those who have suffered from spinal cord injuries. The foundation has launched a number of programs to help physically disabled people integrate into society. The FLM, unique in Spain in its scope of action, began [its] career in 1997 in Madrid, reads the nonprofits website. Our mission is to improve the quality of life for all those affected by spinal cord injury, offering integral rehabilitation services, with the aim of [providing] options for these people to achieve full participation in society. With its new project in collaboration with the Vodafone Spain foundation, FLM is inviting its members to become more active in the tech world, to learn the ins and outs of digital technologies and manufacturing processes such as 3D printing, with the goal of opening up new employment opportunities. Posted in 3D Printing Application Maybe you also like: Natalie Wolchover in Quanta Magazine: Even as machines known as deep neural networks have learned to converse, drive cars, beat video games and Go champions, dream, paint pictures and help make scientific discoveries, they have also confounded their human creators, who never expected so-called deep-learning algorithms to work so well. No underlying principle has guided the design of these learning systems, other than vague inspiration drawn from the architecture of the brain (and no one really understands how that operates either). Like a brain, a deep neural network has layers of neurons artificial ones that are figments of computer memory. When a neuron fires, it sends signals to connected neurons in the layer above. During deep learning, connections in the network are strengthened or weakened as needed to make the system better at sending signals from input data the pixels of a photo of a dog, for instance up through the layers to neurons associated with the right high-level concepts, such as dog. After a deep neural network has learned from thousands of sample dog photos, it can identify dogs in new photos as accurately as people can. The magic leap from special cases to general concepts during learning gives deep neural networks their power, just as it underlies human reasoning, creativity and the other faculties collectively termed intelligence. Experts wonder what it is about deep learning that enables generalization and to what extent brains apprehend reality in the same way. Last month, a YouTube videoof a conference talk in Berlin, shared widely among artificial-intelligence researchers, offered a possible answer. In the talk, Naftali Tishby, a computer scientist and neuroscientist from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, presented evidence in support of a new theory explaining how deep learning works. Tishby argues that deep neural networks learn according to a procedure called the information bottleneck, which he and two collaborators first described in purely theoretical terms in 1999. The idea is that a network rids noisy input data of extraneous details as if by squeezing the information through a bottleneck, retaining only the features most relevant to general concepts. Striking new computer experiments by Tishby and his student Ravid Shwartz-Ziv reveal how this squeezing procedure happens during deep learning, at least in the cases they studied. More here. Ed Yong in The Atlantic: This morning, physicists Rainer Weiss, Kip Thorne, and Barry Barish received the Nobel Prize for Physics, for their discovery of gravitational wavesdistortions in the fabric of space and time. The trio, who led the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) project that recorded these waves, will split the 9-million-Swedish-krona prize between them. Perhaps more importantly, they will carry the status of Nobel laureate for the rest of their lives. But what of the other scientists who contributed to the LIGO project, and whose names grace the three-page-long author list in the paper that describes the discoveries? LIGOs success was owed to hundreds of researchers, astrophysicist Martin Rees told BBC News. The fact that the Nobel Prize 2017 committee refuses to make group awards is causing increasingly frequent problems and giving a misleading impression of how a lot of science is actually done. This refrain is a familiar one. Every year, when Nobel Prizes are awarded in physics, chemistry, and physiology or medicine, critics note that they are an absurd and anachronistic way of recognizing scientists for their work. Instead of honoring science, they distort its nature, rewrite its history, and overlook many of its important contributors. There are assuredly good things about the prizes. Scientific discoveries should be recognized for the vital part they play in the human enterprise. The Nobel Prize website is an educational treasure trove, full of rich historical details that are largely missing from published papers. And it is churlish to be overly cynical about any event that, year after year, offers science the same kind of whetted anticipation thats usually reserved for Oscar or Emmy nominees. But the fact that the scientific Nobels have drawn controversy since their very inception hints at deep-rooted problems. More here. Henry Graber in Slate: The first time Shane Moon lost his drivers license was in 2013, when his girlfriend was pregnant with his first child. Moon, a construction worker in Lapeer, Michigan, near Flint, was having trouble making ends meet and had let his car insurance lapse. I dont make a whole lot of money, Moon said. Its the only thing I could possibly get away with not paying. He got a ticket for driving without insurance and a special Michigan penalty called a driver responsibility fee, which can cost violators up to $1,000 over two years. He couldnt afford to pay that either and missed his court appearance. His license was suspended, bringing on an additional reinstatement fee. But he had to keep driving to get to construction jobs, often 90 miles from home. Each time he was pulled overoften for his outdated tagsthe state hit him with another ticket for hundreds of dollars. Four years later, Moon is homeless and struggling to keep up with tickets that have him paying as much as a third of his income to local and state governments each year for fines and fees alone. My ship has sank. I dont know how Ill make it out of it this time. I feel like a total loser failing my family, he told me. If I cant pay my tickets, shame on me, but dont take my license away from me. Dont take my standard of living away from me. He continues to drive to work every day, without insurance or a license. Moon is one of tens of thousands of Michiganders who have been trapped in a cycle of debt and criminality stemming from a suspended drivers license and the accompanying series of fines that begin with the states driver responsibility fee. The penalty was first proposed in 2003, by Michigan state Sen. Jud Gilbert, who sponsored a bill to create an automatic fine tacked onto vehicular offenses both mundane ($100 for hitting seven points on a license) and serious ($1,000 for murder). The state was in a financial crisis, but as the fees name implied, Gilbert thought the new penaltiessuggested to him by the majority leader at the timewould improve driver safety. They were portrayed that way in the press, too: The Detroit Free Press driving columnist called the fee an immaturity penalty. In 2014, the Republican-controlled statehouse voted by an overwhelming majority to abolish the policy, in recognition that the fee had simply been a money grab, in the words of Joe Haveman, the representative who sponsored the repeal. More here. Here, Gosling plays K like Deckard, a blade runner: a police officer who hunts and kills humanoid replicants. While in the original the unanswered question was whether Deckard is a replicant, there's no doubt about K. Hes a newer model created by the Wallace Corp. (which has replaced the Tyrell Corp. from the first film), with the programmed purpose of hunting down older models. On a mission, he finds a box of bones on a farm and learns that the woman they belonged to was not only a replicant, but also had died in childbirth. With pregnancy a presumed impossibility for replicants, Ks commanding officer, Joshi (Robin Wright), sends him to find the surviving child and kill him or her before the discovery is made and society collapses from the knowledge. Ks journey is a meandering one, and the film often slows to a crawl during its relentless 164-minute run time. But its direction from Arrivals Denis Villeneuve, just 50 and the gorgeous cinematography positively distract from the slow pace. Every shot in this movie is a piece of art; watching on an Imax screen is akin to standing in a museum, looking on in awe at a massive canvas. The use of shadow, light and beautiful long-distance camera shots creates a heartbreaking feeling of loneliness and alienation in its broken and dystopic near-future Los Angeles. And all along the way, there is Goslings frustrated and desperate K, built to do a job he hates and wanting nothing more than to forge a physical connection to his holographic romantic interest, Joi (the fantastic Ana de Armas). Ranging from 68 to 85 years old, the silver-haired scientists now exchanging their millions in Swedish kronor were not all being celebrated for discoveries made years ago, in their relative youth. In fact, it was just two years ago that the Americans who share the physics prize detected their paradigm-changing gravitational wave, after hearing the faint reverberation of two black holes colliding 1.3 billion years ago. And they did so at the mature ages of 75, 79, and 83. So much for Einsteins promise that a person who has not made his great contribution to science before the age of 30 will never do so. (He also thought no one would ever be able to measure gravitational waves, though his own theory of relativity posited them.) Einstein nabbed his physics prize at 42; Marie Curie at 36 (she also received another, in chemistry, at 44.) If it seems these days that such geniuses keep getting older and older, well, they do. Bruce Weinberg, an economist at Ohio State, coauthored a study that looked at when Nobel laureates in physics did their prizewinning work. That age was 40 in 1905, 48 by 2008, and today, its slightly over 50 a fact that challenges the conventional wisdom that scientists become less creative and less innovative as they age, he notes. The shift in aging physicists is influenced by many things, one of them the fact that U.S. universities abandoned mandatory retirement ages in 1994, allowing scientific geniuses to work longer. Another factor, Weinberg says, is how physics has changed from a more theoretical field, where younger minds tend to dominate, to a more empirical, or less abstract, one. Its in this area of science which typically encompasses medicine that the older mind can have something of an advantage. What it takes to do great empirical work is an accumulation of knowledge and fact and an understanding of how to put pieces in the right places, he says. And you get better at that as you age." And thats potentially good news for science as a whole, given that Weinberg has also found that the average age of scientists, including computer scientists, has been creeping upward, from 45 to 49 between 1993 and 2010. This upward trajectory is greater than in the workforce as a whole and will continue even after the boomers have finally retired. While the shift is exciting if youre a genius hoping for a third act, it could tend to make people obsessed with innovation a little nervous, as they may worry that brilliant old people wont retire and make room for brilliant young people, who they might assume will make them more money. But that concern turns out to be somewhat unfounded, too, especially if you use patent applications as a litmus test. For starters, one of the most important filings of this year went to a 94-year-old, John Goodenough. He and his team at the University of Texas at Austin developed a cheap, lightweight battery that promises to revolutionize electric vehicles. For bigger proof, John P. Walsh of the School of Public Policy at the Georgia Institute of Technology studied thousands of patent applications in the U.S. and Japan to find that people over 55 have the greatest chance of receiving a high value patent, or one that can make someone lots of money. (The finding was stronger in the U.S. than in Japan, where there remains strong pressure to retire people in their 50s or 60s, Walsh says.) As he sums it up, There is a tendency to think of innovation as something you do when you are very young, but thats not the case. There are lots more senior people who are contributing, and lots of contributions come from more senior people. Secures $2M Placement to Fund Copper Growth Strategy Adelaide, Oct 5, 2017 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Havilah Resources Limited ( ASX:HAV ) (Havilah) is pleased to announce the execution of a private placement subscription agreement (Subscription Agreement) with Bergen Global Opportunity Fund II, LLC (the Investor), a New York-based institutional investor managed by Bergen Asset Management, LLC. Highlights - $2.0 million placement of 6.2 million shares at a 13% premium to the share price. - Funding to be used to progress work on Havilah's Copper Growth Strategy. Background Pursuant to the Subscription Agreement, the Investor will invest $2.0 million in Havilah by way of a subscription for a fixed number of 6,212,121 shares at $0.33 per share, in one tranche, representing a 13% premium to the price of Havilah's shares on 2 October 2017. This is a 14% premium to the 5-day volume average weighted price. In addition, Havilah has also executed a funding agreement (Funding Agreement) with the Investor, which potentially provides Havilah with an opportunity to benefit from an appreciation in Havilah's share price arising from future developments. Under the Funding Agreement, the Company is required to make a payment to the Investor in consideration of the Investor entering into the Funding Agreement, and the Investor will thereafter make regular payments to Havilah over a period of up to 20 months, with the calculation of such payments taking into account Havilah's share price prior to each payment. Future amounts payable by the Investor to Havilah under the Funding Agreement are not subject to a cap, and no further shares will be required to be issued to the Investor under this arrangement (avoiding any further dilution by shareholders). The key aspects of the investment and Havilah's rationale for securing this funding are set out in the Appendix (see the link below). Commenting on the placement, Havilah Managing Director, Dr Chris Giles said: "Obtaining this investment for a fixed number of shares from the Investor, at a premium, provides additional funding and a vote of confidence by a substantial institutional investor in Havilah's Copper Growth Strategy. "This opportunity is enhanced through the ability to receive additional funding from further appreciation in Havilah's share price over the next 20 months. "At the same time, there is no potential for any further dilution from the funding as all the shares under the placement are issued in one tranche at the time of the placement" he said. About Bergen Asset Management, LLC Based in New York, Bergen Asset Management, LLC is an institutional investor with a particular focus on direct investments in small-cap companies around the world, and a track record of success in the Australian market. To view the Appendix, please visit: http://abnnewswire.net/lnk/8JE5G3WY To view the Copper Strategy Positioned for Growth Presentation, please visit: http://abnnewswire.net/lnk/7Z8TI4VH About Havilah Resources Ltd Havilah Resources Ltd (ASX:HAV) is a debt free South Australian gold producer having recently financed and developed its first gold mine at Portia in north-eastern South Australia. It plans to follow on with three copper-gold-cobalt mining developments at North Portia, Kalkaroo and Mutooroo, which are underpinned by a JORC resources mineral inventory of over 1.4 million tonnes of copper, 3.6 million ounces of gold, and 18,000 tonnes of cobalt. Signs Memorandum of Understanding with First Nations Rouyn-Noranda, Oct 5, 2017 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Explor Resources Inc. ("Explor" or the "Corporation") ( CVE:EXS ) ( EXSFF:OTCMKTS ) ( E1H1:FRA ) is pleased to announce that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU") with the Matachewan First Nation of Matachewan, Ontario and the Mattagami First Nation of Gogama, Ontario (the "First Nations"), with respect to the Montrose Property. The MOU will serve as a framework to govern the relationship between Explor and the First Nations in accordance with their intention of further building a relationship characterized by cooperation and mutual respect, in connection with the development of the Montrose Property. This represents an important milestone in moving the project forward and we welcome our new partners. The MOU sets out the areas in which Explor and the First Nations have agreed to work together notably on mutual key interests such as environmental protection, employment and business opportunities, education and training for the First Nations communities. Chris Dupont, President and CEO of Explor Resources, stated that "Explor is committed to working in partnership with the First Nations in the development of the Montrose Property. Explor looks forward to building a strong relationship with the First Nations that will be beneficial to both parties." In order to instill a relationship with the First Nations, Explor will issue 500,000 common shares to both the Matachewan and the Mattagami First Nations. This issuance of equity enables the Matachewan and the Mattagami First Nations to become shareholders and participate in the success of Explor Resources as Explor moves the Montrose Project to the next phase in the development of the property. This issuance of shares is subject to the approval of the regulatory authorities. The Montrose property consists of 20 mining claims (217 units) located in the Montrose and Midlothian Townships in the Timmins-Porcupine Mining Camp for a total of approximately 3,472 hectares. The Montrose property is contiguous to the North and East of the former producing Stairs Mine property where widespread alteration, generally within sediments, occurs proximal to felsic volcanic contacts. Alteration consists of wide zones of carbonate/pyrite alteration +/- silification and can obtain widths up to 100-200 m with more intense internal zones of sericite alteration and green mica alteration within the broad carbonate alteration. Gold valeurs are found most commonly with quartz ankerite veins but can also occur in massive sulphide veins, chromic-pyrite veins and sericite alteration. Explor Resources Inc. is a publicly listed company trading on the TSX Venture (EXS), on the OTCQB (EXSFF) and on the Frankfurt and Berlin Stock Exchanges (E1H1). This Press Release was prepared by Explor. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the Policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) has reviewed or accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. About Explor Resources Inc. Explor Resources Inc. (CVE:EXS) (OTCMKTS:EXSFF) (FRA:E1H1) is a Canadian-based natural resources company with mineral holdings in Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan and New Brunswick. Explor is currently focused on exploration in the Abitibi Greenstone Belt. The belt is found in both provinces of Ontario and Quebec with approximately 33% in Ontario and 67% in Quebec. The Belt has produced in excess of 180,000,000 ounces of gold and 450,000,000 tonnes of cu-zn ore over the last 100 years. The Corporation was continued under the laws of Alberta in 1986 and has had its main office in Quebec since 2006. BJP President Amit Shah on Thursday did not participate in the party march in the hometown of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan as he had to attend a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. BJP state president Kummanam Rajasekharan told reporters that Shah would be unable to attend the phase of the Janaraksha Yatra (Peoples Protection March) that would pass from Mambaram to Thalassery, crossing Pinaryi town in Kannur district. Rajasekharan said Shah has to attend a meeting with Prime Minister Modi in New Delhi. Hundreds of party workers, led by the state unit chief, are participating in the march that entered the third day on Thursday. Shah had launched the high profile 15-day yatra from Payyannur in Kannur on October 3 against the alleged red and jihadi terrorism under the CPI(M)-led LDF rule in Kerala. On Wednesday, Uttar Pradesh Chief minister, Yogi Adityanath, had led the yatra and accused the left party of promoting jihadi terrorism. Senior BJP leaders are expected to participate in the yatra which will conclude on October 17 at Thiruvananthapuram. Meanwhile, senior Marxist leader from Kannur, M V Govindan, Master said the march will not have any impact on the left partys strength and its base in the state. In a democracy, all political parties can take out yatras and there are no restrictions, he said adding Shah not attending the march today was an anti-climax. CPI(M) Thalassery MLA A N Shamseer alleged that Shah had abandoned the yatra through party gramam (party village). Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala also took a dig at Shah skipping Thursdays march, saying the Janaraksha Yatra had become a Vilapa Yatra (mourning procession). Catalonia is not the only region in Spain having its own cultural identity. Each Autonomous Community has its own cultural identity. Spanish is the official language of Spain and is spoken all over the country. Catalan is the official language of Catalonia and it is the co-official language of Spain. Similarly, languages like Galician and Basque are official languages of their respective regions (Galicia and Basque) and are co-official languages of Spain. There are several other languages spoken in Spain like Valencian, Aranese, Leonese, Extremaduran etc. The point is that Spain is a multicultural and multilingual country. So the argument that Catalonia being culturally and linguistically different should be an independent country does not seem convincing. Dispute over revenue sharing has led to use of culture as a garb to forward the call for independence. There were also indications of using security as another reason to demand independence. This was in the wake of terrorist attack in Barcelona in August. The argument being that an independent Catalonia would be able to defend itself better. Again this reason may not be enough to demand independence. Besides, there is no guarantee that an independent Catalonia will not face any terrorist attack. Terrorist attack in Barcelona should not be used to demand independence. Dividing a country could make it more vulnerable and an easy target for terrorists. It could also trigger separatist tendencies in other regions of Spain as well as in other European countries. Such a situation would make Spain and entire Europe unstable and thereby insecure. So, security angle must not be used as a ploy by pro-independence leaders of Catalonia to forward their own interests. In the referendum of October 1, it is claimed that 90 per cent of voters have voted in favour of independence. However, the actual voter turnout was about 40 per cent of the total number of eligible voters. Recent opinion polls have also shown a drop in support for an independent Catalan nation. While 49 per cent of the total eligible voters favoured independence in January 2017, the percentage has dropped to 41 in August 2017. It means that there is lack of clarity among the people of Catalonia as to whether to remain a part of Spain or become an independent country. Catalonias quest for independence is the result of mismanagement of the Autonomous Communities by the central government in Spain. The solution of this problem lies in checking whether the federal structure in the country needs any changes. Balanced federal structure would diffuse the tension by giving adequate due to each region. It would also avoid any repetition of such incidents that disrupt the stability of the country. (The author is an Independent Researcher based in Vadodara and can be reached at niranjanmarjani@gmail.com) Niranjan Marjani (The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.) When the BJP government was attacked by its own leaders, Prime Minister Narendra Modi came in defense stating that the criticizers are spreading anguish but the economy is on track. Criticism sometimes appears disruptive but they are not. Modi said that the government was committed to reversing the setback to growth in the April-June quarter and the structural reforms undertaken during the last three years, including demonetisation, Goods and Services Tax, and the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, would help the country step up into the next league. But in reality, demonetisation was a disaster. We lost maybe $100 billion in terms of GDP in the $230 billion gamble. Perhaps, he is unaware that reserves do not belong to the government it is borrowed money. People give dollars to RBI and accept rupee. Whenever they give back the rupee you have to return dollars. Evidently, the Indian economy is not at a place where it needs to be. Despite PMs heroic show to support his economic policies at the Institute of Company Secretaries of India, the Modi government finds itself in a fix that theyre unable to fight its way out of. The government is just not being able to attract or make the investments needed to revive the economy. Exaggerated theatrics and gimmicks can never become a substitute for hard facts. All economic indicators are stuttering and stumbling. GDP as measured by the old methodology would be a dismal less than 4 per cent. Perturbingly, this doesnt reflect the pain in the informal sector which has been the worst hit by frequent disruptions. Moreover, it is not just one quarter as Modi is claiming but a succession of five quarters slowdown which means that demonetisation and GST have aggravated an already upsetting situation. The promise of two crore jobs per year has gone with the wind like most other promises and charming coining of phrases like Digital India , Startup India to recent Modi fest (where dogs were sleeping in the stalls) have only been verbal legitimacy. Ignorance of ruling class and blindness of Bhakts have reached all-time high. For this government, questioning their failures belongs to jobless and pessimist categories. Its you and your party that came with an election manifesto promising about taking economy to the next stage. So, dont have a feel that only Prime Minister has the right to express his thoughts through Mann Ki Baat. We Indians have rights to question our PM and his government when they deviate from what is promised to us. Modi should deliver what he had promised. Merely talking about past to find excuses for his failed assurances is not going to impress people much. How can I forgive the government which made more than a billion Indians suffer promising black money returning to India while re-introducing Rs 500 and Rs 2000 notes? All the reasons provided for demonetisation have vanished. No one is talking about it. If you have to re-introduce, why ban in the first place? How does black money and fake money with Rs 2000 go together? We tolerated demonetisation by expecting that black money will be curbed and corruption will be brought under control. But government departments and babus are no different from their corrupt counterparts in UPA. People who dont have to deal much with government employees might not be aware but small and mid-level businessmen are getting hurt big time. Demonetisation was an epic failure; PM Modi made so many foreign visits but India has failed to attract investments. So promise to bring back the black money was an exaggeration? Promise of reducing the price of fuel and other necessary commodities was an exaggeration? What about depositing 15 lakh in all the accounts, exaggeration? What about creating jobs, sending love letter to Pakistan etc. Exaggeration? How long Modi government will keep on giving jumlas to public, the time has come and they need to perform. Yashwant Sinha has rightly pointed out the present economic condition of the country. It is the duty of a responsible citizen of this country to speak out the truth, so that Government can take effective steps to correct. But this particular government is not open for suggestions; they are hiding their flaws and indulging in blame game. Tall promises like removing corruption in day to day dealing with government connected to common man, bringing black money from foreign banks, sudden demonetisation and conveying wrong glorified effects of it are nothing but fooling voters. BJP talked about scrapping Aadhar Card, now capitalising for its benefits. The party had opposed GST during UPA rule. Also, BJP did not cooperate with UPA to pass RERA Bill. RERA has been passed but BJP ruled states have diluted it by framing their own rules. Modi government came to power and the common man had high expectations from them. The change expected was like undoing a lot of things and doing something extra ordinary to change the situation of 2014 India. People were in huge distress and lost hopes with erstwhile government. Previous government had huge opportunities and talent but in given party situation, they proved to be ineffective. People were looking for somebody, who could take that challenge and make a difference. Then came Modi, with a wave and over hyped charisma, with power of speech, with power of visible will and vision, with strength to work hard, having belief in India and its citizens, having pride being Indian, pride in our history and culture, with clarity of thoughts but whatever being told just remained in speeches. It was enough to attract and provide him a vast majority. Now when people are introduced to reality, the government and its voters all are at unrest. Lets see, what drastic changes will take place by 2019. (Any suggestions, comments or dispute with regards to this article send us on feedback@afternoonvoice.com) Humane Society International/India is offering a reward of Rs 50,000 for information leading to the identification, arrest and conviction of the persons responsible for mass killing and burning of street dogs in Pune. An investigation by NGO AaCT India (Action for Animals against Cruelty and Trauma), headed by Animal welfare officer (h) Meher Mathrani, has found dead and partly-mutilated bodies of dogs on Punes Pancard road. According to eyewitnesses, a man was seen feeding chapatis to the dogs on Sunday, September 23, 2017. But the incident only came to light when animal lovers in the area witnessed the partially decomposed bodies of the animals on September 28, 2017. On the same day, the AaCT India team notified the police about the decomposed and burnt dog bodies in the area and did an on-ground investigation to ascertain the situation. They have also found a mass grave of dogs with an un-accounted number of skeletons around the area. Neena Rai from Cruelty team for AaCT India said, This is clearly an act of mass killing. We also found out that some of these dogs were tied and dragged for 50 meters, before being drowsed with petrol and being set on fire. In fact, in some cases, the limbs of the animals moved when they were being burnt alive. One cannot fathom the pain they must have undergone. Even puppies were not spared. N.G Jayasimha, Managing Director of HSI/India said, The sheer number of skeletons found in the area; along with the new killings just shows that this is not an isolated incident. We request the citizens to discourage animal cruelty and report any abusive behaviour against animals. These animal abusers lack empathy and have a tendency towards violence and also pose a risk to humans. We are hopeful that this reward will urge anyone with information about this crime to talk to us. We must find the perpetrator of this heinous crime. Cruelty towards animals needs more attention from prosecutors, law enforcers and general public. There are studies documenting the correlation between animal cruelty and human violence. Such incidents are a wake-up call for the residents, because they show the fragile safety and security standards that exists in the community. By Dan Olmsted Its great that the military, the VA, and the mainstream media are giving more attention to the awful mental health problems plaguing soldiers and veterans. What's not so great -- in fact, awful -- is their continuing failure to recognize the role played by the militarys own toxic anti-malaria drug. Until that occurs, the toll will continue to rise. The federal government has a long and sorry record of ignoring, suppressing, and covering up the truth about the drug, called mefloquine and also known by the brand name Lariam. You can almost hear the silence as the Pentagon holds its collective breath in hopes that Sgt. Robert Bales, who allegedly went on a rampage last month in Afghanistan, killing 17 villagers and setting some of them, including children, on fire, was not prescribed the drug. That answer will emerge in time, though many have wondered why the Army won't say so if he simply didn't take it. Either way, the renewed attention from the Bales case should not be allowed to pass without reprising the militarys unconscionable history with the drug it invented and licensed to Roche pharmaceuticals, and the role of other federal agencies, in particular the FDA and CDC, in approving and recommending it. This is important because the effects are far worse and far more frequent than the military cares to admit (just check the official product label for suicide, "hallucinations," "psychotic or paranoid reactions," and aggression), and because (also per the label) they can last long after someone stops taking it. In many cases, that means forever. What was once a problem for deployed soldiers is now a problem for more and more reservists and veterans every day. It is also important because the failures surrounding this drug go straight to the issue of pattern and practice -- whether the federal government is doing its job in protecting citizens from unsafe medicines. (The drug's manufacturer, Swiss-based Roche, has much to answer for as well. It stopped distributing it in the U.S. a couple of years ago but a generic remains available.) Mefloquine has been damaging U.S. troops often enough for long enough since the Somalia action in the early 1990s, soon after the drug was hurriedly approved in 1989 that there are now thousands of veterans with very clear mefloquine toxicity ranging from chronic dizziness to psychosis to unrelenting depression. Some of them an undetermined but not insubstantial number are now dead, and some of those have taken with them family, friends, and bystanders who happened to get in the way of a full-blown mefloquine rage. Now the VA is adding hundreds of psychiatrists to help veterans with their mental health nightmares. Nicholas Kristof of the agenda-setting New York Times has called attention to the veteran suicide rate of one every 80 minutes. The drugging of service members with everything from Adderall to Prozac is being recognized for the problem it is. But a widely prescribed pill that can cause suicide and homicide? It is still strangely absent from this discussion. Meds and murder. In 2004, Dan Olmsted wrote a ground breaking series with Mark Benjamin about the malaria drug Lariam - and its association with murder suicides. You can read the series here from UPI. Eight years later, Dan was Editor of Age of Autism and wrote "The Kill Pill Murder, Madness, and the Army's Mefloquine Cover-up" for our readers. This week, we suffered the worst mass shooting in our nation's history. Even worse than Orlando and Sandy Hook (a mere 15 miles from my home.) Sandy Hook had a particular horror in that so many school children were murdered by Adam Lanza. The Las Vegas shooter was said to be a wealthy man, no notable mental health issues, "successful." And he was prescribed valium in June. We at Age of Autism believe firmly that pharma is behind the autism epidemic. And I believe pharma is behind our gun violence epidemic. It's time to demand the medical records of every single shooter since Columbine. Compare them. Forget medical privacy. Medications and toxin laden vaccinations are changing the American mind from toddlers to Seniors. Better diagnosis? In a pig's eye. Doctors have turned a blind eye to the havoc their peddling for pharma has wrought. My point in sharing this article is NOT to begin a discussion on gun control - pro or con. If you can make a comment that includes your opinion without rancor toward each other we'll approve it. But no verbal bullets, OK? Thanks. Kim ### Stephen Paddock, who killed at least 58 people and wounded hundreds more in Las Vegas on Sunday with high-powered rifles, was prescribed an anti-anxiety drug in June that can lead to aggressive behavior, the Las Vegas Review-Journal has learned. Records from the Nevada Prescription Monitoring Program obtained Tuesday show Paddock was prescribed 50 10-milligram diazepam tablets by Henderson physician Dr. Steven Winkler on June 21. A woman who answered the phone at Winklers office would not make him available to answer questions and would neither confirm nor deny that Paddock was ever a patient. Paddock purchased the drug its brand name is Valium without insurance at a Walgreens store in Reno on the same day it was prescribed. He was supposed to take one pill a day. Diazepam is a sedative-hypnotic drug in the class of drugs known as benzodiazepines, which studies have shown can trigger aggressive behavior. Chronic use or abuse of sedatives such as diazepam can also trigger psychotic experiences, according to drugabuse.com. Read more at Las Vegas Review. Aiken, SC (29801) Today Rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers in the afternoon. High 57F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch.. Tonight Cloudy. Periods of light rain early. Low 44F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%. Assyrian Leader Meets New Head of Syrian Parliament The Secretary General of the Assyrian Universal Alliance, Yonathan Betkolia, shaking hands with Hamoudeh Sabbagh, the recently elected Speaker of the People's Council of Syria. Mr. Sabbagh is also an Assyrian. Damascus (AINA) -- The Secretary General of the Assyrian Universal Alliance, Yonathan Betkolia, met yesterday with Hamoudeh Sabbagh, the recently elected Speaker of the People's Council of Syria in Damascus . Mr. Sabbagh is also an Assyrian. Mr. Betkolia is the Assyrian representative in the Parliament of Iran. The Assyrian Universal Alliance (AUA) is an umbrella organization for Assyrian organizations throughout the world. In the meeting, Mr. Betkolia expressed his delight that after nearly 70 years a second Assyrian had been elected as the Speaker of the Parliament in Syria. The two sides exchanged views on the current situation in the region and the importance of stability and peace throughout the Middle East. Mr. Betkolia conveyed AUA's heartfelt congratulations to Speaker Sabbagh on his historic election and wished him success in his new role. Mr. Betkolia and Mr. Sabbagh discussed the atrocities committed by ISIS against the Assyrians in Syria, including kidnapping of civilian and clergy, occupation of villages and the destruction of Assyrian churches and archaeological sites. Mr. Betkolia invited Mr. Sabbagh to Iran's Urmia region to view the Assyrian villages and historic churches in the area. Mr. Sabbagh was very open to the idea and the two sides pledged to continue dialogue. Mr. Betkolia also met with Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem. Oman Air Cargo has signed a five year unit load device (ULD) outsourcing contract with Jettainer, the German airfreight container management company. The Middle East airline will use lightweight ULDs constructed of carbon fibre and partly recycled composite materials that will result in lower CO2 emissions, improved payload, and increased aircraft fuel efficiency. Jettainers management solution means that Oman Air, hubbed out of Muscat, can reduce by 20% its existing container fleet to 1,200 units. Some 600 aluminum AKE containers will be replaced by environmentally friendly lightweight AKEs. Another 200 lightweight containers will be added to the Oman fleet as part of the airlines expansion. Mohammed Al Musafir, senior vice president commercial cargo at Oman Air, said: Our agreement with Jettainer comes at a time of excellent growth and modernization of the cargo division, as we continue forward with our aggressive growth plan. "We are confident Jettainer is a partner that shares our positive outlook and offers us the right services and technology to further improve our offerings. Carsten Hernig, managing director of Lufthansa subsidiary Jettainer, said: We look forward to work with Oman Air, a very successful and rapidly growing global airline from the Middle East." Hernig added: "We are proud that we are able to stand out from our competitors with our smart solution, which is the combination of Jettainers experts, technology and ULD hardware. Martin Kraemer, head of marketing and PR at Jettainer, said: With this cooperation, we continue to expand our presence in the strategically important Gulf region. This is an enormous dynamic market, which enables us to proceed with our course of growth in the long term. A team of Jettainer ULD controllers is currently based at Oman Air Cargos operations center in Muscat. System rollout, trainings and operational transfers have been completed by a joint project team. All ULDs are maintained by Jettainer at the Muscat International Airport and in Jettainers global repair network. Share this story The Geopolitics of Energy and Impacts on Iraq Petroleum Sector Ahmad Mousa Jiyad Iraq/ Development Consultancy and Research, Norway This is summary of a PowerPoint Presentation prepared for and to be delivered before the international "8th Turkey Energy Summit Congress, held at Antalya-Turkey, 10-11 October 2017. The presentation was formulated on two interrelated premises; 1- Iraq is the only Arab country that is Resource rich and "semi-landlocked; has only narrow corridor to international waters with two close chokepoints: one at northern Arabian Gulf (with Kuwait and Iran) and the other is Strait of Hurmuz. 2- Hence, Geology, Geography and oil Dependency make Iraq inevitably highly vulnerable to Geopolitical risks; Kleptocracy exacerbates such vulnerability. It covers the following topics: 1- Geology: resource richness and potential resource conflicts; 2- Geography Governs: Semi Landlocked; Locational Rent (Economic & Political) & Expensive Strategy of Multiple Export Outlets; 3- Dependency, Vulnerability and Volatility; 4- The Big-Push Strategy of a Game-Changer; 5- Kleptocracy, Resource Curse & Major Policy Failures; and finally, 6- Prospects: Iraq Geopolitical Vulnerability Continues. I- Geology: Resource Richness & Potential Resource Conflicts According to and based on formal / official date, Iraq is a resource (hydrocarbon) rich country with over 500 billion barrel "Oil in Place; estimated oil Current Remaining Proven Reserves-CRPR stands at 153 billion barrel (in 2017) and accumulated oil production of 39.9 billion barrel up to 1 January 2016. Based on 5 million barrel per day (as from 2018) CRPR could last for 84 years (Reserve Production Ratio- RPR); doubling daily production would reduce reserves durability-RPR by half. But most oil professionals, especially reservoirs and reserves specialists, argue that potential proven reserves could be much higher than the currently estimated. The argument premised on three basic facts: Iraq, geologically, is under-explored; it has a relatively high success (discovery) ratio and finally the advancement of reserves estimation methodologies and enhanced recover factor. The following two charts 1 and 2 exhibit the above. But Geology is "permanent and knows no borders: sovereign, regional or provincial/administrative borders; hence, could cause severe, costly and long lasting or recurring resource conflicts. That depends, largely, on the adopted "resource development strategy: Sovereign border fields: Unilateral & Competitive vs. Bilateral & Collaborative Provincial/Regional shared fields: Federal vs. Provincial/Reginal Management. II- Geography Governs: Semi Landlocked; Locational Rent (Economic & Political) & Expensive Strategy of Multiple Export Outlets. Iraq is the only Arab country that is Resource rich, as highlighted above, and "semi-landlocked; has only narrow corridor to international waters with two close chokepoints: one at northern Arabian Gulf (with Kuwait and Iran) and the other is Strait of Hurmuz. The state of been "semi-landlocked proved to have serious implications on the development of upstream development (and by organic links on the petroleum sector and the national economy at large) through export outlets, boarder fields and indirectly through OPEC politics. The map below demonstrates that the case of landlocked-ness provides Iraqs neighbours with continued opportunities to extract from Iraq economic rent and exerts political rent or leverage: Economic rent is mostly through "transit fees, linked to oil prices. But the political rent (or leverage) was, and could actually be most evident, effective and impeding. To mitigate this curse of geography, Iraq was compelled to adopt expensive strategy of multiple export outlets, through pipelines, formulated on flexibility and security considerations more than project-based fiscal feasibility. Ample evidences, since September 1980 up-to-date emphatically support the above assertions most evidently by the pipeline operations and projects through Syria, Turkey, Saudi Arabia (IPSA 1&2) Jordan (Aqaba) and oil terminals on north Arabian Gulf. III- Dependency, Vulnerability and Volatility In addition to geology and geography, Iraq vulnerability to geopolitical events and associated risks deepens further by oil dependency through two channels: oil production and export and oil price volatility, as exhibited in the following 3 & 4 charts. Two main facts are indicated through Chart 3: the first; oil export constitutes a high percentage of oil production and, thus, highly correlated to it; implying high national economic dependency (in different aspects) on oil. The second, both oil production and its exports are highly sensitive to geopolitical events. Chart 4 demonstrates that oil prices, for both Iraq oil export and world average, are usually volatile as measured by year on-year percentage change; annual oil price volatility is normally smoothed by the averaging compared with the daily, weekly or monthly levels, which usually very abrupt and takes Yo-Yo shape. The above two charts clearly indicates that Iraq is exposed to high, severe and negatively impacting vulnerability of both geopolitical events and geopolitics of energy, especially petroleum. IV- Big-Push Strategy of a Game-Changer Through four bid rounds, Iraq adopted what could be considered as Big-Push Strategy of a Game-Changer. 14 oilfields (brown and green) with a total of 67 billion barrel of proven reserves were contracted in 2009 & 2010 with a total production plateau of ca. 12 million barrels per day (mbd) to be realized in 2017 and sustainable for seven years. In addition, three (free) gas field and four exploration blocks were contracted through two separate bid rounds. That big-push ambition proved to be unattainable in timing and magnitude. Thus, plateau production targets were reduced many times, plateau period moved further from 2017 and its duration prolonged by more than seven years, leading to extension of the contract terms by a few years. Accordingly, related contract were amended by giving certain concessions to the contracted IOCs. By end 2017 oil production (from all oilfields covered by the bid rounds and the national efforts) is projected to reach 5mbd only, as stated by the current Minister of Oil. V- Kleptocracy, Resource Curse & Major Policy Failures Kleptocracy, defined here as formalised legalised and institutionalised hyper-corruption, is the most lethal and destructive manifestation of resource cures of the rentier state; it is the cause of most impacting financial, contractual and execution irregularities (camouflaged by democratic norms!) that lead to wasteful resource mismanagement and minimum sustainable development performance. This brief presentation addresses only three major policy failures without going through them meticulously. 1- Oil Export Revenues and the Serious Fiscal Crisis of the Rentier State- Lessons Not Learned Between end June 2008 and end September 2017 Iraq exported a total of 8.373 billion barrels of oil, generated $602 billion of revenues; decision makers did not learn from 2008 fiscal crisis as they are facing more acute fiscal crisis since mid-2014. Now, Iraqs accumulated debt stand at $110 billion and face challenging and costly destruction due to Daesh effect. The following chart indicates an upward trend in oil exports while oil export revenues went through two major dips due mainly to collapsed oil prices: a short-lived one when Iraqi oil prices plunged from $113.81/barrel in July 2008 to $34.57/b in December 2008; and a prolonged second dip when oil prices dropped from $102.61/b in June 2014 to as low as $22.21/b in January 2016 and now (in September 2017) it stand at $50.23/b. Between these two "floors, i.e., $34.57/b and $22.21/b, oil prices has been mostly at $100+/b. Obviously , such cyclicality produces, what I warned against, a "Honeymoon & Nightmare situation, which I suggested the decision makers to be aware of and take necessary precautions and mitigating concrete actions; unfortunately, kleptocratic mentality pays no attention to advice or warning! Chart 5: Oil export (Million barrel) and Revenues ($million) July 2008-September 2017 2- Gas Flaring Continues A second policy failure is the continued flaring of significant volumes of associated gas; as oil production increases so does gas flaring. According to recent statement by MoO, ending gas flaring would generate ca. $6 billion of annual revenues. Moreover, flaring cause costly health and environment damages in addition indirect cost of lost production and services country-wide. So why gas flaring persists? The Ministry is signatory to World Bank Zero Gas Flaring Initiative by 2030, but it hopes to achieve that much earlier. However, the Ministry is inconsistent regarding how and when gas flaring ends; first it says by 2019 and a few weeks later it says 2021!! It is worth mentioning that formal data indicates Iraq has 132 trillion standard cubic feet (tscf) mostly (70%) is associated gas. The following chart 6 exhibits the increasing magnitude of gas flaring as associated gas production increases rapidly while gas utilization remains both low and increases marginally. Ironically, while gas is flared, Iraq imports gas from Iran! Chart 6: Associated Gas: Production, Utilisation and Flaring (September 2008-September 2016) 3- Outdated Refinery Configuration The third major policy failure is related to the inability to modernise refining sector to satisfy increasing domestic demand for the lighter parts of the refined barrel. Chart 7 exhibits both aggregate refinery production of various petroleum products and domestic demand on them. Production demand divergence intensified since mid-2014 reflecting the substantive damage to northern refineries due to Daesh effects. But that production-demand mismatching has been a chronic deficiency of the refining sector for decades, causing the country to import petroleum products at estimated $2 billion a year from 2003 onwards. The country attempts, repeatedly, to incite private investors into four modern refineries for the last ten years and promulgating a specific refinery investment law with many and significant incentives. That only resulted in one dubious -scandalous refinery with technically incompetent and financially bankrupt company/Satarem. A state-funded modern refinery, in Karbala, was put on hold half-way in its construction due to lack of funding!! Chart 8 provides a comparative profile of regional refinery configurations comprising (in terms of the percentage composition of the main petroleum products in 2016) in Iraq; Iran, Saudi Arabia and Turkey. The chart clearly indicates to Iraqi refining as the worst among the four neighbouring countries due to the heavy component with low-valued residual fuel oil is the dominant compared with the other countries. Chart 7: Refining Products Production-Demand (kb) 2009-2017 Chart 8: Regional Comparative Refinery Products Configuration (2016) (%) VI- Prospects: Iraq Geopolitical Vulnerability Continues It is reasonable to conclude that in the short and medium terms, Iraq may continue to be highly vulnerable to and negatively impacted by geopolitical events and associated risks. Such vulnerability may be attributed to or exacerbated by any of the following topics, among others. (But due to time consideration these are listed only without further elaboration, could be highlighted during the Q&A session and might be addressed in future occasions as each topic is by itself complex enough): The "New-normal of "lower for longer: How normal is the "new normal? How low oil price would be and for how long!! Fracking Revolution vs. OPEC-NOPEC accord; a catch22/ Zero-sum-game GCC dilemma (IPO-SA-vision 2030; Qatar vs. 3+1) & Arab Bloody Spring; Trump: Iran Nuclear Program Deal & North Korea; Iraqs Triple whammy (Daesh effects, collapsed oil prices since June 2014 and KRG referendum ramifications on domestic political structure and system and regional stability)!! Kleptocracy & Lack of Structural H&V Diversification in the country? 5 October 2017 Norway. October 4, 2017 Congress is moving ahead with a Hezbollah sanctions bill that targets the Iran-backed Shiite militias allies in government, sending shock waves across Lebanons political elite. The House Foreign Affairs Committee passed legislation from Chairman Ed Royce, R-Calif., last week that tightens the screws on Hezbollahs illicit funding streams abroad, setting up a vote in the full House later this month. The bill notably calls on the US president to publicly disseminate US estimates of Hezbollah and allied politicians net worth, a highly controversial move in a country where corruption is rampant. Ive had long conversations with the government from Lebanon on this [bill], Royce said at a Capitol Hill panel hosted by the hawkish Foundation for the Defense of Democracies on Tuesday. These conversations would probably be more impactful to me and my colleagues if we didnt have an agent of Hezbollah sitting in the room when we have them. And this is one of the greatest misgivings I have about Lebanon allowing Hezbollah into the government. Action on the Hezbollah International Financing Prevention Amendments Act of 2017 follows last years accession to the presidency by Michel Aoun, a Christian politician whose Free Patriotic Movement is allied with Hezbollah and the Shiite Amal Movement. Hezbollah, which the United States considers a terrorist group, also has about a dozen members in parliament. Lebanese politicians and the countrys banking sector have been bracing for a US crackdown since April, when a draft of the Royce bill was leaked to Lebanese media. According to Lebanons Daily Star, the bills earlier iteration would have targeted senior members of Hezbollah, including parliamentarians and Cabinet ministers, as well as the Amal Movement. The new version of the bill doesnt sanction Hezbollah politicians or call out Amal by name, but it would require the US president to issue a public report every year on the net worth of Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah, members of Hezbollahs political bureau and anyone the president determines is a senior foreign political figure of Hezbollah, is associated with Hezbollah, or otherwise provides significant support to Hezbollah. That information, including a description of how [those] funds were acquired, and how such funds have been used or employed, is to be posted on the State Department website and all US embassy websites for everyone in Lebanon to see. Reporting does not necessarily mean sanctions but it could lead to sanctions, Joseph Gebeily, president of the Lebanese Information Center, a think tank critical of Hezbollah, told Al-Monitor. Congress was a little bit frustrated with the previous administration because they were not seeing actions being taken. In addition, the bill includes a sense of Congress that the president should sanction financial institutions that do business with any member of parliament or any Cabinet official of the Lebanese Republic who is a member of Hezbollah, or any affiliate of Hezbollah. Lebanons banks, a crucial component of the tiny states economy, strongly opposed the earlier draft, and a parliamentary delegation visited Washington in May to make its concerns known. Opposition from the financial sector seems to have died down as the bill evolved, however, even as Prime Minister Saad Hariri continued to lobby Congress against additional Hezbollah sanctions during his visit to Washington in July. I believe that there are already enough sanctions on Lebanon in the banking sector, Hariri told Al-Monitor at the time. "Ive had long conversations with the government from Lebanon on this [bill]. These conversations would probably be more impactful to me and my colleagues if we didnt have an agent of Hezbollah sitting in the room." Rep. Ed Royce, R-Calif. The bills proponents in the House, however, believe that its main impact would be on curbing Hezbollahs illicit racketeering activities abroad and its support from foreign states, namely Iran, Syria and Russia. The House bill, which is co-sponsored by ranking member Eliot Engel, D-N.Y., builds upon a 2015 Hezbollah sanctions package that also sparked a fight with the Lebanese government at the time. The legislation were moving now has a whole series of steps to try to close any last loopholes that remain for this criminal enterprise, Royce said at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies event. It labels them a criminal enterprise in a way which will help us with respect to our European and Latin American friends and allies and give us additional leverage. The new bill would block the financial assets of anyone the president determines knowingly assists, sponsors, or, provides significant financial, material, or technological support for Hezbollah and its affiliates from the US banking system. It would also require the executive branch to submit a report of individuals to Congress if there is credible evidence that they have supported Hezbollah. Gebeily downplayed the fear that the additional sanctions on Hezbollah and its supporters could destabilize Lebanons financial services sector. According to him, the Lebanese concern over the sanctions is rooted in the fear that they could have a chilling effect on US banks willingness to do business in Lebanon, even though the US government has told the banks that Lebanon is complying with the 2015 Hezbollah sanctions. If the correspondent bank in New York says, This is too complicated for me, this might be too risky, Im just not going to deal with a Lebanese bank, theres nothing you can do about it, said Gebeily. The bill's supporters have played down the concerns of the Lebanese public and instead pointed to its measures sanctioning foreign states for supporting Hezbollah. "We must go after the Assad regime and its enablers and their campaign of carnage, Engel told the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies panel. This includes going after Moscow [and] Tehran, who also support Hezbollah. For instance, an amendment added by Rep. David Cicilline, D-R.I., during last weeks House markup would require the administration to submit a report detailing Russian military support and arms transfers to Hezbollah. The bill would also sanction any agency or instrumentality of a foreign state that supports Hezbollah or fights alongside Hezbollah in combat operations. The Jerusalem Post reported in September that Iran is giving roughly $800 million a year to Hezbollah, a historic high. "Hezbollahs budget is estimated [to be] $1 billion to $2 billion, so the Iran share was not that big and now it seems that it has increased substantially, said Gebeily. The House bill directs the administration to sanction government entities on the State Departments state sponsor of terrorism list if they support Hezbollah. The only three countries on the list are Iran, Syria and Sudan. In another jab at Iran, the House bill also amends a 2010 Iran sanctions package to include Iranian support for Hezbollah. The extra provisions on Iran come at a time when the White House and some in Congress are expressing a desire to increase sanctions on Tehrans non-nuclear activities throughout the Middle East in lieu of reinstating the far-reaching nuclear sanctions rescinded under the 2015 nuclear deal. The Senate has its own companion Hezbollah sanctions legislation, introduced by Sens. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H. It does not include language urging the administration to sanction Hezbollah parliamentarians and members of the Lebanese government, meaning such language may not survive reconciliation between the two versions if the new sanctions become law. Im in support of the strongest possible sanctions that we can get passed and thats been the challenge, Rubio told Al-Monitor. The House and the Senate have some different constituencies arguing about certain provisions. October 5, 2017 Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan renewed threats to shut down a pipeline carrying Iraqi Kurdish oil, upending claims that he has toned down his rhetoric over the controversial referendum on Kurdish independence and adding Russia to the mix. Briefing reporters on his flight home from a one-day trip to Iran yesterday, Erdogan said, If a decision is made on closing oil taps in the region, it will be made by us. Turkey, Iran and Iraqs central government will do so together. Erdogan went even further today, telling a group of community leaders from Turkeys mainly Kurdish southeast region gathered at the presidential complex in Ankara, Now all the airspace is going to be closed, flights have already been banned [by the central government in Baghdad]. Who is going to come? Who is going to leave? Soon the [Iraqi Kurdish] borders will be closed. How will you go in and out? The questions were directed at the Iraqi Kurdistan's president, Massoud Barzani. Erdogan is furious with the Iraqi Kurdish leader for pressing ahead with the referendum in defiance of repeated calls from Turkey, Iran, Baghdad and the United States to scrap it. In an unexpected twist, Erdogans comments about the pipeline appeared to be mainly in response to remarks by Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Russian leader declared at an energy forum in Moscow yesterday that Russia was following a policy of non-interference in Iraqi Kurdistan and that it is not in anyones interest to halt the Kurdistan Regions oil exports. Russias state-owned energy giant Rosneft signed a memorandum of understanding in June with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), giving Rosneft the right to pick five new oil and gas production blocks and to expand the capacity of the oil pipeline running from the Kurdistan Region to loading terminals in the Turkish port city of Ceyhan from 700,000 barrels per day (bpd) to 1 million. Iraqi Kurdish crude purchased by Rosneft is being delivered to its refineries in Germany. The company is believed to have already injected at least a billion dollars to the KRG. The infusion has allowed the KRG, among other things, to settle a long running legal dispute with Pearl Petroleum, which is operating Iraqi Kurdistan's richest gas fields in Chamchamal and Khor Mor. On Sept. 18, Rosneft and the KRG inked another memorandum of understanding whereby Rosneft would build, own and operate a natural gas pipeline to carry the region's vast reserves of high quality natural gas to Turkey. According to Amy Myers Jaffe of the Council on Foreign Relations, The mooted deal is said to include a possible stake in the Kirkuk oil field, including areas previously operated by the Iraqi states North Oil Company. In a 2016 study, the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies predicted exports of around 1 million bpd of oil and 10 billion [cubic meters] of gas by the early 2020s are plausible given the discovered resource base and current stage of development. It is widely assumed that Rosneft went ahead with the deals with Turkeys blessings. Could Erdogan risk shutting down the pipeline without triggering another costly row with Russia so soon after fixing the one over the downing of the Russian jet in Syria and when its relying on Russia to temper Kurdish ambitions there? Energy-hungry Turkey buys around half of its natural gas from Russia and has been looking to decrease its dependency on its eastern neighbor. A mega energy deal it signed with the KRG in November 2013 was meant to redress this imbalance and help Turkey realize its ambitions of becoming a major energy hub. If the Rosneft deal was finalized with assurances from Ankara, the move flies in the face of those plans, giving Russia even more of a stranglehold over sales of natural gas to Turkey. It remains unclear whether Erdogan has had a change of heart and and will disrupt Iraqi Kurdish oil sales. This more than anything would have a crippling effect on the KRG, which is already reeling from the effects of the collapse in global oil prices. There are unconfirmed reports that Turkey is withholding the proceeds of the sales, which are deposited in the state-owned HalkBank and then transferred to Iraqi Kurdish banks. To get around it, the Iraqi Kurds are rumored to be getting some of the cash particularly from Israel, which is believed to buy some Iraqi Kurdish oil through alternative channels. But now that Iraq has closed Iraqi Kurdistan's air space to international flights, it's improbable that any such arrangement could continue. Israel is one of the most enthusiastic proponents of Iraqi Kurdish independence, making Turkey and Iran all the more wary. In an interview with the Atlantic Councils Aaron Stein, journalist and energy expert Patrick Osgood pointed out that shutting down the pipeline would hurt Turkey in various ways. For one, it would be unable to recover over a billion dollars in transit fees owed by the Iraqi Kurds. Maintaining the pipeline also costs money. The petro dollars used to pay government employees allow them to buy the Turkish products flooding the market. It would also dent Turkeys image among energy traders. The volume of trade between Turkey and the KRG is currently estimated at least $2.5 billion. Turkish businessmen are said to be owed some $1.8 billion by the KRG. Turkeys Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekci recently noted, When you impose an embargo, your trade and exports stop. I am the economy minister and I have to reflect on this side of the coin. The emerging picture amid a steady flow of articles from pro-Erodgan columnists claiming that Turkey wants Barzani to step down suggests that if Ankara does stiffen sanctions, they will be a temporary measure designed to force his ouster. If so, Turkey is once again misreading the internal dynamics of Iraqi Kurdistan and above all those of the tightly knit Barzani clan. Correction: Oct. 5, 2017. An earlier version of this article stated that the volume of trade between Turkey and the KRG is estimated at $8 billion annually. The actual volume is $2.5 billion. October 4, 2017 The passing of former Iraqi President Jalal Talabani on Oct. 3 was extensively covered by Iranian media, with most newspapers featuring it on their front pages. With the crisis over the Sept. 25 Kurdistan independence referendum worsening, Iranian media described Talabanis death as harmful for Iraqs unity. The media described him as a caring Kurdish politician who always sought to bring peace to his country. Talabani long enjoyed a cordial relationship with Iranian officials, and many Iranian media outlets emphasized his ties with Iran and his long presence in the country. Under the headline The peace is sorrowful for Mam [Uncle] Jalal, the government-run Iran daily wrote Oct. 4, Talabani lived in exile in the city of Karaj for 25 years, and had a warm relationship with Iran. During the years of the [1980-88] Iran-Iraq War, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan under the leadership of Talabani stood beside Iran and fought against the Baath regime of Iraq. Iran daily added, Talabani was the first president of Iraq who visited Iran after former [Iraqi] President Abdul Rahman Arefs trip in 1966. He always contemplated Iran as the undeniable power of the region, and stated that Wherever the Kurds are in the world, they are partly [from] an Iranian origin. Talabani frequently called Iranians the cousins of Kurds, and knew betrayal of Iran as a betrayal of ones family. Reformist Shargh daily argued Oct. 4 that the former Iraqi president was an advocate of dialogue and negotiation to resolve disputes. The former president of Iraq spent a great part of his life resolving the differences between Kurds, Arabs and Shiites in Iraq. While he was striving to decrease the tensions between Erbil and Baghdad, and right after his meeting with [former Iraqi Prime Minister] Nouri al-Maliki, he suffered a stroke. In a separate article in Shargh daily, former Iranian diplomat Fereydoun Majlesi urged the Iraqi Kurdish leadership to follow Talabanis policies and engage in talks with Baghdad. Majlesi wrote, Under the current circumstances, the lack of a politician like Talabani is sensed. If he was active [in his last days of his life], he could have led the demands of Iraqs Kurdistan region to be realized by diplomatic approaches, negotiations and attracting the satisfaction of neighboring countries. He added, Now that Talabani has passed away, it would be better if the government of Iraqi Kurdistan [would seek to] reach a compromise via a win-win agreement and negotiation with the central government [in Baghdad]. Meanwhile, most senior Iranian officials also expressed their sorrow over Talabanis death. In a condolence message, President Hassan Rouhani said Oct. 3 that the late Iraqi Kurdish leader had a key role in Iraq's national unity and integrity, as well as strengthening the political process and promotion of Iraq's role in the region and the world. Rouhani added, His role in deepening brotherly bonds between the two Iranian and Iraqi nations is unforgettable. Along with other high-ranking officials, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif also sent a condolence message: He was one of the effective, prominent and caring figures of Iraq who spent his life for the cause of freedom, reputation and independence of his nation and country as well as protecting [Iraqs] territorial integrity and national unity. October 5, 2017 Just four months after accusing Iran of Persian expansionism in the Middle East, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited Tehran on Oct. 4 to discuss bilateral cooperation and an expansion of economic ties with the country's highest officials. One of the issues that has recently brought Iran and Turkey closer is the Kurdish independence referendum held Sept. 25 in northern Iraq. The vote poses a challenge to both countries because of their own Kurdish populations. While in Iran, Erdogan met with the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the country's highest authority. Speaking about the Iraqi Kurdistan referendum, Khamenei said, In confronting this event, Iran and Turkey must take every possible action, and Iraq's government must take serious actions on this issue. He called the referendum treason against the region and a future threat with possible long-term consequences. Echoing previous remarks by Erdogan, Khamenei said that the Kurdistan referendum was in the first instance to the benefit of Israel and in the second to the United States. He further stated that foreign powers, in particular Israel, want to divert Iran and Turkey's attention from important regional issues and asserted that the Kurdistan referendum would create a new Israel. The reference to a new Israel made headlines in a number of media outlets, including coverage by Javan, a newspaper linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. During a press conference with President Hassan Rouhani, Erdogan said, Both Iran and the central government in Iraq and Turkey have implemented some measures against the Kurdistan region, and from this point forward there will be stronger measures. Erdogan's reference to stronger measures became the top story and headline for the Reformist Shargh Daily. Iran closed its airspace to Iraqi Kurdistan at the request of Iraq's central government in Baghdad, but there was no indication what these stronger measures might entail. Highlighting Israel's support for the Kurdish referendum, Erdogan said, Any decision taken with Mossad is unacceptable. Rouhani also mentioned the Kurdistan vote at the press conference, saying, We do not want to put pressure on the people of Iraqi Kurdistan, but some of the mistaken decisions taken by some of the leaders of this region have to be addressed. Therefore, the three countries of Turkey, Iraq and Iran have to follow their strategic goals with serious and necessary steps. Rouhani and Erdogan touched on a number of other regional and economic issues. Iran and Turkey, as two Muslim, friendly and powerful countries in the region, are today anchors of stability in a sensitive region, Rouhani said. To improve economic trade between them, Rouhani said, various border crossings will be open 24 hours a day and additional ones will be opened. He also said that Turkey plans to invest in petrochemicals, tourism and transportation. Erdogan also spoke of strengthening ties between the countries' central banks. The recent signs of Turkey and Iran growing closer have received a great deal of media attention in Iran given that the two have been on opposite sides of the Syrian civil war, the Middle Easts most deadly war in years. Iran has backed the government of President Bashar al-Assad while Turkey has backed opposition forces. Although the two sides have exchanged harsh words over Syria, they have continued to tend to economic relations. October 5, 2017 Once Israeli commentators had said everything they could possibly say about alleged connections between the perpetrator of the Las Vegas massacre and Islamic terrorism, the media shifted its attention to Americans' "intolerably easy access to guns," mixing a measure of scorn with pity. Newspapers stressed that after the Oct. 1 mass shooting deaths, President Donald Trump made do with claiming, "We'll be talking about gun control as time goes by." White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders said, "There will certainly be a time for that policy discussion to take place, but thats not the place that were in at this moment." Standing out in particular was Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut, who said, "It is positively infuriating that my colleagues in Congress are so affraid of the gun industry that they pretend there aren't public policy responses to this epidemic." The links between terrorist attacks, politics, money and ideology are nothing new to Israel. Here as well, lobbies and big businesses whose core economic interests are wrapped up in a thick layer of ideology contribute to the violence. While the contribution is circular, it penetrates the depths of Israeli society and even crosses the ocean. The people and organizations contributing do not provide arms to Israel's enemies on the Palestinian side. Instead, they provide financial means to the enemies of diplomatic compromise on the Israeli side, including the settlement enterprise. Even if it is not entirely linear, the link between the settlements and the occupation and the occupation and terrorism is no less obvious than the link between the Second Amendment to the US Constitution, which protects the right to bear arms, and the horrific scope of attacks like the one in Las Vegas. In the past decade, no one has caused more harm to efforts to reach an agreement with the Palestinians while solidifying the occupation than Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He, in turn, was helped to power and has managed to stay there with the support of Las Vegas gambling tycoon Sheldon Adelson. The Jewish billionaire, who is married to an Israeli, has an extremist right-wing worldview, believing that the Palestinians are a "made-up" people. He uses his vast wealth to advance Israeli (and American) politicians who share this perspective. At the same time, his money also opens doors for him to advance his profitable business interests. An investigative report in Yedioth Ahronoth in September 2001 related that the day after the 1996 election, Netanyahu having defeated Shimon Peres by a handful of votes paid a visit to the Adelsons in Jerusalem to thank them for their generous financial support, about $1 million, for his election campaign. A 2008 investigative report, this one in the New Yorker, revealed that in December 2007, Adelson had met with the chairman of Yisrael Beitenu, Avigdor Liberman, and the leader of Shas, Eli Yishai, in an attempt to convince them to quit Ehud Olmert's government. Shortly before that, Adelson had founded the free daily newspaper Yisrael Hayom. Now dubbed the "Netanyahu News," it became the most widely distributed paper in Israel, and through it, the American billionaire has been able to disseminate the most extreme opinions held by Netanyahu and the members of his government. Following a Supreme Court ruling in response to a petition by the journalist Raviv Drucker, records were released showing that between 2012 and 2015, Netanyahu and Adelson spoke on 120 separate occasions. During that same period, Netanyahu also spoke with the paper's editor, Amos Regev, on 230 occasions. Before the 2013 election, Netanyahu and Regev spoke 15 times in 19 days. On the night that the preliminary reading passed for the "Yisrael Hayom Law to limit the paper's distribution, Netanyahu spoke three times with the newspaper's owners. That the law passed that vote was one of the main reasons elections to the 20th Knesset were advanced. In the past decade, no one has caused more harm to efforts to reach an agreement with the Palestinians while solidifying the occupation than Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. After it was reported that Netanyahu had been in talks with Arnon Mozes, publisher of Yedioth Aharonot, to limit the distribution of Yisrael Hayom in exchange for more positive coverage from Mozes' paper, the American tycoon transferred his support to Naftali Bennett, the leader of HaBayit HaYehudi. Adelson is not the only foreign businessman to intervene in Israeli politics in an effort to keep the right in power and prevent a compromise with the Palestinians. Netanyahu's rise to power in 1996 can be attributed largely to the "Netanyahu is good for the Jews" campaign funded by the Australian businessman Joseph Gutnick, then a prominent figure in the Chabad Hasidic sect. Gutnick later severed ties with Netanyahu, claiming that he did not do enough to prevent the disengagement from Gaza. According to the 2001 report in Yedioth Ahronoth, Netanyahu, at the meeting with Adelson after the election, promised the businessman that the Prime Minister's Office would always be open to him. In fact, the gambling magnate had access not only to the Prime Minister's Office, but also to the offices of other ministers. Meetings with other ministers were not limited to ideological issues. At the time, the magnate and the lobbyists he hired wanted to change Israel's gambling laws to allow a casino to be built in the southern coastal town of Eilat or along the Dead Sea coast, in collaboration with Jordan. The tragedy in Las Vegas underscores the steep price that American society is paying because moneyed interests with extremist views control its life. Nothing better illustrates the weakness of Israeli democracy's immune system than the way ultra-wealthy American and Australian extremists are similarly seizing control of Israelis' future. October 4, 2017 King Salman's unprecedented state visit to Russia signifies a new search for help in the kingdom's foreign policy, which is burdened with a quagmire in Yemen and a losing hand against its regional rival Iran. Riyadh has a long and tortuous relationship with Moscow that the king wants to reshape. However, Salman, who arrived in Moscow on Wednesday night, is likely to get more sympathy than action. The Soviet Union was one of the first states to recognize Saudi Arabia after the kingdom's founder, King Abdulaziz Al Saud, conquered the Hijaz from the pro-British Hashemites. In 1926, a Soviet embassy was opened in Jeddah. The communists saw the Saudis as an anti-imperialist movement, and the Saudis were looking for allies against the British. The king's son, Prince Faisal, visited Russia in 1932 and met with senior Soviet officials but not Josef Stalin. In 1938, Stalin withdrew the Soviet mission and executed all of its members in the midst of a massive purge in the Communist Party. Relations were not renewed until after the Cold War in 1990. The Saudis were enthusiastic cold warriors, providing money to anti-Soviet insurgents from Nicaragua to Angola. The centerpiece was Afghanistan, where the Saudi intelligence service allied with the CIA and Pakistani spies to support the mujahedeen. Then-Prince Salman headed a committee to raise private funding for the Afghans. He raised hundreds of millions of dollars from the royal family and other wealthy Saudis to supplement the government money that flowed from Washington and Riyadh via Islamabad to the guerrillas. Since the Cold War, the Saudis have tried several times to establish a strong relationship with Russia. There have been efforts at establishing an arms-sales relationship and a program to share nuclear technology. Despite repeated attempts, not much has been implemented. Much-promised initiatives have failed to deliver. The most enduring agreement has been to jointly limit oil exports, but this has failed to raise prices, so both economies are hurting. Neither has much capital to invest. Since 2014, Russia has proven in Syria that it is willing to project military power in the region and prop up its clients. The Saudis are deeply disappointed by the survival of the Bashar al-Assad regime, which they had hoped was the weak link in Iran's regional alliances. The king will want to hear from President Vladimir Putin how Russia plans to use its winning hand in Syria. The Saudis have spent billions in Syria and have nothing to show for their efforts. Russia was the only country to abstain on the United Nations Security Council resolution that Riyadh uses to justify its 2-year-old war in Yemen. The Russians said the resolution was unbalanced and unenforceable. Their judgment has been vindicated. Russia has little influence with the Houthi rebels, however, and can offer only its goodwill to help the king escape from his greatest mistake. Finding a way out of the Yemeni morass needs decisions in Riyadh, not Moscow. The Saudis' concerns about Iran's regional meddling and support for Shiite militias such as the Houthis and Hezbollah will find little resonance in Russia. Tehran enjoys fairly good relations with Moscow and the two cooperate closely, leaving Riyadh without leverage. In Iraq, the king has engaged this year in new and innovative ways and can also look for methods to cooperate with Russia; nevertheless, Iran retains the upper hand in Baghdad. As the first Saudi king to visit Russia, Salman can let symbolism dominate over concrete actions. The Russians have courted the Saudi visit and have publicly laid out ambitious goals. It is billed as a follow-up to the May visit by Mohammed bin Salman, now the crown prince. Show and gestures will be easy. The king's trip is also a symbolic balance to the enthusiastic welcome he gave President Donald Trump this spring. That visit was also long on extravagant gestures and short on substantive accomplishment. No arms sales were signed despite lots of extravagant promises. The impressive show of Islamic unity against Iran was immediately undermined by the dispute with Qatar. The Saudis have been disappointed behind the scenes by the failure of the Trump administration to force Qatar to bend to their demands. Given Trump's own curious relationship with Putin, there is no risk of an American backlash for approaching the Russians. The king's visit does underscore his continued crucial role in the transition to a younger generation in the Saudi leadership. Often dismissed as merely a instrument for his son's rise to power, Salman should not be underestimated. As the symbol of continuity with the kingdom's founder and his sons, Salman's authority and legitimacy is vital to a smooth transition to the next generation. His trip to Russia is the latest in a travel program that has taken him on an extensive series of trips abroad to show the Saudi flag. By doing so the king strengthens the odds for a stable succession. October 4, 2017 Two years have passed since Russia began its military campaign in Syria. The Russian military has reached this milestone as victors, with reports of liberating almost 90% of the countrys territory from Islamic State (IS) militants. Average Russians do not care much that this accomplishment was achieved through the joint effort of many countries. What they do care about is feeling assured that a final victory is not far off. However, military reports and statements by diplomats imply that the main battle for Syria's future is still to come. The Russian Defense Ministry regularly reports on operations in Syria, but after Moscow decided in March 2016 to withdraw most of its main forces, access to the figures became rare. Now, as Moscow assesses its time in Syria, the ministry's official publication, Krasnaya Zvezda newspaper, has published some statistics. By Sept. 20, according to the report, the Russian air force had flown 30,660 sorties (5,165 in 2015, 13,848 in 2016, and 11,647 over the past months of 2017), launched 92,006 airstrikes and hit roughly 97,000 targets, including 8,330 command points, 53,700 groups of militants, 212 oil fields and 84 oil refineries and oil depots. Precise figures for Russia's military operational costs in Syria are not available. According to the Russian government news agency Tass, from Sept. 30, 2015, to March 15, 2016, when Russia announced it would reduce its presence in Syria, the war had cost Moscow an average of $2.8 million per day (using an exchange rate of 70 rubles per dollar). Estimates from Russias RBK daily business newspaper differ, at $2.5 million daily. In contrast, the United States was spending about $11.9 million per day on its own fight against IS in Syria and Iraq. In July, the Yabloko Party one of the political opposition groups in Russia released its own estimates, suggesting that in the 17 months since the drawdown, Russia's military costs might have reached 108 billion to 140.4 billion rubles (about $1.7 billion to $2.25 billion, according to the average exchange rate of 62 rubles per dollar for the period). The Russian Defense Ministry rebutted those claims, saying campaign costs have not exceeded the ministrys estimates. The real cost of any military campaign, of course, is the number of human losses. Russian official sources confirmed Oct. 1 that 37 personnel had died, including officers. That figure includes Lt. Gen. Valeriy Asapov, who died Sept. 24 near Deir ez-Zor, and one noncombat loss a contract soldier who officials said committed suicide at Khmeimim air base in the fall of 2015. Some other estimates, however, peg the number of dead significantly higher. Reuters estimated Aug. 2 that 76 Russian military personnel and private contractors had died in Syria since October 2015, including at least 40 just this year. The news agency said its estimate might even be conservative and, despite the drawdown, indicates "a significant rise in the rate of battlefield losses as the countrys involvement deepens." There are more figures, without which the picture of Russias military campaign would be incomplete. In its two years in Syria, Russia has tested more than 600 weapons, 200 of which proved highly efficient in performing their set military tasks. Today, most of Russias sales contracts are signed for the weapons put to the test in Syria. In 2015, Russian military exports reached $14.5 billion; in 2016 they exceeded $15 billion, and in the first half of 2017 they reached as much as $8 billion. By the first anniversary of the military campaign in Syria, Russian authorities were trying to prove to citizens that Syria had not become a second Afghanistan, in that the Syria engagement was short-term and cost-efficient. For the second anniversary, Moscow is pointing to victories, though there is a rivalry between Russia and the United States for credit in those victories. The rivalry has been especially noticeable in recent weeks in the battle for Deir ez-Zor, as well as in activity in the de-escalation area in Idlib. The Russian military has repeatedly accused the US-led coalition of cooperating with militants of both IS and Jabhat al-Nusra, and reproached the US-allied Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) for their strikes at Syrian troops. Similar statements were issued by the Pentagon following Russia's strikes on SDF positions. Despite their differences, the United States and Russia have not interrupted their military coordination, which they expect to continue until Syria is rid of IS and Jabhat al-Nusra. The bigger question is what's next. Last month, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said the defeat of the terrorist groups will be a litmus test for Washingtons true intentions. Our American colleagues, including [US Secretary of State] Rex Tillerson, vow that in Syria they pursue no other goal but the defeat of terrorists. As soon as it happens, it will become crystal clear whether it is true or whether the US is set on some other political goals we dont know of as yet." Meanwhile, Moscows own ultimate goals are equally vague. Strategically, we do not aim at gaining a foothold in the region. Our aim is to fight international terrorism, which poses a threat to Russian national interests, stated Alexander Lavrentiev, President Vladimir Putins special envoy on the Syrian settlement. The truth of the matter is, Moscow is not going to give up on its military bases in Tartus and Latakia, and Russian companies will hardly be willing to let go of their contracts in Syria. The list of questions Russian leadership is potentially pondering now include: What should the timeline for troop withdrawal be when the terrorists are finally defeated? Who is likely to ensure the observance of peace in Syria? And will Syria become another Afghanistan for Russia if the terrorists take revenge as soon as Russian forces leave? On the other hand, staying in Syria too long would imply Russia had become a neocolonial empire, an image and role Russia has been doing its best to avoid. Moreover, some of the local residents in Latakia told Al-Monitor that Syrians' attitudes toward Russian troops have become quite ambivalent. The forces are said to be losing popularity even among the Alawites, and the longer they stay in Syria the more negative this attitude becomes. There is other bad news for Moscow Russia may have to invest more in Syrias reconstruction than previously estimated. In this respect, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's presence raises complications for the long run. When representatives of 17 foreign ministries met last month to discuss Syria, they concluded: "Recovery and reconstruction support for Syria hinges on a credible political process leading to a genuine political transition that can be supported by a majority of the Syrian people." In other words, money for reconstruction will be allotted on the condition that Assad steps down. Russia does not agree with the plan, but Moscow was not invited to the meeting and is probably going to be squeezed out of other talks on Syria. Yet, as long as the Russian military remains in place, getting rid of Assad will not be easy. The power factor will still be key in upcoming negotiations on Syria's future. But there also will be a sharp increase in the competition not only from the United States, but also from those who now seem to be on the same side of the fence as Moscow: Iran, Turkey and even China, which did not intervene in the military campaign, but is quite willing to invest in the Syrian economy. Thus, it is important for Moscow to define its strategy in Syria for years to come. Otherwise, all the losses it suffered and all the investments it made will be in vain. October 4, 2017 Turkey is studying a variety of ways to punish Iraqi Kurds for approving an independence referendum Sept. 25. In addition to restricting oil trade and cutting off airspace, one plan being considered would create a new border crossing to Iraq that supposedly would allow Turkey to bypass northern Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) altogether. Doing so, however, would require some creative problem-solving. As Turkey was debating what measures to take, someone resurrected an old proposal to open a new crossing at the junction of the Iraq-Syria-Turkey borders at Ovakoy. The location offers an alternative to the extremely busy, KRG-controlled Habur crossing, which provides Kurds with income from crossing fees and taxes. According to the plan, Iraq's central government in Baghdad would control the new crossing, and all exports from Turkey to Iraq would reach Tal Afar and Mosul via the new gate. This scenario was proposed years ago by military and nationalist circles in Turkey but was rejected by the ruling Justice and Development Party. Curiously, those who are now advocating the plan seem to be unconcerned with the hard reality that the 50-kilometer (31-mile) stretch of land between Ovakoy and northern Mosul is under the control of the Kurdish peshmerga and that the Iraqi government hasnt controlled even 1 meter of land on the Iraq-Turkey border since 1991. The proposed route is between Ovakoy and Nusaybin and, as everyone knows, Nusaybin faces Syrias Qamishli, which the Kurdish Peoples Protection Units (YPG) control. Besides, could Turkey even afford to give up the Habur crossing through which all of Turkeys exports currently pass not only to Kurdistan but to all of Iraq? According to Bulent Tufenkci, Turkey's minister of customs and trade, the new route would run from Ovakoy west of the Tigris River near Dayrabun in Iraq, which would require extensive use of the territory where Turkmens are the majority. This would mean isolating the KRG territory. The new trade route would head straight to Tal Afar, thus avoiding KRG taxes and fees. The route would then extend to Mosul and reach the central government in Baghdad, avoiding the Kurdish-populated towns of Zakho and Dahuk. It may take two to three months or a bit longer to activate this route," the minister said Sept. 26. "Roads on the Iraqi side have to be improved and their security ensured. However, Aydin Selcen, Turkeys former consul general at Erbil the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan questioned the Turkish governments logic. To open a crossing at Ovakoy was on the agenda in 2003, when Turkeys deployment of troops to Iraq was being discussed. Ankara couldnt accept that the entirety of the Iraq-Turkey border had gone under control of the Kurdistan Democratic Party after 1991 and that Habur had become the Kurds' major source of revenue. The same realities exist today, he told Al-Monitor. On the new route that bypasses Zakho and Dahuk are the areas of Rabia, Zumar and Sinjar, all of which are under KRG control. It's highly unlikely that Erbil will give up those areas for a new route that aims to starve Iraqi Kurdistan. Even if the corridor were opened, significant military deployment would be required to ensure the security of the new road. It's not clear yet whether Ankara thinks that would be an acceptable risk. In 2016, Turkey exported $7.6 billion worth of goods (5.4% of its total exports) to Iraq, making Iraq the third-largest export market for Turkey. In the first eight months of 2017, Turkeys exports to Iraq had already reached $5.6 billion. In 2013, before the Islamic State (IS) occupied Mosul, Turkeys annual exports to Iraq totaled about $12 billion. Every year, Turkish exporters dispatch about 700,000 trucks and semis through Habur crossing into Iraq. The economies of several Turkish provinces near the border depend heavily on trade with Iraq. It's estimated that 45% of the goods passing through Habur are sold in Kurdistan and the remaining in the rest of Iraq. Is Turkeys sole goal to impose a blockade and deny Kurdistan its lucrative customs revenues? Could this new project turn out to be more than a simple border gate perhaps the security corridor that Ankara has long considered to influence developments in Iraq? Hasnt Ankara always thought of entering Iraq from Turkeys Silopi and intervening at Mosul and Tal Afar on the pretext of protecting Turkmens in those towns and in Kirkuk? Last year, Ankara developed numerous scenarios to exclude the YPG in Syria and Popular Mobilization Units in Iraq from operations in the region, and lately to minimize the increasing role of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) in Sinjar. Turkey is now seriously concerned by the possibility of the PKK increasing its dominance of Kirkuk should there be an IS move against the city. The language used in commentaries by pro-government media also reveals that Turkeys intentions go far beyond opening a new crossing. The Yeni Safak daily reported that KRG President Massoud Barzani has "expanded the autonomous region allotted to him by the Iraqi Constitution in 2005 by 80%" in the past 13 years. "Since then, 1,500 locations including Kirkuk, Mosul, Tuz Khormato, Diyala and Sinjar were occupied by [Kurdish forces]. Ankara and Baghdad are expected to intervene in this region, which is officially Iraqi territory," the newspaper said. The same newspaper wrote that the PKK has turned Sinjar into a "second Qandil mountain" a refuge for Kurdish militants and has full control of Kirkuk. The article said Turkey now sees peshmerga forces as being as dangerous as the PKK. Turkish soldiers who are continuing with preparations for an operation in northern Iraq now also see the Barzani forces, which have been tolerating the PKK, as a threat against Turkey. When the operation starts, peshmerga who approach Turkish bases will be neutralized just like the PKK," the newspaper reported. According to the Turkiye daily newspaper, a joint intervention with the Iraqi army is planned for after Oct. 12 to wrest the disputed areas in the Ovakoy region from Kurdish control. The Iraqi army is expected to participate in this operation with 13,000 troops. The Turkish army will not enter Iraq in the first phase. There is the likelihood of setting up a Turkish military base on the Semelka-Fish Habur line to secure the lives and properties of Turks. Bashiqa base will also be a part of the operation, the newspaper said. In his address to top commanders when the parliament reconvened Oct. 1, Erdogan said, We have to be ready for all eventualities. The generals collective response We are ready signals that Ankara is waiting for the right time to intervene in Iraq. Charles D. McCrary, the former President and CEO and Chairman of the Board of Alabama Power Company, has been elected to the Board of Directors of Great Southern Wood Holdings in Abbeville. Jimmy Rane, who is Alabama's richest person, founded Great Southern Wood Preserving in 1970. "Charles has had an outstanding record of accomplishment throughout his career and will bring a high level of knowledge and experience to our board," Rane said in a press release. "Charles is well-respected both as a corporate leader and a community leader, and his unique experience and insight will be extremely valuable as our company moves toward its half-century mark." McCrary received his Bachelor's degree from Auburn University and a law degree from Birmingham School of Law. He serves on the Auburn University Board of Trustees and is a member of the Alabama Engineering Hall of Fame. He has served as Chairman of the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama and on the boards of Regions Financial Corporation, Mercedes-Benz US International, the Protective Life Corporation, the University of Alabama Health Services Foundation and Southern Research Institute. Great Southern Wood Holdings is the parent company of Great Southern Wood Preserving, which produces pressure treated pine lumber for residential, farm, commercial and industrial uses. The company has subsidiaries and plants in Mobile; Muscle Shoals; Brookhaven, Mississippi; Glenwood, Arkansas; Columbus, Texas; Buckner, Missouri; Conyers, Georgia; Jesup, Georgia; Mansura, Louisiana; Bushnell, Florida; Rocky Mount, Virginia; Hagerston, Maryland; and Fombell, Pennsylvania. McCrary retired from his position as CEO after nearly 13 years at the helm in 2014. It could be huge. Bigly. Believe me. An Anniston auto dealership opened this week bearing the 45th president's name, with ambitions of attracting business from Alabama's Trump-loving voters. The business' images resemble some of Trump's campaign paraphernalia. Trump Auto Sales, on Quintard Avenue, held its grand opening Tuesday. And the lot with more than 50 pre-owned vehicles has already sold three, General Manager Jeremy Pressley said. The business also reports a lot of foot traffic. "99 percent of the people who come here love it," Pressley said of the name. "We've had two different people who didn't like the name. If the name offends you, I guess it's doing what it's supposed to." The dealership isn't owned by Trump or associated with his various business ventures. But the red, white and blue exterior of the building, as well as its variation on the president's campaign slogan - "Make Car Buying Great Again" - leave little doubt what kind of association the dealership is hoping for. Using the Trump name is about more than just attracting business, Pressley said. "We all support him," Pressley said. "I think he's doing a fantastic job. The economy is just doing better and better. I mean, I remember how it was in 2008 and 2009. Every day, it's getting better and better I believe." Of course, this wouldn't be the first use of a president's name for a commercial enterprise. Every toy store has a Teddy Bear, its name inspired by a 1902 Mississippi hunting trip by Theodore Roosevelt. The toy maker who created the Teddy Bear got Roosevelt's permission however. The car lot's use of the Commander-in-Chief's moniker could cause problems in that Trump already uses his name on hotels, resorts and other commercial ventures and has been aggressive around the world at protecting it. According to the Washington Post, he has made at least $59 million in revenue through licensing his name. And earlier this year, DTTM Operations, the company that controls Trump trademarks, applied in Macau for rights to the Trump name in several ventures, including casinos, construction, hotels and real estate. The New York Times reported it also won a judgment against use of his name by coffee shops and restaurants overseas. But Pressley said he'd love to hear from Donald Trump. "We're really proud of him," he said. "We think he's doing a great job. Maybe he shouldn't say everything that crosses his mind, but..." A raid at the home of a Birmingham man turned up thousands of dollars in goods stolen from area retailers, authorities announce Thursday. Larry Savage Jr. was arrested at the scene on Monday, according to Homewood police. The probe was carried out by the U.S. Secret Service Financial Crimes Task Force, which includes investigators from Vestavia Hills Police, Homewood Police, Birmingham Police, Mountain Brook Police, Alabaster Police, Walmart Global Investigations, Target, and the Jefferson County District Attorney's Office. Police did not provide Savage's address. In his home, they found more than $17,000.00 retail merchandise, multiple firearms, illegal narcotics, and an undisclosed amount of cash. The thefts occurred from stores in Jefferson, Shelby, St. Clair, Tuscaloosa and Cullman counties. The stolen merchandise was subsequently sold in several locations throughout Alabama. Authorities also thanked investigators with CVS, Publix and the Jefferson County Metro Area Crime Center. Savage is charged with first-degree theft of property and second-degree receiving stolen property. There is no bond listed for him in the Jefferson County Jail. Tensions continue to mount at Pell City High School after nearly a week of racial discord that began with a student sitting during the Pledge of Allegiance. The problems started last week when the Pledge of Allegiance was recited at school and an African-American student remained seated in solidarity with the ongoing national debate over standing for the American flag and the national anthem, Pell City Police Chief Paul Irwin said Thursday. A white male student got into a debate with the female student, which continued over social media and ultimately led to the male's suspension from school for using profanity to toward the female. In return, Irwin said, many students showed up at school Monday flying the American flag from their vehicles. That prompted another social media post showing an African-American student burning the American flag, though the chief said that did not happen on school grounds. That student, he said, was disciplined by his parents. On Wednesday, another social media post made the rounds that read: "Attention: All n-----s in pellcity (sic) we are warning you tomorrow is not a good day to come we are hanging everyone that comes our way tomorrow after school so I advice (sic) all of you to stay away from us or leave pellcity we can't deal with you're a--." Irwin said they do not yet know where that post originated. "Nothing has happened at school,'' Irwin said. "Mostly it's been on Instagram and Snapchat. It just keeps going." Irwin and school officials met Thursday morning with about 25 concerned parents at the school. "There were parents expressing concerns about social media posts and what sparked controversy at the high school last week,'' Irwin said. "We took all threats seriously, but there have been no incidents at any Pell City School." Pell City Police posted this on Facebook Thursday morning following the morning meeting with parents. "There have been conversations between parents, Dr. (Michael) Barber, Dr. (Tony) Dowdy, Chief Irwin and other school officials with parents. We have taken each threat on social media seriously and we are here to protect your children and everyone else in the City of Pell City. Hopefully, we will find the anonymous person who has chosen to disrupt our community and apprehend them for those threats on social media." Irwin said they've posted additional officers at the school as a precaution only. "We are monitoring the situation and working with the state, the FBI and the St. Clair County Sheriff's Office to stop anyone from posting these threats toward our system,'' Irwin said. Birmingham Mayor-elect Randall Woodfin said it's "premature" to discuss any possible personnel changes at city hall. "At this point, as it relates to personnel it is important for me to start talking to everybody and getting a feel for what is going on in each department," he said in an interview with AL.com. Woodfin said he will do an assessment to determine what departments are understaffed, overstaffed or too top-heavy. He spoke previously about reducing the number of employees in the mayor's office. When Woodfin will actually take office, appears to be in dispute. Woodfin said he will take office Oct. 24, the same day as the council members are sworn in. "Everybody knows that," he said. "There is no mix-up here." The Birmingham Legal Department, however, contends that the new mayor will take office on Nov. 28, the fourth Tuesday in November, per the Mayor-Council Act. Assistant City Attorney Tracy Roberts later said that the Attorney General's Office reached out to the city and concurred Woodfin should assume office on Nov. 28. Setting priorities Once he does take office, Woodfin said he won't make swift and sudden changes. He will take time to assess and receive feedback from the public. "You don't come in with a sledgehammer to issues that you, first, need to actually take a deep dive and look at, to not only assess and understand, he said. Woodfin said one of his first orders of business will be having an external audit conducted to determine the state of Birmingham's finances. Is there really a $67 million increase in revenues, and what happened to the bond money approved by voters five years ago? "We have to take a deep dive into our finances to make sure real fiscal accountability exists, transparency exists in how we are spending tax dollars," Woodfin said. "We have to set priorities in how we spend that money. We also have to make sure there has been no negligence, misuse or abuse of how tax dollars are being spent and no possible fraud whether it is contractual or in departments. So it is important to take that assessment." If Birmingham has an increase in revenues, he questioned why the city looks the same or worse than it has in years. The campaign platform that appeared to resonate with most voters was Woodfin's commitment to reinvest in all of the city's 99 neighborhoods. Where will he start? "If you ask me what the priority is ... it's all of the areas that have had the least attention. That's a lot to do," he said. That doesn't mean he will forget about downtown, Woodfin said. "If the city is going to grow, they need the mayor to work with the council," he said. Woodfin said he will move "beyond petty politics" that stymied progress in the city. "A new mayor spells more growth," he said. "We don't have a 'we don't have enough money' problem. We have a 'how our money is being spent' problem," Woodfin said. "The question becomes what commitment are we willing to make? Priorities. It is not a downtown vs. the other 98 neighborhoods. I have never said that. Anybody that thinks investing in the other 98 neighborhoods means progress stops downtown probably don't live in the city limits of Birmingham. It is almost offensive for people to think that it has to be one or the other. It is called being and having an attentive and responsive government to the entire city." Woodfin said there has to be investment in the entire city's infrastructure. "It's about getting back to basics," he said. Budget It's four months into the 2018 fiscal year and no budget has been adopted. Council President Johnathan Austin, who lost his bid for re-election, has said the council was waiting for Mayor William Bell to sign off. Woodfin said it is important for him to talk to Bell and council members about the budget. He said it is important to keep a close eye on what contracts are going out in the next 21 days. "I think it is important that things aren't done to hook people up," he said. "I think it is important that we keep a good eye on how our tax dollars are being spent or what contracts and services are being rendered over the next 21 days." Dozens have been killed since 2015 killing of Akhlaq. We tell the stories of some of the victims and their accused. Part 1: Open wounds the lynched Jan Mohammad is worried. It has been two years since his brother, Mohammad Akhlaq, was lynched, and the 18 men who stand accused of killing him have been released on bail. On September 28, 2015, the 52-year-old ironsmith was dragged from his house in the village of Bishahra, in the district of Dadri in Uttar Pradesh, after a local Hindu temple announced that a cow, considered sacred by many Hindus, had been slaughtered. He was beaten to death and his son was severely wounded. Nine months later, the police filed a First Information Report (FIR) charging 44-year-old Jan and several other members of his family, including his murdered brother, with cow slaughter. They deny the charge. The Allahabad High Court later put a stay on the arrest of all the family members except Jan. Although no charge sheet has yet been filed against him, he fears he could be arrested. According to the FIR, Prem Singh, Mohammads neighbour, saw him slaughter a calf with the help of Jan and other members of the family three days before the lynching. He was the only witness to the alleged slaughter. But Jan says he wasnt even in the village on that day. Arrest isnt all Jan fears. At his house, not far from the village where his brother was killed and to which he says his family can never return, he explains his concerns. Since the accused are out of jail, they have been emboldened. From the way they speak to the media, I can sense their aggression. I do fear they might attack me or my wife or children any time. They live nearby. They might just see me at the market and attack, he says. Jan has a resigned air about him as he smokes and drinks sweet tea served by his son. He has been provided with a 24/7 armed police guard, but this does little to reassure him. One gunman wont be able to save me from an angry mob, he reflects. He also worries that the regional government, which since March has been led by Yogi Adityanath of the ruling Hindu-nationalist BJP party, could remove his police guard. I have been outspoken to the media about this case. They might not like that, he says. And the accused are close to the ruling party. They might put pressure [on them]. A 24-hour news channel is on mute in the background as Jan explains that the meat that was recovered and forms the basis for this case was found by the police at the lynching spot three hours after the lynching took place. This makes it quite possible that they planted it to frame us, he says. His lawyer, Yusuf Saifi, says the same thing. A preliminary report by the governments District Veterinary Officer in Dadri, which was made public in December 2015, said that based on a physical examination, the meat looked like mutton. It recommended that a forensic examination be carried out. That subsequent examination by the University of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry in Mathura concluded, in a report made public in May 2016, that the meat was of cow or its progeny. Nevertheless, by September 2016 the police had found no evidence that a cow had been slaughtered by Jan and his relatives, and The Hindu newspaper reported that the case was going to be closed. But Mohammad Ali, who reports on western Uttar Pradesh for The Hindu and has been writing a book on Mohammads lynching, says: With the change in government, no closure report has been filed. They are sitting on the case, using it as a stick to beat the family with. Jan says the open case is like a sword hanging above him and compounds the pain he feels over losing his brother. He was brutally lynched by people who knew him, who used to break bread with him, neighbours and every lynching that has come after his has refreshed our pain. Every other few months, we see a video [of a lynching] in the news. This keeps our wounds open. Part 2: Protecting the mother cow the accused At a village close to Bishahra, four young men Vishal Rana, Sri Om, Puneet Sharma and Rohit have gathered in the home of Ved Nagar, a local Hindutva leader the form of Hindu nationalism to which the BJP subscribes. The four are among the 18 accused of lynching Mohammad Akhlaq. The opulent living room has a huge flat-screen TV, high ceilings and white walls. Vishal Rana sits in the middle, leaning forward as he speaks. The others sit around him, fiddling with their smartphones. They are all in their early 20s, except for Rohit who says he was only 15 when the alleged crime was committed. Vishal appears to be the leader of this small group. Now that we are all out on bail, we want to pursue the case against the family for cow slaughter, he says. We did everything to protect the mother cow. Vishal is the son of a local BJP leader. The four maintain that Mohammad died of a heart attack and not as a result of the injuries he suffered. Vishal gestures angrily as he says: We went to jail because of the media and its misreporting. The post-mortem report says something different. Shock and haemorrhage due to ante-mortem injuries This is the cause and manner of death, it states, noting that Mohammad had 18 wounds, mostly to his skull. It makes no mention of a heart attack. Ved Nagar, who is in his 30s and dressed entirely in black, sits sprawled on a sofa as he listens to the conversation. His demeanour is forceful, but his smile and polite tone help to soften it most of the time. Outside his home, a life-size poster features his photo, the name of his organisation of voluntary cow protectors, Gau Raksha Hindu Dal, and a warning: We will slaughter anyone who slaughters a cow. I regret the death, Ved says calmly. He died without even suffering heavy blows. He was a physically weak man. He died due to the pushing and shoving. The younger men say Ved has done a lot for them and that we will go wherever he asks us to come. As far as they are concerned, they are the victims. Our families have been financially ruined, says Sri, who had been working for a contractor at a power plant in the village before he was arrested. His father died several years ago and his mother is paralysed, so his job was an important source of income for his family. They suffered without it during the year and a half he was in prison, he says. Lawyers fees of at least $600 a month have also placed a heavy financial burden on each of their families, they say. I am looking for a job now, says Sri, adding that this isnt easy when charged with murder. Mohammads family, on the other hand, received a lot of money, a house and high security, argues Vishal, who continues to work at his brother-in-laws advertising boards business in New Delhi. Mohammads mother, wife, children and brothers have received 4,500,000 rupees (about $70,000) in compensation. They have also been given three apartments at highly subsidised rental rates, but Jan says none of the family dares to live in them as they are located along a remote highway on the outskirts of a nearby city. The men say they were tortured in jail and that one of their fellow accused, 21-year-old Ravin Sisodia, died as a result. The jailers have denied this and the police have not filed any charges. Officials at the jail and the New Delhi-based hospital where Ravin died say dengue or Chikungunya, along with kidney disease, was the cause of death. Now that they are all out on bail, the accused and their lawyer are trying to get their murder charges changed to charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder. The charge sheet filed by police at the end of 2015 may help them in this, says The Hindu journalist Mohammad. What happened, according to the cops, is that Vishal Rana and his cousin Shivam discovered a plastic packet with meat in it, after [Mohammad] Akhlaq had allegedly disposed of it. A local doctor confirmed to them that it was beef. Following this, they forced the temple priest to make an announcement that a cow had been slaughtered and that everyone should gather near the transformer, the main meeting place in the village. This is how the public spectacle of the lynching started, Mohammad explains. In the charge sheet, however, there is no conspiracy charge. This was a spontaneous reaction of an emotional crowd, says Ram Sharan Nagar, lawyer to 10 of the accused. Even the police mention no conspiracy or planning. So it would be unfair for the police to push for murder charges. Sitting in a South Delhi cafe, 33-year-old journalist Mohammad reflects: If the charges are changed, they will be let off very lightly or they will be acquitted. It will set the template for what is going to happen in other cases. Part 3: We are helping the police at the cow shelter About 200km from Bishara, in the village of Dahmi in the state of Rajasthan, Suresh Yadav is angry. The volunteer with the right-wing Hindu nationalist paramilitary organisation Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is wearing a spotless dhoti kurta a traditional Indian form of dress and sitting on a plastic chair in the poorly lit lobby of the Sri Rath Gaushala cow shelter. The focus of his anger is the Supreme Court of India, which recently ruled that district administrations should be responsible for stopping cow-related violence in their localities. Does cattle smuggling take place or not? the 50-something-year-old asks combatively. They are calling gau rakshaks (cow protectors) murderers. You tell me, do the police have the capacity to catch all the cattle smugglers? We are only helping them, he says, before launching into a tirade against Muslims. I am at the cow shelter to meet Jagmal Singh Yadav, but he hasnt turned up. Suresh appears to be here in his place. Jagmal, who is in his 70s, was one of those accused of murdering Pehlu Khan, a 55-year-old Muslim dairy farmer, in the nearby town of Behror on April 1. Despite being among six people named by Khan before he died, Jagmal has since been absolved, along with the five others, by the police. The mob that attacked Pehlu allegedly suspected that the milk cows he was transporting were being smuggled to a slaughterhouse. A video of the attack went viral. Suresh says he knows all of the accused who mostly belong to the dominant Yadav and Ahir castes, who traditionally work in the dairy business and can, therefore, speak on their behalves. When I tell Suresh that Arif Khan, Pehlus son who was with him that day and was also beaten up, had shown me the papers to prove that the milk cows were purchased at a government-sanctioned cattle fair, he scoffs. They are not beyond killing even [milk] cows for meat. Once you acquire a taste for cow meat, like they have, you cannot resist it, he says. Pehlus cows are now being kept at the Sri Rath Gaushala, which according to local media reports used to be run by Jagmal. It is one of the biggest cow shelters in the area, with 350 cows. Some people say it is 100 years old, others that it is 200. These are cows which have become old and the villagers cannot take care of them any more. We get abandoned cows, too, explains Rajendra Yadav, an administrator at the shelter. Suresh insists that Pehlu and his sons were facing charges of cattle smuggling. When I tell him that according to media reports, they had been exonerated, Suresh refuses to believe it. He is livid at the media for misreporting the case. Not one of the papers or channels have written in our favour, he says. Part 4: They are against Muslims and Dalits the search for justice Suresh might be upset about the media coverage, but it is the authorities reactions that concern others. In April, Human Rights Watch noted: Instead of taking prompt legal action against the vigilantes, many linked to extremist Hindu groups affiliated with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the police, too often, have filed complaints against the assault victims, their relatives, and associates under laws banning cow slaughter. A recent report by the website IndiaSpend revealed that 97 percent of the cow-related violence that has taken place in India since 2010 happened after the BJP government of Narendra Modi came to power in May 2014. According to the same report, 28 people have been killed in 63 incidents of cow-related violence in the past seven years. Of those, 24 86 percent were Muslim. After failing to arrest the eight people who were initially accused in the Pehlu Khan case, the police have arrested seven other people. Five of them have already been released on bail. Our dairy business is finished, says Pehlus 20-year-old son, Arif, as he sits on the porch of his familys farm in Jaisinghpur, two hours drive from Dahmi. We have no other source of livelihood. Even our relatives are poor, so we cannot turn to them for help. He says nobody from the local government has come to see them and they havent received any compensation. Only Imran Pratapgarhi, the poet, has given us some money. We have to borrow money to go to Jantar-Mantar [the government-designated protest spot in New Delhi], Arif explains. His family is worried, he says, that they will not get justice under the current state and central government. They are against Muslims and Dalits [the least privileged in the caste system]. Only they have died in the incidents of lynching over cow, he reflects. READ MORE: Indias Dalit cattle skinners share stories of abuse Part 5: A scapegoat is needed at the court It is 9.30am, the scheduled time for the bail plea of Rameshwar Dayal, one of those accused of lynching a 16-year-old Muslim student called Junaid Khan. But the judge, YS Rathor, is yet to arrive at the court in Faridabad, an industrial town in the southern part of the National Capital Region. He is a good judge for criminal cases. So was his father, I overhear Rameshwars lawyer, Mahinder Bharadwaj, tell one of his assistants. The police arrested six people for the lynching, which took place on a train heading south from New Delhi on June 22. Junaid died after being stabbed eight times. His older brothers, Hashim and Shakir, were wounded. According to Hashim, the brothers were called beef eaters and Pakistanis by a mob of at least 25 men. Four of the accused have been given bail. The main accused, Naresh Kumar, who confessed to stabbing Junaid with a kitchen knife, remains in jail. In his statement to the police, Rameshwar admitted to using religious slurs and participating in a fight with the brothers, but said he did not play any part in the killing. Subhas Chand, Rameshwars brother, is sitting on a bench in the corner of the courtroom. When questioned about the case, he says he is an illiterate farmer and doesnt know the details. Ask me in yes or no, and I will answer, he says. I ask if he thinks his brother, a New Delhi government employee, is guilty of the alleged crime. No, he says promptly. Then he stops talking. Mohit Bharadwaj and Dev Dutt, two young men from the same village have accompanied Subhas Chand to the court. They, too, say they believe Rameshwar is innocent of murder. We are here in solidarity, says Mohit as Dev nods. There was a lot of pressure on the police to show some arrests, so they picked up the boys from our village at random. The village is Khambi, in Palwal district, not far from Faridabad. It is mostly inhabited by members of the most advantaged castes. The main accused, Naresh Kumar, is from a neighbouring village called Bhimrola. The judge arrives at around 10am and, in a matter of minutes, adjourns the hearing until September 15. Rameshwars lawyer, Mahinder Bharadwaj, says that his plea is based on the premise of parity. His offences are bailable, just like those of the four others who have received bail, he explains as he walks down the court stairs flanked by file-carrying assistants. Asked why he thinks the judge didnt grant bail, he replies: [Because] there is too much media pressure and a scapegoat is needed. Nibrash Ahmad, the lawyer representing Junaids family, had earlier told me that the police had removed the charge of murder from the charge sheets of five of the accused, which had helped four of them get bail. They never informed us that they were doing so. We have protested this and have complained to the higher courts, Human Rights Commission and Minority Commission about this. We want the investigating officer to be changed, he explained in his chamber as several other younger lawyers sat on wooden benches, listening to him intently. Rameshwars bail please was eventually rejected on September 20. Part 6: Cries for help a lynching on a train Junaids brother, Shakir, is at his familys home in Khandawali village, just south of Faridabad. He was stabbed five times during the attack and, while recuperating, hasnt been able to do his work as a commercial driver. Shakir hadnt accompanied Junaid and Hashim that day. But he had entered the train in Ballabgarh, the nearest station to their village, after receiving phone calls from his brothers asking for help. On their way back from New Delhi, the brothers had gotten into a fight after an elderly man had asked Junaid to give up his seat for him. According to Hashim, Junaid immediately did so, but several men started to abuse them. Junaids father, Jalalluddin, says his sons were stopped from leaving the train at Ballabgarh. When Shakir entered the train, he heard cries for help, he says. They were fighting when I entered, Shakir explains. We could not stop the train as we could not find any chain to pull. Junaid died from his stab wounds, after being left at the station after Ballabgarh. Shakir remained in bed for days, unable to walk. Hashim has made a complete recovery from the two stab wounds he received. The family has been awarded a total of about $30,000 in compensation from the government, NGOs and local politicians. One MP from Kerala gave them a small car. Brinda Karat of the CPIM (Communist Party of India (Marxist)) keeps in touch with us, says Jalalluddin. But the family is worried about four of the accused getting bail. We learnt they got bail only through the media. The police kept us in dark, says Shakir. Part 7: Not In My Name the politician The recent Supreme Court directive that angered Suresh Yadav came after a petition was filed by Congress party politician Tehseen Poonawala. He is one of those behind the Not In My Name protests against cow-related lynching and is also pushing for a new law. Standing on the lawn of Congress MP Digvijay Singhs bungalow in New Delhi, as a press conference he had organised on behalf of Pehlu Khans family winds up, Tehseen explains that the details of 11 cases were included in their petition to the Supreme Court. The problem is that the central government or the state governments we listed in our petition are yet to respond. In fact, this is the third time the Court has reacted on the issue but the response of the said governments has been the same, he says. READ MORE: Not In My Name Indians protest against attacks on Muslims If it was up to Tehseen, the case against the six accused who were cleared of murdering Pehlu Khan would not be over. He is now urging the Supreme Court to transfer the case outside of the state of Rajasthan. His brother Shehzad Poonawala, a lawyer, is arguing the petition. The politician is currently organising protests against lynching in Uttar Pradesh, after which he plans to visit Jharkhand where such incidents have also occurred. We will go all over the country to mobilise people in favour of the new law, he explains, as he negotiates a cab ride back to his house. The new law, which has been drafted by his team of lawyers, has provisions for several measures, including the immediate suspension of police officers under whose watch such incidents occur, having the district magistrate investigate cases instead of the police, ensuring the protection of witnesses and having the cases heard by a judge with no less than seven years of experience. It also allows for the rehabilitation of the families of the victims and provides adequate compensation, he explains. But many legal experts say it is a lack of political will, rather than a lack of laws, that is the main obstacle to bringing justice to the victims of mob violence. Meanwhile, as the judicial battle continues, the victims say the stakes are high. The cow is just an excuse, says Jan Mohammad. Muslims of the country are under siege and an attempt is being made to turn them into second-class citizens. A deeply entrenched social and cultural practice in many places, Al Jazeera answers the most asked questions about FGM. Al Jazeera answers to the most asked questions about FGM. What does FGM stand for? FGM stands for Female Genital Mutilation, which consists of the partial or total removal of the external female genitalia. It is also known by other names including cutting, female circumcision and initiation. Which countries practice FGM? The practice takes place in many parts of the world but it is most common in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. According to the United Nations, FGM is practiced by certain communities in the following places: In Africa: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Ivory Coast, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda and Zambia. In Asia: India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. In the Middle East: Yemen, Oman, Iraq, Iran, Palestine, Israel, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates. In Eastern Europe: Georgia and Russia. In South America: Colombia, Ecuador, Panama and Peru. And in many Western countries, including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United States and the United Kingdom, FGM is practised among diaspora populations from places where it is common. Why is FGM practised? The motivations and justifications given vary and often overlap. Among them are: Controlling female sexuality: FGM has been closely associated with the control of female sexuality. According to the World Health Organisation, in different cultures, some believe the procedure curbs womens sexual urges, and thereby increases the likelihood of them remaining virgins until they are married. Religion: FGM is practised within both Muslim and Christian communities, as well as by followers of some indigenous religions. Although neither Islam nor Christianity endorse it, religious doctrine is often used to justify it. Social obligation: Partly because of its association with religion, many societies consider FGM an essential part of raising a girl and preparing her for womanhood and marriage. With its direct link to beliefs about premarital virginity and marital fidelity, the social pressure to adhere to the practice can be intense. Economic factors: And because of these associations, in many communities, FGM is a prerequisite for marriage. In places where women may be financially dependent on marriage, economics can become a justification for FGM. Aesthetics: In some communities, the practice is presented as a form of beautification. Forms of FGM According to the World Health Organization there are four main categories: Type I: Often referred to as clitoridectomy, is the removal of the clitoral hood only Often referred to as clitoridectomy, is the removal of the clitoral hood only Type II: Also known as excision, is the removal of the clitoris and the labia minora (inner vaginal lips) Also known as excision, is the removal of the clitoris and the labia minora (inner vaginal lips) Type III: Also referred to as infibulation consists in the removal of all the womans external genitalia and the narrowing of the vaginal entrance. Also referred to as infibulation consists in the removal of all the womans external genitalia and the narrowing of the vaginal entrance. Type IV: This includes all other invasive procedures on female genitalia for non-medical purposes, including pricking, piercing, incising, scraping and cauterising. Who performs it? It is normally carried out by older members of the community, often women who lack proper medical training. Sometimes it is carried out by traditional health practitioners, herbalists, or occasionally a female relative. In some cases, medical professionals perform FGM. At what age does FGM take place? It varies from place to place, but the practice is typically performed on girls between infancy and the age of 15. It is sometimes carried out as early as a couple of days after birth. How many women and girls are affected? Approximately 6,000 girls are subjected to FGM every day, with nearly a quarter of them under the age of 14 when it takes place. More than half of those live in three countries: Indonesia, Egypt and Ethiopia. According to a report released by UNICEF in 2016, which examined the prevalence of FGM among girls aged 15 to 19, there has been a decline in Egypt, Burkina Faso, Kenya, Liberia and Togo. However, due to population growth, based on current rates the number of girls and women undergoing FGM is expected to rise significantly over the next 15 years. Where did the practice of FGM originate? It is not clear when or where the practice of FGM originates. But we know it was practised by the Pharaohs in ancient Egypt. The United Nations has also reported that forms of FGM were practised in parts of Africa, the Philippines, by certain tribes in the Upper Amazon, in the Arunta tribe in Australia, and by some early Romans and Arabs. Gynaecologists in the 19th-century practised it in the United Kingdom and the United States to treat what were then perceived ailments including hysteria, epilepsy, mental disorders, masturbation, nymphomania and melancholia, and lesbianism. However, the practice has not proven to have any medical validity. How does FGM affect women and girls? FGM has no proven health benefits. But it can cause serious and lifelong physical and psychological harm. The extent of the damage caused can depend on the type of FGM performed, and on whether the practitioner had medical training and used sterile tools. In the case of Type III, it also depends on whether a small hole was left for the passage of urine and menstrual blood. Some of the most common problems caused by the practice include: Severe bleeding, pain and shock, sometimes leading to death Infection, sometimes leading to death Urination and menstrual obstruction Increased risk of urinary tract infections and HIV Mental health problems, including PTSD Sexual dysfunction, including dyspareunia Complications in pregnancy and childbirth, sometimes leading to death Which countries have banned FGM? FGM has been banned by most African countries affected by the practice as well as many other European and Western nations. Penalties range from a minimum of six months to a maximum of life in prison. Several countries also include monetary fines in the penalty. However these laws are not always enforced and FGM continues in many places, affecting the lives of millions of women and girls. Mexico City The search for victims of an earthquake that killed hundreds across Mexico City ended on Wednesday as rescue workers recovered the body of the last person known to be missing beneath the rubble of collapsed buildings. Deputy Interior Minister Roberto Campa said all the bodies had been recovered from the ruins of an office building in the upscale Roma district of the capital. In total, 369 people died across central Mexico in the most deadly earthquake to hit the country in decades. Nearly two-thirds of the fatalities were in the capital, Mexico City. The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) was quick to claim that sixty-four-year-old Stephen Paddock, who killed dozens and injured hundreds more in Las Vegas on Sunday, was one of their soldiers. The FBI, on the other hand, insist there is no evidence that he had any contact with or interest in the militant group. ISILs claim once again raised the question of when a murderous outburst should be regarded as an act of terrorism. Paddocks action was no sudden rampage brought on by a rapidly boiling fury. It was not some quick response to a sudden insult. That happens all too often in a country were so many people legally carry guns on a regular basis. There is also no indication at the moment that he held a particular survivalist view of society collapsing, building up resentment at those around him, aggravated by just having lost his job, as was the case, for example, of 41-year-old James Huberty who killed 21 people and injured 19 others in 1984 when he walked into a Mc Donalds restaurant near where he lived in San Diego, shooting customers indiscriminately. According to his brother, who expressed his total confusion as to how he could have done something so horrific, Stephen Paddock lived a blameless life and had never even had a parking ticket. Yet, although Stephen Paddock apparently lived quietly in a retirement community, he had amassed an arsenal of assault weapons. He had at least 17 firearms in the 32nd-floor hotel room from which he repeatedly shot at those attending a country music festival down below. Police later discovered that he had even more semi-automatic weapons back in his home in Mesquite, Nevada. There are even suggestions that he had modified some of these semi-automatic guns to make them fire more rapidly. OPINION: Mass murder in America A deadly pantomime This, therefore, raised the possibility that Paddock was part of some network that had a campaign to wreak havoc in Las Vegas, the planning for it being guided by some agency other than the man himself. So far there is no indication that he was in touch with anyone else or had shared his detailed planning with others. Doubtless, his internet, social media, and communications history will be gone over by a huge team of investigators to see if there is even a hint of a connection or interest to people who might have encouraged his murderous spree. The importance of establishing this, of course, is to determine if there are further attacks being prepared. If he was not part of a network, but a lone wolf, isolated from the pack attacking the vulnerable where he can, does this still make him a terrorist? This needs some sort of an answer because quite different resources are put into tackling terrorism from those available to deal with other violent crimes. The public response is also different because of the implication that the attack is on the nature of their society. This is more threatening than a person who has a particular resentment against an organisation or group, no matter how bizarre or general that is. However, there is no simple answer to this important question. Those who study these matters cannot even agree on a definition for what a terrorist is. Nor is there much consensus on how people find their way into becoming one. Perhaps the best way to understand what defines a terrorist is to go back to one of the first people who promoted the idea of anonymous attacks by individuals or groups against civic targets. This was Mikhail Bakunin, a mid-nineteenth century anarchist who promoted the idea of the propaganda of the deed. In other words, it was the significance of the deed itself, its symbolic quality, that was crucial. The political idea was that the violent action would be reacted to with such repression by the state that this would alienate more people and so set in motion a revolution. The vote in Catalonia for independence seems to have achieved just that. But bombings of night-clubs and concerts clearly has the opposite effect. The aftermath is replete with accounts of heroism, and the help strangers give each other. Rather than setting in motion the breakdown of society these outrages bring people closer together and foster social cohesion. Beyond the attack on society, it seems to me that for a violent assault to be considered terrorist there has to be some articulation of an ideology. There has to be some notion, however bizarre and unrealistic, of what the ultimate objective is that the terrorist is reaching for. The outburst has to be something more than an expression of anger, frustration, depression or confusion. If the threat that the violence poses is to be regarded as something that challenges how we live, with the attendant vast security infrastructure that demands, then it must be driven by more than an idiosyncratic vendetta. OPINION: The gun lobby is global From Yemen to Las Vegas From this perspective hardly any of the recent mass killings should be regarded as terrorist. Even those claimed, with a wrong-headed definition of the term, as jihad, have not been carried out by people with much idea of what the essence of Islam is. Perpetrators were found with newly purchased copies of Islam for Dummies and only very limited knowledge of the religion and its precepts. Research I have been involved in has revealed that many of these violent militants were drawn into their actions by social contacts rather than ideological commitments. Much as young men become drug dealers because they see those are the people in their community with wealth and power, so people can drift into violent acts because that is where they see the status in their associates. As has become clear from analysis of recent atrocities, many of the attackers have criminal backgrounds. It is that criminality that is a stepping stone rather than religious beliefs. Consequently, whether ISIL claims Stephen Paddock was one of their soldiers or not, he certainly does not deserve the notoriety that would go with the label terrorist. He may well have been influenced by the significance given to earlier mass shootings at pop concerts and nightclubs. This together with his apparent fascination with firearms and the isolated existence that many are saying he led, could have festered within him to develop a personal narrative of some sort of grand, tragic ending to his lonely life. As so often happens in these spree killings the outcome for the perpetrator is predictably his own death. For Paddock, it was a form of suicide as for many others. There is nothing new in this awful catastrophe. After all, in the Bible, Samson destroyed himself and the Temple as his way of killing the Philistines. Professor David Canter is one of the UKs most eminent applied social psychologists, one of the few appointed as an Honorary Fellow of the British Psychological Society and elected as a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences and the American Psychological Association. While he is internationally known for his development of the discipline of Investigative Psychology, bringing scientific precision to offender profiling, he has also been a management consultant for major blue-chip companies on risk reduction, amalgamations and briefing for new building complexes, and has consulted on government enquiries on crowd control. He has published several books and hundreds of academic articles, was awarded a UK Golden Dagger and the US Anthony award for his best-seller Criminal Shadows, and wrote and presented a six-part documentary series, Mapping Murder, which is also a widely read book. He is currently Director of the International Research Centre for Investigative Psychology, University of Huddersfield, UK and Emeritus Professor, University of Liverpool, UK. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy. FGM is not tied to a specific race or religion. It is a tragic side product of the universal fear of female sexuality. Enter the term FGM in Google Images and you will find pictures related to female genital mutilation on the African continent. While the origins of FGM are murky, most experts think the practice came from Africa thousands of years ago, was later adopted by some sects of Islam and spread globally through migration. But the truth is much more complicated. After I spent a good part of a decade travelling to research FGM around the world, I can say unequivocally that it can be found as a native practice on every continent except Antarctica. It is a global phenomenon, emerging in various places at different times, often independently. People I have met are often surprised that I research FGM as my gender and Chinese ethnicity make me an unlikely investigator. And indeed, when I first heard about the practice in Iraq, it was by chance. Nearly a decade ago, I started a citizen journalism project. An Iraqi NGO called Wadi invited me to do training for them, and it was then that I met Iraqi Kurds working to expose and end FGM in their country. I worked with them to produce videos that eventually were released in 2013 by the Guardian and BBC as short documentaries. When those documentaries were released, I thought my job was done. But through Wadi, I also met other anti-FGM activists throughout the Middle East. Initially, I only thought I would make a longer documentary film about FGM in the region, but as I did more research, I realised I had to add Southeast Asian countries to the list. Then India. Then Russia. Then the United States. Eventually, my project grew to become a collection of evidence of FGM practices from around the world. ANIMATION: What is Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)? In my journey across continents, I have observed similar reactions among people whenever I brought up the subject. Everywhere I went, the initial reaction was always disbelief and denial. Some even discouraged me from doing research on the topic, believing that FGM wasnt practised in their community or if it were, only among minorities or immigrants. In many of these places, FGM is a secret practice. Perhaps this is the reason why FGM has remained hidden for so long to outsiders. While many people involved in the practice or who experienced it would not talk to me, others to my surprise agreed to discuss it frankly on video. Perhaps the shock of a Chinese man appearing in their midst, sometimes in isolated communities such as in the Peruvian Amazon or the Russian Caucasus, made them curious and more open. Different communities also offered different explanations about why they practise female genital cutting. In parts of Iraq, uncut females are deemed unclean and are not allowed to serve water. In Pattani, Thailand, female circumcision is believed to prevent diseases, including Aids. In Peru, Shipibo women were convinced uncut girls might become lesbians. In Colombia, Embera mothers would say they cut their babies to stop the clitoris from growing to become a penis. Some Muslim sects consider the cutting mandatory under Islam, yet there is nothing about this in the Quran and many Muslims from other sects dismiss the hadith purportedly supporting the practice. But the tendency to justify FGM extends to men of science, as well. In the mid-19th century, some British doctors believed cutting the clitoris could cure sicknesses. Another belief was that a larger clitoris was a sign of sexual depravity and that it was most commonly found among women of colour. The most prominent of the doctors who promoted FGM was Isaac Baker Brown, who in 1866, published On the Curability of Certain Forms of Insanity, Epilepsy, Catalepsy, and Hysteria in Females. In his book, he recommended litoridectomy for a number of illnesses. Although he and other similar doctors fell out of favour in Britain, their influence was far-ranging. Their ideas spread across the ocean into the US. For nearly a century starting in the 1860s, some prominent American doctors recommended cutting the clitoris to prevent females from masturbating, which they regarded as a cause of debilitating illnesses. READ MORE: Memories of FGM: I was screaming in pain and fear In the US, I located church and medical documents, from as late as the 1960s, that recommended the cutting. Many survivors were too young to remember the cutting and the number of elderly white FGM survivors alive in America is unknown. But there seems to be a collective societal amnesia about its practise. I found Dr Renee Bergstrom, one such survivor, and persuaded her to go public with her story. She was initially hesitant because even some people close to her were unaware of her situation. Like many other survivors, she was told never to talk about it. But this happened not just to white American women. In Russia, a Christian sect existed until the 1920s and believed in extreme genital cutting. The Skoptsy sect, numbering possibly 100,000 members in the early 1900s, was known for male castration, but they also sometimes cut female genitals removing the clitoris and allowing the wounds of the vagina to heal back together. They cited a passage in the New Testament, specifically Matthew 19:12 , as the reason for their cutting. In Moscows Lenin Library, I located documents, drawings and photos attesting to their practice. Even though FGM is outlawed in many countries, there is no shortage of clinics globally where parents can illegally bring their daughters to get cut. by FGM still exists in Russia, although it is mostly confined to the Muslim enclaves of the Caucasus. In the Russian Republic of Dagestan, once dubbed the most dangerous place in Europe, I interviewed a gynaecologist who was convinced that the minor female genital cutting she performs has health and sanitary benefits. But Dr Abdulrahim Rouzi, a Saudi gynaecologist I also interviewed, believes that minor FGM could be problematic. After treating hundreds of FGM patients, he has seen that even just cutting the clitoral hood could have negative medical consequences. Even though FGM is outlawed in many countries, there is no shortage of clinics globally where parents can illegally bring their daughters to get cut. In my native Singapore, I posed alternatively as a British and American parent wishing to get my non-existent daughter cut and had no problems finding medical personnel willing to perform the procedure. However, my biggest surprise during this journey was finding out how common FGM was among Singapores Muslims and its likely detrimental impact on my own friends and extended family people I have known for most of my life, but who had never previously spoken to me about it. It inspired me to conduct a survey of 119 Muslim women in Singapore: 86 of them were cut; a quarter said they would continue the practice. Indeed, FGM is not tied to a specific race or religion. Instead, religion and faulty science are used to justify why the practice is beneficial. In reality, a universal fear of sexuality, especially female sexuality, hides behind these justifications. To be able to fight against it effectively, we have to recognise that this is a global problem and not limited to one continent or one religion. John Chua is an associate professor at Richmond University in London. His documentary film Cut: Exposing FGM Worldwide will be released later this year. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy. Last month, after more than four years of suffering, 25 excited and nervous male refugees left Papua New Guineas remote Manus Island for a new life in the United States. Left behind are another 800 men refugees and asylum-seekers who are wondering if they too will be rescued by the US government or remain in a dead-end limbo while exposed to violence in Papua New Guinea. We didnt know if the US deal was real or fake, a refugee from Pakistan told me. He has completed his US interview but is not among the 25 who left for the US. Now we know, but I am still so worried. How many will the US take and when? And who will be left behind? For more than four years, Australia has warehoused these men in Papua New Guinea in harsh and dangerous conditions. Papua New Guinea has recognised most of them as refugees who fled persecution in their home countries. They attempted perilous boat journeys to Australia. Instead of finding refuge there, they have faced violent attacks by Papua New Guinean locals and security forces, inadequate medical care, and uncertainty about their future. Australias policy of offshore processing is designed to deter future boat migrants. But Manus Island has not turned out to be a welcoming or safe place for the refugees. Quite the opposite. I visited Manus Island last week and met men who had been beaten, robbed, and stabbed by young men from the local Papuan community. I met refugee men so paralysed by fear that they rarely leave the guarded centres where they live. One of them, 35-year-old Jahim (not his real name) from Bangladesh, told me what happened one June morning when he and a friend were in Lorengau town to buy a chicken. A group of local men cornered them, demanding they hand over their phones and belongings. Initially, Jahim resisted. A man put a knife to his throat. I was too late in handing over the phone. Its the only way to contact my family. Then he cut me here. He shows me a long scar at his elbow. READ MORE: First refugees held on Manus Island leave for US Following the attack, Jahim went to the local hospital. He says hospital staff claimed they could not treat him, and only offered him some pain relief. So Jahim took a taxi to the main detention centre on a naval base, which maintains a medical clinic. From there, authorities sent Jahim by plane to Port Moresby hospital for surgery. Nearly everyone I spoke to had witnessed or experienced violence or theft by local men, usually young, often intoxicated. The night before I arrived, a large group of local youths beat two Afghans near the transit centre. I hadnt left the transit centre in three months because I dont feel safe, one of the refugees told me. I went out and they wanted to fight us. They beat me with sticks, with rocks until I fell down dizzy. They took my phone, my money. His face was still swollen from the beating. Papua New Guinea is not a safe place for any foreigner, but it is especially dangerous for young men without money or connections, many of whom do not speak English and have little experience of living in hostile foreign environments. by Refugees say Manus police have not held anyone to account for these robberies. Refugees have stopped reporting the cases to the police because of their inaction. Jahim told me, I didnt tell the police. The police are not listening to us. Its not my country. Now when I see Papuans, I feel scared. I dont come to town. The Australian government forcibly transferred these men to Manus Island. Now it is forcing them to leave the main detention centre by October 31, and has already started dismantling some buildings. Australian and Papua New Guinean officials say the men must move to a less-secure transit facility closer to town or else return to their home countries. Supposedly, this is to implement a Supreme Court ruling from April 2015, which ruled detention of the men at the centre unconstitutional, forcing both governments to unlock the gates and provide some freedom of movement. I dont think another forcible transfer is what the judges had in mind. It is a tragic irony that the only place on Manus Island these men feel safe right now is inside a centre where occasionally soldiers and police have shot at them, where locals once attacked them with machetes and beat them. But that centre, for now, is guarded and provides some security. Papua New Guinea is not a safe place for any foreigner, but it is especially dangerous for young men without money or connections, many of whom do not speak English and have little experience of living in hostile foreign environments. However grudgingly, the US government has done Australia a favour by agreeing to resettle some of the men from Manus Island and some of the 1,100 men, women and children from Nauru. But thats no excuse for Australias inaction about those who remain. Australia should immediately end offshore processing and resettlement by bringing every one of these men, women and children here to either have their asylum claims processed or if they are refugees, to restart their lives here. As Australias partner, the US can help, by insisting that Australia should leave nobody behind in Papua New Guinea or Nauru. It can press Australia to accept offers to take some of the refugees that have been made by other generous third countries like New Zealand. Every day these men remain on Manus is another day of suffering. Elaine Pearson is Australia director at Human Rights Watch. Follow her on twitter @pearsonelaine The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy. Officials expect the death toll to rise following the explosion in Jhal Magsi district in central Balochistan. Islamabad, Pakistan A suicide bomber has blown himself up at the entrance of a Sufi shrine in Pakistan, killing at least 18 people and wounding 25 others, local officials have told Al Jazeera. The attack happened on Thursday at the Fateh Pur Shrine compound in Jhal Magsi district in central Balochistan province. The suicide attacker was intercepted at the shrines main entrance, said Muhammad Iqbal, a local police official. He attempted to barge inside the main shrine, Iqbal added. Police guards opened fire, and some steps away from the gate [the attacker] detonated his explosive. This same shrine, built to honour Sufi saint Pir Rakhel Shah, was also attacked on March 19, 2005, in one of the first such attacks in Pakistan. At least 35 people were killed in that suicide attack. Dr Rukhsana Magsi, medical superintendent at the DHQ hospital in Jhal Magsi, said later on Thursday that they had received 18 bodies. Of the 25 wounded, 20 suffered serious injuries and were being transported to other hospitals. Casualties are still arriving, Magsi said. The wounds, the serious ones, many people have either lost their hands, some have been hit in their heads with shrapnel. The dead bodies are now being handed over to their families. There was no immediate claim of responsibility. Pakistan has been battling the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other armed groups since 2007. Violence has dropped significantly in the past three years since the launch of a military operation to evict those groups from sanctuaries in the volatile northwestern tribal districts. Since 2016, however, it has been facing a growing threat of attacks from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) group, which has claimed responsibility for several suicide attacks, particularly those targeting Sufi shrines such as the one attacked on Thursday. In November, at least 52 people were killed in an ISIL-claimed suicide bombing at a shrine in the Hub district of Balochistan, south of Jhal Magsi. In February, ISIL claimed responsibility for the deadliest attack on Pakistani soil since 2014, in which a shrine in neighbouring Sindh province was targeted, killing 88 people. Saadullah Akhtar in Quetta contributed to this report. Analysts say presidents action against Supreme Court chief justice and top government prosecutor are a sign of panic. Congressional allies of President Rodrigo Duterte have moved forward with the impeachment case against the supreme court chief justice, while the Philippine leader himself has threatened to file a similar complaint against the governments top prosecutor. The moves, according to analysts, are a direct assault on the countrys democratic institutions, and an indication of the presidents unravelling policies. Members of the House of Representatives on Thursday said there are sufficient grounds for the impeachment case against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno to proceed for further investigation. She has been accused of professional misconduct, and for failing to fully disclose her income allegations she has denied. More hearings are expected in November before a final vote is taken by House members, who are overwhelmingly aligned with the president. But as early as July, the House speaker had already hinted that Sereno could face an impeachment. Sereno is an appointee of Dutertes predecessor and political nemesis, President Benigno Aquino III. She earned Dutertes ire after she questioned his war on drugs, which has left thousands of people dead since 2016. She had also complained that the president overstepped his bounds by releasing names of judges with alleged links to illegal drug trade. In response, Duterte vowed to declare martial law if the judiciary intervenes with his anti-drug war policy. Similarly, Duterte has vented his anger against top government prosecutor, Conchita Carpio-Morales, after her office announced in September that it is investigating alleged hidden bank accounts belonging to the president amounting to at least $20m over the years. Antonio Trillanes, an opposition senator, had earlier revealed the alleged bank accounts belonging to Duterte and his family. Carpio-Morales has recused herself from the case because her nephew is married to Dutertes daughter. But that has not stopped her office from pursuing Trillanes allegations. On Wednesday evening, Duterte fumed against the top two female officials saying, I did not start this ruckus. We will file an impeachment case against her, and I would tend to believe that she was part of the conspiracy, Duterte said of Carpio-Morales, who, like Sereno, is also an appointee of Aquino. Duterte has denied the allegations of hidden wealth, to which Carpio-Morales replied, If the president has nothing to hide, he has nothing to fear. Chilling effect Jean Encinas-Franco, a political science professor at the University of the Philippines, said there is a growing sense that the countrys democratic institutions are being threatened by Dutertes recent rhetoric and threats of retribution. The political repercussion to this is that there will be chilling effect on these democratic institutions, she told Al Jazeera. In the future, those who will try to make the government accountable for allegations of corruption, they would think twice because of the way this administration is behaving. She said that as a long-time mayor, Duterte is not used to being challenged by a co-equal branch of the government. I think this is still part of the way he is used to, being a mayor. As mayor, you practically have a kingdom. So thats one part of the reason why he is behaving this way. Richard Heydarian, a political analyst and author of the recent book, The Rise of Duterte, said the presidents actions against the two officials have weakened the check and balance within the Philippine democracy. Clearly, the president is taking an offensive against a growing allegations that he may have some ill-gotten wealth, he said. This is generally Dutertes style. Whenever he comes under attack, he doesnt defend himself as much as he tries to take the fight to the other side. Earlier this year, the Duterte administration detained one of his chief critics, Senator Leila de Lima, on drug charges. She had also been a thorn in his side after she questioned his anti-drug war policy. When she was the head of the Philippine human rights commission, she had also carried out an investigation into the alleged killings of over a thousand people while Duterte was the mayor of Davao. In the case of Sereno and Carpio-Morales, however, Heydarian told Al Jazeera, it could be harder for Duterte to assail their records as they are seen as less political, and that they are independent persons of highest integrity. Panic mode For Ellen Tordesillas, a Manila-based journalist covering Duterte, the presidents recent actions betray the unravelling of his agenda. Tordesillas pointed out that Duterte had campaigned for the presidency on fighting drugs and corruption, and on both issues, he has yet to deliver on his promises. She said that in the midst of growing public criticism, Duterte is trying to divert the publics attention from his failed policies. He is disassembling. On the issue of drugs, besides the fact that he was not able to solve it in the period that he promised, there is now a backlash because of the killings. In recent weeks, allegations that the presidents son, Paolo, the current vice mayor of their hometown Davao, is also linked to shipment of illegal drugs, has discredited his anti-drug war campaign, she said. So how can you make people believe that you are sincere in ending the drug problem when your solution is just to kill the small-time players, and you have no interest in stopping the supply? On the issue of government corruption, which he also vowed to end, it is also imploding after the revelations of his alleged hidden bank accounts. Between the two issues of drugs and corruption, however, it is the latter that concerns the president more. The alleged bank accounts negates his claim that he is not corrupt because that is unexplained wealth, Tordesillas said. The president is panicking because he is unable to control the narrative. The capture of Hawija leaves just one remaining area under ISILs control in Iraq. Iraqi forces have captured the town of Hawija and the surrounding area from ISIL, one of their last strongholds in Iraq. With the capture of Hawija, the only area that remains under control of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) group in Iraq is a stretch alongside the western border with Syria. Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said in Paris on Thursday that I want to announce the liberation of the city of Hawija today, calling it a victory not just of Iraq but of the whole world. He said that the fight against ISIL is now focused on the border zone with Syria. The offensive was carried out by US-backed Iraqi government troops and Iranian-trained and armed Shia paramilitary groups known as Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF). The armys 9th armoured division, the Federal Police, the Emergency Response division and Popular Mobilisation liberated Hawija, said a statement from the joint operations commander, Lieutenant-General Abdul Ameer Rasheed Yarallah, on Thursday. Major General Raid Shaker Jawdat, commander of Iraqs Federal Police, said, The federal forces liberated the district of Hawija, the Hawija hospital as well as the Askari, Nidaa and Thawra neighbourhoods, and are in control of the centre of the province of Hawija in full. Strategic importance Hawija lies between two main routes north of Baghdad; one leading to Kirkuk and the autonomous Kurdish region, the other to Mosul and further on to the Iraqi border with Syria and Turkey. Its geographical location in the oil-rich province of Kirkuk and its proximity to Mosul and the Iraqi Kurdish region has made it a centre of conflict between rival powers ever since the US invasion of Iraq in 2003. Hawija is also one of the most important agricultural areas and the second-largest source of vegetables in Iraq. The areas mainly Sunni Arab population of 450,000 is deeply hostile to both the Shia-led government in Baghdad and to the Kurds who form the historic majority in adjacent areas, which in part was what buoyed ISILs control of the area. In 2013, activists and political parties called for the conversion of Hawija from a province into a governorate, but the Kirkuk provincial council blocked the proposal. US-led coalition troops nicknamed Hawija the Kandahar in Iraq after it put up fierce resistance to the 2003 US invasion, similar to that in the Talibans bastion in Afghanistan. Confusion surrounds the timing of legislative and presidential elections in aftermath of vote to secede from Iraq. The Kurdish Regional Government has announced new parliamentary and presidential elections on the first of November. According to the Iraqi Kurdish regions Higher Election Commission, political parties have already registered their names for parliamentary elections, with the election campaign due to start on October 15. However, officials are in contention about whether the elections will be actually held at the announced date. Sadi Pire, a senior official and member of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan politburo, told Al Jazeera that it is likely the parliamentary elections will be held next year. It is possible that the current governments mandate will be extended for another year, Pire said. READ MORE: Iraqi Kurds overwhelmingly back split from Baghdad He cited the chaotic conditions present in the semi-autonomous region in northern Iraq. We have more than 400,000 people that need to be repatriated after the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant group occupied their villages, in addition to 1.2 million Syrian refugees and IDP from south of Iraq, Pire said. It is very difficult now to have a clean election under these elections. The KRGs last elections were held in September 2013, and run every four years. The three main parties are the Kurdish Democratic Party (KDP), the PUK and Movement for Change (Gorran). The previous elections marked the first time the KDP and the PUK ran as separate parties since the first elections in 1992. The Kurdish National Assembly has 111 seats, and a party needs to secure a majority of 56 seats or more. General Mohammed Sabir of the Peshmerga said that the High Electoral Commission has not indicated that the elections will be postponed. Right now theres a lot of chaos and problems with Baghdad and regional governments, he told Al Jazeera. There is a possibility that the elections will get postponed but there hasnt been anything definitive yet. The confusion surrounding the timing of the elections comes in the aftermath of an independence referendum last month, which received an overwhelming support of 93 percent of votes. However, Iraqs central government in Baghdad has decried the non-binding referendum as unconstitutional and refused to recognise the result. Furthermore, it responded by imposing a number of punitive measures, such as banning international flights to Erbil Airport in the Kurdish region and halting foreign currency transfers to the northern region. According to Iraqi Kurdish researcher Abdulla Hawez, the government in Baghdad is likely not to interfere in the elections, unless they take place in the disputed territories in the northern region, such as Kirkuk. The central government has limited options given the weakness of the Iraqi state at the moment, Hawez told Al Jazeera, mentioning the ongoing fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIL, known as ISIS) group and the growing intra-Shia rivalry. As for the presidential elections, a big question remains over the fate of the current president, Massud Barzani, who has held the role since 2005. Barzani, whose mandate finished in 2013 but was reelected by parliament for a further two years, still has publicly announced in 2016 that he will not run for re-election, but still holds the position. Hawez said that the question is not about who will run for the presidential elections, but whether they will happen in the first place. October 3 was the last day for a candidate to register for the presidential elections, but only one condition from the Gorran party has done so, he said. READ MORE: A look into Iraq\s disputed Kirkuk before referendum He explained that there has been conflicting news on whether the High Electoral Commission has accepted his candidacy due to the issue of the deadline. If the election commission rejects the opposition candidate, it means the presidential elections wont take place, Hawez said. If the commission accepts the candidate, it means he will mostly likely win, which will raise the question of how effective the Kurdish political institutions, such as presidency and parliament, are going to be. However, Hawez said that new parliamentary elections, the first after the referendum vote with the addition of new political entities and a severe economic crisis, will have an effect on the political landscape in the autonomous Kurdish region. The new parliament may lead to a broader coalition to form a new government and that may lead to more accountability and flexibility in negotiations with Baghdad, he said. The French president expresses readiness to help in easing tension between Baghdad and Kurds over secession referendum. French President Emmanuel Macron has offered to mediate between the central government of Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), following Erbils referendum decision to split from the rest of the country. Speaking at a press conference in Paris with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, Macron said his country was committed to the stability of Iraq. France is ready to contribute actively to the UNs mediation efforts, if Iraqi authorities so wish, Macron said on Thursday. Meanwhile, the Iraqi prime minister said separatism is unacceptable following last months unbinding referendum. We dont want armed confrontation, we dont want clashes, but federal authority must prevail, al-Abadi said. Last months referendum saw 92.7 percent of registered Iraqi Kurd voters backing a split from Baghdad. But the referendum result has been met with resistance by the Iraqi state and several other regional powers, including Turkey and Iran. READ MORE: Iraq parliament rejects Kurdish independence referendum Al-Abadi called on Iraqi and Kurdish forces to work together to avoid conflict following the referendum outcome. Iraq belongs to all Iraqis, al-Abadi said. Prior to the vote, Iraqs parliament passed a resolution which deemed the vote a threat tothe civil peace and regional security and authorised al-Abadi to take any necessary measures to maintain Iraqi borders. The semi-autonomous Kurdish region of northern Iraq is home to 2.5 million people. It is governed by the KRG, led by President Masoud Barzani. Iraqs constitution recognises the KRG as the official authority of the provinces of Duhok, Erbil, Sulaimaniyah and Halabja. The KRG has its own parliament, military and budget, which is allocated by the Iraqi government. The debate for regional independence has been ongoing in Iraq for decades, with Kurds launching rebellions against successive British and Iraqi governments. While in Paris, al-Abadi also announced that government forces had retaken the northern town of Hawija, one of the final Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) groups strongholds in Iraq, calling it a victory not just of Iraq but of the whole world. In response to US generals comments, the Pakistani army rejects notion it backs groups such as the Afghan Taliban. Islamabad, Pakistan The Pakistani military has responded to a charge of having links to armed groups in South Asia, arguing that it is the job of intelligence agencies to maintain such connections, but rejected the notion that Pakistan supported groups such as the Afghan Taliban. Please understand, having links, and supporting [armed groups] are two different things, said Major General Asif Ghafoor, the militarys spokesperson, at a press conference in the northern garrison city of Rawalpindi. Name an intelligence agency of any country that does not have links [to armed groups]. Everyone does. If you have the links to finish the threat, then that is a positive contribution. Ghafoor was responding to comments made on Tuesday by General Joseph Dunford, the US chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who told the US Senate Armed Services Committee that he believed Pakistans powerful Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency maintained links to armed groups. It is clear to me that the ISI has connections with terrorist groups, he said, referring to groups that are actively engaged in the Afghan conflict, including the Afghan Taliban and the Haqqani Network. Ghafoor stressed that while the connections may exist, that did not constitute support. [US officials] did not say that the ISI is supporting [armed groups], the Pakistani general said. Earlier on Thursday, the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs also denied that Pakistan was supporting armed groups in neighbouring Afghanistan or on its soil. We have time and again rejected these allegations. Pakistan has done enough to erase the footprint of terrorism from its soil through indiscriminate counterterrorism operations against all terrorist outfits, said spokesperson Nafees Zakaria at a separate press briefing. US-Pakistan relations in balance Dunfords statements came at a particularly sensitive time for Pakistan-US relations, which have been at a crossroads since US President Donald Trumps announcement in August of his countrys new Afghanistan and South Asia strategy. Trump had singled Pakistan out for particular criticism in his policy announcement, saying the country provided safe havens to agents of chaos, violence and terror, and that the US would be changing how it deals with Afghanistans eastern neighbour. We have been paying Pakistan billions and billions of dollars at the same time they are housing the very terrorists that we are fighting. But that will have to change, and that will change immediately, Trump said at the time. The policy announcement led to the cancellation of a series of scheduled high-level contacts between US and Pakistani officials. Pakistan in the crosshairs of Trumps Afghan strategy Those contacts have since resumed, with Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi meeting US Vice President Mike Pence on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly last month. Pakistani Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif also met US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in Washington, DC, on Tuesday to discuss the way forward in the US implementation of the new strategy. Speaking after the meeting, Tillerson said he believed the US had a reliable partner in Pakistan. This is about the importance of Pakistan, and Pakistans long-term stability as well, he told reporters. We have concerns about the future of Pakistans government too, in terms of them we want their government to be stable. We want it to be peaceful. Asad Hashim is Al Jazeeras Web Correspondent in Pakistan. He tweets @AsadHashim. Israel is planning to close its borders with the Occupied West Bank and the Gaza Strip for an unusually long period. The closure, for a Jewish holiday, means no Palestinians will be allowed to cross into Israel for 11 days. Israel is planning to close its borders with the occupied West Bank and the Gaza Strip for an unusually long period. The closure, for a Jewish holiday, means no Palestinians will be allowed to cross into Israel for 11 days. Palestinians say the move is collective punishment. Al Jazeeras Harry Fawcett reports from the West Bank. As the controversial 13 year peacekeeping mission in Haiti wraps up, Al Jazeera examines what the mission leaves behind. The United Nations peacekeeping mission in Haiti lowered its blue flag on Thursday, 13 years after it began. While the mission has been credited with helping bring stability to the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, it has also been mired in controversy. The mission is blamed for bringing cholera to the country, and at least 134 of its peacekeepers have been involved in sexual abuse scandals. As the last of the thousands of peacekeepers who were in the country leave, Al Jazeera answers some of the key questions about why the blue helmets were there and what they are leaving behind. What will be their legacy? The presence of UN troops in Haiti has been a point of controversy on the island since the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) mission first began in 2004. UN officials have praised the mission for helping to re-establish law-and-order in the country marred by political unrest and bolster Haitis democratic institutions. MINUSTAH has also helped recruit and train a new civilian police force, something that was virtually nonexistent before their arrival. However, critics argue the missions forces have done more harm than good, pointing to the peacekeepers involvement in the countrys 2010 cholera outbreak and sex abuse scandals as evidence. Cholera outbreak The source of the waterborne disease, which killed more than 9,000 people, was traced to a UN base. Al Jazeeras Fault Lines investigated the outbreak in 2010. The film Haiti in a Time of Cholera helped further expose the source of the disease on the island, and put additional pressure on the UN to investigate the allegations, and eventually admit its role in the outbreak. In August 2016, the UN for the first time acknowledged that it played a role in the spread of the disease. The UN at the time promised to respond to the epidemic with a significant new set of UN actions. In a report, the then UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, said that the preponderance of the evidence does lead to the conclusion that personnel associated with [a UN peacekeeping] facility were the most likely source. Ban said the way the UN handled the outbreak leaves a blemish on the reputation of UN peacekeeping and the organisation worldwide. He added: For the sake of the Haitian people, but also for the sake of the United Nations itself, we have a moral responsibility to act and a collective responsibility to deliver. Ban created a $400m voluntary trust fund for Haitis fight against cholera. The fund was also supposed to partially compensate victims of the disease. But earlier this year, The New York Times revealed that the fund only received a few million dollars and was nearly empty. In a statement in June, the UN deputy secretary-general said that without additional resources, the intensified cholera response and control efforts cannot be sustained through 2017 and 2018. Rape and other forms of sex abuse UN troops have also been implicated in sexual abuse scandals in Haiti since the MINUSTAH first began. Most recently, a UN report obtained and revealed by The Associated Press in April documented the sexual exploitation of nine children on the island from 2004-2007 at the hands of at least 134 peacekeepers. Al Jazeera later spoke to Maria Kalichi*, who had been raped by a peacekeeper when she was 17 years old. She became pregnant as result of the rape. I want justice by finding the person who did this, she told Al Jazeera. I want to hear what he has to say to me I am walking around the streets feeling destitute because of the UN. A leaked report in 2015, found that UN peacekeepers in Haiti engaged in transactional sex. At least 229 women said they traded sex for money and goods likes food and medicine. In 2012, at least two peacekeepers from Pakistan were jailed and fired from the army after raping a 14-year-old boy. Other cases of rape and other instances of sexual abuse have been reported and documented by the UN during the missions 13-year term. In September, a UN fund to help the survivors of sexual abuse by peacekeepers worldwide grew to $1.5m after more than 10 countries made contributions. Why were they there in the first place? MINUSTAH, running since 2004, was the latest installment in a series of UN peacekeeping missions in the country, which shares a landmass with the Dominican Republic. Peacekeepers first arrived in Haiti, home to 10.8 million people, in September 1993 as part of The United Nations Mission in Haiti (UNMIH). The mission had a mandate to modernise the Haitian army and establish a new national police force two years after Haitis elected president, Jean-Bertrand Aristide, had been removed from office during a coup detat. After Aristide was restored to office in October 1994 following the UN-sanctioned, and US-led, Operation Uphold Democracy launched the month before, the missions mandate was expanded to include helping to stabilise the government. However, UNMIH, which concluded in June 1996, appeared to have failed to deliver long-term stability. A decade later, history repeated itself as Aristide was overthrown for a second time. OPINION UN Peacekeepers: Keeping the peace or preventing it? Following Aristides removal, Justice Boniface Alexandre assumed office as acting president. Alexandre appealed to the UN for help in ending the violence that had gripped Haiti in the wake of the political revolt, causing crime and murder rates to spiral. MINUSTAH, launched on June 1, 2004, in response to the crisis, led to the deployment of 6,700 UN-sanctioned troops and 1,622 UN police in Haiti. Why has it taken so long for them to leave? MINUSTAH was originally set up to support Haitis transitional government for a period of six months, with the aim of establishing a stable and secure environment following Aristides removal. The mission was extended with adjusted mandates in the months and years that followed in order to allow peacekeepers to adapt to the changing circumstances and evolving requirements as dictated by the political, security and socioeconomic situation prevailing in the country, according to the UN. By the beginning of 2010, it appeared the mission had achieved its goals as violence had largely been removed from Haitis politics and the country was experiencing economic growth. However, a devastating 7.0 magnitude earthquake hit the island on January 12, 2010, killing more than 220,000 people. The natural disaster destroyed vast swathes of Haitis capital city, Port-au-Prince, and decimated the fragile Haitian economy. In response, the UN added additional peacekeepers and police officers to its mission as it sought to support the country in its efforts to rebuild following the earthquake. Force numbers have been gradually reduced in the last seven years, by a series of resolutions. Why are they leaving now? The UN Security Council (UNSC) unanimously adopted a resolution in April of this year, ordering the removal of peacekeepers from Haiti by mid-October. The April 13 resolution sanctioned the gradual withdrawal of the 2,370 peacekeepers stationed in Haiti, according to The Los Angeles Times. The resolution was the result of a US-led review into the cost and effectiveness of the UNs current peacekeeping operations. Nikki Haley, the US representative to the UN, told the UNSC prior to the vote that the political context was right for the withdrawal of a military presence in Haiti. IN PICTURES: Haiti: Recovery and resilience after Hurricane Matthew The peaceful transition of power demonstrated by Haitis November 2016 presidential election showed the country had made an important step towards stability and democracy, she said. As such, developments warranted an amended approach focused on fostering the independence and self-sufficiency of the Haitian people. The peacekeeping mission will officially end on October 15 when a new UN mission made up of nearly 1,300 international civilian police officers, and about 350 civilians will begin in an effort to help the country reform its political system. In a recent interview with Al Jazeera, Sandra Honore, head of MINUSTAH, said the UN is winding down the mission because it has achieved its aims. It is a vote of confidence in the Haitian people, she said. It is an indication of the recognition by the Security Council that the stabilisation work which was entrusted to the mission did in fact produce positive results. What have Haitians said about the mission? Though Februarys presidential election seems to demonstrate Haiti is more politically stable now than when MINUSTAH began, a number of Haitians recently told Al Jazeera the mission has done little to improve their lives. Mothers who say they have had children, fathered by peacekeepers, also say they feel abandoned. READ MORE: Is the UN sending the wrong people to keep the peace? After years of running around and false promises from the UN, nothing has happened, Saintil Benite, a mother, told Al Jazeera. They make us do a lot of stuff but theres no results, she said. Another mother, Roselaine Duperval, added that the mission has failed those people it sought to serve. I am very angry that the UN is leaving as its left us with nothing, she said. They should take responsibility. They know about the kids. They did DNA tests and they told us theyre positive but never give us the results. As peacekeepers leave, Haiti continues to experience political turbulence. Protests last month over the governments new budget plans brought much of the country to a halt. The government has defended its plans, which include increased taxes on fuel and property, saying the money raised will be invested in improving public services and infrastructure. *Name changed to protect identity Thousands of Togolese take to the streets to demand an end to the 50-year-rule of the Gnassingbe family. Thousands of Togolese took to the streets on Wednesday in the next phase of a campaign against the 50-year-rule of the Gnassingbe family, demanding the immediate resignation of President Faure Gnassingbe. Authorities have often responded to the protests by blocking mobile and internet communication. Mobile access to the internet was blocked on Wednesday by authorities. As was the case in August and September during mass protests that drew tens of thousands of people. Security forces cracked down on the previous nationwide demonstrations, leaving several people dead. Why are people protesting in Togo? Protesters are calling for the resignation of President Faure Gnassingbe, who has been in power since his father died in 2005. Gnassignbes father ruled for nearly four decades, having initially taken power during a coup detat. The two elections in 2010 and 2015 since Gnassignbe took power have been marred by controversy, with the opposition calling them fraudulent. Protesters want to see the return of the 1992 constitution that allowed only two presidential terms. In an attempt to appease his opponents, Gnassignbe tabled a draft bill in September that would reform the constitution and reintroduce a two-term limit. But opposition leaders are sceptical that this would apply retroactively, and fear Gnassignbe would be allowed to run for two more terms. A 14-party opposition coalition and civil society organisations have called for the latest rounds of protests suspecting that President Gnassigbe, who is on his third term in office, will seek re-election in 2020. Read more: Life after near-death for Togos shot footballer Where are the protests taking place? Most protests are centred in the capital, Lome, and the northern city of Sokode. Until 2017, most opposition against Gnassingbe was concentrated in or near the countrys seaside capital. The anti-government protests have now spread to the rest of the West African country of seven million people. Has Togo seen protests before? It is not the first time calls for Gnassingbe to resign have echoed in the streets. The protests that followed Gnassingbes first election victory in 2005 triggered a violent security crackdown in which around 500 people were killed. Demonstrations also erupted in 2011, 2012 and 2014, when people also asked for electoral reform. In the latest round of violence that began in August, at least two people were killed, according to officials. Opposition leaders disputed that number and said at least seven people died during the protests. In September, thousands of people again took to the streets to demand reform. Security forces cleared barricades erected by demonstrators and fired tear gas at the crowds. How has the government reacted to the latest protests? Protests have largely been peaceful, but at least one person was killed and dozens were injured in September in a crackdown in the north of the country, a region previously seen as reliably pro-government. The government has also limited internet access in the country, preventing demonstrators from organising on social media. Text messages have also been blocked. Critics have called these moves by Gnassingbes government an attempt to suppress the protests. How has the international community reacted to the protests? The UN Special Envoy for West Africa and the Sahel, Mohamed Ibn Chambas, has called on all parties to preserve peace and security. I remain convinced that all parties want to move forward on the reforms in order to reach a consensus to respond to the legitimate expectations of the Togolese people, Chambas said in a statement last month. Tel Aviv indefinitely postponed the Israel-Africa summit that was scheduled for late October in Togo due to rising unrest in the country. The decision was linked to the internal situation in Togo. The situation is seen to be unstable, and they (Togos government) asked to postpone, Emmanuel Nahshon, spokesperson for the Israeli foreign ministry told Al Jazeera last month. Using #TogoEnMarche (Togo on the move) on Twitter, people in and outside of Togo are voicing their discontent with Gnassingbe. The Togolese diaspora has called for marches in several cities around the world, including Montreal, Paris and Washington, DC. Hundreds of farmers near Jaipur city partially bury themselves in pits to protest against forceful land acquisition. Hundreds of farmers in the state of Rajasthan, India, have been protesting against the governments plan to acquire their land, with scores of them digging up holes and burying themselves as part of the protest. Farmers have been holding the sit-in at Nindar village, about 20km from Jaipur, the state capital, for the past two weeks but adopted this unique method of protest on Monday the birth anniversary of Indias independence leader Mahatma Gandhi. Nagender Shekhawat, the leader of the protest, told Al Jazeera that nearly 5,000 families, including farmers, are going to be affected by the acquisition. He added that the protesters have been occupying the land for the past 18 days. Farmers have been protesting since the land acquisition notice was issued in 2010. They do not want to give up their land as they use it for agriculture and animals, he said. Government wants to destroy their source of income. We oppose the government move. The protesters are against the acquisition of 1,350 bighas (540 acres) of land for a housing project, the Indian Express newspaper reported. They say the compensation offered is not enough. READ MORE: Rural India fights for its rights Our demand is that the compensation and acquisition should be done as per the new Land Acquisition Act, Shekhawat said referring to the Act that has provision that requires consent from 80 percent of the residents of an area for acquisition. Land is a scarce resource in India home to 1.3 billion people. The governments push for industrialisation and mega mining and developmental projects have displaced millions. The majority of them often have to wait for years to receive compensation. A 2015 move by the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to amend the Land Acquisition Act was met with massive protests. In our meeting with Rajasthan Urban Development Minister Shrichand Kriplani, we reiterated our position that a new survey should be done, Shekhawat said. He said that approximately 1,000 families living in the 18 residential colonies would become homeless. A 90-year-old protester told NDTV that her family lived there for generations. I have brought up my eight sons here in this land, and I have 20 grandchildren if you take me away from my land where will I go? I dont want the money I want my land, Nanthi Bai said. A legislator from the opposition Congress party accused the state government, also ruled by the BJP, of ignoring the suffering of the people. It is a pro-corporate government; it works for them. They do not care for the farmers, Sukhram Bishnoi, member of Rajasthan state legislature, told Al Jazeera by phone. But Raj Kumar, Deputy Commissioner of JDA, accused protest leaders of playing politics over the issue of development. Land acquisition process was started in 2010. The deal was finalised after proper compensation in May 2013. Farmers willfully surrendered about 300 bighas (120 acres) of land as part of the land-for-land compensation, he said. He told Al Jazeera that people with vested interests were behind the agitation that the protesters have called zameen samadhi satyagraha (land burial protest). People who live in the 5-6 illegal colonies on the land, and not farmers, are protesting. Maximum 600 families are participating in the protests. Farmers, who are not even 5-10 percent of this agitation, are being misguided. Another round of talks is slated to be held with the JDA commissioner at 6pm local time on Thursday. JDA and the [Rajasthan] state government is ready to talk to resolve the issue, but we must respect law, Raj Kumar said. We are ready to re-examine the survey wherever there is some problem. We have followed due process, but if a land has been surveyed incorrectly, we are ready to rectify it. Successive governments in the past have been accused of ignoring the interests of farmers and favouring big businesses an accusation corroborated by a report by the Comptroller and Auditor-General (CAG) of India that said the government had diverted land to private real estate developers. Shekhawat insisted he will continue with the protest against the destruction of peoples homes. We do not want to give up the land. Saudi Arabia has signed preliminary agreements to buy S-400 air defence systems from Russia, officials said, on the sidelines of King Salmans landmark visit to Moscow. The agreement was announced on Thursday as Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted King Salman the first sitting Saudi monarch to visit Russia for talks at the Kremlin. Along with the S-400 anti-aircraft missiles, Saudi Arabia is also set to buy Kornet anti-tank guided missile systems and multiple rocket launchers under the deal. These agreements are expected to play a pivotal role in the growth and development of the military and military systems industry in Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI), the kingdoms military industries firm said. OPINION: Decoding King Salmans visit to Moscow King Salman led a delegation to Moscow that also agreed on joint investment deals worth several billion dollars, providing a much-needed financial boost for a Russian economy battered by low oil prices and Western sanctions. On the political front, there was no sign of any substantial breakthrough on the issues that divide Moscow and Riyadh, including the fact that they back rival sides in Syrias civil war. This is the first visit by a Saudi Arabian monarch in the history of our relations and that in itself is a landmark event, Putin said as he welcomed the Saudi leader in an ornate gilded Kremlin hall. Im sure your visit will boost the ties between our countries, he said. We aim to strengthen our relations in the interests of peace and security, in the interests of developing the world economy, the Saudi king responded. Addressing regional affairs, King Salman told Putin that Iran must stop meddling in Middle Eastern conflicts. We emphasise that the security and stability of the Gulf region and the Middle East is an urgent necessity for achieving stability and security in Yemen, the king said. This would demand that Iran give up interference with the internal affairs of the region, to give up actions destabilising the situation in this region. READ MORE: Saudis king in Moscow An unexpected rapprochement Iran and Saudi Arabia have supported opposing sides in ongoing conflicts in Syria and Yemen. Russia, like Iran, is also a key partner of the Syrian government of President Bashar al-Assad, who Saudi Arabia has opposed. New horizons While there was no hint of a major political development, there was no hint of any public discord either. Briefing the media on the talks between Putin and King Salman, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov focused on the common ground between the two countries. The two leaders had a friendly and substantial discussion based on a desire by Moscow and Riyadh to consistently grow mutually-beneficial partnerships in all spheres, Lavrov said at a press conference alongside his Saudi counterpart, Adel al-Jubeir. He added that the two leaders had agreed on the importance of fighting terror, of finding peaceful solutions to conflicts in the Middle East and on the principle of territorial integrity. For his part, al-Jubeir said that we believe that new horizons have opened up for the development of our relations that we could not previously have imagined. Speaking through an interpreter, he added. Relations between Russia and Saudi Arabia have reached an historical moment. We are certain that the further strengthening of Russian-Saudi relations will have a positive impact on strengthening stability and security in the region and the world. OPINION: The Russian-Saudi rapprochement and Iran Relations between the two countries in the past have often been strained. During Cold War times, the Saudis helped arm Afghan rebels fighting against the Soviet invasion. More recently, tensions were high over the war in Syria. However, relations have begun to improve in recent years and King Salmans heir, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has held several meetings with Putin. Al Jazeeras Rory Challands, reporting from Moscow, said a good amount of trust had been built between Saudi Arabia and Russia, and it is changing the political landscape. The two have been coordinating their efforts to cap oil outputs and therefore boost the price of energy, but of course there is the changing political structure of the Middle East too, he said. The fact that you can argue that the US influence in the region is receding and Russias is increasing, and in the last few months we have seen a good number of Middle Eastern leaders including those of Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Turkey, all coming to Moscow essentially hedging their bets and realising that Russia is an emerging power and the US perhaps a declining one. The kingdom, much like Russia, has been hit by the fall in oil prices since mid-2014. Despite regional disagreements, the two countries found common ground on energy policy in November when they led a deal between OPEC and non-OPEC states to cut production in a bid to shore up crude prices. So far, that deal is holding. Saudi Arabias Public Investment Fund, the kingdoms sovereign wealth fund, announced in 2015 plans to invest $10bn in Russia over the next five years, though only a fraction of that has so far been put up. Rights group finds no arrests made after more than 300 cases of rape and sexual slavery since 2013. Armed fighters in the Central African Republic (CAR) have used sexual violence to terrorise women and children as a tactic of war during the nearly five-year conflict, Human Rights Watch (HRW) has claimed. Fighters beat women, burned them and left them with broken bones, smashed teeth and head wounds, the New York-based rights group said in a report on Thursday, citing testimony. Survivors said they were raped by up to 10 or more men during a single incident. According to the report, there have been 305 cases of rape and sexual slavery against 296 women and girls by members of armed groups between early 2013 and mid-2017. Members of the mainly Muslim Seleka and Christian Anti-balaka forces the two main parties involved in the conflict have used sexual violence as revenge for perceived support of rivals, HRW said. READ MORE: UN botched sexual abuse cases in CAR Armed groups are using rape in a brutal, calculated way to punish and terrorise women and girls, said Hillary Margolis, HRWs womens rights researcher, in a statement. She added: Every day, survivors live with the devastating aftermath of rape, and the knowledge that their attackers are walking free, perhaps holding positions of power, and to date facing no consequences whatsoever. According to HRW, most of the abuses not only violate CARs laws but also constitute war crimes, with some possible crimes against humanity. The group reported that only 11 of the 296 survivors interviewed had tried to initiate a criminal investigation. So far, no member of any armed group has been arrested or tried for committing sexual violence. Inaccessible justice Lewis Mudge, a researcher in the Africa Division at HRW, told Al Jazeera on Thursday that almost nothing is happening to survivors of these attacks and little is being done to prevent them. Survivors of sexual violence need to be given support medical, psychological and social, he said. A new government organisation, the Mixed Unit for Rapid Intervention and Suppression of Sexual Violence against Women and Children, is trying to address the plight of survivors. If those that we know are responsible for these grave crimes of rape and violation of human rights if they are not arrested right now and taken into custody, no victims will have the will to seek justice and that makes justice inaccessible, said Paul Amedee Moye, head of the group. He added: You have to talk about zero impunity. CAR, a former French colony, fell into a protracted political crisis in 2013 after President Francois Bozize was overthrown by the Seleka group, who in turn were driven from power. READ MORE: Is the UN sending the wrong people to keep the peace? Selekas abuses against the Christian population led to the emergence of self-defence groups the Anti-balaka which embarked on their own campaign of violence. The fighting has killed thousands of people and forced nearly half a million from their homes. The CAR government struck a peace deal with 13 of the 14 armed groups active in the country on June 19. The truce was shortly followed by violent clashes between rival factions which killed more than 100 people in the town of Bria, northeast of the capital, Bangui. UN peacekeeping mission MINUSCA, the United Nations peacekeeping mission, has operated in the country since April 2014. UN peacekeepers in CAR a total of 13,000 have also been embroiled in a series of sexual allegations. According to a recent investigation by the Associated Press news agency, between 2004 and 2016, the UN received almost 2,000 allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse against its peacekeepers. READ MORE: Why do some UN peacekeepers rape? Vladimir Monteiro, MINUSCA spokesman, refused to comment on the findings of the HRW report because he had not seen it by the time of publication. But he told Al Jazeera on Thursday that his team reports on human rights violations on a weekly basis and that special units monitor violence against women. Women and vulnerable people are our main focus with respect to peace and the protection of civilians, Monteiro said. We really care about women and vulnerable people in CAR. HRWs Mudge urged MINUSCA to be proactive and think to protect women and girls before they are attacked. Protection should not only be reactive, he said. Additional reporting by Saba Aziz: @saba_aziz People in South Korea are celebrating the traditional harvest festival known as Chuseok. The holiday is also being marked in the North, giving all Koreans a brief respite from escalating tensions. People in South Korea are celebrating the traditional harvest festival known as Chuseok. The holiday is also being marked in North Korea, giving all Koreans a brief respite from escalating tensions. Al Jazeeras Rob McBride went to a ceremony at the border between the two countries Mass protests erupted in the wake of the recent acquittal of a white policeman who killed a black man in 2011. More than 300 protesters were arrested in St Louis in just 18 days, prompting rights groups and activists to decry unlawful force and indiscriminate arrests. Mass protests erupted on September 15 after Jason Stockley, a white police officer, was found not guilty for the killing of Anthony Lamar Smith, a 24-year-old African American, in December 2011. Between September 15 and Tuesday, October 3, the St Louis Police Department (SLMPD) arrested at least 307 people during the ongoing protests against the ruling, police spokeswoman Schron Jackson told Al Jazeera. When protesters briefly blocked a highway on Tuesday night, heavily-armed riot police confronted them, according to local media reports. We dont see a riot here. Why are you in riot gear? protesters chanted. Others proclaimed: Touch one, touch all. Schron said officers arrested 143 people on Tuesday alone. Among them were politicians, lawyers, religious clergy and other community members. During Tuesdays rally, Starsky Wilson, a 41-year-old pastor at Saint Johns Church in St Louis, was arrested for trespassing. Referring to the ongoing protests, he explained: The police continue to show up in riot gear even though there is no riot. Speaking to Al Jazeera by telephone, he added: Police just determined that they were going to engage in mass arrests last night, and thats exactly what they did. He added: Unfortunately, in this community, weve seen such militarised policing that seeing riot gear is not uncommon any more. Bruce Franks Jr, a Missouri state representative from St Louis, was also arrested. He announced that he was about to be arrested on Twitter shortly before the police swept the demonstrators. We getting locked up! Bruce Franks Jr (@brucefranksjr) October 4, 2017 Im going to kill this motherf***er Stockley, a white former police officer, was charged with first-degree murder in May 2016 and arrested at his home in Houston, Texas, where he moved in 2013 after he left the St Louis police force. Stockley insisted that he killed Smith in self-defence. Dashcam footage recorded during a three-minute chase shows Stockley saying: Im going to kill this motherf***er, dont you know it. The video shows Stockley and his partner as they approached the vehicle. After Stockley yelled into the window, he opened fire and hit Smith five times. He subsequently claimed that he saw the driver holding a gun. Prosecutors, however, argued that the Stockly had planted the gun in the vehicle after the fatal shooting. Although Smiths DNA was present on a bag of heroin found in the car, forensic testing of the gun detected only Stockleys DNA on the weapon. READ MORE: Will killings by police rise in Trumps America? At Stockleys request, his verdict was decided by a judge instead of a jury. In his decision, St Louis Circuit Judge Timothy Wilson said the prosecutors had failed to prove every element of murder beyond a reasonable doubt and did not demonstrate beyond a reasonable doubt that Stockley had not killed Smith in self-defence. Unlawful and unconstitutional A week after the verdict, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Missouri filed a lawsuit against the SLMPD over what it called unlawful and unconstitutional actions against demonstrators. The lawsuit (pdf) accuses officers of indiscriminately using chemical agents, attempting to prevent filming of police actions and violating individuals rights while kettling the demonstrators into a small area. Maleeha Ahmad, one of the plaintiffs in the ACLU-Missouri lawsuit, claimed police pepper sprayed her without warning. If it hadnt been for my fellow peaceful protesters strangers who came to my aid I dont know how my eyesight would be today. I would have been left out in the sun, on the ground, with my face burning, Ahmad said in a statement released by the rights group. At the time, police accused protesters of violence and illegal behaviour during the protests. Alison Dreith, another plaintiff who says police pepper-sprayed her without reason, said that community members should be able to protest without the fear of retaliation from law enforcement. We should strive to be a place where every citizen feels supported by the communities we call home, Dreith said in the statement. READ MORE: Ex-officer cleared in killing of Anthony Lamar Smith This is the vision that drives us into the streets and inspires us to hold our leaders accountable when they betray our values. In the heart of America Insisting that communities of colour never expected justice in the Stockley case, Reverend Wilson said they have nonetheless struggled to reconcile with the verdict. The officer had clearly stated his desire and intent to kill an individual before doing so, he said, and the officers DNA was the only one found on the weapon. Wilson, who has lived in St Louis for the last 17 years, explained that the anger in the streets is amplified by fresh memories of police killing unarmed African Americans in recent years. In nearby Ferguson, a northern St Louis suburb, a white police officer was never charged for the August 2014 killing of Michael Brown, an African American teenager who was unarmed at the time he was shot dead. It's important to remember that these pains and aches are happening in the heart of America. St Louis really is a central point for revolution and resistance. by Starsky Wilson, pastor at Saint John's Church Ferguson subsequently became a focal point for protests against police brutality and a rallying cry for Black Lives Matter, the civil rights movement aimed at ending police violence and dismantling structural racism. According to the Guardian newspapers The Counted database, US police killed at least 1,092 people last year. Nearly a quarter of those killed were African Americans although the group accounts for roughly 12 percent of the total US population. Its important to remember that these pains and aches are happening in the heart of America, Wilson said. St Louis really is a central point for revolution and resistance. We saw that in 2014, and we see it again now. Follow Patrick Strickland on Twitter: @P_Strickland_ As watchdog probes use of sarin gas in Hama, activists say international community needs to do more to punish Assad. An investigation carried out by an international chemical weapons watchdog has revealed the use of sarin gas in a March 30 attack that hit the rebel-held town of Latamneh in northern Syria. The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), an independent body, told Al Jazeera that its fact-finding missions results prove the presence of sarin or sarin-related chemicals. On Wednesday, the initial findings were shared with member states all of whom are signatories to the United Nations chemical weapons convention. The investigation into the March chemical attack in Hama province, in which some 50 people were injured, is ongoing. Idlib-based activist, Majed Abdulnoor, told Al Jazeera that the use of chemical weapons is a regular occurrence in the country. Unfortunately, on top of sarin and mustard gas, the use of weaponised chlorine is also a grave violation that no one is talking about not the media, and definitely not the international community, Abdulnoor said. People dont realise that these air strikes are chemical ones until theyre hit with the reality, and they start seeing the symptoms [mouth foaming, fainting], he added. The town had seen several other chemical attacks previously, including one that hit a local hospital just five days earlier, killing a doctor and his patient. On April 4, days after the attack on Latamneh, Syrian government forces used the banned nerve agent in a separate attack on the rebel-held town of Khan Sheikhoun in Idlib. The attack killed some 87 people, and last month UN investigators determined the use of sarin gas. Syrias government has denied involvement and claims it no longer possesses chemical weapons following a 2013 agreement, under which it pledged to surrender its chemical arsenal. READ MORE: Syrias civil war explained from the beginning The use of chemical weapons is strictly prohibited under international law. Previously, former US President Barack Obama had said that the use of chemical weapons would cross a red line, but failed to follow through. After the Khan Sheikhoun attack, the US had said that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad must be held accountable. The UN report also found that the government forces were responsible for at least 23 other chemical attacks in the war-ravaged country since March 2013, in areas including the provinces of Idlib, Hama and eastern Ghouta. At the time, UN investigators said they had found no evidence supporting Syrian and Russian claims that the chemicals had been released when an air raid hit an opposition weapons depot in the area, producing chemical munitions. Our voices on the ground are not being heard or acknowledged by the international community because that community is only interested in their own state affairs, Abdulnoor, the activist, said. These investigations purposefully take a long time to reveal what is in fact already obviously true. If they [international community] wanted to hold Assad accountable, the investigation would have been concluded in a day, he said. As long as the war continues to serve their agendas, these investigations will never change things on the ground, he added. FEATURE: Saving Syria: Is international law the answer? Mazen Kewara, a Turkey-based surgeon with the Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS), explained that the international community cannot take action when such investigations are conducted for several reasons, rendering them obsolete. We [SAMS] provided OPCW with testimonies from doctors, wounded civilians, witnesses, and footage from Syria to help them reveal details behind several attacks, said Kewara, who is based in the Turkish border city of Gaziantep. The reason these investigations take time is because they have a complex mechanism and protocol. The OPCW, in particular, is an autonomous body that works discretely, he explained. According to Kewara, several UN resolutions against the Syrian regime have been stalled by veto-wielding members of the Security Council. The main problem here is Russia and Chinas support these are delaying and preventing the international community from taking punitive measures against Assads regime, he said. Moscow has vetoed UNSC resolutions against Syria seven times in the past five years, particularly resolutions that threatened sanctions against parties using chemical weapons in Syria. A report on OPCWs investigation will be available to the bodys member states and to the OPCW-UN joint investigative committee within few weeks. Now in its seventh year, the Syrian civil war has killed nearly half a million Syrians, injured more than a million, and displaced over 12 million people from their homes. Heavy fighting raging in several regions of Syria is causing hundreds of civilian casualties, ICRC reports. The worst fighting since the battle for eastern Aleppo last year is raging in several regions of Syria, causing hundreds of civilian casualties, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has said. Up to 10 hospitals have been reportedly damaged in the past 10 days, cutting off hundreds of thousands of people from access to healthcare, the aid agency said in a statement on Thursday, voicing alarm at the situation from Raqqa to Idlib and eastern Ghouta. For the past two weeks, we have seen an increasingly worrying spike in military operations that correlates with high levels of civilian casualties, Marianne Gasser, head of the ICRCs delegation in Syria, said. My colleagues report harrowing stories, like a family of 13 who fled Deir Az Zor only to lose 10 of its members to air strikes and explosive devices along the way. In a separate development on Thursday, two Russian submarines fired 10 Kalibr cruise missiles from the Mediterranean Sea at rebel targets in Deir Az Zor province to support the Syrian army, Russian news agencies cited the defence ministry in Moscow as saying. ICRC reported that some camps around Raqqa and Deir Az Zor are receiving daily more than 1,000 people, including many women and children, adding that humanitarian organisations are struggling to provide water, food and basic hygiene to the new arrivals. Military operations must not disregard the fate of civilians and of the vital infrastructure on which their survival depends, said Robert Mardini, ICRCs regional director for the Near and Middle East. Winning by any means is not only unlawful but also unacceptable when it comes at such human cost. We call once again on all those fighting in Syria to show restraint, and to abide by the basic tenets of international humanitarian law. READ MORE: Syrian army captures key supply route in Deir Az Zor The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based monitoring group, recorded the killing of 185 people, including 45 children and 46 women between September 29 and October 4 in several attacks, which it attributed to both the Russian and Syrian governments. In response, the Syrian opposition condemned in a statement on Wednesday the horrific massacre against those fleeing in the suburbs of Deir Az Zor. The warplanes of the Russian occupation committed a monstrous massacre near al-Ashira city south of Deir Az Zor, which led to the killing of no less than 50 civilians, mostly women and children. The targeting of civilians fleeing the fighting occurred while they were crossing the Euphrates river when the Russian warplanes directly shelled them, and in broad daylight, it continued, addig that tens of thousands of Syrians are under siege and are being targeted by both the Syrian and Russian armies. The Syrian army, under President Bashar al-Assad, launched an offensive recently to gain control over Deir Az Zor, one of the cities on the Euphrates, which was mostly held by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) group since 2014. Aided by the Russian military and Iran-backed fighters, the Syrian government managed to lift the siege after three years. READ MORE: Syrias civil war explained from the beginning But despite the signing of an agreement to secure safe zones for civilians escaping the fighting, casualties and attacks on lifesaving facilities have continued to mount. Last week, the New York-based Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) condemned Russia and the Syrian government for the worst string of attacks on hospitals in Syria in Idlib, northwest of Deir Az Zor. What that tells us is that this looks like a strategy to punish the civilian population and take out the hospitals so that healthcare is impossible, Marianne Mollman, PHRs director of research and investigations, told Al Jazeera. Heavy fighting soared last year during the battle for Aleppo, which ended in December 2016 when Russia-backed Syrian government took control of the major city from rebels. Abdulkafi Alhamdo, a professor at the University of Aleppo, who is from the city but is now living on the Aleppo countryside after being displaced by the war, said residents in parts of Aleppo were still enduring horrific conditions. People are living a nightmare of being arrested any time, and a lot of people are afraid of going back to Aleppo [city], he told Al Jazeera via Skype. Of course, this is in addition that Aleppo now is without any services no electricity, no water because all the cables and the pipes were destroyed or stolen when Assad took control of the eastern part of Aleppo, Alhamdo added. Five Nigerien and three US special forces killed in attack on joint patrol in southwest Niger, officials say. Five Nigerien and three US special forces were killed and others wounded in an ambush on a joint patrol in southwest Niger. The attack, which occurred on Wednesday night, marks the first US combat casualties in Niger, where Washington provides training and security assistance in the fight against armed groups in the Sahel region. We can confirm reports that a joint US and Nigerien patrol came under hostile fire in southwest Niger, a spokesperson of the US Africa Command told Radio France International (RFI) by telephone. According to RFI, the ambush took place after fighters from Mali attacked the village of Tongo Tongo in Tillaberi. A counter-operation was launched, but the US and Niger soldiers fell into a trap, according to the radio report. Namatta Abubacar, an official for the region of Tillaberi, told Niger TV that five Nigerian soldiers were among the dead. READ MORE: The re-emergence of AQIM in Africa No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack but the area is largely controlled by fighters, including members of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS). African security forces backed by Western troops have been stepping up efforts to counter the armed groups, which are part of a growing regional rebellion in the Sahel region. Presidents of the Sahel countries, including Mali, Niger, Mauritania, Burkina Faso and Chad, are working on final modalities to set up a G5 Sahel force to help fight the numerous groups that are active in the region. In mid-September, the government of President Mahamadou Issoufou extended Nigers state of emergency in force since March due to a threat coming from Mali. Analysts said the deadly incident will not change Washingtons involvement in the fight against armed groups in the Sahel. For several years the US has been expanding its footprint in that area. They are there to train the indigenous forces and not to carryout raids. And I dont see that changing because of this incident, Martin Reardon, a former FBI officer and senior vice president of Soufan group a security intelligence organisation told Al Jazeera. This ambush will not have blowback in the Congress. Politically this incident will not become a hot potato in Washington or Niger, Reardon said. In mid-June, Niger mounted a new military operation in the Tillaberi region to take on the armed groups. The United Nations later warned that the conflict in Mali was spilling over to Burkina Faso and Niger, after a significant surge of attacks in border areas. Saudi-led coalition and Houthis placed on draft UN blacklist over deaths of hundreds of children in conflict. The Saudi-led coalition has again been placed on a draft United Nations blacklist. The coalition is accused of killing and maiming 683 children in Yemen last year, as well as accusations of attacking schools and hospitals. But the annual draft report also notes that the Saudi-led coalition has put measures in place to protect children. The report also blacklists the Houthi rebels, government forces and their militia allies. The UN doesnt punish nations on the list, but the hope is the naming and shaming forces them to do more to protect civilians. The Saudi-led coalition was on the blacklist last year but was removed after Saudi pressure on the UN secretary-general. Presenter: Sami Zeidan Guests: Hakim Al Masmari Editor of the Yemen Post Kate Kiver Director of policy and advocacy at the Yemen Peace Project Kristine Beckerle Yemen researcher with Human Rights Watch A red poster advertising the National Womens Liberation caught the attention of Kristy Sanchez as she walked on the Plaza of the Americas. Sanchez, happy to see a feminist organization involved on campus, approached the table. The National Womens Liberation was one of the many progressive organizations that participated in the annual Radical Rush on Plaza of the Americas on Wednesday. The organizations tabled to advocate their ideas and recruit new volunteers, said James Schmidt, a coordinator for the Civic Media Center, located at 433 S Main St. Its important for anyone to stand for what they believe, Sanchez, a 19-year-old UF political science sophomore, said. You can say you believe in something but if you dont go out and act on it, you are never going to see the change that you want. Sanchez, who aspires to become a politician, said she is looking forward to helping with the National Womens Liberations upcoming projects, like providing free tampons across campus and making emergency contraception pills available in vending machines. The Samuel Proctor Oral History Program, which conducts interviews and puts them in UF public library archives, was also tabling. The program is working on projects to document the history of African-Americans, Latinos, veterans and more, said Sandra Romero, a coordinator with the programs Historically Black Colleges and Universities project. Other organizations included the Young Democratic Socialists of America and the Alachua County Labor Coalition. Schmidt said people are taking civic action with more urgency as a response to President Donald Trumps administration. He said Radical Rush was meant to close the gap between the student population and town residents. We want to introduce students to wider communities, he said. Specifically, the progressive activist community. Enjoy what you're reading? Get content from The Alligator delivered to your inbox Subscribe Now A woman was taken to the hospital Wednesday afternoon after a Toyota Tundra crashed into the front porch of La Tienda Latina restaurant. Brian Wilson Samuel, 59, was driving southbound on Southwest 13th Street when his pickup truck crashed into another car and then into the outdoor seating area of the Mexican restaurant and store at about 1:11 p.m., said Gainesville Police spokesperson Officer Ben Tobias. The womans non-fatal injuries were treated at UF Health Shands Hospital, Tobias said. The truck ruptured a portion of the porch area, sending food and debris flying into the air and shattering two of the restaurants windows. Samuel appeared intoxicated when speaking with officers and was arrested for DUI, Tobias said. Samuel leaned on an officer while being interviewed about the incident. At GPD headquarters before his breath test, he complained of an injury and was taken to the hospital as well. The DUI investigation is ongoing, Tobias said. Sussi Romo, a waitress at La Tienda, had just finished taking an order at the counter when she heard the crash. She looked up and saw a customer dive out of the way of an oncoming truck. She said no one was sitting at the main table that was hit in the crash. Ive never witnessed something like that, the 20-year-old Santa Fe College architecture sophomore said. It was so instant. Romo called police and helped make sure other customers were safe. For 20 to 30 minutes, the restaurant stopped taking orders, she said. Alberto Roman, the restaurant's owner, said he isnt sure how much the damages to the front of the building will cost. The truck broke the railing, rammed through two benches and shattered two panes of window glass. Roman replaced the windows hours after the accident. We are going to fix it right away, he said. Enjoy what you're reading? Get content from The Alligator delivered to your inbox Subscribe Now The restaurant now has four benches left on the patio. Roman said the restaurant has eight to 10 fewer seats now, which could be noticeable during the lunch rush. If we need the seats, we are going to be in trouble, he said. Police question Brian Wilson Samuel, 59, next to his pickup truck. His truck crashed through the railing and damaged two benches and windows at La Tienda Latina restaurant, located at 2204 SW 13th St. Samuel leans on one of the Gainesville Police officers who responded to the accident at about 1:11 p.m. He was arrested for driving under the influence. When Stetson Kennedys widow Sandra Parks celebrated her late husbands 101st birthday, she sang This Land is Your Land by Woody Guthrie. He was a person that believed, Let there be change, and let it begin with me, Parks said. He believed that creating change was the highest calling that a person could aspire to. Kennedy, a famous Florida folklorist, human rights organizer and environmentalist, would have turned 101 years old today. Just one day before, on Wednesday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., the Civic Media Center, located at 433 S. Main St., hosted a celebration of his life, and 30 friends and fans of Kennedys attended. Kennedy died in 2011, shortly before his 95th birthday. Parks gave a powerpoint presentation about his life. Kennedy started his civil rights activism career as a teenager when he fought anti-Semitism by encouraging his high schools fraternities to accept Jewish students, Parks said. He attended UF but he dropped in 1937 out to join the Federal Writers' Project. In 1944, he infiltrated the Georgia chapter of the Ku Klux Klan as John Perkins and exposed their secrets on a popular children's radio program called The Adventures of Superman. Kennedy published 10 books on Southern slavery and civil rights. Joe Courter, a co-founder of the Civic Media Center, said the center missed celebrating Kennedys 100th birthday. Kennedy and Parks donated more than 2,000 books to the Civic Media Center, Courter said. This year we wanted to make up for lost time and have Stetson Kennedy: 101, which is a great title for it cause for a lot of people they are just learning about who Kennedy is, Courter said. With the presentation Sandra put together, everybody learned something. Enjoy what you're reading? Get content from The Alligator delivered to your inbox Subscribe Now South Africa will be hosting the 38th Expert Group Meeting and the 44th Policy Group meeting of the Generation IV International Forum (GIF) in Cape Town from 16-20 October 2017. The Generation IV International Forum (GIF) is an international co-operation initiative which was set up to carry out the research and development needed to establish []http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Appa-sourceTheAfric... Where and when: From Sunday, 8 October 2017 to Thursday, 12 October 2017 Monday, 9 October 2017: Meetings with the Chief Justice, the representatives of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Assembly, the Leader of the Opposition and senior representatives of the coalition, and civil society organisations. Reception on board of EUNAVFOR []http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Appa-sourceTheAfric... The United States says it wants Canadian province British Columbia to stop discriminating against imported wine through its regulation of allowing only provincial wine to be sold on regular grocery store shelves. The United States has requested World Trade Organization consultations related to Canadian province British Columbias handling of grocery store wine sales. The United States argues that British Columbias measures appear to discriminate against imported wine through its regulation of allowing only provincial wine to be sold on regular grocery store shelves, while imported wine may be sold via a so-called store within a store, or in other words in a separate in-store location. The request is the second filed by the United States. The first request for WTO consultations was filed by the United States on Jan. 18. British Columbias regulations were amended in April 2015 to allow the sale of wine in grocery stores. The rules provided two options for grocery stores to sell wine: Non-origin BC wines may be sold in the store, but only BC wines may be sold from grocery store shelves. Consultations are the first step in the WTO dispute settlement process. If the United States and Canada are not able to reach a mutually agreed solution through consultations, then the U.S. government may ask the WTO to set up a dispute settlement panel to examine the matter. As the left exhibits paroxysms of moral outrage since the presidential election, the symptoms of Trump Derangement Syndrome are increasingly evident on university campuses. One such instance of this irrationality was on display in August at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln when Katie Mullen, president of the schools Turning Point USA chapter, was verbally harassed by leftist professors after she had set up a promotional table for the organization. A video recording of the events shows a graduate teaching assistant and PhD student, Courtney Lawton, giving the middle finger to Mullen while carrying a sign saying, Just say No! to Neo-Fascism! and shouting Neo-fascist Becky right here. Wants to destroy public schools, public universities, hates DACA kids, fuck Charlie Kirk [founder and executive director of Turning Point USA], and TPUSA Nazis, among other repellent slurs. Another professor, Amanda Gailey (founder of Nebraskans Against Gun Violence and a virulent critic of police and gun owners), taunted Mullen with a sign that stated, Turning Point: please put me on your watchlist, and others passing by aggressively accused the conservative student of being a white nationalist, a member of the Ku Klux Klan, and a fascist. Even for campuses that normally tolerate ideological excesses from its leftist faculty and students, this behavior was a bit too much for the Nebraska administration, which quickly removed Lawton from her position as a lecturer and assigned her to nonteaching duties, commenting that her behavior did not meet the universitys expectations for civility. Outraged by the unceremonious firing of one of their colleagues, fellow faculty, students, and union members organized a September rally on the Nebraska-Lincoln City campus sponsored by the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) -- purportedly to discuss issues of academic freedom but actually a protest of what they believed was Lawtons unjustified termination. Ignoring the fact that Lawton had not engaged in debate or dialogue at all but had actually viciously bullied Mullen, her supporters sidestepped that inconvenient detail entirely, choosing instead to make Lawton the victim. It was not Lawtons outrageously uncivil behavior that was the problem here, English professor Fran Kaye, one of the protesters, asserted, but retaliation for daring to question Turning Point USA, a conservative organization. There's an important distinction to be made in this case, however. The lecture was reassigned and relieved of her teaching duties not because of the content of her speech or the views expressed therein, but for the manner in which she expressed them; specifically, her behavior, not her ideas, is what was inappropriate and violated the norms of both the schools policies on academic free speech and conduct by students and faculty, but also the central idea of reasoned debate and dialogue. In fact, UNLs own policies on graduate student conduct is very clear on this matter, stating that, Professional conduct violations are behaviors that make the workplace hostile for colleagues, supervisors or subordinates (e.g., undergraduate students) [emphasis added]. It is one thing to engage in a discussion from two opposing viewpoints and to marshal facts and opinions to prove one's point in a debate, even if that discussion is very contentious and highly argumentative. It is another thing, however, to attack someone -- and particularly when that someone is a student and the attacker is a lecturer -- and not engage them in a reasoned debate, but instead use ad hominem attacks, spurious allegations about political affiliations, and accusations that their views as conservatives render their ideas useless because they are equivalent to fascist or Nazis beliefs. This is an entirely different interaction that the principles of academic freedom and campus free speech were never intended to protect or enable. To see how campus colleagues can betray their fellow professors when those professors have what leftists believe are the wrong set of beliefs or ideologies, one has only to look at the case of Connecticut College professor Andrew Pessin, who found himself vilified on campus, not only by a cadre of ethnic hustlers and activists, but by fellow faculty and an administration that was slow to defend Pessins right to express himself -- even when, as in this case, his ideas were certainly within the realm of reasonable conversation about a difficult topic: the conflict between Israel and Hamas. In August of 2014, during Israels incursions into Gaza to suppress deadly rocket fire, Pessin, a teacher of religion and philosophy, wrote on his Facebook page a description of how he perceived Hamas, the ruling political entity in Gaza: One image which essentializes the current situation in Gaza might be this. You've got a rabid pit bull chained in a cage, regularly making mass efforts to escape. That image of a pit bull did not sit well with at least one Connecticut College student, Lamiya Khandaker, who, not coincidentally, had founded a chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine, the virulently anti-Israel, sometimes anti-Semitic student activist group operating on more than 200 campuses across America. Khandaker complained publicly about Pessins old Facebook post, asserting that it was dehumanizing and racist, and claiming that Pessin was characterizing all Palestinians, not just Hamas, as pit bulls. The History faculty joined the fray in vilifying Pessin and expressing their self-righteousness, announcing that we condemn speech filled with bigotry and hate particularly when that speech uses dehumanizing language and incites or celebrates violence and brutality, an odd accusation to make against an individual who had critiqued the behavior of a terrorist group. More than that, Pessin, according to the enlightened history professoriate, was complicit in a wide range of oppression, subjugation, and racism, pointing to the particularly salient tactic of dehumanizing language as a means to justify brutality and lull otherwise well intentioned people into silence and, effectively, complicity in racism, sexism, discrimination, colonialism and the numerous genocides throughout human history. The fact that the Hamas Charter is itself essentially a call to genocide -- specifically of Jews -- apparently was lost on these historians. This case also exposes a double standard currently prevalent in academia when it comes to who may say what about whom. Most faculty and administrators are morally inconsistent when taking a stand against what they consider hate speech, believing, mistakenly, that only harsh expression against victim groups needs to be moderated. When other groups -- whites, Christians, conservatives and Trump supporters, heterosexual males, pro-Israel groups -- are the targets, apparently no protection is deemed necessary and activism against them is excused, justified, or defended in the name of social justice or progressivism. Professor Pessin made an innocuous comment on social media about a terrorist group halfway around the world and was subsequently vilified as a racist libeler who had injured the sensibilities of Arab students he had never even met or with whom he had never directly communicated. Graduate instructor Lawton, on the other hand, had verbally bullied and harassed a student in her presence, using her status as a professor as a club with which to beat Mullen simply for being a member of a conservative student group. Her colleagues came to her defense anyway, cloaking her outrageous behavior as a debate about academic freedom. If the professoriate wishes to give lip service to their support of the academic freedom they hold so dear, they must judge their peers consistently, and not based on whether their views represent prevailing progressive ideology or only political views with which the majority largely agrees. Otherwise, it will represent a profound betrayal of the cardinal principle of intellectual endeavor, as commentator Melanie Phillips put it, which is freedom of speech and debate, something universities should never stop diligently defending. Richard L. Cravatts, PhD, immediate past president of Scholars for Peace in the Middle East, is the author of Dispatches From the Campus War Against Israel and Jews. Bruce Rauner was Donald Trump before Donald Trump was cool. He was a wealthy businessman who was going to throw the rascals out and drain Illinois swamp of career politicians through term limits and a pro-growth agenda. He was going to be Scott Walker 2.0, unshackling Illinois from union control and returning power to the people. But that was then and this is now. Now, Bruce Rauner is just another politician more interested in keeping his job than doing his job, willing to sell out his most ardent supporters to save his political hide. He has proven politically powerless, both to change the makeup of the Illinois legislature, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Democratic Party and their union bosses. But also to block their big-spending budget in a bankrupt state with junk status bonds. He also is morally clueless, embracing the Democratic mantra that abortion is health care, and breaking a promise, despite his own personal pro-abortion views, to veto a bill that not only says Illinois will be a pro-abortion state even if Roe v. Wade gets overturned, but the Illinois taxpayers will be on the hook for these abortions: The bill Rauner has signed into law was advertised as a measure to ensure that abortion would remain legal in Illinois in the event the Supreme Court should strike down Roe v. Wade. But it does a great deal more than that: It secures a longtime goal of the abortion lobby by putting state taxpayers on the hook for funding abortions throughout all nine months of pregnancy. Under this law, not only could a child be put to death an hour before it would otherwise be born -- which is monstrous enough on its own -- the people of the state of Illinois would be implicated in that crime by underwriting it with their tax dollars. As Chicago Tribune columnist John Kass observes, Rauner is political burnt toast, a prime target of Democrats and an albatross for whats left of the Republican Party in Illinois: "The Rauner experiment is over," state Rep. Peter Breen, a Republican from Lombard, told me after Rauner signed the bill. "He lied to us, he lied to the people, he even lied to Cardinal Cupich. And now, as far as re-election, I don't think he has a chance. It's done." Breen is not alone. From the moment Rauner with his long sad expression said he would sign the bill, Republicans were calling him out for betrayal and saying they could not support his re-election. One is state Sen. Tim Bivins, R-Dixon. "Several months ago he (Rauner) promised over 23 legislators he would veto the bill," Bivins said in a statement. "Today he said he has to stand by what he believes is the right thing to do. Today I will also stand on what I believe is the right thing to do. I will not support this governor for re-election." And after Rauner's news conference, Cupich tweeted -- yes, tweeted -- a response by the Catholic Conference of Illinois. It marked the governor as an oath breaker and said he had committed a "grave moral error." "We are deeply disturbed that Governor Rauner has broken his word and firm public promise to veto HB 40," the statement read, adding that the bill would "now force Illinois taxpayers to pay for the taking of human life, in this case of a defenseless child in the womb." Later, Cupich told the Tribune that he had spoken to Rauner and reminded him of his promise to veto the bill. Rauner has apparently bought the line that abortion, which kills unborn women, is health care which is sometimes necessary to save the life or preserve the health of the mother. The health of the mother is a loophole you could drive the proverbial truck through. It includes factors beyond physical health, but also including psychological, emotional and familial considerations. In other words, you can kill a preborn child if you fell being a mom is too much of a hassle. As Dr. Nancy Romer, clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Wright State University; Pamela Smith, director of medical education in obstetrics at Mount Sinai in Chicago; and Dr. Joseph Cook, a specialist in fetal medicine at Michigan State, stated in the Wall Street Journal on Sept. 19, 1996: Contrary to what abortion activists would have us believe, partial-birth abortion is never medically indicated to protect a womans health or fertility. In fact, the opposite is true: The procedure can pose a significant threat to both the pregnant womans health and her fertility. Even if Roe V. Wade is overturned, abortion will not be outlawed. Abortion will return to status quo ante, once again being a matter for states to decide. That part is fine. Requiring taxpayers to compromise their religious liberty and religious conscience to pay for it is not. Liberals and RINOs are right to be worried. We may be only one or two more Supreme Court justices away from the fetus right to life being guaranteed in law, for Roe V. Wade to be tossed on the ash heap on wrongly decided decisions just like Dred Scott. When President Trump issued an executive order restoring the Mexico City policy on funding of organizations that provide abortions, we got a clear message on his view of the humanity of the unborn. As The Hill reported: President Trump on Monday reignited the war over abortion by signing an executive order blocking foreign aid or federal funding for international nongovernmental organizations that provide or "promote" abortions. The so-called Mexico City policy, established by Republican President Ronald Reagan in 1984, blocks federal funding for international family planning charities that provide abortions or actively promote the procedure I think the president, its no secret, has made it very clear that hes a pro-life president, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer told reporters at his first briefing Monday afternoon. And I think the reinstatement of this policy is not just something that echoes that value, but respects taxpayer funding as well, and ensures that were standing up not just for life of the unborn, but for also taxpayer funds that are being spent overseas to perform an action that is contrary to the values of this president. On the wall of the Jefferson Memorial are the words: God who gave us life gave us liberty. The two are inseparable. Slaves were once considered something less than human, as the unborn currently are. The Supreme Court, which gave us Roe V. Wade, once gave us the Dred Scott decision. A new one may soon correct another gross injustice. Meanwhile the state of Illinois and its governor have proven to be politically, financially and morally corrupt. Daniel John Sobieski is a freelance writer whose pieces have appeared in Investors Business Daily, Human Events, Reason Magazine and the Chicago Sun-Times among other publications. Autobiographies, like dramas, usually include passages of unconscious self-revelation of character. Hillary Clinton's latest memoir, What Happened, is no exception. But, like the Bible, it will be interpreted differently by different readers. Her devoted followers will find it poignantly honest, while her foes will perceive thinly veiled narcissistic tirades. The latter should be cautious about mocking her; she may well go down in history as one of the major promoters of religion in our time. I'm reminded of the story about a holy missionary who died and was received in Heaven by a crowd of angels and saints. Soon, a trumpet sounded, and everyone but his guardian angel left to join a much larger crowd greeting a scowling unpleasant-looking man. The bewildered priest turned to the angel, who said, "Don't be surprised. He's no saint, but he saved far more souls than you. He was a notoriously reckless driver, and wherever he drove, people prayed." So it was with Hillary. According to one count, her book blames her defeat on James Comey, Vladimir Putin, Barack Obama, Mitch McConnell, the New York Times, the media as a whole, Bernie Sanders, Jill Stein, sexism, white resentment, and her own misstatements. Others attribute her loss to her inept handling of the Benghazi attack, her private email server, dubious aspects of the Clinton Foundation, and a long string of past scandals, from Whitewater to Travelgate. This baggage didn't seem to hinder her campaign; it looked as if she had the election sewn up. She had raised and spent almost 50% more campaign funds than Trump, with many of her big donations coming from the Wall Street and corporate elite who had traditionally favored Republican candidates. Celebrities hastened to her support with over $33,000-per-ticket fundraisers and even produced a TV series to enhance her image. The media hounded Trump mercilessly with overwhelmingly negative coverage. Almost all of the polls predicted a Clinton victory, although by the week before the election, the supposed lead had shrunk to 2 to 4%. And then came the shock of election night. For Heaven's sake, what had gone wrong? Perhaps it was for Heaven's sake. Throughout the campaign, with the exception of its influence on the long deferred appointment of a Supreme Court justice, religion had been a back-burner issue. Then someone dug up an April 2015 speech in which Hillary said (with regard to abortion): And deep-seated cultural codes, religious beliefs and structural biases have to be changed. Several religious and pro-life organizations protested the remark, but, except for an op-ed in the Washington Post, the mainstream media scarcely noticed it. And according to an exit poll analysis by Pew, Clinton's disparagement of religion didn't seem to have a significant effect on the way the various religious groups voted. Even Catholics, though briefly stung by seemingly anti-Catholic emails among Hillary's staff, shifted their usual voting pattern only a few percentage points toward the Republican candidate, as they had for Bush in 2004. But the intensity of religious belief did matter. According to Pew, the percentages were as follows: CHURCH ATTENDANCE FREQUENCY % FOR CLINTON % FOR TRUMP At least weekly 40 56 Monthly 46 49 A few time a year 48 47 Never 62 31 The non-religious overwhelmingly supported Hillary, while a majority of the devout of all faiths preferred Trump. Moreover, many voters were praying. Even Google noticed that, on the eve of the election, hits for "pray for Trump" were 180% higher than those for "pray for Clinton," while "pray for America" hits rose by 700%. Religious websites and TV stations organized prayer groups before and during the election. Prayer rallies, many of them nonpartisan, were organized throughout the country. Even the traditionally nonpolitical Knights of Columbus urged Catholics to pray daily for the nine days preceding the election. One might therefore wonder if Hillary's defeat wasn't literally the answer to a prayer. As C.S. Lewis pointed out, such an assertion can neither be proved nor disproved. However, the astounding unexpectedness of the event, coupled with the confusing babble of explanations for it, does tempt us to consider the possibility of divine intervention, as John Horvat did in his carefully weighed assessment of the event and its consequences. There are indeed serious consequences. As Horvat pointed out, the election result is by no means a solution to our problems. It is at best a temporary reprieve, allowing us time to mend our ways before our society collapses from the degradation of its original Christian principles by evils such as sexual promiscuity, violence-prone bigotry, and above all abortion. We must continue to pray and to take whatever action we can to restore our country to the goodness that was once its hallmark. We had better begin by laying aside our animus against Hillary. We must remember the rule that God imposes about praying and, hard as it may be, forgive her trespasses, including her book and her recent pontifical tweets. After all, we should be grateful to her for reminding us of the power of prayer. Like vultures, the worldwide press is starting to celebrate the anticipated disintegration of Spain. The Catalans are determined to go. Considering that Catalonia is the richest province in Spain (by absolute numbers), Spain would suffer an economic hit should Catalonia go. However, always alongside the separatist Catalans are the Basque, who have the highest per capita output in Spain but only one third the population base. Navarre Province (which is heavily Basque in the north) came in second per capita in 2010. Madrid was a mere third per capita, but much of that is artificial wealth, because the national bureaucracy sucks in money from the rest of the country. Catalonia is fourth. However, because Catalonia has a much larger population overall, it comes in first for absolute income (2014). The northern Spanish region of the Basque country has Spain's highest GDP per capita, at 30,051 ($32,600), almost double that of Spain's poorest region[.] ... The Basque Country has traditionally been one of Spain's main industrial hubs, and today is home to thriving aeronautics and energy industries[.] The Local.es (2015) Everyone knows that the Basque, the real powerhouse on the Iberian peninsula, are paying close attention to what is happening in Catalonia. Pro-independence parties in Basque Country are showing their support for Catalonia's referendum on Sunday. Tens of thousands of people attended a rally on Friday in the capital of the autonomous community in northern Spain backing Catalan separatists. So it would seems that Spain is in for a roller coaster ride. To be up front, as an American, I do not think Spain will break up. I do have sympathies for those who desire independence, but it is more for the Basque than the Catalans. Why? While it is true that the Catalans are a different people, they are not so different from the Spanish. They have a separate language, true! But that language, while it is different, looks like two parts Spanish, one part French, with a little Italian tossed in. In other words, Catalan is a close Romance cognate of Spanish, which a Castilian-speaking Spaniard could pick up with a degree of capability in probably just a few months, with minimal effort. buenos dias (Spanish) bon dia (Catalan) bonjour (French) buenas noches (Spanish) bona nit (Catalan) bonsoir (French) amigo (Spanish) amic (Catalan) ami (French) hombre (Spanish) home (Catalan) homme (French) Not so with the Basque tongue, which is a language isolate that might as well be from Mars. A Spaniard in the Basque country might have an easier time learning Norwegian that Euskera (Basque). So what is the outlook for Basque independence now? In the Basque country, while language was a driver of separatism, historically, the Basque also considered ethnic affiliation. Sabino Arana, the founder of Basque nationalism, considered the Spanish an inferior people. While he could be sympathetic to Catalan regionalism at times, Arana considered the Catalans ethnically indistinct from the Spanish, unlike the Basque. Contrast Arana's attitude with that of the immigrant-welcoming Catalans. Ironically, the Catalans seem willing to mix themselves out of a claim to a distinct ethnicity. Basque nationalism was grounded partly in blood and ethnicity to an extent stronger than in the Catalans' situation. Meanwhile, Spain no doubt partly motivated by a decades-long guerrilla war with the Basque has given a lot of autonomy, even in taxation, to the Basque, who are all but independent in almost everything but foreign affairs. This has quieted down many of the Basque. Moreover, separatist sentiment is now less audible in the Basque Country than in Catalonia a historic change of events in part because the region already possesses the fiscal sovereignty Catalonia craves and also has lower unemployment levels, making the cause for independence a little cloudier. The PNV (Partido Nacionalista Vasco, or Basque National Party) is a center-right-wing nationalist party in the Basque country, but even its members have recently given support to Spain's Prime Minister Rajoy's government albeit for stiff concessions. Nothing the PNV does is for free, so its support has come with hefty price tags. The tradeoffs agreed so far include, for example, funds and a clear timeline to progress long-awaited Basque routes for Spain's high speed train network. In 2008, the PNV backed down when Spanish courts ruled that a self-determination referendum would be illegal in the Basque country. The PNV sought to avoid a conflict. The Basque have much of what they wanted namely, a form of home rule. This compromise has upset some of the more ardent Basque nationalists, but the PNV has always been conservative. Historically, the Basque have usually been far more conservative culturally than the Catalans. Contrariwise, in Catalonia, the local government did not back down when Spanish courts outlawed a referendum. One major reason is that, earlier in 2010, Spanish courts interfered with the amount of autonomy given to the Catalans, an autonomy approved by the Spanish parliament. Among other things, the [court] ruling struck down attempts to place the distinctive Catalan language above Spanish in the region; ruled as unconstitutional regional powers over courts and judges; and said: "The interpretation of the references to 'Catalonia as a nation' and to 'the national reality of Catalonia' in the preamble of the Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia have no legal effect." So a meddling court overruled a law passed by the Spanish parliament, and the results have ballooned to Spain's crisis today. The Catalans have no respect for the Spanish judiciary. The Basque are now jealous of the Catalans, who have defied the courts to strike for independence, but the Catalans have always been jealous of the amount of home rule given to the Basque. Spain's refusal to extend the tax-and-spend privileges enjoyed by the wealthy Basque region, which collects its own taxes and spends the money as it pleases, has fuelled the rise of separatism in Catalonia, experts and commentators say. Had the Spanish courts stayed out of the matter in 2010, and had the Catalans been given the autonomy tendered to the Basque, this crisis might not have arisen. Of the two groups, the Basques are the more deserving of independence. They existed as a people long before Spain or France even existed. They are slightly more ethnically insular. However, part of their historical territory extends into France and the adjacent Spanish province of Navarre, where they do not hold majorities. The centralized French will never cede the Pays Basque. And while Navarre which has the ancient capital of the Basque country, Pamplona is heavily Basque in the north, the south of Navarre is not Basque and will not agree to separation. Most of the historic Basque territories are lost. My sympathies for the Basque notwithstanding, I do not see the Basque obtaining independence. They will probably thrive under the autonomy they have now and may even get some more but even though they deserve a nation-state, they almost certainly will not get it. The policy of the conservative PNV is probably the correct one. The European Union has come out decidedly against Catalan independence. Though the E.U. is starting to criticize Spain for the thuggish response of the Civil Guard, the E.U. has made it clear that an independent Catalonia will not be welcome. Catalonia's case is a bit weaker historically than the Basque one. Yes, there was a Catalan nation, sort of: the Principality of Catalonia. But Catalonia's demarcation with the Spanish was never as clear as the Basque demarcation, which goes back to Roman times. The Catalans mixed more with the Spanish. The Irish and Scots might both be Gaels, but the Scots have mixed more with the English. Likewise with the Basque and the Catalans. This does not mean that Catalan won't become independent just that its case is not as good as the Basque one. I do not expect Spain to break up. Excepting the Basque country and Catalonia, there is a strong sentiment in Spain to keep Spain unified. The solution that may work is to give Catalonia all the autonomy that was given to the Basque. I do not say this is what is perfectly right, but it is doable and will limit violence. Mike Konrad is the pen name of an American who wishes he had availed himself more fully of the opportunity to learn Spanish in high school, lo those many decades ago. He also just started a website about small computers at http://thetinydesktop.com. Rest easy, Americans. The federal government has your back and is protecting you from the threat of love. Love, that is, when listed as an ingredient in artisanal granola prepared by the Nashoba Brook Bakery in Massachusetts. Rachel Kraus at Mashable: The Food and Drug Administration sent a letter to Massachusetts company Nashoba Brook Bakery on Sept. 22, rebuking them for, amongst other things, including "love" on the ingredient list for the company's granola. "Your Nashoba Granola label lists ingredient 'Love,'" the FDA pointed out in its letter to the bakery. "Ingredients required to be declared on the label or labeling of food must be listed by their common or usual name [21 CFR 101.4(a)(1). 'Love' is not a common or usual name of an ingredient, and is considered to be intervening material because it is not part of the common or usual name of the ingredient." (snip) In an interview with Bloomberg, Nashoba Brook Bakery CEO John Gates seemed deflated and befuddled by the FDA's objections. "I really like that we list 'love' in the granola," explained Gates. "People ask us what makes it so good. It's kind of nice that this artisan bakery can say there's love in it and it puts a smile on people's face. Situations like that where the government is telling you you can't list 'love' as an ingredient, because it might be deceptive, just feels so silly." However, in a statement to Mashable, an FDA spokesperson clarified that its primary motive for the letter was to instruct the bakery to remedy health violations, such as "potential allergen contaminations and failure to clean and sanitize its baking equipment and facility properly." AT readers understand that Clarice Feldman is a force of nature, and now the authorities who run the District of Columbia may eventually be forced to agree. Judicial Watch an organization to which I proudly make regular donations is acting as counsel representing Clarice in her lawsuit (Feldman v. Bowers) against the District's government. Judicial Watch explains: [I]n a lawsuit against the Mayor and Chief Financial Officer of the District of Columbia[,] Judicial Watch filed the lawsuit on behalf of Clarice Feldman, a longtime taxpayer and resident of the District of Columbia, to prevent the DC government from expending taxpayer money from a budget that was not appropriated by Congress and presented to the president for signing. The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia (Clarice Feldman v. Muriel Bowser and Jeffrey S. DeWitt (No. 1:15-cv-01967)). At issue is the DC government's attempt to dismiss a November 6, 2015, lawsuit. The U.S. House of Representatives filed an amicus curiae brief in March 2016 urging the court to deny the DC government's efforts. In its amicus in support of the Opposition to the Motion to Dismiss the House declared: The Local Budget Act is a naked and unabashed effort to strip Congress of powers vested in it by Article I of the Constitution, and to circumvent the constitutionally-prescribed legislative process that the District and its supporters previously and repeatedly have acknowledged is the one constitutionally-appropriate way to proceed. In other words, the Local Budget Act turns the Appropriations Clause upside down, and is inconsistent with Congress's plenary authority over all District appropriations. The only constitutionally permissible manner by which the District may achieve budget autonomy with respect to locally-derived funds is for Congress to convey that authority to the District by way of the normal legislative process and Congress has not yet done that. In Feldman's Opposition to the Motion to Dismiss, Judicial Watch takes strong issue with the District of Columbia's continued attempts to circumvent federal law, arguing: Regardless of whether it is sound policy for the District of Columbia to have budget autonomy, [the defendants] cannot ignore the law. Yet, they do. Since October 1, 2015, Defendants have been illegally incurring obligations and expending local taxpayer funds pursuant to the Fiscal Year 2016 Budget Request Act of 2015 ("FY16 Budget Request") that have not been appropriated by Congress and presented to the President for signing. As a District taxpayer since 1979, Plaintiff challenges Defendants' lawlessness. Federal law requires that DC's annual budget be approved by a majority or two-thirds vote of the DC Council and have affirmative appropriation passed by both Houses of Congress and presented to the president for signing. In 2013, DC passed the Budget Autonomy Act of 2012, which "purportedly grants the District authority to incur obligations and expend local tax and fee revenue without an appropriation passed by both Houses of Congress and presented to the President for signing." In other words, DC has sought to remove appropriation authority from Congress and grant it to itself. "This is quite simply a case of politicians gone wild. The DC government acts as if it can violate federal law and ignore the U.S. Constitution without repercussions," said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton. "It is a federal crime to spend federal dollars without congressional authorization." After all the foofarall from Mexico's officials raised in the wake of President Trump's election - from tweet wars to governors with lawsuits to traveling foreign ministers - turns out Trump hasn't been such a bad thing for Mexico's elites. Remittances, the lifeblood of Mexico's government, are expected to hit an all-time high at $30.5 billion, the likely product of job growth in President Trump's booming U.S. economy. These remittances top Mexico's oil earnings in absolute value and amount to 2.7% of Mexico's GDP. According to the Daily Caller: Mexico, which takes in more remittances than any other Latin American country by a wide margin, will likely receive $30.5 billion from the Mexican diaspora living abroad 6.5 percent more than it did in 2016. About 95 percent of Mexicos annual remittance haul comes from the U.S., according to Mexican bank BBVA Bancomer. For Mexico's ruling elites, remittances are an apparently great thing. As I wrote here: Here's what's really going on: These governors live in states that are highly dependent on remittances from illegals. It comes into banks where it pools for investment and unless remittance recipients spend it all at once someplace else, it serves as capital. That gives the governors their walking around money for their states. Remittances, most of which come from illegal immigrants sending money home, enable Mexico to collect vast sums of capital in its banking system, either from savings deposited there, or else through spending, which Mexico collects its cut of via the sales tax. Basically, the Mexican government pockets the remittance cash from illegal immigration while Ol' Gringo up north pays for the human costs of feeding, educating, housing, medicating and jailing the same illegal migrants. They take the profits, Americans pay the cost. But it might not be the great free lunch it looks, given that studies show that remittance economies (Mexico's rose from 2% of GDP in 2014 to 2.7% now) tend to contribute to underdevelopment. Mexico would be much better off benefiting from its own people's talents instead of just taking their money, according to one study cited here from the International Monetary Fund: According to the 2013 International Monetary Fund report "Beyond the Household," that cash not only benefits individuals, it also benefits the government. Sales taxes on money spent fills government coffers, and enables government to spend more and carry higher debt. That often doesn't contribute to economic development, the IMF warned. It goes to cronies, with the high cash infusions making "corruption less costly," the IMF paper said. In short, Mexico's reliance on remittances tends to keep the country underdeveloped -- a real disservice to Mexico's citizens. What's more, the remittance trend has intensified in Mexico's three southern neighbors, El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, which means those economies can look forward to more underdevelopment as remittances rise, too. In a 2014 piece I did here, I reported that El Salvador's remittances amounted to 16.5% of GDP, Guatemala's amounted to 10% of GDP, and Honduras's remittances amounted to 15.7% of GDP. Today, those figures are 17.1%, 10.9% and 17.9% respectively. And more disturbing, these countries are in a population bust meaning they cannot afford to lose people. What it means is that as Mexico's (and Central America's) elites celebrate their newly flush coffers from the labor of their citizens abroad, they can probably look forward to increasingly underdeveloped and depopulated countries, which is not a healthy state of affairs. That in turn may make their countries ripe for unrest, particularly if deportees from the U.S. are shipped back. They have one way out of this: Free market reforms coupled with ironclad rule of law. That would make Latin America's diaspora happy to return to their homelands, and stave off the wave of underdevelopment these increased remittances likely signal. It's not likely they are up for it. The other thing that may happen can come from the U.S. end. The U.S. can begin to tax these remittances as has been proposed on and off in Congress, and tamp down the bonanza to those nations which are contributing to their own underdevelopment. The cash of course can amount to a de facto payroll tax given that most underground economy jobs are not taxed, and can go to either the building of a wall, or installing an e-Verify system of legal employment, or else reimburse local governments for the cost of feeding, educating, providing health care and paying prison costs of illegal immigrants. One would assume only non-sanctuary entities would benefit. It would be a reasonable check and balance, given that remittances are now skyrocketing and will probably keep doing so. For a while there, Fusion GPS had it made. Occupying the deepest part of the Washington swamp, the famed "opposition research" firm that specialized in smears leaked to the press could make a tidy living smearing others from Venezuela's human rights campaigners to Planned Parenthood's whistleblowers to honest Russians defying corruption in their system...without consequences. It also used its press contacts to intimidate reporters against reporting the news. It looks as though that might be changing now that its Donald Trump "golden shower" phony dossier, now utterly discredited, has drawn a lawsuit from angry Russians whose names got entangled into the work of febrile fiction. Mikhail Fridman, Petr Aven and German Khan filed suit Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Washington, claiming that their reputations were unfairly tattered by the so-called dossier a largely unsubstantiated document that has taken on a larger-than-life role in several investigations into alleged collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia. "Even though the Dossier contained unverified allegations, Defendants recklessly placed it beyond their control and allowed it to fall into the hands of media devoted to breaking news on the hottest subject of the day: the Trump candidacy," the suit alleges. Those Russians aren't just any Russians, but Russian oligarchs, the kind of guys who have the giant yachts the size of skyscrapers in tony harbors around the world. Meaning: buku cash. The lawyer power their cash can purchase to make things right is probably bottomless. Anybody would do it, given the repulsiveness and utter falseness of the dossier, designed to discredit Trump. But it was particularly stupid of the fiction writers of this dossier to bring in the oligarchs, whose business interests stretch globally and whose resources to fight back are virtually unlimited. The oligarchs play hard. They also play dirty. And Fusion GPS has just made them angry. The Daily Caller reports that the lawsuit could finally reveal the mysteries of who paid for and whipped up the phony repulsive dossier, something that was impossible to shake out of Fusion GPS's founders during congressional testimony last summer. But the more interesting thing is that it could swamp Fusion GPS in a legal morass, effectively forcing the firm to drown in its own swamp. Russia's oligarchs play for keeps and operate in a far swampier survival-of-the-fittest Russian ecosystem than anything known in Washington. These people deserve each other. What we are seeing here is Fusion GPS finally meeting its match. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has reversed an Obama-era ruling making the Pacific walrus an endangered species. Washington Examiner: The Pacific walrus will not be designated as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act, the Fish and Wildlife Service announced Wednesday, reversing an Obama administration finding that the walrus deserved protections because of the effects of global warming and receding Arctic sea ice. "Their thorough review, driven by the best available data and science, found that the population of Pacific walrus is robust and healthy, and has proven that it can adapt to the changing conditions in the Arctic," said Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, who is chairwoman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. "This decision will allow for the continued responsible harvest of Pacific walrus for subsistence and traditional uses by Alaska Natives," she added. The decision came after a 12-month review of the Pacific walrus status after receiving a petition as far back as 2008 for listing the Arctic marine mammal as endangered because of the loss of habitat caused by lower levels of annual sea ice. The agency had denied the petition, saying there was no significant evidence to support making an emergency endangerment finding. Many scientists blame the loss of Arctic sea ice on manmade global warming spurred by increasing carbon dioxide emissions from the burning of fossil fuels. The Center for Biological Diversity, the group that filed the initial petition, took the Fish and Wildlife Service to court nearly a decade ago. A settlement agreement was worked out in 2011, with a deadline for issuing a walrus rule set for Sept. 30, which the agency is addressing in the rulemaking sent to the Federal Register Wednesday. The Center for Biological Diversity slammed the decision as a reflection of President Trump's denial of climate change, which it believes is reckless and harmful. "This disgraceful decision is a death sentence for the walrus," said Shaye Wolf, the group's climate science director. "Walruses face extinction from climate change, and denying them critical protections will push them closer to the edge. The Trump administration's reckless denial of climate change not only harms the walrus and the Arctic but puts people and wildlife everywhere in danger." Never change, leftist Dems! Please keep taking principled stands against common sense and human decency so that all can understand the depth of depravity that springs from the progressive vision of utopia. And please be sure, Dems, that you allow the wannabe "new generation" of Democratic leadership to carry out the operation. You know, the bright young things of the left, the ones Katie Couric seeks out for interviews. The ones being touted as possible new faces in the 2020 nomination race. People like Seth Moulton (D-Mass.). Photo: Boston Globe, Kieran Kessner. Make sure that incidents like this, as reported by Amelia Hamilton of Truth Revolt, reach as wide an audience as possible. I am pretty sure a lot of Republicans will be anxious to help next year. Yesterday, the US House of Representatives took a moment of silence to remember the victims of the mass shooting in Las Vegas. Well, all of the Republican members did, and most of the Democrats. Those who were more interested in honoring the dead than making a political point, that is. Those who didn't have their priorities straight included Massachusetts representatives Katherine Clark and Seth Moulton. Just before 7 pm, when House Speaker Paul Ryan called for the moment of silence, Clark left the House floor and Moulton took to Twitter. He tweeted "Thinking of everyone in #LasVegas and praying Congress will have the courage to do more than stand in silence to commemorate them." And followed it up with "As after #Orlando, I will NOT be joining my colleagues in a moment of silence on the House Floor that just becomes an excuse for inaction." and "now is not a moment for silence; it's time for action." He also tweeted some of the same old (debunked) talking points about things likesilencers (he knows perfectly well they're called suppressors and weapons are still perfectly audible with them) and assault rifles. Does he think tweeting is more meaningful than taking a moment to remember the victims? Apparently, he does. Keep pushing on that string, Democrats. Gun control should be the primary position of every Dem running for Congress next year. This time it will work for you better than after Columbine. (ANSA) - Rome, October 5 - The Italian government is working to have Cesare Battisti extradited to Italy after the former leftist terrorist was arrested in Brazil trying to reach Bolivia, Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano said Thursday. "Today with Amb. Bernardini to bring Battisti back to Italy and ensure he gets justice," Alfano said in a tweet that was also picked up by the Italian foreign ministry's website. "We are continuing the work started with the Brazilian authorities". Battisti was arrested Wednesday in the city of Corumba, on the border between Brazil and Bolivia. The would-be escape was launched after reports that the Brazilian government is moving towards extraditing Battisti for four murders committed in the 1970s 'Years of Lead'. Battisti tried to flee Brazil in a Bolivian taxi, the police who arrested him in Corumba said Thursday. Battisti spent the night in the local police station, where he was taken after being arrested on suspicion of trying to take undeclared money out of Brazil. Police said the former leftist guerrilla had $5,000 and 2,000 euros on him. Sums above 10,000 reais, or about 3,000 euros, must be declared to the authorities to be taken out of the country, according to Brazilian law. Battisti has therefore been charged with tax evasion and money laundering. Battisti's lawyer, Igor Sant'Anna Tamasauskas, told the local press that the reason for the ex-member of the Armed Proletarians for Communism (PAC) group's Bolivia trip "is not clear" but he will take "all necessary measures" to secure the release of his client. Battisti's arrest on Thursday spurred calls from all sides of the political spectrum that the government should step efforts to have him extradited from Brazil. On September 25 Brazilian daily O Globo reported that the Italian government has asked Brazil to review Battisti's status of political refugee granted under the the Lula government in 2010. O Globo said the request had been sent "in a confidential manner". The daily said the request has been subjected to a preliminary technical analysis and has been endorsed by two ministers in President Michel Temer's government. From a legal standpoint, O Globo said, the Brazilian government has found a precedent in a 1969 supreme court ruling. On the basis of that ruling, the paper said, "the administration can quash its acts" over a technicality or revoke them "for reasons of convenience and opportunity". Therefore, the daily said, Lula's no to extradition could be reversed by Temer. But the president is currently disinclined to take up the Battisti case, O Globo said. Justice Minister Andrea Orlando has said Italy wants the former terrorist back to serve two life terms for the four murders committed while in the PAC. Battisti has admitted being a PAC militant but denies committing the murders. Italy has the "clear political will" to bring Battisti back, Orlando has said. Battisti, 63, was arrested in Brazil in April 2007, some five years after he had fled to that country with the help of false documents to avoid extradition to Italy from France after the end of the Mitterrand doctrine which gave sanctuary to fugitive leftist guerrillas. He had lived in France for 15 years and become a successful writer of crime novels. In January 2009 the Brazilian justice ministry granted Battisti political asylum on the grounds that he would face "political persecution" in Italy. Then in one of his last acts in office, former Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva declined Rome's request to extradite Battisti in December 2010, sparking outrage in Italy. The families of Battisti's four victims have been lobbying hard for Italy to try to overturn Lula's ruling. Alberto Torregiani, son of a Milanese jeweler, Pierluigi Torregiani, gunned down by Battisti's leftist militant group in 1979, said: "those politicians and judges should be hauled onto a plane and brought to Italy to understand the nonsense they have said". Torregiani, left wheelchair-bound by the attack at the age of 13, said he was "angry and upset" at the news and reiterated he would try to organise street protests with the other relatives - something he has since done. Alessandro Santoro, the son of a prison guard, Antonio Santoro, shot dead in Udine in 1978, said he was "very bitter for us and all the other families who have suffered for so long only to see ourselves humiliated yet again". The relatives of the other two victims in 1978 and 1979, Milan security police officer Andrea Campagna and Mestre butcher Lino Sabbadin, also expressed their unhappiness with Lula's decision. Sabbadin's son Adriano branded Lula "an accomplice" of Battisti's. (ANSA) - Milan, October 5 - Italy is "strongly determined" to get former leftist terrorist Cesare Battisti back from Brazil to serve two life terms for four 1970s murders, Justice Minister Andrea Orlando said Thursday. He said "this is a way, at least in part, to restore what has been taken from our country and his victims' families". Battisti's extradition from Brazil "is possible", Orlando said. "All the necessary steps have been taken" and more will be taken after Battisti's arrest for trying to take money out of Brazil to Bolivia on Wednesday, Orlando said. Orlando noted that Italy's extradition request had been "stalled fo some time" by Brazilian authorities. Earlier Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano said the Italian government is working to have Battisti extradited to Italy. "Today with Amb. Bernardini to bring Battisti back to Italy and ensure he gets justice," Alfano said in a tweet that was also picked up by the Italian foreign ministry's website. "We are continuing the work started with the Brazilian authorities". Alfano a few months ago instructed Italy's ambassador in Brazil to formally ask Brazilian authorities to restart extradition procedures to get Battisti back by revising former President Lula's 2010 decision not to hand him over, foreign ministry sources told ANSA Thursday. Battisti was arrested Wednesday in the city of Corumba, on the border between Brazil and Bolivia. The would-be escape was launched after reports that the Brazilian government is moving towards extraditing Battisti for four murders committed in the 1970s 'Years of Lead'. Battisti tried to flee Brazil in a Bolivian taxi, the police who arrested him in Corumba said Thursday. Battisti spent the night in the local police station, where he was taken after being arrested on suspicion of trying to take undeclared money out of Brazil. Police said the former leftist guerrilla had $5,000 and 2,000 euros on him. Sums above 10,000 reais, or about 3,000 euros, must be declared to the authorities to be taken out of the country, according to Brazilian law. Battisti has therefore been charged with tax evasion and money laundering. Battisti's lawyer, Igor Sant'Anna Tamasauskas, told the local press that the reason for the ex-member of the Armed Proletarians for Communism (PAC) group's Bolivia trip "is not clear" but he will take "all necessary measures" to secure the release of his client. Battisti's arrest on Thursday spurred calls from all sides of the political spectrum that the government should step efforts to have him extradited from Brazil. On September 25 Brazilian daily O Globo reported that the Italian government has asked Brazil to review Battisti's status of political refugee granted under the the Lula government in 2010. O Globo said the request had been sent "in a confidential manner". The daily said the request has been subjected to a preliminary technical analysis and has been endorsed by two ministers in President Michel Temer's government. From a legal standpoint, O Globo said, the Brazilian government has found a precedent in a 1969 supreme court ruling. On the basis of that ruling, the paper said, "the administration can quash its acts" over a technicality or revoke them "for reasons of convenience and opportunity". Therefore, the daily said, Lula's no to extradition could be reversed by Temer. But the president is currently disinclined to take up the Battisti case, O Globo said. Justice Minister Andrea Orlando has said Italy wants the former terrorist back to serve two life terms for the four murders committed while in the PAC. Battisti has admitted being a PAC militant but denies committing the murders. Italy has the "clear political will" to bring Battisti back, Orlando has said. Battisti, 63, was arrested in Brazil in April 2007, some five years after he had fled to that country with the help of false documents to avoid extradition to Italy from France after the end of the Mitterrand doctrine which gave sanctuary to fugitive leftist guerrillas. He had lived in France for 15 years and become a successful writer of crime novels. In January 2009 the Brazilian justice ministry granted Battisti political asylum on the grounds that he would face "political persecution" in Italy. Then in one of his last acts in office, former Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva declined Rome's request to extradite Battisti in December 2010, sparking outrage in Italy. The families of Battisti's four victims have been lobbying hard for Italy to try to overturn Lula's ruling. Alberto Torregiani, son of a Milanese jeweler, Pierluigi Torregiani, gunned down by Battisti's leftist militant group in 1979, said: "those politicians and judges should be hauled onto a plane and brought to Italy to understand the nonsense they have said". Torregiani, left wheelchair-bound by the attack at the age of 13, said he was "angry and upset" at the news and reiterated he would try to organise street protests with the other relatives - something he has since done. Alessandro Santoro, the son of a prison guard, Antonio Santoro, shot dead in Udine in 1978, said he was "very bitter for us and all the other families who have suffered for so long only to see ourselves humiliated yet again". The relatives of the other two victims in 1978 and 1979, Milan security police officer Andrea Campagna and Mestre butcher Lino Sabbadin, also expressed their unhappiness with Lula's decision. Sabbadin's son Adriano branded Lula "an accomplice" of Battisti's. (ANSA) - Trieste, October 5 - A judge in Trieste ruled that a seven-year-old boy whose custody was being contested by his father in Trieste and his South American mother must stay in Trieste, in a sentence deposited Thursday. The judge considered findings by a court-ordered psychologist who reported the child indicated Trieste was "his only home" and his current schoolmates and friends in Trieste were his closest. In the ruling, judges of the Juvenile Court of Trieste said if the child were moved back to South America there would be "no certainty of a guarantee that the minor would be able to benefit from fundamental dual parenting". The court-ordered psychologist reported the child never expressed an affinity for South America. The decision can be appealed in the Italian Supreme Court of Cassation. (ANSA) - Milan, October 5 - Italy is "strongly determined" to get former leftist terrorist Cesare Battisti back from Brazil to serve two life terms for four 1970s murders, Justice Minister Andrea Orlando said Thursday. He said "this is a way, at least in part, to restore what has been taken from our country and his victims' families". Battisti's extradition from Brazil "is possible", Orlando said. "All the necessary steps have been taken" and more will be taken after Battisti's arrest for trying to take money out of Brazil to Bolivia on Wednesday, Orlando said. Orlando noted that Italy's extradition request had been "stalled fo some time" by Brazilian authorities. Earlier Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano said the Italian government is working to have Battisti extradited to Italy. "Today with Amb. Bernardini to bring Battisti back to Italy and ensure he gets justice," Alfano said in a tweet that was also picked up by the Italian foreign ministry's website. "We are continuing the work started with the Brazilian authorities". Battisti was arrested Wednesday in the city of Corumba, on the border between Brazil and Bolivia. The would-be escape was launched after reports that the Brazilian government is moving towards extraditing Battisti for four murders committed in the 1970s 'Years of Lead'. Battisti tried to flee Brazil in a Bolivian taxi, the police who arrested him in Corumba said Thursday. Battisti spent the night in the local police station, where he was taken after being arrested on suspicion of trying to take undeclared money out of Brazil. Police said the former leftist guerrilla had $5,000 and 2,000 euros on him. Sums above 10,000 reais, or about 3,000 euros, must be declared to the authorities to be taken out of the country, according to Brazilian law. Battisti has therefore been charged with tax evasion and money laundering. Battisti's lawyer, Igor Sant'Anna Tamasauskas, told the local press that the reason for the ex-member of the Armed Proletarians for Communism (PAC) group's Bolivia trip "is not clear" but he will take "all necessary measures" to secure the release of his client. Battisti's arrest on Thursday spurred calls from all sides of the political spectrum that the government should step efforts to have him extradited from Brazil. On September 25 Brazilian daily O Globo reported that the Italian government has asked Brazil to review Battisti's status of political refugee granted under the the Lula government in 2010. O Globo said the request had been sent "in a confidential manner". The daily said the request has been subjected to a preliminary technical analysis and has been endorsed by two ministers in President Michel Temer's government. From a legal standpoint, O Globo said, the Brazilian government has found a precedent in a 1969 supreme court ruling. On the basis of that ruling, the paper said, "the administration can quash its acts" over a technicality or revoke them "for reasons of convenience and opportunity". Therefore, the daily said, Lula's no to extradition could be reversed by Temer. But the president is currently disinclined to take up the Battisti case, O Globo said. Justice Minister Andrea Orlando has said Italy wants the former terrorist back to serve two life terms for the four murders committed while in the PAC. Battisti has admitted being a PAC militant but denies committing the murders. Italy has the "clear political will" to bring Battisti back, Orlando has said. Battisti, 63, was arrested in Brazil in April 2007, some five years after he had fled to that country with the help of false documents to avoid extradition to Italy from France after the end of the Mitterrand doctrine which gave sanctuary to fugitive leftist guerrillas. He had lived in France for 15 years and become a successful writer of crime novels. In January 2009 the Brazilian justice ministry granted Battisti political asylum on the grounds that he would face "political persecution" in Italy. Then in one of his last acts in office, former Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva declined Rome's request to extradite Battisti in December 2010, sparking outrage in Italy. The families of Battisti's four victims have been lobbying hard for Italy to try to overturn Lula's ruling. Alberto Torregiani, son of a Milanese jeweler, Pierluigi Torregiani, gunned down by Battisti's leftist militant group in 1979, said: "those politicians and judges should be hauled onto a plane and brought to Italy to understand the nonsense they have said". Torregiani, left wheelchair-bound by the attack at the age of 13, said he was "angry and upset" at the news and reiterated he would try to organise street protests with the other relatives - something he has since done. Alessandro Santoro, the son of a prison guard, Antonio Santoro, shot dead in Udine in 1978, said he was "very bitter for us and all the other families who have suffered for so long only to see ourselves humiliated yet again". The relatives of the other two victims in 1978 and 1979, Milan security police officer Andrea Campagna and Mestre butcher Lino Sabbadin, also expressed their unhappiness with Lula's decision. Sabbadin's son Adriano branded Lula "an accomplice" of Battisti's. (ANSA) - Milan, October 5 - Italy is "strongly determined" to get former leftist terrorist Cesare Battisti back from Brazil to serve two life terms for four 1970s murders, Justice Minister Andrea Orlando said Thursday - while Battisti said he was "protected" by asylum rights. Orlando said extradition "is a way, at least in part, to restore what has been taken from our country and his victims' families". Battisti's extradition from Brazil "is possible", Orlando said. "All the necessary steps have been taken" and more will be taken after Battisti's arrest for trying to take money out of Brazil to Bolivia on Wednesday, Orlando said. Orlando noted that Italy's extradition request had been "stalled for some time" by Brazilian authorities. Battisti told Brazilian police Thursday he was not afraid of being extradited to Italy because he feels "protected" by a 2010 decree from former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva who granted him a "permanent visa" to stay in the South American country, according to the website of Brazilian daily Estadao. Battisti told Brazilian police he was in the town of Corumba on the border with Bolivia "to fish and go shopping", local media reported. He said this was the reason he had a lot of money on him. He said two Brazilians in the car with him when he was stopped near the border were old friends. Earlier Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano said the Italian government is working to have Battisti extradited to Italy. "Today with Amb. Bernardini to bring Battisti back to Italy and ensure he gets justice," Alfano said in a tweet that was also picked up by the Italian foreign ministry's website. "We are continuing the work started with the Brazilian authorities". Alfano a few months ago instructed Italy's ambassador in Brazil to formally ask Brazilian authorities to restart extradition procedures to get Battisti back by revising former President Lula's 2010 decision not to hand him over, foreign ministry sources told ANSA Thursday. Battisti was arrested Wednesday in the city of Corumba, on the border between Brazil and Bolivia. The would-be escape was launched after reports that the Brazilian government is moving towards extraditing Battisti for four murders committed in the 1970s 'Years of Lead'. Battisti tried to flee Brazil in a Bolivian taxi, the police who arrested him in Corumba said Thursday. Battisti spent the night in the local police station, where he was taken after being arrested on suspicion of trying to take undeclared money out of Brazil. Police said the former leftist guerrilla had $5,000 and 2,000 euros on him. Sums above 10,000 reais, or about 3,000 euros, must be declared to the authorities to be taken out of the country, according to Brazilian law. Battisti has therefore been charged with tax evasion and money laundering. Battisti's lawyer, Igor Sant'Anna Tamasauskas, told the local press that the reason for the ex-member of the Armed Proletarians for Communism (PAC) group's Bolivia trip "is not clear" but he will take "all necessary measures" to secure the release of his client. Battisti's arrest on Thursday spurred calls from all sides of the political spectrum that the government should step efforts to have him extradited from Brazil. On September 25 Brazilian daily O Globo reported that the Italian government has asked Brazil to review Battisti's status of political refugee granted under the the Lula government in 2010. O Globo said the request had been sent "in a confidential manner". The daily said the request has been subjected to a preliminary technical analysis and has been endorsed by two ministers in President Michel Temer's government. From a legal standpoint, O Globo said, the Brazilian government has found a precedent in a 1969 supreme court ruling. On the basis of that ruling, the paper said, "the administration can quash its acts" over a technicality or revoke them "for reasons of convenience and opportunity". Therefore, the daily said, Lula's no to extradition could be reversed by Temer. But the president is currently disinclined to take up the Battisti case, O Globo said. Justice Minister Andrea Orlando has said Italy wants the former terrorist back to serve two life terms for the four murders committed while in the PAC. Battisti has admitted being a PAC militant but denies committing the murders. Italy has the "clear political will" to bring Battisti back, Orlando has said. Battisti, 63, was arrested in Brazil in April 2007, some five years after he had fled to that country with the help of false documents to avoid extradition to Italy from France after the end of the Mitterrand doctrine which gave sanctuary to fugitive leftist guerrillas. He had lived in France for 15 years and become a successful writer of crime novels. In January 2009 the Brazilian justice ministry granted Battisti political asylum on the grounds that he would face "political persecution" in Italy. Then in one of his last acts in office, former Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva declined Rome's request to extradite Battisti in December 2010, sparking outrage in Italy. The families of Battisti's four victims have been lobbying hard for Italy to try to overturn Lula's ruling. Alberto Torregiani, son of a Milanese jeweler, Pierluigi Torregiani, gunned down by Battisti's leftist militant group in 1979, said: "those politicians and judges should be hauled onto a plane and brought to Italy to understand the nonsense they have said". Torregiani, left wheelchair-bound by the attack at the age of 13, said he was "angry and upset" at the news and reiterated he would try to organise street protests with the other relatives - something he has since done. Alessandro Santoro, the son of a prison guard, Antonio Santoro, shot dead in Udine in 1978, said he was "very bitter for us and all the other families who have suffered for so long only to see ourselves humiliated yet again". The relatives of the other two victims in 1978 and 1979, Milan security police officer Andrea Campagna and Mestre butcher Lino Sabbadin, also expressed their unhappiness with Lula's decision. Sabbadin's son Adriano branded Lula "an accomplice" of Battisti's. (ANSA) - Rome, October 5 - The Italian government is working to have Cesare Battisti extradited to Italy after the former leftist terrorist was arrested in Brazil trying to reach Bolivia, Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano said Thursday. "Today with Amb. Bernardini to bring Battisti back to Italy and ensure he gets justice," Alfano said in a tweet that was also picked up by the Italian foreign ministry's website. "We are continuing the work started with the Brazilian authorities". Italy is "strongly determined" to get Battisti back to serve two life terms for four 1970s murders, Justice Minister Andrea Orlando said Thursday. He said "this is a way, at least in part, to restore what has been taken from our country and his victims' families". Battisti's extradition from Brazil "is possible", Orlando said. "All the necessary steps have been taken" and more will be taken after Battisti's arrest for trying to take money out of Brazil to Bolivia on Wednesday, Orlando said. Orlando noted that Italy's extradition request had been "stalled for some time" by Brazilian authorities. Battisti was arrested Wednesday in the city of Corumba, on the border between Brazil and Bolivia. The would-be escape was launched after reports that the Brazilian government is moving towards extraditing Battisti for four murders committed in the 1970s 'Years of Lead'. Battisti tried to flee Brazil in a Bolivian taxi, the police who arrested him in Corumba said Thursday. Battisti spent the night in the local police station, where he was taken after being arrested on suspicion of trying to take undeclared money out of Brazil. Police said the former leftist guerrilla had $5,000 and 2,000 euros on him. Sums above 10,000 reais, or about 3,000 euros, must be declared to the authorities to be taken out of the country, according to Brazilian law. Battisti has therefore been charged with tax evasion and money laundering. Battisti's lawyer, Igor Sant'Anna Tamasauskas, told the local press that the reason for the ex-member of the Armed Proletarians for Communism (PAC) group's Bolivia trip "is not clear" but he will take "all necessary measures" to secure the release of his client. Battisti's arrest on Thursday spurred calls from all sides of the political spectrum that the government should step efforts to have him extradited from Brazil. On September 25 Brazilian daily O Globo reported that the Italian government has asked Brazil to review Battisti's status of political refugee granted under the the Lula government in 2010. O Globo said the request had been sent "in a confidential manner". The daily said the request has been subjected to a preliminary technical analysis and has been endorsed by two ministers in President Michel Temer's government. From a legal standpoint, O Globo said, the Brazilian government has found a precedent in a 1969 supreme court ruling. On the basis of that ruling, the paper said, "the administration can quash its acts" over a technicality or revoke them "for reasons of convenience and opportunity". Therefore, the daily said, Lula's no to extradition could be reversed by Temer. But the president is currently disinclined to take up the Battisti case, O Globo said. Justice Minister Andrea Orlando has said Italy wants the former terrorist back to serve two life terms for the four murders committed while in the PAC. Battisti has admitted being a PAC militant but denies committing the murders. Italy has the "clear political will" to bring Battisti back, Orlando has said. Battisti, 63, was arrested in Brazil in April 2007, some five years after he had fled to that country with the help of false documents to avoid extradition to Italy from France after the end of the Mitterrand doctrine which gave sanctuary to fugitive leftist guerrillas. He had lived in France for 15 years and become a successful writer of crime novels. In January 2009 the Brazilian justice ministry granted Battisti political asylum on the grounds that he would face "political persecution" in Italy. Then in one of his last acts in office, former Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva declined Rome's request to extradite Battisti in December 2010, sparking outrage in Italy. The families of Battisti's four victims have been lobbying hard for Italy to try to overturn Lula's ruling. Alberto Torregiani, son of a Milanese jeweler, Pierluigi Torregiani, gunned down by Battisti's leftist militant group in 1979, said: "those politicians and judges should be hauled onto a plane and brought to Italy to understand the nonsense they have said". Torregiani, left wheelchair-bound by the attack at the age of 13, said he was "angry and upset" at the news and reiterated he would try to organise street protests with the other relatives - something he has since done. Alessandro Santoro, the son of a prison guard, Antonio Santoro, shot dead in Udine in 1978, said he was "very bitter for us and all the other families who have suffered for so long only to see ourselves humiliated yet again". The relatives of the other two victims in 1978 and 1979, Milan security police officer Andrea Campagna and Mestre butcher Lino Sabbadin, also expressed their unhappiness with Lula's decision. Sabbadin's son Adriano branded Lula "an accomplice" of Battisti's. French prime minister in Tunis for cooperation council Ahead of Macron's visit in January (ANSAmed) - TUNIS, OCTOBER 5 - French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, accompanied by a delegation of businessmen, is visiting Tunisia on Thursday and Friday to inaugurate the work of the high-level bilateral Tunisia-France cooperation council. The initiative, which French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian announced in June, is aimed at strengthening collaboration between the two countries and foresees the signing of several accords in various sectors. Philippe will also participate in the opening of the "Rencontres Africa-Tunisia 2017" economic forum, whose goal is to develop Franco-African economic cooperation and large-scale networking for several hundred businesses. Philippe's visit paves the way for preparations for French President Emmanuel Macron's official visit to Tunisia, scheduled for January 2018.(ANSAmed). Tunisia expecting record-breaking date harvest But 'better strategy needed for export to Europe' (ANSAmed) - TUNIS, OCTOBER 5 - The 2017-2018 date harvest in Tunisia is predicted to be "record-breaking", with production reaching 305,251 tonnes, up 26.3% on the 2016-2017 season, which produced 241,666 tonnes, according to Tunisian Agriculture Minister Samir Taieb. Taieb spoke at a conference organised by Tunisia's Interprofessional Grouping of Fruit Producers (GIF) on the preparations for exporting this season's date harvest. He appealed to all workers in the sector to respect sanitary guidelines and follow all the legal procedures for treating and packing. Despite a consistent increase in date production over the past decade, the Tunisian date production chain suffers from problems in distribution and exportation to the European market, in which Morocco and Algeria are better positioned, said GIF General Director Mohamed Ali Jendoubi. Jendoubi said a better strategy needs to be adopted for selling products outside of Tunisia.(ANSAmed). Syrian women in Turkey make a fresh start at Amal'Art lab Craftsmanship provides opportunities (ANSAmed) - ROME, 5 ott - A project called Amal'art vies to give Syrian women in Turkey an opportunity to get a job and meet other refugees while working in the textile business. The laboratory is organized by the association Amal for Education with the objective of enabling Syrian women to earn money and help support their families. Laboratory provides opportunity for Syrian women The project was created as part of activities of Amal for Education, which has been helping Syrian refugees since 2014. Isabella Chiari, president of Amal for Education, told ANSA that the organization has an ''educational center in Kilis, a Turkish city on the border with Syria with a very significant presence of Syrian refugees: they are 53% of the population, about 120,000 people with a very low income''. ''Over the years, we have helped 1,500 children, we are open all year'', she added. The center has contributed to train a community, enabling Syrian women to learn a craft. The idea of Amal'Art was to respond to specific needs like ''giving a chance to women who did not receive a higher education with an initiative they could take advantage of'' to help them ''improve their skills while getting paid work to help support their family''. Moreover, the laboratory is a means for the association to ''raise money with the products made in order to fund projects''. An opportunity for refugees to meet, forge friendships Some 20 women work in the lab every day. About 90% of proceeds made from sales go to them while the rest funds projects promoted by Amal for Education. ''The important is for women to be able to support themselves, it's a security for them, it gives them pride and stability'', stressed Chiari. The products made in the lab include crochet dolls, bags, keychains and other accessories ''that can be well-liked in the West yet echo traditions of the Middle East''. Other NGOs and associations, ''have asked us to produce things for them, which is very positive because we help each other out'', she added. This project also brought together a group of women with different training. ''Meeting every day has created positive relationships and a good atmosphere'', said Chiari. An elderly woman who suffers from panic attacks because of the trauma she suffered in Syria and cannot stay home by herself has been able to get out and meet other people ''in a safe environment where experiences are shared'' thanks to the project - ''working is a medicine for her'', continued Chiari. The activity ''created social cohesion''. Women in the lab ''become friends. This is the positive side of being together, a value that is almost higher that the economic side of the initiative'', concluded Chiari. (Some dolls made by the craft laboratory Amal'Art. Credit: Amal for Education) Traces of sarin found in March 30 Syria attack Over 130 civilians killed in latest Russia-Syria airstrikes (ANSAmed) - THE HAGUE, OCTOBER 5 - The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) said traces of "sarin or chemical substances related to sarin" were found in Ltamenah, a city in northern Syria where an attack on March 30 injured 50 people. Meanwhile, more than 130 civilians have been killed in the past 24 hours in eastern Syria in airstrikes by Russian and Syrian government forces, according to TV broadcaster Al-Jazeera in Qatar, citing local sources in the region of Deir ez-Zor, which is partly controlled by ISIS.(ANSAmed). - MADRID - Spanish Premier Mariano Rajoy asked Catalan President Carles Puigdemont to ''return to legality'' and give up on the project of a unilateral declaration of independence (DUI) as soon as possible to avoid ''greater evils''. ''Is there a solution? Yes. The best is a quick return to legality'', with a statement, as soon as possible, that ''there will be no unilateral declaration of independence so as to avoid greater evils'', Rajoy was quoted as saying by Spanish news agency Efe. Puigdemont on Monday will address the Catalan parliament on the October 1 referendum on independence. The party Cup, which is part of the separatist front, has asked for the proclamation of the ''Catalan Republic'' with a Unilateral Declaration of Independence (DUI) as soon as on Monday. Puigdemont yesterday reiterated his call for an international mediation with Madrid. The Catalan president would reportedly wish also for the Catholic Church to step in. Consulate worker in Istanbul arrested for Gulenist contacts Accused of contact with prosecutor who led anti-corruption probe (ANSAmed) - ISTANBUL, OCTOBER 5 - Turkish authorities arrested a contact officer with the US Consulate in Istanbul for allegedly having ties to the network linked to Fethullah Gulen, who the Turkish government claims is responsible for the July 2016 coup attempt, according to Turkish news agency Anadolu. The man, a Turkish citizen identified as Metin T., is accused of having been in contact with key "Gulenist" figures such as top prosecutor Zekeriya Oz, currently a fugitive of justice. Turkey claims Oz is responsible for orchestrating an anti-corruption probe in 2013 aimed at bringing down the Erdogan administration at the time. Police arrested the suspect on Saturday and a court in Istanbul confirmed his arrest on Wednesday, with charges of espionage and attempted destruction of the constitutional order. Among the suspect's alleged Gulenist contacts are four former police department heads. US authorities are expected to release a statement Thursday regarding the arrest.(ANSAmed). FLORENCE - The Tuscan region has launched a new website dedicated to tourism, Visittuscany.com, with 9,300 content posts published in Italian and English including profiles, itineraries, in-depth analyses, travel proposals, events and specialties in areas including food and wine and handicrafts. The new website will replace www.turismo.intoscana.it to offer a wide range of information and digital promotions. Visittuscany is a project of the Tuscany region, produced by the foundation Fondazione Sistema Toscana in cooperation with Toscana Promozione Turistica with a reported investment of just over 200,000 euros. The website also has an area enabling tourists from around the world who have visited Tuscany to share their experiences and impressions on social media. Municipalities, agencies and associations promoting tourism and culture will also be able to post content and events. Companies operating in the tourism sector will be able to use the section 'Offers' to promote their packages, tours or itineraries. Also, hotels and other structures offering hospitality that are included in the regional database will be allowed to access their sheet to include descriptions, photos and details on the services offered. Tourists will have the opportunity of planning their holiday by contacting any of the 17,000 Tuscan structures operating in the hospitality industry present on the platform. The director of Fondazione Sistema Toscana, Paolo Chiappini, said the "true novelty" of the website is offering a "simpler and more intuitive system without competing with major private operators". "We are not a booking site but we want to describe Tuscany in the best way possible", he said. "It's not enough to be surrounded by so much beauty if you don't know how to describe it". He added that the Visittuscany offers a new experience as an "interactive platform shared with hundreds of 'editors' from all over Tuscany", including cities, tour operators, agencies and associations. "It is an unprecedented experience, the first in Italy and I don't think it has ever been done before", he concluded. Paestum Exchange celebrates 20th anniversary 'in Arabic' Initiative launched to promote dialogue (ANSAmed) - NAPLES, OCTOBER 5 - The Mediterranean Exchange of Archaeological Tourism (BMTA), an annual international event in Paestum dedicated to archaeological heritage, will celebrate its 20th anniversary this year "speaking Arabic", in a campaign launched for the event set to take place October 26-29. Event organisers are inviting Arabic speakers who are interested in archaeology and cultural tourism to visit the BMTA website at www.bmta.it or to visit the Exchange in October. "It's not a commercial project, but rather a cultural one," said BMTA Director Ugo Picarelli. "It's that of a new form of social inclusion, in the name of the Exchange's 'Mediterranean' denomination and in the name of the event's international recognition on the part of UNWTO and UNESCO as a best practice in intercultural dialogue," Picarelli said. "In the Salerno province as well as in southern Italy, there are thousands of Arab citizens, many of whom probably know nothing about cultural heritage, even though they live in places where their history is established and where an undeniable part of their cultural tradition fully emerges," he said. "Discovering it isn't only an acquisition of knowledge, but an opportunity for dialogue and sharing, aware in their own language that cultural heritage, not only that of UNESCO sites, also belongs to them," he said. In addition to online communications in Arabic, the event will also conduct press office activities and event promotion in Arabic with a newsletter and intense work through social media. Since 2015 the BMTA has annually dedicated three significant moments of its programme to the theme: the meeting "To Not Forget The Bardo Museum, 18 March 2015", in memory of the attack on the museum in Tunis, with the participation of museum director Moncef Ben Moussa; attention on Palmyra with the launching of the hashtag "#unite4heritage for Palmyra"; and a series of meetings on the destruction of cultural heritage, damaged archaeology and the disintegration of identity. Along these lines, this year the three children of Khaled Assad, the director of the Palmyra archaeological site who was decapitated by ISIS, will attend the event in Paestum: Fayrouz, an archaeologist; Walid, the last Director of Antiquities in Palmyra; and Omar, an archaeologist. With them will be Paolo Matthiae, an archaeologist and the director of University of Rome La Sapienza's archaeological mission in Ebla, Syria; and Mohamad Saleh, the last Director of Tourism in Palmyra. Paestum will also dedicate an award - the Khaled al-Assad International Archaeological Discovery Award - to the most significant archaeological discovery of the year. The five discoveries from last year competing for the prize are: Egypt - the boat chamber of Senwosret III and sketches of 120 boats in Abydos; France - the first Neanderthal architectural work in Bruniquel Cave; Iraq - the large Bronze Age city near the small Kurdish village of Bassetki; Pakistan - the Indo-Greek city of Bazira; United Kingdom - the 400 ancient Roman tablets found in the City of London.(ANSAmed). If youre considering a subscription to the Disney Plus streaming service, you may be wondering how much it costs. The service is available on both 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. It has become an airline industry axiom that small airliners struggle to win orders in the Middle East particularly in the Gulf. Turboprops, popular in virtually every other geographic region, are largely notable by their absence in the Middle East (Nesma Airlines in Saudi Arabia is one of the few exceptions that proves the rule) while even the sexier regional jets have found the going tough. Certainly, some Middle East operators do use them Embraers first generation of E-Jets can be found in service with Egyptair Express, Royal Jordanian and Oman Air, for example but they are present in far lower numbers than in Europe, North America or Asia-Pacific. For years, the minimum entry price to the regions market has generally been an Airbus A320 or Boeing 737. John Slattery, president & CEO Embraer Commercial Aviation, believes that the companys new E2 version of the popular jet (almost 1,500 of the first-generation variants have so far been sold with 284 firm orders and 445 options for the new family members) has a better chance of cracking the Middle East. The challenge in the Middle East is that its a hot and harsh environment. While your [Boeing] 777s and [Airbus] A380s have the opportunity to breathe fresh air and fly long distances outside the region, an aircraft like ours tends to stay in that environment for a long time. That environment, he says, has led to the existing General Electric CF34 powerplant on the E-Jets being more expensive to operate than engines on other aircraft. With the Pratt & Whitney GTF on the E2, with its higher bypass ratio, our expectation, and P&Ws expectation, is that the cost of operation will be better because of its fundamentally different architecture. I think with the GTF-powered E2, we will have a resurgence of momentum in the marketplace. As well as the new engine, the aircrafts performance has been improved, even over and above the previously announced benchmarks. The E190 E2s maximum range in normal circumstances is 2,850nm (5,275km); the aircrafts hot and high performance has now been tweaked, due to a combination of factors such as flaps and slats optimisation and greater reduction in drag from the airframe than originally envisaged. The benefits will vary slightly depending on the temperature and altitude of any given airport, but typically could amount to an extra 200nm (370km). Short field performance has also been marginally improved, giving an extra 100nm (185km) range. More generally, the E2s performance has been further revised upwards following aerodynamic changes. The E195 E2s range was originally due to be 2,000nm. Last year, we increased the wingspan by 1.5 metres: that took it to 2,450nm, said Slattery. With empirical evidence from the flight-test programme, weve now taken that to 2,600nm. Weve been able to increase maximum take-off weight from 60,700kg to 61,500kg. Other recent milestones in the test programme have included the successful completion of wing-bending tests, which saw the E2s wing being bent 3.2 metres higher than it should be, or 150% higher than the load test criteria. The first of the new range of aircraft, the E190 E2, is due to enter service with Norwegian airline Wideroe in the first half of 2018, with the larger E195 E2 following a year later with Brazilian carrier Azul. The smallest of the three versions, the E175 E2, has had its service entry date delayed by a year to 2021, due to the strength of the larger two aircraft in the marketplace and because there is currently little sign of the long-running problem of scope clauses at US regional carriers being resolved. These set limits on the size of aircraft that the regionals can fly under agreements with the pilots trade union. That marketplace is substantial. Embraers latest 20-year forecast for the regional jet segment, issued at the Paris Air Show, predicts 6,400 aircraft will be required worldwide out to 2036. However, despite the Brazilian companys confidence that its re-engined variant will reinvigorate its presence in the Middle East, it still foresees just 220 aircraft 3% of the total finding their way to the Middle East. Africa, another region whose potential has been talked about for many years, but which stubbornly remains on the horizon, will account for the same percentage. By far the largest numbers of aircraft will be destined for North America (32%) and Asia Pacific (27%). Slattery believes there will be a continuing movement from turboprops to jets. He points, for example, to major Bombardier Q400 user Horizon Air that is moving to E175E2s and believes that airlines will increasingly turn to turbofans for sectors of more than 300nm (555km). Embraer calculates that there will be 5,500 aircraft in the 70-150-seat category that will require replacement in that timescale, notably ageing A319s and Boeing 737s. Slattery stresses that Embraer has no intention of intruding into the territory occupied by the two major OEMs, but likewise believes that the accepted wisdom of the benefits of having a single-type fleet is on the way out. Airlines that have made their money out of serving major city pairs will increasingly find themselves operating to secondary and tertiary cities, for which a typical narrow-body carrying upwards of 150 passengers will be too large. Slattery believes that, increasingly, they will look for a smaller aircraft, such as the E-Jet, to complement the larger aircraft: I believe were at the front end of a wave augmenting their mainline fleets with a larger regional jet. The largest member of the E2 family will give superior operating costs, believes Embraer, to the smallest members of the Airbus A320neo and Boeing 737 MAX ranges, but although its performance overlaps to some extent with that of the A319neo and MAX 7, the company is at some pains to stress that it does not intend to compete directly with the larger aircraft. Bombardiers CSeries regional jet strayed into that territory and found itself facing ferocious competition from Airbus in particular, which was determined not to have the Canadian aircraft poach its customers. Having said that, Slattery does believe that the E195 E2s improved capabilities will allow it to access a larger number of airlines than the E-Jet range could in the past. He also believes that regional jets can be effective at ranges as short as 300nm (555km), generally thought to be the preserve of turboprops, with their lower costs. The E2 range, like other members of the new generation of regional airliners such as the CSeries and the Sukhoi Superjet, will also provide improved living conditions for passengers compared to their predecessors. This will be particularly noticeable in the luggage capacity of the cabin. Whereas many regional airliners until now have had limited space in the overhead bins, the E2s bins will be 40% larger than those of the earlier E-Jets and will be able to accommodate a roller bag for every passenger. Middle East airlines will be keen to run the rule over the new aircraft to see if the improved performance makes them more attractive for their purposes. The Lufthansa business marks another significant milestone in the growing experience and journey towards offering a differentiating value proposition especially to the A380 market with its six-year check. The check is scheduled for the last quarter of 2017 and would include full cabin rework as per the customer requirement, as well as major structural modifications. The announcement comes on the back of Etihad Airways Engineerings Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Airbus to combine their respective expertise to offer value-added MRO service solutions in Abu Dhabi to A380 operators from all over the world. Abdul Khaliq Saeed, Chief Executive Officer, Etihad Airways Engineering, said: We are excited to now count Lufthansa as one of our customers, and this heavy maintenance contract reiterates Etihad Airways Engineering's firm commitment to be an A380 centre of excellence. We continue to expand our capabilities on the latest platforms to offer industry leading aircraft maintenance and engineering solutions. Etihad Airways Engineering is the largest commercial aircraft MRO services provider in the Middle East. Its state-of-the-art facility is located adjacent to Abu Dhabi International Airport. Aircraft hangars at the facility cover approximately 42,000 sq metres, including 10,000 sq metres of aircraft painting facilities and a custom-designed hangar that can accommodate up to three Airbus A380 aircraft simultaneously. The agreement will expand the travel opportunities for the passengers of both airlines with jointly operated double daily flights between Bahrain and Istanbul. The signing ceremony took place at Turkish Airlines Istanbul headquarters. Gulf Airs Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Captain Waleed Abdul Hameed Al Alawi, and Turkish Airlines Deputy Chairman and CEO, Mr. Bilal Eksi signed the agreement together in the presence of senior officials from both airlines. This new codeshare agreement will be applied to the flights operated by both carriers to Manama and Istanbul, broadening the commercial partnership between the two companies and their respective countries while giving passengers of both airlines more travel options between Bahrain and Turkey. Gulf Air and Turkish Airlines each operate one daily flight between Bahrain and Istanbul and, under the terms of this agreement, both carriers will place their codes on both airlines flights, operating between Bahrain and Istanbul. Gulf Airs Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Captain Waleed Abdul Hameed Al Alawi, welcomed the codeshare agreement saying; Entering into a codeshare agreement with Turkish Airlines is a positive strategic step forward for Gulf Air, through which we offer our guests a larger combined frequency of flights while strengthening and enhancing our commercial ties. Gulf Air passengers can now connect to a range of destinations through this codeshare by both airlines, providing them with greater choice, convenience and a seamless travel experience. Turkish Airlines Deputy Chairman and CEO, Bilal Eksi said; We are glad to sign this codeshare agreement with Gulf Air and aim to improve our partnership to maximize the travel opportunities offered to our passengers through our flight networks. Moreover, we believe that this partnership with Gulf Air will bring a remarkable benefit to both airlines from a commercial perspective in rapidly growing relations between our countries. According to the agreement, Jettainer will be granted Oman Air Cargos ULD management effective 5 October 2017. With Oman Airs endeavor to become the best, and its continuing commitment to a lower environmental footprint, Oman Air Cargo will be utilizing lightweight ULDs, constructed of carbon fibre as well as partly recycled composite materials. This significant change will result in the reduction of CO2 emissions, improved payload, as well as an increase in fuel efficiency. Jettainers highly efficient management solutions allow to reduce the existing container fleet of Oman Air by about 20 percent to 1,200 units. Among the ULDs used so far were still 600 aluminum AKE containers. These are replaced by state-of-the-art environmentally friendly lightweight AKEs. Another 200 lightweight containers will be added to the Oman fleet as part of the airlines expansion in the near future. In line with our strategy to become the best, and strengthen our status as a leading international cargo carrier, we are excited to work with an industry leader such as Jettainer in order to offer our clients the best possible service in line with leading industry standards. Our agreement with Jettainer comes at a time of excellent growth and modernization of the cargo division, as we continue forward with our aggressive growth plan. We are confident Jettainer is a partner that shares our positive outlook and offers us the right services and technology to further improve our offerings, said Mohammed Al Musafir, Senior Vice President Commercial Cargo, during the signing ceremony at the cargo handling facility at its hub at Muscat International Airport. We look forward to work with Oman Air, a very successful and rapidly growing global airline from the Middle East. We are proud that we are able to stand out from our competitors with our smart solution, which is the combination of Jettainers experts, technology and ULD hardware, says Carsten Hernig, Managing Director of Jettainer GmbH. With this cooperation, we continue to expand our presence in the strategically important Gulf region. This is an enormous dynamic market, which enables us to proceed with our course of growth in the long term, said Martin Kraemer, Head of Marketing and PR at Jettainer, after the ceremony at Muscat. A team of Jettainer ULD controllers is currently based at Oman Air Cargo's operations center in Muscat. System rollout, trainings and operational transfers have been completed by a joint project team. All ULDs are maintained by Jettainer at the Muscat International Airport and in Jettainers global repair network. New Delhi: The National Company Law Tribunal on Thursday reserved its order on the plea of ousted Tata Sons chairman Cyrus Mistry seeking transfer of his petitions challenging the ouster to the New Delhi bench from the Mumbai one. The principal bench of the NCLT, headed by Chairman Justice M M Kumar, will pronounce its verdict on Friday. During the proceedings, senior lawyer C A Sundaram appearing for Mistry family's two investment firms, said the Mumbai bench could have a cause of bias. "We are asked to go before a forum (NCLT Mumbai bench) which has already judged the issue," he argued. However, senior counsel Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Mukul Rohatgi opposed it, saying it was a case of "forum shopping". "This should be dismissed at threshold. They have suppressed the facts. They have already raised twice before the NCLAT to transfer the case to Delhi and hear it," Singhvi argued, adding that the appellate tribunal did not decide on it. The investment firms in question are Cyrus Investments Pvt Ltd and Sterling Investments Corporation Pvt Ltd. Last month, the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) granted Mistry the waiver in the minimum shareholding rule for him to file a case of alleged oppression of minority shareholders after observing "exceptional" and "compelling circumstances". The Mistry family owns 18.4 per cent stake in the closely-held Tata Sons. The holding is less than 3 per cent if preferential shares are excluded, not meeting the criteria of at least 10 per cent ownership in a company for filing of a case of alleged oppression of minority shareholders. It had asked the NCLT, which had previously dismissed Mistry's petition against Tata Sons on the ground of not meeting the minimum shareholding criteria, to decide the case in three months. Mistry has been locked in a legal battle with the Tatas since his unceremonious exit as chairman of Tata Sons -- the promoter company of the USD 105-billion car-to-software Tata group -- in October last year. Mistry was ousted as Tata Sons chairman on October 24, 2016, and also removed as a director on the board of the holding company on February 6, 2017. Cyrus Investments Pvt Ltd and Sterling Investments Corporation Pvt Ltd had moved the NCLT against Tata Sons after Mistry's ouster last year alleging oppression of minority shareholders and mismanagement. However, on April 17, the Mumbai bench of the NCLT had rejected the waiver plea filed by the investment firms while on March 6, it had set aside the one over maintainability. Following that, both the investment firms had moved the appellate tribunal. The NCLAT, however, dismissed another petition filed by Mistry family's investment firms on maintainability, saying the firms do not have more than 10 per cent in Tata Sons. Kumar was on Wednesday appointed new SBI chairman after appointments committee cleared is name. Mumbai: A day after he was named new chairman of State Bank of India, SBI, Rajnish Kumar on Thursday in an address to the media said that he will work towards transforming country's largest public sector lender. "In 3 years, you will see a bank which has completely transformed itself. We have 420 million customers, news agency ANI quoted Kumar as saying. Kumar is all set to take over from incumbent Arundhati Bhattacharya who has been occupying the post since 2013. Kumar has been heading National Banking Group unit as managing director and CEO at the SBI. His name was finalised by the Cabinet's appointments committee on Wednesday. Earlier, Banks Board Bureau along with Kumar had interviewed three other managing directors at the SBI. #WATCH New SBI Chairman Rajnish Kumar addresses the media in Mumbai https://t.co/fIllcs9udz ANI (@ANI) October 5, 2017 In October 2016, Bhattacharya was given a year's extension to complete the pending merger of its five sister banks and newly formed Bharatiya Mahila Bank. The coming together of all these banks has landed the SBI in the league of global top lenders. SBI now ranks 45 among world's top banks. From April this year, all the five SBI associate banks -- State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur, State Bank of Hyderabad, Sate Bank of Mysore, State Bank of Patiala and State Bank of Travancore -- officially merged with SBI. The actor has said that it is his model wife Elsa Pataky who has had to sacrifice more in their marriage. Melbourne: Star Chris Hemsworth has said that it is his model wife Elsa Pataky who has had to sacrifice more in their marriage. The 34-year-old actor said juggling busy Hollywood career and personal life simultaneously has often put a strain on his relationship with his better half, reported GQ Australia magazine. "My wife and I fell in love, had kids, didn't really see each other for a few years, then fell back in love. In terms of work, (Elsa has) certainly given up more than I have. "She'd like me to step back and be at home with the kids more, and of course, I want that too. But I feel like I'm at this crucial point in my career - I've just got to set up for longevity or I'll slip off," Hemsworth said. The "Thor" actor married Pataky in 2010. The couple has three children - five-year-old daughter India, and three-year-old twin sons Sasha and Tristan together. The desperation is manifested in the ceasefire violations bid, which has more than doubled till September end of this year. Security analysts associate the ceasefire violations with the infiltration bids which are to ingress across the LoC. (Photo: Representational/File) New Delhi: The hot pursuit of the Indian security forces into Jammu and Kashmir has made Pakistan desperate to push more terrorists across the Line of Control (LoC) and create an environment of unrest in the Valley. The desperation is manifested in the ceasefire violations bid, which has more than doubled till September end of this year. The ceasefire violations in the year 2016 were 228 and this year, it has reached to 503 attempts till date. Security analysts associate the ceasefire violations with the infiltration bids which are to ingress across the LoC. This has been taking its toll on the Indian Army soldiers. As per sources, eight Indian Army soldiers were killed in ceasefire violations in 2016. This loss has risen to 14 soldiers till now in 2017. Infiltration bids were 88 in 2016 in which 35 militants were killed. This year till October 3, there have been 56 bids in which 42 terrorists have been neutralised, thus denting the confidence of terrorists. The strategy of hot pursuit is giving positive results, says security analyst Major General D.K. Mehta (Retd). "The Indian Army has been able to eliminate 150 terrorists this year with the 45 Army soldiers sacrificing their lives." "The Indian Army has changed it tactics and is now adopting hot pursuit as its policy. This is being ably supported by the intelligence inputs," Major General Mehta told. "Ceasefire violations and the infiltration bids under the garb of it are going to rise in the next few days as the Pakistan establishment is desperate to push more terrorists before the passes get closed due to winters." In 2016, 141 terrorists were killed and 63 soldiers had given their life in various operations against the terrorists. The intelligence sources add that 291 militants attempted to enter across the LoC in 2017. 80 terrorists are believed to have been successful in their infiltration bid. As per the estimates of the security forces, there are about 250 terrorists active in the areas North of Pir Panjal. This number is about 25 on the South of Pir Panjal. Air Force Chief said IAF is prepared to fight at short notice in full synergy with other two sister services, should the need arise. The Air Chief said the IAF is capable of countering China and ready to take on the challenge of a two-front war. (Photo: Twitter | ANI) New Delhi: Indian Air Force (IAF) Chief B S Dhanoa on Thursday said the IAF is ready for full spectrum operation but any decision on surgical strike involving his wing has to be taken by the government. Addressing media on the eve of the 85th Air Force Day, the Air Force Chief said, "We are ready for full spectrum operation. Any decision on surgical strike involving the Air Force has to be taken by the government." Dhanoa said Air Force is prepared to fight at short notice in full synergy with other two sister services, should the need arise. The Air Chief said the IAF is capable of countering China and ready to take on the challenge of a two-front war. "We are ready to take on any challenge," he said. Referring to the Doklam standoff, the Air chief said Chinese troops are still present in Tibet's Chumbi Valley and have not completely withdrawn. "We expect them to withdraw," he said. Army chief General Bipin Rawat had said, in September, that the country should be prepared for a two-front war, insisting China has started "flexing its muscles", while there seems to be no scope for reconciliation with Pakistan whose military and polity saw an adversary in India. The Chief of Air Staff also said the IAF will achieve sanctioned strength of 42 fighter squadrons by 2032. Dhanoa also said that the first three women fighter pilots will be commissioned in December this year. With inputs from agencies. The CBSE also said that even the incident of death of the seven-year old boy was not reported to the police by the school authority. Pradyuman, a class II student of the high-profile school, was found dead with his throat slit by a sharp-edged weapon on the morning of September 8. (Photo: PTI) New Delhi: The gruesome killing of a minor boy of Gurgaon's Ryan International School took place due to the "negligence" of its administration as drivers, conductors were allowed to use washrooms meant only for kids and staff, Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) told the Supreme Court on Thursday. The CBSE also said that even the incident of death of the seven-year old boy was not reported to the police by the school authority and, in fact, the FIR was lodged by the parent of the victim child. Pradyuman, a class II student of the high-profile school, was found dead with his throat slit by a sharp-edged weapon on the morning of September 8. It was alleged that he was killed by 42-year-old bus conductor Ashok Kumar inside the toilet as the boy resisted a bid to sodomise him. Read: Throat slit, 7-yr-old Gurgaon boy found dead at Ryan International School The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), in its response to the plea filed by victim's father in the apex court, submitted that after the brutal murder of Pradyuman, it had set up a fact-finding committee to probe the incident. The committee has found that there were "severe irregularities and security lapses" in the school premises, the Board has said, while replying in affirmative to the question whether the alleged incident had happened due to "any negligence of school authority". "Yes, this incident has happened due to the negligence of the school authority as no provision of toilets/washrooms for drivers and conductors/cleaners who are involved in plying of buses could be found separately in the school premises which indicate that they were using the facilities meant for the students and the staff," Anurag Tripathi, Secretary of CBSE, said in the affidavit. Sushil Tekriwal, the counsel for Pradyuman's father who had filed the PIL after his son's murder, said the CBSE report substantiated his allegations on lack of security. The CBSE also submitted that the incident was not reported to the police by the school management, but it was the victim's parent who had rushed to police. "No, the incident of death of student was report to the police authority by the parent...The matter is being investigated by the police," the affidavit said. CBSE has apprised the apex court, which is hearing several pleas seeking framing of guidelines on safety in schools, that many circulars have been issued from time to time to institutions affiliated to it on safety and security of children. "The Board...had advised all the heads of institutions affiliated to CBSE to give wide publicity to the provisions of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act in order to sensitise the parents, children and the staff in the matter," it said. Following the killing of Pradyuman, the CBSE said it has now asked schools to get their security audit done by the local police, besides installing CCTV cameras at vulnerable areas in and around school premises. It had constituted the fact-finding enquiry committee on September 9 following the huge uproar over the lack of safety measures in the reputed school at Gudgaon. The apex court, on September 11, had sought responses from the state government, CBSE, the Human Resources Development Ministry on the plea of Barun Chandra Thakur, the father of the child. Thakur has sought laying down of guidelines by which "liability, responsibility and accountability of the management of the schools" across the country can be fixed in matters relating to safety and security of children at educational institutions. 7-year-old Pradyuman Thakur was found in a pool of blood, with his throat slit, inside the toilet of the Ryan International School. New Delhi: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on Thursday filed an affidavit before the Supreme Court in connection with the murder of a student at Ryan International School in Bhondsi, Gurgaon. The CBSE, in its affidavit, said that Ryan International School does not have sufficient CCTVs and some of them were not even working. It also said that there were no separate toilets for the staff. The CBSE also pointed out that a few electric panels in the school were open, which could have posed a serious threat to the lives of students. On September 8, seven-year-old Pradyuman Thakur was found in a pool of blood, with his throat slit, inside the toilet of the Ryan International School. He was allegedly killed by a bus conductor who also tried to sexually abuse the minor, the police had said. The man said, he had paid Rs 5,000 to an agent who had promised to send him to Pakistan and find him a job there. According to sources, the BSF has handed over the man to police. (Photo: File/Representational) Barmer: A Bangladeshi national has been apprehended in Barmer, Rajasthan, while allegedly attempting to cross over to Pakistan, sources said. Mohammed Yusuf was apprehended on Tuesday by the Border Security Force (BSF). During investigation, he told the security personnel that he had come to India three months ago from Bangladesh and was working as a labourer in Delhi, the sources said. He said he had paid Rs 5,000 to an agent who had promised to send him to Pakistan and find him a job. Three days earlier, they reached Barmer and then boarded a bus to Gadra Road. The next day, the agent gave him directions on how to reach Pakistan and left. The BSF then handed him over to the police, the sources added. Aamrinder Singh lambasted Mr Khattar for raising questions about the role of the Punjab police in the case. Chandigarh: A blame game erupted between the chief ministers of Haryana and Punjab on Thursday over the arrest of Honeypreet Insan who claims to be the adopted daughter of the jailed Dera Sacha Sauda chief. While Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar accused the Punjab police of not sharing information with its Haryana counterpart ahead of her arrest on October 3, Punjab CM Amarinder Singh alleged that the allegations were an attempt to shift attention from the situation in Haryana. The Punjab police should have informed the Haryana police about Honeypreets whereabouts earlier. Something smells fishy, Mr Khattar told reporters on Thursday. He was responding to questions about Honeypreet appearing before some media channels hours ahead of her arrest. This (delay in her arrest) has happened due to the Punjab police. How much the Punjab police helped (her) and how much was in their knowledge...If it was in their knowledge they should have passed information to the Haryana police and handed her over to them, he claimed. After Honeypreets interrogation, many things would come out in the open, he said adding that innocent people would be punished and guilty would not be spared. On being asked whether any political leader was involved in shielding Honeypreet, he said that it was not appropriate to comment on the issue as the interrogation was underway. Meanwhile, Aamrinder Singh lambasted Mr Khattar for raising questions about the role of the Punjab police in the case. Mr Singh asked Mr Khattar to refrain from such alleged fabrications to shield his own governments failure in the Dera Sacha Sauda case. He alleged that after trying unsuccessfully to pin the blame for the Panchkula violence on the Punjab government, Khattar was once again trying to divert public attention from the collapse of the law and order in Haryana since the rape conviction of Dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh. Event being organised by Ministry of Food Processing Industries will see country showcasing ethnic food, says celebrity chef. Kapoor said that Food Street will show the world the many sides of Indian food. (Photo: Facebook) New Delhi: After cooking -- and eating -- food from across the world, celebrity chef Sanjeev Kapoor has come to believe that nothing bubbles quite like the cauldron of Indian cuisines. The television host, writer of numerous books and restaurateur says that he is yet to find anything that matches up to the complexity and variety of Indian food. "I really feel proud of our Indian food. There is nothing like this -- it has so many dimensions, so much of variety," he said. Kapoor was recently named brand ambassador for Food Street, a curated food zone being organised by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries at the World Food India event that opens in New Delhi on November 3. "Food Street will showcase Indian heritage to people from outside and also show how Indians adapt to foreign food," he said. The Padma Shri awardee added that people no longer equate Indian food merely with curries and naan. "I think the earlier notion that Indian food was only about kebab, curries and naan is changing with some premium restaurants opening across the world," he said. With a hint of pride in his voice, the chef said he found Indian food in restaurants and retails during his travels from Malaysia and Australia to the US. Kapoor, whose show "Khana Khazana" was one of the longest running TV programmes in Asia, said in India, too, interests in culinary matters had been growing over the years. His own rise to fame is a case in point. Back in 1993, at a time when cable TV had just entered Indian homes, Kapoor was just a man with a toque. Today, he runs his own food channel, Food Food, which he launched in 2011. The master chef, who specialises in Indian cuisine, has taken regional food to over 120 countries through "Khana Khazana", which ran for over 17 years. "The interest in food is not something which is only limited to kitchen. From the kitchen it has come to the drawing room," he said. He is also upbeat about the younger generation's rising interest in food. "It is good that the younger generation is talking about food and interested in knowing more about food. That leads to cooking, too. Eventually, when you get to know more you actually start consuming healthier food," he said Kapoor, who describes biryani as the dish he loves to cook and Punjabi kadhi as what he loves to eat the most, said the Food Street will show the world the many sides of Indian food. "India is a huge market. Food Street gives an opportunity to showcase Indian food. It is a mix of concept ideas, for which we are bringing top chefs from the world," he said. The event will also focus on sustainable agri-businesses and trade opportunities. The three-day event will include panel discussions on issues such as the future of super-foods and organic farming. PTI MAH MIN MIN 10051259 NNNN While Chile and Peru are still at loggerheads about the origins of the drink, Pisco Sours appeal and growing popularity are undeniable. Peruvians are seriously passionate about Pisco Sour. In fact, it is as important to them as what champagne is to the French. The South-American classic Peruvian cocktail made its way in various bars and restaurants across the country, promoted as a prominent cocktail hailing from Peru post 2005. However there are some claims that Pisco Sour does not originate from Peru, but hails from Chile. Peru and Chile have had a long dispute over the creation of Pisco Sour, but since there are no facts of creation from both the sides, it is still unclear whether it was created in Peru or Chile. Although, the fight is silently still on, many have stated that pisco is a spirit hailing from both the countries. Furthermore, the Peruvian Embassy even went on to promote pisco as a Peruvian creation and claimed rights in an event in 2015, named Pisco is Peru. It is also as the national spirit of Peru, and has a dedicated public holiday to it. It is believed that the Pisco Sour was invented sometime during 1915, by an American bartender named Victor Morris who was in Peru at that time. Morris first created it as a surprise for a few people by mixing the Peruvian Pisco with the American sour, using simple ingredients such as pisco, lime syrup and sugar, replicating the whiskey sour! However, the modern day Pisco Sour served all throughout the world was developed by Morris apprentice Mario Bruiget in 1924, who added angostura bitters and egg white to the cocktail to provide a different texture and froth. The classic Pisco Sour is made with 90 ml Pisco, 30 ml lime juice, 30 ml simple syrup, 30 ml egg white and ice cubes. All ingredients must be blended well and must be topped with 3 drops of angostura bitters. This drink can also be made as a shaken drink, wherein we add all the ingredients in a shaker, shake vigorously, and strain it into a glass and top with bitters. Other than the classic ones, there are variations where in the simple syrup is replaced with yerba mate simple syrup; a habanero infused simple syrup, orange marmalade. A total different variant is the well-known Mardi Gras Pisco Sour, where the ingredients, 30 ml pisco, 30 ml bourbon, 15 ml sweet vermouth, 15 ml coffee, 15 ml lime juice, 30 ml chicory infused simple syrup, 1 egg-white must be put in a shaker and mixed well. Ice cubes must be added and should be shaken well to acquire thick egg white foam, and should be strained into a glass, finally topped with some chocolate bitters. Pisco sour is also known to go well with any seafood preparation marinated with lime. For instance the signature dish from Peru, ceviche, a fresh fish preparation marinated with citrus juice, fresh onion, corn, chilli and coriander. Even grilled prawns and potato preparations are known to be the best food pairings with pisco sour. Cheers! Binny is the founder, CEO and COO of Flaming Trio and Drinq Barmen and Academy The victim's family claimed that he was killed over an old enmity, police said. Dhiran's wife alleged that Govind had entered their house along with his accomplice to commit theft, the police said. (Photo: PTI/Representational) New Delhi: A 30-year-old man was allegedly beaten to death by his neighbour, who alleged that he had entered his house with an intention to commit burglary in southeast Delhi's Jaitpur, the police said on Wednesday. Govind was beaten to death on Tuesday allegedly by his neighbour Dhiran, his brother and their father. Dhiran's wife alleged that Govind had entered their house along with his accomplice to commit theft, the police said. While Govind was caught red-handed, his accomplice fled from the spot. He was subsequently beaten up by Dhiran and his family, police said. However, Govind's family claimed that Dhiran dragged him out of home and beat him to death over an old enmity, they added. Police have arrested Dhiran. They have also register a case of burglary against Govind and his accomplice. Police are looking for his accomplice to ascertain the reason behind Govind's death. According to the woman's complaint, Singh, the son of her husband's cousin, had entered her house while her husband was out. The convict had, in the high court, opposed the accusation saying the woman had consented to the sexual act and he had not forced himself on her. (Photo: AFP/Representational) New Delhi: A man has been sent to seven years in jail by the Delhi High Court for raping his 42-year-old aunt. Justice Pratibha Rani upheld the conviction and the sentence handed down to the 44-year-old man by a trial court, observing that the testimony of the victim has been corroborated by medical and scientific evidence. "It is a case where the guilt of the accused that he committed rape on his own aunt has been proved by oral evidence duly corroborated by medical and scientific evidence beyond reasonable doubt hence he is not entitled to acquittal. "In view of the above discussion, I am not inclined to interfere with the finding of guilt recorded by the trial court as well as the minimum sentence of imprisonment of seven years awarded to the appellant for committing the offence punishable under section 376 (rape) of IPC," the high court said. The order came on Ravinder Singh's appeal challenging the trial court's January 2017 decision convicting and sentencing him to imprisonment for seven years. According to the woman's complaint, Singh, who is the son of her husband's cousin, had entered her house while her husband and her father-in-law were out and had raped her. Singh was bolted inside the room by the woman after he raped her on October 28, 2015, and was found there by the police. The convict had, in the high court, opposed the accusation saying the woman had consented to the sexual act and he had not forced himself on her. However, the high court brushed aside his contention saying he never took this stand before the trial court. It noted in its judgement that "there was no reason for the prosecutrix (victim) who was closely related to him to level charges of rape against him, which had an adverse effect on the reputation of their families". He had not been keeping well and was upset about it, the police said. Amit was currently posted at Daryaganj police station. He was supposed to start his shift from 8 PM but had reached the barracks at 5 PM, the police said. (Photo: PTI/Representational) New Delhi: A 29-year-old Delhi Police constable allegedly committed suicide by shooting himself dead with his service pistol inside the barracks at central Delhi's Daryaganj police station on Wednesday, the police said. The constable, Amit Khokhar, was rushed to a hospital where he was declared brought dead, they said. No suicide note was found from the spot. He had not been keeping well and was upset about it, the police said. He hailed from Baghpat and had joined Delhi Police in 2009. Amit was currently posted at Daryaganj police station. He was supposed to start his shift from 8 PM but had reached the barracks at 5 PM, the police said. He shot himself with the service pistol and after hearing the gunshot, he was rushed to a hospital, they added. The petition had alleged that Singh had been earning profit from PWD of the Delhi government as well as from New Delhi Municipal Council. New Delhi: President Ram Nath Kovind has rejected a petition seeking disqualification of AAP MLA Surendra Singh as a lawmaker for allegedly holding office of profit after an opinion of the Election Commission. The petition had alleged that Singh had been earning profit from the Public Works Department of the Delhi government as well as from New Delhi Municipal Council. In an order, the president said the poll panel had opined that Singh was not holding an 'office' under the government within the meaning of section 15(1) (a) of the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act, as he was a member of the NDMC by virtue of the NDMC Act and the government had no role in its appointment or dismissal. The commission had earlier rejected a similar plea against Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia. Mr Tamang however asked Mr Ghosh to leave the Hills immediately and to not to create any unrest. Kolkata: State BJP president Dilip Ghosh on Wednesday gave himself the credit of restoring peace in Darjeeling. He however faced strong protests by expelled Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) leader Binay Tamangs followers and Jan Andolan Party for his comments and visit to the Hills. Reaching Siliguri on Wednesday morning, Mr Ghosh claimed, If we had visited Darjeeling during the unrest, tension would have mounted. I have a responsibility to discharge to meet the people of the Hills because they want me and since I took the initiative to make two sides agree to usher in peace. He said, It was me who went to New Delhi and spoke to Union Home minister Rajnath Singh. Only fter that peace returned to the Darjeeling Hills. I am the first leader from the plains who dared to visit the Darjeeling Hills. Asked about the posters and slogan shouting of Go Back Dilip Ghosh at Kalimpong the Kharagpur MLA added, The posters and slogan shouting of those, who could not end the unrest and those who do not enjoy the peoples faith, have no value. There is no importance of those who play the role of brokers. He elaborated, Our stand is clear. But Mr Tamang should make his stand clear first. He has no acceptance among the public. If Mr Tamang thinks he has a role to play just because he has been crowned with a post by the Mamata Banerjee government, he will be wrong. Betraying the people he has backstabbed the people of the Hills who are actually with us. He has sold himself to Ms Banerjee after getting an administrative post. Mr Tamang however asked Mr Ghosh to leave the Hills immediately and to not to create any unrest. Another expelled GJM leader Anit Thapa alleged, What were they doing over three months when the Hills were burning? After the return of peace they now want to create trouble. Thackeray further asked the courts, the Election Commission of India (ECI) and new editors to not bow under the Centre's pressure. He further asked the courts, the Election Commission of India (ECI) and new editors to not bow under the Centre's pressure. (Photo: ANI/File) Mumbai: The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) on Thursday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his promises made during his election campaign, alleging he has betrayed the people of the country. "The entire nation including me trusted you.. voted for you.. You promised 'Acche Din'. But you betrayed us. Prime Minister Modi had promised that he would get back black money and deposit Rs. 15 lakh in every bank account. But now after the election, Amit Shah said that it was just a 'Jumla'," MNS chief Raj Thackeray said, while addressing a gathering here. He also said he had never seen such a 'liar' Prime Minister. The MNS chief further accused the prime minister-led Union Government of removing Suresh Prabhu from the Railway Ministry for opposing the bullet train. Thackeray, who held a protest march in south Mumbai on Thursday for last week's stampede at the Elphinstone Road station, which claimed 23 lives, further stated, "We have organised this rally peacefully. But if there is no change in the system of government, then our next rally will not be peaceful". He further asked the courts, the Election Commission of India (ECI) and new editors to not bow under the Centre's pressure. The MNS organised the march even though the Mumbai police denied permission for it. The regional party has demanded better rail infrastructure in the city. (Photo: ANI) Mumbai: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Thursday took out a march in south Mumbai in protest against the recent stampede on a foot overbridge at Elphinstone Road station. At least 23 people were killed in the incident. The MNS organised the march even though the Mumbai police denied permission for it. The regional party has demanded better rail infrastructure in the city. Reacting to the stampede, Thackeray on Saturday said that his party will not allow a single brick to be placed for the bullet train in Mumbai until and unless the infrastructure of local railways is improved. "Until present infra of local railways is made better, not a single brick will be allowed to be placed for bullet train in Mumbai," Thackeray had said. Slamming the Railways for the loss of innocent lives at the stampede at Elphinstone Road railway station, Thackeray had said, "Why do we need terrorists or enemies like Pakistan? It seems our own Railway is enough to kill people". Several people were injured in the stampede on September 29. (With agency inputs) Coal shortage spurs power cuts in Kalyan and Panvel. Mumbai: Loadshedding has now reached the borders of Mumbai with Kalyan, Bhandup and Panvel facing power cuts due to the shortage of coal for power generation on Thursday. After December 2012, this is the first instance of loadshedding in the state in city areas like Pune, Nashik and Nagpur. The state government has blamed it on the surge in demand due to the October heat and the poor availability of coal across the country. According to the official information released by the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) on Thursday, The states demand for power in the morning peak hour was 16,400mw with loadshedding of 800 to 850mw. During the day, peak hour demand was 16,300mw with loadshedding of 800 to 900mw, while the evening peak hour demand was 14,500 mw with loadshedding of 1,100mw. An MSEDCL official said after 2012, the firm had to carry out load hedding in A, B, C and D category areas. These areas are bifurcated in descending order based on their distribution and collection losses. There was a shortage of 2,000 to 3,000mw today. Even in Bhandup and Kalyan, loadshedding was conducted today. A, B, C and D areas, which include parts of Pune, Nashik and Nagpur also faced loadshedding. It is due to the coal shortage across the country, the official added. The Bhusaval unit-1, Parli unit-3 to 5 and Bhusaval unit-5 are left with only one days coal stock, according to information received from the MSEDCL. There was no power generation in MSEDCLs Bhusaval unit-3, Khaparkheda unit-1 to 4 and Parli unit-8. Other units like the APML Tiroda, Bhusaval unit 4 and 5, Chandrapur unit 3 to 7, Chandrapur unit 8 and 9, Koradi unit 5 to 7 are facing coal shortage and hence generating power much below the actual potential. When The Asian Age tried to contact energy minister, Chandra-shekhar Bawankule, the call was diverted. He also did not reply to the text message till late in the evening. But principal secretary of the energy department, Arvind Singh said, The electricity generation has been affected due to the coal availability and hence loadshedding was carried out in some areas. But the situation will normalise in a couple of days, he said. In a circular, MSEDCL said that, the loadshedding will start daily in Panvel urban areas (which include Kharghar node) from October 5 onwards in two slots from 6 am to 7.30 am and in the from 1 pm to 2.30 pm. The latest in the line of the governments critics is Arun Shourie, who repeated earlier assertions. The article by former finance and foreign minister Yashwant Sinha, disparagingly called a job-seeker at 80 by current finance minister Arun Jaitley, has had ripple effect. There have been several responses, including by his son Jayant Sinha, a minister of state in the Narendra Modi government, and P. Chidambaram, who held the same portfolio in the UPA government. The latest in the line of the governments critics is Arun Shourie, who repeated earlier assertions. While Sinha Jr argued against his fathers thesis as he has a job to keep, Mr Chidambaram pointed out that what Mr Sinha both his predecessor and successor said was nothing new, he too was making similar observations for some time. Moreover, though Mr Sinha made no such demand, the governments decision to slash excise duty on petrol and diesel for the first time, bringing down prices significantly, can be considered an effect of Mr Sinhas castigating article. More important, Prime Minister Narendra Modis decision to use the platform of the Institute of Company Secretaries of India to aggressively defend his government is considerably a result of Mr Sinhas scathing criticism. This shows that the last word on the subject is yet to be heard. Mr Sinha stated that the Modi government was extremely lucky to have been met early in office by hugely depressed global crude oil prices but this unprecedented bonanza was not used imaginatively. The article was published a couple of days before RSS sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwats traditional Dussehra speech when he expressed concern at economic distress among the outfits core constituency, traders and small businesses and middle-class professionals. While Mr Bhagwat broadly supported the government and Prime Minister Modi, the significance and timing of Mr Bhagwat airing his concern cannot be ignored. Mr Modis promise that the government would examine issues bothering MSMEs, small businesses and exporters indicates that the political terrain has almost overnight turned vulnerable for the Prime Minister. There are two dimensions of what Mr Sinha wrote and the storm he triggered. I shall not venture into the economic argument and counter-arguments and instead confine myself to its political impact. Mr Sinhas first point that his sentiments were shared by several in the BJP but not being articulated out of fear is not without basis. Over the past three years there have been several instances when members of Parliament raised awkward questions, only to be silenced by the leadership. Allegations were even levelled by R.K. Singh, who was recently inducted into the Union council of ministers, that financial considerations were behind the selection of several party nominees in the Bihar Assembly elections in 2015. But the majority that Mr Modi surprisingly secured in 2014 has stifled opposition to him within party fora. The party leadership manages the BJP with an iron hand, such absolutist power being similar to what several global leaders in the past and present wield. For the moment, most party leaders are willing to accept the baton from the presiding duo in the party and pass the mandated message, but there is a lurking sense that the leadership is just one electoral setback away from a rebellion, its intensity depending on the nature of the reverse. After all, the Bihar defeat upset the applecart and four party veterans, including Mr Sinha, joined hands to accuse the duo of subverting inner-party democracy. However, the crisis was overcome with the help from the RSS. But with the Sangh itself restive because of uncertainties created by the twin economic initiatives of demonetisation and GST rollout, a bailout from Nagpur may not be easy to secure. Mr Sinha attacked Mr Jaitley for being in the Cabinet despite losing the Lok Sabha polls, holding multiple portfolios while being finance minister, that was a huge responsibility, and for embarking on the ruinous path of demonetisation. But all decisions for which the finance minister was targeted were not his own but Mr Modis. The Prime Minister used his prerogative to appoint Mr Jaitley despite the clear precedent of Atal Behari Vajpayee not inducting Pramod Mahajan and Jaswant Singh in 1998. Again, it was Mr Modis choice to saddle Mr Jaitley with more than he can chew. Finally, demonetisation was, to use Mr Shouries words, a decision based on divine revelation that scrapping 86 per cent of currency notes was a brilliant idea. Mr Jaitley, it may be recalled, was silent for several days after demonetisation, indicating the extent to which the decision stunned him. Mr Sinha could have attacked Mr Modi, but tactically chose not to. In one of the interviews he gave after the articles publication, Mr Sinha hedged while replying to a direct question on whether he would attack Mr Modi in future. This demonstrates that Mr Jaitley may be somewhat right in accusing Mr Sinha is being a job-seeker, but then whats wrong with that? After having been in the BJP for over two decades, Mr Sinha is unlikely to either float a new outfit or join another party. His best bet is to force Mr Modi to sack one of his team members and appoint him. Attacking Mr Jaitley is safe as he has no base and is completely dependent on Mr Modi. Mr Sinhas thinking, however, is that attacking the finance minister is not equivalent to directing fire at the PM. The moot point is whether Mr Modi too thinks this way. Mr Modi is not at the helm due to the Sangh Parivars support but because of his capacity to secure support of voters. But for the freedom to pursue policies of his choice, he depends on the RSS to keep belligerents within the fraternity in check. Not just Mr Sinhas article, a host of other developments after a series of reports indicating the economy is struggling has changed the political landscape. To a great extent, Mr Modis continuing dominance will depend on the Gujarat Assembly polls outcome. Even the slightest jolt to the BJP will alter equations. Thats what people like Mr Sinha are waiting for before making their next move. The Spanish states reaction detracts from its moral authority. And I get the urge for going, sang Joni Mitchell more than a half-century ago, When the meadow grass is turning/ And summertime is falling down. That sentiment has been echoed in recent days in two very different parts of the world. Last Sundays contentious referendum in Catalonia was preceded six days earlier by an equally controversial vote in Iraqi Kurdistan. In both cases, the longing for independence goes back a long way. And in both cases the states from which the Kurds and Catalonians wish to separate have reacted in a manner that is likely to exacerbate tensions. The disturbing scenes witnessed in Barcelona as a massive police force deployed by the authorities in Madrid sought to thwart the Catalonian vote, and more generally the belligerent attitude adopted by the conservative government of Spains Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, can only serve to fuel regional passions and drive waverers into the nationalist camp. Perhaps not entirely fairly, the repression evoked memories of the Franco dictatorship, which 80 odd years ago snatched back the autonomy that Catalonia had secured under the Spanish republic. It was only four decades later, with the return of democracy, that the region was gradually able to re-establish its right to manage its own affairs. A substantial number of Catalonians consider that insufficient, and the sense of injustice has grown since the financial crisis of a decade ago, which was particularly rough on southern European states. Catalonia is considered a relatively well-off region in the Spanish context, but the Rajoy government has gone out of its way to undermine its aspirations. Catalonian leader Carles Puigdemont holds the view the recent referendum provides an adequate basis for a unilateral declaration of independence. Madrid, meanwhile, has threatened to invoke a hitherto unused clause of the Spanish Constitution to suspend regional autonomy. Either option would deepen the crisis in Spain whichever comes first would likely provoke the other. Puigdemonts case is somewhat sullied by the fact that the turnout in the referendum was well below 50 per cent, notwithstanding the claim that almost 90 per cent of those who cast their ballots opted for independence. On the other hand, the Spanish states reaction which resulted in injuries to 900 people and involved the confiscation of an indeterminate number of ballot boxes detracts from its moral authority. Further, its hard to take seriously Rajoys insistence on altogether ignoring the referendum, partly on the basis that it had been ruled illegal by the highest court in the land. The EU has, by and large, sought to stay aloof, characterising the dispute as an internal affair for Spain. It is understandable why the would-be architects of a European super-state would be inclined to view regional aspirations for independence as a potential Pandoras box, but turning a blind eye to repression can only serve to reinforce the impression that the bureaucracy in Brussels is self-serving. The Kurdish bid for independence from Iraq has also received little international backing, including from those who effectively set the region on its way by guarding its autonomy against Saddam Hussein after the 1991 Gulf war. Within West Asia, only Israel has backed the idea of an independent Kurdistan, for strategic reasons of its own. Conversely, there have been threats of military action and economic sanctions from not just Baghdad and Tehran but particularly vociferously from Ankara. Recep Tayyip Erdogan had hitherto been reasonably chummy with the Iraqi Kurds, in contrast to his attitude towards the Turkish and Syrian segments of the Kurdish population. The Kurds are the worlds largest ethnic group without a national homeland, of which they were deemed unworthy when the British and French colonial powers carved frequently incoherent boundaries across West Asia following the defeat of the Ottoman Empire. The case for an independent Kurdistan has existed ever since, with the Kurdish minority besieged, or used as strategic pawns, to varying degrees across four states. Turkey and Iran are particularly ill-disposed towards the idea of sovereignty for Iraqi Kurds primarily because they fear the effect it would have on their respective Kurdish minorities. Massoud Barzani, head of what is effectively a family firm at the helm of the Kurdish regional government, has thus far not hinted at a unilateral declaration of independence, even though the referendum, again with an affirmative vote of around 90 per cent, is on various scores more credible than its Catalonian counterpart. In both cases, there was scope for serious-minded political negotiations to pre-empt a crisis, whereas a belligerent response can only strengthen the urge for going. Theres a crucial lesson in this for many nations, not least Pakistan in the Baloch context, but its likely to remain unheeded until its too late. By arrangement with Dawn sif claimed that Pakistan is winning its war against terrorism which is having a salutary impact on economics commercial activities. Pakistan FM Khawaja Asif meets US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in Washington on Thursday (Photo: Twitter) Washington: Expressing concerns about the future of Pakistan Government, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has said that Washington wants a stable government in Islamabad. Tillerson made these remarks to the media following his meeting with Pakistan's Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif on Wednesday. Tillerson also asserted that the United States has a reliable partner in Pakistan. "Yes, I believe we do," he said in response to a question that had the meeting with Pakistan's Foreign Minister convinced him that the United States had a reliable partner in Pakistan. Asserting that the US-Pakistan relationship held extraordinary importance in the region, Tillerson said, "And as we rolled out the South Asia strategy, we spoke about it in a regional context." "It is not just about Afghanistan. This is about the importance of Pakistan, and Pakistan's long-term stability as well," Dawn quoted Tillerson as saying. Tillerson also acknowledged and appreciated the sacrifices rendered by the people and armed forces of Pakistan in the struggle against terrorism. Asif claimed that Pakistan is winning its war against terrorism which is having a salutary impact on economics commercial activities. He stressed that Pakistan and the United States share a common desire for peace and stability in Afghanistan and the region at large. He emphasised that Pakistan sought a broad based relationship with United States building on a seven decade long history of successful cooperation. Pakistan's Ambassador to US Aizaz Chaudhry accompanied Foreign Minister Asif during the meeting. Trump was told by former FBI director James Comey that Steeles report contained salacious material about the businessman-turned-president. Trump, who has called allegations of campaign collusion with Moscow a hoax, has faced questions about the matter since he took office in January (Photo: AP) Washington: The special counsel investigating whether Russia tried to sway the 2016 US election has taken over FBI inquiries into a former British spys dossier of allegations of Russian financial and personal links to President Donald Trumps campaign and associates, sources familiar with the inquiry told Reuters. A report compiled by former MI6 officer Christopher Steele identified Russian businessmen and others whom US intelligence analysts have concluded are Russian intelligence officers or working on behalf of the Russian government. A spokesman for special counsel Robert Mueller declined comment. The FBI also declined comment. Three sources with knowledge of Muellers probe said his investigators have assumed control of multiple inquiries into allegations by US intelligence agencies that Russia interfered in the election to benefit Trump, a Republican. Russia has repeatedly denied any meddling in the election. Two officials familiar with the investigations said that both Muellers team and the Senate Intelligence Committee are seeking any evidence that former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort or others who had financial dealings with Russia might have helped Kremlin intelligence agencies target email hacking and social media postings undermining Trumps election opponent, Democrat Hillary Clinton. On Wednesday, the Senate panels chairman Richard Burr told reporters that the issue of whether Trumps campaign colluded with Russia remains an open question. We have not come to any determination on collusion, Burr said. Trump, who has called allegations of campaign collusion with Moscow a hoax, has faced questions about the matter since he took office in January. Trump was told by former FBI director James Comey that Steeles report contained salacious material about the businessman-turned-president. Burr said on Wednesday that the Senate panel had made several attempts to contact Steele and to meet him and those offers have gone unaccepted. The committee cannot really decide the credibility of the dossier without understanding things like who paid for it, who are your sources and sub-sources, Burr said. Burr said the panel wanted to finish its investigation by the end of the year. Although several news organizations, including Reuters, were briefed on Steeles dossier before the election in November, most decided not to report on the material because its inflammatory and sometimes salacious content could not be verified. In a report published in January four US intelligence agencies said they took the dossiers allegations seriously. Separately, three Russian businessmen, Mikhail Fridman, Petr Aven and German Khan have sued Washington investigations firm Fusion GPS and its founder, Glenn Simpson, with allegations that they were libeled in Steeles dossier. A spokeswoman for Simpson and Fusion GPS declined to comment on the lawsuit filed on Tuesday in US District Court in Washington. The lawsuit said that Steeles reports were gravely damaging to the businessmen because they accused them of criminal conduct and alleged cooperation with the Kremlin to influence the 2016 presidential election. The information on Trump collected by Steele, whom officials say was one of MI6s most respected Russia hands, was laid out last year in political opposition research initially financed by supporters of one of Trumps Republican primary election opponents. After Trump won the Republican nomination in July, backers of Clinton picked up the support of Steeles work. The lawsuit said the dossiers allegations are false in implying an improper ongoing relationship between the businessmen, the Alfa Group financial company in which they were investors and Russian President Vladimir Putin, and that a Russian government official acted as middleman in such contacts. The Chinese Embassy in India issued the advisory, the third in four months, for Chinese tourists in India. Beijing: China has issued a travel advisory to its nationals visiting India, the first such warning after the Doklam standoff, warning them about denial of visas to visit "restricted areas" like the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The Chinese Embassy in India issued the advisory, the third in four months, for Chinese tourists in India. The warning was posted on the embassy's website on Tuesday, and detailed several situations the embassy handled recently in which Chinese tourists were denied entry or investigated while travelling in India, state-run Global Times reported on Thursday. "Some Chinese citizens visited Andaman and Nicobar Islands, which are restricted areas for foreigners, without gaining permits from India. Some tourists were asked to return upon arrival. Some were even arrested or investigated," the statement read. "(Visitors should) not photograph India's border and military facilities and vehicles. While travelling on India's border neighbouring Nepal, avoid visiting border markets, and do not enter the territory of other countries by mistake," it added. On July 7, weeks after the Doklam crisis began, the Chinese mission in India issued its first warning, asking Chinese nationals to reduce unnecessary travel to India, maintain a low profile when there, and respect local laws and law enforcement personnel. It reissued the warning on August 24. The 73-day Dokalam standoff started on June 16 when Chinese troops attempted to build a road in territory claimed by Bhutan close to the Indian border. Indian troops objected to it and stopped the Chinese from building the road. The standoff was finally resolved on August 28. Chinese tourists make up three per cent of foreign tourists visiting India each year, the Global Times quoted Indian media reports as saying. From January to May, 2017, about 119,000 visitors from China visited India, an increase of 9.2 per cent year-on-year. India has granted e-visa facility for Chinese travellers. A report by state-run Xinhua news agency two days ago said China is becoming one of the most popular destinations for Indian tourists. It is estimated that the number of outbound tourists from India will reach 50 million overall by 2020, up from 21.87 million in 2016, the report said. More than half a million Rohingya have fled ethnic bloodshed in Rakhine since late August. About 40 per cent of the total Rohingya population living in the Rakhine State of Myanmar have now fled to Bangladesh. (Photo: AP) Cox Bazar: Bangladesh has destroyed at least 30 wooden fishing boats to deter local captains from smuggling Rohingya refugees and illegal drugs across the border from strife-torn Myanmar, officials said Thursday. Border guards seized the vessels and arrested the captains after they were intercepted Tuesday evening bringing more than 700 Rohingya Muslims across the river from Myanmar's westernmost Rakhine state. The boatmen were also caught in possession of about 100,000 "yaba" pills, an illegal stimulant popular in Bangladesh, said a border guard official. More than half a million Rohingya have fled ethnic bloodshed in Rakhine since late August, many by boat across the Naf River which divides Myanmar and Bangladesh. "These brokers (boatmen) were smuggling people," one border guard told AFP on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to media. "We were asked to destroy the 30 boats. These are hand-pulled vessels, not run by engines", he added, saying non-motorised boats were used to avoid detection. A government official confirmed 39 people, mostly Rohingya living in Bangladesh, were jailed for six months for "excessively charging" refugees for passage across the Naf. "The BGB (Border Guard Bangladesh) has done an appropriate job," Zahid Siddique, a local magistrate and government administrator, told AFP. Gangs of boat owners, crew and fishermen have been charging the fleeing Rohingya upwards of $250 for the two-hour journey that normally costs no more than $5. Bangladesh's elite Rapid Action Battalion this week rescued 20 Rohingya being held hostage by local gangs demanding huge fares from the refugees. Some arriving in Shah Porir Dwip told AFP that boatmen had demanded they hand over gold, jewels and cash before taking them across. The boatmen are accused of not just trafficking people but drugs from Myanmar, with border guards discovering 100,000 "yaba" pills inside the seized vessels. The BGB officer said the drugs -- a blend of methamphetamine and caffeine popular among Bangladeshi youth -- were concealed inside the boats. Bangladeshi security forces have seized millions of yaba pills in recent years from traffickers attempting to smuggle the drugs through the border district of Cox's Bazar by land and sea from Myanmar. In the past fortnight at least five Rohingya men have been arrested on the Naf river in possession of 1.23 million yaba pills. Rangers had this week denied Iqbal entry to a court building where matters relating to an anti-graft case against Sharif were being heard Islamabad: An unexplained dispute between Pakistan's interior minister and an elite paramilitary unit under his command is adding to political confusion in Islamabad, prompting questions about a rift in ties between civilian leaders and the powerful military. The spat comes at a moment of heightened concern over the feverish political climate in nuclear-armed Pakistan, which the United States seeks to include in its new strategy for South Asia. Interior Minister Ashan Iqbal was taken by surprise when the elite Rangers unit, which provides security around parliament, withdrew its guards without explanation on Wednesday. "I was told the Rangers have unilaterally withdrawn from the important installations where they were on duty, which, for us, was shocking," Iqbal told domestic television channel Dawn News. "This was a gross violation." Outside parliament on Thursday, the country's Frontier Constabulary was on guard instead. A police official on duty confirmed the Rangers were no longer stationed there. "The order for them to leave did not come from the interior ministry, it must have come from somewhere else," said the official, who asked not to be identified because of the sensitivity of the topic. Rangers' officials could not immediately be reached for comment. Iqbal did not immediately respond to Reuters' telephone calls to seek comment. The Rangers had this week denied Iqbal entry to a court building where matters relating to an anti-graft case against Sharif were being heard, prompting him to threaten to resign, saying he refused to be "a puppet interior minister". The moves follow July's Supreme Court disqualification of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, which he blamed on a conspiracy against him, feeding speculation about a rupture in civilian-military ties. Senior leaders from Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) party pointed fingers at the country's military after his disqualification for not declaring a source of income. The army denies playing a role. But the Rangers' departure from the area around parliament points to a persistent disagreement between civilian and military leaders, one analyst said. "They can't just leave their posts," said Zeeshan Salahuddin, communications and strategy director of the Islamabad-based Centre for Research and Security Studies. "If they have done so without orders, that clearly shows the continuing rift between the two, and the displeasure of the military." Pakistan's military has ruled the country for 33 of the 70 years since independence from Britain in 1947. Since 2008, there have been democratically elected governments, but the army retains sweeping influence and any hint of discord stirs worries among advocates of a strong civilian government. "We have concerns about the future of Pakistan's government too, in terms of them - we want their government to be stable," US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said, following a meeting with Pakistan's foreign minister on Wednesday. The government will take action after completing an inquiry into the withdrawal, Iqbal added. "The Rangers are a force subordinate to the ministry of the interior and when they are deployed, they are supposed to work under the civil administration," he said. From 2009 to 2011 Uzi Arad served as the PMs a national security adviser. Today he defends the Iran nuclear deal because without it there is nothing. He does not deny Iran is threat, but the nuclear issue is separate. He slams US ambassador to the UN, whose rhetoric is not helpful for detente and dialogue. Tel Aviv (AsiaNews) The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) not only needs to be supported but needs to be strengthened in the interests of regional and international peace and security, this according to Uzi Arad, a former national security adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, not a western government or an Iranian official. In open disagreement with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as well as US President Donald Trump, who has threatened to tear up the historic deal between Iran and the 5+1 group (United States, United Kingdom, France, Russia China and Germany), Uzi Arad is convinced that "Doing away with the agreement is not a solution, it just takes away assets and replaces it with nothing. Arad (pictured with the premier) served as a national security adviser to Netanyahu from 2009 to 2011. He is a prominent figure in Israel and spoke at conference call hosted by the dovish Jewish-American group J Street about Irans nuclear programme. Arad is certainly not basing his support of the deal on trust in Iran or on an analysis that suggests Iran is not a security threat to Israel. He is a pragmatist. Iran is uppermost in our thinking, he said. Iranian deployment near Israeli borders in Syria presents a threat that is not nuclear, but it can cause friction and that can escalate. That should be discussed in international discussions involving Syria. But that is a separate issue. The JCPOA was a decision by the P5+1 and Iran to go after a specific issue, he said. Both parties had a shared interest in adopting a focused approach rather than a comprehensive one that might not be possible to attain. In his view, Irans recent missile tests, which for Trump violate the deal, have nothing to do with the nuclear programme. Arad also expressed concern that the United States might consider simply withdrawing from the agreement without having a plan for what comes after. In fact, the deal also established benchmarks and yard sticks. The Iranians must meet those. You take those away and youre in a void. Sanctions were effective because of international support and international consensus. Any unilateral action by Washington to scrap the deal would be damaging. Likewise, the bellicose rhetoric from US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley is not helpful for detente and dialogue. For years, an embargo was in place against Iran. Western economic sanctions were eased in 2015 in exchange for a deal on the countrys controversial nuclear programme. Largely welcomed by the international community, the deal has been a boost for Irans economy and investments, stimulating urban renewal and reforms in the energy sector. However, the United States and critics of the deal, especially Israel have backed sanctions against Iran over its ballistic missile programme and its support for armed Shia movements in the Middle East. US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis and General Joseph Dunford, Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, recently spoke about the matter. Iran is not in material breach of the agreement, General Dunford said. And I do believe the agreement to date has delayed the development of a nuclear capability by Iran. (DS) Francis spoke to the participants of the General Assembly of the Pontifical Academy for Life about the need for a "cultural revolution". For him, "The forms of subordination that have sadly marked the history of women must definitely be abandoned." However, gender theory is not right. The starting point of an alliance between men and women is creation, which is called to take into its hands the guidance of all society. Vatican City (AsiaNews) Pope Francis on Thursday spoke to the participants of the 23rd General Assembly of the Pontifical Academy for Life currently underway (5-6 October) in the Vatican and organised as part of a workshop on the theme Accompanying life. New responsibilities in the technological era. In his address, the pontiff said that a culture obsessively focused on the sovereignty of man in which the dignity of the person is defined by radically neutralising sexual difference and, therefore, the understanding between man and woman needs a true cultural revolution to give men and women, together, dignity and a sense of responsibility. The main issue at hand, notes Francis, is the interconnected opportunities and critical issues that appeal to global humanism, with reference to the recent technological developments of life sciences. The power of biotechnologies, which now permit manipulations of life that were unthinkable until now, poses formidable questions. The human creature seems today to find himself in a special passage in history in which, in the ancient yet ever new questions on the meaning of human life, its origins and its destiny. Culture is evolving towards what some of defined as perspective is not harmless: it forms a subject who continually looks in the mirror, to the point of being unable to see eyes on others and on the world. The spread of this attitude has very grave consequences for all affections and bonds in life (cf. Laudato si, 48). At present, we face a reckless materialism that characterises the alliance between economics and technology, which treats life like a resource to be exploited or discarded for power or profit. Instead of human well-being, we see the enlargement of the territories of poverty and conflict, rejection and abandonment, resentment and desperation. Authentic scientific and technological progress should instead inspire more humane policies. In view of all this, the Holy Father points out that the Christian faith urges us to take the initiative, rejecting any concession to nostalgia and lamentation. [. . .] The world needs believers who, with seriousness and joy, are creative and proactive, humble and courageous, resolutely determined to repair the fractures between generations. This fracture interrupts the transmission of life. The source of inspiration for this resumption of initiative, yet again, is the Word of God, which illuminates the origin of life and its destiny. Indeed, A theology of Creation and Redemption able to translate into the words and gestures of love for every life and for all life would appear today to be more necessary than ever to accompany the path of the Church in the world in which we now live. The starting point of the alliance between men and women is creation, which is called to take into its hands the guidance of all society. This is an invitation to responsibility for the world, in culture and politics, in work and in the economy; and also in the Church. It does not mean simply equal opportunities or mutual recognition. It means, above all, the understanding between men and women on the meaning of life and the path of peoples. The man and woman are not called upon solely to speak of love, but to speak with love of what they must do to ensure that human coexistence is realised in the light of Gods love for every creature. To speak and to ally, because neither of the two neither man by himself, nor woman alone is able to assume this responsibility. Together they were created, in their blessed difference; together they sinned, for their presumption to supplant God; and together, with the grace of Christ, they return to Gods presence, to honour the care of the world and of history that He entrusted to them. In short, it is a true cultural revolution that is on the horizon in the history of our time. And the Church, first, must do her part. From this perspective, it means first and foremost honestly acknowledging delays and shortcomings. The forms of subordination that have sadly marked the history of women must be definitively abandoned. A new beginning must be inscribed in the ethos of peoples, and this must make it into a renewed culture of identity and difference. The recently-advanced hypothesis of reopening the way for the dignity of the person by radically neutralising sexual difference and, therefore, the understanding between man and woman, is not right. Instead of counteracting the negative interpretations of sexual difference, which mortify its irreducible value for human dignity, it seeks in effect to cancel out such difference, proposing techniques and practices that make it irrelevant for the development of the person and for human relationships. But the utopia of the neutral removes both the human dignity of the sexually different constitution, and the personal quality of the generative transmission of life. The biological and psychical manipulation of sexual difference, which biomedical technology allows us to perceive as completely available to free choice which it is not! thus risks dismantling the source of energy that nurtures the alliance between man and woman and which renders it creative and fruitful. Francis, receiving the participants in the Chaldean Synod urges them to "be builders of unity ". For some regions of Iraq "a tragic page has come to an end" and in the current context there are "new uncertainties about the future". "Difficulties that still remain despite what has been done in the reconstruction work especially on the Nineveh Plain." Vatican City (AsiaNews) - In Iraq there is a need for "a process of national reconciliation" and the Chaldean Church must "build unity" in a country in which issues of primary importance must be tackled, including "forced migration of Christians, the reconstruction of the villages, the return of displaced persons, the particular law of the Church, the liturgical question and the vocational outreach. This was Pope Francis reflection this morning as he met with participants at the Synod of the Chaldean Church in Rome. "I take this opportunity," the Pope told them, "to greet, through you, the faithful of the beloved Iraqi land, hardly tried, sharing hope for the recent news of a resumption of life and activity in regions and cities so far subjected to painful and violent oppression. May the mercy of God soothe the wounds of war that plague the hearts of your communities so that they can finally be restored." Pope Francis exhorted members of the Chaldean Church to "work as unity builders", "promoting dialogue and collaboration among all actors in public life, helping to facilitate the return of displaced persons and to improve divisions and contrasts between brothers. For some regions of Iraq, he added, "a tragic page has ended" and in the current context there are "new uncertainties about the future". "There is a need for a national reconciliation process - the Pope pointed out - "My wish - he said - is that the strength of mind, hope, and the abundance of labourers that distinguish them never be lacking. Stay true to your intent not to yield to discouragement in the face of the difficulties that are still remaining despite what has been done in the reconstruction work especially on the Plain of Nineveh. " The Pontiff called on Church leaders to promote "communion and fraternity with the communities of the Latin rite to give the faithful good testimony without spreading divisions and disagreements. In 2016, the air raids resulted in the deaths of 683 children and on 38 occasions targeted in schools and hospitals. In the United Nations list there are also Yemeni government forces and Houthi rebels. The Saudi Arabian coalition denies having "intentionally" hit civilians or civilian infrastructure. Publication of the final document expected by the end of the month. Sana'a (AsiaNews / Agencies) - The Saudi Arabian coalition is responsible for the death, wounding, and suffering of infants and children in the context of the ongoing conflict in Yemen. A United Nations report, which includes Riyadh on a list - provisional and to be approved - of States and factions that "kill and threaten children in a war zone." It is clear from the UN text that in 2016 alone coalition raids resulted in 683 victims among minors. Moreover it states that on other 38 occasions the bombs hit schools and hospitals. The list also includes Yemeni governmental forces allied with the Saudis, and the opposite faction formed by the Houthi rebels. The response of the Arab coalition under Saudi leadership was an immediate denial of having purposely hit "civilians" or infrastructure. UN sources say that of the more than 8,530 dead, 60% are civilians, and 48,000 injured. The conflict has also left over 20 million people in need of humanitarian assistance, triggered one of the worst food emergencies and the outbreak of the worst cholera epidemic in the world. Every year, the United Nations General Secretariat publishes a document on children and armed conflict. It also contains "entity lists" - whether they are States, coalitions, factions, groups - accused of committing violations of the rights of minors. The draft report reads that " In Yemen, the coalition's actions objectively led to the listing for the killing and maiming of children, with 683 child casualties attributed to this party, and, as a result of being responsible for 38 verified incidents, for attacks on schools and hospitals during 2016. " It should also be added that the UN report recognizes that the coalition "has put in place measures" to "improve" the protection of children. Abdallah al-Mouallimi, Permanent Representative of Saudi Arabia to the UN, did not want to comment on the draft report until the official version is issued. The publication is expected by the end of October. Since January 2015, Yemen has been the scene of a bloody civil war opposing the countrys Sunni elites led by former President Hadi, backed by Riyadh, and Shia Houthi rebels, who are close to Iran. In March 2015, a Saudi-led Arab coalition began attacking the rebels, sparking criticism from the United Nations over heavy casualties, including many children. (Aleksandar Todorovic/Shutterstock.com) (Aleksandar Todorovic/Shutterstock.com) States around Australia are working to attract even more visitors as official figures show that the number of international and domestic tourists continues to increase, in turn creating more job opportunities.New South Wales has revealed that it aims to continue to attract visitors from New Zealand and not just to Sydney but also to rural and regional locations.The State Government has struck a new two-year deal with Air New Zealand with the aim of attracting more international visitors and boost tourism, but there will also be more workers needed in a wide range of jobs from hospitality to education and training.Minister for Tourism and Major Events Adam Marshall said the new partnership was an extension of the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which delivered strong results for the State's visitor economy.He explained that New Zealand is the State's third top inbound visitor market. 'With the close proximity between the two countries, we look forward to encouraging increased visitation from across the Tasman to Sydney and into rural and regional NSW over the next two years,' he said.The new deal comes as other locations in Australia are also looking to boost tourism. Queensland has released its 2017/2020 Tourism Workforce Plan, which shows that the industry is expected to need another 20,000 workers by 2020.This is likely to lead to more opportunities for overseas workers with skills in the tourism sector and also provide jobs for backpackers and students who are looking for part time or temporary work in the tourism sector.The report says that high quality service from skilled staff is critical to ensure Queensland remains competitive with other tourist destinations and with the extra visitors expected over the coming years.Forecasters predict that the key occupations will be for chefs, transport drivers, cafe/restaurant/hotel managers, kitchen hands, waiters and baristas. There are also a number of other industries where it is expected the number of jobs will grow, including health care and social assistance, technical services, education and training and construction.'Employees and businesses are the lifeblood of the tourism industry and this plan and its recommendations will help us design initiatives to meet the training and skills needs, which can include developing courses and training programmes, improving pathways into employment, and finding ways to keep workers in the industry,' the report says.Jobs Queensland has been established as an independent statutory entity to provide expert advice about which industries will have future job opportunities and how the Government can ensure there is a skilled and available workforce to meet those demands.'This plan has created a roadmap for how we prepare for future job needs that will be available in the tourism sector,' said Minister for Training and Skills Yvette D'Ath.Official figures show that the international tourists spent a record $40.6 million in the 12 months to June 2017 and Australian tourists spent a record $62.6 billion holidaying at home, up 7% on the previous year. Combined total spending by overnight tourists has reached a new record of $103.2 billion. Annette Sandberg Photo: TransSafe Consulting Former Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Association Administrator Annette Sandberg has verified that the Telogis Electronic Logging Device will meet federally mandated requirements, Telogis announced. The Telogis ELD has already been listed on the FMCSAs list of ELDs meeting the government specifications. But because companies self-certify to gain entry onto the FMCSA list, the company wanted a third party to verify that its solution met all requirements. The FMCSAs ELD self-certification process is important, but its not enough; our customers want to be sure providers have taken the necessary steps to ensure that they have a fully certified solution for the ELD deadline, said Erin Cave, vice president of product management for Telogis, a Verizon Company. Annette Sandberg delivered unparalleled expertise and a comprehensive verification process, enabling our customers to have total confidence in the integrity of our solution. Sandberg was the FMCSA administrator from 2003 to 2006 and is currently the CEO of TransSafe Consulting, where she offers her knowledge of the industry to trucking companies seeking counsel on ELD issues and other trucking industry topics. Earning a spot on the list of certified ELD providers ahead of the deadline is very important to customers and providers, said Sandberg. The mandated requirements can be quite complicated, and companies that have to meet this mandate need to know that their provider understands the critical nature of this mandate. After working with Telogis and conducting a comprehensive review of its ELD solution, I am confident that it meets every technical requirement. The Telogis Compliance HOS application allows customers to record, transmit and store all HOS information according to the functional requirements as detailed in the official ELD mandate. Additional features include over-the-air updates, support for iOS and Android, multiple rulesets and exemptions including the 150-air-mile non-CDL short-haul exemption and customizable driver vehicle inspection reports. For more information visit Telogis.com. Groupe PSA has launched its mobility brand Free2Move in Seattle. Photo courtesy of Groupe PSA. Groupe PSA has taken its latest step in the North American market with the launch of Free2Move in Seattle, a smartphone-based mobility aggregation platform positioned to meet changing customer demands. With the app, Free2Move allows users in Seattle to compare the location, characteristics, and operating costs of available transportation options, including offerings from car2go, Zipcar and TravelCar. Free2Move will also be adding bike-sharing services over the next 60-days, including Ofo Bike, Lime Bike, and Spin Bike. The decision to launch a service that helps people move around in the most efficient way underscores our commitment to the future of Groupe PSA, said Larry Dominique, Groupe PSAs North America president and CEO. As mobility services evolve and innovate based on the way people think about and consume mobility, bringing Free2Move stateside provides us with a unique way to address consumer demands, as well as a flexible platform to roll out future products. With Free2Move, consumers can schedule or access the transportation of their choice for a period ranging from a few minutes to several days, according to the company. The service has expanded throughout Europe and is currently available in seven countries (France, Spain, Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, Austria and Sweden) with 400,000 customers and some 30 operators. The launch in the U.S. represents the latest step in Groupe PSAs Push to Pass global growth initiative, which was unveiled in April 2016. Were pleased to announce today that we will begin our North American operations in Seattle, said Brigitte Courtehoux, Groupe PSAs senior vice president of mobility. As we begin to add more providers and roll out to new cities, Free2Move will enrich the lives of Americans who embrace innovative, non-traditional forms of transportation. Joseph Luiz can be reached at 395-7368 or by email at jlui@bakersfield.com. You can also follow him on Twitter @JLuiz_TBC. 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. Tropical Storm Nate is beginning to pull away from Central America as hurricane watches are posted for parts of the northern Gulf coast. Tropical Storm Nate forms in southwestern Caribbean Track coming more into focus Track the Tropics Storm Season 2017 The latest position has it about 350 miles south-southeast of Cozumel, Mexico. It is moving to the northwest at 12 mph with sustained winds of 40 mph. The central minimum pressure is 1000 mb. The center of the system was over land for much of Thursday, but it's reentering the northwestern Caribbean Sea. Hurricane watches have now been posted for parts of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, including the New Orleans metropolitan area. Tropical storm watches are in effect for the far western panhandle of Florida and for central Louisiana. The following advisories are in effect: A tropical storm warning for: Punta Castilla, Honduras to the Honduras/Nicaragua border Punta Herrero to Rio Lagartos, Mexico A hurricane watch for: Punta Herrero to Rio Lagartos, Mexico Morgan City Louisiana to the Mississippi/Alabama border Metropolitan New Orleans Lake Pontchartrain and lake Maurepas Punta Herrero to Rio Lagartos Mexico A tropical storm watch for: Mississippi/Alabama border to the Okaloosa/Walton Co. Line West of Morgan City to Intracoastal City Louisiana A storm surge watch for: Morgan City Louisiana to the Alabama/Florida border Northern and western shores of Lake Pontchartrain On the current forecast track, this system could become a hurricane before impacting the central Gulf Coast of the United States late Saturday and Sunday. While there is still great uncertainty over exactly where landfall will occur, models have been shifting west with landfall possible somewhere over coastal Louisiana, Mississippi or Alabama. Rain and wind will extend far from the storms center, so impacts are possible in the western Florida panhandle. Impacts to the rest of Florida look minimal at this time. Gov. Rick Scott on Thursday declared a state of emergency in 29 Florida counties in response to Tropical Storm Nate. The counties under the state of emergency are Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Holmes, Washington, Bay, Jackson, Calhoun, Gulf, Gadsden, Liberty, Franklin, Leon, Wakulla, Jefferson, Madison, Taylor, Hamilton, Suwannee, Lafayette, Dixie, Columbia, Gilchrist, Levy, Baker, Union, Bradford and Alachua. Meanwhile, federal officials said oil and gas companies had begun evacuating production platforms in the Gulf of Mexico in anticipation of Nate. The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement's New Orleans office said in a news release that as of midday Thursday, six production platforms of the 737 manned platforms in the Gulf had been evacuated. No drilling rigs were evacuated, but one moveable rig was taken out of the storm's path. The agency estimated less than 15 percent of the current oil production in the Gulf has been shut in, which equates to 254,607 barrels of oil per day. High pressure overhead and a cold front sweeping into the central U.S. will play a role in steering this system. Elsewhere in the Atlantic, no tropical formation is expected in the next five days. Information from the Associated Press contributed to this report. Make sure to watch our Tropical Updates each hour at :49 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. In the days and months before he shot concertgoers from his high-rise hotel suite, gunman Stephen Paddock rented rooms overlooking two other music festivals in Las Vegas and Chicago, authorities said. They gave no details on what his intentions might have been. Meanwhile, the girlfriend of the man who shot and killed at least 58 people and injured more than 500 others in Las Vegas broke her silence. The disclosures came as investigators struggled for a fourth day to explain what led the 64-year-old high-stakes gambler to open fire Sunday night on an open-air country music festival from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay hotel casino. He eventually took his own life. In August, Paddock booked a room at Chicagos Blackstone Hotel that overlooked the park where the Lollapalooza music festival was held that weekend, a law enforcement official said. The official said no evidence has been found that Paddock ever came to Chicago that weekend. Lollapalooza draws hundreds of thousands of music fans every year to Grant Park. Also, the weekend before the Las Vegas bloodbath, Paddock had rented a high-rise condo in a Las Vegas building that overlooked the Life is Beautiful alternative music festival, Sheriff Joseph Lombardo said. Girlfriend Marilou Danley talks about what happened Marilou Danley's attorney read a statement on her behalf, where she stated she did not know Stephen Craig Paddock was planning the act. "It never occurred to me in any way whatsoever that he was planning violence against anyone," said Matt Lombard, Danley's attorney, as he read her words. The FBI is still speaking with the 62-year-old Danley to find out what she may have known before the attack. She returned to the U.S. from the Philippines Tuesday night. Her attorney also says they are cooperating with investigators. Analyzing Paddocks computer, cellphone and other electronic devices, investigators have found no obvious ideological motive, no clear connection to extremists or activist groups or outward display of mental illness. The 64-year-old Paddock wired $100,000 to the Philippines days before the shooting, said a U.S. official who was not authorized to speak publicly because of the continuing investigation. Investigators are trying to trace that money. Danley, who was overseas for more than two weeks, said she was initially pleased when she was wired money from Paddock to buy a house for her family in the Philippines. But she later feared it was a way to break up with her. She said she loved Paddock as a kind, caring, quiet man and hoped they would have a future together. She also expressed she was devastated by the carnage and would cooperate with authorities as they struggle to get inside Paddocks mind. Also on Wednesday, President Donald Trump visited Las Vegas for the first time since Sunday night's mass shooting. He also had a message for the survivors and victims' families. "We will endure the pain together, and we will overcome together as Americans," he said. The president visited with survivors, first responders and police officers. The Associated Press contributed to this story. Vice President Mike Pence visited Central Florida on Thursday to meet with people who have been a crucial part of the Puerto Rico relief effort and to reaffirm the administration's commitment to the island's recovery. Vice President Mike Pence arrives in Orlando area He reaffirmed administration's support of Puerto Rican community Puerto Rico was devastated by Hurricane Maria Watch live coverage here His visit came after the Trump administration's response to Puerto Rico recovery efforts has been criticized. After landing at Orlando International Airport late in the afternoon, Florida Sens. Bill Nelson and Marco Rubio descended the steps of Air Force 2 behind the vice president and second lady Karen Pence. Their first stop was a tour of the Puerto Rico disaster relief center at the airport, which opened just days ago. It's a welcome center of sorts for storm victims who travel to Florida from the island, nearly all of which didn't have electricity as of Wednesday, the Federal Emergency Management Agency's website said this week, after Hurricane Maria slammed into the island Sept. 16. Pence then traveled to Kissimmee, where he delivered remarks at Iglesia de Dios, a church he referred to as the heart of the Puerto Rican community in Florida. He praised the church for filling trucks of supplies and sending dozens of generators to the island. "I appreciate his presence here, because Puerto Rico needs help from the U.S. It's a perfect speech," Pastor Rene Stella said. Pence also spoke about the administrations response to the U.S. territory devastated by Hurricane Maria and stated his commitment to supporting recovery efforts. Our message will be simple: We are with you, we stand with you and we will be with you every step of the way," he said. The vice president pointed to supplying power to hospitals and dialysis centers, getting gas stations running and supermarkets open as examples of success in Puerto Rico. "The needs of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands will be great, but the generosity of the American people evidenced by the great faith community will be greater still," Pence said. "We're just very grateful for the attention that he is bringing to the issue," congregation member Ashley Hernandez said. Pence's visit comes just days after President Donald Trump visited the storm-ravaged Puerto Rico, where he praised the relatively low death toll compared with "a real catastrophe like Katrina." Trump also singled out Gov. Ricardo Rossello for giving us the highest praise. The vice president will travel with his wife to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands on Friday. Vice President Mike Pence speaks at Iglesias de Dios in Kissimmee on Thursday evening, where he offered his support for the Puerto Rican community both in Central Florida and the island. (CNN) Air Force Recon investigated the tropical depression Wednesday afternoon and found it hasn't strengthened at this time -- although satellite images show a well-developed system with rotating bands. Tropical Depression 16 in southwestern Caribbean System likely to become a Tropical Storm Models show landfall between Louisiana, Florida There is a potential for rapid strengthening, but interaction with land in Central America could counter this. Waters are warm in the Western Caribbean (as they always are) so a Hurricane Watch might be issued for the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico. There is also a strong low, mainly aloft and not surface based, moving through the Florida Straits. This low could be close to our area Thursday and bring our rain chances up. It could also bring gusty winds. We will have to watch this feature overnight and Thursday morning. SUMMARY OF 500 PM EDT...2100 UTC...INFORMATION ---------------------------------------------- LOCATION...12.5N 82.5W ABOUT 55 MI...85 KM W OF SAN ANDRES ISLAND ABOUT 180 MI...290 KM SSE OF CABO GRACIAS A DIOS ON NIC/HON BORDER MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...35 MPH...55 KM/H PRESENT MOVEMENT...NW OR 315 DEGREES AT 7 MPH...11 KM/H MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...1005 MB...29.68 INCHES It should move away from us, but the future development could have big implications on the future track of what is now TD 16. Down the road there is great disagreement among computer models. All show a landfall between Louisiana and Florida over the weekend. More models are showing strengthening, the Euro model shows a hurricane. No matter what develops, it looks to be lop-sided, with most of the bad weather to the east of the center. This has huge implications for impacts in our area. A Gulf of Mexico system must be watched closely for a storm surge risk on the West Coast of Florida, Nature Coast and Big Bend. Any slight shift in track could bring major differences in weather and water. It is simply too early to get into much detail of the track and intensity in the Saturday/Sunday timeframe. We just have to watch this in the coming days. Make sure to watch our Tropical Updates each hour at :49 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 team of USF Health doctors will head to Puerto Rico to help in the relief effort after Hurricane Maria. Group of USF Health doctors will leave Tampa Saturday IV fluids, supplies will be taken to storm-ravaged Puerto Rico Dr. Asa Oxner has made similar trips in past Related: How to help Puerto Rico victims "One of the biggest needs is going to be treating patients who have chronic diseases who are starting to see complications of those diseases, because they aren't having their medicine," said USF Health Dr. Asa Oxner. Oxner specializes in Internal Medicine and is part of the group traveling to the San Juan Bautista Medical Center in Puerto Rico. "We're taking a bunch of IV fluids and IV supplies, a lot of medicines for diabetes, high blood pressure and for infection," Oxner said. This is not the first time Oxner has traveled to help patients who are suffering. In 2014, she spent more than a year in Sierra Leone. Oxner helped patients who were infected with Ebola. Making these trips are important for her. "It is the main reason that I went to medical school, actually, is to go to do global health and to help patients who don't have resources that we have here," Oxner said. Oxner will leave Tampa on Saturday. The team expects to spend at least a week helping patients in Puerto Rico. Power outages remain widespread in parts of Puerto Rico. Already damaged from Hurricane Irma's glancing blow, the island's power grid took a direct hit from Hurricane Maria. Two weeks after the storm, less than 10 percent of the island's residents have had their power restored. Officials have placed government buildings and hospitals to the forefront when it comes to restoring electricity. Now, with downed power lines, damaged wires and split-in-half cement power poles across the landscape, Puerto Rico is scrambling to restore power to neighborhoods. Spectrum News Anchor Veronica Cintron, who grew up in Puerto Rico, is on the island with photojournalist Tony Rojek. They visited a neighborhood in the Carolina community near San Juan. Residents there say no one has come to pick up or repair damaged lines or instruct them on what to do if the downed lines remain dangerous. Here are some images of what Veronica and Tony found in Carolina: Children, who were playing in a Carolina street near down power lines, gather to talk with Veronica Cintron during her recent trip to Puerto Rico. Two weeks after the storm, less than 10 percent of the island's residents have had their power restored. Officials have placed government buildings and hospitals to the forefront when it comes to restoring electricity. A palm tree lies near a street two weeks after the hurricane blew across the island. The Department of Defense has said distributing food and supplies, distributing clean water, delivering generator fuel to hospitals, and clearing roadways remain the focus. Spectrum News Anchor Veronica Cintron speaks with Nelida Dominguez in her Carolina neighborhood. Dominguez said there has been no help cleaning up downed wires and power poles in her neighborhood. She said she is worried about someone, especially the children in the area, getting hurt. Preparations are underway for a rocket launch early Thursday morning one of two launches from the Space Coast this week. 2 launches from Space Coast planned this week Atlas V with spy satellite to take off early Thursday SpaceX launch on Saturday to deliver 2 satellites RELATED: Space Coast launch schedule An Atlas V rocket by United Launch Alliance is set to blast off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station before sunrise to deliver a spy satellite into orbit for the National Reconnaissance Office. The launch window for the NROL-52 mission opens at 4:07 a.m. and lasts till 5 a.m. It will be broadcast live on Spectrum News 13. Two days later, SpaceX is scheduled to launch a Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center. That mission will deliver satellites into orbit for two companies. The company tweeted a photo after a static fire test Monday. Static fire test of Falcon 9 completetargeting October 7 launch of EchoStar 105/SES-11 from Pad 39A in Florida. pic.twitter.com/4Nwe65JyK5 SpaceX (@SpaceX) October 2, 2017 The window for the Saturday launch opens at 6:53 p.m. The nightmare of the deadly Las Vegas mass shooting rings close to home for one Orlando-area trauma surgeon. Dr. Gary Parrish was on the front lines at Orlando Healths trauma unit after the Pulse shooting. Since that tragic night in June 2016, Parrish has been asked to share his experience with other trauma units across the country, providing insight to other surgeons and medical staff on what procedures they could improve upon in the hours and days after a mass casualty event. But no one could have predicted how soon his advice would be put into practice. On Sunday night, the sounds of rapid gunfire drowned out the sounds of a country music concert on the Las Vegas Strip another mass shooting in the U.S. was underway. In the aftermath: at least 58 dead, more than 520 injured eclipsing the Pulse attack as the deadliest mass shooting in modern American history. But for doctors and nurses at Las Vegas University Medical Center, their response may have been helped by Parrish's insights. He provided firsthand knowledge of the controlled chaos that ensues after a mass casualty event. He, along with dozens of others, fought to save lives as patient after patient arrived at Orlando Regional Medical Center the night of the Pulse nightclub shooting. Since then, Parrish has offered his expertise in an effort to give trauma staff and hospitals vital information on logistics and caring for patients and staff. Any time you hear somebody elses story and what they went through, sometimes there are small bits of information that might be helpful if you have to go through those events, he said Wednesday. Parrish thinks the staff at UMC wanted to hear what he had to say because the cities of Orlando and Las Vegas are similar in population and tourist traffic. He said UMC staff were prepared for the mass casualty event not only because of its own excellent training, but perhaps from some of the information he shared with them about patient management, logistics and how to cope with possibly unfamiliar forms of trauma. Any one patient saved is a benefit for the institution and for the community, Parrish said. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Beaumont native Matt Foley was relaxing at his Las Vegas home on Sunday night when he got a panicked call from his girlfriend. Foley, 30, listened intently as she told him through short, quick breaths that someone was shooting into the crowd at the Jason Aldean concert she was attending on The Strip. He could hear the sounds of her and others frantically running just over the bursts of gunfire in the background. Thirty minutes later, during which time he confirmed his girlfriend was safe, Foley arrived at Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center, where he is a general surgical resident. "And it was just non-stop," Foley > > MORE: Clues lead officials to believe gunman had accomplice recounted on Wednesday to BeaumontEnterprise.com. "I had never seen anything like that before. Just the sheer number of patients who were severely injured." Foley said the hospital admitted more than 200 people hurt at the Route 91 Harvest Festival. Most had gunshot wounds, but some in the crowd of 22,000 were trampled as people desperately tried to flee the festival grounds, Foley said. > > MORE: Heartbreaking photos show terrified, injured crowd Stephen Paddock, 64, was perched high on the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino's 32nd floor just after 10 p.m. Sunday when he started firing into the crowd below, according to Las Vegas authorities. Paddock, who died from a self-inflicted gun shot wound, killed 59 people and injured more than 500 in what authorities have said is the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history. Sunrise Hospital is about 15 minutes from The Strip, Foley said. "They just didn't stop coming in," Foley said. "When there's normally one or two coming through the doors, there were five and 10." > > PROFILES: More shooting victims identified Hundreds of hospital personnel, including Foley, immediately got to work. "Every kind of surgeon that wasn't supposed to be there that night came in," Foley said. "Over 30 surgeons were there, working between 16- and 24-hours straight. Not to mention all of the nurses, technicians and administrative people who were up all night." Foley said the mood at the hospital on Wednesday was serious but upbeat as staff tried to encourage recovering patients, many of whom he described as being young. "Everyone is very proud of our staff and the first responders for doing everything they could," Foley said. "Our main goal right now is to get these patients better ... It's tough to imagine someone doing this, and it's hard to wrap my mind around how much damage was caused." Foley, raised in Beaumont, attended St. Anne's Catholic School as a boy and then Monsignor Kelly Catholic High School for two years before his family moved to Austin in 2004. From there, he attended Texas A&M University and studied medicine at the University of North Texas in Fort Worth. Foley began his medical career in Houston and moved to Las Vegas a couple of years ago. Since the shooting, Foley said he has received numerous calls, texts and messages from concerned Texas friends and family. Although he's barely had a chance to leave the hospital, Foley said the usually bustling party city seems somber and quiet. Las Vegas is heartbroken, he said. MGstalter@BeaumontEnterprise.com A Jasper Police officer is facing termination after it recently came to light that she was indicted in another county for sexual assault of a child. Texas Rangers contacted Chief Gerald Hall on Aug. 23 to inform him officer Lacie Jackson was under investigation for an alleged incident that occurred in February 2016, according to a statement from the Jasper Police Department. At least 13 people were killed and over 20 were injured in Pakistans Balochistan after a suicide bomber reportedly blew himself up. The incident happened outside a shrine after two policemen who were on duty reportedly intercepted him. A Northern Ireland property developer is set to build a 12m waterfront office block and cafe in south Belfast, it can be revealed. Cromac Quay Ltd wants to build the new scheme at the Gasworks on Ormeau Road. Local property developer Francis Jennings is among those behind the ambitious development. The developer is now hosting a community consultation event ahead of seeking full planning permission. John Smylie, director of Placelab, which is designing the building, said the riverside property will include 100,000sq ft of space. "The offices will have views over the park. It is mixed use, office-led, with around 100,000sq ft," he said. "We have a coffee shop in there, quite a large one, and we also have a covered arcade at the site which will overlook the existing walkway. "We are trying to enhance (the area). It is not some sort of paper exercise. The client is committed to doing something positive with the site. "On the roof, we will have some apartments. It's a mixed-use development, so there will be the residential bit, it's south-west facing, fantastic views over the park and river. "It is a prestigious and well-designed scheme, and one that has, at its core, the concept of place making." Planning consultancy Wyg is also working on the project, along with civil engineers Taylor & Boyd. The building will sit beside the existing Lloyds Banking Group call and sales centre. The new development is the latest in a series of major proposed schemes across the city to meet demand for top-end office space. Belfast Harbour has just completed a 22m office development as part of its City Quays initiative. The nine-storey City Quays 2, which can accommodate up to 1,000 people, was built by Lagan Building Contractors in less than 18 months. It will play host to a number of firms, including financial services giant Tullett Prebon, and will be the new headquarters of broadcaster UTV. Both of the lettings were first revealed by the Belfast Telegraph. And the renovation of Belfast building Chichester House is creating 150 construction jobs as part of an 8m investment. The Belfast project, which is expected to be completed by late 2018, will bring 46,000sq ft of office space and 5,000sq ft of modern retail space to the Northern Ireland market. Belfast City Council is also offering up a pot of almost 19m to businesses to encourage the development of high-quality office space. It's actively seeking proposals for its 18.8m City Centre Investment Fund. The latest attempt to increase top-end office space in Belfast comes after an Invest NI report warned Northern Ireland could lose out on attracting crucial foreign direct investment due to a lack of prime office space. The agency briefed Stormont on the concerns in 2015. It suggested intervening in the market here to help "stimulate the development of new grade A office accommodation". Other schemes include a 65m, 12-storey office building on the Dublin Road, which will replace the Movie House cinema. Eamonn Holmes is asking people across the UK to channel their passions, hobbies or dreams and do their thing to help change the lives of disadvantaged children and young people across the UK. The Belfast-born broadcaster was speaking as BBC Children in Need launches its fundraising campaign on Thursday. Eamonn said: "We are always so generous in Northern Ireland. "People here are so good, but it gets harder every year to raise the amounts needed - go out there and get fundraising now! "I know I can rely on Northern Ireland where we always do our bit and more - you'll be helping BBC Children in Need to support some of the most disadvantaged young people here in Northern Ireland and across the United Kingdom." Presbyterians in east Belfast have expressed their concern and support for Catholic residents in a cross-community estate who have been subjected to sectarian threats. Loyalist paramilitaries have been blamed for intimidation at Cantrell Close, off the Ravenhill Road in the south of the city. The East Belfast Presbytery also expressed its concern at intimidation in the Inverary area of east Belfast, where a pig's head was left at a community centre and racist graffiti sprayed on its walls. Speaking on behalf of the presbytery, Rev Mervyn Burnside, minister of Castlereagh Presbyterian Church, said: "As people living, working and worshipping in east Belfast we wanted to take the opportunity to express our prayerful solidarity with all families who have been subject to threats and intimidation. "Everyone has a right to feel safe in their own home. "Acts of hatred have no place in our community and must be both condemned and eradicated." The Bombardier-Boeing trade row could damage the peace process as well as hit jobs and the wider Northern Ireland economy, Ireland's Foreign Minister has warned a senior US official. In a preliminary ruling last week, the US Department of Commerce imposed a 220% tariff on Bombardier's new C Series jets following a complaint by Boeing that its Canadian rival had received State subsidies. The C Series wings are built in east Belfast, where thousands of jobs are now at risk. Simon Coveney told US Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross that he should "consider fully the significance of the case for the security of the economy in Northern Ireland, which is an essential support to the peace process". He was speaking to Mr Ross during the start of a two-day visit to the States. The tarrif decision could potentially scupper a multi-billion pound deal Bombardier has with US carrier Delta. "Given that Bombardier is, by some distance, the largest manufacturer and private sector employer in Northern Ireland, the adverse impact on the economy in Northern Ireland would be pronounced," Mr Coveney said. Later today the US Department of Commerce is also due to rule on whether it believes 'dumping' - selling of the C Series at a cut price or below cost - took place. The Irish Small and Medium Enterprise (ISME) Association has urged the EU to step in to help resolve the transatlantic trade row. ISME chief executive Neil McDonnell warned the EU not to wait until the US trade commission rules on the Department of Commerce decision next year before intervening. Meanwhile, rival Brazilian planemaker Embraer has lent its support to a complaint to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) about Bombardier. The WTO opened a panel last week - the initial stage of dispute resolution - after Brazil made a complaint about the alleged subsidies to Bombardier. Chief executive of Embraer Commercial Aviation, John Slattery, said he believed the US preliminary ruling "validates" Brazil's position at the WTO. 'He was arrested after police seized a laptop said to contain bank details for multiple individuals and set up to print counterfeit Spanish La Liga football tickets' A man has been handed a prison sentence for sophisticated cyber phishing operation. Daniel Marincu (32), of no fixed abode, was handed a three year sentence at Laganside Crown Court on Thursday for a number of fraud offences connected to a sophisticated cyber phishing operation. Marincu, a Romanian national, was arrested in Belfast in June 2016 following a joint operation between detectives from the PSNIs Cyber Crime Centre and Human Trafficking Unit and he pleaded guilty in September 2017 to a number of Fraud offences. Following his arrest, he has spent 15 months in custody. The Judge imposed a sentence of 3 years with 18 months to be spent in prison with the remainder of his sentence served on licence. Marincus barrister indicated to the Court that he had been served with Deportation papers and that Marincu was willing to return to Romania Detective Superintendent Richard Campbell, from PSNIs Serious Crime Branch which includes Cyber Crime, said: On 28th June 2016 officers from our Human Trafficking Unit carried out a search at an apartment in Belfast in relation to suspected Human Trafficking and Controlling Prostitution. "During the search of the apartment, various devices and computer equipment belonging to Daniel Marincu were seized as police were suspicious of various applications running." The Detective Superintendent added: "Detectives from the PSNI Cyber Crime Centre worked with colleagues in the National Crime Agencys National Cyber Crime Unit to examine his laptop, USB device and mobile phone which revealed a large volume of material believed to be linked to the creation of various phishing emails, spoof websites and the harvesting of compromised credit card and personal data. "The material identified included: - Lists of email addresses that could be potentially targeted with spoof emails (In excess of 20 million email addresses) - Files that could be used to create spoof emails associated with companies such as PayPal, Apple, and a various financial institutions - Evidence of mass mailers designed to send emails to large numbers of recipients at a time. One script may have been used on at least one occasion to send 68,000 emails. - Fake websites which appear linked to those contained in spoofed emails. 133 webpages linked to 42 different online entities such as PayPal, HMRC and various banks were identified. - Personal information relating to some 862 people was recovered which corresponded with accounts linked to a number of financial institutions - Email accounts identified as being used by the spoofed webpages to collect information provided by victims. "Through working in partnership with other law enforcement partners to put Daniel Marincu behind bars we are in no doubt that we have prevented further people from becoming a victim of his sophisticated frauds." The shadow Northern Ireland Secretary Owen Smith jokingly blamed the "north isn't British" spat between Arlene Foster and Michelle O'Neill on a "dodgy sausage". And, speaking to the BBC, the Labour MP said that while the mood music among the parties was "much more harmonious" he wouldn't put a large bet on a deal being made by next week when the Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire will have to legislate for a budget. He said that while he had not seen evidence of a deal being made, there was nothing to suggest one wouldn't. "What is different this time is that it is very much being conducted behind closed doors that the governments are acting as facilitators," he said. "The real action has been between the DUP and Sinn Fein who I understand are still talking substantively about the issues. That's different, that's encouraging, they have not walked out and they have still been engaged." Read More The Labour MP is visiting Northern Ireland to visit bombardier over the ongoing dispute with Boeing. He said he was still "hopeful" the 220% tariff ruling against the Canadian aerospace company could be changed. He said the ruling by the US Department of Commerce was "ludicrously over-the-top" and "sense will be seen". At the Conservative Party conference Ulster fry event, Michelle O'Neill sparked controversy when she said "the north was not British". Arlene Foster had said "solid progress" had been made in the talks but differences still remained. Mr Smith said that while relations may have appeared soured between the two, he believed the mood music between their parties was "much more harmonious". "Let's hope it was a one off aberration, perhaps it was a dodgy sausage or they weren't too well after the night before," he said. Expand Close DUP leader Arlene Foster and Sinn Feins Michelle ONeill attend the Ulster fry breakfast at Manchester Town Hall yesterday. PA PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp DUP leader Arlene Foster and Sinn Feins Michelle ONeill attend the Ulster fry breakfast at Manchester Town Hall yesterday. PA James Brokenshire said he wanted to see an Executive in place before Brexit, which is scheduled for March 2019. He has said he will legislate to introduce a budget in Northern Ireland this month should not deal be made to restore an executive. Images of the individuals Police Scotland wish to speak to / Credit: Police Scotland Images of the individuals Police Scotland wish to speak to / Credit: Police Scotland Images of the individuals Police Scotland wish to speak to / Credit: Police Scotland Images of the individuals Police Scotland wish to speak to / Credit: Police Scotland Police Scotland has appealed to the public to help identify a group of men after the anti-Irish 'Famine Song' was sung at an Orange Order march in Glasgow. The incident in question happened during a march on July 1, and footage shared on social media showed band members playing the song to the tune of the Beach Boys' Sloop John B with those in the crowd singing along. A spokesperson for Police Scotland has said that it believes the men in the pictures may be able to help them with their inquiries. "Officers at Govan Police Office are looking for assistance in the identification of the men in the attached images following the Annual Boyne Parade in Glasgow," they said. Each year a number of Orange Order marches are held in Scotland, with the County Grand Orange Order parade taking place on July 1. Prior to this year's event, Grand Master of the Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland Jim McHarg said: "I would say to those coming to enjoy the music, colour and excitement, you are very welcome, but please do not spoil the day through excessive drinking or abusive behaviour." This year around 63 bands participated in Glasgow's Orange Walks, with around 4,500 musicians and supporters taking place in the parades and around a further 4,000 people turning out to watch the parades. This year eight arrests were made for alleged minor disorder and alcohol-related incidents. The granddaughter of a murdered loyalist terror chief has been charged with committing arson while in custody. Stephanie McKeag, who did not appear at Newtownards Magistrates Court yesterday, is said to have started a fire on January 13, damaging lino flooring in the women's prison at Hydebank. After a prosecuting lawyer confirmed that receipt of the summons had not been acknowledged, District Judge Mark Hamill adjourned the case. McKeag (19) is the granddaughter of Jackie Coulter, who held a senior rank in the UDA before his murder in August 2000 by rivals in the UVF during a bloody feud. The defendant, from Bandon Court in Belfast, was sentenced to three months' jail earlier this year for assaulting her mother, Tracey Coulter, and for possessing a weapon. However, she walked free from Dungannon Magistrates Court after the sentencing hearing in March because she had already served the equivalent while on remand. Sentencing McKeag, who held a knife to her mother's throat while threatening "you'll get this", District Judge John Meehan said that despite numerous conditional discharges being handed out to the teenager, she continued to refuse to change her behaviour. "If someone was murdered following the litany of violent offences repeatedly dealt with by conditional discharge, questions would be asked," Judge Meehan added. He also stressed that his "obligation is not just to the defendant's vulnerabilities, but to protect the public". Earlier a prosecuting lawyer told the court how an 11-year-old child rang 999 on December 6 last year, telling police her mother was being held with a knife to her throat at their Dungannon home and identifying McKeag as the assailant. Police officers who went to the scene were met by Ms Coulter's partner, who pointed to a room and said: "She's in there. She's put the knife down." McKeag, the lawyer said, appeared to have calmed down and was arrested, but she refused to answer the majority of police questions, although she claimed she had picked up the knife in self-defence. Ms Coulter told police that she and her daughter had argued and that McKeag had grabbed the knife and swung it at her. The case was originally adjourned for pre-sentence reports, but the court heard that when McKeag attended an appointment with probation services she "became agitated and walked out". Despite a vast record of violence and assaults, she claimed to have "little or no recollection of any previous offences". McKeag's defence solicitor, who previously revealed she had grown up in the care system until she turned 18, said his client had addiction issues but was attempting to address them. He also pointed out after being originally charged, the defendant was remanded in custody for a time until she managed to secure bail. Sentencing McKeag, Judge Meehan told her she "needs to understand she goes to jail if she attacks people and puts others in fear". He added that if "she continues with her violence, this needs more than conditional discharges". A man has been charged with a murder outside a supermarket in Northern Ireland. Colin Horner, 35, was shot dead in the car park in Bangor, Co Down, in front of his three-year-old son last May. A Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) statement said: " Detectives have charged a 34-year-old man with the murder of Colin Horner in Bangor on Sunday, 28 May and with possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life. "He is expected to appear before Newtownards Magistrates' Court tomorrow, Friday 06 October." A number of others have been charged in connection with the murder. When suspect Ryan Graham Smyth, 29, was charged earlier this year, the court was told the shooting was part of an ongoing feud amongst loyalist paramilitaries. Mr Horner was shot dead by a lone gunman moments after he had put his son in the back of his car outside the Sainsbury's store. The funeral of Steven Sunstrum at Roselawn yesterday The funeral took place yesterday of a teenager who died following a road accident in Belfast last week. Steven Sunstrum (19), from the Cregagh estate, passed away on Saturday. He had been critically injured in the crash at the junction of the Castlereagh and Upper Knockbreda Roads at around 9.45pm last Wednesday. His funeral service took place yesterday afternoon in Roselawn Crematorium. Steven was affectionately known as 'Giggles'. In a death notice, his family said: "We will miss your smile and giggles with every day that passes, we will meet again and continue the laughs." They requested that donations in lieu of flowers be made to the Royal Victoria Hospital's intensive care unit. 'The 34-year-old, from Limewood in Banbridge, appeared at Belfast Crown Court, where he pleaded guilty to four counts of fraud by false representation, two counts of theft and two forgery charges' (stock photo) A Co Down man who admitted posing as a barrister to defraud a vulnerable woman has been remanded in custody. Christopher McDonnell was warned by a Crown Court judge that he faces a custodial sentence after he pleaded guilty to eight offences committed last March. He also denied a fraud charged linked to an "underhand payment to a judge". The 34-year-old, from Limewood in Banbridge, appeared at Belfast Crown Court, where he pleaded guilty to four counts of fraud by false representation, two counts of theft and two forgery charges. The charges McDonnell admitted included dishonestly claiming to be a qualified barrister to make a gain for himself or cause a loss to a woman; stealing money from the same woman, and claiming a document purporting to be a bank transfer represented money that she owed him for legal fees. He also admitted forging a letter addressed to the woman from a recognised law firm as well as faking a court document which notified a change of solicitor. While he entered guilty pleas to eight of the charges he faces, McDonnell denied a further two counts of fraud. He denied telling the woman he needed 590 "to use as an underhand payment to a judge", and denied giving her payment instructions which he claimed were to "discharge legal fees". The court heard that while seven of the charges relate to one woman, McDonnell also admitted posing as a barrister with the intention of gaining for himself or causing a loss to a second woman. A Crown barrister revealed the amount of money involved was around 15,000, and said the two women were "reasonably vulnerable". Issues were then raised about the defendant's bail conditions after it was claimed he travelled to England for job training. After no evidence of such travelling and training was presented to the court, Judge Smyth remanded McDonnell in custody until sentencing on November 8. She said: "Given the serious nature of these offences, I find it difficult to see how a non-custodial sentence can be imposed." A Northern Ireland pharmacist convicted of supplying the wrong drugs to a grandmother who later died has been suspended from practising for seven months. The sanction was imposed on Martin White, 46, after a professional disciplinary committee ruled that striking him off the register would be a disproportionate sanction. It held that while his failings were serious they were not seen as being fundamentally incompatible with continuing to practise. The panel, chaired by solicitor Conor Heaney, focused on the pharmacist's actions rather than the tragic consequences. White, of Belfast Road in Muckamore, Co Antrim, was responsible for a dispensing error which led to the death of 67-year-old Ethna Walsh in February 2014. Her husband had gone to the Clear Pharmacy on Antrim's Station Road to pick up medication for lung disease, COPD. White was supposed to give her the steroid Prednisolone, but mistakenly lifted a box of Propranolol which slows down the heart. Later that day Mrs Walsh took the dispensed pills at home, falling ill within minutes. She was rushed to hospital in an ambulance but later died. White, who qualified as a pharmacist 21 years ago, told police that he must have given her the wrong drugs. Expand Close Ethna Walshs family and solicitor outside court Photopress Belfast / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Ethna Walshs family and solicitor outside court He said the medications were side by side on a shelf in the pharmacy's dispensary and had similar branding. In December last year he was sentenced to four months imprisonment, suspended for two years, after admitting to supplying a medicinal product not specified in the prescription. By that stage White had resigned from his position as manager at Clear Pharmacy. Following the court case professional disciplinary proceedings were commenced by the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland. At a hearing in Belfast last week it examined White's fitness to practice based on misconduct and his conviction. White was not present nor represented during those proceedings. In a newly published judgment, the Society's statutory committee held that White's had not acted in a manner professionally expected of him. His mistake was compounded by failures to get a second person to check the prescription, and to make contact with the patient to offer advice before or after dispensing the medication. Committee chairman Mr Heaney said: "Mr White's actions, whilst representing an isolated incident in an otherwise unblemished career, had resulted in grave and profound consequences, namely the tragic death of (Mrs Walsh)." However, it was recognised that the error was an isolated incident. White was open and transparent during the investigation into the death and accepted the significance of his role in dispensing the incorrect pills, the committee found. "The Committee considered that, at this stage, striking-off would be a disproportionate sanction to apply," Mr Heaney added. He confirmed: "The Committee determined that it was appropriate to make the suspension order for a seven-month period. "There will be a mandatory review before the expiry of the order." Councillors in Omagh have clashed over justice for Troubles victims during a highly-charged debate about the 1974 murder of one of their predecessors. At a meeting of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, a Sinn Fein-sponsored motion called for an investigation into the murder of Independent councillor Patsy Kelly, believed to be carried out by loyalist paramilitaries, to continue. The Police Ombudsman is still investigating matters surrounding the death of the father-of-five today after the original RUC probe was heavily criticised. The Sinn Fein motion also claimed the Ombudsman had linked the killing to the so-called Glenanne Gang, which they say was linked to over 100 other murders in the 1970s and had serving members of the UDR, Army and the RUC in its ranks. Sparks flew in Tuesday's meeting as Sinn Fein council chairman Stephen McCann shut down a UUP amendment which would have broadened the motion to include all unsolved Troubles murders, including those by republican paramilitaries. UUP councillor Robert Irvine said Sinn Fein were trying to airbrush history and that Mr McCann was guilty of a conflict of interest as he was council chairman and had his name on the original motion. Sinn Fein maintained it was fair to block the UUP, as their amendment was improperly trying to introduce an entirely new item. Speaking yesterday, Mr Irvine said: "This is the latest Sinn Fein attempt to exclude a large section of innocent victims from their processes of dealing with the past. "While we in the Ulster Unionists were content to support the continued investigation into the murder of Councillor Patsy Kelly, Sinn Fein and others would not support the same for other members of our community, like RUC officers, UDR and regular army soldiers, and civilians. "This further demonstrates the attempts of Sinn Fein to re-write history. Of course the death of Councillor Kelly should be investigated, but so also should the local murders of Robert Jameson, and the five civilian engineers who were working at Brougher mountain. "Robert Jameson was only 22 years old when he was murdered by the IRA as he got off the bus just outside of Trillick after coming from work in 1974. "Similarly, John Eakins, William Thomas, Harry Edgar, David Henson and George Beck were all murdered by the IRA outside Trillick in a landmine explosion just three years earlier. They were civilian engineers going to carry out maintenance at the BBC mast at Brougher. "However, it appears that Sinn Fein want a one-sided investigation process that does not focus on murders by republicans." A Sinn Fein spokesperson restated yesterday that it was correct to block the UUP amendment. The statement added: "The UUP motion was also factually inaccurate as it is in denial about the collusion between British state forces with loyalist death squads which claimed the lives of hundreds of civilians. "The infamous Glenanne Gang, which was made up of UDR soldiers, RUC members and members of the UVF, claimed the lives of over 120 people, including the 34 victims, including an unborn child, of the Dublin Monaghan bombings." Chief constable George Hamilton said the East Belfast UVF was behind the intimidation of the Cantrell Close families Northern Ireland's police chief has blamed the paramilitary Ulster Volunteer Force for issuing threats to four Catholic families in a cross-community housing development in Belfast. George Hamilton said the East Belfast UVF was behind the intimidation of the families in Cantrell Close neighbourhood. The clear attribution comes following a week of growing pressure on the police to confirm who it believed was behind the threats. "There are people using the guise of the UVF who we believe are members of that organisation who are threatening people because of their community background, because of their religion, to leave their home - that is not acceptable," said Mr Hamilton. The Police Service of Northern Ireland chief constable said the UVF was so "chaotic" the police was not yet sure whether the threats were supported by the leadership of the criminal organisation, or were made by individual members. "We are of the view that there's people purporting to be of East Belfast UVF who have been behind those threats," he said. "Whether or not that is an organisational position we don't know because it is a chaotic disorganised crime group. "They have no legitimacy, they are a scourge on the community." Cantrell Close, off the Ravenhill Road in the south of the city, was supposed to be a flagship cross-community development as part of the Stormont Executive's Together Building United Communities programme. Mr Hamilton vowed to take tough action against the East Belfast UVF but expressed frustration that witnesses and individuals with information were not willing to give formal statements through fear of the organisation. "We are going to make life difficult for them because they are a scourge on that community," he said. The police chief noted that the social housing development was supposed to be an example for shared living. "What an irony that is," he said. Following the intimidation of the Catholic families, two Protestant community workers living nearby, both pensioners, were also threatened this week . Mr Hamilton said it was too early in the investigation to say whether dissident republicans were to blame. "This has only just emerged in the last 24 hours, people want us to jump to conclusions, we are police officers, we go where the investigation takes us - we don't know about that yet," he said. "But whatever the source of any of these threats or intimidation, it is not acceptable - we are a society that should be moving on and living together." The Cantrell Close development was hit with another controversy in the summer when loyalist paramilitary flags were erected on lamp-posts. A loyalist community group in east Belfast said those flags had now been taken down as a gesture of "goodwill" and in an attempt to de-escalate tensions in the area. Mr Hamilton was asked whether the continuing lack of powersharing government in Northern Ireland was creating a vacuum that paramilitaries were exploiting. He said a functioning executive would help create a more "stable" society and encouraged the region's politicians to strike a deal to restore a Stormont executive. Protesters gathered in torrential rain outside a Londonderry residential home last night to oppose health cuts that could see its closure through merger with another old people's home. They joined health workers, union representatives and politicians outside the Rectory Field Residential Home at Limavady Road to oppose the plans by the Western Trust. The trust has been tasked to make savings of 12.5m as part of Department of Health savings of 70m. The proposal to merge Rectory Field with a care home at William Street, closing one site and moving residents to the other, has caused outrage. One Rectory Field worker, who did not want to be identified, said residents and staff were "greatly upset" by the proposal. "We have residents in there from aged 70 to well into their 90s," she said. "That is their home. The thought of moving from their home is shocking. "They were assured that they could live out their days in Rectory Field. The spirits are low, everyone is down. They are upset, they are scared, they are annoyed, as are the staff." People Before Profit's Shaun Harkin, who organised the protest, said that they wanted the trust to know that the public were against the cuts. He said: "We are here today to send a message to the Western Trust that we do not think that either of these homes should be shut down. "We know that the residents who live in both of these homes are happy there. They don't want to be moved. "We don't think that it's good for elderly people to feel this kind of worry and trauma. "If we look at what happened in Bell Gray Nursing Home, where quite a few of the people died within months of being moved out. We don't want to see that happen here. We feel like we are standing up for the health service. I have met nobody that supports the idea of cuts. "People want to see more funding for the health service." SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan joined the protesters after earlier speaking to staff who expressed concern over the impact of cuts. "This is not just the closure of a building or the stopping of a service, This is the removal of people from their home," he said. "And if you think of your own elderly parents or grandparents, if someone told them that they had to get out of their home, I don't think anyone would stand by and let that happen. "It is important that we stand strong and resist any attempt to have these homes closed now." The Western Trust is to hold a meeting on October 13 to discuss the savings plan 2017/18 consultation outcome. McMoran was jailed for 11 years in 1998. [File photo] A convicted rapist was remanded in custody today for allegedly failing to notify police on his return to Northern Ireland. Michael McMoran, 38, is accused of taking no steps to register with the authorities after arriving back from Scotland in July. He was arrested at a location in Belfast on Wednesday - allegedly with a small quantity of heroin on him. McMoran, of Plunkett Court in the city, is charged with failing to comply with a requirement to notify police of a change of address within a three-day period. He also faces a second count of possessing Class A drugs. In May 1998 he was jailed for 11 years after being convicted of raping and indecent assaulting a disabled teenager in Belfast. The attack had been carried out during a burglary at the 19-year-old victim's home in March 1997. Following his release from prison he is understood to have lived in Scotland for a period before returning to his native city. He appeared before Belfast Magistrates' Court after being detained by police. Defence solicitor Pearse MacDermott confirmed his client was not seeking bail at this stage. McMoran was remanded in custody to appear again by video-link next week. Spending on agency nurses has been branded out of control after it emerged some companies were drawing 100,000-a-year fees for a single worker. Certain agencies supplying staff to the Northern Trust are paid six-figure fees per nurse- a rate higher than some consultants in the area. It is also up to four times the wages for a staff nurse within the trust, which covers the Antrim and Newtownabbey, Causeway Coast and Glens, Mid and East Antrim and Mid Ulster council locales. The huge financial outlay came about because of a critical shortage of permanent staff, trust management said. The shock figures emerged after Dr Tony Stevens, the head of the Northern Trust, met with SDLP MLAs Patsy McGlone and John Dallat. The politicians said Dr Stevens had informed them that the fee for a band five agency nurse could be as much as 100,000. A staff nurse at the same grade earns between 21,000 and 28,000 a year. Dr Stevens also said that in some instances, agency nurses were costing more money than staff consultants, who are paid between 76,000 and 102,500 annually. Agency consultants can be paid up to 300,000 per annum. A spokeswoman for the Northern Trust told this newspaper the situation was financially untenable and stressed that nursing agencies charged top rates for the services of professionals on their books. "Agency nursing staff in general cost a premium above the payroll funding that the trust has available," the spokeswoman said. "However, due to the national shortage of nurses, we have become reliant on agencies which are not in contract with the Health and Social Care Board, and these premiums are even higher. "The issue for us is not what an individual nurse does or doesn't get paid working for an agency, but rather that having to use non-contract agency staff can cost the trust three to four times what it would cost for equivalent trust staff." Mid-Ulster MLA Mr McGlone said the situation was out of control. "Because of a lack of nurses we have a situation which seems to be privatisation through the back door," he added. "The unregulated pay spiral is out of control and leading to this crazy situation. "We need to stop this by training nurses and medical staff, and paying them properly to reflect the important role that they play." Unison official Brian Ferguson said the union had repeatedly raised the issue with health trusts and with the Department of Health. "Paying these amounts, whilst staff nurses continue to be under a pay cap, only adds to the spiral of low morale and deepens the workforce crisis within the health service," Mr Ferguson added. The union official also stressed that making 13million in cuts to the Northern Trust budget - the share demanded of that area as part of the overall 70 million in cuts needed from all five trusts - would only exacerbate the situation. Mr Ferguson continued: "This will lead to longer waiting lists and the closure of beds, and will only put remaining staff under even more pressure. "The Northern Trust needs to deal with the major overspend on agency nursing. "As we have been urging, this needs to be done in a comprehensive and structured manner so the public doesn't suffer from the failure to recruit permanent staff and from a lack of planning. "Recruiting staff into the public sector, proper workforce planning across the system and dealing with the low levels of pay for staff nurses are the kinds of solutions that we need to see to deal with this problem. "This must be the priority, not quick and deep cuts that will hurt the most vulnerable and put hard-working staff under even more pressure." The upper wage limit for a band five staff nurse Mourners carry the coffin of Stephen Wilkinson from the Church of the Blessed Sacrament in Mullinahoe A young man killed in a road collision "changed hearts and minds by the way he lived", a priest has said. Father Sean McCartan was speaking following the funeral service of Stephen Wilkinson yesterday. The 26-year-old pedestrian died after he was struck by a car in the early hours of Sunday morning on Chapel Street in Cookstown. His funeral Mass was conducted at the Church of the Blessed Sacrament at Mullinahoe, near Ardboe. Speaking afterwards, Fr McCartan, the parish priest, said Mr Wilkinson's relatives have shown remarkable courage as they mourn their loss. He also paid tribute to Mr Wilkinson. "He was a very easy going and laidback person," the priest said. "He was very generous and considerate. "His family acted remarkably over the last few days. "They were particularly calm and moderate during the service." Mr Wilkinson, who was from Mullanahoe Road near Ardboe, is understood to have been walking when he was struck by a Ford Focus around 3.30am last Sunday. Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close The hearse carrying the coffin of Stephen Wilkinson makes its way to The Church of The Blessed Sacrament Mullinahoe for burial. Stephen died as a result of a road traffic accident. Pic by Peter Morrison Stephen Wilkinson Friends and Family carry the coffin of Stephen Wilkinson from The Church of The Blessed Sacrament Mullinahoe for burial. Stephen died as a result of a road traffic accident. Pic by Peter Morrison Friends and Family carry the coffin of Stephen Wilkinson from The Church of The Blessed Sacrament Mullinahoe for burial. Stephen died as a result of a road traffic accident. Pic by Peter Morrison Friends and Family carry the coffin of Stephen Wilkinson from The Church of The Blessed Sacrament Mullinahoe for burial. Stephen died as a result of a road traffic accident. Pic by Peter Morrison Friends and Family carry the coffin of Stephen Wilkinson from The Church of The Blessed Sacrament Mullinahoe for burial. Stephen died as a result of a road traffic accident. Pic by Peter Morrison The hearse carrying the coffin of Stephen Wilkinson makes its way to The Church of The Blessed Sacrament Mullinahoe for burial. Stephen died as a result of a road traffic accident. Pic by Peter Morrison / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The hearse carrying the coffin of Stephen Wilkinson makes its way to The Church of The Blessed Sacrament Mullinahoe for burial. Stephen died as a result of a road traffic accident. Pic by Peter Morrison The 26-year-old driver of the vehicle was arrested and questioned by the PSNI. He was later released on bail pending further inquiries. Mr Wilkinson is survived by his mother Sharon, father Christopher, brother Ryan, sister-in-law Shannon, girlfriend Bronagh and godson Noah. In a death notice, his family said his passing was "deeply regretted". After yesterday's funeral service, Mr Wilkinson's remains were interred in the adjoining cemetery. Mr Wilkinson was one of three people to die last weekend following accidents on Northern Ireland's roads. On Saturday, 19-year-old Steven Sunstrum from east Belfast died from injuries he sustained in a crash in the city the previous Wednesday. Also on Saturday, Neil Stewart, a 49-year-old motorcyclist, died after a collision on the Tandragee Road in Newry. Mr Stewart's funeral will take place tomorrow. It will leave his home at 1pm to Ballenon Reformed Presbyterian churchyard for interment followed by a service of thanksgiving. The deaths bring the total killed on Northern Ireland's roads so far this year to 47. The rededication ceremony of the grave of Second World War soldier Edward Graham at Catania War Cemetery in Sicily. He was killed in 1943 in a German ambush The grave of a British soldier killed in Italy in the Second World War has been rededicated by his twin sons who, unknown to him, were born just 22 days before his death. Having spent a lifetime wondering what happened to their Royal Irish Fusilier father Edward, brothers Edward and Sydney Graham (74) have at last been able to pay their respects at his final resting place. Sadly, their discovery of his grave came too late for their Northern Irish mother, who passed away some time ago. Mr Graham's regiment had been sent to North Africa and then on to Italy, but he was killed in a German ambush on August 13, 1943 during the advance through Sicily near the small town of Maletto. His body was initially buried at the roadside but when it was later moved his identity was lost and he was given an unnamed gravestone. But years of painstaking research and work by Edward jnr eventually paid off when he discovered his father, from Chopwell, Co Durham, had been buried in Catania War Cemetery. The ceremony, led by the Regimental Chaplain of the Royal Irish Regiment, saw a new headstone put in place. Edward said: "It was a very emotional service and the culmination of years of hard work and research. "We are very grateful to everyone involved who made today so special." His father had joined the Territorial Army as a private in the Durham Light Infantry before he became full-time following the outbreak of war. Mr Graham was then transferred to the Royal Irish Fusiliers and posted to Ballykinler, Co Down, where he met and married the mother of his sons, Eveline McBride. Nicola Nash from the Ministry of Defence's Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre, who organised the service, said: "We feel privileged to bring some closure to Edward and Sydney after 74 years." Edward, from Prudhoe, Northumberland, said the service would give him a sense of "closure and satisfaction" that his father would finally be resting with his colleagues who also made the ultimate sacrifice. He said: "That is comforting but my great sadness is my mother never knew where he was, that would have been nice but it wasn't to be. "He was on active service, and communication being what it was, he didn't know he was the father of twin boys. "My brother and I were born just 22 days before he was killed. "And, indeed, my mother didn't know what his fate was for almost two years. "He was posted missing, which was changed to missing presumed killed, but his actual fate she didn't know for definite for almost two years. "It's very sad he didn't know he had two sons, but that was the time he was living in." An east Belfast barbershop has courted controversy for a second time with a new advert featuring North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un. The sign outside Jay's Male Grooming salon on Bloomfield Avenue shows the leader of the world's most secretive state with the slogan: 'Don't have a bad hair day'. Two years ago the business was criticised for a risque advert featuring a young woman's posterior with the name of the salon on her skin. Belfast UUP councillor Jim Rodgers called for the sign to be removed. "I can understand where the owner's coming from, but with the track record of this individual I think it's most certainly in bad taste and will not go down very well in the area I grew up in," he said. North Korea has been at the centre of escalating tensions in the Pacific region this year after conducting multiple missile tests, prompting a war of words between Kim Jong-un and US President Donald Trump. Businessman Jay Millar said he had not received any complaints about the ad. "There's actually a couple of kids have come in and asked for that haircut, they're loving it. But it's not that far removed from the short back and sides everyone seems to like now," he said. "It's all good-hearted banter and not something people should really be worried about." Belfast dentist Conor O'Hare recently spent a week in the North Korean capital of Pyongyang. "There would be no such joke over there, definitely not," he told the Belfast Telegraph. "They respect the leader and there's no jokes ever made about him. I'd say this would result in a big punishment in Pyongyang, but if I saw this sign in Belfast it would probably make me laugh." Rev Ken Higgins of the nearby St Donard's Church of Ireland said he saw the funny side this time, despite objecting to the bare-faced cheek of the previous promotion. "That was just pornography on the street and offensive to a lot of older people around here," he said. "But I've seen the new poster and I think it's more of a comedy thing. "In my job you could choose to be offended every day by something or just ignore it. "Besides, I don't think there's too many people from North Korea running around east Belfast somehow." Chief Constable George Hamilton said the UVF was behind threats which forced Catholic families from a shared housing scheme in south Belfast. Over the past week loyalist paramilitaries were blamed for threats which forced four families out of their homes in the Cantrell Close shared housing development. Earlier on Thursday UVF flags around the area were taken down "as a gesture of goodwill," a community group linked to the UVF said. It also said loyalist community workers were threatened by dissident republicans. Speaking after a meeting of the Policing Board, the chief constable laid the blame on the UVF. We are 20 years after the Good Friday Agreement and I just wish the UVF wouldn't be there anymore. George Hamilton "We have been engaged with the community in south Belfast and we are of the view that there is people purporting to be of east Belfast UVF behind those threats. "Whether or not that is an organisational position we do not know because it is a chaotic disorganised crime group - that is how I would describe east Belfast UVF," he said. Sinn Fein called for the threat to be lifted. Mr Hamilton said the east Belfast UVF was being targeted in particular under the fresh start action plan. Expand Close Cantrell Close off the Ravenhill Road in south Belfast where a number of threats were made against residents. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Cantrell Close off the Ravenhill Road in south Belfast where a number of threats were made against residents. "The UVF has not reason to exist and we are going to make life as difficult for them because they are a scourge on that community," he said. Since the families were informed of the threats by Mr Hamilton's officers, there has been growing call for police to outline who was behind them. Up until Thursday, the PSNI would only say it was investigating where the threat came from and if they were credible. "There are people using the guise of the UVF who we believe are members of that organisation who are threatening people because of their community background, because of their religion, to leave their home - that is not acceptable," said Mr Hamilton. Asked outright if it was the UVF, he replied "yes". "They have no legitimacy, they are a scourge on the community. People are giving us information out of fear and won't translate into a written statement so that we can go into court and give evidence against these people. "We are 20 years after the Good Friday Agreement and I just wish the UVF wouldn't be there anymore." Mr Hamilton said his officers were working to dismantle them and other criminal organisations. The Chief Constable said his officers had a duty to assess threats and inform the people they targeted. "Can you imagine the uproar had we not taken action," he added. "Our officers acted in good faith and could we have done anything better we will review that." Cantrell Close, off the Ravenhill Road in the south of the city, was supposed to be a flagship cross-community development as part of the Stormont Executive's Together Building United Communities programme. The police chief noted that the social housing development was supposed to be an example for shared living. "What an irony that is," he said. He said a functioning executive would help create a more "stable" society and encouraged the region's politicians to strike a deal to restore a Stormont executive. Sinn Fein policing spokesman Gerry Kelly added: "It is 2017. The UVF continues to be involved in murder, racketeering, extortion, drug dealing and issuing sectarian threats. They have no other purpose than to serve their own ends. The people involved in this intimidation need to be brought before the courts and we will continue to press the PSNI to bring charges against those involved. Former Taoiseach Liam Cosgrave has died in Dublin at the age of 97. Mr Cosgrave, who led a successful Fine Gael-Labour Coalition from 1973 until 1977, was the son of the first head of government of the Irish Free State, WT Cosgrave. He was the last surviving Taoiseach born prior to the foundation of the State. Father and son dominated Irish political life for six decades. Mr Cosgrave had been in Dublin's Tallaght Hospital for several months. Illness forced him to miss his first All Ireland finals since the 1930s. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar described him as "a courageous voice against terrorism" who protected the country in times of crisis. "As Taoiseach he played an important role in the Sunningdale Agreement, which helped pave the way for the later agreements culminating in the Good Friday Agreement and peace on this island," Mr Varadkar said. He added: "Throughout his life he worked to protect and defend the democratic institutions of our State, and showed great courage and determination in doing so. "He always believed in peaceful co-operation as the only way of achieving a genuine union between the people on this island, and in the 1970s he celebrated that this country had embarked, in his own words, 'on a new career of progress and development in the context of Europe'." Mr Cosgrave is chiefly remembered as a staunch defender of Irish constitutional nationalism against serious threats from the IRA and other paramilitary violence through the 1970s. His government took a hardline anti-terrorist stance as violence in Northern Ireland threatened to spill into the Republic. Mr Cosgrave was regarded as an internationally respected statesman. He was part of the government which declared Ireland a Republic in 1949, he oversaw Ireland joining the United Nations and he addressed the Joint Houses of US Congress in 1976. He consistently opposed violence. Mr Cosgrave served as a TD in the Dail for almost 40 years and was leader of Fine Gael for 12 years. He is survived by his three children Mary, Liam and Ciaran. A devout Catholic, he joined Fine Gael at 17 and studied law at University College Dublin. In an Irish context Sunningdale looms large in his achievements, albeit that six months after the agreement was signed a loyalist workers' strike brought down the institutions in Belfast. Mr Cosgrave was regarded as having a good relationship with unionist leader Brian Faulkner, who introduced internment but became central to the power-sharing deal. Following Lord Faulkner's death in 1977 Mr Cosgrave telephoned his widow Lady Lucy to praise his work for the people of Northern Ireland. "I have valued his acquaintance for many years but it was, I think, in the period leading up to and after Sunningdale that we came to appreciate the full skill, determination and ability of your husband, which he used in the interests of the people he served," the Taoiseach wrote. Mr Cosgrave also voted against proposals to legalise the import and sale of artificial contraceptives in the 1970s. His father WT Cosgrave was among the first members of Sinn Fein when it was founded in 1905. He went on to fight in the 1916 Rising and was sentenced to death but the order was reprieved and he was subsequently jailed in Britain before his central role in the Irish government of the 1920s. As Taoiseach, Mr Cosgrave was also deeply conscious of the potential for mass evacuations of Catholics from Northern Ireland. In 1975 he ordered ministers to make contingency plans for 50,000 refugees fleeing south of the border to escape the deepening sectarian violence. Mr Cosgrave was also Taoiseach on the worst single day of atrocities in the Troubles - the Dublin-Monaghan bombings on May 17 1974 when loyalists set off four no-warning bombs killing 33 people, including a pregnant woman at full term. Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin added his tribute, noting Mr Cosgrave's position at the forefront of Irish politics as the Troubles broke out. "Throughout all those years he showed real grit, resilience and determination both in opposition and in government," Mr Martin said. Irish President Michael D Higgins said UN membership was one of Mr Cosgrave's most memorable achievements. "His words on that occasion, that Ireland should work to 'take our place in the comity of nations and do our part to secure what small nations have always required, the maintenance of peace' remains to this day an important reminder of our nation's role and unique voice on global issues such as disarmament, peacekeeping, human rights and development," President Higgins said. Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire has urged the Democratic Unionists and Sinn Fein to finally resolve their differences The Government has urged Northern Ireland's political leaders to look to the "bigger picture" and strike a compromise that will see powersharing restored. Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire encouraged the Democratic Unionists and Sinn Fein to finally resolve their differences so the region can look to a more positive future - one he insisted was filled with potential and opportunities. As the clock ticks towards an effective deadline of the end of the month, when the Westminster Government will have to intervene to set a budget for Stormont's rudderless public services, Mr Brokenshire told a business breakfast that, while the atmosphere in talks between the parties had improved, there was still work to do to reach a deal. "Do I think it is possible? Yes, I do," he told the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (Acca) Business Leader Forum in Belfast. "I think this is eminently doable, but it still requires that spirit of compromise and I would encourage the leaders of both main parties to underline the leadership they have both already shown to continue to do that and to look beyond the issues that have separated them. "It is doable, it is achievable - but we are not there yet." Mr Brokenshire added: "Ultimately it is their decision, and so I would encourage anyone with that sense of influence, that ability to underline that bigger picture of what it means to Northern Ireland, to see that the parties do find that spirit of compromise, do show the leadership they have shown in the past and get on and get back to Stormont and get on with serving the needs of everyone across the whole of Northern Ireland." Northern Ireland has been without a first and deputy first minister since January and a functioning executive since March. The institutions collapsed when late Sinn Fein Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness resigned over the DUP's handling of a botched renewable heat scheme. That rift exposed more deep-seated differences between the two main parties, none more so than the Irish language. The language issue is now the main obstacle in the way of a return to devolved government. Sinn Fein insists it will not re-enter a coalition executive in Belfast without an Irish language Act to protect Gaelic speakers. The DUP would agree to a wider cultural Act, which also incorporates protections for the Ulster Scots culture, but it will not sign off on a free-standing piece of legislation which focuses solely on Irish. Talks to restore powersharing have rumbled on for months without a breakthrough. Liam Cosgrave, who was taoiseach between 1973 and 1977, has died at the age of 97 Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said Liam Cosgrave, who died on Wednesday, was an inspiration to him and he hoped to live up to his great example. Flags were lowered across all state buildings in Ireland after Mr Cosgrave, taoiseach from 1973-77, died aged 97, and tributes were paid in the Dail parliament in Dublin to a political leader regarded as one of the country's most respected statesmen. Mr Varadkar said Mr Cosgrave, who headed the government during some of the most turbulent years of the Northern Ireland Troubles, was a courageous voice against terrorism. "He looked terrorism in the eye and did not flinch," the Taoiseach told the Dail. Mr Varadkar described him as a man of great loyalty and kindness, a wonderful sense of humour and strong personal dignity. "Liam Cosgrave's entire life was in the service of the state. Politician, soldier, taoiseach. He inspired so many with his quiet, showless determination, courage and fortitude," he said. Mr Varadkar also spoke about Mr Cosgrave's commanding presence and great humility. He added: "In my own career I have been inspired by his spirit of incredible public service and as Taoiseach I hope to live up to his great example." " Liam Cosgrave is perhaps best summed up by paraphrasing one of his most famous speeches: he was a man of integrity who, totally disregarding self-interest, always served the nation." Mr Cosgrave's family, his three children, Mary, Liam and Ciaran, have been offered a state funeral. Born in 1920, he was the son of WT Cosgrave, who was a key figure in the foundation of the Irish Free State and an officer in the 1916 Rising. He went on to follow in his father's footsteps with a 40-year political career. Mr Cosgrave was part of the government which declared Ireland a Republic in 1949. He also oversaw Ireland joining the United Nations and addressed the Joint Houses of US Congress in 1976. The signing of the Sunningdale Agreement in Northern Ireland looms large among his achievements, albeit that six months later a loyalist workers' strike brought down the institutions in Belfast. He was regarded as having a good relationship with unionist leader Brian Faulkner, who introduced internment but became central to the powersharing deal. Normal Dail business was suspended as a mark of respect until next week after tributes were paid from across the political spectrum. Mr Varadkar said Mr Cosgrave's efforts to expose a plot to import arms for republicans in May 1970 was considered his " finest hour". He was leader of the main opposition party Fine Gael and after pressing then-t aoiseach Jack Lynch about the scandal he described it in the Dail as a situation " without parallel in this country since the foundation of the state". "His action and that of the taoiseach, Jack Lynch, has been credited with saving the security forces of the state from becoming embroiled in a crisis in Northern Ireland, and has been called by some a great public service, and by others his finest hour," Mr Varadkar said. As taoiseach a few years later Mr Cosgrave was deeply conscious of the potential for mass evacuations of nationalists from Northern Ireland and ordered c ontingency plans for 50,000 refugees. He was also at the head of government on the worst day of atrocities in the Troubles - the Dublin-Monaghan bombings on May 17 1974 when loyalists killed 33 people, including a pregnant woman at full term. Mr Varadkar said: " He was also able to eloquently express the mood and feeling of the country at times of crisis and tragedy. "He spoke movingly of how the men of violence were contributing to 'a world where reason and compassion are dead and only might is right'." Mr Cosgrave welcomed Edward Heath as the first British prime minister to visit Ireland following independence. When his father died, he covered the cost of the state funeral. He also sacrificed some of his pension entitlements during Ireland's economic collapse in 2010 and then, in 2015, opted not to take an increase. Mr Cosgrave was said to be a devout Catholic. He voted against proposals to legalise the import and sale of artificial contraceptives in the 1970s while offering colleagues a free vote on the issue. Mr Varadkar said Mr Cosgrave believed the issue was a matter of conscience and that he had the courage to follow his own conscience. President of Ireland Michael D Higgins, on a trip to Australia, said UN membership was one of Mr Cosgrave's most memorable achievements and gave shape to Ireland's independent voice on the global stage. Many tributes have also touched on Mr Cosgrave's love of horse racing, Gaelic games and the pride he had in his father's role in 1916. Micheal Martin, the leader of Ireland's main opposition party, Fianna Fail, said: "I have no hesitation in saying that Liam Cosgrave was a man who gave so much to Irish public life and deserves a place of honour in our history." The family of a British climber who died shielding his wife from falling rocks at Yosemite National Park have described him as our hero. Andrew Foster, 32, was trapped when more than 1,000 tonnes of rock fell from the face of the El Capitan monolith on September 27. He was seen running back to the rockfall to protect his wife, Lucy Foster, 28, and dived on top of her saving her life. The pair were returning from a climb when a sheet of granite around 131ft (40m) by 66ft (20m) plummeted from a height of 656ft (200m). Expand Close Andrew Foster was trapped when more than 1,000 tonnes of rock fell from the face of the El Capitan monolith (PA) Press Association Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Andrew Foster was trapped when more than 1,000 tonnes of rock fell from the face of the El Capitan monolith (PA) Mrs Foster is now in a stable condition in a hospital in California and is awaiting clearance to return to the UK, where she lives in Cardiff. In a statement, Mr Fosters parents and siblings David, Julie, Matthew and Hope Foster paid tribute to him as our brave boy. Yosemite was a very special place for Andrew and one that he had returned to a few times over the years to climb and explore, they said. Andrews wife Lucy was with Andrew when the accident occurred and, thankfully, is now recovering in a California hospital with her family around her. We really cannot express our grief and still hope, every morning, that we will awake from a bad dream. The family said they had been touched by the many tributes they had received. Mr Fosters passion and enthusiasm for life and the outdoors that was just infectious for anyone who was around him, they said. As has already been reported, Andrew died whilst shielding Lucy and, indeed, we understand another climber witnessed him running back to the rockfall to protect Lucy, they continued. They loved each other dearly and, while our loss is indescribable, we are so proud of our brave boy in saving Lucy; he will always be our hero. The family thanked the rescue workers and medical staff who have helped Mrs Foster. They highlighted the first response ranger and paramedic who met them at Yosemite on Wednesday, who quickly rescued Mr Foster from the rockfall. We are still trying to come to terms with the reality of the situation and now just want to focus on bringing Andrew home as quickly as possible, they added. Therefore, we request the time and space needed to focus our energies on this and Lucys recovery, and to grieve our loss privately. Mrs Fosters family Brian, Jenny, Martin and Jo Anne Rouse said they were devastated by Mr Fosters death. After the accident, Mrs Foster was airlifted to the trauma unit of a local hospital, where her condition was stabilised. Friends who had been climbing with the couple were able to comfort Mrs Foster until her family arrived. Our family is devastated by these events: for the loss of Andy and for the plans they had made together for their future adventures, Mrs Fosters family said. He truly was the man of her dreams. We take some comfort from the fact that Andys last act of love saved Lucys life. Both families are supporting each other at this incredibly difficult time of loss and sadness. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon (right) and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar meet at the Governments Buildings in Dublin (Tom Honan/PA) Nicola Sturgeon has declared Ireland and Scotland allies in the Brexit negotiations. The Scottish First Minister told an audience of business leaders in Dublin that she will argue for the Irish border to remain open in the wake of the UKs split from Europe. She also said the Republic and Scotland are united on virtually every issue of substance relating to Brexit. 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 After talks with Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Ms Sturgeon told an audience of about 1,500 business figures that staying in the European single market and the customs union is the obvious answer to the negotiations. The fact that the UK Government is committed to leaving the EU means that Scotland like Ireland, and like Northern Ireland now faces a dilemma which is not of our choosing. We want to remain a full member of the EU but face being taken out against our will, she said. We deeply regret that. However, we believe that if the UK is determined to leave the European Union, it should remain a member of the single market and the customs union. Expand Close Nicola Sturgeon arrives at the Dublin Chamber annual dinner (Tom Honan/PA) PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Nicola Sturgeon arrives at the Dublin Chamber annual dinner (Tom Honan/PA) In my view, that is the obvious compromise solution. Its democratically justified the vote to leave was a very narrow one across the UK and two of the four nations of the UK chose to remain. Ms Sturgeons talks with the Taoiseach focused on Brexit. In her speech to the Dublin Chamber, she also disputed Prime Minister Theresa Mays remarks in Florence last week and claimed that in Scotland many people have felt absolutely at home in Europe. Expand Close Ms Sturgeon criticised Theresa May's speech in Florence (Jeff J Mitchell/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Ms Sturgeon criticised Theresa May's speech in Florence (Jeff J Mitchell/PA) She also emphasised the social and economic links between Scotland and Ireland, and noted the shared interest in ensuring the growth of a global economy is matched by a focus on inclusion. Ms Sturgeon said leaving the single market will be deeply damaging for Scotlands businesses, universities, trade and jobs. On virtually every issue of substance relating to Brexit, the Irish Government and the Irish business community as a whole has an ally in Scotland, the First Minister said. 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 Like you, we didnt want Brexit. Like you, we support single market and customs union membership. And, like you, we know that Irelands circumstances require particular attention and we will argue strongly for an open border. We believe that those positions are in the best interests of Scotland, of Ireland, and of everybody on these islands. A former couple are facing jail after they helped fund their childs private education by trafficking women into prostitution across England and Wales (PA) A former couple are facing jail after they helped fund their childs private education by trafficking women into a sexual conveyor belt of prostitution across England and Wales. Malaysian Hong Chin, 45, ran a pit bull dog breeding kennel on a country estate in Esher, Surrey, where his ex-partner Li Wei Gao, 44, lived in a converted barn with their daughter. At the same time, the pair raked in more than 100,000 through the trade in trafficking women for sex work until the operation was shut down by Sussex Police. Expand Close Hong Chin, Li Wei Gao and Ting Li Lu were found guilty of two charges relating to prostitution and trafficking for sexual exploitation (Sussex Police/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Hong Chin, Li Wei Gao and Ting Li Lu were found guilty of two charges relating to prostitution and trafficking for sexual exploitation (Sussex Police/PA) They were helped by Chins then-lover, Ting Li Lu, 47, who he lived with in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, jurors heard. Following a trial at the Old Bailey, all three defendants were found guilty of conspiracy to control prostitution for gain between February 2013 and June 2015. They were also convicted of plotting to traffic for sexual exploitation into the UK between March and June 2015. The defendants were found guilty on all charges by a majority after the jury deliberated for more than 14 hours. Sussex detectives had identified 18 women from China, Hong Kong and Korea who were allegedly exploited for prostitution. But they came up across a wall of silence from the women, many of whom denied being involved in the sex trade, with only one prepared to give evidence in court. Expand Close A vulnerable woman (left) is booked into a hotel by Li Wei Gao (Sussex Police/PA) PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A vulnerable woman (left) is booked into a hotel by Li Wei Gao (Sussex Police/PA) Investigators gathered other evidence from mobile phones, adult websites and booking records as well as CCTV footage which showed the defendants escorting women to hotels around the country. The women advertised sex services on adult websites and the contact number was fielded by the defendants who would organise and notify them of jobs. The gang would use false details when they reserved rooms through Booking.com at hotels including Premier Inn, Travelodge, and Holiday Inn. Between August 2013 and February 2015, Chin made a total of 92 hotel reservations on the online booking service, the court heard. The women were sent to perform sexual services in hotels all over Southern England and Wales, including Maidstone, Cardiff, Brighton, Gatwick, Eastbourne, Southampton, Woking, Exeter, Guildford, Windsor and Bournemouth. The customers paid in cash on arrival and some of it was channelled into the accounts of Chin and Gao. 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 When police visited the rooms they frequently found them in disarray, with the detritus of prostitution in evidence, including condoms. In his summing up, Judge Philip Katz QC described the operation as a sexual conveyor belt. Chin had a fake British passport and went by various different names including Ricky, Goon Saw and Ken. His ex-partner used a false passport in the name of Xin Pan and also was known by the alias Jassica, the court heard. The victims, many of whom were believed to be debt-bonded to traffickers in China, had rejected offers of support from authorities and all but one returned to their home countries. The woman who gave evidence in the trial has since claimed asylum in the UK. Chin, of Dunstall, Burton-Upon-Trent, Gao, of Heathside, Oxshott, and Lu, of Portsmouth, denied the charges against them. Chin and his two Chinese co-defendants will be sentenced at the Old Bailey on a future date to be fixed. Terminally-ill Noel Conway has vowed to appeal against a legal decision which has denied him a say over how and when he will die. The 67-year-old retired lecturer from Shrewsbury, who says he feels entombed by his motor neurone disease, is dependent on a ventilator and was not at the High Court to hear Lord Justice Sales, Mrs Justice Whipple and Mr Justice Garnham reject his case on Thursday. They dismissed his application for a declaration that the Suicide Act 1961 is incompatible with Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which relates to respect for private and family life. Expand Close Terminally-ill Noel Conway, 67 (Aaron Chown/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Terminally-ill Noel Conway, 67 (Aaron Chown/PA) When Mr Conway has less than six months to live and retains the mental capacity to make the decision, he wishes to be able to enlist assistance from the medical profession to bring about a peaceful and dignified death. The law as it stands means that anyone who helped him would be committing a criminal offence. He said in a statement: I am deeply disappointed by todays judgment and fully intend to appeal it. The experiences of those who are terminally ill need to be heard. This decision denies me a real say over how and when I will die. I am told the only option I currently have is to effectively suffocate to death by choosing to remove my ventilator, which I am now dependent on to breathe for up to 22 hours a day. There is no way of knowing how long it would take me to die if I did this, or whether my suffering could be fully relieved. To me, this is not choice this is cruelty. As I approach the end of my life, I face unbearable suffering and the possibility of a traumatic, drawn- out death. Travelling to Switzerland is no longer a viable option and I cannot put my family or doctors at risk of prosecution by asking for their help here at home. 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 Knowing I had the option of a safe, peaceful, assisted death at a time of my choosing would allow me to face my final months without the fear and anxiety that currently plagues me and my loved ones. It would allow me to live the rest of my life on my own terms, knowing I was in control rather than at the mercy of a cruel illness. Throughout this case I have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support the public has shown me. I know that this fight is important not just to me, but thousands of others. I am undeterred by todays decision and will appeal it with the support of my legal team and Dignity In Dying. 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 case was opposed by the Secretary of State for Justice, with Humanists UK, Care Not Killing and Not Dead Yet UK also making submissions. James Strachan QC said that while Mr Conways tragic and distressing circumstances could only evoke the deepest sympathy, it was inappropriate for the courts to interfere with Parliaments legitimate decision on the sensitive moral, social and ethical issue raised. It is the first challenge to the existing law since the case of Tony Nicklinson, who suffered from paralysis after a stroke. That was ultimately dismissed in June 2014 by the Supreme Court, which said it was important that Parliament debated the issues before any decision was made by the courts. After debates in the House of Commons and the House of Lords, Parliament decided, at least for the moment, not to provide for legislative exceptions to the 1961 Act. In todays ruling, Lord Justice Sales said that the prohibition against provision of assistance in the Act achieved a fair balance between the interests of the wider community and the interests of people in Mr Conways position. It is legitimate in this area for the legislature to seek to lay down clear and defensible standards in order to provide guidance for society, to avoid distressing and difficult disputes at the end of life and to avoid creating a slippery slope leading to incremental expansion over time of the categories of people to whom similar assistance for suicide might have to be provided. Authorities in Saudi Arabia have detained 22 people on charges of incitement weeks after a crackdown on critics of the crown prince. The swoop comes amid the kingdom's stand-off with Qatar. The state-run Saudi Press Agency said on Thursday that state security forces that report to King Salman arrested the 22 for allegedly "stirring up feelings" and "inciting against public order" through the circulation of a video on social networking sites. All are Saudi with the exception of one Qatari national. The statement by a security official said the group's motives and links are being investigated. Separately, the Interior Ministry says 24 people were detained in the landlocked Hail province. Police say the men were arrested for allegedly promoting lies on social networking sites to "provoke sedition and tribal tensions". AP Iraqi Kurdish men celebrate after the polls closed in the controversial Kurdish referendum (AP) France's President Emmanuel Macron has offered to mediate between the Iraqi government and Kurds seeking independence after a controversial referendum. Mr Macron made the offer after meeting Iraqi prime minister Haider al-Abadi in Paris on Thursday in wide-ranging talks about French support for the fight against the Islamic State group and rebuilding Iraq's economy. Mr Macron said France and others are worried about the situation of the Kurds after last month's referendum, and said France supports the stability and territorial integrity of Iraq. He insisted on the importance of "national reconciliation and inclusive governance" that includes Kurds, "with whom France maintains close ties". Mr Macron said dialogue "is the only path" and "France is ready . to contribute actively to mediation". AP Indonesian president Joko Widodo inspects the troops during a parade on Thursday (AP) Indonesia's armed forces should stay out of politics and remain loyal to the government, the country's president has said. The remarks by President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo on Thursday were an apparent rebuke over contentious statements by the country's top general. General Gatot Nurmantyo has stirred controversy in the past month with warnings of a renewed communist threat to Indonesia and a claim that a non-military organisation was trying to import thousands of weapons. In a speech to a parade marking the military's 72nd anniversary, Jokowi said the armed forces are a national institution that should stay above politics and not be fragmented by narrow interests. The military "should always ensure its political neutrality in the current democratic era", he said. Indonesia's army retreated from politics after the fall of dictator Suharto in 1998 ushered in democracy, but nearly two decades later a role limited to national defence is not fully accepted among officers or the rank-and-file. It has tried to inch back into civilian areas and resented the police's leading role in counter-terrorism. Jokowi's predecessor as president was a former general, as was his main rival in the 2014 presidential election, Prabowo Subianto. Gen Nurmantyo, who local media said might harbour ambitions to run for president in 2019, last month attended an Islamic political party event at which he warned that communists, a bogeyman frequently invoked by Indonesian conservatives, were a renewed threat. Earlier in the month, the four-star general claimed a government institution tried to import 5,000 guns "on behalf" of Jokowi. The president's top security minister said the national intelligence service had ordered several hundred rifles from a state-owned weapons company for training purposes. Thursday's parade in the coastal West Java city of Cilegon comprised nearly 6,000 soldiers and Indonesia's most modern imported weaponry. In a speech at the parade, Gen Nurmantyo said soldiers are sworn to protect the Indonesian people and obey the president. "Do not doubt our loyalty," he said. AP Tunisia's prime minister said his government has no evidence that the man who stabbed two women to death in Marseille had links to any extremist group. Meeting on Thursday with his French counterpart in Tunis, Tunisian prime minister Youssef Chahed condemned Sunday's attack, saying "there is no justification for such barbaric acts". French prime minister Edouard Philippe said the two countries agreed to work more closely together on security and responding to terror attacks and radicalisation. Mr Chahed said they would notably focus on "preventing the risks inherent in the return of terrorists from hot spots". French authorities have identified the Marseille attacker as Ahmed Hanachi, a 29-year-old Tunisian. He was killed by soldiers soon after the stabbings at Marseille's Saint Charles station, which left two young cousins dead after a weekend birthday celebration. The so-called Islamic State group claimed responsibility, saying he responded to their calls to mete out vengeance for international military operations against the group in Syria and Iraq. French authorities said Hanachi watched videos of Islamic chants on YouTube but they have not found firm links between Hanachi and IS or signs that he was radicalised. Five people suspected of helping Hanachi have been arrested. While French authorities describe Hanachi as a mysterious illegal migrant and IS calls him one of its "soldiers", neighbours in the working class Tunisian neighbourhood where Hanachi grew up painted a different picture. They described a fisherman with a history of drug problems, abandoned by his wife and with no outward signs of radicalisation. AP Vladimir Putin, right, and Saudi King Salman listen to national anthems during their meeting in the Kremlin (AP) Russian president Vladimir Putin and Saudi Arabia's King Salman have opened talks in the first official visit of a Saudi monarch to Russia. The meeting was expected to focus on the oil market and the war in Syria. At the Kremlin's opulent St Andrew's Hall, Mr Putin in televised remarks hailed the king's visit as a "landmark" event. King Salman in his reply called Russia a "friendly nation" and said his country is committed to strengthen ties "in the interests of peace and security". Relations between the two countries have often been strained. During Cold War times, the Saudis helped arm Afghan rebels fighting against the Soviet invasion. More recently, tensions were high over the war in Syria, in which Russia has staunchly backed Syrian president Bashar Assad while Saudi Arabia has supported his foes. However, relations have begun to improve in recent years and King Salman's heir, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has held several meetings with Mr Putin. The kingdom, much like Russia, has been hit by the fall in oil prices since mid-2014. Despite regional disagreements, the two countries found common ground on energy policy in November when they led a deal between Opec and non-Opec states to cut production in a bid to shore up crude prices. So far that deal is holding. The two sides are expected to announce large investments and joint ventures to further cement relations. Trade volume between the two countries reached 2.8 billion US dollars last year, according to the official Saudi press. AP Many believe the Kremlin was behind the jailing of Mikhail Khodorkovsky Russian investigators have raided the homes of at least five people working for an exiled oligarch in connection with a dispute over what was once the country's largest oil producer. The Investigative Committee said in a statement on Thursday that the raid relates to the 2003 criminal case involving the Yukos oil company. Russian television on Thursday showed footage of a policeman putting a man face-down on the floor and holding his hands behind his back. Yukos was disbanded in 2007 after filing for bankruptcy, and its owner and head Mikhail Khodorkovsky was sent to prison in what was largely seen as the Kremlin's payback for his political ambitions. Mr Khodorkovsky was pardoned after serving a decade in prison. He continues to oppose Russian president Vladimir Putin from exile. AP Four years ago mother-of-two Caroline Donaghey was so consumed with crippling depression she set herself on fire in an attempt to end her own life. Today she wants others battling the darkness of depression to hold on, reach out a hand and know that someone will be there to take it. The 49-year-old lives with the scars from the incident every day. She suffered third and fourth-degree burns, her face had to be reconstructed, all her fingers were amputated and she had to learn to walk and talk again. The Strabane woman has battled mental health problems for as long as she can remember. Id always suffered from depression, but I didnt know what it was, she says. From around 13 I felt different. My sister got very ill with meningitis. She was a beautiful girl she just beamed and brightened every room she walked into. The illness left her in a wheelchair and my mum, dad and myself became her carers. I think the illness my sister had maybe triggered something. I wasnt doing well at school. I started to get very paranoid around people. I would spend most of my days in the school toilets. The fear of being around people was just too much. It was like a social anxiety. You didnt get much help back then for mental health problems. I was told I was lazy and just needed a good kick up the backside. At 13 a doctor prescribed Caroline anti-depressants but, she says, her mother flushed them down the toilet because she did not want her to take them. Expand Close Caroline Donaghey from Tyrone / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Caroline Donaghey from Tyrone The then youngster struggled to navigate her teenage years while battling building anxiety and depression and hiding her turmoil from those closest to her. By the time Caroline reached her mid-20s, her sisters condition had started to deteriorate, leaving her struggling to communicate and being fed through a tube inserted into her stomach. Colette eventually died in 1998 after a procedure in hospital. The family was devastated and the tragedy compounded Carolines depression. But there was some hope on the horizon. A few years after my sister died I had a baby girl and called her Colette, after my darling sister, Caroline says. Her arrival lifted my mum and dads spirits. After she split from her former partner, she left Strabane to start a new life in Derry. A time later I met a Belfast man and got married, Caroline says. We had a little girl a year later, Claire. Before she was born they discovered a brain anomaly in a scan. When she was born we discovered she had a tumour. I was trying to stay strong and it was very stressful, but I kept on for everyone. Thankfully, she was given the all-clear a year later, just a month before Christmas. Unfortunately, her marriage broke down and her sisters passing, worries over her daughters ill health, dealing with depression and trying to keep her family afloat took its toll on Caroline. Lifeline I felt myself going, she says. I thought, Im getting low again. My doctor changed my medication, which put me into a psychotic episode. It went on for four months and social services came on the scene. My mum packed my bags and said me and the girls were going to stay with them until I was better. I was very ill. I couldnt get out of bed. I had constant anxiety and I couldnt eat. I dropped about four stone in a matter of months. My mum was desperate to help me, but she didnt know what to do. Just after Christmas 2012 things came to a head. Caroline, at her lowest ebb, attempted to take her own life. Expand Close Caroline Donaghey pictured at her home in Co Tyrone. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Caroline Donaghey pictured at her home in Co Tyrone. Social services were talking to me about taking a bus to Derry to take my daughter to school, but my health visitor insisted I was too ill to do that, she recalls. Id been having suicidal thoughts, but I didnt think Id carry them out. When you are depressed, you go dark, you go deep and you go very negative. I started panicking. I couldnt put one foot in front of the other, never mind go out the door. I felt so much pressure. I just remember my dad saying that he was going to do it. My dad is hitting 80 years old and not well himself. I remember the day in January that it happened. My dad was taking my daughter to school. I panicked. I went into the garage and I set my top on fire with a lighter. I didnt really want to die. Survival mode kicked in and I tried to get the garage door open. Thank God my mum came in and threw blankets on me. I was rushed to Altnagelvin. I just remember being taken into the hospital and then it was lights out. I woke up three months later in intensive care. They had put me in an induced coma. They said that I had flatlined three times. I was a year in the Royal Victoria Hospital. I couldnt walk or talk or anything. They had to amputate my fingers. I had third and fourth-degree burns. They had to reconstruct my eyelids and my mouth. Most of my body is burned, apart from my back, which is where they got the skin grafts. Its been a long road for Caroline, but she says she has had many angels and heroes walk it with her. My community psychiatric nurse, Olive Young, has been inspirational to me, she adds. She changed my life. She gave me the tool kit to help when I felt myself slipping. I joined a Wellness, Recovery, Action Programme and I have joined a Me4Mental Facebook group, who really brought me back. Ive given talks at mental health awareness events. Ive facilitated a course for occupational therapists and hope to do more motivational talks across Northern Ireland. I want to help people. Caroline has the following piece of advice for anyone battling the darkness of depression: Pick that phone up right away. Ring Samaritans, Lifeline, a family member. Just pick the phone up and dont let the mind take completely over. Depression and suicide, they are thoughts. They are telling you to do this. I know it is dark but, believe me, nothing stays the same. There is hope, hang on. Hold on to that hope because that hope is a lifeline and when you have hope you can achieve anything. Believe that people are there for you. You just need to reach out. Put out your hand. Someone will be there to take it. Believe that. I feel so at peace now. I want to tell my story to help others. There is help out there. Dont be in that place where I was and end up like I have. If you are are experiencing distress or despair, you can contact The Samaritans. People living in Northern Ireland can call the Lifeline helpline on 0808 808 8000. A still from the Eurowings promotional video advising tourists to "drink local stout" / Credit: Eurowings Belfast has made its way onto a shortlist of 10 cities in a competition to be selected as a new destination for German budget airline Eurowings. The competition sees Belfast going up against destinations from across Europe, with the public able to cast their votes via the airline's website. To be selected for the new route, Belfast will have to beat out the following destinations: Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina Podgorica, Montenegro Shannon, Republic of Ireland Brac, Croatia Trieste, Italy Castellon, Spain Trapani, Italy Bergen, Italy Biarritz, France 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 In its promotional video advertising Belfast as a destination, the airline offers the city's murals, Northern Ireland's nature, and the local stout on offer to tourists as reasons to vote for the Northern Irish capital. As of Thursday afternoon, Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina was leading the race with around a third of the vote. Belfast was coming in fourth position on just over 10%, behind Trapani on 29.1% and Castellon on 14%. The airline has not yet specified where the flight will be taking off from, how often the flight will run, and if it will become a permanent fixture. It also has not specified a closing date for the competition. The winning destination will be added to the airlines Summer 2018 schedule. The low-cost airline currently flies to destinations in Ireland and across the United Kingdom, and has a number of routes to destinations outside of Europe including Cuba, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic and Egypt. Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha (left), and U.S. President Donald Trump speak to reporters in the White House in Washington, Oct. 2, 2017. Thailand will hold a general election next year, Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha told U.S. business leaders at a gala dinner in Washington. Prayuth, who took over the Thai government after leading a military coup that overthrew then-Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra in May 2014, did not announce a specific date for polls when he addressed the U.S. Chamber of Commerce here on Tuesday night. What you want to see is democracy. It will certainly come, I assure you, next year, I will announce the election day, Prayuth told his audience that included business executives and government officials. We have been talking for three years, you have seen our strong intention. It's not easy for Thailand, he said. Next year, the election day will be announced, after other related laws are completed, following the road map. When the related laws are completed, we have 150 days, then we can announce [an election date]." While meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday, Prayuth assured the U.S. leader that he would set a firm date for elections in 2018. Indeed, it was me who initiated the discussion and assured him that Thailand will abide by its roadmap to return to democracy, Prayuth told Thai journalists following the meeting. On multiple occasions over the past three years, the junta under Prayuth has postponed elections, which the military government has touted as central to its roadmap for steering Thailand back toward democracy. Prayuth has rejected criticism that he has been ambiguous about a time-frame for elections. I did not mislead anyone or cover anything up, he told the reporters, according to the Bangkok Post. I dont want anyone asking me about it anymore. In his Tuesday speech at the chamber, Prayuth challenged his critics. I have never done any harm in anyones business in Thailand, I have only made it better. My job is to solve all problems and find solutions to conflicts ... not wanting to use power, not wanting to violate human rights or set limits to peoples freedom, he said. Ninety percent of Thai people have not suffered because of me, but only a few people have because they go against the law. Stronger security alliance Bilateral cooperation on security issues were also on the agenda of Prayuths meeting with Trump. We work, of course, hand-in-hand on our security defense cooperation to help ensure that our citizens are safeguarded from terrorism and other threats, Prayuth told reporters before the meeting at the White House. A joint statement issued by the two leaders afterwards called for a stronger alliance on security-related matters and increased economic prosperity. Among security-related issues, Prayuth and Trump touched on the South China Sea, the Korean Peninsula and the Rohingya crisis in Myanmar and Bangladesh. They highlighted the seas importance as a major international shipping route. They also concurred on the need for a cooperative approach to ensuring a peaceful, stable and sustainable South China Sea, the joint statement said. The leaders expressed grave concern about North Koreas unprecedented nuclear and ballistic missile tests and called for the implementation of U.N. Security Council resolutions to create a safe, denuclearized Korean Peninsula. They also discussed humanitarian assistance to Rohingya affected by violence in Myanmars Rakhine state. Prayuth and Trump said they welcomed the Myanmar governments commitment to end the violence [and] ensure the safe return of displaced persons. The joint statement also said the two nations would work together to strengthen Thailands efforts to combat human trafficking. We must counter human trafficking, which I think is a severe issue. I have managed to have either businesses or officials be punished and to take care of victims, including those involved in illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, Prayuth told the chamber. He also touted efforts to grow Thais economy. We are trying to increase our trade value in the next year to reach $8.5 billion, he said. As part of that effort, Thailands Siam Cement Group signed two memoranda of understanding to buy 155,000 tons of coal from U.S. companies. Prayuth praised a group of more than 20 businesses that have invested about $6 billion and created 50,000 to 60,000 jobs. Today, we plan to increase our investment by $8.3 billion and employ more than 60,000 more. We have started projects in petrochemical, agriculture, food processing and fishery products, he said. Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Gen. Prawit Wongsuwon announced that Thailand would resume purchasing U.S. weapons after sales were suspended following the 2014 coup. Among the weapons expected to be purchased are Black Hawk helicopters and Harpoon missile systems. Election Day has come and gone with little drama, locally. The area voted as expected, most local leaders kept their seats and will continue to serve. 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For Immediate Release, October 5, 2017 Contact: Brett Hartl, (202) 817-8121, bhartl@biologicaldiversity.org White House Attacks Endangered Species in Flood Insurance Request WASHINGTON The White House yesterday requested $12 billion in hurricane relief disaster funding and $16 billion in debt forgiveness from Congress for the Federal Emergency Management Agencys National Flood Insurance Program which would accompany plans to strip endangered species of protections nationwide. As part of a set of proposed reforms to the flood insurance program, the White House is recommending sweeping changes that would gut protections for dozens of endangered species found in flood-prone areas. Letting FEMA completely ignore harms to endangered species from development in high-risk flooding areas is just dumb, said Brett Hartl, government affairs director at the Center for Biological Diversity. Building in such sensitive areas sets back recovery of imperiled wildlife, and these developments are exactly the kind of boondoggles that have put the National Flood Insurance Program billions in the red, costing taxpayers dearly. The program helps to underwrite insurance in the countrys most flood-prone areas. In exchange for subsidizing insurance coverage, it encourages communities to adopt and enforce floodplain-management regulations to minimize the impacts of floods. Because the program funds even the highest risk development, which would never qualify for private insurance, the program is over $25 billion in debt. Beginning 20 years ago with the highly endangered Key deer, multiple federal courts have concluded FEMA must consider the impact of development in endangered species habitat as part of its review process for providing flood insurance. Other courts have said FEMA must consider those impacts on Puget Sound killer whales and endangered salmon in the Northwest. The U.S. House of Representatives included language in both H.R. 2825 the Department of Homeland Security reauthorization bill that passed the House this summer and H.R. 2548, the FEMA Reauthorization Act of 2017, to completely eliminate all requirements that the agency consider the needs of endangered species in its flood insurance programs. This legislation has been championed by Rep. Louis Barletta (R-Penn.) and Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.). Gutting protections for endangered species is the opposite of flood insurance reform. Its the epitome of wasteful spending, said Hartl. We can protect the most important places for the Key deer to survive and allow responsible development to occur, but it wont happen if FEMA can completely ignore likely impacts to endangered species. For Immediate Release, October 5, 2017 Contact: Jaclyn Lopez, (727) 490-9190, jlopez@biologicaldiversity.org Four Endangered South Florida Plants Protected Against Climate Change Endangered Species Protections Will Help Unique Plants Survive Sea-level Rise ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today protected four plant species found only in South Florida under the Endangered Species Act. The Florida pineland crabgrass, pinelands sandmat and Everglades bully are now protected as threatened species under the Act. The Florida prairie clover is protected as endangered. The plants are part of the irreplaceable and quickly disappearing landscape of South Florida, threatened by sea-level rise, urban sprawl and loss of natural fires. They join a growing number of endangered species that occur in pine rocklands. Despite being among the Earths rarest habitats, Floridas pine rocklands are imminently threatened by the planned development of a shopping mall and theme park in south Miami. This decision underscores just how vulnerable South Florida is to rising seas, said Jaclyn Lopez, Florida director with the Center for Biological Diversity. Without Endangered Species Act protections, storms like Irma could wipe out these Florida natives overnight. Florida pineland crabgrass is also known as Everglades grass or twospike crabgrass, and only occurs in the Everglades in Miami-Dade and Monroe counties. It was first identified as needing endangered species protection in 1975; the Center petitioned the Service to protect it in 2004. The Florida prairie clover has been waiting on the agencys candidate list for federal protection since 1999. Its a member of the pea family and grows to 6 feet tall in pine rocklands and coastal uplands. The pinelands sandmat has been a candidate for protection since 1999. Also known as the pineland deltoid spurge, rockland spurge and wedge sandmat, its a beautiful perennial herb with a red stem and delicate, yellow flowers. The Everglades bully has been a candidate for protection since 2004. The shrub is native to Miami-Dade County and is only found in pine rocklands. To date 192 plants and animals have received protection as a result of a 2011 agreement between the Center and the Fish and Wildlife Service, including the four plants protected today. Another six are proposed for protection. Read more about the Centers 757 agreement and our sea-level rise campaign. For Immediate Release, October 5, 2017 Contact: Alex Olivera (Mexico), +521 (612) 104-0604, aolivera@biologicaldiversity.org Tanya Sanerib (U.S.), (206) 379-7363, tsanerib@biologicaldiversity.org Mexico Launches Vaquita Roundup to Prevent Extinction of Tiny Porpoise U.S. Navy Dolphins to Help Locate Incredibly Rare Porpoises SAN FELIPE, Mexico Wildlife officials in Mexico next week will attempt to capture and protect some of the last vaquita on Earth in a desperate effort to save these small porpoises from extinction. The operation in the Gulf of California, scheduled to begin Oct. 12, will use trained U.S. Navy dolphins to locate vaquita, whose numbers have dwindled by 90 percent in the past five years. Fewer than 30 remain alive today. We support this last-ditch effort to save the vaquita from extinction, but it shouldnt be used as an excuse to allow fishing to continue in its habitat, said Alex Olivera, the Center for Biological Diversitys Mexico representative. These beautiful animals deserve to live free in the Gulf of California, but that will never happen until the Mexican government eliminates the illegal gillnet fishing that has driven these porpoises to the very brink of extinction. As part of next weeks operation, captured vaquita will be placed in pens in the Gulf to protect them from illegal fishing activities, which have led to the species near demise. The hope is that, once protected, the porpoise will be able to breed and grow its numbers so that one day it might survive again in the wild. This risky option became the only option, but vaquita have never been captured alive before, so this effort is uncertain, Olivera said. Its a high-stakes operation thats happening because the Mexican government has shown an inability to protect the animals in the wild. That has to change if the vaquita is to have any future. The following steps are critical to safeguarding the vaquita: Effective enforcement to halt all illegal fishing activities; Extension of the refuge area in the Gulf of California to include all of the vaquitas habitat; Prohibition of the possession and transportation of gillnets, as well as their use in commercial and artisanal fisheries, for any species and in any kind of vessel, within the refuge area; Prohibition of the navigation of vessels during all night hours inside the refuge area; The Mexican government should continue to support and fund the monitoring of the population until population recovery is assured in its habitat. Earlier this year the Center and other conservation groups petitioned the U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service to ban imports of seafood caught with gillnets in Mexicos Upper Gulf of California in order to save the vaquita. Rwandan tea will now be marketed under the Rwanda National Tea brand name as one of the ways to strengthen consumer confidence, as well as promote and ensure its competitiveness on the local and global markets, the National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB) has said. Issa Nkurunziza, the tea division manager at the NAEB, said the move seeks to communicate the values behind Rwandan teas, their uniqueness and their distinction. "The new tea brand name seeks to reflect the values and vision of the stakeholders at every level of the tea value chain. It also seeks to increase sales and consumption at the local and international levels, but also help raise brand awareness among consumers," he said. He added that this can only be achieved through the development of a competitive brand strategy built on the product's distinctive propositions, as well as its intangible values. According to the NAEB, the brand will empower and inspire stakeholders involved in the tea value chain to conserve and value the country's heritage. "The plan is to position Rwanda tea as a premium product in its own right by introducing and re-enforcing its brand identity," Nkurunziza said. The agro-exports body believes that by creating a unique brand identity that reflects the quality of the country's tea and its brand values will help boost the industry's competitiveness globally. Rwanda's tea is sold through the Mombasa auction. NAEB targets $94.9 million from tea exports per annum by 2018, from $65.7 million in 2013. Changing the dynamics of tea trade According to Nkurunziza, only registered tea stakeholders will use it, in conformity with the set standards and regulations. Establishing the brand in the market and growing the brand culture, loyalty and vision in the most cohesive, consistent way remains the key objective. Sector experts say the new brand image could help promote and protect the reputation of Rwanda tea, setting it apart from other teas. "This will eventually build confidence among buyers and inspire farmers to increase production but also embrace value addition," said Pascal Nsabimana, the chairperson of Kobacyamu Tea Cooperative. The brand values will reflect a link between the tea, the stakeholders and the country. "The farmers are the backbone for the key brand message that will ensure that the brand proposition is in alignment with the stakeholders' needs and beliefs. "In business, we strongly believe that every success is strengthened by a brand. Once this is realised, there is no denying of the significance of the role that brand plays in marketing," he said. It's only business that give clients positive experiences that succeed, according to Pie Ntwari, the NAEB communications manager. Ntwari said having a national tea brand image will support efforts geared at improving quality as well as widening the market for the country's tea. The agro-exports body also plans to distribute 43 million tea seedlings by the end of the year. So far, more than 13,650,000 tea seedlings have been distributed and planted. Chicken Licken has just launched its brand-new offering, the Double Chick'n BoerieTM Burger, which is a chicken patty infused with special boerewors flavouring. To advertise this new product to the country, brand and communications agency Joe Public United took it all the way from the south of sunny Africa to the north of icy Iceland. Shot in a documentary style, the new TV commercial and integrated campaign tell the story of an Icelandic boy who starts displaying characteristics that seem all too familiar to South Africans. Teaming up with director Alan Irvin from They Shoot Films and Icelandic production house, Truenorth, Joe Public United created a quirky, humorous and endearing commercial filmed in Iceland with an Icelandic and a South African cast. In the TVC the viewer meets Bjorgvin Rafnkelsson and his family from the village of Vik i Myrdal in Iceland. His family tells the documentary crew how Bjorgvin, over the last few years, has started displaying strange behaviour that they dont understand. As the commercial unravels, we see different examples of this Icelandic boys unusual characteristics until one fateful day, when a South African comes to their rescue with a special package from Chicken Licken, of course. Its always an exciting challenge to think of the next execution for our client Chicken Licken, and this time we really wanted to do something unexpected for an unexpected product Double Chickn BoerieTM Burger. Key to what we wanted to portray is the fact that South Africans, no matter where we are in the world, can recognise one another and have a common connection, concludes Xolisa Dyeshana, Chief Creative Officer, Joe Public United. Watch the TVC: Agency credits: Brand: Chicken Licken Client: Chantal Sombonos van Tonder Group Chief Creative Officer: Pepe Marais Agency: Joe Public United (ATL & Digital) Chief Creative Officer: Xolisa Dyeshana Creative Group Head: Natalie Walker Senior Copywriter: Marjolein Rossouw Group Account Director: Amber Mackeurtan Agency TV Producer: Yash Raidu Production Company: They Shoot Films Director: Alan Irvin Director of Photography: Adam Bentel Executive Producer: Darren Gordon Production Company (Reykjavik): Truenorth Productions Post-production: Left Editor: Saki Bergh Colorist: Craig Simonetti Online Operator: Keno Naidoo Audio: Sterling Sound; Lorens Persson Business of Design speaker Q&A: Jeremy Stewart Business of Design (BoD) is back with a speaker lineup of note. The two-day seminar is held annually in Cape Town and Johannesburg during October and doesn't just focus on design in itself but has a much broader vision for the field in all areas of business. Delegates include everyone from business owners and creative entrepreneurs to retailers, marketing and brand executives, trend analysts, design students and other employees from various industries. Tracy Lynn Chemaly on Business of Design and other things By Jessica Tennant 18 Jul 2016 New to the conference is 'Open Sessions', a platform for delegates to ask the BoD founders (Trevyn and Julian McGowan of The Guild Group, and Laurence Brick and Cathy OClery of 100% Design South Africa and Platform Creative Agency) as well as fellow delegates any questions they may have, and together overcome any barriers to growth and challenge new ways of doing business. Jeremy Stewart I asked Jeremy Stewart, founder and executive director of Source IBA, what he loves most about being in the business of design and to let us in on what hell be sharing during his Cape Town session. Why are you excited for Business of Design this year? Why are you excited for Business of Design this year? I dont really get excited about seminars. Comment on the importance of events such as this that recognise the role design plays in (and the impact it can have on) various industries? Comment on the importance of events such as this that recognise the role design plays in (and the impact it can have on) various industries? Events are important as long as they are successful and in this case if they can promote the importance and value of design outside of pure aesthetics. Its great that like-minded design-type people do this together, but the real success will be if there is attendance from clients and funders. Good design enhances your life. Comment on the current state of design in South Africa (and internationally). Comment on the current state of design in South Africa (and internationally). Outside of the quality of built architecture in Cape Town, the level of design in South Africa has generally improved. In my opinion, everything follows music, fashion and the arts in general, and South African designers and artists are making an impact both locally and internationally, and this is now carrying over into the commercial design sector. The problem with architecture in Cape Town is a bit of a conundrum as we have an abundance of talented architects and firms here in the mother city, so I am not sure if the problem rests with the developers or the lack of aesthetic control from the city itself. What is your/your companys involvement in/contribution to the local design scene? What is your/your companys involvement in/contribution to the local design scene? We regard our local design scene as the continent of Africa, where our mission is to promote design that is relevant and reflects the locale. We try as much as possible to work with other local designers and artists to ensure this happens. Our contribution is to coax local product and designers out of the craft sector and into the commercial sector. This is often difficult due to a lack of a well-established manufacturing sector that can produce quality and volumes at competitive prices. What is the title/subject of your talk and/or what are you going to be sharing? What is the title/subject of your talk and/or what are you going to be sharing? I am talking about the art of presentation, which I consider to be one of my weaknesses. Whats the key takeout? Whatever you do, do it with passion. The Cape Town version takes place 11-12 October, followed by Johannesburg on 18-19 October, and our readers qualify for a R450 discount. To take up this offer, email az.oc.ngisedfossenisub@ycart with Bizcommunity as the subject. In the meantime, follow #BODCT and/or #BODJHB for more pre-event speaker interviews over the next couple of weeks to get your creative juices flowing. Hosted by the Ground Water Division of the Geological Society of South Africa, the 15th Biennial Groundwater Conference is set to take place 14-18 October in Stellenbosch. One of the critical topics on the agenda is the possibility that drought-stricken areas in South Africa will only survive the current dry spell if the country's groundwater is effectively harnessed as an alternative water supply. Chairman of the Ground Water Division Dr Matthys Dippenaar More than 300 local and international delegates are expected to attend the conference, at which several international groundwater scientists will deliver keynote talks. They include Professor John Cherry, a distinguished professor emeritus at the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada and winner of the 2016 Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize, and Professor Bruce Misstear, an associate professor and fellow of Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland. Cherry will address state of the art groundwater monitoring techniques while Misstear, a specialist in groundwater resources development, will discuss sustainable development goals and global change. The conference will be opened by Helen Zille, premier of the Western Cape Government. Sustainable, emergency water supplies Groundwater is a prominent topic in the drought-stricken areas of South Africa, particularly the City of Cape Town, where it has been identified as an important alternative water supply. In times of water scarcity, we are reminded about the need for alternative, sustainable and emergency water supplies, said chairman of the Ground Water Division Dr Matthys Dippenaar. There is no better time for a conference of the groundwater specialists of our water scarce country than now, while we are dealing with the repercussions of one of the worst droughts in recorded history. We trust that the conference will highlight our ability as a profession to contribute to solutions regarding water supply in our country. Advancing science, technology of groundwater The Ground Water Division was established in 1978 as part of the Geological Society of South Africa with the objective of advancing the science and technology of groundwater. The divisions biennial conference is an opportunity for transferring knowledge and increasing awareness about the sustainable development of South Africas groundwater resources within and outside of the groundwater community. There will be more than 120 presentations, covering topics from groundwater sustainability to environmental forensic geochemistry and isotopes, and there is expected to be a strong focus on water supply in times of water scarcity. For more information, go to www.gwd2017.co.za. The conservation of Seychelles' marine resources and seafood value chains will benefit from a $20m package approved by the World Bank. The funding comes as part of the Third South West Indian Ocean Fisheries Governance and Shared Growth Project (SWIOFish3), aimed at improving the management of marine areas and fisheries in targeted zones of Seychelles, a 115 island archipelago in the western Indian Ocean. Marc Henauer via 123RF "It is the first World Bank project in Seychelles in more than 30 years," a World Bank statement announcing the project last Friday said. Moving from open-access fishery to controlled fishery Seychelles has already initiated a marine spatial planning exercise to expand protected areas and a fisheries management plan for the Mahe Plateau to progressively move from an open-access fishery to a more controlled fishery. Seychelles' vice president said the World Bank package will help Seychelles achieve its fisheries management plan and its desire to capitalise on its natural resources. "Faced with the need to preserve our comparative advantage in natural capital for future generations, we adopted a marine conservation strategy which commits to protecting 30 percent of our exclusive economic zone by 2020," said Vice President Vincent Meriton. While the percentage of protected areas on land is a little over 50 percent, marine parks and other conservation zones are said to constitute just one percent of Seychelles' Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Fishing is the second main contributor to the economy of Seychelles, which has a total land area of 455 square kilometres spread over an EEZ of 1.3 million square kilometres. The world's first Blue Bond The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) has contributed a loan of $5m towards the total sum and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) has given a grant of $5.29m. "This third phase will focus on the Seychelles and eventually deliver the world's first Blue Bond - a significant milestone in our long-standing support for ocean conservation," said Gustavo Fonseca, GEF director of programmes, in a press statement. In addition, a guarantee of over $5.8m from the IBRD and a credit of $5m from the GEF's Non-Grant Instrument Pilot will enable the future issuance of the world's first Blue Bond by Seychelles. The proceeds of the Blue Bond will be used as grants for fisheries management planning activities. They will also be used as loans to encourage local public and private investment in activities consistent with sustainable fishing such as post-harvest value-adding opportunities and jobs and the protection of ocean resources. More than 20 companies from the Eastern Cape's agriculture/agro-processing sector attended a workshop conducted by the Coega Development Corporation (CDC) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) focusing on the Agro-Processing Support Scheme (APPS) - an incentive scheme created by the DTI to develop and grow the agro-processing sector. Held at the CDC Business Centre the workshop also aimed to inform the Eastern Cape-based companies of the opening of the second application window of the APSS that will remain open until January 2018. Mark Alard, Director of Strategic Partnerships and Customer Care, DTI The Coega SEZ is home to a number of agro-processing companies such as Coega Dairy, Dynamic Commodities, and Famous Brands, to name but a few. Mark Alard, director of Strategic Partnerships and Customer Care from the DTI highlighted that if companies wanted to grow their businesses Coega is the right place to be. The workshop emphasized that the DTIs core objective for the incentive scheme was to stimulate investment by South African agro-processing and agribusiness enterprises. Alard in the workshop identified five key sub-sectors that the incentive scheme is targeting: 1. Food and beverage processing: this includes black winemakers; 2. Furniture manufacturing; 3. Fibre processing; 4. Feed production; and 5. Fertiliser production Transforming and revitalising the agro-processing sector The scheme aims to increase capacity, create employment, boost competitiveness and contribute to transformation in these agro-processing sub-sectors, says Alard. In support of this approach, Dr. Keith du Plessis, project development manager of the agro-processing sector for the Coega SEZ highlighted that the agro-processing industry is vital for development in the Eastern Cape as it has the potential to create sustainable employment up and downstream. The effect of the APSS is to revitalise the potential of the South African agro-processing sector. The workshop identified backward linkages with primary sectors and forward linkages with downstream industries. The workshop highlighted the benefits of APPS to offer support to new business entities as well as existing businesses on a cost-sharing basis of between 20% and 30% based on the applicants business plan to a maximum of R20m. PPC says the company's independent board is keen to avoid long-running negotiations with any bidders for the company. On Tuesday, 3 October, it extended the date for the posting of the partial offer circular by Fairfax Africa, which, along with AfriSam, made a conditional offer for SA's largest cement maker. "The independent board is mindful of avoiding any unduly protracted engagement with any of the bidders, and accordingly, aims to be in a position to make a decision on the best way to proceed within a sensible time period," the group said in a statement on Tuesday. Dangote Cement, founded and chaired by Nigerian tycoon Aliko Dangote, has also made a bid for PPC. PPC said Investec Bank was conducting a review and would prepare "fair and reasonable opinions" about aspects such as the partial offer and proposed merger with AfriSam. "It is anticipated that this review will require some time," PPC said. The announcement comes after Prudential Investment Managers, one of the top three shareholders in PPC, said on Monday that it opposed a proposed merger between PPC and AfriSam, its unlisted South African rival. The investment manager said AfriSam's recent revised offer, which had the backing of Canada's Fairfax Africa Investments, undervalued the group. This meant that PPC shareholders had been asked to back a "short-term gain" ahead of a material improvement in the group's cash flow from its new rest-of-Africa operations. Fairfax has undertaken to buy R2bn in ordinary shares in PPC at R5.75 a share. PPC said the company's independent board intended to provide each credible bidder with a reasonable period to conduct due diligence of the group, to finalise its proposal and submit a firm intention letter. "This is on the basis that such due diligence will commence imminently and that, to the extent necessary, PPC is granted access to reciprocal due diligence," PPC said. "Following receipt of any such firm intention letter/s, the independent board believes it will be in a better position to make an informed decision on the best way to proceed." In an announcement in early September, PPC said the independent board had not had an opportunity to fully consider AfriSam's partial offer or the opinion of the independent expert. "However, based on the prior extensive engagement in respect of a possible merger with AfriSam, the independent board found the offer fundamentally undervalued PPC." Source: Business Day Lesley Donna Williams has been appointed the CEO of Wits University's Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct, Wits University announced yesterday, 3 October 2017. Lesley Donna Williams Vice-Chancellor, Professor Adam Habib, says: Through Tshimologong, Wits is enabling the development of a new generation of digital technology experts, innovators and entrepreneurs. The Precinct is providing space for our country's most creative young minds to develop the new digital technologies that are crucial to South Africas economic growth and international competitiveness. As CEO, Lesley has been mandated to ensure that this initiative achieves its full potential. Williams describes herself as being: Enthusiastic about collaboration with a particular passion for shaping the future of business that contributes to social innovation and enables participatory leadership. She has spent 17 years actively engaged in setting up and running collaborative workspaces and associated programmes. In 2010, she established Impact Hub Johannesburg as the first Impact Hub in Africa and now one of over 100 Impact Hubs in major cities around the world. Impact Hub is a community of spaces, people and programming with an impact mission. She has served on the global Impact Hub Association Board. In 2011 she was named by the Mail & Guardian as one of its Top 200 Young South Africans. Professor Barry Dwolatzky, head of Wits Universitys Joburg Centre for Software Engineering (JCSE) and founder of the Tshimologong Precinct says, Im really excited to welcome Lesley as our CEO. She brings a wealth of experience and boundless energy and enthusiasm to this important strategic initiative. Going forward my own role will be to support Lesley and her team in various ways with a particular focus on growing strategic relationships both locally and internationally. Investment house BlackRock says it is finding infrastructure businesses more attractive than many listed property groups. "We used to say we invest in real estate but now we say that we invest in real asset securities businesses. This is because we have found that listed infrastructure businesses are similar to listed property," said Black Rocks European chief investment officer James Wilkinson, visiting SA this week on an investor road show. He said his team had invested in various airports, regulated utilities, cellphone towers and data centres, among other infrastructure-based assets, over the past three years, in developed countries. Wilkinson said: "I think infrastructure investing offers great growth opportunities across the world. We have been buying interests in developed country infrastructure because these companies meet certain liquidity, scale and transparency requirements." Source: Business Day Cost-efficient travel procurement is becoming increasingly tricky for corporate executives, particularly those who are encouraged by their travel management companies (TMCs) to focus on the cost and not the efficiency of the service they provide. Andrew McDonic, Chief executive Tourvest Travel Services and Tourvest Financial Services. With budgets tightening and competition intensifying, many TMCs are discounting fees to unrealistic and sometimes even absurd levels, just to get the business. Once they have secured the account, they have to scramble to recover their shortfall from the client in other ways and cannot afford the manpower costs required to put in place the policies and procedures required to manage the total travel costs. Procurement managers need to be aware of this common practice, which manifests itself in various forms. The TMC can mark up the accommodation cost, or can charge for different classes of fares in order to sustain their business. Squeezing the TMC on its fees is counter-productive The fact of the matter is that, globally as well as in South Africa, the travel management industry operates on paper-thin margins: a profit of 2% on total sales value is regarded as the norm. There is a misconception that a TMC can supplement its fee income with commissions and overrides, and corporates often ask to share in these. However, a professionally managed TMC will already have factored those into its fee calculation. This is how it works. The TMC calculates the total cost, mainly manpower, of servicing the account. Overrides and supplier revenues are then offset against this. Finally, the TMC proposes a management fee which should deliver that 2% margin. So when a customer takes away the overrides or commission, the TMC in order to sustain itself, must increase its fees. As a rule of thumb, any management fee which amounts to less than 4% of the total travel programme should ring a warning bell. At that level, the TMC will simply not be able to provide the client with an effective service, let alone add value to the clients bottom line. Of course, the end goal should be to keep a tight rein on costs and make savings where possible. But squeezing the TMC on its fees is counter-productive because inevitably the total cost of the programme will rise as the TMC will not be able to perform the level of service required to resolve the total travel spend. TMCs online system can be the most cost-effective way of managing travel Its worth noting that a TMCs online system can be the most cost-effective way of managing travel with its ability to extract all airline, car rental and accommodation options and compare these to the clients preferences. The TMCs recommendation - which will highlight potential savings, for example by taking an earlier flight - are communicated electronically to the clients travel approver, who authorises it electronically, after which all vouchers are also issued electronically. Why companies should look past the lure of a low fee The key focus of partnering with a TMC should be on value delivery and not cheap fees. A properly conceived programme will give the client total cost control over its travel programme, thanks to the TMCs ability to deal with all vendors, negotiate discounts, handle the daily operation of the programme, develop travel policies and controls, and manage data and credit card usage. These services all add value which extends beyond the management fee, which is why companies should look past the lure of a low fee, which will prove unsustainable in the end. Instead, they should take into consideration the very real contribution a good TMC, with the right skills and services, can make to the efficient overall management of their travel programme and spend. As the water crisis intensifies, South African companies are working furiously to meet demand for smart water restrictors. Durban-based Utility Systems, which has supplied the Cape Town municipality with about 300,000 devices over the last 10 years, is now producing 35,000 water management devices a month. The company, which developed their first device in a garage, has close to 1.4-million of the devices connected around the world, including parts of Africa, South America, the Middle East, the Far East and New Zealand. The water management device is a remote communicating electronic water control valve. The smart meter allows water flow limitation and is able to provide prepaid water metering, automated meter reading and leaks and tamper detection. Managing director Peter Rodseth quit his job as a lawyer to invest in the device proposed in the mid-1990s by a client. "I liked the idea, invested some money and commercialised it. It was the first prepaid water system in the world. Initially it was used as a prepaid system, but that business was sold off in 1999. I then started this business in 2001. Initially prepaid was not widely used here but in the last 10 years it has taken off. The whole world is moving towards smart meters. Water is a huge focus globally," said Rodseth. "We supply about 60 municipalities in South Africa. Cape Town is our biggest customer, with Durban not far behind. We are building 35,000 devices a month and want to get to 100,000 capacity to meet the growing orders," he said. He said the company's team of engineers continue to work on improving the product to make it adaptable to different climates and radio frequencies. Rodseth said the device has been used as a flow limitation device for consumers who are in arrears. "It was a way to restrict consumers' consumption and is now being installed at more homes, especially in Cape Town, to get consumers to bring their consumption down due to the drought," he said. Xanthea Limberg, Cape Town's mayoral committee member for informal settlements, water and waste services and energy, said there were currently about 231,000 water management devices installed across the city. Limberg said it also served as an early warning system for leaks on a property. "The city also makes use of the device when restricting customers due to unpaid accounts, and provides it to indigent customers to help them avoid finding themselves in debt. Although every programme has its challenges, the water management device is an integral part of the City of Cape Town Water Conservation and Water Demand Management Strategy. This strategy was internationally recognised for its success at the 2015 C40 Cities Awards, where it was acknowledged as the best in the world in terms of preparing the city for the possible challenges of climate change," said Limberg. According to management of iLembe District Municipality, in northern KwaZulu-Natal, 21,821 of the devices have been installed in the region. "The municipality is currently conducting an assessment which will inform whether or not more similar devices should be installed bearing in mind that some areas within the district currently have limited water supply. "Implementation of credit control processes by blocking consumers from purchasing remotely by percentage proportioning between consumption and servicing historical debt has yielded positive results both to the municipality as well as to the consumers. This also assisted in curbing perpetual consumer debt increase." Edwin Sibiya, chief executive of Pretoria-based company Lesira-Teq, who design, manufacture and supply smart metering systems globally, said smart metering technologies can make it possible for entities to achieve a lot more than just collecting revenue. "It is the first step towards achieving control of consumption and builds a strong sense of conservation with end-users. The technology ensures data integrity and they can monitor and manage their water and electricity spend." Among Lesira-Teq's products is the water management unit, which converts mechanical piston meters to smart meters and the water management device. "It has the ability to set daily or weekly or monthly water or gas or electricity consumption limits with penalty warnings. It can detect a possible leak and burst pipe with automated notification," said Sibiya. Sibiya said they supply corporates and private companies, gated and complex communities, utility management companies and municipalities. "Because the water management device and water management unit technology is fairly new and was officially launched in July 2017, we are in discussions with various municipalities. Sales have been primarily in the domestic market with over a thousand sold. Most municipalities make use of our prepaid water meters. To date we have supplied and distributed more than 800,000 units," said Sibiya. Source: The Times The Department of Mineral Resources appears to have gone over the head of Energy Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi and her office, telling the African Exploration Mining and Finance Corporation it will be placed under the control of Mineral Resources Minister Mosebenzi Zwane. Mineral resources minister, Mosebenzi Zwane The AEMFC, a state-owned mining firm, falls under the Central Energy Fund (CEF), of which Kubayi is shareholder minister. Mineral resources director general Thabo Mokoena sent a letter to AEMFC CEO Sizwe Madondo in August informing him the company would be hived off to his department following a Cabinet decision taken in December 2010. "I wish to advise you that AEMFC now falls under the executive leadership of [Zwane] and I am looking forward to a healthy working relationship with you," he wrote. Questions have been raised on the eagerness of Zwane's department to get its hands on the AEMFC. According to its website, the AEMFC was established to secure SA's energy supply primarily through the mining and supply of coal for the generation of electricity, and of other resources that will provide energy for the future. Kubayi's office said no consent was sought from the energy minister on the letter sent to the AEMFC. Mokoena's instruction that the AEMFC now reported to Zwane also seemed premature, with the Department of Energy saying the transfer was only expected to be undertaken on April 1 2018 to coincide with the start of the new financial year. The CEF said it was not aware that the AEMFC had been transferred. "The letter you are referring to has never been addressed/sent to both AE board and the CEF board for deliberations so we cannot comment on something we have no clue of," it said in response to questions. The Department of Mineral Resources did not respond to requests for comment. Insiders argued that moving the AEMFC to mineral resources could result in forced joint ventures between private citizens and those close to politicians such as the controversial Gupta family. Zwane is known to have close ties with the Guptas and has been implicated in allegations of state capture. The value of the AEMFC lies not just in its operating profit but in the future value of mineral beneficiation given that it is a state-owned entity. The Department of Energy said it was confident the long-term sustainability of the CEF group of companies would not be significantly affected by the transfer of the AEMFC. It said the time until the end of the financial year would be used to ensure there was compliance with the Companies Act and the Public Finance Management Act. The Department of Energy did not elaborate on the reasons for the delay of the transfer by almost seven years and why the Department of Mineral Resources was now in such a hurry to control the AEMFC. The 2017 Tusk Conservation Awards took place in Cape Town on Wednesday evening, 4 October. Paying tribute to the "unrelenting dedication and commitment" of Africa's wildlife heroes, Tusk's royal patron Prince William addressed attendees via video. I worry a great deal that our generation is not meeting our moral obligation to leave this planet in better shape than we inherited it," the prince said. "Our children and grandchildren will not thank us if we fail in our duty to reverse the decline in so many species. The Prince William Award for Conservation in Africa Archbishop Desmond Tutu presented The Prince William Award for Conservation in Africa to Rian Labuschagne. Labuschagne has dedicated his life to the preservation of some of the worlds most endangered species and important wildlife reserves. Thanks to Rian, Chad has witnessed one of conservations great success stories unfold with the revival of Zakouma National Park and its decimated elephant population, said Tusk CEO Charlie Mayhew. Archbishop Desmond Tutu presents award to Prince William Award winner Rian Labuschagne. The Tusk Award for Conservation in Africa was presented to Brighton Kumchedwa by former first lady Graca Machel. The award recognises his ground-breaking work in Malawi, one of southern Africas major illegal wildlife trade routes. Graca Machel presents Tusk Award for Conservation in Africa to Brighton Kumchedwa. The Tusk Wildlife Ranger Award, introduced in 2015, this year jointly honours the bravery and dedication of two men leading teams risking their lives day and night on poachings front line. Former South African President FW de Klerk presented the award to Solomon Chidunuka, based in Zambias Northern Province and to Lucky Ndlovu from Kruger National Park. FW de Klerk presents Rangers Awards to joint winners Lucky Ndlovu and Solomon Chidunuka. In closing the ceremony, the former South African president said, Africa, indeed the whole world, owes them (the finalists) a huge debt of gratitude. The South African Communist Party (SACP) says President Jacob Zuma's failure to appoint a new board has created a "governance vacuum" at the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC). Image credit: Robbie Tshabalala / TimesLIVE Zuma was sitting on parliament's board recommendations, "while the term of the interim board that did its best to turn around the ailing public broadcaster has expired," the party said in a statement. The names of 12 recommended board members were sent to Zuma by the National Assembly just over three weeks ago. But Zuma, according to a report by the Sunday Times at the weekend, has been reluctant to sign off on the names put forward as he does not trust some of the candidates. Zuma's spokesman, Bongani Ngqulunga, said the president was "still applying his mind" and a due diligence process was under way to ensure the candidates were fit and proper. The state broadcaster reported a net loss of just under R1 billion this year. "President Zuma's inaction has opened a governance vacuum at the SABC and must be viewed by all South Africans as a cause for serious concern. The SACP calls on the President to appoint the SABC board as recommended by Parliament as a matter of urgency and avoid wasting any further time," the SACP said. The presidency and the SABC earlier this week denied claims by the Democratic Alliance (DA) that staffers at the broadcaster had been "summoned" to the presidency. The meeting was described as a "routine engagement with journalists to discuss operational issues and working relations." For as long as I have been around and could think rationally I have been fascinated about the things that make up the intriguing, creative but sometimes self-loathing species we call Homo sapiens. It is by far one of the best things to have occurred in the Milky Way galaxy. Socially, we have not evolved as quickly as we should have (in my opinion). But when it comes to making tools, we have truly outdone ourselves. Three decades ago, calling someone in Europe as an example, was rather tedious. Firstly, you had to go to a place where the was a phone. And then you had to know where the other person was at the exact moment, and what the landline number was. If they werent next to the telephone, you couldnt make the call. Today we have Twitter, WhatsApp, Telegram (not the old Morse code thing, but the competitor to WhatsApp) and many other chat platforms that allow you to speak to anyone around the world instantaneously. That is progress. When it comes to social engineering, why are we still obsessed only about that which makes us different? Why are we not equally obsessed about praising that which also makes us one? I get the argument for celebrating our diversity, considering where we come from particularly as South Africans. Our history is yet another demonstration of the obsession we have with our differences. Recognise that we are different and celebrate that diversity Perhaps that is why I love science, because regardless of who comes up with a scientific concept, it doesnt belong to them. It may be named after them, but it belongs to all of humanity. No one owns an electron, for example. The scientists who first identified it and described its properties did not do something that no one else could have done; they simply did it first. While on the subject of science, inventions and firsts, South Africans have also contributed immensely to the worlds body of knowledge. We gave the world the first heart transplant, cheaper solar technology, digital laser, full body X-ray scanner, pre-paid airtime (did the guy get his millions?), pool cleaners, vaccine against yellow fever, Rocketseed email and many more. We should recognise that we are different, and celebrate that diversity. But I think we should also actively seek and celebrate the things that make us a great species. In case you did not know, none of us is going anywhere. We can like each other, get a heck lot more done to advance the species, or continue the braai talks of how the blacks, Indians, coloureds (mixed-race for the uninitiated) or whites are doing this or the other to some other group of people. Not helpful. Human intelligence is very rare in the universe. Let us cherish our being, because we are special. All of us. The sale of 10-million barrels of SA's strategic fuel stocks is to be contested in court, acting Strategic Fuel Fund (SFF) CEO Thabane Zulu confirmed. The outcome of the case will determine whether the country has access to any strategic stocks at all. At one point, it appeared that the sale was conditional on SA being able to buy back the stocks in case of need, but Zulu said this would be decided by the court. Zulu appeared before Parliament's energy portfolio committee along with board members and executives of SFF's parent company, the Central Energy Fund and sister company, PetroSA. Zulu said in an interview after the meeting that a legal opinion, with recommendations, had been obtained from the legal team commissioned by the former minister of energy, Tina Joemat-Pettersson, on which the court proceedings would be based. Last week, the legal team was given the go-ahead to proceed. "So the process has started to give effect to the recommendations made by the legal team," Zulu said. He explained that on the basis of the legal opinion obtained by the government - including by senior counsel - there was "certainty" that SA does have access to the strategic fuel stocks, but this had to be tested in court. A Sens statement confirming the termination of Novus Holdings' single most valuable printing contract hit the company's share price on Tuesday, taking it back towards the all-time low reached two weeks ago. Image credit: Russell Roberts / Business Day A Sens statement confirming the termination of Novus Holdings single most valuable printing contract hit the companys share price on Tuesday, taking it back towards the all-time low reached two weeks ago. Tuesdays announcement coincides with the unbundling of Media24s controlling stake in Novus as ordered by the Competition Commission. The statement represents a reversal of an announcement made in late April that the agreement between Novus and Media24 would not be terminated. That announcement followed a meeting with the JSE, which had been prompted by public criticism of Novus initial statement in January 2017 that the death of former CEO Lambert Retief had triggered Media24s right to terminate the printing contract. The agreement, which relates to the contract to print papers and magazines for Media24, is estimated to account for about 30% of Novus revenue and an even larger percentage of its profit. Charl Kocks, corporate governance expert and executive director of Ratings Afrika, criticised the announcement that the contract was being terminated. He said the right enjoyed by Media24 had not been disclosed to Novus shareholders at the time of its listing in 2015. "There is in our view no doubt that the lack of disclosure is unsound governance of a breathtaking nature." The only fair resolution would be for the agreement to be kept in place and for Media24 to relinquish its right to terminate. After the April meeting with the JSE, Novus said Media24 had waived any right that it may have had to terminate the existing printing agreements. The Sens statement on Tuesday said the management and the printing agreements entered into between Media24 and Novus in early 2015 were terminated on 26 September. On 29 September, Media24 gave Novus six months "written notice of the termination of the printing agreements". The current printing arrangement will end on 31 March 2018. Novus said it intended to start talks with Media24 on new arrangements but said, "there can be no certainty that discussions will be commenced or that new printing arrangements will be concluded". Industry sources said the favourable terms of the contract secured by Retief, at a time when Novus was a wholly owned subsidiary of Media24, are unlikely to be replicated in any new arrangement. But Media24 has limited options if it cannot reach an agreement, so it will be restricted in the demands it can make. The only other major printer able to handle Media24s large requirements appears to be Caxton. But relations between Caxton, Media24 and its parent company Naspers, can best be described as strained. To promote the tropical Indian Ocean island of Mauritius as an attractive film shooting destination, the inaugural Mauritius Cinema Week takes place this week, forming part of the government's focus on the island's 50 years of independence celebrations - taking place on 12 March 2018 - to build awareness and support for the creative sector on the island. Tarikh Jumeer via 123RF - Shooting in the market of Port-Louis, Mauritius The four-day event, themed East meets West starts today, 5 October with the opening ceremony and networking cocktail event taking place at the Chateau de Labourdonnais. Nandocoomar Bodha, Minister of Public Infrastructure and Land Transport, and coordinator of the 50th Anniversary celebrations will deliver the opening address on the night. Sharing knowledge and experience in the film industry The event is expected to attract film directors, actors and celebrities from India, South Africa, France, the UK and the USA. They have been invited to share their knowledge of and experience in the film industry, in an effort to energise and boost the nascent film industry in Mauritius. They will also participate in a series of workshops, master classes, panel discussions and networking events. Mauritius Cinema Week will showcase a number of international films whose themes focus on the freedom and independence of individuals, a people or a country. Free screenings of these films at various cinemas include: Twelve Years a Slave; A United Kingdom; Amistad; Cry Freedom; Ghandi; Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom; Queen of Katwe; Black; Chef; Baahubali: The Beginning and Baahubali: The Conclusion; Lonbraz Kann; Xuan Zang; Jack Strong; Viceroys House; Loving; The Zookeepers Wife; Les Yeux Jaunes des Crocodiles and Un Coeur en Hiver. A key economic driver in hosting the event is to promote the film industry through the Film Rebate Scheme (FRS). Ken Poonoosamy, managing director of the Board of Investment (BOI) in Mauritius, explained how the event is an opportunity to create a single platform where international actors, producers and film directors can engage with the local film sector to evaluate and debate issues around the competitiveness of the FRS. This, in an effort to promote the island as an attractive and affordable film location destination. According to the BOI, the main objectives of the festival is to: Promote business partnerships and the development of the local film industry; Create a forum to encourage discussion between local and international film producers; Stimulate, popularise and place the spotlight on the islands nascent film industry; and Promote and market the incentives under the Film Rebate Scheme, while positioning Mauritius as an attractive shooting location in the region. Since 2013, the BOI has approved a total of 83 film projects, of which 56 have been produced and completed under the FRS. These include a variety of production genres, ranging from feature films, TV commercials and reality TV programmes to documentaries and television series. Productions from India represent 43% of the current Mauritian film market, with South Africa at 10% and China on 7%, while the UK stands at 5%, the USA on 2% and France on 1%. The most recent film to be shot on location in Mauritius is the upcoming mystery tale, Serenity, written and directed by Steven Knight (Locke, Redemption) and starring Oscar-winning actor Matthew McConaughey and Anne Hathaway. McConaughey plays a fishing boat captain whose past is about to crash up against his life on a small island in the tropics, and ensnare him in a new reality. The increasing number of big Hollywood and Bollywood names gracing the island as their film location of choice holds much promise for the local industry going forward, positioning it as a potentially new driver to stimulate investment, create jobs and grow the economy. In this regard, Poonoosamy has announced that the BOI has been contacted for the partial shooting of a James Bond film in Mauritius. The BOI is spearheading the organisation and management of the Mauritius Cinema Week, with the support of several major stakeholders and sponsors, including the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Agency (MTPA), Air Mauritius and the Mauritius Film Development Corporation (MFDC). Got a question or tip? Contact us at bizmojoidaho@gmail.com. Ugandan parliamentarians fought back when Speaker Rebecca Kadaga called on the sergeant at arms to remove them and plainclothes security forces arrived. Ugandas General Yoweri Museveni is trying to change the Ugandan constitution so that he can remain president for life. Ugandans are resisting, and Musevenis military police have recently tear gassed and shot rubber bullets at students defying the ban on demonstrations, raided the offices of civil society organizations, and arrested Erias Lukwago, the hugely popular mayor of Kampala, the countrys capital, in the middle of a television interview. In footage of the arrest, hes seen grimacing in pain as officers grab his genitals. He has since petitioned the Uganda Human Rights Commission about being tortured and humiliated this way. The military has also threatened and arrested Ugandans resisting in towns across the country and in the countryside. On September 27, minority members of Ugandas parliamentand even some members of Musevenis own ruling partymade international headlines with an awesome act of defiance. First they filibustered a constitutional amendment that would give him the right to rule for life by singing the Ugandan national anthem over and over. Then, when plainclothes cops tried to remove them, they resisted. No one went limp and no one agreed to be cuffed and walked out of chambers. Instead, they fought back. Shouts and screams filled the chambers as chairs were thrown, mic stands were swung, and tugs, pushes, and punches were exchanged. The MPs who had prevented the amendment from coming to the floor had one more try at singing the national anthem, and one of them waved a Ugandan flag. Police and parliamentarians jumped up on the table in the center of chambers, with each of the opposing forces holding the higher ground at different moments as they fought off those below. It was glorious, even though the cops finally overwhelmed the protesting MPs, dragged them out of chambers, and sent them off to jail. Museveni has brutalized his own people and made war on most of Ugandas neighbors in East and Central Africa since shooting his way to power in 1986. In video footage , it looks as though as many as four cops were needed to subdue a single MP several times. Most if not all have been released, but Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga suspended them, so they will probably miss the debate on the constitutional amendment before Musevenis two-thirds majority rubber stamps it. Would that our own legislators had a fraction of the Ugandan oppositions courage. Wouldnt you have loved to see Resistance warriors Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders throw a chair or swing a mic stand to keep the $700 billion defense bill from reaching the floor of the U.S. Senate? Warren voted yes, Sanders no, but Sanders didnt further risk his new status as the Democratic Partys Outreach Coordinator, even though the $700 billion war budget was akin to the total capitulation demanded of Ugandan lawmakers and with far greater and grimmer global consequence. The legislative specifics that inspired the Ugandan MPs are: 1) In 2005, President Yoweri Museveni persuaded the Parliament to amend Ugandas constitution to eliminate presidential term limits, so that he could remain in power. 2) Now, at age 73, after ruling for 31 years, he is once again asking Parliament to amend the Constitutionthis time to eliminate the age limit that would require him to step down at 75. 3) The amendment requires a two-thirds vote of Parliament to pass, but the minority opposition and everyone else Ive ever trusted to report on Uganda says that Museveni has long since bought himself a compliant two-thirds majority. 4) Museveni has brutalized his own people and made war on most of Ugandas neighbors in East and Central Africa since shooting his way to power in 1986. Although he has never threatened the entire world with anything as monstrous as the U.S. Senates $700 billion War Appropriations Bill, he and his army are themselves in the budget. The U.S. has used him militarily and politically throughout his 31-year reign. Bill Clinton called Museveni one of the New Breed of African leaders Museveni is one of the New Breed of East and Central African dictators embraced by Bill Clinton in the mid-1990s. All claimed to be democrats, but their elections were rigged, and opposition politicians and their supporters were imprisoned, tortured, and/or killed. Helen Epstein, in her new book, Another Fine Mess: America, Uganda, and the War on Terror , writes: Musevenis genius has been to capitalize on Western ambivalence about Africas capacity for democracy and self-determination. Thus, with America and Europes blessing, he used our generous foreign aid to turn Uganda into a military dictatorship dressed up to look like a democracy. Uganda has a Parliament, a court system, a lively press, and a pyramidal elected governance structure at the village, district, and regional levels. But these institutions operate at the mercy of a far more powerful paramilitary structure of Museveni-appointed Resident District Administrators, District Internal Security Officers, Village Defense Committees, and a shadowy network of unofficial security organs that control their own arsenals, override the decisions of elected officials, and close NGOs, newspapers, and radio stations deemed unfriendly to the regime. Museveni as Pentagon proxy General Museveni has also been an aggressor and Pentagon proxy in most of the conflicts in East and Central Africa since the end of the Cold War, which have cost millions of African lives. Again, Helen Epstein: Hes actually one of Americas closest allies on the continent. His government has received tens of billions of dollars in financial assistance and untold amounts of military assistance. He partners with the Pentagon all the time on military operations throughout the region. Much of the tragedy of East and Central Africa, including Ethiopia and Somalia, but particularly Uganda and its neighbors Rwanda, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is due to the meddling of the United States and the backing of dictators, including Museveni. They have no doubt given the Americans promises that they would sort out the region for them, but have in the process caused shocking mayhem and pandemonium. On Thu, Sep 28, 2017 at 4:54 PM, Barclays Bank plc < baclaysbnkplc8900@gmail.com > wrote: I just got the balance of the Fee now so very sire tomorrow morning we will meet up. Thank you for your efforts. I will be on my way now and hopefully by tomorrow the deal will be done. On Fri, Sep 29, 2017 at 6:34 AM, Barclays Bank plc < baclaysbnkplc8900@gmail.com > wrote: Good morning dear friend. there is a problem here since the code was purchased and there is an instruction attached to it that the receipt must be stamped. Now the attorney is requesting for $35.00 for stamp fee before he will stamp on the receipt. What are we going to do since the transfer department is anxiously waiting for the receipt to be stamped before they will summarize thus transaction as scheduled. On Fri, Sep 29, 2017 at 8:14 AM, Barclays Bank plc < baclaysbnkplc8900@gmail.com > wrote: I can only raise $10.00 which I just got from my wife now so we can meet up. please understand me. On Fri, Sep 29, 2017 at 8:33 AM, Barclays Bank plc < baclaysbnkplc8900@gmail.com > wrote: Is alright I will get back to you. On Fri, Sep 29, 2017 at 1:05 PM, Barclays Bank plc < baclaysbnkplc8900@gmail.com > wrote: please be patient with me while I wait for the attorney to coke back and sign the certificate. He went out for an urgent errands which he told me on the phone to be patient that he will be with me soon. I will keep you updated as soon as I am done with him to enable the transfer department summarize this transaction. On Sat, Sep 30, 2017 at 7:02 AM, Barclays Bank plc < baclaysbnkplc8900@gmail.com > wrote: He will sign it today and the transfer will be done too. please be patient and he promised to be with me before 1 hour time. On Sat, Sep 30, 2017 at 8:46 AM, Barclays Bank plc < baclaysbnkplc8900@gmail.com > wrote: Thank you for your patient. The transfer has been made successfully and you are instructed to patient while the transfer reflection will be completed 24 hours and it was programmed till Monday before your Fund will reflect into your Bank account since your Bank too will do certification to ensure that everything went successfully and no hitch. You will receive your payment by Monday so keep calm and wait for the good news. I will jeep you updated. Barclays Bank plc Jes_Staley@mail2consultant.com > Date: Wed, Oct 4, 2017 at 10:26 AM Subject: TREAT AS URGENT, This is to bring to your notice about your on going transaction as stated bellow with MR. BALLACK, and their email address: Please from this moment we advice you to stop every communication with them, Meanwhile, the question is, have you receive your fund in your bank account as they claim that your fund will be in your position on Monday been the 2nd day of Oct 2017, the answer is no and the earlier will be better for you to quite from this wrong arrangement you are making before is too late. Again the bellow email was received in my disk this morning which is the major reason i contacted you and we required more explanation from you urgent before we can proceed for more directives. Thank you for your understanding. Yours in Service. Jes Staley, Barclays PLC Group Chief Executive Attn:This is to bring to your notice about your on going transaction as stated bellow with MR. BALLACK, and their email address: baclaysbnkplc8900@gmail.com ) In this regard we have to inform you that you are dealing with the wrong people and above that you are spending your fund as the claim to be what the are not.Please from this moment we advice you to stop every communication with them, Meanwhile, the question is, have you receive your fund in your bank account as they claim that your fund will be in your position on Monday been the 2nd day of Oct 2017, the answer is no and the earlier will be better for you to quite from this wrong arrangement you are making before is too late.Again the bellow email was received in my disk this morning which is the major reason i contacted you and we required more explanation from you urgent before we can proceed for more directives.Thank you for your understanding.Yours in Service.Jes Staley,Barclays PLC Group Chief Executive From:Date: Wed, Oct 4, 2017 at 10:26 AMSubject: TREAT AS URGENT, 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.... Government is busy working behind the scenes to de-register the Public Service Bargaining Council (PSBC), Botswana Guardian has learnt. The decision is said to have been taken after council halted its operations following Botswana Federation of Public, Parastatal and Private Sector Unions (BOFEPUSU) withdrew from it in May this year. BOFEPUSU operated in the council under Acting Jointly Agreement. The federation announced during its Special Congress held on May 6th 2017 that the BOFEPUSU AJA had terminated its membership at the PSBC. Following the congress, a letter was dispatched to the DPSM Director informing her that the BOFEPUSU AJA has since terminated its membership of the PSBC hence the public servants who are members of BOFEPUSU affiliated unions should be paid the 3 percent and the 4 percent. Government is said to be planning to take advantage of the gazzeted amendment of the Public Service Act (PSA) to de-register the council. Following publication of the amendments of the PSA mid this year, Trade unions complained that the amendments are meant to undermine the PSBC. The PSBC was established by the PSA of 2008. Section 16 of the Bill empowers the President to interfere with administration of the Public Service. Section 31 (2) (a)-(c) of the Bill gives the Minister for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration the power to decree 10 percent overtime allowance as has been bandied in the past by the employer. BOFEPUSU once labeled this as pure form of slavery wages meant to treat workers as commodities. The federation complained that Section 61 of the Bill usurped the power of the Bargaining Council to settle disputes or grievances of whatever form. Section 43 of the current Public Service Act bestows the power on the PSBC albeit sharing it with the Public Service Commission. Disputes between employees and the employer can be settled amicably by the PSBC or Sectoral Councils. Section 72 and 74(4) of the Bill give power to the Directorate of Public Service Management and the Minister to appoint the Secretariat, Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson of PSBC respectively. Part XV of the proposed Bill provides for the collective bargaining in the Public Service as well as creates the clause covering the appointment of the secretary and location of the secretariat: The secretary of the council shall be appointed by the Permanent Secretary to the President from amongst employees of the Directorate of Public Service Management; The Directorate of Public Service Management shall act as the secretariat for the council. Clause 74 of the proposed Public Service Bill incorporates a provision restricting representatives of trade unions admitted to the Bargaining Council to Public officers.Currently the Constitution of P.S.B.C confers that power on the Council itself. Section 75 of the Bill gives the employer the power to unilaterally vary conditions of service and terms of service without input of PSBC or even workers. READ MORE ON THE LATEST PRINT VERSION Belgium is taking Ryanair to court. The country's Deputy Prime Minister Kris Peeters has accused the airline of a lack of professionalism over the cancellation of thousands of flights. The crisis caused by a mismanagement of pilots' leave has affected approximately half a million passengers, and is set to continue into next spring. Mr Peeters says they are taking the action because Ryanair only communicated with Belgium's French and Dutch-speaking customers in English and a failed to notify them of their rights. Ryanair said: "Ryanair complies fully with all EU261 legislation and is taking all necessary steps to re-accommodate affected customers." There were emotional scenes at Casement Aerodrome in West Dublin this afternoon as 100 members of the Defence Forces arrived home. They had been on a six month peace keeping mission in the Golan Heights which is considered one of the most dangerous missions for the troops. Alan Shatter says Shane Ross's politics is "contaminating" Fine Gael. The Former Justice Minister is accusing the current Transport Minister of pulling a political stroke over the reopening of Stepaside Garda Station. Mr Shatter says despite fears of people living in the Dublin community, bricks and mortar do not protect against crime. He also says the coalition with Ross is doing Fine Gael harm. Mr Shatter said: "What differentiates Fine Gael, to me, from other parties is its commitment to truth, decency and integrity, and its opposition to stroke politics. "The politics of Shane Ross is contaminating the ethos of Fine Gael." Sexual assaults are becoming more violent, according to the Chair of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre. They recorded more than 13,000 contacts from people last year, with a 24% increase in calls received. Ann Marie Gill from the DRCC says social media has an increasing influence on sexual violence. She said: "We are basing our responses to sexual violence on our clients' stories that they present to us, what their experience has been, and it is becoming more violent. "We are also aware that social media is having a huge influence on sexual violence." Noeleen Blackwell says there has been a striking increase in the number of callers and clients who had experienced recent rape and sexual assault. She said: "Our numbers who are disclosing recent rape are up in 2016. Those are people who have been raped within the past six months and are coming to us for help at the early stages after it. "We do appreciate it when people can do that, but we also appreciate a lot that people sometimes cannot talk about things for many, many years." Bob Geldof has delivered searing criticism of a number of world leaders, saying he is "sick of them". At the opening ceremony of the One Young World Summit in Bogota, Colombia, Geldof turned his particular attention to State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi over her government's treatment of the Rohingya minority in Burma, also known as Myanmar. "On this stage are some of the greatest people who have fought for justice and peace and equality in our world," he said, referring to the Nobel Peace Laureates sitting on stage behind him. "And one of their number in Myanmar insults them - insults them all. Who took the greatest prize that humans can give to another and then becomes one of the great ethnic cleansers of our planet. This is a disgrace." Ms Suu Kyi, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991, spent a total of 15 years under house arrest when in opposition. However, she has drawn widespread criticism for her silence on the treatment of the Rohingya people in Burma, which the UN human rights chief, Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, has called "a textbook example of ethnic cleansing". Geldof was joined on stage by counsellors from the One Young World Conference, including former secretary-general of the UN Kofi Annan, and Colombia's president Juan Manuel Santos, to open the three-day summit. The summit, in its seventh year, brings together notable young people from 194 countries to discuss issues including climate change, conflict resolution and economic development. In his speech on Wednesday, the singer and political activist also lambasted the leadership of Russia, China, the United States and other countries around the world. "I'm sick of these leaders. I'm sick of Putin, I'm sick of Xi Jinping, I'm sick of Trump, I'm sick of Erdogan," he said. "I loathe these people. I despise these people. How dare they behave in the manner they behave. How dare they daily insult us as human beings." Geldof did give praise to President Santos and his efforts to bring peace to Colombia. He said the nation has "found a man who could put away the ancient enmities, the endless killing, where people could put aside the past and say there is something better than death, than torture, than kidnapping. "There is something better - peace." The Justice Minister has said there needs to be a zero-tolerance approach to sexual assault. A Dublin Rape Crisis Centre report has warned that young people are lost when it comes to the issue of consent. By Louise Roseingrave A toxic level of an anti-psychotic medication may have contributed to the sudden death of a 58-year-old man, an inquest heard. Otto Auerbach, of Dolphin Park, Rialto, Dublin 8 had a toxic level of Clozapine in his system when he died on April 20, 2016. Mr Auerbach had visited his local community centre and was making his way home when he collapsed, Dublin Coroners Court heard. He was well known and highly respected in the area, a local community worker said. Neighbours rushed to help him after his collapse and performed cardio pulmonary resuscitation at the scene. He was rushed to St Jamess Hospital where he was pronounced dead. A postmortem examination revealed he died due to a cardiac arrhythmia due to coronary heart disease. A toxicology screening revealed he had a toxic level of the anti-psychotic drug Clozapine in his system. Mr Auerbach had been on the medication for many years and his dose had not changed, the inquest heard. He had responded well to the medication and settled well into his surroundings, according to a doctors report. He visited an outpatients clinic every two months and had monthly blood tests, the court heard. Clozapine is therapeutic between 0.35 and 0.6 micrograms per mil and toxic from 0.8 to 1.3 micrograms per mil. Mr Auerbach had a level of 1.6 micrograms per mil in his system at postmortem. Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane noted that the screening can return slightly higher results after death. The coroner returned an open verdict, because the contribution of Clozapine as a factor in his death could not be excluded. "This was a death due to a cardiac arrhythmia, or a cardiac arrest in the context of hardening of the coronary arteries. The pathologist doesnt confirm or otherwise exclude the contribution of Clozapine. In those circumstances we record an open verdict," Dr Cullinane said. Northern Ireland's police chief has blamed the paramilitary Ulster Volunteer Force for issuing threats to four Catholic families in a cross-community housing development in Belfast. George Hamilton said the East Belfast UVF was behind the intimidation of the families in Cantrell Close neighbourhood. The clear attribution comes following a week of growing pressure on the police to confirm who it believed was behind the threats. "There are people using the guise of the UVF who we believe are members of that organisation who are threatening people because of their community background, because of their religion, to leave their home - that is not acceptable," said Mr Hamilton. The Police Service of Northern Ireland chief constable said the UVF was so "chaotic" the police was not yet sure whether the threats were supported by the leadership of the criminal organisation, or were made by individual members. "We are of the view that there's people purporting to be of East Belfast UVF who have been behind those threats," he said. "Whether or not that is an organisational position we don't know because it is a chaotic disorganised crime group. "They have no legitimacy, they are a scourge on the community." Cantrell Close, off the Ravenhill Road in the south of the city, was supposed to be a flagship cross-community development as part of the Stormont Executive's Together Building United Communities programme. Mr Hamilton vowed to take tough action against the East Belfast UVF but expressed frustration that witnesses and individuals with information were not willing to give formal statements through fear of the organisation. "We are going to make life difficult for them because they are a scourge on that community," he said. The police chief noted that the social housing development was supposed to be an example for shared living. "What an irony that is," he said. Following the intimidation of the Catholic families, two Protestant community workers living nearby, both pensioners, were also threatened this week. Mr Hamilton said it was too early in the investigation to say whether dissident republicans were to blame. "This has only just emerged in the last 24 hours, people want us to jump to conclusions, we are police officers, we go where the investigation takes us - we don't know about that yet," he said. "But whatever the source of any of these threats or intimidation, it is not acceptable - we are a society that should be moving on and living together." The Cantrell Close development was hit with another controversy in the summer when loyalist paramilitary flags were erected on lamp-posts. A loyalist community group in east Belfast said those flags had now been taken down as a gesture of "goodwill" and in an attempt to de-escalate tensions in the area. Mr Hamilton was asked whether the continuing lack of powersharing government in Northern Ireland was creating a vacuum that paramilitaries were exploiting. He said a functioning executive would help create a more "stable" society and encouraged the North's politicians to strike a deal to restore a Stormont executive. The Health Products Regulatory Authority has been joined as a defendant in a personal injury case by a woman who claims she suffered narcolepsy after receiving a vaccine for the swine flu virus, writes Ann O'Loughlin. Aoife Bennett is among an estimated 70 people who have brought cases against the Minister for Health, the HSE and Glaxosmithkline (GSK) Biologicals S.A over being given the Pandemrix vaccine against "human swine flu" in 2009-10. Ms Bennett, originally from Naas, Co Kildare, claims she suffered injuries including narcolepsy and cataplexy disorder, fainting fits, as a result of being given Pandemrix in 2009. The application to join the HPRA came today after Ms Bennett's lawyers discovered information about the vaccine's safety records that were furnished to the then Irish Medicines Board in 2009 -2010 by GSK. The Irish Medicines Board which became the Health Products Regulatory Authority in 2014, is a state body whose role is to protect and enhance public health by regulating medical products. The safety reports allegedly show what is claimed to be "a particularly striking" difference between the number of adverse effects in those given Pandemrix and a similar vaccine also made by GSK. It is claimed that had parents been aware of the "vast difference" in the numbers of people who had adverse effects from the respective vaccines they would not have given their consent to the administration of Pandemrix to their children. As a result of the documents Ms Bennett claims the HPRA owes her a duty of care to persons given Pandemrix, including how the safety and appropriateness of the vaccine was monitored. She alleges the manner in which the HPRA performed its functions breached those duties. Ms Bennett secured permission from the Master of the High Court Mr Edmund Honohan to add the HPRA to the case. In a sworn statement seeking to have the Authority joined Ms O'Connor said the application came following the examination of some 4500 documents.. The HPRA was not represented at the hearing before the Master, but Ms O'Connor said in her sworn statement that in correspondence the Irish Medciines Board said it will not be admitting any culpability in the matter. Ms O'Connor said that the discovery process had revealed the Authority had data concerning the safety records of Pandemrix which is made in Dresden, Germany and a very similar vaccine also used to treat swine flu is made in Quebec, Canada called Arepanrix. There are some differences in the manufacturing processes between Quebec and Dresden, Ms O'Connor said. The safety records shows that the level of adverse effects in those administered Pandemrix ranged between 10 and seven times higher than the Canadian made product. One report from late 2009 states that of the tens of millions of vaccines administered there was a serious adverse effect rate of 75.9 per million for Pandemrix compared to 7.9 per million for Arepanrix. The type of adverse effects listed in the reports range from conditions such as convulsions, facial palsy, to still birth and fatal outcomes in those who got the vaccines. Ms O'Connor said the discovered material does not indicate that the Irish Medicines Board made the information it received available to the Minister or the HSE immediately after it was received or at all. A representative of the Irish Medicines Board attended all meetings of the National Public Health Emergency Team, which was set up by the Dept of Health to oversee the administration of pandemic vaccines, she said. While discovery is being awaited on those meetings Ms O'Connor said no minutes were recorded regarding adverse effects of Pandemrix at meetings to monitor and oversee the swine flue virus. Ms O Connor added that a HSE brochure issued to the public in 2009 about swine flu contained information to the effect that it was safe to use Pandemrix and that it had been appropriately tested, and that side effects were rare. Ms O'Connor said the reality, which known to the Irish Medicines Board, was that not all the conclusions as contained in the brochure were warranted. Pandemrix was not adequately tested on children or young people before it was licensed, she said adding that if parents were aware of the facts regarding the lack of testing they would have likely refused to allow the vaccine be administered on their children. The Catalan government is expected to declare independence in the coming days. Here is a look at some of the issues surrounding the biggest political crisis to hit Spain in recent years: How has the current situation come about? Catalonia, a region in the north-east of Spain, has a population of some 7.5 million people, its own language and generates about a fifth of the country's wealth. Catalans who want independence from Spain argue the region would be more prosperous governing itself. In 2006 the region was given more devolved powers on things like healthcare and education but a move by Spain's Madrid-based Constitutional Court four years later to strike down some parts of the earlier agreement provoked anger among pro-independence Catalans. What happened on Sunday? An independence vote, deemed illegal by the Madrid government and the country's top court, was held after being backed by Catalan regional authorities. The poll descended into violence when national police used force in an attempt to stop people voting, leaving hundreds injured. How did the main players react? Catalan government spokesman Jordi Turull said Spain had become "the shame of Europe" after scenes of police taking on voters were beamed around the world and splashed across the front pages. Spanish prime minister Mariano Rajoy thanked police for acting with "firmness and serenity" as he insisted no independence vote had taken place and Spain's King Felipe VI accused Catalan authorities of deliberately bending the law with "irresponsible conduct". Catalan officials said 90% of the 2.26 million people who took part in the vote backed independence. The region has 5.3 million registered voters. What does the future hold? Catalan authorities have said they are determined to press ahead with implementing the results of the vote. Why have some of Spain's EU partners appeared keen to back Madrid? Cynics might suggest domestic concerns may partly explain this. For example, some of Mr Rajoy's clearest backing has come from French President Emmanuel Macron, whose country has faced low-level breakaway sentiment from Corsica and the Basque Country, which straddles both south-west France and north-west Spain. There have also been separatist rumblings in northern Italy, Sardinia and Flanders in Belgium. Investigators are looking into whether gunman Stephen Paddock scoped out bigger music festivals before shooting scores of country music fans in Las Vegas. Paddock booked rooms overlooking the Lollapalooza festival in Chicago in August and the Life Is Beautiful show near the Vegas Strip in late September, according to authorities reconstructing his movements before he undertook the deadliest mass shooting in modern US history. It was not clear if he aborted plans to carry out massacres at those sites. Investigators looking into Paddock also came across mention of Fenway Park, Boston police spokesman Mike McCarthy said, though he provided no further details. The details came to light as investigators struggled to figure out why the high-stakes gambler opened fire on a crowd of 22,000 on Sunday night from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay hotel casino in Las Vegas. He killed 58 people and injured nearly 500 before taking his own life. A US official said authorities are looking into the possibility Paddock planned additional attacks, including a car bomb. Stephen Paddock, 64, was named by police as the perpetrator of the shooting on Sunday night. Authorities previously disclosed Paddock had 1,600 rounds of ammunition in his car, along with fertiliser that can be used to make explosives and 50 pounds of Tannerite, a substance used in explosive rifle targets. Investigators have been combing through his background but remain stumped as to his motive. The profile developed so far is of a "disturbed and dangerous" man who acquired an arsenal over decades, Sheriff Joseph Lombardo said. But investigators have been frustrated to find that he lived a "secret life," Mr Lombardo said, "much of which will never be fully understood". The weekend before the massacre, he rented a room through Airbnb at the 21-storey Ogden condominiums in downtown Las Vegas and stayed there during a music festival below that included Chance the Rapper, Muse, Lorde and Blink-182. "Reasons that ran through Paddock's mind is unknown, but it was directly at the same time as Life Is Beautiful," the sheriff said. Police were reviewing video shot at the high-rise to check Paddock's movements. His renting the condo was curious because as a high-roller, he could have easily got a free room at one of the casino hotels on the Vegas Strip. In early August, Paddock booked a room at Chicago's 21-storey Blackstone Hotel that overlooked the park where the Lollapalooza alternative music festival was being held, though there is no evidence he actually stayed there, a law enforcement official said. The home owned by Stephen Paddock. Photo: AP Photo/Scott Sonner The hotel confirmed a Stephen Paddock made a reservation but said he never checked in. Lollapalooza draws hundreds of thousands of music fans every year to Grant Park. Although Paddock killed himself as a Swat team closed in, the sheriff said it appeared he had planned to survive and had an escape plan. AP Tunisia's prime minister said his government has no evidence that the man who stabbed two women to death in Marseille had links to any extremist group. Meeting on Thursday with his French counterpart in Tunis, Tunisian prime minister Youssef Chahed condemned Sunday's attack, saying "there is no justification for such barbaric acts". French prime minister Edouard Philippe said the two countries agreed to work more closely together on security and responding to terror attacks and radicalisation. Mr Chahed said they would notably focus on "preventing the risks inherent in the return of terrorists from hot spots". French authorities have identified the Marseille attacker as Ahmed Hanachi, a 29-year-old Tunisian. He was killed by soldiers soon after the stabbings at Marseille's Saint Charles station, which left two young cousins dead after a weekend birthday celebration. The so-called Islamic State group claimed responsibility, saying he responded to their calls to mete out vengeance for international military operations against the group in Syria and Iraq. French authorities said Hanachi watched videos of Islamic chants on YouTube but they have not found firm links between Hanachi and IS or signs that he was radicalised. Five people suspected of helping Hanachi have been arrested. While French authorities describe Hanachi as a mysterious illegal migrant and IS calls him one of its "soldiers", neighbours in the working class Tunisian neighbourhood where Hanachi grew up painted a different picture. They described a fisherman with a history of drug problems, abandoned by his wife and with no outward signs of radicalisation. More than 90 people have been killed in weeks of fighting between Libyan militias in the city of Sabratha. The conflict erupted in part as an unexpected consequence of Europe's efforts to halt migrants crossing the Mediterranean. Update 3.14pm: The people of the town of San Rafael del Rio could find themselves split between Spain and Catalonia if the region ever secedes. The border between Catalonia and the neighbouring region of Valencia cuts right through the community whose 500 residents fear the conflict between Catalan and Madrid authorities will literally split the town in two. Guadalupe Espinosa, a 47-year-old psychologist who lives on the Catalan side of the river, said: "People are nervous and scared because they feel this is a free-fall. "I don't like armies or borders, but maybe we will have one here. Who knows?" Catalan leaders have said they will declare independence for the northeastern region after a weekend referendum that Spain declared illegal and tried to stop by force. That could have particular implications for San Rafael, where the border cutting through the town until now has been a mere curiosity. Earlier: Spain's constitutional court has ordered a temporary halt to a special session of Catalonia's parliament next week where regional officials are expected to vote on breaking away from Spain. The opposition Socialist bloc in the regional parliament, where separatist parties have a narrow majority of seats, had called for Monday's session to be blocked. Lawyers for the regional parliament had also warned that the session would be illegal because it discusses results of a referendum over the weekend that had been previously suspended by the constitutional court. Sunday's independence referendum has sparked a major political crisis in Spain. Spain's prime minister, meanwhile, urged the separatist leader of the regional Catalan government to cancel plans for declaring independence to avoid "greater evils". In an interview with Spain's EFE news agency, Mariano Rajoy said the solution in Catalonia "is the prompt return to legality and the affirmation, as early as possible, that there will be no unilateral declaration of independence, because that way greater evils will be avoided". Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont has indicated the region will formally declare independence. Taking multivitamins in early pregnancy may reduce the risk of children developing autism, research suggests. Experts found that children whose mothers had taken the vitamins were around half as likely to develop autism as those whose mothers took none. But the team cautioned that although they had found a possible association, more research was needed. Writing in the British Medical Journal (BMJ), experts from universities and hospitals in Philadelphia, Stockholm and Bristol, examined data for 273,107 mothers and their children living in Stockholm. All the children were aged four to 15 by December 31 2011, and were born between 1996 and 2007. The woman's use of folic acid, iron, and multivitamin supplements had been recorded at their first antenatal visit. Cases of autism spectrum disorder were also identified in national registers. After adjusting for factors that might influence the findings, experts found that women who took multivitamins, with or without additional iron and/or folic acid, had a lower chance of their child developing autism with intellectual disability compared to mothers who took none. When iron and folic acid were looked at alone, there was no consistent evidence that their use was associated with a reduced risk of autism. NHS guidelines say a healthy diet should give women most of the vitamins and minerals they need in pregnancy. But women should also take 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid every day for the first 12 weeks of pregnancy and 10 micrograms (mcg) of vitamin D a day, they say. More than one in 100 people are on the autism spectrum, including an estimated 700,000 people in the UK. There are many different characteristics that make up autism, but people may be under or oversensitive to sounds, touch, tastes, smells, light and colours. They may also find social situations challenging and experience "meltdowns" when anxious. PUBLIC ASSISTANCE COMPUTER SYSTEM OUTAGE Due to system maintenance and updates being conducted by the State of Ohio, staff at... How you can help Give A Christmas to Lower Bucks families in need A 24-year-old man is facing a slew of felony charges for illegal straw purchase of 21 guns at gun stores, almost exclusively in Bucks County. Leonard Truesdale was arraigned on Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2022, on 21 counts each of making false statements on firearm purchase forms, criminal conspiracy to make false statements on firearm purchase forms and selling or transferring... latest news October 31, 2022 Buddy TV In November, there are hundreds of new and returning TV showsit can be overwhelming to try and choose what to watch. That's why we've selected some of the best options... Another Wednesday night, another step closer to Tom Kirkman and his administration saving the nation from total destruction on Designated Survivor. Hannah and new partner Damian have followed Patrick Lloyds trail right back where it all started, Washington D.C. With the Correspondents Dinner hours away, are we looking at yet another tragedy where countless lives will be lost? Designated Survivor Season Premiere Recap: New Faces Are in the White House>>> Hiding in Plain Sight In a busy parking lot with hundreds of people around, public enemy number one appears in broad daylight. He finds a car, hops in and takes off. Gathered around Chucks computer, Hannah, Aaron and Damian all bear witness to Lloyds D.C. presence on surveillance footage. Hannah and Damian move to check it out while Aaron relays the information to Emily, Lyor and the President. How to proceed on informing the rest of the population is the topic on the table. Kirkman does not want the public to know and Emily and Aaron have the pleasure of explaining this to Senators Feller and Crowling of the Homeland Security Council. Feller of the Show Me State lives up to his states motto, declaring that the people must be informed of whats going on. Travis Lloyd, Patricks son, sits across good cop Hannah and bad, scary, British cop Damian. Hes easily spooked into giving the last known whereabouts of his father and where hes known to be headed. Chuck is already on it, following the vehicle from overhead. Hannah calls bluff and says, not him, before rushing out of the door. Little does she know, we have all seen Lloyd do exactly what she finds to be far too obvious. Getting Personal Information that the HSC have visited the White House and Senator Fellers name is attached, so Kirkman takes it upon himself to meet with him and firmly remind him to refrain from spreading fake news. Feller is officially in timeout. Meanwhile, the First Mother-in-Law (Bonnie Bedelia) has been spooked in her own home. Hannah and Damian find a distraught Mrs. Booker on her porch after Lloyd has made a mess of things. Shes unharmed, just startled. This makes things a lot more personal for the President. An old abandoned stretch of land is found to have ties to Browning-Reed. Here is where Hannah and Damian uncover the stolen blue sedan. Shots are fired and Damian is immediately hit. Surely fans arent the only ones missing Jason right about now. Hannah follows Lloyd on foot where he nearly escapes into an old, rusted bunker door. (Missed him by that much!) Sometime between the narrow escape and our scene cut back to the White House, Lloyd has posted a video where he states some bold demands. Kirkman is to give a speech giving Lloyd amnesty in front of a national audience. If his needs are not met, then the entirety of the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area will be at risk of losing their lives to sarin gas. Aaron suggests they fly an unmanned drone and drop a bomb on the bunker, taking out both Lloyd and keeping the military out of harms way. The time has come for the Correspondents Dinner and everyone is dressed to the nines. Appearances are everything in time of a crisis. Quite the opposite of the bunker scene where a bandaged Damians light bulb turns on. An escape hatch, he wonders. He and Hannah spring into action. Bingo! Down the hatch they go. Snooping Senator Crowling gains a bit of intel from Emily during the dinner as everyone anxiously awaits the Presidents speech. With the news of a drone being used against a civilian, Aaron is swiftly called away from a perfectly good party before a judge to defend the Administrations efforts against Lloyd. The Posse Comitatus Act states that the President cannot call military action against an American civilian and since there is no concrete evidence against Patrick Lloyd yet, shes packing quite the punch against the administrations strides to finally gaining some sort of justice. Aaron does his best to find even a shred of humanity left in this stern-faced woman who is all about the book, but the use of a drone may be shot down before it gets off the ground, literally. As Aaron fights for the drone, Kirkman realizes that Pax Americana is all about revenge for Lloyd. Hes blaming us, he says. Political ideology is not a priority for him. He seeks revenge for the system that took his father and son from him. Time for Kirkman to step in. In true Kirkman fashion, the President sits down face to screen and speaks with Lloyd personally, man to man, father to father. Kirkman puts it simply, challenging Lloyd to take America to court, seek judgement in the appropriate place. Youre not fit to judge me, he barks, believing that he has already won. Ka-Boom! Hannah and Damian stumble upon a trip wire which triggers an explosion in the bunker. Not to fear, though. Both are alive and well, but empty handed. Aaron may not have found a way through to Senator Cowling herself, but her representation, Attorney Kendra Daynes, is another thing. During her argument to the judge, she makes it obvious that the military cannot act. He calls for a quick recess and calls Emily. They need simply to have another entity make the call, the FBI. Engage, says Kirkman. John gives the order and we have our second explosion of the night! The bunker is obliterated. Crews search through the rubble and there is no evidence of gas. It was all a bluff and now Kirkman must make his speech to the American people. Lyor and Emily advise him not to mention whats just transpired, but he delivers the news anyway. Luckily for Seth, who has been tirelessly working over unfunny jokes all episode long, the speech is nixed. Instead, Kirkman takes to the Oval Office where he addresses the nation head on. Lloyd has been neutralized, he states. Kendra enters the Oval Office where Kirkman offers her an overworked and underpaid position as White House Counsel. They shake on it and the President of the United States retires to his familys quarters where he gets to tuck his daughter in for the night. The night isnt over for Hannah, though. Workers have found Lloyds computer, half-melted and mostly fried. It seems Lloyd was uploading something when the bomb hit, but theres no way of telling what it was. Casting Bits: Major Exit for Designated Survivor>>> Patrick Lloyd may be eliminated, but things are just getting started for Kirkman and crew. Hannah and Damian are still following their investigations leads while an outbreak is putting civilians at risk for their lives. What do you think is next for Pax Americana? Can they or will they ever be stopped? Or will new characters carry on the legacy? Designated Survivor airs Wednesdays on ABC 10/9c. Want more news? Like our Designated Survivor Facebook page. (Photo courtesy of ABC) A terra cotta twist on the mundane faculty mailbox New faculty and staff mailboxes made out of terra cotta clay blocks were installed in Hayes Hall, the recently renovated home of the University at Buffalo School of Architecture and Planning, in late August 2017. It was the winning design in an in-house competition. Photo: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki The exciting part about this project is that it highlights the potential of design in our everyday lives. Gregory Delaney, clinical assistant professor of architecture University at Buffalo BUFFALO, N.Y. Faculty mailboxes typically dont generate much excitement. But when theyre in a building thats on the National Register of Historic Places, and thats home to an architecture school that has a reputation for making, only the best, designed in-house, will do. Take, for instance, the faculty mailboxes in Hayes Hall, the recently renovated home of the University at Buffalo School of Architecture and Planning. These are not your typical receptacles made of metal shelving. They are a glazed grid of etched terra cotta designed by two Department of Architecture faculty members and a recent graduate. (See photo slideshow below.) Last fall saw the completion of a meticulous, multi-year restoration project intended to recapture and re-energize Hayes Halls architectural history it was built as an insane asylum in the late 1800s while creating innovative spaces befitting a 21st century architecture and planning school. For the school, it was important that no detail went overlooked, including the seemingly mundane faculty mailbox. With the reopening of Hayes Hall, school leadership has commissioned a series of design-build competitions that will take place over the next few years, and that encourage faculty-student teams to collaborate with some of the schools key industry partners on projects to further beautify the building. World-renowned Boston Valley Terra Cotta partnered on the faculty mailbox project, in which 14 teams totaling 19 faculty members and 18 students participated. This competition series provides a space to reflect upon our deep traditions in research through making, said Robert G. Shibley, dean of UBs School of Architecture and Planning. The mailbox competition, with the visionary partnership of Boston Valley Terra Cotta, is an emphatic opening statement of whats possible when you combine teaching with practice. Photo slideshow: hayes hall faculty mailboxes Winning entry pays homage to city's architectural past The winning design, titled Bibelot the French word for a small decorative object or trinket was installed the week before classes began in late August. It was created by Gregory Delaney, clinical assistant professor of architecture; Erkin Ozay, assistant professor of architecture; and Nicholas Traverse, a 2016 master of architecture graduate. Their installation features 120 individual blocks fashioned from terra cotta clay, each weighing 22 pounds. The blocks come in four different colors peach, gold, green and pink. Getting the glaze just how we wanted it took some trial and error. Terra cotta is an interesting material, not only in its finished state but in its workability and process, says Traverse, who now works as an architectural designer and drafter at CJS Architects in Buffalo. The blocks were fabricated at Boston Valley Terra Cotta in Boston, New York, which donated its time and materials. The company has collaborated with UB architecture faculty and students on numerous projects, and also made each of the 28,000 terra cotta panels that form the facade of UBs new Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences building. Words from Larkin Administration Building Each block in Bibelot is L-shaped, its long side set at an angle to better perform as a masonry block. We were thinking of the history of terra cotta as masonry block in construction, Delaney said. By nature of their geometry, each block locks with its neighbor to produce a system that doesnt require any mortar or hardware screws between the units and the shelves. Whats more, each block is inscribed with one of 42 words that once adorned panels on the uppermost floor of the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Larkin Administration Building in Buffalo, which was demolished in 1950. In the Larkin building, the words appeared in sets of three and were intended to infuse the office and its workers with purpose, value and self-reflection. We used the words as a departure point to create objects of curiosity that you often find sitting on a shelf, which is where the name Bibelot and inspiration also came from, Traverse said. On the Hayes Hall mailboxes, each word is stretched vertically to blur the line between pattern making and typography, semiotics and cacography. (In case you were wondering, faculty were randomly assigned to each word.) The school has a deep connection with the city. In thinking of the colors and the words, we were looking for details that could reconstruct those connections and reveal them, says Ozay. The installation was designed to pique viewers curiosity from the corridor outside. Once inside the Boston Valley Terra Cotta Faculty Lounge on the first floor of Hayes Hall, the individual words begin to materialize, inviting users to read, touch and explore the wall. The mailbox competition provided Boston Valley Terra Cotta with a rare opportunity to work with the clay material on a smaller scale than the large building facades the company is more accustomed to, and for an interior project. Boston Valley jumped at the chance to be involved in a project like this where the material we work with every day is required to comply with a completely different set of rules and functionality, says John Krouse, company president. The exciting part about this project is that it highlights the potential of design in our everyday lives, Delaney said. The act of getting mail is normally a mundane routine, but when you bring design into that, it is somehow enhanced. Adds Ozay, Its an event now. *** Second place in the competition was awarded to associate professors of architecture Omar Khan and Laura Garofalo for Stratum, a structural stack of slotted modular bricks inspired by the geologic formation of clay strata. It was presented to the jury as a scaled terra cotta prototype. Third-place Radiant, a glowing carousel of backlit, blue-glazed terra cotta modules, was developed by students Randy Fernando, Daniel Kleeschulte, Ashwini Karve and Garrett Brown, and Miguel Guitart, visiting associate professor of architecture. Media Contact Information Engineering alumnus gives $4 million to support UB institute Stephen Still addresses a crowd at the First Annual Symposium on Transportation Informatics at UB in 2015. This university changed my life. I have been blessed far beyond my expectations and the origins can be traced back to this very place. From the committed faculty who taught with passion and commitment to the lifelong friends made here, this place was truly trans-formational. BUFFALO, N.Y. A graduate who said the University at Buffalo changed his life has given $4 million to the UB School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS). Stephen Still graduated with a bachelors degree in civil engineering in 1976, then earned masters and doctoral degrees at Princeton University. While his passion has always been in transportation planning, he said, he spent most of his career in the aviation industry. Still, who lives in Reston, Virginia, co-founded, managed, then sold two successful companies: Seabury Airplane Planning Group LLC and Diio LLC. He considers the education he received at UB to be the foundation for his success. This university changed my life, Still said. I have been blessed far beyond my expectations and the origins can be traced back to this very place. From the committed faculty who taught with passion and commitment to the lifelong friends made here, this place was truly transformational. Stills gift will create an endowment to support the Institute for Sustainable Transportation and Logistics (ISTL), a center that unites the UB engineering and management schools to address the growing new field of transportation, logistics and supply-chain management. In recognition of Stills generosity, UB will rename the institute the Stephen Still Institute for Sustainable Transportation and Logistics. UB President Satish K. Tripathi announced the gift at a news conference Oct. 5, expressing gratitude to Still on behalf of the entire university for his gift. Early in his career, Stephen began giving back to UB, saying more than once that he supports us because UB gave him his start with a solid education, Tripathi said. Today, all of UB says thank you to Stephen Still. His devotion to UB will have a truly transformational impactnot only on the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, but also on students for generations to come. State University of New York Chancellor Kristina M. Johnson noted that Stills gift stands as a strong example of what SUNY works to give all its students. "Stephen's experience at the University at Buffalo embodies what we hope for all SUNY students an opportunity to pursue their passion, to learn from faculty who challenge and inspire them, and to receive an education that leads to a rewarding career," she said. "The Stephen Still Institute for Sustainable Transportation and Logistics will help us provide that same experience to many students in an emerging and critical field. SUNY is grateful to Stephen for his incredible generosity and continued engagement as a proud UB alum." Still said it was an easy decision to make this gift to UB. My family was of modest means, and with state support, I was able to attend for close to free, he said. Today, UB remains a tremendous value relative to the exceptional quality education it provides. So many young adults are given the chance to pursue their dreams in any field with the strong foundation provided here. Still serves on the SEAS Deans Advisory Council and on the Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering Advisory Board. He has volunteered and made gifts to the school, particularly to support scholarships and student clubs, for 17 years. Still also serves on the ISTL advisory board, and said he directed his gift to the institute because Im a child of the 1970s environmental movement. UB opened my eyes to the great impact that transportation can have on this planet, he said. To be a viable, efficient society, we need skilled planners to work with civic and business leaders, to create livable, connected communities. When I arrived here in 1973, UB already had world-class academic leaders in transportation studies dedicated to these principles. It takes engineers of all types to design transport systems, but just as important, it takes visionaries in city planning, business administration, political science and nearly every field UB offers to produce a meaningful impact. Liesl Folks, SEAS dean, said Stills gift will support the institute in many ways, paying for research, program initiatives, equipment costs, and the work of graduate students studying transportation. We are fortunate to have such a truly remarkable alumnus and friend, Folks said. And we look forward to watching all that Stephen Stills gift will bring to UBs engineering students. Thanks to his generosity, the Stephen Still Institute for Sustainable Transportation and Logistics can offer the best in research programs and more meaningful collaborations with industry. It will serve as an even bigger umbrella that unites faculty across the university with interest in transportation, logistics and supply chain management. Families need help: Donate and Give a Christmas During the holiday season, in partnership with NJ 211, we are pleased to offer the Give a Christmas program to Burlington County residents. . . . Burnham-On-Sea postal workers have this week voted to join a nationwide strike in the run-up to Christmas that could affect festive deliveries of mail. The planned nationwide industrial action has been sparked by a bitter pay and pensions dispute the first since Royal Mail was privatised four years ago. The first two-day strike is set to take place on Thursday 19th October with further action being planned. Mark Penfold, Burnham-On-Seas representative for the Communication Workers Union (CWU) said there is unanimous support for the action. He told Burnham-On-Sea.com: No-one wants to see a strike in Burnham or elsewhere, we want senior management to sit down for talks. Since Royal Mail was privatised in 2013, the business has been run to keep shareholders and hedge funds happy by maximizing profit margins wherever possible. They want to move many staff, including many here in Burnham onto a basic pension scheme, which would see some postal workers losing 7,000 a year. Thats unaccetable and senior management are not listening. They are also pushing for later delivery times in the day, expecting some staff to go out again after spending six or seven hours walking on their feet delivering mail. On top of that they are proposing to remove sick pay after eight weeks altogether which for those on long-term illness would be devastating. He added: Here in Burnham-On-Sea, there has been been almost unanimous backing for action a petition was signed by all staff earlier in the year calling for talks to show were serious. Many of the Royal Mail managers here in Burnham also signed it as were all in the same boat. Hopefully the senior management will sit down and discuss the issues to avoid a strike no-one wants a strike if it can be avoided. The Communication Workers Union (CWU) says the concerns are Royal Mails attack on the pension rights of hard-working postmen and women as well as its refusal to engage over pay, working hours, future job security and the need to improve and grow the service. The first two-day strike is set to take place on Thursday 19th October. Royal Mail says: There are no grounds for industrial action. We want to reach an agreement. It believes the dispute is subject to legally binding contractual resolution procedures which are likely to last until Christmas and maybe beyond. These dispute resolution procedures must be followed. The union cannot take industrial action until they have been completed, Royal Mail said. The CWU said this week that 73.7% of its 110,000 members voted in its strike ballot this week nationally, with 89% backing a strike. The union said its postal executive will meet later this week to work out the potential strike dates. The row has been building since Royal Mail announced it will close its current defined benefit pension scheme in March 2018. The company claimed that if it did not, its current annual contribution of 400m a year would eventually rise to 1.26bn. Royal Mail has subsequently offered workers new defined contribution-based schemes with the aim of keeping its contributions at about 400m. All have been rejected. Innovative, exciting, fast-growing, sustainable and environmentally-aware: this is more or less how the market for childcare and baby equipment could be described. In addition to all these qualities, there was an indisputable international influence on the Kind + Jugendmesse the people in charge were once again able to meet the challenge of positioning themselves as a hub for national and international business, as well as trendsetters. We were lucky enough to get a chance to interview the Managing Director of Tmall Baby, Andy Du, about the latest developments on the Chinese market and the potential for foreign companies. Think big, think Tmall! The Chinese big player gives insights Meeting an e-commerce platform (actually the only one of its kind on the entire trade show) at Kind & Jugend was only astonishing to us till the moment, when Andy Du quickly provided clarity with some initial facts and figures: in 2016, Chinas total volume of the maternal and infant industry already amounted to 2.4 trillion RMB. With the implementation of the new baby policy, parents will be allowed to have two children if one parent grew up as a single child. This means that the 4-2-1 structure could be transformed into a 4-2-2 model, and the total 18 to 20 million newborns per year are expected to be added by two more million babies. This would mean an increase of consumption of 30 billion RMB and a 13 % annual increase of the industrial volume. The growth momentum of the childrens product market in China is forecasted to grow at a higher rate than the global average. Generating knowledge from data on a large scale Although the retail sector still plays an important role and is also growing at around 10 % annually, multi-channel solutions are becoming particularly popular in China. With an annual growth rate of over 40 % over the past 3 to 5 years, e-commerce is the driving engine, says Andy Du. According to an e-commerce industry report by Kanta Retail in 2016, 70 % of the B2C market is generated through Tmall. At the beginning of 2017, more than 10,000 brands of moms and kids products were doing business at Tmall, including around 2,000 stores of international brands in babys categories such as Danone, Nestle, Friso, P & G, Moony and Kimberly Clark. And there is clearly no end in sight for the growth, according to the report and market analytics. As part of the online giant Alibaba, Tmall can access large amounts of data and is able to reach out to 90 % of all consumers in the categories baby and mothers. Already more than half a billion Chinese consumers are buying on Tmall and Taobao (another Alibaba affiliate) 60 % of them are women between 20 and 40 years, which obviously covers the topic target group. Speaking of target, this is clearly framed at Tmall: Tmall wants to be the driving engine of the mother and childcare industry in China. At the same time the company focuses on quality, safety, fashion, trends and science-based childcare, which is especially popular with young and highly educated parents. Benefit from experience: How Tmall.com supports foreign brands and merchants with the market entry In our talk, Andy Du tells us about the fact that Chinese consumers are highly interested in innovative products and high technology, which is of course not really too surprising since this meets our outside view on Chinese consumers. By far more surprising and of interest for foreign companies is the following: In general, Chinese mothers are very young (90 % of them were born after 1990) and with increasing income they attribute greater importance to stylish and fashionable design. In our conversation, Du once again illustrated the impressive capabilities of Alibaba. With the help of the available data, the customer can be viewed along the entire Customer Life Cycle hence its possible to measure his attention for topics, his buying interests and his actual purchasing behavior. The coverage of traditional and social media provides information about the users of Youku and Tudou (similar to YouTube), Maps, and much more. Anyone who sells via Tmall is able to monitor whether an ad was seen yesterday or last week, and when the last interaction with the respective brand took place, thereby making the relationship to the brand measurable. In the near future Tmall would like to provide more merchants this opportunity the company clearly positions themselves as a strong partner for a market entry in China and highlights both the sales and growth potential, as well as data technology insights and their long-term experience. Foreign brands do not have to start with a physical store, but can initially offer their products online. Tmall offers support with the launch of an online shop, overcoming of language barriers, being legally compliant and much more. As we asked, which types of costs they roughly take into consideration, Du said that there is nothing to worry about: main costs should be calculated around spendings for marketing and logistics. However, when it comes to marketing it is worth not to be too reluctant, because it helps to get to know Chinese consumers. They have been shopping online for more than ten years now, hence they have high expectations regarding customer service and speed of delivery, says Andy Du. This article was first published on 13.09.2017. Business Standard is republishing this piece as Arundhati Bhattacharya steps down as SBI chief on Friday. State Bank of India (SBI) Chairman Arundhati Bhattacharyas four-year term, which will end on October 6, has been eventful. Her tenure also coincided with rising bad loans of the banking sector, and the subsequent fire-fighting that is going on the resolution front. Besides that, she prepared the ground for the merger of its associate banks with itself which was completed earlier this year. Korean automobile major Hyundai, the second-biggest carmaker in the country, is planning to bring its captive finance arm, Hyundai Capital, to India. It is learnt that the entry might happen in 2018 calendar year, before Hyundais another brand, Kia, begins sales in the market. Ltd's real estate agreements for JK House Ltd and an Alibaug property, which is used as a guest house, have come in for questioning from markets regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi), which has written to the textile maker on the matter, Livemint reported on Thursday while citing three people with knowledge of the developments. Mid-tier IT services company said it has hired more than 100 local employees at its Alpharetta office in suburban Atlanta to staff a project from a US-based company. The BJP on Wednesday fielded as part of its campaign against the killing of saffron activists allegedly by the ruling CPI-M in Kerala, where the firebrand Hindutva leader accused the Left party of promoting "jihadi terrorism" Mounting a blistering attack on the Left, he said it was its nature to "grab power at gunpoint". The saffron-robed Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister also raked up the contentious issue of 'Love Jihad', accusing the Kerala government of not taking steps to check the "dangerous trend". Leading the 'Jan Raksha Yatra', a day after BJP president Amit Shah launched the party's 15-day campaign for "people's protection", Adityanath said Kerala occupied an important place in the Sanatan Hindu tradition, and wondered how the "foreign ideology" of Communism entered the state. "The CPI(M) raises slogans about secularism but promotes jihadi terrorism. Kerala is a holy land where this is unacceptable. Here only the nationalist ideology should be promoted," he told a public meeting, raising the Hindutva pitch while seeking to highlight the killing of BJP-RSS workers. Adityanath claimed that the God's own country, as Kerala is often called, has been witnessing political violence sponsored by the ruling party. "It is in the nature of the Left party to grab power at gunpoint," he told PTI. "There is no scope for violence in democracy, but, unfortunately, Kerala has been witnessing politically- sponsored violence. With this 'yatra', we will make people aware of the CPI-M's misrule," he said. He said if the CPI-M believes in democracy, it will have to answer questions about the political killings taking place in Kerala. Later, speaking to the media, he dwelt on 'Love Jihad', a term coined by the Hindu right to flag the issue of Hindu women marrying Muslim men, and called it a dangerous trend. "Love jihad is a dangerous trend. The Kerala government has not taken effective steps to check it. The Supreme Court has already passed an order on it and the NIA is investigating it," he said. He was responding to a question about a case in the Supreme Court involving the marriage of a Muslim man with a Hindu woman who had converted to Islam before tying the nuptial knot. The apex court had on August 16 directed the Investigative Agency (NIA) to probe whether there was a wider pattern of 'love jihad' in the matter. The couple belongs to Kerala. Adityanath said CPI-M cadres were playing with the religious system and people's emotions. The BJP will not allow Kerala to become a land of 'lal salaam', a term used by Communists for greeting each other, he said. The UP chief minister said a large number of people had lent their support to the BJP's 15-day march. Adityanath was joined by Kerala BJP chief Kummanam Rajashekharan in the 7 km march. Shah, who is on a three-day visit to the state, will take part in a rally in Kannur, the home district of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, tomorrow. Notwithstanding the presence of a fairly large number of RSS volunteers, the BJP has struggled to expand its influence in the southern state where it has just one MLA. Shah has often visited Kerala after taking over the reins of the BJP, which has forged an alliance with Bharat Dharma Jana Sena, a political outfit of the Ezhavas, the largest Hindu community in the state, in its effort to expand its footprint. As many as 120 BJP-RSS workers, 84 in Kannur alone, have been killed in the state since 2001, with 14 of them in the chief minister's home district since he took office last year, the BJP has alleged. The is capable of countering China and ready to take on the challenge of a two- front war, Air Chief B S Dhanoa said today. Addressing a press conference here on the eve of Air Force Day, the Air Chief Marshal said his force is ready for a full spectrum operation but added that any decision on surgical strike involving the IAF has to be taken by the government. "We are ready to take on any challenge," he said. Responding to a question, he said the IAF is ready to take on the challenge of a two-front war. Army chief Gen. Bipin Rawat had said last month that the country should be prepared for a two-front war, insisting China has started "flexing its muscles", while there seems to be no scope for reconciliation with Pakistan whose military and polity saw an adversary in India. The Chief of Air Staff also said the IAF will achieve sanctioned strength of 42 fighter squadrons by 2032. Opposition Congress on Wednesday alleged that a group of farmers returning from a protest for declaring Tikamgarh as a drought-hit district were "detained, stripped and beaten up" by the police last evening, while the charges were denied by the BJP government. The Congress also accused the Madhya Pradesh government of suppressing the voice of farmers, even as Home Minister Bhupendra Singh asked the police chief to conduct an inquiry and file a report within three days. The Congress had organised a farmers' protest outside the Tikamgarh collectorate seeking drought-hit status for the district, which received scanty rainfall this year. Congress leader and former minister Yadvendra Singh said the police detained some of the protesters returning home, as well as some farmers just passing by and had nothing to do with the protest. "They were kept at the Dehat police station, stripped and severely beaten up by the police," Singh alleged. In Bhopal, however, state Home Minister Bhupendra Singh said, "No farmer was beaten up in the police station." But, he added the government has taken such reports seriously and asked the Director General of Police to conduct an inquiry into the allegations of stripping and beating up of farmers and submit a report within three days. "It is a matter of investigation if the farmers took off their clothes themselves or police did so," he told a press meet. The Home Minister said Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has taken a serious note of the matter and strict action would be taken against the erring officials if they are found guilty in the inquiry report. He also said the government was in the process of identifying drought-hit areas in the state, and the district collectors are conducting surveys in this regard. Tikamgarh District Collector Abhijeet Agrawal also denied reports of farmers being beaten up at the police station. Agrawal said he has seen images of farmers in the media related to the alleged incident, but it was a matter of investigation if they took off their clothes on their own or were stripped by the police. Meanwhile, Dehat police station in-charge R P Chowdhary said he did not know who asked the farmers to be detained as he was on the field duty. "By the time I reached (the police station) they had been released. I don't know if the farmers, who were around 25 in numbers, took off the clothes on their own or were stripped." Police also said they have registered cases against around 1,000 unidentified persons in connection with the violence during the protest in Tikamgarh yesterday before the farmers were returning home. Around 25 Congress workers were injured when they clashed with the police on the premises of the district collectorate. The District Collector had said the police resorted to cane-charge in self-defence after the Congress workers hurled stones and bottles at them. He said eight police personnel were also injured in the incident. Congress spokesperson Pankaj Chaturvedi said senior leaders of the party, Jyotiraditya Scindia, and Kamal Nath, have condemned the incident. Chaturvedi quoted Scindia as saying the police cane-charged and used tear gas shells at a peaceful protest staged by farmers and Congress workers. "He said the state government is suppressing the voice of farmers, who were stripped and beaten in the police lock up. Nath said that Chouhan, who claimed to be the son of a farmer, has surpassed the Britishers in oppression against farmers," Chaturvedi said. 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. said on Thursday that India posed a "perpetual threat" to the country which has made its eastern border "unsafe". Army spokesman Major General Asif Ghafoor's remarks came during a press briefing about security threats to Pakistan. Ghafoor said Pakistan faced different kinds of challenges on the eastern and western borders due to different nature of threat and the critical question was "whether the threat is because of a state or non-state actors". "Threats from India (in the east) are perpetual. We are a peaceful country and we do not want war with them, but we will defend ourselves and have the capability to do so," he said. He said the country's eastern border had become "unsafe" due to repeated violations at the Line of Control, which he claimed are the highest than any year before. "India has also paid a price due to our response (on LoC) and we will continue to do so if it does not act with restraint," Ghafoor said. He said Pakistan cannot fire indiscriminately across the LoC as there are Kashmiri brothers on the other side as well. "So when there are casualties on that side, it is Indian soldiers and infrastructure. Nonetheless, war is not a solution, so we are talking to them [Indian officials] at all levels to stop this (LoC violations]," he said. He accused India of supporting militants. He highlighted the "strategic threat" on the western border with Afghanistan which kept the Army busy due to the threat of Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan militants and other non- state actors. "The western border touches both Afghanistan and Iran and our deployment is not against these countries but against non-state actors, he said. He said Pakistan has eliminated militants' stronghold and there was not "organised bases of any terrorist organisation in the country". He also said that unlike Pakistan more than 50 per cent of Afghanistan under control of rebels including who are targeting Pakistan. To a question about detained JuD chief Hafiz Saeed-backed Milli Muslim League party taking part in elections, he said that "every Pakistani has the right to participate in the polling process". He defended the role of the Army to work in aid of civil institutions but ruled out any possibility of direct intervention in political affairs. "Martial law should not even be talked about. We are busy in doing our duty as stated in the Constitution," he said. Ghafoor said the visit of army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa to Afghanistan on Sunday was successful. He said Pakistan hoped that with the improvement in the coordination, trust between the two countries would increase. To a question, he said that 12,000 Indians visited Pakistan to attend a congregation of Bohra community in Karachi last month. The much-hyped dynamic pricing system that invited a lot of criticism for the Indian may soon be converted into an airline-like model. This could mean that railway fares would go down during lean seasons. A proposal to create a chairman for the proposed anti-profiteering authority (APA) under the goods and services tax (GST) system is likely to go to the Union Cabinet. The good first. Almost a decade after the Manmohan Singh government announced the $90-billion (Rs 6-trillion) Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC), men and machines have started picking up pace in some of the eight investment regions across the six states touched by the project. Hyperloop, the transportation solution proposed by SpaceX founder and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, has caught the imagination of various state governments in the country. Hyperloop, which is a new way of transporting people and objects without using conventional cars, trains, planes or ships, is said to be more fast, efficient, and sustainable compared to other modes of transport. The Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council, in its upcoming meeting on Friday, is likely to give a major relief to exporters as well as small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The Fourth Industrial Revolution is creating winners and losers at both an organisational and individual level. Such seismic shifts will affect several sectors of the economy and may even contribute to social unrest. Society is now faced with an unprecedented situation: a huge swathe of the population runs the risk of being rendered irrelevant and unemployable. Prime Minister on Wednesday referred to his critics, who had blamed the government for the current economic slowdown and questioned his policies on demonetisation and the implementation of the goods and services tax (GST), saying there were many Shalyas today who spread pessimism and got a good nights sleep only after spreading gloom and hopelessness. A K Bhattacharya analyses the comment and Modi's decision to retort. It is not very common for Prime Minister to respond to criticism -- and rarer still that he should choose to compare some of his critics with a character from the Mahabharata. Disclaimer: Views expressed are personal. They do not reflect the view/s of Business Standard. Taking a contrarian view on capital dumping and calls of protectionist government policies, Sharma on Thursday dismissed such demands of some Indian e-commerce players as a business tactic. He said that some e-commerce players complained about capital dumping by foreign giants such as Amazon and Uber even though many of these were funded by global investors. India and Ethiopia on Thursday signed agreements on trade, communication and media to boost bilateral ties as President Ram Nath Kovind held talks with his Ethiopian counterpart Mulatu Teshome. Kovind and Teshome discussed economic relations, with the agreements on trade, communication and media signed in their presence, according to the president's Twitter page. India also thanked Ethiopia for its participation in the International Solar Alliance (ISA), established in 2015. The aim of the ISA is to provide a dedicated platform for cooperation among solar resource rich countries and promote the use of solar energy. The president discussed Indian support to Ethiopia in the power sector, healthcare, and education. He referred to India as among the top three sources of foreign direct investment for Ethiopia. Later, Kovind and Teshome also addressed the India- Ethiopia Business Dialogue and released a book titled 'India- Ethiopia: 70 Years of Diplomatic Relations'. The India Business Forum is the first partner-country forum of its kind in Ethiopia and represents more than 100 Indian companies. Kovind said India has created jobs and contributed to the prosperity of Ethiopia. Indian investment has had a significant presence in manufacturing in Ethiopia and value addition to local resources, he said. Ethiopia has been the largest recipient of Indian concessional lines of credit in Africa, with over USD 1 billion committed. Kovind arrived here from Djibouti yesterday on the second leg of his maiden visit abroad. His visit is the first by an Indian president to Ethiopia in 45 years since President V V Giri's trip in 1972. Last night, the president addressed the Indian community at an event in Addis Ababa, noting that it has been at the centre of India-Ethiopia relations. As teachers and educators, Indians have given a helping hand to nation building in their host country. As entrepreneurs, they have created economic opportunities and imparted skills to local people, he said. Kovind praised Indian technology professionals and workers for adding value to Ethiopian industry, saying that with hard work and dedication, the Indian community has built respect for itself within Ethiopian society. Yet it has retained and carried forward Indian values, family traditions and work ethic while adapting very well to its adopted home, he said. The event was attended by some 500 members of Ethiopia's Indian community which is spread all over the country and is 5,000-strong. Indias in October is likely to achieve only 40 per cent of the earlier assured quantity. Based on assurances from individual mills and extrapolating of non-responsive ones, the apex industry body had in August sent a written commitment to the Union ministry of food for 800,000 tonnes in October. To achieve this, mills planned to advance the crushing season by three to four weeks. Thus, instead of commencing cane crushing by October end or early November, leading mills in Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Maharashtra the four big producing states had said theyd start by the first week of October. The move was aimed to target crushing of the early variety of sugarcane this normally goes for jaggery and khandsari production, since sugar mills don't operate at this time. The industry estimates jaggery and khandsari units procure around 15 per cent of cane across the country. However, delay in annual maintenance work has caused over two weeks of extension in new season crushing. We are estimating production in October at 300,000 to 350,000 tonnes, substantially lower than the commitment given to the government at 800,000 tonnes. Most mills plan to commence crushing in the fourth week of October, against their earlier schedule for the first week. In Maharashtra (second largest producer), the government has announced commencement of crushing from November 1, said Abinash Verma, director-general, Indian Sugar Mills Association (Isma). Consumer sentiments to sustain elevated levels Mahesh Vyas Sentiments have neither collapsed, nor have they stepped down after the festive season. They seem to have sustained the elevated levels they had ... Dr Jitendra Singh participates in the MUDRA Promotion Campaign in Srinagar Schemes to bring a massive transformation in the lives of millions of youth, says Minister The Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh participated in the MUDRA Promotion Campaign in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir today. Speaking on the occasion, Dr Jitendra Singh said the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana and Stand Up India are the two major schemes initiated by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi that will bring about a massive transformation in the lives of millions of youth across the country. Dr Jitendra Singh said job and placement are the two key words in the lives of millions of educated youth, therefore schemes like Mudra Finance were inspired by the idea of employability rather than employment. He said schemes like Mudra reflect the sensitivity of the Government towards the need for a behavioral shift that is required of the people to inculcate certain values for sustainable progress. We believe these schemes will usher a change in mindset of people in general from seeking employment to self-employment and then towards job-providing, he added. Dr Jitendra Singh further said technology is also being leveraged to expedite the economic progress. We also need to be innovative in our approach at the level of State Government. We have unexplored resources within the state. He said that the first thing we need to do is to assess the skill-profile required to explore and exploit these local resources. Then only can we properly train the human resource available and leverage the whole process for the overall development of the state. Later Dr Jitendra Singh along with other dignitaries visited the stalls set up by the participating banks, insurance companies and other agencies including UIDAI, SIDBI, NPC (National Payments Corporation), JKEDI, Tourism Department, Horticulture and Handloom. J&K State Finance Minister Mr. Haseeb Drabu, Principal Secretary Finance, J&K, Shri Navin Kumar Chawdhary and Chairman, J&K Bank, Mr. Parvez Ahmed were also present during the function. Few films were also screened on the occasion. These films depicted the Stand-Up India and Mudra schemes besides highlighting the beneficiaries of Mudra Scheme who have availed loans and succeeded in realizing self-employment besides helping others to earn. A symbolic transaction for a small purchase was also effected on the occasion through BHIM App, which is a UPI application for electronic fund transfer. India signs ?300 million Finance Contract with European Investment Bank (EIB) for financing Bangalore Metro Rail Project Phase II- Line R6. Government of India and European Investment Bank (EIB) today signed the Finance Contract for lending of ? 300 million for Bangalore Metro Rail Project Phase II Line R6. The agreement was signed by Shri S. Selvakumar, Joint Secretary (BC), Department of Economic Affairs (DEA), Ministry of Finance on behalf of the Government of India and Mr. Andrew McDowell, Vice President, EIB, on behalf of the EIB. Bangalore Metro Rail Project Phase II is to be jointly financed by the European Investment Bank (?500 million) and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (?300 million). The first tranche of Euro 300mn was signed today. The project envisages extension of East-West & North-South lines for Bangalore Metro Rail which includes a total length of 72.095 km (13.79 km underground) and 61 stations with 12 underground stations. The project implementation period is 5 years from date of commencement of the Project. The objective of the project is to bring in a quantum improvement in the transportation sector in the city in tandem with the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) and other modes of urban transport. The project aims to ensure modern transport facility for the commuters. The spinoffs of the project would include employment opportunities, benefits to the economy, reduction of number of vehicles on road, less fuel consumption, reduction in air pollution, reduction in passenger travel time and also improvement in the aesthetic value of the city. The current Indian Military Advisory and Training Team has been deployed at the Senior Command and Staff College (SCSC) in Jinja, Uganda since April 2016. Their contributions to the curriculum revision, student assimilation enhancement and capability building of the local directing staff have been appreciated by no less than the President of Uganda. The team, through its rapport and positive interaction, has been successful in mobilising the local Indian community in provisioning a state of art gymnasium to the SCSC. With equipment thats been imported from Dubai, the gymnasiums net worth is more than $30,000 US. It was inaugurated by the High Commissioner of India to Uganda, His Excellency Sh Ravi Shankar and then handed over to the Chief of Defence Forces of the Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF), Gen David Muhoozi, who while graciously accepting the same, hailed it as a one of kind asset for the entire UPDF. He thanked the Indian contingent for the focused dedication towards the betterment of the UPDF which he felt was contributing immensely towards the development and consolidation of Indo-Uganda relations. . . Col Aman Anand. . PRO (Army) . . PM addresses gathering at event to mark the inauguration of Umiya Dham Ashram at Haridwar, via video conferencing The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today addressed the gathering at the event to mark the inauguration of Umiya Dham Ashram at Haridwar, via video conferencing. The Prime Minister said that spiritual institutions in India, have been centres for the spread of social reform. He described tourism as an ancient concept in India, and a spiritual tradition. He said the Ashram being inaugurated today would benefit the pilgrims coming to Haridwar. He said the idea of a Yatra existed as an integral part of our culture. Through a Yatra, we get acquainted with various parts of the country that we may have never seen otherwise, he said. The Prime Minister said that the work being done by devotees of Ma Umiya has touched the lives of several people. They have spread awareness on gender equality. He specially thanked the women of Mehsana district, who have furthered the message of "Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao." The Prime Minister appealed to all devotees of Ma Umiya, to become Swachhagrahis, and add strength to the Swachh Bharat Mission. Shri Santosh Kumar Gangwar, the Minister of State (Independent Charge) Labour & Employment said that mainstreaming the North Eastern Region into the developmental process is a priority for Government of India. He was addressing the Review Meeting with Labour Ministers of North Eastern Region at Imphal today, his first Regional Meeting since taken charges. Shri Gangwar also recalled his visits to the North Eastern States as Minister of Textile, to boost the Textile Industries of the Region. Shri Gangwar also expressed his happiness over the detailed and constructive discussion on issues of significant importance. . . The Review Meeting was attended by Labour Ministers and Labour Secretaries for North Eastern States of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura and Shri N Biren Singh, Chief Minister of Manipur, inaugurated the meeting. The review meeting discussed issues like implementation of the Schemes on Child Labour, Plantation Workers, ESIC Works, Social Security Schemes, BOC Workers Cess Fund, Mines Safety, etc, and for further betterment. . . The Chief Minister, Shri N Biren Singh in his address stated the statistics about various measures taken up by his Government in the field of improving the worker's conditions of his State. He also profusely thanked The Labour Minister Shri Santosh Kumar Gangwar for choosing Manipur for such an important conference. . . Shri Gangwar requested the North Eastern States to utilize the BOCW Cess funds of Rs.27,000 Crore, which is available for the safety, health and welfare of Construction Labourers. He suggested that instead of building infrastructures such as Hostel, Technical Centers and Schools, the States may focus on the Social Security & Welfare Schemes for the Construction Workers. He also requested that the Central Governments Social Security Schemes like Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) and Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana(PMJJBY) could be used effectively for the welfare of the workers. . . The government of India has recently ratified ILO conventions on Child Labour. Eradication of Child Labour has been taken very seriously. On the 26th September 2017 Ministry of Labour & Employment has launched an exclusive Portal called PENCIL Portal to ensure a better mechanism to eradicate Child Labour. Minister requested the State Governments of North East States to give a broader publicity of the Portal and work on NCLP implementation. . . Shri Gangwar said that he specifically chose North Easter Region (Imphal) to have his first Regional Review Meeting and said that his Ministry is also expanding its footprints in the Region at various levels. ESIC is entering and expanding its coverage here. DGFASLI has already laid the foundation of New Regional Labour Institute at Shillong last year. Tomorrow, V.V.Giri National Labour Institute and Tata Institute of Social Science are entering into a MoU at Guwahati. He emphasized that this collaboration will provide more research in the issue of North Eastern Region and will facilitate better-informed decisions. . . Shri Gangwar reiterated the priority and importance of a better coordination between Center & State and thanked the States for their participation. The meeting was also attended by Secretary (L&E) Smt. M. Sathiyavathy and other Senior Officers of the Ministry of Labour & Employment. . . At least 13 people were killed and nearly 20 injured on Thursday when a suicide bomber blew himself up at a Sufi shrine packed with devotees in Pakistan's troubled Balochistan province, police officials said. The attacker tried to enter the Dargah Fatehpur in the Jhal Magsi district of Balochistan and blew himself up when he was stopped by the police at the main entrance, Deputy Commissioner Asadullah Kakar told the media. Officials said at least 13 people were killed and nearly 20 injured. At least one policeman was also killed. A senior Levies official confirmed that so far 12 bodies have been recovered from the blast site. Rescue officials fear that the death toll could rise as the blast took place when there was a heavy rush of devotees who had gathered at the shrine to pay their respect. Thursdays are usually busy in terms of attendance at shrines. Balochistan Home Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti told the media that so far it appeared to be a suicide attack. "Investigations are still continuing and the injured have been moved to the district headquarters hospital in Jhal Magsi," Bugti said. Balochistan government spokesman Anwarul Haq Kakar confirmed that it was a suicide attack. Initial probe showed that the blast occurred when a sufi dance called dhamal was going in the premises of the shrine. No group claimed responsibility for the attack but the Taliban usually target shrines as they consider it un-Islamic. The local administration declared an emergency at hospitals in Sibbi and Dera Murad Jamali. Today's is the second major attack at a shrine in Balochistan where in November 2016, at least 52 people were killed and 102 injured in a blast at the shrine of Shah Norani in Khuzdar district. Googles unveiling of new smartphones, smart speakers and other gadgets had all the makings of a typical product launch: A fawning crowd of superfans, skeptical journalists, slick product videos, not-so-subtle jabs at the competition, and overly romanticised descriptions of design choices, colours and materials. Monsantos flagship weed killer, Roundup, has had a tough year. And it could get worse. With Roundup at the centre of a federal case in the United States over claims that it causes cancer, European Union officials will meet in Brussels on Thursday as they weigh whether to allow the continued use of products that contain Roundups active ingredient, glyphosate, in its 28 nations. Following TfLs decision to withdraw Ubers license to operate in London, there has been a widespread picking over of the ride-hailing apps recent history and speculation about its future. A fairly common conclusion is that needs to become more ethical if it is to survive. Until the events on October 1, in which images of police violently preventing people from voting in Catalonias referendum on independence were beamed around the world, the European Union has kept a very uniform position: this is a Spanish affair. First, Davidson Kempner Capital Management turned up the heat in its legal dispute with one of India's wealthiest families by seizing a private jet. Now, the New York hedge fund has set its sights on something else many billionaires can't live withouta luxury yacht. Ajay Banga's visit to St. Stephen's College three decades after his graduation was a poignant moment; a return to the roots of his alma mater which shaped him into the leader he is today. In a freewheeling chat with his fellow Stephanian Amitabh Kant, CEO, Niti Aayog, Banga touched upon many topics, ranging from his time as a student to gender parity to India's economy. Banga credited the college with instilling many crucial attributes which help him as Mastercard's CEO - calculated focus, decision making and simplicity in communication among them. According to him, globalisation enabled by technology was the only way to break India's demographic inequalities and address issues in healthcare and education. Praising the efforts of the government, he said the Indian economy would benefit from labour reform which converts workers into the formal economy. It all comes #BackToRoots, however; in his words, "primary education and individualised learning are key to realising India's potential." The key mantras for success shared by Ajay are listed below: -Primary education and individualised learning are key to realising India's potential -Calculated focus, decision making, and simplicity in communication are key for a leader -Globalisation and technological disruptions can help break India's demographic dividend -Indian economy needs labor reform, workers need to be converted to formal economy to democratise productivity -Demonetization and digitization are the right way to start on this path -Indian higher education system is fine, we need to fix primary education. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday said that the state is all set to become the aquaculture (farming of fish) hub of the world. Speaking at an interactive panel session on 'Nourishing the Food System' at World Economic Forum's India Economic Summit 2017 in New Delhi, he informed that aquaculture in Andhra Pradesh is growing at the rate of 42 percent and it also has the advantage of a long coastline of 974kms. "Andhra Pradesh has achieved 27.7% growth rate in agriculture for first quarter of 2017-18," said Naidu. "We have achieved saturation in soil testing. Through drone based cloud technology, we are giving soil test reports in real time for farmers in the state," he added. The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister also said that his government is engaging with Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, World Bank, World Food Prize to draft a strategy to produce results for the common man. Naidu further said, "We are organising a seminar in the state on technologies in agriculture along with Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in November." He stated that the Andhra Government is encouraging startups and technology companies for benefiting the farmers and it wants to implement all the technologies available in the world for forward and backward linkages in the agriculture market. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday attacked senior party leader Yashwant Sinha over his participation in the launch ceremony of a book by Congress leader Manish Tewari, saying that it was clear now from where the former was acquiring his 'new-found' knowledge on economy. Speaking to ANI here, BJP spokesperson Anil Baluni said, "Yashwant Sinha was seen attending a function of the Congress. This is a clear indication of where Yashwant Sinha was acquiring his new-found knowledge on the economic condition of the country from." Earlier in the day, Sinha, while addressing the gathering at the release of a book authored by Congress leader Manish Tewari, reportedly made an oblique comment on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and asked why he recently gave a long speech on the economy of the nation. Sinha had earlier castigated Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley of making a mess of the Indian economy. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is taking credit for the works done by the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government in Amethi. "The senior leaders of the BJP are trying to take credit for the works done by the UPA Government in Amethi," Gandhi told reporters on the second day of his visit here. Gandhi read out a list of achievements by the UPA in the city that included six highways, a 200-bed hospital, the Rajiv Gandhi Aviation University in Fursatgunj, and a SAIL unit in Jagdishpur, among others. "I'm happy for our friends in the BJP, who are trying to re-inaugrate these projects, but we did the work in Amethi," Gandhi said. Continuing with the criticism of the NDA-led government, the Congress vice-president said that the government is not addressing two major crises in the country- unemployment and agrarian crisis. "Our Prime Minister should accept the crisis and start working to resolve it instead of panicking and making excuses," Gandhi said, adding that Prime Minister Modi is diverting the topic by talks of Swachh Bharat and Make in India campaign. He also added an "advice" for the prime minister: "The prime minister should stand up and say 'yes, we have not delivered'. We have one more year; we will deliver. That is what a true leader would do." Rahul Gandhi began his three-day visit to his parliamentary constituency, on Wednesday. On his first day, Gandhi stressed on similar issues and claimed that the leading dispensation has failed to provide jobs and secure farm incomes. He also remarked that the BJP should go and let the Congress party take over in this case. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President Ram Nath Kovind on Thursday said that business dialogue has helped India and Ethiopia in bridging gaps between their business communities. "This business dialogue has helped us in bridging gaps between our business communities. Most important, it has identified actions the two governments could take to further facilitate investments and trade - be it in the realm of visa policies, banking procedures and laws, or customs regulations and practices. Both governments want to create an enabling environment. For this, we value the specific recommendations made by our business communities today," he said, at the India-Ethiopia Business Dialogue in Ethiopia. "I must call upon Ethiopia and India to work together to push for reforms in institutions of international financial and monetary governance, and make these relevant to our age. As India and Ethiopia strive together for a more equitable and contemporary global economic architecture. We owe this to the young people in our countries, who will inherit the future," President Kovind added. "The Indian economy is in the early stages of an exciting journey. Ambitious policy measures such as the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) have made doing business in India easier." President Kovind further said, "The GST has unified the Indian market, hitherto segmented among multiple states and tax jurisdictions. Under our flagship programmes, like Make in India and Start-up India, we have made concerted efforts to attract technology, investments and best practices from across the ." "Ethiopia and India are old civilisations with young populations. Ethiopia is the cradle of humankind. Earlier today, at the National Museum in this city, I was privileged to get a glimpse of the remains of Lucy, who is in a sense our common mother," the President said. Terming India's relationship with Ethiopia as "symbolic of its engagement with the African continent", of which Addis Ababa is such a vital hub, President Kovind said, "India's bilateral partnership with Ethiopia is deep and wide. In the past seven decades, our diplomatic engagement has helped us collaborate in virtually every avenue of human activity. Both our governments have identified trade and economic relations as a priority for the near future. The economic relationship covers trade, private investment, concessional loans for infrastructure projects and development assistance, largely for capacity building." Referring to the earliest recorded evidence of our bilateral commercial engagement, President Kovind added, "Our countries have been trading with each other for centuries. The trade relations between Ethiopia and India flourished during the ancient Axumite Empire from the 1st century AD." "I would like to congratulate the Indian Business Forum (or IBF) that represents this community. It is playing a leading role in encouraging Indian investment and promoting trade and commerce between India and Ethiopia. I understand the IBF was set up in 2005 and is marking its 12th anniversary. I am also happy to learn that this forum is the first partner-country forum of its kind in Ethiopia and represents more than 100 Indian companies," President Kovind stated. India is now among the top three foreign investors in Ethiopia. Indian investment has made a mark in textile and garments, engineering, plastics, water management, consultancy and ICT, education, pharmaceuticals and healthcare. Indian investments in Ethiopia have had a significant presence in manufacturing and value addition to local resources. The President stated, "Ethiopia has been the largest recipient of Indian concessional lines of credit in Africa with over USD 1 billion committed to projects in power transmission and sugar. I am happy to learn that the Finchaa sugar project has been completed and handed over to the Ethiopian side. Two other projects in the sugar sector have also gone into production, and are expected to be handed over shortly." "Both Ethiopia and India have young populations. Our youth are our greatest resource. But to realise their potential, we need to educate them and give them the skills needed to become productive in an increasingly complex . After all, the building of a 21st century economy requires the building of human capital - and equipping it for 21st century economic realities," he concluded. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Air Chief Marshal B.S. Dhanoa on Thursday said that Chinese troops were still deployed in Tibet's Chumbi Valley post the Doklam stand-off, adding that he hoped they would withdraw soon. "Their (China) forces in the Chumbi Valley are still deployed and I expect that they will withdraw when their summer exercise gets over," Dhanoa said, at the annual press conference, ahead of the Air Force Day on October 8. Dhanoa added that the Indian Army is prepared to effectively counter any threat from China, while confronting a two-front war also involving Pakistan, which has recently intensified border issues. "The possibility of a two-front war in the current geopolitical situation is low. Our response should be based on the enemy's capability, because intentions can change overnight," the IAF Chief said. On August 29, the Indian Army and the China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) decided to disengage their troops from Bhutan's Doklam plateau after months-long stand-off. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) At least 100 people have been killed in the clashes between government armed forces and rebels loyal to former Vice President Riek Machar in northeastern part of South Sudan. Clashes around Waat town in Bieh state claimed the lives of five soldiers and 91 rebels, the Anadoli Agency quoted Army spokesman Brig. Gen. Lul Ruai Koang as saying on Wednesday. Fighting broke out in a volatile northeastern part of the country as the attempts were made to restart talks aiming to bring estranged groups to the negotiating table as both the sides claiming victory. Koang said violence broke out on Sunday and continued till Tuesday, and more casualties are expected as fighting resumed Wednesday morning. "We came under attack from opposition forces loyal to Riek Machar; however, we repulsed them and killed 91," he said. However, the Rebel spokesman Mabior Garang Mabior accused the government forces of breaching a cease-fire. "It is always one side that gets all the loses during combats, the government must also accept that we killed some of their soldiers in good number," Mabior said. Civil war broke out in oil-producing South Sudan in 2013 after President Salva Kiir sacked Riek Machar from the vice-presidency. The conflict ended with a peace pact in 2015 and Machar was reinstated early last year but tensions between the two lingered and new fighting began in July. The conflict has killed tens of thousands, displaced almost four million people from their homes, including over a million refugees, who have fled to the neighbouring countries, with Uganda alone hosting one million. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The divide between the Pakistan Government and the country's military establishment continues to widen, especially on key issues ranging from dealing with terrorism to pro-Taliban policies to dispute resolution with neighbours and ties with the United States, a senior journalist has said. "Pakistan's political temperature is reaching a high, with the warring sides, the state's key organs. These developments do not inspire an optimistic outlook for country still struggling to eliminate the scourge of violent extremism and terrorism," claims Daud Khattak, Senior Editor for Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty's Pashto language Mashaal Radio, in an article published in The Diplomat. Khattak recalled a year-old statement of former Pakistani senator Bushra Gohar, wherein he said the 'country is at war with itself'. "Pakistan's war with itself is gradually becoming more visible with each passing day, particularly since the hastily-decided disqualification of the thrice-elected prime minister Nawaz Sharif on charges of hiding assets, in this case a salary that he never received, in July this year," he said. "Since then, the hawks in Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) party have seldom let an opportunity to express their anger, using terms like "conspirators," "secret hands," and "invisible powers" a euphemistic reference to the country's powerful military establishment and intelligence services," Khattak added. Highlighting that the ruling party also included the top judiciary in its complaints, he said opposition politicians were praising the army and judges, and giving the impression of an unseen war between the nation's three powerful state institutions. Referring to Pakistan's Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal's anger on being stopped by the Rangers from attending court proceedings, Khattak quoted the minister as asking, "Is this a Banana Republic or a Constitutional Republic?" "There will be one law here and one government. two states cannot function within one state. I cannot be a puppet interior minister," an enraged Iqbal told media outside the court. He explained that the Iqbal's comments resonated with those of former Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, who delivered an angry speech in December 2011, saying "conspirators are planning to bring down the elected government but the people have the right to decide whether they want democracy or dictatorships." Gilani made these comments after rumors had emerged that his government was under threat following differences with the military generals in the aftermath of the killing of al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden close to the military garrison at Abbotabad by the United States. "There can be no state within the state. no institution can say that it is not under the government", Gilani had said at that time. Khattak, who had earlier worked for The News International and London's Sunday Times in Peshawar, said Gilani was disqualified by the Supreme Court of Pakistan in June 2012, six months after making his "state within state" remarks and to which some Pakistani commentators termed as "judicial dictatorship" and punishment for Gilani's remarks. "Since his election in May 2013, Sharif continued trespassing the undeclared but nevertheless well-defined 'no go' zones for civilian leadership, elected or otherwise, and tried to assert the civilian writ in areas that the country's strong military leadership sees as its private domain," he said. He further said the military leadership in the country saw some of Sharif's actions, as a challenge, which included his visit to attend the oath-taking ceremony of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his statements supporting better trade ties with India and Afghanistan. The journalist also pointed out the military leadership was also not happy about the Sharif government's move to get former military dictator Pervez Musharraf punished under the law for his 'unconstitutional' steps and the refusal to extend the service period of former chief of army staff Raheel Sharif. "The recent tensions in Islamabad is would seem to be between the top judiciary and the government led by Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League, but the pro-Sharif political leadership is also pointing accusing fingers at the country's intelligence agencies and the military leadership without naming an individual or the specific institution," Khattak stressed saying that the statements, mostly from Sharif side, are becoming more serious and stubborn. "With each passing day the gap widens between the military and civilian leadership on key policy matters, be that the fight against militant groups, dispute resolution and trade with India and Afghanistan, or relations with the United States," he added. Khattak emphasized that political gimmicks apart, the civilian and military leadership also disagree over the country's approach towards the various militant groups believed to be operating in Pakistan. He cited that a candidate of the banned Jamat-ud-Dawa (JuD), the second incarnation of the Lashkar-e-Tayeba (LeT), took part in a bi-election and ended up fourth in the contest where the wife of the ousted premier Nawaz Sharif was the lead candidate. "The banned JuD was launched into politics under the banner of Milli Muslim League (MML) with a nod from the security establishment despite opposition from civilian authorities," he said The journalist also talked about Foreign Minister Khwaja Asif dubbing Hafiz Saeed of the JuD a "liability," a comment that infuriated many in security circles. "It is very easy to say that Pakistan is supporting Haqqanis and Hafiz Saeed and Lashkar-e-Tayeba. They are liabilities. I accept that they are liabilities," Asif had said while speaking at the Asia Society in New York last month. "Although Pakistan has walked a long and tricky road since the last military coup d'etat in October 1999, the country has yet to see or expect civilian supremacy in its true sense. Incompetence, corruption, patronage and dynastic politics with opportunistic approaches among political parties and their leadership are a few of the major hindrances in achieving the goal of real civilian supremacy," Khattak said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The European governments are looking to bypass the United States President Donald Trump, in a bid to salvage the Iran nuclear deal. The governments fear that a concerted effort to persuade Trump to continue to certify the deal may have failed and hence are now looking for other ways, The Guardian reports. The U.S. State Department is due to certify Congress whether Iran has been complying with the terms of the deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA. European lobbying efforts are now focused on Congress, which will have two months to decide - in the absence of Trump's endorsement of the 2015 deal - whether to reimpose nuclear-related sanctions. Trump had said he has made up his mind already, but did not tell the European leaders his decision, including British Prime Minister Theresa May, who reportedly asked him at a bilateral meeting at the UN last month. However, the U.S. Defence Secretary James Mattis on Tuesday openly contradicted Trump's position on the Iran nuclear deal, while testifying in front of Congress, by backing the nuclear deal with Iran and saying it is in the interests of national security to maintain it. During a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, Mattis was asked whether he believed it was currently in the US national security interest to remain in the agreement. After a significant pause, he replied, "Yes, senator, I do." Under the relevant legislation, the administration has to certify whether Iran is in material breach of the agreement, or if the deal is not serving the national interest. Under the U.S. law, Trump has until October 15 to certify that Iran is complying with the nuclear deal. If he declines to certify Iran, then Congress will have the option to re-impose sanctions on Iran, which would effectively end the deal. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Human rights violations in Balochistan province of Pakistan have drawn concern and criticism globally. The growing conflict between the government of Pakistan and Baloch nationalists result in the rise in enforced disappearances, tortures and killings of intellectuals and activists from the province. Baloch journalist and human rights activist Ahmar Mutikhan claims that Pakistan army is engaged in genocide of Baloch people. Ahmar Mustikhan, a journalist and Baloch activist, said, "This genocide in Balochistan, if you look at the 20,000 killed in the last ten years it is killing like almost six people every day. Extrajudicial killings continue with impunity, no courts, no records to law, no records to justice, their own constitution has been in abeyance in Balochistan. If there has been some reality to democracy then it has been in other parts of Pakistan - Sindh or Punjab. But, when it comes to Balochistan we have had military rule all over." The situation in Balochistan is getting worse since China start constructing multi-billion dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. A large number of indigenous Baloch have been displaced and killed by the security forces. Ahmar said Pakistan is hiding its crime in Balochistan by restricting visits of humanitarian groups and aid agencies. Mustikhan said, "Even after the devastating earthquake four years ago they did not let organizations like the Doctors without Borders to enter into Balochistan because they feared that the true story of Balochistan will be known to the . They only treat Balochistan as a land of strategic value, so they don't want any outsider to come there other then the Chinese. For the Chinese, Balochistan has been made visa exempt. They are bringing thousands of Chinese. Very soon the Chinese and Punjabi population will outnumber the local population. The China-led 51.5 billion dollar multi-layered infrastructure project aims to connect Kashgar in China's western province of Xinjiang, with the port of Gwadar in Balochistan. Some of the key projects of the CPEC are being undertaken in Balochistan. Chief among them is the development of the Gwadar Port. However as China accelerates work on the port project and other aspects of the CPEC, opposition among the local people against them is mounting. Baloch nationalist groups in the province, who have for years been demanding independence and have frequently clashed with the Pakistani Army and establishment, have also called for opposition to the project. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) "Right now, based on a very recent visit by the Chief of Army Staff from Pakistan, there is actually optimism here (Washington) and in Kabul that his visit presages a new chapter," Mattis told the Senate Armed Services Committee. Secretary Mattis and Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen Joseph Dunford appeared before the Senate and House Armed Services Committees to brief lawmakers on the situation in Afghanistan. Appearing before two congressional panels, Secretary Mattis revealed that the United States had chalked out a plan for reengaging Pakistan for resolving bilateral differences. "We were encouraged, just this week, with General Bajwa's visit to Afghanistan.He had very good meetings with the Afghan leadership. Our leadership was engaged in those meetings as well," said General Dunford. Mattis also informed that the US assistant secretaries and national security staff would visit Pakistan soon for talks on how to reengage Islamabad in efforts to eradicate terrorism. And, these visits will be followed by visits by himself and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. General Bajwa met Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani in Kabul on Sunday and discussed matters of regional security, including cooperation against common threats, coordination between respective counter-terrorism campaigns to restrict space for non-state actors, intelligence sharing, trade and commerce, and people-to-people contacts Mattis had earlier warned Pakistan of global "diplomatic isolation" and losing its non-NATO ally status if it failed to take action against safe havens to terrorists on its soil. "I would like to think we will be successful," but having said that, the United States "has an enormously powerful number of options" if not, said Mattis. "I think that right now, with the growing consensus against terrorism, they'll find themselves diplomatically isolated, they'll find themselves economically in increasing trouble, as countries that are damaged by this terrorism coming out of there say enough is enough and take steps," he said. Mattis told the committee that the United States would try "one more time" to work with Pakistan on the Afghanistan front before President Donald Trump turned to "other options" to address Islamabad's alleged support for militant groups. General Dunford has allegedly accused Pakistan intelligence agencies of having links with certain terrorist groups and urged them to sever those ties. "I think it's clear to me that the ISI has connections with terrorist groups," said the general while responding to a question from Senator Joe Donnelly. Gen. Dunford said he believed a multilateral approach might help in bringing changes in Pakistan's behaviour. Secretary Mattis backed this claim, acknowledging that Pakistani intelligence agencies were helping the Taliban. "We have seen havens left to the terrorists' own devices. We have seen the government of Pakistan come down on terrorism, while ISI appears to run its own foreign policy," he said. Mattis said the Trump administration was very clear and firm in what it expected from Pakistan and was using all options to bring about that change. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The United States has said that the Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES) presents an opportunity to showcase the world-renowned entrepreneurial acumen and foster the economic growth and prosperity for their partners. U.S. President Donald Trump's daughter and White House advisor Ivanka Trump will be attending the annual Global Entrepreneurship Summit in Hyderabad. Representing the U.S. government are Jennifer Arangio, Senior Director for International Organisations and Alliances at the National Security Council, The White House and U.S. Consul General in Hyderabad, Katherine Hadda. The Indian side will be represented by C. Muralikrishna Kumar, Senior Advisor, NITI Aayog. Arangio said, "The GES is an opportunity to showcase the United States' world-renowned entrepreneurial acumen, underscore women's economic empowerment, and foster economic growth and prosperity for our partners. When America's partners are growing and prospering our is more secure." The theme of this year's summit is Women First, Prosperity for All and the American delegation to GES will be led by Ivanka Trump. The Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES) is the pre-eminent global entrepreneurship gathering, and it is being co-hosted by the U.S. and Indian governments in Hyderabad for 2017. This year's summit will bring together 1,500 entrepreneurs, investors, and ecosystem supporters from around the for two and half days of training and mentoring sessions, networking, and investment matchmaking. Senior officials representing the joint U.S. and Indian organising team for the Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES) addressed the media in Hyderabad today, offering further insight into the programme and planning process for the Summit to be held in Hyderabad from November 28-30. Talking about this year's Summit, NITI Aayog CEO, Amitabh Kant said, "This is the first time the GES is being held in Asia and we will make this the world's best Entrepreneurship Summit so far, by enabling innovative solutions to the biggest developmental challenges. The best innovators and entrepreneurs from across the are being invited to interact with investors for the benefit of societies at large. "The Government of India has already undertaken several initiatives to promote innovation and entrepreneurship such as Start-Up India, Make in India, and Atal Innovation Mission, among many others. This GES in India is taking place at an opportune time and will open up a plethora of opportunities and networks for Indian innovators and entrepreneurs." "There are some 130 American companies here in Hyderabad, who, in addition, to creating jobs both here and in the United States, are always actively working to stimulate entrepreneurship and women's empowerment," Consul General Hadda commented, adding, "I'm excited that we'll be able to introduce even more American entrepreneurs and investors to this region. They will become yet another linkage in our ever-expanding partnership with India. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Parts of the giant pile of trash at the Ghazipur landfill site is emitting toxic fumes causing breathing problem for the resident living in the nearby areas. A local resident told ANI that the people residing close to the landfill are experiencing a lot of breathing problems. "The government is saying they are doing 'safai abhiyaan', but we don't see anything happening," he said. The East Delhi Municipal Corporation and the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) will meet later today to chalk out a plan to combat the problem. Earlier in September, Lt. Governor of Delhi Anil Baijal in an emergency meeting directed the government to stop dumping solid waste at the Ghazipur landfill immediately. A garbage mound at the Ghazipur landfill collapsed on September 1, killing two people and sweeping away many vehicles from the adjacent road. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Indian Navy on Thursday agreed to facilitate all scheduled and charter flights to operate without any restrictions on weekends at the Dabolim Airport, Goa, following its talks with the state government. After due deliberations, the navy agreed that Dabolim Airport is the only aerodrome in the state, which operates as a civil enclave in a military airbase named 'INS Hansa'. Earlier, the Indian Navy issued a notification to the Goa Government on the partial closure of the airport runway for maintenance on weekends. In a meeting held between the Indian Navy and all other stakeholders, to finalise the flight schedules at Dabolim, comprehensive discussions were made on the need to permit civil flights to operate in forenoon hours on the weekends, given the increased tourist inflows into Goa. The aspects of maintenance of runway and flight decongestion were also discussed in the meeting. The Indian Navy, however, brought out that runway maintenance is mandatory and it will be undertaken in close coordination with all the stakeholders. The meeting here was co-chaired by Mauvin Godinho, the Panchayat Minister, representing the Goa Government and R. Adm. Puneet K. Bahl, Flag Officer Commanding Goa Naval Area at INS Hansa with representatives of the navy, the AAI, the Goa Government, tour operators, airlines, charter operators and others. The step was warmly welcomed by Gudhino as well as all other stakeholders, who brought out that the positive response would benefit the Goan tourism. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The government is planning to revitalise the Doordarshan, according to Information and Broadcasting and Textiles Minister Smriti Irani. The minister confirmed this while answering a question by a participant of the CyFy 2017, organised by Observer Research Foundation. She was participating in the valedictory conversation with CyFy chair and ORF Vice President Samir Saran on Wednesday night. Earlier, she spoke of the government's problems in improving the functioning of the Doordarshan as it is under the jurisdiction of an autonomous body, the Prasar Bharti. However, the minister made it clear that she would also like the Doordarshan to be a good, world-class channel which Indians around the world can look forward to as channels like CNN or BBC. But she said the government can only provide all support, as Doordarshan is managed by an autonomous body. The minister said "yes" when a participant asked whether the government is planning to revitalise the Doordarshan. The minister said the government is also planning promoting positive storytelling and added that it will promote film "Lunchbox" at the coming Goa International Film Festival. She said India has got lots of very good actors, writers and other creative artists who are capable of making world-class films, but the problem arises when the producer looks at the balance sheet. The minister opined that the Social Media by and large have brought balance with the main media, immediately criticising biased articles and commentaries in newspapers which were not possible a decade ago. She agreed with what former Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt had said on the first day of the conference: The norms and values of the internet should be the values and the norms of society. "We want to live in free, open and secure society." Earlier, new NITI Ayog Vice Chairman Rajeev Kumar felt there is a need for the Reserve Bank of India to interact with the industry to solve the problems following digitalisation. He said there has to be a happy balance between customers, industry and banking and financial institutions. Gulshan Rai, the Cybersecurity Coordinator at the PMO, said the government is in the process of reviewing the 2013 cybersecurity policy. He impressed on the need for the nations to work closer and sort out issues at the international level. He said banning products from particular countries are not the solution. Chandrasekhar, Member of Parliament, said a new world of consumer expectation and innovation will require a new regulatory architecture. "We need a new policy framework that looks beyond licensing. Especially for new areas of governance like machine learning and IOT," he said. He pointed out that capacity in regulators is insufficient to deal with disruptions in industry. "New legislation must align their design with changes in the market and in technology." Saying governments in India often emphasis security against the interests of free speech and privacy, Chandrasekhar said what we need is "governance 2.0, which involves embedding more technology into government". Many speakers warned against the thinking of creating cyber weapons. Former Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt said the world we are living in are much more vulnerable than we are aware off and these cyber assault weapons would make the world worse even. "Stay away from cyber warfare. It is very very dangerous and unimaginable," he said. Talking of the nuclear threats from North Korea and US's counter threats, Bildt said nuclear wars are much worse than the biological wars and asked "where are we leading to?". He said while many may be overwhelmed by pace of tech development now, "I argue this is just the beginning of where we are heading. What we are seeing is the last days of the industrial age and the beginnings of the tech age." Bildt said within five years, we will have 95 percent of world population covered by mobile broadband with capacity better than what is available in Europe today. According to him, security is important in society, but freedom is more important. We need to build societies that have both. They are not incompatible. There should not be undue surveillance, censorship but states have some responsibility, under clear and transparent parliamentary supervision, he said. "We are the security of the internet," Bildt said. The former Swedish PM said states are powerful enough to do things that others can't. Every state has the ability to be a superpower in the digital world. "Norms should be there for every state: don't do to other states, what they can also do to you." States must understand they all have equal potential of power in the digital world, thus there is a balance, he said. Former Dutch Foreign Minister Uri Rosenthal said when internet is in motion, we see competing narratives, which the itnernet will have to adapt to and evolve. Adam Segal, Director of the Digital and Cyberspace Policy Programme, Council on Foreign Relations, said we are seeing the consolidation of the Chinese model, a whole new range of controls on tech, ban on VPNs, real name registration, implementation of cyber security laws, brand new diplomatic initiatives with one belt, one road. He said while every state in virtual realm has more power than they do in real world, China is one of the most important states shaping the future. "We are seeing restructuring of powers based on tech giants and governments," he said. The two-day conference, in which more than 130 foreign delegates participated, had sessions on 'The big questions: Technology, security and society'; 'No man's LAN: The militarisation of cyberspace'; 'War and peace in the digital age'; 'Predatory data: Gender and tech'; 'Harvesting the cloud'; 'Blue, while and chrome: The future of work'; 'Chasing Unicorns: The startup generation'; 'Digital vulnerabilities: Capacity building for tracking cyber crime'; 'The new code war'; 'Command and CTRL: Emerging Regime on Lethal Autonomous Weapons'; 'Encryption: The end of surveillance?'; 'Unbundling 'Convergence'; 'Information operations'; 'Security through identity'; 'Dangerous disclosures: Cyber security incident reporting'; 'Securing the digital economy'; 'Hearts and minds: Countering extremism through media' and 'Radical narratives: Countering violence outline' The inaugural address was delivered by Mr Ravi Shankar Prasad, the Minister of Information Technology and Law and Justice. As ORF Chairman, Sunjoy Joshi, summed up at the valedictory session that this year's CyFy was designed in such a way to provide interplay of digital technology, security and media. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Thursday blamed the Punjab Police for delay in the arrest of Honeypreet Insan, and raised suspicion over its role in the whole affair. "There is surely something suspicious about it [Daal me kuch kaala hai]," Khattar told media here. "Everything (tracking and arrest) is done with the Punjab Police as the medium, and if they had information (about Honeypreet), they should have conveyed it to the Haryana Police, as that would have avoided the delay in arrest," Khattar elaborated. Honeypreet, the adopted daughter of Dera Sacha Sauda Chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, was arrested by the Haryana Police on Tuesday, on the highway near Chandigarh, along with another woman. Punjab Congress leader and former legislator Harminder Singh Jassi, whose daughter is married to Ram Rahim's son, is suspected to have used the protection of the security personnel provided by Punjab government to help Honeypreet evade arrest. The Punjab Government has, however, refuted allegations of the police's complicity in the matter, and stated that the state would not shield a fugitive. Earlier in the day, the Haryana Police took Honeypreet to Panchkula Sector-20 Police Station for questioning. The Haryana Police was on the lookout for Honeypreet in connection with the violence that broke out in Panchkula August 25, when Ram Rahim was declared guilty of rape by a special CBI court. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President Ram Nath Kovind on Thursday announced that India would give Ethiopia a line of credit of USD 195 million for power transmission sector and medicines worth USD 2 million . Reteirating India's support to Ethiopia, the Indian President said, "India will provide a credit line to the tune of USD 195 million to Ethiopia for power transmission as well as USD 2 million for medicines." President Kovind also stated that India wanted to strengthen bilateral ties with Ethiopia, adding that the two countries will also work together in the U.N. and other multilateral bodies. "Our talks today focussed on strengthening our warm relationship. We covered all areas of regional cooperation between India and Ethiopia and in future, we will be working closely to develop our trade, investment and people to people relations." India also thanked Ethiopia for its participation in the International Solar Alliance (ISA), established in 2015. This is the first time in 40 years that an Indian presidential delegation has visited Ethiopia. During the joint press conference, his Ethiopian counterpart Mulatu Teshome said, "It's not only about celebrating our past historical ties, but also the expectations of the people of India and Ethiopians to work together." Teshome said, "This will boost invetsment relations between the two countries and forge relations for mutual benefits. I particularly underline the historic visit of the Indian President to our country, which will give both our countries an opportunity to explore areas of cooperation." India and Ethiopia on Thursday signed agreements for cooperation in trade and communication sectors to boost bilateral ties. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bulat Sarsembayev, the Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to India, on Thursday said that Indian students doing management courses should opt to study in Astana. "I call upon the management students of Amity to come and explore a bright future in Kazakhstan," the envoy said, while adddressing Amity University students in Noida, Uttar Pradesh. While sharing his views, the envoy stated that "Kazakhstan is a young country which celebrated its 25 years of Independence last year". Informing the students about "Made in Kazakhstan" campaign which aims at "bolstering its economy" just like India, the Kazakhstan envoy said, "Kazakhstan is developing very fast just like India and its GDP per capita is constantly growing." "India and Kazakhstan has successful bilateral ties and Astana wants to increase economic trade with New Delhi, which has great potential especially in sectors such as Energy, Agriculture, Health and Pharmaceuticals," he added. He stated that the "number of tourist visas issued between both the countries has been growing over the past three-four years, which shows the strengthening ties between both the countries." He highlighted that "there are over 120 registered Indian companies in Kazakhstan and informed the gathering that Kazakhstan offers favourable investment climate and business-oriented tax and customs policies. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Indian Army on Wednesday averted a major terrorist strike on the targets in the Akhnoor area of Jammu and Kashmir. On Wednesday night, the sentries observed suspicious movement close to an army unit location near the Akhnoor market. The response mechanism was activated, wherein the entire area was cordoned off and a search operation was conducted by the security forces. With the help of the dog squad, one fully installed IED, two mines, army accouterments, and other incriminating stores have been recovered. The combing operations are currently underway. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Karnataka's Energy Minister and senior Congress leader D.K. Shivakumar was summoned by the Income Tax Department on Thursday. Earlier this year in August, I-T sleuths raided D.K. Shivakumar's various properties for three consecutive days for his alleged connection in tax evasion. The six-time MLA, after the raids were conducted on his properties, said, "I have not violated the law." In September, All India Congress Committee (AICC) reportedly directed the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) to protest against I-T department offices in the state, alleging the department of using foul tactics to persuade leaders to join the BJP in order to avoid further raids. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Chief Minister of Kerala Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday dubbed Bhratiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh as "wet cracker." This came after Shah held Vijayan directly responsible for killing of party and RSS workers in the state. Claiming that the BJP is trying to break the secularism in the state, he said, "Amit Shah came and became like wet cracker here. The BJP is trying to break secularism with the power." "The BJP now shows the intolerance towards Kerala. Kerala does not have to learn any lesson on peace from you. The leaders also involved in the killing are carried out by RSS activists," he added. Vijayan also warned the BJP Chief that the state will not be scared away by the RSS and BJP. "We will not be scared away by the weapons and wealth you have collected. Nobody should think that you can scare us away. If you are thinking you can make something by bringing up the old RSS leaders from center and other states, nothing will be happening here," he said. He also took a jibe at Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's, pointing towards the infant mortality rate of Kerala. "Yogi's statement can only make us feel pity.The infant mortality rate of Kerala has been reduced from 12 percent to 10 percent," said Kerala Chief Minister. He also said that Kerala does not have anything to learn from a party, which considers Nathuram Godse to be "God". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In a bid to offer the taste of living like a local in Goa, Airbnb on Thursday announced the launch of their 'Insider's Guide', a specially-curated catalogue featuring seven Airbnb homes selected by celebrity interior designer Gauri Khan along with local insights from Airbnb hosts and local influencers. Hailed as one of the most popular destination for travelers across the world, the Airbnb Goa Insider's Guide gives them will get an opportunity to explore unique homes ranging from 400-year old Portuguese villas to stunning designer contemporary homes, as well as unique ideas for travelers to authentically experience Goa 'Like Locals'. Spanning across rich art and culture with celebrated artist and founder of the Museum of Goa, Subodh Kerkar, to a deep dive into Goan nightlife with acclaimed food and lifestyle writer Nolan Mascarhenas, or a fashion fix with fashion designer Wendell Rodricks, the guide is a mirror of the local life. It also explores hidden gems of Goa with ad filmmaker and photographer Shantanu Sheorey, and tips to binge on the best local cuisine recommended by model-turned-chef Joey Matthews. "For Airbnb in India, Goa has fast become one of our key markets, and the exponential growth we have seen in the state is a testimony to the growing inclination of travelers to explore destinations on their own terms. With the launch of Airbnb Goa Insider's Guide we are delighted to present travelers with a different perspective to experience Goa and explore the hidden gems it has to offer by living like a local," said country manager India Airbnb, Amanpreet Bajaj. Airbnb has over 4000 listings in many locations across the state, offering a wide variety of accommodation choices including apartments, beach villas and mansions Since 2015, Airbnb has witnessed a 515 percent increase in the total number of nights booked, along with a 259 percent increase in the number of homes on the platform in Goa. On the other hand, Goa as a destination has grown its popularity every passing year with visitor numbers increasing by 19.5 percent in domestic and international visitors to over 6.3 million visitors as of 2016. "The essence of a culture is rooted in its people and the homes in which they reside. Goa is characterized by a mix of unique Indo-Portuguese architectural influence, which tells visitors stories from past generations. With the launch of the Airbnb Goa Insider's Guide, Airbnb is giving curious travelers the chance to soak in the experience of living like a local, by offering them unprecedented access to homes and hearts which best embody the spirit of Goa. The villas, mansions, and homes curated in this Guide are a breathtaking combination of Goan heritage and modern day amenities, accompanied by insights from local experts," opined Gauri Khan. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Andhra Pradesh Government on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Mastercard to setup a centre of excellence in Visakhapatnam. The MoU was exchanged in the capital in the presence of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and CEO of Mastercard, Ajay Banga. Mastercard, an American multinational financial services corporation, have come forward to work in the areas of cyber security and financial technology in the state. The agreement is believed to digitally transform the technology sector in Andhra Pradesh. As part of agreement, MasterCard will also organise business summits in Visakhapatnam every year. Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Naidu said, "We can do wonders in the state with financial technology. Digital economy can solve so many problems like corruption." He also invited everyone to the Financial Technology Valley in Visakhapatnam. Meanwhile, Banga said that the Chief Minister's vision for implementing technology can help take Andhra Pradesh to a new level. J.A.Chowdary, Special Chief Secretary and IT Advisor to Government of Andhra Pradesh, was also present on the occasion here. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-ruled states have expressed compliance to the Centre's directive to slash Value-Added Tax (VAT) on fuel in the states, whereas the Opposition-led state governments have differed on the matter. Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani on Thursday said that the state government would reduce taxes on petrol and diesel in the next two or three days. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that the government will have a serious discussion on the topic, and quipped, "Wait for Diwali!" However, the Kerala Government, led by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM) and the Indian Congress (INC) alliance, objected to the directive, citing that the status is unfavourable to implement the move. "The State Government's financial status is unfavourable to take the initiative to reduce tax. At this stage, the Centre should reduce the tax," Thomas Isaac, the Finance Minister for the state, told reporters, adding, "the Centre first increased the prices of petrol and diesel, then reduced it by Rs. 2. So, the states had to follow suit. Let the Centre reduce the tax first." He also accused the Union Government of shirking its responsibility from wrong decisions. "The Centre must discuss the tax on petrol with states. It is shifting the after-effects of their wrongs on states' shoulders," Isaac said. On Tuesday, the Centre announced that the excise duty on fuel would be cut, citing that the move was an attempt to "cushion the impact of rising international prices of crude petroleum oil, and petrol and diesel on their retail sale prices". A day later, Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan asked the states to slash the Value-Added Tax (VAT) on fuel by 5 per cent. "We urge the states to take the responsibility just like the Centre did, in direction of the consumer interest, so that they get more relief," Pradhan said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Mumbai Police on Thursday refuted reports of criminal threats in or across Mumbai and of intercepting a terror attack in the city. The Commissioner of the Mumbai Police, D.D. Padsalgikar, said, "Many queries are being made about threats and alerts that have come to Mumbai, but I can assure you that we have not received any specific threat about the city at the moment." He further assured that Mumbai Police is capable of handling all such threats and can take care of them. "It is the routine nature of the Crime Branch to call some of the criminal elements with criminal records for enquiry. The Crime Branch enquiries are in progress about certain other issues that took place earlier," Padsalgikar said. According to reports, the Mumbai Police earlier had notified the Central Government of suspecting a terror attack here and had alerted the security forces. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) OMEGA is proud to announce that Cindy Crawford's son and daughter, Presley and Kaia Gerber, have become the newest members of its family of brand ambassadors. Cindy Crawford has been one of OMEGA's most iconic representatives for over 20 years. Cindy joined OMEGA in 1995, becoming the brand's very first ambassador. She instantly immersed herself in the company, providing ideas for a new Constellation collection and helping to relaunch the line that very same year. Over the years, Cindy has shown great passion and pride in her role on behalf of OMEGA and continues to be a prominent figure in representing the brand worldwide. Most recently, she extended her lifetime commitment to social causes by joining OMEGA to visit the Orbis International Flying Eye Hospital in Peru. While there, she filmed the documentary called "The Hospital in the Sky", and shared each moment and emotion with her daughter Kaia. By gradually introducing her children to the brand, it has become clear that Cindy's dedication to OMEGA has now positively extended to her family. Not only did Kaia join her for that insightful trip to Peru, but her son Presley was also proud to join her on the red carpet for the documentary's NewYork premiere in 2015. Today, that family connection to OMEGA has become official. Representing the next generation of watch fans, Kaia and Presley are proving themselves to be exceptional rising stars. Through modeling, the brother and sister have already taken promising steps in their fashion careers, with Presley also showing a flair for photography. Together, they will be officially welcomed at the opening of OMEGA's "Her Time" exhibition in Paris on September the 29th, where they will join their mother on stage. Raynald Aeschlimann, President and CEO of OMEGA, said: "We have always considered our OMEGA ambassadors to be family. So to now be working with Cindy's children is very special. We have known Presley and Kaia for a long time and I'm always impressed by their abilities and personalities. It's truly exciting to have their fresh creativity and young exuberance on our side. We can't wait to get started." OMEGA is looking forward to its new relationship with Kaia and Presley Gerber and continuing its strong connection to the family. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Oracle has announced its first batch of startups for Startup Cloud Accelerator program in Delhi. Shortlisted from among several hundreds of startup applicants, the new cohort comprises an interesting mix of companies using artificial intelligence (AI), predictive analytics, automation, internet of things (IoT), Chatbots, machine learning, (ML) and virtual reality (VR) technologies. The startups from Delhi are iNICU, RepUp, Original4sure, Digital Agents Interactive and ChatterOn. These startups are leveraging new solutions across industries such as hospitality, pharmaceuticals, marketing, finance and cyber security. The startups will be entitled to technical and business mentoring by Oracle and industry experts, along with free Oracle Cloud credits, 24x7 access to a co-working space within Oracle's premises, as well as access to Oracle's vast ecosystem of customers, investors and partners. "We're pleased with the overwhelming response to the Oracle Startup Cloud Accelerator program. As Indian startups continue to make noticeable strides in technology-led innovation, we are excited to welcome the first batch of startups in Delhi and look forward to helping them scale new heights," said Sanket Atal, group vice president of Development, Oracle. "Each of the new startups bring a unique proposition to their industry and come with high-growth potential. We'll continue to encourage bright minds by creating an environment where engineering thrives," added Atal. Details of the new cohort at the Oracle Startup Cloud Accelerator program in New Delhi: -iNICU enables early diagnosis of critical diseases in neonates by leveraging IoT, AI and predictive analytics, helping improve the overall quality of healthcare. -RepUp provides a unified approach for online reputation management for companies in the hospitality industry, using an intelligent process automation solution. -Original4sure provides anti-counterfeiting and advanced tracking supply chain solutions to enterprises in the manufacturing sector. -Digital Agents Interactive provides interactive enterprise solutions by creating innovative 3D, AR, VR enterprise products and solutions for marketing, sales and training. -ChatterOn provides an end-to-end chatbot development platform for companies to deliver a truly omni-channel experience. According to a report, 20 percent of the country's most valuable software companies are now headquartered in Delhi's national capital region (NCR) metropolitan area. This has also contributed to the rise in the number of startups in the Indian capital, fostering an ecosystem of entrepreneurship to several startup organizations today. Launched in April 2016, the Oracle Startup Cloud Accelerator Program is a next-generation acceleration initiative driven by Oracle R&D. The program focuses on reimagining enterprise innovation through collaborations with startups that foster co-development and co-innovation, advancing the 'Digital India' initiative. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) After a picture of self styled god woman Radhe Maa sitting on the chair of Vivek Vihar Station House Officer (SHO) Sanjay Sharma went viral, the Delhi Police PRO on Thursday asserted that action will be taken against the guilty. Delhi Police PRO, Deependra Pathak, said that Sharma, along with five other police men, have been sent to district lines. "Shahdara Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) has asked for a detailed report. Further action will be taken after investigation," Pathak said. The self styled god woman was accorded a warm reception at New Delhi's Vivek Vihar Police Station on the occasion of Maha Ashtami, during Navaratri on September 28. In a photo that has gone viral on social media, Radhe Maa can be seen sitting on the chair of the SHO. Sharma was seen standing beside her with his hands folded. During this entire time, the police station was resonated with the sound of 'Radhe, Radhe'. As per reports, she had come to attend a Ramleela and due to heavy crowd gathering around, SHO Sharma took her to the police station. The self styled god woman has been accused of dowry harassment, sexual harassment and posing threats to people. Recently, an institution of saints has declared her as a "fake saint". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Myanmar's State Councillor Aung San Suu Kyi is to be stripped of her Freedom of Oxford award amid criticism of her handling the Rohingya crisis. Suu Kyi studied as an undergraduate student at the Oxford University, where she was granted the honour in 1997 for her "struggle for democracy". The Oxford City Council has voted unanimously to support a motion that said it was "no longer appropriate" to celebrate Suu Kyi, who has come under fierce criticism for inaction in the face of reported atrocities against Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine state, the Independent reports. Suu Kyi had held her 67th birthday party at the college where she studied politics, philosophy and economics between 1964 and 1967 and was celebrated with an honorary doctorate from Oxford University in 2012. Last week, Suu Kyi's portrait was removed from public display at the Oxford college. The governing body of St. Hugh's college decided to remove the painting of the Nobel laureate from its main entrance, days before the start of the university term and the arrival of new students. Delivering State of the Union address in Naypyitaw, Suu Kyi broke her silence on the Rohingya crisis in the country and said that the government does not fear scrutiny by the international community, even as more than 4,00,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled from the northern Rakhine State. Nearly half a million Rohingyas have fled to Bangladesh due to violence in the Rakhine state that has claimed lives of at least more than 100 people and displaced several others. Bangladesh is currently sheltering 5,07,000 Rohingya refugees in the country. The Myanmar troops launched a crackdown in the Rakhine state in response to attacks on three border posts last year that killed nine police officers, since then many Rohingya Muslims have tried to move into Bangladesh illegally. The Rohingyas are not recognised by Myanmar as its citizens and are called Bengali by them. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Meghalaya's capital Shillong celebrated the annual air festival on Thursday, as a part of the celebrations of 85th Air Force Day, which is on October 8. Organised by the Eastern Air Command, the festival was a major delight for the visitors, who thronged the Advance Landing Ground to have the first hand experience of Sukhoi Aircraft, fighter planes and other equipments of the Indian Air Force. Commandos of Indian Air Force displayed a scintillating performance of aerial maneuvering and perfect landing. Performances by the Air Force Band and the Air Warrior Drill Team, followed by a fly-past of Mi- 17 helicopter and its smooth ground landing, left the spectators spellbound. A visitor who came to witness the festival said, "It feels amazing to be here. We could witness the Sukhoi and have seen parachute landing. So many people has turned out here to enjoy, the atmosphere is really amazing here. All the air force civilians have gathered here to enjoy this auspicious day." Organising such festival will go a long way in disseminating knowledge and will provide a better understanding of the contribution made by the Air Force personnel in protecting and safeguarding skies and also during disasters. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two minor girls were allegedly gang-raped in Jharkhand's Palamu district on Wednesday. The incident took place at late night on Wednesday when two teen sisters were allegedly gang-raped in their rented house in Palamu's Chattarpur by three men from their neighbourhood. DSP (Deputy Superintendent of Police) and Chattarpur Police reached the crime scene and rushed the victims to Sadar Hospital. All three accused are on the run and further investigation by the police is underway. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Expressing concerns about the future of Pakistan Government, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has said that Washington wants a stable government in Islamabad. Tillerson made these remarks to the media following his meeting with Pakistan's Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif on Wednesday. Tillerson also asserted that the United States has a reliable partner in Pakistan. "Yes, I believe we do," he said in response to a question that had the meeting with Pakistan's Foreign Minister convinced him that the United States had a reliable partner in Pakistan. Asserting that the US-Pakistan relationship held extraordinary importance in the region, Tillerson said, "And as we rolled out the South Asia strategy, we spoke about it in a regional context." "It is not just about Afghanistan. This is about the importance of Pakistan, and Pakistan's long-term stability as well," Dawn quoted Tillerson as saying. Tillerson also acknowledged and appreciated the sacrifices rendered by the people and armed forces of Pakistan in the struggle against terrorism. Asif claimed that Pakistan is winning its war against terrorism which is having a salutary impact on economics commercial activities. He stressed that Pakistan and the United States share a common desire for peace and stability in Afghanistan and the region at large. He emphasised that Pakistan sought a broad based relationship with United States building on a seven decade long history of successful cooperation. Pakistan's Ambassador to US Aizaz Chaudhry accompanied Foreign Minister Asif during the meeting. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The new Minister of Housing & Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri categorically stated that the urban slums will not be uprooted but will provide all civic amenities so they can access pakka road, water sanitation & electricity etc. at an ASSOCHAM event. We are promoting in-situ rehabilitation of existing slum dwellers by using land as a resource for the participation of the private sector, whereby new multi-storied residential blocks can be constructed by the developers by clearing up space presently occupied by slum dwellings and raising capital by monetising the value of the cleared land by constructing high-value real estate, said Mr Hardeep Singh Puri, Minister State (I/C), Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. With many slums usually located in prime locations in the city, the value of the land can yield sufficient surpluses to pay for the construction of new houses for those who currently reside there. This is a win-win model, whereby the slum dweller gets a proper house in the same location, avoiding displacement and retaining their existing connections with livelihoods and services like healthcare and education for their families. The recently introduced Goods and Services Tax (GST) has also been a landmark reform. It will dismantle various tax barriers to create a single, unified market with tax transparency and predictability and will improve the efficiency of the supply chain for housing, said Mr Puri, Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs. Mr. Puri further said that large country like India has to have a single unified rate. There is also dislocation for some people who are not used to the ideas of being taxed. In the first few months some dislocation is expected but shall pay in the long run. 'The modernisation and digitisation of land records is essential to have an efficient land market, and my ministry is encouraging all states to adopt Land Tilting Laws that will speed up this process'. We must overcome our despondency and distrust. This is the first step in building strong and healthy communities where individual and families can prosper. While the government can do its bit, you too have a significant role in creating healthy urban ecosystem, said Mr Puri. The implementation of the mission has to speed up if we are to meet our goal of building 20 million affordable houses in 4,041 urban centres by 2022. My ministry is making best efforts to think out-of-the-box. We will soon launch a housing technology challenge whereby we hope to find solutions for speedier construction of homes. We are preparing a new urban housing and habitat policy that will take a holistic view of the needs of the sector. Mr Puri further said the housing mission is one of a number of missions that have been launched by my ministry, including the Swachh Bharat Mission, the Smart city mission, the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) and the Urban Livelihoods Mission, noted Mr. Puri. These are all integrated and converged with the 'housing for all mission'- even the new transportation policy, which will provide affordable and accessible transport to our citizens. In addition to the demand side and supply side interventions, my ministry is working on a number of initiatives that are related to the enabling ecosystem required for achieving housing for all. The fourth industrial revolution will build the IT sector and it will be revolving around urban services. The housing for all in the Indian context will be a very significant component of this fourth industrial revolution and hope private sector will take advantage of it. The scale of the challenge is huge. The technical group on Urban Housing Shortage, set up in 2012, estimated a shortage of 18.78 million housing units in the country. The gap is almost entirely in the poorer and marginalised sections of our society: the economically weaker section, which alone accounts for over 56% of the total shortage. Another 40% of the shortage comes from low income group. Between them, they call for the construction of 18 million units whereas the remainder is needed to house the higher income groups. However, we must note that the technical group also found that 11.07 million houses were lying vacant, and these houses were all built for the higher income groups. Thus, it becomes very clear that the market has simply catered to the requirements of a limited high end section that is characterized by a separate set of problems and has at the same time forgotten to supply houses where they are needed most. The poor continue to live in slums and decrepit old houses. Mr. Pradeep Aggarwal, Chairman, Signature Global said, In the last Union Budget presentation, affordable housing got accorded with Infrastructure status, thus signalling a strong government support for the same. The reinforcement was never late as after GST's implementation, hopes were high that either this segment would be kept out of the ambit or the lowest bracket would be provided. With prices going up post the tax reform, government will have to find out ways of minimising the effect of this rise on the average Indian homebuyers. Banks will have to be pushed to further lower down on their lending rates, ensuring that the end payout remains the same in case of property purchases. Keeping the affordable housing segment out of GST's ambit have been a good move but measures for the removal of stamp duty charges must be taken into consideration to further lower the burden off the mid-segment buyers. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has said that he has the "worst job on Earth" and did not deny that it had been a difficult three years since he took office in September 2014. "This is the worst job on Earth," the President said in an exclusive BBC interview. "We were like 12-year-olds taking on the responsibility of a 30-year-old; but we really grew in the process. Now in terms of management and leadership things are really falling into place. "Within four years, we think our security forces would be able to do the constitutional thing, which is the claim of legitimate monopoly of power." Regarding the NATO troops, the President said they will be pulled out "within four years". About 14,000 Nato troops remain in the country to "train, advise and assist Afghan forces. The aim is to strengthen them so they can take the battle to the Taliban", Ghani said. The Taliban, he said, had two strategic aims: to overthrow the government or to create two "political geographies". "It has failed miserably in both of these aims," Ghani told the BBC. "Taliban is the largest exporters of heroin to the world. Why is the world not focusing on heroin? Is this an ideological war or is this a drug war? This criminalisation of the economy needs to be addressed." "A peace agreement with the Taliban", would be the ultimate aim, the President asserted. "The whole aim of the strategy is to provide the ground for political solution and a political solution is a negotiated solution. It's imperative that the people are given a chance to live their lives." --IANS ksk/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India here on Thursday signed a loan agreement with the European Investment Bank (EIB) for a 300 million euro-financing for the second phase of the Bangalore Metro Rail Project, an official said. The amount for "Phase II Line R6" of the Namma Metro (Our Metro) in Bengaluru represents the first tranche of the 500 million euro financing of the project approved in July, the Union Finance Ministry said in an official release. "Bangalore Metro Rail Project Phase II is to be jointly financed by the European Investment Bank (Euro 500 million) and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (Euro 300 million)," it said. "The project envisages extension of East-West and North-South lines, which includes a total length of 72.095 km (13.79 km underground), and 61 stations with 12 underground stations." The project implementation period is five years, the statement added. In 2015, French funding agency Agence Francaise De Development (AFD) extended a Rs 1,500-crore loan for Phase II. This was in addition to the Rs 810 crore the AFD lent for the now completed Phase I. --IANS bc/dg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The CBI questioned RJD chief Lalu Prasad for over seven hours on Thursday in connection with its ongoing probe into alleged irregularities in the 2006 IRCTC hotels maintenance contract case. Lalu Prasad, a former Railway Minister, appeared before the agency's investigators for questioning in the case at the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) headquarters on Lodi Road here around 11.30 a.m. The CBI has also summoned his son Tejashwi Yadav, a former Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar, in the case. Tejaswi may join the probe on Friday. "Lalu Prasad was questioned for over seven hours. Our main focus was on allegations against him on which basis the CBI had registered the FIR in the matter," CBI Spokesperson Abhishek Dayal told IANS. Informed sources said Lalu Prasad faced over 100 questions related to the case. Asked if the former Bihar Chief Minister will again be summoned for another round of questioning, Dayal said: "We will decide it later." The senior Rashtriya Janata Dal leader was accompanied by his daughter and RJD's Rajya Sabha MP Misa Bharti, who is also under investigation by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a money laundering case involving shell companies. On September 26, the CBI issued fresh summons -- the third in a month -- to the RJD chief and his son Tejashwi Yadav in the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation contract case. The CBI move came after Lalu Prasad and Tejashwi Yadav skipped two earlier summons. The CBI on July 5 filed a corruption case against Lalu Prasad, his wife Rabri Devi and son Tejashwi Yadav for alleged irregularities in the allotment of contracts for IRCTC hotels in Ranchi and Puri in 2006 to a private firm when the RJD chief was the Railways Minister. The contracts were given to Sujata Hotels, a company owned by Vijay and Vinay Kochhar -- both named in the CBI FIR as accused -- in lieu of bribe in the form of a three-acre commercial plot at a prime location in Bihar's Patna district, the CBI said. A preliminary CBI inquiry allegedly found that the said land was sold by the Kochhars to Delight Marketing Company and payment was arranged through Ahluwalia Contractors and its promoter Bikramjeet Singh Ahluwalia, another accused person. The ED has since questioned Ahluwalia. Delight Marketing, which bought the property from the Kochhars, was later taken over by Rabri Devi and Tejashwi, alleges the CBI. Sarla Gupta, wife of RJD chief's close associate Prem Chand Gupta and a director of Delight Marketing, is a co-accused in the case, apart from then IRCTC Managing Director P.K. Goel. The ED had on July 27 registered a separate case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act following the CBI FIR and was probing Lalu Prasad and others for alleged transfer of money through shell companies. The ED has summoned Rabri Devi to appear before it next week. --IANS rak/tsb/dg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Centre on Thursday sanctioned a Cash Credit Limit (CCL) of Rs 28,262.84 crore for paddy procurement in Punjab this kharif season that will last till October-end, official sources said. Chief Minister Amarinder Singh's personal intervention in the matter facilitated the CCL release, required to ensure timely payment to farmers, a spokesperson in the Chief Minister's Office said. "The Chief Minister has been taking up the issue with the Centre on a regular basis and met both Union Agriculture and Finance Ministers this week in New Delhi to press for Punjab's case in the interest of state's farmers," the spokesperson said. Amarinder Singh has directed all state procurement agencies to take immediate steps to ensure timely payment to farmers against their procured produce. Punjab is expecting a bumper paddy crop, with likely procurement of over 180 lakh tonnes by various government agencies. --IANS js/tsb/dg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Film: "Chef"; Director: Raja Krishna Menon; Cast: Saif Ali Khan, Padampriya Janakiraman, Chandan Roy Sanyal, Milind Soman, Svar Kamble, Rating: *** An official Hindi remake of Jon Favreau's 2014 film by the same name, Director Raja Krishna Menon's 'Chef' is a breezy film, centring around the self-discovery of Chef Roshan Kalra (Saif Ali Khan), a Michelin three star chef. Roshan, who hails from a middle class Chandni Chowk family, is attracted towards cooking from the age of ten and aspires to learn cooking from the 'chole bhature wala chacha' in his neighbourhood and become a chef much to the chagrin of his father who wants him to become an engineer. How after losing his job at a renowned restaurant in the US, Roshan returns to Cochin to meet his son Armaan (Svar Kamble) who lives with his ex-wife Radha (Padampriya Janakiraman) and realises his priorities and centres his career as a chef around them, is actually the rasion d'etre of the film. The film dives straight into his present life as a chef in the US and merely skims through his early life, including his failed marriage and divorce, without really delving too much into it. While the first half has a wee bit of emotional drama, the second half is clearly a series of road trips showcasing his new found meaning in life as a chef and how he makes a success of it. Director Raja Menon extracts natural performances from his actors and that perhaps is the strength of the film as the story is staid and the treatment simple. There is no element of drama or any interesting twists and the narrative flows on an even keel. Humour comes in the form of Saif's comic timing and some witty one liners. Saif as Chef Roshan Kalra is endearing. He portrays the character in his inimitable style with his attitude and swag to boot. He tries earnestly to look and behave like a chef when in the kitchen. Save some attempts at chopping, or perhaps frying, one does not really get a peek into his cooking skills. His relationship with his son Armaan aka Ari is easily one of the highlights of the film. Swar Kamble as the young Armaan is confident and essays his character realistically. Padampriya as Radha Menon, his ex-wife, is every inch the independent working professional who has put her past behind her and is yet a friend and well-wisher of her husband. Milind Soman as Biju, Radha's friend and anchor is competent, while Chandan Roy Sanyal as Nazrul, a junior Chef and devoted to his "guru" Chef Roshan has nothing much to offer, but is sincere. The music by Raghu Dixit and Amaal Malik is melodious and meshes well with the narrative. "Tere Mere" by Armaan Malik is particularly pleasant. Cinematographer Priya Seth captures all the places through her lens with utmost candour and sincerity, especially Cochin. Overall, Chef is a feel-good film about the importance of relationships and the message comes across smoothly albeit garbed in a long-drawn plot. (Troy Ribeiro can be reached at troyribeiro@yahoo.com) --IANS troy/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) China has issued another travel advisory to its citizens in India, asking them not to take photographs of border areas and military installations. "(Visitors should) not photograph India's border and military facilities and vehicles. While travelling on India's border neighbouring Nepal, avoid visiting border markets, and do not enter the territory of other countries by mistake," it said. This is the first travel advisory after the resolution of Doklam stand-off but the third one since the crisis began in June. The 73-day stand-off between Indian and Chinese troops at Doklam in the Sikkim section was resolved on August 28. "Some Chinese citizens visited Andaman and Nicobar Islands, which are restricted areas for foreigners, without gaining permits from India. Some tourists were asked to return upon arrival; some were even arrested or investigated," said the advisory, reported the state-run Global Times. According to the report, the Chinese Embassy in New Delhi issued the warning on Tuesday. The advisory also elaborated how Chinese tourists were denied entry or investigated while travelling in India and how the Embassy had to step in. The first advisory was issued on July 7, asking Chinese to reduce unnecessary travel to India. It was reissued on August 24. --IANS gsh/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The CPI-M has accused BJP President Amit Shah of unleashing "lumpen politics" against it in Kerala but said the Marxists won't be cowed down. "Amit Shah has embarked on a dangerous course of inciting violence against the CPI-M by levelling false charges and accusations against the party," CPI-M journal "People's Democracy" said in an editorial. Shah launched a Bharatiya Janata Party 'yatra' in Kerala on Tuesday, starting from Kannur district where he blamed Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan for the political killings in the state. "Filled with the arrogance of power, Amit Shah thinks that he can bulldoze the Sangh into Kerala using the false flag of red terror," the editorial said. "This, in itself, shows the inability of the BJP-RSS combine to counter the CPI-M and the Left politically in Kerala." The Communist Party of India-Marxist added: "Amit Shah is the last person who should be accusing an elected Chief Minister of being responsible for murders." It pointed out that as the Home Minister under now Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Gujarat, Shah was booked in a false encounter case in which Sohrabuddin and his wife Kauser Bi were killed by police while in their illegal custody. "He was discharged in the case by the Mumbai High Court but his sordid record as a minister, during which period many false encounters took place, has qualified him as a specialist in 'encounter politics'." Shah has called for protests by BJP workers outside the CPI-M headquarters in New Delhi every day till October 16. "The fact that the ruling party of the country is daily organising protests outside the office of a national political party speaks much about the lumpen that Amit Shah has introduced. "There is no way such intimidatory tactics will work as far as the CPI-M is concerned," it added. --IANS mr/ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Amidst the festive madness also exist the perennial late travellers woes -- but according to a latest study by global search engine Skyscanner, flight prices from Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru all see a drop two weeks prior to the festival period before sharply rising one week before departure. With Diwali around the corner, there are still many tardy travellers who leave it to the last moment to book flights for their break and risk paying 15 per cent more than the average fare by leaving booking until the last minute. Analysing data from last year's Diwali travel period, Skyscanner notes that flight prices from Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru all see a drop two weeks prior to the festival before sharply rising one week before departure, said a statement. Taking cue from the searches of travel from Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru to different destinations, travellers can save 20 per cent, 15 per cent and 6 per cent, respectively, on . Also noteworthy is that travel from Delhi or Mumbai to other cities is actually cheaper than from Bengaluru. In the wake of availability of flight seats, airport taxes and length of flights, the study of Skyscanner's data further reveals that the same tickets when booked a day prior to departure can cost travellers from Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru upward by 12 per cent, 6 per cent and 15 per cent, respectively. Nonetheless, Bengaluru remains an expensive route for last minute travellers. Commenting on the findings, Reshmi Roy, Senior Growth Manager at Skyscanner said: "Diwali is a very important festival in India, one where people travel far and wide to visit friends and family. This data shows a huge number of travellers are missing out on the best prices by leaving booking until the last minute." "We hope travellers will use the insights that Skyscanner's data provides to find more cost-effective travel options this Diwali season. Knowing that one is still not too late to find the best fare, is definitely good news." In a region plagued with conflict of various kinds, Mahatma Gandhi's credo of non-violence and the philosophy of black American civil rights leader Martin Luther King should be included in the curriculum of West Africa's schools to educate children about living in peace and avoiding violence, a top official has said. "Our political landscape is filled with hate speech, but you cannot confront one evil with another. There may be certain things that may not be relevant today as in the days of Gandhi, but his teachings on non-violence are still valid today as they were before," Chukwuemeka B. Eze, the Executive Director of the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP)," told IANS in the Ghanaian capital. . "There are a lot of misleading processes in peace-building in our part of the world, and it is for this reason that attempts at teaching the issue must be sustained," he added. The West Africa region is plagued with various forms of conflict -- ranging from Boko Haram in parts of Northern Nigeria and a breakaway agitation in the southeast of that country as well as crises of various forms in Togo, Burkina Faso and Cote d'Ivoire. "It looks like these conflicts are not being properly managed," Eze said, adding: "Most people believe that there could be peace without confronting the injustices and structural violence that bring about the conflicts." Noting that October 2 is celebrated around the world every year as the International Day of Non-Violence, he said, "there is no way one can achieve peace without removing the causes of injustices in society", a creed central to the teachings of Gandhi and King. Eze said it was important to understand that in their efforts to preach non-violence, Gandhi and KIng did not just discuss the issues that sparked violence. "They also talked about the strategies that must be adopted against violence." He said those who "stand on the fence are equally guilty as those who perpetrate violence" because those who remain silent are only helping to perpetuate a cycle of violence that would continue for a long time. Eze said the two icons did not keep quiet but talked about what were creating conflicts in their societies. "They did not walk to keep the peace at their time but were looking at the peace of tomorrow," he added. (Francis Kokutse can be contacted at fkokutse@gmail.com) --IANS francis/vm/tb (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former Bihar politician Ganga Prasad was on Thursday sworn in as Governor of Meghalaya at the Raj Bhavan here. Chief Justice of the Meghalaya High Court Dinesh Maheshwari administered the oath of office to Prasad at a brief ceremony attended by Chief Minister Mukul Sangma and most of his cabinet colleagues. The former Bharatiya Janata Party leader from Bihar was appointed the northeastern state's new Governor on September 30. Meghalaya was without a permanent Governor for nine months after V. Shanmuganathan resigned on January 26 following charges of inappropriate behaviour and hurting the decorum and prestige of the Raj Bhavan. Banwarilal Purohit, the Assam Governor who will be now taking over as Tamil Nadu Governor, was holding additional charge after Shanmuganathan quit. Shanmuganathan's resignation came after nearly 100 employees of the Raj Bhavan in Shillong sent a five-page letter to the Prime Minister's Office and Rashtrapati Bhavan, demanding recall of the Governor for what they alleged was "turning the Raj Bhavan into a Young Ladies Club". The swearing-in ceremony was followed by a State Guard of Honour presented by Meghalaya Police at Raj Bhavan. Prasad started his political career as a Jan Sangh member in 1967 and held various organisational posts in it as well as in the BJP. He had been part of BJP's national executive after Amit Shah took over as party President. Prasad was first elected as Member of Legislative Council (MLC) in Bihar in 1994 and continued for 18 years till 2012. He had also held the post of Leader of Opposition in the legislative council from 1997-98 to 2005 and then became the leader of the ruling combine in the legislative council from 2005 to 2012 under the first Nitish-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government in Bihar. One of his four sons, Sanjeev Chaurasia, is a BJP MLA from Digha constituency in Patna district. Prasad is also the 'Pradhan', or chief, of Arya Samaj in Bihar and the chairman of Dadhichi Dehdaan Samiti, a Patna-based organisation for promoting voluntary organ donation. He heads the foodgrain dealers' association and Vaishya Mahasabha in Bihar. --IANS rrk/him/dg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A court in South Goa on Thursday issued notice to two senior police officers after an activist moved it, saying police did not register an FIR against Town and Country Planning Minister Vijai Sardesai in an alleged cheating case. Judge B.P. Deshpande sent the notice to Arvind Gawas, Superintendent of Police, South Goa, and a local station house officer, and directed them to submit their responses by October 13. The complaint filed by lawyer-activist Aires Rodrigues also contains a recorded audio conversation allegedly between the minister and another local activist where Sardesai is heard talking to the latter about illegalities at an industrial estate managed by the Goa Industrial Development Corporation. Sardesai, a Goa Forward legislator from the Fatorda assembly constituency, has dismissed the allegations made by Rodrigues as bogus. --IANS maya/him/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Google's India-born CEO Sundar Pichai is a big fan of artificial intelligence (AI). No doubt these are early days for AI, but for him it is the most promising New-Age -- one that can potentially change the way enterprises work and grow. Now, AI in smartphones is nothing new. Apple's Siri, Samsung's Bixby and Google's very own Google Assistant are evolving as people communicate with their devices. But this time around, Pichai is betting big on a mix of AI, software and hardware to take on Apple and Samsung -- the undisputed leaders in the premium segment. Industry analysts believe there is space for and 2 XL -- launched on Wednesday -- to become serious contenders in the segment. With the right set of innovations and improvements in its sales and marketing network, these analysts say, Pixel could become a headache for Apple and Samsung in the days to come. Currently, Pixel which was first launched last year, has less than two per cent market share globally. "No matter how great the new Google-branded smartphones look, the main challenge is how to truly become a hardware company (and) to make itself available to consumers on the shelves," Thomas Husson, Vice President and Principal Analyst, Forrester, told IANS. "It implies mastering the supply chain, partnering with carriers and other distribution channels, training vendors and investing a lot in marketing. That's no small task and quite far away from the company's DNA," Husson noted. Google is nevertheless trying its best to make an impact. Last month, it acquired part of the Taiwan-based HTC Corporation's mobile division team for $1.1 billion. This team was working with Google to develop its Pixel smartphones. This is the second time Google has acquired a smartphone manufacturer. It announced a $12.5 billion buyout of Motorola Mobility six years back and, in 2014, sold it to Lenovo. According to Navkendar Singh, Senior Research Manager at IDC India, this underlines Google's ambitions as a serious smartphone maker. "However, considering the design language, it looks like Google wants to play the premium smartphone game more from a software angle than a hardware one," Singh told IANS. At the premium end of the market, design, looks and overall aesthetics matter a lot more than a smartphone that only works well and is pragmatic. "With the recent launches of Samsung Galaxy Note8 and the upcoming iPhone X with full screen, bezel-less displays and overall design, Apple and Samsung have taken the aesthetics and design language to the next level," Singh emphasised. Considering this, the Pixel 2 range will face a stiff challenge in getting the desired volumes at the premium end of the market. "Having said that, initial reports suggest that camera remains a strongpoint for the Pixel range, apart from giving stock Android experience with updates available as soon as they are released," the IDC India analyst added. Launched last year, the Google pixel started off well. Tarun Pathak, Associate Director, Mobile Devices and Ecosystems, Counterpoint Research, said that even though it didn't manage a significant market share, the device attracted users' attention -- especially those looking for choice in the Premium Android segment. "This is likely to give a boost to the Pixel 2 family which has been priced very close to Samsung flagships. To summarise, it still might be a long way before Pixel makes a significant impact on Apple or Samsung, but it provides an alternative to users looking for something beyond these two brands," Pathak noted. Addressing a jam-packed San Francisco event as he launched the new Pixel family, Pichai said: "Computing will now be conversational, ambient and contextual. It's a unique moment in time, when Google can bring AI, software and hardware together." To remain a relevant platform between consumers and brands, Google needs to feed data into its AI machine to make its software smarter. "Such relevant data will increasingly come from a more integrated hardware experience as demonstrated by the Google Lens preview. In order to catch up with Apple and its 'ARKit', Google was right to remind its ecosystem how AR is becoming a part of their platform play with 'ARCore' and Google Lens," Husson informed. Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) President Raj Thackeray attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi again on Thursday, asking "how long will he (PM) continue to tell lies" to the country. Addressing a rally after taking out a massive procession to Churchgate to demand better facilities for Mumbai commuters after last week's stampede killed 23 commuters, Thackeray said the country was being pushed into crises on all fronts, brought about by the Bharatiya Janata Party government. "Modi has been lying and misleading the people of this country. Now I realize that when I visited Gujarat a few years ago at the behest of (industrialist) Ratan Tata when Modi was the CM, I was shown a misleading picture of the development there," Thackeray said to cheers. He reiterated that the people of the country had lost faith in Modi, who "only keeps giving speeches daily - how much is he going to speak?" In an exasperated tone, Thackeray said that "now whenever Modi comes on TV, we feel like switching it off, but then he starts his 'Mann Ki Baat' on the radio". Calling the PM "a liar", he said that like the people of the country, Thackeray said he believed and had faith in Modi, but now "we have been betrayed" and there is so much anger among the masses. Targetting BJP President Amit Shah, who had once said the election statement of depositing Rs 15 lakh in every Indian's bank account was a 'jumla' or an electoral stunt, he said that it meant they "cheated the people of the country". He also gave an earful to Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari who once said that the slogan of 'Achhe Din' had stuck in the BJP's throat, proving to be very troublesome, and 'Achhe Din' would never come. Attacking the Bullet Train proposal, Thackeray wondered for whom it was intended. "It will benefit only the people of Gujarat, but the loan of Rs 1.08 lakh crore will be repaid by all the people of the country who have nothing to do with the project." He alleged that Suresh Prabhu was ejected as Railway Minister because he opposed the Bullet Train and Piyush Goyal brought in to facilitate it. The MNS leader claimed he was "the first to oppose the mega-project" before other "parrots" started talking about it, indirectly referring to his cousin and Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackeray. Training guns on the Western Railway and Central Railway which runs the lifeline of Mumbai, the suburban trains network, Thackeray demanded that "within 15 days all hawkers, encroachments and obstacles" to commuters must be removed from all railway station premises to prevent recurrences of another tragedy like the September 29 stampede. "If you fail within this ultimatum, then on the 16th day, my MNS men will do it. After that the railways shall be directly responsible for whatever be the repercussions," he warned amidst thunderous applause. He also warned that Thursday's procession was a peaceful one, but if there is no if there is no change, the next one would be otherwise. --IANS qn/vd (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.) Actor Saif Ali Khan doesn't believe in having an airport look, but says he is under immense pressure to come up with one. The actor feels one "should live in a society that looks within and not (at) what you're wearing". Saif opened up about fashion and things associated with it during an episode of "Yaar Mera Superstar Season 2". The episode will go on air on Saturday on Zoom channel, read a statement. Asked if he is lazy when it comes to some activity, Saif said: "Dress up, sometimes... If it's winter, I love dressing up. But if it's hot, I'm lazy to dress up. I'm also lazy to wake up, generally. "I mean I like sleeping. I can give it 12 hours. I can do a 10 to 10. But that is very rare. That's when I'm catching up on my sleep. Like if I haven't slept a lot and then one day I can do it like a 12-hour, otherwise 7 hours I sleep... We should live in a society that looks within and not what you're wearing and all. "Everyone shoots you and puts it up and then someone makes a fashion comment. Airport look! If I ever get an airport look, just come and slap me. I don't have an airport look but I'm under pressure to have." Has he come up with an airport look for himself? "No. Never. My airport look is like a non-look," said the actor, whose wife Kareena Kapoor Khan is considered a fashion icon. Saif is busy with the promotions of his forthcoming entertainer "Chef". Directed by Raja Krishna Menon, it's an Indian adaptation of the 2014 American film of the same name by Jon Favreau and is slated for release on Friday. --IANS sug/rb/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Highlighting India's increasing engagements with Africa, President Ram Nath Kovind on Thursday said that India is among the three largest investors in Ethiopia, the East African nation with which New Delhi has had diplomatic ties for nearly 70 years now. "India is now among the top three foreign investors in Ethiopia," Kovind said while addressing the India-Ethiopia Business Dialogue to commemorate the 12th anniversary of the India Business Forum here. "Indian investment has made a mark in textile and garments, engineering, plastics, water management, consultancy and ICT, education, pharmaceuticals and healthcare. "Indian investments in Ethiopia have had a significant presence in manufacturing and value addition to local resources. They have created jobs in this country, and they have contributed to the prosperity of Ethiopian families," he said. Kovind said that India's relationship with Ethiopia is symbolic of its engagement with the African continent, "of which Addis Ababa is such a vital hub". After the Ethiopian economy opened up in the last decade, business ties with India have increased significantly, especially in the area of infrastructure projects like roads, power, telecommunications and water resources. There are over 540 Indian companies in Ethiopia that have invested over $4 billion of which about $2 billion is estimated to be on the ground, investing a wide range of sectors. President Kovind congratulated the Indian Business Forum for playing a lead role in encouraging Indian investment and promoting trade and commerce between India and Ethiopia. At the India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS) hosted by New Delhi in 2015, India had announced the offer of concessional credit of $10 billion over the next five years to Africa. This was in addition to the ongoing credit programme. "We have also committed to a grant assistance of $600 million that will include an India-Africa Development Fund of $100 million and an India-Africa Health Fund of $10 million. The Asia-Africa Growth Corridor is another initiative brimming with potential," Kovind said. Earlier on Thursday, President Kovind held delegation-level talks with his Ethiopian counterpart Mulatu Teshome following which two bilateral agreements were signed on bilateral trade facilitation and on information communication and the media sector. Kovind arrived here from Djibouti on Wednesday on the second and last leg of his African tour. This is his first visit abroad after assuming office in July. His visit is a manifestation of India's growing interactions with Africa. Over the last two years, several visits have been made to African nations by then President Pranab Mukherjee, then Vice President Hamid Ansari and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. --IANS ab/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Indian Air Force is ready to fight a two-front war and has adequate capability to take on any military challenge from China, Air Chief Marshal B.S. Dhanoa said on Thursday. Addressing the annual IAF press conference ahead of Air Force Day on October 8, Dhanoa said in a single front scenario, whether it is Pakistan or China, the IAF was adequately capable of tackling any threat from the neighbours. Dhanoa said though the Air Force did not have the sanctioned full squadron strength of 39 but it still had a Plan B in case a war breaks out simultaneously from the eastern (China) and western (Pakistan) borders. "We need a strength of 42 squadrons to carry out full spectrum operations in a two-front (war) scenario. It doesn't mean we are not capable of fighting a two-front war. We have a Plan B. "To cater for the strength there are ways and means by which you can generate more sorties, you can carry out 24-hour operations, whatever we can do at our level, increase the serviceability of our aircraft, we are doing so that we are able to carry out the task mandated by our government," he said. Dhanoa, who as the Vice Chief of the IAF had said the number of fighter aircraft squadrons in India was not enough to fight a war on two fronts, maintained on Thursday that the remark to a Parliamentary Standing Committee was in reference to "full spectrum operations". The IAF currently has 33 combat squadrons against a sanctioned strength of 39.5, which is sought to be raised to 42. Dhanoa's predecessor Arup Raha, days before his retirement, had said the IAF needed at least 200 more fighter jets in the next 10 years. Dhanoa said the IAF had a plan to address the shortage of fighter squadrons and by 2032, the force would have its full squadron strength. He said "politically, till date we have not been part of a two front war". Asked if he felt a two-front war was unlikely, the IAF chief said: "What I am trying to say is that the possibility of a two-front war in the current geopolitical situation is low. But at the same time, I said your response has to be based on the enemy's capability, because intentions can change overnight." Asked about his earlier comments on the squadron strength not being enough, he said the remarks were about full spectrum operations for which the IAF needed 42 squadrons. "There is a plan by the government of India to induct fighters and by the end of 15th Plan - 2032, we will have the authorised strength. But the numbers that we have got, we are capable of carrying out operations anytime." He said that in terms of its assets, India was adequately equipped against Pakistan and China "If you take a single front scenario, either Pakistan or China, our capability is adequate." About China alone he said it was not about what assets they have but about what they can deploy in Tibet which is a plateau with an average elevation of 4,500 metres. "If you take China, it is not what China has got, it is what China can project against us. To project against us is what they can get into Tibet. Look at Google Earth and see what they can or cannot do from Tibet. That will give you an answer what is our capability. Our capability is adequate," he said. Referring to the Doklam military standoff, the IAF chief said Chinese forces were still present in Tibet's Chumbi Valley which lies close to the disputed tri-junction. "The two sides are not in a physical face off as we speak, in face to face contact. However, the (Chinese) forces in Chumbi valley are still deployed," Dhanoa said. The Chumbi Valley is north of Doklam, where Indian and Chinese troops were locked in a long standoff after India objected to China building a road in the uninhabited tri-junction claimed by Bhutan and China. Asked about the two and a half-front war - in which the half-front is in reference to internal security threats, Dhanoa said while the force was involved in anti-Maoist operations in support roles, it would not use fire power on its own citizens. "The half-front that you are referring to is internal security. We are actively engaged in operations of providing recce and transport support. As a democracy, we don't use kinetic air power against our own people," he said. --IANS ao/sar/rn (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India and Ukraine on Thursday reviewed their bilateral relationship during a meeting between External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and her Ukrainian counterpart Pavlo Klimkin here. "Strengthening bilateral ties with a friendly country, EAM @SushmaSwaraj welcomes FM of Ukraine Pavlo Klimkin on his official visit to India," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted on Thursday evening. India established bilateral relations with Ukraine in 1991 following the break-up of the Soviet Union the same year. India-Ukraine bilateral trade stood at $2.34 billion in 2016 which made India the east European nation's eighth largest trading partner and its sixth largest export destination with an export of $1.94 billion. Apart from a 2,000-strong Indian community in that nation, there are around 8,000 Indian students in Ukrainian medical and technical institutes. Klimkin's visit assumes significance as India has a strong relationship with Russia, a country with which Ukraine has strained ties. --IANS ab/him/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An Indian Military and Training Team deployed in Uganda has set up a state-of-the-art gymnasium at the Senior Command and Staff College in Jinja town with help from Indian community settled there, official sources here said on Thursday. An Army statement said the Indian team had been deployed at southern Uganda's Jinja college since April 2016. The team's contributions to curriculum revision, enhancement of students assimilation and capability building of local directing staff were appreciated by Uganda President Yoweri Museveni. The team, through its rapport and positive interaction, successfully mobilised local Indian community in provisioning the modern gymnasium to the college. The gym equipment has been imported from Dubai, with gymnasium's assets worth 30,000 dollars. It was inaugurated by India's High Commissioner to Uganda Ravi Shankar and handed over to the Chief of Defence Forces of Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF), General David Muhoozi, who hailed it as a "one-of-a-kind asset for the entire UPDF'. "He thanked the Indian contingent for the focused dedication towards the betterment of the UPDF which, he felt, was contributing immensely towards the development and consolidation of India-Uganda relations," the statement said. --IANS ao/tsb/dg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on Thursday announced the liberation of the northern town of al-Hawija from the Islamic State terror group. He, however, added that the outskirts of the town were still under control of the IS. The Prime Minister made this announcement during a joint press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris, Efe reported. The announcement came hours after the Iraqi government forces claimed victory over the extremists in what is one of the final pockets of the IS territory in Iraq. Lieutenant-General Abdul Ameer Rasheed Yarallah earlier said that the offensive in al-Hawija district, which was launched on September 21, would continue in the surrounding rural areas. The ISI also controls swathes of desert along the Syrian border. The army, the Federal Police, the Emergency Response division, rapid response and Popular Mobilization Forces Shiite militia have all been taking part in the offensive, according to the statement. The Iraqi Army has been engaged in a sustained offensive against the self-styled caliphate this year, recapturing the country's second largest city Mosul in July after a nine-month battle. --IANS amit/dg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Baghdad, Oct 5 (IANS/AKI) A photographer working with Iraqs military was killed in clashes on Wednesday during an assault to re-capture the northern town of Hawija, one of the Islamic State group's last strongholds, the IraqiNews.com news site reported. Hamza al-Abboudi was killed when IS militants fired a mortar shell on his locations when troops were invading the centre of Hawija, located near the oil city of Kirkuk, IraqiNews said. Iraqi forces entered Hawija earlier on Wednesday after launching a major offensive to retake the strategic IS bastion in late September. Conflicts in Iraq have killed 465 Iraqi journalists in 14 years, said the head of the Iraqi Journalists Syndicate, Moayed al-Lami, said. --IANS/AKI mr/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Actress Kalki Koechlin has tied up wih a cosmetic company for a digital film that focuses on bringing a "beautiful change" by giving a helping hand for a brighter future. "I am glad to be a part of this film with such a wonderful thought. In this world, we all need a helping hand to grow and before expecting it from some else, we must initiate it at our end," the actress said in a statement. "No matter big or small, it is upon us to make an effort of bringing that change towards a brighter future and motivate people around us to do the same. Because, you never know that your small step might go a long way," she added. Oriflame India along with their creative digital agency on record, Brandmovers India has stirred up important conversations with their latest digital film titled #beautifulchange. With their latest campaign, the brand is urging everyone to make a beautiful change - it could be a small step or a giant leap, every little thing counts. Naveen Anand, Senior Director, Marketing, Oriflame South Asia, said, "We're proud to kick-start Oriflame's global #beautifulchange campaign in India with this lovely film featuring Kalki Koechlin, our brand ambassador. As a brand, Oriflame believes in sustainability and this film voices that sentiment. We truly hope the film strikes a chord with the audience and encourages them to make a beautiful change as well, in their own way." The film not just engages the viewers, but also makes us sit up and think. Sharing his views on the film, Suvajyoti Ghosh, MD and Chief Creative Officer of Brandmovers India, said, "This was not just a great film for us to make but an important one too. The thought behind the film is pertinent and we hope that it initiates these important conversations on social media and otherwise." --IANS nv/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar was on Thursday locked in a bitter war of words with his Pakistan counterpart Amarinder Singh over the issue of arrest of Honeypreet Insan, the closest aide of jailed Dera Sacha Sauda sect chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh. Khattar on Thursday raised serious questions over the role of Punjab Police in Honeypreet's run from the law for 38 days after she was booked on charges of sedition and conspiracy to incite violence in Panchkula following the sect chief's arrest. Honeypreet was arrested along with another woman from the Zirakpur-Patiala Highway in Punjab on Tuesday. Amarinder Singh lambasted his Haryana counterpart for questioning the role of the Punjab Police. Reacting strongly to Khattar's reported statements alleging Punjab police complicity in the matter, he asked him "to refrain from such fabrications to shield his own government's failure in the Dera Sacha Sauda case". Interacting with the media in Panchkula, adjoining Chandigarh, after a meeting with the top brass of Haryana Police on the arrest of Honeypreet, Khattar said: "Dal mein kuchh kala hai (Something is fishy about the whole affair)." He noted that the Punjab Police came to know about Honeypreet's presence in their state much earlier but did not share the information with Haryana Police. There are allegations that senior Punjab Congress leader and former legislator Harminder Singh Jassi, whose daughter is married to Ram Rahim's son, had helped Honeypreet evade the arrest for over a month by using the heavy security cover he enjoys from Punjab Police. Jassi, who has been targeted by radical elements, including a car bomb blast earlier this year, has been provided a number of armed security personnel, jammer vehicle and police vehicles by the Congress government in Punjab. For obvious reasons, he is considered close to Ram Rahim, who was convicted and sentenced to 20 years imprisonment by a CBI court in August. But Amarinder Singh refuted all the allegations. "After trying unsuccessfully to pin the blame for the Panchkula violence on the Punjab government, Khattar was now trying, once again, to divert public attention from the total collapse of the law and order that had gripped Haryana since the day Dera chief Ram Rahim was found guilty on rape charges," he said. Categorically rejecting any involvement of the Punjab government or any of its institutions in the entire episode, leading up to the arrest of Honeypreet, he said if the state police had any information about Honeypreet, they would definitely have shared the same with the Haryana police. He pointed out that reports even suggested that some senior Haryana Police officers had known of Honeypreet's whereabouts for several days, but had failed to arrest her. "Instead of probing his own officials' role in the entire affair, Khattar was simply trying to shift focus to Punjab, as he had done in the wake of the Panchkula violence," Amarinder Singh said, trashing Khattar's charges. "The Punjab Police had been giving regular inputs to their counterparts in Haryana even before the Panchkula court hearing in the Ram Rahim case," he said, adding that the Haryana government and Police had failed to take cognizance or act on the information. The Haryana Police on Thursday took Honeypreet to Bathinda to question her about her whereabouts when she was absconding and also regarding the activities of the sect. --IANS js/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Thursday raised serious questions over the role of Punjab Police in Honeypreet Insan's run from the law for 38 days after she was booked on charges of sedition and conspiracy to incite violence in Panchkula. Honeypreet, the closest aide of jailed Dera Sacha Sauda sect chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, was arrested along with another woman from the Zirakpur-Patiala Highway in Punjab on Wednesday. Speaking to the media in Panchkula adjoining Chandigarh, after a meeting with the top brass of Haryana Police on the arrest of Honeypreet, Khattar said: "Dal mein kuchh kala hai (Something is fishy about the whole affair)." The Chief Minister pointed out that the Punjab Police came to know about Honeypreet's presence in their state much earlier but did not share the information with Haryana Police. "Punjab Police should have shared the information earlier," Khattar said. There are allegations that senior Punjab Congress leader and former legislator Harminder Singh Jassi, whose daughter is married to Ram Rahim's son, had helped Honeypreet evade the arrest for over a month by using the heavy security cover he enjoys from Punjab Police. Jassi, who has been targeted by radical elements, including a car bomb blast earlier this year, has been provided a number of armed security personnel, jammer vehicle and police vehicles by the Congress government in Punjab. For obvious reasons, he is considered close to Ram Rahim, who was convicted and sentenced to 20 years imprisonment by a CBI court in August. The Haryana Police on Thursday took Honeypreet to Bathinda to question her about her whereabouts when she was absconding and also regarding the activities of the sect. The Punjab government had earlier categorically rejected reports that she was in Punjab Police custody or was, in any way, being shielded by the state government. Refuting reports in the social media, a Punjab government spokesperson said: "The state was not involved in the case beyond supporting the Haryana Police with intelligence and other relevant inputs. "There was no question of the Punjab Police taking Honeypreet into custody as there was no criminal case registered against her in the state nor was she in any wanted list," said the spokesperson. "The Punjab government would not, at any cost, try to protect a fugitive criminal like Honeypreet who had cases registered against her in Haryana, where she had been declared a 'wanted criminal' after she reportedly absconded in the wake of the Dera violence sparked by Ram Rahim's imprisonment," the spokesperson said. --IANS js/nir/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Reality television star Kim Kardashian West was upset after seeing unflattering images of herself in a pink bikini. In April, Kim was seen wearing a bikini on the beach in Punta Mita, Mexico, when her derriere looked bigger than usual. It also appeared as if she had cellulite. Her critics felt that previous flawless photos of the "Keeping Up With The Kardashians" star were airbrushed. Her reaction on seeing the image was shared online in a teaser for a forthcoming new episode of the series, reports dailymail.co.uk. "Oh my god. Like, I don't get it. I literally don't look like this," the mother of two said after her assistant Stephanie Shepherd handed her a cell phone to look at the images. Kim is seen wearing a pink bikini and reclined on a lounger outside her Mexico rental. A towel is under her bottom. "I need to untag myself in everything. I'm literally going to go inside and just start untagging," she said. Later, Kim is seem in a black outfit next to sister Kourtney at a studio in Los Angeles as she discusses how she felt. "I'm already having this anxiety attack over security and I'm already on high alert," said Kim, who was robbed at gunpoint in Paris a year ago. "Just the scrutiny that we get all the time - we try to avoid that. So I'm doing all the steps to try to be as private and discreet as possible and then you take pictures. And if they're not perfect, people just body shame and criticize you. For people just to think that's okay is so frustrating." --IANS rb/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The girlfriend of Stephen Paddock, the Las Vegas gunman who killed 59 people, said she saw no signs that he was planning "something horrible" and was "devastated" by the gruesome attack. In her first public statement since the Las Vegas massacre on Sunday night, Marilou Danley, 62, on Wednesday said Paddock, a retired 64-year-old accountant, had sent her on a trip to the Philippines and wired her money there but she was unaware of any attack, reports The New York Times. Danley said Paddock "never said anything to me, or took any action that I was aware of, that I understood in any way to be a warning that something horrible like this was going to happen. "It never occurred to me in any way whatsoever that he was planning violence against anyone," she said in the statement. Her attorney Matt Lombard said Danley was fully cooperating with the investigation into why Paddock fired for nine to 11 minutes from the 32nd floor of Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino into a crowd of 22,000 concert-goers in the heart of Las Vegas, reports CNN. Paddock took his own life as police closed in. Besides the casualties, a total of 489 people were injured in the attack and 317 have been released from hospitals. Investigators are yet to discover Paddock's motive for the shooting. "I knew Stephen Paddock as a kind, caring, quiet man," Danley said. "I loved him and hoped for a quiet future together with him." While she was in the Philippines, Danley said, Paddock wired her money that he said was for her to buy a house for her and her family, CNN reported. Danley said she was grateful but worried that the unexpected trip home and the money "was a way of breaking up with me". Danley said she had voluntarily flown back to the US because she knew investigators wanted to talk to her. She arrived late Tuesday at the Los Angeles International Airport from the Philippines. Danley lived with Paddock in Mesquite, Nevada, northeast of Las Vegas. Investigators at the hotel from which Paddock launched his assault found no fewer than 23 guns, including a Kalashnikov and AR-15 assault rifles, and a vast stockpile of military grade .223 calibre ammunition. In total, across three locations, 47 firearms were recovered. Pictures emerged from the hotel room showing Paddock lying dead, surrounded by weapons and spent ammunition. Police said they believed he had used 10 suitcases to smuggle the weapons up to the room. --IANS ksk/mr (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.) A young leopard that strayed into the Suzuki Powertrain at Manesar in Haryana early on Thursday remained untraced despite a vigorous hunt for the animal. Production in the plant has been hit. Four teams of Wildlife and Forest officials that reached the plant in the morning carrying nets and tranquilizer to rescue the big cat failed to trace the animal. The rescue team placed goats inside a cage to woo the leopard but there was no sign of it. The engine manufacturing section of the company was cordoned off and an atmosphere of night was created during the day so that the leopard comes out. "Production work in the engine manufacturing unit remained suspended during A and B shifts. The situation will remain the same until the leopard is traced and rescued," a workers union leader who did not wish to be named told IANS. Over 500 workers reached the company for B shift around 3 p.m. but were not allowed to enter the factory. The animal entered the premises of Suzuki Powertrain India Ltd in Sector 8 (Phase 1) of Tau Devilal Industrial Model Township (IMT) at Manesar on the Delhi-Jaipur-Mumbai highway. Fearing an attack, the management halted production. Security guard Dhramvir Singh spotted the leopard around 2.30 a.m. near the guard room and raised an alarm. Production was stopped immediately as over 350 workers came out of the factory fearing an attack. The Suzuki Powertrain and car plant, spread over 750 acres in the foothills of the Aravali mountain range, makes diesel engines for Maruti Suzuki India Ltd (MSIL) cars. It makes over 1,200 engines in a single shift. "There are too many huge machines in the factory and the leopard might hide under one of them," a forest officer told IANS. He said the leopard was caught in the CCTV cameras installed at the factory. --IANS pradeep/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Madhya Pradesh IPS officer will be stripped of his bravery award after the human rights panel found that the gunfight he won it for was staged. A notification to this effect has also been issued in the official gazette on September 30. Dharmendra Choudhry, Deputy Inspector General, Ratlam Range, told IANS on Thursday that he got the news through the media and he was not allowed to present his side. He said he will put forward his version to the department. According to sources, when he was Jhabua Additional Superintendent of Police in 2002, Choudhry had killed a most wanted criminal, Lohar, in a gunfight. He got the bravery award for it in 2004. The National Human Rights Commission in its probe report said that the gunfight was staged but the state government has rejected its finding. A notification issued from the President's Secretariat ordered that the award be cancelled and confiscated. Choudhry, however, maintains that the gunfight was not staged. "Lohar was a notorious criminal. He was involved in crimes in many states like Gujarat, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. He had nearly 14 cases registered against him, involving loot," he said. --IANS hindi-him/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Thursday called for conservation of Vedic culture and said that there is need for research in this field to make India a superpower again Addressing a gathering here on the occasion of "Bharatatma" award ceremony in the name of late Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Ashok Singhal, Bhagwat said that India is leaving its footprint in the world. "India is leaving its footprint in the world... This is happening now... we will achieve our target...," he said, adding that the Vedic culture again needs to be spread so that it is easily understood by the world. "There is need again to research the different aspects of Vedas... We need to move ahead in this direction...We need to popularise it... because it is a solution," Bhagwat said. He said, the Vedas need to popularise in local languages so that "we can show the world that Vedas have all the solutions to the world". On the occasion, the best Veda student, best teacher and best Veda school award was distributed. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also attended the event and said that his government has recently announced a fund for establishing a Vedic School in Kashi. --IANS bns/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Pakistan Foreign Office on Thursday rejected US Gen Joseph Dunford's allegations that the Inter-Services Intelligence (IS) has ties with militant groups and that terrorist safe havens existed in Pakistan. "The US government and army cannot make Pakistan a scapegoat for its failures in Afghanistan," FO Spokesperson Nafees Zakaria said in his weekly briefing, Dawn reported. "It is clear to me that the ISI has connections with terrorist groups," Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dunford had informed the US Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday. In response, Zakaria said that Pakistan has begun a decisive offensive against terrorists on its soil. Calling Gen Dunford's statement "baseless", he said Pakistan has acted against terrorists indiscriminately. "The US is trying to blame Pakistan for its failures in Afghanistan," he added. According to Zakaria, Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif discussed regional security with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Wednesday and will also meet National Security Adviser General McMaster during his visit. Zakaria also accused India of using terrorist organisations like Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Jamaatul Ahrar (JuA) against Pakistan. The FO also accused India of being involved in "economic terrorism" and a plot to sabotage economic activity in Pakistan by attacking the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). He accused India of committing 1,000 ceasefire violations this year, which have resulted in deaths of 45 civilians and injured 155 others, including children and women. Zakaria also mentioned Amnesty International's recent report on pellet gunshot victims and accused Indian forces of rape and 'braid-chopping' "as tools to terrorise Kashmiri women and deter the men". --IANS rn (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Gary Miller/Getty ImagesTributes from a variety of music greats continue to pour in for Tom Petty, who died Monday at the age of 66 after suffering a heart attack. Among the many stars paying homage to the beloved and influential rocker are Bruce Springsteen and Neil Young. "Down here on E Street, we're devastated and heartbroken over the death of Tom Petty," writes The Boss. "Our hearts go out to his family and bandmates. I've always felt a deep kinship with his music. A great songwriter and performer, whenever we saw each other, it was like running into a long lost brother. Our world will be a sadder place without him." As for Young, his tribute begins by referencing Petty's final concert with his band The Heartbreakers, which took place on September 25 in Los Angeles. "Tom, I'm sure you heard how great your last show was. Everyone was talking about your happiness and the band's happiness to be with you on that stage," Neil notes. "Those chords are still ringing around the world. You have been such a great force, a tremendous contribution to music and the feelings people will hold in their hearts forever when they hear you everywhere," he adds. "Peace Brother." Meanwhile, Paul McCartney, who initially sent out a message before Petty's death was confirmed, has posted a new tribute that reads, "Dear Tom, so sad to hear of his passing. What a lovely, intelligent and talented man he was. Love to his family." Here are some additional Petty tributes: John Mellencamp: [Tom Petty] was the Edward Hopper of American songwriters. He was a certain kind of bird that had no legs so he could never land on this earth; he lived his whole life in the sky. And now he will spread his wings and sleep on the wind. His name is written in the stars. The Doobie Brothers: Tom Petty left this world much too soon. Our condolences to his family, friends, & fans. RIP, Tom. Thank you for Runnin' down your dream. Brian Wilson: I'm heartbroken to hear about Tom Petty. Tom was a hell of a songwriter and record-maker. He will be missed by everyone who loves music. The Kinks' Dave Davies: Tom Petty and his band toured with the Kinks early on. I thought he was unique and a beautifully minimalist rocker -- classic, stylish and cool -- he helped put cool and laidback into R&RI Love his band, his approach, his music, his [demeanor,] his wonderful songs [and his] exquisite recordings. Tom Petty I applaud your work, your legacy and integrity. Copyright 2017, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. A week after he was booked in a rape case, former Akali Minister Sucha Singh Langah was on Thursday excommunicated by the Sikh clergy from the Sikh Panth (community). The edict was made public by Akal Takht Jathedar Gurbachan Singh at the Akal Takht inside the Golden Temple complex here, following a decision by the five Sikh high priests. On September 29, Langah -- a baptised Sikh -- was booked on charges of rape, extortion, and cheating on a complaint by a woman employee of the state police. Langah was booked under Sections 376 (rape), 384 (extortion), 420 (cheating) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code at the Gurdaspur City police station after the woman, a widow, complained that he had been raping her since 2009. Langah termed it "political vendetta" just before the Gurdaspur Lok Sabha seat bypoll on October 11. Police sources said the woman had attached a video clipping along with her police complaint to substantiate her claim. The video clipping has gone viral. The complainant alleged that Langah cheated her by selling her properties and extorted money from her. The former Shiromani Akali Dal Minister was on Wednesday sent to police remand till October 9 after he surrendered in a Gurdaspur court. --IANS js/tsb/dg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Russian President Vladimir Putin met Saudi Arabian King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud at the Kremlin on Thursday, with issues such as oil, arms and conflicts such as Syria on the agenda. It is the first-ever visit by a Saudi monarch to Russia, Efe news agency reported. "This is the first visit by a Saudi king in the entire history of our relations," Putin, who was the first head of Kremlin to visit Saudi Arabia in 2007, said at the start of the meeting, stressing that it was a significant event that would enhance the development of bilateral ties. He recalled that the Soviet Union in 1926 was the first country in the world to recognise the kingdom created by King Ibn Saud, the father of King Salman. King Salman, on his part, said he was happy to visit Russia and expressed his willingness in strengthening relations in matters of peace and security and his interest in the development of the global economy. During the meeting, the Saudi king advocated the resolution of the crisis in Syria in accordance with the June 2012 Geneva Communique on the creation of a transition government with members of the Bashar Al Assad government and the opposition that guaranteed the territorial integrity of Syria. Moreover, he underlined the importance of maintaining the territorial integrity of Iraq, in a clear allusion to Iraqi Kurdistan, which on September 25 held an independence referendum. Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al Yubeir said that both countries will sign several agreements, which will take bilateral relations from good to excellent. On Wednesday, Putin, during the Russian Energy Week, said that he would discuss with the Saudi monarch the possible prolonging of the agreement for reduction of oil production among the member and non-member countries of the OPEC. Russia and Saudi Arabia have been on opposing sides in the Syrian conflict, as Moscow supports the Assad regime, whereas Riyadh has openly supported the opposition. King Salman's visit coincides with a Russia-Saudi investment forum in Moscow in which more than 200 firms are taking part. Russia and Saudi Arabia, among other agreements expected to be signed during this bilateral summit, will create a billion-dollar investment fund for different energy projects. Moreover, according to the Kommersant newspaper, Russia will propose selling Saudi Arabia its latest anti-air S-400 Triumf missiles, a deal which could go up to $3 billion. Russia's Rosoboronexport and the Saudi military consortium signed a memorandum on the manufacturing rights of Russian military equipment in Saudi Arabia. Moreover, both state firms agreed to sign a contract for the production of AK-103 Kalashnikov rifles and ammunition in the Arabian country. --IANS him/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A cross-sectional rally, comprising hundreds of students and activists, was organised here on Thursday denouncing the RSS and allied groups for the death of journalist Gauri Lankesh. The protest was organised to mark one month of Lankesh's murder who was shot dead outside her house in Bengaluru. Her supporters have since alleged that her killing was the result of a vendetta by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) for writing against the group in her tabloid Gauri Lankesh Patrike. About 500 persons took part in the march comprising students of Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi University and other varsities. At least nine civil society groups joined the protest from Karnataka to demand justice for Lankesh. "Around 150 people arrived last (Wednesday) morning. We are not here for Lankesh only but because of the ideology she stood for. We do not want such thing to happen again. We want justice not only for her but for others also," Harshita J.K., a law student, told IANS. "We don't want only murderers but the people behind the act," she said. Mallige, founder of Karnataka Janashakti, an organisation fighting for women's rights, told IANS that the resistance movement was started in her state and they recently decided to bring it to the national level. "She gave up her life fighting against the fascist forces and we will not let her struggle go in vain," she said. Lawyer and founder member of Swaraj Abhiyan, Prashant Bhushan, said that RSS and its wings should be held accountable for inciting people in the name of religion. "Divisive politics has become their agenda. In Kerala, even we are seeing how they are running the propaganda campaign of 'love jihad'" "They branded Rohingya refugees terrorists merely on the basis of their religion... What they are doing is completely against the law and they must be made accountable for it," Bhushan said. "The verdict in several students' union elections has proved that they are against the politics of violence and these forces are past their prime," he added. A JNU student from Bengaluru told IANS about Lankesh's feisty activism and why she thought her murder was a great loss to the community. "She (Lankesh) had a huge following in Karnataka. She was very outspoken and was a prominent voice against the unholy alliance of RSS and Brahmanism." "There's no doubt she was killed because of this," Swati Simha, an M. Phil student of School of International Studies at JNU, who had been in several protests organised by Lankesh in her hometown, told IANS. Harsh Mander, who was at the forefront of farmers' protest in Rajashthan recently, exhorted those present to not remain silent and be evermore vociferous in their demands for basic rights. "There is an atmosphere of fear in the country. Dalits and minorities are being taught to live in fear and trepidation..." "This is the India for which Gandhi was killed. This India's dream, how it would be like, is written in our Constitution. Gauri Lankesh lost her life for this very India. We must not let her voice go silent. We all need to be her voice," the director of Centre for Equity Studies said. The All India Democratic Women's Association, All Indian Progressive Women's Association, Saheli NGO, Progressive Writers' Association, Basti Suraksha Manch, Swaraj Abhiyan, Krantikari Yuva Sangathan and National Federation of Indian Women participated in the demonstration along with scores of farmers, teachers and sex workers. --IANS vn/him/dg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Congress on Thursday said it was ready to face the Lok Sabha elections any time. Reacting to reports that the Narendra Modi government might be planning for early General Elections, Congress Spokesman Randeep Singh Surjewala said the Election Commission must have been sounded out by the government on the matter but the Congress had no knowledge of it. "The Election Commission has a constitutional obligation to conduct free and fair elections and be ready to conduct elections on an appropriate notice from the government. So the EC must have been sounded out by the current Bharatiya Janata Party-led government that they were going to advance parliamentary elections. The Congress has no such knowledge," he said. "However, we are prepared to face elections any time," he added. Surjewala said the country's people are "fed up with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's jumlas (pet phrases)" and the way his government is going about "decimating jobs, businesses as also trade and agriculture" in the country. "So, I think the people will give a befitting reply, just like they did in 2004 during the 'India Shinning' campaign to the (Atal Bihari) Vajpayee government if elections are advanced. People are waiting for General Elections to happen so that they can actually ask Modi-ji as to where the 'acchhe din' (good days) promised by him are," the Congress leader said. On Wednesday, Election Commissioner O.P. Rawat said the Election Commission will be ready by September 2018 to hold simultaneous polls to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. --IANS ps-mak/tsb/dg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Rome, Oct 5 (IANS/AKI) Police in Italy and Germany have arrested 37 Sicilian mafia suspects in an operation against its Rinzivillo clan, seizing over 11 million euros of assets. Police held 35 people in Italy, in Sicily, in the central Lazio region and in the northern Lombardy, Piedmont and Emilia Romagna regions, Il Giornale della Sicilia daily said on Wednesday, citing police. Among the suspects arrested was 57-year-old clan boss Salvatore Rinzivillo, who had lived in Rome since his release from jail in 2013, the daily reported. Those arrested included two Carabinieri police officers accused of hacking police databases and passing confidential information to the Rinzivillo clan. Also targeted by the operation was a Rome-based lawyer, Giandomenico D'Ambra, who faces charges of mafia association, according to the paper. The other two arrests were made in unspecified locations in Germany, the Giornale della Sicilia said. The bust came after a "complex" probe coordinated by Italy's national anti-mafia and anti-terrorism directorate which involved anti-mafia prosecutors in Rome and Caltanissetta. The investigation uncovered the Gela-based Rinzivillos' operations in Rome, northern Italy and in Germany, where the clan was building a drug trafficking racket and was in contact with notorious Calabrian mafia fugitive Antonio Strangio, Giornale della Sicilia reported. --IANS/AKI mr/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In a first, photo evidence confirms the presence of elusive feline snow leopard in the high altitude region of Arunachal Pradesh at 3,900 metres above sea level. The endangered species are widely spotted in the High Asian region, especially in Jammu and Kashmir's Ladakh region in India. Due to their elusive nature, very less is known about them, and their population has been estimated at between 3,920 and 6,390 globally. The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)-India's recent study yielded photo evidence of snow leopards in Arunachal Pradesh -- a state that is resplendent with biodiversity and yet largely unexplored. "The species was photographed at an altitude of 3,900 metres above the sea level," a WWF-India official told IANS. It was photographed by a camera trap set up at Thembang, one of the Community Conserved Areas in the state. According to WWF-India, the evidence is particularly significant, more so given that large natural areas in Arunachal Pradesh fall under the custodianship of local communities whose support is crucial for protecting the species and its habitat. So far, only a fraction of snow leopard habitat in the state falls in the two protected areas -- Dibang Biosphere Reserve and Namdapha National Park. The presence of the big cat beyond these protected areas highlights the importance of community support for conservation as well as landscape scale conservation planning. The state-wide survey carried out by WWF-India in collaboration with the Arunachal Pradesh Forest Department was conducted from March 2017, focusing on the unexplored areas. "This perhaps is the first time that the presence of snow leopard has been reported through a camera trap photograph from the state of Arunachal Pradesh," said Omkar Singh, PCCF & Principal Secretary, Department of Environment and Forest, Arunachal Pradesh. "The findings of this survey will help in developing conservation plans for the iconic species of the region." Further, the researchers also interviewed the local communities, herders and former hunters who provided detailed information on snow leopards across the state as well as its prey species. "Over 80 per cent of the interviewees confirmed the presence of snow leopards in their area, an encouraging sign for the state," a WWF-India statement said. The survey is significant as it covers one of the 22 priority landscapes of the Global Snow Leopard Ecosystem Protection Program. The findings will enable the state Forest Department to develop a snow leopard conservation plan to address increasing threats such as retaliatory killings, infrastructure development and climate change induced impacts on the habitats. "This ambitious survey has enhanced our knowledge on the distribution of snow leopards and its prey species for the entire state of Arunachal Pradesh which will be of immense help in the better conservation-management of the species," said Rishi Kumar Sharma, Senior Coordinator, Species and Landscapes Programme, WWF-India. --IANS kd/him/dg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The recent sale of stake by some Indian banks in their insurance business would help in dealing with the issue of their non-performing assets (NPAs), or bad loans, and improve balance sheets, American credit ratings agency Moody's said on Thursday. Earlier this week, state-run SBI Life Insurance (SBI Life) completed its initial public offer (IPO) issue, while the privately-run ICICI Lombard did the same last week. "The initial public offerings (IPOs) of these banks' insurance subsidiaries are credit-positive because the banks will receive proceeds that will strengthen their loss-absorbing buffers," Moody's Investor Services said in a note released in Singapore. "The listings also unlock the value of the insurance subsidiaries for any future sell-down by the banks," it said. The SBI Life IPO was oversubscribed by 3.58 times, receiving bids for over 31.55 crore equity shares as against 8.82 crore shares offered. ICICI Lombard received bids for over 18.35 crore equity shares, which signified an over-subscription of 2.98 times. "We expect that SBI will use some or all of the gain to strengthen its loan-loss reserves for non-performing loans (NPLs) and thereby limit pressure on its profitability," Moody's analysts Alka Anbarasu and Jason Sin said in the note. "The gain equals about 300 basis points of the bank's NPLs as of June 2017, and will more than offset the additional provisioning required for the 12 large NPL accounts cited by the central bank in a June 2017 assessment," it added. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has identified 12 large accounts with exposure of more than Rs 5,000 crore and more than 60 per cent of which was recognised as NPAs. Following the passing of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), banks have to refer to the IBC for these accounts. The accumulated NPAs of state-run banks went above a staggering Rs 8 lakh crore at the end of the last financial year. As per State Bank of India (SBI) data, the RBI requires the state-run bank to provide an additional Rs 3,540 crore of provisioning during the current financial year for these 12 accounts. After the IPO, SBI Life is valued at Rs 70,000 crore ($10.8 billion) and ICICI Lombard at Rs 29,500 crore ($4.5 billion). The gains of this IPO "will be accretive to ICICI's capital position and will strengthen its ability to absorb any increases in credit costs in fiscal 2018 (which ends March 2018)," Moody's said. While the rating agency expects these banks to retain their majority stakes in their insurance subsidiaries, selling the stakes provides a potential source of capital should there be acute solvency stress. SBI's remaining 62.1 per cent stake in SBI Life is worth around Rs 43,500 crore, which approximately equals 22.4 per cent of SBI's common equity Tier 1 (CET1) capital as of June 2017. ICICI's remaining 55.9 per cent stake in ICICI Lombard is worth around Rs 16,500 crore, which is around 17.5 per cent of the bank's CET1 capital as of June 2017. ICICI also has 54.9 per cent stake in another insurance subsidiary -- ICICI Prudential Life Insurance -- which is currently worth Rs 31,000 crore, and equivalent to 32.8 per cent of the bank's CET1 capital as of June 2017. --IANS bc/dg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In a bid to expand its operations in North America, IT major Tech Mahindra on Thursday announced that it has hired more than 100 local, full-time employees at its Alpharetta office in Atlanta. The hiring initiative is in response to a new contract for a major US company, Tech Mahindra said in a statement. The addition of new employees has increased the total headcount of the company's Alpharetta office to over 600 employees, making it one of its largest offices in North America. Tech Mahindra is dedicated to helping global corporations 'run' their existing businesses better, 'change' faster in response to evolving business needs and 'grow' greater revenues and market share. "Getting access to the right kind of talents is key to the success of this strategy and we are thrilled that we could source so much qualified local talent from the Atlanta area," said Arvind Malhotra, Global Head, Strategic Accounts, Tech Mahindra, in a statement. Currently, the company is present in 19 states in the US with locations across 25 cities and has employed over 2,000 US citizens, actively recruiting from leading universities across North America. "Tech Mahindra is part of the reason Alpharetta has become known as the 'Technology City of the South'," noted David Belle-Isle, Mayor of Alpharetta. Tech Mahindra is also looking at deepening its relationship with the thriving start-up ecosystem in Atlanta and the surrounding area. Not just Tech Mahindra but several top Indian IT firms like Infosys and Wipro have ramped up hiring local talent in the US. Infosys said last month it is opening a new technology and innovation hub at Raleigh in US' North Carolina state to hire 2,000 Americans in the next four years. The hiring in North Carolina is part of the company's May 2 announcement to recruit 10,000 Americans by setting up four such hubs across the US by 2021 to focus on new technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, user experience, emerging digital technologies, cloud and big data. About 50 per cent or 7,000 of the 14,000 techies of Wipro Ltd in the US are Americans. "Locals form 50 per cent (7,000) of our 14,000 workforce in the US, including 1,600 engineers hired during the last six months," said the IT major in a statement recently. The hiring of Americans is seen as a fallout of US President Donald Trump's executive order on H1-B visas in April, as clients in North America contribute about 60 per cent of the $10.3-billion company's software export revenue annually. --IANS sau/na/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Congress on Thursday demanded dismissal of Uttar Pradesh Health Minister Siddharth Nath Singh over the death of 14 patients in the surgical ward of a hospital in Varanasi. A party leader alleged that industrial-grade gas was supplied to the ward by a firm that did not have licence to produce any type of medical gas. Talking to media persons here, Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala also demanded resignation of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and filing of a criminal case against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Harshvardhan Bajpayi, who is linked to the firm that supplied the gas. Surjewala said 14 patients died in the surgical ward of Banaras Hindu University's (BHU) Sunder Lal Hospital between June 6 and 8 this year, as industrial-grade gas was used to administer anaesthesia. "There can be no greater act of criminal culpability on the part of the Uttar Pradesh government as well as the hospital administration than this," he said. The Congress leader said an inquiry was ordered after people moved the Allahbad High Court and the report came out in July. "The facts that have come out are shocking. And, according to a UP government RTI report, the firm that supplied the industrial-grade gas had no licence to produce medical gas of any nature, much less anaesthesia," Surjewala said. One of the owners of the firm is Harshvardhan Bajpayi, BJP MLA from Allahbad North, he added. "The Prime Minister used to say he will convert Varanasi into Kyoto. Can this be done by playing with people's lives in this fashion," Surjewala asked. He said there had been several cases of hospital deaths in the state earlier as well due to negligence. Surjewala said a criminal case should be registered against the owners of the firm as also the hospital administration. The state Health Minister should be sacked and if Yogi Adiyanath had any sense of morality left, he should step down as Chief Minister, he said. --IANS ps/nir/dg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Slain journalist-activist Gauri Lankesh's family on Thursday demanded that investigators should not only catch her killers, but also find out the motive for the crime. Lankesh, the Editor of Kannada tabloid "Gauri Lankesh Patrike", was shot dead outside her residence here on September 5 by unidentified assailants. "The only question the Lankesh family has is not just about her killers but why she was killed," her brother Indrajit Lankesh told reporters here. "A lot of questions will be answered (by knowing the motive) -- whether it is M.M. Kalburgi's, Narendra Dhabolkar's or Govind Pansare's murders, through Gauri's murderers," he added. "We request the government and the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to catch the killers as soon as possible and find out why Gauri was killed," he said, adding, "by knowing the motive, we can all give justice to Gauri". Lankesh's brother Indrajit, mother Indira and sister Kavitha addressed a press conference after Thursday's announcement of annual Anna Politkovskaya Award posthumously for Gauri Lankesh, given to women human rights defenders from war and conflict zones. The family has been in constant touch with the investigation team, he said. "Any details regarding the investigation aren't being given out by the officials (to public) as there have already been speculations in the media, including targeting my brother (Indrajit) many times," Kavitha Lankesh, a filmmaker, said. "It is horrible that at a time when we are all distressed, different people are being targeted at different times," she said. "We cannot say we are happy with the investigation, until the killers are found. But we are satisfied that some kind of work is going on, with extensive research by the SIT," she added. Karnataka Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy on Monday said the investigation team had got "some clues" on the killers and knows who is behind the crime, but is waiting to gather more concrete evidence. The 150-member SIT is headed by Inspector General of Police B.K. Singh with Deputy Commissioner of Police (West) M.N. Anucheth as its main Investigation Officer. The state government had announced Rs 10 lakh reward to anyone giving information leading to the killers. --IANS bha/tsb/dg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) On Thursday, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Amit Shah did not participate in the partys march in the hometown of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to highlight alleged political violence of the ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) in the state. Shah had to attend a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. BJP state President Kummanam Rajasekharan told reporters that Shah would be unable to attend the Kerala phase of the Janaraksha Yatra (peoples protection march). Shah had launched the 15-day yatra on Tuesday. On Wednesday, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath led the yatra. CPI-M Lok Sabha member M B Rajesh tweeted that Amit Shah is a quick learner. Within 24 hours he realised the futility of his yatra and decided not to waste his time. Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala also took a dig at Shah for skipping Thursdays march, saying the Janaraksha Yatra had become a Vilapa Yatra (procession to lament). This is with reference to the report, Centre seeking to change auction terms to benefit telecoms: Congress (October 5). The Congress media chiefs accusation that the Narendra Modi government is helping select telecom firms by abusing its discretionary powers, thereby causing an interest loss of Rs 23,821 crore to the exchequer, should not be dismissed as political rhetoric. BJP President Thursday did not participate in the party march in the hometown of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan as he had to attend a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The high profile meeting, also being attended by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, gains traction as it might result in a major announcement later in the day. BJP state president Kummanam Rajasekharan told reporters that Shah would be unable to attend the phase of the 'Janaraksha Yatra' (People's Protection March) that would pass from Mambaram to Thalassery, crossing Pinaryi town in Kannur district. Rajasekharan said Shah has to attend a meeting with Prime Minister Modi in New Delhi. Hundreds of party workers, led by the state unit chief, are participating in the march that entered the third day today. Shah had launched the high profile 15-day yatra from Payyannur in Kannur on October 3 against the alleged "red and jihadi terrorism" under the CPI(M)-led LDF rule in Kerala. Yesterday, Uttar Pradesh Chief minister, Yogi Adityanath, had led the yatra and accused the left party of promoting "jihadi terrorism." Senior BJP leaders are expected to participate in the yatra which will conclude on October 17 at Thiruvananthapuram. Meanwhile, senior Marxist leader from Kannur, M V Govindan, Master said the march will not have any impact on the left party's strength and its base in the state. "In a democracy all political parties can take out yatras and there are no restrictions," he said adding Shah not attending the march today was an "anti climax." CPI(M) Thalassery MLA A N Shamseer alleged that Shah had "abandoned" the yatra through 'party gramam' (party village). Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala also took a dig at Shah skipping today's march, saying the Janaraksha Yatra had become a 'Vilapa Yatra' (mourning procession). (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.) Pakistan could have strong economic benefits from India if it realised that the "tide has shifted" and stop providing safe havens to terrorists on its soil, US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis said. Mattis told members of the powerful Senate Armed Services Committee yesterday that the Trump administration is being very clear and firm in what it expects from Pakistan and is using all aspects of the government to bring about the change, working internationally. His statement comes weeks after President Donald Trump announced his Afghanistan and South Asia policy in which he adopted a tough policy against Pakistan. It also came ahead of Pakistan Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif's talks with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and other top officials of the Trump Administration. "There are a number of lines of effort being put together now in Secretary of Treasury's office, Secretary of State's office, my own office, the intel agencies. We are also working with Secretary General Stoltenberg to ensure that NATO's equities are brought to bear," Mattis said responding to a question on why would Pakistan change its mind on terrorist safe havens this time. Certainly, India has a role to play as a neighbour, and potentially a very strong economic benefit to Pakistan, if Pakistan can find a way to carry out its international responsibilities and end any kind of safe haven inside their country, he noted. "There's a great deal that Pakistan can benefit economically, diplomatically, financially for its government; economically for its people; by finally sensing that the tide has shifted against this," Mattis said. He said that the Trump administration believes that it would be highly difficult to sustain any stabilisation in South Asia, not just in Afghanistan, but certainly anywhere around Pakistan and India unless safe havens are removed. Mattis was responding to questions from lawmakers who wanted to know why the administration believes that Pakistan will change its behaviour this time. Trump has said that he would change the US approach to Pakistan, which continues to harbour militants and terrorists who target US service members and officials, said Senator John McCain, Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee. "But we still do not know what specific steps the United States will take to convince or compel Pakistan to change its behaviour, or what costs we will impose if Pakistan fails to do so," McCain said. Indeed, McCain said it is unclear to him if the administration believes any step or series of steps the United States might take will lead Pakistan to cease its support and sanctuary for certain terrorist groups, which has been a "feature of" its security policy for decades. Ranking Member Senator Jack Reed said if the mission in Afghanistan is to be successful, it is imperative to disrupt the external sanctuaries in Pakistan, which continue to provide the Taliban, the Haqqani network and other associated groups the ability to train, recruit, rest, refit and stage attacks without significant fear of interference. "We have heard that the administration intends to change the relationship with Pakistan in order to compel action that supports our efforts in Afghanistan," Reed said as he sought details of tools available to press Pakistan to make more progress on these issues. Pakistan, Mattis said has a "convoluted history" with terrorism. There can be little doubt that there have been terrorist groups that have used Pakistan as a haven for attacks outwardly, and not just towards Afghanistan. "We've seen the attacks on India, as well. At the same time, probably few nations, perhaps none, have lost as many troops fighting terrorists as they have," he 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.) The Samajwadi Partys (SPs) rift came to a full circle on Thursday with its current party president, Akhilesh Yadav, being elected as the SP chief for the next five years, following a party vote at its 10th Convention in Agra. Continuing his attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader on Thursday said darr, or fear, and democracy were incompatible with each other. Sinha appealed to people to stand-up to fight the atmosphere of fear that seems to have gripped the Indian democracy. Twelve people went missing after a Chinese fishing vessel collided with a Hong Kong-registered tanker early today in the international waters near Japan, state media reported. Four of the 16 crew members on board the vessel have been rescued, while 12 others were still missing, the state-run Xinhua agency quoted the Chinese Consulate-General in Osaka as saying. The Japan Coast Guard has set up a response unit and sent three patrol vessels to the area where the accident occurred -- some 400 km north of the Oki Islands in western Japan, it reported. The Chinese mission has sent a team to the scene to help with the rescue and is keeping contact with the Japan Coast Guard, the report from Tokyo said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A suicide bomber today blew himself up at a Shia shrine packed with devotees in Pakistan's troubled Balochistan province, killing at least 18 people and injuring 25 others, police officials said. The attacker tried to enter the Dargah Fatehpur in the Jhal Magsi district of Balochistan and detonated his explosives vest when he was stopped by the police at the main entrance, Deputy Commissioner Asadullah Kakar told the media. Kakar said an assistant sub-inspector of police was killed while attempting to stop the suicide bomber from entering the shrine. Two other policemen were also injured. No group claimed responsibility for the attack but the Taliban usually target shrines as they consider it un-Islamic. Balochistan Home Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti told the media that 18 people including a police constable and three children were killed in the blast. "The brave police constable stopped the suicide bomber from entering the shrine after which he blew himself up. If he had managed to enter the shrine there would be have been greater casualties," Bugti said. The minister said that around 25 people were injured in the blast and they were shifted to different hospitals. Dr Rukhsana Magsi at the Gandawah hospital in Jhal Magsi, about 400 kms east of Quetta, the capital of Baluchistan province, confirmed 15 bodies were brought to the hospital. Rescue officials fear that the death toll could rise as the blast took place when there was a heavy rush of devotees who had gathered at the shrine to pay their respect. Devotees gather at the shrine of the revered Sufi saint every Thursday to participate in a sufi dance called 'dhamaal' and prayers. Bugti said the shrine was holding its annual Urs and hundreds of devotees from all over the country had come to the place to pay their respects. A bomb attack on the same shrine killed 35 people in 2005. The local administration declared an emergency at hospitals in Sibbi and Dera Murad Jamali. Earlier, Balochistan government spokesperson Anwarul Haq Kakar said 13 people had been killed. "We have confirmed reports it was a suicide attack," he said. Initial probe showed that the blast occurred when 'dhamal' was going in the premises of the shrine. Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi condemned the attack and vowed that his government will act against militants with full might. Today's attack is the second major strike at a shrine in Balochistan where in November 2016, at least 52 people were killed and 102 injured in a blast at the shrine of Shah Norani in Khuzdar district. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) At least 18 people were killed and 24 others injured today when a suicide bomber blew himself up at a Sufi shrine packed with devotees in Pakistan's troubled Balochistan province, police officials said. The attacker tried to enter the Dargah Fatehpur in the Jhal Magsi district of Balochistan and blew himself up when he was stopped by the police at the main entrance, Deputy Commissioner Asadullah Kakar told the media. Kakar confirmed the death toll and said one police constable was killed while attempting to stop the suicide bomber from entering the shrine. Two other policemen were also injured in the blast. Rescue officials fear that the death toll could rise as the blast took place when there was a heavy rush of devotees who had gathered at the shrine to pay their respect. Devotees gather at the shrine of the revered Sufi saint every Thursday to participate in a dhamaal and prayers. Balochistan Home Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti told the media that so far it appeared to be a suicide attack. "Investigations are still continuing and the injured have been moved to the district headquarters hospital in Jhal Magsi," Bugti said. Balochistan government spokesman Anwarul Haq Kakar confirmed that it was a suicide attack. Initial probe showed that the blast occurred when a sufi dance called dhamal was going in the premises of the shrine. No group claimed responsibility for the attack but the Taliban usually target shrines as they consider it un-Islamic. The local administration declared an emergency at hospitals in Sibbi and Dera Murad Jamali. Today's is the second major attack at a shrine in Balochistan where in November 2016, at least 52 people were killed and 102 injured in a blast at the shrine of Shah Norani in Khuzdar district. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The convicts in the 1993 serial blasts case who were lodged in prisons here have been shifted to other jails in Maharashtra. The jail authorities had this week informed the special TADA court, which heard the case, about the shifting of the convicts. According to a communication, two convicts -- Feroz Abdul Rashid Khan and Tahir Merchant -- who were sentenced to death in the case -- were moved to Nagpur and Pune respectively. Those who are handed the death sentence in Maharashtra are moved to the Pune or Nagpur jails, the only two prisons in the state which have gallows. While Karimullah Khan, who was sentenced to life in prison, was taken to the Nashik jail, another Mumbai blasts convict Riyaz Siddiqui, who will spend 10 years behind bars, has been taken to the Pune jail. However, gangster Abu Salem is still lodged in the Taloja prison near the city. "This could be because he is facing trial in several other cases in different states and it would be easier to take him from Taloja," an official said. The special TADA court had in June convicted six persons, including mastermind Mustafa Dossa and Salem, in the case, 24 years after the bomb blasts left 257 people dead in the country's financial capital. It had, however, let off accused Abdul Quayyum for want of evidence against him. All the seven accused were facing multiple charges which included criminal conspiracy, waging war against the Government of India and murder. Dossa had died of cardiac arrest at J J Hospital in Mumbai, shortly after being convicted, on June 28. Special TADA judge G A Sanap had pronounced the sentence on September 7. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) At least five newborns have died at the Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed Medical College Hospital in Assam's Barpeta district during the last 24 hours, Assam Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said today. "The infants died due to serious neo-natal medical complications and not due to human negligence," the minister said. "Doctors tried their best to save the newborns and adequate medicines were available in the hospital," the minister said. "I have talked to the doctors concerned and they have categorically said that the infants could not be saved in spite of their best possible care," he added. These mortalities are related to purely critical nature of the case like age of the mother or weight of the baby, Sarma said. The minister has also ordered an inquiry. Meanwhile, senior officials of the Directorate of Medical Education of Assam along with UNICEF consultants went to the hospital to audit the deaths. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Around 500 kg of sea cucumber, meant to be smuggled to Sri Lanka after being processed, was seized from a farm near Mandapam today, police said. The sea cucumber was seized following a tip-off received by Mandapam marine police. When they went to the farm, they found around 10 persons involved in processing the sea cucumber. However, they managed to escape on seeing the police. The Marine police informed the forest department personnel, who seized sea cucumber. Sea cucumbers, classified as endangered species and their harvest banned under the Wildlife Protection Act, are in demand in South-East Asian countries. Around 400 kg of sea cucumber meant to be smuggled to Sri Lanka was seized on September 26 from a coconut grove in Tirappanvalasai near here. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A six-year-old girl was allegedly raped in a washroom of a private school in south Delhi's Malviya Nagar and the accused sweeper has been arrested, the police said today, a case reminiscent of the Ryan International School incident. The accused had joined the school a fortnight back and the school authorities had not got in touch with us for his police verification, said Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Ishwar Singh. The officer said that the Delhi Police had issued an advisory last month asking schools to keep woman staffers outside girls' washrooms and install CCTV cameras inside the school premises. He added that there was negligence found on the part of school authorities and the appropriate agencies will take action in the matter. The minor girl had gone to the washroom and sought help, but instead of a woman staff a male staffer came and allegedly sexually assaulted her, the police said. After she reached home, she narrated her ordeal to her mother who informed the school and subsequently the police were informed. A case was registered and the accused (22), a resident of Dakshinpuri here, was arrested yesterday. The girl's family said that she was traumatised after the incident and did not want to go to the school. "The incident took place at around 1.30 pm yesterday when my daughter went to the washroom. The woman staffer's duty had ended and she had left and the other woman, who was on duty, had not come till then," her father told PTI. "My daughter was really scared after the incident and did not tell her teachers or friends about it. However, after she came back home, she told everything to my wife, who informed me," he said. The girl's mother went to the school and informed the school authorities. "They were quite supportive and helped us identify the man. He was later handed over to police," he said. He said that his daughter has developed infection in her private parts and needs a small operation. "When my daughter narrated her ordeal to my wife, she checked her condition and found that there was redness in her private parts. "A doctor told us that she has developed an infection and it would require an operation and she would have to be administered anesthesia," the girl's father said. He said that his daughter is traumatised and is currently on medication and they won't rush into the operation. "She does not want to go back to that school. We will see what options we have. We lave our children to the care of schools and they need to have security measures in place for the children," he added. The scared father said that he was reminded of the incident last month in which a seven-year-old boy was found with his throat slit and lying in a pool of blood in a washroom of the Ryan International School in Gurgoan. The boy was allegedly killed by a bus conductor who also tried to sexually abuse the minor, the police had said. "We had heard about the Gurgaon incident. My wife and I were really scared after learning what happened with our daughter inside the washroom," the girl's father said. Following the incident, a magisterial probe was ordered by the Delhi government. A Delhi government spokesperson tweeted, "Delhi Deputy CM @msisodia directs Chief Secy for a magisterial probe into alleged rape of a 6-year-old child in pvt school at Malviya Nagar (sic)." A team of Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights (DCPCR) will visit the school to conduct an inquiry tomorrow, said the Delhi government. Last month, a five-year-old girl was allegedly raped by a peon inside the premises of a private school in Shahdara here. The accused was arrested the same day. Following the Shahdara rape incident, Delhi Police commissioner Amulya Patnaik had instructed all district deputy commissioners of police to ensure that schools in their areas have adequate security measures in place. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Uncharitable comments, trolls and aggressive reactions on platforms on almost every issue, including judges and judicial proceedings, today came under the scanner of the Supreme Court which expressed concern over it and agreed that regulating them was necessary. The apex court also disapproved and expressed anguish over a statement made by a senior advocate and former Supreme Court Bar Association President that most of the judges are pro-government. "They should sit in the Supreme Court to see how the government is hauled up," a bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud observed. The concern of the bench found strong support from two eminent lawyers, Fali S Nariman and Harish Salve, who are assisting the apex court in a matter relating to the comment made by former UP Minister Azam Khan in a highway gangrape case. "I have deleted my Twitter account. It was so abusive," Salve said, adding that once when he was appearing in a case relating to a Christian medical college and the subsequent happenings on his Twitter handle forced him to delete it. "I have stopped looking at them," Nariman said, adding that unwarranted comments about almost everything can be found on these platforms. The bench then said that one of the observations made during the hearing on the Rohingya matters was projected as if an order was delivered and it became a subject matter of debate. Anything that disrupts free exchange of views between the judges and the arguing lawyers needs to be curbed, Salve said. The bench also said that there was misuse of platforms and people disseminated wrong information even about the court proceedings. "Earlier the right to privacy could have been infringed by the state only. Now such things emanate from private parties also," the bench said. Pointing out that a newspaper or a media organisation which gets an audio clip, publishes it without taking any responsibility of its authenticity, Salve asked: "does it not amount to infringement of privacy". The concept of "my house is my castle" is fast fading due to the intrusion of private players, the bench said. Nariman then said the Indian civil laws were "defective" and unable to handle such incidents. "There was an urgent need to have some kind of regulation," Salve said. The bench agreed to the suggestion. Meanwhile, the top court today referred to a constitution bench questions like whether a public functionary or a minister can claim freedom of speech while airing views in a sensitive matter which is under investigation. (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.) A small-time Bollywood actor has been booked by the City Police for allegedly sexually harassing a 26-year-old model cum budding actress, the police said today. According to the police, the actor, who played roles in some films, had been sending lewd messages to the complainant since February this year. "The actor messaged me saying he will send men to rape me and will kill me if I approached the police," police sub-inspector MV Kapile said quoting the complaint filed last night. Kapile said the accused also threatened her repeatedly over phone. Following her complaint, the police have booked the actor under section 354 A (sexual harassment), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) and 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of the IPC. The officer said no arrest was made in the case. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A surge of failed Afghan asylum seekers "forcibly" returned from Europe are at risk of torture, kidnapping and death in war-torn Afghanistan, Amnesty International said today. Almost 9,500 Afghans went back to their homeland in 2016 after their applications for asylum in Europe were rejected, compared with nearly 3,300 a year earlier, the human rights group said. The figure covers asylum seekers who were detained and then deported from European countries, and those who "ostensibly voluntarily" returned with financial assistance, Amnesty said. Migration is a hot button issue in Europe and politicians are under pressure to bring down the number of asylum seekers after hundreds of thousands of migrants flooded the continent since 2015. "European governments are forcing increasing numbers of asylum seekers back to the dangers from which they fled, in brazen violation of international law," Amnesty said in a report, "Forced Back to Danger". The influx of returnees from Europe coincided with rising civilian casualties in Afghanistan's bloody conflict as Afghan security forces struggle to beat back Taliban and Islamic State jihadists in much of the country. Nearly 11,500 civilians were killed or wounded in 2016 -- one third of them children -- according to the United Nations, the highest number of annual non-combatant casualties since it began collecting figures in 2009. Civilian casualties stayed at record highs in the first half of 2017 as the war enters its 16th year. As part of its research for the report Amnesty said it gathered testimony from 18 Afghan men, women and children "forcibly returned" to Afghanistan. One woman sent back with her family from Norway said her husband was kidnapped and murdered a few months after they returned to Afghanistan. In another case a two-year-old child forced to leave Norway with his family was wounded in an Islamic State-claimed attack on a Shiite mosque in Kabul in October 2016. "Wilfully blind to the evidence that violence is at a record high and no part of Afghanistan is safe, they are putting people are risk of torture, kidnapping, death and other horrors," said Anna Shea, Amnesty's researcher on refugee and migrant rights. Amnesty called on European countries to suspend further deportations until the situation in Afghanistan "permits returns to take place in safety and dignity". The report comes after Germany resumed deportations last month, after suspending the process when a huge truck bomb hit the Afghan capital Kabul on May 31, killing about 150 people and wounding hundreds more. The latest group represented the sixth wave of repatriations of Afghans from Germany since December under a disputed Afghan-European Union deal aimed at curbing the influx of migrants. Returnees face an uncertain future in Afghanistan which is struggling with high unemployment, a weak economy and masses of refugees being ejected from Pakistan and Iran, as well as hundreds of thousands of others uprooted by war. Some asylum seekers left Afghanistan when they were children and have no memories of the country, while others live in fear of persecution if the Taliban discover they are gay or no longer Muslim, Amnesty said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Andhra Pradesh government today complained that there has been no fall in prices of several goods though there was reduction in effective rates of tax post GST, which showed the government in a bad light. It suggested the Union government evolve arobust price control mechanism at the central level to ensure fall in prices. In a letter to the GST Council Chairman, state Finance Minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu noted: "Though there is a reduction in effective rates of tax on several goods under GST, there is no corresponding fall in prices of those goods. This is reflecting a bad image of the government in the eyes of the public. Hence, it is requested that a robust price control mechanism may be evolved at the Government of India level". Ramakrishnudu also said the compliance burden on small traders and businessmen under GST was very high compared to pre-GST regime as they were required to file GSTR1, GSTR2 and GSTR3 returns every month. "This should be reduced. Further, the liability to pay tax under reverse charge mechanism is also burden on these small traders. Hence this may be kept on hold for a period of one year," the minister stated. He demanded that the Centre make available revenue figures, of SGST, CGST, IGST and Cess paid, on the GSTN portal on a real-time basis. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Officials say the US is poised to lift longstanding sanctions on Sudan, recognizing the long- estranged country's progress after decades of war and abuses. In January, former President Barack Obama temporarily lifted sanctions and scheduled the move to become permanent in July if not reversed. President Donald Trump acted in July to give the US three more months to make a final decision. The US has been calling on Sudan to make more progress in areas including human rights and humanitarian access. US officials say the Trump administration will say that Sudan has continued making progress on those areas, meriting an end to the sanctions. An announcement is expected as early as Friday. Sudan is expected to stay on the State Department's list of state sponsors of terrorism. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Union Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre said today that the Army will be provided all support to ensure that it is fully equipped to give a blow to the adversary as and when required. Bhamre, who was on a two-day visit here, visited forward areas of Poonch, Pir Bhadreshwar and Buchhamandi, according to a defence spokesman. All support will be provided to ensure that the Army is operationally fully equipped to give a blow to the adversary as and when required, Bhamre said. The minister's visit assumes significance as it comes in the wake of repeated ceasefire violations by Pakistan troops along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch. In the past three days, three persons including two minors were killed and 18 injured in cross border firing. During his visit to the forward areas along the LoC in Buchhamandi, Bhamre interacted with soldiers over a cup of tea. He was briefed by top commanders about defence preparedness and efforts being undertaken to thwart any mis- adventure by the adversary in this region, an official said. Bhamre emphasised that the government was fully sensitive to the problems faced by soldiers while operating in such difficult and arduous conditions. The minister commended the alertness of the troops deployed along the LOC and appreciated their efforts in foilingthe nefarious designs of inimical forces. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ten fighters were killed today when the army launched a pre-dawn attack on a militia in the restive eastern region of Democratic Republic of Congo, a military spokesman said. The assault targeted a group called the Mai-Mai Mazembe, which had taken up position in Kapanga, a locality in the Lubero district on the border with Uganda, the official said. "They have been dislodged. We found 10 corpses," Lieutenant Jules Tshikudi, a spokesman for the army in North Kivu province, told AFP. "Two solders were also injured in the fighting. Everything is under control in the area and we are conducting sweeping-up operations." Lubero is located about 300 kms north of North Kivu's capital Goma. Rich in minerals, eastern DR Congo has been unstable for more than two decades, gripped by fighting among several dozen local and foreign armed groups, many of which are accused of rape, killings and abductions of civilians. The Mai-Mai are self-described "self-defence" groups who were armed during the Second Congo War (1998-2003) by the authorities in the distant capital Kinshasa to help combat invading Ugandans and Rwandans. Many of the militiamen kept their weapons after the war. Fighting between their groups and the Congolese army has intensified since the beginning of the year, both in North Kivu and neighbouring South Kivu province. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Assam Irrigation Minister and BJP leader Ranjit Dutta today filed a written complaint with the state party authorities against BJP MP R P Sharma, who has alleged that he was involved in corruption. Dutta, a BJP MLA from Behali, handed over the complaint to state BJP president Ranjit Dass, who summoned Sharma to discuss the matter with him. Dass told reporters that an emergency meeting of the party will be held on October 7 to discuss the issue in detail. He, however, did not reveal details of the discussion he had with Sharma, a BJP MP from Tezpur constituency. Dutta in his complaint said that Sharma's allegations were "baseless and irresponsible which will affect the party". A local TV channel had claimed that Sharma, during a sting operation, alleged that the irrigation minister was involved in corruption and allotted work for various schemes of the department only after he was paid a commission. Meanwhile, Opposition parties Congress and the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) have demanded an inquiry into the allegations. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A march demanding justice for Gauri Lankesh, the editor of a Kannada weekly who was gunned down a month ago, today turned into a platform for citizens and activists to voice their fears, anguish and the resolve to "unite". The march from Mandi House to Jantar Mantar was attended by hundreds, from student activists to politicians and trade unionists to general citizens, including a septuagenarian who just underwent a brain surgery to get rid of a malignant tumour, and the daughter of slain writer M M Kalburgi. The umbrella banner, 'March for Justice', had a wide array of political parties under it including the CPI, CPI(M), Aam Aadmi Party, Swaraj India, representatives of which called for larger unity to take on the BJP and the right wing forces, and around 100 activists from the Karnataka-based 'Janshakti Manch'. The protesters quoted Faiz Ahmad Faiz's peerless "Bol ke lab azad hai tere bol, ke ab nahi toh kab bolenge? (Speak up for your words are free, if not now then when?)" as they marched down Central Delhi, bringing the afternoon traffic to a standstill. One of the many posters read: "Gauri disagreed, we all disagree, we will all march, you can't silence us." The march ended at Jantar Mantar, where a protest by farmers from Tamil Nadu against distress suicides entered its 81th day today. "We may not know who killed her but we know who all are celebrating her death. With reports of economic slump, the attempts to divert attention from these issues by inciting communal sentiments has only sharpened," senior Supreme Court lawyer Prashant Bhushan said. Bhushan's thoughts were echoed by Sardaram Bhati, a farmer activist from Greater Noida's Kailashpur village, who underwent a brain surgery in July to remove a malignant tumour, scars of which were visible on his tonsured head. "Fascism is not here yet, but there are chances of it taking over the country. So, till the time I am alive I will keep registering my dissent and protest against these forces," he said. Satish Chand Sharma, a retiree who was an active participant of progressive writers' forums in his youth, said he makes it a point to attend these protests to shatter the silence over the "imposition of choices which has triggered a sense of fear". "There should not be any fear. What I do, what I eat, what I read, what I sing should be my choice, no one should dictate my choices. I want to be the way I am," he said, stressing he is not a card-holding member of any political party. Roopadarshi, the daughter of M M Kalburgi who was shot dead in 2015 in Karnataka's Dharward, said vigils like this may help create awareness and get justice. "But we (the family) are losing hope," she said. Others who were present in the march included CPI leader Annie Raja, AAP's Richa Pandey Mishra, activist Teesta Setalvad, Harsh Mander and veteran journalist Kuldip Nayar. Malliga of the Karnataka Janhit Manch said Lankesh's murder was part of a larger pattern of silencing voices of resistance. "From Gandhi to Gauri, we can see a pattern. The State nurtures such elements." AAP's Mishra said, "There are a few who are scared of voices of women, students and the youth. We stand together as one. We won't let them snatch our freedom away." Tamil Nadu farmer V Rajendran, who is part of a group of bare-bodied protesters with skulls and bones camping at Jantar Mantar for nearly three months now, said they condemn the killings of journalists as they are the one who take the voices of the oppressed to the masses and the establishment. "We need unification of struggles from across the spectrum," he said. Lankesh, who was the editor of 'Lankesh Patrike', was shot dead by unidentified men outside her residence in Bengaluru on September 5. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Mulayam Singh Yadav and his comrade-in-arms brother Shivpal Yadav today skipped the Samajwadi Party's national executive where Akhilesh was re- elected as the party president. However, while Akhilesh was the cynosure of all eyes, his father and party founder Mulayam Singh was on everyone's lips. The absence of 77-year-old Mulayam and Shivpal was the talking point among the delegates assembled here for the two- day national executive meeting and national convention of the SP, which began here today. Mulayam's absence was more pronounced given the fact that Akhilesh had personally met him in Lucknow before the Agra meeting to extend an invitation for gracing the occasion. Speaker after speaker, including Akhilesh, referred to the absence of Mulayam from the event. "I requested 'netaji' (Mulayam) to attend the convention. Everyone would have liked it (his presence)," said Akhilesh, the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister, in his address. "I talked to him (Mulayam) yesterday and today also before coming to the convention. I told him that it a big convention and amendments in the party constitution will also be passed and without your blessings the party cannot progress," he said. Akhilesh said Mulayam "has given blessings to all of us" over phone and wished that the party is strengthened in UP and throughout the country. There was even a reference to Shivpal, Akhilesh's uncle. Akhilesh and Shivpal have been at loggerheads since the family feud broke out in January this year. Apparently to send a message of all-is-well in the Yadav clan, Akhilesh had yesterday said that his estranged uncle Shivpal blessed and congratulated him over telephone. "I have got the benefit of my age and our relation. He (Shivpal) gave me blessings and congratulated me also," Akhilesh said. In fact, Mulayam was missed so much that rumours kept floating till the eleventh hour that he will be turning up any time. Senior SP leader Azam Khan, in his speech, took the audience down the memory lane recalling how the party was formed by Mulayam in 1992 in which he had the "honour of proposing and declaring" his name as the party president. "I want to tell you that at a meeting in 1992, I was crying and 'netaji' (Mulayam) told me that it was not the time to do so and he should be ready for the fight," he said. Another senior leader Kironmay Nanda also recalled the time when the party was formed under the leadership of Mulayam. "Netaji will remain leader of all the socialists. I talked to him today and he said my blessing is with you and you also bless Akhilesh," Nanda said. Rajya Sabha member Jaya Bachchan said, "We were with 'netaji' and Samajwadi Party and will remain so. He used to say 'encourage youths' and today we have got a youth leader." Party leader and former minister Arvind Singh Gope also mentioned Mulayam in his address and said that they (party workers) will be strengthened with blessings of Netaji. Dimple Yadav, MP and wife of Akhilesh, also thanked Mulayam and said, "Blessings of netaji are there with the SP resident (Akhilesh), me and the entire party. I thank him for that." On the dias there was a photograph of Mulayam along with Akhilesh and other leaders. In Agra city too, SP's hoardings had his photographs while brother Shivpal was not seen in any of the hoardings, banners and posters. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The state BJP today took out a 'Jana Raksha Yatra' to protest against the "atrocities" on activists and their families affiliated to the BJP and RSS in Kerala. The protest march was led by party's state president and MLA Sat Sharma, along with MP Lok Sabha Jugal Kishore Sharma and state general secretary Ashok Kaul. The workers were airing slogans against the Kerala government, asking it to stop the "mayhem". The march began from Kachi Chawni and passed through Sabji Mandi, Purani Mandi and Bus Stand and culminated near the Press Club. Sat Sharma, while addressing the workers, criticised the Kerala government for its "indifference towards ever increasing number of attacks on activists and their families affiliated with the BJP and RSS". He said the Kerala government has "failed miserably" in defending democracy by not just "promoting the attacks, but also shielding the attackers". Sharma condemned the policy of the CPI(M) government, saying it has made "barbarism as its mainstay policy". The people of Kerala will oust the present government of Kerala for its "erroneous policies and jihadi terrorism", paving the way for the popular government of BJP in Kerala, he added. Jugal Kishore Sharma said the nation is united over "failed policies" of the Kerala government and the "Jana Raksha Yatra" is being carried all over India to show solidarity with the BJP activists in Kerala. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party chairman Harsh Dev Singh hit out at the BJP today, accusing the saffron party of failing to ensure the rights of the people of Jammu. Addressing reporters at a rally here, the JKNPP chairman lamented that the state BJP ministers and MLAs did not speak up for the people of the region, despite getting an overwhelming mandate from Jammu. "The BJP has surrendered before the Kashmiri leadership for the lust of power," Singh said at the rally. He urged the people to support and strengthen their Jammu-based party, which had been persistently fighting for the cause of the region. "The BJP has indulged in double standards and duplicity over the issues of Article 35A, abolition of Rohingyas and Bangladeshis from Jammu," the JKNPP chairman added. The former minister appealed to all sections of civil society for a united and concerted fight against the alleged "socio-political discrimination" doled out to the region. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) BJP was the prime target at the Samajwadi Party's national convention here with the Akhilesh Yadav-led party accusing it of playing divisive politics, spreading lies and misusing agencies like the ED and the CBI. A resolution passed at the SP national convention here also said that no government which had implemented GST in other countries returned to power claiming that the Modi government will also face the same result. "The way in which the BJP used propaganda, misused EVMs, used media to spread lies and encouraged communal flare-ups to grab power...It can be compared to Hitler," SP leader Ram Gopal Yadav said. He was presenting the political and economic resolutions, which were later adopted at the SP national convention. "The manner in which BJP leaders are alluring opposition leaders and taking them into their party fold is a threat to democracy. It has created an atmosphere of terror. Our Constitution makers had never imagined that a party will be considered bigger than democracy," he said. Yadav attacked the media claiming that the fourth pillar of democracy was "paralysed" and journalists were "forced to spread lies". "Lies are spread through social media and attempts are underway to suppress the voice of opposition. The four pillars of democracy have changed to CBI, ED, Income Tax and FEMA under the present regime," he alleged. The party resolution alleged that due to the "failure" on foreign policy front, lakhs of square kilometres of land had gone to China and Pakistan and no attempt was made to reclaim it. Due to the surgical strikes, terrorism has risen, the resolution said adding that soldiers were dying on borders each day. Our relations with traditionally friendly countries are not good, it said. The resolution said that Naxalism was a bigger threat than terrorism, especially in Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Jharkhand and parts of Maharashtra, while extremism was a problem in the northeast. No attempt is made to find out the cause and evolve a solution, it added. The party claimed that due to demonetisation and GST, unemployment had risen and the GDP gone down. Ninety nine per cent currency has returned to banks and Prime Minister Narendra Modi should explain where the black money has gone, the resolution said. "The government is protecting interests of the capitalists. Prices are rising. Any government that implemented the GST never returned to power. The US, Canada and other countries are an example. The fate of the Modi government will be the same," it said. A number of leaders including Azam Khan, Dimple Yadav, Jaya Bachchan, Ram Govind Chaudhary, Kiranmoy Nanda and Naresh Agarwal spoke on the resolutions before they were passed. In his speech, Akhilesh Yadav said that it was the responsibility of SP workers to ensure that the party wins maximum seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. He said traders were facing hardships due to implementation of GST. "We have the blessings of Netaji and the youth are with us. The BJP is threatening us in the name of CBI, but we Samajwadis will not be cowed down. The present governments in the state and the Centre have nothing to do with development and people have started realising it," he said. PTI ABN SMI Attacking the media, Yadav said the fourth pillar is "paralysed" and journalists are "forced to spread lies". "Lies are spread through social media and attempts are underway to suppress voice of opposition. The four pillars of democracy have changed to CBI, ED, income tax and FEMA in the present regime," he said. The party alleged that due to "failure" of foreign policy, lakhs of square kilometre land has gone to China and Pakistan and no attempt is made to take it back. Due to surgical strike terrorism has risen. Our armymen are dying daily on borders and our relations with friendly countries are not good," it said. The resolution said that "Naxalism is a bigger threat than terrorism, especially in Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Jharkhand and parts of Maharashtra, while extremism was a problem in the northeast. No attempt is made to find out the cause and evole a solution," the resolution said. The party claimed that due to demonisation and GST, unemployment has risen and GDP has gone down. 99 per cent currency have returned to banks and Prime Minister Narendra Modi should tell where black money has gone. "The government is protecting interest of capitalist. Price rise has increased. The government which has implemented GST never returned to power. The US and Canada and other countries are example. The fate of Modi government will be same," it said. Senior SP leader Azam Khan said, "While Honeypreet took Dera head Ram Rahim to hell, 'moneypreet' will take him (PM) there." A number of leaders including Dimple Yadav, Jaya Bachchan, Ram Govind Chaudhary, Kiranmoy Nanda and Naresh Agarwal spoke on the resolutions before those were passed. In his closing speech Akhilesh said it was responsibility of party workers to ensure that the party won maximum seats in 2019 Lok Sabha elections. He said traders were facing hardships due to implementation of GST. "We have blessings of Netaji and youths with us. BJP is threatening us in the name of CBI, but we Samajwadis will not be cowed down. The present government in the state and the Centre have nothing to do with development and people have started realising it," he said, thanking the delegates. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Brazilian police today arrested the chairman of the country's Olympic Committee as part of a probe into alleged vote buying to secure Rio's hosting of the 2016 Games. Twenty federal police agents swept into Rio de Janeiro's upscale Leblon neighborhood in an early morning operation to arrest 75-year-old Carlos Nuzman. The Rio 2016 committee's chief operating officer Leonardo Gryner was arrested in a separate raid. A grim-faced Nuzman left his home wearing a dark business suit in the Rio heat as he was escorted by police. The agents, who were operating on orders from a federal judge, also seized documents. Nuzman and Gryner "will be charged with the crimes of corruption, money laundering and criminal association," police said in a statement. Nuzman appeared relaxed and chatted with the agents as he entered the police station. The men were sent to the Benefica prison in northern Rio, a police source told AFP. The arrests are the latest in a widespread corruption scandal rocking Brazil that has ensnared many of the country's top political and business figures, and often has links to abroad. It is "essential" that the suspects be detained "as a guarantee of public order" to allow their assets to be blocked, and to stop them from engaging in any criminal act or interfering with evidence, the Rio prosecutor's office said in a statement. Prosecutors asked for some USD 319 million dollars in assets belonging to Nuzman and Gryner to be blocked. Nuzman, who has headed Brazil's Olympic Committee since 1995, saw his assets increase 457 per cent over the past decade with no clear source for the new income, prosecutors said. Nuzman also tried to hide his wealth, often in foreign accounts, the statement read. Following an investigation dubbed "Unfair Play" that spanned several countries, Brazilian officials last month said Nuzman was the "lynchpin" in a plot to bribe the International Olympic Committee into awarding Rio de Janeiro last year's Games. At the time, Nuzman was detained and questioned and authorities confiscated his passport. Investigators also searched the offices of Brazil's Olympic Committee and several companies suspected of links to the scandal. Today's operation in Rio was dubbed "Unfair Play - Second Half." Authorities allege that former Rio governor Sergio Cabral, who is serving a 14-year prison term for bribery and money laundering, was the mastermind of the plot, which saw USD 2 million in bribes paid to Papa Massata Diack, the son of Senegalese IOC member Lamine Diack before the 2009 vote. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Actor Deepika Padukone today said her battle with depression in the past has been "such a bad experience" that she always carries a fear of relapse. The 31-year-old actor was interacting on the stigma surrounding mental illness at India Economic Summit here. "I don't think I can say that I'm completely over it (depression). There is always a fear at the back of my mind that I might have a relapse because it has been such a bad experience for me," Padukone said at the India Economic Summit here. When asked whether opening up about depression had cost her movie roles, Deepika said she was unsure but there might have been some producers who did not approach her. "Maybe there are people who haven't offered me films because they think I was depressed and I can't act. Maybe, I don't know. I'm in a good space because I can choose the movies that I want to act in, but I don't think everyone has that luxury of where they want to work or when they want to work," she said. Batting for the introduction of mental health as a part of the curriculum in schools across the country, she said the idea will help do away with the stigma attached to it. "A large part of the stigma comes from the fact that we (just) talk about physical education in schools. I had physical education in my school, but we didn't have anything to talk about mental health. It's not a part of the curriculum. "If we included that in the curriculum and introduced the idea or the importance of mental health at school level, there will be no stigma," the actor said. Deepika, who is also the founder of 'The Live Love Laugh' foundation, said policymakers and people at workplaces need to recognise and normalise depression so that those suffering from such mental illnesses could come out and confide without the fear of losing their jobs. Elaborating upon her decision of going public with her battle with depression, Deepika said, "I didn't think about the repercussions. The idea really was to change the way people in India and the world see mental illness". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former railways minister and RJD supremo Lalu Prasad was questioned for seven hours on Thursday by the CBI in connection with alleged corruption in the award of contract for the maintenance of two IRCTC hotels in 2006. Prasad arrived at 11 in the morning and was taken directly to the investigation team, CBI sources said. His daughter Misha also accompanied him but was asked to wait in the lobby at the ground floor of the agency headquarters, they said. During the seven-hour-long questioning session, the team asked Prasad mostly about award of the contract, land deals of the company now owned by his son, relations with Prem Chand Gupta, and relations with owners of the beneficiary firm which won the contract among others, they said. The CBI interrogation was cordial and "all the courtesies were extended" to him, according to the sources. They said his wish for less spicy food was also fulfilled from the CBI canteen during lunch. The RJD supremo was offered aloo bhujia, daal and rice during lunch and three rounds of tea, they said. Prasad also acknowledged that the team was cordial and was "just doing its job" but did not mince any words about the NDA government which he said was trying to "frame" him and his family in "false cases" out of political vendetta. "The CBI officers were cordial but what can they do? They are following orders of the government of India which is acting out of political vendetta against me and my family. I do not have any complaints against the CBI but it is the union government which is targetting me and my family," he told reporters after coming out of questioning session. People stood outside the CBI headquarters for a glimpse of Prasad as his Mercedes SUV was being readied for his departure in the evening. Prasad, whose RJD won maximum seats in the last assembly elections in Bihar, said it was he who had turned the fortunes of railways by recording a profit of Rs 7,000 crore which became a case study for universities like Harvard. "I had stopped pilferage in railways, made it cost efficient, improved revenue and now I am being blamed for corruption. This is nothing but targetting me and my family," he said. His son Tejashwi has been called for questioning tomorrow, the sources said. "I have told the CBI that I will be co-operating. I did not seek time today because else I would have been blamed for running away," Prasad said. The case pertains to allegations that Prasad, as railway minister, handed over the maintenance of two hotels run by the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation, a subsidiary of the Indian Railways, in Ranchi and Puri to Sujata Hotel, a company owned by Vinay and Vijay Kochhar, in return for a prime plot of three acres in Patna through a benami company. The FIR alleged that the RJD leader abused his official position for extending undue favours to the Kochhars and acquired a piece of "high value premium land" through the benami firm Delight Marketing Company. As a quid pro quo, he "dishonestly and fraudulently" awarded the contract to them for the two hotels. After the tender was awarded to Sujata Hotel, the ownership of Delight Marketing also changed hands from Sarla Gupta to Rabri Devi and Tejashwi Yadav between 2010 and 2014. By this time, Prasad had resigned as railway minister. The CBI registered the case against Prasad, his wife Rabri Devi, son Tejashwi, who was deputy chief minister until a few months ago, and Sarla Gupta, wife of Prem Chand Gupta, a former Union minister. Others named as accused in the FIR include Vijay and Vinay Kochhar, both directors of Sujata Hotels and owner of Chanakya Hotel, Delight Marketing Company, now known as Lara Projects, and then IRCTC managing director P K Goel. (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.) China is focused on weakening the US' position in the Indo-Pacific region even as it is working with America on the issue of North Korea, Defence Secretary Jim Mattis has said. "China is focused on limiting our ability to project power and weakening our position in the Indo-Pacific region, even as we work to find common ground in confronting North Korea's provocative actions," Mattis told members of House Armed Services Committee during a Congressional hearing on South Asia today. Appearing before the same committee, General Joseph Dunford said that China can play a constructive role in Afghanistan. China shares a small border with Afghanistan. "There are some interest areas where they converge," he said, adding that counterterrorism is one of those areas, particularly in Afghanistan. He has suggested to the Chinese interlocutors that they could play a more productive role, particularly in development and assisting the counterterrorism effort on the border. Meanwhile at the Foggy Bottom headquarters of the State Department, Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan hosted the inaugural US-China Law Enforcement and cyber security Dialogue. Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Acting Secretary for Homeland Security Elaine Duke co-chaired the dialogue along with the Chinese State Councillor and Minister of Public Security Guo Shengkun. This is the last of the four dialogues that were launched by President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping at Mar-a-Lago in April. Its aim is to increase mutual understanding between the two nations, State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert told reporters. "Consistent with the results-oriented approach of this administration's policy toward China, the dialogue facilitated forthright and detailed discussions and resulted in bilateral cooperation on priority issues including immigration, counter-narcotics, counterterrorism, and cyber security," she said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) China has maintained a sizeable presence of its troops near the site of the 73-day-long Dokalam standoff, in an indication that the border tension between Chinese and India armies has not yet subsided. Sources said China has been slowly increasing its troop level in the Dokalam Plateau which could further escalate the current situation as India has reasons to be concerned over it. The indication to the underlying tension due to presence of Chinese forces in the Chumbi Valley in the Dokalam Plateau was also given by Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa today. "The two sides are not in a physical face-off as we speak. However, their forces in Chumbi Valley are still deployed and I expect them to withdraw as their exercise in the area gets over," Dhanoa told reporters. There has been territorial disputes between China and Bhutan over Dokalam and India has been staunchly supporting Thimphu over the issue. Troops of India and China were locked in a 73-day-long standoff in Dokalam since June 16 after the Indian side stopped the building of a road in the disputed area by the Chinese Army. Bhutan and China have a dispute over Dokalam. Bhutan and India were in touch with each other during the course of the face-off that ended on August 28. Days after the face-off ended, Army Chief Bipin Rawat had said China has started "flexing its muscles" and warned that the situation in India's northern border could snowball into a larger conflict. There are also reports that People's Liberation Army (PLA) has increased more troops on its forward post in Yatung. Sources said though Chinese troops have been deployed in Dokalam Plateau, they leave the area during winters. But, there were indication that they may leave the areas this time, they added. The 1,300-year-old iconic Potala Palace, the official residence of the Dalai Lamas in Tibet, in the provincial capital Lhasa will soon undergo a USD 1.5 million renovation, state media reported today. The palace was the centre of religious and political centre of Tibet till the present Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso, who is the 14th in the line of Dalai Lamas, fled to India in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese rule in his Himalayan homeland. The state-run Xinhua agency reported that a large- scale renovation project will soon begin as China's State Administration of Cultural Heritage has approved the plan. The project will focus on repairing the gold-plated roof of the palace and improving its security surveillance system, Jorden, an official from the palace's administration body was quoted as saying in the report. Parts of the gold plating have been damaged by long-term exposure to wind, sun and rain, Jorden said, adding the renovation will prolong the life of the roof. The project will cost more than 10 million yuan (USD 1.5 million). The Palace has been converted into a museum. It was declared a UNESCO world heritage site in 1994 and is the most famous tourist attraction in Tibet. The construction of the palace took 45 years and was completed in 1694. Built on Mount Potalaka, the palace has 13 stories containing over 1,000 rooms, 10,000 shrines and about two lakh statues. It was built to withstand major earthquakes as the Himalayan region was prone to seismic disturbances. It was reported to have sustained slight damage during the Tibetan resistance against China's take over of Tibet in 1959. Since then it has become major tourist attraction for foreigners and local Tibetans who visit its numerous temples and rituals within its campus. Last year, 1.37 million domestic and international tourists visited the palace. Tourists numbers were restricted to 1,600 per day to avoid overcrowding in its narrow rooms and corridors. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Union Minister C R Choudhary today said cosmetic and personal care industry has potential to generate more jobs and entrepreneurs should take advantage of schemes like Startup India that promote setting up of new business. He also said companies should not befool consumers with cheap products and should sell superior quality products complying with national and international standards. "You will wonder to know this small industry is providing lot of employment. India needs employment. Our Young generation needs employment," the minister of state for consumer affairs said addressing an Assocham event here. More jobs can be created by expanding the business and setting up startups taking advantage of various government schemes like StartUp India and Make in India, he said. Entrepreneurs and industrialists should come forward to set up more and more companies, he said adding that a lot of investment from abroad is already coming into the sector, which is growing at a 15 per cent rate annually. Stating that the success of the industry is dependent on quality products, the minister said the focus should be on selling products with least side effects keeping in mind the consumer interest. "Consumer is king. I request the industry to adopt national and international standards. To compete with other nations, the companies should focus on quality products," he said. To protect the interest of consumers, the government is ready with a new Consumer Protection Bill which is likely to be passed in the winter session of Parliament, he added. Talking on the sidelines of the event, Bengaluru-based startup DNA Skin Clinic founder and dermatologist Priyanka Reddy said: "There are more opportunities in this sector. More foreign companies want to invest here because of huge market and young population." At present, perception of most Indian consumers is that foreign brands are superior despite the country having many good locally-manufactured beauty products, she said and added "this need to be changed." The minister also unveiled a knowledge report 'Indian cosmeceuticals, cosmetics and personal care', jointly prepared by Assocham and TechSci Research. The report observed that the industry in India is likely to grow to USD 11 billion in the next five years from USD 2.5 billion in 2016 but require regulatory improvements. It recommended the government to simplify cosmetic regulations by making single regulation to cover cosmetics and separate it from that of drugs. It also demanded guidelines for uniform interpretation of regulations across the country and ensure license issued by one state is accepted by all states. That apart, the report suggested making BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) standards voluntary, mandatory quality compliance through effective implementation of good manufacturing practices and yearly audit among others. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Malayalam film actor Dileep, an accused in the actress abduction and sexual assault case, today declined to accept the post of president of a body of theatre owners, producers and distributors in Kerala. Dileep was yesterday re-elected president of Film Exhibitors United Organisation of Kerala (FEUOK), an association of theatre owners, producers and distributors, a day after he was granted bail by the Kerala High Court. The actor was removed from the post after he was arrested in July last in connection with the case of abduction and sexual assault of a South Indian film actress. In a letter to the general secretary of FEUOK, Dileep expressed his gratitude to them for re-electing as its president. "But I don't wish to take over as the president of FEUOK under the present circumstances," he said without elaborating. Extending all support to the organisation, Dileep said he would continue as a member of the organisation, which was formed owing to the initiative taken by him. He also wished all success to the organisation. The Kerala High Court had on Tuesday granted bail to Dileep, who spent 85 days behind bars in connection with the abduction and sexual assault of the actress. The actress, who has worked in Tamil and Telugu films, was abducted and allegedly molested inside her car for two hours by the accused, who had forced their way into the vehicle on February 17 night and later escaped in a busy area. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) West Bengal BJP chief Dilip Ghosh was heckled today by a group of people which asked saffron leaders visiting Darjeeling to leave immediately, leading to chaos at the venue of a party meeting and its cancellation. A scuffle erupted between BJP supporters and the agitators when Ghosh, heading a party delegation, arrived at the venue where the meeting with the party workers was scheduled. As soon as he arrived, the agitators shouted slogans demanding that the BJP delegates leave the hills and showed them black flags. The BJP supporters were far outnumbered by the agitators, who beat them up. The BJP state chief tried to pacify the agitators but failed. He was then heckled following which he cancelled the meeting and lodged a complaint at a nearby police station. "There was scuffle between two groups and a few people were injured. A case has been registered and we have started the investigation. The culprits will be arrested soon," Darjeeling superintendent of police Akhilesh Chaturvedi said. An angry Ghosh alleged that the attack on him and the BJP delegates was "pre-planned" and that he was not provided any security despite being an MLA. "It was pre-planned attack. And I think this planning has its roots in Kolkata. The administration and police were just mute spectators as our supporters were beaten up and I was heckled. I was not given any security cover. I have lodged a police complaint about the incident," he told reporters. Ghosh claimed that the agitators were supporters of expelled Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) leader Binay Tamang. Tamang denied the allegation. Asked whether Ghosh was provided security for the meeting, Chauturvedi said, "The police was outside the venue. We had provided security for those programmes about which we had information. He (Ghosh) will be provided complete security." Reacting to the incident, state Parliamentary Affairs Minister Partha Chatterjee said, "The BJP had gone there to foment trouble when peace was returning to the hills. Instead of taking police personnel along with him, he (Ghosh) had taken hired goons. If he doesn't ask for security then how can the police provide security cover?" Senior north Bengal Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader and minister Gautam Deb said, "It (the scuffle) was an outburst of anger of the hill people against the sinister designs of the BJP." Ghosh said, "These protests are fuelled and funded by the TMC. Except the GJM and Bimal Gurung, all other hill parties are mere extra players who are working on behalf of the TMC. The people of the hills are with the BJP and the GJM and that is why we have received so much support wherever we are going." He said hundreds of people in the hills greeted the BJP leaders and shared their problems. The response was tremendous, he told PTI. Earlier in the day while entering Darjeeling from Kalimpong, Ghosh and his team faced protests by supporters of the Gorkha National Liberation Front, who like some other hill parties demanded that its delegates leave Darjeeling immediately. Ghosh and his team were also shown black flags and asked to refrain from disturbing the "peace and stability" in the region. They had faced protests yesterday too by supporters of the Jan Andolan Party and Binay Tamang during their visit to Kalimpong. Posters with the messages such as 'BJP go back' and asking the hill people to boycott the party's delegation were put up. The state BJP chief had, however, refuted the GNLF allegation that he was in the hills to foment trouble and claimed that the protests against the BJP delegation were fuelled by the ruling TMC. Ghosh claimed it was due to his initiative that peace has returned to Darjeeling. "I talked to the Union home minister, after which peace returned to the Darjeeling hills," he said. The BJP team is scheduled to visit various places in the hills and neighbouring Sikkim and hold meetings with its workers and the GJM leadership. Expelled GJM leader and vice-chairman of the Board of Administrators (BoA), Anit Thapa also accused the BJP of trying to foment trouble in the hills. "What was it (BJP) doing for the three-and-a-half months when the hills were burning? Now that peace has returned, it wants to create trouble," he alleged. The rebel GJM group led by Tamang, who is the BOA chairman, and Thapa are slated to hold rallies to protest the visit of the saffron party delegation. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 16-year-old student, who was dismissed from school for "misconduct", allegedly attacked a woman teacher with sickle on the school premises in the district today, police said. The teacher suffered injuries and was admitted to a government hospital at Chengalpet, they said. The boy was dismissed from the school at Sogandy last year for alleged misconduct based on the recommendation made by the teacher, school authorities said. He attacked the teacher with a sickle on the school premises, a school official told PTI. The boy tried to escape but was caught and handed over to police. "The teacher has been admitted to hospital. She needs to undergo some minor procedure in left eyebrow. I was told that she may get discharged in a day or two," the official said. Police said they have registered a case under various IPC offences. Since the boy was a minor, he would be sent to a juvenile home, a police official said. The police have seized the sickle and the motorcycle in which the boy had come to the school, he added. This is the second such campus crime in the state in the past few weeks. On September 26, a 45-year-old woman professor was allegedly stabbed by a guest lecturer on the campus of Madurai Kamaraj University. The guest lecturer was apparently upset over non-renewal of his service contract. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia today directed Delhi's law and education secretaries not to send the file of a bill for regularising guest teachers to Lieutenant Governor (LG) Anil Baijal with their comments unless approved by the ministers concerned. The development comes a day after the Delhi Assembly passed the bill which seeks to regularise around 15,000 guest teachers in government schools. During a discussion on the bill in the Delhi Assembly yesterday, Kejriwal had alleged that officers are not showing files to the ministers concerned on the direction of the LG. Sisodia, who also holds the education portfolio, has issued an order directing law and education secretaries to follow his direction. He said that as per the Transaction of Business Rules (TBR), law and education secretaries will send the file pertaining to the bill, with their comments to the LG for his approval. "I have come out with an order today that neither the law secretary nor the education secretary should send file without getting their comments approved from the law and education ministers," the deputy chief minister told a press conference. He said that whatever file that goes to the Lt Governor for his approval should go with the ministers' remarks. Yesterday, the Delhi Assembly passed the bill on regularisation of guest teachers despite the objection of the LG who claimed that it was not in accordance with the constitutional scheme of governance of the NCT of Delhi. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former city mayor Devendra Bhadana today opened fire on his nephew in Anangpur village over a property-related dispute, police said. Dipanshu was at his shop this evening when Bhadana and his associates reached there and thrashed him. The former mayor then shot his nephew. Dipanshu was rushed to hospital with serious injuries, a police spokesperson said. His family alleged Bhadana had usurped their land and Dipanshu had been protesting against it. The police said a case against the former mayor will be registered once Dipanshu records his statement. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Amid a stiff opposition from the Delhi government over the proposed fare hike of Delhi Metro, Urban Development Minister Hardeep Singh Puri today said the increase is required for its survival. "You have to decongest the city. You have to use your margin of persuasion with state governments. Now in case of Delhi, I have been trying to work my very limited margin, with the chief Minister wants fares not be raised for Delhi Metro," he said here at the India Economic Summit of the World Economic Forum (WEF). It was decided that fares of Delhi Metro would be increased in two installments as they had not gone up for eight years, he said. "He (Delhi Chief Minister) thinks it should be deferred. Now how does world class asset like the Delhi Metro survive if it is not allowed to charge fares," the minister said. "You have to build urban infrastructure...pressure of population, urbanisation is much faster in India," he added. Delhi Metro, which has been operational in the capital since 2002, is at present carrying around 27 lakh passengers everyday, and has become the lifeline of the city with a punctuality of over 99.7 per cent. Since 2009, there has been no increase in fare, whereas the input cost for the DMRC has increased by over 105 per cent in energy, 139 per cent in staff cost and by 213 per cent for repair and maintenance. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Claiming that the NDA government has put an end to corruption and scandals since it assumed office, Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi today said forces affected by it are trying to spoil the atmosphere in the country. "Certainly, there are forces, who feel...their businesses finished with the way the march of development is taking place and the way corruption and scandals have come to an end. So, they try to spoil the atmosphere," the minority affairs minister said. "But, our commitment is that the light of development should reach the last man without leakage," he added. Naqvi was addressing a camp organised here to promote the 'Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana'. Amid allegations of a slowdown in the economy, he said the whole world sees India as a strong economic power. "Today, the whole world sees India as a strong economic power. What is the reason for this? We have blocked the way for power brokers. We put an end to the loot. We worked to see that the benefits reached people without any leakage," he said. "We are proud to say that the country has got such a Prime Minister who works day and night for the development of the country and the welfare of people and poor," he said. Under the 'Mudra Yojana' launched on April 8, 2015, the Centre has approved about Rs 9.13 crore loans. A substantial number of beneficiaries of the scheme are women and those belonging to SC, ST, OBC and minorities. Former Union minister and BJP MP Bandaru Dattatreya said the 'Mudra Yojana' has enabled women and the poor to get loans from banks which used to benefit the well-off sections more. Telangana Finance Minister E Rajender said the banks need to lend more to the poor though there has been progress on this front in recent times. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Activist-journalist Gauri Lankesh, who was gunned down outside her home in Bengaluru last month, will be posthumously given the Anna Politkovskaya Award this year, making her the first Indian to receive the honour, her family said today. Lankesh will share the annual award, instituted in memory of a Russian investigative reporter who was assassinated last year in Moscow, with Pakistani activist Gulalai Ismail. Ismail is fighting rightwing extremism in Pakistan. The award is conferred by London-based organisation RAW in WAR (Reach All Women in War), and the announcement about Lankesh winning it was made to the media in Bengaluru by her mother Indira, brother Indrajit and sister Kavitha Lankesh. "Today, we received an email from Russia that my sister has been chosen for the Anna Politkovskaya Award. She is the first Indian recipient of the award," Kavitha said. "Anna was an activist-journalist just like my sister. She was killed on October 7, 2006, when she was in a lift. Five people accosted her and poisoned her," she said, quoting from the email. She was killed for speaking up against the human rights violations in then-restive Chechnya province of Russia and exposing corruption. "In her name, the award has been instituted exclusively for women, to honour those who work towards upholding the human dignity, especially of women and children," she said. Indrajit said, "I have lost my sister. I appeal to the government to nab the murderers. Finding out the motive may solve the riddle of M M Kalburgi, Narendra Dabholkar and Govind Pansare murder (all rationalists) cases." Whether he was satisfied with the investigation by the 21-member Special Investigation Team formed by the Karnataka government, he said they wait for the killers to be caught. "We can't say we are happy with the investigation till the killers are found. But we are satisfied with the work they are doing," Kavitha said. She expressed unhappinessover speculative stories appearing in the media. Gauri Lankesh, the founder-editor of the 'Gauri Lankesh Patrike' and known to be an anti-establishment voice, was shot dead by unidentified men outside her residence on September 5. On October 3 this year, Karnataka minister Ramalinga Reddy claimed the SIT has identified the killers. He, however, did not share the details, saying the SIT was gathering more evidence. Her assassination came days after the second anniversary of the killing of Kannada writer and rationalist M M Kalburgi, who fell to bullets fired by two unidentified men at his residence at Dharwad in north Karnataka in August 2015. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Goa government will restart newborn baby screening facility in the state under National Rural Health Mission, Health Minister Vishwajit Rane said today. Goa was the first state to start screening of newborn babies when Digambar Kamat led government was in power in the year 2008 but it was later discontinued in the year 2012 by BJP-led government. "Government of Goa is restarting newborn baby screening on top priority and will get funding from the Centre through the National Rural Health Mission," Rane told PTI today. "Goa was the only state where 28 parameters were being checked for treatable metabolic disorders in babies 'Heel to Heal' was the name of our campaign where two drops of blood were taken from the heel of the child and within 48 hours the tests were conducted so as to give a better quality life for our children," he said. "We will move in the direction of Singapore which has newborn baby screening linked to birth registrations - in the interests of our children of Goa," Rane said, adding, the process to restart the screening has begun. "We are hoping that the screening would start from this year onwards as the cases of disorder amongst children are on the rise and we should diagnose them on time," the minister said. In the year 2012, then health minister Laxmikant Parsekar had told the state legislative assembly that Goa was spending Rs 8.33 crore on the scheme, which can instead be used to improve rural healthcare facilities like Primary Health Centres (PHCs) or Community Health Centres (CHCs). Parsekar had made this announcement on the floor of the House responding to questions raised during passing of the demands for grants on health department. The medical screening was done to detect metabolic disorders among the new born children. "Through these screenings we have found that one of 9,000 babies born at GMC has an amino acid disorder, one out of 11,500 babies has fatty acid disorder and one of 30,000-40,000 has an organic acid disorder," Parsekar had then told the Assembly. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The government may sell flagship carrier this fiscal itself if it finds a suitable buyer, according to official sources. The government, they said, also expects to meet its disinvestment target as there are a number of companies in the pipeline. Various companies including GIC, New India Assurance will go for listing while strategic disinvestment of Pawan Hans and NPCIL will help meet the government its ambitious target of Rs 72,500 crore for the current fiscal. Besides, the merger of HPCL and ONGC will also add to the kitty. Earlier in the day, a ministerial panel, headed by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, conducted a meeting to review the progress of strategic disinvestment of various state-owned companies of key ministries. The meeting was attended by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju, Urban Development Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, Railways Minister Piyush Goyal, Commerce and Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu, Chemicals and Fertilizers Minister Ananath Kumar and Heavy Industry Minister Anant Geete. As per the Budget documents, the government had budgeted to raise Rs 72,500 crore through disinvestment in CPSEs in 2017-18, which is higher than the Rs 45,500 crore raised in the current fiscal as per revised estimate. Fiscal 2016-17 is the seventh year in a row when the government would not be meeting the disinvestment target fixed in the Budget. As much as Rs 56,500 crore was budgeted to be raised through PSU disinvestment in 2016-17. The government decided on strategic disinvestment in loss-making in June. On June 28, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) had given its in-principle approval for strategic disinvestment of and five of its subsidiaries. Subsequently, an Air India-specific Alternative Mechanism was set up to guide the process. The Gujarat High Court today rejected Zakia Jafri's plea challenging a lower court order upholding the SIT's clean chit to the then chief minister Narendra Modi and others on the allegation of a larger conspiracy behind the 2002 post-Godhra riots. Jafri's son, however, termed the ruling as a victory, as the court allowed the petitioners to approach an appropriate forum to seek reinvestigation. Justice Sonia Gokani rejected Jafri's contention that Modi, some senior police officers and bureaucrats were party to a larger conspiracy. The issue was already discussed by the Supreme Court in its 2015 order on a petition of former IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt, said the judge. The apex court considered the contentions regarding the larger conspiracy and dismissed them, the high court said. Also, the probe carried out by the Special Investigation Team was monitored by the Supreme Court, Justice Gokani said. The high court, however, partly allowed Jafri's petition as far as its demand of a further investigation was concerned. The lower court (metropolitan magistrate) had "self-limited" itself by saying that it had limited powers with regard to ordering further investigation, it said. The petitioner can approach an appropriate forum including the magistrate's court, a division bench of the high court or the Supreme Court seeking further investigation, the high court said. Zakia Jafri, the wife of slain former MP and Congress leader Ehsan Jafri, and activist Teesta Setalvad's NGO Citizen for Justice and Peace had filed a criminal review petition against the magistrate's order upholding the clean chit given by the SIT to Modi and others. The petition demanded that Modi and 59 others -- including senior police officers and bureaucrats -- be made accused for allegedly being part of a conspiracy which facilitated the riots. It had also sought the high court's direction for fresh investigation into the matter. Ehsan Jafri was among 68 people killed at the Gulberg Society in Ahmedabad when a mob attacked it on February 28, 2002, a day after the Godhra train burning incident which set off riots in the state. In December 2013, the magistrate's court rejected Zakia Jafri's plea seeking a case against Modi and others for criminal conspiracy, after which she moved the high court in 2014. The SIT had, on February 8, 2012, filed a closure report and given clean chit to Modi and others in the case. In the high court, the SIT lawyer submitted that its probe was conducted under the Supreme Court's watchful eye, and its report was largely accepted by all. The lower court looked into all aspects of allegations to conclude that there was no further need to investigate the matter from the angle of larger conspiracy, the SIT argued. Zakia Jafri's lawyer Mihir Desai argued that the magistrate, while accepting the SIT's closure report, did not even consider other options such as rejecting the report or ordering a fresh probe. The lower court ignored the Supreme Court's guidelines and did not consider the signed statements of witnesses which had suggested that there was a conspiracy, he argued. Reacting to today's ruling, Zakia Jafri's son Tanvir Jafri termed it a victory, saying that high court had allowed the petitioners to approach the lower court or any other appropriate forum to seek reinvestigation. "My mother sees this verdict as a victory, as the high court today made it clear that the lower court was wrong when it said that it does not have the power to ask the SIT to investigate the matter further. Thus we are happy because my mother's plea was partially allowed," Tanvir Jafri told PTI. "We will consult our lawyers about the future course of action, as the high court has given us the option to approach the same magisterial court or the special SIT court which heard the Gulberg society riot case," he said. Setalvad refused to comment on the ruling. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas has appointed as its deputy leader a military official accused of organising multiple deadly attacks against Israelis, an official said today. "Salah al-Aruri was elected deputy to (Hamas leader) Ismail Haniya," an official in the movement told AFP on condition of anonymity, after a vote of its 18-member political bureau. Aruri, who lives in exile after having spent almost two decades in Israeli jails, is alleged to have masterminded a series of attacks against Israelis in the occupied West Bank. In 2015, the US Treasury issued sanctions against Aruri, along with other officials of Hamas, which is currently in negotiations with the internationally recognised Palestinian Authority about reconciliation. Aruri was based in Syria for a number of years but is now resident in Lebanon, according to senior Hamas sources. There was no immediate reaction from Israel, which had previously accused Turkey of sheltering Aruri, to his appointment. Hamas, which runs the Gaza Strip and has fought three wars with Israel since 2008, is considered a terrorist organisation by the United States, European Union and others. The Jewish state accuses Hamas of the 2014 kidnapping and murder of three Israeli teens in the West Bank that was part of an escalation towards war in Gaza that summer. The Islamist group has never officially claimed responsibility for the killings but a video posted online shows Aruri allegedly praising Hamas's military wing for the "heroic" action. His appointment follows the election in February of another military leader, Yahya Sinwar, as Hamas's Gaza chief. Analysts say Sinwar is technically third in command following Aruri's appointment but has strong support in the military wing. Aruri joined Hamas in 1987 and helped establish a military wing for the movement in the West Bank, according to Hamas media. He was jailed by Israel for 15 years after being convicted of forming military cells in the territory. Three months after his release in 2007 he was again jailed for a further three years, before being released and deported from the Palestinian territories. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Madras High Court on Thursday dismissed a plea by sidelined AIADMK leader TTV Dhinakaran to extend his October 31 deadline for settling the party symbol dispute case to February 28 next year. Justices M Venugopal and Abdul Quddhose of the Madurai bench said the court had set the deadline as it felt that a time-frame should be fixed for disposal of the dispute. It had accordingly directed the Election Commission (EC) to dispose it of before October 31 this year, the bench observed. The court had on September 15 directed the EC to decide before October 31 the matter related to the AIADMK's 'two leaves' symbol, frozen by the poll body in March after two factions of the party staked claim to it. Dhinakaran, in his petition, had prayed for extension of the deadline, saying the EC had sought fresh submissions and it would only expand the scope of the dispute. Besides, he had said that the EC should allow his group to file objections for the new submissions. Dhinakaran had filed the petition on October 3, days after the EC had rejected his plea to grant 15 days more to submit affidavits in the symbol dispute case and said the hearing would take place on October 6 as scheduled. Rejecting the petition, the judges said the EC had given time till yesterday for the petitioner to file his rejoinder or objections to the fresh submissions or documents. It had also agreed to hear the oral submission tomorrow (October 6). "It is not open to the petitioner now to take a contra-plea. Petitioner cannot approbate and reprobate in the eye of law. The plea of the petitioner cannot be acceded to prevent aberration of justice," the judges said while dismissing Dhinakaran's petition. They had yesterday reserved orders on Dhinakaran's plea after the counsel for Chief Minister K Palaniswami's faction had sought its dismissal. The counsel had stated that the EC had given sufficient time till October 4 for submission of documents. Dhinakaran had claimed that 102 MLAs, 37 MPs and 1,912 general council and central executive committee members supported him. He submitted that the latest EC direction to make fresh submission would only enhance the scope of the dispute, and it would not be able to decide the dispute involving volumes of documents before October 31. Hence, he had sought extension of the deadline. The high court bench had given the October 31 deadline for EC on a PIL by Ramkumar Adityan, an AIADMK member and advocate. He had sought a direction to the EC to conduct an election among the party's general council and executive committee and MLAs and MPs, totalling 3,100, to decide which group had the majority. Adityan's petition was filed on August 22, a day after the two factions led by K Palaniswami and his predecessor O Panneerselvam merged, sidelining jailed party chief V K Sasikala and her deputy Dhinakaran. Mizoram police officials have seized 645 grams of heroin worth over Rs 22 lakh during raids in two districts since Monday. About 350 grams of heroin was seized from Keitum in Serchipp district last night and two Myanmarese nationals were arrested in this connection, the police said. The contraband was worth around Rs 12.50 lakh in the local market, the police said. The police officials also seized 295 grams of heroin, worth about Rs 10 lakh, from Mamit district bordering Tripura on Monday night, the police said. Two persons of New Eden village were arrested in this connection. The accused persons were booked under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) After cooking -- and eating -- food from across the world, celebrity chef Sanjeev Kapoor has come to believe that nothing bubbles quite like the cauldron of Indian cuisines. The television host, writer of numerous books and restaurateur says that he is yet to find anything that matches up to the complexity and variety of Indian food. "I really feel proud of our Indian food. There is nothing like this -- it has so many dimensions, so much of variety," he told PTI. Kapoor was recently named brand ambassador for Food Street, a curated food zone being organised by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries at the World Food India event that opens here on November 3. "Food Street will showcase Indian heritage to people from outside and also show how Indians adapt to foreign food," he said. The Padma Shri awardee added that people no longer equate Indian food merely with curries and naan. "I think the earlier notion that Indian food was only about kebab, curries and naan is changing with some premium restaurants opening across the world," he said. With a hint of pride in his voice, the chef said he found Indian food in restaurants and retails during his travels from Malaysia and Australia to the US. Kapoor, whose show "Khana Khazana" is one of the longest running TV programmes in Asia, said in India, too, interests in culinary matters had been growing over the years. His own rise to fame is a case in point. Back in 1993, at a time when cable TV had just entered Indian homes, Kapoor was just a man with a toque. Today, he runs his own food channel, Food Food, which he launched in 2011. The master chef, who specialises in Indian cuisine, has taken regional food to over 120 countries through "Khana Khazana", which has been running for over 17 years. "The interest in food is not something which is only limited to kitchen. From the kitchen it has come to the drawing room," he said. He is also upbeat about the younger generation's rising interest in food. "It is good that the younger generation is talking about food and interested in knowing more about food. That leads to cooking, too. Eventually, when you get to know more you actually start consuming healthier food," he said Kapoor, who describes biryani as the dish he loves to cook and Punjabi kadhi as what he loves to eat the most, said the Food Street will show the world the many sides of Indian food. "India is a huge market. Food Street gives an opportunity to showcase Indian food. It is a mix of concept ideas, for which we are bringing top chefs from the world," he said. The event will also focus on sustainable agri-businesses and trade opportunities. The three-day event will include panel discussions on issues such as the future of super-foods and organic farming. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A blame game today erupted between the chief ministers of Haryana and Punjab over the arrest of Honeypreet Insan, who claims to be the adopted daughter of jailed Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh. While Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar accused the Punjab Police of not sharing information with its Haryana counterpart ahead of her arrest on October 3, Punjab CM Amarinder Singh alleged that the allegations were an attempt to shift attention from the situation in Haryana. "The Punjab Police should have informed the Haryana Police about Honeypreet's whereabouts earlier. Something smells fishy," Khattar told reporters here today. He was responding to questions about Honeypreet appearing before some media channels hours ahead of her arrest. "This (delay in her arrest) has happened due to the Punjab Police. How much the Punjab police helped (her) and how much was in their knowledge...If it was in their knowledge they should have passed information to the Haryana police and handed her over to them," he claimed. After Honeypreet's interrogation, many things would come out in the open, he said adding that innocent people would be punished and guilty would not be spared. On being asked whether any political leader was involved in shielding Honeypreet, he said that it was not appropriate to comment on the issue as the interrogation was underway. "As things come, they will become clear," he said. However, again commenting about Punjab police, Khattar said, "I already said this about Punjab police that their people and their cars were present, something smells fishy," he said. He was apparently referring to a raid by the Haryana Police in Rajasthan to nab Honeypreet on September 22. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh lambasted Khattar, for raising questions about the role of the Punjab Police in the case. Singh asked Khattar to refrain from such alleged "fabrications to shield his own government's failure" in the Dera Sacha Sauda case. He alleged that after trying "unsuccessfully to pin the blame for the Panchkula violence on the Punjab government", Khattar was once again trying to divert public attention from the collapse of the law and order in Haryana since the rape conviction of Dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh. Significantly, Amarinder Singh is leading a Congress government in Punjab while Khattar leads a BJP government in neighbouring Haryana. Rejecting claims of any involvement of the Punjab government or any of its institutions, the Punjab chief minister said if the state police had any information about Honeypreet they would have shared it with their Haryana counterparts. Amarinder Singh, in a statement hours after Khattar's remarks, said reports, in fact, claimed that a senior Haryana Police officer had known about Honeypreet's whereabouts for several days but had failed to arrest her. He alleged that instead of probing the role of his own officials, Khattar was trying to shift focus to Punjab. He trashed Khattar's charges that the Punjab Police had failed to give intelligence inputs to the police in the neighbouring state. Amarinder Singh said the Punjab Police had been giving regular inputs to their counterparts in Haryana even before the hearing in Ram Rahim's case in Panchkula. He claimed that the Haryana government and police had failed to take cognisance, or act on the information. The chief minister said though the Punjab Police was not pursuing Honeypreet as she was not wanted in any case in the state, there was no question of shielding her. Khattar should focus on taking the case to its logical conclusion and on maintaining law and order in Haryana, instead of wasting time and energy in concocting false charges against the Punjab government and the police, he said. Honeypreet was arrested by the Haryana Police from the Zirakpur-Patiala in Punjab on Tuesday. The Haryana police are probing her role in the violence which broke out following Ram Rahim Singh's conviction and left 41 dead. Meanwhile, sources said that the Haryana Police is mulling a narco test on Honeypreet since she was proving tough to interrogate offering only nods and silences to the 40-odd questions put by the SIT. Honeypreet and another arrested woman, Sukhdeep Kaur, were taken to Bathinda in Punjab today in connection with the investigations into the violence that broke out after Ram Rahim Singh's conviction. A Haryana Police team took the two accused from Panchkula to Rampura Phul Sadar police station in Bathinda district where they were questioned for close to half an hour. Afterwards, the police team took the two women to an old house in Arya Nagar in Bathinda for questioning. The inmates of the house, which was found locked, were said to be connected to Dera Sacha Sauda. Earlier, the Haryana police had said that Kaur had "confirmed that Honeypreet was with her for the past several days in Bathinda district of Punjab." Honeypreet, who is on a six-day police remand, was at the top of a list of 43 people 'wanted' by the Haryana Police in connection with the incidents of violence. Panchkula Police Commissioner A S Chawla had earlier said that Honeypreet was taken into custody by the SIT in-charge (Mukesh Kumar) from the Zirakpur-Patiala road in Punjab. Chawla alleged that the role of a relative of Ram Rahim Singh, who is a politician, was under the scanner. Meanwhile, Harminder Singh Jassi, a former Congress MLA from Punjab, told media today that the last time he had met Honeypreet was on the intervening night of August 25 and August 26. "I never provided shelter to Honeypreet. After a lookout notice was issued against her (on Sep 1) by the Haryana police, she did not meet me," he said. The accusations of sheltering Honeypreet against me are "baseless", he said adding that he would quit politics if the allegations are proved. Asked about his visit to Sri Gurusar Modia village in Rajasthan, the native place of Ram Rahim Singh who is serving a 20-year prison sentence, Jassi said he had gone to meet his daughter. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Indian Air Force is capable of effectively countering any threat from China while engaging in a two-front war also involving Pakistan, Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa said today and indicated that tension still prevailed between Chinese and Indian troops in Dokalam. The chief said Chinese troops were currently present in the Chumbi valley, which is in the Dokalam Plateau, and added that a peaceful resolution of the issue would be in the interest of both countries. "The two sides are not in a physical face-off as we speak. However, their forces in Chumbi Valley are still deployed and I expect them to withdraw as their exercise in the area gets over," Dhanoa told reporters ahead of Day, which is marked on October 8. Asked about concerns over Pakistan's tactical nuclear weapons and whether the would be able to disarm Islamabad of its nuclear arsenals if necessary, Dhanoa said his force had the capability of locating, fixing and striking across the border. Asserting that the IAF was capable of a two-front war to counter China and Pakistan, he, however, said the possibility of such a scenario was "low". At the same time he added that India's response had to be based on the enemy's capability as intentions could change overnight. "We need a strength of 42 squadrons to carry out full spectrum operations in a two-front (war) scenario. It does not mean that we are not capable of fighting a two-front (war) as we speak. We have a plan B," Dhanoa said. Army chief Gen Bipin Rawat had said last month that the country should be prepared for a two-front war, insisting that China had started "flexing its muscles", while there seemed to be no scope for a reconciliation with Pakistan whose military and polity saw an adversary in India. Currently, the IAF has 33 fighter squadrons and Dhanoa said the force would get the authorised strength of 42 fighter squadrons by 2032. Asked whether the IAF was ready for a surgical strike across the border, he said it was ready to deal with any challenge and a call on such an operation would have to be taken by the government. "Surgical strike is a decision that has to be taken by the government. The IAF has the capability to carry out the full spectrum of air operations," he said. He said a war-like situation may arise if the IAF crossed the border. On whether the IAF provided any support to the Army for the surgical strike last year and during the Dokalam face-off, the IAF chief said, "Whatever was asked from the air force was provided". He refused to share further details. The IAF chief, however, said no air force assets were involved during the Myanmar operation and the surgical strike across the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir last year. "The IAF is prepared to fight at a short notice in full synergy with the other two sister services should the need arise," he said, adding that the force was in a high state of readiness to fight a war. About a possible confrontation with China, he said India's air power was "adequate". At the same time, he talked about what China could or could not do from Tibet. "Our capability is adequate," he said. The IAF chief also spoke on a range of issues including steps being taken to enhance the strike capability of the force including the acquisition of S-400 'Triumf' long-range air defence missile systems from Russia and 36 Rafale combat jets. He said the contract for five S-400 missile systems would be signed soon and their delivery would start two years after the deal was struck. The IAF chief also talked about the mid-life upgrading of Mirage 2000, Mig 29s and Jaguar fleets, adding that the IAF was working to fully achieving a network-centric operational capability. Dhanoa said a proposal for 83 indigenously built Light Combat Aircraft Mark I was being finalised. "These men and women under my command are confident of taking on any threat and are fully prepared to undertake the full spectrum of air operations and respond to any challenge in the most befitting manner," said Dhanoa. When asked about the Army chief's two-and-half front war comment also referring to internal security threats, Dhanoa said, "As a democracy we don't use kinetic air power against our own people. (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 Indian Air Force is capable of effectively countering any threat from China and Pakistan simultaneously in a two-front war, Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa said today, and indicated existing tension between Chinese and Indian troops in Dokalam. Noting that the Chinese troops were currently present in the Chumbi Valley in the Dokalam Plateau, the IAF chief said a peaceful resolution of the issue would be in the interest of both the countries. "The two sides are not in a physical face-off as we speak. However, their forces in Chumbi Valley are still deployed and I expect them to withdraw as their exercise in the area gets over," Dhanoa told reporters ahead of IAF Day, which is marked on October 8. Indian and Chinese troops were locked in an over two- month-long standoff after India stopped the construction of a road by China in Dokalam in the Sikkim sector on June 16. Asked about concerns over Pakistan's tactical nuclear weapons and whether the IAF would be able to disarm Islamabad of its nuclear arsenals if necessary, Dhanoa said his force had the capability of locating, fixing and striking across the border. Asserting that the IAF was capable of a two-front war to counter China and Pakistan, he, however, said the possibility of such a scenario was "low". At the same time he added that India's response had to be based on the enemy's capability as intentions could change overnight. "We need a strength of 42 squadrons to carry out full spectrum operations in a two-front (war) scenario. It does not mean that we are not capable of fighting a two-front (war) as we speak. We have a plan B," Dhanoa said. Army chief Gen Bipin Rawat had said last month that the country should be prepared for a two-front war, insisting that China had started "flexing its muscles", while there seemed to be no scope for a reconciliation with Pakistan whose military and polity saw an adversary in India. Currently, the IAF has 33 fighter squadrons and Dhanoa said the force would get the authorised strength of 42 fighter squadrons by 2032. Asked whether the IAF was ready for a surgical strike across the border, he said it was ready to deal with any challenge and a call on such an operation would have to be taken by the government. "Surgical strike is a decision that has to be taken by the government. The IAF has the capability to carry out the full spectrum of air operations," he said. He said a war-like situation may arise if the IAF crossed the border. On whether the IAF provided any support to the Army for the surgical strike last year and during the Dokalam face-off, the IAF chief said, "Whatever was asked from the air force was provided". He refused to share further details. The IAF chief, however, said no air force assets were involved during the Myanmar operation and the surgical strike across the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir last year. "The IAF is prepared to fight at a short notice in full synergy with the other two sister services should the need arise," he said, adding that the force was in a high state of readiness to fight a war. About a possible confrontation with China, he said India's air power was "adequate". At the same time, he talked about what China could or could not do from Tibet. "Our capability is adequate," he said. The IAF chief also spoke on a range of issues including steps being taken to enhance the strike capability of the force such as the acquisition of S-400 'Triumf' long-range air defence missile systems from Russia and 36 Rafale combat jets. He said the contract for five S-400 missile systems would be signed soon and their delivery would start two years after the deal was struck. The IAF chief also talked about the mid-life upgrading of Mirage 2000, Mig 29s and Jaguar fleets, adding that the IAF was working to fully achieving a network-centric operational capability. Dhanoa said a proposal for 83 indigenously built Light Combat Aircraft Mark I was being finalised, adding the force is getting 40 Light Combat Aircraft (LAC) and an RFP (request for proposal) for 83 more LCA will be issued. He said the IAF would be getting 36 more Sukhoi jets and their delivery would start from 2019. Dhanoa also said test firing of the Brahmos missile would start from next month. The Brahmos supersonic missile systems are being integrated with the Sukhoi-30 MKI frontline fighter jet. Referring to a string of accidents involving the IAF's choppers and aircraft, Dhanoa said, "Our losses in peacetime are a cause of concern. We are making concerted efforts to minimise accidents and preserve our assets". He said security at all the IAF installations had been significantly enhanced after last year's terror attack on the Pathankot base. The steps included putting in place an integrated perimeter security system and buying lethal weapons. "These men and women under my command are confident of taking on any threat and are fully prepared to undertake the full spectrum of air operations and respond to any challenge in the most befitting manner," said Dhanoa. When asked about the Army chief's two-and-half front war comment also referring to internal security threats, Dhanoa said, "As a democracy we don't use kinetic air power against our own people. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa today said the IAF has the capability of locating and striking nuclear and other targets in Pakistan. The comments by the chief of the Indian Air Force came when asked at a conference about global concerns over the safety of Pakistan's tactical nuclear weapons and whether IAF would be able to disarm Islamabad of its nuclear assets if necessary. "We have a draft nuclear doctrine. It is answered in that -- what happens when the enemy decides to use nuclear weapons on us. As far as IAF is concerned, it has the ability to locate, fix and strike and that is not only for tactical nuclear weapons but for other targets across the border (as well)," he said. Dhanoa said the IAF has the capabililty to carry out "full spectrum" of offensive at a "short notice" to thwart any security challenge facing the country. "The IAF is prepared to fight at short notice in full synergy with other two sister services should the need arises. IAF has the capabiliuty of sustaining operational preapardness for a prolonged period," he said, referring to overall threat perception facing the country. Last month, Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi had said his country has developed short-range nuclear weapons to counter the 'Cold Start' doctrine of the Indian Army. Cold Start doctrine' was developed by the Indian Army for a possible war with Pakistan. This doctrine involves various branches of the Army conducting offensive operations as part of unified battle groups. There has been global concerns over safety of nuclear weapons in Pakistan. In August, a senior Trump administration official said the US was worried that nuclear weapons and materials in Pakistan might land up in the hands of terrorist groups or individuals. The Nuclear Command Authority (NCA) of Pakistan is responsible for command, control and operational decisions regarding the country's nuclear arsenals. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In a major move, the will start the process this month to acquire a fleet of single-engine fighter jets which are expected to significantly enhance its overall strike capability. Chief of Air Staff B S Dhanoa said having a new fleet of single engine jets was a "priority" for the IAF and the request for information (RFI) for it is likely to be issued "very soon". Another top official of the IAF told PTI that the RFI, kick starting the acquisition process, will be issued this month. The fighter jets will be produced jointly by a foreign aircraft maker along with an Indian company under the recently launched strategic partnership model which aims to bring in high-end defence technology to India. "The RFI for the single-engine fighter is likely to be issued very soon," Dhanoa said addressing a press conference. A request for information is a business process aimed at gathering information on the capabilities of various suppliers. Swedish defence giant Saab and Indian conglomerate Adani group last month had announced a collaboration, mainly eyeing the contract for single-engine jets for the IAF. US defence firm Lockheed Martin is also seen as a major competitor for the deal. Dhanoa said IAF is giving priority to the single engine fighters as the twin-engine fighters will cost more. "Right now, we are concentrating on the single engine so as to make up the numbers with lower cost," he said. The IAF currently has 33 fighter squadrons against authorised strength of 42. The IAF chief, however, said the force has requirement of twin engine jets as well. In September last year, India had signed an Euro 7.87- billion (approx Rs 59,000 crore) deal with the French government for purchase of 36 Rafale twin-engine fighter jets. The IAF was keen on a follow-on order of 36 additional Rafales. The supply of Rafale jets is schedules to start from September 2019. Sources said the IAF will start receiving a fresh fleet of 36 Sukhoi jets from 2019. Asked about purchase of tankers for IAF, Dhanoa said, as the RFP for buyinbg them has been withdrawn, the IAF is now upgrading the IL-78 so that it can carry more fuel. The IL-78 is a Soviet-built four-engined aerial refuelling tanker "There is a requirement of tankers which we will pursue again for acquisition," he said. Asked about the fifth-generation fighter aircraft project (FGFA) with Russia, Dhanoa said a high-level committee has submitted its report to defence ministry which will take a call on it. "The case is with the ministry of defence. The preliminary design phase has been completed. The Varthaman committee has submitted its report which is classified and we have also given our response," Dhanoa said. In 2007, India and Russia had inked an inter-governmental pact for the FGFA project. In December 2010, India had agreed to pay $295 million (Rs 1,897 crore) towards the preliminary design of the fighter, which is called in India as the 'Perspective Multi- role Fighter'. However, negotiations faced various hurdles in the subsequent years. Answering a question, the Air Chief said that the IAF will consider procuring Predator unmanned combat aerial vehicle in case it is offered by the US. Predator is a remotely piloted unmanned aerial vehicle used primarily by the US Air Force. India not signing the Hague Convention dealing with inter-parental child abduction is a "very serious" issue, the US president's nominee to be the next envoy to India has said. The Hague Convention on Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (1980), signed by 96 countries, provides for a mechanism to return a child internationally abducted by a parent from one member country to another. During the confirmation hearing of Kenneth Juster before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Rob Portman from Ohio said that there are 80 known cases of abductions of American kids in India. Notably, almost all of these cases are a result of marital dispute in which one of the parents have got permission from courts in India to have custody of the children. In American parlance, these are considered as abductions, mainly because these kids are US citizen by birth. India is placed second after Mexico when it comes to children being forced to return to the country by a parent in cases of marital discord. "There's something like 80 cases right now of abductions of American kids in India. It's part of our relationship that I think doesn't get enough focus. India has not yet signed the 1980 Hague Convention on International Child abduction," Portman said. There are, something like 96 countries who have signed that and India should sign it, Portman said, adding that this basically provides an expedited mechanism to adjudicate these child custody disputes that arise and help return abducted kids to their rightful homes. In response, Juster said, he can't think of anything more "heartbreaking" than having a parent have their child abducted and not being able to visit them or have some resolution of the matter. "This is a very serious issue, the Indian government is not a signatory to the Hague Convention, I don't know how likely it is that they may become one, but that's certainly if confirmed an issue that I would pursue," the ambassadorial nominee told lawmakers. Even if India is not in that convention, it's important that there be some process for addressing and trying to resolve individual cases. "I want to meet with individuals who are involved in these and understand their stories and their side of the issue. It will be an important, and I know it is already important concern for the mission in India," Juster 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.) India today agreed to consider a fresh line of credit of USD 195 million for development of Ethiopia's power transmission sector and expressed its eagerness to enhance development cooperation with the country. The decision came as President Ram Nath Kovind held talks with Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn. During their talks, both leaders affirmed commitment to stronger bilateral ties, according to the official twitter account of the President. "We have agreed to consider fresh line of credit of US$ 195 million for development of Ethiopia's power transmission," the president said. Kovind said India is eager to enhance development cooperation; focus on human resource training, skill development of Ethiopia's youth. He called Desalegn "a close friend of India" and thanked him for his role in crafting a "contemporary, modern partnership". Kovind arrived here from Djibouti yesterday on the second leg of his maiden visit abroad. His visit is the first by an Indian president to Ethiopia in 45 years since President V V Giri's trip in 1972. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Japan-born British author Kazuo Ishiguro who today won the 2017 Nobel Prize for Literature, initially thought it was a "hoax". The 62-year-old writer said that the award was a magnificent honour, but admitted that he had not been contacted by the Nobel committee. "So, wasn't sure whether it was a hoax", he was quoted as saying by the BBC. Ishiguro said that the award was "flabbergastingly flattering, a magnificent honour, mainly because it means that I am in the footsteps of the greatest authors that have lived, so that was a terrific commendation." The London-based author won the Nobel prize for his novel 'The Remains of the Day', for which he had bagged the Booker Prize for literature in 1989. He is best known for his novels Never Let Me Go and The Remains of the Day, both of which were also turned into successful films. Ishiguro is the 114th winner of one of the most coveted awards in the field of literature, following in the footsteps of the likes of Toni Morrison and Pablo Neruda. He said that he hoped the Nobel Prize would be a force for good. "The world is in a very uncertain moment and I would hope all the Nobel Prizes would be a force for something positive in the world as it is at the moment," he said. The novelist also said that he will be deeply moved if he could in some way be part of some sort of climate this year in contributing to some sort of positive atmosphere at a very uncertain time. The Nobel Prize, announced by the Nobel Academy in accordance with the wishes of Swedish philanthropist Alfred Nobel, is worth around 832,000 million pounds and is awarded to the "person who shall have produced in the field of literature the most outstanding work in an ideal direction". Congratulating Ishiguro on his win, Indian origin author Salman Rushdie said "Many congratulations to my old friend Ish, whose work I have loved and admired ever since I first read A Pale View of Hills. And he plays the guitar and writes songs too! Roll over Bob Dylan". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Authorities in Iran's Shiite Muslim clerical capital Qom have banned the use of hookah water pipes in public in a fresh crackdown on smokers, local media reported today. "Consuming tobacco or using hookah pipes are forbidden in coffee houses, traditional eateries, restaurants, cafes, hotels, hostels, parks and all other public places," prosecutor Mehedi Kahe said, semi-official agency ISNA reported. Kahe said the ban -- set to be made public in the next few days -- was taken on health grounds and warned that any establishments breaking the rules will be shuttered. Smoking tobacco in public places, except for in the street, has been officially forbidden in Iran since 2006, but the measure is often violated. In 2008, the government reversed a plan to ban hugely popular hookah pipes in traditional coffeehouses after protests by owners who complained that it would deprive them of the vast bulk of their income. The city of Qom, some 120 kms south of Tehran, is a major Shiite theological centre and one of the most conservative cities in Iran. According to the latest World Health Organisation figures, some 20 per cent of men and 0.6 per cent of women among Iran's population of 80 million smoke every day. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The All-India Jat Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti (AIJASS) today threatened to launch a protest if the government fails to give reservation in education and government jobs to members of the community by October 14. In a meeting here, leaders of the Jat body said they would announce their stir on October 15 in a meeting along with representatives of the community from the village and block levels. Senior AIJASS leaders Veerbhan Dhul and Bharat Singh said that no action had been taken by the government despite several rounds of deliberations. "If the demands are not met by October 14, we will announce our protest in the meeting," they said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Karnataka Power Minister D K Shivakumar today again appeared before the Income Tax Department which had conducted raids on his premises for alleged tax evasion. "It is part of our duty. Everyday someone or the other issummoned. One among them today was D K Shivakumar," an IT official told PTI here. Shivakumar had earlier appeared before the IT department officials on August 7 in connection with the raids conducted at various properties linked to him. The department had issued summons to him to appear beforeit for questioning. In August, Income Tax officials had conducted searches at 10 locations in Bengaluru, Chennai and Delhi as a follow up to raids at various properties linked to Shivakumar. The searches had kicked up a political row with the Congress alleging misuse of the I-T department by the central government to target their leaders. The Congress had questioned the timing of IT searches andraid on properties of Shivakumar, who was overseeing the stay of 44 Congress MLAs from Gujarat at a resort on the city outskirts, ahead of Rajya Sabha polls in that state in which Congress President Sonia Gandhi's political secretary Ahmed Patel was seeking re-election. The Congress had accused the BJP of "stealing" its MLAs in Gujarat ahead of the polls and had flown them to Bengaluru to prevent it. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The separatists in Kashmir today called for a mass public meeting on October 14 at TRC Ground here to protest against various issues including braid chopping and alleged assault on the special status of Jammu and Kashmir. "The joint resistance camp led by Syed Ali Geelani, Umar Farooq and Mohammad Yasin Malik decided to call a state-level public meeting in TRC Polo View on October 14," the separatists said in a statement. Calling for mass participation, they said people have been asked to register protest against "incessant incidents of braid chopping, attempts at altering and changing history, culture, heritage and Muslim majority status of the state by authorities in New Delhi". They said the braid chopping incidents are an attack on dignity and a "war weapon against women folk". Asking people to stand against these acts, they said it was decided to resent and resist against those elements including RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh for "their shameful and provocative statements". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today thanked Lt Governor Anil Baijal for approving the Delhi government's higher education loan scheme, a day after he hit out at the L-G over his objection to a bill to regularise guest teachers. The chief minister urged Baijal to also give his nod to the government's Bill which seeks to regularise around 15,000 guest teachers. "Thank u LG Sir. We wud urge u to sign the Guest Teacher Bill also pl (sic)," Kejriwal tweeted. During a discussion on the Bill in the Delhi Assembly yesterday, Kejriwal said, "I am an elected chief minister, not a terrorist," while launching a broadside against the LG, BJP and the bureaucracy, alleging a nexus between them. "Hum Delhi ke maalik hai (we are Delhi's masters), not the bureaucracy," he had said. However, the Bill was later passed by a voice vote in the House, despite the objection of the L-G who claimed that it was not in accordance with the constitutional scheme of governance of the NCT of Delhi. Kejriwal had alleged that the files relating to the regularisation of the teachers were never shown to Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who also holds the education portfolio, by the officials on the direction of the L-G. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Khalistani terrorist Harnek Singh was today convicted by a Rajasthan court for the abduction of Congress leader Ram Niwas Mirdha's son Rajendra Mirdha more than 22 years ago. Additional District Judge (ADJ) Pramod Malik held Singh guilty in the case and the quantum of sentence is likely to be pronounced tomorrow, Assistant Public Prosecutor Rajendra Kumar said here. Rajendra Mirdha, son of Congress leader from Rajasthan and former Union minister Ram Niwas Mirdha, was abducted on February 17, 1995 while out for his morning walk. He was rescued by the police later in an operation. Singh, who belonged to terrorist outfit Khalistan Liberation Front (KLF), has been in jail since he was arrested by Punjab Police in 2004. He was brought to Jaipur and arrested in this case on February 28, 2007. In May this year, the Rajasthan High Court had directed the lower court to complete the trial within three months and ordered the additional advocate general to personally monitor the case. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) RJD leader and former railway minister Lalu Prasad Yadav today reached the CBI headquarters here for questioning in connection with alleged corruption in awarding the maintenance contract for two IRCTC hotels to a private firm. Yadav, who arrived at the headquarters at 11 am, was accompanied by his daughter Misa and did not speak to the media. He was taken to the investigation officer while Misa was asked to wait in the lobby, CBI sources said. His son Tejashwi Yadav, the former deputy chief minister of Bihar, is scheduled to appear before the agency tomorrow. The two were asked by the CBI to appear for questioning on October 5 and 6 in the alleged corruption case. This was after both leaders expressed their inability to appear on October 4 and 5. It is alleged that Yadav, as railway minister in 2006, handed over maintenance of two Railway hotels -- BNR Ranchi and Puri -- to Sujata Hotel (a company owned by Vinay and Vijay Kochhar) after receiving a bribe in the form of three acres of prime land through a 'benami' (shell) company. (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 Las Vegas gunman who carried out the deadliest mass shooting in recent US history also had scouted possible locations in Chicago and Boston, US media reported today. Stephen Paddock had booked two rooms at Chicago's Blackstone hotel overlooking an expansive downtown park where the popular Lollapalooza music festival took place over four days in August, according to the website TMZ and NBC . The 64-year-old gambler and retired accountant had also researched the city of Boston, NBC reported, citing senior law enforcement officials who have been examining the gunman's electronic records. He never showed up for his Chicago booking, according to the media reports, but the August 2-5 timing may have offered Paddock an opportunity similar to the Las Vegas Strip concert Sunday night. Hundreds of thousands attended the music festival at Chicago's Grant Park, including Malia Obama, the former president's daughter. In Las Vegas, Paddock rained bullets from a nearby hotel tower into crowds attending an outdoor country music festival, killing 58 and injuring hundreds more. Investigators have said the attack, the deadliest mass shooting in recent US history, was meticulously planned. "We are aware of the media reports and have been in communication with our federal partners," Chicago police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said in a statement. The hotel management company and Lollapalooza did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The Blackstone is a historic luxury hotel where heads of state including former president Jimmy Carter, and artists such as Nat King Cole and Rudolph Valentino have stayed. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The girlfriend of the Las Vegas shooter said on Thursday that she had no idea he was planning the attack, describing her boyfriend as a "quiet, caring man" as President Donald Trump declared the United States a nation in mourning. In her first public comments over the shooting at a country music concert that left 58 dead and more than 500 injured, Marilou Danley said she had hoped for a quiet future with Stephen Paddock. In Las Vegas, Trump visited with survivors and first responders, eulogizing parents and spouses who "used their own bodies to protect their loved ones" from the onslaught that eliminated any future for many. He toured the Las Vegas Police Department Command Center and the city's University Medical Center, where he met, among others, officer Tyler Peterson who was injured while responding to the shooting. "In the months ahead, we will all have to wrestle with the horror that unfolded this week, but we will struggle through it together," the president said. Air Force One touched down at McCarran Airport as the FBI was questioning Danley for clues to what drove Paddock to mass murder. ALSO READ: Why gun control loses, and why Las Vegas might change that The 62-year-old returned to the United States from her native Philippines late Tuesday and was met by FBI agents. In a statement read by her attorney Matthew Lombard, she said she had no hint of what was to come: "I knew Stephen Paddock as a kind, caring, quiet man." "I loved him and hoped for a quiet future together with him," she said. "He never said anything to me or took any action that I was aware of that I understood in any way to be a warning that something horrible like this was going to happen." ALSO READ: Meticulous planning by Las Vegas gunman before he opened fire Danley added that two weeks ago, Paddock had told her he found a cheap plane ticket for her to visit family in the Philippines and had wired her money to purchase a house while she was there. She said she became concerned at that point, thinking he wanted to break up with her. "It never occurred to me in any way whatsoever that he was planning violence against anyone," said Danley, an Australian citizen who moved to the United States 20 years ago to work on the casino strip. US authorities have been at a loss as to how a 64-year- old gambler and retired accountant hauled a vast arsenal of weapons to his hotel room and launched his assault. ALSO READ: Las Vegas suspect was a gambler who drew little attention Investigators say the shooting appeared to be extensively planned: Paddock set up one camera in the peephole of his hotel room door and two in the hallway. Homegrown handset maker Lava will soon phase out its two 'Z series' smartphones as it plans to focus on sub-10k category with attractive features like bokeh mode camera. Lava, which launched new Z series smartphones - Z60, Z70, Z80 and Z90 - in India yesterday, plans to focus on sub-Rs 10,000 category with 6-7 models in its portfolio to capture a bigger pie of the market in this price segment. It will discontinue Z10 and Z25 priced at Rs 11,500 and Rs 18,000 respectively. "We want to focus and dominate in the sub Rs 10,000 mobile phones segment with a portfolio of 6-7 models. Our strategy is to have limited number of products and drive volumes. We will phase out Z10 and Z25," Lava International Head Smart phones Deepak Mahajan told PTI. The four new Z Series smartphones are priced between Rs 5,500-10,750 and will be available at retail stores across India and on all major e-commerce portals. Prominent features in the new Lava series phones include Bokeh Mode in both front and rear cameras in Z60. Dual Bokeh feature makes photographs appealing by making the objects stand out from the background. Z70 is equipped with a fast fingerprint scanner with App encryption. You can select Apps that can be unlocked using the finger print scanner. Z80 is a light-weight device with Piano finish design and Dual Bokeh Mode. Z90 has a dual camera to provide more visible and sharp images in low light in addition to the Dual Bokeh feature. These smartphones are also equipped with Microsoft SwiftKey keyboard which offers multi-lingual read and write option. The devices come with Android 7.0 Nougat operating system. The company has also announced Lava money back challenge offer for its customers. Under this offer, a customer can experience a Lava product for 30 days and in case the customer does not like the product, customers can walk into any Lava service centre to get an on-the-spot refund for their returned handset. The challenge is valid from October 1, 2017 to December 31, 2017. "This challenge has never been offered by any other brand in the mobile handset industry before and talks about the confidence the company has on its products," the company said. These products are designed in Lava's R&D centre in Shenzhen in China. Lava's India-based Design Centre will roll out devices designed locally by the end of 2017. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi is meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris for talks on the international fight against Islamic State group extremists and rebuilding Iraq's economy. Macron has been reticent about the escalating tensions between Iraq's government and its Kurdish region following its independence referendum. Today's meeting in Paris comes days after France faced a new attack claimed by IS, a fatal stabbing in Marseille. The French military is active in the US-led coalition against IS, which is trying to oust the extremists from their last Iraqi strongholds. Abadi is heading a large Iraqi government delegation in Paris that will also meet with French executives seeking close economic ties and reconstruction deals. Abadi will also visit an exhibit on Middle East Christians at Paris' Arab World Institute. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Congress asserted today that it was ready for early Lok Sabha elections along with that of state assemblies, while the Left parties opposed any move to hold simultaneous elections. The assertions came a day after Election Commissioner O P Rawat said in Bhopal that the poll body would be "logistically equipped" by September 2018 to hold simultaneous polls to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. Chief spokesperson of the Congress Randeep Surjewala said the government must have sounded out the poll panel about advancing the polls and asserted the people were waiting to give a "befitting reply" to the Modi government as they were fed up with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his 'jumlas' (rhetoric). The CPI and the CPI(M) said the central government was not empowered to take such a decision unilaterally. "The Election Commission must have been sounded out by the current BJP government that it was going to prepone the parliamentary elections. "The Congress Party has no such knowledge. However, we are prepared to face election at any time, for the people of this country are fed up with Prime Minister Modi and his 'jumlas' and the way his government is going about decimating jobs, businesses as also trade and agriculture," Surjewala told reporters. When asked about the EC's take on simultaneous elections, the Congress leader said the Election Commission has a constitutional obligation to conduct free and fair elections and be ready to conduct election with appropriate notice from the government. "I think the people of this country will give a befitting reply, just like they gave in 2004 during 'India Shining' to the Vajpayee government if elections are preponed, for people are waiting for elections to happen so that they can actually ask Modi-ji, where is the 'Achhe Din'?" he said. CPI leader D Raja alleged that the Election Commission was "toeing" the BJP line on holding simultaneous polls to the Lok Sabha and assemblies and termed the proposal as "not feasible". "It is the BJP line, the ruling party has always propagated one nation, one culture, one poll theory. And now the Election Commission (EC) is also speaking in the same language. It is toeing the BJP line," Raja said. The CPI leader said the Constitution has clearly defined multi-party democracy and "simultaneous polls are not feasible as the central government cannot force all state governments to go for polls during Lok Sabha elections". He said the Constitution is very clear regarding the tenure of assemblies and the Lok Sabha. CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat criticised the simultaneous polls proposal and said that it was "a political issue and cannot be decided by an individual". "It cannot depend on the whims and fancy of individuals. Modi-ji can't just one day decide that the Assembly and Lok Sabha polls should be held simultaneously and wants all the institutions to accept it. This is not democracy," Karat said. She said the tenure of the state assemblies are fixed for five years and in no circumstances can it be changed. The announcement by the poll panel came days after it issued a formal direction that VVPAT or paper trail machines would be used at polling stations in all future elections. "The Election Commission was asked by the Centre as what it would require for becoming capable of holding the parliamentary and assembly polls together. "In response, the EC had asked for funds to purchase new EVMs and VVPAT machines. The commission would be logistically equipped by September, 2018 to hold parliamentary and assembly polls together," Rawat said. Some former election commissioners have said the Election Commission is capable of holding simultaneous polls to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies but the government needs to put in place sound legal provisions to carry out the exercise. Prime Minister Modi and the BJP have been pressing for holding of simultaneous elections to help save time and the country's resources. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A legislation has been introduced in the House of Representatives advocating educational, scholarly, and professional exchange programmes between the US and India with a focus on the work of Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. America's legendary civil rights activists and long-time lawmaker John Lewis has introduced 'Gandhi-King Scholarly Exchange Initiative' on October 2 the birth anniversary of Gandhi. If passed by Congress and signed into law by the President, the initiative would be comprised of educational, scholarly, and professional exchange programs, including an annual public diplomacy forum for scholars from the US and India that focuses on the legacies of Gandhi and King. The legislation HR 3909 also seeks scholars from the two countries to focus on studying the work of Gandhi and King, and applying their philosophies to current issues, including the status of poverty, conflict, human rights, civil rights, peace, nonviolence, and democracy in the United States and India. Urging the US government to develop a curriculum with the help of scholars from the two countries for teaching conflict resolution and make such curriculum available to participating government employees. It advocates an undergraduate, graduate, and post- graduate student exchange for students to study the history and legacies of King and Gandhi; visit historic sites in India and the United States that were integral to the American civil rights movement and the Indian independence movement; and research and develop papers on the importance of peace, nonviolence, and reconciliation in current conflict regions. "Mohandas (Mahatma) Karamchand Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr, were dedicated leaders of peace, civil rights, social justice, and social change in their respective communities and countries and in the world," it said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) French President Emmanuel Macron is offering for France to mediate between the Iraqi government and Kurds seeking independence after a controversial referendum. Macron made the offer after meeting Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi in Paris today in wide-ranging talks about French support for the fight against the Islamic State group and rebuilding Iraqi's economy. Macron said France and others are worried about the situation of the Kurds after last month's referendum, and said France supports the stability and territorial integrity of Iraq. He insisted on the importance of "national reconciliation and inclusive governance" that includes Kurds, "with whom France maintains close ties." Macron said dialogue "is the only path" and "France is ready to contribute actively to mediation. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Madras High Court today adjourned until October 10 the hearing on a petition filed against a lower court order, rejecting the plea to register a case of suspicious death in connection with the demise of former chief minister J Jayalalithaa. When the revision petition by A K Velan came up before Justice S Vimala, the government counsel submitted that a similar plea had earlier been dismissed by the high court. The judge recorded the submission and directed the government counsel to furnish a copy of the order on the matter and adjourned the hearing until October 10. In his petition filed before the 14th Metropolitan Magistrate Court at Egmore here, the petitioner had sought a direction to the Thousand Lights police station to register a case of suspicious death in connection with Jayalalithaa's demise. However, the petition was rejected by the lower court on June 27, following which the petitioner moved the high court. He said Jayalalithaa was under medical treatment at the Apollo Hospitals here for 74 days and she was suddenly declared dead on December 5, 2016. The petitioner alleged that secrecy was maintained with regard to the treatment provided to her by the hospital. Jayalalithaa was admitted to the Apollo Hospitals here for fever and dehydration on September 22, 2016. After a prolonged treatment, she died on December 5 following a cardiac arrest. Doubts have been raised over the events leading to Jayalalithaa's hospitalisation and her death by various quarters with opposition parties including the DMK demanding a CBI probe. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A minor domestic help attempted suicide by jumping off the eleventh floor of a high-rise in Faridabad allegedly due to the torture she endured from her employer, police said today. The girl was saved miraculously as she was caught in a net spread on the 10th floor of the Kanishka Tower in Sarai area, they said. The incident yeswterday terrified society residents who took her to a police station. The police have arrested the employer. A police spokesperson said both the employer and the help hailed from Bihar. The woman lived in the city to complete her studies and brought the girl, aged around 14, with her. The minor has injury and burnt marks on her body, possibly due to thrashing by the woman, the residents said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) As lawmakers in Sri Lanka celebrate the 70th anniversary of the country's parliamentary democracy, one of the oldest in Asia, minorities including Tamils, Christians and Muslims remain on the fringes of society. Even with some representation in Parliament, the minorities complain they have been sidelined by the majority Buddhist Sinhalese. The Sinhalese-controlled legislature has done little to heal the wounds left from a quarter-century civil war that ended in 2009, and still refuses to acknowledge or investigate allegations of wartime atrocities by the government. It has been accused of perpetuating rule by the country's 70 per cent Sinhalese majority instead of unifying the multicultural nation. With tensions growing, some, including the prime minister, have questioned whether Sri Lanka has been successful in its seven-decade state-building process. "We started 1947 as a united people, but over the past years we had an ethnic conflict ... to the point of a civil war," Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe told a special session of Parliament on Tuesday to celebrate its 70th anniversary. "We safeguarded democracy through all that, but we are yet to provide a political solution and unify the country," he said. Others say that, while democracy based on majority rule, has helped Sri Lanka on many fronts, it has also caused harm. Jehan Perera of the National Peace Council, a local peace research and activist group, argues that the political system has increased divisions in the tropical island nation. "In a country of ethnic divisions, majority rule can be a dictatorship by a permanent majority over a permanent minority," he said. The divisions surfaced quickly after Sri Lanka, then known as Ceylon, won independence from British rule in 1948. Within two years, the first post-independence Parliament stripped hundreds of thousands of mostly Tamil tea plantation workers of Indian origin of their citizenship and right to vote. That prompted fears among indigenous Tamil leaders, who demanded a federal form of self-rule in the country's north and east where they form a majority. In 1956 a new government came to power on a wave of Sinhalese Buddhist nationalism and quickly abolished English as the language of government, instituting Sinhala as the only national language. That marked the starting point of an ethnic conflict that later flared into a vicious civil war that killed at least 100,000 people, according to UN estimates. Non-violent campaigns by Tamil leaders demanding equal status for minority Tamils were attacked, and anti-Tamil riots killed hundreds of people. Thousands of other Tamils fled the country. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Trinamool Congress leadership today mocked suspended leader Mukul Roy for making "desperate attempts to please the BJP" and said the party had aligned with the BJP in 1998 as the then prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had rose above party politics to lead the nation. No one should confuse a statesman like Vajpayee with Prime Minister Narendra Modi or BJP president Amit Shah, TMC secretary general Partha Chatterjee said. "Yes we were part of the BJP-led NDA from 1998. But that was a different time. The NDA was then led by a statesman like Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who rose above party politics to lead the nation by taking along all castes, creeds and religions. He was a secular person. I want to ask can anybody put Atal Bihari Vajpayee and present prime minister Narendra Modi in the same bracket," Chatterjee said. "We had joined hands (with BJP) because of the secular leadership of Vajpayee. The day we understood that Vajpayee is no longer leading BJP and NDA, we parted ways. Then also we had fought against communalism and now too we are fighting against it," he said. Roy had yesterday termed the BJP as a secular party and said the TMC would not have tasted success without its backing at the national level during the initial years. Terming Roy as a "traitor trying to weaken the party", Chatterjee questioned, "Why is he making such statements now? Why he didn't say such things when he was in the party, when he was made the railways minister? Actually he is making desperate attempts to please the BJP and get into its good books. We called him a traitor and he himself proved it." Chatterjee challenged Roy to contest elections from any assembly seat in the state. "Instead of making such comments like a traitor, why doesn't he contest election from any of the 294 assembly seats in Bengal? We will see if he is able to win it. He is no one without the support of Mamata Banerjee," Chatterjee said. Once the second-in-command in the TMC after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Roy has been suspended for six years for "anti-party activities" after he said on September 25 that he would resign from the party after Durga Puja. He has been maintaining distance with the party leadership for the last few months and was removed as the TMC vice-president after the party decided to revamp its structure. He was earlier removed as the party's in-charge of Tripura where the TMC was steadily making inroads till its members switched over to the BJP earlier this year. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Star Chris Hemsworth has said that it is his model wife Elsa Pataky who has had to sacrifice more in their marriage. The 34-year-old actor said juggling busy Hollywood career and personal life simultaneously has often put a strain on his relationship with his better half, reported GQ Australia magazine. "My wife and I fell in love, had kids, didn't really see each other for a few years, then fell back in love. In terms of work, (Elsa has) certainly given up more than I have. "She'd like me to step back and be at home with the kids more, and of course, I want that too. But I feel like I'm at this crucial point in my career - I've just got to set up for longevity or I'll slip off," Hemsworth said. The "Thor" actor married Pataky in 2010. The couple has three children - five-year-old daughter India, and three-year-old twin sons Sasha and Tristan together. (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.) Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi today lambasted some political parties and "champions of corruption" and said the NDA government is moving forward to make India an economic power despite their "diversionary tactic". His remarks come amid the criticism of the government over its alleged poor handling of economy. The minority affairs minister said India's growth rate has remained above seven per cent in the last three years of the NDA government and the country has become "one of the safest and strongest" destinations for investment, according to a statement released by his office. "Despite diversionary tactic by some political parties and champions of corruption, the government is moving forward to make India an economic power of the world," the statement quoted him as saying at an event here, without naming any party or individual. Addressing a 'Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana' promotion camp here, Naqvi said the Centre's demonetisation decision, heavily criticised by opposition, has "started giving results". "Direct benefit transfer has (also) ensured transparency, as money has been given directly into the bank accounts of needy," he added. Lauding the government further, the minister added the Centre has approved loans for 9.13 crore borrowers under the Mudra Yojana, launched over two years ago. He said women constitute 76 per cent of the total beneficiaries of the programme. More than 55 per cent of the borrowers belong to communities such as SC/ST/OBCs and minorities, the minister said. Naqvi explained to the attendees -- local residents, traders, representatives from industries and social sector -- the Mudra Yojana and also various other schemes such as the Start Up India Stand Up India. The government set up the Micro Units Development & Refinance Agency (Mudra) Ltd. to fund non-corporate, non-farm sector income generating activities of micro and small enterprises whose credit needs are below Rs 10 lakh. Under the scheme, loan is being given to units according to their stages of growth: upto Rs 50,000; from Rs 50,000 to Rs 5 lakh; and between Rs 5 lakh and Rs 10 lakh in 'Shishu', 'Kishor' and 'Tarun' categories respectively. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A member of Iran's team of nuclear negotiators that struck the 2015 deal with world powers has been sentenced to five years in prison after being convicted in Iran of espionage, a semi-official agency reported. While unnamed in the report yesterday, the only negotiator known to be facing criminal charges is dual Iranian-Canadian national Abdolrasoul Dorri Esfahani. His detention, if confirmed, would make him the latest dual national to be arrested in Iran, part of what a United Nations panel has called an "emerging pattern" since the atomic accord. The sentencing was only reported by Iran's semi-official Tasnim agency, which is believed to be close to Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, a hard-line force answerable only to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The Guard has been involved in nearly every case involving dual nationals or those with Western ties being detained. "The conviction of a member of the nuclear negotiation team who has been arrested before and released on bail has been confirmed in the Tehran provincial appeals court," the short report read. "This person has been sentenced to five years in prison." Philip Hannan, a spokesman for Global Affairs Canada, said Canadian officials were "aware of media reports that a dual national has been sentenced in Iran." He declined to elaborate. In August 2016, hard-line outlets said authorities detained Esfahani, who reportedly worked as a member of a parallel team focusing on lifting economic sanctions against Iran as part of the nuclear deal. He was later granted bail, which is rare in Iran for those accused of having committed a serious crime. After the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Esfahani reportedly served as a member of the Iranian team working at The Hague on disputes between Iran and the United States over pre- revolution purchases of military equipment from the US by Iran. He is a member of the Ontario Institute of Chartered Accountants in Canada. He also has served as an adviser to the head of Iran's Central Bank. Esfahani's family could not be reached for comment and Iran's mission at the UN did not return a request for comment. Iran does not recognise dual nationalities, so such detainees cannot receive consular assistance. In most cases, dual nationals have faced secret charges in closed-door hearings before Iran's Revolutionary Court, which handles cases involving alleged attempts to overthrow the government. Others with ties to the West detained in Iran include Chinese-American graduate student Xiyue Wang, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison in Iran for allegedly "infiltrating" the country while doing doctoral research on Iran's Qajar dynasty. Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a British-Iranian woman, was sentenced to five years in prison on allegations of planning the "soft toppling" of Iran's government while travelling with her young daughter. Iranian businessman Siamak Namazi and his 81-year-old father Baquer, a former UNICEF representative who served as governor of Iran's oil-rich Khuzestan province under the US- backed shah, are both serving 10-year prison sentences on espionage. Iranian-American Robin Shahini was released on bail last year after staging a hunger strike while serving an 18-year prison sentence for "collaboration with a hostile government." Shahini is believed to still be in Iran. Also in an Iranian prison is Nizar Zakka, a US permanent resident from Lebanon who advocates for internet freedom and has done work for the US government. He was sentenced to 10 years last year on espionage-related charges. Former FBI agent Robert Levinson, who vanished in Iran in 2007 while on an unauthorised CIA mission, remains missing as well. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The NHRC has sent a notice to the Uttar Pradesh government and its police chief over reports of a man recently killed in an alleged fake encounter in Greater Noida. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) today said it has issued the notice to the state's chief secretary and the director general of police (DGP), and sought a report in four weeks. According to the media reports, Sumit Gurjar, an alleged gangster, was killed by the police on October 3. The family members of the deceased have alleged that he was killed in a "staged encounter" after the police picked up him from a market, the NHRC said in a statement. The family members along with villagers had protested near the mortuary at Sector-94 against the police action and had also blocked traffic at the Mahamaya Flyover for about 45 minutes, the NHRC said quoting from media reports. "Elimination of a criminal in such an unlawful manner can never send a good message to a civilised society. As has been emphasised time and again, the police do not have the right to take away life of a human being. It is not the lawful way to deal with the criminals," the rights panel said. The Commission has observed that the allegations levelled by the family members and the villagers, if true, "raise serious issue of violation of human rights" of the deceased and the aggrieved family. "According to the reports, Gurjar was wanted in a case of double murder and robbery. He had been taken into custody by the Noida police, but no satisfactory answer was given by the police officers. It was only when the television broke the that his family members came to know about his encounter," the NHRC said. Reportedly, the police authorities have denied the allegations of a fake encounter. The personnel of Kasna and Bisrakh police stations have claimed that he was "shot dead in an encounter in which his three accomplices managed to escape". According to the senior superintendent of police of Gautam Budh Nagar, a "fair investigation into the matter will be conducted", it said. The Commission has already issued guidelines to deal with matters relating to death in police encounter, which have been circulated through a letter written in May 2010, by the chairperson of the NHRC to the chief ministers of all states and the union territories. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The National Human Rights Commission will hold a one-day workshop in Pune tomorrow on elimination of bonded labour where it will also take up five long-pending cases related to the exploitative system. The event will be held at the Yashwantrao Chavan Academy of Development Administration, Raj Bhawan Complex, in collaboration with the Maharashtra government, the NHRC said. To be chaired by NHRC member justice D Murugesan, the workshop will start at 09:30 am and conclude by 04:00 pm, it said. "After the interactive sessions, the commission will also take up the five long-pending cases of bonded labour, including three from Pune, and one each from Nagpur and Jalgaon, which have been awaiting compliance from the state authorities concerned," the NHRC said in a statement. Senior officers of the state government, Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission, NGOs and representatives of brick kilns, stone crushing and other related industries, academicians and final year law students and research scholars from various universities in Pune are slated to attend it. It aims to familiarise district magistrates, state labour officers, members of vigilance committees and other stakeholders with the process of identification, release and rehabilitation of bonded labourers under the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976, and other related laws. The NHRC was asked by the Supreme Court in 1997 to get involved in the monitoring of the implementation of the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976. "The court's directions came while hearing a writ petition -- People's Union for Civil Liberties vs State of Tamil Nadu & others. Since then, the NHRC has been overseeing the implementation of the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act 1976 in different parts of the country," it said. Therefore, the commission, in its endeavour to raise concern on the continuance of bonded labour has been organising workshops to sensitise official machinery to work for its abolition in different parts of the country. The NHRC has organised 41 workshops on elimination of bonded labour so far, it said. The act of extraction of bonded labour is a criminal offence. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US Defence Secretary James Mattis has said that India's decision not to send troops to war-torn Afghanistan was perhaps guided by the Pakistan factor. Mattis praised India's contributions to Afghanistan's development before lawmakers at House Armed Services Committee, saying New Delhi has adopted a holistic approach in its assistance towards the country. "It is really a very holistic approach that India is taking. You'll notice I left off (Indian) boots (soldiers) on the ground because of the complexity that would bring to Pakistan," Mattis said yesterday in response to a question from Congressman Doug Lamborn during the Congressional hearing on South Asia. "We're trying to make this an inclusive strategy and we don't want them to get a sense that they're vulnerable to any Indian Army people from their western flank, that's not necessary," Mattis said. Mattis was in New Delhi last month and held talks with Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Sitharaman had ruled out any troop contribution in Afghanistan and said it will continue to provide development assistance to the country. Islamabad is opposed to any major role for India in neighbouring Afghanistan, saying a Kabul-New Delhi axis would be detrimental to Pakistan's strategic interests. During the hearing, Mattis insisted that an open border trade between India and Pakistan would help in bringing regional stability. "If there's any way for Pakistan and India to open their border to trade at great economic advantage to both of the countries, it would be a big help across the region," he said. Stability can follow economics as much as stability enables economics, he added. He hoped that they will eventually see that happen. "I believe India wants that to happen, but it's very hard to do that if your concern is that you open the border to one thing, and you get something else," Mattis said in an oblique reference to cross-border infilteration. Responding to a series of questions on the Indian role in Afghanistan, Mattis said, " New Delhi has been generous over many years with Afghanistan. Because of its very generous funding over the years, India has achieved a degree of affection from the Afghan people as a result. They intend to continue this effort and broaden it. Furthermore, they are providing training for Afghan military officers and NCOs at their schools." India, he said, is willing to do rehabilitation of Soviet-era equipment until they are replaced with American. That will take years, he noted. Furthermore, India has been providing and will continue to provide training for Afghan Army doctors and medics in the field so that the Afghan Army is able to take casualties and better sustain themselves thing, he said. Mattis said there are many areas where India and the US are natural partners for each other. The two countries, he said, are deepening and broadening the military-to-military relationship. "But it is not an exclusive strategy, exclusive of anyone. Any nation that wants to be part of the counter-terror effort and this stability effort in South Asia, can sign up," he said seeking to allay Pakistan's concern of being excluded. It is open to any nation that wants to move against terrorism and remove this threat to all civilised nations. Referring to his talks with the Indian leadership, Mattis said the US does not need to convince Indians that it doesn't have nefarious designs on the Indo-Pacific area. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Breaking his silence on his fight with Kangana Ranaut, Hrithik Roshan today said that he has been dragged in a "dirty perverse mess" without any choice and it is now time for him to defend his side of the truth. Hrithik had slapped a legal notice on his "Kites" co-star Kangana Ranaut in 2016 for calling him a "silly-ex" as he maintains that there was no relationship between them. Kangana, however, maintains that they had an affair and has accused the actor of slut-shaming her by allegedly leaking their private emails to the media. Their fight has been public and ugly ever since and the matter refuses to die down. Without naming Kangana, Hrithik, 43, posted a lengthy statement on Twitter. He said he initially tried to ignore the issue but it turned ugly for him. "I believe that ignorance, non-reaction and staying on the path of dignity is the best way to discourage any persistent unwanted intrusions. But Just like a nagging health issue sometimes ignored can turn malignant, this situation for me has unfortunately turned malignant," he said. Calling out the media for jumping to conclusions, Hrithik said he remained silent while the other party kept talking because he did not see any grace in adding to "this circus". "I have been dragged into a dirty perverse mess without a choice in the matter. This is something that is not of my making. The truth is, I have never met the lady in question one on one in my entire life. Yes, we have worked together, but there has been no meeting in private. That's the truth," he said. The actor said his fight was not against the "allegation of an affair" or to defend a "good guy" image. He also urged the media to not call it a "lover's spat". "I am in fact protecting myself from something far more serious, sensitive and destructive than that. Sadly, very few from the media or the public seem to be interested in the truth. This has been a hard-learnt fact for me," he added. The actor said he was ok if people were not interested in the truth as it threatened their model of the world where "a girl is the victim and the man the aggressor". He said that while he understands that women have suffered "centuries of abuse at the hands of men", it does not mean that one man "cannot be vulnerable and one woman can't be a liar". "An alleged seven-year long, passionate affair between two high profile celebrities with no trail left behind. No evidence, no paparazzi pictures, no witnesses, not even a memento in possession like a selfie taken at the alleged engagement which is claimed to have happened in Paris in January 2014. Nothing that constitutes an exchange or any sort of proof of a romantic relationship," he said. "Yet we want to believe the other party because the rhetoric is - why would a girl lie. My passport details show no travel outside the country in January 2014, which is the date that this alleged engagement supposedly took place. In Paris," he added. The actor claimed that the only proof presented of this alleged relationship was a photoshopped picture in the media. "This was immediately exposed, the very next day by friends including my ex-wife." "There are 3,000 one-sided mails which either I have sent to myself or the woman in question has sent to me. The Cyber- Crime Dept can prove or disprove either story, in just a few days." He said he has surrendered all his devices including laptops/phones to the cyber cell but the other party has refused to do so." Contrary to Kangana's claims, Hrithik said the investigation has not been closed in the matter. "I am not here to accuse or judge anyone, but it's time I defend the truth because when truth suffers the collective consciousness of society suffers. Civilisation suffers. Closer to home, families suffer. Children suffer," he concluded. Ranaut, during the promotions of "Simran" last month, had spoken at length again about her fight with Hrithik and had asked him to publicly issue an apology to her. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The arrival of first American oil shipment in Odisha this week marks a significant milestone in India-US partnership, the Trump administration said today. The first of a series of new shipments of crude oil from the United States arrived in Odisha on October 2. "We consider the increased Indian purchases of US crude oil to be a direct outcome of the June visit of the Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi to the White House," State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert told reporters at her daily conference. The leaders at that point talked about expanding and elevating the bilateral energy cooperation through a Strategic Energy Partnership, she noted. "So, we look at that event as marking a significant milestone in the growing partnership between the United States and India," Nauert said in response to a question. In one of the first shipments to India since the United States stopped oil exports in 1975, India received shipment of US crude oil with state-owned Indian Oil Corp (IOC) importing a 1.6 million barrels parcel at Paradip. State-owned Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corp Ltd (HPCL) have also placed orders for about 2.95 million barrels and 1 million barrels of US crude respectively for their Kochi and Vizag refineries. According to a US Embassy statement, the US crude oil shipments to India have the potential to boost bilateral trade by up to USD 2 billion. Next month, Nauert would join President Donald Trump's daughter and White House adviser Ivanka Trump on a trip to India. Ivanka would be leading a high-level US delegation to the Global Entrepreneurship Summit in Hyderabad. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Oman has revised the tourist visa for people from India, China and Russia in order to attract more tourists from these countries. Lubaina Sheerazi, India Representative, Ministry of Tourism, Oman, said, "The outbound segment in India is on a rise with the Indian economy booming and increasingly better standards of living. "We are certain that the recent change in policies will be favourable for the Indian travellers and Sultanate will see a positive growth in this upcoming festive and holiday season." Oman Airports Management Company (OAMC) announced the revised terms and conditions issued by the Omani authorities on the granting of non-sponsored tourist visa for the citizens of India, China and Russia, who reside in or who hold an entry visa to one of the these countries United States of America, Canada, Australia, United Kingdom and Schengen States to enter the Sultanate of Oman. The statement said the visa will be granted for a period of one month for a fee of OMR 20. According to OAMC circular the spouse and children of the visa holder would also be allowed to enter the Sultanate. The applicants, however, must also have a return ticket and confirmed hotel reservation in order to be granted the visa, it added. "We are extremely pleased with the recent development of facilitating non-sponsored tourist visa for Indians, Chinese and Russians. With the revision in visa regulations, we are expecting that Indian arrivals across all segments will grow exponentially - especially leisure and visitors to conventions and exhibitions," Oman Tourism Ministry Director General of Tourism Promotion Salim Adi Al Mamari said. He said, Oman has gained immense popularity with mature and evolved travellers in the recent years. "We aim to expand our travel and tourism offerings and are certain that the revised policies will offer expediency and convenience to travellers and will encourage more impromptu trips to the Sultanate," he added. Pakistan police today announced a reward of 500,000 rupees for information leading to the arrest of a helmet-wearing bike-borne attacker who has stabbed at least 12 women so far in the country's financial capital. Wearing a helmet and riding a motorcycle, the attackers identity still remains a mystery for the Karachi police which claimed that it has rounded up 16 suspects. Panic has gripped the congested Gulistan-e-Jauhar area, the Gulshan-e-Iqbal and Shah Faisal town areas in Pakistan's financial hub after the lone wolf attacker targeted at least 12 women and girls in the last 10 days, officials said. The attacker last night stabbed five women in different areas of the city. Police announced a reward of 500,000 rupees for information leading to the attacker's arrest. Additional Inspector-General Karachi, Mushtaq Mahar, told the media that they were close to cracking the case. Mahar said initially the police felt the attacker might be suffering from a mental disorder but the coordinated manner in which he carried out the attacks last night in different parts of the neighbourhood suggested he had other motives. CCTV footage shows the attacker approaching women or girls from behind and stabbing them with a knife in the back or in some cases upfront before speeding away. "There have been at least five FIRs registered by some victims and their families at different police stations," Mahar said. Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has instructed the police to arrest the attacker soon. Asked if terrorists were involved in these incidents to spread fear and panic, SP Ghulam Murtaza Bhutto said the Ansarul Sharia Pakistan may be responsible for the attacks. He said the group might be trying to divert the attention of the law enforcement agencies. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Pakistan Army on Thursday said it is close to a decision on the mercy petition of Indian who has been sentenced to death by a military court on charges of spying. Jadhav, a 46-year-old retired Indian Navy officer, was in April sentenced to death by Pakistan's Field General Court Martial on charges of his alleged "involvement in espionage and sabotage activities" against Pakistan. "Kulbhushan Jadhav's mercy petition has come to the army chief. There is a process, everything goes through a process but I can assure that it is near finalisation and we will give you news about this very soon," Major General Asif Ghafoor, the Army spokesman told a news briefing. Jadhav in June had sought clemency from the Pakistan Army chief over the death sentence after his plea to an appellate court was rejected. Under the law, he is eligible to appeal for clemency to the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and if rejected, subsequently to the Pakistan President. Pakistan claims its security forces arrested Jadhav from its restive Balochistan province on March 3 last year after he reportedly entered from Iran. However, India maintains that he was kidnapped from Iran where he had business interests after retiring from the Indian Navy. India has accused Pakistan of violating the Vienna Convention by repeatedly denying consular access to Jadhav. In a hearing of the case on May 18, a 10-member bench of the ICJ restrained Pakistan from executing Jadhav. Pakistan has said that the Indian would not be executed until he has exhausted his mercy appeals. (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.) Pakistan today refuted as "baseless" the remarks of a top US general who said the country's intelligence agency ISI has connections with terrorist groups, media reports said. "The US government and army cannot make Pakistan a scapegoat for its failures in Afghanistan," Foreign Office Spokesperson Nafees Zakaria said, the Dawn newspaper reported. "It is clear to me that the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) has connections with terrorist groups," Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Joseph Dunford had told the US Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday. Zakaria said Pakistan has cleared its areas and begun a decisive offensive against terrorists on its soil. Calling Gen Dunford's statement "baseless", he said Pakistan has acted against terrorists indiscriminately. The top American general on Tuesday was joined by his Defence Secretary Jim Mattis in slamming the ISI. "We have seen havens left to the terrorists' own devices. We have seen the government of Pakistan come down on terrorism, while ISI appears to run its own foreign policy," Mattis had said, acknowledging for the first time in public domain that ISI runs its own policy and does not seem to be controlled by the federal government. "The US is trying to blame Pakistan for its failures in Afghanistan," Zakaria said, according to the report. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Palestinian prime minister Rami Hamdallah left the Gaza Strip today after a four-day visit aimed at reconciliation with rival party Hamas, an AFP journalist said. Islamists Hamas agreed to hand over power to a unity government last month and Hamdallah's visit, the first since 2015, saw his ministers take control of ministries in Gaza. The move is part of wider attempts to end a decade-long split between the internationally recognised Palestinian Authority, which is based in the occupied West Bank, and Hamas, which runs Gaza. The two sides are set to meet for further talks in the Egyptian capital Cairo today. Before leaving today morning, Hamdallah and a number of his ministers visited the largest hospital in the Gaza Strip, as well as a desalination plant. He then left with his ministers through the Erez crossing in northern Gaza, which is controlled by Israel, an AFP videographer said. He is due to return to Ramallah in the West Bank where a meeting of senior members of Fatah, the secular party that dominates the Palestinian Authority, will be held today evening. Hamas, in a statement, said: "The Gaza Strip and its ministries are under the administration of the national reconciliation government. Hamas will work to support and strengthen its role." Hamas has ruled the territory since 2007, when it seized it from the Palestinian Authority in a near civil war, and multiple previous reconciliation attempts have failed. The Islamist movement has fought three wars with Israel since 2008 and is considered a terrorist organisation by the United States and the European Union. One of the main stumbling blocks to reconciliation is likely to be Hamas's military wing, with senior officials rejecting the idea of disarming. Two million people live in Gaza, blockaded by Israel and Egypt and suffering from poverty and electricity shortages. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A mob gheraoed a police station and tried to set free a man arrested on abduction charges in West district of Tripura following which police fired in the air and used batons to quell them, the police said today. The mob demanded release of a 26-year-old tribal man Balendra Debbarma soon after he was arrested yesterday in connection with an alleged abduction of a car driver on September 20. Police used lathis and burst tear gas shells before opening fire in the air to disperse the crowd, Superintendent of Police Avijit Saptarshi told PTI. The administration suspended Internet services in the state for 24 hours from 6.30 pm last evening to prevent spread of rumours, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) ABCNews.com(LAS VEGAS) -- Heres the latest on the investigation into the Las Vegas shooting: There is evidence the gunman, Stephen Paddock, planned to escape, Clark County Sheriff Joseph Lombardo said. At least 59 people, including the shooter, died after Sunday night's attack at a Las Vegas music festival. The motive remains unknown, but the city's police chief said the assault was "obviously premeditated." Paddock was seen gambling for eight hours straight on the night before the shooting. Paddock reportedly had been stockpiling firearms since 1982 and purchased 33 guns in the past year. Authorities said they have recovered 47 firearms so far from three locations connected to Paddock. Paddock's girlfriend returned to the U.S. from the Philippines and will be questioned by the FBI this afternoon. Paddock may have visited several music festivals in the Vegas area, investigators say. Meticulous planning preceded 'premeditated' shooting As investigators delve deeper into how Sunday night's massacre in Las Vegas unfolded, chilling news details have emerged about the suspected gunman and how he allegedly carried out the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history. Authorities say Stephen Paddock, a 64-year-old resident of Mesquite, Nevada, opened fire on a music festival crowd from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, killing 58 people and injuring 530 others. The shooting lasted between nine and 11 minutes, with the first reports of gunshots beginning Sunday at 10:08 p.m. PT and the final shots being fired at 10:19 p.m. Paddock is believed to have been solely responsible for the attack, according to police. Speaking Wednesday evening, Lombardo said that there is evidence that indicates Paddock, a 64-year-old resident of Mesquite, Nevada, planned to escape. However, Lombardo did not provide any details on what the evidence was or why he believes that. Lombardo added that there are indications Paddock had some kind of help. Paddock checked into the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino Sept. 28, bringing with him 10 bags and at least 23 guns, including high-powered rifles. He set up surveillance cameras inside and outside of his two-room suite. There was one camera on a room service cart in the hallway, police said. One official said Paddock also had a camera mounted in the room, apparently to record himself. Paddock was shuttered inside his suite for three days at the giant hotel-casino, perched high above from where the Route 91 Harvest Festival was taking place across the street. Room service was provided at some point during his stay. A search into Paddock's car, which was parked at Mandalay Bay, revealed several cans of tannerite as well as 1,600 rounds of ammunition, Lombardo said at a press conference Wednesday afternoon. Investigators believe Paddock used a device similar to a hammer to smash the windows in his room before he allegedly opened fire on the music festival crowd Sunday night, shortly after a rendition of God Bless America." Police responded to the hotel room, where Paddock was found dead. He is believed to have killed himself prior to police entry. Law enforcement sources told ABC News that Paddock utilized at least one camera outside the room possibly to monitor approaching authorities. "I anticipate he was looking for anybody coming to take him into custody," Clark County Sheriff Joseph Lombardo said at a news conference Tuesday. Lombardo said authorities are reviewing police body cameras. While the motive behind the deadly rampage remains unclear, Lombardo said the attack was "obviously premeditated" and the shooter "evaluated everything he did." Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, told a news conference today that the shooting "doesn't seem to have a terrorism nexus." ABC News has obtained images from inside Paddock's hotel room. A body is partially visibly in one of the photos, which is believed to be Paddock. The images also show rifles and bullet shells scattered across the floor, with high-capacity magazines stacked like bricks in a corner. An employee at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino told ABC News she spent a total of 16 hours serving Paddock in the casino during her shifts there over the weekend. She said she watched the man gamble for eight hours straight, from Saturday night into Sunday morning. He played high-stakes video poker on machines located in a separate, "exclusive" section of the casino, she said. As soon as she saw Paddock's picture on the news, identifying him as the suspected gunman, the casino employee said she knew it was the same man who had been her customer the night before the shooting. A 'plethora' of guns and ammo Authorities have executed search warrants at three locations as well as for Paddock's vehicle parked at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. In addition to the 23 guns recovered from Paddock's hotel room, which police said were purchased in Nevada, California, Utah and Texas, authorities also found a computer and several pieces of media there. Law enforcement sources said multiple loaded high-capacity magazines and a modified bump stock rifle, which allows a gun to stimulate rapid automatic gunfire, were discovered in the room as well. Investigators are still in the process of examining the firearms to determine whether they were capable of firing automatically. Meanwhile, material used to make explosives was found inside Paddock's car. Explosive material and 19 additional firearms were discovered at Paddock's home in a Mesquite retirement community. Five handguns, two shotguns, numerous electronics and a "plethora of ammunition" were also found at his property in Reno, according to Lombardo. Jill Snyder, special agent in charge at the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, told "CBS This Morning" in an interview Wednesday morning that Paddock had been stockpiling firearms since 1982. He bought nearly 50 guns legally, Snyder said, but none of those purchases set off any red flags for ATF. "From October 2016 to Sept. 28, 2017, he purchased 33 firearms, majority of them rifles," Snyder said. "We wouldn't get notified of the purchases of the rifles, we would only get notified if there was a multiple sale, which would be two or more handguns in an individual purchase." Suspect's girlfriend arrives back in US Investigators say Paddock's girlfriend, Marilou Danley, who lived with him at his home in Mesquite, is more than a mere witness. Currently shes a person of interest, Lombardo said at a news conference Tuesday. Danley, 62, returned to the United States from the Philippines Tuesday night. The Filipino-born woman landed at Los Angeles International Airport at 7:17 p.m. PT on Philippine Air Flight 102. She was taken out a back way so she wouldn't be seen in public, and FBI agents met her immediately upon landing, multiple law enforcement sources told ABC News. Police told reporters Wednesday afternoon that detectives would begin questioning Danley soon. The law offices of Matthew Lombard confirmed for ABC News Wednesday afternoon that she is at the FBI field office in Los Angeles with Lombard, who is representing her While agents met Danley upon landing, she is not officially in custody and is free to go where she pleases. Investigators hope she can shed some light on the motivation behind Paddock's alleged massacre over the weekend. In an interview with ABC News Wednesday, Danley's elder brother said he immediately contacted his sister when he saw the news that her boyfriend was allegedly behind the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history. "I called her up immediately and she said, 'Relax, we shouldn't worry about it. I'll fix it. Do not panic. I have a clean conscience,'" Reynaldo Bustos said in his native Tagalog language today outside the capital of Manila in their homeland. Paddock may have visited other festivals Over the last several months, Paddock may have visited several music festivals in the broader Vegas area, officials briefed on the investigation told ABC News, adding that it's thought that all of them were within driving distance of Las Vegas. Investigators believe Paddock started making regular visits to Mandalay Bay on Sept. 3 through the rest of the month. Paddock was known at "most of the big casinos" on the strip because he was a big player who came in a lot, the officials said. Authorities are also looking into whether Paddock tried to secure a room at the El Cortez Hotel and Casino, located on the opposite side of the Las Vegas Strip from the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino, on the weekend that the Life Is Beautiful music festival took place, between Sept. 22 and Sept. 24, the officials said. Paddock had rented a room at the Ogden Hotel in downtown Las Vegas the weekend of the Life Is Beautiful music festival, Lombardo said Wednesday. Authorities have recovered items and surveillance video from the weekend he stayed there, Lombardo said. Copyright 2017, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. A Congress minister in Puducherry today said he would stage a fast in front of Parliament against the Centre for "not taking any step to rein in Lt Governor Kiran Bedi" who, he alleged, was functioning in an "autocratic manner." Welfare Minister M Kandasamy in a five-page letter to Chief Minister V Narayanasamy referred to "difficulties" his departments had been facing allegedly since the present government was formed last year. He alleged it was due to the "negative stand of Kiran Bedi in approving various decisions taken by the Cabinet to benefit farmers and other sections of people". Kandasamy, elected from Embalam (reserved) segment, said he would inform the people in his constituency and stage a fast in front of Parliament in the next two months to condemn "the silence of the central government" which, he alleged, has not taken any steps to rein in Bedi who is functioning in an "utterly autocratic manner". He alleged that Bedi was adopting "an anti-government" stance and the finance secretary had also been acting on the advice of the Lt Governor to turn down files relating to several welfare measures formulated by his departments. The minister also requested the chief minister not to include his name, photo and also the departments and portfolios he was holding in the annual new year diaries and official calendars that would be brought out in 2018. A copy of the letter was released to the media. The minister's letter comes a day after Bedi shot off a letter to the National Commission for Scheduled Castes, seeking action against the Puducherry Adi Dravidar Development Corporation. Bedi said she had received a complaint from Puducherry- based Rajiv Gandhi Human Rights Organisation, alleging that the corporation had "wasted Rs 6.3 crore meant for the welfare of the Scheduled Caste people by erecting high-mast lamps at 175 centres in nine Assembly constituencies where it is not essential". The Narayanasamy-led Congress government in Puducherry has been at loggerheads with Bedi over a host of issues since she assumed the office last year. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pope Francis is denouncing how new technologies are making it easier for people to change gender, saying this "utopia of the neutral" risks the creation of new life. Francis made the comments yesterday to the Pontifical Academy for Life, the Vatican's bioethics advisory board, taking up his criticism of so-called gender theory and the idea that people can choose their sex. The academy under the previous two popes represented the leading, hardline voice of the Catholic Church on sexual ethics, morality and culture war issues such as abortion and euthanasia. Francis has revamped it to broaden its scope to better reflect his wholistic view of human life in concert with creation. But Francis kept to the church's hard line against gender theory in his first meeting with the new members yesterday. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) China has issued a travel advisory to its nationals visiting India, the first such warning after the Dokalam standoff, warning them about denial of visas to visit "restricted areas" like the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The Chinese Embassy in India issued the advisory, the third in four months, for Chinese tourists in India. The warning was posted on the embassy's website on Tuesday, and detailed several situations the embassy handled recently in which Chinese tourists were denied entry or investigated while travelling in India, state-run Global Times reported today. "Some Chinese citizens visited Andaman and Nicobar Islands, which are restricted areas for foreigners, without gaining permits from India. Some tourists were asked to return upon arrival. Some were even arrested or investigated," the statement read. "(Visitors should) not photograph India's border and military facilities and vehicles. While travelling on India's border neighbouring Nepal, avoid visiting border markets, and do not enter the territory of other countries by mistake," it added. On July 7, weeks after the Dokalam crisis began, the Chinese mission in India issued its first warning, asking Chinese nationals to reduce unnecessary travel to India, maintain a low profile when there, and respect local laws and law enforcement personnel. It reissued the warning on August 24. The 73-day Dokalam standoff started on June 16 when Chinese troops attempted to build a road in territory claimed by Bhutan close to the Indian border. Indian troops objected to it and stopped the Chinese from building the road. The standoff was finally resolved on August 28. Chinese tourists make up three per cent of foreign tourists visiting India each year, the Global Times quoted Indian media reports as saying. From January to May, 2017, about 119,000 visitors from China visited India, an increase of 9.2 per cent year-on-year. India has granted e-visa facility for Chinese travellers. A report by state-run Xinhua news agency two days ago said China is becoming one of the most popular destinations for Indian tourists. It is estimated that the number of outbound tourists from India will reach 50 million overall by 2020, up from 21.87 million in 2016, the report 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.) India represents a "refreshing change" in a world that is without clear global custodian and needs to forcefully pitch its narrative of openness to counter barriers being talked about by large powerful nations, Bharti Airtel Chairman Sunil Mittal said today. "What worries me is that due to lack of global leadership, we are seeing large powerful countries now starting to talk about barriers... This is the time when India needs to even more forcefully talk about its narrative of openness and open societies," Mittal said while addressing a session at the India Economic Summit of the World Economic Forum (WEF). The worrisome barriers include restriction on movement of people and anti-dumping or safeguard duties being used by certain countries to block products from other places, he said. Mittal, who heads India's largest telecom company, talked about the utter "confusion and vacuum" in global arena on issues like climate change, mass migration and international trade. "We are in an era where there is no global leader which has emerged as custodian of global order," he said, adding that India, on the other hand, represented a "refreshing change". "If you look at climate change, mass migration and global trade, there is complete confusion and vacuum. If you keep that as global backdrop and see what's happening in India, there is a refreshing change here. As the world has lost its narrative in global leadership, there is an Indian leader in form of Narendra Modi, who has emerged as strong and powerful leader driving Indian and global agenda," Mittal said. India's new narrative is fuelled by 'internationalisation', 'innovation' and 'inclusiveness', Mittal pointed out, highlighting India's lead on climate issue as well as its open investment policies. Mittal, however, said disparity between the rich and the poor had widened over the last 7-8 years and that distribution of wealth had not reached all levels of society. Citing a recent report that 200 top companies had seen reduction in employment in the last few years, he said: "If these top companies are not going to create jobs, it will get harder for the business community to pull society along with it." Companies need to, therefore, deliberate and discuss ways to include social angle to businesses goals, he emphasised. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Punjab Congress today urged the Election Commission to cancel the candidature of BJP's Swaran Salaria for the Gurdaspur bypoll for "concealing" information about a rape case filed against him in Mumbai. A Congress party delegation, led by party spokesman Gurpartap Singh Mann, gave a representation to the Punjab Chief Electoral Officer seeking disqualification of Salaria's candidature as he failed to inform the polling body about the case. However, Salaria, when contacted, said he stated in his affidavit as much as was required for filing his nomination. In the representation, the Congress claimed that the case was filed against Salaria on the complaint of a woman in 2014. Mann said the next date of hearing in the case is October 30. "Salaria has deliberately concealed the facts in his affidavit that no FIR/chargesheet is pending against him." He said Salaria's candidature is liable to be rejected as per section 125(A) of the Representation of People's Act. Section 125 (A) of the Act provides for up to six months of imprisonment or fine or both for giving wrong information or concealing any information in an election affidavit. "Salaria is concealing a rape case registered against him, which directly links to his personal character and his act is a deceit with voters," Mann said. The Congress urged the CEO to declare Salaria's candidature invalid and prosecute him as per legal provisions. But senior BJP leader Manoranjan Kalia said the Congress party was resorting to such tactics for fear of defeat in the Gurdaspur bypoll scheduled for October 11. Kalia said the Congress had no agenda for the by-election and is therefore indulging in propaganda. He said that Column Number 5 in Form No. 26 clearly mentions that the person filing the affidavit has to provide information if he has charges framed against him under sections which invite a minimum imprisonment of two years. "It means the person need not necessarily provide the information, which is not required. Salaria has a case against him under Section 506 of the IPC which has been granted stay by the court. This section invites a maximum punishment of six months, hence information regarding it was not required to be furnished at the time of filing the nomination," he said. BJP's ally Shiromani Akali Dal's spokesman N K Sharma said the Congress was playing "dirty tricks" to divert people's attention from the "total failure of the government". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The central government has sanctioned a cash credit limit (CCL) of Rs 28,262.84 crore to Punjab for procurement of paddy in the kharif marketing season 2017-18. Disclosing this here, a spokesperson of the Chief Minister's Office said that Chief Minister Amarinder Singh's personal intervention in the matter facilitated the release of the CCL, required to ensure timely payment to farmers against their crop. "The amount has been sanctioned for procurement of paddy in the current marketing season," said the spokesperson. Amarinder Singh has directed all the state procurement agencies to take immediate steps to ensure timely payment to the farmers for their produce, he said. The chief minister has reiterated his governments commitment to ensure smooth and hassle-free procurement from the farmers at the mandis, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi today questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi's assertion that the economy is on firm footing and said he was "dreaming". Addressing party workers in his Lok Sabha constituency here, he said the GDP has fallen by two per cent in one go and lakhs of people have become jobless. Gandhi also took a dig at the "56-inch chest" remark of Modi, saying, "Our Manmohan Singh did not have 56 inch chest but had done a lot of work like bringing MNREGA, loan waiver, right to information (RTI) and right to food." The Congress leader also appeared to be critical of the bullet train project, saying, "Had rupees one lakh crore been used to improve the railway line, station or freight train, the country would have benefitted but Modiji is only interested in gimmicks." On the second day of his three-day visit here, he asked Congress workers to question RSS on the raging issues like unemployment and farmers suicide. A day after Modi said the economy was on firm footing, Gandhi said, "Don't know what track he is talking about and what is he dreaming of... economists, newspapers, shopkeepers say that he has spoiled the economy but he says that it is on the right track... he is not ready to hear anyone." Modi, while lashing out at critics of his economic policies, had said yesterday that he will never jeopardise the country's future for immediate gains and that his government will continue reforms to reverse the GDP slowdown witnessed in the last two quarters. "Farmers are committing suicide, only 450 (people) get employment, economy has been damaged, still long speeches are being delivered," Gandhi said. Referring to the demonetisation decision announced on November 8 last year, Gandhi claimed that it was brought without consulting anyone. "Had he (Modi) asked, no one would have advised," he contended. "The same was done on GST," he said, adding that Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Manmohan Singh and P Chidambaram had said that the GST was the Congress' idea "but you have not understood it ... do not bring five different slabs." He went on to add, "Running a government and making false and hollow promises are two different things and today the entire country is aware of it." Talking about unemployment, he said India's competition is with China but in that country, 50,000 youth get jobs everyday while in India only 450 get employemt. "This is Modi's 'make-up India'," Gandhi said. He alleged that "the BJP people sometime talk of temple, Hindu-Muslim or Jat non-Jat and of dividing the nation." Apparently referring to the bullet train project of the NDA government, he said rupees one lakh crore loan has been taken from Japan and the ticket between Ahmedabad and Mumbai will be Rs 4000. He told the party workers that "as soon as RSS people start talking" they should be asked what has been done regarding employment and farmers' suicide. "You ask them these questions ....you have given jobs to only 450 people, in every state farmers are committing suicide, economy has been spoiled, note ban has snatched jobs from crores of youth crores, 150 people have died, the businesses of small and middle traders have suffered losses," he told the workers. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) of the Rajasthan police today raided the residence of a government engineer here in a case of disproportionate assets, ACB ADG Alok Tripathi said. Separate teams of the ACB, under directions from Inspector General Sachin Mittal, raided Rajasthan Housing Board project engineer Subhash Chandra Yadav's residence in the Mansarovar area and other locations in the city for documents related to movable and immovable assets owned by him, the ADG added. During the preliminary search, ACB sleuths found documents related to two shops in the Pratap Nagar area with an estimated combined worth of Rs 65 lakh, a plot of land in Jodhpur, two new cars, 15 policy bonds, 10 bank accounts and a bank locker, ADG Alok Tripathi said, adding that the locker and the bank accounts have been seized. He said that the accused engineer had misused his position to accumulate the assets. The assets found were 282 per cent more than the known sources of his income, ADG Tripathi said. A case has been registered against him and an investigation is on. The ACB conducted the raid after it received a complaint online, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Reliance Communications' aborting the plan to merge with Aircel is credit negative for the Anil Ambani-led firm as it was crucial to pare debt, Moody's Investors Service said today. RCom and Aircel had in September last year signed a binding agreement to merge their mobile businesses. But, on Sunday, RCom announced that the agreement had lapsed owing to legal and regulatory uncertainties, objections by interested parties and delays in receiving relevant approvals. "Cancellation of the merger is credit negative for RCom because the merger was crucial to a debt reduction plan the company agreed to with its lenders and which also included disposal of tower assets," Moody's said. RCom has said it continues to pursue the sale of its tower assets, although it did not provide an update on the process. RCom and Aircel, a unit of Malaysia-based Maxis Communications Bhd, were due to complete the merger this year to create India's fourth-largest telecom firm. While Aircel was one of the several possible transactions that Ambani was pushing for to reduce RCom's debt, the company said on Sunday that it will consider an alternate plan to cut debt, which includes sharing and trading of its spectrum or airwaves valued at about Rs 19,000 crore. Monetising its real estate, tower and fiber businesses are also under consideration. "In conjunction with the merger, RCom expected its debt to decline by Rs 14,000 crore with the transfer of bank debt and Rs 6,000 crore of spectrum liabilities to the new merged entity. "Because the merger has failed, RCom's debt levels will remain elevated and leverage, as measured by adjusted debt/EBITDA, will remain above 9.0x," Moody's said. RCom's reported debt totaled Rs 45,700 crore at March 31, 2017, including a USD 300 million senior secured bond due on November 6, 2020 and a USD 350 million senior secured bond issued by its 100 per cent-owned subsidiary, GCX Limited that is due on August 1, 2019. Moody's said because GCX is not a restricted subsidiary under RCom's USD 300 million bond indenture, GCX assets and cash flows are ring-fenced from RCom creditors. In June, RCom's lenders agreed to consider a strategic debt restructuring. As part of this process, the company received a standstill on its obligations' debt servicing through December 31, 2017, by which time the merger with Aircel and sale of 100 per cent of its tower assets were to have been completed. If the transactions are not completed, the lenders can exercise their right to convert their debt into equity and take over management of the company. RCom has stated that it has since extended the standstill deadline to December 31, 2018. The company did not provide a status update of its agreement to sell 100 per cent of its tower assets and related infrastructure to Brookfield Infrastructure Partners LP for Rs 11,000 crore, Moody's said. "Our negative outlook on RCom's rating reflects the ongoing uncertainty regarding the company's ability to generate cash flow, corporate and debt-restructuring progress and the resultant recovery prospects for both lenders and bondholders," it said. Also, any failure to meet the proposed restructuring timetable or to remain current on the interest payable on RComs' USD 300 million bond or GCX's USD 350 million bond will adversely pressure ratings, it said. According to management,these bonds are excluded from the debt standstill agreement in place. War-ravaged Syria is experiencing its worst levels of violence since the battle for Aleppo late last year, the Red Cross said today, warning that the onslaught was causing "intolerable levels of suffering". The International Committee of the Red Cross voiced alarm at reports of hundreds of civilian deaths across several regions of Syria, and the recent destruction of numerous hospitals and schools. "For the past two weeks, we have seen an increasingly worrying spike in military operations that correlates with high levels of civilian casualties," head of ICRC's delegation in Syria, Marianne Gasser, said in a statement. Violence has surged not only in places like Raqa and Deir Ezzor, where brutal battles are underway to oust the Islamic State group, but also in many so called de-escalation areas, like Idlib, rural Hama and Eastern Ghouta. The de-escalation zones, agreed upon during talks in the Kazakh capital Astana, contributed to a clear reduction in violence in recent months. But Gasser warned that "the return to violence is once again bringing intolerable levels of suffering to wide areas of the country, while at the same time decreasing access for humanitarian agencies." "Taken together, these are the worst levels of violence since the battle for Aleppo in 2016," ICRC said. It pointed out that some camps around Raqa and Deir Ezzor were receiving more than 1,000 civilians every single day, as men, women, children flee the bombings and battles. "Humanitarian organisations are struggling to provide water, food and basic hygiene to new arrivals," ICRC warned. And in the past 10 days alone, as many as 10 hospitals had been damaged across Syria, "cutting hundreds of thousands of people from access to even the most basic healthcare," it said. Robert Mardini, who heads ICRC's Near and Middle East operations, stressed that "military operations must not disregard the fate of civilians and of the vital infrastructure on which their survival depends." "Winning by any means is not only unlawful, but also unacceptable when it comes at such human cost," he said, urging all sides fighting in Syria to "show restraint, and to abide by the basic tenets of International humanitarian law." More than 330,000 people have been killed in Syria since the conflict began with anti-government protests in March 2011. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A group of RJD MLAs called on Bihar police chief P K Thakur today alleging that one of them had received "extortion calls" but the police administration in the district concerned had failed to take adequate action. "I met the Bihar DGP today and apprised him of the two extortion calls that I had received on September 12 and September 26. I was accompanied by my colleagues Ramanand Yadav, Nawaz Alam and Faraz Fatmi," RJD MLA from Dhaka seat Faisal Rahman told PTI over phone. He said as soon as the first extortion call came, he had informed the Motihari superintendent of police orally as well as in writing. "But it appeared that my complaint was never taken seriously". "I also wrote to the DGP but got no response. So today we met him personally. He has given an assurance that proper investigation will be conducted. Call details were being obtained as the number from which I had received the extortion threats suggested that the callers had used a Nepal number," Rahman said. The DGP assured that after call details are obtained the matter would be thoroughly investigated by the CID, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Russian lawmakers are warning that Moscow could retaliate if the US moves to impose restrictions on Russia's state-funded outlets. Margarita Simonyan, the editor-in-chief of state-funded RT television network, said it faces a US demand to register as a foreign agent and provide detailed personal information about its staff, among other things. She has said that the request effectively amounts to an attempt to push RT out of the US media market. Speaking after today's meeting of a parliamentary panel investigating alleged foreign interference in Russian affairs, its head Igor Klimov said that Russian government agencies will consider possible retaliatory moves against the US media broadcasting in Russia in response to the US action regarding RT and state-funded Sputnik agency. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Russia today said its air strikes in Syria had destroyed a huge underground arms depot belonging to the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, a jihadist alliance led by Al- Qaeda's former Syria affiliate. "Russian aviation destroyed the largest buried arsenal of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham near Abu Duhur," defence ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said, referring to a town in the northwestern Idlib province. The munitions depot was hidden underground and contained "more than a thousand tonnes of weaponry," he said in statement. Russia said its aviation destroyed the depot using high power artillery, specially designed to destroy underground targets. The strikes also killed "49 fighters, including seven leaders of the Al-Nusra Front's eastern sector." Al-Nusra Front was Al-Qaeda's affiliate in Syria until mid-2016 when it broke off ties, before going on to found a new jihadist-led alliance called Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which now controls large swathes of Idlib province. The statement repeated Russia's claim yesterday to have seriously injured Hayat Tahrir al-Sham's leader Abu Mohamed al-Jolani, saying he was "in a coma" and that this had "thrown the terrorists of the whole Idlib province into disarray." The jihadist-led alliance yesterday denied Russia's claim, saying that Jolani was in "good health." Russia, which has intervened in the Syrian civil war on the side of Bashar al-Assad's regime, said yesterday it had killed 12 leaders of the jihadist coalition including Jolani's security chief. The Syrian regime and Russia have carried out heavy air strikes on Idlib province after a September 18 jihadist attack on its military police deployed in neighbouring Hama province. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Nobel Peace Prize winner Kailash Satyarthi today condemned the recent violence on Banaras Hindu University (BHU) campus, and said that students should be cautious of attempts to divide them for "petty electoral goals". He also applauded the girl student, who was molested, for displaying courage and filing a complaint against her tormentors. "Whatever happened in BHU, it pains me. But I would like to say, first of all, that the girl who was molested is a courageous Indian girl who represents the voice of India. She has broken her silence and filed the complaint, so I definitely applaud her courage. "The way some of the staff members, watchmen/security guards treated her is objectionable and unacceptable which again shows the age-old mindsets that the victim could be stigmatised and blamed, instead of taking stringent action against those who were responsible for molestation," he told PTI over phone from his native Vidisha district in Madhya Pradesh. A number of students, including women, and two journalists were injured in a lathicharge by the police in BHU where a protest on September 23 against an alleged eve-teasing turned violent. The violence erupted after some students, protesting against the eve-teasing of a woman two days earlier, wanted to meet the varsity's vice-chancellor at his residence, but was denied entry. Satyarthi said, "Violence in any form by anyone has to be opposed and that should not be used as a weapon by the youth and students anywhere... I strongly condemn any form of violence. I well understand the anger of young people but that should not be converted into violence and equally giving a cause to divisive politics." "Most of times, politics divides youths and university students for petty electoral goals, So I would like to make an appeal to the youth to remain united and make their college and university campus safe, which is only possible through non-violence manner," he added. He also called for measures such as gender sensitisation training to make university and college campuses safe for students, particularly women. Satyarthi is on a nationwide march -- 'Bharat Yatra' -- against sexual abuses, molestation and rape. A 'Bharat Yatra' was taken out in Varanasi today. Satyarthi took part on a similar march in Vidisha. He said the march was a war against the "moral epidemic of child sexual abuse, trafficking and rape". "This epidemic is rising because of our rotten, age-old mindsets. Our girls are taught to be silence, they are said that their dignity is lost, honour is lost, family honour is lost and so the victims are stigmatised, they are put to blames, and thus the perpetrators remain fearless and free," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Saudi Arabia's King Salman, on a landmark visit to Russia, and President Vladimir Putin today signed a slew of arms and energy deals as the key US ally seeks to deepen cooperation with Moscow. The leaders of the world's largest energy exporters discussed an extension of an OPEC agreement to cap oil output and oversaw the signing of deals which officials said were worth billions of dollars. Saudi Arabia signed preliminary agreements to buy Russia's S-400 air defence systems and anti-tank guided missile systems and receive "cutting edge technologies," said the Sunni state's military firm, Saudi Arabian Military Industries. The two countries also signed a series of multi-billion dollar investment deals including one to create a USD 1 billion fund to pursue energy projects. "This is the first visit by a Saudi Arabian monarch in the history of our relations and that in itself is a landmark event," Putin said as he welcomed 81-year-old King Salman to Moscow in an ornate gilded Kremlin hall. "I'm sure your visit will boost the ties between our countries," Putin added. "We aim to strengthen our relations in the interests of peace and security, in the interests of developing the world economy," the Saudi king responded. Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir told journalists that "relations between Russia and Saudi Arabia have reached a historic moment." "Today we alone as the Russian Direct Investment Fund announced deals worth USD 2.1 billion," said Kirill Dmitriyev, the head of the fund set up to attract investment. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said agreements came in the fields of "energy -- not only traditional but also nuclear power -- and also in cooperation in space exploration (and) agroindustry and infrastructure projects." Saudi Arabia is the country that buys the most US arms and Washington and Riyadh in May announced a USD 110 billion deal to sell weapons to Saudi Arabia. But Saudi, a long-standing ally of Washington, is keen to boost ties with Moscow as a major player in the Syrian conflict and a fellow oil producer with shared interests in supporting energy prices. "We are certain that further strengthening of relations will have a positive effect on strengthening stability and security in the world," his Saudi counterpart Jubeir stressed. Fyodor Lukyanov, the Kremlin-connected chairman of the Council on Foreign and Defence Policy, said Riyadh saw closer ties with Moscow as expedient for the moment, and was "diversifying risks" by buying arms from both Moscow and the US. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Sebi has directed two firms -- Cell Realcon Corporation and IMAX Projects India -- and their directors to refund investors' money that they raised by issuing securities without complying with public issue norms. Besides, the watchdog has barred them from capital markets for four years from the date of completion of refunds, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) said in separate orders. Cell Realcon raised Rs 19.46 lakh through issuance of non-convertible debentures (NCDs) to at least 70 persons in 2012-13 and 2013-14, while IMAX Projects garnered around Rs 3 crore by allotting redeemable preference shares (RPS) to nearly 2,200 people between 2009-10 and 2012-13. IMAX Projects, however, claimed that it made refunds of a little over Rs 2 crore to investors. The securities were issued to over 50 persons by each company, which under the rules made it a public issue. Hence, the companies were required to make a compulsory listing on a stock exchange. Besides, the firms were required to file a prospectus, among others, which they failed to do. According to Sebi, the companies were engaged in fund mobilising activity from the public through the offer of RPS and NCDs and contravened the provisions of the Companies Act. In orders passed on October 4, Sebi has asked the firms and their directors to refund the money raised through the issuance of securities along with an interest of 15 per cent per annum. It has also restrained the firms' directors from associating themselves with any listed public company and any public entity that intends to raise money from the public, or any intermediary registered with the regulator from the day of these orders "till the expiry of four years from the date of completion of refunds to investors". In case, they fail to comply with the directions of refund on expiry of three months period, Sebi would initiate recovery proceedings. Besides, it would make a reference to the state government or local police to register a civil or criminal case against them for offences of fraud, cheating, criminal breach of trust and misappropriation of public funds. Earlier through interim orders in 2015, Sebi had prohibited these firms and their directors from the capital markets "till further directions". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) International Development Research Centre (IDRC) Regional Director, Anindya Chatterjee today suggested to explore some focus areas of nano-tech futuristics research to suit small and marginal farmers. Inaugurating a two day National Seminar on Nano-Agri-2017 "Nanotechnology for evergreen Revolution," at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Chatterjee said that Canada and India has joint collaboration in many research projects. In his presidential address, university Vice chancellor, Dr K Ramasamy stressed the importance of nanotechnology and spoke about incorporation of nanotechnology to increase the photo synthetic efficiency in plants. TNAU is one of the early birds in introducing nanotechnology in agricultural sciences with an intention to derive solutions to unresolved field problems in crop husbandry, Ramasamy said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan's ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif today left for London, four days before his indictment in three graft cases. Sharif left his Jati Umra residence this morning amid high security and reached the Lahore airport to catch a PIA flight for London to be with his ailing wife Kulsoom. His younger brother and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif saw him off. The ruling PML-N did not confirm whether Sharif would return by October 9 to face his indictment in corruption and money laundering cases against him in an accountability court in Islamabad. Interestingly, the return date on his ticket is January 4. A five-member Supreme Court bench on July 28 disqualified Sharif, 67, for dishonesty and ruled that corruption cases be filed against him and his children over the Panama Papers scandal, forcing the prime minister to quit for a record third time. Since then, the PML-N chief has been raising questions against the verdict. When asked if Sharif will skip his indictment and more appearances till January 4, his political secretary Senator Asif Karmani said, "Mian sahib (Sharif) has gone to London to see his ailing wife Begum Kulsoom. He will return to face the cases like he did in the past". He said Sharif is eager to be in London to see his wife who has undergone three surgeries for throat cancer. Sharif had planned to leave for London last Thursday but deferred his departure in order to face indictment in three corruption cases. However, the court fixed October 9 as the date for his indictment. His children - Hassan, Hussain and Maryam - are currently in London with their mother. They have also been summoned in the accountability court for the October 9 hearing. Sharif's children and son-in-law Mohammad Safdar had skipped the previous three consecutive hearings after which the court had issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Hassan, Hussain and Safdar and bailable arrest warrant for Maryam. Sharif said his children will appear in court after the condition of his wife improves. He has described the trial of him and his family members as "targeted" saying he had no hope of getting justice. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India today asked Ukraine to simplify its visa regime for Indian students and others at a meeting of the foreign ministers of the two countries here. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and her Ukrainian counterpart Pavlo Klimkin held discussion on key bilateral and regional issues. "Strengthening bilateral ties with a friendly country, EAM @SushmaSwaraj welcomes FM of Ukraine Pavlo Klimkin on his official visit to India," Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted. "At the delegation level talks, EAM @SushmaSwaraj urged simplification of visa process for Indian students and others going to Ukraine," he said. There are over 8,000 Indian students enrolled in various Ukrainian medical/technical universities. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The is capable of holding simultaneous polls to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies but the government needs to put in place sound legal provisions to carry out the massive exercise, former chief election commissioners said today. Their remarks came a day after Election Commissioner O P Rawat said that the poll panel would be "logistically equipped" by September 2018 to hold simultaneous polls for Lok Sabha and assemblies. "The was asked by the Centre as what it would require for becoming capable of holding the parliamentary and assembly polls together. "In response, the EC had asked for funds to purchase new EVMs and VVPAT (paper trail) machines. The commission would be logistically equipped by September 2018, to hold parliamentary and assembly polls together," Rawat told a press conference in Bhopal yesterday. Today, Rawat said the poll body requires nearly 24 lakh EVMs and 16 lakh paper trail machines for joint polls. He also said there was a need for a consensus which could be a difficult task. When asked to comment on the possibility of holding joint polls, former chief election commissioner N Gopalaswamy told PTI: "Administratively, it is not difficult to hold simultaneous polls as the EC has made enough provisions for EVMs and paper trail machines. "But legal provisions should be in place (before that). Term of some state assemblies will end along with the Lok Sabha. But the term of most other assemblies will continue. To ensure that the terms of all assemblies end together needs an enabling law," he said. Another former CEC M S Gill said while joint elections can be held, he would not like to comment on the "desirability" of such a move. "Our Constitution is based on Parliament where states have been provided their own right. They have their own position. How can you put the states and the Centre together? Each state assembly has a different term," he said. Gill also said that holding of simultaneous polls would need changes in constitution. "Almost 40 per cent of the provisions in Constitution will have be amended...three-fourth states will have to ratify the change...the women's reservation bill, another constitutional amendment, is still pending," he said. Refusing to get quoted, another former CEC said if Constitution is amended, legal provisions are made, funds are provided and logistics handed over, EC can hold simultaneous polls. "It is its job. It will do, provided law is changed and there is consensus among parties," he said. After Prime Minister Narendra Modi's strong pitch for simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, the law ministry had recently suggested consideration of the issue from the legal and logistical angles separately. The legal angle would involve constitutional amendments that would be required to be passed before the idea could be implemented on the ground. The other part deals with logistics, infrastructure and finances. Following the recommendation of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Law last December to hold the two polls together, the law ministry had sought the views of the . The commission, while supporting the idea, had made it clear that it will cost a lot and the Constitution will have to be amended to curtail or extend the term of certain state assemblies. The Commission has told the law ministry that it supports the proposal but cost involved will be to the tune of over Rs 9,000 crore. Deposing before the parliamentary panel which gave its report on 'Feasibility of holding simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha and state Legislative Assemblies', the Commission had expressed similar "difficulties". The Commission has told the government as well as the committee that simultaneous conduct of elections would require large-scale purchase of Electronic Voting Machines and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines. "For conducting simultaneous elections, the Commission expects that a total of Rs 9,284.15 crore will be needed for procurement of EVMs and VVPATs. While as per electoral law, elections can be held six months prior to the end of the term of a House, the term of the House cannot be extended except during proclamation of Emergency. Ensuring that the term of houses in states is either extended or curtailed to match with that of the Lok Sabha will require amendment to three to four articles of the Constitution. President's Rule in states and 'no confidence motions' against governments are situations which may occur. The government will have to see how to deal with such situations when it wants all states to have elections along with the Lok Sabha, the ministry note 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.) Penguin Random House India will host a special literary and cultural festival here later this month to celebrate its 30th anniversary and the event has an interesting line-up of the likes of Arundhati Roy, Perumal Murugan, Ruskin Bond and Shashi Tharoor. The calendar has an eclectic and vibrant mix of authors and books for everyone, says Hemali Sodhi, senior vice president (marketing) and publisher - children's at Penguin Random House India. Penguin Fever 2017 is a special edition of the annual Spring Fever organised by the publisher from October 26-31. The library of books will be open from 11 am, followed by evening sessions every day. The opening day will feature Roy, whose "The Ministry of Utmost Happiness" made it to this year's Booker Prize longlist. Murugan, Kannan Sundaram, Bibek Debroy and Shamsur Rahman Faruqi will participate in a session titled "The Line of Beauty", to be moderated by Namita Gokhale. Bond will talk about his life, writing and his love of lemon cheesecake in a conversation with Sanjoy Roy. An interesting session called "Zara sa jhoom loon main" will see Shobhaa De' in conversation with Vidya Balan and talk on turning 70. Tharoor will attend a session "The Rise of the Elephant" along with Gurcharan Das and Sonu Bhasin. The other sessions include one on environment featuring Sunita Narain, one having Ravinder Singh, Durjoy Datta and Sudeep Nagarkar and another on criminal minds with Hussain Zaidi, Brijesh Singh, Ravi Subramanian and Novoneel Chakraborty in conversation. The six-day event will be hosted at the India Habitat Centre. "Spring Fever, titled Penguin Fever this year, is a festival very close to our hearts, and one readers and authors alike look forward to with great anticipation. This year we've timed it to coincide with our 30th anniversary week in October," says Sodhi. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A study about snow leopards in Arunachal Pradesh has yielded photographic evidence of the presence of the elusive species in the Thembang area of the north-eastern state. The state-wide survey carried out by World Wildlife Fund (WWF) India in collaboration with the Arunachal Pradesh Forest department was started in March 2017, focusing on unexplored areas. It has yielded photo evidence of the snow leopard through a camera trap set up at Thembang, one of the community conserved areas in the state, a WWF statement said. Only a fraction of snow leopard habitats in the state falls into two protected areas--Dibang Biosphere Reserve and Namdapha National Park. "The presence of the big cat beyond these protected areas highlights the importance of community support for conservation as well as landscape-scale conservation planning," it said. "This is perhaps the first time that the presence of snow leopard has been reported through a camera trap photograph from the state of Arunachal Pradesh," said Omkar Singh, principal secretary, Environment and Forest, Arunachal Pradesh government. The survey relied on the knowledge of the community members to understand the current distribution of snow leopards and other large mammals in the region. "Scientific information on the distribution of snow leopards generated through this state-wide survey is an encouraging sign for WWF-India and the Arunachal Pradesh Forest department," said Ravi Singh, secretary general and CEO of WWF-India. Snow leopard, native of central and south Asia, is listed as a 'vulnerable' category animal in the Red List of threatened species compiled by the International Union for Conservation of Nature(IUCN). (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Tata Capital will co-lend money to under-served small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in a tie-up agreement with digital lending platform Capital Float. "Tata Capital has entered into an agreement with Capital Float to provide Working Capital Loans to financially under- served Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in India," Tata Capital said in a statement today. Under this, SMEs in need of working capital can borrow up to Rs 50 lakh within an year. The benefit of this loan product, Pay Later, developed by Capital Float is that a borrower can drawdown the money in portions and be eligible for a replenishment of loan amount. "The uniqueness stems from the fact that the borrower can make multiple drawdowns within the approved limit, which is reinstated from time to time upon repayment by the borrower," it said. Both the companies expect this partnership to enhance borrower's digital journey in a seamless online experience. Small enterprises like distributors and business to business (B2B) players will benefit by making quick and hassle-free payment to suppliers while procuring inventory. This will facilitate an unhindered growth of their business, Tata Capital said. Sarosh Amaria, Chief Operating Officer Commercial Finance, Tata Capital said: "SMEs are integral to the fabric of our economy contributing around 38 per cent of our country's GDP." Customised product 'Pay Later' will speed up loan process and boost company's pan-India presence, Tata Capital said. "By co-lending with Tata Capital, we can leverage their balance sheet, while they can diversify their portfolio by lending to newer sets of SMEs," said Sashank Rishyasringa, Co-Founder, Capital Float. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Telangana IT and Industries Minister K T Rama Rao today met corporate leaders in the national capital and sought investments. He also spoke at an interactive session at the World Economic Forum's India Economic Summit in New Delhi, said an official release here. Rama Rao met Adi Godrej, Chairman, Godrej Group; Kris Gopalakrishnan, co-founder, Infosys; Sumant Sinha, Chairman and CEO, ReNew Power; USIBC's Senior Directors Jay Gullish and Abhishek Kishore; Yusuff Ali M A, Chairman, LuLu Group International, and Dipali Goenka, CEO Welspun India, among others. He spoke about "transparent, progressive and investor-friendly" industrial policies and "plethora of opportunities" in Telangana and invited them to invest in the state and expand their operations, it said. The invitation "evoked positive response", the release added. At the interactive session at the India Economic Summit, the Telangana minister said that for going global, Indian start-ups should move beyond the mindset of mere problem-solving and inculcate the art of articulating their products better. Citing examples of how Silicon Valley and Internet developed, Rama Rao underlined government's role in fostering them in the initial stages. Governments cannot spur entrepreneurship as it has to come from the private sector, but governments have to create infrastructure, platforms and regulations that don't come in the way of doing business, Rama Rao said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Latest on developments in Syria (all times local): 4:10 pm The Russian Defense Ministry says its submarines have fired 10 cruise missiles at Islamic State positions outside the eastern Syrian town of Mayadeen, one of the last major IS strongholds in the country. Russia has been a major backer of Syrian President Bashar Assad's forces and has helped government troops gain significant ground from opposition fighters and militant groups in the war. The ministry's spokesman Maj Gen Igor Konashenkov said in a statement that the Kalibr missiles killed an unspecified number of IS fighters and destroyed major ammunition depots and command posts. Konashenkov said the missiles were launched from the Veliky Novgorod and the Kolpino submarines in the Mediterranean Sea today. Syrian troops with the help of Russian air cover have been closing in on Mayadeen, which has become a main IS hub for militants and the group's leaders after its former strongholds of Raqqa and Deir el-Zour have come under attack. 1:45 pm The International Committee of the Red Cross says 10 hospitals in Syria have been damaged over the past 10 days cutting hundreds of thousands of people from health care. The ICRC said in a statement today that Syria is witnessing the worst wave of fighting since government forces captured rebel-held east Aleppo in December. ICRC said it is alarmed by reports of hundreds of civilian casualties and the destruction of hospitals and schools. The head of ICRC's delegation in Syria, Marianne Gasser, said that for the past two weeks, "we have seen an increasingly worrying spike in military operations that correlates with high levels of civilian casualties." Violence has intensified in recent week in central, northern and eastern Syria between government forces and rival insurgent groups. The violence is also taking place in de- escalation zones that are part of a deal reached in the Kazakh capital of Astana between Iran, Turkey and Russia. It said that with swelling numbers of civilians fleeing military operations - some camps around the northern province of Raqqa and eastern region of Deir el-Zour are receiving over 1,000 women, children and men every day. 10:40 am Russia's military says its jets have been targeting positions of an al-Qaida-linked group in Syria for two straight days, killing seven militant commanders and dozens of fighters. Moscow blamed the al-Qaida-linked Levant Liberation Committee for attacking Russian military police last month. The Defense Ministry said today that seven of the group's commanders and 49 militants were killed in the airstrikes in the Idlib province yesterday. The strikes also destroyed a major ammunition depot at a militant-controlled air base. Yesterday, the Russian military reported that its airstrikes critically wounded the group's leader a day earlier. Russia has been waging an air campaign in support of Syrian President Bashar Assad's forces since 2015, helping them to make major advances against the Islamic State group, al-Qaida-linked insurgents and mainstream rebels. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Three US Army special operations commandos were killed and another two injured in an ambush in the West African country of Niger, multiple reports said today. President Donald Trump has been briefed on it, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders told reporters Onboard Air Force One on their way back from Las Vegas. US Africa Command so far has not confirmed the number of casualties except for saying that a joint US and Nigerien patrol came under hostile fire in southwest Niger. According to some reports, the joint patrol were probably attacked by al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb. "We are working to confirm details on the incident and will have more information as soon as we can confirm facts on the ground," the African Command said. US Forces are in Niger to provide training and security assistance to the Nigerien Armed Forces, including support for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) efforts, in their efforts to target violent extremist organisations in the region. One aspect of that is training, advising and assisting the Nigeriens in order to increase their ability to bring stability and security to their people, AFRICOM said. The deaths mark the first American casualties in a mission in which United States Special Forces have provided training and security assistance to the Nigerien armed forces, including support for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, said The New York Times. (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 Tamil Nadu government proposed to set up 121 multipurpose evacuation shelters at a total cost of Rs 345 crore as part of the preparations for the North-East monsoon, Revenue Minister R B Udayakumar said today. The Minister, who reviewed the preparedness ahead of the monsoon season which is usually active between October and December, said of the proposed 121 multipurpose evacuation shelters (MPES) across the state, 115 had already been set up. The monsoon in the previous two years had wrecked havoc in various parts of the state, especially the capital which witnessed an unprecedented deluge in December 2015. In December last year, cyclone 'Vardah' caused heavy damage to Chennai, Cuddalore and Tiruvallur districts. An official release on the review meet said coastal towns and districts including Cuddalore and Ramanathapuram would have the majority of evacuation centres. The MPES designed with separate rooms for accommodation, medical examination would also have kitchen facilities, an official release said. The Minister said 3,172 relief centres had also been identified as accommodation for people living in vulnerable areas. The government would soon issue orders for the formation of a dedicated Tamil Nadu Disaster Response Force with a strength of 1,000 police personnel for which Rs 14.59 crore would be allocated for purchase of equipment apart from Rs 41 lakh for capacity building. Committees for search and rescue, first aid, shelter and relief were also formed at community level in coastal areas. The Tamil Nadu government said women volunteers were also included in the first responders team, who would be trained by Fire and Rescue department, Red Cross Society. Oil companies were instructed to stock adequate quantity of diesel while mobile operators were also directed to ensure adequate back-up arrangements. Hospitals were also advised to make power back-up arrangements particularly to Intensive Care Units and Critical Care Units. Schools and colleges were also instructed to check electricity connections, clean and close open drains, if any among others. For Tamilnadu, North-East monsoon is the main rainy season accounting for about 48 per cent of the annual rainfall. Coastal districts of the State get nearly 60 per cent of the annual rainfall and the interior districts get about 40-50 per cent of the annual rainfall. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The decision to create seven new districts in Manipur, which led to massive protests and 139- day blockade on national highways connecting the state, will be reviewed at a tripartite meeting called by the Union Home Ministry here tomorrow, an official said. The representatives of the United Naga Council (UNC), central and state governments will take part in the home ministry meeting. The UNC, the apex political organisation of Nagas residing in the hill districts on Manipur, had staged massive protests following the creation of the new districts alleging that such a move would bifurcate the ancestral land of the Nagas. The organisation had also imposed an economic blockade on NH-2 (Imphal-Dimapur) and NH-37 (Imphal-Jiribam) that serve as lifelines for the landlocked Manipur for 139 days in 2016. The blockade was withdrawn in March this year after the BJP- led government came to power in Manipur and assured that their demand would be considered, the official said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Turkish security forces today killed five suspected Kurdish militants in what is a usually peaceful western region popular with European tourists, state media said. The members of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) were found by security forces in a forest area in the Koycegiz district of the Mediterranean Mugla province, the state-run Anadolu agency said. Five suspected PKK militants were killed and security forces are pursuing two more who managed to get away, it added. One Turkish soldier was slightly wounded. The Koycegiz region is particularly popular with British and German tourists due to its picturesque lake of the same name. The hugely popular river resort of Dalyan is nearby. Such clashes are frequent in the Kurdish-dominated southeast of Turkey but are extremely rare in the southwest of the country, one of its key tourist regions and usually quiet. The PKK has waged an insurgency inside Turkey since 1984 which initially focused on seeking independence for Turkey's Kurdish minority but now puts more emphasis on greater rights and autonomy. Tens of thousands of lives have been lost in the violence and the PKK is designated as a terror group by Turkey, the European Union and the United States. The Turkish army has been waging a relentless campaign in the last months to eradicate the PKK, including air raids against the group's bases in northern Iraq. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Indian Army is advising Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) in curriculum revision and capability building, an effort lauded by Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, according to a statement today. The current Indian Military Advisory and Training Team is deployed at the Senior Command and Staff College (SCSC) in Jinja, Uganda since April 2016. "Their contributions to the curriculum revision, student assimilation enhancement and capability building of the local directing staff have been appreciated by no less than the President of Uganda," the statement released by the Army said. The team, through its rapport and positive interaction, has been successful in mobilising the local Indian community in provisioning a state of art gymnasium to the SCSC, it said. The equipment for the gymnasium, worth more than USD 30,000, has been imported from Dubai. The gymnasium was inaugurated by Ravi Shankar, the High Commissioner of India to Uganda, and then handed over to the Chief of the Uganda People's Defence Forces, Gen. David Muhoozi. Muhoozi, while accepting the same, hailed it as a "one of kind asset for the entire UPDF". The General also thanked the Indian contingent for its contribution towards the UPDF. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The UN Security Council has unanimously approved a resolution authorising the UN mission in Colombia to monitor and verify the temporary cease-fire between the government and the country's last remaining rebel group, the National Liberation Army known as the ELN. The resolution adopted today approved recommendations by Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to add up to 70 additional international observers to the UN mission to monitor the cessation of hostilities which ends January 9, 2018. The Security Council welcomed the September 4 announcement of the cease-fire and the request by both parties to the United Nations to coordinate and monitor the cease-fire verification. The UN mission also monitored the end of more than 50 years of war between the government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A UN peacekeeping mission has helped maintain order in Haiti through 13 years of political turmoil and catastrophe is coming to an end. The last of the blue-helmeted soldiers are leaving amid concerns that the police and justice system are still not adequate to ensure security in the country. UN troops reached a height of more than 10,000 in the aftermath of the devastating January 2010 earthquake. The mission does not officially end until October 15. There are about 100 international soldiers in who will leave within days. The UN is lowering its flag at its headquarters in Port- au-Prince during a ceremony today. The mission will be followed by a smaller UN operation consisting of police and civilians who will help support the country's justice system. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The working committee of the UP BJP will meet in Kanpur next week in a bid to galvanise its workers ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. "The BJP's state unit will hold a two-day meeting of its working committee in Kanpur from October 11," its general secretary Vijay Bahadur Pathak said. UP BJP chief Mahendra Nath Pandey will address the valedictory session on the concluding day, he said in a statement. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A fugitive US citizen, wanted in Indonesia for causing death of a person due to medical negligence last year, has been sent to judicial custody by a Delhi court after his arrest following a Red Corner Notice. Randall John Cafferty was arrested from Bengaluru Airport on September 29 following the Red Corner Notice. He will have to face extradition proceedings in the special court here which is waiting for a formal extradition request to be forwarded by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). Duty Magistrate Sumeet Anand sent the fugitive to jail after the MEA submitted that Indonesia has sent a request for his provisional arrest as he was wanted for facing trial there. Advocate N K Matta, appearing for the MEA, told the court that the formal request for extradition of the 56-year-old Cafferty was awaited and was likely soon. The judge directed jail authorities to produce him before Special Extradition Court of India in Delhi tomorrow. The judge also took the passport of the accused into its custody and directed the court staff to "ensure that under no circumstances the passport is mutilated". Cafferty was accused of committing various offences in Indonesia, including practising as a health worker without having appropriate licence and causing medical negligence which resulted in the death of the patient. Indian and Indonesia have an Extradition Treaty in place since 2011. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The US is concerned about the future of the government in Pakistan and wants to ensure long-term stability in the country, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has said as the two countries attempted to repair their ties after a bitter war of words. Tillerson's comments came after his meeting with Pakistan's Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif, who is visiting the US as part of efforts to rebuild the bilateral ties frayed after President Donald Trump accused Islamabad of sheltering terror groups. "This is about the importance of Pakistan, and Pakistans long-term stability as well. We have concerns about the future of Pakistans government too...we want their government to be stable. We want it to be peaceful," Tillerson said. "Many of the issues they're struggling with inside Pakistan are American issues," he said without elaborating. Pakistan witnessed a political crisis in July when the Supreme Court disqualified then Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for dishonesty in the Panama Papers case, forcing him to quit. Since then, the PML-N chief has been raising questions against the verdict in public gatherings. Asif, during his meeting with Tillerson at the State Department, defended Pakistan's role in the war against terrorism. The meeting signalled a gradual resumption of talks between the two countries that was paused by Pakistan which was upset after Trump's new South Asia and Afghan policy that proposed greater role for India in the war-torn country. This was the first high-level meeting after Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi met with US Vice President Mike Pence on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly Session last month in New York. According to State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert, the two leaders talked about their mutual commitment to advancing a multifaceted relationship between the US and Pakistan based on "shared interest" in a secure, prosperous, and democratic Pakistan. Trump's new South Asia strategy announced in August also figured during their talks. After the meeting, Tillerson told reporters that he believed that the US has a partner in Pakistan. Responding to a question, he said the US' relationship with Pakistan is "extraordinarily" important regionally. The South Asia strategy rolled out by President Trump, he observed, was in a regional context, and not just about Afghanistan. According to the statement issued by the Pakistan Embassy here, Asif said the US and Pakistan shared a common desire for peace and stability in Afghanistan and the region at large. Asif told Tillerson that Pakistan is winning its war against terrorism. He also informed the secretary of state about the strong public reaction in Pakistan to the pronouncement of the US administration's South Asia Policy - based on inadequate recognition of Pakistan's sterling contribution in the fight against terrorism, the statement said. "Secretary Tillerson agreed that cooperation between Pakistan and the US in Afghanistan was crucial to achieving durable peace and stability in the region," it added. "He remarked that Pakistan's interests and concerns will be accommodated since its role was critical to President Trump's South Asia Strategy. He added that future stability of Pakistan was an important element of the strategy," it added. Asif also raised the issue of Kashmir during the meeting. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A US drone killed a "commander" of Al-Qaeda militants in Yemen in a strike on the central province of Baida, security sources said today. Shroum al-Sanaani, a leading figure with Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula group, was travelling on a motorbike along with an unidentified man when the strike killed them both, the sources said. The attack was carried out on the Yakala area, a stronghold for the jihadist group where US drones have repeatedly targeted Al-Qaeda members in the past few months. The United States considers the Yemen-based AQAP to be the group's most dangerous branch. A long-running drone war against AQAP has intensified since US President Donald Trump took office in January. An air raid he ordered that month killed a US Navy SEAL and several Yemeni civilians in Baida province, south of Marib. AQAP has taken advantage of a war between the Saudi- backed government and Shiite rebels to expand its presence in several areas of eastern and southern Yemen. More than 8,000 people have been killed since Saudi Arabia and its allies joined the conflict in 2015. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Describing India as a force for stability in South Asia, US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis today said that India-US political ties can be tightened together and the two sides are working to turn "big words" into "pragmatic realities". "There are a number of things in motion right now, and decisions will be coming very soon," Mattis told members of House Armed Services during a Congressional hearing on Afghanistan. "We're both working to turn these big words into pragmatic realities and because I see both sides working together on it. I'm optimistic," he said, adding that India-US political relationship can be tightened together. The defence secretary, who met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval during his visit to India last week, described India as a force for stability in South Asia. "They (India) are a force for stability in South Asia. They're a force for stability in the Indo-Pacific region. They're a nation coming into their own, economically, as a great nation, as they have steady growth rates going on right now," he added. "There's an opportunity here that we have not experienced in decades to tie us together in terms of broadened level of cooperation and a natural alignment with each other's interests," he said. He said that India and the US now have a strategic convergence of two natural partners, the two largest democracies in the world. Responding to another question, Mattis said India has an "outsized role" to play in the region because of its size. "It's as raucous a democracy as we are, frankly. It gives people hope that their voices can be heard and economic opportunity can be passed broadly in a society, not to a corrupt few. I think their example alone is important. It's why we are looking at this strategic convergence as an opportunity for steady engagement, so we have to do pragmatic things together," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The United States is to ask NATO allies to contribute around 1,000 extra troops to help in the battle against the resurgent Taliban in Afghanistan, the new US ambassador to the alliance said today. Kay Bailey Hutchison said the forces would add to the roughly 3,000 US troops who are already on their way to Afghanistan under President Donald Trump's new strategy against the militants. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Congress today demanded the immediate sacking of Uttar Pradesh Health Minister Siddharth Nath Singh over the death of 14 patients in a Varanasi hospital and asked Chief Minister Yogi Adiyanath to step down on moral grounds. Congress communications in-charge Randeep Surjewala also demanded registration of a case against the BJP MLA from Allahabad, Harshvardhan Vajpayi, who is linked to the firm that allegedly supplied industrial-grade gas to the hospital instead of anaesthesia that led to the deaths. He also accused Adityanath of "utter failing" to govern Uttar Pradesh and alleged that "Yogi has made people of Uttar Pradesh 'rogi' (sick)". "We demand that the health minister of Uttar Pradesh, who has been found to be a deliberate and consistent offender when it comes to dealing with peoples' health, should be sacked," Surjewala told reporters. "If morality has any play, then Yogi Adityanath should forthwith step down, for he has completely and utterly failed to govern Uttar Pradesh. He is playing with people's lives," he alleged. "There can be no act of greater criminal culpability of the Uttar Pradesh government as also the hospital administration than this," he alleged. This is not the first time that it has been done in this Banaras Hindu University Hospital, he alleged. The Congress leader said instead of sermonising on dengue in Kerala "it is time that he came back, followed his 'Raj Dharma' or put in his papers as chief minister of Uttar Pradesh". "The truth is that since Yogi Adityanath has taken over, the entire UP has become 'Rogi' (sick). So, Yogi has made UP 'rogi' (sick)," he alleged. Surjewala alleged 360 children died in Gorakhpur right under his nose as Rs 65 lakh were not paid for oxygen, while in Farrukhabad 49 children died and now 14 people had died in June in the BHU hospital. The Congress leader claimed another tragic accident had come to light where "deliberate" death of patients had taken place "not on account of negligence, but on account of criminal culpability". He alleged many patients have died in the surgical ward of BHU hospital because industrial-grade gas was administered to them instead of anaesthesia. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Full service carrier today said it has successfully completed the International Air Transport Association's Operational Safety Audit (IOSA), which puts it in the category of one of the safest airlines. Following the completion of key global safety audit, conducted from August 28 to September 1, joined IATA's IOSA Registry on September 25, the airline said in a release. The area of audit included corporate organisation and management, flight, cabin, ground handling and cargo operations, operational control, aircraft engineering and maintenance and operational security, it said. "Achieving this milestone in so little time in our journey of less than three years is a testament to our commitment to delivering a safe and seamless flying experience to millions of our customers," Chief Executive Officer Phee Teik Yeo said. The total accident rate for IOSA carriers between 2011 and 2015 was 3.3 times lower than the rate for non-IOSA operators. The Delhi-based airline currently operates over 660 weekly flights to 21 destinations with a fleet of 16 Airbus A320 aircraft. (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.) MNS chief Raj Thackeray on Thursday led a march to the Western Railway headquarters here to protest the recent stampede on a foot overbridge that left 23 people dead, and said he felt "betrayed" by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Thackeray addressed a gathering of protesters outside the Churchgate station in south Mumbai where he lashed out at Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah. "It seems as if only two or three people are running the country. BJP president Amit Shah himself called their own promises 'chunavi jumla' (election rhetoric). Even (Union minister) Nitin Gadkari said the promise of 'achhe din' is like a bone stuck in the throat. It clearly means the government has failed on many fronts," the MNS chief said. The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena leader, who had a good rapport with Modi and backed his prime ministerial bid in 2014, said he was angry because the country has seen very little progress in the last three years. "I do not see any major changes in the last three years despite the government having a good mandate. We believed in him (Modi) and now we feel we have been betrayed," he said. Thackeray also met officials of the Western Railway and handed over a memorandum of demands, which included improvement in infrastructure and eviction of hawkers from suburban railway stations. Bangladesh today said that Myanmar has pushed one million Rohingyas onto its soil and it will make efforts to resolve the issue peacefully despite "provocations". "Recently Myanmar has pushed one million Rohingyas, their own nationals, onto our soil. We are still struggling. We haven't got into a fight with them despite provocations. "We are trying to resolve it peacefully.... The Prime Minister (Sheikh Hasina) thinks that it is something we will solve in a peaceful manner," Bangladesh foreign secretary Shahidul Haque said while participating in the India Economic Summit (IES). Bangladesh is facing a big influx of Rohingyas from Myanmar following ethnic violence in the Buddhist-majority nation. India had last month rushed relief material to Bangladesh and pledged all help to Dhaka in tackling the humanitarian crisis. At the IES, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, who discussed the geopolitical dynamics and the economic initiatives in Asia, raised the issue of 'One Belt-One Road', saying China will have to do more if it wants India to join the proposed project. "If the Chinese really feel that for the overall credibility and viability of the Belt and Road Initiative they want India to play an active part, they have to do more of a selling job. They have to come and market to us here on why this is actually in our interest," the former Union minister said. India skipped the Belt and Road Forum (BRF) in May this year due to its sovereignty concerns over the CPEC, a flagship project of China's prestigious Silk Road initiative, officially called One Belt One Road (OBOR). Differences emerged between the two countries over the USD 50-billion China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) passing through Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) which is part of the China's mega Belt and Road initiative. The India Economic Summit of the World Economic Forum (WEF) is being attended by over 500 business and political leaders. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Wipro Digital today announced the signing of a definitive agreement to acquire Cooper, an award-winning design and business strategy consultancy. "This coupled with Designit's global strategic design services and our world-class engineering capability, will allow us to support the complete digital journey for our clients, helping them transform their businesses for the future," Wipro Digital Global Head and Senior Vice President Rajan Kohli said in a company statement. Wipro Digital is the digital business unit of Wipro Limited, a leading global IT, consulting and business process services company. Cooper will become part of Designit, Wipro Digital's strategic design arm, which would further strengthen its design and innovation capabilities, expanding its reach in North America and adding capabilities in professional design education. By adding Cooper's skills and expertise, Wipro will be better positioned to support its clients' digital programmes, Kohli said. Wipro Digital and Designit serve clients from 16 offices around the world, he added. Headquartered in San Francisco, Cooper has been a leadingbrand in interaction design, UX and professional designeducation for more than 25 years. Founded by Sue Cooper and Alan Cooper, the 'Father of Visual Basic,' the consultancy is credited with inventing many tools and approaches used in design, including the Goal-Directed Design method and personas as a practical interaction design tool. Cooper employs 35 people in offices in San Francisco and New York and provides consulting and training services to top brands, including Fortune 500 companies, leading non-profits and government agencies, Designit's Founder and Global CEO Mikal Hallstrup said. Designit and Cooper share a strikingly similar culture and a shared passion for turning complex problems into solutionspeople love... As a combined force, we will continue to shape the future of business," Cooper Founder Alan Cooper said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Drug firm Zydus Cadila today said it has received final approval from the US health regulator to market capsules used in treating overactive bladder with symptoms such as urinary frequency. The company has received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) to market the fesoterodine fumarate extended release capsules in strengths of 4 mg and 8 mg, it said in a BSE filing. It will manufacture the drug at the group's formulations manufacturing facility in Moraiya, Ahmedabad. Quoting IMS sales data of August 2017, Zydus Cadila said sales of fesoterodine fumarate extended release capsules are estimated at USD 195.5 million. Zydus Cadila said it has more than 160 approvals and has so far filed over 300 Abbreviated New Drug Applications (ANDAs) since it commenced filings in 2003-04. Shares of the company's listed entity Cadila Healthcare were trading 1.50 per cent higher at Rs 500.20 per scrip on BSE. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) PRAGUE (Reuters) - Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka wants to meet leadership and unions at Volkswagen's unit Skoda Auto to discuss any potential production move to Germany, the prime minister's office said on Wednesday. Volkswagen sources told that managers and unions are seeking to curb competition from the lower-cost stablemate, move some of its production to Germany and make the Czech brand pay more for shared technology. "The government has a clear interest which is that all planned investments by VW and Skoda in the Czech Republic are carried through and that production is not moved outside the country," the statement said. It said Sobotka intended to meet Skoda board member in charge of human resources Bohdan Wojnar and Skoda Kovo union chief Jaroslav Povsik soon, and would decide on further action afterward. Povsik said a partial production shift could cost as many as 2,000 jobs. "They want to fill capacity at the German plants," Povsik told Czech agency CTK in response to the report. "The VW Passat is not doing well, but they see the (Skoda) Superb is selling well and they would like to take it there." (Reporting by Jan Lopatka) (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) By Carl O'Donnell - Brookfield Property Partners LP is considering options for its office properties in the Northeastern United States that include the potential sale of a stake that could value the portfolio at as much as $10 billion, people familiar with the matter said. Brookfield Property, one of the world's largest commercial real estate companies, has been looking for ways to boost its underperforming stock price and reallocate capital from mature, stable assets into higher-returning investments. The sale, which could attract interest from investment firms and sovereign wealth funds, would allow Brookfield Property to capitalize on the value of its high-end office assets, many of which are in major U.S. cities such as New York and Washington, the sources said this week. It would also allow Brookfield Property to pay down a substantial amount of debt, setting up the portfolio for a possible separation into an independent publicly traded real estate investment trust (REIT) down the line, the sources added. Brookfield Property is still working on carving out the Northeastern U.S. office properties from its $66 billion real estate portfolio, which spans the office, retail, multifamily housing and industrial sectors, according to the sources. The company has not yet launched a process to sell the stake, and no deal is certain, said the sources, who asked not to be identified because the deliberations are confidential. A Brookfield Property spokesman declined to comment on the possible stake sale in the company's Northeastern U.S. office portfolio, and would say only that Brookfield Property is not planning to create a public REIT for the assets in this region. Brookfield Property shares jumped as much as 5 percent on the and closed 2.5 percent higher at $23.75 on Wednesday, giving the company a market capitalization of $16.7 billion. The shares had previously risen 7.8 percent year-to-date, versus a 13.3 percent rise in the S&P 500 Index. Brookfield Property was created in 2013 when it was spun off by its parent company Brookfield Asset Management Inc, a Toronto-based money manager with around $250 billion in assets. Brookfield Asset Management remains the largest shareholder in Brookfield Property Partners. In 2014, Brookfield Property took full ownership of Brookfield Office Properties, spending around $5 billion in cash and equity to consolidate its existing 51 percent stake in that company. (Reporting by Carl O'Donnell in New York; Editing by Steve Orlofsky and Matthew Lewis) (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Indian stocks are set to rise further over the coming year but will lag predictions from three months ago on worries shares have become too pricey and that the economy is headed for a rough patch, a Reuters poll showed. The BSE Sensex, already up over 18 percent this year, is forecast to add another 3 percent by end-2017 to 32,500 from Tuesday's close of 31,497, according to the poll of 50 strategists taken over the past week. If realised, that would mark its best calendar year performance in percentage terms since 2014. The latest predictions were lower than the 33,000 - which would be a record - forecast in the June poll. The existing record high, struck in August, is 32,686. While Indian shares have been among the star global performers this year, the domestic economy has been slowing since the middle of 2016. The latest data showed economic growth cooled to a three-year low in the quarter through to June. That unexpected slowdown, which was reported in August, prompted foreign investors to pull cash out of India and triggered two consecutive down months in the for the first time since early 2016. Still, the average price-to-earnings ratio of 23 on the BSE is at a 17-year high, suggesting stock prices are stretched. "Valuations are very rich and even the liquidity flow from FIIs (Foreign Institutional Investments) is now drying up," said B.V. Rudramurthy, managing director at Vachana Investments. About 60 percent of respondents said the index was overvalued. The remainder don't think Indian shares are overvalued now, though they expect it will be so if further gains were made as predicted in the latest Reuters poll by end-2018. "The stock market has been optimistic about an eventual corporate earnings recovery, justifying the valuations. That is the single biggest risk," said Ajay Bagga, executive chairman at OPC Asset Solutions. The was forecast to rise to a record high of 34,000 by the middle of next year and then to 35,000 by end-2018. The biggest risks to those forecasts were persistent weakness in economic activity and lower-than-expected corporate earnings, according to analysts. The government's decision late last year to ban high-value currency notes took over 85 percent of cash out of circulation, a demonetisation drive that has hurt consumer spending and businesses. That, along with a push this year in July to unify various state-level taxes into one national goods and services tax, has disrupted business and cast a shadow over economic activity. "Economic activity has to pick up for corporate (profit) growth as there is unutilised capacity. But too many harsh reforms have impacted growth at a time when the market is overvalued," said A.K. Prabhakar, head of research at IDBI Capital. "Still, there is no major avenue to invest post demonetisation. The idle cash which has come into the system is likely to keep elevated." (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.) HMD Global, the official company behind Nokia-branded mobile phones, is mulling to enter the emerging 4G feature phone segment that has garnered Indian consumers interest especially after the launch of Reliance JioPhone. The plush London residence of fugitive billionaire Vijay Mallya called Lady Walk was bought using the Indian tax payer's money routed through companies located in the UK, Britain's Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has discovered. Exclusive details accessed by INDIA TODAY TV of the probe show that Mallya paid 6.1 million US dollars (Rs 39.7 crore) from the Kingfisher Airline's HSBC account in London to a British company, Continental Administrative Services, which, "is having ownership interests in the property at Lady Walk, London, the present address of Mr Mallya", as per a confidential note prepared by the CBI. The SFO has now shared details of the case with the CBI. Lady Walk is the plush Hertfordshire property that belonged to F1 champion Lewis Hamilton. Mallya is accused of defrauding the Indian tax payers of Rs 9,000 crore given by a consortium of 17 banks. IDBI alone loaned Mallya nearly Rs 900 crore, of which a substantial amount has been laundered abroad, including to companies located in Britain. The SFO has also informed India that nearly Rs 242 crore transferred from the Axis Bank account of Kingfisher Airlines to its London accounts. "The loans disbursed by various Indian banks were routed through the said Axis Bank accounts," says the SFO note to the CBI. In fact, in June this year, around the time the Enforcement Directorate was filing its charge-sheet of money laundering by Mallya, the business tycoon was trying to shift a major chunk of funds from companies he fronted in London to a Swiss Bank. Mallya was trying to launder nearly 18 million US dollars (Rs 117 crore) to the CBH Bank in Switzerland. This is bad news for Mallya because the companies he was using to transfer the funds are located in the UK, a crucial fact that will help India's case for extradition. The SFO has told India that some of the UK companies include Harrison Finance Limited, Drayton Resources Limited and Black Forest Holdings Limited. The CBI sent letters of request to the British and Swiss Authorities to freeze these assets as the agency felt that"there are reasonable grounds to believe that the funds used for acquisition of the property at Lady Walk and the funds lying in the accounts of the aforementioned British companies originated from the proceeds of loans disbursed by Indian Banks". For India to extradite Mallya, it has to satisfy a "dual criminality clause" in the extradition treaty between the two countries. In other words, if Mallya has cheated Indian banks, the case being made out by the UK is that he has laundered money using British companies. The SFO case will go a step further in nailing Mallya. When demonetisation was announced on November 8 last year, it threw the banking system into chaos. The decision made 86% of currency notes redundant in one go. People rushed to their nearest banks to exchange old notes for new ones or to withdraw money in the new currencies. The rush and chaos was unprecedented and so was the workload that bank employees had to endure. In some cases, bank employees had to put in as much as 14 hours of work in a day. Their leaves were also cancelled as man power was considerably less compared to the amount of work. Eleven months have passed since demonetisation was announced and yet bank officials say that they haven't been paid for the extra hours they put in during the period of notes ban. According to a report in Hindustan Times, banks have estimated the number of employees who are yet to receive their dues for the overtime to be 4 lakh. Depending on the salary, an employee is likely to receive around Rs 100 to Rs 300 for every extra hour. CH Venkatachalam, General Secretary of All India Banks' Employees Association (AIBEA) told Hindustan Times that the issue has been brought to the notice of the government and if no action is taken they are likely to go on a strike or even take legal action. He also mentions that almost none of the banks have cleared the overtime dues. Venkatachalam also mentions that it is a long-standing pact between bank employees and employers that there would be extra pay for extra hours. PM Modi's decision to ban Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 notes faced a lot of criticism and still continues to draw the ire of critics. The economy is still recovering from the unforeseen decision and has been trashed by former Union Minister Arun Shourie earlier this week. If government has its way, high net worth individuals will soon have to pay an inheritance tax. In this regard, the government has sought feedback, including recommendations, on the proposed re-introduction of inheritance tax, according to a report by Economic Times. The government will levy tax ranging from 5% to 10% on families with a certain net worth, the report further stated. The government has also sought views of taxation lawyers and experts. The new tax could be introduced in next budget. One of the most common ways to avoid paying inheritance tax is the creation of family trusts because under this ownership of the assets is not transferred. There is only a change in the trust shareholding. However, it is not without any limitations. "Most family trusts typically hold only bank accounts and equity shares and not immovable property. Transferring any property to or from the trust would continue to attract stamp duty and income tax," informs Adhil Shetty, CEO, BankBazaar.com. While there is no inheritance tax right now, any income earned on inherited property attracts tax. "Say a person purchased a property in 2000 and has been deriving income by renting it out. If his wife stands to inherit the property on his demise, she would not need to pay any income tax on acquiring the property, but any income that she derives from it henceforth would be taxable," adds Shetty As on July 31, 2017, India has 617 individuals with wealth of 1,000 crore ($154 million), according to the Hurun Research Institute, a luxury publishing group based in Shanghai Popular by the name of estate duty or estate tax, India held inheritance tax for 33 years from 1953 to 1986 against inheritance of a particular asset. Though inheritance tax is no longer levied but the income earned on the same is taxable. Like India, many countries had inheritance tax but later abolished them. These countries are Australia, Hongkong, New Zealand, Norway. On the other hand countries like USA, UK, Netherlands, Spain and Belgium still tax their citizens on wealth bequeathed to them by their ancestors. Google launched the new Pixel line-up at an event in San Francisco. The new Pixel device's don't stray too far from their first generation design language but still managed to make numerous changes in all the right places. India will be one of the first few countries to receive the device. Interested buyers will be able to pre-book the device from Oct 26 while both smartphones will go on sale from November 1. Pixel 2 will be available across 1000 brick and mortar stores across India. Pixel XL 2 on the other hand will 15 days later at November 15. Flipkart will be the exclusive reseller of the device online. The Pixel 2 will be priced at Rs 61,000 for the 64GB variant whereas the 128 GB variant will be priced at Rs 70,000. The Pixel 2 XL 64GB variant will be priced at Rs 73,000 while the 128GB will come at price of Rs 82,000. Google will ship the Pixel 2 in Just Black, Kinda Blue and Clearly White. The Pixel 2 XL will be available in Just Black, Black and White. Considering the prices of its competition like Galaxy Note 8 and iPhone X, the device is placed reasonably well. However, the Galaxy S8 and iPhone 8 can pose as stiff competitors for the Pixel line-up. Google revealed a host of products last night, creating a whole new ecosystem. The element that cements the ecosystem is the Google Assistant which brings machine learning and AI in every interaction with the network. The Pixel 2 will come with a 5-inch screen, whereas the Pixel 2 XL will sport a 6-inch screen. The bigger Pixel 2 XL will have a pOLED, QHD+ screen with 18:9 aspect ratio. The Pixel 2, on the other hand will have a full HD OLED display with 100,000:1 contrast ratio. Pixel phones will support is Active Edge, which has been developed by HTC. The feature allows accessing applications by squeezing the sides of the two devices and works even with a case. Cameras on the Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL will feature Google Lens which will take down written information like phone numbers, emails and addresses when the camera is turned towards them, and then use them to contact the person they belong to. The Google Lens also comes equipped with ARCore which allows inserting AR stickers in pictures and videos. This feature will also be made available on first generation Pixel phones too. Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL now come with cleaner UI in comparison to their predecessor. They will have IP67 water and dust resistance. Moreover, Google has integrated Google Assistant quite well with both Pixel phones to better user experience, which already was quite high with their previous generation. The 18 canceled flights were between HK Express home base in Hong Kong and Asian destinations such as Seoul, South Korea, and Osaka, Japan. They affected about 2,000 people. Photo: IC Budget carrier HK Express replaced its CEO following the sudden cancellation of more than a dozen flights during Chinas weeklong National Day holiday, after a procedural issue left it short staffed, affecting vacation plans for hundreds of travelers. Hong Kong Express Airways Ltd., whose investors include Chinas HNA Group, said in a statement that Zhong Guosong had been named as the companys acting CEO in light of recent challenges, according to numerous media reports. It did not provide additional details. Unnamed sources in the reports said former CEO Andrew Cowen had been replaced following last weeks cancellation of 18 flights that were set for the week-long holiday in China that runs from Oct. 1 to Oct. 8. Hong Kong has its own public holiday calendar and doesnt observe the entire week off, but was scheduled to have two vacation days during the week. The affected flights were between the airlines home base in Hong Kong and other Asian destinations including Seoul in South Korea and Osaka and Nagoya in Japan, affecting about 2,000 people, the South China Morning Post reported. The sudden cancellations prompted Hong Kongs aviation authority to ask for an explanation. The airline was forced to make the cancellations when more than 700 of its cabin crew and pilots failed to get safety licenses renewed on time, according to the reports. That happened after the company lost several safety trainers in August, following a management dispute. More than 700 million Chinese were expected to go on vacation during this years Super Golden Week, which combines the National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holidays, according to a previous estimate by the China Tourism Academy. Of the 60% of all Chinese mainland residents planning to travel during the holiday, six out of 10 planned to stay within China, the academy added. Contact reporter Yang Ge (geyang@caixin.com) The insider trading case of former Baidu executive Li Yinan, pictured at a corporate event in August 2009, involved 7 million yuan ($1 million) in illegally-gotten gains, which Li earned after a close friend tipped him off that a listed machine tool manufacturer was in merger talks. Photo: IC A muted conclusion is nearing in the story of a child prodigy who attained top positions at some of Chinas leading high-tech firms, only to fall from grace for insider trading, in a Chinese version of the similarly high-profile case of U.S. entrepreneur Martha Stewart in the early 2000s. Li Yinan, now 47, was in headlines as recently as last week, when a court upheld his conviction that carried a 2 1/2 year jail sentence for insider trading. He will have served that time as of December, leaving him to resume his life after a scandal that saw him go from high-tech superstar to financial criminal, according to the website Sina.com. Li was first detained in June 2015, and later convicted before finally being sentenced in January this year. The case that brought him down was relatively small by standards in Chinas young and freewheeling financial markets, where insider trading is common. It involved 7 million yuan ($1 million) in illegally-gotten gains, which Li earned after learning from a top executive and close friend at a listed machine tool manufacturer that the company was in merger talks. Lis detention, his high-profile trial, and subsequently rejected appeal marked an abrupt turn of fortune for a young man once known as one of Chinas fastest-rising high-tech superstars. After attending college at only 15, Li quickly rose through Chinas corporate high-tech world to become the youngest vice president of Chinese telecoms giant Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. at the age of 27. He would go to join leading Chinese search engine Baidu Inc. in 2008 as its chief technology officer, attaining the title while still in his 30s. His resume also included a connection to wireless giant China Mobile, after he became CEO of a company that operated the carriers online travel service. In 2015, Li started the electric scooter business Niu Technologies to develop high-end electric scooters inspired by the design of the Italian brand Vespa and by the battery technology of electric car manufacturer Tesla. Niu launched its first model on June 3, 2015, two days before Lis arrest. Word has yet to emerge on what Li plans to do when his sentence ends, as he heads into his late 40s. The case in many ways resembles that of Martha Stewart, who built a U.S. media empire in the 1990s on her homey style of crafts, cooking and decorative ideas for around the home. That case saw Stewart convicted in 2004 for charges stemming from a trade that helped her avoid a relatively small loss of about $51,000 by selling shares in a company she owned after receiving negative insider information. She ultimately served a five-month prison sentence and was released in 2005. In that instance, prosecutors were believed to have aggressively pursued the case, despite the relatively small amounts involved, to show that nobody was exempt from U.S. securities laws forbidding insider trading. Contact reporter Yang Ge (geyang@caixin.com) | BY Ricki Green | Australian Paper has awarded its communications planning account to Dentsu Mitchell following a competitive pitch. Dentsu Mitchell is a long-standing partner of Australian Paper having worked with the business since 1995. Its reappointment by Australian Paper is testament to the consistently high quality of work delivered by the Dentsu Mitchell business. In a highly disrupted and challenging category, Australian Paper is reinvesting in Reflex its unique flagship brand with a refreshed creative campaign in early 2018. Says Sue Clohesy, marketing manager office papers, Australian Paper: We are charged with reinvigorating our iconic Australian Reflex brand in an extremely challenging market environment. Dentsu Mitchell has demonstrated they are the right media agency partner for us and we look forward to working with them as we embark on this important new chapter for Reflex. Says Adrian Roeling, national managing director, Dentsu Mitchell: Our appointment to Australian Paper demonstrates our commitment to delivering innovative and effective business solutions through communications. We are thrilled to be partnering with Australian Paper to help them further optimise their brand communication outcomes for Reflex. | BY Ricki Green | Brisbane-based creative agency Brother & Co has offered its services to The Good Beer Co., Australias social enterprise beer company, to help create and launch a new beer in support of marriage equality. Inspired by the Love is Love mantra, the new ale, launched in Brisbane today, is simply called Love. Founder of The Good Beer Co., James Grugeon, said Love was created to show its support for YES and solidarity for its mates in the LGBTI community across Australia. Says Grugeon: What better way than to brew a collaboration beer that will help get a positive message out there. I approached the Brother team and they lent their support and craft without hesitation. Brother co-founder, Piet Human, said his team were delighted to use their skills to support a campaign theyre so passionate about. Says Human: As an agency and individuals were pretty passionate about equality whether its in the workplace, the pub across the road and hopefully soon wedding venues all around Australia. We were delighted to play our part in helping the Good Beer Co. launch a great beer that allows people to raise a glass for the cause. After its official launch in Brisbane yesterday, the beer will be available on tap at selected venues across Australia and will be available for sale online with pre-orders for 50 litre kegs and cartons of 24 330ml bottles at www.thegoodbeerco.com.au/love. Profits from Love beer will go to the Australian Marriage Equality Campaign. Funds raised will support their work to bring about a YES vote in the postal survey and, ongoing, promote the cause of equality for LGBTI communities across Australia. | BY Ricki Green | IBM has today announced its intention to acquire Vivant Digital business (Vivant), a boutique digital and innovation agency based in Sydney and Melbourne. This acquisition extends the strategy and design expertise of IBM iX, one of the worlds largest digital agencies and global business design partners, with Vivant talent and expertise to accelerate clients digital transformations. The CEO and founder of Vivant, Anthony Farah (left), will also take the role of digital strategy and iX leader for IBM Australia and New Zealand. With close to a decade of innovation consultancy experience, Vivant has established a strong reputation for its design philosophy and innovative approach, using insights from behavioural science, data and technology for Australian start-ups and corporates, primarily in the financial services and distribution industries. Says Paul Papas, global leader, IBM iX: Customer experience is a critical element as our clients develop their business strategy. IBM shares a similar design, consulting and management philosophy with Vivant, and our combined teams will raise the bar for experience-led, design driven, digital reinvention. Together IBM iX and Vivant, based in Sydney and Melbourne, will address the growing need of clients seeking transformation though innovative digital business models and bold customer experiences. Says Farah: This is an exciting direction for Vivant clients and employees. We now have scale and greater opportunity to address the growing needs of CEOs and innovation leaders willing to disrupt the market by seeking out new business models. We see it as converging the best of big with the best of small. This adds to IBM acquisitions made during 2016 as it rapidly expands its iX global capabilities in strategic ways to better serve clients. From strategy and design to scalable digital, commerce and mobile, IBM iXs team of specialists work side-by-side with clients across more than 36 global IBM Studios. Working at the intersection of strategy, creativity and technology, IBM iX helps clients digitally reinvent their businesses. | BY Ricki Green | VCCP has launched Season 3 of its popular How Banking Can Be campaign for ING, starring an array of ING customers alongside brand ambassador Isla Fisher. The first two spots, which build on the success of the two previous VCCP campaigns for ING, demonstrate how ING products and services empower customers to get ahead. Each one dramatises a particular benefit with a uniquely Isla twist; taking the hassle out of applying for a Home Loan and saving whilst you spend using INGs new Everyday Round-Up. In total, the campaign will feature 7 TVCs to run across TV, Cinema and Online. For Gary Dawson, ECD of VCCP, the new campaign demonstrates the power of creating enduring brand stories. Says Dawson: ING really do empower their customers to get ahead, so unleashing Isla again, with all her quirks, energy and passion felt like a natural way to demonstrate this. Last year Isla was jealous of customers stealing her limelight, but this year shes fervently embraced her role as brand ambassador and gone looking for her own unique way to evangelise about the benefits of being an ING customer. Andrew Holt, CEO of VCCP, says the agency is extremely proud of the work and of working with ING. Says Holt: ING are a fantastic client, they genuinely challenge the way banking can be and they challenged us to bring that spirit to life in this new campaign. As a challenger agency this is exactly the kind of work we love to do; a populist and entertaining twist on the humble product demonstration. Client ING Fiona Nicol Head of Marketing George Exikanas Brand Communications Lead Nicole Metcalf Senior Brand Communications Manager Helen Colville Brand Manager Agency VCCP Gary Dawson Executive Creative Director Paul Sharp, Creative Director Gary Dawson, Paul Sharp, Ant Hines, Trent Christie, Chris McMullen Creatives. David Kennedy-Cosgrove, Managing Partner Kim Ellis Group Account Director Michelle ONeil / Kim Feitelberg Executive Planning Director Wendy Gillies Producer Production Company Goodoil Director Fiona McGee Producer Claire Richards Offline Tim Parrington, The Butchery Online Drew Downes, The Refinery | BY Ricki Green | The Creative Leadership Residential course which runs for the first time in Melbourne, October 8-10 is now fully subscribed. The course is an opportunity for advertising creatives to acquire new skills required to spearhead the industrys next generation of creative leaders. The three-day intensive features modules spearheaded by leading ECDs, agency CEOs and CFOs. Sessions are highly interactive, combining workshops, panels, role plays and Q&As across three central themes: Day 1: From creating to leading Day 2: The business of creativity Day 3: Exploring the CD role Chaired and curated by partner at Gutthink & Partners and BMF founder, Warren Brown the Residential is Australias only custom-designed course of its kind for senior creatives looking to transition into leadership roles. Brown has selected daily co-chairs to assist him in delivery of course content. Says Brown: Being a great creative is a terrific ambition, being great at helping others achieve that goal is entirely different. There are many qualities that make a CD successful so it was important that the credentials of the daily co-chairs chosen, ticked every box that I could think of. Leadership is primarily about providing inspiration, being supportive and building confidence in the team around you. Theres also a heap of important stuff that goes with being a CD, stuff you can only get from experience. Im sure the attendees will benefit greatly from the experience the co-chairs have. Hopefully for those on the course itll be an eye opener. In Melbourne, day one will be co-chaired by Paul Reardon, executive creative director, TBWA Melbourne, chief creative officer, at Leo Burnett Australia, Jason Williams will flank Brown on day two and Scott Nowell co-founder and chief creative officer of renowned agency: The Monkeys will tackle day three. To ensure delegates experience concentrated mentoring, practical experience and tangible learnings, the group is capped at sixteen. The Creative Leadership Residential is proudly presented by AWARD; Australias longest-standing and most respected professional development program for creatives. The course is exclusive to corporate members of The Communications Council. | BY Ricki Green | Moth Projects has signed award winning Australian comedy director Jonathan Brough. With over 20 years of professional experience, Broughs work has screened at the Cannes, Edinburgh, Hof, Slamdance and Sydney Film Festivals, and screened on international TV networks, including Comedy Central and Netflix. Says Brough: Im a bit late to the party, but I look forward to bringing 20 years of pent-up rage to the commercial arena. Says Jonathan Samway, EP, Moth Projects: Straight out funny, in fact his work is as funny as it gets. I am so happy to be able to send Jonathans work to creatives looking for a new comedy voice. Brough has amassed an impressive list of nominations for his work in Australian TV comedy. More than once he has ended up competing against himself in the same category. New Zealand born, Brough has been flat-out since arriving in Australia to direct the celeb-heavy comedy anthology Its a Date. He then managed to survive a singing puppet and an alpaca while helming the series Sammy J and Randy in Ricketts Lane. For his work on the series, Brough took the Australian Directors Guild Award for Best Direction in a TV Comedy. The following year he was nominated twice in the comedy directing category: for acclaimed, Tasmanian-set comedy Rosehaven (which the Sydney Morning Herald praised as clever, insightful, surprising and really funny), and for hit sitcom The Family Law, which centres on the teenage son of a self-destructing Chinese-Australian family. He recently completed Ronny Chieng: International Student, the debut scripted show from Comedy Centrals Daily Show correspondent Ronny Chieng. | BY Ricki Green | Vodafone today announced an evolution of the Vodafone brand positioning globally and in Australia, reflecting its relentless focus on delivering customers connectivity, choice and freedom now and in the future. Rolling out progressively in Australia later this month, the changes include an update to Vodafones iconic speech mark logo and new brand positioning. The brand evolution is the first significant change to one of the worlds best-known brands since the introduction of the Power to you brand positioning in 2009. A 30-second film called Proud has been created as part of Vodafones campaign to promote its new brand positioning strategy: The future is exciting, Ready? It will be shown in countries around the world from October 2017. It was produced for Vodafone by Ridley Scott Associates. Vodafone Australias consumer business director, Ben McIntosh, said the refresh of the Vodafone speech mark and new positioning, The Future is Exciting. Ready? represent how Vodafone continues to innovate for the future while delivering choice and freedom for customers. Says McIntosh: The wants and needs of our customers have changed, and with that weve changed too. Weve evolved our products and services to give customers more choice and more freedom. From no lock-in contracts to personalised service, $5 roaming (where you can use your plan for $5 extra per day in selected countries) and the fresh approach well bring to broadband were making sure customers are at the centre of an exciting future. We challenge the status quo and push the boundaries to give people something that they wont find anywhere else. This is a natural evolution for Vodafone that reflects our desire to disrupt traditional conventions and provide real change for the future. Vodafone will start rolling out the brand changes in Australia from 20 October at the iconic Vodafone Gold Coast 600 Supercars event. A progressive rollout will follow in-store and online in the coming months. This fresh take on the Vodafone brand will also make itself at home at Vodafones new flagship store on Sydneys George Street, which is due to open its doors in coming weeks. More teens are getting weight loss surgery. But is enough being done? Health Thursday, October 5, 2017 at 2:04AM "How do you let yourself capture these fleeting moments, while being part of the moment?" Google asks this of us as it unveils a new camera unlike anything weve seen so far. Called Google Clips, its a self-contained camera that can take photos and videos without you prompting it to do so (but a sole button on it will let you manually record what you want). It runs pre-trained machine learning algorithms and generates clips and photos it thinks are the best ones. It then lets you export these as either photos, videos, or GIFs. Google is focusing on a specific set of users at the moment: parents and pet parents, to be specific. With the artificial intelligence component, they need to teach specific things to the machine learning model so it can start recording things like your child crawling around the living room for the first time. Google with the help of Intels Movidius Myriad 2 vision processing unit brings on-board AI processing to Clips. At first glance, Clips raises some privacy concerns. But Google is quick to address this. Firstly, the clips it records are soundless. The media is all contained in the tiny teal and white cube and can only be exported to the connected smartphone. Clips comes with a 12-megapixel sensor with a 130-degree field-of-view lens capable of taking photos at 15fps. It has a 16GB internal memory and works with a handful of devices at the moment, including Pixel, Samsung Galaxy S7 and S8, and iPhone 6 and up. Its not a cheap device, though, as it retails for US$249 (approx. CA$310). Source: TechCrunch + The Verge "We will need to carefully consider a range or implications that could result from this measure, including how they apply to children, rights to appeal and what offences they are applied to, and this work will continue," he said. DragonImages/iStock/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) -- U.S. authorities believe Russian-backed hackers successfully stole highly-sensitive U.S. government documents by exploiting a popular antivirus software on the home computer of a man working for the National Security Agency, ABC News has been told by several people familiar with the matter. The massive theft took place in 2015, the sources said, after the man brought home classified documents from his job at the NSA. One source said the man brought the materials home so he could expand his work-related skills, in hopes of being promoted. On his home computer, the man was using antivirus software from the Moscow-based company Kaspersky Lab, sources said. Russian-backed hackers were able to target his computer and steal his files through the software, sources added. The still-unidentified man has been cooperating with federal investigators, according to sources. In 2013, NSA contractor Edward Snowden disclosed many of the agency's most important surveillance programs and, last year, NSA contractor Harold Martin was arrested by the FBI for allegedly amassing a large cache of highly-classified documents at his home. Officials fear Russia could try to target US through popular software firm under FBI scrutiny Kaspersky Lab's CEO, Eugene Kaspersky, dismissed the recently-disclosed case as a "new conspiracy theory." The company said in a statement that it "has not been provided any information or evidence substantiating this alleged incident." Thursday's news comes a month after the Department of Homeland Security directed all 430 departments, agencies and offices comprising the U.S. government to rid their systems of any software made by Kaspersky Lab, one of the world's most renowned cybersecurity firms. U.S. officials allege the company has ties to the Russian government, and they have increasingly expressed concern that foreign hackers could try to utilize Kaspersky Lab software to spy on Americans, steal sensitive files or attack critical infrastructure. "This action is based on the information security risks presented by the use of Kaspersky products on federal information systems," DHS said at the time. "The risk that the Russian government, whether acting on its own or in collaboration with Kaspersky, could capitalize on access provided by Kaspersky products to compromise federal information and information systems directly implicates U.S. national security." Kaspersky Lab responded in a statement, saying, "Given that Kaspersky Lab doesn't have inappropriate ties with any government, the company is disappointed with the decision by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), but also is grateful for the opportunity to provide additional information to the agency in order to confirm that these allegations are completely unfounded. No credible evidence has been presented publicly by anyone or any organization as the accusations are based on false allegations and inaccurate assumptions." U.S. officials have yet to publicly present any evidence of concerning links between Kaspersky Lab employees and elements of the Russian government. An ABC News investigation earlier this year found that -- largely through outside vendors -- Kaspersky Lab software has been procured by some segments of the Defense Department, Justice Department and other federal agencies. As ABC News previously reported, the FBI launched a counterintelligence investigation of Kaspersky Lab several years ago. The agency has recently taken new steps to assess Kaspersky Lab's relationship with Russian intelligence services, including interviewing company employees based in the United States. Kaspersky Lab CEO Eugene Kaspersky has called U.S. government efforts "extreme." "Kaspersky Lab is facing one of the most serious challenges to its business yet, given that members of the U.S. government wrongly believe the company or I or both are somehow tied to the Russian government," he recently wrote on his blog. "Basically, it seems that because I'm a self-made entrepreneur who, due to my age and nationality, inevitably was educated during the Soviet era in Russia, they mistakenly conclude my company and I must be bosom buddies with the Russian intelligence agencies ... Yes, it is that absurdly ridiculous." The Wall Street Journal first reported the new case. Also on Thursday, New Hampshire Senator Jeanne Shaheen called on the Trump administration to "take further steps, including declassifying information on Kaspersky lab to raise awareness." "It's a disservice to the public and our national security to continue withholding this information," Shaheen said. Copyright 2017, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. "We do ask that if you're confronted with weapons in this situation to comply with people and think of your own safety first - no amount of cash is worth being injured." Mr Roberts said had the doctor called an emergency at the earliest moment, about 5.10pm, it is alleged the baby would have been born before 6pm, at which point she was still alive. "And our federal politicians have always asked why we haven't got a store there. The climate and demographic suit us as well so we've been looking at Canberra for a while, it was a matter of finding the right site and landlord." Your digital subscription includes access to content from all our websites in your region. Access unlimited news content and The Canberra Times app. Premium subscribers also enjoy interactive puzzles and access to the digital version of our print edition - Today's Paper. "The only thing standing in the way of life sentences for gun runners is Turnbull and his government. It's a sad fact that an illegal gun was used in the Lindt Cafe Siege. We should do everything we can to stop this sort of tragedy ever happening again," he said. THIS WEEK IN CAPE BRETON: Raising the peace flag, reviewing future plans for Centre 200 and more SYDNEY During a time of conflict around the world and with racial tensions on the rise in many parts, its clear there are those who want to find a bright, positive light wherever they can. Over the next several days, the YMCA of Cape Breton will ... 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. Authorities within Japans transport ministry have continued checks on Nissan by raiding two of the automakers factories. Last week, the ministry conducted inspections at four other factories in the country and discovered that Nissan was conducting unauthorized final vehicle checks for most of its domestic models. In response, the carmaker suspended new vehicle registrations with the government and confirmed that it will recall all new passenger cars sold in the country in the past three years. Few details about the two new factory spot inspections have been released but individuals with knowledge of the situation told Reuters that the other two factories could have been performing unauthorized vehicle checks as well. In a brief statement, Nissan spokesman Nick Maxfield said the latest two plants are its Tochigi and Auto Works Kyoto facilities. We are currently conducting an investigation into the nature of this vehicle inspection issue at our plants. All vehicles sold in Japan have to be registered with the government and while final checks are being performed on vehicles, an additional procedure must also be performed by certified technicians. PHOTO GALLERY Fords Police Responder Hybrid Sedan and F-150 Police Responders are the first pursuit-rated hybrid sedans and pickup trucks to get the thumbs up for law enforcement use. The two vehicles have just completed testing while under Michigan State Police supervision and it would appear the results were quite positive. Our new Fusion-based Police Responder Hybrid Sedan is quicker than our legendary V8-powered Crown Victoria Police Interceptor, while offering fuel efficiency thats estimated to be double that, said Stephen Tyler, Ford police brand marketing manager. Plus, our new F-150 Police Responder offers police customers both on-road pursuit and off-road capability. The testing included a grueling 32-lap pursuit simulation at Grattan Raceway, which is where Fords pursuit rating for both vehicles was confirmed. During the simulation, the vehicles overall durability was put through the ringer, which included tests for the powertrain, suspension, brakes and tires. Models like the already in use petrol-powered Interceptor Sedan and Interceptor SUV also participated in the tests, utilizing Fords 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engine, which helped the Sedan hit 60 mph (96 km/h) in 5.6 seconds, whereas the Interceptor Utility and the F-150 both needed 6.3 seconds to hit the mark. As for the fastest overall lap and fastest average lap honors, predictably, they went to the Ford Police Interceptor Sedan. PHOTO GALLERY The legendary Evolution nameplate is about to return, as Mitsubishi planning to reveal the new electric e-Evolution Concept at the Tokyo Motor Show. The Japanese company released more info and a pair of teaser images about its incoming concept, which will preview a high-performance all-electric crossover that combines the very best of Mitsubishi Motors technology with the go-anywhere flexibility of SUVs. The all-electric SUV Coupe concept will use three motors, one sitting at the front axle and the other two at the rear, which coupled with a new electronically-controlled torque vectoring Active Yaw Control unit for better and sharper handling. According to Mitsubishi, the new e-Evolutions brain will be an Artificial Intelligence system that can read changes in road and traffic conditions, as well as the drivers intent, coordinating seamlessly the drivers inputs with the vehicles performance. The AI system will also train the person behind the wheel to be a better driver through voice dialogue and the large dashboard display. The new Mitsubishi e-Evolution concept will debut at the Tokyo Motor Show on October 25, alongside the Eclipse Cross coupe SUV which will celebrate its Japanese debut. PHOTO GALLERY Photo: youtube.com To those fleeing persecution, terror & war, Canadians will welcome you, regardless of your faith. Diversity is our strength #WelcomeToCanada Tweet from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Many now believe this well-intended tweet from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau helped to instigate a surge of illegal border crossings into Canada. I will give the prime minister some credit as he has since modified his message to point out that while Canada is an opening and welcoming society, that We are also a country of laws. These more recent quotes were a result of roughly 8,000 recent illegal border crossings into Canada. Keep in mind in Ottawa, the Liberal government refers to an illegal border crossing as an irregular border crossing. Recently at the House of Commons Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration, opposition MPs had the opportunity to question senior officials from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to learn more about how this situation was being handled. The committee learned that in many cases there is an alarming lack of data. As an example, the department had no information of how many people, who entered Canada in 2017 through illegal points of entry, had been found to have criminal backgrounds. Likewise there is no data on the percentage of asylum claims from those entering Canada illegally, as opposed to legally. Some information that department could confirm. The government has directed, through ministerial order, that those entering Canada illegally will receive expedited health benefit coverage along with expedited work permits. This basically means that those who are entering Canada illegally are going to the front of the line ahead of those who enter through legal methods. Conversely, it has also been revealed that roughly 80 IRCC staff members have been diverted to deal with asylum claims from those who have entered Canada illegally, thus increasing the wait time for those who have legally followed all of the rules to remain in Canada. My question for this week: do you think it is a good policy for those who enter Canada legally and follow the rules, to be placed at the back of the line while those who enter illegally receive expedited treatment? I can be reached at [email protected] or call toll free 1-800-665-8711. This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet. Photo: The Canadian Press Las Vegas gunman Stephen Paddock The girlfriend of the Las Vegas gunman said Wednesday that she had no inkling of the massacre he was plotting when he sent her on a trip abroad to see her family. Marilou Danley issued the statement after returning from her native Philippines and being questioned for much of the day by FBI agents still trying to figure out what drove Stephen Paddock to open fire on 22,000 fans at a country music festival from his 32nd-floor hotel suite. Read more Photo: The Canadian Press Author Kazuo Ishiguro has won the Nobel Prize for Literature. Kazuo Ishiguro, the Japanese-born British novelist best known for "The Remains of the Day" and other works about memory's pain and illusions, won the Nobel Literature Prize on Thursday. The selection of the 62-year-old Ishiguro marked a return to citing fiction writers following two years of unconventional choices by the Swedish Academy for the US$1.1 million prize. It also continues a recent trend of giving the award to British authors born elsewhere V.S. Naipaul, the 2001 winner, is from Trinidad and Tobago; the 2007 honoree, Doris Lessing, was a native of Iran who grew up in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). "Some of the themes that I have tried to tackle in my work about history, about not just personal memory but the way countries and nations and communities remember their past, and how often they bury the uncomfortable memories from the past I hope that these kinds of themes will actually be in some small way helpful to the climate we have at the moment," Ishiguro said Thursday, speaking in his backyard in north London. Sara Danius, the academy's permanent secretary, praised Ishiguro as a mix of Jane Austen "her comedy of manners and her psychological insights" and the dark undercurrents of Kafka. The academy called Ishiguro's eight books works of emotional force that uncover "the abyss beneath our illusory sense of connection with the world." In "The Remains of the Day," a million-seller that came out in 1989 and won the Booker Prize, a butler at a grand house looks back on a life in service to the aristocracy. The novel's gentle rhythms and "Downton Abbey"-style setting gradually deepen into a haunting depiction of the repressed emotional and social landscape of 20th-century England and the deadly rise of fascism. An Associated Press review from the time noted that "Ishiguro neatly reverses the cliche of 'what the butler saw' by building a novel around what the butler didn't see." The 1993 film adaptation by the Merchant-Ivory production team starred Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson and was nominated for eight Academy Awards. Like "The Remains of the Day," his 2005 novel "Never Let Me Go" is a story of deceptive surfaces and uncertain memory. What appears to be a narrative of three young friends at a boarding school gradually reveals itself as a dystopian tale with elements of science fiction that asks deep ethical questions. The movie adaptation starred Carey Mulligan, Andrew Garfield and Keira Knightley. "I've always liked the texture of memory," Ishiguro told www.writerswrite.com around the time "Never Let Me Go" came out. "I like it that a scene pulled from the narrator's memory is blurred at the edges, layered with all sorts of emotions, and open to manipulation. You're not just telling the reader: 'this-and-this happened.' You're also raising questions like: Why has she remembered this event just at this point? How does she feel about it? And when she says she can't remember very precisely what happened, but she'll tell us anyway, well, how much do we trust her?" The Swedish Academy stunned the literary world last year by giving the prize to Bob Dylan, while in 2015 it offered a rare spotlight for nonfiction writers by honouring Belarusian journalist Svetlana Alexievich. Time is coming to get back to it!! #givesyouwings #yamaha #motodirect #marineshop #uvcovers Posted by Trigonis Konstantinos Photos: Gonzalo at Sopot Worlds, Heli shot by Paula Kopylowicz Brewin, Jakub Kopylowicz, Gonzalo Bundock by Helena Darvelid/Sailrocket The winning Z22 foil, Stephen Brayshaw by Helena Darvelid/Sailrocket . Exploder/D3 Wingmast tested by Kuba Surowiec. 2017 WC Steve Brewin foiling upwind by Helena Darvelid / Sailrocket . Video by Kostas Trigonis. Left: Gonzalo with Santi Estevez & Anton Paz. Below with Luc Dubois - 2017 was a perfect year for Exploder: Mischa & Stephan grabbed F18 Worlds with the Scorpion at Denmark and later the long awaited A-Class Title at Sopot by Steve Brewin. Both crowns have long stories behind, Mischa on his decade of pursuing the F18 top podium, and the A-Cats 5 consecutive titles for Dna seemed a wall too high to climb. But Jakub Kopylowicz kept working and joined forces with Gonzalo Redondo from D3 Applied Technologies. Together they embarked in an intensive development process to aim for the A-Class World Title. Interview below focus on the devel & testing aspects to get the crown, which of course was possible in the end thanks to the great team riding the Exploder D3. Check Brewins own path to the title here R&D in the A-Class has given us great foiling rides, Gonzalo along Jakub have provided sailors with current top notch flying solution. Just watch Kostas Trigonis video above, he is a good sailor of course, but see how the platform is doing its own work. Previous A-Cat foiling setups needed plenty of sailors input. Thus this footage resumes pretty much the result of Exploder/D3 Applied Technologies work: Smoothless stable flights. Q&A below will be also avaible in next Foiling Magazine first digital edition. Interview with Gonzalo Redondo , owner/head designer at D3 Applied Technologies / d3appliedtechnologies.com Since when you started working with Jakub / Exploder in the A-Class project? Gonzalo Redondo: We started working together in September 2015 I believe as I remember working on the original platform concepts at the airport coinciding with the Monaco Yacht Show. I knew well the great job Jakub was doing and had fantastic references from everybody. By that time I was sailing on a foiling moth. Which was the initial plan and objectives? Initially we thought about designing new foils for the A15 which was performing already pretty good. After some R&D we went from Z5 to Z10, which ended up being the production boards until Sopot. Also, we wanted to develop new rudders and decided to develop Ts and Ls until both would be refined. From the beginning we did not think it was fair to make conclusions based on undeveloped concepts. From a theoretical perspective Ls would make sense but from a practical one we ended up selecting Ts after a few months. We thought about taking it easy with regards to the new platform, the Exploder AD3, but I believe Jakub had some issues with honeycomb stock in January 2016 so he suggested to put all his resources in the new tooling. Hulls were already designed so March 2016 we launched the new boat and it proved to be faster and also lighter than the A16. There are some aspects of the platform design that simplify development. For instance, the longitudinal chine you see at deck level right in-front of the forward beam provides a consistent beam to deck intersection, which enables Jakub to move beam position without any effort or extra tooling. For instance this is why it is so easy to ask for custom configurations. We even tested one with everything forward 30cm. Which was the time frame you guys established to reach a targeted level of performance you showed at Sopot? Hehe, there is no schedule in a development class. It is very simple, we do all we can until we run out of time. At this stage we know we can go from design to machining moulds and then testing in less than 2 weeks. I believe once it was 1 week. After Medemblik priority was on boards and rudders. Also, some construction and fittings have improved to make the boat more reliable. How was the coordination with the Polish/ Spanish & Australian teams, in terms of equipments (both tested the same at same time for ie?) Very good. The sailors are committed to the development of the platform and usually we received most of the feedback via Whatsapp. Jacek is very reliable and communicates very well with Jakub, then Stevie and Bundy are key testing and bringing ideas, and for me it is also very easy to communicate with the Spanish guys. For instance Manolo tests equipment in waves and Anton Paz and I in flat water. Moreover, the Australian part of the team is key to develop over Northern Hemisphere winter, although we try to sail throughout the whole year at our place. Kostas is also helping the team in many ways. We know Jakub likes to develop, build and test . Which were the limitations (if any) on the R&D build/test process? Software tools are always a limitation, and we have a continuous development program in the tools as well. There is always a limit on what you can model and so it gets to a point in which we cannot be certain about designing better foils, so when that time comes we need to get into our cave and figure out how our tools could be improved. Other than that, we had a plan to go to the Worlds with Z21, but ended up going with Z22 which is a variation of Z15, which was the first of what we call the new generation. The board numbering accounts for the design iteration. After Z10 we designed and built Z 11, Z12, Z15, Z19, Z20 and Z21, so 6 foils before the final one. Some of the foils are CFDd and VPPd but are either not good enough for manufacturing or we feel we can do better straight away. Sometimes we get additional feedback that changes the way we approach the design. These boats are pretty dynamic so sometimes there are things you just cant see with the tools. It is a nice experience because it is quite a practical design project. Having such intensive devel program the build / test cycle must result in some interesting data for your theoretical work on CFD and initial design intent. Which conclusions you can drive out of the results your system were showing to actual feedback from Aussie/Polsh/Spanish camps? There are 2 aspects very tricky to fine tune, these are ventilation and turbulence. As of today I am surprised of the little ventilation we get on the daggerboards. The rudders are trickier in this respect but the combination of area, foil section and stiffness of RB21 (current production rudder blades) seem to be effective. As of turbulence, this is quite a funny one as there has always been plenty of talking on the subject and nobody is really certain. We have got an idea of what works and what does not, and then it depends how much you want to risk it. Sometimes it is great to come up with unsailable appendages as they set the limits of what is possible. Are you able to adjust your predictions now , based on the on the water results? Which is the gap of CFD to actual perf ? The VPP is very accurate on average VMG. I am surprised about top speeds tough. Also, the Australians were the ones that uncovered their own upwind foiling technique which was not predicted by the VPP due to the previous aero package. Tank testing is now obsolete? or serves still a specific purpose? I have only run tank tests myself at the University and even tough I am 33yo that was more than a decade ago. We still get some tank testing results for some commercial projects but they match pretty well. No matter what, the truth is that tank testing as a design tool does not really work within our new design methods. Nowadays a CFD simulation can give you a better insight on boat dynamics than a simple tank test, particularly when it comes to sea keeping. It is not all about resistance. The environment of a towing tank is just different. Moreover we always end up testing dozens of hull or foil designs so it would not really be viable as a design tool. In my experience, what really makes sense is to build development platforms which you can test in real world conditions, i.e., scale tests in which you can jump in and check if what you are feeling is indeed what you are looking for. I quite like the new AC protocol banning towing tank and wind tunnel testing. For instance when I was part of the design team of the latest VOR70s we did not do any tank testing. New foils have less chord than previous Exploder Z versions, any structural compromise was addressed or the use of high modulus carbon can by pass the lesser material used? We have not broken a single board and that is of some concern! Errors and breakages are fantastic to speed up learning curves. Jakub is already using high modulus carbon. Seeing your latest Foils, they resemble some of the latest designs weve seen in the AC, seems the classical elliptical planform continues to be up to date and alive. Which are the overall benefits over a straight taper for ie on a Z board? Well, for me the definition of an elliptical wing is the one of the Supermarine Spitfire (you may find a nice pic to attach). The current planform is just an attempt to improve the effective aspect ratio of the foil. The taper is not straight so I would not say a straight taper is beneficial. Also there are some structural implications related with hydro elasticity that we need to be careful about. Even ventilation is quite affected by the planform shape. You have specialized yourself also in foil section development, how key is to nail the foil section aspect say over planshape or overall shape on vertical/horizontal/tip? On one hand an incorrect foil section can screw up any design. On the other hand I am really impressed by how some funny foil sections work. We extended the trailing edge of a foil and you would not notice the max. thickness was effectively moved forward, which is a very important parameter with regards to turbulence. I think next year we will work a lot on foil sections as the shape and platform of the foil seems to be quite efficient as of today, although for sure we will try to develop it. Anyway what looks ok today will be outdated in the near future, thats for sure, and not knowing whats next is very exciting as well! The foil section devel is now fully automated? Of course you still need to input and target specific goals , but can you set those parameters and let the systems develop at will to reach final result? We do have a few foil section algorithms to automatically develop sections. However, in my humble opinion, the experience, understanding and thinking of a person is critical to drive those algorithms, as they sometimes go wild. Understanding the effect on performance of every foil design feature is what really matters. Then you can go and boost the design work with algorithms and tools, but no tool will design you a foil on its own. How important is to have dedicated and specialized hardware/software packages like you guy shave a D3 Applied Technologies to reach such level of refinement? Key, which is why our biggest investment is always in cluster and software development and licenses. You decided to embark yourself in a intensive training sail program towards Sopot, we ve seen some really stable foiling and how you improved. Im always praising those developers that can actually tests their designs, of course some might not be able to and having riders is as good and efficient method, but how flying your designs iterations helped you along the Pro riders feedback to continue developing further? For me this is very important as well. As of today Im really satisfied with my flatwater performance. Our training venue is perfect as the biggest waves Ive seen there are coming from motorboats. This allows Anton and I to do a lot of 2 boat testing so that we understand the performance and dynamics of every prototype. Then we compare our feedback with that coming from Australia and Poland. My first day in Sopot was ok. The second was very wavy which was a pain for me as I had a pretty wild wipeout injuring my knee. I wonder if Gordon Upton has pics of that wipeout as I do not know if I spinned once or twice on the trapeze! The next day was superlight and thats a condition I dont perform at all. Will definitively work on it. In general I feel I can ride the boat fast but Im still to novice to sail properly around the course. Pending task for this winter is upwind foiling. Anyway Im very proud I made it to Gold fleet as I had no expectations at all. Next Worlds I know Ill just try to do better, knowing that when the regatta starts I am not the designer of the boat anymore and just an amateur a-cat sailor trying to enjoy the ride and share it with others. Weve seen at Sopot how upwind foiling payed for the first time. Weve been talking on how stable and early lift were goals for latest versions. There is a limit for the full foiling A, in terms of flying upwind say in 6kntos like a Moth? Mmm, the moths do not have efficient hull shapes, whereas the A hull is very high performance. It is normal that in low wind you better float. However with Z22 we lowered the wind to make upwind foiling pay to something like 10 knots. Upwind foiling is already possible in 8 knots tough, its just that the hull is pretty good too! Rig devel: A wingmast was tested by you guys but was discarded for the Worlds. Short masts were tested by many but also discarded by Brewin for ie. So in terms of rig design this Worlds havent seen any breakthrough or definitive new solution. Which direction you think the Class will take in the future and previous mentioned alternatives have any future in your view? This was an experiment to kick off a long term project. The mast project is not commercial but raw investigation. Anyway I would like to remark that winning the Worlds with a boomless sail is quite a breakthrough for me! I sailed for fun a Dart 18 for a few years and I liked the boomless idea a lot. Ive also been testing myself a Brewin sail and I like it too. He deserves great credit for bringing that to the class. If the next Worlds are going to be in a windy venue then short masts would be the way to go probably. However current rig developments are constrained to Fiberfoam and Saarberg masts. They are doing a fantastic job but obviously this is quite restrictive in terms of testing different solutions. Which are next steps, if any in the foil/rudder area? Hehe, as long as ideas keep flowing I know what we would do today but we dont know what we will do tomorrow. I think we have ticked all the important boxes with the new platform so now it is time to look at some detailing probably. How about the offsets setting some are using ? With the latest rudders we use 0.5deg positive rake. As you know I have made a 3D printed inclinometer jig to help with that. It was not my intention to sell it or anything but it is hard to say no to sailing mates. As of the rudder offset, it works as you gain righting moment by creating downforce with the windward rudder. Many have tested it this year. However complicating systems on boats like the A-cat adds weight and you loose focus on the things that really matter. I would see it as a nice feature if it was linked to other existing controls. Platform: With all the test done on beams positions, can we say we have a rather standard placement now to remain for 1-2 seasons at least? Or still room to test & devel in that area too? I think so. However if anyone wants to order a different configuration I believe it is possible as I explained previously. At the end this is a development class so the same way some of us take the risk to order platforms, I dont see why it would not be possible for any sailor. Overall impression of the work done which ended with the title at Sopot I am proud of the team effort but eager to keep going. I dont think being satisfied is really possible in a development class. Future overall R&D plans Even tough we have ideas to keep testing, we will focus for a while in ways to improve our design tools before we get back to R&D mode. But be certain well do our best to keep performing next season. So outside of the A-Class stuff, what other projects is D3 office involved with at the moment? We are very lucky to be involved in so many projects. The office has only been up and running for less than 5 years and I believe we will finish 2017 having started project 100! As of catamarans, we are working on some foiling designs now which are already under construction. The Flying Phantom Essentiel is a joy to sail and we look forward to continuing working for them. Lately we have been involved in a very special multihull project, for which we have set up a very strong design team with Luc du Bois, Adam May, Marc Menec, Mannerfelt Design Team and Bob Graham with support from Gio Belgrano on the structures. The experience has been so good we are considering establishing the design team somehow. Adam, Luc and I are A-cat sailors and good friends, so it is very comfortable to work together as we share that practical view, and I believe like we complement each other very well. Marc Menec, he is one of my closest friends and the best 3D guy you can find. He runs his own firm but I consider him part of the D3 team as well when it comes to foiling cats. With Mannerfelt Design Team we started helping them a few years ago in their high performance powerboat projects. Running hydro simulations at 120 knots to design racing powerboats is one of the trickiest things you can do! Other than that we are also working on Olympic campaigns, drone designs, both power and sailing megayachts, watersports gear (windsurf, kitefoil, electric jets), high speed ferries, ocean support vessels, floating houses for Dubai We even designed the linesplan of a 30m fishing vessel which ended up being Ship of the Year 2016. There are also some Civil engineering projects in the office. I like the idea of being multidisciplinary as it keeps our mind open and we can share solutions from one sector to another. Final toughts? I am very thankful to Jakub. I would say thanks to every eXploder D3 owner and for sure our team riders. Then to my team at D3 Applied Technologies and also Marc Menec, who also collaborates with us in this project. They deserve all the credit. ends Copyright Catsailingnews.com Three family members of Miami-based AW-Tronics on Wednesday pleaded guilty to charges that they conspired to defraud the United States and illegally export aviation parts and equipment to Syria. Three family members of a Miami-based company on Wednesday pleaded guilty to charges that they conspired to defraud the United States and illegally export aviation parts and equipment to Syria in violation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). The individuals who pleaded guilty to the scheme in the district court of southern Florida included Ali Alex Caby, 40; Arash Axel Caby, 43; and Marjan Caby, 34. According to the Justice Department, Ali Caby ran the Bulgaria office of AW-Tronics, a Miami export company that was managed by Arash Caby, and which exported various aircraft parts and equipment to Syrian Arab Airlines (Syrian Air). Both Ali and Arash Caby supervised and encouraged AW-Tronics employees to make the unlawful exports to Syrian Air, while Marjan Caby, the companys export compliance officer and auditor, facilitated the shipments by submitting false and misleading electronic export information to federal agencies. Syrian Air is on the Office of Foreign Assets Controls Specially Designated National list due to its transportation of weapons and munitions on behalf of Hizballah and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). U.S. exports to Syria Air are blocked unless an OFAC license is obtained. The defendants are scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Beth Bloom on Dec. 19. They face a maximum sentence of five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. 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INEOS has completed the purchase of the DONG Oil & Gas Business from DONG Energy A/S. The completion of the deal positions INEOS as a top ten company in the North Sea and the biggest privately owned exploration and production business operating in the energy basin. The business brings with it a good mix of long life and development fields, producing an average of 100,000 boepd (in 2016) in the North Sea, with around 570 million boe of commercial and potential oil and gas reserves in Denmark, Norway and the UK (West of Shetland). It is a natural fit for INEOS, further strengthening its long-term activity in the North Sea, which was founded on the acquisition of both DEAs and Fairfields UK portfolios in 2015 and more recently the announcement to buy the Forties Pipeline System from BP. Geir Tuft, CEO of INEOS Oil & Gas said, We are very pleased to have completed the deal to acquire this business from DONG Energy. We see lots of opportunity within this impressive portfolio and we are keen to integrate it into our growing portfolio of Oil & Gas businesses. This business is a natural fit for INEOS as we continue to expand our Oil & Gas activities. We are very pleased to bring this competitive, well run business into INEOS, with its experienced team, a strong portfolio of long life assets and a very good mix of existing production and developments across the North Sea. The strong portfolio of assets is built around three world class fields; Ormen Lange is the largest field in the DONG portfolio and the second largest gas field in Norwegian waters, Laggan-Tormore is a new gas field West of Shetland which came on-stream early 2016 and Syd Arne is a large oil field in Denmark. Along with the existing production the portfolio also features several large scale oil & gas developments in Denmark, Norway and UK (West of Shetland). 430 people will now transfer to INEOS, working across a portfolio of production, development, exploration and appraisal assets in Denmark, Norway and UK (West of Shetland). The business to be known as INEOS DeNoS, will form part of INEOS Oil & Gas, a business division within the INEOS Industries. The Business has been acquired by the INEOS Industries business division. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has determined that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 does not include protections for discrimination based on gender identity. But transgender people in Illinois are protected under state law. (Marilyn Nieves / Getty Images/Vetta) Illinois government officials and civil liberties advocates offered assurances Thursday that transgender people in the state will still be protected against discrimination at work despite a directive by Attorney General Jeff Sessions that put federal protections in question. Sessions, in a memo to the country's federal prosecutors, determined that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 does not include protections for discrimination based on gender identity. That is a reversal of an Obama-era decision that interpreted the law as protecting those who were fired or otherwise discriminated against for being transgender. Advertisement A Justice Department spokesman said the Obama administration was wrong to interpret the law beyond what Congress intended. But because Illinois has anti-discrimination laws that include gender identity protections at the state level, transgender people here can file lawsuits if they are discriminated against, said Ed Yohnka, director of communications and public policy at the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois. Advertisement "But the problem is that you have to live in a state like Illinois that has those protections in order to be protected," he said, noting that 28 states have no employment discrimination laws that include bias based on sexual orientation or gender identity. "If you live in one of those states, life just got worse." "The Illinois Human Rights Act provides a variety of antidiscrimination protections, including sexual orientation and gender-related identity," Michael Theodore, communications manager for the Illinois Department of Human Rights, said in a statement. "If a complainant brings forward a charge of employment discrimination that is within our jurisdiction, the Illinois Department of Human Rights is able to utilize state law to conduct a fair and neutral investigation. If someone believes that they may have been discriminated against in a workplace setting, or in other areas we offer protections, they can contact our office to learn more about their rights under Illinois law." Sessions said in his memo that "this is a conclusion of law, not policy," adding that the move should not be construed to condone mistreatment of transgender people. This is not the first time Sessions has gone against decisions that supported rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans. The Justice Department under his leadership has also argued civil rights law does not protect employees from discrimination based on based on sexual orientation. LGBT advocates assailed the latest move. "Discrimination against any human being, regardless of sex, is unacceptable," said Gaylon Alcaraz of Project Fierce Chicago, an organization formed to curb homelessness among LGBT young people. "The different types of maneuvers that Sessions is trying to throw into the mix are not right." Alcaraz said she believes that while there is fear in the local LGBT community over whether the Trump administration will restrict civil rights, she says the best method to combat it is to "mobilize and organize." "We can scream and holler and be upset about it but we've also got to do something about it," she said. "People are up in arms, but you've got to be proactive." Advertisement Associated Press contributed. sbomkamp@chicagotribune.com Twitter @SamWillTravel A viral video that ricocheted worldwide last month may not be what it seemed, according to the woman shown being dragged off a Southwest Airlines flight in Baltimore. The airline says that the woman had complained about two dogs aboard the Los Angeles-bound aircraft last Tuesday, stating that she had a life-threatening pet allergy. But the woman could not provide a medical certificate, without which the airline can deny a passenger boarding, Southwest said. What ensued was a scene that has become all too familiar in air travel. The passenger refused requests for her to deplane, and law enforcement was called in to remove her from the flight. This is where the video starts. The officers pull her out of seat. She screams at them, telling them, "Don't touch me." She is dragged down the aisle. She was later arrested and charged with disorderly conduct, failure to obey a reasonable and lawful order, disturbing the peace, obstructing and hindering a police officer, and resisting arrest. That is one version of the events aboard the Southwest flight. The woman, Anila Daulatzai, 46, has a very different account of how things unfolded. According to her lawyers, Daulatzai, a professor at the Maryland Institute College of Art, alleges that she never asked for the dogs to be removed from the plane, never claimed to have life-threatening allergies and was never asked for medical certification. She was forced off the plane, she alleges, because of who she is: a woman of color and of the Islamic faith. In a statement released Wednesday, Daulatzai's attorneys charged that she was "profiled, abused, interrogated, detained, and subjected to false reporting and the trauma of racist, vitriolic public shaming precisely because she is a woman, a person of color, and a Muslim." "She survived sexism, racial profiling, and police brutality that fateful day," reads the statement from Hall & Sethi, a law firm based in Reston, Virginia, that specializes in cases of personal injury. "Her mistreatment was particularly distressing because she is presently pregnant with her first child." Daulatzai had discussed her non-life-threatening dog allergies with Southwest crew members soon after boarding the aircraft, her attorneys say. But shortly after she had taken a seat at a safe distance from the dogs toward the back of the plane, a Southwest representative approached her, asking her to leave the plane. Despite assuring flight crew that she would be completely fine on the plane, her attorneys allege, Daulatzai was "pulled from her seat by her belt loop" and "dragged ... through the aisle exposed with torn pants." Daulatzai's attorneys say that the charges filed against her "have no merit." Bill Dumas, the passenger who recorded the incident and uploaded it to YouTube, told NBC News that while the police were being "overly aggressive," Daulatzai was also combative and "wasn't giving [the officers] much of a choice." In a statement to The Washington Post, the Maryland Transportation Authority Police said that "[d]espite her clear attempt to resist a law enforcement officer, Ms. Daulatzai was professionally removed from the aircraft within the guidelines of the MDTA Police. This remains an open case that will be handled in the appropriate venue, not through various media channels." Since the incident, Daulatzai has received hate mail and violent threats, and has had to leave her home out of fear for her safety, her attorneys said. They did not respond to emailed questions about next steps in the proceedings. Reached for comment regarding the attorneys' statement, Southwest repeated its response last week that it is "disheartened by the way this situation unfolded and the customer's removal by local law enforcement officers." The airline noted that it has "publicly apologized to this customer for her experience and made several attempts to contact her directly to address her concerns." This latest episode is just another in the seemingly endless stream of airline-passenger meltdowns. Other nightmarish incidents in recent months include the man who was violently dragged off a United Airlines plane in April, leaving him battered and limp, and the infant-carrying easyJet passenger who was punched in the face by an airport employee in July. In this undated file photo released by a militant website, which has been verified and is consistent with other AP reporting, militants of the Islamic State group hold up their weapons and wave its flags on their vehicles in a convoy to Iraq, in Raqqa, Syria. (Uncredited / AP) Just hours after Stephen Paddock unleashed a hail of bullets on a country music festival in Las Vegas, the Islamic State group issued a flurry of statements claiming the 64-year-old gunman as one of its own. The quick responsibility claim discounted by FBI officials is the latest in a series of dubious or seemingly fake IS claims, reflecting the extremists' eagerness to latch onto global attacks it can tout as its own as it fights for survival in its Mideast base. Three years after it declared its so-called Islamic caliphate across huge swaths of Syria and Iraq, IS has lost most of the territory and is on the run in its few remaining bastions. Far from the confident propaganda it pumped out when it controlled a pseudo state, the group now justifies its losses to its supporters and urges them not to give up the fight. Advertisement "It really reflects the existential crisis facing ISIS," said London-based Mideast analyst Fawaz Gerges, using an alternate acronym for the group. Investigators are still looking for clues to explain what drove Paddock, a high-stakes gambler and retired accountant, to gun down 58 people from his high-rise hotel room in the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history. The IS statement did not provide a shred of evidence to support its claim that he was a "soldier" from its ranks, saying only that the man, who it identified by the alleged pseudonym "Abu el-Bar al-Amriki," had converted to Islam three years ago. The Associated Press reported the IS claim, but noted the group provided no evidence of a link. Advertisement Unlike previous attacks claimed by IS, there is no indication Paddock had religious or political inclinations, nor did he leave a video message of himself pledging allegiance as some attackers have. Paddock killed himself as police closed in, making it easier for IS to make the claim. The group has a history of exaggerated, unsubstantiated or false claims, but these have picked up in frequency as its position at home became more tenuous. In June, the group claimed an attack by a gunman who ignited a casino fire that left 36 people dead in the Philippine capital, Manila. It turned out to be a botched robbery by a heavily indebted Filipino gambling addict. The group also claimed a knife attack on Sunday that killed two women in Marseille, France, but French authorities say they have found no link between the attacker and IS. From Orlando, Florida, to Manchester and London in the U.K, to the Champs Elysee in Paris to Bangladesh, Libya, Syria and Yemen almost every day, the group claims responsibility for an attack somewhere in the world. Many have been at least inspired by the group. Some claims have simply been false. The recent claims are a far cry from the carnage in Paris in November 2015 that killed 130 people, or the 2016 suicide bombings that ripped through Brussels airport and subway, killing 32 and injuring 320. Both were said to have been planned and directed by IS. Experts say the recent false claims are a reflection of the group's desperation to project strength and remain in the news as something other than a terrorist group on the wane. The militants lost Mosul, their biggest prize and last major stronghold in Iraq, in July after a grueling months-long battle, and are currently holed up in a few remaining neighborhoods in Raqqa, where U.S.-backed Syrian forces are bearing down on them. In an apparent attempt to raise morale, IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi released an audio message last week, the first since November, vowing to continue fighting and lavishing praise on his jihadis for their valor in the battlefield. He also urged followers to step up attacks and "burn" their enemies everywhere. Advertisement Gerges said the Las Vegas attack claim illustrates the extremely difficult position IS faces at home and its lack of strategic coordination. "To take responsibility for a deranged American, a criminal American, tells you exactly that this is about media narrative. This is about trying to remain in the news cycle, trying to say we are still here," he said. Experts say the group, which has called for lone wolf attacks in the Las Vegas strip among other landmark Western targets, has nothing to lose by making such claims. "ISIS is essentially trying to piggyback on the atrocity in Las Vegas," said Colin P. Clarke, an expert at the RAND Corporation. "This is merely a way to garner more attention ... even though the claim is patently ... false." "More likely, ISIS's supporters will believe what the group says and not what is proven beyond a doubt by the Western media," Clarke added. Associated Press writers Jim Gomez in Manila, Bassem Mroue in Beirut and Lori Hinnant in Paris contributed to this report. Gifts donated to Catholic Charities Lake County for its Celebration of Giving Christmas gift program are lined up in 2014 at the former Kmart on Belvidere Road in Waukegan. Catholic Charities is seeking a new warehouse for the program this year. (Catholic Charities Lake County ) Catholic Charities in Lake County is approaching a "desperate, desperate spot" as it looks for a new temporary home for its Christmas gift program, the coordinator said. The clock is ticking because donated gifts are set to start arriving in late November, and the nonprofit needs enough time to make arrangements with all the volunteers, said Jim Wogan, who coordinates the Christmas gift program. Advertisement Wogan added that last year, the nonprofit provided gifts to 14,000 people, almost exclusively children but also some fixed-income seniors and certain homeless or disabled individuals through the program, called Celebration of Giving. Catholic Charities began signing up recipients who have to have their need verified by a social worker the day after Labor Day, Wogan said. They've signed up about 13,000 people so far. Advertisement "There was a line down the stairs, out the door and halfway around the block," he said. The entire production is volunteer driven, which is why Wogan said he's hoping to find a space as quickly as possible. The location and other logistics will have to be communicated with thousands of donors, recipients and volunteers, he said. The volunteers 485 were involved in one way or another last year sign people up, find and match donors to recipients, load pallets and set up the shelving and racks currently housed in a storage space, Wogan said. Wogan said he would in a "perfect world" want 50,000 square feet of warehouse space in the Waukegan area, as most of the recipients live in Zion, Waukegan or North Chicago. The operation would need the space for a 45-day period between Nov. 15 through the end of the year. The nonprofit covers its liability insurance and utilities, he said. Because Catholic Charities is looking for donated space, it finds itself having to find a new home for the program about every two years as space gets leased out to paying customers, Wogan said. Rows of bicycles are lined up waiting to be given to children as part of Catholic Charities Lake County's Celebration of Giving Christmas gift program. In 2014, the nonprofit used the former Kmart on Belvidere Road in Waukegan as its base, but that building is now in the process of becoming the new Cristo Rey St. Martin College Prep. (Catholic Charities Lake County) emcoleman@tribpub.com Advertisement Twitter @mekcoleman Cherry lambic sorbet and Queen City Cayenne are in a waffle cone at Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream in Chicago. On Tuesday, Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams will open its second Chicago location (1505 N. Milwaukee Ave., 872-802-4668) in Wicker Park. To celebrate the store's opening, Jeni's will host a party from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. with free ice cream. The first 50 customers in line will also receive a ceramic mug designed by Jeni's art and design team. Advertisement The artisanal ice cream shop, which has stores in five other states and sells its products in grocery stores across the country, also has a location in Lakeview that opened in 2013. Jeni's is well-known for its unusual flavors, such as goat cheese with red cherries, wildberry lavender and lime cardamom buttermilk, as well as its commitment to natural ingredients and grass-grazed cow milk. Advertisement Jeni Britton Bauer, the founder of Jeni's, grew up in Peoria and has strong family ties to Chicago. "Chicago's amazing, and we've had a great time (on) Southport," Avenue, referring to the Lakeview location. Britton Bauer added that they found an ideal location in Wicker Park, and that it's a "great neighborhood." "We have a long history here," she said. "It's always been a dream of mine." In addition to ice cream, the store will sell frozen yogurt, sorbet, ice cream sandwiches and Intelligentsia coffee. As for how her Chicago sequel will differ, "This is going to be a different design. It's going to have a different vibe to it, it'll be a little bit bigger than the other store." And new menu items? "There may be a Chicago sundae, but I'm still working on it," she said. ewickwire@tribpub.com Twitter @ewickwire When Chicago Magazine broke the news last week that Katsu was closing, I phoned the beloved Japanese restaurant in the Far North Side neighborhood of West Ridge. "It's not finalized," said Haruko Imamura, co-owner with sushi master husband Katsu. They had just opened for dinner, so neither could speak further, she said, sounding flustered. Advertisement Had they had a change of heart? Would Chicago's own Jiro remain open after all? On Wednesday night, Haruko Imamura finally confirmed that, yes, they are closing because the master will retire, as first reported by former Tribune reporter and Katsu acolyte Kevin Pang. Advertisement Nov. 26, the Sunday after Thanksgiving, will be their last night, said Imamura. Open since 1988, the Imamuras made their quiet corner on Peterson Avenue a destination for not only Japanese travelers but celebrities like Mick Jagger and Tom Hanks. None other than chef Grant Achatz himself named Katsu one of his favorite restaurants in Chicago, serving "some of the best sushi I've ever had" anywhere in the world, according to an interview just three years ago on Epicurious. Katsu is indeed best known for its sushi, with ever-changing, market-driven menus, as well as some cooked dishes. The Imamuras don't release menus in advance, and they don't operate a website or social media profiles. Which is not to say Katsu doesn't have an unofficial online presence. The restaurant is one of the most highly rated restaurants on Yelp and Zagat, not to mention LTH Forum, a popular chat site for food-loving locals. Eat. Watch. Do. Weekly What to eat. What to watch. What you need to live your best life ... now. > Now with the closing next month, Katsu is reservations-only, no walk-ins. "We are not taking any reservations on last day," said Imamura. She and Katsu have not decided what they'll do yet, she added. What would Imamura recommend for a last bite? "No one thing," she said with expected Japanese modesty. Then somewhat surprisingly perhaps simply echoing decades of public accolades for her sushi master husband she added, "Everything on the menu is great." Katsu, 2651 W. Peterson Ave., 773-784-3383 Advertisement This article has been updated to reflect that Katsu is reservations only for the remainder of its run. lchu@chicagotribune.com Twitter @louisachu [ At Katsu, a quarter century of sushi as theater ] [ Finding their own space is key to Katsu and Haruko Imamura's happiness ] [ Momotaro, where the hot dishes outshine the sushi ] Since 2012, The Daily Meal has ranked America's best pizzas, and it's been a half-decade that's seen America's pizza landscape go from spectacular to otherworldly. It's no small feat to set out to rank the best pizzas in America, but for the sixth year in a row, we've sought the nation's best pies and slices, considering more places than ever in our quest for the best. 101 Best Pizzas in America (Slideshow) Advertisement If you're as passionate about pizza as we are, you know our bona fides and you know the drill. We've been at this for a while. We've obsessively cast as wide a net as possible across the country to search for the best pizzas. All year, once each annual list appears, we research new spots ourselves and follow up on the discoveries of others wherever they are across the country. We tap friends for recommendations, pore over reader tips, argue, seek out experts to help us rank responsibly - and eat as much pizza as we can. We know that no list is perfect, least of all one involving a subject about which people feel as strongly as they do about pizza. Unlike many arbitrary lists, though - rankings diversified for the purpose of geographical engagement, "expert" listicles chosen by a handful of New York City's food writers - these rankings were approached methodically and comprehensively, and bring a great deal of pizza expertise to bear. Advertisement We start by defining the perfect pie. What are the essentials? Considering the varied pizza styles (Neapolitan, Sicilian, New York, Connecticut, California, Detroit, St. Louis, bar pie, deep-dish, Grandma... we'll stop ourselves there), that's a loaded question. Suffice it to say, no matter your pizza denomination, we believe the following qualities are basic to the platonic pie: a nuanced sauce, neither too sweet nor salty (assuming that it has sauce); good-quality, well-distributed cheese (assuming that it has cheese); good-quality and sensibly combined toppings; a flavorful, savory crust; and, perhaps most important aside from the overall quality of the ingredients, a judicious, well-balanced, and pleasing ratio of sauce, cheese, toppings, and crust that maintains a structural integrity no matter the style. (Speaking of crust, what is this fancy-pants term "cornicione" that figures in many of our captions? Cornicione, pronounced "cor-nee-CHO-neh," is Italian for cornice or moulding, and in pizza terms it means the edge, crust, or rim on a pizza.) From defining the perfect pizza we went big, considering nearly 900 spots in every corner of the country - slightly more than last year. How did we narrow this number down to just 101? To begin with, we ate at as many pizzerias as possible ourselves. The Daily Meal's in-house pizza experts - including eight-time James Beard Award winner and Daily Meal editorial director Colman Andrews and the site's senior eat/dine editor Dan Myers, along with our city editors, Daily Meal Council experts, and Culinary Content Network bloggers - pitched in. But we also called upon a blue-chip, geographically diverse list of pizza panelists - chefs, restaurant critics, bloggers, writers, and just plain pizza authorities - asking them to share their considerable pizza experience with us, but to vote only for places where they've actually eaten. (If you're in food media or are a recognized pizza expert and you disagree with this list and didn't vote for it, send us an email with your pizza cred and we'll consider you for our panel in 2018.) All told, 56 qualified experts weighed in this year. So who says the 101 pizzas on this list are the country's best? A sampling of our panelists includes former longtime "Best New Restaurants" columnist for Esquire and author of Mariani's Virtual Gourmet Newsletter John Mariani, Worst Pizza's Craig Agranoff, Real Food, Fake Food's Larry Olmsted, Barbara and Eric Cheifet of Barb and Eric's Pizza Adventures, Taste of New Haven's Colin M. Caplan, filmmaker Gorman Bechard, A Slice of Brooklyn Bus Tours' Tony Muia, and Pizza Therapy's Albert Grande. Obviously, when pizza is the topic at hand, these folks know what they're talking about. This year, the experts finalized a list that spanned 23 states. The top eight states for pizza included New York (35); Illinois (12); California (10); Connecticut (8); New Jersey (6); Pennsylvania (4); Texas (4); and Massachusetts (3). From last year, New York picked up six spots (thanks to the addition of several outside of New York City), California held strong with 10 spots, Illinois gained three spots, Jersey picked up a favorite, and Texas picked up two. So who made the list? You can click here for the full ranking. David Shields' "Life Story" known in undergrad creative writing courses everywhere as "the bumper sticker essay" is a collage of adages found on the back ends of cars. It's found-nonfiction that speaks to the human condition via lines like "I may be growing old, but I refuse to grow up" and "Life's a beach." One sticker that doesn't make Shield's essay is "A--, gas, or grass. No one rides for free," which is where Tiger Strikes Asteroid comes in. The Garfield Park gallery is exhibiting a show of that name exploring the subculture of vanning, unloading its psychedelic aesthetics and ideas in the process. Curated by artists Josue Pellot and Robin Dluzen, both active in Chicago's vanning culture, the gallery also displays vintage prints and patterns found on vans. Advertisement Puerto Rican-born Pellot once told LVL3 that he'd be a comedian if the whole art thing hadn't worked out, but his sense of humor is still present in the show's curation. It pairs well with Dluzen's deeply personal and regional set of sensibilities. Other artists featured in the show include Margaret Crowley, Salvador Dominguez, Salvador Jimenez-Flores, Jourdon Gullett, Chantal Johnson and Omar Velazquez. Velazquez, a mixed-media artist who uses formal techniques and trash in printmaking and installations, feels at home in the show. In line with the other pieces here, his picks up on meaningful, intricate social symbols where others might just see weirdos with vans. Or, as the curators put it, "the free-wheeling spirit that comes with complete immersion into a world with an alternate set of norms, values and attitudes." Through Oct. 14, Tiger Strikes Asteroid, 319 N. Albany Ave., Chicago; www.tigerstrikesasteroid.com Advertisement C.J. Pyle slips out of this world at Hammer Gallery With "Another Slipping Glimpser," painter C.J. Pyle is out to have a ball with language. "But as is certainly confirmed by the work on view, play is not the absence of serious-mindedness, but rather a more free-form mode of inquiry," says curator Steven L. Bridges. The show's title comes from Willem de Kooning, who identified himself as a "slipping glimpser." "I'm in my element when I'm a little bit out of this world: then I'm in the real world I'm on the beam," de Kooning said. "Because when I'm falling, I'm doing alright. When I'm slipping, I say, 'Hey, this is interesting.' It's when I'm standing upright that bothers me." But it's not just de Kooning haunting the show. The Chicago Imagists are also here in Pyle's use of color, texture, and pattern that sort of soft-edged psychedelia found in Roger Brown's landscapes and the billowing shapes of Christina Ramberg's artwork. Here, Pyle has a slew of friendly monsters on exhibition. While they are technically made of pencil, ink and gouache, each portrait seems to be of a figure made from swirls of yarn, buttons and eyeballs if not a friendly monster, then a sophisticated rendering of a child's hasty, happy drawing. There's a consistent, deliberate asymmetry to the portraits, an impulse that Pyle believes began when he was very young. "I have a distinct memory of myself drawing a picture at the kitchen table when I was about 7 years old. I gridded the page into nine boxes and drew different characters in each box trying to make them all as different from each other as I could," the artist says. It's this footing between playful instinct and deliberate organization that keeps Pyle working. Through Oct. 28, Carl Hammer Gallery, 740 N. Wells St, Chicago; www.carlhammergallery.com khawbaker@tronc.com Twitter @roaringgilmore [ RELATED: Posen and Adjaye among headliners at upcoming Chicago Ideas Week ] [ Unwinding' traditional Indian dance, this choreographer can't go back ] [ Spare, moving Chicago 'Fun Home' is a musical about growing up ] 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) Former British model Naomi Campbell (C-R) and fashion designer for Off White, Virgil Abloh (C-L) acknowledge the public at the end of the Off White women's 2018 Spring/Summer ready-to-wear collection fashion show in Paris, on September 28, 2017. (Francois Guillot/ AFP/Getty Images) Virgil Abloh, the Rockford-raised artist and designer, founder of the popular Off-White fashion label, sometime DJ and longtime creative director for Kanye West, will be getting a retrospective in 2019 at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago. The working title is "Virgil Abloh: Not New, Now," and the show, according to MCA curator Michael Darling, will be likely as expansive as the museum's recent blockbusters on David Bowie and Kerry James Marshall, exhibitions that dominated the MCA's top floor. "Virgil absolutely fits the mold here," said MCA curator Michael Darling. "It's not far off what we did with Bowie, with Merce Cunningham. He's this multimedia artist who has his hands in all these disciplines and serves as a really interesting example of how artists don't see boundaries for themselves these days. We're doing if for those reasons, but also, because this is a major star, who still keeps a home in Chicago, who was born and raised and education here so let's celebrate his art." Abloh, who studied engineering at the University of Wisconsin at Madison and architecture at Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago, became renowned among fashion designers in the past decade for his use of appropriation and street style. He's the guiding light behind West's Donda creative agency, steering the look of album covers, merchandise and stage designs. He started an Off-White furniture division and he's designed the label's boutiques, from Singapore to London to New York. Advertisement Though the MCA has not yet formally announced the exhibition, Darling is already planning a combination of film projections and traditional visual work, as well as fashion, furniture. "In an ideal world, Virgil will also be designing the gallery headphones -- we're still working on that." The artist, who was in Chicago on Thursday to meet with Sak's Fifth Avenue about a new line of clothing, said he pictured the exhibition not as a retrospective he is, after all, in his mid-30s, with a body of work not quite 20 years old yet. He sees it "as a way of putting my DNA on display to reinforce the premise of my practice, using past and new work." Advertisement Abloh said that the MCA was "sort of intrigued how my body of work serves as a new way for a contemporary artist to exist. I am very interested in ready-made art, and my premise is, imagine using known brands as a way to create I have projects right now with Nike, projects with IKEA. And within that dialogue is where art gets created." Among his Sak's line an ordinary pink t-shirt with Abloh's crossed-arrows logo silk-screened across a pair of palm trees, for only $323. Abloh, a first-generation American whose parents moved to Illinois from Ghana, and whose initial steps into fashion including placing new graphics across unsold Ralph Lauren shirts (and reselling them for hundreds of dollars), lives in Chicago but spends much of the year traveling from fashion houses to design exhibitions. He has become known as a relentless fountain of ideas, ones that often play with the mingling of high and low taste. Darling said that though the two have talked regularly about the show, "a moment later I'll read about some new project that he forgot to mention. I think I'm going to have to buckle my seat belt and go along for the ride because between now and 2019, Virgil Abloh will probably be taking over the world." cborrelli@chicagotribune.com RELATED STORIES: Michael Rakowitz aims to connect cultures with art and a food truck Kim Kardashian West cancels Chicago Ideas Week appearance Chicago renaissance woman Eve Ewing is a poet, sociologist, closet 'Star Wars' fan and local Twitter celebrity Watch the latest movie trailers. Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 122 Sophie Turner as Jean Grey, anger management student, in "Dark Phoenix." The film, the latest in the "X-Men" franchise, costars James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender and Jessica Chastain. Read the review. (Twentieth Century Fox) The AMC River East 21 multiplex in downtown Chicago is about to get a little more interesting, which is how things go this time of year. The 53rd Chicago International Film Festival opens there Oct. 12 with "Marshall," the Reginald Hudlin-directed biopic of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall and a crucial early chapter of his life. The festival, the first under the artistic direction of longtime programmer Mimi Plauche, concludes Oct. 26 with Guillermo del Toro's beauty/beast fantasy "The Shape of Water." Starring Sally Hawkins, co-starring (among others) Michael Shannon, it has garnered high praise on the international festival circuit, receiving its world premiere last month at the Venice festival, where it won the top prize, the Golden Lion. In between the Chicago festival's opening and closing night presentations, it's the customary story: movies for most every conceivable taste, some mainstream and populist, others venturing a little further out and about, from dozens of countries and in dozens of languages. Advertisement This year you'll notice a little extra red carpet along the spectacularly unglamorous stretch of Illinois Street in front of AMC River East. Besides "Marshall" director Hudlin, stars Chadwick Boseman, Josh Gad and Sterling K. Brown and producer Paula Wagner, high-profile guests expected at various screenings and events during the festival include Patrick Stewart (subject of an Oct. 25 career retrospective tribute and a conversation with yours truly); Vanessa Redgrave (Oct. 16, presenting her documentary "Sea Sorrow" and represented elsewhere in the festival by a revival screening of "Blow-Up"); Alfre Woodard (subject of an Oct. 21 career retrospective tribute); Michael Shannon (Chicago's own, as the locals like to call him, representing "The Shape of Water" on Oct. 26); Tracy Letts (Chicago's own, as the locals also like to call him, participating Oct. 18 on behalf of Greta Gerwig's acclaimed directorial debut "Lady Bird"); Michael Stuhlbarg (arriving Oct. 25; he gives a beautiful supporting turn in the coming-of-age drama "Call Me by Your Name"); Jon Lovitz (part of the Chicago-sprung comedy "Chasing the Blues," appearing Oct. 14); and, in an Oct. 23 addition announced after the program went to press, Bill Pullman (getting good notices for the western "The Ballad of Lefty Brown"). The movies attached to visiting talent, particularly actors, tend to find an audience at the festival. The majority of the CIFF titles, however, will be new to the public. Because they're the folks who mapped out the roster for your cultural satisfaction, I talked to the programmers about the movies they're particularly glad to have on that roster. Advertisement Mimi Plauche, festival artistic director "What are the films that stayed with me, the ones I've been thinking about, the films that make the audience think about the world? Those are the films I look for when we're programming the festival. "One is in our New Directors Competition called 'Life Guidance,' an Austrian film by Ruth Mader. I'm generally not a science fiction fanatic, but this is sci-fi I really like, set in the near future in a society that looks like the world we know but full of these little details that catch you off-guard. The society we see is divided into two classes, the 'top achievers' and the 'minimum recipients.' There's a top achiever who lives in a beautiful home with the perfect family, but one day he says something to his son that indicates he's not completely happy. So they send in an agent from a firm called Life Guidance to optimize this man's potential. It's unexpectedly funny in places, and Mader's filmmaking style is so powerful and controlled. "My other pick is in our World Cinema program, a U.S./Japanese co-production called 'Oh, Lucy!' We had director Atsuko Hirayanagi's short film here a few years ago, which won the audience award, and that was also called 'Oh, Lucy!' Now she's expanded and recast it with these top Japanese actors. It's about a middle-aged 'office lady' whose niece convinces her to to take a package of English conversation classes. Her teacher ends up being Josh Hartnett, and Hartnett's character gets the students to feel comfortable by having them wear wigs, costumes and develop alter egos. This is how this woman becomes this other woman, Lucy. It gets crazier from there, and there's both a dry wit and a poignancy to the film." Michael Kutza, festival founder and programmer "Oh, you know. My picks have always gravitated toward Eastern European titles, Hungarian, Polish I'll give you three. '1945' is from Hungary, and I've followed its progress on the festival circuit from the beginning. It's a remarkable study shot in black and white, about two Orthodox Jews who return to a remote city in Hungary, where the local residents have stolen everything from the Jews. And they think they've come back to reclaim what was stolen. A stunning film, I think. "The Polish film 'Reconciliation' is also in black-and-white, and it sounds crazy, but it's a love triangle set in a concentration camp run by the Russians. "And my third pick is 'God's Own Country,' from the UK. The director is Francis Lee, and it's like 'Brokeback Mountain' with a happier ending, about a guy on a farm, in a coming-of-age situation. He gets involved with a Romanian migrant worker. It's playing in our LBGTQ Out-Look Competition. Those are three offbeat films worth talking about, and worth audiences' attention." Anthony Kaufman, festival programmer "I'm gonna give you one documentary, because the docs are my baby, one U.S. indie and one that doesn't fit any category. The doc is 'In the Intense Now' from Brazil by Joao Moreira Salles, the brother of Walter Salles ("The Motorcycle Diaries"). It's an essay on revolution and revolutionary upheaval, using archival footage of May 1968 Paris, the Prague Spring, all sorts of things. It's very artfully constructed and a fascinating and, I think, timely look at the difficulties of managing and sustaining rebellion. "I really love Matt Porterfield's work ('I Used to Be Darker,' 'Putty Hill'), and his latest, 'Sollers Point,' gives you this extraordinarily detailed portrait of Baltimore. The star of the film (McCaul Lombardi) was in 'American Honey,' and it's about a guy, a drug dealer, trying to do the right thing once he's out of prison. Jim Belushi plays his father, and he's great. Advertisement "My crazy-hybrid pick is Errol Morris' 'Wormwood,' a six-part series we're showing in our International Film Noir slate. Morris calls it an everything bagel: It's not fiction, it's not documentary, but Peter Sarsgaard stars in it, and it mixes archival footage, clips from 'The Manchurian Candidate,' Laurence Olivier's 'Hamlet,' among others, to create this amazing look at CIA conspiracy theories." Alissa Simon, festival programmer "There are two films I programmed for this year's festival that I'm particularly fond of. The first is the crime thriller 'The Line,' a co-production between the Slovak Republic (it's their foreign language Oscar submission this year) and Ukraine. I describe it as redolent of 'The Godfather' and 'The Sopranos' with a soupcon of 'Animal Kingdom' and a welcome dose of black humor. I am a big lover of genre films that do something different with genre conventions. The smart, twisty screenplay is constantly bringing new complications and characters into the mix. Plus, it has really muscular direction, a propulsive score and a go-for-broke performance by the physically imposing male lead. And the setting the lawless borderlands between Ukraine and the Slovak Republic, which were notorious for smuggling prior to the accession of Slovakia to the EU is the perfect location for this story. "The older I get, the more I enjoy clever humanist comedies, and I found one from Israel that will make its international premiere in Chicago. It's a politically incorrect caper comedy called 'Maktub,' which means destiny or fate. And certainly the destiny of its two antiheroes, small-time enforcers for a Jerusalem mob protection racket, changes when they survive a suicide bombing and decide to give thanks by fulfilling the wishes of those who leave notes at the Wailing Wall. It's written by Guy Amir and Hanan Savyon, the writers and stars behind Israeli TV mega-hits such as 'Scarred,' 'Asfur' and 'Ma Bakarish,' and it proves that their considerable charm transfers to the big screen." Sam Flancher, festival programmer "This year, thanks largely to the proliferation of online screeners, we saw more than 4,000 short films for consideration. There's one film in the After Dark shorts program called 'Plus Ultra,' an experimental Spanish work, that's a really fascinating investigation of secret histories and Spanish colonial myths. It was shot on 16-millimeter film in this amazing forest, and it's about the embedded history of the land itself. I'm very glad the filmmakers Samuel M. Delgado and Helena Giron had new work we could showcase. We presented one of their shorts last year: 'Burning Mountains That Spew Flame.'" Alex Vazquez, festival programmer "This is my second year as the After Dark (late-night) programmer, and one I really love is called 'Mon Mon Mon Monsters' from Taiwan. It's only director Giddens Ko's second feature, but he's a prolific writer in Taiwan, particularly in the young adult fiction genre. With this one, you get the hellish flip side of YA, with these frothing-at-the-mouth bullies capturing and torturing a flesh-eating monster they find on the streets of Taipei. You think it's going to be a traditional monster story, but the movie doesn't let anyone off the hook, and it has a lot to say about social structures both with children and adults. Also it has a really great streak of black comedy, which makes the bad behavior so much more fun to watch." The 53rd Chicago International Film Festival, Oct. 12-26, AMC River East 21, 322 E. Illinois St. Full schedule at www.chicagofilmfestival.com; tickets in person at AMC River East, at www.chicagofilmfestival.com/festival/tickets/. Advertisement Michael Phillips is the Tribune film critic. mjphillips@chicagotribune.com Twitter @phillipstribune [ RELATED: First titles announced for 53rd Chi. Int'l. Film Fest ] [ Mimi Plauche takes the reins at the Chicago Film Fest ] [ 'The Shape of Water' makes world premiere, takes top prize at Venice festival ] Watch the latest movie trailers. Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 122 Sophie Turner as Jean Grey, anger management student, in "Dark Phoenix." The film, the latest in the "X-Men" franchise, costars James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender and Jessica Chastain. Read the review. (Twentieth Century Fox) Dear Amy: I have two wonderful kids. They are both in the military. One is active, and the other is a veteran on disability, who is also transgender. When people ask, "How are your girls?" I usually say, "Well, one is now a male," or I'll start by saying, "One of my kids suffered his whole life as a female," and then explain that he finally had surgery and is now very happy as a male transgender. Advertisement Amy, some people grasp the idea and show support. Others just stare and don't say much. One woman was so disoriented that she kept repeating, "She is now a male?" I was so taken aback by her reaction that I facetiously said, "And my other daughter was born a chimpanzee!" Then I walked away. Advertisement What is the best way to answer people that I haven't seen for a while when they reasonably ask, "How are the girls?" I won't just say, "Oh, they are fine," because that will be hiding the fact that one is now a male, and I am very supportive of him. I am very proud of both of them. Dad of a Transgender Dear Dad: I can imagine how exhausting it might be to feel like you are always having to educate and reorient people. But, "Oh, they're fine" is not a cop-out; it is your right to respond this way if you don't feel like explaining gender transitioning in the aisle of the grocery story. (And it happens to be true; they are fine.) Only offer up an explanation if you want to. And if you do, understand that every time you advocate for your son, you help a lot of other people who don't have a supportive and loving parent in their corner. Our perceptions are changing, one conversation at a time. Dear Amy: My husband and I never had children. Advertisement One of our closest nephews is marrying into a wonderful family with young boys whom we love. We live on a lake, and our nephew, his fiancee and her sons have spent the last two summer vacations with us. Last year after they left, we noticed a fishing net was missing. This year when my nephew and his family came back to the lake, we noticed that he had the net with him. After they left this year, a fishing reel was missing. It was my husband's father's, so it was important to him. I texted my nephew. He replied, "Oh, yeah. I have it. I guess I thought it was my cousin's reel; I'll send it back." I then mentioned the net, saying that now with the reel situation, we wondered what was going on. He said, "Oh, the net somehow got into our car while packing last year; someone didn't know it wasn't mine. I'll send that back too." Advertisement We are very upset that my nephew felt he could just take things from us. We feel he is lying to us and not owning up to the fact that he stole these things. We have decided with sadness that he is not welcome here anymore. We also feel it will be difficult to see him at family gatherings in the future. Any thoughts on what we should do? Heartbroken & Sad Dear Heartbroken: I have a completely different take on this than you do. But that's probably because I have traveled and vacationed with young children, and I am aware that things get quite bananas when a family is trying to account for everyone's possessions, and multiple people are packing the car. It is also possible that one of the kids nicked the equipment. But I don't think your nephew is a thief. Advertisement His explanations make perfect sense to me, and his quick offer to return these items to you means that he cares about you and your possessions, and that he wants to respect the relationship. It would be unfortunate if you severed a close relationship for the wrong reason. Ask Amy Daily No-nonsense advice for better living delivered to your inbox every morning. For a limited time, sign up for the Ask Amy newsletter and get the book Ask Amy: Essential Wisdom from Americas Favorite Advice Columnist for $5. > Dear Amy: I was raised to hug family members when greeting or departing, as a sign of affection. If you didn't hug, it was almost a snub. When I became engaged, I hugged my future mother-in-law, who told me that she wasn't much for hugging. I was so hurt and humiliated, and I never touched her again for any reason. I couldn't warm up to her. Hugger Dear Hugger: I assume there are other reasons you never warmed up to your mother-in-law, although it would have been gracious for her to accept a hug. (You can contact Amy Dickinson via email: askamy@amydickinson.com. Readers may send postal mail to Amy Dickinson, c/o Tribune Content Agency, 16650 Westgrove Drive, Suite 175, Addison, Texas, 75001. You can also follow her on Twitter @askingamy or "like" her on Facebook.) COPYRIGHT 2017 BY AMY DICKINSON DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY, LLC. RELATED STORIES: Transgender teen growing up in spotlight talks about bullying, depression Advertisement If you like Boy Scouts' new transgender policy, speak up How gay dads manage without paid paternity leave A narrow strip of manmade shoreline at the Palisades Amusement Park wave pool. Maier's framing of the image implies that the beach area is larger than it really is, enhancing the impression of the couple's solitude. Photograph from the Ron Slattery collection. Courtesy of the Estate of Vivian Maier. (The Estate of Vivian Maier) In her groundbreaking biography "Vivian Maier: A Photographer's Life and Afterlife," Pamela Bannos offers an exhaustively researched and engrossingly written examination of the life and work of the enormously talented and intensely private American photographer whose images of life in the 20th century have captured countless imaginations in the 21st. Many fans know or think they know the general outline of the mystery of the late Vivian Maier and her so-called discovery: the secretive nanny of Chicago's North Shore and Rogers Park with murky connections to France who died poor and obscure in April 2009, leaving behind literal tons "more than four tons of stored boxes" of photographs, negatives, undeveloped film and other ephemera, which such men as John Maloof, Ron Slattery and Jeffrey Goldstein acquired and began to circulate, leading to her posthumous viral fame. Advertisement Yet just as a photograph can give the impression of truth without revealing an image's complete context, this fragmentary emergence of Maier's biography and work has led to an incomplete, incorrect and in some cases unfair perception of the woman herself and the merits of her output. Luckily, Bannos, a faculty member in Northwestern University's Department of Art, Theory and Practice, sets out to offer a "counterpoint, a counternarrative, and a corrective to the public depiction of Vivian Maier." She makes the convincing case that "Her earliest known photographs reveal a confident and informed photographer not a 'street photographer' or a 'suburban nanny photographer,'" thereby illustrating that Maier and her photography "were all of that and much more." Advertisement Indeed, because of the way Maier's work came into the public view after the contents of her derelict storage units were sold at auction to people who didn't know Maier or even what they were buying, she has for years been more of an object than a subject in what's supposed to be her own story. Throughout the book, Bannos gives a thorough account of how "mansplaining Vivian Maier contributed to her mythologizing." In turn, she provides a much-needed alternative to these largely reductive and romanticized myths. As her subtitle suggests, Bannos deftly weaves Maier's chronological biography from her tumultuous childhood in New York City and France through jobs in Manhattan, Los Angeles and Chicago as well as many trips across the United States and abroad with the afterlife of the work she left behind. This multilayered structure results in a fascinating and balanced look at questions of artistic authority, appropriation, legacy and copyright. What emerges in these compelling pages is a portrait of a woman who endured a chaotic, difficult and impoverished childhood to become an independent adult, committed to self-invention and self-determination. Bannos doggedly traces Maier's family tree back to France's Champsaur Valley, where her mother, Marie Jaussaud, had been born illegitimately, fathered by a man named Nicolas Baille who did not officially acknowledge her as his daughter until she traveled there with young Vivian in 1932. Bannos notes that "A struggle with naming and validation permeates the Jaussaud women's legal documents as they hid the shame of their illegitimacy." It seems as though this genealogical convolution and secrecy likely had much to do with the adult Maier's caginess and fluidity in regards to her own name and background. "Vivian Maier: A Photographer's Life and Afterlife" by Pam Bannos. (Manuela Hung / University of Chicago Press) Bannos also reveals that while many of Maier's photographs give the impression of Maier as a solitary rover of the streets who had a hard time interacting with people, this was not actually the case. As her 1951 series involving "three dark-haired Italian sisters" named Serafina, Beatrice and Anna Randazzo indicates, she at least occasionally conducted planned portrait sessions. Writing of a trip to Cuba on which Maier shot a series featuring "a racially mixed, orderly mass of children and adults" at a local school, Bannos notes that Maier's ability "to organize and achieve cooperation in such a mingling of individuals is a testament to her ease and comfort in a broad range of environments." Moreover, Maier was not so friendless as Maloof and others have portrayed her. In one of the book's many charming photographic plates, Bannos includes an image of Maier at Staten Island's South Beach in the summer of 1952. There, she stands smiling on the sand next to her friend, an older woman named Emilie Haugmard, both of them in bathing suits, illustrating Bannos' observation that Maier "gravitated toward women her grandmother's age as photo subjects and friends." Refreshingly, Maier as Bannos presents her is not the cartoon of the kooky nanny savant depicted in such accounts as Maloof's well-intentioned but under-informed Academy Award-nominated documentary "Finding Vivian Maier." Rather, Bannos reveals Maier to be a smart, deliberate, well-read, well-traveled and dedicated practitioner of her chosen art. Maier was not some wacky outsider who accidentally stumbled into some great shots; an indefatigable "visual omnivore," she knew what she was doing and practiced her craft with intelligence and verve. Bannos quotes Rose Lichter-Mark in The New Yorker on how, unfortunately, "Finding Vivian Maier shows that the stories of difficult women can be unflattering even when they are told in praise. The unconventional choices of women are explained in the language of mental illness, trauma, or sexual repression, as symptoms of pathology rather than as an active response to structural challenges or mere preferences." Advertisement A good biographer must strike a balance between passion and impartiality. They must feel strongly enough about their subject to convey that subject's life in a comprehensive and comprehensible way to a general audience, but they must also resist the tendency toward either a hagiography or a hatchet job. Using an approach that is calm and careful, Bannos offers a look at Maier that is complex and humanizing, but never sanctifying or belittling. "She cultivated an air of mystery, but she no longer seems like a 'mystery woman' to me," writes Bannos of Maier. By the end of this impressively documented and nuanced page-turner, Maier will no longer be a mystery woman to the reader either. Instead, a much richer and more valuable portrait emerges: that of a gifted and methodical artist and a multifarious human being. Kathleen Rooney is the author, most recently, of the novel "Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk." 'Vivian Maier' By Pamela Bannos, University of Chicago, 352 pages, $35 Her symptoms pointed to cancer. She had sought medical attention for small lumps under her arms, but doctors in Australia discovered it was worse than that - enlarged lymph nodes were also in her chest and in the roots of her lungs. Advertisement They suspected it was lymphoma, a type of cancer that attacks the lymphatic system, which removes toxins and other waste from the body. "Ninety-nine times out of 100, [this] will be lymphoma," one of the woman's doctors, Christian Bryant, told CNN. Advertisement But when surgeons removed one of the enlarged nodes from the woman's armpit, they discovered something else entirely - a collection of immune cells that were filled with dark coloring. The diagnosis? It was not cancer. In a case report published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, the authors wrote that the 30-year-old woman, who was not identified, most likely had a hypersensitive reaction to ink from tattoos. The authors wrote in their findings that tattoos can be linked to "acute complications, such as pain, infection and hypersensitivity" as well as enlarged lymph nodes that may "masquerade as malignant disease." The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says it received 363 reports about adverse reactions to tattoos from 2004 to 2016. Granted, that's a small number of those who get tattoos in the United States: A 2015 Harris Poll of about 2,000 people in the United States found that about three out of 10 survey respondents said they have at least one tattoo. But the FDA has not approved any inks for injection into the skin for cosmetic purposes. Research has shown that tattoo ink sometimes contains pigments used in printer toner or car paint and can be contaminated with bacteria or mold, according to the FDA. The agency states there's "no surefire way to tell if the ink is safe." The Alliance of Professional Tattooists, a nonprofit organization that advocates for safe tattooing, states on its website that before getting a tattoo, people should observe the artists at work. If an artist does not wash his or her hands before and after each tattoo, wear clean gloves or use high-level disinfectants, "you should walk away," according to the organization. Advertisement The doctors in Australia knew something had triggered the woman's immune system to respond - but they did not know what, or why the reaction had taken 15 years since she got her first tattoo, said Bryant, a hematologist at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney. "I think there's absolutely no way to know how common it is," he told CNN, adding: "Most people who have tattoos have absolutely no problems." The woman had noticed the lumps under her arms during a self-examination, about two weeks before she went to the clinic for evaluation. The case report, published Monday, said she did not have a fever, night sweats, trouble breathing or unexplained weight loss - all of which are symptoms of lymphoma. But she did have one of the most telling signs of the disease: swollen lymph nodes. Lymphoma starts when white blood cells that fight disease mutate and multiply, "causing many diseased lymphocytes that continue multiplying," according to the Mayo Clinic. That allows the cells to continue living, according to the Mayo Clinic, causing "too many diseased and ineffective lymphocytes in your lymph nodes and [causing] the lymph nodes to swell." Advertisement In this case, however, it was simply thought to be tattoo ink: For 15 years, the woman had a black-ink tattoo covering her back, and she later added one on her shoulder. She told doctors that her tattoos would sometimes become itchy and swollen, but that her skin would then return to normal. "We believe that this case highlights the importance of a careful tattoo history and physical examination," the authors wrote in the report. "Peanuts" character Linus usually carries a security blanket, despite the disapproval of his older sister, Lucy. Here they are in the animated television show "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown." (United Features Syndicate) Try to go back in time to remember that one thing that gave you comfort when nothing else could. It might have been a soft baby blanket or a fuzzy stuffed animal. That thing was your transitional object. Almost every newborn discovers an object to call his or her own and develops an attachment to it in as early as the first six months. Advertisement But as we grow older, talk of blankets and plush dogs ends because you're supposed to outgrow them, right? Lucy told Linus he needed to outgrow his blue baby blanket, and Andy's mom urged Andy to say, "So long, partner" to Woody and Buzz.(You cried during "Toy Story 3" for a reason Andy was giving up transitional objects that meant the world to him.) It turns out more young adults are siding with Linus and sticking with their transitional objects for the same reasons they had as kids. Advertisement But is it OK to hold on to a beloved comfort object that has been with you from the very beginning? British psychologist and pediatrician Donald Winnicott created the term "transitional object" and conducted multiple studies on the power they had on children. He worked with children and adults to show that the object is most used when transitioning from one state to another, whether it is used in a metaphorical sense or a literal one. Chicago native Lilah Taber, 22, recently moved to Los Angeles and took her comfort object with her. "I still hold on to my baby blanket. I've had it since I was born," Taber said. "I was never really embarrassed to bring it around because I never really brought it around publicly. It's always just traveled with me as I've gotten older." Taber said she keeps her blanket by her bed for its comforting presence. "I live super far from my family, since they live in Chicago and I'm in California and am in a long-distance relationship, so it's a little piece of home when I'm feeling lonely," she said. Vivian C. Seltzer, psychologist and professor of human development and behavior at the University of Pennsylvania, viewed young adults' keeping transitional objects as a generational pattern. "Millennials are having this feeling of moving from one place to another instead of a home. This is a time of being alone and going away to school or a new job," Seltzer said. "A new place (means it's) more common to take along an old friend with you that reminds you of the old thing you once had." Advertisement Kids leave high school for college and can easily become overwhelmed with the workload, newfound freedom, part-time jobs and social lives. Child clinical psychologist and New York professor Stanley Goldstein said one third of his Intro to Physiology class, of mostly freshmen, brought their transitional objects to school with them. "It's nothing unusual," Goldstein said. "It gives them safety in an environment that is unfamiliar. We still have fears, and whatever helps us face these fears, it's OK. We feel the need to define everything because something is a little peculiar or strange, and that doesn't mean it's an illness nor needs treatment." Psychologist and author David Palmiter, said people hold on to things comparable to transitional objects, like a business's first dollar or a family member's photo kept in a wallet, because it's symbolic or signifies a transition in a person's life. Palmiter said that if someone experiences trauma or a significant loss, a transitional object is commonly used to ease the experience. "There isn't really a mandate to give it up," Palmiter said. "It will naturally become less important or used when they no longer need it." ebenmoche@chicagotribune.com Twitter @ebenmoche [ Have we gone too far in forcing our kids to share? ] [ Mother fights back against breast cancer with picture book ] [ Dear committee I thought I had time for (a working parent's lament) ] What happens when you celebrate a child's birthday when the world is filled with sadness? (Betsie Van der Meer / Getty Images) EMy daughter turned 12 Thursday, which is magical and mundane. Some 360,000 babies are born each day around the world. Mine barely made a blip, globally speaking, when she arrived. Advertisement But my heart sprang to life that day, and there's magic in loving another human this much. I'm aware, this week more than most, how much magic. Advertisement I don't want to freight my child's 12th birthday with the weight of the world. It should be cake and rollerskating and laughing. And it will be. But people are aching all around us. The Las Vegas gunman ended dozens of lives and destroyed hundreds of others. Puerto Rico is in desperate ruins. My own city grapples with gun violence hourly, even as we learn that Stephen Paddock may have plotted to unleash his mayhem here. It's impossible to tune that out. It would be irresponsible even if I could. A lovely reader named Ruth emailed me earlier this week and said, "Empathy isn't a switch you turn on or off." So my heart feels divided. I read an essay this week in Motherwell magazine that maintains post-millennial kids (those born after 2000) are overwhelmingly kind and inclusive. "These guys," Mary Janevic writes, "more than their predecessors, seek to do no harm: from the feelings of the new kid at school to the environment." They're less likely, in her experience, to pick on a kid for wearing glasses, having an uncommon name or losing a game. "We are bringing up children who don't need to pick on superficialities in others to feel good about themselves," she writes. Advertisement My first reaction was, God, I hope that's true. My second was, God, I hope we're worthy. The world doesn't feel overwhelmingly kind or inclusive right now. It just feels overwhelming. But the kindness is there, even in the middle of chaos. We read stories about people rushing to help one another in Las Vegas, shielding loved ones' bodies, driving strangers to the hospital. We see footage of the mayor of San Juan, Puerto Rico, wading through waist-deep floodwaters searching for survivors. The cruelty is loud right now. But kindness hasn't gone anywhere. Maybe we can find ways to amplify it. Maybe we can set out, daily, to make the world more worthy of the kind, inclusive kids who will inherit it. Maybe we can celebrate our loved ones by alleviating someone's suffering, rather than averting our gaze. Advertisement I meet people every week who live by this model. Jahkil Jackson and his 3,000 blessing bags. Evan Robinson and his pies for Puerto Rico. Carrie and Terry Meghie and their hospital parking passes. Judge Linda Pauel and her books for juveniles. The cruelty is loud right now. But their kindness is louder as long as we remember to listen for it. And, more important, add to it. My daughter will make a wish when she blows out her 12 candles. It can probably be granted at Sephora. Mine is more complicated. I want a better, safer world for her. I owe her my best efforts, on her birthday and beyond. hstevens@chicagotribune.com Twitter @heidistevens13 [ Related: A parent's familiar dread, after Las Vegas mass shooting ] [ Dear committee I thought I had time for (a working parent's lament) ] [ What 'Baa Baa Black Sheep' taught me about children's brain research ] In these troubled times for the nation, it was touching to see peace break out this week in a Far North Side neighborhood long plagued by political conflict. It was only this summer that a daughter of the 50th Ward's late, long-serving Ald. Bernie Stone, Ilana Feketitsch, lashed out at the current alderman, Debra Silverstein for what she thought was Silverstein's delay in naming a park in Stone's honor. Wounds inflicted during Silverstein's 2011 election victory over Stone clearly hadn't healed. Advertisement But at an official ribbon-cutting Wednesday at the newly unveiled Berny Stone Park in West Ridge attended by Mayor Rahm Emanuel and dozens of friends and family of Stone it was all so much water under the bridge. A smiling Feketitsch (who previously said of Silverstein's successful campaign to unseat her father that she was "shocked" at how "some people" would "just dig their claws into you"), and Silverstein (who fired back through gritted teeth in June, "I'm sure she's very happy"), hugged it out in front of the mayor. Advertisement And each was complimentary about the other. "She's been great," Feketitsch said of Silverstein, accusing Chicago Inc. of "misquoting" her this summer, though declining to say how. Silverstein, whom Stone famously once dismissed as "nothing but a housewife" pointedly thanked the Stone family. The park, on the site remembered by Chicagoans of a certain age as the former home of the Hollywood Kiddieland amusement park, is "a fitting tribute to Ald. Stone's decades of service to the city of Chicago and the 50th Ward," she said, to applause. kjanssen@chicagotribune.com Twitter @kimjnews Nicholas Sheley during his 2012 murder trial where he was found guilty of killing Ronald Randall, 65, of Galesburg and Russell Reed, 93, of Sterling, Illinois. He was also convicted in May of beating to death Kilynna Blake, 20, her 2-year-old son Dayan, Brock Branson, 29, and Kenneth Ulve, 25, in an apartment in Rock Falls, Illinois. (Michael Tercha, Chicago Tribune) A man serving two life sentences for a pair of Illinois killings was sentenced to four more on Monday, concluding criminal prosecution of a man authorities say committed a series of eight murders in two states. Rock Island County Judge Jeffrey O'Connor issued Nicholas Sheley, of Sterling, four sentences of life in prison for killing four people, including a 2-year-old boy, in a Rock Falls apartment in June 2008, according to the Illinois Attorney General's office. Advertisement In May, Sheley, 35, was convicted by a Whiteside County jury of the Rock Falls murders, the office said. He was found guilty on four counts of first-degree murder. "Life in prison is the only appropriate sentence under Illinois law for these heinous crimes," Attorney General Lisa Madigan said in a statement. "Today's sentencing ensures that Nicholas Sheley will continue to pay for his actions for the remainder of his life." Advertisement Sheley is already serving two life sentences for the slayings of a Galesburg man and another man from his hometown of Sterling. He is also accused of two murders in Missouri following his crimes in Illinois. "It is fitting that a lifelong criminal has received lifelong sentences of imprisonment for his horrific acts," Whiteside County State's Attorney Trish Joyce said in a statement. "My hope is that the families of the victims find some sense of peace and their suffering lessens with time." sbaer@tribune.com | Twitter: @skbaer Nicholas Sheley enters the courtroom at the Whiteside County Courthouse in Morrison, Ill. on Monday, Oct. 29, 2012 during his trial for the murder of Russell Reed. On Wednesday, Sheley received a life sentence for the 2008 deaths of Jill and Tom Estes, who were killed in Festus, Mo. (Michael Tercha / Chicago Tribune) HILLSBORO, Mo. A man who killed six people in Illinois before killing two people in Missouri wept and begged the victims' families for forgiveness Wednesday before he was sentenced to life in prison for the Missouri deaths. Nicholas Sheley, who initially faced the death penalty, was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole for the 2008 deaths of Jill and Tom Estes. The Arkansas couple were killed while staying at a hotel in Festus, about 30 miles (48 kilometers) south of St. Louis, after they left a graduation party. Advertisement Investigators said Sheley happened upon the couple during a drug- and alcohol-fueled rampage that began in his Illinois hometown. Sheley dropped to his knees during the sentencing hearing, saying he wished he could take back what he did. He also apologized to law enforcement and others touched by the crimes, The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported . Advertisement "What I did about 10 years ago was wrong on every level, unjustified, completely uncalled for. Cowardly acts," Sheley said, weeping as he read for 20 minutes from a statement. Missouri prosecutors initially said they wanted to seek the death penalty, after former Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn formally abolished the punishment in his state in 2011. But prosecutors later changed their strategy in Missouri without explanation in a decision that infuriated victims' relatives, many of whom were in the courtroom Wednesday. "We are all angry and disappointed. This it totally unjust. That was not a victory," said Cari Randall, whose father was killed in Galesburg, Illinois, one of three Illinois towns where Sheley's victims were found dead. Dallas Branson, whose only son was also among Sheley's victims, said he didn't believe Sheley's apology. Daywatch Weekdays Start each day with Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox. > "He is a manipulator and it's pure evil when you kill eight people," said Branson, who lives in Sterling, Illinois, Sheley's hometown. "A bad guy can make an apology but there is no apology for killing eight people." Prosecutors have said Sheley started his rampage because he believed one of the Illinois victims, 29-year-old Brock Branson, was having an affair with his wife. One witness told police Sheley and Branson had argued about drugs. Following Wednesday's sentencing, Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney Forrest Wegge didn't address why prosecutors didn't pursue the death penalty in Missouri. Under the Missouri plea deal, Sheley also was sentenced to 75 years in prison for two counts of armed criminal action. Sheley is already serving life sentences for the Illinois killings. Advertisement Investigators said the killings began on June 26, 2008, in Sterling, Illinois, where the body of 93-year-old farmer Russell Reed was found in the trunk of his car. The bodies of Jill and Tom Estes were found four days later, the same day investigators found the body of Ronald Randall at a grocery store in Galesburg, Illinois. Authorities also found the bludgeoned bodies of four other people that day: Kenneth Ulve, 25; Branson; Branson's fiancee, Kilynna Blake, 20; and her 2-year-old son, Dayan Blake. Their bodies were found inside a Rock Falls apartment in northwestern Illinois. Sheley was arrested on July 1, 2008, outside a bar in Granite City, Illinois, after patrons recognized him from media coverage of the killings. The mystery over mass shooter Stephen Paddock deepened Thursday with news he rented rooms at Chicago's Blackstone Hotel overlooking the Lollapalooza music festival in Grant Park in August, two months before he opened fire at a country music concert in Las Vegas. Paddock reserved two rooms on the park side of the hotel with a clear view of the outdoor festival, but he never showed up, according to a law enforcement source, who asked for anonymity because he wasn't authorized to publicly disclose the details. The reservations covered the four-day event, which drew hundreds of thousands of music fans, including former President Barack Obama's daughters Malia and Sasha, as well as Mayor Rahm Emanuel. The disclosure fueled speculation that Paddock may have been considering other targets before settling on Las Vegas Sunday night, where he fatally shot 58 people and wounded nearly 500 others. Advertisement Chicago police are looking into reports that Stephen Paddock, the gunman in the Las Vegas mass shooting, booked rooms at the Blackstone Hotel during this past summer's Lollapalooza music festival across the street in Grant Park. (Alyssa Pointer / Chicago Tribune) (Alyssa Pointer / Chicago Tribune) The Boston Globe, quoting anonymous sources, said Paddock may have scouted Fenway Park and other Boston venues. And Las Vegas police say Paddock rented hotel rooms near a concert featuring Chance the Rapper in Las Vegas about a week before the mass shooting, which occurred farther down the strip. Investigators say Paddock's motive still eludes them as they piece together his movements and track down his purchases of dozens of weapons and thousands of rounds of ammunition. "Anything that would indicate this individual's trigger point and would cause him to do such harm, we haven't understood it yet," Las Vegas Sheriff Joseph Lombardo told reporters. He said Paddock had been "living a secret life, much of which will never be fully understood." The booking of the Blackstone rooms was first reported by TMZ and later confirmed to the Tribune by law enforcement sources. The Blackstone, in a statement, said a Stephen Paddock reserved rooms but no one by that name stayed there. From those rooms, Paddock would have had a clear view of the entrance to Lollapalooza and a major exit across a bridge. (Kori Rumore and Jonathon Berlin) At least three stages would have been in front of him, one to the west of Columbus Drive and two to the east. Two more stages would have been to his right and two to his left, according to a layout of the festival grounds. The entrances and exit would have been clogged with festival-goers. Lollapalooza has a daily draw of more than 100,000 people. The festival arrived in Grant Park in 2005 when it was retooled as a destination festival by co-founders Perry Farrell and the William Morris Agency with new partners, Texasbased Capital Sports Entertainment (now C3 Presents). Advertisement It was staged for two days and drew more than 65,000 people. It expanded to three days in 2006 and four days in 2016. In recent years it has consistently sold out its 100,000-a-day capacity in advance. In Boston, Paddock reportedly made online searches of Fenway Park and the Boston Center for the Arts, both of which host summer festivals. The Boston Globe said it was unclear if Paddock was ever in the city or when he conducted the searches. A week before the mass shooting, Paddock rented several rooms through Airbnb at The Ogden hotel in downtown Las Vegas for Sept. 22-24, the dates for the "Life is Beautiful" music festival that featured Chance the Rapper. The next Sunday, Paddock broke out two windows in a suite on the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino and fired hundreds of rounds. "Was he doing pre-surveillance?" Lombardo asked. "We don't know yet." Chicago Tribune reporter William Lee contributed to this report. Richard Marscin, Project Manager, Locomotives at Mechanical Department of Metra, the 47th Street Diesel House, repair and overhaul facility talks about benefits of the new Metra overhaul program for engines and cars. (Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune) The past few years have been good for Metra workers, particularly administrators. Even as the state budget stalemate starved agencies of money, the commuter railroad grew its payroll by 32 percent in the past five years a figure that reflects rising salaries, added headcount and increased overtime. It makes up an increasing share of the railroad's overall budget. Advertisement For non-union, administrative workers, a category that includes managers, lawyers, accountants and IT specialists, payroll costs rose by 54 percent, or $17.3 million. For union workers, total payroll costs rose 27 percent, with overtime alone rising 47 percent between 2012 and 2016, according to figures obtained by the Tribune. Advertisement The labor cost increases have come as the commuter rail service's board of directors has voted to increase fares every year between 2014 and 2016. Metra management, facing a budget deficit, has asked the board to approve another increase for next year, along with service cuts, to make up for a decline in state funding. Metra officials cited several reasons for the increased payroll, including the need to hire more workers and pay overtime to maintain the railroad's aging equipment, and to replace non-union employees who left during a hiring and pay freeze from 2009 to 2012. The railroad also said it needed to raise salaries to attract and retain good managers and reduce costs associated with turnover. On top of it all, the railroad said it must comply with costly new federal mandates, particularly a $400 million safety system called Positive Train Control or PTC. At the same time, state officials have reduced the amount of capital funding and other aid they give to Metra, leaving it up to the railroad to bridge the gap. Many transit and labor experts say that nobody should be surprised at the higher labor costs, which they say are a side effect of underfunding infrastructure. Total employee payments, headcount increase Regular pay Overtime Other $250 million $234.5m total 200 150 100 50 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 Percentage change since 2012 Overtime: +46.6% 50% 40 Regular: +26.6% 30 20 Head count: +13.7% 10 2013 2014 2015 2016 SOURCE: Tribune analysis of Metra data Total employee payments, headcount increase Total employee payments issued by Metra Regular pay Overtime Other $250 million $234.5m $214.3m $204.2m $177.6m total 200 $185.2m 150 100 50 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 Percentage change since 2012 Overtime: +46.6% 50% 40 Regular: +26.6% 30 20 Head count: +13.7% 10 2013 2014 2015 2016 SOURCE: Tribune analysis of Metra data TRIBUNE Total employee payments, headcount increase Total employee payments issued by Metra Regular pay Overtime Other $234.5m +32% since 12 $250 million $214.3m $177.6m total $204.2m $185.2m 200 150 100 50 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 Percentage change since 2012 Overtime: +46.6% 50% 40 Regular: +26.6% 30 20 Head count: +13.7% 10 2013 2014 2015 2016 SOURCE: Tribune analysis of Metra data TRIBUNE "These public agencies are getting by with chewing gum and masking tape and a little wire," said Robert Bruno, a professor of labor and employment relations at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He said the pattern of salary and overtime increases sounded reasonable, given the chronic underinvestment in public transit systems around the country, including the Northeast, where disinvestment in New Jersey commuter rail lines, for example, has led to declines in service and public criticism. "You still have to keep the trains running, so what do you do?" Bruno said. "You shift that burden onto the labor you have." Advertisement Not everyone sees the fare increases as justified though. Ted Dabrowski, vice president of policy at the conservative Illinois Policy Institute, compared the fare hikes to the Cook County beverage tax and state income tax increases as another example of government agencies overspending and then asking the public to pay for it. "None of them are controlling their payroll to keep it in line with what they can afford," Dabrowski said. A financial squeeze For its next budget, Metra is having trouble maintaining the status quo, with expected reductions in sales tax revenues and state funding causing a $45 million deficit for 2018. Next month, the Metra board will vote on proposed 2018 fare hikes ranging from 4.1 to 12.6 percent, depending on the length of the ride. "We don't want to raise fares any more than anybody else," Metra's chief executive, Don Orseno, said. But he said Metra needed some kind of funding stream, like an increased gas tax, for capital improvements, which will bring down operating costs. Advertisement "We can't solve this problem on our own," Orseno said. "We've got to get capital dollars." To keep the system in a state of good repair, the Regional Transportation Authority said Metra needs about $1.2 billion in capital spending a year, but expects a little more than $200 million in 2018. Faced with such bleak prospects for state funding in recent years, the agency decided in 2014 to raise fares annually for 10 years to help meet the costs of capital, though next year's proposed increase addresses the operating deficit. For example, Metra officials point to the challenge, and cost, of maintaining an aging fleet of locomotives and railcars. In the absence of new equipment, the service is growing its program to fix up old locomotives and cars, some of which date to the Eisenhower administration. To save money, it said it is doing work itself, instead of sending it to an outside contractor. But that requires hiring more workers, said Chief Mechanical Officer Jim Derwinski, who will replace Orseno as chief executive in January. "Unless we get some good capital funding in to replace cars, we will expand the rehab program, which means we will expand the workforce farther, because we've got to get those cars into good shape," Derwinski said. Advertisement Nobody is holding their breath for a new capital investment program, which has been delayed because of partisan bickering and appears unlikely before the November 2018 election. The last major bill was in 2009. "If you keep disinvesting in your capital budget, eventually you're going to hit a cliff and you start rolling down it on the operating side," said Steve Schlickman, transportation group leader for the Alliance for Regional Development and former head of the RTA. Total increases Amid this budget squeeze, Metra's payroll has accounted for an increasing share of its overall spending, rising to 23.1 percent of the total operating and capital budget in 2016, from 18.5 percent in 2012, according to the railroad. Average pay for a non-union worker, measured by dividing total payments by headcount, rose by about 22 percent. Average pay for union workers, which represent the majority of Metra employees, rose by almost 15 percent, a figure that includes overtime. Senior executives saw gains along with the rank-and-file. Advertisement Hiring increase at Metra Union head count +11.1% 2,075 2012 2016 2,306 Non-union head count +25.8% 450 2012 2016 566 TRIBUNE SOURCE: Metra Hiring increase at Metra Union head count 2,075 2012 2016 +11.1% 2,306 Non-union head count 450 2012 2016 +25.8% 566 TRIBUNE SOURCE: Metra Hiring increase at Metra Union head count 2,075 2012 2016 +11.1% 2,306 Non-union head count 450 2012 2016 +25.8% 566 TRIBUNE SOURCE: Metra The chief executive's compensation has increased by 25 percent from $253,756 for Alex Clifford to $317,500 for Orseno over five years, the most recent pay hike awarded by the board last year. Adding to the cost was a severance package paid to Clifford in 2013 valued at up to $871,000; he was ousted after patronage practices were alleged at the agency. Derwinski, the incoming chief executive, is scheduled to be paid $275,000 a drop that a spokesman, Michael Gillis, said was because he has less experience. In approving Orseno's most recent increase, Metra's board said he was underpaid compared to executives at other big city commuter railroads. Pay for other top executives varies for example, the head of the Los Angeles Metro made $350,043 in 2016, the head of New Jersey Transit makes $247,950, while Dorval Carter, president of the CTA, makes $239,113, according to those agencies. Other Metra senior-level jobs also saw higher salaries. Pay for its head of operations a position held by Orseno in 2012 and now by Peter Zwolfer rose by 40 percent, to $245,379 in 2016. Pay for the police chief, a position held by James Sanford in 2012 and now by Joseph Perez, rose by almost 72 percent to $171,539. Metra defends such increases as necessary in a competitive labor market. Under Clifford, Metra for the first time commissioned a classification and compensation study to make sure professionals at the agency were compensated fairly compared to other government agencies and railroads, Metra said. Non-union salaries and hiring for non-union employees had been effectively frozen between 2009 and 2012, and some managers were choosing to go back to union ranks because the pay was better, Metra said. Advertisement Metra said it feared staffing was becoming too thin and another wave of retirements could cause safety and operational problems. Regarding new hires, Metra officials said in a statement: "We understood these actions would be politically unpopular, but we felt we needed to do the right thing." All the while, the number of passengers riding on Metra dropped slightly, from 81.3 million in 2012 to 80.4 million last year. Low gas prices have been cited as one cause for the decrease. Orseno said the agency has targeted headcount where it can, like ticket agents, which are being transferred to other jobs because more people are buying tickets through the Ventra app. The agency plans personnel cuts and a hiring freeze in 2018 to have a balanced budget. The pay increases have spurred some criticism. Jim Tobin, founder of Taxpayers United of America, said Metra employees were overpaid, considering their high job security and good pensions. He wondered if conductor jobs may go the way of ticket agents, if costs keep going up. Overtime increases Advertisement Union overtime has surged for certain maintenance-related job descriptions. Overtime for carmen, for example, who do maintenance, inspection, repair and rehabilitation of cars, has gone up 173 percent over 5 years. Overtime for trackmen, which inspect, maintain and install tracks, jumped 100 percent. "We had some surge in overtime on the mechanical side which could easily be related to the age of the equipment," Derwinski said. Metra officials also attributed overtime to training, weather issues and work on the PTC safety system. Percentage of Metra spending that is payroll 23.1% 21.7% 20.8% 18.5% 18.4% 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 SOURCE: Metra TRIBUNE Percentage of Metra spending that is payroll 23.1% 21.7% 20.8% 18.5% 18.4% 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 SOURCE: Metra TRIBUNE Percentage of Metra spending that is payroll 23.1% 21.7% 20.8% 18.5% 18.4% 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 SOURCE: Metra TRIBUNE Marc Poulos, labor-management director for the Illinois Economic Policy Institute, a policy think tank whose board members include representatives of the construction industry and labor unions, agreed that capital investment could result in operating savings. "We spend money on individuals and overtime to maintain things that are just archaic," Poulos said. Not all pay categories increased. For example, overtime has fallen in the police department, which had troubles with runaway overtime in the past. Metra police overtime has fallen almost 29 percent, while total pay has risen more than 24 percent, a result of both a union-bargained increase and adding officers. Advertisement Service for the money What are Metra passengers getting for their money? On-time performance, determined by whether trains arrive within six minutes of their scheduled time, was at 95.6 percent over the last five years. This was slightly better than it was between 2007 and 2011, when it was nearly 95.3 percent. Like other commuter railroads, Metra considers a train to have operated on time if it reaches its destination within 5 minutes 59 seconds of its scheduled arrival. Orseno said being on time has become harder in recent years in part because there are more freight trains. Daywatch Weekdays Start each day with Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox. > "It's much harder to hit those goals today than it has been in the past," Orseno said. Metra officials said passengers likely won't notice the $152 million the agency has spent so far on PTC, or spending for other federal mandates like new emergency lighting or enhanced safety training. But the results will be safer operations, they said. Advertisement Despite fare increases, a customer satisfaction survey conducted by Metra last year found that 83 percent of customers were satisfied with the service, 8 points higher than it was in a 2014 survey. "You got the lowest tickets, the least amount of failure, the oldest equipment, the best on-time performance," said Orseno, who also noted that Metra had no debt and that its pension system is in good shape. "That happens because we're dedicated to do the right thing." mwisniewski@chicagotribune.com kbentle@chicagotribune.com Twitter @marywizchicago A man who fired a gun at Chicago police has been arrested after causing a SWAT standoff at a South Side home Thursday afternoon. The standoff began around 12:30 p.m. when officers responded to a call of a man with a gun and saw two men flee into a building in the 7600 block of South Lowe Avenue in the Gresham neighborhood, according to chief police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi. Advertisement Officers followed them and a male turned and fired at an officer who returned fire, police said. The gunman was taken into custody a few hour later without incident. Police gave no information about the second man. Advertisement No one was shot, police said, but an ambulance had been dispatched to the scene, according to Chicago Fire Department spokesman Larry Merritt. Check back for updates. Gov. Bruce Rauner holds a press conference at the State of Illinois Building in Chicago on Thursday, Sept. 28, 2017. (Terrence Antonio James, Chicago Tribune) Welcome to Clout Street: Morning Spin, our weekday feature to catch you up with what's going on in government and politics from Chicago to Springfield. Subscribe here. Topspin Even though Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner hasn't definitively declared he'll seek a second term, his campaign on Wednesday showed it's still spending money on advertising by announcing a new TV commercial. Advertisement The new half-minute spot hails the new state school-aid formula funding law that Rauner eventually signed into law and debuts a new tagline for the governor: "Illinois is worth fighting for." A female voice-over begins the ad by saying: "It's been called 'nothing short of a miracle.' Against all odds, the highest level of funding for Illinois public education ever. Commonsense tax credits for donations to scholarship programs. And historic changes to the public school funding formula to help provide more funding for those children who need it most." Advertisement The voice-over continues: "There's a long way to go. And it won't be easy. But Illinois is worth fighting for." The ad, however, doesn't note that Rauner rewrote an earlier version of the bill after spending months criticizing it as a "bailout" for Chicago Public Schools. In the end, the compromise he signed gave CPS even more money than the version he amendatorily vetoed. The Democratic Governors Association and union groups contended the narrator's use of the phrase "nothing short of a miracle" is not a reference to Rauner but instead applies to the measure's sponsor, state Sen. Andy Manar, D-Bunker Hill. Last month, NPR Illinois quoted an education advocate saying of Manar: "The fact that he got it done in this political environment is nothing short of a miracle." (Rick Pearson) What's on tap * Mayor Emanuel will attend a press conference to kick off the 2017 Chicago Marathon. * Gov. Rauner has a trio of stops in Aurora, including an announcement of the expansion of the Illinois Department of Economic Opportunity's small business development center. * Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle will present her budget proposal at 11 a.m. at the county building. What she'll say. * City Council committees will meet, including the Finance Committee, which will consider a measure on a new authority to oversee the state-authorized restructuring of city borrowing. Advertisement * Marilynn Gardner, president and CEO of Navy Pier, will give a lunchtime talk to the City Club of Chicago. From the notebook * More Rauner travel plans: The governor met with a trade delegation from Poland on Wednesday before announcing plans to travel to the country in the coming months. The governor said his office was planning a trip to Europe and said stopping in Poland would be a "priority" as the state looks to build economic ties. The announcement comes weeks after Rauner returned from a trade trip to Japan and China. He had long promised to travel on his own time to recruit businesses to Illinois, but those efforts were delayed amid the state's yearslong budget impasse. (Monique Garcia) * Pawar launches video before hitting the road again: Democratic governor candidate Ald. Ameya Pawar released a new nearly 5-minute long digital ad as he was scheduled to begin on Thursday the second leg of his "Don't Close Our Communities" tour. The ad called "Unity" shows the Chicago alderman on previous bus visits across the state. The latest leg of his tour is supposed to take him to 14 cities in four days. He'll be joined by his running mate, Cairo Mayor Tyrone Coleman. Advertisement "It's easy to prey on people's economic anxieties and turn other communities into the 'other' when people feel like they haven't been listened to. That economic violence is how we get to a place where bombast and ugly political rhetoric is the same as political authenticity," Pawar says in the video. "We need to fight back against that. But the only way you fight that is with a positive agenda that brings people together," he says. (Rick Pearson) * Another lawmaker won't run again: This time it's Republican state Rep. David Harris of Arlington Heights, who has spent more than 16 years in the Illinois House over two stints. Harris won't run for re-election in 2018. He's a former adjutant general of the Illinois National Guard who first served in the House from 1983 to 1993, then again from 2011 until now. He is one of the Republican lawmakers who broke with Gov. Rauner and voted for a tax hike and spending plan that ended Illinois' historic budget impasse. Many of those GOP lawmakers have aren't running for re-election in 2018 as primary challengers started to line up. A full, updated look at lawmakers who are leaving Springfield since Rauner was sworn in is available here. Advertisement * How they voted: Illinois' Democratic U.S. senators differed in their votes on whether to confirm Chicago attorney Eric Hargan to the No. 2 job at the federal Health and Human Services Department. Senior Sen. Dick Durbin voted for Hargan's confirmation and junior Sen. Tammy Duckworth voted against. Hargan was confirmed as deputy secretary of HHS by a 57-38 vote. * Quick spins: State Rep. Greg Harris of Chicago told his Facebook followers that he's been named an assistant House majority leader. He had been in leadership serving as Democratic caucus chairman. ... Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel on Wednesday cut a ribbon at a Far North Side park newly named for the late Ald. Bernie Stone. The Bernard L. Stone Park is at Devon and Kedzie avenues. What we're writing *Preckwinkle budget speech: Keep pop tax or make deep spending cuts. * Doomed by delay: How Illinois bureaucracy robbed parents of a chance to save their children from a deadly disease. Advertisement * Details of new Illinois Lottery manager deal shrouded in secrecy. * DCFS investigator is assaulted while trying to aid a child in Sterling. * Democrats: Use state money to help with roads around Obama Presidential Center. * Alderman: Raise fees for Uber, Lyft rides to help balance budget. * Emanuel highlights public safety spending after report on police overtime abuses. * ACLU lawsuit alleges Chicago police brutality "magnified for people with disabilities." Advertisement * CPS agrees to drop civil rights lawsuit against the state. * Chicago's once-dismissed sales tax lawsuit against Kankakee gets new life. * Cost to restore Grant Park after Lollapalooza tops $500K. What we're reading * Cubs pitcher Kyle Hendricks to start game 1 against the Nationals. * Foxconn to locate Wisconsin plant in Mount Pleasant. * Massive development along Chicago River's North Branch is new option for Amazon HQ2. Advertisement * As weather turns colder, stink bugs go inside. Follow the money *Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering has filed paperwork to change her state campaign fund to run for attorney general as a Democrat. Rotering lost a 2016 primary bid for Congress to U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider of Deerfield. *Track Illinois campaign contributions in real time here and here. Beyond Chicago *FBI appears short on Las Vegas gunman leads. *Tillerson says he supports Trump. Spokeswoman denys he called the president a "moron." Advertisement *Senate Intelligence Committee leaders say Russia interfered with election. *How Aldi and Wal-Mart salmon shoppers help the North Korean government. Gov. Bruce Rauner said Thursday that it was "a wonderful honor" for Illinois to be selected as the home of the Obama Presidential Center, but raised doubts about whether the state could afford to kick in tax dollars to help pay for construction of the site on the South Side. The Republican governor's comments come after Democratic legislative leaders suggested revisiting plans to use taxpayer dollars to help reconfigure roads around the center being built in Jackson Park. Advertisement Rauner said he supports the center and the investment of more money in infrastructure, but said the state faces deep financial constraints even though lawmakers put in place a budget and tax hike over his objections. Rauner contends that spending plan is $1.7 billion out of balance, and has called on lawmakers to help him identity cuts. "We need to make sure that we have ways to pay for what we invest in," Rauner said. "If we could cut the wasteful spending and the government bureaucracy, I would love to put that money into infrastructure and expanding roads and supporting things that can grow the economy like the Obama library." Advertisement Rauner's remarks came as he took questions during a stop in Aurora. Democratic Senate President John Cullerton of Chicago said Wednesday that he and House Speaker Michael Madigan brought up using state dollars to help reconfigure roads around the center during one of several recent meetings with Republican leaders. The suggestion comes more than three years after Madigan and Mayor Rahm Emanuel first pushed for $100 million from the state, back when Chicago was trying to secure the Obama center project. That funding plan stalled amid concerns about the state's poor finances, which worsened following years of budget fighting between Democrats who control the legislature and Rauner-led Republicans. Cullerton said now that lawmakers enacted a budget over Rauner's veto, the state could use some of the money set aside for road projects to help pay for the Obama center site. Cullerton said he did not have a specific dollar amount in mind or a timetable to come up with the money. He said much of that will depend on the progress of the center. Cullerton said he did not think funding for the project needed to be part of a larger statewide construction program, saying Rauner has the ability to authorize spending for the project on his own. "All we need is the governor to acknowledge this is a private entity raising a lot of money and they need some public support," said Cullerton, who added that the city would also need to pitch in. Three years ago, a Tribune poll showed the idea could be a tough sell statewide. Less than half of those surveyed in a Chicago Tribune poll 47 percent said they favored the idea of using tax money to attract or build the library, while 45 percent said they opposed it and 8 percent were undecided. There was a gap along racial lines: 61 percent of black voters polled were in support and 60 percent of white voters opposed. mcgarcia@chicagotribune.com Twitter @moniquegarcia A Georgia sheriff who was sued by students after a drug search at a high school earlier this year now stands charged with crimes including sexual battery. A grand jury on Tuesday indicted Worth County Sheriff Jeff Hobby in connection with a search at Worth County High School in Sylvester, about 170 miles south of Atlanta. Hobby faces two counts of false imprisonment, one count of sexual battery and a charge of violating his oath of office. Advertisement He said he is innocent of the charges. "The sheriff's position is he's not guilty and has committed no crime," Hobby's attorney, Norman Crowe Jr. said in a phone interview. Advertisement Deputies Tyler Turner and Deidra Whiddon were also indicted in connection with the April 14 search. Turner faces one count of sexual battery and one count of violation of his oath of office. Whiddon faces one count of violation of her oath of office. It was not immediately clear whether they had lawyers who could comment on the charges. A phone message left at the sheriff's office seeking comment was not immediately returned Thursday. Hobby violated his oath of office by ordering his deputies to search students at the high school "without probable cause or any other legal basis and without due process" in violation of the U.S. Constitution and the Georgia Constitution, the indictment says. The two deputies violated their oaths by performing invasive body searches, the indictment says. Tifton Judicial Circuit District Attorney Paul Bowden had presented 36 possible counts to the grand jury. Jurors ultimately passed on indicting three other deputies. In June, the Southern Center for Human Rights filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of nine students against Hobby, Turner, Whiddon and other deputies. The lawsuit said the searches that were conducted were invasive and violated the constitutional rights of hundreds of students. According to the lawsuit, Hobby arrived at the school with a "target list" of 13 students that he suspected of having drugs. Only three of the listed students were at school that day, and Hobby had them brought to administrative offices and searched. The lawsuit says Hobby then put the entire school on lockdown; students were confined to classrooms, hallways and the gym. Their cellphones were confiscated so they couldn't call their parents. Approximately 900 students were searched, but no illegal drugs or drug paraphernalia were found. Sheriff's deputies conducted intrusive body searches, touching students' private parts and lifting their clothing in view of others, the lawsuit says. Lawyers representing the sheriff and deputies in the civil case argue say their clients are entitled to official immunity and have asked a judge to dismiss the lawsuit. Fighters from the Hashed al-Shaabi, Popular Mobilisation units backing the Iraqi forces, stand in front of a mural depicting the emblem of the Islamic State group as troops advance through Hawija on Oct. 5, 2017. (Ahmad Al-Rubaye / AFP/Getty Images) KIRKUK, Iraq Iraqi forces have retaken the town of Hawija from the Islamic State, Iraq's prime minister said Thursday, though fighting continued in pockets of the last significant urban territory controlled by the group. Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi made the announcement from Paris where he was meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron to discuss a growing crisis over an independence referendum held by Iraq's Kurds. Advertisement Macron offered to mediate between the Iraqi central government and the Kurds as other regional powers have taken steps to isolate the Kurdish region in retaliation for last week's vote. Macron, whose country has been a traditional proponent of Kurdish self-determination, said Iraq's territorial integrity must be maintained - dashing hopes by Kurdish officials that France would become one of the few countries to support their recent bid for independence. Hawija, about 140 miles north of Baghdad, marked an important test of military coordination between Kurdish peshmerga forces and Iraqi government troops. The town is in Kirkuk province, an oil-rich region that is hotly disputed by both Arabs and Kurds and has been a focal point in decades-long discord between Baghdad and Kurdish leaders over borders. Advertisement The United States has opposed the Kurdish referendum, saying it would threaten cooperation between Iraqi and Kurdish forces in the fight against the Islamic State at a time when the extremist group is reeling from consecutive military defeats. Hawija was a strategic position for the Islamic State, giving it a base in central Iraq to launch attacks in surrounding provinces. The battle to reclaim the town was launched on Sept. 21 and involved a mix of Iraqi forces backed by American airstrikes. The battle for Hawija was one of the few remaining areas in which Iraqi and Kurdish parties were cooperating. Last week, the Kurdish Regional Government held a unilateral referendum on independence, which was approved by nearly 93 percent of voters in the semiautonomous Kurdish region of northern Iraq. The vote was opposed by the Iraqi central government, the United States, Turkey and Iran. It has set off a string of recriminations and threats of total economic blockade of the Kurdish region by Iraq, Turkey and Iran - all of which have held military exercises as a warning to Kurdish officials. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told Turkish media Thursday that Turkey, Iran and Iraq would decide together whether to choke off the flow of oil from the Kurdish region. The Popular Mobilization Forces, an umbrella group of militias aligned with the Iraqi government, have strongly opposed the Kurdish independence referendum as well. They participated in the Hawija battle, putting them in close proximity to Kurdish peshmerga forces and raising fears of clashes between the groups. In a joint news conference with Macron on Thursday, Abadi said there is no "military option" to resolve the dispute between Baghdad and the Kurdish Regional Government. Advertisement The relatively swift fight in Hawija has mimicked August's battle for the northern city of Tal Afar, where the militants put up mild resistance before surrendering or withdrawing, Iraq's military said. Both battles mark a dramatic turnaround in the Islamic State's ability to hold ground and inflict significant damage. Iraqi and U.S. officials involved in the campaign to eradicate the group say the Islamic State was exhausted and severely depleted during the grueling nine-month battle for Mosul, the largest city in northern Iraq and the most important territory the militants held after their 2014 sweep of northern and central Iraq. Coupled with ongoing battles to evict the group from the Syrian cities of Raqqa and Deir al-Zour, the Islamic State is under immense military pressure and has ceded roughly 90 percent of the territory it once controlled. In Iraq, the group now controls only a string of small towns in the vast desert of western Anbar province along the Syrian border. Iraqi forces launched a campaign there last month and expect a tough fight in an area that is difficult to control and where the militants can move easily between the two countries. It is in that porous frontier region that U.S. and Iraqi officials believe the group's leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, is hiding. Last week, the Islamic State released an audio recording purporting to be of Baghdadi - defying Russian claims that the reclusive leader was killed over the summer. El-Ghobashy reported from Cairo. Aaron Stalker helped to evacuate and care for victims during Sunday night's mass shooting at the Route 91 Harvest festival after his girlfriend, Stephanie Melanson, called him from the concert. (Matt McClain / The Washington Post) LAS VEGAS The first thing Aaron Stalker heard when he answered the phone late Sunday night was his girlfriend's anguished scream. "There's just been a shot fired! Mom is shot!" Advertisement He tried to talk to her, but she couldn't hear him over her screams: "I need you here. I need you here!" Then Stalker, 28, was out of the house and in his car, driving 10 miles without regard for speed limits and bumping into sidewalks toward the music festival that had just become a horror show. Advertisement For what he did next, Stalker was honored by President Donald Trump on Wednesday during a "heroes meet-and-greet" at the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department headquarters. While thousands of people scrambled from the parking lot where the Route 91 Harvest music festival was held as bullets rained down from overhead, Stalker ran straight into the crowd. He searched frantically for his girlfriend and her mother. Unable to find them in the chaos, "I just started helping anyone and everyone I could," Stalker said. He went to the first wounded person he could find and ripped up a piece of clothing to use as a tourniquet. He made splints, patched bullet holes, flipped over the plastic barriers that had been set up around the perimeter of the festival and turned them into stretchers. With two other men whose names he never learned, he carried the wounded to cars that would take them to the hospital. A U.S. Army veteran who served as a combat videographer for two years in Iraq, Stalker was trained to keep his cool amid chaos. But this was scarier than anything he saw overseas, he said, "by far." "It's not even close to the same. It was hundreds of people. There, you're safe, you have a weapon, you have people at your back who know what to do." On Sunday night, he said: "I had nothing. I was helpless." But that didn't stop him from trying. Stalker can't say how long he spent shuttling the wounded back and forth to cars, or how many people he carried. Was it 75, 100, 150? He can't even remember their faces. Advertisement "It was like a dream," he said. There was no thought except the next wounded victim, no sound but the ringing of hundreds of abandoned cellphones jangling in his ears. Finally, Stalker heard from his girlfriend, Stephanie Melanson. After her mother was shot, a retired firefighter found Stephanie kneeling over her wounded mother, along with her sister Paige Melanson and Stalker's sister Shelby Stalker. The firefighter urged the women to flee "I'll stay with her," he promised. "If you want to live, you have to go." Stalker found Shelby and Paige hiding at the Tropicana resort nearby. Paige had been grazed by a bullet on her elbow and was sopping up the blood with a cloth napkin. She went to the hospital, and Stalker headed to the Las Vegas Convention Center, where victims and families were congregating and where he was able to track down Stephanie. But no one could find Stephanie's mother, Rosemarie Melanson. Unable to sit still, Stalker handed out blankets and bottles of orange juice to shocked concertgoers. Then he took the Melansons to the police station to wait for word of their mom. It finally came around 8 a.m.: Rosemarie was at Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center, alive and stable. Paige got her wound stitched up. As of Wednesday night, Rosemarie remained on a ventilator in the ICU, recovering from two surgeries to repair damage to her lungs, liver and spleen. Advertisement Stalker went home, took a shower, drank a cup of coffee. Then he went to work, at the dance studio that the Melanson sisters run. He hadn't slept, but someone needed to check on the building, call parents and let them know that classes were canceled, send out the email explaining what happened. Robyn Garcia, a pastor at the International Church of Las Vegas, had never met Stalker before this week. But she reached out to him after a mutual friend told her about what he had done on the concert field. When the White House contacted Garcia's church Wednesday morning and told her they were looking for heroes, Stalker's was the first name that came to mind. "You're my hero," she told Stalker on Wednesday. Trump used that word, too, in his address after the meet-and-greet Wednesday: "Every hero saved so many lives. And believe me, a grateful nation thanks you." On Wednesday afternoon, the manager of a local BMW dealership offered to fix his damaged car free the vehicle had taken a beating during the frenzied drive to the concerts. A student at the dance studio walked up to him on her way into class and handed him two foil-wrapped packages. Advertisement "Homemade spanakopita and lasagna," she explained, then ran inside. But Stalker is uncomfortable with the attention and reticent when asked to explain why he ran into the fray. "I was trained to help people," he said. He was just a person who knew what to do, he said. So he did it. All votes in the CO-3 election won't be counted until the end of this week Adam Frisch attending new member orientation in D.C., with the official outcome of the race between him and Boebert unclear A man was accused of flying the black flag of death after he put up a Jack Daniels flag in Zurich, Switzerland. October 5, 2017, 12:04 Jack Daniels advert flag is mistaken for Islamic State banner in Switzerland STEPANAKERT, OCTOBER 5, ARTSAKHPRESS: Concerned neighbors thought the bourbon advert was promoting so-called Islamic State, according to Metro newspaper of the UK. Someone left a note at his house saying they would put him and his girlfriend under watch, saying: Should we be afraid of you? First the Italian flag and now the black flag of death. The man, 29, who has an Italian background and wanted to remain anonymous, said: I hung it up, because I found it funny. The man said he does not know who exactly wrote the letter. And he has no intention of removing the Jack Daniels flag, as he said then we would prove them right. Auburn native Ann Marie Buerkle is one step closer to being confirmed as chair of the Consumer Product Safety Commission. The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation approved Buerkle's nomination Wednesday. The final hurdle will be the full Senate, which is expected to confirm her as chair. President Donald Trump nominated Buerkle to lead the commission, which oversees safety standards for household chemicals, toys and other consumer products. She was also nominated to serve a full seven-year term on the commission. There was some controversy with Buerkle's nomination. Her stance on regulating portable generators was criticized by Senate Democrats during a hearing last week. U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, a Florida Democrat, noted that 11 residents of his state died of carbon monoxide poisoning from using portable generators in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma. Buerkle supports a voluntary standard for the portable generator industry to reduce carbon monoxide emissions. Advocates and Senate Democrats who have spoken out on the issue prefer a mandatory rule that would require portable generator manufacturers to add shut-off technology. When the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation met to consider a handful of appointments and legislation, Buerkle's nomination was the only item on the agenda that required a roll call vote. The committee advanced her nomination by a party line vote, 14-13. Buerkle was born and raised in Auburn. She began her career as a registered nurse before earning her law degree. She was a New York state assistant attorney general for 13 years. In 2010, she ran for Congress and won. She served in the House of Representatives from 2011 to 2013. After losing her re-election bid, she was nominated by President Barack Obama to a seat on the Consumer Product Safety Commission in 2013. The Senate confirmed her nomination and she joined the five-member commission. Buerkle has been the commission's acting chair since February. "After having worked here for four years, I know the issues and I've developed a relationship with the stakeholders," she said in an interview with The Citizen in July. "I think part of that was what led to the nomination and I've had tremendous support from my colleagues here on both sides of the aisle, which I'm also very grateful for that." By Dezan Shira & Associates Editor: Jake Liddle As Asias largest economy, China has an established history of serving as the main operational center for many multinational companies (MNCs) operations in Asia. Since its economic reform and opening up in the late 1970s, the country started to operate and compete on free market principles, and consequently, more and more MNCs have been able to use China as an operations base. Since then, the country has continued to liberalize and has developed its infrastructure significantly, easing and facilitating more trade and commerce as a result. With this, China has shifted its focus from being largely dependent on manufacturing, to a more service-based economy. This means that Chinas labor force is becoming more service-oriented, and education levels have followed suit. As of 2015, there was an estimated 32,000 university graduates who specialized in HR management. RELATED: Chinas Social Security System The government endorsed IT development in its 13th Five Year Plan, which it released in 2015. IT systems play a major role in how payroll is processed. As more and more IT-literate resources flow into the labor pool, IT systems and infrastructure for managing tasks such as payroll have reached the kind of advanced standards that would be expected in more developed economies.. Whats more, China has incubated many HR clusters where large companies station their HR and payroll processing operations, providing preferential tax policies to encourage BPO development in certain cities such as Dalian, Chongqing, and Chengdu, for example. In recent years the government has made efforts to encourage MNCs to establish regional headquarters in China. The most recent was a circular that details the support and simplification of establishment in Shanghai, and clarifies the applicable business scope and assessment criteria of regional headquarters located there. Steps like this further promote the incentives for centralizing payroll processing and wider regional HR functions in China. Of course, China still has some disadvantages. With its rapid development and shift to a service based economy, labor costs have increased significantly, and are no longer as competitive in terms of cost as other Asian countries such as Vietnam or India. However, it is worth noting that losses from labor expenditure could be regained from a more effective and centralized payroll system. HR & Payroll Solutions from Dezan Shira & Associates Language barriers may also pose a challenge to MNCs, as English is not as widespread in China as in other countries such as India. That said, as more students in China travel overseas for education, the internationalization and innovation of Chinas talent pool has increased, and these hurdles are not as pertinent as before. Nevertheless, as a payroll processing center, China provides a strong balance between skilled and affordable labor, especially for MNCs who are expanding their business scale in Asia. This article is an excerpt from the April issue of China Briefing magazine, titled Payroll Processing in China: Challenges and Solutions. In this issue of China Briefing magazine, we begin by laying out the challenges presented by Chinas payroll landscape, including its peculiar Dang An and Hu Kou systems. We then explore how companies of all sizes are leveraging IT-enabled solutions to meet their HR and payroll needs, and why outsourcing payroll is the answer for certain company structures. Finally, we consider the potential for China to emerge as Asias premier payroll processing center. Dezan Shira & Associates 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. Chinas Investment Landscape: Identifying New Opportunities Chinas foreign investment landscape has experienced pivotal changes this year. In this issue of China Briefing magazine, we examine how foreign investors can capitalize on Chinas latest FDI reforms. First, we outline new industry liberalizations in both Chinas FTZs and the country at large. We then consider when an FTZ makes sense as an investment location, and what businesses should consider when entering one. Finally, we give an overview of Chinas latest pro-business reforms that streamline a wide range of administrative and regulatory measures. Dezan Shira & Associates Flash U.S. President Donald Trump avoided discussing gun violence problem as he visited Las Vegas on Wednesday, three days after the city was shaken by the deadliest mass shooting in modern American history. Trump and first lady Melania travelled to the University Medical Center of Southern Nevada for a private visit with patients and medical professionals after the shooting left 58 people dead and more than 500 others wounded. Speaking to reporters in the lobby of the University Medical Center, Trump said he'd met "some of the most amazing people" and invited them to come visit him at the White House. The president brushed aside a reporter's question about whether the country has "gun violence problem." "We're not going to talk about that today," said Trump, who won the support of the National Rifle Association in last year's presidential campaign. The suspect shooter, Stephen Paddock, a 64-year-old gambler and real estate investor, purchased 33 firearms in the last year. Police found 47 firearms at the hotel and his home. Law enforcement has yet to draw a conclusion as to why Paddock carried out the attack. Surrounded by doctors and nurses, Trump praised the medical team who treated dozens of patients on Sunday night. "The country needs to unify. It's very diverse and divided. It's kind sad though," Judd Frazier, a nurse who works at the renowned hospital located in Las Vegas, told Xinhua after the president's visit. "He (Trump) is a very diverse person, he speaks his mind and irritates people, but I think him being here just unifies hopefully this country. And that is what we need," said Frazier, who was about 20 feet from the stage when Paddock opened fire on an outdoor music festival on Las Vegas Strip. "I hopefully we can come together on resolutions with the gun issues and all other issues like that," he added. The Trumps then met with police officers and first responders at Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMDP). "You showed the world and the world is watching, and you showed what professionalism is all about," said Trump. "The president of the United State is the highest ranking official of the country, when that person takes his time to come down here to see the officers, thank for what they did, it's an uplifting to all of us officers," Steven Grammas, the president of the Las Vegas Police Protective Association (LVPPA), told Xinhua. A day after his visit to hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico, Trump's visit to Las Vegas on Wednesday is his second trip in two days aimed at comforting victims of tragedies. Days after the mass shooting, Grammas doesn't "think it's late." "Bring him here early would have maybe caused problems," he added. "We are still dealing with the whole lockdown there." As the president departed the White House, Trump told reporters, "It's a very, very sad day for me, personally." The worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history has renewed vehement discussion in the country about how to curb gun violence. According to the non-profit organization Gun Violence Archive, the mass shooting in Las Vegas late Sunday night was the 273rd mass shooting in the United States in the 275 days of 2017. Mass shootings, a nearly daily occurrence in U.S., are when four or more people are slain by gunfire in one incident, according to the FBI. Flash U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on Wednesday turned its probe to the girlfriend of the Las Vegas gunman who killed at least 59 people in the deadliest mass shooting in modern American history. Local police disclose the latest progress on probe to the Las Vegas shooting, on October 3, 2017. [Photo/Chinanews.com] Marilou Danley was at the FBI's building for questioning as the authorities were trying to probe the killer's motive, according to media reports. Danley was met by FBI agents at Los Angeles International Airport Tuesday night after her return from the Philippines, her home country, according to the City News Service. Federal agents did not say where Danley went after her arrival in Los Angeles. She was not arrested and was called "person of interest" by police officers in the mass shooting at a music festival in Las Vegas. Video from the scene showed Danley going through the customs in a wheelchair in the wake of landing at the airport after weeks long trip abroad. Danley, 62, lived with Paddock in Mesquite of Nevada, a town of about 18,000 people located 120 km northeast of Las Vegas. Paddock encouraged Danley to leave the country before his attack, her sisters were quoted as saying by CNN affiliate Seven Network Australia on Wednesday. "I know that she don't know anything as well, like us. She was sent away so that she will be not there to interfere with what he's planning," one of Danley's sisters told Seven News from their home in Australia's Gold Coast region. U.S. law enforcement officials hope that Danley can provide an insight into what led Paddock to carry out his act of massacre. Paddock, a 64-year-old gambler and real estate investor, rained bullets from a high-floor hotel room of the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino on the Las Vegas Strip into an outdoor music festival with more than 22,000 concertgoers. Police said they believed he acted alone. Anna Yarrow I wanted to do the right thing, but what was the right thing? Did I fuck up? Now what do I do? Tomas Moniz said over the line from California about his initial years as a father. I'm not a parent, but I approach things that carry weight in my life with the same sort of questions at the forefront of my mind. Moniz, however, met these dilemmas with a unique creative and intellectual curiosity that he channeled into a zine series that turned into several books under the catch-all title of Rad Dad (and later, Rad Families). As he set out to explore radical parenting (which he succinctly defines as the hard kind) in his work, Moniz drew inspiration from works like Hip Mamaan independently published magazine created in 1993 by Ariel Gore that meant to work in the cross section of literature, feminism and parenting. At the time it was really hard to find any kind of parenting literature that was outside of the bounds of 'this is what the white male pediatrician says to do,' Gore said of Hip Mama's beginnings all those years ago, when she, like Moniz, was a young parent. I was writing these stories, and the feminist presses said 'we don't really cover parenting,' and the parenting presses said, 'we don't cover feminism.' That's why I started publishing Hip Mama. There was no publication for me as a writer or as part of the audience. Gore paused to explain with a good natured laugh that she doesn't want to equate self-publishing as the result of rejectionbut it is one route. Whatever avenues they took to get therecomplete with questions and failures and detoursit is safe to say that both Gore and Moniz have arrived. Each has carved out a niche for their distinct approach to exploring and opening the dialogue on family and radical parenting, while simultaneously making room to grow their other writing practices, working in memoir, fiction, poetry and more. For all the divergence of their creative paths, both writers got their startand continue to writezines. These self-published, usually self-printed works allow for creative expression that most writers with an editor and publisher to please can only dream of. Through the medium of zines, artists turn up the volume on creative expression, contributing to the format's decades-long flourishing. Tomas Moniz Parenting pushed me into that creative field, Moniz explained. He had always been creative, but he became a parent very young, right as I was coming into my own sense of adulthood, so writing happened in the cracksthe moments that he could snatch away for himself. My actions, my politics, my mistakesthat is what got it going. The process of writing the long-running Rad Dad zine was revelatory for Moniz, as he described, making him a better writer and a better person. That process rippled outward, connecting Moniz to a community of parents, yes, but also zinesters and other radicals, including Gore. In fact, Moniz has contributed to Hip Mama and Gore wrote the introduction to Rad Families. The two, now California-based writers even shared a writing group that led to Gore's most recent novel, titled We Were Witches. Family, and by proxy Rad Dad, Rad Families and Hip Mama, is about how we build communities, how we create community, how we invite children into spaces and elders into spaces, and other writers and radicals, Moniz said. Especially as a father raising his first childa sonMoniz was thinking about issues of gender identity and toxic masculinity honoring the traditions of my own family but at the same time breaking from what I saw as a restrictive sense of masculine identity. The two decades of work Moniz has put into editing and writing Rad Dad underscores the challenge of living aligned with these principles, and the simple notion that radical parenting, is indeed, the hard kindit's the work of being conscientious about our choices [and] being open to reflection on how we create equality within our society and within our families, he said. Moniz and Gore both connected with communitywhich included one anotheron these topics, and continue to unpack them, though with the advent of the internet, engaging with like-minded people is easier than ever. I don't go to a zine fest to see if there is anyone else like me out there, Gore explained. I know there are awkward people all over the countrybut I don't necessarily know what they're writing! The fact that people still head to zine fests and buy zines speaks to the enduring quality of the mediumand both Gore and Moniz underscore that they didn't just get their start with zines, they continue to make them. Every year the function of zines changes, but they somehow remain cool and exciting, Gore said, positing that perhaps that has to do with that fact that zines can react quickly when culture changes. Shelby Criswell Which is not to say that it is easyby which I mean none of it is: writing, illustrating, thinking hard about complex topics, and as anyone who as ever made a zine knows, pagination. Speaking of how she carved her own space in the publishing world through Hip Mama, Gore said, It may be hard, but it teaches you to be an artist. It teaches you how to over-function in the right ways. Not that being a mom is the only way to do that. If you learn that the world doesn't think you're entitled to anything, then, if you don't get depressed, you learn how to hustle. Being a young mom meant that I could be scrappy. Some of these hard-earned lessons allowed Gore to follow the threads she felt important without sacrificing her ideals. There was something freeing about that, she mused. Considering that power in relation to self-publishing and the big presses that tend to lift their ideas from smaller ones making a splash, she observed back when writers used to get paid, you were at least selling your soul. Now it's like, [you're] a sellout and you still don't have any money. So what's the point of being a sellout? Gore and Moniz both saidindependently and emphaticallythat the most exciting work they are reading, be it nonfiction or something other, is self-published. Which loops the conversation back around to freedom. Zine communities allow you to be more vulnerable and intimate, Moniz said. You can trust your own voice in a way. You don't need the approval of an agent to create something. I think that is a real liberation. Gore underscored that thought, saying I want people to be creatively excited and freed up to try new things in their own work and their own lives. To prioritize their creativity without a sense of 'this has to be good,' but just because it is a way to live. Being a creative person is the only life. Through their work, each of these authors, who have thrived through self-definition (and self-publication) underline the creative life as one that is important and wholly possible. Ariel Gore and Tomas Moniz will be exhibiting at ABQ Zine Fest Seven, along with many others from around the city, state and country. They will also take part in panels and demos at the fest along with another guest presenter, Lawrence Lindell, creator of From Black Boy With Love zine. To officially kick off the seventh year of our beloved local zine fest, Gore and Moniz will do a reading on Friday, Oct. 6, at 6pm at Bookworks (4022 Rio Grande NW). ABQ Zine Fest Seven's celebration of print, self-expression and DIY culture is going down Saturday, Oct. 7, from 11am to 6pm at the Harwood Art Center (1114 Seventh St NW). Admission is free, but have cash on hand to support these zinesters and many others, and, of course to bring home and dive into some of the most exciting literature and art in print today. US troops were attacked near the Niger-Mali border Wednesday, the US military told CNN. "We can confirm reports that a joint US and Nigerien patrol came under hostile fire in southwest Niger," Lt. Cmdr. Anthony Falvo, a spokesman for Africa Command, which oversees US troops in the region, told CNN. "We are working to confirm details on the incident and will have more information as soon as we can confirm facts on the ground," Falvo added. The US military has maintained a small presence in the northwest African country with small groups of US Special Operations Forces advising local troops as they battle two terrorist groups, the ISIS affiliated Boko Haram and al Qaeda's North African branch, al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb. Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb has maintained a presence in the Mali-Niger border area, despite a multi-year French-led military counterterrorism effort, Operation Barkhane, which began in 2014. The US military has largely played a supporting role, providing intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets in support French forces operating in Mali and Niger. The French operation involves thousands of French troops as well as forces from Germany, Mali, Niger and other countries in the region. "US Forces are in Niger to provide training and security assistance to the Nigerien Armed Forces, including support for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance efforts, in their efforts to target violent extremist organizations in the region," Falvo said, adding "one aspect of that is training, advising and assisting the Nigeriens in order to increase their ability to bring stability and security to their people." The US is also in the process of establishing a new drone base just outside the city of Agadez in Niger in an effort to bolster regional counterterrorism efforts. ALGIERS - Chinese telecommunications manufacturing giant Huawei signed an agreement this week with Algerian telecommunications operator Algerie Telecom (AT) to develop very high-speed Internet service, Algeria's state news agency reported. According to Algeria Press Service, the partnership agreement is aimed at deploying optical cabling terminates at homes and companies. The project will provide more effective communication between network users, including video conferencing, peer-to-peer, Internet Protocol (IP) telephony and online backup. AT's CEO Adel Khemane told reporters that this "partnership project is set to deploy a very high-speed broadband network over a period of one year, in a bid to offer this service to more than one million customers." Meanwhile, another Chinese telecom product manufacturer, ZTE, signed a partnership agreement with the Algerian Federation for Young Entrepreneurs (FNTE), as part of the deployment of an optical cabling network nationwide. AT aims to strengthen its positioning in the telecommunications sector in Algeria amid competition from some prominent private operators. China and Algeria, which established a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2014, have expanded cooperation in several fields, such as infrastructure, engineering construction and telecommunications. Chinese telecom equipment makers are stepping up efforts to expand their overseas presence. Huawei's products are services, for example, that are available in more than 170 countries and regions. Xiang Ligang, a telecom expert and CEO of telecom industry website Cctime, said Chinese telecom players used to only focus on the domestic market. "But now as they leaped from followers to leaders by constantly experimenting with cutting-edge technologies, they are aggressively venturing out into overseas markets," Xiang said. The trend also is in line with telecom carriers' eagerness to participate in global telecommunication projects. China Mobile Communications Corp, the world's biggest telecom carrier by subscribers, said in May that it would step up efforts to build key cross-border optical fiber cable projects to link China with neighboring countries, including Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan. It also plans to build eight internet data centers in countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative within three years, and build new submarine cables and international communication services' gateways to Asia, Europe and the United States. China Telecommunications Corp, the smaller rival of China Mobile, also said earlier this year that it would invest more than $1 billion over the next three to five years to expand its presence in countries and regions related to the Belt and Road Initiative. Xinhua contributes to the story HAVANA - The Communist Party of China (CPC) has played an essential role in the changes the country has experienced, a Cuban academician told Xinhua in a recent interview. "Nothing could be sustained and no growth or development could be realized in China if it had not established a mechanism of governance and order under the leadership of the CPC," said Maria Teresa Montes de Oca, director of the Institute of Chinese Studies at the University of Havana. China's achievements over the past five years "are innumerable and unquestionable," she said. Specifically, she emphasized, the quality of life of the Chinese people has been increasing day by day and their educational level has been growing year after year. "In the technological sector, China has made great strides. Although the West wanted to stigmatize China, it has emerged and demonstrated to the world that it can be relied on for economic and technological development," she said. She also lauded the food production capacity of the Asian nation, which is able to feed such a large population. In addition, she said it is now impossible to ignore China because it has been playing an increasingly significant role in global affairs. Over the past five years, "the new leaders led by President Xi Jinping have played a role that China's own history has demanded of them," commented the scholar. "The place of the CPC's leadership in governance and internal order is fundamental," she said. The Cuban academician said she believes that the upcoming 19th National Congress of the CPC will address important issues for the future of China and its development. "After each CPC congress, its proposals and projects were put into practice and much more has been done," she said. BEIJING - Many people visit Shanghai Tower to admire what is the tallest building in China, but few people know that it is home to one of the smallest cells of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in the country. Lu Jiawei, 24, is the head of the cell. The joint Party branch in the landmark building he overseas is only six-months old. It had five CPC members from five different companies when it was launched in February. Now its membership has grown to ten, including two from mobile and online payment service Alipay. Under CPC regulations, such a joint branch can be set up for companies with less than three Party members, as they are not qualified to form an independent branch. Rising 632 meters over Shanghai's bustling Lujiazui financial and trade zone, the landmark building is home to nearly 100 domestic and foreign companies. A large "gold-collar lounge" on the tower's 22nd floor has been reserved for Party members to study Party policies and principles. "This is a library, a gym, a teahouse and a place to meet new friends," Lu said. "We hold various activities of the Party organizations, including sessions of criticism and self-criticism." In August, he organized members to watch "The Founding of an Army," a domestic war film made in honor of the 90th founding anniversary of the People's Liberation Army. "If the Shanghai Tower can be regarded as a mark for the physical altitude of China's economic development, the building of Party organizations within it marks the spiritual altitude of economic and social development," said Shao Zhuqing, deputy Party committee secretary of Shanghai Tower Construction and Development. The gold-collar lounge is a place to recharge Party members spiritually, a home to offer service to white-collar employees in the region, and a platform to improve communication between Party members and the general populace, Shao said. Not far away from the tower, functional CPC cells are vibrant in Shanghai Disney Resort, a Sino-foreign joint venture located in central New Pudong District. "Some of my colleagues are surprised to know there is a Party committee within the company," said Murray King, vice president of public affairs for the Shanghai Disney Resort. "The Party committee is a normal part of our business, a normal part of our operations, in fact it is a very helpful part," he said. "It's a source of knowledge and resources, which I think is very valuable for a successful business." "I'm often pleasantly surprised to find some of our most talented people are Party members. I have to give credit to the Party committee because some really good ideas come from the Party committee, and some of our most dedicated employees are Party members," King said. In 2013, the Shanghai Disney project, which was still under construction at the time, created a "golden idea" platform for its employees and Party members to provide ideas to help the company improve, and eight of its 39 proposals made had been submitted to the company's executive team. Nearly 1,000 kilometers away from Shanghai, grassroots Party organizations are leading villagers toward a better life in Jinggangshan, home to CPC's first rural revolutionary base, established 90 years ago in the inland province of Jiangxi. Huang Chengzhong is secretary of the Party committee of Shenshan village. The committee is responsible not only for enabling the villagers to get to know CPC policies and goals such as poverty eradication, but helping ensure they are carried out and achieved in the village. There are 19 Party members in the village, with the eldest born during the war against Japanese aggression and the youngest in 1993. Under the leadership of the village Party committee, a leading group for targeted poverty relief, comprised of five Party members, including Zuo Xiangyun, has been set up. Poverty relief projects initiated under the group include setting up cooperatives to grow peaches and tea, promoting farm tours, renovating dilapidated houses and helping villagers pay social insurance. Together with two fellow villagers, Zuo set up a tourism council to arrange farm tours to the village. "We assign tourists to different households, record the revenue and distribute it among participating villagers," Zuo told reporters when counting one morning's revenue, which was over 1,000 yuan (152 U.S. dollars). "The amount was about the equivalent of a poor household's annual earnings ten years ago," Zuo said. Zuo attributes the increase to the Party's leadership, institutional arrangement and hard work of the villagers. With 50 villagers in 21 households, Shenshan has been officially taken off the list of impoverished areas together with the Jinggangshan region earlier this year, as the number of people who live under the poverty line here has fallen below 2 percent. "Casting of poverty is only the first step," Huang said. "The next step to which the Party is leading our small village is to achieve moderate but common and sustainable prosperity." This is a starting point for China to develop a comprehensively deepening reform, to continuously push forward economic and social development, to adjust to new normal by transforming development mode, to continuously be open to and have an in-depth interaction with the world. President Xi Jinping addressed at the B20 summit in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province on Sept 3, 2016 A technician inspects the surface of a stainless steel component at a factory of Shanxi-based Taiyuan Iron and Steel (Group) Co, which is staking its future on research and development efforts. [Photo provided to China Daily] The genesis President Xi Jinping used the phrase "new normal" in May 2014 when describing China's next period of economic growth. He went on to elaborate on the concept on various occasions, with questions around how to understand it, how to adapt to it and how to take advantage of it emerging as major queries the country must answer. As elaborated by Xi during 2014 Beijing APEC meetings, its features are: First, the economy has shifted gear from the previous high speed to a medium-to-high speed growth. Second, the economic structure is constantly improved and upgraded. Third, the economy is increasingly driven by innovation instead of input and investment. The implementation China strived to abolish administrative red tape and began to delegate power to lower authorities. This marked a major move in the readjustment of the existing economic structure. It was accompanied by the issuance of policies that support the supply-side reforms and promote innovation in all sectors. The CPC central authorities have identified new macro-economic manipulation patterns, adapted to the new normal, and shifted its focus from demand to supply. Innovation has, time and time again, been heralded as a prominent driver of economic development. Since the start of 2015, on average, over 11,000 new enterprises are established every day. The country is also putting its full weight behind three major economic strategies, including the Belt and Road Initiative, which advances infrastructure links with countries in central western and southeastern Asia and other regions. The coordinated development of Beijing and Tianjin municipalities and Hebei province will foster a new region of growth in China, while the plan to develop the economic belt along the Yangtze River will ignite a market worth trillions of yuan. In addition, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank came into being. Moreover, there is the Silk Road Fund, which is accelerating the construction of free-trade zones, and China is creating a new world economic pattern with an open attitude. China's GDP growth, with a rate of around 7 percent, is roughly the same as the total GDP of a mid-sized country, accounting for 30 percent of contribution to the world's total economic growth. More than 3,000 Tibetan antelopes stopped under the shadow of the Wudaoliang North Bridge on the Qinghai-Tibet Railway. After a few hesitant minutes, the antelopes passed through the shadow to continue their migratory journey. The scene was observed in real time by Li Hongqi on his computer through a high-definition monitoring system as he sat in his office in Xining, Qinghai province, on the morning of Aug 8. "We know the Tibetan antelopes will come in July and leave in August on certain dates, but this was the largest single group we saw through the monitoring system," said Li, head of the Qinghai Environmental Information Center. A year earlier, he had shown President Xi Jinping the same system, with live views of the source of the Yellow River, the Wudaoliang bridge and other locations that the environmental information center monitors. Xi visited Qinghai province on Aug 23 and 24 of last year and talked with grassroots cadres and environmental protection officials at two ecological monitoring sites via video from the information center. Xi emphasized the importance of protecting the environment of the source region of three great rivers the Yangtze, Yellow and Lancang and asked the environmental protection controllers to fulfill their duties to safeguard the lakes, grasslands, rivers, wild animals and other ecological resources of the province. Tashi Tsering, one of the controllers, lives in the village of Changjiangyuan and drives more than 1,000 kilometers on each of the trips he makes to patrol his jurisdiction near the Tuotuo River. He carries tents and food for the trip, which usually takes three days. It rained heavily on the day he started his patrol in August, and the rain made the roads difficult to use in the rural area. Tsering had to rent a motorbike. "I became an environmental protection controller in 2013. The grass this year has grown the finest and the weather has been great," said Tsering, a former shepherd. In 2004, more than 400 shepherds including Tsering moved down from the area around the sources of the three rivers at an altitude of about 4,700 meters above sea level to the southern suburb of Golmud and formed the new village of Changjiangyuan. Gega Namgyee, deputy secretary of the village, explained his reason for the move. "We need to support the protection of the three-river source because it's our home. We need to protect the environment like our own lives. "I believe in the Chinese Communist Party, so I followed its lead." In 2016, Xi visited Changjiangyuan and asked the villagers about their life after they moved down from the mountains. Learning that the villagers had stable incomes, basic health insurance and old-age insurance, Xi was delighted and said, "A better life for you lies ahead." While their previous annual income was less than 2,000 yuan ($300), each villager now earns more than 20,000 yuan, Gega Namgyee said. "The day President Xi visited our village was the most unforgettable and happiest day of my life," he said. "It's been a year since his visit and our village is getting better with all the electric wires moving underground." Tsering is paid 1,800 yuan a month as an environmental protection controller, plus can do part-time work between patrols. Married this year, the 38-year-old is expecting his first child in October. Tsering was among the first group of environmental protection controllers in Chang-jiangyuan. But all villagers are aware of the need to protect the environment. They clean the village together on certain days every month. Tsering's niece Paima Ga, 15, moved to the village when she was 3. She takes part in the cleaning duties. Her father is an environmental protection controller like her uncle. When her father is away for a few days, she knows he has gone to check the grasslands. Each summer vacation, Paima Ga returns to the Tuotuo River area to watch traditional horse races. "The grass now is better than before," she said. Studying at Golmud Ethnic middle school, Paima Ga has adapted to a semiurban life. "I like living here. I can make many friends, eat many vegetables and go shopping." Paima Ga wants to study filmmaking. "I want to be a director in the future," she said. "I can film the legends of the Tibetan ethic group and record the beautiful natural scenery of my hometown." This photo taken on Oct 2, 2017 shows mooncakes in Yichang, Hubei province. [Photo/IC] HEFEI - Mid-Autumn Festival falls on Wednesday this year. For Chinese, the day may not be complete without eating a mooncake with family while gazing at the full moon. However, mooncakes are high in sugar and fat, not ideal for anyone wanting to loose weight. One mooncake can have over 450 calories - the equivalent of about three bowls of rice. To find balance between treating yourself and maintaining good health, many brands have started selling smaller mooncakes this year. Traditionally, a mooncake weighs about 120 to 150 grams, but in the online store of Daoxiangcun, a traditional Beijing-based brand, the biggest mooncake on sale is just 110 grams. Most of its mooncakes are below 85 grams and cost about seven to 10 yuan each (about $1 to $1.5). "We can try more flavors if the cakes are smaller," said a Beijing customer. THINNER OUTSIDE Not only is the size of the mooncakes decreasing, but the packaging is also "shrinking." About a decade ago, mooncakes were seen as luxury items. Their packaging was like that of high-end jewelry, some even had jade embedded on the boxes. Many were sold together with expensive liquors. Expensive gift boxes of the small round pastries with, in most cases, sweet filling, became associated with corruption, subtle bribery and extravagance as companies and individuals exchanged them with customers and business partners to build relationships. In 2005 and 2008 respectively, the central government issued two documents, prohibiting overpackaging of mooncakes. The documents demanded the packaging of the cakes be no more than three layers, and should make up less than 12 percent of the total price. Five years after the Chinese government established a frugality code rejecting extravagance and excessive formalities among Communist Party members and government workers, lavish mooncake gift sets began to disappear from the market. Mooncakes started to return to their origin as an affordable dessert for family gatherings. Statistics from Suning.com, an e-commerce platform, showed that the sales volume of mooncake gift sets priced from 200 to 300 yuan ($30 to $45) declined by 17 percent this year, while that for cheaper mooncakes surged by 25 percent. JD.com, another leading e-commerce company, said that its sales volume of luxury mooncake sets is down 75 percent from last year, while that of regular boxes rose by 21 percent. At Guangzhou Friendship Store, a salesperson said that many customers prefer to buy mooncakes in bulk, which costs much less than purchasing gift sets. Wang Fen from Qiaojiashan Bakery, the largest mooncake producer in Jiangxi Province, said that upscale mooncake gift sets priced over 300 yuan contributed less than one percent of their total sales this year. "As mooncakes are no longer public expenses, there is no market for luxury mooncake gift sets," said Xu Hang from Tianjin-based Nankai University. Israeli student among growing group of expats hitting the big time with online shows Canadian foodie Trevor James appears in his online show, The Food Ranger, which he has been uploading to YouTube and Bilibili for four years. Provided to China Daily It's late afternoon on a warm summer day, and crowds of excited young Chinese people are gathered inside a cafe near Zhongguancun, the so-called Silicon Valley of Beijing. Shortly before 5 pm, the place erupts in deafening cheers. Raz Galor has entered the building. The 24-year-old Israeli internet star holds up a smartphone to capture the reaction before settling down with about 100 fans for an evening of playing games, signing photos and answering questions. Galor has been hot property since December when he started hosting a video series called The Foreigners Research Institute. Each episode lasts under five minutes and features on-street interviews with expatriates in China about cultural quirks and the latest trends. Saul Stollery, a Tsinghua University graduate from the United Kingdom, livestreams to audiences in China using the Inke app. Provided to China Daily The first video racked up more than 4 million views across multiple social media platforms, including Youku, Sina Weibo and Bilibili. Since then, Galorknown locally as Gao Yousihas produced over 50 more episodes and gained more than 5 million online followers. Yet despite his fame, he resists the label of "internet celebrity", or wanghong in Chinese. "I'm not a wanghong, I'm an entrepreneur," said Galor, who runs a production company with two Chinese partners, and is also a senior at Peking University majoring in international relations. "Rather than wanghong, who usually generate content from individual opinions, I want to build a platform where a group of peoplein my case, foreignerscan share thoughts and experiences," he added. His profile on the social networking website LinkedIn describes his show as "the largest online video channel for the Chinese audience to understand the young generation of foreigners in China". 'Foreigner 2.0' To make an episode of the show, Galor and his crew spend two or three days on the streets of Beijing interviewing 30 to 50 foreigners. Only the 10 to 15 who "really say something interesting" make the final cut. One video featured Lila Kidson, a classmate of Galor from the United States, who talked about Chinglish, which is English influenced by Chinese speakers. The appearance instantly propelled her into the public eye, and her followers on Sina Weibo soared close to 100,000. Galor said making foreigners famousincluding himselfwas not his intention, yet he acknowledged that fame is good for business. After the buzz generated by The Foreigners Research Institute, his production company received 10 million yuan ($1.51 million) in investment from Will Hunting Capital, which has previously financed bike-sharing company Ofo. Fang Yedun, one of Galor's business partners, is a Peking University graduate and former classmate of Dai Wei, the chief executive of Ofo. He and Galor began thinking about business ideas in 2014 after seeing a surge in startups across Zhongguancun. Initially they made videos largely about sports. However, they soon discovered the most popular episodes were those in which foreigners talked more generally about Chinese society or food. With the help of another friend, Fang and Galor decided to switch focus and devised The Foreigners Research Institute, releasing the first episode on Dec 16. Galor attributes the show's success to the fact it captures the era of "foreigner 2.0", a term he uses to describe the younger generation of expats who, unlike some who arrived in the 1980s and early 1990s, are open to contemporary Chinese society, can speak Mandarin and understand the subtleties of Chinese humor. His father, Amir, who came to China 15 years ago to start Infinity Equity, the nation's first foreign equity company, belongs to the "foreigner 1.0"generation, Galor said. Yet there is at least one thing these two generations can agree onthat China is a gigantic market that offers a range of opportunities for any business. Jika Anda mencari situs web sbobet88 login yang andal dan aman untuk bermain poker online, permainan kasino, dan bentuk perjudian lainnya, Anda telah datang ke tempat yang tepat. Situs web kami menampilkan daftar lengkap permainan, opsi pembayaran, dan lainnya untuk memastikan Anda bersenang-senang saat bermain. 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Baik Anda seorang veteran atau baru memulai, adalah tempat terbaik untuk bermain. Liu Li likes to make notes of her most important cases and, so far, she has more than five such notebooks. She regards these notebooks as her treasures, "as they record all the key points of the cases as well as the personalities of each litigant, which has helped me resolve the conflicts," she said. The notes also include her memories of the cases and views of the law. "That's the value of being a judge," she said. Liu, 40, joined Beijing Chaoyang District People's Court after graduating from law school in 2002. Now she is the head of the court's Aoyuncun Tribunal. She first came to the public's attention in 2011 after hearing a high-profile divorce dispute between Li Yang, the well-known founder of the "Crazy English" language school, and his ex-wife, Kim Lee, a US national. The case quickly made media headlines because it involved a foreign litigant and the accusations related to domestic violence. As the judge responsible for the case, Liu conducted background research into domestic violence, specifically looking at studies on how to verify claims of violence and collect evidence. "There was pressure, but I always told myself not to be affected by what the public said and take the case hearing as a priority," she said. In February 2013, after four trials, she ruled that Lee had been a victim of abuse. She also granted Lee the capital's first request for a personal protection order, forbidding Li from threatening her. The verdict was seen as a milestone in cases of domestic violence in China, and it also sped up the introduction of related legislation. In March last year, the country's first Anti-Domestic Violence Law came into effect. The court in Chaoyang, hears most of the city's foreign-related civil disputes and deals with more than 30,000 civil cases each year. Of the more than 3,000 disputes the Aoyuncun Tribunal handled every year up to 2015, nearly 30 percent involved foreigners or were related to real estate. As the nation pushes forward with judicial reform, the number of cases is soaring. Liu's tribunal released a statement in September saying that it heard more than 5,000 cases last year, and the figure may be as high as 6,000. But of 33 judicial officers in the tribunal, only 13 have the right to hear cases. How to streamline the hearing process and efficiently assign work is Liu's biggest challenge. "I take the initiative to hear more complicated cases, as I am the chief judge," she said. In 2009, a woman sued her ex-boyfriend through the tribunal, claiming the man owed her 60,000 yuan ($9,000). It was not their first dispute. "It was a small case, but repeated lawsuits indicated that their conflict had never been resolved," Liu said. She asked the two to bring all of their documents to the tribunal one day, and told them before the hearing that spending so much time pursuing lawsuits would prevent them moving on with their lives and might result in lower compensation than they expected. The two litigants were taken aback and the case ended soon after in mediation. Liu compared the solution to playing chess. "The dispute looked messy, but if a judge can be patient enough to understand litigants and explain the results of their lawsuits, conflicts may be alleviated effectively." While working to improve her own abilities, Liu also encourages her colleagues to study new legal problems. All the judges in the tribunal gather on Friday afternoons for a "study time". "We use the time to share experiences and handling of complicated cases," she said. "Some judges even talk about how to solve new types of disputes on their way back home, which shows the 'study time' has worked." When striving to find good solutions, Liu also takes notes. "I welcome innovations that can improve our work efficiency," she added. Lui has received many accolades. In June, she was elected as a representative of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, which will open on Oct 18. She plans to take her progressive ideas to the plenary. "I hope technologies can be adopted more in our case hearings, and litigants' information can be shared via an internal system of judicial authorities." No matter how busy she is, she always manages to spend every Saturday evening with her 10-year-old son. "We watch a movie every weekend. That's our family time." she added. Thomas Derksen, known as Afu to his 5 million followers on Chinese social media, is famous for making humorous videos that poke fun at the cultural differences between his native Germany and China. Photos provided to China Daily Viral video star Thomas Derksen is better known for poking fun than pushing for societal change. Yet in July, he attempted to do just that in his native Germany. In the runup to the G20 gathering in Hamburg, the Shanghai-based funnyman wrote to Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, urging her administration to follow China's example of building a "cashless" society. "My Chinese friends always tell me that they admire a lot of things about Germany, but now the time has come that we Germans should learn from the Chinese people," he wrote. "In Germany, I never went outdoors without taking my wallet, but since I've lived in China, I've found that a cashless economy is not something that will happen in the future, it is happening now." Derksen, known as Afu to his 5 million followers on social media, said it was the first time he had tried to use his celebrity status to enhance Sino-German relations. The 29-year-old comedian, who speaks fluent Mandarin as well as the Shanghai dialect, is famous for his humorous videos, which poke fun at the cultural differences between his homeland and his adopted home. In some episodes, he dresses as his mother-in-law and mimics the way older women in Shanghai ask about his salary or plans for starting a family. In others, he appears as a driving instructor who yells at his students, using Shanghai slang to describe the brake pedal and accelerator. One of his most popular videos, in which he jokes about being married to a Chinese woman, has been viewed more than 900,000 times on Sina Weibo. Derksen said his chief inspiration for starting the videos was Papi Jiang, a graduate of Beijing's Central Academy of Drama who shot to fame after uploading similar sketches in 2015. "At the time, Papi Jiang was so overwhelming popular in China, and I thought I could be a male, German version of her," he said. However, rather than being known as the "male Papi", he's more commonly referred to as the "happy, chubby German". Derksen first visited China in 2007 as a high school student. That three-week trip, which included stops in Beijing, Shanghai and Nanjing in Jiangsu province, left a deep impression of a nation with a unique culture and warmhearted people. In the fall of 2012, he returned as an exchange student at Tongji University in Shanghai, where he met his future wife, Zhu Liping. Yet the course of true love never did run smooth. For a long time, Zhu's father refused to speak to Derksen. Undeterred, the German enrolled at Fudan University to continue his studies and learn more about China and its culture. He was eventually accepted by the family, and the couple were married in 2015. In fact, his Chinese name Afu came from his father-in-law. After becoming an internet celebrity, Derksen said he is recognized from time to time on the street. He and his mother-in-law were also shown square dancing in the Shanghai government's recent promotional video, This Is Shanghai. "In Germany, it would take many years to get so many followers," he said, adding that now he has such a large fan base he sees an opportunity to be a cultural bridge between Germany and China. In addition to online payment, he said he has also witnessed rapid developments over the past five years in bike-sharing, high-speed rail and e-commerce, which has brought more convenience to millions of people. His homeland would benefit from introducing such innovation, he said, adding, "I think it's time Germany learns from China." BEIJING - Lei Bicao was happy to find out that one of the candidates she had recommended was elected as a delegate for the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC). Lei, who has been a Party member for 26 years in Linwei District in the city of Weinan in northwest China's Shaanxi Province, recalled clearly the recommendation process earlier this year. "At a mobilization meeting, the secretary of our Party branch announced the qualifications and conditions for candidate nomination and the strict voting discipline then distributed a recommendation form to everyone who had the right to vote," Lei said. The next day, Lei recommended four candidates, including Jia Xiangdong, deputy head of the district's Party organization department. Lei said she believed Jia to be an excellent candidate, capable of exercising the duties of delegates on behalf of ordinary Party members like her. A total of 276 delegate candidates were initially recommended in the province. Officials accounted for 35 percent and Party members on the frontlines of work and production made up the remaining 65 percent. The preliminary list of candidates was shortened to 60 after a comprehensive selection process by the CPC Shaanxi provincial committee to ensure broad coverage and proper structure of the candidates. In May, Jia and 43 others were elected as delegates to the Party's national congress at a meeting of the 13th CPC Shaanxi provincial congress. Jia's name was on the list of 2,287 delegates elected to attend the five-yearly national congress on behalf of more than 89 million Party members and 4.5 million grassroots Party organizations. The congress is set to draw a new blueprint for the country's development. "As a grassroots Party member, I feel it is my mission to recommend delegate candidates I trust," Lei said. Giant panda Nuan Nuan eats at Malaysia's national zoo in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Oct 5, 2017. Nuan Nuan (meaning warmth in Chinese), the first Malaysian-born female giant panda cub, will head back to China on Nov 14, more than two years after her parents unexpectedly gave birth to her on Aug 18, 2015. [Photo/Xinhua] KUALA LUMPUR - Nuan Nuan (which means warmth), the first Malaysian-born female giant panda cub, will head back to China on Nov 14, more than two years after her parents unexpectedly gave birth to her on Aug 18, 2015. Wan Junaidi, Malaysia's minister of natural resources and environment, made the announcement at a farewell ceremony on Thursday at Malaysia's national zoo. Nuan Nuan, like its name, has brought so much joy to all Malaysians and visitors to the Giant Panda Conservation Center (GPCC) of the national zoo, said Wan Junaidi at the ceremony. Over the past 26 months, Nuan Nuan's growth and development has been good, said Wan Junaidi, adding she is currently active, bonds well with her mother and in good health. Describing sending back the panda cub as "a very difficult decision to make," Wan Junaidi said Malaysia is returning Nuan Nuan to China to give her sufficient time to adapt to her natural habitat, citing an agreement reached between China and Malaysia which stipulated that any giant panda born in Malaysia shall be returned to China once the cub has reached its maturity age of two years old. Mat Naim, director of the GPCC, told Xinhua that Nuan Nuan is currently undergoing crate training where she is put into a special cage for a few hours a day, a necessary step for the panda cub to familiarize itself with the limited space of movement when going on a plane. When talking about the possibility for Nuan Nuan's parents, the two pandas loaned by China to Malaysia in 2014, to have another baby panda, Wan Junaidi said he was told that "because of the environment here is something unique, and the possibility is high and it's not a possibility but it's high probability" to bear another cub. Apprentice carvers work on ink molds under Xiang Desheng's helpful eye. Provided to CHINA DAILY Tiangong Kaiwu , published in 1637, is regarded as one of the first encyclopedias recording handcraft production in China. Its chapter on ink calls the Hui ink stick, made by artisans in Huizhou, now known as Huangshan, in Anhui province, the best of its kind. In ancient China the ink brush, the ink stick, Xuan paper and the ink stone were regarded as the four treasures of study. For centuries the ink stick produced in Shexian, Huangshan, has been reputed for its quality. In 1915 the Globe ink stick, made by China's most well-known ink workshop, Hu Kai Wen in Shexian, won the gold award at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition. "The best ink stick is made of several kinds of precious raw materials, such as musk, gold foil, pearl powder and bear gal," said Xiang Desheng, 54, an ink stick expert in Huangshan. "Quality ink can ensure calligraphy and paintings never fade if they are properly protected." Xiang started working in the Hu Kai Wen factory when he was 17. His father also worked in the factory. "I was lucky to land a stable job, but I did not expect to spend the rest of my life making ink," said Xiang, who was born in a mountain village in Shexian. Fifteen years after starting to work in the factory he was designated as a master craftsman, and achieving that was anything but easy. As a novice in Hu Kai Wen, Xiang was assigned to hammer ink dough. Generally, the ink making process includes collecting soot, working with other ingredients, drying, refining, coloring, packaging and designing and carving the mold. In turn each of these steps consists of more than 10 small procedures. Hammering ink dough is a basic procedure during ink making that requires no technical skills but a lot of persistence and strength. Under the strict supervision of one of his father's workmates, Xiang used a 4-kilogram hammer to pound on ink dough every day, enabling various ingredients to mix well, until they were smooth and even. The following day his fingers would be red and swollen, and he would be unable to hold anything, he said. In addition, there was always black ink residue under his fingernails. "No matter how hard I cleaned my hands with soap, they were black." The work drained him of energy, he said, but he survived with his father's encouragement. At the same time, Xiang looked for better opportunities in the ink-making department. He wanted to be a real apprentice in the main department. However, the best ink-making masters were unwilling to teach others their skills, so Xiang began to learn the skills surreptitiously. Each day he would turn up for work before dawn and finish by noon. He would then wander around the workshop seemingly just chatting with his workmates but closely watching how they worked. He memorized the key steps in ink-making and would practice these later, he said. The artistically talented Xiang began to study and try ink mold carving by himself and made a mold in the shape of a golden pheasant, something the factory accountant saw and liked. With an ink stick made from Xiang's first mold, the accountant recommended him to the factory manager, who was highly impressed by the mold. "If we had even 10 talented people like Xiang, that would not be enough," he quotes the manager as saying. When Xiang was finally relieved of the arduous job of hammering ink and moved to the mold design department his workmates put it down to good fortune, he said, and it was only five years later that they realized how talented and hard-working he was. He is particularly good at carving delicate and exquisite patterns such as landscapes, buildings, flowers, birds and ships on ink sticks. In 1992, as the market economy continued to replace the planned economy in China, Xiang, like many people, quit his job in the State-owned factory and set up his own business. Although he regards Hui ink sticks as pieces of art and not merely writing tools, they need to keep abreast of the times, he said. When he set up his business he worked in an eight-square-meter room, and 15 years later this had grown into a factory covering 1.65 hectares, the business being called Zimoxuan. Over the years he produced thousands of innovative ink molds, and his works have won gold awards for arts and crafts in China seven times. Since 2014 Xiang has been a guest lecturer on traditional ink at the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing. "The theories he propounds are all systematic and rooted in practice, and his lessons furnish students with the scientific knowledge they need, and they correct misconceptions," said Wu Shoufeng, vice-president of the continuing education school at Central Academy of Fine Arts. "His lectures are extremely popular." Xiang's son Xiang Song, 27, studied interior decorating, graduating from university in 2013, and looked set for a big-city career. However, his father persuaded him to change course and go into the ink trade. Now he is one of the youngest masters in this field, and he said he is confident that his trade will be around for many years to come. The Chinese Felid Conservation Alliance focuses on research of North-Chinese leopards in the Taihang Mountains. The nonprofit's posts on social media are drawing an increasing number of followers. [Photo provided to China Daily] When introducing the Chinese leek in a short video on his micro blog, Shi Jun says its white flower is often used in making a sauce to go with hot pot. The 36-year-old botanist makes such videos and sometimes even livestreams them to introduce plants and flowers that he finds along roads or in markets. In May 2016, he co-founded the Corn Lab, with the aim of popularizing life sciences among children and young adults on social media. And, he isn't alone. More individuals and organizations in China are starting to do the same because it's convenient and effective to promote science online and interact with the general public. Such videos break down technical information into simple words for people to easily understand. Most are free and a few have additional charge. "We want to make it fun but we also have a scientific approach," Shi said. The aim, he said, is to foster children's interest in science and offer them different perspectives, as well as get their families involved as parents usually have the final say in what their children will view online. While Chinese schools are more focused on passing theoretical knowledge, children in the West are trained to gather evidence for their writing projects even in primary school. Thousands of people gather on the bank of the Qiantang River last year to get a view of the annual tidal bore in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province. [Photo by Tang Huasen/China Daily] The Qiantang River tidal bore is as famous as the ones on the Ganges in India and the Amazon in Brazil. The river, originating in the border region of Anhui and Jiangxi provinces, runs for 459 kilometers through the coastal Zhejiang province, passing through the provincial capital Hangzhou before flowing into the East China Sea via the Hangzhou Bay. The river is the southern terminus of the ancient Grand Canal that links five major rivers in China from north to south, and enables water-borne traffic to travel inland from Hangzhou as far north as Beijing. While the Hangzhou Bay at the mouth of the Qiantang is about 100 km wide, the river narrows to a mere 2-3 km at one pointits Yanguan section. And as the tidal waters are blocked by the narrow river passage, pressure builds up from behind until a tidal bore is formed, creating a high water wall. US President Donald Trump talks as first lady Melania Trump and surgeon Dr John Fildes listen at the University Medical Center in Las Vegas on Wednesday after Trump met with survivors of the mass shooting on Sunday. [Photo/Agencies] LAS VEGAS President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump met privately with victims of the Las Vegas shooting at a hospital on Wednesday, praising them and the doctors who treated them as he visited a city still reeling from the worst gun massacre in modern US history. He also met with first responders who'd been on duty Sunday night, telling them: "You showed the world and the world is watching, and you showed what professionalism is all about." Air Force One landed at the airport near the famed Las Vegas strip on a bright, sunny morning just days after a gunman on the 32nd floor of a hotel and casino opened fire on people at an outdoor country music festival below. The Sunday night rampage killed at least 59 people and injured 527, some from gunfire and some from a chaotic escape. Trump's first stop was the University Medical Center, where he spent 90 minutes meeting privately with victims, their families and medical professionals. Speaking to reporters from the lobby of the University Medical Center lobby, Trump said he'd met "some of the most amazing people" and had extended some invitations to visit him in Washington. He also commended the doctors who'd worked to save them for doing an "indescribable" job. "It makes you very proud to be an American when you see the job that they've done," he said. Trump then headed to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police headquarters, where he met with police officers, dispatchers, and others who'd responded to the shooting. On his trip from the airport, the president's motorcade drove past the Mandalay Bay hotel where the gunman fired down into the concert crowd. "It's a very sad thing. We are going to pay our respects and to see the police who have done really a fantastic job in a very short time," Trump told reporters before departing the White House. "It's a very, very sad day for me personally." The president also drove past his own Trump hotel. Trump's trip to Las Vegas follows his Tuesday travel to hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico. US President Donald Trump speaks next to first lady Melania Trump after meeting with police at the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department in the wake of the mass shooting in Las Vegas, Nevada, October 4, 2017. [Photo/Agencies] LAS VEGAS -- US President Donald Trump arrived at Las Vegas on Wednesday, three days after the city was shaken by the deadliest mass shooting in modern American history that killed 59 people and wounded more than 500 others. Trump and first lady Melania traveled to the University Medical Center of Southern Nevada on a private visit to see patients and medical professionals there. Surrounded by doctors and nurses, the president praised the medical teams who treated dozens of patients on Sunday night. University Medical Center confirmed about 50 people were admitted to the hospital located in Las Vegas after Stephen Paddock, a 64-year-old gambler and real estate investor, opened fire Sunday night on an outdoor music festival on Las Vegas Strip. "What I saw today is just an incredible tribute to professionalism," Trump said. The Trumps also met with police, first responders to the shooting spree and volunteers who helped prevent an even greater loss of life when Paddock rained bullets from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay hotel into a crowd of more than 22,000 people attending Route 91 Harvest Country Music Festival. "The president of the United State is the highest ranking official of the country, when that person take his time to come down here to see the officers, thank for what they did, it's an uplifting to all of us officers," Steven Grammas, the president of the Las Vegas Police Protective Association (LVPPA), told Xinhua. A day after his visit to hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico, Trump's visit to Las Vegas on Wednesday is his second trip in two days aimed at comforting victims of tragedy. Days after the mass shooting, Grammas doesn't "think it's late." "Bring him here early would have caused problems," he added. "We are still dealing with the whole lockdown there." As the president departed the White House, Trump told reporters, "It's a very, very sad day for me, personally." The worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history has renewed vehement discussion in the country about the curb of gun violence. According to the non-profit organization Gun Violence Archive, the mass shooting in Las Vegas late Sunday night was the 273rd gun shooting in the United States in the 275 days of 2017 so far. On Tuesday, when asked whether it was time to debate gun control measures, Trump responded, "Perhaps that will come. But that's now for now." "Don't be sorry. No one could really prevent it other than better security," local resident Jade Marie Fliegman, who was locked down in a nearby Casino in the massacre, told Xinhua after the shooting. "I worry about a lot the safety in America, because it feels like it has happened more and more through the past few years," Fliegman said. NEW YORK - Tower lights of New York City's landmark Empire State Building will shine in red and gold at sunset Wednesday in honor of Chinese traditional Mid-Autumn Festival, which falls Oct 4 this year. Tonight, the Empire State Building's "tower light will shine in red and gold, with colorful moons and lanterns in the mast to celebrate this joyous holiday," said Anthony Malkin, CEO and Chairman of Empire State Realty Trust. Lighting scheme is designed by world-renowned lighting designer Marc Brickman. Before flipping the switch for the lighting, Zhang Qiyue, consul general of China in New York, said China-US relationship has maintained a generally positive momentum since the beginning of this year. "The two sides have since this year set up four dialogue mechanisms, one of them called social, cultural, and people-to-people dialogue," said Zhang. "I think this lighting ceremony, or event like this are part of this social, cultural dialogue and events," the Chinese diplomat added. For years, this New York landmark has been celebrating Chinese Lunar New Year in lights. Zhang said this year's Mid-Autumn Festival event marks a new initiative. "We hope this tradition could be kept," she said. The Mid-Autumn Festival is one of key traditional festivals in China which falls on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month. It is the time when the moon is said to be at its brightest and fullest. In western calendar, the day usually occurs sometime between the third week of September and the second week of October. This day is also considered a harvest festival, a time for relaxation and family reunion. Since 1976, the Empire State Building's tower lights have maintained a tradition of changing color to recognize various occasions and organizations throughout the year. Three days after the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history, Flagstaff residents arrived in droves at the Northern Arizona University Union on Wednesday to donate blood for the victims. All slots had been booked as of Sunday and some walk-in donations were turned away. According to United Blood Services of Arizona, more than 180 people set up appointments to donate blood on Wednesday and Thursday. Blood drive coordinator Lynnae Zgurich said the amount of blood donated could be used for 540 people in need. It is a really big day for blood donations; unfortunately it is following the largest mass shooting in history, Zgurich said. But it is amazing to see people stepping up to help. The donors ranged from students to longtime residents, motivated to do their part after a tragedy. Student Ben Aguila made an appointment to donate blood after seeing the Las Vegas shooting on television. I just wanted to help any way I could after I saw what happened, Aguila said. The victims did not deserve what happened to them and if I can give some blood to help then I am going to do that. Flagstaff resident Ernie Martinez is a longtime blood donor and was planning on making a trip to the blood bank, but the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history was extra motivation to help out. I give blood all the time and Vegas was another reason for me to donate, Martinez said. It is times like this that people need blood the most. NAU student Kay Rippy was listening to the radio when she heard about the shooting. She was inspired to donate blood after seeing her showgirl cousin wait in line for hours in Las Vegas to donate blood. My cousin really gave me the kick in the butt to go and donate blood, Rippy said. After seeing what happened in Vegas and then the community response made me get an appointment right away. Some people were disappointed when they were unable to donate. Jill Navran was not allowed to give a donation because she is currently on antibiotics. She said the shooting in Las Vegas hit close to home because she visited the city the week before for the Life is Beautiful Music Festival. I tried to give blood but I wasnt able to, so that is a little disappointing, Navran said. It is just so scary to think about what happened because I was in Vegas last week for a music festival. Zgurich said she was not surprised about the donation turnout since people tend to come together after a tragedy. The shooting caught us all off guard, but I think it brought us together even more, Zgurich said. I wasnt surprised that we had such a good turnout. People want to help when others are in need. Those looking to donate can do so at Coconino County Community College on Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Go to bloodhero.com to set up an appointment. Walk-in appointments will also be accepted at tomorrows NAU event from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. if reserved slots become vacant. A man in Barcelona, Spain, watches Spanish King Felipe VI address the nation on Tuesday. JON NAZCA/REUTERS MADRIDKing Felipe VI of Spain spoke to the nation on Tuesday, two days after the Catalan independence referendum, which was declared illegal by the Spanish Constitutional Court. The king spoke amid a growing climate of tension with a general strike and protests in the Catalan region in which local police say 300,000 people took to the streets over the actions of the Spanish National Police and Civil Guard during Sunday's vote. "We are living serious moments for our democracy and in these circumstances, I want to speak directly to all of the Spanish people. We have all seen what has happened in Catalonia with the aim of the Generalitat (Catalan parliament) for the illegal proclamation of independence of Catalonia," he said. Felipe placed blame for the tension in the hands of Catalan regional authorities and said they, "in a repeated, conscious and deliberate manner, have been breaking the Constitution and their autonomous status". He added that those "irresponsible behaviors" had "put the economic stability of Catalonia and Spain in doubt", and insisted that in such a situation it was "the responsibility of the organ of state to guarantee the stability of the country". "I want to highlight that we live in a democratic state where anyone can defend their ideas, within their respect for the law. Without that respect there is no living together in peace," King Felipe said. The king said Catalans not in favor of independence were "not on their own and they will not be; they have the support of all of Spain and... the guarantee of the law to defend their freedom and their rights". "These are difficult times, but we will get over them and go forward, because we believe in our country and are proud of what we are. Our democratic principles are strong." Sunday's vote saw police charges against voters. Officials claimed 431 officers had been injured and medical services reported 893 people had needed medical attention. XINHUA WASHINGTON - US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Wednesday denied rumors that he had criticized US President Donald Trump in private and considered resigning during the summer. US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson waves at the 13th Annual Grand Challenges Meeting co-hosted by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in Washington, US, October 4 2017. [Photo/Agencies] "The vice president has never had to persuade me to remain as secretary of state because I have never considered leaving this post," Tillerson told a press briefing at the State Department, referring to vice president Mike Pence."My commitment to the success of our president and our country is as strong as it was the day I accepted his offer to serve as secretary of state," he said.The remarks came hours after US media reported that Tillerson had called Trump a "moron," and that Pence had to persuade Tillerson to stay on aboard."While I'm new to Washington, I have learned that there are some who try to sow dissension to advance their own agenda by tearing others apart in an effort to undermine President Trump's own agenda," Tillerson said of the report, which he called "erroneous."The report largely overshadowed Trump's visit to Las Vegas, during which the president repeatedly tried to play down the speculation of a rift between his top diplomat and himself."The NBCNews story has just been totally refuted by Sec. Tillerson and VP Pence. It is Fake News. They should issue an apology to AMERICA!" Trump said in a tweet enroute to Las Vegas to visit the site of the horrific mass shooting on Sunday."I have total confidence in Rex," Trump later told reporters as he left a hospital in Las Vegas.White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders echoed her boss, saying "if the president doesn't have confidence in somebody, they will no longer be in their position."Despite an uniform denial of the news report, the White House and the State Department has shown acute differences on crucial foreign policy issues, including the nuclear issue with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.While Tillerson said that he is committed to engagement on the nuclear issue, Trump said on Twitter that Tillerson is "wasting his time," and that the United States "will do what has to be done." I had the privilege or reading a pre-release version of "God Shines Forth: How the Nature of God Shapes and Drives the Mission of the Church." Here are 20 quotes from the book, which you should pick up. A Chinese patio furniture company is expanding to Houston. Best Sun Inc., a manufacturer and distributor of patio furniture, purchased a 21,150-square-foot industrial facility at 12373 Koalstad Road in Conroe. The facility sits on 9.7 acres near FM 3083 north of Houston. Kassie Locke, commercial Realtor with Keller Williams Realty Northeast, represented Best Sun in the deal. Matthew Goldsby of Belvoir Real Estate Group represented the seller, Zions Bank, the corporate owner of Amegy Bank. Financial terms of the deal, which closed last month, were not disclosed. RELATED: Conroe's growth could translate to industrial growth, too The industrial facility was previously owned by Cougar Turbine Supply. The property fell into foreclosure and was acquired by Zions Bank. A call to The Woodlands-based gas turbine engine parts company was not immediately returned. Best Sun plans to move into the facility by the end of the year, and hopes to build additional industrial facilities on the site, Locke said. Conroe's proximity to energy companies in The Woodlands and George Bush Intercontinental Airport is attracting oilfield service and manufacturing companies to purchase or lease industrial space north of Houston, Goldsby said. Conroe was recently listed as the fastest-growing city in the nation, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Best Sun closed on its Conroe facility in less than a month, a sign of how quickly industrial space can move in that market today. Typically, industrial real estate takes between three to nine months to sell, Goldsby said. "We see a lot of growth opportunity in Conroe," Goldsby said. "As residents continue to move farther and farther north, we're seeing a trickle-down effect. We have a lot of (industrial) users looking and an under-supply of inventory in this market." This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Need some help planning your week? We've gathered a list of activities going on in Houston Oct. 5-12 for residents of all ages. A couple of these events will be great for the whole family to attend. MUSIC NEWS: Pink brings Beautiful Trauma World Tour to Houston The Original Greek Festival is in its 51st year and will run Thursday, Oct. 5 through Sunday, Oct. 8. There's plenty of food to try and spectacular performances of traditional Greek dances to see. Bacon lovers should plan on attending the International Bacon Fest on Saturday, Oct. 7. Festivities start at 1 p.m., and you better believe there will be a bacon eating competition. CHECK THIS: Tumbleweeds hosts 'official' Selena tribute in Houston Performances from Faith Hill and Tim McGraw, Portugal. The Man, Chris Tucker and Dwight Yoakam can be seen at various venues around town. Also, game two between the Astros and Red Sox will be held at Minute Maid on Friday, Oct. 6. Check out the gallery above for a list of activities and things to do in Houston for kids, young and old. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate It's been a little over 30 years since she stared down the rabbit hole of rock superstardom, but Louise Foley-Cohen is still introduced to people as that girl from the Tom Petty video. If you're a child of the '80s, there's a considerable chance you remember the video. Created for Petty's "Don't Come Around Here No More," it was a dreamy visual riff on "Alice in Wonderland" that was in regular rotation on MTV shortly after its 1985 release - back when the station still played more videos than scripted content. Foley-Cohen starred in the video as Alice, wearing a sky blue colored, puffed sleeve dress topped with a white pinafore. Her lacey half-gloves provided an '80s touch as she opened the video peering around giant mushrooms growing out of a mist-covered darkness. It was a benchmark of the video era, combining artifice and surprise in a 4 minute, 36 second clip that included Foley-Cohen "screaming" as her character was turned into cake and served to the Mad Hatter (a bespectacled Petty) and his crew of Heartbreakers. "At the time I didn't think it was that hot," said Foley-Cohen, who now lives in Tomball. She was just an actress looking for work, and signed on for a job that became iconic. In the days since Petty's passing from cardiac arrest, Foley-Cohen's starring turn in one of the musician's most memorable music videos has reignited interest in the role. "It's mind-blowing that people still talk about it," she says. Foley-Cohen, 53, was a pioneer back in the days of the video era, becoming one of the first actors to sign a contract to appear in a music video, as opposed to signing a modeling contract for the appearance. She says that she didn't get to interact a whole lot with Petty, but that she was always impressed during that three-day shoot at how he came alive when he got instruction from the video's director, Jeff Stein. Foley-Cohen says she approached the job as an actress and her direction from Stein was to "use the set," so you see her in the video all wide-eyed and surprised at the set pieces of oversized chairs and cups or Petty's towering hat. "I just got into the character of Alice in Wonderland in the rock 'n' roll world. The innocence and sweetness of Alice in a hard core rock 'n' roll world," she says about her approach to the performance. But, at the time, some of the thinking behind the video was lost on her. "That was the whole thing with Dave Stewart sitting on the mushroom, and honest to God I didn't notice until later that what he had done was picked up part of the mushroom and he gave it to me and so (the video) was like a psychedelic trip, " she said. Stewart, of the Eurythmics, co-wrote and helped produce the track, which appeared on Petty's "Southern Accents" record. Rock lore has suggested that the song's inspiration came from Stevie Nicks telling Joe Walsh the title phrase after a night of partying. But Foley-Cohen doesn't share any decadent, backstage rock stories here, even though she spent a good portion of her twenties seeing Petty do his thing on tour - she dated Petty's former drummer Stan Lynch for five years, sometimes joining the band on tour. Foley-Cohen says what she learned about Petty during that time was that he was a soft-spoken southern guy. "But when he spoke there was just kind of a wisdom about him, truly. I have great respect for the man," she says. The mom of four who came to Houston from New Mexico six years ago also appeared in another of Petty's music videos, "Make It Better (Forget About Me)," which began with Foley-Cohen's smiling face before a miniaturized Petty crawls into her ear canal to perform the song with his Heartbreakers. More than just a music video girl, Foley-Cohen also appeared in some after-school TV specials and had recurring roles on the sitcom "Family" and the daytime soap opera "Santa Barbara." Today, she works on short films and performs with theater groups in the area, getting calls from local production companies when they "need an older woman." "I just do it because I love it," she says. Foley-Cohen says she'll always cherish her connection to Petty and his music, even if she never gets to play down the label of being "that girl from the video." Matthew Busch, For The San Antonio Express-News / For The San Antonio Express-News This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate With a gif and a like, San Antonio Chef Jason Dady appears to have pointed the finger at a certain TV host as the person who asked for a free meal in exchange for an Instagram post. Mario Lopez, of Extra TV and Saved By The Bell fame, was in San Antonio Monday dining at downtown favorite Mi Tierra. But it seems Mi Tierra may not have been the star's first choice. "A certain celebrity called Range tonight asking for a free meal in exchange for a single Instagram post promoting it. Quote. Unquote. 'We'll put you on the map,'" Dady said on his Facebook page. "We called back to decline and literally got hung up on." RELATED: Mario Lopez says he 'always' makes a stop at Mi Tierra while in S.A. Now Playing: Celebrity chef and restaurateur Tom Colicchio explains how much it frustrates him when customers wait until they leave a restaurant to complain about a bad meal. Colicchio founded Crafted Hospitality, is the head judge on reality show "Top Chef," and is a spokesperson for Arnold Bread and America's Better Sandwich. In a recent interview, Colicchio explained that if you tell the waitstaff about the problem in the restaurant, they can fix it by offering you another meal. Video: Wochit Dady said if his post received more than 1,000 likes, which it did, he would reveal the shady celebrity. After confirming the caller was "absolutely not" a Spurs player, Dady liked a post suggesting Lopez was the culprit and then posted a gif, or moving image, of Lopez from his Saved By The Bell days. "Hates gonna hate, Slaters gonna slate," the gif reads, while Lopez jumps into the splits. Theories of who the caller could be flooded Dady's post, one suggesting it was journalist and others thinking it could be actor Tommy Lee Jones. But most commenters pointed their finger at Lopez. RELATED: Review: Chef Jason Dady hits his target at Range chophouse on the River Walk Lopez posted an Instagram of his trip to downtown favorite Mi Tierra on Monday saying, "Always make a stop at Mi Tierra. Love this town..." Mi Tierra did not immediately respond for comment. When asked by mySA.com if Lopez was, in fact, the celebrity asking for a handout, Dady said: "Oh what happens on Facebook. Stays on Facebook." kbradshaw@express-news.net | Twitter: @Kbrad5 A decorated Navy SEAL from the Houston area died Saturday after his parachute failed to open while skydiving. Commander Seth Stone, 41, jumped out of a hot air balloon in Riverside County, California, after which his parachute malfunctioned. The incident was not related to any military training. "The Naval Special Warfare community is deeply saddened and mourns the tragic loss of one of our best," Rear Adm. Tim Szymanski, commander of the Naval Special Warfare Command, said in a statement. "Seth's absence will be sorely felt across the staff, command and the entire special operations community." Stone, a 1995 graduate of Lamar High School, served multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, earning two Silver Starts, including one for his part in a firefight that killed one American in Ramadi, Iraq. During that 2006 fight, Stone led his team against a "numerically superior enemy force," directing reinforcements, providing cover fire and "dragging a critically wounded comrade to safety," the NSWC said in a statement. Stone recalled the fight that killed Petty Officer Michael Monsoor in a 2008 interview with National Public Radio. "Stone epitomized the warrior ethos, risking his life on many occasions in combating our nations' enemies," the NSWC said. "He saved countless U.S. service members, and helped bring stability to embattled regions of the world. Outside of the military, he was liked by everyone fortunate enough to cross his path. He made great friendships and found solace in pursuing his passion for surfing and other adventurous activities." Local services will be held for Stone at the West University Baptist Church at 10 a.m. Oct. 18. A second man has been charged in death of a 38-year-old Houston resident who was killed as he took out his trash in January. Luis Contreras, 21, was arrested Wednesday and charged Thursday with capital murder, according to court records. He faces additional charges of felony evading arrest and felon in possession of a firearm. Contreras is accused of killing Martin Pineda on Jan. 3 during a robbery attempt at an apartment complex in the 2900 block of Corporate. Officers headed about 8:45 p.m. to the complex after reports of a shooting, according to a news release from the Houston Police Department. When they arrived, they found Pineda with a gunshot wound to the abdomen. A second person believed to have been involved in Pineda's death, 19-year-old Oscar Rene Martinez, was arrested and charged in June with capital murder. Martinez told officers that he and another man visited the complex that day. Martinez was behind the wheel of a white GMC pickup truck when the other man spotted Pineda and hopped out, saying he was going to rob him. Martinez stayed in the driver seat. He heard two gunshots from behind and saw his friend running to the truck. He also saw Pineda was running away, according to authorities. Contreras was arrested on Wednesday on an unrelated warrant for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle after lead officers on a high-speed vehicle chase. The pursuit ended in a car crash in the 7200 block of South Gessner, according to the HPD news release. At the time of his arrest, Contreras was out on bail for two felony charges: aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon, according to court records. Both charges stem from incidents that police believe happened on Jan. 10 Prior to his latest charges, Contreras had a criminal record dating back to 2013 in Harris County, according to court records. He was convicted of robbery in October 2015. He also pleaded guilty to unauthorized use of a vehicle that month. He also has misdemeanor convictions that included trespassing and evading arrest and detention. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Oct. 5 is World Teachers Day and the hashtag quickly began to trend on social media, which erupted with reaction, both lighthearted and serious. Some Twitter users gave shout outs to their favorite teachers growing up while others debated whether the profession needed to see an increase in social status and pay since they are forming the minds of our children. FAKE NEWS: Student taking a test finds teacher spying on class from the ceiling "Let's pay teachers as much as a cheap babysitter! $10/hr x 20 kids x 6 hours/day x 180 school days/yr = $216,000/yr," J. Dice wrote on Twitter. His tweet generated more than 400 retweets and a discussion for and against his proposition. Some disagreed with his math, with one Twitter user saying, "I agree teachers should be paid more. But, your example is not how babysitters are paid - you don't just double the pay for more kids..." While another Twitter user pointed out that teachers often put in more hours than his math calculates, "That's assuming teachers get the summer off but teachers spend summers & after 3pm prepping & email.Any other job this'd be labor violation." NEW WORLD: Teacher arrested for allegedly abusing child for a second time As some Twitter users were debating, other users were using the chance to praise the teachers that impacted their lives the most. Regardless of which side of the aisle your opinion falls, there are specific struggles that teachers go through on occasion. Thankfully those same struggles are perfectly explained in the memes in the gallery above. Go through the photos to see the teacher-related memes that are all too real for the educators of the world in honor of World Teachers Day. Chicago does not have the strictest gun laws in the country. Its time for gun lovers to stop spreading that lie. A decade ago that was indeed a title Chicago wore proudly. We were the only major city that still had an ordinance banning residents from keeping a handgun in their home. The handgun ban made us the primary target of the National Rifle Association and the Second Amendment Foundation, and in 2010 the U.S. Supreme Court forced Chicago to fall into line with the rest of the country. Since then, the courts have peeled off so many layers of our once stellar gun ordinance that its barely recognizable. Were still maneuvering to keep gun stores and shooting ranges from opening in the city limits. But the courts have ruled against us on that, too, so we know its just a matter of time. Remember that old requirement that gun owners in Chicago register their firearms with the city and obtain a permit? Well, thats gone too. And thanks to the Illinois General Assembly, which was pressured by the federal courts to pass a concealed carry law in 2013, people can walk the streets of Chicago with a gun attached to their waist and another strapped to their ankle. Sorry, gun lovers, your attempts to use Chicago as a prop to bolster your claims that gun control laws do nothing to curb gun violence just dont hold up. New York, in fact, has stricter gun laws on the books than Chicago. And guess what? Its homicide numbers are heading toward historic lows. Los Angeles has some pretty tough gun laws too. Its homicide numbers also pale compared with Chicagos. Those kinds of details dont fit the conservative, pro-gun narrative, though. To use New York as a talking point, theyd have to admit that strict gun laws might actually have an impact on homicide rates. We dont make excuses for our ghastly homicide numbers in Chicago. With 762 people killed last year, no one has to remind us that we have a serious gun problem. We own it. And we have to do something about it. But we are tired of Donald Trump and pro-gun advocates using our city to promote their political agenda. White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders dragged Chicago into the fray again on Monday when responding to a reporters question about gun policy in the aftermath of the mass shooting in Las Vegas. One of the things that we dont want to do is try to create laws that wont stop these types of things from happening, Sanders said at a news conference. I think if you look to Chicago where you had over 4,000 victims of gun-related crimes, they have the strictest gun laws in the country and that certainly hasnt helped there. Sanders should listen to U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly, D-Ill., who argues that the problem is Chicago being surrounded by red states that have completely surrendered to the pro-gun lobby. With no gun stores in Chicago and no background check loopholes for private sales, one thing is clear. The guns being used to kill people on the streets arent originating in Chicago. Theyre coming from someplace else. When politicians and others repeat that ridiculous statement about Chicagos gun laws, it shows how out of touch they are with the problems urban areas face when it comes to gun violence. When it comes to gun laws, big cities are only as strong as the states that border them. And in Chicagos case, thats Indiana. Thanks to Vice President Mike Pence, the former governor, Indiana has some of the weakest gun laws in the nation. While Illinois has gone to great lengths to see that background checks are done for all gun purchases, Indiana has done the opposite. To buy a weapon in Illinois, the owner must have a valid firearms owners identification card, issued by the Illinois State Police. With no permit or license required to purchase a gun in Indiana, it is incredibly easy for a trafficker to drive across the state line, obtain a gun and use it to commit a homicide on the streets of Chicago. Those with felony convictions commonly use straw purchases, in which they enlist someone with a clean record to purchase multiple guns and bring them into the city. Law enforcement officials say 60 percent of the guns confiscated on the streets of Chicago come from Indiana, Wisconsin and Mississippi. The other 40 percent come from suburban Cook County and nearby suburbs. Its tough, but we can try to sort out the bad apples in our own state and shut them down. But were helpless when it comes to regulating Indiana, Wisconsin and Mississippi. Congress could do something, though. Lawmakers could pass legislation requiring universal background checks. That would close federal loopholes on background checks at gun shows and other private sales. Congress could also limit the number of guns that can be purchased by one person in a period of time. And lawmakers could toughen penalties for straw purchases. Military-style assault weapons already are banned in the city of Chicago, but in most other places in Illinois and in most other states, they can be purchased as easily as a handgun. If Congress really wanted to stop massacres like the one in Las Vegas from occurring, lawmakers could pass a federal assault weapons ban to replace the one that expired in 2004. The gun lovers in Washington dont want to talk about these things, though. Its a lot easier to just keep picking on Chicago. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate In the weeks since the hurricane devastated the Houston area, the city's fashion industry has stepped in to offer assistance with fundraisers, donation drives and much more. Most recently, the GLAM4GOOD, a New York-based non-profit organization, was recently in Houston for a relief initiative to help restore the wardrobes and personal-care essentials for hundreds of women and their families who have been affected by the devastation of Hurricane Harvey. A special GLAM4GOOD event was at Charming Charlie headquarters in southwest Houston. Families were provided with new women's workwear, sportswear, undergarments, accessories, eye care and beauty/hygiene essentials, as well as children's clothing. The recipients were vetted by the Texas American Federation of Teachers and are educators and public servants who have experienced water damage/loss or have had total loss of personal property. "It's an amazing thing that you all pulled together," said Zeph Capo, president of the Houston Federation of Teachers. "It means so much to our educators ... who give their all to their kids. To have just a few hours that they can forget about the fact that their home is in shambles and that they lost most of their things probably their school as well and put a smile back on their face, is tremendously important." GLAM4GOOD celebrity stylists Tai Beauchamp, model Jason Cameron and volunteers, as well as local Charming Charlie employees and Macy's MyStylist personal shoppers, were on hand to assist the women in selecting wardrobe pieces. Each received a $100 Macy's gift-card as well as makeover at the pop-up "Macy's Beauty Bar." Also, VSP Global, Marchon Eyewear's parent company, brought the "Eyes of Hope" Mobile Eye Care Clinic to provide free eye exams and prescription glasses on-site at no cost to those who lost or damaged their glasses. The initiative was sponsored by Dee and Tommy Hilfiger, Macy's and Marchon Eyewear, with support from H&M, Calvin Klein, L'Oreal Paris, Aldo, Stila, Victoria's Secret, Hanes, J.Crew, Rachel Roy, Ivanka Trump, Serge Normant and Drew Barrymore's Flower Beauty. GLAM4GOOD, which was founded by Mary Alice Stephenson, is a non-profit organization that creates and celebrates social impact, and empowerment through beauty and style. As investigators search for a motive in the deadliest mass shooting in modern history, a former FBI profiler says Stephen Paddock likely used an infamous shooting in Texas as a guide for his crime. Mary Ellen O'Toole, who spent over half of her 28-year FBI career in the Behavioral Analysis Unit, told TV station WUSA 9 that the Las Vegas shooting is very similar to to the 1966 University of Texas Tower shooting. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A handful of recent business closings have hit close to home for many Houston natives. The news of Texas Cafeteria closing brought about geysers of nostalgia. Even the news of RadioShack closing its Houston outposts caused many to take pause and pour out their feelings. Houstonians, and humans in general, don't care for change. We played Taps for Col. Bubbies in Galveston on Christmas Eve, as the owners widow decided to close up shop after decades of supplying us with military history and MREs. Now Playing: October 19, 1990: On this day, the Chronicle described how a carpet installer, a commercial property manager, and a lighting technician trade in their professionalism each year for a chainsaw and fake blood. Tweet host Michael Callahan, @MCallahanTV using #ForgottenDayHOU. Video: Houston Chronicle There exist more than a handful of businesses, bars, restaurants, and one giant theme park (take a guess) that live on only in our dreams. These are the places we have indelible memories attached to, even if the slab has been blown off the map or it was torn down to make way for a luxury apartment complex. Yes, we didnt forget about you Montrose Fiesta. You had a great soundtrack while you lasted. Daughters looking like their celebrity mothers is commonplace in Hollywood, but it messes with the mind when a mother and daughter look so much alike they could pass as sisters . "Fuller House" star Candace Cameron Bure's 18-year-old daughter Natasha is turning heads on social media because of her uncanny resemblance to her 41-year-old mom. As if flooding, remediation and rebuilding weren't enough, some residents of Hidden Cove Condominiums on Hideaway Drive are dealing with looters and trespassers, police said. One owner returned to his home Sept. 26 to find someone had rummaged through his belongings and taken a knife, a bottle of tequila and hydrocodone pills, police said. As the officer was collecting evidence, a man confronted the homeowner and tried to enter through the front door. He was found later at Old City Park, 400 Briarmeadow Ave., and identified as a 20-year-old Galveston man. Police arrested him for an outstanding theft warrant in Brazoria County. Between Sept. 23 and Sept. 25, a box of Astros memorabilia, fossils and gems were taken from another condo, police said. During the same period, someone entered through the sliding glass doors of yet another condo and made themselves at home, according to a police report. Liquor bottles and a soup can were left in the living room, and a watch was damaged in a bedroom. The suspect left bedding and liquor bottles on the floor, police said. Finally, a maintenance worker contacted a condo owner Sept. 28 about water coming out of his home. The water, which had been cut off when the walls and floors were removed, reportedly had been turned on again, causing damage to the apartment. BURGLARY A purse was stolen out of a vehicle Sept. 29 at Stevenson Park, 1100 S. Friendswood Drive, police said. The victim reportedly had left her vehicle unlocked while she completed a 20- to- 30-minute walk in the park. THEFT Door and window trim was stolen from a home in the 3100 block of Tyler Court, according to a Sept. 26 police report. When the resident reviewed his surveillance footage, he saw two unidentified white males removing three door trims and one window trim from the front porch. The suspects were driving a white pickup truck, police said. A contractor may be to blame for the theft of valuable coins from a residence in the 5400 block of Appleblossom Lane, according to a Sept. 28 police report. The home was flooded during Hurricane Harvey, and the victim was in the process of having her home renovated. The theft occurred between Sept. 19 and Sept. 21. Three fans were stolen out of a residence in the 800 block of Quaker Drive, according to a Sept. 28 police report. A resident in the 16600 block of Tibet Road told police Sept. 30 that a friend stole toiletries, clothing, a purse, a wallet, a backpack and a knife from her. She reportedly had allowed the friend to stay at her home for two nights, but when she began to think the friend was stealing from her, she placed the friend's belongings outside. The homeowner also claimed the friend "hacked" her cell phone, police said. Two firearms were stolen from a residence in the 500 block of South Shadowbend Avenue, according to an Oct. 1 police report. The homeowner had told a contractor not to touch his firearms and later found them on a rubbish heap outside, police said. All but two firearms were recovered. FRAUD A Friendswood man discovered a fraudulent transaction for more than $800 on his debit card account after receiving a low-balance alert, according to a Sept. 25 police report. A Friendswood woman told police someone created a credit card account using her identity and charged $1,500 to her credit card, according to a Sept. 25 report. She said she noticed several purchases on her card that she had not made and reported the fraudulent charges to the bank. Fortunately, the fraudulent credit card application was denied for lack of information, police said. A Friendswood resident discovered an unauthorized $275 purchase on her TJ Maxx credit card, according to a Sept. 26 police report. She also found that a 4x4 part had been purchased through Liftkits.com for delivery to an address in Louisiana. A Friendswood resident told police someone accessed his credit card account, changed his email address and requested another card, according to a Sept. 29 report. The bank told the victim his social security number, date of birth and address were used to access the account. NARCOTICS Police took a League City man, 21, into custody for possession of a dangerous drug after he reportedly threatened to throw a female passenger out of his vehicle Sept. 26 in the 100 block of East Edgewood Drive. An officer found pills but no prescription bottle during a vehicle search, police said. A Friendswood woman, 40, was charged with possession of a controlled substance Sept. 28 after she reportedly was observed speeding from the 300 block of East Parkwood Avenue to the 4100 block of FM 528. An officer found alprazolam inside her purse during a vehicle search, police said. Police charged a Pearland man, 25, with possession of a controlled substance after he was stopped for running a red light Sept. 28 in the 100 block of North Friendswood Drive. An officer reportedly found a pipe containing residue and alprazolam during a vehicle search. Bond was set at $1,500. A 27-year-old Webster woman was charged with possession of a controlled substance after a traffic stop Sept. 28 in the 2900 block of FM 528, police said. She reportedly consented to a search of her vehicle after first retrieving a marijuana pipe from inside. An officer found hydrocodone prescribed to the woman's late grandmother during the search. Police charged an Alvin man, 18, with marijuana possession after a traffic stop for speeding Sept. 29 in the 400 block of West Edgewood Drive. The man reportedly told the officer the marijuana was in the glove box. Bond was set at $1,000. Police charged a 20-year-old Pearland man with possession of drug paraphernalia after a traffic stop for a broken headlight Sept. 30 in the 1300 block of South Friendswood Drive. The driver reportedly told the officer he had a marijuana bong in the back of the vehicle. The officer found a glass plate with marijuana shake on it behind the driver's seat, a glass bong and a small glass pipe during a vehicle search, police said. A Houston man, 45, was taken into custody for possession of a controlled substance after a traffic stop for speeding Sept. 30 in the 1200 block of West Parkwood Avenue, police said. The officer reportedly found 7.4 grams of crystal methamphetamine concealed in a magnetic box under the driver's seat as well as bags, an electronic scale and a glass pipe. The driver also had five prescription bottles containing different narcotic pain medications and a capsule containing cocaine, police said. Police charged an Alvin man, 31, with possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of an illegal smoking product after a traffic stop for speeding Sept. 30 in the 4000 block of Friendswood Link Road. The officer reportedly found a bag of marijuana in the grass near the vehicle's passenger door during the stop. A vehicle search yielded half-smoked joints, rolling papers, lighters and small bags containing marijuana residue, police said. A bag of marijuana also reportedly was found in the suspect's front pocket. Reports of a suspicious person Oct. 1 in the 400 block of Clearview Avenue led to the arrest of an 18-year-old Friendswood man for possession of a controlled substance, police said. During a vehicle search, an officer reportedly found several packages of cigarillos, various oils and a vape pen. A field test on the vape pen gave a positive indication for marijuana, police said. Bond was set at $2,000. DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED Police charged an Alvin man, 29, with DWI after he reportedly nearly hit a motorcycle officer escorting a school bus Sept. 29 at the intersection of West Parkwood Avenue and Falcon Ridge Boulevard. An officer caught up to the driver and conducted a stop in the 700 block of West Parkwood Avenue, police said. The driver reportedly failed a field sobriety test. A 33-year-old Galveston man was charged with DWI after a traffic stop for speeding Sept. 30 in the 1300 block of South Friendswood Drive, police said. The driver reportedly failed a field sobriety test and refused a blood draw. Bond was set at $1,000. A League City man, 36, was taken into custody for DWI after an officer observed him speeding and failing to maintain a single lane Oct. 1 in the 300 block of South Friendswood Drive, police said. He also reportedly failed a field sobriety test. WEAPONS A Dickinson man, 24, was charged with unlawful carrying of weapons after a traffic stop for an insurance violation Oct. 2 in the 2800 block of Friendswood Link Road, police said. As the suspect, a passenger, exited the vehicle, the officer noted he had a large bulge - a gun - in his rear pocket. The man also had a synthetic marijuana cigarette, police said. A vehicle search reportedly yielded two bags of synthetic marijuana, a bag of ammunition and an electronic scale. TIP OF THE WEEK: Police caution against FEMA fraud, scams Friendswood authorities are urging residents affected by Hurricane Harvey flooding to report potential fraud during recovery and rebuilding efforts. The only way to apply for federal and state disaster assistance is to call the FEMA registration number, 800-621-FEMA, or register online at www.disasterassistance.gov, according to a Friendswood Police Department bulletin. "Individuals should not give personal information to anyone calling them on the telephone or showing up at their doorstep who claims to be an official but cannot prove their identity," the bulletin warns. Anyone in doubt about the authenticity of a FEMA representative may call the above number. Residents also are urged to contact Friendswood police, 281-996-3300, if they feel they have encountered a scam or questionable service practice while attempting to get disaster assistance. Now Playing: Richie Sambora, former lead guitarist for Bon Jovi, announced he is donating an autographed guitar to Kingwood High School to auction in a video posted to Houston Councilman Dave Martin's Facebook page. Video: Houston Chronicle Richie Sambora, former lead guitarist for Bon Jovi, announced he is donating an autographed guitar to Kingwood High School to auction in a video posted to Houston Councilman Dave Martin's Facebook page. "Kingwood High School, you're getting your music back," Sambora said in a video, later adding, "And if you need us to anything else, we'll do it." This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A Kingwood Park High School freshman's creative invitation went viral after he used a Hurricane Harvey-related poem to ask a longtime friend to the Homecoming dance. Caleb Budde, 14, created a sign that read: "Roses are red; Violets are blue; Your house flooded, mine did too; Could I go to HOCO with you?" Both Caleb and his date, Casey Smoot, saw their homes flood with more than 3 feet of water during Harvey in the Kingwood suburb of Houston. Caleb's mother, Moria Long, told Chron.com that her son wanted to come up with a more clever way to ask Casey to the dance, which will be held Saturday. While his other friends got inspiration for how to ask their dates on the website Pinterest, Caleb decided to pen a poem. Caleb's mom shared it on Facebook and it's gotten more than a thousand likes. BIG HEART: Spring teen keeps hundreds of girls from missing homecoming "We were a little nervous because we didn't want her to take offense or start crying, so we went to her mom first," Long said. "I thought it was really cute and so original, just finding the silver lining of what our families are both going through." The past month and a half has not been easy for Caleb or Casey, who began their freshman year two weeks after the school year was originally supposed to start. The first floors of both their homes have been stripped to their studs. Caleb's family is without a kitchen or way to do laundry in the house. Federal Emergency Management Agency inspectors only showed up to assess the damage to his house last week. Long said she was eager to help her son regain a sense of normalcy by helping to plan his surprise Homecoming invitation. Long, Caleb and others gathered at a mutual friends house, and when Casey arrived, Caleb walked out from behind the garage with a dozen red roses and his sign. Caleb's creative invitation was a hit not only with Casey, but with thousands of strangers online. "Were just blown away with all the positive feedback," Long said. "It brings a smile to your face, and we could all use some more smiles after the past month, month and a half." This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Eduardo Sanchez wants to feed his family. The husband and father of four daughters stood in line for more than three hours Wednesday to sign up for emergency food assistance under the special Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Program, known as D-SNAP. "My budget is shot," he said. "I live paycheck to paycheck and after losing my car and my home, I don't have enough money to get back on my feet on my own and provide for my girls. Look around. I'm not alone." Sanchez, 48, was one of thousands of hot, tired people who stood in long lines Wednesday at four relief centers across the Houston area as a Thursday deadline loomed to apply for the benefits available to families recovering from Hurricane Harvey. Now Playing: Thousands of people waited in a long line around the block to apply for D-SNAP, a short-term food assistance benefits to families recovering from a disaster. D-SNAP is only eligible to those who were not receiving SNAP food benefits at the time of the disaster. Video: Melissa Phillip, Houston Chronicle Sanchez said he would have applied sooner but the deadline snuck up on him. "It's easy to lose track when you have lost so much and you're trying to figure out your new reality," he said. Sanchez had already gotten in the door at the Southwest Multi-Service Center on Gulfton when news arrived late Wednesday that the state was extending the deadline through Friday. The four centers will continue to operate through 7 p.m. Thursday, but on Friday, applications will only be accepted at the George R. Brown Convention Center in downtown Houston, the Texas Department of Health and Human Services announced late Wednesday. The looming deadline created a rush all week at the relief centers, as families crammed in to get their applications filed before it was too late. Already, more than 200,000 people have received the D-SNAP funds in Harris County, according to preliminary numbers. "We've been working closely with local officials to fine tune sites that work for people who are trying to put their lives back together after this terrible storm," Executive Health Commissioner Charles Smith said Wednesday in a statement. "We want this to be as smooth as possible for them." Those who qualify will receive benefits on a Lone Star Card, which is used to provide food stamps under the regular SNAP program in Texas. To qualify for the D-SNAP benefits, a family must live in a county declared a federal disaster area, have experienced loss of income or home and not receive regular SNAP food benefits. Harvey victims will receive an amount equal to two months of the maximum SNAP benefits for their household size, which range from $192 a month for one person to $760 for a family of five, plus $144 for each additional person. The card works like a debit card at most grocery stores. The benefits cannot be used for tobacco, alcohol or anything other than food or drinks. 'Making the most of it' More than 100,000 single-family homes and thousands of apartment complexes were damaged by Hurricane Harvey, a Category 4 storm that came ashore Aug. 25 in Rockport and moved into Houston on Aug. 26. Melissa Williams, 25, a single mother of two who also takes care of her disabled mother, was living in a first-floor apartment in the Greenspoint area when the floodwaters began rising. She and her family had to be evacuated. On Wednesday, she joined a line that stretched for blocks at the Greenspoint Mall relief center. She and her family are now living in a hotel while they try to find another apartment. "I never thought I'd be here," she said. "We're making the most of it. It's tough. Recovery is long but the most important thing to me is that I feed my children and give them a bed to sleep in." If the long lines this week are any indication, thousands more could apply by Friday's deadline. "We have hundreds of staff members on site in Harris County working as quickly as possible to help people," said Carrie Williams, spokeswoman with the state health department. "Getting people the food assistance they need has been our main focus for the last two weeks in Harris County." 'We're all tired' The deadline extension is the second time the state made accommodations for those impacted by Harvey. High demand in the Corpus Christi area for D-SNAP benefits prompted the state to extend the deadline there as well. In Harris County, the state rolled out the disaster food relief program Sept. 22, with the target end date of Thursday. The four locations also included the Fifth Ward Multi-Service Center and the Pasadena Convention Center. Those site will close 7 p.m. Thursday before officials move to the convention center, at 1001 Avenida de las Americas, which has more indoor capacity to accommodate the volumes of people. It will be open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday. Applicants must be in line by 7 p.m., officials said. Additional long lines are expected, and state officials encourage only the applicants visit the center. Tasha Spelling joined the line at Gulfton Wednesday morning the second time she had tried to apply for assistance. The first time, she forgot her identification and was sent away. "I think we're all tired," she said. "We've been trying to recover for more than a month now. Standing in these lines feel like a waste of time, but it's hard to be upset. I'm not the only one who misses their old life. Everyone out here is hurting." A plane carrying a delegation of Houston leaders bearing medical supplies and nonperishable food items has departed Bush International Airport for Puerto Rico after a delay of more than three hours. The city of Houston is sending 55 pallets of materials -- including canned food, crutches and water-treatment systems -- on the United Airlines flight to the U.S. territory that was ravaged by Hurricane Maria. The flight departed mid-afternoon and was to arrive in the early evening. Four members of the City Council plan to meet Puerto Rico representatives at the San Juan airport for a short meet-and-greet on Thursday. Vice Mayor Pro Tem Jerry Davis, originally scheduled to travel with the group, had a prior commitment and could not travel to the island after the flight was delayed, he said. The council members serve to make the trip an official delegation, said Bill Baldwin, who helped coordinate collection efforts, after a press conference on Wednesday announcing the trip. "We're not just sending supplies, but we're going there ourselves," Mayor Sylvester Turner said at the briefing. Travelers who hope to check on their family members and homes said they are now wondering what will happen when they arrive in San Juan, which has a 7 p.m. curfew. One man sat on the floor at Bush airport, charging his phone and flicking a paper ticket. Passengers called relatives, reporting the latest delays. They cheered as a United employee announced that the delayed incoming plane had arrived. Brunilda Ojeda, 55, of San Antonio, loaded up a suitcase with as many D batteries as she could buy at Wal-Mart and a local commissary to take to relatives on the island. In another suitcase, she had packed fans and flashlights. She said she has accounted for most of her friends and family except for an aunt with Alzheimers. Ojeda plans to check Friday on a home she owns in Cabo Rojo, and shell begin looking for her aunt on Saturday, starting at the relative's church. Ojeda told her brother to avoid driving to the San Juan airport until she lands, as shed heard reports of bad traffic and car crashes after the storm. I was always wishing Puerto Rico would get better and better, she said, sitting by the gate. And now we have to start over. Jonathan Carrero, 27, listened to music in red headphones, pulling them off each time a United representative made an announcement. He first heard from his brother in Puerto Rico on Friday. His mother called two days later. His grandmother had died as the hurricane raged, they said. Other family members were safe. "What do you need?" he asked. He booked a flight soon after. He checked in two bags with nonperishable food, batteries, a solar charger, a water purifier and medicine for his mother, who has diabetes. He expects to have to stay Thursday night at the San Juan airport before driving several hours to the west side of the island on Friday. He knows to avoid landslides and to take small streets when larger roads are impassable. "It's too much," he said of the delay. "I've been waiting since two weeks ago. And now I have to wait more hours." Amanda Edwards, a City Council member traveling to San Juan, said Thursday at Bush airport that she looks forward to asking Puerto Rico officials what they need. "You don't get a clear answer to that until you ask in person," she said, citing the city's experience with Hurricane Harvey. A Methodist church in Austin will no longer hold any weddings because of its national body's ban on same-sex marriages. More than 90 percent of Austin's First United Methodist Church congregation voted on Sept. 24 to end wedding ceremonies in its sanctuary and chapel until the denomination's national leadership, United Methodist Church, lifted its ban on gay marriage, the Austin American-Stateman reported. Pope Francis celebrates Mass in Cairo during his apostolic visit to Egypt in April 2017 - RV (Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Wednesday had a special greeting for an Egyptian delegation led by the countrys Tourism Minister, in Rome to promote a pilgrimage in the footsteps of the Holy Familys flight to Egypt. Speaking during the Wednesday General Audience in St. Peters Square, the Pope recalled his Apostolic Journey to Egypt last April saying that he has fond memories of the visit. He said Egypt is a land where Saint Joseph, the Virgin Mary and the Baby Jesus, as well as many prophets lived: a land that has been blessed with the precious blood of martyrs spilt throughout the centuries. And describing Egypt as a land of cohabitation and hospitality; a land of encounter, of history and of civilization, the Pope imparted his blessing on Egyptians and prayed the Lord to protect the nation, the Middle East and the whole world from all kinds of terrorism and from evil. The Pope also blessed an icon that represents the Flight of the Holy Family to Egypt. The Egyptian delegation, led by the Minister of Tourism Yahya Rashed, is meeting with tourism officials in Rome in an effort to promote the Holy Family in Egypt route as an important pilgrimage destination. In a statement before the visit Rashed said it falls within the framework of Pope Francis's fruitful visit to Egypt. It also comes within the framework of the importance attached by the Tourism Ministry to religious tourism. The pilgrimage route takes pilgrims to eight different places that are meaningful to the Holy Family during its flight from Herods persecution or during its return to the Holy Land. It starts in the city of Al-Arish (North Sinai), crosses to the Eastern Delta of the Nile, and reaches Wadi Natroun, home to four important Coptic monasteries. By reviving the pilgrimage, the government hopes to breathe new life into the tourism sector badly damaged by the 2011 revolution. It also represents government support for Egypt's Christian minority. Workers, volunteers and businesses were recognized for their contributions to the area Wednesday afternoon at the Beatrice Area Chamber of Commerces annual member awards luncheon. The event, held at the Holiday Inn Express, served as an opportunity to celebrate those who give back, according to Chamber President Lora Young. I think people need to be recognized for the good things that they do, she said. They should be recognized in public and even those that didnt win, it shows that we have great support in this community and have great people in this community. Maybe it will encourage people to step up to a different level, encourage other people to want to reach what other people are achieving. She added selecting winners in the various categories is always difficult. Awards presented at the event included: Member employee recognition Floice Meyer, Mosaic. Co-young professionals of the year Samantha Thompson, Griffiths-Hovendick Chapel; Craig Zarybnicky, Homestead Land Co. Business person of the year Rich Daubendiek, Rewound Power Motors. New Business of the year Scooters Coffee. Business of the year Diode Communications. Non-profit business of the year Beatrice Humane Society. Best new image State Farm Insurance, agent Ed Easley. Volunteer of the year - Shirleen Fritz. Humane Society Board President John Rypma thanked the Chamber for recognizing the shelter, and also thanked the community that helped make it a reality. We greatly appreciate this award, he said. Id like to say that the new facility that we planned and worked on for four years and finally moved into this year, 100 percent of the money to put that up was donated by people in this community. The entire community needs a huge thank you for making this all happen. The event also featured a presentation from keynote speaker Doug Meyer, author of the book Selling in your town, which outlines ways smaller communities can enhance small business and grow their town. Jim Nelson, Chamber board chairman, stressed at the event that Beatrice benefits from cooperation of its area groups, including Main Street Beatrice and NGage, the areas economic development group. The Chamber and Gage County Tourism continuously strives to work to improve communication amongst our members, finding new ways to market Beatrice and Gage County, he said. It helps so much to have NGage in the same building, and Main Street right across the way. The teamwork that goes into everything with each organization is just phenomenal. Bargain hunters, junk collectors and treasure seekers, rejoice. Starting this Friday and running through Sunday, the sixth annual Trail of Treasures begins. A nearly 300-mile long stretch of garage sales that extends the entire length of Nebraska Highway 136, the Trail of Treasures is an annual event from the group Heritage Highway 136. Judy Coe, president of Heritage Highway, said that the trail had started out strictly running from Brownville, Neb. west to Edison in Furnas County has spread out a bit in the past few years. Last year, treasure hunters welcomed in vendors in McCook in Red Willow County, but this year adds another county to the map. This year, it goes clear to Culbertson in Hitchcock County, Coe said. So, if we get Dundee County, we can advertise Trail of Treasures from border to border across southern Nebraska. Coe, who organizes the Trail of Treasures from Tecumseh, said that even though she spends most of the summer organizing the event, shes never actually gone on the trail herself because she runs her own store. Coe described it as a mix between a flea market and a garage sale. Anyone who wants to sign up may submit a $20 payment and be included in the guide. Vendors may include individuals, groups or entire stores. In Beatrice, Rita Hydos Gems & Junk Thrift Store will be a vendor on the Trail of Treasures for the third year. One of the reasons she stays with it, she said, is because it a great way to sell your wares. During the eclipse, Hydo said she saw increased traffic due to the influx of visitors to Beatrice. The Trail of Treasures is a bit of the same, she said. The more people there are in town, the more people there are who may shop at your business. Partly decorated for Halloween, Gems and Junk offers customers everything from baby shoes and dog bowls to board games and hand-cut crystal glassware. Hydo said the store doesnt necessarily put out special items for the Trail of Treasures, but they do work hard to get things on the shelves in time for the visitors. A little more on the antique end of it, Hydo said. A little more vintage things, that seems to be what a lot of people are looking for. Otherwise, we dust everything off, spread out the welcome mat and have a good time. Visitors may find a downloadable list of about 175 vendors online, and the list can be purchased for $5 on Heritage Highways website. Coe said shes still helping vendors sign up for the event, and, for those willing to make the trek to Tecumseh, shell even sell each vendor an official sign to put up at his or her sale. Trail of Treasures officials are expecting people from around Nebraska and neighboring states to visit. It's a lot of people, Coe said, and many will make an entire weekend of it. People from Colorado, they'll go to Brownville today or tomorrow, Coe said. Then they'll start out on Friday from Brownville and work their way along, clear back home. ANCHORAGE, Alaska The Trump administration announced Wednesday it will not list the Pacific walrus as a threatened species based on diminished Arctic Ocean sea ice, concluding that the marine mammals have adapted to the loss by foraging from coastlines. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officials said they cannot determine with certainty that walruses are likely to become endangered "in the foreseeable future," which the agency defines as the year 2060. The decision likely will be challenged in court, said Shaye Wolf, climate science director for the Center for Biological Diversity, who wrote the listing petition filed in 2008. She called the decision a misrepresentation of science to reach a predetermined conclusion. "They did not want to list. This is an anti-science, anti-wildlife administration that denies the reality of climate change, which is the primary threat to the walrus," Wolf said. "Admitting that the walrus is threatened by climate change acknowledges that climate change poses a real danger to people and wildlife, and they don't want to do that." Walruses in the last decade have been forced ashore in unprecedented numbers, resulting in deaths, especially of young animals, and long swims for nursing females and other walruses to find food. "They're not adapting, they're suffering," Wolf said. The Fish and Wildlife Service said in 2011 that walruses deserve the additional protection of being declared threatened, but delayed a listing because other species were a higher priority. The agency revised the decision based on new information, said Patrick Lemons, the agency's marine mammals management chief in Alaska. "Walrus demonstrated much more ability to change their behaviors than previously thought," Lemons said. Their ability to rest on shorelines before swimming to foraging areas makes the threat of less sea ice uncertain, he added. Older male walruses spend summers in the Bering Sea. Females with calves ride sea ice north as it melts in spring and summer all the way through the Bering Strait into the Chukchi Sea. The ice provides a moving platform, giving walruses a place to rest and nurse, and protection from predators. In the last decade, however, ice in the Arctic Ocean has melted far beyond the shallow continental shelf over water too deep for walruses to reach the ocean floor. Walruses instead have gathered by the thousands on beaches in northwestern Alaska and Russia, where smaller animals are vulnerable to being trampled in stampedes if the herd is spooked by a polar bear, hunter or airplane. In the last six years, Lemons said, protections put in place in Alaska and Russia have greatly reduced trampling deaths. "Right before the 2011 finding, there had been reports from Russia that three to ten thousand animals had been trampled and died on land-based haulouts in Russia," he said. Since then, the numbers of trampled animals have been in the tens to low hundreds, including about 100 this year at Point Lay in northwest Alaska, he said. Walruses also have shown a willingness to swim great distances of 130 miles (210 kilometers) or more from coastal haulouts to prime foraging areas, he said. The Fish and Wildlife Service used climate models showing the Chukchi Sea between northwest Alaska and Russia could be ice-free in the summer by 2060, Lemons said. But he said information predicting the walruses' fate is uncertain beyond then, so the decision was made not to list the species. The agency in 2011, using aerial surveys, estimated the walrus population at 129,000. More accurate mark-and-recapture studies put the population at closer to 280,000, Lemons said. Managers six years ago expressed concern that walrus hunting could have an effect on the population. However, a lack of access to walrus due to poor ice conditions have lowered the harvest by Alaska Native hunters by one-third to one-half, Lemons said. An upcoming study of the effect on walruses having to swim hundreds of extra miles to find food contains too much uncertainty in its models to predict how the population will be affected, Lemons said. Wolf disputes that. "That's a huge energy stress," she said. Sea ice loss is projected to get worse, Wolf said, forcing walruses to shore more frequently and in greater numbers. A listing would add resources to walrus protection and raise public awareness of the climate change threat and the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, Wolf said. Alaska's Republican congressional delegation hailed the decision. "I welcome this action by the USFWS, a decision that recognizes the health and stability of Alaska's walrus population and ignores the extreme political pressures often associated with new Endangered Species Act listings," Rep. Don Young said. Besides Pacific walrus, the Fish and Wildlife Service found that 24 other species did not warrant protections under the Endangered Species Act, including the Northern Rocky Mountains fisher and the boreal toad. The Northern Rockies fisher is a fanged, cat-sized predator that once ranged across at least five states and thrives in old-growth forests. It's now limited to a much smaller area straddling the Montana-Idaho border. Wildlife advocates last year submitted a petition for protections based on habitat loss and accidental trapping. Fish and Wildlife Service officials said they found no evidence that fisher populations were in decline because of trapping, climate change, logging or other potential threats and that the fisher had successfully adapted to past shifts in habitat when glacial ice sheets melted. STACEY GATLIN Harvard, Yale, Cornell and 11 other Ivy League and elite universities will be part of Houston ISD's Top-Tier College Night on Oct. 11. The event will start with a college fair from 4 to 6:30 p.m., where students and families can talk to admissions representatives and gather information on the 14 participating schools. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Cards and letters penned by notorious "Tourniquet Killer" Anthony Shore were listed this week on an online auction site, marking what could be the start of a grisly bonanza of serial killer memorabilia in the weeks leading up to Shore's expected execution later this month. "This is just the beginning," said Andy Kahan, the city's victim advocate. "It's going to be open season for him for the next few weeks. His heightened maximum name value isn't going to be any better." The letter and cards went up Tuesday on the True Crime Auction House website, where they're listed for between $105 and $175. All were written to a pen pal on the outside. One features an unremarkable drawing of an unhappy cat in a Santa Claus hat, along with holiday wishes. But the others offer an eerie look at the thoughts of a publicly quiet killer, who has written and said relatively little since leaving a Harris County courtroom. DENIED: Supreme Court refuses Houston serial killer's appeal as execution nears "I'm running outta time love, they gonna kill me 4 sure," Shore allegedly wrote in what the auction site lists as a 2015 missive from the condemned man. "Hopefully I'm alright till the first of the year at least (I hope)." Shore - who once asked the court for a death sentence - was convicted of one count of capital murder in 2004, after he confessed to three others. His rampage of rape and murder terrorized Harris County in the 1980s and 1990s, but the killings went unsolved for nearly two decades until the former telephone technician was collared for molesting two family members. Following the arrest, investigators hit on a DNA match with evidence from the cold case murder of Maria del Carmen Estrada. Shore fessed up under questioning and was eventually sent to the state's death row in Livingston, where he's been for more than a decade. "I soooo miss my girls & my greatest regret in my life was not being a better 'Daddy' when I had the chance & should have been," Shore wrote in 2015, according to the card posted on True Crime Auction House. "Now they are grown & far away & have nothing to do with me... not surprising I suppose... that is my cross to bear." Later in the same writing, Shore laments the rough conditions of life on Texas death row. "All is well as can maybe be expected after 13 years in a concrete & steel bunker, sensory deprive, alone," he wrote. "I seriously need a hug!" The letters and cards include postmarked envelopes and feature handwriting similar to other Shore notes, but the condemned killer's lawyer did not immediately respond to a request for comment on their authenticity. A True Crime Auction House co-owner, who asked not to be named citing privacy concerns given his line of work, vouched for the letter and card and said there's more waiting to be listed in the coming weeks. "If you're going to make any money on Anthony Shore this is the time to do it," said Kahan, who's fought a decades-long battle against the sale of so-called murderabilia, saying it re-traumatizes victims' families and allows killers to profit on their notoriety. "Unequivocally, from someone that's been watchdogging this industry, when an execution is scheduled it's like the floodgates open up for murderabilia dealers to put out items of the inmate who's scheduled to be executed," Kahan said. But the dealer who listed the letter and cards said he doesn't expect the items to sell immediately; it's after Shore's death he anticipates a rise in interest. "I think he'll be one of those people that once he's dead he'll be talked about but right now nobody really gives a s*** about him - even though he's one of Texas's most notorious living serial killers," the dealer said. A few years ago, Serial Killers Ink sold one of Shore's drawings for $165, but it's not clear what else has been auctioned off over the years. Currently, Shore is slated for execution by lethal injection on Oct. 18. The U.S. Supreme Court earlier this week rejected the 55-year-old killer's petition for a writ of certiorari, which would have forced a lower court to reconsider a request for appeal. The rejected appellate claim, which rested on a claim that Shore suffered previously unrealized brain damage before the slayings, isn't his last hope, though. There's still a long-shot request for clemency pending with the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles and a final appeal filed in Harris County court. A body found inside a vacant southwest Fort Worth house Tuesday is believed to be connected to the slaying of a couple who were found dead behind an Arlington house in September, according to police. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports that the discovery of the man's body on Tuesday came after Arlington police alerted Fort Worth police about a possible missing person connected to that address. Now Playing: The Grapevine Police Department is searching for man who is accused of exposing himself to a young girl. Video: Houston Chronicle A man in Grapevine who reportedly exposed himself to a girl may be the same suspect who made sexual comments to a girl's mother in Target, police said. According to the Grapevine Police Department, a man exposed himself to a 9-year-old elementary school student on Tuesday. The girl was talking to her mother on her cell phone when a dark gray or silver sedan drove up to her. The driver the exposed himself. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Last week, Gov. Greg Abbott gave the City of Houston a $50 million check to continue its long road to recovery. One neat way to see where the funds might be going is through the recently launched "Harvey By The Numbers" web site, a series of interactive heat maps that show what happened to Houston during Harvey and how officials are responding after the hurricane. The first map, shown in red, estimates areas of Houston that received the most structural damage. HURT BY HARVEY: H-E-B location closes after sustaining significant damage during hurricane Now Playing: Monster hurricanes often come with an unexpected silver lining. Video: SLivingTime The second map, shown in light beige and orange, displays areas of Houston that had the most 911 calls during Harvey. The last map, shown in green, tracks areas where city employees are removing the most debris. "This our latest effort to keep the public informed about what the city has done, is doing and will do as Houston bounces back," Sylvester Turner said in a prepared statement. "We are all in this together." HELPING OUT: Astros' Justin Verlander donating $100,000 to veterans affected by Harvey The new website is also packed with other interesting bits of information, like the fact that volunteers have devoted more than 250,000 hours of their time to help with Houston's recovery. According to the mayor, the site will continue to be updated and improved with more data as it becomes available. See a by the numbers look at the damages brought on by Harvey above. Authorities are searching for the man who walked into the girl's restroom at Jordan Middle School, shoved an 8th grader into a stall door and then fled. The suspect, who has not been publicly identified, had gone to the Northside ISD campus with a woman early Wednesday morning to speak with a school administrator, possibly about one of the two students the couple had enrolled in the school, campus officials said. RELATED: Tay-K 47, who rapped about life on the lam, charged in fatal shooting at San Antonio Chick-fil-A But prior to the meeting, the suspect and woman left the office area and went down a hallway, staff said. Both of them then reportedly went into a girl's restroom, when the man allegedly assaulted an 8th grader. After they left the restroom, staff members directed the couple back to the office, where a campus police officer met with them and began questioning them about the incident, officials said. Campus administrators say the man fled the school, but the woman remained behind. She gave administrators false information about the suspect and was later released. RELATED: SAPD: Drunk driver crashes into abandoned South Side store while being chased by woman "We really do believe this was an isolated situation," said Northside ISD Executive Director of Communications Barry Perez. "We don't know the motive, but police are on it for sure." Perez said police officers at Jordan Middle School have been ordered to take actions that "would prevent the individual from returning to the campus," and the school's principal has informed staff of the incident, Perez said. The extent of the student's injuries are currently unknown but she is expected to be okay. Text "NEWS" to 77453 for breaking news alerts from mySA.com cdowns@mysa.com | Twitter: @calebjdowns This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate WASHINGTON Texas Gov. Greg Abbott joined a bipartisan group of state lawmakers Thursday urging Congress to approve an additional $18.7 billion in funding for relief and recovery efforts from Hurricane Harvey. The request came one day after the Trump administration sent Congress a proposal for $29 billion in disaster aid for the series of hurricanes that ravaged the Gulf Coast, Florida, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. The administration package would direct $13 billion for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and $16 billion to bolster the controversial government-backed flood insurance program, which is running out of money to pay claims. The Texas request would earmark money specifically for Harvey recovery efforts, for which Congress approved $15.25 billion in emergency funding last month. Texas officials have said the devastation from Hurricane Harvey in August is likely to surpass $100 billion, and that Congress is expected to pass several tranches of storm aid in the coming months. Texas U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, noted on Wednesday that the administration aid package was for "general disaster relief" from Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria. "Obviously, the Texas delegation is interested in making sure the Texas response is appropriate," he said. The Texas congressional delegation met Wednesday to review the state's most pressing recovery efforts and prepare a formal aid request as part of Congress' next major spending bill. "Texas greatly appreciates the appropriations committees' efforts to swiftly provide funds," the Texas lawmakers wrote. "However, in light of the unprecedented damage from Hurricane Harvey and the historically epochal flooding of Houston, Beaumont and surrounding regions, we all recognize that the funding already appropriated is a small fraction of the federal resources needed to help rebuild Texas and reinvigorate the American economy." The letter was addressed to the top Republican and Democratic members of the House and Senate appropriations committees. The bulk of the request for Texas, $10 billion, would be for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for repairs and upgrades to dams, waterways and ports. Another $7 billion would be allocated for Community Development Block Grant disaster recovery funds, doubling the amount that was allocated in September. Another $800 million would go to state educational agencies for repairs to schools and colleges, and $450 million more would go to the Small Business Administration disaster loan program. The proposed Texas aid package would be rounded out with $300 million in economic aid through a Commerce Department agency that works with local governments, and a request of $150 million for transportation infrastructure. The Texas request does not include additional funding for the national flood insurance program, which is $30 billion in debt and has come under fire from some conservatives as a taxpayer bailout of property owners in coastal and low-lying areas that repeatedly flood. The new storm aid requests come a day after President Donald Trump visited Puerto Rico, which was devastated by Hurricane Maria. Critics contend that the administration's response in Puerto Rico has not been as robust as it was in storm-ravaged Texas and Florida. City Denies Ad Space to Dispensary Ultra Health was reportedly blocked by the city from buying wraparound bus ads. ABQ's Transit Department rejected the ads, saying that recipients of federal transportation grants aren't allowed to advertise for cannabis companies. City Councilor Pat Davis appears to be on the side of Ultra Health, going so far as writing a letter requesting guidance from the Federal Transit Administration. I do not see that advertising medical cannabis (that is offered for sale pursuant to a state law) is prohibited, he wrote. The state of New Mexico Martinez Vetoes Declared Invalid A judge says Gov. Susana Martinez illegally vetoed 10 bills during this years legislative session, including 2 bills related to hemp production and research. Those bills will become law (for now, anyway). Goodbye, Gummy Bears In an effort to make cannabis products less appealing to children, Colorado has banned edible cannabis candies shaped like animals, people or fruit. The law went into effect Oct. 1. Legalization: Boon for Fast Food A new survey conducted by Green Market Report and Consumer Research Around Cannabis found that 43 percent of legal cannabis users surveyed ate at a McDonalds restaurant in the previous month. Those results were significantly higher than among respondents who hadnt visited a dispensary. Interim DEA Chief Announced The Justice Department just named the new acting Drug Enforcement Agency chief. Robert Pattersonformer principal deputy administrator for the DEAis officially in charge until a permanent replacement is named. Hopefully, he won't be too unfriendly toward the plant. Medicinal Snacking Cannabis leaves are very low in THCA, but are high in nutrients and make a healthy snack. For the best of both worlds, here's a brilliant recipe for crunchy THC-infused cannabis chips. AUSTIN -- Government officials are broadening their investigation of Attorney General Ken Paxton by looking into his $500,000 legal defense fund, a special prosecutor said Wednesday. The investigation raises questions about whether officials have made new findings, or are considering bringing additional charges against the Republican who has accepted money from people he describes as family friends to fuel his legal defense. "Some of that money collected is part of another investigation," Kent Schaffer, one of three special prosecutors building a case against Paxton, told Judge Robert Johnson in open court during a hearing to delay the trial. The investigation is based out of the Kaufman County district attorney's office. "We are confident that we fully complied with the law and look forward to the Kaufman County district attorney's review being completed soon," said Matt Welch, Paxton's spokesman who said the legal team has "fully cooperated with this inquiry since it began." "Attorney General Paxton's personal financial statement fully complies with Texas ethics laws and has been thoroughly vetted by legal counsel who are ethics experts. Despite irresponsible media speculation and wishful thinking by political opponents, all the donations given to the Paxton legal defense effort are in full compliance with state law," he added. Attempts to reach Kaufman County Criminal District Attorney Erleigh Norville Wiley late Thursday were unsuccessful. The probe into the embattled first-term Republican's legal defense fund is the newest development in the more than two-year old case against Paxton, who is accused of securities fraud and failing to register with the state as an investment adviser. Paxton is expected to face trial in 2018. According to state records, Paxton has raised $546,700 in two years for his legal defense fund to fight accusations he broke securities laws when convincing friends and colleagues to invest in a North Texas tech company, Servergy, Inc., without disclosing he would make a commission. The charges are unrelated to his tenure in public office. Paxton, who was a member of the Texas House at the time, has maintained his innocence and contends he is the victim of a political witch hunt by his own political party. A federal civil judge threw out similar charges against him in March. Special prosecutors have declined to speak further about what officials are looking for in the additional investigation, citing a gag order in Paxton's criminal case. State law prohibits agency officials, like the attorney general, from accepting a "benefit" from someone under the agency's oversight and generally bans gifts from anyone other than family and those with a relationship independent of the office holder's position. His donors have cut large checks to help Paxton clear his name, often for $10,000 and for as much as $100,000. Campaign finance records label his donors as a "family friend" or "not subject to gift prohibition." While raising money for his legal defense, he caught heat for a $100,000 gift he accepted in 2015 from James Webb, a donor whose company was under investigation by his office and the U.S. Justice Department at the time. Webb and his wife have given more than $300,000 to Paxton's political campaigns over the past few years. The attorney general's office said then that Paxton was not involved in the investigation into Webb's company, Preferred Imaging, which ended in a $3.5 million settlement of a federal whistle blower lawsuit. A spokesman for the attorney general had said federal prosecutors "took the lead" on that case. Webb is a former client of Paxton's, according to Welch, who serves as the attorney general's spokesman for legal and campaign matters. He said Paxton participated in Webb's wedding and counts him as a personal friend. The next year, Paxton also accepted $10,000 from a "dark money" group that favors limited government. Welch, Paxton's spokesman, said at the time that the attorney general's "conservative record has drawn the attention of many conservative groups and individuals across the country." Paxton has not been charged with wrongdoing related to his legal defense fund. Craig McDonald, executive director of the left-leaning watchdog group Texans for Public Justice which filed an initial criminal complaint Paxton violated the Texas Securities Act in 2014 , contends Paxton's mechanism for raising money is prohibited under campaign finance and bribery laws. "The attorney general, the top law enforcement officer, is taking huge gifts from people who are under his jurisdiction. There is a huge conflict of interest in him raising money virtually from anywhere, from anyone, almost, to pay for his legal defense expenses," he said. Johnson, the judge overseeing the case, granted a continuance on Wednesday, delaying his trial which was set for Dec. 11. The parties are due back in court Nov. 2 to set a new trial date, likely for early March. Special prosecutors plan on trying Paxton first on a lesser charge of failing to register with the state as an investment adviser. The special prosecutors also are engaged in a separate legal fight over about $200,000 in back pay and have threatened to withdraw from the case if the state's highest criminal court the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals decides they shouldn't get paid. Correction: A previous version of this story reported the state was conducting the investigation. It has been reflected to show the investigation is being conducted by Kaufman County. Andrea Zelinski covers politics for the Chronicle. Follow her on Twitter and Facebook. Send her tips at andrea.zelinski@chron.com. HOUSTON -- Attorney General Ken Paxton won't face trial on a trio of criminal felony charges until next year, possibly right after the primary election, a Harris County district judge ruled Wednesday. Judge Robert Johnson granted a motion for continuance in the case at the behest of special prosecutors who pointed to the disruption Hurricane Harvey has had on the Harris County court system and said they are still waiting to be paid for building a case against the attorney general. The judge declined to say whether he was delaying due to the storm that dumped more than 50 inches of rain on parts of Houston and flooded several of the special prosecutors' offices, or because the special prosecutors want to resolve their pay issue before the trial proceeds. Brian Wice, one of three special prosecutors assigned to the case, said if they are not paid, they will eventually withdraw from the case. The parties are due back in court Nov. 2 to decide when to reschedule the trial for, but are eyeing March 6 or March 12. The primary election is March 6. The decision is the latest twist in a long-running saga over the first-term attorney general's legal troubles. More than two years after he was indicted and charged with two counts of felony securities fraud and a lesser charge for failing to register with the state, this is the third time his trial has been rescheduled this year. Paxton's legal team verbally sparred with special prosecutors on the 16th floor courtroom of the Civil Court building prior to the ruling trying to convince the judge to keep a previously scheduled December trial date. The special prosecutors' arguments are "like the Menendez brothers complaining that they are orphans," said Dan Cogdell, one of Paxton's attorneys, referring to the infamous case of two brothers convicted in 1996 for killing their parents. Wice, representing the state, called Paxton's legal response to the motion to delay the case "bush league," and equated it to a "stump speech [Paxton would] give to the tea party in McKinney, Texas." Paxton's claims that he wants a speedy trial are disingenuous, Wice said, given his legal defense team "burned a year on the shot clock" filing appeals to get the case dismissed." Johnson, who took over the case in June when it moved to Harris County, peppered both parties with questions about how a delay would hurt their case. He later stressed that since Hurricane Harvey damaged the Harris County Justice Center where his court is located, he is sharing a courtroom with another judge. Special prosecutors say they want to delay Paxton's trial because they haven't been paid. The Collin County Commissioners Court declined to pay the trio of appointed special prosecutors for about $200,000 in billable hours in January, saying a lower court judge promised them too high a fee. The Dallas 5th Court of Appeals agreed, saying the fee busted the local cap for appointed attorneys fees. According to court records, Collin County limits the fees to $1,000 for first-degree felony pleas, $500 for third-degree pleas, $1,000 for pretrial work and $500 for each one-half day of trial. A lower court judge promised Houston-area attorneys Wice, Kent Schaffer and Nicole DeBorde $300 per hour. "Why should we continue to work for free," said Wice, who in September convinced the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals to look into the case. He argues the law allows judges to use discretion when setting attorneys fees in special cases. The high court is now soliciting responses and has yet to decide whether to rule on the case. Paxton's lawyers accused the special prosecutors of milking taxpayer dollars with the Paxton case, saying the three have billed for more than 1,400 hours but have yet to take Paxton to trial. "They should be more than ready after 1,400 hours," said Cogdell. Philip Hilder, one of Paxton's other criminal defense lawyers, said he is sympathetic that the special prosecutors not getting paid but, "that's not Mr. Paxton's problem." His attorneys argue Paxton is entitled to a speedy trial and the criminal matter has been hanging over his head for more than two years. With a trial delay, that could turn into three years, said Hilder. Paxton, whose attendance was waived for Wednesday's hearing, was indicted in Collin County in July of 2015 and is charged with two counts of first degree felony securities fraud and one third-degree felony charge of failing to register with the state as an investment adviser. He is accused of failing to tell friends and colleagues he would make a commission off their investment in Servergy, Inc., a North Texas tech company that purported to sell a revolutionary new server. Paxton as maintained his innocence and contends he is the victim of a political witch hunt. 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. Dignitaries Declare New Europlacer Factory Expansion in France Officially Open Published: 05 October 2017 by Mike Buetow by Mike Buetow The last week of September witnessed an auspicious gathering at Europlacers manufacturing base and French HQ in Rocheserviere, Western France. Local dignitaries and factory personnel mixed with global customers and members of Europlacers international sales and support teams to declare the prestigious new facility open. An opening ceremony took place in the new customer demonstration area, using a French tricolour ribbon held by the longest-serving and the newest Europlacer employees. Phillippe Latombe, Depute de Vendee (the Department within the Pays-de-la-Loire region that includes Rocheserviere) spoke of the local authorities admiration for Europlacer one of the largest and most progressive hi-tech employers in the district and his delight in seeing the company prosper. Then Alain Leboeuf, Conseiller Departemental Vendee, added his voice to the proceedings by congratulating the business for its global growth and local achievements. He singled out Gaby Chataigner for special praise. Gaby is the brains behind all Europlacers product developments for a generation. He is also the companys longest-serving employee. Monsieur Latombe then cut the ribbon, aided by Robert Conway, chairman of Europlacers parent company Parable Trust, and pronounced the new facility officially open. In a symbolic gesture, the tricolour ribbon was cut into short sections, representing the French national flag, and handed to each of the attendees and VIP guests. The new facilities include enlarged production floor space given over to placement machine build, supported by new areas for stock, feeder manufacturing and Kanban kitting. The other major infrastructure improvement alongside the factory extension is a smart new customer area constructed to the highest specifications. It comprises training rooms and presentation suites adjoining spacious demonstration facilities featuring Europlacers placement and printing machine platforms. On this occasion it served as the perfect venue for the official opening ceremony. NORTON, Ohio -- The Akron man shot at least once during a exchange of gunfire with police Tuesday night was father of five with history of violence, according to his brother and court filings. David Michael Havrilek recently split with his girlfriend and asked to live with his brother. "I love my brother, but he's been like that since we were kids," Robert Havrilek said in an interview with cleveland.com Wednesday afternoon. "No surprise at what happened." The details gleaned from court filings and interviews with police and family members offer little insight into why Havrilek would arm himself and visit the self-storage facility located about 15-minutes from downtown Akron. Havrilek has not yet been charged in the Tuesday night incident involving police officers from the Summit County communities of Barberton and Norton, but court filings show that he was charged with hitting an employee of Akron General Hospital in the mouth, an Akron Municipal Court clerk confirmed Wednesday. He is charged with assault on a peace officer, records show. Akron police Lt. Rick Edwards also confirmed the hospital incident. Federal court records also show that Havrilek was marred by financial struggles over the past year and a half. He filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection in June 2016. He owed more than $120,000 to creditors, the court filings say. The bulk of that was owed to a mortgage company. The bankruptcy filing listed Havrilek's employer as Maines Paper & Food Service Inc., a food-service distributor located in Oakwood Village outside of Cleveland. Maines Paper & Food Service Inc. declined to comment, and it's unclear whether he still worked for the company. The filing also shows that Havrilek has five children who ranged in age from 3 to 17 at the time he petitioned the court for bankruptcy. He listed previous addresses in Akron, Cleveland and Garfield Heights. He was convicted of drug possession in 2000 in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court. He also was convicted of criminal trespass in 1994, disorderly conduct in 2007 and domestic violence in 2015, Garfield Heights Municipal Court records show. Reports and arrest documents from Tuesday night's incident say that he fired shots at police officers after someone called 911 about 7 p.m. after they noticed him holding an assault rifle at a Barber Road Storage. The 911 recording is above. Part of the audio has been edited out. Norton City administrator Robert Fowler said Tuesday night that officers from both the Norton and Barberton departments were involved in the exchange. Officers returned fire and struck him at least once. Havrilek ran behind the storage facility, police said. He was taken to Akron General Hospital where he remains, Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigations spokeswoman Jill Del Greco said Wednesday. The manager of the storage facility who called 911 said that the armed man also had a machete and noticed there was a great deal of ammunition on the ground. Authorities shut down Barber Road at Interstate 76 to Morgan Avenue during the incident, reports said. Havrilek's sister Holly Michalakes hasn't spoken to her brother in over a year since their mother died, and said she didn't know anything about the incident outside of what was reported in the media. "I've known my brother my whole life and I don't see him being a crazy person that opens fire on police," she said. She declined to speak about his financial problems. She was also critical of officials who have limited her family's access to information about her brother's condition. "I don't think it's fair that his family is not allowed to know what's going on," she added. If you'd like to comment on this story, visit Wednesday's crime and courts comments section. AKRON, Ohio -- An armed man was stabbed and later died after he and another man broke into a home early Thursday. The incident happened about 12:30 a.m. on Girard Street near Archwood Avenue, according to a news release from Akron police. Decarlos Abdul Powe Jr., 21, was stabbed in the chest, the Summit County Medical Examiner's Office said. The second man, Kesean K. Brown, 24, was charged with aggravated burglary, police said. He was booked into Summit County Jail. A resident called police and said two men armed with guns broke into the home by removing a window air conditioning unit, police said. The resident stabbed one of the men and they ran out of the home and drove to Blanche Street, which is about five miles away. They called paramedics. Paramedics found the stabbed man in a 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix parked in a driveway, police said. He was taken to Cleveland Clinic Akron General where he was pronounced dead. The man will be publicly identified once his family is notified. If you'd like to comment on this story, visit Thursday's crime and courts comments section. AKRON, Ohio - On Oct. 3, On The Table, led by Akron Community Foundation through a Knight Foundation grant, brought people together in more than 600 conversations around Summit County to enable them to discuss ways to solve civic challenges. The event aligns with the Knight Foundation's mission to help cities attract and retain talented people, expand economic opportunity and create a culture of civic engagement. In Summit County, individuals and organizations served as hosts, holding breakfast chats, coffee conversations and dinner gatherings to enable residents to air their thoughts about civic challenges and sort through possible solutions. With no set rules, the events and conversations were unique. Freelance photographer Shane Wynn traveled around Summit County capturing some moments during Greater Akron's On The Table. Want more Akron news? Sign up for cleveland.com's Rubber City Daily, an email newsletter delivered at 5:30 a.m. Monday through Friday. New works by famed Crow artist Kevin Red Star are up at the Stapleton Gallery during the autumn ArtWalk in downtown Billings Friday night. ArtWalk features more than 25 galleries and businesses displaying art from 5 to 9 p.m. in downtown Billings. Another highlight is a show at Barjons in which two Billings artists address the loss of civility and diminished connections. Rachel Larson Long and Elizabeth Waddington use dreams to speak about who they and to make a point about modern life. Their works are up at Barjons, 223 N. 29th St. Other highlights at ArtWalk include the following season members: Aspinwall Mountain Wear, 103 N. Broadway, welcomes returning artists, Iron Bark Designs and their recycled metal and wood works, and Trevan Hiersche showing his landscape photographs. Billings Food Bank, 2112 Fourth Ave. N., welcomes rotating artists to its expansive community room. Free parking. Refreshments. Clark Marten Photography, 2606 Montana Ave., welcomes Kaylinn Crowl and her exhibit, What's for Supper? The spare, table-setting photographs in the exhibit are inspired by a John Muir's quote stating that nature is a necessity in one's life. Corby Skinner at The Castle, 622 N. 29th St., shows oil pastels inspired by Riverfront Park, Dover Park, Four Dances Natural Area and other eastern Montana landscapes at the historic Castle. Proceeds benefit Skinner's favorite charities. Dickey's BBQ, 2519 Montana Ave., and its featured artist, Kelley Partridge, had so much fun during Summer ArtWalk, they've signed up for the remaining season. Partridge is a young mother but still finds time to paint. Downtown Billings Alliance (DBA), 2815 Second Ave. N., welcomes Ruby Hahn and Rylie Kaiser (aka Bunny K), mentor and student respectively. Their relationship evolved into a mutual learning experience as they drew from similar inspiration while working on large scale, eye-catching pieces. First Congregational Church UCC, 310 N. 27th St., plays host to Elton Kirtley, who will show his impressionist landscapes in oil and watercolor. Kirtley, also a classical musician, will play violin and cello during the event. Refreshments served. Gallery Interiors, 2814 Second Ave. N., celebrates its 10th anniversary in downtown Billings during Autumn ArtWalk. Global Village, 2720 Third Ave. N., features Autumn Leaves by Great Falls artist Phyllis Ryan, and her cast concrete birdbaths. Ryan graduated from MSU Billings, where she studied art and psychology. Her work is inspired by impressions found in nature. Good Earth Market, 3024 Second Ave. N., hosts regional artists in its Apple Gallery on a rotating basis. The Apple Gallery is adjacent to the delicatessen. Harry Koyama Fine Art, 2509 Montana Ave., displays vivid impressionist paintings in a gallery adjacent to Koyama's working studio. Koyama's paintings are highly sought by local, regional and international collectors. Kennedy's Stained Glass, 2923 Second Ave. N., shows several commission pieces, contemporary sidelights by gallery artist Sherina McIntyre, plus a poppy window, church restorations and more. Last Chance Pub and Cider Mill, 2033 Montana Ave., welcomes guest artists to its refurbished warehouse space on Montana Avenue. The venue itself is a work of art. Magpie Jewelry Gallery, 2702 Second Ave. N., features contemporary artist and Billings native Gary Parkins. Shown widely across the country, Parkins's works are transcendent, engineered images filled with mystery and life. This show includes ink drawings and a few surprise installations. Mann Mortgage, 2511 Montana Ave., shows work by Melissa Burns (Girlwood). Each image is created by Burns on a different kind of wood selected to enhance the envisioned piece. Recently, Burns has focused on American Indian portraits and images from nature. Montana Gallery, 2710 Second Ave. N., shows contemporary works by Tyler Murphy, plus emerging and established artists. Hosts for the Autumn ArtWalk are Pete Tolton and Karyn Mehus. McCormick Cafe, 2419 Montana Ave., plays host to Jean Mehlhaff (watercolors and gouache) and Maria Isabel Bonilla Uribe (mixed media). Guidos Pizza, 3011 First Ave. N., and Pug Mahon's are the unofficial hosts of Art Alley. Proprietor Bill Mac MacIntyre was instrumental in the creation of the popular graffiti venue adjacent to Guidos and Pug's. Prodigal Gallery, 2517 Montana Ave., shows the work of Sarah Ozment, a central Montana artist, retired lawyer and rancher, in the reception area of the Penelope L. Strong Law Office. Sandstone Gallery, 2913 Second Ave. N., Billings only artist co-op, celebrates its 17th year of operation. Guest artist is Bill Arbizzani. Featured gallery artists are Louise Payovich, Dick Cottrill, Nick Nicoll and Margaret Smith. Stapleton Gallery, 104 N. Broadway, Suite 204, celebrates striking new works by internationally acclaimed artist Kevin Red Start (Crow. This solo exhibition reveals that Red Star's artistic mastery and perfection of craft equal to his artistic vigor and youthful creativity. Stephen Haraden Studio, 2911 Second Ave. N., No. 235, unveils new paintings and collages that include children's toys, perhaps in response to his much-beloved role as grandfather. He loves to chat with ArtWalk visitors about his work and the creative process. Straight n Arrow, 2715 First Ave. N., celebrates the work of Carlin Bear Don't Walk (Crow and Northern Cheyenne). Bear Don't Walk's art is bright and energetic; it uplifts the mind and spirit and reflects contemporary and traditional Plains Indian culture. Terakedis Fine Art, 112 N. Broadway, features, "A Walk With Wildlife to highlight works by several of the finest wildlife artists in the Northern Rockies and High Plains. Kathryn Ashcroft, Sam Terakedis, Tobin Capp, Carmen Luna and Mark McKenna will be at the gallery to discuss their artwork. Toucan Gallery, 2505 Montana Ave., features the hand-stitched fabric creations of Red Lodge artist Maggy Rozycki Hiltner. In her exhibition of all new work, Hiltner's needle-sharp interpretation of the human condition displays her signature, darkly humorous style. Tompkins Fine Art, 2501 Montana Ave., No. 4, shows works by award-winning artist Robert Tompkins and invited guest artists. Underground Culture Krew (UCK), 12 N. 29th St., welcomes Natalie Myers, self-described daydreamer and artist. Her paintings are expressions of emotion, set against themes of nature, humanity and the cosmos, and often contain an uncomfortable element. Vintage Apothecary, 2823 Third Ave. N., showcases the photography of Rebecca Douglas. Refreshments and music. Yellowstone Art Museum, 401 N. 27th St., offers free admission, free parking and free drinks for new members, plus a 4 p.m. start with music, refreshments and new works in Art Collectors Corner. Earth to Earth: Sediment to Sentiment features work by German artist, Anselm Kiefer. Modernist Intersections: The Tia Collection shows works by contemporary artists Cy Twombly, Andy Warhol and Bill Schenck and others. My Hero: Contemporary Art & Superhero Action is a multimedia, dynamic exhibition exploring the roles of iconic superheroes. One-time ArtWalk participants Adam Gross showcases his photographs, many taken during the "I (Heart) Billings" campaign, at Rebels and Razors, 118 N. Broadway. His images document Billings' best features and showcase why people love living here. Beyond the Box (BTB), 724 First Ave. N., plays host to 20 artists and their original creations. Located near MetraPark, BTB has a cash bar, food trucks and music. Free Spirit Rock Band plays classic tunes, blues and rock at MoAv Coffee, 2501 Montana Ave. The 10-piece band plays jazz, blues and classic rock between 5:30 and 8:30 p.m. Jake's Downtown Billings welcomes Ruby Hahn, Megan Fetters and Kerry Kaiser for a special exhibit in the Grand Hotel lobby. These three women, all emerging artists, met while working in the food industry. As we approach the 2017 General Election, I think it is worthwhile to note several of accomplishments the Town of Halfmoon has had with Republican leadership. Halfmoon was recently awarded a $50,000 grant, thanks to Assemblywoman Mary Beth Walsh for intersection improvements on Farm to Market Road. Halfmoon was awarded a grant totaling $98,641 from Senator Kathy Marchione, which will provide our Highway Department with a new pickup truck and light-duty dump truck. Sitterly Road was repaved, thanks to a grant the Town received from the state. Mechanicville School students will be able to walk to school safer now, thanks to the sidewalk project, almost entirely paid for with a grant. The Town sued, and won, $5.6 million dollars from GE for polluting our water. Halfmoon is creating a secondary source of water, to prevent another water crisis, like 2016. The Senior Center and Historical Society buildings and grounds were the beneficiaries of a significant investment from the Town. Overall, Halfmoon is exceptionally fortunate to have leaders like Supervisor Tollisen, Councilwoman Jordan, Councilmen Connors and Wasielewski, and Highway Superintendent Pingelski. Mike Cavanaugh Halfmoon Works by nationally renowned watercolorist Rena Brouwer and impressive mixed media paintings by well-known Montana artist Mary Knapp will be shown through Oct. 27 at the Zier Gallery in Bridger. The show, titled "Shades of September," showcases Brouwer's incredible freestyle watercolors and Knapp's creative layering techniques. An open house is set for Oct. 21 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Knapp is all about shine and texture. She has developed the use of alcohol inks, collage, and fused glass for her pieces. She often collaborates with metal sculpture artists, adding her glass to their creation. Her fused glass works can be found in contemporary home settings as well as offices. Brouwer has worked in her freestyle watercolor for years. Her work with Windsor Newton and Simon Malls was just part of her lifetime art journey. She is enchanted with nature and forms the colors, lights and shadows of the forest and its wildlife in beautiful compositions. Her home along Wildcat Creek in Indiana, continues to be in inspiration to her art. Brouwer has traveled across the country, painting and giving workshops in watercolor. Viewers are encouraged to decipher the process and unwrap the color layers as they view the brightly colored, vibrant work. Guests are invited to sign up for a 2018 summer workshop with either Brouwer or Knapp. Signup is at the Zier Gallery. Ashley Erekson says she's seen hundreds of crashes at 13th Street West and Parkhill Drive in the eight years she's lived at the intersection. Most of them were minor bumps and bruises. Some were more serious. The utility pole at the edge of her yard was a target once, as was the basement in her house. After years of attention, a traffic signal is finally going up at a the intersection. "I'm looking forward to it," Erekson said. "Especially the school traffic." Crews working on a contract from the Montana Department of Transportation should have the signal system in place by early November at 13th Street West and Parkhill Drive. The intersection mingles the 35-mph 13th Street with corners on Parkhill that can be tough to see around. To better align the intersection, which is out of square, transportation department crews built "bulbouts," or concrete sidewalk extensions, in 2010. The improvement didn't seem to reduce crashes as much as officials hoped. The department analyzed crash data under the Highway Safety Improvement Program. There were seven crashes at the intersection in the 22 months prior to construction of the bulbouts in 2010, according to MDT traffic project engineer LeRoy Wosoba. In the 22 months after the project, there were more crashes 10 from the fall of 2010 to the spring of 2012. It highlights any crash pattern that continues to develop anywhere," said Roy Peterson, traffic and safety engineer for MDT. "Well, this location popped up again. Those crash figures were used to justify the installation of a traffic signal. But it still took years to reach construction. Peterson said after construction of the bulbouts, the department waited to see if there was a positive impact on the intersection. You kind of wait a little period of time to see if the improvement that you did actually fixed the problem, he said. The traffic study was completed in 2014, according to MDT. A field review and design work began in 2015. The design was completed in March 2017. After receiving a green light from the city of Billings, the project went ahead. Midland Electric was awarded the low bid of $77,098 in June. While the project is overseen by the state department, the city will operate the signal like all others. We ensure that the signal controller that they put in meets our standard and some of our requirements for our traffic signal system as a whole, said Erin Claunch, traffic engineer for the city of Billings. One resident at the intersection estimated in 2015 that he'd seen 50 wrecks there. The intersection still doesn't make Billings' most active for crashes, however. Data from the Billings Police Department show that high-risk intersections are at places like King Avenue West and Shiloh Road, Lake Elmo and Main Street and Sixth Avenue North and North 27th Street. When asked for crash statistics for the 13th Street West and Parkhill intersection, Billings Police Lt. Neil Lawrence said the number wasn't available simply because the department was between crime analysts. "There probably are crash stats for that intersection; however, until we have a new analyst we wont have any stats available," he said. Erekson said that they haven't been allowed to fence in their front yard, which borders the intersection and might impede drivers' views. Because of that, it's fallen out of use. Now with a signal coming in, she said it might be nice to spend more time in the large, green yard. The Billings Fire Department is investigating a fire that burned inside a house Wednesday night on Avenue C. Neighbors reported the fire on the 100 block of Avenue C shortly before 10 p.m. Wednesday night, according to BFD Battalion Chief Ed Regele. Firefighters arrived to find the main floor of the house "fully charged" with smoke but not on fire. There were clear signs of smoke damage and parts of the house remained hot from whatever had burned, Regele said. Regele said one possibility is that a lack of ventilation deprived the fire of oxygen needed for growth. It wasn't immediately clear what part of the house the fire had been located in, Regele said. It's unclear if the house is currently occupied, Regele said, adding that he had received conflicting reports about whether people may have recently moved in or out. Regele said he hoped to have more information after speaking with the property owner. Multiple fire engines set up in the street and the Billings Police Department partially blocked off access to the area between First Street West and Second Street West while firefighters inspected the house and attempted to air out the smoke. CORNWALL, Ontario The R.H. Moses Saunders Dam was the site of a rare ceremonial meeting between representatives of Ontario Power Generation (OPG) and the New York Power Authority (NYPA) on Thursday, Oct. 5, 2017.. These are such valuable assets for the people of the united States and Canada, said OPG President and CEO Jeff Lyash. Our cooperation is so important and so effective, we wanted to celebrate that here today. In 2018, the R.H. Saunders Dam will celebrate its 60th year of operation. Ontario Energey Minister Glenn Thibeault was also on-site at the Moses Saunders Dam on Thursday for the celebrations and to inspect the facility. it is pretty exciting for me to be here in Cornwall and to tour the Moses Saunders Dam, he said. As Minister of Energy it is important for me to see first hand the capacity of this facility that helps power our province. The Moses Saunders Dam generates 1,000 Mega Watts of power for the Province of Ontario which is 5 percent of the provinces total power capacity. This is a very good example of clean and affordable power in Ontario, said Thibeault. Thibeault emphasized that his Liberal Government was focused on an energy policy that addressed the problems of climate change. Northern Ontario used to have 77 days of iced roads, now theyre lucky if they get 21, he said. Right now our focus is on meeting our Climate Change Action Plan requirements. We have a lot of hydro electric capacity in our portfolio and out long term plan is about making our systems more efficient. CORNWALL, Ontario The Cornwall Community Police Service (CCPS) had been asking for the publics assistance in locating Jason Copp, born May 17, 1995. In the early morning hours of Oct. 4, 2017 Copp was found to be in possession of a stolen vehicle. The vehicle was blocked by a cruiser which was then rammed by the stolen vehicle. Copp who is of no fixed address fled the scene on foot. The CCPS considered Copp to be unpredictable and desperate and believed he was looking to find his way out of the city. At 7:18 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 5, 2017 the CCPS Twitter account tweeted that they had captured Copp. Officers acted on information this evening and safely captured Jason Copp without incident, the tweet reads. In a second statement on Facebook, the CCPS stated that Copp is now facing several charges. MINOT, N.D. The Minot City Council has taken its first step to ban bow hunting within city limits. The city approved the first reading of an ordinance Monday after hearing from residents opposed to bow hunting, the Minot Daily News reported. The ordinance would make hunting with an archery or crossbow in city limits punishable by fine. A second reading will be required to put the ordinance into effect. Safety concerns about bow hunting came after an animal nuisance committee considered ways to reduce the population of some animals, including deer. The city attorney had initially drafted an ordinance that would've prohibited hunting in the cemetery, but the council decided to amend the drafted ordinance to be citywide with a moratorium. "What we are dealing with here is something a little bit different. It's the possibility that somebody would be hunting deer," said Commission President Mark Jantzer. "The intent of this motion is to curtail that until such time as there's a well formulated plan as to how these things can be done if that's what we choose to do. Council member Josh Wolsky, who chairs the nuisance animal committee, said the committee may bring back alternatives for dealing with deer. "This is far from a settled issue," Wolsky said. 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!) CASPER, Wyo. Police say a Wyoming man they arrested for public intoxication claimed he had traveled back in time to warn people of aliens coming. Casper police say the man they encountered about 10:30 p.m. Monday claimed he was from the year 2048. KTWO-AM in Casper reports that the man told police he was trying to warn the people of Casper that aliens were coming next year, and they should leave as soon as possible. He added that he wanted to speak to the president of the town. The man also told police the only way he was able to time travel was to have aliens fill his body with alcohol. He noted that he was supposed to be transported to the year 2018, instead of this year. Channel programs News CompuCom: Office Depot Deal Will Bring In-Person Technical Help To Millions Of Businesses Alec Shirkey Share this Office Depot's blockbuster $1 billion purchase of CompuCom is not like anything we've seen before. "Other office supply companies have tried this before. But they bought very small businesses, very small MSPs," Ken Jackowitz, CompuCom's chief product officer told CRN. "Where we differ is that we have 6,000 W2 technicians in North America. What's so perfect about that is you've got the ability to get the scale of those same technicians across all levels of customers enterprise, midmarket, SMB." What we have seen before are the fits and starts of large retailers getting into IT services, but not sticking to it. Staples bought managed service provider Thrive Networks in 2007 and electronics giant Best Buy purchased mindSHIFT in 2011. Both of those big retailers sold their respective MSPs in 2014. [Related: 10 Things You Need To Know About Office Depot's Eye-Popping CompuCom Acquisition] Jackowitz said that CompuCom would remain "aggressively" focused on its core enterprise business, noting that the transaction is accretive to both sides of its services offerings. CompuCom operates 72 Solution Cafes in North America walk-in help desks built on enterprise premises that Jackowitz likened to an Apple Genius Bar. Enterprise clients who may not take an interest in the Solutions Cafe offering could have a chance to leverage those same services in one of Office Depot's 1,400 retail locations, he said. "There's clearly a service-based opportunity for our enterprise customers where their workforce could potentially go into an Office Depot and get that same kind of Solution Cafe experience," Jackowitz said. Office Depot said nearly six million small and midsized businesses are located within three miles of one of its stores. Gerry Smith, CEO of the Boca Raton, Fla.-based retailer, wants to have one of CompuCom's SMB-focused Tech-Zone help desks in Office Depot. The two companies conducted pilot tests in three of Office Depot's South Florida locations and found the managed services offering gained "very successful" traction success Jackowitz said was a catalyst for the massive deal that would follow. Down the road, CompuCom indicated that it could expand Tech-Zone to serve its enterprise clients, too. The past four years have challenged CompuCom. Revenues have slipped. Four different CEOs have taken the corner office in as many years. Moody's Investor Services has downgraded its credit twice. Office Depot plans to take out a $750 million loan to refinance CompuCom's debt as part of the deal agreement. Jackowitz said CompuCom is putting those financial issues in the rearview under CEO Dan Stone, who will remain CEO following the deal's completion. "All the noise we've been hearing about how the market looks at us and where we are with our ratings, etc., that sort of disappears," Jackowitz said. "For us, it's a very positive signal that helps really change the story of the marketplace as far as where we are from our financial capability. "The reality is our leadership has been consistent now with Dan Stone and his senior team. That continues to move forward. We're very confident as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Office Depot in partnering with their team to create something that's unique and different." Networking News AVI-SPL Acquires UC-Focused Canadian Solution Provider As CEO Says $1B Revenue Mark Is Near Mark Haranas Share this Fast-growing solution provider AVI-SPL has acquired its third company in the past 11 months and looks to chase more M&A opportunities in 2018 with backing from private equity firm H.I.G. Capital. The Tampa, Fla.-based collaboration-focused company, ranked No. 51 on CRN's 2017 Solution Provider 500 list, said Wednesday it has acquired solution provider Sharp's Audio Visual for an undisclosed amount. Calgary-based Sharp's Audio Visual has eight locations across six provinces in Canada. "Canada is the 10th largest economy in the world," said AVI-SPL CEO John Zettel in an interview with CRN. "Businesses are growing here and expanding to a multinational level. Many of our customers in the United States and EMEA also have a presence in Canada." [Related: Federal Solution Provider NCI To Be Bought By IT-Savvy Private Equity Firm H.I.G. Capital For $283M] In November 2016, AVI-SPL acquired San Diego-based Anderson Audio Visual to strengthen its resources and presence in high-growth markets. Two months later, AVI-SPL acquired Newton, Mass.-based broadcasting platform specialist VideoLink. "We're not acquiring companies simply because they are available," said Zettel. "We're joining forces when the fit is clear, and it positions AVI-SPL to better serve our customers. "As for the future, we will look at opportunities when they are presented to us and run through the same line of questioning. If a company can enhance our platform of offerings, we'll absolutely pursue it. If not, then we'll move on," he said. Red-hot AVI-SPL is striving to hit the $1 billion revenue mark. Zettel said with all the acquisitions over the past year in addition to organic growth, the $1 billion goal is nearing. Part of the sales growth will come from Sharp's Audio Visual's integration skill set and unified communications and collaboration focus. "We were eager to jump on this exceptional opportunity to enhance our local offering, and to provide a truly global solution for our multinational customers based in Canada," said Jeff Faber, president and CEO of Sharp's Audio Visual, in a statement. Sharp's Audio Visual's customers will now be provided with 24/7 global help desk support and new remote monitoring and management capabilities through AVI-SPL's portfolio. AVI-SPL is also striving to grow overseas, recently opening up a new office in Frankfurt, Germany, a hot spot for Europe's financial services industry. "We're very excited for what the future holds," said Zettel. H.I.G. Capital bought AVI-SPL in April 2016. The Miami-based global private equity investment firm has $23 billion of equity under management, according to a release. In July, H.I.G. Capital agreed to purchase U.S. government solution provider NCI for $283 million in a move to accelerate its use of technologies like artificial intelligence and software development. The firm holds stakes in several other solution providers including CXtec, Milestone Technologies, Teracai and Trace3. Storage News NetApp To Bring Veeam To Its Channel Partners Joseph F. Kovar Share this Storage vendor NetApp and data protection software vendor Veeam Thursday unveiled a new relationship under which Veeam software will be available via NetApp's price list to its channel partners. Under the new relationship, Sunnyvale, Calif.-basedNetApp will sell the Veeam Availability Suite as a NetApp SKU (stock keeping unit) exclusively through channel partners, said Carey Stanton, vice president of global business and corporate development for Veeam. "It will be on NetApp's price list," Santon told CRN. "This lets NetApp's channel partners control the price. Historically, NetApp and Veeam have had a meet-in-the-channel relationship where we had to get our channel teams together for an opportunity. Now NetApp partners will get comped for the complete solution." [Related: Veeam Extends Data Protection To Microsoft's Azure Stack] The new relationship was unveiled at the NetApp Insight 2017 conference, being held this week in Las Vegas. Veeam, based in Baar, Switzerland, has a similar relationship with other major server and storage vendors including Cisco Systems and Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Stanton said. "Veeam is a private company experiencing high growth," he said. "Going forward, we will have more focus on alliance partners. We are 100 percent channel-driven. We are trying to have our alliance partners take Veeam cradle to grave. It's an important process for us." These types of alliances make sense for Veeam and its server and storage partners, said Rob Emsley, director of alliance product marketing for Veeam. "The alliance partners don't want to be in the software-only business," Emsley told CRN. "And Veeam, as a software product, requires servers and storage. That comes from our alliance partners." Each of Veeam's alliance partners brings its unique capabilities to the relationship, Emsley said. "NetApp's Ontap storage operating system is one of our longer-running integration solutions," he said. "NetApp's snapshot and replication technologies fit in very well with our ability to offer true integration to provide the highest availability." The new relationship was welcome news to Scott Gelb, solutions architect at Enterprise Vision Technologies, a Santa Monica, Calif.-based solution provider that currently partners with NetApp but not Veeam. Everyone who works with Veeam seems to like it, Gelb told CRN. "It's a no-brainer," he said. "We'll definitely be selling it now through NetApp." Enterprise Vision Technologies works with other data protection vendors including Mountain View, Calif.-based Veritas and Tinton Falls, N.J.-based Commvault, Gelb said. "But the simplicity of Veeam is huge," he said. "A lot of customers have it. There never seems to be a big services engagement. Bundling it with NetApp makes it easier for us to take to market. When we make a quote, everything goes under the same support agreement, which makes the contracts easier to execute." NetApp is expected to have the Veeam Availability Suite in its price list by early next year, Emsley said. Misconception: Being a good person is enough to get to heaven. Some time ago, I (Sean) had an in-depth discussion with a college student about the morality of hell. Even though I provided every philosophical and theological justification I could muster, he simply couldnt accept that a loving and just God would send anyone to hell. After about an hour of conversation, it finally dawned on me. His primary problem was that he believed in the essential good- ness of mankind. From his perspective, hell seemed like total overkill for basically good people who commit a few small indiscretions. In one sense, hes right. If hell were the consequence for small missteps, it would seem remarkably unjust. C. S. Lewis has rightly observed, When we say that we are bad, the wrath of God seems a barbarous doctrine; as soon as we perceive our badness, it appears inevitable, a mere corollary from Gods goodness. (Lewis, PP, 52) The Bible has a very stark view of human nature. While human beings are the most valuable creation of a loving God, we have utterly rebelled against our Creator. We are deeply affected by sin. Theologian Wayne Grudem explains: It is not just that some parts of us are sinful and others are pure. Rather, every part of our being is affected by sinour intellects, our emotions and desires, our hearts (the center of our desires and decision-making processes), our goals and motives, and even our physical bodies. (Grudem, ST, 497) Thus, God doesnt send good people to hell; there is no such thing as a good person. And that includes you and me! King David wrote, They have all turned aside, they have together become corrupt; there is none who does good, no, not one (Ps. 14:3). The apostle Paul wrote, For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells (Rom. 7:18) and, To those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled (Titus 1:15). Jesus said, What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person (Mark 7:2023 esv). This depiction of human nature can be confirmed by looking at the history of humanity. Apologist Clay Jones has spent decades studying the problem of evil. He closely examined the evil perpetrated in the twentieth century by Nazis in Germany, communists in Russia, China, and Cambodia, the Japanese in World War II, and other nations including Turkey, Pakistan, Uganda, Sudan, and the United States. After immersing himself in these human tragedies, Jones concluded: I first began to study human evil so that no one could disqualify me for having glossed over the immense sufferings that people perpetrate on each other. I didnt want anyone to say that I had gotten God out of the problem of evil the easy way: by making evil seem less serious than it really is. But as I read about one sickening rape or torture or murder after another, something strange happened: I was struck that evil is human. I realized that heinous evils werent the doings of a few deranged individuals or even of hundreds or of thousands, but were done by humankind en masse. I studied continent after continent, country after country, torture after torture, murder after murder and was staggered to discover that I hadnt taken Scripture seriously enough: humankind is desperately wicked. (Jones, CDTH, 1) Human fallenness makes the gospel powerful: we can only appreciate the extent of the work of Christ when we understand the evil and corruption we and the world truly contain. This does not mean unbelievers cannot do some good in societyof course they can! However, sin has separated us so deeply from God that we have no power to save ourselves apart from Gods grace (Eph. 2:1, 2). Paul makes it clear that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23). And this falling short is not merely a matter of our actions, but primarily a matter of the heart (1 John 3:15; Matt. 5:2130). This is why Jesus came. Although Jesus was (and is) fully God, he humbled himself to take on human flesh (Phil. 2:57) and experience the death that humans deserve. As a result, we can experience forgiveness for our sins and come to know God personally (John 17:15). Jesus explains: For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. John 3:1618 So, is it enough to be a good person? Its true that many people may live outwardly good lives, but for Jesus evil is a matter of the heart. According to Jesus no one is good (Mark 10:18). Anyone who honestly reflects upon his life, and sincerely probes his heart, knows that this is true. Our only hope is found in Jesus Christ, the one mediator between God and man (1 Tim. 2:5). Taken from Evidence that Demands Verdict by Josh McDowell and Sean McDowell, PhD. Copyright 2017 by Josh McDowell Ministry. Used by permission of Thomas Nelson. www.thomasnelson.com. Image Courtesy: Unsplash With the original Evidence That Demands a Verdict, bestselling author Josh McDowell gave Christian readers the answers they needed to defend their faith against the harshest critics and skeptics. Since that time, Evidence has remained a trusted resource for believers young and old. Bringing historical documentation and the best modern scholarship to bear on the trustworthiness of the Bible and its teachings, this extensive volume has encouraged and strengthened millions. Now, with his son Sean McDowell, PhD, Josh McDowell has updated and expanded this classic resource for a new generation. This is a book that invites readers to bring their doubts and doesn't shy away from the tough questions. The modern apologetics classic that started it all is NOW completely revised and updatedbecause the truth of the Bible doesnt change, but its critics do. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Three years after the Food & Drug Administration eased rules restricting the use of hemp in food products, an entrepreneur and former naval officer is building a distillery in South Norwalk to produce gin and whiskey blends using seeds and flowers from the plant with a tasting room for visitors. Under founder and New Canaan resident Ted Dumbauld, SoNo 1420 Artisan Distillers lists a planned December opening for a tasting room at 19 Day St. in South Norwalk, pending approval from authorities, as part of a new development by Norwalk-based Spinnaker Real Estate Partners. In March, Dumbauld reported raising $150,000 in funding to support SoNo 1420 Artisan Distillers development, with plans at the time to secure as much as $500,000 in all. Deriving its name from the 14-20 vote in 1919 that resulted in the Connecticut Senate failing to ratify the 18th Amendment, SoNo 1420 Artisan Distillers plans to produce hemped bourbon and rye whiskeys, and three blends of gin. If the plant famously won the approval of George Washington SoNo 1420 Artisan Distillers quotes on its website Washingtons advice to fellow farmers to sow it everywhere for cordage and other uses it was not approved for use in food products until 2014. At least a few others have had the same idea, including Olde Town Distillery in Harrodsburg, Ky., which claims to be the first distillery in the United States to produce hemp moonshine, in its words, using hemp seed grown in Kentucky. With degrees from the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis and the MIT Sloan School of Management, Dumbauld spent a career on Wall Street and running a Connecticut financial firm called Trident Advisors. He became aware of the new FDA rules on hemp during a period when he was an investor in and subsequently CEO of Curaleaf, which sought to create a medical marijuana dispensary in Simsbury. In addition to SoNo 1420 Artisan Distillers, Dumbauld is listed today as a partner in a Rowayton investment firm called Hrb Ventures, as well as chief operating officer of a Maryland medical cannabis company called Curio Wellness. As for hemp distilled into a bottle? Dumbauld said the idea occurred to him while attending a cannabis industry conference in Kentucky perhaps fittingly, mulling the possibilities over a glass of bourbon. A light or something else went off in my head, saying, ... what if you were to take this grain that (had) been illegal for decades now and put that into a recipe? Dumbauld told Hearst Connecticut Media in an interview last spring. So I came back and I put my mad scientist hat on and started tinkering around and came up with what I thought was a pretty good, tasty whiskey. Alex.Soule@scni.com; 203-842-2545; @casoulman This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate WASHINGTON A move to ban bump-stock devices is accelerating in Congress, with some Republicans joining Connecticuts two senators and other Democrats in calling for scrutiny of the add-on the Las Vegas shooter used to turn single-shot rifles into machine guns. In a major surprise, the National Rifle Association said Thursday the devices should be subject to additional regulations. On Thursday, House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., a staunch gun-rights supporter, said the legality of the bump stock is something that we need to look into. Asked about bump-stock controls, White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Were certainly open to having that conversation. On Wednesday, a slew of Republican senators including John Cornyn, R-Texas; Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.; Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, and Marco Rubio, R-Fla., said they, too, were open to bump-stock controls. Connecticuts Democratic lawmakers are used to mass shootings, such as Newtown in 2012, being met by resistance from Republicans and some Democrats to any new gun laws. After the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting that took the lives of 20 first-graders and six adult staff members, the Democratic-controlled Senate in 2013 fell six votes short of overcoming a filibuster against universal background checks. A different reaction More Information What is a bump stock? Created to enable people with disabilities to shoot a gun, a bump stock is an attachment that allows a semi-automatic rifle to fire faster. The device, which sells for less than $200 and causes the gun to buck back and forth between the shooter's shoulder and trigger finger, allowing more shots quickly. See More Collapse Few in Washington expected a different reaction after Las Vegas shooter Stephen Paddock used an arsenal of 18 weapons to spray fire Sunday at a country music festival, killing 58 and wounding 515 before he died. But lawmakers of both parties have keyed in on Paddocks possession of 12 bump-stock devices, which enabled him to up the death toll by turning his single-trigger-pull, semi-automatic rifles into weapons that imitate machine guns. This does feel different, said Sen. Chris Murphy, who along with fellow Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal and other Democrats held the Senate floor for nearly 15 hours last year to force ultimately unsuccessful gun-law votes in the wake of the Pulse nightclub mass shooting in Orlando. Im glad Republicans are open to regulation of these devices, Murphy said. He and Blumenthal co-sponsored legislation introduced Wednesday by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., that would ban the sale, possession and importation of bump-stock devices. Its still a long uphill road, Blumenthal said. Nevertheless, he added, he was surprised by Republicans, because their standard, knee-jerk reaction is implacable opposition. Rep. Elizabeth Esty, D-Conn., who represents Newtown and serves as vice chair of the Democratic House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, said: Im happy to see progress of any sort. I think we have a decent possibility of getting this passed, because bump stock is so outrageous. The president of Connecticuts leading gun-rights organization, the Connecticut Citizens Defense League, said he was wary of any calls for new gun laws in the aftermath of mass shootings. Our concern as an organization is that bans on inanimate objects always lead to more bans on other items, Scott Wilson said. It never seems to end. A nuanced distinction Machine guns were subject to strict regulation in 1934 and banned outright in 1986, with the exception of weapons made before the laws effective date. Later Thursday, Ryan suggested bump stocks might be subject to a regulatory solution rather than a legislative one. Fully automatic weapons have been outlawed for many, many years, Ryan said. This seems to be a way of going around that. So obviously we need to look at how we can tighten up the compliance with this law so that fully automatic weapons are banned. The NRA and some Republican House members said it was up to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives to evaluate bump stocks and make sure they comply with these laws. ATF agents test-fired the devices and judged them by the governments legal standard: A rifle that discharges a single bullet with each trigger pull is legal; a rifle that discharges a burst of bullets with each trigger pull is not. Because bump-stock devices harness the natural recoil of a rifle discharge to chamber additional rounds and send forth a paroxysm of fire, the ATF determined they met the single-trigger-pull standard. We dont take a position on whether we like an item or dont like an item, ATF senior firearms enforcement officer Max Kingery said in a 2013 interview with Hearst Newspapers at the bureaus facility in Martinsburg, W. Va. We simply classify it according to the law. Blumenthal characterized the NRA call for ATF re-examination of the devices as a delaying tactic. Its a deceptive and dangerous dodge, he said, noting federal rulemaking often takes years. Its a really sinister tactic to distract from the need for a law banning bump stocks. dan@hearstdc.com This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 3 1 of 3 Cathy Zuraw / Hearst Connecticut Media Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Joe Raedle / Getty Images Show More Show Less 3 of 3 Mark Ojakian, president of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities system has submitted a proposal to allow students from Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands impacted by Hurricane Maria to continue their studies in Connecticut. The idea would be to allow displaced students to attend one of the four state regional universities or 12 community colleges a in-state tuition rates as soon as possible. Lt. Stew Anderson was on vacation just two weeks before his retirement. The reason for the getaway? Helping Houston recover from catastrophic flooding. Anderson announced his retirement on social media Sept. 22 after serving 28 years as Natrona County's emergency management coordinator. In addition to his county position, the 28-year-old Anderson also serves with the Federal Emergency Management Administration in a reserve capacity. The FEMA position is what put him on Thursday in Texas, where he served as a liaison between the federal agency and local governments. That's where he'll return after his retirement becomes effective -- on Friday the 13th. Anderson began his time coordinating the county's emergency service departments on another inauspicious day, April Fool's Day, 1989. After initially taking the position in tandem with his duties running the sheriff's department's patrol division, he found working both jobs was too much. Anderson went to his boss, then-Sheriff Ron Ketchum, and told him he was overwhelmed. "He said, 'OK, pick one, as long as it's emergency management,'" Anderson recalled Thursday. Anderson took Ketchum's advice, and in the nearly three decades since, he developed a taste for the job. "One of the most fascinating things about emergency management is: I deal with large things I have no control over," Anderson said. Fires and floods Anderson has been responsible for heading up the county's Emergency Management Administration, which handles responses to disasters like the 2015 Cole Creek fire and periodic flooding along the North Platte River. His office also heads up the county's Community Emergency Response Team, which is comprised of local citizens who are trained to respond to emergencies. Those teams were formed in 1999 and in the years since have headed out of county to respond to a hurricane in Atlanta, flooding in Kaycee and a tornado in Wright. Anderson said the power of those events gave him appreciation for his role. "Several times I've been awestruck by Mother Nature," he said. "All you can do is take people out of the way." It's a little insight into what Anderson and his colleagues refer to as a "bug," caught like the flu. Thanks to Anderson, Waynette Spence is one of those who caught the bug. Anderson introduced Spence to emergency- and first-response work when she found herself "rattled to the bones" by the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. She joined Natrona County's CERT program, and a year after she was trained, Anderson asked her to start teaching, she said. She thought she should possess a more comprehensive understanding of medicine, so she took an emergency medical technician class, with Anderson's blessing. On her first ambulance ride-along, Spence discovered she loved the work. "And I was helping," she said. "And I could do something about it." Spence spent the next 13 plus years with Evansville Emergency Services, before retiring from a career begun with the help of Anderson. "People do not know what a community servant (Anderson) is," Spence said. "He's got a heart as big as Texas, he really does." Anderson also taught emergency medicine to sheriff's deputies, Sheriff Gus Holbrook said. Holbrook said Anderson has a "true love for sharing" his knowledge. Two years ago, Anderson gave Holdbrook a head up: an eclipse in 2017 would draw big crowds. Anderson spent the next two years preparing for Casper to be inundated with out-of-town visitors for the festival. The event went off without a hitch. Off into the sunset As for why he decided to call it quits now, Anderson said there was a confluence of factors. He'd maxed out his retirement, had about wrapped up two separate department re-certifications that are due every five years and had put the eclipse festival in his rear view mirror. "It's a good point to pass the baton, so to speak," Anderson said. Lt. John Harlan is slated to take Anderson's place as the new Emergency Management Coordinator. After working with Anderson for 11 years as the sheriff's office emergency management division sergeant, Harlan said Anderson's retirement is well earned. "I'm happy for him," Harlan said. "He's poured his heart and soul into the community." Anderson won't be taking it too easy in retirement, though. He'll have a weekend off, then head back to Houston the following Monday. Holbrook said he wouldn't expect Anderson to take retirement easy. "It's not in his nature," he said. The "typical" American family is evolving. Single-parent households are on the rise, women are increasingly serving as the family breadwinner and employees are being tasked with caring for both children and aging parents. Related: The Basics of Employee Benefits Meanwhile, the generational makeup of the workplace is also changing. Forty-seven percent of employees are considered part of the sandwich generation, the segment of adults ages 40 to 59 with a minor child and a parent over age 65. Millennials now make up the largest demographic in the workforce and are starting families of their own. Unfortunately, for those in the workforce, many employee benefits plans haven't kept pace with these changing family dynamics. Employees with family caregiving needs often lack the financial safety net or ability to take time away from work. Employees who need to take time away from work to provide care for loved ones often do so by piecing together paid time off, sick leave and short-term disability benefits. Without any federal program to support these workers, employers, individual states and some municipalities are starting to take matters into their own hands. A recent survey conducted by the Disability Management Employer Coalition (DMEC) and The Standard found that 32 percent of employers currently offer a paid family leave program. Related: 4 Tips for a Stronger Employee Benefits Program in a Multigenerational Workplace Companies recognized as early adopters in paid family leave and paid parental leave know that work-life balance is a key factor in employee recruitment and retention efforts. If you are considering whether a paid family leave program is right for your company, here are four questions to consider. How would a paid family leave program benefit our organization? Although it may seem counterintuitive to create a program for employees to take time away from work, paid family leave programs often boost employee productivity. Paid family leave policies demonstrate an organization's commitment to its employees and can help increase employees' overall engagement, morale and productivity. This can help a company stay competitive in today's tight talent market. What are the differences between a paid family leave and paid parental leave program? These programs may sound similar, but there are unique differences between the two types. Paid family leave programs generally provide leave for: Bonding time with a newborn or newly adopted child Caring for a family member (typically a parent, spouse or child) with a serious health condition Relieving family pressures when a family member is called to active military service An employee's own serious illness A paid parental leave program only provides time for both men and women to bond with a newborn or newly adopted child. Of employers surveyed by DMEC and The Standard, 32 percent said they offer a paid family leave program, while 34 percent said they provide paid parental leave benefits. Related: How to Create a Family Leave Policy That Works Is my state implementing legislation? While federal legislation has been proposed in the Senate, only five states (New Jersey, California, Rhode Island, New York and Washington) and the District of Columbia have passed or implemented statewide paid family leave benefits to date. Sixteen other states across the country have proposed legislation within the last year. If you're in one of the states that currently doesn't have any paid family leave legislation passed, it's important to stay informed on the status of your state's legislation, as it may impact or change the design of your program. What if my organization has locations in multiple states? Multistate employers can be impacted by legislation even if you aren't located in a state with a mandatory paid family leave program. That's because you may be required to offer coverage to employees who reside in a state that does have a leave law. Related: Businesses Shouldn't Underestimate the Real Benefits of Parental Leave For example, New York's paid family leave program will be effective Jan. 1, 2018. The program requires private employers with New York-based employees that provide disability benefits coverage to also provide paid family leave coverage. This mandate also applies to employers that are not based in New York but have remote employees based in the state who are eligible for disability benefits. If that weren't enough, the state-based programs that have been passed differ from state to state. It is important for employers to be aware of state and local regulations and consider how the programs, funding amounts and employee deductions differ between states. A 21st-century program The battle among organizations for top talent is heating up, and many employers are considering paid family leave programs as a way to stay relevant and competitive. Evaluating if a proactive paid family leave program is right for your organization is one way to make sure your organization stands out from the rest. Related Video: Why a Basic Benefits Package Is No Longer Enough Related: With Today's Changing Workforce Demographic, Companies That Want to Succeed Would Do Well to Offer This Employee Benefit How to Incorporate This One Employee Perk to Improve Your Business How can You Keep Your Employees Happy at Work Copyright 2017 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved This article originally appeared on entrepreneur.com 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 ... My wife and I recently ventured from our home in Montana on a two-week road trip to the Southwest. The excursion took us deep into Utahs majestic canyon country and the Wests ongoing clash over our federal public lands, a conflict most recently inflamed by Interior Secretary Ryan Zinkes recommendation to shrink a number of national monuments. While the environmental, social, and political issues around these fights remain contentious, one thing has become abundantly clear: Strong public lands protections fuel thriving economies. Our first stop was Salt Lake City, which was coming to terms with the decision by the Outdoor Retailer trade show known as OR to relocate its annual event to Denver after 20 years in Salt Lake City. The move was in response to Utahs state and federal officials repeatedly lobbying to reduce regulations on federal public lands and give control to state government. Outdoor clothing and gear manufacturers, whose customers recreate on those lands, strongly oppose this agenda and decided to decamp. The trade shows relocation will pull $45 million annually from the local economy and has tarnished both the citys and the states image. Advocates for the transfer of public lands clearly expect states would provide less environmental protection and would allow increased mining, drilling and clearcutting. While relaxed regulations may benefit specific companies in the short-term, those activities undermine the lands value in other ways. Citizens are waking up to the greater economic benefits of safeguarding public lands and waters. Support for preserving these public assets was abundant in Salt Lake City, mostly in the form of signs and T-shirts reading Save Bears Ears, in reference to the newly established National Monument which Zinke reportedly has recommended reducing in size. This was the big city, full of tech entrepreneurs and weekend warriors, not the folks whose jobs and lives are more traditionally entwined with the fates of mines, wells and timber companies. As we continued into rural southern Utah, I suspected the displays in favor of public lands would dwindle. I was wrong. As we drove twisting back roads between the small towns around Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, displays supporting public lands only intensified. I saw posters in shop windows, bumper stickers on cars, and hand-painted yard signs. Multiple businesses posted petitions urging Utah politicians to not kill the golden goose that has invigorated these communities during recent decades. And T-shirts made by the Bear Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition demonstrated support from Native Americans whose past is documented on canyon walls throughout the monument. Locals clearly see the benefits of protection dwarfing those from extractive non-renewable uses, and the research agrees. It isnt just gear manufacturers who benefit from healthy public lands. Local economies do, too. The nonprofit research organization Headwaters Economics has studied this issue extensively and drawn clear conclusions. Rural communities with more federal and protected lands consistently perform better economically than their neighbors. Importantly, that economic growth is not one-dimensional. According to Headwaters, these lands are an important economic asset that extends beyond tourism and recreation to attract people and businesses, supporting broad-based community development. None of this is news to Montanans. Our state has developed a nationally recognized pro-entrepreneur culture that grows from its commitment to environmental health. Montanans value our lands so much that when they got together in the 1970s to rewrite the state Constitution, they created a specific chapter enshrining the citizens right to a "clean and healthful environment." Recently, Montanas governor announced the creation of an Office of Outdoor Recreation to better support outdoor businesses and, by extension, the lands on which they depend. According to a study by the Outdoor Industry Association, outdoor recreation in Montana produced $7.1 billion in consumer spending last year, 71,000 direct jobs, $2.2 billion in wages and salaries and $286 million in state and local tax revenue, making it one of the states top economic sectors by any measure. And thats just one industry. Many others depend, directly or indirectly, on the natural landscape. In Montana, Utah and across the West, efforts to open public lands to greater resource extraction are being met with an increased awareness about the threat that agenda poses. Robust public lands protections dont just benefit the environment; they serve people, local businesses, and the economies on which we all depend. Drew Callaghan is the Outreach Specialist for the American Independent Business Alliance, He resides in Missoula. I have a strong belief it is important to be able to disagree on issues without being disagreeable. So let me simply say to Darrell Ehrlick regarding his column about the propriety of my U.S. Senate exploratory committee: I disagree. Let me explain why. First, my U.S. Senate exploratory committee has been given a clean bill of health by the Judicial Standards Commission, the pre-eminent authority on such matters. It sounds like Ehrlick doesnt like the rules. If so, the constructive thing to do is try to change those rules, rather render attacks on those following those rules. Second, I set up the exploratory committee and gave four months resignation notice because it was (and is) the right thing to do. I wanted to finish this job I have been blessed with for 22 years well. I could have avoided these questions by suddenly resigning. I did not want to do that and leave thousands of litigants in the lurch. The easy way out would have been to resign as a judge immediately. However, I did not want to leave the people of Yellowstone County and my fellow judges understaffed. This decision opened me up to criticism, but it was the right thing to do. Judges need to do the right thing, even if it doesnt poll well. If I do run, thats the type of approach I will take to the U.S. Senate. Third, the exploratory committee is the approved method to test the waters by the Federal Elections Commission. I am considering a run because I have seen the economic hardships Montanans face and believe I have unique qualifications as a judge for 22 years to address those issues. Listening to Montanans is not unethical thank the Lord. Fourth, all my actions, from contacting people, giving speeches, and even some fundraising are approved by the FEC and the Canons of Judicial Conduct. But dont take my word for it, take the Judicial Standards word for it. Fifth, yes Ive said I have the best chance of defeating Senator Tester should I run. That is not identifying myself as a candidate, that is stating my belief. And last, yes "judge" is on my logo for the exploratory committee. I am honored to have been a judge for 22 years, and, as another former judge told, once a judge, always a judge. This is a good way for people to know my background, which I think gives me a rare perspective on the issues Montanans face. Our constitution, divinely inspired, gives everyone the right to express their opinions. Thats why I defend Ehrlicks right to his editorial. The free exchange of ideas makes our country great. My only suggestion to him is while opinions are good, facts are even better. I look forward to my next chapter, whether it be just establishing my own law firm, or additional pursuits, such a run for the U.S. Senate, which will be addressed after my time on the bench has come to an end. Thank you for considering my side and God bless. His scheme was so elaborate, police say Stephen Paddock would have had to be a superhero to pull this off. They have reason to believe the Las Vegas shooter wanted to survive the attack and flee justice and may have had an accomplice. New details reveal he was collecting weapons and ammo for decades and may have first planned to attack Chicagos Lollapalooza festival in August that was attended by Malia Obama. Police have lowered the injury count in Las Vegas from 527 to 489 after confusion at hospitals. Dr. Phil went to Las Vegas for a special episode of his talk show airing tomorrow. Hes giving DailyMailTV a peek as he talks with survivors at Las Vegas hospitals. The mystery military man in one of the most haunting images from the Las Vegas massacre has been revealed. Get the story behind this photo and the heroics he pulled off after this moment. Some NBC insiders are calling it a $69 million mistake. A DailyMailTV exclusive puts Megyn Kellys salary well above some of NBCs biggest names, and now the backlash begins. She wont say if she did or didnt, but Madonna may have visited rapper Tupac Shakur when he was in jail. A DailyMailTV exclusive offers details about this possible prison meeting as a note from Tupac to the material girl goes up for auction. Two high school juniors are running for governor in Kansas and theyve caught the attention of the frontrunner. Meet 16-year-olds Jack Bergeson and Tyler Ruzich. Theyre on opposing political tickets and are ready to lead their state. A man and a woman who met during a grocery shopping mix-up have tied the knot, five years after their identical cars caused them to meet in a parking lot. Colin and Tiffany, of Delray Beach, Florida, first crossed each other's path in 2012 after each one of them paid a visit to a Publix supermarket. In the parking lot, Tiffany unlocked her white Jeep Cherokee from afar and was preparing to put her groceries inside when she noticed a stranger near her vehicle. Destiny: Colin and Tiffany, of Delray Beach, Florida, tied the knot earlier this year (pictured), five years after their identical cars caused them to meet in a parking lot How it all began: Tiffany was getting out of a Publix supermarket when she noticed Colin loading groceries into her car, a white Jeep Cherokee identical to Colin's (both are pictured) Kerfuffle: At first, Tiffany (pictured with Colin) thought the stranger was attempting to steal her car, but it turned out he thought the vehicle was his Tiffany thought at first that someone was trying to steal her car, but told DailyMail.com she then noticed the man was busy loading his own shopping inside. Confused, Tiffany told the stranger the car was hers, but he didn't believe her immediately. She ended up clicking the lock button on her car keys, causing the horn to sound and providing ample evidence that the Jeep was indeed hers. 'He was completely disoriented,' Tiffany said, adding: 'I was definitely a little more friendly than he was. He was very adamant it was his car an was almost annoyed with me, probably thinking I was a nutcase.' Colin ended up realizing his car was parked right next to Tiffany's, which was blocking the view to his own vehicle. What could have been just a confusing parking kerfuffle turned into something more when Tiffany jokingly volunteered to keep Colin's shopping. Romance: Colin and Tiffany ended up seeing each other again for dinner two weeks later, and they ultimately got engaged after Colin proposed (pictured) It goes on: The two love birds still own their identical white Jeep Cherokees and still mix them up constantly, which Tiffany said is now 'the biggest annoyance' Keeping it going: Tiffany (pictured with Colin during the wedding) invited Colin over for dinner two weeks after their first meeting, and took care to tell her roommate about the date 'After the mix-up, I felt awkward and wanted to break the silence so said, "You can leave your groceries though, I'll take those" and kind of laughed,' she said. 'His response? "Only if you're going to make me dinner with them" with a smirk on his face.' That response caught Tiffany off guard, but both of them laughed and after two weeks of texting Tiffany ended up welcoming Colin into her home for dinner. She had taken care to inform her roommate, who was going to be at work at the time, of the upcoming date, and had asked her to call at a specific time to make sure Tiffany was all right. 'Even though I invited him over to my place, I wanted some escape route in place in case he was weird or I was uncomfortable,' Tiffany said. 'She called, and I didn't answer, but then sent her a text saying "All's good." ' Memory: 'I was definitely a little more friendly than he was,' Tiffany said of the mix-up. 'He was very adamant it was his car an was almost annoyed with me, probably thinking I was a nutcase' It gets better: The two have also found out their tastes in vehicles are even more similar than they had originally suspected, since they both previously had Jeep Wranglers That initial date blossomed into a long-term romance, and the two lovebirds ended up tying the knot in their home State in March this year. Years after their unusual first meeting, Tiffany and Colin, who originally shared their story with The Way We Met, still have a hard time telling their cars apart. 'To be honest, it was funny and we laughed the first 10 times it happened,' Tiffany said. 'Now it is just the biggest annoyance. We constantly mix up these Jeeps.' The two have also found out their tastes in vehicles are even more similar than they had originally suspected. 'The crazy part? We BOTH had Jeep Wranglers before each having a Jeep Cherokee,' Tiffany added. 'Granted, those were different colors, but we still can't believe that.' Look away now arachnophobes! This salad is enough to make your stomach churn. It is the Australian supermarket that has branded themselves as the 'Fresh Food People' but one unlucky customer appears to have received the shock of her life. Brooke Wiramanaden, from Melbourne, said she was left feeling disgusted when she claims she found a giant spider nestled in her salad. 'What can I say, I wasnt impressed, the fact that I almost ate it made me sick,' Ms Wiramanaden told Daily Mail Australia. 'You buy these products thinking its going to be OK as the packet clearly says washed and ready to use.' One Woolworths customer appears to have received the shock of her life after she claims she found a spider in her pre-packaged salad leaves She bought the salad leaves at a Woolworths store in Hampton Park in the citys south east. 'It made me sick - what else did I eat, were there eggs or other things lurking there? I buy a lot of prewashed salads and now Im completely put off them all together.' Brooke posted a photo of the special guest to the Woolies Facebook page saying that she 'wasn't happy'. A Woolworths spokesperson responded to Ms Wiramanaden's social media post. 'We're very concerned about this, Brooke, and take incidents like this very seriously. For your awareness this has been escalated for immediate investigation,' the spokesperson said. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Woolworths for comment. Brooke Wiramanaden, from Melbourne, (pictured left) was half way through eating her salad before she allegedly found the spider nestled in it She bought the salad leaves at a Woolworths store in Hampton Park in the citys south east In the image a large visible spider was allegedly found in the salad she had prepared. Brooke said she showed her colleagues the arachnid and snapped a photo before setting the spider free. Knowing that this spider had been hiding in her produce made Brooke feel sick to her stomach, especially because she had eaten most of the salad before noticing her hairy friend. One man also posted his surprise finding to the Woolworths Facebook page when he allegedly found a worm resting on his head of iceberg lettuce Unfortunately this isn't the first time that a friendly critter appears to have reared its head in Woolworths produce. One man also posted his surprise finding to the Woolworths Facebook page when he claims to have found a worm resting on his head of iceberg lettuce. 'What quality is this? All this hype about quality and then this?' he captioned the photo he posted. A toddler has beaten incredible odds to survive leukaemia, after a diagnosis at just four months old left his parents expecting the worst. Little Bronx Wilson, from Adelaide, has been in treatment for two types of the cancer which had spread through most of his body. Parents Jennifer Anderson and Aaron Wilson revealed how devastated they were by the heartbreaking news, and how they'd prepared for the worst. 'They said babies his age who have this type of cancer, they don't usually survive,' Mr Wilson told 9NEWS. Scroll down for video Bronx Wilson was diagnosed with two types of leukaemia at four-months-old It's been a long journey to recovery for young Bronx who has undergone five rounds of chemotherapy and stem cell treatment in six months. 'It's hard... Sometimes you don't realise when you say goodbye, you're actually saying goodbye,' Ms Wilson said. Dr Peter Diamond of the Leukaemia Foundation said the toddler's diagnosis was rare among children his age. 'He represents a maximum of five to 10 individuals who get diagnosed with that at his age in a year in Australia so it's incredibly rare,' he said. Over the course of Bronx's treatment, the Mt Gambier family spent a year at the Leukaemia Foundation's patient village. Ms Anderson likened the connections she made with people at the unit to family, and said, 'There's nothing we wouldn't do for them.' Although their boy is currently in remission from the disease, the battle has been long and hard. 'He's our hero and he's an inspiration and he's a warrior,' said Ms Anderson. The toddler (pictured left) is now in remission. After news of his diagnosis his father, Mr Wilson (pictured right) had prepared himself for the worst The family will join others this Friday night at 'Light the Night' - a fundraising event hosted by the Leukaemia Foundation. Participants including Bronx will carry lanterns in a bid to raise awareness for blood cancers. 'The white lantern that Bronx will be carrying on the night is to support his journey, Ms Anderson said. Remember the film Breakfast At Tiffanys? Audrey Hepburns character dreamed her mornings away in front of the beautifully decorated windows of New Yorks most famous jeweller, Tiffany & Co, longing for the day she could drape herself in its diamonds. But the modern woman on a budget has no need to waste her days longing for a handsome and wealthy benefactor to bring a little sparkle to her life. Instead, she can simply take several large steps down the retail ladder to Argos, where the latest jewellery offerings look startlingly similar to some of the most recognisable items in those elegantly lit Tiffany display cases. From the signature open heart necklace to the chunky silver ID bracelet, you can find lookalikes for as little as a tenth of the price in Argos. Whats more, many are made of real gold and sterling silver and even set with real diamonds. The trend for classic, refined pieces is filtering down from the jewellery giants such as Tiffany, Dior and Hermes to the High Street, says trend expert Emily Seares, of website FashionBite. FEMAIL selected the best Tiffany look-a-likes from Argos, as the luxury giant's classic pieces continue to filter down in to the high street Many of the lookalikes are so good that, unless you know a piece isnt high-end, it can be hard to spot. To keep prices down, often High Street jewellery is made with lower quality diamonds or a diamond substitute, such as cubic zirconia. Because these are not as rare, and dont hold their value long-term, theyre much cheaper, says jewellery blogger Mellissa Williams. Of course, a direct knock-off of a designer piece would be illegal. Instead, High Street brands opt for designer-inspired styles, which are not emblazoned with any famous logos (these are trademarked) and which do not reference the more expensive stores in their marketing Tiffany has trademarked many versions of its name, the Tiffany blue box and the Tiffany shade of blue, for example. Some very distinctive design elements are also copyrighted as the artists personal work, but High Street jewellers can make use of design elements and styles that are in the public domain to create something rather similar and at a refreshingly cheap price. Jewellery blogger Mellissa Williams says high street jewellery often doesn't have the same workmanship as luxury retailers such as Tiffany's, but can you spot the difference? So, is there a way to ensure your cheap-as-chips jewellery doesnt look, well, as if you ordered it from a catalogue? Avoid yellow gold, which can make a piece look cheap if its plated or is a low karat, says Emily. Instead, go for silver or rose gold rose gold is a huge trend at the moment, is flattering on all skin tones and looks far less obvious than yellow gold. Its important to know what youre buying, too. Tiffany has a reputation to uphold, so the quality and workmanship is high, says Mellissa. High Street jewellery often doesnt have that workmanship, so pick wisely and look for silver and gold hallmarks to ensure quality. So, can you spot the difference between a Tiffany trinket and Argoss best effort? HORSESHOE NECKLACE Horseshoe necklaces pictured left to right, Tiffany 2,250 and Argos 39.99 A bestseller since Sarah Jessica Parker wore it in Sex And The City, Tiffanys lucky platinum horseshoe pendant is studded with diamonds. The sterling silver Argos lookalike also boasts a real diamond, and is more than 2,200 cheaper! ROSE GOLD LOCKET Rose gold locket pictured left to right, Tiffany's 1,900 and Argos 99.99 Strikingly similar, both are rose gold though the Tiffany version is 18k and Argoss is only 9k. With Tiffany, youll have to buy a 305 chain. Meanwhile, the cheaper version comes with a two-year guarantee and will save you 1,800. SILVER ID BRACELET Silver ID bracelet pictured left to right, Tiffany's 475 and Argos 129.99 If your budget wont stretch to the Tiffany design (which can be engraved for an extra 20), Argoss 8.5 in version, a whole 0.25 in longer than Tiffanys, is a good alternative though the shop doesnt offer engraving. INTERLOCKING CIRCLES PENDANT Interlocking circles pendant pictured left to right, Tiffany's 2,425 and Argos 224.99 Tiffanys may cost ten times as much, with 18k gold and real diamonds; but the Argos pendant is arguably more stylish. Its made of yellow, white and rose gold (albeit only 9k) however, you have to pay an extra 50 for the chain. TWIST HOOP EARRINGS Twist hoop earrings pictured left to right, Tiffany's 1,950 and Argos 65 A Paloma Picasso design, these 4cm Tiffany hoops are 18k gold while the Argos ones are 9k gold and almost half the size. Still, youll save about 1,800. SOLITAIRE SPARKLER Solitare sparkler pictured left to right, Tiffany's 13,200 and Argos 99.99 Of course, Argoss cubic zirconia stones and 9k white gold band cant compete with Tiffanys brilliant real diamonds set in platinum; however, to the untrained eye, it does look pleasingly sparkly and costs 13,000 less. HALO DIAMOND RING Halo diamond ring pictured left to right, Tiffany's 13,400 and Argos 109.99 A TRUE showstopper, Tiffanys ring is platinum with premium diamonds, while the Argos version is white gold and cubic zirconia. SILVER INFINITY NECKLACE Silver infinity necklace pictured left to right, Tiffany's 320 and Argos 32.99 On paper, theres very little difference between these, as both are sterling silver with an 18in chain. However, the Argos version, costing a tenth of the Tiffany pendant, is also studded with tiny jewels. KEY PENDANT Key pendant pictured left to right, Tiffany's 170 and Argos 19.99 Both are similar sizes, on identical chains and made of sterling silver. While the Tiffany design is admittedly more refined, is it worth 150 more? It also sells a diamond-studded version (worn by actress Emma Watson, far left) for 2,150. GOLD INFINITY NECKLACE Gold infinity necklace pictured left to right, Tiffany's 465 and Argos 99.99 A modern take on the ancient infinity symbol, the Tiffany pendant is made of 18k gold, while the Argos version is 9k gold and has a scattering of tiny real diamonds. STERLING SILVER LOVE RING Sterling silver 'love' ring pictured left to right, Tiffany's 175 and Argos 4.99 This sterling silver Tiffany ring features Paloma Picassos own handwriting and was inspired by graffiti scrawled on New York buildings. At a guess, the Argos ring was inspired by, well, the Tiffany one. Not only is it made of sterling silver too, it costs a fiver. DIAMOND HOOPS Diamond hoops pictured left to right, Tiffany's 6,075 and Argos 17.99 its 4cm, white gold, diamond hoops vs 5cm, crystal-set metal versions. But theres a dazzling 6,000 price difference. OPEN HEART NECKLACE Open heart necklace pictured left to right, Tiffany's 190 and Argos 49.99 Made famous by Renee Zellweger in Bridget Joness Diary and designed by Elsa Peretti, this silver pendant is one of Tiffanys more affordable items. The Argos version, however, is cheaper still, and made of white gold. HEART CHARM CHAIN Heart charm chain pictured left to right, Tiffany's 295 and Argos 12.99 Although its only silver-plated, the 7 in long Argos bracelet has a similar look and feel to the solid silver, 7.5 in designer version. However, this one is engraved, reminding the wearer that theres no place like Tiffany. GOLD INFINITY CUFF Gold infinity cuff pictured left to right, Tiffany's 4,100 and Argos 96.99 The secret to the saving here is clear: fewer diamonds, a lower purity gold (9k compared with 18k) and a hollow bangle. But with the Argos one you could save 4,000 . . . Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner may well be happily settled into their sprawling family home in Washington, D.C. - but it turns out the property is a far cry from the decadent and historic place they first stayed upon their arrival in the city. The 35-year-old revealed in a recent interview that she and her husband spent their first weekend staying at the White House, where they were given the Lincoln Bedroom, one of best known guest suites in the presidential property. It is the first time that Ivanka has spoken out about the couple's stay in the room - which was first created under the Truman administration, and is usually reserved for visiting political heavyweights. Scroll down for video Special status: Ivanka Trump has revealed that she and Jared Kushner stayed in the historic Lincoln Bedroom during their first weekend in Washington, D.C. VIP: The guest suite, which is on the second floor of the White House, was first created under the Truman administration, and is usually reserved for visiting political heavyweights Family first: Mother-of-three Ivanka, pictured witih her family in August, admitted that she has found it 'incredibly difficult' to balance her White House role with motherhood 'When we first arrived in Washington, we spent the weekend at the White House,' Ivanka explained during an interview with US Weekly, before adding that she and her husband were given the suite over her other siblings. 'Jared and I stayed in the Lincoln Bedroom and my siblings all stayed over as well,' she noted. 'All of the kids were running through the halls - they had an amazing time.' In the interview, the mother-of-three also opened up about her life in Washington, her ongoing struggle to balance her White House role with motherhood, and the sacrifices she has had to make in order to focus on her job as a senior advisor to her father, President Donald Trump. Speaking about how she juggles motherhood with 'such a demanding job', Ivanka admitted that she finds creating and maintaining that balance 'incredibly difficult', noting that 'some days I do a really good job' while 'other days, I don't'. 'It was much easier when I was my own boss, where I could set my own schedule, but working in the White House doesn't lend itself to that because of the gravity of the issues that you're dealing with,' she confessed. 'When you wake up in the middle of the night worrying about something - the things you're worrying about just have so much more consequence.' As well as missing out on the freedom of running her own business, Ivanka also admitted that she has struggled with the loss of her role as an entrepreneur, noting that it was something she 'loved' doing, however she insists that what she is doing now is 'more important'. Sacrifices: The 35-year-old confessed that she has missed being able to make regular trips to the gym, but said she enjoys her Saturday morning runs through her D.C. neighborhood Balance: Ivanka noted that Jared has to work 'incredibly long hours' and as such she tries to ensure she is at home as much as possible to look after their children Lucky: The senior White House advisor said she relishes the chance to work so closely with her father, and praised his 'remarkable' ability to 'interact with people' But that demanding job has seen her miss out on more than just the day-to-day running of her eponymous fashion label, it's also forced her to sacrifice other more personal things, like spending time with her siblings, and going for sessions at the gym. 'I go for runs on Saturdays but I work out very infrequently,' Ivanka, who was a regular visitor to the gym in her New York building, explained. But, she said, the opportunity to work so closely with her father makes it all worthwhile. As well as lamenting the many sacrifices involved in her family's move to Washington, Ivanka also took the opportunity to pay tribute to Jared, praising him for coping with a hectic working life while also finding time to fulfill his duties as a parent. 'My husband has incredibly long hours,' she explained, before adding: 'We wake up around 5am to get as much done as we can before the kids wake around 7am. We eat breakfast as a family every morning. Jared, albeit, is taking his toast and running out the door.' However the tough working hours don't appear to have put a damper on the couple's relationship. '[Jared] is my best friend. He's the kindest, smartest, most thoughtful person I know,' Ivanka gushed. 'When I'm down he always knows it and he's going to reinforce me.' The couple certainly seems to be managing the co-parenting balance well, managing to work out a schedule that allows them to spend time with their kids and meet their commitments at the White House. Dad duties: Jared was spotted leaving the family's Washington, D.C. home this morning with his son Joseph, holding the three-year-old's backpack in his hand Fun: The 36-year-old father headed out in a suit and tie, his business attire contrasting with the bright colors of Joseph's backpack, which seemed to be adorned with red and blue cars Ready for PE? The little boy walked a few feet away from his father, dressed in a sweater, Nike pants, and sneakers for his day of school Mother and daughter: Meanwhile, Ivanka left about 10 minutes later with their six-year-old daughter Arabella via a blacked-out SUV On Wednesday Jared was spotted leaving the family's D.C. home with their son Joseph, holding the three-year-old's backpack. Meanwhile, Ivanka left about 10 minutes later with their six-year-old daughter Arabella via a blacked-out SUV. Jared was all smiles as he and Joseph headed out for the day. The little boy walked a few feet away from his father, dressed in a sweater, Nike pants, and sneakers for his day of school. His father headed out in a suit and tie, his business attire contrasting slightly with the bright colors of Joseph's backpack, which seemed to be adorned with red and blue cars. Ivanka and Arabella were hidden by the blacked-out windows of the Secret Service vehicle as they headed out for the day. Yesterday, the First Daughter made her usual trip from the front door of her home to her car, as always attended by a bevy of photographers who snapped her picture as she smiled and stepped into the Secret Service SUV. She seemed to be sticking with the mod theme she has been trying out this week, mixing plaid pants and a snug top with a wide cut-out across her chest. Ivanka added a pop of color with low pointy-toe slingbacks, pulled her hair into a ponytail, and slipped on a pair of large hoop earrings, making for a decidedly '60s look. The First Daughter seems to be committing to this '60s theme this week, as she wore a similarly retro outfit on Monday. Event: The First Daughter said that, while she misses being an entrepreneur and having the freedom of running her own business, she feels what she does now is 'more important' Leaving her house, she was seen sporting a bright yellow sweater with a crew neck, which she paired with a plaid skirt with a slit. She wore her hair in loose curls around her shoulders, which she pushed back to show off the most eye-catching element of her look: a pair of oversized earrings several inches wide and long. Her heels, too, were an unusual choice for the First Daughter: though black and understated in the front, they featured a trendy clear heel. Ivanka and Jared both came under fire last week along with his wife for using private email addresses to conduct official business. Jared is among six White House officials who discussed White House matters using private email addresses, along with Steve Bannon and Reince Priebus, the New York Times reported citing 'current and former' officials. As for Ivanka, she used a private account to communicate with a government official while working as an unofficial adviser in the early days of her father's administration, Newsweek wrote. Last week, their accounts were re-routed from a server hosted by Microsoft to two housed at the Trump Organization after coming under public scrutiny,USA Today reported yesterday. More often than not those that consider themselves a wine connoisseur will believe the more you spend on a bottle of wine the better, but this isn't always the case. Now a bottle of red from Australia's cheap and cheerful supermarket, ALDI, has taken the top spot at an awards show. ALDI's Blackstone Paddock Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 was awarded Gold in the Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 vintage class at the prestigious Royal Adelaide Wine Awards. ALDI's Blackstone Paddock Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 is the lucky bottle that has been awarded Gold at the prestigious Royal Adelaide Wine Awards (pictured right) Only 2,000 wines are accepted into the competition each year, making it an exclusive contest. The red wine is award winning without the hefty price tag as it costs less than AUD $20, retailing for $17.99. The liquor has a deep colour with a berry aroma and a rich, smooth palate. 'A wine of elegance, class and structure with powerful plum, blackcurrant, truffles and smokey olive characters,' the ALDI website reads. Only 2,000 wines are accepted into the competition each year, making it an exclusive contest 'A wine of elegance, class and structure with powerful plum, blackcurrant, truffles and smokey olive characters,' the ALDI website reads BOTTLES ALDI BEAT Eric Stevens Purbrick Cabernet Sauvignon - Silver $28.99 The Angelus Cabernet Sauvignon - Silver $54.99 St Hugo Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon - Bronze $39.99 Lindemans Coonawarra St George Cabernet Sauvignon - Bronze $54.99 Advertisement The $17.99 alcohol beat a $74.99 bottle, Brand's Laira One Seven One Cabernet Sauvignon, which took silver. The ALDI red wine was one of only eight bottles awarded Gold. This isn't the first time that ALDI's affordable alcohol has been applauded for its high-quality. Earlier this year some of their wines won Double Gold, Gold, Silver and Bronze medals in various categories at the Melbourne International Wine Show. This isn't the first time ALDI's alcohol has been applauded for its high-quality Before this, ALDI's The Pond Cabernet Sauvignon, which retails for AUD $6.99, was awarded Top Gold at the Rutherglen Wine Show. This is a classic cool climate cabernet with a palate that consists of blackberries and cassis with spice. 'A wine with very good richness, structure and depth and ideal for barbequed meats and evening meals,' the ALDI website states. ALDI's buying director, Jason Bowyer, previously told Daily Mail Australia that the quality and value equation is the most important aspect. Before this, ALDI's The Pond Cabernet Sauvignon, which retails for AUD $6.99, was awarded Top Gold at the Rutherglen Wine Show (pictured right) 'We pride ourselves on sourcing products of the highest quality, and these award wins are testament to the excellent calibre of the Australian suppliers we work with,' he told Daily Mail Australia. 'It enables us to deliver to high standards that are in line with our customers' tastes, by bench marking product specifications against market leading wine brands. 'A $10 wine at ALDI should drink like a $20 - $25 wine from elsewhere, and we consistently deliver on this formula.' Twelve intimate shots of Marilyn Monroe showcasing the Hollywood starlet enjoying sparklers in her birthday cake and swimming nude are expected to fetch up to $35,000 (26,000). The impressive array of highly sought-after shots will be on offer with Heritage Auctions in New York. Alongside Marilyn's photos are images of Beatles bloopers, Frank Sinatra with guards, Muhammad Ali and other rare shots, with the entire sale expected to make more than $120,000 (90,000). Frank Sinatra pictured at his peak of fame striding through crowds surrounded by bodyguards at the Foundtainebleau Hotel in Miami Beach, is estimated to sell for $30,000 (22,000). Intimate photos of Muhammad Ali showing his strong proportions in close-up shots are expected to fetch $15,000 (11,000). Candid shots of Marilyn Monroe swimming nude are set to fetch up to $35,000 (26,000) at Heritage Auctions in New York next week Bathing beauty: The rare images of the late star form part of an impressive array of highly sought-after celebrity shots The Some Like It Hot star shows off her famous curves in an intimate swimming pool photo shoot Two alternatives to The Beatles legendary Abbey Road cover where the famous four strutted over the crosswalk, are estimated up to make $25,000 (18,000) Nigel Russel, Director of Photographs for Heritage Auction, said: 'On August 8, 1969, The Beatles arrived at Abbey Road Studios for the crosswalk photo-shoot that would soon take place just outside the building. 'At approximately 11:30 am on this sunny day, a willing London policeman was asked to hold up and direct traffic on the busy Abbey Road. LOTS ON OFFER Lawrence Schiller's 1962 Marilyn 12 Portfolio (12 photos). Estimate: $25,000-35,000. Terry O'Neill's 1968 Frank Sinatra and Bodyguards, Fountainbleau, Miami Beach. Estimate: $20,000-30,000. Ian Macmillan's 1969 The Beatles, Abbey Road (two rare alternate cover photograph outtakes). Estimate: $15,000-25,000. 'The Greatest' captured in John Stewart's 1977 Group of Seven Photographs featuring Muhammad Ali. Estimate: $10,000-15,000. Annie Leibovitz's 1999 Bruce Springsteen, Philadelphia. Estimate: $10,000-15,000. Edward Steichen's 1929 Gertrude Lawrence. Estimate: $10,000-15,000. Advertisement 'Iain Macmillan then positioned a step-ladder in the middle of the road, just feet away from the pedestrian crossing, hastily climbed the ladder, quickly steadied himself, and prepared to take the photographs. 'As The Beatles crossed Abbey Road several times, Iain Macmillan was able to snap six quick shots within a 10-minute timeframe. 'Once the outdoor session was completed, The Beatles entered Abbey Road Studios to record the finishing touches on the songs 'Oh! Darling', 'I Want You', and ironically, 'The End'. 'The Abbey Road album was finally completed and released worldwide to the public on September 26, 1969, marking the end of their recording career together as The Beatles. 'The image from this brief photo-shoot used on The Beatles album cover has become so iconic that people take the pilgrimage to Abbey Road to stand on the zebra-striped pedestrian crossing and reenact it. 'There is even a 24-hour webcam of the crossing itself, to this day, artists worldwide continue to imitate the Abbey Road crosswalk photo, including Sir Paul McCartney himself. The star perches at the side of the pool while posing up a storm for the cameras One of the rare shots shows the star celebrating her birthday with a cake covered in sparklers 'In 1993, McCartney had his photo and sheepdog digitally inserted into the famous Abbey Road photograph for a live album, titling it "Paul Is Live", poking fun at the age-old "Paul is Dead" rumor created by the Abbey Road LP cover itself. 'Over the years, Iain Macmillen personally issued only a handful of hand-signed and numbered limited edition prints of his images taken that day at Abbey Road with The Beatles, before his untimely death in 2006. 'These unused alternative images from the Abbey Road cover shoot are extremely rare.' An unused alternative image from the Beatles' Abbey Road cover shoot forms part of the sale Frank Sinatra shot among bodybuards at the Fontainbleau Hotel in Miami Beach Twelve candid shots of Marilyn Monroe could sell for up to $35,000 For the largescale Frank Sinatra image, taken by Terry O'Neill, he captured the King of Swing walking through a crowd surrounded by guards. The shot was taken during his time filming for Lady in Cement - where he stared as private investigator Tony Rome. Terry O'Neill, the photographer, recalled: 'I just didn't know how to go about photographing Sinatra at the hotel or what was the best way to approach him. The image from this brief photo-shoot used on The Beatles Abbey Road album cover has become iconic 'He suddenly appeared around the corner of the boardwalk with his bodyguards and I just captured the moment.' Other images include more of Marilyn Monroe, specifically what is believed to be her last shot before her death, Bruce Springsteen and many more. The striking array of celebrity images will be available October 11th in Heritage Auctions' Photographs Auction in New York. Sometimes that university on a hill feels a lot like, well, a university on the hill detached and somewhat insular. We applaud the recent initiatives that have continued to connect the town with the university on the hill...er, Rims. Montana State University Billings and City College's workforce development and its college completion programs are good ways to connect. Moreover, MSUB plans on holding some events with the University of Montana law school to engage the legal community in the upcoming week. These are excellent ways to get local professionals and business leaders involved. However, last week, MSU (the one in Bozeman) announced that it would be holding feedback and listening sessions for a permanent chancellor search. Currently, interim chancellor Ron Larsen is serving as the leader of the Billings campus, which reports to Bozeman. Though some of the faculty and staff knew about the meeting, which was held on Monday, the community was not informed widely until Friday afternoon for a Monday meeting. Of course, this could have been just an administrative oversight, but we're concerned that it speaks to a larger issue. The Gazette was told that the release of information was being handled by Bozeman. If true, it appears that the rest of the community was an afterthought. Right now, MSUB is still working on knocking down the belief that it is an insular institution. Sending an invitation just to faculty, staff and students means that leaders in Billings and Bozeman are still drawing the boundaries of the MSUB campus too narrowly. And, we've said previously that if MSUB is to be successful, the community needs to feel ownership. We cannot guarantee that MSU President Waded Cruzado, who will select the next chancellor, would have received more or better community feedback had there been better advance notice, but it would have given more people an opportunity. It would have also made an important gesture to a community that can feel disconnected. We believe that MSUB must have an open search, just like the one that appears to have been successfully completed at the University of Montana. That search yielded 99 applicants and a talented pool of finalists. Missoula can rest assured that it got very good candidates and there can be no doubt that the university system put a very deliberate process in place. Billings deserves the same. And if Larsen is the best person to do the job, then he will stack up against other applicants who may make a finalist shortlist. With a full search, the community can also be assured that Billings has the best candidate available on the market to lead efforts here in the Magic City. Now, a word on Larsen. We agree with many who spoke in favor of removing "interim" from his title. We've had several excellent conversations with Larsen. His understanding of the challenges and how to overcome them are sharp. Larsen has a desire to develop a campus that is responsive to the workforce of eastern Montana. And, he understands the challenge of retention and non-traditional students. Larsen also appears to get that many of the students in Billings are different from those in Bozeman and Missoula. Because of that, the institution must also be different. Moreover, Larsen has talked repeatedly about wanting to be here in Billings, and making Billings home. It has seemed like some of Larsen's predecessors were happy to call Billings home until something better or new came along. We want to have that connection with Montana State University Billings, and someone who loves Billings, not as someone who sees it as a consolation prize. We also agree with Melanie Schwartz of the Big Sky Economic Development when she said that the uncertain leadership means a distraction from other priorities. We certainly think there is an abundance of projects that MSUB could play an even more pivotal role in. However, even though we support Larsen and his leadership, we believe that the university system and Billings deserve to know we have the best candidate for the job. Moreover, the community has to know this meeting was not some scheme concocted by Cruzado months ago with the ultimate goal of appointing Larsen anyway. And that's where our concern lies: We can't help but wonder if this hastily planned community meeting was nothing more than going through the motions of a chancellor search, an academic masquerade. If the goal is to appoint Larsen outright, then that needs to be communicated. If that is indeed the case, then Billings also needs to know why a full search is not appropriate. Right now, it feels more like going through the prescribed motions than a true search. And despite Bozeman's rhetoric about concern for the Billings campus and its relation to the community, it's still struggling to demonstrate with anything more than words. It's a simple concept, really. Put the B in MSUB. (And we don't mean Bozeman.) Queen Maxima of the Netherlands is well-known for her colourful wardrobe and today she made no exception. The 46-year-old royal stepped out into the wind and rain in a bright yellow ensemble as she attended a conference for Gender and Health of Women in Amersfoort in the Netherlands. Her hair blew in the wind, but she didn't seem to mind as she made her way to the event, smiling at fans who had waited to catch a glimpse of her. Queen Maxima, 46, attended a conference for Gender and Health of Women in Amersfoort With a satin jacket in canary yellow draped over her shoulders, she looked bright and cheerful despite the gloomy weather. Assuring that she colour coordinated perfectly, Maxima wore a giant pair of resin earrings . Suede yellow heels tied the outfit together and she added an envelope clutch bag to finish the look. Not letting the miserable weather dampen her spirits, she wore a bright yellow jacket She kept jewellery to a minimal, as her earrings do all the talking, but wore a subtle black and gold watch She met with staff to learn about the developments on research, prevention, diagnosis and treatment in gender sensitive healthcare Maxima added a gentle smokey eye and a natural gloss over her lips. She kept jewellery to a minimal, and let her earrings do all the talking, but wore a subtle black and gold watch. She met with staff to learn about the developments on research, prevention, diagnosis and treatment in gender sensitive healthcare. Her satin dress flattered her figure and bought out her eyes. Maxima added a gentle smokey eye and a natural gloss over her lips She stepped out of the car into the drizzle but looked in high spirits and laughed with fans who waited to see her As a mother to three young girls, discussing women's health is an important topic Being a mother to three young girls, soon to be entering their teenage years - this was an important meeting for her. Catharina-Amalia, Princess of Orange is 13, Princess Ariane is 10 and Princess Alexia, 12 all bare a startling resemblence to Maxima, who is married to King Willem-Alexander. A mother-of-one has slammed Tesco for the 'old-fashioned' instructions on its nappy liners - that say they 'help mum' with changing their babies and doing the laundry. Angi Strafford, from Leeds, was shocked by the wording on the back of the supermarket's own brand pack of 100 disposable liners, which she'd bought online. She says the instructions 'perpetuate[s] the idea that only women should be the ones who change the nappies' and does not apply to families today. The description reads: 'The liner is designed to allow liquid to pass through to the nappy helping to keep baby's skin dry but holds solids which helps mum during changing and laundry of the nappy.' Angi Strafford, from Leeds, has slammed Tesco for the 'old-fashioned' instructions on its nappy liners that say they 'help mum' with changing their babies and doing the laundry Nappy liners are used inside reusable nappies to make it easier to deal with soiled nappies. Describing her shock at seeing the gendered instructions, Angie, who is a nurse, said: 'I have never read anything like that before on a set of instructions for anything. 'I just noticed the word mum in this block of text and I thought I would look and see what it said. 'I couldn't believe it at first, I thought I had misread it. I read it again and I couldn't believe that it actually said to help mum with the laundry.' A description on the back of the supermarket's own brand of nappy liners only makes reference to 'mum' She added: 'Everyone changes nappies. I think it's a very old-fashioned view that only mum does the nappy change. 'To be honest in the first month I don't think I changed a single nappy. I was doing the feeding so dad was doing the nappy changes. 'I just think it is very inconsiderate to word it like that. The phrasing doesn't take into consideration that families in 2017 are very different.' Arguing that Tesco should reconsider their wording, Angi said: 'It's not just mums that can change a nappy. Angi says the instructions perpetuat the idea that only women should be the ones who change the nappies and does not apply to modern families 'Mums, dads, grandads, grandmas, uncles, aunties and friends all change nappies. Also, it doesn't really consider same-sex parents either. 'Parenting is just different in 2017 and I think Tesco should recognise that. Instructions like this perpetuate the idea that only women should be the ones who change the nappies. 'It's part of a drip drip effect that results in women providing the majority of child care.' Despite her frustration at the instructions, Angi said that she will not be boycotting the product. The nurse, who is mother to a 22-year-old, said she will not be boycotting the nappy liners but called for the supermarket to change the wording 'We use the liners quite often, especially with a 22-month-old,' she said. 'I'm not interested in boycotting them as we do use them. Mistakes do happen and it might have just been an oversight, but it should be brought to their attention. 'I don't know why they have to have mum in the instructions. I'm sure it would mean just the same without the word mum in there. It could just say "to help with the laundry"'. A Tesco spokesperson said the product has been discontinued and while a small number of nappy liners were still on sale with this description on them, they would soon be sold out. The spokesperson said: 'We discontinued this product earlier this year and no longer print this description on our packaging. 'We're really proud to help both mums and dads with everything they need when it comes to baby care.' Prince Charles warned yesterday that plastic is now on the menu as almost every fish caught for the dinner table contains refuse dumped in our oceans. He attacked the damaging effects of the throw-away, convenience lifestyles of many around the world, which sees eight million tonnes of plastic waste entering seas and oceans each year. He also criticised perverse global fisheries subsidies, which encourage excessive and unregulated fishing, further depleting stocks. Calling for urgent action, Charles said: All the plastic that we have produced since the 1950s that has ended up in the ocean is still with us in one form or another, so that wherever you swim there are particles of plastic near you and we are very close to reaching the point when whatever wild-caught fish you eat will contain plastic. 'Plastic is indeed now on the menu! Scroll down for video The Prince of Wales releases a rehabilitated turtle into the sea on Golden Bay beach after meeting veterinarians from Nature Trust Malta The royal got a helping hand as he laid the turtle on the sand close to the water's edge The Prince of Wales with Queen Noor of Jordan (left) and Prime Minister of Malta Joseph Muscat (right) after delivering the keynote speech at the Our Ocean conference Charles was speaking at the Our Ocean Conference in Malta, where he helped to release a loggerhead turtle back into the sea after it had been treated after swallowing a piece of plastic. He used his speech to launch a Blue Economy Initiative, a collaboration between the Princes International Sustainability Unit (ISU) and the World Resources Institute (WRI), which aims to encourage investment and policies that protect the oceans. Charles said it was time for bold action, adding: Im afraid I really do wonder if the oceans fragility is yet truly grasped and how susceptible it is to the impacts of our economic activities? We must act now. How, otherwise, will future generations ever forgive us for destroying the viability of the natural world that is our ultimate sustainer? The Prince of Wales (left) meets Vince Attard (right) and volunteers on Golden Bay beach The royal delivered the keynote speech at the Our Ocean conference in St Julian's The Prince of Wales talks to Queen Noor of Jordan, the former wife of the late King Hussein Charles backs Mail's call for bottle scheme that would slash litter Prince Charles last night backed the Mails call for a deposit and return scheme on plastic bottles and drinks cans, as it was claimed it would cut the number dumped as litter by more than a million a day. Charles said he had tried hard to cut the use of plastic bottles in the royal households. I was the first one to start a skip at Buckingham Palace, he told ITV News. I have been trying to get the point across that what we really need to look at very rapidly is what theyve been doing in Sweden for 25 years and Germany for 15 years and other countries in Europe a deposit scheme on plastic bottles. That has worked brilliantly in those countries which have introduced it. The Daily Mail has led the way in calling for a decrease in the use of plastics, running a successful eight-year campaign to introduce a 5p charge for the use of carrier bags which has seen an 85 per cent slump in their use. Experts say that adding a small fee around 15p to plastic bottles and drinks cans would help clean up the streets, parks, beaches and the seas. Research by waste consultant company Eunomia suggest the number of plastic bottles that end up as litter would come down by 700,000 per day 255 million a year across the country. At the same time, the number of cans would fall by 600,000 a day, or 220 million a year. Advertisement Charles said the extent of the problem was enormous, systemic and inter-related, but he was optimistic that attempts made to stem the flow of plastics into the seas over the past decade would continue and increase. He said: With some brave decisions, the ocean can recover its health and by doing so generate employment and economic growth. Will there, at last, be a realisation that this small, beautiful blue dot of a planet may have been misnamed? It is not earth, it is actually mostly sea and we are utterly reliant upon it. Charles also highlighted the need to take equally far-sighted steps to deal with over-exploitative fishing. He said: Surely the time is long overdue for taking a thorough, global look at perverse fisheries subsidies and their effects particularly where they appear to contribute to overfishing, over-capacity and to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing? Can it be right to argue on the one hand that our ocean must be protected while, on the other, activities that cause harm to the ocean should be subsidised? The royal spoke about the growing threat to marine life from plastic waste The Prince of Wales releases a rehabilitated turtle into the sea on Golden Bay beach The prince joined in a discussion with volunteers ahead of the turtle release The heir to the throne said he believed it was utterly crucial to create what he described as a circular economy, which allows plastics to be recovered, recycled and reused instead of created, used and then thrown away. On our increasingly crowded planet this economic approach has to be a critical part of establishing a more harmonious relationship between humankind and the ocean that sustains us all. He also argued that the recent hurricanes that have battered the US and the Caribbean were directly linked to climate change and mans destruction of the globe. He said: If the unprecedented ferocity of recent catastrophic hurricanes is not the supreme wake-up call that it needs to be in order to address the vast and accumulating threat of climate change and ocean warming, then we let alone the global insurance and financial sectors can surely no longer consider ourselves as part of a rational, sensible civilisation. Charles told Sky News: Fish are eating what they think are plankton and in fact it turns out to be plastic so it all comes back into the food chain. He said many marvellous manufacturers were trying to develop alternatives to plastic, but added: People go to the supermarket and complain bitterly there isnt a piece of plastic between each slice of smoked salmon or whatever it is. The difficulty is what do you have instead of that? There are alternatives beginning but they are apparently not yet good enough. The cast of the film posed with her dress, with Claire Foy laughing at its design A film festival director managed to steal the limelight from the A-List actors at a glitzy film premiere with her attention-grabbing outfit. Director of the London Film Festival Clare Stewart arrived at the premiere of Breathe in an unusual choice of dress. It featured several protruding flaps of material that stuck out of the front of the outfit. The quirky number, which she wore in London's Leicester Square on Wednesday night, bore a resemblance to a certain part of the female anatomy. The skirt was so sizeable Breathe's famous cast and crew pretended to hide behind it, with Andy Serkis peering from over a flap of material on the red carpet. Director of the London Film Festival Clare Stewart wore a dress with protruding triangles Clare's dress had a fairly traditional top half with a square neck and three quarter length sleeves. Its hot pink colour might have been the most eye-catching part - were it not for the startling shape of the skirt. The bottom of the dress featured lilac, purple and green materials sewn into triangles and stitched together into a quirky protruding shape. Andy Serkis crouched down and posed with Clare's dress, while Claire Foy held it up for the cameras Claire teamed her dress with a pair of purple tights to ward off the October chill. She wore a pair of navy clog-style shoes, which came complete with a retro cork high heel. Claire had her hair in a simple up do and kept her makeup classic with a layer of pink lipstick. Her dress proved to be causing such a stir among the cast of Breathe that they posed with it on the red carpet. Actor Tom Holland (right) looked a little awkward as he posed alongside the giggling cast and crew The film's director Andy S|erkis looked like he was having fun with the outfit as he crouched down and hid behind the side of her dress. Claire Foy also held up the side of the dress at one point so the camera could get the perfect picture of it. One actor who looked bemused by the dress was Tom Holland, who posed awkwardly next to Andy as he made a fuss of Claire. The other event attendees rocked more traditional outfits to walk the red carpet in London's Leicester Square. Coming up roses! Claire Foy looked suitably regal as she attended the Opening Night Gala screening of Breathe held at Odeon Leicester Square, London on Wednesday British actress Claire, 33, turned up the glamour in a semi-sheer embellished gown, joined by her dapper co-star Andrew Garfield. The opulent black frock skimmed the red carpet elegantly, embellished with an array of sequin-encrusted flowers, rich in colour. Cinched in at the waist by a slender velvet belt, it made the most of her slender physique, and she added a racy touch, appearing to go braless under the semi-sheer bodice. Wearing her chestnut hair in a sleek ponytail, she left her porcelain skin free of heavy make-up, letting her flawless complexion and bright blue peepers do the talking. Turning heads! The opulent black frock skimmed the red carpet elegantly, embellished with an array of sequin-encrusted flowers, rich in colour Suave duo: The British actress, 33, turned up the glamour in a semi-sheer embellished gown, joined by her dapper co-star Andrew Garfield Posing alongside her was co-star Andrew, looking suave in a well-cut suit, crisp white shirt and smart bow tie. Director Andy and his wife Lorraine Ashbourne joined the actors on the red carpet, posing alongside the cast. Injecting a splash of colour was Limbo actress Charlotte Carroll, who did a Marilyn-style twirl for the cameras in a scarlet frock. Earlier in the day Claire looked worlds away from her royal counterpart as she made a stylish arrival at the photocall for Breathe, at the 61st BFILondon Film Festival. Red hot! Injecting a splash of colour was Limbo actress Charlotte Carroll, who did a Marilyn-style twirl for the cameras in a scarlet frock Fashion Month wrapped up this week and while the runways were filled with seasoned pros like Kendall Jenner and Gigi and Bella Hadid, there was one newcomer that stole the show - Kaia Gerber. The 16-year-old may be new to the fashion scene but she has already slayed the runways of top designers like Calvin Klein, Saint Laurent and Chanel, and mastered the art of off-duty style in her downtime. Whether she was leaving a fashion show or hitting the town with her supermodel mother Cindy Crawford, 51, Kaia was always dressed to impress. Here, FEMAIL breaks down four of the 16-year-old's most stylish off-duty looks. GONE GRUNGY: In Paris this week, Kaia showed of her toned model figure as she stepped out after the Chanel show. The star rocked an Alice McCall crop top that she paired with a plaid skirt and black blazer. She accessorized the cool grungy look with black R13 combat boots and classic brown sunnies. SHOP IT NOW (Clockwise from top left) Topshop blazer, $100, topshop.com Forever 21 sunglasses, $9.90, forever21.com Opening Ceremony top, $195, net-a-porter.com Zara skirt, $35.90, zara.com R13 boots, $995, farfetch.com Advertisement MOD SQUAD: Last week in the City of Lights, Kaia oozed retro glam in a pair of red and black striped trousers by The Kooples. For her final touches, she slipped into a pair of Mary Jane high heels and threw on vintage-looking shades. SHOP IT NOW (Clockwise from top left) Topshop top, $25, topshop.com Zara bag, $55.90, zara.com Roberi & Fraud sunglasses, $175, roberiandfraud.com McQ Alexander McQueen heels, $446, farfetch.com The Kooples pants, $295, thekooples.com Advertisement STREET CRED:In between fashion shows last week, Kaia gave her printed silk mini-dress by Realization a rough and tough twist by topping it with a leather jacket draped over her shoulders, and lacing up a pair of combat boots. SHOP IT NOW (Clockwise from top left) H&M jacket, $59.99, hm.com Eddie Borgo bag, $650, shopbop.com Realization dress, $160, realizationpar.com Dr. Martens boots, $ 135, drmartens.com Vogue sunglasses, $139.95, sunglasshut.com Advertisement SPORTY SPICE: Kaia flaunted her fashion fearlessness as she arrived at the Fenty/Puma show in New York last month. The model donned a one-shoulder crop top with a pair of orange camo cargo pants by I.Am.Gia. She accessorized the killer look with sporty white sneakers and a structured bag by Stalvey. A viral post drawing comparisons between gun control and abortion rights has been mistakenly attributed to the feminist activist Gloria Steinem for yearsbut a Navy veteran appears to be the man with whom it all began. Brian Murtagh, 52, shared the text for the first time on Facebook in October 2015. The post begins with the idea of treating 'every young man who wants to buy a gun' like 'every woman who wants to get an abortion', and points out how abortions are harder to get, in several Sates, than firearms. 'I thought it was a really, really clever way to show the hypocrisy between the different positions,' Murtagh, a native of Banbury in Oxfordshire, UK, who now lives in Summerville, North Carolina, told Bustle about the comparison in an interview published yesterday. Scroll down for video Origin: Navy vet Brian Murtagh, 52, a native of Banbury, UK who lives in Summerville, North Carolina, has emerged as the first person to share a gun control post that went viral in 2015 Once more: Earlier this week, Murtagh shared the post again on Facebook, this time writing: 'This still seems like a good idea to me' next to the paragraph The quote has resurfaced in the past few days due to the horrific mass shooting that left 59 dead and more than 500 injured in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Sunday. It has been slightly tweaked over the years as it got shared over and over again online, but its substance remains the same: it prompts the reader to imagine what the world would look like if would-be gun owners also had to go through a waiting period, extensive travel, and many of the hurdles people can face when seeking an abortion. 'They can throw all kinds of ridiculous obstacles in the way of a woman getting a needed and legal procedure and they see nothing wrong with that, but you try to put the smallest and most reasonable limitations upon carrying a gun, and this is just impossible,' Murtagh added. The Navy veteran explained that he shared the post on Facebook as a reaction to a now-defunct article written by William Hamby in 2013 and published on Examiner.com. While that story is no longer available, it can still be viewed online on Way Back Machine. Much like Murtagh's post, it draws a link between gun ownership and abortion access, and begins with the sentence: 'What would gun rights look like in America if we treated them like abortion rights?' Murtagh told Bustle he has no resentment when it comes to his viral post being attributed to Steinem by mistake, and that he wishes he had attacked Hamby's name to it when he first shared it. Earlier this week, he shared the post again on Facebook, this time writing: 'This still seems like a good idea to me' next to the paragraph. Context: The quote has been mistakenly attributed to Gloria Steinem (pictured) for years and it resurfaced in light of the mass shooting that left 59 dead in Las Vegas on Sunday All over: Steinem shared a version of the post in December 2015 while making it clear it wasn't from her, but many people have attributed it to her regardless (pictured) Steinem shared a version of the viral post in December 2015 while listing her 10 dearest wishes for that year's Christmas. 'I want any young men who buy a gun to be treated like young women who seek an abortion,' her quote reads. 'Think about it: a mandatory 48-hours waiting period, written permission from a parent or a judge, a note from a doctor proving that he understands what he is about to do, time spent watching a video on individual and mass murders, traveling hundreds of miles at his own expense to the nearest gun shop, and walking through protesters holding photos of loved ones killed by guns, protester who call him a murderer.' It adds: 'After all, it makes more sense to do this for young men seeking guns than for young women seeking an abortion. No young woman needing reproductive freedom has ever murdered a roomful of strangers.' List: Back in December 2015, Steinem shared a version of the viral post while listing her 10 dearest wishes for that year's Christmas Steinem at the time said she found the quote online but didn't know who had originally said it. The original Christmas-time post also included nine other points, many of them similarly political. In the first, she hit out at then-candidate Donald Trump for leading the Birther movement against President Obama, demanding he apologize for 'daring to rate women as no longer Tens when he himself has never been a One,' filing for bankruptcy and for 'setting the hair weave industry all the way back to Rogaine.' She went on to blast the government for overspending on prisons as well as incarcerating far too many citizens as well as for leaving millions of citizens in crippling debt. Steinem also praised Black Lives Matter and President Obama in the post, expressing her wonder at how Obama survived against 'ultra-right-wingers who, if they had cancer, and Obama had the cure, wouldnt accept it.' The feminist icon first debuted the list during an appearance on musical group BETTY's holiday show in benefit of their The BETTY Effect organization, which focuses on empowering women and LGBTQ community members through music. Samantha Cameron proved that no one models her own label better than she does as she attended a glittering event on Thursday. The wife of the former Prime Minister looked sensational as she stepped out in a piece from her latest collection from her own brand Cefinn. Samantha, 46, wore a sleeveless wool midi dress to a book launch where she joined a star studded guest list. Samantha Cameron proved that no one models her label better than she does as she attended a book launch in a 390 dress from her latest line for Cefinn The mother-of-three attended the launch of GingerNutz: The Jungle Memoir of a Model Orangutan' by Michael Roberts and Grace Coddington. The publication is a picture book about an orangutan born in the wilds of Borneo who has dreams of making it big in the fashion world. Samantha has definitely been making waves in the industry herself, as she set up label Cefinn earlier this year after previously putting her career on the backburner while her husband was in frontline politics. The former creative director of luxury leather goods brand Smythson is also an ambassador for the British Fashion Council and mother to Nancy, 13, Elwen, 11, and Florence, six. The mother-of-three attended the launch of GingerNutz: The Jungle Memoir of a Model Orangutan' by Michael Roberts and Grace Coddington (both pictured with Samantha) Samantha (pictured with Nicole Bahbout and guest) accesorised with a large grey clutch bag and a simple gold necklace that broke up the black in her outfit At the event, which took place at Symthson in London, Sam looked radiant as she posed for pictures. Her dress featured a daring zip that started from the top of the dress to past the navel. The dress cost 390 on the Cefinn website and is described as 'Refined in its simplicity, this Black wool and cashmere blend sleeveless dress is tailored in the body with a full midi-length skirt to create a sleek but feminine silhouette.' It is currently sold out on the website, though is due to return later this month. The former prime minister's wife was later seen leaving the event with a black coat worn over her dress Samantha, who was accompanied by a female guest, looked in good spirits following the evening out The frock fell past the designer's knees in a middi style and she wore a simple pair of black heels to pull the look together Samantha accesorised with a large grey clutch bag and a simple gold necklace that broke up the black in her outfit. At the event she posed with Grace Coddington, the former creative director at American Vogue. She was also seen mingling with the book's author Michael Roberts and Nicole Bahbout. Two years after she was diagnosed with breast cancer, 10-year-old Chrissy Turner is happy, in remission, and shyly beginning to consider what she wants her breasts to look like. Just over a month ago, Chrissy had her first appointment with a plastic surgeon, to start coming up with a plan for how doctors will reconstruct her left breast. When she was eight years old, Chrissy became the youngest person to be diagnosed with secretory breast carcinoma, a rare form of the disease that accounts for only about one percent of all breast cancers. Chrissy, of Centerville, Utah, wasn't even old enough to buy her first bra when she had to have a mastectomy to remove all of her right breast tissue and save her life. Chrissy Turner was diagnosed with a rare form of breast cancer and had to undergo a mastectomy in December 2015 (left). But as of her 10th birthday in July (right), Chrissy is cancer free, active as ever, and starting to think about puberty and breast reconstruction In October of 2015, Chrissy told her parents about a lump on her chest that was scaring her. Scared, but determined to be proactive, Chrissy's parents Annette and Troy took her to two doctors that dismissed the lump as the result of an infection, or a non-cancerous tumor. Finally, a third doctor recognized the lump for what it was. In November of 2015, Chrissy became one of the youngest people ever to be diagnosed with the rare form of cancer. Chrissy's parents were no strangers to bad news. Both Annette and Troy have fought cancer. Annette won her battle with stage one cervical cancer, while Troy has been battling non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma since Chrissy was a baby. But their past experiences did nothing to ease the pain of telling their daughter what her lump was, and what would have to be done about it. Nearly the entire Turner family has battled cancer. Troy (left) is in remission from Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, Chrissy (left of center) from breast cancer, and Annette (right of center) from cervical cancer. The three survivors pose with the oldest Turner daughter, Brianna, 17, on Chrissy's Make-A-Wish trip to Disney World, in Orlando, Florida in January 2017 One month later, Chrissy was on the operating table to have all of the tissue of her right breast removed, so that the cancer would - hopefully - spread no further. After the surgery, Chrissy's parents, Annette and Troy were thrilled to learn that her next PET scan was clean; Chrissy's cancer had been localized to her breast tissue, and hadn't spread to her lymph nodes. She was cancer free, and would not have to go through radiation treatment. Even as the family celebrated the good news for Chrissy, they were still facing another challenge: Troy's cancer had come back. Troy had been diagnosed with stage 3 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2008. After eight months of chemotherapy, he'd gone into remission, but in 2011, his doctors found 'hot spots' or areas of concern. The hot spots kept the Turner family on their toes, fearing that they would develop into something more. 'People ask, "how do you deal," and I say "what choice do we have?"' says Annette. Whether at the end of a long day, or harrowing battles with cancer, the family stays relentlessly positive. And two years later, it seems to have paid off. Annette's cancer has never come back, and Troy's and Chrissy's cancers have both stayed in remission. Annette says that Chrissy's surgery 'hasn't slowed her down a bit.' Only eight months after her surgery, Chrissy wanted to get back on the monkey bars. Annette worried about the muscles affected by her daughter's surgery, but 'she just went after it,' she says. Good vibes: Ten-year-old Chrissy was the face of local Centerville, Utah grocery stores that partnered with Make-A-Wish Foundation for a fundraiser in July 2017. She poses in front of the cookies, cakes and balloons they sent home with her as thanks Chrissy is not an average 10-year-old girl, her mother says, not because of her cancer, but because she prefers dragons, like the one on her shirt, over dress-up or dolls 'Honestly, with all we've gone through, she's doing really well,' Annette says of her daughter. Chrissy's life has, for the most part, returned to normal. She gets check-ups and scans for cancer every three or four months, and Annette says she's 'not your typical girl,' but it's not because of the cancer. Chrissy only likes pink to support cancer; she much prefers anything to do with dragons, drawing, dancing and reading (mostly about dragons). She and her 17-year-old sister, Briana have only grown closer since Chrissy's diagnosis, and both love spending time with their close-knit family. 'We've all had such close brushes with cancer,' Annette says of three quarters of her family. 'It's really aligned us.' Everything that Chrissy has been through has 'made her heart grow even more,' says Annette. She says that Chrissy 'has always been a loving and compassionate child, but she's even more protective of those with disabilities. It's really special to see how she interacts with other kids.' Chrissy and the Turner family stay connected to a Utah charity called the Mascot Miracles Foundation, that reached out to them when Chrissy was first diagnosed. Chrissy was also 'the face' of local Centerville, Utah grocery stores that partnered with Make-A-Wish Foundation for a fundraiser this summer, after she went on her own Make-A-Wish trip to Disney World in Orlando, Florida in January. Chrissy Turner smiles bravely just days before she underwent a mastectomy in December 2015, when she was only eight years old The Turner family takes every day in stride, knowing that the future is uncertain. 'The hardest part is that we have yet to see [Chrissy] evolve,' her mother says. 'I know that there's going to be parts of her puberty, as she grows, that will be hard.' Annette has had to tell her daughter that, unlike other girls, she'll only grow on one side of her chest, but says that that doesn't seem to bother Chrissy much either. 'That could change, she'll go through emotions I'm sure, but whatever she needs, we'll support her however we possibly can,' Annette says. Recently, that meant accompanying a shy Chrissy to meet with a plastic surgeon, 'so that she's prepared, she knows what's coming.' Annette says that Chrissy is open-minded, and confident about what she wants, but still a little reluctant to talk about 'it,' meaning the eventual reconstruction of her right breast. 'At first she was nervous, she didn't really want to talk about it,' Annette says, but the family and doctor 'kind of got her laughing. They even showed her a breast implant and what that looks like,' Annette says. 'By the time we left, she was really lighthearted,' Annette says. Chrissy still has a few years before she has to begin the process of reconstruction. Her doctors have recommended that she have a tissue expander placed when she is 15 or 16, to prepare her for a permanent implant. Until then, she can wear a prosthetic insert to help her right side look uniform as her left develops. 'Chrissy is just a glowing ray of positivity,' Annette says. 'She brings smiles to everybody's faces.' 'With what we've gone through, it just solidifies the importance of hope...every breath of life is worth fighting for,' Annette says. A woman has admitted to beating the husband she adores due to a cruel form of early-onset dementia. Lorayne Burgess, 51, from Lydd, Kent, experiences unreasonable mood swings violent rages that she takes out on her loving husband Simon, 46. She said: 'I fly at him. It's not my true personality. I'm violent and I'm verbally abusive. 'As my brain is eaten away, my personality is too. 'I say, "I love you", to people, but they're just words. I don't mean them anymore. 'The old Lorayne, the kind Lorayne, is disappearing.' Lorayne Burgess beats her loving husband Simon due to violent rages caused by her dementia Ms Burgess insists it is not her true personality, but dementia has 'eaten away' her mind The couple married on her 50th, months after she was diagnosed (pictured with their family) WHAT IS EARLY-ONSET DEMENTIA? Dementia is considered 'early onset' if it occurs in people under 65. Like all forms of the disease, it causes progressive loss of a person's ability to think, reason and communicate. Personality, mood and behaviour can also be affected. Early symptoms include memory loss, difficulty solving problems, confusion, poor judgement and social withdrawal. There is no cure. Treatment focuses on relieving symptoms. Source: Young Dementia UK Advertisement 'I'm violent and verbally abusive' Instead of the kind, loving woman he married, Simon regularly has to cope with his wife's unreasonable mood swings and has even fallen victim to her violent rages. Ms Burgess, a former cleaner, said: 'I fly at him. It's not my true personality. I call the violent Lorayne, "Katie". 'Simon can say, "That was silly", and whereas before my illness I would have reacted reasonably, now I react horribly. I'm violent and I'm verbally abusive.' 'As my brain is eaten away, my personality is too. 'I say, "I love you", to people, but they're just words. I don't mean them anymore. 'There are good days and bad days, but the bad are starting to outweigh the good. 'The old Lorayne, the kind Lorayne, is disappearing.' Ms Burgess says she no longer means it when she says 'I love you'; they are just words She adds the bad days outweigh the good as the 'kind Lorayne' is starting to disappear Incontinence has been another side effect of dementia, with Ms Burgess wetting the bed Ms Burgess met Simon (pictured with Ms Burgess' son Jordan, 23, and Simon's father Dave) online and after becoming engaged years later got married on a budget of just 4,000 'I wet the bed at night' Incontinence has been another side effect of her dementia. Ms Burgess said: 'I'm now 51 and I've had kids, so you expect a bit of wee escaping when you laugh. 'But, sadly, I wet the bed at night because of my dementia. 'I'm not ashamed to talk about it, because it is the reality of this cruel illness. 'I know there will come a point, probably soon, where I am in a wheelchair and I don't remember people's faces. 'But, until then, I will grasp hold of each day.' Ms Burgess accepts she will one day be in a wheelchair with no memory for people's faces Simon and Ms Burgess' children encouraged her to see a doctor when she became forgetful Ms Burgess says before her diagnosis she would leave the cooker and taps turned on She was unable to care for her family (pictured with her granddaughter before her diagnosis) Married on her 50th birthday Ms Burgess was encouraged to seek medical advice by Simon, her daughter Lauren, 28, and her son Jordan, 23, who noticed her absentmindedness. After months of hospital appointments, Ms Burgess was eventually diagnosed with early-onset, frontotemporal dementia in March 2015, just months before she was due to marry Simon, who she met online, on her 50th birthday. She said: 'Of course, I was shocked. It's not what you want or expect. But I am here now and I am alive.' 'I'd leave the cooker on and forget to turn taps off. It came to a head when I was looking after my now three-year-old grandson, Brayden, and I forgot to close the upstairs gate. 'I heard a noise, walked into the hallway and saw Brayden at the top of the stairs in his walker, literally teetering on the top step. I raced up and caught him just in time.' In January 2016 Ms Burgess and her then-finance had just two months to plan their wedding on a 4,000 budget in order to marry on her landmark birthday. She said: 'We decided we'd better get on with it. We had [just] weeks getting everything ready.' Wearing a 73 dress she bought from Amazon, Ms Burgess married Simon in front of 40 friends and family as she also celebrated her half century. She said: 'It was wonderful. My daughter was my bridesmaid and my son my best man - it was lovely.' Sadly, since that happy day, Ms Burgess' condition has deteriorated rapidly. According to the NHS: 'Frontotemporal dementia tends to affect the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain (the front and sides) in particular. 'These parts of the brain are largely responsible for language and the ability to plan and organise, and are important in controlling behaviour. 'Frontotemporal dementia often starts at a younger age than usually seen in other types of dementia. It's caused by clumps of abnormal protein forming inside brain cells. These are thought to damage the cells and stop them working properly. 'About one in every three people with frontotemporal dementia has a family history of the condition.' An Indian man developed a yellow dot in both of his eyes after sun-gazing every day for 35 years, a new case report has revealed. The unidentified patient, from New Delhi, looked directly at the sun shortly after dawn for up to 10 minutes each day for religious reasons. Doctors diagnosed the 62-year-old with solar retinopathy after he complained his vision had become blurry over a period of four months. Writing in BMJ Case Reports, they said the condition is most often triggered when people attempt to view a solar eclipse. The unidentified patient, from New Delhi, looked directly at the sun shortly after dawn for up to 10 minutes each day as part of a bizarre religious practice. He developed yellow dots in both of his eyes from the damage, a sign of solar retinopathy But the team at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences said religious sun-gazing can also lead to the serious condition. It is believed the practice stems from Hira Ratan Manek, an Indian spiritualist who claimed he survived on just water and sunlight for eight years. Writing in the journal, the doctors said: 'It is also described following sunbathing, telescopic solar viewing, psychiatric disorders and psychotropic drugs. 'As it is an easily avoidable condition, prevention is of utmost importance. Therefore, awareness and sensitisation of people to this condition is required.' Initial suspicions Doctors initially assumed the patient's high blood pressure may be responsible for his progressively worsening vision. Hypertension, the medical name for high blood pressure, can cause damage to the blood vessels that supply the retina, causing eyesight problems. But examinations of the interior surface of his eye, known as the fundus, showed a 'discrete' yellow dot. This is a known sign of solar retinopathy and led the experts to suspect the patient's blurry vision to be a sign of the condition. The diagnosis was confirmed by questioning the patient, whose vision was shown to be 20/40 in both eyes - worse than the standard 20/20. Religious rituals The doctors said: 'He gave a history of performing religious rituals involving direct gazing into the rising sun soon after dawn for five10 minutes daily. 'He had been doing this for the past 3035 years... The direct, prolonged and chronic exposure to sunlight made our patient vulnerable to the disease.' Solar retinopathy, which has no treatment, normally shows symptoms within a few hours of direct exposure to sunlight. Recovery can take up to twelve months depending on the extent of damage to the retina. But some damage can be permanent. Excitement is rippling through the North Dakota coal industry over a possible new rule that would compensate power plants for keeping coal on hand. This is a big policy change, Lignite Energy Council President Jason Bohrer said. On Friday, the Department of Energy issued a proposal to the Federal Regulatory Energy Commission, suggesting that FERC adopt a rule that pays baseload power plants for having 90 days worth of fuel on-site, which DOE says makes them more reliable and necessary to power production when renewables arent available. Competition from other power sources has flipped energy markets on their head, said Bohrer during the organizations fall industry group meeting in Bismarck on Wednesday. In North Dakota, coal competes mostly with wind energy. Because mines in the state are located at the mouths of power plants, the coal power generated here is more comparably priced to the natural gas plants that are making it hard for coal plants in other parts of the country to compete. But coal-fired plants can provide a constant source of power. Wind power is only available when the wind blows. Because of this, the coal industry would like to see that reliability reflected in the value of the power they supply. Energy Secretary Rick Perrys proposal echoes a letter sent to him by Basin Electric Power Cooperative in June, in which the cooperative called for stand-by product compensation for facilities that cannot come online and offline quickly. Markets are increasingly requiring baseload generation to constantly ramp up and down, which is opposite of what they were designed to do operate at full load. This will lead to more plant outages, increased operating and maintenance costs, Basins CEO Paul Sukut wrote in the letter. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and RTOs (regional transmission organizations) should vary their pricing methodology based on the type of power offered in the market: intermitted, peak or short-term, and baseload. The impetus behind these suggestions is a term resiliency from the recently released DOE grid reliability study. Resiliency is defined by Perry as power sources' ability to bounce back from natural or man-made disasters that disrupt fuel supply. Sukut, in his letter, said because of coal stockpiles next to plants, his company and others like it have the capability to enable uninterrupted service during fuel-supply issues. This capability is not available with natural gas. But opponents of the rule proposal question how much on-site fuel really improves a sources reliability. Perry cited the 2014 Polar Vortex of record low temperatures in the northeast portion of the U.S. that almost caused blackouts. Opponents say, while there were natural gas shortages at that time, nearly 14 gigawatts of coal capacity was also forced offline, as was 1.4 gigawatts of nuclear energy, the other power source that would benefit from the proposed rule. Opponents also attribute power outages as being more commonly caused by damage to power lines. DOE is requesting that FERC issue the rule within 60 days, a process that can usually take six months to a year. Initial comments are being called for by Oct. 23 and final reply comments on Nov. 7. Bohrer said comments will help FERC decide what form resiliency compensation takes and called on members of the coal industry to be active in the rulemaking process. He also said that the timeline for the rulemaking is tight and there is a possibility that industry will call for an extension of the comment period to give stakeholders a chance to come to an agreement on its recommendations to the commission. A health watchdog has warned parents that baby sleep positioners can cause their newborns to suffocate following reports of 12 deaths in the US. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the US has issued a statement explaining the pillows often called 'nests' or 'anti-roll' products can cause babies to sleep in a position that could cut off their oxygen. The products are supposed to help infants to snooze safely, however, at least 12 infant deaths have been linked to the items. All the cases reported in the US involved babies rolling from their sides on to their fronts and they subsequently stopped breathing. Despite the body issuing the same safety warning seven years ago, sleep positioners are still being sold in stores and online in the US and UK. They are currently available from Amazon. After being contacted by MailOnline, Mothercare, Tesco, John Lewis and eBay announced they are banning the controversial items. A spokesperson for eBay said: 'Following recent recommendations by US authorities, items of this nature will now be prohibited from being sold on our platform. 'Our team will be informing sellers and removing any listings that contravene our policies.' This photo provided by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) shows a baby doll face down on a sleep positioner. There are fears this is what could happen and would lead to suffocation THE FDA'S STATEMENT FDA is reminding parents and caregivers not to put babies in sleep positioners. These products sometimes also called 'nests' or 'anti-roll' products can cause suffocation that can lead to death. Each year, about 4,000 infants die unexpectedly during sleep time from accidental suffocation, SIDS, or unknown causes, according to the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD). The federal government has received reports about babies who have died from suffocation associated with their sleep positioners. In most of these cases, the babies suffocated after rolling from their sides to their stomachs. In addition to reports about deaths, the federal government also has received reports about babies who were placed on their backs or sides in positioners but were later found in other, dangerous positions within or next to these products. Advertisement Tesco then followed suit, a spokesperson for the company said: 'We have removed these products from our website as a precautionary measure. These products were available online only, not in-store. 'These products were sold by a third party on the Tesco website, not sold by Tesco itself.' A spokesperson for John Lewis said: 'We have one baby sleep positioner and as a precautionary measure we are pulling it from sale.' Promises of products pulled When the FDA warned in 2010 that the pillows were 'too dangerous to use', MailOnline was told by Mothercare, Tesco and Kiddicare that as a result they had been withdrawn from their shelves. Mothercare had announced it was pulling three products back then the Head 'n' back, Resting Up and Snugglenest. But it emerged the Babymoov Cosydream Sleep Positioner for 39.99 was being stocked. Designed for infants from birth up to 6 months old, this product comes with a warning to customers not to use it once their child is able to turn around on its own. In 2010, a spokesman from Tesco said the supermarket chain only sold sleep positioners online and announced that as a precaution it was withdrawing the item from sale. However, it at the time of the recent FDA warning it had seven products listed under a 'sleep positioners' category on its website. John Lewis has now promised to pull its Ergonomic Sleep Positioner for 65. The product states: 'The design of this product allows your baby to sleep safely on their back; the safest position. Thanks to the specific shape of the baby wedge your baby can lie in a comforting, calming and reassuring position.' The 'ergonomic' device is marketed as designed to improve the quality and length of sleep, reduce waking with a start or Moro reflex, limit reflux problems, and encourage all-round development. It is recommended for use from birth and 'until the child starts trying to turn over or to adopt a different position (approximately three to four months)'. Tesco was stocking sleep positioners for babies despite the FDA's repeated safety warnings Amazon has a number of such products available to US customers The retail giant is also selling positioners on the UK version of its website Sleep positioners for babies are have been available on online auction market place eBay but the company says it now plans to remove them HOW TO KEEP YOUR BABY SAFE WHEN THEY SLEEP The Lullaby Trust recommends parents place their babies to sleep in cots that are kept as clear as possible and specifically advise: No pillows or duvets No cot bumpers No soft toys No loose bedding No products (such as wedges or straps) that will keep your baby in one sleeping position Advertisement A reminder for parents The two most common types of sleep positioners feature raised supports or pillows (called 'bolsters') that are attached to each side of a mat, or a wedge to raise a baby's head. They are intended to keep a baby in a specific position while sleeping and are intended for infants under six months old. The number of deaths linked to the devices in the US came to 12 from 1997 to 2010 and the FDA said there were no latest figures available. The FDA's latest statement reads: 'FDA is reminding parents and caregivers not to put babies in sleep positioners. These products can cause suffocation (a struggle to breathe) that can lead to death.' It also reminded parents to place infants on their backs to sleep, positioned on a firm, empty surface. It said this surface should not contain soft objects, toys, pillows, or loose bedding. The Lullaby Trust, which raises awareness of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), echoed the FDA's alert. A spokesperson said: 'There is evidence to suggest that babies are at higher risk of SIDS if they have their heads covered and some items added to a cot may increase the risk of head-covering. 'Unnecessary items in a baby's cot can also increase the risk of accidents. 'While evidence on individual items is not widely available, it makes sense to be as cautious as possible.' The products are still legal The FDA explained it has not banned the baby products as it they do not meet the definition of a 'medical device'. The Medicines & Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) the FDA's UK equivalent said for this same reason the items do not fall under their remit and suggested they are a Trading Standards issue. Amazon has been contacted by MailOnline for comment. Babymoov, whose product has been removed by Mothercare, issued statement to say Cosydream has never been involved in any infant fatalities. A spokesperson said: 'We would like to assure customers that our award winning, paediatrician-approved Cosydream has never been involved in any incident connected with infant fatality. 'Nor does the Cosydream resemble the products that first gave rise to the FDA guidelines seven years ago. 'Please note that our Cosydream has never been sold in the United States and thus can't be involved in the incidents related in this article. 'The design of the Cosydream enables babies to sleep safely on their back in accordance with recommendations by the NHS. Using the Cosydream after feeds and during naps can help provide babies relief from symptoms of colic and reflux, it can also help prevent the onset of plagiocephaly. 'The product is specifically designed for use from birth and, as per our guidelines, should not be used when baby is able to turn independently. 'All our products comply with current regulations and the appropriate certification ha been attained in relation to each of our baby sleep products.' Victoria Nice, 19, died after paramedics failed to spot the signs of sepsis A disabled teenager died after an ambulance crew failed to spot the signs of deadly sepsis. Paramedics spent 45 minutes treating Victoria Nice but did not take her to hospital despite the fact she had been vomiting and was delirious at times. Her parents called another ambulance the following morning but by the time the 19-year-old arrived in intensive care it was too late to save her. Victoria's family were forced to take the agonising decision to switch off her life-support machine. Sepsis, which kills 44,000 Britons a year, is caused when the body launches a violent immune response to an infection, causing it to attack the organs. The NHS issued new guidelines in March for patients showing signs of the condition to be seen quickly by a senior doctor, following the Daily Mail's End the Sepsis Scandal campaign. It was launched after the death of 12-month-old William Mead when inexperienced NHS 111 call handlers failed to realise he needed urgent help. Crucial that everyone understands the risks Victoria's mother, Katrina, yesterday said it was crucial that everyone recognised the symptoms and understood the risks. 'The paramedics didn't say that it was urgent because she didn't seem that ill,' she said. 'I thought they were doing a fine job because I'd never heard of sepsis. Now, I'd look at it and say 'Hang on a minute...'. That's what we've got to get across to people.' Victoria had spina bifida and hydrocephalus a build-up of fluid on the brain and needed complex medical treatment. She had been in hospital last year after developing a urinary tract infection but was discharged with instructions to take a course of oral antibiotics. Days after returning home to Baldock, Hertfordshire, she started vomiting and her mother called 999 at around 10pm on September 20. After assessing her the ambulance crew offered the choice to take her to hospital or arrange an out-of-hours GP appointment. East of England Ambulance Service paramedics spent 45 minutes treating Victoria but did not take her to hospital despite the fact she had been vomiting and was delirious at times Her family opted for the latter because Victoria seemed to have rallied and was 'exhausted'. A turn for the worse The next morning, she took a turn for the worse and Mrs Nice, who was her full-time carer, called for another ambulance. The crew noticed the teenager's feet was cold and discoloured and rushed her to Lister Hospital in Stevenage where she was taken to the intensive care unit and placed in an induced coma. Doctors told Mrs Nice and her husband Philip, a patent examiner, that it was too late to treat her, however, and they agreed to turn off the life-support machine. The case is the latest controversy involving East of England Ambulance Service, which has been criticised for missing emergency response targets and spending huge sums on luxury cars for bosses. No legal action 'THINK HARD BEFORE CALLING 999' In September, a number of GPs reacted furiously after being asked not to call 999 for patients by their over-stretched ambulance service. The South East Coast Ambulance Service sent a letter to Kent doctors asking them to 'think very hard' before calling an ambulance for patients. GPs usually dial 999 in an emergency such as a heart attack or a stroke, or if a patient is in too much pain or too frail to take themselves to A&E. Strood GP Dr Julian Spinks said it was a worrying sign before the peak winter season started. 'A GP will not call an ambulance for the fun of it, they will only order one when they have to,' he said. Advertisement But Mr and Mrs Nice, who also have a son, decided against taking legal action and instead took part in a meeting last week with the trust's board at the headquarters near Cambridge. 'It wasn't going to bring her back if we sued anybody and we wanted something positive to come out of this,' Mrs Nice said yesterday. The timeline was outlined at the meeting, which heard an investigation had followed Victoria's death and had led to recommendations for front-line crew to look out for sepsis and for the illness to be 'brought to the forefront of the trust's focus'. Admitting the blunder Trust chairman Sarah Boulton said: 'The trust board takes its duty of candour very seriously. It is never easy to admit mistakes, especially when those mistakes have such tragic consequences. 'However, our values dictate we must be open and honest when something has gone wrong and we must do everything in our power to help ensure these mistakes never happen again.' Head of clinical quality Tracy Nicholls added: 'We would like to thank Katrina for her incredible bravery by being so open about this tragic incident and working with us to learn from this. 'We felt it absolutely right to offer Katrina a forum to speak to our staff and help the organisation learn more about sepsis. 'She not only spoke at the board meeting but has also taken part in a frank and honest video interview that will be shared internally to support training.' Victoria's family have set up a fundraising webpage to raise money for a charity that operates boats with wheelchair access. Donations can be made here. Mass murders committed by men may be linked to evolutionary last-ditch attempts to gain, or hold on to status, one psychologist's research suggests. Stephen Paddock, the Las Vegas shooter that killed 59 people, has been described as a poor fit for the typical profile of a mass murderer, due in part to his age. Preliminary research on mass-murdering men, done at University College Cork, in Ireland, found a pattern of middle-aged and older men who feel that their social status and value have been taken away or threatened, and make a final attempt to attract attention. Dr Robert J King analyzed data on men who had committed mass murders in North America. The killers ranged in age from 11 to 66, but Dr King found that their ages clustered around two peaks. The study is still under peer review, but Dr King has written and spoken about its findings as it may be of interest while authorities and the public attempt to understand the motives behind Sunday night's Las Vegas killings. Las Vegas shooter Stephen Paddock was 64, wealthy and had no criminal record. Many have been baffled by his profile, but new preliminary research on mass murderers shows that there is a cluster of older men, who are in an evolutionary stage of trying to protect their status The research, compiled and analyzed carefully-controlled data on mass murderers who used guns and acted on a personal - not political or religious - motives. The first cluster of murderers had an average age of 23, and the second averaged 41 years old. Dr King says that these two ages closely track the beginning and end of the period when men are most attractive as mates. In other words, when they have reproductive status and value. The behaviors and traits of the first, younger group, align more closely with how we usually, and most comfortably, think of killers. These young men tend to have a history of trouble with law, mental illness. Dr King says that this is an age at which these young men are supposed to be acquiring status, but are struggling to succeed in society. They were, in fact, acquiring signs that they were on a fast track to reproductive oblivion, he wrote on his Psychology Today blog. From an evolutionary perspective, their killing sprees are, in part, like Hail Mary attempts to catch the eye of a mate, Dr King writes. Who was Stephen Paddock? Las Vegas shooter Stephen Paddock was 64, wealthy and in a relationship, though he had no children, when he shot and killed 59 people and injured another 500 from the window of his room at the Mandalay Bay Hotel. Paddock did not have a criminal record or significant history of mental health issues, though he was prescribed diazepam, an anti-anxiety medication, in June. He lived in Mesquite, Nevada, but frequently traveled to Las Vegas. Paddock was retired, but called himself a 'professional gambler.' He played high stakes games and was well known to Las Vegas police and casinos. He had 23 guns in his hotel room. From there he shot at people attending a country music festival, then turned the gun on himself. Police found another 19 firearms at Paddock's home. Paddock's father escaped from federal prison, where he was serving time for multiple armed bank robberies, in 1968. Advertisement 'But it's a mismatched theory,' Dr King told Daily Mail Online. 'You're not going to get a huge amount of status by killing people, any more than you will with road rage,' he says, and yet what he calls 'male anger flashes' go back thousand of years. They're an evolutionary grab for status, but are 'not actually adaptive.' And yet, some of the most infamous serial killers are known to have received letters from smitten women while they were in prison. Charles Manson, for example, developed a romantic relationship with a woman, now known as Star, who started writing him after he was in prison for killing five people, including Sharon Tate. Manson and Star were once engaged, though the relationship has ended since rumors arose that she wanted to marry him in the hopes of later using her custody over his corpse to make money. Dr King writes that his continuing research suggests that these younger mass murderers are more likely than their older counterparts to survive long enough to develop their own female fan bases while behind bars. The second, older group, on the other hand, is made up of men who have established their statuses, Dr King argues. Data on the older killers showed that they were less likely to have criminal records. They tended to be married, and many even had families. They succeeded, but felt that the statuses theyd worked so hard to attain were being threatened by things like losing their jobs, scandal, or divorce. Dr King's research looked at North American killers for a number of reasons. For one, firearms are more consistently effective at killing as many people as possible, and guns are prevalent in the US. Evolutionarily speaking, the US is a nation where 'people have descended from people who had to protect their property. Men have to have a dangerous reputation,' which becomes entwined with a 'strong sense of honor,' Dr King says. 'When they get older, they've got a house, got a family, a reputation. All of those things could be lost, could collapse...[it becomes] kind of a desperate thing' to protect these sources of honor and identity, Dr King says. Las Vegas shooter Stephen Paddock was 64, wealthy and in a relationship, though he had no children, when he shot and killed 59 people and injured another 500 from the window of his room at the Mandalay Bay Hotel. Paddock did not have a criminal record or significant history of mental health issues, though he was prescribed diazepam, an anti-anxiety medication, in June. Mass murderers tend to fall into one of two age clusters, averaging either 23 or 41 years old, according to new research from University College Cork in Ireland. Dr Robert J King says that younger killers are struggling to acquire evolutionary 'status,' while older ones are fighting to protect the ones they've gained He had 23 guns in that room, and police found an additional 19 in his Mesquite, Nevada home. he had had multiple additional homes and his family told the Washington Post that he was worth $2 million. Paddock was retired, but described himself to some as a professional gambler, and he was known to Las Vegas casinos and police as a high stakes player. Dr King's research does not include - much less explain - Paddock's pathology. But he does note that 'huge gambling losses are not encoded in genes, but the sense of shame that might attend [them] would be quite an old mechanism,' related to territory and defending status. His research also notes that about 60 percent of men do not reproduce, a fact that, could affect a man's primal sense of status and value. 'If youve got men left over you start getting abhorrent male behavior. Too many men to go around, get behavior you dont like to see in men, like riots or sexual assault.' This is 'evolutionarily, the dark side of male competitiveness. It spills over into an obsession with status,' Dr King says. His research found no intelligible patterns related to which past mass murderers stockpiled guns. But he does note that people who stockpile guns are not people who have just been jumped in the street. A mass murderer that stockpiles is 'someone who feels their meaningful life is coming to an end.' After wiring money to his girlfriend in the Philippines and completing his killing spree, Paddock shot and killed himself. We will likely never have answers to many questions about his motives and pathology. Dr King emphasizes that 'evolution draws attention to particularly big themes, like status or reproductive fitness. It is by no means a replacement for forensic psychology.' He says that understanding evolutionary motives may simply help 'complete a picture,' of what makes a mass murderer. A SKINFUL OF SHADOWS by Frances Hardinge (Mac - millan 12.99) A SKINFUL OF SHADOWS by Frances Hardinge (Mac - millan 12.99) Hardinges The Lie Tree won the Costa Book of the Year in 2015 and this thrilling new book confirms her extraordinary talent as a writer of historical and supernatural fiction. Against the backdrop of the English Civil War, teenage orphan Makepeace is claimed as the illegitimate daughter of the aristocratic Sir Peter Fellmotte. But the Royalist Fellmottes have a secret they devour the ghosts of their ancestors to keep the bloodline alive and need Makepeace as a vessel to host their evil spirits. Her sole ally is a newly-discovered half-brother, James, but he is soon lured over to the dark side. Makepeace sets out to save James with the help of assorted querulous, internalised phantoms and a ferocious spirit bear. Chillingly atmospheric, historically fascinating, its also blackly comic in parts and beautifully written. GENUINE FRAUD by E. Lockhart (Hot Key 12.99) GENUINE FRAUD by E. Lockhart (Hot Key 12.99) With an acknowledged nod to Patricia Highsmiths The Talented Mr Ripley, Lockharts novel, like her previous bestseller We Were Liars, dissects the world of privilege and wealth to see what happens when a disaffected outsider infiltrates it. Jule, an 18-year-old orphan, is holed up in an expensive hotel resort in Mexico, clearly on the run from someone and something. As the story unfolds in a 12-month reverse narrative, Jules relationship with her friend, the rich, spoiled Immie, becomes increasingly mysterious, especially once Immies disappearance and Jules skill at mimicking accents and adopting disguises coalesce. Who is playing whom and is anyone telling the truth about their pasts? Nail-bitingly tense, this exploration of identity, entitlement and feminism is a perfect psychological thriller and surely, soon, a movie. WE SEE EVERYTHING WE SEE EVERYTHING by William Sutcliffe (Bloomsbury 12.99) by William Sutcliffe (Bloomsbury 12.99) The brutal reality of modern warfare is the basis for this hard-hitting dystopian thriller set in a bombed-out London known as The Strip. Teenage Lex lives in the closed-off area, beneath hostile drones that watch his every move. In a military base nearby, Alans talent as an online gamer has won him the role of drone operator, with a specific assassination target Lexs father. Active in an underground organisation known as The Corps, Lexs father recruits his son as messenger, which brings Lex power among black-market criminals and introduces him to Zoe. In the citys ruins their love affair begins, constrained by secrecy and danger. Meanwhile, Alans single mother tries to instil compassion in her ruthless child, who is poised to make the biggest hit of his short career. Parallels with modern conflict zones are uncomfortably accurate. FOOLS AND MORTALS by Bernard Cornwell (HarperCollins 20) FOOLS AND MORTALS by Bernard Cornwell (HarperCollins 20) The Shakespeare brothers dont get on. Will, the older sibling, is making his way as a playwright, but Richard, an actor, is resentful that Will does not help his career. Based north of the Thames, their company is fighting off competition from rivals as well as the Puritan threat to ban theatres. To add to the tensions, the players are racing to put on A Midsummer Nights Dream at an aristocratic wedding, Will is struggling to finish his new work about star-crossed lovers and someone is trying to steal the valuable manuscripts. Story and characters crackle off the page (watch for the humane Brother Lawrence) as do the stink and violence of Elizabethan London. The author of the Sharpe and Last Kingdom bestsellers has pulled off a surprise for his readers and a terrific one at that. THIRTY-ONE KINGS THIRTY-ONE KINGS by Robert J. Harris (Polygon 12.99) by Robert J. Harris (Polygon 12.99) It is June 1940. The veteran soldier and adventurer Richard Hannay, hero of John Buchans Thirty-Nine Steps, is called back to action. Tasked with finding a missing agent, Roland, who holds the key to the Thirty-One Kings, the codename for those people who will be vital to the resistance, Hannay must reach Paris before the enemy. Accompanied by the Die-Hards, a band of tough, resourceful Glaswegians, he heads for the French capital only to find that the Nazis are already rolling in. This is very good fun. The plot whips along, embellished by dogfights, perilous car journeys, personal vendettas and plenty of derring-do plus a whiff of enjoyable parody to lend an edge. I was beguiled. THE SILENT COMPANIONS THE SILENT COMPANIONS by Laura Purcell (Raven Books 12.99) by Laura Purcell (Raven Books 12.99) In 1866, the recently widowed and pregnant Elsie Bainbridge retires to The Bridge, the family ancestral home which is now almost derelict. Puzzled by the neglect, Elsie prepares to wait out her pregnancy only to discover the house appears to be haunted and there are terrifying wooden cut-out figures moving of their own volition from room to room one of which bears a resemblance to her. The novel opens with Elsie confined to a mental asylum. Accused of murder, she has lost the power of speech and is being coaxed to talk by a doctor more enlightened than his colleagues. Will she? Layering on the dark and creepy, this intriguingly plotted novel is the full- blown gothic, maintaining throughout an unsettling claustrophobic atmosphere mixed with some unusual historical detail. Nature ADVENTURES OF A YOUNG NATURALIST by David Attenborough (Two Roads 30) The concept of an endangered species is comparatively recent. In 1962, a Hollywood film called Hatari! had John Wayne running a game-catching farm in East Africa. Racing across the savannah in a truck, whooping with exhilaration, Wayne and his cronies pursued rhinos, elephants, giraffes and wildebeest until the animals dropped from exhaustion. They were then trussed with ropes and sent by crate to the worlds zoos, to be exhibited as novelties. Half a century ago, less thought was given to the horrors of captivity, nor to the encroachment of the human population upon natural habitats. It did not cross many peoples minds that the supply of what David Attenborough calls romantic, rare and exciting wild creatures will one day run out. David Attenborough shared his extraordinary journeys to encounter wildlife around the world in his new book 'Adventures Of A Young Naturalist' It comes as a shock, I have to say, to discover that in his younger years Attenborough was not unlike the John Wayne character, though in fairness he is quick to state, in his preface, that these days zoos dont send out animal collectors on quests to bring em back alive. And quite right too. So thats all right then. Nevertheless, flash back to the Fifties, when animal conservation hadnt been thought of, and zoos, indistinguishable from circus freak shows, wanted to find species that no other zoo had ever possessed. Attenborough, as a 26-year-old BBC producer, came up with the idea of making programmes about the exotic expeditions, which would be entitled On Safari and Zoo Quest. My plan was simple. The BBC and London Zoo should mount a joint animal-collecting expedition so off he went in a khaki suit with 16 mm black-and- white film. If we can set our 21st-century moral qualms aside, Adventures Of A Young Naturalist is immensely colourful and dramatic. In British Guiana (now Guyana), where rice fields and sugar plantations alternate with swamps and creeks, Attenborough traps a caiman, one of the local crocodiles. Glaring at us malevolently with yellow, unblinking eyes, the animal then roared and thrashed, threatening to inflict very serious injuries with its huge jaws and scaly tail. Attenborough has found himself sharing accommodation with rats, leeches and a vampire bat Attenborough encounters piranhas, with their rows of triangular razor-edged teeth, and massive, glistening pythons, which coil around their prey and squeeze and crush it to death, the black tongue flickering in and out. He finds chameleons, scorpions, millipedes and hairy spiders as big as dinner plates. Camping for weeks under paraffin lamps, or staying in seedy hotels, our intrepid hero finds himself sharing accommodation with whiskery rats, leeches and a vampire bat. Vampires shave a thin section of skin from their victim. Having made the wound, they will squat by it and lap up the exuding blood. Not only that, they also transmit the rabies virus. Discovering a vampire scuttling on the floor, resembling some foul four-legged spider, Attenborough flings his boot in the direction of the shifting shape. If he also brandishes a crucifix and a bulb of garlic, he doesnt mention this. In one account Attenborough concealed himself in the jungle with putrefying meat to attract a Komodo dragon Wherever he goes on these jaunts, before long Attenborough gathers an impressive menagerie. We had captured a giant anteater, a raucous macaw, a capuchin monkey, or, in Borneo, soon we had acquired quite a large collection green lizards, squirrels, crested quails. He finds a three-toed sloth, hanging upside down from the jungle tendrils, which stared at me with an expression of ineffable sadness. There is also an outraged orangutan, baring its teeth and squeaking angrily. (I am on the side of the orangutan.) The live trophies are shipped back to England by boat, supplied with 3,000 lbs of lettuce, 100 lbs of cabbages, 400 lbs of bananas, and 48 pineapples. ADVENTURES OF A YOUNG NATURALIST by David Attenborough (Two Roads 30) It was no joke keeping a parrot chick alive. Attenborough had to chew its food and spit it directly into the birds beak. One animal the local authorities would not allow him to export was a Komodo dragon, but Attenborough was able to film the creature, and it had never been seen on television before. Attenborough concealed himself in the jungle with his cameras, attracting the giant lizard with putrefying meat. The line of his savage mouth curved upwards in a fixed sardonic grin, he recalls. Attenboroughs programmes began being broadcast in December 1954 and my bosses were delighted. In many respects, however, this could be a book about the adventures of a young man at least 100 years earlier, during the reign of Queen Victoria. Daring to go on dangerous journeys in rough seas and tidal races the ship reared and plunged as the next eddy sucked at the bows could be from a Joseph Conrad or Jules Verne novel. The locals Attenborough met are likewise much more remote from Western civilisation than could ever be found today. When I was in Borneo in 2001 the longhouses of the Iban and Dayaks were adorned with satellite dishes. It is also the case that everywhere he went on the planet, the locals merrily aided the wildlife round-ups, converging on the BBC team on bicycles, in rattling lorries and on foot, bearing a wide assortment of animals. They were utterly amazed anyone was interested in obtaining these creatures for anything other than the pot. President of India, Ram Nath Kovind (right) and his wife Savita Kovind (left) arrive at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, Ethiopia Ran Nath Kovind is heading to Africa this week on his maiden visit as India's President and the government has rightly chosen Djibouti and Ethiopia as his destinations. As the ministry of external affairs has pointed out, 'Africa is chosen as the first destination of the President's overseas visit an index of the importance attached to the African continent by the current government.' The Modi government has been keen on expanding its profile in Africa, a continent with which India has shared historic ties and one where major powers today are scrambling for influence. Reactions Djibouti is emerging as a key state in the Indian Ocean region. The construction of the Djibouti naval base China's first military base abroad has generated varied reactions around the world. The base is seen as a move pushing China's own limits to its foreign policy, and underscores its growing security profile in Africa. This new military foray in Africa, as explained by Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi at a press conference in 2016, was part of China's willingness to 'play a constructive role in the political settlement of international and regional issues, so as to create a more secure and stable environment for China's development overseas', and to 'take on more international security responsibilities.' Indeed, China's growing military profile in Africa is following its economic footprint in the continent. It is moving towards an ever more expansive definition of its global interests, as its business in Africa pushes it to create new mechanisms for securing those interests, including its own growing military footprint abroad. Djibouti has been very welcoming of Indian presence in the country and had helped India during the time of evacuation from Yemen in 2015. With Ethiopia, India has had traditional ties and it remains the largest recipient of our concessional Lines of Credit in Africa. Both nations are key to India's Africa outreach. President of India Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi welcome his Excellency Alexander Lukashenko, President of The Republic of Belarus With the India-Africa summit in 2015, the Modi government had signalled its readiness to step up its engagement with Africa, a relationship which is centuries old, bolstered by trade across the Indian Ocean and a million-strong diaspora across Africa. Shared colonial legacy and post-Independence development experience have framed India's relationship with Africa. India's role as a champion of anti-colonialism and anti-racism after its Independence in 1947 drew it closer to the African nations. Since the end of the Cold War and propelled by China's growing profile in Africa, India is re-invigorating its ties with the African continent. The cooperation framework agreed at past India- Africa summits and the Indian initiatives to scale up investment and aid to Africa have underscored India's aim to foster a robust partnership between New Delhi and the African continent. Focus India today has growing stakes in Africa. With some of the fastest growing nations in the world, Africa of today is not the 'dark continent' of yore. The needs of regional states are divergent and their strengths are varied. India's focus over the last few decades has largely been on capacity building on the continent, providing more than $1 billion in technical assistance and training to personnel under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme. India has committed $7.5 billion (Rs 48,858 crore) to African infrastructure, covering 137 projects in more than 40 countries. India has also offered duty-free market access to Africa's least developed countries. But India's trade with Africa remains far below potential. India wants a 'developmental partnership' with Africa to be the cornerstone of its economic ties with the region. This also allows India to differentiate itself from the principles on which countries belonging to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the traditional donors of foreign aid, have based their relations with the recipient nations. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (left), President Ramnath Kovind (right) Competition Beijing's policy of using financial and military aid to secure oilfields in Africa has resulted in New Delhi losing out. The fierce competition between China and India for resources and energy to fuel their economies has been likened to the so-called scramble for Africa among European countries in the 19th century. This is a competition only in name as India lags far behind China in Africa. Where China's response toward the region has been well-coordinated across various government agencies, India has failed to project a united front. The Indian government will have to support its companies more proactively if it hopes to close the gap with China in terms of its economic profile on the continent. President Ram Nath Kovind declares Urban Maharashtra Open Defecation Free Yet India has its own strengths in its dealings with Africa. Its democratic traditions make it a much more comfortable partner for the West compared to China in cooperating on Africa-related issues. India is viewed as a more productive partner by many in Africa because Indian companies are much better integrated into the African society and encourage technology transfers to its African partners. New Delhi will have to leverage its own strengths in making a lasting compact with Africa and regain its lost presence on the continent. President Kovind's visit underlines the continuing salience of Africa in India's foreign policy matrix and the resolve of New Delhi to build long-term partnerships with the African continent. Delhi and the National Capital Region are preparing their arsenal to fight choking air pollution this winter. While the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) formulated by a Supreme Court-mandated panel will kick in from October 15 with measures such as odd-even, road-space rationing, and shutting of industries as the smog sets in, the Haryana government has also declared tough steps already. Millions struggle with hacking coughs and burning eyes as the air in and around the Capital turns into a grey haze every winter with tiny particulate pollution that can clog lungs and cause strokes, heart disease and cancer. Tourists wearing anti-air pollution masks as protective gear after pollution reached hazardous levels in Delhi NCR in New Delhi Traffic moving slowly due to thick smog at Ring Road in evening , as the whole city is engulfed in heavy smog Cracking the whip on those who dangerously pollute the airspace of Haryana during Diwali and the ensuing months, the state environment and pollution ministry has enforced closure of all brick kilns which are not based on zigzag technology in the districts bordering Delhi. In a zigzag kiln, the bricks are arranged in such a way that the air is forced to follow a zigzag path resulting in cleaner combustion of coal. The state environment ministry is also considering a ban on heavy trucks, closure of educational institutions, corporate houses and construction activities if the level of tiny PM 2.5 particles goes into dark zone, that is above 300 cubic metres. Dheera Khandelwal, additional chief secretary of environment and pollution in Haryana said the brick kiln order has been enforced from October 1 following strong recommendation from the Central Pollution Control Board. The board's regional officers have been asked to send compliance reports to the respective district deputy commissioners and ensure that all unauthorised brick furnaces have been closed. 'We had a bad experience during last winter season with smog appearing in the air of National Capital Region (NCR). 'The state environment and pollution control board has broader plans this time to prevent rising pollution in the air. We have constituted 16 departments to control air pollution and take appropriate action accordingly,' Khandelwal said. The decision was taken on the heels of the Centre notifying a Graded Response Action Plan to combat air pollution. GRAP, which has an advisory for each category of air pollution emergency, severe, very poor, moderate, poor will be implemented in Delhi-NCR between October 15 and March 15. Foggy day at Traffic at Mahipal pur and Gurgaon Road near Palam Airport Flyover It is formulated with a colour code red, orange, yellow and green to better explain to citizens what each air quality number means to them. It also explains the health effects of each. The Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority with Centre for Science and Environment's director general Sunita Narain and ex-bureaucrat Bhure Lal as its chief prepared the action plan last November when Diwali pollution turned Delhi's air into a poisonous concoction. The plan suggests that the controversial odd-even system be implemented during the 'severe' and 'emergency' categories of air quality. 'There will be offpeak hours, when the parking rates will fall, while during congestion, the charges will be hiked by three to four times. We will have to stop people from using private modes of transport. 'Here, the odd-even system and carpooling will be a great tool to reduce pollution. We have told the government departments, including the traffic police, to plan adequately for these measures and create public awareness in advance,' Lal said. Traffic moving slowly due to thick smog at Ring Road in evening The Haryana government's move on brick kilns could be a big setback for real estate companies with a large number of projects underway in districts like Gurugram, Faridabad, Sonepat, Jhajjar, Palwal and Panipat. 'We could take emergency steps such as closure of educational institutions, corporate houses, construction activities and banning the entry of heavy vehicles if PM 2.5 level goes beyond the 300 mark,' said Vinay Pratap Singh, deputy commissioner of Gurugram. 'MCG has given strict guidelines to impose parking fee three to four times higher if PM 2.5 level crosses 250.' After foiling two suicide attacks by the Jaish-e-Mohammed earlier this week, security forces in the Valley are hunting for at least seven additional fidayeen squads attached to the Pakistan-based terror group in south Kashmir. 'In this season, 25 Pakistani-origin terrorists of the JeM managed to infiltrate into the Valley from across the border and have joined hands with their local contacts and group leaders,' Army sources said. In the Valley, the squads are believed to have merged with seven local terrorists headed by Khalid Mohammed Tantre alias Noor Trali who is their local commander. BSF personnel carrying the coffin containing the body of BK Yadav after a wreath laying ceremony in Srinagar According to Mail Today sources, the group of 32 terrorists has divided into four subgroups with local jihadis attached to the foreign ones to act as their guides and lead them to their targeted areas for carrying out suicide attacks. The subgroups then formed hit squads of two to three terrorists each and two of these suicide squads of the JeM tried to strike at the security forces and carry out a sensational attack on them in Pulwama last month and the Srinagar airport on Tuesday. 'Both these suicide attacks were foiled by the alertness of the security forces but still seven suicide squads are active and may try to hit the security forces at different locations,' the sources said. Army officials said heavy presence of such groups in south Kashmir is a cause of concern for security forces as even if they succeed once, they can inflict a lot of damage. Sources in the Valley said most of the terrorists in this Jaish-e-Mohammed group are highly radicalised and before sneaking into Kashmir, they had been motivated by their JeM chief and international terrorist Masood Azhar in the terror camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Smoke billows out of the building where militants were believed to be hiding during an encounter with the security forces personnel following their attack on a BSF camp The sources said the terrorists of the group are difficult to track as they stay away from mobile phones and not much is known about them by the forces. 'Unlike the local terrorists who were indulging in propaganda over social media by posing for pictures and videos and becoming easy targets for the security forces, these Jaish terrorists are difficult to identify and track,' they said. Jammu and Kashmir Police's technical cell has helped in hunting and elimination of several militants including former Hizbul commander Burhan Wani over the last few years by tracking their phones to reach their hideouts. Interaction with natives is strictly restricted in Jaish and they use their local guides and terrorists for taking help from residents while moving around with them, making it difficult for them to be tracked, the sources said. In south Kashmir, the Army has been highly successful in eliminating terrorists as 73 of them have been killed in that area in 2017 till September 30 and security forces believe that this is the reason why foreign terrorists in large numbers have been pushed in. The first two suicide squads of the JeM had tried to hit district police lines in Pulwama where they could not cause much damage but managed to engage the troops in a long encounter, while all three terrorists were killed in the Srinagar base attack with one BSF soldier also losing his life. Sources said the Hizbul Mujahidden and the Lashkar-e-Taiba have been hit hard and badly by the security forces as their senior commanders including Abu Dujana, Sabzar Ahmed Bhat, Abu Ismail, Bashir Lashkari and many others have been eliminated in encounters. Indian Air Force chief BS Dhanoa on Thrusday said his force was capable of fighting a two-front war with China and Pakistan with its present military assets. Dhanoa also announced that the service now had the capability to locate and destroy nuclear targets in Pakistan. 'As far as IAF is concerned, it has the ability to locate, fix and strike, and that is not only for tactical nuclear weapons but for other targets across the border,' Dhanoa said while addressing the annual Air Force day press conference. Indian Air Force chief BS Dhanoa on Thrusday said his force was capable of fighting a two-front war with China and Pakistan The air chief marshal was asked whether India had the capability to disarm the Pakistani Tactical Nuclear Weapons which have been consistently used as a threat by Islamabad to blackmail the global community into ignoring its role in aiding and abetting terrorism. Last month, Pakistan's prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi had said that his country has developed short-range nuclear weapons to counter the 'Cold Start' doctrine of the Indian Army. On the capability to fight a war simultaneously with China and Pakistan, Dhanoa said, 'We need strength of 42 squadrons to carry out full spectrum operations in a two-front (war) scenario. 'It does not mean that we are not capable of fighting a two-front (war) as we speak. We have a plan B.' Prime Minister of Pakistan Shahid Khaqan Abbasi addresses the United Nations General Assembly He also clarified that the possibility of such a conflict was very low in the near future. The IAF chief indicated that the Doka La stand-off between India and China was not yet over as the Chinese troops were still deployed in the Chumbi valley across the border and expressed hope that they would withdraw from there after their exercises get over. The IAF is prepared to fight at a short notice in full synergy with the other two sister services should the need arise, Dhanoa said, adding that the force was in a high state of readiness to fight a war. About a possible confrontation with China, he said India's air power was adequate. At the same time, he talked about what China could or could not do from Tibet. Our capability is adequate, he said. Last month, Pakistan's prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi had said that his country has developed short-range nuclear weapons to counter India's 'Cold Start' doctrine On whether the IAF provided any support to the Army for the surgical strike last year and during the Dokalam face-off, the IAF chief said, whatever was asked from the air force was provided. He refused to share further details. On the plans to expand the assets of the Air Force, he said the force would be adding 36 Sukhoi-30MKIs and Rafale combat aircraft each along with 123 Light Combat Aircraft in the near future to make up for its dwindling squadron strength. The IAF chief also informed that three women officers will be joining the fighter aircraft squadrons of the force by the end of this year and new batches of women fighter pilots would also come up soon. Internationally acclaimed Catholic author Joseph Pearce returns to the University of Mary for two speaking events. Pearce will speak in the universitys Grounds for Belief series at 8 p.m. Thursday in the Starion Bank Living Room, Lumen Vitae University Center. He also will deliver a convocation address at 10 a.m. Friday at the Gary Tharaldson School of Business inside Butler Auditorium. Pearce has written such book as Tolkien: Man and Myth, The Quest for Shakespeare and Unmasking Oscar Wilde. His autobiography, Race with the Devil, chronicles his conversion from the racism of his youth to a life of Christian service. Today he is a recognized expert on the works of Christian literary giants G. K. Chesterton, C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien. His most recent book is Heroes of the Catholic Reformation. Joseph Pearce is the master of literary biography, says Peter Huff, director of the Saint John Paul II Center for University Ministry and professor of theology at the University of Mary. His explorations into the lives of Catholic leaders during the tumultuous Reformation period shed new light on one of the most important eras in Christian history. For more information, call 701-355-8295. MBNA scrapped two of its popular cashback and rewards credit cards last week, with such deals seemingly facing extinction. Indeed, Rachel Springall, finance expert at moneyfacts.co.uk, refers to it as 'a progressively shrinking market' in which the most common cashback return today is 0.50 per cent for everyday spending that equates to just 50p for every 100 spent. But there are still a few hidden gems paying rates of up to 5 per cent which disciplined credit card customers can use to their advantage, as long as they follow the rules. Lucrative deal? Cashback credit cards typically pay back up to 1 per cent back on spends So are there still any good deals out there to switch to? American Express has long offered the top deal - and still does - particularly for those who can make the most of its introductory 5 per cent promotion. It has two options. The first is its Cashback Everyday Credit Card paying 5 per cent for three months (capped at 100). After that, you earn tiered cashback. You get 0.5 per cent on up to 5,000 and then 1 per cent on further spending. You must spend a minimum of 3,000 on the card each year. You could get 25 just for applying for a cashback card If you are applying for a new cashback credit card it is worth checking out the cashback websites to see if you could get paid for signing up. Quidco and Topcashback tend to offer the top rates. They currently pay up to 25 just for clicking through their sites before you apply for an Amex cashback credit card. Contrary to what many people think, there are no catches. Signing up is free and only requires your email address. But you will have to be patient as it can take a couple of months for cashback to be paid on some products. There is also the Platinum Cashback Credit Card that offers higher earning potential, but comes with a 25 annual fee. It pays 5 per cent for the first three months (capped at 125) and then 1 per cent on spends up to 10,000, followed by 1.25 per cent for anything beyond that. The best option for you depends on how much you are likely to spend on the card and how much of it will be within the first three months. But as a guideline, a 750 per month spend on the fee-free version would earn 153.75 over the course of the first year, while the premium offering earns 180, or 155 after the 25 annual cost. So you would need to spend just under 9,000 a year for the premium card to earn its keep. Other options There are a few reward cards that offer flat rates of cashback of 0.5 per cent on all spending. They include Nationwides Select Credit Card that pays 0.5 per cent cashback on spending, but you must be a Flex current account holder. It has two free options, the Flex Account and the Flex Direct deal that pays 5 per cent interest on a balance of up to 2,500 for the first year. Santander has an All in One credit card that pays 0.5 per cent cashback. The card comes with a monthly fee of 3, but 123 current account holders dont pay the fee for the first six months. NatWest's Rewards Credit Card pays 1 per cent back on supermarket spending and anything spent with one of its MyRewards scheme retailers. Everything else clocks up 0.5 per cent. It costs 24 per year unless you have one of its Reward Current Accounts. There are no 0 per cent interest deals attached and the card comes with an APR of 23.7 per cent, or 18.9 per cent per year on purchases. The Aqua Reward MasterCard pays 0.5 per cent on your spending (up to 100 per year) and free overseas spending. The card is designed for those with a low credit score so you must pay it off each month otherwise your balance clocks up interest at 34.9 per cent APR. Then there are the cards that offer something similar to standard cashback cards - and they're mainly from retailers. For example, Asda's Cashback Plus card offers 2 per cent back on your shopping with the supermarket and 1 per cent everywhere else with a 3 monthly fee. Alternatively, its free Asda Cashback Credit Card pays 1 per cent on your Asda shop and 0.5 per cent on spending elsewhere. These are only close to cashback deals though, as the cashback is paid in vouchers to use at the supermarket. Both come with six months of 0 per cent on purchases of at least 200 at George.com in the first six months. You can read more about credit cards offering perks exclusively to existing customers and whether they are worth it here. Pocket change: Cashback rates are not at the levels they once were Why have lucrative perks been culled? Back in 2015 a new EU law capped the amount credit card providers are able to charge merchants for processing card payments, reducing their earnings. According to the string of credit card companies that quickly reduced their credit card offerings, the loss of income meant they could no longer afford to offer some of their more generous rewards and cashback schemes. American Express was not affected, but thanks to a ruling in July this year any Amex cards offered through another credit card company such as Barclaycard and MBNA now are. As many as 75,000 MBNA customers with Amex credit card deals had them whipped away last month. The cashback and rewards cards have been closed to new customers since October 2015, but from September 22 2017 they stopped earning any perks and they now have three months to redeem any cashback or rewards they have earned. Cashback credit card customers earned 0.5 per cent on spending while rewards card customers earned one point per 1. By the end of November customers will be send a replacement Visa card, which wont come with any rewards for spending. During the summer, Barclaycard switched around 500,000 of its cashback credit card customers from an Amex card that paid 1 per cent to a Visa card paying 0.5 per cent. Crispin Odey was briefly married to James Murdoch's elder sister Prue Sky investors are being urged to vote against re-electing James Murdoch as Chairman at next weeks AGM due to concerns about his independence. How will Skys tenth-largest shareholder, hedge funder Crispin Odey, vote, I wonder? Hes been cool on Skys takeover bid from 21st Century Fox, saying recently that hed be happy if it now failed. Not that its relevant, but Odey was briefly married to Murdochs elder sister Prue in the mid-1980s, describing James back then as a squit. Royal Mail has urged the Communications Workers Union (CWU) to return to the negotiating table after it balloted for strike action next month over pay and pensions. It may have to wait a bit. A quick glance at CWUs Facebook page shows a large chunk of delegates are now enjoying an overseas jolly in Latvia. Splendid! With Deutsche Bank investors said to be twitchy over stocks approaching record lows, shouldnt the bank end its costly support for the Frieze Art Fair which it is sponsoring this week for the 14th year? Dont hold your breath. Financial institutions love sponsoring highfalutin events such as these. They think its lends them the illusion of respectability. Suggestions that Monarch Airlines collapse could solve Ryanairs current pilot shortage are over-simplistic. Monarch used Airbus planes. Ryanair flies Boeings. Manning a different make of aircraft would require hours of costly training, which Ryanair boss Michael OLeary would expect applicant pilots to pay for themselves. Of course he would! The rascal even makes staff pay for their own biros. Finally, I mentioned earlier this week that Lady Bradys salary as chairman of Sir Philip Greens company Taveta Investments was 650,000. Sir Philip rings to inform me hes actually paying her 200,000. My apologies. Sober October abstinence is already making me careless. Fare play: Uber's profits rose from 1.8m in 2015 to 3m last year Uber's profits in London had soared by 65 per cent before the taxi app firm was threatened with a ban in the capital. The company's profits rose from 1.8million in 2015 to 3million last year after turnover rocketed from 23million to 37million. Uber's board members signed off the accounts on September 28 a week after its London subsidiary was handed a shock notice from Transport for London announcing it was set to lose its operator's licence. The directors said: 'The company intends to appeal the decision and meanwhile TfL has confirmed it can continue to operate as usual.' Uber paid 551,174 in tax and its staff headcount rose from 105 to 199, according to its filings. About 40,000 drivers work for it in London but the company says they are 'independent contractors' a classification that is the subject of an ongoing legal battle. Its global chief executive, Dara Khosrowshahi, jetted in to London on Tuesday to hold crisis talks with authorities. Afterwards, both sides said the discussions had been constructive and they are expected to continue. A Dutch finance firm yesterday outlined plans for one of the biggest flotations on the London stock market this year in a major vote of confidence in Brexit Britain. As the City geared up for a string of listings that could spark a fees bonanza for bankers and other advisers, TMF said that once the deal is complete it will leave its headquarters in Amsterdam for a new base in the capital. The company, which employs 7,000 staff in more than 80 countries and offers accounting, tax and payroll services for clients such as Netflix and Linked In, looks set to be valued at around 1.4billion when it goes public next month. Bosses at TMF said the Brexit vote 'has not been a barrier to the company choosing London' adding the UK's exit from the EU 'could actually present an opportunity'. Dutch finance firm TMF is to float on the London Stock market and quit its headquarters in Amsterdam for a new base in the UK capital once the deal is complete In a further sign of the City's enduring appeal, Russian energy company En+ outlined plans to raise 1.1billion in London and Moscow making it Russia's first listing in the capital since 2014. British Virgin Islands investment company J2 Acquisition also said it had raised 950million through an initial public offering on the London Stock Exchange. LSE bosses are hoping to lure in the biggest deal of all, Saudi state oil firm Aramco, which is valued at about 1.6trillion. It comes amid growing optimism for Britain's stock exchange, which suffered a fall in initial public offerings immediately after the Brexit vote but has rapidly bounced back. More businesses floated on London than any rival in Europe, the Middle East, India or Africa in the third quarter of 2017, according to accountant EY. Its figures also revealed that foreign firms accounted for 12 per cent of these listings and 56 per cent of the 2.9billion raised. The biggest hitter so far this year has been Allied Irish Banks, worth 10.6billion, which raised 2.7billion in one of the City's largest stock market listings for two decades. Shares in the firm which was bailed out by Ireland's government at the height of the financial crisis began trading in London and Dublin in June. PwC director Hilary Eastman said: 'Investors are still reasonably confident about the future for UK companies, which may explain why London is still seeing healthy initial public offering activity.' And speaking at the Tory conference earlier this week, LSE chief executive Xavier Rolet said it would be 'conservative' to expect a financial technology firm valued at between 100billion and 300billion to come out of London in ten years. TMF's listing in particular will be seen as a huge feather in the City's cap after the business said Brexit presented a major moneymaking opportunity. It added: 'Brexit has not been a barrier to choosing London in fact, the UK's exit from the EU could actually present an opportunity to TMF Group, given that business complexity and companies moving across borders are key drivers of its growth.' SIGNING OFF The former finance director of embattled builder Carillion is stepping down from the board of estate agent Countrywide. Richard Adam, 59, left Carillion about seven months before a disastrous trading update that wiped about 70 per cent off its market value. Last month he also resigned from the board of First Group, about six months after joining. HIGH NOTE Banknote maker De La Rue has been hired by the Bank of England to supply polymer for the new 20 notes alongside Canadian rival CCL. The note, featuring artist JMW Turner, will be issued in 2020. GET TOGETHER Britains biggest nightclub operator has turned up the volume in its bid to merge with rival Revolution Bars. Deltic is proposing an all-paper merger that would see Revolution own 65 per cent of the combined business and Deltic the remaining 35 per cent. DIVI DELAY Hundreds of investors have faced a lengthy wait for their dividends after a meltdown in Barclays online investing system. Shareholders in several huge companies, including Lloyds, have been waiting for late payouts from the banks Smart Investor system, with another eight-day delay expected. FLUSHED OUT Toilet roll maker Accrol has suspended trading and issued a profit warning after being hammered by rising costs caused by a shortage of raw materials. CHECKING IN Hotel operator Hilton is investing 38million over the next five years to fund its expansion into Africa. The money will support the conversion of around 100 hotels into Hilton-branded properties. GOING UP Budget airline EasyJet carried 7.7m passengers in September up from 7m the year before. Despite the surge, the airline still carried fewer passengers than Ryanair, which flew 11.8m people during September even after cancelling thousands of flights due to a pilot scheduling mix up. GOLD SHINE AIM-listed Caledonia Mining says it has produced 14,389 ounces of gold from its Blanket mine in Caledonia during the third quarter, marking record production. DIG DOWN Miner Ferrexpos steel pellet production dropped to 7,653 tons during the third quarter, compared to 8,328 tons during the same period last year. Wholesale bosses are battling Tesco's 3.7billion takeover of Booker, warning that it could put them out of business. Some of the country's largest wholesale groups are urging the competitions watchdog to block the sale. It comes just a day after Tesco boss Dave Lewis stressed he 'remained confident' about the Booker deal as he toasted upbeat Tesco results. Some of the country's largest wholesale groups are urging the competitions' watchdog to block the sale of Booker to Tesco The Competition And Markets Authority is looking into the tie-up due to concerns it could lead to higher prices in about 350 areas across the UK. Tesco operates more than 3,000 stores but would also become a major supplier of small retailers if it bought Booker, which supplies more than 5,000 stores including Premier and Londis. AMAZON ON THE PROWL Amazon is now eyeing up supermarkets in France. The online giant approached major supermarket operators about a purchase or distribution deal, according to French newspaper Le Monde. It claimed that Amazon had contacted supermarket firms Intermarche and Systeme U as well as Casino. There has also been speculation that it is interested in bidding for Carrefour Group. The sprawling firm, which has just snapped up US grocery chain Whole Foods for 10billion, is also turning its sights on a bar opening up a pop-up in Tokyo's Ginza district to promote alcoholic products sold on its website, featuring an ordering system that will suggest drinks. Now leading wholesalers including Today's Wholesale Services, Spar, Bestway, Bidfood, Landmark, Confex and Sugro have written to the CMA to say the deal 'threatens the survival of the independent retailer' by creating a group with such large buying power. According to the letter seen by the Telegraph, they said: 'Tesco will have incontestable power over the procurement of all grocery categories in the UK. Suppliers will find it even harder to resist Tesco's demands.' They added: '[Tesco] will be able to drive its competitors out of business. At the retail level, the combination of Booker's wholesale prices and Tesco's deep pockets will present independent retailers with a stark choice: Join a Booker/Tesco symbol or go out of business.' Their letter echoes several formal submissions to the merger probe by the CMA. Unnamed retailers warned: 'A substantial lessening of competition will result because the acquisition of Booker will enhance Tesco's ability to act across several markets with a view to raising prices and eliminating competition.' The CMA said it had spoken to one wholesaler who warned that the deal had the 'potential to wipe out wholesale competition' and another who said it could be 'disastrous to his business'. Two wholesalers also expressed concerns the merged group would have access to information about the performance of other Booker-supplied chains. Tesco and Booker have argued the tie-up will mean they can improve the choice, quality, value and service for customers, and deny it will undermine suppliers. They have added: 'Strong partnerships with suppliers are crucial to our business and allow us to give consumers the mix of household brand names, innovation and fresh produce that they want. 'We believe suppliers will support the proposed merger and the opportunities it brings for them, in terms of growth and additional revenue and/or in terms of efficiency and reduced cost.' This week Tesco reported a 21.1 per cent leap in UK and Ireland operating profits to 471million, with sales rising from 27.3billion to 28.3billion. It has also resumed its dividend after halting it nearly three years ago, paying 1p per share in an interim payout. The CMA is due to give its provisional findings in October. A tainted watchdog stuffed with former PwC partners has dropped a probe into the accountant over alleged wrongdoing at Barclays. The Financial Reporting Council spent three years investigating the bean-counter over claims it had failed to spot Barclays taking risks with clients' money. But yesterday it said there was 'not a realistic prospect' a tribunal would find PwC Barclays' auditor for 120 years had done anything wrong. The Financial Reporting Council spent three years investigating the accountant over claims it had failed to spot Barclays taking risks with clients' money The FRC came to the decision after City regulators at the Financial Conduct Authority, a separate watchdog, fined Barclays 38million for putting 16.5billion of customers' assets at risk from 2007 to 2012. It is the third probe dropped in the past few weeks by the FRC, which is notorious for providing a home to former accountants from the big firms it is supposed to keep an eye on. ACCOUNTANT IN THE DOCK PwC was investigated over the 326million black hole in the accounts of its client Tesco but the case was dropped in June An earlier probe into claims of problems with PwCs work for Barclays was abandoned in 2013 But the FRC did hit PwC with a record fine of 5.1million earlier this year for sloppy audits of crisis-hit finance firm RSM Tenon PwC was also fined 5million by the FRC following an investigation into its dealings with Connaught No fewer than six ex-PwC partners sit on major FRC committees that make decisions on regulation. They include audit director Melanie McLaren and non-executive director Roger Marshall, who sits on the codes and standards committee. Both worked for PwC until 2009. Accounting professor Prem Sikka, at Essex Business School, said: 'The FRC lacks independence from the industry it regulates.' The FRC axed another probe into PwC in June over its failure to spot a 326million black hole in Tesco's accounts. An FRC spokesman stressed decisions on whether to proceed with an investigation are made by its executive counsel, barrister Gareth Rees. He added: 'The FRC has clear rules on conflicts of interest.' A PwC spokesman said: 'We co-operated fully during the FRC's thorough investigation and are pleased that the FRC has closed it without any further action.' Chelsea Clinton asked a judge on Monday to throw out a $150,000 lawsuit against her children's book after a writer claimed that she ripped off his idea, according to court papers obtained exclusively by DailyMailTV. While the mother-of-two has been enjoying the 17-week reign of her feminist book 'She Persisted' on the New York Times best sellers list, she has been battling a lawsuit over the copyright of the work since July. Christopher Janes Kimberley, 56, claims the former first daughter used three of the same women featured in his work and that her publisher ripped off the book's idea after he sent over his proposal through a Facebook message. The author filed suit in New York court and is seeking $150,000 in damages, plus the profits of the popular book. Chelsea Clinton (left) has asked a judge to dismiss a copyright lawsuit against her children's book 'She Persisted', in court papers filed on Monday. Christopher Janes Kimberley (right) claims Clinton copied a section of his book featuring quotes from notable historical figures The mother-of-two has been enjoying the 17-week reign of 'She Persisted' on the New York Times best sellers list, but has been battling the suit since July. Clinton's lawyers believe Kimberley's claim is 'completely irrelevant' and want it thrown out Clinton, 37, had her legal team argue the suit should be dismissed because 'there is not even a hint of substantial similarity' in Kimberley's claim, making it 'completely irrelevant', according to court papers. Kimberley's 'A Heart is the Part That Makes Boys And Girls Smart' is three volumes, targeted towards boys and girls of all ages and published in 2013. The work contains 15 quotes and stories from historical figures such as Helen Keller, Harriet Tubman and Nellie Bly in its 'Quotable Questionnaire' section. He bases the suit on the fact that Clinton's book features three of the same women who were included in his 'Quotable Questionnaire' section, and the quote from Bly is exactly the same in both books. The quote featured in both works from the American journalist is: 'I have never written a word that did not come from my heart. I never shall.' Clinton hits back that her work includes a total of 13 different stories about American women who 'persisted' and are notable historical figures. Kimberley bases the suit on the fact that Clinton's book features three of the same women who were included in his 'Quotable Questionnaire' section, and the quote from Bly is exactly the same in both books. Pictured: Bly's quote in Clinton's book Both children's books mention Harriet Tubman, Nellie Bly and Helen Keller. Clinton argues her work tells the story and triumph of the women while Kimberley's book just quotes them Her team argues books featuring Tubman, Keller and Bly is nothing new and that 'others have been writing childrens biographies of each of those women for decades.' Kimberley also accuses Clinton's publisher, Penguin Random House, of taking his idea. The man claims he sent off his book proposal via Facebook to the giant publishing company but he never heard back. He accuses the president of Penguin Young Readers US, Jennifer Loja, of receiving the submission, reading it, taking his idea and giving it to Clinton. Kimberley alleges Clinton's book willfully infringed upon his work by including quotes and stories from the women in featured in his. Earlier this year, he learned about Clinton's book and said he immediately noticed similarities, specifically from his 'Quotable Questionnaire' section. Clinton has continued to promote her book, tweeting out photos of her press tour, including the Bly quote page, and has even had the work produced in Spanish (pictured ) Clinton's team argues books featuring Tubman, Keller and Bly is nothing new and that 'others have been writing childrens biographies of each of those women for decades' Kimberley fired off a cease and desist to Clinton and the publisher in April before it hit bookstores. Kimberley's Facebook page indicates he is critical of former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and the Clinton Foundation, where Chelsea serves as Vice Chair. He claims 'A Heart is the Part That Makes Boys And Girls Smart' has been offered for 'free to the public' since 2014 for educational purposes. Clinton has continued to promote her book, tweeting out photos of her press tour, including the Bly quote page, and has even had the work produced in Spanish. It currently sits in second place on the New York Times best sellers list, where it has remained in the top number one and two spots for the past 17 weeks. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is a rational politician and the US needs to understand that to deal with the nuclear-armed country, a top Central Intelligence Agency Korea expert said Wednesday. 'Beyond the bluster, Kim Jong-Un is a rational actor,' said Yong Suk Lee, the deputy assistant director of the CIA's Korea Mission Center. 'We have a tendency in this country to underestimate his conservatism.' 'He wants to rule for a long time and die in his own bed,' Lee said at a conference on the CIA at George Washington University. US politicians including President Donald Trump have repeatedly painted Pyongyang's strongman as irrational and 'crazy.' But Lee said Kim's focus is to stay in power, as shown by the brutal murder in Malaysia in February of his half brother Kim Jong-Nam, which has been blamed on Pyongyang agents. Scroll down for video North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un (seen in a file photo released by the Pyongyang government last month) is a rational politician and the US needs to understand that to deal with the nuclear-armed country, a top Central Intelligence Agency Korea expert said Wednesday 'All politics is local,' he said of the North Korean milieu. The country's long history of being surrounded by greater powers, too, means that the country is constantly on the defensive, and its leaders play that up. 'North Korea is a political organism that thrives on confrontation,' Lee said. But Kim's fierce defense of his position and his combativeness against Washington does not mean he will act irrationally now that he has the capacity to fire a nuclear tipped missile at the United States. 'Waking up and deciding to nuke Los Angeles is not in his interest to survive,' he said. The White House on Monday ruled out talks with North Korea except to discuss the fate of Americans held there, again appearing to rebuke Secretary of State Rex Tillerson who said Washington was directly communicating with Pyongyang on its nuclear and missile programs. 'We've been clear that now is not the time to talk,' White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders told reporters, reiterating a tweet from President Donald Trump at the weekend that was seen as undercutting Tillerson. 'The only conversations that have taken place were that ... would be on bringing back Americans who have been detained,' Sanders said. 'Beyond that, there will be no conversations with North Korea at this time.' Tillerson said on Saturday during a trip to China that the United States was directly communicating with North Korea on its nuclear and missile programs but that Pyongyang had shown no interest in dialogue. Trump, who has traded insults and threats with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in recent weeks, later dismissed any prospect of talks with North Korea as a waste of time. 'I told Rex Tillerson, our wonderful secretary of state, that he is wasting his time trying to negotiate with Little Rocket Man,' Trump wrote on Twitter, using his sarcastic nickname for Kim. President Donald Trump distanced himself from his secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, who said last week that the US was engaged in direct talks with the North Korean government 'Save your energy, Rex, we'll do what has to be done!' Trump wrote. It was not the first time the White House and State Department have seemed at odds on policy issues, but when asked if Trump still had confidence in Tillerson as secretary of state, Sanders said: 'He does.' A senior administration official said Tillerson misspoke. 'I think it was just him misspeaking. He was just acknowledging the fact that we do have channels and we might have reason to talk if North Korea's behavior changes sometime down the road,' the official said. As their divergent views on policy have become more known, Tillerson on Wednesday denied a bombshell report that he referred to Trump as a 'moron.' Three of President Donald Trumps top cabinet secretaries have reportedly formed a suicide pact whereby all of them would resign in the event their boss scapegoats any one of them, it was learned on Wednesday. The pact has been agreed to by Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis, and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, according to BuzzFeed. Tillersons future as secretary of state was the subject of intense speculation on Wednesday in light of claims that he has had a major falling out with the president. Tillerson held a rare news briefing in Washington on Wednesday during which he dismissed a report that he had once dubbed the president a 'moron.' For his part, Trump declared he has 'total confidence' in his top diplomat, after both had denied an explosive report that Tillerson became so frustrated over the summer that he considered resigning. Three of President Donald Trumps top cabinet secretaries, including Secretary of State Rex Tillerson (above), have reportedly formed a suicide pact whereby all of them would resign in the event their boss scapegoats any one of them The pact has been agreed to by Tillerson, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin (left), and Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis (right) According to the NBC News story, which cited 'multiple senior administration officials' but was described as 'erroneous' by the State Department, Tillerson had referred to Trump as a 'moron' at a July 20 Pentagon meeting. Afterwards, the report said, Tillerson met with Vice President Mike Pence, who urged him to show more respect, and with other senior officials who urged him not to resign. Appearing before reporters at a hastily organized news conference in the State Department, Tillerson denied the report and pledged Trump his full support. 'There's never been a consideration in my mind to leave,' the former oil executive said. 'I serve at the appointment of the president and I am here for as long as the president feels I can be useful to achieving his objectives.' The reported pact is significant given that Tillersons future as secretary of state was the subject of intense speculation on Wednesday in light of claims that he has had a major falling out with the president. Trump is seen above arriving in Las Vegas on Wednesday Tillerson's spokeswoman Heather Nauert later said the secretary had called Trump. 'He told me that, Heather, it was quote "a good conversation" and that "we're all good",' she said. The former ExxonMobil chief executive's tenure at the State Department has drawn scorn from Trump's opponents, from former diplomats and from the Washington policy elite. He has also been faced with an extraordinary array of foreign policy challenges - from North Korean nuclear threats to Russian subversion to attacks on US diplomats in Cuba. But his efforts have been overshadowed - some would say undermined - by Trump's un-diplomatic style and his streams of taunting tweets stirring international tensions. Formerly a respected figure in the oil business, the 65-year-old Texan has been attacked for failing to develop his own political profile and for failing to fight the State Department's corner. It is commonplace for him to be described by Washington pundits as the weakest secretary ever - and one scathing Washington Post column this week called him 'Donald Trump's dog.' But his public loyalty to Trump hasn't always been rewarded with support from the top. Trump publicly embarrassed Tillerson last weekend, telling him not to bother negotiating with North Korea On Sunday, as Tillerson flew home from meeting with top Chinese officials, Trump tweeted that his envoy was 'wasting his time' in trying to probe North Korea's willingness to talks. The State Department denied this was a reprimand, insisting Trump had been warning Kim Jong-Un that he should respond quickly to diplomatic overtures or face tougher action. And, on Tuesday, Tillerson's cabinet ally, Mattis pointedly told lawmakers at a congressional hearing that he backed the secretary's North Korea strategy. But Trump's Twitter outburst had triggered a new round of speculation. Richard Haass, former chief policy adviser to then secretary Colin Powell and the 15-year president of the influential Council on Foreign Relations, said Tillerson should go. 'Rex Tillerson has been dealt a bad hand by the Potus & has played it badly. For both reasons he cannot be effective SecState & should resign,' he tweeted Wednesday. Tillerson came out fighting. He did not himself directly address the damaging allegation that he had called Trump a 'moron' - but Nauert later stated that the secretary 'did not use that type of language... he did not say that.' Tillerson alleged that unidentified others were spreading malicious rumors to tear down the president's agenda, and vowed: 'I do not and I will not operate that way.' He praised his cabinet colleagues, cited their main achievements, and promised: 'There's much to be done and we're just getting started.' And he spoke warmly of Trump. 'He loves his country. He puts Americans and America first. He's smart. He demands results wherever he goes,' Tillerson said. Trump tweeted his support immediately after Tillerson's remarks and later told reporters: 'It was fake news. It was a totally phony story.' The vice president's office also issued a statement insisting Pence had never discussed Tillerson's possible resignation, stating: 'Any reporting to the contrary is categorically false.' Circumstances of a Burleigh-Morton County Detention Center inmate's death are still unclear three weeks after he died. Michael Lang, 47, of Mandan, died Sept. 13 at Sanford Medical Center. His family said he went into a coma following a seizure at the jail and was taken off life support in an intensive care unit after a week in the hospital and days of testing. Kristina Kratz, Lang's ex-wife, visited the hospital with their daughter and her husband. She said Lang had pneumonia as well as a cut on the back of his head, a broken nose, broken cheek bones and broken ribs. Lang hadn't had a seizure since 2009, so it was "out of the blue" to happen now, according to Kratz. When they spoke the day before his hospitalization, he told her his blood sugar was low. He was a type 2 diabetic, she added. "He seemed OK for the most part, but he was a little shaky," Kratz said, adding she gave him money for a snack and made plans to visit again with their daughter. At 5:30 a.m. Sept. 6, Lang had a medical situation while sitting on his bunk to eat breakfast, Maj. Steve Hall said. "It was a medical event that wasn't caused by anybody else," Hall said. "He was having difficulty breathing, and we had to clear his airway and perform CPR." Hall also said Lang was breathing on his own when he left the jail. Kratz said her ex-husband notoriously never ate breakfast. She also said he wasn't breathing when brought to ICU, and he couldn't breathe on his own while there. EMTs broke his ribs during CPR, but how he sustained his face injuries is unknown, she said. "He either smarted off to somebody because his blood sugar was low and he didn't want to give up his food, because, if he just fell off his bunk and he just cracked his head open, where did the broken nose and cheek bones come from?" Kratz said. Weeks after his death, Lang's family said they want the whole story. "I want to know the truth about what happened and what the coroner said," Kratz said. "My 8-year-old has a right to know what happened to her father." Kratz said it's been difficult for her daughter to understand the situation. She did see her father in ICU, she added. Lang had recently re-entered their daughter's life before his arrest. Lang's parents also want to know the full facts. "We want to see the autopsy report," said Mary Jo Lang, his mother. "And we'd also like to know what happened," said his father, Erwin. "The truth. That's the main thing." Kratz described her ex-husband as a helpful guy, a good worker and a father of four who loved his children. Lang had been in jail after his arrest in August on felony luring. The case has since been dismissed due to his death. Hall said Wednesday the outside investigation into Lang's death has not yet furnished a report. Without Lang's medical records or any reports, he said he couldn't speak to how Lang sustained his face injuries. He also said he wasn't aware if Lang had been in a fight before his hospitalization. Hall previously said upon Lang's hospitalization, custody reverted to Morton County, the arresting agency. Maxine Herr, the county's spokeswoman, referred questions to the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation. Liz Brocker, spokeswoman for the attorney general's office, declined to comment, citing BCI media rules. Steven Balaban, Lang's attorney, also declined to comment on his client's death. The North Dakota Medical Examiner's Office did not return messages seeking information about Lang's death. A lawyer for a woman seen on video being dragged off a Southwest Airlines flight in Maryland said Wednesday she never claimed her allergy to dogs was life-threatening and that her eviction from the aircraft was motivated by anti-Muslim bias. Forty-six-year-old Anila Daulatzai's lawyer says she agreed with crew members that she'd be fine with the dogs on the cross-country flight as long as they sat far apart. But she says other Southwest employees told her to leave the plane. The airline says that it required Daulatzai to produce a medical certificate, without which it could deny her the right to stay on board. Forty-six-year-old Anila Daulatzai (pictured) was removed from a Southwest Airlines flight last week after she complained about 'life-threatening allergies' to a passenger's support dog Video shows Daulatzai refusing to leave the plane on her own, prompting officers to pull and push her down the aisle She then tells the officers that she 'needs to close' her pants. But she accuses one officer of 'ripping' them as he tried to escort her off the plane But Daulatzai's attorneys say that the airline never asked for a medical certificate, according to The Washington Post. Instead, they say their client was 'profiled, abused, interrogated, detained, and subjected to false reporting and the trauma of racist, vitriolic public shaming precisely because she is a woman, a person of color, and a Muslim.' 'She survived sexism, racial profiling, and police brutality that fateful day,' according to her attorneys at the Reston, Virginia law firm of Hall & Sethi. 'Her mistreatment was particularly distressing because she is presently pregnant with her first child.' In the video, one officer is then seen grabbing Daulatzai and pulling her away from her seat. Eventually, passengers on the plane turned on the officers, yelling at them for pushing her forward Police were called and forcibly removed her. Other passengers on the flight to Los Angeles took video and posted it online. A Southwest spokesman said she refused to leave, despite claiming a life-threatening pet allergy. But her lawyers insist that Daulatzai told airline staff that she would be fine on the plane. Nonetheless, officers from the Maryland Transportation Authority Police 'pulled her from her seat by her belt loop' and 'dragged [her] through the aisle exposed with torn pants.' Her lawyers say Daulatzai is pregnant and required medical treatment after the September 26 incident at Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport. 'Daulatzai has also received hate mail, including racist messages and threats of further violence,' her lawyers say. 'There was an attempted break in into her home. She has since left her home, fearing for her safety.' Flight 1525 was preparing to leave from Baltimore to head to Los Angeles on Tuesday night when the incident occurred. The incident was recorded by Bill Dumas, and in the video the woman can be heard demanding the officers to let her go. At the start of the video, the woman apologizes and says that her father is having surgery as the officers mover her forward. 'What are you doing?' she asks the officers as other passengers are heard telling the woman to leave the plane peacefully. The woman then tells the officers that she 'needs to close' her pants. But she accuses one officer of 'ripping' them as he tried to escort her off the plane. In the video, one officer is then seen grabbing the woman and pulling her away from her seat. 'I will walk off! Don't touch me!' she yells as she clings to the back of her seat. Eventually, passengers on the plane turned on the officers, yelling at them for pushing the woman forward. After a few moments, Daulatzai turns around and tells the officers that she's a professor, but the cops ignore her and move her forward toward the plane's exit 'She's walking!' one passenger is heard saying as the cop tries to push the woman down the aisle. After a few moments, the woman turns around and tells the officers that she's a professor, but the cops ignore her and move her forward toward the plane's exit. Southwest Airlines told DailyMail.com that the woman was asked to provide her medical certificate to prove the allergy, but she was unable to provide that document. 'There was one emotional support animal and one pet onboard the aircraft. Our policy states that a Customer (without a medical certificate) may be denied boarding if they report a life-threatening allergic reaction and cannot travel safely with an animal onboard,' a spokesperson for Southwest told DailyMail.com. According to the airline, the flight crew 'made repeated attempts to explain the situation to the Customer, however, she refused to deplane and law enforcement became involved'. The Maryland Transportation Authority Police said in a statement that '[d]espite her clear attempt to resist a law enforcement officer, Ms. Daulatzai was professionally removed from the aircraft within the guidelines of the MDTA Police. 'This remains an open case that will be handled in the appropriate venue, not through various media channels.' Advertisement The all-powerful and fabulously wealthy sultan of Brunei marked 50 years on the throne in spectacular style Thursday, travelling in a gilded chariot through the streets and holding a tradition-filled ceremony at his golden-domed palace. Tens of thousands of well-wishers waving the country's flag lined the streets and cheered as Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, the world's second-longest reigning monarch, passed by in a chariot pulled by dozens of his subjects. However, behind the gilded facade, the Sultan rules the nation with an iron fist: the absolute monarchy lack free elections and a free press, and homosexuality is punishable by death from stoning. Royal jubilee: Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and Queen Saleha wave from the royal chariot during a procession to mark his golden jubilee of accession to the throne in Bandar Seri Begawan Iron fist: Brunei is an absolute monarchy and therefore have no elections, and there is no free press in the country Criticised: In Brunei, homosexuality is a crime punishable by death, either through stoning or hanging While seemingly adored by many of his subjects, the Sultan is often criticised by human rights campaigners over the country's strict Islamic laws and lack of democracy. Yesterday, festivities began with Hassanal, dressed in yellow and gold royal finery and accompanied by his wife Anak Hajah Saleha, inspecting a guard of honour in the grounds of his palace, before they performed a 21-gun salute for the royal couple. The sultan then held the royal audience in the throne room of the palace, a vast complex of resplendent white buildings with golden domes and almost 1,800 rooms. The ruler and his wife sat on golden thrones for a royal audience of several hundred that included the United Kingdom's Prince Edward and Sophie Countess of Wessex. Wave to the crowds: The Sultan and the queen were both wearing lavish outfits in gold as they sat on gilded thrones Tens of thousands of well-wishers waving the country's flag lined the streets and cheered as Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah passed by in a chariot pulled by dozens of his subjects Loved by his people: Thousands of his subjects cheered and held smartphones aloft to celebrate the Sultan, who is often criticised by human rights campaigners The sultan and other members of the royal family then travelled through the streets in a convoy of Rolls-Royces before boarding the golden chariot, known as the Usongan Diraja, which has long been used for royal ceremonies in Brunei. Marching bands took part in the colourful procession as it made its way through the streets, the highlight of about two weeks of celebrations to mark the golden jubilee of one of the world's wealthiest men. The festivities will continue Friday when Southeast Asian leaders and Middle Eastern royalty attend a banquet to mark the jubilee. Guests include Indonesian President Joko Widodo, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi, and Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, according to organisers. Brunei, with a population of about 400,000, is one of the world's wealthiest nations thanks to abundant oil and gas reserves. Royal greetings: Sophie Countess of Wessex meets with the Sultan of Brunei during an audience earlier on Thursday Who needs elections: Prince Edward and Sophie Countess of Wessex attend an audience with the Sultan of Brunei (not pictured) in honor of his Golden Jubilee Golden party: The Istana Nurul Iman throne room during a special audience with the Sultan of Brunei in honor of his Golden JubileeSultan of Brunei Golden Jubilee Money in abundance: Thanks to oil and gas reserves, Brunei is one of the world's weathiest nations The 71-year-old ascended to the throne of the Muslim country perched on the north of tropical Borneo island in October, 1967. He is the 29th sultan of Brunei from a royal family that has ruled the country continuously for over 600 years. The sultan only comes behind one sovereign in terms of having the longest reign - Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, who ascended to the throne in 1952. She became the world's longest serving monarch a year ago following the death of Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej, whose reign spanned seven decades. Former NSW premier Mike Baird has revealed that part of the reason behind his shock decision to quit politics was because his three children were being bullied. Mr Baird says his daughters were bullied 'horrendously' on social media as a result of some of his controversial policies, including Sydney's lock-out laws. His eldest daughter Laura even moved from Sydney to Port Macquarie to escape the bullying. Scroll down for video Former NSW premier Mike Baird revealed that part of the reason behind his decision to quit politics was because his three children were being bullied. Above, Baird and his family in 2014 'They are not things you obviously share at the time. But any parent will know how that feels,' Mr Baird told the Australian Financial Review on Thursday. Mr Baird was a big user of social media during his time as premier, and even used Twitter to announce his planned exit from politics in January. At the time he said part of the reason for his decision to walk away after two years and nine months as premier was that his parents and sister were facing serious health issues and he wanted to spend more time with them. NSW Premier Mike Baird with his family at the NSW Liberal campaign launch in Sydney in 2015 Protesters holding banners as part of the March Against Baird rally in Sydney on May 29, 2016 Once the most popular politician in the country, Mr Baird endured a tough 2016, copping criticism over his controversial council amalgamation policy and lock-out laws, as well as suffering a humiliating backdown on his bid to ban greyhound racing in NSW. He was also dubbed 'Casino Mike' after The Star casino in Pyrmont and Barangaroo, then a proposed site for James Packer's casino, were excluded from the zones affected by the lock-out laws. The character - cigarette and wine in one hand, kebab in the other and surrounded by gambling chips - was famously painted in a mural on a Chippendale wall by Scott Marsh. But he insists he never wanted to stay in politics indefinitely. 'A lot of people who are cynical haven't been there where there are TV cameras in front of the house early in the morning when your kids are just trying to get ready for school,' he told the AFR. Mr Baird also defended his decision to take a senior executive job with National Australia Bank just six weeks after quitting politics. 'I needed to get a job,' he said. Ryan Seacrest skipped GMA over scheduling and NOT Kelly's Ripa's demands, with back-to-back days of Live, On Air and American Idol leaving no time for an interview. A busy overextended Ryan Seacrest made the decision early Tuesday to not join Idol judges for an appearance on Good Morning America on Wednesday due to time constraints and not at the behest of his 'Live co-host Kelly Ripa. Multiple sources tell DailyMail.com that the 'American Idol' host and his team determined that there simply was not enough time in his jam-packed schedule to sit down for an interview on the ABC morning show alongside new 'Idol' judges Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan, despite his desire to do so. That did not stop a report from emerging though that placed all the blame on Ripa, with Page Six claiming that Seacrest's new co-host forbid him from appearing on GMA. Scroll down for video All smiles: Kelly and Ryan are seen laughing together during their show on Wednesday There was not enough time in his jam-packed schedule to sit down for an interview on the ABC morning show alongside new 'Idol' judges Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan, seen above 'Idol' judges Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan are seen above during the GMA interview on Wednesday Ripa reportedly made this ultimatum in response to the ABC morning show poaching Ripa's her former sidekick Michael Strahan according to Page Six sources. The sources who spoke with DailyMail.com however all summarily dismissed these claims as 'completely untrue'. The network's promotion of the much hyped interview confirms the timeline of events, with Seacrest's name disappearing from social media posts promoting the 'Idol' cast's appearance beginning on Tuesday. Seacrest's own schedule also provides a solid alibi, with the never-not-working TV personality taping 'Live With Kelly and Ryan,' 'OnAir' and then 'Idol' back-to-back-to-back on both Tuesday and Wednesday. On Tuesday alone Seacrest worked over 17 hours and did not get home until after midnight, when 'Idol' taping finally wrapped for the day. Ripa and Seacrest have become good friends while working together with Seacrest posting a sweet message on Instagram on Ripa's birthday on Monday saying 'Happy bday to the amazing @kellyripa! Not only did I score the bext TV wife, she's also become one of my best friends :-)' Seacrest posted a sweet message on Instagram on Ripa's birthday on Monday saying 'Happy bday to the amazing @kellyripa! Not only did I score the bext TV wife, she's also become one of my best friends :-)' He then was back up and doing it all over again on Wednesday. 'Ryan also had "Live" this morning and his daily radio program,' explained one network source. 'So between that and his "Idol" production duties, something had to give on his schedule, which is completely understandable.' Page Six spoke with a source who claimed: 'Ryan was scheduled to be on Wednesdays show well in advance. Hes been on the show rundown for a week. Then yesterday, or maybe even as late as last night, Kelly threw a s*** fit and told him he couldnt do GMA, so he pulled his appearance.' Seacrest is pictured behind the scenes while filming Idol on Tuesday when he was working for 17 hours solid Another snap shared to his Instagram Wednesday while filming Idol. Seacrest captioned it 'pianist called in sick... here's a hat I've never worn before' That version of events is not the case at all though according to one insider, who scoffed at the frequent depictions of Ripa as a jealous and petty employee. ABC has the utmost trust in Kelly, and are thrilled with how her show has been performing so far this season, an industry insider told DailyMail.com. She and Ryan are beating out Megyn Kellys new show on NBC and the two co-hosts have become incredibly close friends over the past few months. The insider added: Kelly has been a network staple for three decades who has stayed focus on her show. She would have no issue at all with Ryan doing GMA. Seacrest appearing on GMA for an interview is also far different than the situation that led to Strahn exiting 'Live.' In this Tuesday photo that Seacrest shared to Instagram he said that the judges were on a break so he was 'on seat warming duty' Seacrest shared this photo at the end of filming on Tuesday saying 'that's a wrap on day 1! Feels good to be home :-)' This Tuesday photo that Seacrest shared to Instagram showed him hard at work and was captioned 'giving out golden tickets into the night. P.S. I'm hungry' The network's decision to move Strahan came two years after he first began appearing on GMA in a limited capacity, showing up two days a week and leaving early so he could make it back to Live in time for the 9am taping. Multiple industry insiders told DailyMail.com when news broke that Strahan was leaving the show last year that it was in fact Ripa who had initially been offered a slot on GMA, but turned it down. 'Two years ago Kelly was offered Michael's current role of contributor to Good Morning America. She turned this down as she was committed to Live and didn't want to give less to the show that she had been focused on for well over ten years and then kept a ratings winner after Regis left,' said one source with knowledge of the situation. 'Michael then scooped up the role and started saying yes to everything ABC and Disney had to offer. 'Kelly felt that her and Michael Gelman, Live's Executive Producer, were left to be the only two people solely focused on the show.' The network's decision to move Strahan (pictured) came two years after he first began appearing on GMA in a limited capacity, showing up two days a week and leaving early so he could make it back to Live in time for the 9am taping Idol judges: Lionel Richie, Katy Perry and Luke Bryan are seen above with host Ryan Seacrest The source went on to say; 'This began creating tensions internally as Kelly and Michael Gelman were having to work to Michael's schedule as Live become less of a priority for him. 'Kelly wasnt shocked that he did this as Ripa was also in shock having 'watched [Strahan] advance his career off Live's success for years,' said the source.' That person then added: 'She is just disgusted and angry that he did this behind her back with her bosses.' An Islamic school instructed teachers to tell students their faith should be 'established' across Australia. The worrying directive at Bellfield College, in southwest Sydney, was uncovered after a complaint that it encouraged anti-Australian sentiment in its community. NSW Education Minister Rob Stokes said the school's teacher manual stressed children should be told mankind's 'worst enemy' was secularism. Teacher manual at Islamic school Bellfield College, in southwest Sydney, said to tell students 'peace, stability and justice can only be achieved through the establishment of Islam' '[It said] peace, stability and justice can only be achieved through the establishment of Islam,' he told an educational law conference, according to the Daily Telegraph. Bellfield removed the lines after the education department investigated, but Mr Stokes said more needed to be done to combat extremism in schools. 'These issues are not going to go away we will see more incidents that will raise these issues in future,' he said. Mr Stokes wanted schools to pledge allegiance to Australian values like democracy, tolerance, fairness, respect, and the rule of law. NSW Education Minister Rob Stokes fears Muslim students being radicalised and wants schools to pledge allegiance to Australian values on a registrar The worrying directive at Bellfield was uncovered after a complaint that it encouraged anti-Australian sentiment in its community He urged schools to sign a registrar to that effect and hoped to enshrine Western values into legislation. 'I am challenging educators to think about how it would look. I am asking what are Australian values and why it is important that they should be upheld,' he said. Mr Stokes said schools should be accountable to Australian society and not isolated from it, and claimed Islamic schools increasingly preached against freedom of religion, thought, and expression. He said a former teacher at an Islamic school and public school in southwest Sydney also came to him with fears about Muslim students being radicalised. It followed the ousting of Punchbowl High School Chris Griffiths in March after he refused to implement a government anti-radicalisation program The Muslim convert allegedly turned a blind eye to threats against non-Muslim staff and kept police liaison officers off school grounds It followed the ousting of Punchbowl High School Chris Griffiths in March after he refused to implement a government anti-radicalisation program. The Muslim convert allegedly turned a blind eye to threats against non-Muslim staff and kept police liaison officers off school grounds. 'The view was that the principal was trying to turn it into an Islamic only school,' a law enforcement official said at the time. Anti-abortion congressman Tim Murphy, who is in the midst of an affair scandal, has announced that he will retire when his terms ends next year. The Republican lawmaker from Pennsylvania revealed his decision on Wednesday after it was divulged that not only did he have an affair with a woman half his age, but also asked that she get an abortion when he thought she was pregnant. Text messages exchanged on January 25 between the 65-year-old congressman and 32-year-old Shannon Edwards, a forensic psychologist in Pittsburgh, show Edwards asking Murphy how he can privately ask her to obtain an abortion while publicly opposing the procedure. 'And you have zero issue posting your pro-life stance all over the place when you had no issue asking me to abort our unborn child just last week when we thought that was one of the options,' she wrote, as reported by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 'I get what you say about my March for life messages,' Murphy responded. 'I've never written them. Staff does them. I read them and winced. I told staff don't write any more. I will.' Anti-abortion congressman Tim Murphy (pictured, March 2015 )has announced that he will retire when his terms ends next year in the wake that he had an affair and asked his mistress to get an abortion when they believed her to be pregnant Murphy admitted to having an affair with 'friend' Shannon Edwards (left), while he married to wife Nanette Missig (right. Edwards has now said that pro-life advocate Murphy asked her to get an abortion Murphy publicly posted on Facebook about how he supports the bill to protect human life Edwards, it turned out, wasn't pregnant. Murphy's spokeswoman had no comment on the report. Murphy is married to Nanette Missig and has an adult daughter, Bevin. The revelation came as the House on Tuesday approved Republican legislation that would make it a crime to perform an abortion after 20 weeks of fetal development. Murphy, a member of the House Pro-Life Caucus, is among its co-sponsors. He avoided the media in Washington after voting for the legislation, and efforts by reporters to talk to him were unsuccessful. NARAL Pro-Choice America quickly criticized 'the height of hypocrisy' displayed by Murphy's support for the legislation. 'You shouldn't have to be a member of Congress just to access your right to abortion,' said Sasha Bruce, a vice president for the pro-abortion rights group. In the past the US congressman has been applauded by the Family Research Council for his views on abortion. The HR 7 bill was passed by congress in January, which states the use of federal funds to pay for abortions will be permanently prohibited. The law also states that federal medical facilities and health professionals aren't allowed to provide abortion services. 'I proudly sponsored and voted for this important bill to clearly stand for the dignity and value of all human life, both the born and the unborn,' said Murphy at the time. 'Passage of HR 7 in the wake of the President's executive action gives me great hope we will once again be a nation committed to honoring life and ensuring American taxpayer dollars are never spent to end a life before it even begins.' A January 25 message from his mistress said the congressman had 'zero issue posting your pro-life stance all over the place when you had no issue asking me to abort our unborn child just last week when we thought that was one of the options,' according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Murphy recently acknowledged his affair with Edwards, which became public as a result of her divorce proceedings. In a press statement he said: 'Last year I became involved in an affair with a personal friend. This is nobody's fault but my own, and I offer no excuses. To the extent that there should be any blame in this matter, it falls solely upon me. 'I ask the media to respect the privacy of my family. They have done nothing wrong and deserve to be left alone,' the statement added. The Pennsylvania politician has served eight-terms in congress, is married and has an adult daughter. Edwards, 32, is a practicing psychologist and performs evaluations of defendants for the Allegheny County court system. Murphy and Edwards when she volunteered to contribute to a mental health bill that was signed into law in December. Edwards maintains that she did not begin to have a intimate relationship with Murphy until her marriage had fallen apart. 'We had a collegial and friend relationship before anything else,' Edwards told the court. Dr Jesse Sally, who married Edwards on July 28, 2012, however, claims that his marriage was destroyed by the affair, and filings showed that he knew Edwards was having an affair with 'a well-known political figure in the community'. Sally said he believed the affair began in February 2016. Murphy said that his relationship with Edwards ended last year. Police have spent 1.5million investigating sexual abuse allegations against Sir Edward Heath, including 14,000 on spin to defend the controversial probe. Ahead of the publication today of a report on the findings of the inquiry into claims against the former prime minister, Wiltshire Police were accused of a colossal waste of money. The two-year investigation has ended with no one facing charges and seemingly no concrete proof that Sir Edward carried out the assaults of which he is accused. The force has lavished 1,542,841 on the beleaguered investigation, according to the latest available figures, released after a Freedom of Information request. Police have spent 1.5million investigating sexual abuse allegations against Sir Edward Heath, including 14,000 on spin to defend the controversial probe. He is pictured on his racing yacht Morning Cloud in 1975 This includes more than 14,291 on public relations to defend the reputation of Chief Constable Mike Veale and his team, who have faced sustained criticism for their handling of the investigation. Over the past two years, detectives spent more than 34,542 on flights, car hire and public transport around Britain and the Channel Islands to investigate the child abuse claims, many of which have been found to be fantasy. The force also had to pay 1,029 for vehicle repairs after crashing one of the hire cars they spent more than 22,000 renting during the inquiry, known as Operation Conifer. The 24-strong investigative team racked up hotel bills totalling 32,757, plus 5,841 claimed back for meals and refreshments. A further 556 was spent on books about the former Conservative MP, although officers failed to interview many of those who worked with Sir Edward and knew him best. More than 914,000 went on salaries for retired detectives and staff working on the investigation, recruited after the force paid 4,819 for advertising. A further 556 was spent on books about the former Conservative MP, although officers failed to interview many of those who worked with Sir Edward and knew him best The final bill for the inquiry is likely to be even higher but the costs were still being counted last night before the publication of a summary of the findings today. The report is expected to reveal that detectives examined claims of 42 assaults on youngsters aged 11 to 15 by the late MP between the 1950s and 1990s. Nine of the 42 allegations made against Sir Edward, who died aged 89 in 2005, had been on police files for years but were dismissed at the time. It is anticipated that the report will say seven of the claims are sufficiently credible to justify police questioning Sir Edward under caution were he alive today. But his godson Lincoln Seligman, 67, believes the report will contain nothing but innuendo that will forever tarnish his godfathers legacy. Wiltshire Police plans to release a 100-page summary of the investigations work, as well as its final costs, and the full 350-page document will be passed to the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse. Home Secretary Amber Rudd has agreed to provide 1.1million in funding after a plea for financial support from Mr Veale to cover the costs of the inquiry. Former Tory MP Harvey Proctor who was himself hounded over false child abuse allegations by a fantasist known as Nick, who also made claims against Sir Edward said: I find it astonishing that this amount of money was spent on PR to protect the reputation of Mike Veale. Describing the investigation as a carefully crafted witch hunt, he added: Operation Conifer could not and has not proved anything. It has been a 1.5million investigation into the sexuality or asexuality of a former prime minister. Dr Richard Hoskins, a criminologist called in by Wiltshire Police to review part of the inquiry, condemned the forces spending, saying he was convinced there was not a shred of credible evidence against the late former Tory leader. He said: These items of expenditure show a total disregard for ordinary Britons who have paid their hard-earned taxes for this police gravy train. It was obvious to anyone with half a brain that most of the so-called evidence against Heath didnt stack up. The whole thing is a colossal waste of taxpayers money. There is no transparency, no sense of accountability. More than a quarter of a million people used a debit card to pay for Monarch flights and have no legal right to a refund, it emerged last night. Customers who make a purchase of over 100 on credit card are legally entitled to their money back under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act. But anyone who paid for flights with a debit card do not enjoy this protection. They are covered by weaker 'chargeback' rules, a voluntary scheme to which card providers and banks sign up. More than a quarter of a million people used a debit card to pay for Monarch flights and have no legal right to a refund, it emerged last night Under this scheme, the customer's bank will try to recoup their money from Monarch's, which are not legally obliged to pay up. This means the customer has no guarantee they will ever get their money back. Last night Monarch's administrators KPMG revealed that between 35 per cent and 40 per cent of 300,000 future bookings - comprising around three quarters of a million passengers - were made with a debit card. According to the firm as few as 10 per cent of these customers will be covered by the ATOL scheme the travel industry safety net that ensures customers who bought a package holiday are refunded in full if an airline or travel company goes bust. This means that almost 110,000 bookings comprising around 270,000 passengers are covered by the weaker chargeback scheme. Until fairly recently Monarch actively encouraged its customers to book their flights with a debit card, because credit card bookings incurred a 3 per cent - or 5 whichever was higher. It only ditched this fee in December last year following an EU crackdown on rip off charges. Desperate Monarch customers have been bombarding their banks with claims since the airline collapsed at 4am on Monday morning amid fears they will be left hundreds or even thousands of pounds out of pocket. They have been instructed to fill in claims forms, which require details of the flight including the number of passengers, as well as payment details. Banking sources last night insisted that it is very likely that customers who paid with debit cards will get their money back through the charge back scheme. They cited the example of the collapse of online travel agent lowcostholidays last summer, where many of the 140,000 customers affected made successful charge back claims. Last night, Monarch's administrators KPMG revealed that between 35% and 40% of 300,000 future bookings were made with a debit card. Above, stranded passengers queue to check-in for a 'rescue' flight by the Canadian Air Transat airlines at Gran Canaria airport after Monarch Airlines announced their cessation of operations But customer face an anxious wait, with some told they will not get their money for six weeks even if they are successful. Thousands of households who snapped up cheap Monarch flights on credit cards just before it collapsed will also find themselves in this uncertain situation. The airline bombarded customers with text messages and emails advertising 'thousands of winter sun seats' for as little as 32 to destinations including Alicante, Malaga and Majorca. One promotion - seen by The Daily Mail - was sent to thousands via a text message and email on Friday when it was on the brink of collapse. It stated: 'Hooray for payday! Find the feeling with 1000s of seats at 30 to Spain and Portugal.' Similar emails and text messages were sent to those on Monarch's customer mailing list in the preceding weeks as the airline fought for survival. Those who used credit cards to pay for flights worth less than 100 will also not be legally entitled to a refund under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act. Another loophole in the law means that those who bought Monarch flights through third party travel agents or tour operators are not be protected by the Consumer Credit Act. James Daley, founder of consumer website Fairer Finance said: 'By Friday the writing was on the wall that Monarch was unlikely to make it through the weekend so it was particularly disingenuous of them to try to encourage customers to pay for something they had little hope of ever receiving and little chance of reclaiming their money. 'I imagine these people will feel like they were tricked.' He added: 'This all goes to show the importance of paying for travel on your credit card.' Many travel insurance policies provide no cover if an airline or travel company goes bust. More than 30 per cent of the 110,000 Monarch passengers who were abroad when the airline went bust were expected to have returned to the UK by last night in the country's biggest peacetime repatriation. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) arranged 119 flights to bring back more than 23,000 people in the first two days of the operation. All remaining customers are expected to have returned by October 15, at no extra cost. A UK Finance spokesman said: 'Paying through a debit or credit card provides an additional layer of protection for customers. 'Chargeback is a well-established process to ensure cardholders don't lose out when they have not received the service that they paid for. Customers should speak to their bank in the first instance and every claim will be assessed fairly.' A Department for Transport spokesman said: 'We know that news of Monarch's failure will be distressing to those who have holidays planned. 'The CAA is providing them with advice and assistance to reclaim their money where possible. 'Monarch passengers with ATOL protection will be entitled to a full refund on any future bookings, and we advise those without to speak to their card providers, insurers or the company they booked their holiday with, as they may be entitled to a refund or replacement.' Even teenagers are now sick of their own social media addictions and two thirds would not mind if the technology had never been invented, a new survey suggests. A poll of 5,000 secondary school children found many are becoming disillusioned with the negative aspects of smartphone apps, such as online abuse and fake news. Experts say a growing number of pupils are even adopting old-fashioned brick mobiles with only rudimentary internet access to give them a break from Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. 'It's the cool thing to do': Experts say a growing number of pupils are shunning iPhones in favour of old-fashioned mobiles which simply allow them to text or call The survey of pupils at independent and state schools in England found 63 per cent would not care if social media did not exist. And even more pupils 71 per cent said they had taken temporary digital detoxes to escape it. Research for Digital Awareness UK on behalf of the Headmasters and Headmistresses Conference (HMC), found a total of 57 per cent said they had received abusive comments online, while 52 per cent said social media makes them feel less confident about their looks and their life. While many acknowledged they did not always enjoy their time online, 56 per cent admitted to being on the edge of addiction when it came to checking their online accounts. HMC, which represents top private schools, said many teachers are now working with pupils to introduce phone-free days or sessions. Charlotte Robertson, co-founder of Digital Awareness UK, said: Its striking that we have this huge number of youngsters who are saying they could potentially live without social media. Am I bovvered? A survery of teenagers in England found 63 per cent say they wouldn't care if social media didn't exist We see them walking around with this tech almost attached to them but they are now saying they are open to things like digital detoxing to allow them to take a break from technology. They are starting to acknowledge that it is impacting their health and wellbeing in ways that they hadnt recognised before. We sometimes overestimate how much they are actually enjoying all of this time they are spending online. Interestingly, more than 60 per cent of respondents believed friends showed a fake version of themselves on social media, but only 15 per cent said they did so themselves. Asked to recommend improvements, students urged less advertising, less fake news, more creative content and greater privacy. Classic: A favourite back in the early 2000s, phones such as the Nokia 3310 are seeing a resurgence as teenagers opt for 'brick' mobiles to escape the perils of social media Miss Robertson said many teenagers had experienced the dark side of the internet with apps such as Sarahah, an anonymous messaging service which started as a workplace tool but is now being used by youngsters to bully each other. She said a growing number are using brick phones primitive models from 15 years ago such as the Nokia 3310, which have been re-launched for people who do not want to be bothered by social media. Celebrities including Kim Kardashian have also influenced youngsters with their own highly-publicised digital detoxes, she said. This time last year it wasnt the case at all, but now they are saying they are using their brick phones at the weekend, she said. Its suddenly just a cool thing to do. Its about going out and having the security that you can contact someone if you need them and being able to feel safe and connected but without the pressure to be responsive all the time. At Benenden, a private boarding school for girls in Kent, pupils recently undertook a voluntary three-day social media blackout when they handed over their phones. Its suddenly just a cool thing to do. Its about going out and having the security that you can contact someone if you need them and being able to feel safe and connected but without the pressure to be responsive all the time. Headmistress Samantha Price said the survey results chimed with her experience of Benendens phone fast. In the run-up I was worried about how the girls would cope but afterwards they were wondering what all the fuss had been about and said we should do it again but for even longer next time, which I found incredibly reassuring, she said. When young people have time away from social media they see and feel the benefits: they sleep better, concentrate and therefore learn better and feel better. Of course, social media and the internet are not the enemy - there are enormous positives to them - but it is a matter of finding the right balance, and all schools should be working hard to help children to achieve that balance. HMC chairman Chris King, headmaster of Leicester Grammar School, said: It is fascinating to see the first indications of a rebellion against social media and reminds us that they may need help to take breaks from its constant demands. The survey, which was launched at the HMCs annual conference in Belfast, was carried out in September among students at state-funded and independent schools in England. Most of the responses came from students in years nine, 10 and 11. A tropical depression formed off the Atlantic coast of Central America and the Hurricane Center said it was likely to bring heavy rains to that region before a possible eventual hurricane-force strike on the United States over the weekend. It had maximum sustained winds of 35 mph and was located about 45 miles west-southwest of San Andres Island. It was moving toward the northwest at 7 mph. A tropical storm warning was in effect for parts of the Nicaraguan and Honduran coasts. The center said 15 to 20 inches of rain were expected across parts of Nicaragua, with strong and possibly dangerous rains also likely in Honduras, Costa Rica and Panama. The storm was projected to cross into the northwestern Caribbean Sea on Friday. A tropical depression formed off the Atlantic coast of Central America and the Hurricane Center said it was likely to bring heavy rains to that region before a possible eventual hurricane-force strike on the United States over the weekend It had maximum sustained winds of 35 mph and was located about 45 miles west-southwest of San Andres Island. The above-average temperature of the waters of the Caribbean is likely to contribute to the storm's intensification The storm was projected to cross into the northwestern Caribbean Sea on Friday The storm is expected to pick up steam and form into a low-end hurricane, though forecasters caution that predictions about the ferocity of the storm are not always accurate and could change either way The long-term forecast showed the storm reaching the US Gulf coast by Sunday. Once the storm reaches tropic storm status, it will be named Nate. According to The Weather Channel, the conditions are ripe for the tropical depression to gain strength as it creeps toward the Gulf Coast. The low wind shear as well as the very warm water in the western Caribbean Sea, where the temperatures are in the mid-to-upper 80s, which is about 2 to 5 degrees above average. Forecasters expect the storm to make landfall along the northern Gulf Coast somewhere between Louisiana and Florida on Sunday. Analysts say it is premature to determine the exact location of the landfall. The storm is expected to pick up steam and form into a low-end hurricane, though forecasters caution that predictions about the ferocity of the storm are not always accurate and could change either way. If the storm continues on its projected path over the Caribbean and into the Gulf, it could intensify quickly. If the storm continues on its projected path over the Caribbean and into the Gulf, it could intensify quickly. However, if the storm veers onto land in Central America or Mexicos Yucatan Peninsula (as seen in the map above), it will weaken the system However, if the storm veers onto land in Central America or Mexicos Yucatan Peninsula, it will weaken the system. Nonetheless, the storm will likely make its presence felt in the southeastern US beginning on Saturday, where some outer rainbands will hit the eastern Gulf Coast. On Sunday, the storm is anticipated to make landfall somewhere between southeast Louisiana and Florida. Heavy rains are likely to spread into parts of the southeast, including Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, and the Carolinas. On Monday, Nate will have likely caused some flooding in the Appalachian region. In the last six weeks, the Gulf Coast and the eastern Caribbean have been rocked by hurricanes whose severity and frequency have been above normal. In late August, Hurricane Harvey brought record rainfall and heavy winds to southeastern Texas, resulting in an estimated $70billion worth of damage. Last week, Hurricane Maria packed winds in excess of 150 miles per hour and devastated a number of Caribbean islands. A US Coast Guard photo shows homes near a washed out road in Utuado, Puerto Rico Last month, Hurricane Irma left a path of destruction throughout the Caribbean, causing widespread damage on the islands. It then made landfall in Florida, where it proceeded to cause severe flooding. Flooded homes in Bonita Springs, Florida, are seen on September 16 In late August, Hurricane Harvey brought record rainfall and heavy winds to southeastern Texas, resulting in an estimated $70billion worth of damage. In the above August 29 file photo, residents wade past a flooded car as they evacuate their homes in Houston A week later, an equally powerful and catastrophic hurricane, Irma, left a path of destruction throughout the Caribbean, causing widespread damage on the islands. It then made landfall in Florida, where it proceeded to cause severe flooding. In total, 132 people in Florida and the Caribbean islands died as a result of the storm. The resulting damage is estimated to be at least $62billion. Last week, Hurricane Maria packed winds in excess of 150 miles per hour and devastated a number of Caribbean islands that had been reeling from Irma. One of the hardest hit areas was Puerto Rico, which was left completely without power. Officials on the island, which is a US unincorporated territory, says dozens have died from the flooding. FARGO Rick Berg is mulling a possible run for U.S. Senate. If he decides to run and wins the Republican nomination, it would set up a rematch of the 2012 race in which Democrat Heidi Heitkamp narrowly won. Berg, a Fargo commercial real estate developer, said he is not now planning to enter the 2018 race, but has not ruled out a run, either. Im not a candidate now, he said. Life is pretty good now. Still, Berg, who served one term in the U.S. House of Representatives and about 25 years in the North Dakota House of Representatives, including a stint as House majority leader, is torn about a possible run for the Senate. Never say never, he said, repeating an old cliche among politicians. Berg said he has been closely following policy debates in Washington, particularly those involving health reform and tax reform. I cant not care whats going on at the national level, he said. What role Ill play, I dont know. Berg said he will watch to see what develops on important policy fronts. In the 2012 Senate race, Heitkamp beat Berg by 2,965 votes, a margin of victory of less than 1 percent, to win the seat formerly held by Democrat Kent Conrad. Berg was elected to Congress in 2010 with an upset victory over Earl Pomeroy, the Democratic incumbent. But Heitkamp has maintained fairly steady approval ratings in office. As of July, according to a survey by Morning Consult, her approval rating among North Dakota voters was 60 percent, the 11th highest in the Senate. She also has a campaign war chest of more than $3 million, as of last report at the end of June. Tom Campbell, a Republican legislator and farmer from Grafton, has announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate. Campbell, who is making his first run for statewide office, has mounted an aggressive advertising campaign to get his name before voters. Campbell has portrayed himself as a loyalist of President Donald Trump. Rep. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., is considering a Senate run, but has not made a decision. Tammy Miller, CEO of Border States Electric, also is weighing a run for Heitkamps Senate seat as a Republican, but has not made a decision. I, like many Americans, am concerned about the direction of our country, so as I approach my retirement from Border States, I am weighing my options and this is certainly one of them, Miller said in a statement. Miller, who plans to make her decision in November, said serving in public office would be a way of giving back and serving the community. For his part, Berg doesnt appear rushed to make a decision. When I ran for the House, he said, I announced in January. Cabinet ministers tried to rally round Theresa May last night after she struggled through the most difficult and dramatic speech of her political career. The Prime Minister had wanted to use her set-piece speech to the Tory conference to launch a political fightback and drag the party on to the front foot after weeks of infighting. But it became an extraordinary personal ordeal after she was interrupted and handed a P45 by a prankster, hit by a coughing fit so severe she temporarily lost her voice and then left embarrassed as parts of the set collapsed behind her. Theresa May suffered constant coughing as she endured an agonising 65 minutes on the stage at the Tory party conference Last night, Mrs Mays performance alarmed some backbenchers and set off a fresh wave of speculation about her future, with one former minister labelling the speech an absolute disaster. Another MP said: Shes in danger of becoming a figure of pity. That is fatal for a Prime Minister. But publicly, senior Tory figures rallied round, with a senior source revealing that Mrs May had also received private messages of support from a string of Cabinet ministers. The message is she has to keep going, the source said. And Tory MP Mark Pritchard delivered a firm rebuttal to the plotters he revealed had been sounding out colleagues by phone and text to gauge support for a coup. For the small number of MPs texting MPs asking what we thought of the PMs speech (or circling above) I have one message: there is no vacancy at Number 10!, he said. Mrs Mays speech had begun with a heartfelt apology to Tory activists for the too scripted, too presidential election campaign. Theresa May's make-or-break speech was interrupted by prankster Simon Brodkin, who tried to give her a P45 and said: 'Boris Johnson made me do it' But disaster struck 22 minutes in when prankster Simon Brodkin calmly walked up to the podium and handed her a mock P45, saying: Boris asked me to give you this. A major security investigation was under way last night into how Brodkin got so close to the PM and why it took two minutes to bundle him out of the conference hall, where he was arrested. Mrs May reacted calmly, taking the piece of paper from Brodkin and placing it on the floor while the Cabinet sat and watched just yards away. But the incident knocked her off her stride and set off a violent coughing fit that threatened to cut short her appearance. Delegates and ministers looked on aghast as the PM repeatedly succumbed to the cough she has been nursing all week. Mrs Mays deputy Damian Green and Home Secretary Amber Rudd sat with their heads in their hands at times, eyes closed during the excruciating interruptions. During the PM's constant coughing, Home Secretary Amber Rudd sat with her head in her hands, with eyes closed during the excruciating interruptions As she choked to a halt, activists gave her a standing ovation to give aides time to bring her more water. Chancellor Philip Hammond even handed her a cough sweet. But the coughing continued throughout the remaining 40 minutes of the speech, leaving some to fear that she may be unable to complete her speech. To add to the misery, parts of the set began to collapse behind the PM, with the letter F and then later the letter E dropping off the conference slogan: Building a country that works for everyone. The dramatic events overshadowed the contents of a speech in which Mrs May tried to heal the wounds left over by the loss of the Tory majority in Junes snap election. She unveiled a string of policies on housing, energy and foreign aid designed to show she is listening to voters concerns. In a highly personal speech she spoke of her great sadness that she had never had children. And she talked about her determination to rebuild the British dream, including a revival of home ownership. But those watching were transfixed by the sight of Mrs May struggling to get her words out in a speech in which, ironically, she pledged to give voice to the voiceless. When she finally finished her hour-long address she received a standing ovation from activists and was joined on stage by husband Philip for an emotional hug. Last night, the PM tried to make light of her misfortune, posting a picture of packets of throat sweets and cough medicine next to her ministerial red box with the caption: Cough' Last night, the PM tried to make light of her misfortune, posting a picture of packets of throat sweets and cough medicine next to her ministerial red box with the caption: Cough. But Downing Street insiders were aghast at the way the vital speech turned into a presentational disaster. Publicly, ministers rallied round. Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said it would become one of the more famous coughs in history. He added: Her sense of duty shone through in between the coughing. And Justice Secretary David Lidington said: Most people out in the real world outside this hall have to get up and go to work and cope with a sore throat and cold from time to time and thats what they do in their lives. And they see their Prime Minister like them getting on with the job, not being deflected from her purpose. But privately some ministers feared that Mrs Mays failing voice was a metaphor for her struggling political authority. One minister said: She has to go were all doomed. Another insider said Mrs May appeared to be cursed, adding: Everything that could have gone wrong went wrong. Why did the letters which have been up there all week suddenly start falling down. It is just horrendous bad luck. One former minister said: The speech was an absolute disaster. It has shifted the dial. People who previously thought she should stay until 2019 are saying we cant go on like this. Some Tories rounded on Mrs Mays aides after No 10 revealed she had spoken at almost 20 receptions and a similar number of media interviews during the four-day conference, despite nursing a heavy cold. Why didnt they protect her? said one MP. A man who was shot in the leg during the Las Vegas mass shooting didn't let his injury hold him back from standing up to greet President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump. Thomas Gunderson was attending the Route 91 Harvest Festival on Sunday night when he was horrifically injured when Stephen Paddock, 64, sprayed bullets on more than 20,000 concertgoers. Gunderson, of California, said he was running toward Mandalay Bay when a bullet pierced his leg. Thomas Gunderson (pictured, left and right), who was shot in the leg during the Las Vegas mass shooting, didn't let his injury hold him back from standing up to greet President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump (right) 'Hi Thomas. How are you?' Melania Trump asks as she tells him not to get up. 'I'm okay,' Gunderson is heard saying as he gets to his feet and the pair shake hands President Trump and First Lady Melania flew to Las Vegas where they visited several victims of the shooting on Wednesday. But they were suprised when Gunderson stood up to greet both of them despite his leg injury, and a family member captured the entire moment on video. Gunderson is seen trying to sit up in the hospital bed as the first lady walked in. 'Hi Thomas. How are you?' Melania Trump asks as she tells him not to get up. 'I'm okay,' Gunderson is heard saying as he gets to his feet and the pair shake hands. They then prepared for the president to walk through the hospital room door as the video showed Trump greeting doctors, nurses and staff. They then prepared for the president to walk through the hospital room door as the video showed Trump greeting doctors, nurses and staff (left). 'Hey, this guy looks tough to me,' the president said as he shook Gunderson's hand (right) Gunderson held onto Trump's hand as he thanked him for his visit. Trump then gave Gunderson a pat on the back and asked: 'How's it going?' Gunderson (left and right) posted the video to his Facebook page with the caption: 'I will never lie down when the President of this great country comes to shake my hand!' 'Hey, this guy looks tough to me,' the president said as he shook Gunderson's hand. Gunderson held onto Trump's hand as he thanked him for his visit. Trump then gave Gunderson a pat on the back and asked: 'How's it going?' Gunderson posted the video to his Facebook page with the caption: 'I will never lie down when the President of this great country comes to shake my hand! 'There may be plenty of issues in this country but I will always respect my country, my president and my flag. Shot in the leg or not, I will stand to show my President the respect he deserves!' Gunderson wrote. On Gunderson's patient board in his hospital room, he also had the hashtag '#MAGA' written under the statement: 'What's important to me.' MAGA is the acronym for Make America Great Again, Trump's presidential campaign slogan. On Gunderson's patient board in his hospital room, he also had the hashtag '#MAGA' (pictured) written under the statement: 'What's important to me.' MAGA is the acronym for Make America Great Again, Trump's presidential campaign slogan Trump, standing with first lady Melania Trump, spoke to reporters on Wednesday after visiting doctors and shooting survivors at University Medical Center in Vegas Trump and surgeon Dr. John Fildes briefed the press, and the president said the hospital's medical staff 'have done a job that's indescribable' After leaving Las Vegas Trump tweeted a video of him meeting with several victims of the horrific shooting at the University Medical Center of Southern Nevada. 'We love you Las Vegas,' he wrote in the caption of the video with the song God Bless the USA by Lee Greenwood playing in the background. The video showed Trump and the first lady talking with patients and their families. Earlier on Wednesday Trump said that meeting Las Vegas doctors and the mass-shooting survivors have made him 'proud to be an American'. He also revealed that he invited many of them to visit him at the White House. 'I just met some of the most amazing people,' he told reporters at University Medical Center. 'We met patients that were absolutely terribly wounded.' 'I invited a lot of them over to the White House,' he added. Trump praised medical professionals who have kept the death toll from growing. 'The doctors, the nurses - all of the people at the hospital have done a job that's indescribable,' he said. 'In the depths of horror, we will always find hope in the men and women who risk their lives for ours,' the president said, surrounded by first responders U.S. President Donald Trump speaks at the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department with first responders who reacted to the mass shooting over the weekend Donald Trump met with police officers and emergency crews who were called to the scene of the mass shooting over the weekend First lady Melania Trump looks on as Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo is embraced by President Donald Trump after the president gave a speech in a room full of police officers and family members at Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department headquarters 'I've always known you guys are good but you really proved it,' the president told a group of first responders singled out for their heroism Air Force One was seen departing Las Vegas with the Mandalay Bay Resort Casino in the background - the building where mass-murderer Paddock opened fire on a coutry music festival from behind a smashed window Trump and First Lady Melania Trump returned to the White House from Las Vegas on Wednesday evening The hospital that the president visited saw 100 shooting-related patients on Sunday night and admitted 50 of them. The president also met with police and first responders at the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department's command center. 'I've always known you guys are good, but you really proved it,' he told a group singled out for their heroism - including one officer who attended Sunday night's country music festival during his off-duty hours and sprang into action to save lives. The president said he has always been 'a big fan' of law enforcement. 'And I guess if you can be more of a fan, I'm even more of a fan now.' In a short speech before returning to Washington, the president said 'America is truly a nation in mourning' following the mass-murder-suicide that killed nearly five dozen. Gunderson was one of the more than 400 victims who were injured in the shooting when Paddock opened fire from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay hotel. Paddock (pictured), killed 58 people in the shooting, which is now the deadliest in US history He praised police and first responders who ran toward the danger even as civilians were fleeing. 'In the depths of horror, we will always find hope in the men and women who risk their lives for ours,' he said. And intoning the name of one officer who was killed in the line of duty, he said: 'The example of those whose final act was to sacrifice themselves for those they loved should inspire all of us to show more love every day for the people who grace our lives.' Gunderson was one of the more than 400 victims who were injured in Sunday night's shooting when Paddock opened fire from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay hotel. Paddock, killed 58 people in the shooting, which is now the deadliest in US history. Trump also said 64-year-old Stephen Paddock, who opened fire on the event from a hotel room window, is 'a sick, demented man.' 'The wires are screwed up. There might be something there,' he said. Moments later, addressing a larger group of police at the department's operation center, the post-shooting investigation's nerve center, the president said 'it could have been worse' if officers didn't stop Paddock so soon. Trump landed in Las Vegas on Wednesday afternoon, on his second consecutive day of visiting Americans coping with tragedy. Elisabeth Apcar and Dashenka Giraldo, from Las Vegas, light candles for the victims of the Mandalay Bay massacre in Las Vegas on Wednesday night A young girl inspects a makeshift memorial for the victims at the northern end of the Las Vegas strip on Wednesday night People run from the Route 91 Harvest country music festival after gunfire was heard. Witnesses said they initially ducked down at the command of police, but panic then took hold and there was a stampede First responders and bystanders carry an injured person to an emergency station located at the intersection of Las Vegas Boulevard and Tropicana Ave - one block north of the shooting Older people are more likely to die comfortably if they spend their last hours at home rather than in hospital. A study has found the chances of a good death are four times higher for people in their own house or a care home than those in a hospital ward. Researchers from Cambridge University looked at the 'oldest old', aged over 85, at the end of their lives. With life expectancy soaring, this age group now makes up almost half of people who die and many do so with multiple illnesses including dementia, heart disease and cancer. The study of 180 people found just one in 10 died without suffering symptoms including distress, pain, depression, delirium or confusion. Older people are more likely to die comfortably if they spend their last hours at home rather than in hospital (Stock image) However, interviews with their relatives and carers found their chances of a comfortable death were greatly increased if they were not taken to hospital. Most people express their desire to die at home if at all possible, and the findings have prompted criticism of the NHS. Lead author Dr Jane Fleming, from the Department of Public Health and Primary Care at the University of Cambridge, said: 'The UK is not the only country where an urgent review of the funding for older people's long-term care is needed, along with commitments to staff training and development in this often undervalued sector. 'It's heartening that the majority of very old people in our study, including those with dementia, appear to have been comfortable at the end-of-life, but we need to do more to ensure that everyone is able to die comfortably, wherever they are.' Only a minority of very old people in Britain die in their own home, with just 11 per cent of those in the study doing so. Those with memory problems, such as people with dementia, are most likely to live and die in care homes. People with no cognitive problems or mild memory loss are most likely to live at home but be admitted to hospital when they are dying. The Cambridge researchers examined the cases of 180 pensioners aged 79 to 107. Interviewing relatives and friend after each person's death, it emerged that 69 per cent of those who died in hospital had died comfortably. That rose to 89 per cent for those who died in their own home and 91 per cent for those in long-term care such as a nursing home. The results were based on respondents, normally the pensioners' children, describing their death in a questionnaire as 'very comfortable', 'comfortable', 'fairly comfortable' or 'uncomfortable'. The study, published in the journal BMC Geriatrics, states: 'Transfer to a preferred place of care should be facilitated whenever possible, but all too commonly a patient is admitted to hospital without those concerned having considered where they can be best cared for, or would wish to die.' Nearly half of the older people, who died at an average age of 91, experienced at least three symptoms listed in the study during their final illness. The most common were pain and distress, with the other symptoms including pressure sores, depression, delirium or confusion, loss of consciousness or neglect. Pain was treated in the majority affected, but successfully for only half, with a fraction of those older people thought to have depression to have received treatment. Co-author Dr Rowan Calloway, from the University of Cambridge, said: 'In the UK, we particularly need to address the current shortage of palliative care doctors in the NHS, where training numbers are not going up to match demand. 'In the future, community care will be increasingly reliant on non-specialists, so it will be crucial that all members of the multi-disciplinary teams needed to support very frail older people near the end of their lives have good training in palliative and supportive care skills.' Health authorities across the country are on high alert after more than a dozen people were diagnosed with the deadly measles disease. Melbourne is in the grip of an outbreak with 11 cases reported so far, while two people in Sydney have contracted the infectious disease. It comes as experts warn that people born after 1966 may not be properly vaccinated and could therefore be more susceptible to the illness. Sydney health authorities are on high alert after two people were diagnosed with measles after visiting multiple public spaces (stock photo ) Authorities there are concerned infectious people have visited a number of crowded areas including the MCG, central business district and Melbourne Airport. The Northern Sydney Local Health District on Tuesday issued an alert after a person was diagnosed with measles after returning from the Victorian capital. The district's public health director, Michael Staff, urged locals to watch for symptoms including a rash, fever, sore eyes and a cough. The patient spent time in Warringah, Brookvale and Parramatta in late September while infectious. 'It's very important to prevent further spread of this serious illness,' he said in statement. A second warning was issued later on Tuesday by the South Eastern Sydney Local Health District after a case of measles in Sutherland Shire. Authorities there are concerned infectious people have visited a number of crowded areas including the MCG (pictured) Melbourne Airport was another location authorities feared infectious people visited MEASLES: Symptoms to look out for Fever General discomfort, illness or lack of wellbeing Runny nose Dry cough Red and bluish spots inside the mouth Red and blotchy skin that appears first on the face and hairline before spreading to the body Advertisement The second patient had visited the Cronulla Mall on September 25, the Royal Hotel on September 26 and Sutherland Hospital on September 29 and October 1, to name a few locations. Authorities have warned anyone who visited the listed areas at that time to be aware of symptoms of the serious disease, including a rash, fever, sore eyes and a cough. There have now been 25 cases of measles across NSW in 2017, including more than a dozen in western Sydney. The number is significantly higher than reported cases from the same time last year. Most cases from Melbourne have been linked to the Collins Square office building at Docklands. The vaccine is free for anyone aged between one and 51 years, and people born after 1966 with no records of being vaccinated, are more susceptible Authorities have also warned that those born after 1966 who have no records of receiving two measles vaccines, are more susceptible to the disease. People aged between one and to 51 years have access to free immunisation. The highly contagious disease is spread through the air. 'People with measles symptoms should stay home from school or work and not go out in public,' Dr Staff said. Measles can result in serious complications, especially for young children or those with weakened immune systems, he said. More than 70 cases of measles have been recorded nationwide since the start of the year. Britain does not need more low-skilled EU migrants as there is no evidence they are leaving the country, a new report has concluded. An analysis by a respected think-tank found claims by business that it was imperative to have a free-for-all of foreign workers were greatly exaggerated. In reality, firms wanted an ever-growing quantity of cheap labour so they could continue to provide low pay, poor conditions and little flexibility, said Migration Watch. An analysis by a respected think-tank found claims by business that it was imperative to have a free-for-all of foreign workers were greatly exaggerated The study also pointed out that employers were being subsidised by taxpayers to employ EU migrants. The working age benefit bill for workers from the 27-nation bloc was 4.4billion in 2014-15 or 12million a day. Migration Watch carried out the research using official data following claims that a significant reduction in net migration will be a catastrophe for UK businesses. Ministers are devising an immigration system that keeps the economy buoyant after the country takes back control of its borders following Brexit. The Office for National Statistics said that overall more than 3.4million workers aged 16 to 64 working in Britain were foreign 11 per cent of the workforce. Of these , 2.2million are from the EU. Employers have warned that some sectors of the economy, such as agriculture and horticulture, rely heavily on EU workers and could struggle if the labour supply dries up. Ministers are devising an immigration system that keeps the economy buoyant after the country takes back control of its borders following Brexit. Pictured, the former prime minster speaking to a police officer about immigration in 2014 The figures lay bare the challenges businesses face in weaning themselves off cheap foreign labour following Brexit. The report said the stock of EU workers in the UK could be maintained with zero net migration because those who leave could be replaced by others without adding to the figure. In effect, this would amount to one in, one out, said the think-tank. It said that despite record employment rates for UK-born workers, there were still more than 1.5million unemployed and 1million part-time staff who could not find a full-time job. Lord Green of Deddington, chairman of Migration Watch UK, said: The Government must insist that claims that we need an endless flow of workers from the EU to fill lower-skilled jobs are gone over with a fine toothcomb. Highly skilled workers are, of course, valuable but some employers have been making huge profits from cheap labour, leaving the rest of society to cope with the consequences for housing, public services and the cost of in-work benefits. Brexit must put a stop to this. Seamus Nevin, head of employment and skills policy at the Institute of Directors, said: Anyone who has ever set foot in an NHS hospital would know the important jobs that immigrants do. Businesses are working hard to train more British people to do the jobs they need and they are making progress. But it takes time and people dont just become expert engineers or doctors overnight. Chelsea Manning met off campus with several Harvard University student groups after the school reversed its decision to name her as a visiting fellow. Manning tweeted a picture and said she met with the Trans Task Force, the LGBT caucus and other groups and students from the university's Kennedy School of Government 'despite dean's decision last month.' Kennedy School Dean Douglas Elmendorf had said on the school's website that naming Manning a visiting fellow was a mistake. A spokesperson for the school's student groups says Manning met off campus in Cambridge with about 30 students Tuesday evening. Chelsea Manning (circled) met off campus with several Harvard University student groups after the school reversed its decision to name her as a visiting fellow Kennedy School Dean Douglas Elmendorf had said on the school's website that naming Manning (circled) a visiting fellow was a mistake Among the issues they discussed was Harvard's decision last month to disinvite Manning as a fellow. Manning's manager didn't immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday. Her visit to the Ivy League school comes weeks after she was denied entry into Canada because of her criminal record in the United States. She posted a letter from Canadian immigration officials to her Twitter account that said she was not admitted because she was convicted of offenses deemed equivalent to treason in Canada. Manning had tried to cross at the official border office at Lacolle, Quebec. The transgender woman was known as Bradley Manning when she was convicted in 2013 of leaking a trove of classified documents. Manning tweeted (above) a picture and said she met with the Trans Task Force, the LGBT caucus and other groups and students from the university's Kennedy School of Government 'despite dean's decision last month' She was released after serving seven years of a 35-year sentence, which was commuted by President Barack Obama in his final days in office. Manning said she would challenge the decision. Canadian Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale had suggested that he would think hard before overruling a border officer's decision. 'No such request has been made to me with respect to that matter,' Goodale said in September. The transgender woman was known as Bradley Manning when she was convicted in 2013 of leaking a trove of classified documents. She was released after serving seven years of a 35-year sentence, which was commuted by President Barack Obama in his final days in office 'And, when a Canada Border Services officer has exercised appropriately within their jurisdiction the judgment that they are called upon to make, I don't interfere in that process in any kind of a light or cavalier manner.' People whose criminal records make them ineligible to enter Canada aren't necessarily out of luck. They can apply for what is known as a 'temporary residency permit,' either before trying to enter the country or at the border. To be eligible, the person has to prove their need to enter or stay in Canada outweighs any risk they might pose to Canadian society. Belgium's government has launched legal action against Ryanair for being 'unprofessional' after it left passengers stranded by cancelling thousands of flights. Deputy Prime Minister Kris Peeters has announced he plans to sue the budget airline and has accused it of a number of failings. The minister, who handles consumer affairs, criticised Ryanair for only communicating with Belgium's French and Dutch-speaking customers in English and a failure to notify them of their rights. Belgium's government has launched legal action against Ryanair for being 'unprofessional' after it left passengers stranded by cancelling thousands of flights Based on a series of infractions, 'I have lodged a cease and desist action against Ryanair, which if accepted will bring fines against the firm if the practices continue,' Peeters said. The Dublin-based airline has been plagued by a pilot shortage that has led it to axe thousands of flights in Europe - and has now extended the wave of cancellations into early 2018. The firm had already scrapped 2,100 flights in the six weeks to the end of October as it struggled with landing planes on time. Ryanair last week defended its handling of the problems saying it had emailed all passengers hit by the latest cancellations, offering them alternative flights or a full refund. They have also received a 40 euro travel voucher, it said. Tourists are cancelling their trips to Bali over fears a smoking volcano could erupt at any minute. The Mount Agung volcano is located 75 kilometres from the resort hub of Kuta. It has been shaking since August, threatening what could be its first eruption since 1963. More than 5,000 tourists have cancelled their visits to Bali, the ABC reported, resulting in a 20 per cent drop in trade for the Bali Hotel and Restaurant Association for October. Mount Agung has had locals and tourists on edge over fears it could erupt at any moment Balinese tourism has dropped as more than 5,000 potential visitors can their overseas trips because of the smoking volcano The cancellations represent a 20 per cent drop for the month of October for the Bali Hotel and Restaurant Association (stock image) Balinese Governor Mangku Pastika has demanded travel warnings instated by other countries be removed, as there was no concrete evidence the volcano was on the verge of an imminent eruption. Many are cancelling their tropical holidays out of fear they won't be able to make it back home. In a meeting with 30 countries, Mr Pastika declared if the airport is closed because of the volcano, he will extend visas and provide accommodation for those stranded. He also said for those who needed to get out urgently, a means would be provided. 'If they really have to go then they have to go through Surabaya or Lombok, we will provide transport,' he said. Late last month, Pusat Vulkanologi dan Mitigasi Bencana Geologi reported earthquakes at Agung were becoming stronger and larger. Balinese Governor Mangku Pastika has demanded travel warnings instated by other countries be removed He says they are not valid, as there is no concrete evidence the volcano is on the verge of an imminent eruption Late last month, Pusat Vulkanologi dan Mitigasi Bencana Geologi reported earthquakes in Indonesia were getting stronger and larger and hot areas on the crater floor were growing Emissions were seen in satellite data, as well as hot areas on the crater floor, which appeared to be growing. The volcano is now on the highest alert level, and there is an exclusion zone of 9km from the crater. An owner of a dive centre in Amed, around 15 km from the volcano and just outside the official 'danger zone', told Reuters this week many of her guests had cancelled. 'If [the situation] lasts for nine months or more...then we have no choice but to close down because we will have no money left to operate and pay the staff,' said Helene Rabate, a Spaniard who runs the centre. Restaurant owner Wayan Widarti has also seen a dramatic drop in customers. She said while the 2002 Bali Bombings, which killed 202 people was very bad for business, the uncertainty of the eruption could prove worse for her business. 'It could be worse than when the Bali bombing happened because there's uncertainty on when (the eruption) is going to happen and how long we wait,' she said. Missing Melbourne mother-of-three Elisa Curry (pictured) is 'unlikely to be alive' if she became lost in bush land, police revealed on Thursday Missing mother-of-three Elisa Curry chatted to a female neighbour about a 'personal' matter just moments before she disappeared from her $1 million holiday home, police revealed. Ms Curry, 43, was last seen on Saturday night at her Aireys Inlet holiday house near the Great Ocean Road, south of Melbourne. Inspector Peter Steel said the neighbour was at the house with her husband earlier in the evening but she returned alone about 10pm to speak with her. 'The neighbour and her husband were over there, then they left and then the wife came back and spoke to her. That's something we're looking in to,' he said. 'She has made a statement (about what she and Ms Curry talked about) but that's not something I'm going to go in to.' The neighbour said she saw Ms Curry getting in to bed as she left - the last time anyone saw her before she vanished. After an intensive five-day search which has yielded no sign of the missing woman, Inspector Steel said there was a very real possibility Ms Curry was dead. 'Medical advice and expert advice is that if she's in the bush, the likelihood of her being alive is remote,' he said. 'We just want to double check. We've done it once but there might be people we haven't spoken to, sheds we haven't checked. It's just part of the search pattern.' Scroll down for video Mrs Curry was last seen on Saturday night at her Aireys Inlet holiday house (pictured) near the Great Ocean Road, south of Melbourne After an intensive five-day search (pictured), which has yielded no sign of the missing woman, police Inspector Peter Steel said there was a very real possibility Mrs Curry was dead Investigators initally believed Ms Curry may have gone for a run late on Saturday night on Aireys St and become disorientated (pictured an officer searches in bushland) Inspector Steel said if 'nothing was found' by late on Thursday, the search would be scaled back. 'It's difficult because normally we get a direction of travel, a phone pings. We don't know what she was wearing, we don't know what her state of mind was it's different in that sense.' 'If nothing's found by 4pm we'll consider scaling the search back.' A neighbour in the quiet seaside street said it was known among friends in the community that Mrs Curry suffered depression. 'I went into their house a couple of times and she was just really nice, really normal,' the neighbour said. 'Yes, she had depression.' Inspector Steel said if 'nothing was found' by late on Thursday, the search (pictured) would be scaled back The extensive search has yielded no sign of the missing woman An officer is seen talking with Mrs Curry's neighbour Inspector Seel said discussions with neighbours about her state of mind on Saturday did not yield anything useful to the investigation. 'She was quite upbeat about the result of the Grand Final but apart from that, nothing of interest,' he said. Ms Curry's husband David and their children, aged between seven and 12, were in Melbourne on Saturday watching the AFL grand final. She exchanged several messages with him about the result of the match, but their tone and context didn't appear to indicate she was upset or distressed. Police said Mr Curry discovered his wife missing on Sunday morning when he and the children returned to the beach house and she was not there. It is understood Ms Curry watched the AFL grand final with neighbours in in Aireys St, and celebrated Richmond's win into the evening. A neighbour in the quiet seaside street said it was known among friends in the community that Mrs Curry suffered depression It is understood Mrs Curry watched the AFL grand final with neighbours in in Aireys St, and celebrated Richmond's win into the evening Mrs Curry contacted a newspaper at 2.21pm on Saturday to weigh in on the same-sex marriage debate Elisa's husband David (pictured) spoke to the media on Monday and made an emotional plea to his wife to come home It has been revealed the mother-of-three texted a Letter to the Editor to The Herald Sun just hours before she vanished expressing her support for same-sex marriage. 'I love and respect gay people and they deserve better than this,' Mrs Curry said in a text message to the newspaper at 2.21pm on Saturday, according to records. 'You should know what you are voting for before you cast your vote,' she continued. 'Thank you John Howard for being forthright and honest in what has been a vicious campaign largely run by extremists.' Search and rescue teams were sen on Thursday looking for Mrs Curry in nearby bushland Police pictured searching neighbouring properties Officers knocked on the doors of Mrs Curry's neighbours trying to hunt for clues A police officer climbs through dense bushland (pictured) Investigators now believe it's possible she left the house early on Sunday morning for her habitual run - and may have become lost Mr Curry and the couple's three children, all aged between seven and 12, have now returned to their family home (pictured) at Surrey Hills, in Melbourne's inner-eastern suburbs Mrs Curry's family home in Surrey Hills in Melbourne's inner eastern suburbs (pictured) Another neighbour said Ms Curry, her husband and their three children spent most weekends at the holiday house, about a 90 minute drive from their home in Melbourne. 'The kids would come into my house and get eggs from my chooks, but they were pretty quiet - it's a pretty quiet community,' the neighbour said. Police initially believed Ms Curry went missing after going on a jog with the family's black labrador. Police thought the labrador was with Ms Curry before it was found in a distressed state, but uninjured, in a neighbouring yard. Victoria Police Inspector Peter Seel said officers were now unsure if Ms Curry went on a run at all. Inspector Seel said police had not ruled out foul play. A 74-year maritime mystery has finally been solved with the discovery of a merchant ship sunk in Northern Territory waters by a Japanese air attack during World War II. The wreck of SS Macumba was located shortly after 1am on Wednesday morning during a CSIRO targeted survey in the Arafura Sea off the coast of Arnhem Land. The 2,500 ton steel ship was sunk on August 6, 1943 when two enemy floatplanes attacked at low level and scored a direct hit on the ship's engine room, killing three. The survey was being conducted for the NT government while its world-class research vessel Investigator was en route from Sydney to Broome. Scroll down for video A 74-year maritime mystery has finally been solved with the discovery of a merchant ship sunk by a Japanese air attack during World War II. Above, the search by research vessel Investigator used the ships advanced multibeam sonar systems to locate and map the wreck Three members of the ship's crew were killed in the attack. Second Engineer Harold Keller and Donkeyman George Dew died in the days following the attack from their wounds, but the body of chief engineer William Lane was never found, according to the Northern Territory News. Survivors from the attack were taken aboard an escort and the Macumba was left to sink. While the location of the attack was known, no previous search had been able to discover the location of the wreck - until now. Investigator's advanced multibeam sonar systems were used to locate and map the wreck which was found in 40 metres of water, and appears to be upright and relatively intact. An undated images shows the SS Macumba which has been found after 74 years off the Northern Coast of Arnhem Land in the Arafura Sea The 2,500 ton steel ship was sunk on August 6, 1943 when two enemy floatplanes attacked at low level and scored a direct hit on the ship's engine room, killing three Hugh Barker, the marine national facility voyage manager on Investigator,said all on board were pleased to finally locate the wreck. 'The search was important to everyone on board this voyage and a lot of eyes were either glued to monitors or scanning the horizon for the signs of marine life that often point to features underwater,' he said. 'We discovered the wreck in the middle of the night after about 10 hours of searching, which was lucky as we only had a couple more hours available for the search. 'It was also really lucky that we had an excellent team on the sonar who noticed some unusual features on the seafloor near the edge of our search area and asked for the ship to do an extra wide turn outside the search area. That's when we found it!' Once the wreck was mapped using the ships sonar systems, a specialised drop camera was then lowered into the water to photograph the site, capturing some incredible footage of the wreck and marine life around it. The research vessel's drop camera got a close-up shot of a reef shark that appears to be inhabiting the wreck 'Macumba was about the same length as Investigator and it was likely that the wreck would have formed an artificial reef, providing habitat for a range of marine life,' Hugh said. 'Our drop camera even got a close-up photo of an inquisitive reef shark that seemed to be guarding the site. 'It was a special night for all on board and we are so pleased to find the final resting place of Macumba.' Data collected by Investigator will now help inform a detailed wreck inspection report and future management as a protected historic shipwreck. Thursday 5 Supermansion: Drag Me to Halloween (Crackle streaming anytime) The stop-motion superheroes behind Crackles animated sitcom face their fears in this holiday special. Ghost Wars (Syfy 8pm) When an earthquake unleashes dangerous paranormal forces, a troubled medium in rural Alaska must battle ghosts, demons and the prejudices of the disbelieving local townsfolk. Real Estate Wars (Bravo 11pm) Eh, all things considered, Ill take ghost wars. Friday 6 ID-0 (Netflix Streaming anytime) In Netflixs newest original anime series, a young student training in a robotic suit (known as an I-Machine) is suddenly thrust into an outer space adventure involving pirates. Saturday 7 Spielberg (HBO 6pm) This documentary reveals the influences, experiences, artistic evolution and storied career of pioneering blockbuster-maker Steven Spielberg. Sunday 8 Bobbi Kristina (TVOne 5pm) The poor, doomed daughter of Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown gets her own, exploitative TV biopic. The Scariest Story Ever: A Mickey Mouse Halloween Spooktacular (Disney 9pm) Not sure the words scariest story every and Mickey Mouse go together, but what the heck. Xtreme Screams (Travel 7pm) The thrill rides and amusement park attractions featured on this travel show are so extreme they dont have time for the first E. Haunted USA (Travel 8pm) In case you hadnt noticed, its Halloween month, and everybodys jumping on the bandwagon. ... The haunted bandwagon. The Robot Chicken Walking Dead Special: Look Whos Walking (Cartoon Network 1am) The stop-motion spoofers behind Robot Chicken riff on AMCs gory horror hit. With special guest voice Daniel Radcliffe. Monday 9 Escape From Mr. Lemoncellos Library (Nickelodeon 5pm) A boy and his friends become trapped in a high-tech library whose doors lead to fantastical other worlds. But things get dangerous when various literary characters escape from their source material and run amok. Valor (KQBQ-19 8pm) TV has a lot of gung-ho military dramas these days, but his one focuses on a female helicopter pilot (Christina Ochoa from Animal Kingdom and Blood Drive) who survives a dangerously failed mission in Somalia. Tuesday 10 2017 BET Hip Hop Awards (BET 6pm) DJ Khaled hosts. Because hes in everything this year. Wednesday 11 Queers (BBC America 8am) In honor of National Coming Out Day, this series of 8 British short films examines historical moments and rites-of-passage of gay men over the last 100 years. Alan Cumming and Ben Whishaw are among the stars. Dynasty (KWBQ -19 8pm) The CW resurrects the campy 80s soap for todays millennial audiences. This time around Krystle Carrington (played by Linda Evans) is Cristal Carrington (Nathalie Kelley), and shes Hispanic. So, theyre already committed to diversity. It took three years before Diahann Carroll showed up on the original. The former Mandan High School is undergoing asbestos abatements and interior demolition after The Commonwealth Companies, of Fond Du Lac, Wis., closed on the purchase of the property Sept. 27. About $6.2 million will be spent on renovations as the former school becomes Historic Apartments on 4th, providing the community with 39 units of affordable housing. "They hope to be in full swing with renovation after Thanksgiving, so it'll be a good winter project for contractors," said Ellen Huber, Mandan's business development director. The former school was recently listed on the National Register of Historic Places, a list of properties the federal government considers worthy of preservation and recognition. The Commonwealth Companies will need to abide by the renovation requirements that coincide with such a designation. In addition to the high school, the building once housed Mandan's junior high school, elementary school and an academy for sixth-graders. The school district sold the building to Jordan Schuetzle, of Grand Forks, who, in turn, sold it to an affiliate of the Spirit of Life Catholic Church. The Commonwealth Companies now owns the building and has overcome several hurdles in keeping the project moving forward, including restructuring the financing and dealing with higher than expected bids. "Because of the need to restructure financing for this project, the entity is no longer seeking a Bank of North Dakota FLEX Pace interest buydown for affordable housing," Huber said. Mandan's city commission and the growth fund committee had previously committed about $83,000 toward the local share needed for such a buydown. The money will be deposited back into the growth fund, which has a current balance of $256,797, to be used for future economic development projects. "It's a good thing the project's moving forward," Mayor Tim Helbling said. Lee Rigby's killer has claimed he suffered 'gross affront to his personal dignity' in a 25,000 lawsuit after losing two teeth in a fight with guards. Michael Adebolajo, 32, who murdered the fusilier Mr Rigby, 25, in Woolwich, south east London, in 2013, lost his two front teeth when prison staff tried to restrain him four years ago. Earlier, Mr Rigby's mother, Lyn, 50, hit out at her son's killer and said he deserves to 'die in jail'. Michael Adebolajo (left), 32, who murdered the fusilier Mr Rigby (right), 25, in Woolwich, south east London, in 2013, lost his two front teeth when prison staff tried to restrain him four years ago Documents obtained by the Mirror say his 'psychiatric injury' was made worse as officials 'continue to fail to apologise'. Lee's father, Phil McClure, 57, also told the publication: 'He never apologised for what he did to my son and now he wants an apology from the Prison Service?' The Ministry of Justice denies excessive force was used. Adebolajo wants the compensation after claiming to 'suffer distress, loss and damage' on remand at London's top-security Belmarsh jail. But he has been fighting the battle for two years and it could cost the taxpayer a further 75,000 in police and legal costs. The writ has been officially passed on to the High Court in London. It claims that while Adebolajo, who killed Mr Rigby with Michael Adebowale, 26, was being escorted back to his cell after a phone call he dropped his hands from his head and spun round to confront officers. He warned staff to 'watch themselves' and asked 'Allah to strike down his oppressors'. The killer claims he was 'verbally abused' before he was smashed into bars of his cell windows. Adebolajo, wants 25,000 in compensation after claiming to 'suffer distress, loss and damage' on remand at London's top-security Belmarsh jail Writ claims that while Adebolajo, who killed Mr Rigby with Michael Adebowale, 26, was being escorted back to his cell after a phone call he dropped his hands from his head and spun round to confront officers He also claimed officers twisted his left arm and that he was 'stamped on' in an 'unreasonable, unjustified and excessive' assault. The Crown Prosecution Service ruled out action against the five prison officers after a police investigation. A Ministry of Justice spokesman told The Sun: 'The public will be rightly outraged at the thought of this offender claiming compensation from the taxpayer.' And Mr Rigby's mother, Lyn, 50, hit out at her son's killer and said he deserves to 'die in jail' Lyn told the newspaper: 'This is gut-wrenching for me, my family and Lee's memory. And still he holds his hand out for blood money. 'He deserves not a penny from the state. The only thing he deserves is to die in jail. 'He lost a few teeth because he was violent and brought under control. Lee lost his life and I lost my son at his hands.' Advertisement The Las Vegas gunman who killed 58 civilians and injured hundreds more before killing himself on Sunday had originally hoped to survive his shooting and flee justice - and likely had an accomplice, it has emerged. Stephen Paddock, 64, had planned to escape the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay hotel after firing on the Route 91 Harvest country music festival, Las Vegas Sheriff Joseph Lombardo revealed in a press conference Wednesday. Lombardo declined to reveal why he believed that Paddock had an exit planned, but said he was confident in the claim - and said that his scheme was so elaborate that he would have to be a 'super hero' to pull it off alone. Several law enforcement sources told NBC that investigators are looking to speak with a woman who was seen with Paddock in his last days, when his girlfriend was out of the country. They don't know if she's connected to the attack but want to speak with her to fill in their timeline of the lead-up to the attack. Lombardo said Paddock lived a 'secret life' and 'meticulously planned on the worst domestic attack in United States history.' 'Stephen Paddock is a man who spent decades acquiring weapons and ammo and lived a secret life, much of which will never be fully understood,' Lombardo said. He also announced that the count of people injured in the attack was lower than initially stated - 489, not 527 - due to confusion at hospitals. Scroll down for video Sheriff Joseph Lombardo (left) said on Wednesday that 'You gotta make the assumption' that Stephen Paddock (right), 64, had help in his plot to kill and maim hundreds in Las Vegas on Sunday. He also said there was evidence Paddock planned to escape Lombardo didn't reveal why he thought escape was planned, but as this photo of Paddock's dead body shows, he killed himself. The sheriff added that although there was a letter on the table (in red circle), no suicide note was found An investigator is seen on Wednesday peering through one of the windows that Paddock smashed so he could open fire on the crowd. Lombardo also revised the number of injured down from 527 to 489, citing hospital confusion during the shooting Horrifying video footage (pictured) that emerged Wednesday shows dozens of bodies lying in the field where the Route 91 Harvest country music festival was being held when Paddock opened fire from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay hotel Investigators are still processing the festival site-turned-crime scene. The FBI warned in the press conference on Wednesday that it would be some time before all of the evidence that was being collected was properly examined It wasn't clear why Lombardo thought that Paddock had expected to survive his insane assault, which is the worst mass shooting in US history. But he said that he believed the killer had ceased firing on the terrified civilians in order to figure out how he could escape, as SWAT teams closed in on his room. He also noted that Paddock's car contained two 50lbs of the explosive Tannerite - in two 20lb tins and 10 1lb tins - as well as 1,600 rounds of ammunition. A journalist in the press pool asked whether Paddock had planned to use the vehicle to escape, but Lombardo declined to answer. Lombardo also said he thought it was likely that Paddock had an accomplice, given the 23 rifles and piles of magazines in the room, the additional firearms in Paddock's homes, and the electronic devices recovered from his Mesquite house. Paddock would have had to have been a 'super hero' to pull it off, Lombardo said, before catching himself for using the word 'hero' to refer to a mass murderer. 'Look at the weapon obtaining, the amounts of Tannerite available - do you think this was accomplished all on his own, face value?' he said. 'You gotta make the assumption he had to have help at some point, and we want to ensure that's the answer.' These photos from inside the room show several assault rifles; Lombardo said the number of guns here and in Paddock's homes, and explosives in his car suggest that he had help. Beside one pillar (right), a neat stack of magazines can be seen 'Look at the weapon obtaining, the amounts of [the explosive] Tannerite available - do you think this was accomplished all on his own, face value?' Lombardo asked, rhetorically. However, he said that there was still the possibility Paddock acted alone Air Force One departs Las Vegas, flying past the broken windows on the Mandalay Bay hotel, where shooter Stephen Paddock conducted his mass shooting He continued: 'Put two and two together: another residence in Reno with several firearms, okay, electronics, and everything else associated with it, large amounts of ammo, a place in Mesquite. WHY DID THE INJURY COUNT DROP? On Wednesday the number of people injured in Paddock's shooting fell from 527 to 489. In a press conference, Sheriff Lombardo said that the initial numbers were composed of figures given by local hospitals during the crisis. They accidentally included some people who were counted twice and others who were treated for injuries not linked to the shooting, he said. The new figure is the new official statistic, he said. Advertisement 'We know that he had a girlfriend. Do you think this is all self-facing, individuals are just, without talking to somebody, sequestered amongst themselves? Come on, folks.' Marilou Danley, Paddock's 62-year-old girlfriend, landed back in the US from the Philippines on Tuesday and has spoken to the FBI. She said in a statement today through her lawyer that she had no idea of Paddock's deranged plans. She also thought that the $100,000 her boyfriend wired her in the Philippines was a way of breaking up with her. Aaron Rouse, FBI special agent in charge of the investigation, said that she was not in FBI custody and that she had been helping with their inquiries. He also said there was no evidence 'to this point' that suggests terrorism, but that 'this is an ongoing investigation... we're not going to close down any doors.' If Paddock did have an accomplice, then it might make sense of the claim made on Wednesday that Paddock had ordered room service for two guests days before the massacre - as shown by a receipt. Lombardo also said that SWAT teams spotted two cameras on a room service cart outside Paddock's suite, and one in the peephole of a door. There was also a baby monitor camera in the family area of the hotel room, he said. None of them were recording. However, it's believed that they may have provided Paddock with a live view of the police as they advanced on his position. He said that Paddock's attempts to flee had probably begun when he spotted security guard Jesus Campos - who had been investigating the gunfire separate from the police - approaching his room on one of the cameras. Paddock then fired 'well over 200 rounds' through the door into the hallway - miraculously only injuring, not killing, the courageous guard, he said. Elisabeth Apcar and Dashenka Giraldo, from Las Vegas, light candles for the victims of the Mandalay Bay massacre in Las Vegas on Wednesday night A young girl inspects a makeshift memorial for the victims at the northern end of the Las Vegas strip on Wednesday night Near the doors to Paddock's room was a room service cart, with empty plates - and two cameras showing Paddock what was happening in the hall. A third camera was in the peephole of Paddock's door, but none of the footage was recorded Lombardo said Paddock fired 'over 200' rounds through these doors when he spotted a security guard approaching the room. Miraculously, the guard was only injured, and was able to tell police exactly where Paddock was The guard and police approached Paddock's room down the corridor; a separate team came up the stairs next to the room, but held off raiding when they spotted cameras on the cart near the door. Lombardo said Paddock had stopped firing by then Even more incredibly, when police arrived 60 seconds later, Lombardo said, Campos not only gave them his master key and information, he also helped clear nearby rooms of bystanders. Campos only sought medical attention when ordered to leave by the police, Lombardo claimed. But the sheriff said that while the security guard did distract Paddock from his spree, police were just seconds behind him - and would have done the same if he weren't there. KILLER 'REQUESTED FESTIVAL VIEW - AND GOT HIS ROOM FREE' Paddock had specifically requested a suit overlooking the music festival he later attacked. He made the request - naming the festival - when he checked in on Thursday September 28, a source told The Associated Press. However, the room wasn't immediately available, the source said, and he was put in another room. Because of that, when the suite opened up on Saturday, the hotel gave it to him for free, the source claimed. The following night, he knocked through two windows in the two-room suit and opened fire on the festival. Advertisement Like Undersheriff Kevin McMahill on Tuesday night, Lombardo stressed that although it took more than 70 minutes between the first shot fired and SWAT breaching the room, police were not sitting on their hands. Instead, he said, they were on Paddock's case from the very start, and once the killer stopped firing - after 10 minutes, according to bodycam footage - they focused on evacuating the floor, since he was barricaded in his room. Unfortunately, Lombardo said, they are no closer to knowing what Paddock's motives might be for his killing spree - but he said that police were looking into why Paddock bought 33 rifles in October 2016. He confirmed that they were looking into the possibility that something may have triggered a mental issue around that time that caused him to buy the guns. Lombardo also confirmed that Paddock had rented a room in Downtown Las Vegas during the Life is Beautiful Festival, which was held on September 22-24. He had booked out a suite at the Ogden, a condo building that was advertised for its views over the festival, including the main stage, where Gorillaz, Chance the Rapper, Muse and Lorde all played this year. It's not known why Paddock hired the room - if he intended to attack that festival, or to give himself a better idea of what to expect on Sunday are two possibilities. But if he'd opened fire during the event, and been able to fire the same distances that he did on Sunday, he could have hit 11 of the 15 blocks that the festival covered. It had 45,000 visitors per day this year. Lombardo said that the rooms were not rented directly from the Ogden, but through an Airbnb account run by someone living there. He said that the Ogden and the festival's organizers had both helped with the investigation. He said that some 'items' had been taken from the property, along with video footage - but said he didn't know if they counted as 'evidence' yet. Lombardo said that Paddock had hired a room overlooking the Life is Beautiful Festival (pictured), which was held across 15 blocks of Downtown Vegas from 22-24 September. It's not known if he intended to attack that festival or was doing research He used Airbnb to book a condo at the Ogden (left), which overlooks the festival; seen right is a view of Life is Beautiful taken from the Ogden in 2016. If he had fired from the building he could have hit the crowd at the main stage The festival occupied the 15 blocks within the blue lines above. The shaded areas show the distance Paddock fired on Sunday; he could have hit 11 blocks at the festival, including the main stage where Lorde, Muse, Chance the Rapper and Gorillaz played Also on Thursday, it emerged that the crowds at the Route 91 festival were not Paddock's only targets on Sunday: He'd also attempted to detonate tanks of jet fuel close to the event. The tanks are roughly two blocks away from the Mandalay Bay Resort and 1,100 feet from the concert site, and contain jet fuel for the nearby Los Angeles International Airport, The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported. They are perfectly in line with the second window that Paddock broke in a suite adjoining his main sniper's nest, around 2,000 feet away. Paddock had successfully managed to hit the tanks, but had failed to penetrate them, a source with knowledge of the investigation said. The FBI had inspected the tanks and made measurements, and they have since been repaired. The investigation continues further afield, at the two houses that Paddock owned in Verdi, outside Reno, and Mesquite - and from which investigators pulled rifles, handguns, shotguns, explosives and electronic devices. Paddock, who made millions in real estate, bought the Mesquite property in 2014, attracted by its privacy - it has neighbors to either side of the home, but none at the rear - and paid in cash, CNN reported. Once in, he erected a privacy mesh that obscured his hilltop view of the town below; his neighbors successfully petitioned to have it taken down. One neighbor said Paddock told her: 'I don't want to be looking at people, and I don't want people looking at me.' His neighbor, Scott Smith, said that Danley was pleasant, but Paddock was not, and wouldn't even return a friendly wave, and would usually only be seen entering or leaving the property. 'Garage is up. They're in the house. Garage is down. That was about it,' he said. WHERE DID HE GET THE REST? Gun sellers' records only account for 14 of killer's 49-firearm arsenal HIS SUPPLIERS GUNS AND GUITARS Located: Killer's home of Mesquite, Nevada Purchases: Five firearms total, including a rifle sold on September 28 DIXIE GUN WORX Located: St. George, Utah Purchases: One shotgun bought in February NEW FRONTIER ARMORY Located: Las Vegas, Nevada Purchases: One rifle and one shotgun bought in the spring. CABELA'S Located: Verdi, Nevada Purchases: At least six guns DISCOUNT FIREARMS AND AMMO Located: Las Vegas, Nevada Purchases: Unknown GUN STORE/S IN TEXAS Locations and purchases unknown GUN STORE/S IN CALIFORNIA Locations and purchases unknown THE KILLER'S ARSENAL MANDALAY BAY HOTEL ROOM 23 weapons, including multiple rifles and a handgun Scopes At least 12 had bump stocks to turn semi-automatic weapons into fully automatic weapons HOME IN MESQUITE, NEVADA At least 19 firearms Explosives Several thousand rounds of ammunition Electronic devices HOME IN RENO, NEVADA Five handguns Two shotguns A 'plethora' of ammunition Electronic devices IN CAR PARKED IN MANDALAY Ammonium nitrate Advertisement It emerged Thursday that one of the reasons Paddock knocked out two windows was so he could target tankers of jet fuel (left). He knocked out the right-hand window to target festivalgoers, and the left-hand one, in an adjoining room, to hit tanks Although the tanks were 2,000 feet from Paddock's window, he managed to make several direct hits. However, none of them penetrated the thick tanks, an inside source said. Los Angeles International Airport is seen top-left. Paddock's neighbors at his home in Mesquite (seen Wednesday; police ripped off his garage door when searching the property) said he was reclusive and unfriendly, and even erected a fence to avoid people looking in; they had it taken down Thursday also saw a press statement given by Danley, who landed back in the US from the Philippines on Tuesday, and had been talking to the FBI since. MARILOU DANLEY'S WHEREABOUTS IN THE DAYS BEFORE THE SHOOTING September 15: Danley arrives in the Philippines from Tokyo September 22: Danley leaves the Philippines for Hong Kong September 25: Danley returns to the Philippines from Hong Kong October 3: Danley cuts her trip to the Philippines short to return to the US to speak with investigators October 4: FBI says Danley isn't in their custody but won't disclose her location Advertisement In a prepared statement read out by her lawyer, Matt Lombard, Danley called Paddock 'a kind, caring, quiet man' and said she 'loved him and hoped for a quiet future together with him.' 'He never said anything to me, or took any action that I was aware of, that I understood in any way to be a warning that something horrible like this was going to happen,' she said. Just over two weeks ago, she said, Paddock surprised her with a flight to the Philippines, which he said was so she could see her family - which she eagerly took. While there, she said, the multimillionaire sent her $100,000, which he said was to buy a house for her family. 'I was grateful, but honestly I was worried that first, the unexpected trip home and then the money, was a way of breaking up with me,' she said. 'It never occurred to me in any way whatsoever that he was planning violence against anyone.' Danley concluded the statement by saying she was cooperating with the authorities and would do whatever she could do to 'help ease suffering or help in any way'. Lombard left without answering any questions, including one about the weapons that Paddock had stockpiled in the home in Mesquite that he and Danley had shared. Marilou Danley, the girlfriend of Vegas shooter Stephen Paddock (Danley left; both right), released a statement Wednesday. In it she said she had no idea of Paddock's insane plans, and that he bought her surprise tickets to the Philippines two weeks ago Her lawyer, Matthew Lombard (left), read out the statement in which she said Paddock claimed the tickets were so she could see her family. When Paddock sent her $100,000 'to buy a house for her family,' she assumed he was breaking up with her. Danley is seen right being wheeled through LAX on Tuesday; it's not clear why she was in a wheelchair In the wake of the mass killing, both Republicans and Democrats said they would be willing to discuss banning the bump-stock modifications seen on 12 rifles in Paddock's hotel room. The mods replace the stock and pistol grip on assault rifles with a sliding mechanism that 'bumps' the trigger on and off the shooter's finger - allowing for firing rates of up to 800 rounds a minute, effectively making it a full-auto weapon. HOW DO BUMP-STOCK MODS WORK? Bump-stock modifications, which allow for full-auto fire on semi-auto guns, were found on 12 of the 23 rifles found in Paddock's hotel room. They're believed to be how he was able to fire thousands of rounds into the crowds at a music festival on Sunday in just 10 minutes. They are attached to the rear of the gun and allow the rifle to slide back and forward while firing, causing the trigger to 'bump' into the shooter's finger with the natural recoil of each shot. So long as the shooter keeps his or her finger over the trigger, the semi-automatic gun will keep firing rapidly - much like a full-automatic. Instead of pulling the trigger with their finger, users tense the finger, then pull the gun forward with their other arm, which would usually steady the gun. While the stock and pistol grip remain still, the rest of the gun moves forward, pulling the trigger onto the finger to fire a shot. The recoil then sends the gun back on the slide and the trigger away from the trigger finger. Continuing to pull the gun forward with the steady-arm causes the gun to jolt back and forth, repeatedly depressing the trigger and firing as many as 800 rounds per minute. Advertisement Those modifications are legal, the ATF confirmed on Wednesday, because they don't cause the gun to fire multiple shots when the trigger is depressed for an extended period. On Wednesday, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., introduced legislation that would ban the sale and possession of bump stocks. The devices were originally intended to help people with limited hand mobility to fire a semi-automatic without the individual trigger pulls required. They are attached to the rear of the gun and allow the rifle to slide back and forward while firing, causing the trigger to 'bump' into the shooter's finger with the natural recoil of each shot. So long as the shooter keeps his or her finger over the trigger, the semi-automatic gun will keep firing rapidly - much like a full-automatic. The result is that the weapon's rate of fire is increased from between 45 and 60 rounds per minute to between 400 and 800 rounds per minute, according to Feinstein's office. 'In just nine minutes an individual was able to turn a concert venue into a battlefield,' Feinstein told reporters at a Capitol Hill press conference, flanked by Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., whose home state was rattled in 2012 by the Sandy Hook mass shooting, and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. Overall, Feinstein got 29 of her fellow Democrats to sign on in just a few hours. She added that her own daughter had planned to attend the event - and stay in the Mandalay Bay - but in the end did not. No Republicans joined in that effort, but on Wednesday some GOP members said that they would consider backing such a ban. The Senate's third-ranking Republican, Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., said bump stocks are 'something I think we'll look at,' while Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C, suggested it was a 'good time' to hold a hearing on the matter. 'I'm not an expert on bump stocks, [but] all things that make America safer and don't infringe on the Second Amendment, count me in,' Graham said, according to CBS News. Speaking directly to the president, Blumenthal said: 'I hope you will provide leadership and at the very least back a bill that sops these killer accelerators, like these bump stops.' So far the White House, along with many Congressional Republicans, have said now is not the time to be discussing gun control measures. Feinstein, echoing many of her fellow Democrats, asked, 'If not, when will we ever do it?' Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., introduced legislation alongside her Democratic colleagues on Wednesday to ban the sale and possession of bump stocks, of which the Las Vegas killer had 12 such devices, she said The devices, known as 'bump stocks' among other names, are legal and originally were intended to help people with limited hand mobility fire a semi-automatic without the individual trigger pulls required Republican Sens. John Thune, R-S.D. (left) and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. (right) both indicated Wednesday that the bump stock issue was worth a look Footage also emerged on Thursday of one patriotic victim standing to shake Donald Trump's hand as he visited victims on Wednesday - even though he had been shot in the leg. 'Hey, this guy looks tough to me,' the President said as he shook Thomas Gunderson's hand. Gunderson posted the video to his Facebook page with the caption: 'I will never lie down when the President of this great country comes to shake my hand! After Wednesday's visit, Trump praised the victims' bravery, and extended and invitation for them to visit him in Washington, DC. 'I just met some of the most amazing people,' he told reporters at University Medical Center. 'We met patients that were absolutely terribly wounded.' 'I invited a lot of them over to the White House,' he added. Lombardo said in his press conference on Thursday that despite concerns raised by some, the president's visit had not interfered with the police investigation. Trump had met officers who were on the ground when the shooting began, he said, not the separate team that were investigating the mass murder. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump walk with surgeon Dr. John Fildes at the University Medical Center after meeting with victims of the mass shooting Wednesday Thomas Gunderson (left and right) posted a video to Facebook of himself standing to greet Trump, even though he had been shot in the leg, with the caption: 'I will never lie down when the President of this great country comes to shake my hand!' U.S. President Donald Trump speaks at the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department with first responders who reacted to the mass shooting over the weekend Donald Trump met with police officers and emergency crews who were called to the scene of the mass shooting over the weekend Surgeon Dr. John Fildes (left), President Donald Trump (center) and first lady Melania Trump (right) walk together at University Medical Center in Las Vegas, Nevada First lady Melania Trump looks on as Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo is embraced by President Donald Trump after the president gave a speech in a room full of police officers and family members at Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department headquarters Olympic gold medallist Michael Diamond has had three firearms convictions that ended his shooting career quashed on appeal. Mr Diamond, 45, was barred from competing in the 2016 Rio Olympics after he was found guilty of firearms and drink-driving charges. He was slapped with a 10-year gun licence ban and put on a good behaviour bond with a warning that repeat offences could land him in jail. But in Newcastle Local Court on Thursday, the firearm convictions were overturned after Judge Roy Ellis ruled: 'I can't interpret this legislation just to get Mr Diamond.' Olympic gold medallist Michael Diamond has had three firearms convictions that ended his shooting career quashed on appeal Mr Diamond, 45, was barred from competing in the 2016 Rio Olympics after he was found guilty of firearms and drink-driving charges But in Newcastle Local Court on Thursday, the firearm convictions were overturned. Diamond vowed to return to the 'elite level' after getting his shooting license back Speaking outside court, Diamond vowed to return to the 'elite level' and target the Tokyo Olympics after contacting the firearm registry to get his license back. 'That's the first step,' he said. 'To resume back into my sport at an elite level and look forward to the pressure again.' 'I am relieved,' he said. 'It's been a long 17 months. 'It's really good to see that common sense has prevailed today. It would be great to resume life back in the sport that I grew up with.' Police had alleged Diamond had gotten in a drunken argument with his older brother John at a property in Nelson Bay, north of Sydney, in May last year. 'I rang the police and he grabbed his shotgun, which was behind my couch, and he jumped in the car and took off,' John Diamond told the court during an earlier hearing. Police allegedly found Michael Diamond standing near his car at a nearby location. He was breath-tested and returned an alleged reading of 0.159. Officers then allegedly searched his vehicle and found a disassembled shotgun kept in an unlocked case, with roughly 100 loose rounds of ammunition in the car. In court on Thursday, Judge Ellis said police were not entitled to search Mr Diamond's car as they had not demanded an on-the-spot search, according to the ABC. Police allegedly searched Mr Diamond's vehicle last year and found a disassembled gun kept in its case, with loose ammunition in the car Judge Ellis said police were not entitled to search Mr Diamond's car as they had not demanded an on-the-spot search Judge Ellis also rejected the prosecution's claims Mr Diamond had not taken enough precautions to ensure the gun was safely locked up. 'If the car had been unlocked, if the car had clear windows, if the gun was not disassembled, there would have been a clear argument to say it was unsafe,' he said. Mr Diamond has been consistently supported by Shooting Australia, who insisted on standing by the sporting hero. 'We will not turn our backs on someone who has been such a great servant of our sport and our country in the past,' a spokesperson said after Diamond was refused permission to compete at the Rio Olympics in 2016 Mr Diamond (pictured) won gold medals for Australia at the Atlanta and Sydney Olympic Games in the Men's Trap shooting A career criminal who plied two girls with alcohol until they let him take photos of them naked will be deported back to New Zealand. Patrick van Lith was supposed to be shipped home in 1984 but immigration lost track of him for 30 years, despite him committing a string of crimes in Australia. The 59-year-old's life of crime began aged 17 when he stole a car and committed three burglaries in quick succession. This was followed by four armed robberies, for which he was sent to jail, along with possession of a shotgun, assault and drug possession. Patrick van Lith, 59, will finally be deported back to New Zealand from Australia 33 years after he was originally to be shipped home Van Lith moved to Australia in 1983 aged 24 to 'make a fresh start' but the same year was convicted of theft which prompted the original deportation order. He later used a weapon to thwart a police investigation, inflicted bodily harm, and drove an unlicenced car while drunk over the next 13 years. In 2005 he was charged with two counts of indecent treatment of a child, for which he was sent to jail after a trial in 2008. The predator plied two girls aged 13 and 14 with alcohol and convinced them to take off their clothes so he could take 'lewd and inappropriate' photos of them. After his release he in 2011 didn't comply with his reporting requirements, using the excuse that he got drunk and forgot about it. Van Lith finally popped back on the radar in 2014 when he returned from a trip to NZ and admitted to having a criminal conviction on his immigration form. His crimes during that time included bodily harm, robbery, drugs, burglary, and giving two girls aged 13 and 14 alcohol until they let him take photos of them naked He managed to get a 30-day border visa and in March this year applied for a bridging visa which Immigration Minister Peter Dutton denied. Van Lith appealed the decision to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT), which agreed with the minister on the grounds that he didn't pass the good character test. AAT senior member Theodore Tavoularis said his crimes escalated in type and severity and included at least five involving physical harm. 'There is a clear consistency in the offending, both in terms of type, severity and his refusal to submit to lawful authority,' he said. 'This theme of non-acceptance of lawful authority and scant respect for the personal and property rights of others remained a constant theme throughout his pattern of offending.' Mr Tavoularis said his 'disturbing' assault on a man he thought was making advances on his then-girlfriend was 'both menacing and brutal'. 'The applicant sought to unilaterally impose his idea of discipline and dispute resolution to resolve an issue in his life,' he said. He appealed the decision to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, which agreed with the minister's decision to deport him on the grounds that he didn't pass the good character test He said van Lith had a substance abuse problem that led to him 'feeling that he could automatically get his own way or otherwise not allowing anything else to get in the way of what he wants to achieve'. The father-of-two argued he was reformed and had a lung condition that left him reliant on a tight circle of friends and there was nothing for him in New Zealand. He further argued he had four grandchildren and had a difficult childhood where he lost his mother aged 12 and was sexually abused, but did not provide evidence. But Mr Tavoularis said if he was allowed to stay in Australia, the public would be at risk of financial loss, serious physical or psychological injuries, or death. 'I do not accept his evidence that he is now a reformed drinker and is no longer interested in illegal substances,' he said, citing lack of medical evidence. Brenden Bennetts is appealing against his life sentence and conviction for the murder of Queensland schoolgirl Jayde Kendall. Bennetts was last month found guilty by a Supreme Court jury of killing 16-year-old Jayde and dumping her body in a field on the outskirts of Gatton in August 2015. The 21-year-old lodged an appeal against his conviction and sentence on Wednesday. Queensland schoolgirl Jayde Kendall, 16, was killed in August 2015, a jury found. Her body was dumped in a field Brendan Bennetts (pictured on right in police interview) is appealing his life sentence and conviction More to come The victims of a convicted 'playboy rapist' are petitioning for him to be kept behind bars after he became eligible for parole. Simon Monteiro, 50, was jailed for 12 years in 2009 after being found guilty of bashing and raping his girlfriend at their home in Sydney's wealthy eastern suburbs. The sentence had a non-parole period of seven years and nine months but he was not released after the time was up because he refused to participate in a program for sex offenders. Now, it is believed he has undergone a 'therapeutic program' to address his offending the State Parole Authority is in talks and may decide to have him released, the Sydney Morning Herald reports. The 50-year-old (pictured) was jailed in 2008 for 12 years after being found guilty of bashing and raping his girlfriend at their home in Sydney's wealthy eastern suburbs His victims and advocates for his victims have amassed more than 20,000 signatures on a petition calling for him to stay jailed A final decision won't be made until Friday, but his victims and advocates for his victims have amassed more than 20,000 signatures on a petition calling for him to stay jailed. 'Simon Monteiro, a man described in court as a dangerous and vindictive rapist, has provisionally been granted parole,' the petition states. 'We, as victims of Simon's and advocates of rape victims, are urgently petitioning in the interests of the safety of women everywhere. 'The parole system needs to be reformed. Dangerous offenders should not be released.' The post notes that prison staff and psychologists have described Monteiro as 'belligerent, agitated, self-entitled and abusive.' It adds: 'We are calling for a reform of the parole system to ensure that offenders who are not truly reformed and continue to pose a risk to the community are not released, even if their sentence is up. While imprisoned he has been a critic of prison conditions, serially complaining and also demanding a cell by the coast, a soft-bristled toothbrush and an orthopedic mattress (pictured Goulburn jail) 'We call for the safety of victims and future victims to be paramount. 'We implore the State Parole Authority, the NSW Attorney-General Mark Speakman, the NSW Corrective Services Minister David Elliott and the NSW Commissioner Peter Severin to ensure Simon is not released. 'He is manipulative, vindictive and dangerous. Far too many women have been sexually assaulted and their lives put at risk by dangerous men released on parole. We fear Simon's release may result in the same outcome.' Earlier, one of Monterio's victims, Kim Gentle, said that his assault on prison staff, including threatening to sexually assault a prison guard's wife, are all tell-tale signs Monteiro should not be set free. 'His release into society not only puts me at risk again but also many of his past victims,' Ms Gentle wrote in a submission to the parole board. She describes him as a 'narcissist' with a history of committing offences while out on bail. In 2003 Monteiro (left) met art dealer Kay Schubach (right) in a cafe and went on to try and strangle her to death in her Point Piper apartment Monteiro met Ms Gentle in 2001, and already had three women come forward about his violent behaviour in the 1990s, when he assaulted her, stalked her and finally tried to suffocate her with a pillow on her 31st birthday. However, for that crime his penalty was downgraded to a good behaviour bond after appeals. In 2003 he met art dealer Kay Schubach in a cafe and went on to try and strangle her to death in her Point Piper apartment. She didn't tell police at the time because she feared for her life but went on to write a book called Perfect Stranger in a bid to stop the recidivist from getting away with his crimes. It wasn't until 2009, after Monteiro raped his then-girlfriend and destroyed her home, that he was handed a jail sentence. While imprisoned he has been a critic of prison conditions, serially complaining and also demanding a cell by the coast, a soft-bristled toothbrush and an orthopedic mattress. A public hearing will be held on Friday to allow affected parties to submit testimonies. His sentence will expire in 2020. Las Vegas gunman Stephen Paddock used his Mandalay Bay hotel room to shoot at two large aviation fuel tanks on Sunday night - almost sparking a huge explosion on top of his murderous rampage. According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, a 'knowledgeable source' said the bullets left two holes but did not pierce the two circular white tanks, preventing a potentially massive explosion. The tanks are located roughly 1,100 feet from the site of the Route 91 Harvest Festival, where Paddock killed 58 people and wounded 489. Las Vegas gunman Stephen Paddock attempted to shoot two large aviation fuel tanks on Sunday night but the bullets did not pierce The tanks are located roughly 1,100 feet from the site of the Route 91 Harvest Festival, where Paddock (pictured) killed 58 people and wounded 489 Over the past few days, construction crews have repaired and painted over the holes, and FBI agents inspected the tanks and took measurements of the line of fire from Mandalay Bay (pictured, the jet fuel tanks Paddock allegedly shot at) Over the past few days, construction crews have repaired and painted over the holes, and FBI agents inspected the tanks and took measurements of the line of fire from Mandalay Bay, the source said. Paddock, a 64-year-old resident of Mesquite, Nevada, had broken two windows in his 32nd-floor suite - one in line with the concert site and the other with a direct view of the fuel tanks, according to the source. Paddock had originally hoped to survive his shooting and flee justice - and likely had an accomplice, Las Vegas Sheriff Joseph Lombardo revealed in a press conference Wednesday. Lombardo declined to reveal why he believed that Paddock had an exit planned, but said he was confident in the claim - and said that his scheme was so elaborate that he would have to be a 'superhero' to pull it off alone. He also announced that the count of people injured in the attack was lower than initially stated - 489, not 527 - due to confusion at hospitals. WHY DID THE INJURED COUNT DROP? On Wednesday, the number of people injured in Paddock's shooting dropped from 527 to 489. In a press conference, Las Vegas Sheriff Joseph Lombardo said that the initial numbers were composed of figures given by local hospitals during the crisis. They accidentally included some people who were counted twice and others who were treated for injuries not linked to the shooting, he said. The new figure is the new official statistic, he said. Advertisement It wasn't clear why Lombardo thought that Paddock had expected to survive his assault, which is the worst mass shooting in US history. But he said that he believed the killer had ceased firing on the terrified civilians in order to figure out how he could escape, as SWAT teams closed in on his room. He also noted that Paddock's car contained two 50lbs of the explosive Tannerite - in two 20lb tins and 10 1lb tins - as well as 1,600 rounds of ammunition. A journalist in the press pool asked whether Paddock had planned to use the vehicle to escape, but Lombardo declined to answer. Lombardo also said he thought it was likely that Paddock had an accomplice, given the 23 rifles and piles of magazines in the room, the additional firearms in Paddock's homes, and the electronic devices recovered from his Mesquite house. Paddock would have had to have been a 'superhero' to pull it off, Lombardo said, before catching himself for using the word 'hero' to refer to a mass murderer. 'Look at the weapon obtaining, the amounts of Tannerite available - do you think this was accomplished all on his own, face value?' he said. 'You gotta make the assumption he had to have help at some point, and we want to ensure that's the answer.' Las Vegas Sheriff Joseph Lombardo revealed in a press conference on Wednesday that Paddock had originally hoped to survive his shooting and flee justice - and likely had an accomplice (Pictured, FBI process evidence at the scene of the festival) Paddock, a 64-year-old resident of Mesquite, Nevada, had broken two windows in his 32nd-floor suite (pictured) - one in line with the concert site and the other with a direct view of the fuel tanks, a source told the Las Vegas Review journal Lombardo said that Paddock's attempts to flee had probably begun when he spotted a security guard - who had been investigating the gunfire separate from the police - approaching his room on one of the cameras. Paddock then fired 'well over 200 rounds' through the door into the hallway - miraculously only injuring, not killing, the courageous guard, he said. Even more incredibly, when police arrived 60 seconds later, Lombardo said, the guard not only gave them his master key and information, he also helped clear nearby rooms of bystanders. He only sought medical attention when ordered to leave by the police, Lombardo claimed. These photos from inside the room show several assault rifles; Lombardo said the number of guns here and in Paddock's homes, and explosives in his car suggest that he had help. Beside one pillar (right), a neat stack of magazines can be seen Lombardo said that Paddock's attempts to flee had probably begun when he spotted a security guard - who had been investigating the gunfire separate from the police - approaching his room on one of the cameras (Pictured, Paddock's body lies on the right after he killed himself) But the sheriff said that while the security guard did distract Paddock from his spree, police were just seconds behind him - and would have done the same if he weren't there. Just as Undersheriff Kevin McMahill on Tuesday night, Lombardo stressed that although it took more than 70 minutes between the first shot fired and SWAT breaching the room, police were not sitting on their hands. Instead, he said, they were on Paddock's case from the very start, and once the killer stopped firing - after 10 minutes, according to bodycam footage - they focused on evacuating the floor, since he was barricaded in his room. William Chao-li Tseng, 50, was found guilty of a number of charges including rape against three teenagers and one underage person A popular Taiwanese artist living in New Zealand who raped and sexually abused his young students has been jailed for 16 years. William Chao-li Tseng, 50, was found guilty of a number of charges including rape against three teenagers and one underage person, Stuff reported. His sentence was handed down by Judge Brooke Gibson at Auckland District Court on Thursday. Tseng will be deported to Taiwan after serving a non-parole period of eight years. The judge said the offences were pre-meditated over a two-year period. The victims were enrolled by their parents in Tseng's art classes. 'You abused their trust and you let yourself down in terms of the reputation you built up over many years,' Judge Gibson said. 'They were unable to disclose what you were doing... you had them completely under control.' A McDonald's manager was arrested early Wednesday after he was caught serving customers a side of cocaine with their burgers and fries. Frank Guerrero, 26, was captured by authorities after they received a tip on the suspicious matter and sent an undercover cop to the fast food joint located on Bruckner Boulevard in Soundview, Bronx. Authorities said Guerrero sold eight quantities of the drug to the undercover cop, including $10,900 worth of cocaine in one instance and 100 grams of crack cocaine worth up to $6,520 in another, according to ABC 7 New York. Scroll down for video. Frank Guerrero, 26, (pictured) was arrested early Wednesday after he was caught selling cocaine with meals at McDonald's He was captured by authorities after they received a tip on the suspicious matter and sent an undercover cop to the fast food joint located on Bruckner Boulevard in Soundview, Bronx Authorities said Guerrero sold eight different quantities of the drug to the undercover cop. The cocaine is seen with the meal above Guerrero reportedly stuffed the drugs inside the bathroom's soap dispenser until clients arrived to purchase them from him. Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget G. Brennan said in a statement the 'conduct was so blatant it would be comical if he weren't committing a serious narcotics crime'. She added: 'Ordering coke took on an entirely different meaning on the night shift at this McDonald's.' Guerro worked at the Bronx McDonald's for about eight years before he was sacked following his night shift Wednesday when authorities found evidence through surveillance that the drug sales were going on for three months. Guerrero reportedly stuffed the drugs inside the bathroom's soap dispenser until his clients arrived to purchase them from him. The Bronx McDonald's he worked at is seen above Guerrero and his girlfriend, Leidy Cabral Castillo, were both arrested following a search warrant at their home The dealer and his partner face charges of criminal possession of a controlled substance and unlawfully dealing with a child after the drug money was found in the kid's playroom Afterward, a search warrant was conducted at his Bronx home where '200 grams of cocaine and $5,300 in cash' were seized, the New York Post reported. At the time of the search, police also arrested the dealer's girlfriend Leidy Cabral Castillo, 24, in front of the couple's toddler son. The money from the drugs was located inside the child's dresser. The dealer and his partner face charges of criminal possession of a controlled substance and unlawfully dealing with a child. The owner of the fast food restaurant issued a public statement Wednesday on the long-time employee's dismissal. 'The actions of this employee are unacceptable and will not be tolerated in my organization,' said Tony Rodriguez. 'We are cooperating with NYPD investigation and defer all further questions on this matter to them.' Google Maps has been sending hundreds of tourists more than an hour away from their desired destination. For the last few years, tourists wanting to experience The Blue Mountains have been taken to a dead-end street, an hour round trip, away from the iconic natural beauty. Earlier this year, Waleed Mehar posted to Facebook saying they spent two-and-a-half hours driving but when they thought they had arrived at The Blue Mountains, they found an unfortunate sign. The lost tourists have been greeted by a sign saying 'Google Maps is wrong' when they arrived at the cul-de-sac (pictured) in Dargan For the last few years, tourists wanting to experience The Blue Mountains have been taken to a dead-end street (pictured) more than an hour return trip away from the iconic natural beauty 'Blue Mountains is not here,' the hand made sign by a resident said. 'Google Maps is wrong. 'You need to go to Katoomba or Blackheath.' Instead of ending up at The Blue Mountains, tourists were being taken to Valley View Road, Dargan, a dead-end cul-de-sac 30 kilometres north of Katoomba. Resident Karen McLaughlin told Fairfax Media huge numbers of lost tourists and a 'car every few minutes' had been flooding their street daily during summer holidays for about two years. 'These tourists do not realise they are quickly coming to a cul-de-sac, over a crest, and often approach then end of the street at speed and have to break sharply,' Ms McLaughlin. Instead of ending up at The Blue Mountains, tourists were being taken to Valley View Road, Dargan, a dead-end cul-de-sac 30 kilometres north of Katoomba Local residents said tourists had been flooding their quiet street daily over summer expecting to see The Blue Mountains (pictured) 'Google can have all their super technology, but if the data has millions of errors it is useless.' A Google spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia the error had now been fixed and directions to The Blue Mountains were now up-to-date. 'We recognise that there may be occasional inaccuracies that could arise from any of those sources,' they said. 'In this instance, we didn't get it quite right and we have now fixed it. 'We apologise for any inconvenience caused to local residents and visitors.' 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. A couple accused of waterboarding their 12-year-old daughter as a form of punishment are expected to turn themselves in after being charged with abuse. Dion Stevens, 34, and Malisa Stevens, 41, were charged this week with aggravated assault and related charges stemming from the shocking allegations brought against them from the April incident said to have taken place inside their Aliquippa home. Police said they were alerted of possible abuse by an anonymous tipster, and went to interview the family at the time. The girl told police and Beaver County children and youth services officials that she had been dragged into the Aliquippa home's basement in April, the Beaver County Times reported. Dion Stevens, 34, and Malisa Stevens, 41, were charged this week with aggravated assault and related charges after being accused of waterboarding their daughter, 12 She told cops she was bound into a chair with packing tape. Then, the girl said, a wet towel was placed over her face and her chair was tilted backward as a bucket of cold water was poured onto her, preventing her from breathing. The police report said the couple 'openly admitted' that they tried to 'waterboard' the child 'because they were punishing her'. The couple told police they learned about waterboarding 'through a movie'. The shocking abuse allegedly took place in the basement of this Pennsylvania home The man and woman are both charged with strangulation, aggravated assault, unlawful restraint, child endangerment and reckless endangerment - but have been on the run since May. They were charged last week and a local district attorney said Tuesday the pair is expected to turn themselves in. 'Their attorney is in communication with the officer who has filed the charges and they're scheduling a date and time to turn themselves in,' David Lozier told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Court documents don't list an attorney and a listed number for them couldn't be found Saturday. The two-year-old girl who was pulled unconscious with no pulse from the Hawkesbury River on Friday has made a miraculous recovery. Lily Cross was discovered in the river after going missing from her family's North Richmond home, west of Sydney, while her mother was changing her younger sibling's nappy. Despite being missing for just 15 minutes, Lily was blue and showed no signs of life when her father Michael Cross and paramedics began performing CPR on the toddler, according to The Daily Telegraph. Lily Cross (pictured), a two-year-old girl who was pulled unconscious with no pulse from the Hawkesbury River on Friday, is expected to make a full recovery Lily was discovered in the river after going missing from her family's North Richmond home, west of Sydney, while her mother was changing her younger sibling's nappy (Careflight is pictured at the scene) 'We were very, very close to stopping resuscitation then she just got a flicker of a heartbeat on an ultrasound,' Dr Chris Cheeseman, a Careflight specialist, told the publication. Dr Cheesman said he was shocked when the two-year-old's heart which he believes had been stopped for up to an hour suddenly began beating again. Despite being resuscitated, Mr Cross said doctors didn't think Lily, who was in critical condition, would survive the drive to the Westmead Children's Hospital. 'When we got to the hospital they didn't think she would make it past a couple of hours. Everyone thought she was brain dead,' he told The Herald Sun. A rescuer who helped perform CPR on Lily said he thought she was gone because 'she was just jelly in [his] arms.' Despite being missing for just 15 minutes, Lily was blue and showed no signs of life when her father Michael Cross and paramedics began performing CPR on the toddler The toddler was found floating on the edge of the riverbank in Hanna Park, North Richmond, at about 3pm, according to police (pictured) Miraculously, a week later the two-year-old is now in stable condition and expected to make a full recovery. 'I'm absolutely stunned she has made the recovery she has it is absolutely remarkable,' Dr Cheeseman said. Lily has a chest infection from the river but it will clear up, doctors said. Her ecstatic family are now urging families to make sure their properties are secure and to learn CPR. A young boy was sent to hospital after getting a fish bone stuck in his throat while eating Coles 'boneless' salmon. His mother Chantelle Galea shared a post to the Coles Facebook page explaining her ten-year-old son had his tonsil pierced by the fish bone. 'My family was sitting together enjoying a beautiful, nutritious dinner - until my child choked on a bone!,' Ms Galea wrote. Chantelle Galea shared a post to the Coles Facebook page explaining her ten-year-old son had his tonsil pierced by the fish bone (pictured) 'We ended up at the Royal Children's Hospital with a bone stuck in my child's tonsil!!!' The mother claimed fish bones were in all the Salmon fillets, despite the packaging being labelled 'boneless and skin on'. Ms Galea described the moment as 'horrifying' and said her young son had a sore throat for the ordeal. After lodging a complaint with Coles, the supermarket giant responded to the Facebook post asking the mother to send a private message with the product details. However, Ms Galea later took to Facebook saying she was 'disgusted' by the way Coles handled the situation and told them to 'lift their game'. Ms Galea told 9 News Coles hadn't apologised and they hadn't offered compensation for the suffering her son went through Wednesday night. Ms Galea told 9 News Coles hadn't apologised and they hadn't offered compensation for the suffering her son went through Wednesday night (stock image) 'He was crying so I tried to calm him down as much as I could ... he was crying, out-of-control,' she told the publication. 'I was looking for boneless salmon and I didn't get it. 'I won't be buying that product ever again.' A Coles spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia they take 'quality and safety' of all their products 'extremely seriously'. 'We have contacted the customer and are currently investigating this matter with our supplier,' the spokesperson said. Tia Mariah McBean, 19, arriving at Stratford Magistrates' Court today A teenager is set to go on trial after allegedly sending a 'cursed' voodoo doll to her ex-boyfriend. Stratford Magistrates' Court heard Tia Mariah McBean, from Dalston in east London, wrote intimidating letters to Adrian Ranglin before delivering the effigy to him in February. The 19-year-old was charged with intending to cause Mr Ranglin distress or anxiety, and faces three counts of sending an article with intent conveying a threatening message. Two counts related to letters sent to Mr Ranglin on the 2 and 5 February, culminating in the voodoo doll allegedly sent on 10 February. Practitioners of witchcraft make effigies of their target and stick pins in the doll to inflict sharp pains on the victim. McBean appeared in court to confirm her identity and plead not guilty to the charges. Sulochana Singh, prosecuting, said the case was suitable to remain at Stratford Magistrates Court for the trial on 21 November. Tia Mariah McBean, from Dalston in east London, was charged with causing Adrian Ranglin distress or anxiety after allegedly sending him a 'cursed' voodoo doll Fingerprint and DNA evidence are alleged to have linked McBean to the doll sent to Ranglins flat. Proceedings were briefly interrupted when McBean accused a mysterious man in the public gallery of threatening her. A tearful McBean said he was whispering threats. The man quickly made off denying he had said anything, with security called to escort McBean out of the building. District Judge Sonia Sims said: You are released on unconditional bail until your trial at Stratford Magistrates Court. McBean denies one count of sending an article conveying a threatening message. McBean pleaded not guilty to the charges and will go to a trial in November Proceedings were briefly interrupted when McBean accused a mysterious man in the public gallery of threatening her will appear at Stratford Magistrates' Court (pictured) again for trial on November 21 Voodoo is an ancient West African religion practiced by more than 30 million people in Benin, Togo and Ghana. Varying forms of the religion exist elsewhere in the world, including Haiti and the U.S. Practitioners of voodoo believe that the world of humans is shared by the world of the spirits. A beautiful baby snow leopard dubbed Princess passed away early Monday after she lost her battle to a severe infection. The Cape May County Zoo announced the tragic news on its Facebook page Wednesday, writing that the cub, named Zara, died after she 'became acutely ill on Friday September 29 and despite medical intervention and treatments, had continued to deteriorate through the weekend'. The post read: 'Zara traveled to Northstar Veterinary Hospital on Monday morning for a neurological consult and to have an MRI performed. Despite all these efforts Zara passed away quietly on Monday morning.' A beautiful baby snow leopard named Zara (pictured) passed away early Monday after she lost her battle to a severe infection The Cape May County Zoo announced the tragic news to their Facebook page Wednesday The cute cub leaves behind her sister, Ahana, who were both named earlier this year after they were born by mother Tysa at the zoo back in May The cub reportedly had brain inflammation from a condition called encephalitis, and was unable to fight off the disease as she was only four months old and had not yet developed a mature immune system. This explains why the infection acted so quickly and aggressively in her case. We are closely monitoring her sister Ahana and mother Tysa for any signs of illness,' zoo officials said in the social media statement. The ridiculously cute cub leaves behind her sister, Ahana, who were both named earlier this year after they were born by mother Tysa at the zoo back in May. The snow leopards were welcomed as 'part of a national program to help save the native to parts of Central Asia,' according to a news report According to NBC New York, the snow leopards were welcomed as 'part of a national program to help save the native to parts of Central Asia.' In related news, a snow leopard cub made its debut at an Ohio zoo just months after her brother was humanely euthanized after being diagnosed with genetic anomalies. The female cub, Dariga, was born in June at the Toledo Zoo alongside her late brother who suffered serious physical problems, causing him pain since birth. 'As soon as we did the first exam, we knew there were issues,' Toledo Zoo veterinarian Dr. Ric Berlinski told The Toledo Blade this week. Zoo officials said they are closely monitoring the health of her sister, Ahana, following the tragedy The tragic news comes just months after snow leopards were introduced at the zoo 'His chest was very flat from top to bottom and caused displacement of his heart.' Zookeeper Trudy Kurht said about the cubs' mother: 'Greta's been an awesome mom from the get-go, ... She's done everything right, and we couldn't be more happy with how she's been.' Aside from the loss of her brother, Dariga is in good care alongside her mom Greta and her father, Shishir. Berlinski said Greta is 'really patient' with the cub, while Dariga is 'inquisitive' and 'likes to stalk, hunker down, then explode out at her enrichment,' adding: 'she's a pistol.' Multimillionaire mass murderer Stephen Paddock was eerily quiet when visiting a Texas gun store last year, the owner has revealed. Paul Peddle, owner of B&S guns in Garland, Texas, said that Paddock had entered his store several times - but that on his most recent visit, in 2016, he was unusually quiet. 'He was like a ghost when he came in the shop,' Peddle told WFAA. 'Very quiet. Snuck in, snuck out. Asked a few questions, talked to the gunsmiths, had a little repair done and he was gone.' That stands in stark contrast to the 'happy and upbeat' mood he displayed at a Nevada store - just one week before he murdered 58 people and injured hundreds more. Scroll down for video Paul Peddle (left) said Las Vegas shooter Stephen Paddock (right) had bought guns at his Texas store several times, but that during his last visit, in 2016, he was 'like a ghost' Peddle said that he knew Paddock from previous visits, including purchases of handguns in 2010 and 2011. One of the handguns Paddock bought was a $1,500 model usually used by the Secret Service, he said; such expensive buys were not uncommon for Paddock. Peddle said Paddock quietly entered B&S Guns (pictured), got his guns repaired and left. But he didn't raise any red flags, Peddle said And while Paddock was quiet, Peddle said, he hadn't seen any 'red flags.' 'I'm not saying we could have caught it but we know what to look for, we've been in business for 30 years,' he said. 'There's certain things you ask for that we kind of go, "Uhh, that's not right."' The attitude displayed by Paddock a year ago in Texas stands in striking contrast to the one he displayed at another store in Nevada just a week before the killings. 'It was a normal day,' Christopher Sullivan, who works at Guns & Guitars in Paddock's home town of Mesquite, told The Spectrum of Paddock's September 28 visit. 'He came in and filled out his paperwork, went across the street, did some shopping at Walmart, came back, shook my hand, said "Have a great day" and out the door he went. 'He never wouldve given an inclination about what was going on in his mind,' Sullivan said. 'It's something I've run through my head a million times trying to figure out if Ive missed something.' Chris Sullivan, the manager of Guns & Guitars in Nevada, said that by contrast Paddock was 'happy and upbeat' when he bought a rifle just four days before his Las Vegas killing spree Paddock paid $600 for a Ruger American .308 bolt-action rifle (pictured) from Guns & Guitars, which is based in his home town of Mesquite. Sullivan said Paddock was usually very friendly Paddock bought a $600 bolt-action Ruger American .308 rifle. Sullivan said that the gun Paddock bought that day wasn't found in the hotel room where he fired on 22,000 revelers Sunday, killing 59 and injuring more than 400. But he said he'd cleaned 'pretty much every gun' Paddock owned - including some of those found around his body by a SWAT team after they breached his sniper's nest. Stephen Paddock killed at least 59 people and injured 489 others firing on a music festival. Sullivan said he's replayed the visit in his mind, trying to spot ways he could have predicted the massacre Sullivan said he'd been physically ill after learning of the murders, and cried for half an hour on Tuesday night as he replayed his interactions with Paddock in his head, wondering if there was something he missed. 'He was upbeat, happy, normal guy - shake hands, have a good day. It just wasn't there, man,' Sullivan said. 'At some point, he snapped. What made him snap? I don't know.' Speaking to CBS, Sullivan was adamant that he never sold Paddock ammunition or the so-called 'bump stocks' that can modify a semi-automatic gun and make it fully automatic. Investigators say that of the 23 weapons found in Paddock's hotel room, 12 of them had bump stocks added. Bump stocks are completely legal, but so far no gun shop that sold to Paddock has taken responsibility for selling them to the shooter. Sullivan's co-worker, who goes by the name of Skipper Speece, said it took around 20 minutes for the store to carry out vetting procedures and Paddock passed with flying colors raising no alarm bells. He then left the shop with the weapon, but it's unclear what happened next. Did he decide against taking the rifle to Vegas and left it at home or did he take it and leave it in his car? 'Skipper' Speece, a co-worker of Sullivan's at Guns & Guitars stands guard outside the store, as the owner has been on the receiving end of death threats since the Las Vegas massacre Skipper, a gunsmith, sold Paddock the gun, and like Sullivan said that he hadn't spotted anything amiss in Paddock's interactions at the store Either way the gun was not included as part of Paddock's arsenal of death. Skipper said Paddock was a regular visitor to the store and he had served him four times in total. The gunsmith was a bodyguard for Nevada cattle rancher Cliven Bundy, and was involved in the infamous 2014 Bunkerville ranch standoff. The standoff involved an armed confrontation between supporters of Bundy and law enforcement following a 21-year legal dispute over grazing rights. He says Paddock bought just one of the guns that was found in his hotel suite from Guns & Guitars a Sig Sauer 716. Skipper (right) is Nevada cattle rancher Cliven Bundy's (left) former personal bodyguard and was involved with the infamous 2014 Bunkerville ranch standoff The Swiss/German made rifle fires large-caliber 7.62mm rounds, and is a highly accurate weapon from the AR10 range of guns. These weapons usually sell for around $3,500. But a week before the attack he dropped into the store just two miles from his home in a retirement community and 'admired' the Ruger rifle he would later also buy. Skipper said: 'He came in a week earlier and says, "Hey, do you remember me, I'm Steve Paddock," and I said, "I've got some money for you," because we sold one of his guns. 'So I go to the safe and pull out the envelope and he's looking around and says "Hey, what's that rifle there," and points out the Ruger.' A photo leaked Tuesday showed Paddock's body after he committed suicide in the hotel room he'd fired on civilians from. There also appears to be a letter on the table (in red circle), although on Thursday police said no suicide note was found Paddock fired on 22,000 people at a nearby music festival with 23 guns. Magazines can be seen stacked on the right Paddock bought just one of the guns that was found in his hotel suite from Guns & Guitars - a Sig Sauer 716 'He says he's not going to buy it, 'I'll think about it', so I give him the money and he goes.' 'Then a week later, on the 28th, he came in again and bought it for $600. He never said what he was going to use it for. 'He was a normal guy, a typical customer, there was never any red flags, nothing to raise concern. If he had acted unusually or suspiciously in the store I wouldn't have sold him the rifle. The worker said Paddock's girlfriend, Marilou Danley, who police named a person of interest in the case, also came in to the shop once, but nothing seemed amiss 'He didn't say anything about why he wanted to buy the rifle. We actually had one of his rifles on consignment hanging on the wall. 'He would buy something and bring it back. He brought a handgun to us before. We would buy back from him. 'He passed all the vetting procedures, he has no criminal record, no one can understand why this happened.' Skipper, who said Paddock had bought three other guns from the shop in the past, none of which were used in the shooting, says Mesquite is awash with gun enthusiasts like Paddock. 'It's a small town but there's a lot of retired cops, former military guys, ex-government spooks. They're all carrying.' The worker said he was drinking in a bar on Sunday night when he watched the horror unfold on TV. At 2am he received a call from a friend in the FBI who wanted to run a name by him. When he heard Stephen Paddock, Skipper was shocked. 'As soon as he said the name I knew who he was, because I had only served him a few days earlier,' he recalled. A horrifying video has emerged, showing dozens of lifeless bodies scattering the Las Vegas field where Stephen Paddock killed 58 on Sunday 'I know he liked country music so then I'm thinking he must have been after someone he knows, that was my first thought. 'I couldn't believe it and after I get the call from a friend at the FBI I rushed straight to the store to check our records. 'The FBI wanted to know any addresses listed and the serial numbers of any weapons he had purchased. 'Anyway I start opening up the ATF books and they give me four or five serial numbers and I find they aren't from us, so he didn't buy them all from us. 'So they say, "I'm gonna read you some serial numbers" and there's one match and it was a Sig rifle. That was the only one that he bought from us that he used. 'I called my boss Chris Sullivan and he came to the store as well, we were both really shocked that one of our customers was involved.' PADDOCK'S ARSENAL OF DEATH While the exact extent of Paddock's cache is not yet clear, we know it included: 1) Four DDM4 rifles, the LA Times reports. Manufactured by Daniel Defense, the rifle features a muzzle flash suppressor, making it harder to tell where the weapon is being fired from. It also has a freefloat rail allowing for a variety of attachments including scopes and grips to enhance stability. The rifle costs $1,900 if bought new 2) Three FN-15 rifles. Made by FN America, they also feature a muzzle flash suppressor and 'H buffer system', which reduces recoil and increases accuracy. FN-15 refers to a series of rifles, rather than a specific weapon, which range from smaller carbines to replicas of the military-issue M16. It is not known exactly which version was owned by Paddock. They range in price from $1,000 to $2,000, if bought new 3) At least one AK-47. A Russian-designed assault rifle, it was used by the country's military from 1945 and is still used by armies and rebel groups around the world. Known for its simplicity and reliability, it fires 7.62x39mm rounds which makes it less accurate but more devastating than other semi-automatic rifles. It can retail for as little as $600 4) At least one Colt AR-15. This rifle is known as the most popular in America, with an estimated 8million in homes around the country. It is also gaining a dubious reputation as the weapon of choice for mass shooters, from movie theater killer James Holmes to San Bernardino terrorist Omar Mateen 5) Two 'bump stocks'. While not weapons in themselves, these stocks modify semi-automatic weapons allowing for something close to fully automatic fire. They fit over the stock of a semi-auto rifle, and feature a sliding pistol grip and a trigger cover. Rather than pulling the trigger with their finger, the user pushes the gun away from themselves with their other hand. This depresses the trigger, firing a round; the recoil pushes the gun back, but if the user continues to push the gun away from themselves, they will bump repeatedly on the trigger, firing multiple rounds quickly. This allows the user to fire up to 800 rounds per minute while skirting around regulations prohibiting fully-automatic weapons Advertisement Skipper said it was only later they learned that the Ruger rifle - which had rail slots for a scope - Paddock had bought wasn't in the hotel room, but one of the guns they had sold him months earlier was. 'The guy was just a regular gun enthusiast, there was nothing special about him,' Skipper said. 'He's not religious, he never talked about religion, he never talked about politics.' The worker said Paddock's girlfriend, Marilou Danley, who police named a person of interest in the case, also came in to the shop once. 'The only time we saw Marilou, Stephen was in the store looking around, talking to Chris and I guess she was in the car and she opens the door and says, "Are you done?" 'And he says, "Yeah, I'll just be a second," that was the only time we saw her. He was totally pleasant to her, just said "I'll be a second, no problem."' Skipper said Paddock would have had no problem getting the 23 guns inside his minivan and smuggling them up to the 32nd floor room where he was staying. Paddock left the shop after buying the mystery weapon but it's unclear whether he left the rifle at home (pictured) or in his car 'He was a smart guy. He's not going to be caught going into the hotel with the weapons,' Skipper said. 'The Vegas casinos have firearms safes so if you are traveling and have a handgun, they'll tell you, "We'll lock it in the safe," because they don't want guns in the lobby. But they're not going to put you through a metal detector.' Guns and Guitars staff have been inundated with death threats by phone and email, and Sullivan has reported them to the police. 'We're taking screen shots and forwarding emails to the FBI and to Las Vegas Metro,' said Skipper. The store opened its doors on Wednesday for the first time since the tragedy and brought in extra security to man the entrance. As a temporary precaution, it also introduced a new policy banning loaded firearms from being brought inside. Lewis (pictured) pleaded guilty to stealing An Aldi supervisor has been caught putting through false refunds and pocketing the money. Casey Rebecca Lewis, 23, was a shift supervisor at Aldi in Brightwater, on Queensland's Sunshine Coast, when she conned the supermarket out of $1605 between March and May this year. Lewis put through nine false refunds before pocketing the cash herself, the Sunshine Coast Daily reported. The 23-year-old woman pleaded guilty to one count of stealing when she appeared at Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Thursday. Between March and May, Lewis pretended to refund fridges, chest of drawers, an acoustic guitar and a caravan cover. Lewis has since repaid the money, the court heard on Thursday. She also continues to work in retail but has no access to money. Between March and May, Lewis (pictured) pretended to refund fridges, chest of draws, an acoustic guitar and a caravan cover Lewis has a history of showing a 'lack of judgement', according to her lawyer. She was previously caught driving a car while her partner was on the roof of the moving vehicle. Her lawyer told the court Lewis had stopped taking psychiatric medication at the time of her offending, which her doctor said may have contributed to her lack of judgement. Lewis was sentenced to 60 hours community service and 12 months' probation. Noel Conway, pictured in July, has lost his High Court battle A terminally-ill retired college lecturer said he faces 'unbearable suffering and a traumatic, drawn out death' after losing a High Court battle to 'fight for choice at the end of life'. Noel Conway, a 67-year-old grandfather from Shrewsbury, says he feels 'entombed' by motor neurone disease, which he was diagnosed with nearly three years ago. When he has less than six months to live and retains the mental capacity to make the decision, he wishes to enlist a doctor to prescribe a lethal dose and bring about a 'peaceful and dignified' death. His lawyers said his proposed change to the law would only apply to terminally ill adults with less than six months to live, who have a settled wish to die. However judges at the High Court today dismissed his appeal, saying the law on suicide was compatible with the human rights of Mr Conway. Speaking after the hearing, Mr Conway said the 'cruel' decision denies him a say over how and when he will die. He added: 'I am told the only option I currently have is to effectively suffocate to death by choosing to remove my ventilator, which I am now dependent on to breathe for up to 22 hours a day.' Noel Conway with his wife Carol and supporters outside Telford County Court in July The 67-year-old grandfather has challenged the current law on assisted dying. He is pictured here outside the High Court in March with his wife and stepson Terry McCusker Mr Conway, who did not attend London's High Court today, wanted a declaration that the Suicide Act 1961 is incompatible with Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which relates to respect for private and family life, and Article 14, which protects from discrimination. ASSISTED SUICIDE: THE LAW Section 2 of the Suicide Act 1961 concerns criminal liability for complicity in anothers suicide. It states a person commits an offence if they carry out an act capable of encouraging or assisting the suicide or attempted suicide of another person, and the act was intended to encourage or assist suicide or an attempt at suicide. Anyone convicted of such an offence could be jailed for 14 years. Advertisement The law as it stands means that anyone who helped Mr Conway to die would be committing a criminal offence. The case was opposed by the Secretary of State for Justice, with Humanists UK, Care Not Killing and Not Dead Yet UK also making submissions. But Lord Justice Sales, Mrs Justice Whipple and Mr Justice Garnham rejected his legal challenge. The judges cited Section 2 of the Suicide Act 1961 in their ruling, which states a person commits an offence if they do 'an act capable of encouraging or assisting the suicide or attempted suicide of another person', and it was intended. They added: 'We find that Section 2 is compatible with the Article 8 rights of Mr Conway. We dismiss his application for a declaration of incompatibility.' Mr Conway (pictured outside the High Court in March) was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in November 2014 and is not expected to live beyond 12 months The retired lecturer (pictured with his with his wife Carol in March) wanted a declaration that the Suicide Act 1961 is incompatible with Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights 'This decision denies me a real say over how and when I will die' The 67-year-old said he was, 'Deeply disappointed by the judgment' Mr Conway said in a statement after the hearing: 'I am deeply disappointed by today's judgment and fully intend to appeal it. The experiences of those who are terminally ill need to be heard. 'This decision denies me a real say over how and when I will die. 'I am told the only option I currently have is to effectively suffocate to death by choosing to remove my ventilator, which I am now dependent on to breathe for up to 22 hours a day. 'There is no way of knowing how long it would take me to die if I did this, or whether my suffering could be fully relieved. To me, this is not choice - this is cruelty. 'As I approach the end of my life, I face unbearable suffering and the possibility of a traumatic, drawn out death. 'Travelling to Switzerland is no longer a viable option and I cannot put my family or doctors at risk of prosecution by asking for their help here at home. 'Knowing I had the option of a safe, peaceful assisted death at a time of my choosing would allow me to face my final months without the fear and anxiety that currently plagues me and my loved ones. 'It would allow me to live the rest of my life on my own terms, knowing I was in control rather than at the mercy of a cruel illness. 'Throughout this case I have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support the public has shown me. I know that this fight is important not just to me, but thousands of others. 'I am undeterred by today's decision and will appeal it with the support of my legal team and Dignity in Dying.' Advertisement Mr Conway, pictured with his wife Carol at their home in Shrewsbury in March, now hopes to appeal the decision Sarah Wootton, chief executive of Dignity in Dying which supported Mr Conway's case, said: 'Terminally ill people deserve to be listened to. They are, after all, the true experts on how they want to die. SECOND RIGHT-TO-DIE BATTLE LOST Mr Conway's case was the first challenge to the existing law since the case of Tony Nicklinson. Mr Nicklinson battled for two years to persuade judges at the High Court to rule that if, and when, he decides he wants to die, doctors will be immune from prosecution if they help him. A victim of locked-in syndrome, Mr Nicklinson said he had been condemned by the law to a life of increasing indignity and misery. The 58-year-old father of two from Melksham, Wiltshire, was mentally sound but paralysed from the neck down and unable to speak, following a severe stroke while on a business trip to Athens. But his case was ultimately dismissed in June 2014 by the Supreme Court, which said it was a matter for Parliament to decide. After debates in both Houses, Parliament decided not to provide for legislative exceptions to the 1961 Act. Mr Nicklinson died in August, 2012. Advertisement 'Dying people in this country are being let down while the rest of the world moves on. 'Whilst we are disappointed with the judgment, it does confirm that the courts have the authority to declare the current law inconsistent with our human rights. 'Noel does not accept the death that the current law forces him to have, and neither do we, which is why Dignity in Dying will support Noel every step of the way to take this case on to the appeal courts. 'How can it be more ethical or safe for Noel to have his ventilation withdrawn under the current law, with no formal safeguards, than for him to request life-ending medication within the multiple safeguards proposed through his case? 'This is paradoxical.' Mr Conway's solicitor Yogi Amin added: 'We will now seek permission to take the case to the Appeal courts. 'Noel would like the choice to be able to die with dignity. 'He has proposed a new legal framework with safeguards in place of the current blanket ban on assisted dying. 'The world has changed phenomenally in the past few decades with many medical advances but the law on assisted dying for those who are terminally ill hasn't changed for more than 50 years.' A cowboy builder who left families 95,000 out of pocket and a disabled boy relying on volunteers to complete his dream extension is today behind bars. Smooth-talking rogue trader Jonathan Ross Bell, also known as Black, took money from trusting customers but often failed to do the work. One couple, Paula and Michael Cryan, gave Bell thousands to build an extension for their disabled 11-year-old son but he left the work unfinished and not up to scratch. One couple left out of pocket by Jonathan Ross Bell were Paula and Michael Cryan,(pictured) who handed him thousands to build an extension for their disabled 11-year-old son but left the work unfinished and not up to scratch After a story in the Newcastle Chronicle's Mr Justice column about their struggles, the family, from Dudley, were approached by tradesmen who did the work for free. A court heard the Cryans were just one family to fall victim to the dodgy trading practices of a series of companies run by Bell. The ex-army man pleaded guilty to five offences of engaging in an unfair commercial practice, in breach of the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations. But North Tyneside Council, who prosecuted him, said that was just the tip of the iceberg and they have received more than 70 complaints. Now the 45-year-old, of Cullercoats, North Tyneside, has been jailed for 18 months at Newcastle Crown Court. Recorder Tony Hawks told him: 'You were, in my judgement, taking money from members of the public and promising to carry out work for them when you knew, or must have known, there was no realistic prospect of that ever occurring. 'You were making false representations, lies for want of a better word, about building regulations, about firms letting you down. 'I've come to the conclusion you were quite a persuasive individual. I conclude it was your manner and your reassurances that made them continue to pay you. After a story about their struggles, the family, from Dudley, North Tyneside, were approached by tradesmen who did the work for free 'The people who have suffered at your hands are ordinary, decent people, some of whom say they chose to employ you because they wanted to employ what they thought were local, reputable firms. 'Well, you let them down very badly. In some cases people have had their personal savings go down the drain.' The court heard it was in September 2015 that Michael Cryan was given a leaflet in the name of Viking Home Improvements, one of the companies run by Bell. The Cryans were considering building an extension for their disabled son, Taylor, who has a rare genetic disorder and learning disabilities. Bell attended their home and quoted them 29,000 and requested a 2,000 deposit to pay for building regulations. In total they paid 28,800, of which 6,000 was for bi-fold doors for the extension but the doors were never supplied. Susan Hirst, prosecuting, said: 'Mrs Cryan then became concerned that the building inspector had not been out to the site, so she raised this with the defendant and he replied that the inspector was due to attend the following week. A court heard the Cryans were just one family to fall victim to the dodgy trading practices of a series of companies run by Bell 'In fact that was a blatant lie because Mrs Cryan called the council and she was informed that no building regulations application had been made.' When a council inspector came out they said there were a number of problems with the extension and that an application should be submitted to the council. Miss Hirst said: 'When Mrs Cryan reported this to the defendant he replied that he had no money left and was unable to finish the job. 'Mrs Cryan asked for money to be returned to them given that the job was not complete. 'Throughout November 2015 the defendant said to her that he would complete the job but he was waiting for more money to come through before he could do so. 'In December there was correspondence between the parties, however he never returned to complete the building work and did not supply the doors which had been paid for. 'Due to publicity the couple received in the local press, a group of volunteer builders very kindly offered to assist the family and they finished the extension for them. 'If it had not been for their kindness, the overall cost to the couple would have been significantly higher than it actually was.' The total loss to the Cryans was said to be 12,767, made up of the 6,000 for the doors and 6,767 for remedial work. Another couple were left 42,170 out of pocket after asking another of Bell's firms - Jenkinson Glaziers North East Ltd - to build an orangery extension and an extension above their garage with a view to caring for their elderly parents. After agreeing to have the work done, but before it commenced, the firm had gone into liquidation with debts of 274,000 but Bell denied this when quizzed by the couple. Miss Hirst said: 'In total they paid the defendant 19,100 for building work for the orangery which was not completed. The Cryans were considering building an extension for their disabled son, Taylor, who has a rare genetic disorder and learning disabilities. They are pictured with their youngest son, Riley 'They paid 5,960 for the garage extension, which was never started. 'They then had to pay 36,210 for another company to complete the orangery and they lost the 5,960 for the garage extension, which has not been done at all.' Another couple entered into an agreement for Bell's company to build an orangery, a guest room and to fit windows. Miss Hirst said: 'In total they paid 42,000 to the defendant but very little work had been carried out on the project. 'The couple had to employ another builder to complete the work at a cost of 50,842. 'The total loss to them is therefore 35,317 (93,807 total paid minus 58,490, what it should have cost).' The couple lost 1,750 after handing over a deposit for windows and doors to Jenkinsons Glaziers but when they changed their mind within 14 days Bell failed to refund them, as he was obliged to do. And another man handed over 3,000 for roofing materials but they never arrived and he never got his money back. The court heard Bell had previously received advice about his trading practices from North Tyneside Council in 2011 after a complaint but he has no previous convictions. Pictured: The Cryans' unfinished extension The court heard Bell had previously received advice about his trading practices from North Tyneside Council in 2011 after a complaint but he has no previous convictions. A spokesman for North Tyneside Council said: 'This builder caused misery for many of our residents, so we were determined to get justice for his victims and bring this case to court. 'The sentence reflects the severity of the offences he committed and the impact on his victims. 'We would urge anyone who believes they, or someone they know, has fallen victim to a fraudulent business to contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 03454 04 05 06.' The council said Bell operated under various trading names including Jenkinson Glaziers, Viking Building Services, and Urban Homes from several addresses in North Tyneside including Monkseaton, Shiremoor and North Shields Fish Quay. Bell has no connection with Jenkinson Glaziers & UPVC Ltd, which operates from Chapel Lane in Monkseaton. His barrister told the court the father-of-two wanted to apologise for his behaviour and also tried to lay some of the blame on a salesman who worked for him for under-quoting work to get contracts. Bell had been 'robbing Peter to pay Paul' and did not steal the 95,000 or benefit from it, but rather took it from people hoping things would improve, however he ended up losing his home and car and was in debt with no assets, the court heard. His barrister said 'negative publicity on social media and print media' had thwarted his efforts to make the business work and he has recently been employed in Egypt. The remains of a passenger liner torpedoed off the Irish coast when a a German submarine captain mistook it for a warship has been found by a shipwreck-hunter. David Mearns collected sonar data which shows what's left of Athenia lying on the bed of the Atlantic on Rockall Bank some 200m below sea level. More than 100 people drowned when Fritz Julius Lemp mistakenly blasted the British boat on September 3, 1939, just hours after Neville Chamberlain declared war on Nazi Germany. The sonar image which shipwreck hunter David Mearns said shows what's left of Athenia The British liner Athenia (pictured) with 1,400 aboard before it was torpedoed back in 1939 Ten hours after war had been declared between Britain and Germany this telegram - an SOS following a torpedo strike - reported the first attack The Athenia carrying 1,103 passengers was attacked in September 3 1939 when the German captain mistook her for an armed merchant ship. Her sinking led to the deaths of 118 people including a Canadian child which brought the Commonwealth country into the conflict. Three chilling telegrams were uncovered in 2009 which revealed the brutal sinking of a defenceless British passenger ship by a U-boat just hours after World War II was declared. The first telegram, sent to all shipping at 12.18pm, announced that 'war has broken out with Germany'. The second sent less than ten hours later read: 'SOS from British steamer Athenia. Torpedoed - 1,400 passengers some still aboard sinking fast.' The third was sent by Capt McCelland, from 420ft yacht the Southern Cross, to the SS Athenia, timed half and hour later and read: 'Distance from you 50. Steering full steam ahead to your assistance.' His ship helped in the rescue of 980 passengers. Ironically the yacht was owned by Swedish industrialist Axel Wenner-Gren who was a close friend of Luftwaffe chief Hermann Goering. The Illustrated London News carries the story At the time of the torpedo attack the multi-millionaire was being taken to the Bahamas to escape the war and to meet up with friends the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. Captain James McLelland of the SS Southern Star was involved in the dramatic rescue and kept the telegrams The captain of the submarine had attacked the Athenia after mistaking it for an armed merchant ship. When Adolf Hitler found out he was furious and made the trigger-happy captain re-write his log so stop news of the sinking from getting out. The three telegrams were kept by Capt McCelland and were handed down through his family. They are now about to go on public show for the first time at London's Imperial War Museum after his grandson Greg McCelland, 50, re-discovered them in a drawer. Mr McCelland said: 'My grandfather obviously appreciated the significance of these messages and decided to keep them along with his medals. 'My grandfather died in the 1950s and my father ended up with them and then they were passed to me. 'I knew what they were but I never realised the story behind them until recently. 'There are only a few words on each message but they tell a startling story of the opening exchanges of World War II. 'It was probably quite alarming for the ships that were out in the Atlantic when war broke out. 'But it must have been even worse when they saw the second message of the torpedo attack come through.' The Marconigrams' importance was realised through a chance remark to the experts on TV's Antiques Roadshow. Mr McCelland's wife had taken some antique jewellery to be valued and While there, she happened to mention them to the team. A painting of the sinking of the British ship Athenia, by artist Arthur JW Burgess Neville Chamberlain declares war on Nazi Germany in a broadcast to the United Kingdom Her husband was made to get out of bed and bring the messages for them to look at. Mr McCelland, from Belfast, said: 'They aren't very valuable but they are very significant and important.' The SS Athenia, a 13,500 ton passenger ship, was taking 1,103 people from Glasgow to Montreal. It was 250 miles west of the Northern Irish coast when it was attacked by U-30. Richard Overy, a World War II historian at Exeter University, said: 'The British people had been brought up to believe that Germany under Hitler was this barbarous war machine and this attack helped confirm those beliefs. 'The first news of the war the British expected to read about was the bombing of London but what they got was the sinking of a passenger ship, something more akin to the First World War and the terrible Hun. 'Hitler didn't want to provoke the Americans into the war. Up until this point America had been impartial. 'But within hours of war breaking out the Athenia attack pushed American opinion more towards Britain and they provided the British with weapons and materials. 'Every now and again you get little documents like these telegrams that materialise and illuminate a little corner of the war.' The incident nearly wrecked the career of the German submarine captain, Fritz-Julius Lemp, but he pleaded that it had been a genuine error. In May 1941 he was the captain of U-110 that was captured south of Iceland by British destroyers. Lemp and his crew scuppered the boat and swam away. He was never seen again. The Imperial War Museum plans to display the Marconigrams as part of its programme to mark the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of World War II. FARGO -- After U.S. Attorney Chris Myers announced the government had rested its case accusing a man of ordering the 2016 murder of 24-year-old Austin Forsman, the defendant turned to his family in the courtroom to reassure them. I think the evidence shows I never ordered to kill this kid, Modesto Torrez told his family. That decision is now in the hands of a 12-member jury who will determine whether the government proved Torrez called for Forsmans murder at the Flying J truckstop in Grand Forks and was a leader of a meth distribution ring in the Red River Valley. The jury decided to begin its deliberations at 9 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 5, after closing arguments in the case wrapped Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 4. Jurors heard testimony from 17 witnesses brought by the government, four of whom were among the 12 co-conspirators charged alongside Torrez in a superseding indictment addressing the murder and the meth trafficking ring that spawned it. Torrez is the lone alleged conspirator to opt for a jury trial. The rest, including shooter Krystal Lynn Feist, have pleaded guilty and many have been sentenced. In closing arguments, Myers reminded jurors of testimony stating Torrez had partnered with Ryan Franklin, and instructed Franklin to go to the Twin Cities on two occasions to pick up a total of 11 pounds of meth and bring it back to the Red River Valley for distribution. He reminded them of witness testimony that Torrez asked Feist if she could get a gun, and eyewitnesses to the murder recalling Feist yelling Yes or no! into the phone at Torrez before shooting Forsman. She doesnt jump out and do this on her own, Myers said. Shes asking for clarification. He described everyone else in the case, including Feist, as small-timers following orders. Theyre minions, Myers said of the co-conspirators, showing the jurors a photo of a Pixar Minion holding a bong in a PowerPoint slide. They work for him. Defense attorney Charles Stock told jurors the government rejected versions of the story they didnt like until co-conspirators, each seeking to avoid prosecution or harsher sentences, told investigators what they wanted to hear: that Torrez ordered the shooting. What the government presented here is a made-for-TV plot, Stock said. He asked why prosecutors didnt call for Lorie Ortiz, who witnesses say was with Torrez the night of the shooting, to testify. He called into question inconsistencies in the testimonies of Torre Risberg and other witnesses, and reminded them Risberg was a cooperating government informant who changed his statements to law enforcement multiple times. The government was not critical of its investigation of its own witnesses, Stock said. Torre Risberg led the government on a goose chase. Stock reminded them of Morados testimony that he was on the phone with Torrez when he got into Feists car at the Flying J and said he was also asking Torrez a question when Feist heard the fateful yes. Stock pointed to Morados testimony that Torrez had told them to meet at the Flying J where there would be cameras and everyone would be safe. He asked why his client would use his phone throughout the night if he knew a shooting was to take place. It defies common sense, Stock said. This is the moment a father who helped save 30 lives during the Las Vegas massacre before being shot in the neck spoke with the cop who rescued him. Jonathan Smith was reduced to tears as off-duty San Diego officer Tom McGrath praised him as a 'warrior' and the two men said they view each other as 'brothers' following the attack which killed 58 and left more than 500 hurt. Smith told how McGrath plugged the wound with his finger while McGrath - who was speaking on the phone - recalled telling Smith 'now you have to fight' as he went weak from blood loss. Jonathan Smith, who has been credited with saving at least 30 lives in Las Vegas, broke down in tears as he spoke with off-duty cop Tom McGrath who helped save his life after he was shot Though Smith insists he is not a hero, referring to himself as 'a normal human who saw lives in danger', McGrath accused him of being too modest. 'As someone who trains for things like this, I think he did something extraordinary,' McGrath told CNN's Erin Burnett. 'He showed tremendous bravery, he inspires me, and he may not want to take all the credit but he did a wonderful job and I was just happy to be there to help him.' Recalling the moments after he got shot, Smith said : 'I remember him helping me get in the back of a pickup truck with another young lady who had a gunshot wound. 'I kept telling him "I don't want to die, I don't want to die", and he told me "you're not going to die, look at me, you're not going to die." 'He said it as they took me out and put me on the concrete in front of a patrol car. [I remember] the moment he put his finger inside the wound just to stop the bleeding. McGrath (left) insisted that Smith is a hero, describing him as a 'warrior' and saying his actions on Sunday night have inspired him Smith recalled how McGarth plugged the bullet hole in his neck with his finger, before telling him 'you're not going to die' as he went weak from blood loss 'It's stuff like that I won't forget. I owe him my life.' Speaking about the same moment from his perspective, McGrath added: 'I just remember getting to that patrol vehicle, I told him "now is the time to fight." 'I knew he was feeling weak but I told him "now is the time to fight." 'He's got that warrior mentality, he went into the sound of gunfire... that's what made him go back in and that's what kept him alive.' His family have now set up a GoFundMe page to help with his medical bills. Doctors say he may have to live with the bullet lodged in his neck for the rest of his life because it is too dangerous to remove. Smith and McGrath's story is just one of dozens of tales of incredible heroism to emerge from the tragedy on the Vegas Strip. Last night it was revealed that a man pictured using his body to shield a woman from the gunfire is Matthew Cobos, a young US Army soldier who bravely ran into the danger zone to help others. Cobos was pictured on top of the woman as she lay on the ground, while shielding her eyes so she couldn't see the carnage around her. Matthew Cobos was photographed on Sunday night lying on top of a young woman in an attempt to shield her from the barrage of bullets tearing through the air around them Cobos has since told family and friends that he could hear and see the bullets ricocheting off the ground in front of him as he ran This is the brave female cab driver, Corinne Langdon (left and right) who risked her life to pick up blood soaked festival goers fleeing a barrage of bullets during the Las Vegas massacre 'Get the f**k out of Vegas, just go, go, go!' one of the terrified passengers screamed as Langdon tried to avoid the dead, injured and those still trying the flee gunfire out on the street Incredibly the pair managed to escape the shooting by running behind a car during a break in the gunfire. Cobos is then understood to have run back into the firing line in order to save others, drawing on his military training to plug wounds with his finger and apply tourniquets to those who were badly injured. He is understood to be back home now with family in California. Cobos lives in Hawaii where he is a cavalry scout with the US Army. Meanwhile it emerged cab driver Corianne Langdon, 58, helped to transport blood-soaked victims to hospital while putting herself in harm's way. Langdon recorded the haunting moments of calm as the attack started but before people had realized what was happening, then the moments of sheer panic as wounded concert-goers jumped into the back of her cab. This is the hilarious moment a young man makes an extremely lewd suggestion to a female nurse - and gets ruthless told off by his father. The young man, named as Mark Clayton III, has just woken up from surgery where a rod was put through his leg, when he starts talking to his father while still heavily sedated. The conversation starts off innocently, with Clayton III, from Orlando, Florida, asking his father a number of questions in a thick American country accent and professing his love for him. He then tells his father Mark Clayton Jr that he is going to sleep when a door can be heard opening and a nurse walks in. The nurse tells the heavily sedated Clayton III, who appears to be in his early 20s, that she heard 'he is having a good time'. The young man, named as Mark Clayton III, has just woken up from surgery where a rod was put through his leg When a female nurse walks into the room, he tells her to 'show me your t***' - with both the nurse and Mark's father bursting into a laughing fit Mark replies: 'Yeah, hell yeah... Show me your t***.' Both the nurse Clayton Jr burst into fits of laughter at the rude remark as Mark tries to backpedal and says 'I'm just messing around'. Mark's father then says: 'Hey, quit it' and demands his son issue and apology to the nurse. Mark then apologises to the nurse, shouting out: 'I'm so high, I'm sorry ma'am, I didn't mean to say that.' The nurse then leaves the room, with Mark claiming the hospital has 'given him an extra dose' of medication. Mark's father takes a sterner tone and tells his son to 'be respectful when women come in'. Another woman who works at the hospital enters the room and Mark apologises again, although she was not aware of his previous outburst. She asks him 'did you say something mean' to which he replies 'yeah I said something mean, I told her to show me her t***'. Clayton Jr breaks out in another laughing fit as the female hospital worker giggles in shock at the remark. The viral video has been viewed more than six million times on Facebook. Writing on his Facebook page, Mark Clayton Jr posted: 'Mark Clayton III you deserve 2millon views for this one buddy , i love you and Happy Birthday Brother.' Movie producer Harvey Weinstein has hired two big-name lawyers amid claims he is set to become the subject of major stories in two publications. The medial mogul, who co-founded Miramax and is the co-chairman of the Weinstein Company, has employed sexual harassment specialist Lisa Bloom and Charles Harder, the man who represented Hulk Hogan when he sued Gawker. According to reports, he has also hired various other lawyers and 'several crisis PR consultants' amid claims articles are due to appear in the New Yorker magazine and the New York Times. This comes two years after Weinstein made headlines for allegedly reaching his hand under a model's skirt and groping her breasts during a business meeting. Weinstein denied those allegations. Hot water: Harvey Weinstein is reported to have hired sexual harassment specialist Lisa Bloom and Charles Harder, who helped Hulk Hogan sue Gawker (Weinstein and wife Georgina Chapman at the 2017 Vanity Fair Oscar party) Possible player: He was accused of reaching his hand under the skirt of model Ambra Battilana (above) and groping her breasts in 2015 Allegations: Weinstein denied the groping claims and after a two week probe no criminal charges were filed in the case The Hollywood Reporter said Weinstein laughed off the matter, explaining: 'The story sounds so good, I want to buy the movie rights.' But 'multiple sources' with knowledge of events said that a story is being written about his 'personal behavior.' Variety magazine said the 'bombshell' stories concern 'sexual allegations' and 'improper workplace behavior,' with 'some women' making on-the-record charges. Bloom did not respond to a request for comment. Weinstein, one of the most powerful executives in Hollywood, took home an Oscar in 1999 for the Miramax film Shakespeare in Love, but has had some troubles of recent with The Weinstein Company, which he and his brother started in 2005 after leaving Miramax. He recently made a return to the Oscars this past February when his film 'Lion' was nominated for film's top honor. Weinstein also scored some free press thanks to his company's decision to hire the most famous intern in America earlier this year - Malia Obama. Ambra Battilana could be one of those women, with the model claiming Weinstein stuck his hand under her skirt during a meeting at his office in March of 2015. She also claimed that Weinstein asked if her boobs were real. Chapman is creative director of Marchesa (above on Julianne Hough at 2017 Emmys) Weinstein reportedly cooperated with police throughout their investigation into those allegations while his wife Georgina Chapman stood by his side. District attorney spokeswoman Joan Vollero said in a statement a month after the incident: 'This case was taken seriously from the outset, with a thorough investigation conducted by our Sex Crimes Unit. 'After analyzing the available evidence, including multiple interviews with both parties, a criminal charge is not supported.' The perfectly polished Chapman, 41, and notoriously brash Weinstein, 65, began dating in late 2004 and were married three years later at their Connecticut estate. The wedding, in which the British beauty wore one of her own Marchesa designs, was packed with celebrities, including Cameron Diaz, Renee Zellweger, Naomi Watts, Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez and Vogue editrix Anna Wintour, to name just a few. They welcomed daughter India in 2010 and son Dashiell three years later. Kids: Weinstein and Chapman had a daughter India, 7, and son 4-year-old son Dashell Fire sale: The couple dropped the sale price of their Hamptons home by over a million dollars this summer, from $13.5 to $12.4 million What a view: The hoem is 9,000 square feet and has seven bedrooms, seven full and three half bathrooms (patio above) Chapman on the other hand has become one of the most in-demand designers in the industry, with Marchesa growing at a staggering rate since she and partner Keren Craig debuted their first collection in 2004. Hollywood's biggest stars go to the two ladies not only for major red carpet events, but also their own special occasions, with the brand being a frequent choice for celebrities on their wedding day. Sandra Bullock, Jennifer Lopez, Eva Longoria, Olivia Wilde, Kerry Washington, Miley Cyrus and Reese Witherspoon are just a few of the A-listers who have donned one of the brand's gowns. Chapman never commented on the groping incident. Malia Obama (above) interned for Weinstein earlier this year It is believed the Times has contacted 'dozens' of current and former employees of Weinstein's. The reporters are also said to have had access to HR documents. Ronan Farrow, who works for NBC News, has reportedly been researching a story on Weinstein for about a year with the intention of publishing in the New Yorker. Weinstein made headlines last month when one of his charity ploys landed AIDS charity AMFAR in hot water. New York attorney general, Eric T. Schneiderman is now investigating the practices of the charity after Weinstein donated two auction items to their annual fundraiser during the Cannes Film Festival with the caveat that a portion of the proceeds go to the American Repertory Theater. The ART in turn handed that money back to Weinstein and other investors in their musical 'Finding Neverland,' which was also produced by the studio head. I honestly thought we were doing something fantastic for both sides,' Weinstein told The New York Times. 'We get money, they get money, and its all our money.' DailyMail.com understands that George Clooney, Johnny Depp and Ryan Gosling are all prepared to say the movie mogul did nothing wrong in the dispute over amfAR. Others who are prepared to speak on his behalf are Naomi Campbell and Heidi Klum, a source said. Weinstein also recently price chopped the sale price of his Hamptons mansion, taking the price down $1million. The heroic security guard who saved hotel guests and directed police to Stephen Paddock's whereabouts - despite being shot - has been named. Jesus Campos was on a 'random patrol' on the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay hotel when he was shot in the right thigh by Paddock who fired more than 200 rounds through the door of his room. Police say Paddock opened fire after spotting Campos approaching on a secret surveillance camera he had installed - miraculously only injuring, not killing, the courageous guard. Even more incredibly, when police arrived 60 seconds later, Campos not only gave them his master key and information, he also helped clear nearby rooms of bystanders, Las Vegas Sheriff Joseph Lombardo revealed. He is likely to have prevented America's worst mass shooting from being even more deadly by interrupting Paddock's atrocity and radioing in his position. Despite being left with a bullet lodged in his leg, the guard, hailed for his 'amazing bravery', told ABC News: 'I'm fine. I was just doing my job'. A hero security guard who saved hotel guests despite being shot by Las Vegas gunman Stephen Paddock, pictured, has been named as Jesus Campos Jesus Campos was on a 'random patrol' on the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay hotel when he was shot in the right thigh by Paddock who fired more than 200 rounds at him through the door of his room. Pictures show a room service cart outside Paddock's room The guard only sought medical attention when ordered to leave by the police, Lombardo claimed. The sheriff said Campos had distracted Paddock from his spree, but added that police were just seconds behind him - and would have done the same if Campos had not been there. Lombardi said: 'His bravery was amazing. He gave our officers the key guard for the room and then continued clearing rooms until he was ordered to go seek attention.' The identity of the brave security guard was confirmed by the International Union, Security, Police and Fire Professionals of America. International President David Hickey said he did not know whether Campos, a long-time employee at the resort, was armed, according to Las Vegas Review-Journal. It is thought he had just a baton to defend himself as he investigated the shooting and was understood to be the first person to reach the shooter's position. The guard's brave actions were also praised by US President Donald Trump when he visited Las Vegas yesterday. Trump said: 'He did a good job, didnt he? He did a good job. Now, his option would have been try to do it himself. But if it doesnt work, you (the police) wouldnt have had the information, maybe, right? He did the right thing.' Campos has now been released from hospital, the Review-Journal reports. An investigator is seen on Wednesday peering through one of the windows that Paddock smashed so he could open fire on the crowd Sheriff Joseph Lombardo (left) said on Wednesday that 'You gotta make the assumption' that Stephen Paddock (right), 64, had help in his plot to kill and maim hundreds in Las Vegas on Sunday. He also said there was evidence Paddock planned to escape In an update on Wednesday night, Lombardo claimed that Paddock, who killed 58 civilians and injured hundreds more before killing himself on Sunday, had originally hoped to survive his shooting and flee justice - and likely had an accomplice. Paddock, 64, had planned to escape the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay hotel after firing on the Route 91 Harvest country music festival, Lombardo revealed in a press conference Wednesday. Lombardo declined to reveal why he believed that Paddock had an exit planned, but said he was confident in the claim - and said that his scheme was so elaborate that he would have to be a 'super hero' to pull it off alone. He also announced that the count of people injured in the attack was lower than initially stated - 489, not 527 - due to confusion at hospitals. It wasn't clear why Lombardo thought that Paddock had expected to survive his insane assault, which is the worst mass shooting in US history. But he said that he believed the killer had ceased firing on the terrified civilians in order to figure out how he could escape, as SWAT teams closed in on his room. He also noted that Paddock's car contained two 50lbs of the explosive Tannerite - in two 20lb tins and 10 1lb tins - as well as 1,600 rounds of ammunition. A journalist in the press pool asked whether Paddock had planned to use the vehicle to escape, but Lombardo declined to answer. Lombardo said Paddock fired 'over 200' rounds through these doors when he spotted a security guard approaching the room. Miraculously, the guard was only injured, and was able to tell police exactly where Paddock was Investigators are still processing the festival site-turned-crime scene. The FBI warned in the press conference on Wednesday that it would be some time before all of the evidence that was being collected was properly examined Lombardo also said he thought it was likely that Paddock had an accomplice, given the 23 rifles and piles of magazines in the room, the additional firearms in Paddock's homes, and the electronic devices recovered from his Mesquite house. Paddock would have had to have been a 'super hero' to pull it off, Lombardo said, before catching himself for using the word 'hero' to refer to a mass murderer. 'Look at the weapon obtaining, the amounts of Tannerite available - do you think this was accomplished all on his own, face value?' he said. 'You gotta make the assumption he had to have help at some point, and we want to ensure that's the answer.' He continued: 'Put two and two together: another residence in Reno with several firearms, okay, electronics, and everything else associated with it, large amounts of ammo, a place in Mesquite. 'We know that he had a girlfriend. Do you think this is all self-facing, individuals are just, without talking to somebody, sequestered amongst themselves? Come on, folks.' First lady Melania Trump looks on as Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo is embraced by President Donald Trump after the president gave a speech in a room full of police officers and family members at Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department headquarters President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump walk with surgeon Dr. John Fildes at the University Medical Center after meeting with victims of the mass shooting Wednesday Air Force One departs Las Vegas, flying past the broken windows on the Mandalay Bay hotel, where shooter Stephen Paddock conducted his mass shooting If Paddock did have an accomplice, then it might make sense of the claim made on Wednesday that Paddock had ordered room service for two guests days before the massacre - as shown by a receipt. Lombardo also said that SWAT teams spotted two cameras on a room service cart outside Paddock's suite, and one in the peephole of a door. There was also a baby monitor camera in the family area of the hotel room, he said. None of them were recording. However, it's believed that they may have provided Paddock with a live view of the police as they advanced on his position. North Korea could kill two million people with a nuclear strike on Seoul and Tokyo and injure a further 7.7million, experts have warned. The hypothetical scenario has been analysed by scholars who made their conclusions amid rising tension between the hermit kingdom and the US. Should Kim Jong-un decide to unleash his nuclear arsenal, the has been predicted as catastrophic. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (not pictured) guides the launch of a Hwasong-12 missile. If he decided to unleash his entire arsenal, it could kill 2.2million people The calculations have taken into account Seoul (left) would deploy its THAAD anti-missile system Kim Jong-un (pictured, centre) has been threatening nuclear action more frequently since the start of the year A general view of nightlife in Tokyo, Japan. Crowded streets of Shinjuku shopping district with blurred commuters at dusk. They would all be in danger if North Korea decided to strike The analysis was carried out by US website 38 North following North Korea's nuclear and missile tests and Donald Trump's threat of retaliation. Author Michael J Zagurek Jr said based on his calculations, nuclear attacks on the capital cities of South Korea and Japan could kill as many as 2.1 million people and injure 7.7 million others, according to Yonhap. This was based on the assumption North Korea would launch its entire arsenal of 25 nuclear weapons. Seoul has a population of 24.1million and Tokyo 37.9million and the final fatality figures were worked out by taking into consideration the probability of detonation. Also taken into account was South Korea deploying the anti-missile Terminal High Altitude Air Defence (THAAD) system. Residents observing the full moon in China yesterday were stunned to see three meteors exploding in the night sky. The giant fireballs were said to flash across the sky over Shangri-La County in Yunnan Province, south-west China. An eyewitness told MailOnline that two of the meteors were small and one was large. Together, they lit up the sky for around five seconds. A great ball of fire: Residents in China's Shangri-La County were stunned by the bright flash of light that appeared in the night sky as they were observing the moon last night METEOR, METEOROID AND METEORITE A meteor, a meteoroid and a meteorite can be three confusing concepts. According to Hubble Site, a meteor is 'the flash of light that we see in the night sky when a small chunk of interplanetary debris burns up as it passes through our atmosphere'. The word 'meteor' refers to the flash of light, not the rock. The rock itself is called a 'meteoroid'. A 'meteorite' is any part of a a meteoroid that lands on Earth. Advertisement Various clips on the Chinese social media, including one posted by Sina, show one meteor turning into a great ball of fire as it quickly moved across the sky. A worker at the Desti Youth Park Hostel in Shangri-La said he and many guests at the hostel saw the burning rocks last night at around 8pm. The worker said they were sitting in the backyard of the hostel observing the full moon to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival, a traditional festival in China symbolised by the round, full moon. He said everyone was amazed when the fireballs appeared in the sky. The worker also said the meteors landed in a small village around 40 kilometres (25 miles) outside of Shangri-La, as he heard. Zhang Xingxiang, an expert from the Yunnan Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences, told China Central Television Station that the scene in the video looked like a bolide, which is a very bright meteor. A local villager told the station that he heard a huge bang and felt the ground shaking. He said his pigs were so scared they ran out of the pigsty. Fast and powerful: The fireball apparently overpowered the brightness of the full moon as it travelled across the sky over Yunnan Province, south-west China, at a great speed The meteorites apparently landed in a village around 40 kilometres (25 miles) outside of Shangri-La (above, file photo), according to a worker at a local hostel According to NASA, a fireball was observed yesterday at 12:07 GMT at 28 degrees north latitude and 99 degrees east longitude. The time and location match with the reports provided by Chinese media and the eyewitness. NASA reported that the fireball was observed at an altitude of 37 kilometres (23 miles) and it travelled at the great speed of 14.6 kilometres (nine miles) per second. The explosion is said to have generated 0.54 kiloton of energy, the equivalent to detonating 540 tons of TNT. Activists in Newtown, where the Sandy Hook school shooting took place, held a Wednesday night vigil for those killed in Las Vegas. Members of advocacy group The Newtown Action Alliance, formed after the 2012 mass killing, held candles and waved banners calling for tougher gun laws. Twenty children and six adults were killed during the attack on Sandy Hook primary school, while 58 people were shot dead and more than 500 wounded in Las Vegas. Members of The Newtown Action Alliance, formed after the 2012 Sandy Hook shooting, held a vigil last night for the victims in Las Vegas The activists held pictures of dead loved ones and banners denouncing the NRA and the National Sports Shooting Federation as they held the vigil Mark Barden holds up a picture of his son Daniel who was killed in the Sandy Hook masracre during a vigil remembering the 58 people killed in Sunday's shooting in Las Vegas Twenty children and six adults were shot dead during the Shandy Hook attack, while 58 people died and more than 500 were wounded in Las Vegas on Sunday President Trump, who supported Barack Obama's call for tougher gun laws after Sandy Hook, has so far remained silent on the issue after Las Vegas. Travelling to Puerto Rico on Tuesday, where he met victims of the hurricane, he said a discussion will be had 'at some point', but did not say when that would be. Interviewed in Vegas on Wednesday night, the President pointedly refused to make any further remarks on the issue. Steve Bannon, former Trump chief strategist, has warned that 'everything will be lost' if the President backs tougher gun laws. Hillary Clinton was one of the first to discuss the issue as she spoke with Jimmy Kimmel, who also called out Congress for inaction on the issue which took place in his home town. She said: 'The vast majority of Americans and the vast majority of gun owners know we need common sense laws.' While some Republicans have indicated a willingness to ban some of the devices used during Sunday's massacre, tougher gun laws are not expected to be passed President Trump has indicated he is willing to talk about gun regulation 'at some point', but has not said when that will be Stephen Paddock had an arsenal of 23 weapons in his Las Vegas hotel room on Sunday when he opened fire of the Route 91 Harvest Festival Paddock modified his rifles with high-powered scopes, bipods and 'bump stocks' which effectively convert semi-automatics into full automatics. Some GOP figures say they would be open to banning the rifle stocks The day after the horrible scenes in Nevada, Mrs Clinton tweeted: 'The crowd fled at the sound of gunshots. 'Imagine the deaths if the shooter had a silencer, which the NRA wants to make easier to get.' Senior GOP members have expressed interest in some gun restrictions following Vegas, with the 'silencer bill' that Clinton mentioned not scheduled for a vote Others indicated they would consider a ban on 'bump stocks' which were used by Vegas butcher Stephen Paddock to effectively convert semi-automatic weapons into full-automatics. But further action, such as restricting the sale of high-powered rifles and expanded magazines used by Paddock to cause carnage, were shot down as non-starters. House Speaker Paul Ryan told reporters: ' What I don't think you want your government to do is to lurch toward reactions before even having all the facts. 'Bad people are going to do bad things.' Dozens of people turned out for the vigil in Newtown on Wednesday, the day after hundreds had held a similar event in Vegas itself Islam is the most common state-endorsed religion as most Christian nations support their faith unofficially instead, research shows. Some 27 governments around the world officially endorse Islam while Christianity is the state religion in only 13 countries including the UK. But out of 40 governments which unofficially favour a particular religion, 28 legally or financially support Christianity. This graph shows how Islam is the most common state-endorsed religion, with 27 governments endorsing it This map shows that 43 countries have an official religion, 40 have a preferred religion, 106 including the US have no preferred religion and ten are actively hostile to religious institutions This map shows which countries have official religions. In Afghanistan, for example, Islam is the official state religion, stated explicitly in the constitution: 'The sacred religion of Islam is the religion of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.' The Pew Research Centre in Washington DC analysed 199 countries and found that 43 have an official religion, 40 have a preferred religion, 106 including the US have no preferred religion and ten are actively hostile to religious institutions. These are former or currently communist countries such as China, Cuba, North Korea, Vietnam and several former Soviet republics. The report reads: 'In some cases, state religions have roles that are largely ceremonial. But often the distinction comes with tangible advantages in terms of legal or tax status, ownership of real estate or other property, and access to financial support from the state. 'In addition, countries with state-endorsed (or "established") faiths tend to more severely regulate religious practice, including placing restrictions or bans on minority religious groups.' 'Most governments around the globe, however, are generally neutral toward religion,' the reports concludes. The Pew Research Centre released the figures after it said Muslims would outnumber Christians by 2070. The religion's share of the world's population will equal the Christian share - at roughly 32 per cent each by 2070, the centre claimed. By 2100 around one per cent more of the world's population will be Muslim than Christian, its 2014 report said. Researchers said migration is among factors helping to increase the Muslim population in some regions, including North America and Europe. Pew analysis revealed Muslims are the fastest-growing religious group in the world and in 2010 there were 1.6billion in the world - about 23 per cent of the global population. But the figure is short of the 2.2 billion Christians which made up 31 percent of the population. Islam will overcome Christianity to become the most popular religion in the world by 2070 with migration seeing a surge in Europe and America's Muslim population, research shows The religion's share of the world's population will equal the Christian share - at roughly 32 per cent each - in 53 year's time, according to the Pew Research Center, based in Washington DC The research claimed Muslims are having more children than members of other religious groups with each woman having an average of 3.1 offspring compared to 2.3 for all other groups combined. In 2010 the median age of all Muslims was 23 - seven years younger than non-Muslims. Pew analysis revealed Muslims are the fastest-growing religious group in the world The report added: 'While it does not change the global population, migration is helping to increase the Muslim population in some regions, including North America and Europe.' Some 62 per cent of Muslims live in the Asia-Pacific region with large populations in Indonesia, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Iran and Turkey, Pew researchers said. In 2050, India is set to take over from Indonesia as the country with the world's largest Muslim population, according to the study. Last year there were 3.3 million Muslims of all ages in the US - about 1 per cent of the population. By 2050, the share is predicted to climb to 2.1 per cent. The Army sergeant's wife who spiralled to the ground after he allegedly sabotaged her parachute on a 4,000ft jump is an 'absolutely brilliant' skydiver who has never had a safety incident before, a court heard today. Emile Cilliers, 37, is accused of tampering with his wife Victoria's parachute in a bid to kill her after a failed murder attempt days earlier when he turned on a gas valve to try to cause an explosion at their home. Cilliers allegedly removed two 'slinks' - soft links which connect a parachute to the jumper's harness - before his wife jumped from a plane at Netheravon, on Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire, in April 2015. And Winchester Crown Court heard that Mrs Cilliers only survived her husband's attempt to sabotage her parachute through luck and a single attached line that made her fall from 'survivable'. Emile Cilliers (centre) arrives at Winchester Crown Court today for his attempted murder trial Army sergeant Cilliers is seen marrying his wife Victoria in Cape Town, South Africa, in 2011 The bride and groom married at the 12 Apostles Hotel and Spa in South Africa six years ago Six years after their wedding, Cilliers stands accused of trying to murder his wife Victoria A jury has been told he believed he would pocket 120,000 life insurance to pay off his debts. It is alleged he was desperate to start a new life with his secret lover Stefanie Goller, who he met on dating site Tinder and was also sleeping with his ex-wife Carly Cilliers, 38. Mrs Cilliers, 40, a pyhsiotherapist and former British Army officer, was a trained, 'top notch' freefall instructor who had completed around 2,600 jumps. But after jumping from the plane, both her main parachute and reserve parachute failed. Miraculously she survived the fall, landing in a ploughed field, but suffered a broken pelvis, ribs and fractured her vertebra. Mark Bayada, chief instructor within the Army Parachute Association at the airfield camp in Netheravon, who is one of the longest serving chief instructors in the country, told Winchester Crown Court today: 'She is a highly competent parachutist. Cilliers (left, at court today; and right, with his wife) has pleaded not guilty to three charges Mrs Cilliers, pictured on another skydive, suffered multiple serious injuries in the fall in 2015 Cilliers is said to have started an affair with Stefanie Goller (above) after meeting her on Tinder 'She is a qualified accelerated freefall instructor which is the hardest qualification to obtain. 'She is in the top per cent of competency in the country. She is absolutely brilliant as an instructor. Even while pregnant she continued doing ground basic instructing. 'She has no recorded safety incident in her profile and is top notch.' He described Mrs Cilliers as a 'quiet, unassuming, intelligent' woman who 'just got on with it'. The two vital pieces of equipment missing from Mrs Cilliers' parachute would be 'impossible to have come off by mistake'. The jury heard Cilliers was involved in a sexual relationship with ex-wife Carly Cilliers (above) The court heard that in messages with Miss Goller (pictured), Cilliers suggested the chief rigger, who previously inspected the parachute, might be to blame for the faulty parachute Mr Bayada said: 'The slinks are very simple devices to allow us to connect the lines (of the parachute) to the risers (a strip of webbing joining the parachute harness to the lines) . 'Before this, it was metal links then these came out. They are much more user-friendly and much stronger than metal links and once they are on, they do not come off.' Mr Bayada, who served as part of the Military Parachute Regiment and has completed some 5,000 jumps, said: 'It does not matter how hard you pull the slink, it actually tightens the loop around the tab because it is pulling on itself so it absolutely cannot come undone.' He added: 'It is critical to check the slinks because if the parachute is not connected to the harness it will not save your life.' Two slinks, which attach the lines of the canopy to the rest of the rigging, were missing from one side of the parachute, the court heard, preventing it from working correctly. Pictured: Images show the use of slinks, also known as S-Links, on a chute Parachute equipment is labelled above. Two vital pieces of equipment which fasten the parachute to the parachutist's harness were missing, the court heard He told the court Netheravon has three aircraft for skydives and completes about 25,000 individual jumps per year which range from 13,000-15,000ft to a minimum jump of 3,000ft depending on the weather. The size and type of parachute a jumper will be able to use for a jump is dependent on a sky diver's weight and experience. The court heard Mrs Cilliers was allowed to use a parachute - a 149 Safire - that was reserved for only the most experienced of jumpers at Netheravon. In a video played to the court, Mr Bayada could be seen explaining different parts of a parachute and what can go wrong. In one of the videos, when discussing slinks, he said the way the equipment is tied to the lines 'makes it almost impossible that [the slinks] can come off by mistake'. Cilliers 'deliberately removed vital pieces of equipment intending that she should be killed when the reserve parachute inevitably failed', the court was told The reserve parachute for Victoria was immediately found to be faulty, the court was told Mrs Cilliers only survived because a single line of strapping on the parachute was still attached to her harness, the court was told this afternoon. Mark Bayada, a chief instructor with the Army Parachute Association at Netheravon, said it was 'luck' that Mrs Cilliers had survived the jump. She lived, he said, thanks to a combination of a freshly ploughed field, her light weight and because one parachute line on the right side was still attached to her harness. He said: 'There was one line attached. That was enough to make it a survivable landing. Without that, it would have been a fatal accident.' Mr Bayada was working at the base on Salisbury Plain on April 5, 2015, when both of Mrs Cilliers' parachutes failed and she spun to the ground. Her husband Emile Cilliers, 37, who serves with the Royal Army Physical Training Corps, is accused of tampering with her parachute before her 'hop and pop' jump - a type of skydive which is normally completed at around 4,000ft high. He allegedly did so after a failed murder attempt a few days earlier when he damaged a gas valve at their marital home in Amesbury, Wilts, in an attempt to cause an explosion after starting an affair with Stefanie Goller, who he met on dating site Tinder. The jury has been told Cilliers, who had around 22,000 of debts, believed he would receive 120,000 life insurance as a result of Mrs Cillier's death. A damaged gas valve in the kitchen of Cilliers, which he allegedly damaged in an attempt to kill his wife Evidence shown in court reveals the gas valve that is alleged to have been adjusted by Cilliers This Wiltshire Police photo points out the entrance to the Cilliers' utility room and the cupboard containing the gas valve, that Emile Cilliers is alleged to have tampered with Winchester Crown Court heard Mr Bayada was called by a colleague to come to the 'drop zone control room,' where a member of staff can overlook jumpers coming in to land at Netheravon. He said: 'I was told very little. The drop zone control was Justin Everitt and he indicated there had been a malfunction but his voice was gone, almost to the point of a bit of panic in his voice. 'He was not able to talk in full and tell me what happened, which is very unusual for him. I have known him a long time and never had that before. 'I knew straight away it was something out of the ordinary. He said something like 'there has been a malfunction, it is serious. Someone has been killed.'' The court heard Mr Bayada rushed out to where the parachutist had fallen with another colleague, who got to 40 year old Mrs Cilliers first and yelled 'she's not dead'. Mr Bayada then drove back to the base to find doctors and medically-trained club members. He added: 'She was still in situ. She was lying still when we went back to the scene. With the doctors there were enough people doing first aid that I did not feel I needed to get stuck in. The top arrow shows damage to a nut made by a pair of pliers found in a toolbox located in the utility room of Cilliers's home Prosecutors said that on forensic examination, the nut (left) revealed tool marks matching mole grips (right) seized from a toolbox locked in the utility room A kitchen cupboard in the home of Cilliers, where he allegedly damaged a gas valve 'Vicky was lying on her back and the reserve (parachute) was on the left hand side.' The reserve parachute was only moved to shield Mrs Cilliers from debris as the air ambulance landed nearby. Mr Bayaba said: 'While she was being treated I noticed the suspension lines on the reserve were in a tight ball. 'I noticed the reserve lines were knotted and bundled up in a fairly tight knot. The first time I saw that I knew it was strange as I had never seen that before. 'I was trying to work out what might have gone wrong because reserve parachutes just do not malfunction. 'It alarmed me when I saw the lines knotted that way. 'As Vicky was moved onto the stretcher or the stretcher was moved with Vicky on it, we had a look underneath to see nothing was getting caught and that is the first time I saw the reserve did not have anything attached to it. 'Two risers did not have attachments [slinks]. Both slinks on the same side, Vicky's right hand side, were not there. 'The effect of that is a catastrophic failure of the reserve. The 37-year-old has served with the Royal Artillery and Royal Engineers regiments since 2005 Cilliers (pictured) allegedly collected a parachute for his wife and during the afternoon took it into the men's toilets at the base, which is when the prosecution claim he tampered with it Cilliers has served with the Royal Artillery and the Royal Engineer regiments 'The left hand side was flying normally and attached normally but on the right hand side the main body was flying about. 'There was one line attached [from the parachute to the harness]. That was enough to make it a survivable landing. Without that, it would have been a fatal accident. 'Luck comes into her survival. She was very light, she landed on a freshly ploughed field which was exceptionally soft. Both those factors were in her favour.' He added: 'There was nothing to indicate any error on Vicky's part. 'She left the plane at the correct altitude, she opened the parachute at the correct altitude. 'She was seen to have a malfunction and it was seen by witnesses that she dealt with that malfunction and then operated the reserve. 'What happened afterwards, there was nothing she could have done about that.' The court heard all the parachuting kit Mrs Cilliers used was collected and stored in a locked room to be later investigated. When the main parachute and reserve were examined, there were no signs of damage to the main or reserve parachute apart from the missing slinks. A search for the missing slinks was carried out the following day on Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire, by several members of the club but nothing was found. The jury were shown two videos of two people tampering with parachutes. In one video, it took two minutes and 25 seconds for the reserve parachute to be made 'lethal' by removing a slink and detaching another. And it took a total of five minutes and 15 seconds to tamper with both the reserve and main parachute, with a line on the main pulled around the bag - which contains the parachute - before closing it up. A second video showed a reserve and main parachute tampered with in four minutes and five seconds. Commenting on the videos, Mr Bayada said: 'Both those in the videos are closed up looking like every other rig [which a skydiver carries on their back carrying both parachutes] does on the flight plan.' The jury was shown a video of Mr Bayada searching the lines of the parachute for the missing slinks and the court heard he searched the area of the jump for the missing parts. He said: 'Knowing the slinks as being such a strong piece of equipment, had the shock been so much to break two slinks I would expect to have seen some damage to other pieces of equipment. A photo issued by Wiltshire Police of the Netheravon Army Parachute Centre in the county The incident took place at Netheravon airfield, on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire two years ago 'What I thought was most unusual was that not only was there no damage but actually there was no visible sign that either the risers or lines had been under load.' He explained that Mrs Cilliers had made a 'sub terminal jump' which meant that she had not reached full speed - for which a figure was not given to the court - because of the short period of free fall during the low 4,000ft jump. He said this combined with Mrs Cilliers's light weight would have reduced the impact on the parachute of the jump. He said: 'I would not expect gear failure for such a light person. I began to wonder if the slinks had ever been there at all.' Just days before Mrs Cilliers's near-fatal fall, Cilliers is alleged to have damaged a gas valve fitting in a kitchen cupboard near the cooker in a bid to create an explosion at the home he shared with Mrs Cilliers, in Amesbury, Wiltshire. But Mrs Cilliers smelt the gas leak, aired the kitchen and when Cilliers, who serves with the Royal Army Physical Training Corps, returned home they called an engineer. Cilliers, who is currently living in army barracks in Aldershot, Hampshire, denies two counts of attempted murder and criminal damage as to recklessly endanger life. The trial was adjourned until tomorrow. Prosecutors in Berlin have concluded there is no proof British and American spies hacked German communication lines to eavesdrop on officials. After a four-year probe brought about by Edward Snowden's revelations, prosecutors have concluded there is not enough evidence to open a formal investigation. Prosecutors' spokeswoman Frauke Koehler said Thursday that, among other things, her office had considered material collected by a parliamentary panel, German intelligence reports and documents leaked from former NSA contractor Snowden. Edward Snowden, an American computer professional, former CIA employee, and government contractor who leaked classified information from the US National Security Agency (NSA) in 2013 She said: 'The documents did not provide any information on concrete interception measures that were carried out, and with this background there is no room for an investigation by prosecutors.' The examination was ordered after Snowden in 2013 revealed details of secret US eavesdropping programs. On the same day, top German intelligence officials on Thursday urged lawmakers to give them greater legal authority to 'hack back' in the event of cyber attacks from foreign powers. Hans-Georg Maassen, head of the BfV domestic intelligence agency, told the parliamentary oversight committee it should be possible to destroy data stolen from German servers and moved to foreign servers to prevent it from being misused. He said it would also make sense to 'infect' foreign servers with software that would enable greater surveillance of any operations directed against German cyber targets, or to extract data, much as human agents are recruited for counter-espionage. Massen told the committee in its first public hearing: 'In the real world, it would be like turning a foreign intelligence agent and getting them to work for us. 'Something like this should be possible in the cyber world too. 'These are "hack back" instruments, but they are below the threshold of destroying or incapacitating a foreign server.' German officials have blamed APT28, a Russian hacker group said linked to Moscow, for the May 2015 hack of the German lower house of parliament the Bundestag and other cyber attacks aimed at political groups, individuals or institutions. They issued repeated warnings about the possibility that Moscow could seek to influence or disrupt the September 24 German election, although officials have since said they did not see any major push by Russia to do so. Maassen said it was possible Russia decided the political cost was too great after the backlash that ensued in the United States after a similar effort there. Russia denies seeking to influence any foreign elections. Top German intelligence officials on Thursday urged lawmakers to give them greater legal authority to 'hack back' in the event of cyber attacks from foreign powers. Germany's BND foreign intelligence agency already has the expertise, but not the legal authority, to destroy foreign servers, its chief Bruno Kahl told the committee. Once the source of attack had been carefully investigated and identified, it could make sense to 'shut down the source of such an attack and not have to retreat and give the job of going back in and taking care of business,' Kahl said. In the end, however, such decisions had to be made by politicians, Kahl said. Christof Gramm, head of Germany's MAD military counter-espionage agency, said there were questions of domestic and international law to address before empowering the agencies to take such actions. Talking to the committee towards the end of the three-hour session he said: 'This all has to be worked out. There are international boundaries. 'We're not just talking about national law.' He said if such powers were granted, it would be up to the military's cyber command to carry out such actions, not the MAD. Maassen said authorities needed access to streaming data from foreign servers - for instance of videos showing beheadings - to track radicalisation of possible Islamist attackers. He also called for broader powers to track communications between Germany and Raqqa, the Syrian city still under Islamic State control, noting that current law only allowed the tracking of individual communications, not broader flows. FARGO Search warrant documents filed in Cass County District Court reveal some details about the death of 17-year-old Devin Delaney, who died in September while staying in a residence hall at North Dakota State University. An exhibit filed with a search warrant application states that no signs of physical trauma or drug use were evident when authorities initially examined Delaneys body, the discovery of which was reported to NDSU police shortly after noon on Sept. 17. University police took Delaneys remains into custody, as well as a 1.75 liter bottle of Smirnoff vodka, a 1.75 liter bottle of RonDiaz rum and a Busch Light box, according to the search warrant documents. The identity of the high school senior from Burnsville, Minn., was publicly revealed by Paul O. Taylor, an attorney representing Delaneys family. Taylor said on Wednesday, Oct. 4, that testing is still being done and no cause of death had been determined. NDSU officials have released little information about the case. An NDSU spokeswoman said Wednesday that there is nothing new to report. Specific questions as to whether a cause of death had been determined or whether any charges are expected were not specifically addressed by NDSU. Shortly after Delaneys body was discovered, dorm residents who knew Delaney told The Forum he had been staying with a friend on the seventh floor of Sevrinson Hall for the weekend in question. Nick Harrom and Brandon Wright, both 18 of Bemidji, Minn., who live on the sixth floor of Sevrinson, said they are friends with a suite-mate of the student Delaney was visiting. They said many students had been drinking the weekend Delaney died, but that Delaney seemed fine at the time. Both said they saw Delaney and his friend at the JCI Musical Festival, featuring T-Pain, on that Saturday night at Newman Outdoor Field at NDSU. They stopped briefly at the friends room early that Sunday morning before going back to their room. Wright said that when Delaneys friend woke up that Sunday morning, Delaney couldnt be woken so the friend immediately called for an ambulance. A CBS legal executive fired for saying she had no sympathy for victims of the Las Vegas shooting has told police she is being harassed online, it has emerged. Hayley Geftman-Gold, who was a vice president and senior legal counsel at CBS in New York, posted on Facebook that she was 'not even sympathetic' because 'country music fans often are Republican gun-toters.' The network said Monday that 41-year-old Geftman-Gold had violated the company's standards by expressing deeply unacceptable views. She has since told NYPD that she started getting threats on Facebook when her comments were widely shared on social media. CBS legal executive Hayley Geftman-Gold (pictured), who was fired for saying she had no sympathy for victims of the Las Vegas shooting, has told police she is being harassed online Geftman-Gold wrote on Facebook that she was 'not even sympathetic' to those killed or wounded because 'country music fans often are Republican gun-toters' Officers are said to be investigating her complaint, according to the New York Post. Her LinkedIn profile says she had worked with CBS since September 2016, and graduated from Columbia Law in 2000. She previously worked for MTV and graduated from Penn in 1997 before going to Columbia for law school. The born and bred New Yorker now describes herself on Twitter bio as a 'mommy' and 'new media lawyer' who lives in Brooklyn. The remarks came shortly after Stephen Paddock (right) had massacred 58 people at a music festival in Las Vegas The outspoken critic of Republicans also helped organize a block party for the Hillary Clinton last year. She and a fellow Brooklyn resident planned the block party held at the intersection of President and Clinton streets on election night. She and her husband Ryan have three children and live in Brooklyn Heights. Her social media remarks came shortly after Stephen Paddock had massacred 58 people by shooting down from a hotel room at crowds attending a country music festival in Las Vegas. Geftman-Gold made the comments on Facebook in connection with a discussion on gun control. She said she had no hope that Republicans would take action if they didn't do anything when children were murdered, an apparent reference to the Sandy Hook massacre. In the 2012 atrocity Adam Lanza gunned down 20 youngsters between six and seven years old at a school in Newtown, Connecticut. Tesco's top bosses 'cooked the books' and inflated profits by 250million amid immense pressure from budget rivals Lidl and Aldi, a whistlebower has revealed. Amit Soni pleaded with a former executive that he 'did not want to go to jail' and compiled a secret dossier exposing their unethical book-keeping practices, Southwark Crown Court heard. The supermarket's former finance chief Carl Rogberg, 50, managing director Christopher Bush, 51, and food commercial director John Scouler, 49, are alleged to have 'cooked the books' concealing the ever-growing hole in an attempt to save their jobs and seven-figure salaries. All three men are charged with fraud by abuse of position and false accounting between February and September 2014. The supermarket's former finance chief (left to right) Carl Rogberg, 50, managing director Christopher Bush, 51, and food commercial director John Scouler, 49, are alleged to have 'cooked the books' Rogberg (left) and Scouler (right) are charged with fraud by abuse of position and false accounting between February and September 2014 The case stems from a statement to the stock market on 22 September announcing Tesco had overstated their expected profits by approximately 250million. Prosecutors claim the retailer had been 'forced to make this correction' after discovering a previous announcement three weeks earlier had 'grossly inflated Tesco's expected profits'. Prosecutor Sasha Wass, QC, earlier told jurors how project manager Richard Parsons claimed in an exit interview 'It has broken me' and expressed anger at being forced to compromise his ethics. Dismayed at the trio's apparent refusal to deal with the 'spiralling' hole, finance director Amit Soni compiled a secret report exposing the size of the problem prompting an emergency review by incoming CEO Dave Lewis and the second statement to the stock market, jurors heard. Yesterday, he took to the witness box to describe how the company was 'under pressure' by the time he joined the UK team in 2013. 'My understanding was that the business was under pressure because of external factors,' he said. 'The competitors were doing quite well, other retailers and discounters like Aldi and Lidl, even some of the other competitors. 'Clearly, that was putting pressure on performance in Tesco. 'There was also pressure from within to meet the budgeted numbers.' Ms Wass asked Mr Soni: 'How was the pressure within?' Bush (pictured) is also alleged to have 'cooked the books' He answered: 'It felt that there were constant reviews and innumerable conversations on how Tesco had to do better, the performance versus the budget every month and the gap widening.' The accountant, who qualified in 1993 back in India before joining Tesco in Bangalore 14 years later, joined the UK team based in Cheshunt by June 2013. He told jurors his responsibility was to 'be the financial lead for the business' engaging with senior figures on a day-to-day basis drawing up budgets and plans ahead of closing the books each month. The court heard he would present financial reports to all three defendants each month. One such meeting, a commercial review in April 2014, was attended by Mr Soni along with Bush, Rogberg and Scouler among others. Mr Soni recalled presenting a document during the meeting detailing how the retailer making revealing they had missed their budget by 62.7million for that period. 'Was that good news or bad news?' asked Ms Wass of the reaction by those in attendance. 'That was bad news,' replied Mr Soni. 'I would have shown concern in the way I presented it and there was concern with Chris [Bush] and John [Scouler] that the numbers were falling short that early in the year.' Ms Wass then asked: 'What do you remember Chris Bush saying at the meeting?' Mr Soni said: 'In that meeting, Chris would be asking John Scouler 'What is the plan to get back to zero, i.e. What is the plan to meet the target and to close the gap that is in that period?' 'What did you understand that to mean?' Ms Wass followed on. 'That meant, to me, it was asking John what his plans were to recover the position of negative-62million and making sure the difference between the budget and actuals was zero,' the accountant said. Mr Soni told jurors he prepared a number of reports for similar meetings leading up to two in August between the company's commercial directors and Bush who was told of the 240million gap. The case stems from a statement to the stock market on 22 September announcing Tesco (stock photo) had overstated their expected profits by approximately 250million 'What was the morale of the commercial directors who you saw in the presence of Mr Bush?' asked the prosecutor. 'The morale was quite low and they were quite tense, all four of them,' said Mr Soni. He added that one 'was quite concerned before and after the meeting'. 'He was quite tense,' the accountant added. 'He said the conversation with suppliers had gone on for far too much in a way that income was being pulled forward and accruals were being booked and he said in the meeting 'I don't want to go to jail for this'.' Jurors heard Bush remained 'calm' in the face of the figures prompting a 'flurry of activity' and 'higher levels of anxiety' among underlings who were trying to convince the management team 'the whole budget looked insurmountable'. A practice developed at the company whereby income was 'pulled forward' and recorded earlier than the accounting period in order to satisfy 'unrealistically high' targets, the court heard. Ms Wass said that by August 2014 'all three defendants had been provided with clear confirmation over and over again' that the previous financial year's legacy combined with the current financial year's targets not being met were causing problems. But they 'refused to compromise' those targets, with Bush effectively telling underlings 'just make it happen', jurors heard. As a result, some employees 'felt so compromised by the mis-recording of profits that they resigned rather than engage in what they considered to be practices which they considered to be unlawful'. Bush, of High Wycombe, Rogberg, of Oxford and Scouler, of St Albans, Hertfordshire, all deny fraud and false accounting. Their trial, estimated to last until January, continues. Shooter Stephen Paddock (above in his driver's license photograph) had no criminal record but his younger brother Bruce has a long rap sheet The estranged brother of Las Vegas shooter Stephen Paddock is currently wanted by police, it has been revealed. Bruce Paddock, Stephen's younger brother, is being sought by officers after he skipped bail over a vandalism charge. Bruce, who has a long criminal history including arrests for arson, theft, and selling marijuana, entered a plea of no contest to the vandalism charge in 2014 and was given 15 hours of community service. But he kept trying to get the charge reduced, and when he failed to show for a hearing in 2016 he was hit with a bench warrant, according to TMZ. The site previously reported that Bruce, who expressed shock over his brother's actions, has a long rap sheet including four felony arrests. The charges are for a range of alleged crimes including the sale of marijuana, theft and burglary. TMZ claims he also has been arrested for arson, criminal threats and driving on a suspended license. In 1992, Bruce filed a Chapter 7 bankruptcy claim in Los Angeles County Court. In the same year, he was ordered to pay $1,080 to another man in a civil dispute. It is not clear whether his older brother Stephen had yet begun making the 'millions' Bruce described in interviews after Sunday's shooting. Information about Stephen's life is slowly pouring in in the aftermath of his massacre. He once worked for the IRS and the postal service and had dozens of homes in various states. Bruce appears to take more closely after the men's father, the late bank robber Benjamin 'Big Daddy' Paddock who was on the FBI's most wanted list for breaking out of prison in the 1960s. He died in the late 80s Eric Paddock, the third brother, lives a quiet life in Florida. He broke down outside his home on Tuesday as he told reporters he had no idea what drove Stephen to commit mass murder In recent years he appears to have developed a gambling obsession, blowing $10,000-a-day on video poker at times. This is how he is suspected to have met his live-in girlfriend Marilou Danley, 62, who was flown back from the Philippines to the US on Wednesday to face questioning from the FBI. Paddock's other brother Eric, who lives in Florida, told reporters through tears yesterday that Stephen had given their mother money to retire comfortably and that he was at a loss over what may have driven him to commit mass. 'My heart is torn... is destroyed for all of these people. But I can't tell you why Steve did what he did. It's so far over the side of the cliff from the Steve that I knew,' he said. Stephen made millions through real estate but also worked for the IRS and postal service at some time in his life. He is pictured in 2014 Bruce was tracked down in California after Stephen was identified as the perpetrator of Sunday's attack. The men's father was serial bank robber Benjamin 'Big Daddy' Paddock who was on the FBI's most wanted list. Their mother tried to shield them from his criminal activity and created a normal, suburban life for them in Tucson, Arizona. Benjamin was on the run for years before he was arrested in 1960 and was sentenced to 20 years in prison. On New Year's Eve in 1968, he broke out of the Federal Correctional Institution at La Tuna, Texas. After breaking out of prison, Benjamin began using the alias 'Benjamin Erickson' and 'Bruce Erickson' - an amalgam of two of his children's names. He moved to Oregon where he restyled himself as the 'Bingo King of the State', opening the first bingo parlor in the state, running his own 'non-denominational' church on the proceeds of bingo. He was finally re-captured by the FBI in September 1978, after the feds found him while they were staking out a Springfield bingo center. A year later, he was released on parole and then appeared to live out his days in Texas until his death in 1988. Stephen took his own life on Sunday in his 32nd floor suite at the Mandalay Bay hotel before SWAT teams could get to him. His hail of bullets killed 58 people and injured 489. They were all attending the Route 91 Harvest Festival when he opened fire on them. Stephen Paddock's girlfriend Marilou Danley, 62, pictured with him above, left, in the Philippines in 2013 and right in her own driver's license photograph, is now being questioned by the FBI A mother who accidentally fell asleep after taking her newborn son to bed for a cuddle woke up to find the child dead, an inquest heard. Lauren Jordan described how she had taken her son Harrison into the parental bed, but had intended to put him back in his cot. Instead, exhausted after a busy day, the 23-year-old, from Crowborough, East Sussex, fell asleep alongside her partner, Kieran Jones, 22, only waking several hours later, when the worst dawned on her. 23-year-old Lauren Jorden, from Crowborough, East Sussex, fell asleep alongside her partner, Kieran Jones, 22, while baby Harrison was in their bed The coroner's court in Maidstone heard how the couple had fought to save their son with Mr Jones attempting CPR for up to 15 minutes before handing over to paramedics. 'I could just tell from his colour that he was not breathing - he was not warm - but he was not cold,' the mother-of-four said. 'I just knew and I started shouting, "no, no". At that point I woke Kieran up.' Miss Jordan said the couple, had fed Harrison two bottles of milk - one earlier on in the evening and one later around 10.30pm on June 3 this year. But the little boy refused to settle - so they decided to bring him in between them while they watched television until he fell asleep. 'I woke up at about 4 to 4.20am. I looked into his cot as I was pretty sure I had dozed off before Kieran and I thought he would have put him back. Harrison and his family shortly after his birth (left) and smiling Harrison (right) 'But he was not there and then I looked over at Kieran and he was in exactly the same position as when he fell asleep and Harrison was in the middle on his back,' she said. But despite their efforts Harrison was declared dead at Tunbridge Wells Hospital in the early hours of June 4. Assistant coroner for Mid Kent and Medway, Scott Matthewson said the couple had had a chance to say goodbye in what was a 'very sad case.' He said evidence from pathologist, Dr Mudher Al-Adrani had led him to conclude Harrison's was accidental. Harrison was declared dead at Tunbridge Wells Hospital in the early hours of June 4 Dr Al-Adrani told the court Harrison was the victim of 'unexplained death in infancy' but it was possible he had either been smothered by his sleeping parents or their warm bodies had caused his body temperature to rise. Summing up, Mr Matthewson said this 'heartbreaking case' was a warning to all parents not to take their babies into their bed. It was a message that needed repeating time and again, he added. Speaking after the inquest, Miss Jordan, also issued a plea to parents to put babies in their own cots. 'We did not intend to fall asleep with him - but we were exhausted and it just happened. Sometimes it is nice to get that bond. But people need to speak out to stop this happening to other parents,' she said. A verdict of accidental death was recorded. Las Vegas gunman Stephen Paddock may have been planning to strike two months earlier at the Lollapalooza festival in Chicago. Paddock, who slaughtered 58 people and injured 489, had allegedly booked two hotel rooms overlooking the Lollapalooza festival area during its duration in August. Among the 400,000 attendees at this year's Lollapalooza was former President Barack Obama's oldest daughter Malia, and acts on stage included The Killers, Chance the Rapper, Muse and Charli XCX. According to TMZ, Paddock made the booking using Expedia and insisted on a 'view room' which would overlook the festival. He also demanded he be notified in advance if such a room was unavailable. He also researched possible locations in Boston online, according to multiple reports. Anonymous officials said that Paddock looked for hotels near Fenway Park, where the Red Sox play and the Boston Center for the Arts. It was not known if the gunman went as far as making any reservations. Mystery: Las Vegas gunman Stephen Paddock, 64, had booked himself into a hotel in Chicago, across the street from Grant Park where the Lollapalooza festival is held Bird's view: Paddock had booked two rooms at the Blackstone Hotel, which overlooks the festival site, during Lollapalooza Booking: Paddock had reserved two rooms at the Blackstone Hotel during the time of the event in August this year - two months before the Las Vegas massacre Paddock's two rooms at the Blackstone Hotel, pictured, were booked from August 1st to 6th and from August 3rd to 6th - the time of the festival Paddock had booked two rooms at the Blackstone Hotel in Chicago, across the street from Grant Park where Lollapalooza has been held since 2005. Both rooms overlooked the festival area and Paddock insisted on a room with a view. He would have had a similar position over the crowd as he had in Las Vegas during the Route 91 Harvest country music festival on Sunday. Here's the startling bird's-eye view Stephen Paddock would've had from the Chicago hotel he booked just days before Lollapalooza kicked off. However, he never showed up for his reservation According to TMZ, the Vegas killer demanded he be notified in advance if a view room was unavailable. In the end Paddock failed to turn up for the reservation. 'We are aware of the media reports and have been in communication with our federal partners. As you saw earlier this week the city conducts extensive public safety planning and training around major events, in close coordination with our law enforcement partners, to ensure public safety,' a spokesman for the Chicago Police Department said. Lollapalooza was held from August 3 to 6 this year, and Paddock's two rooms were booked from August 1 to 6 and from August 3 to 6. TMZ says Paddock, 64, never showed up for his bookings at the hotel. Paddock is also believed to have planned on targeting another Vegas festival before Route 91. Famous guests: Charli XCX and Liam Gallagher are seen during their performances at Lollapalooza 2017 Banks and Big Sean are seen during their respective performances City festival: Lollapalooza has been held in Grant Park in Chicago since 2005 Paddock had also attempted to book rooms at the Ogden, a luxury condo tower that overlooked the Life is Beautiful open-air festival held in Las Vegas from September 22-24. He requested specific suites at the Ogden and another unidentified hotel, but moved on when he discovered they were booked, an inside source told CBS on Wednesday. Among the bands playing at Life is Beautiful were Chance the Rapper, Muse and Lorde - acts who all also played at Lollapalooza This year the festival attracted 45,000 people per day. Attendee: Malia Obama is seen dancing at the Lollapalooza festival 2017 Festival: The crowd at Lollapalooza is seen on the final day of the festival on August 6 An advertising feature that ran in the local papers before Life is Beautiful - attended by 45,000 per day this year - boasted that the Ogden was 'at the center' of the festival. Life is Beautiful took place around five-and-a-half miles northeast of Sunday's massacre. Meanwhile, Las Vegas police have revealed that Paddock, who killed himself after carrying out his brutal bloodbath, had originally hoped to survive his shooting and flee justice - and likely had an accomplice. TIMELINE OF TERROR IN VEGAS: SUNDAY Country music star Jason Aldean was performing on stage at the Route 91 Harvest Music Festival when lone gunman Stephen Paddock, 64, opened fire on the 22,000 people gathered. 10:05pm: First shots fired by the suspect. This was seen on closed-circuit television from the concert venue. 10:12pm: First two officers arrive on the 31st floor and announce the gunfire is coming from directly above them. 10:15pm: The last shots are fired from the suspect per body cam worn camera. 10:17pm: The first two officers arrive on the 32nd floor. 10:18pm: Security officer tells the LVMPD officers he was shot and gives them the exact location of the suspect's room. 10:26-10:30pm: Eight additional officers arrived on the 32nd floor and began to move systematically down the hallway, clearing every room and looking for any injured people. They move this way because they no longer hear the gunfire of an active shooter situation. 10:55pm: Eight officers arrive in the stairwell at the opposite end of the hallway nearest to the suspect's room. 11:20pm: The first breach was set off and officers entered the room. They observed the suspect down on the ground and also saw a second door that could not be accessed from their position. 11:27pm: The second breach was set off allowing officers to access the second room. Officers quickly realized there was no one else in the rooms and announced over the radio that the suspect was down. MONDAY 2.13am Monday: Investigators said that they are looking for the 'roommate' of the shooter - Marilou Danley - and describe her as a person of interest. 6.30am Monday: Investigators say they have located the suspect's girlfriend and say that she is overseas and is no longer a person of interest. TUESDAY 2pm: Sheriff says Marilou Danley is a person of interest again, after report that Paddock wired $100,000 to an account in the Philippines a week before the attack, while she was in the country. Tuesday night: Danley arrives back in the U.S. from the Philippines. She is wheeled off her flight at Los Angeles International Airport in a wheelchair. WEDNESDAY Wednesday afternoon: FBI agents begin interviewing Danley . Advertisement Young joy: A crowd of cheering young adults wait for a performance during Lollapalooza Chilling: Paddock would have had a similar view of the Lollapalooza crowd as he had at the Mandalay Bay hotel (pictured) during the Route 91 Harvest country music festival on Sunday Paddock had planned to escape the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay hotel after firing on the Route 91 Harvest country music festival, Las Vegas Sheriff Joseph Lombardo revealed in a press conference Wednesday. Lombardo declined to reveal why he believed that Paddock had an exit planned, but said he was confident in the claim - and said that his scheme was so elaborate that he would have to be a 'super hero' to pull it off alone. He said Paddock lived a 'secret life' and 'meticulously planned on the worst domestic attack in United States history.' 'Stephen Paddock is a man who spent decades acquiring weapons and ammo and lived a secret life, much of which will never be fully understood,' Lombardo said. Candles are lit at a makeshift memorial for the 58 people killed in the massacre on Sunday People run from the Route 91 Harvest country music festival after gunfire was heard From terror attacks to barfights or shootings on the street, an Australian is murdered overseas almost every week. A total of 1653 died abroad, with dozens more are arrested for criminal or immigration matters, and almost 400 behind bars. A report on Australia's recent consular assistance, released on Thursday, reveals 49 Australians were murdered overseas in the financial year ending June 30. From terror attacks to barfights or shootings on the street, an Australian is murdered overseas almost every week (pictured is Sara Zelenak who died in a London terror attack) Dozens more are arrested for criminal or immigration matters, and almost 400 are behind bars in foreign countries (pictured is Justine Damond who was shot dead by police in the US) A report on Australia's recent consular assistance, released on Thursday, reveals 49 Australians were murdered overseas in the financial year ending June 30 (pictured is seven-year-old Julian Cadman who died in the Barcelona terror attack) The deadliest destination for Aussies abroad is Thailand, which sees the highest number of deaths, hospitalisations and requests for consular assistance. The popular holiday spot has the highest number of missing persons cases, and the fourth highest number of arrests, detentions and imprisonments. High-profile cases involving Australians in the past year include Kirsty Boden and Sara Zelenak, who died in the London Bridge terror attack, and Darwin man Matthew Bate, who died in a San Francisco barfight. Sydney yoga teacher Justine Damond was killed more recently, in July, when she was shot by a police officer in Minneapolis. Kristy Boden died in the London Bridge terror attack earlier this year in June A month later, seven-year-old Julian Cadman was fatally run down in the Las Ramblas terror attack in Spain. Prominent Australian businessman Roger John Hussey plunged to his death while parasailing in Thailand in July Prominent Australian businessman Roger John Hussey plunged to his death while parasailing in Thailand in July, with his wife capturing footage of the horrifying fall from the beach below. Mr Hussey smiled for his wife, who filmed him as he stood on Kata Beach, in Phuket, and prepared to take part in the water sports activity. But just moments after being lifted up into the air, the 70-year-old fell more than 100 feet into the shallows below as his wife and dozens of horrified beachgoers watched on. Darwin man Matthew Bate was killed after a fight outside a hotel in San Francisco in June. Police arrived at the Da Vinci Villa hotel to find the 33-year-old severely injured after a verbal fight with at least two others turned physical. Stephen James Richardson, 63, was found lying on a mattress in his rented home in Sanur, Bali in a pool of blood with wounds to his right arm, right cheek, and forehead in May. In a graphic image sent to the family by police the beloved father can be seen lying stark naked on a blood-soaked blue mattress. Stephen James Richardson, 63, (right) was found lying on a mattress in his rented home in Sanur, Bali in a pool of blood Ella Knights was found by a passerby lying face down in a gutter in Canggu, North Kuta in April. The 26-year-old from Pyrmont, inner Sydney died in Bali after police believe she fell from a scooter into a gutter on the popular tourist island in Indonesia. Ella Knights was found by a passerby lying face down in a gutter in Canggu, North Kuta in April Three-year-old Sydney girl Kawa Sweeney was pulled unconscious from a pool while on holiday with her family in Bali in July. She was airlifted to Perth for medical treatment after she was found at the bottom of a pool at the resort her family were staying at in Uluwatu, but was later declared brain dead. Three-year-old Sydney girl Kawa Sweeney was pulled unconscious from a pool while on holiday with her family in Bali in July Sexual assaults increased in the last financial year, with 142 Australians requesting consular assistance, compared to 136 in the previous year. Most Deaths Abroad 1. Thailand: 203 - down 1% 2. Philippines: 126 - up 2% 3. Indonesia: 107 - up 2% 4. USA: 99 - up 25% 5. Vietnam: 87 - up 13% Source: DFAT Advertisement Overall, 1653 Australians died overseas with close to half due to illness or natural causes. For almost every Australian who dies overseas, another is detained for criminal or immigration matters. Three-quarters of the 1641 people who sought consular assistance in 2016/17 after being detained had landed in legal trouble. Arrests in the US increased by nine per cent to 285, with two in five due to immigration issues. Australians are increasingly finding themselves behind bars in China and the United Arab Emirates fuelling a jump in total arrests. The report also shows the tiny French territory of New Caledonia has become one of the most common places for Australians to fall seriously ill. Darwin man Matthew Bate (pictured), 33, who died in a San Francisco barfight in June 2017 Australians made more than 10 million trips overseas in the year to June - an average of 27,500 every day, according to Consular State of Play. New Zealand was the most popular destination with 1.32 million trips, more than twice as many as the UK. While few needed consular assistance, the foreign affairs department DFAT dealt with 1653 deaths of a total of 12,454 cases throughout the year. Thailand remained the leading place overseas for Australians to take their last breath with 203 deaths, followed by 126 in the Philippines, while nearly another 300 died in Indonesia, the US and Vietnam. The deadliest destination for Aussies abroad is Thailand, which sees the highest number of deaths, hospitalisations and requests for consular assistance (pictured is a stock image) 'The Australian government cannot do everything for you if get into trouble,' Foreign Minister Julie Bishop told reporters in Sydney on Thursday. 'We can't get you out of jail, we can't pay your medical bills but we can provide support and assistance.' Calls for assistance from hospitals in New Caledonia leapt by a third in the past year, with the tiny Pacific island (103 calls) rivalling the number from the US (117). The report links the surge to the growing popularity of cruise tourism in the Pacific, with an older demographic more vulnerable to illness or accident. However, Thailand, which has half a million Australian visitors every year, was the main place for hospital admissions requiring consular assistance with almost 200 cases. The knifeman who stabbed two cousins to death in Marseille while screaming 'Allahu Akbar' was a 'bon vivant' who liked booze and drugs, according to his lifelong friend. Suspected Islamist Ahmed Hanachi murdered cousins Mauranne and Laura, both 20, outside Marseille's main train station before being shot dead by soldiers. A Tunisian known only as Omar said his killer childhood friend never prayed and regularly shuttled between the country of his birth and Italy. Dozens of tearful mourners embraced at the funeral of the two cousins today who were both murdered by the Tunisian illegal immigrant. It came as Tunisia's prime minister said his government has no evidence Hanachi had links to any extremist group. Ahmed Hanachi's longtime friend who agreed to be publicly identified only as Omar for fear for his security, reacts in Bizerte, about 60 kilometers north of Tunis Ahmed Hanachi's house is seen in Bizerte, Tunisia, where he split his time travelling back and forth to Italy Tragic: The two victims of the Marseille knife attack were identified by their first names as cousins and best friends Mauranne (left) and Laura (right), both 20 Out of custody: The attacker (pictured lying dead after he was gunned down outside Saint Charles station, Marseille), was an illegal immigrant named as Ahmed Hanachi who had been arrested last week Omar said: 'He liked to drink and to take drugs, he didn't pray.' The Tunisian said Hanachi split with his wife after she had an affair with one of Hanachi's friends, and his brothers intervened to help him kick his drug habit. After that he resumed regular fishing work and was a 'bon vivant' who frequented Bizerte cafes. When he was in Italy, his Bizerte friends stayed in touch on social networks, where he posted photos of his activities, Omar said. Omar described the community as 'shocked' to learn Hanachi was behind the Marseille attack. 'At first, we questioned his identity and the fact he would be the executor of the operation,' Omar said. 'We do not know why he did it. I just can't believe he could really do this.' Neighbors said two of Hanachi's brothers followed him to Italy and are believed to still be there, while his third brother remained in Bizerte with their parents. Dozens of tearful mourners embraced at the funeral of two cousins who were both stabbed to death by a Tunisian illegal immigrant. Suspected Islamist Ahmed Hanachi murdered cousins Mauranne and Laura, both 20, outside Marseille's main train station before being shot dead by soldiers. Today the women's loved ones laid the pair to rest at the church of Eguilles some 40km north of the city where they were murdered by the deranged knifeman. People lined the streets and people were seen hugging and crying at the service. People attend the funerals of Mauranne and Laura - two 20-year-old cousins stabbed on Sunday outside Saint-Charles train station in the coastal city of Marseille Two women embrace as emotions run high at the funerals being held at the Church of Eguilles The assailant was shot dead by soldiers who were patrolling the station as part of France's state of emergency Meeting Thursday with his French counterpart in Tunis, Tunisian Prime Minister Youssef Chahed condemned Sunday's attack, saying 'there is no justification for such barbaric acts'. French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said the two countries agreed to work more closely together on security and responding to terror attacks and radicalization. Chahed said they would notably focus on 'preventing the risks inherent in the return of terrorists from hot spots.' Islamic State claimed responsibility, saying he responded to their calls to mete out vengeance for international military operations against the group in Syria and Iraq. French authorities say Hanachi watched videos of Islamic chants on YouTube but they have not found firm links between Hanachi and ISIS or signs that he was radicalized. Five people suspected of helping Hanachi have been arrested. While French authorities describe Hanachi as a mysterious illegal migrant and IS calls him one of its 'soldiers', neighbors in the working class Tunisian neighborhood where Hanachi grew up paint a different picture. They describe a fisherman with a history of drug problems, abandoned by his wife and with no outward signs of radicalization. Emotions are raw and anger erupts quickly at Hanachi's family home in Bizerte, about 60 kilometers north of Tunis. Hanachi's older brother, Moez, insulted reporters seeking to talk to their parents or find out more about what motivated the attack. Hanachi's uncle Mohamed started to open up, but then changed his mind. A man and a woman embrace at the top of the steps (top right) as mourners gather outside the church which is being guarded by police (right and top left) On Monday it emerged Hanachi had been arrested seven times since 2005 - giving officers a fake identity on each occasion. Four people arrested are being held on suspicion of being associated with a terror group. Interior Minister Gerard Collomb said Hanachi had Italian residency and a valid Tunisian passport. The attacker was killed by soldiers after the stabbings which were claimed by the Islamic State group. Hanachi had been detained for shoplifting and released the day before the attack - giving police a fake name as he had done on numerous encounters with officers in the past. French authorities are studying the suspect's cellphone and working to determine whether he had direct links to ISIS, which claimed responsibility for Sunday's stabbing. Tributes were paid to the young victims earlier this week, with Marseille University, where Mauranne studied, describing her as a 'brilliant student'. The suspect was identified by his fingerprints, which matched those taken during seven previous incidents registered by police since 2005, Paris Prosecutor Francois Molins told reporters. The attacker didn't have any past convictions in France, Molins said. The man's most recent arrest occurred in the Lyon area on Friday - just two days before the train station stabbing. The man was held overnight for shoplifting, then released on Saturday and the charges dropped, Molins said. He added that local authorities had no reason to hold him further based on the ID he gave them - a Tunisian passport. The attacker who was a North African of either Algerian or Tunisian origin was arrested in Lyon for shoplifting, but was released two days before the Marseille stabbings on Sunday The assailant was gunned down by soldiers who were on patrol inside Saint Charles train station at the time as part of France's ongoing state of emergency A body lies under a white sheet outside Marseille's main train station after a man with a butcher's knife attacked two women at the station French Interior Minister Gerard Collomb, apparently not satisfied with the explanation, on Monday ordered a probe of the circumstances that led police to free the man, who attacked and killed the young women a day later. The report is due by end of the week, a ministry statement said. While being held in Lyon, the man told police that he did odd jobs, used hard drugs and was divorced, according to Molins, the prosecutor. It's not clear if the attacker had any connection to the victims - two cousins who had met for a birthday celebration. Some witnesses reported hearing the assailant shout 'Allahu akbar!' - Arabic for 'God is great' - and Molins said that's one of the reasons prosecutors opened a terrorism investigation. But no firm evidence has surfaced linking the man to Islamic extremism. Molins said video surveillance of the site showed the man sitting for a few minutes on a bench outside the station, before jumping up and stabbing one woman several times. He then ran away and returned to attack the second woman. The man shouted 'Allahu Akbar' as he murdered the 17-year-old student and 21-year-old nurse outside St-Charles station Two women were stabbed to death and their assailant shot dead by soldiers in Marseille French police search the body of the assailant shortly after he was gunned down outside the busy station A woman passer-by tried to intervene, Molins said. The man then tried to attack soldiers patrolling the site, but they shot him dead with two bullets. The suspect was found with two knives and a telephone, but no identity papers, according to Molins. The man's multiple pseudonyms made it difficult to even find a house to search for more clues, said Yves Lefebvre of the Unite SGP Police union. 'While it could shock the public, unfortunately it doesn't shock us, the police' that the suspect was released the day before carrying out a deadly attack, he said. He said shoplifting usually results in a quick police report and a court summons, and the suspect is released. 'Nothing allowed us to suspect there was a threat of radicalization during the (Lyon) arrest,' Lefebvre told The Associated Press. He said that while the man didn't provide a residency permit, jails and migrant retention centers are often overflowing, so authorities do not routinely lock up illegal immigrants suspected of minor crimes. However, the interior minister demanded a report to 'shed full light' on the man, procedures followed and the decision not to expel him, the ministry statement said. The ISIS-linked Aamaq news agency said that the assailant was acting in response to the extremist group's calls to target countries in the U.S.-led coalition fighting militants in Syria and Iraq. France has been part of the anti-ISIS coalition since 2014. The Aamaq statement didn't provide details, and it's unclear if the claim is merely opportunistic. TIMELINE OF TERROR: ATTACKS IN FRANCE SINCE 2012 March, 2012 - Mohamed Merah, an al Qaeda-inspired gunman, kills seven people in three separate shootings in Toulouse. Victims included three soldiers of North African origin, a rabbi and his two young children. - Mohamed Merah, an al Qaeda-inspired gunman, kills seven people in three separate shootings in Toulouse. Victims included three soldiers of North African origin, a rabbi and his two young children. December, 2014 - A man shouting 'Allahu Akbar' (God is greatest) injures 13 by ramming a vehicle into a crowd in the eastern city of Dijon. Prime Minister Manuel Valls says France has 'never before faced such a high threat linked to terrorism'. - A man shouting 'Allahu Akbar' (God is greatest) injures 13 by ramming a vehicle into a crowd in the eastern city of Dijon. Prime Minister Manuel Valls says France has 'never before faced such a high threat linked to terrorism'. January, 2015 - Two brothers kill 12 people inside the Paris offices of magazine Charlie Hebdo in a supposed retaliation for the publication's cartoons of Prophet Muhammad. More are killed subsequently in attacks on a kosher market in eastern Paris and on police. There are 17 victims in all, including two police officers. The attackers are killed. - Two brothers kill 12 people inside the Paris offices of magazine Charlie Hebdo in a supposed retaliation for the publication's cartoons of Prophet Muhammad. More are killed subsequently in attacks on a kosher market in eastern Paris and on police. There are 17 victims in all, including two police officers. The attackers are killed. June, 2015 - Frenchman Yassin Salhi, 35, kills and beheads his boss and displays the severed head, surrounded by two Islamic flags, on the fence of a gas plant in Saint-Quentin-Fallavier in southeastern France. He tries to blow up the factory, but is arrested. He commits suicide in jail in December. - Frenchman Yassin Salhi, 35, kills and beheads his boss and displays the severed head, surrounded by two Islamic flags, on the fence of a gas plant in Saint-Quentin-Fallavier in southeastern France. He tries to blow up the factory, but is arrested. He commits suicide in jail in December. November 2015 - ISIS militants kill 130 people in France's worst atrocity since World War II. A series of suicide bomb and shooting attacks are launched on crowded sites in central Paris, as well as the northern suburb of Saint-Denis. ISIS claim responsibility. It leads to the declaration of a state of emergency in France. Police powers are expanded. - ISIS militants kill 130 people in France's worst atrocity since World War II. A series of suicide bomb and shooting attacks are launched on crowded sites in central Paris, as well as the northern suburb of Saint-Denis. ISIS claim responsibility. It leads to the declaration of a state of emergency in France. Police powers are expanded. January, 2016 - A man wielding a meat cleaver and carrying an ISIS emblem is shot dead as he tries to attack a police station in Paris. Convicted of theft in 2013, the man identified himself at the time as Moroccan-born Sallah Ali. - A man wielding a meat cleaver and carrying an ISIS emblem is shot dead as he tries to attack a police station in Paris. Convicted of theft in 2013, the man identified himself at the time as Moroccan-born Sallah Ali. June, 2016 - Two French police officers are murdered in their home in front of their 3-year-old son. ISIS claims responsibility for the slaying, carried out by a jihadist with a prior terrorist conviction. He is killed at the scene. - Two French police officers are murdered in their home in front of their 3-year-old son. ISIS claims responsibility for the slaying, carried out by a jihadist with a prior terrorist conviction. He is killed at the scene. July, 2016 - Amid Bastille Day celebrations in the Riviera city of Nice, a large truck is driven into a festive crowd. Some 86 people from a wide variety of countries are killed. The driver is shot dead. ISIS again claim responsibility for the attack. The state of emergency in France is extended. - Amid Bastille Day celebrations in the Riviera city of Nice, a large truck is driven into a festive crowd. Some 86 people from a wide variety of countries are killed. The driver is shot dead. ISIS again claim responsibility for the attack. The state of emergency in France is extended. July, 2016 - Less than two weeks later, attackers slit the throat of a priest in a hostage-taking at his church in the Normandy town of Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray. - Less than two weeks later, attackers slit the throat of a priest in a hostage-taking at his church in the Normandy town of Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray. February, 2017 - A man armed with a machete is shot five times outside the Louvre museum after attempting to storm the historic art gallery. - A man armed with a machete is shot five times outside the Louvre museum after attempting to storm the historic art gallery. March, 2017 - Convicted criminal with links to radical Islam shouted 'I am here to die for Allah, there will be deaths' seconds before he was shot dead during an attack at Orly airport. - Convicted criminal with links to radical Islam shouted 'I am here to die for Allah, there will be deaths' seconds before he was shot dead during an attack at Orly airport. June, 2017 - An Algerian man, 40, who had pledged allegiance to ISIS attacks a policeman with a hammer outside Notre Dame cathedral. - An Algerian man, 40, who had pledged allegiance to ISIS attacks a policeman with a hammer outside Notre Dame cathedral. August, 2017 - A mentally ill 18-year-old is arrested at the Eiffel Tower after brandishing a knife and shouting 'Allahu Akbar' (God is Greatest). He later told investigators he wanted to kill a soldier. - A mentally ill 18-year-old is arrested at the Eiffel Tower after brandishing a knife and shouting 'Allahu Akbar' (God is Greatest). He later told investigators he wanted to kill a soldier. September 2017 - French soldiers shot and a killed a man after he stabbed to death two women at Marseille's main train station. Advertisement The small town of Eguilles in southern France held a memorial gathering Monday evening for the victims, a medical student from Eguilles, identified as 20-year-old Mauranne, and her cousin, Laura. Villagers gathered to sign a book of condolences. Officials have withheld the young women's last names. Yvon Berland, the president of Marseille University where Mauranne studied, said she was a 'brilliant student', who would have enjoyed a 'superb professional future'. Laura was in the second year of a course to qualify as a nurse in Lyon, and was also a scout leader, having joined the scout movement as a volunteer three years ago. Marseille's Saint Charles station reopened Monday under heavy security. Last month, four American college students were attacked with acid at the same station by a woman authorities said was suffering from mental illness. A gang of teenagers have been caught on camera charging at a 13-year-old in a carpark and stealing his shoes and mobile phone in a sickening attack. Police in Joondalup in Perth, Western Australia are on the hunt for people allegedly involved in robbery and physical attacks in the area on Sunday. Shocking footage shows the moment police allege two boys aged 13 and 14 were assaulted and robbed by a gang of up to 15 young people. A gang of teenagers have been caught on camera charging at a 13-year-old in a carpark and stealing his shoes and mobile phone Police in Joondalup in Perth, Western Australia are on the hunt for people allegedly involved Two boys were walking to a takeaway shop on Joondalup Drive about 6.30pm when they were attacked They were walking to a takeaway shop on Joondalup Drive about 6.30pm when they were attacked. One of the young boys was thrown to the ground and kicked, before having his shoes and phone stolen. The second attack took place outside another takeaway shop on Dwyer Turn in Joondalup about an hour later. One of the young boys was thrown to the ground and kicked, before having his shoes and phone stolen Police are hunting for a group allegedly involved in robbery and physical attacks in the area on Sunday Police have charged a 16-year-old boy with two counts of aggravated robbery in relation to the first incident, and will appear in court on October 17 A 17-year-old boy and a 23-year-old woman were sitting on a kerb outside the shop when they were surrounded by a group of males. The boy was pushed, punched and had his head smashed with a glass bottle, while the woman had her purse stolen. Police have charged a 16-year-old boy with two counts of aggravated robbery in relation to the first incident, and will appear in court on October 17. They are still trying to identify the others involved in the two attacks, and have asked anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. They are still trying to identify the others involved in the two attacks, and have asked anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 Allison Spence (pictured), 44, of Queens, New York, was arrested for the manslaughter and unauthorised practice of a profession following the death of Latesha Bynum, 31 A fake nurse accused of helping a butt doctor whose bogus operation left a mother dead has been indicted for manslaughter. Alison Spence, 44, waived her appearance in court but a Manhattan grand jury still handed up the charge. Spence - from Queens - allegedly helped a bogus butt surgeon give Latesha Bynum silicone injections that led to the 31-year-old mother going into a coma from which she would never awake. According to the New York Daily News, Bynum's mother, 51-year-old Bertie, said her daughter was 'murdered by this lady in here [Spence] and her little boyfriend'. She added: 'They got somebody in jail for my daughter's murder and I'm going to be here every court date. 'It's hard. I guess time will heal. Right now, I'm still upset, you know? The doctor who ran the phony Gramercy Park clinic is still being sought by cops. He is accused of using a Dunkin' Donuts outlet as his waiting room. The man is alleged to have sent Spence there to meet clients and then bring them to an apartment for a procedure intended to increase the size and roundness of the buttocks. Medics rushed Bynum to Mount Sinai St. Luke's Medical Center after she became dizzy from her operation. Ms Bynum (pictured) underwent the 'butt-lift' surgery - where silicone is injected into the patient's buttocks to give a larger, rounder look - and called emergency services later with dizziness and chest pains. She passed out and was taken off life support a fortnight later Doctors later declared her brain-dead and two weeks later she was taken off life support. Spence's sister, Lisa, 46, admitted that her sister had no medical qualifications, but claimed: 'My sister just massaged the body muscles where got injected - she never injected nobody.' Lisa suggested the blame should be entirely on the doctor, who Allison Spence dated as a teenager. The brother of a council planning officer shot dead of live television by a landowner who has been released from prison today said he hopes he dies slowly. Albert Dryden, 76, gunned down Harry Collinson in front of journalists when his illegally-built bungalow was due to be demolished in Butsfield, County Durham in 1991. Dryden has been serving a life sentence but has been let out today and admitted to a care home after suffering a stroke behind bars. But Mr Collinson's older brother Roy has spoken out of his disgust about the decision and slammed Dryden for refusing to show remorse for his actions. Speaking today he said: 'Personally, I couldn't bloody care less what happens to Albert Dryden. If he dies slowly that's good. I'll be very happy about that.' Albert Dryden takes aim with his pistol before shooting dead planning officer Harry Collinson on the day his bungalow was set to be demolished in Butsfield, County Durham Harry Collinson was enforcing the demolition of Dryden's illegally-built bungalow when Dryden drew a First World War gun and shot him dead A former steelworker, Dryden had previously been refused parole, because he had shown had no remorse. Mr Collinson said he was shocked after two decades, Dryden was still trying to justify his reasons. He said: 'Personally, I couldn't bloody care less what happens to Albert Dryden. If he dies slowly that's good. I'll be very happy about that. 'He never showed one bit of remorse in all the 26 years he has been in prison. 'He still tried to justify his actions for some God-unknown reason.' He added: 'If the police had done their job properly, my brother wouldn't have been killed and Albert Dryden wouldn't have spent all this time in prison.' Mr Collinson was enforcing the demolition of Dryden's illegally-built bungalow when Dryden drew a First World War gun and shot him dead in front of local media on June 20, 1991. As well as shooting 46-year-old Mr Collinson, he also wounded police officer Stephen Campbell in the buttock and reporter Tony Belmont in the arm. The showdown with planning officials of the former Derwentside District Council followed a dispute that had gone on for several years. Dryden built his bungalow in a hollow, because he wrongly thought he would not need planning permission, which the council refused to grant. Mr Collinson (right) just before he was shot. His last words were to the TV crew: 'Can you get a shot of this gun?' People fleeing the scene in terror after Dryden opened fire with his First World War pistol As well as shooting 46-year-old Mr Collinson, he also wounded police officer Stephen Campbell in the buttock and reporter Tony Belmont (pictured) in the arm Durham County Councillor Alex Watson, who served as leader of the district council at the time said: 'Mr Dryden has had a severe stroke. He has been in hospital and he cannot speak. 'He has more than paid the penalty. You are talking about 26 years ago that it happened. He is in poor health and he is not going to recover and the prison authorities have decided he should be released. 'He will be looked after in a residential care home. 'He can't do any harm to anyone. He is a defenceless person.' Albert Dryden had ploughed his redundancy money into the one-acre plot of land, which he called Maryland Close, a few miles from the town of Consett. He put up two greenhouses, a shed, parked a caravan on the land, and built an archway at the gated entrance. He also hired a digger and scooped out more than 2,000 tonnes of earth from near the fence with the road and built a partly-sunken bungalow in the resulting hole, forming a screening mound around it. But Dryden, who wanted to spend his time tinkering with American cars, growing vegetables and keeping livestock, did not have planning permission. Albert Dryden with his pistol after the 1991 killing. 26 years on, he has now has been released from prison following a stroke Albert Dryden leaves Consett Magistrates Court the day after he shot dead the Derwentside District Council planning officer Derwentside District Council - abolished in County Durham's local government shake-up two years ago - refused to approve the development in a rural area made up of conventional farms. The council, which was keen to create an environment conducive to tourism, was also worried the bungalow represented a precedent that would unlock the door to other housing on land where it would not normally be permitted. Dryden lost his planning appeal to keep the bungalow, although the Government inspector who chaired the hearing said some of the other buildings could stay because of the time they had been there. The wrangle dragged on for several months with the council attempting to reach a compromise that would avoid the need to bulldoze the bungalow. The last suggestion was that Dryden modify the building and use it for keeping livestock, but he rejected this. Finally, councillors decided there was no option but demolition, and the date was set for Thursday June 20 1991. Albert Dryden had ploughed his redundancy money into the one-acre plot of land On the day media gathered with Dryden on the land with his friends and supporters. Dryden had a letter from the Planning Inspectorate, which he had fixed to his gate, indicating no action could be taken until an appeal had been heard. The letter had given Dryden the belief the council was breaking the law, even though there were no grounds for an appeal. Harry Collinson came to the gate, looked at the letter and told him it contained nothing to prevent the demolition. Dryden replied that 'you might not be around to see the outcome of this disaster'. Mr Collinson told Dryden he could have time to move things out of the building and he moved to a point in the fence where the bulldozer was to come through. Dryden went to his caravan and picked up a First World War revolver, strode back to the fence and drew the weapon on Mr Collinson, whose last words were to the TV crew: 'Can you get a shot of this gun?' Dryden then fired at the fleeing crowd, hoping to get the council's solicitor, Mike Dunstan, but instead hitting TV reporter Tony Belmont in the arm and PC Stephen Campbell in the backside. Dryden had denied murder but was convicted after a trial and jailed for life at Newcastle Crown Court in 1992. He was denied parole in 2001 after it was felt he showed little evidence of remorse. HILLSBORO -- A West Fargo couple has taken over a day care center in Hillsboro after the license of the previous operators was revoked. Joe and Bridget McGuire plan to open Monday at the Main Discovery Creative Education Center, a downtown Hillsboro building that was occupied by Fargo-based Tot Spot Childcare and Learning Centers until late August. Last week, the Hillsboro Economic Development Corp. approved a five-year lease for the couple, who closed on the deal Thursday. We werent necessarily pursuing a second center, but we definitely always keep our eyes open, Bridget McGuire said. Were focused on helping smaller communities and helping places that have a day care shortage. Tot Spot closed its Hillsboro branch almost exactly a year after it opened in the building because the North Dakota Department of Human Services revoked its license. Inspectors said the center had numerous repeat violations. Tot Spot owner Kari Morehouse contested the revocation, saying her center wasnt given a fair chance. Human Services is reviewing that request. She said she would like to open a smaller day care service in Hillsboro, but her emails to state regulators indicated she wasnt interested in reopening Tot Spot as it was. Im hoping it sells before the appeal, Morehouse said in one email to Human Services. I honestly dont want to open or reopen another center in Traill County again. The McGuires have operated the Learning Circle Childcare and Preschool Center in Jamestown, N.D., for about a year, which is full and has been going extremely well, Bridget McGuire said. She heard about the issues in Hillsboro through media reports and reached out to the EDC. Their center in Hillsboro will be able to serve 56 children, and they already have 25 children signed up, she said. Its definitely been very inviting, she said. Hillsboro has tried to solve its day care shortage problem, with EDC leaders saying having enough child care services is key in retaining and attracting families. There are other day care providers, though most are in-home services that are limited. The EDC will continue to analyze its needs and do what it can to meet the demand, said Paula Suda, superintendent for Hillsboro Public Schools and the EDC's president. Were excited for them to bring in their expertise on day care into Hillsboro, she said of the McGuires, calling them go-getters. The couple researched the decision thoroughly, Bridget McGuire said. We didnt want to jump into a situation that wasnt a win situation, she said. We definitely did our research, made sure we were going in for the right reasons and making sure we were going in with the right people on our side. A migrant who killed her own baby, which the prosecutor says was conceived when she was raped on her way to Germany, has been sentenced to three years in prison. The newborn baby was found dead in a rubbish bin by two municipality workers in October 2015 at a bus stop in the town of Suelfeld in the Northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein. The 23-year-old Eritrean mother only identified as Rozina G was found guilty yesterday by a court in the city of Kiel on charges of manslaughter by omission. State prosecutor Bernd Winterfeldt said on Monday in court that the 23-year-old did not help her child immediately after birth 'in a phase where a life cannot be more vulnerable'. In court the Eritrean woman, only identified as Rozina G, was repeatedly comforted by her lawyer The newborn baby was found dead in a rubbish bin by two municipality workers in October 2015 at a bus stop in the town of Suelfeld in the Northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein According to the indictment, the baby died between 10th and 13th October 2015. A medical expert stated in court that the infant was born in a healthy condition. After giving birth Rozina G put the baby in a shopping bag and left it by the side of the road. The baby died 30 minutes after birth due to hypothermia and respiratory arrest. Bizarrely, another woman who did not notice what the bag contained took it up and threw it away in the rubbish bin of a nearby bus stop, only for it to be found on 15th October. After giving birth Rozina G put the baby in a shopping bag and left it by the side of the road The baby died 30 minutes after birth due to hypothermia and respiratory arrest In Libya Rozina G was abducted and raped by multiple men in a refugee camp, resulting in an unwanted pregnancy Rozina G travelled from her home country in the Horn of Africa to Libya from where she hoped to reach Europe by crossing the Mediterranean. According to Winterfeldt, she was however abducted and raped by multiple men in a refugee camp, resulting in an unwanted pregnancy. Winterfeldt said that it still does not explain why the woman chose for her baby to die and did not give it up for adoption. In court, the Eritrean woman was seen repeatedly being comforted by her lawyer. The death of the baby caused a huge shock in the small Northern German town. The little girl was posthumously baptised by the church and given the name of Teresa, with dozens of shocked local citizens attending the funeral. Michael Kellar, 58, tried to smuggle 300,000 worth of cocaine into Britain A drug trafficker has been jailed for 13 years after trying to smuggle 300,000 worth of cocaine into Britain five years after a previous failed drugs run. Michael Kellar was arrested at Birmingham Airport after tins of dried milk powder containing about 9lbs (4kg) of cocaine were found in his luggage. The 58-year-old was held by Border Force officers in April after arriving on a flight from Montego Bay in Jamaica. It was the second time Kellar had been arrested over importing cocaine after he was held in 2012 over the discovery of drugs in a suitcase at London Gatwick. The suitcase, which had Kellar's name on it, was found abandoned on the baggage carousel at the airport in March that year, but Kellar was nowhere to be seen. Officers carried out checks on the suitcase and found tins of fruit punch inside containing 10lbs (4.7kg) of liquid cocaine with a potential street value of 375,000. Tins of dried milk powder containing about 9lbs of cocaine were found in his luggage in April Kellar was arrested at Birmingham Airport in April after his luggage was examined (pictured) The tins (above) were discovered following his arrival on a flight from Montego Bay in Jamaica Kellar was arrested and questioned over this incident a year later but denied any knowledge. With no drugs in his possession and the absence of further evidence, he was not charged at the time and later left the country. But following his arrest in Birmingham this year, he was charged in connection with both importations. Kellar, of Bilston, Wolverhampton, was found guilty by a jury following a six-day trial - and at Birmingham Crown Court yesterday, he was sentenced to 13 years in prison. Kellar was previously held over the 2012 discovery of drugs in a suitcase at Gatwick (pictured) The tins in 2012 (above) contained liquid cocaine with a potential street value of 375,000 The court heard he also had previous convictions for possessing and supplying crack cocaine. Dawn Cartwright from the National Crime Agency said: 'Kellar might have thought that he'd got away with the first importation, but he never dropped off our radar and given his criminal history it seemed only a matter of time before he'd try it again. 'He claimed the fact two consignments of cocaine could be linked to him five years apart was pure coincidence, but clearly the jury looked at the strength of the evidence we put before them, saw through that charade and saw fit to convict him.' 'Cocaine is a drug which fuels further crime, violence and exploitation so by stopping it reaching the streets and taking out a supplier like Kellar who plays a key part in that organised criminal chain, we have protected the public.' Losing the data of 145.5million Americans is no laughing matter. But those watching former Equifax CEO Richard Smith testify over the breach to Congress on Wednesday could have been forgiven for cracking a smile after a protester dressed as the Monopoly Man appeared behind him. Dressed in a top hat with white mustache and red bow tie, activist Amanda Werner adjusted a monocle, twirled her facial hair, and used giant fake money to dab away sweat during the hearing. Activist Amanda Werner dressed as Rich Uncle Pennybags, aka the Monopoly Man, in order to mock former Equifax CEO Richard Smith as he testified to Congress on Wednesday Werner said the protest was to shame Equifax for how it acted following news of a huge data breach, and to highlight the issue of forced arbitration clauses Werner, who is the campaign manager for Real Bank Reform and Public Citizen, said the protest was designed to attack Equifax for its behavior following the data breach. The protest was also deigned to draw attention to forced arbitration, which Werner says Equifax and other large companies use to dodge legal accountability when things go wrong. The clause, which is included in the fine print on contracts, means that customers have to go through secretive arbitration proceedings to resolve disputes, instead of through open court. To that end, Werner completed her costume with a giant 'get out of jail free' card, handing them out to members of the public after the hearing. Public Citizen and Real Bank Reform also delivered the cards to 100 Senators the previous day. Equifax formerly included a forced arbitration clause in contracts for its credit monitoring service. The clause has now been removed, and Smith has admitted that including it 'was a mistake'. Smith's testimony on Wednesday to the Senate Banking Committee was substantially the same as when he testified before the House Energy and Commerce Committee on Tuesday. Smith has apologized for the data breach, which affected 145.5million Americans, and said it was a 'mistake' to include forced arbitration clauses in customer contracts Equifax is facing several state and federal inquiries and is also being sued by at least one state and two cities over the data breach In it, he apologized and said human error and technology failures allowed the data breach. He also apologized for the way the company handled the announcement of what happened. 'To each and every person affected by this breach, I am deeply sorry that this occurred,' Smith said in his prepared remarks. 'Whether your personal identifying information was compromised, or you have had to deal with the uncertainty of determining whether or not your personal data may have been compromised, I sincerely apologize. 'The company failed to prevent sensitive information from falling into the hands of wrongdoers.' Smith retired with immediate effect last month when the extent of the breach, which happened back in May, became clear. He became the third high-profile casualty over the fiasco after the company's chief information officer and chief security officer also left. Equifax also faces several state and federal inquiries and numerous class-action lawsuits. At least one state, Massachusetts, and the cities of San Francisco and Chicago have sued Equifax as well. The devastated mother of a two-year-old girl killed by a jealous driver texting his girlfriend has furiously hit out at the pointlessness of her 'angel' daughter's death. Sara Edwards railed at the petty and entirely avoidable circumstances that led to the death of toddler Harlow, after reckless driver Luke Pirie mounted the pavement in his rush to confront his girlfriend. The youngster had been walking hand in hand with her elder sister and brother when Pirie spun out of control and hit the siblings in October last year. Speaking out after he was sentenced to six years in prison, Mrs Edwards said her family had been condemned to a life sentence of grief. She said she hoped the 'beautiful face' of her youngest daughter would make people stop and think before using their phones while driving. Mrs Edwards spoke as pictures of Harlow emerged, showing a beaming, carefree toddler surrounded by her close family. Sara Edwards, the devastated mother of two-year-old Harlow (above) killed by a jealous driver texting his girlfriend, has furiously hit out at the pointlessness of her 'angel' daughter's death. Pictures of Harlow show a beaming, carefree toddler Mrs Edwards railed at the petty and entirely avoidable circumstances that led to the death of toddler Harlow, after reckless driver Luke Pirie mounted the pavement in his rush to confront his girlfriend The youngster had been walking hand in hand with her elder sister Dionne (above, pictured before the accident) and brother when Pirie spun out of control and hit the siblings in October last year Dionne, who was also struck by the car and spent three months in a wheelchair after being thrown over a wall, described Harlow as her 'wee teeny' and posted pictures of the pair posing jokily together (above) Her elder sister Dionne, who was also struck by the car and spent three months in a wheelchair after being thrown over a wall, described Harlow as her 'wee twinnie' and posted pictures of the pair posing jokily together. In a haunting online post of Harlow grinning at the camera, her mother had written: 'Looking at this wee face today and realising how lucky I am... Life is precious and should never be taken for granted.' Harlow died instantly and her sister Dionne, 17, and brother Leon, six were hurt, when jealous Pirie lost control of his car in Coupar Angus last year. The 23-year-old driver had been speeding to confront his girlfriend over allegations she had cheated on him and had been sending her angry texts when he hit a turning Citroen car and spun out of control, hitting Harlow at 50 miles per hour, a court heard. Dionne and Leon were thrown over a wall, with Dionne being thrown 30 ft in the air. Ms Edwards said: Over the last year, we as a family have had to live through something that no family should. Today we are relieved that justice has finally been done for our three children who were effected [sic] that terrible day. Speaking out after Luke Pirie (above) was sentenced to six years in prison, Mrs Edwards said her family had been condemned to a life sentence of grief Harlow died instantly and her sister Dionne, 17, (above) and brother Leon, six were hurt, when jealous Pirie lost control of his car in Coupar Angus last year Mrs Edwards said she hoped the 'beautiful face' of her youngest daughter would make people stop and think before using their phones while driving. Pirie, 23, had been speeding to confront his girlfriend over allegations she had cheated on him and had been sending her angry texts when he hit a turning Citroen car and spun out of control, hitting Harlow at 50 miles per hour The 36-year-old mother-of-three continued: Although we are glad that a custodial sentence has been given, we would like to say that this in no way matches the life sentences that we are now living, as we forever grieve the life denied to our precious Harlow. Finding out that we lost our little angel under such petty and entirely avoidable circumstances has only added to our devastation. And we can only hope how that our baby girls face will serve as a reminder of the responsibilities that comes [sic] with getting behind the wheel of a car and also the dangers of speeding and distractions, to drivers, passengers and also the person on the other end of the phone who continues to communicate with someone they know is driving. Harlows family have set up a charity in her memory, to help bereaved parents with support for the cost of funerals and headstones, called Harlows Helping Hand. Ms Edwards added: As a family going forward, we would now like to concentrate on honouring the absolute love and never ending joy our darling baby girl brought into our lives through the charity created in her name, Harlows Helping Hand. The High Court in Edinburgh heard how little Harlow was walking along the pavement in Coupar Angus, Perth and Kinross, with her brother Leon and sister Dionne, when she was struck by Piries Ford Focus. Pirie, who worked at Perths Scone Airport, admitted killing the toddler by dangerous driving and causing serious injury to the others. He was jailed for six years and banned from driving for seven years Mrs Edwards said: Although we are glad that a custodial sentence has been given, we would like to say that this in no way matches the life sentences that we are now living, as we forever grieve the life denied to our precious Harlow' (above) She added: 'We can only hope how that our baby girls face will serve as a reminder of ... the dangers of speeding and distractions, to drivers, passengers and also the person on the other end of the phone' Harlows family have set up a charity in her memory, to help bereaved parents with support for the cost of funerals and headstones, called Harlows Helping Hand Mrs Edwards (above with her husband and Harlow's father) said the family would now focus on the charity Pirie had, who had had been using his phone to contact girlfriend Heater Eaton, whom he suspected had been unfaithful, mounted the pavement after colliding with another car and hitting all three children - killing Harlow instantly and throwing the others over a roadside wall. Sister Dionne, now 18, suffered bleeding to the brain and a spinal fracture which left confined to a wheelchair. Brother Leon suffered a skull fracture and permanent scarring in the crash. The sisters can be seen sitting next to each other in heart-rending pictures on her Facebook page. In her own tribute to her little sister the Dundee University student said how much she missed Harlow. Harlows family have set up a charity in her memory, to help bereaved parents with support for the cost of funerals and headstones, called Harlows Helping Hand She wrote on Facebook last month: My wee teeny [Harlow] has been on my timehop so much recently n [and] it has made me remember just how close we were and how amazing our bond is also just how much I miss her! My best friend, the most beautiful, kind baby ever. Im just so glad 11 months on we have our charity set up in memory of her something that couldnt better represent her little life and the kind of person she was becoming. Now she will continue to touch the lives of others for a long time to come. Pirie, who worked at Perths Scone Airport, admitted killing the toddler by dangerous driving and causing serious injury to the others. He was jailed for six years and banned from driving for seven years. Boris Johnson's Remain-supporting father announced he has switched sides to back Brexit today after taking fright at Jean-Claude Juncker's federalist vision. Stanley Johnson said a recent speech by the European Commission president convinced him the EU was moving 'at an ever-increasing speed in a direction we really dont want to go'. In the run-up to the referendum, Mr Johnson repeatedly attacked his son's stance on Brexit, saying staying the bloc was crucial for stopping climate change. In the run-up to the referendum, Mr Johnson repeatedly attacked his son's stance on Brexit, saying staying the bloc was crucial for stopping climate change But the former MEP said he had now come to believe the push in Brussels for much closer integration could not be prevented. 'For me the critical moment came a couple of weeks ago when EU Commission President Juncker gave his State of the Union address to the European Parliament,' he wrote on the Brexit Central website. 'The vision he presented of an EU with a single government, and with directly-elected EU ministers with EU-wide responsibilities, including finance and defence, was quite simply it seemed to me totally over the top.' Mr Johnson said he previously argued that it was better to 'stay on board and try to seize control of the steering wheel' by opposing the federalist vision. But he added: 'Mr Junckers Federal Express is heading down the track at an ever-increasing speed in a direction we really dont want to go. 'Even if Britain stayed on board, I doubt if we would be able to change the points on the track ahead, or even slow the train down.' Mr Johnson said he was still passionate about the environmental and animal welfare, and did not want to see the baby 'thrown out with the bathwater' as we leave the EU. He praised the controversial 4,000 word newspaper article written by the Foreign Secretary last month - in which he triggered speculation about a leadership challenge by making an optimistic case for Brexit. Boris Johnson's sister Rachel - a newspaper columnist - revealed earlier this year that she had joined the Lib Dems in a bid to stop us leaving the EU Mr Johnson's brother Jo Johnson is also a Conservative minister and backed the Remain campaign in the referendum 'Boris argued that for 40 years Britain has been trying to nudge the EU towards a different destiny and on the whole we have not had much luck,' Mr Johnson senior said. 'The time has come to bail out, he asserted. I agree. 'We may argue about the length of the transition or implementation period but there cannot surely be any longer any doubt what the end-statemust be.' Despite the defection by his father, Mr Johnson still faces an uphill battle to win over the rest of his family. His sister Rachel - a newspaper columnist - revealed earlier this year that she had joined the Lib Dems in a bid to stop us leaving the EU. Brother Jo Johnson is also a Conservative minister and backed the Remain campaign. Scientists have predicted there is an underestimated natural danger of tsunamis in landlocked country of Switzerland. The nearest sea might well be around 400km away, but because the country has some of the biggest lakes in Western Europe, experts believe Switzerland could fall victim to the natural disaster. Amazingly, the Swiss have a long history of tsunamis and back in 1601 eight people were killed when a 5.9 magnitude earthquake hit Unterwalden and caused a four-metre wave on Lake Lucerne to crash into the water's edge. People wave during the inauguration trip of the world's first open-air doubledecker cable car system, the newly-built Cabrio, on the Stanserhorn mountain, near Lucerne, June 28, 2012. The lake and the city of Lucerne are seen in the background showing how easily the waves could engulf the buildings Flavio Anselmetti, a geologist at the University of Bern, told 20 Minuten the aim was to 'quantify this underestimated natural danger'. As well as the 1601 incident, a huge landslide in Valais back in the year 563 saw people and livestock killed when it set off a tsunami on Lake Geneva. The wave in this instance was estimated at 13 metres and researcher Stephanie Girardclos told Le Temps,'the formation of a huge wave on Lake Geneva is possible today. The general public think that lakes are generally calm but that's not always the case.' In both cases, the tsunami occurred because of landslides or earthquakes, which according to recent studies is a genuine threat to Switzerland. In August a huge landslide on the Piz Cengalo devastated the Bondo area of Graubunden and earthquakes are becoming increasingly common albeit on a small scale. Big quakes such as the 6.2 magnitude that his Sierre in Valais back in 1946 are expected every 50 to 150 years, according to The Local. Amazingly, the Swiss have a long history of tsunamis and back in 1601 eight people were killed when a 5.9 magnitude earthquake hit Unterwalden and caused a four-metre wave on Lake Lucerne - the waters of which are pictured here - to crash into the water's edge Researchers now want the green light for a 1.5million project to investigate what the chances are that history will repeat itself, according to Luzerner Zeitung. A number of organisations are collaborating on the study, which is hoping to analyse sediments at the bottom of Lake Lucerne over a period of almost two years. The University of Bern, the Centre for Marine Environmental Sciences in Bremen, ETH Zurich and its Swiss seismology service and the country's environment office are aiming to use a probe on the lake's floor to get the ball rolling before Christmas. Next year the scientist are hoping to add a further eight probes to help collect the data which will be fed into a computer simulation to illustrate how likely a huge wave is and its potential strength. Plagued by bad headlines in recent days, President Trump suggested Thursday morning that a Congressional committee probe American media companies for producing 'fake news.' 'Why Isn't the Senate Intel Committee looking into the Fake News Networks in OUR country to see why so much of our news is just made up-FAKE!' Trump wrote. The leaders of that specific committee said Wednesday they were continuing to probe whether there was collusion between Russia and the Trump campaign. That announcement came on the heels of the White House being embarrassed by an NBC News report that said Secretary of State Rex Tillerson almost quit his post in July and had also referred to Trump as a 'moron' at a Pentagon meeting. On Tuesday, Trump's trip to Puerto Rice was widely panned by media commentators, with the state-out visual being the image of Trump gaily tossing rolls of papers towels to members of the crowd as they waited to pick up supplies on the hurricane-ravaged island, much of which still doesn't have power. Scroll down for video President Trump tweeted Thursday morning that he thought the Senate panel, currently investigating Russia, should instead probe American media networks, who produced a story yesterday that said Secretary of State Rex Tillerson called Trump a 'moron' President Trump suggested the Senate Intelligence Committee - currently working on the Russia probe - move on and focus on American media networks instead, which have given the president a number of bad headlines in recent days President Trump retweeted commentary by Fox News Channel's Geraldo Rivero, who argued that the president and first lady 'were amazingly gracious and graciously received by the grateful Puerto Rican people' when Trump took a trip there Tuesday On Thursday, Trump tried to combat the Puerto Rico narrative again, retweeting a Fox News segment starring Geraldo Rivero who had interviewed Trump during the visit to the island. 'I think the president and the first lady were amazingly gracious and graciously received by the grateful Puerto Rican people,' Rivera said. Pundits, however, thought otherwise. 'Trump's Puerto Rico event was way worse than his tweets,' argued CNN's Chris Cillizza in an opinion piece. 'Trump's Puerto Rico Visit Is a Political Disaster,' wrote the Atlantic's David S. Graham. The president had complimented the US territory for getting through the natural disaster with only a small death toll, compared to a 'real catastrophe' like Hurricane Katrina. The next day, the press was back to Trump administration palace intrigue, with the NBC News story about Tillerson. The report prompted the secretary of state to make a rare public statement, reiterating his support for the president and his agenda and labeling him 'smart.' Tillerson, however, never said he didn't label his boss a 'moron.' Shortly after Tillerson's statement, CNN's Kaitlan Collins came back on the air and said her network had confirmed the 'moron' comment too, saying Trump had known about the dig before the NBC News report. Meanwhile Trump had taken off in Air Force One en route to Las Vegas and was tweeting about the coverage. 'Wow, so many Fake News stories today. No matter what I do or say, they will not write or speak truth. The Fake News Media is out of control!' the president wrote. 'NBC news is #FakeNews and more dishonest than even CNN. They are a disgrace to good reporting. No wonder their news ratings are way down!' he continued. The leaders of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Sens. Richard Burr, R-N.C. (left) and Mark Warner, D-Va. (right), gave an update to reporters Wednesday, saying they were still looking into whether there was collusion between the Russians and the Trump campaign 'The @NBCNews story has just been totally refuted by Sec. Tillerson and @VP Pence. It is #FakeNews. They should issue an apology to AMERICA!' the president added. On Thursday, Trump was back to hammering NBC News about the Tillerson story again. 'Rex Tillerson never threatened to resign. This is Fake News put out by @NBCNews. Low news and reporting standards. No verification from me,' Trump wrote. By that time he had escalated his complaints by suggesting American news organizations be probed by Congress. A number of committees on Capitol Hill, including the Senate Intelligence Committee, are looking into aspects of the Russian disinformation campaign, part of which relied on fake news stories place on social media networks like Facebook, so that they would be shared. Facebook recently handed over some 3,000 ads purchased by a Russian troll farm, which were put in place to sow discord among the American people and tilt last year's presidential election away from Democrat Hillary Clinton. The Senate Intelligence Committee was likely on Trump's mind because the leaders of the panel, Sens. Richard Burr, R-N.C., and Mark Warner, D-Va., gave an update to the press Wednesday. During the press conference, Burr confirmed that the committee is still looking into whether there was collusion between the Russians and the Trump campaign. 'The committee continues to look into all evidence to see if there was any hint of collusion,' Burr, the Republican, said. 'We have more work to do as it relates to collusion.' A man has been jailed for throwing an eight-week-old kitten at a wall breaking his eye socket, leg and crushing his teeth. Adam James Urquhart, 30, from Medowie in New South Wales' Hunter Region, bashed Gizmo, threw him more than three metres across the room and stepped on him in February 2016. He also pushed Gizmo's face into a litter box and said 'stay in the f***ing kitty litter', according to a witness. Urquhart unleashed the abhorrent act of cruelty on the Russian Blue kitten as punishment for urinating on the carpet, RSPCA NSW reported. Eight-week-old Gizmo (pictured) suffered a broken left eye socket, broken leg and broken teeth in the attack Urquhart pleaded guilty to an animal cruelty charge when he appeared in Newcastle Local Court on Tuesday. He was sentenced to a three-month fixed jail term. Following the attack, Urquhart was taken into police custody in relation to separate domestic violence charges. Magistrate Sharron Crews said being refused bail on domestic violence charges likely saved Gizmo's life. Urquhart unleashed the abhorrent act of cruelty on the Russian Blue kitten as punishment for peeing on the carpet (Gizmo's broken leg pictured) When Gizmo was taken to the Tighes Hill veterinary Hospital after the attack on February 16 last year, they said his injuries were consistent with serious trauma In sentencing on Tuesday Magistrate Crews said: 'I don't want to draw parallels between domestic violence and acts of cruelty to animals, but the victims in each case are very vulnerable'. '(Urquhart) should be very ashamed of this offending towards a vulnerable animal,' she said. When Gizmo was taken to the Tighes Hill veterinary Hospital after the attack on February 16 last year, they said his injuries were consistent with serious trauma. He sustained a broken right foreleg, injured left eye, broken left eye socket, and broken teeth. Gizmo has since made a full recovery and has been adopted into a new home. Gizmo (broken teeth pictured) has since made a full recovery and has been adopted into a new home 'It is incomprehensible and truly sickening how any person could bash and abuse such a defenceless baby animal in this manner, and we're glad to see the courts take this very seriously,' Mr Meyers said (Gizmo's broken leg pictured in an X-ray) RSPCA NSW deputy chief inspector Scott Meyers welcomed the jail term handed down to Urquhart. 'It is incomprehensible and truly sickening how any person could bash and abuse such a defenceless baby animal in this manner, and we're glad to see the courts take this very seriously,' Mr Meyers said. In addition to his three-month jail term, Urquart was prohibited from owning an animal for 10 years. He was also ordered to pay Gizmo's veterinary costs of $2721.04 in the next 28 days. Advertisement After a gruelling training and fitness regime during his athletics days, Usain Bolt seems to have relaxed his approach to staying healthy since hanging up his running spikes. The fastest man in the world has been in Britain this week and was spotted puffing on a shisha pipe during a night out in London's Mayfair. The retired sprinter, 31, was the seen later this week picking up a large KFC meal during a visit to the Filton area of Bristol. Usain Bolt was seen puffing on the shisha pipe during a night out with friends in the Mayfair area of London this week Bolt, who retired from sprinting earlier this year, was obviously enjoying his time in the UK, chatting to revellers and friends The Jamaican sprinter and his friends wore their hoods up as they relaxed outside the bar with drinks and the shisha pip A takeaway customer was shocked to see Usain Bolt picking up a meal at her local KFC Fellow takeaway customers in the city were stunned to see the world famous athlete in KFC Bolt once claimed to have eaten 1,000 chicken nuggets during the Beijing Olympics because he found the local food 'odd'. And his diet seems to have changed little, with him being was spotted in a KFC in Bristol after the night out in Mayfair. Student Louis Anderson said he was stunned when he walked into the fast food chain in the Filton area of the city and see the world-famous athlete. Mr Anderson said: 'As soon as I saw him, I recognised him. But I'm not sure anyone else even noticed. I was starstruck, I was too scared to ask for a selfie.' Louis said Bolt was wearing a black cap, jeans, and Puma trainers - his footwear sponsor - and picking up a big bag of food to go at the Filton branch. Actor Rufus Jones, who is currently filming in Bristol, later wrote on Twitter: 'Day 4 filming here in Bristol. Usain Bolt just checked in to our hotel, carrying a chicken dinner.' The athlete chatted to Londoners during his evening in the centre of the British capital following a series of party nights out Women were keen to talk to the world-famous athlete and he posed for selfies with fans as he sat at an outside table After a tough training regime during his running days, he seems to be letting go in retirement The sprinter's second cousin, Vinette Jones, lives in Filton. Staff at the KFC branch in Bristol were unable to confirm that Bolt had visited the restaurant, and his cousin Vinette in Filton did not wish to comment. Bolt's agent has been contacted for comment. Bolt ran his last competitive race in the World Athletics championship in August this year since which he has been seen living a party lifestyle. Last weekend, he was pictured enjoying himself at the Oktoberfest beer festival in Bavaria. While out in the Bavarian capital of Munich, he took part in a spontaneous race against a young woman in a nightclub car park. It is the latest in a series of wild nights out for the former athlete, who has recently been to Oktoberfest and on a yacht The 31-year-old has been sharing pictures online of him and his girlfriend Kasi Bennett in recent weeks He had been snapped with his girlfriend Kasi Bennett in the beer halls, gulping down one-litre steins, before visiting the P1 nightclub in the city where the race occurred. Bolt posed for a picture alongside British boxer David Haye in Munich last week. That came after he took to the high seas on board his luxury yacht, 'The Dominator', with Bennett and a group of friends. Last month he soaked up the sun while posing for a picture with two giant champagne bottles. Bolt was also spotted at Old Trafford in August, where he watched Manchester United's 2-0 win over Leicester while donning a club cap and scarf. A jealous chimp called Romeo flew into a rage and attacked a zookeeper because he thought the man was flirting with his partner called Juliet. Romeo is reported to have gone ape when Juliet tried to kiss zookeeper Sergey through a glass partitioning in their cage at the Feldman Eco Park zoo in the village of Lisne, north-east Ukraine. Green-eyed Romeo began beating Juliet with his hands and when Sergey stepped in to try and break them up, the fuming chimp turned on him, biting off his fingers and part of his ear. Romeo the monkey bares his rotting teeth from behind bars to those who have come to see him Sergey the Ukrainian zookeeper shows his black eye after being treated in hospital for his injuries The zookeeper lost the fingers on his left hand after the altercation with the ape called Romeo Romeo started beating up his partner Juliet (pictured with her baby) before Sergey stepped in He also gave the horrified zookeeper a black eye. After managing to escape, battered Sergey was rushed to hospital where he underwent surgery for his injuries. Hospital spokesman Andriy Kozachenko told local media: 'The man's right ear and fingers on his left hand had been chewed and some parts of his ear and fingers are missing as they were bitten off. 'We did our best to save what was left.' Zoo spokeswoman Valeria Ivashenko said: 'Chimpanzees are very dangerous animals with strong jaws that can easily tear off flesh. 'He should not have entered the cage. 'But he has been looking after the pair of chimpanzees for six years and had feelings for them.' Sergey said he had a close relationship with both chimps and nothing like this had ever happened before. He said: 'When Juliet kissed me through glass, Romeo became very angry. 'I think he attacked me out of jealousy.' Chimps Romeo and Juliet are pictured here together in their enclosure The jealous chimp shows his teeth after attacking the zookeeper inside his pen in the Ukraine Romeo appears to be laughing at the cameras after the incident which maimed his keeper A few months ago Romeo and Juliet had their first baby. The zookeeper added that he knew he shouldn't have entered the cage but broke the rules on purpose as he didn't want Juliet to be injured. He said is now looking forward to going back to work. A Canadian man who was shot in the head as he fled the Las Vegas massacre on Sunday has now started the epic 22-hour drive to get home. Braden Matejka was in Las Vegas celebrating his 30th birthday with his girlfriend Amanda Homulos on Sunday when gunman Stephen Paddock opened fire on the crowds from his suite in the Mandalay Bay hotel. Matejka was shot in the side of the head as they ran for their lives but miraculously made it out alive and has been in Sunrise Hospital ever since. On Wednesday, he announced plans to begin the journey home after finally being told by doctors that it was safe enough for him to be discharged. Due to the brain and skull injuries he sustained, he is not allowed to fly and must be driven the 1,280 distance back to British Columbia. Matejka and his girlfriend, like thousands of other music fans at the Route 91 Harvest festival, mistook the first shots on Sunday as fire crackers or fireworks. Scroll down for video Braden Matejka, 30, was shot in the head as he fled the Route 91 Harvest festival with his girlfriend Amanda Homulos on Sunday. He was discharged from Sunrise Hospital on Wednesday and will now be driven home It was not until the second round of shots that he realized they were being shot at. The couple started to run out of the venue, joining a stampede of others who frantically sprinted as Paddock picked off victims from the remaining crowds. As he was running, Matejka said he felt a sudden blow to the head which he likened to being hit by a 'sledgehammer'. 'As soon as we started running again I hit the ground full sprint on my face, it felt as if someone hit me with a sledge hammer in the back of the head. 'I got up and yelled for Amanda, saying Ive been shot. She looks and the whole back of my shirt was covered in blood,' he said. With blood 'spouting' from the wound in his head and with his vision now blurry, he was able to get back up and carried on running, leaning on his girlfriend for support. A stranger tied a t-shirt around his head to try to stop the bleeding, he said. Finally, they hitched a ride from another Good Samaritan who bundled them in to the back of their car and sped them to hospital after being flagged down by someone else in the crowd. 'This kind young lady drove like a bat out of hell to then closest hospital which then I was rushed into the OR and had my skull looked at,' Matejka said. A photograph of the man's injuries shows where the bullet entered his skull and exited again. Doctors said he was lucky to be alive Matejka was in intensive care at Sunrise Hospital in Las Vegas until Tuesday Matejka is not healthy enough to fly. In order to get home, he must be driven the 1,280 distance from Las Vegas back to Enderby, British Columbia The bullet skimmed the side of his skull, making a clean entry and exit and narrowly avoiding his brain. He suffered a cracked skull and his brain was bleeding and swollen.q Matejka was in Vegas celebrating his 30th birthday when he was shot Matejka was kept in hospital until the bleeding stopped on Wednesday but was then discharged. It is not known who is driving him home. The man, who is raising money to cover his medical bills on a GoFundMe page found here, said he felt lucky to be alive. 'One inch, one change in events and I wouldnt be here to talk to anyone about this. Every doctor, every nurse has told me to go get a lottery ticket.' He also described the horror of watching others die beside him in the hospital after managing to escape and recalled how Paddock shot down crowds like they were 'hunted cats'. 'Seeing so many people getting brought to the hospital, passing away beside me. 'Watching people being hunted down like cats. It sickens me.' The final death toll from Sunday's massacre is 58. The number of people who were injured has been lowered from initial reports of 527 to 489. Police said confusion in the initial aftermath of the attack led to inflated statistics. Paddock shot himself before police got get to him inside his room at the Mandalay Bay hotel where he had stashed 23 guns including modified rifles which he had transformed into fully-automatic weapons. So far police have been unable to establish a motive for the massacre which is the deadliest mass shooting in US history. It may have taken over an hour for police to break into the Las Vegas gunman's hotel room, but they located him much faster than originally reported. This is according to an official timeline of the shooting released by police Wednesday evening. The new timeline reports that Stephen Paddock started shooting at the crowds gathered for the Route 91 Music Festival at exactly 10:05pm Sunday night, citing closed-circuit television from the concert venue. Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo issued a timeline of events from Sunday's Mandalay Bay shooting on Wednesday The new timeline shows that police had located the shooter's room within 12 minutes. Above, an investigator looking out of the killer's suite on Wednesday SWAT teams waited more than an hour to break into Paddock's room because he had stopped shooting and they wanted to secure the floor. Above, Paddock's body is seen on the floor, dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, after police breached his room Seven minutes later, cops on the 31st floor of the Mandalay Bay resort and casino reported that the gunman was firing directly one floor above them. Police say the gunman stopped shooting three minutes later, and that two minutes after that, the first two police officers arrived on his floor. That means that officers had located Paddock in just 12 minutes. Previous reports that it took officers more than an hour to breach his hotel room aren't incorrect though. Since Paddock had stopped shooting, officers cleared the floor first and made sure no one was injured before they finally blew Paddock's door off it's hinges at 11:20pm. When they got inside the room, they found the 64-year-old dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. They also realized that he had another adjoining room that was locked, so they breached that one seven minutes later and found no one inside. A woman has been seriously injured after a man she was quarrelling with poured a large pot of boiling soup over her body as revenge at a restaurant in China. The woman, who was reported to be drunk, had mistakenly spilled some liquid on the man who sat at the table next to her during a row. She suffered 23 per cent burns on her body as CCTV footage captures the horrifying incident last month. CCTV shows Zhang, who faced away from the camera, was arguing with two women in Hebei According to Pear Video, the woman was dining with her female friend at a hot pot restaurant in Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, on September 8. Surveillance camera footage shows the pair sitting by the road where a car is parked next to them. It's reported that she asked a male diner, surnamed Zhang, and his friends how to hail a taxi when her friend went to the bathroom. Zhang and a few of his friends can be seen topless from the video clip. The group started to argue as her friend came back and thought Zhang was flirting. He picked up a pot from his table and splashed it towards a woman as revenge The woman can be seen bending her body immediately while other diners were shocked Zhang and four of his friends left the restaurant without paying after the quarrel During the quarrel, Zhang was reported to have some liquid spilled on his body by the drunk woman. He then returned to his table, picked up his pot and splashed the boiling soup onto the woman. Zhang and four of his friends left the restaurant without paying bill - likely out of anger. The woman was taken to the hospital and was reported to have 23 per cent of her skin burnt. Mou Shoude, a police officer from Shijiazhuang Police Bureau, told the reporter that they had arrested Zhang and one of his friends on suspicion of intentional bodily harm. The remaining three men are still at large. San Juan's Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz has responded to President Trump calling her 'nasty' by wearing a t-shirt emblazoned with the word. Ms Cruz wore the shirt during an interview in which she attacked the President for his visit to Puerto Rico after the US territory was devastated by a hurricane. She told Univision that anyone who would attack a person 'claiming lack of drinking water, lack of medicine for the sick, and lack of food for the hungry... has problems too severe to be explained in an interview.' Carmen Yulin Cruz, the mayor of Puerto Rican capital San Juan, wore a t-shirt reading 'Nasty' as she criticized Trump over his visit to the devastated island nation Trump twice used the word to attack Cruz over her response to Hurricane Maria, accusing her of having poor 'leadership abilities' 'What is really nasty is that anyone would turn their back on the Puerto Rican people,' she added. Trump has twice used the word 'nasty' to describe Cruz, the first time in a tweet over the weekend and the second time in a TV interview. 'The Mayor of San Juan, who was very complimentary only a few days ago, has now been told by the Democrats that you must be nasty to Trump,' he wrote on Twitter last week. He then went on to question her leadership abilities in a tweet for which he was heavily criticized. Then, on Tuesday, Trump repeated the comments in an interview with Fox's Geraldo Rivera channel, in which he was asked about Cruz' potential run for governor for the Democrats in 2020. Trump said again that Cruz had been 'very, very nice at the beginning,' before adding 'all of a sudden she went a little bit on the nasty side. And I guess she is running for office and it turns out I was right. Isn't that a shock?' The President also memorably described Clinton as a 'nasty woman' on the campaign trial last year. Trump visited the island, where 36 people were killed by Hurricane Maria last month, on Tuesday in order to see the destruction for himself The President's visit was harshly criticized in some circles, including this moment where he threw supplies into a waiting crowd Earlier this week, Cruz went on CNN and said the White House staffers accompanying Trump to Puerto Rico understood the situation on the ground better than he does. 'I would hope that the President of the United States stops spouting out comments to hurt the people of Puerto Rico,' Cruz said. 'Rather than commander-in-chief, he sort of becomes miscommunicator-in-chief,' she added. Cruz participated in an on-camera briefing when Trump and the first lady arrived, listening to the president praise one public official after another. Cruz's name was conspicuously missing from the litany of thanks for a job well done. She later called the exercise 'a public relations situation.' During the meeting, Trump said Hurricane Maria had thrown the federal budget 'out of whack,' and made light of the number of casualties, comparing it to the more deadly 'real catastrophe' Hurricane Katrina in 2005. 'The productive part of the meeting was the second part,' she added, when Trump was no longer around and a group of mayors 'got to meet with White House staff.' 'I truly believe that they finally saw the connection, or the disconnect, between what they were hearing on the one hand and the reality of what is happening on the ground.' White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said President Trump wasn't bothered by the fact that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson didn't deny calling the president a 'moron.' 'Look, as the secretary of state said, this is a pretty ridiculous accusation and, frankly, I think it's beneath the secretary of state to weigh in on every rumor out there,' Huckabee Sanders said. 'His spokesperson, however, did come out and clarify that the secretary of state never used those words,' she added. Thursday marked the second day the White House, Tillerson and Vice President Mike Pence have pushed back on the story, first reported by NBC News, which said Tillerson was on the verge of quitting in July and even called the president a 'moron' at a Pentagon meeting with security officials. Scroll down for video White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders called NBC News' 'moron' story a 'pretty ridiculous accusation' and suggested it was below Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to deny he made the comment outright President Donald Trump weighed in for the second consecutive day on Thursday following an NBC report that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson threatened to quit and called Trump a 'moron' during a security meeting Secretary of State Rex Tillerson had to make a rare public statement Wednesday fending off a report that said he wanted to quit his post. At the presser, he didn't explicitly deny calling President Trump a 'moron' But Tillerson, in an extraordinary speech at the State Department Tuesday, did not directly deny having used the term. A state spokeswoman later said Tillerson 'does not use that language to speak about anyone.' The president weighed in for the second consecutive day on Thursday. 'Rex Tillerson never threatened to resign. This is Fake News put out by @NBCNews. Low news and reporting standards. No verification from me,' Trump wrote on Twitter. The report stated that Tillerson, who was in Texas for his son's wedding at the time, had threatened not to come back to Washington. Tillerson appears to have persuaded a very important audience with his Thursday speech where he vouched for President Donald Trump's intelligence: the president himself. Trump said Wednesday he was 'honored' by Tillerson's emphatic remarks following the NBC report as the drama unfolded on a day the president flew to Las Vegas to meet with shooting victims and responders. The president blasted the report as 'fake news' and 'totally phony' while expressing 'total confidence' in his secretary of state. President Donald Trump told reporters he was 'honored' by Tillerson's comments following remarks at an event at University Medical Center in Las Vegas to honor shooting victims His comments came hours after Tillerson addressed the report but refused to specifically deny having called the president a moron. 'I'm very honored by his comments. It was fake news. It was a totally phony story,' Trump said in Las Vegas, where he flew Wednesday to honor victims of the worst mass shooting in U.S. history. 'Thank you very much,' the president continued. 'It was made up. It was made up by NBC. They just made it up. Total confidence in Rex. I have total confidence,' the president said. In an extraordinary speech at the State Department, Tillerson vouched for Trump in unreserved fashion, calling him 'smart' and saying he 'loves his country.' 'He loves his country. He puts Americans and America first. Hes smart. He demands results wherever he goes,' said Tillerson. But he wouldn't be specific when pressed on the 'moron' comment. 'Im not going to deal with petty stuff like that,' Tillerson said when asked about the alleged 'moron' remark, in comments carried live on cable networks. Trump said he had 'total confidence' in his secretary of state, who is reported to have called him a 'moron' Tensions reached the point where Vice President Mike Pence (right) counseled Secretary of State Rex Tillerson (left) on how to ease the tensions 'I mean, this is what I dont understand about Washington. Again, Im not from this place. But the places I come from we dont deal with that kind of petty nonsense and it is intended to do nothing but divide people and I'm just not going to be part of this effort to divide this administration,' he said. The speech had an immediate effect. Trump tweeted moments after Tillerson spoke that the NBC story had been 'totally refuted.' 'The @NBCNews story has just been totally refuted by Sec. Tillerson and @VP Pence. It is #FakeNews. They should issue an apology to AMERICA!' Tillerson has noted he serves at the pleasure of the president, even as he disputed reports he was ready to walk. MORON THIS TOPIC: Tillerson said he hadn't spoken to the president, and hadn't been asked to make the remarks Tillerson was emphatic and specific in denying he was going to quit. 'There has never been a consideration in my mind to leave,' he said. Wednesday afternoon, after the numerous outlets noted that Tillerson had not explicity denied having made the 'moron' comment, State spokeswoman Heather Nauert was more precise. 'The secretary does not use that type of language,' Nauert said. 'The secretary did not use that type of language to speak about the president of the United States. He does not use that language to speak about anyone,' she said. Trump also went after NBC and called on the network to make an apology. According to the NBC report, Tillerson was on the verge of quitting in July, right around when President Trump delivered his infamously political speech to the Boy Scouts of America, even calling the president a 'moron,' according to NBC News. Tillerson, who had previously served as president of the Boy Scouts, wasn't there as Trump heralded his own Electoral College win and talked up the 'record' crowd he drew at the National Scout Jamboree. Several days earlier, after a July 20 Pentagon national security meeting, Tillerson referred to the president as a 'moron.' The Pentagon incident came a day after a meeting in the White House Situation Room where Trump rattled his national security team by suggesting he might fire the top US commander in Afghanistan, comparing the decision-making process on troop levels to renovating a high-end restaurant in New York, participants in the meeting said. Tensions reached the point where Vice President Mike Pence (right) counseled Secretary of State Rex Tillerson (left) on how to ease the tensions Tillerson's reported utterance of the word 'moron' stunned the handful of high-level administration officials who witnessed the secretary of state's outburst. Relations got so frayed that Vice President Mike Pence, who regularly hails Trump in public remarks, counseled Tillerson on ways to ease the tensions, according to NBC's reporting. Vice President Mike Pence's office denied in a statement ever having discussed Tillerson's resignation with him. 'The vice president can also confirm that, as the secretary of state made clear, at no time did he and the secretary ever discuss the prospect of the secretary's resignation from the administration,' according to a statement following the NBC report. Denise Prell, 38, a fired civilian worker at a notorious New York maximum-security prison, has been charged with having sex with an inmate A female employee at the New York prison where another worker helped two convicted killers escape has been charged with having sex with an inmate. State police say the charges against former Clinton Correctional Facility employee Denise Prell include promoting prison contraband and sexual abuse. Investigators say the 38-year-old was fired from her civilian job at the maximum-security prison in Dannemora after a guard caught her engaged in inappropriate behavior with an inmate. The guard's report triggered a multi-agency criminal investigation that was carried out by state police, the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision Office of Special Investigations, the New York State Inspector Generals Office and the Clinton County District Attorneys Office. On Wednesday, Prell was arrested on charges of first-degree promoting prison contraband and third-degree sexual abuse, and 23 counts of official misconduct. Prell lost her job at Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora after a guard allegedly caught her engaged in an inappropriate behavior with a convict She's being held in the county jail on $10,000 cash bail. Her next court date is October 18. Public records indicate that Prell lives in Schuyler Falls in Clinton County, New York, with her husband, 37-year-old Matthew Prell. The Dannemora prison made national headlines when in June 2015, inmates Richard Matt and David Sweat escaped with the aid of civilian tailor shop supervisor Joyce Mitchell, who was having an extramarital affair with one of the fugitives. Mitchell was sentenced to two-to-seven years in prison after prosecutors said she smuggled tools in frozen hamburger meat, which the inmates used to break out of the correctional facility. The murderers' original plan was to kill Joyce Mitchell's husband, Lyle, and make her their getaway driver. But on the eve of the escape, the female prison worker had a change of heart and stayed behind. Following a three-week manhunt, Mitchell's lover Matt was shot dead and Sweat was captured near the Canadian border. Famous predecessor: Prell's arrest comes two years after Joyce Mitchell, a tailor shop supervisor at the prison, was arrested for helping two inmates escape Convicted murderers David Sweat, left, and Mitchel's prison lover Richard Matt, right, broke out of the correctional facility in June 2015 using smuggled tools. Three weeks later, Matt was shot dead and Sweat was captured Last month, a state board denied parole to Joyce Mitchell, to the disappouintment of her husband and their son. The next time she could be up for parole is 2019 and the latest she could be released from prison is 2022. The high-profile prison break is the subject of the upcoming Showtime miniseries Escape at Dannemora, directed by Ben Stiller and starring Academy Award winners Patricia Arquette as Mitchell and Benicio Del Toro as Richard Matt. At least three elementary schools in Florida removed toilet paper from their bathroom stalls because pupils were wasting it. Teachers were instead told to hand out wads of tissues to students each time they wanted to use the toilet. The Carter G. Woodson Elementary School in Jacksonville had been refusing to put toilet paper in the cubicles there until a group of parents complained to the local media. Carter G. Woodson Elementary School in Jacksonville was one of at least three schools in the area that refused to put toilet paper in the bathroom. Students would instead have to request it A sight like this was extremely rare in three Florida elementary schools until this week, left. Shantia Peterson, right, has taken her daughter out of school and moved her to another Parents ended up having to send their children with their own wipes to go to school because of the bizarre policy which had been in force since the start of the school year. Mother Shantia Peterson said she was packing her 4th-grade daughter off to school with a toilet roll in a Ziploc bag. 'I did speak with the teacher about it as well. And I asked, I said, "What about if they run out?" She said, "Well, we have a student in the bathroom that can give them extra." A student? A student!' said Peterson to Action News Jax. Peterson said it was not only embarrassing, she was also worried about whether it was sanitary. 'You can't just have it going from hand to hand!' said Peterson. Nevertheless, Duval County Public Schools spokesperson Laureen Ricks said the policy was not being encouraged and has since been completely stopped since the report first aired in local media earlier this week. Reports emerged that at least two other schools in the area were also following similar rules including Brentwood Elementary School and Lake Shore Middle School all in Jacksonville. 'The practice of not keeping toilet paper in school restrooms as a result of misuse or waste is not encouraged by the district. We will continue to communicate this to our schools to ensure consistency district-wide. We invite parents to contact their school or the district if they have any concerns about this practice taking place in their child's classroom or school so that we can immediately address. 'We also ask parents to partner with us in talking to students about appropriate bathroom etiquette and the importance of respecting school supplies and resources,' Ricks said in a statement. Peterson has now moved her daughter to a different school where she says the teachers care more about students' hygiene than their toilet paper budget. 'I told her, I said, 'Your new school, they're going to have toilet paper in the bathrooms.' My daughter got excited. She said, 'What, are you serious? They're going to have toilet paper in the bathroom?' said Peterson. A Dallas fraternity has been shut down over accusations they forced pledges to eat hot peppers and milk until they were sick and wear vomit-covered clothes. The Beta Lambda chapter of Kappa Alpha Order, based at Southern Methodist University, also paddled its members, according to a letter the university sent to parents. The university's Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards launched an investigation after it received reports of hazing earlier this year, the Dallas News reports. The Beta Lambda chapter of Kappa Alpha Order, based at Southern Methodist University (pictured) has been shut down The investigation found evidence that the fraternity forced new members to drink alcohol and act as their slaves. Pledges were also forced to eat foods such as jalapenos, habaneros, red onions and milk until they vomited, then keep on their puke-covered clothes, according to the letter. They were also deprived of sleep. The fraternity has since been suspended and ordered to vacate its house. The sophomores living there will be reassigned to campus housing. They will not be allowed to recruit new members until fall 2021 semester. The investigation into hazing at the Beta Lambda chapter (pictured) of Kappa Alpha Order, found evidence that the fraternity forced new members to drink alcohol and act as their slaves 'Kappa Alpha Order has suspended our chapter at Southern Methodist University, in cooperation with SMU administration, due to violations of our risk management policies,' said Jesse S. Lyons of the fraternity's national organization in a written statement. 'We have an agreement with SMU to return to campus in 2021.' It's not the first time the local chapter of Kappa Alpha Order has been in trouble. In 2009, it was suspended for serving alcohol to minors and hosting unregistered parties. The chapter's unruly behavior appears at odds with its mission to 'create a lifetime experience which centers on reverence to God, duty, honor, character and gentlemanly conduct as inspired by Robert E. Lee, our spiritual founder.' A self-proclaimed satanist had his case thrown out by a Chicago judge challenging the motto 'In God We Trust', written on American money. Kenneth Mayle, 35, argued in his lawsuit that the motto violates his constitutional rights by forcing him to propagate a religious view he apposes. Federal Judge Amy St. Even threw out Mayle's lawsuit on Wednesday in a Chicago courtroom. A federal judge in Chicago threw out a satanist's case against the motto 'In God We Trust' written on American money The judge cited a long-standing Supreme Court ruling that concluded the motto isn't something people prominently display so they are not forced to publicly advertise those views. The judge was referring to the 1970 Supreme Court case Aronow vs. United States which ruled, 'the national motto and slogan on coinage and currency "In God We Trust" has nothing whatsoever to do with the establishment of religion.' The ruling also states that its used for 'patriotic and ceremonial character and bears no true resemblance to a governmental sponsorship of a religious exercise'. This was the first case to challenge the motto 'In God We Trust' on currency. Though he may have failed, Mayle told the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin he intends to appeal St. Eve's ruling. A Melbourne university student has claimed a bully crept through her bedroom window in the middle of the night and threw raw meat at her while she was sleeping. Melis Layik studies law and global studies at Monash University in Melbourne, and says she is no longer comfortable living at one of the universitys residential colleges. The 18-year-old said a bully threw livers and offal on her as she slept and left a horses heart at her bedroom door at Mannix College, while also calling her a 'stupid vegan'. Melis Layik claims a bully has been targeting her for harassment because she is a vegan The 18-year-old said a bully threw livers and offal on her as she slept and left a horses heart at her bedroom door at Mannix College Ms Layik told Daily Mail Australia she complained to the university about the incidents but nothing was done She said she was harassed in a similar manner five times in nine days, including having chicken mince smeared on her door. Ms Layik told Daily Mail Australia she complained to the university about the incidents but nothing was done. It was absolutely terrifying, she said. One night he climbed into my room at 3am while I was sleeping and threw meat and offal at me. Ms Layik said the man was also passing around a lot of disparaging messages through social media. Pictured is the horse's heart that was left at the front door of her room at Mannix College Ms Layik said the man was also passing around a lot of disparaging messages through social media 'In many messages and posts he mentioned my veganism and referred to me as a "stupid vegan".' She said she doesn't know why the man has targeted her for harassment. 'It seemed to be a random series of attacks which made it all the more upsetting and confusing. She said she doesn't know why the man has targeted her for harassment She said she was harassed in a similar manner five times in nine days, including having chicken mince smeared on her door I had multiple meetings with the administration requesting that they do something but they simply shrugged me off and told me that they had spoken with him. She has since moved out of the college. They closed the matter three weeks ago and I felt too uncomfortable so I moved out. It was really quite disheartening how they flippantly dismissed the situation. She said Mannix College only agreed to investigate the issue once contacted by media. She said the harassment made her feel so uncomfortable that she had to move out of the residential college A Mannix College spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia there is an 'ongoing investigation and the college is not able to comment on this matter due to privacy'. A Monash University spokeswoman told Daily Mail they take 'the welfare of all of its students seriously'. 'Mannix College residents who are students of Monash University have full access to the range of university support services... the experienced staff from the Safer Community Unit provide counselling, information and advice to students and staff.' Later this month, North Dakotans will have what will likely be one of the last opportunities to meet and listen to veterans of Guadalcanal. This is a chance to hear from men who participated in one of early, key battles of World War II. This isnt just an event for history buffs. Anyone interested in the role our small state played on the world stage will find this interesting. The event is from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 14 at the National Energy Center of Excellence at Bismarck State College. The 164th Infantry Regiment from North Dakota landed on Guadalcanal on Oct. 13, 1942, to assist the Marines who had been battling the Japanese. The regiment entered a horrible battleground and were greeted by skepticism by the hardened Marines. It didnt take long for the North Dakota Army soldiers to win the respect of the Marines. Within five days of landing the regiment had endured eight prolonged bombing attacks, several strafings and shelling from land and enemy warships. An Associated Press dispatch told of their ordeal. One ghastly, horrible night late in October, both the second and third battalions fought in a pouring rain and the North Dakota men often met attacking Japanese with the cold steel of bayonets. The regiment would serve with distinction on Guadalcanal and help secure an early victory for the U.S. They went on to fight in the Bougainville and the Philippines campaigns. The 164th Infantry of the North Dakota National Guard was called up in 1941 to fight in the Pacific Theater, according to Tribune files. There were 1,723 soldiers in the regiment. During the war the 164th lost 325 men and had 1,193 wounded. The unit earned one Navy Cross, six Distinguished Service Crosses, 89 Silver Stars, 199 Bronze Stars, 1,200 Purple Hearts, six Legions of Merit and 10 soldiers medals. By the time the 164th was disbanded in November 1945 it had become famous for its service. They earned their fame the hard way. Seventy-two years after the end of World War II they deserve to be remembered. The Oct. 14 event offers an opportunity to honor them and hear the stories as only they can tell them. At 1 p.m. in the second-floor theater there will be a chance to chat with the veterans. Larry Skogen, Bismarck State College president, will conduct the interactive session to discuss the battles and take questions from the audience. A short program will take place in the third-floor display area prior to a 2 p.m. band concert by the North Dakota Army National Guard's 188th Army Band. Expected to attend are Richard Stevens, who was a National Guard private and is now a 95-year-old retired Army colonel; Louis Hanson, a farmer from the Jamestown area assigned to Company E, which helped defend the area that became known as Coffin Corner; Dennis Ferk, Harry Vadnie and Aloysius Moszer from Bismarck's Company A; Doug Burtell, Bowman; and Ralph Oehlke, Enderlin, who joined the 164th Band but transferred to the Anti-Tank Company for the duration the war. The AP dispatch mentioned earlier also said: Mention this regiment to anyone in the South Pacific and youll get return comment of respect and admiration. That respect and admiration hasnt dimmed in the 75 years since they landed on Guadalcanal. The Oct. 14 event is free and open to the public. It should be worth everyones time. Two people have been killed in a murder suicide at a construction side on Manhattan's Upper West Side. The gunman was named as Samuel Perry, a 44-year-old former employee who opened fire on Christopher Sayers on the 39th floor of the building which is on West 59th Street between 11th Avenue and the Joe DiMaggio highway. He shot Sayers, 37, 'several times' on the 37th floor of the building at around 7.10am, using a 9mm semi-automatic gun. Perry, who had a history of violence, then made his way down the building as police were called and other workers evacuated. He was found dead on the fifth floor at 8.45am after shooting himself in the head. Workers said afterwards that the shooter was a 'bit of a hot head' who had been fired two days ago. Scroll down for video Two people have been shot dead in a shooting on a construction site on Manhattan's Upper West Side on Thursday A SWAT team was seen entering the building immediately after the shooting. The gunman and his victim were both found dead inside Witnesses said the shooting happened on the 39th floor of the building shown above closest to the water NYPD officials described the shooting as a 'workplace violence' incident. No other people were injured or involved. 'The shooter had a dispute with the foreman and shot him several times. We located the victim on the 37th floor. 'At approximately 8.45am, we located the shooter on the fifth floor and it appeared he had a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head,' an NYPD spokesman said. Police said Perry had been arrested three times in the past for assault and burglary. His most recent arrest was in 2005. He was fired by Sayers two days ago in a row over 'respect', according to police. 'He was fired two days ago, talking to some of the workers so far he was a bit of a hot head. 'We're still looking at how he got back into the building. [The dispute] was regarding the respect of himself and the workers. Police officers are seen pointing to the 39th floor of the building where the shooting is believed to have taken place as a SWAT team arrives The construction site is on West 59th Street between 11th Avenue and the Joe DiMaggio Highway NYPD officers keep watch on the ground floor of the site while SWAT teams hunt the gunman The large construction site was abandoned amid the chaos which began at around 8am on Thursday NYPD officials said the shooting was driven by a dispute when the man was fired two days ago Workers are seen after the shooting, standing in the street as they wait for information 'It's the foreman who laid him off,' the NYPD official said. After the first shots were fired, workers piled out into the street to watch as police and firefighters arrived. Others were forced to remain in the building on lock-down. They sheltered on the 39th floor. Before the gunman was confirmed dead, tactical police were seen entering the building carrying weapons. Some at the scene claimed the man was a disgruntled former employee who was fired a few days ago. Construction workers stand in the street outside a work site where a man, who was described by witnesses as a foreman Police and construction workers stand in the street after a shooting There was a large police presence at the scene immediately after the shooting on Thursday The Pentagon has moved an extra $440 million into its missile defense programs in the wake of North Korea's repeated nuclear and missile tests. The Department of Defense requested that Congress let it shift funds from its current budget so it would not have to wait until the next one. Its current missile defense budget is $8.2 billion - meaning it will be pushed up to $8.64 billion. The Pentagon yesterday spelled out $367 million of the shifted money, with the rest expected to be announced later. The more conventional approach to countering North Korea's missiles is what the Pentagon calls ground-based interceptors, which are anti-missile missiles that would be launched from underground silos. Pictured: A Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) interceptor The Pentagon yesterday spelled out $367 million of the shifted money, with the rest expected to be announced later The spending has come under increased scrutiny as North Korea's nuclear and missile programs have progressed and critics have questioned whether the Pentagon has developed missile defenses that would work in combat. Some of the additional $440 million is for projects that are classified secret, including $48 million more for development of technology for cyber 'operations,' according to a breakdown of the spending by the Pentagon's budget office. The Pentagon has never acknowledged that it has engaged in cyber operations against North Korea's nuclear or missile programs. The New York Times earlier this year reported that in 2014, then-President Barack Obama ordered Pentagon officials to step up their cyber and electronic strikes against North Korea's missile program in hopes of sabotaging test launches. Pictured: Another form of missile defense - the Aegis combat system - being fired from the USS Decatur The more conventional approach to countering North Korea's missiles is what the Pentagon calls ground-based interceptors, which are anti-missile missiles that would be launched from underground silos at Fort Greely in Alaska in the event the U.S. decided to try to shoot down a North Korean missile aimed at the United States. The interceptors are designed to slam into an incoming enemy missile outside the Earth's atmosphere, obliterating it by the force of impact. The $440 million in extra funds for missile defense include $128 million to begin a new expansion of the missile interceptor force in Alaska. That includes $81 million to begin increasing the number of interceptors from 44 to 64, and $47 million to begin buying parts for 10 of the additional 20 underground silos in which the interceptors are installed. The Pentagon had not publicly announced that it plans to increase the interceptor force by 20. The decision reflects concern that the current force is inadequate to face a North Korean nuclear and missile threat that is growing faster than anticipated. Ella Zimin, pictured outside the Court of Appeal earlier this year, has now been stripped of 1.14 million A woman who was handed an extra 1.14 million after claiming her 5 million divorce settlement forced her to live 'frugally' has now been stripped of the cash. Boris Zimin, 47, the son of Russian telecommunications mogul Dmitri Zimin, agreed to pay Ella Zimin, 45, 5.1 million after their divorce in Russia in 2009. But she said she and their three children had to live 'modestly' while her husband, who is worth around 40 million, partied on his family yacht and enjoyed flying lessons in his new helicopter. Ms Zimina was awarded a further 1.14 million at the High Court in London last year - but has now been stripped of the extra cash by Court of Appeal judges, who ruled it was 'unfair' on Mr Zimin. Ms Zimina had been adequately provided for by her ex-husband and had wrongly been given a 'second bite of the cherry', judges said. Mr Zimin's QC said giving Ms Zimina more would encourage foreign divorcees to 'roll the dice' in English courts even if they had suffered no injustice. The English divorce courts were 'not to be used to take advantage of a more generous approach in English cases,' he argued. Lady Justice King said when they split in Russia, the couple were worth around 10.1 million, of which she got some 7 million. Mr Zimin's father's personal fortune was said to be in the region of around 138 million ($182 million) - a sum he could be set to inherit. Ms Zimina was awarded a Moscow flat, worth at least 3.8 million, another 3.8 million in cash and a guaranteed 182,000 a year for life if Mr Zimin died before her. He also agreed she could live in the family's six-bedroom London home rent free until their children became adults. Boris Zimin, 47, the son of Russian telecommunications mogul Dmitri Zimin, agreed to pay Ella Zimin, 45, 5.1 million after their divorce in Russia in 2009 The five-storey property in the exclusive borough of Kensington is now worth around 5 million. Lady Justice King said the 'fair' deal Mrs Zimina struck with her ex-husband in Russia met her reasonable needs and should not have been increased. It was 'hard if not impossible' for her to argue that 'she had, or would, suffer injustice or hardship' if she did not get more. And the cash and assets she took away from the marriage were 'adequate in 2009 and remained adequate' today. The judge accepted that her ruling meant Mrs Zimina 'will have to modify her standard of living in the longer term'. But the payout she agreed to eight years ago properly reflected her contribution to the marriage as mother and home-maker, she ruled. Ms Zimina's lawyers had earlier denied claims that she was 'taking advantage' of the 'generous' UK divorce courts. She also disputed responsibility for an eye-watering 2.3 million of the family fortune being squandered on legal bills. She said the 5.1 million she got in 2009 was an 'injustice' given the vast extent of her ex's family fortune. Applying 'English standards of fairness', she argued that even more should have been added to her award. The couple moved to London in 2004 and spent a year renovating their Kensington house, but split before the work was completed. The house is valued at 5 million The Appeal Court heard that the couple married in 1997 and split after 12 years of marriage. They moved to London in 2004 and spent a year renovating their Kensington house, but split before the work was completed. Mr Zimin moved overseas while his wife and children, the youngest of whom is now 17, remained in the family home in London. Neither of them had made their own money, but owed their lifestyle to the 'enormous largesse' of Mr Zimin's father. Dmitri Zimin, a well-known philanthropist, made his vast wealth from telecommunications following the breakup of the Soviet Union. Mrs Justice Roberts handed her the extra 1.14 million last year after hearing of her 'modest' lifestyle when compared to her ex-husband. But Lewis Marks QC, for Mr Zimin, argued: 'If a wife has millions of pounds, she is clearly not suffering hardship.' The deal struck in 2009 'was offered, and accepted, as a comprehensive worldwide clean-break package,' he added. And 'mere disparity' between what she got in Russia and what she might have received in England did not justify an increase in her payout. 'These proceedings, from 2014 to the present day, have cost the family approximately 2.3m in legal costs,' he added. 'The husband made every possible effort to have the case resolved quickly and, ideally, cheaply from the start.' Richard Todd QC, for Mrs Zimina, said: 'The husband has had in the order of 40m and a lifestyle including sumptuous properties in the sun, use of a 3.5 million yacht and ownership of a helicopter. 'They did not live off capital, they lived off the largesse of the husband's father. The husband continued to enjoy that enormous largesse after 2009.' 'After the Russian deal, the wife lived relatively frugally, whilst her husband enjoyed the yacht and took up learning how to fly his new helicopter.' But Lady Justice King said there had been no change in Mrs Zimina's financial circumstances since 2009 and the five-year delay in seeking more cash from her ex was 'in part tactical'. Her bid to boost her payout 'could properly be regarded as a wife seeking a second bite of the cherry,' she added. The judge, sitting with Lords Justice Patten and Floyd, ruled that the Russian deal had been 'freely reached' and Mr Zimin was entitled to treat it as final. 'The financial benefit provided by the husband was adequate in 2009 and remained adequate,' she concluded, upholding his appeal. A block of iconic Art Deco flats was saved from bombing during the Blitz after Hitler requested it be used as part of his British HQ, according to a new website. Du Cane Court, in Balham, south London, survived unscathed from the Nazis' bombing offensive against Britain in 1940 and 1941 despite surrounding buildings in the capital suffering obliteration. Du Cane Court, a legendary Art Deco apartment block which survived the Blitz, has become the subject of a new website celebrating its history The remarkable survival has prompted claims that the block, rumoured to have been a hotbed of spies, was earmarked by Hitler ahead of his intended victory, the website says, citing research from historian Gregory Vincent. Meanwhile, others say German Luftwaffe aircraft maintained the building so they could use it as a navigational landmark to help them determine their route home. The central entrance hall and reception of Du Cane Court was originally intended as a lounge for visitors. Residents say the interior has evolved over time from its original marble floor to grey carpet today Under the Same Roof, the website set up by furniture brand Made.com, pays tribute to the legendary building, which has also survived a fire, the first invasion of pharaoh ants in a London block of flats, and a boiler explosion. The 676-apartment block is one of Europes largest 1930s residential buildings and was once home to the Du Cane Court Club, a restaurant and fully-licensed bar, which was destroyed by a fire after the wars end in 1945. A historic photograph of Du Cane Court shows the 1930s building in its original form, little changed from the building inhabited by London residents today Originally, every apartment included a built-in radio. Allegedly, during the Second World War, the manager Mr Jackson would break through the airwaves with announcements for those failing to observe blackout regulations: 'Du Cane Court calling! Du Cane Court calling! A flat on the second floor in H block has the light on, and the blackout curtains are not drawn.' Each apartment was also originally fitted with a built-in radio which was used during the Second World War to communicate with residents who were breaking blackout regulations. Famous former residents include Academy and Golden Globe award-winning actors Dame Margaret Rutherford DBE and Hermione Gingold, and comedian Tommy Trinder lived there with his wife, Violet, from 1939 to 1955. But the website also celebrates current residents of the block. Lois began her life in Europe working at a ski resort in Austria, before moving to Paris. She later relocated to London and bought her first studio flat in Du Cane Court in 1980s Originally my plan wasnt to stay in London for long, but I found the job scene in London so vibrant that I stayed. I bought my first studio flat here in the 1980s, and now Im in a two bed, said Du Cane Court resident Lois, originally from New Zealand. I was born and raised in Braga, a small town in north-west Portugal. When I was 23, I bought a one-way ticket to London and today I work in peer-to-peer lending, said Portuguese resident Nuno. Portuguese architect Nuno says he was fascinated by the block's history quickly decided to buy an apartment Im a great lover of architecture, and I became fascinated by Du Cane Court after hearing some of the curious stories about the block. When I viewed this flat it was like travelling back in time and I knew that I had to buy it.' Spain's Constitutional Court has suspended a session of the Catalan parliament scheduled for Monday in which local leaders were expected to declare Catalonia's unilateral independence from Spain. The ruling followed a legal challenge by the Catalan Socialist Party, which opposes secession, according to El Pais newspaper. It comes after Spanish PM Mariano Rajoy urged Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont to abandon plans to unilaterally declare the region's independence 'to avoid greater evils'. In an interview with Spanish news agency EFE, Rajoy said the solution to the Catalan crisis was a prompt return to legality and 'a statement as soon as possible that there will not be a unilateral declaration of independence, because that will also avoid greater evils' Rajoy said, without elaborating. Amid the ongoing political uncertainty Spain's fifth-largest bank, Sabadell, has decided to move its legal base from Catalonia to Alicante, according to Spanish newspaper El Pais. Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy says Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont must abandon plans to unilaterally declare the region's independence from Spain 'to avoid greater evils' The report comes after the bank's board met this afternoon to discuss the possible move. It is the first major sign that the region's push for independence could scare away big business. Catalonia's plan to declare independence follows a referendum that was marred by violence last weekend. Catalonia is a centre of industry and tourism that accounts for one-fifth of Spain's economy, a production base for major multi-nationals from Volkswagen to Nestle, and home to Europe's fastest-growing sea port. Investors are concerned that secession could rock the euro zone's fourth-biggest economy, dealing a heavy blow to Spain's own finances and sending the Catalan economy into a tailspin. Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont has said the region's parliament is preparing to declare independence The Catalonia crisis has hurt Spanish bond and stock markets. The nation's borrowing costs hit a seven-month high on Thursday, though investors showed solid interest in a government bond auction. Shares in Sabadell and another Catalonia-based bank, Caixabank, which is Spain's third largest lender by market capitalisation, were pummelled earlier in the week because of the political unrest in the northeastern region. After Sabadell announced that it was considering a possible move its shares rose sharply. News earlier this week that two small listed Catalan firms, Eurona Wireless Telecom and Oryzon Genomics, had decided to shift their head offices had a similar impact on their share prices. Both declined to say whether they were responding to Sunday's vote. Many Spanish business leaders and foreign companies with operations in Catalonia have expressed concern this week. 'As a businessman, as a Spaniard and as a person, I am very worried and I am scared by what's going on (in Catalonia),' said Juan Roig, chairman of Spain's biggest food retailer Mercadona. The influential Catalan business lobby Cercle d'Economia said on Wednesday it was extremely worried by the prospect of Catalonia declaring independence from Spain and called for leaders from both sides to start talks. Dutch paint maker Akzo Nobel, speaking about the situation in Catalonia where it has several plants, said: 'We continuously monitor local developments in markets where we operate.' 'From a business perspective we are best served by a stable environment and will adapt when necessary,' said Akzo Nobel spokeswoman Diana Abrahams. German carmaker Volkswagen was forced to briefly halt production on one of three production lines at its Spanish unit SEAT's Catalonia plant on Tuesday when protests disrupted parts supply. Stoppages also affected production at Nestle's instant coffee plant in Girona. A ten-year-old girl was sprayed in the face with mace by two men dressed as 'killer clowns'. The youngster was attacked in a park while playing with friends in Beersheba, Israel on Tuesday. She ran home with itchy eyes and burns to the neck caused by the self-defence spray but was otherwise unharmed. A ten-year-old girl was sprayed in the face with mace by two men dressed as 'killer clowns'. Pictured: Bill Skarsgard as Pennywise in New Line cinema's horror thriller It It comes amid a spate of clown attacks across the country which coincides with the release of horror movie It - a remake of the Stephen King classic about a clown that emerges from sewers and kills children. The girl's father Amir Zagdon told the Jerusalem Post: 'I suggest everyone just knock it off, we have enough to deal with in the tense reality of Israel.' Police official Boaz Hamami said clown attacks are dangerous to both the victims and the perpetrators who may be attacked by scared citizens. The release of the movie has worried officials around the globe. Last month Pennsylvania State Police released a community bulletin outlining concerns. 'With the fall of 2017 upon us, it is anticipated that similar "creepy clown" sightings could be reported,' a statement said. It comes amid a spate of clown attacks across the country which coincides with the release of horror movie It (pictured) The youngster was attacked in a park while playing with friends in Beersheba, Israel on Tuesday (stock image) Officers are asking that people report suspicious activity to local police. They've also created a 'See Something, Send Something' app to help 'combat terrorism and other criminal activity.' Meanwhile, the Clown Australia Facebook page issued an ominous warning about its plan to terrorise town and cities across the country ahead of Halloween. 'We're coming for you, hope y'all are prepared,' someone posted on the page on Wednesday night. 'SEE YOU SOON!' the post added, alongside a clown and red balloon emoji. 'The movie, which is adapted from a Stephen King novel by same name, portrays an evil demon who takes on the shape of a clown named Pennywise, who stalks children from within the sewers and kills them when they least expect it. Pictured: Tim Curry as the original Pennywise A heroic boyfriend saved his girlfriend's life after she was shot in the heart during the Las Vegas massacre. Christina Kitcat and Kelly Culbertson, a firefighter and EMT, of California, were watching county star Jason Aldean perform at the Route 91 Harvest Festival when bullets began raining down on the crowd. Culbertson, who initially mistook the gunshots for fireworks, said Kitcat had suddenly turned to him and said: 'It's hard for me to breathe,' before collapsing into his arms, the Daily Beast reports. The firefighter hit the floor to try and shield Kitcat from the gunfire and assess her injuries. Kelly Culbertson, a firefighter and EMT of California, saved Christina Kitcat's life after she was shot in the heart during the Las Vegas massacre (pictured together) The couple were watching county star Jason Aldean perform at the Route 91 Harvest Festival when bullets began raining down on the crowd. Pictured: People dive for cover at Route 91 They were serious. The 29-year-old was bleeding heavily and doctors later found a bullet had gone through her arm and splintered, penetrating her heart and lungs. With the help of Bruce Pollett - who had been shot in the foot - and Tricia Pollett, two firefighters from San Diego they'd just met, they loaded Kitcat into a beer cart and ran out of the concert into the street where ambulances were already triaging patients. But Culbertson quickly realized there were too many injured people for ambulances. If his girlfriend was going to live, they had to get to a hospital immediately. The firefighter says he spotted a white Chevy Silverado which was picking up injured people fleeing the festival. 'Do you have room for one more?' Culbertson asked the driver, who replied 'Yeah, yeah, yeah, get in, get in.' After Kitcat was shot, the firefighter hit the floor to try and shield her from the gunfire and assess her injuries The couple met snowboarding in California in December 2016 and within a few weeks, were dating Culbertson believes the driver was veteran Marine Taylor Winston who stole a truck from the parking lot and used it to transport two dozen patients to local hospitals. Winston, who joined the Marines at 17 and served two tours in Iraq before leaving in 2011, described the massacre as a 'mini war zone' but realized 'we needed to get them out of there regardless of our safety.' He still doesn't know which of his other passengers survived. Culbertson says his girlfriend was fighting to remain conscious as they sped to hospital, adding that he was 'looking at her, making sure she's OK, making sure she's still breathing, making sure she's still with me.' 'She'd come back, look at me. I'd say, 'Babe, are you with me?' She'd smile. She kept saying, 'I'm going to go to sleep.' I'm like, 'No, you're, profanity, not.' When they reached the hospital, Culbertson wheeled his girlfriend into A&E, telling the nurse: '29-year-old female with a gunshot to the upper torso' and 'she needs surgery soon.' Despite hitting her heart, the bullet had missed all the major coronary arteries. It was a miracle she'd survived, doctors told her family (Kitcat with Culbertson) Culbertson even placed Kitcat's oxygen mask, while Tricia Pollett - who had traveled with them to the hospital - applied the EKG. When there was nothing more he could do, he helped other patients in the waiting room. Kitcat went into surgery on Monday where doctors removed the bullet from her left ventricle, and found shrapnel from the bullet had left four holes in her heart and holes in her lungs. Incredibly, despite hitting her heart, the bullet had missed all the major coronary arteries. It was a miracle she'd survived, doctors told her family. 'You saved my life,' Kitcat, a freelance film production manager, told Culbertson while she was in the ICU. The first person she asked for when she woke up was him. Culbertson, of Kern County Fire Station 75 in Randsburg, California, says he's grateful for his EMT training which saved Kitcat's life but is still grappling with survivors' guilt from the attack. Culbertson believes they were rescued by Taylor Winston, 29, (left in his Marine uniform, and right, on Facebook) stole a truck to rescue dozens of people during the Las Vegas massacre Winston found this unattended truck near the venue with keys still inside and used it to transport victims to the hospital The van was left covered in blood after Winston rushed seriously injured festival goers to hospital 'It's like, 'Why didn't I get hit? Why her? She didn't do anything to anyone,' he said. 'It was tough. 'We have a saying: We prepare for the worst but hope for the best. I hoped to never have seen that. Or experienced it. Or even seen the aftermath of it.' Friends have since set up a GoFundMe page for Kitcat's medical expenses which has already raised more than $89,000, while the Las Vegas Victims' Fund on GoFundMe has more than $9 million. The 30-year-old describes Kitcat as 'crazy awesome' and 'one of the kindest people I know'. The couple met snowboarding in California in December 2016. A few weeks later, Kitcat texted him inviting him to her mom's annual wine and cheese holiday party. He then invited her to his family's home for Christmas Day. They began dating a short time later. Friends describe Culbertson as a hero and his rescue, a 'love story'. 'He's a fireman and he saved her,' Kitcat's friend Casey Winchell Napolitano, 30, of Calabasas said. 'Even though she was shot in the heart, it was her arm that saved her. And it was their love that saved her.' Gun owners are rushing to buy the same high capacity rifle magazines and bump stocks that were used in the Las Vegas massacre in fear that they are about to be made illegal. Several online retailers are sold out of magazines including a $189 SureFire model which holds 100 bullets and another, for $149, which holds 60 rounds. Both were found inside Stephen Paddock's suite at the Mandalay Bay hotel on Sunday along with a stash of other weapons and accessories which he used to slaughter 58 people and injure 489 at the Route 91 Harvest Festival. He had also used an AR-15 bump stock to modify his semi-automatic rifle into a fully-automatic weapon. Democrats are now pushing for the legal bump stock, which costs between $50 and several hundred dollars, to be outlawed. It has prompted an 'overnight' boost in sales and online traffic for firearms dealers across the country. One employee at the Pennsylvania based website told DailyMail.com they had never sold one of the $189 100 round SureFire magazines before Sunday's shooting but they are now out of stock. The MAG-5 60 and 100, which were both found inside Stephen Paddock's Mandalay Bay hotel suite after Sunday's shooting, have sold out on the manufacturer's website The magazine has also sold out on GunMag Warehouse, another retailer which sells it One of Paddock's 23 weapons is shown above, lying on the floor of his hotel room, after Sunday's shooting. It is fitted with an AR-15 bump stock (at the rear) and a high capacity gun magazine Customers are also searching en masse for the bump stock Paddock used to modify his weapons. 'People are landing on our website actually looking for them. It wasn't a seller for us but there was a ton of demand for it once people knew. 'Never did we get even a call for them and then all of a sudden, overnight, we had more traffic than we ever had,' Paul Ross, a customer services representative for BigArmory.com, said on Thursday. The online retailer, which sells only firearms accessories but no actual weapons, ran out of them seven months ago. They were never a best-selling item and limited stock was ordered in the first place but the stocks are now in high demand. The same trend is being seen with the high capacity magazines. 'People think they're going to get banned. We never had sold one prior [to the shooting] then all of a sudden, people just panicked. There has definitely been an increase,' Ross added. On the few websites of retailers who are still advertising the bump stock, like USA Midway, it is sold out A bump stock similar to the one used by Paddock to modify his semi-automatic rifle is shown above at the Good Guys Gun Shop in Orem, Utah Slide Fire, one of the online retailers which sells the bump stocks, suspended orders this week Reiterating that the site performs background checks on anyone who places orders and that it does not ship to states where the products are illegal, Ross said the majority of the website's customers were 'upstanding citizens' who were merely taking precautions against potential changes to the law. The majority of the boosted traffic is coming from Arkansas, Tennessee and Michigan, he added. 'Gun owners are a very experienced bunch. If you have been a gun owner for 15 or 20 years, you see all that stuff that happens with regulations and people get worried that they will be banned. 'The same thing happened when machine guns were banned in 1986. It's basic supply and demand,' he said. GunMag Warehouse is offering 30% off some magazines, warning customers in an eye-catching advert on its homepage to 'stock up while you can!'. Big Armory, another retailer, said it received 'insane' traffic after the shooting. It has sold out of several gun magazines since GunMag warehouse offered a 30 percent off sale on Wednesday and urged customers to 'stock up while you can' Senator Dianne Feinstein introduced a bill on Wednesday to outlaw the bump stocks used in the attack Magazines were a small part of the enormous arsenal of weaponry, ammunition and accessories found inside Stephen Paddock's hotel suite on Sunday night. He had purchased all of his 23 weapons legally and used a legally bought bump stock to transform some of them into fully automatic weapons. Talk has turned to whether the accessories - which transform semi-automatic rifles into rapid fire killing machines - should be outlawed as a result of the shooting. In just 13 minutes, Paddock was able to use the weapons to murder 58 and injure 489. One website which sells bump stocks has suspended its business. In an announcement on its website, Slide Fire made no mention of the atrocity but said it halted sales in order to 'provide the best service' to orders that have already been placed. BumpFire systems, a Texas website which sells the accessory, has disabled its website. Cheap as Dirt, another retailer, has removed the product from its site. The gunman was found dead next to shell casings and rifles on Sunday night after slaughtering 58 people and injuring hundreds more More weapons were found inside the tub of his suite and strewn across the floor. All were bought legally and amassed by Paddock over several years But BigArmory.com stood by the business's practices and said that no changes to the law would stop 'crazy, disturbed' people from carrying out acts of terror. 'If he didn't have 100 round magazine, he could still do the same damage. 'You could still do damage no matter with what you have,' Ross said of Paddock owned 47 guns in total. 'No amount of gun control will stop a crazy person,' said firearms accessories dealers of Stephen Paddock (above) 'Not everybody is always in the right state of mind. No amount of gun control or regulation can stop a crazy person.' He added that most of the people seeking out the magazines wanted to use them recreationally and pointed out that 'not even the military' use magazines with 100 round capacity. Ross added however that it was 'laughable' to suggest that a person only needed one shot to defend themselves in a hostile situation. On Wednesday, California Dem. Sen. Dianne Feinstein proposed a bill to Congress to outlaw the bump stocks used by Paddock in Sunday's shooting. Republicans slammed the effort, saying it was 'too soon' to 'politicize' the tragedy while authorities continued investigating it. The gun sellers who sold Paddock his weapons said they felt 'ill' after learning about how he'd used them. One who worked at Guns and Guitars near the shooter's Mesquite home however said he had followed the law. 'We did everything right and we can't control what someone does once they leave this store,' manager Christopher Sullivan told CBS. A burglar made a clean getaway from a Long Island restaurant after emptying the cash register, cooking a meal and washing the dishes. Owner Will Colon said he found bent burglar bars and $100 missing when he arrived Tuesday at Nelly's Taqueria in Hicksville, New York. Security video showed the intruder - a young man - putting on food-service gloves and heating up a pot before hammering the register open. Will Colon said he found bent burglar bars and $100 missing when he arrived Tuesday at Nelly's Taqueria in Hicksville, New York Security video showed the intruder - a young man - put on food-service gloves and heating up a pot before hammering the register open He pocketed the money and put a dollar in the tip jar. 'He was cooking up a storm,' Colon told Newsday. 'He heated up some beans, he sauteed some chicken and some shrimp. The way he handled that pan, man, the dude had some skills.' While Colon was not thrilled about the robbery, he was slightly impressed that the burglar was able to cook in dark. 'He heated up some beans, he sauteed some chicken and some shrimp. The way he handled that pan, man, the dude had some skills,' said Colon (left) to Newsday 'The only light was from one of those neon fixtures that traps bugs.' Colon asserted that the intruder followed kitchen protocol following his meal. He covered and refrigerated the food and wiped down surfaces. The thief also washed and dried pots, putting them all back. The video is currently being used in an active investigation by the Nassau County police. Further inspection of the footage found that the same man had come into the restaurant that Monday morning and spent two hours wrapping up food. Further inspection of the footage found that the same man had come into the restaurant that Monday morning and spent two hours wrapping food While Colon thought the man worked cleanly, he didn't take his chances. He kept Nelly's closed and spent Tuesday cleaning the establishment And while Colon thought the man worked clean, he didn't take his chances. He kept Nelly's closed and spent Tuesday cleaning the establishment. 'I really couldn't see everything he did,' he said. On Wednesday, they reopened. Colon added: 'And it was a good thing that we were because it was National Taco Day.' A Mandalay Bay hotel employee took a bullet to his back as he bravely shielded his wife from the gunfire during the Vegas massacre. William King, 38, was shot when the gunman unleashed on the Route 91 Harvest festival where he had been with his 26-year-old wife Kimberly. The Las Vegas father had been protecting his wife when the bullet struck him, tore through his body and exited his chest. It missed his heart and lungs by centimeters. William King, 38, was shot when the gunman unleashed on the Route 91 Harvest festival where he had been with his 26-year-old wife Kimberly The Las Vegas father had been protecting his wife Kimberly when the bullet struck him As the panic set in around them, King held his bullet wound with one hand and grabbed his wife with the other as he forced her to run from the gunfire. Grisly photos of King's wounds and his blood soaked bandages were posted on a GoFundMe page set up for him and his family. King, who works at the same casino where the gunman fired his weapons from, was treated at Sunrise Hospital before being released on Tuesday afternoon. The couple had been right in the middle of the crowd when the gunman unleashed a barrage of bullets. The bullet struck him in his back, tore through his body and exited his chest (above). It missed his heart and lungs by centimeters Grisly photos of King's wounds and his blood soaked bandages were posted on a GoFundMe page set up for him and his family 'He got on top of me. He put my head on the floor and his upper body was on top of my head. I whispered to him, 'I'm scared.' He was like okay, we're going to get up. He started to get up, push-up style, and that's right when he got shot,' Kimberly told the NY Daily News from the hospital. 'I saw the bullet go in. His blood splattered all over me. I was in shock and disbelief. He just grabbed me. I couldn't move. Everything was in slow motion for me.' As they ran for their lives, Kimberly said she saw a woman next to her go down. 'She got shot in the face. Her lifeless body fell to floor. I had to close my eyes,' she said. King held his bullet wound with one hand and grabbed his wife with the other as he forced her to run from the gunfire. His bloodied hand is pictured above in hospital Only through awe can we be saved. Only through faith can the market economy have a soul. -Zhao Xiao When French diplomat and historian Alexis de Tocqueville visited America in the 1830s, he marveled at the associational life of American communities, noting the particular influence of religion and local churches. Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits flame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power, he wrote. The safeguard of morality is religion, and morality is the best security of law as well as the surest pledge of freedom. Nearly two centuries later, Zhao Xiao, a visiting government economist from China has made a series of similar observations, most notably in a 2002 paper titled, Market Economies With Churches and Market Economies Without Churches. In his travels, Xiao sought to uncover the secret of American prosperity, asking, Where does the greatest difference between China and America lie? After comparing and contrasting a number of areas and features real estate development, the science and technology sector, financial systems, political and legal systems, etc. Xiao concludes that the clearest difference is found in Americas churches. Truth be told, he writes, from the east coast of the US to the west coast, from towns to cities, in any place you look you will find that this countrys most numerous structure is none other than the church. Churches, and only churches, are Americans center; they are the very core that binds Americans together. Xiaos observations come at a time when American Christianity and church attendance is at an all-time low. Nevertheless, Americas heritage of religious belief may still serve as a cultural foundation. These days Chinese people do not believe in anything, he explains. They dont believe in god, they dont believe in the devil, they dont believe in providence, they dont believe in the last judgment, to say nothing about heaven. A person who believes in nothing ultimately can only believe in himself. And self-belief implies that anything is possible what do lies, cheating, harm, and swindling matter? Alas, despite the recent strides toward freedom and prosperity in China, Xiao decries its hobbled market ethics, leading to culture of dishonesty and a complicated web of corruption and collusion between government and business. The market economy can only discourage idleness, he explains. It cannot discourage people from lying or causing harm. Indeed, he continues, without a proper economic understanding or moral imagination, it may entice people to be industrious in their lies, industrious in bringing harm to others, and to pursue wealth by any means. In addition to Christianitys moral framework, Xiao has also noted that China would benefit from its spirit of contracts and spirit of universal love. The first thing it will bring is a spirit of contracts. We know that, whether it is a market economy or a constitutional system, behind them all is a civilization based upon rules. So what we need is a group of people who observe rules. Only then can this system work with highest efficiency. And this spirit of contracts, it comes from belief in Christianity, because we know that in the Bible, for instance, there are the Ten Commandments. These are contracts God signed with humans. The second thing it will bring is the spirit of universal love. There is no culture that can match Christianitys degree of prizing love, because what it emphasizes is a form of unconditional love, a love for everyone, including those who are not lovable, including those who have hurt you or oppressed you. You have to love them, regardless of whether they are good or bad to you, regardless of whoever they are, you must love them. So this kind of love is a sign of the openness of modern society and modern civilization. In the end, Xiao is optimistic that his countrymen already see the value of market ethics. For China, its more about the hands-on work of cultural reconstruction. Modern economicsmodern politicsmodern culture form the trinity of the market economy. Seeking the fruits of the market economy, Chinese society ultimately will travel the road of cultural reconstruction, investing in market ethics. It is fortunate that in Chinese society there is already recognition that integrity is the cornerstone of the market economy, but establishing a good cornerstone is no simple matter Reality unquestionably requires us to move forward another few steps. The first is cultural transformation. We must find a cultural framework compatible with the modern free market economy. To achieve this, we may unearth from our own long-standing traditional culture a set of ethics that are compatible with modern economics, or we may use absorption and introductions from elsewhere to recreate our cultural DNA. Given Chinas decreasing faith in an atheistic, communistic philosophy of life and the hundreds of millions of Chinese that have recently converted to Christianity in the years since Xiaos travels (including Xiao himself), the path to establishing that cultural cornerstone seems well within sight. Image: Pray by Allen LI (CC BY 2.0) A train derailed early Thursday morning and crashed into a sleeping man's bedroom in northwest Atlanta. At about 3am, 14 cars of a CSX train bound for Cincinnati derailed and crashed into a home, knocking the building off its foundation. The cars went five to 10 feet inside the house. The man has been identified by family members as DeAngelo Rivers, according to CBS46. He was transported to Grady Memorial Hospital and is in stable condition. Scroll down for video A train derailed at around 3am Thursday morning in northwest Atlanta, knocking a house off its foundation The train crashed into a man's bedroom while he was sleeping. He was taken to a nearby hospital and is in stable condition The train had 190 rail cars. 14 of the cars came off the tracks, closing multiple streets The train was carrying sand, carbon black used in tire manufacturing and other bulk materials. The Atlanta Fire Department has said there was nothing hazardous on board. The train had 190 cars and the derailment caused multiple street closures. 68 of the rail cars were loaded and the train also carried three locomotives. It is currently unclear what caused the train to derail. Two British heroes saved dozens of people in the Las Vegas shooting after he stumbled on the massacre as he went from an evening stroll. Soldier Stuart Finlay and firefighter Tony Dumbleton were both in the Nevada resort when Stephen Paddock opened fire on Sunday, leaving 59 people dead and more than 500 injured. Mr Dumbleton was on a dream holiday travelling across America with his wife, Lucy, both aged 43. The couple, from Exhall, near Coventry, were staying at the MGM Grand hotel when he went for an evening walk and heard shooting coming from the Mandalay Bay nearby. Soldier Stuart Finlay (left) and firefighter Tony Dumbleton (right, with his wife, Lucy) were both in the Nevada resort when Stephen Paddock opened fire on Sunday, leaving 59 people dead and more than 500 injured Mr Dumbleton, a firefighter for Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service, sprinted towards the shooting and dragged dozens of victims to nearby hotels. He said: 'People were running past, shouting and screaming there was a gunman. 'I ran past them to see if there was anything I could do. One man I found had been shot in the shoulder. 'I took him back to the MGM where hotel paramedics had set up a triage area. The paramedics were two young girls and had two first aid kits between them. 'I have first aid training and helped this man and then there was another also who had been shot through the shoulder. 'There was also another who had been shot straight through his ankle. It was horrendous. 'The paramedics tried to stop me using some of the bandages but I just took them and said 'there's people dying here'. 'We had to rush the casualties out because we thought someone else was coming. People were hiding behind columns in the hotel, wherever they could. People scramble over barriers to get to safety as the gunfire rages on at the Las Vegas event An investigator is seen on Wednesday peering through one of the windows that Paddock smashed so he could open fire on the crowd 'We moved the casualties out of the way in case a gunman was coming. I then ran back to grab the first aid kits, we had to have the oxygen and bandages. 'The paramedics took at least an hour to arrive. We were trying to find people with cars so they could take the injured to hospital. 'One guy called Chris was deteriorating badly after he had been shot straight though his shoulder, but when the stampede started I lost him and now I don't know where he went. 'I feel bad because I promised I'd look after him. Now I'm just keeping an eye on the news praying nothing bad happened to him.' The couple, who have three children, had been to San Francisco and Los Angeles in their first trip to America and were ending their tour with a trip to Las Vegas to celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary. It was a second frightening holiday experience to hit the family in a matter of weeks. Their daughter Lorigh, 24, was in the Dominican Republic and forced to shelter in a bathroom from Hurricane Irma for two days. Mr Dumbleton said: 'It has definitely been a bad year for holidays for our family. Investigators are still processing the festival site-turned-crime scene. The FBI warned in the press conference on Wednesday that it would be some time before all of the evidence that was being collected was properly examined 'We have had enough. Lucy won't even leave the hotel. This is our first and last time in America. 'I have dealt with a lot of trauma during my time in the fire service but never gunshot wounds. 'It's different because in the fire service you can be called to an incident that's traumatic but then finding yourself in one, it's surreal.' Trooper Finlay, of 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards, turned 25 on Friday and was celebrating with fellow soldiers over the weekend, his father revealed. But the much-anticipated Vegas getaway, taken while on leave from military training, was sickeningly derailed when a concert came under heavy gunfire on Sunday. The father-of-one from Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, left an evening meal near the Nevada strip to find a bloodbath - and darted towards danger with two other troops. The trio, which also included 24-year-old Trooper Ross Woodward, remain under Army orders not to discuss the ordeal publicly, but Trooper Finlay's father Kev shared his son's account. First responders and bystanders carry an injured person to an emergency station located at the intersection of Las Vegas Boulevard and Tropicana Ave - one block north of the shooting The 48-year-old utility worker said: 'He walked out of a place into everything unfolding in front of him. 'There were bodies around them as he was putting pressure on someone that had been shot in the back, then they helped others. 'He said they could hear (the gunfire) from where they were.' With many emergency services pinned down by a relentless hail of bullets, the off-duty troops helped marshal people to safety until paramedics and police arrived. 'There wasn't enough ambulances to casualties so they stayed with anyone they could to help and comfort them,' Mr Finlay said. 'None of them hesitated ... they just ran into it and did what they could. 'I think the training came instinctively to the lads and (being) the type of people they are in themselves, they put no thoughts to their own safety to help others.' The troops' actions that night won acclaim from the Prime Minister, who thanked them for their efforts earlier this week. They had been training in California with the regiment, known as the Welsh Cavalry, in the weeks leading up to the attack. Lombardo said Paddock fired 'over 200' rounds through these doors when he spotted a security guard approaching the room. Miraculously, the guard was only injured, and was able to tell police exactly where Paddock was Crowds began to flee the scene as gunfire rang out at the 30,000-strong music festival is attacked. At first crowds didn't seem to know what was happening Trooper Finlay, who rose into the army after joining the TA, left behind his infant daughter Amelie, just six months old, to take up the opportunity overseas. He had been relishing the trip to Las Vegas, according to his father, but had been more reluctant to get into the birthday spirit. 'He said his mates forced him to celebrate,' Mr Finlay said. 'It's a place he's wanted to visit while he's over there and he's your typical soldier.' The group are now expected to return to camp in California before flying back to the UK. Referring to the emotional toll Sunday's mass shooting might have taken on his son, Mr Finlay said: 'He said he's OK, but I'm not to sure it's kicked in yet what he saw or did. 'They're all good mates and I think they've had loads of support from the base too.' Initially the Chester-based father was filled with panic about his son's safety when he saw the worst shooting in modern US history unfold on television. 'I was panicking inside fearing the worst and when I couldn't get in touch with him my head was all over the place, once I found out what he did I can't describe the feeling of pride and so much relief. 'It's mad to think my son was one of them there helping and trying to save lives, it's a mad feeling I well up inside when I talk about it and hear things. 'I know it's his job and he loves what he does but I do have such a relief when he's home.' Counselor to the President Kellyanne Conway suggested the White House is at least open to a conversation about banning bump stocks, the devices that turned Las Vegas shooter Stephen Paddock's semiautomatic rifles into machine guns. 'Many of them are open to a conversation, we always welcome thoughtful conversations,' Conway said on Fox & Friends Thursday, indicating the White House could approve a ban - a highly unusual step for a Republican administration. Her thoughts - and phrasing - were echoed by White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders the same day. She told reporters: 'Members of both parties and multiple organizations are planning to take a look at bump stocks. We welcome that and would like to be part of that conversation.' And even the National Rifle Association (NRA) has weighed in, saying it supports 'additional regulations' for the modifications, if not a ban. Meanwhile, gun sellers say that the modifications are selling out across the country. Scroll down for video Counselor to the President Kellyanne Conway said Thursday that the White House, like Hill Republicans, 'welcome thoughtful conversations' on gun control matters The NRA - which has vehemently fought gun control laws, and lobbies Congress heavily to loosen or maintain existing gun statutes - called on the ATF to do something about bump-stocks. It said the government department should 'immediately review whether these devices comply with federal law.' 'The NRA believes that devices designed to allow semiautomatic rifles to function like fully-automatic rifles should be subject to additional regulations.' But should the ATF modify federal statute to make such devices illegal, the move would circumvent Congress. Always quick to blame a Democrat, Conway reminded TV audiences that it was President Obama's Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives that decided in 2010 not to regulate bump-stocks, with one official calling it a 'goofy little doodad.' 'I would just note for the viewers, that since bump stock has not been in the lexicon before, this is a device that President Obama's ATF decided would not be regulated in 2010 and I think that's an important part of this conversation,' Conway said. She then pointed to Republicans in Congress flirting with Democrats on a bump stock ban, including House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Robert Goodlatte, R-Va. When Kellyanne Conway (right) tried to point out that it was the Obama administration that allowed bump stocks not to be regulated CNN's Chris Cuomo (left) wasn't having it She Conway went on to knock Hillary Clinton, who brought up gun control almost immediately after the Las Vegas assault, as well as bash other top Democrats. Conway used the same talking points when appearing on CNN with New Day host Chris Cuomo. This time around, it didn't go as smoothly. 'Kellyanne, I am tired, so I apologize in advance, but I have to tell you, a lot of this doesn't wash,' Cuomo said, after Conway brought up the Obama connection and then knocked Clinton and Sens. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., who have both called for stricter gun control. Cuomo argued that, 'All you need to know about bump stock is that it was legal And that's what allowed him to lay down that field of fire. That's all you need to know about it.' 'There's no thoughtful conversation to have about it. Of course it was 2010. Of course it was the Obama administration,' he added, pointing out that bump stocks are a relatively new technology. 'I'm saying don't cheapen what happened in Las Vegas.' House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (pictured) promised victims of the Las Vegas mass shooting that she would not rest until Congress acted on gun control during a town hall meeting on Wednesday Also on Thursday, some gun sellers revealed that sales of bump-stocks had gone up since they were linked to the deaths of 58 victims. 'Oh, God, yes, it's been insane. Since this story has broke, we've been getting about 50 people a day asking for them,' Michael Cargill, owner of Central Texas Gun Works in Austin, Texas, told CNN Money. He said his distributors had sold out of the modifications, too. 'Now that someone has come out saying maybe we should ban them, they're definitely going to sell off the shelf,' Cargill said. 'All the distributors are out because customers bought them all,' said Josh Dagnese, the owner of Village Gun Store in Whitefield, New Hampshire, who sold his last bump-stock on Tuesday. 'I am unable to reorder because of the demand,' he said. And Slide Fire, which sells bump-stocks, told CNN: 'We have decided to temporarily suspend taking new orders in order to provide the best service with those already placed.' 'I do think there would be bipartisan support coming together to pass a bill to make it illegal to sell those because you can buy them now,' Pelosi said On Wednesday, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said she believed there may be momentum to pass legislation to ban bump fire stocks as Republicans reveal they are open to banning the devices that the Las Vegas gunman used to make his weapons deadlier. 'I do think there would be bipartisan support coming together to pass a bill to make it illegal to sell those because you can buy them now,' Pelosi said during a town hall on CNN. Earlier on Wednesday, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., introduced legislation that would ban the sale and possession of bump stocks. 'In just nine minutes an individual was able to turn a concert venue into a battlefield,' Feinstein told reporters at a Capitol Hill press conference, flanked by Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., whose home state was rattled in 2012 by the Sandy Hook mass shooting, and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. Overall, Feinstein got 29 of her fellow Democrats to sign on in just a few hours. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., introduced legislation alongside her Democratic colleagues on Wednesday to ban the sale and possession of bump stocks, of which the Las Vegas killer had 12 such devices, she said Zero Republicans joined in the effort, though several GOP senators indicated Wednesday that the measure isn't dead upon arrival, like most gun control proposals. The Senate's third-ranking Republican, Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., said bump stocks are 'something I think we'll look at,' while Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C, suggested it was a 'good time' to hold a hearing on the matter. 'I'm not an expert on bump stocks, [but] all things that make America safer and don't infringe on the Second Amendment, count me in,' Graham said, according to CBS News. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., made an even more definitive statement. 'Automatic weapons are illegal. To me, that is part of that same type of process. So I have no problem banning those,' Johnson said. Rep. Bill Flores, a popular Texas conservative serving in his fourth term in the House, was the first congressional Republican to endorse the idea of a ban on bump stocks. Flores' spokesman confirmed the congressman's position on Wednesday. On the House side, a similar bump stock ban bill has 148 co-sponsors, but so far they're all Democrats. Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn, the senior Republican senator from Texas, also told reporters Wednesday that the bump stock issue is worth examining, and that he spoke with Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, about holding a hearing. 'I will tell you that the unique aspect of the bump stock and how you would literally transform a semiautomatic weapon into an automatic weapon is something that I think bears looking into,' Cornyn said. Several other Senate Republicans also signaled their desire for a hearing on bump stocks. On Sunday night, when 64-year-old Stephen Paddock pumped bullet after bullet into the crowd below his Mandalay Bay hotel room he had 12 such devices. So far the death toll stands at 58, with more than 500 wounded. 'Those numbers are simply stunning,' Feinstein uttered. The devices, known as 'bump stocks' among other things, are legal and were originally intended to help people with limited hand mobility to fire a semi-automatic without the individual trigger pulls required. They are attached to the rear of the gun and allow the rifle to slide back and forward while firing, causing the trigger to 'bump' into the shooter's finger with the natural recoil of each shot. So long as the shooter keeps his or her finger over the trigger, the semi-automatic gun will keep firing rapidly - much like a full-automatic. The result is that the weapon's rate of fire is increased from between 45 and 60 rounds per minute to between 400 and 800 rounds per minute, according to Feinstein's office. The California Democrat explained how bump stocks cost less than $200 and turn legal semiautomatic weapons into automatic ones, which are supposed to be illegal for civilians to have in the United States. Sen. Dianne Feinstein was joined at a press conference by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. (left), and Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn. (right) ON THE FENCE? Republican Sens. John Thune, R-S.D. (left) and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. (right) both indicated Wednesday that the bump stock issue was worth a look The bill makes it illegal for anyone to 'import, sell, manufacture, transfer or possess' trigger cranks or bump stocks, along with any other device that turns a semiautomatic weapon into a 'machine gun.' 'The only reason to modify a gun is to kill as many people as possible in as short a time as possible,' Feinstein said. The quick pace of the gun fire from Sunday's shooting was audible in video footage from the event, as Paddock sprayed bullets onto attendees of the Route 91 Harvest country musical festival on the Las Vegas strip. 'The searing noise of that staccato firing in Las Vegas that every body has now heard countless times should be a wake-up call to this Congress,' said Blumenthal when he took his turn at the podium. 'That firing ought to be echoing in our minds as we consider whether a bump stock device should be able to be sold lawfully, online.' Rep. Bill Flores, a popular Texas conservative serving in his fourth term in the House, was the first congressional Republican to endorse the idea of a ban on bump stocks The devices, known as 'bump stocks' among other names, are legal and originally were intended to help people with limited hand mobility fire a semi-automatic without the individual trigger pulls required They can fit over the rear shoulder-stock assembly on an automatic rifle and with applied pressure cause the weapon to fire continuously, increasing the rate from between 45 and 60 rounds per minute to between 400 and 800 rounds per minute President Trump visited survivors, family members, first responders and medical providers in Las Vegas on Wednesday. Speaking directly to the president, Blumenthal said: 'I hope you will provide leadership and at the very least back a bill that stops these killer accelerators, like these bump stops.' The White House's initial reaction to the shooting was to say that it was premature to bring up gun control measures. Feinstein, echoing many of her fellow Democrats, asked, 'If not, when will we ever do it?' At the presser she also talked about how close she came to having a truly personal stake in this latest gun-related tragedy. 'My own daughter was going to go. They were going to go with neighbors. They were going to stay at that hotel,' she said. 'That's how close it came to me.' 'I thought, oh God, it's one of those misses in life,' the Democratic senator said. Two security guards face lengthy jail terms for stealing 7million from their own cash-in-transit van in one of the biggest 'inside job' heists in British history. Driver Mohammad Siddique and guard Ranjeev Singh - who worked for security firm Loomis - staged the fake raid near Heathrow Airport in a plot described in court as worthy of a Hollywood movie. The pair made it look as if the van had been hijacked and driven away while Singh was in a toilet. He got out of the truck to use the loo shortly after it left the depot and said the van and Siddique had disappeared when he reemerged. Siddique was found a few hours later in a ditch with his hands tied behind his back and his feet bound with cable ties. The money was gone and has never been recovered. Security guards Mohammed Siddique (left) and Ranjeev Singh (right) have been convicted over a 7million 'inside job' cash-in-transit heist A police reconstruction shows just how much space the 7million would have taken up But investigators found that, instead of raising the alarm immediately, Singh had actually waited in the toilet cubicle for 20 minutes, and then nonchalantly smoked a cigarette, before telling colleagues in another van that the truck was missing. The delay meant that the firm's control centre could not thwart the raid by immobilising the vehicle. In the meantime, 28 bags of cash had been transferred from the Loomis security van into a second vehicle parked in a quiet, secluded suburban road in Feltham. When questioned at the scene, Siddique told police officers that he had been contacted weeks before the 'robbery' by an unknown man at his home. He said this man had threatened to burn his home down and forced him to take part in the plan, ultimately leaving him tied up as he was found. But prosecutors presented mobile phone data to show that Siddique had in fact been in contact with his co-conspirators on the day and was directly involved in the heist. The van (pictured circled) was found abandoned. The 'inside job' driver was tied up nearby The pair took 19 bags of cash totalling 7million from the back of the security van (file photo) It also emerged that Singh had a second phone all along, stored in his jacket pocket, which he used to speak to Siddique while he was in the toilet. Siddique and Singh were today convicted of conspiracy to steal after a two week trial at Kingston Crown Court. Prosecutor Sandip Patel QC said of the crime: 'It was an audacious theft carefully planned and executed. You may think it has the makings of a Hollywood movie script, if it was it would probably be called "The Heathrow Heist", if anyone wanted to write a script about it. 'This heist was one of the biggest in British criminal history, there have been bigger but 7million is a significant amount. It was also an inside job.' Ringleader Rafaqat Hussain, 41, who made sure the job ran smoothly and helped launder the money, admitted involvement before the trial began. Hussain's wife Razvana Zeib, 34, also admitted charges including conspiracy to commit burglary and money launder. Rafaqat Hussain, Razvana Zeib and Garry Carrod also face jail for their roles in the heist The gang now face jail sentences, along with Garry Carrod, 34, who also admitted conspiracy to commit burglary, on 18 October. The cash, weighing 408kg, had been flown into Heathrow by Swiss bank Credit Suisse the day before which was bound for the Bank of Ireland. Britain's biggest heists Britain's biggest cash robbery was the notorious Securitas depot heist in Tonbridge, Kent, in February 2006, when raiders stole more than 53 million (CCTV pictured below) . In 2009, men in suits stole 40million worth of jewellery during a raid at London's New Bond Street's Graff jewellers. The UK's third biggest robbery was when an armed gang stole up to 40million from Knightsbridge Safe Deposit Centre in 1987. In 2004, 26.4 million was seized from the Northern Bank HQ in Belfast. The fifth biggest heist was the Brink's-Mat robbery, also at Heathow, in 1983. A gang stole three tones of gold bullion worth around 26million. One of that gang, Brian Reader, went on to take part in the Hatton Garden heist of 2015, in which more than 25million of loot was taken. Advertisement The security guards said to be 'firm friends' requested to work together on March 14 after Siddique falsely claimed his car had broken down, jurors heard. Shortly after collecting the money from the depot Singh got out the van to go to the toilet while Siddique drove off to Feltham where he had left a van bought weeks earlier for the raid, jurors were told. CCTV showed Singh 'ambling' out the toilet and walking around smoking a cigarette at 8.46am before raising the alarm just before 9am. While he was in the toilet, Siddique phoned Singh as he was allegedly loading the cash. Singh, who claimed to not have a phone on him, was later found to have a 'burner' handset in his jacket. He discarded the SIM card from the phone at the police station where he was taken to be interviewed initially as a witness. But the SIM card was later discovered, identifying other members of the gang. Detective Chief Inspector Mark Bedford, of the Met's Flying Squad, said after the convictions: 'Although this was an organised theft involving months of planning, it would not have been possible without the calculating and devious actions of Singh and Siddique who abused their positions to subvert the secure processes put in place to prevent this type of offence. 'The pair attempted to present themselves as victims of a robbery even going so far as arranging for Siddique to be tied up and left by a motorway to be found by innocent members of the public. 'However, a swift and thorough investigation by the Flying Squad uncovered their lies, led to their accomplices being identified and ensured their successful conviction at court. 'Both men are now likely to receive substantial custodial sentences reflecting their calculated abuse of their employer's trust and the value of the monies stolen.' Prosecutor Helen Shaw added: 'Ranjeev Singh, Mohammad Siddique and Rafaqat Hussain staged this theft to steal 7m which has still not been recovered, crafting a plan to make it appear that they were victims. 'Their elaborate plot quickly unravelled when inconsistencies in their story became apparent. 'The prosecution used interrogation of mobile phone records and CCTV evidence to highlight the lies they told police, leading to today's convictions.' Energy Secretary Rick Perry flew aboard a chartered private plane just a day before Health and Human Services Secretary handed in his resignation over a mounting government aircraft scandal. Perry, the former Texas governor and presidential candidate, was in Pennsylvania and Ohio late last week to tour a coal mine, tout credits to boost the struggling industry, and visit an old Uranium facility. Shuttling between events, Perry hopped on a chartered jet Sep. 28 to get to Ohio, according to an airport management company. The flight occured the day before fellow Cabinet member Tom Price resigned over his use of private charter flights for government business. Scroll down for video KEEP DIGGING: Department of Energy Secretary Rick Perry stands in front of a Dragline excavator shovel while addressing employees of the Jeddo Coal Company during a tour of the facility in Ebervale near Hazleton, Pa., on Thursday, Sept. 28, 2017. He then flew to Ohio on a chartered jet Price's jet scandal had already been in the media for day, and there was already widespread speculation he wouldn't survive the week as a member of the Trump administration. It had already been revealed that his domestic flight aboard government aircraft had topped $400,000. Then on the day Perry took his flight, Politico reported that Price's jet tab to taxpayers topped $1 million when military flights to Europe were factored in. President Trump had already said he was 'not happy' with the situation. Perry took the private plane from Hazleton Regional Airport in Pennsylvania to the Greater Portsmouth Regional Airport in southern Ohio on Sept. 28, PMH Aviation, the company that runs the Portsmouth airport, said on Wednesday. The purpose of his trip was to visit a uranium facility in Piketon, Ohio, according to the Energy Department. A receptionist at the company declined to answer questions about the cost of the flight. The only private jet to land at Greater Portsmouth Regional Airport last Thursday belonged to Dixie Capital Corp, a Richmond, Virginia-based charter company, according to data from the Flightaware website. Dixie confirmed it owned the plane, but declined to comment on Perry or say how much the trip cost. A spokeswoman for Perry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Former Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Tom Price (L) receives a flu shot administered by registered nurse Sharon Walsh-Bonadies (R) during an event on the importance of annual influenza prevention, at the National Press Club, on Sept. 28, the day before he resigned President Donald Trump called HHS Secretary Tom Price a 'very fine man' and said he would make a decision on his status Friday, hours before Price's resignation was announced Perry was joined in Ohio by U.S. Senator Rob Portman and two U.S. representatives from the state to visit the decommissioned uranium enrichment facility in Piketon, according to a statement last week by the senator's office. Local officials have been lobbying the government to reopen the facility. During his stop in Pennsylvania, Perry toured a coal mine. No commercial airlines serve Hazleton, but airports with commercial routes in Scranton and Allentown, Pennsylvania, are each an hour away. Price resigned last week as U.S. health and human services secretary and promised to repay the government for some $52,000 worth of travel including private flights, after Politico and other media reported on his use of charters. On Monday, the watchdog agency overseeing the U.S. Interior Department said it had opened an investigation into the use of charter flights by Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, who took a recent private flight from Las Vegas to Kalispell, Montana, that cost $12,000. Portman touted the trip on his Senate web site, saying, 'I was proud to show Secretary Perry the top-notch infrastructure and highly-skilled workforce at Piketons biggest employerthe Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant.' He continued: 'For decades, the workers here provided our military and our energy sector with critical natural resources, including enriched uranium for our countrys nuclear defense system. It now employs nearly 2,000 Ohioans through the cleanup effort, which, when finished, will provide the infrastructure and resources to employ thousands more.' Portman wasn't on the flight. PLANE CRAZY: The Interior Department's inspector general is reviewing a $12,000 flight by Interior secretary Ryan Zinke While in Pennsylvania, Perry met employees of the Jeddo Coal Company in Ebervale, near Hazleton. He visited the strip mining operation with Congressman Rep. Lou Barletta (R-PA), and toured the Rare Earth Elements extraction project site, a coal reclamation site, and an anthracite mining operation, the Associated Press reported. Perry was one of a raft of candidates who ran for president in 2012 and 2016. He famously couldn't remember during a 2011 televised debate the names of the three cabinet agencies he wanted to abolish, saying 'Oops' when he couldn't recall them all. The Energy Department was the agency he couldn't recall. A hairdresser deliberately infected four men he met through Grindr with HIV before sending them 'mocking and abusive' texts, a court heard. Daryll Rowe is accused of giving four men the virus, and of attempting to infect a further six between October 2015 and December 2016. After contacting them on the app they would have sex, but in each case he either refused to wear a condom during sex or 'sabotaged' it shortly before intercourse took place. One of the texts the 26-year-old allegedly sent said: 'Maybe you have the fever cos I came inside you and I have HIV, lol. Whoops!' Rowe appeared at Lewes Crown Court today charged with four counts of causing grievous bodily harm and six counts of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm. Daryll Rowe arriving at Lewes Crown Court, where he is accused of deliberately infecting ten lovers with HIV Rowe, who is originally from Edinburgh and appeared in court wearing a blue suit and tie, denies all charges. The men he had sex with are unable to be named for legal reasons. Caroline Carberry, prosecuting, said Rowe was diagnosed HIV positive in Edinburgh in April 2015 and had initially been taking retroviral drugs to inhibit the virus. The treatment helps ensure HIV cannot damage the immune system and should mean the likelihood of transmitting the disease is extremely low. Shortly after his diagnosis Rowe, who had also been infected during a casual hook-up, moved to Brighton, East Sussex. Although he initially had nowhere to live or stay he began to make contact with men on the gay dating app, Grindr. Rowe would exchange a series of messages with the men before meeting up with them at their homes where they would have sex. Miss Carberry said: 'Daryll Rowe embarked on a cynical and deliberate campaign to infect other men with HIV, having high risk sexual intercourse knowing he was highly infectious. Daryll Rowe, 26, infected at least four men and sent them mocking messages after meeting them through the gay dating app Grindr, the court heard 'Unfortunately for many of the men he met his campaign was successful. He deceived those men into believing he was HIV negative, reassuring those he was intimate with.' She said he declined to use condoms and if his victims insisted he wear one he would then 'sabotage' the contraception. The court heard that days after having sex with a number of men he goaded them by telling them he had HIV. In one text message he said: 'Maybe you have the fever because I came inside you and I have HIV. Whoops!' He would incessantly message and call them and leave abusive and insulting messages for them. In one message he told a victim: 'I ripped the condom. You're so stupid. You didn't even know.' The court heard he then repeated the abuse when he called the victim and laughed out loud down the phone. The victim then tested positive for HIV which showed he had a strain of the virus similar to that suffered by Rowe. One victim, who was sexually inexperienced, only found out he had HIV when he began to feel feverish and ill. Another had sex with Rowe but insisted he wear a condom only later to discover the condom in the bathroom sink with the end of ripped off. Miss Carberry said: 'He was extremely concerned and upset about this and repeatedly asked Daryll Rowe whether he was clean which he said he was. That condom did not split accidentally.' The court heard that days after having sex with a number of men Rowe goaded them by telling them he had HIV The court heard that an HIV-positive person is receiving retroviral treatment it makes it much more difficult for someone to pass on the HIV virus during sex. Rowe had stopped taking retroviral drugs and also suffered herpes, which increases the chance of infection, the jury was told. Ms Carberry QC told the jury Daryll Rowe met eight men in Sussex and two more in the north east. Rowe's tenth victim, in whose house he was staying when he arrested in Newcastle in December last year, gave police a bag which contained his belongings including a box of ripped condoms. 'The condoms were in wrappers and the wrappers had already been opened,' she explained. 'The condoms inside had been sabotaged. 'The nipple end was missing, the the condoms had been fully broken, pushed back inside their wrappers and back into the box. 'If the aim of a condom is to prevent semen entering the anus or vagina during intercourse, thereby providing reassurance the other party is safe, the only reason a pre-ripped condom is used is to coerce another into having unprotected sexual intercourse.' Sussex Police were contacted in February 2016 and had diagnosed two men as HIV positive who had described having intercourse with a man with a Scottish accent. Rowe declined anti-retroviral treatment in Edinburgh and was advised he was more infectious if he failed to take the treatment Rowe was arrested and in an interview with officers he claimed he was not HIV positive and had not met with or had sex with the two men, who had up until then complained. He was bailed to an address in Berwick, Northumberland and by the time of the second interview a number of other alleged victims had come forward. Rowe was bailed again but he went missing and a manhunt was launched to track him down and he was eventually arrested in Wallsend where he was using a false name. The case, which is due to last six weeks, continues. Roy D. Coons, 45, lived two doors down from Yhoana Arteaga and her family in Goodlettsville, Tennessee. He has pleaded not guilty to killing Yhoana Arteaga, 12, The neighbor of a 12-year-old girl who was killed inside her Tennessee home in August, has pleaded not guilty to her brutal rape and murder. Roy D. Coons, 45, lived two doors down from Yhoana Arteaga and her family in Goodlettsville, Tennessee, near Nashville. The youngster was found dead on August 10 in what police described as a 'particularly brutal crime scene.' Coons was quickly identified as a suspect in the killing after 'scientific analysis' of evidence found at the scene. He has been charged with first-degree premeditated murder, two counts of first-degree felony murder, attempted rape of a child, and aggravated burglary. According to the Tennessean, Croons appeared in court on Wednesday before Judge Monte Watkins in a yellow jail jumpsuit where he pleaded not guilty to the charges. Coons is being held without bond while he awaits trial. Watkins appointed an attorney on his behalf. Yhoana, 12, was found brutally beaten and strangled to death in her mobile home after sending a text to her mother that someone was knocking on the door In an interview with WSMV , Dr. Li, who conducted the autopsy on Yhoana, said she died as a result of strangulation and ruled the manner of death a homicide, characterizing it as a senseless and brutal murder Yhoana was found brutally murdered inside her mobile home in Goodlettsville after sending her mother a text message saying that someone was knocking on the front door. When the girl's mother returned home from work with her two other children at 6.45pm that evening, just over an hour after receiving the message, she found Yhoana's lifeless body laying partially undressed in her room. In an interview with WSMV, Dr. Li, who conducted the autopsy on Yhoana, said she died as a result of strangulation and ruled the manner of death a homicide, characterizing it as a senseless and brutal murder. Li's final autopsy report also documented contusions to the victim's head. The medical examiner said it took him several hours to examine Yhoana's body because the injuries she had sustained were so severe. The child was beaten and strangled, as evidenced by abrasions and ligature marks on her neck, according to Dr Li. She also suffered hemorrhaging and had bruises and scrapes. Yhoana's mother entered the family's mobile home on Old Dickerson Pike in Nashville (pictured) and came upon her daughter's partially undressed body Coons was charged with first-degree two counts of first-degree felony murder, attempted rape of a child, and especially aggravated burglary to which he has pleaded not guilty 'The death of anyone is especially tragic and especially when it's a homicide,' Metro Nashville Police Department Chief Steve Anderson said in the press conference at the time of Coon's arrest. 'And then when it's a young person, 12 years old, not yet reached the prime of their life, it's especially tragic. 'It's certainly a relief to this police department that this man is in custody, and I know it's a relief to all of Nashville.' According to officials, Coons has been convicted for more than 30 offenses, both felonies and misdemeanors since 1992. His most recent was a felony marijuana possession and unlawful gun possession by a convicted felon in 2016. Four children and a teacher have died in an arson attack at a nursery in Brazil today which was reportedly started by a security guard and which left around 25 injured. Four toddlers, aged four years old, and a teacher died in the tragedy at the Innocent Children's People Municipal Education Day Centre in Janauba, in Minas Gerais, south east Brazil. Lieutenant Colonel John Aparecido Nascimento, commander of Military Police said: 'We believe a security guard at the nursery set himself on fire and set fire to children in the kindergarten.' Scroll down for video Four toddlers have been burned to death and 40 more people are injured after a security guard carried out a horrific arson attack at a school in Brazil The security guard has been named as 50-year-old Damiao Soares dos Santos Pictured, the burned out room in the nursery where the tragedy happened Brazil police revised the death toll after earlier reports that the numbers were higher. The perpertrator was named by police as fifty-year-old Damien Soares dos Santos, who had been working as a night watchman at the day care centre for eight years. The horrific incident occurred on Thursday morning when about 50 students were in the nursery located in Rio Novo a neighbourhood in Janauba. Minas Gerais police spokesperson said: 'We can confirm four children and a teacher have died, and 25 people are injured, nine are in a critical condition.' The Legal medical Institute (IML) in Janauba released the names of the children who died in the attack as Ana Clara Ferreira Silva, Luiz Davi Carlos Rodrigues, Juan Pablo Cruz dos Santos and Juan Miguel Soares Silva. All were four years old. Mayor of Janauba, Carlos Isaildon Mendes, confirmed that the teacher, named as Helley Abreu Batista, died from her injuries after being taken to hospital. Fifteen victims with life threatening injuries have been sent to the capital Belo Horizonte. Pictured, one of the victims in hospital after the incident The guard set fire to several children and himself at the Innocent Children's People Municipal Education Centre in Janauba, in Minas Gerias, south east Brazil, police say. This was the scene as victims were being rushed to hospital Janauba Regional Hospital also reported that about 40 people had been treated by the unit - 25 of them remain hospitalised suffering from severe burns and 15, who were in shock, have been released. Among the hospitalised patients, 14 are children aged four to five. Nursery staff, among the wounded, are reported to have suffered more than 20 per cent of burns to their body. According to Mr Mendes there was no indication that Santos was about to carry out the atrocity. He had no prior record of problems at work. The Mayor told Minas Gerais media, Santos was on holiday and had gone to the nursery to hand in a medical certificate. Pictured, the nursery in Brazil where the tragedy took place Pictured, teams of emergency rescuers worked to take the wounded to hospital by air It is reported that he may have been suffering from depression. Speaking to local media Mr Mendes said: 'This is a very complicated situation. This was a decent employee who was on holiday from work. 'I had just returned from visiting the nursery. I was told (Damiao) knocked at the gate saying he wanted to deliver a medical certificate because he claimed he was not feeling well. 'He has been an employee since 2008 and has never had a bad record so we could never have anticipated something of this nature happening.' According to a spokesman from Janauba city authority, Damiao went to the nursery carrying a pink backpack. The spokesman said: 'Staff at the nursery found it strange that he chose to ring the bell and that he was at the nursery outside of working hours. Police helicopters (pictured) were called to join in the tragic rescue 'But he said he was there to deliver a medical certificate. 'We believe he was carrying a bag of flammable liquid, possibly alcohol or gasoline in his backpack, which he used to set fire to the victims and himself. 'Staff at the nursery said he poured the liquid over the children and set fire (to himself and to them). We were also told he embraced some of the children which caused their bodies to burn.' According to the spokesman, the room where the students were trapped has bars on the window and a PVC ceiling which is flammable. The security guard allegedly responsible for the attack is believed to have died in hospital after the attack this morning An emergency command centre has been set up at the scene of the tragedy to control the critical rescue response. Minas Gerais Civil Police said: 'In response to the tragedy that occurred this morning in Janauba, north of the state, the Civil Police of Minas Gerais (PCMG) announces that it has been carried out on - site investigations. 'The autopsy on the bodies of the four deceased children is being conducted at this time. 'PCMG investigation teams are in the house of the suspect and are questioning his family for information that might assist with our inquiries and to help to elucidate the causes that motivated the crime.' Brazilian President Michel Temer voiced his horror at the atrocity. He told Correio Braziliense: 'I want to express my solidarity and regret about this event, and hope that these things will not happen again in Brazil, because the world is revolted by the incident.' Janauba city council has announced for seven days of mourning for those who has lost their lives. Janauba is in the north of the state of Minas Gerais and has about 70,000 inhabitants. Harrowing footage from outside the nursery shows desperate parents in tears as emergency crews work at the scene. Police rescue helicopters were dispatched to support the emergency services. Teams of investigators are already in the suspect's house to gather information and to try to determined the reason for the crime. Janauba city council has announced for seven days of mourning for those who has lost their lives. A surf shop has come under fire after a promotion encouraged customers to 'pay with pain' resulting in a string of cuts, x-rays and broken bones. Ozmosis, an Australian surf store with locations in New South Wales, the ACT, Victoria and Western Australia, have been running promotions encouraging customers to perform crazy tricks on BMX bikes, surfboards and skateboards to get discounts. 'Pay with Pain. Come in, show us your scars, get deals #paywithpain' the promotion on the homepage of the company website reads. People have accepted the challenge, with many sending in pictures of lacerated fingers, post-operated limbs and other stomach-churning injuries. Scroll down for video Ozmosis, an Australian surf store, have been running promotions encouraging customers to perform crazy tricks on BMX bikes, surfboards and skateboards to get discounts 'Pay with Pain. Come in, show us your scars, get deals #paywithpain' the promotion on the homepage of the company website reads Customers have been able to pose in store with a 'Pay with Pain' frame following their discount The images on the website show a surfer with a series of cuts to his shoulder emblazoned with promotional text. 'We accept all major credit cards, scars, scrapes, breaks and bruises.' The designated 'Pay with Pain' section of the website has a compilation video of surfers and skaters hurting themselves combined with images sent in by customers encouraged to share their stories with the #paywithpain hashtag. Customers can save money displaying their injuries in two ways. People can post their cuts and scars to Facebook and Instagram using the hashtag to get a unique discount code, or can come in store and show off their breaks and bruises for 20% off RipCurl merchandise if they spend over $80. The images on the website show a surfer with a series of cuts to his shoulder emblazoned with promotional text Hundreds of images have been posted to Facebook and Instagram by users, ranging from people with old scars from operations to kids with casts over newly broken bones Customers have been able to pose in store with a 'Pay with Pain' frame following their discount Hundreds of images have been posted to Facebook and Instagram by users, ranging from people with old scars from operations to kids with casts over newly broken bones. Customers have been able to pose in store with a 'Pay with Pain' frame following their discount. People have taken to social media to express their concern with the promotion, with one person labelling it as 'very insensitive.' Hundreds of images have been posted to Facebook and Instagram by users, ranging from people with old scars from operations to kids with casts over newly broken bones Customers have been able to pose in store with a 'Pay with Pain' frame following their discount 'Is it me or this is really, really awful?' one person tweeted with an image of the surfer with a lacerated shoulder. 'I have a double layer c-section scar. Surely that's good for a crocheted bralette or shell necklace...' another person said. 'I can think of no way that this will have unintended side effects,' a social media user replied. The 'Pay with Pain' promotion ends on Saturday. Ozmosis told Daily Mail Australia the 'campaign celebrates our customers' passion'. 'We want to hear all the stories your scars, your tales and your insta-fails. It is these passionate customers who already have scars from skateboarding, surfing, or any recreational sport they love that this campaign speaks to,' the statement reads. 'We do not condone the taking of unnecessary risks or self-inflicted harm of any kind. If a customer were to come in store showing us what appears to be self-inflicted, we will always refer him or her to local support services and assist in any way we can.' Marsha P Johnson, a pioneer in the gay rights movement of the 1960s was dubbed by friends and supporters as Saint Marsha, the Mayor of Christopher Street and the Rosa Parks of the LGBT movement Saint Marsha, the Mayor of Christopher Street and the Rosa Parks of the LGBT movement were all names bestowed upon Marsha P Johnson as she pioneered gay liberation and transgender people's rights in New York in the 1960s. She was known to be surrounded by friends and supporters as she attended gay rights rallies and protests across the city famously proclaiming that shed been jailed, lost her home and her job over her sexuality but still refused to be silenced. But when Marsha died in 1992, her body was found alone, floating in the Hudson River. Since then, her death has been shrouded in mystery the cause deemed undetermined by medical examiners. Police originally ruled it as a suicide, but Marshas friends are adamant that she was murdered. The Death and Life of Marsha P Johnson, a documentary premiering on Netflix on Friday, discusses the activists legacy and seeks to understand her death 25 years after hundreds of people marched down Christopher Street in Manhattan to scatter her ashes in the water where she was found. She was found dead in the Hudson River near Christopher Street in the West Village in July 1992 - an area well-known as the battleground for America's gay rights movement Since then, her death has been shrouded in mystery the cause deemed undetermined by medical examiners. Police originally ruled the activist's death as a suicide, but Marshas friends are adamant that she was murdered Marsha always said that the P in her name stood for Pay it no mind a mentality she applied to all of the hardships she experienced throughout her life, including long-time homelessness and being raped at a young age. Shortly before her death at 46, she said that she hoped no one would cry at her funeral. Get up, have a dance party and have a great time, she said just four days before she disappeared. In 2002, the designation of suicide as a cause of death was changed to undetermined due to a lack of evidence but it wasnt until December of 2016 that the Manhattan District Attorneys office agreed to revisit the case. The DAs office did declined to respond to the DailyMail.coms questions regarding an investigation into Marshas death. The Death and Life of Marsha P Johnson follows Victoria Cruz a transgender activist - and her journey to uncover the truth about what happened to Marsha The Death and Life of Marsha P Johnson follows Victoria Cruz an activist with the Anti-Violence Project and a transgender woman of color. Cruz was instrumental in the reopening of Marshas case and worked with filmmaker David France to connect with Marshas friends and piece together what happened to her the evening she died July 4, 1992. Marsha was known to have mental health issues, and was said to have been sent away at least once to Bellevue Mental Hospital for a psychiatric hold to receive a Thorazine implant an antipsychotic medication used to treat people with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Friends said that her mental health was diminishing in the years leading up to her death something Marsha confirmed herself, saying shed been up and down since the 1970s. This led some to believe that a mental breakdown, hallucination or suicide could have been the cause of her death. However, an unnamed witness told Marshas former roommate Randy that he saw a man fighting with Marsha on the Christopher Street pier the night she died. He said the man claimed the assailant bragged about calling Marsha homophobic slurs and about murdering her. This witness claimed that when he tried to report what he heard to the police, it was never investigated. Friends said that her mental health was diminishing in the years leading up to her death which led some to believe that a mental breakdown, hallucination or suicide could have been the cause of her death A former columnist for the Village Voice, Michael Musto, who was a friend of Marshas, believed that because of the racism and homophobia of the time, police werent motivated to investigate. She had been harassed in that area. Obviously it was some kind of shady killing that had gone on, but unsurprisingly, the cops just twiddled their thumbs and said no, no, its a suicide. Its a black, gay person we dont care, were not going to investigate further. Everyone was outraged. Marsha P Johnson was born Malcolm Michaels, in Elizabeth, New Jersey in 1945 Marsha P Johnson was born male named Malcolm Michaels, in Elizabeth, New Jersey in 1945. From the age of five years old, Marsha said, she knew she wasnt like the other boys and began wearing dresses. She stopped dressing as a woman for a while in high school, she said, cause the boys next door used to try to get fresh with me - you know, try to have sex. A deeply religious person, Marsha claimed to have married Jesus Christ when she was 16-years-old, and never married again, because Jesus was the only man she could trust. He listens to all my problems and never laughed at me. He takes me very seriously, Marsha told filmmakers of Pay it No Mind: The Life and Times of Marsha Johnson. She was known throughout her life to attend churches of all religions, to cover her bases. When Marsha told her mother she was gay she told her she was lower than a dog. So when she graduated high school in New Jersey she went straight to Greenwich Village in New York City, known today as a hub for gay bars and venues but was a reputation established mostly by Johnson and her fellow LGBTQ activists in the 1960s. It was dressing in drag on Christopher Street that made Marsha finally feel whole. I was no one, nobody from Nowheresville until I became a drag queen. When I became a drag queen I started to live my life as a woman, she said. For years, Marsha roamed the streets of New York City homeless prostituting herself for money for food However, dressing in drag was what made Marsha truly feel whole - she famously proclaimed that she lost her apartment, job and had gone to jail for her sexuality For years, Marsha roamed the streets of New York City homeless prostituting herself for money for food. Friends said she would sometimes sleep at a movie theatre on 42nd street in Midtown, which at the time was 99 cents if you went there before noon. Despite living destitute, she quickly became staple at the Stonewall Inn bar on Christopher Street, being one of the first drag queens to ever appear there. She prided herself on her ability to craft intricate outfits spending just a few dollars at a thrift store, or even pulling dresses from a trash can. She was known to use her last ten dollars to go down to the florist where she sometimes spent nights in the flowerbeds outside, and buy their day-old roses to make delicate headdresses. Eventually, Marsha took up a more permanent residence in Hoboken, New Jersey with an eccentric friend named Randy Wicker someone who became an advocate for an investigation into her death. Despite living destitute, she quickly became staple at the Stonewall Inn bar on Christopher Street, being one of the first drag queens to ever appear there She was known to use her last ten dollars to go down to the florist where she sometimes spent nights in the flowerbeds outside, and buy their day-old roses to make delicate headdresses What was supposed to be a one-night stay turned into a 12-year friendship and roommate relationship between the two at Wickers luxury high-rise apartment. His one request was that Marsha not dress in her full drag attire at the building, which was already known as the gay apartment because of the flamboyantly dressed guests that would come and go. Wicker said: Shed wear bulky clothing and get on the PATH [the New Jersey transit to New York] and the dress would come down from the leather jacket, and by the time she hit Christopher Street shed have transformed herself in full drag, with the exception of these clunky male shoes that were like a size 12 or something. Christopher Street was the site of the 1969 Stonewall Riots during which a violent clash took place at the Stonewall Inn between police and members of the LGBTQ community. It is generally regarded as the pivotal event that led to the gay liberation movement, and the rise of gay pride. Christopher Street was the site of the 1969 Stonewall Riots during which a violent clash took place at the Stonewall Inn between police and members of the LGBTQ community The Stonewall riots are generally regarded as the pivotal event that led to the gay liberation movement, and the rise of gay pride Today, the Stonewall Inn is still a hub for LGBTQ rights. Thousands gather there every year for the annual NYC Pride Parade - here, protesters rallied in February for solidarity with the LGBTQ community in protest of the Donald Trump Administration Marsha P Johnson was there on June 28, the night of the riots. By some accounts, she may have even been the person who ignited it. David A Carter, who wrote Stonewall: The Riots That Sparked the Gay Revolution, said that while at the Stonewall Inn that night, Marsha yelled: Ive got my civil rights! and threw a shot glass into a mirror. That started the riots, and became known as the shot glass heard round the world he told filmmaker Michael Kasino. She was among the first to physically resist the police. Marsha said that when the Stonewall Riots took place, she began her own personal rioting as well. Marsha and a friend, another LGBTQ member named Sylvia Rivera, went on to found STAR (Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries). The two women secured a hotel room on the Lower East Side that they used to shelter homeless transgender youths A commemoration for the Stonewall riots was held on June 28, 1971 to mark the anniversary of the event - and the previous day was known as Gay Liberation Day, and later Gay Pride Day She and a close friend, another LGBTQ member named Sylvia Rivera, went on to found STAR (Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries). The two women secured a hotel room on the Lower East Side that they used to shelter homeless transgender youths. I know people think Im a stupid little street queen out there begging for change cause theres nothing else she knows how to do, Marsha said. Ill always be known reaching out to young people who have no one to help them out, so I help them out with a place to stay or some food to eat or some change for their pocket. And they never forget it. A lot of times Ive reached my hand out to people in the gay community that just didnt have nobody to help them when they were down and out. Marsha famously told press in her signature falsetto voice at a 1975 rally: Darling, I want my gay rights now! According to Ron Jones, a member of a drag group Marsha performed with called the Hot Peaches, those living on the streets like Marsha and Sylvia and the young men and women they sought to help were the backbone of the gay liberation movement. He said: People who couldnt go home no matter what and couldnt go back to school no matter what - that group of people was the catalyst that started the riot. It was the street kids who had nothing to lose that were the force that got it going. Divisions in the LGBTQ movement continued through the 1970s when Marsha and other transvestites were banned from New York Citys Gay Pride Parade. Hardly the type to obey the rules, Marsha and Sylvia simply cut the entire parade and walked in front of it with their STAR banner appearing to lead the rest of the floats. Marsha famously told press in her signature falsetto voice at a 1975 rally: Darling, I want my gay rights now! Marshas penchant to help others in need was well known in the LGBTQ community. In the 1980s and 1990s, she became a voice for those affected by HIV/AIDS a group she belonged to herself. I dont think you should be ashamed of anybody that you know that has AIDS. You should stand as close to them as you can and help them out as much as you can. Im a strong believer in that and thats why I try to do that for everyone I know that has the virus. Marshas penchant to help others in need was well known in the LGBTQ community. In the 1980s and 1990s, she became a voice for those affected by HIV/AIDS a group she belonged to herself Marshas outlandish appearance and behavior caused her to garner a lot of attention some immensely positive, but mostly negative. One day in 1975 she was spotted by Andy Warhol, who snapped a Polaroid of her and transformed it into a colorful painting as a part of his Ladies and Gentlemen series. When she tried to go into a gallery to see the painting, a friend said she was thrown out, and dubbed riff-raff. Walking the streets of New York during a time when homophobia was at its peak, she experienced violence. While still relying on prostitution for much of her income, she was put in more of a position for extreme danger, and was arrested countless times in several states. While leaving a taxi driver one night whom shed had sex with for 20 dollars on the Westside Highway, she was shot but survived. Ive had so much trouble its a miracle Im still here, she said in the documentary interview. The latest documentary about Marsha debuts on Netflix on Friday Four days after the interview, she disappeared. When Marshas body was found floating in the Hudson River near the pier at Christopher Street, it was ruled a suicide. Her funeral was held at a nearby church, and there were so many attendees that people had to be stopped from entering. Another friend recounted that as the funeral procession walked to the pier on Christopher Street to spread her ashes, he plead with the police officers to shut down the street to accommodate the amount of friends walking in her honor. When the head officer heard who the procession was for, he said: Marsha was a good queen. Give them the street. Michael Lynch, another member of the Hot Peaches drag group, said: When I think of Marsha, I think of someone that kids who are gay today know nothing about, which is a shame really. Shes one of the reasons theyre sitting in all their liberated glory today. Marsha paid the price for who she was. Despite the fact that Marsha might not be a modern household name, the legacy of her revolution in the gay liberation movement lives on. Just before her death, she said: I think the most important thing we did was get our gay rights, not just in America but across the world, and got the right to be human beings just like other human beings. The Yale Peabody Museum of History has partnered with the Biodiversity Heritage Library Field Notes Project to digitize a selection of primary natural history field research. Over the last year, the Peabody Museum has made 69 of invertebrate paleontologist Charles Schucherts field notebooks available to the public through Internet Archive and BHL. Schuchert (3 July 1858 20 November 1942) was known for his seminal works on brachiopods, his unprecedentedly detailed and accurate paleogeographic maps of North America, devotedly supporting students academically and financially, and an unwavering dedication to his studies that resulted in over 236 published works, 130 paleogeographic maps, and more than 89,000 invertebrate paleontology specimens in the Yale Peabody Museum alone. Lore has it that his affinity for invertebrate paleontology was cemented when a worker digging a ditch near his home in Cincinnati casually tossed 8 year old Schuchert a fossil [1]. Collecting such fossils from the local hills led to what would eventually evolve into the 2nd largest brachiopod collection in the nation [2]. Even in those early years, Schucherts scientific rigor was evident as he carefully labeled each specimen under his care (even if his first specimen determination of petrifaction of a nanny-goats horn did turn out to be a coral) [3]. At some point (sources variously say he was 11 or 17), he purchased The Paleontology of Ohio from a local drugstore and began his study in earnest. Despite the auspicious early years of this lifelong love affair, Schucherts paleontological career began late, and was not without obstacles. During his childhood, Charles mother Agatha worked in a sewing factory, and his father Philip managed to start a modest business making parlor tables. Charles juggled chores and homework with opening their shop at 7am and continuing work there after school. Upon completing the 6th grade, Charles left school and devoted his days to working in the furniture factorys varnish room. In 1877, when Charles was 19, a fire broke out in the furniture factory and burned it to the ground. After emigrating from Germany and struggling to make ends meet for his small family, the devastation wrought by the fire overwhelmed Philip, and he sickened and died. But Charles, in one of the many instances in which he persevered against great odds, scraped together some $900, rebuilt the furniture business, and over the next few years expanded to become successful. In the same year as the fire, Charles befriended Edward Oscar Ulrich, another young man with a love of fossils. Ulrich had some university schooling and was appointed to manage the Cincinnati Society of Natural History collections. Shortly thereafter, Charles visited St. Louis to sell furniture and looked up an expert on crinoids, Dr. G. Hambach. From Hambach, Charles learned lithography, a skill which allowed him to assist Ulrich in publishing material on local brachiopods and bryozoans over the next several years. In 1884, there was another fire and once again the Schuchert furniture factory burned down. For the next 4 years Charles worked as a laborer in other furniture businesses until the renowned state geologist/paleontologist of New York, James Hall, came to visit Cincinnati. On seeing Schucherts collection and expertise, he hired Charles as his assistant. In Albany, Charles made a number of connections that would serve him well, including one with Charles Emerson Beecher, then faculty at Yale and staff at the Yale Peabody Museum. After some time spent studying Minnesotan brachiopods in Minneapolis, Schuchert joined the staff of the U.S. Geological Survey in Washington in 1893. That April he was sent to the Yale Peabody Museum to assist Beecher in preparing early carboniferous crinoids for display at the Chicago Exposition. Shortly after Schucherts return to Washington, he became assistant curator of invertebrate paleontology at the U.S. National Museum. Hand-drawn map to which Schuchert added notes over many years. This map was eventually published in the second edition of Outlines of Historical Geology (plate 28, map 1, page 230). Upon Beechers sudden death in the winter of 1903, Schuchert was hired at Yale as professor of paleontology, curator of collections at Peabody Museum, and a director of the Sheffield Scientific School. At 46 years old with a 6th grade education, he set foot in a college classroom for the first time and taught his first college courses. This unorthodox appointment resulted in uniquely valuable solutions to common problems: when faced with bored students struggling to imagine geographical relationships between places they had never seen, Charles developed extremely detailed paleographic maps. Although researchers had been drawing paleogeographic maps since James E. Dana popularized them several decades prior [1], Schuchert revolutionized the practice by showing smaller time periods in his maps (on the order of only several million years, as opposed to entire geologic eras, which span several hundred million years). This smaller slice of time allowed Schuchert to represent a geographic area with exponentially greater precision. He argued repeatedly over the course of his career in papers, books, and lectures that mapping too broad a temporal span meant including so many geologic changes that the resulting model did not accurately portray any moment in history at all. An astute observation about the need for more detailed paleogeographic maps and their utility as stratigraphic teaching tools turned into a lifelong project as Charles undertook trip after trip gathering data, and spent long evenings painstakingly adding details to the array of maps on the custom desk he had built for the task [4]. Schuchert, C. Field Notebook: Michigan, New York, Ohio, Ontario. (1895). https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/53191047 Schuchert eventually produced maps of North America spanning all of geologic time. In 1910, he published Paleogeography of North America, which would become the standard text on the subject, and is still in use today [5]. The countless carefully recorded observations that made these feats possible are retained in his field notebooks: a historical record of a historical record. The Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History is honored to have the opportunity to share these notebooks with you. We hope that they continue to inspire the dreams of budding researchers, and that through them Charles Schucherts unflagging devotion to his passion can continue to support the efforts of the scientists to come after him as he did during his years as teacher, mentor, and first and foremost: paleontologist. View Charles Schucherts field notes in BHL here. [1] Knopf, Adolph. Biographical memoir of Charles Schuchert, 1858-1942. National Acad. Sei., Biogr. Mem 27 (1952): 363-389.[2] http://peabody.yale.edu/collections/invertebrate-paleontology/schuchert-brachiopod-collection[3] Kaesler, Roger L. Carl O. Dunbar on Charles Schuchert. (1987): 406-410.[4] Schuchert, Charles. Atlas of paleogeographic maps of North America. Wiley, 1955.[5] Schuchert, Charles. Paleogeography of North America. Geological Society of America Bulletin 20.1 (1910): 427-606.Title quote from: Scientific Notes and News. (1935).(2113), 633 The BHL Field Notes Project is funded by the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR). Saudi King Salman's foreign visit to Russia got off to a bit of an embarrassing start when his golden escalator broke down as he stepped off the plane. The monarch had touched down in Moscow to sign a space exploration and nuclear deal with President Vladimir Putin when the malfunction took place. He had been on the elaborate moving staircase for a couple of seconds when it suddenly stopped leaving the puzzled king stranded about halfway up. Salman and his aides stood still for a about 20 seconds before walking down after realising the escalator was not going to start up again. Saudi King Salman's foreign visit to Russia got off to a bit of an embarrassing start when his golden escalator broke down as he stepped off the plane Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) and Saudi Arabia's King Salman attend a welcoming ceremony ahead of their talks in the Kremlin in Moscow today King Salman sits in front of a Saudi flag and Vladimir Putin sits in front of a Russian one under a huge, gold clock as they exchange pleasantries Today at the Kremlin's opulent St Andrew's Hall, Putin hailed the king's visit as a 'landmark' event. Salman in his reply called Russia a 'friendly nation' and said his country is committed to strengthen ties 'in the interests of peace and security'. They agreed a number of joint ventures and it was revealed trade volume between the countries reached more than 2billion in trade last year. Relations between the two countries have often been strained. During Cold War times, the Saudis helped arm Afghan rebels fighting against the Soviet invasion. The kingdom, much like Russia, has been hit by the fall in oil prices since mid-2014. Despite regional disagreements, the two major oil-producing nations found common ground on energy policy in November, when they led a deal between OPEC and non-OPEC states to cut production in a bid to shore up crude prices. So far that deal is holding and prices have recovered slightly to above $50 a barrel. In an apparent reference to the output deal, Salman told Putin on Thursday that Saudi Arabia is 'eager to continue the positive cooperation between our nations in the world oil market, which fosters global economic growth'. Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak told Russian news agencies earlier Friday that non-OPEC states would be willing to extend the output cut 'if necessary.' The Russian and Saudi leaders, pictured walking in front of an elaborate archway agreed deals today The two countries also announced major investments and joint ventures to further cement relations, with Putin and Salman signing deals from arms sales to cooperation in space. Trade volume between the two countries reached $2.8billion last year, according to official Saudi press. Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, the kingdom's sovereign wealth fund, announced in 2015 plans to invest $10billion in Russia over the next five years, though only a fraction of that has so far been put up. The Saudis have also been eyeing Russian nuclear power technologies and appear ready to expand food imports from Russia, which is set to remain the world's biggest wheat exporter this year. Food security is a major concern for Saudi Arabia, which stopped local production of livestock feed and wheat due to water scarcity. Analysts say Salman's trip to Moscow is the clearest sign yet that Russia's strategy in the Middle East - including its high-risk show of military power in Syria - has paid off. Salman's visit caps off a number of visits to Russia over the past two years by Gulf royals which has included his heir and son. Brian Katulis, a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, said: 'A number of Gulf leaders have been going with greater regularity to Moscow and I think for a simple reason - Russia has made itself much more of a factor in key parts of the Middle East as the US has taken a step back in some ways, particularly in Syria.' Russian diplomats sit next to Vladimir Putin (centre, right) while the Saudi counterparts line up next to King Salman (centre, left) King of Saudi Arabia Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (left) walks with Russian President Vladimir Putin The Saudi monarch's visit comes after decades of strained relations. More recently, tensions were high over the war in Syria. Russia and Iran have staunchly backed Syrian President Assad while Saudi Arabia has supported the Sunni rebels fighting to oust him. However, relations have begun to improve in recent years and Salman's heir, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has held several meetings with Putin. Salman said at the talks in Moscow that Saudi Arabia calls for a political solution in Syria that 'guarantees security and stability and the preservation of Syrian sovereignty'. Earlier on Friday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Russia thinks highly of Saudi Arabia's role in arranging talks between the Syrian government and the oppositions in Geneva. At the core of Saudi Arabia's regional woes is its rival Iran, which is backed by Russia. The Shiite-led regional power has spread its footprint throughout the region, particularly in Iraq and Syria. Saudi Arabia is at war with Iranian-allied rebel fighters in Yemen and is embroiled in a diplomatic standoff with Qatar, which has found support from Tehran. Though Salman's visit signals closer Russian ties with Sunni Arab Gulf states, Russia's support for Iran is not expected to change. Vladimir Putin meets King Salman who is on a three-day visit to Russia focusing on the Syrian crisis and energy deals Putin's Russia and Iran have staunchly backed Syrian President Assad while Saudi Arabia has supported the Sunni rebels fighting to oust him The US, meanwhile, remains Saudi Arabia's top weapons supplier and its most critical Western ally. Anna Borshchevskaya, a fellow at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, says Russia has no capacity to replace the United States as Saudi Arabia's key ally. 'That said, it's clear that Russia has been able to play a weak hand very well and step into vacuums everywhere where the US has treated,' she said. Saudi-US ties were strained under the Obama administration over its backing of a nuclear agreement with Iran and its handling of the Syrian conflict. Relations improved under the Trump administration, but Washington's focus in Syria continues to be on fighting the Islamic State group, not on ousting Assad. The deputy director of the FBI has said the US should been expecting Russia to meddle in the 2016 presidential election. Andrew McCabe said that though the efforts of Vladimir Putin's regime were surprising 'in some ways', the American government 'sort of should have seen this coming'. Speaking at the Cambridge Cyber Summit yesterday, he explained that 'the Russians have been targeting us with everything they have over the last 50 years' and it therefore should have been anticipated that they would try to hit US democracy. But McCabe also said that while the elections allowed intelligence agencies to 'diagnose the problem', it has 'absolutely not' been 'cured' yet, according to CNN. Andrew McCabe (pictured) said that though the efforts of Vladimir Putin's regime were surprising 'in some ways', the American government 'sort of should have seen this coming' Another FBI official - Counterintelligence Division Assistant Director EW Priestap - stressed that Russia would be forced to 'pay' for its actions. He said the US should consider hacking Russia in return. It has been repeatedly stated by US agencies that the Russian government attempted to influence the 2016 elections. Their interference is said to include releasing wounding emails about the Democrats and Hillary Clinton. Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence Susan Gordon also praised Facebook found Mark Zuckerberg for admitting he could 'do better'. Facebook said a group probably based in Russia spent $100,000 on adverts promoting discord in US politics. Zuckerberg said: 'For the ways my work was used to divide people rather than bring us together, I ask forgiveness and I will work to do better.' Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence Susan Gordon also praised Facebook found Mark Zuckerberg (pictured) for admitting he could 'do better' McCabe also said it was important to 'process' intervention in elections 'as Americans'. He said, according to News18: 'When we are tearing ourselves apart and torn from one side to the next and in a state of unrest, physically and emotionally, our adversaries are in a better place and that is where they seek to push us. 'The difference is now they've got the platform.' Detectives have given a rare insight into their interrogations with murderers, after a chilling interview with wife killer Steven Fesus was released this week. Steven Fesus was found guilty on Tuesday of the murder of his teenage wife Jodie whom he strangled following an argument in august 1997. In police tapes, only released after he was convicted, Fesus can be seen laughing and joking with detectives appearing to have a complete disregard for the seriousness of the allegations he faced. Scroll down for video In police tapes, only released after he was convicted, Fesus can be seen laughing and joking with detectives appearing to have a complete disregard for the seriousness of the allegations he faced 'I had an affair with someone right, but my breath smelt of Kebab,' he said through laughter. In the police tapes dated January 4, 2001, Fesus goes on to discuss affairs he had, while attempting to build rapport with the detectives. 'I have females, yes, don't doubt me wrong,' he said. When a detective asked him point blank: 'Was it you?' Fesus laughed it off. 'Nah mate, is it alright if I call you that? Dude?' he said. Steven Fesus was found guilty on Tuesday of the murder of his teenage wife Jodie whom he strangled following an argument in august 1997 Speaking to A Current Affair on Thursday, Forensic psychiatrist Julian Parmegiani said killers were often accomplished liars. 'They know how to modify the answers, manipulate the interviewer, how to provide plausible visual and auditory cues so they come across as very persuasive,' he said. 'It's no good going in half cocked, they're not going to throw their hands up and say yes I did it.' He said everyone was different but it was killers who detailed murdering their victims without showing emotion that confronted them most. Vincent Stanford brutally murdered school teacher Stephanie Scott the night before her country wedding. Vincent Stanford brutally murdered school teacher Stephanie Scott the night before her country wedding In police tapes released, Stanford described to detectives in chilling details what he did to Ms Scott (left) In police tapes released, Stanford described to detectives in chilling details what he did to Ms Scott. 'I did it at the high school, I beat her to death with my fist. She stopped breathing and moving,' he said. He described how he placed her body into his Mazda 3 boot and dumped her in the national park. Former New South Wales Police detective inspector Michael Gerondis said killers, like Stanford, relished the opportunity to share the details of their crime. 'This is the first opportunity they can share with others something that gave them a great trill, so they go into so much detail because they relive the fantasy,' he said. 'It's like keeping a souvenir like keeping photographs or clothing.' 'I did it at the high school, I beat her to death with my fist. She stopped breathing and moving,' Stanford said about Ms Scott (pictured) Chilling footage was also released of Daniel Kelsall, who murdered Sydney businessman Morgan Huxley in 2013 Chilling footage was also released of Daniel Kelsall, who murdered Sydney businessman Morgan Huxley in 2013. Kelsall freely discussed his knife collection with detectives, just two weeks after he stabbed Mr Huxley to death in the bedroom of his Neutral Bay apartment. Kelsall told detectives he followed Mr Huxley, unintentionally, before smiling at him and going home. 'I got out of my stuff and got into bed,' Kelsall later told police he lied in the initial interview and in fact went home with Mr Huxley where they shared a consensual sexual encounter. A jury found Kelsall guilty of stabbing Mr Huxley more than 20 times after indecently assaulting him. In the moments before the Las Vegas gunman unleashed terror, a husband and wife of 32 years posed for a selfie in front of the Route 91 Harvest festival stage. Denise and Tony Burditus stood close together and smiled widely as they snapped the photo while their fellow concert-goers mingled in the background. It would become one of the last the high school sweethearts from West Virginia would take together. Soon after, the mother-of-two became one of the 58 victims killed by the barrage of gunfire. Denise and Tony Burditus, who had been married 32 years, posed for a selfie in front of the Route 91 Harvest festival stage right before the Las Vegas gunman unleashed terror When the gunfire first erupted, the couple had assumed, like many, that it was just fireworks for the festival. 'She asked me if it was gunfire, I told her, No,' Tony told CNN's Anderson Cooper. 'It was during the second burst that we knew and started trying to get out of there.' 'I was leading her through the crowd. I initially thought it was an attack from the ground,' he said. 'I looked up and didn't see anything.' Denise was struck by a bullet as they tried to escape. They rode together to a nearby hospital in the back of a truck but Denise was unconscious from the moment she was hit. Hours later, Tony updated his Facebook with the tragic news that his beloved wife had died. About 30 minutes before the shooting, Denise had changed her Facebook profile photo to one they had snapped earlier that day (above) with the Mandalay Bay casino in the background Hours after Denise died, Tony updated his Facebook with the tragic news that his beloved wife had died. He shared this photo of them kissing the day she was killed They had gone to Las Vegas for the weekend to see the Route 91 Harvest festival and had posted photos of themselves swimming in hotel pools and dining out 'It saddens me to say that I lost my wife of 32 years, a mother of two, soon to be grandmother of five... in the Las Vegas shooting,' he wrote. 'Denise passed in my arms. I LOVE YOU BABE.' They had gone to Las Vegas for the weekend to see the Route 91 Harvest festival and had posted photos of themselves swimming in hotel pools and dining out. About 30 minutes before the tragedy unfolded, Denise had changed her Facebook profile photo to one they had snapped earlier that day. The Mandalay Bay hostel is bearing down on them in the background. The couple had met at Hedgesville High School in Berkeley County, West Virginia. They got married and started their family when Tony was serving in the US Army. Tony said he planned to stay in Las Vegas until his wife's remains could be taken back to West Virginia. Advertisement The seven-bedroom house in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where Mary Tyler Moore's character Mary Richards lived on the third floor, has finally sold after five years on the market for $1,450,000. The Victorian home first hit the market in 2013 for $2,895,000 which means it has sold for half the original listing price. The buyer has been identified as the Arrowhead Revocable Land Trust. Twin Cities businessman Bernie Reisberg, told the Star Tribune that the trust is 'owned by a number of people' and that the home will be a private residence for 'a family living there from time to time.' While the interior scenes were filmed in a studio, exterior shots of the real house located at 2104 Kenwood Parkway were featured prominently in the show, and fans have flocked to the location for years to catch a sight of the iconic home. Scroll down for video The seven-bedroom house in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where Mary Tyler Moore's character Mary Richards lived on the third floor, has finally sold after five years on the market for $1,450,000 Pictured, the renovated attic of the 9,500-square-foot home, which had been reduced from its original listing price of $2,895,000 down to $1,450,000 While the interior scenes were filmed in a studio, the windows overlooking Richard's living room were modeled on the arched windows of the real house on 2104 Kenwood Parkway The house features wooden moulding and detailed accents throughout. It has a grand mahogany staircase at its entrance A sprawling kitchen includes a massive L-shaped island with stainless steel appliances complementing white cabinets The 9,500-square-foot house, located just two miles outside central Minneapolis, was once split into separate apartments, much like the fictional house where Moore's character lived. It was later renovated into a massive single-family home The 9,500-square-foot home, located just two miles outside central Minneapolis, was once split into separate apartments, much like the fictional house on 119 North Weatherly, where Moore's character lived. But the property was later renovated into an enormous single-family home including seven bedrooms, nine bathrooms, and five fireplaces. The house, which features wooden moulding and detailed accents throughout, has a grand mahogany staircase at its entrance. The sprawling kitchen includes a massive L-shaped island, with stainless steel appliances complementing the white cabinet work. The iconic house, which is now more than a century old, has also been updated with a triple garage, an enclosed, wrap around porch, and a luxurious sauna. The home is even listed on TripAdvisor as a notable landmark, and fans of the Mary Tyler Moore Show have long flocked to the property for years, with some bus tours making a point to drive past it. While the interior of Richards' apartment in the show bore no resemblance to the layout of the real house, producers recreated the attic's arched windows in the character's living room. The property includes a total of seven bedrooms, nine bathrooms, and five fireplaces This expansive living room includes one of the five fireplaces, flanked on both sides by massive floor to ceiling windows The home includes 'gracious public rooms ideal for entertaining' the listing states. Pictured, a piano inside the house's turret The house is now more than a century old and has a triple garage, an enclosed porch, and a luxurious sauna The home is now owned by the Arrowhead Revocable Land Trust which paid $1.45 million for the home at 2104 Kenwood Avenue Parkway in Minneapolis Pictured, one of the seven bedrooms. The house is even listed on Trip Advisor as a notable landmark, and fans of the Mary Tyler Moore Show have flocked to the property for years The Emmy award-winning actress died earlier this year at the age of 80 Pictured, the gym (left), which includes weight lighting equipment as well as an elliptical. Right, a luxurious sauna (right) Moore, due to her roles on both The Mary Tyler Moore Show and The Dick Van Dyke Show, became a cultural icon and served as an inspiration for many younger actresses, professional women, and feminists The actress, who first gained fame in the 1960s as the frazzled wife Laura Petrie on The Dick Van Dyke Show passed away in January at the age of 80. Moore suffered from a number of health problems, including a long battle with Type 1 diabetes, which she was diagnosed with in 1966 when she was 33. But the New York native went on to play Mary Richards on The Mary Tyler Moore show from 1970 to 1977, in a groundbreaking role where she portrayed a single career woman working in a Minneapolis TV newsroom. Moore truly made her mark on the series, which aired at a time when women's liberation was catching on worldwide. The actress won seven Emmy awards over the years and was nominated for an Oscar for her 1980 portrayal of an affluent mother whose son is accidentally killed in Ordinary People. The house also includes plenty of storage space with this room being used as a massive walk in closet One of nine bathrooms includes a hot tub. The house has also been subject to visitors and passing bus tours in Minneapolis, but the private residence does not offer any access to the public Pictured, the enclosed porch outside the main entrance, where the sweeping staircase can be seen Another view of the sweeping porch which adds even more square footage to the sprawling Minnesota home Mary Tyler Moore played the iconic Mary Richards, a single career woman working in a Minneapolis TV newsroom, from 1970 to 1977 in her eponymous TV show The actress won seven Emmy awards over the years and was nominated for an Oscar for her 1980 portrayal of an affluent mother whose son is accidentally killed in Ordinary People A festival goer who was shot during the Las Vegas massacre had an emotional reunion with the bartender who saved her. Jan Lambourne was shot in the stomach when gunman Stephen Paddock opened fire on the thousands attending the Route 91 Harvest country music festival on Sunday. While most fled the barrage of bullets, bartender Justin Uhart spotted her through the chaos risked his life to save the complete stranger. 'It's just an instinct. I don't know,' Uhart told CBS News. 'I put my hand on the wound and then I start screaming, 'Medic! Medic!' Jan Lambourne (left) was rescued by Justin Uhart (right) after she was shot during the Las Vegas massacre Uhart, of Las Vegas, remained with Lambourne, of Teulon, Manitoba in Canada, while she waited for treatment, trying to distract her from the pain and keep her conscious The pair had an emotional reunion on Wednesday when Uhart when to visit Lambourne in hospital He said he had his hand on her stomach for three hours to try and stem the bleeding. Uhart, who had been bar tending at the festival, was able to carry Lambourne - with the help of a few more brave strangers - to a nearby field where ambulances had set up a triage. He wrote on Facebook that the shooting had been 'nothing like the movies and worse then anything you've ever scene. 'The blood I had on my hands was not my own and bodies were everywhere,' he said. Uhart, of Las Vegas, remained with Lambourne, of Teulon, Manitoba in Canada, while she waited for treatment, trying to distract her from the pain and keep her conscious. 'She was terrified. I was just asking her the silliest questions of her cats, where she was from, tell me about Canada,' Uhart said. 'She was in a lot of pain.' Lambourne was shot in the stomach when gunman Stephen Paddock opened fire on the thousands attending the Route 91 Harvest country music festival on Sunday. Pictured: First responders and bystanders carry an injured person The city is still reeling from the attack, which was the worst mass shooting in US history. Pictured: A makeshift memorial on the Las Vegas Strip 'She had a death grip... a desperate grip that I cannot describe. She was always saying don't leave me and I promised, I just promised I wouldn't leave.' Lambourne, a hair salon owner, said Uhart had stayed by her side, holding her hand, right until she went into the operating room. 'I wasn't letting go any more than he was, I think 'cause you know, we were gonna survive this and we did,' Lambourne said. Uhart only heard that Lambourne had made it through her surgery on Tuesday. On Facebook, he wrote: 'Everyone thank you for all the love and support. It's just gonna take some time now. Both shed a tear when they reunited on Wednesday, as Lambourne said 'If it wasn't for him, I would not be here' 'However, i just got word that the lady who had the stomach wound, Jan, is in recovery and survived the OR. So I'm incredibly relieved for that!!' The pair were reunited for the first time since the the shooting on Wednesday, when Uhart visited Lambourne in hospital, who is still recovering from the gunshot wound which shattered her pelvis. It was a tear filled moment for both, as the pair shared a long embrace. 'It's good to see you ,' he told her. Lambourne said she was glad that her rescuer was OK too, adding it was 'a rough night for both of us. 'If it wasn't for him, I would not be here,' she said, in tears. A GoFundMe page has been set up for Lambourne. Advertisement A mother described the chilling moment she found an online advertisement offering sex with her 13-year-old daughter on a classifieds website. Kubiiki Pride, from Atlanta, Georgia, found her daughter, identified as MA, on the escorts section of Backpage.com nine months after she disappeared. The girl, whose story was told in the documentary I Am Jane Doe, sneaked out of the house one night to go to an end-of-school party, but ended up being taken by a female trafficker, thinking the woman was going to help bring her home. The documentary was released earlier this year and is available on Netflix. After 270 days, Pride started looking online and said she was scrolling through Backpage.com when she came across her daughter's ad. Scroll down for video MA was the victim of sex trafficking when she was 13 years old. She went missing one night when she sneaked out to go to an end-of-year party and didn't return home for nine months Kubiiki Pride, from Atlanta, Georgia, found her daughter, identified as MA, on the escorts section of Backpage.com nine months after she disappeared After 270 days, Pride was looking on Backpage and said she was scrolling through Backpage.com when she came across her daughter's ad (pictured) When she found her daughter's ad, she was horrified. Photos showed her daughter wearing only underwear and posing provocatively (pictured) 'It was the third link from the top. It had stars and hearts, and it said young and new,' she explained. Something about the stars and hearts caught her attention, she said, and she clicked it to find explicit photos of her daughter. I Am Jane Doe tells the story of MA and other young girls who were kidnapped and sex trafficked, with their bodies being sold on the website Backpage.com The photos showed her daughter wearing only underwear and posing provocatively. 'I called and asked to purchase the services myself,' she said. When her daughter was returned to her, she said she was addicted to drugs and had been horribly abused. 'My daughter was stabbed and burned, her head shaved, and she was beaten,' she said. She ran away two more times, both times being returned to her mother. 'I said why are you running away?' Pride said in the documentary while choking back tears. 'And she said, "Well mom I have to go and get these pills."' The woman who trafficked MA was caught and sentenced to five years in prison in 2010, but the advertisement featuring explicit photos of the teen remained online. But that wasn't enough. 'Once I told her about all the pain and suffering I went through and that I wanted revenge, she also did,' MA said in the documentary. In 2011 Pride sued Backpage.com - arguing the website facilitated child sex trafficking - but her case was dismissed under 230 of the Communications Decency Act. The act states that a website providing a service can't be held accountable as the 'publisher' for anything users post or advertise on it. When her daughter (pictured) was returned to her, she said she was addicted to drugs and had been horribly abused. 'My daughter was stabbed and burned, her head shaved, and she was beaten,' she said Pride and her daughter said they had used the website before to buy things like couches, televisions and video games, and were shocked to find out that children's bodies could be sold. MA is pictured in the documentary in one of her childhood photos Backpage is the largest online classified site in the United States besides craigslist, and is home to 80 per cent of the human trafficking advertisements in the country. Pride and her daughter said they had used the website before to buy things like couches, televisions and video games, and were shocked to find out that children's bodies could be sold. 'I just never knew there were humans for sale,' Pride said. Not only was Backpage not held responsible for what happened to MA, they refused to remove the photos of the 13-year-old until the website was shut down earlier this year. 'I asked them to take photos of my daughter down,' she said. 'And they didn't do so, I was just so angry.' The law that protected them, Pride explained, was originally interpreted to provide an online safe haven, but ended up becoming a loophole which these websites could use to justify the sale of children. Pride said that broke her heart and infuriated her. Not only was Backpage not held responsible for what happened to MA, they refused to remove the photos of the 13-year-old. 'I asked them to take photos of my daughter down,' she said. 'And they didn't do so, I was just so angry'. The mother and daughter are pictured together Now 22, MA said she is still having to come to terms to what happened with her. She is pictured in a childhood photo, provided by her family Her mom said that her little girl who was precocious, nosy and opinionated is now broken, but still full of love. MA is pictured left, and her mother is right 'This company of adults made the decision to post these pictures without even taking the time to find out if they were children,' Pride said. Now 22, MA said she is still having to come to terms to what happened with her. Her mom said that her little girl who was precocious, nosy and opinionated is now broken, but still full of love. Sex trafficking is something that impacts at least 150,000 young people in the United States, many of who are brutally raped, abused and unable to return to a normal way of life. A Senate report alleged the advertising site was teaching its users how to post ads without revealing the true illegale nature of its transaction. The senate alleges the site systematically altered ts ads after finding that emails that told users to remove words such as 'daddy's girl,' 'cheerleader,' 'teenager,' and 'amber alert.' Backpage has denied the allegations and argued it has been a victim of censorship and shouldn't be held accountable. In a separate lawsuit, CEO Carl Ferrer, 55, and former owners James Larkin, 67, and Michael Lacey, 68, were not charged for pimping charges after a California judge ruled against it on free speech grounds. Prosecutors have alleged that more than 90 per cent of Backpage's revenue millions of dollars each month comes from adult escort ads that use coded language and nearly nude photos to offer sex for money. The website shut down its Adult section in January, but Backpage executives refused to testify during a hearing that same month - pleading the fifth. 'The decision of Backpage.com today to remove its Adult section in the United States will no doubt be heralded as a victory by those seeking to shutter the site, but it should be understood for what it is: an accumulation of acts of government censorship using extra-legal tactics,' they said in a statement. A 92-yer-old World War II veteran has died two months after singing at his own living wake in Michigan. Johnny Wearing had been battling liver cancer for years and learned in August that it has worsened - causing doctors to tell him he only had a few weeks to months left to live. The father and grandfather was first saddened by the news, but then decided to host a goodbye celebration where he could see his friends and family from all over country, for likely one last time, the Detroit Free Press reported. And of course, his friends, including the children of his fellow World War II bomber crew members, and family showed up in strong numbers in an effort to make the veteran happy. During the living wake hosted at the Walter F. Bruce VFW Post in St. Clair Shores, Wearing sipped from a glass of white wine while simultaneously saying thank you and farewell to those who mattered the most to him. 'I am so happy so many folks are here and are having a good time,' Wearing told the crowd of family and friends, the newspaper reported. Scroll down for video Johnny Wearing, a 92-yer-old World War II veteran (above center in August) has died two months after singing at his own living wake in Michigan Wearing (above with his son Tom at the living wake) had been battling liver cancer for years and learned in August that it has worsened - causing doctors to tell him he only had a few weeks to months left to live Wearing decided to host a goodbye celebration or living wake, where he could see his friends and family from all over the country for one last time. He was joined by dozens of his former quartet members and they sung one last song together (above) 'I love you all. Each of you has touched me in a special way, and I hope in some way I've been able to touch you as well.' The Detroit native was drafted into the Army two months after graduating from high school in 1943. Wearing served as a tail-gunner on a legendary B17 plane that was nicknamed the 'Five Grand', since it was the 5,000th B17 aircraft that was produced by Boeing in Seattle after Pearl Harbor. The plane was extra special due to the fact that everyone who helped build it, signed their name. There ended up being 35,000 signatures on the Five Grand B17. In just five months, Wearing went on 35 missions and a quarter of those were on the Five Grand in Germany, France, Norway, Poland, Hungary, Belgium, France and Czechoslovakia. The children of his crew members who attended the living wake traveled from Florida and New Jersey. Wearing served as a tail-gunner on a legendary B17 plane that was nicknamed the 'Five Grand', since it was the 5,000th B17 aircraft that was produced by Boeing in Seattle after Pearl Harbor. Wearing is pictured above in the on the far right bottom row without a hat Brothers Gary and Peter Weise flew to Detroit from the Sunshine State; their father Harry Weise was a co-pilot in Wearing's crew. Susan Brockman Hinchman's father Roy Brockman was the pilot and she traveled from Cincinnati to be at the special event for Wearing. 'After the war, everybody dispersed to their hometowns and went back to their lives, got married, had their families, got very involved in their own lives and individual families. But as we, the next generation, moved on, they got back together,' Brockman Hinchman told the Detroit Free Press while becoming emotional at the party. Wearing returned back home in December 1944 to start a family with his wife, Margery. The couple had three sons together while living on the east side of Detroit before they moved to Grand Rapids for a job that Wearing accepted. The family moved again a few years later to Niles after he accepted another sales gig. But while living in Niles, the father-of-three began singing with the Barbershop Quartet Society. In just five months, Wearing went on 35 missions and a quarter of those were on the Five Grand in Germany, France, Norway, Poland, Hungary, Belgium, France and Czechoslovakia. He is pictured above second right in the front row Since then, Wearing had joined more than 40 quartets over the years in the state. And during his living wake, dozens of his old singing partners were on hand as they helped Wearing deliver one of his last final tunes. A video of them singing 'Old Quartet of Mine' together on YouTube shows Wearing standing in the center of the group and leading the way. 'He likes being on stage, that was what he was all about, singing, being on stage, that was what he was all about,' his son Tom told the newspaper at the event. 'I was always in awe of his energy and positivity. To me that's what he's always been. 'He just worked so hard. He never made a lot of money, but I never wanted for anything. He was able to make a good life for us and ourselves. During his living wake, Wearing (above center), told his guests: 'I love you all. Each of you has touched me in a special way, and I hope in some way I've been able to touch you as well.' 'He made a lot of wonderful friends over the years. He lives his life with rare joy, I wish I could be more like him, I tend to be more ... realistic. He's just an amazing fellow.' The veteran's other son, Rick, shared on Facebook that his father passed away on Wednesday at 7.30am. He wrote a heartfelt tribute to his father in a comment on the YouTube video. 'Today at 7:30am, my Dad, Johnny Ray Wearing had to leave. If he was able he would have sung one more song. But Mom had been crying for him way too long and our Lord listened. It was time my friends.,' Rick wrote. 'It's not going to be easy without him. My reason for wanting to make this note is to thank all of you. Dad saw a lot of horror as a young tailgunner (sic) in his B-17.He would always say that some people thought he was just plain goofy. 'But in confidence he told me about how on his 3rd mission and not even 18 yet, his comrades from the same Quonset Hut, disintegrated right in his view. 'When his bombing run was over, he came back, fell to his knees, and kissed the earth below him. Whenever I whined about something he always said, Life (sic) is a gift son, take a look and thank God for your life and that you have an opportunity to live it. 'Your misery is only optional !!!! Dad's life centered on making people smile, laugh, and at least grin. Thats (sic) who he was. He was just so damn grateful to be alive, have the woman of his dreams, and 3 other guys to sing with. 'I hope some of you had the chance to get to know him. He was really special. The reason I wanted to write this is I want to thank all of you. 'The Society for the Preservation of Barbershop Quartet Singing in America,kept him alive for 92 years.' The frugal life of twisted mass killer Stephen Paddock is beginning to emerge. DailyMailTV has learned that the multi-millionaire former accountant was so concerned about saving money that he often ate lunch at a retirees' center. The 64-year-old joined the frail, elderly, homeless and disabled at the Mesquite Community and Senior Center in Nevada paying just $3.50 for a subsidized lunch. Around three times a week Paddock enjoyed Mexican food, meatloaf and hamburgers while listening to cheery songs on the piano at the center. And bizarrely on the day Paddock drove 80 miles to Las Vegas where he checked in to the Mandalay Bay hotel to begin the preparations for his death mission, he popped into the government-run center to ask the cook for an enchiladas recipe. Scroll down for video Las Vegas gunman Stephen Paddock was a regular at a Mesquite, Nevada, senior center where he visited up to three times a week so that he could eat a $3.50 subsidized lunch, DailyMailTV has exclusively learned Although Paddock was a multi-millionaire, he ate the cheap lunches at the Mesquite Community and Senior Center, where they served Mexican food, meatloaf and hamburgers Regulars at the senior center said Paddock popped into the government-run center on Thursday to ask the cook for her enchiladas recipe before driving to Las Vegas and checking into the Mandalay Bay hotel Local resident Marshall Meland, 78, who was enjoying lunch at the center, told DailyMailTV: 'We recognized Stephen when his face flashed up on TV. 'He last came in to the center around 11am last Thursday and checked in at the desk, but didn't stop for lunch like he usually does. 'Instead he went straight up to the counter to speak with the cook and asked her about an enchiladas dish she cooks, he wanted to know how she made it. 'After that he left. No one took any notice of him, it wasn't until later after what he did that we realized he drove to Vegas that afternoon. Everyone at the center is shocked.' Other diners at the senior center recall Paddock as an 'unsociable' and 'quiet' man who liked to sit alone to eat his lunch and who was 'in a world of his own'. Retired construction worker David Blake, 81, who has been coming to the center for 13 years, described him as an 'introverted' man who had little time for anyone. Mr Blake said: 'He'd come in on and off, sometimes up to three times a week. 'He's been coming in at least a year and when I first saw him I thought he was a homeless person, he was unshaven, disheveled, quiet, he wasn't a big conversationalist. 'He'd sit on his own, but even if there was someone else on his table he always seemed to himself, I never saw him getting into steady conversations with anyone, he didn't mingle, he was just quiet. 'He didn't draw attention to himself, didn't cause a disturbance.' Diners at the center said Paddock often kept to himself, never engaging in conversation. They also said they never saw his girlfriend Marilou Danley with him (the couple pictured together) A source said: 'He's been coming in at least a year and when I first saw him I thought he was a homeless person, he was unshaven, disheveled, quiet, he wasn't a big conversationalist' Regulars David Blake and Marshall Meland (pictured outside the center) said that Paddock stood out because he was one of the few diners who never socialized with others there Although Paddock's behavior was odd, Mr Blake says in a gambling town like Mesquite, it is common. 'A lot of people who heavily gamble are like that, they're in a world of their own,' he explained. 'They don't get a chance to have much of a social life. 'Stephen didn't seem to me like he was in to anything else other than deep thinking of how he was going to play his next poker game.' Mr Blake says Paddock's behavior stood out because a lot of people who come to the center want to socialize and take part in the many fun activities it offers. The center plays music, has sock hops, seasonal parties and offers group games as well as jig saw puzzles. It also has a library. Although Paddock had a girlfriend, Marilou Danley, he was only seen at the center alone and didn't join in. It appears he was only interested in the cheap food. 'The last time he came in was Thursday, he came in to ask one the cooks about her enchiladas,' said Mr Blake, who lives in Mesquite. 'They serve a big variety of hot food here, I saw him eating Mexican food and hamburgers, they also make meatloaf and lasagna. I once helped serve carrot cake and recall giving Stephen some. 'It used to be $2.50 a meal, but then it went up to $3.50. It's sad that Stephen never wanted to talk with anyone, maybe I should have made a bigger effort, I could have made a connection with him. 'If a person doesn't have any kind of social life, is concentrating on his guns and gambling, inspired by that, it's a totally negative thing. 'I just know from seeing him in here that he's not that much different from other people who are deep into gambling, they don't want to be bothered, they are in deep concentration.' On Sunday night, Paddock slaughtered 58 people and injured 489 when he opened fire at a country music festival on the Las Vegas strip Paddock fired on 22,000 people at a country music festival with 23 guns. Magazines can be seen stacked in the room. His Verdi neighbors are concerned that his safe held these guns DailyMail.com spoke to staff at the center who confirmed Paddock was known but declined to comment based on the advice of the Mesquite City department that runs the facility. The cook Paddock spoke to on Thursday also declined to comment for the same reason. Mr Blake, who is well-known in Mesquite for owning a large converted armored car, added that Paddock never once asked him about the unusual vehicle which he parks outside the senior center. He said: 'It surprised me that he didn't come to ask me about my armored car, which to a lot of people is a very unique vehicle and they want to ask all kinds of questions, but Stephen never even came one time to show any interest in it, which surprised me because people all over the city, almost every day, different places I go to, say they really love the vehicle. 'I never got a word from him, he wasn't friendly that way at all, he was very introverted.' Mr Blake said others who know Paddock in Mesquite says he lived a pretty mundane every day life. He was known to do his shopping at Walmart, to drink Starbucks coffee, order take out Domino's Pizza and enjoyed playing the slots at the Virgin River casino in town. Paddock is said to have enjoyed playing the slots at the Virgin River casino (left) in town and was a regular guest at his local Starbucks (right) Although he was frugal with his lunch money, Paddock was so hooked on gambling that he played up to 1,000 hands of video poker in a single hour - at a cost of $100,000 He generally sought privacy and kept a low profile. Some of his neighbors rarely saw him, all they knew was that he gambled professionally. Mr Blake says everyone in the center was shocked to hear about what Paddock did and its left them feeling 'uneasy' and 'fearful'. He added: 'People are saying: "gosh if we knew somebody like this was in here we're not even sure we'd have come here all the time", because they think he could have shot and killed all of us in no time. 'I hear that quite often ever since it happened, people are fearful about what's going on with people like him, it's hard for them to believe that someone could go and fire on thousands of people like that who are having a good time.' Paddock committed suicide Sunday night after police closed in on him following his shooting spree that claimed 58 lives and left 489 other injured. He opened fire from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay hotel on the Route 91 Harvest music festival attended by 22,000 people. Investigators are still trying to establish a motive for the deadly attack - the worst in US history. DailyMailTV is broadcast coast to coast every week day. Go to www.dailymail.tv to check your local listings Pensioner Barry Stone (pictured) has been reunited with his life-savings thanks to a taxi driver who realised he had been hoodwinked into taking part in a cruel cash scam Pensioner Barry Stone has been reunited with his life-savings thanks to a taxi driver who realised he had been hoodwinked into taking part in a cruel cash scam. The 78-year-old, from Marlow, was handed back his 12,000 cash savings after shameless tricksters persuaded him he needed to withdraw it all from the bank and hand it to the cabbie who would collect it from him. Retired cabinet maker Mr Stone received a call on his landline from scammers, who claimed they were ringing from Scotland Yard and investigating bank fraud. They told him to withdraw 12,000 from his bank account and hand it over to a taxi driver who would drive it to London so they could check for fingerprints on the bank notes. Meanwhile the scammers dialled a cab firm local to the OAP's home and arranged for them to pick up the money - 8,000 in 50 notes and 4,128 worth of Euros - and drive it to the capital. Luckily for Mr Stone, cabbie Izy Rashid smelled a rat straight away and returned to Mr Stone's home, desperate to reunite him with his life savings. 'I didn't sleep afterwards and I couldn't eat at all, it was such a lot of money,' said the elderly widower at his home in Marlow, Buckinghamshire. The father-of-one added: 'I feel so relieved now, I can have something to eat, no problem. I'm very, very relieved.' Speaking to the scammers Mr Stone said: 'You just believe them sometimes, don't you? You think you're helping people out. Luckily for Mr Stone, cabbie Izy Rashid (pictured) smelled a rat straight away and returned to the Mr Stone's home, desperate to reunite him with his life savings Speaking to the scammers Mr Stone said: 'You just believe them sometimes, don't you? You think you're helping people out' 'They say they want the money because it's got fingerprints on it and it's somebody at the bank, they might be able to catch them and you believe them. However, never again. 'It makes me look so foolish. I was rushing about, I went for my "flu jab, came back at about 1.30pm. I hadn't had anything to eat and then you think the police are phoning, you don't register."' After contacting the police, Mr Rashid returned to Mr Stone's home and gave him back his money, much to his delight. 'He's a wonderful man and friend now, a very, very good friend,' said Mr Stone. 'I'll start using his taxis now so I'll make sure I use him then. 'I'm really angry that people can do something like that though, rob you and take your money - targeting old people as well,' he added. 'How can they do that? I was brought up to respect my elders so I'd never, ever dream of doing something like that.' Retired cabinet maker Mr Stone received a call on his landline from scammers, who claimed they were ringing from Scotland Yard and investigating bank fraud. Pictured, Izy Rashid speaking to police officers Mr Stone has lived alone since the death of his wife Pat 12 years ago. He explained it makes him look so foolish. I was rushing about, I went for my "flu jab, came back at about 1.30pm. I hadn't had anything to eat and then you think the police are phoning, you don't register."' Although the father-of-four cabbie saved the pensioner from losing everything, he humbly declined to accept any plaudits. 'I don't think I'm a hero. It's just immoral to take somebody's money, especially someone so old and fragile,' he said. 'I'm just happy I was able to stop this man from losing his entire life savings, simple as that. I'm certain that if we weren't already aware of scams like this he would have lost all of that money. 'It's really sad that stuff like that goes on and I just hope this will help raise the awareness of these scams and make more people aware of what can happen. 'It's heartbreaking to think that without our intervention Mr Stone could have been left penniless.' Mr Stone has lived alone since the death of his wife Pat 12 years ago. 'We got a phone call from somebody in London by the name of Gary to pick someone up in Marlow,' said the 37-year-old taxi driver. 'We thought it was a bit suspicious because when we got there he (Mr Stone) just gave us a box. My colleague brought it back to the office but then I took it back to the gentleman. Although the father-of-four cabbie saved the pensioner from losing everything, he humbly declined to accept any plaudits Mr Stone was taken back to the Marlow branch of NatWest by two police officers to get the cash back into his account 'At first he said "No, it's aftershave for my son" because that's what the scammers had told him to say. We later released they had rung him, claiming to be from the Met Police. 'They wanted him to go to his bank and get all the money out of his account and they would check the fingerprints of the money. So he had taken it all out, put it in the box, and then they told him not to tell anyone what it was about.' Mr Stone was taken back to the Marlow branch of NatWest by two police officers to get the cash back into his account. Mr Rashid added that he was glad that his company, Neales, of Marlow, was able to help. 'As a company that actual cares about customers we want to do everything to protect them,' he said. 'We consider their safety and wellbeing is paramount. Therefore if we receive a call that sounds suspicious we ensure we take necessary steps to protect any vulnerable customers.' A spokesman for Thames Valley Police, which is investigating the courier scam, said: 'We received a report of fraud at around 11am this morning in relation to an incident of fraud which occurred at around 6pm yesterday in Marlow. 'Officers are investigating the incident. There are no arrests at this stage. Anyone with any information is asked to call police on 101.' A spokesman for Thames Valley Police, which is investigating the courier scam, said: 'We received a report of fraud at around 11am this morning in relation to an incident of fraud which occurred at around 6pm yesterday in Marlow' Mr Rashid added that he was glad that his company, Neales, of Marlow, was able to help OCEAN SPRINGS, Mississippi -- Although a bit more slow to arrive than a year ago, by lunchtime Thursday thousands of people and hundreds of classic cars were packed into downtown Ocean Springs as Cruisin' the Coast once again got underway in the city. "It's going great," said Ocean Springs' longtime Cruisin' coordinator Chic Cody. "The weather is absolutely beautiful and the people are so friendly. Everyone is really enjoying themselves. I have never seen this many fine automobiles in my life. I've been seeing these great cars for years, but no to the degree I'm seeing them this year." Cody said Ocean Springs is set up to accommodate about 800 Cruisers for parking, but can easily go to 1,000 if necessary. "However many show up, we'll find room for them," he said. Last year, opening day of Cruisin' in Ocean Springs saw every available parking spot filled with a classic car shortly after the official start time of 9 a.m. This year, Cruisers were a little slower to arrive, but by late morning virtually every spot was taken. Every year, dozens of Cruisers arrive before sunrise to wait in line for one of the coveted spots under the massive oaks along Washington Avenue. Likewise, spectators only trickled in to the downtown area at first, but the quiet of the morning gave way to large crowds by afternoon. "It's the first cool day we've had and I thought maybe people were just enjoying the cool weather wherever they were," Cody said. "But as the day went along, it started to fill up. "We've really had a lot of people here from out of state, even more than usual. Tennessee, Virginia, Alabama, Kentucky, Texas, Missouri, Louisiana, Texas, Florida, Arkansas -- all across the southeast. It's unbelievable." Shea Dobson was walking through the downtown area enjoying his first Cruisin' the Coast as Mayor of Ocean Springs, accompanied by his two dogs. "Cruisin' is always a great weekend for Ocean Springs," Dobson said. "It's an opportunity for us to show off all the things that make Ocean Springs special and for us to be a part of something which benefits the overall coast community." Cruisin' the Coast executive director Woody Bailey said -- in what has become an annual occurrence -- the event broke it's registration record by the end of the day Wednesday with 8,062 registered Cruisers. Registration will continue until noon Saturday and registration for next year has already begun. Like so many, Bailey and his staff of volunteers are keeping a wary eye on Tropical Storm Nate, which some forecasts predict will hit the Gulf Coast as a Category 1 hurricane this weekend. "We are of course concerned about it," Bailey said. "We're keeping an eye on it like everyone else is. As of right now, Cruisin' is going forward as planned and as conditions warrant, but we'll be mindful of the situation and everyone's safety." Paul Edmunds (artist's impression in Birmingham Crown Court today) supplied guns and ammo to gangsters which were later used in several murders and over 100 shootings across Britain, a court heard An elderly antiques dealer supplied guns and ammo to gangsters which were later used in several murders and over 100 shootings across Britain, a court heard. Paul Edmunds, 66, from Hardwicke, Gloucestershire, is accused of using his 'encyclopaedic knowledge' of weapons to make tens of thousands of rounds of ammunition in an armoury in his garage. A court heard they were sold on to associates in the criminal underworld before being found at the scenes of fatal shootings across the country. The pensioner allegedly circumvented firearms legislation in order to import hundreds of weapons from the United States. The deadly firearms and specially-made ammunition were then passed on via a third party to a notorious Birmingham gang, jurors were told. Bullets were said to have been found at over 100 crime scenes - including the targeting of a police helicopter during the 2011 London riots. On Thursday, Edmunds went on trial accused of conspiracy to supply firearms and ammunition at Birmingham Crown Court. He also denies fraudulent evasion of a prohibition or restriction, perverting the course of justice and possession of a prohibited firearm. A jury of seven men and five women was told that Edmunds created the ammo for antique weapons from three armouries at his home. He was investigated after the National Ballistics Intelligence Service (NABIS) noticed an increasing number of pre-war handguns at crime scenes. NABIS managed to arrest and convict an organised crime gang involved in supplying the firearms with the specially-made ammunition. Experts realised tool markings on the ammunition matched those they had recovered over several years and collated as 'Operation Gold Dust'. Opening the case, prosecutor Andrew Fisher QC said: 'This case concerns the supply of guns and live ammunition to criminal gangs both in the West Midlands and across the country. Paul Edmunds, 66, from Hardwicke, Gloucestershire, is accused of using his 'encyclopaedic knowledge' of weapons to make tens of thousands of rounds of ammunition in an armoury in his garage (pictured) 'In March 2014, the police mounted an operation in an attempt to apprehend both those who supplied the guns and those who possessed them. 'The firearms experts at NABIS had noticed that since 2009 an increasing number of police recoveries were of pre-war handguns for which there was no commercially available ammunition. 'Most of these recoveries were specially-made ammunition for these guns, and examinations showed that much of this ammunition had been manufactured using the same equipment. 'Microscopic examinations enabled them to see tell-tale tool markings on the ammunition, rather like fingerprints, which all matched. 'Therefore, it appeared that the same person or manufacturer was supplying the specially-made or adapted ammunition that was recovered from over 100 crime scenes throughout the country. A court heard they were sold on to associates in the criminal underworld before being found at the scenes of fatal shootings across the country 'As you can imagine, there was an extensive search for not just the people who had these firearms, but the person supplying them and the ammunition. 'Operation Cookie was launched in 2014, and since then a number of people have been arrested and have been convicted.' The court heard how the weapons had been passed to gang leader, Nosakhere Stephenson, through middleman Mohinder Surdhar, who liaised with chief armourer Sundish Nazran. Mr Fisher added: 'It is now clear that Mohinder Surdhar was supplying to the organised crime group that I have just told you about. 'However, Dr Surdhar's dealings were exclusively with the gang's chief armourer, Sundish Nazran. 'Surdhar obtained the guns from various sources including Mr Edmunds and the specially-made or adapted ammunition from Edmunds. 'These weapons were then used in several fatal shootings, and the shooting at a police helicopter during the London riots of 2011. 'Initially Mr Edmunds was approached by the police, them having found an invoice of his amongst Surdhar's papers. Prosecutor Andrew Fisher QC said: 'His business was run from home (pictured). The principal armoury was his garage, and this was already known to and regularly inspected by the authorities' 'As you can imagine, his premises were then searched. 'It was found that he had made numerous false entries into his register to cover his tracks, and many of the firearms were not listed. 'His business was run from home. The principal armoury was his garage, and this was already known to and regularly inspected by the authorities. 'But police searches found a further armoury in his bedroom where he undertook some of the modifications and a third one in the attic. 'It was found that the specially-made or adapted ammunition recovered by the police in the 100 plus recoveries from crime scenes matched ammunition found at Edmunds' house. 'There were many tens of thousands of rounds of ammunition and component parts. 'It was found that he had a recipe book which tells him what the main ingredients are for any caliber of ammunition that he wants to make. The court heard how the weapons had been passed to gang leader, Nosakhere Stephenson (left), through middleman Mohinder Surdhar, who liaised with chief armourer Sundish Nazran (right) 'Plainly he has an expertise and almost encyclopaedic knowledge of firearms and ammunition. 'He has been supplying guns and ammunition highly unlawfully for many years..' Jurors were told how further searches of Edmunds' home revealed he had been importing hundreds of guns from the United States, paying around 250,000. Mr Fisher said he then failed to list them on his firearms register, meaning they could not be traced. He added: 'He managed to get round this regulation, including costs and taxes, in order to make it cheaper for him, but, more relevantly, easier to supply to the illicit market. 'On examination of his registers, it became clear that of the hundreds of guns he had imported, very few had been recorded in his register. 'These guns and ammunition were not found on his property, meaning that they must have been sold. 'The failure to mark them in his stock record made it easier for him to supply them to the illicit market. No record, no trace. The court also heard Edmunds may have made up to 375,000 as a result of selling on the guns and ammo 'These guns, together with the ammunition, have inevitably gone almost directly into the hands of dangerous criminals since they could not in reality be lawfully held by anyone other than the firearms dealer.' The court also heard Edmunds may have made up to 375,000 as a result of selling on the guns and ammo. Mr Fisher said: 'It was also found that 300,000 was paid into his many card accounts under the heading 'credit'. 'And 75,000 was paid into other accounts, again through cash. 'It would appear that unknown sources have funded Mr Edmunds' activities to the tune of 375,000. 'This may reflect some of his criminal activity in supplying firearms and ammunition illicitly to people who should not and are not permitted to have them.' Edmunds, who listened to proceedings through a hearing loop, denies all charges. The trial, which is expected to last six weeks, continues. Ivana Trump says her ex-husband President Donald Trump offered her the ambassadorship to the Czech Republic but she turned it down so she could keep up her jet-set lifestyle and summers in Saint-Tropez. The Czech native had long been rumored for the post and floated the idea herself in a 2016 interview with the New York Post. Now, she tells CBS the president followed through with an offer which she refused. 'I was just offered to be the American ambassador to Czech Republic and Donald told me. He said, "Ivana, if you want it, I give it to you," Trump told the network. Ivana Trump says her ex husband President Trump offered her the ambassadorship to the Czech Republic 'But I like my freedom. I like to do what I want to do, go wherever I want to go with whomever I want to go. And I can afford my lifestyle,' she explained. 'Okay, why would I go and say bye-bye to Miami in the winter, bye-bye to Saint-Tropez in the summer, and bye-by to spring and fall in New York? I have a perfect life,' she said. Trump had put out the idea herself during the campaign when she notably backed her ex and said nice things about him during his run. The Czech native and former model told the Post:'I will suggest that I be ambassador for the Czech Republic,' she told the paper. '[That] is where I'm from and my language and everybody knows me. I'm quite known all around the world. Not only in America. I have written three books, and they were translated in 40 countries in 25 languages. I'm known by the name Ivana. I really did not need the name Trump,' she said. Scroll down for video Donald Trump and his then-wife Ivana smile as they attend a formal party, early 1980s Ivana Trump and her boyfriend Rossano Rubicondi arrive for Sir Elton John's White Tie and Tiara Ball at his Berkshire mansion in Woodside, Crimp Hill, Old Windsor Thursday 24 June 2004. All funds from the exclusive private party go to the Elton John AIDS Foundation Ivana Trump and Donald Trump are seen in December 1982 in New York City Trump nominated Stephen B. King, a Wisconsin political operative, to the post in July. Trump said the president is still a big part of her life and that they speak 'maybe once a week,' and that he is 'still asking me for advice.' She said he asked her: 'Should I tweet, should I not tweet.' But she gave a simple reply: 'I said, I think you should tweet.' 'PERFECT LIFE': Ivana Trump attends the Massimo Gargia Birthday Party at the VIP Room Saint Tropez on August 18, 2014 in Saint Tropez, France. She said her lifestyle is why she turned down an ambassadorship Ivana Trump sighted at The Deck at The Island Gardens on March 6, 2016 in Miami, Florida. Donald Trump pictured with Melania Knauss (now first lady Melania Trump) at the 57th annual Emmy Awards in 2005 'Its a new way, a new technology. And if you want to get your words across rightly, without telling the New York Times, which is going to twist every single word of yours, this is how you get your message out,' she said. Defending the practice, which has gotten the president in hot water when he lashed out at members of his own administration or 'Rocket Man' King Jong-un of North Korea, she said: 'Well, its a tweeting president. This is his new way, how to put the message across. And hes right.' Trump, 68, has previously said she raised the three children she shares with the president, Donald Jr., Eric, and Ivanka virtually alone. This is the neighborhood in the Philippines where Marilou Danley spent time on Sunday with family - while her partner Stephen Paddock was plotting the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history. Danley, 62, visited with her brother, who is a traditional 'medicine man' practicing an ancient Filipino healing art, at his home in Dasmarinas, a city of around 600,000 people which is 25 miles from the capital, Manila. Reynaldo Bustos, 75, is the eldest of her large family. Another sister, Dolly, lives nearby, while two more of her sisters live in Australia. Danley went to the Philippines fearing her relationship with Paddock was over because he paid for her ticket, her sisters have claimed. But when she arrived at her brother's home, she brought gifts, and stayed for more than an hour. Family time: As Stephen Paddock prepared for his gun massacre, Marilou Danley was spending time with her brother, Reynaldo Bustos, at his home in Dasmarinas, in the Philippines Family: Marilou Danley (second right) is from a large family which includes her sisters Liza Werner (center) and Amelia Manango (right), both of whom live in Australia - as did she until marrying an American man, Geary Danley, in 1990. Visit: This is the home of Reynaldo Bustos, the brother in Dasmarinas who Marilou Danley was visiting hours before her partner Stephen Paddock's mass-murder in Las Vegas Everyday life: The Philippines is in contrast to the retirement community in Mesquite where Danley lived with Pollard. Her lawyer says she thought he was breaking up with her by paying for a ticket to her native country Busy city: The neighborhood the Bustos family live in is close to the center of Dasmarinas, a city of 600,000 people Family time: Stephen Paddock visited the Philippines with his girlfriend at least once and met members of her family at a celebratory meal Paddock had also wired $100,000 to the country, apparently to help her build a house there. Her brother and his family live in Village Park, an area where middle-class Filipino families' homes are built on lots which cost around $6,000. The sum Paddock sent would have allowed her to build a much larger home in a more desirable area. 'I saw a nice car parked on the street,' one neighbor told DailyMail.com. 'The next-door neighbor told me that it was Marilou.' On Wednesday, Danley's lawyer said she believed that Paddock, 64, had bought her a plane ticket to the Philippines and then wired $100,000 US dollars because he wanted to break up with her. He suggested that she visit her family, something she was happy to do, she claimed. When he wired the large sum of money, she worried that he wanted to end their years-long relationship. Danley is an Australian citizen who had renounced her Filipino citizenship, according to a local report by ABS-CBN. Her immigration status in the U.S. has not been officially disclosed but she married Geary Danley in 1990, and is likely to have qualified for a green card shortly after that. It is also not known precisely when she immigrated to Australia. The Bustos family is originally from Pambuan, outside Gapan City, in Nueva Ecija province, to the north of Manila. It is unclear if that was where Danley was brought up. Her family's life in the Philippines is markedly different to Manley's in the U.S. Reynaldo Bustos practices hilot, an ancient Filipino art of healing, and herbal medicine. Street food: The Bustos family also take part in the retail economy, selling duck eggs and smoked fish in Dasmarinas Contrast: This is the retirement home in Mesquite, Nevada, where Paddock and Danley lived until his murder spree. It has been forensically examined by law enforcement Back to face the feds: This was how Marilou Danley returned from her break - in a wheelchair at LAX. Her lawyer issued a statement saying she knew nothing of Paddock's evil plans He was not at home on Thursday and was treating a patient in Pampanga province, according to local sources. He has said that he contacted his sister as soon as he had seen the news that he was suspected of the shooting spree from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay resort and casino on Sunday night in Las Vegas, which left 58 people dead and hundreds more injured. In his native Tagalog, Bustos told ABC: 'I called her up immediately and she said, 'Relax, we shouldn't worry about it. I'll fix it. Do not panic. I have a clean conscience. I didn't have anything to do with this.' His home is on a busy street, with a church on the corner and around the corner, the busy main road is filled with food vendors, barber shops and 'sari sari' stores - Tagalog for 'variety'. Bustos shares his home with his son Miguel and daughter-in-law Marizalyn Joy Bustos Waniwan. Along with Reynaldo's work as a faith healer, the family sells duck eggs and smoked fish. Baby Casamero is a fellow vendor who sells baluts, a typical Filipino street food of duck embryo boiled and eaten from the shell. She told DailyMail.com that the family usually come to sell their eggs in the same location three times a week in Dasmarinas. She said that another of Danley's sisters, Dolly, owned land in a subdivision called Green Breeze. Dolly is believed to live at a gated community, around 12 miles away, where homes start at around 3 million Philippine pesos or $60,000 USD. Erik Castillo, 44, was sentenced on Wednesday to 17 years in prison after he paid a 15-year-old girl's father to have her sent over from Mexico A Colorado man paid a 15-year-old girl's father to have her sent over from Mexico before he raped her and fathered her child. Erik Castillo, 44, was sentenced on Wednesday to 17 years in prison after earlier pleading guilty to multiple sexual assault charges. His charges related to human trafficking for sexual servitude were dropped as part of his plea agreement. Castillo, who lives in Thornton and has been in the US for 25 years, had approached the girl on Facebook and arranged for her to come from Mexico. The teen, who is a US citizen but raised in Mexico, had wanted to come to America to get an education and improve her life, the Adams County district attorney's office said. But once she got here, Castillo did not enroll her in school, kept her in isolation and repeatedly raped her. Prosecutors say Castillo only let her outside the house to go to the grocery store. Prosecutors say Castillo would only let the girl outside of his house to go to the grocery store. Castillo did not enroll her in school, kept her in isolation and repeatedly raped her When she fell pregnant, Castillo took the girl to a doctor and said he was her uncle. The teenage victim has since given birth to Castillo's child. 'This is a particularly egregious case,' Adams County District Judge Robert Kiesnowski Jr. said. 'The defendant tried to trade money for this young lady. This reflects a belief that people can be bought and sold. 'They can't be. That is moral and inhumane - especially a 15-year-old girl.' Advertisement Florida, Texas, and Louisiana are bracing for another devastating hurricane as Tropical Storm Nate batters Central America. At least 22 have died in Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Honduras as torrential rains uproot trees, knock out bridges and turn roads into rivers. The storm is heading for the US Gulf Coast where it is expected to strike as a Category 1 hurricane on Sunday. Storm or hurricane watches have been issued from Louisiana east through Mississippi and Alabama, with a state of emergency declared in 29 Florida counties, the US National Hurricane Center said. A spokesman added: 'The threat of the impact is increasing, so folks along the northern Gulf Coast should be paying attention to this thing.' Scroll down for video Devastation: A man walks by a fallen tree after the passing of Storm Nate on the road to Masaya, Nicaragua Damage: A family is isolated in their house due to a flooded river after the passage of the storm Nate, in Rivas, Nicaragua A man walks amid flood waters after the passing of the Storm Nate in the Iguanal community, in Rivas, Nicaragua as the storm claims 22 lives People recover their belongings after flooding caused by heavy rains of Tropical Storm Nate in San Jose, Costa Rica on Thursday Tropical Storm Nate unleashed intense rainfall across much of Central America on Thursday, killing at least eight people in Costa Rica. Locals near San Jose, Costa Rica, are seen above walking past a washed out road on Thursday Nate is expected to strengthen into a Category 1 hurricane by the time it makes landfall on the US Gulf Coast on Saturday Department of Homeland Security personnel deliver supplies to Santa Ana community residents in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria in Guayama, Puerto Rico on Thursday Even before the storm hit on September 20, Puerto Rico was in dire condition thanks to a decade-long economic recession that had left its infrastructure in a sorry state As of Wednesday, half of Puerto Ricans had access to drinking water and 5 percent of the island had electricity Nearly three dozen people have died in Puerto Rico as a result of the storm, though experts expect that number to rise A Homeland Security Special Agent delivers water to Santa Ana resident Carmelo Diaz Morales In Nicaragua, at least 11 people died, seven others were reported missing and thousands had to evacuate homes because of flooding, said the country's vice president Rosario Murillo. Emergency officials in Costa Rica reported that at least eight people were killed due to the lashing rain, including two children. Another 17 people were missing, while more than 7,000 had to take refuge from Nate in shelters. Two youths also drowned in Honduras due to the sudden swell in a river, while a man was killed in a mud slide in El Salvador and another person was missing. 'Sometimes we think we think we can cross a river and the hardest thing to understand is that we must wait,' Nicaragua's Murillo told state radio, warning people to avoid dangerous waters. 'It's better to be late than not to get there at all.' Costa Rica's government declared a state of emergency, closing schools and all other non-essential services. Highways in the country were closed due to mudslides and power outages were also reported in parts of country, where authorities deployed more than 3,500 police. Evacuation: People stay at an improvised shelter in the Iguanal community, in Rivas, Nicaragua after the storm battered their homes A woman takes care of her son at an improvised shelter after the storm Nate in Nicaragua where Storm Nate struck A resident looks at damage caused by heavy rains of Tropical Storm Nate on Masachapa river in outskirts of Managua, Nicaragua People wait on a road surround by flood waters after the passing of the Storm Nate in the Iguanal community, in Rivas, Nicaragua A resident walks on the shore of the Masachapa river, flooded by heavy rains by Tropical Storm Nate in the outskirts of Managua, Nicaragua Surging waters: People look at the Tiribi river flooded after heavy rains by Tropical Storm Nate in San Jose, Costa Rica Familes are evacuated due to the danger of a mudslide during heavy rains by Tropical Storm Nate in Alajuelita, Costa Rica Workers clear rubble from a road following the passage of Tropical Storm Nate in the city of El Crucero, Costa Rica A man recovers some zinc sheets after a mudslide damaged their homes during heavy rains by Tropical Storm Nate in San Jose, Costa Rica In Costa Rica people have had to abandon their homes because of flooding and the risk of unstable ground giving way, the director of the National Emergency Commission, Ivan Brenes, said. At least 18 main roads were closed and another dozen were only partially open. In Costa Rica's northwest Guanacaste region popular with tourists many roads were so flooded as to be impassable to all but four-wheel-drive vehicles and horses. An alert was also issued for people to be wary of crocodiles that might be roaming after rivers and estuaries flooded. Concerned football officials were monitoring the situation and postponed a World Cup qualifying match between Costa Rica and Honduras from Friday to Saturday. Costa Rica's main international airport was open, but with multiple flight cancellations and delays. The annual rainy season is currently underway in Central America, a five-month period typically ending in November in which the risk of flooding and mudslides rise. This year's has been intense, with some areas in the region getting up to 50 percent more rain than average for September and October. The United States is recovering from two major hurricanes: Hurricane Harvey that tore through Texas in August, and Hurricane Irma in September. Another powerful storm, Hurricane Maria, ripped through the Caribbean in late September, wreaking destruction on several islands, including Dominica and Puerto Rico. At about 2pm EDT on Thursday Nate was about 50 miles northwest of Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua, and about 50 miles south-southwest of Puerto Lempira, Honduras, moving northwest at a speed of 9 mph, the NHC said Nate, which had maximum sustained winds of 40 mph, was expected to move across northeastern Nicaragua and eastern Honduras on Thursday and enter the northwestern Caribbean Sea Thursday night Nate will dump 15 to 20 inches of rain over Nicaragua, and both Costa Rica and Panama were to get 5 to 10 inches of rain and 20 inches in some isolated areas, the NHC said The storm will be 'near hurricane intensity' when it approaches the Yucatan Peninsula late on Friday, the NHC said Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman, Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., said Thursday his panel would hold news organizations 'accountable' for not reporting the facts, though would not investigate U.S.-based outlets like President Trump had floated. Burr was responding to an early a.m. tweet from Trump, who suggested that Burr's committee which recommitted to looking for collusion between Russia and the Trump campaign Wednesday spend its time investigating 'fake news,' in the wake of the president getting a bevvy of negatives headlines. 'Why Isn't the Senate Intel Committee looking into the Fake News Networks in OUR country to see why so much of our news is just made up-FAKE!' Trump wrote. Scroll down for video Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C. (left), said Thursday that the Senate Intelligence Committee would hold news organizations 'accountable' for misreporting facts about the Russia probe, but said his panel would not investigate American news outlets, like President Trump advised President Trump tweeted Thursday morning that he thought the Senate panel, currently investigating Russia, should instead probe American media networks, who produced a story yesterday that said Secretary of State Rex Tillerson called Trump a 'moron' President Trump suggested the Senate Intelligence Committee - currently working on the Russia probe - move on and focus on American media networks instead, which have given the president a number of bad headlines in recent days President Trump retweeted commentary by Fox News Channel's Geraldo Rivero, who argued that the president and first lady 'were amazingly gracious and graciously received by the grateful Puerto Rican people' when Trump took a trip there Tuesday Talking to CNN about the Russia investigation, Burr said if the committee found that a news organization had not covered it factually, 'I think that you'll see that in our report.' 'You'll see that in our hearings, and you should expect it because I think that the reporting of this judging just by yesterday's press conference is loose at best, and they'll have to stand behind what they report,' Burr said. But the North Carolina Republican dismissed any notion of Congress launching an investigation into American news media companies, which Trump had seemed to suggest. 'No, not investigating news organizations holding them accountable for what they say with no sources to substantiate the facts.' Burr pledged that his committee would lay out how Russia interfered in the 2016 election 'in a way that the American people will tell who was covering this factually and who was sensationalizing the coverage.' 'It will be the news organizations that covered it somewhere differently that will be the ones with egg on their face,' the senator told CNN. Trump's dual grievances with the Senate's ongoing Russia probe and the media's coverage of the president this week were evident in his a.m. tweet. On Wednesday the White House had been embarrassed by an NBC News report that said Secretary of State Rex Tillerson almost quit his post in July and had also referred to Trump as a 'moron' at a Pentagon meeting. And on Tuesday, Trump's trip to Puerto Rice was widely panned by media commentators, with the state-out visual being the image of Trump gaily tossing rolls of papers towels to members of the crowd as they waited to pick up supplies on the hurricane-ravaged island, much of which still doesn't have power. On Thursday, Trump tried to combat the Puerto Rico narrative again, retweeting a Fox News segment starring Geraldo Rivero who had interviewed Trump during the visit to the island. 'I think the president and the first lady were amazingly gracious and graciously received by the grateful Puerto Rican people,' Rivera said. Pundits, however, thought otherwise. 'Trump's Puerto Rico event was way worse than his tweets,' argued CNN's Chris Cillizza in an opinion piece. 'Trump's Puerto Rico Visit Is a Political Disaster,' wrote the Atlantic's David S. Graham. The president had complimented the US territory for getting through the natural disaster with only a small death toll, compared to a 'real catastrophe' like Hurricane Katrina. The next day, the press was back to Trump administration palace intrigue, with the NBC News story about Tillerson. The report prompted the secretary of state to make a rare public statement, reiterating his support for the president and his agenda and labeling him 'smart.' Tillerson, however, never said he didn't label his boss a 'moron.' Shortly after Tillerson's statement, CNN's Kaitlan Collins came back on the air and said her network had confirmed the 'moron' comment too, saying Trump had known about the dig before the NBC News report. Meanwhile Trump had taken off in Air Force One en route to Las Vegas and was tweeting about the coverage. 'Wow, so many Fake News stories today. No matter what I do or say, they will not write or speak truth. The Fake News Media is out of control!' the president wrote. 'NBC news is #FakeNews and more dishonest than even CNN. They are a disgrace to good reporting. No wonder their news ratings are way down!' he continued. 'The @NBCNews story has just been totally refuted by Sec. Tillerson and @VP Pence. It is #FakeNews. They should issue an apology to AMERICA!' the president added. On Thursday, Trump was back to hammering NBC News about the Tillerson story again. 'Rex Tillerson never threatened to resign. This is Fake News put out by @NBCNews. Low news and reporting standards. No verification from me,' Trump wrote. By that time he had escalated his complaints by suggesting American news organizations be probed by Congress. A number of committees on Capitol Hill, including the Senate Intelligence Committee, are looking into aspects of the Russian disinformation campaign, part of which relied on fake news stories place on social media networks like Facebook, so that they would be shared. Facebook recently handed over some 3,000 ads purchased by a Russian troll farm, which were put in place to sow discord among the American people and tilt last year's presidential election away from Democrat Hillary Clinton. The leaders of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Burr and and Mark Warner, D-Va., gave an update on the Russia probe Wednesday. During the press conference, Burr confirmed that the committee is still looking into whether there was collusion between the Russians and the Trump campaign. 'The committee continues to look into all evidence to see if there was any hint of collusion,' Burr, the Republican, said. 'We have more work to do as it relates to collusion.' 29-year-old Joseph Elliott from Lancaster County will now likely serve between one and two years in prison after killing his dog A Pennsylvania man ended up killing his dog after he claimed the animal put a curse on him. 29-year-old Joseph Elliott from Lancaster County will now likely serve between one and two years in prison followed by three years probation as a result of the impulsive and cruel act. Elliott pleaded guilty to stabbing his dog to death and stealing a car in separate incidents earlier this year. Elliott stole a Volkswagen Jetta from a man who lived nearby, but when he was caught he gave police a false name. Elizabethtown police were originally called to Elliott's apartment in April where they found him naked in a doorway. Police searched Elliott's home only to find a dog in his bathroom that had been stabbed several times and had Courtesy of ABC 27 He quickly fessed up that he had consumed methamphetamine. The police then searched his home and found his dog dead in his bathroom with multiple cuts and lacerations to its body. The Lancaster County Animal Coalition conducted a necropsy and found that the dog suffered eight stab wounds and bruising on its body. Elliott again fessed up stating he felt the dog had 'put a hex on him.' The adoptive parents of a 16-year-old Iowa girl who weighed only 56 pounds when she died have been charged with first-degree murder in Iowa. Misty and Marc Ray were charged in the death of Sabrina Ray after a Dallas County judge approved the prosecution's request to bring more charges against them on Tuesday, according to court records, the Des Moines Register reported. The couple were the adoptive parents of the 16-year-old girl who was found dead May 12 inside the family's home in Perry, which is 35 miles northwest of Des Moines. Additionally, Marc was charged with two counts of sexual abuse, according to court records. The abuse allegedly occurred in January 2009 and December 2016. Police say preliminary autopsy results show she was severely malnourished and that she had the average weight of a healthy seven-year-old girl. Tragic: Sabrina Ray (pictured left as a child and right as a teen), 16, was found starved to death in her adoptive parents' home in Iowa on May 12. The girl weighed 56lbs and was severely malnourished Sabrina's adoptive parents Marc Ray (left) and Misty Ray (right) were first charged child endangerment resulting in death and 10 other counts. Earlier this week they were charged with first-degree murder related to Sabrina's death Earlier this week, Marc (above in May), was charged with two counts of sexual abuse, according to court records. The abuse allegedly occurred in January 2009 and December 2016 The Rays already have pleaded not guilty to charges of child endangerment causing death, child endangerment causing serious injury and neglect. A trial isn't expected until next year. Police said in June that the girl was unable to walk, talk or eat after being 'drop-kicked' by her 21-year-old adoptive brother down basement stairs weeks before her death. The brother, 21-year-old Justin Dale Ray, has been charged with two counts of willful injury and two counts of child endangerment for the incident, which occurred sometime between April 15 and May 2. Between March and May, Justin also allegedly kicked his frail adoptive sister in the chin, leaving her with a bleeding cut, according to a criminal complaint. A cousin who lived with the family, 20-year-old Josie Raye Bousman, has been charged with child endangerment resulting in death and three counts of first-degree kidnapping after she allegedly admitted to injuring Sabrina and denying her food and water, reported the station KCCI8. The teenager was discovered unresponsive inside her familys residence at 1708 1st Avenue in Perry (above). As a result of her death, other family members have also been charged The teen's grandmother, 62-year-old Carla Bousman, was charged with aiding and abetting kidnapping, child abuse resulting in death and obstruction for allegedly altering evidence at the crime scene and providing false evidence. The Rays also ran an in-home child care, and police are investigating whether any abuse occurred with those children, officials said. Authorities had previously revealed that Sabrina Ray was home-schooled and that she and her siblings had been monitored by the Iowa Department of Human Services following complaints about inadequate nutrition and the use of corporal punishment. Additional suspects: The victim's adoptive brother 21-year-old Justin Dale Ray (left), grandmother Carla Bousman, 62 (center, and cousin Josie Raye Bousman, 20 (right) have also been arrested and charged in Sabrina's case Sabrina was one of five children born to a meth addict. She ended up in foster care in 2011 and was formally adopted by the Ray couple in 2013 Three other children were removed from the home, including two girls - ages 10 and 12 - who were also adopted and are now under a doctor's care, according to police. The third child is a boy. Police did not reveal his age, but noted the Rays don't currently face charges concerning him. According toThe Des Moines Register, Sabrina was placed in Misty and Marc Ray's home in 2011 after her biological father, a recovering methamphetamine addict and alcoholic named Joseph Busch and his wife, Karena, pleaded guilty to child endangerment. The Rays initially took in Sabrina as a foster child and formally adopted her in 2013. Sabrina also had an older half-sister, who is now aged 27, and four younger brothers, who went to live with relatives or other foster families. The girl's birth mother, Vicki Hollander, who for a time lived with a registered sex offender and was investigated for child abuse, died of cancer. A man is on life support after he was sucker-punched by a teen as another stole his cellphone. Mohammad Alam, 72, was talking on his cell outside a store in Queens, New York, at around 6.30pm on September 28 when a teen ran by him and snatched the cell from his hand. When Alam tried to chase the thief, another youngster standing nearby broadsided him across the side of his face. The blow sent Alam head-first into the concrete sidewalk. Two teens were caught on video before and after one of them snatched a man's cellphone and the other, pictured above punched him across the face After one of the teens stole Mohammad Alam's cellphone he ran away and was caught on video As Alam tried to chase the teen who stole his phone, another teen decked him in the head, knocking him onto the concrete sidewalk before running away Witnesses tried to grab the other teen but he managed to break away. The attack in Queens, New York, was caught on surveillance video. Police released it to help find the suspects. Medics rushed Alam to a hospital where he remains in critical condition and is breathing with the help of a respirator. 'He's still on life support,' Alam's cousin Faisel Hassan told New York Daily News. 'The doctors will know more in five to seven days. It's still very early to tell.' Doctors told investigators that Alam suffered severe brain damage and that his outlook is grim. Medics rushed Alam to a hospital where he remains in critical condition and is breathing with the help of a respirator A photo shows Alam lying in a hospital bed with tubes snaking up and down his arms. On Monday, police identified and arrested Shyquan Kimble and Jaleel Steele, both 16. They were charged with robbery and assault and are being held without bail. If Alam dies, the criminal charges will likely be upgraded. Alam moved to the U.S. from Bangladesh about four years ago, Hassan said. He didn't work because he cared full time for his wife a former surgeon who went blind following eye surgery 15 years ago. Alam, 72, pictured, moved to the U.S. from Bangladesh about four years ago, Hassan said. He didn't work because he cared full time for his blind wife Canada unveiled its first ever National Holocaust Monument less than a week ago in Ottowa, but the dedication plaque left out any mention of Jews. While the plaque had a touching tribute to the 'the millions of men, women and children murdered during the Holocaust,' it never referenced the Jewish people specifically or anything about anti-Semitism for that matter. The glaring omission only came to light after the monument was unveiled during the dedication ceremony. Scroll down for video Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (far left) visited the National Holocaust Monument. He caught the brunt of the outrage because the plaque left off mention of the Jews The dedication plaque, though a touching tribute, glaringly never mentions Jewish people or anti-Semitism The $8.9 million memorial features concrete triangles that form a Star of David, but the plaque had to be removed after backlash about the oversight. During the unveiling Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the dedication 'one of those all too rare moments when all parties come together', according to the Washington Post. But as soon as his opposition caught wind of the omission on the plaque they used the lapse to attack him, though he had nothing to do with the plaque itself. The Conservative Party's David Sweet said: 'If we are going to stamp out hatred toward Jews, it is important to get history right,' the Guardian reported. He asked whether Trudeau would be rectifying the 'profoundly obvious omission.' Unfortunately for Trudeau its not the first time he's been caught up in a gaff when it's come to the Holocaust. The prime minister was blasted last year for speaking too generally about hate and failing to mention Jews on International Holocaust Memorial Day. Trudeau tours the monument, constructed of concrete triangles that form a Star of David Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks during a ceremony for the National Holocaust Monument in Ottawa 'The Holocaust is a stark reminder of the dangers and risks of allowing hate, prejudice, and discrimination to spread unchallenged,' he said in a statement on that day in 2016. Eva Kuper, 76, a Holocaust survivor was at the dedication ceremony for the memorial. Her mother was killed in Treblinka, the Nazi death camp 50 miles northeast of Warsaw. She told the Ottawa Citizen: 'It is a fitting tribute to the victims, the survivors, and to the Canadians who took part in defeating the Nazis.' A new plaque is in the works. Melanie Joly, Canada's heritage minister, said it will be one 'with language that reflects the horrors experienced by the Jewish people.' Brooklyn-based indie filmmaker Nathan Silver (Uncertain Terms, Stinking Heaven, Exit Elena) channels his inner Pedro Almodovar with his latest film, the delightfully twisted, candy-colored tale of desperate desire Thirst Street. Whereas Almodovar has spent much of his career remixing the domestic melodramas of Douglas Sirk, Silver turns to erotic European dramas of the 1970s for inspiration. The disjointed but blackly comic results look something like a romantic comedy as directed by Italian horror maestro Dario Argento. Narrated in aloof, even tones by Anjelica Huston (nice get there, Nathan), Thirst Street takes on the feel of a demented fairy tale read to a house full of sleepy sorority girls as a cautionary tale. The story centers around a flight attendant by the name of Gina (Lindsay Burdge from The Invitation and A Teacher). In the films preamble, we are informed that Ginas boyfriend recently committed suicide. While on a layover in Paris, Ginas coworkers drag the devastated woman to a cheap fortune teller, who spins an uplifting story about finding new love. Emotionally fragile, Gina has been turning to the horoscopes lately in the misguided belief that theres some sort of destiny at work in her life, that things happen for a reason. As a result shes unusually susceptible to the tarot readers sketchy advice. While visiting a seedy cabaret, Gina spots a skeezy bartender named Jerome (Damien Bonnard from Dunkirk and Staying Vertical) and decides to jump into bed with him. Such spur-of-the-moment, Zinfandel-fueled hookups are generally a bad idea, and weas viewerscan tell that Jerome isnt such a great catch. Silver stages his sex scenes with a free-spirited bluntness and lots of splashy, red and blue lighting. There is a certain giddy pleasure in the films erotic interludes, and we might thinkfor a moment anywaythat maybe a bit of Last Tango in Paris-style sex is exactly what Gina needs to clear her head. But its Jerome who ends up feeling the lingering effects of this one night stand. Gina, you see, immediately throws caution to the wind, quits her job and moves into an apartment across the street from Jerome. Seems our gal has got a bad case of that most French disease, amour foumad, obsessive passion driven in equal parts by love and lust. Gina shows up on Jeromes doorstep, accidentally bumps into him on the street and eventually takes a job as a waitress in the nightclub where he worksall the while ignoring the glaring indicators that hes just not that into her. Thanks to Silvers slim script, Gina remains something of an enigma throughout the film. Other than her boyfriends death, we know basically nothing about her. Its to Burges credit, however, that we sense her vulnerability and still somehow sympathize with her delusional needinesseven when she starts spinning off into Glenn Close in Fatal Attraction territory. At some point Jeromes ex-girlfriend (Esther Garrell) drifts back into the picture, and Gina goes full-on stalker. Silver lacks Almodovars pure cinematic flair (to say nothing of his obsession with transsexuals and op art wallpaper). But hes something of a kindred spirit, finding a sardonic sense of humor in his over-the-top deconstruction of a long-forgotten genre. Gauzy, softcore European erotica of the 70s (the films of Tinto Brass, Just Jaeckin or Jess Franco, for example) always had a dark, cautionary edge to itas if all the ribald action had to have a scary moral attached to it. Silver just carries that forward into its natural, horror movie extreme. If only the filmmaker could have found another layer beyond the superficial. Over the course of a quick 82 minutes, he gives us some entertaining sex, a trip to Paris, a low-rent striptease or two, a bit of psychodrama/thriller action, a Technicolor dream sequence, some comic interludes and an overall lesson in pathological love. But the writer/director never quite digs into the motivations of his characters or explores the sociopolitical underpinnings of the genre hes aping. To stick with the theme: Casual sex is great and allbut sometimes you want to get to know the person. Know what I mean? MOSS POINT, Miss. -- Mobile County Sheriff deputies arrested a man accused of stealing 13 firearms from a Moss Point home on Monday, according to Jackson County Sheriff Mike Ezell. According to Ezell, MCSO investigators contacted JCSO deputies on Wednesday to notify them that the weapons had been confiscated and reached out to confirm their identity. Deputies have identified 22-year-old Joseph Bradley Weaver of Wilmer, Ala. as a person of interest in the home burglary. MCSO arrested Weaver for auto theft in connection with a stolen truck they found at a Grand Bay truck stop on Tuesday with the stolen guns and $600 inside. Weaver was turned over to George County deputies on Wednesday. The investigation into the home burglary is ongoing. The mother of the two-year-old New Jersey boy who police say was left to die in the roadway by his suspected shoplifter dad after a car crash is speaking out about her late son and the 'disgusting human being' who was supposed to keep him safe. Mackenzy Trievel tells NBC Philadelphia she was getting ready to pick up little Qadan at 8pm on Tuesday after his four-day stay with his father, 27-year-old Christopher Kuhn, when she got an urgent call that afternoon instructing her to race to the hospital so she could say goodbye to her boy. Trievel says at the time, she had no idea that her ex-boyfriend had allegedly taken Qadan to a Walmart near Philadelphia to steal a $228 speakers system, then ran a red light and caused a three-car pileup, which led to the toddler being ejected from his dads Jeep because he was not secured in his car seat. Scroll down for video Mother's rage: Mackenzy Trievel called her ex-boyfriend Christopher Kuhn (right) a 'disgusting human being' after the man allegedly left their 2-year-old son (pictured left) to die in the road Kuhn ran a red light and collided with two other vehicles, and kept running even after his son was thrown from his gold Jeep (pictured right) Walk of shame: Police say Kuhn led officers on a foot chase after stepping over his son's body, but was caught (pictured in handcuffs) According to officials, after the rollover crash, Kuhn saw his dying son in the roadway on Route 13, stepped over his body and tried to flee on foot, but officers arrested him after a brief chase. Kuhn, of Hamilton, New Jersey, remained in the Bucks County Jail on Thursday on third-degree murder, homicide by vehicle, endangering the welfare of a child and six other counts. 'He's a disgusting human being,' Trievel said of Kuhn. 'He was only worried about himself.' On Facebook, the grieving mother also hit out at the court system, saying that her concerns about Kuhn and his suspected drug addiction had been brushed aside and he was allowed to share custody of Qadan with her. I want justice for my son, she demanded. The judges never listened to me and now look what happened, my sweet handsome baby boy is gone! In another heartwrenching post, Trievel expressed her all-consuming pain and longing for her deceased child. 'He saved my life and I wish I could have saved his I would give anything to hold him again, she wrote in the hours after Qadans death. He was the light to my life and ill never forget all the laughs and smiles we shared. Meanwhile, a close friend of Christopher Kuhn's came to his defense, telling the station WPVI that he is 'in his own private hell.' As part of Trievel and Kuhn's shared custody agreement, the toddler had spent four days with his dad and was supposed to be picked up by his mother at 8pm Tuesday Parent's worst nightmare: Trievel got a call Tuesday afternoon telling her to race to the hospital so she could say goodbye to her boy Diana Williams told the channel that the 27-year-old Kuhn has a lot of problems, and that 'he is going to suffer and hold on to this for the rest of his life.' Tullytown police say Kuhn fled the Walmart located at Levittown Town Center early Tuesday afternoon after taking the Vizio speakers worth $228. The Trentonian reported that he was seen using his son as a human shield while being pursued by security guards. A witness told police Kuhn was seen covering his license plate with a sweatshirt outside the big-box store as his toddler son climbed into the gold-colored SUV on his own and was not buckled in, reported CBS Philadelphia. Police say Kuhn, driving with a suspended license, ran a red light and collided with two other vehicles, and kept running even after his son was ejected onto the roadway on Route 13. According to officials, Kuhn stepped over his child's body, briefly looked at him and took off running. Police officers caught up to Kuhn after a short foot chase. Law enforcement officials pointed out that they were not pursuing the suspect when the three-car crash occurred. The mortally injured boy was rushed to Lower Bucks Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Nobody else was hurt in the crash. Police say Kuhn's son was not in a car seat, even though there was one in the vehicle. As of Thursday afternoon, the toddler has not been officially identified, but posts discovered on the suspect's Facebook account indicate that the boy's name was Qadan Kuhn. Kuhn's Facebook page is filled with photos showing him spending time with Qadan The 27-year-old dad (left) allegedly used Qadan as a shield while fleeing from the store, then let the boy climbed into his Jeep without putting him in the car seat Kuhn, seen with Qadan swimming in a pool, has a history of domestic violence and theft The father's social media account is filled with picture after picture of Kuhn happily posing with his son: horsing around in a car, playing superhero dress-up, frolicking in a pool. One image shows the father and son sitting side-by-side on a couch, with a caption at the bottom that reads, 'Best Friends.' Kuhn is being held on $5million cash bail. He is due back in court for a preliminary hearing next Tuesday. The 27-year-old has had run-ins with the law prior to this week's tragedy: last year, he was charged with aggravated assault, terroristic threats, endangering the welfare of a child and weapons offenses after he allegedly attacked Qadan's mother and pressed a screwdriver against her neck while she cradled their son, who was nine months old at the time, reported The Trentonian. In 2015, Kuhn pleaded guilty to theft by deception, resisting arrest and terroristic threats. He was sentenced to a fine and three years of probation. A year prior, he was arrested on fraud charges for allegedly misusing a credit card belonging to a school district where he worked as a substitute teacher, which ultimately cost him his job. An aunt of Mackenzy Trievel has launched a GoFundMe page to help her niece with Qadan's funeral expenses. As of Thursday afternoon, the campaign has drawn just under $3,500 in donations, easily surpassing the initial goal of $3,000. A man caught up in the Las Vegas gunfire was desperately trying to decide if he should jump out of his wheelchair and take cover when a brave nurse came to his rescue. Lorisa Loy, who works as an ICU nurse in Las Vegas, sprang into action when the gunman unleashed a barrage of bullets on the crowd of country music fans on Sunday night. She was captured in a now-viral photo pushing George Cook in his wheelchair while they tried to flee the danger zone as hundreds of bullets darted past them. Lorisa Loy was captured in a now-viral photo pushing George Cook in his wheelchair while they tried to flee the Las Vegas danger zone as hundreds of bullets darted past them With injured people and debris covering the ground, Cook - who lives in San Francisco with his two children aged 11 and 13 - said he was struggling to work out how he could escape in his wheelchair. 'Do I get on the ground? You know, jump out of my chair and get on the ground or stay in my chair? I chose to stay in the chair,' he told CBS. 'That's when Lorisa came to me and said... 'I'm gonna get you outta here'. Loy, who was at the concert with her daughter Meghan, suffered a severely sprained ankle as thousands tried to escape the horror. Despite the pain, she saw her daughter trying to push Cook's wheelchair and decided to take over so Meghan could run. Cook - who lives in San Francisco with his two children aged 11 and 13 - said he was struggling to work out how he could escape the terror in his wheelchair Loy, who was at the concert with her daughter Meghan (above at the festival), suffered a severely sprained ankle as thousands tried to escape the horror Once Loy got Cook to safety, the nurse set about making tourniquets with t-shirts and performing CPR on the injured 'There's no way he could maneuver himself through this. There was rubbish everywhere. You know, beer cans and trash, all sort of stuff was on the ground but we were able to push through that,' Loy said. Once she got Cook to safety, the nurse set about making tourniquets with t-shirts and performing CPR on the injured. Despite her brave efforts, Loy refuses to acknowledge herself as a hero. Cook, however, thinks otherwise. 'I'm a single dad with two kids at home so it was real important that I'm alive. Maybe that's why this happened. Maybe that's why this person was sent to save me, to be there for the kids,' he said. The powerful National Rifle Association is calling for new regulations of 'bump stock' devices that allow gun-owners to convert semi-automatic arms into a rapid-fire arms akin to an automatic. The group issued its first statement since the Las Vegas massacre on Thursday a potential game-changer after Democrats and a a series of Republican lawmakers have proposed taking action on the issue. The powerful lobby has been successful in spiking gun control efforts after previous mass-shootings, helping to end an assault weapons ban, fight off efforts to close a gun show loophole, and killing limits on ammunition cartridges. 'The NRA believes that devices designed to allow semi-automatic rifles to function like fully-automatic rifles should be subject to additional regulations,' NRA CEO Wayne LaPierre and the group's top lobbyist Chris Cox said in a joint statement. President Donald Trump is greated by Wayne LaPierre (R), executive vice president and CEO of the NRA, and NRA chief lobbiest Chris Cox (L) during the NRA-ILA's Leadership Forum at the 146th NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits on April 28, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. The convention is the largest annual gathering for the NRA's more than 5 million members. 'Despite the fact that the Obama administration approved the sale of bump fire stocks on at least two occasions, the National Rifle Association is calling on the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE) to immediately review whether these devices comply with federal law,' they wrote, referencing a 2010 regulatory ruling. The statement's reference to administrative regulation comes amid increasing calls for legislative action that could accomplish the same result, but on a permanent basis with the force of law. Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California has already introduced legislation, having included bump stock provisions in earlier gun control measure that went down. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman is planning to hold hearings on various issues in response to the shooting, after Senate whip John Cornyn requested it. House Speaker Paul Ryan also expressed openness to the idea. 'In an increasingly dangerous world, the NRA remains focused on our mission: strengthening Americans' Second Amendment freedom to defend themselves, their families and their communities,' the two officials concluded. WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 1: (AFP OUT) U.S. President Donald Trump (L) sits beside Executive Vice President and CEO of the National Rifle Association (NRA) Wayne LaPierre (R), during a meeting on Trump's Supreme Court nomination of Neil Gorsuch in the Roosevelt Room of the White House on February 1, 2017 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Michael Reynolds - Pool/Getty Images) But they drew the line at further gun control as the organization did during a call for new legislation following the slaughter of children in Newtown, Connecticut by a gunman using an arsenal of semi-automatic weapons. The statement made clear that the NRA does not consider regulation of bump stocks to be a form of gun control at all. 'Unfortunately, the first response from some politicians has been to call for more gun control,' LaPierre and Cox said. 'Banning guns from law-abiding Americans based on the criminal act of a madman will do nothing to prevent future attacks,' This is a fact that has been proven time and again in countries across the world.' The devices, known as 'bump stocks' among other names, are legal and originally were intended to help people with limited hand mobility fire a semi-automatic without the individual trigger pulls required The statement got released moments before the start of a White House press briefing, where spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders expressed an openness to the idea even as she repeated statements that the nation was in 'mourning' and that it wasn't the right time for policy debates. 'We're certainly open to that moving forward, but we want to be part of that conversation,' Sanders said, when asked about the new movement on the bump stock issue. 'We would like to see a clear understanding of the facts,' she said. Statement from the NRA In the aftermath of the evil and senseless attack in Las Vegas, the American people are looking for answers as to how future tragedies can be prevented. Unfortunately, the first response from some politicians has been to call for more gun control. Banning guns from law-abiding Americans based on the criminal act of a madman will do nothing to prevent future attacks. This is a fact that has been proven time and again in countries across the world. In Las Vegas, reports indicate that certain devices were used to modify the firearms involved. Despite the fact that the Obama administration approved the sale of bump fire stocks on at least two occasions, the National Rifle Association is calling on the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE) to immediately review whether these devices comply with federal law. The NRA believes that devices designed to allow semi-automatic rifles to function like fully-automatic rifles should be subject to additional regulations. In an increasingly dangerous world, the NRA remains focused on our mission: strengthening Americans' Second Amendment freedom to defend themselves, their families and their communities. To that end, on behalf of our five million members across the country, we urge Congress to pass National Right-to-Carry reciprocity, which will allow law-abiding Americans to defend themselves and their families from acts of violence.' Advertisement 'Right now our focus has been on healing and uniting the country,' Sanders said, pressed for more specific details on what regulations the White House would or would not countenance. She noted that Trump is a strong supporter of the Second Amendment. Thursday morning, counselor to the President Kellyanne Conway suggested the White House is at least open to a conversation about banning bump stocks, the devices that turned Las Vegas shooter Stephen Paddock's semiautomatic rifles into machine guns. Earlier Thursday, counselor to the President Kellyanne Conway suggested the White House is at least open to a conversation about banning bump stocks, the devices that turned Las Vegas shooter Stephen Paddock's semiautomatic rifles into machine guns. Though, always quick to blame a Democrat, Conway reminded TV audiences Thursday that it was President Obama's Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives that decided in 2010 not to regulate the product, with one official calling it a 'goofy little doodad.' The NRA's statement also prominently mentioned the Obama ATF's decision. Conway then pointed to Republicans in Congress flirting with Democrats on a bump stock ban, with House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Robert Goodlatte, R-Va., both saying Thursday that they will consider regulating the device. 'Many of them are open to a conversation, we always welcome thoughtful conversations,' Conway said on Fox & Friends, indicating the White House could give such a ban a blessing, a highly unusual step for a Republican administration. 'I would just note for the viewers, that since bump stock has not been in the lexicon before, this is a device that President Obama's ATF decided would not be regulated in 2010 and I think that's an important part of this conversation,' Conway said. Counselor to the President Kellyanne Conway said Thursday that the White House, like Hill Republicans, 'welcome thoughtful conversations' on gun control matters When Kellyanne Conway (right) tried to point out that it was the Obama administration that allowed bump stocks not to be regulated CNN's Chris Cuomo (left) wasn't having it Conway went on to knock Hillary Clinton, who brought up gun control almost immediately after the Las Vegas assault, as well as bash other top Democrats. The counselor to the president used the same talking points when appearing on CNN with New Day host Chris Cuomo. This time around, it didn't go as smoothly. 'Kellyanne, I am tired, so I apologize in advance, but I have to tell you, a lot of this doesn't wash,' Cuomo said, after Conway brought up the Obama connection and then knocked Clinton and Sens. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., who have both called for stricter gun control. Cuomo argued that, 'All you need to know about bump stock is that it was legal And that's what allowed him to lay down that field of fire. That's all you need to know about it.' 'There's no thoughtful conversation to have about it. Of course it was 2010. Of course it was the Obama administration,' he added, pointing out that bump stocks are a relatively new technology. 'I'm saying don't cheapen what happened in Las Vegas.' House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (pictured) promised victims of the Las Vegas mass shooting that she would not rest until Congress acted on gun control during a town hall meeting on Wednesday 'I do think there would be bipartisan support coming together to pass a bill to make it illegal to sell those because you can buy them now,' Pelosi said On Wednesday, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said she believed there may be momentum to pass legislation to ban bump fire stocks as Republicans reveal they are open to banning the devices that the Las Vegas gunman used to make his weapons deadlier. 'I do think there would be bipartisan support coming together to pass a bill to make it illegal to sell those because you can buy them now,' Pelosi said during a town hall on CNN. Earlier on Wednesday, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., introduced legislation that would ban the sale and possession of bump stocks. 'In just nine minutes an individual was able to turn a concert venue into a battlefield,' Feinstein told reporters at a Capitol Hill press conference, flanked by Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., whose home state was rattled in 2012 by the Sandy Hook mass shooting, and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. Overall, Feinstein got 29 of her fellow Democrats to sign on in just a few hours. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., introduced legislation alongside her Democratic colleagues on Wednesday to ban the sale and possession of bump stocks, of which the Las Vegas killer had 12 such devices, she said Zero Republicans joined in the effort, though several GOP senators indicated Wednesday that the measure isn't dead upon arrival, like most gun control proposals. The Senate's third-ranking Republican, Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., said bump stocks are 'something I think we'll look at,' while Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C, suggested it was a 'good time' to hold a hearing on the matter. 'I'm not an expert on bump stocks, [but] all things that make America safer and don't infringe on the Second Amendment, count me in,' Graham said, according to CBS News. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., made an even more definitive statement. 'Automatic weapons are illegal. To me, that is part of that same type of process. So I have no problem banning those,' Johnson said. Rep. Bill Flores, a popular Texas conservative serving in his fourth term in the House, was the first congressional Republican to endorse the idea of a ban on bump stocks. Flores' spokesman confirmed the congressman's position on Wednesday. On the House side, a similar bump stock ban bill has 148 co-sponsors, but so far they're all Democrats. Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn, the senior Republican senator from Texas, also told reporters Wednesday that the bump stock issue is worth examining, and that he spoke with Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, about holding a hearing. 'I will tell you that the unique aspect of the bump stock and how you would literally transform a semiautomatic weapon into an automatic weapon is something that I think bears looking into,' Cornyn said. Several other Senate Republicans also signaled their desire for a hearing on bump stocks. On Sunday night, when 64-year-old Stephen Paddock pumped bullet after bullet into the crowd below his Mandalay Bay hotel room he had 12 such devices. So far the death toll stands at 58, with more than 500 wounded. 'Those numbers are simply stunning,' Feinstein uttered. The devices, known as 'bump stocks' among other things, are legal and were originally intended to help people with limited hand mobility to fire a semi-automatic without the individual trigger pulls required. They are attached to the rear of the gun and allow the rifle to slide back and forward while firing, causing the trigger to 'bump' into the shooter's finger with the natural recoil of each shot. So long as the shooter keeps his or her finger over the trigger, the semi-automatic gun will keep firing rapidly - much like a full-automatic. The result is that the weapon's rate of fire is increased from between 45 and 60 rounds per minute to between 400 and 800 rounds per minute, according to Feinstein's office. The California Democrat explained how bump stocks cost less than $200 and turn legal semiautomatic weapons into automatic ones, which are supposed to be illegal for civilians to have in the United States. Sen. Dianne Feinstein was joined at a press conference by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. (left), and Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn. (right) ON THE FENCE? Republican Sens. John Thune, R-S.D. (left) and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. (right) both indicated Wednesday that the bump stock issue was worth a look The bill makes it illegal for anyone to 'import, sell, manufacture, transfer or possess' trigger cranks or bump stocks, along with any other device that turns a semiautomatic weapon into a 'machine gun.' 'The only reason to modify a gun is to kill as many people as possible in as short a time as possible,' Feinstein said. The quick pace of the gun fire from Sunday's shooting was audible in video footage from the event, as Paddock sprayed bullets onto attendees of the Route 91 Harvest country musical festival on the Las Vegas strip. 'The searing noise of that staccato firing in Las Vegas that every body has now heard countless times should be a wake-up call to this Congress,' said Blumenthal when he took his turn at the podium. 'That firing ought to be echoing in our minds as we consider whether a bump stock device should be able to be sold lawfully, online.' Rep. Bill Flores, a popular Texas conservative serving in his fourth term in the House, was the first congressional Republican to endorse the idea of a ban on bump stocks They can fit over the rear shoulder-stock assembly on an automatic rifle and with applied pressure cause the weapon to fire continuously, increasing the rate from between 45 and 60 rounds per minute to between 400 and 800 rounds per minute President Trump visited survivors, family members, first responders and medical providers in Las Vegas on Wednesday. Speaking directly to the president, Blumenthal said: 'I hope you will provide leadership and at the very least back a bill that stops these killer accelerators, like these bump stops.' The White House's initial reaction to the shooting was to say that it was premature to bring up gun control measures. Feinstein, echoing many of her fellow Democrats, asked, 'If not, when will we ever do it?' At the presser she also talked about how close she came to having a truly personal stake in this latest gun-related tragedy. 'My own daughter was going to go. They were going to go with neighbors. They were going to stay at that hotel,' she said. 'That's how close it came to me.' 'I thought, oh God, it's one of those misses in life,' the Democratic senator said. A 14-year-old girl was shot and killed in Dallas by a 16-year-old boy playing with a gun, police say. A group of teens aged 14 to 17 were driving around in a van on Tuesday when a 16-year-old boy pulled out a gun. The boy accidentally shot Azeneth Pina, 14, in the face. She was pronounced dead at the hospital. Azeneth (pictured) was a freshman at Lake Highlands High School in Dallas, Texas Azeneth Pina (pictured), 14, was shot and killed on Tuesday by a 16-year-old boy playing with a gun The teens panicked when they realized Azeneth had been shot and decided to throw the gun in a creek. They then drove her to a nearby hospital, according to CBS DFW. Azeneth was a freshman at Lake Highlands High School. The boy who accidentally shot her was not a student in the school district. After interrogation, the teens confessed to the shooting. The 16-year-old is currently at a juvenile detention center and has been charged with manslaughter. Grief and crisis counselors will be available at the school for the remainder of the week. The high school sent home a letter to parents to inform them of the tragedy. Her shooter has been arrested and charged with manslaughter. He is currently in a juvenile detention center Azeneth was a freshman at Lake Highlands High School in Dallas, Texas The school will have grief counselors available for the remainder of the week Principal Josh Delich wrote: 'Im saddened to let you know that one of our freshman students, Azeneth Pina, died yesterday. Ms. Pina was in her first year at Lake Highlands High School, but was well-liked by her classmates and teachers, and will be greatly missed. 'An RISD crisis counseling team was at school today to talk with students and be available to support those who knew Azeneth. 'If youd like your child to speak with a crisis counselor about this news, please contact our counseling staff and we will make arrangements. 'Thank you for keeping the Pina family in your thoughts during this difficult time.' A GoFundMe has been set up to help assist the family financially. President Donald Trump is expected to announce soon that he will decertify the landmark international deal to curb Iran's nuclear program, a senior administration official said on Thursday, in a step that potentially could cause the 2015 accord to unravel. Trump has been weighing whether the pact, which he has called an 'embarrassment,' serves U.S. security interests as he faces an Oct. 15 deadline for certifying that Iran is complying with it. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Trump is also expected to roll out a broader U.S. strategy on Iran that would be more confrontational. The Trump administration has frequently criticized Iran's conduct in the Middle East. President Donald Trump is expected to decertify the Iran nuclear deal negotiated between Iran and six countries If Trump declines to certify Iran's compliance, U.S. congressional leaders would have 60 days to decide whether to reimpose sanctions on Tehran suspended under the agreement. The Washington Post first reported Trump's plans to say that he will decertify the deal. Trump has long criticized the pact, a signature foreign policy achievement of his Democratic predecessor Barack Obama which was signed in 2015 by the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Russia, China, the European Union and Iran. Many of Trump's fellow Republicans who control Congress also have been critical of the deal, whereas the other powers that signed it strongly support it. Supporters say its collapse could trigger a regional arms race and worsen Middle East tensions, while opponents say it went too far in easing sanctions without requiring that Iran end its nuclear program permanently. 'Were going to give him a couple of options of how to move forward to advance the important policy toward Iran,' secretary of state Rex Tillerson told reporters Defense Secretary James Mattis said it was in the nation's interest to stay in the Iran deal. 'Absent indications to the contrary, it is something that the president should consider staying with,' he said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a close ally of Trump, last month said that unless provisions in the accord removing restrictions on Iran's nuclear program over time are eliminated, it should be canceled. 'Fix it, or nix it,' Netanyahu said in a speech at the U.N. General Assembly annual gathering of world leaders on Sept. 19. An administration official previously said the administration was considering Oct. 12 for Trump to give a speech on Iran but no final decision had been made. In April, the administration said it would review whether the lifting of sanctions against Iran was in the U.S. national security interest. Trump is weighing a strategy that could allow more aggressive U.S. responses to Iran's forces, its Shi'ite Muslim proxies in Iraq and Syria and its support for militant groups. Trump's defense secretary, Jim Mattis, told a Senate hearing on Tuesday the United States should consider staying in the deal unless it were proven that Tehran was not abiding by it or that it was not in the U.S. national interest to do so. When Mattis was asked by a senator whether he thought staying in the deal was in the U.S. national security interest, he replied: 'Yes, senator, I do.' A handout photo made available by the presidential official website shows Iranian President Hassan Rouhani (R) and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L) during a joint press conference in Tehran, Iran, 04 October 2017. Erdogan is visiting Tehran to reinforce bilateral relations with Iran as well as the common position on Iraqi Kurdistan Last week, Irans foreign minister said Tehran may abandon the deal if Washington decides to withdraw from it. A senior European Union diplomat said this week European countries would do their utmost to preserve it. While Europeans have concerns about Iran's role in regional affairs, those issues are not part of the nuclear accord, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. A State Department official said the Trump administration was 'fully committed to addressing the totality of Iranian threats and malign activities and seeks to bring about a change in the Iranian regime's behavior.' The official said that behavior includes ballistic missiles proliferation, 'support for terrorism,' support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, 'unrelenting hostility to Israel,' 'consistently threatening freedom of navigation in the Persian Gulf,' cyber attacks against the United States and its allies, human rights abuses and 'arbitrary detentions of U.S. citizens.' 'The JCPOA was expected to contribute to regional and international peace and security, and Irans regime is doing everything in its power to undermine peace and security,' the State Department official added. The move also would represent another step by Trump that would undo key parts of Obama's legacy. (Reporting by Steve Holland and Yara Bayoumy in Washington; Additional reporting by David Alexander; Writing by Will Dunham; Editing by Tim Ahmann and James Dalgleish) Las Vegas gunman Stephen Paddock did not want to be disturbed the night before he committed the worst mass shooting in American history. The 64-year-old, a high-stakes gambler recognized in casinos all over Nevada, was staying at the Mandalay Bay hotel in a room which gave him the perfect vantage point over the Route 91 Harvest festival on Sunday. Police say the attack, which left 58 dead and more than 500 injured, was carefully premeditated and they recovered dozens of weapons from his hotel room. And he wasn't about to let another hotel guest disturb his careful preparation. On Saturday night - the evening before the shooting - he called in two noise complaints about loud country music being played in the room below him. Vegas gunman Stephen Paddock called in two noise complaints about loud country music coming from the hotel room below - the night before his rampage Garzon said he didn't realize the complaining guest had been Paddock until he saw the drapes flapping out of his smashed out windows Albert Garzon, a restaurant owner visiting from San Diego, and his wife and friends, was staying in 31-135, directly beneath Paddock, when he says he got a knock on the door at 1.30am. It was security asking him to turn down the music after another guest had complained about the noise, the New York Times reports. When he asked who it was, he replied: 'It's the guest above you.' Garzon says they turned down the music, but half an hour later, they got another visit from a different security guard saying the hotel had received another complaint from the same individual. The restaurateur agreed and turned the music off. He gave it very little thought amid the ensuing chaos on Sunday, until early on Monday, when he looked up and saw a curtain flapping out of Paddock's smashed out windows, and realized that the noise complaint had been made by the gunman. Hundreds of rounds of automatic gunfire were reported by witnesses on the scene; after Paddock opened fire The behavior is consistent with descriptions of the shooter as an anti-social and intolerant, loner. John Weinreich, who was an executive casino host at the Atlantis Casino Resort Spa in Reno, Nevadad where Paddock was a regular. Weinreich said Paddock was a 'starer' who could make other players uncomfortable. 'He loved to stare at other people playing,' he said. 'It was not a good thing because it would make other VIPs in the high-limit area uncomfortable.' 'One of my guests once said to me, 'He really gives me the creeps.' Paddock was an avid gambler and played up to 1,000 hands of video poker in a single hour - at a cost of $100,000. He bet the colossal sums by playing $125 a time hands at 'ferocious' speeds for eight hour stints in casinos on The Strip and in Reno. Top video poker players told DailyMail.com that players like Paddock look like 'stenographers' on the machines because their fingers move so fast. Fast and furious: These are the video poker machines which allowed Paddock to gamble stakes of up to $100,000 in an hour by playing multiple hands at once Crack cocaine: A review in the late 1990s compared the machines to the most addictive drugs but they also offer some of the best odds of coming out even, experts say They had seen Paddock at exclusive VIP tournaments in Las Vegas where he won and lost six-figure sums. The players described him was a 'low level high roller' but he still would have got perks like free limousine rides and $10,000 of free money to play with. Paddock's girlfriend Marilou Danley was taken on all-expenses paid shopping trips and they would have stayed in expensive hotel suites for free. DailyMail.com can also disclose that other high rollers were concerned about Paddock drinking a 'constant stream of booze' whilst he was playing. They described him as a 'heavy, heavy drinker' and wondered if his high alcohol intake contributed to his mental deterioration. Paddock shot dead 58 people and injured more than 500 on Sunday when he opened fire on a music festival from his suite on the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay casino before shooting himself dead. The FBI are no closer to understanding the motive of a man who his brother Eric described as 'just a guy'. Despite having an estimated $2million in his retirement, Paddock lived an oddly isolated and frugal life. DailyMailTV has learned that the multi-millionaire former accountant was so concerned about saving money that he often ate lunch at a retirees' center. He joined the frail, elderly, homeless and disabled at the Mesquite Community and Senior Center in Nevada paying just $3.50 for a subsidized lunch. Around three times a week Paddock enjoyed Mexican food, meatloaf and hamburgers while listening to cheery songs on the piano at the center. And bizarrely on the day Paddock drove 80 miles to Las Vegas where he checked in to the Mandalay Bay hotel to begin the preparations for his death mission, he popped into the government-run center to ask the cook for an enchiladas recipe. Local resident Marshall Meland, 78, who was enjoying lunch at the center, told DailyMailTV: 'We recognized Stephen when his face flashed up on TV. 'He last came in to the center around 11am last Thursday and checked in at the desk, but didn't stop for lunch like he usually does. 'Instead he went straight up to the counter to speak with the cook and asked her about an enchiladas dish she cooks, he wanted to know how she made it. 'After that he left. No one took any notice of him, it wasn't until later after what he did that we realized he drove to Vegas that afternoon. Everyone at the center is shocked.' Other diners at the senior center recall Paddock as an 'unsociable' and 'quiet' man who liked to sit alone to eat his lunch and who was 'in a world of his own'. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., got a front row seat to the disillusionment the donors to his party are feeling, being told by one contributor to 'just do something.' Politico reported that things got heated at a recent fundraising dinner at the home of billionaire Robert Day in Los Angeles. In front of about two dozen guests, party contributor and oil and gas investor Thomas Wachtell gave the top Senate Republican a scolding for the GOP's inability to get health care or taxes or anything else passed and donors, more broadly, are holding out cash. 'Anybody who was there knew that I was not happy. And I don't think anybody was happy. How could you be?' Wachtell told Politico after the fact. Wachtell had previously forked over $2,000 to McConnell, but has recently stopped giving money to the GOP. 'You're never going to get a more sympathetic Republican than I am,' he told the publication. 'But I'm sick and tired of nothing happening.' Wachtell isn't alone. Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., who chairs the National Republican Senatorial Committee, told his colleagues at a recent meeting, according to Politico, that donations had fallen off after this summer's Obamacare repeal stall. While the House was able to pass a repeal and replace bill, the Senate's efforts to pass a 'skinny' repeal bill stalled in late July, when Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., made a late-breaking vote that helped the Democratic side. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., got a mouthful from an angry donor recently, who begged the Republican majority in Congress to 'do something' In July and August the NRSC raised just $2 million, less than half of what it brought in in June. McConnell, for his part, was defensive and pointed a finger at President Trump. The Kentucky Republican told those dining at the Los Angeles home that Trump didn't seem to understand how long it takes to get legislation passed, reiterating that that's a Congressional reality. Trump has likely made the situation worse by publicly complaining about it. But some members of the administration think it could be a good thing for Congressional donors to hold GOP lawmakers hostage, as it might produce new Republican leadership. Vice President Mike Pence's Chief of Staff recently said in a closed-door meetings that donors should hold their funds and push lawmakers for a House and Senate leadership change Some of Trump's people think the party can do better than McConnell and House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., who come from the more establishment side of the party and don't represent the interests of populists like Trump. This week Vice President Mike Pence's Chief of Staff Nick Ayers was caught by Politico giving donors some advice: don't give to candidates unless they push for a leadership change. 'I'm not speaking on behalf of the president or vice president when I say this,' Ayers said, having been asked how to rally GOP lawmakers to replace their leaders. 'But if I were you, I would not only stop donating, I would form a coalition of all the other major donors, and just say two things: Were definitely not giving to you, No. 1. And No. 2, if you dont have this done by Dec. 31, were going out, were recruiting opponents, were maxing out to their campaigns, and were funding super PACs to defeat all of you,' Ayers advised. He suggested that if a few problematic Republican members of Congress were removed, then Trump and Pence might be able to get the agenda through. 'Just imagine the possibilities of what can happen if our entire party unifies behind him? If and this sounds crass we can purge the handful of people who continue to work to defeat him,' Ayers said. An oil painting by Adolf Hitler has been attacked in a museum by a man wielding a screwdriver. The untitled artwork was hanging in the Museo di Salo, in Lake Garda resort of Salo, in Italy, as part of a travelling exhibition called 'Museum of Madness'. According to a museum spokesman, the perpetrator, who looked about 40 years old, shouted 'b*****d' as he slashed the painting. The oil painting by Adolf Hitler that has been attacked in a museum by a man wielding a screwdriver Security guards stepped in in time to prevent the man from destroying the painting before he fled the scene. The picture suffered only small bits of chipping of the colours. The owner, a private collector in Germany, decided after examining the damage not to file criminal charges. The painting, measuring 12 by 16 inches in size, features a seemingly endless dark space with gloomy colours. In the foreground, a man sits behind a table next to a standing figure. The painting is signed 'Adolf Hitler' in the bottom-right corner. Hitler tried unsuccessfully to become a painter at the Vienna Art academy Hitler tried unsuccessfully to become a painter at the Vienna Art academy before rising to the heights of Fuhrer of Nazi Germany It is the first time that his work has been publicly shown in an exhibition. According to a museum spokesman, the reason why the painting was not better protected is because of its 'poor artistic value' compared to works by Francisco de Goya and Francis Bacon, which are also part of the exhibition. The curator Vittorio Sgarbi denounced the attack. He said that works like the painting of Hitler should be seen with 'contempt and distance... without reproducing the censorship and hatred expressed by the dictatorships'. Sgarbi called Hitler's work 'the image of despair' and said it reminded him of Franz Kafka. He said that nothing can be seen in it but 'misery'. A Toronto couple filed and settled a lawsuit against their neighbors for replicating the design of their $5.8million home. Jason and Jodi Chapnik assert that a house about half-a-mile (850 meters) from their Forest Hill, Toronto, home was newly renovated and made to look 'strikingly similar' to theirs. They sought $1.5million in damages, $20,000 in statutory copyright damages and another $1million in punitive damages. They also wanted a mandatory injunction for the defendant to change their home. In a joint lawsuit, the couple sued neighbor Baraba Ann Kirshenblatt and her husband Eric sue for copyright infringement. Jason and Jodi Chapnik assert that a house about half-a-mile (850 meters) from their Forest Hill, Toronto, home (pictured) was newly renovated and made to look 'strikingly similar' to theirs They believe that the defendants, who are 'in the business of . . . flipping houses,' did the renovations (pictured) to help increase their property values, while simultaneously decreasing the value of the Plaintiff's unique house They also name her brother-in-law, Steven, in the lawsuit as well as the real estate agent and contractor who helped get the house on the market for a recent sale. The Chapniks, in their 2014 statement claim, assert that their - designed by an architect - is 'one of the most well-known and admired houses in the Cedarvale and Forest Hill neighborhoods, in a large part due to its uniqueness.' They believe that the defendants, who are 'in the business of . . . flipping houses', did the renovations to 'help increase their property values, while simultaneously decreasing the value of the Plaintiff's unique house'. And while the two homes use the same shade and stonework, Kirshenblatt supplied images of other 'Tudor' styled homes to show that it was inspired elsewhere. The defendant added that features of the home specifically 'application of a single color, such as blue, to windows, doors and stonework, and the application of 'Tudor' style stonework to a facade has been common to the trade for centuries, and is not protectable by copyright' Close friends and neighbors to the plaintiffs were quick to point out the similarities and how close the two homes were to each other, presenting part of the problem for the plaintiffs One residence that the defendants say inspired their property is the Eilean Donan Castle in Scotland which was used in the James Bond movie The World Is Not Enough. The defendant added that features of the home specifically 'application of a single color, such as blue, to windows, doors and stonework, and the application of 'Tudor' style stonework to a facade has been common to the trade for centuries, and is not protectable by copyright.' And while the allegations were not proven in court, the two parties did agree to settle out court, the information of which was not disclosed. 'There is no admission of guilt or liability on the part of my clients, and they truly believe that they did nothing wrong,' said the defendant's lawyer, Jeremy Lum-Danson, in an email to the star.com. According to land registry information, the Chapnik's home was built in 1935 for $3.8million dollars. Renovations were started in 2007, a year after they purchased the property. They doubled the size of their house to roughly 8,00 square ft, confirmed by their lawyer, Kevin Sartorio. In addition, they redesigned and repainted wood-framed windows, mounted wood panels on gables and installed unique T-shaped stone corbels 'To them, the houses do not look the same.' According to land registry information, the Chapnik's home was built in 1935 for $3.8million dollars. Renovations were started in 2007, a year after they purchased the property. They doubled the size of their house to roughly 8,00 square ft, confirmed by their lawyer, Kevin Sartorio. In addition, they redesigned and repainted wood-framed windows, mounted wood panels on gables and installed unique T-shaped stone corbels. While the two homes use the same shade and stonework, Kirshenblatt supplied images of other 'Tudor' styled homes to show that it was inspired elsewhere One residence that the defendants say inspired their property is the Eilean Donan Castle in Scotland which was used in the James Bond movie The World Is Not Enough 'A tremendous amount of skill, effort, time, judgment, care (and money) was spent across nearly seven years in terms of designing, architecting and building a unique and beautiful house,' said the plaintiffs in an email through their lawyer. 'The events that occurred in relation to the house on Vesta Drive were incredibly distressing.' Kirshenblatt bought her home in May 2013 for $1.6million, starting her renovations almost immediately. Jason asserts that in May 2014, contractors from the other home visited and 'indicated that they were building a house nearby and were copying aspects of his design,' according to the investment firm CEO's statement of claim The retired-kindergarten teacher enlisted the help of her husband's construction company, RKS Building Group, and his brother's firm, Kirkor Architects and Planners, to help with the design and build. They sold the home for $3.6million in Febrary 2015 and while they have never resided at the property, the Kirshenblatts have lived in the neighborhood since 2006. Jason asserts that in May 2014, contractors from the other home visited and 'indicated that they were building a house nearby and were copying aspects of his design,' according to the investment firm CEO's statement of claim. 'These tradespeople noticed Mr. Chapnik and walked onto the Strathearn property to speak to him and study the Strathearn house closer.' Close friends and neighbors to the plaintiffs were quick to point out the similarities and when they delivered a 'cease infringing' notice to the defendants, who refused. But in their statement, the defendants cite multiple ways in which the two shapes, layouts and configuration are different. They even drew a table. 'The look and feel of the two properties are so divergent in overall appearance, scale and context that to the normal passerby, any meaningful visual relationship between the two residences would be difficult to associate,' said the Kirshenblatts' statement of defense. They had a consent judge submitted on September 21 to bring the lawsuit to a close. 'Given the costs associated with the matter through trial, it was in the interests of all parties to reach an amicable settlement,' said the defendant's lawyer, Jeremy Lum-Danson. 'The case has had a profound impact on my clients. For them it has caused an unnecessary burden and disruption on their lives.' The Chapniks, through their lawyer, said 'a significant amount of time and money had to be expended in order to protect our copyright.' They added that the settlement 'will allow us peace of mind to know that this should not happen again in the future.' Harvey Weinstein believes the allegations of inappropriate sexual behaviour against him are part of a right-wing 'conspiracy' to take him down, DailyMail.com can reveal. The Hollywood mogul thinks that shadowy right wing forces are 'out to get me' and that he is being targeted for his liberal views. In an echo of his close friend Hillary Clinton's notorious claim that 'a vast right-wing conspiracy' was out to get her and her husband, the Democratic supporter is making the claim to those around him - despite his admission Weinstein believes a team of lawyers linked to conservative groups have been digging up dirt on him and that other prominent Democrat supporters will be attacked next. Scroll down for video Helping hand: Weinstein exited his office with attorney Lisa Bloom (above), who is known for her work with victims of sexual harassment Conspiracy theorists: Harvey Weinstein, a long-time booster of both Clintons, now joins Hillary in claiming a shadowy right-wing network is targeting them for their convictions Friend in low place: He has hosted fundraisers for both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama (above in 2007) over the past decade - but they are silent so far on the revelations against him The Oscar-winning founder of film company Miramax was accused of reaching at least eight settlements with women for inappropriate behaviour going back three decades in a bombshell investigation by the New York Times. He is said to have asked Ashley Judd to watch him shower and paid Rose McGowan $100,000 under a settlement for an incident shortly before her breakthrough role in 'Scream'. DailyMail.com was contacted by sources familiar with Weinstein's thinking hours before the story went live on the website of the New York Times. The bullish comments contrast with the contrite statement that Weinstein issued to the New York Times in which he said that 'the way I've behaved with colleagues in the past has caused a lot of pain, and I sincerely apologize for it'. But at the same time he has also threatened to sue the New York Times, claiming that some of their material came from private company personnel records. Weinstein is a prominent public figure who would have to show that their heavily-sourced story was not only untrue, but that the paper acted with malice in publishing it to win a defamation case against them. Weinstein, 65, also said he has spent spent the last year taking counsel on gender roles from Lisa Bloom, who has represented victims of sexual assault in prominent cases including against Bill Cosby. She was also instrumental in ending Bill O'Reilly's Fox News career over allegations of sexual harassment. Speaking to DailyMail.com a source painted a different picture, one of a man who felt that he was the victim of a sinister-sounding plot. The source said: 'Harvey feels is being set up by a team of people who are out to get him. Down and out in lower Manhattan: Harvey Weinstein was in photographed exclusively by DailyMail.com seen looking downcast after news broke that he sexually harassed a number of female employees over the past three decades 'Nobody is claiming that the New York Times spent any money to get this story done but other organisations may have done. 'There are are conservative organisations who know he is long-time foe of the NRA, of Donald Trump, and a longtime supporter of Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and the Democrats. 'He believes they are financing a team of lawyers who are digging up these stories. 'There's a political agenda behind this. Harvey feels it's a conspiracy and that's the most interesting part of this, where it originated from, not the erroneous reporting that's going on. 'He won't be the last, other people like him will be targeted too.' The New York Times article alleges that many of the women reported meeting Weinstein at the Peninsula Hotel in Beverly Hills where he would make inappropriate advances towards them. He is said to have exploited his power as one of the most powerful men in Hollywood, one who could make stars of actresses like Jennifer Lawrence in 'Silver Linings Playbook' or Catherine Zeta-Jones in 'Chicago, to try and take advantage of them. In a memo to human resources at The Weinstein Company, Lauren O'Connor, a female assistant who says Weinstein persuaded to give her a massage in 2015, wrote: 'I am a 28 year old woman trying to make a living and a career. Harvey Weinstein is a 64 year old, world famous man and this is his company. The balance of power is me: 0, Harvey Weinstein: 10'. Judd told the newspaper that she was invited up to Weinstein's room 20 years ago where he appeared in a bathrobe and asked if he could massage her or watch him shower. She remembered thinking to herself: 'How do I get out of the room as fast as possible without alienating Harvey Weinstein?' She soon got another invitation and was asked to give him a shoulder rub. When she declined he asked her to watch him shower again. Judd said: 'I said no, a lot of ways, a lot of times, and he always came back at me with some new ask. It was all this bargaining, this coercive bargaining'. Weinstein also reportedly reached a settlement with an Italian model after he was accused of sexual harassment in 2015 at his office in Manhattan. In his statement Weinstein said that he was taking a leave of absence from The Weinstein Company to 'deal with this issue head on'. More liberal links: Malia Obama was an intern for Weinstein earlier this year He said: 'Though I'm trying to do better, I know I have a long way to go'. In a statement Bloom said: 'As a women's rights advocate, I have been blunt with Harvey and he has listened to me. I have told him that times have changed, it is 2017, and he needs to evolve to a higher standard. 'I have found Harvey to be refreshingly candid and receptive to my message. He has acknowledged mistakes he has made. He is reading books and going to therapy. He is an old dinosaur learning new ways'. The New York Times article was written by investigative reporter Jodi Kantor, who wrote about poor working conditions at Amazon, and Megan Twohey. Another piece about his indiscretions is reportedly due to be published in the New Yorker and is being written by Ronan Farrow, the former MSNBC host and son of Woody Allen and Mia Farrow. Along with Bloom, Weinstein has retained star litigator David Boies and Charles Hader, who represented Hulk Hogan in his lawsuit against Gawker. Harder said that he was preparing a lawsuit against the New York Times for writing a story that is 'saturated with false and defamatory statements about Harvey Weinstein'. He said: 'It relies on mostly hearsay accounts and a faulty report, apparently stolen from an employee personnel file, which has been debunked by 9 different eyewitnesses. 'We sent the Times the facts and evidence, but they ignored it and rushed to publish. We are preparing the lawsuit now. All proceeds will be donated to women's organizations'. Weinstein co-founded Miramax with his brother Bob in the 1970s and its hits have included Pulp Fiction. Disney bought Miramax in 2005 and the Weinstein brothers founded The Weinstein Company. The new crisis for Weinstein comes days after he was dragged into a funding row over AIDS charity amfAR, which he has supported for decades. The dispute is over $600,000 that was raised at amfAR's gala dinner at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2015 and was given to the American Repertory Theater at Harvard. Four members of the amfAR board have complained to New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman because they the nonprofit's chairman Kenneth Cole did not consult them before sending the money. PASCAGOULA, Mississippi -- For the third time in roughly six weeks, Mississippi coast residents will be glued to weather forecasters as Tropical Storm Nate makes its way into the Gulf of Mexico. By Thursday afternoon, Nate was off the coast of Nicaragua and dumping heavy rainfall in the area. Nate continues to be categorized as a disorganized storm, but most forecasters expect the system to intensify once it reaches the warmer waters of the Gulf. According to the National Hurricane Center, "Nate is forecast to reach the north Gulf Coast this weekend as a hurricane, and the threat of direct impacts from wind, storm surge, and heavy rainfall is increasing. "However, it is too early to specify the exact timing, location or magnitude of these impacts. Residents along the Gulf Coast from Louisiana through the Florida Panhandle should monitor the progress of Nate and heed any advice given by local officials." Coast residents have already been through hurricane drills prompted by major storms Harvey and Irma. Nate, however, is currently forecast to reach the northern Gulf Coast as only a Category 1 hurricane, with maximum sustained winds of 74-95 mph. It's expected to make landfall somewhere along the northern Gulf on Sunday. Current forecasts call for Nate to carry sustained winds of 80 mph when it makes landfall. Tropical storm force winds and rain could arrive along the coast as early as Saturday night. The Mississippi coast lies within what the National Hurricane Center refers to as the "cone of uncertainty," which in the case of Nate stretches from Morgan City, La., to Pensacola, Fla. It means the storm could make landfall anywhere within that cone. Cruisin' the Coast director Woody Bailey said Thursday the massive, coastwide event -- scheduled to run through Sunday morning -- will continue as planned until the situation dictates otherwise. The City of Biloxi, however, has issued a statement from Mayor Andrew "FoFo" Gilich asking Cruisers to leave the area early. The Jackson County Board of Supervisors declared a State of Emergency shortly before 3 p.m. Thursday, with the four municipalities expected to follow suit. The declaration allows for a sharing of resources between the county and the cities. Mississippi Power spokesperson Jeff Shepard said they are continuing to monitor the situation and are coordinating with other local utilities on resource availability, should Nate affect the company's service area. Comedian Simon Brodkin joked that he got so close to Theresa May he had caught her cold when he took the stage tonight. The 'prankster' bragged that he had spent the night before in a police cell after gatecrashing the Tory Party conference and handing the Prime Minister a P45 during her speech. He apologised to the audience at Nottingham's Glee Club as he appeared on stage for the first time since the stunt. Comedian Simon Brodkin joked that he got so close to Theresa May he had caught her cold when he took the stage tonight The 'prankster' bragged that he had spent the night before in a police cell after gatecrashing the Tory Party conference and handing the Prime Minister a P45 during her speech 'I've got a bit of a cold, I'm sorry about that, I must have caught off Theresa,' he joked. The Prime Minister struggled with a cough throughout her speech in Manchester on Wednesday. Brodkin, 40, performed as his alter ego Lee Nelson in Nottingham and revelled in his new-found notoriety after the prank, which exposed lax security at the conference. In front of an audience of 300 he also made jokes about Jimmy Saville. Wearing a grey suit and white open collar shirt, he said: 'Sorry I'm late, I spent most of last night in a police cell in Manchester.' In a nod to the Conservative party's slogan he told the audience to get ready for a 'strong and stable' performance. He asked the crowd about Brexit - and was surprised when there was a bigger cheer from those wanting to leave the EU. He said: 'I voted leave, but I thought they were talking about Scotland.' He said he believed the Scots 'would get independence, because you are tenacious bunch of buggers'. And said: 'do you really want to have to wash your own car' if we leave the Eu. Wearing a grey suit and white open collar shirt, he said: 'Sorry I'm late, I spent most of last night in a police cell in Manchester.' He apologised to the audience at Nottingham's Glee Club (pictured) as he appeared on stage for the first time since the stunt Yesterday, the Prime Minister looked startled as he gave her the P45 saying: 'Boris asked me to give this to you' before turning to the Foreign Secretary with his thumbs up telling him: 'Boris, job done mate' Yesterday, the Prime Minister looked startled as he gave her the P45 saying: 'Boris asked me to give this to you' before turning to the Foreign Secretary with his thumbs up telling him: 'Boris, job done mate'. The stunt marred Mrs May's make-or-break speech and afterwards she couldn't stop coughing and needed large gulps of water and throat lozenges to get through it. Brodkin's latest prank exposed lax security as he was able to be within touching distance of Mrs May and the entire cabinet for at least 20 seconds before being grabbed. It also raises serious questions for Greater Manchester Police, who were in charge of policing the event and vetting delegates, and the Met, who take responsibility for the Prime Minister's personal security. There were also calls for Tory party chairman Sir Patrick McLoughlin to resign over the unprecedented security blunder and Amber Rudd was asked by the BBC afterwards: 'What if the P45 was acid?' while Brexit Secretary David Davis called the breach 'extraordinary'. Brodkin's latest prank exposed lax security as he was able to be within touching distance of Mrs May and the entire cabinet for at least 20 seconds before being grabbed 'I've got a bit of a cold, I'm sorry about that, I must have caught off Theresa,' he joked Home Secretary Amber Rudd said she was 'very disappointed' about the security breach. 'I am going to continue to follow what's going on, it's in the hands of the police and we will make sure we look carefully into how it happened to make sure it doesn't again,' she told BBC Radio 4's PM. His pass was for delegates from Avalon UK a talent agency representing actors, presenters and comedians including Brodkin, who has become famous for his set ups of Sepp Blatter, Kanye West, Donald Trump and others in the past. Brodkin went to the exclusive private University College School in Hampstead, north London before studying to become a doctor. After leaving medicine to become a comedian he became best known for his TV character Lee Nelson, a male version of Catherine Tate's well-known chav character Lauren Cooper. An anti-abortion Republican congressman who once asked his mistress to terminate a pregnancy abruptly resigned from the House of Representatives on Thursday, less than 24 hours after he had said he would retire at the end of his term in January 2019. Rep. Tim Murphy, 65, had an affair with 32-year-old Shannon Edwards, a Pittsburgh forensic psychologist. Text messages revealed during Edwards' divorce proceedings revealed her asking Murphy how he could privately ask her to get an abortion while publicly declaring himself to be a pro-life conservative. 'And you have zero issue posting your pro-life stance all over the place when you had no issue asking me to abort our unborn child just last week when we thought that was one of the options,' she wrote, as reported by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 'I get what you say about my March for life messages,' Murphy responded. 'I've never written them. Staff does them. I read them and winced. I told staff don't write any more. I will.' Anti-abortion congressman Tim Murphy (pictured, March 2015) announced Wednesday that he would reture at the end of his current term, but abruptly resigned his seat in Congress instead a day later; he had an affair with a woman half his age and asked her to get an abortion when they thought she was pregnant Murphy admitted to having an affair with 'friend' Shannon Edwards (left), while he was married to wife Nanette Missig (right). Edwards has now said that pro-life advocate Murphy asked her to get an abortion Murphy publicly posted on Facebook about how he supports the bill to protect human life Edwards, it turned out, wasn't pregnant. Murphy is married to Nanette Missig and has an adult daughter, Bevin. On Thursday afternoon House Speaker Paul Ryan said in a statement that Murphy's resignation would be effective on October 21. 'It was Dr. Murphy's decision to move on to the next chapter of his life, and I support it,' Ryan said. 'We thank him for his many years of tireless work on mental health issues here in Congress and his service to the country as a naval reserve officer.' The revelation came as the House on Tuesday approved Republican legislation that would make it a crime to perform an abortion after 20 weeks of fetal development. Murphy, a member of the House Pro-Life Caucus, is among its co-sponsors. He avoided the media in Washington after voting for the legislation, and efforts by reporters to talk to him were unsuccessful. NARAL Pro-Choice America quickly criticized 'the height of hypocrisy' displayed by Murphy's support for the legislation. 'You shouldn't have to be a member of Congress just to access your right to abortion,' said Sasha Bruce, a vice president for the pro-abortion rights group. In the past the US congressman has been applauded by the Family Research Council for his views on abortion. The HR 7 bill was passed by congress in January, which states the use of federal funds to pay for abortions will be permanently prohibited. The law also states that federal medical facilities and health professionals aren't allowed to provide abortion services. 'I proudly sponsored and voted for this important bill to clearly stand for the dignity and value of all human life, both the born and the unborn,' said Murphy at the time. 'Passage of HR 7 in the wake of the President's executive action gives me great hope we will once again be a nation committed to honoring life and ensuring American taxpayer dollars are never spent to end a life before it even begins.' A January 25 message from his mistress said the congressman had 'zero issue posting your pro-life stance all over the place when you had no issue asking me to abort our unborn child just last week when we thought that was one of the options,' according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Murphy recently acknowledged his affair with Edwards, which became public as a result of her divorce proceedings. In a press statement he said: 'Last year I became involved in an affair with a personal friend. This is nobody's fault but my own, and I offer no excuses. To the extent that there should be any blame in this matter, it falls solely upon me. 'I ask the media to respect the privacy of my family. They have done nothing wrong and deserve to be left alone,' the statement added. The Pennsylvania politician has served eight-terms in congress, is married and has an adult daughter. Edwards, 32, is a practicing psychologist and performs evaluations of defendants for the Allegheny County court system. Murphy and Edwards when she volunteered to contribute to a mental health bill that was signed into law in December. Edwards maintains that she did not begin to have a intimate relationship with Murphy until her marriage had fallen apart. 'We had a collegial and friend relationship before anything else,' Edwards told the court. Dr Jesse Sally, who married Edwards on July 28, 2012, however, claims that his marriage was destroyed by the affair, and filings showed that he knew Edwards was having an affair with 'a well-known political figure in the community'. Sally said he believed the affair began in February 2016. Murphy said that his relationship with Edwards ended last year. A father has been left needing a heart transplant after being struck down by Legionnaires disease on holiday. Christopher Rasor suddenly fell ill with the condition, a potentially lethal type of pneumonia, while in Spain in August. The father-of-two, 40, is now fighting for his life after the lung infection exacerbated an underlying heart condition. Christopher Rasor suddenly fell ill with the condition, a potentially lethal type of pneumonia, while in Spain in August The father-of-two, 40, is now fighting for his life after the lung infection exacerbated an underlying heart condition He had apparently contracted the disease while on a business trip to Brussels but only started feeling ill on holiday a week later. He was flown home but remains in hospital in a critical condition, with his wife Anna and children Jesse, seven, and Emmy, four, at his bedside. Doctors at Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridgeshire have said he must have a heart transplant to survive. He is still having regular dialysis and is dependent on a machine to help him breathe. Mrs Rasor, 38, from Bishops Stortford, Hertfordshire, said: I was totally shell-shocked. Everything was normal in the first week of our holiday but Chris kept saying that he was tired, he was always feeling exhausted and thought he just needed rest. But a week into their family holiday, Mr Rasor, a business analyst, was rushed to an intensive care unit in Malaga after being told he was suffering from the serious infection. He was flown home but remains in hospital in a critical condition, with his wife Anna and children Jesse, seven, and Emmy, four, at his bedside Mrs Rasor, 38, from Bishops Stortford, Hertfordshire, said: I was totally shell-shocked. Everything was normal in the first week of our holiday but Chris kept saying that he was tired, he was always feeling exhausted and thought he just needed rest' Mrs Rasor, a wedding planner, said: A number of people were reported to have been struck down with Legionnaires in Brussels, where Chris had just come back from. Legionella bacteria, which can lie undetected in the body for up to two weeks, is often spread through contaminated water. A 'Tony megasketcher' that Christopher Rasor writes on to communicate with his children It begins with mild flu-like symptoms, and progresses to a persistent cough and shortness of breath. However, for Mr Rasor, the disease has also made a dormant heart condition worse. Unknowingly, he suffers from dilated cardiomyopathy where the heart is weakened and struggles to pump blood. Mrs Rasor hopes that this week he will be put on the organ waiting list. He will also have a series of tests to determine whether he will be marked as urgent. Mrs Rasor said: Hes dependent on machines keeping him alive, so that must be urgent, surely. She added: The kids have been absolute troopers. They miss him like crazy. He cant speak to them because he has the tool in his throat to help him breathe. We communicate mainly through lip-reading. A fundraising page which has been set up for the family has raised 7,000 of the 10,000 target set for Mr Rasors care when he comes home. Two leaders at school in Louisiana were arrested and charged of failing to report a video showing an underage student performing sexual acts five months ago. Nicole Kusmirek, 32, and Shayla Shane, 27, were booked and released by police in New Orleans Tuesday on counts of possessing of child pornography and failure to report child abuse as required in their roles as school employees, The Times-Picayune reported. Kusmirek is the middle co-director of K-8 at Success Preparatory Academy, while Shane is the middle academy's director of culture. New Orleans police detective Bianca Delrish was called to investigate an allegation of child abuse on April 27 involving a 13-year-old girl, according to the arrest affidavit for Kusmirek. Delrish was told by a fellow officer that the girl's mother called 911 to report that the child had been recorded 'performing oral sex'. The mother also said the explicit footage was shared to Instagram. Nicole Kusmirek (left), 32, and Shayla Shane (right), 27, were booked and released by police in New Orleans Tuesday on counts of possessing of child pornography and failure to report child abuse as required in their roles as school employees The mother told Delrish that she received a call from the school on April 25 to report that her daughter was caught in a bathroom on campus with four boys. The girl also gave her mother a letter about the incident that same night, according to the police. The teen explained that she was going to meet a boy in the boys restroom when she noticed other boys inside the restroom and screamed 'no', according to the report. But one of the boys pulled the girl inside and into a stall, the report states. She was unable to escape because another boy had blocked the door and demanded that 'you can't leave until you give us all' oral sex, the report states. In the letter to her mother, the girl said she 'succumbed to peer pressure', and that she heard Kusmirek's voice while 'trying to get out of the stall'. Kusmirek is the middle co-director of K-8 at Success Preparatory Academy (file above), while Shane is the middle academy's director of culture. They are accused of failing to report a video showing a 13-year-old girl being forced to perform oral sex on three boys five months ago The teen said she noticed one of the boys had filmed the incident on his phone. On April 26, the girl's mother went to the school to ask what happened, but no one at the school could provide accurate information' according to the report. The mother did learn that a male teacher had entered the restroom and witnessed the boys watching the video they filmed. That teacher confiscated the phone and reported the incident. During the mother's trip to the school on April 26, Shane was one of the officials who spoke with her. The report states that Shane watched the video on the phone before emailing it to herself and sending it to Kusmirek in a text message. Shane said that she deleted the video from the student's phone before returning it to the student. But the mother told cops that there are three to four videos 'approximately' of the shocking incident. The girl was recorded on a boy's cellphone during the incident and Shane (above) confiscated the phone. She watched it before emailing it t herself and sending it to Kusmirek in a text message. She claims she then deleted the clip from the student's phone before returning it Delrish learned later that Kusmirek did not immediately report the incident to police or the Department of Children and Family Services, according to the report. She met with the school's executive director, Niloy Gangopadhyay, who said Shane and Kusmirek had informed him about the situation. He told cops that he watched the video on Kusmirek's phone and that the parents of the boys involved were notified. He also told cops the names of the boys in the restroom, but said that only three of them were involved in the sex acts, according to the report. It is unclear whether any of the boys involved have been charged. Gangopadhyay released a statement Wednesday and said Shane and Kusmiek 'took appropriate action and protected the interests of our school and the safety of those students.' 'At this time, we want the public to note that we stand behind our two team members and feel that there was no criminal intent or action on their part in the incident that involved former students,' Gangopadhyay said. Their attorney, Nandi Campbell, told the newspaper that Shane and Kusmirek were trying to prevent a child from taking the explicit video off campus. Campbell added that Shane and Kusmirek wanted to keep the footage 'just in case (and she assumes) the deletion and transfer of the video to their phones is what NOPD is characterizing as obstruction of justice,' the newspaper reported. The attorney said that the act of preserving the evidence on their cellphones is what the police are using to charge them with child pornography. The two educators have since bonded out of jail and the case is now moving on to the District Attorney's office. A father who faced being jailed in Dubai over an alleged counterfeit 20 said he was looking forward to 'good food' after landing back in Britain. William Barclay, known as Billy, was stopped on his return to Dubai International Airport in September, after an incident in 2016 when he tried to exchange money at the Al Hamra Mall in Ras Al Khaimah. The 31-year-old plasterer from Edinburgh was told he could face up to a year in jail in the United Arab Emirates, a 1,000 fine and deportation back to the UK. But shortly after 8pm on Thursday he was met at the airport with a kiss and hug from his wife Monique, after charity Detained in Dubai helped secure his release. Bill Barclay was detained in front of his two children after handing over what turned out to be a counterfeit Scottish note at a bureau de change Mr Barclay said his 'main focus' was to get back to his family, pictured, he kisses his wife Monique on arriving back at Glasgow Airport Mr Barclay said: 'It's a massive relief. I'm stuck over there running out of money, just worrying about looking at potentially a year in prison for a being a victim of something that should never have happened. 'My main focus now is just to get back to my two kids and my partner Monique, who's fought hard to get me home, along with all my family. 'The worst part was obviously prison, being locked up and away from your family. 'I couldn't go back to that country, not after the way they've treated me. After the second time, what they've done to me is horrendous.' He had been accused of being in possession of counterfeit cash last year and questioned by detectives for 12 hours before being told no charges would be brought and was allowed to continue his family holiday. Despite his ordeal Mr Barclay, his wife and two children returned to the country on September 15 this year and he was stopped at the airport. Billy Barclay was met with a hug and a kiss from his wife Monique as he arrived back at Glasgow Airport Authorities arrested him for possessing counterfeit money and he was taken from his family and questioned by Ras Al Khaimah police for three days. He was then released but his passport was confiscated and he stayed in a 120-a-night hotel awaiting the outcome of the case against him. Mr Barclay added: 'I was just glad to get out, see my family - that was the most important thing. I didn't know if my family was safe, I didn't know if they made (it to) the hotel. Nobody would let me call them. 'You're in a prison there for three or four days, you don't know if you're going to get out.' Mr Barclay's partner Monique Fleming (pictured) said yesterday the plasterer was held for 12 hours in a prison cell while detectives searched his hotel room and family possessions On Wednesday, it was confirmed the case against him had been dropped and he would be able to return home. The father-of-two maintains his innocence and that he has no idea how he came into possession of the counterfeit cash. He also criticised how the UK embassy handled the situation, claiming he had no help. Mr Barclay said: 'I don't know what a fake note looks like, that's the truth. 'The (UK) embassy did nothing for me. The government over there only started helping me last night because of Radha Stirling's (CEO of Detained in Dubai) work. If it wasn't for the press, I wouldn't be back today.' Now, the first thing Mr Barclay said he looked forward to at home was seeing his kids, having some 'good food' and a relax. A $1 million reward is being offered to anyone who helps solve the decade-old murder of Melbourne mother-of-three Cindy Crossthwaite. Ms Crossthwaite was brutally murdered in 2007 inside her Melton South home leaving her daughter, sons and father searching for answers. The 41-year-old's body was discovered by her father Phillip on June 20 after she failed to pick up her two eldest children, then aged 10 and eight, from school. A $1 million reward is being offered to anyone who helps solve the decade-old murder of Melbourne mother-of-three Cindy Crossthwaite (pictured) Ms Crossthwaite (pictured) was brutally murdered in 2007 inside her Melton South home The murder was so vicious it took DNA and fingerprints to identify her, despite her family already knowing the worst. Ms Crossthwaite's youngest son, aged just 15-months, was at the home with her when she was killed, police said. Ms Crossthwaite's daughter Jesmine, now 19, and Phillip begged for answers about her death on the 10th anniversary of her murder this year. 'I want to know what happened to mum. I want to find out why they would, someone would do that to her. I want them to know how much it's affected everyone,' she told Nine News. 'She was just a beautiful angel. The pain is so deep and she can never be replaced.' Police said the media coverage at the time helped detectives uncover new information about the case. 'One person provided specific information to police about Cindy's murder including a claim that more than one person was involved and that Cindy may have been stalked in the weeks leading up to her death,' officers said in a release. 'As a result of this, detectives believe a number of people are likely to have intimate knowledge of this murder.' 'They are also appealing for those people who provided information to contact police again.' Ms Crossthwaite's daughter Jesmine (pictured left) and her father Phil (pictured right) begged for answers about her death on the 10th anniversary of her murder this year Billy Petrov (pictured) was Cindy's ex-husband and remains a person of interest to police, according to Nine News Ms Crossthwaite's ex-husband Billy Petrov remains a person of interest to police, according to Nine News. It has been reported the mother-of-three was also receiving death threats before her brutal murder, with someone claiming they were going to shoot her and snap her neck. Witnesses and neighbours also claim they saw a stranger lurking outside her house that day, described as in his 40s, 178cm tall, tanned, dark hair and potentially having facial hair. Anyone who might have any information about this crime, or any other is reminded to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via the website, crimestoppervic.com.au A Georgia teacher has come under fire after asking sixth grade students to draw a Nazi mascot as a part of their social studies assignment. The assignment was given to the students at Shiloh Middle School on Monday, according to Gwinnett County school district spokeswoman, Sloan Roach. Roach said the assignment was brought to the attention of school administrators after a parent contacted district officials to raise concerns about the exercise. A Georgia teacher has come under fire after asking sixth grade students to draw a Nazi mascot as a part of their social studies assignment. A photo of the assignment (above) titled 'Nazi Party Mascot' showed what appeared to be two children and two 'Nazi mascots' A photo of the assignment titled 'Nazi Party Mascot' showed what appeared to be two children and two 'Nazi mascots'. The photos show the two mascots with swastikas drawn on their hats. 'The year is 1935 and you have been tasked with creating a mascot to represent the Nazi party at its political rallies,' the directions of the assignment read. 'Think about all of the information you have learned about Hitler and the Nazi party. You will create a COLORFUL illustration of the mascot. 'Give the mascot a NAME. You will also write an explanation as to why the mascot was chosen to represent the Nazi party,' the assignment concluded. The teacher has not been identified, but school officials told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that the educator was teaching a social studies class. According to officials, the class was studying, in part, the rise of Nazism and its use of propaganda and events that led to the Holocaust. 'This assignment is not a part of the approved materials provided by our social studies department and is not appropriate,' Roach told the newspaper. School administrators are addressing the use of this assignment with the teacher. These are the migrants who have found a new way to get into Britain. Two hundred miles up the coast from the towering fences and high security at Calais, they have begun to gather outside the quiet port of Ouistreham in Normandy. And yesterday they were seen pouncing on lorries that were headed for the docks. The young Sudanese men waited until the truck which was pulling a low-loader carrying new lorry cabs stopped at a red light before making their move. As the lorry waits at the traffic lights, the migrants circle behind it, trying to open the doors on the new cabs that are packed on the low-loader Sheets of cardboard act as beds at the migrant camp near Ouistreham in Normandy One of the trio, who was wearing a Union Jack bobble hat, managed to get on board just as the traffic light turned green. The others merely shrugged their shoulders and waited at the roadside for the next truck. The raid took place at 3pm near Ouistreham, where three Brittany Ferries sail to Portsmouth each day, carrying mostly British holidaymakers. The migrants are a part of a group of about 100 young men from Sudan and Eritrea who live in a makeshift camp in woodland a mile-and-a-half from the port. They sleep in rotting tents or under blankets on cardboard and light campfires to keep warm. By day, they hide in ditches or behind trees as they wait for lorries and caravans bound for Britain. Many travelled to Ouistreham which is near the city of Caen from Calais after the closure of the Jungle shanty town last autumn. The migrants, mainly from East Africa, sit around a feeble fire as they try to keep warm The group gather around a shallow ditch as they prepare for their boarding attempt Their arrival has prompted fears that migrants have opened up a new route into Britain by stowing away on ships that depart from the port. Tougher security measures surrounding Calais have made it harder and harder for migrants to sneak on to ferries there. So they have turned their attention to Ouistreham, where security measures are less stringent. Last night it remained unclear whether the migrant who boarded the pickup truck actually made it across the Channel. A witness to yesterdays incident said: As soon as the truck stopped at the red light the migrants were quickly trying to jump on. Only one made in on board before the lights changed. This is happening almost every day. They know exactly when the ferries leave for Britain and plan their days around these timetables. Unlike Calais, there are not hundreds of policemen stopping them. At the moment they see this as their best chance of success. British holidaymakers have this summer reported seeing a growing number of migrants loitering around the port. Those travelling in caravans have been warning each other to be vigilant as they approach Ouistreham. A local woman walks her dog past the group of young men as they wait for their time to strike One man stands and watches as the rest wait by the bush in in Ouistreham One wrote on an internet forum how he spotted groups of what appeared to be migrants hanging around the area. He said: On one occasion we saw them hiding in ditches at the side of the road, another time behind the trees at the side of the road. They appeared to be staying at the bottom of a field behind a bakery. Drivers heading towards the port need to be alert as some of the people we saw were standing very close to the road and studying on-coming traffic. Another wrote how a migrant had got inside their motorhome, but started banging to be let out when he realised that it was not heading towards the port. Conservative MP Charlie Elphicke, who has campaigned for tougher border controls, said: Its clear that security between Dover and Calais has become stronger and migrants are focussing on smaller ports and inlets to break into Britain. One of the men manages to leap on-board the lorry as it stops by a pavement in Ouistreham A Sudanese migrant sleeps on a bench near the ferry terminal at the harbour of Ouistreham Sudanese migrants wait near the ferry terminal at the harbour of Ouistreham It is vital that stronger measures are taken to improve the security in these places. Last October, the Jungle migrant camp at Calais was razed and up to 8,000 people were relocated across France. But hundreds of migrants have returned to the area in the hope of reaching the UK. Some have used roadblocks made of tyres, rocks and trees to bring traffic to halt so they can try to get aboard. Fears of an escalation of violence in the French port increased after a gang hijacked a lorry in July thought to be the latest method of attempting to sneak across ~ the Channel. Migrants have made 30,000 attempts to reach Britain from Calais this year despite costly security measures. However, many of these attempts have been unsuccessful, prompting some to travel to other ports across Northern France including Dieppe, Cherbourg and Ouistreham. Some have even set up makeshift camps near the ferry terminal at Bilbao in northern Spain. So far this year 1,765 people have been caught trying to smuggle themselves on to UK-bound ferries or freighters leaving from Bilbao. This is five times more than police caught in the whole of 2016 attempting to stow away at the port. Police were last night accused of opening the compensation floodgates to Sir Edward Heaths accusers as it emerged that 26 abuse claims will be recorded as crimes despite there being no proof he was guilty Police were last night accused of opening the compensation floodgates to Sir Edward Heaths accusers as it emerged that 26 abuse claims will be recorded as crimes despite there being no proof he was guilty. Two compensation claims had been submitted to a government agency even before police concluded yesterday there is no irrefutable evidence to say the former prime minister was either guilty or innocent of child abuse. As many as 26 allegations of sexual abuse and physical assault made against Sir Edward, who died in 2005 aged 89 including the alleged rape of an 11-year-old boy are set to be recorded by Wiltshire Police as crimes. This is despite a 1.5million, two-year police probe finding only seven claims were credible enough even to warrant interviewing Sir Edward if he was alive today. Officers said that even in these cases there could be no inference of guilt. Last night the embattled chief constable of Wiltshire Police, Mike Veale, was facing a growing backlash from friends, supporters and MPs, who said the reputation of the late Conservative leader had been tarnished by the profoundly unsatisfactory inquiry. A 100-page summary report into the investigation, known as Operation Conifer, revealed 40 men and women accused Sir Edward of abuse spanning nearly four decades on children as young as ten between 1956 and 1992. In a further 19 claims there was undermining evidence diminishing the accusers credibility. Yet all 26 reports are to be recorded as crimes in official statistics, which supporters fear will pave the way for a Jimmy Savile-style flood of claims to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority and the MPs estate, which is now a charitable trust. A further 556 was spent on books about the former Conservative MP, although officers failed to interview many of those who worked with Sir Edward and knew him best James Gray, Tory MP for North Wiltshire, said: There is not one shred of evidence of any kind whatsoever in the report. There are some pretty mad accusers out there and this will only incentivise people to make bogus claims. Criminologist Dr Richard Hoskins, who worked on the case, added: This report has opened the compensation floodgates on the basis of claims that are so flimsy its unbelievable. Sir Edwards godson Lincoln Seligman called for a judicial inquiry to test police claims that the former prime minister would have been interviewed under caution over the abuse allegations. He was supported by Lord Macdonald QC, a former director of public prosecutions, who said it was no surprise at all that Wiltshire Police said they would have interviewed Sir Edward had he been alive. Lord Macdonald said: This gives entirely bogus credibility to their investigation without meaning anything in forensic terms. The bar for interview is low, and in the case of a dead man, virtually non-existent. They are covering their backs at the expense of a dead man. Shame on them. Allegation: Ted Heath was accused of raping a 12-year-old boy who said he worked out his identity after seeing a picture of him with Margaret Thatcher (right) and Dame Pat Hornsby Smith (left). This may be the picture he described Chief Constable Veale launched the report with a staunch 39-minute defence of his own actions, reviving the notion of a Westminster child abuse cover-up. The most serious allegation levelled was that Sir Edward raped and indecently assaulted an 11-year-old boy after paying for sex at a private address in London in 1961, when he was Lord Privy Seal. It was claimed a year later he assaulted a ten-year-old boy during a chance meeting in a public place in Kent. The most recent alleged offence is said to have taken place around 1990 and 1992. Wiltshire Chief Constable Mike Veale said officers have 'gone where the evidence has taken us' while Assistant Chief Constable Paul Mills said it would be 'inappropriate to speculate' Sir Edward Heath's responses to allegations against him (both picture today) None of the seven claims relate to when he was prime minister. All but one of them were made after police made an extraordinary appeal for victims outside Sir Edwards former Salisbury home, Arundells, in August 2015, which led to 118 people coming forward. Among 42 claims were a number of malicious reports. One man used three different names to make allegations, which led to a caution for wasting police time. A fantasist known as Nick said he was abused on Sir Edwards yacht Morning Cloud. He faces possible prosecution for falsely accusing politicians and VIP figures of child rape and murder leading to Scotland Yards separate botched inquiry, Operation Midland. Former Cabinet Secretary Lord Armstrong of Ilminster and Lord Hunt of Wirral called for a judge-led inquiry into Operation Conifer. But Mr Veale said: It would be an indefensible dereliction of my public duty not to have investigated such serious allegations against a former prime minister, even though he is deceased. Fantasists and hoaxers behind the fake Sir Edward Heath claims Therapists to victims of satanists One of the fake accusers is a woman therapist who charged more than 200 a day to train counsellors to support victims of satanic abuse. She has previously spoken about her experience of satanic abuse at conferences, using the publicity to drum up funds for a charity she was involved in. More than 25 years before Operation Conifer started, the therapist and several members of her family went to police claiming that their parents ran a satanic sex cult who killed as many as 16 children. At the time, Sir Edwards name was never mentioned and their claims were dismissed in 1989. The woman, who cannot be named, only mentioned Sir Edward after Wiltshire Police launched Operation Conifer in 2015. She and other family members named the late Tory MP as being part of a paedophile ring run by their parents. Their stories were recounted in gory detail as it was said the paedophile ring stabbed, raped, tortured and maimed youngsters in churches and burnt babies in satanic orgies before men, women and children gorged themselves on blood, animal and body parts. Dr Richard Hoskins, working for the police, concluded that force had been fed a catalogue of fabrication. 'Nick' the fantasist A fantasist known as Nick is facing possible prosecution after he falsely accused a string of VIPs, including Sir Edward, of being child rapists and murderers. He claimed Sir Edward sexually assaulted him aboard his boat Morning Cloud, when it was moored off the south coast in the 1970s or 1980s. Nick allegedly told police he recalled being taken to the south coast when he was a youngster and spirited aboard a sailing boat moored at a marina in Southampton. He claimed he was then sexually assaulted by a man he later identified as Sir Edward. But the allegation was discounted after police interviewed members of the former PMs yacht crew. His accusations were dismissed by the Metropolitan Police. Dr Hoskins has linked Nick to the women who made satanic abuse claims. Nicks father worked at the same place at the same time as the womens father, which may account for their similar allegations. Sir Edward Heath has been accused of raping a 11-year-old boy and touching children as young as ten even when he was Tory leader, an incendiary police report said today The hoaxers Other fantasists who came forward included a Twitter fantasist, a sex offender and a convicted hoaxer. Michael Shrimpton, a suspended barrister who was jailed for 12 months in February 2015 for communicating false information over a hoax claim that a nuclear device had been planted in London to detonate during the Olympic Games, claimed that Sir Edward killed boys on his yacht. Another prolific Twitter conspiracy theorist who claimed to have been interviewed for seven hours by Operation Conifer has made allegations against dozens of politicians, celebrities and public figures. Wiltshire detectives also spoke to a convicted child sex abuser who said he was raped at the age of 12 by Sir Edward, who picked him up while he was hitchhiking in 1961. It also emerged that Wiltshire Police Chief Constable Mike Veale had been in personal email contact with another campaigner Robert Green who was jailed for harassing people he falsely accused of paedophilia. One fantasist reported different abuse under three separate names which led to them being cautioned for wasting police time. Rejected claims Police revealed that they would have been unable to pursue many of the allegations against the former PM because they did not stand up to scrutiny. There were 19 cases where Sir Edward would not have been interviewed under caution because of the extent of undermining evidence, three cases of mistaken identity and three complaints made anonymously. In ten cases the allegations were made to police by a third party rather than the alleged victim. Advertisement The police boss who STILL defends flawed inquiry Chief Constable Mike Veale insists it would have been a dereliction of duty not to have investigated the case By Neil Tweedle, Ian Drury and Rosie Waterhouse for the Daily Mail Given his prominence as a leading public figure in Britain, no-one would have been subject to greater scrutiny in terms of their private conduct than Edward Heath. Yet, despite his death in 2005, two years have been spent investigating the idea that the former Prime Minister was a predatory paedophile a rapist of children who evaded suspicion for decades. This fantastical hypothesis is the basis of Operation Conifer, an investigation by Wiltshire Police into allegations of historical abuse by the late leader of the Conservative Party. Leading the charge was Chief Constable Mike Veale, who insists it would have been a dereliction of duty not to have investigated the case. Yet with Heath unable to give evidence, there was never any prospect of a definitive outcome to the inquiry. The reason for pushing ahead lies in 2014 guidelines in the wake of the Jimmy Savile scandal that effectively created an open season on VIPs. Mr Veale was reported in February as believing that paedophile allegations against the former PM were 120 per cent genuine. But after admitting yesterday that there was no evidence of the former peers guilt that would stand up in court, he was left desperately trying to defend the probe. Mr Veale, who began his career as a police cadet aged 16 before joining Avon and Somerset Police as a constable in 1984, said: I believe this was the right moral, ethical and professional thing to do. The allegations ... were of the utmost seriousness and from a significant number of people. I hope people will understand that, given these circumstances, it would be an indefensible dereliction of my public duty as a chief constable not to have investigated such serious allegations against a former prime minister, even though he is deceased. Wiltshire Police had already been under fire in 2015 after a bizarre televised appeal for victims to come forward held outside Sir Edwards old house in Salisbury. Wiltshire Police held a bizarre televised appeal by Superintendent Sean Memory for victims to come forward held outside Sir Edwards old house in Salisbury Superintendent Sean Memory urged potential victims not to suffer in silence. Mr Veale, appointed Chief Constable in June 2015, may have been anxious not to repeat an IPCC investigation into the force, which followed an allegation that it had failed to handle properly a complaint of abuse. A year later Mr Veale said his operation would continue despite the Metropolitan Polices decision to close down its VIP sex abuse inquiry, in which Sir Edward was named as a suspect by a discredited witness known as Nick. The result of his dogged determination to see the inquiry to its end is a summary report that contains no smoking-gun evidence, but casts a lasting shadow over the reputation of a distinguished public figure. Up to 36 alleged disclosures were discounted by Wiltshire detectives for various reasons, including mistaken identity. One victim even pretended to be three separate complainants. Against this must be placed the evidence of numerous civil servants, bodyguards, drivers and nurses who attended Sir Edward from 1968 until his death. Not one of the 104 close-protection officers disclosed any evidence suggesting he was involved in abuse. Most importantly, there was no evidence from MI5. Police made an appeal for 'victims' outside his Salisbury mansion in 2015 (pictured) - but his loved-ones claim this proved police assumed he was guilty and the chief constable admitted today this was a mistake Lurid claims of Satanic abuse are among the nuttier allegations addressed by the Conifer team. Mr Veale must have been dreading opening his inbox in recent weeks, having been subjected to an extraordinary lobbying campaign by internet conspiracists. Supporters were urged to bombard the Chief Constable with emails begging him to include in his report the allegation that Heath was a Satanist. On a Facebook page last month, campaigner William Wong pleaded to his followers to email Mr Veale as a matter of urgency. James Gray, Tory MP for North Wiltshire, describes Conifer as a waste of money. Theyll be looking into Jack the Ripper or Henry VIII next, he said. Former Cabinet Secretary Lord Armstrong expects Mr Veale to come under pressure to resign. That will not rescue the reputation of Sir Edward. But in the age of the internet mob, it seems that one is guilty until proven innocent. A German supermarket giant is opening their doors for the first time in Australia. Kaufland, a warehouse style supermarket, is five times bigger than Coles or Woolworths and is similar to Costco but without the membership. The store, which stocks about 60,000 products, will open in Adelaide, just seven minutes south of Adelaide airport. German supermarket Kaufland (pictured) is opening their doors for the first time in Australia The German Giant is known for offering shoppers everything from groceries to car maintenance supplies and will be opening its doors in Adelaide Kaufland, a warehouse style supermarket, is five times bigger than Coles or Woolworths and is similar to Costco but without the membership (stock image) The German giants, one of the world's largest retailers, bought a $25 million site at Forestville, three kilometres from the CBD, according to The Advertiser. The new store will cover 20,000 sqm, just under five acres, and will stock everything from chocolate, televisions and ladders. Kaufland, which is part of the Schwarz Group which owns Lidl, has never opened in an English speaking country but is extremely popular in eastern and central Europe countries with more than 1230 stores. Unlike German supermarket Aldi, who mainly stocks their own brands, Kaufland stocks thousands of household brands. 'It will be more akin to a Costco approach with a whole breadth of product offerings, including groceries and white goods,' an Adelaide retail expert told the publication. 'This is going to be a destination shopping experience.' Unlike German supermarket Aldi, who mainly stocks their own brands, Kaufland (pictured) stocks thousands of household brands Kaufland will enter supermarket market alongside key player Coles (pictured) and is extremely popular within eastern and central Europe Initial reports suggest Kaufland would need to open about 20 stores in Australia to make a viable investment. As the company is buying land, rather than leasing the land, it means Australian stores will not open for at least a couple of years, Fairfax Media reported earlier this year. The German giants reportedly looked at other cities across the country including Geelong and the Gold Coast, but it is believed Sydney is not an option for Kaufland stores because there is not enough available land space. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Kaufland for comment. MOSS POINT, Miss. - The Mississippi Press received an anonymous letter on Sept. 26 detailing favoritism being shown in the Moss Point School District by superintendent, Dr. Shannon Vincent. Moss Point's president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Curley Clark received the letter, which he said raised concerns within the community. After their June 7 meeting, Vincent agreed to attend their monthly scheduled meeting on Saturday at First Baptist Church in Moss Point at 7 p.m. Clark said he fears what is happening in the city of Jackson in regard to the State's Department of Education threatening to take over the Jackson Public School District. "The grades, according to the Mississippi Department of Education has Moss Point as a D-rated school district and the only thing worse than a D is an F," Clark said. "We want to be proactive and say, 'hey guys, there is a lot of room for improvement, but what can we do to help?'" Per MDE, the MPSD has held a D-rating since 2011, and years prior, an F-rating. According to Clark, community members are concerned by what they perceive is happening in the district based on a scathing anonymous letter that has been disseminated throughout the city. "We share some of the concerns we read in that unsigned document and in some cases, may be dispelled," he said. "We are not here to point fingers, it has to be a collective effort with the administration and the community to get the desired result, which is the district performing at the level we feel it should." Dr. Shannon Vincent, MPSD superintendent (file photo/Gulflive.com) In June, Vincent held a "Taking it to the Streets" initiative where she visited local businesses and met and spoke with members of the community about what was happening in the school district and gave plans regarding the direction in which the district was going. Clark says that can be attributed to a June 7 meeting he had with her. "I think what's going to take place Saturday night is in line with what Dr. Vincent had done earlier, and it could be attributed to the meeting I had with her previously," Clark said, "I met with her and told her there were concerns of her being perceived as if she did not make herself available to the community.' Vincent shares a different perspective. "The school board wanted me to come up with an innovative way to reach out and engage the community, so that's how we came up with that idea," she said. While Vincent cannot comment on anonymous letters because of a board policy, "anyone with concerns can schedule a meeting with me or come by," she said. My focus is on the students and I cannot afford to be distracted." Vincent said she is looking forward to presenting at Saturday's meeting and said the district's successes can be found on the district website. "Saturday's meeting is a continuum of the community conversation we started this summer," Vincent said. "Over the past two years, I have spoken at 20-plus events in the county to give general updates and discuss where we are as a community. Saturday is only another opportunity to let the community know where we have been and where we are going. My hope is for the community to come out and to receive information." Despite the contents within the letter, Ward 6 alderman Wayne Lennep says his support for Vincent has not diminished. "She definitely still has my unyielding support," Lennep said. A homicidal woman told her Craigslist date she wanted to eat his heart before she pulled out a pocket knife and stabbed him in the chest. Amy Caroline Brown, 24, received a prison sentence of 18 years Tuesday after she pleaded guilty in September to attempted first-degree murder, the Daily Herald reported. Brown met her unidentified suitor, 29, on Craigslist back in January - when she invited him to meet her at the 2-star Rodeo Motel at 20707 Highway 99 in Lynnwood, Washington. Homicidal woman Amy Caroline Brown, 24, (in front, left) told her Craigslist date she wanted to eat his heart before she pulled out a pocket knife and stabbed him in the chest Brown received a prison sentence of 18 years Tuesday after she pleaded guilty in September to attempted first-degree murder The mentally disturbed woman agreed to meet the man after he told her he was looking online for a woman to offer anything from friendship to a relationship The pair connected through personal ads on Craigslist before their first and last nightmare date The mentally disturbed woman agreed to make plans with the man online after he told her he was looking for a woman to offer him anything from a friendship, companionship or casual dating. The strangers reportedly chatted it up on the motel bed after their arrival, when Brown began asking her date alarming questions - such as whether or not he was a serial killer. After the man told her no to the question several times, Brown jumped on him, yanked out the knife and stabbed him with it - a memory from the nightmare incident he recalled to police. She yelled out, 'Well, I am a serial killer!', before he was able to successfully shove her off of him and sprint out the door for assistance. The man suffered a collapsed lung from the onslaught, but made it out of the horror date alive after receiving immediate medical care. Brown was arrested outside of the motel shortly after. She admitted to police she had a longtime yearning to kill, and planned to do so that night. Brown met her unidentified suitor, 29, back in January, when she invited him to meet her at the 2-star Rodeo Motel at 20707 Highway 99 in Lynnwood, Washington The strangers reportedly chatted it up on the motel bed after their arrival, when Brown began asking her date alarming questions - such as whether or not he was a serial killer The man suffered a collapsed lung from the onslaught, but made it out of the horror date alive after receiving medical care Police found a note in Brown's pocket that she said she planned to place on the victim before he escaped. It read: 'If you are wondering what I do with the heart, I eat it. I will strike again.' Brown had been taking medication for suicidal tendencies since 2015, while court documents revealed she began cutting herself at age 12, and at age 19, attempted to overdose of prescription pills. The same month she attempted to kill her date in January, was the around the time she stopped taking her medication because believed she may have been pregnant. Brown also failed to show up and cancel several of her psychiatrist appointments - which led to an increasing balance on her account, according to the Herald. 'The clinic refused to schedule her an appointment until she had paid off the large balance, which she was unable to afford,' her defense attorney, Jennifer Bartlett wrote in a statement. Brown had a long history of suicidal tendencies and more recently, had homicidal thoughts. She said she grew obsessed with the TV show 'Hannibal' The man created a personal ad on Craigslist that read 'Good Evening! Let's go zombie hunting!' - a quest that lured Brown in During court hearing, Bartlett revealed her client had been longtime 'immersed in fantasy that the characters from her fantasy life have merged with her own identity.' Brown wrote in a letter to the judge she was deeply 'sorry' to her victim, and had no excuse as to why she acted out violently towards the innocent man. She described herself as a dog lover and someone who often helped people in need, adding, 'My character, or so I'd like to believe it to be, is one of benevolence.' Before the January stabbing, Brown revealed she grew infatuated with the thriller NBC series 'Hannibal.' Brown's parents were in attendance to Tuesday's court hearing, where their daughter received her sentence. Her mother told the judge that her daughter had been acting unusual the night of the attempted murder and said she does 'not understand what triggered Amy to commit such a violent act towards a fellow human.' The victim, who was attending therapy sessions during the time he was attacked, was encouraged by his therapist to engage in social events. He then created a personal ad on Craigslist that read, 'Good Evening! Let's go zombie hunting!' - a quest that immediately lured Brown in. Guarded by a ring of police, Cardinal George Pell has been heckled outside the Melbourne Magistrates' Court where he appeared for a brief mention of his sexual abuse case. A frail-looking Pell, 76, left the court building on Friday morning with his barrister Robert Richter QC and a band of police, who accompanied the pair to the lawyer's office amid a media frenzy. About 30 journalists and camera operators had lined up outside the building from 6am, with police guarding the court's entrance. As he made the slow walk to and from court, Pell was heckled by protesters but didn't react. Scroll down for video Cardinal George Pell has again drawn a crowd for his attendance at the Melbourne Magistrates' Court for a brief mention of his sexual abuse case The highest-ranking Catholic official (pictured) to be charged with sexual abuse on Friday moved at a slow pace accompanied by police along the 100 metres from his lawyer's office to the court steps, where he went through security checks About 30 journalists and camera operators lined up outside the building from 6am and police later guarded the court entrance (pictured is a protester) Police had cordoned off the court entrance early in the day and blocked part of the road outside. A line of about 30 people - mainly media - waited for hours to secure a seat in the courtroom where the third most senior Vatican official's committal mention was heard. There was no sign of Pell supporters, but some victim advocacy representatives turned up, a few holding signs. 'It doesn't matter how high up the tree you are, it doesn't matter how much access to money you have, no one is above the law,' Brian Cherrie said. Friday's turnout was low-key compared to Pell's first court appearance on July 26, when a 100-strong group of national and international media swarmed the cardinal as he walked the 100 metres from his barrister's office to court. The former Sydney and Melbourne archbishop is due back in court on March 5 for a four-week committal hearing, which will decide if there is enough evidence for him to stand trial. The former Sydney and Melbourne archbishop is due back in court on March 5 for a four-week committal hearing, which will decide if there is enough evidence for him to stand trial Police are seen lined up in front of the courthouse in anticipation of Cardinal Pell's arrival The former Sydney and Melbourne archbishop and Ballarat priest has taken leave from his position as Vatican treasurer to return to Australia to defend himself As many as 50 witnesses are expected to be called during the hearing next year for Cardinal Pell, who is facing multiple historical sexual abuse charges. The 76-year-old has been charged with multiple historical sex offence charges involving multiple complainants. His lawyers have previously indicated he will plead not guilty to all charges. The former Sydney and Melbourne archbishop and Ballarat priest has taken leave from his position as Vatican treasurer to return to Australia to defend himself. A schoolboy has almost lost an eye after he was attacked with a glass bottle outside a Perth fast-food restaurant. Anthony, 17, his brother Jordan and their older sister were attacked by about 20 teenagers last month at Red Rooster carpark in Joondalup. Anthony had a glass bottle thrown at his head during the horrific ambush. Scroll down for video Anthony had a glass bottle thrown at his head during the horrific ambush Anthony, 17, (right) his brother Jordan (left) and their older sister were attacked by about 20 teenagers last month at Red Rooster carpark in Joondalup The bottle smashed and glass cut his head, only centimetres above his right eye. 'It felt like a massive thump I didn't even realise I was full on bleeding,' Anthony told 7 News. Anthony's brother Jordan was punched several times in the attack, and his sister's handbag was stolen. The family said they were sitting in the carpark when the gang of youths started taunting them. 'We can't have people get away with something like that, I can't really believe it honestly happened,' Jordan said. Police are investigating and have urged any witnesses to come forward. A schoolboy has almost lost an eye after he was attacked with a glass bottle outside Red Rooster in Joondalup Advertisement The girlfriend of Las Vegas mass murderer Stephen Paddock told the FBI he had developed 'mental health symptoms' and would scream at night, it has emerged. Marilou Danley, 62, said Paddock, 64, 'would lie in bed, just moaning and screaming, "Oh my God,"' according to an ex-FBI official briefed on the situation. Investigators - who interviewed Danley after she arrived back in the US from the Philippines on Tuesday night - believe that he may have been in 'mental or physical anguish,' that official and another ex-FBI source told NBC News. However, they said that detectives are still no closer to determining Paddock's motive for the deranged shooting spree that saw him killing 59 people, including himself, and injuring 489 others. Scroll down for video Las Vegas mass killer Stephen Paddock (left) would scream in the night, his girlfriend, Marylou Danley (right, with Paddock) told the FBI. She said he'd had 'mental health symptoms'. FBI say he could have been in 'mental or physical anguish' Danley has been speaking to the FBI since she was pictured here arriving at LAX on Tuesday night. Investigators don't think that Paddock's mental health had deteriorated to the point that it would have factored into his mass murder, however Danley and Paddock had shared this home in Mesquite (pictured Wednesday; garage door was removed by police when it was raided Monday), and also lived together at other properties he had owned in Nevada and Florida Paddock's hotel room was filled with guns, many with bump-stocks that would allow for automatic rates of fire. This was the scene after cops busted open his door to find him dead. He killed 58 people and wounded 489 others at Sunday's festival Danley said in a written read out by her lawyer on Wednesday that she had no idea of Paddock's plans. The lawyer refused to answer questions - including whether she was aware of the 49 guns Paddock had secreted in multiple properties While Danley's remarks suggest that Paddock was not well, investigators do not believe that his mind had deteriorated enough to set up and execute his elaborate mass-murder plan, which saw him firing on a crowd of 22,000 people at a country music festival. Other areas now under investigation are the hour-long gap between 10:15pm, when Paddock unloaded more than 200 rounds into the hall outside his room, wounding a security guard, and 11:20pm, when police breached the room and found Paddock dead on the floor. Paddock did not fire at all during that time. It was suggested by Las Vegas Sheriff Joseph Lombardo that he may have been trying to devise a way to escape. WHY DID THE INJURY COUNT DROP? On Wednesday the number of people injured in Paddock's shooting fell from 527 to 489. In a press conference, Sheriff Lombardo said that the initial numbers were composed of figures given by local hospitals during the crisis. They accidentally included some people who were counted twice and others who were treated for injuries not linked to the shooting, he said. The new figure is the new official statistic, he said. Advertisement At around 10pm Thursday, Valley Health System announced that eight victims were still in critical condition at its hospitals following the shooting. Valley Health system has six hospitals in Las Vegas and Nevada. That was an improvement on Wednesday, when 58 were still in critical condition, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. The count of injured people has been lowered from 527 to 489, Sheriff Joseph Lombardo said on Wednesday. The initial figure was accidentally inflated by hospitals in the confusion. In a statement read out by her lawyer yesterday, Danley said she knew Paddock as a 'gentle' and 'quiet' man whom she loved and hoped to live a quiet life with. She also said she had been oblivious to the violence he had been meticulously planning, and that she was out of the country during the attack because he'd bought her a surprise ticket to the Philippines - so, he said, she could visit her family. Danley claimed that when he wired her $100,000 - ostensibly for her to buy a house for her family - she assumed that he was breaking up with her. She said she had no idea that he was planning violence. On Thursday, Danley's brother in the Philippines, Reynaldo Bustos, 75, said that she had told him over the phone that her conscience 'is clear' over the killings. On Thursday the number of critically injured patients in the Valley Health System hospitals fell to eight, from 58 on Wednesday. Valley Health system has six hospitals in Las Vegas and Nevada Danley (left) told investigators that Paddock had bought her a ticket to the Philippines prior to the attack and told her to visit family there. While there she spent time with her brother, Reynaldo Bustos (right), at his home in Dasmarinas In his native Tagalog, Bustos told ABC: 'I called her up immediately and she said, 'Relax, we shouldn't worry about it. I'll fix it. Do not panic. I have a clean conscience. I didn't have anything to do with this.' Bustos and his family live in Village Park, an area where middle-class Filipino families' homes are built on lots which cost around $6,000. Danley arrived bearing gifts. MARILOU DANLEY'S WHEREABOUTS IN THE DAYS BEFORE THE SHOOTING September 15: Danley arrives in the Philippines from Tokyo September 22: Danley leaves the Philippines for Hong Kong September 25: Danley returns to the Philippines from Hong Kong October 3: Danley cuts her trip to the Philippines short to return to the US to speak with investigators October 4: FBI says Danley isn't in their custody but won't disclose her location Advertisement Bustos practices hilot, an ancient Filipino art of healing, and herbal medicine. He was not at home on Thursday and was treating a patient in Pampanga province, according to local sources. He shares his home with his son Miguel and daughter-in-law Marizalyn Joy Bustos Waniwan. Along with Bustos' work as a faith healer, the family sells duck eggs and smoked fish. 'I saw a nice car parked on the street,' one neighbor told DailyMail.com. 'The next-door neighbor told me that it was Marilou.' Danley is an Australian citizen who had renounced her Filipino citizenship, according to a local report by ABS-CBN. It is also not known precisely when she immigrated to Australia. Her immigration status in the US has not been officially disclosed, but she married Geary Danley in 1990, and is likely to have qualified for a green card shortly after that. A local told DailyMail.com that another of Danley's sisters, Dolly, owned land in a subdivision called Green Breeze. Dolly is believed to live at a gated community, around 12 miles away, where homes start at around 3 million Philippine pesos or $60,000. Danley visited Bustos' home; he says she told him after the Sunday killings that her conscience is 'clear'. Paddock had sent Danley $100,000 while she was there and told her to buy a house for her family, she claims; a lot costs around $6,000 Marilou Danley (second right) is from a large family which includes her sisters Liza Werner (center) and Amelia Manango (right), both of whom live in Australia - as did she until marrying an American man, Geary Danley, in 1990. Danley said she thought after receiving the money that he was planning to break up with her As well as speaking to Danley, investigators are also looking at 'six media devices' left behind by Paddock, and also exploring his web browsing history. His web history also led to the discovery, announced Thursday, that he had apparently been scoping out other major events over the past year. In August he booked a hotel room overlooking Lollapalooza in Chicago - the massively popular rock event that saw appearances by The Killers, Chance the Rapper and Muse, and that was visited by Malia Obama. According to TMZ, Paddock - who lived in Nevada, 90 minutes from Las Vegas - booked two rooms at the Blackstone Hotel, overlooking Grant Park, where Lollapalooza has been held since 2005. He made the booking using Expedia and insisted on a 'view room' that would overlook the festival, which ran on August 3-6, and also demanded he be notified in advance if such a room was unavailable. However, officials said that he did not show up to the hotel for the booking. He also researched possible locations in Boston online, according to multiple reports. Anonymous officials said that Paddock looked for hotels near Fenway Park, where the Red Sox play and the Boston Center for the Arts. It was not known if the gunman went as far as making any reservations, but an officer speaking to NBC News under condition of anonymity said that no hotels give a view over the park. It also emerged Thursday that Paddock had rented two rooms at the Blackstone Hotel (left) in Chicago on August 3-6 - in time for the Lollapalooza festival. Seen right is the festival from the Blackstone. Cops said he never turned to to the booking This view shows show Paddock would have had an excellent vantage point over the festival - and could theoretically have opened fire on festivalgoers. Chillingly, his hotel aligns almost perfectly with the Children's Stage 'We are aware of the media reports and have been in communication with our federal partners,' a spokesman for the Chicago Police Department said. 'As you saw earlier this week the city conducts extensive public safety planning and training around major events, in close coordination with our law enforcement partners, to ensure public safety.' KILLER 'REQUESTED FESTIVAL VIEW - AND GOT HIS ROOM FREE' Paddock had specifically requested a suit overlooking the music festival he later attacked. He made the request - naming the festival - when he checked in on Thursday September 28, a source told The Associated Press. However, the room wasn't immediately available, the source said, and he was put in another room. Because of that, when the suite opened up on Saturday, the hotel gave it to him for free, the source claimed. The following night, he knocked through two windows in the two-room suit and opened fire on the festival. Advertisement It was confirmed by Lombardo yesterday that Paddock had also hired out a condo overlooking another Las Vegas festival, Life is Beautiful, which ran on September 22-24. Depending on its precise position and elevation, the condo, which he booked on Airbnb, could have allowed him to open fire on the main stage, as well as several blocks of the 15-block festival. There are also reports that he had attempted to book a room at the El Cortez hotel next to the Ogden, although they have not been substantiated. It's unclear whether he had intended to attack that event, and if so why he had not done so. Coincidentally, performers at Life is Beautiful included Muse and Chance the Rapper, who both played the main stage - and were also at Lollapalooza. As the investigation into Sunday's shocking events moved into its fourth day, more details emerged about Paddock's final days - including his heavy gambling, 'creepy staring' and complaints about noise at the Mandalay Bay Resort the night before his massacre. On Saturday night - the evening before he fired on the Route 91 Harvest country music festival - Paddock called in two noise complaints about loud country music being played in room 31-135, directly below him. In the room was Albert Garzon of San Diego, who was in town for the festival with his wife and some friends. On Thursday it emerged that the night before his spree, Paddock complained about noise from Albert Garzon in the room below. Garzon said he didn't realize the complaint came from the killer until he saw curtains hanging from broken windows It also emerged that Paddock would spend as much as $100,000 an hour in eight-hour stints on high-stakes video poker machines such as these. His hands would move so fast he was like a 'stenographer,' one person who knew him said Garzon said that he'd received a knock on his door at around 1:30am, and a member of security told him to turn down the music because the guest in the room above had complained about the noise, the New York Times reports. Garzon turned down the music, but it wasn't enough - at 2am a different security guard said there had been another complaint, and so he turned the music off altogether. It was only when he saw the curtains flapping through the smashed windows above on Monday that he realized he had been sleeping underneath Paddock's arsenal. Other stories began to filter in from those who had encountered Paddock - particularly in the casinos, where some said he would play $125 hands of video poker so fast his fingers looked like a stenographer's. John Weinreich, was an executive casino host at the Atlantis Casino Resort Spa in Reno, where Paddock went so often that - according to his brother Eric - the whole Paddock family would be given the top floor to enjoy. Weinreich said Paddock was a 'starer' who could make other players uncomfortable. 'He loved to stare at other people playing,' he said. 'It was not a good thing because it would make other VIPs in the high-limit area uncomfortable.' 'One of my guests once said to me, "He really gives me the creeps."' Paddock was such an avid player of video poker he would play up to 1,000 hands an hour for eight hours straight - potentially spending as much as $800,000 in a day. Paddock would play as many as 1,000 $125 hands an hour, for eight hours straight. One ex-casino worker said that Paddock would stare at people, which would creep out other players DailyMailTV also learned that despite having millions to his name, the former accountant was so concerned about saving money that he often ate lunch at a retirees' center. He joined the frail, elderly, homeless and disabled at the Mesquite Community and Senior Center in Nevada paying just $3.50 for a subsidized lunch. Around three times a week Paddock enjoyed Mexican food, meatloaf and hamburgers while listening to cheery songs on the piano at the center. But in contrast to the convivial surroundings, Paddock was an 'unsociable' and 'quiet' man who liked to sit alone to eat his lunch and who was 'in a world of his own,' other diners said. And bizarrely, on the day Paddock drove 80 miles to Las Vegas to begin preparations for his death mission at Mandalay Bay, he popped into the government-run center to ask the cook for a recipe. Local resident Marshall Meland, 78, told DailyMailTV that Paddock was in the center last Thursday morning but didn't stop for lunch. 'Instead he went straight up to the counter to speak with the cook and asked her about an enchiladas dish she cooks, he wanted to know how she made it,' Meland said. 'After that he left. No one took any notice of him. It wasn't until later after what he did that we realized he drove to Vegas that afternoon. Everyone at the center is shocked.' That shock isn't just felt by those in Nevada, however; as far away as New York, police are now putting into place plans to avoid another attack, while the White House has suggested it might support regulation on 'bump-stocks,' the modifications that enabled Paddock to fire a semi-auto rifle like it was automatic. Counselor to the President Kellyanne Conway said Thursday that the White House, like Hill Republicans, 'welcome thoughtful conversations' on gun control matters - suggesting the White House might be comfortable with regulating bump-stocks 'Bump stocks' are legal and originally were intended to help people with limited hand mobility fire a semi-automatic without the individual trigger pulls required. They allow semi-automatic rifles to fire up to 800 rounds a minute, like a full-auto gun The possibility of the Trump administration restricting access to bump-stock modifications was raised by Kellyanne Conway in an appearance on Fox News & Friends on Thursday. She pointed to Republicans such as House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Robert Goodlatte, R-Va., who both said the same day that they will consider regulating the device. 'Many of them are open to a conversation, we always welcome thoughtful conversations,' Conway said, indicating the White House could give such a ban a blessing - a highly unusual step for a Republican administration. Her thoughts - and phrasing - were redolent of remarks made by White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who told reporters: 'Members of both parties and multiple organizations are planning to take a look at bump stocks. We welcome that and would like to be part of that conversation.' HOW DO BUMP-STOCK MODS WORK? Bump-stock modifications, which allow for full-auto fire on semi-auto guns, were found on 12 of the 23 rifles found in Paddock's hotel room. They're believed to be how he was able to fire thousands of rounds into the crowds at a music festival on Sunday in just 10 minutes. They are attached to the rear of the gun and allow the rifle to slide back and forward while firing, causing the trigger to 'bump' into the shooter's finger with the natural recoil of each shot. So long as the shooter keeps his or her finger over the trigger, the semi-automatic gun will keep firing rapidly - much like a full-automatic. Instead of pulling the trigger with their finger, users tense the finger, then pull the gun forward with their other arm, which would usually steady the gun. While the stock and pistol grip remain still, the rest of the gun moves forward, pulling the trigger onto the finger to fire a shot. The recoil then sends the gun back on the slide and the trigger away from the trigger finger. Continuing to pull the gun forward with the steady-arm causes the gun to jolt back and forth, repeatedly depressing the trigger and firing as many as 800 rounds per minute. Advertisement However, Conway - always eager to stick the boot into Democrats - added: 'I would just note for the viewers, that since bump stock has not been in the lexicon before, this is a device that President Obama's ATF decided would not be regulated in 2010 and I think that's an important part of this conversation.' Conway tried the same lines on Chris Cuomo, host of CNN's New Day but this time got short shrift, as he told her 'a lot of this doesn't wash.' 'All you need to know about bump stock is that it was legal, and that's what allowed him to lay down that field of fire. That's all you need to know about it.' 'There's no thoughtful conversation to have about it. Of course it was 2010. Of course it was the Obama administration,' he added, pointing out that bump stocks are a relatively new technology. 'I'm saying don't cheapen what happened in Las Vegas.' The comments in favor of regulating the stocks made by Ryan and Goodlatte on Thursday follow those made by their GOP brethren, Sen. John Thune, R-S.D.; Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.; Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis; and Rep. Bill Flores, R-Tx. Thune, the third-ranking Republican in Congress, said that bump-stock legislation was 'something I think we'll look at;' Graham said it was a 'good time' for a discussion on the matter; and Johnson said, bluntly: 'Automatic weapons are illegal. To me, that is part of that same type of process. So I have no problem banning those.' Surprisingly, even the National Rifle Association (NRA) - which has vehemently fought gun control laws, and lobbies Congress heavily to loosen or maintain existing gun statutes - has called for a look into bump-stocks. However, it didn't go as far as to demand a ban. It said the ATF should 'immediately review whether these devices comply with federal law,' adding: 'The NRA believes that devices designed to allow semiautomatic rifles to function like fully-automatic rifles should be subject to additional regulations.' But should the ATF modify federal statute to make such devices illegal, the move would circumvent Congress. The concerns expressed by Republicans over bump-stocks echo those of Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., who introduced legislation that would ban the sale and possession of bump stocks on Wednesday. 'In just nine minutes an individual was able to turn a concert venue into a battlefield,' Feinstein told reporters at a Capitol Hill press conference, flanked by Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., whose home state was rattled in 2012 by the Sandy Hook mass shooting, and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., agreed with that move, and said she thought there was enough bi-partisan momentum to make it happen. However, no GOP members actively supported Feinstein's bill on its announcement. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., introduced legislation alongside her Democratic colleagues on Wednesday to ban the sale and possession of bump stocks. The Las Vegas killer had 12 such devices on the guns found in his hotel room Also on Thursday, some gun sellers revealed that sales of bump-stocks had gone up since they were linked to the deaths or injuries of more than 500 victims. 'Oh, God, yes, it's been insane. Since this story has broke, we've been getting about 50 people a day asking for them,' Michael Cargill, owner of Central Texas Gun Works in Austin, Texas, told CNN Money. He said his distributors had sold out of the modifications, too. 'Now that someone has come out saying maybe we should ban them, they're definitely going to sell off the shelf,' Cargill said. 'All the distributors are out because customers bought them all,' said Josh Dagnese, the owner of Village Gun Store in Whitefield, New Hampshire, who sold his last bump-stock on Tuesday. 'I am unable to reorder because of the demand,' he said. And Slide Fire, which sells bump-stocks, told CNN: 'We have decided to temporarily suspend taking new orders in order to provide the best service with those already placed.' A former FBI agent is heading up a cold case team more than 70 years after the Nazis stormed the secret canal house annex where Anne Frank was hiding and sent her to her death in a concentration camp. Suspicions that someone betrayed the Frank family are not new, but the latest attempt will seek out new connections in the case of the Jewish girl whose diary has captivated millions of readers worldwide. Retired agent Vincent Pankoke said he had high hopes of solving one of the biggest World War Two mysteries in the Netherlands with the help of Big Data and modern policing techniques. Scroll down for video Anne Frank, the young Jewish girl who, with her family, hid from the Nazis in Amsterdam, Netherlands, during World WarTwo. A former FBI agent has set out to uncover who betrayed her by turning her family over to the Nazis HOW IT WILL WORK A master database will be compiled with lists of Nazi collaborators, informants, historic documents, police records and prior research that could provide new leads. Amsterdam-based data company Xomnia has developed algorithms that said may reveal new links and connections based on the wealth of information 'that a human in their lifetime might not be able to review'. 'In the future, we plan to make the systems more intelligent, in the sense that it will be able to automatically connect persons, events, and places,' the firm says. Advertisement 'This is the ultimate cold case,' Pankoke, who is heading a 20-member team working out of Amsterdam, told Reuters in an interview. 'Seventy three years after the arrest, forget forensic evidence, most of the people who could give witness statements are no longer alive.' A master database will be compiled with lists of Nazi collaborators, informants, historic documents, police records and prior research that could provide new leads. 'We are going to load every piece of data we can find from the time period,' he said. 'There is so much information that is out there that has never been looked at.' Combing through archives has already yielded material not previously linked with the Anne Frank case, including a list of Nazi collaborators in Amsterdam found in the U.S. national archives, he said. The 'Cold Case Diary' is not aimed at seeking prosecution. It is intended to be completed by August 4, 2019, to mark 75 years since Anne Frank's arrest. 'We are doing it because we feel the case must be solved,' said Thijs Bayens, a Dutch filmmaker, who helped launch the project, which has been self-funded with experts donating time. The team, which is relying on crowd funding and is estimated to need up to $5 million to complete its work, has appealed to the public to come forward with information that may shed new light on the arrest. Anne was discovered on August 4, 1944 after two years in hiding. Miep Gies, one of the family's helpers in hiding, kept Anne's diary safe until it was published by Anne's father, Otto, in 1947, two years after Anne died in the Bergen Belsen camp at age 15. It has been translated into 60 languages. The Anne Frank Foundation, which maintains the Frank's Amsterdam house for visitors, is assisting Pankoke's team. 'We shared our investigation on the arrest,' said spokeswoman Annemarie Bekker. 'It looks good and we are curious about their results. THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK The diary was published in 1947, leading to her posthumous fame Anne Frank wrote her diary while in hiding from Nazi persecution during World War Two. By 1940 the Nazis had occupied the Netherlands, leaving the family trapped. In 1942 the family went into hiding in secret rooms of Otto Frank's office building. But after two years the group were anonymously betrayed and were sent to their deaths at the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, where Anne died of typhus in 1945. Otto Frank, Anne's father, returned to Amsterdam after the war and discovered her diary had been saved. It was published in 1947, leading to her posthumous fame. Miep Gies, one of the family's helpers in hiding, kept Anne's diary safe until it was published by Anne's father, Otto, in 1947, two years after Anne died in the Bergen Belsen camp at age 15. Pictured, Mrs Miep Gies, in her house in Holland where Anne Frank stayed during World War II Advertisement Respected historians who have published prior research on the subject, including those from the Dutch World War Two research centre NIOD, will work as consultants on the project. 'They have agreed to help us and share everything without conditions just to try and solve this mystery: Was it a betrayal? Was it an accident? What happened?,' Pankoke said. Amsterdam-based data company Xomnia has developed algorithms that Pankoke said may reveal new links and connections based on the wealth of information 'that a human in their lifetime might not be able to review'. Dutch filmmaker Thijs Bayens poses outside the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam 'Xomnia is building an information storage and retrieval system that allows the researchers to record any information they find in the historical archives,' said Marius Helf, Chief Data Scientist Xomnia. 'Our software allows them to search the data and visualize it new ways. This has already led to a few new traces. 'In the future, we plan to make the systems more intelligent, in the sense that it will be able to automatically connect persons, events, and places. 'We hope that this way we can find important and new clues to understand what actually happened in the weeks preceding the arrest of the Anne Frank family August 4, 1944 and eventually be able to identify the traitor with high confidence.' A view of Anne Frank House in Amsterdam. Amsterdam-based data company Xomnia has developed algorithms that Pankoke said may reveal new links and connections based on the wealth of information Police investigations in 1948 and 1963 too narrowly focused on one individual, warehouse manager Willem van Maaren, without examining alternative scenarios. In its 2016 study, the Anne Frank Foundation concluded that it was possible that the family had not been betrayed at all, but discovered by accident during a raid by German intelligence officials. 'Despite decades of research, betrayal as a point of departure has delivered nothing conclusive,' Ronald Leopold, executive director of the Anne Frank House, said. 'We are pleased that `Cold Case Diary is also carrying out research into the arrest and following new leads, and we are interested to see the results.' It was thought to have gone extinct in 1918, but an insect discovered in the 1960s has been identified as a Lord Howe Island stick insect. The species disappeared from its home on Lord Howe Island in New Zealand after a shipwreck introduced black rats into the island's ecosystem. But the discovery suggests that a few individuals must have survived, and researchers now hope to reintroduce the species back into its native home on Lord Howe Island. Scroll down for video It was thought to have gone extinct in 1918, but an insect discovered in the 1960s has been identified as a Lord Howe Island stick insect REDISCOVERING THE STICK INSECT The remains of a stick insect was discovered in the 1960, and several more were found nearby in the early 2000s. But until now, there has been some doubt over whether the stick insects were the same as the thought-to-be-extinct Lord Howe insects, because of their differing looks. Now, researchers have used genetic analysis to confirm that the insects are indeed the same species as Lord Howe Island's. To prove this, the researchers sequenced the mitochondrial genomes of captive-bred Ball's Pyramid island stick insects and preserved Lord Howe Island stick insects. When comparing the genomes, the researchers found that the DNA diverged by less than one per cent to showing they are the same species. Advertisement Rock climbers on Ball's Pyramid in the 1960s discovered the freshly dead remains of a stick insect, and several more were discovered nearby in the early 2000s. But until now, there has been some doubt over whether the stick insects were the same as the thought-to-be-extinct Lord Howe insects, because of their differing looks. Now, researchers from the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University have used genetic analysis to confirm that the insects are indeed the same species as Lord Howe Island's. To prove this, the researchers sequenced the mitochondrial genomes of both captive-bred Ball's Pyramid island stick insects, as well as preserved Lord Howe Island stick insects. When comparing the genomes, the researchers found that the DNA diverged by less than one per cent enough to show that they are the same species. Professor Alexander Mikheyev, lead author of the study, said: 'In this case, it seems like we're lucky and we have not lost this species forever, although by all rights we should have. Until now, there has been some doubt over whether the Ball's Pyramid stick insects (pictured left) were the same as the thought-to-be-extinct Lord Howe insects (pictured right), because of their differing looks The researchers sequenced the mitochondrial genomes of both captive-bred Ball's Pyramid island stick insects (pictured), as well as preserved Lord Howe Island stick insects 'We get another chance - but very often we do not.' Following the findings, the government is now supporting plans to eradicate black rats from Lord Howe Island and reintroduce the stick insect species. The researchers hope their findings will act as a larger message related to conservation. When comparing the genomes, the researchers found that the DNA diverged by less than one per cent enough to show that they are the same species Professor Mikheyev said: 'The stick insect [story] illustrates the fragility of island ecosystems, and in particular, how vulnerable they are to manmade change like invasive species' Professor Mikheyev said: 'The stick insect [story] illustrates the fragility of island ecosystems, and in particular, how vulnerable they are to manmade change like invasive species. 'It just took one shipwreck, and the fauna of the island has been altered in such a fundamental way. 'Unlike most stories involving extinction, this one gives us a unique second chance.' Following the findings, the government is now supporting plans to eradicate black rats from Lord Howe Island and reintroduce the stick insect species An iceberg the size of Delaware that broke away from an ice shelf in the Antarctic Peninsula in July is beginning to reveal an undersea ecosystem. The ecosystem - which may include new species - has thrived under sea ice in Antarctica for up to 120,000 years, but could soon die out, experts have warned. The race is on to reach the Southern Ocean by the hemisphere's summer, to allow biologists to assess the unique environment before the loss of the ice causes it to change. Scroll down for video An ecosystem that has thrived under sea ice in Antarctica for up to 120,000 years could soon die out if not protected, experts have warned. Around 2,250 square miles (5,800 sq km) of seabed will be exposed to open marine conditions as A-68 drifts northward INTERNATIONAL PROTECTION In September, an international agreement was put in place to protect the area of ocean left exposed. Much of the protected area may have been covered in ice since the last inter-glacial period. This means the site presents itself as a unique opportunity for scientists to study how marine life responds to this dramatic change. The protected area is the first to benefit from an international agreement in 2016 by the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR). This will allow for scientific research to be undertaken in the area without any impact from commercial fishing They hope to address questions relating to how biological communities develop over time, and how new species colonise previously ice-covered areas. The commission designates Special Areas for Scientific Study in newly-exposed marine area following the collapse or retreat of ice shelves across the Antarctic Peninsula region. Advertisement Around 2,250 square miles (5,800 sq km) of seabed will be exposed to the open sea as the A-68 iceberg drifts northward. The trillion ton iceberg was created after it broke off the continental shelf back in July, but experts have to wait until it is safe before they can make the journey. Researchers aim to lead teams to the region as soon as conditions permit, to study the pristine and unexplored environment. The best hope may lie with the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) in Cambridge, which has a fast-track proposal sparked by the calving event. Senior biodiversity scientist Katrin Linse is hoping to send a research vessel in the early part of 2018. Experts from South Korea and the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research in Bremerhaven, Germany, also have missions planned for 2018 and 2019. Speaking to Nature Dr Julian Gutt, a marine ecologist at the institute, said: 'I cannot imagine a more dramatic shift in environmental conditions in any ecosystem on Earth.' If successful, the BAS proposal would mark the first time scientists have been able to reach such an ecosystem so soon after a calving event of this magnitude. The most recent examples for a similar situation was the collapse of the Larsen A and B ice shelves, in 1995 and 2002. It was a number of years before the ocean cleared of ice and marine biologists were able to study the area, and non-native species had already begun to move into the area. Dr Gutt was the first to lead a detailed survey and a team of around 50 scientists travelled to the region in 2007 on the German research vessel Polarstern. The race is on to reach the Southern Ocean by the hemisphere's summer, to allow biologists to asses the unique environment and how it is faring. The best hope may lie with the British Antarctic Survey in Cambridge The trillion ton iceberg was created after it broke off the continent back in July and experts will have to wait until it is safe before they can make the journey. New satellite images have revealed the movement of the massive iceberg They found hundreds of species in areas exposed by the break-ups at Larsen A and B. They also observed signs of a unique ecosystem, devoid of sunlight and with food scarce, which contained more deep-sea species than elsewhere on the Antarctic continental shelf. The researchers wont have to worry about disturbance from commercial fishing fleets, however. In September, an international agreement was put in place to protect the area of ocean left exposed by the Larsen C. If successful, the BAS proposal would mark the first time scientists have been able to reach such an ecosystem so soon after a calving event of this magnitude Experts fear the break could see the iceberg disintegrate into pieces too small to track on satellite. If these drift into shipping lanes, they could pose a significant risk to vessels THE BIRTH OF A-68 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 5,818 square kilometres (2,246 square miles), making it around the size of Delaware, or four times the area covered by Greater London. Advertisement Much of the protected area may have been covered in ice since the last inter-glacial period. This means the site presents itself as a unique opportunity for scientists to study how marine life responds to this dramatic change. There are also fears A-68 could break up into pieces too small to track on satellite and drift into shipping lanes. The protected area is the first to benefit from an international agreement in 2016 by the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR). This will allow for scientific research to be undertaken in the area without any impact from fishing. They hope to address questions relating to how biological communities develop over time, and how new species colonise previously ice-covered areas. In September, an international agreement was put in place to protect the area of ocean left exposed by the Larsen C. This will allow research to be undertaken in the area without any impact from commercial fishing They hope to address questions relating to how biological communities develop over time, and how new species colonise previously ice-covered areas The commission designates Special Areas for Scientific Study in newly-exposed marine areas following the collapse or retreat of ice shelves across the Antarctic Peninsula region. The agreement came following an EU proposal to CCAMLR, led by British Antarctic Survey (BAS) researchers Dr Susie Grant and Dr Phil Trathan. The new Special Area meets criteria to be automatically designated for an initial period of two years, which is likely to be extended to ten years. The new Special Area meets criteria to be automatically designated for an initial period of two years, which is likely to be extended to ten years The Larsen C calving event may simply reflect the natural growth and decay cycle of an ice shelf, and is not necessarily due to changes in environmental conditions. However, studying the biological response to these kinds of events will provide an opportunity to improve scientific understanding of possible ecosystem responses to the impacts of climate change either in the region or elsewhere. Speaking at the time, Head of Conservation Biology at BAS Dr Phil Trathan said: 'The calving of A68 offers a new and unprecedented opportunity to establish a fundamental scientific program to address questions focused on the mobility and colonisation capacity of benthic (deep sea) marine species.' They are currently being developed by the US, Russia and China, but experts have warned that hypersonic missiles could spark World War 3. A shocking report suggests that the spread of this new class of weapons could jeopardize both small and large nations in a strategic war. The report recommends that the US, Russia and China should agree not to export their hypersonic missiles to other nations. Scroll down for video They are currently being developed by the US, Russia and China, but experts have warned that hypersonic missiles could spark World War 3 (artist's impression) RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE REPORT Their report recommends that the US, Russia and China should agree not to export their weapons or major components to other nations. The experts also suggest that the broader international community should establish controls on a wider range of hypersonic missile hardware and technology. Advertisement The report, by the California-based RAND Corporation looks at the danger of hypersonic missiles - weapons capable of manoeuvring and flying faster than 5,000 kilometres/hour. This speed which is five times faster than traditional missiles allows hypersonic weapons to penetrate most missile defences and compress the timelines for a response by a nation under attack. Such weapons are currently being developed by the US, Russia and China, and their proliferation could result in other states setting their forces on 'hair-trigger states of readiness', according to researchers. Other nations, including Europe, Japan, Australia and India are also beginning to explore the technology, suggesting it could quickly become widespread. Richard Speier, lead author of the report, said: 'Hypersonic missile proliferation would increase the chances of strategic war. 'It would give nations an incentive to become trigger-happy.' Such weapons are currently being developed by the US, Russia and China, and their proliferation could result in other states setting their forces on 'hair-trigger states of readiness' according to researchers (artist's impression) HYPERSONIC MISSILES There are two kinds of approaches to solving the hypersonic challenge: 'scramjet' and 'boost glide.' The air-breathing scramjet relies on high speed for its power. As it accelerates, more air and fuel is pushed into the engine, allowing it to accelerate even more - to hypersonic speeds. The boost glide model rides a reentry vehicle to extremely high altitudes, where it skips across the Earth's upper atmosphere. Traditional ballistic missiles already travel at hypersonic speeds. Built to carry nuclear and conventional warheads, these weapons are capable of reaching outer space in the course of their flights, but they can't maneuver. The latest class of hypersonic missiles would be smaller, guided and designed to carry conventional explosives for time-sensitive, rapid response in theater operations. Advertisement The researchers predict that there is probably less than 10 years left to prevent the spread of hypersonic missiles. Their report recommends that the US, Russia and China should agree not to export their weapons or major components to other nations. The experts also suggest that the broader international community should establish controls on a wider range of hypersonic missile hardware and technology. This isn't the first time that experts have warned of the dangers of hypersonic missiles. In July 2016, Mark Gubrud, a physicist and adjunct professor in the Peace, War, and Defense curriculum at the University of North Carolina, suggested that hypersonic missiles should be banned. 'Hypersonic flight may sound like screaming good fun - but it's not meant for you,' he wrote in the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. 'It's meant for weapons that would probably be used only in the opening salvos of a nuclear war. 'They could also carry nuclear warheads, and could fly in under the radars that watch for ballistic missiles.' Advocates see it as a miracle procedure to cheat death, and freezing your head after you die could soon become an affordable option it has been claimed. Known as cryonics, it is thought to be a way of preserving enough of your personality, intellect and memories to bring you back to life. One UK company believes the cost of the procedure will rapidly drop over the next decade, to just 5,000 ($6,572) for 250 years, helping make it a common practice. Scroll down for video Advocates see it as a miracle procedure to cheat death and freezing your head after death could soon become an affordable option, it has been claimed. One UK company believes that the cost of the procedure will rapidly drop over the next decade, to a cost of just 5,000 (stock image) WHAT IS CRYONICS? Cryonics, also known as cryogenics and cryopreservation, is the art of freezing a dead body or body parts with liquid nitrogen in order to preserve them. It is hope that they will be revived once medical science has progressed far enough to cure whatever killed them. Currently, it can only legally happen when someone has just been declared dead. The freezing process must begin as soon as the patient dies in order to prevent brain damage, with facilities currently only available in Russia and the US. In the procedure, the body is cooled in an ice bath to gradually reduce its temperature bit by bit. Experts then drain the blood and replace it with an anti freeze fluid to stop harmful ice crystals forming in the body. Advertisement Stem Protect is a Nottingham-based firm that specialises in cryopreservation of stem cells, to protect information about the body which can be used for medical purposes while the person is still alive. Such procedures are becoming more commonplace, and the technology involved is essentially a smaller scale version of its more headline grabbing relative. Experts at Stem Protect are convinced that cryonics will play a big role in the future. There are currently only three facilities in the world that offer full head, body and other forms of cyropreservation. The cheapest, Russian based KrioRus, offers 'neuropreservation' for 10,000 ($13,145), which involves freezing just the brain. Stem Protect estimates that costs could more than halve over the next five to ten years. Speaking to MailOnline, Mark Hall, company spokesman said: 'It's a service we could offer today, just not at that price. 'It would probably cost around 50,000 to 75,000 ($65,000 to $100,000). 'It's a bit like Moore's law, technology improves over time, and as more and more facilities are built it will get cheaper and cheaper. 'I think in a few years it will be possible to have whole warehouses that are one giant facility, although you wouldn't want to walk through them. That would significantly reduce the price.' There are currently only three facilities in the world that offer full head, body and other forms of cyropreservation. The cheapest, Russian based KrioRus (pictured), offers 'neuropreservation' for 10,000, which involves freezing just the brain Cryonics, also known as cryogenics and cryopreservation, is the art of freezing a dead body or body parts with liquid nitrogen in order to preserve them. It is hoped that they will be revived once medical science has progressed far enough to cure whatever killed them. Currently, it can only legally happen when someone has just been declared dead. The freezing process must begin as soon as the patient dies in order to prevent brain damage, with facilities currently only available in Russia and the US. In the procedure, the body is cooled in an ice bath to gradually reduce its temperature bit by bit. CRYONICS: THE FACTS WHAT IS CRYONICS? The deep freezing of a body to -196C (-321F). Anti-freeze compounds are injected into the corpse to stop cells being damaged. The hope is that medical science will advance enough to bring the patient back to life. Two main US organisations carry out cryonics in the US: Alcor, in Arizona, and the Cryonics Institute, Michigan. Russian firm KrioRus is the only facility outside the US to currently offer the service. HOW IS IT MEANT TO WORK? The process can only take place once the body is legally dead. Ideally, it begins within two minutes of the heart stopping and no more than 15. The body must be packed in ice and injected with chemicals to reduce blood clotting. At the cryonics facility, it is cooled to just above 0C and the blood is replaced with a solution to preserve organs. Cryonpreservation is the deep freezing of a body to - 196C (-321F). Anti-freeze compounds are injected into the corpse to stop cells being damaged The body is injected with another solution to stop ice crystals forming in organs and tissues, then cooled to -130C. The final step is to place the body into a container which is lowered into a tank of liquid nitrogen at -196C. WHAT'S THE CHANCE OF SUCCESS? Many experts say there is none. Organs such as the heart and kidneys have never been successfully frozen and thawed. It is even less likely a whole body, and the brain, could be without irreversible damage. HOW MUCH DOES IT COST? Charges at the Cryonics Institute start at around 28,000 ($35,000) to 'members' for whole-body cryopreservation. Rival group Alcor charges 161,000 ($200,000) while KrioRus' procedure will set you back 29,200 ($37,600). HOW LONG BEFORE PEOPLE CAN BE BROUGHT BACK TO LIFE? Cryonics organisations claim it could be decades or even centuries. However, medical experts say once cells are damaged during freezing and turned to 'mush' they cannot be converted back to living tissue, any more than you can turn a scrambled egg back into a raw egg. Advertisement Experts then drain the blood and replace it with an anti freeze fluid to stop harmful ice crystals forming in the body. Whether this procedure will ever work, and the ethical implications if it does, remain to be seen. But Stem Protect believes it is just a matter of time. Mr Hall added: 'While were not at the point yet where we can bring someone back to life from this procedure, we believe its just around the corner. 'We dont yet know what the emotional impact would be of bringing someone back to life this way even when we are physically able to do it. 'Thats not a question for science but for us as human beings, and its a question we might not be able to answer until the first person is brought back to life after being frozen.' Prehistoric humans avoided inbreeding as they knew of its dangers at least 34,000 years ago, a study has found. They developed surprisingly sophisticated social and mating networks, and deliberately sought partners beyond their family, research suggests. The findings could explain why modern humans proved more successful than other species, such as Neanderthals, that did not avoid inbreeding. Scroll down for video Prehistoric humans developed surprisingly sophisticated social and mating networks, and deliberately sought partners beyond their family, research suggests. This is true even in the case of two children who were buried head-to-head in the same grave (artist's impression) PREHISTORIC HUMAN MARRIAGE Researchers examined genetic remains of four anatomically-modern humans from Sunghir, an Upper Palaeolithic site in Russia. To the researchers' surprise, the individuals were not closely related in genetic terms; at the very most, they were second cousins. Objects and jewellery found buried with the remains suggests they may have developed rules, ceremonies and rituals to accompany the exchange of mates between groups which perhaps foreshadowed modern marriage ceremonies. By comparison, genomic sequencing of a Neanderthal individual from the Altai Mountains who lived about 50,000 years ago indicates inbreeding was not avoided. It led researchers to speculate that an early, systematic approach to preventing inbreeding may have helped anatomically-modern humans to thrive, compared with other hominins. Advertisement Researchers from Cambridge University and the University of Copenhagen examined genetic remains of four anatomically-modern humans from Sunghir, an Upper Palaeolithic site in Russia. The burial contains one adult male, two younger individuals, the incomplete remains of another adult as well as an array of grave goods. Unusually for finds from this period the people found buried appear to have lived at the same time and were buried together. To the researchers' surprise, the individuals were not closely related in genetic terms; at the very most, they were second cousins. This is true even in the case of two children who were buried head-to-head in the same grave. 'This goes against what many would have predicted,' said lead author Dr Eske Willerslev. 'I think many researchers had assumed that the people of Sunghir were very closely related, especially the two youngsters from the same grave.' Objects and jewellery found buried with the remains suggests they may have developed rules, ceremonies and rituals to accompany the exchange of mates between groups which perhaps foreshadowed modern marriage ceremonies. Researchers believe ornaments may have been used to establish distinctions between bands of early humans, providing a means of identifying who to mate with and who to avoid as partners. This data was compared with information from a large number of both modern and ancient human genomes. 'What this means is that even people in the Upper Palaeolithic, who were living in tiny groups, understood the importance of avoiding inbreeding', said Dr Willerslev. 'The data that we have suggests that it was being purposely avoided. This means that they must have developed a system for this purpose. Objects and jewellery found buried with the remains (pictured) suggests they may have developed rules, ceremonies and rituals to accompany the exchange of mates between groups which perhaps foreshadowed modern marriage ceremonies 'If small hunter-gatherer bands were mixing at random, we would see much greater evidence of inbreeding than we have here', said Dr Willerslev. Researchers believe the people at Sunghir lived in fairly small groups of about 25 people, but were are also less directly connected to a larger community of perhaps 200 people, within which there were rules governing with whom individuals could form partnerships. The researchers suggested they may have been part of a network similar to that of modern day hunter-gatherers, such as Aboriginal Australians and some historical Native American societies. The Sunghir burial contains one adult male (pictured, artist's impression), two younger individuals, the incomplete remains of another adult as well as an array of grave goods 'Most non-human primate societies are organised around single-sex kin where one of the sexes remains resident and the other migrates to another group, minimising inbreeding', said Professor Marta Mirazon Lahr, from the Leverhulme Centre for Human Evolutionary Studies at the University of Cambridge . 'At some point, early human societies changed their mating system into one in which a large number of the individuals that form small hunter-gatherer units are non-kin. 'The results from Sunghir show that Upper Palaeolithic human groups could use sophisticated cultural systems to sustain very small group sizes by embedding them in a wide social network of other groups.' Researchers examined genetic remains of four anatomically-modern humans from Sunghir, an Upper Palaeolithic site in Russia Dr Willerslev added the unusual sophistication of the ornaments and cultural objects found at Sunghir could be a way to identify if someone was a relative. 'The ornamentation is incredible and there is no evidence of anything like that with Neanderthals and other archaic humans', he said. 'When you put the evidence together, it seems to be speaking to us about the really big questions; what made these people who they were as a species, and who we are as a result.' Dr Willerslev added the unusual sophistication of the ornaments and cultural objects found at Sunghir could be a way to identify if someone was a relative - something which the Neanderthals (pictured, reconstruction) may not have been doing at the time By comparison, genomic sequencing of a Neanderthal individual from the Altai Mountains who lived about 50,000 years ago indicates inbreeding was not avoided. It led researchers to speculate that an early, systematic approach to preventing inbreeding may have helped anatomically-modern humans to thrive, compared with other hominins. Professor Martin Sikora, of the University of Copenhagen, said the theory should be treated with caution. Genomic sequencing of a Neanderthal individual from the Altai Mountains who lived about 50,000 years ago indicates inbreeding was not avoided 'We don't know why the Altai Neanderthal groups were inbred,' he said. 'Maybe they were isolated and that was the only option; or maybe they really did fail to develop an available network of connections. 'We will need more genomic data of diverse Neanderthal populations to be sure.' Do you want your children to grow up to become empathetic people? If so, new research suggests that you should encourage them to read. In a study measuring brain activity while people were reading in three different languages, researchers found that reading stories is a universal experience that may result in people feeling greater empathy for each others, regardless of a person's origin or language. English, Farsi and Mandarin readers use the same parts of the brain to decode the deeper meaning of what they're reading. Pictured are brain scan maps showing the activated areas HOW DOES AN MRI SCAN WORK? Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is an exam that doctors use to image parts of the brain and body. The machine is a large cylindrical tube that contains two powerful magnets. A strong magnetic field is created around the patient and pulses of radio waves are sent from a scanner. The radio waves knock the nuclei of the atoms in your body our of their normal position. When the nuclei realign to their normal position, they send out radio signals. The signals are received by a computer that analyzes them and converts them into a 2D image of the area being imaged. The image then appears on a screen that doctors can analyze to look for brain activity, abnormalities or patterns. Source: HopkinsMedicine.org Advertisement The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Southern California (USC), is a first for neuroscience. The USC researchers found patterns of brain activation when people find meaning in stories, regardless or their language of origin. They used functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) to map brain responses to narratives in three different languages - English, Farsi and Mandarin Chinese. The study suggests that exposure to narrative storytelling can have a widespread effect on triggering better self-awareness and empathy for others, regardless of the language of of origin of the person exposed to it. 'Even given these fundamental differences in language, which can be read in a different direction or contain a completely different alphabet altogether, there is something universal about what occurs in the brain at the point when we are processing narratives,' said Dr Morteza Dehghani, the studys lead author and a researcher at the Brain and Creativity Institute at USC. To conduct the study, the researchers read through more than 20 million blog posts of personal stories using software developed at the USC Institute for Creative Technologies. They narrowed these posts down to 40 stories about personal topics such as divorce or telling lies. Then, the stories were translated into Mandarin Chinese and Farsi, and read by 90 American, Chinese and Iranian volunteers in their native language - while their brains were scanned by MRI. The volunteers also answered general questions about the stories while being scanned. Using a machine learning and text-analysis technique, as well as an analysis involving over 44 billion classifications, the researchers were able to 'reverse engineer' the data from these brain scans to determine which story the volunteer was reading in each of the three languages. So, the researchers were able to, in a sense, reach the volunteers' minds while they were reading. In each of the three languages, reading resulted in a unique patterns of activations in the 'default mode network' of the brain. This network involves interconnected brain regions, such as the medial prefrontal cortex, the inferior parietal lobe and the hippocampal formation. The default mode network war originally thought to be a sort of autopilot for the brain when it was at rest, and shown only to be active when someone is not engaged in externally directed thinking. However, continued studies, including this one, suggest that the network is actually working behind the scenes, while the mind is at rest, to continually find meaning in narrative. It serves an autobiographical memory retrieval function that influences our cognition related to the past, the future, ourselves and our relationship to others. 'One of the biggest mysteries of neuroscience is how we create meaning out of the world,' said Dr Jonas Kaplan, corresponding author at the Brain and Creativity Institute and an assistant professor of psychology at USC Dornsife. 'Stories are deep-rooted in the core of our nature and help us create this meaning.' Theyve spent the last four years extensively tracking and documenting Africas elusive sand cats but, it was in the middle of the night on the last night of their expedition when researchers made an astonishing discovery. In whats thought to be the first-ever footage of sand cat kittens in the wild, researchers have recorded three young cats in their natural range, each estimated to be just six to eight weeks old at the time they were spotted. These cats are known for their remarkable abilities to evade detection, traveling under the cover of darkness and never leaving behind traces of their kill. Scroll down for video In whats thought to be the first-ever footage of sand cat kittens in the wild, researchers have recorded three young cats in their natural range, each estimated to be just six to eight weeks old at the time they were spotted THE SAND CAT The sand cat (Felis margarita) can be found throughout northern Africa, the Middle East, and southwest and central Asia, according to Gregory Breton, Managing Director at Panthera France. These stealthy felines are difficult to spot they travel at dusk, night, and dawn, and camouflage perfectly with their environment. Their fur is a sandy color, with black rings on the front legs. The cats are also known to have quiet vocalizations, and are experts at hiding. Even when hunting, they dont leave behind traces of their prey, according to the researcher. While sand cats were once listed as Near Threatened, but have since been downlisted to Least Concern. Advertisement The team, led by biologists Dr Alexander Sliwa & Gregory Breton, spotted three pairs of eyes glowing in the darkness as they drove back to camp on April 26. The site was roughly 4 kilometers (4.5 miles) from their camp in the Moroccan Sahara but, after discovering the rare kittens at 1:48 a.m., the researchers spent the next hour capturing photos and videos of the litter, and setting up camera traps. This is likely the first sighting of sand cat kittens in the Sahara, the team says. Three kittens were found hiding beneath a tuft of perennial grass. As they filmed the litter, the team also spotted and radio-collared an adult female, who was nervously roaming nearby. This may have been the kittens mother, they say. In the remarkable footage of the encounter, the adorable kittens can be seen up-close, revealing a detailed look at their tiny noses, wide green eyes, and enormous ears. And, the kittens appear fearless despite suddenly being watched; at one point in the footage, one brave kitten can even be seen emerging from the bush as it notices an unsuspecting jerboa passing by. The jerboa is a small jumping rodent, and one of the main prey of the wild North African sand cat, according to the researchers. Finding sand cats (Felis margarita) in their natural range (northern Africa, across the Middle East, and southwest and central Asia) is difficult, Breton, Managing Director of Panthera France, wrote in a blog post. They barely leave any visible pugmarks, they dont leave behind remains of their prey, and their vocalizations are quiet. They move stealthily at dusk, night, and dawn, theyre good at hiding, and their fur provides perfect camouflage when they want to vanish from observers and threats. But they dont run away. In the remarkable footage of the encounter, the adorable kittens can be seen up-close, revealing a detailed look at their tiny noses, wide green eyes, and enormous ears The team, led by biologists Dr Alexander Sliwa & Gregory Breton, spotted three pairs of eyes glowing in the darkness as they drove back to camp on April 26. After spotting the rare kittens at 1:48 a.m., the researchers spent the next hour capturing photos and videos of the litter The sand cat (Felis margarita) can be found throughout northern Africa, the Middle East, and southwest and central Asia While these cats may be adorable, the researchers have issued a strong reminder that they are wild and must be left that way. As the footage ignites new interest in the species, the team urges the importance of protecting sand cats in their natural habitat. Despite expressly stating in our video that sand cats are a wild species adapted to desert and semi-arid conditions and should not be kept or interbred (to make hybrids with domestic house cats, something that unfortunately started before our field work), some people have expressed the desire to catch or obtain one to keep them at home, the researchers said, after the footage received an unexpected and overwhelming public response in the span of just two weeks. We are strongly against this practice and it would lead to the direct opposite of our goal of creating awareness and protection for the species in the wild. Three-quarters of the honey produced around the world contain pesticides that can harm bees and pose a health risk to humans, a study has shown. Scientists who tested 198 honey samples found 75 per cent were laced with at least one of the neonicotinoid chemicals - which can attack the human nervous system in high doses. Experts called the findings alarming, sobering and a serious environmental concern while stressing the pesticide levels generally fell well below the safe limits for human consumption. Scroll down for video Honeybees on a freshly built comb during the harvest season. Scientists who tested 198 honey samples found 75 per cent were laced with at least one of the neonicotinoid chemicals NEONICOTINOIDS Neonicotinoids are neuro-active chemicals similar to nicotine that have proved to be highly effective at protecting crops from pests, especially aphids and root-eating grubs. They can either be sprayed on leaves or coated on seeds, in which case they infiltrate every part of the growing plant. Years of research have shown that under controlled conditions the chemicals are toxic to honey bees and bumblebees, causing brain damage that can affect learning and memory and impair their ability to forage for nectar and pollen. For the study, an international team of European researchers tested almost 200 honey samples from around the world for residues left by five different neonicotinoids. Advertisement The chemicals are a key battleground in the environmental movement with campaigners demanding a complete and permanent ban on the pesticides as they are suspected to be harmful to bees. However, one leading British scientist warned that it was impossible to predict the long term effects of consuming honey containing tiny amounts of the chemicals. Dave Goulson, Professor of Biology at the University of Sussex, said: Beyond doubt ... anyone regularly eating honey is likely to be getting a small dose of mixed neurotoxins. In terms of acute toxicity, this certainly wont kill them and is unlikely to do measurable harm. What we dont know is whether there are long-term, chronic effects from life-time exposure to a cocktail of these and other pesticides in our honey and most other foods. For practical reasons it was impossible to do a proper experiment to test this, he added. Neonicotinoids are neuro-active chemicals similar to nicotine that have proved to be highly effective at protecting crops from pests, especially aphids and root-eating grubs. They can either be sprayed on leaves or coated on seeds, in which case they infiltrate every part of the growing plant. Years of research have shown that under controlled conditions the chemicals are toxic to honey bees and bumblebees, causing brain damage that can affect learning and memory and impair their ability to forage for nectar and pollen. For the study, an international team of European researchers tested almost 200 honey samples from around the world for residues left by five different neonicotinoids. While in most cases the levels were well below the EU safety limits for human consumption, there were exceptions. Experts called the findings sobering and a serious environmental concern while stressing pesticide levels generally fell well below the safe limits for human consumption (stock image) Honey from both Germany and Poland exceeded maximum residue levels (MRLs) for combined neonicotinoids while samples from Japan reached 45 per cent of the limits. Samples from England had neonicotinoid levels that were no more than 1.36 per cent of the amount thought to be safe for human consumption. The researchers, led by Dr Edward Mitchell, who carried out the work as director of the Laboratory of Soil Biodiversity at the University of Neuchatel, Switzerland, wrote: The fact that 45 per cent of our samples showed multiple contaminations is worrying and indicates that bee populations throughout the world are exposed to a cocktail of neonicotinoids. The effects of exposure to multiple pesticides, which have only recently started to be explored, are suspected to be stronger than the sum of individual effects. Dr Chris Connolly, reader in neurobiology at the University of Dundee, who wrote a commentary article accompanying the research, said the findings were timely and alarming. He added: The levels detected are sufficient to affect bee brain function and may hinder their ability to forage on, and pollinate, our crops and our native plants. Clearly, the use of neonicotinoids need to be controlled. Their widespread use on crops is due to their prophylactic use, as insurance against the possibility of future pest attack. The neonicotinoids are highly effective insecticides with low toxicity to humans, but this unnecessary overuse is also driving the development of pest resistance against them. It is time that these chemicals are heavily restricted for use. Plant ecologist Dr Jonathan Storkey, from the agricultural institute Rothamsted Research, said: I .. agree with the authors that the accumulation of pesticides in the environment and the concentrations found in hives is a serious environmental concern and is likely contributing to pollinator declines. The honey samples were collected between 2012 and 2016. The new research published in the journal Science could not have come at a more sensitive time in Europe. EC policymakers are right now discussing whether to make the ban permanent and more wide ranging. A total ban would have a huge impact on cereal growers in the UK. Controversy still surrounds claims that the chemicals may be harming bee colonies in the real world and sabotaging the insects vital role as pollinators. In June results from the worlds largest bee colony field trial in three European countries found that neonicotinoid exposure reduced the survival of both honey and wild bees in the UK and Hungary, but not Germany. The scientists were given a special dispensation to conduct the trial on 33 large farmland sites despite a temporary ban on three key neonicotinoids imposed by the European Commission (EC) in 2013. Currently it is illegal to use the pesticides thiamethoxam, clothianidin and imidacloprid, on mass-flowering crops that attract bees. The chemicals can still be used to treat other kinds of crops including wheat and other cereals and sugar beat. NASAs Mars Odyssey orbiter has captured its first images of the Death Star moon Phobos a region that could one day host a human-mission outpost. Using the Thermal Emission Imaging System (THERMIS) camera, the orbiter has gathered new information on the changing surface temperatures of the Martian moon over the course of a day, revealing how quickly the ground warms and cools. In stunning new images from the Sept 29 observation, NASA has combined the visible-wavelength and infrared data to show the surface color-coded by temperature. Scroll down for video ASA has combined the visible-wavelength and infrared data to show the surface color-coded by temperature. By reading the photo from left to right, it reveals a sequence of times of day, from pre-dawn through sunrise, and long after dawn, according to NASA PHOBOS FACTS A football-shaped object just 16.5 miles by 13.5 miles by 11 miles, Phobos is one of the smallest moons in the solar system. It is so tiny that it would fit comfortably inside the Washington, D.C. Beltway. The little moon completes an orbit in just 7 hours and 39 minutes, which is faster than Mars rotates. Rising in the Martian west, it runs three laps around the Red Planet in the course of one Martian day, which is about 24 hours and 40 minutes. It's the only natural satellite in the solar system that circles its planet in a time shorter than the parent planet's day. Advertisement Part of the observed face of Phobos was in pre-dawn darkness, part in morning daylight, said THEMIS Deputy Principal Investigator Victoria Hamilton of the Southwest Research Institute. Including a predawn area in the observation is useful because all the heating from the previous days sunshine has reached its minimum there. As you go from predawn area to morning area you get to watch the heating behaviour. If it heats up very quickly, its likely not very rocky but dusty instead. By reading the photo from left to right, it reveals a sequence of times of day, from pre-dawn through sunrise, and long after dawn, according to NASA. While other orbiters have taken high-resolution photos of the Martian moon, THEMIS is the first to capture this type of infrared information. NASAs Mars Odyssey orbiter has captured its first images of the Death Star moon Phobos a region that could one day host a human-mission outpost. Odyssey began orbiting the Red Planet in 2001, but has never imaged either moon until now This can provide information on the mineral composition, as well as the texture, of the surface. The texture is related to the grounds ability to warm up and cool down, the researchers explain. Scientists are working to understand if Phobos, and the smaller Martian moon Deimos, are captured asteroids or pieces of Mars itself, knocked in space by impacts. The orbiter gathered new information on the changing surface temperatures of the Martian moon over the course of a day Odysseys new observations are the first the craft has captured of Phobos since it began orbiting the Red Planet in 2001. With the new observations, scientists now know the craft can safely image this moon. Typically, Odyssey keeps its THEMIS camera pointed straight down as it orbits Mars. But, in 2014, the team developed a way to rotate it so it can look upward. We now have the capability of rotating the spacecraft for THEMIS observations, said Odyssey Project Scientist Jeffrey Plaut of JPL. There is heightened interest in Phobos because of the possibility that future astronauts could perhaps use it as an outpost. Now, the team plans to observe other illumination phases of Phobos and Deimos. We want to get observations under all types of lighting fully daylit, a small crescent, during eclipse, Hamilton said. We hope this is the first of several observations that will help us understand Phobos and Deimos. British tomatoes will be available all year round with a move to grow them under LED lights in vast greenhouses through the winter. The decision by farmers supplying Asda means British shoppers will be less reliant on imports from Spain, South Africa and Turkey. The technology effectively removes the weather from the growing process and so puts an end to the traditional seasons. British tomatoes will be available all year round with a move to grow them under LED lights in vast greenhouses through the winter Waitrose is already sourcing salad leaves grown under LED lights through the winter from UK greenhouses and other retailers are planning to do the same. The technology is being used by producers at Flavourfresh in Southport, Lancashire, across 31 acres of glasshouses growing tomatoes. Installed between the vines and coloured bright pink, the LED lighting supplements natural daylight so the crops can be grown all year round. Changing the recipe of the light waves used on the plants, which are grown hydroponically using enriched water rather than soil, delivers the desired flavour. There is also some evidence from Holland that there are real health benefits from growing tomatoes in this way. Crops receiving extra light from the LEDs contained up to twice as much vitamin C as others. Production manager at Flavourfresh, Andy Roe, said: I can say with confidence that by using this technology, I could grow a tomato absolutely anywhere underground, in a Tube carriage, on the moon. The decision by farmers supplying Asda means British shoppers will be less reliant on imports from Spain, South Africa and Turkey The beauty of this technology is that it hands complete control over to the growers, who can monitor levels and adjust accordingly to ensure the best quality products possible are hitting Asdas shelves. This is the way forward for horticulturalists across the globe. LED lights are relatively cheap to run and, consequently, producing crops in this way is economically viable when set against the cost of transport and imports. The fact that farmers can now produce crops all year round means we are less reliant on farmers overseas. Just last year, British families were hit with the rationing of some fresh salad produce after much of the Mediterranean was hit by bad weather. The change also means UK shoppers are less vulnerable to currency shifts. Asda said: This new technology will lead to thousands more tonnes of tomatoes grown in British every year, reducing food miles and ensuring optimum freshness on shelf. The supermarkets technical director, Ian Harrison, said: Beyond the multi-seasonal benefits it offers, this forward-thinking technology means not a single ounce of quality, taste or appearance is diminished in our tomatoes. Growing salad leaves under LED lights in greenhouses takes just 35-40 days which compares to up to 112 days outside in a field. Consequently, the yield is almost three times higher over the course of a 12 month period. Entrepreneurs, food companies and scientists in Britain, Scandinavia and Japan are working on skyscrapers and warehouses that can grow large amounts of fresh produce in the middle of cities. For example, Birds Eye has investigated commercialising the Verticrop Hydroponic system, which is being used at Paignton Zoo in Devon to produce cheap vegetable crops for its animals. The Swedish American company Plantagon is building its first vertical farm an elegant tower - in Linkoping, Sweden. The tower will be some 54 metres high and grow a vast range of leafy green vegetables, including Asian salad leaves, red Malabar spinach and mustard greens, with the first crops becoming available in 2014. Experts at the Stockbridge Technology Centre in Selby, north Yorkshire, have also been running trials on growing tomatoes under LED lights in a 1,000 square metre glasshouse for several years. Advertisement With the 1,000-seat Steve Jobs Theater, a 4,000 person cafe with four-story glass doors, and a 2.8 million square-foot spaceship building, its no wonder Apples sprawling new campus comes with an estimated $5 billion price tag. A new report from BuildZoom has revealed a breakdown of the eye-watering prices behind Apple Parks most standout features, from the $16 million Fitness Center to nearly $145 million dedicated to parking. BuildZoom has obtained the building permits for 15 major structures at the multi-billion dollar new campus revealing the massive donut-shaped headquarters cost the firm a staggering $427,570,867. Scroll down for video A new report from BuildZoom has revealed a breakdown of the eye-watering prices behind Apple Parks most standout features, from the $16 million Fitness Center to nearly $145 million dedicated to parking. BuildZoom has obtained the building permits for 15 major structures at the highly anticipated new campus Apples new campus has been praised for its remarkable attention to detail since the first glimpses began to emerge. A report from Wired this past spring first revealed the futuristic campus is decked out with swathes of artificial hills, a mini-forest that will eventually contain 9,000 drought-resistant indigenous trees, and a 'breathing building' powered by 805,000-square-feet of solar paneling. And, last month, for Apples Sept 12 launch event, members of the press and VIP finally got the first official look inside Apple Park, revealing the jaw-dropping Steve Jobs Theater and the massive spaceship HQ. According to the new report, the Steve Jobs Theater alone cost $179,437,885. The campus is also home to a 100,000 square-foot Fitness and Wellness Center which contains a two-story yoga room built from distressed stone from 'the right quarry in Kansas,' to mimic the stone at Jobs' favourite Yosemite hotel. The new report from BuildZoom reveals this building cost $16,731,000. Main Building, aka the 'Spaceship': $427,570,867 With a price tag of $427,570,867, its no surprise that Apples new HQ the main spaceship building will have countless futuristic features The report has revealed some of the costs behind the Main Building's staggering $427 million price tag, from landscaping to construction In addition, the campus also features the $360,000 Glendenning Barn, the $7,500,000 Wolfe Reception Building, a $1,955,000 Maintenance Building, and the $35,636,124 Central Plant. The Tantau Reception Building set the company back $11,500,000, while the Marcom Building cost $994,000, and the Office Building cost $115,370,380. The Visitor Center, which is set to open later this year, comes with a $109,670,640 price tag. Apple also shelled out massive amounts of money for parking, with North and South Parking Structures costing a total of $113,731,332, and a Parking Garage/Data Center that cost $30,353,171. Steve Jobs Theater: $179,437,885 Last month, for Apples Sept 12 launch event, members of the press and VIP finally got the first official look inside Apple Park, revealing the jaw-dropping Steve Jobs Theater and the massive spaceship HQ. According to the new report, the Steve Jobs Theater alone cost $179,437,885. The building permit reveals a breakdown of some of the costs behind the new Steve Jobs Theater Apple's September 12 launch event marked the first to take place at the 1,000-seater Steve Jobs Theater at Apple Park, the firms $5bn Spaceship in Cupertino The campus also contains North and South Testing Buildings, which cost $31,492,000 and $72,350,000, respectively. With a price tag of $427,570,867, its no surprise that Apples new HQ the main spaceship building will have countless futuristic features. Inside the circular spaceship building, each floor will be lined with fins called 'canopies,' which will be equipped with soffits on the under that will allow the Ring to 'inhale' air. And, shafts placed elsewhere will allow it to exhale warm air to the outside, Wired reports. The Visitor Center: $109,670,640 The Visitor Center, which is set to open later this year, comes with a $109,670,640 price tag, the new report reveals APPLE PARK: THE COST BREAKDOWN BUILDING HOW MUCH IT COST Main Building Steve Jobs Theater Visitor Center Office Building Parking Structures (North and South) South Testing Building Central Plant North Testing Building Parking Garage/Data Center Fitness Center Tantau Reception Building Wolfe Reception Building Maintenance Building Marcom Building Glendenning Barn $427,570,867 $179,437,885 $109,670,640 $115,370,380 $113, 731, 332 $72, 350, 000 $35,636,124 $31,492,000 $30,353,171 $16,731,000 $11,500,000 $7,500,000 $1,955,000 $994,000 $360,000 The building will have a massive four-story atrium as its cafe, with four-story glass doors that will open up on nice days so employees can eat outside. The Apple Park cafe will make use of Apple's patented pizza box, as well, which the firm is believed to have been trialing at its existing campus. All door handles in the building are custom designed from Apple and Foster + Partners and, whether a sliding door or pivoting, they'll all have the same kind of handle. There have been several prototypes, with some that were 'long and barely protruding,' and others that are 'tighter and less forgiving,' according to Wired. And, the staircases are sculpted from thin concrete that's 'the perfect white.' Apples new campus has been praised for its remarkable attention to detail since the first glimpses began to emerge. A building plan for the Visitor Center is pictured With the 1,000-seat Steve Jobs Theater, a 4,000 person cafe with four-story glass doors, and a 2.8 million square-foot spaceship building, its no wonder Apples sprawling new campus comes with an estimated $5 billion price tag Apple also shelled out massive amounts of money for parking, with North and South Parking Structures costing a total of $113,731,332, and a Parking Garage/Data Center that cost $30,353,171 At Apple's September launch event, Dailymail.com got a first-hand look at the remarkable campus, with floor-to-ceiling glass windows, freshly planted trees, and an undeniable attention to detail. Despite its staggering size, the huge circular building at the heart of Apple Park is almost completely hidden from passing traffic, thanks to strategically placed trees. 'Apple Park has been built to reflect Apple's values, for both technology and the environment, Apple CEO Tim Cook said at the start of the event, following a touching tribute to the late Steve Jobs, to whom the new Steve Jobs Theater is dedicated. The campus 'forms an open and inspiring environment for our teams to collaborate,' Cook explained, revealing it's 'designed to be seamless with nature, and brings the outside in.' A report from Wired this past spring first revealed the futuristic campus is decked out with swathes of artificial hills, a mini-forest that will eventually contain 9,000 drought-resistant indigenous trees, and a 'breathing building' powered by 805,000-square-feet of solar paneling THE OBSESSION WITH DETAIL INSIDE 'APPLE PARK' Construction on Apple's futuristic campus has been estimated to cost roughly $5 billion. Apple has specified every part of the project with rules for contractors, and features include: 'Breathing building' that uses soffits beneath the canopies to inhale, and shafts to exhale warm air - as Steve Jobs hated air conditioning and fans Artificial hills and a mini-forest of 9,000 native trees, all drought-resistant with hopes they can 'survive a climate crisis' with some hand picked by Jobs 100,000-square-foot Fitness and Wellness Center (including a two-story yoga room made of distressed stone to look like Steve Jobs favourite Yosemite hotel) Canopies (fins along the glass) on every floor to help the building 'breathe' A cafe with four-story glass doors that will open up on nice days so employees can eat outside 'Pods' designed for the many different activities that will take place within its walls, from work and collaboration to socializing 1,000-seat Steve Jobs Theater 805,000 square-feet of solar panelling 755-foot tunnel adorned with thousands of tiny white tiles Shock absorbers to withstand earthquakes Offices panelled with 'custom timber veneer' from recycled wood - and guidelines for the special wood used frequently throughout the building ran to some 30 pages Patented pizza boxes to keep food from getting soggy Contractors were told no vents or pipes could be reflected in the glass Advertisement Inside the circular spaceship building, each floor will be lined with fins called 'canopies,' which will be equipped with soffits on the under that will allow the Ring to 'inhale' air. And, shafts placed elsewhere will allow it to exhale warm air to the outside, Wired reports 'We have one of the worlds largest on site solar installations right here.' As the firm plans to start moving in to the campus later this year, 'the opening today of the Steve Jobs Theater is the first step,' Cook explained. As press filed in to the 1000-seat Steve Jobs Theater, the massive curved staircase that brings visitors to the underground levels was revealed for the first time. The event marked the first to take place at the 1,000-seater Steve Jobs Theater at Apple Park, the firms $5bn Spaceship in Cupertino. Despite its staggering size, the huge circular building at the heart of Apple Park is almost completely hidden from passing traffic, thanks to strategically placed trees Members of the press and VIP attendees have stepped foot inside Apple Park for the first time ahead of the firms 10th anniversary iPhone launch, revealing the jaw-dropping Steve Jobs Theater and the massive spaceship HQ. Floor to ceiling glass windows can be seen in the dining area above Press have begun to file into the 1000-seat Steve Jobs Theater. Here, Apple will unveil its new iPhone along with a slew of other products APPLE PARK: DAILYMAIL.COM'S FIRST IMPRESSIONS The first thing that hits you driving up to Apple's new HQ is the scale of it - it's truly vast. However, it's actually quite difficult to see, as Apple has done a superb job of using trees to hide the building, as much as you can hide a giant spaceship, from passing traffic. Once through the gates, its easy to see why Apple called the a park - it really feels as thought you're in the middle of on. There are large trees and grassy areas everywhere, and while everything is freshly planted, one can only imagine how green the entire area will look in a few months. There's also the slightly strange feel everything is very, very fresh (especially the smell of manure). The Steve Jobs Theater is also jaw dropping - shimmering in the morning sun, it looks almost otherworldly - which is possibly not surprising given the amount of money Apple has spent getting every detail right. There's also a new visitors center outside the campus, which will offer the public the chance to see the spaceship up close when opens later this year - and will, of course, have an Apple Store as well. -Mark Prigg for Dailymail.com Advertisement 'Steve and his passion live on here at Apple Park, and everywhere at Apple,' Tim Cook said during the event. 'The Steve Jobs Theater is jaw dropping,' said Dailymail.com's Science & Technology Editor Mark Prigg. 'Shimmering in the morning sun, it looks almost otherworldly - which is possibly not surprising given the amount of money Apple has spent getting every detail right.' Over the last few months, Apple has touted the campuss sprawling expanse of trees, with more than 9,000 expected to dot the park at final count. This truly makes Apple Park feel like a park. Once through the gates, its easy to see why Apple called the a park - it really feels as thought you're in the middle of on, Mark Prigg noted. There are large trees and grassy areas everywhere, and while everything is freshly planted, one can only imagine how green the entire area will look in a few months. According to Bloomberg, the underground auditorium has everything from leather seats to a revolving elevator and even a secret demo area hidden behind a revolving wall. The Steve Jobs Theater has four underground levels, and according to Apple's blueprints, journalists and other visitors get to it by descending a staircase spiraling down alongside the walls after entering the circular entrance - the only part visible from above. The theater also has two specially made rotating elevators, which turn as they ascend and descend so that passengers enter and exit by the same door - even though they go in and out from different directions. Just last week, aerial footage was released showing a glimpse at the the new state-of-art Apple complex in Cupertino, California. A new visitors center outside the campus, will offer the public the chance to see the spaceship up close when opens later this year Press descend a massive spiral staircase to reach the underground levels of the Steve Jobs theater Shot by drone pilot Duncan Sinfield, the footage showed the nearly complete main 'spaceship' structure, along with landscaping work inside the main ring of the building. It's expected the final tree count will be around 9,000 and will include apple, apricot, and cherry trees. The drone images also shows the finished Steve Job's Theater, named after the late visionary leader of Apple, sitting atop a man-made hill with a glass exterior foyer. Meanwhile, construction workers building the Apple Park have been posting photos and videos of the firm's new $5billion headquarters. One video shows the exterior of the spaceship, the sleek walls of the new theater, the 'Apple Campus tunnel,' and several areas still under construction. 'Steve and his passion live on here at Apple Park, and everywhere at Apple,' Tim Cook said during the event, live from inside the Steve Jobs Theater for the first time 'We have one of the worlds largest on site solar installations right here,' Apple CEO Tim Cook said during the event today, held inside the Steve Jobs Theater 'Apple Park has been built to reflect Apple's values, for both technology and the environment, Apple CEO Tim Cook said at the start of the event, following a touching tribute to the late Steve Jobs, to whom the new Steve Jobs Theater is dedicated In subsequent videos, both interior and exterior walls of the 360-degree curved glass office building, which has been nicknamed 'spaceship, can be seen. The building also features a two-story yoga room, a 4,000 person cafe with four-story glass doors, and even patented pizza boxes to prevent food from getting soggy. The 2.8 million-square-foot Apple Park campus was originally commissioned by the late Steve Jobs in 2009 and house 13,000 Apple techies. The Steve Jobs Theater (pictured) has four underground levels, reports have claimed. And according to Apple's blueprints, journalists and other visitors get to it by descending a staircase spiraling down alongside the walls after entering the circular entrance - the only part visible from above KEY FEATURES OF THE SPACESHIP-LIKE CAMPUS The launch was held at the Steve Jobs Theatre at Apple's new 'spaceship' campus in Cupertino. The campus is located around one mile east of its current headquarters Appearing as a giant saucer, the Silicon Valley site near the 280 Highway will be home to 13,000 Apple employees. There will be jogging and cycling trails, with more than a thousand bikes kept on site at all times, which staff can use to make their way around. The Spaceship will have 360-degree curved glass fronted walls and central courtyard as well as a 1,000-seater auditorium, a gym and 300,000 square feet of 'research' space. Apple Campus 2 will additionally have underground parking hidden from view, meaning 80 per cent of the site can be covered in trees. The site was previously owned by Hewlett Packard and the majority of the area is currently covered in asphalt. Elsewhere underground, the auditorium will be where Apple's CEO Tim Cook will present the companies keynotes ahead of product launches, for example. This auditorium will be covered with a circular glass pavilion that will also be an access point for employees and guests. Natural gas will, primarily, provide the building's power and the local energy grid will only be accessed in emergencies. The glass structure will also be fitted with solar panels. The circular, four-storey building will be around a mile in circumference and a third of a mile wide and was recently described by the San Fransisco Weekly as a 'massive glass doughnut'. The building stays eco-friendly with natural ventilation that works instead of air-conditioning for 70 per cent of the year, low energy LED lighting where natural light doesn't reach, and on-site recycling. Advertisement Jobs called it 'the best office building in the world' and the current Apple CEO, Tim Cook, now refers to it as a 'gift' to the future of Apple employees. Inside the circular building, each floor will be lined with fins called 'canopies,' which will be equipped with specially designed vents on the underside that will allow the Ring to 'inhale' air and breathe. Apple began developing the project in 2014 and has since been working around the clock to finish the campus, which opened to employees in April - although the entire space is not yet complete. Some people leave their holiday experiences to fate. But, for Michigan-born Stephanie Edri, that's a recipe for disaster - as she learned first-hand with a number of innocent, but costly, mistakes during a trip to Rome. There, in the Italian capital, she suffered everything from fashion disasters to an Airbnb horror. Yet, determined to use the experience for good, she's since detailed her gaffes in a riveting blog called Joy and Journey. Tourist traps: Stephanie Edri made several innocent, but costly, mistakes during a trip to Rome In it, she advises other travellers how to side-step the common pitfalls that can suck the pleasure from a well-deserved break. And here, she details the top four ways to improve the probability of a successful trip to Rome. First up, she urges people not to exchange money with the first currency outlet you stumble across in the airport. 1) Money 'We were in a rush to catch the train into the city, and dog-tired after an intense 10+ hour plane ride from Rio and almost an hour waiting in the long line to get through immigration,' she says. 'Because of this exhaustion and rushed-ness, I made one of my worst money mistakes, EVER. I exchanged money at airport kiosk. The second one I saw. And didnt compare rates. Expensive error: One of her first gaffes was exchanging money without checking the rates 'The seemingly sweet cashier told us that not only would she cut us a deal for changing more money (400USD) they have a great deal running, in which you can exchange any unused Euros back to US dollars at the same exact rate you changed for, within seven days. 'What she didnt say? That 'great deal' costs an extra five euro. And that shed given us an awful rate (which I didnt double check), and charged 30 euro on top for her commission. 'Moral of the story: Always, always check your receipt before walking away!' 2) Accommodation The second bit of guidance focuses on accommodation. Before arriving in Rome she hired a property via Airbnb, but - while it looked OK on the site - both the space and the landlord were unsatisfactory in reality. 'Broken keys, extorted cash fees, late night harassment, misogynistic and violent artwork all over the apartment, threats to file false police reports, a defamatory and contradictory review' she wrote. 'The list goes on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on.' Day tripper: The Michigan-born traveller - pictured here at Rome's Moro's Fountain - spent as much time as possible away from her Airnbnb rental, which she said was ghastly Advice: Steph encourages tourists to be forensic about the spaces they stay in - and to record photographic evidence to help in any disputes 'As to why this was the absolute WORST choice in accommodation I have ever made... unfortunately, it was Easter week (everything was booked!), I had packed our schedule full of prebooked and prepaid tours, and we realized our problems 24 hours after check-in (after the Airbnb payment window has passed). Learn from my mistakes.' To combat this she recommends being forensic about everything, including: immediately checking the property for problems upon arrival, looking closely for possible video equipment which may record you surreptitiously and ensuring the keys work. 'On a visit to Campo di Fiori. Make sure you visit in the morning, any day but Sunday!' she says She also insists that guests do not pay any extra fees, which she did, and that all correspondence with the landlord takes place on the official Airbnb site. She also says taking time-stamped photos of your arrival and departure time, while making a visual inventory of the place, will keep you on the front-foot. Edri subsequently complained to Airbnb and said the company gave her a $100 voucher for a future stay with them. She said, however, that the firm insisted that it is a third-party company and that it is your word against your hosts words. MailOnline has contacted Airbnb for a comment, but is yet to receive a response. 3) Timing Money matters aside, Stephanie also suggests budgeting more time for big attractions, such as the Vatican Museum, which can become seriously gridlocked with human traffic - even though tour operators sometimes don't take this matter too seriously. 'Our tour operators - ORP - recommended that we would only need two hours to see everything. So, we planned our Vatican tour for 1pm, and our next tour St Peters Basilica at 3pm,' she wrote. Express tour: Pictured outside the Vatican, Stephanie regrets listening to tour guides who advised her to only reserve two hours for the epic seat of the Catholic church 'This, however, was INCLUSIVE of walking time (both tours had to start at the operators location) and did not account for the lateness of the operator (about 15 minutes), who had to escort us to the entrance, [where there was] mass confusion. 'If I could do it again, I would give myself at least four hours (including walking time and only if purchasing a skip the line pass.. if not, I would include more time).' She also suggests, on her 2015 blog, that a visit to Campo di Fiori should take place in the morning, but not on a Sunday. 4) Fashion Finally, she also advised on appropriate fashion for fellow female travellers. 'I brought quite a few dresses, and felt uncomfortable. Why? No one (seriously NO ONE) had their legs bared. 'And the weather was nice! I even bought leggings while there, because I felt so obviously tourist with my naked skin. Time is costly: Stephanie pictured at the Colosseum in Rome 'Also, I had packed a lot of light colors (white, cream, pastels) but maybe I missed the memo on dark colors as well. Is there a rule in Rome like the whole no white after Labor Day that my mom mentioned once? I felt like I had planned my whole wardrobe wrong. 'For Rome in the spring, I would recommend dark jeans or leggings, boots or other classy but comfortable shoes, and definitely a jacket. At night it got quite cool, and sometimes even during the day when the breeze picked up.' 'My advice for Rome is LAYERS!!' Advertisement If you don't have the energy to get up and see the world, fear not, because you can sit down with a cup of tea and see it through the eyes of talented travellers who've contributed to a new photography book. More than 300 images are included in new Rough Guides tome You Are Here, with subjects ranging from Turkish Kurdistan to Rainbow Mountain in Peru. The travel guidebook publisher, which turned 35 in May, ran a competition to create its latest release, with thousands of submissions pouring in. Celebrated Magnum photographer Martin Parr acted as a judge for the contest and gradually the stack of travel shots was whittled down to a more concise bundle. The winning image, taken by Solly Levi in Phuket, Thailand, was transformed into the book's jacket. Commenting on the project, Parr said with a dose humour: 'It's great to see the appearance of photobooks like You Are Here, full of amateur and off-the-cuff photography - although as a professional, I hope this trend does not become too widespread!' Scroll down to see a some of the top travel shots that made the cut and impressed judges with clever angles, stunning colours and a sense of silent beauty... Urban dwelling: Javier Blanco's stunning night image captures the Yick Fat Building in Hong Kong from a different perspective. Looking up, lights from apartments can be seen, with air conditioning vents peppering the walls Traditional dress: Annapurna Mellor captured this candid photo while visiting the Shan State in Myanmar. A young girl is seen wearing make-up and dressed in traditional costume Mud bath: Marc Ehrenbold chose elephants as his subject while visiting Sri Lanka and he captured one indulging in a quick drink. Many of the large animals also have sprinklings of mud on their backs Get ready for the ride: Nimai Chandra Ghosh photographed a youngster playing with a chicken in West Bengal, India (left), while Tom Hirst focused on the setting sun over Anglesey in Wales to get his winning shot (right) Local customs: While exploring the ancient city of Bagan in Myanmar, Gavin Burnett took this shot of a woman smoking a large cigar, known as a cheroot Minimalist: While travelling through Weligama, a town on the south coast of Sri Lanka, Tony Wallbank took this shot of men patiently fishing from wooden posts Food for thought: Deba Prasad Roy took this shot of fishermen casting their nets at a spot along the Shilabati River in West Bengal, India. The setting sun can be seen reflecting on the water's surface Heavenly hues: A veil of fine cloud hanging over the Langdale Valley in the Lake District, England, caught the eye of Andrew Clayborough. Green fields can be seen down below, while the sun casts a golden glow above A worker ensures the white paintwork stays spotless in the town of Oia on Santorini, Greece (left). This image by Andrew Williams is just one of dozens included in the new Rough Guides book, You Are Here (right) You Are Here by Rough Guides is on sale now, priced at 12.99. They welcomed their first son, Cooper, together in May this year. And on Wednesday after enjoying a luxurious getaway in Byron Bay, Storm, 35, and Ronan Keating, 40, were spotted at Sydney airport en route to London. Walking through the terminal, the happy couple seemed to have their hands full with their new bub and their luggage. Holiday over: On Wednesday after enjoying a luxurious getaway in Byron Bay, Storm, 35, and Ronan Keating, 40, were spotted returning back to the UK Wearing a white long sleeve top and beige pants, Storm showcased her lean and toned physique. Teaming her look with Gucci sneakers, the stunner was in charge of pushing Cooper's pram around the terminal. Shielding her eyes from the paparazzi, the mother-of-one sported round sunglasses. Daddy duties: In a tender snap, the dotting father had his hands grasped around his little one, while Cooper inquisitively gazed around the airport Love: They welcomed their first son, Cooper, together in May this year Daddy-son time: Relaxing on holidays with son Cooper, five months Keeping her airport look chic but comfortable, the tied her blonde locks that sported dark roots back into a low pony-tail. Ronan also flaunted a casual ensemble, with a black t-shirt and matching coloured pants. Rolling around some Louis Vuitton luggage, he too had shades on in the indoor space. Stunner: Keeping her airport look chic but comfortable, the tied her blonde locks that sported dark roots back into a low pony-tail Family: And taking over daddy duties, Ronan was also seen cradling his son And taking over daddy duties, Ronan was also seen cradling his son. In a tender snap, the dotting father had his hands grasped around his little one, while Cooper inquisitively gazed around the airport. The young family spent the last few weeks enjoying a relaxing holiday down-under which Storm revealed was Cooper's first long-haul flight. Lindsay Shookus was seen chatting on her phone in New York on Thursday amid reports boyfriend Ben Affleck is seeking further treatment for alcohol addiction. The same day, Ben was seen across the country talking on his own cellphone as he ambled about outdoors in Santa Monica. The 37-year-old TV producer was walking alone as she crossed a Manhattan street with her eyes hidden behind reflective aviators. East coast girl: Lindsay Shookus (left) was spotted chatting on her phone out in New York on Thursday, while her beau Ben Affleck (right) was seen on his phone in LA the same day For the solo breakfast outing the mother-of-one teamed ripped black jeans with a daisy print blouse and sneakers. Lindsay - who has reportedly been dating Ben since April - is based in New York where her ex-husband Kevin Miller and their daughter reside. Meanwhile, Ben and his estranged wife Jennifer Garner live in Los Angeles, where they amicably co-parent their three children. On the go: For the solo breakfast outing the mother-of-one teamed ripped black jeans with a daisy print blouse and sneakers Hitting the street: When Ben was seen in Santa Monica Thursday, he cut a stylish figure in a pewter grew blazer worn over a blue button-down shirt and dark jeans Silver fox: He looked distinguished with his greying hair and beard Though Ben and Jen separated in 2015, the divorce filing only came this year. When Ben was seen in Santa Monica Thursday, he cut a stylish figure in a pewter grew blazer worn over a blue button-down shirt and dark jeans. Ben, 5, was pictured by Us Weekly arriving to an outpatient treatment center in Los Angeles on Wednesday. It was just seven months ago that the actor announced he had completed a stint in rehab for alcohol addiction. Recovery: Ben, 45, was pictured by Us Weekly arriving to an outpatient treatment center in Los Angeles on Wednesday. (He is pictured at JFK airport last month) A source told Us Weekly the actor looked 'happy' as he headed inside the facility. 'He was in such a good mood and looked refreshed,' the source said. On Wednesday, In Touch reported Affleck was being urged by close friends to enter inpatient rehab, and many of those concerned are allegedly hoping he will check-in for his longest stint yet. 'He's spiraling out of control,' explained a source, who said the actor's drinking has 'gotten worse.' Struggle: It was just seven months ago that the actor announced he had completed a stint in rehab for alcohol addiction. The couple are pictured last month at a tennis event Previously: In a photo from the Emmy after-party, Affleck is seen sitting beside his girlfriend with a glass of water in front of him The confidant believes it's 'only a matter of time' before Affleck returns to rehab, with the source insisting the actor desires 'nothing more than to be present for his family and girlfriend.' 'He knows he needs to check back into rehab,' said a confidant. 'The problem is that he wants to go on his terms. He wants to do it on his time, but like most addicts, that time keeps getting put off. This relapse has gone on too long already.' The source added that whenever the actor is in treatment, he takes his recovery 'very seriously' and is also receptive to the advice of staff. The website also previously reported that Affleck was drinking at an Emmy after-party, where Lindsay celebrated her Emmy win with a champagne toast. Meanwhile: DailyMail.com has reached out to Affleck's representatives for comment on this story from In Touch (pictured in New York in September 2017) An insider explained Lindsay may not have been aware, 'but she's enabling him.' In a photo from the party, Affleck is seen sitting beside his girlfriend with a glass of water in front of him. DailyMail.com has reached out to Affleck's representatives for comment on this story from In Touch. Affleck announced in March that he had entered and completed a stint in rehab for alcohol addiction. 'I have completed treatment for alcohol addiction; something I've dealt with in the past and will continue to confront. I want to live life to the fullest and be the best father I can be. Not his first: Affleck previously completed a stint in rehab in 2001 (pictured leaving a liquor store in September 2017) 'I want my kids to know there is no shame in getting help when you need it, and to be a source of strength for anyone out there who needs help but is afraid to take the first step. 'I'm lucky to have the love of my family and friends, including my co-parent, Jen, who has supported me and cared for our kids as I've done the work I set out to do. 'This was the first of many steps being taken towards a positive recovery.' Affleck previously completed a stint in rehab in 2001. The actor was married to Jennifer Garner for ten years before the couple announced their split in 2015 and filed for divorce in 2017. They have daughters Violet, 11, Seraphina, 8, and son Samuel, 5, together. For many users of Google, the search engine giant will always be available online. It is near impossible for it to shut down many will argue. This is because many people rely heavily on Google to do a lot of things. But do you know that Google did shut down in the past? In August 2013, Google and all of its services came down for two to three minutes. Internet traffic as a whole went down by a massive 40 percent. A similar incident occurred in May 2009. Not for a day, but for a few minutes. So, if Google goes down for a day what will likely happen? Obiaks Blog, shares five of these things. You cannot Google anything The internet is a huge information dish. You can get any information you so desire by just googling. Many of us have taken this for granted. When Google is unavailable, this is one of the things you would be unable to do. You may result to alternatives whose results may not be as good as Google. Business will lose customers Today, many customers google services they want. From the results, they can select a business to provide the services. Businesses will definitely lose these set of customers. And because we are in the internet age, this is likely to have a ripple effect on turnover. Revenue loss Since you are losing customers, it follows that you will experience a dip in revenue. This may not be immediate. The revenue loss occurs over time. No need to worry about SEO Due to the fact that many businesses want to rank better on Google, they optimise their content by employing the services of SEO specialists. With Google down, you do not need to worry about SEO. You can simply post and share your content. Significant drop in internet traffic Google contributes significantly to internet traffic. So, if you get 10,000 visits daily, it may reduce to 5,000. This will mainly affect websites that have high Google ranking because of their strong SEO. She is one of the most popular models in the world. And Jourdan Dunn turned heads as she stepped out in a patterned ensemble, while attending a Google launch party in London on Wednesday. The supermodel, 27, was spotted having fun at the new Curiosity Rooms at the Old Selfridges Hotel accompanied by other A-listers. Scroll down for video Plaid's a good look! Jourdan Dunn turned heads as she stepped out in a patterned ensemble, while attending a Google launch party in London on Wednesday Jourdann slipped into a pair of teal plaid flare pants, a knitted white tank-top, and tan suede heels. The former Victoria's Secret Model kept her accessories to a minimum by wearing a single gold bracelet and hoop earrings. The model styled her dark-brown bob with loose waves and wore make-up that gave her a natural glow. Double trouble: Jourdan joined Neelam Gill at the event who dazzle in a little black dress Chic: The supermodel, 27, was joined by other A-listers at The Curiosity Rooms at the Old Selfridges Hotel in celebration of the companies new smartphone release The British beauty was joined by fashion designer Kyle De'Volle and model Neelam Gill while attending the event. At one point of the night, the fashion designer and Taylor were caught giggling while having fun on the swing. Other A-listers such as Jamal Edwards, Ella Eyre, Bee Beardsworth, Alice Chater, DJ Siobhan Bell, Rina Sawayama, Tallia Storm, Betsy Blue and Ashley Verse were also in attendance. The event had a live DJ set from Nick Grimshaw and Maya Jama, as well as a performance by Nadia Rose and Kimmy Beatbox. The celebrities who attended the event were among the first to try out Googles new exciting products, such as the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL. Stepping out: She oozed seventies vibes in her show-stopping look Work it! Jourdann worked a pair of high-waisted pair of trousers for the occasion Mane attraction: She worked her raven-coloured locks into a tousled curl Take a swing: The former Victoria's Secret Model kept her accessories to a minimum by wearing a single gold bracelet and hoop earrings Having fun? At one point of the night, the fashion designer pushed the model on a wooden swing Google also created the Curiosity Room as a playground for inquisitive minds in partnership with Selfridges. The venue has four areas of exploration: Animal Atelier, Scent Spectrum, Google Greenhouse, and Micro Kitchen. Google will open the Curiousity Room doors to the public from October 19 - 22. The stars are out: The famous guests who attended the event were among the first in the UK to try out Googles new exciting products Other A-listers such as Alice Chater and Tallia Storm were also in attendance Daring: Model Neelam worked the pavement like the runway in her daring ensemble Pin-credible: She showcased her slender pins in her thigh-grazing look Grin and bear it! Tallia played around with the ornaments and decorations inside the party Effortless: Maya accentuated her flawless complexion with a touch of highlighter and lipgloss, continuing her effortless glamour with hoop earrings and a sleek ponytail Two of a kind: Ella Eyre and Nick Grimshaw seemed in good spirits as they posed together Getting her kicks: Ella was seen playing around with the balloons in the room Loving life: The star seemed in great spirits as she played around in the room Pretty in prints: Felicity Hayward showed off her curves in a leopard print bodysuit She'll be seen on Thursday's episode of the sci-fi comedy series The Orville. But when Charlize Theron was spotted in Los Angeles Wednesday, her sedate outfit was a far cry from the splashy Star Trek-esque getup she'd worn for the show. The 42-year-old actress emphasized her legs in skintight black trousers as she ambled about outside, chatting away on her cellphone. Radiant: When Charlize Theron was spotted in Los Angeles Wednesday, her sedate outfit was a far cry from the splashy Star Trek-inspired getup she's worn to guest-star on The Orville Charlize matched the bottoms with a flowing black blouse with a frilly hemline. Her blonde hair swept up into a bun, she'd complemented the look with white-stitched black loafers and a black pair of cat-eye sunglasses. The Orville is a new series created and written by Seth MacFarlane, who also stars as the titular starship's captain Ed Mercer. Hoofing it: The 42-year-old actress emphasized her taut legs in skintight black trousers as she ambled about outside, chatting away on her cellphone This week's episode - which Charlize guest stars on as one Pria Lavesque, per IMDb - will be the fifth one of the inaugural season. July 18 saw the American theatrical release of Charlize's new movie Atomic Blonde, which was then released to British cinemas on August 9. Directed by David Leitch, Atomic Blonde is an action-packed Cold War thriller starring Charlize as a ruthless and talented British spy on a mission in Berlin. Covering a recent issue of W, Charlize has said of her Atomic Blonde character Lorraine: 'I didnt just want to play a girly spy who depends on her flirty ways.' Coordinated: Charlize matched the bottoms with a flowing black blouse with a frilly hemline She's explained: 'It would be so boring to just be "the girl" and wait for the guys to come in when theres a fight. Instead, I thought about Atomic Blonde the way I imagine men think about parts in action films. I was intrigued and challenged.' Charlize also said of her character: 'Lorraine is a little bit like Bond. He drinks a lot of martinis, doesnt he? Shaken or not stirred, or whatever they are,' she recalled. 'Yeah, Lorraine and James are equally messed up. Maybe they should marry! Maybe they should have a baby! That would be an interesting baby,' the actress quipped. They explore the emotional effects of extramarital relationships as co-stars on Showtime's hit television show The Affair. And Joshua Jackson, 39, and Dominic West, 47, were spotted getting right back into the swing of things while filming scenes for the fourth season of the show in New York on Wednesday afternoon. The actors appeared to be shooting a somber funeral scene in the East Hampton area as Jackson rested against a tombstone. Scroll down for video And action! Joshua Jackson, 39, and Dominic West, 47, were spotted filming scenes for the fourth season of the show in New York on Wednesday Dressed in a grey suit, Jackson held on to a light brown vase in the scene, possibly an urn of ashes used for a plotline in the fourth season. He wore a light blue shirt and a navy blue tie with shaggy brown hair and days worth of stubble on his face. Dominic was dressed equally smart in a dark blue suit and matching tie as he ran lines with Jackson while he sat on the grass. Actor: The actors appeared to shooting a somber funeral scene in the East Hampton area as Jackson rested against a tombstone He wore a light blue shirt and a navy blue tie with shaggy brown hair and days worth of stubble on his face The actors seemed to be filming in a graveyard and were surrounded by an abundance of greenery, flowers and headstones. In The Affair, the pair play the significant others of lead characters Noah and Alison (portrayed by British actors Dominic West and Ruth Wilson), who are having an affair. The Dawsons Creek star took a quick break from filming to grab a light snack as he walked through the set. Showtime picked up the drama for a fourth season in January, but has yet to share the release date as filming began in early September. Somber: He wore a light blue shirt and a navy blue tie with shaggy brown hair and days worth of stubble on his face The award-winning thriller has been nominated for and won a host of accolades in its short time on airwaves, including the 2015 Golden Globe for Best Television Series - Drama. Cast-mate Maura Tierney won a Golden Globe award for Best Performance by and Actress in a Supporting Role in 2016 for her character Helen Solloway while Ruth Wilson won the Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series during the show's 2015 telecast. Sanaa Lathan recently signed on to star in the fourth season alongside another show newcomer Christopher Meyer. Joshua split from his longtime love Diane Kruger during the summer of 2016 and was recently spotted enjoying time with model Shafia West. Dominic has six films in post-production to round out 2017, including three short films and the widely anticipated Tomb Raider flick debuting in March 2018. Dominic West will reprise his role as Noah in the fourth season of the Showtime hit, The Affair; seen at the New York Film Festival in September They recently marked their one-month anniversary. And Stephanie Pratt and Jonny Mitchell looked undeniably smitten as they attended the launch of the Death Express Halloween show at the London Dungeon on Wednesday. The 31-year-old American proved to be trendy in a faux-fur lined leather jacket and daringly short skirt as she coised up to the Love Island hunk, 26. Scroll down for video Hot couple! Stephanie Pratt and Jonny Mitchell looked undeniably smitten as they attended the launch of the Death Express Halloween show at the London Dungeon on Wednesday Stephanie looked sensational as she wrapped up warm in the stylish outerwear, which she paired with a pretty blush pink bow-tie blouse. The former The Hills star infused the elements of preppiness and grunge with her skirt, tights and lace-up boots. Her blonde locks were tidied behind her ears and she opted for a glamorous coat of make-up, focusing in autumnal inspired eyeshadow. Stephanie was joined by her new beau Jonny, who looked handsome in an olive green coat which perfectly complemented his all-black ensemble underneath. Stylish: Stephanie looked sensational as she wrapped up warm in the stylish outerwear, which she paired with a pretty blush pink bow-tie blouse Trendy: The former The Hills star infused the elements of preppiness and grunge with her skirt, tights and lace-up boots Mane attraction: Her blonde locks were tidied behind her ears and she opted for a glamorous coat of make-up, focusing in autumnal inspired eyeshadow Tom Daley was also present at the event with his husband Dustin Lance Black. The professional swimmer proved to be trendy in a checked ankle-grazing trousers, a 'cool' white top and black jacket. Dustin also looked fashionable in a red plaid unbuttoned shirt and all-black ensemble. The couple, who tied the knot earlier this year, couldn't contain their smiles as they played around with the display. Stepping out: Tom Daley was also present at the event with his husband Dustin Lance Black Looking good: The professional swimmer proved to be trendy in a checked ankle-grazing trousers, a 'cool' white top and black jacket Happy: Tom couldn't contain his smiles as they played around with the display Joking: Dustin seemed to take great pleasure in the pretend grisly display Essex beauty Jess Wright also looked fabulous for the event in a demure black figure-hugging lace dress. She teamed the look with a black blazer and matching towering heels - complementing her silver clutch. Jess' glossy brunette mane was effortlessly centre parted and she put prominence on her mascara laden eyes. Chic: Essex beauty Jess Wright also looked fabulous for the event in a demure black figure-hugging lace dress Style queen: She teamed the look with a black blazer and matching towering heels - complementing her silver clutch Wow: Jess' glossy brunette mane was effortlessly centre parted and she put prominence on her mascara laden eyes Love Island's Gabby Allen flashed her toned stomach in a clingy white crop top with stunning rose designs. She teamed it with high-waisted jeans, lace-up ankle boots and an edgy choker. Tyne-lexy Clarson was also dressed to make an impression in an oversized shirt dress with a large mouth design. The sexy ensemble was completed by racy thigh-high boots - flashing a glimpse of her toned legs. Statement: Love Island's Gabby Allen flashed her toned stomach in a clingy white crop top with stunning rose designs Trendsetter: The blonde bombshell completed the look with an edgy choker Striking: Tyne-lexy Clarson was also dressed to make an impression in an oversized shirt dress with a large mouth design Racy: The sexy ensemble was completed by racy thigh-high boots - flashing a glimpse of her toned legs Mario Falcone was eager to get involved as he arrived in a trendy Vans sweater and dark wash denims. The reality star sported a scared facial expression as his pal pretended to aim at him with an axe. Tina Stinnes put on one of the sauciest displays of all in a semi-sheer star print bodysuit, which was tucked into a pair of skintight leather trousers. Hunk: Mario Falcone was eager to get involved as he arrived in a trendy Vans sweater and dark wash denims Shock, horror! The reality star sported a scared facial expression as his pal pretended to aim at him with an axe This year's season of The Block has been one of the most action-packed series yet. And despite the properties opening for inspection to the public in a little over a week, the drama doesn't seem to be slowing down just yet. According to this week's OK! Magazine, a lengthy defect list could derail the contestants' chances of finishing their houses in time. 'There are some major problems': According to this week's issue of OK! Magazine, a lengthy list of defects may prevent The Block teams (pictured: Elyse and Josh) from finishing their properties before open inspection next Sunday The magazine reports that a source close to The Block is stressed the teams may not finish what needs to be done in order to get the all-clear in time for auction day. 'Everyone's panicking over the fact there are so many issues. One of the teams has over 115 defects and they aren't even the ones with the longest list,' the insider told the publication. 'There are some major problems, which in some instances will require the teams to basically start their room over from scratch.' Of concern: In a previous episode Jason (left) dobbed in Josh and Elyse for having a non-compliant kitchen, which will need to be fixed The long-running Channel Nine reality show has featured many of the dramas surrounding non-compliant renovations which are likely to be of concern when it comes to the defect list. In a previous episode, Blockhead Jason dobbed in rivals Josh and Elyse for their kitchen which he noticed had violated building code. Their gas stove top was too close to the Caesarstone splash back according to building and safety regulations and was something the judges overlooked. Struggle street! Clint (pictured) and wife Hannah had an earlier disaster with their main bathroom, which Scott Cam thinks they 'may not recover' from Also likely to struggle are Hannah and Clint who were slapped with a whopping $61,000 bill after a botched tiling job in their main bathroom. The couple are right to be worried with even host Scott Cam admitting the pair 'may not recover' from the fiasco. Meanwhile, it looks as though Sticks and Wombat have fixed up their defects in time, with their property the first to hit the market. The renovated Elsternwick property is currently listed on Domain. All sorted: Sticks (centre) and Wombat (right) seemingly have fixed their defects in time, with their property the first to hit the market They're the Bachelorette couple who recently celebrated one year together. And on Thursday's the Today show, Georgia Love admitted to host Lisa Wilkinson, that she and Lee Elliott, 37, most certainly fight. 'Oh my God, like cat and dog!' the 29-year-old quipped, before going on to say that it's often because she gets into trouble 'for talking too much.' Scroll down for video 'Oh my God, like cat and dog!' The Bachelorette's Georgia Love, 29, admitted to fighting with beau Lee Elliott, 37, over her 'talking too much' on Thursday's the Today Show The topic of fighting arose with research suggesting that couples that argue are often happier. A short clip from the Sex and the City series was shown, where Carrie Bradshaw fought with her love interest at the time, Aidan Shaw, over shoes. Lisa went on to explain how research suggests that those couples that do fight, often end up happier than those who don't, before quizzing Georgia on the status of her relationship. Topic of conversation: Host Lisa Wilkinson (centre) went on to explain how research suggests that those couples that do fight, often end up happier than those who don't, before quizzing Georgia on the status of her relationship Candid: 'Oh my God, (we fight) like cat and dog! I think this is a good sign for us apparently, according to this research,' Georgia responded with a laugh 'Oh my God, (we fight) like cat and dog! I think this is a good sign for us apparently, according to this research,' Georgia responded with a laugh. She went on: 'See look, we are very very happy, we most certainly fight when we need to. It's probably why we are happy because this is what the research is saying isn't it? Asked as to what the reality TV couple fight about, Georgia admitted that it was often due to her own errors. Reflection: Asked as to what the reality TV couple fight about, Georgia admitted that it was often due to her own errors: 'It's pretty much when I've done something wrong' Going strong: The pair have been inseparable since Lee won Georgia over in last year's season of The Bachelorette, and in late August celebrated their one year anniversary together 'I get into trouble for talking too much because I say the wrong thing, because I don't think about what I'm saying quite often. 'And yeah, it's pretty much when I've done something wrong,' the brunette added. The pair have been inseparable since Lee won Georgia over in last year's season of The Bachelorette, and in late August celebrated their one year anniversary together. They have often found themselves at the centre of engagement rumours, thanks to Lee's cryptic Instagram posts. She arrived back to the states after an eventful week in Paris. And Pamela Anderson looked virtually ageless as she arrived at the Los Angeles International airport on Wednesday. The actress, 50, was all smiles as she sported her animal-friendly ensemble comprising vegan, faux leather. Jet-setter: Pamela Anderson looked virtually ageless as she arrived at the Los Angeles International airport on Wednesday Pamela stepped out in a long-sleeve blouse and a vegan leather skirt, which complemented her animal activist lifestyle. The Baywatch starlet teamed her ensemble with sensible dark-gray flats, that featured a black bow. The blonde-bombshell slung her black handbag across her torso, while carrying her glasses around her neck on a chain. Pamela kept her blonde tresses hidden under a chic-hat and wore a minimal amount of make-up to accentuate her natural beauty. Dark angel: The actress, 50, was all smiles as she sported her vegan-friendly ensemble while walking out of customs Faux: Pamela stepped out in a long-sleeve blouse and a vegan leather skirt, which went along with her animal activist lifestyle The former Playboy model has been a PETA activist and vegan for over a decade. Last month Pamela called out Kim Kardashian urging her not to wear fur. She told Good Morning Britain that she 'reaches out to anyone in the public eye.' Pamela started caring about animal rights at a young age after she saw her father clean an animal he hunted. As for her film career, her movie SPF-18 will be released on Netflix October 29. The Apprentice (BBC1) Rating: Who Do You Think You Are (BBC1) Rating: Businesses might be facing uncertainty, but thats not going to put off the 18 sharp-elbowed contestants in the latest series of The Apprentice (BBC1). Its been six years since the format was changed, after producers realised that competing for a job as a lackey to Lord Sugar wasnt really cutting it. Now the lucky winner gets a 250,000 investment in their own start-up company with Sugar as a 50 per cent shareholder. The teams had to manufacture and sell burgers both to the public and trade Last night was our first introduction to the new wannabes, some of whom clearly thought they were taking part in Blind Date. I am my own brand but beware, theres a sting in my tail, said Joanna. In business Im a bulldog. Mess with me and I do have lockjaw (sic), said Michaela. After being split into male and female groups, the contestants had to come up with names for their teams always one of the most entertaining aspects of The Apprentice. Warriors, suggested one of the boys. Trojans, said another. In the end they settled on Vitality, although Incompetent would have been more apt. The girls, thankfully, dismissed Victorious Secrets and opted for the marginally better Graphene since its a material tougher than steel. Battleaxe of the day The screening of two classic Coronation Street episodes on daytime ITV3 has proved a real treat. Tune in today for a chance to see acid-tongued battleaxe Hilda Ogden at her very best. Advertisement Under the gaze of Lord Sugars henchmen Karren eyes in the back of my head Brady and Claude Ill be watching you Littner, they were handed their first task. The teams had to manufacture and sell burgers both to the public and trade. Team Graphene did reasonably well, even if Lord Sugar did think their cheeseburger looked like a constipated tortoise, and made a profit. But Vitalitys efforts were a disaster and team leader Danny was the first to get sacked. The one-liners Lord Sugar insists are unscripted were more withering than ever. And, glossing over the question of why candidates who claim to be already earning 175,000 salaries need Lord Sugars investment, it was still marvellous to have The Apprentice back. As one show started another ended, with the last in the celebrity ancestry series of Who Do You Think You Are? (BBC1) and it went out in style thanks to comedienne Ruby Wax. As one show started another ended, with the last in the celebrity ancestry series of Who Do You Think You Are? ( BBC1 ) and it went out in style thanks to comedienne Ruby Wax Having suffered with her own mental health, Ruby wanted to know if there was anything in her past that could have contributed to her illness. She knew her parents had fled Austria from the Nazis but, mostly, they had refused to talk about their experience. Ruby discovered her Jewish father had been imprisoned and tortured during his two-month incarceration. He was granted freedom on condition he left Austria for good, which he did fleeing to Chicago. Rubys mother Berta followed weeks later, but not before witnessing the infamous Kristallnacht, or the Night of Broken Glass, where Jews were attacked and had their homes and businesses destroyed an incident that may well have explained Bertas unstable personality in later life. Archives revealed that Bertas aunt and uncle were unsuccessful in fleeing and, penniless and half starving, were shipped to the Czech ghetto town of Theresienstadt where they perished. Rubys belief that there must be a genetic link to her own history of illness proved to be the case. Her great-aunt Olga spent her entire adult life in an institution where she would have experienced brutal attempts at cures for her condition documented as agitation. Uncomfortable and upsetting though it was, the episode was compelling and proved that Who Do You Think You Are? is still capable of uncovering some fascinating stories. Fans have seen him embark on a fledgling romance with Ben Mitchell. But in scenes yet to air on BBC's EastEnders, Luke Browning's world comes crashing down as he discovers that Ben is the son of Kathy Beale. The discovery proves unimaginable for him as Kathy is the woman his dad James Willmott-Brown is targeting for revenge. Scroll down for video Upcoming: In scenes yet to air on BBC's EastEnders, Luke Browning's world comes crashing down as he discovers that Ben is the son of Kathy Beale - the woman is dad is targeting for revenge James is serving time in prison for raping Kathy years ago and is none too pleased about it. Clearly having not learnt his lesson, James blames her for ruining his life and is pulling out all the stops to target her from inside the cell. Viewers will have to find out the aftermath of the shocking turn of events in the next episode and if he'll continue his relationship with Ben. Meanwhile, popular character Masood Ahmed is set to return to the long-running soap opera. Shocking: The discovery proves unimaginable for him as Kathy is the woman his dad James Willmott-Brown is targeting for revenge from prison after he raped her a few years ago Nitin Ganatra played the lovable postman from 2007 until his departure in 2016, but he has now revealed that one year after he walked away from the show, he is due to return with some new family members in tow. The 50-year-old actor told Metro: 'It was a lovely surprise to be asked back to EastEnders so soon after I left. In fact I was bowled over. 'When I was told Masood has still much to give to the show and is missed by the audience, it was hard to refuse.' He added: 'It is with great pride that I will grow my Masood goatee once again to help create and base an extended family around him. Exciting days to come Walford with Masood back on the Square.' Welcome back: Meanwhile, popular character Masood Ahmed is set to return to long-running BBC soap opera EastEnders Popular: Nitin Ganatra played the lovable postman from 2007 until his departure in 2016, but he has now revealed that one year after he walked away from the show, he is due to return Masood left Albert Square in November 2016 in order to reunite with his ex-wife Zainab and his son Kamil in Pakistan, but it turns out his journey home hasn't gone to plan, as he finds himself back in London once again. Storyline details of his return are being kept under wraps for the time being, but it is believed that casting is underway for the new members of Masoods family, and scenes are expected to air towards the end of this year. Nitin announced he was walking away from EastEnders in September 2016, and claimed that his decision came as he wanted to explore other acting pursuits. He said at the time: 'When I trained as an actor, I set out to play many different characters and never did I know that I would be so fortunate to have found a character that I have loved playing for nine years. Exciting times: Storyline details of his return are being kept under wraps for the time being, but it is believed that casting is underway for the new members of Masoods family, and scenes are expected to air towards the end of this year 'However, after thinking long and hard, I have decided that it is time to get back out there and take on some other roles. 'I will of course miss everyone at EastEnders - I have had a brilliant time there, and who knows, one day Masood may be back.' Nitin also spoke to daily chat show This Morning about his desire to branch into films. 'It's really weird... I'm actually going because I want to do more characters, do some more films again, and also nine years is better than ten years, I think ten years is a full stop,' he said after announcing his departure in November. 'For me nine years, go off and do something else, go off and do something different, because I was doing films and comedies and stuff before 'Enders, and I thought "Actually this is probably a good time to go."' She has no problem turning heads on the runway. And Hailey Baldwin was spotted flaunting her impeccable physique while running errands at a Bristol Farms grocery store in Hollywood on Wednesday. The model, 20, appeared relaxed in her casual ensemble while heading back to her car. Out and about: Hailey Baldwin was spotted flaunting her impeccable physique while running errands at a Bristol Farms grocery store in Hollywood on Wednesday Hailey stepped out in ripped jeans and a cropped Adidas long-sleeve shirt that flashed a peek of her toned abs. The blonde bombshell teamed her causal ensemble with burgundy high-top sneakers. The daughter of Stephen Baldwin kept her blonde hair tousled while going make-up free. Hailey accessorized her outfit with two silver chain necklaces and a watch. Toned up: The model, 20, appeared relaxed in her casual ensemble while heading back to her car Hailey recently came back to the states after being in France for Paris Fashion Week. The 20-year-old expressed her sadness about the Las Vegas attack on her Instagram. After landing in Los Angeles she posted the caption: 'Praying for you today Las Vegas. Im sad to be growing in a generation where every single day is another horrific news story.' She continued: 'We need to express more love, hope, generosity and unity. We cannot be silent! RIP to the lives tragically lost and to their families and prayers to those injured. #gunreformnow #lasvegas #prayforvegas' We have lost a true lesbian pioneer in the passing of Leslie Cohen. Whether opening the first upscale lesbian club Sahara in NYC in 1976 ... He was heartbroken when Lee Elliott stole Georgia Love's heart. But Matty J had no issues with Bachelor winner Laura Byrne spreading the love on Wednesday, seen joining her for a three-way kiss with Ryan Gosling in Sydney. The 30-year-old won't be losing sleep however, given their pash partner was just a Madame Tussauds wax figure, rolled-out for the launch of an augmented reality experience. Room for one more? Bachelor lovers Matty J and Laura Byrne were in a romantic mood on Wednesday, seen sharing a passionate kiss with Ryan Gosling at a Madame Tussauds event The pair who won each other's hearts on the reality show headlined the event, which celebrated the launch of Matty's new augmented reality experience. Marketing manager Matty looked dapper on arrival, sporting a crisp navy suit and black shirt, going without a tie and leaving buttons undone to expose his chest. He was joined by jewellery designer Laura, who flashed cleavage in a skimpy off-the-shoulder dress and thigh-high boots. Phew! Matty, 30, won't be losing sleep however, given their pash partner was just a Madame Tussauds wax figure, rolled-out for the launch of Matty's augmented reality experience Star-studded! The pair who won each other's hearts on this season of the reality show were among the star-studded guest list for the evening event The lovers couldn't resist the opportunity to plant a kiss on Ryan Gosling, who appeared both in spirit, and as a life-sized wax replica. Posing alongside the figure, Matty pulled a shocked expression, while Laura turned and posed suggestively. Unable to resist, wax Gosling remained frozen as the couple then turned and planted a smooch on his cheek. Dapper! Marketing manager Matty looked dapper on arrival, sporting a crisp navy suit and black shirt, going without a tie and leaving buttons undone to expose his chest Barack in a second! He was joined by jewellery designer Laura, who flashed cleavage in a skimpy off-the-shoulder dress and thigh-high boots (pictured with Barack Obama wax figure) Finding some alone time on a couch later on, Matty and Laura shared another kiss, this time much more heartfelt, and un-tarnished by wax replicas. The Bachelor hunk was snapped closing his eyes as he leaned in for an embrace, while his new girlfriend smiled nervously. It's the golden anniversary for one of the most iconic shows in the annals of television. Carol Burnett was front-and-center among a laundry list of celebrities to honor the 50th anniversary of her comedy program, The Carol Burnett Show, at CBS Television City in Los Angeles on Tuesday, taped for a future special in two months. The 84-year-old comedy icon did her trademark tug of the ear as she posed for pictures on the red carpet, in a black gown with a lacy top and black flats, sporting her short auburn locks. Scroll below for video Time to shine: Carol Burnett, 84, did her trademark ear pull on the red carpet Wednesday at a 50th anniversary event for The Carol Burnett Show held at CBS Studios in LA A number of Carol's co-stars were snapped at the event, including Vicki Lawrence and Lyle Waggoner, as well as show business stalwarts such as Jay Leno, Harry Connick Jr., Tom Selleck and Pat Boone. Also seen on the red carpet included stars such as Kaley Cuoco, Jane Lynch, Tracee Ellis Ross, Beth Behrs, Kristin Chenoweth and Bill Hader, among others. The variety show - which co-starred Lawrence, Waggoner, Tim Conway and the late Harvey Korman, aired on CBS from September 11, 1967 until March 29, 1978. Legend: The Carol Burnett Show ran from 19671978, airing 276 episodes in total Tradition: The entertainer was joined by peers at the star-studded celebration Colleagues: The show's Vicki Lawrence and Lyle Waggoner were there to honor the anniversary The event, which was held on the same Stage 33 where it was initially filmed, was set to include a Q&A with Carol and more. 'The Carol Burnett Show was a comedy showcase that was years ahead of its time,' CBS chairman and CEO Leslie Moonves said last month in a statement, adding that 'if social media existed then, clips from the broadcast would have quickly gone viral. 'We are very proud of the shows significant place in [CBSs] legacy, as well as in television history, and we look forward to this prime-time celebration of incredible talent, led by the incomparable Carol Burnett.' Back in the limelight: Jay Leno looked well as he posed for shots on the red carpet Bringing people together: Pat Boone and Jane Lynch were pictured on the red carpet Dapper : Harry Connick Jr. (L) and Tom Selleck with wife Jillie Mack were on hand to celebrate Gorgeous: Tracee Ellis Ross of Black-ish fame looked amazing in a glimmering purple gown Dazzling: Kristin Chenoweth looked lovely in her ornate dress while posing for shots Stunning: Contemporary TV stars Kaley Cuoco (L) and Beth Behrs showed off their beautiful smiles while embracing at the event Burnett, who's been seen in recent years in cameos on Hot In Cleveland, Hawaii Five-0 and Glee, will be back on screen next year with A Little Help With Carol Burnett, a Netflix series that will see the Hollywood stalwart in amusing chats with kids between the ages of four and eight. The Carol Burnett 50th Anniversary Special is slated to air on CBS December 3 at 8/7c. Ingenious: Carol did a Cher parody in this shot from the show in 1975 Hollywood royalty: Burnett posed in this image dated in 1962 from the CBS Studios She made her debut at Paris Fashion Week following in the footsteps of her iconic supermodel mum, Cindy Crawford. And Kaia Gerber was coming home as a runway success on Wednesday as she touched back down in her hometown of Los Angeles. The 16-year-old looked confident and mature following her breakthrough at the high fashion week of designer shows. Run-a-way success! Kaia Gerber was coming home as a runway success on Wednesday as she touched back down in her hometown of Los Angeles The brunette wore high waisted trousers with a zip up top and dark sunglasses as she carried her TUMI luggage. The younger lady appeared to be in need of a nap after a busy few weeks walking shows in New York, London and Milan. The day before Kaia looked undeniably trendy as she made a style statement while stepping out in her all-black ensemble in France. Touchdown: The 16-year-old looked confident and mature following her breakthrough at the high fashion week of designer shows. Talk of the fashion world: The younger lady appeared to be in need of a nap after a busy few weeks walking shows in New York, London and Milan Generation strong: She made her debut at Paris Fashion Week following in the footsteps of her iconic supermodel mum, Cindy Crawford She teamed her fashionable outerwear with a simple grey top - complementing her ankle-grazing black trousers. The rising star, whose day is businessman Randy Gerber, swapped out her towering high heels for chic black flats and accessorised with oval shades and a boxy handbag by Stalvey. Earlier on in the day, Kaia's mum Cindy was in attendance to watch her daughter storm the runway of the Chanel SS18 show during Paris Fashion Week. Stylish: Kaia channelled her inner rock chic in a cropped biker jacket as she called it a wrap on Paris Fashion Week in France on Tuesday The daughter of Cindy Crawford, 16, Kaia looked undeniably trendy as she made a style statement while stepping out in her all-black ensemble Trendsetter: The model of the moment teamed her fashionable outerwear with a Stalvey bag and simple grey top - complementing her ankle-grazing black trousers Proving that good genes run in the family, the 16-year-old rising star and the 51-year-old supermodel looked in good spirits as they left the show together. Kaia looked lovely in a cropped black top that she teamed with a grey checkered skirt and military style boots. Layering up, the Vogue model donned a black caped jacket whilst she accessorised with small sunglasses and wore her chestnut locks loose and tousled. It was a far cry, yet equally as chic, from the ensemble she donned on the Chanel runway, where she rocked a pastel pink and blue fringed crop-top with a matching blazer and skirt. Two of a kind: Kaia's proud mother Cindy was in attendance to watch her daughter storm the runway of the Chanel SS18 show during Paris Fashion Week earlier on Out and about: The star looked lovely in a cropped black top that she teamed with a grey checkered skirt and military style boots Kaia's proud mother Cindy also showed off her couture credentials before the show. The fashion icon defied her 51 years and oozed Parisian chic in a elegant ensemble, featuring a fitted cream blouse and high-waisted black flared trousers, which showed off the star's slender frame and endless legs. Adding a further high-fashion edge she donned an ivory peak lapel coat with statement shoulder pads with cream marble buttons, while wrapping a black silk choker around her neck. Model moment: Kaia seemed in good spirits as she stepped out after wowing for Chanel Snap happy: The teenage model had a fan run up and grab a selfie as she headed back Work it: Kaia showed why she is the model of the moment as she rocked the runway at the glittering Chanel Spring-Summer 2018 Paris Fashion Week Show on Tuesday The Vogue coverstar added further height to her statuesque frame with a pair of chunky black boots. Her caramel flecked brunette tresses were styled in soft, romantic waves and parted on the side, while her make-up look featured metallic eyeshadow, fluttery lashes and a rose lipstick which highlighted her striking features. She accessorised with a leather bag with gold chain link strap. Suited and booted: The fashion icon defied her 51 years and oozed Parisian chic in a elegant ensemble, featuring a fitted cream blouse and high-waisted black flared trousers As the mother-daughter duo enjoyed some quality time in Paris, the boys in the family were also bonding, with Rande, 55, and Presley Gerber, 18, seen enjoying dinner in Malibu. Last month Cindy revealed she refused to walk alongside daughter Kaia during the Versace Spring/Summer 2018 fashion show. The star returned to the runway last month to star in Donatella Versace's showcase, but when Kaia asked if the pair would grace the catwalk together, Cindy snubbed her in favour of reuniting with models of her own age and the stars she worked with during the peak of her career, such as Naomi Campbell, Claudia Schiffer, Helena Christensen and Carla Bruni . Boys' night out: As the mother-daughter duo enjoyed some quality time in Paris, the boys were also bonding, with Rande, 55, and Presley Gerber, 18, seen enjoying dinner in Malibu Hug it out: The duo embraced each other before heading back to the LA pad Out and about: Presley has just returned from Paris where he was supporting his sister. The star looked effortlessly stylish in skinny black jeans and white Hogan trainers Sizzling in stripes: Later in the day, Cindy changed into a monochrome striped jumper and skinny jeans, whilst she layered up with a figure-hugging leather jacket and boots Speaking about the event, the brunette beauty said: 'I was booked before Kaia - I don't think Donatella [Versace] even knew that Kaia was doing shows and we had been talking for months about how many of us could get there for that tribute to [her brother] Gianni. 'When Kaia got the part she said, 'Wait, are we going out together?' I said, 'I hope not, I don't want to stand next to you, I want to stand with the women my age.'' Although mother and daughter did not grace the platform side by side, Cindy was honoured to walk in the same show as Kaia, which she doesn't think will happen again. It's a family affair: The Gerber's proved that good looks run in the family She added: 'It was pretty cool, that probably won't happen again, to be in the same show.' The fashion icon who also has son Presley Gerber with her husband Rande Gerber - has revealed she gave Kaia tips on modelling and advised her not to opt for the "vacant stare and robotic walk" that she has noticed models doing. She told The Telegraph Online: "I told her I'm personally not a fan of the vacant stare and robotic walk - that was not how the models of my generation walked. 'I said I understand that some designers will tell you 'don't have an expression,' but my advice is that I think people love seeing personality." She is a newly minted bra and panties saleswoman. And budding lingerie mogul Sofia Vergara decided to celebrate by going clothes shopping in Beverly Hills on Wednesday. The Latina lovely looked like she was having a great time as she prepared to go wild in the aisles in the well-heeled area of Los Angeles County. Just blouse-ing: Sofia Vergara went shopping in Beverly Hills on Wednesday The 45-year-old Modern Family favourite looked in fine form indeed in a striped top, ripped jeans and towering high heels. Colombian cutie Sofia has just launched her new EBY bra and panties line, an acronym for Empowerment By You, is a subscription-based service that sets aside a small portion of the profits for woman entrepreneurs. Sofia said: 'It's a fun mission, you know. It's very exciting to be able to find something so interesting for me.' Sofia has claimed she went financial struggles over her own before becoming the megarich beauty she is today, with an estimated net worth of $140 million. That's torn it: The budding lingerie mogul was wearing a pair of revealing ripped jeans Money to burn: She can afford to go wild in the aisles after earning $41.5 million in 2017 A pants idea: A small portion of the profits from her EBY lingerie line goes towards helping female entrepreneurs She said: 'I was a single mother, and a very young single mother. I moved from Colombia to the United States. One of the most important things for me was to be able to provide for my son, Manolo." 'I had dreams for him. I wanted to give him a great college education. I wanted to give him great health care. I wanted to be there for him. I wanted also to help my family in Colombia, and for that, you need money no matter what.' But Sofia will not have to worry about her latest venture failing, as she is once again the highest paid actress on television. According to Forbes she raked in around $41.5 million, with a mere quarter coming from her turns in Modern Family, with more than half coming from licensing and endorsement deals with the likes of Pepsi, Head And Shoulders, and CoverGirl. How empowering: Sofia modelling her new underwear line Drumming up interest: Her new bras and panties are distributed through a subscription model Gal Gadot knows how to make an entrance. In a new preview for her hosting stint on Saturday Night Live this weekend, the Wonder Woman star, 32, smashes through a brick wall at the NBC show's famed Studio 8H. The spot opens up with season 43 cast regulars Leslie Jones, Beck Bennett, and Mikey Day chatting with scripts in hand. Jones asks her co-stars: 'What's up Mikey, what's up Beck? When's Gal Gadot gonna get here?' Scroll below for video Dropping by: Gal Gadot, 32, makes a smashing entrance in a new commercial for her stint hosting Saturday Night Live this weekend 'Very excited,' Day said, to which Bennett replied, 'Yeah, me too - 'Hey, you think she's anything like Wonder Woman in real life?' The Israeli beauty then enters the studio through the brick wall, with the force of her entrance sending Bennett flying into the empty audience seating. An irritated Jones yells at the action heroine for the over her entry, saying, 'Gal Gadot, you cannot do that! We have rules here!' The 5ft10 stunner sheepishly concedes, 'The door - I shouldve used the door - Im so sorry!' Business as usual: Cast regulars Leslie Jones and Mikey Day are casually chatting at the start of the clip Stunning: The Wonder Woman star looks amazing in a red dress on the set of the comedy show When Day tried to correct Jones in her pronunciation of the star's name, Jones shot back, 'Shut up Marky!' Gadot on Sunday appeared at an event titled Gal Gadot & Meher Tatna In Conversation with Carla Sosenko in New York City, adding that she had confided over her jitters in her first time hosting the show to Meher Tatna, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association's president. She said of her SNL gig: 'Its gonna be crazy - I love this show,' adding that she's a bit concerned her Israeli accent might come through too strong in the spotlight. She said, 'Thats my fear: to speak like a dummy. Improv, yeah I did, but never in America on Saturday night - I can barely say Saturday Night Live.' Whoa! Jones and Day react as Gadot makes a Wonder Woman-like entrance through a brick wall Ouch: In the spot, the force of Gadot's entrance sent SNL's Beck Bennett flying into the empty audience seating She continued, 'Im thinking about the monologue and Im like, "Ahh." Say, "Saturday Night Live." But I am excited.' Gadot remains one of the year's biggest breakout stars, as her film has made more than $820 million internationally, including more than $412 million in the states. Saturday Night Live, which will feature Sam Smith as musical guest, airs Saturday on NBC at 11:30/10:30c. Warning: Jones yelled at the starlet, 'Gal Gadot, you cannot do that! We have rules here!' Punchline: Gadot joked that she should have used the door instead of bursting through She runs popular fashion blog They All Hate Us, alongside best pal Tash Sefton. And Elle Ferguson highlighted her enviable figure, as the pair hosted an intimate dinner celebrating PAIGE denim, in Sydney on Wednesday. The 31-year-old blonde beauty flaunted her trim pins in a black mini-skirt, teamed with a slim-fitting white T-shirt and lightwash denim jacket. Legs for days! Fashion blogger Elle Ferguson (right), 31, flaunted her trim pins in a black mini-skirt, as she posed with business partner Tash Sefton (left) at an intimate dinner in Sydney on Wednesday Elle highlighted her leggy figure in a flirty ensemble, as she posed for photos at Hotel Centennial in Woollahra. A white slim-fitting T-shirt was tucked into a high-waisted black mini-skirt that revealed her trim pins. Elle accessorised with a lightwash denim jacket, biker boots and delicate jewels, and finished off the look with wavy tresses and an elegant makeup palette. Fashion-forward: Elle sported a white slim-fitting T-shirt, tucked into a high-waisted black mini-skirt, accessorised with edgy biker boots and a lightwash denim jacket Her main man: The blonde beauty happily posed for photos with her AFL star partner Joel Patfull The blonde beauty was pictured next to business partner and best pal Tash Sefton, who cut an effortlessly chic figure. Tash sported a white button-up shirt, skinny-leg black jeans, floral pointy-toed boots and a sequined bomber jacket. Delicate gold jewellery provided a touch of bling and her tresses were styled sleek and straight. No faults here: Fashion designer and co-founder of P.E Nation Pip Edwards, showed off her style credentials in a floral maxi-dress, teamed with black cigarette-style pants and two-toned strappy heels Running in A-list circles: Elle made headlines in June this year, when she scored an international guest invite to the launch of Kim Kardashian West's KKW Beauty Launch in Los Angeles Elle made headlines in June this year, when she scored an international guest invite to the launch of Kim Kardashian West's KKW Beauty Launch in Los Angeles. The social media sensation, whose celebrity profile grew last year when she began a romance with AFL star Joel Patfull, revealed she had signed a release form to enter the launch held at the reality star's Bel Air mansion. She joined Kim for photos alongside Stephanie Shepherd, who is Kim's COO for Kimoji and former personal assistant. Elle and Stephanie recently shot a campaign together for OUAI, the hair care brand by celebrity hair stylist Jen Atkin. Celebrities flocked to the People magazine Ones To Watch event when it was thrown at NeueHouse, Hollywood this Wednesday. Karrueche Tran sizzled in robe-like black cocktail dress and that offered a glimpse at the lacy black bra she'd worn that evening. The 29-year-old model and gal pal of Christina Milian had flung her wavy hair over her left shoulder as she posed up a storm for the cameras. Scroll down for video Sizzling: Celebrities including Karrueche Tran flocked to the People magazine Ones To Watch event when it was thrown at NeueHouse, Hollywood this Wednesday She'd cinched her getup about her waist with a matching sash that played up her svelte figure and had ends that dangled down past the knee. Her hem was cut off at mid-thigh, allowing her to show off her knockout legs as she balanced on a pale silver pair of open-toed ankle-strap stilettos. Among the other attendees of the evening's revelries was Paris Jackson, daughter of Michael Jackson, who'd worn a sleeveless white gown. So chic: The 29-year-old model and gal pal of Christina Milian had flung her wavy hair over her left shoulder to display the plunging neckline as she posed up a storm for the cameras Glamorous: Karrueche sizzled in robe-like black cocktail dress and that offered a glimpse at the lacy black bra as she arrived at the bash (above) Slender: She'd cinched her getup about her waist with a matching sash that played up her svelte figure and had ends that dangled down past the knee Legs for days:Her hem was cut off at mid-thigh, allowing her to show off her knockout legs as she balanced on a pale silver pair of open-toed ankle-strap stilettos She's the teal deal: She injected a splash of colour into her look with a vibrant turquoise clutch bag as she posed for cameras outside the venue Cut off at the ankle, her dress allowed a glimpse at her walnut brown sandals, which complemented one of the necklaces the 19-year-old had clasped on. Vanessa Morgan bared her abs in an orange crop top matching her teeny-tiny shorts, whilst Valentin Chmerkovskiy emphasized his toned torso in a tight sweater. Serinda Swan's slinky sleeveless number was black at the top and became a grainy, glinting silver at the bust, continuing with that motif down to its hem. Scion of stardom: Among the other attendees of the evening's revelries was Paris Jackson, daughter of Michael Jackson, who'd worn a sleeveless white gown Hand at the waist: Cut off at the ankle, her dress allowed a glimpse at her walnut brown sandals, which complemented one of the necklaces the 19-year-old had clasped on She'd pulled the outfit in with a charcoal belt, stressing her trim waistline. Briga Heelan was casually stylish in jeans, a black leather jacket and a white blouse, whilst Kelly Rutherford smiled brightly while modeling a black smock. Jordan Fisher wore a couple of shimmering necklaces, including a cross, over an otherwise all-black ensemble that included a chic leather jacket. Sparkler: Serinda Swan's slinky sleeveless number was black at the top and became a grainy, glinting silver at the bust, continuing with that motif down to its hem Emphasis: Vanessa Morgan (left) bared her abs in an orange crop top matching her teeny-tiny shorts, whilst Valentin Chmerkovskiy (right) emphasized his toned torso in a tight sweater His top matched his jeans, which featured massive tears over each knee, as well as the boots he'd popped on for the People magazine fete. Child actress Auli'i Cravalho, 16-year-old star of Moana, wore pink to the event. Emily Kinney, 32, was adorable in a crop top that featured a frilly bit of black fabric pulled over an intricately patterned silver and pewter grey field. Aglow: Jordan Fisher wore a couple of shimmering necklaces, including a cross, over an otherwise all-black ensemble that included a chic leather jacket Ladies in black: Briga Heelan (left) was casually stylish in jeans, a black leather jacket and a white blouse, whilst Kelly Rutherford (right) smiled brightly while modeling a black smock Mini celeb: Child actress Auli'i Cravalho, 16-year-old star of Moana, wore pink to the event She showcased her legs in a high-waisted silver and black print skirt, sweeping her blonde hair into an updo and ambling about in ankle-strap heels. Lindsay Arnold of So You Think You Can Dance fame and Shameless actress Emma Kenney had both worn floral ensembles Wednesday night. Natatalie Morales stunned in a glinting midnight blue split skirt, clashing it against an orange blouse that went sheer over its sleeves and shoulders. So sweet: Emily Kinney, 32, was adorable in a crop top that featured a frilly bit of black fabric pulled over an intricately patterned silver and pewter grey field Snakeskin-patterned: She showcased her legs in a high-waisted silver and black print skirt, sweeping her blonde hair into an updo and ambling about in ankle-strap heels Posing up a storm: Natatalie Morales stunned in a glinting midnight blue split skirt, clashing it against an orange blouse that went sheer over its sleeves and shoulders Victoria Arlen crossed her legs while standing on burnt orange platforms, having pulled on a sheer black cocktail dress over a white mini-dress. Lauren Ash had hoisted on a black and white striped dress, while while Marcus Scribner wore a sweater advertising Los Angeles over fossil grey trousers. Cassie Scerbo had turned up in a T-shirt honoring Tom Petty, who died Monday, flinging a matching black and white blazer casually over her shoulders. Flowery and fab: Lindsay Arnold of So You Think You Can Dance fame (left) and Shameless actress Emma Kenney (right) had both worn floral ensembles Wednesday night Clashing: Victoria Arlen crossed her legs while standing on burnt orange platforms, having pulled on a sheer black cocktail dress over a white mini-dress There were tears all over her skintight black jeans, and she'd added a splash of color by way of a pair of bright pink shoes. Trace Lysette matched a gold-colored high-waisted pencil skirt with her ankle-strap heels and the accenting on her black purse, as well as her gold-colored necklace. Olivia Jade Giannulli, the 17-year-old YouTube star daughter of Lori Loughlin, had slicked her hair into a high ponytail. Style: Lauren Ash (left) had hoisted on a black and white striped dress, while while Marcus Scribner (right) wore a sweater advertising Los Angeles over fossil grey trousers In memoriam: Cassie Scerbo had turned up in a T-shirt honoring Tom Petty, who died Monday, flinging a matching black and white blazer casually over her shoulders Olivia posed sharing a hug with her mother, who'd worn a sleeveless dress with splashy floral patterning in blue, red, green, yellow and off-white. Around her dress, Lori had buckled a Gucci belt that complemented a black choker she'd got in, as well as the black and red shoes she'd pushed her feet into. Olivia one of Lori's two daughters by her fashion designer second husband Mossimo Giannulli, to whom she's been married since back in 1997. Coordinated: Trace Lysette matched a gold-colored high-waisted pencil skirt with her ankle-strap heels and the accenting on her black purse, as well as her gold-colored necklace Child of fame: Olivia Jade Giannulli, the 17-year-old YouTube star daughter of Lori Loughlin, had slicked her hair into a high ponytail Family resemblance: Olivia posed sharing a hug with her mother, who'd worn a sleeveless dress with splashy floral patterning in blue, red, green, yellow and off-white Smiling ear to ear: Around her dress, Lori had buckled a Gucci belt that complemented a black choker she'd got in, as well as the black and red shoes she'd pushed her feet into Background: Olivia one of Lori's two daughters by her fashion designer second husband Mossimo Giannulli, to whom she's been married since back in 1997 Quality time: Mother and daughter looked the picture of familial happiness Bethany Mota wore a pale blue mini-dress with a thigh-slit and Scheana Marie showed off her taut midriff in a revealing skirt-tube-top combo. Frankie Muniz wore white trousers and an off-white blazer over a burnt orange sweater and navy sneakers, posing alongside his paramour Paige Price. Paige, Frankie's blonde latest girlfriend, was elegant in a red mini-dress with folded up sleeves and a shining dull gold belt. She held a black clutch at her side. Swanking: Bethany Mota (left) wore a pale blue mini-dress with a thigh-slit and Scheana Marie (right) showed off her taut midriff in a revealing skirt-tube-top combo It was never wise to walk around in the Wild West unarmed. So there is little wonder Luke Hemsworth was spotted packing a pistol as he filmed scenes for Westworld in Los Angeles on Wednesday. The Aussie hunk looked prepared for a high noon showdown as he prepared to film sequences with co-star Jeffrey Wright. In a black mood: Luke Hemsworth was looking literally hot as he filmed Westworld in scorching Los Angeles on Wednesday The 36-year-old was surely sweating in the scorching heat in his heavy black jacket, trousers and boots as he wandered around the set. Of course Luke's lack of cowboy garb was understandable, as his character Ashley Stubbs is the head of Westworld security, though with rampaging robots on the loose he will surely get to partake in his fair share of shootouts. He was joined on set by Jeffrey, who plays the head of the Westworld Programming Division, which has gone off the rails of late in the show. The second season of the hit HBO show, which is set in a technologically advanced Wild Westthemed amusement park, is slated to hit screens sometime next year. But Luke no doubt always has one eye slightly askew when he sits in the makeup department chair. Sidekick: He was filming scenes with Jeffrey Wright, who plays the head of the Westworld Programming Division It's a buggy's life: At one point Luke was wandering around his on-screen transportation Luke who's sweating: Thankfully he is used to heat after growing up in Australia For he recently revealed there could be dire consequences whenever he or siblings Chris or Liam where caught indulging in personal grooming He said: 'If we did [primp], we did it discreetly. 'If any one of us ever spent any length of time in front of a mirror then he would get absolutely hammered by the other two.' And he said the Hemsworth boys loved nothing more than a bit of rough and tumble in their younger years. He said: 'We were never really intentionally hurting each other but our games would be physical and usually involve swords and pieces of wood.' She's a self-proclaimed hippie... with the chakra tattoos to prove it. And Paris Jackson stayed true to her bohemian roots on Wednesday night as she made an appearance at the Ones to Watch party in Los Angeles. The 19-year-old actress arrived in leather sandals, a toga style dress, and lots of beaded jewelry as she walked the red carpet. Scroll down for video Going Greek: Paris Jackson did not disappoint in the style department on Wednesday night as she made an appearance at the Ones to Watch party in Los Angeles Sheathing her figure, the gown fell to ankle length, but was sleeveless to show off her impressive collection of inkings. The daughter of the late Micheal Jackson finished off the look by styling her long blonde locks to fall in loose waves over her shoulders. Meanwhile, on Saturday Paris uploaded an Instagram story of herself smoking with her foot. From Paris to Rome! The 19-year-old actress chanelled the ancient romans in a toga style dress, leather sandals and lots of beaded jewelry Natural beauty: Paris shunned make-up to show off her naturally stunning features Makeup free and glowing: The daughter of Michal Jackson let her blonde hair fall in loose tangled waves over her shoulders framing her glowing complexion Bit of all white! Sheathing her figure, the gown fell to ankle length, but was sleeveless to show off her impressive collection of inkings In the wordless clip, the daughter of Michael Jackson effortlessly brings the cigarette to her lips via her right foot. A pan round the room revealed her pal was also practicing the same trick with an equally bemused expression. Paris has been doing a lot of showing off on Instagram lately; Earlier this month she revealed new tattooed down the middle of her chest in a series of topless snaps. Cigarette break! Bendy Paris effortlessly smoked a cigarette using her foot on Instagram on Saturday Match that: In the wordless clip, the daughter of Michael Jackson effortlessly brings the cigarette to her lips via her right foot, taking a toe toke Paris has made no secret of her interest in spirituality; the chakras are said to be energy centers placed in seven points of the body. In her first posting, she covered her modesty with pink flower emojis as she took a selfie arms raised and bare naked. She also shared a selfie with a topless female pal also in shot and a rainbow protecting her modesty. Bared her skin: Paris has been doing a lot of showing off on Instagram lately; Earlier this month she revealed new tattooed down the middle of her chest in a series of topless snaps Free spirit: In her first posting, she covered her nipples with pink flower emojis as she took a selfie arms raised and bare naked. Tat's my sister: She also shared a selfie with a topless female pal also in shot and a rainbow protecting her modesty. Of her pal Paris wrote: 'Our connection is beyond what the English language can describe. Thank you for ascending with me sister.' Paris also showed off the tattoos, covered up in bandages, before she unveiled the final product. 'Secreting blood n plasma everywhere,' she captioned the messy snap. Messy: Paris also showed off the tattoos, covered up in bandages, before she unveiled the final product Em Rusciano has been caught swearing at her boss in an Instagram story on Thursday. The 2DAY FM star can be heard in the background of a clip telling off content director Jase Allen, over a person who yawned in the background of another clip. She soon apologised on air for the gaffe, and for using foul language. Scroll down for video 'I don't give a f**k if you think I'm funny or not, mate!' Radio star Em Rusciano apologies after being caught swearing at her BOSSas 2Day FM's breakfast ratings continue to fall 'When Harley's being funny you don't want a staff member yawning in the background,' Em can be heard saying in the clip, that was shared to the Em Rusciano Radio Show with Harley Breen Instagram. The boss defended the worker and said he thought Em was 'funny.' He said: 'Sometimes I sit out here and I think you're funny,' causing Em to fire up and swear. Firing up: The 2DAY FM star can be heard in the background of a clip telling off content director Jase Allen, over a person who yawned in the background of another clip 'I don't give a f**k if you think I'm funny or not, mate!' she told him. Later on air, she apologised for her actions. 'For anyone who might be watching our Instagram story today I want to apologise for my language,' she said. Harley - he co-host - then said how much he liked their boss, but Em didn't hold back. 'I don't, and you know that'. 'Nah, I love you Jase, you stupid bald-headed idiot,' she added. Meanwhile, the latest results of the recent radio survey have been released, with WSFM's Jonesy and Amanda breaking Kyle and Jackie O's 15 month ratings winning streak. Tough: Meanwhile, the latest results of the recent radio survey have been released. Em and Harley's show only managed to capture 3.3 of the audience compared to last month's 3.6 per cent Results from the recent radio survey show the WSFM show coming in at equal first position and breaking their ARN stablemates' winning streak. However, falling by the wayside yet again was 2Day FM's Em Rusciano Show. Hosted by the former Australian Idol star, the show only managed to capture 3.3 of the audience compared to last month's 3.6 per cent. In the past Em has told News.com.au she was not worried about her show's poor ratings. Brushing it off: In the past Em has told News.com.au she was not worried about her show's poor ratings 'I know how long it takes to build a following and to turn ratings around,' she explained. 'Our numbers are so good in terms of online and socials. Our videos have had millions of views and ... our podcast is one of the most listened to radio podcasts in the country.' She and Harley took over the radio show after Sam Frost and Rove McManus were axed. Meanwhile this week, Em debuted her dramatic new look, dyeing her famous brunette locks light blonde. Compared to noneducators, teachers express less-negative racial stereotypes and report less social distance and resentments toward minority groups, a new paper finds but some teachers do still have problematic attitudes toward race. The paper uses nationally representative data from the General Social Survey, which surveys samples of the U.S. population, to compare the racial attitudes of preK-12 teachers, postsecondary educators, and the general population of the United States from 1972 to 2014. David Quinn, an assistant professor of education at the University of Southern Californias Rossier School of Education and the author of the report, said this is the first descriptive picture of teachers racial attitudes. The term racial attitudes refers to beliefs and stereotypes that people hold regarding different racial and ethnic groups. Quinn said its important to understand teachers attitudes toward race to understand how they view and interact with different groups of students. Some findings: Educators are more likely to believe a racist should be allowed to teach at a college and less likely to believe a racist book should be removed from the library, erring on the side of free speech. Educators were more likely than noneducators to believe that inequalities between black and white Americans in jobs, income, and housing are mainly due to structural factors, like discrimination, rather than biological or cultural ones. About 30 percent of preK-12 teachers attributed inequalities to a lack of motivation among African Americans, compared to 46 percent of noneducators. Forty-four percent of preK-12 teachers would not point to insufficient educational opportunities for African Americans as an explanation for inequalities, which Quinn said was disappointing. He theorized that teachers who prioritize education as a means to equity would incorporate that belief into their work. Educators reported less social distance from nonwhite groupsthey were more likely to say that theyd be fine living in a diverse neighborhood and that someone in their family brought a friend of a different race home for dinner over the past few years. The differences between educators and noneducators, Quinn said, are mainly explained by educational attainment: Teachers are more likely to have a bachelors degree than the general population. People who go to college typically have more positive racial attitudes. While some teachers might develop more positive racial attitudes after working with diverse students, Quinn said he doesnt think that fully explains the differences in viewpoints: He could also see teachers developing negative racial attitudes after having a difficult class, he said. The goal of social justice ... thats not the majority of teachers, he said. The general public rated African Americans as more lazy and more violence-prone than did educators, and educators rated white people as neutral on intelligence and work ethic, in contrast to noneducators, who viewed that group as slightly more intelligent and hardworking. Both educators and noneducators rated Asian Americans as being more hardworkingand educators did so to a greater extent than the general public. Educators also rated Asians as being more intelligent and less violent. Were not really sure what the effect of this might be, Quinn said. Theres research that having positive expectations of students is beneficial. Theres also research showing theres a reverse stereotype threat. Asian-American students who dont fit into the model minority myth might be overlooked by teachers , and miss out on academic supports. This phenomenon might even decrease Asian-American students own expectations , research has found. See also: Who the Model Minority Stereotype Hurts Most (Opinion) Next, Quinn said he will study teachers implicit racist biases. Datasets like these, he said, have certain limitations. You never know how forthcoming people will be, he said. With implicit bias, its harder for people to fake. He plans to look at teachers stereotypes on intelligence and warmth, which begins with an impression of an intention people in a group have toward you or your group, and that affects how you interact with them, Quinn said. Those interactions affect relationships teachers have with their students and the learning that comes up. Another recent study found that teachers report weaker relationships with Asian-American students, Latino students, and children of immigrants. In his paper, Quinn concluded that while educators largely have more positive racial attitudes than the general public, students would be better off if fewer educators explained inequalities through racial differences in motivation or willpower, and if more perceived education as playing a corrective role. He called for more research looking at how interventions can raise teachers awareness of problematic attitudes and how those attitudes affect their students. For teachers who want to see if they hold any biases, take this short online quiz , developed by psychologists and adapted for Education Week readers. And then review the results from more than 600 education professionals: Educators gave a slight edge to applicants who appeared black rather than white, even if they had lower average grade point averages or less favorable interviews. Read more from Education Weeks series on bias and stereotypes in schools . Bachelor villain Keira Maguire has hit back at Zilda Williams for calling her a 'bitch'. The drama started on Tuesday, when Zilda told Daily Mail Australia that Keira had ghosted her abruptly for no reason. Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, the 31-year-old socialite said: 'I have no issues with Zilda, we have only met a few times at events.' 'I have no issues with Zilda, we have only met a few times at events': Keira Maguire told Daily Mail Australia that she has no beef with fellow Bachelor star Zilda Williams, whom she recently ghosted on social media for unknown reasons The reality star continued: 'So if she feels that I've upset her but not calling her back... I'm busy I have a full time job. 'I don't even get to see my best friends that often,' she finished. The I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! star recently hit back at a follower on Instagram who asked if her occupation was an 'escort,' with Keira later telling Daily Mail Australia that the comment was 'offensive.' 'I'm busy I have a full time job,' continued reality star Keira, who was recently labeled an 'escort' by an 'offensive' troll on Instagram Zilda and Keira are two of the rumoured cast members for Channel Ten's upcoming Bachelor spin-off Bachelor In Paradise. But Kiwi babe Zilda says that she wouldn't want to be stuck on an island with frenemy Keira after the star abruptly ended their friendship for no reason. When contacted by Daily Mail Australia about her potential casting earlier this week, the famously busty 34-year-old said that filming with 'bitch' Keira would be too awkward after the socialite ghosted her. 'I wouldn't want to be on an island with Keira!' Zilda slammed fellow Bachelor star Keira Maguire this week, telling Daily Mail Australia she wouldn't do Bachelor In Paradise with her 'I wouldn't want to be on an island with Keira,' laughed Zilda. 'But I'd love to film with gorgeous girls like Elora [Murger] and Jen [Hawke].' Explaining the origin of their falling out, the Kiwi-born beauty said: 'Keira and I met at an event and used to be friends. We hung out quite a few times and I thought she was really cool.' 'Keira and I met at an event and used to be friends,' explained the stunning Kiwi model 'We hung out quite a few times and I thought she was really cool,' continued Zilda She continued: 'People were always going on about how much of a bitch she was and I used to stand up for her. 'Then all of a sudden she literally stopped taking my calls and deleted me off social media, so I guess the people were right.' She finished: 'It was extremely rude so filming with her would be kind of awkward. 'I'm a girl's girl and I'm friends with so many of the Bachie girls. If I'm your friend I'm your friend for life, so what Keira did hurt my feelings.' 'People were always going on about how much of a bitch she was and I used to stand up for her': The former Maxim centerfold says she was warned about Keira's personality 'Then all of a sudden she literally stopped taking my calls and deleted me off social media, so I guess the people were right,' said Zilda Former Maxim centerfold Zilda declined to comment on whether she'd been contacted by producers about the series or not, but said that if she had to film with any guy, her pick would be Sasha Mielczarek. 'He's pretty hot,' she admitted. Zilda and Keira have both previously been approached to star on the American version of Bachelor in Paradise as foreign intruders. Keira officially signed on for season four of the dating show, but the gig was cancelled at the last minute when production halted mid-filming due to on-set scandal. 'He's pretty hot': Despite declining to comment on rumours of her casting on Bachelor in Paradise, the beauty admitted that she fancies potential cast member Sasha Mielczarek 'I'd love to film with gorgeous girls like Elora and Jen!' The blonde-turned-brunette says she'd be happy to do the show with season five stars Elora Murger (L) and Jen Hawke (R) Lorraine viewers were left in a fit of laughter on Thursday's instalment of the ITV morning show after her cameraman fell over. The crew member was capturing McFly's Tom Fletcher coming into the studio off a bin lorry as Lorraine greeted him. However, it all suddenly went awry when the poor camera started walking backwards and fell on his bum as the Scottish presenter welcomed the children's author - who was on the show to promote his new book The Creakers. Oh no! Lorraine viewers were left in a fit of laughter on Thursday's instalment of the ITV morning show after her cameraman fell over Whoops: The crew member was capturing McFly's Tom Fletcher (back) coming into the studio off a bin lorry as Lorraine greeted him Happening in the blink of an eye, both Lorraine and Tom rushed to the crew member's aid as she asked 'Oh pet, you alright? Stand up, it's OK' following a chorus of 'ooohs' from members of the ITV crew. Aside from making sure he wasn't injured and the camera wasn't harmed, Lorraine proved how much of a pro she is as she continued the interview following the spill. Getting to her couch with a high-vis clad Tom, she assured everyone at home that the cameraman was A-OK: 'He's fine, he's given me the thumbs up, he's OK. Hes alright, he just fell on his bottom and hes absolutely fine'. Although he could have injured himself, viewers at home couldn't contain the hilarity of how the incident unfolded with many admitting it made their morning on Twitter. Falling: However, it all suddenly went awry when the poor camera started walking backwards and fell on his bum as the Scottish presenter welcomed the children's author - who was on the show to promote his new book The Creakers He's down! The camera became blurry and dark as the cameraman toppled to the floor - leaving host Lorraine concerned One viewer wrote: 'The camera man falling over on live TV was hilarious!! That made my morning'. 'The camera man falling over on #lorraine has made my morning already,' another shared. 'What an entrance that was (hilarious) camera man down! @TomFletcher #lorraine'. 'Omg the cameraman falling over on #lorraine has made my day hahahahahahahaha'. A viewer took to the micro-blogging site and shared: 'OMG poor camera guy - that was freakin hilarious #lorraine'. Comments: Although he could have injured himself, viewers at home couldn't contain the hilarity of how the incident unfolded with many admitting it made their morning on Twitter 'When the camera man falls over on @ITVLorraine haha cringe!!' another wrote. 'Aw that poor camera man on #Lorraine'. While others simply wrote: 'F***ing hell the cameraman fell over #Lorraine' and 'Aw that poor camera man on #Lorraine'. Aside from the rib-tickling moment, Tom also revealed that McFly are still enjoying a break from the music industry and have no immediate plans to release new music anytime soon. What a pro: Aside from making sure he wasn't injured and the camera wasn't harmed, Lorraine proved how much of a pro she is as she continued the interview following the spill To the rescue: Getting to her couch with a high-vis clad Tom, she assured everyone at home that the cameraman was A-OK: 'He's fine, he's given me the thumbs up, he's OK. Hes alright, he just fell on his bottom and hes absolutely fine' He means vis-ness: Tom had been seen arriving at the show earlier that day, in skinny jeans and Converse - and a high-vis jacket on top All OK! Tom, who had arrived ahead of the incident on a bin lorry (above) later took to Twitter to address the moment - and confirm the camerman was OK Hilarious: He joked of the incident on his Twitter, adding that he 'loves telly' 'Were all having kids at the moment,' he said. 'Weve been a band for 14 years, it feels like forever and its really relaxed now and weve got time to explore other things.' The side-splitting moment comes moments after Lorraine's awkward interview with The Darkness' frontman Justin Hawkins. The musician - who is currently based in Switzerland - was on the show to discuss their new studio album Pinewood Smile and caused a flurry of reaction online as he talked about his plight with Southern Rail, consumerism and the music trade. She had broken the hearts of the nation when she announced she was stepping down from her judging duties on the Great British Bake Off, following its channel move. And Mary Berry has now admitted that she did have some concerns about who would replace her for the show's revamped Channel 4 version, confessing that if she felt the chosen candidate hadn't been experienced enough, she would have been 'sad'. However, the veteran celebrity chef, 82, insisted that she was more than happy to hear fellow cooking star Prue Leith would be filling her shoes and in an interview with The Sun, Mary praised her successor for her 'fair' judging critique. Scroll down for video Worries: Mary Berry, 82, has admitted that she did have some concerns about who would replace her for on the Great British Bake Off for its revamped Channel 4 series After seven years on the Great British Bake Off, Mary decided to quit the show out of loyalty to the BBC and not move with it to Channel 4, when its new home was announced last year. Instead, viewers have seen Prue join Paul Hollywood in the tent to judge this year's aspiring bakers and winning the seal approval from Mary, the former Bake Off star gushed: 'Prue is just the person to do it!' Although, Mary did confess that she would have been left upset if someone without Prue's expertise had been chosen for the job instead. She confessed: 'If [show producers] had chosen somebody who I knew couldn't do the job and hadn't the experience, I would have been sad - but I'm certainly not with Prue, she knows how to judge. Seal of approval: Confessing that if she felt the chosen candidate hadn't been experienced enough, she would have been 'sad', but was more than happy that Prue Leith has been chosen to fill her shoes 'She's got the knowledge and she's fair... that's all we ask.' Mary went on to reveal that despite her close bond with her former co-judge Paul, she hasn't seen much of him since her Bake Off exit. However, Paul had claimed during a recent appearance on The Jonathan Ross Show that he and Mary do text one another to stay in touch. He said: 'We've swapped texts and emails occasionally. We were meant to meet, I was at Chatsworth a couple of weeks ago doing a demonstration, Mary was doing, I think the Saturday or the Sunday, and I was doing the day before and we just missed each other by about half an hour. We do sort of text and email each other.' Moving on: After seven years on the Great British Bake Off, Mary decided to quit the show out of loyalty to the BBC and not move with it to Channel 4, when its new home was announced last year Staying in touch: Mary revealed that despite her close bond with her former co-judge Paul, she hasn't seen much of him since her Bake Off exit, but he insists the pair do text and email Paul had remained with the show despite the furore caused by its channel move, that saw Mary and its old hosts Sue Perkins and Mel Giedoryc leave. Justifying his decision, Paul had admitted he was worried about the longevity of his career, claiming he wouldn't go on to have as such long-standing success as Mary. 'Obviously it came down to my job was still there and I didnt want to lose my job,' he explained. 'I love doing what I do. At the end of the day, Im a baker by trade, thats all I am. 'Ive got a family and Im just coming to the end of my career I suppose, Im 50 odd, I havent got long left. Im not going to last like Mary, 81. Ill never last until Im 81 but while its here, I will carry on doing my job as a judge.' Paul is the only original Bake Off star to have stuck with the show, with Noel Fielding and Sandi Toksvig replacing Mel and Sue as the series' new hosts. Revamped: Paul is the only original Bake Off star to have stuck with the show, with Noel Fielding and Sandi Toksvig replacing Mel and Sue as the series' new hosts Sure hit! And the presenthing duo appear to have won over viewers so far, especially Sandi for her heartfelt displays of emotion when it comes to the contestants And the duo appear to be a hit with viewers so far, especially Sandi for her heartfelt displays of emotion when it comes to the contestants. On Tuesday's episode, she was seen tearing up as she delivered the news that Julia Chernogorova had become the sixth person to leave the Great British Bake Off. Her voice appeared to falter and the 59-year-old comedian seemed to have tears in her eyes, as she told Julia she was 'so sorry' to see her go. Sandi appeared to come over all emotional yet again when discussing the contestants currently competing on the Channel 4 series of the show during an appearance on ITV's Lorraine on Wednesday morning. She found it hard to keep her composure while watching back a clip of Julia's exit, commenting that 'even now' - many months later down the line - she still finds it hard not to tear up. Tearing up: Sandi came over all emotional yet again as she discussed Julia Chernogorova's exit from the Great British Bake Off on Lorraine on Wednesday morning Filming for Bake Off wrapped earlier this year, with viewers only now getting to watch all the action that had unfolded in the tent. Addressing the latest exit from the show on Lorraine, Sandi commended all the baker's on the 'effort they put in' to the competition, adding: 'They put their hearts and souls into it.' She has become known for her heartfelt reactions towards all the contestants and when Lorraine Kelly pointed out how emotional Sandi had got over Julia's exit from Bake Off, Sandi's voice began to falter, as she joked she still hadn't recovered, saying: 'Ahh even now.' Emotional: She was seen to have a catch in her throat as she announced Julia had become the sixth person to leave the competition on Tuesday night's episode of the show Sweet: Sandi commended all the baker's on the 'effort they put in' to the competition and joked that even now she still can't watch back contestants leaving without welling up Sandi went on to revealed that the presenting team have a WhatsApp group with all the show's contestants and that they all still keep in touch. She commented on how well she, Noel and judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith get on during filming - adding that Noel often refers to her as his 'little Danish wife'. Her appearance on Lorraine came after fans saw Julia sent home from the Great British Bake Off after failing to impress Paul and Prue with her three creations for pastry week. The 21-year-old from Russia, who lives in West Sussex with her husband, was told her fate by Sandi who appeared to have tears in her eyes, as she told Julia she was 'so sorry' to see her go. Close bond: The star then went on to revealed that the Bake Off presenting team have a WhatsApp group with all the show's contestants and that they all still keep in touch Good fun: She also commented on how well she, Noel and judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith get on during filming - adding that Noel often refers to her as his 'little Danish wife' Emotional exit: The Great British Bake Off's Julia said she knew she "would not win or get to the final" as she became the sixth baker eliminated from the competition on Tuesday night As she revealed the latest casualty of the Bake Off, Sandi's voice faltered, as she said: 'I have the horrible job, you are all amazing, you're down to the last seven which is incredible, somebody has to go home and it's really painful.' Announcing the name of the sixth hopeful to be eliminated, Sandi had to regain her composure, as she stuttered Julia's name. Bringing in Julia for a hug, an emotional Toksvig told her: 'I am so sorry, sorry sweetheart. You did amazing. You know that, right? You did incredible.' The signature challenge, which saw the seven remaining bakers tasked with creating four savoury shortcrust pies, was Julia's first downfall, as she included baking powder in her pastry - a move later dubbed a "mistake" by Leith. Sad: Her exit had left show host Sandi Toksvig, 59, all emotional and on announcing the result, the comedian's voice appeared to falter Disappointed: Julia appeared to know her fate as Sandi announced the news that she had been given the boot Tearing up: Host Sandi had tears in her eyes as she told Julia she was 'so sorry' to see her go Hugging it out: The comedian made sure to comfort Julia, after telling this year's contestants that she had the 'painful' job of revealing who had to go Julia came in last place in the technical challenge, due to her pasteis de nata - Portuguese custard tarts - resembling shortcrust pastry rather than the desired flaky pastry it is known for. In the showstopper round, Julia's hand-raised pie with a hot water crust pastry base received criticism from both Hollywood and Leith. They said her effort could have been neater, that the pastry was 'undercooked' and that her shredded chicken filling was 'dry'. Farewell: The 21-year-old from Russia, who lives in West Sussex with her husband, failed to impress judges Prue Leith and Paul Hollywood with her three pasty creations Half-baked effort: The signature challenge, which saw the seven remaining bakers tasked with creating four savoury shortcrust pies, was Julia's first downfall Following her exit from the programme, Julia said: 'I knew that I wouldn't win or get to the final, but I enjoyed every week, and to get to over half way through the series is something I am really grateful for. 'I enjoyed every minute of it, and I would love to do it again now I have the knowledge of how it all works!' Julia said that being named Star Baker during bread week was her highlight in the tent, and that she enjoyed getting to know Toksvig and her co-presenter Noel Fielding. Look on the bright side: Julia said that being named Star Baker during bread week was her highlight in the tent, and that she enjoyed getting to know Toksvig and her co-presenter Noel Fielding (pictured) She said: 'They always made me laugh and we were always on the same wavelength. 'We just got each other, and I think I made them laugh too, it was so comfortable I felt like I had known them both for a long time. 'Sandi was like my mum and I really loved her, she was so incredibly supportive.' Julia said her family back at home in Russia have not yet been able to watch her progress on the Channel 4 show as they do not speak English, but that "hopefully I will be able to take some DVDs of the show so they can see it". Main man: Liam, 19, was named Star Baker for his efforts in pastry week, his first time with the accolade Well done: Prue Leith praised Liam, this year's youngest baker, as being a "genius", particularly with his flavours She added: 'My husband Matt's family have of course been able to watch it, and his nan cries each week, and was in pieces the night I left. 'They have been so incredibly supportive, and that means so much to me. 'My husband Matt has been my rock, he is the one who has always believed in me. I would have gone crazy without him!' Liam, 19, was named Star Baker for his efforts in pastry week, marking his first time receiving the accolade. Leith praised Liam, this year's youngest baker, as being a "genius", particularly with his flavours. The Great British Bake Off continues on Tuesday at 8pm on Channel 4. She is known for her effortless sense of style, as well as her notable acting ability. And Naomi Watts proved her sartorial flair once again on Wednesday, as she was spotted walking her Yorkshire Terrier rescue dog Bob in New York. The actress, 49, made the most of the summery weather in a pretty polka dot dress and trendy round sunglasses as she enjoyed a stroll with her pooch around Manhattan. Scroll Down for Video Enjoying the sun: Naomi Watts looked casually chic on Wednesday as she strolled the streets of Manhattan with her Yorkshire Terrier rescue dog Bob in New York The star slipped into a shabby-chic polka dot shirt dress and casual denim jacket for the summery stroll in the city. She made the look sexier by leaving the top buttons of the dress undone and accessorised with a tan belt, which cinched in at her slim waist. Keeping her look casual however, she layered a blue denim jacket on top and tied the ensemble together with comfortable brown leather loafers. Enjoying the outing: Bob gleefully enjoys his day out as he strolls alongside the actress Styling her golden bob into loose waves, and opting for minimal make-up, she displayed her enviably glowing complexion for all to see as she stepped out in the city. The actress drew further attention to her youthful visage with trendy round mirrored sunglasses, and carried a small black backpack as she embarked on a spot of retail therapy with her canine friend. Naomi appeared to be in good spirits as she listened to music while walking the excitable pooch - clearly enjoying some time off from her busy working schedule. Relaxed: Naomi appeared to be in good spirits as she listened to music while walking the excitable pooch - clearly enjoying some time off from her busy working schedule She has been busy all summer promoting The Glass Castle with co-stars Brie Larson and Woody Harrelson. The flick followed author Jeannette Walls' real-life childhood, spent squatting in homes and living in poverty - with Naomi starring as her eccentric mother Rose. Meanwhile her latest film Ophelia, in which she plays the character of Gertrude also known as Mechtild is currently in post-production, and is set to be released in 2018 She found fame on Love Island last year when she took a chance on a same sex relationship, only to end up in tears when she was dumped on national television. And Katie Salmon has clearly moved on from the drama, having the time of her life as she holidayed in Ibiza with a friend. The Love Island 2016 star, 22, flaunted her sensational curves in a barely-there black bikini as she splashed around in the sea with her pal India Jennings. Scroll down for video Beach babe: Love Island 2016 star Katie Salmon flaunted her sensational curves in a barely-there black bikini as she splashed around in the sea on holiday in Ibiza Katie's skimpy swimwear made the most of the Liverpool lass' ample cleavage and peachy posterior. She topped off the look with a straw sun hat complete with feather embellishment. The glamour model and her friend were spotted larking about in the sunshine, before drying off on the shore. Katie donned a pair of cut-off denim shorts, made completely redundant by her customising job. Making waves: The reality star splashed around in the sea with her pal India Jennings Larking about: The glamour model and her pal were having the time of their lives during their sunshine getaway She posed for selfies with her friend, who covered up in a crop top and sheer shorts. Katie found fame on Love Island 2016, where she enjoyed a brief flirtation with model Sophie Gradon before coupling with Northern Irish wrestler Adam Maxted. She impressed Love Island producers with her fiery nature and headline-grabbing antics during her stint on the show. Famously, the glamour model was embroiled in a love triangle after catching the eye of Sophie - who was already coupled up with Welsh hunk Tom Powell. Helping hand: Katie was helping India adjust her bikini briefs in the shallows Hats off: She topped off the look with a straw sun hat complete with feather embellishment Making a splash: The star was showcasing her toned figure to perfection She was left heartbroken after bravely coming out as bisexual on national television, only for Sophie to dump her and deny she had romantic feelings for her. Katie and Adam finished in fourth place but their connection never blossomed into romance, with things fizzling out when the cameras stopped rolling. The brunette recently made waves when she defended her close friend Emma-Jane Woodhams for enjoying a night out while pregnant. Proving their close friendship however, Katie later shared the same snap to her own Instagram - and fiercely defended her friend against haters in the caption. Skimpy: Katie's skimpy swimwear made the most of the Liverpool lass' ample cleavage and peachy posterior Brush with the limelight: Katie found fame on Love Island 2016, where she enjoyed a brief flirtation with model Sophie Gradon before coupling with wrestler Adam Maxted Firing back: The brunette recently made waves when she defended her close friend Emma-Jane Woodhams for enjoying a night out while pregnant She wrote to her 227,000 followers: 'I cannot believe the horrible comments on this post. If my girl wants to attend a friends event supporting her show for 2hrs she can. 'If she would like to slay her pregnancy and make herself feel good she can wear a lovely dress. She's a young beautiful mum to be and could do without the hate.' Going on to slam the trolls for being too judgmental, she added in anger: 'A lot can be assumed from a picture. Remember everyone has a story.' Short-lived: Katie and Adam finished in fourth place but their connection never blossomed into romance, with things fizzling out when the cameras stopped rolling Coming out debacle: She was also left heartbroken after bravely coming out as bisexual on national television, only for Sophie to dump her and deny she had romantic feelings for her Skirt or belt? Katie donned a pair of cut-off denim shorts, made completely redundant by her customising job However, showing her affection to Emma, she rounded off her message with a sweet message of congratulation - and affirmed that any further haters against her friend would be blocked on the site. She added: 'Congrats again my beauty! We're super proud of you! Don't comment unless it's nice. You will be removed. It's a positive happy journey and no hate is wanted nor needed. Love you emz x' Emma confirmed she was expecting her first child with her former flame at the beginning of August - just five months after confirming her split from Love Island co-star Terry. Snap happy: Katie and her friend posed for endless pictures on the shoreline She recently suffered a blow when her old Hollywood drama The Last Tycoon was cancelled by Amazon. But Lily Collins looked in better spirits than ever on Wednesday, as she headed for a low-key lunch in LA with a mystery man. The model, 28, was effortlessly stylish in a pretty pink blouse and retro flared jeans, as she stepped out in sunny Hollywood with her hunky male companion. Scroll down for video Casual: Lily Collins looked in better spirits than ever on Wednesday, as she headed for a low-key lunch in LA with a mystery man The actress looked gorgeous in the Rails pink polka dot blouse, which dipped into a sexy plunging neckline and cinched in at her slim waist with its stylish dropped hem. Proving her trendy sense of style even more, she teamed the top with quirky Black Orchid jeans , which flared out at the ankle in a vintage style. She maintained the feminine feel of the look with nude lace-up ballet pumps, and casually draped a denim jacket over one arm as she embraced the sunny weather. Having a ball: Leaving her hair in loose waves and opting for minimal make-up, Lily showcased her radiant complexion and beaming smile, as she headed for lunch with her male companion Leaving her hair in loose waves and opting for minimal make-up, Lily showcased her enviably radiant complexion and beaming smile to all, as she stepped out for lunch with her male companion. The actress was seen laughing and happily chatting to the hunk, clad in a checked shirt and jeans, as they headed to eatery. MailOnline have contacted Lily's representatives for comment. Romance on the cards? Lily was last pictured with former classmate and rumoured beau Jason Vahn on a yacht in Italy in July, but the pair have not been seen together since Lily was last pictured with former classmate and rumoured beau Jason Vahn on a yacht in Italy, back in July. However the pair have not been spotted together since, leaving her current romantic status unknown. Her sighting comes after news that Amazon reportedly cancelled her old Hollywood drama The Last Tycoon - which also starred Matt Bomer and Kelsey Grammer - after nine episodes. End of the era: Her sighting comes after news that Amazon reportedly cancelled her old Hollywood drama The Last Tycoon - which also starred Kelsey Grammer (above) The show, which was based on the work of F. Scott Fitzgerald, was set in the 1930s and focused on the studio system tug-of-war between show biz execs Monroe Stahr (Bomer) and Pat Brady (Grammer), with Collins in the role of Celia Brady. Amazon picked up the Billy Ray-created show in 2016 and started streaming it this past July. While the studio does not publicly release ratings statistics, the show received a lukewarm 53 percent review on Rotten Tomatoes. Lily last appeared in the Netflix action-adventure film Okja that also starred Tilda Swinton, Jake Gyllenhaal, Steven Yeun and South Korean child actress Ahn Seo-hyun. She can next be seen on the big screen in the drama Halo Of Stars due out next year. He's the spitting image of dad Jude. And just like his famous father, model son Rafferty Law, 20, knows how to have a good time, spending the afternoon in a pub in Primrose Hill, London on Wednesday. The celebrity offspring was spotted out with friends in a high-fashion black Burberry jacket and black, white and red printed sweatshirt. Scroll down for video Your round: Model son Rafferty Law, 20, knows how to have fun, spending the afternoon in a pub in Primrose Hill, London on Wednesday The aspiring fashion designer has recently returned to London after modelling in fashion powerhouse Dolce and Gabbana's latest campaign in Venice, Italy last week. The eldest son of Jude Law and Sadie Frost posed with fellow famous children, such as Brandon Thomas Lee, son of Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee, and P-Diddy's son Christian Casey Combs. Rafferty is no stranger to the catwalk, having been signed to modelling agency Select Model Management back in 2014. Father like son: Rafferty looks just like Dad Jude, down to the eyes and hairline Even while out and about with cigarette in hand, Rafferty donned his finest designer garb, pairing his dark look with casual black trousers with a distinctive yellow stripe. While out with friends, Rafferty added a grey flat cap and showed off some suede blue shoes with impressive buckles. He appeared to be without new girlfriend Clementina Linieres, 18, from South London, who he has recently been spotted with a number of times. With the lads: While out with friends, Rafferty added a grey flat cap and showed off some suede blue shoes with impressive buckles Rafferty has two younger siblings Iris, 16, and brother Rudy, 15, as well as half brother Finlay, 26 and half sister Ada, two - yet he is the first to burst on to the model scene. The Dior model - who plays the guitar, piano, bass, drums and keyboard - is a big fan of clubbing and DJs in his spare time. He was formerly in the band The Dirty Harrys along with his best friend Marley, son of Pulps bassist Steve Mackey. She confirmed she was expecting her second child with boyfriend Paul Knightley in July. But Sam Faiers showed no signs of fatigue from her pregnancy on Wednesday night, as she enjoyed a girls' night out with her mother Sue, 48, and sister Billie, 27, in Essex. The 26-year-old was as glamorous as ever in a leopard print coat and LBD, which displayed her blossoming bump for all to see, as she headed for dinner at Felix restaurant with her lookalike relatives. Scroll down for video All eyes on her: Sam Faiers showed no signs of fatigue from her pregnancy on Wednesday, as she enjoyed a girls' night out in Essex Bumping along nicely: The 26-year-old displayed her blossoming bump in a form-fitting LBD as she headed for dinner at Felix restaurant with her glam sister Billie (R) and mum Sue (L) The former TOWIE star was effortlessly stylish in the sexy mini dress - which hugged her ever-growing baby bump with its skin-tight fit. Pulling into thin spaghetti straps, the frock was made even sexier by cutting off high at her thigh, to leave her enviably long and slender legs on show. Proving her chic sense of style has not faltered in pregnancy however, the TV personality then layered a striking leopard print coat on top, for an added touch of glamour. All black everything: The former TOWIE star was effortlessly stylish in the sexy mini dress - which hugged her ever-growing baby bump with its skin-tight fit Leggy lady: Pulling into thin spaghetti straps, the frock was made even sexier by cutting off high at her thigh, to leave her enviably long and slender legs on show Showing her spots: Proving her chic sense of style has not faltered in pregnancy however, the TV personality then layered a striking leopard print coat on top, for an added touch of glamour She tied the look together with barely-there tan heels and a natural make-up look - displaying her glowing complexion as a mother-to-be once more, as she enjoyed a girly evening with her relatives. Sam was joined by her equally glamorous sister Billie, who displayed her retro sense of style in a bronze blouse and quirky black flares. Proving fashionable flair runs in the family, their mother Sue then completed their sartorial display, by joining them in a striking double denim ensemble, and classic pointed court shoes. Radiant: She tied the look together with barely-there tan heels and a natural make-up look - displaying her glowing complexion as a mother-to-be once more Dynamic duo: Sam was joined by her equally glamorous sister Billie, who displayed her retro sense of style in a bronze blouse and quirky black flares Trendy: The blouse pulled into a 70s style neckline and bell sleeves, while the jeans cinched in at her slim waist with their high-rise fit The lookalike trio appeared to be in good spirits as they headed for a bite to eat at the swanky seafood restaurant - with Sam showing no signs of strain from her heavy pregnancy. Sam confirmed she were expecting her second child with boyfriend Paul in July, and confessed she felt confident the pair were adding a little girl to their brood. Comparing her experiences of pregnancy on This Morning last month, she coyly said: 'I'm carrying a lot different to Paul. We're keeping a surprise but it could mean its a girl!' The Mummy Diaries star and Paul - who have been together for three years - welcomed their first child, baby Paul, in December 2015. Feast: The lookalikes appeared to be in good spirits as they headed for a bite to eat at the swanky seafood restaurant - with Sam showing no signs of strain from her heavy pregnancy Low profile: The Mummy Diaries star has kept a low profile throughout her second pregnancy, telling MailOnline that she's 'decided to step back from any publicity around the birth' Excited: Sam confirmed she were expecting her second child with boyfriend Paul in July, and confessed she felt confident the pair were adding a little girl to their brood However, while she has discussed her hopes for a little girl, The Mummy Diaries star has kept a low profile throughout much of her second pregnancy. A source close to the star told MailOnline in July: 'Samantha has lived her life in the public eye over the past couple of years and she's now decided to take a step back from any publicity around the birth of her second child. 'She has one pre-booked TV appearance next month but other than that she doesn't have any plans to discuss the pregnancy with the media.' The source went on to say: 'Samantha is extremely busy with her online fashion business All Bits London is currently focusing on its expansion along with working on her new organic skincare range, which is launching later this year.' She's never been afraid to flaunt her sensational figure. And Amber Turner showed just how she stays in shape as she went out jogging with TOWIE co-star Courtney Green in Essex on Thursday. Showing off her sculpted abs, the 24-year-old reality starlet showed no signs of slowing down as she pounded the pavement whilst filming the ITVBe structured reality show. Scroll down for video Fighting fit: She's never been afraid to flaunt her sensational figure. And Amber Turner showed just how she stays in shape as she went out jogging in Essex on Thursday Highlighting her ample cleavage, the blonde bombshell donned a low-cut mint green crop top with risque mesh detailing across the chest. With her taut stomach on display, Amber teamed her crop top with figure-hugging black leggings that clung to her shapely pins and peachy posterior. Confident that she wouldn't break a sweat, Megan McKenna's best friend opted for a full face of make-up for the run, contouring her features and boasting a slick of nude gloss on her plump pout. Off she goes: Showing off her sculpted abs, the 24-year-old reality starlet showed no signs of slowing down as she pounded the pavement whilst filming the ITVBe structured reality show With her golden locks perfectly styled in loose waves, Amber tied her glossy tresses back into a loose ponytail before setting off on her sprint. The sizzling starlet wasn't alone for her al fresco workout session as she was joined by Courtney. The brunette beauty drove by to pick up her pal, and dressed down for the outing in a white 'tomboy' T-shirt that she teamed with embellished jeans and chunky white trainers. Chest a glimpse! Highlighting her ample cleavage, the blonde bombshell donned a low-cut mint green crop top with risque mesh detailing across the chest Leggy lady! With her taut stomach on display, Amber teamed her crop top with figure-hugging black leggings that clung to her shapely pins and peachy posterior Amber joined the TOWIE cast with her boyfriend of four years at the time Jamie Reed, 34, who was making his comeback to the show after leaving in 2012. But she kicked off the series by cheating on him with co-star Dan Edgar, 26, in Tenerife which brought their long term relationship to an end. Jamie put his heartache behind him when he moved on with brunette model Jade Lewis. Made-up: Confident that she wouldn't break a sweat, Megan McKenna's best friend opted for a full face of make-up for the run, contouring her features and boasting a slick of nude gloss Blonde bombshell! With her golden locks perfectly styled in loose waves, Amber tied her glossy tresses back into a loose ponytail before setting off on her sprint Pounding the pavement: Amber was in good spirits as she enjoyed her jog It comes after Amber turned up at Jamie's house uninvited in May and persistently called his phone when he was on another holiday with his new girlfriend. Jamie confessed it was hard being around his former flame following their dramatic break up and would even like her to move to Australia for some time. Speaking on The Showbiz Show, he said: 'Its all kind of settling down now. With my ex girlfriend and what she did - the Twitter response has been so nice.' Cruising: The sizzling starlet wasn't alone for her al fresco workout session as she was joined by Courtney Green who swung by to pick up the star Sitting pretty: Courtney and Amber stopped for a moment to chat and catch up Deep in thought: The pair seemed to be having a tense conversation in the car 'The people on the streets have been so nice. I dont want to say that it has wasted 4 years... I just hope that she is happy. 'But I would like Amber to spend a couple of years in Australia. In the nicest possible way! So in a couple of years time we could meet and say what happened.' They're the daughters of Lisa Rinna and Harry Hamlin. And on Wednesday, Delilah and Amelia Hamlin stepped out for for a bit of shopping in Beverly Hills. Delilah, 19, covered up in sweats while her younger sister Amelia, 16, donned shorts and an oversized sweater. Sibling fun: Delilah and Amelia Hamlin (pictured) stepped out for for a bit of shopping in Beverly Hills on Wednesday Delilah covered up in an Adidas grey and white sweater, adding red and black track bottoms. The blonde model, who opted to go makeup free, styled her locks in waves and center parted. Meanwhile her sister Amelia went for a more edgy look. The teenager paired a distressed black and grey ombre top with shorts and black lace up boots. Keeping it casual: Delilah, 19, (pictured) covered up in sweats while her younger sister Amelia, 16, donned shorts and an oversized sweater Blowing kisses: Delilah covered up in an Adidas grey and white sweater, adding red and black track bottoms She's an IT girl: The blonde model, who opted to go makeup free, styled her locks in waves and center parted She styled her long brunette locks loose with a biker cap on top, adding vintage inspired sunglasses. Amelia announced in June that she signed with IMG Models. The youngest daughter of Lisa and Harry just got back to Los Angeles after her trip to Milan. Amelia was in the Italian city to walk the Dolce & Gabbanna show during MFW. Focused on her phone: Meanwhile her sister Amelia went for a more edgy look Sister love: They're the daughters of Lisa Rinna and Harry Hamlin; left is Amelia, right is Delilah Italy fun: The youngest daughter of Lisa and Harry just got back to LA after her trip to Milan; pictured in the Italian city Delilah, who is also represented by IMG Models, revealed last month that she landed a campaign with Botkier for their Fall 2017 collection. The pretty blonde was also chosen to be part of the Good Squad campaign for Khloe Kardashian's denim company, Good American. She posed in the brand's jeans with a crop top and twin hair buns for her Good American debut. Her career is up and running: Delilah, who is represented by IMG Models, revealed last month that she landed a campaign with Botkier for their Fall 2017 collection Denim darling: The pretty blonde was also chosen to be part of the Good Squad campaign for Khloe Kardashian's denim company, Good American Logan Paul Arrested for Flying a Drone in Rome Teen Vogue, Seventeen, Trending All Day, and something called Clevver are reporting that Logan Paul was arrested in Rome for illegally flying a drone over the Colosseum. Paul, a barely sentient bad hair day that somehow has a camera incessantly trained upon itself, unsurprisingly filmed part of his alleged arrest. This cross-cultural conclave featured an Italian police officer explaining, "the flying of the drone in this area is illegal," to which Paul, a wig that walked off the set of "Crank Yankers," responds in Spanish, "No bueno." This Mensa meeting then moved to a police station where Paul, a mere wisp of cognition behind sunglasses you laughed at in CVS, explains himself to police and is later released. Thank god. Roamin' Drones In the future, Paul, a reanimated wrestling singlet haunted by Billy Madison's ghost, would do well to remember that drones, while legal in some places, aren't legal in every place. Military bases, stadiums, and airports are all no-fly zones for drones, and you can get arrested or sued flying your drone too close to helicopters, sailing a drone into a building, or crashing your drone into a partygoer's skull. And while the Federal Aviation Administration is in charge of regulating drone use in the United States, other countries will have their own drone regulations. Dronin' Holiday To be fair to Paul -- the answer to the question, "What if you never took your finger out of the socket?" -- getting arrested in a foreign country is no pleasure cruise. Being behind bars while battling a language barrier can be a frightening experience, so what do you do? Your first step should be contacting the local U.S. Embassy or Consulate, or asking they be notified of your arrest. While consular officials can't demand your release or even pay for your criminal defense, they can put you in touch with family and/or local legal counsel. So if you happen to be a herpetic hamster that once watched "Dumb and Dumber" and got its hands on a drone while on holiday in Rome, maybe check with local ordinances before taking flight, or no te gustara the consequences. Related Resources: She moved in with her beau Spencer Matthews just a few days ago. And Vogue Williams suggested everything was going well with her Made In Chelsea star boyfriend when she flashed a smile while leaving the BBC studios on Thursday. The model, DJ and TV presenter, 32, turned heads in a striking furry pink coat as she strode down the pavement in west London. Scroll down for video Working it: Vogue Williams hinted everything was going well with her boyfriend Spencer Matthews when she flashed a smile while leaving the BBC studios in London on Thursday Although the bold pink item was certainly the centre-piece of her look, Vogue oozed style with her choice of leather-look trousers and dark glasses as she carried a Louis Vuitton holdall in her left arm. She pulled back her blonde tresses into a sophisticated bun as she strutted her stuff, flaunting her toned calves in the tight trousers and chic black heeled boots. The Dublin-born stunner completed the look with a bold colour clash by flaunting vibrant crimson nail varnish. Chic: The model, DJ and TV presenter, 32, turned heads in a striking furry pink coat as she strode down the pavement in west London Bold: Although the pink item was certainly the centre-piece of her look, Vogue oozed style with her choice of leather-look trousers and dark glasses as she carried a Louis Vuitton holdall She had been promoting her new book, Everything, on Jo Good's show on BBC Radio London. Vogue and Spencer have only been dating for eight months, but the subject of having children is one at the forefront of Vogue's mind at the moment. The blonde beauty recently created a three-part series for Irish television where she told the stories of women who had used sperm donors to become pregnant, choosing to be single mothers. Speaking to RTE about the making of Vogue: Going it Alone, she said: 'I recently, when I went through a breakup, thought to myself, what would I do if I never met somebody again, I really want to have children, I need them to be a part of my life, it was always a part of my plan. 'I thought, "God, if I ever had to, I would go it alone" so now I've been looking into it and the amount of women that do it is just incredible. 'Even looking into fertility, and my own fertility, and just everybody else having fertility problems - the whole show was just really incredible to film.' Penelope Cruz said she used to care a lot about what people thought about her. But then the Spanish siren experienced a 'deep change' when she welcomed her first child with actor Javier Bardem seven years ago. Now she cares less what people think of her, the 43-year-old beauty told longtime friend Gwyneth Paltrow during a chat for Interview magazine. Always gorgeous: Penelope Cruz stunned in a black cap for the November issue of Interview magazine Her mr: The actress appeared on the cover in a shoot by Christian MacDonald as she promoted her new movie Loving Pablo with real life husband Bardem. Seen in September The actress appeared on the cover in a shoot by Christian MacDonald as she promoted her new movie Loving Pablo with real life husband Bardem. She is also in the new TV American Crime Story series about the murder of Gianni Versace. And next year she will appear in Murder On The Orient Express with longtime friend Johnny Depp. Paltrow and Cruz worked together on the 2007 film The Good Night and have stayed close. Cruz said when she first met Paltrow, they bonded immediately. The questions lady: Cruz was interviewed by Gwyneth Paltrow, who she met on the set of the 2007 film The Good Night; here they are seen in 2012 'We were alone and talking about our deepest secrets, as if we had known each other for 20 years,' said the Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides star. 'And even though we live so far away and dont spend nearly enough time together, when I see you, its like it was only yesterday.' Penelope said the blonde beauty was an excellent cook; seen in 2013 And the Volver actress said she is always impressed by what a great cook Paltrow is. 'When you cook, its like Im eating in the best restaurant in the world. And you do it with such ease, like, Oh, Ill just put this gigantic chicken that has 25 different flavors in the ovenIve been working on it for the last five hours. 'Your house is like a three-Michelin-star restaurant.' Paltrow, who used to date Brad Pitt was married to Chris Martin, has written several cookbooks. As far as her shrinking ego, the pinup said: 'I'm happy to say, that my ego has gotten smaller over time. 'I used to be so afraid about what people were going to think of me, if I was going to be accepted, if I was going to be loved. 'I put a lot of energy into the perception of myself. 'When I became a motheralmost seven years agosomething very deep changed in me, where I really dont care about a lot of the stuff I used to care about before. Thats part of growing up, and now I have to go through other tests that life will put in front of me. I have new fears now.' The star - who has dated Tom Cruise and Matthew McConaughey - continues to work hard even though she has two children: Leo, aged six, and Luna, aged four. Mature: She said: 'When I became a motheralmost seven years agosomething very deep changed in me, where I really dont care about a lot of the stuff I used to care about before' But she maintains she is able to take the kids with her, which means they don't spend time apart. 'We infrequently take holidays, because the kids are young and because of our jobs. I try to travel no more than we have to. 'Ive only been away from my kids for a day and a half in almost seven years. Ive had to do that three times, and Im hoping it can stay that way. New film with Javier: 'The first time we worked together as a couple was in Loving Pablo,' she began, 'I was a little worried about playing these characters who are so cruel to one anotherlike, how was that going to work? But it went great,' she said 'When Im not working, Im taking time to be a mother. I can manage in the kitchen, although I will never cook as well as you do.' Cruz is thrilled about her new film Loving Pablo with Javier, who she worked with as a teen but did not fall for until they worked together on the Woody Allen movie Vicky Christina Barcelona. 'The first time we worked together as a couple was in Loving Pablo,' she began, 'I was a little worried about playing these characters who are so cruel to one anotherlike, how was that going to work? But it went great. 'We were there to help each other and protect each other, and the director is one of our best friends. We felt like it was the three of us together.' Ricki Lake has opened up about her ex-husband's tragic suicide earlier this year on Thursday's Loose Women. The 49-year-old TV presenter spoke at length about Christian Evans' sudden death in February and admitted that the past seven months have been her 'darkest days' as she deals with the grief. The talk show host was originally due to speak on the ITV lunchtime stalwart and appear on the panel of BBC talent show Let It Shine when she got the devastating news of her former flame's untimely death. Scroll down for video Candid: Ricki Lake has opened up about her ex-husband's tragic suicide earlier this year on Thursday's Loose Women She began: 'I was in London when I got the news that my husband had committed suicide in the states. Its very cathartic for me to be here. 'My darkest days have been these last seven months, Im wearing his wedding ring and he would want me to go on and now my newest cause is talking about mental illness and suicide prevention. It's really an honour to be here to honour him.' Speaking on the panel, the Emmy-winner admitted that she had suffered her 'greatest loss' and described him as her 'twin flame'. She shared: 'Life goes on I am suffering my greatest loss - he was my twin flame, the only thing other than my two children that matter to me.' Brave: The talk show host was originally due to speak on the ITV lunchtime stalwart and appear on the panel of BBC talent show Let It Shine when she got the devastating news of her former flame's untimely death 'Darkest days': The 49-year-old TV presenter spoke at length about Christian Evans' sudden death in February and admitted that the past seven months have been her 'darkest days' as she deals with the grief Her former partner had suffered with bipolar disorder but Ricki admitted that he also 'had a lot of issues' before he tragically took his own life from a self-inflicted gunshot at age 45. 'It's very difficult to manage,' she said. 'I don't have the answers but going through this experience I have so much empathy and compassion for people suffering from mental illness.' Her former partner had struggled with bipolar disorder throughout his life. He and Ricki first began dating in 2009 and got married in 2012. 'Cathartic': She began: 'I was in London when I got the news that my husband had committed suicide in the states. Its very cathartic for me to be here Earlier this year, Ricki took to Instagram to announce the death of her ex-husband and 'soulmate' alongside a photo of them hugging and smiling at each other. She began: 'It is with a heavy heart that I share that my beloved soulmate, Christian Evans has passed. The world didnt understand this man, but I did. He succumbed to his life long struggle with bipolar disorder. 'For anyone who has ever lost a family member or friend to mental illness, my heart goes out to you. I am a greater person for having known him and spent the past 6 and a half years of my life with him. 'Twin flame': Speaking on the panel, the Emmy-winner admitted that she had suffered her 'greatest loss' and described him as her 'twin flame' 'Issues': Her former partner had suffered with bipolar disorder but Ricki admitted that he also 'had a lot of issues' before he tragically took his own life from a self-inflicted gunshot at age 45 'He was a man of love and what mends my broken heart today is knowing that he is finally at peace and his spirit is free. Rest in peace, my love,' she added. The former talk show host told People magazine that she was living with Evans just months before he tragically took his own life. Lake, who was married to him from 2012 to 2015, reveals she divorced the jewellery designer after he started giving away her money during a manic episode, and that she even slept with him just three days before he killed himself. 'He thought he could fly. He thought he could cure cancer with his hands. It was horrific - he just wasn't the person I had been with for four years,' she said of his manic state. Tragedy: The former talk show host told People magazine that she was living with Evans just months before he tragically took his own life In the past: Lake, who was married to him from 2012 to 2015, reveals she divorced the jewellery designer after he started giving away her money during a manic episode, and that she even slept with him just three days before he killed himself The decision to divorce him came 'because he was giving my money away' during his manic episode, she says. 'He thought he was a god.' Evans would eventually leave Ricki when he experienced another manic episode in September 2016, and just five months later, the couple spent their final night together. It would occur just three days before Evans' took his own life on February 11, which Lake admitted tearfully she did not know would be 'goodbye.' She received a final text message from the designer on February 8, in which her ex explained how their night together as 'sacred healing for my heart.' Final night: Evans would eventually leave Ricki when he experienced another manic episode in September 2016, and just five months later, the couple spent their final night together Lake and jewellery designer Evans started dating in 2010 and married in April 2012. They split in October 2014 as Lake filed for divorce citing 'irreconcilable differences'. The couple announced in December 2014 that their divorce was on hold, but reported the divorce was finalized in 2015. Evans during the divorce proceedings claimed that Lake defrauded him while negotiating their prenuptial agreement and tried to have it set aside. Lake was previously married to illustrator-bartender Rob Sussman from 1994 to 2004 and shared two sons Milo and Owen together. Lake hosted the Ricki Lake talk show for 11 seasons from September 1993 to 2004. If you or anyone you know needs support, contact the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK or https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ Former Bachelorette Georgia Love and Lee Elliott have successfully navigated their first year as a couple after finding love on the matchmaking reality show. But despite meeting on television, the journalist told The Daily Telegraph's Confidential on Friday that she and her plumber beau are happy to 'finally' be treated like a normal couple. 'That's all we've ever wanted to be,' the 29-year-old told the publication. 'That's all we've ever wanted': Georgia Love, 29, told The Daily Telegraph's Confidential that she is happy her and Lee Elliott, 37, are happy to be 'finally' treated like a normal couple after meeting on reality TV 'We tried not to get caught up in the hype of it all and we certainly weren't holding on to how we met...' Georgia said of meeting Lee, 37, on reality television. '...But it is nice with another two seasons passed that we aren't the talk anymore and we really are just treated like a normal couple finally, which we love, because that's all we've ever wanted to be,' the brunette continued. Georgia went on to explain how the death of her mother Belinda to pancreatic cancer, shortly after the finale episode, made her and Lee a very different couple. 'Having gone through that very quickly together made us very different from any other (Bachelor or Bachelorette) couple. We had a very real first year in every seriousness of the term.' 'Treated like a normal couple finally, which we love': Georgia claimed the duo are not 'the talk anymore' after they tried 'not to get caught up in the hype' after the show's finale aired Tragic loss: Georgia went on to explain how the death of her mother Belinda to pancreatic cancer, shortly after the finale episode, made her and Lee a very different couple: 'We had a very real first year in every seriousness of the term' Bachelorette Georgia Love opened up about the first time she introduced Lee to her mum at her hospital bedside in an interview with TV Week last October. She gushed about witnessing Lee 'perk up' her ill mother, who was battling aggressive pancreatic cancer in palliative care at the time. 'It was amazing to see how much he perked her up,' she said, adding: 'She was sitting up talking and laughing with him, which she hadn't been able to do all day.' 'It was amazing to see how much he perked her up': She gushed about witnessing Lee 'perk up' her ill mother, who was battling aggressive pancreatic cancer in palliative care at the time Belinda was receiving chemotherapy while Georgia filmed season two of the popular reality series. The treatment meant that Belinda appeared on later episodes of the show via video link as she was too ill to travel. Georgia, who often spoke fondly of her mother on the show, described her as: 'My first friend and my best friend, my rock, the one who knew me better than anyone in the world.' Her ex partner and the father of her children Scott Disick, 34, is in a relationship with 19-year-old Sofia Richie. But that didn't seem to bother Kourtney Kardashian while stepping out in jeans and a sweater on Wednesday for an evening Hillsong Church service in Beverly Hills. Hours earlier, Sofia's dad Lionel Richie told US Weekly that he's 'scared to death' and 'in shock' over his teen daughter's relationship with father of three Scott. Kardashian Kardashian while stepping out in jeans and a blouse on Wednesday for an evening church service in Beverly Hills; behind her Kardashian family friend Pastor Rich Wilkerson, Jr Kourtney has three children with Scott: Mason, seven; Penelope, five; and Reign, two. The former lovebirds were in a nine year long relationship from 2006 until July 2015. The Keeping Up With The Kardashians star looked effortlessly gorgeous in her jeans, which featured a lighter wash stripe along each side. The mother of three donned a classic white sweater, which featured long sleeves and a tied cuff for the service inside of Saban Theater. Natural beauty: The Keeping Up With The Kardashians star looked effortlessly gorgeous in her jeans, which featured a lighter wash stripe along each side; with pal Rich Classic combo: The mother of three donned a classic white sweater, which featured long sleeves and a tied cuff; Rich wore a similar look, opting for a T-shirt with ripped jeans Kourtney, who added chic pointed white boots, styled her long brunette locks loose in waves. The dark haired beauty kept her makeup to a minimum, opting for pink lipstick, defined brows and a touch of mascara. She was joined by Kardshian family friend and celebrity pastor Rich Wilkerson, Jr.; he officiated Kourtney's sister Kim Kardashian's wedding to Kanye West in May 2014. Focused: Kourtney, who added chic pointed white boots, styled her long brunette locks loose in waves Spending the evening at church: The dark haired beauty kept her makeup to a minimum, opting for pink lipstick, defined brows and a touch of mascara True star: Kourtney has three children with Scott: Mason, seven; Penelope, five; and Reign, two Homebound: She was joined by Kardshian family friend and celebrity pastor Rich Wilkerson; he officiated Kourtney's sister Kim Kardashian's wedding to Kanye West in May 2014 Also at the church service was Justin Bieber, who Kourtney was reportedly dating on and off last year; Justin's other ex Hailey Baldwin was also at the same service. Kourtney is currently in a relationship with model Younes Bendjima, 24; they have been dating since May. The twosome just returned back to Los Angeles after spending time in Paris for PFW. Meanwhile, Scott is on a whirlwind romance with Sofia. Quite the crowd: Also at the church service was Justin Bieber, who Kourtney was reportedly dating on and off last year; Justin's other ex Hailey Baldwin was also at the same service She's moved on Scott! Kourtney is currently in a relationship with model Younes Bendjima, 24; they have been dating since May; seen on September 30 at the Haider Ackermann show during PFW in the French capital The teenager's dad, Lionel Richie, spoke out in disapproval about Sofia's new relationship with the reality personality. He talked to US Weekly on Wednesday while at the American Idol auditions in New York City; the 68-year-old will serve as a judge on the singing competition show. Lionel said: 'Have I been in shock?! I'm the dad, come on.' Adding: 'I'm scared to death, are you kidding me?' Uh oh: The teenager's dad, Lionel Richie, spoke out in disapproval about Sofia's new relationship with the reality personality; seen on September 8 at the Jeremy Scott NYFW show Sofia and Scott went public with their romance in late September, however they were linked as far back as May. The self confessed 'sex addict' and the teen just got back to LA following a PDA filled trip to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Last month, they spent time together during a romantic trip to Miami. US Weekly also reports that Kourtney thinks Scott's 'fling with Sofia is a little weird, but nothing shocks her anymore.' The website adds that she just 'wants Scott to be his old self.' Their source said that 'she shares three kids with him, so he'll always want the best for him and will always make sure he's happy.' Not hiding their love: Sofia and Scott went public with their romance in late September, however they were linked as far back as May Viewers are eagerly awaiting the third series of the hit show, which returns to screens on Tuesday. And Michelle Keegan gave fans a teaser of the new installment of Our Girl on Thursday, as she shared a playful behind-the-scenes snap to her Instagram. The actress, 30, injected a hint of glamour into her fierce army medic character, by posing with a faux-fur wrap atop her uniform in the snap, which she captioned: 'When George went a little chic!' Scroll for video 'When George went a little chic!': Michelle Keegan gave fans a teaser of the new installment of Our Girl on Thursday, as she shared a playful behind-the-scenes snap to her Instagram The brunette transformed into her Lance Corporal character Georgie Lane in her camouflage uniform, complete with knee pads and protective vest, full of her medical tools. However, glamming up her get-up, Michelle then layered a chic cream wrap across her arms, and added diamante sunglasses to her face as she filmed with her co-stars in the sunshine. Posing playfully with a beaming smile on her face, the actress expressed her excitement for the show's third series in the caption. It's back: The actress, 30, recently wrapped filming for the third series of Our Girl - which sees her character cosy up to new love interest Milan (L) Busy bee: Set to hit screens next Tuesday, Our Girl unveiled exciting new promo shots for the third season this week (above) She wrote to her fans: 'When George went a little chic... Not long now 5 more sleep till#ourgirl is BACK!!!!' Before adding excitedly: '@bbcone 9pm October 10th', followed by a love-heart emoji. The brunette recently returned to the UK after jetting to South Africa, Nepal and Malaysia to film the hit series. Busy: The third series saw Michelle film as Lance Corporal Georgie Lane (above) in South Africa, Nepal and Malaysia New man? This time round, her character is seen cosying up to new love interest Milan - a Nepalese engineer, played by Rudi Dharmalingam Set to hit screens next Tuesday, Our Girl unveiled exciting new promo shots for the third season this week - which show the brunette mingling with a number of new characters. In the shots, Michelle's Lance Corporal Georgie Lane is seen cosying up to new love interest Milan - a Nepalese engineer - played by Rudi Dharmalingam. The character marks a new love interest for Georgie, following her separation from Elvis (Luke Pasqualino), who she left in Syria when her unit was moved to Nepal. Moving on: The character marks a new love interest for Georgie, who left hunky Elvis in Syria when her unit was moved to Nepal Rivals? Things are complicated further by the arrival of Maisie, played by Shalom Brune Franklin - a new driver on the scene who has embarked on romance with Elvis in the past Not over yet: Speaking about the third series however (above), show creator Tony Grounds teased that the pair's chemistry, which won fans over in series two, may not have faded yet Things are complicated further however by the arrival of Maisie, played by Shalom Brune Franklin - a new driver on the scene who has embarked on romance with Elvis in the past. Yet, speaking about the third series, show creator Tony Grounds teased that the pair's chemistry, which won fans over in series two, may not have come to an end just yet. He revealed: '[Georgie] thinks that Elvis is gone forever from her life. 'She and Milan have a connection and it looks like that's a burgeoning relationship and then who tips up? Elvis.' Lisa Vanderpump has announced the passing of her dog Pikachu, just days after the death of her Pomeranian Pink Dog. The Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills star, 57, took to Instagram on Wednesday night to break the news. 'Rest in peace my sweet Pikachu, we will miss you so much.. Such sadness at your loss,' she captioned a photo of her beloved pooch. Heartbreaking: Lisa Vanderpump has announced the passing of her dog Pikachu, just days after the death of her Pomeranian Pink Dog (pictured 2017) 'Rest in peace my sweet Pikachu, we will miss you so much.. Such sadness at your loss,' she captioned a photo of her beloved pooch In a statement provided to Us Weekly, Lisa explained Pikachu had been 'suffering' as of late. 'It was unfortunate timing to lose two of our furry children in six days. Pikachu was suffering the last few days so it gave us some solace when he passed. 'The carers at VCA treated him with love and compassion and he is now at rest. In light of recent tragic events, it makes me appreciate even more the huge comfort that our beloved pets give to us in this very sad world.' It comes a little over a week after the reality star announced the death of Pink Dog. Puppy love: Vanderpump snuggled with her dogs Daddio, Giggy, and Pink Dog (2015) Lisa said Pink Dog died 'suddenly' after her husband Ken attempted to revive their pet. 'Pink dog died suddenly yesterday afternoon,' she tweeted. 'Ken gave her cpr all the way to vet but it was too late. Very very sad at this moment.' An avid animal lover, Pink and Pikachu were two of Lisa's more than two-dozen pets including her many dogs, as well as a menagerie of mini-horses, swans, and turtles at her homes. 'Rest in peace': It comes just days after the reality star announced the death of Pink Dog Lisa is a dedicated animal rights activist. This Spring, the founder of The Vanderpump Dog Foundation traveled to the nation's capital, where she asked congress to publicly disavow several dog meat festivals in China. China's Yulin Dog Meat Festival where she successfully pushed for the fest to ban the tradition of killing and eating dogs. And in March the English entrepreneur opened her own dog rescue center with husband Todd in Los Angeles. She previously left the series in a blaze glory during the summer of 2016 and referred to her castmates as 'two-faced snakes'. But despite bagging her bags less than 11 months ago, Chantelle Connolly, 27, has announced on Thursday that she's returning to Geordie Shore following her explosive exit. The reality star sensational quit the MTV stalwart in the middle of filming series 13 in Greece, before famously hitting out at her pals online. Scroll down for video Explosive: Chantelle Connolly, 27, has announced on Thursday that she's returning to Geordie Shore following her explosive exit Chantelle, 27, sensationally quit Geordie Shore in the middle of filming in Greece during summer 2016 and later lashed out at her former friends online. Taking to Twitter, the petite beauty posted to 192,000 followers: 'Who would of thought me returning back to @mtvgeordieshore.' Also teasing fans, she has updated her profile on the micro-blogging site with 'Castmember of Geordie Shore'. MailOnline have contacted a rep for Geordie Shore. Attempting to flair up tensions once again, she later tweeted that: 'So I just been the topic of @Chloe_GShore and @SophieKasaei_ convo in the salon there's always some one ear wigging.' Ready: The reality star sensational quit the MTV stalwart in the middle of filming series 13 in Greece, before famously hitting out at her pals online She's back! Taking to Twitter, the petite beauty posted to 192,000 followers: 'Who would of thought me returning back to @mtvgeordieshore' As fans geared up to watch her sudden exit from the show, she did little to halt tension with her fellow MTV cast and took aim at Chloe Ferry in particular. Before the episode aired Chloe shared: 'Tonight's the night... A familiar face is back & another one's leaving! HOWAY! Tune into ALL NEW #GeordieShore tonight at 10pm on @MTVUK'. Following the social media post, Chantelle hit back at the Northern lass, writing: 'Yeah cause your a 2 faced c*** ! In the first few episodes you claimed you loved Marty you sucked Scott off and tried it on with Gary'. Update: Also teasing fans, she has updated her profile on the micro-blogging site with 'Castmember of Geordie Shore' Sudden: As fans geared up to watch her sudden exit from the show, she did little to halt tension with her fellow MTV cast and took aim at Chloe Ferry in particular At the time, MTV bad girl Jemma Lucy defended Chantelle as she wrote: 'Sad seeing @ChantelleGShore leave the Gshore house but I'd do the same if I was back stabbed like that ! Liberty.' In return, the pint-sized star couldn't help but share how she really felt about her former housemate. She answered to Jemma's tweet: 'Bunch of 2 faced snakes ! Don't even think any of them like each other but call themselves family.' Blaze of glory: She previously called her former housemates 'two-faced snakes' in November Chantelle packed her bags and left Geordie Shore in November, claiming that she could no longer live with 'two-faced snakes'. Speaking to MTV, Chantelle revealed: 'I left the show because I couldnt stand living with two-faced people any longer. 'I find the house very snakey. I feel like I was the only one in the house that was real. If I had something to say to someone, Id be the first to say it to their face. 'Everyone else in that house seemed to have a problem doing that. It was all Chinese whispers instead of approaching us.' She first appeared in the Australian soap in 2014, starring as businesswoman Dakota Davies who scammed Paul Robinson. And Sheree Murphy, 42, confirmed her return to Neighbours on Thursday, when she was seen filming new scenes in London. Pictured alongside Tim Kano, who plays Paul's son Leo Tanaka, the actress appeared in good spirits as she reprised her role as resident trouble maker. Scroll down for video Coming out of hiding: Sheree Murphy, 42, confirmed her return to Neighbours on Thursday, when she was seen filming new scenes in London Clad in a business chic ensemble, the brunette was seen clutching a pair of Gucci shoes and a Louis Vuitton briefcase as she filmed scenes in the cafe. Showing off her shapely legs, it looked as though Sheree was continuing her role as a businesswoman, dressed in an oversized blazer, tights and killer heels. Clutching a quilted bag, her film crew were seen filming scenes as she sat in the cafe with Tim Kano. She's back! Pictured alongside Tim Kano, who plays Paul's son Leo Tanaka, the actress appeared in good spirits as she reprised her role as resident trouble maker Tense: Clutching a quilted bag, her film crew were seen filming scenes as she sat in the cafe with Tim Kano, who plays Leo Tanaka One scene saw her look decidedly shifty as she clutched onto her bag, creeping away from the table. And the next take saw Tim appearing panicked, grabbing his coat as he talked on the phone animatedly. But has she come back to cause trouble for the cast of the Australian-based soap? Business chic: The brunette was seen clutching a pair of Gucci shoes and a Louis Vuitton briefcase as she filmed scenes in the cafe Making her escape? One scene saw her look decidedly shifty as she clutched onto her bag, creeping away from the table Sheree enjoyed a stint as businesswoman Dakota back in 2014, and the storyline saw her scam Paul Robinson before fleeing to England with his money. She enjoyed a 12-episode run as she tried to con Paul into investing in a bar she was setting up. However the truth about her dodgy dealings soon surfaced, and she escaped after persuading Paul to give her a large amount of cash to help her escape the police. Has she come back to cause trouble for the cast of the Australian-based soap? Femme fatale? Sheree enjoyed a stint as businesswoman Dakota back in 2014, and the storyline saw her scam Paul Robinson before fleeing to England with his money While details of her new storyline haven't been released, it looks as though Paul may have finally tracked her down after three years. The duo's intense conversation hints at a continuation of the prior storyline, but further details are yet to be released. This comes following fears Paul may have fallen victim to another femme fatale, in the shape of a romance with Courtney Grixti, who family members worry could be a gold digger. Scammed again? The next take saw Tim appearing panicked, grabbing his coat as he talked on the phone animatedly She recently welcomed her second child with husband Marcus Mumford, making the couple's two-year-old daughter Evelyn Grace a big sister. And Carey Mulligan was back to work in style on Thursday night, when she put in an appearance at the BFI London Film Festival premiere of her new film Mudbound. The 32-year-old actress was the centre of attention as she hit the red carpet at the English capital's Odeon Leicester Square in a deeply plunging green dress, which was given an extra touch of sparkle with a semi-sheer gold striped overlay. Scroll down for video The big unveiling: Carey Mulligan attended the BFI London Film Festival premiere of her new film Mudbound, held at the Odeon Leicester Square on Thursday night Her sleeveless number was cinched at the waist with one of a trio of golden bands, while tied silver detailing at the front helped her glitter on the carpet. Standing tall in a pair of strappy golden heels, the actress wore her blonde tresses in glossy waves with a centre parting, while she kept her makeup light and natural. The mother-of-two kept her accessories minimal, wearing a series of rings and a pair of glittering diamond earrings. Centre of attention: The 32-year-old actress was the centre of attention as she hit the red carpet in a deeply plunging green dress, which featured a semi-sheer gold striped overlay Golden girl: Her sleeveless number was cinched at the waist with one of a trio of golden bands, while tied silver detailing at the front helped her glitter on the carpet Natural beauty: The screen star wore her blonde tresses in glossy waves with a centre parting, while she kept her makeup light and natural Standing tall: Londoner Carey stood tall in a pair of strappy golden heels as she greeted fans Shine bright like a diamond: She further lit up her ensemble with glittering diamond earrings She was joined at the event by her co-star Mary J Blige, who wowed in a form-shitting black Elizabeth Kennedy gown, over which she wore a matching fur coat. Carey's appearance at the premiere comes three weeks after she promoted the same film at the Mudbound at the Toronto International Film Festival. When asked by People magazine about being a mother of two, she replied: 'It's good, thank you!' The Great Gatsby actress and her rocker Marcus partner are already parents to two-year-old daughter Evelyn Grace. Fans: A large number of fans waited patiently at the barriers to catch a glimpse of the star She nailed it! Carey showed off her perfect mani-pedi as she made her way down the carpet Second-time mum: She recently welcomed her second child with husband Marcus Mumford Big sister: The couple's baby news makes their two-year-old daughter Evelyn Grace a big sister Surprise: Reports first emerged about a surprise pregnancy in July when super-slim Carey was suddenly spotted with a rounded stomach at hot spot Sexy Fish British beauty Carey never officially confirmed her pregnancy yet she displayed a prominent baby bump on various occasions earlier in the year. The famously tight-lipped actress had not confirmed she was expecting a second child, though her first pregnancy was similarly shrouded in secrecy. Reports first emerged about a surprise pregnancy in July when super-slim Carey was suddenly spotted with a rounded stomach at hot spot Sexy Fish. She and husband Marcus, who married in 2012, welcomed their first child Evelyn in 2015, three years after tying the knot. Co-star: Also making an arrival at the event was Carey's co-star in the movie, Mary J Blige Vamp: The star wowed in a form-shitting black Elizabeth Kennedy gown, over which she wore a matching fur coat Glam: With her blonde hair swept to one side, the singer cut a glamorous figure on the night High energy: Jason Mitchell, who also stars in the movie, made quite the high-energy arrival Dapper gent: The 30-year-old New Orleans native cut a dapper figure in a stylish Vince Camuto black suit Elegant: Mary J accessorised with a sophisticated black and red furry cape The couple's story is a romantic one: they were childhood pen pals who lost touch but later reconnected as adults. On April 21, the pair celebrated their five year wedding anniversary, having wed in 2012 a few days after the movie Inside Llewyn Davis wrapped production - on which they were both working. Carey has previously spoken about her daughter with New York Daily News, in which she said that the life lesson she'd teach Evelyn Grace would be: 'No make-up, no piercings, no tattoos.' Blazer: The film's director Dee Rees caught the eye in a floral blazer with tight black trousers Suit: Jason Clarke, who plays Henry McAllan in the film, looked smart in a double-breasted suit Turning heads: Garrett Hedlund turned heads in a light suit, teamed with brown Oxford shoes Fashion stripes: The handsome 33-year-old teamed his suit with a striped shirt and checked tie Squad: (L-R) Charles King, Kim Roth, Sally Jo Effenson and Cassian Elwes stepped out in style Selfie time! The group, who produced the movie, paused to take a group selfie on the carpet Mudbound is a film set to premiere on Netflix and in select theatres on November 17. According to the Huffington Post, the drama is 'the story of white farmers and the black sharecroppers who work for them; two families struggling to make homes for themselves on a plantation in the Jim Crow South'. Netflix reportedly paid $12.5 million for the film, which reportedly received a lot of buzz at the Sundance Film Festival. Glamorous duo: Ahead of the screening, Carey and Mary posed for snapshots with each other In good spirits: The stars appeared to be in decidedly jovial spirits at the hot ticket event Let's hug it out: American superstar Mary warmly placed an arm around Carey as they posed Peace! Jason pressed on with his lively antics as he flashed peace signs inside the big event Together: Moments before the screening kicked off, the cast posed for a snap with the director Plot: Mudbound, which is set to premiere on Netflix on November 17, tells the story of white farmers and the black sharecroppers who work for them on a plantation in the Jim Crow South Breathtaking: Carey (pictured in Mudbound) is known for her top of the range acting and was nominated for an Oscar for An Education in 2009 The film also stars Mary J Blige and Garrett Hedlund, who also attended the screening at TIFF. Despite the actress' successful career - which saw her nominated for an Oscar for An Education in 2009 - she recently revealed her nerves at dealing with fame. She told So It Goes magazine: 'I would do red carpets and be a wreck by the end; I found it awful and weird, standing there in my outfits with my body being judged and my appearance and make-up. Busy night: On the same night, Carey attended the Academy's New Member's Party at nearby Spencer House Out with the lads: She was joined at the event by (L-R) Andrew Garfield and Robert Pattinson Broad grin: The 31-year-old actor flashed a toothy grin at photographers as he posed for snaps Going green: Australian actress Rebel Wilson looked stylish in a form-fitting green dress Svelte: American singer, model and actress Mary J (left) stunned in her flattering gown while Straight Outta Compton star Jason (right) looked dapper in his two-piece suit Premiere: Also lapping up the festivities surrounding the London Film Festival on Thursday night was Charlie Plummer, who attended the UK premiere of Lean On Pete Big night: Carey's co-star Garrett looked in high spirits as he arrived at the after party following the screening Happy parents: Carey Mulligan and husband Marcus Mumford are photographed in 2012 Woman Sues Florida Dunkin' Donuts, Claims Brawl With Employee Caused Miscarriage Aschea Austin, according to her civil complaint, visited the drive-thru South State Road Dunkin' Donuts in Margate, Florida in December 2015, four months pregnant at the time. Unhappy with her order, Austin admittedly "became a participant in a verbal, then physical altercation with Xiomara Henry," a Dunkin' employee. One month later, Austin went to the hospital complaining of a fever, nausea, and vomiting. She later miscarried in the hospital, and is now suing the doughnut chain, claiming it and the employee are liable for the miscarriage. But the Coffee, Tho According to the lawsuit, this was no mere war of words. Surveillance cameras showed Austin and Henry began arguing at the drive-thru window, but the argument escalated: Henry allegedly tossed liquid filled cups at Austin and her car through the drive -thru window. "The altercation then carried on inside the business, then continued on outside in the parking lot area." Austin claims Henry "punched her in the face and kicked her in the belly at least five times, even though she pleaded with Henry to stop and told her she was pregnant. One month later, she checked into that hospital, and had a miscarriage later that day. Great Pain of Mind and Body Of course the lawsuit names Henry as a defendant, but Austin is also suing Dunkin' Donuts and an unnamed manager, who not only "failed to properly supervise" Henry, but "actively participated in the escalation of the situation." Austin is suing Dunkin' Donuts for negligence, negligent hiring and retention, negligent supervision, vicarious liability, and negligent infliction of emotional distress, and is also charging assault and battery against Henry. Austin "has suffered and will continue to suffer great pain of mind and body," her lawsuit claims, "severe and permanent emotional distress, physical manifestations of emotional distress, embarrassment, loss of self-esteem, humiliation, and psychological injuries." She is asking for at least $5,000,000 in damages. Related Resources: Pregnant Eniko Hart seemed to be in great spirits on Thursday morning. The 33-year-old beauty, who is married to comedian Kevin Hart, smiled as she left an early morning workout session in Los Angeles. This comes just after the Get Hard star's August lover Montia Sabbag offered to help find the man who tried to blackmail Kevin for a tape showing the two having sex. No tears: Pregnant Eniko Hart seemed to be in great spirits on Thursday morning as she left an early morning workout session in Los Angeles Casual attire: The model wore a blue Nike tank top over a white bra and added light blue leggings with a puffy jacket tied around her waist and dark sneakers The model wore a blue Nike tank top over a white bra and added light blue leggings with a puffy jacket tied around her waist and dark sneakers. Eniko carried a large white water bottle and her cell phone as she had a black purse over her shoulder. And her wedding rings were on her left hand. She wore lipstick and sunglasses and appeared to be in terrific spirits as fans looked on. Bling it on: Eniko carried a large white water bottle and her cell phone as she had a black purse over her shoulder. And her wedding rings were on her left hand Still good: Hart and Eniko were seem at her baby shower for their first child together; here are his two children from his first marriage This sighting comes just days after People reported Sabbag, 26, had spent two hours with law enforcement investigators Monday and provided some theories about who might be trying to blackmail Hart. 'They clearly are treating her as a crime victim and not as a suspect, which is appropriate,' her attorney Lisa Bloom told the magazine. 'They are also taking the case very seriously. They were very respectful to us and we were very respectful to them.' Sabbag and Hart, 38, were filmed getting intimate in a hotel room in Las Vegas in August. 'Victim': Montia Sabbag, pictured with attorney Lisa Bloom, is cooperating with Hart and law enforcement in an investigation into an alleged sexploitation plot, People reported Bloom, who is currently representing Blac Chyna in her revenge porn case against Rob Kardashian, says she has opened up a dialogue with Hart's attorney. 'Ive spoken to Kevins attorney and established a friendly relationship,' Bloom told People. 'Were on the same side, he agrees, and there doesnt need to be any hostility or animosity. Lets just catch the criminal who did this.' Plot: 'They clearly are treating her as a crime victim and not as a suspect, which is appropriate,' Bloom told the magazine. She's pictured with Sabbag at a press conference last month Coperating: Sabbag, 26, confirmed to DailyMailTV she had sex three times with the actor and comedian over in Las Vegas in August. She says she is not involved in the shakedown The self-described make-up artist and recording artist told DailyMailTV that she had sex three times over three days with the married celebrity whose second wife Eniko is pregnant with their first child together. 'It was fun,' she recalled in the interview. 'We just get along, we get each other, he's funny, I'm funnier. We had a connection, we had chemistry. We clicked.' The two met as they traveled with friends to Sin City from Los Angeles on August 19 and partied together for three days and nights at the gambling mecca. Sabbag claims she didn't know the star of Ride Along was married and he didn't tell her he was. Bloom said Tuesday that her client given law enforcement the names of every person she could remember being with her and the actor in the hotel room where the tape was filmed, according to People. She recently finished filming Avengers: Infinity War, in which she reprises her role as Scarlet Witch. And Elizabeth Olsen, 28, is mimicking another scary role in the latest issue of Hunger, in which she dresses like a twisted version of Tippi Hedren from the Alfred Hitchcock classic film The Birds. The Martha, Marcy, May, Marlene star also discussed the wide appeal of the Marvel superhero series versus her other work, saying: 'More people are going to see you in this movie than theyll see of any of your other projects'. Bird lady: Elizabeth Olsen, 28, is mimicking a famous role in the latest issue of Hunger, in which she dresses like a twisted version of Tippi Hedren The Wind River actress put her own spin on the iconic 1963 horror film role, donning a red wig, teased up into a birdnest style. In most of the shots for the 13th issue of the bi-annual magazine, Olsen wore long, claw-like false nails. The Godzilla actress wore extremely pale, yellow hued makeup, contrasted with bright red lipstick to give her a sickly look. Scream queen: The Wind River actress put her own spin on the iconic 1963 horror film role, donning a red wig, teased up into a birdnest style The original: In the 1963 film, Tippi Hedren (pictured) plays a wealthy San Francisco socialite attacked by birds in a small Northern California town In the magazine, the sister of famous twins Mary-Kate and Ashley spoke about the process of making the Avengers films, saying: 'its odd tedious work when youre having to do the most dramatic line of your life and youve been in a trailer for three hours.' 'But other than that its one of the coolest experiences in the world to be part of a film that is internationally seen.' 'I was watching Indiana Jones on a plane ride the other day and I think, like that, Avengers will just live on.' This kitty scratches: In most of the shots for the 13th issue of the bi-annual magazine, Olsen wore long, claw-like false nails Stay green: The character of Melanie wears the same green suit throughout the movie, so Tippi Hedren was provided with six identical green suits for the shoot Romance: Meanwhile, the Ingrid Goes West star has recently gone public with the new love of her life, Robbie Arnett Meanwhile, the Ingrid Goes West star has recently gone public with the new love of her life. Olsen and Robbie Arnett, the 25 year old vocalist for the band Milo Greene, have been dating for months. But they only made their first official appearance as a couple at the 2017 Gersh Emmy Party in Los Angeles in September. Olsen and Robbie Arnett, the 25 year old vocalist for the band Milo Greene, have been dating for months (pictured here in September 2017) The Teen Choice Awards nominee recently posted a more traditional photo shoot to social media. Taking to Instagram last Saturday, the Liberal Arts actress shared a photo of Glamour Mexico, on the cover of which she recently appeared. She captioned the post: 'Muchas gracias Glamour Mexico!!' He's the radio shock jock who is happily in love with controversial model Imogen Anthony. But Kyle Sandilands has revealed he isn't allowed on social media because the 26-year-old has banned him from it. Speaking on KIIS 1065's Kyle and Jackie O Show on Friday, the 46-year-old said Imogen doesn't want anyone else coming near him. Scroll down for video I know what its like guys: Kyle Sandilands reveals his girlfriend Imogen Anthony has banned him from social media 'Don't worry, the guys with the wives and the girlfriends, I know what it's like,' Kyle said. 'I'm not allowed any social media, I'm not allowed any DMs (direct messages). 'I even have a team of people looking through every letter that comes to the house just so my girlfriend feels safe ... she doesn't let any b**** near me.' His comments come days after Imogen took to social media herself to reveal the state of her living room, after hosting a very wild hens party. Imogen shared videos on Instagram on Tuesday, which showed her messy Sydney apartment, littered with cigarette butts, decorations and empty wine glasses. 'I'm not allowed any social media': Speaking on KIIS 1065 's Kyle and Jackie O Show, the 46-year-old said Imogen doesn't want anyone else coming near him 'I even have a team of people looking through every letter that comes to the house just so my girlfriend (pictured) feels safe,' Kyle said Wild! His comments come days after Imogen took to social media herself to reveal the state of her living room, after hosting a very wild hens party 'When your living room looks like a porn set mixed with a hens party,' she captioned. A possible clue as to the wild nature of the hens party was a very revealing light blue fur-trim night-slip, which could be seen hung on a coat hanger in the corner. Imogen reiterated that the cigarette butts littered around the apartment weren't hers. She captioned a post on her Instagram story with an arrow pointing to the object claiming it wasn't her ashtray. Daring: The proud exhibitionist is renowned for a series of provocative Instagram posts 'When your house is officially a mess': The Australian model also took the time to highlight the dirty state of her household, with rubbish all over the floor, empty wine glasses, and an ashtray filled with cigarette butts The previous night, Imogen hosted a 'corny desperate housewives' hens party with friends that she also documented with photos uploaded to Instagram. Among those attending were fellow Australian model Krystal Dawson, and Sydney fashion stylist Nima Syeh. While boyfriend Kyle was nowhere to be seen on the night, Imogen thanked him for putting up with the group being 'absolute nutters.' 'Harmless fun at last night's Desperate Housewife Long Weekend party featuring all the girls, feather robes and sex toys': The previous night, Imogen had hosted a 'corny desperate housewives' hens party with friends Nicky Hilton sure has her pregnancy style down. When heading to a meeting in New York City on Tuesday, the socialite - who turned 34-years-old on Thursday - looked elegant in a long pink coat. The sister of DJ Paris Hilton was also seen cuddling a puppy, but it was not hers. Rather she just wanted to help out the cute canine. Her Instagram caption read: 'This puppy was rescued from Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico. He + his 4 siblings are available for adoption now at @AnimalHaven #adoptdontshop.' Loving lady: Nicky Hilton cradles a puppy rescued from the hurricane in Puerto Rico on Tuesday; on Thursday is her 34th birthday On her way: Before holding the pooch the beauty was seen walking down a Manhattan street in pink slingback pumps The 5ft7in Los Angeles native added a white tank top, pale blue maternity jeans and a blue Chanel purse worth $5,000. Her bump popped out suggesting she could be about seven months along. While walking along in midtown, the former model talked on her cell phone as she flashed her diamond jewelry. So chic: The 5ft7in Los Angeles native added a white tank top, pale blue maternity jeans and a blue Chanel purse worth $5,000 In late September at the New York City Ballet's 2017 Fall Fashion Gala at Lincoln Center Hilton was last seen at the New York City Ballet's 2017 Fall Fashion Gala at Lincoln Center in late September. She wore a strapless red gown with her long blonde locks worn down. Her bump looked large and she didn't mind showing it off as she posed in profile many times. She is already a doting mother to baby daughter Lily Grace, 14 months, and DailyMail.com exclusively revealed earlier this summer the socialite was expecting her second baby. An insider claimed Nicky and elder sister Paris, 36, both love being close in age, so the family are all very excited at the news. 'It's Lily's first birthday July 8 so they are excited,' the source revealed. 'They always wanted to give Lily-Grace a sibling close in age, like they both have.' Her love: With husband James Rothschild at Night of Opportunity Gala in April The Hilton hotel heiress married British banking heir James Rothschild in a lavish ceremony at the Kensington Palace Orangery in London in July 2015, surrounded by the creme de la creme of society, as well as their friends and family. The bride wore a stunning $77,000 couture Valentino gown featuring a high-neck and a long train, topping the look off with a dramatic lace veil, while her reality star sister Paris acted as maid of honour. Nicky and James started their relationship in 2011 after meeting at Petra Ecclestone and James Stunt's Italian wedding in 2011. James reportedly flew from England to the States to ask her parents for her hand in marriage before he proposed to her in Lake Como, Italy, in August 2014. Close: Her sister is reality TV star turned DJ Paris Hilton, seen here in September at the Oscar de la Renta show Stylish: The socialite sisters were seen last month in NYC for the city's Fashion Week festivities Yuletide spirit: Paris took to Instagram on Thursday to share a number of throwback shots, including this one in front of a Christmas tree with mom Kathy Santa's on the way: Paris embraced her younger sister as they matched in this holiday shot Happy times: The family posed with patriarch Rick in this joyous seasonal shot Sister, sister: This shot featured the young siblings enjoying a day at the beach Princess Paris: The Stars Are Blind singer sported a crown and wand in this retro shot Beginnings: A young Paris embraced her baby sister Nicky in this adorable pic Michael Hutchence's final words have been revealed. Described by his close friend Nick Egan as 'almost a suicide note,' the chilling lyrics are believed to be an indictment of fame and appear to make references to self-mutilation. According to Yahoo, they begin: 'Wouldn't be right to take it / Wouldnt be right laying down.' Scroll down for video 'Sick of the dogs outside my window': Michael Hutchence's final words have been revealed, and they are described by his close friend Nick Egan as 'almost a suicide note' 'New plan with a hook': The chilling lyrics are believed to be an indictment of fame and appear to make references to self-mutilation The lyrics continue: 'Sick of the dogs outside my window / That's right take a look / New plan with a hook / Stuck into me. 'All the bitterness has started showing / Five years no one hears.' A glimpse of the never-before-seen lyrics was previously offered in a trailer for the upcoming documentary Michael Hutchence: The Last Rockstar. Haunting: The lyrics read, 'Wouldnt be right to take it / Wouldnt be right laying down / Sick of the dogs outside my window / Thats right take a look / New plan with a hook / Stuck into me' Michael reportedly sang the disturbing lyrics into a handheld dictaphone, and the recording will be played in the second part of the documentary. They are believed to be the conclusion of a song Michael was writing at the time - the final words the late rock star wrote on the night of his death The lyrics were found scrawled on a yellow, lined notepad on the bedside table of Room 524 of the Ritz Carlton, in Sydney's Double Bay, on 22nd November 1997. 'No one hears': 'All the bitterness has started showing / Five years no one hears,' they conclude Final thoughts? The lyrics were found scrawled on a yellow, lined notepad on the bedside table of Room 524 of the Ritz Carlton, in Sydney's Double Bay, on 22nd November 1997 Michael was found dead in that room, with the cause later reported by the NSW Coroner as a suicide. According to Yahoo, his friend Nick Egan - a well-respected visual design artist - described the musings as 'almost a suicide note'. It comes amid extraordinary claims from Michael's sister, Tina, who insists the singer was planning to leave INXS for a solo career. Tragic: Michael was found dead in that hotel room, with the cause later reported by the NSW Coroner as a suicide. Pictured in Sydney in 1996, the year before his death 'Almost a suicide note': Michael's close friend Nick Egan - a well-respected visual design artist - described the musings as 'almost a suicide note' Speaking to The Australian Women's Weekly, Tina claimed that Michael 'had said for a long time he wanted to leave the band, he wanted to do his own thing.' She added: 'I think he did the last tour out of guilt.' Additionally, the documentary features never-before-seen videos shot by Michael, including footage of his baby daughter, Heavenly Hiraani Tiger Lily. 'He wanted to leave the band, he wanted to do his own thing': Michael's sister Tina Hutchence (pictured) says the singer was planning to leave INXS for a solo career at the time of his death Unseen: The revelations will feature in Channel Seven's upcoming two-part series Michael Hutchence: The Last Rockstar, which will also include never-before-seen personal videos One bittersweet family photo - which was revealed in a trailer for the rockumentary - shows Michael, then aged 36, posing cheek-to-cheek with Tiger Lily. Colin Diamond, INXS' former barrister and co-executor of Michael's will, told The Daily Telegraph: 'Anyone who sees these photos can tell he was proud of her. 'We just didnt know he would be robbed of a life with her.' Personal archives: One bittersweet family photo - which was revealed in a trailer for the rockumentary - shows Michael, then aged 36, posing cheek-to-cheek with Tiger Lily Watching over her: Tiger Lily is pictured, with Michael in the background smiling as he films In a statement, producer Mark Llewellyn revealed the documentary would be markedly different to the 2014 television mini-series INXS: Never Tear Us Apart. 'This is not a biopic treading over old territory - this will make headlines around the world,' he explained. Mark added: 'This is not Michael Hutchence defined by how he died but how he lived: a brilliant musician, a brilliant man, a loving father, a true rock star.' 'Anyone who sees these photos can tell he was proud': Colin Diamond, INXS' former barrister and co-executor of Michael's will, said Michael's love for Tiger Lilly was clear in the pictures Robbed: Colin continued, 'We just didnt know he would be robbed of a life with her' The documentary also takes an in-depth look at Michael's possessions that were kept hidden in bank vaults - including his diary and the final lyrics. The trailer also teases that Michael's missing songs would be heard for the first time, as well as personal family videos and photographs that give insight into the man behind the microphone. Rosanna Crash, Michael's girlfriend-of-three-years who he dumped for Kylie Minogue in the late '80s, speaks for the first time ever in the limited series. 'This is not a biopic treading over old territory': In a statement, producer Mark Llewellyn revealed the documentary would be different to the 2014 biopic INXS: Never Tear Us Apart The documentary also includes interviews with some of Michael's friends, including U2 frontman Bono. 'He was amazing and interesting and then tragic,' revealed the Irish singer, real name Paul David Hewson. He continued: 'We're all realising just how great a singer we lost, as well as a friend.' Producing the documentary took two years and was shot in five countries. It is expected to air before the 20th anniversary of Michael's death in November. His worldly possessions: The documentary also takes an in-depth look at Michael's possessions that were kept hidden in bank vaults - including his diary and the final lyrics It was also reported that Mark was given 'unprecedented' access to Michael's estate for the project, including his 'diaries, instruments and prized possessions'. INXS was one of the first Australian bands to experience global super stardom, eventually selling 15 million albums in the United States alone. The documentary will be the first of two dedicated to Michael, with a second currently being produced by Universal Music Group with the blessing of INXS manager Chris Murphy. Tribute: Producing the documentary took two years and was shot in five countries. It is expected to air before the 20th anniversary of Michael's death in November Richard Lowenstein, who directed sixteen music videos for the band as well as the 1986 film Dogs in Space which starred Michael, will helm the project. Michael Hutchence: The Last Rockstar, will air over two nights on the Seven Network on Monday October 16 and Tuesday October 17 at 7.30pm (AEDT). If you are struggling with mental health, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or beyondblue on 1300 22 4636 Speaking out: Rosanna Crash, Michael's girlfriend-of-three-years who he dumped for Kylie Minogue in the late '80s, speaks for the first time ever in the limited series Former flame: Michael is pictured here with Kylie Minogue, who he dated for several years She's the woman behind the clothing brand Draper James. And Reese Witherspoon showed her faith in her own products when she was photographed hitting the street in New York City on Thursday. The 41-year-old actress cut a stylish figure in her company's navy Hollis Cape Jacket, which retails online for $325. Scroll down for video Stepping out: Reese Witherspoon showed her faith in her own company's products when she was photographed hitting the street in New York City on Thursday She'd buttoned the chic wrap over a black sweater with a half-turtleneck, matching the top with a skintight pair of black trousers. Accessorizing with diamond-shaped earrings, two handbags and a pair of cat-eye sunglasses, Reese rounded out the look with midnight blue high-heeled boots. The mother of three let her trademark blonde hair down over her shoulders, smiling as she headed for the open door of a large car. New York chic: The 41-year-old actress cut a stylish figure in her fashion brand Draper James' navy Hollis Cape Jacket, which retails online for $325 Reese's recent work includes a star turn on the HBO mini-series Big Little Lies, on which she and her co-star Nicole Kidman were also producers. Based on the hit 2014 novel by LIane Moriarty, the show was written by Ally McBeal creator David E. Kelley and helmed by Reese's Wild director Jean-Marc Vallee. At least month's Primetime Emmy Awards, Big Little Lies took home prizes in five categories, including Outstanding Limited Series. Reese was herself nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress In A Limited Series Or Movie, losing out to Nicole. Coordinated: She'd buttoned the chic wrap over a black sweater with a half-turtleneck, matching the top with a skintight pair of black trousers Casey Bloys, programming chief at HBO, has requested that Liane 'take a crack at' rustling up a season two narrative, as he said at the Television Critics Association summer press tour in July according to TV Line. Reese's new work includes a romantic comedy film called Home Again that has been directed by Hallie Meyers-Shyer, daughter of the legendary Nancy Meyers. With a cast including Candice Bergen, Michael Sheen, Josh Rudnitsky, Pico Alexander and Nat Wolff, Home Again had its US release September 8. Hundreds of people rush to give blood for victims of the Las Vegas massacre, the deadliest shooting spreee in modern American history As more than 500 wounded flooded the hospitals of Las Vegas after the worst mass shooting in modern US history, electronic billboard ads urged people to give blood. The response from the community has been overwhelming, with long lines of donors snaking out the doors -- sustained with offerings of pizza and cookies. "Donors came after two in the morning when they received the news. The flow did not stop well until the evening," said Mitzy Edgecomb of United Blood Services, an agency that collects donated blood and supplies it to hospitals. "Yesterday we collected 700 donations in the Las Vegas area. Well over 1,000 people attempted to donate. We are seeing numbers not seen in a very long time," Edgecomb said outside a blood drive center in suburban Las Vegas. Tuesday morning, when the doors opened at 9:00 am, more than 100 people were waiting outside to give blood, and in the afternoon a dozen were still waiting. A Salvation Army truck handed out free slices of pizza. People not even wishing to donate showed up with water and homemade cookies. "Anything like this brings a community together. People are good at heart and they want to do something to help at the time when they are slightly helpless," said Edgecomb. She said she expects the flow to keep up through the weekend. "We've met the needs at the hospitals where some of the victims were transported. We are replenishing that supply and preparing for the days and weeks ahead," she said. - 'We love you' - At one blood drive center, Dianne Spence, 70, lay down on a cot next to her husband Richard. She squeezes a rubber ball as a nurse inserts a needle into her arm. She is from Georgia and has lived in Las Vegas for 27 years. She is a regular blood donor and already had an appointment for Tuesday, even before Sunday's carnage by a retired accountant named Stephen Paddock. He killed 58 people and himself, and wounded 527. Spence kept her appointment "because it is a critical time and people need it." She said she was proud of the way the people of Las Vegas are responding to this crisis. "Hate is just a sad symptom of fear. People are in a very rough place today," she said. "I grew up in the south and we have a lot of hate. It's just sad, really sad." Sammi Rangel, a former white supremacist leader who now works to rehabilitate extremists, donates blood in Las Vegas One cot further over, Sammy Rangel is talking to the nurses. He is wearing a T-shirt with the slogan "Las Vegas, We Love You" that does not quite hide all the tatoos on his body. Rangel used to be the leader of a white supremacist gang in Chicago and spend 18 years in prison. Then he founded an association called Life after Hate, which brings people like him together for social rehabilitation programs. The motives of the shooter in Las Vegas are still not known. Rangel said he is here to "counter the message of hate with love and compassion." And blood donations. "This is where acts of hate and terror lose, because they're not designed to bring communities together and yet it seems that when these things happen, communities come together," said Rangel. "It's counter-intuitive to what they're trying to accomplish, right?" Douglas Fraser, a surgeon at University Medical Center, said he saw more than 100 patients come in after the shooting, including 20 in critical condition. He said his people are trying to help both physical and psychological injuries, and the latter take longer to heal. Electronic signs outside the Fashion Show mall on the Las Vegas Strip urge people give blood "The emotional strain is probably the highest right now," he said. "Right now we are just trying to help each other and the patients kind of get right through this." "Some of these wounds will heal physically but the mental aftermath is going to be for some time," he said, adding victims' families members of would also have to deal with the trauma of mass shooting. Returnees face an uncertain future in Afghanistan which is struggling with high unemployment, a weak economy and masses of refugees being ejected from Pakistan and Iran, as well as hundreds of thousands of others uprooted by war. A surge of failed Afghan asylum seekers "forcibly" returned from Europe are at risk of torture, kidnapping and death in war-torn Afghanistan, Amnesty International said Thursday. Almost 9,500 Afghans went back to their homeland in 2016 after their applications for asylum in Europe were rejected, compared with nearly 3,300 a year earlier, the human rights group said. The figure covers asylum seekers who were detained and then deported from European countries, and those who "ostensibly voluntarily" returned with financial assistance, Amnesty said. Migration is a hot button issue in Europe and politicians are under pressure to bring down the number of asylum seekers after hundreds of thousands of migrants flooded the continent since 2015. "European governments are forcing increasing numbers of asylum seekers back to the dangers from which they fled, in brazen violation of international law," Amnesty said in a report, "Forced Back to Danger". The influx of returnees from Europe coincided with rising civilian casualties in Afghanistan's bloody conflict as Afghan security forces struggle to beat back Taliban and Islamic State jihadists in much of the country. Nearly 11,500 civilians were killed or wounded in 2016 -- one third of them children -- according to the United Nations, the highest number of annual non-combatant casualties since it began collecting figures in 2009. Civilian casualties stayed at record highs in the first half of 2017 as the war enters its 16th year. - 'Wilfully blind' - As part of its research for the report Amnesty said it gathered testimony from 18 Afghan men, women and children "forcibly returned" to Afghanistan. One woman sent back with her family from Norway said her husband was kidnapped and murdered a few months after they returned to Afghanistan. In another case a two-year-old child forced to leave Norway with his family was wounded in an Islamic State-claimed attack on a Shiite mosque in Kabul in October 2016. "Wilfully blind to the evidence that violence is at a record high and no part of Afghanistan is safe, they are putting people are risk of torture, kidnapping, death and other horrors," said Anna Shea, Amnesty's researcher on refugee and migrant rights. Amnesty called on European countries to suspend further deportations until the situation in Afghanistan "permits returns to take place in safety and dignity". The report comes after Germany resumed deportations last month, after suspending the process when a huge truck bomb hit the Afghan capital Kabul on May 31, killing about 150 people and wounding hundreds more. The latest group represented the sixth wave of repatriations of Afghans from Germany since December under a disputed Afghan-European Union deal aimed at curbing the influx of migrants. Returnees face an uncertain future in Afghanistan which is struggling with high unemployment, a weak economy and masses of refugees being ejected from Pakistan and Iran, as well as hundreds of thousands of others uprooted by war. Some asylum seekers left Afghanistan when they were children and have no memories of the country, while others live in fear of persecution if the Taliban discover they are gay or no longer Muslim, Amnesty said. "The same European countries that once pledged support for a better future for Afghans are now crushing their hopes and abandoning them to a country that has become even more dangerous since they fled," said Horia Mosadiq, Amnesty's Afghanistan researcher. The iconic Vegas Strip, lined with glitzy hotels, casinos and neons, still had a heavy police presence on Wednesday, a stark reminder of Sunday night's tragedy -- the worst mass shooting in modern US history The attack that left 58 people dead in Las Vegas could impact America's tourism capital, but only in the short term, experts say, predicting a full recovery within months. The iconic Vegas Strip, lined with glitzy hotels, casinos and neon signs, still had a heavy police presence on Wednesday, a stark reminder of Sunday night's tragedy -- the worst mass shooting in modern US history. Some stores carried signs that read "Vegas Strong" and traffic was light. "The attack should affect tourism badly in the short-term as the memories remain fresh and vivid in people's minds," said Federico Guerrero, an associate professor of economics at the University of Nevada, Reno. Neha Singh, an associate professor in hospitality management at California State Polytechnic University said there was no doubt the attack would affect the tourism industry which is vital for the city. "News like this is devastating and plays on your mind especially for tourism and decisions that are based on discretionary spending," she told AFP. "Any place that sees an event like this will see an impact of people not comfortable to travel there." - 'Vegas doesn't stop' - Some 43 million people visit the so-called Sin City every year, contributing to the nearly $60 billion in economic activity generated by the tourism sector, according to a study by Las Vegas-based Applied Analysis. And Sunday's attack, experts say, may turn away potential travelers concerned about safety or not keen on partying in a city still reeling from the carnage. Hotels, meanwhile, will have to come up with new security protocols to reassure guests, given the ease with which the suspect behind the shooting -- Stephen Paddock -- managed to assemble his large arsenal of weapons in his suite at the Mandalay Bay hotel from which he carried out the carnage. Several experts said while the attack may cast a somber mood on tourism in the coming months, it is not likely to affect conferences, 22,000 of which are held annually in the city and often booked years in advance. They also pointed out that people are increasingly growing numb to such attacks which become less remarkable as they happen more and more frequently. The city of Orlando, in Florida, where a gunman killed 49 people at a nightclub in 2016, enjoyed a record number of tourists that same year, for example. The French capital Paris, which suffered from a series of terror attacks in 2015, is also on track to welcome a record number of visitors this year as tourists shakes off terror fears. And Vegas is expected to rebound the same. Paul Wurzer and his wife Sonia, both 36, flew into Las Vegas from their home in the suburbs of Minneapolis on Tuesday night and were enjoying the early morning sun dappling an outdoor dining area at fast food eatery Shake Shack, on the Strip. "We woke up in the morning and she saw it on the news first, and came and said, 'Oh my God, theres this mass shooting in Vegas. Are all the flights going to be canceled? Can we go? Do we want to go still?'" said Paul. "There were a lot of things going through our minds as far as being afraid to go." His wife said after talking it over, they decided "this might actually be the safest time to go because of increased police presence and security." Erick Fulps, a booking agent with Adventures International on the Las Vegas Strip, which arranges sightseeing and adventure tours, as well as shows, said he hasn't seen much of a dip in business so far. "The next day was still busy -- it didn't slow down, it was actually one of my busiest days. The day after was a little slow," said the 47-year-old father-of-three, a Los Angeles native who has lived in Vegas for the last 27 years. "People still came in to do tours, have fun...," he added. "It's tragic what happened but they were still doing their vacation. Vegas doesn't stop." Soldiers on patrol in Niger's capital Niamey An ambush on a joint US-Niger patrol has left several soldiers dead, a security official said Wednesday, as fears increase that a conflict in neighbouring Mali is spilling over the African nation's border. Three American special forces troops were among the dead, according to a New York Times report citing US military officials. The US Africa command confirmed in a statement that a joint US and Nigerien patrol came under fire in Niger. But it said nothing about casualties, adding officials are working to confirm details of the ambush. This was the first time that the presence of American soldiers has been confirmed in the area, which has become unstable due to lethal attacks attributed to jihadist groups targeting Niger army positions and refugee camps. The attack also marks the first known US combat casualties in Niger, where Washington provides training and security assistance. A local security official told AFP that the attack, which took place in the western Tillaberi region, close to the Mali border, also claimed the lives of several Niger soldiers. The ambush was "probably a terrorist attack", the official said. "We have lost elements. The ambush attack by heavily armed men from Mali targeted a patrol of Nigerian and American soldiers -- instructors," a source in Tillaberi told AFP. According to Radio France Internationale, the ambush took place after militants from Mali attacked the village of Tongo Tongo in Tillaberi on Wednesday. A counter-operation was launched, but the American and Niger soldiers fell into a trap, according to the radio report. The New York Times said that three US Green Berets were killed in the ambush and two others injured. White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders told reporters in Washington that US President Donald Trump had been told "about Niger" without giving further information. In mid-September, Niamey extended a state of emergency in force since March to the zone due to a terrorist threat coming from Mali. In mid-June, the Nigerian army mounted a new military operation in the Tillaberi region to take on the jihadists. The United Nations later warned that the conflict in Mali was spilling over to Burkina Faso and Niger, after a significant surge of attacks by extremist groups in border areas. The UN has 12,500 troops and police serving in the MINUSMA force in Mali, considered the world body's most dangerous peacekeeping mission. In 2012, Mali's north fell under the control of jihadist groups linked to Al-Qaeda who exploited an ethnic Tuareg-led rebel uprising. While the Islamists were largely ousted by the French-led military operation, attacks have continued on civilians, the Malian army as well as French and UN forces. Nostalgia is a tricky beast to tame. Fond memories of the good old days of yesteryear can color perceptions and perhaps skew views of a particular film's quality. It's an easy trap to fall into - especially when a hazy memory becomes clearer. For 1982's low budget horror thriller One Dark Night from director Tom McLoughlin (Friday the 13th: Part VI Jason Lives) and starring Meg Tilly with a guest appearance by Adam West, faint childhood memories may ever so slightly be coloring my perceptions of the film, however, I figure horror fans would naturally get a kick out of this low budget gem. The plot may not make a whole lot of sense when you break things down, but it's a good ride and a lot of fun. All young pretty high school student, Julie Wells (Meg Tilly), wants is to feel part of the group. The elite group of bitchy gal pals "The Sisters" is putting her through initiations. Lead by Carol (Robin Evans), Kitty (Leslie Speights), and Leslie (Elizabeth Daily), Julie only has one more test to complete before she's finally one of the gang. She has to spend the night at a creepy mausoleum. While certainly creepy, it should be easy. Unfortunately for Julie and The Sisters, they didn't know that a recently deceased telekinetic named Raymar was buried there and his power still lives to raise the dead from their final slumber. The only hope Julie has is Raymar's daughter Olivia (Melissa Newman) and her skeptic husband Allan (Adam West). With the upcoming release of Rawhead Rex and after reviewing horror flicks like Carrie and Invaders From Mars, my childhood horror movie collection is very nearing completion. One Dark Night is one of those flicks where some vague memories remained for years, but I just couldn't quite pin a title to them. I could remember a girl and her boyfriend being terrorized by zombies in a mausoleum, but I figured that was a weirdly skewed memory of Return of the Living Dead Part II. I could remember a rotting corpse with lightning bolts flying around, but I just figured that was some distorted remembrance from the T.V. edit of Tobe Hooper's Lifeforce. After spending hours and hours of my childhood watching my favorite Detroit station, so many of these flicks have all blurred together to the point that separating them is nearly impossible. So when I discover one of these flicks and I'm finally able to put a name to the memories, I tend to get more than a little excited. Admittedly, One Dark Night isn't the best horror flick to come out of the 80s, but even cutting through the excitement of nostalgia, it's still effective at what it does. You can tell that the film made the most of a small budget. The cast, aside from the late legend Adam West, was made up of a bunch of newcomers with next to no credits to their names. To spare the budget even further, most of the action takes place in a single location with few lights allowing most of the budget to be spent on some sticky, slimy zombie puppets. It's clearly a labor of love that made the most of what it had to work with. After reconnecting with this flick and earnestly watching it all the way through, I have to single out the film's dark sense of humor. if you've seen Friday the 13th: Part VI Jason Lives, you should already be familiar with writer/director Tom McLoughlin's penchant for horror humor. While the jokes may not be as on the nose are they were for Jason stalking around a campground, One Dark Night relishes the ooey gooey gags this little army of the undead brings. Shots of terrified young women cowering in the corner as a zombie bursts out of its coffin in various stages of decay would be a creepy, terrifying prospect if it wasn't for the obvious gag quality to it. When these decaying creatures of the undead start dripping their goopy viscera on these ladies, you can't help but chuckle at the gag. There's a nice balance between the traditional horror elements and the show's off-color sense of humor. Through it all, the cast does a fine job managing the material. Meg Tilly, in particular, is a standout. She plays well to the goopy creatures and works well with David Mason Daniels playing her boyfriend Steve who get stuck trying to save the day. Playing well as the bullies are Robin Evans, Leslie Speights, and Elizabeth Daily. From minute one you're supposed to hate these ladies and they manage that bitchy high school clique attitude making it all the more fun when they're attacked by Raymar's army of the undead. Melissa Newman is solid as Olivia as she tries to figure out her father's history and her own powers while Adam West does what he can as he's very clearly there to collect a paycheck during his lean years. As I said, One Dark Night isn't the greatest thing to come down the 80s horror pipeline. It feels like two movies smashed together as the details about Raymar, his daughter, and telekinetic powers never really come together. The basic plotline of teenagers being terrorized at a mausoleum by zombies works well. It's a creepy and unsettling single location and the flick gets a lot of fun mileage out of that. I know a lot of my excitement and praise stems from old memories and the thrill of rediscovering an old childhood favorite, but I got a hunch most horror fans will get a kick out of this. It's a ride. A goopy, schlocky horror movie ride that aims to entertain its audience. It doesn't reinvent the wheel, but what it does it does well. One Dark Night is a solid bit of horror fun that is a great way to spend a cold fall evening with the lights off. Vital Disc Stats: The Blu-ray One Dark Night arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Code Red. Pressed onto a Region-Free BD-50 disc, the disc is housed in a standard sturdy Blu-ray case. The disc loads directly to an animated main menu with traditional navigation options. New Zealand's maverick "kingmaker" Winston Peters expressed frustration at public criticism Thursday after opening talks with rival party leaders on breaking the country's general election deadlock New Zealand's maverick "kingmaker" Winston Peters expressed frustration at public criticism Thursday after opening talks with rival party leaders on breaking the country's general election deadlock. Peters is expected next week to anoint the winner of the September 23 poll after conservative Prime Minister Bill English and opposition leader Jacinda Ardern both failed to secure an outright majority. Both need support from Peters' New Zealand First (NZF) to get over the line under New Zealand's complicated mixed member proportional (MMP) voting system. However, critics have lamented the system for allowing a party that only attracted 7.5 percent of the vote to decide the South Pacific nation's political future. "The whole thing has been depicted as one man holding the country to ransom," Peters told reporters, defending his democratic credentials. The 72-year-old added: "We just can't win. You can't win with the public, you can't win with the media, you can't win with the commentariat." Peters on Thursday held his first face-to-face talks with English and Ardern since the election. He made clear that the meetings at parliament were only preliminary and he would not make a decision before next week. "(It's) setting the agenda, the ground rules, the protocols, how we're going to go about it," he said. A combo of file photographs shows New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister Bill English (L), leader of the Labour Party Jacinda Ardern (C) and former New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters (R) Peters has previously said he will reveal his choice by October 12, when the results of the election are officially declared. That allows him to take into account the results from "special" votes -- postal and overseas ballots -- which will be announced on Saturday. The populist leader of NZF said there were about 380,000 special votes, accounting for about 15 percent of the entire electorate. "That's huge and to have them ignored as if they don't matter (would be) quite regrettable," he said. The specials are expected to give Labour and the Greens another one or two seats, providing a Labour-Green-NZF coalition an extra buffer if it formed government. As it stands, Labour has 45 seats and the Greens seven, which combined with NZF's nine would give a centre-left coalition a total of 61, the minimum needed in the 120-seat parliament. English's National has 58 seats and would have a comfortable majority with Peters' support. Peters, best known as an anti-immigration campaigner, has shown in the past he could go either way if the right offer is made. He supported National in 1996 in return for being made deputy prime minister and Labour in 2005 when it agreed to make him foreign minister. Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients wait in line at the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA) office in Los Angeles in September Melissa Garcia was just three years old when she crossed the US border from Mexico in her mother's arms. She remembers almost nothing of the perilous crossing that turned her into an undocumented migrant in a country that she now calls home. She is one of thousands of so-called "Dreamers" set to be plunged into legal limbo with the phasing out of the Deferred Action of Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, a program which allowed them to live and work legally in the United States -- but which can only be renewed for the last time on Thursday. "Under DACA I can go out in the street without worrying that I'll be deported," said Melissa, who is 23 and works in a shop. Her mother Leticia crossed the border with Melissa and her five-year-old brother, traversing the border fence and the desert of Sonora before trying to build a new life for her family in the United States. "They didn't find out that they didn't have any papers until they were grown up," said their mother, who is now 43. "I wanted them to have a normal childhood. I wanted the best for them." The administration of President Donald Trump said on September 5 that it was winding down DACA in six months, and Thursday is the last chance that the Obama-era scheme's beneficiaries have to submit renewal applications if their permits expire before next March. "By March 5th they want to have already processed all of those applications," said Luis Perez, director of legal services at the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights in Los Angeles (CHIRLA), which offers free advice to dreamers. Around 150,000 permits that are due to expire between September 5 and March 5 are to be processed for renewal. If a permit expires on March 6, there is nothing that can be done. Many other immigrant organizations have also scrambled to defend the Dreamers. - Fear of losing everything - With CHIRLA's help, Melissa spent the past week wading through the paperwork for a renewal application. When she arrived at dawn at the center, accompanied by her mother and with her pet chihuahua in a bag, she found 20-year-old university student Bryan Soils already waiting. Thanks to DACA, he obtained credit to pay for his college and found legal employment. He, too, crossed the desert with his mother when he was just seven years old. On his forehead he still bears a small scar from when barbed wire cut him as they crossed the fence. Dreamers wait in line for the last chance to renew their applications for DACA at a legal aid center in Los Angeles The Dreamers brought deck chairs, blankets and coffee for their wait in line outside the legal aid center. Despite having no papers, they all feel American. "I've been able to go ahead and find a good career path, a good job here in the United States, the only country I kind of know as home," said Pablo Gomez, a mortgage consultant at Wells Fargo bank. "Removing it, as the Trump administration is trying to do, would probably take that all away from me, and force me to go back to a country I don't know," he said. The decision by the Trump administration has forced Congress to reopen the immigration debate, which already broke down in 2001, 2006 and 2013. "It's actually really scary, because I'm afraid of losing everything I've accomplished so far. I'm hoping and praying to God that things get resolved quickly," said Jesus Cervantes, a sales rep at a tire distribution company. "I'm hoping for the Dream Act. I'm hoping that Congress will pass the Dream Act, so that people like me and everybody at the back of the line can have a taste of the American dream," said Abby Garduque, tearing up. A resounding "no" is the usual and swift response when the possibility is raised of the Dreamers returning to the countries of their birth. Leticia's son married an American citizen and now enjoys legal status. She now hopes that Melissa's precarious position can be legalized too and she can finally enjoy some peace of mind. "That way, even if I have to leave, I'll leave happy," she said. Iraqi forces and fighters from the Hashed al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilisation units) advance towards the Islamic State (IS) group's stronghold of Hawija on October 4, 2017 Iraqi forces said Thursday they had retaken the centre of Islamic State group stronghold Hawija and were pushing forward in their assault on one of the last IS enclaves in the country. Troops, police and paramilitaries "liberated the whole of the centre of Hawija and are continuing their advance," the operation's commander, Lieutenant General Abdel Amir Yarallah, said. Government and allied forces backed by a US-led coalition launched an offensive last month to oust IS from Hawija, a longtime insurgent bastion. The town is among the final holdouts from the territory seized by the jihadists in 2014 and its recapture would leave only a handful of remote outposts in IS hands. The United Nations said on Tuesday that an estimated 12,500 people had fled the town since the launch of the offensive to retake Hawija and surrounding areas last month. The UN's humanitarian affairs office said the number of people still in the town was unknown but could be as high as 78,000. It said humanitarian agencies have set up checkpoints, camps and emergency sites capable of receiving more than 70,000 people who could flee. Hawija, 230 kilometres (140 miles) north of Baghdad, is one of just two significant areas of Iraq still held by IS, along with a stretch of the Euphrates Valley near the Syrian border which is also under attack. Graft-ridden Indonesia is home to one of Asia's most inefficient bureaucracies and gridlock plagues many of the archipelago's largest towns, including the capital Jakarta Indonesia's notorious traffic congestion was on display for the world Thursday after the country's president was forced to walk two kilometres through the scorching heat to attend a military parade. Graft-ridden Indonesia is home to one of Asia's most inefficient bureaucracies and gridlock plagues many of the archipelago's largest towns. The country's traffic nightmares were aptly illustrated when President Joko Widodo had to walk more than two kilometres to attend a ceremony marking the 72nd anniversary of the Indonesian military's founding. Widodo and senior government officials were held up by gridlock as they approached the military parade in Cilegon, a port city about two-and-a-half hours drive from the capital Jakarta, the presidential palace said. After a 30-minute wait, "the president then decided from inside the car that he would walk," Widodo's guard Ili Dasili said in a statement. National police chief Tito Karnavian, who was also stuck in the jam, joined the president. Video footage shows the president walking with a phalanx of security personnel while spectators yell and chant his name. Widodo's unorthodox entrance wasn't lost on social media users, who questioned why the leader of Southeast Asia's largest economy was compelled to walk to the event. "How come the president walked for two kilometres to the military anniversary location, why didn't they give him the privilege of vacating the road or taking him in a helicopter?" Twitter user @Pujithegooners wrote. Philippine Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana tries a CQ-A5b (M4) rifle donated by the Chinese government during the ceremony at the military headquarters in Manila on October 5, 2017 The Philippines' military chief hailed the United States as his nation's "number one ally" and announced a return of regular war games, following President Rodrigo Duterte's call for warmer ties. Duterte last week vowed to be "friendly" with the United States, signalling an end to relentless criticism that included a vow to end all joint military exercises and branding then US president Barack Obama a "son of a whore". Military chief General Eduardo Ano, returning from Hawaii where he met US Pacific Command chief Admiral Harry Harris last week, said Thursday the allies had agreed to increase joint military exercises for 2018 after they were scaled down this year. "The president said: 'I want to be friendlier to the US'. So we have a closer relationship and more exercises," Ano told reporters in Manila. "He (Duterte) said to continue engagement with the United States. They are still our number one ally." Ano said the joint exercises next year would focus on counter-terrorism, disaster response and even territorial defence. As he sought to loosen his nation's alliance with the United States, Duterte also looked to build warmer relations with China and Russia. During a visit to Beijing a year ago he announced his nation's "separation" from the United States. He later explained he was angry at Obama for criticising his war on drugs, which has since seen thousands killed and led rights groups to warn Duterte may be orchestrating a crime against humanity. Philippine Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana (C) tries a CQ-A5b (M4) rifle donated by the Chinese government during the ceremony at the military headquarters in Manila on October 5, 2017 Duterte said last week the dispute was "water under the bridge" as he thanked the United States for helping the Philippines fight Islamic militants who have occupied parts of the southern city of Marawi since May 23. The US has provided intelligence, weapons and training to local forces trying to retake Marawi. The fighting has claimed more than 900 lives and raised fears the Islamic State group is trying to establish a Southeast Asian base in the Philippines. Ano said on Thursday the Philippines would still pursue closer defence ties with China. Ano was speaking at a ceremony at which China turned over 3,000 assault rifles and ammunition worth 168 million pesos ($3.2 million) to the Philippine military for use in fighting terrorism. "The US is not our enemy. China is not our enemy. Our utmost priority is the interest of the country," Ano said. Chicago resident Lee Maglaya interacts with police officers Librada Godinez and David Hallock at a McDonald's during a nationwide 'Coffee with a Cop' day, in Chicago, Illinois, on October 4, 2017 In a diverse Chicago neighborhood where dozens of languages are spoken, two police officers are visiting a McDonald's restaurant. They have a jug of coffee in hand and are offering a friendly ear, willing to listen to anyone who wants to have a chat. Welcome to "Coffee with a Cop" day, an initiative held Wednesday in Chicago and across the United States for police to bond with the public. The effort comes at a time of deep tensions and distrust between police and the communities they serve. "It's been positive," said Officer Librada Godinez about her conversations at the Chicago McDonald's, all prompted by an initial offer of a free cup of coffee. "(It) puts a smile on their face and they're more comfortable talking to us," Godinez told AFP. - Tensions - Law enforcement in many American cities have a lot of work to do to build public trust. Police officer Librada Godinez speaks with Chicago resident Lee Maglaya at a McDonald's restaurant during 'Coffee with a Cop' day, in Chicago, Illinois, on October 4, 2017 The last year and a half alone has been searing for American police, with one highly-publicized case after another of questionable police shootings, often involving minorities. Prosecutors have had difficulty securing convictions against cops, resulting in street demonstrations that sometimes turn violent -- leading to even more tensions. St Louis, located along the Mississippi River southwest of Chicago, was the most recent example. Police there clashed with protesters in September, after a former cop was acquitted in the 2011 fatal shooting of a black man. Protests have persisted for weeks, with the latest one Tuesday night. "Across the country, between minority communities and police... there is a gulf," said Brian Jackson, a criminal justice researcher at the RAND corporation. "When the relationship is strained, you get crimes that aren't reported." Chicago resident Rashonda Cole can understand why fellow African Americans might distrust police, due to the city's history of documented abuses targeting Latinos and African Americans. But, the 35-year-old said outreach efforts can repair the damage. "If they have stuff like this every day, and you get a chance to stop in and talk and have a cup of coffee with an officer, I think a lot of people would have a different sense of thinking when it comes to the police," Cole said. - A difficult past - "Coffee with a Cop" began six years ago in Hawthorne, a small Southern California city with a diverse population near the Los Angeles airport. It grew into a program funded by the US Department of Justice, with training for officers in cities across the US and in Canada. This is the second year of the nationwide event, held annually on the first Wednesday of October. For Chicago police, it is an opportunity to undo decades of damage. Last year, the city paid $5.5 million in reparations to 57 people tortured for confessions over two decades ending in 1991. It remains to be seen whether coffee alone is enough to address long-standing, systemic issues. In January, a federal civil rights probe found Chicago police routinely engaged in unreasonable use of force. And on Wednesday, as cops were chatting over coffee, a new lawsuit sought reforms in how Chicago police interact with the disabled. - 'Baby steps' - Chicago resident Lee Maglaya who was at the McDonald's with her autistic son, listed a litany of complaints as Officer Godinez patiently listened. But none were of the police. Godinez heard about Maglaya's neighbor who shoved her son. "Yeah, that would have been a battery," Godinez told the 69-year-old woman. Maglaya talked of her elderly friend assaulted by robbers. Godinez offered a pocket-sized handheld alarm device, and promised to follow up with additional help. "Thank you for even having this," Maglaya responded. "I think it's a great thing." Godinez's partner David Hallock said individual interactions are what rebuild relationships. "It's more of an incremental 'baby step' thing, where it can happen a little bit at a time," Hallock said. "We eventually get perceived as being regular human beings, just like the rest of the world." Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and Queen Saleha wave to crowds during Thursday's golden jubilee procession Brunei's all-powerful and fabulously wealthy sultan marked 50 years on the throne in lavish style Thursday, travelling in a gilded chariot through the streets and holding a tradition-filled ceremony at his golden-domed palace. Tens of thousands of well-wishers waving the country's flag lined the streets and cheered as Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, the world's second-longest reigning monarch, passed by in a chariot pulled by dozens of his subjects. Marching bands took part in the colourful procession as it made its way through the streets, the highlight of about two weeks of celebrations to mark the golden jubilee of one of the world's richest men. An absolute monarchy with strict Islamic laws, Brunei is one of the world's wealthiest nations thanks to abundant oil and gas reserves, although analysts warn it faces serious challenges to diversify the economy as oil prices fall and its reserves dwindle. Among the crowds was Melissa Ibrahim, an airline employee, who sang Hassanal's praises. The 71-year-old ascended to the throne of the Muslim country perched on the north of tropical Borneo island in October 1967, and comes from a royal family that has ruled the country for over 600 years "His majesty cares about the people, their welfare, education and health," she told AFP. "Everything is subsidised by the government, so for that we are very, very thankful." Celebrations got under way earlier at the sultan's sprawling palace, where an honour guard performed a 21-gun salute and the ruler and his wife sat on golden thrones for a royal audience. The 71-year-old ascended to the throne of the Muslim country perched on the north of tropical Borneo island in October 1967, and comes from a royal family that has ruled the country for over 600 years. His decades ruling Brunei have seen the country gain full independence from Britain and living standards soar to among the highest in the world. - Islamic law, high-priced harem - Thanks to abundant oil and gas reserves, Brunei is one of the world's weathiest nations But his reign of Brunei, which has a population of about 400,000, has also been marked by controversies. These include the introduction of tough Islamic laws in 2014, which will eventually include penalties such as severing of limbs and death by stoning, a move that sparked rare domestic criticism as well as international condemnation. The royal family was also deeply embarrassed by a sensational feud between Hassanal and his younger brother Prince Jefri Bolkiah over the latter's alleged embezzlement of $15 billion during his tenure as finance minister in the 1990s. During the scandal, salacious details emerged of the prince's jet-set, un-Islamic lifestyle, including allegations of a high-priced harem and a luxury yacht he owned called "Tits". There are also challenges for the younger generation, who fear their futures may not be secure as the oil-dependent country struggles to find new revenue sources. The jubilee stood out as a rare source of excitement in the sleepy sultanate, which is known for its slow pace of life and lack of nightlife -- alcohol is largely banned under Islamic practice "They still have not really made any significant headway moving beyond this major sector (oil and gas)," said Bridget Welsh, a Southeast Asia expert from John Cabot University. Still, the jubilee stood out as a rare source of excitement in the sleepy sultanate, which is known for its slow pace of life and lack of nightlife -- alcohol is largely banned under Islamic practice. Thursday's festivities began with Hassanal, dressed in yellow and gold royal finery and accompanied by his wife Anak Hajah Saleha, inspecting a guard of honour in the grounds of his palace, before the gun salute. The couple then held the royal audience in the throne room of the palace, a vast complex of resplendent white buildings with golden domes and almost 1,800 rooms, before heading to take part in the procession. The festivities will continue Friday when Southeast Asian leaders, from countries including Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines, and Middle Eastern royalty attend a banquet to mark the jubilee. The sultan only comes behind one sovereign in terms of having the longest reign -- Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, who ascended to the throne in 1952. She became the world's longest serving monarch a year ago following the death of Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej, whose reign spanned seven decades. Members of the Iraqi forces, which are backed by fighters from the Shiite-dominated Hashed al-Shaabi paramilitary units pose for a photograph in Hawija on October 5, 2017 Iraqi forces retook one of the Islamic State group's last two enclaves in the country on Thursday, overrunning the longtime insurgent bastion of Hawija after a two-week offensive. IS once held one-third of Iraqi territory but it has suffered loss after loss this year and now only controls a slither of land in the Euphrates Valley near the Syrian border. "I announce the liberation of the city of Hawija," Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi told a news conference in Paris. "All that remains is the strip on the border with Syria." Iraqi forces celebrated after entering the town, posing with upside down IS flags and flashing V-for-victory signs after riding in on tanks and armoured personnel carriers, an AFP photographer reported. "Today we are in Hawija and thank God it is completely liberated," said Zamer Jabbar, a member of the Shiite-dominated Hashed al-Shaabi paramilitary units fighting against IS alongside government forces. Hawijah, 230 kilometres (140 miles) north of Baghdad, was at the centre of a pocket of mainly Sunni Arab towns that were among the final holdouts from territory seized by the jihadists in 2014. The town had been an insurgent bastion since soon after the US-led invasion of 2003, earning it the nickname of "Kandahar in Iraq" for the ferocious resistance it put up similar to that in the Taliban militia's citadel in Afghanistan. Hawija The area's mainly Sunni Arab population is deeply hostile both to the Shiite-led government in Baghdad and to the Kurds who form the historic majority in adjacent areas. Government forces bypassed it in their advance north to second city Mosul last year, which culminated in the jihadists' defeat in the emblematic bastion in July. - 'Victory for whole world' - Hawija lies between the two main routes north from Baghdad -- to Mosul and to the city of Kirkuk and the autonomous Kurdish region -- and its recapture is both a symbolic and a strategic victory for the government. "This a victory not only for Iraqis but also for the whole world," Abadi said, as he announced the town's recapture after talks in Paris with French President Emmanuel Macron. France is part of a US-led coalition that has been backing the campaign against IS. There was no immediate word on the fate of civilians in Hawija. The United Nations said this week that an estimated 12,500 people had fled since the launch of the offensive to retake the town and surrounding areas last month. The UN's humanitarian affairs office said the number of people still in the town was unknown but could be as high as 78,000. Iraqi forces fire artillery from a position near Hawija on October 4, 2017, during an operation to recapture the town from the Islamic State group It said humanitarian agencies had set up checkpoints, camps and emergency sites capable of receiving more than 70,000 people who could flee. The Norwegian Refugee Council said many of those arriving in the camps had little more than the clothes on their backs. "In addition to the terror they have experienced during years under the control of the IS group, many of the families who are arriving are malnourished," said its acting area manager, Silvia Beccacece. - Dwindling 'caliphate' - The US-led coalition congratulated the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) for the "swift and decisive victory" against IS in Hawija after a "hard fought" battle. "The government of Iraq and the ISF, with the support of the global coalition, have liberated more than four million Iraqis and reclaimed over 41,500 square kilometres (16,000 sq miles) of land once held by ISIS," it said in a statement. It warned, however, that "an ISIS presence remains in Iraq, and the Coalition will continue to stand side-by-side with the ISF in their collective mission to defeat ISIS". IS, also known as ISIS or ISIL, seized swathes of territory in Iraq and Syria during a lightning offensive in the summer of 2014 that was followed by its declaration of a cross-border "caliphate". Last week, it was ousted from Anna, one of three towns it still held in the Euphrates Valley, and Iraqi forces are preparing to advance upstream towards the other two, Rawa and Al-Qaim. Provincial civil defence chief General Fawzi Yassin said it had taken until Thursday to clear nearly 1,000 mines and booby-traps that the jihadists had planted in and around Anna. Town council chief Abdel Karim al-Ani told AFP: "This clearance operation is going to allow the displaced to return to their homes." The battle to retake Hawija has been overshadowed in recent weeks by Baghdad's dispute with Iraqi Kurdistan over the oil-rich autonomous region holding a non-binding referendum on independence. Regional tensions have also soared since 92.7 percent of Iraqi Kurds voted for independence on September 25, and Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday warned Turkey would "soon" close its border crossing with Iraqi Kurdistan and airspace. Displaced Iraqis who fled battle to oust the Islamic State group from Hawija, walk a long the bank of a river in the area of Zarga some 35 kilometres southeast of Kirkuk on October 4, 2017 The US-led coalition is also backing an Arab-Kurdish alliance, the Syrian Democratic Forces, that is battling to oust IS from its de facto Syrian capital Raqa. The SDF has captured about 90 percent of Raqa and is fighting fierce battles with remaining IS jihadists. IS's other main stronghold in Syria is the eastern province of Deir Ezzor, which borders IS-held territory in Iraq. Two separate offensives are under way against the jihadists in Deir Ezzor -- one by the SDF, the other by government forces supported by Russia. Bangladesh border guards destroyed at least 30 wooden fishing boats after they were intercepted Tuesday evening bringing more than 700 Rohingya Muslims across the river from Myanmar's westernmost Rakhine state. Bangladesh has destroyed at least 30 wooden fishing boats to deter local captains from smuggling Rohingya refugees and illegal drugs across the border from strife-torn Myanmar, officials said Thursday. Border guards seized the vessels and arrested the captains after they were intercepted Tuesday evening bringing more than 700 Rohingya Muslims across the river from Myanmar's westernmost Rakhine state. The boatmen were also caught in possession of about 100,000 "yaba" pills, an illegal stimulant popular in Bangladesh, said a border guard official. More than half a million Rohingya have fled ethnic bloodshed in Rakhine since late August, many by boat across the Naf River which divides Myanmar and Bangladesh. "These brokers (boatmen) were smuggling people," one border guard told AFP on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to media. "We were asked to destroy the 30 boats. These are hand-pulled vessels, not run by engines", he added, saying non-motorised boats were used to avoid detection. A government official confirmed 39 people, mostly Rohingya living in Bangladesh, were jailed for six months for "excessively charging" refugees for passage across the Naf. "The BGB (Border Guard Bangladesh) has done an appropriate job," Zahid Siddique, a local magistrate and government administrator, told AFP. Gangs of boat owners, crew and fishermen have been charging the fleeing Rohingya upwards of $250 for the two-hour journey that normally costs no more than $5. Bangladesh's elite Rapid Action Battalion this week rescued 20 Rohingya being held hostage by local gangs demanding huge fares from the refugees. Some arriving in Shah Porir Dwip told AFP that boatmen had demanded they hand over gold, jewels and cash before taking them across. The boatmen are accused of not just trafficking people but drugs from Myanmar, with border guards discovering 100,000 "yaba" pills inside the seized vessels. The BGB officer said the drugs -- a blend of methamphetamine and caffeine popular among Bangladeshi youth -- were concealed inside the boats. Bangladeshi security forces have seized millions of yaba pills in recent years from traffickers attempting to smuggle the drugs through the border district of Cox's Bazar by land and sea from Myanmar. In the past fortnight at least five Rohingya men have been arrested on the Naf river in possession of 1.23 million yaba pills. Brunei has some of the world's highest living standards because of its energy reserves but faces major challenges due to the collapse of oil prices, and has been criticised in recent years because of a shift towards hardline Islam Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, the world's second-longest reigning monarch, celebrated his golden jubilee Thursday with lavish celebrations, including a glittering procession and 21-gun salute. The tiny country has some of the world's highest living standards because of its energy reserves but faces major challenges due to the collapse of oil prices, and has been criticised in recent years because of a shift towards hardline Islam. Here are some facts about the sultanate: - Long history - The history of the tiny, coastal sultanate on tropical Borneo island, which is surrounded by Malaysia, stretches back centuries. It was at its peak in the 15th century, when it had an empire controlling large swathes of Borneo. But it declined as European powers extended their colonial rule across Asia, and in 1888 became a British protectorate. However it was not subsumed into the new states that were formed during the colonial era and after World War II -- as many sultanates in the region were. The country gained full independence from Britain in 1984, and saw its economy grow at a rapid pace as it reaped the benefits of its abundant oil and gas reserves. - Economic woes - Brunei's per capita GDP remains among the highest in the world due to its rich energy reserves, the government and government-linked institutions provide most employment, and its approximately 400,000 citizens enjoy generous state benefits. But as the oil price collapsed a few years ago, energy-dependent Brunei was plunged into a lengthy recession. The government has announced plans to diversify the economy but analysts warn they have still not done enough and there is a risk they may not be able to provide the same sort of secure employment for young people as for previous generations. - Vast wealth and excesses - The sultan is one of the world's richest men and tales of the royal family's extravagant lifestyles are the stuff of legend. He is reported to have a vast collection of luxury vehicles and his official residence -- a vast pile that sits on a riverbank -- is one of the world's largest palaces, with about 1,800 rooms. His playboy younger brother Prince Jefri Bolkiah has however attracted the most attention. He had a spectacular falling-out with Hassanal over allegations he embezzled billions during his time as finance minister in the 1990s. Ensuing court battles and investigations shone an unwanted spotlight on the family's vast wealth and excesses. The prince's lavish lifestyle has been reported to included everything from gold toilet paper holders, to harems of Western women and pornographic statues he used to keep at a property he owned in the US. Still, there are signs the siblings have settled their feud, with Prince Jefri attending Thursday's golden jubilee celebrations. - Christmas banned in hardline shift - Brunei, where about 80 percent of the population are Muslim, has been shifting towards hardline Islam in recent years. In 2014 the first phase of a controversial new Islamic sharia penal code came into effect despite rare domestic criticism and condemnation from the United Nations. Fines or jail terms were introduced for offences including indecent behaviour, failure to attend Friday prayers and out-of-wedlock pregnancies. Punishments such as death by stoning for offences including sodomy and adultery are expected to be introduced later. As part of the hardline shift, Christmas celebrations were banned in 2015 with religious leaders warning that putting up festive trees and singing carols ran counter to Islam. PRINT | EMAIL | PERMALINK Reel World Phantasm Man The Jean Cocteau Cinema in Santa Fe is kicking off Halloween month with a special tribute to the 1979 sci-fi/horror cult classic Phantasm. The films writer/director, Don Coscarelli, will be on hand for the screening this Saturday, Oct. 7, at 8pm. He will also be accompanied by actress Kathy Le Kat Lester, who plays the seductive and deadly Lady in Lavender in the film. Coscarelli and Lester will introduce the movie and participate in a Q&A afterward. Lester, who has been cultivating a musical career in recent years, will also perform a special Phantasm-inspired song live at the theater. Tickets are $15 in advance (at jeancocteaucinema. com) or $20 at the door. The Jean Cocteau is located at 418 Montezuma Ave. Italian Treat The Italian Festivals of New Mexico is sponsoring a special fundraiser film event this Sunday, Oct. 8, from 2 to 4:30pm at the Hiland Theater (4800 Central SE). The film will be the Texan-Italian cult comedy Tiramisu For Two. This one-night-only screening comes just days after the films highly anticipated West Coast premiere at the prestigious San Diego Italian Film Festival. Tiramisu For Two tells the story of Giorgio, a peculiar Italian man who travels to Texas in search of a woman he met and then lost 30 years ago in Rome. Giorgios epic romantic plans are turned upside-down, however, when he runs into an infamous phony Italian chef who takes him on the ride of his life. The film will be presented in English and Italian with English subtitles. The screening will also feature a pre-film music video and a live Q&A with the films writer-director, Sergio Carvajal. Tickets are $12 in advance or $15 at the door. Proceeds will go to benefit the children of NDI-New Mexico. You can reserve tickets by going to italianfilmfest.org. After the film you can take your ticket stub to Scalo Northern Italian Grill (anytime between Oct. 8 and 17) and exchange it for a complimentary tiramisu for two. Nice! The full Italian Film Festival will return March 13 through 17, 2018. View in Alibi calendar Genres : Documentary, Crime, Drama Starring : Kate Doyle, Scott Greathead, Fredy Peccerelli Director : Ryan Suffern Plot Synopsis In a forgotten massacre during Guatemalas decades-long civil war, a young boy was spared, only to be raised by one of the very soldiers who killed his family. Nearly 30 years after the tragedy, it will take a dedicated team from a forensic scientist to a young Guatemalan prosecutor to uncover the truth and bring justice to those responsible...by finding the missing boy named Oscar. The son and namesake of late Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos, Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jnr (C), says he is confident of ousting the current vice president in a legal challenge, which would place him a heartbeat away from leading his country The son and namesake of late Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos declared Thursday he was confident of ousting the current vice president in a legal challenge, which would place him a heartbeat away from leading his country. Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jnr also confirmed his family was in talks with President Rodrigo Duterte, a political ally, to end the government's three-decade hunt for billions of dollars worth of national assets allegedly stolen by his father and mother during their reign. Marcos, 60, narrowly lost the vice presidential election last year but he filed a case with the Supreme Court alleging the victor, Leni Robredo, cheated by manipulating computerised vote counting machines. "We are definitely sure that when the recount starts the true result will emerge and prove that the votes in the vice-presidential election had been incorrectly counted," Marcos told reporters. Victory for Marcos would cement his family's remarkable political comeback, 31 years after a famous "People Power" revolution saw millions of people take to the streets to end his father's 20-year rule and force the family into US exile. Ferdinand Marcos Snr died in Hawaii in 1989, his reputation mostly in tatters with the government accusing him and his cronies of embezzling up to $10 billion from state coffers during his time in power while overseeing widespread rights abuses. But his family, led by flamboyant matriarch Imelda, returned to the Philippines after his death and began rebuilding political power. Imelda, 88, remains a member of Congress representing the family's stronghold in a northern Philippine province. She has said she dreams of Bongbong, who was a senator for from 2010 to last year, becoming president. In the Philippines, the president and vice president are elected separately. The vice president takes over should the president die or becomes incapacitated. Duterte, 72, has admitted to having a range of health problems, including a cardiovascular illness caused by smoking called Buerger's disease. Duterte said last year he had dealt with chronic pain by taking higher doses of fentanyl, a highly addictive opioid, than his doctor had prescribed. Duterte insists he is an anti-graft crusader. But he also openly admires the leadership style of the dictator, and counts the Marcos clan as important political allies who helped fund his presidential campaign. Duterte said recently the Marcos family had proposed a settlement on the wealth cases by turning over to the government some of its assets, "including a few gold bars". Bongbong Marcos said Thursday the family was offering to sign a "quit claim" deed in which it would identify properties and assets it had acquired legally and relinquish its claim to whatever else the government finds. "If the government is saying we are hiding other things, we will help you find it and you can have it," he added, while declining to provide estimated values. Iraqi Kurds celebrate the results of the independence referendum in the northern city of Arbil, on September 27, 2017 Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said Thursday he did not want an armed conflict with his country's Kurds, days after the autonomous Kurdistan region voted for independence in a referendum. "We don't want armed confrontation, we don't want clashes but federal authority must prevail," he said after a meeting in Paris with French President Emmanuel Macron. "Separatism is unacceptable," Abadi said, reiterating that the non-binding September 25 vote -- in which 92.7 percent of Iraqi Kurds backed independence -- was "illegal". "Iraq belongs to all Iraqis," he said, appealing to Kurdish Peshmerga forces to work with the Iraqi army "as we have worked together against Daesh (the Islamic State group), to guarantee citizens' safety." Macron voiced support for Kurds' rights while defending Iraq's territorial unity. France has "always been sensitive to the situation of Kurds" but is also committed to stability in Iraq, Macron said, calling for dialogue between Baghdad and Iraqi Kurdistan. "France is ready to contribute actively to the UN's mediation efforts, if Iraqi authorities so wish," he said. Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) and Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud walk during a welcoming ceremony ahead of their talks at the Kremlin in Moscow on October 5, 2017 On a landmark visit to Russia, Saudi Arabia's King Salman and President Vladimir Putin were set on Thursday to clinch a host of multi-billion-dollar energy and defence deals despite discord over the Syrian war. The first official trip to Russia by a Saudi monarch will also see the leaders of the world's largest energy exporters discuss an extension of an OPEC agreement to cap oil output. "This is the first visit by a Saudi Arabian monarch in the history of our relations and that in itself is a landmark event," Putin said as he welcomed King Salman to Moscow in an ornate gilded Kremlin hall. "I'm sure your visit will boost the ties between our countries," he said. "We aim to strengthen our relations in the interests of peace and security, in the interests of developing the world economy," the Saudi king responded. - 'Positive cooperation' - Citing Russia's energy minister Alexander Novak, the Financial Times reported that Russia and Saudi Arabia were expected to sign deals worth over $3 billion (2.5 billion euros), including a $1 billion energy investment fund and a $1.1 billion agreement for Russia's petrochemicals giant Sibur to build a plant in Saudi Arabia. Russia's Kommersant business daily reported Putin and Salman were also due to discuss an arms deal worth more than $3 billion, to supply Riyadh with S-400 air defence systems. Russia and Saudi Arabia are heavily dependent on oil exports and the global plunge of the price of crude that began in 2014 lashed both their economies. OPEC members have joined with Russia and other countries in cutting crude output in a pact that has helped prop up prices. Putin said on Wednesday it was possible to extend an OPEC deal to cap oil output "at least until the end of 2018". The current agreement runs until March 2018. "We strive to continue the positive cooperation between our countries to achieve stability on world oil markets which promotes the growth of the world's economy," Salman said in Moscow. The leaders held one-on-one talks, followed by broader discussions. Once they sign the expected deals, Putin will host a state dinner for Salman. Saudi Arabia's King Salman arrives in Moscow "The political will of Moscow and Riyadh for deeper cooperation on the widest range of issues is clear," Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists ahead of the meetings. - Awkward start - The 81-year-old Saudi monarch's three-day visit got off to an awkward start on Wednesday evening after landing at Moscow's Vnukovo-2 airport when the escalator he uses to descend from his plane malfunctioned. The escalator stopped midway, forcing the king to walk down himself, to be met by Russian officials including deputy prime minister Dmitry Rogozin and a military brass band. His delegation of around 1,000 people occupied all the available hotel rooms in five-star hotels around the Kremlin, including one entire hotel, state RIA Novosti news agency reported. Salman arrived in Moscow along with Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih, Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir and Minister of State Musaed al-Aiban. The head of Saudi's state-owned oil giant Aramco Amin Nasser told Rossiya 24 state television ahead of the talks that the company would sign agreements with Russia's Gazprom, Gazprom Neft and Sibur energy companies as well as with an affiliate of Lukoil. - Discord over Syria, Yemen - The Kremlin said ahead of the visit that Salman and Putin would also discuss the Middle East, "especially focusing on conflict situations in the region." While Russia and Saudi Arabia are partners on the oil market, they are at loggerheads on Syria, where Moscow supports President Bashar al-Assad and Riyadh backs the opposition. They also diverge on Yemen, where a Saudi-led coalition has been bombing Huthi rebels since 2015, drawing criticism from Moscow. Putin visited Riyadh in 2007 and last met Salman in Turkey in 2015. Salman said he last visited Russia in 2006, before becoming king. Syrian refugees attend a job fair at the Zaatari refugee camp in Jordan on October 4, 2017 After five years without work, Syrian refugee Mohammed Ahmad was nervous but hopeful as he registered with as many firms as possible at a unique job fair in Jordan's sprawling Zaatari camp where he lives. Around 50 companies were represented at the one-day event Wednesday as they scouted for candidates to fill some 1,000 job opportunities, compiling lists of applicants by name, age and qualification. The EU-funded job fair, a first at the desert camp that houses some 80,000 refugees, comes after the launch in August of the only employment office at Zaatari following a decision by the Jordanian government to grant residents work permits and let them work in larger towns. For father of four Ahmad, who fled from Daraa in southern Syria just across the border, the project could provide a vital lifeline. "I've been living in this camp for five years and spend most of my time sitting around or sleeping," the 34-year-old former farmer. "Living conditions are very hard here and I hope to get a job that will save us from this." Ahmad admitted he was "in desperate need of money" as his family struggles to get by on the roughly $30 per person they get each month in credit to spend at the desert camp's two markets. In comparison the monthly salaries for the jobs offered at the fair, also supported by the United Nation's UNHCR refugee agency and the Jordanian government, rise up to 210 dinars ($300). Overall, since the launch of the employment office at Zaatari, some 3,000 Syrians have used the facilities to help secure work in the agriculture, industrial and food-processing sectors, organisers said. The long-term aim is eventually to provide 200,000 job opportunities for the Syrian refugees spread across Jordan, said the EU ambassador to the kingdom, Andrea Fontana. According to the UNHCR, more than 650,000 refugees have fled to Jordan since their country's war erupted in March 2011, while Amman says the actual figure is 1.3 million. Syrian refugees attend a job fair at the Zaatari refugee camp in Jordan on October 4, 2017 The UNHCR representative to Jordan, Stefano Severe, said both sides stand to benefit. "I am confident that having an increased number of Syrians entering the labour market will positively impact the local economy and bring stability to refugee families," he said in a statement. - 'Everybody excited' in camp - Dressmaker Sheikha Fadlallah, 54, says the project has become a hot topic in the Zaatari camp, 80 kilometres (50 miles) north of the Jordanian capital Amman. "Everybody here is excited about the idea of finding work," she said. "I need to get a job to pay to fix my teeth. They're completely messed up." From the employer's point of view, the tens of thousands of residents in the camp offer a large pool of abilities from which to select candidates. Yussef al-Khawalda, an agent with an agricultural firm, said he needed 16 employees for animal care. "I hope they all find jobs because it's very sad to see so many people with potential who are just sitting around doing nothing," said Mahmud Jallal, looking for 30 recruits for his pastry factory. But many face disappointment. "I haven't found a job. I've spoken to representatives of three companies, all of who told me I'm old and they're looking for young people," said Ihsan al-Masri, 46. Syrian refugees attend a job fair at the Zaatari refugee camp in Jordan on October 4, 2017 Masri, a father of seven and former van driver, said he had offered to do "any job, security guard or garbage collector, but in vain". Fellow refugee Nassib Mohammed Saleh, at 76, is nostalgic for the pre-war days when he ran his own business back home and had three employees. "Believe me, all I have left is this dinar," he said, pulling a coin out of his pocket. NATO nations currently have 5,000 soldiers stationed in Afghanistan The United States is to ask NATO allies to contribute around 1,000 additional troops to help in the battle against the resurgent Taliban in Afghanistan, the new US ambassador to the alliance said Thursday. Kay Bailey Hutchison said the forces would add to the roughly 3,000 US troops who are already on their way to Afghanistan to train and advise the country's security forces under President Donald Trump's new strategy against the militants. The Taliban, on the offensive since NATO combat troops were withdrawn in 2014, now control large areas of territory and are staging attacks that have killed thousands of Afghan soldiers and police. Hutchison said Washington wanted to see "1,000 or so allied troops" join the increased US presence, adding that Washington would be quite specific in its requests. "We're going to be much more efficient in asking for specific expertise areas, so we're not just saying we want 50 more troops from Denmark, we're saying we want 50 more troops with technology or the capability to fix machines or run tanks," she told reporters at NATO headquarters. "Our goal is to start to see the increase in the levels of trainers and advisors as quickly as possible," she said, adding that it would still take some weeks for the troops to deploy even once agreement had been reached. Defence ministers from the 29 NATO countries will meet in Brussels early next month, with the troop contributions likely to be high on the agenda. Trump announced his new policy on Afghanistan in August, reversing his previous position advocating US withdrawal after military leaders convinced him that pulling out of America's longest war would be worse than remaining. US generals have for months been calling the 16-year conflict in Afghanistan a "stalemate" despite years of support for Afghan partners, continued help from a NATO coalition and an overall cost in fighting and reconstruction to the United States of more than $1 trillion. Before the new increase, the US had 11,000 troops on the ground, alongside 5,000 from NATO and its partners. Critics have questioned what the extra US soldiers can accomplish that previous forces -- which included about 100,000 soldiers at the height of the fighting -- were unable to do. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen (C) has been leading a policy charm offensive on the garment sector ahead of a national election in 2018, handing out cash to workers and rolling out new benefits Cambodia's government on Thursday hiked the minimum wage for garment workers by $17 a month, heeding demands from unions as Prime Minister Hun Sen looks to shore up support ahead of key polls. The self-described strongman has been leading a policy charm offensive on the garment sector ahead of a national election in 2018 that will test his 32-year hold on power. Since August he has met weekly with crowds of textile employees, who prop up a multi-billion dollar industry and have often clashed with his government over working conditions and pay. Hun Sen has been handing out cash to workers at the gatherings and also rolled out a raft of new benefits from free medical check-ups to bonuses for pregnant women who give birth. The latest gift was a pay rise that will lift the monthly minimum wage from $153 to $170 starting in January 2018. The ministry of labour said in a statement that employers, union representatives and government officials on Thursday afternoon had originally agreed to raise pay only to $165. But Hun Sen, who "always cares about the welfare and livelihood of the employees," decided to add $5 on top, the statement said. Cambodia's more than 740,000 textile workers will also receive other monthly benefits, including $7 allowance for transportation and accommodation and $10 reward for regular work. Union representatives and workers applauded the news. "This is the figure that we want," Ath Thorn of the Coalition of Cambodia Apparel Workers Democratic Unions told AFP. A 25-year-old garment worker, Bo Sorphea, told AFP the premier had successfully secured her vote. "I am happy with the benefits promised by the prime minister. I and my family will vote for him," she said. Hun Sen's outreach to the key voting bloc comes as he cracks down on political opponents. Since he nearly lost to the opposition in a 2013 poll, the 65-year-old has used his clout over the courts to batter his rivals with legal charges. The clampdown was ramped up last month when opposition leader Kem Sokha was thrown into a remote jail on treason charges, a dramatic arrest that sent fear rippling through the embattled opposition movement. Since then, nearly half of the opposition party's MPs have fled the country. British author Kazuo Ishiguro holds a press conference in London on October 5, 2017 after being awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature British author Kazuo Ishiguro, best known for his novel "The Remains of the Day" and whose emotional uprooting from his native Japan has left an indelible stamp on his work, won the 2017 Nobel Literature Prize on Thursday. The 62-year-old "in novels of great emotional force, has uncovered the abyss beneath our illusory sense of connection with the world," the Academy wrote in its citation. Contacted by the BBC, Ishiguro said he was "flabbergastingly flattered" by the award. "It's a magnificent honour, mainly because it means that I'm in the footsteps of the greatest authors that have lived. So that's a terrific commendation." he said. Ishiguro said he was writing an email at his desk when he received the "totally unexpected" news. "I thought it was a hoax in this time of fake news, I didn't believe it for a long time," he told journalists. Ishiguro has written eight books as well as scripts for film and television. In 1989, he won the Man Booker Prize for "The Remains of the Day", which was published the same year, and in 1995, he was awarded the Order of the British Empire for his services to literature. British author Kazuo Ishiguro (L) holds a press conference in London on October 5, 2017 after being awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature - 'An exquisite novelist' - "This year's laureate is a brilliant and even exquisite novelist," Sara Danius, the permanent secretary of the Swedish Academy, told the TT news agency after the announcement. She called "The Remains of the Day" a "masterpiece", and described the author as a "writer of great integrity" who developed his own "aesthetic universe". Born in Nagasaki in 1954, nine years after the US dropped a nuclear bomb on the city, Ishiguro moved to Britain with his family when he was five years old. He only returned to visit Japan as an adult some three decades later. Both his first novel "A Pale View of Hills" from 1982 and the subsequent one, "An Artist of the Floating World" from 1986, take place in Nagasaki a few years after World War II. "The themes Ishiguro is most associated with are already present here: memory, time, and self-delusion," the Academy said. Kazuo Ishiguro, who won the 2017 Nobel Literature Prize, has written eight books as well as scripts for film and television "This is particularly notable in his most renowned novel, 'The Remains of the Day'," which was turned into a 1993 film starring Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson. Charting the life of a painfully shy, duty-obsessed English butler, the film was nominated for eight Oscars. "Ishiguro's writings are marked by a carefully restrained mode of expression, independent of whatever events are taking place," the Academy said. - 'I was taken away' - In a 1989 interview with New York-based Bomb Magazine, Ishiguro said: "I tend to be attracted to pre-war and post-war settings because I'm interested in this business of values and ideals being tested, and people having to face up to the notion that their ideals weren't quite what they thought they were before the test came." In a 1991 interview with former Nobel laureate Kenzaburo Oe of Japan, he said the Japan he wrote about in "An Artist In the Floating World" was "very much my own personal, imaginary Japan." Winners of the Nobel Prize in Literature since 2012, with quote from the Swedish Academy on 2017 laureate Kazuo Ishiguro "This may have a lot to do with my own personal history. As a small child, I was taken away from the people I knew, like my grandparents and my friends. "I couldn't forget Japan because I had to prepare myself for returning to it. So I grew up with a very strong image in my head of this other country, a very important other country to which I had a strong emotional tie," he said. "I'm beginning to see as I get older that my leaving Japan at the point when I did was, in complicated ways, a key defining thing," he said in a 1995 interview with the Financial Times. - 'Jane Austen with Kafka' - Kazuo Ishiguro was born in Japan but moved to London when he was five, growing up in Surrey and suburban south London His more recent fiction contains elements of fantasy. With the critically-acclaimed dystopian work "Never Let Me Go" from 2005, Ishiguro introduced "a cold undercurrent" of science fiction into his work. Ishiguro's characters often painfully come to terms with who they are without closure. "If you mix Jane Austen and Franz Kafka then you have Kazuo Ishiguro in a nutshell -- but you have to add a little bit of Marcel Proust into the mix. And then you stir but not too much, and then you have his writings," Danius said. His latest novel, "The Buried Giant" from 2015 explores "in a moving manner, how memory relates to oblivion, history to the present, and fantasy to reality," the Academy noted. In the book, an elderly couple go on a road trip through an archaic English landscape, hoping to reunite with their adult son, whom they have not seen for years. - Emulating Dylan - His publisher Faber & Faber wrote on Twitter after the announcement, "We're THRILLED Kazuo Ishiguro has won the Nobel Prize!" Ishiguro, who early in his life wanted to be a rock star, "a new Dylan or something", was not among those tipped for this year's Nobel. Now, he and Bob Dylan have that in common. Last year, the Swedish Academy stunned the world by awarding the prestigious honour to the American rock legend and counter-culture icon. The Nobel comes with a prize of nine million kronor ($1.1 million, 945,000 euros). French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe (L) gives a press conference with his Tunisian counterpart Youssef Chahed (R) following a meeting in Tunis on October 5, 2017 Prime Minister Youssef Chahed said Thursday a probe into the young Tunisian who stabbed to death two women in the French city of Marseille had uncovered no links to terrorist groups. "The investigation is underway and we do not really have links today or proof of any ties when this person was in Tunisia with terrorist groups or Daesh," he told reporters after talks with his French counterpart Edouard Philippe, using an Arabic acronym for the Islamic State group. IS claimed responsibility for last Sunday's attack in Marseille, saying the assailant, 29-year-old Ahmed Hanachi who stabbed to death two young women before being shot dead, was one of its "soldiers". "We were also shocked in Tunisia as we were also victims of three terrorist attacks in 2015 and we as a society are completely opposed to these terrorist groupings," the Tunisian premier said. The assailant's friends and family members in Tunisia have dismissed any notion that he was motivated by jihadist aims, depicting him as a heavy drug user who had lost his way. According to his father, Noureddine Hanachi, he left Tunisia for Europe at the age of 17 but often visited the family home in Bizerte, north of Tunis. Three US soldiers and one from another nation were killed when a joint US-Niger patrol was ambushed near the border with Mali in southwest Niger, the Pentagon confirmed Three US soldiers and one from another nation were killed when a joint US-Niger patrol was ambushed near the border with Mali in southwest Niger, the Pentagon confirmed Thursday. The Pentagon said two other US soldiers were wounded in the attack which took place while they were assisting Nigerien counter-terror operations in the troubled area. The attack took place approximately 200 kilometers (120 miles) north of Niamey in southwest Niger, the US Africa Command said in a statement from its headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany. That put the attack on the border with Mali, where violent jihadist groups are known to operate. The slain soldiers were not identified, but media reports say they were Green Beret special forces in Niger to train local forces. The nationality of the fourth person killed was not given. The two wounded US soldiers were evacuated to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany where they are in "stable condition," the African Command said. The report confirmed the little-known presence of US troops in the turbulent area, part of the poor and politically fragile Sahel where jihadist groups are mounting an insurgency. "US Forces are in Niger to provide training and security assistance to the Nigerien Armed Forces, in their efforts to counter violent extremist organizations in the region," the Africa Command said. Some 256,000 Somalis are based in camps in Yemen. This photo shows Somali refugees in a camp in the Kharaz area in 2007 Somali refugees are fleeing war, cholera and hunger in Yemen, the United Nations said Thursday, with 10,000 expected to return home to a country they escaped over conflict and poverty. Somalis make up 91 percent of refugees and asylum seekers in Yemen, with the United Nations reporting some 256,000 Somalis based in camps in the war-torn country. Thousands have headed to Yemen since the start of 2017, despite a conflict in the Arabian Peninsula country that has killed thousands and a cholera outbreak threatening nearly one million people. But up to 10,000 Somali refugees are now trying to flee Yemen, the UN refugee agency UNHCR said. Two boats chartered by UNHCR and the UN migration agency IOM have already left Yemen's port of Aden for the Somali port of Berbera, most recently on Sunday. A third vessel may also depart later this month, UNHCR said, on a journey of 16 to 18 hours. "In total, 284 Somali refugees have returned from Yemen already in the past three weeks," UNHCR's Yemen spokeswoman Shabia Mantoo said Thursday. "This is an ongoing process and full funding to support the process is yet to be received. So the return programme will continue over 2018 as well," she told AFP. While Somali refugees in Yemen largely hail from southern Somalia and the northwestern region of Woqooyi Galbeed, most returnees are heading to the capital Mogadishu, the target of a deadly bombing last month. Access to food, shelter and medicine remains a challenge in Somalia, which has been torn by decades of conflict and ranks second on the 2017 fragile states index. Since 2007, Shabaab jihadists have been fighting to overthrow the African country's internationally backed government, repeatedly attacking both civilian and military targets. The Yemen conflict has claimed the lives of more than 8,500 people since 2015, when an Arab military coalition led by Saudi Arabia joined the government's fight against a rebel alliance. The war has pushed 17 million people to the brink of famine, in what the United Nations this year called the "largest humanitarian crisis in the world". Yemen is also facing port and airport blockades and a cholera outbreak that the International Committee of the Red Cross estimates has killed more than 2,100 people since April. IOM estimates around 55,000 migrants have left the Horn of Africa headed for Yemen since the start of the year, many of them from Somalia. In August, at least 56 Somali and Ethiopian migrants drowned when a human smuggler forced them into choppy Arabian Sea waters before reaching the Yemen coast. News / Local by Stephen Jakes A Bulawayo Councillor Mlandu Ncube has expressed concern at the extent of neglect at cemeteries particularly in certain sections of Hyde Park cemetery.According to latest Bulawayo City Council minutes the areas concerned were generally unkempt and this had the undesirable effect of lowering property values in the surrounding areas."There was therefore need for Council to step in, mobilize funds and ensure proper maintenance at the cemeteries, and fencing off as appropriate," reads the minutes. People attend a candlelight vigil at the University of Las Vegas student union the day after a gunman killed at least 58 people and wounded more than 500 others October 1 The Las Vegas gunman who carried out the deadliest mass shooting in recent US history also had scouted possible locations in Chicago and Boston, US media reported Thursday. Stephen Paddock booked two rooms during the Lollapalooza music festival in August at Chicago's Blackstone hotel, which overlooks the expansive downtown park where the popular event was held, according to the website TMZ and NBC News. The 64-year-old gambler and retired accountant also researched hotels around Boston's Fenway Park baseball stadium, but there was no indication he traveled to the city, NBC News reported, citing senior law enforcement officials. Authorities discovered Paddock's interest in the two cities by examining his communications and electronic equipment, NBC News said. Hundreds of thousands attended the Lollapalooza festival at Chicago's Grant Park, including Malia Obama, the former president's daughter. Paddock never showed up for his Chicago booking, according to the media reports, but the August 2-5 timing may have offered him an opportunity similar to the Las Vegas Strip concert Sunday night. Hundreds were injured and 58 killed when Paddock rained bullets from a nearby hotel tower into crowds attending an outdoor country music festival. Investigators have said the attack was meticulously planned. News of a Chicago connection prompted officials to beef up security for a weekend marathon in which more than one million spectators and some 40,000 participants were expected. "We are constantly revising and asking fundamental questions," said Mayor Rahm Emanuel, adding that the marathon would proceed as planned. The police department added more than 1,000 officers to its marathon security deployment. "One of the things that we're doing is we're putting a significantly larger number of undercover officers," said Anthony Riccio, chief of Chicago police's organized crime bureau. "They're going to be intermingled with the crowd. They're going to be around the runners," Riccio said. Lollapalooza and the management company of The Blackstone hotel did not respond to requests for comment. The historic Chicago landmark has housed heads of state including former president Jimmy Carter, and artists such as Nat King Cole and Rudolph Valentino. A suicide bomber blew himself up outside a Sufi shrine in Pakistan's restive southwest, killing 13 people and wounding at least 20 others, officials said A suicide bomber blew himself up outside a Sufi shrine in southwest Pakistan Thursday killing 18 people, officials said, in an attack claimed by the Islamic State group. The attack follows a deadly bomb blast at the same shrine in the oil and gas rich Balochistan province in 2005, which killed 35 people. "A suicide bomber blew himself up after he was intercepted by police guards on duty outside the shrine, killing 18 people including three children under the age of 12 and two policemen, and wounding at least 27 others, 14 of them seriously," provincial home secretary Akbar Harifal told AFP. Provincial home minister Sarfaraz Bugti confirmed the toll. The blast occurred as Muslims attended annual celebrations of a local saint. Members of Sunni and Shiite sects make daily visits to the shrine in Jhal Magsi district but attendance climbs significantly during festivities. The explosion triggered panic, with worshippers shouting and running in different directions, officials at the site told AFP. Limbs of the dead and injured lay in pools of blood. "The suicide bomber struck outside the shrine at a time when it was packed with people attending anniversary celebrations of Syed Cheesal Shah," said senior local administration official Asad Kakar, referring to the local saint. Harifal said the seriously injured patients were being airlifted to southern Sindh province in the absence of adequate medical facilities in restive Balochistan. The Islamic State Khorasan Province -- the Middle Eastern group's affiliate in Afghanistan and Pakistan -- has since released a statement claiming the attack, according to the US-based monitoring group SITE. - 'Hostile agencies' - Officials said earlier Thursday the incident came amid a new terror threat from four foreign agencies hostile to Pakistan. "I can tell you that four hostile agencies are planning a major terror attack in Pakistan to undo our gains in the fight against terrorism," military spokesman Major General Asif Ghafoor told a press briefing Thursday. Pakistan has launched a series of military offensives since 2007 in its tribal badlands near the Afghan border to cleanse these areas of homegrown as well as Taliban and Al-Qaeda-linked militants. Ghafoor did not disclose the names of the foreign agencies or their origin but added that "no organised infrastructure of any terrorist outfit exists anywhere in Pakistan now". Balochistan is afflicted by Islamist militancy, sectarian violence and a separatist insurgency. Sectarian violence -- in particular by Sunni hardliners against Shiites who make up roughly 20 percent of Pakistan's 200 million people -- has claimed thousands of lives in the country over the past decade. Balochistan is the largest of Pakistan's four provinces, but its roughly seven million inhabitants have long complained they do not receive a fair share of its gas and mineral wealth. A greater push towards peace and development by authorities has reduced violence in recent years, but the remnants of militant groups are still able to carry out periodic attacks, particularly in the northwest. Several million Muslims in Pakistan are still believed to follow Sufism, a mystical branch of Islam whose wandering holy men helped spread the religion throughout the Indian subcontinent in the 13th century. However, it has been overtaken in recent decades by more conservative versions of the faith. A coalition of opposition parties is hoping that pressure from the street will force the ouster of President Faure Gnassingbe Thousands of protestors turned out in the West African state of Togo on Thursday for the second day running, in a campaign aimed at forcing out President Faure Gnassingbe. Demonstrators converged from three points in the capital Lome for what was billed as a "march of anger" against a family which has ruled Togo for 50 years, culminating in a rally on the seafront. "Demonstrators have used rocks to block the road from Gakpoto to St. Joseph's school, and others are preventing cars from going through," Amnesty International's director for Togo, Aime Adi, said. In Atikoume district, angry youths refused to follow the march itinerary set down by the 14-party opposition coalition, and said they would block streets, an AFP journalist saw. However, in some neighbourhoods on the march route, tension that was noticeable on Wednesday seemed to have eased somewhat. Marchers said they would maintain pressure on the Gnassingbe regime. "I am not tired and I will never be tired so long as the struggle is not over. Even if we have to march every day, I will be there," said Elie Zikla, a young man whose job is a motorbike taxi drive. In the north of the country -- a region previously seen as reliably pro-government -- several other rallies, also drawing thousands of people, took place in the northern cities of Sokode, Bafilo and Dapaong, local residents told AFP. However, there were no protests in the far northern town of Mango, where a young man was killed in a demonstration on September 20, which was followed by a crackdown by the authorities. The protests are the seventh in a wave of agitation that began in August. At least four people have been killed and dozen injured. The government, responding to unprecedented protests from the street, is proposing an overhaul of the constitution under which presidential terms would be limited to two five-year spells in office. Gnassingbe, in power since the death of his father in 2005, was re-elected in 2010 and again in 2015, in votes that the opposition denounced as unfair. If the two-term limit applies from the next elections, scheduled in 2020, he could theoretically remain in office until 2030. As a result, the opposition wants the two-term restriction to be applied retroactively by restoring the 1992 constitution, in order to force Gnassingbe from office. The president's father, General Gnassingbe Eyadema, ruled the country with an iron fist from 1967 until his death in 2005. According to a source close to the presidency, the proposed change to the constitution will be put to a referendum "by the end of the year". Russia paraded its S-400 air defence system during the recent Victory Day rally in Moscow Saudi Arabia signed on Thursday preliminary agreements to buy S-400 air defence systems and receive "cutting edge technologies" from Russia during King Salman's landmark visit to Moscow, the Saudi military industries firm said. The agreement was announced as King Salman, who is on the first official trip to Russia by a Saudi monarch, and Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks at the Kremlin. Under the agreements, Saudi Arabia is set to buy S-400 air defence systems, Kornet anti-tank guided missile systems and multiple rocket launchers. These agreements are "expected to play a pivotal role in the growth and development of the military and military systems industry in Saudi Arabia," Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI), the Sunni state's military industries firm said. "The memorandum of understanding includes the transfer of technology for the local production" of the Kornet anti-tank guided missile systems, advanced multiple rocket launchers and automatic grenade launchers. "In addition, the parties will cooperate in setting a plan to localise the manufacturing and sustainment of parts of the S-400 air defence system," SAMI said. The two countries also agreed on the production in Saudi Arabia of the Kalashnikov automatic rifle and its ammunition as well as educational and training programmes for Saudi nationals. "These agreements are expected to have tangible economic contributions and create hundreds of direct jobs," the company said. They "will also transfer cutting edge technologies that will act as a catalyst for localising 50 percent of the Kingdoms military spending." Rosoboronexport, Russia's state-owned arms exporter, had no immediate comment on the agreements. US President Donald Trump's tweet came after NBC News reported that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson had considered resigning earlier this year and openly referred to Trump as a "moron" In the latest in a series of broadsides against the media, US President Donald Trump suggested Thursday that lawmakers investigate journalists for their work. "Why Isn't the Senate Intel Committee looking into the Fake News Networks in OUR country to see why so much of our news is just made up-FAKE!" Trump said in a tweet. That was a reference to a Senate panel which on Wednesday said it was still investigating collusion between Trump's 2016 presidential campaign and Moscow. Trump has long railed against what he sees as unfair press coverage and used attacks on the media to rally supporters. The latest fit of pique was prompted by an NBC News report that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson had considered resigning from the administration earlier this year and openly referred to Trump as a "moron." "Rex Tillerson never threatened to resign. This is Fake News put out by @NBCNews. Low news and reporting standards. No verification from me," he tweeted. Madagascan authorities spray pesticide to halt the spread of the plague in Antananarivo, on October 2, 2017 Madagascan authorities Thursday ordered two universities to close temporarily as efforts intensify to halt a plague outbreak that has killed 33 people and caused widespread panic. The Indian Ocean island nation suffers annual plague outbreaks, but this year the disease has affected urban areas, triggering concern from the World Health Organization (WHO). "In the fight against the spread of plague, the universities of Toamasina and Antananarivo will be closed for sanitation," the Ministry of Higher Education said in a statement. The capital Antananarivo and the port city of Toamasina have been at the centre of the plague outbreak. Thirty-three people are now confirmed to have died nationwide since the end of August. The campus in Antananarivo is expected to reopen next week, though public gatherings in the city will remain banned. The outbreak includes bubonic plague, which is spread by infected rats via flea bites, and pneumonic plague, which spreads from person to person. Plague Pneumonic plague can kill quickly, within 18 to 24 hours of infection if left untreated, but it can be cured by early use of antibiotics. Long queues have formed outside pharmacies as people flock to buy face masks and medicine. Walmart says it has stopped importing fish from Chinese factories that reportedly employed North Koreans under slave-like conditions Wal-Mart said Thursday it no longer imports fish from a Chinese factory that employed North Koreans after a report said the US retailer may have inadvertently subsidized the nuclear-armed state. Wal-Mart barred suppliers from using fish from a facility in Hunchun, one of several in the eastern Chinese city that were reported to employ North Korean laborers in slave-like conditions. Wal-Mart gave the Hunchun facility a "red" rating after it did not cooperate with a company investigation into labor problems, said Wal-Mart spokeswoman Marilee McInnis. "The welfare and dignity of workers is very important to us, and we are working in several ways to help combat the use of forced labor in global supply chains," McInnis said in an email. "We have a system in place to assess suppliers' disclosed factories for compliance with our standards and take appropriate action when we do identify issues that need to be addressed." "Combatting forced labor is a complex problem that no one company, industry, or government can tackle alone," she said, adding Wal-Mart was working with industry groups, governments, other retailers and NGOs to "create lasting, sustainable change." Conditions under which North Korean laborers work at the plant were uncovered in an investigation by the Associated Press. German supermarket chain Aldi, which the article said also has imported seafood from Hunchun factories employing North Koreans, did not respond to questions from AFP. American companies and companies that operate in the US are barred from doing business with North Korea or with people from the country AP said Hunchun was part of a broader effort by Pyongyang to disperse tens of thousands of workers around the world in various industries, bringing in an estimated $200 to $500 million annually and bolstering North Korea's nuclear program. Shipping records showed that more than 100 cargo containers with more than 2,000 tons of salmon, snow crab and other fish were sent to the US and Canada from factories where North Koreans worked, AP said. Workers at the plant are not allowed to leave the compounds without permission and have no access to telephones or email. As much as 70 percent of their pay is taken by the North Korean government, the article said. In late September, the US Treasury Department imposed sanctions on eight North Korean banks and 26 executives, targeting North Koreans working as representatives of North Korean banks in China, Russia, Libya and the United Arab Emirates. The sanctions were the latest in a series of penalties by the US and the United Nations aimed at choking off Pyongyang's nuclear program. A picture shows the damage on the outskirts of Deir Ezzor on September 24, 2017, as Syrian government forces continue to press forward with Russian air cover in the offensive against Islamic State group jihadists across the province War-ravaged Syria is experiencing its worst levels of violence since the battle for Aleppo late last year, the Red Cross said Thursday, warning that the onslaught was causing "intolerable levels of suffering". The top UN humanitarian official for the Syrian crisis also voiced alarm at a surge in violence across several regions of Syria and the number of attacks on medical facilities. "For the past two weeks, we have seen an increasingly worrying spike in military operations that correlates with high levels of civilian casualties," Marianne Gasser, the head of the International Committee of the Red Cross delegation in Syria, said in a statement. Violence has worsened not only in places like Raqa and Deir Ezzor, where brutal battles are under way to oust the Islamic State group, but also in many so-called de-escalation areas, like Idlib, rural Hama and Eastern Ghouta. The de-escalation zones, agreed upon during talks in the Kazakh capital Astana, contributed to a clear reduction in violence in recent months. But Gasser warned that "the return to violence is once again bringing intolerable levels of suffering to wide areas of the country, while at the same time decreasing access for humanitarian agencies". "Taken together, these are the worst levels of violence since the battle for Aleppo in 2016," ICRC said. It pointed out that some camps around Raqa and Deir Ezzor were receiving more than 1,000 civilians every single day as men, women, children flee the bombings and battles. - 10 hospitals damaged - "Humanitarian organisations are struggling to provide water, food and basic hygiene to new arrivals," ICRC warned. Panos Moumtzis, the UN's regional humanitarian coordinator for the Syrian crisis, said he was "appalled by reports of high numbers of civilian casualties due to heavy air attacks" across the country's front lines. "Attacks on medical facilities are depriving people in need of their right to life-saving medical care," he said in a statement. The ICRC said that as many as 10 hospitals had been damaged across Syria over the past 10 days alone. Robert Mardini, who heads ICRC's Near and Middle East operations, stressed that "military operations must not disregard the fate of civilians and of the vital infrastructure on which their survival depends". "Winning by any means is not only unlawful, but also unacceptable when it comes at such human cost," he said, urging all sides fighting in Syria to "show restraint, and to abide by the basic tenets of international humanitarian law." More than 330,000 people have been killed in Syria since the conflict began with anti-government protests in March 2011. A picture taken on August 4, 2017 shows employees of the Tunisian ISIE elections body sitting at an outreach booth at a shopping mall in the capital Tunis, in a bid to encourage citizens to register to vote in the upcoming municipal elections Tunisia's first post-revolt municipal elections originally due to take place in December will be held in March, the authorities said Thursday, after they were postponed at the request of political parties. The decision to hold the elections on March 25 was taken after a closed-door meeting of the Independent High Authority for Elections with representatives of the government, parties and civil society. The long-delayed polls had been seen as the final stage in Tunisia's transition to democracy following its 2011 uprising which sparked the Arab Spring revolutions. The postponement had come at the request of parties which did not feel ready for the election. But now that a date has finally been set there will be hopes they can improve the lives of Tunisians frustrated over worsening conditions since the revolution. Following the uprising, municipalities were dissolved and replaced by "special delegations" -- provisional bodies set up to manage urban centres. This has coincided with falling standards of living in cities and towns where the collection of garbage has been random and quality of infrastructure deteriorated. At the election in March, almost five million Tunisians are to vote to elect the leaders of 350 municipalities. Turnout will be key, however, in a country where youths are largely disillusioned over their futures amid high unemployment. Tunisia has been praised for a relatively democratic transition over the past six years, during which a new constitution was adopted and legislative and presidential polls held in 2014. Britain's Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson at the Conservative Party annual conference in Manchester Libyan authorities on Thursday demanded an explanation from Britain's foreign minister Boris Johnson over his remark on the need to "clear dead bodies" away in the strife-torn North African country. The foreign secretary has already come under fire at home over his assessment of an August visit to Libya that the country could attract foreign investment and tourists after the corpses from fighting were cleared. Fayez al-Sarraj, head of the internationally recognised Government of National Accord, met the British ambassador Peter Millett to demand an explanation of the "unacceptable" comment, according to the GNA's Facebook page. It quoted Millett as saying that Johnson was referring to the dead of the Islamic State jihadist group who had killed hundreds of Libyans. Libya's rival authorities in the east of the country, through parliament's foreign affairs committee, condemned Johnson's "irresponsible" comment that was "an affront to the dignity" of the Libyan people, demanding an official apology. Many ordinary Libyans went on social media to express their anger over the comment. News / Local by Stephen Jakes Mthwakazi Republic Party has described MDC-T legislator Eddie Cross as a Zanu-PF stooge, masquerading as an MDC-T official.This was after Cross recently claimed in his opinion article that Ndebeles were divisive.MRP Secretary for Foreign Affairs Ackim Gasela Mhlanga said Cross was a Zanu PF loyalist and that it was because of the British invasion of 1893 with the help of 652 Shona batsmen that we lost our kingdom.According to the press, Eddie cross is reported to have said the emergence of Ndebele Nationalism is "dangerous and must be checked"."It is now vivid to us that the deployment of Eddie Cross to Matabeleland, Bulawayo South Constituency to be precisely in 2008 was deliberately done so as to monitor the people of Matabeleland's movements in case they unite and start working together for a better Matabeleland," said Mhlanga."It is of the public knowledge that Eddie Cross's forefathers destroyed our Kingdom in 1893 together with Shonas and took 900 000 of king Lobengula herd of cattle, and 325 000 of them were given to Shonas as a token of appreciation. As if that was not enough, they further took Prince Njube the heir apparent to the Ndebele throne to Cape town. This was a plot by the British to finish of our kingdom and be sure it will never be revived again."The party said it is so much saddening that my people of Bulawayo South trusted this man with their vote and now he is beginning to show his true Zanu PF colors what have we done to deserve this nonsense from Eddie Cross."Morgan Tsvangirai and MDCT as it is their norm to import Harare candidate to Matabeleland, Eddie Cross is one of those who were deployed in 2008 to push the 1979 shona grand plan as well as to monitor us," said Mhlanga."Mthwakazi Republic Party demands the resignation of Eddie Cross as the Member of Parliament for Bulawayo South. The man is not serving our interests but those of his masters in Harare. Therefore, MRP is calling upon all the people of Bulawayo South to register and vote Luba Gwebu in 2018 Parliamentary election, for Peace and Justice in Our Lifetime." Illegal migrants from Africa sit on a Libyan coastguard boat as they arrive at a naval base in Tripoli after being rescued in the Mediterranean Sea, off the Libyan coast, on August 28, 2017 The number of illegal migrants leaving Libya for Europe has fallen by 20 percent so far in 2017, the European naval force charged with stopping people trafficking in the Mediterranean said Thursday. "We have seen a drop in the number of people leaving Libya for Europe this year, around 20 percent," Enrico Credendino, commander of the force, told a news conference aboard the Cantabria ship at the port of La Goulette, near Tunis. Summer saw a drop of 75 percent compared with the same period in 2016, with the number dying at sea falling by 60 percent, said the head of the EU's anti-trafficking operation dubbed Sophia. The decrease was explained in particular by the support given to the Libyan coastguard, which received four Italian patrol boats and training. "With the training we have done, they are now able to more effectively patrol territorial waters, fight all types of crime and also save lives," the commander said. The EU ambassador to Tunis, Patrice Bergamini, called on Tunisia to help neighbouring Libya with its "know-how" on migration in support of Operation Sophia. The European Union launched the anti-smuggling operation in 2015 after two shipwrecks killed 1,200 migrants in April that year. The operation, which claims to have intercepted 117 smugglers and seized 482 of their ships, has been criticised for failing to effectively stop the smugglers. Wayne LaPierre, executive vice president of the NRA, has long opposed gun control, but the lobby group announced it supports restrictions on devices used to convert the Las Vegas shooter's rifles into rapid-fire weapons The NRA said Thursday that "additional regulations" should be imposed on devices used to convert the Las Vegas shooter's rifles into rapid-fire weapons, breaking with its usual outright opposition to gun control efforts. The National Rifle Association called on US authorities to "immediately review whether these devices comply with federal law," NRA leaders Wayne LaPierre and Chris Cox said in a statement. "The NRA believes that devices designed to allow semi-automatic rifles to function like fully-automatic rifles should be subject to additional regulations." The statement could be seen as a key shift by the powerful pro-gun group, which has vehemently opposed any efforts at gun control. The White House also announced it was "open" to congressional debate about the so-called bump stocks, spring-loaded devices which keep the weapon firing using its own recoil, shooting hundreds of rounds per minute. "Members of both parties and multiple organizations are planning to take a look at bump stocks," White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders told reporters. "We welcome that and would like to be part of that conversation." The announcements could give cover to Republican lawmakers, many of whom receive campaign finance support from the hugely influential gun lobby, to back current legislation that would ban the sale or possession of such devices. "It opens up opportunities," Senate Republican John Cornyn said. Cornyn, the chamber's number two Republican, also said he asked Senate Judiciary Committee chairman Chuck Grassley to hold a hearing on bump stocks, and that Grassley "seemed amenable" to the idea. Several Republicans, including House Speaker Paul Ryan, have said they support looking into the issue, with some saying they could back efforts to restrict or ban the devices. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said the bump stock "defies the spirit of the law against automatic weapons." Despite its rare endorsement of a gun device restriction, the NRA insisted in its statement that its goal firmly remained the protection and strengthening the Second Amendment right to bear arms. "Banning guns from law-abiding Americans based on the criminal act of a madman will do nothing to prevent future attacks," LaPierre and Cox said. Thousands of women and girls, especially from the Yazidi minority, suffered horrific abuse in IS-controlled areas, including rape, abduction, slavery and cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment Nearly 800 Yazidi women and girls and others who fled persecution by the Islamic State group in northern Iraq have been resettled in Canada, the immigration minister said Thursday. Canada's parliament last year, with Iraqi activist Nadia Murad on hand, declared the persecution of Yazidis a genocide and said this country would take in up to 1,200. "Today, I am proud (to say that) almost 800 Yazidi women and girls, and other survivors of Daesh have already arrived, and have begun the process of rebuilding their lives with the assistance of private sponsors and community groups all across Canada," Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen told the House of Commons. "Daesh" is the Arabic acronym for the militant group. "I continue to be amazed by the generosity and compassion extended to this highly vulnerable group by all Canadians," he added. Thousands of women and girls, especially from the Yazidi minority, suffered horrific abuse in IS-controlled areas, including rape, abduction, slavery and cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment. Many were captured as spoils of war to be used as sex slaves after IS jihadists massacred Yazidis in Sinjar in 2014. The women were sold and traded across the jihadists' self-proclaimed "caliphate" in Syria and Iraq. Around 3,000 are believed to remain in captivity, the UN Assistance Mission to Iraq (UNAMI) and the UN rights office said in an August report. The report also raised particular concerns over the situation of hundreds of children born from the sexual violence risked facing a lifetime of discrimination and abuse. On Tuesday, another Yazidi survivor, Shireen Jerdo Ibrahim, testified before a US congressional committee, seeking US help for her community. Yemeni school girls look at a school on March 16, 2017, that was damaged in an air strike in the southern Yemeni city of Taez The Saudi Arabia-led coalition fighting in Yemen was Thursday placed on a UN blacklist for killing and maiming children, drawing fresh calls from rights groups to step up pressure on Riyadh over the conflict. The group was briefly included on the annual list of shame last year before a threat by Saudi Arabia to cut off its funding to UN programs forced a reversal. In announcing the move, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres noted that the coalition had taken some measures to improve the protection of children. "In Yemen, the actions of the coalition to restore legitimacy in Yemen objectively led to that party being listed for the killing and maiming of children," said a report released along with the list as an annex. In 2016, the coalition was responsible for 683 child casualties and for 38 verified attacks on schools and hospitals, it said. Yemen's government forces, pro-government militias, the Huthi rebels and Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) were also cited for violations, but in a separate section of the list that said they had failed to protect children. Guterres spoke to Saudi King Salman ahead of the release of the list, which UN officials had shared with Riyadh months earlier to avoid a repeat of the clash that followed the blacklisting by his predecessor Ban Ki-moon last year. Ban removed the coalition from the list and publicly complained that it was unacceptable for countries to "exert undue pressure" on the United Nations to avoid scrutiny. Saudi Arabia denied that it had pressured Ban and has since insisted that the coalition is respecting its obligations under international humanitarian law. Saudi Ambassador Abdallah al-Mouallimi is scheduled to hold a news conference at the United Nations on Friday. In a statement, Guterres stressed that the blacklist was "not only to raise awareness" but also to "promote measures that can diminish the tragic plight of children in conflict." The UN chief said he was encouraged that some governments were taking steps to spare children from the horrors of conflict and voiced hope that "more will follow." - Suspend Saudi weapon sales - The report and the list were on Thursday sent to the Security Council, which includes countries such as the United States, Britain and France that support the coalition in its war against Iran-backed Huthi rebels. Human Rights Watch applauded the decision to include the coalition on the list but disputed the view that the military was taking measures to protect children. "The coalition needs to stop making empty promises to exercise caution, take concrete action to stop these deadly unlawful attacks in Yemen, and allow desperately needed fuel and aid to reach those in need," said Jo Becker, HRW's children's rights advocate. "Until this happens, governments should suspend all Saudi weapons sales," she said. The report said the coalition was responsible for 683 of the total 1,340 child casualties last year in Yemen and for 73 percent of the 52 attacks on schools and hospitals. The council will hold a debate on the report on October 31. Swedish Ambassador Olof Skoog, who leads the council's committee on children and armed conflict, backed Guterres' efforts to engage with Riyadh on the next steps and said the list should serve to "promote change." The Saudi-led Arab military coalition intervened in Yemen in 2015 to support the government of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi after the Huthis forced him into exile. The United Nations has listed Yemen as the world's number one humanitarian crisis, with seven million Yemenis on the brink of famine and cholera causing more than 2,000 deaths. BARCELONA, Spain (AP) - Highways were blocked, schools closed and much business halted across Catalonia Tuesday as tens of thousands of workers and students joined strikes and took to the streets to protest the use of force by police that left hundreds injured during a disputed referendum on the region's secession. In the regional capital, Barcelona, where bus and subway services were affected, disoriented tourists scrambled to find open cafeterias to avoid the protests. There were moments of tension when a handful of picketers forced the closure of shops that had remained open in the city's famed Las Ramblas boulevard, but elsewhere the demonstrations were largely peaceful. Pro independences trade union workers hold up ''esteleda'' or Catalan pro independence flags, in support of the Catalonia's secession referendum, and against to alleged brutality by police during a referendum on the region's secession from Spain that left hundreds of people injured, in Pamplona, northern Spain, Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2017. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos) Separatist groups and unions had initially called on strikes to be held on Tuesday in support for Catalan leaders pushing ahead with a declaration of independence from Spain. But many non-separatists were also drawn to the streets following a crackdown on a referendum vote on Sunday. In Barcelona's Catalonia and University squares, a sea of demonstrators waved flags, most of them "esteladas" embraced by those wishing secession, but also plenty of Spanish national flags. People are angry, very angry," said Josep Llavina, a 53-year-old self-employed worker who had traveled to Barcelona from a nearby town to participate in the protest outside the regional offices of Spain's National Police. The building became a focal point for protesters, gathering thousands at midday who shouted that the police were an "occupying force" and urged Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy to resign. "They brought violence with them," Llavina said. They have beaten people who were holding their hands up. How can we not be outraged?" Catalan officials say that 90 percent of the 2.3 million people who voted Sunday were in favor of independence. But fewer than half of those eligible to vote turned out. The vote was boycotted by most of Spain's national parties on grounds it was illegal and lacked basic guarantees, such as transparency, a proper census or an independent electoral governing body. The central government in Madrid is blaming Catalan separatist politicians and grassroots groups for the violence, saying they "plotted to break the law" and drew citizens to an unlawful vote. "Nothing of this would have happened if the (Catalan) government hadn't declared itself in rebellion, breaking the orders of the courts and lying and tricking people," said Spain's top official in Catalonia, Enric Millo, on Tuesday. Catalan President Carles Puigdemont has declared the vote valid and has announced it will present the final results this week to Catalonia's regional parliament, which would trigger the process of breaking away from Spain. The Spanish national government has said it will respond with "all necessary measures" to counter such a move, and is holding talks with national opposition leaders to find multi-partisan consensus on the response. The general strike in Catalonia called by pro-independence groups was not fully backed by Spain's two main unions, the UGT and CCOO groups, who invited workers to decide individually whether to halt work or not to protest police violence, but not in support of secession. "I disagree with the strike. In fact, at work nobody told me anything about a strike. So I decided to come," said Jose Bolivar, 54, a town hall employee. Office worker Antonia Cuello, 37, was in two minds about the industrial action. "On one side it is a hassle to try to get to work in the midst of a strike," she said. "We are suffering this because a few decided to behave in an improper way. On the other hand, I understand the circumstances surrounding the strike." Port workers also held a demonstration outside the regional headquarters of Spain's ruling Popular Party, while firefighters planned a rally outside the Interior Ministry's regional office in Barcelona. Protests were also to be staged outside schools that were used as polling stations where police acted with force to try to prevent Sunday's poll being held. More than 890 civilians were treated for injuries, most of them not serious, following clashes during Sunday's referendum, according to Catalan regional health authorities. Police using batons, and some firing rubber bullets, cleared protesters hoping to vote. Spain's Interior Ministry says 431 National Police and Civil Guard agents were injured, too. The police action prompted criticism worldwide although the European Union and most governments backed Spain's stance in what is its most serious political crisis in decades. Nigel Farage, one of the leaders in Britain's vote to leave the EU, condemned the bloc's failure to clearly condemn the police violence. "It is quite extraordinary to realize that this Union is prepared to turn a blind eye," Farage told EU lawmakers. Cyprus said Spain's national sovereignty and territorial integrity needed to be respected, arguing that the referendum on Catalonia's independence was carried outin violation of the Spanish constitution. Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Huseyin Muftuoglu also said respect for Spain's territorial integrity was the main principle, adding that it was important that both sides abide by Spain's laws and avoid violence. ___ Giles contributed from Madrid. Hernan Munoz and Alex Oller in Barcelona contributed to this story. Protesters gather outside National Police Headquarters during a one-day strike in Barcelona, Spain, Tuesday Oct. 3, 2017. Labor unions and grassroots pro-independence groups are urging workers to hold partial or full-day strikes throughout Catalonia to protest alleged brutality by police during a referendum on the region's secession from Spain that left hundreds of people injured. (AP Photo/Bob Edme) Protesters gather outside National Police Headquarters during a one-day strike in Barcelona, Spain, Tuesday Oct. 3, 2017. Labor unions and grassroots pro-independence groups are urging workers to hold partial or full-day strikes throughout Catalonia to protest alleged brutality by police during a referendum on the region's secession from Spain that left hundreds of people injured. (AP Photo/Bob Edme) Anarchist protesters gather outside the Spanish Embassy in Athens during a protest on Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2017. The protest was called in response to a police crackdown on Sunday's vote in Catalonia, organized by the region's pro-independence leadership but declared illegal by Spain. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis) Anarchist protesters gather outside the Spanish Embassy in Athens during a protest on Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2017. The protest was called in response to a police crackdown on Sunday's vote in Catalonia, organized by the region's pro-independence leadership but declared illegal by Spain. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis) A woman holds a Spanish flag to support Spanish police as pro-independence protesters gather in front of the national police headquarters in Barcelona, Spain, Tuesday Oct. 3, 2017. Labor unions and grassroots pro-independence groups are urging workers to hold partial or full-day strikes throughout Catalonia to protest alleged brutality by police during a referendum on the region's secession from Spain that left hundreds of people injured. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco) Demonstrators gather in protest in front of Spanish police station in downtown Barcelona, Spain, Tuesday Oct. 3, 2017. Labor unions and grassroots pro-independence groups are urging workers to hold partial or full-day strikes and demonstrations throughout Catalonia to protest alleged brutality by police during a referendum on the region's secession from Spain that left hundreds of people injured. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco) Protesters gather outside National Police Headquarters during a one-day strike in Barcelona, Spain, Tuesday Oct. 3, 2017. Labor unions and grassroots pro-independence groups are urging workers to hold partial or full-day strikes throughout Catalonia to protest alleged brutality by police during a referendum on the region's secession from Spain that left hundreds of people injured. (AP Photo/Bob Edme) FILE - This is a Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017 file photo of a girl as he grimaces as Spanish National Police pushes away Pro-referendum supporters outside the Ramon Llull school assigned to be a polling station by the Catalan government in Barcelona, Spain. For local teacher Elisa Aroca, Sunday will go down as the day when Spain lost the battle for the hearts and minds of Catalonia. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti/File) A couple, tourists from Switzerland, sunbath at a terrace overlooking Universitat square as demonstrators gather in protest in downtown Barcelona, Spain, Tuesday Oct. 3, 2017. Labor unions and grassroots pro-independence groups are urging workers to hold partial or full-day strikes and demonstrations throughout Catalonia to protest alleged brutality by police during a referendum on the region's secession from Spain that left hundreds of people injured. (AP Photo/Enric Marti) A child wears an "estelada", or Catalonia independent flag, with others in a protest in Barcelona, Spain, Tuesday Oct. 3, 2017. Labor unions and grassroots pro-independence groups are urging workers to hold partial or full-day strikes and demonstrations throughout Catalonia to protest alleged brutality by police during a referendum on the region's secession from Spain that left hundreds of people injured. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco) Demonstrators with "estelada", or Catalonia independent flag, gather in protest in front of the Spanish police station in Barcelona, Spain, Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2017. Labor unions and grassroots pro-independence groups are urging workers to hold partial or full-day strikes and demonstrations throughout Catalonia to protest alleged brutality by police during a referendum on the region's secession from Spain that left hundreds of people injured. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco) Demonstrators with "estelada", or Catalonia independent flag, gather in protest in Barcelona, Spain, Tuesday Oct. 3, 2017. Labor unions and grassroots pro-independence groups are urging workers to hold partial or full-day strikes and demonstrations throughout Catalonia to protest alleged brutality by police during a referendum on the region's secession from Spain that left hundreds of people injured. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco) DETROIT (AP) - A Michigan county has agreed to pay $1.07 million to settle a lawsuit brought by the family of a woman who was killed and dismembered after a Detroit-area police officer exposed her as an informant in a drug bust. Details of the deal between Oakland County and Shelly Hilliard's family were released Tuesday in response to a public records request by The Associated Press. The county said an insurance company is paying the settlement. One-third of it, or $355,000, will go to attorneys at the Goodman & Hurwitz firm. Hilliard, 19, quickly agreed to help police when she was caught with marijuana at a suburban Detroit motel in 2011. Her supplier was arrested within hours, but she was killed a few days later - her body burned and dismembered. During the arrest, Officer Chad Wolowiec, a member of a regional drug unit, gave enough details to the drug dealer's companion to reveal that Hilliard had provided critical information. Attorneys asked him why during a deposition in the lawsuit. "I don't know," Wolowiec replied. The county was facing a trial or settlement after a federal appeals court last January refused to dismiss the case, saying a jury could find that Wolowiec's "blatant exposure" amounted to "deliberate indifference" for Hilliard's safety. In earlier court filings, Oakland County had argued that Hilliard was warned to stay away from Qasim "Red" Raqib. He was convicted of second-degree murder in her death and sentenced to at least 25 years in prison. Madison Heights, which had employed Wolowiec as an officer at the time, agreed to pay $20,000 to settle its part of the lawsuit, attorney Kathryn Bruner James said. Wolowiec now is an officer in Warren. Hilliard was known to her family as "Treasure." In 2015, a documentary about her life and death as a transgender woman was presented at the Los Angeles Film Festival. ___ Follow Ed White at https://twitter.com/edwhiteap WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) - Florida prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against a woman accused of dressing up like a clown in 1990 and fatally shooting the wife of a man she later married. Palm Beach County State Attorney Dave Aronberg issued a statement Wednesday saying the death penalty is the appropriate punishment for 54-year-old Sheila Keen Warren, who was ordered held without bail at a Wednesday court hearing. She was extradited Tuesday from Abingdon, Virginia, where she lived with her husband Michael Warren for years. Defense attorney Richard Lubin told reporters Sheila Warren "vehemently denies" killing Marleen Warren and will plead not guilty. She was arrested last week after a grand jury issued a first-degree murder indictment. Investigators say new DNA testing gave them what they needed to make an arrest. FILE - This file photo provided by the Palm Beach County Sheriff's office shows Sheila Keen Warren, who was arrested Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2017, in Abington, Va. Prosecutors said they will seek the death penalty against Warren, who was accused of dressing up like a clown in 1990 and fatally shooting the wife of her future husband. (Palm Beach County Sheriff's office/Palm Beach Post via AP, File) Michael Warren, 65, has not been charged, but detectives and prosecutors have refused to rule him out as a suspect. He has not responded to phone messages left at his home. He and Sheila Warren married in 2002. Marlene Warren was killed in May 1990 by person dressed as a clown who handed her carnations and two foil balloons. Her son, who witnessed the killing, said she replied, "How pretty!" The clown then pulled a handgun, shot her in the face and drove away. Marlene Warren died two days later. Detectives publicly identified Sheila Keen, who worked for Michael Warren, as their primary suspect shortly after the killing but say they lacked sufficient evidence to assure conviction without the DNA test. Witnesses told investigators in 1990 that Keen and Michael Warren were having an affair, though both denied it. Costume shop employees identified Keen as the woman who had bought a clown costume a few days earlier. And one of the two balloons - a silver one that read, "You're the Greatest" - was sold at only one store, a Publix supermarket near her home. Employees told detectives a woman who looked like Keen had bought the balloons an hour before the shooting. The presumed getaway car was found abandoned with orange, hair-like fibers inside. The white Chrysler convertible had been reported stolen from Michael Warren's car lot a month before the shooting. Sheila Warren and her then-husband repossessed cars for him. Relatives told The Palm Beach Post in 2000 that Marlene Warren, who was 40 when she died, suspected her husband was having an affair and wanted to leave him. But the car lot and other properties were in her name, and she feared what might happen if she did. She allegedly told her mother, "If anything happens to me, Mike done it." Michael and Sheila Warren recently sold a popular restaurant in Kingsport, Tennessee. HOUSTON (AP) - The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals has agreed with a Dallas County state judge's findings and is returning a 38-year-old El Salvadoran man on death row to court for a new punishment hearing. The state's highest criminal court agreed Wednesday that Hector Medina's trial lawyers were deficient for failing to present a case during the punishment phase of his 2008 trial. Medina was condemned for fatally shooting his two small children - 3-year-old Javier and 8-month-old Diana - at their home Irving in 2007. The court, in another North Texas capital case, has upheld the conviction and death sentence of 43-year-old Cedric Ricks. He was convicted of fatally stabbing his 30-year-old girlfriend, Roxann Sanchez, and her 8-year-old son, Anthony Figuero, at their apartment in Bedford, in Tarrant County, in 2013. MOSCOW (AP) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has hosted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, hailing him for reaching out to the opposition. Speaking at the start of their Kremlin talks, Putin noted that "Venezuela is going through uneasy times" and credited Maduro with "succeeding in establishing some contact" with opposition forces. Venezuela's opposition insists that any solution to the nation's protracted economic and political crisis requires Maduro to step down. However the embattled socialist has shown no sign of ceding power and accused opponents of plotting with the U.S. to remove him by force. Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, greets Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro during their meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2017. (Yuri Kadobnov/Pool Photo via AP) During the Kremlin meeting, Maduro thanked Putin for political and diplomatic support and also hailed Russian wheat deliveries. Addressing an energy conference in Moscow earlier Wednesday, Maduro said his government could discuss restructuring its $1 billion debt to Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, shakes hands with Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro during their meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2017. (Yuri Kadobnov/Pool Photo via AP) Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro, left, gestures while speaking to Russian President Vladimir Putin during their meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2017. (Yuri Kadobnov/Pool Photo via AP) Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, gestures while speaking to Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro during their meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2017. (Yuri Kadobnov/Pool Photo via AP) Russian President Vladimir Putin, center right, gestures while speaking to Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro, center left, during their meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2017. (Yuri Kadobnov/Pool Photo via AP) Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro gestures while speaking to Russian President Vladimir Putin during their meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2017. (Yuri Kadobnov/Pool Photo via AP) Russian President Vladimir Putin gestures while speaking to Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro during their meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2017. (Yuri Kadobnov/Pool Photo via AP) PASADENA, Texas (AP) - Leaders of a Houston-area city unanimously approved paying $1.1 million to settle a lawsuit alleging a voting plan adopted in 2013 diluted Latino power at the polls. The Pasadena City Council on Tuesday approved the settlement with some Latino residents represented by the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund. Pasadena will pay the group's legal fees and drop appeals in the settlement recommended by Mayor Jeff Wagner, the Houston Chronicle reported. Wagner was elected in June, after U.S. District Judge Lee Rosenthal ruled in January that Pasadena intentionally violated the voting rights of its growing Hispanic and Latino population in redistricting. Then-Mayor Johnny Isbell backed a voter-approved plan that replaced eight single-member City Council districts with six single-member and two at-large districts. Rosenthal ordered Pasadena to return to eight single-member districts and be under federal oversight through June 2023. "We are very pleased to reach a resolution of the case that will allow Pasadena to move forward with a fair election system," said Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund attorney Nina Perales. "And, we appreciate the efforts of Mayor Wagner to bring about the settlement." Councilman Cody Ray Wheeler said that after years of litigation and $3.5 million in legal fees, he was glad to see the appeals end. The lawsuit gave Pasadena "a black eye in the national spotlight. It cost us progress and it cost us time," Wheeler said. Isbell, who was barred from seeking re-election due to term limits, opposed ending the appeals. "I think it's a mistake to settle it because I think we stood a good chance to have won the case on appeal and we would not have had to pay the $1.1 million settlement," Isbell said. "And, I certainly disagree with the judge that said we were trying to inhibit the voting rights of the Hispanic population. That is absolutely, categorically, not true." ___ Information from: Houston Chronicle, http://www.houstonchronicle.com News / National by Staff reporter LOCAL Government minister Saviour Kasukuwere was yesterday grilled in the National Assembly over the legality of Well Cash debt collectors that has been contracted by several local authorities and public hospitals to attach people's properties over debts, and charging a 10% fee for debts recovered.Goromonzi West MP, Biata Nyamupinga (Zanu-PF) said the debt collectors were causing suffering, particularly to women.Kuwadzana East MP, Nelson Chamisa (MDC-T) asked Kasukuwere to explain if it was lawful for Well Cash to get a 10% commission. He said if Harare was owed $700 million, Well Cash would get $70 million."First and foremost, debt collection is legal, and if you borrow you must pay back. However, we now need to look at their contract to see if the 10% benefit to Well Cash was made by local authorities," Kasukuwere said.Buhera South MP, Joseph Chinotimba (Zanu-PF) then asked: "When local authority budgets are crafted, they are authorised by the Local Government minister, and so, minister, are you saying that you authorised Well Cash? You are the one that is supposed to control this stupid thing of debt collectors?"Kasukuwere promised to investigate the Well Cash debt collectors' issue.The Local Government minister was then asked by Mutasa South MP Irene Zindi (Zanu-PF) to explain how his ministry would deal with touts that have become a menace at bus terminuses in various cities and towns resulting in deaths of passengers."Regrettably, we lost one of our citizens a few weeks ago because of touts pushing and jostling for that person. We have seen a rise in young men, who work as touts, and we have discussed this concern with city authorities," he said."Harare is badly affected by touts because we still have old bus terminuses and they load passengers from the central business district (CBD). We have decided that the City of Harare must identify loading bays outside the CBD, and we will be closing down loading centres within the CBD."Kasukuwere said his ministry was planning on bringing on board urban transport systems like metered taxis to get rid of unregistered operators of pirate taxis commonly known as mushikashikas."These mushikashikas have caused a lot of damage and accidents to the extent that even when reversing, they can drive 40 to 50 metres backwards," Kasukuwere said.But, Glen View North MP, Fani Munengami (MDC-T) said the menace of touts was being caused by the economic hardships in the country.Kasukuwere said this was being exacerbated by corruption where municipal police have not been arresting the touts.Meanwhile, the question-and-answer session was disrupted for almost 10 minutes, as Harare South MP, Shadreck Mashayamombe (Zanu-PF) demanded that Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga (MDC) withdraw allegations she made last week in Parliament that 76% of legislators were HIV positive.Misihairabwi-Mushonga refused to withdraw the statement, as she had used it as an illustration, while debating a motion on children being abused under the guise of selling sex. She had urged MPs to fight for the affected children to access medicines because they, as MPs, were also affected by HIV, but were lucky to get free antiretroviral treatment.She was not asked to withdraw the statement by Speaker of the National Assembly Jacob Mudenda. SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) - The Latest on Hurricane Maria's impact on Puerto Rico (all times local): 3:55 p.m. The government of Puerto Rico is counting at least two suicides in its official tally of deaths blamed on Hurricane Maria. Convenience store-owner Raymond Ortiz points to health related messages he posted outside his business to help residents in the impoverished Playita neighborhood recover from Hurricane Maria in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2017. Ortiz, who has passed out home cooked food to people who don't have enough food to eat, said the Salvation Army had distributed aid in Playita in recent days, but he had seen no federal effort. "We're doing what we can," he said. "We really need help. Trump should come help us." (AP Photo/Danica Coto) Gov. Ricardo Rossello said Wednesday the island's current death toll of 34 from the storm includes 20 people who died as a direct result of the storm as well as indirect deaths, including sick and elderly who died in the aftermath. He did not provide detail on the two suicides. Many communities in the U.S. Caribbean territory are still waiting for power and clean water, and there is concern about other people reaching a breaking point. Students and staff at Ponce Health Sciences University are visiting shelters and people in hardest-hit communities to provide psychological help, among other services. CANTON, Ohio (AP) - A memorial in Ohio honoring former President William McKinley has been vandalized again. The Canton Repository reports someone unbolted two bronze window covers from the base of the McKinley National Memorial in Canton over the weekend. A facilities manager at the memorial for the 25th president says the vandals left the heavy covers behind. The memorial has been damaged and vandalized numerous times in recent years. Workers found a water bottle jammed in bronze scrollwork above the memorial's 96-foot-high (29-meter-high) doors several months ago. Facilities Manager Ronald Hermann says skateboarders continue to damage marble and concrete along the memorial's base and steps. The memorial contains the remains of McKinley, his wife and their two daughters. McKinley was assassinated in 1901 during his second term. NEW YORK (AP) - A record-breaking museum exhibition dedicated to musician David Bowie is making its final stop at New York's Brooklyn Museum next year. The exhibition, "David Bowie Is," opened at London's Victoria and Albert Museum in 2013. The New York Times reports (http://nyti.ms/2y0yM4I ) it became the most visited show in the museum's history. The show has traveled all around the world and officials say its final stop will be at the Brooklyn Museum. The exhibition includes more than 300 objects collected throughout Bowie's life. Some of the artifacts will be new and exclusive to the Brooklyn Museum, including handwritten set lists and musical scores. Bowie's music will play throughout the exhibit. The show will run from March 2, 2018 to July 15, 2018. ___ Information from: The New York Times, http://www.nytimes.com BEIRUT (AP) - Intensified fighting in Syria in recent weeks has damaged more hospitals, with at least 10 medical facilities hit over the past 10 days and hundreds of thousands of people cut off from health care, the International Committee of the Red Cross said on Thursday. The escalation in fighting has also forced hundreds of schools across the country to suspend classes over the past two weeks, with teachers sending children home in terror as bombs and shells fall nearby, Save the Children said. The violence has been the worst the war-torn country has seen since government forces captured the rebel-held eastern part of the city of Aleppo last December. ICRC said it's alarmed by reports of hundreds of civilian casualties and the destruction of hospitals and schools. FILE -- This undated file photo, shows Abu Mohammed al-Golani, second right, then leader of Fatah al-Sham Front, in pictures posted by the group, discussing battlefield details with field commanders over a map, in Aleppo, Syria. Russia's military announced Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2017, that it carried out airstrikes in Syria this week that critically wounded al-Golani, the leader of the al-Qaida-linked Levant Liberation Committee and killed 12 other militant commanders. Writing in Arabic banner reads, "Sheik Abu Mohammed al-Golani inspects military development and discusses them with military commanders as part of the battle for lifting the siege off Aleppo." (Militant UGC via AP, file) "We have seen an increasingly worrying spike in military operations that correlates with high levels of civilian casualties," said Marianne Gasser, head of ICRC's delegation in Syria. Fighting has been especially heavy in recent weeks in central, northern and eastern Syria between Russian-backed government forces and rival insurgent groups. The violence is also taking place in de-escalation zones that are part of a deal reached in the Kazakh capital of Astana between Iran, Turkey and Russia. With swelling numbers of civilians fleeing military operations, some camps around the northern province of Raqqa and in the eastern region of Deir el-Zour are receiving over 1,000 women, children and men every day, the statement said. Syrian troops and the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces have been gaining ground from the Islamic State group in both provinces over the past months. Their separate but simultaneous attacks have led thousands of people to flee IS-held areas that have come under intense airstrikes by Russian warplanes and those of the U.S.-led coalition. On Wednesday, government forces kicked out IS fighters form the central province of Hama, ending a three-year presence of the extremists in the central region that has a religiously mixed population. Save the Children said vital education and psychological support for tens of thousands of children has been disrupted and at least three schools have been attacked in the past week. In a statement Thursday, it said 55 of the 60 schools and learning spaces that it supports in the provinces of Idlib and Aleppo - attended by nearly 20,000 children - have had to shut for days at a time to try and keep the children safe. "Education in Syria is yet again coming under attack, and it is too dangerous to keep the schools open while bombs are falling all around," said Sonia Khush, Save the Children's Syria director. The Russian Defense Ministry, meanwhile, said its submarines fired 10 cruise missiles on Thursday at Islamic State positions outside the eastern Syrian town of Mayadeen, one of the last major IS strongholds in the country. Russia has been a key backer of Syrian President Bashar Assad's forces and has helped government troops gain significant ground from opposition fighters and militant groups. The ministry's spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said in a statement the Kalibr missiles killed an unspecified number of IS fighters and destroyed major ammunition depots and command posts. The missiles were launched from the Veliky Novgorod and the Kolpino submarines in the Mediterranean Sea, Konashenkov said. Syrian troops with the help of Russian air cover have been closing in on Mayadeen, which has become a main IS hub for militants and the group's leaders after its former strongholds of Raqqa and Deir el-Zour have come under attack. Russia's military also said the leader of an al-Qaida-linked group in Syria who was reportedly wounded in a Russian airstrike this week had fallen into a coma. The military offered no evidence on the purported condition of Abu Mohammed al-Golani. Russian jets bombed positions of the militant group, the Levant Liberation Committee, in the northwestern province of Idlib for two days and on Wednesday killed seven militant commanders and dozens of fighters at a militant-controlled air base, the Russian Defense Ministry said Thursday. At the time, the ministry quoted military intelligence as saying that al-Golani had been critically wounded. However, the al-Qaida-linked group denied its leader had been wounded, saying he was in excellent health and carrying on his tasks as usual. ___ Vasilyeva reported from Moscow. KARANGASEM, Indonesia (AP) - Dozens prayed at a revered Hindu temple on the slopes of Bali's menacing Mount Agung volcano, hoping the gods will restore it to calm. Worshippers including Bali's governor made offerings and recited prayers Thursday at the temple inside a zone declared off-limits by disaster officials. Bali is the only predominantly Hindu province in Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim country. Bali Gov. Mangku Pastika, left in first row, prays with other Hindu worshipers during a ceremony at Besakih temple which is located few kilometers from the crater of Mount Agung volcano in Karangasem, Bali, Indonesia, Thursday, Oct. 5, 2017. More than 140,000 people have fled from the surrounds of Mount Agung since authorities raised the volcano's alert status to the highest level on Sept. 22 after a sudden increase in tremors. It last erupted in 1963, killing more than 1,000 people. (AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati) Warnings that the volcano could erupt anytime have caused 140,000 people to flee for safer areas. Bali's religious leader Gusti Ngurah Sudiana said prayers were performed across the island by Hindus, Muslims and Christians. Disaster Mitigation Agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said tremors from the volcano, which indicate rising magma, have remained at high levels since Agung's alert status was raised to the highest on Sept. 22. Kindergarten children pray for Mount Agung volcano in their school in Karangasem, Bali, Indonesia, Thursday, Oct. 5, 2017. More than 140,000 people have fled from the surrounds of Mount Agung since authorities raised the volcano's alert status to the highest level on Sept. 22 after a sudden increase in tremors. It last erupted in 1963, killing more than 1,000 people. (AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati) Mount Agung volcano is seen in Karangasem, Bali, Indonesia, Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2017. More than 140,000 people have fled from the surrounds of Mount Agung since authorities raised the volcano's alert status to the highest level on Sept. 22 after a sudden increase in tremors. It last erupted in 1963, killing more than 1,000 people. (AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati) Balinese Hindu carry animal for offering during a ceremony at Besakih temple which is a few kilometers from the crater of Mount Agung volcano in Karangasem, Bali, Indonesia, Thursday, Oct. 5, 2017. More than 140,000 people have fled from the surrounds of Mount Agung since authorities raised the volcano's alert status to the highest level on Sept. 22 after a sudden increase in tremors. It last erupted in 1963, killing more than 1,000 people. (AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati) Balinese dancer performs during a ceremony at Besakih temple which is a few kilometers from the crater of Mount Agung volcano in Karangasem, Bali, Indonesia, Thursday, Oct. 5, 2017. More than 140,000 people have fled from the surrounds of Mount Agung since authorities raised the volcano's alert status to the highest level on Sept. 22 after a sudden increase in tremors. It last erupted in 1963, killing more than 1,000 people. (AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati) Balinese Hindu pray during a ceremony at Besakih temple which is a few kilometers from the crater of Mount Agung volcano in Karangasem, Bali, Indonesia, Thursday, Oct. 5, 2017. More than 140,000 people have fled from the surrounds of Mount Agung since authorities raised the volcano's alert status to the highest level on Sept. 22 after a sudden increase in tremors. It last erupted in 1963, killing more than 1,000 people. (AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati) A teacher blesses her kindergarteners during a prayer for Mount Agung volcano in Karangasem, Bali, Indonesia, Thursday, Oct. 5, 2017. More than 140,000 people have fled from the surrounds of Mount Agung since authorities raised the volcano's alert status to the highest level on Sept. 22 after a sudden increase in tremors. It last erupted in 1963, killing more than 1,000 people. (AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati) THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) - The global chemical weapons watchdog said Thursday it found traces of sarin following an attack in northern Syria in late March, days before a deadly strike using the same nerve agent in another Syrian town. The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons said that tests found traces of "sarin or sarin-related chemicals" in Ltamenah after a March 30 attack that injured 50 people. No deaths were reported. The organization didn't release further details. Days later, an April 4 attack in the nearby town of Khan Sheikhoun killed nearly 100 people. Syria has denied responsibility for that attack. An OPCW-United Nations probe is expected to apportion blame later this month for the Khan Sheikhoun attack. The OPCW said that the work of its fact-finding mission (FFM), which is probing chemical attacks in Syria, continues. "Once the FFM concludes its assessment of the incident, a report will be made available to States Parties and shared with the OPCW-UN Joint Investigative Mechanism," the OPCW said in a written statement. The organization's director-general, Ahmet Uzumcu, briefed member states on the latest findings earlier this week. Syria joined the OPCW in 2013, under threat of possible U.S. military strikes in the aftermath of a chemical weapons attack on a Damascus suburb. Washington and U.S. allies accused the Syrian government of being responsible for the attack, but Damascus blamed rebels. The United States' U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley said in a statement Wednesday OPCW Director-General Ahmet Uzumcu had "reported yet another instance of the use of the deadly chemical agent sarin, in a part of the country under routine attack by the Syrian regime. "For years the Assad regime has used chemical weapons to murder and terrorize innocent Syrian civilians," Haley said. "Unfortunately, it's clear that the Syrian regime not only lied about the extent of their chemical weapons program, but that they will continue to refuse to cooperate with watchdog organizations like the OPCW. We cannot stop future chemical weapons attacks until we are able to hold the Syrian regime accountable." BAGHDAD (AP) - Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced Thursday that Iraqi forces have driven the Islamic State group from one of the extremists' last strongholds in the country, the northern town of Hawija. The victory came as Baghdad and Iraq's Kurdish region remain in a political deadlock following a controversial Kurdish independence referendum. But on the battlefield Iraqi and Kurdish forces continue to collaborate, squeezing the jihadis who once controlled nearly a third of the country. Al-Abadi made the declaration at a news conference in Paris with French President Emmanuel Macron, who has offered to help mediate between Iraq's government and the autonomous Kurdish region, which voted for independence last week. FILE - In this Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2017 file photo, a blindfolded Islamic State group suspect stands against a wall facing away from security officers at a Kurdish screening center in Dibis, Iraq. Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said Thursday troops have driven IS militants from the town of Hawija, one of the extremists last strongholds in the country. The announcement comes amid a political crisis following a controversial Kurdish independence referendum, but on the battlefield at least, Iraq's army continues to work together with Kurdish peshmerga fighters to keep IS on the back foot.(AP Photo/Bram Janssen, File) "I want to announce the liberation of the city of Hawija today," al-Abadi said, calling it a "victory not just for Iraq but for the whole world." Still, Abadi's government is struggling to contain the fallout from the independence vote, which, while not binding or expected to lead to the formation of a Kurdish state anytime soon, was rejected as illegal by the Baghdad government as well as neighboring Turkey and Iran. Iraq's central government has imposed a flight ban on the Kurdish region, while Turkey and Iran have sent troops to the land-locked region's borders to signal their opposition to any redrawing of the map. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday appeared to threaten a blockade of the Kurdish region, saying: "All airspace will be closed, flights have already been banned. ... Soon the borders will be closed too." Macron expressed concern about the escalating dispute. He said France supports the territorial integrity of Iraq and called for "national reconciliation and inclusive governance," noting France's close ties to the Kurds. He said dialogue "is the only path" out of the crisis, and said France is ready "to contribute actively to mediation." Despite the political wrangling, the Kurdish forces, known as the Peshmerga, and the Iraqi army have kept up coordination in the Hawija area as the last pockets of IS territory are retaken, U.S. coalition spokesman Ryan Dillon told The Associated Press. "As Iraqi security forces continue to push (IS) up against the Kurdish defensive line ... you're going to find Kurdish Peshmerga forces killing or capturing ISIS fighters that have been pushed out of Hawija city," he said, referring to the extremists by an alternate acronym. Iraqi forces have driven IS from nearly all the cities and towns it seized in the summer of 2014, including the country's second-largest city, Mosul, which was liberated in July following a months-long offensive. Tal Afar, west of Mosul was retaken by Iraqi security forces in August; hundreds of IS fighters and their families handed themselves over to Kurdish security forces in the days after. The extremists are now mainly concentrated in a region straddling the Iraqi-Syrian border, and still control a cluster of towns in the far west of Iraq's sprawling Anbar province, where another U.S.-backed Iraqi offensive is underway. Iraqi officials often declare victory before the fighting has completely ended, and Dillon said troops in and around Hawija were flushing out the remaining militants in the area. Iraqi forces launched the operation to retake the town, which lies 150 miles (240 kilometers) north of Baghdad, late last month. The U.S.-led coalition issued a statement welcoming Iraq's "swift and decisive victory" in Hawija. "Our Iraqi partners fought bravely and professionally against a brutal and determined enemy, safeguarding innocent civilians throughout the entire campaign," said Lt. Gen. Paul E. Funk II, the commander of the coalition in Iraq. Still, the Kurdish referendum has been an unwelcome distraction for the Western powers focused on the war against IS, forcing military planners to divert resources for "contingencies" that could follow the unresolved dispute, said Dillon. Macron's offer to mediate between the Iraqi government and the Kurds had reportedly run into resistance from the Iraqi government ahead of al-Abadi's visit because of the French president's insistence on Kurdish rights. Al-Abadi said Thursday that Iraq "is for all Iraqis" and the constitution guarantees the rights of all its citizens. "We are not looking for any confrontations, we don't want animosity," he said. "But the authority of the federal state should impose its will and no one should attack the federal authority." The central government and the Kurds have long bickered over the sharing of oil wealth and the fate of disputed territories, many of which are now controlled by Kurdish forces but lie outside their autonomous region. Iraq's parliament, which is dominated by Shiite Arabs, has called for harsh measures in response to the Sept. 25 referendum, including sending federal troops to retake the contested, oil-rich city of Kirkuk, which is held by Kurdish forces but claimed by Baghdad. Al-Abadi has ruled out any military response to the Kurdish vote but has said Iraqi forces will respond to any violence. Al-Abadi and Macron also discussed efforts to promote investment and reconstruction in Iraq, where entire neighborhoods in several cities have been reduced to rubble by the fight against IS, and where more than 3 million people have been displaced. France confirmed a 30 million euro loan for Iraqi reconstruction, and appears eager to play a big economic role in Iraq's future. French oil company Total, long a player in the region, and other companies were to meet with Abadi's delegation in Paris later Thursday. ___ Charlton reported from Paris. Associated Press writers Bassem Mroue in Beirut, Susannah George on Baghdad, and Suzan Fraser in Ankara, Turkey, contributed to this report. FILE - In this Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2017 file photo, women and children from Hawija sit outside a Kurdish screening center in Dibis, Iraq. On Thursday Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi troops have driven IS militants from the town of Hawija, one of the extremists last strongholds in the country. The announcement comes amid a political crisis following a controversial Kurdish independence referendum, but on the battlefield at least, Iraq's army continues to work together with Kurdish peshmerga fighters to keep IS on the back foot.(AP Photo/Bram Janssen, File) French President Emmanuel Macron, left, welcomes Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi at the Elysee Palace in Paris, Thursday, Oct. 5, 2017. Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi is meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris for talks on the international fight against Islamic State group extremists and rebuilding Iraq's economy. (AP Photo/Michel Euler) French president Emmanuel Macron, right, listens to Iraqi Prime minister Haider al-Abadi prior to their meeting at the Elysee palace in Paris, Thursday, Oct. 5, 2017. Macron offers mediation between Iraq's government and Kurds seeking independence. (Ludovic Marin, Pool via AP) French president Emmanuel Macron, right, shakes hands with Iraqi Prime minister Haider al-Abadi prior to their meeting at the Elysee palace in Paris, Thursday, Oct. 5, 2017. Al-Abadi is meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron for talks on the international fight against Islamic State group extremists and rebuilding Iraq's economy.(Ludovic Marin, Pool via AP) MOSCOW (AP) - Russian investigators have raided the homes of at least five people working for an exiled oligarch, in connection with a decades-old dispute over what was once the country's largest oil producer. In a statement, the Investigative Committee said that the Thursday morning raid relates to a 2003 criminal case involving the Yukos oil company, which was disbanded four years later after filing for bankruptcy. Its owner and head Mikhail Khodorkovsky was sent to prison in what was largely seen as the Kremlin's payback for his political ambitions. Khodorkovsky was pardoned after spending a decade behind bars. He continues to oppose Russian President Vladimir Putin from exile. In footage said to be connected with the raid, Russian television showed a policeman putting a man face-down on the floor and holding his hands behind his back. The five people whose homes were raided include the head of Khodorkovsky's charity foundation in Russia who was in high school when the Yukos case was opened. Investigators earlier this year raided the Moscow office of the charity foundation, Open Russia which provides legal support for victims of rights abuse and runs media projects. "Raids will not stop our work but they help to understand who the (Russian) intelligence agencies are protecting," Khodorkovsky, who lives in exile in London, tweeted. Russian investigators did not stop in their attempts to charge Khodorkovsky with other crimes even after he was released following a presidential pardon in December 2013 in an apparent goodwill gesture ahead of the 2014 Winter Games in Russia's Sochi. In 2015, investigators accused the exiled tycoon of involvement in the 1998 killing of a Siberian mayor, accusations he has dismissed as sham. DAKAR, Senegal (AP) - Human Rights Watch says armed groups causing unrest for more than four years in Central African Republic have been using rape and sexual slavery as a weapon of war - as revenge for people seen to be supporting the other side - with some of the attacks ordered or committed by commanders. In a report released Thursday, the international rights group said that more than 300 documented cases of rape and sexual slavery have been carried out in Central African Republic by members of armed groups between early 2013 and mid-2017. The stigma of rape has meant there the problem is under-reported. Human Rights Watch said such violence may constitute crimes against humanity, calling for action by and sustained support for the newly established Special Criminal Court. ROME (AP) - The politically fraught debate in Italy over whether to accelerate citizenship for children of immigrants has taken new urgency with a petition and hunger strike launched by teachers demanding equal rights for their students. On Thursday, Infrastructure Minister Graziano Delrio joined the hunger strike to demand parliament take up the legislation, which stalled after the ruling Democrats realized their needed allies wouldn't back it. Hundreds of teachers launched the hunger strike Tuesday to mark the anniversary of a deadly 2013 migrant shipwreck off Lampedusa that marked a turning point in Europe's migration saga. Their online petition denounces the "paradox of having to educate students in citizenship and constitution ... knowing well that many will never have either citizenship or the right to vote." News / National by Staff reporter CHIEF JUSTICE Luke Malaba has criticised lawyers bringing needless cases to the Constitutional Court as a tactic to shield their clients from facing trial in the magistrates' courts, insisting this will not work in his court.The Chief Justice made the remarks while dismissing the constitutional case involving controversial pastor Phillip Mugadza, who is being accused of purportedly prophesying President Mugabe's death. He is now set to face trial at the magistrates' courts. Mugadza's case was referred to the Constitutional Court after the man of the cloth raised constitutional issues. Mugadza, who is leader of Remnant Pentecostal Church, had argued that his fundamental rights are being violated.But the full Constitutional bench led by Chief Justice Malaba unanimously agreed to dismiss Mugadza's application, saying it was not properly before the court. Chief Justice Malaba said lawyers should seriously interrogate the merit of their clients' cases before seeking referral to the apex court."Cases are coming to the Constitutional Court for purposes of avoiding facing the day in court for trial. The perception now is that cases are being brought to the Constitutional Court as a tactic of avoiding facing trial in the magistrates' courts. We should not allow such kind of behaviour. We cannot be used in that manner. It is abuse of court process."The court did not hear the merits of the case as it preferred to deal with the preliminary point raised by the State on whether the matter was properly before the apex court. Mugadza, who is being represented by the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, requested the court to bar the State from being heard, arguing it failed to file its heads of argument within the prescribed period.But Chief Justice Malaba noted that the proceedings that led to the case being referred to the Constitutional court were flawed. He ruled that the defence motion to bar the prosecution from audience was a nullity given that the proceedings at the lower court were void from the beginning. In the end, the court decided the matter on the objection raised by the prosecution and dismissed the application for want of proper procedure.Mugadza was arrested in January for prophesying the death of President Mugabe. He was charged with causing offence to persons of a particular race and religion or alternatively causing criminal nuisance. Mugadza appeared before Harare magistrate Nomsa Sabarauta and challenged his arrest and prosecution, arguing that it violated his fundamental rights.In his application, Mugadza challenged the constitutional validity of Section 42 (2) as read with Section 42(1) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act (Chapter 9:23, arguing it violated his rights to dignity, equal protection and benefit of the law, freedom of conscience and freedom of expression.The prosecution alleges that Mugadza insulted the Christian religion and African tradition by uttering words predicting the death of President Mugabe this month and causing the publication of a story in an online media publication entitled "Pastor Mugadza says Mugabe to die in October." BARCELONA, Spain (AP) - Spain's Constitutional Court on Thursday ordered Catalonia's parliament to suspend a planned session next week during which separatist lawmakers wanted to declare independence - further fueling Spain's worst political crisis in decades. Catalan regional authorities previously have ignored Constitutional Court orders, so it was not immediately clear if the session would go ahead and if all parties would attend. The court said its order could be appealed but also warned Catalan parliament speaker Carme Forcadell and other members of the speakers' board that they could face prosecution for failing to halt the session. Anti-independence demonstrators wave Spanish flags in support of Spain's security forces in front of a Guardia Civil ( Civil Guard ) barracks in Sant Boi de LLobregat, in the outskirts of Barcelona, Spain, Thursday Oct. 5, 2017. The additional deployment of Spanish police forces has enraged many in Catalonia who say that officers used excessive force when cracking down on last weekend's banned independence referendum. Spain's government has praised the police response, calling it proportionate.(AP Photo/Manu Fernandez) Speaking to reporters, Forcadell called the suspension a "violation of freedom of speech." "I won't allow censorship to enter Parliament," she said without clarifying if the meeting would go ahead or not. Earlier, Spain's Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy urged the separatist leader of the regional Catalan government, Carles Puigdemont, to cancel plans for declaring independence in order to avoid "greater evils." In an interview with Spain's official EFE news agency, Rajoy said the solution in Catalonia "is the prompt return to legality and the affirmation, as early as possible, that there will be no unilateral declaration of independence, because that way greater evils will be avoided." Rajoy's remarks were the first since Sunday, when Catalonia held a banned referendum on independence, amid police violence. Puigdemont said the results of the vote validated the push to secede. On Wednesday, Puigdemont toned down his defiant stance by calling for mediation in the conflict, although he maintained the plan to declare secession next week. The court order came as political uncertainty over Catalonia's secession bid started spreading to the economy, with stock markets falling and big Catalan firms relocating or considering a move to elsewhere in Spain. Banco Sabadell, one of Catalonia's largest banks and Spain's fifth in volume of assets, said in a statement to the Spanish stock regulator on Thursday that it was relocating the bank's base to the eastern city of Alicante. The move is largely symbolic, given that the headquarters would still remain in the Catalan regional capital, Barcelona, but is aimed at remaining under the protective umbrella of the European Central Bank, Spanish private news agency Europa Press reported citing internal sources. Banco Sabadell couldn't be immediately reached for comment. News of the possible move pushed the bank's shares up more than 6 percent in Thursday's trading, following heavy losses of almost 10 percent this week. On Wednesday, Spanish stocks suffered the biggest drop since the Brexit referendum in the U.K. last year. The main Madrid stock index is down 2.5 percent this week in volatile trading. Barcelona-based Caixabank, Spain's third largest bank in global volume of assets was expected to study relocation plans in a meeting on Friday, as the government readied a decree to make it easier for Catalan companies to move their base. In a sign that investors are taking seriously the financial risks of independence, the biotech firm Oryzon Genomics saw its shares jump 23 percent since announcing Wednesday it would move its headquarters out of Catalonia. About 40 percent of Catalonia's electorate of 5.5 million voted in the divisive referendum marred by violence when police moved in to close polling stations and confiscate ballot boxes. As expected, the "Yes" side scored a landslide victory, because most of those who want Catalonia to remain in Spain ignored the referendum that the courts had suspended. Catalan authorities and the Spanish central government are at odds over the legitimacy of the vote. Spain's 1978 Constitution bars any attempt to secede and rules that all Spanish nationals must have a say in the country's sovereignty. Catalonia's regional parliament called the meeting Monday to evaluate the results of the referendum. Pro-independence lawmakers say the declaration will be made then. As the deadline approaches, the clamor for dialogue and mediation in the crisis is gathering momentum, although Rajoy's government seems to be sticking to its stance of not talking to those wanting to break up the country. Barcelona Mayor Ada Colau called on European institutions to consider setting up a task force of experts to mediate after meeting consular representatives of European countries. Officials in the European Union have called for dialogue, but have supported Spain's conservative government in blaming the political crisis on Catalonia's regional government. On Wednesday, Barcelona lawyers set up a commission to promote talks bringing together trade unions, economists and even the city's famed Barcelona soccer club. Pablo Iglesias, the leader of the Spanish opposition party Podemos, called Rajoy and urged him to seek mediation. But Rajoy insists that regional president Carles Puigdemont must first drop the threat of declaring independence, which was seen by some as a slight easing of his opposition to talks. Rajoy has been under pressure to act without further tarnishing his image or inflaming separatist sentiment in the region, where a strong cultural identity has mixed with years of grievances for what many Catalans see as an unfair economic treatment of the region, one of Spain's richest. On Thursday, some of the additional police officers deployed in the region were seen checking out of a hotel in the coastal town of Pineda de Mar amid two sets of protesters - one side yelling at them to leave and another showing support. Protests mushroomed following the Oct. 1 vote, condemning police violence and urging the "occupying forces," as many demonstrators have called them, to leave Catalonia. Many other demonstrations have taken place around the country in support of Spanish unity. The government has praised the police response, calling it proportionate. Spain's Interior Ministry said the departures Thursday had been previously scheduled, as contracts ended with some of the hotels hosting the police reinforcements. Because of difficulties in finding accommodations on land, some of the more than 5,000 extra forces deployed in the region have slept on three ferries docked in Barcelona and nearby Tarragona. ___ Giles contributed from Madrid. A man waves an "estelada", or Catalonia independence flag, as he walks along the Ramblas in Barcelona, Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2017. Catalonia's regional government is mulling when to declare the region's independence from Spain in the wake of a disputed referendum that has triggered Spain's most serious national crisis in decades. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco) In this photo taken on Oct. 2, 2017, Spain's Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy begins a meeting with socialist opposition leader Pedro Sanchez at the Moncloa Palace in Madrid, Spain. Spain's Prime Minister on Thursday Oct. 5, 2017, has urged the separatist leader of the regional Catalan government to cancel plans for declaring the independence of Catalonia in order to avoid "greater evils." (AP Photo/Paul White) Catalan President Carles Puigdemont speaks during a statement at the Palau Generalitat in Barcelona, Spain, on Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2017. Catalonia's regional president, Carles Puigdemont, is addressing regional lawmakers on Monday to review a referendum won by supporters of independence from Spain on Oct. 1. (Jordi Bedmar/Presidency Press Service, Pool Photo via AP) BERLIN (AP) - The heads of three German intelligence agencies say national and international cooperation and information-sharing is ever more critical as threats become more global. Speaking at a public session Thursday of a parliamentary panel, the heads of Germany's foreign, domestic and military intelligence agencies emphasized that cyber threats in particular necessitate joint solutions. The head of Germany's BND foreign intelligence service, Bruno Kahl, says "the threats for Germany can only be identified, analyzed and fended off by a cooperation of agencies." From left, Hans-Georg Maassen, head of the German Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, Christof Gramm, head of the German Military Counter-Intelligence Service and Bruno Kahl, head of the German Federal Intelligence Service, arrive for a public hearing at the parliamentary control committee of the German federal parliament, Bundestag, in Berlin, Germany, Thursday, Oct. 5, 2017. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn) He added that it's also incumbent on German intelligence agencies to be on the cutting edge of technology. Kahl says "otherwise the digital revolution will only benefit those we should be protecting our country from." Kahl was joined by domestic intelligence head Hans-Georg Maassen and military intelligence head Christof Gramm. From left, Bruno Kahl, head of the German Federal Intelligence Service, Hans-Georg Maassen, head of the German Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution and Christof Gramm, head of the German Military Counter-Intelligence Service, arrive for a public hearing at the parliamentary control committee of the German federal parliament, Bundestag, in Berlin, Germany, Thursday, Oct. 5, 2017. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn) CILEGON, Indonesia (AP) - The Indonesian military should stay out of politics and remain loyal to the government, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo said Thursday in an apparent rebuke over contentious statements by the country's top general. Military chief Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo has stirred controversy in the past month with warnings of a renewed communist threat to Indonesia and a claim that a non-military organization was trying to import thousands of weapons. In a speech to a parade marking the military's 72nd anniversary, Jokowi said the armed forces are a national institution that should stay above politics and not be fragmented by narrow interests. Indonesian President Joko Widodo, center, inspect the troops during a parade marking the 72nd anniversary of the Indonesian Armed Forces in Cilegon, Banten, Indonesia, Thursday, Oct. 5, 2017. Widodo has urged the military to stay out of politics and remain loyal to the government in an apparent rebuke to a series of outlandish statements from the country's top general. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana) The military "should always ensure its political neutrality in the current democratic era," he said. Indonesia's army retreated from politics after the fall of dictator Suharto in 1998 ushered in democracy, but nearly two decades later a role limited to national defense is not fully accepted among officers or the rank-and-file. It has tried to inch back into civilian areas and resented the police's leading role in counter-terrorism. Jokowi's predecessor as president was a former general, as was his main rival in the 2014 presidential election, Prabowo Subianto. Nurmantyo, who local media say might harbor ambitions to run for president in 2019, last month attended an Islamic political party event at which he warned that communists - a boogeyman frequently invoked by Indonesian conservatives - were a renewed threat. Earlier in the month, the four-star general claimed that a government institution tried to import 5,000 guns "on behalf" of Jokowi. The president's top security minister said the national intelligence service had ordered several hundred rifles from a state-owned weapons company for training purposes. Thursday's parade in the coastal West Java city of Cilegon comprised nearly 6,000 soldiers and Indonesia's most modern imported weaponry. In a speech at the parade, Nurmantyo said soldiers are sworn to protect the Indonesian people and obey the president. "Do not doubt our loyalty," he said. ___ This story has been corrected to show that general's comments were in speech, not to reporters. An Indonesian Navy warship fires rockets during a parade marking the 72nd anniversary of the Indonesian Armed Forces in Cilegon, Banten, Indonesia, Thursday, Oct. 5, 2017. Indonesia's president has urged the military to stay out of politics and remain loyal to the government in an apparent rebuke to a series of outlandish statements from the country's top general. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana) Indonesian students ride on military armored vehicles during a parade marking the 72nd anniversary of the Indonesian Armed Forces in Cilegon, Banten, Indonesia, Thursday, Oct. 5, 2017. Indonesia's president has urged the military to stay out of politics and remain loyal to the government in an apparent rebuke to a series of outlandish statements from the country's top general. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana) BEIRUT (AP) - The Latest on developments in Syria (all times local): 7:45 p.m. Save the Children says the escalation in fighting in Syria has also forced hundreds of schools across the country to suspend classes over the past two weeks, with teachers sending children home in terror as bombs and shells fall nearby. FILE -- This undated file photo, shows Abu Mohammed al-Golani, second right, then leader of Fatah al-Sham Front, in pictures posted by the group, discussing battlefield details with field commanders over a map, in Aleppo, Syria. Russia's military announced Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2017, that it carried out airstrikes in Syria this week that critically wounded al-Golani, the leader of the al-Qaida-linked Levant Liberation Committee and killed 12 other militant commanders. Writing in Arabic banner reads, "Sheik Abu Mohammed al-Golani inspects military development and discusses them with military commanders as part of the battle for lifting the siege off Aleppo." (Militant UGC via AP, file) Thursday's statement from the group says that vital education and psychological support for tens of thousands of Syrian children has been disrupted and at least three schools have been attacked in the past week. The statement also says that 55 of the 60 schools and learning spaces that it supports in the provinces of Idlib and Aleppo - attended by nearly 20,000 children - have had to shut for days at a time to try and keep the children safe. Sonia Khush, Save the Children's Syria director, says "education in Syria is yet again coming under attack, and it is too dangerous to keep the schools open while bombs are falling all around." ___ 4:10 p.m. The Russian Defense Ministry says its submarines have fired 10 cruise missiles at Islamic State positions outside the eastern Syrian town of Mayadeen, one of the last major IS strongholds in the country. Russia has been a major backer of Syrian President Bashar Assad's forces and has helped government troops gain significant ground from opposition fighters and militant groups in the war. The ministry's spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said in a statement that the Kalibr missiles killed an unspecified number of IS fighters and destroyed major ammunition depots and command posts. Konashenkov said the missiles were launched from the Veliky Novgorod and the Kolpino submarines in the Mediterranean Sea on Thursday. Syrian troops with the help of Russian air cover have been closing in on Mayadeen, which has become a main IS hub for militants and the group's leaders after its former strongholds of Raqqa and Deir el-Zour have come under attack. ___ 1:45 p.m. The International Committee of the Red Cross says 10 hospitals in Syria have been damaged over the past 10 days cutting hundreds of thousands of people from health care. The ICRC said in a statement Thursday that Syria is witnessing the worst wave of fighting since government forces captured rebel-held east Aleppo in December. ICRC said it is alarmed by reports of hundreds of civilian casualties and the destruction of hospitals and schools. The head of ICRC's delegation in Syria, Marianne Gasser, said that for the past two weeks, "we have seen an increasingly worrying spike in military operations that correlates with high levels of civilian casualties." Violence has intensified in recent week in central, northern and eastern Syria between government forces and rival insurgent groups. The violence is also taking place in de-escalation zones that are part of a deal reached in the Kazakh capital of Astana between Iran, Turkey and Russia. It said that with swelling numbers of civilians fleeing military operations - some camps around the northern province of Raqqa and eastern region of Deir el-Zour are receiving over 1,000 women, children and men every day. ___ 10:40 a.m. Russia's military says its jets have been targeting positions of an al-Qaida-linked group in Syria for two straight days, killing seven militant commanders and dozens of fighters. Moscow blamed the al-Qaida-linked Levant Liberation Committee for attacking Russian military police last month. The Defense Ministry said Thursday that seven of the group's commanders and 49 militants were killed in the airstrikes in the Idlib province on Wednesday. The strikes also destroyed a major ammunition depot at a militant-controlled air base. On Wednesday, the Russian military reported that its airstrikes critically wounded the group's leader a day earlier. Russia has been waging an air campaign in support of Syrian President Bashar Assad's forces since 2015, helping them to make major advances against the Islamic State group, al-Qaida-linked insurgents and mainstream rebels. MOSCOW (AP) - Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted Saudi Arabia's King Salman for talks in Moscow on Thursday in the first official visit of a Saudi monarch to Russia that was expected to focus on oil and the war in Syria. At the Kremlin's opulent St. Andrew's Hall, Putin in televised remarks hailed the king's visit as a "landmark" event. Salman in his reply called Russia a "friendly nation" and said his country is committed to strengthen ties "in the interests of peace and security." Relations between the two countries have often been strained. During Cold War times, the Saudis helped arm Afghan rebels fighting against the Soviet invasion. Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, talks with Saudi King Salman during their meeting in the Kremlin, Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Oct. 5, 2017. The king's talks with Putin on Thursday are expected to focus on the global oil market and the conflict in Syria.(AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin) The kingdom, much like Russia, has been hit by the fall in oil prices since mid-2014. Despite regional disagreements, the two major oil-producing nations found common ground on energy policy in November, when they led a deal between OPEC and non-OPEC states to cut production in a bid to shore up crude prices. So far that deal is holding and prices have recovered slightly to above $50 a barrel. In an apparent reference to the output deal, Salman told Putin on Thursday that Saudi Arabia is "eager to continue the positive cooperation between our nations in the world oil market, which fosters global economic growth." Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak told Russian news agencies earlier Friday that non-OPEC states would be willing to extend the output cut "if necessary." Russia and Saudi Arabia on Thursday also announced major investments and joint ventures to further cement relations, with Putin and Salman signing deals from arms sales to cooperation in space. Trade volume between the two countries reached $2.8 billion last year, according to official Saudi press. Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, the kingdom's sovereign wealth fund, announced in 2015 plans to invest $10 billion in Russia over the next five years, though only a fraction of that has so far been put up. The Saudis have also been eyeing Russian nuclear power technologies and appear ready to expand food imports from Russia, which is set to remain the world's biggest wheat exporter this year. Food security is a major concern for Saudi Arabia, which stopped local production of livestock feed and wheat due to water scarcity. Analysts say Salman's trip to Moscow is the clearest sign yet that Russia's strategy in the Middle East, including its high-risk show of military power in Syria, has paid off. Salman's visit caps off a number of visits to Russia over the past two years by Gulf royals, including by his heir and son. "A number of Gulf leaders have been going with greater regularity to Moscow and I think for a simple reason: Russia has made itself much more of a factor in key parts of the Middle East as the U.S. has taken a step back in some ways, particularly in Syria," said Brian Katulis, a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress. The Saudi monarch's visit comes after decades of strained relations. More recently, tensions were high over the war in Syria. Russia and Iran have staunchly backed Syrian President Assad while Saudi Arabia has supported the Sunni rebels fighting to oust him. However, relations have begun to improve in recent years and Salman's heir, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has held several meetings with Putin. Salman said at the talks in Moscow that Saudi Arabia calls for a political solution in Syria that "guarantees security and stability and the preservation of Syrian sovereignty." Earlier on Friday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Russia thinks highly of Saudi Arabia's role in arranging talks between the Syrian government and the oppositions in Geneva. At the core of Saudi Arabia's regional woes is its rival Iran, which is backed by Russia. The Shiite-led regional power has spread its footprint throughout the region, particularly in Iraq and Syria. Saudi Arabia is at war with Iranian-allied rebel fighters in Yemen and is embroiled in a diplomatic standoff with Qatar, which has found support from Tehran. Though Salman's visit signals closer Russian ties with Sunni Arab Gulf states, Russia's support for Iran is not expected to change. The U.S., meanwhile, remains Saudi Arabia's top weapons supplier and its most critical Western ally. Anna Borshchevskaya, a fellow at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, says Russia has no capacity to replace the United States as Saudi Arabia's key ally. "That said, it's clear that Russia has been able to play a weak hand very well and step into vacuums everywhere where the U.S. has treated," he said. Saudi-U.S. ties were strained under the Obama administration over its backing of a nuclear agreement with Iran and its handling of the Syrian conflict. Relations improved under the Trump administration, but Washington's focus in Syria continues to be on fighting the Islamic State group, not on ousting Assad. ___ Batrawy reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and Saudi Arabia's King Salman walk during a welcoming ceremony ahead of their talks at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Oct. 5, 2017. (Alexei Nikolsky/Pool Photo via AP) Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and Saudi Arabia's King Salman pose for a photo during a welcoming ceremony ahead of their talks at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Oct. 5, 2017. (Alexei Nikolsky/Pool Photo via AP) Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and Saudi King Salman listen to national anthems during their meeting in Kremlin, Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Oct. 5, 2017. Saudi King Salman arrived in Moscow Wednesday on the first ever visit by a Saudi monarch to Russia. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin) Saudi King Salman, center, and Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin, right, review the honor guards upon their arrival in Moscow's Government Vnukovo airport, Russia, Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2017. The King's visit is the first trip to Russia by a sitting Saudi monarch. (AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev) Russian President Vladimir Putin attends talks with Saudi Arabia's King Salman, during their meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, on Thursday, Oct. 5, 2017. (Yuri Kadobnov/Pool Photo via AP) Saudi Arabia's King Salman attends talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, during their meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, on Thursday, Oct. 5, 2017. (Yuri Kadobnov/Pool Photo via AP) WASHINGTON (AP) - The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits fell by 12,000 last week to 260,000, as claims returned to more normal levels following the disruptions caused by Hurricane Irma in Florida and Georgia. THE NUMBERS: The Labor Department said Thursday that the less-volatile four-week average declined by 9,500 to 268,250. Overall, the number of Americans collecting unemployment checks has fallen 6.2 percent over the past year to 1.94 million. KEY DRIVERS: In the aftermath of Irma, claims had risen sharply in Florida and Georgia two weeks ago but fell last week by 26.8 percent in Georgia and 20.4 percent in Florida. Claims were also down in Texas, dropping by 15.1 percent from the previous week as benefit applications returned to more normal levels in that state following Hurricane Harvey. In this Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2017, photo, people head to at a job fair at Dolphin Mall in Sweetwater, Fla. The shopping center hosted a job fair in preparation for the approaching busy holiday retail season. On Thursday, Oct. 5, 2017, the Labor Department reports on the number of people who applied for unemployment benefits a week earlier. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz) THE TAKEAWAY: Unemployment claims are a proxy for layoffs. Despite the impact of the storms, the overall level of claims remains low, suggesting that most American workers enjoy job security. The unemployment rate is at 4.4 percent, near a 16-year low. The government will release the September employment report on Friday. The expectation is that the economy created around 100,000 jobs and the unemployment rate held steady at 4.4 percent, near a 16-year low. So far this year, the economy has added an average of 176,000 jobs a month, solid but down from 187,000 a month last year and 226,000 a month in 2015. Many businesses complain that they can't find enough workers. COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) - As lawmakers in Sri Lanka celebrate the 70th anniversary of the country's parliamentary democracy, one of the oldest in Asia, minorities including Tamils, Christians and Muslims remain on the fringes of society. Even with some representation in Parliament, the minorities complain they have been sidelined by the majority Buddhist Sinhalese. The Sinhalese-controlled legislature has done little to heal the wounds left from a quarter-century civil war that ended in 2009, and still refuses to acknowledge or investigate allegations of wartime atrocities by the government. It has been accused of perpetuating rule by the country's 70 percent Sinhalese majority instead of unifying the multicultural nation. In this Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2017, photo, speaker of the Sri Lankan parliament Karu Jayasuriya, second rightncenter, arrives as lawmakers stand at the beginning of the sittings held to mark the country's seventieth anniversary of parliamentary democracy in Colombo, Sri Lanka. As lawmakers in Sri Lanka celebrate the 70th anniversary of the country's parliamentary democracy, one of the oldest in Asia, minorities including Tamils, Christians and Muslims remain on the fringes of society. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena) With tensions growing, some, including the prime minister, have questioned whether Sri Lanka has been successful in its seven-decade state-building process. "We started 1947 as a united people, but over the past years we had an ethnic conflict ... to the point of a civil war," Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe told a special session of Parliament on Tuesday to celebrate its 70th anniversary. "We safeguarded democracy through all that, but we are yet to provide a political solution and unify the country," he said. Others say that, while democracy - based on majority rule - has helped Sri Lanka on many fronts, it has also caused harm. Jehan Perera of the National Peace Council, a local peace research and activist group, argues that the political system has increased divisions in the tropical island nation. "In a country of ethnic divisions, majority rule can be a dictatorship by a permanent majority over a permanent minority," he said. The divisions surfaced quickly after Sri Lanka, then known as Ceylon, won independence from British rule in 1948. Within two years, the first post-independence Parliament stripped hundreds of thousands of mostly Tamil tea plantation workers of Indian origin of their citizenship and right to vote. That prompted fears among indigenous Tamil leaders, who demanded a federal form of self-rule in the country's north and east where they form a majority. In 1956 a new government came to power on a wave of Sinhalese Buddhist nationalism and quickly abolished English as the language of government, instituting Sinhala as the only national language. That marked the starting point of an ethnic conflict that later flared into a vicious civil war that killed at least 100,000 people, according to U.N. estimates. Non-violent campaigns by Tamil leaders demanding equal status for minority Tamils were attacked, and anti-Tamil riots killed hundreds of people. Thousands of other Tamils fled the country. A cry for an independent Tamil state soon strengthened, and from the early 1970s Tamil youths in the north and east began taking up arms and launching sporadic attacks on police and government installations. Tamil politicians, meanwhile, boycotted discussions on crafting the first constitution because they said their concerns were not considered by the Parliament at the time. It wasn't until state-backed Sinhalese mobs launched countrywide riots and attacks against Tamils in 1983 that civil war erupted in earnest. The riots left Tamil villages burned and hundreds dead. Hundreds of thousands fled the country, while many of those who remained joined Tamil militant groups. Faced with a bloody conflict, Parliament attempted several constitutional changes to share some power with the Tamil minority and nullify the call for separatism. It introduced provincial councils through an India-brokered peace accord in 1987. But the councils fell short of Tamil demands for autonomy, and Sinhalese opposed them for giving too much power to the minority group. Parliament had also changed its stand on the language issue and included Tamil as an official language, but statelessness and voting rights of plantation workers of Indian origin weren't fully settled until the early 2000s. "There is no reason to be proud of our parliamentary democracy, it has been a failure," said senior Tamil journalist Veeragathy Thanabalasingham. "As early as 1948 the government started enacting laws to suppress minorities. As a result, a war erupted. Even after such destruction, the Sinhala polity has not had a change of mind in order to prevent more conflicts in the future," he said. The war ended in 2009 after Sri Lankan soldiers killed the leader of the Tamil Tiger rebels, and many hoped that would lead to a period of post-war reconciliation and a resolution of widespread war crimes allegedly perpetrated by both sides. But no independent investigations have been allowed to take place. Meanwhile, the military remains powerful, occupying barracks lined with barbed wire and private lands across the former conflict zone. Efforts to reform Sri Lanka's police, judiciary and other institutions to reflect the country's ethnic composition have crawled, exacerbating minority fears. Last year, Parliament passed a proposal by Wickremesinghe to begin writing a new constitution to provide more minority rights and power sharing. However, the drafting has been delayed by political divisions and opposition from influential Buddhist monks. Any proposed new constitution would have to be passed by a two-thirds majority in the Sinhalese-controlled Parliament and then be approved in a public referendum. Meanwhile, Parliament remains far from achieving a consensus on how to deal with the allegations of wartime atrocities and human rights abuses - both efforts that draw strong protests from Sinhalese nationalists. There are also divisions between the two main parliamentary parties that have formed a unity government, with Wickremesinghe's group pushing reforms while President Maithripala Sirisena's party has been more circumspect. The patience of Tamil leaders has been dwindling. "We have all learned many lessons from the most harmful situations that have prevailed in our country," said Rajavarothayam Sampanthan, an opposition leader in Parliament and the main Tamil leader. "It would be a tragedy if in the name of patriotism, more exactly pseudo patriotism, anyone seeks to prolong these harmful situations." FILE- In this Oct. 3, 2017, file photo, Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena, left, and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe attend a special session held to mark the country's seventieth anniversary of the first parliament of democracy, in Colombo, Sri Lanka. As lawmakers in Sri Lanka celebrate the 70th anniversary of the country's parliamentary democracy, one of the oldest in Asia, minorities including Tamils, Christians and Muslims remain on the fringes of society. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena, File) FILE- In this July 13, 2007, file photo, Tamil Tiger fighters get ready for a rehearsal of breaking through outer defense lines of a military camp, at a training camp in an undisclosed location deep in Tiger controlled territory, northeast of Colombo, Sri Lanka. As lawmakers in Sri Lanka celebrate the 70th anniversary of the country's parliamentary democracy, one of the oldest in Asia, minorities including Tamils, Christians and Muslims remain on the fringes of society. The Sinhalese-controlled legislature has done little to heal the wounds left from a quarter-century civil war that ended in 2009, and still refuses to acknowledge or investigate allegations of wartime atrocities by the government. (AP Photo/Gemunu Amarasinghe, File) FILE- In this July 10, 2007, file photo, Sri Lankan troops fire a multi-barrel rocket launcher aimed at Tamil Tiger targets close to Thoppigala, about 240 kilometers (150 miles) northeast of Colombo, Sri Lanka. As lawmakers in Sri Lanka celebrate the 70th anniversary of the country's parliamentary democracy, one of the oldest in Asia, minorities including Tamils, Christians and Muslims remain on the fringes of society. The Sinhalese-controlled legislature has done little to heal the wounds left from a quarter-century civil war that ended in 2009, and still refuses to acknowledge or investigate allegations of wartime atrocities by the government. (AP Photo/Gemunu Amarasinghe, File) FILE- In this May 19, 2012, file photo, Sri Lankan army snipers march during the annual victory day parade marking the third anniversary of defeating Tamil Tiger rebels in Colombo, Sri Lanka. As lawmakers in Sri Lanka celebrate the 70th anniversary of the country's parliamentary democracy, one of the oldest in Asia, minorities including Tamils, Christians and Muslims remain on the fringes of society. The Sinhalese-controlled legislature has done little to heal the wounds left from a quarter-century civil war that ended in 2009, and still refuses to acknowledge or investigate allegations of wartime atrocities by the government. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena, File) MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - The Latest on a scheduled execution in Alabama (all times local): 3:15 p.m. A federal judge has halted the execution of an Alabama inmate just hours before he was to be put to death. Chief U.S. District Judge Keith Watkins on Thursday stayed the execution of 56-year-old Jeffery Lynn Borden. The reprieve came about four hours before Borden was set to be given a lethal injection at a southwest Alabama prison. Watkins noted that the 11th US Circuit Court of Appeals this month ordered additional proceedings in Borden's challenge to the humaneness of the state's lethal injection process. The Alabama attorney general's office said it would not appeal the stay. The attorney general said there was "insufficient time to lift the stay" before the death warrant expired at midnight Borden was convicted of killing his estranged wife, Cheryl Borden, and her father, Roland Harris, during a 1993 Christmas Eve gathering. ___ 12:05 p.m. Alabama says the execution of a state inmate should be allowed to go forward. The state attorney general's office on Thursday asked a judge to reject 56-year-old Jeffery Lynn Borden's request for a stay. Borden is set to receive a lethal injection Thursday evening at a south Alabama prison. Borden was convicted of killing his estranged wife, Cheryl Borden, and her father, Roland Harris, during a 1993 Christmas Eve gathering. In the court filing, the state attorneys argued that the surviving family members had waited long enough for the sentence to be carried out. Alabama attorneys noted the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday lifted an appellate court injunction blocking Borden's execution. They said Borden was now seeking a "second bite at the apple." ___ 8:45 a.m. An Alabama inmate is asking a judge to halt his upcoming execution. Lawyers for 56-year-old Jeffery Lynn Borden on Thursday morning filed an emergency motion with the federal court in Montgomery, Alabama. His attorneys said the state should not be allowed to execute Borden when the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals this month ordered more hearings in his ongoing challenge to the humaneness of the state's lethal injection process. Borden is set to receive a lethal injection Thursday evening at a south Alabama prison. Borden was convicted of killing his estranged wife, Cheryl Borden, and her father, Roland Harris, in Jefferson County in 1993. The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday lifted an appellate court injunction that had been blocking Borden's execution. ___ 5:49 a.m. Alabama is scheduled to execute a man convicted of killing his estranged wife and father-in-law during a Christmas Eve gathering. Jeffery Lynn Borden is set to receive a lethal injection Thursday at a south Alabama prison. Borden was convicted of killing his estranged wife, Cheryl Borden, and her father, Roland Harris, in Jefferson County in 1993. Borden, who was separated from his wife, brought their children to the Christmas gathering after a visit. Prosecutors said he shot Cheryl Borden as she helped move the children's belongings and Harris as he ran for help. The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday lifted an appellate court injunction that had been blocking Borden's execution. WASHINGTON (AP) - The State Department says Myanmar's crackdown that has caused an exodus of a half-million Rohingya Muslims to Bangladesh could destabilize the region and invite international terrorists. Patrick Murphy, a senior U.S. official for Southeast Asia, says the U.S. has urged Myanmar's civilian and military officials to take action to stop the violence. He told a congressional hearing Thursday that despite government assurances that security operations halted Sept. 5, vigilantes are still reportedly committing arson attacks on Rohingya homes and blocking humanitarian assistance. Rep. Ed Royce, Republican chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, described it as ethnic cleansing and urged the administration to press harder for humanitarian access. Rep. Eliot Engel, the committee's top-ranking Democrat, said the U.S. should consider imposing targeted sanctions on Myanmar's military. WARSAW, Poland (AP) - Defense ministers from Poland, Lithuania and Ukraine have authorized their two-year-old joint brigade to take part in international missions for the region's security. The ministers marked two years since the brigade was founded in Lublin, eastern Poland, in response to security concerns after Russia's seizing of Crimea from Ukraine. The brigade was given a banner and was named after a 16th-century military commander who fought against Russian forces. They also upgraded its role to allow it to take part in international military missions. Poland's Defense Minister Antoni Macierewicz said from now on the Lithuanian-Polish-Ukrainian Brigade will be able to take part in "all peacekeeping missions that are necessary in the case when peace is threatened" and guard the region's security. News / National by Staff reporter Two factions of the Gospel of God Church International 1932 (GGCI) have been given equal opportunities to access the gravesite of their venerated leader Johanne Masowe during the church's annual synod currently underway at Gandanzara in Rusape. The High Court ruling last week comes after a fierce legal fight pitting the two factions, one led by Vendiseni Mungweru and the other under the stewardship of Rodgers Masawi. The ruling means the Mungweru-led faction returns to the shrine after 17 years since their banishment in 2000.Justice Priscilla Munangati-Manongwa granted an urgent application by the Mungweru-led faction after carrying out an inspection in loco at the shrine. This was, however, appealed against at the Supreme Court, prompting the factions to apply for leave to execute their judgment. Justice Happias Zhou, who presided over the fresh urgent chamber application on Friday, granted the relief sought."Paragraph 1-7 of the interim relief of the provisional order granted by Justice Munangati-Manongwa in case No8653/17 on September 23 shall remain in operation and applicants are hereby granted leave to execute that portion of the provisional order notwithstanding the noting of appeal filed by the respondent under case No 720/17. The provisional order issued in this matter shall not be suspended by the noting of appeal to Supreme Court," he said.Through its lawyer Advocate Nelson Mashizha, the Mungweru faction argued that the GGCI noted an appeal against a provisional order issued by Justice Munangati-Manongwa. The order, stated Adv Mashizha in his papers, had granted his clients access to the Gandanzara shrine for the annual synod, which runs from September 23 to October 4 every year.At the time of the noting of the appeal, the provisional order had been partly executed, with the officer commanding Rusape district deploying over 50 police officers at the shrine. It was also argued that the majority members of the Mungweru-led faction were already at the shrine and had pitched their tents for worshipping in preparation for September 28.September 28 is the church's most important day where they are supposed to access Johane Masowe's grave site and view his grave in terms of the time allotted to them in Justice Munangati-Manongwa's order. Some of the church members had travelled from as far as Tanzania, Zambia, Botswana and Australia. After reading papers filed by Adv Mashizha, Justice Zhou granted an ex parte order to allow the Mungweru faction to attend the synod. CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) - Family members of a missing University of Illinois scholar from China say they're "sorrowful and grieved" that there's more evidence to show she has died. The statement released Wednesday from Yingying Zhang's family comes after the latest indictment against a man accused in the case. Brendt Christensen previously was charged with the 26-year-old's abduction. A new federal indictment filed Tuesday alleges Christensen intentionally killed Zhang in "an especially heinous, cruel, or depraved manner." The attorney for Zhang's family issue a statement to the (Champaign) News-Gazette , saying her relatives "hope that the suspect will receive the punishment he deserves." If convicted, Christensen faces the death penalty or life in prison. He's to be arraigned Wednesday on the updated charge. Zhang disappeared June 9. Her body hasn't been found. ___ Information from: The News-Gazette, http://www.news-gazette.com BERLIN (AP) - A German cultural institution has started investigating the provenance of about 1,000 human skulls from the country's former African colonies that ended up in the collection of a Berlin hospital, officials said Thursday. The collection of skulls, from colonies in what is today Rwanda, Tanzania, Burundi and Mozambique, were found in poor condition at Berlin's Charite hospital and medical school and transferred to the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation in 2011. They are part of a bigger collection that was brought to Germany in the 19th and early 20th century by a German anthropologist, and experts have been cleaning and preserving the skulls over the last six years, the foundation said. German researchers are now joining forces with an international network of scientists to review documents and find out more about the origins of the skulls, the foundation said. Among other things, they will be looking over inventories and correspondence from the time they were collected. They're also doing non-invasive anthropological evaluation of the bones themselves to look for clues to their provenance. If they can be properly identified, the plan is to return them to their countries of origin, though the foundation said no country has sought them. "In order to return something, one needs to know where the specimens are from," the foundation's project leader Bernhard Heeb said in a statement. The skulls were collected by anthropologist Felix von Luschan in the late 19th and early 20th century for research and were among several thousand taken from graves around the world, including South America and Europe. After von Luschan's death in 1924, the skulls were given to the Kaiser Wilhelm Anthropological Institute in Berlin. After World War II, they ended up being given to the Charite Hospital, for use in its medical history museum. The hospital in 2010 decided it was not able to probably care for the collection, and turned it over to the foundation. Though there were executions in colonial Africa, the foundation said as far as they can tell none of the skulls were those of such victims but were instead collected from graveyards. SAN DIEGO (AP) - The New York Yacht Club is returning to the America's Cup after an absence of a decade and a half, perhaps the ultimate nod to tradition as sailing's marquee regatta is reshaped following Emirates Team New Zealand's stunning victory in June. The NYYC announced Thursday that it will challenge for the 36th America's Cup to be held in early 2021, most likely off Auckland. Teams can file challenges beginning Jan. 1. The New York Yacht Club once enjoyed the longest winning streak in sports when it held the Auld Mug from 1851, when the schooner America beat a fleet of British ships around the Isle of Wight, until 1983, when Dennis Conner's Liberty lost to the wing-keeled Australia II off Newport, Rhode Island. The NYYC last backed a challenge in 2002-03 with Team Dennis Conner. "The America's Cup has always remained close to the heart of the New York Yacht Club, even in the years where we didn't participate as a challenger or defender," commodore Philip A. Lotz said. "For this cycle, a lot of elements have come together in the correct way for the Club to enter another challenge." The first was ETNZ's rout of two-time defending champion Oracle Team USA, owned by software tycoon Larry Ellison, on Bermuda's Great Sound. After winning the America's Cup in 2010 in a one-off with a Swiss team that was forced by a bitter court case, Oracle Team USA did not hold defense trials in 2013 or 2017. Word of the New York Yacht Club's return was greeted warmly Down Under. "We're delighted they are back," Team New Zealand CEO Grant Dalton said in an email to The Associated Press. "It really sets the tone for the next Cup, the world's most prestigious Club." In a statement, ETNZ and the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron said, "To have the most famous yacht club in America's Cup history back after a 14-year hiatus is a significant boost to the event and the principles of tradition and fair play which the Protocol for the 36th America's Cup is built on." The NYYC will be represented by Bella Mente Quantum Racing Association, which will be led by successful yachtsmen and businessmen John J. "Hap" Fauth of Naples, Florida, and Doug DeVos of Grand Rapids, Michigan. DeVos is president of Amway and the brother-in-law of U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos. Fauth is a three-time world champion in the Maxi72 Class. He's helmed three successive yachts named Bella Mente. DeVos and the Quantum Racing program have had overall series wins in the 52 Super Series circuit, and its predecessor, the MedCup, in 2008, 2011, 2013, 2014 and 2016. The common link between the two is America's Cup veteran Terry Hutchinson of Annapolis, Maryland, a two-time Rolex Yachtsman of the Year who will serve as CEO and skipper. Team New Zealand and the Challenger of Record, Italy's Luna Rossa Challenge, announced last week that the America's Cup will go back to monohulls after the last two editions were sailed in foiling catamarans. Concepts for the AC75 Class, promised to be "high-performance" monohulls, will be released Nov. 30 and the class rule will be published March 31. It will have a crew of 10 to 12. By announcing its challenge now, Bella Mente Quantum Racing Association can get a jump on hiring designers and sailors. New nationality rules call for 20 percent, or three crew, whichever is higher, to be true nationals, while the rest of the crew must live in the country of a challenging yacht club for a minimum of 380 days between September 2018 and Aug. 31, 2020. "Is every single person going to be an American citizen? Probably not," Hutchinson said. "But we will definitely be waving the flag." Hutchinson, 49, said it's unlikely he'll be the helmsman, but, "this is the America's Cup, and you never say never. It's a bit too soon to say." He sailed as tactician for Emirates Team New Zealand in the 2007 America's Cup match, the last to be contested in monohulls. Lotz said Fauth and DeVos "will mount a competitive effort that is respectful of the Club's long history with the Cup and the competition itself," and that the New York Yacht Club has "confidence the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, represented by Emirates Team New Zealand, will host a world-class regatta that honors the spirit, tradition and majesty of this great event." Team New Zealand said it has also received initial intentions from Britain's Land Rover BAR and Groupama Team France. ___ Follow Bernie Wilson on Twitter at http://twitter.com/berniewilson IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) - A decade after Colorado engineer Amir Massihzadeh hit the lottery, two state agents visited him with stunning news: He was likely the only legitimate winner of a $4.8 million jackpot he'd had to split three ways. They told the Boulder resident that the other two people who had won the 2005 drawing were linked to a conspiracy in which a lottery insider and several cohorts had rigged drawings in several states. Now Massihzadeh, 62, is suing for the rest of the winnings that he feels should have been his. Massihzadeh filed a lawsuit Thursday against the Colorado State Lottery, arguing he should be declared the sole winner and that the $800,000 cash prize he opted to receive should have been tripled. Accounting for 12 years of interest, he is seeking about $4 million from the lottery for what he calls a breach of contract. It's the latest headache for state lotteries caused by former Multi-State Lottery Association information security director Eddie Tipton, who admitted to manipulating the software they used so that he could predict winning numbers on certain days of the year. Tipton, his brother, and a friend were recently sentenced for conspiring to use this insider knowledge to buy winning tickets and collect prizes between 2005 and 2011. They fixed jackpots that paid $2.61 million to them and their associates in four states, and their scheme unraveled after Eddie Tipton was caught buying the winning ticket for a $14 million Iowa jackpot that was never paid. Massihzadeh, who received $568,900 after taxes, argues that he's entitled to the other two-thirds of the prize because the other tickets were purchased through Tipton's conspiracy and should be invalid. "Even though the Tiptons have agreed to repay the money they received from the Lottery, the Lottery has refused to honor its obligation to Mr. Massihzadeh," his lawsuit says. It's the third lawsuit to claim lottery players were cheated by Tipton's scheme. Hundreds of thousands of people who bought tickets on dates in which Tipton could predict winning numbers are pursuing a class-action lawsuit seeking refunds, arguing those drawings weren't truly random. A man who won a 2011 jackpot is also suing the Iowa Lottery, saying his prize should be larger because the $14 million jackpot should have rolled over. Tipton, who is serving a 25-year prison term, built computers used by Colorado and other states to generate random numbers for drawings. Starting in 2005, he secretly installed code that directed them to use a predictable formula to select numbers on May 27, Nov. 23, and Dec. 29 for drawings that fell on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The Nov. 23, 2005, Colorado drawing is the first that was fixed. Massihzadeh had played the lottery for years, often buying a few tickets. Like most, he purchased "quick pick" tickets that computers generated for him rather than selecting numbers manually. He was "shocked and thrilled" to learn that his was one of three tickets that matched all six numbers for the Colorado Lotto, the lawsuit says. Massihzadeh had no idea that the other two winners were part of what prosecutors have called the "ultimate 21st century inside job." Eddie Tipton had simulated the drawing and recorded likely winning combinations by hand. He gave a notebook with those numbers to his brother, Tommy, then a magistrate in Flatonia, Texas, who traveled to Colorado to play them. One was the winner. To hide his identity, Tommy Tipton recruited a friend to claim the prize. The third ticket was redeemed by Cuestion de Suerte LLC, which has been linked to two Texas lawyers who are associates of Tommy Tipton. The Tiptons have claimed that the lawyers stole the winning numbers from Tommy Tipton and played them without his knowledge. The lawyers haven't been charged. But the Tiptons' plea agreements state that anyone found "to have profited from the payment of lottery prizes" in Colorado may still face restitution demands. BOSTON (AP) - The president of a Massachusetts mortgage company has pleaded guilty in a $2.5 million mortgage fraud. The U.S. attorney's office says 68-year-old Robert Pena, of Falmouth, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy and six counts of wire fraud on Wednesday. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 5. Pena acknowledged his misconduct at the helm of Mortgage Security Inc. Prosecutors say the company was supposed to service loans, then send payments on to the government-backed mortgage enterprise Ginnie Mae. Instead, Pena took money that borrowers sent in to pay off their mortgages, or which were supposed to go into escrow accounts or mortgage insurance premiums. He then made false reports to Ginnie Mae about the status of the loans. A man who alleged his father was angry with him and adopted two adults to reduce his inheritance lost a legal fight on Thursday to have himself declared the sole beneficiary of a $1.5 million trust fund. The Connecticut Appellate Court ruled that 54-year-old David Eder, of New Haven, must share the proceeds of the trust fund with his father's adopted children. A three-judge panel of the court unanimously upheld a lower court ruling that said the adoptions did not appear to be a sham just to decrease Eder's share of the trust fund, and that Connecticut law considers adopted people the legal children of adoptive parents. A court ruled on Thursday that a Connecticut man must share a trust fund with two adopted brothers, after he complained that his 74-year-old father adopted two adults in 2010 to spite him after they had a falling out. Above, a stock image David Eder said he and his father, 72-year-old John Eder, who lives in Provincetown, Massachusetts, had a falling out over finances in 2009, according to court documents. He alleged John Eder fraudulently adopted the two adult sons of his former girlfriend to reduce David Eder's share of the trust proceeds. In a court document, John Eder denied his son's allegations. But he did say that he adopted the brothers to include them in the trust before it expired. The adoptions came in 2010, a year before the trust was set to expire and the funds were to go solely to David Eder, who is John Eder's only biological child. John Eder set up the trust fund in 1991 and the proceeds were to go to 'each child' of his when the trust expired in October 2011. Another section of the trust document includes adopted children in the definition of 'lineal descendants.' After the trust was established, it prohibited John Eder from changing beneficiaries. The funds have remained in the trust during David Eder's appeals. The appellate court panel noted that John Eder had lived with his girlfriend, Jill Richter, and her two sons from 1975 until the couple separated in 1985. When Eder and Richter began living together, her sons Sacha and Mischa were 6 and 4 years old, respectively. John Eder has kept a close relationship with the brothers over the years, according to court documents. 'The settlor (John Eder) clearly has a family-like relationship with the Richter brothers,' Judge Douglas Lavine wrote in the appellate court decision. 'The trust does not exclude adopted children. To the contrary, it unambiguously includes them. The trust contemplated that (John Eder) may have had more children in 2011 than he had in 1991.' David and John Eder and David Eder's lawyer did not immediately return messages seeking comment Thursday. John Eder's lawyer, Glenn Dowd, declined to comment. WARSAW, Poland (AP) - Women's rights groups on Thursday denounced police raids on their offices in several Polish cities that resulted in the seizing of documents and computers, a day after women staged anti-government marches to protest the country's restrictive abortion law. The raids took place Wednesday in the cities of Warsaw, Gdansk, Lodz and Zielona Gora. They targeted two organizations, the Women's Rights Center and Baba, which help victims of domestic violence and which also participated in this week's anti-government protests. Women's rights activists said Thursday the loss of files would hamper their work, and accused authorities of trying to intimidate them. Prosecutors denied the accusation, saying the timing of the raids a day after the women's marches was purely coincidental. Women march holding umbrellas, a symbol of their protest, through the downtown against efforts by the nation's conservative leaders to tighten Poland's already restrictive abortion law, in Warsaw, Poland, Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2017. The umbrellas form a writing "Enough Hell For Women" and the banner at right reads "men are following us". (AP Photo/Alik Keplicz) Some fear the ruling Law and Justice party, led by Jaroslaw Kaczynski, is following in the footsteps of neighboring Hungary, where non-governmental groups have faced harassment under Prime Minister Viktor Orban. "This is an abuse of power because even if there is any suspicion of wrongdoing, an inquiry could be done in a way that doesn't affect the organizations' work," Marta Lempart, the head of the Polish Women's Strike, which organized this week's street protests, told The Associated Press. The women's groups said they were told by police that prosecutors were looking for evidence in an investigation into suspected wrongdoing in the Justice Ministry under the former government. At the time the Justice Ministry provided funding to the women's groups. "We are afraid that this is just a pretext or warning signal to not engage in activities not in line with the ruling party," The Women's Rights Center said in a statement. Anita Kucharska-Dziedzic, who heads the group Baba, said police entered her office in Zielona Gora, western Poland, on Wednesday at 9 a.m. (0700 GMT) and worked until 6 p.m. removing files. She told the AP her group has never been aware of any wrongdoing by Justice Ministry officials that her group was in contact with. She also said she now expects to have problems continuing her projects due to the loss of files, and is also concerned because the documents contained private information on domestic abuse victims who have sought the group's help. Barbora Cernusakova, Amnesty International's researcher on Poland, called the police operations "very worrying." "We understand that the police actions came in the context of an investigation against former staff of the Ministry of Justice, but the NGOs, and the women and girls they support, will suffer the consequences," Cernusakova said. Jacek Pawlak, a spokesman for prosecutors in Poznan, where the investigation is being led, said the raids were part of an ongoing investigation but would not divulge what the probe was about. He said there was no attempt to harass the women's organizations. This week's street demonstrations came on the first anniversary of a mass "Black Protest" by women dressed in black that stopped a plan in parliament for a total ban on abortion. Despite that success the women's rights activists marched to protests the fact that abortion is still illegal in most cases, calling for a liberalization of the law. ____ Monika Scislowska in Warsaw contributed to this report. Women shout slogans as they march holding umbrellas, as symbol of their protest, through the downtown against efforts by the nation's conservative leaders to tighten Poland's already restrictive abortion law, in Warsaw, Poland, Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2017. (AP Photo/Alik Keplicz) DALLAS (AP) - The president of a Texas university wrote in an email to a professor that he is trying to prevent Donald Trump Jr. from giving a speech later this month at an event arranged by major donors to the school. University of North Texas President Neal Smatresk wrote in August that he was "trying to stop" Trump's Oct. 24 talk to business executives, Republican leaders and others. "Untangling this donor advised talk is more difficult than I expected," he wrote in another email that was among more than a thousand pages of communications obtained by The Dallas Morning News . Trump, the eldest son of Republican President Donald Trump, is under federal investigation for a June 2016 meeting with Russians who claimed to have information damaging to the Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. Trump Jr. will receive a $100,000 speaking fee that's being paid by a tax advisory firm owned by Brint Ryan, according to the university, which is in Denton, north of Dallas-Fort Worth. Ryan is head of the school's board of regents and the newspaper reports that he used political and business connections to land Trump, a real estate executive, as a speaker. Ryan has given to the Republican campaigns of Gov. Greg Abbott and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, among others. Ryan did not respond to repeated requests for comment. Smatresk declined to discuss his correspondence with faculty members. But in a statement he acknowledged the emails and noted the opposition by faculty to Trump's talk. "It isn't surprising that some members of our faculty have strong opinions about the selection of this speaker and have chosen to express their viewpoints," he said, adding that money raised from the event and other appearances by notable figures goes toward student scholarships. More than 80 faculty members last month signed a letter opposing the speech. They said offering the invitation to Trump shows disrespect to women, people of color and the LGBT community. The letter also mentioned the federal investigation. In addition to the $100,000 payment to Trump Jr., the university will pay $125,000 to hold the gathering at AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys. The school will also cover his security and up to $5,000 in travel expenses. Trump's contract stipulates that any questions following the speech be provided in advance. ___ Information from: The Dallas Morning News, http://www.dallasnews.com MARRAKESH, Morocco (AP) - The Moroccan government has set up a ministerial commission to elaborate a strategy ensuring the country's water security. Prime Minister Saadeddine El Othmani said Thursday during a government meeting in Rabat "the issue of water is now a strategic issue for the government." The commission, created at the request of Morocco's King Mohammed VI, will start working next week. In recent months, residents of several villages in Morocco have organized demonstrations to protest against the difficulty of accessing drinking water, the delays experienced by some water supply projects or the poor quality of the water. Droughts in Morocco also push rural populations toward the cities each year. The Moroccan government has been involved for several years in the creation of dams, wastewater treatment plants and desalination plants. OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) - The trial of a Somali man accused of kidnapping Canadian freelance journalist Amanda Lindhout has started. An emotional Lindhout recounted the horrors of being kidnapped at gunpoint in Somalia on Thursday. Lindhout and Australian photographer Nigel Brennan were seized near Mogadishu in August 2008. Both were released in November 2009 in exchange for a ransom payment. Her story was published in the best-selling book "A House in the Sky." Ali Omar Ader, a 40-year-old Somali national, has pleaded not guilty to hostage-taking for his alleged role as a negotiator. He was arrested by a Canadian police in Ottawa in June 2015. It emerged during pre-trial motions last spring that police had lured Ader to Canada through an elaborate scheme to sign a purported book-publishing deal. News / National by Staff reporter ACTING President Phelekezela Mphoko, and Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa openly traded barbs, as 93-year-old President Robert Mugabe's succession wars reached a tipping point yesterday.Mphoko, in a hard-hitting statement released on Tuesday night, accused Mnangagwa of undermining Mugabe's authority and trying to destabilise the country by fanning ethnic tensions for political expediency.But Mnangagwa immediately shot back at Mphoko yesterday, declaring his counterpart was neither qualified nor competent to comment on his medical reports, since he was neither a doctor nor his employer.In his statement, Mphoko warned Mnangagwa against undermining Mugabe by claiming that he was poisoned at the Gwanda rally in August, when his doctors had dismissed the poisoning claim when they met the President."It must be said that Mnangagwa's statement that he was poisoned, when his medical doctor has authoritatively said he was not, is disappointing," Mphoko said."There's now little doubt, if there ever was any, that there appears to be an agenda to undermine the authority of President Mugabe and to destabilise the country by using lies to fan ethnic tensions for political purposes."This must stop and do so sooner rather than later."Mphoko's statement came after ZBC ran a story on Mnangagwa's Gutu rally address."Reference is made to a ZBC report that Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa has said for the first time in public that he was poisoned in Gwanda on August 12, 2017; the day of President Mugabe's youth interface rally in Matabeleland South," Mphoko wrote."Contrary to his statement, his medical doctor, while briefing President Robert Mugabe in the presence of Mnangagwa, confirmed that Vice-President Mnangagwa was not poisoned."Mphoko's uncharacteristic statement followed Mnangagwa's claims at the weekend that he was poisoned at the Zanu-PF Gwanda youth interface rally, which led to his airlifting to South Africa for medical attention.Mnangagwa was addressing party supporters at the memorial service of the late national heroine, Shuvai Mahofa, on Saturday.Mahofa's family has openly claimed that the late Masvingo Provincial Affairs minister was poisoned in Victoria Falls at the Zanu-PF conference in December 2015.Mnangagwa, in a terse response, said Mphoko had no authority to comment on his health issues."If that statement is his, he is neither competent nor privileged to comment on my health because he is neither my doctor nor my employer."Therefore, there is no need to dignify the statement with a response," he said.Mnangagwa's claims he was poisoned where seen as contradicting what Mugabe told party supporters at a Midlands rally weeks after the former returned from South Africa, where he was treated after being airlifted from the Gwanda rally.Initially, Mphoko's statement was not on a government letterhead, but later, officials from the Vice-President said a new letter had been drafted and was ready for collection."Yes, it is a legitimate statement," Tabetha Kanengoni-Malinga, the Minister of State in Mphoko's office, said, before revealing that the original one was prepared in a "hurried manner".Mphoko alleged in his statement that Mnangagwa and Mugabe had publicly ruled out that the Vice-President had been poisoned, something Information minister Christopher Mushohwe corroborated."Vice-President Mnangagwa's Gutu claim that he was poisoned in Gwanda on August 12, 2017 is surprising in the light of the public record on the matter."No one else other than Mnangagwa himself confirmed this position at the last Zanu-PF central committee meeting held on September 8, 2017, where he emphatically said he was not poisoned."This was after he made the same disclosure to the politburo the previous day," Mphoko said."In view of the above, Mnangagwa's latest claim that he was poisoned in Gwanda cannot go unchallenged not least because everyone can see that it is a calculated afterthought to challenge President Mugabe's public account that Mnangagwa's medical doctor ruled out poisoning, as the cause of Mnangagwa's traumatising vomiting and diarrhoea in Gwanda."Mnangagwa's close relative said it was shocking that Mphoko had feigned serious lack of understanding of simple English."Mnangagwa was poisoned, it was not food poisoning. There was a foreign substance injected into his food, the food itself was not stale and it was not toxins from the food, this is what President Mugabe said in Gweru, it cannot be Mnangagwa's fault that Mphoko cannot understand English," the family member said.Mugabe, in his public statement, disclosed that Mnangagwa had not eaten stale food and dismissed claims his deputy had been poisoned by Defence minister Sydney Sekeramayi and Health minister David Parirenyatwa as alleged by the Vice-President's ally, Energy Mutodi. OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - Officials in a Nebraska school district have canceled scheduled talks at two high schools by a Palestinian Christian speaker due to concerns that Jewish students at one of the schools were being harassed ahead of her visit. Nora Carmi is a Palestinian activist in Jerusalem who's holding talks around the U.S. this year, including a stop last week at Creighton University in Omaha. She was scheduled this week to visit Millard North High School and Millard South High School in Omaha, where curriculum includes learning about the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine, the Omaha World-Herald reported . Millard North's principal received a phone call from a parent worried that Carmi would give only one side of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, said Rebecca Kleeman, spokeswoman for Millard Public Schools. Kleeman said the district was prepared to proceed with the talks anyway. But the district recently received concerns from a local chapter of the Anti-Defamation League about at least one Jewish student at Millard North being verbally harassed, according to Kleeman. She said the district decided to withdraw Carmi's invitation despite the unclear details of the alleged harassment. "We could see this was a situation that was spilling out of the classroom and becoming a disruption to our learning environment," Kleeman said. "Then we did take the action of canceling the speaker. We did not do that when the parent complained." She said the schools will discuss the issue and continue to talk about the Middle Eastern conflict. The district is investigating the harassment reports. "This whole thing is very disappointing to us," Kleeman said. "We want to (address) controversial issues and teach our students to think critically." ___ Information from: Omaha World-Herald, http://www.omaha.com SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) - A father is accused of leaving his 2-month-old son outside a South Dakota church all night in the cold and rain. Minnehaha County State's Attorney Aaron McGowan said Thursday that Ronald Terry Harrison, 38, has been charged with child abuse and contributing to the neglect of a minor. He is being held on a $10,000 cash bond. The mother has not been charged, the Argus Leader reported . The baby boy is doing well, according to Adrienne Horsley, an administrative assistant with the church. "He was wide awake looking at me. I'm thankful he was alive," Horsley said. Police said Harrison was arguing with the baby's mother Monday afternoon outside Faith Family Church in Sioux Falls when they left in separate directions without the baby. A church worker found the baby boy cold and wet in a car seat Tuesday morning outside the church. Police believe the infant had been left for 18 hours during which time it rained and temperatures dropped into the 40s. Parents told police it was an accident and that both mother and father apparently assumed the other one had grabbed the child, said police spokesman Sam Clemens. "Nobody went back to check," Clemens said. Harrison told investigators that his 1-year-old daughter was also present during his argument with the children's mother. He said the children's mother left and he ran after their daughter, who went in another direction. When he returned, he saw no one at the church. He went to the mother's house but said no one answered the door. He said he went to his house and didn't hear from the children's mother until the next morning, when they went to the police station. Clemens said the baby is in protective custody. He didn't know why prosecutors charged Harrison but not the mother. MEXICO CITY (AP) - U.S. Navy-trained dolphins and their handlers arrived in Mexico Thursday to participate in a last-ditch effort to catch, enclose and protect the few dozen remaining vaquita porpoises to save them from extinction. Mexican authorities and an international group of experts say they will set out on Oct. 12 in a fleet of small boats to find the critically endangered and elusive marine mammals with the assistance of the dolphins. Mexican Environment Secretary Rafael Pacchiano said the U.S. government "has been a great ally in this process, in this unprecedented project." Experts acknowledge the catch-and-enclose plan is risky; breeding in captivity has successfully saved species such as the red wolf and California condor, but the vaquita has only been scientifically described since the 1950s and has never been bred or even held in captivity. "The group of dolphins is trained to help us identify where the vaquitas are, so that once they are located, the group of scientists and veterinarians can capture them and take them to a sanctuary that is almost completely built," Pacchiano said. The sanctuary is expected to be some kind of floating pen or net enclosure in a protected bay. "The idea is to keep these vaquitas we capture in a safe, restricted space so that we can look at how to reproduce them and eventually recover the population, and eventually release them," he said. Jim Fallin of the U.S. Navy's Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Pacific said the dolphins arrived at Mexico's Gulf of California, also known as the Sea of Cortez. "Navy Marine Mammal Program participation is being limited to four mature female dolphins selected for their gentle nature and demonstrated behavioral acumen," Fallin said. The dolphins of the Navy Marine Mammal Program will use their natural sonar to locate the extremely elusive vaquitas, then surface and advise their handlers, said Fallin. The dolphins have been trained by the Navy for tasks like locating sea mines. Despite Mexico's campaign to help the species, which are the world's smallest and rarest type of porpoises, and live only in the Gulf of California, the number of remaining vaquitas is estimated to have dropped below 30. Vaquitas are often caught in nets illegally set to catch totoaba fish, whose bladder is prized in China. Mexico enacted a permanent ban on gillnet fishing in the northern Gulf of California earlier this year. Alex Olivera, the Mexico representative of the Center for Biological Diversity, saluted the effort but noted the whole Gulf habitat must be protected. "We support this last-ditch effort to save the vaquita from extinction, but it shouldn't be used as an excuse to allow fishing to continue in its habitat," said Olivera. "This risky option became the only option, but vaquitas have never been captured alive before, so this effort is uncertain," Olivera said. "It's a high-stakes operation that's happening because the Mexican government has shown an inability to protect the animals in the wild." Elsewhere, far off Mexico's western Pacific coast, the head of the country's nature reserves commission said Thursday that all fishing would be banned in territorial seas around the Revillagigedo Islands, located more than 400 miles (650 kilometers) from the coast. Commission head Alejandro Del Mazo Maza said the ban imposed on the 57,175 square-mile (148,087 square kilometer) reserve would create the largest unfished marine park in North America. WASHINGTON (AP) - Seven members of the Senate Banking Committee are asking the Internal Revenue Service to rescind a $7.25 million contract with Equifax. The senators say the awarding of the contract shows a clear disregard for millions of Americans who had their personal information stolen. The contract came to light as Equifax's former chief executive made the rounds at a series of congressional hearings this week on a data breach that affected 145 million Americans. The IRS renewed a contract with Equifax to verify taxpayers' identities, but only until it could resolve a protest Equifax had lodged after the IRS went with another bidder. The senators say in a letter to IRS Commissioner John Koskinen that "we have no assurances that our constituents' personal information is safe in their hands." CASA GRANDE, Ariz. (AP) - Four people were found shot to death Thursday inside a housing duplex in an apparent case of domestic violence, police said. Two unidentified men were in custody in connection with the killings in Casa Grande, 40 miles (64 kilometers) south of Phoenix. Authorities called it an isolated crime. "We don't have a motive for the shooting at this time, but this is some kind of domestic issue," said Officer Thomas Anderson, a Casa Grande police spokesman. "The shooter knew the people inside. The extent of that relationship, we don't know that yet. But it wasn't random." Police and medical personnel discovered the victims following a 911 call about gunfire about 8:15 a.m., Anderson said. The victims appeared to be adults and were all shot to death, Anderson said. Authorities were working to identify them, and it wasn't immediately clear if they were related, he said. Neighbors provided police with descriptions, and authorities were able to identify someone they believe is a suspect, Anderson said. Weapons have been recovered from the scene, he said, but it wasn't yet known whether they were used in the killings. A witness told police she heard a door being kicked in and then people yelling, followed by gunshots, a woman screaming and a car speeding away. Another neighbor told police he saw two men run from the duplex after shots were fired. Mindy Edwards, who has lived in the area for about six months, told The Arizona Republic that the neighborhood was rife with drug and other criminal activity. Dawn Schroeder, who has lived in the neighborhood since 2001, told the newspaper it was a decent section of town with an occasional drug bust. TORONTO (AP) - Toronto city council has voted against naming a stadium after former Mayor Rob Ford. Ford's four-year tenure as mayor of Canada's largest city was marred by revelations about his drinking problems and crack cocaine use. As he sought a second term in 2014, a cancer diagnosis forced him to do what months of scandals could not - drop his bid for re-election. He died less than two years later at the age of 46. Council voted 24-11 Thursday against renaming a 2,200-seat stadium at Toronto's Centennial Park after Ford. Current Mayor John Tory recommended the stadium be named after his predecessor. In a letter to council, Tory said Ford was known for his "unique approach to public service" and that his community involvement went well beyond politics. TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - A Kansas official who later became vice chairman of President Donald Trump's commission on election fraud drafted a proposal for Trump to change federal voter registration laws to promote proof-of-citizenship requirements by states, an unsealed federal court document showed Thursday. The proposal was part of a "strategic plan" for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security prepared by Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach and carried by him into a meeting in November with Trump, then the president-elect. It was among three proposals designed to "stop aliens from voting." U.S. District Judge Julie Robinson ordered a highly-edited version of the document unsealed Thursday in a voting-rights lawsuit from the American Civil Liberties Union. Robinson also ordered the unsealing of a second document, prepared by Kobach and circulated within the Kansas secretary of state's office, showing the text of proposed changes to federal law. FILE - In this Nov. 20, 2016, file photo, Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, right, holds a stack of papers as he meets with then President-elect Donald Trump in Bedminster, N.J. Kobach who is vice chairman of President Donald Trump's commission on election fraud drafted a proposal for Trump to change federal voter registration laws. A federal court document unsealed Thursday, Oct. 5, 2017 shows the proposal was part of a strategic homeland security plan prepared by Kobach. Kobach was forced to turn over the documents as part of a voting-rights lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File) The changes would allow Kansas and other states to fully enforce laws requiring new voters to provide papers documenting their U.S. citizenship when registering. The ACLU's lawsuit, filed in February 2016, challenges how Kansas administers its law and so far is keeping Kansas from enforcing the requirement for voters who register at motor vehicle offices. Kobach has championed the proof-of-citizenship requirement as an anti-fraud measure, while the ACLU and other critics say it suppresses turnout. The ACLU's lawsuit contends that the Kansas requirement conflicts with the National Voter Registration Act, and proposed changes from Kobach could be seen as bolstering the ACLU's case. Dale Ho, director of the ACLU's Voting Rights Project, said the documents show Kobach had a plan to amend federal law "from the beginning," calling it the "end game" for Trump's commission. "It just goes to show, I mean, what lengths he'll go to conceal his plans to take his voter suppression schemes national," Ho added. Robinson ordered the documents unsealed by Oct. 12, but electronic copies were available Thursday, shortly after she issued her order. Kobach declined comment through spokeswoman Samantha Poetter. Kobach is a conservative Republican elected Kansas secretary of state in 2010 and re-elected in 2014. He not only was the author of tough voter ID laws, but persuaded the Republican-controlled Kansas Legislature in 2015 to make him the only chief state elections officer with the power to prosecute election fraud causes. He is seeking the GOP nomination for governor next year. He was the only prominent Kansas official to back Trump before the state's GOP presidential caucuses in March 2016. He became an adviser and said he had regular contact this spring with Trump's inner circle at the White House. He also publicly defended Trump's unsubstantiated claims that several million people voted illegally in the November election before being named to Trump's election fraud commission in May. The copy of Kobach's strategic homeland security plan for his meeting with Trump in November was redacted except for the portion dealing with federal voter registration law. Kobach was photographed by The Associated Press bringing it to his meeting with Trump, and other portions became public through the photograph. The second document contained five proposed changes to the National Voter Registration Act, two of which were blacked out in the copy unsealed Thursday. One item proposed adding a section saying, "Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent a state from requiring documentary proof of citizenship from any applicant." A federal magistrate forced Kobach to turn over the two documents earlier this year, but they remained under seal while he and the ACLU battled over whether they should be part of the public court record in the voting-rights lawsuit. In July, the magistrate fined Kobach $1,000 after concluding Kobach made "patently misleading representations" about the documents. Kobach noted in resisting their release that the Kansas Open Records Act would not require their disclosure, but Robinson pointed out that the state law "does not prohibit disclosure either." Kobach also argued that making the documents public would hurt his ability to advise the president, an argument Robinson rejected. "The public certainly has an interest in accessing these documents in order to understand the dispute presented to this Court," Robinson wrote. ___ Follow John Hanna on Twitter at https://twitter.com/apjdhanna . WASHINGTON (AP) - Hard-right Republican Roy Moore is visiting Washington this week, meeting with fellow conservatives and at least one GOP lawmaker who tried unsuccessfully to defeat him in last month's Alabama Senate primary runoff election. Not on the former state chief justice's itinerary are stop-ins with the Senate's two top GOP leaders. But there are signs the party establishment that he bitterly attacked during his campaign is warming to him, or at least making a pragmatic decision to back him in December's special election against underdog Democrat Doug Jones. "He's a Republican. I'm going to help him with what I can, if he wants me to," Alabama GOP Sen. Richard Shelby said in an interview Thursday. Shelby backed defeated incumbent Sen. Luther Strange in the race and said he's not spoken to Moore since his victory. FILE - In this Sept. 26, 2017, file photo, former Alabama Chief Justice and U.S. Senate candidate Roy Moore speaks during his election party in Montgomery, Ala. Moore won the Alabama Republican primary runoff for U.S. Senate. Moore who bested President Donald Trump's pick to fill the state's Senate vacancy is visiting the capital on Oct. 5, 2017. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson, File) Moore met late Wednesday with the head of the Senate GOP's campaign committee, Sen. Cory Gardner, R-Colo. That organization backed Strange in the September GOP runoff primary, as did President Donald Trump. After Moore's victory, Gardner said, "We support him in keeping this seat in Republican hands." Until now, Moore has been best known for displaying the Ten Commandments in his courtroom and ordering judges to deny marriage licenses to gay couples. He was twice removed from his post as Alabama chief justice. By late Thursday, Moore hadn't met with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., or No. 2 Senate GOP leader John Cornyn of Texas. He has spoken to both leaders by phone since winning the GOP Senate nomination, Republicans say. A political committee aligned with McConnell spent heavily for Strange during the campaign, and Moore regularly savaged McConnell for being ineffective and promised to oust him from his post. Many Republicans view Moore as a major headache for party leaders. "I told him I look forward to meeting him and supporting him in his election," Cornyn said Thursday about his conversation with Moore. On Wednesday, Moore met with his state's GOP House members. "He's very passionate about his issues," said Rep. Robert Aderholt, R-Ala. "But I don't think he sets out to be disruptive" to GOP leaders. Aderholt said Moore told the group he'd recently spoken to McConnell by phone. Moore has also used his trip to Washington to meet with Steve Bannon, Aderholt said, Trump's former White House strategist, who backed Moore in the primary. GOP lawmakers he's seen include GOP Sens. Rand Paul of Kentucky and Utah's Mike Lee. Moore also planned to meet with other GOP lawmakers and leading conservatives, including Jim DeMint, former head of the Heritage Foundation, and David McIntosh, president of the Club for Growth. WASHINGTON (AP) - The Defense Department's response to the hurricane disaster in Puerto Rico is slowing the deployment of some U.S. forces to Afghanistan and other missions around the world, including a Navy ship that was headed to the waters around the Korean peninsula, Pentagon officials said Thursday. Lt. Gen. Ken McKenzie, director of the military's Joint Staff, said there is only a "finite number" of transport aircraft and they've been tied up delivering aid and forces to Puerto Rico. He said those limitations are causing a slight delay in the flow of forces into Afghanistan and will likely slow the movement of the USS Wasp to the Pacific. Soldiers and National Guard organize aid for the Santa Ana community in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria in Guayama, Puerto Rico, Thursday, Oct. 5, 2017. Even before the storm hit on Sept. 20, Puerto Rico was in dire condition thanks to a decade-long economic recession that had left its infrastructure in a sorry state. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti) "There are going to be delays. I think the delays are relatively minor," said McKenzie during a Pentagon briefing. "The secretary said we're all in to help Puerto Rico. And there are just going to be downstream effects when you make those decisions." The USS Wasp, an amphibious assault ship, arrived off Puerto Rico on Wednesday with 13 helicopters to support the ongoing relief effort, which includes supporting the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the repair of the Guajataca Dam. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis told Congress the hurricane response could affect deployments into next year because it has interrupted their preparation time. McKenzie suggested the longer delay could refer to the Wasp, and the cascading effect the delay in Puerto Rico could have on its plans to sail into the Pacific. Pentagon spokeswoman Dana White added that Mattis has signed deployment orders for troops going to Afghanistan and some have been flowing in. At least 3,500 additional forces are expected to go into the country to help train and advise Afghan forces. There are currently about 11,000 U.S. troops there. Asked what the delays say about the capabilities of the U.S. military, McKenzie said the department's response to Puerto Rico has been significant. He said deployment dalys shouldn't be interpreted as suggesting the military is "unhealthy." Around one in 25 young people in the UK identify as lesbian, gay or bisexual (LGB), new figures show. Sixteen to 24-year-olds were the age group most likely to identify as LGB last year (4.1%), up from 3.3% in 2015, estimates from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) suggest. This compares with 0.7% of over-65s who identified as LGB. The ONS suggested the pattern could be down to social progress, combined with younger people perhaps being more likely to explore their sexuality. (PA Graphics) Overall, last year saw a statistically significant increase in people identifying as LGB, with just over one million people (2%) saying they were lesbian, gay or bisexual, compared with 1.7% in 2015. London remained the region with the highest proportion of the population identifying as LGB with 2.7%, a slight rise on the previous years figure of 2.6%. ONS statistician Emily Knipe said: In 2016, around 2% of the population identified themselves as lesbian, gay or bisexual (LGB). This has increased from 1.7% in 2015 (a statistically significant increase). Commenting on today's sexual identity publication, statistician Emily Knipe said: https://t.co/Ixe3CLyEBK pic.twitter.com/XCWOQbx3gc Office for National Statistics (ONS) (@ONS) October 4, 2017 London had the largest proportion of the population who identified as LGB (2.7%), which could be associated with a relatively young and diverse population. The latest figures show 2.3% of men said they were LGB, compared with 1.6% of women. Some 0.5% of the population identified as other, meaning they did not consider themselves to be lesbian, gay, bisexual or straight. Males are more likely to identify as gay or lesbian; females are more likely to identify as bisexual https://t.co/XNMERSR737 Office for National Statistics (ONS) (@ONS) October 4, 2017 Just over 70% of the LGB population were most likely to be single, never married or civil partnered, a pattern thought to reflect the young age structure of the community, as well as the fairly recent introduction of same-sex marriage in 2014. The estimates are based on data from the Annual Population Survey and measure sexual identity, which does not necessarily reflect sexual attraction or behaviour. News / National by Stephen Jakes A political commentator Makusha Mugabe has said the current Zimbabwe Electoral Commission's Biomentric Voter registration does not satisfy the opposition parties in many ways.He said Zimbabwe's electoral authorities are steam-rolling through a voter registration exercise, seemingly for the sake of going through the motions, but they are unlikely to satisfy the constitutional requirements of a proper voter registration exercise."Besides failing to satisfy political parties and civic society of the security of the voter registration exercise, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission are also ignoring reports of the partisan involvement of Chiefs and Headmen and reports of intimidation of villagers," he said.In the latest reports from Zaka provided by local NGO Community Tolerance Reconciliation and Development (Cotrad) villagers expressed concern that the traditional leaders in Zaka have become more of an extension of the ruling party, Zanu (PF) and are abusing their authority to mobilize potential registrants to register and vote for Zanu PF in 2018 elections.Headmen Mataruse Madziviro of Madziviro Village and Onias Mazhetese of Madzivanyika Village under Chief Ndanga in Zaka were especially noted for this coercive behavior has been explicitly ruled out in the constitution; any confirmed incidence or report of such behaviour can lead to the nullifying of election results in that area, or a report to the police can and should lead to their arrest.Cotrad's Peace Committee members in Zaka have reported these misdemeanors to ZEC, including their observation of Zanu PF Officials for Zaka Central Ward 8, Violet Tarusenga and Viola Makuya on a door-to-door campaign in Madziviro Village urging eligible voters to register to vote and that Zanu PF is the only party to vote for in all elections.It is alleged that villagers also claimed that Mataruse and his team were threatening villagers with violence reminiscent of the 2008 terror campaign when 200 people were killed, and others spent weeks in the hills fearing for their lives if they returned to their villages.Headmen Mazhetese, accompanied by Mac Mazhetese Zanu PF ward 8 Youth Chairperson and Aleta Unganai were moving the entire village instructing people to be registered and to vote for ZANU PF in the upcoming elections to avoid being beaten up.Mazhetese also declared that he did not want opposition members in his village and he ordered those who did not have Zanu PF membership cards to aquire them and to attend all party meetings.Cotrad said they would continue to report all forms of electoral irregularities to (ZEC) which is obliged to act on the reports, even though Rita Makarau has chosen to abrogate this responsibility of her office to to the police."Rather than her leaving it to police to deal with such complaints of electoral irregularities, she and her commissioners and monitors empowered by her are supposed to take the complaint and command the police or any other person in the employ of government to go and investigate the veracity of what would have been reported, and come to a determination," he said."This is why the Electoral Commission is set up with all those commissioners with their important powers, secretaries and salaries during the run up to elections. Commissioner Rita and Deputy Commissioner Magade - not a serious lot." Theresa May faced a backlash from business leaders after announcing plans to put a price cap on rip-off bills. Energy bills are too high and the market isnt working for ordinary people. We will bring forward legislation to cap energy bills. pic.twitter.com/zXOj0ExLBa Theresa May (@theresa_may) October 4, 2017 The Prime Ministers announcement triggered a slump in the share price of energy firms, and led to the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) warning that price caps are not the best answer. Draft legislation will be published next week that would give energy regulator Ofgem the power to impose a cap on standard variable tariffs over the whole market. cough..I am sure I've have heard this somewhere before. https://t.co/oay7AgZD3C Ed Miliband (@Ed_Miliband) October 4, 2017 The regulator is expected to come forward with its own plans to protect customers on the poorest value tariffs, but Downing Street said the Government would legislate for the cap if Ofgems measures do not go far enough. Mrs May said the Tories would always take action to fix broken markets and tackle monopolies and vested interests. In her keynote speech to the Conservative Party conference, she accused energy giants of hiking bills for customers who do not shop around for a better deal. PM: This Govt will publish a Draft Bill to put a price cap on energy bills. Bringing an end to rip-off energy prices once and for all #CPC17 CCHQ Press (@CCHQPress) October 4, 2017 We will always take on monopolies and vested interests when they are holding people back, she said. One of the greatest examples in Britain today is the broken energy market. The energy market punishes loyalty with higher prices and the most loyal customers are often those with lower incomes, the elderly, people with lower qualifications and people who rent their homes. (Joe Giddens/PA) Those who, for whatever reason, are unable to find the time to shop around. Thats why next week this Government will publish a draft bill to put a price cap on energy bills, meeting our manifesto promise and bringing an end to rip-off energy prices once and for all. CBI director general Carolyn Fairbairn said: Affordable energy matters for everyone and particularly for the most vulnerable. However, todays announcement is an example of state intervention that misses the mark. Market-wide price caps are not the best answer. Suppliers are already acting, providing support to those on pre-payment meters, and continued action to phase out standard variable tariffs would benefit a wide range of consumers, including those on the lowest incomes. It is important that we do not risk halting the growth of competition and engagement in #energy market https://t.co/djbhC8iqUm Energy UK (@EnergyUKcomms) October 4, 2017 Lawrence Slade, chief executive of the trade association Energy UK, said more than three million consumers had switched already this year and the number of standard tariffs had fallen by almost a million in the last six months. He said: It is important that we do not risk halting this growth of competition and engagement in the market. The move was welcomed by Citizens Advice chief executive Gillian Guy, who said: The Prime Ministers announcement of a cap on energy bills could provide a solution to the runaway energy costs that the millions of people on default tariffs have faced for years. Theresa May's response to broken energy market doesnt go nearly far enough - @RLong_Bailey https://t.co/jj3Ep1e1zN Labour Press (@labourpress) October 4, 2017 Shadow business and energy secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey said: Labour has been clear that we would introduce a clear emergency price cap whilst taking the bold measures needed to reform our broken energy market in the long run such as bringing energy back into public ownership. A union is launching legal action on behalf of more than 1,800 Monarch airline workers who lost their jobs after the firm went into administration. Unite launches legal action on behalf of former @Monarch workers https://t.co/bvAw7dFOiI pic.twitter.com/GIKSOS0lrQ Unite the union: join a union (@unitetheunion) October 4, 2017 Unite, which represents about 1,800 engineers and cabin crew who worked for Monarch, announced it will begin employment tribunal proceedings over an alleged failure by the company to consult on redundancies. Meanwhile pilots union Balpa claimed some of its Monarch members were left with a phone bill of almost 40 after being asked to call a premium rate line to join a telephone conference in which their redundancies were announced. Administrator KPMG agreed to reimburse the staff following pressure from the union. CONFIRMED: As a result of BALPAs pressure, KPMG has agreed to reimburse Monarch staff who lost money on the call to hear about their redundancy. https://t.co/sm5dqZgO9j BALPA (@BALPApilots) October 4, 2017 Under UK law, companies with more than 100 employees must give at least 45 days notice of their intention to make people redundant. Administrator KPMG made 1,858 workers redundant on Monday, hours after Monarchs collapse was announced. UNITElive update: Not left high and dry - Unite launches legal action for former @Monarch workers https://t.co/mZrJtXHSOc pic.twitter.com/VPIUG8cAs7 Unite the union: join a union (@unitetheunion) October 4, 2017 Unite national officer Oliver Richardson said: Through no fault of their own, former Monarch workers are out of pocket and out of a job. The manner in which Monarch went into administration and the way the Government allowed it to happen means there is a strong claim for compensation by former Monarch workers. We would urge former Monarch workers to lodge their details with Unite to help ensure they get the financial compensation they are legally entitled to. Balpa general secretary Brian Strutton described the treatment of pilots as unbelievably cold hearted. #Monarch pilots and other staff have been charged 40 for the privilege of being told they are out of a job. Being asked to call a premium rate 0844 number is a kick in the teeth when they are already down. @kpmguk must rectify this. pic.twitter.com/g8lSjDi5W3 BALPA (@BALPApilots) October 4, 2017 He went on: Since Monday weve seen appalling treatment of Monarch staff. Not only were they given no warning of this situation but some have had to shell out their own cash to be told theyve lost their job. Jet2.com said it will increase flights at airports previously served by Monarch due to increased demand. A Jet2 plane The airline is adding more than 100,000 seats on flights at Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds Bradford airports this winter. Administrators are considering breaking up Monarch, which was founded in 1967, as no buyer was found to purchase it in its entirety. The groups engineering operation, Monarch Aircraft Engineering Limited, is not in administration and continues to trade normally. More than 30% of the 110,000 passengers who were abroad when the airline went bust are expected to have returned to the UK by Wednesday night in the countrys biggest peacetime repatriation, which began on Monday. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) arranged 119 flights to bring back more than 23,000 people in the first two days of the operation. All remaining customers are expected to have returned by October 15. The flights are costing the Government around 60 million. Some 750,000 people who held future bookings for Monarch flights or holidays have had their plans disrupted. A Tory MP has warned Theresa May that she will struggle to carry on as Prime Minister in the wake of her mishap-strewn party conference speech. Former minister Ed Vaizey said quite a few in the party were now pretty firmly of the view that she should stand down. His warning came as Mrs Mays allies sought to rally round her, insisting that there was no mood in the party for a leadership challenge. Theresa May during her keynote speech at the Conservative Party conference So far critics on the backbenches have been reluctant to voice their concerns publicly. However Mr Vaizey told BBC Oxford: I think there will be quite a few people who will now be pretty firmly of the view that she should resign. The Tory Party conference was a great opportunity to reboot the party and therefore reboot the country to give it a clear sense of direction and that didnt happen. So yes, I am concerned. I am finding it increasingly difficult to see a way forward at the moment, and it worries me. The already febrile mood in the party was heightened by Mrs Mays conference address in Manchester when a prankster managed to hand her a P45, part of the scenery fell down, and she was beset by a persistent cough. There was anger among loyalist MPs who accused the rebels of a cowardly attempt to circumvent party rules in order to unseat her. Under the rules, 48 MPs would need to write to the partys backbench 1922 Committee expressing no confidence in Mrs May in order to trigger a leadership contest. This was perhaps the biggest of multiple hiccups during Theresa May's keynote speech at #CPC17 pic.twitter.com/iVyxVfvSV5 PA Media (@PA) October 4, 2017 But loyalist backbencher Mark Pritchard expressed concern that the rebels were trying to put together a delegation to tell her the time had come for her to go. If some MPs want to see a change of leader there is an agreed process through the 1922 Committee, he told the Press Association. Trying to drum up a delegation of 30 MPs to try and circumvent this process is irregular, cowardly and will ultimately fail. Any minister with premature ambitions needs to put up or shut up and allow the Prime Minister to get on with her day job. For small number of MPs texting MPs asking what we thought of PM's speech (or circling above) one message: there is no vacancy at Number 10! Mark Pritchard MP (@MPritchardUK) October 4, 2017 Mrs Mays speech had been seen as a chance to reassert her authority after seeing her Commons majority wiped out in the June general election and Cabinet feuding over Brexit. But she woke up to newspaper headlines describing Wednesdays events in the Manchester Central hall as a nightmare and a shambles. Business Secretary Greg Clark, a close ally of Mrs May, insisted the party was fully behind her and praised the way she carried on with the speech, despite all the difficulties. A lot of the people who were there in the hall and watching it on TV will have admired, frankly, the guts and the grace the PM showed, he told BBC Radio 4s Today programme. One of the things that established itself very clearly was that the view of the party of both parliamentary colleagues and activists is that they regard, correctly, the responsibility of the Conservative Party to be effective and cool-headed in government. They have got no patience for distractions from that. Backbencher George Freeman, who heads Mrs Mays policy board, said a leadership challenge risked handing the keys of No 10 to Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. What we need to do is focus on sharpening up, smell the coffee from the Corbyn threat, he told the BBCs Victoria Derbyshire programme. The Cabinet needs to get a grip and debate the issues of the day in the Cabinet, not in the media. Comrade Corbyn and Comrade McDonnell and the new socialist insurrection are waiting for us to fail. We mustnt fail. If we fail, we will not just let the Conservative Party down, we will let the country down. Great job by the PM today putting housing at the heart of renewing the British dream Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) October 4, 2017 Much of the anger among newer Tory MPs is understood to be directed towards Boris Johnson, who is perceived to have been overtly disloyal to Mrs May by setting out his Brexit red lines on the eve of the conference. His allies are said to have stepped up efforts to canvass potential support for a leadership bid following the PMs speech. But there are suggestions he does not have the required support of 48 MPs and that many want him sacked. If MPs voice strong opposition to the Foreign Secretary continuing in post at next weeks 1992 Committee meeting, its chairman Graham Brady could raise the issue in his regular meetings with the PM, it is believed. It is understood that some 2015 intake MPs even confronted Mr Johnson face-to-face at the conference in an effort to get him to fall in line. The family of a British climber who died shielding his wife from falling rocks at Yosemite National Park have described him as our hero. Andrew Foster, 32, was trapped when more than 1,000 tonnes of rock fell from the face of the El Capitan monolith on September 27. He was seen running back to the rockfall to protect his wife, Lucy Foster, 28, and dived on top of her saving her life. The pair were returning from a climb when a sheet of granite around 131ft (40m) by 66ft (20m) plummeted from a height of 656ft (200m). Andrew Foster Mrs Foster is now in a stable condition in a hospital in California and is awaiting clearance to return to the UK, where she lives in Cardiff. In a statement, Mr Fosters parents and siblings David, Julie, Matthew and Hope Foster paid tribute to him as our brave boy. Yosemite was a very special place for Andrew and one that he had returned to a few times over the years to climb and explore, they said. Andrews wife Lucy was with Andrew when the accident occurred and, thankfully, is now recovering in a California hospital with her family around her. We really cannot express our grief and still hope, every morning, that we will awake from a bad dream. The family said they had been touched by the many tributes they had received. Mr Fosters passion and enthusiasm for life and the outdoors that was just infectious for anyone who was around him, they said. As has already been reported, Andrew died whilst shielding Lucy and, indeed, we understand another climber witnessed him running back to the rockfall to protect Lucy, they continued. They loved each other dearly and, while our loss is indescribable, we are so proud of our brave boy in saving Lucy; he will always be our hero. The family thanked the rescue workers and medical staff who have helped Mrs Foster. They highlighted the first response ranger and paramedic who met them at Yosemite on Wednesday, who quickly rescued Mr Foster from the rockfall. We are still trying to come to terms with the reality of the situation and now just want to focus on bringing Andrew home as quickly as possible, they added. Therefore, we request the time and space needed to focus our energies on this and Lucys recovery, and to grieve our loss privately. Mrs Fosters family Brian, Jenny, Martin and Jo Anne Rouse said they were devastated by Mr Fosters death. After the accident, Mrs Foster was airlifted to the trauma unit of a local hospital, where her condition was stabilised. Friends who had been climbing with the couple were able to comfort Mrs Foster until her family arrived. Our family is devastated by these events: for the loss of Andy and for the plans they had made together for their future adventures, Mrs Fosters family said. He truly was the man of her dreams. We take some comfort from the fact that Andys last act of love saved Lucys life. Both families are supporting each other at this incredibly difficult time of loss and sadness. Frances President Emmanuel Macron has offered to mediate between the Iraqi government and Kurds seeking independence after a controversial referendum. Mr Macron made the offer after meeting Iraqi prime minister Haider al-Abadi in Paris on Thursday in wide-ranging talks about French support for the fight against the Islamic State group and rebuilding Iraqs economy. French president Emmanuel Macron, right, and Iraqi Prime minister Haider al-Abadi at the Elysee palace in Paris (Ludovic Marin, Pool via AP) Mr Macron said France and others are worried about the situation of the Kurds after last months referendum, and said France supports the stability and territorial integrity of Iraq. He insisted on the importance of national reconciliation and inclusive governance that includes Kurds, with whom France maintains close ties. Mr Macron said dialogue is the only path and France is ready to contribute actively to mediation. A former couple are facing jail after they helped fund their childs private education by trafficking women into a sexual conveyor belt of prostitution across England and Wales. Malaysian Hong Chin, 45, ran a pit bull dog breeding kennel on a country estate in Esher, Surrey, where his ex-partner Li Wei Gao, 44, lived in a converted barn with their daughter. At the same time, the pair raked in more than 100,000 through the trade in trafficking women for sex work until the operation was shut down by Sussex Police. Hong Chin, Li Wei Gao and Ting Li Lu They were helped by Chins then-lover, Ting Li Lu, 47, who he lived with in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, jurors heard. Following a trial at the Old Bailey, all three defendants were found guilty of conspiracy to control prostitution for gain between February 2013 and June 2015. They were also convicted of plotting to traffic for sexual exploitation into the UK between March and June 2015. The defendants were found guilty on all charges by a majority after the jury deliberated for more than 14 hours. Sussex detectives had identified 18 women from China, Hong Kong and Korea who were allegedly exploited for prostitution. But they came up across a wall of silence from the women, many of whom denied being involved in the sex trade, with only one prepared to give evidence in court. A vulnerable woman (left) is booked into a hotel by Li Wei Gao (Sussex Police/PA) Investigators gathered other evidence from mobile phones, adult websites and booking records as well as CCTV footage which showed the defendants escorting women to hotels around the country. The women advertised sex services on adult websites and the contact number was fielded by the defendants who would organise and notify them of jobs. The gang would use false details when they reserved rooms through Booking.com at hotels including Premier Inn, Travelodge, and Holiday Inn. Between August 2013 and February 2015, Chin made a total of 92 hotel reservations on the online booking service, the court heard. The women were sent to perform sexual services in hotels all over Southern England and Wales, including Maidstone, Cardiff, Brighton, Gatwick, Eastbourne, Southampton, Woking, Exeter, Guildford, Windsor and Bournemouth. The customers paid in cash on arrival and some of it was channelled into the accounts of Chin and Gao. ... and just downstairs is @SECAmbulance ... so reassuring Modern Slavery is on the agenda @daren_mochrie @sussex_police pic.twitter.com/C2rPeuThuj Giles York QPM DL (@Giles__York) October 4, 2017 When police visited the rooms they frequently found them in disarray, with the detritus of prostitution in evidence, including condoms. In his summing up, Judge Philip Katz QC described the operation as a sexual conveyor belt. Chin had a fake British passport and went by various different names including Ricky, Goon Saw and Ken. His ex-partner used a false passport in the name of Xin Pan and also was known by the alias Jassica, the court heard. The victims, many of whom were believed to be debt-bonded to traffickers in China, had rejected offers of support from authorities and all but one returned to their home countries. The woman who gave evidence in the trial has since claimed asylum in the UK. Chin, of Dunstall, Burton-Upon-Trent, Gao, of Heathside, Oxshott, and Lu, of Portsmouth, denied the charges against them. Chin and his two Chinese co-defendants will be sentenced at the Old Bailey on a future date to be fixed. The Catalan government could declare independence in the coming days. Here, we look at some of the issues surrounding the biggest political crisis to hit Spain in recent years: How has the current situation come about? Catalonia, a region in the north-east of Spain, has a population of some 7.5 million people, its own language and generates about a fifth of the countrys wealth. Catalans who want independence from Spain argue the region would be more prosperous governing itself. In 2006 the region was given more devolved powers on things like healthcare and education but a move by Spains Madrid-based Constitutional Court four years later to strike down some parts of the earlier agreement provoked anger among pro-independence Catalans. What happened on Sunday? Independence struggle in Spain. An independence vote, deemed illegal by the Madrid government and the countrys top court, was held after being backed by Catalan regional authorities. The poll descended into violence when national police used force in an attempt to stop people voting, leaving hundreds injured. How did the main players react? King Felipe VI (Spain's Royal Palace via AP) Catalan government spokesman Jordi Turull said Spain had become the shame of Europe after scenes of police taking on voters were beamed around the world and splashed across the front pages. Spanish prime minister Mariano Rajoy thanked police for acting with firmness and serenity as he insisted no independence vote had taken place and Spains King Felipe VI accused Catalan authorities of deliberately bending the law with irresponsible conduct. Catalan officials said 90% of the 2.26 million people who took part in the vote backed independence. The region has 5.3 million registered voters. What does the future hold? Official Statement by the President on the King's speech and the political situation in #Catalonia https://t.co/gIbtyk88PN pic.twitter.com/EMtbYLcZsv Catalan Government (@catalangov) October 5, 2017 Catalan authorities have said they are determined to press ahead with implementing the results of the vote. However, Spains constitutional court has ordered a temporary halt to a special session of Catalonias parliament next week where regional officials are expected to vote on breaking away from Spain. Why have some of Spains EU partners appeared keen to back Madrid? Emmanuel Macron Cynics might suggest domestic concerns may partly explain this. For example, some of Mr Rajoys clearest backing has come from French President Emmanuel Macron, whose country has faced low-level breakaway sentiment from Corsica and the Basque Country, which straddles both south-west France and north-west Spain. There have also been separatist rumblings in northern Italy, Sardinia and Flanders in Belgium. Where does Scotland stand? Statement from @foreignoffice on #Catalonia is shamefully weak. A true friend of Spain would tell them todays actions wrong and damaging. pic.twitter.com/bBnCmn5BWw Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) October 1, 2017 Scottish National Party (SNP) leader and First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has condemned Sundays violence. Spain angered some SNP campaigners during the 2014 referendum by pouring cold water on the idea an independent Scotland would be given automatic EU membership. Indeed, when Scotland voted to remain in the UK, Mr Rajoy with an eye on Catalonia and the Basque Country congratulated Scots for clearly and unequivocally rejecting independence, and voting en masse, peacefully and with scrupulous respect to the laws of their country. How about Plaid Cymru in Wales? All must now recognise right of Catalans to self-determination. In face of violence/(far right) state terror, people had their say. Respect. Leanne Wood (@LeanneWood) October 2, 2017 Like the SNP, Plaid Cymru wants independence from the UK and party leader Leanne Wood has condemned Madrids threats and repression against the Catalan people. A flock of rare cranes has returned to a nature reserve in increased numbers in a conservation success. The Welney wetland nature reserve, on the border of Norfolk and Cambridgeshire, counted 21 cranes in 2016 and that has risen to 33 this year. Some of the 33 cranes that have made the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust centre at Welney in Norfolk their home in recent days ( Joe Giddens/PA Wire) The long-legged grey birds breed at private sites in the Cambridgeshire Fens then migrate to Welney around September to forage. Emma Brand, of the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT) Welney Wetland Centre, said: Theyre all able to fly and they go out on the washes. Theyre picking up seeds, small insects, they particularly like some of the washes the cattle have been in. Theyve also got the maize fields. Its quite a spectacle to see them now in these bigger numbers. The cranes, once extinct in the UK, have all flown to the wetland habitat rather than being part of any hand-reared project (Joe Giddens/PA Wire) It is warm enough for cranes to remain in the UK through the winter, but they are expected to leave Welney by late October for other nearby habitats as water levels rise and it gets busier with swans and ducks. Cranes went extinct in the UK in the 1600s, but some flew in from the continent and populations are slowly rising. There is a tiny breeding population in eastern England, with around 40 to 50 in the Fens and a further 40 to 50 on the Norfolk Broads. There is also a population on the Somerset Levels, where they were introduced as part of a conservation project. 29 cranes just flew from the fields beyond Lady Fen onto the reserve, they look to have landed near Lyle or Friends hide #rbnNFK pic.twitter.com/fDkfFEO6Ly WWT Welney (@WWTWelney) September 26, 2017 Weve got a really precarious situation in the UK, said Ms Brand. Theyre in increase at the moment but in small numbers. It would be lovely to see them more common in the future. Its an encouraging sign to see more being added to the population each year. Five of the cranes flying over a herd of cows ( Joe Giddens/PA Wire) She said cranes were rare in the UK, and were prone to abandoning attempts to breed if they were disturbed. Past populations declined due to shooting and loss of wetland habitat, though they are now increasing. While crane populations are larger on the continent, they are in decline. Russia and Saudi Arabia have struck a number of deals, including contracts for Russian weapons, as part of a groundbreaking first visit by a Saudi monarch. The Kremlin talks between Saudi King Salman and Russian president Vladimir Putin mark a thaw in relations between the countries, which have often been tense since the Cold War times when the kingdom supported Afghan rebels fighting the Soviet invasion in the 1980s. Observers say Riyadhs decision to boost ties with Moscow reflects the expanded clout Russia has won in the Middle East with its military blitz in Syria. Relations between Saudi Arabia and Russia broke down over the kingdom's support of the Afghans fighting the Sovier invasion in the 1980s (Alexei Nikolsky/AP) And it shows the Saudis interest in keeping Russia signed up to a global deal to limit oil production and push up the price of their valuable crude exports. Hosting the Saudi king in the ornate Kremlin interiors, Mr Putin hailed his visit as a landmark event that will give a strong impulse to bilateral ties. Salman said he was looking to expand relations with friendly nation Russia in the interests of peace, security and development of the world economy. Saudi Arabia Military Industries (SAMI) has announced agreement with Russia for procurement of S-400, Kornet-EM, TOS-1A, AGC-30 & AK-103 Jeremy Binnie (@JeremyBinnie) October 5, 2017 The Saudi monarch noted that the two nations agree on many international and regional issues and intend to continue their efforts to shore up global oil prices. Following the talks, Saudi Arabian Military Industries (Sami) said it signed agreements with Russias state arms trader, Rosoboronexport, for the purchase of cutting-edge Russian weapons, including the long-range S-400 air defence missile systems. In line with Saudi Arabias intention to localise weapons production, the deals envisage the transfer of technology for the local production of Russian Kornet-EM anti-tank missiles, TOS-1A rocket launchers and AGS-30 automatic grenade launchers and the latest version of the Kalashnikov assault rifle. Kimg Salman and Vladimir Putin While the US has remained Saudi Arabias top weapons supplier and its most critical Western ally, Thursdays deals highlighted Riyadhs intention to expand ties with Russia. The Saudis have also been eyeing Russian nuclear power technologies and appear ready to expand food imports from Russia, which is set to remain the worlds biggest wheat exporter this year. Food security is a major concern for Saudi Arabia, which stopped local production of livestock feed and wheat due to water scarcity. ALMATY, Oct 3 (Reuters) - Uzbekistan released a prominent dissident from prison on Tuesday, on the same day an opposition outlet said one of its contributors in the Central Asian nation had been arrested. The former Soviet republic has puzzled observers with conflicting signals over the last few weeks, with another prominent dissident, who had been struck off a security blacklist, being detained on his return from exile. Human rights activist Azam Farmonov, 39, was set free on Tuesday, the United States embassy in Tashkent said in a statement welcoming his release. Farmonov was sentenced to nine years in prison in 2006 on charges of extortion which other activists called fabricated. His term was extended by five more years in 2015. Farmonov's early release followed the freeing of several other prominent political prisoners jailed under President Shavkat Mirziyoyev's predecessor, Islam Karimov. "We applaud these positive steps and hope they signal future releases and a more open approach to civil society," the U.S. embassy said. Karimov had run the nation of 32 million with an iron fist from 1989 until his death in September 2016, and his tough policies resulted in Uzbekistan's international near-isolation. Seeking to improve ties with the West and attract foreign investment, Mirziyoyev has taken steps to liberalise the nation. He has moved to ease travel restrictions and implemented a foreign exchange reform. He also ordered some 16,000 people struck off a blacklist of potential extremists and dissidents in August. However, when one of them, prominent dissident writer Nurulloh Muhammad Raufkhon, returned to Tashkent from Turkey last month, he was detained. Although Raufkhon has been released this week, he still faces anti-government propaganda charges. On Tuesday, People's Movement of Uzbekistan, an organisation of opposition activists in exile, said in a statement that a contributor for its website Uzxalqharakati.com had been arrested and charged with seeking to overthrow the constitutional order. Authorities in Uzbekistan could not be reached for comment on Tuesday. (Reporting by Olzhas Auyezov; editing by Ralph Boulton) News / National by Staff reporter A GWERU man based in South Africa recently got the shock of his life when he returned home unexpectedly and found his wife indulging in sex with another man.The man Tichaona Chabata was left perplexed when stumbled upon raunchy chats between his wife Marvellous Kweda and her lover Terry Mutetiwa.Chabata is now demanding $5,000 from Mutetiwa as compensation for wrecking his marriage.On top of the $5,000, Chabata was offered busfare to go back to South Africa by Mutetiwa leaving his wife behind. Mutetiwa confirmed the illicit H-Metro yesterday but differed on the amount."Yes I was in a relationship with Kanetsa while her husband was in SA, but we have since ended things and signed an agreement stating that I will be giving Chabata compensation for dating his wife."Today (yesterday) I am giving him $104 for busfare he used from S.A. to come here so that we could settle the issue."However he took my hat which he said I would get back after negotiating with his relatives on the amount which I should pay him," said Muted..Chabata narrated how he ended up catching his wife cheating while he was in S.A."I got wind from my relatives and friends that my wife was skating on thin ice as she was dating several men in town. I then returned and set a trap on her that is when I confronted her and she confessed to dating Mutetiwa."She just apologised to me and we have since mended our differences."Efforts to get a comment from Kanetsa were fruitless as her mobile phone was not reachable by the time of going to print. ATHENS, Oct 4 (Reuters) - Cyprus said on Wednesday it would protest to the United Nations over Turkish Cypriot restrictions imposed on humanitarian aid to Greek Cypriots living in the north of the partitioned island, in a sign of deteriorating relations between the two sides. A U.N. peacekeeping force has been transporting a range of household supplies to a small and dwindling community of Greek Cypriots and Maronite Christians based in the Turkish Cypriot-controlled north of the island for decades. Turkish Cypriot officials last month announced they would start charging customs duties on goods, with the exception of medical aid, effective from Oct. 1. An aid convoy sent via the United Nations on Wednesday contained only medicine. Only Turkey recognises the breakaway Turkish Cypriot state, and Cyprus's internationally recognised government views any customs payments out of the question. "These measures... which are totally illegal and contrary to all agreements, are polluting the good climate we want to maintain every way possible," said Greek Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades. "This will be reported, with steps and measures if necessary," he said, without elaborating. Wednesday's incident underscored a deterioration in relations between the two sides since the collapse of revived peace negotiations in Switzerland in July. In a statement, the U.N. peacekeeping force expressed "regret" at the decision taken by the Turkish Cypriot administration. A weekly convoy on Wednesday carried only medical supplies to the 264 elderly Greek Cypriot recipients of aid, the United Nations said. Another convoy takes aid to Maronite recipients every other week. The Maronites are descendants of Arabs who moved to Cyprus many centuries ago from what is now Lebanon. Turkish Cypriot officials were last month quoted in Cypriot media as saying aid, which ranged from gas cylinders to food, was being sold on to others, and that it was not required. Cyprus was split in a Turkish invasion in 1974 triggered by a brief Greek inspired coup, resulting in tens of thousands of internally displaced people. Crossing points opened in 2003 and today there is a regular stream of traffic from one side of the island to the other. Greek Cypriots regularly visit the north for cheaper tobacco products and medicine - even though that is formally banned - and Turkish Cypriots go to the south for grocery shopping. (Reporting By Michele Kambas; Editing by Gareth Jones) By Suleiman Al-Khalidi AMMAN, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Military jets believed to be Russian killed at least 60 civilians trying to flee heavy fighting in the oil rich Deir al Zor province of Syria when their small boats were targeted as they sought to cross the Euphrates River, opposition activists, former residents and a war monitor said late on Wednesday. They said the jets targeted makeshift rubber dinghies and boats carrying dozens of families fleeing the town of al Ashara along the western banks of the Euphrates that lies south of Deir al Zor city, the provincial capital. Islamic State's last major stronghold, the cities, towns and farms in the fertile strip along the Euphrates bordering Iraq are fast becoming the focus of Syria's six-year-long civil war. "Russian jets staged a second wave of strikes on the boats that were fleeing across the river causing more casualties among those who rushed to rescue earlier survivors," said Abdullah al Akaidat, a tribal figure in northern Syria from Al Ashara who is in contact with relatives in the area. Russia is throwing military weight behind the Syrian army campaign's to regain the province bordering Iraq, racing with U.S- backed forces to grab territory from Islamic State. U.S. coalition jets last year destroyed bridges that linked villages on the northeast of the Euphrates river with towns on the opposite bank. Although the goal was to cut militant supply lines, it forced people to use ferries to cross the river and its tributaries and ruptured a major lifeline for civilians, raising prices of goods and food. Fifteen civilians were killed in air strikes during the last 24 hours on the town of al Quriya, just further north of the town of Ashara along the river, said former residents in touch with relatives. Thousands of residents of the eastern province are fleeing war-torn zones to the safety of towns that have escaped relatively unscathed from the relentless fighting. The Russians built a bridge across the Euphrates near Deir Zor city to move troops and equipment. The militants waged a surprise counter offensive and claimed to have killed dozens of Syrian troops, Russian ground troops and Iranian-backed fighters. They regained some territory back. Islamic State released a video on Tuesday of two injured men it claimed were Russian soldiers captured in Deir al Zor province. Reuters could not verify the authenticity of the tape. The Syrian army is seeking to advance towards Mayadeen, a city in the province 44 km southeast of Deir Zor, where the river flows through it. Mayadeen is a major Islamic State stronghold that has also been targeted by the U.S.-led coalition which had earlier this year also increased bombing of the group in cities and towns along the Euphrates valley. Relentless airstrikes by Russian jets in Deir al Zor province have intensified in recent days according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The war monitor documented the death of at least 185 civilians, including at least 45 woman and children, in five days of aerial strikes. Russia rejects opposition and human rights groups accusations that the bombing campaign has killed thousands of civilians since its major intervention two years ago that turned the tide in favour of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Scores of hospitals and civil defence centres have been bombed in what the opposition said is a "scorched earth policy" to paralyse life in rebel-held areas. Moscow says it only attacks hardline Islamists. (Reporting by Suleiman Al-Khalidi; editing by Grant McCool) By Amantha Perera PERIYAKULAM, Sri Lanka, Oct 5 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - At 52 years old, with two grown children, Newton Gunathileka thought he should be working less by this point. Instead he has never worked so hard - and earned so little. Gunathileka, from the Sri Lankan village of Periyakulam, in the North Western Puttalam District, is among hundreds of thousands of rural Sri Lankans who have borne the brunt of the worst drought in four decades. He has not seen any substantial rains on his farm in at least a year and has lost two harvests, resulting in a loss of over 200,000 Sri Lankan rupees ($1,325) - and growing debts. He has now abandoned his two acres of rice paddy land and spends his time looking - mainly unsuccessfully - for other work in 40 degree Celsius heat. "There is no work. Everyone, big or small, has lost out to the drought," he said. According to data released in September by the United Nations, there are hundreds of thousands of households like Gunathilekas facing serious food security issues in Sri Lanka. With rice production for 2017 expected to be the lowest in a decade, "over 300,000 households (around 1.2 million people) are estimated to be food insecure, with many households limiting their food intake and in some cases eating just one meal a day," the United Nations update said. The worst affected areas are the North Western, North Central, Northern and South Eastern Provinces that rely heavily on agriculture. The U.N. Office in Colombo said that affected households were in some cases limiting their food intake, which was hampering peoples day-to-day lives. EATING THEIR SEED Gunathileka, who hails from the North Western Province, said his family was now eating some of the rice that he had put away to use as seed for the next growing season. "For the next month or two we are okay with rice, but we have been limiting eating meat, eggs and vegetables we buy from outside. The other big problem I have is my childrens higher education. If we cant get a harvest at least by the end of the year both of them will have to work," he said. His daughter is taking a course in secretarial work while the son is getting ready to sit university entrance exams. The family now survives on about Rs 800 ($5) or less a day, and both Gunathileka and his wife earn cash doing whatever work they can find. The U.N report also said that household debt was rising due to the drought. A World Food Programme survey released in August said that debts of surveyed families had risen by 50 percent in the last year. "Households reported that the amount of money owed in formal loans has not increased, indicating that families are turning to informal lenders for credit," the WFP survey said. Gunathileka said that he was thinking of using the deeds to his paddy rice land as collateral and seeking a small loan from local money lenders. "The banks will not lend because I cant show any income. (But) if I dont get to pay back the money lenders, I lose my land," he said. RAIN AND AID Government officials said they anticipated the island had weathered the worst of the drought, and rains expected in late October would bring more relief. Recent rains have dropped the overall number of people affected by drought from 2.2 million a month ago to 1.7 million now, said G.L. Senadeera, director general of the government Disaster Management Centre. He said the government planned to distribute relief food packs worth Rs 5000 ($34) to about 200,000 drought-hit families and provide compensation up to Rs 8500 ($56) per acre for harvest losses this year. The governments drought relief efforts, which began in August and were accelerated in September, officials say, are expected to cost about Rs 2.5 billion (about $16 million), according to the Treasury department. The World Food Programme said in its August report that of 81,000 families surveyed in the 10 worst-hit districts, only 22 percent had access to government relief by early August. For now, Gunathileka and his wife look up to the sky each time they step out looking for work. "All we see are clear skies. All we want to see are dark clouds over the horizon," he said. (Reporting by Amantha Perera; editing by Laurie Goering :; Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, climate change, resilience, women's rights, trafficking and property rights. Visit http://news.trust.org/climate) By Kieran Guilbert DAKAR, Oct 5 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Armed groups in Central African Republic are using rape and sexual slavery as weapons of war in an abuse that may amount to crimes against humanity, a rights group said on Thursday. Thousands have died and a fifth of Central Africans have been uprooted in a conflict that broke out after the mainly Muslim Seleka rebels ousted President Francois Bozize in early 2013, provoking a backlash from Christian anti-balaka militias. Both the Seleka and the anti-balaka have sexually assaulted, raped and enslaved civilians as revenge against those believed to be supporting the other side, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said. Yet not a single militant on either side of the conflict has been arrested or tried for sexual violence, HRW said. "Armed groups are using rape in a brutal, calculated way to punish and terrorise women and girls," HRW researcher Hillary Margolis said following the release of a report documenting 305 cases of rape and sexual slavery against women and girls. "Under international law, these offences ... may be considered crimes against humanity and war crimes," HRW said. Victims told HRW how militants often raped them in front of their children, and abused, attacked and killed their relatives. Many women and girls were whipped, tied up and burned, and gang-raped repeatedly while being held as sex slaves, HRW said. "Every day we could not rest - every day there was rape, by different fighters," 30-year-old Jeanne, who was held captive by Seleka fighters for six months in 2014, told the rights group. Stigma, impunity for attackers and a dysfunctional justice system has prevented many victims from speaking out, HRW said. Only 11 of the 296 survivors interviewed by HRW said they had tried to seek justice, with some victims blamed for their ordeal and others told to present their attackers for arrest. Most victims said they had not received post-rape medical or mental health care - such as drugs to prevent HIV and unwanted pregnancy - due to a lack of health facilities, the cost of services or transport, and misconceptions about their options. "Every day, survivors live with the devastating aftermath of rape, and the knowledge that their attackers are walking free, perhaps holding positions of power, and to date facing no consequences whatsoever," Margolis said in a statement. Widespread killings and rapes of civilians by militants in Central African Republic - where militia violence has risen this year - have also been documented by the United Nations and other rights groups, such as Amnesty International. The United Nations is helping the government to establish a Special Criminal Court, agreed to in 2015, to try the worst crimes committed in the landlocked nation. (Reporting By Kieran Guilbert, Editing by Lyndsay Griffiths.; Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, women's rights, trafficking, property rights, climate change and resilience. Visit http://news.trust.org) ANKARA, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Here are news, reports and events that may affect Turkish financial markets on Thursday. The lira stood at 3.5737 against the U.S. dollar at 0514 GMT, little changed from 3.5720 at Wednesday's close. The yield on the benchmark 10-year bond was at 11.02 percent in spot trade at Wednesday's close. The main BIST 100 share index rose 0.62 percent to 104,547.86 points on Wednesday. GLOBAL MARKETS Asian shares were a tad firmer on Thursday, taking their cues from strong U.S. data although holiday-thinned trade and uncertainty about the impact of recent hurricanes on the U.S. economy are likely to keep investors cautious. PRESIDENT ERDOGAN Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan will meet with the leader of the nationalist MHP opposition, Devlet Bahceli (1030 GMT), and later with Prime Minister Binali Yildirim. (1630 GMT) FOREIGN MINISTER Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu will travel to Paris to address the Special Session of the UNESCO Executive Board and hold bilateral meetings with the Director General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, and his French counterpart Yves Le Drian. TURKEY-IRAN Iran and Turkey should prevent Iraq's Kurdistan region from declaring independence, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Wednesday after meeting Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan in Tehran, state TV reported. Erdogan, who was on a one-day trip to Tehran, said earlier that Ankara was considering taking further measures against Iraqi Kurdistan. COUP TRIAL A Turkish court on Wednesday found 42 former soldiers guilty of trying to kill President Tayyip Erdogan during last year's failed coup, and handed most of them life sentences in the highest profile case related to the attempted putsch so far. PRIMARY SURPLUS Turkey expects its primary surplus at 5.8 billion lira ($1.62 billion) in 2018, as part of its latest medium-term plan, the government announced in its Official Gazette on Thursday. 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) By Wendell Roelf and Tiisetso Motsoeneng CAPE TOWN, Oct 5 (Reuters) - South African waste management company Interwaste fired KPMG as its auditor on Thursday, dealing another blow to the accounting firm ensnared in a scandal involving business friends of President Jacob Zuma. Interwaste joins at least seven other clients including fund manager Sygnia and broker Sasfin to break ties with KPMG. It comes after KPMG's own investigation found flaws in work it did for the national tax agency and the Gupta family, accused of using links with Zuma to win government contracts. "The change in audit firm, which is effective immediately, was initiated by the company following the concerns recently raised regarding KPMG," Interwaste said in a statement. Interwaste, a Johannesburg-based company involved in the disposal and recycling of waste from mines and residential homes, has appointed Deloitte as its new auditor. The decision came hours after KPMG South Africa's chief executive told lawmakers the company would make sweeping changes to ensure the firm did not repeat "greatly disappointing" work it did for the three Gupta brothers. Nhlamu Dlomu, who took up the top job in South Africa after most of the local board was sacked last month, said an announcement would be made in the coming days about an independent inquiry into its work at firms owned by the Guptas - Indian-born businessmen with close ties to Zuma. "I have personally been greatly disappointed by how far we have fallen short of the standards we set ourselves," Dlomu told parliament's committee of public accounts. "I am determined that these mistakes do not happen again, which is why we have already made a number of changes. I am leading other reforms," she added. HELD TO ACCOUNT Dlomu said any person found by the investigation to have failed to do their job would be held accountable. She said the changes would also strengthen governance and ensure decision-making was more centralized. KPMG is at risk of losing some its major financial clients with Barclays Africa, Old Mutual, Investec, Standard Bank and Nedbank considering whether to drop it. KPMG, whose local unit traces its roots to Johannesburg's gold rush days in the late 19th century, is under investigation by South Africa's Independent Regulatory Board for Auditors. Dlomu said it was cooperating with the probe and has handed over requested documents. Other clients to drop KPMG over the scandal are the African unit of German reinsurer Munich Re, energy investment firm Hulisani, the University of Witwatersrand, parliament and lobby group the Institute of Directors. Several other global firms have faced problems due to their work for the Guptas including business consultancy McKinsey and public relations agency Bell Pottinger. The Guptas and Zuma deny wrongdoing and say they are victims of a politically motivated witch-hunt. The Guptas and their companies have not been charged with any crime. (Editing by Anna Willard and Keith Weir) By Matthias Williams KIEV, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Ukraine has expelled a Russian journalist working for the television channel NTV as punishment for spreading anti-Ukrainian propaganda and justifying the actions of separatists, the state security service (SBU) said on Thursday. Relations between Kiev and Moscow have been poisoned since Moscow annexed Crimean from Ukraine in 2014 and backed a separatist insurgency in Ukraine's eastern Donbass region that has killed more than 10,000 people despite a notional ceasefire. Ukraine says Russia is fighting a "hybrid war" with Kiev, spreading propaganda while supporting the separatists with troops and sophisticated weaponry and launching cyber attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure, which Moscow denies. Vyacheslav Nemyshev was expelled in the early hours of Thursday for preparing "a series of false anti-Ukrainian materials," the SBU state security service said. "The propagandist is forbidden from entering Ukraine for three years." NTV said on its website the incident "confirmed that it was practically impossible for Russian journalists to work in Ukraine today." "I was at the police station for five hours, first the police took testimony from me, then the SBU officers," NTV quoting Nemyshev as saying. "After that we drove around Kiev for a really long time, then we stopped at some street where I sat in a car in the dark. After that, they told me that everything had been decided, and we went to the border." Ukraine in August detained and then deported another Russian journalist for spreading anti-Ukrainian propaganda, a move condemned both by Russia and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, which monitors the Donbass war. The security service had also barred two Spanish journalists for their negative coverage of the conflict. (Additional reporting by Dmitry Solovyov in Moscow; Editing by Richard Balmforth) By Suleiman Al-Khalidi AMMAN, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Syrian opposition groups are resisting Jordanian pressure to hand control of a border crossing back to the Syrian government, a step that would be a major boost for President Bashar al-Assad and undermine rebel groups in southwestern Syria. Talks over reopening the Nasib crossing have gathered pace since a Russian-U.S. brokered ceasefire in July brought relative calm to southern Syria, the first peacekeeping effort in the war by U.S. President Donald Trump's administration. Jordan, which hopes to revive a once flourishing trade route and encourage Syrian refugees to return, has plenty of leverage over the rebels: many of the opposition groups in southern Syria depend on logistical support from the staunch U.S. ally. But rebel groups which seized control of the crossing in 2015 have so far resisted proposals for a return of Syrian government authority to Nasib, even in the form of civilian officials with no Syrian army presence. The possibility of the crossing being reopened underlines just how far the scales have tipped in favour of Assad, who is steadily winning back territory with Russian and Iranian help, forcing neighbouring states to rethink their policies. "The presence of any regime employee is like restoring legitimacy to a worn-out regime against which the Syrian people rose up," said Adham al Karad, a Free Syrian Army (FSA) rebel commander who led battles in Deraa city against the army. Jordan has trodden a careful path during the six-year long war, maintaining diplomatic ties with Damascus even as it became a hub for a U.S.-led program that funnelled aid to vetted Syrian rebels. Trump recently decided to shut down that program. Before the Syrian conflict erupted in 2011, Nasib served as a major transit route for hundreds of trucks a day transporting goods between Turkey and the Gulf in multi-billion dollar annual trade. Its closure has also had a knock-on effect for other economies in the region, including Lebanon's. Jordan has put forward proposals by which rebels would secure the road to Nasib, 100 km (60 miles) from the capital, while a civil administration from Damascus would run the crossing, according to Syrian opposition officials. Rebels would receive a portion of the customs fees as part of the deal. The proposals were discussed during a meeting between the Jordanian government and opposition-run local councils and rebels from southern Syria in Amman at the end of last month. "The situation of the crossing is delicate and sensitive and until now we have not responded (to Amman's demands)," Ali Salkhadi, the governor of opposition-run Deraa province, told a meeting of local figures on Sunday, footage of which was posted on YouTube. Jordan told the opposition delegation that it was obliged to deal with a recognised state in order to open the crossing and to allow trucks to proceed to third countries, he said. It also threatened the opposition delegation it could open another land crossing into Syrian government-controlled Sweida province, east of Nasib, if rebels fail to reach a deal. "If they open Sweida crossing they would close the other humanitarian crossings ... this is what they are saying," Salkhadi said in the meeting. Syrian government officials could not be reached for comment. A Jordanian government official contacted by Reuters declined to comment. REBELS UNDER PRESSURE Though rebels stand to profit if the crossing were opened, they also risk losing local support if seen to make such a big concession to Damascus. They want long-standing demands, including a detainee release, addressed before talks on Nasib. "We will not watch with our hands tied, we won't allow this and will work to stop all the efforts to hand over critical areas to the regime and to confiscate them from the rebels and impose a fait accompli on us," said Abu Jasem al Hariri, a rebel commander in southern Syria. Jordan last month succeeded in pressuring two Western-backed rebel groups operating in southeastern Syria near the Jordanian border, an order that resulted in them abandoning their territory to advancing Syrian government forces. But while Amman has recently sought to mend fences with Damascus, a full restoration of ties seems a distant prospect as Jordan remains deeply concerned over expanding Iranian influence in Syria. The Syrian army and allied militia are steadily seizing more and more of the Jordanian frontier from insurgents. But while the government is gaining ground at the Jordanian border, key crossings to Turkey and Iraq remain outside its control. (Editing by Tom Perry and Richard Balmforth) Oct 5 (Reuters) - Losses from Hurricane Maria and other recent 2017 natural catastrophes, including hurricanes Irma and Harvey, the Mexico City earthquakes and other events, have led global insurers and reinsurers to issue profit warnings. Below are statements from insurers and reinsurers in the wake of the catastrophes (in alphabetical order): ALLSTATE Allstate Corp, the second-largest U.S. homeowners' insurer based on premiums collected, estimated pre-tax catastrophe losses of $593 million, net of reinsurance recoveries, for August. BEAZLEY Lloyd's of London insurer Beazley said losses from hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria and a series of earthquakes in Mexico would reduce its 2017 earnings by about $150 million. CHUBB U.S. property and casualty insurer Chubb Ltd estimated after-tax losses of up to $1.28 billion from hurricanes Harvey and Irma. It expects insured losses of about $520 million from Harvey and $640 million to $760 million from Irma after tax. The world's largest listed property and casualty insurer estimated the maximum net insurance and net reinsurance losses related to Hurricane Maria would be about $200 million after tax for the third quarter. HANNOVER RE German reinsurer Hannover Re said it could miss its 2017 profit target because of claims from the natural disasters, its first such warning since the 2008 financial crisis. HCI GROUP HCI Group's principal operating subsidiary, Homeowners Choice Property & Casualty Insurance, a provider of home insurance in Florida, issued a preliminary estimate indicating its losses related to Hurricane Irma would be $100-$300 million. HISCOX Lloyd's of London underwriter Hiscox Ltd estimated it would face net claims totalling about $225 million from Harvey and Irma. LLOYD'S OF LONDON Lloyd's of London expects net losses of $4.5 billion from hurricanes Harvey and Irma, which analysts said would eat into the insurer's capital and hit its profitability. Lloyd's 80-plus syndicates have already paid out more than $160 million in claims from Harvey and more than $240 million from Irma. MAIDEN HOLDINGS Maiden Holdings Ltd said it expected a net impact from Harvey on its third-quarter results of $6-$18 million and $2-$13 million from Irma. MAPFRE Spain's Mapfre SA said the size and frequency of hurricanes in the Caribbean and earthquake in Mexico would imply a net cost of between 150-200 million euros on its attributable result for the year. MUNICH RE Germany's Munich Re warned it could miss its profit target this year, the first major reinsurer to flag a hit to earnings from damage caused by hurricanes Harvey and Irma. PROASSURANCE CORPORATION Proassurance Corp estimated net pretax losses from hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria to be about $7.5 million. QBE INSURANCE GROUP Australia's biggest insurer, QBE Insurance Group, revealed a $600 million earnings hit on its business from hurricanes in the Atlantic and earthquakes in Mexico. RENAISSANCERE RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd said its initial estimates pointed to $625 million of "net negative impact" from hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria and the Mexico City earthquake. RLI CORP Specialty insurer RLI Corp said it expects third-quarter pretax losses of $30-$40 million from Harvey and Irma, net of reinsurance. RSA INSURANCE British motor and home insurer RSA said its UK business would see catastrophe losses from the U.S., Caribbean and Mexico, impacting September results in the marine and international portfolios. SCOR French reinsurer Scor said hurricanes Harvey and Irma are expected to represent an earnings event rather than a capital event in the third quarter. TALANX German insurer Talanx warned it may miss its profit target for 2017 as its reinsurer Hannover Re is being hit by major claims from a series of hurricanes and an earthquake in Mexico. ZURICH INSURANCE GROUP Zurich Insurance Group said that Farmers Re faced a hit of no more than $20 million in the second half from catastrophes such as hurricanes Irma and Harvey. (Compiled by Noor Zainab Hussain in Bengaluru; Editing by Jason Neely, Greg Mahlich) By Saad Sayeed ISLAMABAD, Oct 5 (Reuters) - An unexplained dispute between Pakistan's interior minister and an elite paramilitary unit under his command is adding to political confusion in Islamabad, prompting questions about a rift in ties between civilian leaders and the powerful military. The spat comes at a moment of heightened concern over the feverish political climate in nuclear-armed Pakistan, which the United States seeks to include in its new strategy for South Asia. Interior Minister Ashan Iqbal was taken by surprise when the elite Rangers unit, which provides security around parliament, withdrew its guards without explanation on Wednesday. "I was told the Rangers have unilaterally withdrawn from the important installations where they were on duty, which, for us, was shocking," Iqbal told domestic television channel Dawn News. "This was a gross violation." Outside parliament on Thursday, the country's Frontier Constabulary was on guard instead. A police official on duty confirmed the Rangers were no longer stationed there. "The order for them to leave did not come from the interior ministry, it must have come from somewhere else," said the official, who asked not to be identified because of the sensitivity of the topic. Rangers' officials could not immediately be reached for comment. Iqbal did not immediately respond to Reuters' telephone calls to seek comment. The Rangers had this week denied Iqbal entry to a court building where matters relating to an anti-graft case against Sharif were being heard, prompting him to threaten to resign, saying he refused to be "a puppet interior minister". The moves follow July's Supreme Court disqualification of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, which he blamed on a conspiracy against him, feeding speculation about a rupture in civilian-military ties. Senior leaders from Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) party pointed fingers at the country's military after his disqualification for not declaring a source of income. The army denies playing a role. But the Rangers' departure from the area around parliament points to a persistent disagreement between civilian and military leaders, one analyst said. "They can't just leave their posts," said Zeeshan Salahuddin, communications and strategy director of the Islamabad-based Centre for Research and Security Studies. "If they have done so without orders, that clearly shows the continuing rift between the two, and the displeasure of the military." Pakistan's military has ruled the country for 33 of the 70 years since independence from Britain in 1947. Since 2008, there have been democratically elected governments, but the army retains sweeping influence and any hint of discord stirs worries among advocates of a strong civilian government. "We have concerns about the future of Pakistan's government too, in terms of them - we want their government to be stable," U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said, following a meeting with Pakistan's foreign minister on Wednesday. The government will take action after completing an inquiry into the withdrawal, Iqbal added. "The Rangers are a force subordinate to the ministry of the interior and when they are deployed, they are supposed to work under the civil administration," he said. (Writing by Saad Sayeed; Editing by Clarence Fernandez) News / National by youtube In this panel discussion on Matabeleland, Attorney Sibanda explains that those making reckless statements about Matabeleland are forgetting the brutal history of the province. However, dividing Zimbabwe is not an option and he considers Mthwakazi as a joke. SAO PAULO, Oct 5 (Reuters) - VTB Capital, the investment banking arm of Russia's second largest bank VTB, has signed a confidentiality agreement to negotiate rights to operate the airport in the Brazilian city of Campinas, Folha de S.Paulo newspaper reported on Thursday. Terms of a deal to operate Viracopos airport have not been finalized with the Brazilian government due to uncertainty over the withdrawal of previous concessionaires, Folha reported, without naming its sources. VTB Capital is part of state-run VTB Group in Russia and has a stake in a consortium that operates an airport in Saint Petersburg, the paper said. In July, the shareholders of a company set up to run Brazil's Viracopos airport decided to return the concession to the government, which is now seeking other bidders in a new auction. ABV SA, which had won the Viracopos concession in 2012, cited unexpectedly low passenger traffic to waive rights to operate the airport. The airport serves the city of Campinas in Sao Paulo state and is an important cargo hub, shipping 166,000 tonnes of freight in 2016, although that is only 40 percent of the initial plan. (Reporting by Ana Mano; Editing by Bernadette Baum) By Elisabeth O'Leary and Leah Schnurr EDINBURGH/OTTAWA, Oct 5 (Reuters) - The standoff between Madrid and supporters of independence in Spain's wealthy Catalan region has stirred separatist feelings far beyond the Spanish borders. Politicians across the globe criticized armed Spanish police who used truncheons and rubber bullets on voters, injuring hundreds in a crackdown on Sunday's secession vote, considered illegal under Spain's 1978 Constitution. Several politicians from regions with their own separatist movements said it was time for politics to resolve the crisis in the euro zone's fourth-biggest economy. Catalan leaders said the result showed its people wanted to leave Spain and it would push ahead with secession. Madrid has ruled out talks until, it said, Catalonia acts within the law. "The solution is political. It won't be through repression, it won't be through brutality, and what needs to happen is a political discussion. I think that's reality," Quebec's premier Philippe Couillard told reporters. He drew parallels for a potential solution to his own province, which has held two referendums on whether to separate from Canada and the last of which in 1995 was narrowly defeated. Other politicians called on the European Union, currently facing a huge challenge to its unity in Britain's impending exit from the bloc, to intervene in a deepening crisis that has shaken the euro and Spanish stocks and bonds. They said it was a matter of human rights. Joanna Cherry, a lawmaker from the Scottish National Party, called on the EU to "up its game." Her party lost a legally binding referendum on Scottish independence from the UK in 2014 -- the terms of which were hammered out between both sides. The SNP-led Scottish government is urging talks to let Catalans decide their own future. "Spain will maintain that this vote is not legitimate, but the strength of feeling demonstrated cannot be ignored by Spain," it said. Matt Carthy, European lawmaker for Irish nationalists Sinn Fein whose aim is to unite British-run Northern Ireland with the Irish Republic, called the EU "a shower of utter hypocrites." "The EU has ignored a vicious assault on EU citizens in Catalonia because they had the audacity to vote," he told fellow European lawmakers in an emotionally-charged speech. "We are told the EU stands for peace, democracy and human rights. Where were those values on Sunday?" "DISPROPORTIONATE" VIOLENCE Opinion polls conducted before the Catalan vote suggested a minority of around 40 percent of Catalans backed independence, but a majority wanted a referendum to be held. Catalan officials released preliminary referendum results showing 90 percent support in favour of breaking away, but turnout was 43 percent and low among those who favour remaining part of Spain mainly boycotted the ballot. Spain's constitution determines that the majority which counts is Spain as a whole, not Catalonia's 5.3 million voters. Ireland's prime minister Leo Varadkar has said his government respects Spain's constitution but he also described the violence as "disproportionate and counterproductive." Spain's deputy prime minister and European Commission First Vice President Frans Timmermans have said the use of force was "proportionate". Turkey, which condemned last week's referendum for Kurdish independence in northern Iraq, also spoke of the importance of respecting Spanish law and territorial integrity. "We believe that Spain (...) will overcome such challenges and establish a national dialogue environment through a democratic approach," Turkey's foreign ministry said. In Serbia, officials accused the EU of double standards by refusing to recognize Catalonia's vote and at the same time supporting the independence of Serbia's former province Kosovo. Another would-be breakaway group, the Movement for the Autonomy of Slask (RAS) which wants autonomy for Poland's Slask region, said that events in Spain were proof of the temptation to use repression to control political dissent. "The European community should work out rules and procedures for solving similar conflicts," it said. "Its indifference with respect to the forceful repression of aspirations of Catalan people for self-rule will be interpreted as a sign of weakness and will deepen the confidence crisis that many Europeans feel towards EU institutions." (Reporting by Leah Schnurr in Ottawa; Amanda Ferguson in Belfast; Marcin Goettig in Warsaw; Dominic Evans in Ankara; Ivana Sekularac in Belgrade; writing and reporting by Elisabeth O'Leary; editing by Anna Willard) By Clodagh Kilcoyne LONDONDERRY, Northern Ireland, Oct 5 (Reuters) - William Jackson remembers the exodus vividly, when over 10,000 Protestants fled the west bank of Londonderry's River Foyle for the city's suburbs as Northern Ireland's "Troubles" erupted. Almost 50 years on Jackson is among some 250 Protestants who stayed and carved out a tiny enclave known as 'The Fountain', a tight, fiercely pro-British community that is separated by high walls and fences from the surrounding Irish nationalist heartland. "You are not talking one or two families, you are talking hundreds and hundreds and hundreds," Jackson said, recalling the flight which began in 1969 when British troops were sent to the city to quell unrest over a civil rights campaign launched by the Catholic minority. Three decades of bloodshed followed between Catholic Irish nationalists, seeking to unite with Ireland, and pro-British Protestant loyalists, who want to remain part of the United Kingdom. Around 3,600 people were killed before a 1998 peace agreement. Much of Northern Ireland has since been transformed, yet in many areas the two sides remain separated by so-called "peace walls". The fences of up to 15 metres set up in the years after 1969 were supposed to be temporary but many still remain. In The Fountain, the metal gate in the wall between it and the nearby Bogside area - home to the late Irish nationalist hero Martin McGuinness - is locked at 9 p.m. each night and it remains one of the province's flashpoints when sporadic violence breaks out. "We stayed here because we're hardcore," said Jackson. "We managed to stay as a small community and it's always been that way. Nationalists wouldn't be welcome to live here, even today. Just the same as Protestants wouldn't be made welcome in the Bogside. It's just one of those things unfortunately." Social codes are so ingrained that it is virtually unheard for people to spend time in the opposing community's neighbourhood but anyone who did could face threats or a beating from local hardliners. "Outsiders", as locals refer to Protestants not originally from the area, have moved in but only last around five or six years, according to Jackson, who runs the local Heritage Tower museum, one the smallest galleries in Northern Ireland. "You have families that come and spend a year and they go because of the way of life here," he said. "Some of the police have actually referred to us as like rats living in a cage." The area remains blighted by poverty and many houses remain derelict. Some residents say they disconnect their electricity periodically to save money. At The Fountain's Cathedral Youth Club, Jeanette Warke has spent the last 45 years providing an education and recreational outlet to three generations of youngsters who went from dodging bullets to fighting unemployment. Warke has seen The Fountain change over that time and now concentrates on better integrating local Catholic and Protestant children. Last year she brought them to Dublin for the centenary of the Irish uprising that led to independence from Britain and to France for a commemoration of the World War One Battle of the Somme. "We've really opened up big avenues for these young people, Protestant and Catholic to look at their history," said Warke, who still works at the age of 73 and has been honoured by Britain's Queen for her services to young people. "You're not looking to change young people's mindsets and to take them away from their own culture, that's not what we are about. We're looking to create a better understanding and also respect for each other and that to me is very, very important." However Jackson, Warke and other locals think it's still too soon to tear down the walls between Protestants who call their city Londonderry and Catholics who refer to it simply as Derry. There's more work to do, Warke said. Until then, The Fountain community will remain as tight as ever. "My mother says the only time she will leave the Fountain is in a box," said 38-year-old Daphne Atkinson, a fellow youth club worker. "She's proud of where she's from which is a good thing so she'll not leave only when it's her time to go." (Writing by Padraic Halpin; Editing by Matthew Mpoke Bigg) PARIS, Oct 5 (Reuters) - French troops are involved in an operation near Niger's border with Mali on Thursday, the French army said, a day after an attack that killed three U.S. Army Special Forces members. French army spokesman Colonel Patrick Steiger told a news conference in Paris that its regional Barkhane force had been asked to support a counterattack, after Niger and U.S. troops were ambushed by suspected Islamist militants overnight. He said fighter jets had been dispatched to the area and French helicopters had been used to evacuate the wounded. No French soldiers had been killed in the initial attack, Steiger added. (Reporting by Sophie Louet; Writing by John Irish; Editing by Sudip Kar-Gupta) DUBAI, Oct 5 (Reuters) - A group of British human rights lawyers have accused Bahraini oversight bodies funded by Britain's government of violating international law by allegedly failing to investigate torture allegations against two inmates on death row. Mohamed Ramadan and Husain Moosa face imminent execution in Bahrain after its Supreme Court last year confirmed death sentences imposed by a lower tribunal based on false confessions extracted through torture, according to legal charity Reprieve. The two men had been convicted for a 2014 bomb attack in the village of al-Dair that killed a policeman. Reprieve said the Bar Human Rights Committee of England and Wales (BHRC) had petitioned Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa for clemency for Ramadan and Moosa, arguing that their trial did not comply with fair legal standards. It said the Bahraini government-appointed Ombudsman had agreed to open an investigation into the torture allegations after coming under pressure from international rights groups. "However, in the 15 months since, the Ombudsman has disclosed no information about its findings, and has indicated that it has referred that case to the Special Investigation Unit (SIU), a British-trained body, for further investigation," Reprieve's statement said. "Despite claiming to have opened investigations, neither the Ombudsman nor the SIU have communicated any findings to Mr Ramadan, Mr Moosa, their lawyer or their families. This too constitutes a serious breach of international law." The Gulf Arab state's government and its Ombudsman's office did not reply to requests for comment. A British Foreign Office spokesman said Bahrain's SIU was pursuing an investigation into the torture allegations. "We encourage a thorough, transparent and swift investigation," the spokesman said. "The UK continues to encourage the government of Bahrain to deliver on its international and domestic human rights commitments." Reprieve said Britain spends 1.2 million pounds ($1.59 million) annually on training and support for the two Bahraini oversight agencies. BHRC chairwoman Kirsty Brimelow called for a transparent investigation of the alleged use of torture. "Also, at minimum, the UK government should join the Bar Human Rights Committee's call for clemency to be applied to the death penalty sentences." Bahrain has seen a wave of deadly bomb attacks since a 2011 uprising led by majority Shi'ite Muslims was crushed with help from some Gulf Arab neighbours. Several people have been sentenced to death over the attacks, including Ramadan and Moosa. In January, Bahrain executed three Shi'ite men convicted of killing three policemen in a 2014 bomb attack, the first death sentences to be carried out in over two decades. ($1 = 0.7535 pounds) (Reporting by Sami Aboudi and Alistair Smout in London,; editing by Mark Heinrich) ALMATY, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Human Rights Watch urged Uzbekistan on Thursday to stop new politically motivated arrests at a time when it has been freeing some prominent political prisoners, saying such a "revolving door" cast doubt on its announced reform drive. In less than two weeks, the Central Asian nation has released two dissidents imprisoned under the previous president, Islam Karimov, while detaining two others. The releases have been welcomed by the West, but the New York-based Human Rights Watch said the fresh arrests "cast a pall over what would otherwise be a sign of hope". Human rights activist Azam Farmonov was freed on Tuesday after 11 years in prison and Solijon Abdurakhmanov, a journalist imprisoned since 2008, was released on Wednesday. They joined a string of Karimov-era political prisoners set free by his successor, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who took power in the mostly Muslim nation of 32 million people following his autocratic predecessor's death in September 2016. Mirziyoyev, who seeks to attract foreign investment to modernise Uzbekistan's Soviet-style economy, has ordered some 16,000 people struck off a blacklist of potential extremists and dissidents and taken other steps to liberalise the country. But when one of those dissidents, prominent writer Nurulloh Muhammad Raufkhon, returned from exile last month, he was detained and charged with spreading anti-government propaganda. The writer was later released but still faces the charges. Another dissident, Bobomurod Abdullayev, a journalist accused of publishing stories critical of the government on an opposition website, was also arrested and charged last month. He remains in detention. "The release of Azam Farmonov and Solijon Abdurakhmanov after long years of abuse was positive news, but there should be no revolving door for political arrests," said Steve Swerdlow, Central Asia researcher at Human Rights Watch. "President Mirziyoyev should see to it that all political prisoners are released and that all of Uzbekistans citizens are guaranteed the fundamental right to peacefully express critical opinions." In Raufkon's case, Uzbek police have said that while he may have been struck off the blacklist, the charges against him - levelled in absentia in May - were never dropped and he did not contact authorities about them before returning to Uzbekistan. Police have not commented on Abdullayev's status. (Reporting by Olzhas Auyezov; editing by Mark Heinrich) By Matt Spetalnick WASHINGTON, Oct 5 (Reuters) - The United States is preparing to lift decades-old economic sanctions against Sudan, citing improvement on human rights and progress on counter-terrorism, a U.S. official said on Thursday. President Donald Trump's administration is expected to announce its decision as early as Friday, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Shortly before leaving office, former President Barack Obama temporarily eased penalties that had been in place for 20 years against the African nation. In July, the Trump administration postponed for three months a decision on whether to remove the sanctions completely, setting up an Oct. 12 deadline. Lifting the sanctions, which is opposed by some human rights advocates, will suspend a trade embargo, unfreeze assets and remove financial restrictions that have hobbled the Sudanese economy. It will also mark a major turnaround for the government of President Omar Hassan al-Bashir, who once played host to Osama bin Laden and is wanted by the International Criminal Court on charges of orchestrating genocide in Darfur. Sudan will remain, for now, on the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism - alongside Iran and Syria - which carries a ban on weapons sales and restrictions on U.S. aid. But the sanctions decision reflects a U.S. assessment that Sudan has made progress in meeting Washingtons demands, including cooperation on counter-terrorism, working to resolve internal conflicts and allowing more humanitarian aid into Darfur and other rebellious border areas, the official said. U.S. officials also made clear in July their concern about Sudan's suspected ties to North Korea. The planned sanctions relief suggests that Khartoum has provided assurances it will abide by international sanctions against North Korea over its missile and nuclear programs, as Washington had urged. The White House declined comment. There was no immediate comment from the State Department. Sudan's State Minister for Foreign Affairs Hamed Momtaz told Reuters on Wednesday in Khartoum: "Sudan has fulfilled all the necessary conditions relating to the roadmap, and the U.S. administration is a witness to that and therefore we expect the sanctions to be lifted." Rights groups raised concerns that it would be premature to remove sanctions. "Its a serious mistake for these sanctions to be lifted permanently when Sudan has made no progress on human rights," said Andrea Prasow, deputy director of the Washington office of Human Rights Watch. "A government that continues to indiscriminately bomb its own population and imprison human rights activists shouldnt be rewarded." Speaking before word of the U.S. decision, Al-Buraq al-Nazir al-Warraq, executive manager of the Sudanese Observatory for Human Rights, a group suspended by the government, said taking away sanctions could "pave the way" for further rights abuse by Sudan's government. The United States first imposed sanctions on Sudan in 1997, including a trade embargo and blocking the government's assets, for human rights violations and terrorism concerns. (Reporting by Matt Spetalnick; Editing by Cynthia Osterman and Grant McCool) Pakistani activists of the Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD), a charity widely viewed as a front for banned Islamist group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), hold aloft weapons during an anti-India protest rally in Lahore The Pakistani army on Thursday confirmed that a plan was in place to try to integrate militant-linked groups into the mainstream of the country's politics. Milli Muslim League (MML), a new militant party controlled by Islamist Hafiz Saeed, backed a candidate in the September by-election for a seat vacated by ousted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in the eastern city of Lahore. The United States has offered a $10 million bounty for Saeed's capture. Reuters reported last month that the foray into politics by MML and other Islamists groups followed the integration plan. Three of Sharif's confidants and a retired army general said it had been presented by Inter Services Intelligence to Sharif last year, but the then premier had rejected it. Army spokesman Major-General Asif Ghafoor told a news conference in Islamabad the plan was aimed at developing a constructive role for them. Asked about the MML party loyal to Hafiz Saeed, whom the United States and India accuse of masterminding the 2008 Mumbai attacks that killed 166 people, the army spokesman said it was part of 'a process that has started'. Saifullah Khalid (2nd left), President of Milli Muslim League (MML) political party Hafiz Saeed is a designated a global terrorist by the US and who has a $10 million bounty on his head Saifullah Khalid, President of Milli Muslim League (MML) political party 'It is in my knowledge that the government has started some discussion over it, that, how do we mainstream them, so that they could do constructive contribution,' Ghafoor said. A government spokesman did not respond to calls. House arrest Pakistan's interior ministry has asked the country's electoral commission not to register Saeed's party, but hasn't taken any other steps to stop it. Another militant party is campaigning for a by-election later in October. It remains unclear whether the army or the ISI went ahead with its plan despite Sharif's rejection, or if the military and the civilian government have recently agreed on the idea. Another Islamist designated a terrorist by the United States, Fazlur Rehman Khalil, told Reuters he too planned to form his own party soon. Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, chief of the banned Islamic charity Jamat-ud-Dawa Forces on guard after LeT Chief Abu Ismail and his associate Abu Kasim were killed in an encounter Within two weeks of Sharif's ouster, the MML party was announced. It later got the backing of Saeed and his lieutenants in the by-election to secure five per cent of the vote. The other hardline party, Tehrik-e-Labaik Pakistan, gained over six per cent of votes by riding on the back of a blasphemy killer Mumtaz Qadri whom it called a hero and a martyr. Saeed has been under house arrest since January in the eastern city of Lahore. Indian paramilitary troopers stand guard as a Kashmiri girl walks near the Jamia Masjid mosque in Srinagar MML is the political wing of Saeed's charity Jamaat-ud-Dawa, JuD. JuD and Khalil's Ansar ul-Umma organisation are both seen by the United States as fronts for militant groups the army has been accused of sponsoring against neighbours, arch-foe India and Afghanistan - a charge the army denies. Reports of the plan to bring militant-linked groups into the political mainstream have stirred debate at home and abroad. 'Now, how to take it further - that, the time to come will tell,' Ghafoor, the army spokesman' said, 'For that, the government will take a decision.' Making a comeback JVP clung on to CBKs Sari pota, and won 39 plus seats The Governor, the next day, playing second fiddle to her CM, hurriedly summoned an inquiry into the osari affair Acute malnutrition in children below 5 years is an unhealthy 14 percent. 29 percent of kids who are between the ages 5 and 10 years are under nourished. Though insignificant compared to the billions squandered by the Rajapaksa regime, 600 million had been siphoned out of state coffers and busted on a Sil Redi campaign to boost former strong mans image. This was done during the run up to the Presidential polls in end 2014. Committing two crimes in one stroke waste or misappropriation of tax-payers money and the violation of Election Laws- resulted in two public officers sentenced to three-years rigorous imprisonment. They were in hospital for a few days only to be sent back home. Some disgruntled politicians like Gammanpila and Wimal Weerawansa, leftovers of yesteryears dominant Marxist forces like Vasu and Bhahu, Prof. Vitharana, DEW and the JVP, along with politicians from several minority parties, who are desperate for straws, have mastered the art of evading uncertain or tricky positions during a general election. Out of all politicians, who have a liking or weakness for clinging, members of the JVP own the greatest record. They have the experience in hanging on to the Sari pota [CBK] Osari pota [Sirimavo], Sataka pota[MR] and Elephant tail [RW]. The JVP in 1970 got a hold of Sirimavos Osari pota, but within 12 months staged an amateurish armed revolution only to be crushed by the security forces. However, Sirimavo had a soft corner for the leaders of the rebellion who escaped death. But they had to languish in jail for a few years before JRJ committed a blunder in 1978 by releasing them. The master strategist thought he could pit them against Sirimavo, whom he feared most for her charisma and popularity, which he himself lacked. The JVP turned its guns on him after the infamous referendum in 1982, then came the 83 Black July programme which they used to vandalize state property. This provided JRJ with an excuse to stage the next blunder; he banned the outfit altogether. Few years later the underground organization resorted to terrorism using the T-56. Wijeweera honeymooned with Premadasa for a short time in 1988. The JVP hung on to his sarong pota for a short while and turned its guns on his autocratic rule. A year later Wijeweera was thrown alive into the incinerator at the crematorium. The new-look JVP didnt ditch its old habits. Making a comeback it clung on to CBKs Sari pota, and created history by winning 39 plus seats in the legislature in 2004. But within 12 months the JVP discarded her to hang on to MRs Sataka pota. The rest is history. [It appears that they are presently clutching RWs elephantine tail, but loosely with one hand]. Ashraff and the Sari pota It happened in the 10th Parliament under CBKs PA rule (1994-2000). The final session in parliament was in progress, and Speaker K. B. Ratnayake was to take the vote on the Budget at the end of the committee stage. Minutes before that, Srimani Athulathmudali, Minister of Transport, environment and Women Affairs walked in to the chamber and took her seat next to M.H.M. Ashraff, Minister of Ports and Shipping and leader of Sri Lanka Muslim Congress . The JVP in 1970 got a hold of Sirimavos Osari pota, but after a 12-month revolution was crushed by security forces The fair minister, widow of Lalith, apparently had lost her calm and was in an irritated mood. As soon as she took her seat near Ashraff she fired the first salvo, You think you are the beginning and end of everything. The leader of Sri Lanka Muslim Congress knew that it was intended for him. He retorted, Dont shout, why are you shouting at me? This is not the place for you to raise these matters. The exchange was on shipping policy and in the manner in which the Ministry of Ports and Shipping handled it. Athulathmudali didnt give up, she retorted You think you can have your way in all these things. Minister A H M Fowzie and Minister Indika Gunawardena, closely observed the drama. The President has asked me to expedite the matter, and this is not the place to raise your voice, Ashraff, who hailed from Samanthurai, replied. Do you think.... you know the whole lot, you are hiding behind the sari pota, Athulathmudali responded. Finally, Gunawardena was compelled to intervene and asked Athulathmudali, Madam why are you losing your cool? Three-and-a-half km Bridal Sari Pota The Chief Minister, undoubtedly the best out of the present lot, was seen playing the role of an interlude entertainer instructing 8-12 year-old kids in school uniform to hold the three-and-a-half km Osari pota of a bride. All this was in an attempt to establish a world record! The Governor the next day, playing second fiddle to her CM, hurriedly summoned an inquiry into the osari affair and discharged the CM, who is her name sake, and blamed the education officials for the blunder. This reminds this writer of how the Prime Minister rushed to defend his man responsible for the unprecedented Bond Scam that ruined the economy and the deposed kings unreserved declaration of his legal order in defence of the Sil Redi Scam. The National Child Protection Authority, which is clueless about the percentage of kids under age five, who suffer from acute malnutrition, and those between the ages 5-10 who are undernourished, also rushed to the rescue of the kids. This was while parents and the children seemed quite happy with this new experience. Instead of clutching on to a Osari pota the mature Kandyans could have suggested a better alternative to the bride and the groom, if they really intended entering the Guinness Book of World Records. Activists, professional groups, corporate leaders, media, intelligentsia and the right-thinking politically neutral people should stand up firmly against this unmanageable extremism and corruption and influence the youth and peace loving people of this nation to abhor the petty-minded politically biased pseudo patriots whose only aim is to grab power or remain in power and also secure their slots in political parties and the state with the help of certain NGOs and out-dated pressure out-fits that aid and abet them in committing frauds and plundering the assets of this country. The Acting Crimes OIC of the Divulapitiya Police, IP Saman Priyanka, was arrested by the Negombo Police today over the death of a suspect who was detained at the Negombo Prisons. Police Spokesman SP Ruwan Gunasekara said the Acting Crimes OIC and two others-an IP and a constable-of the Divulapitiya Police Station were transferred to the Peliyagoda Police today over the incident and IP Priyanka was arrested following the transfer. The Negombo police launched an investigation after a 50-year-old prisoner at the Negombo Prisons died after he was admitted to the hospital on Wednesday.(Darshana Sanjeewa) Show Up! Until It Was Light Listen baby, you can hear the engine ring News / National by Staff reporter Zimbabwean pastor Phillip Mugadza has failed in his bid to get the country's top court to throw out charges against him for prophesying that President Robert Mugabe will die later this month.He got into trouble after predicting in January that Mr Mugabe, 93, would die on 17 October.At the time of his arrest, his lawyer Gift Mtisi told the BBC:"He's admitting to the facts. He says he didn't lie - that's a message from God. Police will have to prove God didn't say it."Apology to Mugabe, Pastor Mugadza for "Mugabe will die prophecy" The Kelaniya University was closed indefinitely from today with immediate effect following a clash with two students groups this morning, Head of the Department of Mass Communication Professor Rohana Lakshman Piyadasa told the Daily Mirror. However, the Medical Faculty would continue to function as usual he said. Speaking to the Daily Mirror he said the clash between two groups occurred last night and this morning. The decision to close the University was arrived at a meeting held by the Senate following the clash. The clash could not be resolved despite several rounds of discussion held between the two rivaling student groups. Several students have been hospitalised, Professor Piyadasa said. The campus has been declared out of bounds for all students except medical students, he said. He also said the science exhibition, which was now on to mark the 20th Anniversary of the University had been cancelled due to the closure of the university. According to Police Media Division the clashes followed following some Arts Faculty students damaging the banners of the Medical exhibition. They also said five students had been admitted to the Kiribathgoda Hospital last night. (Chaturanga Pradeep) Video by Lal s. Kumara Parliament should be mindful of the fact that it exercises legislative power of the people Its the Constitution that is supreme Parliament is subordinate to the Constitution Im trying to get a court ruling to have elections to PCs as soon as possible In the absence of elected representatives, PC functions will become chaotic The Speaker has no judicial power The Governments constitution making process is unconstitutional What the President does is the exact opposite of what he promised before the elections Former Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva, who petitioned the Supreme Court against the newly enacted Provincial Councils Elections (Amendment) Act, in an interview with the Dailymirror aired his views about its consequences. Following are excerpts of the interview. Q You, as the former Chief Justice, decided to challenge the constitutionality of the Provincial Council Elections (Amendment) Act. What prompted you to do so? To begin with, we are the Socialist Democratic Republic of Sri Lanka. A Republic is a country governed by the people themselves. The sovereignty is with the people. The Republican Constitution started with the American war of independence in 1780. We are basically a republican democratic country. We have four levels of Government- the President, Parliament, Provincial Councils and Local Government. Its very important that people should understand this. All these levels of Government derive their authority from the Constitution. The main link between these four levels of Government and the people is the franchise. That is the right to vote. It is inalienable. Franchise and fundamental rights are inalienable. The local authorities or the fourth level of Government are the closest to people. They maintain roads, clear garbage, maintain sanitary conditions, meet public health requirements etc. We have had a system of Local Government coming from the time of the British. During the period of our ancient kings, we had Rata Sabhas and Gam Sabhas. The Local Government is an essential part of our system. All these bodies are elected. One person who understood the real significance of Local Governments was former President R. Premadasa. He brought about Pradeshiya Sabhas. He realized the value of having elected bodies at all times. In 1987, there was one law governing all these bodies. He amended it and inserted a section. It says six months before the term of elected council ceases, the election should be conducted. Then, there is a council ready to take over. He realized continuity. Its like the US Presidential System. The new President is elected before the incumbent leaves office. Although Premadasa hadnt been educated, he knew these things. The essential element of good governance is democracy and the rule of law. This Government, elected for good governance, hasnt conducted elections. The local bodies have been without elected representatives for about two years We were having the proportional representation for Local Elections at that time. Then, there was a Select Committee headed by Dinesh Gunawardane. It formulated these electoral wards. Now, there is a mix system. That new law was passed in 2012. There was a committee appointed to look into the creation of wards. By August 2015, the present President published the demarcation of wards. All the local authorities went out of office by 2016. The essential element of good governance is democracy and the rule of law. This Government, elected for good governance, hasnt conducted elections. The local bodies have been without elected representatives for about two years. One level of Government, provided for in the Constitution, has ceased to function. People have lost their democratic rights. QActually what made you challenge the law related to the provincial council elections? The next level of Government is provincial councils. Article 155 (e) of the Constitution states that every provincial council elected holds office for a period of five years of the first meeting. Three provincial councils are out of office. These elections must be conducted. The Provincial Councils Election Act states that the Election Commission, within one week, shall publish a notice informing that the elections will be held. These are very clear-cut laws. It has worked for 30 years. This isnt the Bill that was published in the gazette. People never had an opportunity to challenge it. The Government used the 20th Amendment to the Constitution to prevent it. It says Parliament can extend the term of provincial councils notwithstanding Article 155(e). When it was taken, the Supreme Court said franchise is affected and Parliament cant exercise this power. So, the court specified that this law required not only a two-thirds majority, but also the approval of people at a referendum. In the meantime, there was a law that was in Parliament to have a minimum quota for woman candidates. It is a small enactment. It is only one page. The Government dropped the 20th Amendment and took this up. The public are involved in respect of Bills. Article 78 of the Constitution states the Bill has to be published in the gazette one week before it is placed on the Order Paper of Parliament. This Government extended this period to two weeks in the 19th Amendment. That is for people to have prior notice of the Bill to be enacted. That is a commendable thing. Then, the first reading of the Bill proceeds. That is only a reading of the title of the Bill. Within one week, any person can challenge it in the Supreme Court. This particular bill wasnt challenged by anyone because it is fairly straightforward. Then, it was taken for the Second Reading. Section 51 of the Standing Orders states: On the Second Reading of a Bill, a debate may arise covering the general merits and principles of the Bill. When it is passed, it is referred to the committee stage. There is line by line reading of the respective clauses to enable some corrections to be made. What the Government did on that day is that they deleted all these lines. They introduced a whole new Act coming into 21 pages. Now, an entirely new system of election has been introduced. This isnt the Bill that was published in the gazette. It isnt the Bill which people were informed of. People never had an opportunity to challenge it. This isnt a Bill passed on general merits and principles of the Second Reading. One person who understood the real significance of Local Governments was former President R. Premadasa. He brought about Pradeshiya Sabhas. He realized the value of having elected bodies at all times It is hilarious situation. There is one page during the First Reading and the Second Reading. There are 21 pages in the committee stage. That is why I decided to go to court regarding this. Otherwise, they can smuggle in any legislation this way. QNow, The Speaker Karu Jayasuriya has certified the Bill into Act. The Parliament is considered supreme. Then, will there be any use of your action? That is a misconception. They say Parliament is supreme. Under our Constitution, no one is supreme. What is supreme is the Constitution. The Constitution starts by stating that this is the supreme law of the Republic. All the other bodies are subordinate. If The Speaker shows me one word saying Parliament is supreme, I will withdraw this case. In Britain, it was earlier held that the Parliament was supreme. There it is now held that the Constitution is supreme although they dont have any written Constitution. Parliament is subordinate to the Constitution. They have to be mindful that they exercise the legislative power of people. In that sense, people must be informed of what they are going to enact. The Speaker has certified. It is true. His certification under Article 79 is, I hereby certify that the Bill has been duly passed by the Parliament. It isnt just passed. He has overlooked the words duly passed. The Constitution starts by stating that this is the supreme law of the Republic. All the other bodies are subordinate. If The Speaker shows me one word saying Parliament is supreme, I will withdraw this case As for the 19th Amendment, this Government brought in substantial amendments during the committee stage. They did the same regarding the Local Government Election Law. But, they didnt change a lot. In this case, they have brought a whole new thing. If this goes like this, they will publish something and pass another entirely different. If this happens, the whole purpose of exercising peoples legislative power will be lost. That is why I have gone to court. People are deprived of their sovereignty. Now the Chairman of the Elections Commission says he doesnt have the pitch to play on. He clowns around with this. QDoes he have the legal authority to withhold elections since the Act is now in play? He has to make an announcement. He will say his announcement is made, but he cant have elections until constituencies are created. They have smuggled in these clauses. We will get a final ruling some time later. For the moment, there is a law in operation for 30 years. We had all the elections under that law. We must have an immediate solution until delimitation is done. QDoes it mean your sole intention is to have an election immediately? That is right. That is the point. There is an applicable law. This law has been in operation since 1988. There must be a council. The important thing is there is a whole list of exclusive powers vested with the Provincial Councils. If there is no elected provincials, all these things become dysfunctional. Most of the hospitals and schools come under the provincial ministries. After 1987, we have had a separation of functions. We have the provincial council list, the reserved list and the concurrent list. The provincial council list is exclusive to the provincial councils. There are so many subjects. The implementation of provincial economic planning, education, educational services and Local Governments falls under the purview of the provincial council. You also get roads, bridges, social services, rehabilitation, and agriculture among them. QNow the Government states that the councils will be placed under the respective Governors to be ruled. What is your view? On the other hand, this Government is talking about devolution of power. They are trying to frame a new Constitution. Yet, they are silent on the provisions of the Constitution related to devolution itself The Governor has no legislative power. He is only a repository of the executive power. The Constitution states there shall be a board of minsters with the Chief Minister as the head with not more than four others to aid and advise the Governor of the province in the exercise of functions. Powers are exercised in the name of Governor. The Governor shall in the exercise of his functions act in accordance with such advice. He has no independent rights. He cant act on his own. He has to act upon the Chief Minister and the board of ministers. There is a chaotic situation at Local Governments. That is a continuing problem. Now, little by little, all the institutions are ceasing to function. On the other hand, this Government is talking about devolution of power. They are trying to frame a new Constitution. Yet, they are silent on the provisions of the Constitution related to devolution itself. The Tamil parties also say it is alright. Then, they can repeal the Provincial Council System. That can be done in a systematic way. I have received information that the Tamil parties also dont mind the Provincial Councils ceasing to function in this manner. From their point of view, Northern Province Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran is a problem to TNA leader R. Sampanthan. QIf the Supreme Court decides in your favour, wont it lead to a clash between the judiciary and Legislature? The Speaker has nothing to do with this thing at all. The interpretation of the Constitution and law is exclusively with the court. It has the sole and exclusive jurisdiction. The Supreme Court is vested with jurisdiction related to constitutional matters. It is the final authority on constitutional matters. The Speaker has no judicial power. Earlier, there was a ruling by the then Speaker the late Anura Bandaranaike. There was an impeachment motion. The Supreme Court gave a stay order. Then, Anura Bandaranaike said no. He said the impeachment process was parliamentary business. That is correct. It is something to do with the removal of judges. It is certainly within the role of Parliament. The Supreme Court cant intervene in that. It doesnt mean that the Supreme Court cant decide on constitutional matters. The enactment of this law isnt constitutional. It isnt the law that was published in the gazette. QSome fear that the Government will take steps for the enactment of the new Constitution in the same way it circumvented the procedure. What is your view? The entire Constitution making process is also unconstitutional. There are particular ways providing for the amendment of the Constitution. They are given very clearly. The Bill for the amendment of the Constitution should be determined by the Cabinet. Then, the Cabinet should decide whether it should be passed by a two-thirds and referendum. If the Cabinet decides, the Supreme Court wont exercise its jurisdiction. It must go according to this. Otherwise, the Supreme Court can order a referendum. There is no provision made in the Constitution for a Constitutional Assembly. At least it must derive its authority from the Constitution. It derives authority from some resolution in Parliament. The Parliament cant do that. The Parliament must act according to the Constitution. The Government derailed the procedure. That is a serious matter. In the United States, the Constitution has existed for 200 years. They go strictly according to the Constitution. Here, it has become a fashion to change the Constitution. Today, Dr. Jayampathi Wickramaratne is involved. In 1996, he was involved with Chandrika Kumaratunga to draft the Constitution. It was put to the Parliament. The UNP burned the copies of that Constitution. The same man is doing it now. It is frightening. These are people with no respect for the due process. We fear that they will subvert the process and enact something unacceptable to the people. If it is put to a referendum, it will be divisive. In such a situation, Tamils will say its Federalism and the Sinhala Buddhists unitary status. Once again, tension will build up. QWhat do you think of the interim report of the Constitutional Reforms? They are raising issues. An interim report is not a draft legislation. It has vague ideas. Persons will interpret ideas in different ways. There is now a huge dispute building up between the parties. President Sirisena, in his manifesto, didnt mention a new Constitution. He only said the Constitution would be subjected to certain amendments. He said the 19th amendment, proposed by Ven. Athuraliye Ratana Theras Pivithuru Hetak Organization and Ven. Maduluwave Sobhitha Thera, would be done. I was involved in drafting those proposals for Ven. Ratana Thera Thera. According to those proposals, the President has one term. After his election, he ceases to be a member of a political party. If President Sirisena stuck to that, he would have faced no problem. At the end of five years, he would have retired gracefully. Now, he has become the leader of a party. He did the exact opposite of what he promised and has got in to a big mess. QAre you planning to play a role in politics? No. I support the Joint Opposition in their political activities. Issues like this have to be fought on a political basis. I am fighting on a legal basis. They must give political leadership to this. I wont contest elections or hold any office. I have come here in the interest of the public. Neither President nor PM ever thought it right to condemn attacks on Rohingya refugees Monks violated rights of refugees and basic tenets of Buddhism Politics of anti-Rohingya campaign outright Sinhala Buddhist racism These are Muslim terrorists who have killed Buddhist monks. Sri Lanka is not for them. They should be sent out immediately, shouted protesting Buddhist monks who broke into the UNHCR safe house sheltering 31 Rohingya refugees at Mt. Lavinia. This is not the first such violent anti-Muslim mob attack led by Buddhist monks. Neither President Sirisena nor Prime Minister Wickremesinghe, who vow to safeguard Buddhism and the Sinhala Unitary State, ever thought it right to condemn these attacks on Rohingya refugees, while they hurried to condemn the massacre at LA, USA. These monks not only violated the rights of Rohingya refugees which the Sri Lankan Government is bound to safeguard as a UN member state, but also violated the basic tenets of Buddhism; Meththa, loving-kindness; Karuna, compassion; Muditha, sympathetic joy; and Upekkha, equanimity. A group of very concerned people including me addressed a letter to the Premier as the Head of Government on September 29, demanding the immediate arrest of all those involved in the attack on the safe house including Buddhist monks, for breach of peace, violence and hate speech. The letter very clearly stated, This racially-motivated violent incident brought international disrepute and proved the government is uncertain in stopping such hate-mongering violent protests when led by Buddhist monks. It is therefore the government that is wholly responsible in allowing law enforcement agencies to violate the rights of the refugees and avoid taking action against hate-mongering violent groups that create a social mindset that would never allow any degree of reconciliation in this country. The first arrests reported were however not made by the three police units deployed. The much-delayed statement by the Secretary to the Law and Order Ministry said they were by the CCD.First a man and thereafter a woman were arrested. This followed with the arrests of three more men. It took another two days to summon a leading monk of Ravana Balaya to the CCD and then arrest him. A public call was thereafter made asking for information about another leading monk and a man. With these few arrests, action against those police personnel who failed to carry out their duties at the protest was casually forgotten. Most unfortunately, this remains the dilemma the Yahapalanaya leadership is unable to face with political acumen and courage Politics of this anti-Rohingya campaign is outright Sinhala Buddhist racism. It is fundamentally anti-Muslim. While the degree of violence and focus are somewhat outside the usual target, the thinking, the ideology is Sinhala Buddhist supremacy. It is the same Sinhala Buddhist ideology that drives these violent and ethno-religious hate campaigns against other ethnic and religious presence in the Land of Gautama Buddha. They are all linked to the politics of the joint opposition (JO) that is dished out with the brand name Rajapaksa. It is Rajapaksa politics that is played out by Buddhist monks who drive the Yahapalanaya leadership scared stiff. Different platforms from Rohingya refugees to Wilpattu deforestation to the Constitution are used to push through the campaign the JO is part of. The present focus is on the draft document of the Steering Committee presented in parliament as a proposal for a new Constitution. It is impossible to give Buddhism the foremost place without treating other religions differently, a statement issued by the Buddha Sasana Kaarya Saadhaka Mandalaya, signed by Ven. Kotugoda Dhammawansa Mahanayake Thera, Ven. Ittapane Dhammalankara Nayake Thera, Ven. Tirikunamale Ananda Nayake Thera and Ven. Bellanwila Wimalarathana Nayake Thera among others stated very clearly and openly. What they shamelessly say is other religions should not be treated in the foremost way Buddhism should be treated and that must be clear in the Constitution. A very timidly-faithful and leading Yahapalanaya apologist told the media the previous Friday that this government had three phobias; the Bhikkhu, the police and the State officer phobia A very timidly-faithful and leading Yahapalanaya apologist, who two years ago wanted the people to believe Sri Lanka had this time got the most democratic President and PM with whom an intellectual discussion could be held, told the media the previous Friday that this government had three phobias; the Bhikkhu, the police and the State officer phobia. He attributes these phobias as reason for this governments failure in delivering the promises made during the two elections in January and August 2015. A democratic government with trusted leaders they vowed would not falter on promises made to people. All of them are far from understanding that they are fixated with a Rajapaksa phobia. Rajapaksa phobia is what holds back this government from direct and firm action on the Rohingya refugee issue to postponing the LG and now PC elections too. It is the Rajapaksa phobia which compelled the parliamentary leadership of the unity government to smuggle amendments during committee stage in parliament to both the 19th and 20th Amendments to the Constitution. It is that what is holding back the functioning of the OMP. It is also that what makes the government slip through war crimes probes, detention of youth and occupied private land in the North-East. They simply do not have the political will and confidence to address serious issues by publicly-challenging the Sinhala Buddhist politics of Rajapaksa. That explains in very simple terms what Rajapaksa phobia is. For this very reason, the government leadership gets into contradictions on what is proposed for the new Constitution as well. When Sinhala Buddhist Rajapaksa campaigners accuse them, the proposed Constitution would dilute the status provided to Buddhism. When the Sinhala Buddhist campaigners accuse them of betraying the Unitary State, they try to prove they have not. When they say the proposed Constitution is federal and would pave the way for separatism, they swear it is not a federal system that is proposed. UNP National List MP Dr. Jayampathy Wickramaratne, who claims to be an LSSPer while being the specially-appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the PMs office, is also the most informed on the governments stance on matters Constitutional. He told the media, The reforms have not diluted the first and foremost place given to Buddhism in the 1978 Constitution as suggested by a section of monks and disgruntled groups who have failed to correctly absorb what was contained in the Interim Report. He also told the media, Recommendations of the Interim Report of the Steering Committee had not only further strengthened the unitary character of the State but included clear-cut provisions to prevent division. If any of those contentious issues were not changed and would remain further strengthened, why should there be all this waste of taxpayer money for drafting a new Constitution? The present Constitution could remain with simple amendments to; (I) Prune executive powers of the President as now proposed; (II) Strengthen the unitary character as Dr. Jayampathy says they have proposed; (III) Please the Sinhala Buddhist campaigners on the foremost place accorded to Buddhism. Sadly, these political figures in the Yahapalanaya Government fear Rajapaksa so much, they do not want to spell out what they want done with the Constitution. They dont have the political potency the high priest of the Malwatta Chapter of the Shyamopali Siyam Nikaya, Most Ven. Thibbotuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Thera has. Last Monday, JO leader MP Dinesh Gunawardena who met Malwatta Chapter Chief Ven. Sumangala Thera to canvass support for their anti-Constitution Sinhala Buddhist campaign was rebuffed. The prelate told MP Gunawardena that there may not be another opportunity and it was time everyone got together in settling these issues for the benefit of the country. The Ven. Thera also said it was because the Bandaranaike-Chelvanayakam accord was not allowed to be implemented that this unwanted massive tragedy occurred with thousands losing their lives, and that it was best they acted in a way that would not lead to any calamity once again. This may not be the position of the Asgiriya Mahanayake Venerable Warakagoda Sri Gnanarathana Thera. As NP Chief Minister, Justice Wigneswaran, after his recent audience with the two high priests aptly described, The two High Priests are personifications of contrary characteristics. I am sure Mahinda would find himself closer in spirit to Asgiriya rather than Malwatta. The Asgiriya line of thinking came out loud and clear, when I sat with Justice Wigneswaran at the audience to explain the problems of the Northern and Eastern people is a stubborn assumption that this country is a Sinhala Buddhist State historically and it should remain so as unitary State. Minorities therefore should accept this country as such. It is this political stand the JO and other Sinhala Buddhist segments like those who signed the Buddha Sasana Kaarya Saadhaka Mandalaya statement stand for and would campaign for against the Steering Committee proposals for a new Constitution. Most unfortunately, this remains the dilemma the Yahapalanaya leadership is unable to face with political acumen and courage. They tend to react to Asgiriya-JO politics that by default is Rajapaksa politics, instead of consolidating themselves on the political statements made by the Malwatta prelate. It is this utterly-timid political reaction that leaves them fixated on everything Sinhala Buddhist, contradicting what they propose as Constitutional provisions. It is this Rajapaksa phobia that in turn has made them avoid elections; LG and PC elections for now. A government without a strong political backbone cannot stand erect, nor bend the way it should. That leaves even two and a half dozens of Rohingya refugees a frightening group to live with. First govt. to suggest removal of unitary state was one led by CBK UNP, LTTE agreed to explore solution to ethnic problem within framework of federalism Dr. Gunadasa Amarasekara says 13A, which brought in federal structure, should be revoked Almost all political parties in the country or the leaders of them had at least once in their history been supportive of the federal system The proposals for Constitutional reforms prepared by that government in 1995 and popularly called package described Sri Lanka as a union of regions. Whenever the discourse on Constitution-making came to fore during the past two decades, the bone of contention was the nature of the state with the Tamils wanting a federal mode of governance and the Sinhalese insisting on a unitary state. However, even after more than thirty years since the ethnic problem took a violent turn, both the Sinhalese and the Tamils are fighting over ethnological terms such as federalism, unitary state and right to self-determination. With Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe who is also the Chairman of the Steering Committee set-up under the Constitutional Assembly presenting an Interim Report of his committee in the Parliament on September 21, the terminological war with special emphasis on nature of the state has again become the main subject discussed in the political arena and media. This time, while almost all Sinhalese nationalists are insisting that the countrys unitary state that has been incorporated in the Constitution must be preserved, Dr. Gunadasa Amarasekara, a strong and strident Sinhalese nationalist, has come up with a different stance in an article published in the Daily Mirror on Wednesday. The essence of his article was that despite almost all other Sinhalese nationalists stressing the need to retain the current nature of the State, Sri Lanka is already a federal state. He stressed that the 13th Amendment to the Constitution which brought in this federal structure into the country should be revoked. Almost all political parties in the country or the leaders of them had at least once in their history been supportive of the federal system though they call others traitors for doing the same However, the Article 2 of the second Republican Constitution of 1978 stipulates, The Republic of Sri Lanka is a Unitary State. The Article was not amended when the 13th Amendment was introduced under the Indo-Lanka Accord of 1987 in order to create provincial councils with powers to make statutes or provincial laws. In order to prove his point that Sri Lanka is a federal state, Dr. Amarasekara quotes an opinion by Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake, the 43rd Chief Justice of Sri Lanka who was impeached in 2013 by the Rajapaksa Government. She had expressed this view when the Supreme Court judgment on the 13th Amendment was publicised in 1987. Secondly, Article 154, G (B) clearly points out that in a conflict between the statute of provincial councils and an existing law with regard to a matter on the Provincial Council List, the existing law shall remain suspended and operative within the province so long as that statute is in force. Moreover, this leads to the further argument that the provisions of the 13th Amendment are contravening Article 2 of the 1978 Constitution. Article 2 precisely announces that Sri Lanka is a unitary state, and in the present circumstances, one could argue that provincial councils, which are empowered to make statutes on par with laws made by the parliament, and to enact statutes that can suspend and render inoperative laws made by parliament. This has made the country federal in nature, Dr. Bandaranayake had stated. Even after more than thirty years since the ethnic problem took a violent turn, both the Sinhalese and the Tamils are fighting over ethnological terms such as federalism, unitary state and right to self-determination Interestingly, this power of the provincial councils that can suspend and render inoperative laws made by the parliament contributed to her ouster from the post of Chief Justice and ironically she happened to appear for this provincial council power against which she had expressed her opinion. When the Divineguma Bill was referred to the Supreme Court for its perusal in 2012, the court ruled that it had to be approved by all provincial councils. In the light of the already-soured relationship between Chief Justice Bandaranayake and Rajapaksa, this was viewed as a hostile act and led the regime to take action for her impeachment. Dr. Amarasekara has also quoted eminent legal expert on Constitutional affairs, H.L.de Silva, as saying that the position of Sri Lanka was not substantially different from the kind of federal system that prevails in India after the enactment of the 13th Amendment. The same point had been more graphically-argued by late Professor Christopher Weeramantry in a paper submitted in 1986 when the provincial council system was under discussion between the leaders of Sri Lanka and India. Professor Weeramantry who later served as the Vice President of the International Court of Justice in Hague argued in his paper that with the devolution of power to the periphery, those peripheral institutions get the power to make laws on subjects devolved to them. His definition was that if there were only one legislature in a country, it would be a unitary state and would be federal when it has more than one legislature. He had further contended that in spite of the fact that States in Malaysia did not have powers as the powers that were proposed then to be given to the Sri Lankan provincial councils, Malaysia was considered to be a country with a federal form of governance whereas Sri Lanka was not. All these arguments imply that despite the Sri Lankan Constitution describes Sri Lanka as a Unitary State, practically it is not so. It was on this basis that the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), Mahajana Eksath Peramuna (MEP) and other opposition political parties vied against the provincial council system initially. However, with their insistence that the term unitary state be retained in the proposed Constitution as well indicates that they are now of the view that Sri Lanka is still a unitary state in spite of provincial councils having been instituted under the 13th Amendment. Besides, almost all political parties in the country or the leaders of them had at least once in their history been supportive of the federal system though they call others traitors for doing the same. JVP might be the first to suggest self-rule for minorities in its policy declaration which was first published in 1977 and still recognised by the party as its official policy document. Wimal Weerawansa and other NFF leaders who were also the members of the JVP had never criticised this policy. The first government to suggest the removal of the term unitary state from the Constitution was the one led by President Chandrika Kumaratunga. The proposals for Constitutional reforms prepared by that government in 1995 and popularly called package described Sri Lanka as a union of regions. And interestingly, they were drafted by the then Constitutional Affairs Minister Professor G.L. Peiris, a bigwig of the joint opposition now, together with Dr. Neelan Thruchchelvam, a Constitutional expert and leader of the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) then. Again, the same government presented a new draft Constitution in August 2000 on the same basis of power devolution with a temporary amalgamation of the Northern and Eastern provinces. This draft too was prepared by Minister G.L. Peiris. Present leaders of the joint opposition including those of the MEP were to vote for that proposed Constitution. The United National Party (UNP), the members of which set fire to the copies of the draft inside the parliament, agreed with the LTTE to explore a solution to the ethnic problem within the framework of federalism during their third round of peace talks in Norwegian Capital Oslo in November/December, 2002. Unlike the UNP, President Kumaratunga welcomed this agreement. It was again Professor G.L. Peiris who led the governments team negotiating with the LTTE. How can federalism then, be anathema to any political party or a leader of it? Violence begets violence. Those who live by the sword shall die by the sword. It does not mean that the 59 people who died at the Las Vegas concert shooting and those who were injured in the worst ever mass shooting in the United States, were promoters of violence. But the collective soul of the United States is. This collective soul given to violence manifested itself last Sunday in Stephen Paddock, the gunman who, from his 32nd floor room in a nearby hotel, sprayed bullets aimlessly at the country music fans for some ten minutes. Perhaps, this was the first ever mass shooting incident where the killer did not know why he killed and the killed did not know why they were killed. Isnt this a sign of much worse chaos to come? Simply put, the motive for this massacre remains an unknown riddle. The 64-year-old millionaire killer was a caring person. He enjoyed the company of family and friends. Fun-loving, he was not known to have held any extremist political or religious views. Besides, he was not a Muslim, an identity that prompts law enforcement authorities to slap a terrorism motive on a killer. Then why did he commit this gruesome crime before he took his life? Perhaps, an answer to this riddle will never be found. Until the motive is found, the United States collective soul stands accused, for it is willingly or unwillingly has been living with violence, since long before it came into being as a political entity. More than 500 years ago, America was a land of peace. Its native people lived in harmony with nature. But since Christopher Columbuss west ward drift that exposed the hidden continent to the Europeans, Americas history has been one of violence, chaos and lawlessness. Millions of Native Americans were killed in clod-blooded genocide by the land and gold hungry European invaders. They even came in the guise of humanitarians to kill the Native Americans by distributing to them chickenpox-infected blankets, in what could be described as historys first germ warfare. When the Native Americans resisted the nasty white mans evil designs and launched surprise attacks on White European settlements, the European invaders armed themselves with guns. The invader thought his survival depended on his ownership of a gun, a weapon superior to the Native Americans arrow. This was the beginning of Americas gun culture, which found itself a niche in American society during the War of Independence in the 18th century. In the American psyche, there appears to be an emotional link with the violence-ridden past. Soon, the right to bear arms was constitutionally guaranteed under the Second Amendment. The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed, it says. The invader thought his survival depended on his ownership of a gun, a weapon superior to the Native Americans arrow. This was the beginning of Americas gun culture, which found itself a niche in American society during the War of Independence in the 18th century Since then, the gun culture, apart from accounting for millions of deaths, has taken the lives of four US Presidents: Abraham Lincoln, James A. Garfield, William McKinley and John F. Kennedy. President Ronald Reagan almost became the fifth. Yet the call for gun control in the United States has only been a whimper. Voices that were heard every time a shocking gun crime took place went unheard in the bang from the barrel of the powerful gun lobby coordinated by the National Rifles Association. In the aftermath of the ghastly killing of 20 primary class children and six teachers in Sandy Hook in what was described as the worst school gun crime in US history, the then US President, Barack Obama, pushed for strict gun control measures through a congressional bill, but his effort was shot down by the powerful gun lobby, which carried out a virulent campaign against the bill. An angry Obama hit out: The gun lobby and its allies willfully lied about the bill. Unlike President Obama, who at least made some efforts aimed at gun control, President Donald Trump is a son of a gun. During the campaign, Trump wooed the gun lobby and won its support as he defended the Second Amendment and criticised Obama for his gun control efforts. How many mass shootings and victims should it take to check this gun culture in the United States where mass murderer Paddock could own an arsenal of 42 firearms, including automatic weapons, and thousands of rounds of ammunition in addition to explosives? A staggering 300 million guns are now in circulation in the US, giving the United States the dubious honour of being the worlds number one country of armed civilians. There are 88 guns for every one hundred Americans, according to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime. Yemen, a war-ravaged nation, comes a distant second with its gun ownership figure being 55 for every 100 civilians. Yemen, a war-ravaged nation, comes a distant second with its gun ownership figure being 55 for every 100 civilians Firearms account for some 68 percent of all killings in America or more than 30,000 Americans are killed with guns each year -- about two-thirds of those being suicides. The number of Americans who are shot at tops 100,000 a year. This year alone, there have been 50,000 gun crimes. Gun control advocates say Americans are 25 times more likely to be killed with a gun than people in other developed countries. Gun control measures have succeeded elsewhere. In 1996, Australia, in response to a mass shooting incident, bought back more than 600,000 firearms and introduced gun laws that have succeeded in halving gun deaths. Similar measures have succeeded in Britain, too. In the US, if gun control measures are to succeed, the Second Amendment, which is part of the American bill of rights, should be amended without any room for ambiguity that has given rise to judicial interpretations in defence of gun ownership. For this to happen, civil society should carry out a campaign similar to what forced the US government to end the war in Vietnam. As a further measure, the US foreign policy should not be one based on wars. There is more war than peace in the US foreign policy, an aggressive instrument, through which the president promotes the interest of American capitalism, the arms lobby and the financial mafia. US President Donald Trump calls this policy America First. But this is what America has been doing since the end of World War II, despite such policy has failed in the Korean peninsula, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya and elsewhere. Americas wars, just as its movies, glorify and romanticize violence. At global level, the United Nations measures are apparently as ineffective, despite the Arms Trade Treaty that came into force in 2004 to check illegal transfer of small arms and light weapons. A review conference is long overdue in view of the fact that it was small arms and light weapons that sustain terrorism and killers like Paddock. The bottom line is that if we deny killers and terrorists the access to weapons, then we can at least save some lives. There are 190 employees of the national carrier Srilankan who draw a salary of more than Rupees one million while four top level mangers draw a salary of Rs. four million each, Janatha Vimukthi Peramauna (JVP) MP and Chairman of Parliamentary Committee on Public Accounts (COPE) Chairman Sunil Handunetti said yesterday. Mr Handunetti told a media briefing that the national carrier cannot survive any longer. COPE at times advices the state enterprises on how they could be turned into profit making ventures but it is unable to think of any advice for the national carrier, Mr Handunetti said. He said the national carrier had greatly contributed to the countrys overall economic crisis. A sum of Rs. 16 billion has already been paid for the company from which the national carrier was to purchase eight new aircraft, as compensation for the cancellation of the order. Air Bus company was to start manufacturing four more aircrafts for the Srilankan airlines this month. The planes are to be purchased in 2020. We questioned Srilankan whether they intends purchasing these planes. The management said there is no intention of purchasing new aircrafts. If it is so the manufacturing has to be stopped. It is obvious that the government has to inform the manufacturers that it no longer requires the planes, the MP said Srilankn has survived last two years by borrowing $ 400 million from Bank of Ceylon and Peoples Bank. A sum of dollars 400 million has been given to this money- eating monster. The national carrier has suffered losses amounting to Rs. 26 billion despite pumping of this fund he added. COPE chief said the decision to purchase eight aircraft was made without a Cabinet approval in 2013. No Cabinet approval was given to pay Rs. 16 billion as compensation for the cancellation of the order either. It is the white collar criminals who have led the country towards these economic scandals. The losses have to be recovered from those who destroyed the airline in the past and from those who are destroying it in the present time he said in this regard. Coming up with more disclosures the COPE chief said flights to some destinations had been stopped. However Melbourne flight was operating as the Srilankan Airlines CEO visited his family frequently. People will be able to see for themselves whether it is the Srilankan, the expressways scandal or the bond issue is the biggest fraud in the country when the Auditor Generals report comes in shortly, he said. (Yohan Perera) News / National by Staff reporter The three Chinese nationals who are facing charges of contravening the exchange control act have been freed on $500.The three accused were found in illegal possession of $50 000 in bond notes.This is the first high profile case brought before the court involving the illegal foreign currency trading since the coming into force of the exchange control act last month.The 16 other illegal foreign currency dealers were granted US$100 bail each. Chinas ambassador to India Luo Zhaohui is not given to levity. But he dropped his inscrutable mask last week when he said on the 68th anniversary of the Peoples Republic of China: India and China should turn the old page and start a new chapter with the same pace and direction. We should dance together. Standoff The Chinese ambassador had mostly kept a low profile during the Doklam standoff. How seriously should India take version 2.0 of Hindi-Chini bhai-bhai articulated by him? Heres what else Luo said, with the full concurrence of Beijing which keeps a tight rein on diplomatic statements: We should make one plus one 11. China is the largest trading partner of India. We have made a lot of progress at the bilateral level, as well as in international and regional affairs. Unusually for a Chinese Communist diplomat, Luo wrote an op-ed for an Indian daily (less unusually, he chose the China-friendly The Hindu) to expound on Chinas new-found respect for Sino-Indian ties: In the one year since I assumed my new responsibility in India, I have witnessed ups and downs in China-India relations. Now I am in a better position to understand the common aspirations and potential of our two countries for cooperation and development. I believe that China and India should work towards the same direction and jointly implement the Xiamen consensus reached by our leaders. We should work towards a sound and healthy bilateral relationship by focusing on cooperation, narrowing and resolving differences. Just like Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi said, both sides should make sure that China-India relations do not derail, confront, or go out of control, and make the Himalayan region a new highland for Asias development. Nothing that Chinese diplomats say or write publicly is without sanction from the Communist partys all-powerful politburo headed by Chinese President Xi Jinping. Luo had earlier spoken admiringly of his teacher, the Buddhist monk Professor Xu Fancheng who translated the Bhagwad Gita, the Upanishads and Abhigyan Shakuntalam from Sanskrit to Chinese. Xu lived in Aurobindo Ashram in Puducherry from 1945 to 1978. Luo added: In our bilateral engagement, there have been thousands of prominent persons like Professor Xu Fancheng, Bodhidharma, Faxian (a Chinese Buddhist monk who travelled to India in the third century) and Rabindranath Tagore. So how should the Indian government respond to Chinas new charm offensive after the harsh and threatening rhetoric during the Doklam crisis? The answer: with caution. Indian policymakers should keep three facts in mind which explain Beijings volte-face. Pressure First, China is under severe diplomatic pressure internationally over its tacit support of North Korea. To mollify the United States, Beijing has barred North Korean-owned businesses from operating in China from January 2018. It has cut energy exports to Pyongyang. US President Donald Trump will be in Beijing next month as part of a five-nation sweep through East Asia for the 2017 APEC Summit in Vietnam. China will come under increasing pressure from Washington if North Korea continues to test missiles and conduct nuclear tests. Xis own authority will be at stake. China has been named and shamed as the source of illegal transfer of nuclear weapons technology to North Korea and Pakistan, the two rogue nations that are its closest allies. The last thing China needs is to open up at this stage another confrontational front with India. Second, the Communist Party of China (CPC) will hold its five-yearly Congress from October 18. The Congress is crucial for Xi Jinping to establish his authority as a global statesman. Xi has ruthlessly sidelined all rivals as the Congress prepares to ratify a second five-year term for him. On the eve of the Congress in Beijing, the Communist Party, acting on Xis instructions, expelled a rising political star, Sun Xhengcai. Only 54, Sun was regarded as a serious challenger to Xis coterie in the CPC. Given such internal challenges, Xi has clearly decided not to be distracted by confrontations with India and recalibrate ties for the present. Market The third factor for Beijings conciliatory shift is the belated realisation that India is one day likely to be the second largest market (after the United States) for Chinese products. It makes little sense for the pragmatic Chinese to make a permanent enemy of a neighbouring country that is emerging as a major trading partner. But there is yet another reason for Beijings sudden mellowness towards India. It lost serious face over Doklam. It was forced to abandon road building on the Bhutan-Sikkim-China trijunction. Indias political-military resolve surprised a Beijing leadership used to Indias tradition of backing off from military and diplomatic confrontations. China has understood that its no longer business as usual under the Narendra Modi government. Like all pragmatic bullies, China knows when to back down again for the present. New Delhi would be making a mistake to take Beijings charm offensive entirely at face value. China continues brazenly to: a) protect globally-designated Pakistan terrorist Masood Azhar; b) block Indias membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG); and c) build infrastructure on Indian sovereign territory in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). It will take more than mellow op-eds by the Chinese ambassador to India for Beijing to begin acting like a responsible global power and stop protecting rogue states Pakistan and North Korea. News / Press Release by Matabeleland Institute for Human Rights Matabeleland Institute for Human Rights hereby calls on the Parliament of Zimbabwe to decisively act on the issue of tribalism by immediately setting up a Parliamentary Taskforce/working group on tribalism, whose main task is to investigate opinions and views of the minority groups in Zimbabwe about tribalism and how best it should be dealt with.This call for the anti-tribalism taskforce comes on the recognition of the following:a) A week ago back there was uproar in Parliament when the presiding officer attempted to force the Deputy Minister of Home Affairs to respond in English arguing that responding in IsiNdebele will disadvantage some members of the house. This was despite the fact that previously some Ministers have responded in Shona and the presiding officer has never corrected that is disadvantages some members who do not hear Shona.b) On Tuesday the 3rd of October 2017, Honourable Piscilla Misihairambi-Mushonga moved a very important motion in Parliament on tribalism and tender system in Zimbabwe and it was seconded by Honourable Thabitha Khumalo. The initial reactions of some of the Members of Parliament who seem bent on not having the issue discussed is a clear indication that issues of tribe are still pertinent in Zimbabwe.c) Responding to the Motion by Honourable Misihairambwi - Mushonga, the Vice President of Zimbabwe who is also a responsible for National Healing and Reconciliation, downplayed the tribal issues and pretended as if tribal differences do not exist in the country. However, he self defeated when he somehow insinuated that tribal preferences exist but there is no law which says one tribe is better or superior than the other.d) There is intense tribal hatred and divisions in Zimbabwe which has evidently manifested itself in civil service, family unions and relations, individual citizen relations, sporting events, business, religious congregations, political formations, social media platforms, deployment of security services etc. Tribalism in Zimbabwe is fuelled and exacerbated by centralization of power and decision making. Ignoring this glaring fact is being malicious and untrue.e) The fact that we have a person at the level of a Vice President who is responsible for national healing and reconciliation evidently confirms that there are serious divisions and injustices (most of which are tribal) and the fact that the person concerned is denying the existence of institutionalized tribal rifts, tensions, marginalization and injustices is regrettable and unfortunate to say the list.It is in this light that we at Matabeleland Institute for Human Rights therefore call for the speedy setup of a Parliamentary Taskforce to investigate (especially among the tribally marginalized and excluded minority tribes and groups) the extent of institutionalised Tribalization of development and service delivery. This taskforce should also solicit for the views of the groups as to what should be done to solve this issue. The report of the taskforce should be presented to Parliament (not to the executive) and should be made public. This call is in support of the Motion by Honourable Priscilla Misihairambwi-Mushonga which she has tabled in parliament.Tribalism is a human right violation as it violates the freedom of association, freedom from discrimination and cultural rights as enshrined in the Constitution of Zimbabwe and International law. Opinion / Columnist Libya has experienced nothing but war and brutality since the reign of King Idris I started in 1951. Colonel Muammar Gaddafi deposed the monarch in a bloodless coup in 1969. Under Gaddafi, or 'Brotherly Leader,' as he loved to be called then, oil-rich Libya was ruled by decree for an astonishing 42 years. When Libya finally had a taste of democracy in 2012, civil war broke out in the desert nation of 6 million, and two centres of power based in Tobruk and the capital Tripoli surfaced. Libya remains utterly chaotic till this day, and plenty of armed Islamist militias are thriving there, in what seemingly appears to be a failed state.So, it is surprising to note Libya had the wonderful honour of chairing the African Union (AU) in 2009. One of the stated objectives of the AU is "to promote democratic principles and institutions, popular participation and good governance". How did the chairmanship of Gaddafi promote the aforementioned aims in Libya - or Africa? For all of his philanthropy and support of liberation movements in Africa - Gaddafi was no democrat himself. He brooked no dissent to his absolute rule and basically quashed opposition protests or tried and hanged dissidents. Gaddafi certainly did nothing to embrace or nurture an embryonic democratic dispensation in Libya.But his brand of leadership was not unique in nature or practice. President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea, who led the AU in 2011, is the longest serving leader in the world. He has ruled the central African nation for 37 years. That is quite an achievement for the man who started his long reign by staging a coup and ordering the execution of his uncle, Francois Macias Nguema, the first president of Equatorial Guinea, in September 1979. Obiang was elected President in 1982 and re-elected in 1989 and 1992 as the only candidate. He won elections in 1996 and 2002 with an incredibly sky-high 98 percent of the popular vote'.The people of the Equatorial Guinea must really enjoy his autocratic rule - or they do not have much of a real say in the political affairs of the country. But does the AU care that Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, son of Obiang and Equatorial Guinea's vice-president, is currently standing trial in France for allegedly stealing millions of dollars from government coffers? He has purportedly stashed away hundreds of millions of dollars in ill-gotten fortunes in overseas banks, and ostensibly holds enviable portfolios of upmarket real estate in France, America and elsewhere.Does the AU believe that Obiang, a former chairman of the continental body, is not a dictator? Can the leaders of the AU not see that oil-rich Equatorial Guinea is a tightly controlled nation that is brimming with deep poverty?Perhaps the democratic credentials of Obiang and Gaddafi represent the real nature of African democracy. Look at Egypt for a moment. It has been embroiled in a vicious cycle of military dictatorships and pseudo democratic dispensations for decades on end. The Arab Spring and election of Mohamed Morsi provided brief and minor distractions for the anti-democratic forces in Cairo: The Egyptian Army. The removal of a fragile Hosni Mubarak in 2011 merely made room for General Abdel el-Sisi to become the latest military officer to lead the most populous Arab nation on earth.Is Egypt still a member of the AU in good standing though? Oh, yes it is. Has the AU suspended Egypt for the illegal and undemocratic removal of Mohamed Morsi in 2013? No: of course not. Has the AU called upon Egypt to hold free and fair elections? No. Has the AU released a statement calling on Egypt to release hundreds of imprisoned journalists and political activists? No - it has not at all. But Egypt had a one-month stint as head of the AU Peace and Security Council in September 2016.So President Sisi might lead the AU any day now. That is the African way. You can ask the people of Angola about the African way of manipulating democracy, seemingly for peace and national unity and establishing perfect dictatorships. President Jose Eduardo dos Santos led the former Portuguese colony of Angola for 37 years as well. Interestingly, for a country that gained independence in 1975, Dos Santos presided over the first multiparty elections held in mineral-rich Angola in 1992. So for 13 years Angola had an unelected leader at the helm of the country.And there is the small matter of Isabel dos Santos. She is actually the richest lady in Africa and just happens to be the daughter of yes, you guessed right - the former president of Angola. Forbes Magazine estimates she has a current net worth of US$3.2 billion dollars. Democracy in Africa is floundering about as personality-driven fanatical cults and military dictatorships destroy African societies and thwart social and economic progress at the shrine of social and political conservatism. When will boatloads of refugees fleeing famine and political instability in Africa cease to invade the waters of the Mediterranean Sea permanently? And when will democracy in Africa deliver happiness and financial and social security for all and sundry? Preparing teens for their futures with soft skills Businesses of every size and industry continue to identify labor shortages as a top challenge across the country and... Where to find non-partisan ballot information Thank you for your non-biased bullet points explaining the three state ballot proposals in "A look at the three state... Updated 1 p.m. At about 12:30 p.m. Thursday, the lockdowns at Johnson Elementary School and Buford Middle School were lifted. A city schools spokeswoman said all students were safe. 11:45 a.m. Johnson Elementary School and Buford Middle School are currently on soft lockdown due to a nearby police investigation on Shamrock Road that occurred around 11:45 a.m. Thursday. A police spokesman said officers are investigating a reported sexual assault. He said the schools were placed on lockdown as a precaution. More information was not immediately available. A spokeswoman for Charlottesville City Schools also was not immediately available. Updated at 9:56 p.m. A Charlottesville judge ruled on Wednesday that a Virginia statute protecting war memorials does apply to the citys statue of Robert E. Lee, but that a lawsuit against the city does not sufficiently argue that the statue is indeed a monument to the Civil War. Judge Richard E. Moore also will not order the city to remove the tarps placed this summer on the Lee statue and the statue of fellow Confederate Gen. Thomas Stonewall Jackson, despite concerns about potential damage to the statues. Charlottesville Circuit Court was full Wednesday as both supporters and opponents of the Lee statue waited to hear if Moore would allow a lawsuit objecting to the removal of the statue to proceed. The lawsuit was filed in March after the City Council voted to remove the Lee statue, citing it as a symbol of racism. In a written ruling issued Wednesday, Moore said it is clear the Lee statue would fall under Virginia Code 15.2-1812, which states that a locality may erect monuments or memorials for any war or conflict, including the Civil War. If such are erected, it shall be unlawful for the authorities of the locality to disturb or interfere with any monuments or memorials so erected, or to prevent its citizens from taking proper measures and exercising proper means for the protection, preservation and care of same, according to the statute. In this case, the statute states that disturb or interfere with includes the removal of, damage to, or defacement of such monuments. However, Moore wrote, the plaintiffs in the lawsuit have not sufficiently shown that the Lee statue is a monument to the Civil War. In the Courts view, Plaintiffs do not plead any specific fact to establish the statue as a monument or memorial to the War Between the States (American Civil War), Moore wrote. Plaintiffs argue that it is common knowledge who Robert E. Lee is. That may be, but does not resolve the issue. Nothing in the pleadings or attachments makes any reference with regard to the Lee statue, to the War Between the States, the Civil War, or to any other war, for that matter, or to him being a veteran thereof, he wrote. Moore will give the plaintiffs 21 days to amend the facts presented in their pleading and to re-file the complaint. In conclusion, Moore wrote that the case will not be dismissed and that a previously ordered injunction of removal of the statue will remain in effect, unless the plaintiffs do not file an amended complaint within the 21 days or do not ask for an extension. Also in court Wednesday, S. Braxton Puryear, an attorney for the plaintiffs, argued that the city should not be allowed to cover the statues with tarps because it interferes with the injunction by depriving the public views of the statues. Puryear also said the citys decision had nothing to do with mourning those killed and injured in the aftermath of white supremacist violence on Aug. 12. Its a thinly veiled no pun intended attempt to justify interference, Puryear said. Theyre not trying to mourn anyones loss; theyre just trying to interfere with the statues. Puryear also argued that the tarps could leave the statues with irreparable damage. If moisture gets trapped beneath the tarps, he said, the metal in the statues could corrode. He also argued that, if there is significant wind, the tarp could act as a sail and the statue could topple over. Every minute those covers are in place is harmful, Puryear said. Theyre an embarrassment to the community. Its not a shroud; its a trash bag, he said. Lisa Robertson, deputy attorney for the city of Charlottesville, entered a motion to strike all of the evidence presented by the plaintiffs. I dont believe there is an irreparable harm likely to happen to either the statues or the public if they remain covered until this is resolved, Robertson said. Like it or not, since the covers have gone on, things seem to have calmed down. Instead, she said, the issue of the tarps could be addressed at a later date, once the lawsuit has been resolved. Puryear argued back that the shrouds were never put up with the intention of protecting the statues from vandalism, such as spray paint, which has occurred multiple times since July. Moore said the plaintiff provided enough evidence to withstand the motion to strike, and allowed their evidence to stand. Robertson also called City Manager Maurice Jones to the stand, who said that since the tarps have gone up, no damages to the statues have been reported by city officials. Parks and Recreation employees periodically check on the statutes, Jones said, but have not reported any cracks in the metal or masonry, or any mildew due to moisture. He also said the city had no plans to specifically check for such problems. In the end, Moore said he would not extend the injunction past its expiration date in November. Moore said he would extend the temporary injunction to include the Jackson statue because the City Council recently voted to remove it once the lawsuit is resolved. Moore also expressed his concerns about the tarps particularly about unknown risks of damage to the statutes but said he would not require the city to remove them. I dont believe the plaintiffs have carried the burden of irreparable harm to the statues, Moore said. And Im still taking the city at its word that these covers are temporary. Im also concerned the city does not care about the condition of the statues under the covers, he said. But Im not going to enjoin the city to remove the covers. Charlottesville police are looking for a man who authorities said sexually assaulted a woman on Thursday morning. Just after 11 a.m., police responded to the 700 block of Shamrock Road for a report of a sexual assault. When officers spoke to the woman, she described her attacker as a black man, between 20 and 30 years old and between 5 feet 9 inches and 6 feet tall and wearing a red shirt. Police believe the incident is isolated and that there is no threat to public safety. Johnson Elementary School and Buford Middle School were placed on soft lockdown for about an hour Thursday as police searched the area for the suspect. Anyone who saw someone in the area of Shramrock Road matching the suspects description is asked to call Det. R.W. Cole at (434) 970-3280 or Crime Stoppers at (434) 977-4000. A woman who claimed she was fired for an online rant about her job has settled a lawsuit she filed against her employer and the Virginia Employment Commission. After being let go from The Glebe, Jayne Brill filed a lawsuit challenging the social media policy for employees at the upscale retirement community in Botetourt County arguing that her right to comment about workplace issues was violated by the rules that cost her a job. The lawsuit, which also named the employment commission for denying Brill unemployment benefits, was resolved with a brief dismissal order filed last week in Botetourt County Circuit Court. Terms of the settlement were not disclosed. Were pleased that weve been able to resolve this to everyones mutual satisfaction, said Kevin Holden, a Richmond attorney who represented The Glebe. Holden declined to elaborate, as did David Paxton, a Roanoke attorney whose firm represented Brill. Brill, a part-time financial assistant at The Glebe, turned to social media the evening of Feb. 7 to vent her frustrations after a bad day at work. Today was the worst!!!!!!!!!!!, she wrote on her Facebook page, complaining that she had not received needed assistance from co-workers. Thanks for helping out, Brill wrote in what appeared to be sarcasm. Oh wait I am a team of 1 because others have meetings or they to [sic] lazy to get up to help someone. A later determination by The Glebe that Brill had engaged in misconduct led the employment commission to deny her request for benefits. Brill had asked a judge to reverse the commissions decision, arguing that her misconduct was based on an unlawful workplace rule. A ruling in her favor would have restored Brills unemployment payments. She did not seek her job back. Rather than make a First Amendment claim, which would have been complicated by the fact that she worked for a private employer with broad latitude in hiring and firing decisions, Brill based her assertions on the National Labor Relations Act. While the act is often used to protect the rights of workers in collective bargaining, it can also be applied to non-union employees who engage in concerted activities that seek to improve the terms and conditions of employment. The lawsuit stated that by enforcing their social media policy, officials at The Glebe acted in retaliation against [Brill] for exercising her lawful rights under the act. At The Glebe, employees are required to sign a policy that states: Be aware of comments that could reflect poorly on you and the company. If you are going to discuss work, speak respectfully about our residents, employees and competitors, according to the lawsuit. Another section of the policy is quoted as saying: You are personally responsible for your online social media activity. In addition, you should conduct yourself professionally and not engage in behavior that could embarrass the company. Brill, who worked at The Glebe for 11 years, signed the policy in 2012, according to a decision from the employment commission. Brill had been warned about making public expressions of anger and frustration at work in 2015, nearly two years before her Facebook post, according to the decision, which is included as an exhibit in court records. Additional outbursts of emotion could lead to her termination, Brill was told at the time. Nonetheless, [Brill] was upset and angry on Feb. 7 when a co-worker was too busy to help her complete a task of folding letters, the decision stated. The executive director and his assistant offered to help, according to the decision. Shortly after the Facebook post that night, officials at The Glebe decided to terminate Brills employment giving her the option to resign in lieu of being fired based on the previous warnings she received and her more recent violation of the social media policy, the decision stated. United States Court of Appeals, Second Circuit. SAN HUMBERTO RAMIREZ-GONZALEZ, Petitioner, v. JEFFERSON B. SESSIONS III, UNITED STATES ATTORNEY GENERAL, Respondent. 16-1855 Decided: October 03, 2017 PRESENT: DENNIS JACOBS, PIERRE N. LEVAL, RAYMOND J. LOHIER, JR., Circuit Judges. FOR PETITIONER: Gregory Osakwe, Hartford, CT. FOR RESPONDENT: Chad A. Readler, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Carl H. McIntyre, Assistant Director, Justin R. Markel, Senior Litigation Counsel, Office of Immigration Litigation, United States Department of Justice, Washington, DC. UPON DUE CONSIDERATION of this petition for review of a Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) decision, it is hereby ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED that the petition for review is DENIED. Petitioner San Humberto Ramirez-Gonzalez, a native and citizen of Guatemala, seeks review of a May 18, 2016, decision of the BIA affirming a September 22, 2015, decision of an Immigration Judge (IJ) denying Ramirez-Gonzalez's application for asylum and withholding of removal. In re San Humberto Ramirez-Gonzalez, No. A206 629 325 (B.I.A. May 18, 2016), aff'g No. A206 629 325 (Immig. Ct. Hartford Sept. 22, 2015). We assume the parties' familiarity with the underlying facts and procedural history in this case. Under the circumstances of this case, we have reviewed both the IJ's and the BIA's opinions for the sake of completeness. Wangchuck v. DHS, 448 F.3d 524, 528 (2d Cir. 2006). The standards of review are well established. See 8 U.S.C. 1252(b)(4); Gjolaj v. Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Servs., 468 F.3d 140, 142 (2d Cir. 2006). To establish eligibility for asylum and withholding of removal based on membership in a particular social group, the applicant must establish both that the group is legally cognizable, see Paloka v. Holder, 762 F.3d 191, 195 (2d Cir. 2014), and that the applicant has suffered past persecution or has demonstrated a well-founded fear or likelihood of future persecution on account of her membership in that group, see Rodas Castro v. Holder, 597 F.3d 93, 100 (2d Cir. 2010), i.e., that the membership in the group is at least one central reason for persecuting the applicant, 8 U.S.C. 1158(b)(1)(B)(i). A particular social group is cognizable if it refers to a discrete class of persons and the relevant society perceives, considers, or recognizes the group as a distinct social group. Matter of W-G-R-, 26 I. & N. Dec. 208, 210, 217 (BIA 2014); see Paloka, 762 F.3d at 195 (according deference to the BIA's construction of particular social group). The agency reasonably determined that Ramirez-Gonzalez was targeted by gang members for recruitment, and not because of his membership in any particular social group. Ramirez-Gonzalez testified that the gang members chased and beat him because they wanted him to join their organization. He presented no evidence that the gang members targeted him because of his proposed particular social group, young males with discernible ability to earn money. The agency's determination that Ramirez-Gonzalez failed to establish past persecution on account of a protected ground was supported by substantial evidence. Paloka, 762 F.3d at 196-97 (whether persecution occurs on account of a protected ground depends on the views and motives of the persecutor (internal quotation marks omitted)). Ucelo-Gomez v. Mukasey, 509 F.3d 70, 73-74 (2d Cir. 2007) (rejecting proposed social group where harm visited upon members of a group is attributable to the incentives presented to ordinary criminals rather than to persecution). Nor is the additional group that Ramirez-Gonzalez proposesyoung Guatemalan men who face gang violencelegally cognizable. The U.S. State Department report he relies on indicates that gang violence is widespread in Guatemala. Any group premised on facing such violence lacks particularity. See Matter of M-E-V-G-, 26 I. & N. Dec. 227, 239 (BIA 2014) (particular social group cannot be amorphous, overbroad, diffuse, or subjective). Individuals targeted for gang recruitment make up a potentially large and diffuse segment of society. Matter of S-E-G-, 24 I. & N. Dec. 579, 585 (BIA 2008). And a particular social group cannot be defined solely by the harm its members have suffered. Ucelo-Gomez, 509 F.3d at 73 ([A] social group cannot be defined exclusively by the fact that its members have been subjected to harm. (internal quotation marks omitted)). Nor did the agency err in holding that Ramirez-Gonzalez did not establish a well-founded fear of future persecution on account of a protected ground. Ramirez-Gonzalez has failed to establish any protected ground for which he might be persecuted in the future. See 8 U.S.C. 1158(b)(1)(B)(i). Because Ramirez-Gonzalez has not met his burden of proof for his asylum claim, he has not met the higher standard required to succeed on his claim for withholding of removal. See Paul v. Gonzales, 444 F.3d 148, 156 (2d Cir. 2006). For the foregoing reasons, the petition for review is DENIED. As we have completed our review, any stay of removal that the Court previously granted in this petition is VACATED, and any pending motion for a stay of removal in this petition is DISMISSED as moot. Any pending request for oral argument in this petition is DENIED in accordance with Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 34(a)(2), and Second Circuit Local Rule 34.1(b). FOR THE COURT: Catherine O'Hagan Wolfe, Clerk FOOTNOTES . Ramirez-Gonzalez does not challenge the denial of relief under the Convention Against Torture. Norton v. Sam's Club, 145 F.3d 114, 117 (2d Cir. 1998) (Issues not sufficiently argued in the briefs are considered waived and normally will not be addressed on appeal.). SEATTLE Amazon, which has made this city the epicenter of a retailing revolution, is not the Northwest's only commercial disrupter. In the nearby city of Everett, Liberty Ziska and some other bikini baristas, giving new meaning to coffee as a stimulant, have provoked the City Council to pass, unanimously, ordinances requiring baristas to be less nearly naked when they work. The baristas, in turn, have hired a lawyer and made an argument that is germane to current disputes about freedom of speech. Their argument, they might be surprised to learn, is Aristotelian. Sort of. Everett has not succumbed to Pecksniffian Comstockery: The police chief and city attorney allege that bikini barista stands attract a clientele that sometimes behaves badly, and that some of the baristas do, too. The city reports "a proliferation of crimes of a sexual nature occurring at bikini barista stands," which it primly suggests has something to do with "the minimalistic nature of the clothing worn by baristas." Seattle's ABC affiliate reports that "in 2014, the owner of Java Juggs pleaded guilty to running a brothel out of several stands." Henceforth the baristas must wear at least shorts and tank tops. The new dress code cannot be faulted for vagueness. Indeed, it has notable specificity (it mentions the "bottom one-half of the anal cleft" and is even more detailed about breasts) that has the baristas incensed about the examinations and anatomical measurements that law enforcement might require. What makes this a matter of more than mere ribaldry is that the baristas have unlimbered heavy constitutional artillery. They fire it in ways pertinent to the manner in which freedom of speech is debated and defended or not where it is most important and most besieged: on campuses. The baristas say: The ordinances banning bikinis violate the First Amendment because they are "content-based and viewpoint-based restrictions" that "impermissibly burden and chill" their freedom to "convey their messages of female empowerment, positive body image" and other things. Their bikinis are "a branding message" communicating "approachability and friendliness." The ordinances regulate only speech "common and fundamental" at bikini barista stands, targeting them "because Everett does not agree with their message" and restricting "channels of communication." Ziska says that if clothing covers the tattoos on her legs, arms, wrists, back, neck and hips she cannot have such interesting conversations with customers. Brittany Giazzi and Leah Humphrey argue similarly about their piercings and scars, respectively. Never mind the baristas' further barrage of allegations in their everything-but-the-kitchen-sink complaint e.g., that the ordinances are "an equal-protection violation" because they target women ("a protected class") and do not burden men. Instead, note how strenuously, even imaginatively, Ziska and her co-workers strain to argue teleologically. In recent lectures at Georgetown and American universities in Washington, D.C., Greg Weiner, an Assumption College political philosopher and frequent contributor to the Library of Law & Liberty website, urged participants in the campus arguments to reason as Aristotle did. That is, to be less deontological (rights-based in their advocacy) and more teleological (ends-based). To argue deontologically is to treat speech as an autonomous good, regardless of its moral or social purpose, if it has one. To argue teleologically is to stress why for what purpose we should value speech. Aristotle here he was not the baristas' ally defined human beings as language-using creatures, which makes the expressive value of tattoos, piercings, body parts, etc., less than fundamental. The Supreme Court's First Amendment jurisprudence, Weiner notes, has generally accorded the most robust protection to speech, and speech that is political, broadly defined concerned with securing the goods of self-government. The fundamental purpose (telos), although not the only purpose, of the right to free speech is to protect a panoply of other rights. So, the First Amendment rightly protects not just speech but "expression," and a free society should give generous protection even to expressions that serve no public purpose, but just make the expressing persons happy. But speech about the pursuit of truth, justice and other important public matters the sort of speech central to academic institutions merits more rigorous protection than the baristas' right to display, among much else, their tattoos, piercings and scars. Everett should have some latitude to balance other public goods against the expressive pleasure and even commercial advantages that Liberty Ziska and her colleagues derive from sartorial minimalism. Universities should protect almost absolute freedom for arguments about politics, classically and properly defined broadly as the subject of how we should live. George Will is a columnist with the Washington Post Writers Group. Email him at georgewill@washpost.com. It was ironic that a university with a new emphasis on big data, including data analysis of social trends and patterns, should have been so blindsided in its failure to understand the social media clues leading up to the white supremacist march at the University of Virginia on Aug. 11. But immediately after the events of Aug. 11 and Aug. 12, a number of UVa experts quickly realized that big data could and should be better used to anticipate such incidents. It was clear we hadnt made as much out of social media as we could have, said Phil Bourne, director of director of UVas Data Science Institute. So we started to wonder if there were ways to use social media and big data to handle these things in the future. Don Brown, a founding director of the institute, noted that students using social media had figured out the true magnitude and meaning of the Aug. 11 march on Grounds, and had mobilized a counter-presence to protect the Jefferson statue, while police and other officials were still being decoyed by false information planted online. In other words, the white supremacist agitators were far more savvy about using social media and other internet practices than were the establishment forces they sought to combat. There are parallels here with larger events, ranging from hackers penetration of Equifax to obtain personal data (as well as similar security leaks at other companies) to Russias fake ads and disinformation campaign on Facebook, which fooled even that social media giant. The common denominator: The bad guys are outsmarting us. Weve got to do better at out-thinking them, exposing them and blocking their abuses. At UVa, Police relied too much on inaccurate information deliberately planted by organizers of the rally, said an early report from a university group established to review the failures of Aug. 11. The school relied on official intelligence and did not effectively use information offered from social media and the website Its Going Down, the report added. Mr. Brown is leading the new effort for improved evaluation of social media and other data sources to try to predict dangers. Several UVa faculty are involved, as are several state agencies. He said the group hopes to address two related issues: the slow gathering of data, as demonstrated prior to Aug. 11, and the inability to discriminate true information from false. He wants to investigate a wide range of messages from public and private accounts, which may help determine the patterns of speech and language of people planning violence. He also wants to see timestamps and location information in order to map the flow of messages. The language used in messages and the connections users have to each other could help predict conflict escalation and violence, he said. Admittedly, this type of snooping makes us nervous. Big data can begin to sound too much like Big Brother. But the bad guys are already ahead of us in manipulating or obscuring data, and theyre using those skills to harm us economically, politically, physically, culturally and emotionally. We need a commensurate response. Being the good guys, though, we have an obligation to use our powers positively. That includes respecting our American civil liberties especially, in this instance, the right to privacy. Albemarle farmers on Tuesday told county staff that their livelihoods will be in jeopardy if the agricultural exemption to the countys 100-foot rural area stream buffer is lifted. About 20 residents said at a public meeting that they are concerned that Albemarle Countys review of its stream buffer requirements will mean a rule change that will burden their operations. Im scared to death of what could happen to rural land, county farmer Ron Kerber said. The current Albemarle County water protection ordinance requires a 100-foot stream buffer on rivers, perennial streams and intermittent streams in the rural area. In the development area, the stream buffer is not required on intermittent streams. Agriculture, horticulture and forestry uses are exempt from the stream buffer ordinance. Though the county is reviewing the rules, there currently are no proposed changes to the ordinance. On my farm, if you look at what is likely to happen, if you went with a 100 foot buffer, of the 270 [acres] you would take out 40 acres of production, Kerber said. Now, is the county willing to say since I cant use the land, I dont have to pay tax on that land? Earlier this year, the Board of Supervisors directed county staff to gather public comment as part of a review of stream buffer requirements. County staff has been collecting public input on the current stream buffer requirements since April, when a survey was distributed through the countys A-mail list. One basic finding from that is that staff learned that a lot of people in Albemarle County know very little, or sometimes nothing, about stream buffer rules and about the water protection ordinance, said David Hannah, the countys natural resource manager. We were a little bit surprised at the level of awareness that was not there. Of 281 people surveyed, about one in six had never heard of the countys water protection ordinance, and one in three said they had heard of it but were not very familiar with it. The complete survey results are available on the county website. In May, the county held public meetings with three stakeholder groups; the farmers and forestry community, the development and business community and the conservation community. The first general community meeting was held in August. Some non-farming people identified agriculture as the biggest problem as far as water quality in the county, Hannah said. They particularly pointed to the livestock in streams. But many rural land owners identify urban areas and suburban areas as the biggest problem for water quality in Albemarle County. He said streams in the urban areas arent going to be as clean as streams in the rural areas because of impervious surfaces and the lack of forest cover. But he also pointed out that there are some issues with water quality in the rural area. There has been support for different regulations for rural areas and urban areas, as well as more education on the topic, Hannah said. Kerber said he thinks the problem is that there are a lot of well-meaning people who do not understanding the unintended consequences of increased stream buffers. Agriculture in Albemarle County is marginal, at best, for being profitable, he said. You cannot take more production options away from local agriculture and expect it to survive. He said he would not be able to keep his land if the regulations were changed to require a 100-foot buffer. He said farmers would have to sell their land to become residences, which would change the rural character of the county. If you give me a 100-foot buffer, you would put me out of business, he said. Tom Olivier, with the Piedmont Group of the Sierra Club, said human activities have many negative effects on stream water quality and urged the county to employ its regulatory powers to promote effective buffers on streams throughout the county. The Piedmont Group believes that now is the time to push for more and better stream buffers and we hope Albemarle County will do so, he said. Olivier added that he and his wife raise sheep in southern Albemarle and he said that for the past 15 years, all of the streams on their farm have been buffered. I just want to say that its not that traumatic or big a deal from a farm management point of view, as many people seem to believe, although indeed you do have forest to manage and perhaps invasive species to control, he said. In this era of emerging climate change, which is going to continue, Albemarle County agriculture is simply going to have to go through many adaptations if its going to continue to survive. County staff is scheduled to give an informational presentation to the Planning Commission at its Oct. 10 meeting. Staff will then analyze their findings and present recommendations to the Board of Supervisors in December. We dont expect that a single meeting with the board is going to complete this process, Hannah said. We anticipate more meetings, more discussion or research on various topics, and if and when the board decides it wants to revise the water protection ordinance, that will be a public process. United States Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit. WILLIAM WASHINGTON, Petitioner - Appellant, v. LEROY CARTLEDGE, Warden, Respondent - Appellee, ATTORNEY GENERAL, The Honorable Alan Wilson, Respondent. No. 17-6950 Decided: October 03, 2017 Before WILKINSON, MOTZ, and KING, Circuit Judges. William Washington, Appellant Pro Se. William Washington seeks to appeal the district court's order accepting the recommendation of the magistrate judge and denying relief on his 28 U.S.C. 2254 (2012) petition. The order is not appealable unless a circuit justice or judge issues a certificate of appealability. 28 U.S.C. 2253(c)(1)(A) (2012). A certificate of appealability will not issue absent a substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional right. 28 U.S.C. 2253(c)(2) (2012). When the district court denies relief on the merits, a prisoner satisfies this standard by demonstrating that reasonable jurists would find that the district court's assessment of the constitutional claims is debatable or wrong. Slack v. McDaniel, 529 U.S. 473, 484 (2000); see Miller-El v. Cockrell, 537 U.S. 322, 336-38 (2003). When the district court denies relief on procedural grounds, the prisoner must demonstrate both that the dispositive procedural ruling is debatable, and that the petition states a debatable claim of the denial of a constitutional right. Slack, 529 U.S. at 484-85. We have independently reviewed the record and conclude that Washington has not made the requisite showing. Accordingly, we deny a certificate of appealability and dismiss the appeal. We dispense with oral argument because the facts and legal contentions are adequately presented in the materials before this court and argument would not aid the decisional process. DISMISSED PER CURIAM: Dateline: England Doctors were surprised to find the tumor they were removing from a man's lung was actually a toy traffic cone. The patienta 47-year-old British handymancomplained of a persistent cough lasting for more than a year. He was referred to a respiratory clinic, where X-rays showed a mass in his lung. Based on the his history as a long-term smoker, his doctors assumed the spot was a tumor and operated, leading to the discovery of a long lost Playmobil traffic cone the man had received for his seventh birthday. He'd suffered no ill effects growing up, and had never made any complaints before the nagging cough episode. A British Medical Journal (BMJ) report theorized that the patient's airway might have grown around the toy, adapting for its presence over the last 40 years. The man's cough has shown significant signs of improvement following the surgery. Dateline: Mexico Civil defense officials in Mexico say fish fell from the sky during a light rain last week. Tamaulipas civil defense released a statement saying that a recent rain shower in the coastal city of Tampico included fish as well as water. The agency posted photos on their Facebook page depicting four small fish in a bag and another on a sidewalk. According to the US Library of Congress, the phenomenon of fish or frog rainfalls has been reported for centuries. Scientists believe tornadic water spouts might suck fish into the air and deposit them elsewhere as rain. Dateline: Austria The developer of a $4,500 intelligent sex doll complained that it was left heavily soiled after being handled at a tech fair. Sergi Santoswho owns Samantha, a life-like synthetic sex doll that responds to touchtold reporters that a constant string of groping men at the Ars Electronica Festival in the city of Linz had damaged the robot. Santos, the owner of Barcelona-based technology company Synthea Amatus, told the Daily Star, The people mounted Samanthas breasts, her legs and arms. Two fingers were broken. She was heavily soiled. The doll had to be sent back to Spain for repairs and cleaning, according to Santos, but her programming remained intact. Samantha was a main attraction on display at the tech festival hosted in Austria, where the sex robot industry is gaining steam. Earlier this year, the country became the focus of international headlines when an interactive love doll named Fanny outperformed human prostitutes at the Kontakthof brothel in Vienna. Santos says he's already sold 15 of his dolls, which are built in China and Spain. Dateline: California A former self-driving car engineer for Uber recently filed paperwork to create a religious organization that worships a Godhead based on artificial intelligence. According to California state filings discovered by Wired's Backchannel, Anthony Levandowskiwho was fired from Uber in Mayhas established a nonprofit religious corporation called Way of the Future. The hopeful church's stated goal is reportedly nothing less than to develop and promote the realization of a Godhead based on Artificial Intelligence. Levandowski is currently at the center of a controversial legal battle between Uber and Googles Waymo. In February, Waymo filed a lawsuit against Uber, alleging that Levandowski--who had previously worked at Google on the company's robocar projecthad stolen trade secrets when he left the company in 2016 to work for Uber. Dateline: Kentucky A man armed with a handgun and dressed as a bottle of Coca-Cola robbed a Kentucky restaurant. According to police, the suspect stuck up a Rallys restaurant in Henderson before it had opened. The armed robber stole over $500 from the closed business. Surveillance footage of the incident shows a white male in what appears to be a Halloween costume threatening the restaurant's manager with a handgun. The manager, who was the only staff member on site, was uninjured during the robbery. Dateline: Russia Burger King Russia has filed an official government complaint to the Federal Anti-Monopoly Service (FAS) demanding the removal of the film It from theaters because they allege that it gives McDonald's an unfair advantage. According to the complaint, filed earlier this month and obtained by Russian financial publication Vedomosti, the film's monstera clown with red hair and white face makeup named Pennywiseallegedly shares too close a resemblance to McDonald's famous mascot Ronald McDonald. The complaint calls Pennywise the protagonist of the movie and is an exact copy of their rival's mascot. Burger King Russia says the appearance of the film's murderous clown amounts to free advertising for their competitor and violates Russian laws. The FAS is currently investigating the film for any incidences of product placement or advertising. It opened in Russia Sept. 7, and according to Hollywood Reporter, it's grossed over $14 million in Russia so far. United States Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff - Appellee, v. FEROZ RASHID SIDDIQUI, Defendant - Appellant. No. 17-4354 Decided: October 03, 2017 Before MOTZ, TRAXLER, and DUNCAN, Circuit Judges. Geremy C. Kamens, Federal Public Defender, Patrick L. Bryant, Appellate Attorney, Elizabeth A. Mullin, Assistant Federal Public Defender, Alexandria, Virginia, for Appellant. Dana J. Boente, United States Attorney, Stephen Ravas, Special Assistant United States Attorney, Christopher Catizone, Assistant United States Attorney, Alexandria, Virginia, for Appellee. Feroz Rashid Siddiqui appeals the district court's judgment and commitment order revoking and terminating supervised release and sentencing him to 10 months' imprisonment. Siddiqui contends that there were several errors during the revocation proceeding, including not receiving written notice of the violations or an opportunity for himself or counsel to make a statement prior to sentencing. See Fed. R. Crim. P. 32.1(b). Siddiqui also contends that the court did not consider the appropriate sentencing factors, see 18 U.S.C. 3553(a), 3583(e) (2012), the Sentencing Guidelines policy statement range of imprisonment, or properly explain the sentence. Upon our review of the record, we affirm. We review a district court's decision to revoke supervised release for abuse of discretion. United States v. Pregent, 190 F.3d 279, 282 (4th Cir. 1999). To order revocation, the district court need only find a violation of a supervised release condition by a preponderance of the evidence. 18 U.S.C. 3583(e)(3); United States v. Copley, 978 F.2d 829, 831 (4th Cir. 1992). A defendant charged with violating the terms of supervised release is entitled to written notice of the alleged violation, disclosure of the evidence against him, the opportunity to present and cross-examine witnesses, notice of the right to counsel, and an opportunity to make a statement and present any information in mitigation. Fed. R. Crim. P. 32.1(b)(2); see Morrissey v. Brewer, 408 U.S. 471, 489 (1972) (noting minimum due process requirements for probation revocation); Copley, 978 F.2d at 831 (recognizing that due process requirements apply to revocations of supervised release). Because Siddiqui admitted that he failed to attend mental health treatment and agreed to the 10-month sentence and termination of supervised release, we review for plain error. Siddiqui bears the burden of showing that an error (1) was made, (2) is plain (i.e., clear or obvious), and (3) affects substantial rights. United States v. Lemon, 777 F.3d 170, 172 (4th Cir. 2015) (internal quotation marks omitted); United States v. Godwin, 272 F.3d 659, 673 (4th Cir. 2001) (noting that burden lies with defendant to show error affected substantial rights). An error affects substantial rights if it is prejudicial or structural. United States v. Olano, 507 U.S. 725, 735 (1993); United States v. Ramirez-Castillo, 748 F.3d 205, 215 (4th Cir. 2014). Even if Siddiqui makes this showing, we will exercise [our] discretion to correct the error only if it seriously affects the fairness, integrity or public reputation of judicial proceedings. Lemon, 777 F.3d at 172-73 (internal quotation marks omitted). Siddiqui fails to show that his substantial rights were violated when he failed to receive written notice that he failed to attend mental health treatment. Siddiqui admitted the violation and does not show that his 10-month sentence was not within the applicable policy statement range or in excess of the statutory maximum sentence. See United States v. White, 836 F.3d 437, 447 (4th Cir. 2016) (stating that error affects substantial rights if there is reasonable probability that court would have ordered different sentence). Also, we conclude that it was not plain error when neither Siddiqui nor counsel made a statement in mitigation of the sentence. See United States v. Wynn, 684 F.3d 473, 480 (4th Cir. 2012) (emphasizing that, in the absence of a clear directive, and where neither the Supreme Court nor this Court has spoken directly on an issue, the issue has not been resolved plainly). Finally, even if there were plain errors during the course of the revocation proceeding that may have affected Siddiqui's substantial rights, we will not exercise our discretion to correct the errors. Siddiqui accepted the 10-month sentence and termination of supervised release when the other option was to answer to a Grade A violation and a potentially longer sentence. A remand for a new revocation hearing to address the Grade A violation could seriously undermine the affect of Siddiqui's acceptance of the 10-month sentence. Accordingly, we affirm. We dispense with oral argument because the facts and legal contentions are adequately presented in the materials before this court and argument would not aid the decisional process. AFFIRMED PER CURIAM: Original deal envisaged Brookfield picking up a 51 per cent stake in RCom's tower business, and carried a deal value of Rs 11,000 crore. (Photo: PTI) New Delhi: Reliance Communications on Wednesday said it has filed an application with the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) for withdrawal of the scheme of demerger of its tower business. The tower business demerger scheme is being withdrawn as RCom's tower deal with Brookfield is currently being reworked following termination of wireless merger talks with Aircel, a company source explained. An RCom statement said: "The RITL tower demerger scheme shall, in due course, be taken up for application with the required changes". Reliance Infratel Ltd is a subsidiary of Reliance Communications and holds the company's tower assets, numbering 43,000 towers. The Aircel tenancies would have been a sweetener for Brookfield in the tower deal, but the recent collapse of merger talks between RCom and Aircel has prompted a renegotiation on contours of the deal between the Anil Ambani company and the Canadian firm. The renegotiated deal will be filed afresh with the NCLT in a new demerger petition, the source said. The original deal envisaged Brookfield picking up a 51 per cent stake in RCom's tower business, and carried a deal value of Rs 11,000 crore. The valuation was, however, based on the combined Aircel-RCom entity offering tenancies post-merger to the tower company, analysts had said. "As announced in the media release by the company on October 1, 2017 and for reasons already stated, the merger agreement for the combination of RCOM's wireless business with Aircel has been allowed to lapse with mutual consent," the RCom statement said. Accordingly, it said, an application for withdrawal of the said merger scheme has been filed with NCLT on October 3, 2017. "Furthermore, as a consequence, the application for the withdrawal of the scheme of the demerger of the tower business under RITL has also been concurrently filed as on 3 October 2017," the statement added. Reliance Communications, which is reeling under a debt of about Rs 47,000 crore, had cited "legal and regulatory" delays for termination of merger talks with Aircel. United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit. Audrey DICK, PlaintiffAppellant v. COLORADO HOUSING ENTERPRISES, L.L.C.; Community Resources and Housing Development Corporation, DefendantsAppellees No. 17-10357 Decided: October 04, 2017 Before BENAVIDES, SOUTHWICK, and COSTA, Circuit Judges. Jack B. Peacock, Jr., David M. Vereeke, Gagnon, Peacock & Vereeke, P.C., Dallas, TX, for PlaintiffAppellant. Selim Hassan Taherzadeh, Esq., Attorney, Scott Hamilton Crist, Taherzadeh, P.L.L.C., Dallas, TX, for DefendantsAppellees. This interlocutory appeal is from an order denying a motion for a preliminary injunction to stop a foreclosure sale. We DISMISS the appeal as MOOT. I. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY In 2014, Plaintiff Audrey Dick (Plaintiff) and her husband borrowed $100,000 from Colorado Housing Enterprises, L.L.C. and Community Resources and Housing Development Corporation (Defendants). The loan was secured with a deed of trust that granted the Defendants a lien on certain real property owned by Plaintiff. In 2015, Plaintiff defaulted on the loan payments. Over the course of the year in 2016, Plaintiff obtained the stay of three, separately scheduled foreclosure sales by filing for bankruptcy three different times (either for herself or on behalf of her husband). All three bankruptcy proceedings were dismissed, and the last bankruptcy proceeding was dismissed with prejudice for two years. In January of 2017, Plaintiff was notified that a foreclosure sale was scheduled for February 7. In response, Plaintiff filed suit in Texas state court on February 2. Plaintiff sought an ex parte temporary restraining order, which the state court granted. Defendants removed the case to federal district court on February 23. In a letter dated March 1, Defendants gave notice that a foreclosure sale was scheduled for April 4. On March 23, Plaintiff filed a motion seeking a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction to stop the sale. On March 30, Defendants filed a response to the motion. The next day, the district court denied the motion. On April 2, Plaintiff filed a notice of interlocutory appeal from the order denying the motion for a preliminary injunction. On April 3, PlaintiffAppellant filed in this court an opposed emergency motion for stay of foreclosure proceedings pending appeal. On April 4, the trustee accepted a successful bid for the property at the foreclosure sale. Approximately two hours later, this court issued an order granting the motion to stay foreclosure proceedings pending appeal. II. MOOTNESS In their brief on appeal, the DefendantsAppellees argue that this appeal from the denial of the preliminary injunction is moot because the subject property was sold at the April 4 foreclosure sale. Ordinarily, an appeal will be moot when the property underlying the dispute has been sold at a foreclosure sale because this court cannot fashion adequate relief, i.e., cannot reverse the transaction. Christopher Village, Ltd. P'ship v. Retsinas, 190 F.3d 310, 314 (5th Cir. 1999). See also NCNB Tex. Nat'l Bank v. Southwold Assocs., 909 F.2d 128, 129 (5th Cir. 1990) (explaining that because the lien on the property had been foreclosed, the propriety of the preliminary injunction was rendered moot). PlaintiffAppellant acknowledges the above precedent. Nonetheless, PlaintiffAppellant asserts that because the DefendantsAppellees were the successful bidders at the foreclosure sale, this court can order them to cancel or rescind the foreclosure sale. Relying on Knoles v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., PlaintiffAppellant contends that this appeal is not moot. 513 Fed.Appx. 414 (5th Cir. 2013). In Knoles, the plaintiff's residence had been sold at a foreclosure sale to Wells Fargo Bank. Id. However, the plaintiff did not vacate the property, and Wells Fargo brought a successful forcible detainer action. Id. That judgment was not appealed. Id. Thereafter, plaintiff brought suit against Wells Fargo in state court, challenging the foreclosure. Id. Wells Fargo removed the case to federal court, and the plaintiff moved for a temporary restraining order to prevent his eviction. Id. The district court denied the motion, and the plaintiff took an interlocutory appeal to this court. Id. Wells Fargo argued that the appeal was moot because the plaintiff had already been evicted. Id. at 415. We recognized the rule that a request for injunctive relief generally becomes moot upon the happening of the event sought to be enjoined. Id. (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). Nevertheless, we rejected the mootness argument, opining that an order of this court that Knoles be restored to possession would constitute relief even if belated. Id. We further opined that the parties have not presented other arguments regarding mootness, such as the possible effect of a sale of the premises to an alleged bona fide purchaser. Id. Thus, because the evicted tenant and the purchaser of the property were before it on appeal, this court rejected the claim that the appeal was moot. We decline to apply the reasoning in Knoles to the instant appeal. Knoles is an unpublished opinion and thus does not constitute controlling precedent. See 5th Cir. R. 47.5.4. Moreover, as explained below, we have controlling precedent that would conflict with our extending the reasoning in Knoles to the case at bar. It is a well-settled Fifth Circuit rule of orderliness that one panel of our court may not overturn another panel's decision, absent an intervening change in the law, such as by a statutory amendment, or the Supreme Court, or our en banc court. Jacobs v. Nat'l Drug Intelligence Ctr., 548 F.3d 375, 378 (5th Cir. 2008). In Matter of Sullivan Cent. Plaza, I, Ltd., the debtor failed to make payments on a construction loan secured by a high rise tower, and the bank scheduled the tower for foreclosure. 914 F.2d 731, 732 (5th Cir. 1990), on rehearing, 935 F.2d 723 (5th Cir. 1991). The debtor then filed for bankruptcy, which automatically stayed the foreclosure sale. Id. Subsequently, the bankruptcy court lifted the stay because, among other things, the plan for reorganization could not be confirmed. Id. The debtor filed a second amended plan for reorganization and requested an emergency injunction. Id. at 733. The court granted a temporary injunction but conditioned the relief by requiring the debtor to meet certain requirements. Id. After the debtor failed to meet the requirements, the court withdrew the injunction. Id. The debtor moved for a stay pending appeal, which was denied by both the bankruptcy court and district court. Id. This court denied the debtor's request for a writ of mandamus. Id. Thereafter, the bank bought the property at a foreclosure sale. Id. The bank then moved the district court to dismiss as moot (1) the appeal from the withdrawal of the injunction and (2) the appeal from the lifting of the automatic stay. Id. The debtor argued that the appeals were not moot because all the necessary parties involved in the sale were before the district court. Id. The district court rejected that argument and dismissed the appeals as moot. Id. The debtor appealed to this court. Id. We explained that generally, [i]f the debtor fails to obtain a stay, and if the property is sold in the interim, the district court will ordinarily be unable to grant any relief. Accordingly, the appeal will be moot. Id. Further, although we expressly recognized the debtor's argument that the appeal was not moot because all the parties (including the bank that purchased the property) were before the court, we nonetheless held that the appeal was moot. Likewise, in the case at bar, PlaintiffAppellant argues that the appeal is not moot because there was no third-party purchaser; instead, the DefendantsAppellants purchased the property, and they are before this court. However, Matter of Sullivan is published precedent and controls this case. Thus, applying the holding in Matter of Sullivan, we must reject PlaintiffAppellant's argument that the instant appeal is not moot simply because the DefendantsAppellants purchased the foreclosed property and are before us on appeal. PlaintiffAppellant further argues that the instant appeal is not moot because Texas law provides the remedy of setting aside a foreclosure sale and cancelling a trustee's deed. Reply brief at 2 (citing Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. v. Robinson,391 S.W.3d 590 (Tex.App.Dallas 2012, no pet.)). However, this argument is also foreclosed by our opinion in Matter of Sullivan. In that case, in support of his argument that the appeal was not moot, the debtor similarly asserted that foreclosures may be reversible under Texas state law. Id. at 734. This court expressly recognized that wrongful foreclosures may be reversible in Texas. Id. (citing Henke v. First S. Props., Inc., 586 S.W.2d 617 (Tex.App.Waco 1979, writ ref'd, n.r.e.)). However, we explained that our opinion did not imply that the improper lifting of a stay of a foreclosure sale would constitute grounds for a wrongful foreclosure action. Id. We further explained that the details of the foreclosure sale do not form the basis of the appeal from the lifting of the automatic stay. Id. at 735. Ultimately, we concluded the availability of an action for wrongful foreclosure [was] inapposite to the appeal from the lifting of the stay. Id. at 734. Applying the reasoning in Matter of Sullivan to the case at bar, PlaintiffAppellant's reliance on the availability of a wrongful foreclosure suit is irrelevant to this appeal from the denial of the preliminary injunction. III. CONCLUSION In sum, this court simply cannot enjoin that which has already taken place. Harris v. City of Houston, 151 F.3d 186, 189 (5th Cir. 1998). For the above reasons, we DISMISS the appeal as MOOT. FOOTNOTES . The denial of a preliminary injunction is appealable as an exception to the final-judgment rule. 28 U.S.C. 1292(a)(1); See Lakedreams v. Taylor, 932 F.2d 1103, 1107 (5th Cir. 1991). . Although our opinion in Matter of Sullivan was a bankruptcy proceeding, the mootness analysis applied with respect to automatic stays in bankruptcy cases is judicially derived from a fundamental jurisdictional tenet: federal courts are empowered to hear only live cases and controversies. 914 F.2d at 735 (citing U.S. Const. art III, section 2). Thus, the mootness analysis in Matter of Sullivan is applicable to the instant appeal. PER CURIAM: Both the diamond and cloth merchants are up in arms against the government in Gujarat and the opposition Congress is giving the BJP a tough fight. New Delhi: With sluggish economy and Gujarat elections emerging as a major concern, the top three of the BJP, Prime Minister, Mr Narendra Modi, finance minister, Mr Arun Jaitley and BJP president, Mr Amit Shah got into a huddle on Thursday. Mr Modi, who is likely to visit poll-bound Gujarat on October 7 and 8, had strongly defended his governments economic measures on Wednesday and also slammed those who had attacked the NDA regime over the recent economics slowdown. Senior BJP leader and former finance minister Yashwant Sinha had also slammed the government for the economic slowdown. However, Mr Shah's sudden change of plan, left the BJP red faced in Kerala as thousands of BJP workers and leaders were lined up with placards and posters to greet him during saffron partys ongoing Janraksha Yatra against the Red terror and spurt in jihadi terror. Mr Shah was to visit Kerala Chief Minister Pina-rayi Vijiyans hometown on Thursday and also address a gathering. The meeting at Mr Modis official residence, it was learnt, was also to gather feedback ahead of the GST council meeting which is scheduled on Friday, when it is expected that small and medium businessmen could be given some relief by the government, which has been facing criticism on the economic front. Mr Shah had met traders during his recent visit to Gujarat, who had apprised him of the problems being faced by them after the implementation of the GST. Speculations are rife that government could possibly announce a package for the traders and diamond merchants. Both the diamond and cloth merchants are up in arms against the government in Gujarat and the opposition Congress is giving the BJP a tough fight. Though the BJP claimed that Mr Shah was scheduled to return to Delhi on Wednesday night and then fly back to Kerala to continue to conclude his three-day long padayatra, Mr Shah could not go back as the meeting with the PM got delayed. Mr Shah, however, will be in Kerala on October 17, when the 15-day long Janraksha Yatra will conclude. Mumbai: Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt deposed in the special court for Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act here on Wednesday in a trial of members of the Ravi Pujari gang who are accused of plotting to kill him and his family members. Special Public Prosecutor Pradeep Gharat said Bhatt deposed as a witness and supported the prosecution's case. He told the court that he had been receiving threatening calls from the gang, Gharat said. The Mumbai Police had arrested over a dozen men of the Pujari gang, some of them also involved in a firing outside the residence of Bollywood film producers Karim and Ali Morani in 2014, before the plot could be executed. According to the prosecution, Pujari, said to be living abroad, wanted to revive the activities of his gang in Mumbai by targeting Bhatt or his brother Mukesh, also a filmmaker, or Bhatt's son Rahul. The gangster wanted to target the Morani brothers for obtaining overseas rights of the film 'Happy New Year', while Bhatt was to be targeted for simply creating sensation, police said. So far, 45 witnesses have been examined in the trial, Gharat said. MADURAI: Even after the Madurai bench of the Madras High Court quashed the maintenance petition filed by a couple from Melur who claimed paternity of actor Dhanush after a gap of nearly 14 years, Kathiresan filed a police complaint against the actor on Thursday alleging that he had submitted forged documents in the court. The court on April 21 had dismissed the petition filed by Kathiresan and Meenakshi on the ground they had not made out a prima facie case for trial and their petition is devoid of merits. However, today Kathiresan along with an advocate Mr. Titus filed a compliant against the actor in Pudur police station claiming that he had produced fake birth certificate, ration card, Aadhaar card and passport in the court during the trail. Hence he demanded the police to initiate criminal action against Dhanush. Kathiresan also filed a similar petition against the actor to the registrar of the Madras High court bench here last month. The couple from Manampatti village near Melur first filed the maintenance petition before the Judicial Magistrate court in Melur taluk alleging that the actor had been born to them on November 7, 1985, and that he ran way while in Class 11 in Arumugampillai Seethaiyammal higher secondary school, Thirupatthur, Sivagangai sometime in 2002. The actor had then moved the High court bench seeking to quash the couple's petition in the lower court. He said that he hoped the Nobel Prize would be a force for good. (Photo: AFP) Japan-born British author Kazuo Ishiguro who today won the 2017 Nobel Prize for Literature, initially thought it was a "hoax". The 62-year-old writer said that the award was a magnificent honour, but admitted that he had not been contacted by the Nobel committee. "So, wasn't sure whether it was a hoax", he was quoted as saying by the BBC. Ishiguro said that the award was "flabbergastingly flattering, a magnificent honour, mainly because it means that I am in the footsteps of the greatest authors that have lived, so that was a terrific commendation." The London-based author won the Nobel prize for his novel 'The Remains of the Day', for which he had bagged the Booker Prize for literature in 1989. He is best known for his novels Never Let Me Go and The Remains of the Day, both of which were also turned into successful films. Ishiguro is the 114th winner of one of the most coveted awards in the field of literature, following in the footsteps of the likes of Toni Morrison and Pablo Neruda. He said that he hoped the Nobel Prize would be a force for good. "The world is in a very uncertain moment and I would hope all the Nobel Prizes would be a force for something positive in the world as it is at the moment," he said. The novelist also said that he will be deeply moved if he could in some way be part of some sort of climate this year in contributing to some sort of positive atmosphere at a very uncertain time. The Nobel Prize, announced by the Nobel Academy in accordance with the wishes of Swedish philanthropist Alfred Nobel, is worth around 832,000 million pounds and is awarded to the "person who shall have produced in the field of literature the most outstanding work in an ideal direction". Congratulating Ishiguro on his win, Indian origin author Salman Rushdie said "Many congratulations to my old friend Ish, whose work I have loved and admired ever since I first read A Pale View of Hills. And he plays the guitar and writes songs too! Roll over Bob Dylan". The South-American classic Peruvian cocktail made its way in various bars and restaurants across the country, promoted as a prominent cocktail hailing from Peru post 2005. Peruvians are seriously passionate about Pisco Sour. In fact, it is as important to them as what champagne is to the French. The South-American classic Peruvian cocktail made its way in various bars and restaurants across the country, promoted as a prominent cocktail hailing from Peru post 2005. However there are some claims that Pisco Sour does not originate from Peru, but hails from Chile. Peru and Chile have had a long dispute over the creation of Pisco Sour, but since there are no facts of creation from both the sides, it is still unclear whether it was created in Peru or Chile. Although, the fight is silently still on, many have stated that pisco is a spirit hailing from both the countries. Furthermore, the Peruvian Embassy even went on to promote pisco as a Peruvian creation and claimed rights in an event in 2015, named Pisco is Peru. It is also as the national spirit of Peru, and has a dedicated public holiday to it. It is believed that the Pisco Sour was invented sometime during 1915, by an American bartender named Victor Morris who was in Peru at that time. Morris first created it as a surprise for a few people by mixing the Peruvian Pisco with the American sour, using simple ingredients such as pisco, lime syrup and sugar, replicating the whiskey sour! However, the modern day Pisco Sour served all throughout the world was developed by Morris apprentice Mario Bruiget in 1924, who added angostura bitters and egg white to the cocktail to provide a different texture and froth. The classic Pisco Sour is made with 90 ml Pisco, 30 ml lime juice, 30 ml simple syrup, 30 ml egg white and ice cubes. All ingredients must be blended well and must be topped with 3 drops of angostura bitters. This drink can also be made as a shaken drink, wherein we add all the ingredients in a shaker, shake vigorously, and strain it into a glass and top with bitters. Other than the classic ones, there are variations where in the simple syrup is replaced with yerba mate simple syrup; a habanero infused simple syrup, orange marmalade. A total different variant is the well known Mardi Gras Pisco Sour, where the ingredients, 30 ml pisco, 30 ml bourbon, 15 ml sweet vermouth, 15 ml coffee, 15 ml lime juice, 30 ml chicory infused simple syrup, 1 egg-white must be put in a shaker and mixed well. Ice cubes must be added and should be shaken well to acquire thick egg white foam, and should be strained into a glass, finally topped with some chocolate bitters. Pisco sour is also known to go well with any seafood preparation marinated with lime. For instance the signature dish from Peru, ceviche, a fresh fish preparation marinated with citrus juice, fresh onion, corn, chilli and coriander. Even grilled prawns and potato preparations are known to be the best food pairings with pisco sour. Cheers! Binny is the founder, CEO and COO of Flaming Trio and Drinq Barmen and Academy The foetus had hair and a penis but no mouth or umbilical cord (Photo: AFP) Stories of twins born attached to each other or an undeveloped twin growing out of a childs body have been reported across the world. But in rare cases the twin stays inside the stomach of a child as a foetus. A 15-year-old boy from Malaysia had been facing stomach pain and bloating since birth, and what doctors thought of as a tumour, turned out to be the boys twin. The malformed foetus with a penis and hair of its own had been leaching on his blood supply and feeding off the teenager. The non-viable child wasnt capable of surviving on its own and didnt have a mouth or umbilical cord. It weighed around 1.6 kg and was found to have deformed limbs. Doctors thought of a tumour when the boy complained about a hard mass on the central part of his abdomen. But once the CT scan showed an intra-abdominal mass with a spine developing, they ruled out cancer. The dead foetus removed surgically was returned to the family for a private funeral as per the mothers request. According to the study, genetic factors are one of the basic explanations for divorce trends. (Representational Image) There have been quite a few studies that have shown that children of divorced parents are more likely to get divorced themselves as compared to those who grew up with parents who remained married. However, a new study suggests that the pattern may not hold true for adopted children. According to the study, genetic factors are one of the basic explanations for divorce trends and the new findings could have far reaching implications for advice provided by marriage counsellors or therapists. The yet to be published study, which can soon be seen in the upcoming issue Journal Psychological Science, was conducted by researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University and Lund University in Sweden. The researchers concluded that people who were adopted resemble their biological - but not adoptive - parents and siblings in their histories of divorce. Co-author of the study, Dr Jessica Salvatore, assistant professor in the College of Humanities and Sciences at VCU said that they found consistent evidence that genetic factors primarily explained the intergenerational transmission of divorce. Researchers say that the studys findings are significant because it goes against the norm which suggests that offspring of divorced parents are more likely to get divorced themselves because they see their parents lacking in commitment or struggling to manage conflict. Activist-journalist Gauri Lankesh will be the first Indian to receive this honour. (Photo: AFP) Activist-journalist Gauri Lankesh, who was gunned down outside her home in Bengaluru last month, will be posthumously given the Anna Politkovskaya Award this year, making her the first Indian to receive the honour, her family said on Thursday. Lankesh will share the annual award, instituted in memory of a Russian investigative reporter who was assassinated last year in Moscow, with Pakistani activist Gulalai Ismail. Ismail is fighting rightwing extremism in Pakistan. The award is conferred by London-based organisation RAW in WAR (Reach All Women in War), and the announcement about Lankesh winning it was made to the media in Bengaluru by her mother Indira, brother Indrajit and sister Kavitha Lankesh. "Today, we received an email from Russia that my sister has been chosen for the Anna Politkovskaya Award. She is the first Indian recipient of the award," Kavitha said. "Anna was an activist-journalist just like my sister. She was killed on October 7, 2006, when she was in a lift. Five people accosted her and poisoned her," she said, quoting from the email. She was killed for speaking up against the human rights violations in then-restive Chechnya province of Russia and exposing corruption. "In her name, the award has been instituted exclusively for women, to honour those who work towards upholding the human dignity, especially of women and children," she said. Indrajit said, "I have lost my sister. I appeal to the government to nab the murderers. Finding out the motive may solve the riddle of M M Kalburgi, Narendra Dabholkar and Govind Pansare murder (all rationalists) cases." Whether he was satisfied with the investigation by the 21-member Special Investigation Team formed by the Karnataka government, he said they wait for the killers to be caught. "We can't say we are happy with the investigation till the killers are found. But we are satisfied with the work they are doing," Kavitha said. She expressed unhappiness over speculative stories appearing in the media. Gauri Lankesh, the founder-editor of the 'Gauri Lankesh Patrike' and known to be an anti-establishment voice, was shot dead by unidentified men outside her residence on September 5. On October 3 this year, Karnataka minister Ramalinga Reddy claimed the SIT has identified the killers. He, however, did not share the details, saying the SIT was gathering more evidence. Her assassination came days after the second anniversary of the killing of Kannada writer and rationalist M M Kalburgi, who fell to bullets fired by two unidentified men at his residence at Dharwad in north Karnataka in August 2015. Retired agent Vincent Pankoke said he had high hopes of solving one of the biggest World War Two mysteries. (Photo: AFP) A former FBI agent is heading up a cold case team more than 70 years after Nazi occupation police stormed the secret Amsterdam canal house annex where Anne Frank was hiding and sent her to her death in a concentration camp. Suspicions that someone betrayed the Frank family are not new, but the latest attempt will seek out new connections in the case of the Jewish girl whose diary has captivated millions of readers worldwide. Retired agent Vincent Pankoke said he had high hopes of solving one of the biggest World War Two mysteries in the Netherlands with the help of Big Data and modern policing techniques. This is the ultimate cold case, Pankoke, who is heading a 20-member team working out of Amsterdam, told Reuters in an interview. Seventy three years after the arrest, forget forensic evidence, most of the people who could give witness statements are no longer alive. A master database will be compiled with lists of Nazi collaborators, informants, historic documents, police records and prior research that could provide new leads. We are going to load every piece of data we can find from the time period, he said. There is so much information that is out there that has never been looked at. Combing through archives has already yielded material not previously linked with the Anne Frank case, including a list of Nazi collaborators in Amsterdam found in the US national archives, he said. The Cold Case Diary is not aimed at seeking prosecution. It is intended to be completed by August 4, 2019, to mark 75 years since Anne Franks arrest. "We are doing it because we feel the case must be solved, said Thijs Bayens, a Dutch filmmaker, who helped launch the project, which has been self-funded with experts donating time. Anne was discovered on August 4, 1944 after two years in hiding. Miep Gies, one of the familys helpers in hiding, kept Annes diary safe until it was published by Annes father, Otto, in 1947, two years after Anne died in the Bergen Belsen camp at age 15. It has been translated into 60 languages. "The nicest part is being able to write down all my thoughts and feelings; otherwise, Id absolutely suffocate, she wrote in March, 1944. The Anne Frank Foundation, which maintains the Franks Amsterdam house for visitors, is assisting Pankokes team. We shared our investigation on the arrest, said spokeswoman Annemarie Bekker. It looks good and we are curious about their results. Respected historians who have published prior research on the subject, including those from the Dutch World War Two research center NIOD, will work as consultants on the project. They have agreed to help us and share everything without conditions just to try and solve this mystery: Was it a betrayal? Was it an accident? What happened?, Pankoke said. Amsterdam-based data company Xomnia has developed algorithms that Pankoke said may reveal new links and connections based on the wealth of information that a human in their lifetime might not be able to review. Police investigations in 1948 and 1963 too narrowly focused on one individual, warehouse manager Willem van Maaren, without examining alternative scenarios. In its 2016 study, the Anne Frank Foundation concluded that it was possible that the family had not been betrayed at all, but discovered by accident during a raid by German intelligence officials. Despite decades of research, betrayal as a point of departure has delivered nothing conclusive, Ronald Leopold, executive director of the Anne Frank House, said. We are pleased that Cold Case Diary is also carrying out research into the arrest and following new leads, and we are interested to see the results. In happier times: A file picture of S. Rajesh and Swathi during their wedding in November 2016 Warangal: Thirumalagiri Swathi, a native of Warangal Urban district, was found dead in suspicious circumstances in London. Her parents and relatives accused her husband Sripathi Rajesh, a techie, and her in-laws S. Srinivas and Vijaya of murdering her. Swathis parents and relatives a protest in front of the locked house of Rajesh near Machili Bazaar in Hanamkonda. According to the relatives, Swathi and Rajesh got married on November 4, 2016. During the time of marriage, Rs 35 lakh was given as dowry, they said. At that time, Rajesh was working in Singapore. Later he got employed in London and the couple shifted there. Rajeshs parents and his sister were also living along with them. Swathis parents alleged that she was harassed for additional dowry after they moved to London. She used to complain of mental and physical harassment every day. On October 2, she spoke to her parents and said she was unable to live in London and wanted to return to India. On Wednesday they got information from Swathis husband that she had fallen into the sea and was admitted in hospital. Later at night, he informed them that she had died. The Covenant volleyball team hit a season-best .324 and never trailed as the Lady Scots cruised past USA South foe Berea 3-0 (25-10, 25-16, 25-10) on Wednesday night inside Barnes PE Center. Covenant (11-7, 6-0 USA South) remains unbeaten in USA South play and sits atop the West Division standings. The match only saw two ties, and both came in the first set. Covenant grabbed a 3-2 lead on a Hannah Harris kill and would never trail the rest of the match. The Lady Scots hit .387 in the opening game with 15 kills and used a 15-2 run to break open a close first set to win 25-10. In the second, Covenant scored the first six points, including two kills from Harris and another from Alexa Spurling followed by an ace from Schuyler Moore. The Lady Scots would not let the visiting Mountaineers get closer than three points the rest of the set and maintained a lead throughout before scoring the final four points, capped by a Sophie Puertas ace, to win 25-16. It was more of the same in the third set. A quick lead as Covenant scored the first four points before a strong finish capped the match victory. The Lady Scots again topped the .300-plateau in hitting percentage in the set collecting eight kills and a .300 percentage. Covenant had a 32-16 edge in total kills and limited Berea to -.025 for the match. It is the third straight match that an opponent has recorded a negative hitting percentage. The Lady Scouts also out-dug Berea 42-29 and produced four team blocks. Ginny Moore tallied seven kills, 10 digs and four aces, while Harris had six kills and a block assist. Schuyler Moore registered 20 assists, six digs, four aces and three kills with a perfect 1.000 hitting percentage. Haley Taylor added five kills and Spurling had four kills and four total blocks. Hannah Stewart tallied 10 digs and four assists. Berea (3-12, 1-4 USA South) got six kills from Isis Hill and 14 assists from Alexandra Wilkins. Kristin Barnes totaled six digs in the loss. Covenant will travel to Brevard, N.C., on Saturday to face Wesleyan ( 2 p.m. ) and host Brevard ( 4 p.m. ). Zakia Jafri's petition also sought the high court's direction for fresh investigation into the matter. (Photo: PTI) Ahmedabad: The Gujarat High Court on Thursday rejected a petition filed by Zakia Jafri, widow of slain Congress leader Ehsan Jafri, challenging a lower court order upholding a clean chit to the then chief minister Narendra Modi and others in the 2002 riots cases. The hearing of the petition before Justice Sonia Gokani had concluded on July 3 this year. Jafri and activist Teesta Setalvad's NGO Citizen for Justice and Peace had moved the criminal review petition against a magistrate's order upholding the clean chit given by the SIT to Modi and others regarding the allegations of a "larger criminal conspiracy" behind the riots. The petition demanded that Modi and 59 others including senior police officers and bureaucrats be made accused for allegedly being part of a conspiracy which facilitated the riots. It also sought the high court's direction for fresh investigation into the matter. Ehsan was among 68 people who were killed at the Gulberg Society in Gujarat when a mob attacked it on February 28, 2002, a day after the Godhra train burning incident which set off riots in the state. The SIT submitted before the high court that its probe was conducted under the Supreme Court's watchful eye, and its report was largely accepted by all. The lower court looked into all aspects of allegations to conclude that there was no further need to investigate the matter from the angle of "larger conspiracy", the SIT argued. Jafri's lawyer Mihir Desai argued in the HC that the magistrate, while accepting the SIT's closure report, did not even consider other options such as rejecting the report or ordering a fresh probe. The lower court ignored the Supreme Court guidelines and did not consider signed statements of witnesses which suggested that there was a conspiracy, he argued. The magistrate also ignored submissions of key witnesses such as (former IPS officers) Sanjiv Bhatt, R B Sreekumar and Rahul Sharma, and ignored the findings of Tehelka magazine's sting operation, Desai told the HC. The riots could have been prevented, and certain ministers, police officers and bureaucrats abetted the violence, he alleged. The SIT's closure report, filed on February 8, 2012, gave a clean chit to Modi and others. In December 2013, the metropolitan magistrate's court here rejected Jafri's petition against the report, after which she moved the high court in 2014. Wanted European middleman Carlos Gerosa has been apprehended by authorities in Italy on the basis of an Interpol notice activated by the ED in connection with its money laundering probe in the Rs 3,600 crore AgustaWestland VVIP choppers deal case. (Photo: File | PTI) New Delhi: Wanted European middleman Carlos Gerosa has been apprehended by authorities in Italy on the basis of an Interpol notice activated by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with its money laundering probe in the Rs 3,600 crore AgustaWestland VVIP choppers deal case. The central probe agency, official sources said, will soon move for his extradition to India through diplomatic channels. "Gerosa has been held in Italy few days back on the basis of an Interpol notice activated by the ED last year. The global police has informed the agency of his detention and an extradition request is being moved," a senior official privy to the probe said. The official said Gerosa was held when he was coming from Switzerland to Italy. A joint team of the ED and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is now working on this case, the official said. Gerosa, 70, is one of the three alleged middlemen wanted in this case and his interrogation and statement is very important for both the ED and the CBI who are probing the case. The ED has notified a Interpol red corner notice (RCN) against Gerosa and two others - British national Christian Michel James and Italian Guido Haschke - last year. An RCN, according to the Interpol, is issued "to seek the location and arrest of wanted persons with a view to extradition or similar lawful action" in a criminal case probe. The ED, in its second charge sheet filed in the case last year, had said the three middlemen "managed to" make inroads into the Indian Air Force (IAF) in order to influence and subvert its stand regarding reducing the service ceiling of helicopters from 6,000 m to 4,500 m in 2005 after which AgustaWestland became eligible to supply the dozen helicopters for VVIP flying duties. Service ceiling is the altitude at which a helicopter can fly. It had said investigations found that remittances made by Michel through his Dubai-based firm Ms Global Services, FZE to a media firm he floated in Delhi, along with two Indians, were made from the funds which he got from Ms AgustaWestland SpA through "criminal activity" and corruption being done in the chopper deal that led to subsequent generation of proceeds of crime. The ED's probe under the PMLA (Prevention of Money Laundering Act) had found that AgustaWestland CEO Bruno Spagnolini was allegedly paying "kickbacks" to Michel and the other two middlemen (Gerosa and Haschke) in the guise of numerous "consultancy contracts". Michel alone received Euro 30 million in his Dubai company accounts and others under this arrangement, according to the investigation. The agency has also detected that the media firm floated by Michel in Delhi was nothing but a "shell company" to "launder the proceeds of crime". The probe in the deal gathered pace last year after a Milan-based court sentenced Italian defence and aerospace major Finmeccanica's former chief Giuseppe Orsi and Spagnolini on corruption charges in the sale of the helicopters to India. The Milan court order also mentions the name of former IAF chief S P Tyagi at several points. Post this, both the ED and the CBI, had conducted fresh round of questioning of the accused and collection of further evidence. The ED had registered a PMLA case in this regard in 2014 and named 21 people, including Tyagi, in its FIR in the money laundering case. It had also arrested Delhi-based businessman Gautam Khaitan in the case apart from a director of a Dubai-based company, Shivani Saxena, recently. On January 1, 2014, India scrapped the contract with Finmeccanica's British subsidiary AgustaWestland for supplying 12 AW-101 VVIP choppers to the IAF over alleged breach of contractual obligations and charges of paying kickbacks to the tune of Rs 423 crore by it for securing the deal. The ED and the CBI have also issued Letters Rogatory to multiple countries to gather more leads and evidence in this case. Letters Rogatory are requests issued by courts on the request of an investigation agency when it wants information from another country. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was addressing people associated with the Umiya Sansthan, a socio-religious organisation, in Haridwar through video conference on the inauguration of Ma Umiya Dham Ashram on Thursday. (Photo: PTI) New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi voiced, on Thursday concern over the growing problem of alcoholism among youth and said society will be ruined in the next 25 years if the menace was not checked. Modi was addressing people associated with the Umiya Sansthan, a socio-religious organisation, in Haridwar through video conference on the inauguration of Ma Umiya Dham Ashram. Praising the Sansthan for according priority to social causes, he spoke of the crucial role it could play in fighting alcoholism among the younger generation and creating awareness about cleanliness and environment conservation. Remembering how the institution had lent him a helping hand in stopping female foeticide and providing succour to quake-hit people when he had just taken over as Gujarat chief minister, Modi asked the Sansthan to save the younger generation from falling victim to alcoholism besides inspiring devotees to keep the environment clean. I am sharing this concern with you as someone who has grown among your midst and not as the Prime Minister. Dont you hear news about the younger generation especially our boys falling victim to alcoholism and things our ancestors hated. If we let this tendency grow in 20-25 years our society will be ruined. Considering your contribution to social causes in the past I shall appeal to you to stop the younger generation from going astray, the Prime Minister said. Modi suggested that devotees coming to the ashram should be asked whether or not they had made toilets at home and offered a sapling each to plant and nurture with the same devotion which they show while worshipping Ma Umiya. It will help get rid of open defecation and keeping the environment clean and green, he said. He said the dharamshala opened by the Umiya Sansthan will tremendously boost tourism in the whole of north India especially Uttarakhand where major pilgrimages like Haridwar, Rishikesh, Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri are located. Modi said circuit tourism may be a modern coinage but the concept has been part of Indias traditions for ages as people in this country have long been undertaking long journeys to visit major centres of faith. The Prime Minister congratulated the Sansthan for setting up such a large dharamshala in Haridwar for devotees, saying people visiting the Himalayan shrines of Uttarakhand will benefit immensely from the facility which will boost religious tourism in the state. He also recalled the enthusiasm with which he used to take part in Ma Umiya Devi festival celebrations as a young volunteer in Gujarat. Kannur: BJP President Amit Shah on Thursday did not participate in the party march in the hometown of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan as he had to attend a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. BJP state president Kummanam Rajasekharan told reporters that Shah would be unable to attend the phase of the 'Janaraksha Yatra' (People's Protection March) that would pass from Mambaram to Thalassery, crossing Pinaryi town in Kannur district. Rajasekharan said Shah has to attend a meeting with Prime Minister Modi in New Delhi. Hundreds of party workers, led by the state unit chief, are participating in the march that entered the third day on Thursday. Shah had launched the high profile 15-day yatra from Payyannur in Kannur on October 3 against the alleged "red and jihadi terrorism" under the CPI(M)-led LDF rule in Kerala. On Wednesday, Uttar Pradesh Chief minister, Yogi Adityanath, had led the yatra and accused the left party of promoting "jihadi terrorism." Senior BJP leaders are expected to participate in the yatra which will conclude on October 17 at Thiruvananthapuram. Meanwhile, senior Marxist leader from Kannur, M V Govindan, Master said the march will not have any impact on the left party's strength and its base in the state. "In a democracy, all political parties can take out yatras and there are no restrictions," he said adding Shah not attending the march today was an "anti-climax." CPI(M) Thalassery MLA A N Shamseer alleged that Shah had "abandoned" the yatra through 'party gramam' (party village). Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala also took a dig at Shah skipping Thursday's march, saying the Janaraksha Yatra had become a 'Vilapa Yatra' (mourning procession). Varanasi: A student of Banaras Hindu University (BHU) was, on Thursday arrested after his classmate accused him of "dragging and slapping" her, police said. The complainant alleged the accused "dragged and slapped" her when she was going to meet a professor of the Faculty of Social Sciences, BHU PRO Rajesh Singh said. The woman informed the chief proctor of the incident and filed a complaint at the Lanka police station. The BHU administration handed over the accused to police. He has been booked under relevant IPC sections, station officer Sanjiv Mishra said. The varsity authorities have been facing a cascade of criticism over allegations of eve-teasing on the campus. The alleged molestation of a female student on the BHU premises had last month prompted students across the country to take up the cudgels for the safety of women students. Dhinakaran had also said that the EC should allow his group to file objections for the new submissions. (Photo: File) Madurai: The Madras High Court, on Thursday, dismissed a plea by sidelined AIADMK leader TTV Dhinakaran to extend its October 31 deadline for settling the party symbol dispute case to February 28 next year. Justices M Venugopal and Abdul Quddhose of the Madurai bench said the court had set the deadline as it felt that a time-frame should be fixed for disposal of the dispute. It had accordingly directed the Election Commission (EC) to dispose it of before October 31 this year, the bench observed. The court had, on September 15 directed the EC to decide before October 31 the matter related to the AIADMK's 'two leaves' symbol, frozen by the poll body in March after two factions of the party staked claim to it. Dhinakaran, in his petition, had prayed for extension of the deadline, saying the EC had sought fresh submissions and it would only expand the scope of the dispute. Besides, he had said that the EC should allow his group to file objections for the new submissions. Dhinakaran had filed the petition on October 3, days after the EC had rejected his plea to grant 15 days more to submit affidavits in the symbol dispute case and said the hearing would take place on October 6 as scheduled. Rejecting the petition, the judges said the EC had given time till Wednesday for the petitioner to file his rejoinder or objections to the fresh submissions or documents. It had also agreed to hear the oral submission on Friday. "It is not open to the petitioner now to take a contra-plea. Petitioner cannot approbate and reprobate in the eye of law. The plea of the petitioner cannot be acceded to prevent aberration of justice," the judges said while dismissing Dhinakaran's petition. They had, on Wednesday, reserved orders on Dhinakaran's plea after the counsel for Chief Minister K Palanisamy's faction had sought its dismissal. The counsel had stated that the EC had given sufficient time till October 4 for submission of documents. Dhinakaran had claimed that 102 MLAs, 37 MPs and 1,912 general council and central executive committee members supported him. He submitted that the latest EC direction to make fresh submission would only enhance the scope of the dispute, and it would not be able to decide the dispute involving volumes of documents before October 31. Hence, he had sought extension of the deadline. The high court bench had given the October 31 deadline for EC on a PIL by Ramkumar Adityan, an AIADMK member and advocate. He had sought a direction to the EC to conduct an election among the party's general council and executive committee and MLAs and MPs, totalling 3,100, to decide which group had the majority. Adityan's petition was filed on August 22, a day after the two factions led by K Palanisamy and his predecessor O Panneerselvam merged, sidelining jailed party chief V K Sasikala and her deputy Dhinakaran. Tirupati: Vice-President Mr M. Venkaiah Naidu inaugurated World Space week -2017 at Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) in Sriharikota of Nellore district in Andhra Pradesh. Speaking on the occasion Mr Venkaiah Naidu said, India has showed progress in developing satellites. In the space experiments India has been topping the list among the countries in the world. Foreign satellites are often sent to space from our rockets, which makes all of us proud. Earlier Mr Venkaiah Naidu visited different departments in SHAR. Isro chairman Kiran Kumar, SHAR director Kunhi Krishnan explained the various departments to the Vice- President. Application of space technology for societal needs has brought unimaginable changes in the human lives on this planet earth. All the space faring nations are celebrating the World Space Week during October 4-10 every year to inspire the international community towards more and more applications of Space Technology for the humankind. October 4 signifies the launch of first Satellite, Sputnik-1 in 1957. Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR, Sriharikota the Spaceport of India, one of the lead centeres under the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) was traditionally celebrating the World Space week with a gamut of public outreach programmes at Sriharikota. The outreach programme on the occasion of World Space Week has started spreading its wings by moving out from Sriharikota to nearby places like Tirupati, Vijayawada and Guntur last year. The World Space Week programme by SDSC SHAR, Sriharikota took a new shape in 2016 by spreading the activities to the 14 selected locations in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Tamil Nadu from October r to October 10 to propagate the benefits of Indian Space Programme to majority of scientific, academic and general public. Building upon the same trend, WSW - 2017 will be celebrated this year by SDSC SHAR at 22 selected locations in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Odisha from October 4 to October 10 to propagate the benefits of Indian Space Programme to majority of people and stimulate young minds. Lalu Yadav had allegedly got the land from companies a return for the favours they received during his tenure as the railways minister. (Photo: PTI) New Delhi: Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) supremo and former Bihar chief minister Lalu Yadav on Thursday appeared before the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) at its headquarters in New Delhi for questioning in connection with Railway hotel tender case. The interrogation is in connection with three acres of the prime plot of land in Patna through a benami company Delight. The investigative agency had, in July, registered a corruption case against Lalu, his wife Rabri Devi, his son Tejashwi Yadav, Sarla Gupta, wife of Prem Chand Gupta, Vijay Kochar and Vinay Kochar, both directors of Messer's Sujata Hotel Private Limited, Messer's Delight Marketing Private Limited, P.K. Goel, the then Managing Directors, IRCTC and unknown others under Section 120 B read with Section 420 of the Indian Penal Code(IPC) and Section 13(2) read with Section 13(1)d Prevention of Corruption Act 1988 in connection with the case. The FIR lodged by the CBI against RJD chief stated that there were irregularities in awarding the tender for development, maintenance and operation of BNR Hotels in Ranchi and Puri when Lalu was the Railways Minister from 2004 to 2009. The investigating agency has alleged that the tender process was rigged, manipulated and the conditions were tweaked by the then Railway Minister to help a private hotel company. Yadav had allegedly got the land from companies a return for the favours they received during his tenure as the railways minister. One of the alleged beneficiaries of the property was Lalu's son Tejaswi Yadav. He will be questioned on Friday. The agency first summoned Lalu and his son to appear for questioning on September 11 and September 12. The father-son duo later sought more time to appear before the CBI. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had in July ended his alliance with Lalu Yadav and the Congress. (With agency inputs) J Jayalaithaa died on December 5 at Apollo Hospitals in Chennai, following a cardiac arrest. (Photo: AFP | File) Chennai: The Madras High Court, on Thursday, adjourned until October 10 the hearing on a petition filed against a lower court order, rejecting the plea to register a case of suspicious death in connection with the demise of former chief minister J Jayalalithaa. When the revision petition by AK Velan came up before Justice S Vimala, the government counsel submitted that a similar plea had earlier been dismissed by the high court. The judge recorded the submission and directed the government counsel to furnish a copy of the order on the matter and adjourned the hearing until October 10. In his petition filed before the 14th Metropolitan Magistrate Court at Egmore in Chennai, the petitioner had sought a direction to the Thousand Lights police station to register a case of suspicious death in connection with Jayalalithaa's demise. However, the petition was rejected by the lower court on June 27, following which the petitioner moved the high court. He said Jayalalithaa was under medical treatment at the Apollo Hospitals in Chennai for 74 days and she was suddenly declared dead on December 5, 2016. The petitioner alleged that secrecy was maintained with regard to the treatment provided to her by the hospital. Jayalalithaa was admitted to the Apollo Hospitals in Chennai for fever and dehydration on September 22, 2016. After a prolonged treatment, she died on December 5 following a cardiac arrest. Doubts have been raised over the events leading to Jayalalithaa's hospitalisation and her death by various quarters with opposition parties including the DMK demanding a CBI probe. Bengaluru: Its one month since journalist, editor cum activist Gauri Lankesh was shot dead by some unknown assailants outside her house on September 5 but besides the fact that the contraband multiple-shot semi automatic 7.65mm pistol that was used to bring her down was reportedly bought from near Zalki checkpost bordering Maharashtra in Vijayapura district, there has been no breakthrough in the case so far. The Special Investigation Team (SIT), which is probing Gauris murder case, has reportedly got some good leads on the identity of one of the assailants, but it is premature to say with certainty that they have identified the right man, who had emptied the three bullets in her that fateful evening. The team seems to be on the right track but they need to be lucky because in the past, several good leads had gone dry and investigation had hit a wall. At this juncture luck also has to favour the SIT in their countrywide hunt for Gauris killers. The available evidence should lead to him, said an officer on condition of anonymity. Zalki checkpost is notorious for its underground market for illegal firearms. The contraband firearms are smuggled in from Uttar Pradeh, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab and Bihar to Zalki via Solapur in Maharashtra and sold in the grey market to criminals from West and South India. They disappear in the wilderness, often without a footprint, said the officer. The SIT team had last month visited Zalki and the Government Ordnance Factory in Khadki in Pune, which manufactures the bullets for licensed firearms. Will prisoners squeal? Rs 10 lakh cash award alert According to sources, word has been spread to all prisons in Karnataka, Maharashtra and Goa that credible information leading to arrest of Gauris killers will make the informer richer by a hefty cash reward of Rs 10 lakh. The prisons have been sounded out on the Rs 10 lakh reward by the State government. Prisoners are a perennial and many a times, credible sources of information for the law enforcement agencies, which keep tapping them for their use, said another officer, who didnt wish to be named. The State government is under pressure to have the case solved at the earliest and has given a free hand to the SIT to use the best possible available resources; human and technology, to crack the case and bring Gauris killers to justice at the earliest. Remember playing dodgeball in elementary school? If youre under 30, maybe not. In some places this activitys been banned because if played with malice, it can become barbaric. During my grade school days, our intentions didnt involve mayhem.If youre not familiar with dodgeball, or didnt see Dodgeball the movie, the rules are simple: Players divide into two teams, and using a large, inflated rubber ball, compete in a single-elimination contest. The aim is to avoid being struck by the ball, even a glancing blow.If someone from the opposite team hits you with the ball, youre out. One by one, competitors are eliminated until only a single player is left standing.Think of it as a variation on music chairs. Except someone wisely realized throwing chairs wasnt safe, so they substituted a ball. Quick and agile players, especially those that can toss the ball with accuracy and speed, usually prevail.In some ways, everyday lifes like a game of dodgeball. Lots of things coming at us, many of them totally unexpected. For some, the secret to success is simply to avoid being struck. Unfortunately, thats like attempting to survive rush-hour in some cities without getting any dents. Nice try.My more aggressive classmates chose to refer to dodgeball as bombardment. Some days that seems an apt description for what life serves us. Were cruising along, stress level at a minimum, when some emergency arises. Maybe a tire blows on the highway, far from the nearest exit. Our computer crashes at work making that essential report needed for the meeting in 15 minutes inaccessible. Or frantically preparing for guests coming over for dinner, you leave the special dessert in the oven for too long.We can think of countless other circumstances that cause us to want to duck and twist and squirm as the dodgeballs fly at us with machine-gun speed. Its not fun being bombarded.Some followers of Jesus Christ believe we should be insulated from such onslaughts. God loves us, right? Certainly, He wouldnt want us to have to endure hardships. Right? Were children of the King that must mean were entitled to live in carefree, regal splendor. Right? Spoiler alert: Thats not what it says in my Bible. Or yours.An interesting verse in the Scriptures finds the apostle Paul declaring, I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death (Philippians 3:10). Ive been around quite a few people who are all in when it comes to knowing Jesus and experiencing the power of His resurrection. Yup, Im good with that! But they tiptoe around the last part, the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings part. As well as the idea of becoming like Him in His death. Who wants that?But as in dodgeball, were told in the Bible that suffering, hardship and adversity are inevitable. Theyre included in the believers job description. Sooner or later, were going to get hit. Its not a matter of if, but when and how.Think of it this way: If anyone could have succeeded at winning the dodgeball of everyday life, it would have been Jesus. Yet the Scriptures tell us, For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:2). Joy? Going to the cross?Thats exactly what it says, and being called to the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings, were instructed to boldly face lifes onslaughts, not seeking them out, but also not expecting to dodge them all. Thats the application of Pauls exhortation when he says, Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! (Philippians 4:4).Then he teaches, just two verses later, Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7).This is one of Pauls recurring themes, since he also writes, Be joyful always; praying continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is Gods will for you in Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).Its almost like the apostle informing us, Like it or not, youve been recruited to play a game of dodgeball every day of your life and sometimes youre going to get hit. You can grumble and complain if you want, but youll find it much better to face the adversities that come your way with joy, and thanksgiving, knowing God is in control. If Jesus was willing to embrace the hardships He had to endure, Hell help you in dealing with yours as well.----Robert J. Tamasy is a veteran journalist, former newspaper editor and magazine editor. Bob has written hundreds of magazine articles, and authored, co-authored and edited more than 15 books. These include the newly re-published, Business At Its Best, Tufting Legacies, The Heart of Mentoring, and Pursuing Life With a Shepherds Heart. He edits a weekly business meditation, Monday Manna, which is translated into more than 20 languages and distributed via email around the world by CBMC International. To read more of Bob Tamasys writings, you can visit his blog, www.bobtamasy.blogspot.com, or his website (now being completed), www.bobtamasy-readywriterink.com. He can be emailed at btamasy@comcast.net. The green panel said the continuance of the use of the area by protestors was in violation of environmental laws including Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981. (Representational Image | PTI) New Delhi: The National Green Tribunal, on Thursday banned all protests and dharnas around the historic Jantar Mantar area in Delhi, which has been a hotspot of many agitations over the past decades, saying such activities violate environmental laws. The green panel said the State has totally failed to protect the right of enjoying pollution-free environment of the citizens living in the Jantar Mantar Road area, close to Connaught Place in the heart of the city. It said it was the duty of the State to ensure that the rights of the people to live a peaceful and comfortable life are not infringed by those who create noise pollution in the name of their right of freedom of speech and expression, which can never be unlimited. A bench headed by Justice RS Rathore also directed the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) to remove all make-shift and temporary structures, loud speakers and public address systems from the stretch of the road. The municipal body was also directed to remove the garbage lying in the area and clean it within four weeks. The tribunal directed the authorities to shift the protesters, agitators and the people holding dharna (sit-in) to alternative site at the Ramleela Grounds in Ajmeri Gate, "forthwith". "It is amply clear that the petitioners are suffering because of gross violation of laws, air pollution and health hazards due to lack of cleanliness and non performance of duty by the authorities of the State which is endangering their life. "The environmental condition at Jantar Mantar Road in relation to noise pollution, cleanliness, management of waste and public health has grossly deteriorated. Besides, constant dharna, slogans, noise pollution, health problems due to unhygienic conditions generated by the agitators round-the-clock, is unique in the instant case," the bench, also comprising expert member SS Garbyal, said. The NGT ordered the NDMC Chairman, Police Commissioner and the Delhi government to file compliance reports within five weeks from Thursday. It said the people participating in protests and raising slogans through loudspeakers have no right to compel the petitioner and others living in the area to listen to and tolerate it day and night. "The locality has completely changed, where one finds that men, women and children are bathing, washing their clothes under Delhi Jal Board tankers and the situation becomes worse when the people are seen defecating in the open, on pavements, which creates a totally unhygienic situation on the entire road," the bench said. Due to the continuous activity of the protesters for a number of years, the site has virtually become hell for the residents of the locality who cannot sleep at night, face noise pollution during the day, having difficulties to enter their house, the bench said. The NGT's verdict came on a plea filed by Varun Seth and others alleging that processions and agitations held by social groups, political parties, NGOs at the Jantar Mantar Road were a major source of noise pollution in the area. Adivasi elders take out yatra in Jainoor mandal in Kumarambheem Asifabad district on Wednesday (Photo: DC) Adilabad: Fed up by the social and modern evils haunting them for years, some Adivasis have decided to embark on a mission to protect the community. Adivasi Gonds of old Adilabad district are on a first-of-its-kind mission to safeguard their culture and traditions and making the tribals self-reliant by creating awareness among the community. The community elders are visiting adivasi gudems and Rai centres and holding meetings with on the need to protect their culture and traditions. The Raj Gond Seva Samiti and Rai centre elders are involving inhabitants of Adivasi gudems in the yatra so that they experience their culture, traditions, music and traditional dances first-hand. Understandably, the focus is on the Adivasi youth. Adivasi leader Kotnaka Kishan Moksal of Samiti says in Gondi dialect Jathi Bonke Baki Manaval Selle (Adivasis should not take loans from seths as it will land them in debt trap). The leaders say Adivasis should practice their tradition of organic farming with cow dung instead depending on Bt cotton, pesticide and fertilisers. The younger generation is told that its high time the traditional cropping stem and cultivation of pulses and jowar and maize is revived. They are urged not to sell cow dung and not give or lease their lands for cultivation to non-tribals. The youth are also asked to use seeds preserved by them, and not to waste time by waiting for government subsidies. The Samiti team, comprising about 70 Adivasis, including women in their traditional attire, are participating in the yatra that started on September 29 from Wankidi of Kumarambheem Asifabad district. The yatra will culminate with the Avval puja to be performed at Jodeghat in Kerameri mandal in connection with the death anniversary of Kumaram Bhim. Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Books and Publications Society (KBPS) has decided to take steps to complete the distribution of the third volume of textbooks to schools by December. This followed complaints that the distribution of the second volume of textbooks had been delayed in schools. As per the schedule, the distribution of the second volume should have been completed before October 1. However, the textbooks had not reached many schools even though it was a minor delay of one or two days. KBPS chairman and managing director Tomin J. Thachankary denied there was a delay and told Deccan Chronicle that the books had reached schools before October 1. However, many felt that there was a delay because, when schools reopened in the first half of September after the Onam holidays which came after the first term examinations, textbooks had not been received. That was seen as a delay, Mr Thachankary said. The plan now was to complete the printing of the third volume of textbooks before December. However, the general education department has Rs 75 crore in arrears on bills for textbook printing. Even if the printing was completed before December, the books would be distributed only after the money was released, Mr Thachankary said. The decision to print the textbooks in three volumes was taken to reduce the burden of children by decreasing the weight of school bags. Before this decision, a total of 2.2 crore books had to be published in a single volume. Now, a total of 6.6 crore books had to be published in three volumes. It had definitely increased the burden, Mr Thachankary pointed out. A total of 2,86,69,591 books were printed in the first volume, 2,47,20,262 in the second volume, and 75,01,475 will be printed in the third volume. However, following differences between KBPS and the general education department, this system had some hiccups during the distribution of the second volume. Pro-CPI All Kerala School Teachers Union (AKSTU) General Secretary N Sreekumar most of the books had been distributed to textbook hubs with six or seven schools under them by Sunday and Monday. However, he admitted that there were complaints that textbooks had not reached some schools even on Wednesday. The distribution could be completed within two days, Mr Sreekumar said. Pro-Congress Kerala Pradesh School Teachers Association (KPSTA) President P. Harigovindan said that there has been an inordinate delay in the distribution of the second volume of UP and LP school textbooks in most schools. Though, things were better for high schools, the distribution was not completed, Mr Harigovindan added. Earlier, KBPS had put in place a well-knit mechanism for the distribution of the first volume of textbooks which was completely distributed before the academic year began in June. However, as per reports, this could not be replicated during the distribution of the second volume. A special software named textbook monitoring distribution system was developed to monitor printing and distribution. Instead of the earlier practice of handing over books to district-level depots, this year, the books were directly supplied to the societies in schools. The printing was done exclusively by KPBS which was trusted with the purchase of printing paper. A team consisting of two ADPIs, joint director and textbook officer were asked to supervise at the state-level and a team that included a superintendent and two clerks at the district level. The printing of the first volume started in October last year, two months earlier than the regular date. While the Bengaluru Metro has been a boon to commuters, the lack of integration of stations like Baiyappanahalli and Nagasandra with the adjoining main roads has led to unnecessary fatalities. With one more death in September, the call for better connectivity has grown ever louder. The Metro was meant to decongest our cities but why is getting to the stations such a hurdle, asks Ranjani Madhavan. The Metro Rail may be finally meeting the needs of a large number of the citys commuters travelling over long distances even if it still has a long way to go before it can provide them access to all parts of the city. But many are beginning to question the locations of its stations from the perspective of commuter convenience as people exiting them are finding themselves on crowded roads with the traffic making it hard for them to get across to the other side. Only in April this year a young college student exiting the Nagasandra Metro Station was killed by a speeding vehicle and last month, a seven- year- old boy was hit by a vehicle on the Old Madras Road while returning from the Baiyappanahalli Metro Station. While the terminal at Baiyappanahalli is a huge comfort for commuters living nearby, locals find that its one and only entrance is a disadvantage, especially as they are required to cross the busy Old Madras Road( OMR) navigating heavy traffic, to reach it. Read | Guest column: Every ship needs captain, and Metro requires unifying governing body Office- goers, the elderly and families carrying luggage have to wait endlessly to cross the Old Madras Road. Every day is a fight to live, says Ms Geetha, a resident of Varthur, adding, I worry for my 13- year- old son, who uses the Metro to go to school every day. I have never seen a Metro, which has so much confusion outside. Two- wheelers are driving against the one way- traffic to drop passengers at the Metro station near the Srinivaspura bus stop and while I was taking a video, one motorist heading towards the Metro parking almost got hit by a BMTC bus in the absence of a bus bay here. It is really strange that the next stop, the Swami Viveknanda station, has safe entry, parking and a bus bay. Mr Subir Shah, who has lived in the area for 15 years, also faults the design of the station. There is only one entrance to the Baiyappanahalli Metro Station unlike the Indiranagar and Ulsoor stations, which have entry on either sides. How can there be space for parking but no second entrance? he asks. In his view , there is no excuse not to have a subway or some form of access from the opposite side of the road to the Metro station as it is close to a six- lane crowded junction with no pedestrian signal. A 20 ft long subway should have been built given that Baiyappanahalli station is the second busiest after Majestic, he maintains. With AC buses halting for almost 15 minutes for passengers in the service lane near the station and blocking the way of other buses on the main road, the locals believe a designated bus bay at the spot is essential. This could greatly help matters as the huge number of vehicles from Varthur, GM Palaya, KR Puram, Pai Layout, Beginahalli, GM Palya, SG Palya, Nagvaraplaya, Bhuveneshwarnagar, Maleshpalya, Kaggadaspura and Hoskote currently have no access to the opposite side of the Baiyappanahalli Metro station, they contend. Meanwhile, motorists and bikers complain that the road median with its 5 ft tall trees here stops them from having a clear view and forces them to halt abruptly as pedestrians suddenly pop from nowhere. Debate on transport system on October 7 Members of the Citizens for Bengaluru, Praaja RAAG, Bus Prayaneekara Vedike and Citizens' Action Forum are organising a public discourse on Namma Metro and Integration of Public Transport Systems in Bengaluru on October 7. In the light of the recent Cantonment controversy, citizens believe there is a need for public consultation. Ashish Varma, Pawan Mulukutla, George Kuruvilla, Ashwin Mahesh, Naresh Narasimhan, V. Ravichandar and other urban experts will speak. Officials from BMRCL, BMTC, Railways and other government departments, politicians and elected representatives too have been invited," said Tara Krishnaswamy of Citizens for Bengaluru. To raise concerns of citizens fighting with authorities at various levels and to contemplate on legal issues, we are conducting this discourse. Rs 40,000-50,000 crore of our money being spent on one Metro project demands public consultation," said Mukunda of the Citizen Action Forum. When BMRCL took a unilateral decision on shifting Cantonment Metro station, the onus is on them to convince us about it. The points they raised do not hold water. We got 2,468 signatures supporting the original alignment as opposed to the 17 they stated for the alternate station," Raj Kumar, a resident of Vasanthnagar said. BMRCL calls for tenders to build skywalk, subway While locals wrote to the Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL) about the poor accessibility to the Baiyappanahalli Metro station in May this year and also informed their elected representatives and the traffic police about the problem, commuters are at similar risk at the Peenya, Dasarahalli, Peenya Industry and Jalahalli Metro stations on the Green Line. Two months ago, when one commuter, Rahul, was briskly walking to reach the Nagasandra Metro on a Monday morning, he almost slipped. And this wasnt the first that he had almost fallen on the slushy, muck filled road below the station. A video he shot of the stretch shows BMTC buses halting 400 meters from their designated stops for a lack of bus bays, people screaming as a truck gets stuck in a ditch and passengers walking on potholes instead of a pavement. Matters came to a head in April when the young college student exiting the Nagasandra Metro Station was killed by a speeding vehicle. The boys father recalled at the time that the BMRCL had promised a subway 10 months before his son died, but had done nothing about it. But now finally, the BMRCL has called for tenders to build a subway at Nagasandra and Dasarahalli. As for Baiyappanahalli, commuters here can expect some relief in a few months. The BBMP has already called for tenders for a skywalk here, extending from the road bridge attached to the Baiyappanahalli Metro Station and going over the Old Madras Road to the opposite end. People will be able to go directly from the concourse level to the other side, explains Chief Public Relations Officer of the BMRCL, Vasanth Rao. The BRMCL has asked the contractor to revise the design of the skywalk and he will get back to us with the final design this week. There will be an escalator, lift and staircase on one side. It will take two to four months to build, Mr Rao assures. Bengaluru: India's Silicon Valley is struggling to cope with the onslaught of rain ever since August 15. Bengalureans, who had witnessed sweltering summer this year with temperatures touching 40 degree Celsius, were looking forward towards relief during this rainy season. However, now they have to worry about salvaging their houses, vehicles amid rampaging monsoon. This years rainy spells have inundated several parts of the city, with roads in many places turning into rivulets. All those who yearned for rains, now want it to stop. Venkatesh M, is almost nearing his 70s. Being born and brought up in the city, he said, "The city has witnessed tremendous change over the years not only in the form of infrastructure but also in weather. A city which was fondly called as pensioners' paradise is witnessing sudden changes in weather." Festivals like Dasara and Onam used to mark the end of South west monsoon. But even in October we are seeing heavy rains, he noticed. Regarding this freaky weather pattern, Srinivas Reddy, Director, Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre, said, "Summer was bit harsh this year with the temperatures hopping between 36 and 40 degrees making it very difficult. But when compared with the temperatures recorded in previous decade there isn't any sharp increase." However, he said that there is an increase of 1-2 degrees. "We had predicted South west monsoon to make its entry into the state by May 27, but due to change in the system it got delayed. Usually, June and July months witness heavy rainfall. In 2016 too, June and July months witnessed heavy rainfall. But this year, till mid-July there were no signs of Monsoon picking up and out of 29 districts in the state, 21 were rain deficit," he said. However, since August 15, it has been raining heavily breaking 100 year old rainfall records. Even though there isn't any big variation in the 100-year rainfall pattern, extreme events are taking place in the city with sudden spike in the intensity of rains. Srinivas said that even in the city there is a wide difference in the amount of rainfall recorded. "While some areas record 100mm rains, some witness only 50 mm and in some there would have been no rains at all. Srinivas attributed it to rising pollution levels and change in land use pattern and increasing concrete cover. "City's runoff coefficient (amount of runoff to the amount of precipitation received) which was at 30-40 per cent, is now at 80 per cent. Rapid concretisation has shrunk the exposed areas for the rainwater to seep into the ground." Everywhere you can find high rise building which use glasses. These glass houses may look attractive, but they are greenhouse trappers contributing to rise in temperature. Adding to these are vehicular and industrial pollution. All these factors influence the way rain behaves, he said. In addition, many lakes and tanks have made way for houses and layouts. Drains which are supposed to carry rainwater are now filled with filth and garbage. Bengaluru: Fiery journalist Gauri Lankesh, who was shot dead by an unknown assailant outside her home last month, has been presented the Anna Politkovskaya Award - 2017 posthumously along with Pakistani activist, Gulalai Ismail, who is fighting Islamic extremism in her country. A Russian forum, Reach All Women in War (RAW in WAR), has been giving the award to women, who stand for human rights and justice in war and conflict zones around the world since 2007. The international award is named after Russian journalist, Anna Politkovskaya, who was killed in 2006 in Moscow for her courageous and vocal defense of the plight faced by civilians suffering in the war in Chechnya. To mark the anniversary of Anna Politkovskaya's murder on October 7, 2006, and honour her and other women like her in the world, RAW in WAR annually presents the Anna Politkovskaya Award to a female human rights defender from a conflict zone, who stands up for the victims, often at great personal risk. Pakistani activist for female education and the youngest Nobel laureate, Malala Yousafzai, was conferred the award in 2013. Ms. Lankesh's mother, Indira, said, "It's an honour for my daughter. We are proud that she has got the support of so many people." Her sister and well known Kannada filmmaker, Kavita, said that the award didn't belong to the family alone, but to everyone who stood for Ms Lankesh's struggles. The family, which gave details of the award at a press conference here on Thursday, also said it was satisfied with the efforts of the Special Investigation Team(SIT) looking into her murder. Ms. Lankesh's brother and film director, Indrajit Lankesh, however, said the family did not only want the killer to be arrested, but also wanted to know what his motive was. "I have lost my sister and it's been a month. All we want to know is why was she killed. Maybe, if the killer in this case is caught, the police will also get leads to solve the murders of rationalists, Dr. M. M. Kalburgi, Govind Pansare and Narendra Dabholkar," he added. Commenting on the notice issued to filmmaker A.M.R.Ramesh, who is planning to make a movie on Ms Lankesh's murder, the siblings clarified they would welcome such a movie, but not when they were still grieving and the killers were at large. "The notice was issued by my mother Indira, who felt it was not the right time to make a movie on Gauri. Also, also we don't want this case to become a marketing issue," Mr. Indrajit, who has taken over the running of the Gauri Lankesh Patrike that his slain sister ran, said. Upadhya said that large-scale construction activities were being carried out all over without any environmental clearances being obtained. Hyderabad: In a major setback to the Kaleswaram lift irrigation scheme and the state government, the National Green Tribunal at Delhi on Thursday granted a stay on the ongoing construction work till further orders. A two-member bench headed by Justice Jawad Rahim issued the interim order while hearing an application by Mr Hayathuddin, who said the state government was constructing the Kaleswaram project without environmental clearances. The bench ordered that all ongoing works be stopped, including excavating, tunnelling, canalling, blasting and other allied construction activities, until all statutory compliances and clearances required for such a project are obtained. Mr Sanjay Upadhya, counsel for the petitioner, told the bench that the state government had claimed that the project was a drinking water project (which does not require environmental clearances) by wrongly showing pipelines laid for Mission Bhagiratha (which is a drinking water project). He said that though the state government claimed that no forest land had been used for the project, hundreds of acres of forest land had in fact been illegally cleared and trees illegally felled. Mr Upadhya said that large-scale construction activities were being carried out all over without any environmental clearances being obtained. He alleged that the state government was hiding the fact that a major crocodile nesting hub and sanctuary was being submerged for the construction of the irrigation scheme. Counsel appearing for the TS government urged the bench to suspend the implementation of the stay order for three days to permit them to get the required clearances from the Centre. Refusing this request, the bench made it clear that their interim order would be implemented with immediate effect and any modification can be sought only after obtaining the clearances. When contacted, state government sources said the interim orders will be studied and an official reaction given on Friday. Sources did admit that the ongoing work will have to be halted temporarily under various packages. They said that since clearances for Stage-1 had been obtained from the forest department, the environmental impact studies and other associated issues raised by the NGT will be addressed in a proper manner and hopefully all clearances will be obtained within three months. Telangana to move SC on tribunal stay The TS government has decided to challenge the stay orders issued by the National Green Tribunal stalling the Kaleswaram project works till all forest and environmental clearances are obtained, in the Supreme Court. Speaking at Alair, major irrigation minister T. Harish Rao said It is a temporary setback for the project. We will overcome the hurdle by preferring an appeal in the Supreme Court and we hope justice will prevail, Mr Harish Rao said. He said the Kaleswaram project was part of the Pranahita project taken up by the previous Congress government and blamed it for failing to obtain the necessary clearances. The TRS government held consultations with the Maharashtra government and entered into an inter-state agreement, he said. He said Congress leaders were deriving sadistic pleasure after the NGT stayed the work as they do not want the project to be completed in record time. In a related development, Kaleswaram project chief engineer B. Hariram said environmental impact assessment had been completed in all districts including the affected areas of Maharashtra. The government will submit the detailed report and obtain clearances. He said Stage-1 forest clearances had already been obtained by the state government. He said though the TS government had argued before the NGT that only the drinking water component was being executed at the Kaleswaram project since it was tagged to Mission Bhagiratha but the Tribunal had ordered a stay. MADURAI: The heavy rains that lashed Madurai on Wednesday evening did not even spare the Meenakshi Sundareshwarar temple. Devotees were taken back when the courtyard outside the sanctum sanctorum of Lord Sundareswarar was inundated in the wake of the downpour. Madurai received 420.60 mm (42.06 cm) rainfall in just three hours between 6.30 pm and 9.30 pm on Wednesday. It was for the third time in the last one month, the temple city witnessed the same amount of rainfall on a single day, according to Revenue officials. The four Chithirai streets surrounding the temple also went under a thick sheet of water, which also intruded into the temple precincts, an unusual sight for those inside the courtyard. The temple authorities acted swiftly and started pumping out the water. But the curiosity got the better of many people who started video-graphing the courtyard flooding, where the Kodimaram and various deities have been gracing and transmitting the visuals through social media. While the temple authorities blamed the poor drainage system in the Chithirai streets for inundating of the courtyard, the city corporation commissioner Dr Aneesh Sekhar said that the drainage could not discharge the huge volume of rain water that accumulated in the streets during the short span of time. However, sources said that it was not for the first time, the courtyard was being flooded during heavy rainfall. As there were blocks in junction points of drainage canal, the rain water get stagnated in the streets, claimed the sources, adding, they also constructed a brick wall outside the courtyard to prevent flooding. Though the temple floor is situated at a lower level below the Chithirai streets, it has evolved a foolproof system to drain out floodwaters from the premise to the 'Potramarai Kulam' located near sanctum sanctorum of Goddess Meenakshi, said the sources. Civil society members also complained about the lack of rainwater harvesting structures in residential buildings and commercial shops located near the temple. Responding to this, the corporation commissioner said that they were evolving remedial measures in coordination with the temple authorities to prevent such flooding in the future. Chennai: A 44-year-old software professional deemed missing was found dead in the narrow passage, where sewer pipelines are installed in the apartment complex on Arunachalam road in Virugambakkam on Thursday. Ruling out the possibility of murder, police suspect the man to have either slipped from the terrace of the high rise apartment or must have committed suicide. Rajaram, living with his family at Jains Westminster apartment complex here was missing since Tuesday night. According to a complaint by his wife, Deepa (41), he went to withdraw cash from an ATM nearby and never returned. Meanwhile, on Thursday, residents noticed the foul smell emanating from the passage between the buildings and alerted the police. Virugambakkam police rushed to the scene and recovered a body, which was identified to be that of the missing techie. The body was moved to the Government Royapettah Hospital for an autopsy. Police investigations revealed that Rajaram usually went to the terrace to attend phone calls as the signal is weak inside the apartment. He also used to smoke on the terrace, police said. Police suspect Rajaram to have climbed the terrace to attend a phone call when he slipped and fell into the passage. He was employed at an IT firm in Kandanchavadi along Rajiv Gandhi Salai. Police said that they would also be enquiring if there were issues at his workplace. He is survived by wife Deepa and daughter Rakshita. New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday refuted the perception that its judges are pro-government and that they will do whatever the government wants them to do. Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, who was sitting with the Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justice A.M. Khanwilkar, refuted the charges made in this regard by a senior advocate in a television debate. The judge made this observation during the course of hearing of a petition relating to comments made by former UP minister Azam Khan. Justice Chandrachud observed, The (former) President of Supreme Court Bar Association said on electronic media (during a debate on the transfer of Karnataka High Court Judge Jayant Patel to Allahabad High Court) that the Supreme Court was dominated by pro-government judges. That is not true. Someone has to just come and sit in court one day to see in how many cases the government gets hauled over the coals in favour of citizens rights. Referring to misuse of social media, where people spread false information about court proceedings without cross checking facts, Justice Chandrachud pointed out that often oral observations of judges and the discussions taking place between judges and lawyers are reported as judgements of this court and all types of comments are being made. The CJI said there should be a distinction between free speech and right to abuse others. Check Out All The Colorful Painted Boats Lining The Streets Of Greektown By Tankboy in Arts & Entertainment on Oct 4, 2017 7:48PM If you've strolled down Halsted Avenue in Greektown recently, between Madison and Van Buren streets, you may have noticed a number of small boats lining the streets, painted with fanciful scenes. It's all part of "The Amazing Greektown Dinghies" project, a community effort using local artists and some area youth groups, to both celebrate the roots of Greektown and fill the area with a few one-of-a-kind wonders. We spoke with Eve Moran, the Chair of the Greektown Arts Committee, to find out how the project came together and what it means to both her and the community. CHICAGOIST: What was behind the initial idea of mounting an installation? EVE MORAN: In Fall of 2016, my fellow commissioners of the Greektown SSA#16 named me chair of the Greektown Arts Committee. I wanted to deliver to Greektown something beautiful, relevant and interesting that would pop on Halsted Street. On a recent trip to Quebec City, I saw an array of colorful boat-shaped kites strung high across a small walkway. This got me thinking. Given the intimate and long-standing relationship between the Greeks and the sea, I imagined a series of small sculpted boatsdinghiesthat would be given to artists and creatively transformed. This was the seed of the project that grew to be known as The Amazing Greektown Dinghies. CHICAGOIST: Once that was decided, who drove the project and brought it to life? EVE MORAN: I have often said, "Ideas come easily, but the difficulty lies in the execution. It truly takes a village to bring a street art project to life. My friend Connie Hinkle is an artist and the co-curator of art for The Cliff Dwellers [arts club]. Connie became the project manager, handling the multitude of tasks, both creative and mundane, that would bring the colorful dinghies into Chicagos Greektown. Equally important was the support and encouragement of Alderman Walter Burnett. And, I relied heavily on the assistance of Frank Caputo, chair of the Greektown SSA #16, and Rod Burch, executive director of the West Central Association. Finally, high praise must be given to the artists, and artist teams, who were given a short turn-around time to transform a blank multi-dimensional form into a work of art. CHICAGOIST: So, how would you sum up The Amazing Greektown Dinghies? EVE MORAN: The dinghy project showcases the work of distinguished local Chicago artists, emerging artists and, as importantly, youth organizations in the greater Greektown community. This joy of community is art at its best." This interview has been condensed and edited. KRISHNAGIRI: In a moving gesture, two business professionals from New Zealand have come forward to fulfill the wishes of one of their much-loved neighbours of Indian origin who had tragically died in a copter crash, by gifting an English language teaching laboratory to a government school in Krishnagiri district. The laboratory has been set up at the Hosur government high school, on Hosur-Rayakottai road at a cost of about Rs 15 lakh. The sponsors, without any fanfare, unveiled the lab on Wednesday. Mr. Bruce Davis and Ms. Christine of New Zealand had spent `15 lakh including for purchase of laptops and furniture for our school to get an English language teaching laboratory, G. Renuka told DC. Ms. Renuka, an English teacher in the government school added, this great help will support our poor children to learn the language through the phonetic method, using software meant for this task. It all began with Captain Shri Rama Krishnan during his visit in 2011 searching for his familial roots in Thanjavur, from where his great grandparents had first migrated to Fiji and then to New Zealand, a century ago. Rama Krishnan, an aviation expert, met children walking along the road during his travel across the state searching for his relatives. He then found that rural children had difficulty in speaking in English and decided to give them an opportunity to learn the language. Rama Krishnan, according to the teacher, used to share with his neighbors Bruce Davis and Christine about his plans to support poor children's education in India. Sadly, Rama Krishnan died in Indonesia in a helicopter crash due to bad weather conditions, barely a year after he had visited Tamil Nadu in search of his family roots. Bruce Davis and Christine, who loved Rama Krishnan so dearly, decided to take forward his work and in fulfilling his wish started supporting the Hosur government high school to which they gifted this English teaching laboratory, revealed Ms. Renuka. (From Left) Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, former Governor RBI Dr C Rangarajan at Dr BR Ambedkar School of Economics at Ambedkar Bhavan in Bengaluru on Wednesday (Photo: Shashidhar B) Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah earned appreciation from none less economist-turned-politician, former prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh, for efficient fiscal management despite writing off farm loans. Mr Siddaramaiah has maintained Karnataka as one of the most financially sound states, he said at the inauguration of the academic session of Dr B R Ambedkar School of Economics' here on Wednesday, adding that the state government had effectively implemented the Food Security Act. The former prime minister also appreciated the fact that Mr Siddaramaiah had presented a dozen budgets and had ensured revenue surplus. He said that the economic reforms were undertaken to open opportunities for people who were born without any social privilege. And wondered how long would the authorities concerned continue to deny equality to all. How long shall we continue to deny equality in social and economic life. If we take too long we will put our political life in peril else people suffering will blow up the political equality that this Assembly has built. The principle of one person one vote has out unprecedented political power to marginalised percent population. Therefore, fresh efforts have to be made to keep inequality in control. Dr Singh said I hope scholars passing out of this school will help in a new design for cohesive and inclusive growth, employment generation, protection of environment and having due accord for social justice. I wish the school great success. The school is named after Dr B. R. Ambedkar who is a luminary, he added. Making a special mention of Bengalurus status as the tech hub and the fact that the city was home to institutions such as Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Indian Institute of Management (IIM-B), NLSUI and others, he said Dr Ambedkar School of Economics too should earn similar reputation. CHENNAI: Banwarilal Purohit, a BJP veteran whose political career began with the Congress in Maharashtra, arrived here on Thursday to a warm welcome by the top brass of the Tamil Nadu Government and will be sworn-in as 29th Governor of the state on Friday. Maharashtra Governor CH Vidyasagar Rao, who held additional charge of Tamil Nadu since September 2016, was given a warm farewell at the Chennai Airport on Thursday morning by Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami, his deputy O Panneerselvam, cabinet colleagues and senior officials. Rao was widely appreciated by many for the deft manner in which he handled the post-Jayalalithaa crisis when the ruling AIADMK was hit by internal strife and the Opposition bayed for blood. The Telangana strongman, who had his roots in the RSS, had on Wednesday thanked people for their love and affection during his one-year tenure as Governor. Purohit arrived at the Chennai Airport at around 1.30 PM even as heavy rains lashed the city, leading to a slight delay in the welcome ceremony. Braving the rains, Palaniswami, Panneerselvam, Chief Secretary Girija Vaidyanathan and cabinet ministers welcomed Purohit with shawls and bouquets. The Governor-elect was also accorded ceremonial guard of honour at the airport. Purohit, the former Assam Governor, will be administered oath of office as Governor at the Raj Bhawan by Chief Justice of Madras High Court Justice Indira Banerjee at 9.30 am on Friday. Top brass of the government and leaders from all political parties are expected to attend the swearing-in ceremony. Purohit will move to the sprawling Raj Bhawan in the heart of the city, at a time when the role of Governor is crucial given the political situation in the state. Tamil Nadu did not have a full-time Governor ever since K Rosaiah demitted office on August 31, 2016. He also moves in at a time the Madras High Court is hearing a slew of petitions demanding a floor test and challenging the disqualification of 18 AIADMK MLAs owing allegiance to rebel leader T T V Dhinakaran. Both the factions have already submitted their written responses making their stands clear to the EC and will push their case further at the hearing on Friday. CHENNAI: The battle for two leaves symbol will reach its crescendo on Friday when the full bench of the Election Commission will conduct a crucial hearing on demands from the factions headed by Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and rebel leader TTV Dhinakaran that the symbol be allotted to them. Chief Election Commissioner Achal Kumar Jyoti and Election Commissioners Om Prakash Rawat and Sunil Arora will begin the hearing at 3 pm at the Nirvachan Sadan, the headquarter of the Election Commission, during which representatives from both the factions will present their case. The original case was filed by Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam and E. Madhusudhanan after they rebelled against the then interim general secretary V.K. Sasikala staking claim for the two leaves symbol. As the EPS and OPS factions merged, Dhinakaran knocked at the doors of the Election Commission asking it not to pass any orders without hearing their side. With the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court asking it to dispose of the petition by October 31, EC has scheduled the hearing on the matter on Friday. Sources said if EC is satisfied with the arguments and if the rival sides don't ask time for counter arguments, verdict might be passed the same evening. It all depends on how the hearing goes. But EC is determined to dispose of the case by October 31, the source said. Both the factions have already submitted their written responses making their stands clear to the EC and will push their case further at the hearing on Friday. Both the factions have staked claim to the Two Leaves symbol, which holds sway over people from different generations since it is associated with the charisma of late M.G. Ramachandran. This is the second time in 29 years that rival claims over Two Leaves symbol have reached EC. In the aftermath of MGR's death in 1987, the AIADMK split into two factions J Jayalalithaa and V N Janaki and since both the groups staked claim over the symbol, the Election Commission kept it under freeze and allotted new symbol for both factions. Later, the symbol was de-frozen after the groups united. Washington: US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis has said that Indias decision not to send its troops to Afghanistan was in view of Pakistans considerations as this would bring in new complexities in the region. Mattis praised Indias contributions to the war-torn country before lawmakers at House Armed Services Committee, saying New Delhi has adopted a holistic approach in its assistance towards Afghanistan. "It is really a very holistic approach that India is taking. Youll notice I left off (Indian) boots (soldiers) on the ground because of the complexity that would bring to Pakistan," Mattis said in response to a question from Congressman Doug Lamborn during the Congressional hearing on South Asia. "Were trying to make this an inclusive strategy and we dont want them to get a sense that theyre vulnerable to any Indian Army people from their western flank, thats not necessary," Mattis said. The defence secretary insisted that an open border trade between India and Pakistan would help in bringing regional stability. "If theres any way for Pakistan and India to open their border to trade at great economic advantage to both of the countries, it would be a big help across the region," he said. Stability can follow economics as much as stability enables economics, he added. He hoped that they will eventually see that happen. "I believe India wants that to happen, but its very hard to do that if your concern is that you open the border to one thing, and you get something else," Mattis said in an oblique reference to cross-border infiltration. Responding to a series of questions on the Indian role in Afghanistan, Mattis said, New Delhi has been generous over many years with Afghanistan. Because of its very generous funding over the years, India has achieved a degree of affection from the Afghan people as a result. They intend to continue this effort and broaden it. Furthermore, they are providing training for Afghan military officers and NCOs at their schools." India, he said, is willing to do rehabilitation of Soviet-era equipment until they are replaced with American. That will take years, he noted. Furthermore, India has been providing and will continue to provide training for Afghan Army doctors and medics in the field so that the Afghan Army is able to take casualties and better sustain themselves thing, he said. Mattis said there are many areas where India and the US are natural partners for each other. The two countries, he said, are deepening and broadening the military-to-military relationship. "But it is not an exclusive strategy, exclusive of anyone. Any nation that wants to be part of the counter-terror effort and this stability effort in South Asia, can sign up," he said seeking to allay Pakistans concern of being excluded. Its open to any nation that wants to move against terrorism and remove this threat to all civilised nations. Referring to his talks with the Indian leadership, Mattis said US does not need to convince Indians that it doesnt have nefarious designs on the Indo-Pacific area. Pakistan FM Khawaja Asif meets US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in Washington on Thursday (Photo: Twitter) Washington: Expressing concerns about the future of Pakistan Government, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has said that Washington wants a stable government in Islamabad. Tillerson made these remarks to the media following his meeting with Pakistan's Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif on Wednesday. Tillerson also asserted that the United States has a reliable partner in Pakistan. "Yes, I believe we do," he said in response to a question that had the meeting with Pakistan's Foreign Minister convinced him that the United States had a reliable partner in Pakistan. Asserting that the US-Pakistan relationship held extraordinary importance in the region, Tillerson said, "And as we rolled out the South Asia strategy, we spoke about it in a regional context." "It is not just about Afghanistan. This is about the importance of Pakistan, and Pakistan's long-term stability as well," Dawn quoted Tillerson as saying. Tillerson also acknowledged and appreciated the sacrifices rendered by the people and armed forces of Pakistan in the struggle against terrorism. Asif claimed that Pakistan is winning its war against terrorism which is having a salutary impact on economics commercial activities. He stressed that Pakistan and the United States share a common desire for peace and stability in Afghanistan and the region at large. He emphasised that Pakistan sought a broad based relationship with United States building on a seven decade long history of successful cooperation. Pakistan's Ambassador to US Aizaz Chaudhry accompanied Foreign Minister Asif during the meeting. US President Donald Trump said he has directed flags to be flown at half-staff in memory of victims of shooting. (Photo: AP) Las Vegas: President Donald Trump declared the United States "a nation in mourning" Wednesday, as he travelled to Las Vegas to meet survivors of the deadliest mass shooting in modern American history. Eulogizing parents and spouses who "used their own bodies to protect their loved ones," from a ballistic onslaught that left 58 dead and more than 500 injured, Trump visited with survivors and first responders. Trump toured the Las Vegas Police Department Command Center and the city's University Medical Center, where he met, among others, officer Tyler Peterson who was injured while responding to the shooting. "In the months ahead, we will all have to wrestle with the horror that unfolded this week, but we will struggle through it together," the president said. Air Force One touched down at McCarran International Airport as the FBI was questioning the girlfriend of gunman Stephen Paddock for clues to what drove him to mass murder. Marilou Danley, 62, returned to the United States from the Philippines late Tuesday and was met by FBI agents waiting to hear whatever she might know about the motive for the Sunday night massacre. Although the FBI was eager to talk to her, Danley is not in custody -- she is classified as a "person of interest" to investigators -- and is free to go wherever she wants, US media reported. An Australian citizen who moved to the United States 20 years ago to work on the casino strip, Danley was out of the country when Paddock opened fire from a 32nd floor hotel room at a sea of concertgoers below on the Las Vegas Strip. Investigators are looking into reports that while she was in the Philippines, Paddock wired her $100,000. US authorities have been at a loss as to how a 64-year-old gambler and retired accountant hauled a vast arsenal of weapons to his hotel room and launched his assault. Investigators say the shooting appeared to be extensively planned: Paddock set up one camera in the peephole of his hotel room door and two in the hallway. "I anticipate he was looking for anybody coming to take him into custody," said Sheriff Joe Lombardo. - 47 firearms seized - Meanwhile, as the victims' harrowing stories emerged in the media, America once again grappled with calls for reforms to its permissive firearm control laws. Trump largely stuck to a talking point repeated by dozens upon dozens of Republican officials: "Well, we're not going to talk about that today. We won't talk about that." US officials have reacted cautiously to a claim by the Islamic State jihadist group that the shooter had carried out Sunday night's massacre on its behalf. Authorities said Paddock, who had no criminal record, smashed windows in his hotel room shortly after 10pm on Sunday and rained fire on a crowd of some 22,000 attending a country music concert below. When a SWAT team stormed the room where Paddock had been staying since September 28, they found he had killed himself. Authorities have seized 47 firearms from three locations. - 'Mind of a psychopath' - So far, investigators have found nothing to explain Paddock's actions, but were continuing to hunt and trace every possible clue about a gunman they described as a "psychopath." Trump confirmed that no motive had yet been found. "I can tell you, it's a very sick man. He was a very demented person," he said. Details have gradually emerged about some of the victims -- a kindergarten teacher from California who had married her childhood sweetheart, a Tennessee nurse, a high-school secretary from New Mexico. Stories of heroism also surfaced. Bruce Ure, deputy police chief of the small Texas city of Seguin, was in the concert's VIP section when the gunfire broke out. He sheltered from the bullets between two buses, then tended to three strangers who had been shot, loading them into a passing car and riding with them to hospital. "They were all crying, and I was too," he told AFP. "They were saying that 'We're going to die, we're going to die,' and I still remember telling them: 'Not tonight, not tonight. Tonight's not your night. You're going to be ok.' Because I truly believed it." While the White House has rebuffed calls to reopen the fraught US debate on gun control, Congress did shelve a controversial plan to make it easier to purchase gun silencers and make it more difficult to classify certain ammunition as "armor piercing." - 'Two doors from a lunatic' - According to his brother, Paddock was a high-stakes gambler and their bank-robber father was once on the FBI's 10 Most Wanted list. But Eric Paddock said his brother had led an otherwise normal life. "He liked to play video poker. He went on cruises. He sent his mother cookies," he said. Paddock's neighbors in Mesquite, Nevada, 80 miles (130 kilometers) northeast of Las Vegas, were similarly dumbfounded to discover the killer lived in their midst. "It just blew me away," said Rod Sweningson. "We've never even thought about locking our doors. We didn't know we lived two doors down from a lunatic." The Las Vegas attack is the deadliest shooting in recent US history, surpassing the toll of 49 dead in an attack on a Florida nightclub in June 2016. The explosion took place at the shrine at a time when hundreds of people had gathered to pay their respect. (Representational Image | AFP) Karachi: At least 13 people were killed and nearly 20 others injured, on Thursday, when a suicide bomber blew himself up at a Sufi shrine packed with devotees in Pakistan's troubled Balochistan province, police officials said. The attacker tried to enter the Dargah Fatehpur in the Jhal Magsi district of Balochistan and blew himself up when he was stopped by the police at the main entrance, Deputy Commissioner Asadullah Kakar said. Officials said at least 13 people were killed and nearly 20 others injured. At least one policeman was also killed. A senior Levies official confirmed that so far 12 bodies have been recovered from the blast site. Rescue officials fear that the death toll could rise as the blast took place when there was a heavy rush of devotees who had gathered at the shrine to pay their respect. Thursdays are usually busy in terms of attendance at shrines. Balochistan Home Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti said that so far it appeared to be a suicide attack. "Investigations are still continuing and the injured have been moved to the district headquarters hospital in Jhal Magsi," Bugti said. Balochistan government spokesman Anwarul Haq Kakar confirmed that it was a suicide attack. Initial probe showed that the blast occurred when a sufi dance called dhamal was going in the premises of the shrine. No group claimed responsibility for the attack but the Taliban usually target shrines as they consider it un-Islamic. The local administration declared an emergency at hospitals in Sibbi and Dera Murad Jamali. Today's is the second major attack at a shrine in Balochistan where in November 2016, at least 52 people were killed and 102 injured in a blast at the shrine of Shah Norani in Khuzdar district. About 40 per cent of the total Rohingya population living in the Rakhine State of Myanmar have now fled to Bangladesh. (Photo: PTI) Cox Bazar: Bangladesh has destroyed at least 30 wooden fishing boats to deter local captains from smuggling Rohingya refugees and illegal drugs across the border from strife-torn Myanmar, officials said Thursday. Border guards seized the vessels and arrested the captains after they were intercepted Tuesday evening bringing more than 700 Rohingya Muslims across the river from Myanmar's westernmost Rakhine state. The boatmen were also caught in possession of about 100,000 "yaba" pills, an illegal stimulant popular in Bangladesh, said a border guard official. More than half a million Rohingya have fled ethnic bloodshed in Rakhine since late August, many by boat across the Naf River which divides Myanmar and Bangladesh. "These brokers (boatmen) were smuggling people," one border guard told AFP on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to media. "We were asked to destroy the 30 boats. These are hand-pulled vessels, not run by engines", he added, saying non-motorised boats were used to avoid detection. A government official confirmed 39 people, mostly Rohingya living in Bangladesh, were jailed for six months for "excessively charging" refugees for passage across the Naf. "The BGB (Border Guard Bangladesh) has done an appropriate job," Zahid Siddique, a local magistrate and government administrator, told AFP. Gangs of boat owners, crew and fishermen have been charging the fleeing Rohingya upwards of $250 for the two-hour journey that normally costs no more than $5. Bangladesh's elite Rapid Action Battalion this week rescued 20 Rohingya being held hostage by local gangs demanding huge fares from the refugees. Some arriving in Shah Porir Dwip told AFP that boatmen had demanded they hand over gold, jewels and cash before taking them across. The boatmen are accused of not just trafficking people but drugs from Myanmar, with border guards discovering 100,000 "yaba" pills inside the seized vessels. The BGB officer said the drugs -- a blend of methamphetamine and caffeine popular among Bangladeshi youth -- were concealed inside the boats. Bangladeshi security forces have seized millions of yaba pills in recent years from traffickers attempting to smuggle the drugs through the border district of Cox's Bazar by land and sea from Myanmar. In the past fortnight at least five Rohingya men have been arrested on the Naf river in possession of 1.23 million yaba pills. Police also announced a reward of 500,000 rupees ($4,700) for information leading to the attacker's arrest. (Photo: AP/Representational) Karachi: Pakistan police announced a reward of nearly $5,000 Thursday for information that could help them nab a serial attacker who has stabbed 11 women so far in the port megacity of Karachi. The attacks began late last month when a man on a motorcycle began sporadically wounding women walking on streets in the eastern part of the sprawling city. They escalated late Wednesday when the attacker targeted five women in different parts of the neighbourhood, bringing the total number of women assaulted to 11 and alarming authorities. CCTV footage of one attack shows the man stabbing a burqa-clad woman from behind and then fleeing, police said. "It is the pattern that he attacks on the women from rear with some sharp pointed object... We have arrested at least eight individuals having similarities with the appearance of the attacker," Samiullah Soomro, a senior police officer, told AFP. Police also announced a reward of 500,000 rupees ($4,700) for information leading to the attacker's arrest. "Our full focus in on this case and we hope to find the culprit soon," Soomro said. The attacks echo a similar spree in the garrison city of Rawalpindi last year, when a man stabbed 17 women over a series of months, killing one, because he wanted "revenge" for a cruel stepmother. "I hate women," 22-year-old Mohammad Ali told police when he was finally arrested in August. Women in deeply conservative Pakistan have fought for their rights for years, in a patriarchal society where so-called "honour" killings and attacks on women remain commonplace. Windy Kitty, Chicago's Newest Cat Cafe, Arrives In Bucktown This Month A preview of the space before it's reconstructed (Photo courtesy of Jenny Tiner) The exterior of the space, featuring a sign from the clothes store where it used to be (Photo courtesy of Jenny Tiner) Windy Kitty is scheduled to open on North Avenue in Bucktown later this month. Its owner Jenny Tiner plans to introduce the neighborhood to the cat cafe with a seasonally appropriate black cat-themed party. She hopes that cat-lovers will dress up as black cats (or whatever suits their fancy) and meet some adoptable cats from Roscoe Village's Alive Rescue. Tiner, an artist, former scientist and cat lover, was inspired to open her very own cat cafe when she happened upon a cat cafe near an Airbnb where she was staying in Edinburgh last year. She peered into the window of Maison de Moggy and spotted what she called the cutest, fluffiest cats. She told Chicagoist, "It was the happiest place I've ever been." The idea of combining all of her great loves together intrigued her: cats, art, yoga and doing good for the community. A couple of months after she returned home she got serious about making her dream a reality. She visited several cat cafes springing up stateside in places like Columbus, Ohio and New York, and spoke to owners about how they did it. She launched an Indiegogo campaign, and began securing funding from donors. WGN Steve Dale helped to connect her with a Kansas-based veterinary health company CEVA, whose generous donation pushed the project past the finish line. Originally, The Windy Kitty was supposed to open in Lincoln Park but plans for that fell through. She believes that it was a blessing in disguise because the 1746 W. North Ave. space where they just signed a 5-year lease is double the size, airy and well-ventilated and in the perfect neighborhood. She points out Bucktown is young, hip and has a lot of foot traffic. Windy Kitty will open in an old clothing store on a street that has enough pedestrians to lure in the community, but it's not so busy that it will rattle the cats. Today the cafe is breaking down walls and doing some serious reconstruction. The goal is to have a welcoming front window where cats can bask in the sun in full view of passers-by, who might later to decide to come in or return later for an appointment. There will be a limit on how many humans can be with the cats at a time, so that the kitties won't feel overwhelmed. Health code laws in Chicago (as well as most of the country) make it difficult to open a true cafe with cats inside, unlike in Japan, the unrivaled leader in the cat cafe trend. At least initially, Windy Kitty will be serving prepackaged snacks and canned beverages in a separate lobby and boutique area. There will be plenty of Windy Kitty swag and local cat-themed crafts on sale, too. There will be WiFi for folks who want to do some work in the presence of felines. Tiner has ambitious goals for programming that she hopes will benefit both the humans and cats of Chicago. There will be yoga, movie nights, board games and even speed-dating so cat lovers can connect with each other. She'd love to bring in cat-loving senior citizens from local nursing homes and host story time for children. She hopes to put up art on the walls every other month and host art openings. She would also like to host community events, so that animal groups can come in to give talks on, say, fostering kittens or encouraging people to adopt black cats, which some folks view as superstitious. On an average day, cat lovers can reserve a time to come in and just play with the catsand perhaps take them home forever. Her partners at Alive Rescue is grateful that they will get to expand the number of cats that they can take in. Tiner hopes to recapture the feeling she had in Edinburgh in her new space. Its tagline is "the happiest place in Chicago." Windy Kitty will be opening later this month at 1746 W. North Avenue in Bucktown. If you're interested in supporting the cafe ahead of its opening, you can purchase items from its Amazon wish list, send donations through PayPal or reach out to Jenny Tiner at chicagocatcafe@gmail.com. With his countrymen still coming to grips with the deadliest mass shooting in Las Vegas early this week, US President Donald Trump has said America is truly a nation in mourning as he thanked the first responders who rushed to save lives. Trump travelled to Las Vegas yesterday to meet with first responders and victims of the mass shooting in the casino city. In the deadliest mass shooting in modern American history, at least 59 people were killed and over 500 injured after a gunman on the 32nd floor of a hotel and casino opened fire on people at an outdoor country music festival below. Surrounded by first responders, a somber looking Trump accompanied with the First Lady consoled the nation. "The mass murder that took place on Sunday night fills America's heart with grief. America is truly a nation in mourning," Trump said in his remarks. The President returned to White House late evening. He also visited injured in hospital. He spoke of Charleston Hartfield, an off-duty police officer who died in the massacre. "We cannot be defined by the evil that threatens us. ... We are defined by our love, our caring and our courage....," he said. "Words cannot describe the bravery that the whole world witnessed on Sunday night," he said during a brief speech at the Las Vegas Police Department Command Centre. Trump said the Americans defied death and hatred with love and courage and thanked the first responders on the behalf of the "grateful nation". "In the months ahead, we will all have to wrestle with the horror of what has unfolded this week, but we will struggle through it together, we will endure the pain together, and we will overcome together as Americans," Trump said. The US president however refrained from talking about gun control laws, the debate over which has rekindled in the aftermath of the shooting. "We're not going to talk about that today," he said. President Donald Trump is prepared to take "whatever steps necessary" against Pakistan if it does not "change its behaviour" and continued to support terror groups, Defence Secretary Jim Mattis has said. Mattis also warned Pakistan of global "diplomatic isolation" and losing its Non-NATO ally status if it failed to take action against safe havens to terrorists on its soil. "If our best efforts fail, President Trump is prepared to take whatever steps necessary," Mattis told members of the powerful House Armed Services Committee during a Congressional testimony on South Asia and Afghanistan yesterday. He was asked a series of questions by Congressmen who expressed their frustration on Pakistan not taking actions against terror groups. Without much elaboration, Mattis said the US has "enormously powerful number of options" if Pakistan does not follow through and be a better promoter of stability in the region. "Right now, I would like to think we will be successful," Mattis said. "With the growing consensus against terrorism, they'll find themselves diplomatically isolated." "There is an awful lot of advantage to Pakistan of coming online with the international community, and we have to stay focused there, but the penalties are just as significant as the advantages if they choose to go a different direction," he said. "But for right now, the US needs to try one more time to make this strategy work with them by, with, and through the Pakistanis," he said. When Congressman Rick Larsen asked if revocation of non- NATO allies status is on the list of possibilities against Pakistan, Mattis said, "I'm sure it will be." Mattis' tough talk on Pakistan, came as Pakistan Foreign Minister Khwaja Asif is visiting the US as part of efforts to rebuild bilateral ties frayed after President Trump accused Islamabad of sheltering terror groups. President Trump announced his Afghanistan and South Asia policy in August in which he adopted a tough policy against Pakistan. In a meeting with the Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Asif defended his country's role in the war against terrorism. He claimed that Pakistan has pursued a zero-tolerance and indiscriminate approach in its campaign against all terrorist and militant groups. However, Mattis told lawmakers that while the US is adopting "a whole of government approach" on Pakistan, it is also aligning NATO countries on this. "What you're going to see is 39 nations all in the NATO campaign working together to lay out what it is we need Pakistan to do, he said. "What we are doing right now is we are aligning what Department of Treasury, Department of Defence, the Intelligence Committee, Department of State, say, this is what we must ask Pakistan to do to change its behaviour, he added. The Trump administration, he said, is going to use a whole government international effort to align the benefits and the penalties if those things are not done. "Pakistan has lost more troops in this fight against terrorist than nearly any country out there. And yet at the same time, as you know, there's been some parsing out where some terrorists have been allowed safe havens. We're out to change that behaviour and do it very firmly, Mattis asserted. As part of this, Mattis said there would be exchange of high-level visits between the two countries. Mattis said he and the Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will soon visit Islamabad. "We're not going to back off. It will start with assistant secretaries coming out of Washington and the National Security staff members going into Pakistan soon followed by the Secretary of State," he said. "I will go in and we have (NATO) Secretary General Stoltenberg's very clear support for this in his advocacy as the Secretary General of NATO. So we're going to continue to build this up in an international way with a whole of US government argument for the Pakistanis to work in their own best interest and ours," Mattis said. After holding talks with Asif, Tillerson yesterday said that the US is concerned over the future of the government in Pakistan and wants to ensure long-term stability in the country. Inviting Tillerson to visit Islamabad to continue their talks, Asif said that a broad-based and structured framework for dialogue would best serve the two countries' mutual interests. Taking its depleting squadron strength into account, Indian Air Force has readied a Plan-B for a two-front war scenario involving Pakistan and China, Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa said here. We need 42 squadrons to fight a full spectrum war, but that doesnt mean we are not capable of fighting a two front-war. We have a Plan-B to cater to the scenario with reduced strength, Dhanoa said at his annual press conference. At present the air force have 33 squadrons, out of which 10 squadrons are to be phased out. But five new squadrons are being envisaged to be in place by 2019. The requisite number of 42 squadrons is likely to be in place by 2032. The IAF chief pointed out in the current geo-political scenario the possibility of a two-front war with China and Pakistan was remote, but that didnt mean the force wont prepare for such a contingency. The possibility of a two front war is low in current geopolitical scenario. But our response would be in according to the enemys capability as the intention of the enemy can change overnight, he said. On a single-front scenario, we can deal with Pakistan and our capability against China is adequate, Air Chief Marshal said. He also flagged the geographical advantages that India enjoyed against China because the Peoples Liberation Army Air Force couldnt operate several of its fighter aircraft with full weapon load from Tibetan air bases because of altitude and unfavourable air density. Asked about the possibility of IAFs involvement in a surgical strike on terror camps across the Line of Control, Dhanoa said going across the Line of Control with the air force would mean a full-fledged war and it would have to be a political decision. But the air force has the capability to locate, fix and strike the targets across the border, he asserted on the eve of the 85th Air Force Day. Queried on the Chinese military strength in Doklam plateau and surrounding areas, Dhanoa admitted that Chinese forces continued to be present in the Chumbi valley. We expect them to withdraw once their exercise is over, he said. This is the first official admission of continued Chinese military presence in the vicinity of the contentious Doklam area near India-Bhutan-China tri-junction where troops from India and China had a stand-off for 72 days. On the acquisition of new fighter jets, Dhanoa said 36 Rafale and 36 Su-30 MKI would join the service in the next couple of years. Also the IAF has ordered 40 indigenous Tejas Light Combat Aircraft and order for another 83 would be issued shortly. The IAF also looks at a Make in India plan to manufacture single engine fighter aircraft though the Strategic Partnership route involving an Indian partner and the original equipment manufacturers. Several global aviation majors have shown interest for the programme. Bengalureans must brace up for one year of traffic jams and diversions as the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is all set to begin white-topping of 30 arterial roads stretching across 94 km. The Palike will kickstart the Rs 972-crore project on October 9 from the ever busy Mysuru road. The actual concrete laying work will commence from October 20 and the entire project is scheduled to be completed in August next year, according to the contract agreement. To be precise, this would mean perpetual traffic snarls and congestion for close to one year. Initially, concreting will be taken up on 33 km of heavy traffic density stretches Outer Ring Road (ORR) between Mysuru Road junction and K R Puram (22 kms); K R Market Circle to BHEL Circle (4.80 km); Sampige Road to Metro Cash and Carry on Dr Rajkumar Road; and Mehkri Circle to Prof CNR Rao Circle (6.20 km). Anticipating traffic gridlock, the BBMP has been holding back-to-back meetings with the Traffic police for the last one month. BBMP Commissioner N Manjunath Prasad has in a letter to R Hithendra, Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic), asked to take measures to divert traffic on these routes. The traffic police have been asked to inform the public in advance about the alternative routes, and install information boards and barricades. The Chief Minister has set March 31, 2018 as the deadline to complete the works. All measures are being taken to meet the deadline. BBMP will initiate preliminary works from October 4 and it intends to lay 200 to 250 mt of concrete everyday, the letter reads. Hitendra said that while one lane will be taken up for works, the other lane will be used to divert traffic. Work order has been issued to two Hyderabad based agencies - NCC Ltd and Madhucon Ltd, which have been tasked with completing the works in the next 11 months. While NCC Ltd will carry out works on six major roads, including junctions, at a cost of Rs 370 crore; Madhucon Ltd will carry out works on 24 roads at a cost of Rs 598.68 crore. Prasad said that all important roads with maximum traffic density have been considered for this project. BBMP has never attempted a road works project on such a massive scale. This will be the best thing to happen to the City, as these roads will last for 25 to 30 years, he said Package 1 - Total - 39.80 km 1) Leprosy Hospital junction on Magadi Road to Deepanjali Nagar Metro Station (Metro Reaches) - 5.50 2) Devaiah Park to Goraguntepalya junction (Metro Reaches) - 6.20 km 3) Shivashankar Circle on K R Road to Marenahalli junction (Metro Reaches) - 5.90 km 4) ORR connecting Mysore Road to Tumkur Road via Sumanahalli junction - 10.70 km 5) ORR connecting Tumkur Road to Old Madras Road via Hebbal flyover and K R Puram - 11.50 km 6) Junctions: Ramakrishna Ashram, Lalbagh West Gate, Lalbagh North Gate, Lalbagh South Gate, Siddapura - Teachers College, and Bashyam Circle. Package 2 - Total - 53.67 km 1) Hope Farm to Belathur up to BBMP limits via Kadugodi - 1.80 km 2) ITPL road via Dinnur - 1.61 km 3) Gangadhar Chetty road from Gurudwara to St Johns road - 1.18 km 4) Annaswamy Mudaliar road around Ulsoor Lake - 0.84 km 5) Dispensary road - 0.46 km 6) Lady Curzon road - 0.34 km 7) Plain Street - 0.25 km 8) Venkataswamy Naidu road/Meenakshi Koli Road - 1.03 km 9) Lavelle road - from M G Road to Residency Road - 1.38 km 10) Campbell Road - 0.34 km 11) St Philomena Road - 0.25 km 12) Mother Teresa Road - 1.46 km 13) 20th Main Road Koramangala - 1.50 km 14) Mysore Road - from K R Market Circle to BHEL Circle - 4.80 km 15) Tumkur Road - from Sampige Road to Tumkur Main Road (up to Metro Cash & Carry) & C V Raman Road (from Mekhri Circle to Prof CNR Rao Circle) - 6.20 km 16) Hosur Road - from Brigade Road to Silk Board junction - 5.55 km 17) Trinity Circle to Old Madras Road via Gurudwara up to Bhaskaran junction - 2.10 km 18) Sarjapur Road - from Basappa Circle on K R Road to St Johns Hospital - 5.30 km 19) Bannerghatta Road - from Aneplaya to Jedimara junction - 4.20 km 20) Kanakpura Road - from Basappa Circle to Banashakari temple - 4.60 km 21) Magadi Road - from Okalipuram junction to Sumanahalli - 3.85 km 22) Kengal Hanumanthaiah road - from Richmond Circle to Lalbagh East Gate - 1.30 km 23) Wilson Garden - from KH Road to 12th Cross Road - 1.42 km 24) BTS Road - from K H Road to Mico Road - 1.91 km The National Company Law Tribunal today reserved its order on the plea of ousted Tata Sons chairman Cyrus Mistry seeking transfer of his petitions challenging the ouster to the New Delhi bench from the Mumbai one. The principal bench of the NCLT, headed by Chairman Justice M M Kumar, will pronounce its verdict tomorrow. During the proceedings, senior lawyer C A Sundaram appearing for Mistry family's two investment firms said the Mumbai bench could have a cause of bias. "We are asked to go to a forum (NCLT Mumbai bench) which has already judged the issue," he argued. However, senior counsel Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Mukul Rohatgi opposed it, saying it was a case of "forum shopping". "This should be dismissed at the threshold. They have suppressed the facts. They have already raised twice before the NCLAT to transfer the case to Delhi and hear it," Singhvi argued, adding that the appellate tribunal did not decide on it. The investment firms in question are Cyrus Investments Pvt Ltd and Sterling Investments Corporation Pvt Ltd. Last month, the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) granted Mistry the waiver in the minimum shareholding rule for him to file a case of alleged oppression of minority shareholders after observing "exceptional" and "compelling circumstances". The Mistry family owns 18.4 percent stake in the closely-held Tata Sons. The holding is less than 3 percent if preferential shares are excluded, not meeting the criteria of at least 10 percent ownership in a company for the filing of a case of alleged oppression of minority shareholders. It had asked the NCLT, which had previously dismissed Mistry's petition against Tata Sons on the ground of not meeting the minimum shareholding criteria, to decide the case in three months. Mistry has been locked in a legal battle with the Tatas since his unceremonious exit as chairman of Tata Sons -- the promoter company of the USD 105-billion car-to-software Tata group -- in October last year. Mistry was ousted as Tata Sons chairman on October 24, 2016, and also removed as a director on the board of the holding company on February 6, 2017. Cyrus Investments Pvt Ltd and Sterling Investments Corporation Pvt Ltd had moved the NCLT against Tata Sons after Mistry's ouster last year alleging oppression of minority shareholders and mismanagement. However, on April 17, the Mumbai bench of the NCLT had rejected the waiver plea filed by the investment firms while on March 6, it had set aside the one over maintainability. Following that, both the investment firms had moved the appellate tribunal. The NCLAT, however, dismissed another petition filed by Mistry family's investment firms on maintainability, saying the firms do not have more than 10 percent in Tata Sons. The Supreme Court on Thursday vehemently made an attempt to answer critique that all the judges were pro-government. It said somebody has to sit through the day in courtrooms to understand how the government is hauled up every day in a number of cases. The apex court recently faced strong criticism over then Karnataka High Court judge Justice Jayant Patel's transfer to Allahabad High Court. The senior-most judge in the High Court had resigned apparently in protest. His transfer just before his elevation was seen as a move to prevent him taking over as chief justice of the Karnataka High Court. Former SC Bar Association president Dushyant Dave minced no words to slam the apex court's Collegium. The Gujarat HC Advocates Association president Asim Pandya also wrote an open letter in this regard. On Thursday, the apex court's bench presided over by Chief Justice Dipak Misra was hearing a plea against adverse remarks made by former Uttar Pradesh Azam Khan in Bulandshahr gang rape case. The court sent the matter to Constitution bench to adjudicate upon the questions if political executives can make such remarks in the exercise of their freedom of speech and expression even when the matter is pending for investigation or for consideration before the court. During the hearing, senior advocates Harish Salve and F S Nariman, acting as amicus curiae, cited "abusive" comments made on social media. Salve said he had to delete his Twitter account after facing abuses. Nariman said he was happy to be away from social media. "I have many things to do than to know what somebody said about me," he said. However, Nariman did not fail to point out, "Even highest dignitaries are doing it." The bench, also comprising Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud, then pointed out how lawyers faced abusive comments on social media for their stand and arguments in pending matters before the court. Justice Chandrachud referred to some comments against Nariman on social media for his arguments in the matter relating to Rohangiya immigrants. The bench then referred to comments about Bar Association functionaries about the SC having been "besetted by pro-government lawyers". A 30-year-old Namma Metro staffer committed suicide by hanging at his house in BMRCL quarters in Sunkadkatte on Thursday. The deceased, Santosh Kumar worked with the engineering and maintenance department of the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL), the police said. Kumar was found hanging in his room by his mother Pushpa when she went to wake him up in the morning. The police suspect he could have hanged himself the previous night. His body was shifted to Victoria Hospital for postmortem. Kumar has left a suicide note in which he says he was a victim of mental harassment, but the police are unsure if the harassment was from his management side or by some others. Meanwhile, BMRCL Employees Union alleged that workplace harassment has led him to take the extreme step. They also threatened to protest if the police did not file a case appropriately and investigate it. In his eight-page suicide note, Santosh blamed his personal problems as well BMRCL management for his death. Kumar claimed that he was recently taken to Chandra Layout police station over an enquiry into the case of a missing woman with whom he was in love. He makes a fervent request to the woman to return to her home to clear the air over the incident and free him from blame. About halfway into the letter, he blames the BMRCL management for his extreme step. "The BMRCL management has a share in my suicide. Over the last few months, senseless rules have been imposed on staff. There is a rule prohibiting us from taking mutual (exchange of work shifts). Which company has such rules? How will the employees work" the note reads? Further, the note says the work environment has become suffocating. "Employees can't ask the management for anything. If we ask, we will get a memo. From the last one month, I have been unable to work. Though I have requested for a change, nobody is listening," he alleges in the note. Kamakshipalaya police have registered a case of unnatural death and are further investigating. A senior BMRCL official said the incident was unfortunate but would not like to comment until they get the full facts. "We are finding out if the employee had raised any complaints regarding his work or the management. We will conduct an inquiry before commenting on the issue," he said. Filmmaker Kavitha Lankesh on Thursday said that her family cannot be happy anymore even if the investigating team will find out the killers of his sister Gauri Lankesh. She was addressing the media persons in Bengaluru. Late Gauri Lankesh has been awarded the Annual Anna Politkovskaya award for her contribution to society in bringing equality. Its an International award named after famous Russian Journalist Anna Politkovskaya, who was killed in 2006 for her courage to speak out on behalf of the suffering civilians in the war-hit zone. Kavitha said, Its been a month. Our family cannot be happy anymore because we have lost our elder sister. We are honoured as her work is identified in International level. Even today the protests are happening across the country. I request this case should not get vanished. Gauri will be sharing the award with a Pakistani activist Gulalai Ismail, who is fighting against the Islamic extremism in her country. Gauris mother Indira Lankesh, brother Indrajit Lankesh and Gauris friend Asha Devi were also present. When asked about the investigation, Kavitha said, The Special Investigation Team (SIT) is carrying out the investigation well. It needs a lot of footwork. When the murder took place due to personal reason its easy for them to identify, but it really takes time when its with the ideological differences. More than bringing the killers to the limelight, we want to know the motive behind it. Hell No: Judge Throws Out Satanist's Lawsuit Against 'In God We Trust' Motto On Money By Stephen Gossett in News on Oct 5, 2017 5:08PM Getty Images / Photo: Hugh Pinney The legal argument of a self-proclaimed satanist who challenged the placement of the "In God We Trust" adage on U.S. money does not hold currency, a judge ruled this week. Federal Judge Amy St. Eve threw out a lawsuit brought forth by Chicagoan and Dark Lord devotee Kenneth Mayle, who argued that the motto violated the constitution, specifically that Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion," and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. The judge ruled that the "In God We Trust" slogan isn't displayed prominently by people. Therefore "it cant be said [people] forced to publicly advertise views that clash with theirs," according to the AP. Newsweek notes that the "In God We Trust" motto began appearing on paper currency 60 years ago this month, on Oct. 1, 1957. Mayle plans to appeal the ruling, according to the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin. Give 'em hell, Kenneth. Satanist's challenge to 'In God We Trust' printed on U.S. currency 'didn't have a chance in hell of prevailing' https://t.co/qjyw7uHIgJ pic.twitter.com/2I245uHZIN Daily Law Bulletin (@CDLB) October 4, 2017 The first legal challenge to the use of the motto on U.S. currency came in 1970, in Aronow v. United States. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in the case: "It is quite obvious that the national motto and the slogan on coinage and currency 'In God We Trust' has nothing whatsoever to do with the establishment of religion. Its use is of patriotic or ceremonial character and bears no true resemblance to a governmental sponsorship of a religious exercise. ...It is not easy to discern any religious significance attendant the payment of a bill with coin or currency on which has been imprinted 'In God We Trust' or the study of a government publication or document bearing that slogan. A 25-year-old man, on Wednesday, was arrested for sneaking into a house where four women were staying in Hoodi at Whitefield. The man who is a neighbour identified as Murali alias Gym Murali sneaked into the first floor rented house either for peeping into their bathroom or for misbehaving with the women, the police suspect. The accused is being interrogated to ascertain the motive of his visit, the police said. The women complainants told the police, the man was a complete stranger to them. The women spotted Murali around 9.30 pm on the first floor of their house last week and raised an alarm. Murali took to heels and jumped off the first floor of the building and disappeared into the dark. His action was caught on a CCTV camera installed in the rented residential building where the women stayed. The women then lodged a complaint with the police who conducted inquiry and arrested Murali. Mahadevapura police slapped the accused with IPC section 354 - assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty. The accused was produced before a magistrate and remanded to judicial custody. Launching a scathing attack on Narendra Modi and his BJP-led NDA government, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena president Raj Thackeray said that he has never seen such a "liar prime minister" in his life. "In my entire life, I have never seen such a liar prime minister," Thackeray said addressing a mammoth morcha off the Churchgate station in south Mumbai called to protest against the Elphinstone Road-Parel railway foot-over bridge in which 23 persons lost their lives and 38 others were injured on 29 September. Lashing out at Modi - whom he once admired, Thackeray said: "A few years ago, I visited Gujarat after being told by (for Tata Sons chairman) Ratan Tata when Modi was the Gujarat chief minister...what was presented to me was misleading...I am realising now." Thackeray, the nephew of Shiv Sena founder late Balasaheb Thackeray and cousin on Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray, said that it is good that people have started speaking up against the policies of the present government. "When Modi starts speaking, people switch off their TV (sets)....but when you switch on the radio, there is maan ki baat...people are fed up....how long till he is going to tell lies," he asked even as there was a thunderous applause. He claimed that the anti-BJP slogan "vikas has gone mad" had been coined by dejected people within the BJP. People had lot of expectations from Modi, however, he had failed to keep upto the expectations and aspirations of people. "He is speaking of demonetisation, GST, yoga, Make in India and so on...they are focussing on wrong this and instead concentrate on providing succour to people," he said. "The old videos of Modi are going viral....what you have then said on petroleum prices, economy is contrary to what the situation now," he said. "When will the 'acche din' come? The entire nation including trusted you, they had faith in you, they voted for you.. You promised But people are feeling betrayed. Prime Minister Modi had promised that he would get back black money and Rs. 15 lakh will be deposited in every bank account. But (now) Amit Shah says it was just a 'iumla'," he said lambasting the government. He also took on Modi on the Ahmedabad-Mumbai bullet train project. "The project is for handful of Gujaratis of Mumbai and Ahmedabad," he said, pointing out that Suresh Prabhu was replaced as railway minister by Piyush Goyal as the former had opposed the bullet train project. BJP President Amit Shah today did not participate in the party march in the home town of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan as he had to attend a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. BJP state president Kummanam Rajasekharan told reporters that Shah would be unable to attend the phase of the 'Janaraksha Yatra' (People's Protection March) that would pass from Mambaram to Thalassery, crossing Pinaryi town in Kannur district. Rajasekharan said Shah has to attend a meeting with Prime Minister Modi in New Delhi. Hundreds of party workers, led by the state unit chief, are participating in the march that entered the third day today. Shah had launched the high profile 15-day yatra from Payyannur in Kannur on October 3 against the alleged "red and jihadi terrorism" under the CPI(M)-led LDF rule in Kerala. Yesterday, Uttar Pradesh Chief minister, Yogi Adityanath, had led the yatra and accused the left party of promoting "jihadi terrorism." Senior BJP leaders are expected to participate in the yatra which will conclude on October 17 at Thiruvananthapuram. Meanwhile, senior Marxist leader from Kannur, M V Govindan, Master said the march will not have any impact on the left party's strength and its base in the state. "In a democracy all political parties can take out yatras and there are no restrictions," he said adding Shah not attending the march today was an "anti climax." CPI(M) Thalassery MLA A N Shamseer alleged that Shah had "abandoned" the yatra through 'party gramam' (party village). Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala also took a dig at Shah skipping today's march, saying the Janaraksha Yatra had become a 'Vilapa Yatra' (mourning procession). Former Congress veteran Shankersinh Vaghela, who is now leading a new political front 'Jan Vikalp', today demanded 25 per cent reservation in jobs and education for the non-reserved classes in Gujarat. The former Gujarat Chief Minister claimed that despite the 49.5 per cent cap on reservations put by the Supreme Court, he state government can implement the additional 25 per cent quota by enacting a law. "I believe that non-reserved classes should get 25 per cent reservation. It is a misconception that the state cannot go beyond 49.5 per cent quota. Tamil Nadu already has around 69 per cent quota. Gujarat government should also enact a law to give 25 per cent additional quota," Vaghela told reporters here today. His statement comes days after the BJP government here announced various schemes for the welfare of the non-reserved classes after holding meeting with the agitating Patidar community leaders, a move seen as BJP's apparent bid to placate the decisive vote bank ahead of the assembly polls, due later this year. Since the main demand of including Patels in the OBC category was not fulfilled by the government, quota spearhead Hardik has vowed to continue with the agitation. During his interaction with the media here today, Vaghela, who had joined 'Jan Vikalp' last month, claimed that there is a strong 'anti BJP-anti Congress' undercurrent in most parts of state. "After joining Jan Vikalp, I travelled around 6,000 kilometers in Gujarat to get a sense of what people are thinking. I realised that there is strong anti-BJP and anti-Congress undercurrent. People are unhappy with both the parties and seeing a ray of hope in me and Jan Vikalp," he said. He announced to hold meetings with people from various parts of the state during the next two weeks to understand their problems. "We will announce the final candidates for each of the 182 seats after October 15," he added. While joining 'Jan Vikalp' last month, the 77-year-old leader had claimed he will not contest the assembly polls. However, Vaghela did not rule out the possibility of taking over as the CM, if this front gets majority in the polls. The Supreme Court on Thursday refused a plea for urgent hearing on a petition seeking declaration of transfer of Justice Jayant Patel from Karnataka to Allahabad High Court as unconstitutional. A three-judge bench presided over by Chief Justice Dipak Misra declined the request made by advocate Mathews J Nedumpara on the ground that he was not represented by an advocate-on-record. Nedumpara made mentioning of the petition filed by A C Philip, a party-in-person, as secretary of the National Lawyers' Campaign for Judicial Transparency and Reforms. The bench, also comprising Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud, however, said the mentioning (request for early listing of the petitions) can only be made by the advocates on record. The Advocates Act entitled us to appear before any court in the country. In that case, the law has to be amended, the counsel contended. Now, you are questioning Constitutional power of the Supreme Court to frame rules. Then senior advocates should also be allowed to do mentioning, the bench shot back. CJI Misra had on September 20 declared that no senior advocate would be allowed to make mentioning for urgent or out-of-turn hearing of the cases filed in the Supreme Court. He said in open court, only 'advocates on record' (those entitled to file cases in the apex court) will mention henceforth. Nedumpara then contended that there should be no dynasty in legal profession and practice of designating senior advocates must go. This, however, angered the apex court's bench, which asked the counsel, please go!. Nedumpara with his organisation has been spearheading a campaign against the Collegium system for appointment of judges. He had earlier argued in the matter concerning former Calcutta High Court judge Justice C S Karnan, sentenced to six months in jail for contempt of court. He had also challenged the system of grant of senior advocates' designation to lawyers by the High Courts and the Supreme Court. Apparently aware of arch rival BJP's efforts to make a dent into his home turf, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi has been criss-crossing his Parliamentary constituency of Amethi meeting people and assuring to take up their issues during his ongoing visit. Rahul, whose visit to Amethi comes barely a few days before the visit by union ministers Smriti Irani and Nitin Gadkari and BJP national president Amit Shah, not only took up the issues concerning the farmers but also held a series of meetings with local party workers to keep their morale high. The Congress vice-president also chose to come out of the security cordon and meet the people during his visits to the villages in Amethi constituency. He held a 'chaupal' (meeting) of farmers at Kathaura on Wednesday and assured them that he would raise their demands, which included payment of adequate compensation for acquisition of their lands for a highway project, in the Lok Sabha. ''I shall fight your battle both in and out of the house,'' he said. Rahul also visited a Durga Puja 'pandal' at Jamo in the constituency and paid obeisance there. On Thursday the Congress leader met a cross section of the people at Munshiganj Guest House and accepted petitions from them. A large number of local party workers also met Rahul at the guest house. The Congress vice-president discussed ways and means to strengthen the party at the grass root level in the constituency. BJP sources said that a slew of developmental projects would be announced during Shah's visit. The new projects included the inauguration of three ITIs, FM Radio Station, a Sainik School and some other road projects. Shah is also scheduled to address a public meeting in Amethi. Amethi had witnessed a bitter electoral battle between Rahul and Smriti Irani in 2014 LS polls. Though Rahul emerged victorious, his victory margin was reduced substantially. #BengaluruRains visual from Shatinagar Double Road. Water logging due to rain has affected traffic movements in several parts of the city pic.twitter.com/R22GfQgZX0 Deccan Herald (@DeccanHerald) October 5, 2017 Although no casualties have been reported until now, many places including Electronic City, BTM Layout, Koramangala, HSR Layout Sector 6 and 7 in Bommanahalli zone, Madiwala, Shantinagar bus stand, Lakshmi Road in Shantinagar, Oxford College near Vajapeyi Nagar, Chickpet, Bilekahalli, and Anugraha Layout were water logged. The rescue team by Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) was at work to help people out of their homes in HSR Layout Sector 6and 7. The commuters had a tough time passing Shivananda Circle as the water had completely logged. Even crossing Anand Nagar underpass was a tough task for commuters. Interestingly, Hebbal flyover towards the airport was also water logged. About 10 trees have been uprooted across the city in Koramangala, BTM Layout, KR Puram, Bilekahalli, Banaswadi, Silk Board, and Garudacharpalya due to rains but no casualty has been reported. A Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) bus was stranded near PES College in Electronic City and the people were rescued safely by the rescue team to a safer place. A compound wall in Rajajinagar 5th block has collapsed on a transformer and some people have reportedly experienced electric shock due to this. But no injuries have been reported. The vehicles in Hosur Road could not move further as the water was completely logged. Some routes were closed and traffic was diverted by the traffic police. Due to waterlogging in 80 feet road in Koramangala, the traffic was diverted at 12th main road towards Wipro junction. There was slow moving traffic from Lalbagh gate towards Shantinagar junction. Disaster Management Cell cautions 1. Try to be at home if heavy rains occur. 2. In case you have to walk in standing water, use a pole or stick to ensure you do not step into the deep water. 3. Never walk through flowing water- you may get swept away or stick by a moving object. 4. Should not drive through a flooded area- you may not see fallen objects. 5. Never turn on ceiling fans or fixtures if ceiling is wet. 6.During floods movements Children, Senior citizens, pregnant women, differently abled should be accompanied by a physically fit person. 7. Don't eat any food that has come into contact with flood water. 8. Books of school & college students should be kept atleast 5 feet above ground level. 9. All important documents should be kept in higher place atleast 5 feet above ground level. 10. Use mobile for sending messages only. With such action you can have continuous communication. People and Vehicles were stranded across the city has heavy rain coupled with strong cooling winds and drop in mercury levels almost plunged the city into darkness around noon.The rain which started at 12.30 pm lashed continuously. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a warning of thunder showers and heavy rainfall over the city and most parts of north interior Karnataka for the next two days.Sunder M Metri, IMD- Bengaluru Director- in- charge told DH that thunder activity and strong winds are common during this season in September and October. It is the withdrawal of south west monsoon (SWM) period and the onset of monsoon. Thus thunder activities are common. The city upto 8.30 am had received 18.6 mm rainfall, while HAL airport had recorded 17.1 mm and Kempegowda International Airport had recorded 47.3 mm. A panel appointed by India's market regulator proposed a slew of new regulations on Thursday to boost corporate governance, from enhancing the role of independent directors to improving financial disclosures. The regulator, the Securities and Exchange Board of India, set up the 25-member panel headed by Uday Kotak, managing director of Kotak Mahindra Bank, in June, following several high-profile corporate tussles. Its recommendations include mandating that boards have at least six members, half of these independent directors. Current regulations specify no board size, and the number of independent directors may vary, depending on whether the chairman is part of the main shareholder group. The panel also recommended at least five board meetings each year, up from four now, with at least one set aside to discuss issues such as board evaluation, risk management and succession planning. The need for independent directors and diverse board views was highlighted after India's Tata conglomerate fired its chairman Cyrus Mistry late last year, and removed board members who supported him. The panel also recommended making it mandatory for companies with a public shareholding of at least 40 percent to separate the role of chairman and chief executive from April 1, 2020, curbing some of the leeway companies now have. In an effort to boost transparency, the panel suggested that publicly-traded companies report consolidated financials every quarter, instead of the current annual requirement. It also said businesses accounting for at least 80 percent of a group's consolidated revenue, assets and profits should be audited. Legalize Recreational Marijuana & Can The Hated Pop Tax, Urges Cook Co. Commissioner By Stephen Gossett in News on Oct 5, 2017 4:25PM Flickr user tefennell4 It's time to can the schwag, deeply unpopular pop tax in Cook County and legalize recreational marijuana statewide, said Cook County Commissioner John Fritchey on Wednesday. Fritchey called the legalization of recreational marijuana the "right social policy" and said it is supported by most Illinois voters and would generate millions in revenue, which would defray "the need for new taxes or service cuts." Regulating and taxing limited amounts of recreations pot "wont solve all of our problems but it is a step in the right direction and it is well past time to take meaningful action on this issue," Fritchey said in a release. The commissioner announced on Wednesday a resolution that urges the Illinois General Assembly to pass two bills that were introduced to lawmakers in March, one by Sen. Heather Steans, and another by Rep. Kelly Cassidy. The bills would allow people 21 and over to buy, grow and posses limited amounts of weed. Residents could possess 28 grams and grow five plants. Under the legislation, businesses would apply for licenses, and a state agency would regulate operations. The agency would enforce mandatory labeling and limits on advertising, among other stipulations. The bills call for a tax rate of $50 per ounce, wholesale, in addition to the standard Illinois sales tax rate. Fritchey cited a Paul Simon Public Policy Institute study that determined 66 percent of Illinois voters support legalization of taxed and regulated recreational marijuana. Seventy-four percent of voters in Chicago support such policy, according to the study. Support for the pop tax is decidedly less, um, high. A We Ask America poll found last month that 85 percent want the sugary-beverage tax repealed, according to the Tribune. Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle on Thursday will unveil a budget proposal, which is expected to spotlight the need for spending cuts in the event the pop tax is repealed. "The sweetened beverage tax has made it crystal clear that voters have simply reached their limit when it comes to new taxes for existing goods and services, added Fritchey. "Marijuana legalization would provide needed revenue to Cook County and throughout the State of Illinois." Using Colorado figures as a gauge, the Marijuana Policy Project estimated that Illinois could generate between $350 million and $700 million with legalized recreational marijuana. Max Temkin, co-founder of Cards Against Humanity, thanked Fritchey for his calling on "common sense" marijuana policy. CAH announced in August that the company donated $70,000 to aid the legalization effort in Illinois. On a landmark visit to Russia, Saudi Arabia's King Salman and President Vladimir Putin were set on Thursday to clinch a host of multi-billion-dollar energy and defence deals despite discord over the Syrian war. The first official trip to Russia by a Saudi monarch will also see the leaders of the world's largest energy exporters discuss an extension of an OPEC agreement to cap oil output. "This is the first visit by a Saudi Arabian monarch in the history of our relations and that in itself is a landmark event," Putin said as he welcomed King Salman to Moscow in an ornate gilded Kremlin hall. "I'm sure your visit will boost the ties between our countries," he said. "We aim to strengthen our relations in the interests of peace and security, in the interests of developing the world economy," the Saudi king responded. Citing Russia's energy minister Alexander Novak, the Financial Times reported that Russia and Saudi Arabia were expected to sign deals worth over $3 billion (2.5 billion euros), including a $1 billion energy investment fund and a $1.1 billion agreement for Russia's petrochemicals giant Sibur to build a plant in Saudi Arabia. Russia's Kommersant business daily reported Putin and Salman were also due to discuss an arms deal worth more than $3 billion, to supply Riyadh with S-400 air defence systems. Russia and Saudi Arabia are heavily dependent on oil exports and the global plunge of the price of crude that began in 2014 lashed both their economies. OPEC members have joined with Russia and other countries in cutting crude output in a pact that has helped prop up prices. Putin said on Wednesday it was possible to extend an OPEC deal to cap oil output "at least until the end of 2018". The current agreement runs until March 2018."We strive to continue the positive cooperation between our countries to achieve stability on world oil markets which promotes the growth of the world's economy," Salman said in Moscow. The leaders held one-on-one talks, followed by broader discussions. Once they sign the expected deals, Putin will host a state dinner for Salman. "The political will of Moscow and Riyadh for deeper cooperation on the widest range of issues is clear," Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists ahead of the meetings. The 81-year-old Saudi monarch's three-day visit got off to an awkward start on Wednesday evening after landing at Moscow's Vnukovo-2 airport when the escalator he uses to descend from his plane malfunctioned. The escalator stopped midway, forcing the king to walk down himself, to be met by Russian officials including deputy prime minister Dmitry Rogozin and a military brass band. His delegation of around 1,000 people occupied all the available hotel rooms in five-star hotels around the Kremlin, including one entire hotel, state RIA Novosti news agency reported. Salman arrived in Moscow along with Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih, Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir and Minister of State Musaed al-Aiban. The head of Saudi's state-owned oil giant Aramco Amin Nasser told Rossiya 24 state television ahead of the talks that the company would sign agreements with Russia's Gazprom, Gazprom Neft and Sibur energy companies as well as with an affiliate of Lukoil. Reliance Industries chief Mukesh Ambani today emerged as India's wealthiest for the 10th straight year as his net worth swelled to USD 38 billion (nearly Rs 2.5 lakh crore) while the wealth of 100 richest rose by 26 per cent despite economic hiccups. Wipro's Azim Premji was the distant second with a net worth of USD 19 billion, moving up two places from last year, while Sun Pharma's Dilip Shanghvi slipped from his earlier second place to the ninth now (USD 12.1 billion) on Forbes magazine's annual 'India Rich List 2017'. Forbes said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "economic experiments" barely affected India's billionaires while none gained more than oil-and-gas tycoon Mukesh Ambani, who cemented his decade-long hold on the top slot by adding a staggering USD 15.3 billion (67 per cent) to his last year's wealth to become one of Asia's top five richest. Anil Ambani, Mukesh's younger brother, was ranked much lower at 45th place with USD 3.15 billion. He was ranked 32nd in 2016 (USD 3.4 billion) and 29th a year before that. Another Gujarati businessman Gautam Adani has moved up to 10th position (USD 11 billion), from 13th rank last year, as his networth rose from USD 6.3 billion. Forbes described Adani as a college dropout, who spurned his father's textile shop to set up a commodities export firm in 1988. It also said Adani survived the terrorist attack in Mumbai's Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in 2008. Patanjali Ayurved's Acharya Balkrishna, known as a close associate of yoga guru Ramdev, made a big jump from 48th place last year to 19th now with a net worth of USD 6.55 billion (about Rs 43,000 crore). "Despite India's economic hiccups, tycoons on the 2017 Forbes India Rich List saw their wealth soar as their combined fortunes rose 26 per cent to USD 479 billion (over Rs 31 lakh crore)," the magazine said. "India's turbo-charged economy sputtered in the quarter ended in June as it grew at a three-year low of 5.7 per cent, due to the aftershocks of last November's demonetisation and uncertainties over the rollout of a nation-wide Goods and Services Tax. Despite this, the stock market scaled new heights and boosted the fortunes of the nation's 100 richest," it added. In the case of Ambani, improved refining margins and his telecom unit Reliance Jio's thundering success in notching up 130 million subscribers since its 2016 launch pushed up shares of Reliance Industries. The Hinduja brothers are at the third position with USD 18.4 billion while Lakshmi Mittal is now ranked fourth (USD 16.5 billion) and Pallonji Mistry fifth (USD 16 billion). Forbes said the list was compiled using shareholding and financial information secured from the families and individuals, stock exchanges, analysts and regulatory agencies. The ranking lists family fortunes, including those shared among extended families such as the Godrej and Bajaj families. Public fortunes were calculated based on stock prices and exchange rates as of September 15. Private companies were valued based on similar companies that are publicly traded. More than four-fifths of those who kept their spot on the list from last year saw their wealth rise, with 27 listees adding USD 1 billion or more to their net worth. The richest newcomer is cookies-and-airline tycoon Nusli Wadia at the 25th place with a net worth of USD 5.6 billion. Among the five other new entrants to the list are Dinesh Nandwana (88, USD 1.72 billion) of e-governance services firm Vakrangee; Vijay Shekhar Sharma (99, USD 1.47 billion) of fast-rising mobile wallet Paytm and Rana Kapoor (100, USD 1.46 billion) of Yes Bank. Veteran investor Radhakishan Damani, boosted by the listing of his supermarket chain D-Mart in March, returned to the list at 12th place with a net worth of USD 9.3 billion. Other returnees are Future Group's Kishore Biyani (55th, USD 2.75 billion) and siblings Murli Dhar and Bimal Gyanchandani (75, USD 1.96 billion). However, a dozen have turned poorer than a year ago, with half of them from the pharmaceutical sector, which has been plagued by challenges. Pharmaceutical magnate Dilip Shanghvi is the biggest dollar loser on the list as his net worth fell by USD 4.8 billion, ending his three-year run as India's second-richest. The Gupta family (40, USD 3.45 billion), heirs of patriarch Desh Bandhu Gupta, who died in June, saw their fortune shrink as shares of their generics maker Lupin declined. Brothers Shashi and Ravi Ruia suffered a drop as their Essar Steel faced bankruptcy proceedings under India's stricter new law, Forbes said. The 100 wealthiest on this year's list are all billionaires. The minimum amount required to make the list was USD 1.46 billion, up from USD 1.25 billion last year. Banwarilal Purohit will be sworn in as the 25th governor of Tamil Nadu tomorrow amid political turbulence in the ruling AIADMK and persistent demand by the opposition for a floor test for the K Palaniswami government. Purohit, a former governor of Assam, will be sworn in tomorrow at 9.30 AM, a Raj Bhavan communique said. The government bade farewell to Maharashtra Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao, who had been holding additional charge of Tamil Nadu since last year, as Purohit arrived in the city today amid heavy rains. Rao had come under criticism from principal opposition DMK for not ordering the floor test as demanded by it after 18 MLAs, now disqualified, had expressed lack of confidence in the chief minister. His year-long tenure in Tamil Nadu was marked by a series of significant developments including the demise of AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa in December, 2016, and the swearing in of two chief ministers in the span of two months. Purohit was received by Chief Minister K Palaniswami and his deputy O Panneerselvam at the airport. Assembly Speaker P Dhanapal and state ministers also welcomed him. He later received a police guard of honour. Earlier, Palaniswami and Panneerselvam bade farewell to Rao at the airport. He left for Hyderabad by a special flight. Purohit will become the full-time governor of the state after the retirement of K Rosaiah in August 2016. Purohit, appointed last week amid growing calls for a full-time governor, was a public personality inseparably involved in social, political, educational and industrial fields of Vidarbha in Maharashtra. He plunged into active politics in 1977 and entered the Maharashtra Assembly for the first time in 1978 by winning the Nagpur East seat. He is also credited with revival of 'The Hitavada', an English daily founded by Gopal Krishna Gokhale, the mentor of Mahatma Gandhi. Following the completion of Rosiah's term, Rao was given additional charge of Tamil Nadu in September 2016, days ahead of Jayalalithaa being hospitalised. His stint saw a split in the ruling AIADMK after O Panneerselvam revolted against the party leadership days after resigning as the chief minister in February this year.Following this, Palaniswami took over. Later, the rebel faction headed by Panneerselvam merged with that of Palaniswami with the former being made the deputy chief minister. Following the August 22 revolt of 19 AIADMK MLAs owing allegiance to sidelined AIADMK leader T T V Dhinakaran against Palaniswami, the opposition, including DMK, made a beeline to the Raj Bhavan seeking the governor's intervention. They had repeatedly urged Rao to direct a floor test of the Palaniswami government, contending that it had "lost its majority." Dhinakaran had also later called on the governor with a plea to remove Palaniswami as chief minister even as 18 MLAs owing allegiance to him were disqualified by Speaker Dhanapal last month. One MLA had switched sides to the Palaniswami camp. While the DMK has moved the Madras High Court seeking a direction to the governor for the conduct of the floor test, the disqualified legislators have also petitioned the court against the speaker's action. The DMK, which has already welcomed his appointment, today expressed confidence he will "take appropriate action" on its plea for a floor test of the AIADMK government. Responding to reporters' queries on Purohit, DMK Working President M K Stalin said "we believe he will not function like the Governor in-charge (Rao)." "We believe he is arriving here to be sworn-in as Governor, well aware of the present political situation in Tamil Nadu and that its ruling dispensation has lost majority," Stalin, also the Leader of Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, said. "We are, therefore, confident that he will for sure take appropriate steps in that regard," he said in an apparent reference to opposition demands for a floor test of the Palaniswami government. He said the DMK had approached the court seeking direction to the governor to order for a floor test of the Palaniswami government "after having lost confidence" in Rao. Stalin expressed confidence of securing a favourable verdict in the case, adding such a verdict would augur well for the people of the state. The enquiry pointed out that the death of Pradyuman, a Class II student, on September 8 was not reported to the police by the school authorities. His parents had in fact lodged an FIR, leading to the arrest of a bus conductor by the Haryana Police. The response by the CBSE was filed on an apex court notice based on a petition by Barun Chandra Thakur, the father of the child, for framing of guidelines to prevent such incidents in schools across the country. The board said it has issued several circulars for the security audit of staff and installation of CCTV cameras, among others, from time to time to institutions affiliated to it to ensure the safety of schoolchildren. The CBSE has found severe irregularities and illegalities at Ryan International School in Haryanas Gurugram where a seven-year-old student was murdered last month.In an affidavit to the apex court, CBSE secretary Anurag Tripathi said: This incident has happened due to the negligence of the school authority as no provision of toilets/washrooms for drivers and conductors/cleaners who are involved in plying of buses could be found separately in the school premises, which indicate that they were using the facilities meant for the students and the staff.CCTVs not installedA fact-finding enquiry conducted by the CBSE after the incident also noted that CCTV cameras were not installed at prominent places as per the guidelines. Most of the CCTV cameras installed in the school building are not functioning, it found.It was also discovered that the school was not providing potable drinking water to students and staff. A 62-year-old former Sarpanch of Dodi panchayat has allegedly committed suicide by hanging from the ceiling in his farmhouse in Baran district. On Thursday an advocate and a woman were booked for abetment to the suicide of Hardayal Meena, former Sarpanch of Dodi panchayat. "He hanged himself from the ceiling of his farmhouse room. A suicide note was also recovered from the pocket", Mahendra Singh, SHO of Baran police station said. The suicide note recovered by police which was found in his pocket mentions that the woman and the advocate had been blackmailing him for the last 10 years by threatening to file false rape case against him. As per SHO, Meena has mentioned the names, addresses and mobile numbers of the woman and the advocate and held them responsible for his suicide, Singh said. A case on the charge of abetment to suicide and under relevant sections of the SC/ST Act has been lodged against the advocate and the woman on the basis of the suicide note and a complaint by Meenas brother. As per the police, the woman mentioned in the suicide note was a selected candidate for Rajasthan judicial services but has not joined the service as a case related to her joining is pending in a court. A march demanding justice for Gauri Lankesh, the editor of a Kannada weekly who was gunned down a month ago, today turned into a platform for citizens and activists to voice their fears, anguish and the resolve to "unite". The march from Mandi House to Jantar Mantar was attended by hundreds, from student activists to politicians and trade unionists to general citizens, including a septuagenarian who just underwent a brain surgery to get rid of a malignant tumour, and the daughter of slain writer M M Kalburgi. The umbrella banner, 'March for Justice', had a wide array of political parties under it including the CPI, CPI(M), Aam Aadmi Party, Swaraj India, representatives of which called for larger unity to take on the BJP and the right wing forces, and around 100 activists from the Karnataka-based 'Janshakti Manch'. The protesters quoted Faiz Ahmad Faiz's peerless "Bol ke lab azad hai tere bol, ke ab nahi toh kab bolenge? (Speak up for your words are free, if not now then when?)" as they marched down Central Delhi, bringing the afternoon traffic to a standstill. One of the many posters read: "Gauri disagreed, we all disagree, we will all march, you can't silence us." The march ended at Jantar Mantar, where a protest by farmers from Tamil Nadu against distress suicides entered its 81th day today. "We may not know who killed her but we know who all are celebrating her death. With reports of economic slump, the attempts to divert attention from these issues by inciting communal sentiments has only sharpened," senior Supreme Court lawyer Prashant Bhushan said. Bhushan's thoughts were echoed by Sardaram Bhati, a farmer activist from Greater Noida's Kailashpur village, who underwent a brain surgery in July to remove a malignant tumour, scars of which were visible on his tonsured head. "Fascism is not here yet, but there are chances of it taking over the country. So, till the time I am alive I will keep registering my dissent and protest against these forces," he said. Satish Chand Sharma, a retiree who was an active participant of progressive writers' forums in his youth, said he makes it a point to attend these protests to shatter the silence over the "imposition of choices which has triggered a sense of fear". "There should not be any fear. What I do, what I eat, what I read, what I sing should be my choice, no one should dictate my choices. I want to be the way I am," he said, stressing he is not a card-holding member of any political party. Roopadarshi, the daughter of M M Kalburgi who was shot dead in 2015 in Karnataka's Dharward, said vigils like this may help create awareness and get justice. "But we (the family) are losing hope," she said. Others who were present in the march included CPI leader Annie Raja, AAP's Richa Pandey Mishra, activist Teesta Setalvad, Harsh Mander and veteran journalist Kuldip Nayar. Malliga of the Karnataka Janhit Manch said Lankesh's murder was part of a larger pattern of silencing voices of resistance. "From Gandhi to Gauri, we can see a pattern. The State nurtures such elements." AAP's Mishra said, "There are a few who are scared of voices of women, students and the youth. We stand together as one. We won't let them snatch our freedom away." Tamil Nadu farmer V Rajendran, who is part of a group of bare-bodied protesters with skulls and bones camping at Jantar Mantar for nearly three months now, said they condemn the killings of journalists as they are the one who take the voices of the oppressed to the masses and the establishment. "We need unification of struggles from across the spectrum," he said. Lankesh, who was the editor of 'Lankesh Patrike', was shot dead by unidentified men outside her residence in Bengaluru on September 5. Criticising ministers Vinay Kulkarni and M B Patil for leading the struggle to get independent religion status for Lingayatism, Leader of Opposition in Legislative Assembly Jagadish Shettar said, "they are not doing the work for which they are made the ministers. If they want to do the work which is meant for seers, then they have to resign as ministers first". He told media persons here on Thursday that Mr Kulkarni and Mr Patil are raising the separate Lingayat religion issue as per the direct direction from Chief Minister Siddarmaiah, to divide the society in the background of the coming Assembly elections. "We should leave the issue of Lingayat religion to seers and senior leaders of the community. Mr Vinay Kulkarni did not attend the function to release a postage stamp on Sri Hangal Kumar Swamiji but is now speaking about Lingayat separate religion. The ministers have a lot of work to do, but they have taken up Lingayat issue, neglecting their duties as ministers. They want to divide the society before the elections, as Mr Siddaramaiah is afraid of BS Yeddyurappa becoming the next chief minister," Mr Shettar opined. CM blamed Mr Shettar charged that the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) is a tool in the hands of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, and he is trying to use it to conduct raids on Income Tax Department officials, just as a face-saving exercise. Mr Siddaramaiah is being haunted by the fear of defeat in next Assembly elections. Corruption is rampant in the government, and IT raids on the residence of Energy Minister D K Shivakumar could not be digested by him. Therefore, he has ordered the AB to conduct a raid on IT officials, Mr Shettar charged, adding that the tender process for health cards was cancelled only after he raised the issue of corruption involved in that. Hindu workers are being assaulted or murdered in the State. BJP has already started a struggle against such acts in Kerala, and a similar struggle would be planned in Karnataka also, he said. 'Sinha has no work' Some senior BJP leaders including Yashwanth Sinha are 'disgruntled souls', and therefore they are criticising the economic policies of the NDA government. They are seniors, but they could not get a position in the government. As they have no other work to do, they are trying to find errors in the NDA administration, Mr Shettar added. West Loop's Proxi May Be The Best New Restaurant Of 2017 By Anthony Todd in Food on Oct 5, 2017 3:36PM The fish collar at Proxi. Photo by Kailley Lindman. It's only October, so it may seem audacious for me to be giving away "best of the year" accolades. But Proxi is so good (and, frankly, 2017 has been so mediocre) that I have absolutely no problem making the claim. Created by the team behind Sepia, Proxi is firing on all cylinders, with food, service and atmosphere near perfect - and they've been doing it that way since just about opening day. Unlike many of my reviews, where I visit a restaurant once or maybe twice, money allowing, I've actually been to Proxi four times. Why? Because every food geek in Chicago is going there over and over and over again, so all my friends are there. Plus, it's so insanely easy to get to from the Loop that it's become a go-to after work spot for everyone who wants decent food after work. All that is to say that I've gotten a huge sample size, have tried the entire menu and still love the place. Dining room at Proxi. Photo by Kailley Lindman. Chef Andrew Zimmerman has been winning over hearts and taste buds at Sepia for years. He's got a Michelin star and turns out consistently excellent cuisine. But the very nature of Sepia, which is a very slightly stodgy restaurant with an audience that skews a little older and a very business-friendly atmosphere, means that while he can absolutely create innovative cuisine, it's rare to see him go out on a limb or play with crazy flavors. That's why Proxi feels like Zimmerman is finally getting to cook what he wants to cook. The bright asian, middle eastern and latin flavors, inspired by the street foods of the world, could be incoherent fusion-y muck in the hands of a lesser talent. But Zimmerman brings this mishmash to life, creating food that, frankly, it feels like the stuff he wants to eat and share with you. Fried radishes at Proxi. Photo by Kailley Lindman. A perfect example: a fried fish collar with a Thai-inspired garlic-chili sauce. If I saw this on the menu at another restaurant, I'd knowingly roll my eyesugh, how 2007. But in the hands of Zimmerman, this is the platonic ideal of fried fish, perfectly crispy and so good you'll be ripping bits off and chewing the bones. I actually loved it so much that, on one visit, I ordered a second because I couldn't stop eating. One of the reasons the food at Proxi is so good is that "ethnic" or "fusion" doesn't mean gunky or overcomplicated, covered in too many disparate elements or sweet sauces. Fried radishes (and who has ever had a fried radish?!) are served with a lightly seasoned nori butter, which gives them a Japanese flair but nothing to be offended by. A tender Indonesian pork jerky, which, served on sticks, might be an annoying gimmicky dish, could be best bar snack I've had in months. Except it's not, because the actual best snack I've tasted all year is the tempura elotes, a combination of asian and mexican flavors that leads to a starter that's somehow both crispy and melt-in-your-mouth, the sweetness of the corn combining with a hint of spicy chili and crisp tempura batter. The cooks in this kitchen know how to work a fryer. Shaved zucchini salad at Proxi. Photo by Kailley Lindman. Salads aren't an afterthought. A shaved mess of zuchini is laced with mint, full of feta and utterly refreshing, while a salad of snap peas and carrots (sadly out of season now) is topped with sesame and yuzu for a bright, complex take on possibly the most childhood-like veggie combination on the planet. Tempura Elotes at Proxi. Photo by Kailley Lindman. I could keep going. Grilled whole fish is perfectly cooked, served flat and dripping with a spicy chili gunk inspired by "Zarandeado" style fish. Thai beef salad with wagyu sirloin is like every bad beef salad you've ordered from Thai takeout, except actually great. I haven't yet tried the big bone-in ribeye topped with my favorite sauce, bagna cauda, but it's entirely possible that after writing this review, I'll be compelled to go back tonight. G&T at Proxi. Photo by Kailley Lindman. I love the food at Proxi so much I haven't talked about the space. It's a huge restaurant, with a giant street-facing bar and a big open kitchen stretching across the restaurant. Somehow, the design manages to combine the energy of a hip after work spot from River North with the classyness of a supper club, which means that you can visit for a drink, a happy hour, or a fancy date. The one thing it isn't is quiet, but the food doesn't really suit itself to a truly intimate experience. The drink program, with wines by superstar Sepia somm Arthur Hon, is mostly excellent, though the cocktails were a bit too sweetthe mark of a mixer trying (and occasionally failing) to pair drinks with these strong flavors. The big standout hit is the Spanish-style gin and tonic menu, and Proxi is one of the only places in the city to get an authentic take on this drink, served in a huge goblet and filled with fruits, herbs or spices (depending on the version you order). I have to stop, because I'm just getting too hungry to continue. Go to Proxi. Just do it. Have the fish collar. I'll be there before you finish it. Proxi is at 565 W. Randolph Street. India is assessing the extent of China's role in bringing the three leftist parties of Nepal together ahead of the forthcoming elections in the neighbouring country. Though the diplomats of India and Nepal have been discussing a proposal for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Kathmandu for inauguration of a hydro-electric project in the coming weeks, New Delhi is now likely to factor in the the surprise move by the three leftist parties of the neighbouring country to come together and forge an alliance, sources told the DH on Thursday. The Communist Party of Nepal (United Marxist Leninist), Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre) and the newly floated Naya Shakti sprang a surprise in Kathmandu on Tuesday, when they announced that they would forge an alliance and would contest the forthcoming elections together. The CPN (UML) and CPN (Maoist Centre) are led by K P Sharma Oli and Pushpa Kamal Dahal (a.k.a Prachanda). Baburam Bhattarai, who quit the CPN (Maoist Centre) in 2015, leads Naya Shakti. They all Oli, Prachanda and Bhattarai have held the office of the Prime Minister in Kathmandu in the recent years. The reports received in New Delhi indicated that China had played a role in bringing the three leftist parties together ostensibly to pose a challenge to India's traditional influence in politics of Nepal. It was during Oli's tenure as Prime Minister of Nepal that New Delhis relations with Kathmandu came under stress after the new constitution adopted by Constituent Assembly of the neighbouriung country in September 2015 triggered protests. The disgruntled communities like Madhesis and Tharus resorted to protests in Terai region of Nepal, alleging that the new constitution failed to allay their concerns over further marginalization and to meet their aspirations. India has been prodding Nepal to ensure that the new statute was inclusive and broad-based in its approach. India was upset when Prachanda, who led a Maoist insurgency in Nepal from 1996 to 2006, chose to visit China first after becoming the Prime Minister of Nepal in 2008. Almost all of his predecessors in the past half-a-century had come to India on first official visits as premiers. When he took over as Prime Minister for the second term in 2016, Prachanda, however, made it a point to visit India first. New Delhi, however, keeps a close watch on Prachanda's proximity with the top brass of the Communist Party of China. With the alliance of the three parties brightening their prospects to win the coming parliamentary elections, New Delhi is worried over the possibility of China gaining more leverage in Nepal than India. Sources told the DH that New Delhi would take a call on the proposed visit of Prime Minister to Kathmandu for inauguration of the Arun-III hydro-electric project in Nepal only after assessing the implications of the latest political developments in the neighbouring country. Cognizant, one of the leading IT services company which is headquartered in the US and has the majority of its operation in India, on Thursday said it has signed a 10-year contract with European banking group Dexia for IT and BPO services. According to a statement issued by the company, under the agreement 150 Dexia employees will move to a dedicated, newly-formed Cognizant company in France where certain IT and BPO services of Dexia will be transferred. The IT services company will become Dexia's strategic provider of information technology and BPO services for capital markets and credit operations in France and Belgium. The financial details of the agreement were not disclosed. The agreement will help the company to further expand its presence in Europe, including France, where it has delivery and operations centres in Paris, Lyon and Grenoble. The statement said the implementation will take place in two stages - transfer of IT services will take place by November 2017, while business operations will be moved by May 2018 at the latest. Cognizant Global Growth Markets President Santosh Thomas said the company looks forward to working with Dexia to transform its technology infrastructure and lay a foundation for more agile, efficient and secure operations, as well as digital innovation. "Cognizant is pleased to welcome Dexia employees to our team. We value the financial services expertise they bring as we continue to augment our capabilities in the region," said Thomas. Cognisant also stated that the agreement will provide more flexibility to Dexia's cost base, enabling potential savings of approximately 100 million euros to be made over the lifetime of the agreement. Wouter Devriendt, CEO of Dexia, said the selection of Cognizant fits perfectly in its orderly resolution roadmap. "Partnering with Cognizant on IT and back-office activities aims at securing our operating model, one of our key priorities given the fragmented and ageing IT infrastructure of the Group, and at providing savings and flexibility to our cost base," he said. Dexia is a 94.4% state-owned Belgian-French banking institution under the direct prudential supervision of the European Central Bank within the framework of SSM. As on June 30, 2017, Dexia has 1,108 members of staff and total balance sheet of 199.4 billion euros. The Goods and Services Tax Network (GSTN) continues to face glitches despite the assurances from the Ministry of Finance to solve them on a priority basis. The GSTN is the information technology backbone and portal for real-time taxpayer registration, migration and tax return filing under the new Goods and Services Tax regime. A senior officer said GSTN has managed to achieve only 25% success in solving glitches in the network. Out of a total 48 glitches, only 12 have been resolved since the introduction of GST on July 1. The empowered group of ministers (EGoM) has decided to meet every fortnight to address the pending issues. In the September 16 meeting, the GoM headed by Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi, 48 issues were flagged. There are about 10 broad issues as well that need constant monitoring. Building a software is like building a house. You build it brick by brick, Prakash Kumar, CEO of GSTN, told DH. A senior commercial tax officer said that one major issue was the unlocking of GST accounts of traders. There were many traders who unintentionally had filed wrong returns and they were not depositing the tax payable due to this. We have unlocked their accounts so that they can correct it, the officer said. There were about 4 lakh traders who had filed their returns wrongly. According to the officer, most of the issues are related to the non-availability of forms on GSTN. Sushil Modi hinted that there could be a delay in resolving the pending issues beyond the October 30 deadline. It is a matter of serious concern that China is again building up its troop strength and has resumed road-building in the Doklam area. It was only a little over a month ago that the Indian and Chinese governments reached agreement on pulling back their troops to defuse the 72-day standoff between Indian and Chinese soldiers in the India-Bhutan-China trijunction area. Tensions de-escalated thereafter. Prime Minister Narendra Modi subsequently travelled to Beijing to participate in the Brics summit that China hosted and even had bilateral talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines. It seemed then that relations were on the mend. At a time when bilateral relations are still fragile, it is unfortunate, indeed irresponsible of China to rebuild its troop presence at Doklam. The de-escalation notwithstanding, there were signs that the frosty relations had not thawed fully. Every year, on October 1, Chinese troops would invite their Indian counterparts to a ceremonial border personnel meeting to mark Chinas National Day. This year, Indian troops were not invited, signalling that relations were not back to normal yet. Still, few expected the Chinese to indulge in the provocative build-up so soon after the August 28 disengagement of troops at Doklam. Chinas rebuilding of its troop strength at Doklam could be aimed at a domestic audience. The Chinese Communist Party Congress is due in a fortnight and it is likely that the muscle-flexing at the border is aimed at impressing party hardliners. Even so, the government should have avoided troop build-up some 1,500-1,700 Chinese soldiers are said to be deployed in the area as it is fraught with risk. India, meanwhile, is understandably worried and has dispatched Foreign Secretary SD Jaishankar to Thimphu to discuss the matter with the Bhutanese government. When the crisis was defused in August, the details of what the two governments agreed upon were not made public. Indian analysts, especially those close to the government, maintained that China had pulled back its troops while India had stood firm. The Modi government was applauded for not buckling to Chinese pressure and emerging the winner in the face-off. If China did indeed agree to pull back its troops from Doklam, then its current build-up is a betrayal of the agreement. Making public the terms of the agreement would not only inject much-needed transparency in Sino-Indian relations but it would also lay bare Chinese perfidy. If India pulled back without a reciprocal Chinese withdrawal, then it lost more than it reportedly gained from the crisis. The people deserve to know what the terms of the deal were and what it means for Indias national security. Delhi must seek an explanation from Beijing. A return to crisis is in nobodys interest. Kuvempu University, Shivamogga, Department of Kannada Head Prashant Nayak said message of uniting all cultures and living together was given by Maharishi Valmiki through epic Ramayana. He was delivering a lecture on Maharishi Valmiki on the occasion of Valmiki Jayanti programme, organised by District Administration and Zilla Panchayat (ZP), at Kumar Gandharva Rang Mandir here, on Thursday. Nayak said,greatness of India lies in the affectionate language spoken and its moral values. Jayanti celebrations of great personalities was to recall the principles, morals and life values preached by them and imbibe them in our lives. Castes, instead of being small indicators were turning into symbols of ego and it was against the principles of greats. Instead of seeing saints in the form of gods, we should follow their ideals and conserve them. The epic Ramayana tells all values of life. Duties of all from administration to family matters were described in it. We should take realistic parts from epics and talk about them. It has become necessary today that all acquire knowledge, he said. Member of Parliament Suresh Angadi, in his inaugural remarks, said Maharishi Valmiki was symbol of self respect and culture. The saint should not be confined to one community for political gains. Students should be taught about Ramayana penned by him and we should follow the ideals of the saint. ZP Chief Executive Officer R Ramchandran said, we could be backward economically but were rich with culture. We should all give attention towards cleanliness and construct toilet in every house and care taken to ensure that funds given by the government for construction of toilets are used for the purpose. Government and ZP has taken measures for making toilet available in every house. All should join hands for creating healthy society. Floral tributes Floral tributes were paid to the portrait of Maharishi Valmiki. Earlier a procession of statue of Maharishi Valmiki was taken out from Ashok Circle to Kumar Gandharva Rang Mandir. Various cultural troupes took part in the procession. ZP President Asha Aihole presided over. ZP Vice President Arun Katamble, MLC Mahantesh Kavatgimath, Additional Deputy Commissioner Suresh Itnal, Tahsildar Manjula Nayak and other dignitaries were present. Mayor Sanjot Bandekar, MLAs Sanjay Patil and Feroz Saitand other dignitaries participated. Kananda writer Kum Veerabhadrappa said, free expression is under threat in the country in the present situation. Speaking at a programme organised in memory of rationalist Prof B V Veerabhadrappa by his fans and family members in Davangere on Thursday, he regretted that writers, intellectuals and other progressive thinkers who express their views on religion and other issues are under attack in the country. Forces who killed rationalists Dr M M Kalaburgi and journalist Gauri Lankesh have challenged the democracy in the country. There was a time when Indians were proud of their values of pluralism and tolerance; now that is under attack along with freedom of expression. For a country that takes great pride in its democracy and history of free speech, the present situation is troubling. Religious intolerance is threatening Indias academic and creative freedom. Writers cannot speak and write against the murderers of rationalist Dr M M Kalaburgi and Gauri Lankesh. Writers are under fear of expressing their views, he said. He said, astrology, blind beliefs, casteism and religious intolerance are dangerous to the democracy of the country. He ridiculed the State governments move on bringing Anti-superstion Bill when practise of astrology and blind beliefs are having an upper hand in the society. Criticising politicians for seeking blessings from saadhus and aghoris, he said, eradication of superstition and blind beliefs should begin from Vidahan Soudha, the seat of power in the State. Unfortunately, politicians are promoting and patronising such beliefs in the society. Mr Kum Veerabhadrappa also expressed his displeasure over television channels encouraging astrology and spreading blind beliefs in the society. The real terrorists of the society are astrologers. They can be seen displaying various on rings in all their fingers. This has became a way to cheat people to make money. People should not get cheated by astrologers, he said. Remembering the contributions of late writer, Prof B V Veerabhadrappa, Mr Kum Veerabhadrappa said, the late writer donated his body after his death. People should come forward to voluntarily donate their bodies after death as it would help medical research. He also regretted the increasing old age homes in recent years. He said, it indicates the collapse of Indian joint family system. He said, writers such as P Lankesh and Veerabhadrappa accepted Basava Dharma. Youth should embrace this religion, he said. Earlier, Taralabalu Brihan Sanehalli branch mutt seer Panditharadhya Shivacharya swamiji inaugurated the memorial programme. Folklore expert M G Eshwarappa, Department of Water Resources secretary B G Gurupadaswamy, writers B M Basavarajaiah, Mahalingappa, Ananthamma, B V Sudha, R Chandramouli, Dr B V Veena, Pujitha Vachan, Gowri and family members of B V Veerabhadrappa took part in the programme. An unusual love story which began with a missed call is now ended with the murder of the woman who fell in love with a caterer. Police had no clue when the body of a 38-year-old woman was found on Mallapur hillock on September 27. But when the district crime branch police took up the investigation the love story unveiled and they succeeded in catching the culprit. Police caught Narayan Yalloji (39), who hails from Verapasandiram village in Krishnagiri district of Tamil Nadu for murdering the woman who hails from Achanur village in the district. According to the police, Narayan Yalloji was working as a catering contractor in Bengaluru and a missed call from the Achanur woman in March encouraged him to hold frequent talks with the woman. Gradually both started to involve in regular conversation on phone and both fell in love. Achanur woman was already married and also had three children. Yalloji too was living with his wife and two children. Police said, the affair led them to meet on Mylaralinga temple on Mallapur hillock on every Amavasya as the woman used to visit the temple on that day. He used to come from Bengaluru to meet her. On September 19 too Yalloji came to the hillock to meet her. This time, the woman insisted on him to take her also to Bengaluru along with him. But he did not agree for this and both involved in a tussle. Angered over her insistence, Yalloji strangled her to death and threw the body into the bush. He fled the scene and returned to Bengaluru, police explained. Police were on search for the woman following the missing complaint from her family members. The body was found in rotten state on September 27. Police achieved breakthrough in the case when they followed the mobile phone call list. They noticed the phone call received on her mobile phone from Bengaluru from an unidentified number on every Amavasya day. On the day of womans murder the tower location of the unidentified mobile number was in Bagalkot. Thus, the police traced out the culprit and arrested him. Police have produced the accused before the court on Wednesday. He was handed over to the police for further investigations. The National Green Tribunal on Thursday banned all protests and dharnas around the historic Jantar Mantar area here, saying such activities violate environmental laws. A bench headed by Justice R S Rathore directed the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) to remove all make-shift and temporary structures, loud speakers and public address systems from the stretch of the road. The tribunal directed the authorities to shift the protesters, agitators and the people holding dharnas to an alternative site at the Ramleela Grounds in Ajmeri Gate forthwith. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Thursday sought reports from Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh governments following allegations of police atrocity against farmers and a fake encounter respectively. In its notice to the Madhya Pradesh government, the NHRC has asked the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police to submit a report within four weeks on allegations of atrocity against a group of farmers returning after a protest in Tikamgarh. The media had reported about police assaulting farmers after stripping them down to their underwear, at the Tikamgarh rural police station on October 3. The farmers were returning after a protest against the anti-farmer policies of the government. The Commission has observed that the contents of the media report, if true, are indicative of violation of human rights of the farmers, the NHRC said. Stephen Paddock Booked Room Near Las Vegas Festival That Featured Chance The Rapper A Week Before Mass Shooting By Stephen Gossett in News on Oct 5, 2017 2:10PM Life Is Beautiful Festival, 2014 / Getty Images / Photo: Ethan Miller Stephen Paddockthe gunman who killed 59 people and injured more than 500 others at a country music festival on Sundayapparently rented a room last month that overlooked another Las Vegas festival, Life Is Beautiful, which featured performers such as Lorde, Muse, Gorillaz and Chance the Rapper. According to reports, police confirmed that Paddock rented a hotel room in the Ogden Las Vegas around the same time as the festival, which took place from Sept. 22 to 24; but authorities did not say he had planned an attack at that festival, and it was unclear why he had rented the room. Las Vegas Sheriff Joseph Lombardo said, according to the AP, "Was he doing pre-surveillance? We dont know yet. This is all pre-conjecture." Sheriff Joseph Lombardo confirms Stephen Paddock also had a room located near the Life is Beautiful Festival pic.twitter.com/7BZfac9mZz Variety (@Variety) October 5, 2017 The Life Is Beautiful festival took place about a week before the attack at Mandalay Bay, the deadliest mass shooting in modern American history. Chicago native Chance the Rapper was the headlining act on Friday, September 22, according to the festival website. Life Is Beautiful CEO Justin Weniger said in a statement after the attack: "The Life is Beautiful Festival family is devastated by the horrific events that took place on Oct. 1 in our hometown of Las Vegas. Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone in our community, the victims, their families and the first responders. Life is Beautiful is founded in the beliefs of community and our collective love for each other and the arts as well as making the world a more beautiful and loving place. In the wake of this tragedy, we gather strength from these ideals and urge everyone to come together as a community, support and love one another. We will overcome the hate and the divisiveness together. We will lean on each other to move forward and to create a world in which love is the only option." Chance tweeted, "Lord help us," early on Monday morning in the wake of the Mandalay Bay attack. Lord help us Lil Chano From 79th (@chancetherapper) October 2, 2017 According to TMZ, Paddock also rented two hotel rooms at the Blackstone Hotel, across from Grant Park, in Chicago, with booking dates that coincided with this year's Lollapalooza festival, which is staged annually at the downtown park. Paddock never showed up for his rooms at the Blackstone, unnamed sources told TMZ. Keeping the 2018 Assembly polls in mind, the womens wing of the ruling Congress will launch a Gramavastavya outreach programme from Chikkamagaluru to coincide with the 100th birth anniversary of former prime minister Indira Gandhi next month. The Karnataka Pradesh Mahila Congress Committee will also scale up its arishina-kumkuma programme as part of which the partys women workers will visit households and offer turmeric and vermilion in an effort to woo voters. This programme is already underway in 15 districts and will be extended to the rest of the state by the end of this month, Mahila Congress state president Laxmi R Hebbalkar said. These outreach programmes will supplement the partys Mane Manege Congress programme that was launched last month. We have decided to organise an Indira Namana event in November. Also, a two-day workshop will be held this month on the importance of women in the 2018 polls and the need for more and more women to participate in the election, Lakshmi said. The womens wing will also stage protests against the anti-democratic decisions taken by the BJP-led Centre along with street plays, essay competitions and debates. Journalist Gauri Lankesh, who was hot dead on September 5, has been posthumously honoured with the annual Anna Politkovskaya award. The award is given every year by Reach All Women in War (the RAW in WAR) in memory of Anna Politkovskaya, a journalist who was murdered in Moscow while reporting on Chechnya war in 2006. Gauris sister Kavita Lankesh said it was for the first time an Indian has been honoured with the prestigious Anna Politkovskaya award. Gauris mother Indira Lankesh broke down at the press conference remembering her daughter. Indira said she was happy to know that Gauri has so many well wishers. Meanwhile, Gauris brother Indrajit Lankesh said it was not proper to come to a conclusion about the culprits just on the basis of the weapon used in the murder. We have come to know that there is a similarity in the weapon used in the killings of Govind Pansare, Narendra Dabholkar, Prof M M Kalburgi and Gauri. However, it doesnt establishes that a same person or an organisation has killed all the four. The investigation is still under progress and we are hopeful that the SIT will make some progress, he said. Indira, Kavita and Indrajit expressed full confidence in the ongoing investigation by the SIT. An Italian court has released Carlos Gerosa, a suspected middleman in the multi-crore VVIP copter deal, saying India and Italy have no extradition treaty. Gerosa was detained on an Interpol notice based on the Enforcement Directorates (ED) request. Gerosa was returning from Switzerland when he was detained last week and his release comes as a setback for Indian agencies, including the ED and the CBI, investigating the AgustaWestland scam. The appeals court of Messina has ordered the release, saying that though the detention could be treated as formally correct but such measures cannot be applied in the absence of an extradition treaty. It also cited that Gerosa has a Swiss passport. The ED is now planning to send an extradition request to Italy at the earliest. Officials said though India does not have a full-fledged extradition treaty with Italy, there is a working arrangement. Investigators said Gerosas extradition is important as he is one of the three middlemen besides Christian Michel and Guido Haschke. On September 1, the CBI filed a charge sheet and named former Air Force chief S P Tyagi among others. Gerosa is also named in the charge sheet. According to the CBI, there was an estimated loss of 398.21 million (around Rs 2,666 crore) to the exchequer in the deal signed by the UPA government in February 2010 for the supply of VVIP choppers worth 556.262 million. The CBI has informed the court that it has been able to establish a money trail worth 62 million (around Rs 415.40 crore) from countries like Mauritius, Singapore, the UAE, Tunisia, the UK and the British Virgin Island. The CBI had earlier sent Letters Rogatories seeking information from these countries. Based on the CBI FIR, the ED registered a money laundering case and its investigators claimed that around 28 million was paid by AgustaWestland to middlemen Haschke and Gerosa through IDS Tunisia. IDS Tunisia transferred the amount to various companies, including M/s Interstellar Mauritius an amount of 12.4 million. According to the ED, this money was moved through a web of companies located in Mauritius, Dubai and Singapore. As many as seven people were killed in lightning and thunderbolt strikes at Periyapatna in Mysuru district and Arkalgud in Hassan district on Thursday. Six people were killed on the spot, while three others were grievously injured when they were struck by lightning at Nandinathapura village, Periyapatna taluk. The deceased are Puttannaiah, Thimmegowda (both 60), Suvarnamma (45), Sujay (23), Sudeep (18) and Umesh (24), all residents of Hunasavadi village, in the taluk. The injured are Ganesh, Vishwa and Madesha, who were provided first aid at the taluk hospital and later shifted to the K R Hospital, in Mysuru. The deceased were grazing cattle and had taken refuge near the Chikkamma-Doddamma temple, due to a sudden downpour, when lightning struck. Periyapatna and surrounding areas received heavy rain, accompanied by thunder and lightning. The whole village went into mourning. Periyapatana police have registered a case. One more death Rajegowda (55), a farmer, was killed in a lightning strike at Dhummikoppal village in Arkalgud taluk. BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa on Thursday accused the state government of misusing the Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) to target those who speak against the ruling party. Reacting to reports that the ACB was planning to raid the Income Tax departments officials, Yeddyurappa said that the I-T sleuths need not worry as his party would bring the matter to the Centres notice. He described the ACB as Siddaramaiah protection bureau. Siddaramaiahs Cabinet colleagues, however, maintained that the ACB has not been misused. Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy said that the Centre was misusing the I-T department, Enforcement Directorate and the CBI, and not the state government. He said that the government has never interfered in the ACBs functioning. Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister T B Jayachandra also said the ACB is functioning well within its jurisdiction. The Supreme Court on Thursday sought to answer a charge that some of its judges were pro-government. In a rebuttal to the criticism faced after transfer of Karnataka High Court judge Justice Jayant Patel to the Allahabad High Court, the apex court said somebody has to sit through the day in courtrooms to understand how the government is hauled up everyday in a number of cases. Former SC Bar Association president Dushyant Dave minced no words to slam the apex courts Collegium. On Thursday, an apex court bench, presided over by Chief Justice Dipak Misra, was hearing a plea against the adverse remarks made by former Uttar Pradesh minister Azam Khan in the Bulandshahr gang-rape case. The bench, also comprising Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud, then referred to comments on the Bar Association functionaries about the SC having been besetted by pro-government judges. An ex-president of the Supreme Court Bar Association has gone on record on television that most of the Supreme Court judges are pro-government. Let them come and sit in the court to see in how many cases we haul up the government in favour of citizens, Justice Chandrachud said. The state government has decided to implement its ambitious scheme to allot flats at Rs 1 lakh each on a Public Private Partnership (PPP) basis, allowing private players to utilise up to 40% of the land earmarked for the project for their own use. The government has identified 286 acres of land around Bengaluru city under the Rajiv Gandhi 1-lakh Multi-storey Bengaluru Housing Scheme, approved by the Cabinet recently. The private players will get full rights to utilise up to 40% of the total land (approximately 114 acres), including the absolute ownership, in return for constructing one lakh flats in the remaining 60% land. The private players will be selected through a competitive bidding. The scheme envisages construction of affordable houses to the economically and socially weaker sections in Bengaluru. One-BHK (bedroom, hall and kitchen) and two-BHK flats are proposed to be constructed under the scheme. The total cost of constructing one lakh such flats is estimated at Rs 5,000 crore. As per the original project plan, Rajiv Gandhi Rural Housing Corporation Ltd (RGHCL) and Karnataka Slum Development (KSD) were the implementing agencies. The plan was to auction up to 25% of the land earmarked for the project, besides pooling in funds from various housing schemes of the state and Central governments. RGHCL had sought initial working capital of Rs 500 crore to take up the project. Official sources in the government said Section 17.2.1 of the Karnataka Affordable Housing Policy was inserted in the proposal, allowing private participation, before placing it before the Cabinet for approval. Section 17.2.1 states, Private developers can build AHUs (affordable housing units) on at least 40% of identified vacant government land as approved by the SLECAH (State Level Empower Committee for Affordable Housing). The remaining portion of the land may be transferred to the private developer with full rights as per the Master Plan/CDP Land Use and local Zoning Regulations, as decided by the SLECAH on a project-by-project basis. The government has decided to hand over the land (40% that the developers are entitled to) as per Section 53A of the Transfer of Property Act. Under this section, the transferee acquires full right of the property even without execution of sale deed and the transferor later cannot claim any right in respect of the property. The government will provide funds from various housing schemes to the developers, over and above handing over up to 40% of the land, the sources said. They said senior officials of the Housing department had opposed the move to allow private participation and hand over land under the Transfer of Property Act. When contacted, Housing Minister M Krishnappa defended the governments decision. He said though the policy says that AHUs are to be developed on 40% land, the Cabinet increased it to 60%. The decision to take up the scheme under PPP basis is aimed at speedy implementation, he added. A 19-year-old BBA student drowned in a stone quarry on the eastern outskirts of Bengaluru on Thursday, dismissing the warnings given by his female classmates against venturing into the water. Akhilnadhnair, of Jalahalli and a second-year BBA student at Kristu Jayanti College in K Narayanapura, had gone on a picnic along with three of his female classmates from Kerala who stay at the college hostel. The college was closed as it was a holiday due to Valmiki Jayanti. The four students had hired a cab and reached the main road near Doddenahalli, from where they took a drop from a vehicle to reach the quarry, off Hennur Road, about 15 kilometres from the city, police said. The students took a few photographs on their phones, after which Akhilnadhnair said he wanted to swim. The girls warned him saying the place is unfamiliar, but he removed his shoes, jacket and spectacles and jumped into the water. The girls initially thought he knew swimming, but they later saw him struggling in the water. The girls screamed and two of them ran to call locals for help, but by the time they arrived, Akhilnadhnair had drowned. The Bagalur police, who were patrolling nearby, rushed to the spot and called the Fire and Emergency Services Department. Meanwhile, one of the girls informed Akhilnadhnair's parents, who also rushed to the spot. Akhilnadhnair's body was retrieved from the lake before noon and taken to BR Ambedkar Hospital for post-mortem. There were rumours that Akhilnadhnair accidentally slipped into the water while trying to take a selfie but police rubbished them by saying he had jumped into the lake for swimming after removing his shoes, jacket and spectacles. The jurisdictional Kothanur police have registered a case of unnatural death. Fr Augustine G, vice principal, Kristu Jayanti College, said: "It is an unfortunate incident and the entire college is saddened by it. Akhilnadhnair was a talented boy who had won prizes at the recent Bangalore University 'Mimes' intercollegiate competition. He was a good mimicry artist." He died just a day before birthday Akhilnadhnair's friends posted condolence messages on Facebook soon after his death. One of them, Micah Jomike Michael, wrote: "A versatile actor, mimicry artist and a great friend!! Akhilnadhnair the memories you made will indeed live forever. It was only yesterday we had discussed about a track for a stage performance. The practice sessions we had cannot be ever forgotten and also death was so cruel it had to strike you a day before your Bday!! But you will always remain a star. Hope you entertain everyone up there! Kristu Jayanti family will miss you (sic)." The Associated Managements of English Medium Schools in Karnataka (KAMS) has demanded the Education department not to insist on sending indents for textbooks for the 2018-19 academic year. Member-schools say that they face problems when it comes to distributing the books. The Education Department issued a circular saying that schools should not indulge in commercial activities. So now, we can only supply government-issued textbooks to parents at the school. We cant give notebooks, graph books, activity books or dictionaries like we used to. This has caused inconvenience to parents, said general secretary Shashi Kumar. The association has sought the department to allow them to have tuck shops on the campus where parents can purchase books of their choice. He further said that books are not supplied to them on time by the Education Department. They have to make several trips to the office of the Block Education Officer (BEO) to get their complete order. The department should make the books available directly in the market so that parents can buy from stores directly, easing the burden on us, Kumar added. They have requested the department to hold a meeting with them to iron out issues with textbook distribution. Baragurs demand Writer Baragur Ramachandrappa has urged Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to direct the Primary and Higher Education Department not to introduce the NCERT syllabus for Class VI Science and Mathematics subjects. The Principal Secretary, Primary and Higher Education Department, had directed Karnataka Textbook Society to introduce NCERT syllabus for Science and Mathematics subjects of Class VI and for 74 Adarsh Schools across the state. A 32-year-old Nigerian national, who cheated several people by promising to deliver kidneys for transplantation, was arrested by the Kolkata police in Bengaluru on Tuesday. David Ujma Uba was arrested for cheating nearly 20 people and duping them of Rs 3 crore. Police said Uba came to India four years ago on a tourist visa. He stayed in Kolkata, created a fake hospital website and issued an advertisement, asking people to contact him regarding kidneys for those requiring transplantation. However, he failed to deliver the kidneys, even after the money was transferred to his bank account. Police said within a span of one month, the Nigerian cheated nearly 20 patients. The victims registered a complaint with the Kolkata cyber crime police about the fraud in April. After knowing that police are after him, he moved to Tamil Nadu. Tracing call details Tracing his call detail records (CDR), the police reached Tamil Nadu. But, Uba came to Bengaluru four days ago and was staying at his friends house at Nagenahalli Dinne near Kothanur. Tracking the CDR, the Kolkata police reached his friends house on Tuesday, arrested Uba and took him to Kolkata the same night for interrogation. US Department of the Interior Earlier this week, thereported what US Department of the Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke told the National Petroleum Council in a speech. The secretary said he was working to make the agencys regulatory culture more business friendly , and admitted that he knew going into the agency that about one-third of its employees are not loyal to the flag. He also said he was planning to move leadership of some agencies, including the Bureau of Reclamation and the Bureau of Land Management, out of Washington, D.C. and into western states: The moves follow military strategy, Zinke said: Push your generals where the fight is. While details remain largely under wraps, Zinke said he was excited. Its going to be huge, he said in a speech to the National Petroleum Council, an advisory committee that includes leaders of the oil and gas industry. I really cant change the culture without changing the structure. During that same speech, Zinke also said of hydraulic fracturing: Fracking is proof that Gods got a good sense of humor and he loves us. Meanwhile, the US Environmental Protection Agency just signed a $24,570 contract to build a privacy booth for administrator Scott Pruitt. The Washington Post reported: Typically, such soundproof booths are used to conduct hearing tests. But the EPA sought a customized versionone that eventually would cost several times more than a typical modelthat Pruitt can use to communicate privately. They had a lot of modifications, said Steve Snider, an acoustic sales consultant with the company, who worked with the agency on its order earlier this summer. Their main goal was they wanted essentially a secure phone booth that couldnt be breached from a data point of view or from someone standing outside eavesdropping. Pruitt had already requested additional security and he avoids the use of email, doesnt publicly post his appointment calendars as past administrators have and requires employees to leave behind their phones and electronic devices before meeting in his office. Its nearly impossible to keep up with the news coming out of Los Alamos National Laboratory these days. The Santa Fe New Mexican reports that workers at the lab violated safety measures twice in August: In the first incident, workers mishandled plutonium metals, in violation of federal regulations for nuclear safety, according to the report. In the second, just 11 days later, nearly a dozen workers were exposed to alpha particles, causing radiological contaminants to coat at least one workers knuckle, and to contaminate the other workers protective clothing and booties, as well as parts of the building. It is unclear how significant the contamination issue is for the workers health. In the second incident, which occurred on Aug. 18, workers caused a criticality safety event but didnt realize that fact until three days later. Instead of alerting management and evacuating, according to the story by Rebecca Moss, the workers first conducted two additional nuclear material movements that they felt were necessary for product quality and security. Last year alone, workers caused 23 criticality events, Moss wrote, adding that Los Alamos is the only nuclear facility, out of more than 20 nationwide, to receive a failing grade for its criticality safety program in 2016. These violations come as the US government, including the New Mexico congressional delegation, has continued its support for nuclear pit production at the lab. Also at Los Alamos, the contract for cleaning up nuclear waste is up at the end of September. But an extension is expected, according to a report by ExchangeMonitor. According to the story: Los Alamos National Security (LANS), the laboratorys management and operations prime, is at the tail end of a two-year bridge contract for legacy nuclear cleanup worth nearly $310 million. LANS has performed the work since 2006, but appears unlikely to win the next contract after a 2014 radiation release at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant near Carlsbad, N.M., was linked to a drum of improperly packaged radioactive waste from Los Alamos. However, the contractora partnership of Bechtel National, BWX Technologies, AECOM and the University of Californiacould stay on for an interim period as it completes processing of dozens of additional containers of waste, some of which contain the combustible mix of nitrate salts and organic kitty litter. Workers are adding an inert substance to the drums mixture to prevent another radiation incident. This week, the Santa Fe Reporter also covered the radioactive waste a private company has left behind in southwest Santa Feless than 500 feet from Sweeney Elementary School. According to the story: Until a decade ago, the Eberline plant made radiation detection equipment that it shipped to nuclear facilities all over the world. The plants founder, Howard Clayton Eberline, had imagined in the 1950s that Santa Fe would supply the instruments to facilitate the nuclear energy revolution. The facilitys trajectory from the front lines of this industry to a poison-packed shell on the citys edge is as much a story about local industrial decline as it is about a lack of accountability. A review by SFR of half a centurys worth of newspaper reporting as well as records from the state Environment Department suggest that Eberlines role as a large employer and the stature of its corporate leadership allowed it to cut corners. If you werent able to attend the Second Annual Four Corners Science Forum on Methane in Durango earlier this month, the Four Corners Air Quality Group has posted its meeting documents online. The meetings are focused on the methane anomaly, or hotspot, over the Four Corners. Visit https:/ / www. env. nm. gov/ air- quality/ fcaqg/ and then select meetings. There are updates from Colorado and New Mexico agencies, as well as survey results and monitoring reports. Lastly, teachers at public or public-charter schools can apply to New Mexico State Parks for transportation grants for the 2017-2018 school year and bring their classes to any of the states 34 state parks for outdoor classroom study. The deadline is Oct. 6. Upcoming Public Meetings and Comment Periods New Mexico State Parks and the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish are hosting an open house at Mesilla Valley Bosque State Park to discuss the potential transfer of the park to Game and Fish. Mesilla Valley Bosque State Park 5000 Calle del Norte, Mesilla Oct. 10, 6 to 8pm To submit public comment about proposed statewide science standards to the N.M. Public Education Department send an email or fax to: rule. feedback@state. nm. us, or fax to (505) 827-6681 before 5pm on Oct. 16. The agency will hold a public hearing on Oct. 16, as well. Monday, Oct. 16, 9am to noon Mabry Hall, Jerry Apodaca Education Building 300 Don Gaspar Avenue, Santa Fe Until Oct. 20, the US Bureau of Land Management is seeking public comment on opening 26 parcels in northern New Mexico for oil and gas leasing. The draft environmental assessment is online. Email comments to NMleasesalecomments@blm.gov with March 2018 Lease Parcels in the subject line or send them to Ross Klein, BLM New Mexico State Office, 301 Dinosaur Trail, Santa Fe, New Mexico, 87502. It's 10 p.m. and a group of diners are enjoying sushi and sashimi in a Japanese restaurant in Dalian, northeast China's Liaoning Province. A regular customer, Jun Takagi, comes in, orders a hotpot, and begins chatting with owner Sun Xiangqun. To Jun, the flavor and quality of the food is comparable to what he eats back home in Japan, but the price is much lower. "My husband and I went to Japan to study Japanese cuisine several years ago. After we returned, we opened a restaurant in Dalian because the operation costs had dropped a lot after the tax reform," Sun said. Before May last year, when a nationwide tax reform was implemented replacing all business taxes with value-added tax, Sun's restaurant paid 16,000 yuan (about 2,400 U.S. dollars) in business tax each month. Now, they only pay about 10,000 yuan, saving them up to 72,000 yuan every year. Takagi hadn't thought Chinese tax reform would affect him. He came to China four months ago to work at the Dalian branch of TOSTEM, a Japanese construction material company, and has already seen his company's business costs drop considerably after the tax reform. Consumers have also benefited -- they can buy the same commodities at lower prices. It is estimated that businesses in Dalian's four major sectors - construction, property, finance and services - have been exempted from 1.8 billion yuan in taxes. The service sector alone saw its tax burden fall by 38.7 percent from a year ago. Across the country, this most significant tax overhaul in China for two decades has saved businesses a total of 1.6 trillion yuan in taxes since it was first introduced in 2012. From May 2016 to June 2017, taxes were reduced by over 850 billion yuan. Simon Stephan, manager of Thyssenkrupp China, a Germany-based engineering company, wanted to know if the procedures for VAT invoices have been simplified. He was more than surprised to find out that it can be done in seconds simply by scanning a QR code. "It used to take more than ten minutes. It's unbelievable," he said. An accountant at Panasonic Appliances Air-conditioning and Refrigeration (Dalian) Co. Ltd. said the company's tax burden has been lowered by 35 percent over the past year. With a new round of tax reform on the way, the company expects to see its profits and competitiveness grow even further. For Takagi, lower business costs in China contributes to the stable operation of the mother group in Japan. "Our revenue in Japan dropped by 10 percent year on year in 2016, that gap was filled by an increase in profit in China," he said. "The operation of software development became much easier after the VAT reform, so our group decided to expand investment in the Chinese market." U.S. citizen Nevin Chen has been living in China for a decade. As the tax manager of Intel Asia Pacific, he has witnessed the improvement of China's tax system. "I am confident in China's future," he said. A 30-year-old Namma Metro staffer committed suicide by hanging himself at his house in BMRCL quarters in Sunkadakatte on Thursday. The deceased, Santosh Kumar, was an engineering and maintenance staffer of the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL), the police said. Kumar was found hanging in his room by his mother Pushpa when she went to wake him up in the morning. The police suspect he could have hanged himself the previous night. His body was shifted to Victoria Hospital for post-mortem. Kumar left a suicide note in which he says he was a victim of mental harassment, but the police are unsure if the harassment was related to his personal life or by BMRCL management. Meanwhile, the BMRCL Employees Union alleged that workplace harassment led him to take the extreme step. They also threatened to stage a protest if the police did not file a case appropriately and investigate it. Suicide note In his eight-page suicide note, Santosh blamed his personal problems as well BMRCL management for his death. Kumar claimed that he was recently taken to Chandra Layout police station over an enquiry into the case of a missing woman with whom he was in love. He makes a fervent request to the woman to return home to clear the air over the incident and free him from blame. About halfway into the letter, he blames the BMRCL management for his extreme step. The BMRCL management has a share in my suicide. Over the past few months, senseless rules have been imposed on staff. There is a rule prohibiting us from taking mutual (exchange of work shift). Which company imposes such rules? How will the employees work? the note reads. Further, the note says the work environment has become suffocating. Employees cant ask the management for anything. If we do, we will get a memo. For the last one month, I have been unable to work. Though I have requested for a change, nobody is listening, he alleges in the note. The Kamakshipalaya police have registered a case of unnatural death and are investigating. A senior BMRCL official said the incident was unfortunate but he would not like to comment till they get the full facts. We are finding out if the employee had raised any complaints regarding his work or the management. We will conduct an inquiry before commenting on the issue, he said. Heavy rain on Thursday afternoon left many roads in Koramangala and HSR Layout Sectors 4, 6 and 7 looking like rivers. The rain also damaged roads, which are riddled with potholes, making commuting a nightmare. This situation was particularly bad near the National Games Village, the entrance of Viveknagar and 80 Feet Road in Koramangala. The layout has been poorly planned and we are suffering because of it now. There is lack of planning, engineering and remodelling of primary and secondary drains. We are using sandbags to prevent water from entering our homes. This works sometimes but we need a permanent solution, said Kumaresh Subramanian, a resident of Koramangala 4th Block. Meanwhile, the situation in HSR Layout was grim with flooding termed as level-2 by Karnataka State Disaster Management Authority. Knee deep water was a common sight in Sector 4, 6 and 7. Drainage water has been continuously flowing into houses since noon. We have been trying to clear out water but it is flowing in. This has been the situation since August. We have no other place to go. All four of us are confined to the bed as water is all over the floor. Our cylinder has stopped working too, so we are not able to cook food, said Hemavathi G R, a resident of Sector 6, HSR Layout. Some residents complained that they were unable to bathe as sewage water had entered the homes and polluted the sump. Dr Dinesh Babu, another resident said BBMP has been turning a blind eye to his complaints. We have already spent Rs 4 to 5 lakh over the past two months to repair furniture and the fridge damaged by the rain. The stench and dirt are unbearable. We have been complaining to the BBMP engineer, but he has turned a blind eye to our problems. When we complained, he said Bangalore has grown and nothing can be done about it, he said. When contacted, Pradeep K K, emergency coordinator, Karnataka State Disaster Management Advisory said, HSR Layout has been witnessing level-2 flooding. We are using large pipes to drain out water from roads to the storm water drains. Mayor R Sampath Raj also said they have taken help of fire personnel to pump out water from homes. 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. Cargo clearance efficiency in Shanghai has been raised by about 30 percent, as the major port city continues to streamline clearance procedures to smooth foreign trade. The average clearance time for imports and exports within the jurisdiction of Shanghai Customs was 21.67 hours and 1.35 hours respectively for the first eight months of 2017, 26 percent and 32 percent shorter than the same period last year, respectively. Shanghai has canceled 11 items requiring examination and approval this year, and all clearance applications can now be processed online. Over 95 percent of the cargo declaration is made via the "single-window system," a trade facilitation policy that enables faster and easier cargo clearance. From January to August, import and export value at Shanghai ports registered a 16.1 percent growth year on year to 3.9 trillion yuan (about 0.59 trillion U.S. dollars). Exports rose 11.4 percent to 2.3 trillion yuan, while imports grew 23.4 percent to 1.6 trillion. Foreign trade through ports in Shanghai accounts for about one quarter of the national total. Subscriber content preview An IRS document justifying the award said that the verification information is necessary to prevent tax fraud. WASHINGTON (AP) Members of Congress expressed bewilderment Wednesday that credit reporting company Equifax, under siege after a data breach affecting more than 145 million people, has received a $7.25 million contract with the IRS to validate the identity of taxpayers communicating with the agency on the telephone or through its website. The contract was the source of consternation in House and Senate hearings. Leaders of the Senate Finance Committee also demanded answers to a series of questions they submitted to the agency's commissioner. . . . Subscriber content preview KEARNY, N.J. (AP) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has approved a plan to clean up a Superfund site in New Jersey's Meadowlands dubbed Oil Lake. The site in Kearny contains tons of contaminated soil from the now-closed Diamond Head Oil Refinery. The Record reports the $24 million dollar plan calls for taking out thousands of truckloads of the polluted soil. . . . Mid-Autumn Festival falls on Wednesday this year. For Chinese, the day may not be complete without eating a mooncake with family while gazing at the full moon. However, mooncakes are high in sugar and fat, not ideal for anyone wanting to lose weight. One mooncake can have over 450 calories - the equivalent of about three bowls of rice. To find balance between treating yourself and maintaining good health, many brands have started selling smaller mooncakes this year. Traditionally, a mooncake weighs about 120 to 150 grams, but in the online store of Daoxiangcun, a traditional Beijing-based brand, the biggest mooncake on sale is just 110 grams. Most of its mooncakes are below 85 grams and cost about seven to 10 yuan each (about 1 to 1.5 U.S. dollars). "We can try more flavors if the cakes are smaller," said a Beijing customer. Thinner outside Not only is the size of the mooncakes decreasing, but the packaging is also "shrinking." About a decade ago, mooncakes were seen as luxury items. Their packaging was like that of high-end jewelry, some even had jade embedded on the boxes. Many were sold together with expensive liquors. Expensive gift boxes of the small round pastries with, in most cases, sweet filling, became associated with corruption, subtle bribery and extravagance as companies and individuals exchanged them with customers and business partners to build relationships. In 2005 and 2008 respectively, the central government issued two documents, prohibiting overpackaging of mooncakes. The documents demanded the packaging of the cakes be no more than three layers, and should make up less than 12 percent of the total price. Five years after the Chinese government established a frugality code rejecting extravagance and excessive formalities among Communist Party members and government workers, lavish mooncake gift sets began to disappear from the market. Mooncakes started to return to their origin as an affordable dessert for family gatherings. Statistics from Suning.com, an e-commerce platform, showed that the sales volume of mooncake gift sets priced from 200 to 300 yuan (30 to 45 U.S. dollars) declined by 17 percent this year, while that for cheaper mooncakes surged by 25 percent. JD.com, another leading e-commerce company, said that its sales volume of luxury mooncake sets is down 75 percent from last year, while that of regular boxes rose by 21 percent. At Guangzhou Friendship Store, a salesperson said that many customers prefer to buy mooncakes in bulk, which costs much less than purchasing gift sets. Wang Fen from Qiaojiashan Bakery, the largest mooncake producer in Jiangxi Province, said that upscale mooncake gift sets priced over 300 yuan contributed less than one percent of their total sales this year. "As mooncakes are no longer public expenses, there is no market for luxury mooncake gift sets," said Xu Hang from Tianjin-based Nankai University. Richer inside Less packaging has not stopped mooncakes filling from becoming richer and diversified. Creative, sometimes unconventional, flavors have appeared in recent years to woo curious young customers. This year, some brands are selling mooncakes that contain crawfish, pickled Chinese cabbage with bullfrog, or beef with Chinese chili pepper. Quanjude Fangshan Food Company, a subsidiary of the famous peking duck company China Quanjude Group, put 35 different mooncake sets on the market this year, with duck-meat mooncakes costing 86 yuan per box, according to marketing supervisor Tian Wenhua. Even home-made mooncakes from a hospital canteen in southwest China's Guizhou Province have attracted huge crowds -- delivery services are waiting at the canteen door to collect freshly-baked mooncakes for passionate food-lovers. Apart from traditional brands such as Beijing's Daoxiangcun, Xinghualou in Shanghai, and Zhiweiguan in Hangzhou, a Hong Kong brand, Meixin, has won the hearts of young Chinese with its signature salted egg custard mooncakes. Foreign companies, including Oreo, Starbucks and Haagen-Dazs, have also joined the market with their unique mooncake flavors. Industry insiders said the domestic mooncake market has been in doldrums during the past two years. Major mooncake makers must change their product strategy to supply more high quality and affordable mooncakes in order to sustain their business. Healthier mooncakes are also gaining popularity. Those that use xylitol instead of sugar are enjoyed by people with diabetes, and many bakeries have started accepting orders to tailor-make mooncakes for customers. A graduate of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, ordered a box of mooncakes with the school emblem pressed into the mold. Mr. Liu in Hefei, capital of east China's Anhui Province, ordered buckwheat mooncakes for his father who suffers from hyperglycemia. "Our life is getting richer and more colorful, just like the diverse flavors of the mooncakes," said Liu. Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) has launched Halal Dasta, a new killer squad to attack Indian security forces acting against Pakistan-supported terror outfits in Jammu and Kashmir. The new terror group consists of members of banned terror outfits like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Pakistan's Border Action Team (BAT) that already has terrorists as members, reports quoting Indian intelligence sources said today. While the new terror group has been formed to carry out attacks along with the Border Action Team (BAT), it will have wider participation of terror groups. Intelligence agencies have reported movement of terrorists in PoK. Their main job is to carry out strikes along the Line of Control (LoC), especially along the Surankot and Poonch districts of Jammu and Kashmir and inflict damage on the Indian Army. According to intelligence sources, the ISI has formed a new group of terrorists recruiting members of terror outfits like the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and named it Halal Dasta. By pushing new terror group along the line of control the Pakistani establishment stands to gain by inflicting casualties on the Indian border security forces without active military involvement. Halal Dasta could easily be classified as another non-state actor. ISI officials also held a meeting with top commanders of Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen to prepare a blueprint of the attacks. During recent meetings with Syed Salahuddin of Jaish-e-Mohammad and representatives from Hizbul Mujahideen and LeT, the ISI officials have reportedly decided to extend Kashmiri jehadi movement to Sunderkot and Poonch areas besides the Valley, according to reports. The ISI is also reported to have identified Surankot and Poonch as areas of prime activities. The ISI is reported to have directed these terror groups to launch attack on security forces, including the Road Opening Party, isolated posts and army bridges. Indian intelligence agencies have reported major terror movements in PoK, especially at launching pads in PoK- 615 (in July and August). Meanwhile, the Border Action Team (BAT) of Pakistan Army is active in these regions. The security forces have issued alert with regard to movement of the BAT. Intel agencies issued BAT alert at Naugham, Uri, Tanghdhar, Naugham, Krishna Ghati, Poonch, Bhimber Gali, Naushera and Sunderbani. Intelligence agencies also reported presence of Pakistan Special Service Group (SSG) at locations opposite of Uri, KrishnaGhati, Bimber Gali and Sunderkot sectors along the LoC. India extends $4.5-bn third line of credit to Bangladesh Bangladesh today signed a $ 4.5-bn line of credit (LoC) agreement with India for its infrastructure and social sector development. This is the third line of credit India is expending to Bangladesh. Managing director of the Export-Import Bank of India (Exim) David Rasquinha signed the agreement for India while Economic Relations Division secretary Kazi Shofiqul Azam signed the deal on behalf of Bangladesh. The new Indian line of credit, worth $4.5 billion, will be used to fund 17 major projects in Bangladesh, which include electricity, railroads, roads, shipping and ports. Present at the signing of the agreement were finance minister Arun Jaitley and his Bangladeshi counterpart A M A Muhith. "Signed joint interpretive note with Bangladesh today to update Bilateral Investment Promotion Agreement to our new investment framework", Jaitley said. "We have extended three Lines of Credit worth $8 billion to Bangladesh in recent years," he added. "Bangladesh and India have excellent relations at the moment". The loan, which has to be repaid in 20 years, bears a 1 per cent annual interest with a 5-year grace period,'' Bangladesh finance minister Muhith said. "This significant agreement is a continuation of that effort", Jaitley said. China, Bangladesh's biggest trade partner followed by India, had pledged a year ago around $24 billion in loans for the South Asian nation, which is one of the world's poorest. The $4.5 billion agreement between New Delhi and Dacca was announced during the visit of Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to India in April this year. Earlier in the day, Bangladesh signed two LoCs with India, collectively worth 3.06 bn Bangladeshi taka. It was signed between Bangladesh's Economic Relations Division (ERD) and India's Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) at the finance ministry office in Dhaka in the morning yesterday. Australian regulator wants self-driving car owners exempt from drunk driving law With automated cars set to be on Australian streets from 2020, the Australian National Transport Commission (NTC) thinks owners of self-driving cars be excluded from traditional Driving Under Influence (DUI) laws for drugs and alcohol. In a new report, that calls for changing driving laws to support automated vehicles, the NTC suggests requiring occupants of self-driving cars to be sobernegates the benefits of the technology. ''One potential barrier to receiving the full benefits of automated vehicles would be to require occupants of automated vehicles, who are not driving, to comply with drink-driving laws,'' the report reads. ''This would create a barrier to using a vehicle to safely drive home after drinking.'' The NTC has called for making legislative amendments to drink and drug driving laws to exempt people using self-driving technology, but admit it would only be applicable in cases where the driver's vehicle was fully automated. ''A risk of providing exemptions is that an occupant may subsequently choose to take over driving the vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs,'' the report read. ''If this occurred, they would become the driver of the vehicle and drink and drug driving offences would apply.'' In the report released today, the NTC argued there is a "clear-cut" justification for the exemption because there is "no possibility that a human could drive a dedicated automated vehicle." "The situation is analogous to a person instructing a taxi driver where to go," the report said. The NTC, an independent advisory board was set up to advise Australian governments on law reforms to prepare for the arrival of Automated Driving Systems (ADS). According to the report, the exemption should not apply to riders in vehicles with limited automation. "Any exemptions should not apply to the fallback-ready user of a vehicle with conditional automation," it said. "A fallback-ready user is required to be receptive to requests to intervene or system failures and must take over the dynamic driving task if the ADS cannot perform it." Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content. Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist. If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter . Support our mission and join our community now. Donegal tourism businesses have been urged to focus on visitor experiences and competitiveness as a response to the challenges of Brexit. Failte Ireland, the national tourism development authority, has launched the first of a series of regional industry briefings as it met with Donegal tourism businesses in the Great Northern Hotel, Bundoran. The tourism authority provided local tourism industry members details about its Get Brexit Ready programme, a suite of industry supports designed to help businesses at risk or already struggling with the loss of trade created by Brexit. Donegal Tourism operators attending learned how the programme allows individual businesses to self-assess their exposures and risks and provides a range of interventions to match their needs. Those attending were encouraged to engage with the supports and tools available and to tailor them to their business. Headlining the event, Failte Irelands Business Development Director Paul Keely said: Brexit highlights the extent to which tourism is at the mercy of external factors beyond our control. However, we can meet our current challenges by working on those things which remain within our control - our visitor experiences, competitiveness, capacity, and skills. To ensure this, we are delivering this programme to support tourism businesses, in Donegal and beyond. We have taken care to design these supports in an innovative and accessible manner allowing tourism businesses to continue to battle for British business while also diversifying into other markets with great potential. The Get Brexit Ready programme has a dedicated Get Brexit Ready web presence which is the Failte Ireland one-stop shop for all the relevant information and insights that businesses will need from development supports and training programmes to insights and market intelligence. The web portal also includes Brexit-check - an online tool whereby an individual business can input their own data to determine how Brexit ready they are - as well as links to a series of market insights, tips and research to help tourism operators to recalibrate their businesses appropriately to navigate through Brexit related uncertainty in Britain and other markets. Failte Ireland is rolling out the initial phase of the programme in an initial 1m package of interventions for up to 1,000 businesses for the rest of this year with further supports and budget to be earmarked for 2018. Underpinning the relevance of the programme, by the end of this year, Failte Ireland estimates that Brexit will have meant 300,000 less British trips here which, taken in isolation, would represent 88m in revenue and an estimated 1,900 tourism jobs lost had the fall in British numbers not been compensated by a strong performance in other markets. The number of people on the Live Register in Donegal has dropped by over 2,000 in a year. The latest figures from the Central Statistics Office show the number of people signing on the register in September of this year fell to 12,383 from 14,465 for September last year, a drop of 14%. The biggest drop was in Dungloe where there was a fall of 21% from 1,570 to 1,232. The number of people on the Live Register in Killybegs and Letterkenny both fell by just under 16%, with the number falling from 778 to 654 in Killybegs and from 4,497 to 3,779 in Letterkenny. In Buncrana, the figure dropped by 14.6% from 2,668 to 2,277. Ballyshannons Live Register total fell by 13.8% from 1,177 to 1,040. There was a 12.4% fall in Dunfanaghy from 980 to 858 and in Ballybofey the figure dropped by 9.6% from 1,987 to 1,792. The smallest decrease was in Donegal town where the Live Register figure dropped by 7% from 808 to 751. Donegals drop was just under the national percentage of 14%. Employment Affairs and Social Protection Minister Regina Doherty welcomed the figures which showed the Live Register has fallen below 250,000 for the first time in nine years. Todays Live Register figures are clear evidence that the Governments strategy on jobs is working, she said. Since 2012 the number of jobs in the economy has risen by over 230,000 with over two million people now at work in Ireland. The wide-ranging Pathways to Work reforms implemented by my Department since the economic downturn have made a significant contribution to the recovery in employment while enabling employers to continue to grow their businesses. Pat the Cope Gallagher, TD and leas-cheann comhairle, has called on the Department of Employment and Social Protection to fill without delay the remaining 299 Rural Social Scheme (RSS) posts that were allocated as part of Budget 2017. It is totally unacceptable that this situation was allowed to drag on for a full year without solution, Deputy Gallagher said. Former Minister, Leo Varadkar, had allocated an additional 500 Rural Social Scheme posts in Budget 2017, but they remain unfilled throughout the country, Deputy Gallagher said. Despite the fanfare of the launch of the additional posts by the former Minister last year, it seems no effort has been made to fill these posts on the part of the Government, and it is truly shocking that 299 posts remain unfilled right throughout our rural communities, especially in the context that so many rural areas are in urgent need of these additional posts and positions, he said. Deputy Gallagher received confirmation of the vacancies in response to a question he tabled this week to the department. This is another example of how this present governments rural policy simply is not working, and that there is a complete failure on the part of the Government to prioritise fair and balanced development throughout all our regions but, most especially in rural areas, he said. He said the RSS provides excellent work for communities and voluntary sector groups across rural Ireland, saying much of the work would never be funded by local authorities or other funding agencies. It also provides an excellent social platform for those working on the scheme, Deputy Gallagher said. Rural social schemes operate in each and every one of our parishes and districts. He said the failure to fill the posts has had a negative impact on such voluntary groups as Tidy Towns committees, sporting organisations and development committees. He said the Minister for Social Protection needs to fill the remaining 299 posts without delay. Time and time again we witness the failure of this government to prioritise real rural development, the deputy said. Numerous communities are crying out for additional supports and assistance which the RSS can provide, Deputy Gallagher said. This government needs to realise it is failing rural Ireland and despite the PR they are light on substance. Wainfest, the arts and book festival for children, has been engaging and entertaining Donegal children over the past two decades. Now in its 21st year, the initiative of Donegal County Council cultural services division has grown into a celebration that includes 119 events in nearly three dozen locations across the county. Wainfest runs this year from October 7th to 15th. The theme for this years festival is Unleash the Magic, a tribute to the 20th anniversary of JK Rowlings extraordinary series of Harry Potter novels. The variety of events that we have is amazing, Donna Cavanagh, senior executive librarian with the Donegal library service, said. The festival offers 88 events as part of its schools programme and the Wainfest family programme has also grow from year to year - there are 31 family events this year alone. Most events require pre-booking, and early booking is encouraged to avoid disappointment. Addressing the launch of Wainfest in Donegal Castle recently, Donna said the festival will introduce children to an array of arts, culture and heritage, from dance to drama, nature to science, music, art and history. There are events to celebrate literary fiction, comedy and childrens literature, Irish language events, science workshops and biodiversity field trips, and many events for families. Donna said Wainfest provides opportunities for children to realise their potential, and particularly their creative potential, and to get involved and learn things they might not necessarily be able to access otherwise. That is the premise of the governments Creative Ireland project, the five-year initiative designed to enable creativity in every community across the country. In fact, when then-Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, TD, launched Creative Ireland, he held up Donegals Wainfest as the event that best illustrated the values and aspirations that underpin Creative Ireland. Wainfest this year has also been nominated for an Excellence in Local Government Award under the Best Library Service category. Wainfest embodies everything that Creative Ireland is all about, Eileen Burgess, manager of the councils cultural services division, said. Its all about our values, its all about our aspirations, its all about children, creativity and cultural engagement. Its everything that Creative Ireland holds dear." The theme of this year's Wainfest is "Unleashing the Magic." Above, Donegal young people attended the Wainfest launch at Donegal Castle. Photo: Thomas Gallagher A wealth of events On the ground, that means a wealth of events and activities for children and families over the nine days of the festival. Its across the county, Donna said. We have events from Arranmore Island, to Carndonagh, to Bundoran. Cultural services and the library service have played a leading role in Wainfest, and have developed partnerships with local community groups and businesses involved in festival events. Here's just a sampling of Wainfest's reach: There is a special Lottie and Friends workshop on Oct. 14th at the Central Library in Letterkenny, where Lottie Dolls of Donegal Doll Company will invite children to join Lottie, Finn and friends for an hour of art, stories and science; theres a farming workshop with AgriKids on Oct. 12th at Mevagh Family Resource Centre; a family activity day to launch A Guide to the Birds of Inch Wildfowl Reserve (Oct. 8th, An Grianan Hotel in Burt and Inch Wildfowl Reserve); a workshop on Army survival skills with a 28th Infantry Battalion Defence Force instructor (Oct. 9th, Donegal County Museum); a family cookout with celebrity chef Kieran Duey of Nancys Barn (Oct. 15th at Red Roof Barn, Doagh Family Village); a workshop on the magic of coding (Oct. 10th, Carndonagh Community Library); and Fab Lab in Derry will bring the magic of a 3D printer to Buncrana Community Library (Oct. 12th) and Leabharlann Ghaoth Dobhair (Oct. 13th). Donegal youngsters enjoy a Farming for All event at an earlier Wainfest. Visits from authors Wainfest also features visits from a number of authors including Dave Rudden, author of the award-winning trilogy, Knights of the Borrowed Dark (Oct. 10th, Twin Towns Community Library; and Oct. 11th, Bundoran Community Library); Jim Smith, Roald Dahl Funny Prize winner and author of the Barry Loser series (Oct. 13th, Buncrana Community Library); and Dan Freedman, author of the Jamie Johnson books (Oct. 9th, Carndonagh Community Library and Buncrana Community Library; and Oct. 10th, Central Library Letterkenny and Milford Community Library). Shane Hegarty, Irish Times journalist and author of the popular Darkmouth series, was special guest at the Wainfest launch, engaging with pupils from Scoil Aodh Rua agus Nuala in Donegal town. And to mark the 20th anniversary of the magical Harry Potter, Buncrana Cinema, Century Cinemas in Letterkenny, Eclipse Cinema in Bundoran and Eclipse Cinemas Lifford & Strabane will present a special screening of Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone on Oct. 15th. There is much more. The full Wainfest programme is available online at wainfest.ie. Its not surprising that Donegals library service has been at the heart of Wainfest all these years. Donna said that while books remain the backbone of libraries, libraries have also evolved into dynamic community hubs across the county, spanning a broad range of interests and offering a wealth of opportunities. Theyre vibrant, busy, very active places, she said. You can come in and surf the net, use our free WiFi, come and join a book club. There are rhyme-time sessions, storytelling, singing and song for preschool and we have a vast array of online resources through our website, including hundreds of online courses for adults - languages to digital photography. The library services online resources are available at the website, http://www.donegallibrary.ie. A new video at the website provides an overview of the breadth of services that libraries provide, featuring Donegal people of all ages talking about what brings them to their local library. All you need is your library card, Donna said. A library card just opens up the world to so much possibility. At the Wainfest launch at Donegal Castle, Cllr. Gerry McMonagle, Donegal County Council cathaoirleach, recalled the words of novelist Graham Greene, who said, There's always one moment in childhood when the door opens and lets the future in. This festival is one of those moments, the council cathaoirleach said. Last Thursday, over 70 people attended the Womens Equality Awareness Raising (WEAR) seminar in the Regional Cultural Centre, hosted by NCCWN-Donegal Womens Network and funded by the EU LADDER Project. The seminar opened with nine Transition Year students from Loreto Letterkenny and Danielle Bonner, equality aware consultant, modelling 10 shirts under the banner, Everyone needs a Gender Lens. It proved a very successful way to engage discussion between Transition Year students from Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana and Loreto Letterkenny, and women who had participated in the project and members of the public as they examined the many inequalities experienced by women. One of the t-shirts, Show me the Money, highlighted the fact that globally only 56 per cent of women have bank accounts, while A Lost World brought peoples awareness to the fact that globally more than 63 per cent of illiterate people are women. Speaking with the women who had participated in the WEAR project's workshops in health, education, poverty, gender-based violence, decision making and creativity, it had been an extremely positive experience. Having a womens space, sharing our lived experiences, feeling part of a collective action calling for social justice and womens equality both locally and globally created a great sense of solidarity amongst us, Louise Chirwa said. Aine Friel, with the Loreto Transition Year students in their message t-shirts. 'Eye Opener' Other comments included, "It has been a real eye opener for me learning about local and global gender inequalities; I loved that womens space where everyone felt able to speak, in a non-judgemental way that built trust and solidarity; through the various workshops I have learnt so much about how systems and structures hold women in poverty and seriously underpin womens inequality both here and abroad; a womans space is needed now more than ever; it has expanded my awareness and brings me back to the fact that health and self-care is a still a core issue for women." Aine Friel, a 27-year-old WEAR participant, shared her experience of living with a disability in rural Ireland. Aine, who was born with brittle bone disease and lives in the beautiful peninsula of Fanad, said sometimes feels "its the furthest corner of the earth!" Aine, whose parents are dead, feels possibilities and opportunities for people with disabilities in rural areas are very limited. Aine said, "From a social point of view, it was fantastic for me to get out of the house for those few hours each week and just to feel a part of something. It has been the first time since leaving college, back in 2012, that I actually feel like I am contributing." "The women who participated in WEAR are wonderful, powerful, strong and intelligent women. We gained such important knowledge about so many issues, topics and problems women face and these were delivered by the wonderful Danielle (Bonner) in such an informative, fun and relaxed way. I definitely feel empowered and know being a part of WEAR will help sustain me and gives me hope." Grace Adeogun and Kathryn Daily. Community Art Workshops Kathryn Daily spoke about the community art workshops facilitated by Julie Griffiths, which really allowed participants to speak to the heart of their own lived experiences. "The piece created from hard wire mesh is not a material often associated with womens creativity. It was chosen to reflect the harshness of the difficulties and challenges some women experience on a daily basis. Trying to actually shape and work this hard material mirrors womens experiences in trying to shape and influence the world in which we live." An interview via Skype with Ala Oueslati from Tunisia, who works with the international organisation Women Deliver and who is a leading male advocate for womens equality as a core value to social justice, addressed the importance of engaging men to address gender equality and social justice. Through the WEAR project, 120 Transition Year students from Moville Community College and Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana participated in an Introduction to Gender Equality and Development workshop. The young people loved the discussions and the challenges this topic raised for them. "We certainly would like more time to look at gender and to continue the lively debates that we were only getting into." The WEAR project engaged with people allowing discussion, analysis and reflection through fun and creative participation. It created a safe space for girls, boys and women from diverse backgrounds and cultures across Donegal to recognise local action can assist and sustain global development and help create a just and more equal world. Pupils from Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana. Mary Bridget Sharkey and Claire Woods. Aine Friel and Caoimhe Lafferty. Lei Bicao was happy to find out that one of the candidates she had recommended was elected as a delegate for the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC). Lei, who has been a Party member for 26 years in Linwei District in the city of Weinan in northwest China's Shaanxi Province, recalled clearly the recommendation process earlier this year. "At a mobilization meeting, the secretary of our Party branch announced the qualifications and conditions for candidate nomination and the strict voting discipline then distributed a recommendation form to everyone who had the right to vote," Lei said. The next day, Lei recommended four candidates, including Jia Xiangdong, deputy head of the district's Party organization department. Lei said she believed Jia to be an excellent candidate, capable of exercising the duties of delegates on behalf of ordinary Party members like her. A total of 276 delegate candidates were initially recommended in the province. Officials accounted for 35 percent and Party members on the frontlines of work and production made up the remaining 65 percent. The preliminary list of candidates was shortened to 60 after a comprehensive selection process by the CPC Shaanxi provincial committee to ensure broad coverage and proper structure of the candidates. In May, Jia and 43 others were elected as delegates to the Party's national congress at a meeting of the 13th CPC Shaanxi provincial congress. Jia's name was on the list of 2,287 delegates elected to attend the five-yearly national congress on behalf of more than 89 million Party members and 4.5 million grassroots Party organizations. The congress is set to draw a new blueprint for the country's development. "As a grassroots Party member, I feel it is my mission to recommend delegate candidates I trust," Lei said. The process of selecting delegates featured wide and active participation of Party members across the nation. All grassroots-level Party committees were included, with 99.2 percent of Party members participating, 1.2 percentage points higher than the figure for the 18th CPC National Congress, according to official data. Yan Weiping, an official with the Party committee of Renmin sub-district office in Linwei District, said the 24 grassroots Party branches under the committee adopted measures to guarantee the participation of all 883 Party members in the sub-district. "We organized a meeting for local Party members. We solicited the opinions of 130 Party members outside the area via telephone and WeChat, an instant messaging service. We visited the homes of elderly members, taking recommendation forms and explaining the policy face to face," said Yan. The right to vote is valued by Party members. "I have no reason to neglect such an important role in recommending congress delegates," said Yi Hongliang, a Party member who runs a private company. After receiving the notice to attend a Party branch meeting, he canceled a business trip in Xi'an, the provincial capital, and returned to Weinan to attend the meeting. "Without the Party's policies, I could not have operated such a successful enterprise," said Yi. "When I wrote down the names of preliminary candidates, I really felt it a very important matter." In Shaanxi, 98.73 percent of Party members participated in the delegate recommendation process. Opinion polls and interviews were conducted by provincial Party authorities to assess the comprehensive performance of selected candidates. "Comrade Wu Xiangqin has a strong Party spirit and a pragmatic work style. She has visited every corner of the village and helped needy families get rid of poverty through planting walnut and chestnut trees as well as silkworm breeding," Zhang Yuancheng, a Party member in Shaanxi's Fengshou Village, said about Wu, the village's Party secretary who was elected as a delegate to the Party's 19th national congress. Elected delegates have enjoyed strong support from Party members. Ling Jihe, a 56-year-old farmer and entrepreneur in east China's Jiangxi Province, was elected as a delegate to the 19th CPC national congress. His company manages more than 1,000 hectares of crops transferred from migrant workers. He has rewarded outstanding farmers over the past six years and increased the incomes of hundreds of locals. "Since his business started, Ling has become a role model for local residents," said Wan Julian, Party secretary of Xilu Village. Ling said he would work hard to live up to the expectations of farmers. In Guangdong Province, Weng Muhong, an agricultural technical expert in the city of Shantou, failed to be elected as a delegate after being placed on the list of recommended candidates. "I completely understand the result as it was a concrete expression of opinions among Party members," said Weng, adding that via participation he felt true intra-Party democracy. Although Tropical Storm Nate was tracking well west of Florida at last report, officials say the Panhandle could still see gusty winds and possible tornadoes. As of midweek, local authorities had been bracing for a direct hit on nearby Panama City. Tensions eased as the path shifted west and farther away, but Jackson County Emergency Manager Rodney Andreasen was still watching things closely.Late Wednesday morning, he had said the c ounty looked to be smack in the bulls eye of incoming tropical depression 16. That depression gained enough strength to become Tropical Storm Nate by the next morning, and was expected to be a Category 1 hurricane by the time it makes projected landfall. By then it had shifted west and Panama City was no longer the projected target. The latest reports had landfall expected Sunday near New Orleans, or Gulfport, Mississippi. Although that change put its projected landfall significantly farther from Jackson County, Andreasen said it would be a mistake to relax efforts to prepare, stressing that there are still unknowns and that the westward-tracking storm could still result in gusty winds of tropical storm force, as well as isolated tornadoes and above-normal tides in the near waters of the Gulf of Mexico. There's also a chance that it could shift to a more eastwardly track as it makes its way through the Gulf of Mexico. Because the Florida Panhandle is still at some risk, Gov. Rick Scott on Thursday declared a state of emergency for Jackson County and 25 other north Florida communities, including Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Holmes, Washington, Bay, Calhoun, Gulf, Gadsden, Liberty, Franklin, Leon, Wakulla, Jefferson, Madison, Taylor, Hamilton, Suwannee, Lafayette, Dixie, Columbia, Gilchrist, Levy, Baker, Union, Bradford and Alachua counties. Andreasen and other local officials had been preparing for the worst before the track was adjusted. If it had followed the path then-believed the most likely, and if it had come in at speeds of 74 mph or more the starting point on the hurricane scale Jackson County would have been on the most turbulent side where the strongest, shearing winds would be felt. Andreasen was calling county and municipal officials Wednesday to warn them about the earlier projected path. If the weather had deteriorated as expected then, Andreasen said he would have asked for a special county meeting so that Jackson County commissioners could have declared a state of emergency. Doing so could have put the local government in line for reimbursement of storm-related expenses like road repairs. Emergency officials had expected to open Marianna High School as a shelter Friday afternoon, once the regular school day was over, but put that plan on hold Thursday morning and scrapped it once they were certain a shelter opening would not be necessary. Andreasen said he had also been ready to ultimately order a mandatory evacuation for people who live in trailers and similar wind-vulnerable structures. Despite the shift, Andreasen said, local people should take this as a reminder to be prepared for potential storms. Theres still nearly two months left in hurricane season and it has been an unusually active one this year. It officially ends Nov. 30, but dangerous storms have arrived ahead of and after those official dates, he noted. The Dothan Police Department welcomes its newest member to the department, Xander, a two-year-old German Shepherd from Holland. According to Dothan Police Lt. Rachel David, the department typically deals with canine dogs from overseas. We have realized kennels located overseas do not breed the drive out of their dogs, David said. That drive is a huge asset to law enforcement. We have had great success with our animals we receive from overseas. Xander arrived at our department earlier this week, said David. Right now, Xander is in his bonding stage with his handler, Cpl. Brandon Peters. The bonding stage also serves as a transition period for the canine. Xander has traveled from Holland to Indiana and now to Dothan. He needs to adjust to his new surroundings. Once his bonding stage is complete, he will begin handler training. Xander will attend his training at the Dothan Police Department. Our department is very lucky, David said. We have two certified handler trainers in the department. This is not only a benefit to the canine but to the department as well. This allows our department to save funds. Once Xander has completed his handler training, he will receive dual certification. He will alert his handler on narcotics, including methamphetamine, marijuana, heroin, and cocaine. Xander will also be trained in patrol, meaning he can track fleeing felons and help locate an dementia sufferer who has wandered away. I believe we have the best canines here in our division, David said. The trainers and handlers work continuously to make sure the canine is ready to perform their job duties to the best of their ability. In just a few months, Xander will hit the streets of Dothan as a certified member of the Dothan Police Department, trained and ready to go. Attorneys for Center Stage said the bingo hall is operating within the law Thursday, responding to a lawsuit filed by Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall Wednesday against Center Stage and four other facilities around the state. We are very disappointed the Attorney General did not first reach out to us to discuss his concerns and explore ways to possibly alleviate his concerns rather than file this lawsuit seeking to deprive our employees of their livelihood, Ashton Ott, an attorney for Center Stage, said. We are currently examining the lawsuit filed by our Attorney General and will continue our endeavor to comply with Alabama law. Ott said she and attorneys at Farmer, Price, Hornsby & Weatherford, the firm representing HEDA, an non-profit operating Center Stage, are reviewing the lawsuit and weighing their options. Marshall announced lawsuits in Houston, Greene, Lowndes, Macon, and Morgan counties earlier this week, and has sought preliminary injunctions to shut down the facilities pending the outcome of the suits. Marshalls suit re-ignites a long-running legal dispute over the legality of electronic bingo machines. Operators of the gambling facilities say their electronic bingo machines are legal under state constitutional amendments approved by voters in counties where they are located. The Alabama Supreme Court has weighed in on the matter previously, ruling that electronic bingo machines do not fit the traditional definition of bingo and are thus illegal. Ott said the way Center Stage runs its games is legal under Alabama law. The only way guests win or lose money at Center Stage is by participating in a traditional paper bingo game that we feel includes all of the elements outlined by our local (Houston County Circuit) Judge (Michael) Conaway and our Alabama Supreme Court in their respective opinions, she said. Thus, we were taken by surprise by the lawsuit filed against us by Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall, as we have always tried to cooperate with law enforcement and it has always been our intent that our operation comply with applicable law. Houston County Commission Chairman Mark Culver said that, to county officials knowledge, Center Stage is operating within the law. As the governmental entity responsible for licensing Center Stage, the Houston County Commission is also named in the suit. Culver said the county would comply with whatever the courts rule. Since its inception in December 2015, the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement has presented potential advantages for Australian businesses, including driving exports. Between 2015 and 2016, more than 25 percent of total Australian exports went to China, earning Australia as much as AU $85.9 billion in revenue[1]. In 2015, the National Bureau of Statistics of China recorded a 39 percent increase in online retail sales over 2014 [2]. According to the same report, analysts forecast that in 2018, more than 40 percent of the total Chinese population will have purchased products online. This estimate presents potential for Australian retailers to reach Chinese consumers through online channels. The allure of Australian made A FedEx survey[3] in March 2017 of 1,000 Chinese online shoppers revealed that demand for Australian-made products remains high because of the positive perception towards Australian goods, which are often associated with quality, safety and being good value for money. 84 percent of Chinese online shoppers have expressed the intent to purchase at least one Australian product in the next 12 months. In fact, 81 percent of the Chinese consumers surveyed by FedEx have purchased at least one Australian product online in the past. Australian goods appear to have succeeded in earning awareness amongst Chinese online consumers, which makes China an important market for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). FedEx research revealed two of the most popular categories of goods sought by Chinese shoppers are Beauty (31 percent) and healthcare (25 percent) products, while dairy (58 percent) and baby products (39 percent) are perceived to be world-class[4]. Build trust by being where they want you to be The credibility of product listings is a key influencer for Chinese online shoppers, with 79 percent stating they would buy more Australian products if they were available on Chinese-owned global online marketplaces[5]. These global marketplaces allow international businesses to sell directly to Chinese consumers. Consumers are provided with a secure payment solution, and retailers have access to valuable, real-time consumer data. With a number of Chinese consumers having suffered a mobile device data breach[6], cyber security is a major concern. Six in ten shoppers consider online payment safety (61 percent) and product authenticity (60 percent) as paramount when deciding whether to make an online purchase[7]. The pervasive influence of content marketing The Chinese e-commerce experience seems to differ from that of the West. In the West, online shopping originally emerged as a more efficient way to shop. In China e-commerce may serve a different need, providing a richer alternative to traditional shopping. Instead of seeking out a specific item and making a purchase quickly, Chinese consumers usually explore online retail websites to discover new and popular products[8]. The discovery journey guides their eventual purchase decision. As such, a rich online content strategy is important in growing an online business in the Chinese market. Celebrity endorsement is a way to build preference amongst Chinese shoppers. Our survey found that 60 percent of respondents are more likely to buy if they see their favourite social media celebrities use their products. WeChat, a popular social media app in China, has cybercelebrities with large followings promoting brands by posting messages to their network. These messages include products and even a payment button to increase the likelihood of immediate purchase[9]. Reliable delivery important for online shopping Shipping and delivery plays an equally important part in the overall online shopping experience. FedEx research revealed that the most prominent barrier preventing Chinese online shoppers from purchasing Australian goods is the perception that delivery takes too long (35 percent)[10]. Eighty percent of survey respondents agree they would be more likely to purchase an online Australian product if the seller used a well-known and reputable international shipping company. In addition, the ability to return a product without extra hassle and cost (69 percent), reliable solutions for outsized, perishable or fragile deliveries (66 percent) and fast delivery (57 percent) were all identified as highly important when deciding to buy Australian products online. For Australian businesses to fully harness e-commerce, the full shopping process including delivery and returns has to be an easy and seamless customer experience. [1] Composition of Trade Australia 2015-16, Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, January 2017 [2] Chinas online retail sales to double in three years, analysts say, South China Morning Post, July 2016 [3] Chinese Online Shoppers: The Allure of Australian Made, FedEx research, fieldwork conducted between 15-24 March 2017 [4] Chinese Online Shoppers: The Allure of Australian Made, FedEx research, fieldwork conducted between 15-24 March 2017 [5] Chinese Online Shoppers: The Allure of Australian Made, FedEx research, fieldwork conducted between 15-24 March 2017 [6] eCommerce in China the future is already here, PwC, 2017 [7] Chinese Online Shoppers: The Allure of Australian Made, FedEx research, fieldwork conducted between 15-24 March 2017 [8] The Chinese Customers Online Journey from Discovery to Purchase, BCG Consulting, June 2017 [9] The Chinese Customers Online Journey from Discovery to Purchase, BCG Consulting, June 2017 [10] Chinese Online Shoppers: The Allure of Australian Made, FedEx research, fieldwork conducted between 15-24 March 2017 About the author Kim Garner is Managing Director, International Operations, FedEx Express Australia and New Zealand. To push for more travel for millennials, Cebu Pacific Air initiated engaging ASEAN Influencers mostly YouTubers to visit the top Philippines destinations. The initiative was done in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN),. CEB Pacific ASEAN One is a weeklong adventure in the Philippines of key influencers of five ASEAN countries that are part of CEBs extensive route network. Top destinations visited was the Pearl of the Orient, with Johanis Sani of Malaysia, Salshabilla Adriani of Indonesia, Pho Dac Biet of Vietnam, Elaine Jasmine of Singapore, and Baby Mojiko of Thailand. The ASEAN One travelers visited the unspoiled islands of the Central Visayas region, where they were offered an exciting line up of activities that highlighted the similarities between the ASEAN nationsthe rice and good food; fun with friends; revelry and dancing; and the rich marine life and clear blue seas. Cebu Pacifics ASEAN One trip not only aims to strengthen the bond between the Southeast Asian nations, but also to show the Philippines various facets to our neighboring regions. Through our invited content-creator guests from the ASEAN, we hope to share the abundance of experience in the Philippineswhether its travel for scenic landscapes, adrenaline-filled activities, culture-rich explorations, city life or a breath of serenity, said Candice Iyog, Cebu Pacific Vice President for Marketing and Distribution. CEB currently offers over 100 weekly flights to seven ASEAN country destinations, with 11 weekly flights to Indonesia; 21 weekly flights to Malaysia; 40 weekly flights to Singapore; seven weekly flights to Thailand; 15 weekly flights to Vietnam; five weekly flights to Brunei and four weekly flights to Cambodia. Cebu Pacifics ASEAN One influencer campaign is also made possible through its official hotel partners, Hyatt City of Dreams Manila, Plantation Bay Resort and Spa in Cebu, Atmosphere Resorts and Spa in Dumaguete and Amorita Resort in Bohol. Watch as the ASEAN One travellers discover the beauty of the Philippinesstay updated on the sights and sounds of their travels by visiting Cebu Pacific on Facebook or by following the hashtags: #CEBTravels and #ASEANOne on Instagram and Twitter. Flash The Consulate General of China in San Francisco confirmed on Tuesday that there have been no reports of casualties of Chinese citizens in the Las Vegas mass shooting. To protect the safety of Chinese citizens abroad, a working team of the Consulate-General of China in San Francisco arrived in Las Vegas on Monday, only hours after the deadliest mass shootings in modern American history, which left at least 59 people dead and about 527 others injured. "It is our diplomats' duty," said Zha Liyou, Deputy Consul General of the People's Republic of China in San Francisco, who lead the working team. The team has contacted local governments in Las Vegas and Clark County, visited hospitals caring for the wounded from the shooting, cooperated with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMDP) as well as the Clark County's emergency operation center and the crisis command center in Las Vegas. To collect information of Chinese citizens in the city, the working team also visited local Chinese communities and spoke with travel agencies who are running Chinese tourist groups with the help of China's National Tourism Administration. "So far, we have received no call or message for help from Chinese nationals," said Zha. "We haven't received any request for help from Chinese citizens via the Consular Protection 24-hour hotline, messaging platform or the hugely popular social-messaging platform WeChat." In recent years, more and more Chinese tourists have traveled to the United States. According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization, the number of global travelers will exceed 1.8 billion by 2030. China is considered the world's fastest growing tourism market and will play a key role in the sector's development. In the first two days of China's National Day holiday which runs from Oct. 1 to 8, China reported double-digit growth in tourism revenue. Zha also provided many practical suggestions for Chinese tourists coming to the United States. "First, it's better to avoid some places, such as large gatherings of people," which provide attractive targets to those who wish to carry out an attack, he said. "Chinese people are not used to places where public ownership of guns is legal," Zha added. Nurses at UP Health System in Marquette, Michigan run by Duke LifePoint went on strike today to protest understaffing that has led to unsafe conditions for patients at the facility as well as the nurses who work there. In addition, they are demanding that the administrators of the facility begin bargaining with them in good faith on a labor contract. The nurses at UPHS, who are represented by the Michigan Nurses Association, have been working without a contract since July 28th. In a statement, Scott Balko, an Operating Room RN and President of the UPHS Marquette RN Staff Council/MNA, explained why the nurses have been forced to strike: We have said all along that striking is an extremely serious decision for nurses. We want to be at the bedside caring for our patients. Duke LifePoint has made it all but impossible to provide the care that the Marquette community deserves Now is the time for Duke LifePoint to do the right thing for patients guarantee safe RN staffing levels and a hospital environment that will attract and retain nurses for years to come. Balko went further in an interview with Crains Detroit Business: Our contract was for four years, but this is the first one with the new for-profit owner, Balko said. We didnt know what we would get into or how negotiations would go. They are very slow and not much is taking place. It has been a roadblock since day one. [] We dont have the number of nurses to do the job. They are working longer shifts and putting patients in unsafe conditions, Balko said. There are no regulations on hours for nurses like there are for truck drivers. DePetro said the hospital has told the union there is a nursing shortage and no other nurses are available. She said, however, for every two nurses who are hired, three leave. There are enough nurses around with the nursing schools (and in other jobs), but they dont want to come to the hospital because of the working conditions, Balko said. I have said many times before that there are at least four areas where a for-profit model should be dead on arrival: Education, prisons, national defense, and healthcare. These nurses literally save lives on a daily basis. In addition, they comfort those who are ill and injured and make their time in the hospital as bearable as possible. They should be treated accordingly, not as if they were an expense to minimized to protect the profit margin of the facilitys owner. Nurses at UPHS sent a letter to Duke University drawing attention to how the facility is harming the Universitys image and betraying their mission statement: September 26, 2017 To the Honorable Duke University Board of Trustees, As the governing body of both the University and Duke University Health System, you should be aware of that one of your affiliated hospitals is damaging the reputation of your institution. In 2012, the sale of Marquette General Hospital was approved, creating UPHS Marquette. This hospital is owned by Duke LifePoint, a partnership between Duke University Health System and the for-profit corporation LifePoint Health. This past August, Marquette nurses delivered a report documenting more than 780 patient care consequences from inadequate or unsafe RN assignments to the state of Michigan. Misplaced Priorities: The Deteriorating Condition of Safe Patient Care at Duke LifePoint Upper Peninsula Health System-Marquette is available online, and includes only incidents from 2017. Before and after the report, Marquette nurses have negotiated in good faith with Duke Lifepoint. They are seeking a contract to ensure safe nurse staffing, as well as to attract and retain enough skilled RNs to serve their northern Michigan community. Thus far, the hospital administration has refused to meaningfully address safety and staffing concerns. Without a breakthrough at the bargaining table, a two-day strike is scheduled for October 5 and 6. According to your mission statement, Duke University seeks to help those who suffer, cure disease, and promote health, through sophisticated medical research and thoughtful patient care, as well as to stimulate the best effort of all who are associated with the University; to contribute in diverse ways to the local community, the state, the nation and the world; and to attain and maintain a place of real leadership in all that we do. Therefore, we call on the Duke Board of Trustees to intervene on behalf of patients and the community by publicly urging Duke Lifepoint to negotiate a fair contract including safe staffing levels with nurses at UP Health System Marquette. Please feel free to contact us with questions and let us know how you plan to respond. More information is available at supportUPnurses.org. Its time for Duke University to lay down the law on Duke LifePoint and compel them to take the appropriate steps to solve this entirely solvable problem. And if that cuts into Duke LifePoints profit margin, so be it. The well-being of the UPHSs patients and the men and women who care for them day after day is far more important than any corporations bottom line. For updates as the strike progresses, follow the Michigan Nurses Association at @MINurses on Twitter. 1964 ECSU Graduate Embodies Viking Spirit Celeste Carr Williams embodies the spirit of Elizabeth City State University, and its commitment to education. As a lifelong educator Williams was recently honored by the National Education Association (NEA) for her dedication to education, and her tireless efforts, even well after her retirement in 2008. What had happened (after retirement) is, I was elected to be president of the union of 10,000 teachers for Prince Georges County (Maryland), Williams said during a recent telephone interview. I served two terms as president. When I left there, I went to the Prince Georges County Board of Education for five years in the office of Professional Advisement and Training. I worked with teachers that were trying to get certified. Williams, a Wilmington, North Carolina native, came to ECSU along with her sister, the late Bonita McIntire, in 1960. McIntire had received a scholarship to come to Elizabeth City, while Williams had been awarded a scholarship elsewhere. But we decided we would go to the same school, said Williams. Her sister majored in music, and Williams majored in biology and science. The sisters graduated in 1964 and went on to become educators. During those days, ECSU offered the same sort of close-knit environment to students that it does today, says Williams. It was, like today, the sort of place where faculty and staff could take time to guide students. The professors and instructors had time to help you develop and grow, sharing their leadership skills and also their professional knowledge in a subject matter, she said. Back then, as with today, the size of the campus and the classrooms made a great deal of difference in the sort of hands-on guidance Williams received from faculty. They took a lot of time with the students to enhance their development, she said. Once she graduated from ECSU, Williams went on to Chestertown, Maryland where she began her career teaching math and science. Over the years she would complete graduate studies and certificates at Towson State University, Howard University, and the University of Maryland. And while her education as an educator extended beyond the ECSU campus over the years, Williams credits her alma mater for preparing her. I can truly say that my career as an educator is thanks to ECSU, she said. ECSU has a high rating for teachers. They come out of ECSU well prepared. Over the years Williams has returned to ECSU for Homecoming and other events. She has served four terms on the board of the National Alumni Association, and as president of her local alumni chapter, the DC Metro Alumni Chapter. Williams says she continues to serve on local and state committees, including her current work as the chair of the Prince Georges County Education Foundation. This past year, said Williams, her foundation gave out 55 college scholarships to area graduating seniors. Going to Elizabeth City State University was a good opportunity, she said. (Photo: Peter Kenny / Ecumenical News)Children frolic in front of the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland on Aug. 7, 2015 The Baha'i community has praised the United Nations Human Rights Council based in Geneva for passing a resolution on Yemen that calls for a halt to harassment of Baha'is in the beleaguered country. The UN resolution regarding Yemen, introduced by Egypt on behalf of the Arab Group and supported by the entire membership of the UN Human Rights Council, called for the release of all Baha'i detainees in the country. Titled "Human Rights, Technical Assistance and Capacity-building in Yemen", the resolution was adopted at the Human Rights Council on Sept. 29, by consensus. The Council is the principal human rights body at the UN and is composed of 47 members elected by the General Assembly based on equitable geographic distribution. "What is remarkable about this resolution, is that all members of the council, were able to reach a consensus regarding the dire situation in Yemen, including the persecution of the Baha'is as a religious community," explained Diane Ala'i, the representative of the Baha'i International Community at the UN in Geneva, The text expressed concern over "the severe restrictions on freedom of religion or belief, including for minorities, such as members of the Baha'i faith." It further called upon "all parties to immediately release all Baha'i detained in Yemen due to their religious belief, to cease the issuance of arrest warrants against them and to cease the harassment to which they are subjected." There are presently seven Baha'is in prison in Yemen, most of whom are held in undisclosed locations and one of which has been detained for nearly four years due to repeatedly postponed court-hearings. Arrest warrants have been issued for over a dozen others, while a number of families have been forced to leave their homes. Recent developments in Yemen have indicated that the authorities' prosecution of individuals has broadened in scope to be against the Baha'i community in general. Efforts are being made to turn public opinion against all of the Baha'is under the premise that they are secretly plotting to stir unrest in Yemen. EMINENT INTERATIONAL AND REGIONAL EXPERTS The resolution establishes a Group of Eminent International and Regional Experts tasked with monitoring and reporting on the situation on human rights in Yemen. It is also mandated to carry out a comprehensive examination of all alleged violations and abuses of international human rights in the country. The text was presented by Egypt to the Council on behalf of the Arab Member States of the UN. "The people of Yemen are all suffering under an extremely difficult humanitarian situation, and their strife appears to be daily increasing," said Ala'i. "Yemeni Baha'is not only experience these hardships, but as a religious community they face additional pressures solely because of their beliefs." Yemeni Baha'is are being targeted by the Houthi-Saleh authorities, the Baha'i International Community indicated, in a statement delivered at the Council last week. It also said that it had information from reliable sources confirms that Iranian authorities are, in fact, behind the persecutions. "Despite the harrowing circumstances in Yemen, the Baha'is have, based on the principle of non-involvement in political activities, refused to side with one group or another," Ala'i noted. "They have, instead, endeavored to serve all people. "Therefore, this strong signal from the Human Rights Council not only calls on the responsible entities to cease this unjust treatment, but it also serves as a beacon of hope for those currently suffering in the country." he Baha'i Faith is a religion teaching the essential worth of all religions, and the unity and equality of all people. Initially grew in the Middle East and now has between 5 and 7 million adherents, known as Baha'is, spread around the world, with the highest concentration in Iran. Arts advocates are earnest in their support of arts integration through science, technology, engineering, art, and math instruction. But as a strategy for promoting arts education, STEAM is almost certainly counterproductive as well as pedagogically unsound. Instead, the best way to ensure that students are exposed to the arts is to set aside regular times in the school day for arts education to be taught by designated arts teachers in separate arts classrooms. If arts instruction is integrated into science, math, and other subjects, schools will be tempted to curtail separate arts classes and staff. School leaders could claim that the arts are being covered at other times, in other places, and by other staff, so there is less need to set aside specific time for the arts. By trying to put the arts almost everywhere, integration is likely to result in arts education almost nowhere. Pursuing arts integration would be like most new-age religions: initially attractive but quickly forgotten without the regular reinforcement provided by ritual and sacred spaces. Most religious movements have learned that the best way to encourage people to contemplate the divine is to designate special places and times for worship. We might say that people should integrate religion into all aspects of their lives at all times, but the reality is that most people have a hard time doing so without reserving a time, place, and leadership for religious practice. If you find the religious analogy unpersuasive, consider this thought experiment: Imagine that educators suggested teaching math by integrating it into the rest of the curricula. Do you think math education advocates would believe humanities teachers could cover the topic just fine? It is telling that math educators are generally not seeking to have their subject taught in arts classes. Of course, some educators seem to think that all subjects should be integrated into all others. Why stop at STEAM? Why not add history to make it SHTEAM or add physical education to make it PHSTEAM? The problem with this approach is that academic disciplines help organize and convey knowledge more effectively. It is pedagogically unsound to integrate all disciplines, especially when teaching young children, because it demands that students combine knowledge they do not yet possess. Students cannot gain new insights from the connections between geometry and the arts until they first have some mastery of those subjects. We cannot expect students to run before they can walk. This type of interdisciplinary instruction also places too many demands on teachers, who would need expert knowledge in multiple fields as well as command of effective techniques for integrating them. There are exceptional teachers who can pull off true interdisciplinary instruction, but those cases are rare. There are exceptional teachers who can pull off true interdisciplinary instruction, but those cases are rare." Most arts advocates are trying to turn STEM into STEAM not because they find interdisciplinary instruction so attractive, but because they recognize that the arts are being squeezed out of the curriculum and hope to protect them by joining other, more popular subjects. Like the plot of a teen movie, the bullied kid hopes to find protection by joining the cool group. That story is unlikely to turn out any better for the arts than it does in those films. The only way for the arts to ensure their place in the curricula is for advocates of the arts to stand up for themselves and argue for why the arts are important on their own. Arts advocates have made this mistake before, trying to demonstrate arts educations value by claiming that it increases performance in math and reading. Unfortunately, as researchers Ellen Winner, Thalia R. Goldstein, and Stephan Vincent-Lancrin documented in a 2013 report for the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, there is little evidence that arts instruction improves outcomes in math or reading. Some arts advocates saw priority being given to math and reading, so they hoped they could borrow some of that protection by claiming that the arts contributed to those subjects. By failing to emphasize the demonstrable benefits of arts education for those subjects, the strategy undermined the arts case for integration. Arts advocates need to make the positive case for what arts education teaches, not hide behind the skirts of math and science. The arts teach particular ways of thinking about and viewing the world. The arts teach some vocationally useful skills. And most importantly, the arts connect us to our cultural heritage and teach us how to be civilized human beings. Education is not entirely about the pragmatic, but should also convey the beautiful and profoundsomething the arts do well. That is why arts education should be preserved in its own right. When the Every Student Succeeds Act was enacted, speculation swirled that states might use it as a launching pad to use measures of students social and emotional competencies to determine whether their schools are successful. Nearly two years later, not a single states plan to comply with the federal education lawand its broader vision for judging school performancecalls for inclusion of such measures in its school accountability system. That raises some new questions: Did backers of social-emotional learning miss a chance to encourage wider adoption of its strategies? Or did they avoid the concerns and pitfalls that would have come with attaching it to high-stakes accountability? Schools that adopt social-emotional learning seek to nurture students development in areas like self-management and responsible decisionmaking alongside traditional academics. Doing so helps to deepen students learning experiences and prepares them for interpersonal situations they will later face in the workplace, educators say. As the U.S. Department of Education works to approve states ESSA plans, some of social-emotional learnings biggest boosters are expressing relief that states are steering clear of trying to measure such personal skills for accountability. Existing measures of social and emotional development, which largely rely on students responses to surveys about their own character traits, are not sophisticated and consistent enough to be used for such purposes, they have long argued. There is a groundswell of recognition that the academic, social, and emotional development of children are intertwined in all experiences of learning, said Tim Shriver, the co-founder of the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning, or CASEL. I think thats booming... Someone might say, Why arent you holding states accountable for teaching it? The answer to that is we are not ready for it yet. At the same time, several of ESSAs other provisions will serve as incentives for schools to consider the whole child as they comply with the law, said Shriver, who is also the co-chair of the Aspen Institutes Commission on Social Emotional and Academic Development. Broad Latitude for States In addition to traditional measures of success like student test scores, ESSA requires states to use at least one additional indicator of school quality or student success, such as measures of student engagement or access to advanced coursework. The law gave states broad latitude in which factors they selected, requiring that those measures allow for meaningful differentiation in school performance and are valid, reliable, comparable, and statewide. Schools must also be able to disaggregate data related to that indicator to show how it affects students in different groups, such as racial and ethnic groups and students with disabilities. After Education Week reported on early drafts of the law in 2015, a flurry of policy watchers and district leaders who had experimented with measuring social-emotional learning wondered if its inclusion as a school quality indicator would give schools an incentive to more meaningfully integrate it into their daily work. Many pointed to a group of large California districts that had worked under a 2013 waiver from the previous federal education law, No Child Left Behind, to include social-emotional learning survey results in a complicated system they designed to measure school quality. Leaders of that effort said the data would serve as a flashlight, not a hammer, meant to identify and spread successful school strategies. They committed to tweaking and replacing social-emotional learning measures as researchers perfected them. And theres a public interest in broader accountability as well. In an annual poll released by Phi Delta Kappa International in August, 8 in 10 respondents rated the extent to which schools help students develop interpersonal skills, such as cooperation, respect, and persistence, as extremely or very important in school quality. But some of the researchers whove popularized social-emotional learning also said measures of that work are prone to biases that make them unreliable and unusable for accountability purposes. Currently, perfectly unbiased, unfakeable, and error-free measures are an ideal, not a reality, researchers Angela Duckworth and David Yeager wrote in a 2015 essay published in Educational Researcher that detailed an array of flaws with current measures. Not Ready for Prime Time States appear to have responded to those concerns. Louisiana State Superintendent John White said that social-emotional learning, growth mindsets, and other non-cognitive factors were never under consideration as part of Louisianas new accountability plan under ESSA. The instruments for measuring are not ready for prime time, he said, but thats not to say that [social-emotional learning] doesnt have value in schools. An Education Week analysis of state ESSA plansincluding those that have not yet been approved by the Education Departmentfound that most opted to rely on data many districts already collect in their accountability systems. Thirty-four states and the District of Columbia chose to include a measure of chronic absenteeism in their plans. Six chose to include school climate surveyswhich ask students questions about how safe and supported they feel at school. A better measure of social-emotional learning could very well be developed in the future, and states could revise their plans to include it, said Deborah Temkin, the education research director for Child Trends, a non-profit research organization that focuses on childrens issues. For now, schools may be motivated to use some social-emotional strategies, like teaching students how to resolve conflicts and manage their emotions, to meet other non-academic goals and to improve academic achievement. And those strategies could help decrease chronic absenteeism by promoting self-discipline and reducing situations that make students feel unsafe at school, she said. ESSA also increases schools reporting requirements in areas like bullying and discipline, which can both be affected by a whole child approach, Temkin said. Roger Weissberg, a professor of psychology and education at the University of Illinois at Chicago and CASELs chief knowledge officer, said a group of 20 states that are cooperating to explore social-emotional-learning plans largely favor allowing districts to select and design their own measures to ensure they fit into their strategies. Some districts, for example, have adopted grade-by-grade standards that outline how to incorporate students social and emotional development into classroom work. In those districts, student surveys can help teachers track if their strategies are working on a broader level, but they arent used for accountability purposes. First and foremost, measurements have got to be meaningful to the teachers and the kids and families, Weissberg said. CASEL also has a measurement working group, which asks researchers and educators to tackle the challenges associated with measuring non-cognitive skills and to experiment with creative alternatives, like video games that track students engagement. Shriver said hes confident schools will continue to express interest in approaches that recognize the value of social and emotional development, regardless of state and federal policies. This horse is out of the barn, he said. Its policymakers who are trying to catch up. Flash German Chancellor Angela Merkel's (CDU) approval ratings have risen again despite her party's losses in the federal elections, showed a survey released Wednesday. According to the representative survey, Stern RTL Wahltrend, conducted by Forsa opinion research institute, 49 percent of respondents said they would chose Merkel as chancellor in a direct election. The figure marked a two-percentage-point increase compared to an earlier survey ahead of Sept. 24 election. Alongside 92 percent of Christian Democratic Union (CDU)/Christian Social Union (CSU) voters who indicated their preference for the long-serving German leader, 55 percent of Free Democratic Party (FDP) voters and 48 percent of Greens voters also voiced support for Merkel in the survey. The CDU, CSU, FDP and Greens are widely expected to form a "Jamaica" coalition as the next legislative alliance to govern Germany. In Wednesday's survey, 84 percent of Greens supporters, 81 percent of FDP supporters and 58 percent of CDU/CSU supporters said that they supported this constellation. A large majority of Germans (72 percent) urged the CSU to renege from its uncompromising stance on a fixed annual cap for the number of refugees admitted in Germany which threatens to de-rail coalition talks. All other "Jamaica" parties, including the CSU's sister party, reject proposals for a numerical limit. Even 76 percent of CSU supporters indicated that they did not want their party to jeopardize the formation of a new government over the issue of a refugee cap. Plans for the long-awaited memorial to the West Mesa murder victims were unveiled to the public recently by the Albuquerque parks department. In 2009, a woman walking her dog found the first bone that lead to the discovery of the bodies of 11 young women and 1 unborn baby buried on the edge of a West Mesa subdivision. Family members said at the public dedication that they want it to be a place people come to sit and think about the young women who were daughters, sisters and mothers, not things to be thrown into the dirt. The 2 acre memorial will be built at 118th and Amole Mesa SW. Currently weather worn wood crosses stand at the location as a testament to the lives cut brutally short. There have been no arrests, no solid suspects and police believe they were all killed by a serial killer between 2003 and 2005. Most of the women had battled substance abuse, lived on and off the streets and been involved in prostitution. The victims families have been tireless advocates for not only the memorial but for the continuation of the investigation, but hope fades with each passing day. According to the police department, the case has no person of interest. City Chatter Burques City Council held a short meeting on Sept. 18 but it didnt have a lot of business to handle, probably due to the Oct. 3 municipal election where there are 5 council seats up for grabs. Councilors proclaimed September as recovery month recognizing all aspects of the struggle with all types of addiction. A related event was held Sept. 28 celebrating what organizers said something some folks deemed impossible recovering from addiction. Innovate ABQ got $1 million from a federal economic development grant to start renovations to its First Baptist Church building located at the Central and Broadway seven-acre campus. This is a matching grant so that means there is $2 million to spend. Restoring the old brick church building is the second phase of the plan and this money will be used for a new science lab core and shell. It will cost more than $15 million to renovate the entire 71,000 square foot former house of worship. This upgrade will join the University of New Mexicos Lobo Rainforest, a new six-story building on the north side that houses classrooms, student dorms, office spaces, a UNM tech agency and an Air Force research lab as Innovate ABQ projects. Innovate ABQ is a collaboration between the city, Bernalillo County and other private entities to support local entrepreneurs. The councils land use, planning and zoning committee which is made up of 5 city council members postponed sending a substantial rewrite of Burques zoning code to the full council for approval at its meeting held Sept. 27. The Integrated Development Ordinance is aimed at consolidating and streamlining the zoning code, reducing it from 1,200 different zones to less than 20. Numerous groups have been addressing the city on problems they see with undertaking such a massive overhaul all at once. The city administration would like folks to go the citys planning website to look up their individual addresses, see the IDO map and what changes are proposed. County Catchup In its effort to recognize the devastating local and national substance abuse problem, the Bernalillo county commission filed a lawsuit against the big pharma companies who make prescription pain medication. Commissioner Maggie Hart Stebbins says opioid addiction and overdoses are a public health crisesprescription pills are the main reason Bernalillo County is at the top of the list for overdose rates in the country. The county joins more than 30 states, cities and counties including the State of New Mexico and Mora county in taking a stand against the big pharma pumping pills into our communities. In July the associated press reported that the number of overdose deaths in New Mexico in 2016 had risen to 497 cases. The county has made a promise to renovate their new digs at Alvarado Square in a responsible manner. Alvarado Square is located south of Central on Silver. It formerly housed Public Service of New Mexico employees. They left in 2012 and the county bought the building for $2.7 million. The approximately 283,000 square foot building needs nearly $40 million in renovations, hence the commission's resolution to do it in a sustainable, energy efficient and economically sound manner. Flash The fundamental mutual interests of Moscow and Washington, including fighting terrorism, will help to improve their relations, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday. Addressing a plenary session of the Russian Energy Week, which kicked off in Moscow on Oct. 3, he said the two countries share fundamental interests, including energy policies, fighting cybercrime, non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, anti-terrorism efforts and dealing with regional conflicts. "I think these fundamental mutual interests will sooner or later change the nature of Russian-U.S. relations for the better," Putin said. "Some forces are making use of Russian-American relations to resolve internal political problems in the United States," he said. The REW, being held in Moscow and St. Petersburg, will end on Oct. 10. Participants will discuss prospects for the development of the core sectors of the economy, including oil, gas, coal and petrochemical industries. On Tuesday, Putin had said that Russia is ready to cooperate with the United States on the basis of equality. While accepting the diplomatic credentials of new foreign ambassadors, including the new U.S. envoy to Russia Jon Huntsman, Putin called the current level of Russian-U.S. relations "unsatisfactory". He said Russia advocates constructive, predictable and mutually beneficial cooperation based on the principles of equality, mutual respect, respect of national interests and non-interference in each other's internal affairs. Public sector housing tenants warned of dangers of disabling smoke alarms One of the Island's housing authorities is warning its tenants they're six times more likely to die in a fire if their home doesn't have a working smoke alarm. Ramsey Town Commissioners is in the process of carrying out inspections at all of its properties, and has found some have had the smoke detector removed or the battery not replaced. The Commissioners warns it's a breach of tenancy terms to alter or remove smoke detectors, and that smoke alarms should be tested weekly to ensure it's in working order. The board says all properties are fitted with detectors to allow residents to escape without injury in the event of a fire. Those who don't have a working alarm or are struggling to change the battery should contact the Commissioners' Housing Office. 5 October 2017 The EPO and Brazil have agreed to launch a joint Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) pilot programme to enable work-sharing and accelerate patent prosecution at both offices, with the aim of improving the global IP system, supporting applicants and encouraging innovation. Luiz Otavio Pimentel, President of Brazils National Institute of Industrial Property, and EPO President Benoit Battistelli on the occasion of the signature of the PPH Agreement at the Permanent Mission of Brazil to the World Trade Organization and other Economic Organizations in Geneva The PPH arrangement was signed this week in the margins of the World Intellectual Property Organization General Assembly in Geneva by EPO President Benoit Battistelli and Luiz Otavio Pimentel, the President of Brazil's National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI), in the presence of the Brazilian Ambassador to the World Trade Organization and other Economic Organizations in Geneva, Evandro Didonet. "I am delighted to welcome INPI to the family of EPO PPH partner offices, marking the beginning of a new chapter in bilateral relations and further expanding our cooperation activities," said EPO President Benoit Battistelli. "I am confident the pilot programme will significantly promote cross-filing activity and support innovators in both regions by simplifying and accelerating access to patent protection." "By expanding the relationship with Europe in the area of patents, the agreement with EPO contributes to greater agility and confidence in the examination of patents" said INPI President Luiz Otavio Pimentel. Under the PPH pilot, which will initially run for two years, applicants whose claims have been found to be patentable by either the EPO or INPI may ask for accelerated processing of their corresponding applications that are pending before the other office. Further details regarding the programme will be made available via the Offices' website closer to the implementation date foreseen for the beginning of 2018. Brazil is the largest economy in Latin America and its trade with Europe accounts for over a third of the EU's total trade with the region. In 2016, over 600 filings of Brazilian origin designated the EPO. In 2016, around a third of the 31 000 patent applications at INPI in Brazil came from EPO member states. The EPO already has operational PPH pilot programmes with the IP5 offices (a grouping of the world's five largest IP offices, made up of the EPO and the patent offices of China, Japan, Korea, and the US), the Eurasian Patent Office (EAPO) - since 1 October 2017 - as well as with the national patent offices of Australia, Canada, Colombia, Israel, Malaysia, Mexico, the Philippines, Russia and Singapore. Further information Towards the end of this summer, seven African and European leaders met in Paris to discuss ways to curb illegal migration from North Africa to Europe. Their efforts come against the successful crossing of the Mediterranean of more than 115,000 migrants between January and July this year in search of a better life. For Europe, the political task of reducing the number of arrivals is considerable. Nationalist populism and anti-migrant sentiments remain major internal forces. Yet, the scaremongering over the migrant flows puts aside a broader picture of migration in West Africa and the Sahel, driven by long-term, structural development-related challenges. Only by addressing these issues can migrant flows be reduced in a sustainable way. Given the domestic pressures, it is not surprising that the EU countries remain focused on helping transit states such as Libya and on keeping border controls. A recent study run by Chatham House looked into the policy options aimed at disrupting human smuggling networks in the neglected areas of northern Niger and southern Libya. A close look at the political dynamics in these regions shows that many communities have come to depend on the revenues from these activities as a major generator of incomes and employment. Therefore, it is clear that Europes current focus on quick fixes will not bear fruits in a sustainable manner, as hoped for. Real impact can only be attained by achieving long-term and sustainable development in the Sahel. Despite the acuteness of the situation in Europe, the movement of migrants towards the old continent is actually small on a global scale or when compared to the number of internally displaced people and refugees within sub-Saharan Africa. There is a major movement of people from the poor and landlocked states of the region towards the more advanced economies of the West African coast: Cote dIvoire estimates that 5.4 million of the countrys 23 million inhabitants are foreigners. Despite making a huge political progress in recent decades, West Africa still faces major socio-economic and environmental challenges that can only be resolved over the long term and which have a profound effect on the dynamics of migratory flows. In the absence of wider development, treating migrant flows just on the surface may also give rise to serious unintended consequences. In many ways, the illicit economy helps to stabilize Niger, but there is still a serious risk that young, unemployed men might be attracted to join jihadist groups who could provide them with a living. So far, not much has been done in terms of a long-term vision. Yet, there are at least some straightforward policy options available to the international community that could support the development of alternative livelihoods in transit countries even if they are not very likely to offer comparable incomes to those available from human smuggling. Europes Flawed Thinking on Mediterranean Migration Commentary by Tim Eaton and Paul Melly Chatham House / The Royal Institute of International Affairs. (The Commentary can be downloaded here) The Chippewa Falls School District may not have managed to pass two multi-million-dollar referendums in 2016, but its emphasis on helping students plan future careers won praise from Wisconsins top education official on Wednesday evening. Tony Evers, Wisconsin Superintendent of Public Instruction, spoke to a crowd of Chippewa County teachers and retired educators at the Heyde Center for the Arts. The American Association of University Women (AAUW), that invited Evers to speak in Chippewa Falls, invited the superintendent before he announced his run for Wisconsin governor as a Democrat in 2018. This is not a campaign stop, AAUW member Arlene Wright said Wednesday. Evers began the evening with a call for bipartisan support for public schools and praised Wisconsins recent record of passing school district referendums. If you look at the last three elections in the state, over a million people voted to increase taxes on themselves to support their public schools, Evers said. Of those million people, I guarantee almost half were Republicans and half were Democrats. Its close. What that tells me is, public education in the state has managed to thread the needle. Chippewa Falls was not one of the Wisconsin districts that successfully passed recent referendums. In November 2016, the community voted down two referendums that would have replaced Stillson Elementary and Chippewa Falls Senior High School. The Chippewa Falls School Board is currently conducting a survey to gauge community support for potential future referendums. Hard to find Peggy Nehring, a former McDonell Central Catholic High School teacher, asked Evers how to promote the teaching profession. Evers agreed that teachers are becoming harder to find, especially for rural districts. There was a time when it was a revered profession, but its been a while, he said. He concluded that communities need to speak to their representatives to emphasize the importance of teachers but also that a big part of the problem begins at college. Funding is a huge issue, he said. In many cases, higher education leaders think education courses are a good golden calf. They have a low cost, compared to, say, engineering. I think we need to work at the higher education level to make people understand how important (teaching) is to a citys economy. Evers admitted fighting the educator shortage is a slow battle. Its going to be tough. Its going to take some time. Career planning a hit Evers also praised the Academic and Career Planning initiative (ACP), which helps students experiment with potential careers. On the local level, Chippewa Falls has taken the program seriously. School District Superintendent Heidi Eliopoulos explained on September 19: All nine of our schools have some level of academic career planning students start at late elementary, 4th and 5th grade, where they start to explore what types of careers are out there. In middle school theystart to do research on a career field that peaks their interest. In high school, students start to think about the workplace, Eliopoulos said. Chippewa Falls Senior High School offers deeper electives, multi-tiered classes in subjects such as engineering and the opportunity for students to earn college credits in advanced high school classes. Significant changes to the requirements for citizenship in Canada come into force next week which officials say give applicants more flexibility.The changes relate to physical presence in the country and the age required to meet language and knowledge requirements for permanent residents who are applying for citizenship.Currently applicants aged between 14 and 64 years had to meet the language and knowledge requirements for citizenship, but from 11 October when the changes take effect only those between 18 and 54 years will need meet these requirements.Under the changes applicants will need to have been in Canada for three out of five years before making their application instead of four out of six years. They will no longer have to be present in Canada for 183 days in four out of six years before applying.The same timescale will apply to taxes. If required to pay tax applicants must do so for three out of five years instead of four out of six to match the time living in Canada requirements.Currently the time spent in Canada prior to becoming a permanent resident did not count towards the physical presence requirement for citizenship. From 11 October applicants may count each day they were physically present in Canada as a temporary resident or protected person, before becoming a permanent resident, as a half day toward meeting the physical presence requirement for citizenship, up to a maximum credit of 365 days, within five years preceding the date of application.The new requirements will become obligatory and give more flexibility to both younger and older eligible immigrants to obtain citizenship. They will also help individuals who have already begun building lives in Canada achieve citizenship faster.Those citizenship applicants who meet the new requirements must wait until 11 October before making their application as the new forms and guides will not be available until then.More changes to the Citizenship Act are expected to take effect later this year and in early 2018. These include strengthening the citizenship revocation process so that the Federal Court is the decision maker on most cases, and giving clear authority under the Citizenship Act for citizenship officers to seize fraudulent or suspected fraudulent documents.One of the strongest pillars for successful integration into Canadian life is achieving Canadian citizenship and becoming part of the Canadian family. The Government encourages all immigrants to take the path towards citizenship and take advantage of everything that being a Canadian has to offer, said Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship.Some changes to the Citizenship Act are already in place including repealing of the ability to revoke citizenship from dual citizens convicted of crimes against the national interest and making it easier for minors to apply for citizenship without a Canadian or permanent resident parent.Also, there is no longer a requirement for applicants to intend to continue to reside in Canada once granted citizenship. Hi All need some advice i was charged fro drinking without a license a year ago. Had to go to court and walked away with a 2000 dirham fine. Silly i know! I am now applying for jobs and wondering where it says any criminal offenses do i say yes or no? im not sure if it falls under criminal offense or is it just a simple fine? i dont want to be dishonest in the application Wanted to clarify couple of queries, anyone here from EMC/IBM/HP storage ? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk It's worth it to us as I'm in the middle of restoreing the vehicle with my son and will continue the restoration in the uk, parts are ok to get hold of I had a 1997 Ford F-350 in the uk and managed to get hold of everything that I needed within 10 days at not to bad of a price, the Gmc and chevy parts are easier as there where companies near me that dealt in those parts, also to buy a similar vehicle in the uk it would cost me and arm and a leg and that's if I could even find a gm square body over thee I have a Master's degree and i have applied for ECA for it. My spouse has CAT certificate... should i get its ECA done too? would it give any more points and is it worth it or not. my points are around 450 without spouse education, should i go ahead without his ECA or is it better to get that evaluated incase it would help in getting a job there in canada? Marcobeats said: Would love to hear your take on it. Or maybe someone own a classic car? Cheers! :tea: See I'm in love with this '84 TestarossaWould love to hear your take on it. Or maybe someone own a classic car?Cheers! :tea: Click to expand... When you say you are in love with it, do you mean you have one to import already, or you would like to get one in Dubai?When I first saw your thread it was hard for me to not think you meant the 1930's, 40's, 50', maybe 60's, but the car you have in mind is certainly quite a beauty. I will have to get used to thinking of the 80's as "old" and "classic."It seems to me that this particular Google search is rich with entries and articles on page 1 that probably contain the answers to the questions you have about the expense issue:Nice car indeed. 1. The deduction can vary based on the mutuelle the employer offers - and how the cotisation for the mutuelle is split. There are also a few other deductions - like the employer's contribution toward a monthly transit pass (basically half the cost of the pass) IF you elect to use public transit to get to work.2. Yes, that has been proposed, but there are still a few kinks to be worked out. (At least last I checked.) I think it has been moved out to 2019 - https://www.service-public.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/N19785 3. If they have an employee cafeteria they may not offer tickets resto. Be aware, too, that you pay half the price of the tickets resto - so you control how many you choose to "buy."4. Vacation leave is fixed by law - amounts to 5 weeks of vacation per year, with conditions of how you earn your vacation time and when you take it. (Example: you must take a block of time up to 4 weeks during the period between June and October. You may NOT take the full 5 weeks all at once.) As far as sick time is concerned, it is tied in to some extent with with secu health cover. After three days, I think it is, there is a sharing of the cost of your salary between the employer and URSSAF which is also legally mandated. You may want to check Service Public for details.Cheers,Bev This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate American Airlines will launch a nonstop route from San Antonio to Philadelphia in February, the San Antonio International Airport announced Wednesday. The Fort Worth-based airline will fly out of the local airport daily, with a flight leaving for Philadelphia International Airport at 7:35 a.m. and returning to San Antonio at 9:31 p.m., airport officials said in a news release. We currently only have one other airline serving the Philadelphia market on a seasonal basis, so this is exciting news that underscores American Airlines commitment to the growing demand in our market, Russ Handy, the citys aviation director, said in a statement. San Antonio International Airport has added 17 routes from four airlines in the past 18 months, officials said in a news release many of which are nonstop, direct routes. Mexican airline Volaris launched a nonstop, low-fare route from Mexico City to San Antonio in September. Frontier Airlines announced plans in August to add nonstop routes from San Antonio to Dulles International Airport in Washington, D.C., and Ontario International Airport east of Los Angeles. Frontier, a low-cost carrier, operates nonstop routes from San Antonio to Atlanta, Denver and Las Vegas year-round and to Philadelphia and Chicago on a seasonal basis. The airline will also launch nonstop routes to New Orleans, Phoenix and San Diego this month, and to San Jose, Cincinnati and Orlando in the spring. Voter Guide: What to know for the midterm election Your guide to the Texas and San Antonio races and candidates on the Nov. 8 ballot. The airport hosts nonstop routes to 39 destinations in the U.S., Mexico and Canada, according to its website. jfechter@express-news.net | Twitter: @JFreports Standing mute before a Dunn County judge, a not guilty plea was entered and a trial date has been set for the man charged in a head-on collision that resulted in the death of three Minnesota men. The crash took place on July 13 on Interstate 94 on the Knapp Hill in the town of Lucas. Having traded hospital blue for the inmate orange of the Dunn County Jail where he is being held on a $300,000 bond, Serghei Kundilovski, 36, of Orangevale, California, appeared before Dunn County Judge James Peterson Tuesday afternoon with his attorney, Scott S. Schlough of River Falls and a Russian interpreter. Kundilovski faces three counts each of first degree reckless homicide, knowingly operating while revoked and causing death, and homicide by intoxicated use of vehicle. Having invoked his right to a speedy trial, a five-day trial has been scheduled to begin on Monday, Dec. 11. A status conference has been set for Nov. 2, with a final pretrial on Dec. 1. According to Dunn County District Attorney Andrea Nodolf, there are thousands of documents related to the case as well as medical records that will need to be turned over to Schlough. She anticipated that it will take at least a couple more weeks to get the remainder of the documents to the defense. About the case During a preliminary hearing, State Trooper Kyle Devries, the officer who conducted the accident reconstruction, testified that witness statements corroborated the physical evidence that Kundilovski was behind the wheel of a 2004 Mitsubishi Diamante heading west in the eastbound lanes of Interstate 94 when he collided with a 2015 Kia Soul on the shoulder near the median at milepost 33.5. Devries said the Kia was lying on its side, while the Diamante was on its wheels. Both vehicles were facing north. Killed in the fiery crash were the driver of the Kia, Adam Kendhammer, 32, along with passengers Jeremy A. Berchem, 27, and Bryan Rudell, 29. All three men were from Minneapolis. According to the autopsy results, Devries noted that the cause of death for each was multiple traumatic injuries due to a motor vehicle accident. A can of Ultra Duster compressed air was found near the drivers side front tire and another on the passengers side front floorboard of Kundilovskis vehicle. Devries confirmed that compressed air is used for huffing, or sniffed to produce a euphoric effect. A blood sample taken from Kundilovski after the accident showed that although his blood alcohol level was 0.02 below the legal limit of 0.08 the results revealed a concentration of 0.022 or ethanol and 1.1 of difluoroethane. Both are ingredients found in aerosol sprays and gas duster products. Kundilovski also has a traffic citation for non-registration of a vehicle as well as charges of misdemeanor operating while revoked and bail jumping to which he pleaded not guilty on July 12. His license was revoked in June after being convicted of operating while intoxicated in Sauk County. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate GONZALES A step into the growing chamber is like a step into another world. Its dark, devoid of sunlight. The air is a balmy 58 degrees, humidity fills the lungs as the dark compost within exposes its secrets. Alien growths emerge like coral or beds of oysters, growing at an inhuman rate doubling in size every day. It sounds like a scene out of a sci-fi film, but the only threat here is total deliciousness. Welcome to the odd, odd world of mushroom farming, a staple in the produce aisle that most shoppers are familiar with, but who had any idea how in the heck they are made? Mushroom fans may not even know it, but those flavorful fungi that go well in everything from salads to sides or even the main course may have been locally plucked from the dirt less than 24 hours earlier. Thats because Kitchen Pride Mushroom Farms, located just outside Gonzales, produces about 300,000 pounds of white button, cremini, portobello, shiitake and oyster mushrooms every week. Its the largest of two mushroom farms in Texas, operating in a sprawling warehouse with 65 growing rooms and more than 200 employees, and one of only about 120 that exist nationwide. The farm was started in 1988 by the late Darrell McLain, who learned about the mushroom world as part of his job as an executive for the St. Louis-based Ralston Purina Co. After co-owning a mushroom farm in Oklahoma, he decided to head to Texas with his family to start his own mushroom venture. Why Gonzales? Location. Location. Location. We started driving the state, from Texarkana to Cleveland to Lampasas before we finally settled in New Braunfels, and from there we discovered Gonzales, said Greg McLain, Darrells son and president of day-to-day operations at Kitchen Pride. Its perfect for distribution. About one hour to San Antonio. One hour to Austin. A couple hours to Houston. Speed is the name of the mushroom game. They only have about a 10-day shelf life before they start to rot, and subtract a day or two from that if they are pre-sliced. So its a boon to local chefs and cooking enthusiasts to have a local option. You know exactly what you are getting from them, said Tatu Herrera, culinary supervisor at the Grand Hyatt San Antonio and co-owner of Tatus Food Debauchery. Theres never an issue about whether or not you are getting fresh mushrooms. Were very fortunate. Mushrooms are a staple in the produce aisle, but the finicky growing process is mostly a mystery to consumers because it is done behind closed doors. People think we have acres and acres of mushrooms growing out in the field, but this is a type of agriculture that is unlike anything else out there, said Ed Wuensch, McClains nephew who handles community relations for the company. Everything is done indoors, in cool, sterilized, climate-controlled rooms with computers monitoring everything from the humidity in the room to the moisture levels in the compost, ready to make adjustments if anything is off by a slightest of margins. The ventilation system we use in the growing rooms to keep it all pure is superior to anything you will find in a hospital setting, Wuensch said. The compost that hosts the brown and white mushrooms (portobellos are large browns) is the key to the entire operation. Bales of locally grown wheat straw are broken down and mixed with mineral-rich water thats recycled from within the warehouse. Supplements that include things like cottonseed meal, gypsum, locally sourced poultry litter and even recycled grains from the nearby Shiner Brewery are added to the mix, where it sits for a few days in piles that McClain calls ricks. The way we grow mushrooms is as sustainable as it gets, Wuensch said. Everything from the minimal impact on the environment to water usage. And we are taking all these leftover agriculture by-products, from the chicken waste to the used beer grains, and making something healthy. As the micro-organisms work into the compost, it is aerated and the pile naturally reaches temperatures of up to 180 degrees. When the loaders move the compost out of the piles, it steams like an underground volcano. Eventually, the texture of the compost resembles cocoa powder. It is then sent to a pasteurization room where it is heated to kill off potential pathogens while keeping the microbes alive. Ive never sat down and eaten a bowl of it, but its about as pure as it gets, McClain said. The compost is then transferred to the growing rooms, where it gets a a layer of Canadian peat moss and is planted with mushroom spawn (think seeds in a traditional agricultural sense) and allowed to start a growing process that takes less than a month from beginning to end. One acre of growing space can produce 1 million pounds of mushrooms, and McClain said that Kitchen Pride consistently produces between 95 percent and 105 percent efficiency. The mushrooms are hand-picked at a feverish pace, and when pulled fresh from the growing beds, they have a crunchy texture thats similar to a raw piece of broccoli. Its a pretty reliable operation, McClain said. One pound of dirt should yield a pound of mushrooms. We dont have those highs and lows that can happen in a traditional agricultural setup. The oyster and shiitake mushrooms dont grow in the same magic compost as the whites and browns; they grow in fungi-friendly bags and nutrient-rich logs in portable buildings outside the main warehouse. White and brown mushrooms account for the vast majority of the farms products and sales. As mushrooms are grown indoors, they dont have an in or out season, and the weather has minimal impact on the final product, ensuring a steady supply. But if you are really looking for a fresh mushroom, head to the local weekend farmers markets, where Kitchen Pride has a presence, typically with some member of the McClain family working the booth, at both The Pearl and the New Braunfels Farmers Market. Well sell about 100 pounds per week to people that love the fact that they can get a super-fresh local mushroom, said Lori (McClain) Wuensch, who represents Kitchen Pride at The Pearl, and is Darrells daughter. The markets arent a huge deal in the grand scheme of things for the bottom line of the business, but it puts a face on our family brand. My father was just an amazing man with a vision, and the mushroom farm has been a blessing for the entire family and the people that have worked there forever. And for those that love to eat them. cblount@express-news.net | @chuck_blount This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate IDEA Public Schools plans to construct 10 new schools in San Antonio and dozens more across Texas, an ambition now made possible by a $67 million boost from the U.S. Education Department. The Texas charter network secured the funding this week through the departments Charter Schools Program, which distributes grants to broaden the reach of charter schools across the country. It was the largest amount awarded by the program this year and will be the largest single investment in IDEAs history, officials said. The grant will allow the network to build 46 schools over the next five years, including 20 at its three established regions the Rio Grande Valley, San Antonio and Austin and the remainder in several new areas, including Fort Worth and El Paso. One of them will be IDEAs first outside Texas, in southern Louisiana. But its only a part of an accelerating statewide expansion. IDEA started as an after-school program 17 years ago in the small Valley city of Donna, created by Teach for America veterans who had worked in traditional public schools. The charter district has grown to 61 generally high-performing schools that serve about 36,000 students, most of them from low-income households, and strives to send 100 percent of its graduates to college. Including the grant-funded expansion, IDEA has set a goal of educating 100,000 students by 2022 in 173 schools, which would put it in the top 10 school districts in Texas for enrollment. We went big and we went bold in requesting the $67 million in February, said Tom Torkelson, IDEAs CEO and co-founder. In the previous two years, the Education Department had awarded the district grants totaling $15 million and $20 million, he said. Jim Bradshaw, a Department of Education spokesman, said $26.3 million has been awarded to IDEA for the first two years of the five-year expansion project. He said the remainder of the funds would be contingent upon IDEA demonstrating substantial progress and congressional appropriations, but that IDEAs grant received high ratings from its peers based on the charter networks past success in closing performance gaps for disadvantaged students and preparing those students for college. If the full $67 million is awarded as expected, that would make it the largest award for this program, he added. The grants are part of the departments ongoing efforts to improve the consistently poor performance of American children in international student assessments, Torkelson said. Even compared to other states, Texas ranks toward the bottom in student performance. Clearly, weve got to do something big and transformational in Texas if were going to change that trajectory, he said. While such rapid growth might give some educators pause, Torkelson said it has helped, not hurt, the districts performance. The results stem from hiring strong teachers and staff, training them well and giving them ongoing feedback, he said. It is impossible for a school system to do any better than the quality of the teachers in the school system, Torkelson said. IDEA San Antonio has opened 20 schools on 10 campuses since it arrived in 2012 with help from Choose to Succeed, a privately funded campaign to attract strong charter districts to the city. Officials at some of San Antonios traditional public school districts, caught between reduced state funding and steadily rising state accountability standards, consider the increased competition from IDEA and other charters as an annoyance or even a threat, though some have accepted it as a necessary challenge to spur improvement in underperforming schools. With more than 9,000 students now in its Bexar County schools, IDEA plans to build 10 more in the next five years eight of them funded with nearly $17 million from the federal grant to boost enrollment to 21,000, said Rolando Posada, its executive director for the region. Another $18.4 million from the grant will fund more schools in the Rio Grande Valley. IDEA schools have done well on Texas academic assessments. In this years accountability ratings, all of its schools met academic requirements and many won additional distinctions. A preliminary rating under Texas new A-F grading system, which will start at the district level next year, awarded IDEA a B in the first of the systems four indexes, student performance and an A in each of the other three: student progress, narrowing achievement gaps among disadvantaged students and postsecondary readiness. Posada said IDEA has been able to grow alarmingly quickly without sacrificing educational quality by deliberately setting outlandish expectations aiming to enroll all students in college even in areas like San Antonio that have relatively few college graduates, and establishing stringent accountability structures and an environment of continuous improvement. Were just being responsible with the charge of educating kids with high rigor and preparing them for a life of education, Posada said. lcaruba@express-news.net This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A gym owner plagued by financial problems was arrested Wednesday after authorities said he admitted to intentionally setting fire to his business, resulting in the death of a San Antonio firefighter, court records show. Emond Javor Johnson, 39, faces one charge of murder, two arson charges, two additional charges of arson causing bodily injury, and two unrelated domestic violence charges, officials say. After a nearly five-month investigation, authorities believe Johnson set the blaze May 18 to get out of his newly signed lease at Ingram Square Shopping Center on the Northwest Side, a 19-page arrest affidavit states. He already was almost $7,000 behind on his lease payments and owed $12,000 on five other accounts, investigators said. They say he used a disposable cigarette lighter to ignite a mixture of gasoline and oil spilled at the gym he owned, the Spartan Box, setting the fire that killed firefighter Scott Deem and severely injured firefighter Brad Phipps, whos still recovering. At a news conference, Fire Chief Charles Hood flanked by City Manager Sheryl Sculley, Police Chief William McManus, District Attorney Nico LaHood and several city council members said the arrest was bittersweet. The men and women who responded to that fire made entry into a structure where they thought there could be survivors in there because of cars in the parking lot, and ironically, the person that they went in there to rescue looks like the person who committed that problem, he said. That is ironic, Hood said. Its something that doesnt happen often. Its something that causes some anger in this organization. LaHood and other officials declined to discuss specifics about the case, citing an ongoing criminal investigation. They said they had not ruled out the possibility of a second arrest. Noe Saldana, an arson investigator with the Fire Department, also noted in the arrest affidavit that he believes based on his observations, training and an interview with the Bexar County Medical Examiners Office that Deem died as a result of exposure to the fire. At the news conference, Hood declined to comment on how Deem died. Officials have refused to release Deems autopsy, citing the investigation. On the night of May 18, firefighters from Station 35 were dispatched to the shopping center, near Ingram and Wurzbach roads. Firefighters saw cars parked outside the Spartan Box and went on the offensive to rescue any victims inside the building. They found heavy smoke pouring from the 86,289-square-foot building, which also housed the Texas Thrift Store and a driving school. The firefighters upgraded the call to a stage-two fire, requesting more help. Eventually, more than 80 units would respond to the call. Eight minutes after their arrival, the first mayday call echoed over the radio. What followed, over the course of the next two hours, was a frantic search and rescue operation, at times marred by confusion, to rescue three missing firefighters, one of them Deem. Firefighters had difficulty clearing thick smoke inside the gym and rescue teams reported zero visibility. They were able to find the two other firefighters, but could not locate Deem. Related Feature Honoring a Hero: The funeral for firefighter Scott Deem A photo essay memorializing the May 26th funeral procession for San Antonio firefighter Scott Deem. Faced with a growing inferno and a burning roof that could collapse any time, Hood said he ordered all the rescue teams to evacuate the building, leaving Deem inside. It was a very rough decision to leave a firefighter behind. That is not what we do, but we had the risk of losing probably an additional 15 to 20 firefighters if we did not go defensive on this fire, Hood said after the fire. As firefighters fought the blaze that night, Johnson was being interviewed by a KABB-TV reporter. My members called me and told me the fire was going on, Johnson told the reporter. I did not believe it all, he continued. I thought it was a joke. I thought they were playing around. I still cant believe it. I still cant believe its happening. We built (it) from scratch. Days later, Johnson responded to a comment on Facebook, saying: Its been a crazy four days but we are still trying to keep box alive. Thank you for the support bud. After the fire, Johnson launched a GoFundMe account to raise money to rebuild the gym. Any funds at this point can help us to go forward after this big tragedy, the GoFundMe page reads. Please give what you can. Every penny counts. Thank you and Godbless. The fundraiser raised $2,430. All but $200.34 has been withdrawn, the affidavit says. In the months that followed, Johnson maintained a seemingly normal life. On a Facebook page that appears to be his, Johnson posted workout videos and photos with friends. He announced he started a job at Lifetime Fitness, located at The Rim, a detail confirmed by the affidavit. Johnson became a suspect after he gave arson investigators conflicting accounts of what happened the night of the fire, and investigators obtained security camera footage that showed someone fitting Johnsons description had lit a lighter in an alley behind the gym, according to the affidavit. Investigators learned Johnson was in financial trouble, Saldana, the investigator, wrote. Johnsons credit report showed five accounts totaling $12,890 had been placed for collection. Johnson had been arrested for writing a hot check last year. And Johnson was supposed to be making lease payments of $2,500 a month for the gym. Investigators found the remains of three red plastic containers in a rear storage area of the gym. Each of these items tested positive for petroleum distillate or gasoline, Saldana wrote. Investigators interviewed Johnson several times. Johnson first told them he saw three homeless people in the alley and that the lights were flickering oddly in the gym before he left for the night. In later interviews, he said he saw two homeless people not three and had noticed electrical wires in the ceiling that looked unsafe. He didnt mention the flickering lights. Saldana said investigators reviewed security footage of the alley and didnt see three people in the minutes leading up to the fire. But the video showed a man wearing a baseball cap with a flat bill and wearing a dark-colored shirt at 8:56 p.m. There was a brief but bright flash in the video. On Wednesday, in their final interview with Johnson, investigators showed him a photograph taken from the security camera footage of the figure in the alley. Johnson said he is the individual in the video, Saldana wrote. Johnson told them he wanted to get out of his lease and had begun receiving eviction notices, according to the court affidavit. He said he used a disposable cigarette lighter which he threw out of his truck window after the fire was set, Saldana wrote. Johnson stated that he applied the open flame from the lighter to a gap between the rear doors and the floor to the spilled gasoline/oil mix, thus igniting the fire responsible for the death of Scott Deem. Deem, 31, had been with the Fire Department six years. He was married to his high school sweetheart, Jennifer, and had two children, 13-year-old Dakota and 7-year-old Tyler. After his death, his wife gave birth to a third child, named Aubrey Scott Deem. When Hood was asked what he would say to Johnson, should he have the chance, he paused for a moment, then proceeded to speak. I would hope that he would know, and I hope that this would follow him throughout the rest of his life, that he killed an extremely fine young man with a beautiful family that will never be the same, children that will grow up missing their father. Staff Writers Caleb Downs, Fares Sabawi and Kelsey Bradshaw contributed to this report. eeaton@express-news.net This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate MISSION U.S. Reps. Beto ORourke, D-El Paso, and Ruben Gallego, D-Arizona, introduced legislation Wednesday that would prevent the government from acquiring land to build a wall along the U.S. border with Mexico. The Protecting the Property Rights of Landowners Act would amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to prohibit the governments use of eminent domain to obtain private property for President Donald Trumps border wall. We do not need a 2,000-mile, 30-foot-high wall separating us from Mexico, ORourke said. If the Trump administration with the aid of this Congress moves forward with the construction of a wall much of it will be built on U.S. property owners land. The proposed amendment comes as the House Homeland Security Committee passed the Border Security for America, a $10 billion bill crafted by Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Austin, to pay for levee wall and fencing, technology and a surge in agents on the border. The border security bill drew praise from Sen. John Cornyn, while Rep. Filemon Vela, D-Brownsville, called the proposal an offensive joke. More Information Q See More Collapse The committee also adopted an amendment by Rep. Will Hurd, R-Helotes, specifying that a wall would not be built where natural terrain or remoteness would make a border wall ineffective. Meanwhile, nearly every member of Congress whose district includes part of the border joined ORourke and Gallego on their amendment proposal. With construction on eight border wall prototypes under way, and Trump poised to handpick the winning design, the Senate has yet to pass a $1.6 billion border wall request that would pay for dozens of miles of new wall, including 32 miles of fencing in Starr County and 28 miles of levee wall in neighboring Hidalgo County. The Army Corps of Engineers in July began preparations for construction of a wall in several places along the border including El Paso. One section of Trumps big, beautiful wall would cut through the National Butterfly Center, marooning a 70-acre tract south of the barrier. Mariana Trevino-Wright, the executive director of the butterfly center, said it will file a notice of intent to sue the government, accusing the government of attempting to take sanctuary property without due process. The Homeland Security Department has asserted its right to access, alter and virtually occupy our private property, Trevino-Wright said. For that reason, we feel we must seek due process through the courts to protect our private property rights. The president also requested funding to double the number of Justice Department attorneys who work in land acquisition. Some critics have pointed to what they saw as government transgressions the last time it endeavored to build hundreds of miles of wall along the Southwestern border. More than 300 eminent domain lawsuits were filed, and nearly a decade later, 91 cases remain unresolved. In our experience what we saw in the border fence wave of condemnations was a total abuse of eminent domain power,said Efren Olivares, racial and economic justice director at the Texas Civil Rights Project. Instead of giving landowners individualized assessment of how much their land was worth they got very low amounts across the board. Many landowners were offered as little as $100 for swaths of property where the bollard fencing eventually was built in South Texas. Most of the land on the border that is privately owned is in Texas. Additionally, some studies have found Trumps wall may end up costing nearer $70 billion, more than three times as much as the Homeland Security Departments estimate of $21.6 billion, which some have criticized at a time when fewer immigrants are crossing the border illegally. Donald Trumps wall is a pointless, stupid, divisive, and outrageously expensive boondoggle, Gallego said. Its time for Congress to step up and protect border communities. anelsen@express-news.net This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate When customers began complaining in November that the preloaded Target gift cards they bought or received showed balances of zero, an inquiry led to an unusual place: an assets protection leader for Target in San Antonio. Jaymes Allen Clark, 34, an honorably discharged Marine who worked at the Target store in the 18000 block of Blanco Road for more than two years, is now a former Target employee and has been charged with trafficking in unauthorized access devices and conspiracy. He was ordered held without bail after a lengthy hearing Wednesday by U.S. Magistrate Judge Elizabeth Chestney, who also found federal agents had enough probable cause to arrest him late last month. Court records filed by the U.S. Secret Service allege Clark spent a lot of his work time logging into an internal Target gift card database and provided information from it to at least two accomplices, who used the info and a cellphone app to get more Target or iTunes gift cards that they could redeem at cash value. Target estimated its losses at more than $115,000, the court records said. Target told the Secret Service that the retailers investigation found Clark spent more time on the gift card system than any other employee in the country with similar permission to access the database, used to search for and identify activated Target gift cards, He had permission, but he was far, far more active on this system than any other manager, Secret Service special agent Jeff Francis testified Wednesday. He was Number 1 in searching on the system. Clarks lawyer, Guillermo Lara, nearly persuaded the judge to let his client out on bond, until the judge was told prosecutors in Brazos County planned to revoke the deferred adjudication probation Clark received for a 2011 drug possession charge in College Station. It was unclear Wednesday why Target hired Clark despite that felony case. The alleged accomplices identities have been blacked out by prosecutors in a federal affidavit outlining the Target case, but it says one of the two was arrested in December by police in Goodyear, Arizona, near Phoenix. The third suspect was arrested in August in Roseville, California. The pairs state cases were halted as the federal investigation began just in the past month. The pair have since been released or bonded out and are now being sought on federal charges, records show. Once Target became aware of the gift card problem, the retailer began flagging any high-dollar gift card purchases, and that led to the suspect arrested in Arizona, Francis testified. Police seized a cellphone from that suspect, and a forensic examination of that phone in July led to Clark. On the phone were screen shots of Clarks workstation at the Blanco Road store, according to Francis. Also on the phone were pictures of two shoplifting suspects that Clark had detained at the Target in San Antonio, further tying Clark to the Arizona suspect, Francis testified. According to Francis, Clark scanned Targets database for newly activated gift cards and provided account numbers to his accomplices. The unnamed suspects would take a gift card number and enter it into a phone app that takes any number and turns it into a bar code, Francis said. He said the alleged accomplices would then put the bar code on the phone to a register scanner at Target to purchase iTunes gift cards, or other Target gift cards, and essentially clean that first gift card. During its investigation, Target used server logs to identify what Clark was searching for and for how long. Then it shared its findings with the Secret Service. There were some instances where cards were activated one day in one part of the country and used later that same day somewhere else, Francis testified. Asked by prosecutor Tom Moore whether the victims are out their money, Francis said no. Once Target realized there was a problem, they made the victims whole, Francis said, adding that Target ended up losing money as a result. If convicted, Clark faces up to 15 years in prison. gcontreras@express-news.net | Twitter: @gmaninfedland This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico The San Antonio-based Army general helping coordinate disaster relief on this island said Wednesday that the roads into the hurricane-slashed interior have been cleared, a major step in reaching still-desperate people. Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Buchanan emerged upbeat from a lengthy helicopter tour that included a look at small villages tucked into rugged mountains and served by dirt roads. Ive flown all over the island now, so I continue to be amazed by the devastation, Buchanan told the San Antonio Express-News. But Ill tell you what I was looking for today, and actually I was kind of pleasantly surprised. Where you saw landslides (days earlier), you could see where somebody has come and scraped the mud away. There were trees blocking roads. The trees had been cut up with chainsaws. Buchanan leads U.S. Army North at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston and now is commanding U.S. military forces responding to Hurricane Maria in the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. He echoed the upbeat comments made earlier in the day by Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rossello, who cited the relaxation of a strict curfew and a series of statistics showing the islands residents slowly are getting back on their feet. One was the number of people in shelters 8,802 at 135 facilities, down from past reports. The number of banks open had nearly doubled over the past week, from 86 to 153, and three in four gas stations were running, up sharply from 41 percent a week ago. Lines that had kept motorists waiting for hours to fill their cars last week had vanished in San Juan and nearby communities. Electricity, however, was a sticking point, with only 8.6 percent of utility customers getting power. The governor said thats expected to rise to a quarter of all customers by Octobers end, but major damage to the electrical grid will mean slow progress. Although were in a phase of emergency, were transitioning to establishing subcomponents of normalcy. Thats why we reduced the curfew, thats why were looking forward to establishing a path of reducing the shelters, Rossello said. Not all the news was good. The government tally of those who died as a result of the storm more than doubled, from 16 to 34. Most of the deaths were directly related to the storm, a result of drownings or mudslides. A 95-year-old man died of a heart attack. Two committed suicide. Buchanan flew aboard a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter from San Juan west along the coast and then south toward Ponce. His first helicopter tour took place last weekend, a couple of days following his arrival at midnight Thursday. The first time I flew over, especially the eastern side of the island, where the storm came ashore, I was kind of overwhelmed by how devastating it was. It was just a very different impact than Harvey, he said of the hurricane that hit Texas in late August. Harvey was an incredible amount of water, flooding and rain because the storm kept going out and picking up energy and dumping more rainwater, added Buchanan, who helped rescue and recovery efforts for that storm as well. So there the main problem was about flooding, here it was wind more than anything. At the time he took charge, 4,100 U.S. troops were in Puerto Rico. By Wednesday, nearly 10,000 had arrived, with more coming from across the country. The Air Force was increasingly flying in critical supplies that include helicopters, generators and military fuel trucks, averaging 24 flights a day. It has conducted 288 strategic sorties to Puerto Rico in response to Hurricane Maria, and another 281 to the U.S. Virgin Islands, carrying 6.2 million tons of cargo and 4,961 passengers, including 189 aeromedical evacuations. Six Army CH-47 Chinook helicopters are headed to Puerto Rico from Fort Bliss in El Paso. Chinooks already here and Marine CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters have been delivering concrete barriers to help prop up a failing dam, an operation critical to preserving drinking water for about 100,000 people. Late in the day, as Buchanan led a briefing about efforts to restore electrical power and had a conference call with the Pentagon, the buzz in San Juan was about President Donald Trumps visit to the island this week and his statement to Fox News hinting at a move to forgive Puerto Ricos debts on Wall Street. Buchanan, who spent time with Trump during the visit, said the president was supportive of the people of Puerto Rico, very supportive of the military and basically told us whatever we need were going to get to help the people here. Rossello, meanwhile, waved off Trumps comments. Im concerned only with actions and not words. So Im concerned with getting the people of Puerto Rico what they need. So long as the people of Puerto Rico get what they need, I will be recognizing those efforts, he said. As far as the comments on wiping the debt clean, that is the opinion of the president. sigc@express-news.net HOUSTON Attorney General Ken Paxton wont face trial on a trio of criminal felony charges until next year, possibly right after the primary election, a Harris County district judge ruled Wednesday. Judge Robert Johnson granted a motion for continuance in the case at the behest of special prosecutors who pointed to the disruption Hurricane Harvey has had on the Harris County court system and said they are still waiting to be paid for building a case against the attorney general. The judge declined to say whether he was delaying due to the storm that dumped more than 50 inches of rain on parts of Houston and flooded several of the special prosecutors offices, or because the special prosecutors want to resolve their pay issue before the trial proceeds. Brian Wice, one of three special prosecutors assigned to the case, said if they are not paid, they will eventually withdraw from the case. The parties are due back in court Nov. 2 to decide when to reschedule the trial. They are considering March 6 or March 12. The primary election is March 6. The decision is the latest twist in a long-running saga over the first-term attorney generals legal troubles. He was indicted and charged with two counts of felony securities fraud and a lesser charge for failing to register with the state more than two years ago. This is the third time this year that his trial has been rescheduled. Paxtons legal team verbally sparred with special prosecutors on the 16th-floor courtroom of the Civil Court building before the ruling trying to persuade the judge to keep a previously scheduled December trial date. The special prosecutors arguments are like the Menendez brothers complaining that they are orphans, said Dan Cogdell, one of Paxtons attorneys, referring to the infamous case of two brothers convicted in 1996 for killing their parents. Wice, representing the state, called Paxtons legal response to the motion to delay the case bush league, and equated it to a stump speech (Paxton would) give to the tea party in McKinney, Texas. Paxtons claims that he wants a speedy trial are disingenuous, Wice said, given his legal defense team burned a year on the shot clock filing appeals to get the case dismissed. Johnson, who took over the case in June when it moved to Harris County, peppered both parties with questions about how a delay would hurt their case. He later stressed that since Hurricane Harvey damaged the Harris County Justice Center where his court is located, he is sharing a courtroom with another judge. Special prosecutors say they want to delay Paxtons trial because they havent been paid. The Collin County Commissioners Court declined to pay the trio of appointed special prosecutors for about $200,000 in billable hours in January, saying a lower court judge promised them too high a fee. The Dallas 5th Court of Appeals agreed, saying the fee busted the local cap for appointed attorneys fees. According to court records, Collin County limits the fees to $1,000 for first-degree felony pleas, $500 for third-degree pleas, $1,000 for pretrial work and $500 for each one-half day of trial. A lower court judge promised Houston-area attorneys Wice, Kent Schaffer and Nicole DeBorde $300 per hour. Why should we continue to work for free, said Wice, who in September convinced the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals to look into the case. He argues the law allows judges to use discretion when setting attorneys fees in special cases. The high court is now soliciting responses and has yet to decide whether to rule on the case. Paxtons lawyers accused the special prosecutors of milking taxpayer dollars with the Paxton case, saying the three have billed for more than 1,400 hours but have yet to take Paxton to trial. They should be more than ready after 1,400 hours, said Cogdell. Philip Hilder, one of Paxtons other criminal defense lawyers, said he is sympathetic that the special prosecutors are not getting paid but, thats not Mr. Paxtons problem. His attorneys argue Paxton is entitled to a speedy trial and the criminal matter has been hanging over his head for more than two years. With a trial delay, that could turn into three years, Hilder said. Paxton, whose attendance was waived for Wednesdays hearing, was indicted in Collin County in July 2015 and is charged with two counts of first-degree felony securities fraud and one third-degree felony charge of failing to register with the state as an investment adviser. He is accused of failing to tell friends and colleagues he would make a commission off their investment in Servergy Inc., a North Texas tech company that purported to sell a revolutionary new server. Paxton has maintained his innocence and contends he is the victim of a political witch hunt. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate WASHINGTON The Trump administration was finalizing a $29 billion disaster aid package that includes $16 billion to bolster the controversial government-backed flood insurance program, Sen. John Cornyn confirmed Wednesday. Another $13 billion would be earmarked for Federal Emergency Management Agency to help hurricane victims. The $29 billion package follows $15 billion Congress approved last month. Texas officials have said the devastation from Hurricane Harvey in August is likely to surpass $100 billion and that Congress is expected to pass several tranches of storm aid in the coming months. The Texas congressional delegation met this week to discuss further storm aid, said Cornyn, R-Texas. He added that the number being worked out by the Texans will be significantly higher than that. Cornyn noted that the aid package the administration sent to Congress on Wednesday is for general disaster relief from hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria. Obviously, the Texas delegation is interested in making sure the Texas response is appropriate, he said. He said the Texas delegation, working with Gov. Greg Abbott, expects to make a formal request for the next wave of aid very soon. This is going to be extraordinarily expensive, and I think we need to get some money out there, House Appropriations Committee Chairman Rodney Frelinghuysen, R-N.J., told the Associated Press. The flood insurance program is on track to exhaust its $30 billion line of credit for paying claims this month. The AP reported that House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., met with lawmakers from Texas and Florida on Tuesday to brief them on the White House request. Remember, this is emergency money. Youve got to deal with the problem, McCarthy told reporters. So I think well be able to get this done. While the storm aid is not contentious, the flood insurance program is. Some critics say it subsidizes properties on the coasts and in low-lying areas that repeatedly flood. The new storm aid requests comes a day after President Donald Trump visited Puerto Rico, which was devastated by Hurricane Maria. Critics contend that the administrations response in Puerto Rico has not been as robust as it was in storm-ravaged Texas and Florida. We all recognized that given the magnitude of the losses in Texas and elsewhere, were just at the beginning, and were going to continue to work with all of the Texas delegation and Gov. Abbott and his team to make sure Texans continue to receive the relief that they need, Cornyn said. An international business group founded more than two decades ago by then-Mayor Nelson Wolff and banker Tom Frost could lose its funding from the city, officials confirmed on Wednesday. The Free Trade Alliance San Antonio was founded shortly after the North American Free Trade Agreement took effect in 1994. It has worked to attract foreign companies here, assist exporters and advocate for trade. Local leaders, though, have grown unhappy with its performance, and now the city is likely to redirect $180,000 in funds it provides the alliance possibly to the Economic Development Foundation, according to Assistant City Manager Carlos Contreras. We have been dissatisfied with the quality of the deliverables from (the alliance), Contreras said, adding, This is part of a multi-year effort to step up our game internationally. Wolff, who now serves as Bexar County judge, agreed with the citys direction. Theres been an ongoing discussion about folding free trade into economic development, Wolff said. I dont think (the county has) any funding in (the alliance) this year, either. I think itll save money. I think its also important that the private sector continue to pick up more of the cost with the EDF. The EDF, a private, nonprofit foundation, has focused mostly on recruiting domestic business investments, Wolff said, although it recently clinched a deal with a Bangalore, India-based advanced manufacturing company that has pledged to hire at least 330 workers for what will be its first U.S. site at Port San Antonio. Indo-MIM announced the opening of its facility on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the full board of the alliance voted last week to explore the possibility that it would dissolve to allow the EDF to absorb its mission and resources, Contreras said. Richard Perez, CEO and president of the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, is a member of alliances board. I think the challenge, in all honesty, is we have so many nonprofits in the city doing a piece of economic development, he told me, doing it in sort of a silo way and not as coordinated as it could be, should be and at administrative costs that could be better spread if things were consolidated. The alliance finds its existence in peril at a volatile time for free trade: President Donald Trump has threatened to pull the United States out of NAFTA, which is undergoing new negotiations. Local officials are disappointed in the alliance in part because it has not been a leading voice in defending the 1994 agreement, according to Councilman Rey Saldana. Mayor Ron Nirenberg has warned that San Antonio could lose nearly 200,000 jobs if the United States pulls out of NAFTA. The city informed the alliance of its intentions to redirect the funds the same week the nonprofit tapped longtime aide Carlos Jarquin, 32, to replace Jose E. Martinez as its CEO and president. Jarquin served most recently as vice president of exports and foreign investment for the alliance. Jarquin told me on Wednesday that he was unfamiliar with discussions about the alliances potential dissolution. I wasnt in that meeting, he said. I was in Monterrey. bchasnoff@express-news.net Wisconsin and Michigan were targeted with Russia-linked Facebook ads with anti-Muslim messages during the 2016 campaign, CNN reported Wednesday, citing four unnamed sources with direct knowledge. Both states voted narrowly for Donald Trump, playing a pivotal role in his presidential election win. That Russians targeted them with social-media ads suggests a degree of sophistication in one part of what the U.S. intelligence community has called a widespread cyber-interference effort in the 2016 U.S. campaign. Facebook recently provided more than 3,000 Russia-linked ads to congressional committees investigating Russian election interference. The exact ad contents have not yet been made public, though a few reportedly have been leaked or identified by reporters. Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., who chairs the Senate Intelligence Committee, said Wednesday that he wont release the ads but wouldnt object if Facebook did so. One source told CNN some of the ads were aimed at reaching voters who may be susceptible to anti-Muslim messages, even suggesting that Muslims were a threat to the American way of life. During the campaign, Trump called to ban Muslims from entering the U.S. The revelation comes days after U.S. Department of Homeland Security officials told Wisconsin election officials that Russia-linked hackers unsuccessfully targeted the states voter registration system in 2016. With Wisconsin being one of the most politically divided states, Dave Schroeder, a U.S. Navy intelligence officer and cybersecurity expert at UW-Madison, said its no surprise Russian actors are targeting it. Doing so provides the highest return on investment, he said. Schroeder said the interference efforts hint at more to come in future elections. Because states like Wisconsin and Michigan will be critical to elections, and because of the apparent success of these operations to date, we can expect to see more of it, Schroeder said. That mirrored what Burr and the lead Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, said in a Wednesday news conference. The Russian intelligence service is determined, clever and I recommend every campaign and every elected official take this seriously, Burr said. Facebook chief security officer Alex Stamos, in a blog post written last month, said it found about $100,000 in ad spending from 2015 through 2017 linked to accounts that likely operated out of Russia. About one-quarter of those ads were geographically targeted within the U.S., Stamos wrote. Until now, little was known about what locations were targeted. Facebook estimated Monday that, in all, about 10 million users saw the Russian-backed ads. In addition to Wisconsin and Michigan, some ran in the battleground states of Florida, Georgia and Ohio, as well as non-battlegrounds such as California, Maryland and New York, according to an NBC News report. Schroeder said Russian actors appear to have bought ads on hot topics such as immigration, religion, and race. The ads were targeted to individuals they believed the ads would resonate with most deeply just as an advertiser would for a product they want someone to buy, Schroeder said. Citing the ads that have been publicly reported, he said they appeared as simple still image or video memes, shared from pages with names like Secured Borders. One Secured Borders meme published by The Daily Beast last month shows a large Muslim family with the caption: New modern warfare by birth rate. Taking over the countries without single bullet. But they wont take over our country if we dont let them in. Robert Mueller, the special counsel investigating Russian election interference, and congressional committees want to know if Russians received help from Trump associates in where to target the ads, CNN reported. CNN said White House officials could not be reached for comment on this story. The President and senior White House officials have long insisted they did not collude with Russia, with Trump dismissing the Russian Facebook ads, in particular, as a hoax. The U.S. intelligence community consensus is that Russia interfered in the 2016 U.S. election with the intent of helping elect Trump and undermine U.S. faith in its elections. The U.S. agencies found Russian operations included supporting the hacking of email systems of the U.S. political parties and relaying the emails to WikiLeaks, which later published hacked emails from the Democratic National Committee. The Associated Press contributed to this report. H-E-B has purchased 871 acres of vacant land on the East Side in unincorporated Bexar County, almost doubling its land in and around San Antonio as it faces increased competition from Walmart, Amazon and the newcomer Lidl grocery chain. The San Antonio-based grocer bought the land Friday from GMU LLC, a company controlled by Randy Cairns, president of Fort Worth-based J&E Aerospace, a distributor of equipment for airplanes, according to county property records and state corporate filings. We currently do not have immediate plans for the property, H-E-B spokeswoman Dya Campos said. Its unclear how much H-E-B paid for the land, which stretches along the west side of Foster Road between Houston Street and Texas 87, just outside the boundaries of the city of San Antonio. It was assessed for a total of $1.8 million this year by the Bexar Appraisal District. The land is about a mile and a half south of Interstate 10 and a mile east of Loop 410. It is 2 miles west of H-E-Bs closest store, at the crossing of Lord Road and WW White Road. The city annexed the land, in addition to several other parcels, in an Aug. 31 vote that takes effect Nov. 27, according to Deputy City Manager Peter Zanoni. Ernest Brown, an investment broker with Rohde, Ottmers & Siegel, pointed out that the land could be suitable for a manufacturing facility or consolidated distribution hub. He noted that it would be difficult to find so much vacant land close to the booming Interstate 35 corridor. The company would avoid development constraints by being outside city limits, he said. A site that big would be big enough to accommodate a big central distribution hub for them, he said. Bexar County Commissioner Tommy Calvert, whose precinct includes the land, noted that some residents of the area have strong feelings about preserving its rural character. H-E-B told him about the purchase, he said, declining to share more details. We know that theyre a good corporate citizen, and everyone appreciates their continued investment, he said. He added, Its important to continue to have job growth and community development work hand in hand together. Eleven days before H-E-Bs purchase, GMU bought the land and an adjacent 31 acres from two companies managed by residents of the Philippines that had owned it for decades, property records show. The purchase price was undisclosed, but GMU borrowed $3 million to buy the land. H-E-B has no relationship with GMU, Campos said. It was a private investment so I do not want to discuss any of the details, Cairns said in an email. Before the latest land buy, H-E-B owned more than 1,100 acres in Bexar County appraised at $573.8 million this year, according to records from the appraisal district. The largest single parcel the company previously owned was the 70 acres at 4710 N. Interstate 35 on the citys East Side, where it operates its distribution center, property records show. That land was appraised at $33.5 million earlier this year. H-E-B has made several land transactions in recent months but none nearly as large as the September purchase. The company sold 57 acres at the northwest corner of Loop 1604 and Bulverde Road on the North Side to Austin developer Oden Hughes, which plans to build roughly 1,000 luxury apartments there. H-E-B opened a 118,000-square-foot store near the intersection in August. The food retailer bought two lots totaling 26 acres in March on the northeast corner of Texas 211 and Potranco Road in a segment of western Bexar County that developers see as ripe for residential growth. H-E-B also purchased more than 24 acres in February near a planned mixed-use retail development at the intersection of Loop 410 and Roosevelt Avenue on the citys South Side. This article was updated to reflect that the city annexed the land. rwebner@express-news.net | Twitter: @rwebner jfechter@express-news.net | Twitter: @JFreports Judicial Watch Sues Justice Department for Mueller Russian Special Counsel Budget Mueller's Budget Under Wraps Contact: Jill Farrell, Judicial Watch, 202-646-5172 WASHINGTON, Oct. 5, 2017 /Christian Newswire/ -- Judicial Watch announced today that it filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) concerning the budget and administrative records of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. (Judicial Watch v. U.S. Department of Justice (No. 1:17-cv-02079)). The lawsuit was filed after the Department of Justice failed to respond to an July 10, 2017 FOIA request seeking the following: A copy of the budget prepared and submitted by Robert S. Mueller III or his staff in his capacity as appointed "Special Counsel to oversee the previously-confirmed FBI investigation of Russian government efforts to influence the 2016 presidential election and related matters." Temporal scope of this request is from 17May2017 to 10July2017. A copy of all guidance memoranda and communications by which the Justice Management Division will review the Special Counsel's Office's "Statement of Expenditures" prior to or for the purpose of making each public. Temporal scope of this request is from 1June2017 to present. A copy of each document scoping, regulating, or governing the Special Counsel's Office appointed under the leadership of Mueller III. Temporal scope of this request is from 17May2017 to present. On July 7, 2017, The Washington Post reported that Special counsel Mueller submitted a proposed budget to the Justice Department, "but officials declined to make the document public and committed only to releasing reports of the team's expenditures every six months." Judicial Watch is pursuing numerous additional FOIA lawsuits related to the surveillance, unmasking, and illegal leaking targeting President Trump and his associates during the FBI's investigation of potential Russian involvement in the 2016 presidential election. "The Mueller special counsel investigation is growing with seemingly little concern about costs to the taxpayer," said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton. "Is the Justice Department hiding basic budget information about the Mueller special counsel operation because taxpayers and Congress would be outraged by the costs? Mr. Mueller is not above the law and he shouldn't be able to keep his budget secret. No one else in DC seems to be providing oversight of the Mueller juggernaut, so once again it is up to the citizens group Judicial Watch which is going to court to demand accountability." MORE: www.judicialwatch.org/press-room/press-releases/judicial-watch-sues-justice-department-mueller-russian-special-counsel-budget/ Share Tweet But once again her hard work was rewarded with another extremely successful sell-out show, after which she was able to quit her day job, pay a six-month deposit on a studio in Leith with some amazing artists, and spend her days in a dream existence of painting. The next step was to wait until she was old enough to receive cochlear implants and that time came when Lotte was only seven and a half months old, when she underwent a massive three and a half hour surgery at PMH. Warrenton, VA (20186) Today Cloudy with periods of rain. High 43F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a half an inch.. Tonight Cloudy with occasional rain...mainly in the evening. Low 34F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch. James Corden has nicknamed Julia Roberts' husband "big d**k". Julia Roberts The talk show star invited the Hollywood beauty onto 'The Late Late Show With James Corden', but he left Julia red-faced when the conversation turned to the subject of her handsome spouse Daniel Moder. James teased Julia when he said that he had met the cinematographer once, and added: "I call him big d**k. We hang out in the restroom a lot. "I like the cat, I dig him, that's all I'm going to say." James, 39, then joked that knowing Julia, 49, wasn't the only thing that he and Daniel had in common - insinuating that he was also well endowed. James had the audience in hysterics as a coy Julia then exclaimed: "My poor husband, he's not even here to defend himself." Meanwhile, the 'Pretty Woman' actress has returned to the spotlight and is set to star opposite Owen Wilson as the parents of a 10-year-old boy with a facial deformity in 'Wonder'. And during a recent interview, the Hollywood star admitted she was a "selfish little brat" when she was younger. When asked what she was like during her early days in the movie business, Julia said: "I was my priority, a selfish little brat running around making films." Since then, life has slowed down for Julia - who has three children, 12-year-old twins Hazel and Phinnaeus, and 10-year-old Henry, with her husband - who rarely makes movie appearances these days. Asked if she'd ever give up on acting, she said: "Well, if I did much less, I wouldn't be in the business at all. I was saying to my husband the other day that I haven't worked in almost a year." Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK and its estimated that 5,000 people will be diagnosed this Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Here's what you can expect... As with any cancer, the earlier the diagnosis the better chance of beating it. All women in the UK who are aged 50 - 70 are automatically invited by the NHS for a mammogram every three years but as of March 2016, 25.5 percent of women didnt attend their screenings. Sue Oliver, Professional Head of Mammography & Laser Safety at Nuffield Health explains Having a mammogram can evoke feelings of anxiety and embarrassment but it doesn't have to be a daunting experience. Like so many medical investigations, mammography pushes the boundaries of what many people are comfortable with. The reality is likely to be far less confronting than you might imagine. The partial nudity You will have to allow your breasts to be seen and even handled by a relative stranger. Take comfort from the fact that your mammographer is a professional, here to help and always female. Undressing to the waist is an essential step to getting a clear scan. Any material other than breast tissue in the scan would obscure details and render the image useless. The mammographer will help position your breast correctly on the plate. This is essential to get the best quality image to help diagnose any issues. The radiation exposure Mammograms use X-rays to take detailed images of the breast tissue. This exposes the patient to a very low dose of radiation. Every exposure to radiation comes with a small risk, but it is much lower than the risk of not having the exam. In a mammogram, the dose is roughly equal to the amount you'd be exposed to on a return flight from the UK to Australia - a journey many happily take with little concern about radiation. The compression To get a clear scan, each breast needs to be held in place between two plates. The grip needs to be firm so there is no blurring of the image through movement. It may be uncomfortable and very rarely it may be painful. If you do experience discomfort or pain, tell your mammographer right away and they'll do what they can to make you more comfortable. Each breast needs to be scanned twice, once from top to bottom and again from side to side. Each scan takes about one minute. Once the scan is taken, the compression will automatically release and you'll be free to move away from the machine. The results Most women who come for a screening don't have cancer. Around 96 in every 100 women tested will get a normal result. About four women will require extra tests but three of them will be given the all clear. So chances are, even if something is discovered in the exam, it's not breast cancer after all. Being aware of your own breasts and self-checking regularly is still the best defence against breast cancer. It can be a shock to discover a lump and it's natural for your mind to turn immediately to cancer. Any discovery should prompt a visit to your GP but jumping to conclusions will only cause unnecessary concern. Nuffield Health is one of the leading not-for-profit UK healthcare organisations. The annual negotiations for next years minimum wage for Cambodian garment and footwear sector workers kicked off last week in Phnom Penh with members of the tripartite labour advisory committee, consisting of representatives from the government, employers and labour unions, presenting their proposals. The talks will culminate on October 5.Prime Minister Hun Sen has announced in his speeches that next years monthly wage will be more than $160. The government proposed a $162.67 monthly salary, slightly higher than the employers proposal of $161. The unions proposed $176.25, a more than 15 percent increase from the current $153 wage. The annual negotiations for next year's minimum wage for Cambodian garment and footwear sector workers kicked off last week in Phnom Penh with members of the tripartite labour advisory committee, consisting of representatives from the government, employers and labour unions, presenting their proposals. The talks will culminate on October 5.# The figures will be presented for a final vote by a 28-member committee 14 from the governments side, and seven each from the other two.Ministry of Labour Chief of Cabinet Heng Sour, who chaired the meeting, said it was up to the employers and unions to find a middle ground on next years wage.Ath Thorn, president of the Cambodian Labour Confederation, which had last month called for a $223 base wage, said the $176 figure was a unanimous proposal put forth by all unions involved. (DS) Fibre2Fashion News Desk India To expand export markets for Kyrgyzstans garment industry, the US Agency for International Development (USAID) sponsored the first-ever participation of representatives from 14 Kyrgyz apparel factories in the Apparel Sourcing Paris exposition held from September 18 to 21. The delegation met more than 50 prospective European buyers at the exhibition.Participants gained firsthand knowledge about the European garment industry and global competition in apparel sourcing, according to a press release from the US Embassy in Kyrgyzstan. To expand export markets for Kyrgyzstan's garment industry, the US Agency for International Development (USAID) sponsored the first-ever participation of representatives from 14 Kyrgyz apparel factories in the Apparel Sourcing Paris exposition held from September 18 to 21. The delegation met more than 50 prospective European buyers at the exhibition.# The advantages of producers from Kyrgyzstan, such as the ability to accept small orders and deliver them to markets more quickly than many Asian competitors, were highlighted. The participants also gained insights into compliance prerequisites for selling to Europe and other developed markets.The Kyrgyz apparel industry consists of more than 500 small- and medium-sized manufacturers located in or near Bishkek. For the past several years, USAID has been helping Kyrgyzstans most competitive producers to work together to offer a one-stop, buying-office solution for international brands and retailers. (DS) Fibre2Fashion News Desk India Buyers from more than 25 countries will be visiting Intex South Asia 2017, the largest and only fair in South Asia specifically designed to synergise the garmenting needs of international brands with the manufacturing strength of South Asia, satisfying both exports and large domestic markets. The show will take place during November 15-17, 2017 in Colombo.On the back of highly successful shows in 2015 and 2016, Intex South Asia 2017, will be 60 per cent bigger than 2016 and will showcase around 250 exhibitors from 15 countries.Intex South Asia is the largest and only international sourcing textile show in South Asia region connecting global exhibitors from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, China, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and more, to buyers from across the South Asia region and other international markets.South Asia is the worlds premier garment export hub. Recognising this, the World Bank has stated that South Asia is best placed to attract garment and textile businesses with its lower wages and its demographic advantage of having the largest youth population (487 million) in the world.The South Asian textile industry is a powerhouse on a global scale. It plays a critical role in the global textile industrial chain, accounting for 12 per cent of global exports. Understanding the growing importance and potential of this region, Intex South Asia was created to help manufacturers and buyers take advantage of the opportunities developing in the region.South Asian countries have their own strengths which make them leaders in their focus zones. India has made significant strides in developing backward links to the textile industry with its missions on cotton and technical textiles. Pakistan is making progress towards integrating its textile and apparel sectors and retains expertise and strong focus in cotton products. Bangladesh with its focus on low-value and mid-market price segment apparel, is slowly but surely moving towards value addition.Sri Lanka has progressed the fastest in moving up the value chain in the region with producers progressing into design and retail, launching their own international brands like Avirate and Amante. Other upcoming Sri Lankan brands are also consolidating themselves in the domestic retail sector while endeavouring towards showcasing their brands on the international stage.Sri Lanka plays a pivotal role for intra-regional integration due to its politically neutral status in the South Asian region, creating a positive business environment for entrepreneurs from Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh to meet and do business together. Thus making Sri Lanka the gateway to the huge South Asian market. However, for the South Asian region as a whole to progress and take its position as the premier manufacturing hub in the world, the countries need to come together and combine their strengths to overcome individual weaknesses. This is exactly what Intex South Asia will construct, with top companies from across the region joining hands and creating stronger business ties under one roof at Intex South Asia in Colombo, Sri Lanka.Sri Lankan industry has received a tremendous boost with the awarding of GSP-Plus. Sri Lankan exporters would once again be able to export over 6,000 products duty free to the European Union (EU) countries. The additional tariff advantage will greatly strengthen Sri Lankan exports in apparel, textiles, etc. The additional tariff concession gained by the apparel categories, for example, will see duties cut from 9.6 per cent to zero, thus benefitting the industry greatly under GSP Plus. It is expected that more EU customers would now change their sourcing strategy (which currently is tilted towards duty free countries like Bangladesh and Cambodia) in favour of Sri Lanka.Regaining the GSP Plus facility is expected to give a major boost to Sri Lankas apparel exports which comprises 61 per cent of total exports to the EU. This additional reduction of tariffs under GSP Plus is estimated to be valued at around US$ 60 million. Apparel exporters anticipate a 10-15 per cent boost in export earnings in 12 months following regaining of GSP Plus, and will particularly accrue to the smaller players.Today, Sri Lanka's growth, its excellent reputation for manufacturing, value addition and ethics is attracting manufacturers and investors from across the globe. Sri Lankas excellent design-to-delivery solution means that the design, manufacturing and logistics are all carried out in Sri Lanka. The country has also created excellent international goodwill due to its speed and productivity in the fast fashion landscape. Sri Lanka is situated at a nerve centre for shipping with 24 per cent of the world container traffic from East to West moving though the Colombo port area. Besides these positives, Sri Lanka is also transforming into a regional business hub attracting international interest as being the optimum location to conduct business with all South Asian countries in one central location. It has all the advantages to be developed as the economic hub of South Asia. Arti Bhagat, director, Worldex India, organisers of Intex South Asia said, Intex South Asia has always focused on bringing sectorally relevant, high quality exhibitors to the show. This is especially important considering Sri Lanka has been awarded the GSP Plus. A significant feature of the GSP Plus scheme is the fact that countries can make use of regional cumulation to benefit from Rules of Origin (ROOs) when local sourcing for product input is not possible. Regional cumulation creates stronger regional co-operation between countries which are members of an EU recognised regional grouping like SAARC in South Asia and also countries which are GSP beneficiaries. Intex South Asia is the perfect platform for Sri Lankan exporters to take advantage of regional cumulation via intra-regional trade and make the most of GSP Plus. (SV) Buyers from more than 25 countries will be visiting Intex South Asia 2017, the largest and only fair in South Asia specifically designed to synergise the garmenting needs of international brands with the manufacturing strength of South Asia, satisfying both exports and large domestic markets. The show will take place during November 15-17, 2017 in Colombo.# Fibre2Fashion News Desk India Chief minister of Indias Haryana state Manohar Lal Khattar has said his government will unveil a new textile policy for Panipat and Sirsa by October end. Interacting with various industrial associations in Panipat recently, he said the governments single window system for industrialists to set up new units in the state has yielded positive outcome.Khattar heard suggestions and grievances from various industrialists and representatives of the Haryana Chamber of Commerce and assured consideration in the new textile policy, a news agency reported quoting an official press release in the state. (DS) Fibre2Fashion News Desk India Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics will have group pavilions by industry heavyweights like DuPont, Hyosung, Invista and Lenzing. Over 4,500 exhibitors from 32 countries and regions are taking part in the show during October 11-13 in Shanghai, presenting seasons most comprehensive quality, innovative and fashionable apparel fabrics and accessories.There will also be group pavilions by the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI), Korea Textile Center (KTC) and Korea Textile Trade Association (KTTA), ECOCERT and OEKO-TEX in the All About Sustainability area, and the Button and Garment Accessories Industry Chamber in Accessories Vision. Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics will have group pavilions by industry heavyweights like DuPont, Hyosung, Invista and Lenzing. Over 4,500 exhibitors from 32 countries and regions are taking part in the show during October 11-13 in Shanghai, presenting season's most comprehensive quality, innovative and fashionable apparel fabrics and accessories.# Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics, the Chinas international trade fair for apparel fabrics and accessories, is the apparel industrys leading event, bringing together an unrivalled number of suppliers and trade buyers. Covering the entire spectrum of apparel fabrics and accessories, the fair also boasts a number of trend forums, seminars and panel discussions, while it is also held alongside the concurrent Yarn Expo, CHIC and PH Value fairs making it the most effective business platform for the global textile industry.The biggest Group Pavilion at the fair, Lenzings partner mills will feature more than 50 of their partner mills. It will showcase a wide range of their innovative products, but a particular highlight this edition will be their LenzingTM EcoVeroTM branded viscose fibres a new standard in eco-responsible viscoseoffering the lowest environmental impact in the industry, according to the company. This new product is based on three pillars: use of certified and controlled sustainable wood sources, an ecological production process and supply chain transparency that ensures EcoVero fibres in the final product. EcoVero fibres are made from natural and renewable wood, which comes from natural forests or from sustainable forestry plantations. Due to strict standards being enforced during the production stage, emissions and water impact are up to 50 per cent lower than generic viscose, while EcoVero is also certified with the EU Ecolabel. Lastly, a special manufacturing system guarantees that even after long textile processing and conversion steps, EcoVero fibres can be identified in the final product.Invistas involvement at this year Intertextile Shanghai will focus on what it dubs its Innovative Attitude to consumers, partners, as well as the whole industry. This will be showcased in two pavilions: their main pavilion in the International Hall and the Lycra MOVESTM Denim pavilion. The former will feature the latest possibilities offered by Lycra MOVESTM BRA, Leggings and Hosiery, while in the latter, visitors wont just see innovative denim products offered by Invista, they will also learn about three themes highlighted through consumer insights fit, shape and embracing heat and cold. A special session outlining the latest woven bottom trends will also be hosted by Invista experts.In addition to their product development, INVISTA also cooperated with a number of media organisations to conduct a survey on IP protection in the textile industry. The results will be revealed during a seminar entitled Innovation and IP: An Avenue for Sustainable Textile Industry Development. Representatives from textile industry associations, legal firms and INVISTA will share the findings and offer insights on this topic.DuPont and Hyosung Pavilions will offer a range of functional options. From these two industry innovators, a number of functional fabric options will be on offer in their pavilions. For DuPont, a focus this edition is on stretch particularly as it applies to performance sportswear, work wear and athleisure clothing. While a number of polyurethane fibres exist to meet the stretch requirements of garments such as these, DuPonts Sorona Stretch Fibre offers a superior solution in terms of production time and cost, stretch recovery and colour fastness. Unlike polyurethane fibres, Sorona Stretch Fibres do not need to be covered during the spinning process, reducing time, complexity and cost for fabric manufacturers. Additionally, polyurethane fibres lose their stretch and stretch recovery over time after repeated use or washes and exposure to heat and common chemicals such as chlorine and sunblock ingredients. Sorona Stretch Fibres are not affected by these agents and therefore maintain excellent stretch recovery over time.Hyosungs specialty in their pavilion will be the creora Fresh odour neutralising elastane. According to the compny, it has a higher deodorising effect with a comfortable fit, making it suitable for intimate apparel, sportswear, socks, hosiery and more. Creora Fresh has been demonstrated with nylon and polyester fibres to perform better than traditional antimicrobial finishes.Also from Korea, the Korea Textile Centre Pavilion will showcase a range of functional fabrics, synthetic and blended fabrics, man-made leather and faux suede. Exhibitors in the Korea Textile Trade Association Pavilion will feature products such as chiffon, jacquard, cotton and polyester, nylon and spandex, knitted and linen blended fabrics, lace and embroidery and functional fabrics.Featuring for the first time at the fair will be the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) Pavilion. BCI is a global not-for-profit organisation with more than 1,000 members from the entire cotton sector, making it the largest cotton sustainability programme in the world. The goal of BCI is to generate transformative, long-term change in the cotton sector, from field to store, by developing Better Cotton as a sustainable mainstream commodity. Last year, BCI and their partners provided training on more sustainable agricultural practices to 1.6 million farmers from 23 countries on five continents. At Intertextile Shanghai, their pavilion will feature spinners, weavers and more.Providing buyers with even more eco-friendly sourcing options will be the OEKO-TEX by TESTEX Pavilion, and the debut ECOCERT Pavilion. Both of these feature in the fairs All About Sustainability zone.In addition to Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics, three other textile fairs take place at the same place during the same period - Yarn Expo Autumn, CHIC and PH Value. (SV) Fibre2Fashion News Desk India Egypts textile exports increased by about 12 per cent, while imports declined by 59 per cent this year compared to the same period last year, according to minister of trade and industry Tarek Kabil, who said the ministry is preparing a national strategy for the textiles, spinning, and ready-made clothing industry covering all stages of production.Kabil informed a recent meeting of the board of directors of the Egyptian Chamber of Textile Industries (ECTI) that the current year witnessed cotton cultivation in 223,170 acres compared to 124,560 acres last year, according to Egyptian media reports. Egypt's textile exports increased by about 12 per cent, while imports declined by 59 per cent this year compared to the same period last year, according to minister of trade and industry Tarek Kabil, who said the ministry is preparing a national strategy for the textiles, spinning, and ready-made clothing industry covering all stages of production.# The ministry is also exploring establishment of a new textile city and making efforts to curb textile smuggling, added. (DS) Fibre2Fashion News Desk India DUBLIN, October 4, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Electronic Warfare Market 2017-2021" report has been added to Research and Markets' offering. The report forecasts the global electronic warfare market to grow at a CAGR of 4.07% during the period 2017-2021. The report, Global Electronic Warfare Market 2017-2021, has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from industry experts. The report covers the market landscape and its growth prospects over the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market. One trend in the market is development of next-generation electronic jammer. Radar jamming is a crucial EW capability sought by defense agencies. Radar jammers are devices that can intentionally interfere with the radar receiver of enemies by saturating it with noise or false signals. The growing need for greater precision, speed, and directivity to counter evolving airborne threats have led vendors to develop sophisticated jamming technologies. According to the report, one driver in the market is growing demand for intelligence gathering. ISR activity is crucial for military missions, and a lot of devices and technological advancements have been introduced in this domain in recent years. In October 2016, the US tested ground robots at the MAGTF Integrated Experiment 2016. The experiment was a part of the Sea Dragon 2025 initiative that aims to test new concepts and technologies pertaining to cyber and EW. The ground robots, equipped with sensors and weapons, were sent up the ridge line of a valley to detect and locate enemies through their RF signatures and fire guided weapons as required. It was observed that the robots could accomplish the set reconnaissance and attack tasks. Key vendors BAE Systems Elbit Systems Lockheed Martin Northrop Grumman Raytheon Company Other prominent vendors Boeing Cobham Harris FishEye Software General Dynamics Mercury Systems Saab Thales Group Ultra Electronics Group Key Topics Covered: Part 01: Executive Summary Part 02: Scope Of The Report Part 03: Research Methodology Part 04: Introduction Part 05: Market Segmentation By Application Part 06: Geographical Segmentation Part 07: Decision Framework Part 08: Drivers And Challenges Part 09: Market Trends Part 10: Vendor Landscape Part 11: Appendix For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/v47vz2/global_electronic 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 Chugai's Research Findings Adopted by World-Class Academic Journal Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (TOKYO: 4519) announced today that the preclinical study findings on its original bispecific antibody ERY974, a molecule that binds Glypican-3 and CD3 simultaneously, and that is currently under development as a Phase I clinical study for solid tumors, were published in the online edition of Science Translational Medicine on October 4, 2017 (local time) (http://stm.sciencemag.org/content/9/410/eaal4291). Science Translational Medicine is a member of the Science Magazine family of journals and is an essential platform for peer-reviewed, multidisciplinary research driving the latest medical advances. "ERY974 is a bispecific antibody created under the joint research between Chugai and Chugai Pharmabody Research with the application of Chugai's proprietary innovative antibody engineering technologies. We are extremely pleased that our research findings on ERY974 have been published in Science Translational Medicine," said Dr. Hisafumi Okabe, Senior Vice President responsible for Research and Translational Clinical Research. "It is said that cancer immunotherapy has made a paradigm shift in cancer treatment and that the role of the immune system in cancer treatment is likely to continue to grow in the future. As a cancer immunotherapy, we have high hopes that ERY974 will demonstrate anti-tumor effects in future clinical studies and become a drug that can contribute to the treatment of patients." Glypican-3 (GPC3) is a membrane protein that is expressed with high frequency on the cellular membranes of various tumor cells including hepatocellular carcinoma, lung cancer, and gastric cancer. GPC3 is reported to be expressed in various tissues in the fetal stage and play an important role*, but is rarely expressed in normal adult tissues*. As GPC3 expression is observed through the malignant transformation of cells, GPC3 is thought to be a protein specific to cancer (tumor-associated antigen)*. ERY974 is a bispecific antibody that binds to both GPC3 on the cancer cell membrane and to CD3, a membrane protein expressed on T cells, a type of lymphocyte. ERY974 is a T cell RedirectingAntiBody (TRAB) created with Chugai's proprietary antibody engineering technology, and while simultaneously binding to GPC3 and CD3 and directing T cells to cancer cells, it also activates T cells, specifically attacking and killing neighboring cancer cells. Based on this mechanism whereby it activates T cells and attacks cancer cells, TRAB is classified as a type of cancer immunotherapy. The following points were shown in this research: According to the immunohistochemistry, GPC3 is expressed in various cancers (a hepatocellular carcinoma, a squamous lung cancer, a small cell lung cancer, an esophageal cancer, a gastric cancer and a head and neck cancer), and as previously reported *, it is rarely expressed in normal tissues (30 different tissues) ( in vitro GPC3-dependent T cell activation and killing of cancer cells by ERY974 was observed in vitro In three different experimental tumor models using mouse, ERY974 demonstrated anti-tumor effects Anti-tumor effects were observed even in cancers where other cancer immunotherapies are ineffective (Mouse) Tolerability of ERY974 was observed in toxicity testing in animal Based on the results of this preclinical study, Chugai began phase I clinical trial of ERY974 in patients with GPC3 positive solid tumors in the United States in August 2016 (NCT02748837). As a leading company in the field of antibody therapeutics, Chugai will continue to contribute to global healthcare and the health of all people through the creation of innovative treatments using its proprietary antibody technologies. D. Baumhoer, L, Tornillo, S. Stadlmann, M. Roncalli, E. K. Diamantis, L. M. Terracciano, Glypican 3 expression in human nonneoplastic, preneoplastic, and neoplastic tissues: a tissue microarray analysis of 4,387 tissue samples. Am J Clin Pathol. 129, 899-906 (2008). About Chugai Chugai Pharmaceutical is one of Japan's leading research-based pharmaceutical companies with strengths in biotechnology products. Chugai, based in Tokyo, specializes in prescription pharmaceuticals and is listed on the 1st section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange. As an important member of the Roche Group, Chugai is actively involved in R&D activities in Japan and abroad. Specifically, Chugai is working to develop innovative products which may satisfy the unmet medical needs, mainly focusing on the oncology area. In Japan, Chugai's research facilities in Gotemba and Kamakura are collaborating to develop new pharmaceuticals and laboratories in Ukima are conducting research for technology development for industrial production. Overseas, Chugai Pharmabody Research based in Singapore is engaged in research focusing on the generation of novel antibody drugs by utilizing Chugai's proprietary innovative antibody engineering technologies. Chugai Pharma USAand Chugai Pharma Europe are engaged in clinical development activities in the United States and Europe. The consolidated revenue in 2016 of Chugai totalled 491.8 billion yen and the operating income was 80.6 billion yen (IFRS Core basis). Additional information is available on the internet at https://www.chugai-pharm.co.jp/english. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171004006490/en/ Contacts: For Media Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. Media Relations Group, Corporate Communications Dept., Koki Harada Tel: +81-3-3273-0881 E-mail: pr@chugai-pharm.co.jp *** For US media Chugai Pharma USA Inc. Casey Astringer Tel: +1-908-516-1350 E-mail: pr@chugai-pharm.com *** For European media Chugai Pharma France SAS Nathalie Leroy Tel: +33-1-56-37-05-21 E-mail: pr@chugai.eu *** For Taiwanese media Chugai Pharma Taiwan Ltd. Susan Chou Tel: +886-2-2715-2000 E-mail: pr@chugai.com.tw *** For Investors Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. Investor Relations Group, Corporate Communications Dept., Toshiya Sasai Tel: +81-3-3273-0554 E-mail: ir@chugai-pharm.co.jp VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / October 5, 2017 / Maxtech Ventures Inc. (CSE: MVT) (FRA: M1N) (OTC PINK: MTEHF), ('Maxtech' or the 'Company') is pleased to announce that it has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with S.K. Sarawagi & Co. Pvt. Ltd. located in India. S.K. Sarawagi & Co. Pvt. Ltd. is one of India's oldest and largest mining companies and one of the largest exporters of steel input minerals from India to China. The Company and S.K. Sarawagi entered into a strategic cooperation agreement to form the foundation for business development opportunities enabling the joint exploration, evaluation, development and potential acquisition of Manganese mineral deposits. The agreement provides a framework for the opportunity for S.K. Sarawagi to be able to access projects currently controlled by Maxtech or under negotiation that it may normally not be able to because of this strategic cooperation agreement. The term of the agreement is 3 years. Peter Wilson, CEO of Maxtech said 'Maxtech welcomes the Sarawagi family to the Company. This alliance provides a unique opportunity for Maxtech to expand its established high grade manganese claims beyond Brazil with an established Manganese mining conglomerate. The Company has begun research and preliminary due diligence on potential permits and mines for acquisition in Africa. The Company feels this jurisdiction will be an excellent near term benefit for all stakeholders.' About S.K. Sarawagi & Co. Pvt. Ltd. www.sarawagi.com The Company is the flagship of the SARAWAGI Group and started as a fledgling manganese ore mining company in the year 1961 in India. Its ability to innovate, adapt, respond & deliver its products to market needs enabled the company to emerge as the largest producer - exporter of Manganese ores from India. The group has been exporting Manganese ore to East Asian countries such as Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and the People's Republic of China. In the Exim policy of 1964, the Govt. of India decided to canalise the export of Manganese ore, Chrome Ore & Iron Ore through MMTC [Minerals and Metals Trading Corporation of India] only. This proved to be a blessing in disguise as it involved greater transparency and resulted in the Company's exports touching 1.5 lakh metric tons of Manganese ore in the year 1966-67 alone, which was the second year of MMTC's operations. About Maxtech Ventures Inc. Maxtech Ventures Inc. is a Canadian based diversified industries corporation with gold and manganese mineral properties. Its focus is on mining and the products that are derived therefrom. For additional information see the Company's web site at http://www.maxtech-ventures.com Email to info@maxtech-ventures.com Phone: 604-484-8989 Further information about the Company is available on www.SEDAR.com under the Company's profile. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Certain statements contained in this release may constitute 'forward-looking statements' or 'forward-looking information' (collectively 'forward-looking information') as those terms are used in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and similar Canadian laws. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words 'could,' 'intend,' 'expect,' 'believe,' 'will,' 'projected,' 'estimated,' 'anticipates' and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on the Company's current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. Actual future results may differ materially. In particular, this release contains forward-looking information relating to the business of the Company, the Property, financing and certain corporate changes. The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date hereof and the Company is not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Because of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions contained herein, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The foregoing statements expressly qualify any forward-looking information contained herein. SOURCE: Maxtech Ventures Inc. New 20.000m2 Facility to Boost Amersfoort with Manufacturing and Engineering Jobs Applied Medical, a global medical device company, has expanded its European operations with the opening of a new 20.000m2 manufacturing and R&D facility at its European headquarters in Amersfoort, Netherlands. True to Applied Medical's vertically integrated business model, European team members will design, develop and manufacture the company's medical devices in-house with distribution to customers across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171004006479/en/ Applied Medical, a global medical device company, has expanded its European operations with the opening of a new 20.000m2 manufacturing and R&D facility at its European headquarters in Amersfoort, Netherlands. (Photo: Heembouw Rotterdam B.V.) "As a company, we are committed to delivering on our customers' demand for high quality products that improve surgical outcomes while helping to reduce the overall cost of healthcare," said Robert van der Meer, president, Applied Medical Europe. "We are able to achieve this by directly managing our manufacturing processes, which provides us with complete control over our product quality and development costs." Applied Medical has already showcased its strong commitment to in-house manufacturing with over 90.000m2 of manufacturing space at its U.S.-based corporate headquarters in Southern California. The company established its European headquarters in Amersfoort in 2006, and has now expanded its presence to incorporate manufacturing, including injection molding, automated assembly, packaging, and labeling. New Growth Plans for Amersfoort The new facility opening will also provide a boost to Amersfoort as Applied Medical plans to significantly increase their number of team members, adding more than 100 team members in the next 12 months. The company has already been hiring team members for its manufacturing and engineering teams, and is actively recruiting in key areas including production (manufacturing operations), maintenance (mechanical and automation) and process engineering, and is still hiring in numerous other areas. "Amersfoort is a wonderful city with a diverse and skilled population. We're excited to grow our team and continue to make a meaningful, positive impact here in Amersfoort and in all of the countries we serve," continued van der Meer. Manufacturing and R&D Facility Opening Celebration On October 4, Applied Medical team members and local leaders in Amersfoort celebrated the grand opening of the new facility. At the event, guest speakers Lucas Bolsius, mayor of Amersfoort, Willibrord van Beek, commissaris van de koning of Utrecht, and Said Hilal, CEO of Applied Medical talked about the importance of the new manufacturing facility to the community and Applied Medical's customers. Attendees viewed firsthand the state-of-the-art equipment and processes for manufacturing medical devices for minimally invasive ("keyhole") surgery. Product shipments to customers will begin this month. About Us Applied Medical is dedicated to providing innovative products that improve patient outcomes and enable the advancement of minimally invasive surgery. As a new generation medical device company, Applied Medical is equally committed to improving the affordability and accessibility of high-quality healthcare. Founded in 1987, with headquarters and manufacturing facilities in California and now the Netherlands, Applied Medical is a rapidly growing, global organization with approximately 3,500 team members worldwide. In Europe, Applied Medical has approximately 200 team members working in Amersfoort (NL) and 200 team members throughout the 15 countries where Applied Medical representatives are directly supporting hospitals and clinicians. Applied Medical is a leading provider of breakthrough technologies for a wide range of surgical specialties, such as General, Colorectal, Gynecology, Urology, Bariatric, and Obstetric surgery. For additional information, please visit www.appliedmedical.com. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171004006479/en/ Contacts: Applied Medical Netherlands Contact: Diana Fidalgo, 033 751 7774 dfidalgo@appliedmedical.com or U.S. Contact: Kimberly Cashion, 949-713-8431 kcashion@appliedmedical.com LONDON, October 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, UK business critical software provider, IRIS Software Group, has announced the acquisition of school communication and payment collection software provider, ParentMail. The acquisition extends IRIS's education software portfolio, building on its strategy to provide an end-to-end solution for managing finance, income, assets and communications. ParentMail is used by over 4,500 schools to improve parental engagement through cloud-based applications for managing communications, online payments, form collection, parents' evening and event management. As well as enhancing IRIS' education service offering, this pivotal acquisition will improve school efficiency through seamless integration between parent payments and its financial management software. IRIS is building a world-class education software portfolio where innovation and close-coupled integration will help to deliver a step-change in school efficiency - a prime objective of many Academy and Academy Trusts. ParentMail joins IRIS' education division which includes financial management software company PS Financials, SAAF school budgeting software (PS Budgeting) and engagement and asset management specialist Results Squared (PS Engage and PS Assets). The combined education division now encompasses almost 10,000 schools and through its continued growth during 2017 its customer base now includes over 51% of all Academies and 80% of large Multi Academy Trusts. ParentMail's on-line payment solution is used widely by parents to pay for school meals, trips, fees and to purchase shop items. Seamless integration with IRIS's core financial management system will make payment collection, reconciliation and reporting simpler and easier for schools and assist with meeting income and funding targets. Kevin Dady, CEO of IRIS Software Group, said: "I'm delighted to welcome ParentMail to the IRIS Software Group. With the expansion of our Education portfolio, we can bring an unrivalled breadth and depth in our portfolio to deliver the highest levels of innovation. The best performing schools enjoy the highest levels of parent engagement and we're proud to be able to continue on our mission to develop the links between schools and community and help our schools manage every step on the journey." Paul Hughes, CEO of ParentMail, said: "IRIS Software have accumulated perhaps the best providers of high value software products in the Education Sector and ParentMail are delighted to become part of the team. The Education sector faces considerable pressures not least in terms of finance, and this new collection of businesses can add tremendous value to Academies and schools by allowing them to take a strategic and very cost-effective view of their software estate." About IRIS Software Group IRIS Software Group, the sixth largest privately owned software supplier in the UK and one of the most trusted business-critical software and services providers in the UK today, With over 17,000 Accountancy Practices and more than 80,000 SMEs, corporates, and payroll bureau customers across a wide range of UK industry sectors, we offer the greatest range of specialist accountancy, financial management, human resource management, payroll and education solutions - delivered as a choice of integrated on premise software and cloud-based applications - managed under the leading IRIS, PTP, KashFlow, Keytime, Cascade, PS Financials, Results Squared and Earnie product brands. About ParentMail ParentMail was formed in 2001 and was the first company in the UK to offer schools a new, modern way of communicating with their parents. As well as schools, its customers also include nurseries, playgroups, children's clubs and colleges - over 4,500 organisations now use ParentMail to communicate to and collect payments from over 4.5 million parents. The company offers a range of cloud-based applications which include text and email communications, online payment collection, online forms for obtaining permissions and surveying parents as well as parents' evening and event management. ParentMail is also designed for parents, with a mobile App that makes it easy to see and respond to school requests. intu properties plc LEI: 213800JSNTERD5CJZO95 Regulated Information Classification: Additional regulated information required to be disclosed under the laws of a Member State of the EU. 5October 2017 Notification of Repurchase of Convertible Bonds intu properties plc (the "Company")announces that it has repurchased a further 57,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of the 300,000,000 2.50 per cent. Convertible Bonds due 2018 issued by intu (Jersey) Limited and guaranteed by the Company (the "Convertible Bonds"). Following the previous purchase of 32,700,000 in aggregate principal amount of the Convertible Bonds, which was announced on 28 September 2017, and this purchase, 210,300,000 in aggregate principal amount of the Convertible Bonds remains outstanding. The Company may look to make further repurchases from time to time, subject to market conditions. The Convertible Bonds which have been purchased will either be surrendered by the Company to the issuer for cancellation or be held until their maturity date. This notification complies with LR 12.5.2 in relation to the repurchase of an additional 5% of the principal amount of the Convertible Bonds initially issued. Further announcements will be made in accordance with the Listing Rules in the event that more Convertible Bonds are purchased. This notification does not constitute or form part of an offer to sell or purchase, or a solicitation of an offer to sell or purchase, the Convertible Bonds or any other securities. VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / October 5, 2017 / 360 Capital Financial Services Group Inc. ("360" or the "Company") (CNSX: TSZ; FRA: C5B) (www.360capital.ca) announces that has completed its name change to 360 Blockchain Inc. and will start trading under its new name and symbol "CODE" at the open on Tuesday, October 10, 2017. The Company also advised that its recently announced private placement is being increased to up to $1.000.000 in order to meet demand. The Company is issuing, on a non-brokered private placement basis, units at $0.06 that include one full warrant exercisable for 2 years from closing at $0.10. About 360 Blockchain Inc. 360 Blockchain provides a broad range of financial services to emerging private and public companies. We "Connect Capital to Growth" by providing corporate finance advisory, merchant banking, IPO consulting, and business advisory services for our clients. For further information, please contact: George Tsafalas Interim President Telephone: 604-343-2977 E-mail: corporate@360capital.ca Forward-Looking Statements Certain information set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding future financial position, business strategy, use of proceeds, corporate vision, proposed acquisitions, partnerships, joint-ventures and strategic alliances and co-operations, budgets, cost and plans and objectives of or involving the Company. Such forward-looking information reflects management's current beliefs and is 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," "budget," "scheduled," "estimates," "forecasts," "predicts," "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. A number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors may cause the actual results or performance to materially differ from any future results or performance expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of the Company including, but not limited to, the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions and dependence upon regulatory approvals. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. The Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by securities laws. SOURCE: 360 Capital Financial Services Group Inc. CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - The U.S. dollar strengthened against its key counterparts in the Asian session on Thursday, as upbeat U.S. service sector data added to prospectus for a Fed rate hike in December. Data from the Institute for Supply Management showed that its non-manufacturing index jumped to 59.8 in September, its highest since August 2005, from 55.3 in August. Economists had expected the index to inch up to 55.5. The survey came on the heels of in line creation in ADP private sector employment in September. ADP said private sector employment rose by 135,000 jobs in September after surging up by a revised 228,000 jobs in August. The weekly jobless claims, international trade and factory orders are slated for release later in the day, while the September jobs report is due to be released on Friday. Reversing from an early low of 1.1764 against the euro, the greenback edged up to 1.1748. If the greenback rises further, 1.16 is possibly seen as its next resistance level. The greenback advanced to a 2-day high of 1.3225 against the pound, after having fallen to 1.3249 at 1:00 am ET. The next possible resistance for the greenback is seen around the 1.31 mark. The greenback rose back to 112.84 against the Japanese yen, from a low of 112.70 hit at 5:00 pm ET. The greenback is poised to locate resistance around the 113.5 region. The greenback was trading in a positive territory against the Swiss franc with the pair trading at 0.9754. On the upside, 0.985 is possibly seen as the next resistance for the greenback. The greenback rose to a session's high of 0.7147 against the kiwi, from Wednesday's closing value of 0.7168. The greenback is poised to challenge resistance around the 0.70 mark. The greenback that closed Wednesday's trading at 0.7861 against aussie climbed to a 2-day high of 0.7819. Continuation of the greenback's uptrend may see it challenging resistance around the 0.77 area. The greenback bounced off to 1.2487 against the loonie, from a low of 1.2471 hit at 5:00 pm ET. The greenback is seen challenging resistance around the 1.265 region. Looking ahead, Swiss CPI data for September, German construction PMI for September and Swiss KOF institute Autumn economic forecast are due to be released shortly. In the New York session, U.S. weekly jobless claims for the week ended September 30, U.S. trade balance, factory orders and durable goods orders for August, are slated for release. At 9:10 am ET, Federal Reserve Governor Jerome Powell is expected to speak about the Treasury Markets Practices Group at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. At 10:00 am ET, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia President Patrick Harker is scheduled to speak at the Investing in America's Workforce Conference hosted by the Federal Reserve System, in Austin. At 12:00 pm ET, Bank of England MPC Member Ian McCafferty is expected to speak at The Founders' Company Annual Lecture, in London. At 1:30 pm ET, Bank of England Chief Economist Andy Haldane is to deliver a presentation titled 'Central Bank Engagement with Society' at the Economic Research Council, in London. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de Tom Arthur You are reading this in the future, I am writing this from the past. Thats the beauty and perhaps the doom too, of print. It doesnt happen instantaneously, like the post-postmodern media many of us have gotten used to in the past few years. From where I am sitting, I am still watching the race for mayor, for city council, for approval of the Healthy Workforce Ordinance to happen. Ill have voted and will be sitting in front of my terminal waiting for the results long before you read this analysis of what might happen. By the time you pick up a copy of this weeks Alibi, all of that, including my predictive written output will be history and you, gentle reader, will know the truth through actual experience. Given the nature of that particular set of circumstances and phenomena, heres what I am thinking about what will happen, and what you should know about how its actually going to happen. Are you with me, so far? The initial 2017 campaign for mayor of Albuquerque is over. Lacking some last minute divine intervention from whatever heavenlyor hellishforces were available at the time, Tim Keller handily took about 34% of the vote. Thats not enough to win the race outright. Remember, according to the city charter, a candidate must receive at least 50 percent of the vote to win the race outright. Otherwise there will be a runoff. According to a poll in Sundays Albuquerque Journal, Tim Keller went into Tuesdays election for mayor with a substantive lead; 29 percent of those polled said theyd vote for Keller. Two contenders, Dan Lewis and Brian Colon, trailed with 18 percent and 14 percent of the electorate favoring each, respectively. The news department at Weekly Alibi assumes Keller maintained that lead and offers the following possible outcomes for a potential runoff. Keller vs. Colon Assuming that the candidate who spent the most money in this campaign somehow gains last-minute traction with voters outside his chosen demographic, a runoff between these two Democratic Party stalwarts will probably focus on urban development issues, particularly those revolving around Santolina. Although the proposed mega-development lies outside of the city limits, the next mayor will have a great deal of influence on whether the project goes forward. City of Albuquerque water resources will be needed to make the huge, proposed development to Burques west a reality. Keller has been clear about his opposition to the Santolina project, which resulted a slew of attack adspromulgated by individuals and organizations with financial stakes in its successleading up to Tuesdays vote. Meanwhile, Colon has repeatedly advertised himself as being for continued economic development on the Westside, refusing to discount the plans for Santolina as a potential drain to precious city resources. The difference in philosophies regarding the mega-development would form the the crux of any nonpartisan runoff for the mayors job. Keller vs. Lewis A more likely scenariowhich not only follows current polling trends, but also the predictions made by close watchers of New Mexico politics like Joe Monahansees a partisan runoff between Keller and Republican City Councilor Dan Lewis. Lewis is a big supporter of Donald Trump. Hes been endorsed by the NRA as well as a pastor at a local mega-church. Legacy Church pastor Steve Smothermon posted his support for Lewis on social media because the Councilor could never in any way, support the homosexual agenda. Lewis has also been reluctant to say that he would approve of any proclamation regarding the citys yearly Pride events, saying only that he will give all proclamation proposals fair consideration. In contrast Keller, a Democrat currently serving as state auditor, continues to make his mark as a progressive leader. Kellers proposed ABQ Works plan focuses on building the city economy by investing in local businesses. The state auditors solutions for quelling the outbreak of crime in the city focuses on community policing. Further, Keller has and continues to speak on the reasons underlying the spike in criminality currently affecting the Duke City. He realizes that working with the community to solve problems like homelessness and addiction are at the root of making our city a safer place to live. Lewis, meanwhile, seems content to utter the same type of law and order dictums that drive his populist handlers in D.C. Making the runoff count The past creates a path to the future. Whether I am writing about it now so that you can understand it lateror these issues manifest and are consumed instantaneously on social mediaits clear that Albuquerque progressives still have a big job ahead of them. Voting for ethical local development and against the cross-eyed visions of veritable representatives the same Republican party that elected a monstrous, maniacal president means that we must see this through, must continue to support Tim Keller as round two of what could well be an important cultural decision looms for Albuquerques citizens. The runoff election for mayor of Albuquerque is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 14. Ill see you there. In secret, behind locked gates, our Nation's Oldest City dumped a landfill in a lake (Old City Reservoir), while emitting sewage in our rivers and salt marsh. Organized citizens exposed and defeated pollution, racism and cronyism. We elected a new Mayor. We're transforming our City -- advanced citizenship. Ask questions. Make disclosures. Demand answers. Be involved. Expect democracy. Report and expose corruption. Smile! Help enact a St. Augustine National Park and Seashore. We shall overcome! Register Now Through Friday, October 6 to Save 300 on Briefings Pass SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --Today, Black Hat, the world's leading producer of information security events, announces its return to London with its initial release of Briefings. The event, in its 16th year, will bring together the world's brightest information security professionals and researchers revealing new vulnerabilities (and defenses) spanning everything from widely used banking systems to the mobile devices, smart grids and medical devices we rely on every day. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/568083/black_hat_Europe_2017_Logo.jpg Black Hat Europe 2017 will take place December 4-7 at the EXCEL London,in London, England. For more information and to save 300 on your Briefings Pass by Friday, October 6 please visit blackhat.com/eu-17/ Returning to London this December - a home to some of Europe's largest InfoSec solution providers, researchers and professionals - Black Hat Europe will host a week of immersive programming aimed towards providing the latest InfoSec research, development, and trends. The event will commence with two days of intensely technical Trainings followed by two days of Black Hat's infamous Briefings, and a Business Hall buzzing with today's leading innovators. Attendees will be introduced to content spanning the industry's most pressing topics affecting various parts of the world. Highlights of Black Hat Europe's Briefings so far: Smart Grid and Industrial Security Vulnerabilities, including a demo of how to defend against an attack on an air-gapped network with autonomous, self-directed malware - similar to the CrashOverride malware used in the 2016 Ukrainian grid attack. Another talk will cover breaking the security wall of the S7CommPlus protocol - which was implemented following the exploitation of the communication protocol used between Siemens Simatic S7 PLCs to cause serious damage to nuclear power facilities. including a demo of how to defend against an attack on an air-gapped network with autonomous, self-directed malware - similar to the CrashOverride malware used in the 2016 Ukrainian grid attack. Another talk will cover breaking the security wall of the S7CommPlus protocol - which was implemented following the exploitation of the communication protocol used between Siemens Simatic S7 PLCs to cause serious damage to nuclear power facilities. Banking and Payment System Threats , with a talk exploring notorious APT groups from North Korea, infamous for deconstruction, cyber heist and espionage attacks, and how they are becoming more aggressive with links to the WannaCry ransomware attack and current operations targeting banks in Europe , South Korea and more. Additional Briefings will explore vulnerabilities in Samsung's mobile payment service, SamsungPay, as well as a demonstration on how criminals might rob a bank over the phone with the use of specialized reverse engineering tactics. , with a talk exploring notorious APT groups from North Korea, infamous for deconstruction, cyber heist and espionage attacks, and how they are becoming more aggressive with links to the WannaCry ransomware attack and current operations targeting banks in , and more. Additional Briefings will explore vulnerabilities in Samsung's mobile payment service, SamsungPay, as well as a demonstration on how criminals might rob a bank over the phone with the use of specialized reverse engineering tactics. Internet of Things Attacks, from risks associated with connected healthcare devices that expose patients to physical harm and allow access to various medical records, to compromising Z-Wave, a major communication protocol for home automation systems- in order to remotely take control of individual devices as well as a full network. from risks associated with connected healthcare devices that expose patients to physical harm and allow access to various medical records, to compromising Z-Wave, a major communication protocol for home automation systems- in order to remotely take control of individual devices as well as a full network. Platform and Applied Security Research , attendees will learn how a Mainframe, used for wire transfers, ATM withdrawals, flight booking, etc., can be compromised to impersonate other users. Another briefing will focus on using Wi-Fi vulnerabilities to attack Android devices, HP printers, Samsung Smart TVs and more. , attendees will learn how a Mainframe, used for wire transfers, ATM withdrawals, flight booking, etc., can be compromised to impersonate other users. Another briefing will focus on using Wi-Fi vulnerabilities to attack Android devices, HP printers, Samsung Smart TVs and more. Mobile threats, such as a key reinstallation attack that is especially harmful to Android 6.0 and Chromium, and a look at airborne attacks and the exploits found in the Bluetooth stacks of Linux, Android, Windows, and iOS. Another talk will explore DIFUZE, a python based interface-aware fuzzing framework that has been used to find more than 30 zero-days in seven modern android phones, including the Google Pixel XL. Be sure to check back for the latest schedule as more Briefings are added, here: blackhat.com/eu-17/briefings/schedule/index.html ANNOUNCED: Black Hat Arsenal Tools Arsenal will return to Black Hat Europe and welcome independent researchers, both local and from afar, from the open source community to display their latest tools and products and offer live demonstrations. Arsenal gives researchers the opportunity to showcase their latest code and offers attendees the chance to interact with presenters and gain hands-on experience. Arsenal will host more than 40 tools this year covering Android, iOS and mobile hacking, Internet of Things, Cryptography and more. For more information and to view all recently selected tools, please visit: http://www.blackhat.com/eu-17/arsenal/schedule/index.html. Black Hat Trainings: Register by THIS Friday and Save 300 In addition to the world-class Briefings schedule, Black Hat Europe 2017 will offer deeply technical, hands-on Training sessions led bysome of the information security industry's top trainers and professionals. Running December 4-5, the Trainings offer a separate set of courses for attendees spanning everything from advanced infrastructure hacking to enterprise defenses, black ops hacking for pentesters, crypto attacks and more.For more information and to save 300 on your selected course(s) with early registration prices by this Friday, October 6, visit:blackhat.com/eu-17/training/schedule/index.html. Black Hat Student Scholarships: Submission Deadline: October 27 The Black Hat Student Scholarship Program is back for its fourth year in Europe. As a way to introduce the next generation of security professionals to the Black Hat community, a limited number of complimentary Academic Passes will be awarded to student applicants for Black Hat Europe 2017. Qualified students may submit applications by Friday, October 27, 2017. For more information and requirements, visit: blackhat.com/eu-17/student-scholarship.html Top Sponsors of Black Hat Europe 2017 include : Diamond Sponsors: Cylance, Nyotron, SecureLink and Spirent Communications; Platinum Sponsors: Cybereason, Fortinet, NCC Group, Neustar, Palo Alto Networks, Qualys, SentinelOne For more information on sponsorship opportunities as well as the full list of exhibiting companies, visit: blackhat.com/eu-17/business-hall.html Future Black Hat Dates and Events Black Hat Europe 2017, London, England,December 4-7 London, England,December 4-7 Black Hat Asia 2018, Singapore , March 20-23 , Black Hat USA 2018, Las Vegas, Nevada , August 4-9 PETERSFIELD, England, October 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- With less than 7 months until the new EU legislation, GDPR, comes into force, many businesses are still unsure about what they need know and how they need to prepare. To help small businesses understand the implications of the changes, Really Simple Systems will be running regular, live webinars examining the key points and how to become compliant. (Logo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/542735/RSS_Logo.jpg ) Presented by Really Simple Systems' CEO, John Paterson, the first webinar is scheduled for Thursday 19th October and will be repeated in November. Titled "Understanding the Implications of GDPR for your Business" it will explain the new regulations, why it has been introduced and how the legislation will affect businesses, both in the EU and elsewhere in the world. The webinar will also include practical tips on how small business owners can prepare for the change and be compliant. Paterson explains "This is the biggest marketing and compliance challenge businesses have faced for some time yet there is a lot of uncertainty around what exactly GDPR entails. One major area of confusion is how GDPR interplays with the forthcoming changes to the Privacy in Electronic Communications (PECR) legislation, and whether B2B marketing will be treated as different from B2C." GDPR Compliance Having already announced that Really Simple Systems CRM is GDPR compliant well in advance of the deadline of 25th May 2018, Paterson is keen to provide support for the company's customer base and other SMEs. He comments, "ensuring your customer data is held by a GDPR compliant data processor is one of the first steps businesses need to take. As well as checking your CRM is compliant, you need to look at any other systems you use, for example your accounting system and HR system. Make sure they only hold data in the EC and are, or will be, GDPR compliant." Paterson continues "if you are running email marketing campaigns you'll need to start capturing explicit consents from your new enquiries and from current contacts. Pre-ticked acceptance boxes will no longer be valid and consent will need to be gained from a dedicated checkbox, or by clicking a dedicated link from an email. Check your email marketing system is able to comply and that it records how and when consent was given." Over the coming months Really Simple Systems will run further webinars examining the legislation in more detail and covering any developments. What is GDPR? The GDPR is an EC regulation designed to protect the privacy of EC citizens, ensure their data is not exported out of the EC to countries that do not have adequate privacy laws, and makes sure that citizens have control over how their data is used. https://www.reallysimplesystems.com/press-releases/gdpr-training-webinar/ About Really Simple Systems 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. Contact Helen Armour Marketing Manager Really Simple Systems +44-(0)-1730-823300 helen.armour@reallysimplesystems.com Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 5, 2017) - Grande Portage Resources Ltd. (TSXV: GPG) ("Grande Portage" or "the Company") is pleased to announce that it has now completed twelve holes and 3700 metres of its recent "step-out" (all beyond the limits of the existing resource) drill program. ICP fire assays from ALS Canada Ltd. are pending and are expected to be received by the company shortly and continue through to the end of November. In addition to the normal fire assays and ICP multi-element analyses, the Company has also ordered 78 metallic screen samples where visible gold was noted, to capture coarse gold which might otherwise be lost during processing. This drill program is a continuation of the Herbert Gold discovery and will be a multiphase/multi-year exploration program. The recent program was designed to extend testing of three separate major veins and their satellite structures and further develop grade tonnage with exceptional previous drill results such as: 11E-2 which graded 37.07 gpt/gold over 15.27 metres; 311A which graded 59.91gpt/gold over 8.08 metres; and 11D-1 which graded 72.3 gpt/gold over 3.05 metres. (Please refer to www.grandeportage.com for all previous drill results.) Project geologists are extremely encouraged by visual inspection of the core from all 4 of the drill pads. Every hole hit its intended target(s) and many holes encountered subsidiary veins of substantial size with mineralization, such as galena, sphalerite and visible gold suggesting that the upcoming assays should be consistent with past results from the property. The remaining 3 veins as yet are largely untested and will be drilled in future programs. Several holes such as 17L-3, 17U-1, and 17Y-1 & 2, were designed to test two major veins each. Three of the holes tested the Deep Trench vein much deeper than any previous drilling with very good visual results. Hole 17Y-2 hit visible gold in the Deep Trench vein over 300 metres below sea level which is a good indication that strong grades are not limited by depth. Drilling on the Goat vein was designed to extend the known strike length of the mineralization previously drilled from only one pad. Intersections of the vein drilled from pads K and L prove a strike length of at least 300 metres but when combined with rare surface outcrops and topographic features, a length of at least 600 metres is indicated. The deepest drilling on the Goat to date is slightly less than 200 metres. Ian Klassen, Grande Portage's CEO remarked, "We are delighted with the drilling program this year. For some time, our team has known that the Herbert gold discovery has significant expansion potential and this is evidenced by the fact we continue to intercept gold bearing veins laterally and at depths not encountered before." The Herbert Gold property is in the historic Juneau Gold Belt, formerly a world class district with producers such the AJ and Treadwell mines and literally dozens of smaller gold mines and prospects. Overall gold production from the district is over 7 million ounces. In 2010, the district was reactivated by the reopening of Coeur Alaska's Kensington gold mine located northwest of the Herbert property and is on track to mine 125,000 ounces Au in each of the next 12+ years. In addition, strong community support has been demonstrated for Hecla Mining Company's polymetallic Green's Creek Mine, a massive sulfide deposit containing silver, gold and zinc located in a parallel trend 20 kilometres to the west. Carl Hale, CPG, a geologist with more than 40 years of experience is the Q.P. for this release within the meaning of NI 43-101 and has reviewed the technical content of this release and has approved its content. About Grande Portage Resources Ltd. Grande Portage Resources Ltd. is a Tier 2 publicly traded mineral exploration company principally focused on the Herbert Gold discovery situated approximately 25 km north of Juneau, Alaska. The Company holds a 100% interest in the Herbert property. The Herbert Gold property has a NI 43-101 technical report completed with indicated resources of 821,100 tonnes containing 182,400 oz of gold at 6.91 g/t. Inferred resources of 51,600 tonnes containing 12,800 oz of gold at 7.73 g/t. The system is open to length and depth and is host to at least six main composite vein-fault structures that contain ribbon structure quartz-sulfide veins. The project lies prominently within the 160km long Juneau Gold Belt, which has produced nearly seven million ounces of gold. Grande Portage conducted an initial drill program in the fall of 2010. The results from the drilling program confirm the identification of major elements of a complex mesothermal gold-quartz system with numerous targets. Subsequently, the Company has conducted follow up drill programs of with a total of 108 diamond drill holes from ten different platform locations. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ________________________________________ Ian Klassen, President For further information please contact: Mr. Ian Klassen Phone: (604) 899-0106 Email: ian@grandeportage.com Website: www.grandeportage.com NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICE PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED UNDER THE POLICIES OF THE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS NEWS RELEASE 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. DUBAI, UAE, October 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- BIOS Middle East, the United Arab Emirates #1 Cloud Service Provider, is ready to face the future with its new integrated cloud offering. Azure Stack built on Cisco and managed by BIOS brings the power of Microsoft Azure in-country. Azure Stack will provide the same look and feel as Azure while federating to Azure to take advantage of things such as Big Data Analytics, Development tools & Artificial Intelligence. The stack which comes with a fully managed service and security wrap around is available on a shared platform, Azure Stack-as-a-Service or as a dedicated appliance, Azure Stack. The shared platform caters for SME's while the dedicated platform is targeted towards Enterprises. BIOS will be formally launch this groundbreaking new product on the CISCO stand at GITEX 2017, the Middle East's largest IT industry exhibition. Azure Stack-as-a-Service and Azure Stack unlocks the agility of cloud-based applications for in-country and on premise networks, delivering Azure services from BIOS's datacenters to customers in the Middle East. With these new offerings organizations can now build modern applications across hybrid cloud environments, balancing the right amount of flexibility and control with a consistent set of development tools. Businesses of all sizes can accelerate the development and deployment of new applications with optimal use of resources and keep business critical data in country. This new set of solutions provide a continuous stream of innovation, enabling developers and IT to quickly address business needs without location or compliance limitations. "This new service will speed development pipelines by allowing access to a new set of high-end tools," says Dominic Docherty, BIOS's Founder and Managing Director. "It enables the power of the cloud computing across corporate assets to compete in a truly global marketplace. As technological investment in the Middle East and UAE continues to grow, we are ready to offer key services to clients throughout the region." This new service is supported by BIOS's existing infrastructure, marrying hybrid and private cloud platforms with a new set of powerful tools. For organizations already standardized on Microsoft's Azure platform, this new flexibility means development tools and environment can stay consistent, shortening time to market and reducing time between iterations. Customers will have access to the full suite of Azure web and mobile services, containers and micro-service architectures to update and extend existing applications or build new ones. Azure-Stack-as-a-Service and Azure Stack can be used to process data in-country, reducing customer-facing latency issues dramatically and cutting down on costs. While round-trip latency to Azure Global Datacenters can be as much as 200 milliseconds from the UAE, local Azure Stack instances can provide 20 milliseconds latency. Azure-Stack-as-a-Service and Azure Stack can also be used to build applications that meet regulatory and policy requirements, with easy options for global audits, financial reporting, healthcare and foreign exchange trading. By combining Azure Stack, BIOS 10 years' experience in delivering cloud solutions in the UAE and BIOS's unique in-region infrastructure, companies will have the technology platform they need to drive growth and compete in the global marketplace. The platform is supported with managed cloud services and managed security services, including BIOS's 24/7 NOC and SOC, both based in the United Arab Emirates. By combining Azure Stack with managed services and security, customers get the only true hybrid cloud solution available in the market. Hybrid cloud technology has already been identified as a major business requirement, with nearly 80 percent of large organizations (more than 1,000 employees) already using hybrid cloud infrastructure. BIOS is ready to answer that client demand with an extensible, secure solution that leverages the flexibility of the hybrid cloud with the security, power and familiarity of Azure. BIOS have been building private cloud services for more than a decade and providing public cloud services for more than five years. BIOS is a CISCO Gold partner and CISCO Master Managed Service provider and operates the only CISCO-powered certified cloud in the United Arab Emirates. In 2017, BIOS's cloud platform CloudHPT was included alongside tech giants in Gartner's Disaster-Recovery-as-a-Service Magic Quadrant, receiving a "Visionary" ranking. In addition BIOS was Cisco and Veeam's cloud provider of the year for 2016/17. About BIOS Middle East BIOS Middle East, the UAE's #1 Cloud Service Provider, in conjunction with CISCO we will be launching Azure Stack on the CISCO stand at Gitex 2017. BIOS & Cisco Azure Stack brings the power of Microsoft Azure in-country and in-region. It will be available as a private cloud or on a shared platform. Both of which will federate to Microsoft Azure to allow companies to keep certain data in-country while leveraging Azure to take advantage of Big Data Analytics & Artificial Intelligence. The platform comes complete with managed services and managed security supported by its 24/7 NOC & SOC in the UAE. BIOS is a CISCO Gold partner & CISCO Master Managed Service provider and operates the only CISCO powered certified cloud from the UAE. BIOS is also a Microsoft Azure partner. In 2017 BIOS's cloud platform CloudHPT was listed in Gartner's DRaaS Magic quadrant. For more information, please visit http://www.biosme.com Nidhi Savla Group Marketing Manager BIOS Middle East | CloudHPT Mobile: +971-504569833 Email: nidhi@biosme.com Ecrebo, the point of sale marketing specialist, today announced a five-year contract with Dixons Carphone, Europe's leading specialist electrical and telecommunications retailer and services company. The partnership will allow Dixons Carphone to upgrade the capabilities of its point of sale coupon program by implementing Ecrebo's advanced 'Message at Till' solution across all 450 of its megastores. After a highly competitive RFP process, Dixons Carphone selected Ecrebo due to the solution's sophistication and precision, allowing for better consumer targeting and personalization. Ecrebo's ability to meet Dixons Carphone's requirements for flexibility, both in its capability suite and deployment timelines, was another key factor in selecting Ecrebo. Using Ecrebo's 'Message at Till' solution, Dixons Carphone will immediately have access to more advanced promotional campaigns to create personalized and engaging messaging for their customers. Ultimately, Ecrebo's technology will enable Dixons Carphone to deliver on their ambitions to ensure their promotional offers are connected across all their channels. "Ecrebo has a lengthy track record of delivering both immediate and long-term success for their customers," said Keely Bosati, Head of Commercial Development at Dixons Carphone. "We demand a lot from our systems, and we needed reassurance that the vendor we selected could handle large quantities of data with a tried and tested product. Ecrebo's functionality, consistent messaging and team cohesion, combined with their success of working with retailers such as M&S and Waitrose gives us full confidence that this partnership will serve us and our customers well for years to come." "Partnering with a retailer of Dixons Carphone's caliber, after such a competitive RFP process, is a tremendous source of pride for our company," said David Buckingham, CEO, Ecrebo. "Working alongside their team to deliver the personalized engagement experience that modern retail demands has been an opportunity we have been thrilled to take on. We're looking forward to developing our partnership with Dixons Carphone over the coming months." About Ecrebo Ecrebo is a point of sale marketing specialist that enables retailers to deliver targeted offers to customers at the checkout alongside their receipt or digital receipt. With over 90% of transactions occurring in-store, Ecrebo's POS-based technology opens up a marketing channel with unparalleled reach and precision: it enables retailers to deliver targeted marketing communication, specifically tailored to their customers. In turn, customers benefit from getting relevant offers and incentives delivered in a convenient and non-intrusive way. Ecrebo powers point of sale marketing for leading brands including Waitrose, M&S and PANDORA. For further details, visit Ecrebo's website at www.ecrebo.com or follow Ecrebo on Twitter. About Dixons Carphone Dixons Carphone plc is Europe's leading specialist electrical and telecommunications retailer and services company, employing over 41,000 people in nine countries. Focused on helping customers navigate the connected world, Dixons Carphone offers a comprehensive range of electrical and mobile products, connectivity and expert after-sales services from the Geek Squad and Team Knowhow. Dixons Carphone's primary brands include Carphone Warehouse and CurrysPCWorld in the UK Ireland, Elkjp, Elkjp Phonehouse, Elgiganten, Elgiganten Phone House, Gigantti and Lefdal in the Nordic countries, Kotsovolos in Greece, Dixons Travel in a number of UK airports as well as Dublin and Oslo. Our key service brands include Team Knowhow in the UK, Ireland and the Nordics, and Geek Squad in the UK Ireland. Business-to-business (B2B) services are provided through Connected World Services, CurrysPCWorld Business and Carphone Warehouse Business. Connected World Services aims to leverage the Group's existing expertise, operating processes and technology to provide a range of services to businesses. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171005005122/en/ Contacts: Ecrebo Sarah Todd, +44 (0) 1189 255 195 Head of Marketing sarah.todd@ecrebo.com or Ketner Group (for Ecrebo) Catherine Seeds, 1-512-794-8876 Catherine@ketnergroup.com Travel professionals and travellers alike will benefit from the Canadian flagship carrier's implementation of the Amadeus Altea Suite in addition to a renewed distribution agreement Air Canada will also implement a range of Amadeus solutions such as Anytime Merchandising, Group Management and Passenger Recovery Forward-thinking airlines understand that the critical combination of next-generation airline IT systems, along with the best global distribution capabilities and air travel content, are necessary to serve their customers and operate their business successfully. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171005005541/en/ Under a new agreement announced today between Amadeus and Air Canada, Canada's largest airline is poised to harness the best of both in support of its business strategy to enhance customer experience, improve profitability and operational performance in support of its growing international network. Air Canada has signed for the full Amadeus Altea Suite passenger service system (PSS) including reservations, inventory, and departure control solutions. The Amadeus Altea Suite, once fully implemented, will enable Air Canada to enhance customer experience by delivering more consistent and personalized customer service based on individual customer preferences and attributes,pursue additional revenue generating opportunities, and improve operational efficiency. To support Air Canada's international network,the Altea Suite will help Air Canada achieve closer integration with its codeshare partners and within the Star Alliance more than two thirds of which are also Altea carriers. In addition to these solutions, the carrier will implement a range of other Amadeus IT solutions such as Anytime Merchandising, Customer Experience Management, Payments, Revenue Integrity, Group Management and Passenger Recovery. With the implementation of Amadeus Anytime Merchandising, Air Canada will be able to propose personalized offers according to individual preferences. The combination of the Altea Suite and Amadeus Anytime Merchandising will, in particular, ensure that Air Canada is well equipped to address evolving industry initiatives such as IATA's New Distribution Capability (NDC). At the same time, the renewed multi-year distribution agreement, signed in parallel to the Altea Suite agreement, supports Air Canada's focus on delivering a consistent brand and customer experience across channels, a key aspect of its international growth. Amadeus users worldwide will be able to access Air Canada's industry-leading customizable fare products and availability via the Amadeus global distribution system, as well as the carrier's ancillary offerings. Today, Amadeus travel agencies can seamlessly book Air Canada's full range of branded fares and select ancillary services, such as Preferred and Advance seat options. Future end-to-end connectivity will also enable integration of the airline's Corporate Rewards, Flight Pass and dynamic pricing offers. "This new agreement with Amadeus marks the evolution of what has been a long, successful and strategic partnership. We see the benefits of having a fully integrated IT and distribution strategy which brings the strongest distribution capabilities as well as next-generation airline IT services to our customers worldwide," said Lucie Guillemette, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, Air Canada. "This agreement supports Air Canada's business strategy for delivering a more personalized travel experience to improve customer service across all touchpoints to support and improve the profitability of our international expansion and improving how we sell, distribute and deliver our products and services. It will enable us to better integrate our systems with our codeshare and Star Alliance partners." "With Amadeus as its partner, Air Canada will ultimately have in place a modern, flexible community-based IT platform, other business-critical technology solutions, and unsurpassed distribution of its fares and content around the world," said Julia Sattel, Senior Vice President, Airlines, Amadeus. "The benefits of using the Altea platform extend well beyond just the airline's operations. Amadeus-connected travel agents have the unique advantage of instant visibility to any changes affecting an Altea airline booking, meaning they can better service their customers. Importantly, for Amadeus, this agreement also marks an important milestone for us in terms of our continued growth and expansion in North America in particular, a region which continues to be strategically crucial for the whole company." Air Canada is targeting full Altea Suite implementation in 2019. The renewed distribution agreement between Amadeus and Air Canada is effective immediately. As of the first half 2017, 199 customers had contracted either of the Amadeus Passenger Service Systems (Altea or New Skies) and 189 had implemented either of Altea or New Skies. About Air Canada Air Canada is Canada's largest domestic and international airline serving more than 200 airports on six continents. Canada's flag carrier is among the 20 largest airlines in the world and in 2016 served close to 45 million customers. Air Canada provides scheduled passenger service directly to 64 airports in Canada, 57 in the United States and 98 in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Australia, the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America and South America. Air Canada is a founding member of Star Alliance, the world's most comprehensive air transportation network serving 1,300 airports in 191 countries. Air Canada is the only international network carrier in North America to receive a Four-Star ranking according to independent U.K. research firm Skytrax, which also named Air Canada the 2017 Best Airline in North America. For more information, please visit: www.aircanada.com, follow @AirCanada on Twitter and join Air Canada on Facebook. About Amadeus Amadeus is a leading provider of advanced technology solutions for the global travel industry. Customer groups include travel providers (e.g. airlines, hotels, rail and ferry operators, etc.), travel sellers (travel agencies and websites), and travel buyers (corporations and travel management companies). The Amadeus group employs around 15,000 people worldwide and does business in more than 190 countries. The company has central sites in Spain (corporate headquarters), France (development) and Germany (operations), and offices in 70 countries around the world. This year marks 30 years since Amadeus was founded. Throughout 2017, the company will be celebrating 30 years of collaboration with customers, 30 years of technological innovation and 30 years of helping power better journeys for travellers all over the world. The group operates a transaction-based business model. Amadeus is listed on the Spanish Stock Exchange under the symbol "AMS.MC" and is a component of the IBEX 35 index. To find out more about Amadeus please visit www.amadeus.com, and www.amadeus.com/blog for more on the travel industry. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171005005541/en/ Contacts: Amadeus Corporate Communications (Madrid) Laura Cobbold, +34 609141695 laura.cobbold@amadeus.com or Grayling (New York) Malinda Singh, +1 646-239-1932 malinda.singh@grayling.com or Air Canada Isabelle Arthur, 514-422-5788 (Montreal) Isabelle.arthur@aircanada.ca or Peter Fitzpatrick, 416-263-5576 (Toronto) peter.fitzpatrick@aircanada.ca or Angela Mah, 604-270-5741 (Vancouver) angela.mah@aircanada.ca aircanada.com TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 10/05/17 -- Galane Gold Ltd. ("Galane Gold" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE: GG) is pleased to announce that it produced a total of 9,535 ounces of gold for the third quarter ending September 30, 2017. Furthermore, new data has resulted in the Company revising its current Tau underground mine plan to add a further 44,300 ounces of gold, as described below. The Company's Mupane property faced various challenges in the first two quarters of 2017 caused by higher than average rainfall and damage to its mill motor (as reported in its Management's Discussion & Analysis for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2017, a copy of which is available under the Company's profile on www.sedar.com). The third quarter production of 9,535 ounces of gold is representative of the expected quarterly production from Mupane under the current mine plan. The current mine plan for Tau prepared by the Company was based on the results of historic exploration and envisaged the mining of 85,000 ounces of gold over three and a half years as reported in the Company's press release of May 12, 2014.(1)(2) The new mine plan prepared by the Company has added a further 44,300 ounces of gold and an expected 20 months of additional production. The additional ounces and life can be attributed to the conversion of inferred mineral resources to measured and indicated mineral resources, as well as the discovery of the potential extension of the Tau mineralized body at depth as announced in the Company's press release of October 24, 2016.(3) These additional resources and the potential extension of Tau have not been incorporated into the existing resource model found in the Technical Report.(2) There has yet to be sufficient exploration on the potential expansion to extrapolate that it extends beyond the current mined area. Exploration drilling has commenced on the extent of this potential extension and the Company expects to provide an update on the results of this exploration early in 2018. Galane Gold CEO, Nick Brodie commented: "I am pleased that our strong management team reacted quickly and effectively to the issues presented to them in the first half of 2017 and have returned Mupane back to full production. With regards to Tau, our decision to move to underground operations has been supported again with the mineralized body proving to be more rich than originally envisaged. We are optimistic that our exploration program will confirm the extension of the Tau mineralized body at depth. We therefore expect that Tau will form the backbone of the operations for a time greater than that contemplated in the current mine plan." About Galane Gold Galane Gold is an un-hedged gold producer and explorer with mining operations and exploration tenements in Botswana and South Africa. Galane Gold is a public company and its shares are quoted on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "GG". Galane Gold's management team is comprised of senior mining professionals with extensive experience in managing mining and processing operations and large-scale exploration programmes. Galane Gold is committed to operating at world-class standards and is focused on the safety of its employees, respecting the environment, and contributing to the communities in which it operates. Notes (1) Underground commercial production at the Company's Tau property commenced in the third quarter of 2015. The decision to commence underground production at the Tau property and the mine plan prepared by the Company are based on internal reporting by the Company following open pit mining, and not based on an independent feasibility study or pre-feasibility study of mineral reserves demonstrating economic and technical viability. While there is some increased uncertainty and economic and technical risks associated with the Company's production decision to proceed without an independent feasibility study, the Company has been mining underground at the Tau property for the past two years, it carried out its own internal feasibility study based on its historic mining to support the new mine plan and, as a result, it believes it has sufficient knowledge to manage the risks associated with that decision. (2) The deposits on the Tau property are supported by a technical report in respect of the Mupane property entitled "Independent Technical Report on the Mupane Gold Mine" dated May 10, 2011, a copy of which is available under the Company's profile on www.sedar.com (the "Technical Report"). (3) Mineral resources are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. Inferred mineral resources are estimated on limited information not sufficient to verify geological and grade continuity or to allow technical and economic parameters to be applied. Inferred mineral resources are too speculative geologically to have economic considerations applied to them to enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves. There is no certainty that mineral resources can be upgraded to mineral reserves through continued exploration. Cautionary Notes Certain statements contained in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements". All statements other than statements of historical fact contained in this press release, including, without limitation, those regarding the Company's future financial position and results of operations, strategy, proposed acquisitions, plans, objectives, goals and targets, and any statements preceded by, followed by or that include the words "believe", "expect", "aim", "intend", "plan", "continue", "will", "may", "would", "anticipate", "estimate", "forecast", "predict", "project", "seek", "should" or similar expressions or the negative thereof, are forward-looking statements. These statements are not historical facts but instead represent only the Company's expectations, estimates and projections regarding future events. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve assumptions, risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual results may differ materially from what is expressed, implied or forecasted in such forward-looking statements. Additional factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially include, but are not limited to: the Company's dependence on two mineral projects; gold price volatility; risks associated with the conduct of the Company's mining activities in Botswana and South Africa; regulatory, consent or permitting delays; risks relating to the Company's exploration, development and mining activities being situated in Botswana and South Africa; risks relating to reliance on the Company's management team and outside contractors; risks regarding mineral resources and reserves; the Company's inability to obtain insurance to cover all risks, on a commercially reasonable basis or at all; currency fluctuations; risks regarding the failure to generate sufficient cash flow from operations; risks relating to project financing and equity issuances; risks arising from the Company's fair value estimates with respect to the carrying amount of mineral interests; mining tax regimes; risks arising from holding derivative instruments; the Company's need to replace reserves depleted by production; risks and unknowns inherent in all mining projects, including the inaccuracy of reserves and resources, metallurgical recoveries and capital and operating costs of such projects; contests over title to properties, particularly title to undeveloped properties; laws and regulations governing the environment, health and safety; operating or technical difficulties in connection with mining or development activities; lack of infrastructure; employee relations, labour unrest or unavailability; health risks in Africa; the Company's interactions with surrounding communities and artisanal miners; the Company's ability to successfully integrate acquired assets; risks related to restarting production; the speculative nature of exploration and development, including the risks of diminishing quantities or grades of reserves; development of the Company's exploration properties into commercially viable mines; stock market volatility; conflicts of interest among certain directors and officers; lack of liquidity for shareholders of the Company; risks related to the market perception of junior gold companies; and litigation risk. Management provides forward-looking statements because it believes they provide useful information to investors when considering their investment objectives and cautions investors not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Consequently, all of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements and other cautionary statements or factors contained herein, and there can be no assurance that the actual results or developments will be realized or, even if substantially realized, that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, the Company. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release and the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect subsequent information, events or circumstances or otherwise, except as required by law. Information of a technical and scientific nature that forms the basis of the disclosure in the press release has been approved by Charles Byron Pr. Sci. Nat., MAusIMM., MGSSA and Chief Geologist for Galane Gold, and a "qualified person" as defined by National Instrument 43-101. 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. Contacts: Galane Gold Ltd. Nick Brodie CEO + 44 7905089878 Nick.Brodie@GalaneGold.com www.GalaneGold.com GUILDFORD, SURREY -- (Marketwired) -- 10/05/17 -- Angle PLC (AIM: AGL) (OTCQX: ANPCY) (AIM:AGL OTCQX:ANPCY) THIS ANNOUNCEMENT AND THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS RESTRICTED AND IS NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN, INTO OR FROM THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, JAPAN, THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA, THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL ("RESTRICTED JURISDICTION"). THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS NOT AN OFFER OF SECURITIES FOR SALE IN THE UNITED STATES. THE SECURITIES DISCUSSED HEREIN HAVE NOT BEEN AND WILL NOT BE REGISTERED UNDER THE US SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "US SECURITIES ACT") AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES ABSENT REGISTRATION OR AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE US SECURITIES ACT. NO PUBLIC OFFERING OF THE SECURITIES DISCUSSED HEREIN IS BEING MADE IN THE UNITED STATES AND THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFERING OF SECURITIES FOR SALE IN THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, JAPAN OR THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA. FURTHER, THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS MADE FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR ISSUE OR SOLICITATION TO BUY, SUBSCRIBE FOR OR OTHERWISE ACQUIRE SHARES IN ANGLE PLC IN ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH ANY SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL. 5 October 2017 ANGLE plc ("ANGLE" or the "Company") Results of Fundraising ANGLE plc (AIM:AGL OTCQX:ANPCY), a leading player in the liquid biopsy market, is pleased to announce that, further to the announcement made earlier today, the Company has successfully raised a total of approximately 12.2 million (before expenses) with new and existing investors consisting of 3,757,146 EIS/VCT Placing Shares, 25,680,006 General Placing Shares, 772,857 General Subscription Shares and 4,579,169 Covington Subscription Shares, all at a price of 35 pence per New Ordinary Share. The Issue Price represents a discount of approximately 3 per cent to the closing mid-market price of an Ordinary Share of 36 pence on 4 October 2017. A circular to Shareholders is expected to be posted shortly, including details of the General Meeting and the Resolutions and will be available on the Company's website, www.angleplc.com. The General Meeting will be held at 10.00 a.m. on 30 October 2017 at the offices of the Company at 10 Nugent Road, The Surrey Research Park, Guildford, Surrey GU2 7AF. Director Participation and Related Party Transaction Ian Griffiths, a Director of the Company, has agreed to subscribe for 114,286 New Ordinary Shares as part of the General Subscription. Ian Griffiths is a related party of the Company for the purposes of the AIM Rules by virtue of his status as a Director of the Company. Andrew Newland, Garth Selvey and Brian Howlett, being the independent Directors for this purpose, consider, having consulted with the Company's nominated adviser, finnCap, that the terms of Ian Griffiths' participation in the General Subscription is fair and reasonable insofar as the Company's Shareholders are concerned. General Meeting and Admission The Fundraising is conditional, inter alia, upon the passing of the Resolutions at the General Meeting and upon the relevant Admission becoming effective (placing of the EIS/VCT Placing Shares is conditional upon, inter alia, EIS/VCT Admission and placing of the General Placing Shares and General Subscription Shares are conditional upon, inter alia, EIS/VCT Admission and General Admission) and the Covington Subscription is conditional upon, inter alia, the Covington Admission. Upon Admission the Enlarged Issued Share Capital is expected to be 109,604,952 Ordinary Shares. On this basis, the New Ordinary Shares will represent approximately 31.7 per cent. of the Company's Enlarged Issued Share Capital. Application will be made for the 34,789,178 New Ordinary Shares to be admitted to trading on AIM. Subject to the Resolutions having been passed and the Placing Agreement not having been terminated in accordance with its terms, it is anticipated that: admission of the 3,757,146 EIS/VCT Placing Shares will occur at 8.00 a.m. on or around 31 October 2017; admission of the 25,680,006 General Placing Shares and 772,857 General Subscription Shares will occur at 8.00 a.m. on or around 1 November 2017; and admission of the 4,579,169 Covington Subscription Shares will occur on or around 16 November 2017. Capitalised terms not otherwise defined in this announcement shall have the same meaning ascribed to such terms in the announcement released earlier today unless the context requires otherwise. For further information on ANGLE: ANGLE plc +44 (0) 1483 343434 Andrew Newland, Chief Executive Ian Griffiths, Finance Director finnCap Ltd (NOMAD and Joint Broker) +44 (0) 20 7220 0500 Corporate Finance - Adrian Hargrave, Simon Hicks, Kate Bannatyne Corporate Broking - Alice Lane, Nikita Jain WG Partners (Joint Broker) +44 (0) 203 705 9330 Nigel Barnes, Nigel Birks, Andrew Craig, Chris Lee FTI Consulting +44 (0) 203 727 1000 +1 212 850 5612 Simon Conway, Mo Noonan, Stephanie Cuthbert Kimberly Ha (US) Important notice Neither the contents of the Company's website nor the contents of any website accessible from hyperlinks on the Company's website (or any other website) is incorporated into, or forms part of, this announcement. This announcement does not constitute, or form part of, a prospectus relating to the Company, nor does it constitute or contain any invitation or offer to any person, or any public offer, to subscribe for, purchase or otherwise acquire any shares in the Company or advise persons to do so in any jurisdiction, nor shall it, or any part of it form the basis of or be relied on in connection with any contract or as an inducement to enter into any contract or commitment with the Company. The content of this announcement has not been approved by an authorised person within the meaning of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 ("FSMA"). This announcement has been issued by and is the sole responsibility of the Company. The information in this announcement is subject to change. This announcement is not an offer of securities for sale into the United States. The securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States, except pursuant to an applicable exemption from registration. No public offering of securities is being made in the United States. This announcement is not for release, publication or distribution, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States, Australia, Canada, the Republic of South Africa, Japan, the Republic of Ireland or any jurisdiction where to do so might constitute a violation of local securities laws or regulations (a "Prohibited Jurisdiction"). This announcement and the information contained herein are not for release, publication or distribution, directly or indirectly, to persons in a Prohibited Jurisdiction unless permitted pursuant to an exemption under the relevant local law or regulation in any such jurisdiction. finnCap is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom. finnCap is acting solely as nominated adviser, joint broker and joint bookrunner exclusively for the Company and no one else in connection with the contents of this announcement and will not regard any other person (whether or not a recipient of this announcement) as its client in relation to the contents of this announcement nor will it be responsible to anyone other than the Company for providing the protections afforded to its clients or for providing advice in relation to the contents of this announcement. Apart from the responsibilities and liabilities, if any, which may be imposed on finnCap by FSMA or the regulatory regime established thereunder, finnCap accepts no responsibility whatsoever, and makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, for the contents of this announcement including its accuracy, completeness or verification or for any other statement made or purported to be made by it, or on behalf of it, the Company or any other person, in connection with the Company and the contents of this announcement, whether as to the past or the future. finnCap accordingly disclaims all and any liability whatsoever, whether arising in tort, contract or otherwise (save as referred to above), which it might otherwise have in respect of the contents of this announcement or any such statement. WG Partners is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom. WG Partners is acting solely as joint broker and joint bookrunner exclusively for the Company and no one else in connection with the contents of this announcement and will not regard any other person (whether or not a recipient of this announcement) as its client in relation to the contents of this announcement nor will it be responsible to anyone other than the Company for providing the protections afforded to its clients or for providing advice in relation to the contents of this announcement. Apart from the responsibilities and liabilities, if any, which may be imposed on WG Partners by FSMA or the regulatory regime established thereunder, WG Partners accepts no responsibility whatsoever, and makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, for the contents of this announcement including its accuracy, completeness or verification or for any other statement made or purported to be made by it, or on behalf of it, the Company or any other person, in connection with the Company and the contents of this announcement, whether as to the past or the future. WG Partners accordingly disclaims all and any liability whatsoever, whether arising in tort, contract or otherwise (save as referred to above), which it might otherwise have in respect of the contents of this announcement or any such statement. In connection with the Placing, finnCap, WG Partners and their respective affiliates, acting as investors for their own accounts, may subscribe for or purchase ordinary shares in the Company ("Ordinary Shares") and in that capacity may retain, purchase, sell, offer to sell or otherwise deal for their own accounts in such Ordinary Shares and other securities of the Company or related investments in connection with the Placing or otherwise. Accordingly, references to the Ordinary Shares being offered, subscribed, acquired, placed or otherwise dealt in should be read as including any offer to, or subscription, acquisition, placing or dealing by finnCap, WG Partners and any of their respective affiliates acting as investors for their own accounts. In addition, finnCap, WG Partners or their respective affiliates may enter into financing arrangements and swaps in connection with which it or its affiliates may from time to time acquire, hold or dispose of Ordinary Shares. Neither finnCap nor WG Partners has any intention to disclose the extent of any such investment or transactions otherwise than in accordance with any legal or regulatory obligations to do so. Forward-looking Statements This announcement includes "forward-looking statements" which include all statements other than statements of historical facts, including, without limitation, those regarding the Company's business strategy, plans and objectives of management for future operations, or any statements proceeded by, followed by or that include the words "targets", "believes", "expects", "aims", "intends", "will", "may", "anticipates", "would", "could" or similar expressions or negatives thereof. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors beyond the Company's control that could cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on numerous assumptions regarding the Company's present and future business strategies and the environment in which the Company will operate in the future. No undue reliance should be placed upon forward-looking statements. These forward looking statements speak only as at the date of this announcement. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to disseminate any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in the Company's expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statements are based, unless required to do so by applicable law or the AIM Rules for Companies. Contacts: RNS Customer Services 0044-207797-4400 rns@londonstockexchange.com http://www.rns.com TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 10/05/17 -- Fura Gems Inc. ("Fura" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE: FUR) has commenced a major auger (non-core) and core drilling program after an extensive multi disciplinary desktop study. The desktop study used high resolution satellite imagery (LANDSAT and ASTER), SRTM digital elevation model and geophysical and geological data analysis with elevation and drainage analysis in conjunction with a field study by Fura's team of geologists. The Company expects to obtain the following information from its drilling program: 1. The top soil thickness or the overburden to give an estimate of the stripping ratio 2. The thickness of the ruby bearing gravel bed ("secondary ruby mineralisation") 3. The nature of basement rock and its identification to delineate ruby bearing amphibolite rock in the area ("primary ruby mineralisation") 4. An estimate of the potential grade and mineralisation patterns within the license areas The drilling campaign has been designed for the exploration of licenses 4392L, 3868L and 3869L to target the prospective mineralised zones (please see figure 1 below for drilling block plan). The exhaustive desktop study and field study based on the stratigraphy, lithology, anticipated soil depth and catchment/drainage study has identified sixteen potential areas which will be subject to approximately 5,000m (400m x 200m grid) of initial drilling in the first phase. Once the targets are delineated, these areas will be drilled in closer spaced drilling grids by using both core and auger drilling. Core drilling will be used to evaluate the sub surface continuity of the primary ruby mineralisation and auger drilling will help to evaluate the secondary ruby mineralisation. The data obtained from drilling will be used for determining the area for bulk sampling and the future calculation of mineral resource and reserve estimates. Fura will treat the gravel samples derived from the drilling with a Bushman jig which is due to arrive on site on or before October 31, 2017. This treatment process will determine an estimate of the grades for ruby mineralization at different size fractions. Dev Shetty, President and CEO of Fura, commented: "We are pleased to commence drilling on the licensed areas within a month after agreeing to purchase these ruby licences. The licences, located in the Montepuez District of Mozambique, are strategically located close to one of the world's single largest ruby deposits, and Fura is excited about the potential impact they may have on the Company and its shareholders." The Mozambican Ruby Licences On September 19, 2017, Fura entered into an agreement to acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of Cobadale Ltd., which owns an 80% effective interest in four ruby licences and has applied for an additional ruby licence (collectively, the "Ruby Licences") in the Montepuez District of Cabo Delgado province in Mozambique (the "Transaction"). Please see the Company's press release dated September 19, 2017 for further details regarding the Transaction. Mozambican rubies have been historically found in the northeastern part of Mozambique in the Montepuez District. The Ruby Licenses are strategically located in the Montepuez District and are comprised of 394.24 sq. km (39,424.51 hectares in four concessions) of highly prospective ground. The initial finding from the artisanal pits shows the occurrence of both primary and secondary ruby mineralization consisting of both higher and lower quality rubies. Closing of the Transaction is subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. The Company has applied to the TSX Venture Exchange for such approval and will provide an update regarding the closing of the Transaction in due course. To view Figure 1: Location of Ruby Licenses and proposed drilling block plan, please visit the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/1103138a.pdf. About Fura Gems Inc. Fura Gems Inc. is a gemstone mining and marketing company which is engaged in the mining, exploration and acquisition of gemstone licenses. Fura's headquarters are located in Toronto, Canada and its administrative headquarters are located in the Almas Tower, Dubai. Fura is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the ticker symbol "FUR". Fura is engaged in the exploration of resource properties in Colombia and owns a 100% interest in the emerald licence ECH -121. Fura has also entered into a purchase agreement to enter into the exploration and mining of rubies in Mozambique through the proposed acquisition of an 80% effective interest in the four ruby licences (4392, 3868, 3869 and 6811) and the submission of an application for an additional ruby licence. Regulatory Statements This press release may contain "forward looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the Company's ability to close the Transaction, the results of the drill program, the prospectivity of the Ruby Licences, the Company's ability to acquire additional licenses, the Company's exploration activities and the Company's performance. Generally, forward looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to: general business, economic, competitive, geopolitical and social uncertainties; the actual results of exploration activities; regulatory risks; risks inherent in foreign operations; and other risks of the mining industry. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information 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 information. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. NEITHER TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE. Contacts: Fura Gems Inc. Dev Shetty President & Chief Executive Officer dev.shetty@furagems.com The "The New ICH GCP E6 R2 Guideline" conference has been added to Research and Markets' offering With the new ICH GCP E6 Revision 2 changes now finalised and needing to be implemented, it is important for organisations running clinical trials to understand the changes, the reasons behind them, and how they will be affected. The new guideline includes a number of hot GCP inspection topics which are also covered in a number of other EU and FDA guidelines and documents, such as risk-based approaches for running clinical trials. These new approaches are aimed at increasing efficiency and reducing costs of clinical trials. This course will cover these new requirements for running clinical trials, evaluate the changes and discuss how to implement these for sponsors, CROs and study sites. This will enable you to meet the new international GCP standard to ensure the acceptance of clinical trial data by the regulatory authorities internationally including the European Union (EU), Japan, the United States, Canada and Switzerland. Benefits of attending Understand the new requirements of the updated ICH GCP guideline Discuss challenges and opportunities in implementing the new guidance Review the new requirements for Sponsor Oversight, CROs, quality systems, risk based approaches and the TMF Share best practice of these additional new GCP requirements which will facilitate a broad and consistent international implementation of new methodologies for running clinical trials Agenda: Introduction and objectives Understand the background to ICH GCP (R2) guideline Overview of the changes of the new ICH GCP (R2) guideline and how these will impact on clinical trials Sponsor implementation Quality management Oversight of CROs Risk-based monitoring Electronic systems Serious breaches of GCP Investigator study site oversight Trial Master File and preparation for inspection Summary and close For more information about this conference visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/md32lv/the_new_ich_gcp View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171005005625/en/ Contacts: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager press@researchandmarkets.com For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Related Topics: Pharmaceutical Manufacturing BOSTON, MA -- (Marketwired) -- 10/05/17 -- TechCode, a global network of startup incubators and entrepreneur ecosystems, today announces the opening of its newest office in Somerville, Massachusetts, located at 120 Beacon Street, Suite 301. As the 22nd TechCode office worldwide, the location will help local startups in the artificial intelligence, medical technology, new materials and green tech spaces to drive innovation, investment and business escalation, while serving as a launch pad to achieve market validation and enter global markets. To celebrate its newest location, TechCode will host two special events at its office. Details include: HUBweek Spoke: The Human Face of AI When: 12:45 p.m. on Tuesday, October 10 Topic: Artificial intelligence started off as a purely prescriptive technology. However, new companies are using AI to add an even more human touch. Learn how you can gain an edge in the market and help make AI a force for good. Participants: Luke Tang, North America GM, TechCode; Brennan White, founder and CEO, Cortex; Haim Senior, co-founder and CEO, Knowmail; Marshall Moutenot, co-founder, Upstream Grand Opening Event When: 5:30-8 p.m. on Wednesday, October 11 "Boston's bustling startup ecosystem is a perfect match for our accelerator and incubator programs, which give companies the opportunity to make international connections and grow into new markets," said Anthony DeOrsey, Deputy General Manager of TechCode Boston. "Our team is distinctively qualified to provide Boston-area startups with the support they need to hire the right talent, advance their technology and raise capital, all with a global mentality." With a global presence and especially strong connections in China, TechCode benefits startups with hands-on supply chain support, distribution, manufacturing and retail connections in the U.S., China and Europe and mentorship and technical support for emerging technology applications. With established incubators in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Guan, Silicon Valley, Seoul, Finland, Tel Aviv and Berlin, to name a few, TechCode has an extensive network for startups to think global. The company helps startups speed up commercialization through introductions to partners and investors, tests global market entry strategies and refines technology elements in their products. To learn more about TechCode Boston or to apply for the accelerator, visit us.techcode.com. About TechCode Focusing on incubator operation management and technology startup cultivation, TechCode is committed to building the world's leading entrepreneurship ecosystem. Integrating a wide range of global resources, TechCode has established incubators in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Guan, Silicon Valley, Seoul, Tel Aviv and Berlin to help get its startup members on their feet and grow rapidly. About CFLD CFLD (China Fortune Land Development Co, Ltd) integrates five resources: industry, university, research, government, and finance in over 40 industrial new cities across the world. Depending on the layout of its business partner they pioneer an innovative technology chain including incubation -- acceleration -- industrialization -- commercialization, providing full support to entrepreneurs from the "first step" to "every step" of entrepreneurship to the last mile. Press Contact: Lauren Jaeger Uproar PR for TechCode ljaeger@uproarpr.com 312-878-4575 ex. 246 IRVINE, CA -- (Marketwired) -- 10/05/17 -- Gold Mining USA, Inc. (OTC PINK: GMUI) today released a letter to shareholders from its new CEO Sean Guerrero providing further detail on GMUI's recent acquisition of an internet marketing/technology company and mobile app VITA. In conjunction with the acquisition, the Company has transitioned to a new management team and will be renamed Vita Mobile Systems and assigned a new ticker symbol in the coming weeks. The letter is included in its entirety below: Dear Fellow Shareholders, Here at Vita Mobile Systems, we are all very excited about becoming part of GMUI and about the launch of our first app. As Vita Mobile Systems is new to GMUI and its existing shareholders, I want to take this opportunity to tell you a little more about who we are and the value we bring to GMUI post acquisition. I hope you join us in our enthusiasm for the future of the company. Earlier this year, GMUI acquired Vita Mobile Systems, a privately held internet technology and marketing company focused on digital imaging technology, machine learning and artificial intelligence, and augmented reality. Over the past few months, Vita Mobile Systems' management team has successfully transitioned over to GMUI's leadership, and all day-to-day company operations have been moved to the Vita Mobile Systems' offices. As we await final approval for the company name change and new ticker, I wanted to provide GMUI's shareholders more information about Vita Mobile Systems and share our plans for the next few months. We are finalizing and preparing to launch our first app, "VITA", on both iOS and Android. The VITA app is an open network social platform that allows users to easily take pictures and videos that organically illustrate, record, and share life's events, creating an authentic immersive crowd-sourced view of everyday life. The purpose of VITA is to allow users to experience events, places, landmarks, and more, from the perspective of the people that are attending, or are physically there. Being a completely open social network platform, is what enables all users to benefit from the full experience of events and places, of which they may not be attending. This veers from many current social media platforms that limit users to only seeing shared content from their closed network of friends. VITA lets the public be the story tellers while empowering millions of users to view life and locations from the eyes of many. Some current social media apps are starting to introduce location-based content, which validates and strengthens our position. However, those apps have significant limitations, namely their closed network structure as well as social pressures that contribute to heavily filtered media. The current norm for social media users is to post only the best few pictures and videos for more attention and likes within manicured profiles. VITA creates a paradigm shift in how people will consume social media by removing the social pressures associated with today's apps and encouraging users to post all media, good and bad, to fully illustrate what is happening in the world. A good example of how VITA works is to look at the experience WAZE provides its users. WAZE, an Israeli based startup which was recently acquired by Google for $1.1 billion, relies on crowd-sourced content and updates, allowing users to create and contribute to location based incident reports along the road on an open network platform -- you do not need to build a network of friends to see what's happening around you. You can easily get information on a traffic jam or hazard in your path in real time with the open network. Similarly, VITA allows users to create, contribute to, and experience all kinds of events, places, landmarks and other happenings on a location basis and post both visual and text accounts to those events. In the future, our artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms will be able to utilize all pictures and videos, regardless of quality, to put the pieces together, creating a virtual reality experience for users. Artificial intelligence and machine learning are part of a rapidly growing market that is projected to grow an astounding 57% to about $36 billion in just the next 8 years, according to Grand View Research. We are extremely pleased that Vita Mobile Systems is at the forefront of that growth curve. Social media sites such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat have developed revenue models generating over $100 billion dollars a year while only utilizing 2% of the massive amounts of media content being captured every day. With VITA's ability to utilize 100% of all captured media and location based data, VITA can generate not only traditional revenue opportunities with picture and video page views, but can also capitalize on more profitable, hyper-local advertising as well as 2-D and 3-D augmented reality advertising. Additionally, our algorithms and interpretation of our collection of big data will become extremely valuable assets. Our VITA app is currently scheduled for launch in the coming months, and we plan to issue regular updates on the company's progress. Additionally, we are in the process of winding down and discontinuing the remaining operations GMUI had in mining. Going forward, GMUI's business will be solely dedicated to Vita Mobile Systems. Please look for regular updates on the company, and I encourage any shareholders interested in learning more about Vita Mobile Systems and VITA to visit our website (www.vitamobilesystems.com) and reach out to our IR group at ir@vitamobilesystems.com or 949-864-6902. Best Regards, Sean Guerrero CEO About VITA Mobile Systems (www.vitamobilesystems.com) VITA Mobile Systems is an app company focusing on digital imaging and technology in mobile devices. Its first app release, called VITA, makes it easy to illustrate, record and share life's events, creating an immersive crowd-sourced view of everyday life. The VITA community empowers its users to experience an event or view a location from a multitude of perspectives. By using a familiar and user friendly map to locate images and videos, users can easily view content as soon as it is created and share their favorites on their regular social media networks. VITA makes viewing life's moments easier, faster, and more engaging. For more information about GMUI and VITA please visit: www.vitamobilesystems.com Cautionary Language Concerning Forward-Looking Statements: This press release contains forward-looking statements. The words or phrases "would be," "will allow," "intends to," "will likely result," "are expected to," "will continue," "is anticipated," "estimate," "project," or similar expressions are intended to identify "forward-looking statements." Actual results could differ materially from those projected by VITA. The public filings, if any, of GMUI may be accessed at www.otcmarkets.com. Statements made herein are as of the date of this press release and should not be relied upon as of any subsequent date. VITA cautions readers not to place reliance on such statements. Unless otherwise required by applicable law, VITA does not undertake, and VITA specifically disclaims any obligation, to update any forward-looking statements to reflect occurrences, developments, unanticipated events or circumstances after the date of such statement. CONTACT INFORMATION Gold Mining USA, Inc. 2640 Main St, Irvine, CA 92614 +1 (949) 864-6902 info@vitamobilesystems.com TORONTO, ON--(Marketwired - October 05, 2017) - Sprott Inc. (TSX: SII) ("Sprott" or the "Company") and Ceres Partners LLC ("Ceres Partners"), are pleased to announce that they have entered into an agreement to launch the Ceres - Sprott Institutional Farmland Fund (the "Fund") to provide institutional investors the opportunity to participate in the North American farmland investment market along with an established manager, Ceres Partners. Ceres Partners is a specialist agricultural asset manager based in Indiana and the manager of Ceres Farms LLC ("Ceres Farms"), a farmland fund focused on row crop farmland in the Midwestern Region of the United States. Ceres Farms currently owns nearly 100,000 acres of productive farmland across ten states with total assets under management of approximately US$620 million. "The addition of a farmland strategy supports our objective of providing investors with access to strategies with low correlation to the broader markets," said Whitney George, Executive VP of Sprott and Chairman of Sprott USA. "As a longstanding investor in Ceres Farms, I have a great deal of respect for Perry Vieth and his team." "Farmland is an alternative asset class that we have been investing in since 2007 and we look forward to expanding the relationship between Ceres Partners and Sprott," said Perry Vieth, CEO of Ceres Partners. The Fund's objective will be to acquire and actively lease farmland in the United States. In addition to renting the farmland to experienced local farmers, the Fund will seek to obtain income from both tillable and non-tillable areas wherever possible in a way that is reasonable given the unique characteristics of each farm parcel. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS BEING MADE PURSUANT TO AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 134 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933. AS REQUIRED BY RULE 134, THIS PRESS RELEASE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY SECURITIES, AND SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER, SOLICITATION OR SALE IN ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH OFFER, SOLICITATION OR SALE WOULD BE UNLAWFUL PRIOR TO REGISTRATION OR QUALIFICATION UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF THAT JURISDICTION OR COMPLIANCE WITH AN EXEMPTION THEREFROM. About Sprott Sprott is an alternative asset manager and a global leader in precious metal and real asset investments. Through its subsidiaries in Canada, the US and Asia, the Corporation is dedicated to providing investors with best-in-class investment strategies that include Exchange Listed Products, Alternative Asset Management and Private Resource Investments. The Corporation also operates Merchant Banking and Brokerage businesses in both Canada and the US. Sprott is based in Toronto with offices in New York, Carlsbad and Vancouver and its common shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol (TSX: SII). For more information, please visit www.sprott.com. About Ceres Ceres Partners is a specialist investment manager focused exclusively on food and agriculture. Ceres Farms LLC is a co-mingled investment fund launched in 2007 that acquires U.S. farmland which it then leases to independent family farming operations. Ceres Farms currently owns nearly 100,000 acres across ten states. At September 30, 2017, Ceres Farms had total assets of US$620 million. Ceres Farms' investment objectives are to provide income, and capital appreciation, with low volatility and low correlation to other asset classes. Investor contact information: Glen Williams Managing Director (416) 943-4394 gwilliams@sprott.com or Dan Gagnier Gagnier Communications (646) 569-5897 sprott@gagnierfc.com Coca-Cola European Partners plc (CCEP) (ticker symbol: CCE) will release third-quarter 2017 earnings before trading begins on the NYSE on Tuesday, 7 November 2017. A conference call discussing these results will be webcast live through the company's website, www.ccep.com, at 15:00 GMT, 16:00 CET, and 10:00 a.m. EST. A replay of the presentation will be available later that day. A copy of the company's news release will be available through the website on the home page and under the Investors section. ABOUT CCEP Coca-Cola European Partners plc (CCEP) is a leading consumer goods company in Europe, producing, distributing and marketing an extensive range of nonalcoholic ready-to-drink beverages and is the world's largest independent Coca-Cola bottler based on revenue. Coca-Cola European Partners serves a consumer population of over 300 million across Western Europe, including Andorra, Belgium, continental France, Germany, Great Britain, Iceland, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden. The company is listed on Euronext Amsterdam, the New York Stock Exchange, Euronext London, and on the Spanish stock exchanges, and trades under the symbol CCE. For more information about CCEP, please visit www.ccep.com and follow CCEP on Twitter at @CocaColaEP. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171005005095/en/ Contacts: Coca-Cola European Partners plc Investor Relations: Thor Erickson, +1-678-260-3110 or Media Relations: Shanna Wendt, +44-7976-595-168 AIX-EN-PROVENCE, France, October 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- SUNPARTNER Technologies, a pioneering company which develops and integrates photovoltaic glass for the building market, has announced the opening of a new production site in Rousset, near Aix-en-Provence. During the opening ceremony, the company and the European Investment represented by his Vice-President, Ambroise Fayolle, signed a EUR 15 million financing to boost the development and research programs of the company. The EIB financing is guaranteed under the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI), the heart of the Investment Plan for Europe commonly known as Juncker Plan. (Photo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/568305/SUNPARTNER_Technologies_EIB_Logo.jpg ) The EFSI-backed financing will allow the company to establish its commercial infrastructure, invest in R&D and further expand its manufacturing capacity. SUNPARTNER Technologies previously raised EUR [55.0] million of capital investments and the EIB financing brings the total financing to EUR [70.0] million. "This is a key loan for innovation and climate action that comes at a crucial time for this firm with strong growth potential," said Vice-President Ambroise Fayolle at the event. "The EIB is particularly proud to be financing this innovative project, which will enable SUNPARTNER Technologies to market its cutting-edge technology while developing its future production lines." Ludovic Deblois, CEO of Sunpartner: "The support of the EIB is essential to accelerate our growth. This financing also shows the strong involvement of the European Union to protect our planet." The European Investment Bank (EIB) is the EU bank, and together with the European Investment Fund (EIF) forms the EIB Group. Thanks to its reliable expertise and the financial attractiveness of its AAA rating, the EIB Group has doubled the volume of its activities in France since 2012 (reaching EUR 9.3bn in 2016), not only supporting SMEs and innovation but also financing investment in strategic sectors such as climate action, energy, healthcare, education for young people and training facilities. SUNPARTNER Technologies develops innovative photovoltaic solutions for the consumer electronics, building, and transportation markets. Its Wysips technology captures solar energy and converts it to electricity. SUNPARTNER was founded in 2008, has today 85 employees, raised 70 million since its creation. Press contacts: EIB: Anne-Cecile Auguin, a.auguin@bei.org, tel.:+352-43-79-83330 / Mobile: +352-621-36-19-48 Website: http://www.eib.org/press - Press Office: +352-4379-21000 - press@eib.org Sunpartner Technologies: Anastasia Cailly ana@hikou.fr - +33-6-82-52-85-25 VANCOUVER, British Columbia, October 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Highlights Include: 281gpt Silver Over 48.7 Meters - 403gpt Silver Over 31.80 Meters Kootenay Silver Inc. (TSXV: KTN) (the "Company" or "Kootenay") is pleased to announce the results of 13 infill drill holes recently completed by Pan American Silver Corp.("Pan American Silver")on its La Negra silver discovery, contained within the Promontorio Mineral Belt in Sonora, Mexico. The current definition drill program on La Negra is part of an option agreement between Kootenay and Pan American Silver that provides Kootenay with a series of work and cash commitments and is carried to production interest on La Negra. Kootenay President and CEO James McDonald states, "We are very pleased with Pan American's work and the continued high-grade results achieved from the current infill drill program on La Negra. Assays continue to support the grades and widths encountered in previous drilling, further demonstrating the consistency and continuity of the high-grade silver mineralization contained within the resource. We are excited and look forward to Pan American completing the remaining 1,500 meters of the program and additional metallurgical work." Drill highlights from LN 17-73 to LN 17-85 include: LN-74-17 : 306 gpt silver over 8.20 meters within 159 gpt silver over 34.30 meters and 597 gpt silver over 3.55 meters within 192 gpt silver over 17.10 meters : 306 gpt silver over 8.20 meters within 159 gpt silver over 34.30 meters and 597 gpt silver over 3.55 meters within 192 gpt silver over 17.10 meters LN-76-17 : 3004 gpt silver over 1.95 meters, 2,146 gpt silver over 1.00 meter and 558 gpt silver over 5.35 meters within 281 gpt silver over 48.70 meters : 3004 gpt silver over 1.95 meters, 2,146 gpt silver over 1.00 meter and 558 gpt silver over 5.35 meters within 281 gpt silver over 48.70 meters LN-81-17 : 3018 gpt silver over 1.10 meters within 274 gpt silver over 21.00 meters and a separate interval of 388 gpt silver over 11.40 meters within 274 gpt silver over 21 meters : 3018 gpt silver over 1.10 meters within 274 gpt silver over 21.00 meters and a separate interval of 388 gpt silver over 11.40 meters within 274 gpt silver over 21 meters LN-82-17 : 1098 gpt silver over 8.85 meters within 403 gpt silver over 31.80 meters and a separate interval of 138 gpt silver over 29.25 meters : 1098 gpt silver over 8.85 meters within 403 gpt silver over 31.80 meters and a separate interval of 138 gpt silver over 29.25 meters LN-83-17 : 674 gpt silver over 7.60 meters within 289 gpt silver over 38.70 meters and a separate interval of 236 gpt silver over 76.35 meters : 674 gpt silver over 7.60 meters within 289 gpt silver over 38.70 meters and a separate interval of 236 gpt silver over 76.35 meters LN-85-17: 308 gpt silver over 12.15 meters within 174 gpt silver over 53.80 meters and a separate interval of 571 gpt silver over 5.35 meters Click to view: Drill plan and cross sections. A summary of the infill drilling within the mineralized zone is provided in the table below. Silver Gold Copper Lead Zinc Drill hole From To Interval gpt gpt ppm ppm ppm Breccia LN-73-17 151.15 152 .50 1.35 44 0.54 1381 2761 717 LN Bx Principal 295.70 300.70 5.00 52 0.03 172 26 65 LN Bx Inferior Inc. 295.70 297.45 1.75 96 0.03 282 31 91 LN Bx Inferior LN-74-17 67.65 94.90 27.25 58 0.03 148 4193 325 LN Bx Principal Inc. 74.65 75.40 0.75 388 0.17 775 8639 332 LN Bx Principal Inc. 82.35 82.80 0.45 1014 0.26 3069 31900 3691 LN Bx Principal 131.45 135.00 3.55 62 0.11 123 3189 165 LN Bx Principal Inc. 134.20 135.00 0.80 101 0.06 251 1167 118 LN Bx Principal 175.70 192.80 17.10 192 0.18 286 7061 231 LN Bx Inferior Inc. 175.70 179.25 3.55 597 0.40 840 29289 415 LN Bx Inferior Inc. 176.35 178.10 1.75 881 0.42 1252 37700 576 LN Bx Inferior 212.05 246.35 34.30 159 0.14 277 544 155 LN Bx Inferior Inc. 238.15 246.35 8.20 306 0.28 574 909 274 LN Bx Inferior Inc. 238.15 239.20 1.05 487 0.14 835 1062 368 LN Bx Inferior Inc. 243.85 246.35 2.50 487 0.29 1034 896 402 LN Bx Inferior Inc. 245.30 246.35 1.05 507 0.36 1127 1057 325 LN Bx Inferior LN-75-17 29.00 40.15 11.15 325 0.04 286 4068 78 LN Bx Principal Inc. 30.50 35.50 5.00 588 0.04 370 4731 83 LN Bx Principal Inc. 31.75 33.15 1.40 979 0.05 1129 4074 59 LN Bx Principal 61.55 62.95 1.40 346 0.12 613 11900 432 LN Bx Principal LN-76-17 73.20 121.90 48.70 281 0.08 399 2590 175 LN Bx Principal Inc. 75.35 77.30 1.95 3004 0.43 885 1486 221 LN Bx Principal Inc. 76.40 77.30 0.90 3143 0.46 742 1197 190 LN Bx Principal Inc. 93.05 94.05 1.00 2146 0.34 3395 28800 438 LN Bx Principal Inc. 104.35 105.65 1.30 474 0.45 2260 12300 809 LN Bx Principal Inc. 116.55 121.90 5.35 558 0.11 851 387 248 LN Bx Principal Inc. 117.65 118.95 1.30 642 0.15 1052 645 349 LN Bx Principal Inc. 120.65 121.90 1.25 1029 0.15 1448 417 312 LN Bx Principal LN-77-17 47.55 53.25 5 .70 30 0.09 125 5933 188 LN Bx Principal LN-78-17 46.10 47.70 1.60 42 0.01 71 224 379 LN Bx Principal LN-79-17 34.45 45.65 11.20 34 0.01 108 1665 212 LN Bx Principal Inc. 43.60 44.25 0.65 66 0.01 61 224 76 LN Bx Principal LN-80-17 1.25 43.55 42.30 45 0.01 85 3365 93 LN Bx Principal Inc. 6.00 2205 16.05 72 0.01 115 2512 108 LN Bx Principal Inc. 6.00 9.95 3.95 167 0.01 118 866 214 LN Bx Principal Inc. 8.00 9.95 1.95 211 0,01 146 1152 220 LN Bx Principal LN-81-17 33.00 36.60 3.60 101 0.13 330 6545 566 LN Bx Principal 46.10 48.00 1.90 83 0.01 216 13531 4118 LN Bx Principal 72.55 73.75 1.20 156 0.06 298 1643 149 LN Bx Principal 93.45 94.95 1.50 234 0.07 489 8396 140 LN Bx Principal 117.20 138.20 21.00 274 0.09 528 736 175 LN Bx Principal Inc. 122.85 124.15 1.30 832 0.18 1209 1873 362 LN Bx Principal Inc. 129.15 129.95 0.80 739 0,13 1173 837 279 LN Bx Principal Inc. 136.45 137.55 1.10 3018 0.60 5612 2382 1055 LN Bx Principal 158.50 205.40 46.90 137 0.13 200 535 88 LN Bx Inferior Inc. 159.40 170.80 11.40 388 0.09 617 51 211 LN Bx Inferior Inc. 159.40 161.25 1.85 1261 0.18 1936 87 534 LN Bx Inferior Inc. 159.95 161.25 1.30 1458 0.20 2234 95 599 LN Bx Inferior LN-82-17 45 .40 74.65 29.25 138 0.11 210 11245 272 LN Bx Principal Inc. 46.75 47.80 1.05 1111 0.22 901 32700 377 LN Bx Principal Inc. 57.60 62.45 4.85 242 0.24 417 18535 280 LN Bx Principal Inc. 62.00 62.45 0.45 463 0.98 976 22300 462 LN Bx Principal 107.90 139.70 31.80 403 0.13 706 676 221 LN Bx Principal Inc. 128.75 137.60 8,85 1098 0.26 1515 388 365 LN Bx Principal Inc. 128.75 130.30 1.55 2102 0.29 3635 1391 909 LN Bx Principal Inc. 136.90 137.60 0.70 3759 0.46 3622 84 717 LN Bx Principal LN-83-17 52.50 128.85 76.35 236 0.10 401 1627 163 LN Bx Principal Inc. 72.75 74.55 1.80 1112 0.15 1733 3644 375 LN Bx Principal Inc. 100.40 106.95 6.55 1248 0.31 2234 1405 423 LN Bx Principal Inc. 100.40 101.85 1.45 3581 0.60 5890 2045 1029 LN Bx Principal 174.40 213.10 38.70 289 0.16 491 1180 225 LN Bx Inferior Inc. 184.75 187.40 2.65 553 0.20 948 1695 274 LN Bx Inferior Inc. 195.30 202.90 7.60 674 0.10 1192 514 338 LN Bx Inferior Inc. 199.50 200.90 1.40 1330 0.14 2375 614 451 LN Bx Inferior 231.05 238.10 7.05 61 0.02 72 1809 136 LN Bx Inferior Inc. 236.80 238.10 1.30 110 0.02 143 594 102 LN Bx Inferior LN-84-17 65.10 75.15 10.05 77 0.04 132 3787 197 LN Bx Principal Inc. 65.10 65.70 0.60 190 0.10 65 2659 33 LN Bx Principal Inc. 73.30 73.85 0.55 703 0.32 1304 27500 698 LN Bx Principal 116.65 117.70 1.05 125 0.14 157 8859 204 LN Bx Principal 131.80 133.10 1.30 120 0.13 159 9013 112 LN Bx Principal 209.80 264.75 54.95 68 0.05 150 434 130 LN Bx Inferior Inc. 209.80 210.65 0.85 535 0.05 975 1338 504 LN Bx Inferior Inc. 225.80 233.30 7.50 209 0.18 348 808 343 LN Bx Inferior Inc. 231.65 233.30 1.65 400 0.05 824 918 482 LN Bx Inferior LN-85-17 39.05 44.40 5.35 571 0.25 2566 12143 609 LN Bx Principal Inc. 40.10 40.65 0.55 3735 2.26 21200 93300 2200 LN Bx Principal 84.85 89.70 4.85 72 0.01 170 6279 336 LN Bx Principal 121.65 175.45 53.80 174 0.09 263 2039 114 LN Bx Inferior Inc. 130.55 142.70 12.15 308 0.17 476 2602 176 LN Bx Inferior Inc. 137.80 139.75 1.95 913 040 1401 3131 392 LN Bx Inferior Inc. 162.65 167.10 4.45 779 0.20 1211 373 321 LN Bx Inferior Inc. 164.00 165.15 1.15 1363 0.26 2006 640 578 LN Bx Inferior Note: all intervals are downhole. Holes are oriented approximately perpendicular to the mineralized trends, and downhole lengths may be slightly shorter than the stated interval. QA/QC Samples were assayed by Inspectorate of Hermosillo, Mexico, using four acid digestion 35 element ICP analytical methods with fire assay for Au and Ag with atomic absorption finish and gravimetric finish, respectively. Pan American has followed a Quality Assurance/Quality Control program comprised of the insertion of blank material and certified standard samples at a frequency of one each for every 20 samples. There is no known drilling, sampling, recovery, or other factors that could materially affect the accuracy or reliability of the data referred to in the table. Qualified Persons The Kootenay technical information in this news release has been prepared in accordance with the Canadian regulatory requirements set out in National Instrument 43-101 (Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects) and reviewed on behalf Kootenay by James McDonald, P.Geo, President, CEO & Director for Kootenay, a Qualified Person. About Kootenay Silver Inc. Kootenay Silver Inc. is an exploration company actively engaged in the discovery and development of mineral projects in the Sierra Madre Region of Mexico and in British Columbia, Canada. Supported by one of the largest portfolios of silver assets in Mexico, Kootenay continues to provide its shareholders with significant leverage to silver prices. The Company remains focused on the expansion of its current silver resources, new discoveries and the near-term economic development of two of its priority silver projects located in prolific mining districts in Sonora, State and Chihuahua, State, Mexico, respectively. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: The information in this news release has been prepared as at October 4, 2017. Certain statements in this news release, referred to herein as "forward-looking statements", constitute "forward-looking statements" under the provisions of Canadian provincial securities laws. These statements can be identified by the use of words such as "expected", "may", "will" or similar terms. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of factors and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by Kootenay as of the date of such statements, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, known and unknown, could cause actual results to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Except as otherwise required by law, Kootenay expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any such statements to reflect any change in Kootenay's expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based. Cautionary Note to US Investors:This news release may contain information about adjacent properties on which we have no right to explore or mine. We advise U.S. investors that the SEC's mining guidelines strictly prohibit information of this type in documents filed with the SEC. U.S. investors are cautioned that mineral deposits on adjacent properties are not indicative of mineral deposits on our properties. This news release may contain forward-looking statements including but not limited to comments regarding the timing and content of upcoming work programs, geological interpretations, receipt of property titles, potential mineral recovery processes, etc. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements. This press release uses the terms "Measured", "Indicated", and "Inferred" resources. United States investors are advised that while such terms are recognized and required by Canadian regulations, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission does not recognize them. "Inferred Mineral Resources" have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence, and 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 other economic studies. United States investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of Measured or Indicated Mineral Resources will ever be converted into Mineral Reserves. United States investors are also cautioned not to assume that all or any part of a Mineral Resource is economically or legally mineable. Media Contact: James McDonald CEO and President +1-403-880-6016 Ken Berry Chairman +1-604-601-5652 +1-888-601-5650 visit: http://www.kootenaysilver.com Albany International Corp. (NYSE:AIN) announced today that its subsidiary, Albany International France S.A.S. ("Albany France"), has initiated discussions with the employee Works Council regarding a proposal to restructure operations at the Company's Machine Clothing production facilities in Selestat, France. The proposed restructuring would reduce employment by approximately 54 positions. Machine Clothing market conditions in Europe have continued to decline since an earlier restructuring in 2013. That restructuring, which resulted in reduced employment in the Selestat location, was intended to improve the viability of both the Selestat and St. Junien operations. Unfortunately, despite the best efforts and good faith of all parties, conditions globally, and especially in the European market supported by these locations, have continued to decline even further since 2012, leading to the current proposal. Global Machine Clothing sales were $582 million in 2016, compared to $693 million in 2012, a decline of 16%. President and CEO Joseph Morone said, "As we have long reported, the market for Machine Clothing in the publication grades, particularly in Europe, has been deteriorating for over a decade, and continues to do so. As we described at the time, the 2013 restructuring was part of a deliberate but painful process of aligning our global capacity to the long-term structure of the machine clothing industry. This restructuring process has to date resulted in the closing of 13 plants across the globe, including eight in North America and four in Europe, and significant downsizing at other European plants, along with investment in new capacity in Asia and South America. While we had hoped that the 2013 actions would represent the last step in this global restructuring process, continued deterioration in the market for publication paper grades has driven the need for further restructuring in order to maintain Albany's ability to compete in the markets we continue to serve." Consultations with the Works Council will be completed in accordance with applicable French legislation. About Albany International Corp. Albany International is a global advanced textiles and materials processing company, with two core businesses. Machine Clothing is the world's leading producer of custom-designed fabrics and belts essential to production in the paper, nonwovens, and other process industries. Albany Engineered Composites is a rapidly growing supplier of highly engineered composite parts for the aerospace industry. Albany International is headquartered in Rochester, New Hampshire, operates 22 plants in 10 countries, employs 4,400 people worldwide, and is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (Symbol AIN). Additional information about the Company and its products and services can be found at www.albint.com. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171005005615/en/ Contacts: Albany International Corp. Investors John Cozzolino, 518-445-2281 john.cozzolino@albint.com or Media Heather Kralik, 801-505-7001 heather.kralik@albint.com Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 5, 2017) - Canabo Medical Inc. (TSXV: CMM) (OTCQB: CAMDF) ("Canabo" or the "Company") is pleased to report that it will receive a $310,000.00 Research Grant to conduct a study on the reduction of opioids for patients prescribed medical cannabis. The study, perhaps the largest of its kind, will involve 1,000 patients currently using opioids to manage chronic pain. It will examine whether the use of opioids among patients experiencing chronic pain increase or decrease following the prescription of medical cannabis. Opioid deaths are one of the most serious concerns facing physicians in Canada and around the world. John Philpott, Canabo's CEO commented: "We are delighted to play a leading role in this type of research in Canada. The study's methodology has been already been approved by the Ethics Review Board at Acadia University which will greatly assist in having the study's results published in Medical Journals across Canada and around the world. We believe this is just the beginning for other such research contracts". In addition, The Company wishes to announce that, subject to TSX Venture Exchange approval, it has granted incentive stock options to certain directors, officers, and consultants to purchase up to an aggregate of 1,000,000 common shares exercisable on or before October 4, 2022 at a price of 0.45c per share. About the Company Canabo wholly owns and operates Cannabinoid Medical Clinics, or CMClinics, Canada's largest physician led referral-only clinics for medical cannabis. Established in 2014, Canabo now has 19 clinics across Canada, with additional locations planned to open in 2017. Canabo operates referral-only medical clinics dedicated to evaluating the suitability of prescribing, and monitoring cannabinoid treatments for patients suffering from chronic pain and disabling illnesses. Clinics operated by Canabo are staffed by physicians and qualified health care practitioners specifically trained to assess patient suitability for cannabinoid treatment, recommend treatment regimes, and monitor treatment progress. Forward Looking Statements Except for historical information, this press release contains forward-looking statements, which reflect Canabo Medical Inc.'s current expectations regarding future events. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause Canabo's actual results to differ materially from those statements. Those risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the Company's ability to access capital, the successful and timely completion of opening clinics, regulatory changes, competition, approvals and other business and industry risks. The forward-looking statements in this press release are also based on a number of assumptions which may prove to be incorrect. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release represent views only as of the date of this release and are presented for the purpose of assisting potential investors in understanding Canabo's business and may not be appropriate for other purposes. Canabo does not undertake to update forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time by or on its behalf, except as required under applicable securities legislation. Investors are cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements and are encouraged to consult with a professional investment advisor. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive. Readers are further cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are placed will occur. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. For further information, please contact: Ms. Bianca Muller Telephone: +1-902-334-1700 Email: media@cmclinic.ca www.canabocorp.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. Regulatory News: The protocol initiated by Groupe PSA (Paris:UG) to give a fair and clear information to Peugeot, Citroen and DS customers, receives the ECOBEST 2017 award for the relevance of its project. The protocol is representative of the average customer consumption, reproducible, and robust. It was co-developed with 2 ONGs: T&E and FNE, under the supervision of Bureau Veritas which has verified the accuracy and integrity of the results. The development of the real-world fuel consumption test protocol commenced in late 2015 by Groupe PSA in association with two NGOs, Transport and Environment (T&E) and France Nature Environnement (FNE), and with a global independent certification organisation, Bureau Veritas. After 18 months of testing 60 vehicles with over 430 road tests covering more than 40,000 km, the measurements obtained make it possible to estimate the consumption in real-world driving conditions of more than 1,000 versions of Peugeot, Citroen and DS vehicles. This collaborative initiative, a world first in the automotive industry, wins the "ECOBEST 2017" award. ECOBEST 2017 is the key award in the green technologies, actions and programs in preserving the environment. It is given by AUTOBEST jury members representing 31 European countries, making it the largest Independent Motoring Jury in the world by the number of represented countries AUTOBEST welcomes the initiative of the Groupe PSA in association with T&E, FNE and Bureau Veritas "It is the first time in the industry when a car maker is coming with a scientific approach of measuring the real world consumptions. In a period of time dominated by the suspicion that all the released consumption figures are not close to the reality, the PSA project is showing the determination of the French car maker to be fair with its consumers" The awards ceremony will take place in the first half of February 2018. About Groupe PSA Groupe PSA designs unique automotive experiences and delivers mobility solutions to meet all client expectations. Groupe PSA has five car brands, PeugeotCitroenDSOpel and Vauxhall, as well as a wide array of mobility and smart services under its Free2Move brand, aiming to become a great carmaker and the preferred mobility provider. It is an early innovator in the field of autonomous and connected cars. It is also involved in financing activities through Banque PSA Finance and in automotive equipment via Faurecia. Find out more at groupe-psa.com/en. Media library: medialibrary.groupe-psa.com Twitter@GroupePSA About Transport Environment (T&E) Established in 1990, Transport Environment (T&E) is Europe's leading NGO campaigning for cleaner transport. T&E represents 53 organisations from 26 countries across Europe, and it has contributed to high-profile EU policy changes such as more sustainable biofuels and binding standards for more fuel-efficient cars. www.transportenvironment.org About France Nature Environnement France Nature Environnement is the French federation of nature and environmental protection associations. It speaks on behalf of a movement of 3,500 associations, grouped under 74 member organisations active throughout France and its overseas territories. France Nature Environnement: wherever nature needs us. www.fne.asso.fr About Bureau Veritas Bureau Veritas is a world leader in inspection, certification and laboratory testing services. It helps its clients improve their performance by offering services and innovative solutions in order to ensure that their assets, products, infrastructure and processes meet standards and regulations in terms of quality, health and safety, environmental protection and social responsibility. The Group has 73,000 employees in 1,400 offices and laboratories around the world. For more information, visit: www.bureauveritas.com View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171005005652/en/ Contacts: Media: Groupe PSA: Laure de Servigny, +33 6 70 18 88 75 or Transport Environment: +32 484 27 87 91 or France Nature Environnement: +33 6 01 00 31 28 or Bureau Veritas: +33 1 55 24 76 01 This domain was recently registered at Namecheap.com. Please check back later! NEW YORK, NY -- (Marketwired) -- 10/05/17 -- NetworkNewsWire ("NNW"), a multifaceted financial news and publishing company, today announces the publication of an editorial featuring ABcann Global (TSX VENTURE: ABCN) (OTCQB: ABCCF), a client of NNW that is a globally licensed, cost efficient producer of premium quality organic standardized medicinal cannabis. The publication, titled, "The Generational Growth Opportunity for Canadian Cannabis," discusses a few companies likely to benefit from the global cannabis market's perpetual growth. To view the full publication, visit: https://www.networknewswire.com/generational-growth-opportunity-canadian-cannabis/ ABcann Global Corp. (TSX VENTURE: ABCN) (OTCQB: ABCCF) sees Germany as a gateway to vast European and global opportunities. "We're absolutely at the forefront," recent CEO Aaron Keay told Marijuana Business Daily. "We look at Europe as a significant part of our strategic plans for expansion, in addition to what we're doing domestically." Keay, now focused on global operations, confirmed that ABcann expects to acquire a distribution license and start exporting to Germany in the third quarter. "With a market capitalization around $82 million, ABcann presents great value for Cannabis Wheaton and should be on the radar of investors in this space. Other Canadian licensed producers carry much higher market valuations. Even at a C$2.25 per share valuation (about $180 million US market cap) ABcann still represents a compelling value in the industry with many licensed producers commanding valuations two to four times higher." About ABcann Global Corporation ABcann was one of the first companies to obtain a production license under the Marijuana for Medical Purposes Regulations, which it received on March 21, 2014. It obtained a sales license on December 31, 2015. ABcann's flagship facility, in Napanee, Ontario, contains proprietary plant-growing technology, including environmentally-controlled chambers capable of monitoring and regulating all variables in the growing process. This approach and the systems in place allow ABcann to produce organically grown and pesticide-free, high-yielding plants, which, in turn, can generate high-quality products that are consistent from batch to batch. ABcann is able to control environmental and nutrient demands, tailor-made for a particular strain of cannabis, without the variation that is typical when producing large quantities in less-controlled, larger rooms and greenhouse-type structures. ABcann's modular approach to systems technology eliminates scale-up risk and allows ABcann to locate anywhere in the world and maintain consistency and quality of product. For more information, visit www.ABcannGlobal.com. About NetworkNewsWire NetworkNewsWire (NNW) is an information service that provides (1) access to our news aggregation and syndication servers, (2) NetworkNewsBreaks that summarize corporate news and information, (3) enhanced press release services, (4) social media distribution and optimization services, and (5) a full array of corporate communication solutions. As a multifaceted financial news and content distribution company with an extensive team of contributing journalists and writers, NNW is uniquely positioned to best serve private and public companies that desire to reach a wide audience of investors, consumers, journalists and the general public. NNW has an ever-growing distribution network of more than 5,000 key syndication outlets across the country. By cutting through the overload of information in today's market, NNW brings its clients unparalleled visibility, recognition and brand awareness. NNW is where news, content and information converge. For more information please visit https://www.NetworkNewsWire.com Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the NetworkNewsWire website applicable to all content provided by NNW, wherever published or re-published: http://NNW.fm/Disclaimer Forward-Looking Statements This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain as they are based on current expectations and assumptions concerning future events or future performance of the company. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are only predictions and speak only as of the date hereof. In evaluating such statements, prospective investors should review carefully various risks and uncertainties identified in this release and matters set in the company's SEC filings. These risks and uncertainties could cause the company's actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. NNW Contact: NetworkNewsWire (NNW) New York, New York www.NetworkNewsWire.com 212.418.1217 Office Email Contact WASHINGTON, DC--(Marketwired - October 05, 2017) - VisibleThread today announced a strategic partnership with OpenText, the world's leading software vendor in Enterprise Information Management. OpenText, with $2.3b in annual revenue will now resell VisibleThread's Language Analytics solutions. This allows their customer base to not just manage content, but vet the quality of the content using VisibleThread's NLP (Natural Language Processing) platform. OpenText Customers can now create the most engaging and lowest risk web and doc content. VisibleThread's products are already in use by over 350 global customers including; Boeing Corporation, Fannie Mae, Accenture and the Australian Government. They use it to support organization wide plain language initiatives for better communications. Sales and contracts teams use it to quality check business documents such as RFPs and legal contracts. VisibleThread's functionality perfectly aligns with OpenText's Enterprise Information Management (EIM) solutions. It compliments OpenText's WEM (Web Experience Management) offerings to help produce clearer, more engaging copy that converts. It helps legal teams spot risk in documents already stored in the OpenText eDocs platform. VisibleThread CEO Fergal McGovern said: "I am delighted that VisibleThread and OpenText have partnered together. OpenText recognised the unique value VisibleThread can bring to their existing global customer base." He continued: "We compliment both the WEM and Portfolio Management product lines, and add significant value to customers' existing investment in OpenText solutions. We look forward to working with the OpenText team to demonstrate that value to their global customer base." About VisibleThread VisibleThread's solutions help organizations test & audit their written content for risk and content quality, with dramatically less cost. Customers include; Boeing, Intel, Accenture and Fannie Mae. Our software instantly finds brand compliance, poor readability and language risk issues within documents and entire websites. Customers produce better quality, more engaging content. Unlike consumer-grade analysis tools, VisibleThread processes hundreds of documents and web pages in minutes. Marketing, Sales and Risk/Contracts Teams in leading global organizations use VisibleThread. Visit www.visiblethread.com for more information. Email: claire.mason@visiblethread.com Tel: +1 443 451 7005 Image Available: http://www.marketwire.com/library/MwGo/2017/10/4/11G146224/Images/OpenText_VisibleThread_Partnership-57335828a8d59291a265c349c61a05cf.jpg Image Available: http://www.marketwire.com/library/MwGo/2017/10/4/11G146224/Images/PM7-1-df16d1cb376fb8c5939e2d2af9be788d.jpg Media Contact: Joel Greenberg Joel@dcpr.com 202-363-1065 | 202-669-3639 cell MONTREAL, QUEBEC -- (Marketwired) -- 10/05/17 -- TFI International Inc. (TSX: TFII)(OTCQX: TFIFF), a North American leader in the transportation and logistics industry, today announced that it will issue its financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2017 via news release on Thursday, October 26, 2017 after market closes. The Company will also hold a conference call for analysts and portfolio managers with Alain Bedard, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, on Friday, October 27, 2017 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time, to discuss these results. Business media are also invited to listen to the call. Details of conference call: Date: Friday, October 27, 2017 Time: 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time Call-in number: 1-877-223-4471 A recording of the call will be available until midnight, November 10, 2017, by dialing 1-800-585-8367 or 416-621-4642 and entering passcode 94510353. ABOUT TFI INTERNATIONAL TFI International Inc. is a North American leader in the transportation and logistics industry, operating across the United States, Canada and Mexico through its subsidiaries. TFI International creates value for shareholders by identifying strategic acquisitions and managing a growing network of wholly-owned operating subsidiaries. Under the TFI International umbrella, companies benefit from financial and operational resources to build their businesses and increase their efficiency. TFI International companies service the following segments: -- Package and Courier; -- Less-Than-Truckload; -- Truckload; -- Logistics. TFI International Inc. is publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: TFII) and the OTCQX marketplace in the U.S. (OTCQX: TFIFF). For more information, visit http://www.tfiintl.com. Contacts: Investors: Alain Bedard Chairman, President and CEO TFI International Inc. (647) 729-4079 abedard@tfiintl.com Media: Rick Leckner MaisonBrison Communications (514) 731-0000 rickl@maisonbrison.com VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 10/05/17 -- Teck Resources Limited (TSX: TECK.A and TECK.B, NYSE: TECK) ("Teck") has been informed that the Toronto Stock Exchange ("TSX") has accepted Teck's notice of intention to make a normal course issuer bid to purchase its Class B subordinate voting shares ("Class B Shares"). Under the normal course issuer bid, Teck may purchase up to 20 million Class B Shares during the period starting October 10, 2017 and ending October 9, 2018, representing approximately 3.5% of the outstanding Class B Shares, or 3.9% of the public float, as at September 27, 2017. 570,533,798 Class B Shares were issued and outstanding as at September 27, 2017. Teck will make any purchases through the facilities of the TSX, the New York Stock Exchange or any other exchanges or alternative trading systems in both Canada and the United States, if eligible, or by such other means as may be permitted under the TSX's regulations, including private agreements under an issuer bid exemption order or block purchases in accordance with the applicable regulations. Purchases made by way of private agreements under an issuer bid exemption order issued by a securities regulatory authority may be at a discount to the prevailing market price as provided in any applicable exemption order. The average daily trading volume for the Class B Shares on the TSX during the six-month period ended September 30, 2017 was 2,329,633. As a result, under the TSX's rules, Teck may purchase a maximum of 582,408 Class B subordinate voting shares (being 25% of the average daily trading volume) on any one day, except pursuant to permitted exceptions. The actual number of Class B Shares to be purchased and the timing of any such purchases will generally be determined by Teck from time to time as market conditions warrant. In addition, Teck may from time to time repurchase Class B Shares under an automatic securities purchase plan it has established with its broker, which will enable purchases during times when Teck would typically not be permitted to purchase its shares due to regulatory or other reasons. Teck is making the normal course issuer bid because it believes that the market price of its Class B Shares may, from time to time, not reflect their underlying value and that the share buy-back program may provide value by reducing the number of shares outstanding at attractive prices. All repurchased shares will be cancelled. Teck has not purchased any Class B Shares in the past 12 months through a normal course issuer bid. About Teck Teck is a diversified resource company committed to responsible mining and mineral development with major business units focused on copper, steelmaking coal, zinc and energy. Headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, its shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbols TECK.A and TECK.B and the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol TECK. Learn more about Teck at www.teck.com or follow @TeckResources. Contacts: Investor Contact: Fraser Phillips Senior Vice President, Investor Relations and Strategic Analysis 604.699.4621 fraser.phillips@teck.com Media Contact: Chris Stannell Senior Communications Specialist 604.699.4368 chris.stannell@teck.com JOPLIN, MO -- (Marketwired) -- 10/05/17 -- ZAF Energy Systems Inc. (ZAF), a developer of next-generation battery technology, announced today the opening of a new production facility in Joplin, Missouri, that is dedicated to manufacturing its initial line of rechargeable nickel zinc (NiZn) batteries. The new facility will dramatically expand ZAF's current production capacity and is expected to bring over 100 jobs to Joplin. "We're fighting for more jobs and higher pay in Missouri and companies like ZAF Energy Systems are stepping up. They're creating 100 quality jobs at their new manufacturing plant in Joplin," said Governor Eric Greitens. "We're getting results. Companies are recognizing that Missouri is open for business, and Missourians are ready to work. This is a great opportunity for families in Joplin." After a series of successful third-party test results by industry-leading companies in commercial trucking, manufacturing, and road construction, ZAF is expanding its production capacity to rapidly "seed the market" and drive demand for its nickel zinc battery as a replacement for lead-acid batteries in key market segments. The additional production capability will enable the company to meet growing customer demand which will accelerate licensing and joint venture negotiations and commercialize NiZn batteries on a global scale. ZAF's NiZn batteries have potential uses in a wide range of applications including: automotive, heavy trucking, remote telecom, renewable energy, and marine. "We just weren't able to keep up with the demand with the capacity we had in Montana," said ZAF President and CEO Randy Moore. "The new production facility in Joplin will drastically scale up production to several thousand batteries per month, enabling us to keep pace with growing demand while also refining manufacturing processes and accelerating development efforts. The end result will be a turnkey engineering package we can deliver to manufacturers with customer demand already built into the equation." Montana will continue to serve as ZAF's research and development hub. ZAF will begin staffing the new facility by transferring five current employees from its Montana location and then hiring 20 new employees to work alongside them by the end of 2017. The facility's workforce is expected to grow to more than 100 workers. ZAF will be holding an open house for the Joplin community on October 18, 2017. "We are excited that ZAF Energy Systems has selected Joplin to expand their operations," said Mike Seibert, mayor of Joplin. "Having worked with their CEO Randy Moore for nearly a decade, I have a high level of confidence that ZAF will provide the quality jobs we are looking for in our community." NiZn batteries are poised to disrupt the $50 billion conventional lead-acid battery market with their ability to provide twice the storage capacity and three times the power of legacy lead-acid batteries in a smaller, lighter package. They provide a powerful and affordable alternative to their lead-acid counterparts while generating a lower environmental impact. About ZAF Energy Systems, Inc. Incorporated in 2011 and with locations in northwestern Montana and southwest Missouri, ZAF Energy Systems develops and commercializes next-generation battery technologies that use sustainable, non-toxic materials and can be safely and easily recycled. Its breakthrough battery technologies include a nickel zinc (NiZn) chemistry and a zinc air chemistry, both of which deliver the highest power and energy density of any battery system in their class. ZAF's rechargeable batteries provide long-life and economical solutions in a safe package for a variety of applications, including: electric vehicles, commercial trucking, renewables integration, back-up power, consumer electronics, mobility, and recreation vehicles. For more information, visit: www.zafsys.com Image Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=3173023 Press Contact: Wendy Prabhu Mercom Communications, a division of Mercom Capital Group 1-512-215-4452 Email Contact ZAF Contact: 1-406-892-1144 Email Contact CENTENNIAL, CO -- (Marketwired) -- 10/05/17 -- Just Associates, Inc., a nationally recognized leader in patient matching and health information data integrity and management, announced today that two of its data integrity experts will speak at the 89th Annual AHIMA Convention & Exhibit in Los Angeles. The presentation will highlight the need to improve outcomes, reduce care disparities and meet the unique health needs of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) patient population through effective data collection processes that enable quality care and data integrity. The session, "Caring for Our LGBT Patient Population: Changing Documentation and Workflows," will be led by Just Associates' Julie A. Dooling, MSHI, RHIA, CHDA, FAHIMA, Vice President, National Sales, and Megan Pruente, RHIA, Identity Manager Team Lead. They will be joined by Stevan Hidalgo, MS, RHIA, CHPS, HIM Operations Manager at Children's Hospital Colorado. The presentation is scheduled to take place on Monday, October 9 from 4:30-5:30 p.m. In addition to effective data collection processes, Dooling, Pruente and Hidalgo will focus on federal language changes concerning the LGBT patient population, as well as the proposed capture of sexual orientation/gender identification (SO/GI) as part of the Office of the National Coordinator's 2015 HIT Certification Criteria. The presentation will also highlight the potential HIM and data integrity-related challenges that may occur as healthcare organizations begin integrating new data elements and terminology into daily workflows. "A major focus for serving all of our patient populations is the integrity of data in our healthcare organizations," said Dooling. "Moving forward, healthcare organizations will need to enhance policies and procedures to address new data elements designed to properly address care disparities within the LGBT patient population without compromising their privacy and safety." Audience members will also learn: Current documentation workflows and data capture related to LGBT patients. Newly proposed process and clinical workflow changes to improve quality of care. Specific policies and procedures that will require updating. "Collecting information concerning sexual orientation and gender identity to improve care necessitates that healthcare organizations and government institutions alike develop and implement effective, thorough and safe data collection processes and policies," said Hidalgo. "Doing so will also provide the opportunity to improve LGBT patient education and engagement, effectively achieving enhanced outcomes for an entire population." Visit Just Associates in Booth #530 at AHIMA17 Convention & Exhibit, taking place October 7-11 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. About Just Associates, Inc. A recognized leader in health information data integrity and management currently celebrating its 15th anniversary, Just Associates, Inc. (www.justassociates.com) is a healthcare data integration consulting firm that delivers superior value to its clients through improved patient matching. Just Associates has the process expertise and systems knowledge to deliver tailored, value-added solutions that improve clients' financial outcomes and business processes, support delivery of quality patient care, and meet the expectations of diverse stakeholders through improved data integrity. Angeline del Pilar 813-333-2876 angeline@npccs.com VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 10/05/17 -- Blue Sky Uranium Corp. (TSX VENTURE: BSK)(FRANKFURT: MAL2)(OTCQB: BKUCF) ("Blue Sky" or the "Company") is pleased to report that the initial results from the Phase 2 exploration program indicate that the known two-kilometre long, strongly-mineralized corridor may extend up to an additional two kilometres to the south at the Ivana target on its 100% owned Amarillo Grande uranium-vanadium project, in Rio Negro Province, Argentina. The mineralization is also open to expansion to the north. "The second phase of the program is progressing well, with clear indications that the system is much bigger than previously identified," stated Nikolaos Cacos, Blue Sky President & CEO. "We look forward to receiving the latest assays to quantify the size and scale of the expansion, and we continue to drill to test just how large the system is. We remain very optimistic on the size potential of this discovery." The current program is focused on the Ivana area, where the previous drilling program defined a strongly mineralized corridor extending more than two kilometres in a northeast direction, between 200 and greater than 400 metres wide, up to 20 metres thick, with grades as high as 3,136 ppm U3O8 over one metre (see news release dated September 18th, 2017). The corridor was interpreted as open to expansion to the southeast and to the north and results from geophysical surveys completed in the current program confirmed new targets in both directions with the potential for significant mineralization. Phase 2 Reverse Circulation (RC) drilling completed to date includes holes 159 through 193, for a total of 428 metres in 35 holes. Logging of the RC chips and radiometric surveying of the drill holes suggests that the mineralized zone has been extended to the south for almost two kilometres based on radiometric signatures in holes AGI-163, AGI-169, AGI-170, AGI-186 & AGI-187 as shown in the map available here: https://www.blueskyuranium.com/assets/news/2017-Oct-5-NR-Map.pdf. Analytical results for the drill holes completed in the Phase 2 program to date are expected by the end of October. Phase 2 drilling at Ivana will be resuming shortly and will consist of approximately 3000 metres focused on resource delineation. Metallurgical testwork is also underway on material from Ivana. Program Technical Summary: The 269,000-hectare (approx. 665,000 acre) Amarillo Grande project spans a 140-kilometre long trend along which a number of areas of uranium-vanadium mineralization have been identified. From northwest to southeast there are three primary outcropping target areas named Santa Barbara, Anit and Ivana. Ivana Target Previous drill results from the Ivana target area were reported in the Company's news release dated June 19th, 2017 and September 18th, 2017. Overall, approximately two-thirds (104) of the 158 holes at Ivana returned intervals of at least one metre of more than 30 ppm U3O8 and grades ranged as high as 3,136 ppm over 1 metre. The mineralized area defined by the previous drill results covers approximately 3,400 metres x 1,300 metres with depths to 23 metres, including the higher-grade corridor mentioned above. The mineralization was interpreted as being open to the southeast and the north. For the Phase 2 program, 11.5 line-kilometres of pole-dipole electrical tomography (ET) was completed in 4 lines (line 13 to 16), using a 15 metre array (see Map 1). This methodology has previously been shown to identify conductive anomalies corresponding to known ancient river channels ("paleo-channels") hosting uranium mineralization. In the Phase 2 survey, conductive anomalies interpreted as paleo-channels were identified on every line surveyed, as shown in the sections here: https://www.blueskyuranium.com/assets/news/2017-Oct-5-NR-Sections.pdf. A total of 3,000 metres of drilling is planned to test these areas, with 428 metres in 35 holes completed at the time of writing. Hole location details and analytical results will be reported when assays are received, compiled and reviewed by Blue Sky technical personnel. Methodology and QA/QC The drilling program is being carried out using a FlexiROC D65 drill rig from Atlas Copco, an ore-control track-mounted rig adapted to reverse circulation with triple cyclone to reduce the dust loss during sampling and automatic sampling. Every hole was surveyed by a senior geophysicist from Geopehuen SRL Service Company using a natural gamma probe from Geovista Ltd. The probe was previously calibrated at the Comision Nacional de Energia Atomica facility (Atomic Energy National Commission, CNEA). Samples are being sent to Bureau Veritas Minerals of Mendoza, Argentina for preparation by drying, crushing to 80% passing 10 mesh and then pulverizing a 250 g split to 95% passing 150 mesh. Pulps will be sent to Bureau Veritas Commodities Canada Ltd. for analysis of 45 elements by means of Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry following a four-acid digestion (MA-200). Approximately every 10th sample a blank, duplicate, or standard sample is inserted into the sample sequence for quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) purposes. About the Amarillo Grande Project This new uranium district was first identified, staked and underwent preliminary exploration by Blue Sky from 2007 to 2012 as part of the Grosso Group's strategy of adding alternative energy focus to its successful portfolio of metals exploration companies. The proximity of several major targets suggests that if resources are delineated a central processing facility would be envisioned. The area is flat-lying, semi-arid and accessible year-round, with nearby rail, power and port access. Mineralization identified to date at Amarillo Grande has characteristics of sandstone-type and surficial-type uranium-vanadium deposits. The sandstone-type deposit is related to a braided fluvial system comprising a potentially district-size "roll front" system. Uranium minerals are present in the porous of poorly-consolidated sandstones and conglomerates. In surficial-type uranium deposits, carnotite mineralization coats loosely consolidated pebbles of sandstone and conglomerates. Carnotite is amenable to leaching, and preliminary metallurgical work at the project indicates that the mineralized material can be upgraded using a very simple wet screening method. The near-surface mineralization, ability to locally upgrade, amenability to leaching and central processing possibility suggest a potentially low-cost development scenario for a future deposit. For additional details on the project and properties, please see the Company's website: www.blueskyuranium.com Qualified Person The results of the Company's drilling program have been reviewed, verified (including sampling, analytical and test data) and compiled by the Company's geological staff under the supervision of David Terry, Ph.D., P.Geo. Dr. Terry is a Director of the Company and a Qualified Person as defined in National Instrument 43-101. The contents of this news release have been reviewed and approved by Dr. Terry. About Blue Sky Uranium Corp. Blue Sky Uranium Corp. is a leader in uranium discovery in Argentina. The Company's objective is to deliver exceptional returns to shareholders by rapidly advancing a portfolio of surficial uranium deposits into low-cost producers. Blue Sky holds has the exclusive right to over 434,000 hectares (equiv. to 1,072,437 acres) of property in two provinces in Argentina. The Company's flagship Amarillo Grande Project was an in-house discovery of a new district that has the potential to be both a leading domestic supplier of uranium to the growing Argentine market and a new international market supplier. The Company is a member of the Grosso Group, a resource management group that has pioneered exploration in Argentina since 1993. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD Nikolaos Cacos, President, CEO and Director Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release may contain forward-looking statements including but not limited to comments regarding the timing and content of upcoming work programs, geological interpretations, receipt of property titles, potential mineral recovery processes, etc. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements. Readers are encouraged to refer to the Company's public disclosure documents for a more detailed discussion of factors that may impact expected future results. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements. We advise U.S. investors that the SEC's mining guidelines strictly prohibit information of this type in documents filed with the SEC. U.S. investors are cautioned that mineral deposits on adjacent properties are not indicative of mineral deposits on our properties. Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Golden-Arrow-Resources-Corp/582458658433285 Twitter: https://twitter.com/GoldenArrowGRG YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcwpwDVEy_Y LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/golden-arrow-resources-corporation Google+: https://plus.google.com/112588065647604743199/about RSS: http://www.goldenarrowresources.com/s/RSS.asp Contacts: Corporate Communications 1-604-687-1828 or Toll-Free: 1-800-901-0058 info@blueskyuranium.com www.blueskyuranium.com Yourtyres.co.uk helps tyre dealers and car companies to exploit the full potential of the upcoming winter business. Partnership trading model and wide range of products allows flexible response to demand. For car companies and tyre dealers, the autumn changeover season is one of the best times of year for generating revenue. If you can offer fast, good quality service, not only will you build loyalty among your regular customers, you will also ideally win new customers too. Yourtyres.co.uk, the B2B online store from Europe's largest online tyre wholesalers, Delticom, helps its commercial customers to do just that. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171005005737/en/ Yourtyres.co.uk helps tyre dealers and car companies to exploit the full potential of the upcoming winter business (Photo: Business Wire) "We are very familiar with the challenges facing dealers and workshops. This is why we have adapted our services to meet their needs", says Andreas Faulstich, Head of B2B at Yourtyres.co.uk. "Our goal is to offer our commercial customers the best chance of having a successful winter season and winning new customers. For this to happen, three things are essential: flexibility, fair conditions, and opportunities to expand their own business." The key word is flexibility: thanks to its comprehensive range of tyre brands and models, Yourtyres.co.uk covers the entire market spectrum, from low-priced quality tyres to premium products. The advantages for tyre retailers and workshops: they can react flexibly to customer demand. Faulstich explains: "Thanks to the fact that we have our own warehouse, we offer excellent product availability. This enables our commercial customers to offer products for a wide range of customer groups without having to stock all the products themselves. In this way, they can meet every need while still saving space. It also means they don't have to tie up large amounts of capital in stock. Yourtyres.co.uk builds its partnership-based trading model on fair terms: there are no minimum order quantities or order costs, and there are a range of payment and return options. "That's why a look at our shop is always worthwhile", says Faulstich. Searching for suitable products is simple and straightforward: simply use the matchcode or the car model to find the right tyres in an instant. Customer reviews from the Delticom tyre testing platform Tyretest.com are also displayed on the corresponding product pages at Yourtyres.co.uk, thus making the purchase decision even easier. Yourtyres.co.uk has also made sure that its products are easy to find via mobile devices thanks to its own app and responsive website design. This offers dealers the added advantage that they can, for example, advise their customers from right beside their vehicles. On top of the convenient shop functions and shopping advantages, additional Delticom B2B services offer further potential for new customer acquisition and extra business. "For example, the cooperation as a fitting station partner makes it possible to expand one's business to include customers who order their tyres in one of Delticom's B2C shops such as Mytyres.co.uk. An effective and profitable combination of online and offline trading," explains Faulstich. About Yourtyres.co.uk Yourtyres.co.uk is the exclusive online store from Delticom AG for workshops, retailers, wholesalers, tyre fitters/service stations and car accessories. With over 15 years' expertise in the online tyre business, the Yourtyres.co.uk specialist B2B team offers its clients a spectacular range of car and motorbike tyres of all brands and dimensions for all types of vehicles, tyres for light trucks, trucks and buses, custom tyres, complete wheel sets, car spare parts and accessories, engine oil and batteries. In addition to favourable purchasing conditions, retail clients benefit from the online shop's time-saving tyre search function, high availability, reliable delivery thanks to in-house warehouses, as well as a simple registration process with no hidden costs from the very first tyre. Information about the company: www.delti.com Tyre tests: www.tyretest.com View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171005005737/en/ Contacts: insignis Agentur fur Kommunikation GmbH (GPRA) Henning Jahns Tel.: +49-511-132214-14 Fax: +49-511-132214-99 delticom@insignis.de or Delticom AG Anne Lena Peters Tel.: +49-511-93634-8909 Fax: +49-511-93634-8301 anne.lena.peters@delti.com Best oral presenter Dr. Olga Salamero chosen as the tomy's winner. Research focused on treatments in elderly APL patients Teva Pharmaceuticals Europe BV, (NYSE and TASE: TEVA) announced the winner of the tomy's (Teva's Orphan hematological Malignancies award for Young hematologists) at the 7th International Symposium on Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia (APL) in Rome, Italy last week. During the event entitled, 'Next-Generation APL Leaders: Teva's Award for Young Hematologists' Dr. Salamero was awarded a tomy's trophy, as well as a bursary to attend the 2017 American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting, taking place in the USA in December. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171005005748/en/ Dr. Olga Salamero presenting her research during the Next-Generation APL Leaders Teva's Award for Young Hematologists in Rome, Italy (Photo: Business Wire) Dr. Salamero is currently a hematologist at the Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain and presented research entitled Very elderly acute promyelocytic leukemia: a multicentric experience. The study selected patients aged 75 years old with APL who had reported to PETHEMA registry (Spanish Hematology Treatment Programme) over the last nineteen years. Epidemiologic characteristics and disease features in the very elderly APL population were analysed and the percentage of patients treated according to investigators criteria described. The research found that patients treated with all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) plus anthracycline-based regimen showed better outcomes than patients who received other strategies, such as ATRA alone, chemotherapy alone or best supportive care. Speaking after the awards ceremony, Dr. Salamero said, "Winning the tomy's it's been a pleasure. I feel proud, not because of my work but the work of the PETHEMA group. I would recommend attending the APL Symposium as not only is it very interesting, but it facilitates a lot and keeps you in touch with your peers." The tomy's are an educational award programme for young hematologists, sponsored by Teva Oncology. The awards are open to young hematologists, or young physicians training to become hematologists aged 40 years or younger. The entrants are challenged to illustrate the latest scientific advancements in the management of orphan hematological malignancies by presenting a case study or case series demonstrating their excellence in education and presentation skills. The independent jury for the 2017 tomy's was comprised of experts in orphan hematological malignancies and includes Pierre Fenaux, France; Richard Schlenk, Germany; Francesco Lo-Coco, Italy; Bob Lowenberg, Netherlands; Nigel Russell, UK and Miguel Sanz, Spain. "It's estimated that between 1,500 2,000 people in Europe are diagnosed with APL each year. Even though APL is the most lethal type of acute leukemia, it's highly curable and more research into this disorder is urgently needed. The tomy's programme reflects Teva's commitment to encouraging new and innovative research aimed at improving patient outcomes in orphan hematological malignancies," said Paul Harmon, Head of Teva's Oncology Care and Transplant Europe. "APL can cause a number of symptoms including uncontrollable bleeding and can kill within hours or days if left untreated. As it's so rare, APL can be difficult to recognise and diagnose. We're excited about this programme, and we believe it will stimulate new exciting research, with the ultimate ambition of saving lives," commented Prof. Lo-Coco, tomy jury member. The full list of finalists as well as more information on the jury can be accessed via: https://www.thinkapl.com/jury/ The tomy's awards ceremony in Rome follows the inaugural tomy's awards, announced at the Teva Oncology Satellite Symposium at the Acute Leukemias XVI International Symposium, which took place in Munich, Germany, in February 2017. For more information on the Tomy's awards or for queries regarding abstract submissions or notifications, please contact: support@oncotomys.com. -ENDS- About Teva Teva is among the top 15 global pharmaceutical companies globally, delivering high-quality, patient-centric healthcare solutions used by approximately 200 million patients in 60 markets every day. Teva produces a leading innovative treatment for multiple sclerosis and has late-stage development programs for a range of disorders of the central nervous system, including movement disorders, migraine, pain and neurodegenerative conditions. With its European headquarters in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, Teva is the world's largest generic medicines producer, leveraging its portfolio of more than 1,800 molecules to produce a broad range of products in nearly every therapeutic area. Teva draws on its specialty and generics capabilities to seek new ways of addressing unmet patient needs by combining drug development with devices, services and technologies. Teva's net revenues in 2016 were $21.9 billion. For more information, visit www.tevapharm.com. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171005005748/en/ Contacts: Teva Fiona Cohen +31 6 2008 2545 or Jayson Otke +31 6 8201 5407 IRVINE, CA -- (Marketwired) -- 10/05/17 -- Cannabis Science, Inc. (OTC PINK: CBIS), a U.S. company specializing in the development of cannabinoid-based medicines, and Free Spirit Organics Native American Corporation (FSO NAC) are pleased to report that the American States University Department of Agriculture industrial hemp research project on the San Joaquin Sovereign Tribal Fee Land is making good progress. There have been several property visits from the Ministry of Health of a certain Country in need of cannabinoids, stating "international supply deficiencies of high-quality industrial hemp for proper research." The government Ministry of Health entity is one of several groups that have expressed serious interests to purchase the entire crop. Another example, a private medical practitioner group consisting of several doctors and very large medical services agent group came to see the research project looking to treat and supply a vast range of medical patients requiring a large amount of cannabinoids, and again, the discussion was the opportunity to purchase the crop in full. "This intense growing demand is the reason we are doing this, we can undoubtedly provide a large amount of cannabinoids for such large medical research projects for critical ailments, however, our research, no matter how large, will only touch the tip of the iceberg of need. This strongly underlines the disparity between the lack of supply and the rising demand for cannabinoids as evidenced in the Nevada shortage this year as well as other indicating factors of serious concern," stated Mr. Raymond C. Dabney, President & CEO, Co-Founder, Cannabis Science Inc. The lack of high-quality industrial hemp represents enormous potential for economic growth for the community and surrounding areas, as well as the University, its Partners, and Cannabis Science. Nevertheless, one of the priorities of the harvest is to ensure that sufficient crop remains to produce cannabinoids for our industrial research for critical ailments, research work into the development of paper, biodegradable fuel, clothing materials, and building materials designed to induce prospective financial prosperity for the local surrounding areas by creating new revenue streams for a diverse industrial hemp-based market. The American States University Department of Agriculture Program is increasing its employment of locals from the surrounding community to meet the labor-intensive requirements of harvesting the initial industrial hemp acreages at its optimum, with the newest harvesting schedule is set for maximum cannabinoid production. The American States University partners have worked closely with CBIS/FSO NAC and have shared responsibility and oversight of this Native American economic development initiative. The Company has defined how the Universities will provide an affordable opportunity to acquire a quality education and how this education will form the basis for economic development. As an integral part of each land package deal with CBIS/FSO NAC, the University partners expect to provide vertically-integrated operations to provide jobs throughout the community, full scholarships and additionally-subsidized education packages to members of the Native American community and any other challenged individuals with the desire to improve their job skills based on American States and RCDU University packages introduced to their community. About Cannabis Science, Inc. Cannabis Science, Inc. takes advantage of its unique understanding of metabolic processes to provide novel treatment approaches to several illnesses for which current treatments and understanding remain unsatisfactory. Cannabinoids have an extensive history dating back thousands of years, and currently, there are a growing number of peer-reviewed scientific publications that document the underlying biochemical pathways that cannabinoids modulate. The Company works with leading experts in drug development, medicinal characterization, and clinical research to develop, produce, and commercialize novel therapeutic approaches for the treatment for illnesses caused by infections as well as for age-related illness. Our initial focus is on cancers, HIV/AIDS, and neurological conditions. The Company is proceeding with the research and development of its proprietary drugs as a part of this initial focus: CS-S/BCC-1, CS-TATI-1, and CS-NEURO-1, respectively. 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 Act of 1934. A statement containing words such as "anticipate," "seek," intend," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "project," "plan," or similar phrases may be deemed "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Some or all of the events or results anticipated by these forward-looking statements may not occur. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include the future U.S. and global economies, the impact of competition, and the Company's reliance on existing regulations regarding the use and development of cannabis-based drugs. Cannabis Science, Inc., does not undertake any duty nor does it intend to update the results of these forward-looking statements. Safe Harbor Statement. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a 'safe harbor' for forward looking statements. Certain of the statements contained herein, which are not historical facts are forward looking statements with respect to events, the occurrence of which involved risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements may be impacted, either positively or negatively, by various factors. Information concerning potential factors that could affect the company is detailed from time to time in the company's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Image Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=3173215 Cannabis Science, Inc. Dr. Allen Herman Chief Medical Officer (CMO) allen.herman@cannabisscience.com Tel: 1-888-263-0832 Cannabis Science, Inc. Mr. Raymond C. Dabney President & CEO, Co-Founder raymond.dabney@cannabisscience.com Tel: 1-888-263-0832 OLOMUC, Czech Republic, October 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Last March, Telepizza signed a Joint Venture Agreement with Forty's Pizza, the leading pizza delivery company in the Czech Republic . This joint venture company has been led by Mr. Jakub Slezar, founder of Forty's Pizza Telepizza's plans for the country include 25 stores in 3 years Telepizza currently owns 1,440 stores worldwide, 469 own stores (33%) and 971 franchised and master franchised stores (67%) The Telepizza Group, the leading non-US based pizza delivery company by number of stores, has announced the opening of its first 10 stores in Czech Republic, after the joint venture agreement signed in March 2017 with Forty's Pizza, the Czech Republic's leading pizza delivery company. These stores are being inaugurated this week in the city of Olomuc. The Czech joint venture is being led by owner and founder of Forty's Pizza, Mr. Jakub Slezar. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150317/735407-a ) (Photo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/568329/Telepizza_Czech_Republic.jpg ) Today, all the Forty's Pizza stores have become Telepizza's stores, offering the best flavour of the Spanish brand, with its excellent dough and the best local quality ingredients, as well as its expertise and proven track record in marketing, technology, franchising and supply chain. Pablo Juantegui, Chairman and CEO of Telepizza explains that "Our international expansion is one of the keys to our success, and we look forward to new business opportunities to bring our brand all over the world. The openings in Czech Republic are key for Telepizza, in order to take full advantage of this growth opportunity for expanding our franchising business in Central Europe." "We are very proud of the inauguration of our first 10 Czech stores. We are really confident that our customers will love our products and service," states Telepizza President of International, Giorgio Minardi. International expansion, key pillar for Telepizza The plans for Telepizza in Czech Republic are ambitious. The company's forecasts include operating in the country through 25 stores in the next three years. In fact, agreements with leading businesses in key markets are a vital part of Telepizza's plans for international growth, alongside innovation. "With its strong heritage and focus on quality, the Telepizza brand has been a perfect match for us. We are delighted to have joined such a great organisation and are looking forward to using our extensive local knowledge to help grow the Telepizza business in the Czech Republic," Mr. Jakub Slezar comments. Telepizza Group: We are the largest non-U.S.-based pizza delivery company in the world by number of stores. Headquartered in Madrid, Spain, Telepizza operates in more than 20 countries through a network of own stores, franchisees and master franchisees, with 1,440 stores globally, including 469 own stores (33%) and 971 franchised and master franchised stores (67%) as of 30 June, 2017. Including our U.S.-based competitors, we are the fourth largest global player in pizza delivery in terms of number of stores. We are the market leader in our core markets by number of stores (number one in Spain, Portugal, Chile and Colombia and number two in Poland). The total sales within our network, including own stores, franchisees and master franchisees, are recorded as chain sales, which amounted to 541.2 million in the twelve months ended 30 June 2017. Telepizza listed on the Barcelona, Bilbao, Madrid and Valencia stock exchanges with its shares starting trading on 27 April 2016. The total number of shares is 100,720,679. http://www.telepizza.com https://www.facebook.com/telepizza https://twitter.com/telepizza_es Contact: Telepizza, Miguel Justribo +34-91-6576200 miguel.justribo@telepizza.com WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Tetra Tech, Inc. (TTEK) announced it has been awarded a $356 million single-award contract to provide engineering and technical support services to the Federal Aviation Administration. Under the five-year Navigation Technical Assistance Contract II, the company will support the FAA in the planning, research, development, implementation, maintenance, and decommissioning of the FAA's navigation, landing, and lighting systems. Tetra Tech will assist the FAA in ensuring that flights are safe, efficient, and cost-effective by helping the agency transition to an integrated ground- and space-based navigation systems architecture, as well as by supporting the FAA's modernization initiatives, including its Next Generation Air Transportation System effort and its transition to Performance Based Navigation. 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, October 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Flat Glass - Global Strategic Business Report" report has been added to Research and Markets' offering. The report provides separate comprehensive analytics for the US, Canada, Japan, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East & Africa and Latin America. Annual estimates and forecasts are provided for the period 2016 through 2024. Also, a five-year historic analysis is provided for these markets. Market data and analytics are derived from primary and secondary research. This report analyzes the worldwide markets for Flat Glass in Thousand Metric Tons by the following Product and End-Use Segments: Product Segments Float Glass Rolled Glass End-Use Segments Construction (Residential, & Commercial) Automotive (OE Glazing, & Automotive Glass Replacement) Others The report profiles 94 companies including many key and niche players such as: Asahi Glass Co., Ltd. ( Japan ) ) AGC Glass Company North America ( USA ) ) AGC Glass Europe ( Belgium ) ( ) Asahi India Glass Ltd. ( India ) ) PT Asahimas Flat Glass Tbk ( Indonesia ) ) Compagnie De Saint-Gobain ( France ) ) Saint-Gobain Glass India Ltd ( India ) ) Saint-Gobain SEFPRO ( France ) ) Central Glass Co., Ltd. ( Japan ) ) Carlex Glass America , LLC ( USA ) , LLC ( ) Guardian Industries ( USA ) ) Gujarat Guardian Limited ( India ) ) Nippon Sheet Glass Co., Ltd. ( Japan ) ) Trakya Cam Sanayii A.S. ( Turkey ) ) Taiwan Glass Group ( Taiwan ) ) Viridian Glass ( Australia ) ) Xinyi Glass Holdings Limited ( China ) Key Topics Covered: 1. INDUSTRY OVERVIEW Flat Glass Market: A Prelude Growth Drivers for Flat Glass Industry: On a Scale 1 (10 High Impact; 1 Low Impact) Growth Dampeners for Flat Glass Industry: On a Scale 1 (10 High Impact; 1 Low Impact) Rising Demand from End-use Application Segments Propel Flat Glass Market Flat Glass Products Laminated and Tempered Glass Markets Hold Promise Developing Regions Continue to Power Flat Glass Demand, Saturation Hits Developed Markets China: A Major Influencing Market Production Scenario Float Glass, Rolled Glass and Sheet Glass (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) Float: The Predominant Flat Glass Manufacturing Technique Rolled Glass: A Small Market Corning Develops Thin Rolled Glass Stored Using Spools Fabricated Flat Glass: Driving Force in the Flat Glass Market 2. COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE Intense Competition Characterizes Flat Glass Market Automotive Glass A Highly Concentrated Market Architectural Glass Market Solar Glass Xinyi Solar Leads the Market 3. NOTEWORTHY TRENDS & ISSUES Construction Industry: The Largest End-Use Market for Flat Glass Construction Sector Activity Influences Market Growth Increasing Usage of Glass in Building Construction Rising Demand for Energy Efficient Windows Energy-Saving Glass in Windows to Deliver Favorable Economic Returns Window Trends for Flat Glass Customers Consumers Recognize Energy Saving Properties of Low-E Glass Glass Use in Automotive Industry: Value-Added Features Find Favor Breakdown of Production Figures in Thousand Units by Geographic Region (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) Automotive Industry Dynamics Affects Flat Glass Demand Glazing Used for Styling and Differentiation of Automobiles Demand for Solar Control and Advanced Flat Glass in OEM Automotive Market Flat Glass in Solar Power Generation: Opportunity in Store Frameless Panels: A Game Changing Technology to Drive Flat Glass Demand Potential for Rolled Glass Makers in Solar PV Market Tempered Low Iron Glass: Threat to Rolled Glass Usage in Solar PV Units? Value-Added Products to Drive Flat Glass Market Innovative Frequency-Selective Solar Glazing Material Coated Flat Glass Market An Insight Regulations Drive Demand for Fire-Resistant Glass Smart Automotive Glass Market A Review A glance at some types of smart automotive glass and their benefits Plastics Are They a Threat? High Capital Investments A Major Entry Barrier Energy & Raw Material: Major Cost Components Rapid Urbanization Worldwide: A Key Growth Driver Rising Population & Middle Class Segment Bodes Well for Market Growth 4. PRODUCT OVERVIEW An Introduction to Glass Primary Glass Types and Applications Glass Composition by Type Raw Materials A Brief Study Flat Glass: A Definition Float Glass Manufacturing Stages of Float Glass A Glance at the Float Glass Value Chain Economics of Float Glass Production Types of Float Glass Sheet Glass Rolled Glass Rolled Glass Vs Float Glass Types of Rolled Glass Patterned Glass Wired Glass Types of Flat Glass Products High Strength Glass Heat-Strengthened Glass Toughened or Tempered Glass Laminated Glass Key Applications Reflective Glass Deposition Techniques Low Emissivity (Low-E) Glass Smart Glass Insulating Glass (IG) Units Specialty Glass Mirrors Spandrel Art Glass Plate Glass Wired Glass Self-Cleaning Glass 5. END-USE MARKETS OF FLAT GLASS Construction: A Major End-Use Market Building Products Market Automotive Sector OEM Applications Automotive Glass Replacement (AGR) Types of Automotive Glazing Solar Control Glazing Laminated Sideglazings Integrated Antennas Design Requirements Toughened and Laminated Glazing Parameters A Comparison Product Parameters for Toughened and Laminated Glazings Laminated Windshields Process Parameters Toughened Glazing Process Parameters Features for Future Specialty Applications 6. REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT Stringent Production Standards in the US Maximum Allowable Contaminant Levels in Float Cullet Automotive Regulations Safety Glazing Legislations BS Codes Building Regulations 7. PRODUCT INTRODUCTIONS/INNOVATIONS Fives Introduces New Float Glass Line AGC Unveils LUXCLEAR Protect Anti-corrosion Glass AGC Unveils Energy Select 20 High-Performance Low-E Coating 8. RECENT INDUSTRY ACTIVITY Guardian to Invest in Float & Coated Glass Plant Saint-Gobain to Construct New Flat Glass Production Line AGC to Divest TQMP Glass Company Saint-Gobain to Inaugurate New Flat Glass Production Facility Asahimas to Construct Flat Glass Plant in CIKAMPEK Vitro Takes Over Pittsburgh Glass Works Bangkok Glass Forays into Flat Glass Market Saint-Gobain Takes Over Pietta Glass Working Sisecam Takes Over Sangalli AGC to Build New Float Glass Production Facility in Brazil Fuyao Glass to Establish New Float Glass Unit Vitro Takes Over Flat Glass Operations Saint-Gobain to Invest in Flat Glass Production Facility 9. FOCUS ON SELECT PLAYERS 10. GLOBAL MARKET PERSPECTIVE Total Companies Profiled: 94 (including Divisions/Subsidiaries 137) The United States (10) (10) Japan (5) (5) Europe (55) (55) France (7) (7) Germany (12) (12) The United Kingdom (6) (6) Italy (5) (5) Spain (2) (2) Rest of Europe (23) (23) Asia-Pacific (Excluding Japan) (53) (Excluding Japan) (53) Middle East (9) (9) Latin America (3) (3) Africa (2) For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/2sskh4/flat_glass 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 VALLEY COTTAGE, New York, October 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- FMI has recently published an exclusive forecast report on the global market for microbial identification. In the foreseeable future, improvements in techniques adopted by microbiologists for identifying pathogens and examining microbial cultures will factor developments in microbial identification systems. From healthcare to food & beverage, the vital use of microbial identification in applied research projects will continue to boost the growth of the global microbial identification market. By 2022-end, microbial identification systems are pegged to become a global market worth US$ 1.4 billion. During the forecast period, 2017-2022, the global market for microbial identification will be registering a robust growth at 6% CAGR. The report has analysed a slew of factors influencing the dynamics of microbial identification markets across several regions. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161020/430874LOGO ) Global Market Research Report Overview on Microbial Identification @https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/microbial-identification-market North America to register steadfast adoption of microbial identification A key discernment from the regional analysis delivered in the report exhibits the dominance of North America in the global microbial identification market. Considering how healthcare marketplaces in the US and Canada are robust, compared to other developed markets, and taking into account the rising contribution of North American academic institutes in developing research studies of medical microbiology, the adoption of microbial identification systems will be widespread in this region. Towards the end of forecast period, North America's microbial identification market will be worth around half a billion dollars, soaring robustly at a CAGR of 6.4%. Europe and Asia-Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ) will also be observed as lucrative markets for expansion of microbial identification. Key Findings from the Report In 2017, over two-fifth of revenues anticipated to be procured in the global microbial identification market will be accounted by sales of bacterial identification systems Towards the end of forecast period, global sales of microbial remuneration systems will procure an estimated US$ 310 million in revenues View Report Table of Contents, Figures, and Tables @https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/microbial-identification-market/toc Throughout the forecast period, bacterial resistance identification systems will represent the fastest-selling product in the overall microbial identification market Pharmaceuticals and biotechnology industry will remain the largest end-user of microbial identification by 2022 The end-use of microbial identification systems in water and environment sector will remain steady in 2017 and the following years Between 2017 and 2022, the end-use of microbial identification across independent research laboratories in the world is anticipated to create an incremental opportunity of more than US$ 50 million In 2017 and beyond, the use of microbial identification methods in blood banks will be subpar Diagnostics remains to be a key application for microbial identification, revenues from which are anticipated to register above-average growth A sample of this report is available upon request @https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-5077 While detection of harmful microbes is viewed as a necessary measure for bolstering quality control in production of food items and drinks, the application of microbial identification in food & beverage testing will register a moderate CAGR in terms of revenues over the forecast period On the basis of technologies, phenotypic microbial identification methods are anticipated to remain predominant in terms of adoption, albeit, genotypic technologies will register a marginally high CAGR during the assessment period The report has further profiled companies that will be actively manufacturing microbial identification systems in the global market. Key players in the global microbial identification market include, Bruker Corporation, Danaher Corporation, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc., Shimadzu Corporation, Siemens Healthineers, QIAGEN N.V., Merck & Co Inc., bioMerieux S.A., Becton, Dickinson and Company, and Biolog, Inc. Many of these companies are expected to focus on developing microbial identification systems that befit the advancements in the field of medical microbiology. Specific requirements of microbiologist working in leading microbial identification projects will also influence the manufacturing techniques exercised by these companies. Buy Microbial Identification Market 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 and an aerial view of the competitive framework and future market trends. Contact Us 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018, Valley Cottage, NY 10989, United States T: +1-347-918-3531 F: +1-845-579-5705 T (UK): +44(0)20-7692-8790 Sales: sales@futuremarketinsights.com Website: http://www.futuremarketinsights.com Company's cloud-based and Artificial Intelligence-powered ECG analysis solution assists healthcare professionals in screening for heart diseases. Cardiologs Technologies announced today that it has raised $6.4 million in a Series A financing with a syndicate of life science and technology investors (Idinvest, ISAI, Kurma Partners, Partech Ventures) and with continued support and participation from current investor Bpifrance seed fund (F3A). This round brings total funding of Cardiologs to $10 million. Proceeds will be dedicated to fast-forward commercialization of the Cardiologs ECG Analysis Platform in the United States and Europe. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171005005786/en/ Cardiologs Raises $6.4 Million to Lead the AI Revolution in Cardiology (Photo: Business Wire) "Ambulatory ECG analysis and reporting is a labor-intensive process that can result in delays for arrhythmia detection and increased costs," said Yann Fleureau, co-founder and CEO of Cardiologs Technologies. "Our Cardiologs team has trained a neural network using more than 500,000 recordings, and this training dataset keeps growing," said Fleureau. "The result is that Cardiologs is designed to recognize patterns in a cardiac signal for fast and precise analysis of heart diseases in a similar intuitive manner as expert cardiologists," said Fleureau. In July 2017, Cardiologs announced FDA clearance of its Cardiologs ECG Analysis Platform, an ECG- analysis web solution powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI). Cardiologs assists physicians in screening for 10 arrhythmias including Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) using ambulatory ECG monitoring recordings. Why solving Ambulatory ECG analysis is important Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) is the most common human arrhythmia, affecting about 33 million patients worldwide. AFib is a growing problem in cardiovascular disease and is associated with an increased risk of severe stroke, heart failure, and death. 1 AFib is often asymptomatic and silent with stroke as the first manifestation . Recent stroke registries indicate that AFib is associated with one-third of all ischemic strokes. . Recent stroke registries indicate that AFib is associated with one-third of all ischemic strokes. The Ambulatory ECG records continuously the electrical activity of the heart (ECG) up to a few weeks. It is the gold standard examination to detect AFib and other arrhythmias (for example bradycardia, which is a cause of syncope (for example bradycardia, which is a cause of The Ambulatory ECG analysis aims to detect the episodes of arrhythmia. Only a few minutes of arrhythmia can occur during a whole week of recording, making the process labor- intensive. Solving ambulatory ECG analysis results in significant cost-savings for the healthcare system, earlier diagnostic and decreased risk of stroke for the patient, time savings and increased performance for the healthcare professional. (See Photo 1) How Cardiologs works A cardiologist recovers a digital ECG from any compatible ECG device such as a Holter monitor, smartwatch, ECG patch or even a connected t-shirt-then uploads it to the Cardiologs cloud and is able to immediately leverage our technology to identify relevant events. It is especially powerful for long-term recordings that require today a very laborious manual analysis process. ECG monitoring product and service companies can also benefit from Cardiologs in just three lines of code via the company's web API. To learn more, please visit https://cardiologs.com/ or request a demo at contact@cardiologs.com. 1 https://www.cdc.gov/dhdsp/data_statistics/fact_sheets/fs_atrial_fibrillation.htm (See Photo 2) Availability in Europe and the United States The Cardiologs solution is CE-marked and has been approved to detect up to 100 cardiac abnormalities in Europe. Currently, the detection of 10 significant arrhythmias is available in the United States, which covers most clinical cases of ambulatory ECG monitoring. The company plans to further extend its AI capacity beyond ECG diagnostics claims. Supporting quotes "Cardiologs is the perfect example of applying state-of-the-art machine learning techniques to help professionals work much faster and more accurately. And in this case, it can save a lot of lives," said Benoist Grossmann, Managing Partner at Idinvest. J-David Chamboredon, CEO of ISAI, added: "Cardiologs' fundamentals are outstanding. Its ability to combine deep learning and medical expertise can usher a new era for cardiology." "Cardiologs has assembled a world-class team with a unique combination of mathematical and engineering skills," said Reza Malekzadeh, General Partner at Partech Ventures. "It is great to see them out to solve a global problem with a solution that will bring better healthcare to a greater number at a more affordable cost." Scientific Validation of Cardiologs When defining the reliability of diagnosing AFib and other arrhythmias, the term Positive Predictive Value (PPV) refers to the percentage of true positive cases among total cases detected. Conventional "state-of- the-art" PPV for detecting AFib is less than 59%[1]. The PPV for Cardiologs' detection of AFib was 91%[2] included in the cleared FDA submission. In addition, also as included in the cleared FDA submission, Cardiologs' sensitivity for detecting AFib was reported to be 97%[3] (the percentage of positive cases truly identified) and was superior to "state-of-the-art" conventional methods of detecting AFib and other arrhythmias. Cardiologs' study results have been published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology (2016, Vol. 23(2S 41-55). The study's investigators concluded: "This (Cardiologs) method may be more reliable and accurate than previous methods in the diagnosis of AFib on long-duration ambulatory ECG and other monitoring devices." About Cardiologs Technologies Headquartered in Paris, Cardiologs Technologies is a privately held company offering the "Cardiologs ECG Analysis Platform", which leverages artificial intelligence to enable a better management of cardiac patients. https://cardiologs.com / Twitter: @CardioLogs, @yannfleureau About ISAI Launched in 2010, ISAI is "the" French tech entrepreneurs' fund gathering more than 200 entrepreneurs across the world. Almost 150 successful entrepreneurs, who have invested in ISAI, and more than 50 startup cofounders supported by ISAI share the collective ambition to write great entrepreneurial stories. With 160M under management, ISAI Gestion, authorized by French regulator AMF, can fund and support high potential companies at early stages (venture capital, 150k to 2M initial ticket with ability to follow on) or at more mature stages (growth equity, 1M to 15M investments). About Partech Founded in 1982 in Silicon Valley, Partech Ventures is a global investment firm with a team spread across offices in Paris, Berlin and San Francisco. Partech Ventures partners with entrepreneurs at the seed (Partech Entrepreneur), venture (Partech International) and/or growth (Partech Growth) stages. Companies backed by Partech Ventures have completed 21 initial public offerings and more than 50 major M&A transactions with leading international companies. For more information visit www.partechventures.com and follow @partechventures. About Idinvest Partners Idinvest Partners is a leading pan-European PE firm focused on the mid-market with over 8 billion under management. Since 1997, Idinvest has played a part in major breakthroughs in the growth and development of information technology and the internet in Europe, financing companies such as Criteo, Deezer, Vestiaire Collective Talend. About F3A (Ambition Amorcage Angels, Bpifrance seed fund) Launched in 2016 with 50 million under management, the F3A fund is a seed fund dedicated to startups in the digital sector. Managed by Bpifrance Investissement, it is part of the 'Programme d'investissements d'avenir' (PIA). This fund co-invests alongside business angels in seed stage startups with a strong potential of innovation and growth related to the digital economy. Cardiologs Technologies was the first investment of the fund in early 2016. (Investment director: JP Anciaux) About Kurma Partners Created in 2009, Kurma Partners is a European leading venture capital group specialized in Life Sciences and managing Kurma Biofund I, Kurma biofund II and its accelerator fund, Kurma Diagnostics. The company has more than 250 million under management and develops an investment strategy supported by both the selection of best investment opportunity in Europe and the development of a "proprietary" portfolio of company in which Kurma intervenes at creation stage. www.kurmapartners.com 1 Source: European Journal of Preventive Cardiology (2016, Vol. 23(2S 41-55). 2 Duration PPV results from testing following the recognized consensus standards ANSI/AAMI EC57:2012 and IEC 60601-2-47:2012 on MIT-BIH database. 3 Duration Sensitivity results from testing following the recognized consensus standards ANSI/AAMIEC57:2012 and IEC 60601-2-47:2012 on MIT-BIH database. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171005005786/en/ Contacts: Cardiologs Ronald Trahan Associates, Inc. Ronald Trahan, APR, +1 508-359-4005, x108 rtrahan@ronaldtrahan.com DUBLIN, October 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Insulation - Global Strategic Business Report" report has been added to Research and Markets' offering. The report provides separate comprehensive analytics for the US, Canada, Japan, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East & Africa, and Latin America. Annual estimates and forecasts are provided for the period 2016 through 2024. Also, a five-year historic analysis is provided for these markets. Market data and analytics are derived from primary and secondary research. This report analyzes the worldwide markets for Insulation in US$ by the following Product Segments and End-Use Applications: Product Segments Foamed Plastics Fiberglass Mineral Wood Others End-Use Applications Non-Residential Residential Others The report profiles 123 companies including many key and niche players such as: 3M Company ( USA ) ) Armacell International S.A. ( Luxembourg ) ) Aspen Aerogels, Inc. ( USA ) ) BASF SE ( Germany ) ) BNZ Materials, Inc. ( USA ) ) Evonik Industries AG ( Germany ) ) Flachshaus GmbH ( Germany ) ) Fletcher Insulation ( Australia ) ) Flumroc AG ( Switzerland ) ) G+H Isolierung GmbH ( Germany ) ) GAF ( USA ) ) Huntsman Corporation ( USA ) ) Icynene Inc. ( Canada ) ) Insulcon Group ( Belgium ) ) Johns Manville ( USA ) ) Knauf Insulation Holding GmbH ( Germany ) ) Knauf Insulation Ltd. (UK) LG Hausys, Ltd. ( South Korea ) ) L'Isolante K-Flex S.p.A. ( Italy ) ) Masterplast Group International ( Hungary ) ) Rockwool International A/S ( Denmark ) ) Rockwool Ltd. (UK) Rockwool Manufacturing Company ( USA ) ) Roxul, Inc. ( Canada ) ) Saint-Gobain ( France ) ) CertainTeed Corporation ( USA ) ) Glava A/S ( Norway ) ) Superglass Insulation Ltd. (UK) The Lindner Group ( Germany ) ) Dow Building Solutions ( USA ) ) Thermafiber, Inc. ( USA ) ) Unifrax LLC ( USA ) ) URSA Insulation, S.A ( Spain ) ) USG Boral ( Malaysia ) ) Xtratherm Limited ( Ireland ) Key Topics Covered: 1. INDUSTRY OVERVIEW Insulation: Starting Point for Preventing Energy Loss, Raising Energy Efficiency and Solving Climate Challenges Growth Drivers for the Insulation Market: On a Scale 1(10 - High Impact; 1 - Low Impact) Growth Dampeners for the Insulation Market: On a Scale 1 (10 - High Impact; 1 - Low Impact) Growth Drivers in a Nutshell Key Opportunities and Challenges Summarized Myriad Benefits of Insulation Drives Widespread Adoption Increased Energy Efficiency Preventing Moisture Condensation Reduction in Size and Capacity of New Machineries Improvement in Process Performance Protecting the Environment through Lower Greenhouse Gas Emissions Protection and Safety of Personnel Protection against Outbreak of Fire Reduction in Noise Levels Use of Insulation for Controlling Noise Levels Optimization of ROI Enhanced Appearance Spiraling Electricity Appetite from Ballooning Global Population and the Resulting Need for Energy Efficiency: The Fundamental Growth Driver Global Market Outlook The US & Europe: Steady Growth Projected for the Matured Markets Developing Countries Spearhead Current and Future Market Growth Insulation for Improving Energy Efficiency in Developing Countries 2. COMPETITION Owens Corning: Leading Glass Fiber Insulation Company Worldwide BASF: Leading Spray Foam Insulation Company Worldwide Insulation Marketplace Witness Surge in M&A Activity Select Mergers & Acquisitions in the Global Insulation Market (2014-2017): Brief Details of Year, Acquiring Company, Acquired Company, and Other Particulars End-Users to Benefit from Changing Market Dynamics in Industrial Thermal Insulation Insulation Manufacturers Face Shortage of Talent Manufacturers Benefit from Expanding Scope of Applications in Non-Core Sectors Manufacturers in Developed Countries Move Production Base to Developing Markets 3. MARKET TRENDS, ISSUES AND DRIVERS Focus on Making Homes Highly Energy Efficient Drives Demand in the Largest Application Area of Residential Buildings Passive House Standards: The Future of Building Insulation Energy Conservation Regulations and Green House Gas Emission Reduction Targets: Opportunities Galore in the Building Sector Demand for Roof Insulation Driven by Climate Change and Increase in Global Temperatures Positive Outlook for the Global Construction Offers Growth Opportunities Building Renovations & Remodeling: A Key Revenue Contributor Rising Investments in Infrastructure Projects Strengthens Market Prospects The Critical Nature of Insulation in Safeguarding System Performance Drives Demand in Industrial Applications Insulating Hot Pipes for Enhanced Efficiency and Safety Maintain Desirable Temperature Handling Temperature-Sensitive Tanks Blankets for Equipment Insulation Prevent Noise Pollution Protecting Cooling Ducts from Radiant Heat Protecting Sensitive Electronics Safeguarding Metal Structures Superior Attributes of High Temperature Insulation Materials Drive Adoption in Various Temperature Intensive Applications The Energy Efficiency Attribute of HTI Drives Market Gains End-users Switch from Synthetic RCF to Bio-based Insulation Materials Temperature Resistant Properties of High-Temperature Insulation Wools Spur Demand Growing Demand for High Temperature Insulation in Oil and Gas Production Other Important Application Sectors for High Temperature Insulation Power Generation Industrial Furnaces Steel and Aluminum Processing Automotive Industry Aerospace and Defense Stringent Environmental Regulations Foster Growth Opportunities Natural Insulation Products: A Market Niche in the Making Demand from Basic as well as High-tech Industries Drive Faster Market Growth for Fiberglass LNG Conversion Plants and HVAC Applications Spur Strong Demand Key Dampeners for Widespread Adoption of Fiberglass Insulation Emergence of Eco-friendly Alternatives Risks Associated With Fiberglass Use Competition from Substitutes Spray Foam Insulation (SPF): One of the Fastest Growing Foamed Plastic Segments The United States: Largest SPF Producing Country Worldwide European Spray Foam Market Offer Significant Potential Spray Foam Building Insulation Market in China: In a State of Despair Spray Foam Market in South America: Low Energy Prices Play Spoilsport One-Component Spray Polyurethane Foams Experience Demand Growth Growing Popularity of Advanced Insulation Materials Benefit Market Expansion Aerogels for Multifunctional Insulation Materials Aerogels Usage in Industrial Thermal Insulation Hindered by High Production Costs Increasing Aircraft Deliveries and Prominence of Lightweight Insulation Materials Drive Demand in the Aerospace Sector Robust Power Generation Activity Fuels Demand for Insulation Insulation Coatings for Solar Power Plants Planned Insulation during Construction Phase Crucial for Oil and Gas Plants Rising Prominence of Low Temperature/Cold Insulation in the Food Cold Chain Growing Prominence of Worker Safety, Healthy Indoor Environment, and Sustainability Augurs Well for Mechanical Insulation Mechanical Insulation: Challenges and Opportunities Efficiency in Addressing Thermal Issues, Filtration Challenges, and Noise Reduction Drive Demand in Automobiles Manufacturing Growing Passenger Cars and Commercial Vehicles Production: Important Opportunity Indicators Non-Wovens Rapidly Gain Traction in Automotive Insulation Applications Spray-on Thermal Insulation Coatings Suitable for Heavy Duty Vehicles Cellulose Offers Huge Untapped Market Potential Usage of Recycled Raw Materials in Insulation Products Surges Recycled Consumer Glass in Production of Glass Wool Vacuum Thermal Insulation Gains Ground in Industrial Applications, Bodes Well for the Market Superior Thermal Performance Spurs Demand for Vacuum Insulation Panels (VIPs) VIPs for Enhanced Thermal Insulation Key Challenges Exponential Increase in Global Urban Population: A Major Growth Driver Boosting Market Demand Increasing Focus on Machine Condition Monitoring Fuels Replacement Demand 4. INNOVATIONS AND ADVANCEMENTS Innovative Bio-based Insulation Materials for the Construction Industry Select Innovative Industrial Insulation Solutions Reflective Insulation in Cooling Ducts Application Acoustic Insulation Inhibits Noise Pollution at Industrial Sites Fiberglass and Reflective Insulation for Metal Buildings proEnergyTec Thermal Insulation Technology The OSIRYS and VIP4ALL Projects eShield: A Revolutionary Home Insulation Product LiquidArmor HP Wall Systems from BASF SL80/80 from NanaWall Systems Innovative Materials Transform the Insulation Landscape Calostat Thermal Insulation Board ContiTech Develops Conti Thermo-Protect, a New Insulation Material for Complex Piping Systems Gas-Filled Panels Advanced Polyurethane Insulation for Appliances from Dow 5. PRODUCT OVERVIEW Different Types of Insulation Classification of Materials Used for Insulation Foamed Plastics Extruded Polystyrene (XPS) Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) Extruded Polyethylene (XPE) Polyurethane Foam (PUR) Polyisocyanurate Foam (PIR) Phenolic Foams Fiberglass/Glass Fiber Mineral Wool Others Cellulose insulation Natural Fiber Insulations Classification by Market Segments Building Insulation (Residential and Non-Residential Buildings) Role of Insulation in Noise Control in Commercial Buildings Building Insulation Product Forms Structured Insulated Panels Types of Structural Integrated Panel Advantages of Structural Integrated Panels Sprayed Foam Insulated Concrete Blocks (Concrete Insulation) Benefits of Insulated Concrete Masonry Unit Blanket Batts and Rolls Foam Board Insulation Blown-In and Loose-Fill Insulation Reflective Insulation Fiber Insulation Industrial Insulation Types of insulation for industrial processes Pipe Insulations Board Insulation Blanket Insulation Duct Insulation Duct Liners Fire Protective Coatings Insulation using Sealants Sprayfoams Insulation Product Forms for Industrial Facilities Rock Wool Blanket Insulations Rock Wool Pipe Insulations Fiber Glass Board and Blanket Insulations Fiber Glass Pipe Insulation Benefits of Insulation in Industrial Facilities HVAC Insulation OEM Insulation 6. PRODUCT INTRODUCTIONS Icynene Launches Closed-cell Spray Foam Insulation Product Johns Manville to Launch Water-Resistant Insulation Product BASF Unveils Eco-Friendly Spray Foam Insulation Product Polartec Introduces Synthetic Insulation Product Demilec Introduces New Air Barrier & Spray Foam Insulation Dow Introduces Low-Pressure Premium Foam Insulation Owens Corning Launches Mineral Wool Insulation Solutions Recticel Introduces Higher-Insulation Foam Solutions URSA Introduces Blow-in Mineral Wool Insulation Products Autins Group Introduces Insulation Materials for Aerospace Applications PrimaLoft Launches High-Performance Insulation Systems LafargeHolcim Introduces Mineral Insulation Kingspan Unveils Range of Rigid Thermoset Insulation Primaloft Introduces Primaloft Gold Insulation Eco Dow Building Solutions Introduces Extruded Polystyrene Roofing Insulation 7. RECENT INDUSTRY ACTIVITY Owens Corning Takes Over Pittsburgh Corning Saint-Gobain to Take Over Glava A/S Recticel to Invest in Greenfield Manufacturing Plant in Finland TopBuild Takes Over Canyon Insulation ROCKWOOL to Construct Production Plant in West Virginia PPG to Divest Fiberglass Business to Nippon Electric Glass Huntsman to Merge with Clariant Hitachi Chemical to Take Over Share of ISOLITE TopBuild Takes Over Superior Insulation Products Armacell to Construct New Manufacturing Plant in Bahrain Foundation Building Materials Takes Over Trident Distribution TopBuild Takes Over Capital Insulation Jackon Group Takes over ThermiSol Recticel to Invest in Production Capacity Expansion in the UK ROCKWOOL Adopts New Brand Identity Firestone to Take Over Gaco DMB Takes Over DBW Group Beacon Roofing Supply Takes Over Eco Insulation Supply Armacell Takes Over Nomaco's Insulation Business Johns Manville Receives Pollution Prevention Award Xella International to Acquire URSA Luyang Energy-Saving Materials to Expand Mineral Wool Insulation Facility Sika to Take Over Rmax Business Recticel Inks Production Joint Venture with TURNA PPG Divests Shares to Nan Ya Plastics Dow Produces STYROFOAM Brand XPS Insulation Installed Building Products to Take Over Trilok Industries Armacell Takes Over PoliPex TechnoNICOL Acquires Superglass Hunton Fiber Takes Over Dansk Trfiberisolering ROCKWOOL Introduces New Manufacturing Portfolio FBM to Take over Winroc/SPI ContiTech Inks Partnership with L'ISOLANTE K-FLEX Cabot Partners with Johns Manville Ohio Group Takes over Alpine Insulation BRACE Industrial Firm Takes Over Advanced Industrial Services PPG Sells Fiber Glass Operations to Nippon Electric Glass Installed Building Products Takes Over Marshall Insulation Armacell Establishes Manufacturing Plant in Russia 8. FOCUS ON SELECT GLOBAL PLAYERS 3M Company (USA) Armacell International S.A. (Luxembourg) Aspen Aerogels, Inc. (USA) BASF SE (Germany) BASF Polyurethanes GmbH (Germany) BNZ Materials, Inc. (USA) Cabot Corporation (USA) Cellofoam North America, Inc. (USA) CNBM International Corporation (China) ContiTech AG (Germany) DBW Advanced Fiber Technologies GmbH (Germany) Evonik Industries AG (Germany) Flachshaus GmbH (Germany) Fletcher Insulation (Australia) Flumroc AG (Switzerland) G+H Isolierung GmbH (Germany) GAF (USA) Huntsman Corporation (USA) Icynene Inc. (Canada) Insulcon Group (Belgium) Johns Manville (USA) Industrial Insulation Group LLC (USA) Kingspan Group Plc (Ireland) Knauf Insulation Holding GmbH (Germany) Knauf Insulation Ltd. (UK) LG Hausys, Ltd. (South Korea) L'Isolante K-Flex S.p.A. (Italy) Masterplast Group International (Hungary) Promat International (Belgium) Microtherm N.V. (Belgium) Morgan Advanced Materials (UK) Porextherm Dmmstoffe GmbH (Germany) Owens Corning (USA) Pittsburgh Corning Corporation (USA) Paroc Oy AB (Finland) PPG Industries (USA) Recticel S.A (Belgium) Rockwool International A/S (Denmark) Rockwool Ltd. (UK) Rockwool Manufacturing Company (USA) Roxul, Inc. (Canada) Saint-Gobain (France) CertainTeed Corporation (USA) Glava A/S (Norway) Saint-Gobain ISOVER SA (France) Sealed Air Corporation (USA) Skamol A/S (Denmark) StyroChem International (USA) Superglass Insulation Ltd. (UK) The Lindner Group (Germany) Dow Building Solutions (USA) Thermafiber, Inc. (USA) Unifrax LLC (USA) URSA Insulation, S.A (Spain) USG Boral (Malaysia) Xtratherm Limited (Ireland) 9. GLOBAL MARKET PERSPECTIVE Total Companies Profiled: 123 (including Divisions/Subsidiaries - 162) The United States (54) (54) Canada (3) (3) Japan (5) (5) Europe (87) (87) France (5) (5) Germany (21) (21) The United Kingdom (14) (14) Italy (3) (3) Spain (1) (1) Rest of Europe (43) (43) Asia-Pacific (Excluding Japan) (11) (Excluding Japan) (11) Middle East (2) For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/3j5gmp/insulation Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager press@researchandmarkets.com For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 5, 2017) - International Battery Metals Ltd. (CSE: IBAT) ("IBAT" or the "Company") The Company is pleased to announce that it has commenced the testing and evaluation of the optioned Woodbury Carper Lithium Resource Project being 37,500 acres of oil and gas leases located in Cumberland and Jasper Counties Illinois. Through this initial program, the Company will advance its objectives of quantifying the lithium content of the brine on the optioned properties and exploring the application of different extraction methodologies. As announced in the Company's July 24, 2017 news release, lithium on these properties were discovered as a result of drilling three exploratory wells in the search for oil and gas from the New Albany Shale and Carper Sandstone. Readers are referred to that news release for further details. These initiatives reflect the Company's strategic move to focus on lithium in oil and gas brines in North America where it can utilize the latest lithium specific expertise and technologies as described in the Company's news release of October 2, 2017 in the best interests of the Company. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD "Logan Anderson" Logan Anderson, CEO and Director Phone 604-685-4745 Forward-looking statements This release may contain certain forward-looking statements with respect to the financial condition, results of operations and business of the Company and certain of the plans and objectives of the Company with respect to the same. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future and there are many factors that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. CSE DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE. INDIANAPOLIS, Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --International Medical Group (IMG), an award-winning international medical and travel insurance company, is pleased to announce that Steve Paraboschi has joined the company as executive vice president. Paraboschi will be responsible for P&L across the company and support of IMG's international insurance distribution and operations. "IMG is a market leader whose rapid global growth, innovative product solutions and steadfast commitment to being there for its customers set it apart from competitors," Paraboschi said. "I'm thrilled to join IMG at such an exciting time in the company's history, and look forward to working with its outstanding leadership team to further the company's international reputation for excellence." Paraboschi comes to IMG from AXA Assistance USA, where he served as the chief executive officer, managing a profitable P&L, driving alignment and global strategies, and developing innovative product distribution methods. Previously, as the general manager and vice president of AXA Assistance USA's Global Healthcare TPA and Travel Services business, Paraboschi spearheaded the development of a travel risk management product, directed successful market entries, improved bottom line performance, and led revenue growth of 110% over five years. Prior to his time at AXA, Paraboschi worked at The Guardian Life Insurance Company and MetLife. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the U.S. Travel Insurance Association and the French American Chamber of Commerce of Chicago. "We are pleased to welcome Steve to the IMG team," said President and CEO Brian Barwick. "He has a proven track record of developing business strategies that drive top line and bottom line growth, while supporting a dynamic environment of teamwork and employee development. His customer-focused and results-oriented approach, combined with his industry expertise, make him distinctly qualified to serve as IMG's executive vice president." About International Medical Group International Medical Group (IMG), a Sirius Group company, is an award-winning international medical and travel insurance company that has served millions of members worldwide since its founding in 1990. A leader in the global benefits and assistance services industry, IMG offers a full line of international medical insurance products, as well as travel insurance plans, medical management services and 24/7 emergency medical and travel assistance. For more information, please visit www.imglobal.com. Logo - http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/564172/IMG_Logo_2016_TM_Logo.jpg VALLEY COTTAGE, New York, October 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The global market for human identification has been projected to register a CAGR of 6% throughout the forecast period 2017 to 2022, according to Future Market Insights' (FMI) recently published report. The global human identification market is estimated to account for more than US$ 1,000 Mn revenues by 2022-end. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161020/430874LOGO ) Use of Skin Microbiome for Human Identification - A Major Trend One of the major trends observed in the global human identification market is use of skin microbiome. Although this process is excessively time consuming, extending to approximately 3 years, it is anticipated to offer a preliminary market panel, creating opportunity for future development of a reproducible & robust technique for human identification. New product developments, and increasing M&A activities are other key trends being witnessed in the market. A key challenge for market players is price erosion in genomics services as well as instruments. Several molecular detection procedures for human identification are yet in their validation stage. However, few of them are available in the market, and are being implemented in several laboratories worldwide. Global Market Research Report Overview on Human Identification @https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/human-identification-market The global human identification market has been experiencing a continuous launch of new & advanced products over the recent past. In addition, rapid DNA analysis has gained immense traction in improving the process of human identification. Leading companies in the human identification market are shifting their focus towards minimisation of cost & time required for DNA analysis. Several governments around the world are offering funds for R&D activities related to human identification technologies. Forensic Investigation to Remain Dominant Modality of Human Identification On the basis of modality, forensic investigation will retain its dominance in the global human identification market, with revenues estimated to surpass US$ 450 Mn by 2022-end. Paternity testing will also remain a lucrative modality of human identification, and will account for nearly one-fourth share of the market throughout the forecast period. In contrast, anthropology is expected to be the least lucrative modality of human identification. View Report Table of Contents, Figures, and Tables@https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/human-identification-market/toc Based on end-users, research institutes will witness the fastest expansion in the global human identification market through 2022. Contract research organisations, on the other hand, will witness a relatively slower expansion than other end-users in the market through 2022. In addition, forensic laboratories and hospitals are projected to account for the largest revenue shares of the market during the forecast period. Increased Government Spending on Forensic Science to Drive the Market Growth in North America Currently, North America dominates the global market for human identification, and the trend is anticipated to continue over the forecast period. Growth of the market in North America can be highly attributed to increased government spending on forensic science, coupled with robust expansion of DNA database in the U.S. North America will witness the fastest expansion in the global human identification market through 2022. Asia-Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ) will also register a significant CAGR in the market. This is mainly because of various government initiatives for increasing awareness about forensic technologies and their implementation in DNA analysis. China and India are expected to be the fastest growing markets for human identification in APEJ. A sample of this report is available upon request@https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-5078 By technique, dominance of polymerase chain reaction in the global human identification market is expected to remain unchallenged over the forecast period, followed by capillary electrophoresis. Next generation sequencing technique will register an impressive expansion through 2022, as it has the potential of being the ultimate platform of genotyping for human identification. In addition, rapid DNA analysis will continue to register the highest CAGR in the market through 2022. Company Profiles Key players identified by FMI's report on the global human identification market include Promega Corporation, New England Biolabs Inc., LGC Limited, Roche Holding AG, IntegenX Inc., Flinn Scientific, Inc., QIAGEN N.V., Bio-Rad Laboratories Inc., Merck & Co. Inc., General Electric Company, and Thermo Fischer Scientific, Inc. Buy Human Identification Market 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 and an aerial view of the competitive framework and future market trends. Contact Us 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018, Valley Cottage, NY 10989, United States T: +1-347-918-3531 F: +1-845-579-5705 T (UK): +44(0)20-7692-8790 Sales: sales@futuremarketinsights.com Website: http://www.futuremarketinsights.com OTTAWA, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 10/05/17 -- In a key step forward in animal protection, the Senate Standing Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology last night unanimously voted in favour of S-214, the Cruelty Free Cosmetics Act. The proposed legislation will now move to debate and a final vote in the Canadian Senate. If the bill passes this stage, it will proceed to the House of Commons. Senators amended the bill in committee to include a phase-in period to allow industry time to comply with the legislation. Troy Seidle, HSI's senior director of research and toxicology, issued the following statement: "Cosmetic testing on animals is an outdated, needless practice with no place in a modern and progressive society. It is for that reason that 37 countries - including the world's largest cosmetics markets - have taken action to ban or restrict their trade in cosmetics tested on animals. Yet here in Canada, it remains perfectly legal for cosmetic chemicals to be dripped into rabbits' eyes and spread on their delicate skin, all for the sake of a new lipstick and skin cream. We are calling on the Canadian Senate to pass S-214 and for the House of Commons to move quickly to adopt this lifesaving legislation." "Animal Alliance and HSI commissioned a poll which showed that 81 percent of Canadians support a national ban on cosmetic animal testing," said Liz White, director, Animal Alliance of Canada. "Today's decision was an important step forward in respecting Canadian opinion and bringing our industry standards into line with those of other developed nations." BeCrueltyFree is the largest campaign in history to end cosmetics animal testing, with branches in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, the European Union, India, Japan, Korea, Mexico, New Zealand, Taiwan and the United States. BeCrueltyFree Canada is a partnership between Humane Society International and the Animal Alliance of Canada - online at becrueltyfree.ca Humane Society International/Canada is a leading force for animal protection, with active programs in companion animals, wildlife and habitat protection, marine mammal preservation, farm animal welfare and animals in research. HSI/Canada is proud to be a part of Humane Society International which, together with its partners, constitutes one of the world's largest animal protection organizations. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty worldwide - on the Web at www.hsicanada.ca Contacts: Media Contact: Christopher Pare 514 395-2914 x 206 Cell: 438 402-0643 cpare@hsi.org SAN JOSE, CA--(Marketwired - October 05, 2017) - Tech CU (Technology Credit Union), in conjunction with Belvedere Solar Finance, today announced that it is introducing a solar financing program for its commercial, non-profit and government members. The program will allow members to finance solar systems ranging in price from $100,000 to $2 million with no money down. All financing will be structured so that savings from solar will cover the cost of the financing over time. "Earlier this year, Tech CU made a strong commitment to fund residential solar loans. However, we quickly realized there was a need to fund solar for our commercial, non-profit and government members as well," said Joe Anzalone, Chief Commercial Banking Officer of Tech CU. "We began looking for a partner who could help us structure financing that takes into account each member's unique situation, cash flow objectives, and ability to use the tax benefits associated with solar. Having successfully worked with the Belvedere principals before, I was confident we could meet these requirements and more." The new solar financing program will offer a range of financing alternatives including: Leases: For commercial entities unable to use solar tax benefits. Loans: For commercial entities who can use solar tax benefits, and for non-profits ineligible for tax benefits. Tax-exempt leases: Designed specifically for government entities. "Installing solar will allow members to significantly reduce their carbon footprint, insure against rapidly rising electricity costs, and dramatically reduce electricity costs," said Dick Leask, president of Belvedere Solar Finance, a Richmond-based company. The company has been working with California community banks and credit unions since 2006 to offer solar financing for commercial, non-profit and government solar installations. "We have structured more than $100 million in solar leases and loans, and users invariably enjoy dramatic cost savings. We're looking forward to helping Tech CU's members." "At Tech CU, respecting our environment and embracing green energy alternatives has always been a focus," said Todd Harris, CEO of Tech CU. "Over the past few years, we've added solar to our own office environment -- shrinking our non-renewable energy consumption by nearly 30 percent. We look forward to helping other businesses achieve similar results and enjoy the cost savings of solar." ABOUT TECH CU Tech CU (techcu.com) is a $2.4 billion credit union serving more than 90,000 members throughout the San Francisco Bay Area -- including employees of such companies as Tesla, eBay, Applied Materials, Nvidia and Facebook. A federally insured, not-for-profit organization, we put the financial interests of our members ahead of shareholder profit by helping members achieve their financial goals on their terms and by sharing the benefits of our growth. Founded in 1960 by the innovative employees of Fairchild Semiconductor, today we continue to be an industry leader, providing convenient and easy-to-use financial products for all stages of our members' lives, including personal banking, wealth management, private banking, commercial lending and business banking. Tech CU consistently achieves high marks for its customer satisfaction and maintains a 5-star rating from Bauer Financial, the nation's largest independent rating service for financial institutions. And, with mobile and online banking, 65,000+ surcharge-free ATMs worldwide (more than Chase, Bank of America and Wells Fargo combined) and convenient branch access to our financial experts, Tech CU makes 24/7 banking easy and empowering. Contact: Linden Kohtz Public Relations lkohtz@techcu.com PUNE, India, October 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- According to a new market research report "User Provisioning Market by Business Application (Role Management, Password Management, User Log Management, User Governance and Compliance), Service (Professional and Managed), Business Function (IT, HR, and Finance), Vertical - Global Forecast to 2022", published by MarketsandMarkets', the global market size is expected to grow from USD 4.25 Billion in 2017 to USD 7.56 Billion by 2022, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 12.2%. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160303/792302 ) Browse 77 Market Data Tables and 45 Figures spread through 157 Pages and in-depth TOC on "User Provisioning Market" http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/user-provisioning-market-85056797.html Early buyers will receive 10% customization on this report The major forces driving the growth of the User Provisioning Market include the growing need for centrally managed, reliable user provisioning solutions and the increasing traction of security and risk mitigation. Moreover, the rising adoption of cloud-based Single Sign-On (SSO) and password management solutions is also a major factor driving the market growth. The managed services segment is expected to have the higher growth rate in the User Provisioning Market during the forecast period. Managed services are gaining traction, as the major managed service vendors are offering reliable services to help their clients in the efficient management of user accounts and user authorizations, based on the business needs. Internal security and role management are the crucial aspects required for executing the enterprise business functions successfully. As a result, user provisioning services are gaining traction in the enterprises for provisioning the access requests of the users and for providing internal security. Request Report Brochure@ http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownload.asp?id=85056797 The IT business function is expected to have the largest market share in the User Provisioning Market during the forecast period. The IT business function area requires reliable user provisioning and IAM solutions at a large scale, due to the voluminous information produced on a daily basis in these areas. In IT business function, user provisioning solutions provide discretionary account provisioning functionality, which empowers the IT administrator to provide access to the right person to the right application and data. Using role management and RBAC features of the user provisioning solutions, IT administrators grant or limit the access to resources or services to an end-user according to their role or profile. User provisioning solutions play a vital role in IT business function area, as these solutions enable IT administrators to create and manage users' access to requested resources in an IT system. It allows the IT administrators to add users based on their roles and the approval of higher level profiles in the organization. North America is expected to have the largest market share in the User Provisioning Market during the forecast period. North America is expected to have the largest market share and dominate the User Provisioning Market during the forecast period. The region has always invested substantially in Research and Development (R&D) activities, thereby contributing to the development of new technologies. The growing concerns related to the security of IT infrastructure and complex data have encouraged enterprises in the North American region to adopt reliable user provisioning and authentication solutions. The increasing adoption of connected devices, Bring Your Own Device (BYOD), and cloud-based applications has resulted in the tremendous growth of technology adoption in this region. It has also triggered a rise in next-generation threats and added more complexities and concerns in the IT infrastructure. North America suffers the highest frequency of cyber-attacks and stringent compliance regulations in the world. Therefore, the region is more prone to threats, intrusions, and security breaches, and as a result, it has the largest number of security vendors. The major vendors in the User Provisioning Market include Oracle (US), Atos (France), IBM (US), Hitachi ID Systems (Canada), Dell (US), OneLogin (US), SAP (Germany), CA Technologies (US), Happiest Minds (India), EmpowerID (US), Microsoft (US), and Centrify Corporation (US). Make an enquiry @ http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Enquiry_Before_Buying.asp?id=85056797 Browse Related Reports Identity & Access Management Market By Component (Provisioning, Directory Services, Password Management, SSO, and Audit, Compliance, and Governance), Organization Size, Deployment Type, Vertical (BFSI, Telecom & IT), and Region - Global Forecast to 2021 http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/identity-access-management-iam-market-1168.html Cybersecurity Market by Solution (IAM, Encryption, DLP, UTM, Antivirus/Anti-Malware, Firewall, IDS/IPS, Disaster Recovery, DDOS Mitigation, SIEM), Service, Security Type, Deployment Mode, Organization Size, Vertical, and Region - Global Forecast to 2022 http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/cyber-security-market-505.html Know More About our Knowledge Store @http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Knowledgestore.asp About MarketsandMarkets' MarketsandMarkets' provides quantified B2B research on 30,000 high growth niche opportunities/threats which will impact 70% to 80% of worldwide companies' revenues. Currently servicing 5000 customers worldwide including 80% of global Fortune 1000 companies as clients. Almost 75,000 top officers across eight industries worldwide approach MarketsandMarkets' for their painpoints around revenues decisions. Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets' are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model - GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors. MarketsandMarkets' now coming up with 1,500 MicroQuadrants (Positioning top players across leaders, emerging companies, innovators, strategic players) annually in high growth emerging segments. MarketsandMarkets' is determined to benefit more than 10,000 companies this year for their revenue planning and help them take their innovations/disruptions early to the market by providing them research ahead of the curve. MarketsandMarkets' flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "RT" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets. Contact: Mr. Rohan MarketsandMarkets' 701 Pike Street Suite 2175, Seattle, WA 98101, United States Tel: +1-888-600-6441 Email: sales@marketsandmarkets.com Visit Our Blog @ http://www.marketsandmarketsblog.com/market-reports/telecom-it Connect with us on LinkedIn @ http://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsandmarkets MIAMI, FL -- (Marketwired) -- 10/05/17 --Kenergy Scientific, Inc. (OTC PINK: KNSC) today announces a corporate update regarding two aspects of its business. First, the Company has approved and completed the change of its state of incorporation by being re-domiciled to Wyoming. Second, a brief update regarding the merger, and further explanation of its activities since the announcement on September 1, 2017 of the signed LOI. KNSC will acquire 100% of the Target Company, a 40-year-old established company, which presently includes projected revenue in 2017 totaling $5.6 million. The acquisition is in its final stages of completing acquisition planning while both parties are finalizing the definitive agreements. "This acquisition will bring to the company a world premiere, iconic brand that's been in the community for more than 40 years. The Target Acquisition's reputation is a significant competitive advantage in a very unique market segment. To date, no one has created the necessary infrastructure to capture all phases of this resort lifestyle -- until now," said Erwin Vahlsing, Jr., president of Kenergy Scientific, Inc. "The new company will bring together the resources needed to engage the local community on all levels, and in every phase of their life -- relaxation and fitness, banking and insurance, and senior care, all dedicated to the unique needs of the Resort community," he concluded. Additionally, the Company believes the overall management and operations processes, that have been put in place by the new company's management, set apart the overall experience of its guests. These processes are meant to assure each customer experiences a secure, relaxing, and enjoyable visit. Safe Harbor Statement: The information posted in this release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify these statements by use of the words "may," "will," "should," "plans," "explores," "expects," "anticipates," "continue," "estimate," "project," "intend," and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or anticipated. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, general economic and business conditions, effects of continued geopolitical unrest and regional conflicts, competition, changes in technology and methods of marketing, and various other factors beyond the Company's control. Kenergy Scientific, Inc. Phone: 800-277-0321 Email: infoknsc@otcpubco.com DUBLIN, October 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Graphic Film Market - Forecast to 2022" report has been added to Research and Markets' offering. This research projects that the graphic film market will grow from USD 24.17 Billion in 2017 to USD 31.10 Billion by 2022, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.17% from 2017 to 2022. Rise in population, increase in in disposable income levels, growth in construction, automotive, promotional & advertisement, and retail industries, and favorable trends in the e-commerce industry are expected to drive the market. This market is segmented on the basis of polymer, film type, end use, printing technology, and region. In terms of end use, the promotional & advertisement segment accounted for the largest share. Graphic film are used in a variety of applications such as promotional banners, advertisement pamphlets, and anti-graffiti applications; it thus accounts for the largest market share. On the basis of film type, the opaque segment accounted for the largest share. These films are preferred due to their ease of use, light weight, excellent printability, and high durability. In terms of polymer, the PVC segment accounted for the largest share, and is also projected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The growth has been witnessed owing to its properties such as recyclability, cost-effectiveness, excellent printability, and high durability. In terms of region, Asia Pacific accounted for the largest share in 2016. Asia Pacific is a developed market due to the rise in population, rapid urbanization, and increase in disposable income capability. China accounted for the largest country-level market for graphic film, globally. The growth can be attributed to high technological development, high disposable income, and good construction & automotive industrial scenarios. Laminated graphic film mediums are light-weight and cost-effective for promotional activities. However, fluctuation in prices of raw materials and unorganized market structure serve as potential restraints in the graphic film market. Companies Mentioned: 3M Company Achilles Usa , Inc. , Inc. Avery Dennison Corporation Ccl Industries Inc. Constantia Flexibles Group Drytac Corporation Dunmore Corporation E.I. Du Pont De Nemours And Company Hexis S.A. Kay Premium Marking Films Ltd. Key Topics Covered: 1 Introduction 2 Research Methodology 3 Executive Summary 4 Premium Insights 5 Market Overview 6 Graphic Film Market, By Polymer 7 Graphic Film Market, By Film Type 8 Graphic Film Market, By End Use 9 Graphic Film Market, By Printing Technology 10 Graphic Film Market, By Region 11 Company Profiles 12 Appendix For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/2xqpkd/graphic_film Media Contact: Laura Wood, Senior Manager press@researchandmarkets.com For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 NEW YORK, NY -- (Marketwired) -- 10/05/17 -- On4 Communications (OTC: ONCI) today announced it has interviewed 2 audit firms in New York, and decided to select Mazars USA LLP. CEO Steve Berman comments, "It has always been my goal to have fully audited financials and we are close to that goal today. I chose Mazars LLP because of their expertise in foreign accounting as we are now a global company. I will post the engagement letter on Twitter later this afternoon. Audit expected to last 6 to 8 weeks. Upon completion all requirements for OTCQB will be met, and maintaining a .01 bid price would be all that remains." "We would also like to announce that we have signed a contract with a northern Florida auto group with 6 dealerships including Chevy, Kia, Hyundai, Ford, Nissan and Toyota. Each dealership will take 20 units per month at $200 per unit for a grand total of $288,000 per year." "We are also pleased to announce that we have entered into a contract with a large southwestern extended warranty company; we will be selling their products which include extended warranties, tire and wheel and other aftermarket products in our dealer network and they will be selling our apps in their dealer network. They will start with 50 units per month at $200 per unit and a grand total of $120,000 per year." "In addition, I will be travelling back to Kuala Lumpur on October 23rd for meetings with Malaysian cell phone companies, with the hope of selling our apps at their retail locations. There are over 600 retail locations in Malaysia. I will also be meeting with our attorney in Asia regarding finalization on the first manufacturing facility which is expected by November 30, 2017. This acquisition will be financed with a loan against receivables." "The 3rd reduction of the share structure is as follows: I am owed a bonus of 150 million shares for my work in 2016 and 2017. I will not be taking this bonus and the 150 million shares will not be added to our share structure. I will not be taking any bonuses going forward as I want to have as much cash available for operations, and my compensation package for 2018 is being reviewed by the board to reflect these changes." Berman adds, "I would also like to announce that we will have a shareholder conference call on November 10, 2017, time and dial in number will be announced shortly." "Additional revenue contracts coming next week, and working on M&A with an update expected within 2 weeks," CEO Steve Berman concludes. About On4 Communications On4 is a holdings company with an aggressive focus of acquiring proven and profitable businesses. Our first project is focusing on businesses operating in the $1.7 trillion U.S. healthcare industry. Our newest targeted businesses are operating in the trillion-dollar mobile App space. Our first acquisition in the mobile App space is FMS Marketing a global creator and distributor of mobile Apps for Android and iPhones. We are also targeting businesses to acquire and joint venture with in the medical marijuana and emerging MJ ancillary products space. Forward-Looking Statement This release includes 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. All statements regarding our expected future financial position, results of operations, cash flows, financing plans, business strategy, products and services, competitive positions, growth opportunities, plans and objectives of management for future operations, as well as statements that include words such as "anticipate," "if," \"believe," "plan," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "could," "should," "will," and other similar expressions are forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond our control, which may cause actual results, performance, or achievements, as described in our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission which are available for review at www.sec.gov, to differ materially from anticipated results, performance, or achievements. We are under no obligation to (and expressly disclaim any such obligation to) update or alter our forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. On4 Communications, Inc. On4Company@gmail.com (323) 487-0389 ALBANY, New York, October 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The global commercial robotics market has witnessed steady growth in the last few years due to rapid growth of vital end users such as the healthcare industry. Commercial robotics has become a crucial requirement in several parts of the healthcare sector, which is likely to enable a steady growth in demand from the global commercial robotics market in the coming years. Other sectors such as the defense and marine industries are also likely to exhibit growing demand from the global commercial robotics market in the coming years, brightening the market's prospects. The commercial robotics market is thus likely to exhibit a smooth growth trajectory in the coming years, according to Transparency Market Research. The firm puts the commercial robotics market's 2017 valuation at US$5.9 bn, estimating the market to rise to a valuation of US$17.6 bn by 2022 at a strong 24.4% CAGR. Utilization Benefits to Impact Market Growth Positively Digital rights management (DRM) is a technology to enable conditional access, to protect and outlaw the illegal spread of digital content across on-premise and on cloud. DRM is an advanced approach to copyright protection for digital media. Digital rights management is use to obstruct illegal distribution of digital content and control the ways consumers can copy content they have purchased. Primarily, rising popularity of social media platforms has resulted in the creation of large amount digital content. Digital content created or utilized by enterprises is also anticipated to grow. Hence, demand for managing digital content is primarily driving the global DRM market. The combination of DRM innovation by content proprietor or distributers bolsters them in creating income all the more proficiently by controlling copyrights and robbery robberies. Expanding center around computerized content administration through the arrangement of cloud based advanced rights administration combination is relied upon to support the interest for computerized rights administration arrangements. Get a PDF Sample for this Research Report @https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=31412 The North America market is set to dominate the global commercial robotics market in the coming years due to the widespread acceptance of the infrastructure required for adoption of commercial robotic systems. The steady technological advancement of the healthcare sector in North America is thus a major driver for the global commercial robotics market. Europe is also a major contributor to the global commercial robotics market due to the strong presence of the industrial sector as well as a burgeoning healthcare industry. The commercial robotics market in North America is expected to be valued at US$7.6 bn in 2022, representing more than 43% of the global commercial robotics market. The defense and security sector could also account for a significant portion of the demand from North America and Europe, as numerous developed countries in these regions have focused on military modernization in the recent past. Download Report TOC athttps://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/report-toc/31412 The increasing government interest in the healthcare sector in countries such as China, India, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, and Malaysia is likely to drive the commercial robotics market in Asia Pacific except Japan in the coming years, with the regional market set to account for 18.4% of the global commercial robotics market by 2022. The region is expected to make a 271 BPS rise over the 2017-2022 forecast period. The Middle East and Japan are also likely to contribute significantly to the global commercial robotics market in the coming years, with the MEA market for commercial robotics expected to rise to US$471 mn by 2022 at a strong CAGR of 22.7%. The strong presence of Japanese companies in the robotics sector is likely to enable smooth growth of the commercial robotics market in Japan in the coming years, with the Japan commercial robotics market set to rise to a valuation of US$899.8 mn by 2022. Competitive Dynamics Leading players in the global commercial robotics market include Northrop Grumman Corporation, KUKA AG, iRobot Corporation, Yaskawa Electric Corporation, Honda Motor Company Ltd., Omron Adept Technologies Inc., 3D Robotics Inc., Accuray Inc., Alphabet Inc., and Amazon Robotics LLC. Consistent product development is likely to be the key in the global commercial robotics market, while larger players could also consider acquisitions of smaller specialist player to enhance their offering. Popular Research Reports by TMR: Mobile Robotics Market : https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/mobile-robotics-market-2017-2025.html https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/mobile-robotics-market-2017-2025.html Cloud Robotics Market : https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/cloud-robotics-market.html https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/cloud-robotics-market.html Agriculture Robots Market:https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/agriculture-robot-market.html About Us Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The company's exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMR's experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information. TMR's data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports. Contact Transparency Market Research State Tower, 90 State Street, Suite 700, Albany NY - 12207 United States Tel: +1-518-618-1030 USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453 Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.com Website: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com TMR Blog: http://www.editiontruth.com/ http://www.techyounme.com/ Presentation by a Key Opinion Leader, Ronald G. Crystal, MD, Professor and Chairman of the Department of Genetic Medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine Regulatory News: Lysogene (Paris:LYS) (FR0013233475 LYS), a leading, biopharmaceutical company pioneering gene therapy technologies to treat central nervous system diseases, today announced that it will host a Key Opinion Leader (KOL) meeting on the topic of Gene Therapy for Patients with Sanfilippo Syndrome Type A (MPS IIIA) on Friday, October 13th from 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM EDT in New York City. The meeting will feature a presentation by Key Opinion Leader, Ronald G. Crystal, MD (Professor and Chairman of the Department of Genetic Medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine), who will discuss the current landscape for using gene therapeutics for treating patients with CNS degenerative disorders such as MPS IIIA. Dr. Crystal will be available to answer questions following the lunch. Lysogene's management team will also provide an overview of the Company's ongoing clinical development program with their in vivo gene therapy candidate for MPS IIIA, which is a rAAV vector serotype rh.10 carrying the gene coding for SGSH. Lysogene's gene therapy is delivered directly to the CNS in one neurosurgical procedure. By delivering the missing SGSH gene, Lysogene believes MPS IIIA patients will be provided a permanent source of functional enzyme in the brain that corrects phenotypic abnormalities in the CNS. This event is intended for institutional investors, sell-side analysts, investment bankers, and business development professionals only. Please RSVP in advance if you plan to attend, as space is limited. For those who are unable to attend in person, a live webcast and replay will be accessible here. About Ronald G. Crystal, MD Ronald G. Crystal, MD, is Professor and Chairman of the Department of Genetic Medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine, where he is also the Bruce Webster Professor of Internal Medicine, Director of the Belfer Gene Therapy Core Facility and Attending Physician at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center. Dr. Crystal is a pioneer in the field of gene therapy. He was the first to use a recombinant virus as a vehicle for in vivo gene therapy, and has carried out human trials of gene therapy for cystic fibrosis, cardiac ischemia, cancer and central nervous system disorders. His laboratory also has major programs in deciphering how human genetic variation modulates gene expression in the context of environmental exposure and exploiting these relationships to recategorize human disease at the biologic level and identify who is at risk for disease. Dr. Crystal serves on the editorial boards of numerous biomedical journals. He has published over 850 scientific articles, and his work has been cited over 50,000 times in the scientific literature. He has edited several textbooks, and serves on a number of advisory boards to government and industry; he is a paid member of Lysogene's clinical advisory board. Dr. Crystal is responsible for numerous biomedical patents and is a founder of several biotechnology companies focused on developing gene therapy therapeutics. About Lysogene: www.lysogene.com View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171005005999/en/ Contacts: Media: Europe NewCap Annie-Florence Loyer, + 33 6 88 20 35 59 + 33 1 44 71 00 12 afloyer@newcap.fr or North America RooneyPartners Marion Janic, 1 (212) 223-4017 mjanic@rooneyco.com or Investors: LifeSci Advisors Chris Maggos, +41 79 367 6254 chris@lifesciadvisors.com Technavio has announced the top five leading vendors in their recentbaby stroller and pram market in Europe report. This market research report also lists 22 other prominent vendors that are expected to impact the market during the forecast period. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171005005904/en/ Technavio has published a new report on the global baby stroller and pram market in Europe market from 2017-2021. (Graphic: Business Wire) Competitive vendor landscape According to the research analysis, the baby stroller and pram market in Europe has the presence of multiple established players and is competitive with a wide array of products. The market players compete based on many different factors including price, quality, brand, and variety. They also indulge in different strategies to increase their market share. The practice of sustainability is essential for future production and is well-applied by the major competitors and other prominent competitors. "Product innovation, with a focus on developing countries, especially the ones that have considerable awareness and stable economic growth, is expected to be a key trend in the market. Moreover, the acquisition of new brands will help the leading competitors to maintain their dominance in the market during the forecast period," says Narendra Nandaigari, a lead toys and baby products research analyst from Technavio. Over the last two years, several manufacturers have come out with multifunctional strollers that can be converted into baby car seats and other storage facilities. Twin strollers that can carry two babies at a time or have a lower space to store goods such as milk bottles, diapers, or other baby accessories are some of the other products that are trending in the region. These strollers were also available in designer prints and unique colors, owing to the rising demand for designer products from fashion-conscious consumers. 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 Technaviomarket research analysts identify the following key vendors: Baby Jogger The company offers jogging strollers and all-terrain strollers. Its offerings are categorized under its Double, Everyday, Jogging, ZIP, and 3- and 4-Wheel stroller segments. It also offers car seats, accessories, and pushchairs for adults and children with physical disabilities. The company has a strong international distribution network with distributors in various countries around the world. Bebecar Bebecar manufactures a wide variety of nursery prams and furniture. It also offers fabrics, pushchairs, and accessories that include baby bags, changing bags, foot muffs, framed rain covers, coveralls, sun canopies, and sun parasols. Bugaboo International Bugaboo International offers strollers for new-born babies and toddlers. It offers a wide variety of strollers and accessories to cater to the needs of young children. It sells its products in more than 50 countries across Europe and has its own factory in Xiamen, China. Artsana (Chicco) Artsana (Chicco) is a privately held company that designs, develops, and distributes games, toys, feeding products, and other accessories for children in the UK and abroad. Chicco is a subsidiary of Artsana and distributes its products in more than 120 countries across six continents. Its retailers include Mothercare, Boots, Argos, Babies"R"Us, Kiddicare, the Entertainer, and Smyths. iCandy iCandy offers different types of strollers and prams across the globe. It has its operations in North America, Europe, Asia and Australia, and the Middle East. The company offers a variety of baby products such as pushchairs, carrycots, seat liners, and parasols. 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 Wet Tissue and Wipe Market 2017-2021 Global Baby Carrier Market 2017-2021 Global Advanced Baby Monitor 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/20171005005904/en/ Contacts: Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 www.technavio.com HALLE, Germany, October 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The moment has finally arrived, just in time for the beginning of autumn - GERRY WEBER is presenting its upmarket Capsule Collection exclusively with international supermodel Eva Herzigova. This limited Capsule edition is made up of three Looks and a total of seven articles, representing Premium Lifestyle and emphasising the GERRY WEBER brand values:FEMININE - CASUAL CHIC - INSPIRING. (Photo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/566575/Gerry_Weber_Capsule_Collection.jpg ) (Photo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/566576/Gerry_Weber_Eva_Herzigova.jpg ) All three Looks combine timeless elegance with urbane style elements - ideal for showing off the personality of the wearer. The exclusive design symbolises ease and joie de vivre, even during the colder months - a collection of unique and upmarket styles that combine superbly with each other and the rest of your wardrobe. Patterned jackets, shirts with glitter edging and pullovers in snake print made of 100 % Kashmir are combined with trousers in biker look. The classy polo-neck jumper with metallic effect enhances each outfit, and the black velvet dress is the ideal classic for the colder months. The grey-flecked coat with fake fur collar is a total eye-catcher, seeing its wearer warm through the winter as well as fashionably. Discover for yourself Eva Herzigova's favourite items and become inspired by this exceptional collaboration with GERRY WEBER! The new Capsule Collection from GERRY WEBER will be on sale from 6 October 2017 in selected stores across Germany, online from gerryweber.com and at selected specialist partner outlets abroad. Link to film and image: http://bit.ly/2gNm2YQ About the GERRY WEBER Group GERRY WEBER International AG with company headquarters in Halle/Westfalen is a global concern uniting five strong brands under one roof: GERRY WEBER, TAIFUN, SAMOON, talkabout and HALLHUBER. Since being established in 1973, GERRY WEBER International AG, which is listed on the German SDAX index, has grown into one of the best known fashion and lifestyle companies with around 1,260 own name stores and sales outlets globally (of which 376 HALLHUBER), more than 2,450 shop units and 270 franchise stores, as well as brand online outlets in nine countries. The group and its staff of 6,900 worldwide (around 2,000 HALLHUBER) has at its disposal marketing structures in around 60 countries and is regarded as one of the largest listed fashion groups in Germany (as at April 2017). GERRY WEBER Group posted group turnover of EUR 900.8 million for the 2015/16 financial year (1 November 2015 to 31 October 2016). gerryweber.com White Communications GmbH Lorina Kruger Phone: +49-89-360-766-71 Mail: krueger@white.de Rosenheimerstr. 145e 81671 Munich Germany Sandra Rauchenberger +49-89-360-766-42 rauchenberger@white.de Rosenheimerstr. 145e 81671 Munich WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Conservative Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., announced Thursday she is running for the Senate seat being vacated by retiring Tennessee Senator Bob Corker, R-Tenn. In a video announcing her campaign, Blackburn describes herself as a 'hard core, card carrying Tennessee conservative' and expresses support for President Donald Trump's immigration ban and the border wall. Blackburn also criticizes the Senate as 'totally dysfunctional' and calls it a 'disgrace' that Republicans in the chamber were unable to repeal Obamacare. 'I'm running for U.S. Senate because I will fight every single day to make our Republican majority act like one,' Blackburn says. 'Too much is at stake. America needs a conservative revolution, and leaders who are willing to fight in it.' The announcement from Blackburn comes the same day Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam announced he would not be running for the seat. In a statement, Haslam said he was grateful for all the encouragement and support to run for Senate but decided he wants to remain focused on his job as governor. 'I know that being a candidate for the Senate during my last 15 months as governor would be a distraction from the task at hand,' Haslam said. 'While I have loved being a mayor and a governor, I don't feel the same call to run for Senate at this point,' he added. 'I feel like I can be most helpful in my next service as a private citizen.' A report from Politico noted Haslam's immense personal fortune and statewide popularity would have made him a fearsome candidate in a Republican primary. Haslam's decision may make it more likely former Congressman Stephen Fincher, R-Tenn., will run for the seat, some Tennessee Republicans told Politico. 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. GUANGZHOU, CHINA -- (Marketwired) -- 10/05/17 -- Sino Agro Food, Inc. (OTCQX: SIAF) (OSE: SIAF-ME), a specialized investment company focused on protein food including seafood and cattle, has scheduled its Annual General Meeting ("AGM") for December 2017 (exact date to be confirmed). SIAF's AGM will be held December 2017 (exact date to be confirmed) at its corporate headquarters in Guangzhou, China. Proceedings will be webcast with shareholder participation invited. Items for consideration include the following: 1) Adoption of a share buyback program, 2) Adoption of a dividend policy, 3) Formulation of outstanding share count guidelines, 4) Election of Directors, 5) Extending ECOVIS as SIAF's Certified Auditor for 2018. Sino Agro's Chairman and CEO elaborated, "We are confident that the timing is right to formulate the first two agenda items at the AGM, and to implement thereafter, as a complement to our carve-out and spinoff ("COSO") strategies to unlock shareholder value. As always, the Company balances various considerations to determine the best use of its funds, including, of course, projected discretionary cash. Having invested a great deal of time and money to progress the Tri-way COSO strategy sufficiently now to gain real confidence in its further finance ability, the Company believes a best use of funds likely to be a meaningful share buyback plan. Such a plan or initiation of a corporate dividend would be implemented as soon as practical, well before ongoing COSO initiatives realize an IPO." About Sino Agro Food, Inc. SIAF is a specialized investment company focused on protein food. The Company produces, distributes, markets, and sells sustainable seafood and beef to the rapidly growing middle class in China. Activities also include production of organic fertilizer and produce. SIAF is a global leader in developing land based recirculating aquaculture systems ("RAS"), and with its partners is the world's largest producer of sustainable RAS prawns. Founded in 2006 and headquartered in Guangzhou, the Company had over 550 employees and revenue of USD 343 million in 2016. Operations are located in Guangdong, Qinghai, and Hunan provinces, and in Shanghai. Sino Agro Food is a public company listed on OTCQX U.S. Premier in the United States and on the Oslo Brs' Merkur Market in Norway. News and updates about Sino Agro Food, Inc., including key information, are published on the Company's website (http://www.sinoagrofood.com), the Company's Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/SinoAgroFoodInc), and on twitter @SinoAgroFood. Forward Looking Statements This release may contain forward-looking statements relating to the business of SIAF and its subsidiary companies. All statements other than historical facts are forward-looking statements, which can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "believes," "expects" or similar expressions. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. These risks and uncertainties are described in detail in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements are based on SIAF's current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects on SIAF. There is no assurance that future developments affecting SIAF will be those anticipated by SIAF. SIAF undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under applicable securities laws. Investor Relations: Peter Grossman +1 (775) 901-0344 info@sinoagrofood.com Todd Fromer / Elizabeth Barker +1 (212) 896-1215 / +1 (212) 896-1203 SIAF@kcsa.com Erik Ahl Nordic Countries +46 (0) 760 495 885 info-se@sinoagrofood.com POWAY, CA -- (Marketwired) -- 10/05/17 -- Solar Integrated Roofing Corporation (OTC PINK: SIRC) CEO David Massey shares with Donald Baillargeon of MoneyTV the direction of the Corporation with new expanded management team, expanded profits and acquisitions that are in line for 2018. Please watch video at: https://vimeo.com/236007865 About Solar Integrated Roofing Corp. Solar Integrated Roofing Corporation (SIRC) is an integrated solar and roofing installation company specializing in commercial and residential properties with a focus on acquisitions of like companies to build a footprint nationally. For more information, please visit: www.solarintegratedroofingcorp.com Forward-Looking Statements: Any statements made in this press release which are not historical facts contain certain forward-looking statements; as such term is defined in the Private Security Litigation Reform Act of 1995, concerning potential developments affecting the business, prospects, financial condition and other aspects of the company to which this release pertains. The actual results of the specific items described in this release, and the company's operations generally, may differ materially from what is projected in such forward-looking statements. Although such statements are based upon the best judgments of management of the company as of the date of this release, significant deviations in magnitude, timing and other factors may result from business risks and uncertainties including, without limitation, the company's dependence on third parties, general market and economic conditions, technical factors, the availability of outside capital, receipt of revenues and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the company. The company disclaims any obligation to update information contained in any forward-looking statement. This press release shall not be deemed a general solicitation. Contact: Solar Integrated Roofing Corporation (760) 916-7444 Investor Relations John Randolph (760) 916-7444 TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 10/05/17 -- Atacama Pacific Gold Corporation (TSX VENTURE: ATM) ("Atacama Pacific") is pleased to announce the election of Marcio Fonseca to Atacama Pacific's Board of Directors during its recent Annual and Special Meeting of Shareholders. Mr. Fonseca is a Professional Geologist and received a Master of Mineral Project Appraisal - M.Sc. from Imperial College, London. Mr. Fonseca is currently the President and CEO of GoldPlay Exploration Inc., a private exploration company focused on gold exploration in Mexico. During the period from 2013 to 2015, he was the Vice-President, Corporate Development of SilverCrest Mines Inc. during its M&A process which led to SilverCrest's sale to First Majestic Silver Corp. in October 2015. Prior to 2013, Mr. Fonseca held senior management and director positions with Macquarie Metals and Energy Capital (Macquarie Group (Canada)) from 2004 to 2013 in New York and Vancouver and, previous to this, he held various positions with senior mining companies including Vale, Phelps Dodge and Echo Bay Mines focused on the development of mining projects in Latin America. Albrecht Schneider, Executive Chairman, welcoming Mr. Fonseca to Atacama Pacific, noted that, "We are very pleased to have Mr. Fonseca to join our Board and we look forward to benefiting from his extensive financial and technical experience. As we move forward into feasibility studies and review various options of the development of the Cerro Maricunga gold project, Mr. Fonseca input will be invaluable." Also, at Atacama Pacific recent Annual and Special Meeting, Paul Champagne, a longtime director of Atacama Pacific, did not stand for re-election and has left the board to focus efforts on Andex Minerals Inc., a private exploration company with a property in Chile. We thank him for his efforts over the years and wish him all the best in his ventures. Cerro Maricunga Oxide Gold Deposit The Cerro Maricunga oxide-associated, breccia-hosted gold deposit is located in Chile's Maricunga Mineral Belt approximately 140 km by road northeast of the City of Copiapo. The deposit hosts total proven and probable mineral reserves of 294.4 million tonnes grading 0.40 grams per tonne for 3.74 million ounces of gold representing one of the largest undeveloped oxide gold deposits in the world. National Instrument 43-101 Disclosure As defined by National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101") of the Canadian Securities Administrators, the Qualified Person for the Cerro Maricunga program is Sergio Diaz, a resident of Santiago, Chile. Mr. Diaz is a Public Registered Person for Reserves and Resources N degrees 51, in Chile, and is also registered in the Colegio de Geologos de Chile under N degrees 315. Mr. Diaz has reviewed and verified the technical contents of this press release. Maria Leticia Conca Benito, Mining Engineer, Universidad de Chile, Registered Member of Chilean Mining Commission, CEO and Project Director, Alquimia Conceptos S.A., was the independent qualified person, as defined by NI 43-101, responsible for the compilation of the information and preparation of the overall 2014 Prefeasibility Study. FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS This news release contains forward looking statements, including predictions, projections and forecasts. Forward looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the successful completion of the Offering. Often, but not always, forward looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "planning", "expects" or "does not expect", "continues", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "potential", "anticipates", "does not anticipate", or "belief", or describes a "goal", or variation of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks, future events, conditions, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, prediction, projection, forecast, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward looking statements. Such factors include, among other items, the timing of the completion of the Feasibility Study, the impact of proposed updated mining conditions, including crushing and processing methods and mining rates, the results of due diligence activities, changes in economic parameters and assumptions, the interpretation and actual results of current exploration activities; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; the results of regulatory and permitting processes; future prices of gold; possible variations in grade or recovery rates; failure of equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; market conditions, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry; the results of further economic and technical studies, delays in obtaining governmental approvals or financing or in the completion of exploration, as well as those factors disclosed in Atacama Pacific's publicly filed documents. Although Atacama Pacific 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 not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. 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. 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. Contacts: Carl B. Hansen President and CEO Phone: 416 861 8267 Email: info@atacamapacific.com www.atacamapacific.com CALGARY, ALBERTA -- (Marketwired) -- 10/05/17 -- ATCO Ltd. (TSX: ACO.X)(TSX: ACO.Y) ATCO Ltd. will release its financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2017 on Thursday, October 26, 2017. The news release will be distributed via www.marketwired.com and the results, including Financial Statements and Management's Discussion & Analysis, will be posted on www.ATCO.com. With approximately 7,000 employees and assets of $20 billion, ATCO is a diversified global corporation delivering service excellence and innovative business solutions in Structures & Logistics (workforce housing, innovative modular facilities, construction, site support services, and logistics and operations management); Electricity (electricity generation, transmission, and distribution); Pipelines & Liquids (natural gas transmission, distribution and infrastructure development, energy storage, and industrial water solutions); and Retail Energy (electricity and natural gas retail sales). More information can be found at www.ATCO.com. Forward-Looking Information: Certain statements contained in this news release may constitute forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "intend", "should", and similar expressions. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in this forward-looking information as a result of regulatory decisions, competitive factors in the industries in which the Company operates, prevailing economic conditions, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. The Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking information should not be unduly relied upon. Any forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the Company's expectations as of the date hereof, and is subject to change after such date. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities legislation. Contacts: Dennis DeChamplain Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer 403-292-7502 CALGARY, ALBERTA -- (Marketwired) -- 10/05/17 -- Canadian Utilities Limited (TSX: CU)(TSX: CU.X) Canadian Utilities Limited will release its financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2017 on Thursday, October 26, 2017. The news release will be distributed via www.marketwired.com and the results, including Financial Statements and Management's Discussion & Analysis, will be posted on www.canadianutilities.com. With approximately 5,400 employees and assets of $19 billion, Canadian Utilities Limited is an ATCO company. ATCO is a diversified global corporation delivering service excellence and innovative business solutions in Structures & Logistics (workforce housing, innovative modular facilities, construction, site support services, and logistics and operations management); Electricity (electricity generation, transmission, and distribution); Pipelines & Liquids (natural gas transmission, distribution and infrastructure development, energy storage, and industrial water solutions); and Retail Energy (electricity and natural gas retail sales). More information can be found at www.canadianutilities.com. Forward-Looking Information: Certain statements contained in this news release may constitute forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "intend", "should", and similar expressions. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in this forward-looking information as a result of regulatory decisions, competitive factors in the industries in which the Company operates, prevailing economic conditions, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. The Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking information should not be unduly relied upon. Any forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the Company's expectations as of the date hereof, and is subject to change after such date. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities legislation. Contacts: Media & Investor Inquiries: Dennis DeChamplain Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer 403-292-7502 REDONDO BEACH, CA -- (Marketwired) -- 10/05/17 -- GreenMerchantProcessing.com Clarifies Payment Processing Features -- GreenMerchantProcessing.com, a dedicated payment processing firm servicing the high risk market, today announced a clarification of its payment processing service features. In a press release dated September 14, GreenMerchantProcessing.com said that it offered "Free vault placement and cash pickups via Brinks/Loomis armored trucks, as well as a Visa debit card and the ability to pay bills electronically without your bank account." GreenMerchantProcess.com would like to clarify the statement to read: "Free vault placement and cash pickups, as well as a Visa debit card and the ability to pay bills electronically without your bank account." We do not have an existing relationship with either Brinks or Loomis. About GreenMerchantProcessing.com GreenMerchantProcessing.com is an award-winning, industry-leading provider of technology-enabled payment processing for merchants of any size in the U.S. and Canada. GMP offers a consultant's approach to helping you manage your business, while saving you time and money. Our commitment to best practices & superior customer service begins the moment that you contact us. We always answer the phone with bilingual sales representatives and a dedicated representative for our clients. There are no hidden fees and no escalating rates. After you have signed on, your personalized account representative will be there every step of the way to answer any questions you might have 24 hours a day, seven days a week, thus, allowing our customers to achieve a dominant competitive advantage. We anticipate the needs of our partners better than anyone else and drive our entire team. We bring a high level of environmental and social responsibility to our day-to-day operations and incorporate ecological considerations into all business decisions. Contact: Darren Dayton 833 275 9669 darrend@greenpayment.com TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 10/05/17 -- Newly-elected NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh will address the convention of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) in Toronto, on Friday, October 6. WHAT: NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh will address the convention and hold a media availability. WHERE: Metro Toronto Convention Centre 222 Bremner Boulevard South Building, Convention Hall D & E WHEN: Friday, October 6 10:30 AM - Speech 11:15 AM - Media Availability Media are requested to register with CUPE Media Relations before 10:15 AM in Room 715. Registration is required in order to enter the convention hall. Online livestream available at: https://cupe.ca/event/cupe-national-convention-2017 CUPE is Canada's largest trade union, representing over 650,000 workers in every province, in sectors including health care, municipal services, education, social services, energy, transportation, libraries, emergency services, communications, child care, and more. Contacts: English Media Hugh Pouliot CUPE Communications hpouliot@cupe.ca 613-818-0067 French Media Lisa Djevahirdjian CUPE Communications ldjevahirdjian@scfp.ca 514-831-3815 Evernym, a Salt Lake City, UT-based developer of self sovereign identity technologies, raised funding from Outlier Ventures. The amount of the deal was not disclosed. Founded in 2013 by CEO Timothy Ruff, Evernym develops self sovereign identity technologies and is the inventor of Sovrin, a global public utility for decentralized exchange of verifiable claims. Using the properties of Sovrin, the company builds SaaS services and applications that enable people, businesses and connected devices to securely control their own identity data, choosing when, with whom and how much they wish to reveal in any given exchange. This technology forms the basis of applications Evernym is building for a number of partners including the US Department of Homeland Security, the UKs healthcare system and a number of global financial institutions. The companys SaaS services and applications are built atop the Sovrin Network, which is thought to be the worlds only distributed ledger purpose-built for self sovereign identity and the exchange of verifiable claims. The Sovrin Foundation is guided by a constitutional Trust Framework, conceived with the Sovrin networks enduring independence as its primary objective. FinSMEs 05/10/2017 The recent reduction in central excise duty on petrol and diesel by Rs 2 has been fobbed off as an exercise in tokenism by the Opposition though the common man has heaved a sigh of relief with the reduction translating into a slightly more than a pass-through reduction in petrol bunk prices for him. The Modi government at the Centre has perhaps realised that bringing petroleum products under the GST net would not be easy as state governments bludgeon consumers with heavy VAT which is under their jurisdiction whereas GST rate would be uniform through the country. But then the Modi government can ask the BJP ruled states to shame the opposition by reducing VAT on petroleum products significantly in their own states. There are 18 states and union territories under the NDA out of 31, with BJP on its own controlling 9. It is possible that some of the allies in the NDA may not see eye to eye with the BJP and thus may not agree for steep reduction of local VAT that accounts for a sizeable share of the ultimate selling price. Indeed, the state governments have to bear a large part of the blame for the spiraling fuel prices. They run with the hare and hunt with the hound. They blame the Centre for the rising petrol and diesel prices despite knowing that they are the ones who have opposed bringing in of petroleum products into the GST net for the fear of losing substantial revenue. On 15 September 2017, the price of a litre of petrol at any Indian Oil outlet in Delhi was priced at Rs 70.43. Out of this, the dealers pay Rs 30.41 (without taxes) to Indian Oil and keep Rs 3.57 as their margins. Out of rest Rs 36.43, Rs 14.97 goes to Delhi government and rest Rs 21.48 goes to union government. Delhi again gets nearly Rs 11.59 out of collection of union government. This is true for all the states in the country. And this also explains their dilemma which of course they wont admit, especially, if they are non-BJP ruled states. It is in this context that the Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhans appeal to the states to reduce VAT on petroleum products by 5 percent points is significant. One hopes the BJP leadership takes note of Pradhans appeal and directs the BJP ruled states to heed his advice and plea pronto. Of course, this would have the effect of vehicles, trucks and buses especially, rushing to the neighboring BJP ruled states to get their fuel tanks filled. To wit, if BJPs ally, Chandrababu Naidu, makes petrol and diesel cheaper in Andhra Pradesh, it would adversely affect the sale of petroleum products in Karnataka. The Khattar-led BJP government in Haryana can be of trouble for Captain Amrinder Singh, the Chief Minister of Punjab, because it would make a significant dent into the coffers of the Punjab government. There is nothing wrong in vehicles seeking cheaper petroleum outlets especially if the incursion into the neighboring state can be done conveniently on the way or without too much detour unlike for example in the case of people from Gujarat seeking waterholes in the neighboring Goa to get mildly or wildly intoxicated. UP, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Maharashtra are states where BJP has a free run and would not perhaps be stepping on the toes of the neighboring states thanks to their geography. The opposition cannot cry foul if the BJP states force their hands to similarly reduce their VAT on petroleum products any more than states can justifiably whine against income-tax holiday reserved for units located in certain backward states. Human liquor and petroleum products have been the favorite whipping boys of finance ministers in states. Liquor comes under the state list and hence central excise cannot be imposed on it. States lap up the opportunity with glee. They however should not lap up the opportunity with the same alacrity when it comes to petroleum products which is a necessity and hence inelastic in demand. The loss of revenue on petroleum products can be made up perhaps with a steep hike in liquor taxes by states. No one would shed tear for pinching the purse of drinkers, both habitual or diehard and occasional. The wry smile on Pahlaj Nihalanis face says it all. After a tumultuous two years as chairperson of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), Nihalani is back at doing what he knows best. Nihalani is all set to present the upcoming film Julie 2, a semi erotic thriller a genre that hardly gels with his persona. Though not very active in production of films currently, Pahlaj took the opportunity of distributing the film in certain sectors because of the close relationship he shares with the director of the film. When I became a film distributor, I worked with Deepaks father and uncle. It was Deepaks uncle who gave me the distribution rights for the Vinod Khanna and Shashi Kapoor-starrer Chor Sipahi in 1975 and launched my film career in a way, he says. Pahlaj had also approached Deepak Shivdasani for his now shelved film Aarzoo that was to launch Suniel Shetty way back in 1992. Ask the man who once produced blockbusters like Aankhen, Shola Aur Shabnam and Ilzaam why he opted for a small film like Julie 2 for his second innings and he goes on a defensive Which film would you consider to be a bigger film out of Sholay and Jai Santoshi Maa? Jai Santoshi Maa was a better revenue earner than Sholay. Julie 2 is not a B or C grade film. How can you say that Salman or Shah Rukh Khan are big heroes when their films too are failing in the absence of proper scripts? When the first poster of Julie 2 was launched, it hit the digital world like a storm. Within minutes, Nihalani was dubbed an asanskari fellow. Apart from a bikini-clad south siren Raai Laxmi, the only other noteworthy things visible in the poster were a book and a sombrero. Nihalani goes on a tirade to explain that there was nothing asanskari in the poster. I became a 'sanskari chairperson' because of a kiss, which I chopped off in a James Bond film. If Aamir Khan kisses in his films, it's acceptable to people but they dont apply the same logic to a James Bond film. People got affected when a kiss in a James Bond film was passed under U/A certificate. Nobody knows but people at Sony were elated as all earlier spy flicks of James Bond were awarded an A certificate. People did not notice it at that time because the media was not that active. As far as the poster (of Julie 2) is concerned, everything is covered. You cant even spot the cleavage. How is this asanskari? Nihalani, during his tenure at the CBFC, proved to be the most controversial chairperson the office has ever witnessed. Prior to Pahlaj, famed director Vijay Anand too had landed in a controversy after he batted for the cause of special cinema halls reserved for X-rated films. Nihalani vehemently denies the fact that the government got vexed up with his numerous diktats and thus showed him the doors. I was shown the doors despite my achievements. I ensured online certification, a broker-free office, CCTVs to check corruption. Earlier the producer used to arrange for lunch of board members. When I stepped in, I stopped this practice and instead increased the wages of members so that the producer does not feel the burden. I basically practiced (Narendra) Modi Jis slogan of naa khaunga, naa khane doonga. The ex-chairperson also informs that in the very first month of his tenure, he had suggested the government to adopt six types of ratings system. It was at his suggestion that a committee was formed, under Shyam Benegal, to give advice on various ratings system. Shyam Benegal has made only adult films all his life. I was surprised that he was assigned to oversee this and he is one person who never wanted censorship in the first place. I even opposed the recommendations of Benegal committee, explains Pahlaj. But ask him the reason why he was kicked out of the office and he attributes it to government officials without naming them. Two ministers really appreciated my work but there was this bandi who thought she knew much more than me. I have been part of the industry for more than fifty years. Despite that, she thought she knew more than me. She got better of the government and I was shown the door. While he faced the ire of most filmmakers during his tenure, he believes that he gave them a platform to use as a punching bag. Everyone looks for a platform and I was the best target and as I replied to everyone. All filmmakers enjoyed my tenure and got a marketing push for their films. At least their films worked because of me. I am so happy that the industry could make some money because of me. Now that Nihalani considers himself 'relatively free', here he is hoping the hit producer gets his mojo back in his second innings. Former Glee actor Mark Salling, who played the bad-boy Noah 'Puck' Puckerman on the popular fox musical dramedy, has reached a deal with prosecutors to plead guilty to possession of child pornography. The plea agreement filed Tuesday with the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California in Los Angeles states that the actor is admitting he possessed images of prepubescent children. The agreement also states that a search warrant was put into place and more than 50,000 images (25,000 still photographs, 29,000 pictures of child erotica and 600 videos of child pornography) along with a USB flash drive, were found on Salling's computer. Prosecutors and Salling have agreed to ask a judge to sentence the actor to a prison term between four to seven years. He will also be required to register as a sex offender, pay $50,000 to each victim that is seeking restitution and has to abide by restrictions on where he can live. Additionally, Salling will also reportedly participate in counseling or psychiatric treatment and is not allowed to have any form of communication with any person under the age of 18 unless the legal guardian is present or has been notified beforehand of Salling's conviction (this requirement is not inclusive of cashiers, waiters or any type of vendors that he may encounter in public), according to the Hollywood Reporter. The actor is also required to stay at least 100ft away from public playgrounds, schoolyards, parks and other children's facilities. The charges against the star were first brought up in 2015 and a subsequent search was executed on 26 December the same year. In May, 2016, the actor was indicted on two counts of child pornography, and was charged with receiving and possessing child porn. After that the case was referred to federal authorities, and Salling went on to plead not guilty in June, 2016. Prosecutors are recommending a jail sentence of 48 to 84 months under the plea agreement, followed up by 20 years of supervised release, and the fine that the actor has to pay additionally will be determined by the court. (With inputs from AP) There has been a lot of conjecture surrounding Kamal Haasan and his expected entry into politics, with the actor himself dropping a few hints in the recent past, along with making several politically charged statements. Here is a chronological summary of events that give us a better look at the will-he-won't-he' storm around Haasan's political journey thus far. Corruption in Tamil Nadu politics The actor made a very public comment on how there was corruption in all the state government departments in Tamil Nadu, and in his following statements on the matter, Haasan urged the public to report the corruption online after the Tamil Nadu government dared the actor to provide proof of the instances of graft within its departments. In a tweet, Haasan requested his fans and the discerning people of Tamil Nadu to send complaints against corruption of the ministers concerned in a digital format, noting that complaints on paper would be torn and thrown away. The actor had requested the people explain the travails faced by them due to corruption and also ask questions in a respectable manner. Haasan's poetic tweet Haasan set his Twitter followers and others wracking their minds with a Tamil poem that sounded as though he was signaling his entry into politics. "Let us criticise as nobody now is the king. We will stand up as we are not a king like you. Defeated and dead then militant. If I decide, I am Chief Minister. Those who bow are they slaves? Those who give up crown are they losers? It is wrong chase them as fools. The paths which are not searched will not be seen. Come with me friend, one who attempts to avoid fanaticism/superstition is a leader (sic)," Kamal had tweeted, and at the time, many took it as a subtle signal of the actor's entry into the political scenario. Haasan attends DMK function The two big stars of the Tamil movie world, Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth, attended the 75th anniversary celebrations of DMK mouthpiece, Tamil daily Murasoli on 10 August. Haasan, who had of late been very critical of the AIADMK government, was seated on the dais next to DMK working president MK Stalin. Rajinikanth, who is also rumoured to be planning his entry in politics, was seated along with other dignitaries. "Indians cannot attain true freedom unless freed from scourge of corruption" On 15 August, Haasan was quoted as saying that Indians cannot attain true freedom until they are freed of the scourge of corruption. "Till there is no freedom from corruption, we are still slaves. Those who dare and vow for a new freedom movement. Come and we will win," said the actor in a tweet. In another tweet, the actor said: "My aim is a better Tamil Nadu. Who dares to strengthen my voice? DMK, AIADMK and parties are tools to help. If those tools are blunt, find others." He also questioned why no one called for resignation of the Chief Minister in Tamil Nadu on the issue of mishaps and corruption in the state. Without naming anyone, he said in a tweet: "If one state's Chief Minister should resign for a mishap and corruption under his government, how come no party calls for resignation in Tamil Nadu? Enough crimes done." Haasan faces the ire of AIADMK after insinuating he "entered politics through Twitter" After the actor made a number of political comments especially against the AIADMK, the political party retaliated with statements of their own, after Haasan insinuated that he had entered politics "through Twitter". Kamal told the media that he has started his campaign towards the "fort", an apparent reference to Chennai's Fort St George, the seat of power in Tamil Nadu. "Whether it is from Kovai (Coimbatore) or through Twitter, the march towards fort started (sic). It doesn't matter from where," he said in reply to questions. Tamil Nadu minister D Jayakumar, whose party and government has been Kamal's target, took a dig at him saying Kamal appeared to be dependent more on social media than on party and workers. "Theorising in politics doesn't work," he said. BJP president Tamilisai Soundararajan said Kamal was dreaming of capturing the "fort" (power) through social media. She had a word of counsel for him saying politics required hard work and toil. "I would welcome anyone in politics provided he works with the people and encounters the rough and tumble of politics," she said. Meet and greet with the Kerala Chief Minister Haasan met the Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on 1 September and discussed, among other things, the political situation in Tamil Nadu. Revealing this, Vijayan said in a Facebook post that they have known each other for long and they always meet whenever the actor visits Kerala. "Today's meeting was the first one after I became Chief Minister. Even though the visit was personal in nature, we discussed south Indian politics and also the overall political situation in Tamil Nadu," he said. "My colour is not saffron" In a revelation of sorts, after meeting the Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan, Haasan promptly declared that "saffron" an oblique reference to the BJP and RSS was not his colour. He also stated that he won't align with any political party in Tamil Nadu, telling the media that he would be on his own. "My colour is definitely not saffron. That much I can say now. I have got huge support from people as an artiste. If I am able to get half of this in politics, then I will be successful," Haasan told the media, in response to questions about whether he would swing to the Left or Right. When asked about whether he would discuss his political moves with the AIADMK, he said: "If I had to do that, then I did not have to wait. All that I needed to do was to clap my hands." Responding to a question on why he chose to make this statement after meeting Kerala's Chief Minister, he said Communist leaders had always been his heroes. "You just look at the statistics of Kerala and it's comparable to any European country," he said. When journalists persisted and asked if he would align with the Left, he shot back: "It will happen soon. I want to be in the middle of things and do not want to lean to any side." Haasan locks horns with AIADMK again Taking on Tamil Nadu's ruling AIADMK again, but in an indirect manner, on 15 September, the actor wondered why the principle of "no work, no pay" should not apply to legislators who move into resorts. Kamal Hassan tweeted: "No work no pay only for government employees? How about horse trading politicians languishing in resorts? The honourable court warns teachers on strike. I beseech the court to issue similar warnings to those MLAs who desist from attending work." A Rajini-Kamal partnership? Amidst news that he is planning to launch his own party, Haasan said he would be willing to join hands with superstar Rajinikanth if he takes the political plunge. "Rajini and I have been discussing professional matters. If he joins politics, it won't be difficult for us to discuss politics. I will join him provided he enters politics. We have been rivals on the professional front, but we always consult over key issues," said Haasan on 16 September. When asked if he has decided a date to launch his party, he said, "It should be decided without any hurry." Haasan added that the day he plans to announce his party, it may "coincide with a revolution" Arvind Kejriwal invited Kamal Haasan to join politics With Tamil Nadu politics undergoing a churning, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal met actor Kamal Haasan on 21 September in Chennai for over an hour and invited him to join active politics to fight corruption and communalism. After the meeting at the actor's Eldams Road residence, Kejriwal, with Haasan by his side, told the media that it was important that when India was battling corruption and communalism, all like-minded people should talk to each other and work in tandem. "I am really happy to learn that a large number of people of the country are against communalism and corruption but rarely people have the courage to speak their mind. Kamal Haasan is a man of integrity and courage. He has the courage to stick his neck out and talk about communalism and corruption. A lot of people feel strongly against these things but don't come out and express. Rather than from speaking from outside, he should enter politics and fight these forces. We will continue to discuss with each other," the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader said. On his part, Kamal Haasan said it was an honour to learn that Kejriwal wanted to meet him. His residence was always politically active during his father's time though he himself had kept away from it, he said. "You can very well guess what we would have discussed," said the actor. He added that whoever was fighting corruption and communalism were his 'relatives'. "That way this relationship will continue." Haasan added, "The reason why we got together and the purpose is singular. Kejriwal has a national profile of fighting corruption and communalism. And whoever is fighting these forces are my relatives. I have a little reputation similar to that. It is no wonder that we decided to have a dialogue on the existing situation. It is a learning experience for me and a learning curve for me. I am on an educational tourism and asking anybody who is fighting corruption and communalism to give me advise on how to go about in my endeavour," he added. Haasan is prepared to die for his nation Kamal spoke of it at the finale of the Tamil version of reality show Bigg Boss, which marked his television debut. It came to an end on 1 October. On the occasion, the actor made his political entry very clear. "I'm definitely coming there," Kamal said, pointing towards audiences. "I'm not exploiting this stage. I'm speaking from the bottom of my heart. If you think I should continue acting, then say it aloud. If you think I need to serve the society and bring about a change, say it now. I'm prepared to die in service of my nation," he said. Rajinikant takes a jibe at Haasan Taking a dig at Haasan, Rajinikanth on 1 October said it takes more than just name, fame and money to succeed in politics. "If you have to succeed in politics, it takes more than just fame and money. Something bigger is needed to transform an actor into a politician. I hope Kamal Haasan (knows) what it is," Rajinikanth said, speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the memorial for legendary Tamil actor Sivaji Ganesan. Kamal Haasan also shared the dais with him. Speaking on the occasion, Haasan took a jibe at the AIADMK government for the delay in inaugurating Ganesan's memorial. "We need not request or beg anyone to unveil Sivaji's statue. His popularity and influence goes beyond cinema and politics. I would have attended this event no matter who opposed my presence," Haasan said. Haasan subtly strikes back at Rajini In what could be seen as a veiled jibe at Rajinikanth for his remarks that "name and fame" alone would not suffice for success in politics, Haasan took to the social media on 2 October to air his views. In a tweet that was seemingly directed at Rajinikanth, Haasan said, "First they ignore you then they laugh at you then they fight you and then you win- Gandhi ji. His words impart strength we need now." Haasan meets his fans association members to discuss welfare activities On 4 October Haasan met members of his fans associations in Chennai to discuss activities to be carried out on his birthday on 7 November. "We discussed welfare activities that we have planned for his birthday across Tamil Nadu. He has already made it loud and clear that he will take the political plunge. As his welfare association, we are ready to support him in his journey. If he has plans to announce, he will do it. With us, he only discussed about how the welfare activities have to be carried out," Thangavelu, Treasurer of the All India Kamal Haasan Fans Welfare Association, told the media. The brightest moon of the Sharad Purnima night will add to the aural experience as artistes from across the world play musical soirees at the 550-year-old Mehrangarh Fort, in Jodhpur. The Jodhpur RIFF (Rajasthan International Folk Festival), commences its 10th edition on 5 October, to the delight of music lovers who look forward to witnessing a sangam of diverse genres and traditions, from dawn to midnight concerts in breath-taking settings. The festival will conclude on 9 October. About 350 artistes are set to regale music lovers in the uniquely curated festival with genres ranging from pop, rock, qawwali, Sufi, Indian classical music and folk dances and songs, accompanied by a mind boggling variety of instruments and musical story narration styles. The chief patron of the festival, Maharaja Gaj Singh II of Marwar, who endeavours to provide a global platform to the folk musicians of Rajasthan, says, Rajasthani folk musicians are at the heart of Jodhpur RIFF. Their traditions are acknowledged and celebrated at the festival and they benefit from growth and exposure through high-quality international collaborations as well as through our efforts to present them in festivals in India and across the globe. Read on Firstpost: As Jodhpur RIFF turns 10, it's a case study in how music festivals in India can be sustained This years highlight is going to be the collaboration between Indian artistes and the Spree Festival (of Paisley, Scotland). The collaborations of the UK-India Year of Culture-2017, which developed close links between the two reputed music festivals, resulted in celebrating cloth-making styles and the musical heritage of the two cultures. The musical threads from the two countries will be woven together in an hour-long performance at Jodhpur RIFF 2017, with Ross Ainslie, multi-instrumentalist and composer, leading an ensemble featuring fiddle player and composer Angus Lyon, songwriter Blue Rose Code and Hindustani classical and mystical vocalist Smita Bellur with Sindhi sarangi master Asin Khan Langa. The performance, that premieres at the opening concert at Jodhpur RIFF (6 October), will also premier at Spree (13 October). Another interesting cross-genre project this year is the jamming of Gaelic and Marwari bands Shooglenifty and Dhun Dhora, whose music will be recorded and released as an album in 2018. Bridging a distance of thousands of miles, the collaborative artistes found much in common; the two bands worked together for nearly four years to find stronger bonds binding them in multiple ways. Performing in two minority languages Gaelic and Marwari they speak the same musical language. In a live interplay, together they have developed a mischievous improvisational musical kinship a delight to witness. The daily programmes at RIFF consist of Dawn Concerts, at Jaswant Thad, against the breathtaking backdrop of the Mehrangarh Fort; the moonlit concerts, without the aid of electronic sound magnifiers, at Desert Lounge at Rao Jodha Park, that last till dawn; the much-loved Interactive Sessions with the performers; film shows based on music; and of course the RIFF Rustle, the gala concluding event featuring a motley of festival artistes led by a new rustler every year to create an impromptu collaborative musical dialogue. This year, Ram Sampath, composer and producer, is going to lead the celebrated Rustle. I love Jodhpur RIFF and its always a pleasure to work with Divya (Divya Bhatia, festival director and producer) and his team. Im particularly excited about RIFF Rustle the Rajasthani percussionists are so good, one has to do very little to get something magical going, says Sampath. Before music lovers get immersed in the energy packed carnival of sounds in the concluding Ruffle, a medley of aural experiences is in the offing by artistes from across the country. From the Northeast, RIFF features Sila Mangka and Rewben Mashangwa: the exceptionally talented young Manipuri vocalist Sila Mangka will reveal her talent and unique training in rare Manipuri musical traditions like Moirang Sai and Basok with her group Laihui. Rewben Mashngawa, father of the Naga blues, will join her on stage for a new collaboration. Not to be missed, is Latin classical guitar player Paco Renteria, who premieres at RIFF in India, expressing his explosive Latino passion with roots in gypsy flamenco, oriental and progressive jazz beats. Paco has performed with artists such as Carlos Santana and Luciano Pavarotti. His original composition El Mariachi, was the main theme for the movie Desperado, with lyrics added and performed by Los Lobos and Antonio Banderas. Also read NH7 Weekender, Jodhpur RIFF, Ziro: All you need to know about the 2017 music festival season Also un-missable are the legends of Rajasthani folk music like Nihal Khan, Babunath Jogi, who sings stories from Indian mythology, Bikha Khan and Multan Khan, living masters of folk renditions of Khamaj, Subah, Sourath, Bhairavi etc., the Kamachya charm with Ghewar, Darra and Feroz Khan and much more. The festival will open with a qawwali by Shaukat Andaz Qawwal and party, Ladu Ram Nayak and Party of Shekhawati will present the 'Derun Nritya', and 'Agni Bhawani', the traditional fire dance, will be followed by the power packed Dhol Drummers of Rajasthan. More details on Jodhpur RIFF here. Swiss police confirmed they were investigating new rape allegations against Roman Polanski made by a woman who said the filmmaker assaulted her in the town of Gstaad in 1972. St. Gallen police communications chief Krusi Hanspeter confirmed the details of the allegations, first reported by The New York Times. Hanspeter told AFP that police interviewed Renate Langer on 26 September concerning accusations that Polanski raped her in Gstaad when she was 15. Polanski in 1977 pleaded guilty in the United States to having unlawful sex with Samantha Geimer aged 13 at the time but fled the country before he could be sentenced. He remains a fugitive from the US justice system. Langer is a 61-year-old former actress who was born in Munich, according to multiple media reports. She is the fourth woman to publicly accuse Polanski of sexual assault. In August, a woman identified only as Robin told a news conference in Los Angeles she was "sexually victimised" by the legendary French-Polish film director when she was 16, in 1973. Robin said she was prompted to come forward out of anger after Geimer urged authorities to finally put her famous case to rest. Robin told reporters she wanted people to know that Polanski, now 84, had victimised others. According to The New York Times, Langer finally decided to approach police in part because of Robin's example and because her parents are no longer alive. She told the paper she met Polanski while working as a model in Munich and traveled with him to a house in Gstaad, where she said he raped her. Hanspeter told AFP it was not yet clear if criminal charges would be filed. Swiss prosecutors can still move forward with the case, although the elapsed time makes it less likely. Polanski's film career has continued to flourish since he fled the US for France, where many consider him an icon. He has eight Cesars the French equivalent of an Oscar as well as a best director Academy Award for Holocaust drama The Pianist. After buying the rights to Anuja Chauhan's The Zoya Factor, Sonam Kapoor has now bought the rights to Krishna Udayasankar's The Aryavarta Chronicles. As per a report by News18, the actor reached out to the Singapore-based writer to bag the rights of the three-part series named Govinda, Kaurava and Kurukshetra. The novel is essentially a contemporary take on the Mahabharata. The writer has also confirmed the news, saying that she was completely taken aback when Kapoor approached her. "Its exciting that The Aryavarta Chronicles series is in the hands of someone with great aesthetic vision," she tells Deccan Chronicle. Although there is no official word of confirmation from the actor on whether she will just produce an adaptation of the novel or act in it as well, several reports suggest that she might essay the role of a modern-day Draupadi in the screen adaptation. A self-proclaimed bibliophile, Kapoor has previously acted in Aisha, the Hindi adaptation of Jane Austen's Emma. Although currently occupied with Veere Di Wedding, she will soon shift focus to The Zoya Factor's cinematic adaptation, where she's playing the leading role. The film will probably be directed by Abhishek Sharma, as per an earlier tweet by the actor. There are cinephiles, and then there's 43-year-old Vinaya Kumari, who casually watched Baahubali 2 as a group of surgeons performed a brain surgery on her. via GIPHY In the six months that have gone by after the film hit Indian screens, it is being called one of the greatest works of art to have been produced in the country. From the director to the actors everyone associated with the film has had their fare share of limelight. However, Kumari's dedication to the film possibly transcends all acclaim that the film has won so far, both nationally and internationally. A nurse by profession, Kumari was diagnosed with a tumour in her left sensory cortex, as per a report in Times of India. As per the doctors's instructions, the surgery requires to be conducted while the patient is awake, which explains why Kumar was conscious. Conscious enough to watch SS Rajamouli's magnum opus and hum the 'Dandalayya' song. After recovering, when Kumari finally stepped out of the ICU to greet other mortals, she casually mentioned the incident and said, "The surgery lasted for about an hour and half, but I hoped it would go on a bit longer, so that I could see the entire film," reported Deccan Chronicle. So, the next time someone harps on about being a Baahubali fan, mention 'Vinaya Kumari' and just walk away. Watch the video here: (Editor's note: As cinephiles gear up for arguably the biggest film event in Mumbai, Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival 2017 to be held from 12 to 18 October here's Part 1 of a comprehensive round-up on the films we're most looking forward to in the world cinema section. Part 2 will talk about the Indian films we're excited for, and will be published over the weekend.) A teenage boy in the coast of Turkey helps his father in smuggling refugees trying to cross over to Greece. In a creole language film, two incompatible teenage siblings kill a goat by mistake and must take a journey to fix it. In the summer of 1993 in Spain, an orphaned young girl adjusts to life after her parents and her new adoptive family. A lonely Japanese woman in Tokyo enrolls in an English class that gives her a blonde wig and an American name Lucy, Coming of age stories and an unlikely bunch of people dominate the 13 features at the International Competition at the MAMI. The films in this section are the best first features that have been around the Festival circuit gathering acclaim, including the satirical I am not a witch about a 9 year-old girl who, following a small incident in the village, is exiled to a witch camp in Zamibia. This film, by debut director Rungano Nyoni has garnered good reviews since its premiere at the Directors Fortnight in Cannes Film Festival. In the same section, Montparnasse Bienvenue (Jeune Femme) by Leonor Serraille is about Paula, broke, with nothing but her cat to her name. Paula is back in Paris after a long absence. As she meets different people along the way, there is one thing she knows for sure: shes determined to make a new start. (Camera DOr winner, Un Certain Regard Cannes) The world cinema section has 55 films from across the globe, bringing us cinema from places known and far. In this section, there is Russian film Loveless by Andrey Zvyagintsev, (director of Leviathan, winner of best screenplay at Cannes 2014) the story about a bickering couple impatient to start their new lives until their son disappears. Mother by Darren Aronofsky (Black Sawn, Requiem for a Dream) is a much-awaited one by Aronofsky fans. The film, a psychological thriller with a stellar cast about a couple and the uninvited guests who arrive at their house has generated a range of divided reviews, interpretations and articles since its recent release. There are three films by well-known South Korean director and Cannes regular Hong Sangsoo On The Beach At Night Alone, Claires Camera and The Day After a delight for anyone interested in his oeuvre. Another film to watch would be the documentary Devils Freedom (La Libertad Del Diablo) by Mexican director Everardo Gonzalez. In Mexico where cartels rein, the trail of violence is a tragic story in itself. Shown through firsthand testimonies of victims and perpetrators this film is a take on violence and a reality we only see fictionalized. Among the classics, 24 Frames by Abbas Kiarostami is also showing at the world cinema section, a director whose films are always a pleasure to soak on the big screen. The Prince of Nothingwood by Sonia Kronlund premiered at the Cannes Directors Fortnight has a mix of real and reel. A few hundred kilometres from Kabul, the popular actorproducer Salim Shaheen comes to show all his 110 films and shoot the 111th one. A story about dreams, cinema and a tireless actor would make it a curious watch. Documentary City of Ghosts by Academy Award nominated and Emmy winner filmmaker Matthew Heineman would be a must watch. It's a narrative set around five activists and citizen journalists when their homeland is taken over by ISIS. Premiered at the Venice Film Festival, The Third Murder by acclaimed Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-eda has a defense lawyer questioning the idea of truth and judgment. There are two films on art in this years selection, Loving Vincent by Dorota Kobiela, a fully oil painted film that brings the paintings to life to tell Van Goghs life narrative. The other film is the experimental Manifesto by acclaimed visual artist Julian Rosefeldt starring Cate Blanchett in 13 distinct roles, vignettes that incorporate all the art movements of the twentieth century. The other acclaimed films to look out are Richard Linkators lyrical road movie, Last Flag Flying where three ex army men reunite to bury ones son, Zama set in a South American colony of the 18th century where officer Zama waits for a transfer. Another one I would be interested to watch is Patti Cakes, a feature film by well known music video director Geremy Jasper. Set in the gritty strip mall suburbia, a rapper finds her voice as a hip-hop legend. The Rendezvous section celebrating the best of French cinema is showing The Young Karl Marx by Raoul Peck among others, while the After Dark section promises a Ugandan horror film Bad Black shot over 5 years in the slums of Wakaliga, for merely 65$. Running from 12-18th October, MAMI is showcasing a diverse range of films across sections like International Competition, World Cinema, After Dark, Restored Classics, India Gold, India Story, Marathi Talkies, Half Ticket across a range of venues across the vast city of Mumbai and beyond, including the grand Regal in Colaba and extending right up to PVR Thane. The Film Festival, barely a week away, promises to bring us stories that are rare to find outside a film festival. Mumbai: An offence was registered against organisers of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) rally in the city on Thursday for not taking a prior permission of the police. The MNS held the rally from Metro Cinema to the Churchgate railway station in south Mumbai to protest the deaths of 23 people in a stampede on a foot-over bridge linking Parel and Elphinstone Road railway stations on 29 September. Party president Raj Thackeray addressed the gathering of thousands outside the railway station. "As no official permission was taken for organising the rally, a case was registered at the Azad Maidan Police Station under section 37(1) (E) and section 135 of the Maharashtra Police Act," a senior official said on Thursday. When asked if police have named Thackeray, the official replied in negative. Police have not given the exact number of organisers booked by them. MNS activists who participated in the rally had raised slogans against the railway administration and obstructed vehicular movement too, he said. "This was an act of disobedience of commissioner of police's orders against unauthorised gathering," the official added. A Class I student was allegedly sexually assaulted at Sant Nirakari Public School in Malaviya Nagar in South Delhi, nearly a month after a Class II student was found dead in Gurugram's Ryan International School, triggering fresh concerns over student safety in schools on Thursday. The incident was reported on Wednesday. Delhi's Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident. Delhi: Class I student allegedly molested by school staff at Sant Nirankari Public School in Malviya Nagar; Accused sent to judicial custody pic.twitter.com/FyBpl2cP7u ANI (@ANI) October 5, 2017 The six-year-old girl went home and narrated her ordeal to her parents who informed the school and registered a complaint with the police. Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Chinmoy Biswal said the Class I student was sexually assaulted around 1 pm on Wednesday at the Sant Nirankari School in Malviya Nagar by accused sweeper Rakesh, 22. Biswal said the parents informed police about the crime around 8 pm on Wednesday. According to CNN-News18, the girl had gone to the washroom and called for a woman attendant for help. Instead a male member of housekeeping staff entered the washroom and allegedly assaulted her. The accused, a resident of Dakshinpuri, has been arrested and is presently in judicial custody. A case has been registered under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO). On Thursday evening, Delhi chief minister's media adviser Nagendar Sharma tweeted that Sisodia had directed Chief Secretary MM Kutty for a magisterial probe into the matter. A Delhi government official told IANS that members of the Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights will visit the school on Friday. According to the police, the accused had joined the school three months ago. The complainant mentioned they wanted to press charges against the school as well. CNN-News18 further reported the girl was counselled and is now out of the hospital. The school flouted Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) guidelines with male housekeeping staff entering girls' washroom. In view of the Ryan International School murder, CBSE had issued fresh regulations on 12 September to protect children from assault of any sort, including training the staff to ensure student safety. On Thursday, the CBSE filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court stating Ryan International School did not have sufficient CCTV cameras and separate bathrooms for staff, reported ANI. With inputs from PTI and IANS The Enforcement Directorate (ED) will file an extradition request to Italy for Carlo Gerosa, an Italian national who has been accused under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act 2002 in the AgustaWestland scam. Gerosa is also an alleged middleman in the scam. #BREAKING Augustawestland case: ED files extradition request to Italy for Carlos Gerosa | @Ashish_Mehrishi with more details pic.twitter.com/p9spwV6Fy5 News18 (@CNNnews18) October 5, 2017 According to The Indian Express, Gerosa was arrested by Italian authorities on Thursday. The ED issued a Red Corner Notice (RCN) against Gerosa, as per the article, "Gerosa was detained a few days ago on his return from Switzerland based on a Red Corner Notice request from the ED." The enforcement agency will soon be sending an extradition request for 70-year-old Gerosa, as reported by The Indian Express. Times Now reported, "Three RCN notices had been pending in the case and the first one has been executed after the money-laundering charge was added to the chargesheet in the AgustaWestland kickbacks case." Gerosa has been held in Italy few days back on the basis of an Interpol notice activated by the ED last year. The global police informed the CBI, nodal agency for Interpol in India, of his detention. The ED was intimated by the CBI about his arrest in Italy. Now, the ED is preparing to move an extradition request, ED's sources told The Asian Age. Gerosa is one of the three alleged middlemen who is wanted in the chopper case. His interrogation and statement is crucial for both the ED and the CBI, also investigating the case. The ED has also issued RCNs against two othersBritish national Christian Michel James and Italian national Guido Haschke, according to The Asian Age. Days after the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) reopened after disruption and violence due to students protested against a girl's molestation, another similar incident was reported from the iconic university. According to media reports, another girl student, on Thursday alleged that she was dragged and slapped in her classroom by a classmate. ANI reported that the girl was allegedly molested by another student on campus. A case has been registered in the Lanka police station and the accused student has been arrested. Varanasi: Girl files complaint of assault against a fellow BHU classmate. FIR registered, accused arrested. pic.twitter.com/qmiG4hfvtX ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) October 5, 2017 The BHU has been on tenterhooks since 21 September when two motorcycle-borne men groped a fine arts student outside the varsity campus. Despite the presence of security guards on campus, the culprits got away with the crime. This triggered a huge student protest against the university which was accused of negligence over security arrangements of resident students. The students reportedly gheraoed the vice-chancellor's residence, seeking to meet the authorities over demands of strengthening security arrangements in the campus. However, the protests turned violent as police lathicharged the students, many of whom were girls. The alleged police excesses and the varsity administration's failure to strengthen security arrangements on campus evoked widespread condemnation. Several political parties, including the Congress, have come out to support the students and condemn the Uttar Pradesh government's response and the police crackdown on the students. The Uttar Pradesh government also announced a judicial probe into the alleged police excesses in controlling the student protests. In line of fire after the incident, the then BHU vice-chancellor Girish Chandra Tripathi, went on an indefinite leave from 2 October citing personal reasons, barely two months before his tenure comes to an end. The controversy also cost the then chief proctor ON Singh his job, who resigned from his post taking moral responsibility of the incident. BHU registrar Neeraj Tripathi will be the officiating vice-chancellor in Tripathi's absence, while Royana Singh of the anatomy department has been appointed the new chief proctor of the university. Varanasi: Acting chairperson of National Commission for Women (NCW) Rekha Sharma on Thursday said a probe will be initiated at all levels in September's Banaras Hindu University (BHU) violence and the vice chancellor be given an opportunity to explain his side of the events. Sharma, who arrived in the temple town on Wednesday, reached the BHU campus on Thursday. She went straight to the guest house, interacted with girls and held a hearing on the issue. "If he (Vice Chancellor Girish Chandra Tripathi) wants to put up his side of the story well and good, otherwise he will be asked to appear before the National Commission for Women and do so," Sharma told the media in Varanasi. The NCW chief also said that since both the police and the BHU authorities were denying any cane-charge on girl students, the matter needs to be probed threadbare, at all levels. Violence had erupted on the BHU campus on 24 September when students from boys' hostels hurled stones and petrol bombs at the police and paramilitary forces on VC Lodge Road on campus. Students had gone berserk following reports of some hostel inmates suffering injuries in the cane-charge by policemen near the VC lodge. Police had resorted to use of force after a group of boys blocked the gate of the vice chancellor's lodge in support of girls residing in hostels protesting against the menace of harassment on campus. The girls had held a 13-hour demonstration even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi, also the Lok Sabha MP from Varanasi, was in the city on a two-day visit. New Delhi: Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari Thursday alleged that Arvind Kejriwal had an "ego like Ravana" and challenged him to a public debate on the city's problems, a day after the chief minister lashed out at the Lieutenant Governor, BJP and the bureaucracy in the Assembly. Tiwari said Kejriwal had become a "big problem" for Delhi. Kejriwal is used to seeking public opinion on important issues, Tiwari said and added "he should come forward for a public debate with us on the problems of Delhi". In a day-long session of the Delhi Assembly on Wednesday, Kejriwal had launched a broadside against Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal, BJP and the bureaucracy, alleging a nexus between them, while supporting a bill for regularisation of guest teachers. The Opposition BJP had walked out of the House in protest against alleged "use of unparliamentary language by Kejriwal during the session". Tiwari alleged that the Kejriwal government was trying to "complicate" regularisation of guest teachers and embroil it in litigation. "As a responsible opposition we will not allow them to do so," he added. The bill, passed by the AAP-dominated House, seeks to regularise employment of around 15,000 guest teachers (working on contractual basis) in Delhi government-run schools. Baijal had objected to the bill, saying that matters relating to 'services' fall beyond the legislative competence of the Delhi Assembly and that the proposed legislation was not in accordance with the constitutional scheme. The Election Commission sparked off a massive nationwide debate on Wednesday by voicing its support for simultaneous elections to the Parliament and state Assemblies. The poll panel's statement could well be a game-changer as far the electoral process is concerned, in the context of a strong political narrative which has emerged in favour of the move. While the issue has been discussed academically for several years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's strong statements in the recent past appear to have swung the system in to action. The EC's statement on Wednesday could well be a reflection of this. While the suggestion has been made several times in the past, the poll panel unequivocal statement that it would be logistically prepared to conduct simultaneous elections gives fresh impetus to the idea. The concept of simultaneous elections has also found somewhat more tentative support from other official quarters after the Narendra Modi-led government's ascension to power. These include the NITI Aayog and the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice. Both of these have proposed two-phase elections as a middle ground to the debate. With both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former President Pranab Mukherjee recently speaking favourably about the idea, it seems that this major electoral overhaul is on the anvil. Who has said what Prime Minister Narendra Modi in November 2016 was quoted by The Times of India as saying, "Elections cause several impediments including financial burden...Therefore, the viability of simultaneous polls should be explored." He had further said that leaders from various political parties support the concept in private, but dither from speaking out in public. Former president Pranab Mukherjee had said, "With some election or the other throughout the year, normal activities of the government come to a standstill because of code of conduct. This is an idea the political leadership should think of. If political parties collectively think, we can change it... The Election Commission can also put in their idea and efforts on holding the polls together and that will be highly beneficial." The Parliamentary standing committee, in its report in December 2015 had called for elections in the country in two phases. At the time, it had proposed that the first phase, comprising of elections to some State Assemblies, could be held in November 2016. According to it, the elections to the remaining state Assemblies could be held along with the Lok Sabha election. The NITI Aayog published a discussion paper on the feasibility of simultaneous elections recently. The paper was authored by Bibek Debroy, member of the Aayog and Kishore Desai, Officer on Special Duty at the Aayog. The paper said, "As is the case with long-term structural reforms, implementing this measure would also cause some short-term pain. However, this would be a stepping stone towards improved governance and a larger initiation of 'electoral reforms' a desperately needed measure to re-boot the Indian polity." However, the Aayog has also pointed to the necessity of evolving a consensus on the issue, and said, "Without a general consensus and wider acceptance, its intent and efficacy could be compromised." It has called for creating a focused group of stakeholders comprising of experts on the Constitution, think tanks, government officials and representatives of various political parties to work out ways to implement the idea. It has agreed with the standing committee on conducting two phase elections. It has proposed that phase 1, comprising of the Lok Sabha and 14 states could be held in May 2019, while phase 2, comprising of the remaining states could be held in October 2021. Merits and demerits Simultaneous elections are by no means new to Indian democracy. In fact, such elections were held in the country since the first election in 1951-52 till 1967. However, 1968 and 1969 saw the dissolution of several legislative Assemblies. Later in 1970, the Lok Sabha itself was dissolved and fresh elections were held. This led to different schedules for the Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections. The NITI Aayog paper pointed out that huge expenses are borne to conduct elections, and this expense can be reduced through simultaneous polls. The Aayog also points to the fact that it also leads to security forces being engaged for longer periods of time due to repeated electoral processes. An article in The Indian Express also pointed out that such a system gives four uninterrupted years to the government to work on public welfare, leaving out one year for the campaigning process. However, critics of the concept point to the possibility of the results of elections being skewed because of their simultaneous nature. Former Additional Solicitor General Indira Jaising points out that if there is a wave in favour of the Centre, it would also affect the results of the states in such a scenario, as quoted by The Wire. Former Chief Election Commissioner SY Quraishi, in an article in The Indian Express, further argues that simultaneous elections would distort local and national issues in the minds of the voters. Quraishi also contends that frequent elections will ensure that politicians are continuously held accountable by the people. What it means for states While the electoral schedule of some states will remain unchanged, the schedule for some states will change drastically if the proposal comes through. Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha and Telangana will see no change in their schedule of election, according to an analysis by the NITI Aayog. On the other hand, states whose schedule will be changed by the highest duration 27 months are Goa, Manipur and Punjab. With inputs from PTI It seems that India just can't get enough of self-styled godmen/women. In a recent video, the controversial godwoman Radhe Maa was seen sitting on the chair of a Station House Officer of a police station in Delhis Vivek Vihar. The Delhi Police has initiated an inquiry after the picture surfaced, a senior official said. #ThanedarRadheMaa -- Cop's sycophancy on tape: In a video, police personnel is seen singing with Radhe Maa outside a police station pic.twitter.com/eM7JCWEseA News18 (@CNNnews18) October 5, 2017 SHO Sanjay Sharma, draped in a red and gold shawl worn by Hindu devotees, can be seen standing next to her with his hands folded in the photograph. In more visuals, policemen can be seen singing patriotic songs and dancing with Radhe Maa during a Dussehra event. "An additional deputy commissioner of police-rank officer has begun an inquiry into the matter," Joint Commissioner of Police, Eastern Range, Ravindra Yadav said. Chief spokesperson Dependra Pathak told The Indian Express that Sharma has been sent to district lines. The Indian Express report also quoted sources as saying that the 'godwoman' suddenly arrived at the police station and met other staff, who offered her a warm welcome on the midnight of 28 and 29 September. However, according to a News18 report, she arrived at the police station in connection with a dowry case wherein a 32-year-old woman alleged that her husbands family harassed her on Radhe Maas orders. Gupta alleged soon after her marriage, her in-laws demanded Rs 65 lakh. When her parents said they couldn't pay the amount, she was made to "forcefully" serve Radhe maa, massage her legs and clean her house. Radhe Maa also features in a list of 14 fake babas released by the Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad, the apex body of Hindu sadhus. Giving out the list, the parishads president Swami Narendra Giri said, "We appeal to even the common people to beware of such charlatans who belong to no tradition and by their questionable acts, bring disrepute to sadhus and sanyasis." With inputs from PTI Ahmedabad: The Gujarat high court has rejected Zakia Jafri's plea challenging a lower court order upholding SIT's clean chit to then chief minister Narendra Modi and others on allegations of larger conspiracy in connection with the 2002 post-Godhra riots. The high court, however, allowed Zakia to approach higher forums for further investigation in the case. Zakia, the wife of slain former MP Ehsan Jafri, and activist Teesta Setalvad's NGO, citizen for justice and peace had moved the criminal review petition against a magistrate's order upholding the clean chit given by the special investigation team (SIT) to Modi and others regarding the allegations of a "larger criminal conspiracy" behind the riots. The petition demanded that Modi and 59 others including senior police officers and bureaucrats be made accused for allegedly being part of a conspiracy which facilitated the riots. It had also sought the high court's direction for fresh investigation into the matter. Ehsan Jafri, a Congress leader, was among 68 people who were killed at the Gulberg Society in Gujarat when a mob attacked it on 28 February, 2002, a day after the Godhra train burning incident which set off riots in the state. The SIT's closure report, filed on 8 February, 2012, gave a clean chit to Modi and others. In December 2013, the metropolitan magistrate's court rejected Jafri's petition against the report, after which she moved the high court in 2014. Stephen Paddock is now part of American history, as a white 'terrorist' who gunned down 58 persons and injured more than 500, creating a record for one of the worst such attacks in the country. That record is, however, unlikely to last long. Paddock had 23 guns in his hotel room and another 19 at his home in Mesquite. But that's not something that should cause surprise in the United States, where guns are part of everyday life. There are more than 300 million guns in civilian hands in the United States, with gun sales rocketing after every serious attack. For instance, gun dealers reported a fifty percent rise in sales after an earlier gun attack at San Bernardino, California. The reason for this was seen as either arising from a fear of personal safety, or an apprehension that the government was planning to restrict gun licenses. There is every likelihood that the same surge will be seen after this latest horrific shooting. Statistics on United States' horrifying passion for guns are trotted out after every massacre without much effect on policy. For instance, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime notes that the US has more guns than Yemen, which has been fighting a debilitating civil war for decades, and where terrorists of nearly every persuasion have taken up office space. Another statistic notes that there are 88 guns for every hundred persons in the US. Even more staggering is that 100,000 persons are shot in the country every year. Yet, there hasn't been a single American President who had been successful in restricting gun ownership in the US, where the right to bear arms is seen as a fundamental right. In 2008, the Supreme Court overturned Washington DC's ban on handguns on the basis of the Second Amendment which guarantees the right of a person to bear and keep arms. That was a huge victory for the National Rifle Association, a body which counts former US presidents among its members. In recent times, President Donald Trump astutely stepped back from support to some minimal gun control measures, to proudly announcing his own weapons collection. Reports in the US media suggest that the NRA went on to support his presidential bid with more than $30 million, the largest tranche received by any US President from this particular lobby. A pause to the throwing up of hands at all this skullduggery on foreign shores is however indicated. Available data seems to indicate that parts of India, particularly New Delhi are going the same way as parts of the United States. The National Crime Records Bureau, which is supposed to provide all crime-related data for the country, observed that more than 53,000 firearms were seized in 2015 under the Arms Act. There are two problems with this data. First, it is a given that most states dont bother to report cases on time, or even when they do report it, are lackadaisical about their precision. So, actual figures are likely to be far higher. Second, the last data that the Bureau has is for 2015. So, that's not data, it's history. The trends shown even in 2015 are, however, instructive even if unsurprising. The top states for incidents involving death by guns were Uttar Pradesh with 1,617 such incidents, followed by Bihar with 685 and then Jharkhand with 638 such cases. Madhya Pradesh followed with 189 deaths. Surprisingly, Jammu and Kashmir cases were only at 45 and Tamil Nadu with just one. Here's a surprising fact though. In terms of death by licensed weapons, Bihar again comes at the top but is closely followed by Punjab. Again, the highest number of weapons seizures were not in the Naxal affected areas but Uttar Pradesh (24,498), which easily topped the list, followed by Madhya Pradesh (8,676), which together accounted for more than sixty percent of all seizures in the country. Rajasthan comes third in gun seizures (6,030) while Kashmir again lags far behind with just 122. South Indian states showed the least attachment to weapons. Clearly, there is a cultural factor in play here. Anyone who had travelled in the central states will attest to the fact that nearly every man in rural areas carries a gun of some kind. In this, the north, with its turbulent history, sees guns as part of everyday life in much the same way that the average rural American does. Of the 53,272 weapons seized, only 1,241 were factory made licensed weapons. This is hardly a cause for relief. Illicit gun manufacturers in Munger (Bihar) and Khargone (Madhya Pradesh) are getting better at their jobs. Both places were once the site of Ordnance Factories, and every family had at least one employee in this sector. Lathe machines abound, and with better materials available, these outfits can give regular manufacturers a run for their money. Delhi's gun markets are supplied mainly from these areas, though a large part of cross-border illicit trade also feeds these markets. According to reports, everything from a 12 bore rifle to an AK-47 is now available in the capital. Police reports point to the seizure of Walther PPK pistols, which are sold for about three lakh, and the German Mauser for a little less. These elegant weapons are then sold to dealers in Agra, Mathura and nearby areas, where such weapons are in great demand. The Munger made arms are, however, good enough for Delhi's criminals. Not long ago, a policeman was shot when trying to stop bag snatchers. This indicates that guns have made their way considerably down the criminal chain. In other words, a law-abiding citizen is likely to be more under threat from gun violence, than before. The question then arises - are such citizens then justified in seeking a licensed firearm themselves? The National Association for Gun Rights in India (NAGRI), a nascent gun rights group, argues just that. Their position is that the right to bear arms is part of our fundamental rights in the Constitution. Rather reasonably, it is argued that law-abiding citizens have progressively been denied their right to self-defence, with the government tightening the licensing of guns. The present government quietly overhauled the archaic Arms Rules of 1962 with a new set of rules, that while encouraging private investment in the gun business, also tightened licensing procedure. There is also a new nation-wide database on gun licenses, which will technically, allow easier tracking of licensed weapons. All of this is excellent work by the home ministry. The trouble is that the vast majority of the weapons seized in criminal hands are unlicensed and unmarked. Even the Chinese automatic weapons that are available in gun markets all over the country have their manufacture and batch numbers sawed off. The gun-rights lobby, therefore, has a point. The illicit trade will continue, while the legal owners are in a bind. One way out is to regularise the gun markets and manufacturers of Bihar and elsewhere, and provide them with quality training and machines, allied with strict oversight and control. The obvious problem is that any credible oversight in the Indian system is usually made a mockery of within a few years or less. Alternatively, these units could be trained to provide specific parts for the larger manufacturers. This requires a transition from the present "mom and pop" manufacturing process, to one that is far more streamlined and professional, even while building on resident skills in these towns that are virtually part of a bloodline. 'Make in India' need not involve only the big guns. The locals also need to be brought on board. Policy needs to go in this direction to fuse both the large manufacturing initiatives together with a policy on crime control. No one can dispute that urban India is becoming altogether a more violent place to live in. As smart cities are becoming the norm, it might be smarter to start removing these small weapons of mass murder. Just a day after jailed Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh's daughter Honeypreet Insan was remanded to police custody for six days by a court in Panchkula, the police is mulling a narco test on her. The Special Investigation Team of the Haryana Police interrogating her found it difficult to extract answers from her. India Today reported that Honeypreet only offered head nods and silences to the 40-odd questions asked to her by the SIT officials. She only revealed that she did not use voice call to get in touch with anyone but used WhatsApp for communication. She was questioned till 3 am in connection with the charges against her, which include sedition and rioting. "She (Honeypreet) was evasive in her replies about her whereabouts and her role in inciting violence and providing funding to those behind the violence. We are interrogating her and will seek her police remand," a police officer involved in the questioning told IANS. Honeypreet complained of chest pain in the night and was taken to a hospital where she was found to be fine by doctors. According to NewsX, following are some of the questions that she was asked: 1. Why did you go off the radar after coming out of the Sonaria Jail in Rohtak? 2. Who played the key role in inciting violence after the conviction of Ram Rahim Singh? 3. What was Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singhs role in inciting violence? After the interrogation, the police concluded that Honeypreet possessed some international numbers and has been in touch with Aditya Insan. Meanwhile, the persecution sought a 10-day remand for Honeypreet, saying she was the closest aide of Gurmeet, who is serving 20 years of sentence on two counts of rape. It also said that she knew many things about the activities of the sect and its role in the violence in Panchkula. Honeypreet had remained a fugitive for 38 days before she was booked by Haryana Police on the charge of sedition. A court in Panchkula had in September issued arrest warrants against top Dera functionaries Honeypreet, Aditya Insan and Pawan Insan. All three were booked by the Haryana Police on charges of sedition, inciting violence and being involved in a conspiracy to help Dera chief Gurmeet escape after his conviction by a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court on 25 August on two counts of raping women disciples in 1999. With inputs from 101Reporters The Indian Air Force (IAF) can target Pakistan's nuclear sites and has the capability to help the army in carrying out surgical operations, Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa said. at a press conference ahead of the Air Force Day on 8 October. Addressing the annual press conference of the IAF ahead of Air Force Day, Dhanoa said "I take this opportunity to assure the nation of our sacred resolve in defending the sovereignty of our skies." Asserting that if the need arises, the air force is prepared to fight at short notice in full synergy with other two sister services, the air force chief said that the men and women under his command are fully prepared to undertake the complete spectrum of air operations and respond to any challenge in a befitting manner, reported ANI. Men & women under my command fully prepared to undertake full spectrum of air ops & respond to any challenge in befitting manner: BS Dhanoa pic.twitter.com/rSiOgX3C7R ANI (@ANI) October 5, 2017 He further added that while decision on surgical strikes has to be taken by the government, the air force has the capability to carry them out. Speaking about the two-war scenario, he said that the air force has the numbers of carrying out the full spectrum of operations. He said "our capability is adequate" to counter any threat from the eastern side China and that the Indian Air Force has a 'Plan B' ready to cater for the shortage of strength, if such a situation were to arise. He further said that additions are being made to the inventory and the air force will reach fill mandated strength of 42 squadrons by 2032. At present, the air force has 33 squadrons and 10 of those are listed to be phased out. The air force chief, however, added that more than assets, the question was what China can and cannot do operating from Tibet against India. In September, Army Chief General Bipin Rawat had cautioned that China is silently taking over territory and testing India's threshold, and warned of a two-front war on the western and northern borders. The statement had come barely a week after India and China managed to disengage their border personnel at Doka La and ended one of their longest face-offs. Turning his attention to Pakistan, the air force chief said that the air force has the capability to "locate, fix and strike across the border." He also added that India was adequately prepared to take on China. On the Doka La crisis, he said that Chinese forces are still deployed in Chumbi Valley, in the southern reaches of Tibet along the Line of Actual Control, but he "expects that they withdraw as summer exercise gets over." Dhanoa said: "We are not in physical face-off but in Chumbi valley their troops are still deployed. Hope they will withdraw in future after their exercises are over," the IAF chief said. The Air Force chief also hoped that India and China will diplomatically resolve the issue. "Both countries are major economic and political powers in the region, I expect them to display maturity in resolving the issues. Peaceful resolution of such issues will be in the interest of both countries and I am confident that at the political and diplomatic level it is being done," he said He also said that there was no face-off in the air during the over 70-days-long standoff and there were no air violations. "As far as flying goes, we have these measures, armed fighters don't go beyond 20 km from the perceived LAC that was not violated by either side," he said. "We had a standoff on the ground but in the air there was no standoff," Dhanoa added. He said IAF's role during the stand-off was limited to intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. "Our basic thrust was on ISR through various medium, we did want to know what was happening. We did not infringe on this boundary." Dhanoa also expressed concern over recent accidents and technical snags in its aircraft. "Our losses during peace time are cause of concern. We are making concentrated efforts to minimize accidents and preserve our assets," Dhanoa said. In September 2016, the Indian Army had destroyed five terror camps across the LoC and members of the special forces from the army were para-dropped at the spots. During the counter-terror operations, significant casualties were caused to the terrorists. With inputs from agencies New Delhi: IAF's first three women fighter pilots are set to be commissioned by the end of 2017, and a second batch of three more women pilots are now being trained for the role, Indian Air Force chief BS Dhanoa said on Thursday. "Last year we took a step forward by inducting the first batch of women pilots in the fighter stream. You will be glad to know that their performance has been at par with other pilots despite the strenuous and demanding nature of flying," Air Chief Marshal Dhanoa said addressing the annual press conference ahead of Air Force Day on 8 October. "Consequently next batch of three women trainees has been selected for fighter stream in July 2017," he said. Dhanoa said the first three women fighter pilots - Bhawana Kanth, Mohana Singh and Avani Chaturvedi - are about to complete their training. "On completion, these three women will be commissioned in fighter stream by the end of this year," he said. Asked if more women officers were to be commissioned as fighter pilots, he said it depends on how many women volunteer and how many of them clear the aptitude and other tests required for the role. "As far as the women fighter pilots are concerned, they have volunteer for it. Secondly they have to make a cut in their aptitude. "Flying is governed by laws of physics... It is like driving a car, it is gender neutral," he said Dhanoa also said that at present, it is an experimental project for five years, and after that the Defence Ministry will take a call on whether to continue it. The Indian Air Force, in June 2016, commissioned three women as fighter pilots. Women form a very minor section in the armed forces, with the IAF having the highest number at 1,350 followed by the army with 1,300 and the navy with 450 women officers, according to official information. The 1.3 million-strong armed forces have 59,400 officers. Jammu: Union Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre said on Thursday that the army will be provided all support to ensure that it is fully equipped to give a blow to the adversary as and when required. Bhamre, who was on a two-day visit, visited forward areas of Poonch, Pir Bhadreshwar and Buchhamandi, according to a defence spokesman. All support will be provided to ensure that the army is operationally fully equipped to give a blow to the adversary as and when required, Bhamre said. The minister's visit assumes significance as it comes in the wake of repeated ceasefire violations by Pakistan troops along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch. In the past three days, three persons including two minors were killed and 18 injured in cross-border firing. During his visit to the forward areas along the LoC in Buchhamandi, Bhamre interacted with soldiers over a cup of tea. He was briefed by top commanders about defence preparedness and efforts being undertaken to thwart any misadventure by the adversary in this region, an official said. Bhamre emphasised that the government was fully sensitive to the problems faced by soldiers while operating in such difficult and arduous conditions. The minister commended the alertness of the troops deployed along the LoC and appreciated their efforts in foiling the nefarious designs of inimical forces. Chennai: The Madras High Court on Wednesday dismissed a petition challenging the appointment of a one-man commission of inquiry, headed by Justice (retd) A Arumugasamy, to probe the death of AIADMK leader J Jayalalithaa. Passing the order, the first bench of Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice M Sundar said it did not want to interfere with the state government order appointing Justice Arumugasamy, a retired Madras High Court judge, as the one-man inquiry commission. The bench rejected the contention of the petitioner that only after a resolution was passed by the state Assembly should the government pass an order appointing such a panel under the Commission of Inquiry Act, 1952. "It is not mandatory as the provision says it may or shall. The state legislature's resolution is not required. The government notification is sufficient to appoint the one-man commission of inquiry," the bench added. The court also rejected the petitioner's allegation that there would be 'bias' and every possibility of "influence and pressure" when it comes to a commission constituted by the state government and that the present panel cannot be expected to carry out an independent inquiry. "A retired judge of the high court is in no way under the control of the state government and there is no reason to believe that the retired judge will not be able to conduct the inquiry independently," it observed. Petitioner PA Joseph, an AIADMK member, had yesterday contended that the inquiry commission had been set up without complying with the mandatory requirements under Section 3 of the Commission of Inquiry Act. He had submitted that as per the provisions under the section, the opinion of the government and a resolution passed by the Assembly were required for setting up such inquiry panels. He also claimed that the government order (GO) appointing Justice Arumugasamy as the commission of inquiry was based only on the opinion of the government and there was no Assembly resolution. Referring to a judgement in the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose case, where a retired judge of the Calcutta High Court was appointed as a one-man commission, the bench said, "A retired high court judge can be appointed as a one-man commission." The court also said, "The GO appointing Justice Arumugasamy as the one-man commission was not illegal." The petitioner had submitted that it would only be proper that the central government steps in and constitutes an independent inquiry commission as he had prayed in an earlier writ petition. The state government had on September 25 appointed Justice Arumugasamy to head the probe panel which would look into the circumstances leading to Jayalalithaa's hospitalisation in September last year and the subsequent treatment. Jayalalithaa, who was the chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, was admitted to the Apollo Hospitals here on 22 September, 2016 and she died on December 5. Doubts have been raised over the events leading to Jayalalithaa's hospitalisation and her death by various quarters with opposition parties, including the DMK, demanding a CBI probe. O Panneerselvam, at present the deputy chief minister, had demanded a probe as a pre-condition for merger of factions led by him and Chief Minister K Palaniswamy. Four days ahead of the merger, Palaniswamy had on 17 August announced that a commission of inquiry would go into the death of Jayalalithaa. Chennai: The Madras High Court Thursday adjourned until 10 October the hearing on a petition filed against a lower court order, rejecting the plea to register a case of suspicious death in connection with the demise of former chief minister J Jayalalithaa. When the revision petition by AK Velan came up before Justice S Vimala, the government counsel submitted that a similar plea had earlier been dismissed by the high court. The judge recorded the submission and directed the government counsel to furnish a copy of the order on the matter and adjourned the hearing until 10 October. In his petition filed before the 14th Metropolitan Magistrate Court at Egmore, Chennai, the petitioner had sought a direction to the Thousand Lights police station to register a case of suspicious death in connection with Jayalalithaa's demise. However, the petition was rejected by the lower court on 27 June, following which the petitioner moved the high court. He said Jayalalithaa was under medical treatment at the Apollo Hospitals, Chennai, for 74 days and she was suddenly declared dead on 5 December, 2016. The petitioner alleged that secrecy was maintained with regard to the treatment provided to her by the hospital. Jayalalithaa was admitted to the Apollo Hospitals here for fever and dehydration on 22 September, 2016. After a prolonged treatment, she died on 5 December following a cardiac arrest. Doubts have been raised over the events leading to Jayalalithaa's hospitalisation and her death by various quarters with opposition parties, including the DMK, demanding a CBI probe. Varanasi: Nobel Peace Prize winner Kailash Satyarthi on Thursday condemned the recent violence on Banaras Hindu University (BHU) campus, and said that students should be cautious of attempts to divide them for "petty electoral goals". He also applauded the girl student, who was molested, for displaying courage and filing a complaint against her tormentors. "Whatever happened in BHU, it pains me. But I would like to say, first of all, that the girl who was molested is a courageous Indian girl who represents the voice of India. She has broken her silence and filed the complaint, so I definitely applaud her courage. "The way some of the staff members, watchmen/security guards treated her is objectionable and unacceptable which again shows the age-old mindsets that the victim could be stigmatised and blamed, instead of taking stringent action against those who were responsible for molestation," he told PTI over phone from his native Vidisha district in Madhya Pradesh. A number of students, including women, and two journalists were injured in a lathicharged by the police in BHU where a protest on 23 September against an alleged eve-teasing turned violent. The violence erupted after some students, protesting against the eve-teasing of a woman two days earlier, wanted to meet the varsity's vice-chancellor at his residence, but was denied entry. Satyarthi said, "Violence in any form by anyone has to be opposed and that should not be used as a weapon by the youth and students anywhere...I strongly condemn any form of violence. I well understand the anger of young people but that should not be converted into violence and equally be giving a cause to divisive politics." "Most of the times, politics divides youths and university students for petty electoral goals, So I would like to make an appeal to the youth to remain united and make their college and university campus safe, which is only possible through non-violence manner," he added. He also called for measures such as gender sensitisation training to make university and college campuses safe for students, particularly women. Satyarthi is on a nationwide march, 'Bharat Yatra' against sexual abuses, molestation, and rape. A 'Bharat Yatra' was taken out in Varanasi on Thursday. Satyarthi took part in a similar march in Vidisha. He said the march was a war against the "moral epidemic of child sexual abuse, trafficking, and rape". "This epidemic is rising because of our rotten, age-old mindsets. Our girls are taught to be silent, they are said that their dignity is lost, honour is lost, family honour is lost and so the victims are stigmatised, they are put to blames, and thus the perpetrators remain fearless and free," he added. Kerala witnessed a huge uproar when Aam Aadmi Party leader Kumar Vishwas described nurses from Kerala as "kali peeli" (dark skinned) three years ago, in what was described as a "racist" comment. But a racist action by officials of the government-run Kerala House canteen in New Delhi has gone unnoticed in the 100 percent literate state, that is known for its historic struggles against social and caste barriers. Niranjan Kumar, a New Delhi-based correspondent of Puthiya Thalamurai TV, faced the bitter taste of racism when he went to the canteen for lunch on 2 October. The official at the counter passed the racial slur when he sought change for Rs 100 after making the payment for the food. "Why all people are coming here for a change. You are a Tamilian. Get out," thundered the official, according to Niranjan. The distraught scribe left the canteen without taking his food. Later, he described the incident on his Facebook page saying that he was heartbroken by the behaviour of the official from a state that boasts itself as one of the most enlightened ones in the country. Canteen manager G Prakash admitted lapse on the part of the official manning the cash counter. The unfortunate incident occurred due to the rush during the lunch time. The official lost his control when the journalist persisted with his plea for the change. He did not mean to insult Niranjan. It was an impulsive reaction, Prakash said. He told the Firstpost that a large number of people, including journalists, has been coming to the canteen everybody. The officials have been cordial with everybody. This is an isolated incident, which should not have happened, the manager added. A spokesman at the chief ministers office said that they had not received any complaint from the journalist. He said that the government will investigate the matter if the concerned person lodged a formal complaint with the authorities. We cannot take action based merely on a Facebook post, the spokesman said. A Malayalam translation of the post in Tamil was shared in the WhatsApp media group of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan but neither the chief minister nor any officials took note of it. Even the media, which is very vocal against human rights violations, did not find it worth reporting. The attitude has not come as a surprise to the Kerala watchers since racial intolerance has been on the rise in the state for some time now. Last week, a 45-year-old migrant worker from Tamil Nadu, whose leg was severed by his roommate in a drunken brawl at Kuttippuram in Malappuram district, was denied treatment by three hospitals, including two government medical colleges in the state. K Rajendran, who had suffered a vascular injury, had to be taken to Coimbatore after he was denied treatment in the state. In a similar case in August, another migrant labourer from Tamil Nadu, who was injured in a road accident, died after he was denied treatment by half-a-dozen hospitals in Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram, including the Trivandrum Medical College. The deceased, Murugan, hailing from Tirunelveli, went through eight long painful hours in an ambulance before succumbing to his injuries. Five private hospitals in Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram refused to admit him apparently as there was no one with the patient to pay the bills. But what prevented the government institution, where medical care is free, from providing treatment to the patient suffering from brain haemorrhage is still being investigated. Noted Malayalam writer Paul Zachariah said that money could have been a major reason for the denial of treatment to both Murugan and Rajendran. "The attitude of hospital authorities would not have been the same if the patient was a Keralite. Therefore, no one can be blamed if they view the treatment meted out to the two Tamilians by the hospital authorities in Kerala as discriminatory," he added. He told Firstpost that Keralites have been treating Tamilians unfairly because of their skin colour. They address Tamils as Pandi. Though the term reminds Tamilians of the great Pandya dynasty that ruled part of the present-day Tamil Nadu until the 15th century, Malayalis use it as a derogatory term to address Tamil manual labourers who work in Kerala. Tamil labourers started flowing to Kerala in large numbers in the sixties when the wages in the state shot up following the Communist rule. When they grabbed the jobs that the local labourers considered as theirs by accepting lesser wages, the latter started turning hostile to them. "The hate is lingering on even though the living condition of Tamilians has improved vastly compared to Keralites in the wake of an economic explosion witnessed by Tamil Nadu in the past few decades. Ironically, Keralites who migrated to Tamil Nadu to take advantage of this economic upheaval are treated well in Tamil Nadu," says Zachariah. The writer said that the racial intolerance towards Tamilians was part of the upper caste mentality prevalent in Kerala. People belonging to upper castes treat the lower castes even in Kerala as inferiors still. Their behaviour is based on skin colour. State public works minister G Sudhakaran recently ran into trouble for using a racial slur for a World Bank official, who came to the state for reviewing the implementation of the bank-funded Kerala State Transport Project (KSTP). When World Bank threatened to cancel the loan, the minister tendered an apology saying that he did not know the word was offensive. Interestingly, Keralites have not been this intolerant towards migrants from the eastern and northern parts of the country, who are not as dark-skinned as Tamilians. A study on the social integration of migrant workers by Kerala Institute of Labour and Employment showed that 80 percent of the migrants felt that the local people were friendly and helpful. The remaining 20 percent reported bad experiences while travelling in buses and trains and interacting with their neighbours. The study conducted by Lizy James and Dominic Mathew found that these migrants were discriminated mostly because of poor hygiene. The local people and the police also view them with suspicion whenever a theft or other crimes occur in the area. The study said that many migrants had complained of harassments and torture by the police whenever they were caught in connection with a crime. The treatment of all migrants, including Tamilians, not fair in the media either. A recent debate on a prominent television channel turned racist when the participants portrayed the migrants as criminals and outsiders who create trouble in society and pollute the race or culture. One police officer even went to the extent of saying that after a few decades it will be hard to find a 'pure' Keralite due to the influx of workers from other states. Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj Thackeray attacked Narendra Modi over the stampede that took place at Elphistone Road railway station in Mumbai last week, asking the prime minister "how long will he (the prime minister) continue to tell lies" to the country. Addressing a rally on Thursday, after taking out a massive procession to the Western Railways headquarters at Churchgate station, to demand better facilities for Mumbai commuters after last week's stampede killed 23 commuters, Thackeray said the country was being pushed into crises on all fronts, brought about by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in New Delhi. "Modi has been lying and misleading the people of this country. Now I realise that when I visited Gujarat a few years ago at the behest of (industrialist) Ratan Tata when Modi was the Chief Minister of Gujarat, I was shown a misleading picture of the development there," Thackeray said. He also gave the railway authorities 15 days to clear all foot-over bridges on Mumbai's suburban railway network. "Within 15 days, we want all hawkers to be cleared from all foot-over bridges. If the Railways can't do it, we will do it in 'MNS style'," Thackeray warned. If the officials can't do this, he threatened to take out another rally. "If they don't do it, my next rally will not be as peaceful," Thackeray said. He attacked the government for failing infrastructure, and said the main reason for this sorry state of affairs is that the government has its focus on the wrong things. "The government is focussing on all the wrong things. From demonetisation to GST to Swachh Bharat to yoga, the things it chooses to tackle are unnecessary. They should instead provide the people what they actually need," Thackeray said. He reiterated that the people of the country have lost faith in Modi, who "only keeps giving speeches daily". "How much is he going to speak?" Thackeray asked, further urging people to speak out against the government. "The Opposition will rise against the government," he warned. He specifically targeted the government over the ambitious Bullet Train project, saying it's precisely the kind of expensive investment the country doesn't need. "Who will really benefit from a Bullet Train? It's not going to be of much help for most everyday commuters. It was taken up by the government for the benefit of a handful of Gujaratis," Thackeray said. Instead of splurging money on a Bullet Train, the authorities should have spent more money on fixing safety and security in Mumbai, the MNS chief said. "In Mumbai, safety is so bad that when a person leaves home in the morning, his family doesn't know if s/he will come back home. The infrastructure has remained the same for decades," he said. Over 15,000 MNS supporters attended the protest rally, which started at 1.30 pm, two hours after its original schedule. There were a significant majority of women who participated in the rally. Raj Thackeray's wife Sharmila and MNS office bearers across Maharashtra accompanied the MNS chief. Officials of the Rail Pravasi Sangh from Western and Central Railway were also present, and also were part of the delegation that met general managers of the two undertakings. With inputs from Sanjay Sawant and IANS On Monday, the Madras High Court will give its verdict on a petition challenging the appointment of Dr P Balaji as member secretary of the Transplant Authority of Tamil Nadu (TRANSTAN), a key government body to regulate and monitor organ transplant and cadaver harvesting. The petition, filed by the Change India NGO, alleged that the appointment was a case of quid pro quo, and Balaji became a beneficiary for having attested former chief minister Jayalalithaa's thumb impression on Form B that was submitted to the Election Commission in October 2016, ahead of by-elections to Thanjavur, Aravakurichi and Thiruparankundram constituencies, which were to be held on 19 November. Balaji, then a professor of minimal access surgery at Madras Medical College, certified on the document on 27 October, writing about Jayalalithaa, "Since the signatory has undergone tracheostomy recently and has an inflamed right hand, she is temporarily unable to affix her signature. Hence she has affixed her left thumb impression on her own in my presence." Four days later, Balaji bagged the top job at TRANSTAN and the appointment was regularised on 5 May this year. This particular case has acquired greater significance because TRANSTAN is the nodal body that takes care of organ transplants in Tamil Nadu. And the latest recipient of a kidney and liver transplant is M Natarajan, the 74-year-old husband of VK Sasikala, the ousted general secretary of the AIADMK. From 22 September to 5 December, when Jayalalithaa was hospitalised, Sasikala was the most powerful person in the AIADMK. That her detractors are connecting the dots today seems a natural consequence. And while fingers aren't being directly pointed at Balaji in Natarajan's case, the manner in which organs were hastily organised for Sasikala's husband has left many questions unanswered. Natarajan, admitted to Gleneagles Global Hospital in Chennai for critical liver and kidney failure, had been in dire need of the two organs. He was on the waiting list with the Tamil Nadu organ sharing for donor liver transplantation since April. This last week, a 19-year-old daily wage labourer N Kartik, said to be in a critical state following a head injury, was driven from Thanjavur's Government Medical College Hospital to Trichy, and then airlifted to Global hospital in Chennai on Monday night. He was declared brain dead on Tuesday morning. His liver and kidney were donated to Natarajan, who underwent surgery the same day. The petitioner in the case against Balaji, A Narayanan, has alleged that the manner in which organs were arranged for Natarajan makes it a case of criminal conspiracy. He pointed out that this seems to have been motivated by the fact that the hospital where the patient is declared brain dead gets first right to harvest his organs, depending on the family's willingness. "The patient was possibly brain dead in Thanjavur, but he was allowed to be airlifted by saying he is critical, only to ensure the Chennai hospital got the home hospital status. Or maybe the doctors in Thanjavur didn't make an effort to save him and instead allowed him to fly out," Narayanan said. He also pointed out that Kartik's family isn't very affluent, and it's unlikely that they would afford an air ambulance that costs upwards of Rs 1 lakh per hour. The law states that there should be no monetary consideration in the case of organ donations. So does this mean the travel formalities were taken care of by other, more affluent parties? A press release put out by the Global Hospitals states that the family decided to move Kartik from Thanjavur to a private hospital for a "second opinion and specialised care, against medical advice''. Another doubt is whether the decision not to declare Kartik's availability as a donor was because of a December 2015 TRANSTAN advisory, that said, "When potential donors are shifted to another hospital at the insistence of their families, the hospital receiving the donor will not be entitled to any local organs. The local organs of this donor will be allocated to the first hospital where possible brain stem death identification was done." This would have again meant the Thanjavur hospital. But by declaring him brain dead only in Chennai, Global Hospitals got first right to "in-house organ donation". With TRANSTAN guidelines dividing Tamil Nadu into three zones, organs are first offered in the same zone that the donor is declared as brain dead. Thanjavur falls in south zone while Chennai is in the north zone, which meant it would not have received Kartik's organs. Does that explain the decision to shift Kartik to Chennai, and rather coincidentally, the same hospital that Natarajan was admitted to? In their defence, Tamil Nadu health ministry officials say it is ironic that the government was initially accused of deliberately denying Natarajan the organs he needed because of political reasons. And now that it has been arranged, to accuse the same government of bending the rules. They say TRANSTAN is only a regulatory body that does not get into the nitty-gritties of how every organ was made available. Balaji's attestation has been under a cloud ever since Tamil Nadu minister C Sreenivasan clarified that no AIADMK leader had access to Jayalalithaa while she was in hospital. If that is indeed so, who took the decision about the three candidates, and whether Balaji's attestation was truthful will have to be examined. Change India has also written to the Election Commission to check the integrity of the thumb impressions. In fact, since the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu is TRANSTAN president, only Jayalalithaa could have appointed Balaji as a member secretary. Given that she was not in a position where she could be consulted, who took the call to appoint Dr Balaji whose specialisation incidentally is laparoscopy and not organ transplant? Washington: US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis has said that India's decision not to send its troops to Afghanistan was in view of Pakistan's considerations as this would bring in new complexities in the region. Mattis praised India's contributions to the war-torn country before lawmakers at House Armed Services Committee, saying New Delhi has adopted a holistic approach in its assistance towards Afghanistan. "It is really a very holistic approach that India is taking. You'll notice I left off (Indian) boots (soldiers) on the ground because of the complexity that would bring to Pakistan," Mattis said in response to a question from Congressman Doug Lamborn during the Congressional hearing on South Asia. "We're trying to make this an inclusive strategy and we don't want them to get a sense that they're vulnerable to any Indian Army people from their western flank, that's not necessary," Mattis said. The defence secretary insisted that an open border trade between India and Pakistan would help in bringing regional stability. "If there's any way for Pakistan and India to open their border to trade at great economic advantage to both of the countries, it would be a big help across the region," he said. Stability can follow economics as much as stability enables economics, he added. He hoped that they will eventually see that happen. "I believe India wants that to happen, but it's very hard to do that if your concern is that you open the border to one thing, and you get something else," Mattis said in an oblique reference to cross-border infiltration. Responding to a series of questions on the Indian role in Afghanistan, Mattis said, " New Delhi has been generous over many years with Afghanistan. Because of its very generous funding over the years, India has achieved a degree of affection from the Afghan people as a result. They intend to continue this effort and broaden it. Furthermore, they are providing training for Afghan military officers and NCOs at their schools." India, he said, is willing to do rehabilitation of Soviet-era equipment until they are replaced with American. That will take years, he noted. Furthermore, India has been providing and will continue to provide training for Afghan army doctors and medics in the field so that the Afghan army is able to take casualties and better sustain themselves thing, he said. Mattis said there are many areas where India and the US are natural partners for each other. The two countries, he said, are deepening and broadening the military-to-military relationship. "But it is not an exclusive strategy, exclusive of anyone. Any nation that wants to be part of the counter-terror effort and this stability effort in South Asia, can sign up," he said seeking to allay Pakistan's concern of being excluded. It's open to any nation that wants to move against terrorism and remove this threat to all civilised nations. Referring to his talks with the Indian leadership, Mattis said US does not need to convince Indians that it doesn't have nefarious designs on the Indo-Pacific area. New Delhi: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Thursday banned all protests and dharnas around the historic Jantar Mantar area in New Delhi, which has been a hotspot of many agitations over the past decades, saying such activities violate environmental laws. The green panel said the State has totally failed to protect the right of enjoying pollution-free environment of the citizens living in the Jantar Mantar Road area, close to Connaught Place in the heart of the city. It said it was the duty of the State to ensure that the rights of the people to live a peaceful and comfortable life are not infringed by those who create noise pollution in the name of their right of freedom of speech and expression, which can never be unlimited. A bench headed by Justice RS Rathore also directed the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) to remove all make-shift and temporary structures, loud speakers and public address systems from the stretch of the road. The municipal body was also directed to remove the garbage lying in the area and clean it within four weeks. The tribunal directed the authorities to shift the protesters, agitators and the people holding dharna (sit-in) to alternative site at the Ramleela Grounds in Ajmeri Gate, "forthwith". "It is amply clear that the petitioners are suffering because of gross violation of laws, air pollution and health hazards due to lack of cleanliness and non performance of duty by the authorities of the State which is endangering their life. "The environmental condition at Jantar Mantar Road in relation to noise pollution, cleanliness, management of waste and public health has grossly deteriorated. Besides, constant dharna, slogans, noise pollution, health problems due to unhygienic conditions generated by the agitators round-the-clock, is unique in the instant case," the bench, also comprising expert member SS Garbyal, said. The NGT ordered the NDMC chairman, police commissioner and the Delhi government to file compliance reports within five weeks from Thursday. It said the people participating in protests and raising slogans through loudspeakers have no right to compel the petitioner and others living in the area to listen to and tolerate it day and night. "The locality has completely changed, where one finds that men, women and children are bathing, washing their clothes under Delhi Jal Board tankers and the situation becomes worse when the people are seen defecating in the open, on pavements, which creates a totally unhygienic situation on the entire road," the bench said. Due to the continuous activity of the protesters for a number of years, the site has virtually become hell for the residents of the locality who cannot sleep at night, face noise pollution during the day, having difficulties to enter their house, the bench said. The NGT's verdict came on a plea filed by Varun Seth and others alleging that processions and agitations held by social groups, political parties, NGOs at the Jantar Mantar Road were a major source of noise pollution in the area. Addis Ababa: India is keen to strengthen ties with its people abroad, President Ram Nath Kovind said while urging them to make use of schemes like Overseas Citizen of India (OCI). "Our government is keen to strengthen its ties with our people abroad," Kovind said while addressing the Indian community in Ethiopia here on Wednesday. "New schemes have been launched and old ones made simpler," he said. "You must take advantage of the OCI programme. It connects you with the land of your forefathers forever." Kovind arrived here from Djibouti on Wednesday on the second and last leg of his African tour. This is his first visit abroad after assuming office in July. The Indian community in Ethiopia is estimated to be around 5,000-6,000, according to External Affairs Ministry figures. There are around 2,500 Indian academics in 30 Ethiopian universities and institutes of higher learning. "Our government seeks sustained and pro-active engagement with our overseas community," Kovind said. "The purpose of this engagement is to provide an opportunity to familiarise you with the transformational changes taking place in India. The dialogue with the diaspora is also aimed at providing possibilities and platforms through which you can participate in India's growth and development and give back to your motherland. I invite you to participate and partner us in this process." The president said Ethiopia, like India, was a land of diversity, of multiple languages and varied cuisines; of music, dance and drama. "You must take advantage of the local eclectic culture and showcase and share our own cultural diversity," he stated. Stating that both India and Ethiopia have large young populations, Kovind advised the Indian community to make special efforts to connect with Ethiopia's youth. He stated that this would help them germinate their ideas to provide solutions for a better world, be it tacking climate change or providing skills to people. "If I look at India-Ethiopia bilateral relations of the last few years: we have an economic partnership which is thriving; our contribution in capacity building of institutions in this country is well-recognised; the training and scholarship opportunities that we offer are sought after; our development partnership has grown from strength-to-strength; and our cultural ties have continued to flourish," Kovind said. "I must emphasise that all this has been possible due to the valuable support we have received from the Indian community here." New Delhi hosted the India Africa Forum Summit (IAFS) in October 2015 in which all 54 African nations participated. Pune: Ishwari Singh Vishwakarma is on cloud nine as she has become mother of a baby boy. However, what makes the experience unique is that the baby was born in an Ola cab on the way to hospital on the morning of 2 October. In addition to this, there is another reason for the 21-year-old woman to feel elated, as the ride hailing company has announced that Ishwari Singh Vishwakarma and her son can avail free rides for the next five years as a gift. These rides can be availed by a special coupon, named after the baby. The incident occurred when the woman went into labour on Monday morning, three weeks before her expected date, her husband Ramesh Singh Vishwakarma said today. "My wife's expected delivery date was 24 October but in the wee hours of 2 October, she started experiencing labour pains, so we booked a cab in the morning to go to Kamla Nehru Hospital, and at around 7.20 am, the cab driver arrived for pick up at our residence in Kondhwa area," Ramesh Singh Vishwakarma said. Narrating his experience, Vishwakarma said his brother and mother were with his wife in the cab while he was riding a motorcycle on their way to the hospital. "After travelling four to five kms from home, I got a call from my brother informing me about my wife delivering in the cab," said Vishwakarma, who works in a private firm. Interestingly it was the maiden cab ride for Vishwakarma's wife. The woman and her son are fine and discharged from the hospital on Thursday. The cabbie Yashwant Galande said he was thrilled by the experience. Recalling the ride, the driver said the woman's pains gradually increased while they were headed to the hospital, located in Mangalwaaar Peth area of the city, a distance of 12 kms from Kondhwa. "Looking at her situation, I decided not to stop the cab anywhere and continued to drive to the hospital. However, after travelling for hardly four to five kms, the customer delivered the baby in the backseat with the help of her relative," Yashwant Galande said. The cabbie said he reached the hospital within 30 minutes after he picked up the woman from her house. Vishwakarma said he alerted the hospital about the delivery and a team of doctors was waiting at its entrance. "The doctors immediately detached the umbilical cord inside the cab and got my wife and son admitted for further treatment," he said. Vishwakarma said he was grateful to the cabbie for taking his wife and the newborn to the hospital safely. In a release, Ola said the mother and the child are entitled to free rides for the next five years as a gift. "These rides can be availed by a special coupon, named after the baby," it said. Ola also felicitated Galande for going an extra mile to help the passengers in need. As a goodwill gesture, Ola on Thursday sent the same cab and the driver to the hospital to take the mother and baby home. Auto refresh feeds MNS has planned a rally on Thursday morning from Metro theatre to Churchgate to protest against the poor quality of railway infrastructure in Mumbai, days after a stampede at the Elphinstone Road station killed 23 people and injured 38 others. Over 50,000 supporters are expected to attend. It will be interesting to see what effect Thackeray's rally on Thursday has on Mumbai, especially because MNS' political influence has been dwindling in the city. According to Free Press Journal , Thackeray is expected to protest politely with folded hands, unlike what MNS is known for. Tight police security has been arranged at Churchgate station, where the morcha will take place. Since the MNS chief had appealed to his followers to join him in the rally, in a Facebook post, his supporters are likely to show up in huge numbers. According to Loksatta, MNS leader Sandeep Deshpande questioned the democracy in which one could not get permission to conduct rally. "Even the British would grant permission to hold protest, but this government won't," he was quoted as saying in a tweet by Loksatta. At MNS rally, hoarding shows cartoon where Raj Thackeray is cracking a whip on kneeling Narendra Modi, Devendra Fadnavis and Amit Shah "Problems of railway commuters in Mumbai have persisted for decades, and there are still no answers," says Raj Thackeray, MNS chief, lambasting the government for their apathy. "When people in Mumbai leave their homes in the morning, it's not even certain whether they will return home or not. This is unacceptable," MNS chief Raj Thackeray said while addressing a rally. "I was the first person to oppose the Bullet Train. It doesn't serve the needs of thousands of Mumbai's commuters, and is just a gift for a handful of Gujaratis," MNS chief Raj Thackeray has said The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena has given the Railways 15 days to evict all hawkers from foot-over bridges across Mumbai's suburban rail network. "If the Central and Western Railways don't clear all foot-over bridges of hawkers, we will do it ourselves," Raj Thackeray said. Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray has wound up his speech against the Railways by targeting the central government on a variety of topics. "The central government is wasting its time with 'trivial issues' like demonetisation, GST, Swacch Bharat, yoga, etc. In doing so, it's ignoring real issues. But if it continues doing this, I won't remain peaceful," MNS chief Raj Thackeray said, winding up his speech. "Problems of railway commuters in Mumbai have persisted for decades, and there are still no answers," says Raj Thackeray, MNS chief, lambasting the government for their apathy. "When people in Mumbai leave their homes in the morning, it's not even certain whether they will return home or not. This is unacceptable," MNS chief Raj Thackeray said while addressing a rally. "I was the first person to oppose the Bullet Train. It doesn't serve the needs of thousands of Mumbai's commuters, and is just a gift for a handful of Gujaratis," MNS chief Raj Thackeray has said The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena has given the Railways 15 days to evict all hawkers from foot-over bridges across Mumbai's suburban rail network. "If the Central and Western Railways don't clear all foot-over bridges of hawkers, we will do it ourselves," Raj Thackeray said. Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray has wound up his speech against the Railways by targeting the central government on a variety of topics. "The central government is wasting its time with 'trivial issues' like demonetisation, GST, Swacch Bharat, yoga, etc. In doing so, it's ignoring real issues. But if it continues doing this, I won't remain peaceful," MNS chief Raj Thackeray said, winding up his speech. Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) has planned a rally on Thursday morning at around 11 am from Metro theatre to Churchgate to protest against the poor railway infrastructure in Mumbai. Thackeray has said that he will also participate in this rally. This rally was planned after the horrible stampede at Elphinstone Road station in the city, which killed 23 people and injured 38 others. A day after the stampede, Thackeray had said that stampedes will continue to occur in Mumbai till hordes of migrants keep pouring into the city. He had also warned that "not a single brick will be allowed to be placed for the bullet train in Mumbai" until the infrastructure of local railways was made better. The MNS leader, who has in the past stoked controversies with his anti-migrant rhetoric, had told reporters at his residence Krishna Kunj in Dadar, "There has been a collapse of infrastructure facilities due to the migrant influx from other regions." Saying that he travelled in Mumbai suburban trains for two years while studying arts at the Sir JJ College, Thackeray had said, "What you call the famed spirit of Mumbai which overcomes such tragedies is actually hopelessness in face of such calamities." Thackeray had said his party leader Bala Nandgaonkar had written to authorities for building a new bridge at the stampede spot but no action was taken on his suggestion and instead Nandgaonkar was told to approach the MMRDA. The Kakodkar committee had proposed an expenditure of Rs one lakh crore to improve the railway infrastructure but nobody acted on it, he had claimed. Instead, the bullet train project, costing the same amount, is being implemented, he had said. "Does one need bullet train or improvement of basic rail infrastructure?" he had said. Thackeray had also targeted BJP MP Kirit Somaiya for his silence on the "crumbling" rail services. "When Congress was in power, this man used to go about measuring the height of platforms. Where is he now when such tragedies are happening in the BJP-led regime," the MNS chief had alleged. He had claimed he did not visit the stampede spot or the hospital as "politicians are there at such spots only for television cameras". "They (railway) say the stampede happened due to rains. It is not the first time that it rained in Mumbai," he had said. "A list of issues related to Mumbai locals will be given to railway officials on October 5 with a deadline. If things don't get better, we will see," he had added. He had said a deadline would also be given to throw out illegal hawkers from station bridges and if it is not complied with then the party would act on its own. With inputs from agencies Over the years, security dynamics in the state of Jammu and Kashmir has evolved rapidly. While the security forces have managed to contain militancy in the Valley, the other two parts of the state Jammu and Ladakh are now up against a new challenge from migration of Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar. This has a direct impact on the security of the country as a whole and of the state in particular. Different reports have given varying figures of Rohingya immigrants in India. According to one estimate, there are around 40,000 Rohingyas residing in India. The UNHRC data, on the other hand, shows that 16,500 Rohingya Muslims have settled in India as refugees. Of these, 5,700 are settled in Jammu and rest in New Delhi, Jaipur and Hyderabad. Whereas, according to the Jammu and Kashmir government, there 5,700 Rohingyas in Jammu and 7,664 in Ladakh. The central government has said that it has evidences to prove that the illegal Rohingya Muslims have links with terror groups in Kashmir and they pose a very serious security threat. The number of Rohingyas involved in terror activities is not confirmed yet, but involvement of even one is enough for the security agencies to suspect all and act accordingly. The genuine victims who have migrated from Myanmar do need to be viewed from a humanitarian angle. But having said that, the problem also needs to be looked at through the worst possible security scenario they might create. Accommodated in the strategically important Kashmir, Rohingya Muslims have settled in Doda and Samba sectors of Jammu region and in Ladakh. This is a good enough reason for the government to act in national interest. Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah recently remarked that the Rohingyas have become a security threat after the BJP came to power in 2014. Similar sentiments were also expressed by Farooq Abdullah earlier, when he had supported the stone pelting youth, saying they "are throwing stones for the sake of nation" and because "we can find a solution to the Kashmir issue". Such views serve the communal agenda and make short-term political gains, but the political class has so far failed to take into account the larger threat this development poses to the already strife-torn state. At a time when terrorism seems to be on the back foot, this is a dangerous political trend. Infiltration from Pakistan has been effectively checked by the security forces for past nearly one year. However, the presence of Rohingyas, especially their growing concentration in Jammu and Ladakh regions, has raised fear among intelligence agencies and security bodies over their involvement in terror activities. Such fear is justified and here's why: Chota Burmi of Rohingya origin was killed along with Pakistani mercenaries in Kashmir in 2015. He is said to have received patronage of Hafiz Saeed in Pakistan. In October 2016, reports emerged that Rohingya terror group, known as Aqa Mul Mujahideen (AMM), was in touch with terrorist outfits active in the state including Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and men belonging to AMM got trained in Pakistan. Zakir Musa, the Head of Al-Qaeda's offshoot in Kashmir, Ansar Gazawat-ul-Hind, has expressed solidarity with Rohingyas living in Jammu. In a 10-minute-long audio clip, Zakir Musa warned the Modi government against deporting Rohingyas from India and called for liberating Kashmir from the leadership of 'cow-worshiping' Hindus. In early September, the Mutahida Majlis-e-Ulma (MMU), headed by separatist Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and other religious organisations also observed a Solidarity Day in the Valley for Rohingya settlers. According to a recent India Today report, Rohingya Muslims have forcefully converted Rohingya Hindu women in Bangladesh. Therefore, it would not be wrong to assume that some Rohingya Muslims harbour anti-Hindu feelings. A fragile state like Jammu and Kashmir which is divided on religious lines can potentially flare up invoking fear in the minds of Hindus in Jammu and Buddhists in Ladakh. At the same time, India is witnessing a growing intellectual debate which is trying to create a pro-Rohingya perception. According to this report, the BJP is pushing for deportation of Rohingyas just because they are Muslims. The article claimed that the 'ultra-right wing' party, which is unable to get rid of all the existing Muslim population in India, doesn't want additional foreign Muslims settlers to seriously damage the demography of the country. Similarly, this article in Scroll, ignores the security threat angle, and elaborates on how Hindus in Jammu are agitating with increasing anger against the Rohingya Muslims. Similar discourse was carried out in the aftermath of the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani, the impact of which, is still felt, even one year after his encounter. The European Union has blamed Russia for using the migrant population in European countries to create unrest and also wage an information warfare. Moscow's takeover of Crimea is the finest example of Russian hybrid warfare. While a section of the Indian political class firmly believes in playing the religious card, it forgets that sensitive states like Kashmir are sitting on the verge of communal implosion. Pakistan and its puppets in Kashmir cannot ask for more. Those advocating accommodation of the Rohingyas in India fail to consider the burden they are bound to put on India's strained national resources including the overall socio-economic indicators such as public health, employment, crime, rehabilitation of internally displaced etc. Jammu and Kashmir should learn lessons from illegal migration into Assam from Bangladesh. The influx of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants into Assam pose a serious security threat to the Assamese identity. It has adversely affected the social, economic and political environment of the state, creating law and order problems, particularly in areas where immigrants are present in large numbers. According to a Carnegie India report dated 29 June 2016, several illegal migrants from Bangladesh have fuelled insurgency in some parts of the state and many have also been registered on the voters' list. This has been possible because India doesn't have a national refugee law, making it difficult for the government to distinguish between refugees and economic migrants. The presence of Rohingyas in Kashmir is bound to give rise to a more complex problem, as Pakistan will have direct access to them. Therefore, while giving due consideration to the call for a humanitarian solution, India must necessarily inquire into the following questions pertaining to the Rohingya crisis: 1) Why were Jammu and Ladakh particularly chosen for the settlement of Rohingyas? Why not the Muslim-majority Valley? 2) What is the level of their involvement in societies of Jammu and Ladakh? 3) To what extent has the demography in the state changed because of their settlement? 4) How are they employed? 5) Do they have access to Aadhaar card, ration card, voter ID etc. Do they regularly report to local police authorities and are they freely allowed to visit other parts of the country? 6) Are they involved in criminal activities, if yes, what type? 7) Where does accommodation of Rohingyas in Kashmir leave Article 370? 8) Is the terror/security angle the only way to look at Rohingyas? 9) Should India accommodate Rohingyas (for limited period) on humanitarian grounds? War is morphing. Nation states are no more involved in waging conventional military operations against their adversaries. However, they are in a constant state of war. Especially in case of Kashmir, where with the passage of time, conflict has changed its nature from armed operations to religious extremism to exploitation of local population, the Rohingyas pose a new threat. Successive governments in New Delhi have failed to resettle Kashmiri Pandits in the Valley, but there is vehement advocacy to accommodate foreign Rohingya settlers. This is the dirty war played by external forces with the help from local support. In a fragile state like Kashmir, where terrorism and religious extremism are grave concerns, the settlement of Rohingyas in Jammu and Ladakh calls for an inquiry. And politics has no place in it. After successive military debacles, Pakistan has quite successfully adopted hybrid warfare to counter India. It has succeeded in bringing the war on to the Indian soil with the help of the local population. Pakistan has also successfully utilised armed militias, religion and Kashmiri sentiments to destabilise the Valley. Presence of Rohingyas in Jammu and Ladakh gives Islamabad a direct access to further infuriate terrorism and communal tensions in Kashmir, particularly in the relatively calmer areas of Jammu and Ladakh. Keeping in mind the critical geography of the state and its sensitive communal environment - it is necessary that New Delhi treads carefully and explores all the alternatives before arriving at any long-term solution to the issue. Any rash and hasty action might be a quick fix, but it will be short-lived. For India, fighting Pakistan-sponsored terrorism is much easier than countering the Pakistan-influenced ideology and mindset. The growing concentration of Rohingyas hints at a larger game plan to escalate this hybrid warfare. The author is Research Fellow at Observer Research Foundation Mumbai. Study Ranks New Mexico School Systems Among Lowest According to a new Wallethub study, New Mexico is the eighth worst state to be a teacher. The study attempted to determine the teacher-friendliest states in the US by comparing them across two categories: Opportunity and Competition and Academic and Work Environment. More weight was applied to the first category since low pay and lack of career advancement opportunities are leading factors in causing new teachers to quit their jobs within the first year. The rankings are based on teacher pay, quality of school system, pupil-to-teacher ratio, teacher safety and other standards. The report says that New Mexico's most lingering problem is the quality of its school systems, which were ranked 50th in the nation, only beating Louisiana. The best states for teachers were New York, New Jersey, Illinois and Connecticut. The worst state for teachers was Arizona. The best school systems were in Massachusetts and New Jersey. Mayor Berry Gives Farewell Address In his final State of the City address, Mayor Richard Berry told citizens that he was proud of what we've accomplished. More than 400 people gathered at Marriott on Louisiana to hear the speech, given at a luncheon hosted by NAIOPan association of real estate developers. The speech focused mainly on the mayor's accomplishments over the last eight years. According to Berry, the city's economy is growing, as evidenced by the nearly $1.2 billion spent on infrastructure projects in various stages of completion. He also said the job market is improving, noting that Albuquerque has seen 46 straight months of job growth, and has added 25,000 jobs. Berry spoke about the city's rising crime rate and recommended making more resources available for the District Attorneys Office instead of just hiring more police officers. According to a poll conducted by the Albuquerque Journal, he is leaving office with an approval rating of 34 percent and a disapproval rating of 54 percent. Berry chose not to run for re-election. New Delhi/Gurugram: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has told the Supreme Court that a Class 2 student's death in a Gurugram school could have been averted, had school authorities discharged their duties and responsibilities with care and sincerity, a lawyer said on Thursday. The board has also listed various alleged lapses on the part of the school management, the lawyer for the victim's father said. The seven-year-old, was found murdered on 8 September in a washroom of the Ryan International School in Bhondsi area on Sohna Road in Gurugram district. His father Barun Chandra Thakur has since moved the apex court on the matter. Barun Chandra Thakur's counsel Sushil K Tekriwal said that the CBSE affidavit in the apex court points out that the school management failed to provide basic amenities on the campus. "The Ryan management never provided portable drinking water to students. There was no reverse osmosis plant. Water drawn from a bore well was supplied on the campus," Tekriwal said quoting the affidavit. He said the CBSE also said there were no ramps, no closed-circuit television at prominent places on the campus, and classrooms not in use on two floors of the school building were not put under lock and key. Tekriwal said many serious irregularities and security lapses have been pointed out in the CBSE affidavit, like no attendant to accompany students to washrooms, no separate toilets, bathrooms, and restrooms for children and non-teaching staff. The lawyer said police was not informed immediately after the crime and no FIR was registered by the school management. There was also the absence of a boundary wall of sufficient height and barbed wire on the school's peripheral walls. Barun Chandra Thakur said his stand on the while issue had been vindicated by the CBSE affidavit in the apex court and expressed the hope that they will get justice. New Delhi: In mid-September, a team of Haryana Police investigating the sensation murder of a minor boy studying in Ryan International School in Gurugram, had rushed to Mumbai as part of the larger probe into the case. Despite all their efforts, the team failed to meet any of the known trustees Augustine Pinto, his wife Grace Pinto and their son Ryan at either the headquarters of the St. Xaviers Eduational Trust in Kandivali East or the residential address provided by the family. Since then, the trustees have been moving one court after another the Bombay High Court, the Punjab and Haryana High Court, sthe Supreme Court, and now the CBI Special Court in Gurugram - seeking anticipatory bail against possible arrest. While the Haryana Police camped in Mumbai for nearly a week, unknown to them, or the Mumbai police and even the school administration, the family remained cosy and beyond the reach of the law at their home in a posh Bandra West locality. "All attempts by us to contact and question them at their given residential address in the affidavit submitted to the courts Ashok Tower, Kulupwadi, Borivali East proved futile. The trust and school administrative staff claimed they had no knowledge where their trustees, the Pinto family, could be traced," confided an officer familiar with the investigations, preferring not to be identified. Official sources and independent IANS investigations reveal that the Pintos are residing in a posh duplex apartment of a prominent residential tower in near Ambedkar Road in Bandra West, adjacent to the home of Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt. The building also houses several other Bollywood personalities and any visitor seeking to meet the Ryan International School trustees is stonewalled by the security. Prominent advocate of the Law Chartered firm Vinod Tiwari said that as per the law, anybody providing a wrong address in an affidavit attracts severe action, including perjury, as it hampers the course of justice. "This is sheer mockery of the law by such powerful persons and the lawyer, as an officer of the court, who has identified and confirmed that the concerned person/s (Pintos) are residing at the given address, can also be held liable," Tiwari told IANS. Interestingly, Tiwari is the national co-convenor and vice-president of the Bharatiya Janata Party's powerful Legal & Legislative Cell and practices in Maharashtra and New Delhi. Birbal Jha, head of the New Delhi-based Mithilalok Foundation, social service organisation, termed the revelations as "shocking and clearly intended to misguide the police and the courts" and demanded immediate action in the matter. The NGO is providing legal assistance to the victim's family in the case. Incidentally, the Pintos have given the same Borivali East address where nobody resides since nearly two decades in their affidavits filed in different courts where their transit anticipatory bail and later anticipatory bail applications came up for hearing before several judges in the past nearly one month. The Pintos have been virtually on the run since 8 September when seven-year old Pradhyumn Barun Thakur was murdered inside the school premises of Ryan International School in Bhondsi adjacent to Gurugram) Following a nationwide furore, the Haryana government transferred the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which is now handling the matter, while the Bhondsi school management has been taken over by the local government. Jailed AIADMK leader VK Sasikala has been granted parole and is likely to visit Chennai on Friday to meet her husband who underwent surgery on Thursday, according to The Times of India. #Alert | Sasikala will arrive in Chennai on parole tomorrow Times of India (@timesofindia) October 5, 2017 Sasikala had applied for a 15-day parole to be with her ailing husband M Natarajan, who had been suffering from critical kidney and liver failures. He had been on the organ transplant waiting list since April and had multiple organ transplants after a donor became available. The former AIADMK general secretary had applied for parole on Monday and said she wished to be with her husband following his surgery. Prison authorities had said their legal team would "consider" her application, Parappana Agrahara Prison Superintendent PS Ramesh was quoted as saying by PTI. Sasikala's (60) husband M Natarajan (74) had been admitted to the intensive care unit of Chennai's Gleneagles Global Hospital. Sasikala has been in jail Bengaluru since February after the Supreme Court upheld her conviction by a special court in a disproportionate assets case. Along with Sasikala, her relatives Ilavarasi and VN Sudhakaran are also serving four-year jail terms. Meanwhile, Sasikala's nephew and sidelined AIADMK leader TTV Dhinakaran had confirmed on Monday that the jailed party leader had applied for a 15-day parole to meet her ailing husband. With inputs from PTI Bengaluru: Six people were killed and four injured when lightning struck a temple in a Mysuru village on Thursday, the police said. The victims were shepherds and had taken shelter in the temple at Nandinathapura as rain pounded southern Karnataka, including the city. All the injured have been hospitalised, the police said. Rain battered Bengaluru and its adjoining districts, including Kolar, Tumakuru, Ramanagar and Mandya. Electronic City, Bengaluru's IT hub, was badly affected. Vehicles parked in the basement of several apartments were submerged by rain waters while traffic came to a halt in the area. Many trees were also uprooted in the thunderstorm. The meteorology department recorded 42 mm of rainfall from 8.30 am to 2.30 pm in Bengaluru. The rains occurred due to an upper air circulation in Karnataka and formation of cyclone in the Bay of Bengal near coastal Andhra Pradesh, the department said. On 29 July last year, when the city was flooded due to torrential rains Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had ordered removing encroachments on storm-water drains. Many small houses in Avani Srigeri Nagar on Bannerghatta road, Shubh Enclave near Silk Board junction and in Yelahanka were razed. However, the drive was stopped as the civic agencies failed to act against many multi-storied residential complexes there. Jammu: Three army jawans were injured on Wednesday as Pakistani troops fired from automatic weapons and shelled mortars at forward posts and villages along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district. Pakistani troops also violated the ceasefire in Laam sector by briefly opening fire along the LoC, police officials said. The Indian Army is retaliating effectively and the firing is still on, a Defence Spokesman said. "Pakistan Army initiated unprovoked and indiscriminate firing of small arms, automatics and mortars from 0845 hours in Poonch sector along the Line of Control (LoC)", the spokesman said. In the firing along the LoC in Poonch sector, three Army jawans suffered injuries, police officials said. On Tuesday, an Army jawan was killed when Pakistan Army violated the ceasefire along the LoC in Poonch. On 2 October, two minors were killed and 12 civilians injured in cross-border shelling by Pakistan along the LoC in Poonch district. Five children were among the injured, the youngest being five-year-old Zobia Kousar. Kolkata: To effectively counter terror attacks initially, a section of the local police in every state should be equipped with NSG-like training, according to former chief of the air staff, Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha (retired) . "I am sure that each and every state must have a small component of its own police force trained on the lines of the National Security Guard (NSG) who are the first respondent in any contingencies," Raha said this evening while speaking at a programme of the NSG in Kolkata. Raha said that the idea was mooted by Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar during a recent meeting at the Force's headquarter at Lalbazar where he was also invited. "Recently, during a meeting at Lalabazar, Kolkata Police Commissioner had mooted the idea of having some element of the police force in each state being trained on the lines of the NSG. I think there is need for us to carry this idea forward and work on it," he said. "Because the local police will be better informed, with better intelligence about the local conditions than a specialised force who are from outside. They (NSG) have hubs in Kolkata, New Delhi, Hyderabad, or Bangalore or other places... so they are trained centrally but the local conditions varies from place to place. So, the knowledge of local condition is extremely important in tackling terrorism," Raha said. He also said that state police force should also have a few helicopters so that they could react swiftly. "I think police force in each state must have a few helicopters. One or two if not more, so that they can react quickly in case of need," he said The Border Security Force may have efficiently countered the Jaish-e-Mohammed attack on its camp near the Srinagar airport by killing three militants. But the fight is not yet over as the forces in Jammu and Kashmir believe they have not seen the last from the outfit. The militants, who were part of a group of around 16 trained and armed terrorists, had infiltrated from Pakistan in August. A senior intelligence officer told The Times of India that while some from the group dispersed into Anantnag, Kulgam, Pulwama and Shopian districts of south Kashmir, it is likely that three to four terrorists are in Srinagar alone. IG Munir Ahmad Khan said that the BSF camp attackers belonged to the same group that unleashed terror in Pulwama on 26 August. He also added that terrorists that escaped the 25 September, 2016 attack in Uri might also be at large and could carry an attack. Following the Pulwama attack, Director General of Police SP Vaid had warned in August that the JeM was plotting more attacks. We have inputs that they are planning strikes on security forces, he was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times. In a manner similar to Tuesday's attack, terrorists had begun firing indiscriminately around 4.30 am in Pulwama on 26 August. Eight security personnel and three terrorists were killed during the attack. A graffiti that was recovered from the Pulwama encounter site had revealed that they militants belonged to the "Afzal Guru squad". Intelligence reports have suggested that Tuesday's attack was carried out by the same squad. Addressing the media on Wednesday after the wreath laying ceremony for BSF ASI BK Yadav who was killed in the attack, Director-General KK Sharma spoke about the possibility of fidayeen (suicide squads of militants) sneaking through the border because of Pakistan's attitude. As long as our friendly neighbour does not behave, I think we will expect to have many more attacks, Sharma said. He mentioned that it was important for the forces to deal with such acts without causing collateral damage. "The fidayeen are determined. We cant stop their attacks. They will always manage to come but it is the response which is important. The response of BSF was highly professional." JeM militants carried out a fidayeen attack on a BSF camp located near Srinagar International Airport, leaving three jawans injured. They had managed to enter the 182 Battalion camp in the Srinagar's Humhama area, which is entrusted with security of runway of the Srinagar airport. The JeM is infamous for carrying suicide attacks in the Valley. Since 2016, JeM has carried out many attacks on the Line of Control. In April, three Indian Army personnel were killed and four others injured when Jaish militants attacked an army camp at Panjgaon in Kupwara district of north Kashmir. With inputs from PTI Madurai: The Madras High Court bench on Wednesday reserved its order on an impleading petition by AIADMK (Amma) faction leader TTV Dhinakaran, seeking extension of its 31 October deadline on the party symbol dispute case to 28 February, 2017. Dhinakaran in his petition had pleaded for extension of the deadline, saying the Election Commission (EC) had sought fresh submissions and it would only expand the scope of the dispute. Besides, the EC should allow his group to file objections for the new submissions, he had said. Dhinakaran had filed the impleading petition on a PIL by Ramkumar Adityan, an AIADMK member and advocate, on which the court had last month directed the EC to decide which faction enjoyed majority in the ruling party in Tamil Nadu and allot the symbol to it before 31 October. Adityan had filed a PIL seeking to direct the Election Commission to conduct an election among the party's general council and executive committtee and MLAs and MPs, totalling 3,100, to decide which group had the majority. Counsel for Chief Minister K Palaniswami faction on Wednesday submitted that the EC had given sufficient time till 4 October for submission of documents. He should have filed a review petition and not an interim petition and hence his petition should be dismissed, the counsel said. Justices M Venugopal and Abdul Qudhose reserved orders on the petition. Dhinakaran had yesterday sought a direction from the court to the EC not to enlarge the scope of the dispute and direct it to grant sufficient opportunity to the parties to effectively produce their defence, reply and rebuttal in case fresh affidavits are submitted. Dhinakaran had claimed that 102 MLAs, 37 MPs and 1,912 general council and central executive committee members supported him. He submitted that the latest EC direction to make fresh submission would only enhance the scope of the dispute, and it would not be able to decide the dispute involving volumes of documents before 31 October. Hence, he had sought extension of the deadline, set by the court in its 15 September order. Adityan's petition was filed on August 22, a day after the two factions led by K Palaniswami and his predecessor O Panneerselvam merged, sidelining jailed party chief Sasikala and her deputy Dhinakaran. The Election Commission had on 23 March issued an interim order, freezing the two leaves election symbol of the AIADMK. On 28 September, the EC had rejected Dhinakaran's plea to grant 15 days additional time to submit affidavits in the New Delhi: Ahead of the Gujarat Assembly polls, the Congress on Wednesday suggested that it was open to bringing together "under its banner" all those parties which were principally opposed to the ruling BJP and wanted to "free the state from slavery". Party chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said this in New Delhi in response to a reporter's question on Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar's purported remark that the Congress should take an initiative to bring all the opposition parties together in Gujarat. Surjewala claimed that the saffron party was staring at defeat in the state, "which is evident from the frustration of its chief, Amit Shah". "We will try to see that each party, group or individual, who is for Gujarat's development and is principally opposed to the BJP, come together on a single platform, under the banner of the Congress, to make a united attempt to free Gujarat from slavery," he told reporters. Gujarat, which is being ruled by the BJP for the last two decades, is scheduled to go to polls later this year. New Delhi: The CPM has accused BJP president Amit Shah of unleashing "lumpen politics" against it in Kerala but said the Marxists won't be cowed down. "Amit Shah has embarked on a dangerous course of inciting violence against the CPM by levelling false charges and accusations against the party," CPM journal People's Democracy said in an editorial. Shah launched a Bharatiya Janata Party 'yatra' in Kerala on Tuesday, starting from Kannur district where he blamed Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan for the political killings in the state. "Filled with the arrogance of power, Amit Shah thinks that he can bulldoze the Sangh politics into Kerala using the false flag of red terror," the editorial said. "This, in itself, shows the inability of the BJP-RSS combine to counter the CPM and the Left politically in Kerala." The Communist Party of India-Marxist added: "Amit Shah is the last person who should be accusing an elected chief minister of being responsible for murders." It pointed out that as the home minister under now-Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Gujarat, Shah was booked in a false encounter case in which Sohrabuddin and his wife Kauser Bi were killed by police while in their illegal custody. "He was discharged in the case by the Mumbai High Court but his sordid record as a minister, during which period many false encounters took place, has qualified him as a specialist in 'encounter politics'." Shah has called for protests by BJP workers outside the CPM headquarters in New Delhi every day till 16 October. "The fact that the ruling party of the country is daily organising protests outside the office of a national political party speaks much about the lumpen politics that Amit Shah has introduced. "There is no way such intimidatory tactics will work as far as the CPM is concerned," it added. New Delhi: Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal has approved the Delhi government's students higher education loan scheme, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said in Delhi on Thursday. Sisodia said in a tweet that the scheme has been cleared by the Lieutenant Governor and added that it will help thousands of students and parents. The AAP-led Delhi government had started the scheme two years back to provide loans to students for higher education, even if they didn't have any property or land as security. This year, the scheme was extended to Delhi students pursuing courses outside Delhi in government recognised institutions. Last month, Sisodia said Baijal has blocked the scheme and asked the government to seek opinion of the central government on the issue, which Sisodia said would delay disbursal of loans by two to four years. Later, Baijal attacked the government and said that his advice given to the AAP government on the scheme was misconstrued as disapproval and this misinformation was spread in the media. In a bid to give thrust to Narendra Modi government's One India One Poll, the Election Commission on Wednesday informed the BJP-led Centre that it would be "logistically equipped" by September 2018 to hold simultaneous polls for Lok Sabha and Assemblies. The Election Commission on Wednesday launched a web-based application, Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) network, aimed at efficient conduct of elections. The announcement by the poll panel came days after it issued a formal direction that VVPAT or paper trail machines will be used at polling stations in all future elections where polls are held using EVMs. "The Election Commission was asked by the Centre as what it would require for becoming capable of holding the parliamentary and Assembly polls together. In response, the EC had asked for funds to purchase new EVMs and VVPAT machines. The commission would be logistically equipped by September 2018, to hold parliamentary and Assembly polls together," Election Commissioner OP Rawat told a press conference. At the presser, the poll watchdog unveiled the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) network. Rawat said the commission has already placed the order for the purchase of new EVMs and VVPAT (Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail) machines after receiving funds from the Centre. He said the poll body would get 40 lakh VVPAT machines by September 2018. VVPAT is a machine which dispenses a slip with the symbol of the party for which a person has voted for. The slip drops in a box but the voter cannot take it home. It has only been used on trial basis in some places. Several parties have been pressing for the use of these machines to dispel doubts about EVM tampering. Sixteen parties had recently petitioned the EC to revert to paper ballot system for greater transparency. The BSP, the AAP and the Congress had attacked the EC on the issue of alleged tampering of EVMs. Responding to a query, Rawat said the EC had received Rs 3,400 crore for VVPAT machines and Rs 12,000 crore for EVMs. "We would be logistically ready to hold simultaneous polls by September 2018, but it is up to the government to take a decision and make necessary legal amendments for it," the election commissioner said. Rawat said the officers involved in the poll process, right from the booth level to the national level, would be connected through the ERO network. Besides, the facility can also be used for online registration by voters. "ERO network would automatically detect duplicate registration of voters. Besides, officers from the booth level to the national level would be under one network and would be able to communicate with each other," he said. Explaining the utility of the app, he said the ERO network would effectively keep a check on duplication. "At times, voters migrate and get themselves registered at new places. However, they fail to get their name deleted from the previous place, which results in duplication," he added. Rawat said an error-free electoral roll is the basis for conducting a smooth, free and fair election. He informed that the poll panel had carried out the "electoral roll purification process" earlier and deleted duplicate registrations of voters. "ERO would make this work more easy," he said. When asked about the feasibility of an e-voting facility in future, Rawat said, "This (ERO) and the electronically transmitted postal ballot for service voters are the first and second steps towards it (e-voting)". Rawat said they had used VVPAT machines in all the recent elections on the directive of the Supreme Court. To raise the Hindutva pitch in the CPM-ruled Kerala, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath arrived in Kannur on Wednesday and participated in BJP's fortnight-long 'Janaraksha Yatra' to expand its influence in Kerala. While BJP president Amit Shah launched the march on Tuesday, he had to rush to New Delhi on the second day due to some 'emergency' at the party headquarters. With Adityanath being the top leader deployed by the BJP to make up for the loss of Shah on day two of the rally, we look at some interesting quotes that came from the Uttar Pradesh chief minister. Political violence and 'Jihadi-Red terror' On Tuesday, prior to the launch of the padayatra, Shah had highlighted CPM's alleged violence against BJP and RSS workers. He had spoken extensively on political violence in the state, adding that the two parties had lost 120 workers since 2001. Taking further the allegations levelled by the BJP chief, Adityanath on Wednesday said Kerala had been witnessing political violence sponsored by the ruling CPM. "It is in the nature of the Left party to grab power at gunpoint," he said. He also hailed BJP's campaign against "Jihadi-Red terror" for drawing big crowds, reported NDTV. "There is no scope for violence in a democracy, but, unfortunately, Kerala has been witnessing politically-sponsored violence. With this yatra, we will make people aware about the CPM's misrule," he added. Hospital deaths Taking note of the recent Gorakhpur hospital tragedy, CPM had told the Uttar Pradesh chief minister to draw a lesson from Kerala on running government hospitals from Kerala. In a direct attack, Sitaram Yechury had also said that Adityanath should first take care of his own state. Reacting sharply to CPM's remark, Adityanath on Wednesday claimed that Uttar Pradesh effectively dealt with the threat of dengue and chikungunya while there were over 300 deaths due to dengue in Kerala. "While Uttar Pradesh effectively checked the menace of dengue and chikungunya, the Left party and its government have failed in providing basic necessities to people in the state," he claimed. The death of scores of children in government hospitals in Uttar Pradesh, especially in Gorakhpur, had prompted Opposition parties to raise questions on the health services in the northern state. Love jihad Leading the Janaraksha Yatra, Adityanath raked up the issue of 'Love Jihad' and said that it was a "dangerous trend" being inadequately dealt with by the CPM government. "Love Jihad is a dangerous trend. The Supreme Court has already passed an order on it and the NIA is investigating it," News18 quoted the chief minister as saying. He added that the BJP would not allow Kerala to become a land of 'lal salaam', a term used by communist party members for greeting each other. Adityanath also vowed that the BJP-RSS would soon turn around the fate of Kerala. CPM says this soil is red because it is blood-soaked. But it will not last like this. I am telling you this soil will turn into soil of saffron and nationalism, he said at a rally in Kannur, according to The Indian Express. He added: Kannur in Malayalam means land of tears. But I warn you that in the coming days it will be the CPM that will have to shed tears because they are going to be defeated, Taj Mahal omission from tourism booklet The Uttar Pradesh government had recently come under the scanner for failing to feature Taj Mahal, one of the seven wonders of the world, in its tourism guide. It also cited that earlier in June this year, the Uttar Pradesh chief minister had said that Ramayana and Bhagwad Gita represent the Indian culture and not the Taj Mahal. However, speaking to The Indian Express, Adityanath refused to accept that the omission of the monument was an issue. "Taj Mahal is a prominent tourist centre. We have initiated a number of schemes for its development," he said. He told The Times of India that the brochure in picture highlighted a few new projects initiated recently. "Just because the Taj was not mentioned doesn't mean that it is being ignored. These controversies are uncalled for and an attempt to malign the government's image," he said. With inputs from agencies Mumbai: The government's move to cut excise duty on petrol and diesel by Rs 2 per litre is like a drop in the ocean as it comes after months of rising fuel prices, the Shiv Sena said on Thursday. The Sena used a popular idiom "oont ke muh me jeera" (a small cumin seed in a camel's mouth) to describe the inadequacy of the recent excise duty cut. Bowing to public pressure, the government had on 3 October cut excise duty on fuel to moderate the relentless rise in fuel prices witnessed for the last three months. "While this decision will benefit vehicle owners and common man, it is like 'oont ke muh me jeera'. First they raised the prices exponentially and then reduced for namesake when there was commotion everywhere," the Sena said in an editorial in party mouthpiece 'Dopahar ka Saamana'. The Sena, an ally of the NDA at the Centre and BJP in Maharashtra, said the step was like a drop of cold water falling on a body in the scorching sun using yet another idiom to hit out at the government. It also accused the ruling party of not being "mentally prepared" to reduce fuel prices. The petrol price jumped by Rs 7.8 per litre since 4 July, while the diesel rates touched an all-time high after rates went up by Rs 5.7. The government, which had between November 2014 and January 2016 raised excise duty on petrol and diesel on nine occasions to take away gains arising from plummeting global oil prices, has been criticised for not cutting excise duty despite a sustained rise in fuel prices since early July. The Sena said that the prices of fuel have increased substantially since the present government came to power, despite the fact that the rate of crude oil, which was around $100 a barrel initially, has come down considerably. "Despite the fall in crude oil prices, the rates of petrol and diesel simply did not come down from Rs 80 and Rs 63 respectively. It seems that the Centre and the state governments were just not mentally prepared to reduce the soaring rates," it said. The government brought 'acche din' (good days) for fuel selling companies and bad days prevailed for the common man, said the party. Triggering a blame game between Haryana and Punjab governments, Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Thursday held the Punjab Police responsible for delaying information on Gurmeet Ram Rahim's adopted daughter Honeypreet Insan before her arrest on 3 October. Honeypreet, the closest aide of jailed Dera Sacha Sauda sect chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, was arrested along with another woman from the Zirakpur-Patiala Highway in Punjab on Wednesday. Khattar said Punjab police should have informed the Haryana Police about her whereabouts earlier. Speaking to the media in Panchkula adjoining Chandigarh, after a meeting with the top brass of Haryana Police on the arrest of Honeypreet, Khattar said: "Dal mein kuchh kala hai (Something is fishy about the whole affair)." The chief minister pointed out that the Punjab Police came to know about Honeypreet's presence in their state much earlier but did not share the information with Haryana Police. "Punjab Police should have shared the information earlier," Khattar said. The Haryana Police on Thursday took Honeypreet to Bathinda to question her about her whereabouts when she was absconding and also regarding the activities of the sect. There are allegations that senior Punjab Congress leader and former legislator Harminder Singh Jassi, whose daughter is married to Ram Rahim's son, had helped Honeypreet evade the arrest for over a month by using the heavy security cover he enjoys from Punjab Police. Jassi told media on Thursday that the last time he had met Honeypreet was on the intervening night of 25 August and 26 August. "I never provided shelter to Honeypreet. After a lookout notice was issued against her (on 1 September) by the Haryana police, she did not meet me," he said. The accusations of sheltering Honeypreet against me are "baseless", he said adding that he would quit politics if the allegations are proved. Asked about his visit to Sri Gurusar Modia village in Rajasthan, the native place of Ram Rahim Singh who is serving a 20-year prison sentence, Jassi said he had gone to meet his daughter. Jassi, who has been targeted by radical elements, including a car bomb blast earlier this year, has been provided a number of armed security personnel, jammer vehicle and police vehicles by the Congress government in Punjab. For obvious reasons, he is considered close to Ram Rahim, who was convicted and sentenced to 20 years imprisonment by a CBI court in August. On the other hand the Punjab government denied these claims. The Punjab government had earlier categorically rejected reports that she was in Punjab Police custody or was, in any way, being shielded by the state government. Meanwhile, Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh lambasted Khattar for raising questions about the role of the Punjab Police in the case. Singh asked Khattar to refrain from such alleged fabrications to "shield his own government's failure" in the Dera Sacha Sauda case. He alleged that after trying "unsuccessfully to pin the blame for the Panchkula violence on the Punjab government", Khattar was once again trying to divert public attention from the collapse of the law and order in Haryana since the rape conviction of Dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh. Rejecting claims of any involvement of the Punjab government or any of its institutions in the episode leading to Honeypreet's arrest, the Punjab chief minister said if the state police had any information about her they would have shared it with their Haryana counterparts. Amarinder Singh, in a statement hours after Khattar's remarks, said reports, in fact, claimed that a senior Haryana police officer had known about Honeypreet's whereabouts for several days but had failed to arrest her. He alleged that instead of probing the role of his own officials in the affair, Khattar was trying to shift focus to Punjab. He trashed Khattar's charges that the Punjab Police had failed to give intelligence inputs to the police in the neighbouring state. Amarinder Singh said the Punjab Police had been giving regular inputs to their counterparts in Haryana even before the hearing in Ram Rahim's case in Panchkula. He claimed that the Haryana government and police had failed to take cognisance or act on the information. The chief minister said though the Punjab Police was not pursuing Honeypreet as she was not wanted in any case in the state, there was no question of shielding her. He said Khattar should focus on taking the case to its logical conclusion and on maintaining law and order in Haryana, instead of allegedly wasting time and energy in concocting false charges against the Punjab government and the police. Refuting reports in the social media, a Punjab government spokesperson also said: "The state was not involved in the case beyond supporting the Haryana Police with intelligence and other relevant inputs. There was no question of the Punjab Police taking Honeypreet into custody as there was no criminal case registered against her in the state nor was she in any wanted list," said the spokesperson. The Punjab government said they would not protect a fugitive at any cost. "The Punjab government would not, at any cost, try to protect a fugitive criminal like Honeypreet who had cases registered against her in Haryana, where she had been declared a 'wanted criminal' after she reportedly absconded in the wake of the Dera violence sparked by Ram Rahim's imprisonment," the spokesperson said. Within hours of her first interview to media channels since the Dera Sacha Sauda controversy broke out, Honeypreet Insan was taken into Haryana Police custody. CNN-News18 reported that an investigation is underway into how media channels gained access to her before her arrest. Initially, media reports suggested Honeypreet had surrendered herself in Punjab on Tuesday morning, following which the Punjab police handed over her custody to the Haryana Police. Also, in an interview to India Today, she had also expressed her desire to surrender to the police. However, Haryana Police denied the reports and insisted that it was them who had rounded up Honeypreet. "It was the SIT team of Haryana Police that rounded up Honeypreet Insan from Punjab. It was indicated to the Punjab Police as per the SoP," Panchkula police commissioner told CNN-News18. The Haryana Police had earlier issued a look out notice in September, and put her on the top of the most wanted persons list in relation to the wide-spread violence in Panchkula after Gurmeet's conviction. On Wednesday, Honeypreet was remanded to police custody for six days by a court in Panchkula. She has been charged under sections 151 (knowingly joining or continuing in assembly of five or more persons after it has been commanded to disperse), 152 (assaulting or obstructing public servant when suppressing riot, etc), 153 (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot), 120B (criminal conspiracy) and 121B (waging or attempting wage war against Govt of India) in connection with the deadly violence which followed the Gurmeet's conviction on 25 August and is seeking remand for further investigation. At present, the Haryana Police is mulling a narco test on Honeypreet since she proved tough to interrogate offering only head nods and silences to the 40-odd questions asked by the Haryana SIT. Panchkula police commissioner AS Chawla had earlier said that Honeypreet was taken into custody by the SIT in-charge Mukesh Kumar from the Zirakpur-Patiala road in Punjab. Chawla alleged that the role of a relative of Ram Rahim Singh, who is a politician, was under the scanner. With inputs from IANS and PTI New Delhi: RJD leader and former railway minister Lalu Prasad Yadav on Thursday reached the CBI headquarters for questioning in connection with alleged corruption in awarding the maintenance contract for two IRCTC hotels to a private firm. Yadav, who arrived at the headquarters at 11 am, was accompanied by his daughter Misa and did not speak to the media. He was taken to the investigation officer while Misa was asked to wait in the lobby, CBI sources said. His son Tejashwi Yadav, the former deputy chief minister of Bihar, is scheduled to appear before the agency on Friday. The two were asked by the CBI to appear for questioning on 5 and 6 October in the alleged corruption case. This was after both leaders expressed their inability to appear on 4 and 5 October. It is alleged that Yadav, as railway minister in 2006, handed over maintenance of two Railway hotels BNR Ranchi and Puri to Sujata Hotel (a company owned by Vinay and Vijay Kochhar) after receiving a bribe in the form of three acres of prime land through a 'benami' (shell) company. Editor's note: This is the third of a four-part series on the changes in Mangaluru and coastal Karnataka's socio-political mileu over the years. The series traces the region's transformation from a tranquil coastal town to a hotbed of communal tension. Mangaluru: Politicians and psephologists make strange bedfellows. But when it comes to predicting the voters' behaviour in coastal Karnataka, ironically, they are often found on the same page; that the region is a gauge that can throw up valuable insights into the outcome of General Elections on a national scale. Predictably, the electoral behaviour of the region during the past three decades has proved the pundits, as usual, wrong. The region, without leaving a shade of doubt, has proved that when it comes to choosing their representatives, they have their own choices and preferences, putting the integrity of the candidates in the fray first, with political affiliations playing second fiddle. There is a common notion that coastal districts in Karnataka are strong bastions of Hindutva outfits. But history tells us that it is a misnomer. In the 2013 Assembly elections, the voters elected more Congress candidates than the camp followers of BJP and the vote bank of the saffron partys Mangaluru Lok Sabha candidate tanked by a whopping 20 percent in 2014 compared to the previous election despite the NaMo wave tidal changes in national politics. If this can be taken as a trend, then the voting pattern of the region has not shown any visible tilt towards the Hindutva party. "In fact, it was not the growth of BJP but that of the fringe groups that make big noises now and then by attacking poor college students in love, for holding a birthday party and chugging a beer together in a pub and even observing Valentine's Day. But the election analysts made it a different ball game by attributing it to the growth of saffron parties," says Prof PL Dharma, who teaches political sociology at the Mangalore University. But then, coastal Karnataka has always voted for different alliances or gathbandhans by shuffling them on and off when it comes to the state Assembly polls and the General Elections. In 2013, the region threw its weight behind a debilitated Congress party in the elections to the state Assembly. But they voted for the BJP in the Lok Sabha elections en masse that followed immediately. In other words, while the region (Mangaluru, Udupi and Chikmagalur) sent 10 Congress representatives to the state Assembly in the 2013 polls, BJP's tally was two while a sole independent made it to the 'Mantralaya'. Fast forward to the 2014 General Elections, when brand Modi swept the polls, BJP bagged all the three seats from the region with Congress drawing a blank. These diverse trends by backing different political coalitions for the Assembly polls and General Elections have been evident from previous elections as well. Though critics of the Sangh Parivar were scared of the 'imminent' saffronisation of the coastal region, the people proved them wrong yet again by choosing two legislators each from the Janata Dal (Secular), the BJP and the Congress in the neighbouring district of Uttara Kannada during the Assembly elections in 2008. In Udupi, however, BJP took four out of five seats with Congress winning a lone seat in Karkala. "Karnataka missed the Modi wave by less than a year and when it goes to polls in 2018 the BJP hopes and yearns that the Modi wave will be still there and it will be a litmus test for the saffron party on the coast. Let us not forget that the coast of Karnataka has been nicknamed as the laboratory of Hindutva and any upsets here will have a telling effect on state politics," former BJP MLA from Puttur K Ram Bhat said. The highlight of the 2003 elections was that the Bhatkal constituency, a densely Muslim populated area in Uttara Kannada district, voted for Shivananda Naik of BJP, leaving the political pundits and psephologists, who bank heavily on religious profiling of the electorate to forecast the poll verdict in their pre-poll analysis, with egg all over on their faces. It may also be recalled that in 1996, BJP MLA from Bhatkal Dr U Chittaranjan was shot dead, but since then a number of socio-political changes have taken place there as the voters have accepted the fact that no partisan politics will ensure that Bhatkal becomes a safe place to live, says Rathnakar Kamath, a local political analyst. This town, known for its traders, was once infamous for communal clashes but during the last three to four Assembly elections, the region remained peaceful, he adds. However, the swing in favour of BJP has been more pronounced in the Lok Sabha elections. In the 2014 elections, the coastal areas chose to vote for the BJP, giving all the three seats to the saffron party. This is partly attributed to the Modi-fication wave that took the nation by storm. In the last three elections, BJP has swept all the three Lok Sabha seats. Therefore, in hindsight, one could see no paradigm shift in the voting pattern and preferences of political parties and ideology among the coastal Karnataka voters; one could only say that it is a mixed bag. Notably, the role of fence sitters or the so-called independents has faded fast in both Lok Sabha and state Assembly elections in the region. Further, regional parties could only make minimal nuisances on the electoral scene and had very little say in the poll verdict. That is why parties like JDS did not grow on the coastal belt but for leaving a few blips on the political radar. To the frustration of the saffron brigade, the rise of BJP had been slow in the coastal belt of the state while the slide of the Congress party in the popularity chart has been secular. The fast fading clout of the Congress in the region was cushioned to a greater extent by the support of Left parties and their allies since they are equally wary of the saffronisation of the region. This is more so because the Islamic outfits usually aligned with the Left parties and the Social Democratic Party of India spares no efforts to keep this delicate balance of power between the 'secular' and 'fundamentalist' parties. It is not that the BJP was sitting pretty on the coastal belt of Karnataka; it too had its share of political troubles. Halady Srinivas Shetty, a BJP MLA has had a humiliating experience when he was called to take oath as a minister in the last cabinet reshuffle by the previous BJP government that ran the state during 2008-13. He was called to the Raj Bhavan but was denied entry which enraged his followers. And he left BJP in a huff and decided to contest the elections as an independent candidate in 2013 and won. Mangaluru MP Nalin Kumar Kateel got away with a rap on the knuckles by his party for making a provocative statement, saying that "Mangaluru would burn if the government arrested RSS strongman Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat" in a speech at Kalladka, before a fortnight-long communal flare-up. The coastal Kannada is not fully insulated against the caste conflicts from the 'malnad' areas. The Udupi Chikkamagaluru Lok Sabha constituency was formed after the delimitation of the Lok Sabha constituencies in 2008. There was another constituency with two districts making up for one seat the Mysore-Kodagu constituency. While in Chikkamagalur-Udupi constituency one can see a clear division of voter preference between the Assembly segments, the Mysore-Kodagu seat remains relatively tranquil. So, it seems that coastal Karnataka still remains elusive for the khaki shorts and saffron flags. Part 1: Mangaluru's present identity as hotbed of communal tension sharply contrasts with its peaceful past Part 2: Mangaluru sees uptick in vigilante violence as politically-backed Hindutva fringe groups multiply The author is a Mangaluru based freelance writer and a member of 101Reporters.com, a pan-India network of grassroots reporters. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday held a meeting with BJP chief Amit Shah and finance minister Arun Jaitley. Though officials did not say what was discussed in the meeting, it came ahead of Modi's proposed visit to poll-bound Gujarat on 7-8 October. Shah, who was scheduled to address a rally in the home town of Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday, cut short his programme to rush to Delhi for the meeting. BJP Kerala president Kummanam Rajasekharan told reporters that Shah would be unable to attend the phase of the 'Janaraksha Yatra' (People's Protection March) as he has to attend a meeting with the prime minister in the national capital. The meeting also took place a day after Modi had defended his government's economic decisions amid opposition onslaught over slow economic growth. New Delhi: The Congress on Thursday said it was ready to face the Lok Sabha elections any time. Reacting to reports that the Narendra Modi government might be planning for early General Elections, Congress spokesman Randeep Singh Surjewala said the election commission must have been sounded out by the government on the matter but the Congress had no knowledge of it. "The election commission has a constitutional obligation to conduct free and fair elections and be ready to conduct elections on an appropriate notice from the government. So the EC must have been sounded out by the current Bharatiya Janata Party-led government that they were going to advance parliamentary elections. The Congress has no such knowledge," he said. "However, we are prepared to face elections any time," he added. Surjewala said the country's people are "fed up with prime minister Narendra Modi's jumlas (pet phrases)" and the way his government is going about "decimating jobs, businesses as also trade and agriculture" in the country. "So, I think the people will give a befitting reply, just like they did in 2004 during the India Shinning' campaign to the (Atal Bihari) Vajpayee government if elections are advanced. People are waiting for General Elections to happen so that they can actually ask Modi-ji as to where the acchhe din' (good days) promised by him are," the Congress leader said. On Wednesday, election commissioner OP Rawat said the election commission will be ready by September 2018 to hold simultaneous polls to the Lok Sabha and state Assemblies. Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan has hit out at his Uttar Pradesh counterpart, Yogi Adityanath, for his remarks on the law and order situation and medical facilities in the state. He said it "amused" him that the Uttar Pradesh chief minister found time for Kerala despite "problems" in his own land. "It really amuses me that you (Yogi Adityanath) found time for Kerala, despite the fact that a large number of problems exist in Uttar Pradesh as per newspaper reports," Vijayan said in a facebook post on Wednesday night. He also expressed confidence that Adityanath's visit to Kerala would rejuvenate him for facing problems back in Uttar Pradesh. "But dear I am sure this break, (beautiful and happy trip) would help you to get rejuvenated for facing various issues in Uttar Pradesh," he said. Reacting to Adityanath's comments on infant mortality rate (IMR) in Kerala, Vijayan said, "The infant mortality rate in Kerala is 10 while the national average is 34 and in Uttar Pradesh, it is 43." He thanked the Uttar Pradesh chief minister for letting the country know about IMR figures. Vijayan also asked Yogi to refrain from speaking on the basis of "false and fake" information provided by the state BJP leaders. The Uttar Pradesh chief minister, who was in Kannur on Wednesday to take part in the BJP's 'Janaraksha Yatra', had alleged that medical facilities in Kerala were "inadequate." He also accused the Left party of promoting violence in the state. "There is no scope for political violence in a democracy but unfortunately Kerala, God's own land, is witnessing politically sponsored violence," Adityanath had said. The two-week long Jana Raksh Yatra, led by BJP state unit president Kummanam Rajashekharan, has been organised to highlight the alleged attacks on BJP-RSS cadres by the ruling CPM. Second day in a row, BJP chief Amit Shah will not be attending party's ambitious Janaraksha Yatra in Kerala on Thursday. The Kerala unit of the party announced that Shah won't be attending the padayatra, instead he will be in Delhi to attend important meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. A high-level meet is currently underway at the prime minister's residence with a major announcement expected soon, reported CNN-News18. #BREAKING - Kerala BJP announces Amit Shah won't be attending Kerala padhyatra pic.twitter.com/Q9akwacPig News18 (@CNNnews18) October 5, 2017 Manorama, too, cited TV reports saying that Shah had to cancel his visit to attend a meeting called by Modi. Shah was supposed to rejoin the Janarakha Yatra on Thursday as it passed though the CPM hotbed in Kannur. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath took over the baton on Wednesday. The yatra would also go past Pinarayi, the hometown of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The BJP has not yet said who will lead the yatra on Thursday. This will be the second consecutive day that the BJP president fails to appear in the Janaraksha Yatra which he had flagged off on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Kerala unit of the party tweeted out that BJP cadres in Kerala are "enough" to stand against the CPM government in Kerala. "No need for Amit Shah to come down at Pinarayi to stand against CPM. (sic)" On Wednesday, it was reported that Shah had cut short his visit to Kerala and Karantaka after having to leave for New Delhi. Shah was supposed to address an 'intellectual meet' and hold a preliminary meeting about the organisation of the Parivarthana rally in Bengaluru on 2 November, according to The Hindu. However, these programmes had to be postponed indefinitely due to "unavoidable reasons", Sanjeeva Matandoor, president, Dakshina Kannada unit of the party told the press on Tuesday. The yatra was postponed earlier on 29 August because it would have been 'inconvenient' for Shah to attend, according to the party. A party release had said "the yatra to be led by state BJP chief Kummanom Rajasekharan, which was scheduled to commence on 7 September, has been postponed to October." However, a report in the Deccan Herald had said that the visit was postponed as the RSS believed that the state BJP leaders are not committed to strengthening the party. The postponement had caught the party's Kerala leadership off-guard. The Janaraksha Yatra on Wednesday was led by Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath. Adityanath said that Kerala had been witnessing political violence sponsored by the ruling CPM. "It is in the nature of the Left party to grab power at gunpoint," he said. He also hailed BJP's campaign against "Jihadi-Red terror" for drawing big crowds, reported NDTV. "There is no scope for violence in a democracy, but, unfortunately, Kerala has been witnessing politically-sponsored violence. With this yatra, we will make people aware about the CPM's misrule," he added. Adityanath also raked up the issue of 'love jihad' and said that it was a "dangerous trend" being inadequately dealt with by the CPM government. "Love jihad is a dangerous trend. The Supreme Court has already passed an order on it and the NIA is investigating it," News18 quoted the chief minister as saying. He added that the BJP would not allow Kerala to become a land of 'lal salaam', a term used by communist party members for greeting each other. Karur: Dismissing Opposition's criticism that there was no governance in Tamil Nadu, Chief Minister K Palaniswamy on Wednesday said the AIADMK government was focused on implementing various welfare schemes and people would take care of those who blocked the schemes. "We are running the government for the welfare of the people and for implementing schemes that took care of the people's welfare. If they stand in the way...People will teach them a lesson," he said. Addressing a function in Karur to celebrate the centenary of ruling AIADMK founder late MG Ramachandran, he charged the Opposition parties with spreading lies about the government. Some parties wanted the government to be dismissed, but "nothing can be done," he said referring to demands for dismissal of his ministry on the ground that it had lost majority. Palaniswamy said the opposition was collectively criticising the MGR centenary celebrations. Recalling their contributions to the growth of the region, the chief minister said it was MGR who inaugurated the unit of Tamil Nadu Newsprint and Papers Ltd. It was again then chief minister J Jayalalithaa who formed the new the Karur district in 1995, he said. Taking a dig at former transport minister Senthil Balaji, who is in the camp led by sidelined AIADMK leader TTV Dhinakaran, the chief minister said now people know what type of person he was. "He brought disgrace to the Karur district...We worked for his victory in Aravakurichi day and night. Now he has betrayed us," he said. Kolkata: The Trinamool Congress leadership Thursday mocked suspended leader Mukul Roy for making "desperate attempts to please the BJP" and said the party had aligned with the BJP in 1998 as the then prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had rose above party politics to lead the nation. No one should confuse a statesman like Vajpayee with Prime Minister Narendra Modi or BJP president Amit Shah, TMC secretary general Partha Chatterjee said. "Yes we were part of the BJP-led NDA from 1998. But that was a different time. The NDA was then led by a statesman like Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who rose above party politics to lead the nation by taking along all castes, creeds and religions. He was a secular person. I want to ask can anybody put Atal Bihari Vajpayee and present Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the same bracket," Chatterjee said. "We had joined hands (with BJP) because of the secular leadership of Vajpayee. The day we understood that Vajpayee is no longer leading BJP and NDA, we parted ways. Then also we had fought against communalism and now too we are fighting against it," he said. Mukul Roy had on Wednesday termed the BJP as a secular party and said the TMC would not have tasted success without its backing at the national level during the initial years. Terming Roy as a "traitor trying to weaken the party", Chatterjee questioned, "Why is he making such statements now? Why he didn't say such things when he was in the party, when he was made the railways minister? Actually he is making desperate attempts to please the BJP and get into its good books. We called him a traitor and he himself proved it." Chatterjee challenged Roy to contest elections from any assembly seat in the state. "Instead of making such comments like a traitor, why doesn't he contest election from any of the 294 assembly seats in Bengal? We will see if he is able to win it. He is no one without the support of Mamata Banerjee," Chatterjee said. Once the second-in-command in the TMC after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Roy has been suspended for six years for "anti-party activities" after he said on 25 September that he would resign from the party after Durga Puja. He has been maintaining distance with the party leadership for the last few months and was removed as the TMC vice-president after the party decided to revamp its structure. He was earlier removed as the party's in-charge of Tripura where the TMC was steadily making inroads till its members switched over to the BJP earlier in 2017. IANS DeepMind, the Google sibling focusing on artificial intelligence, has announced the launch of an "ethics and society" unit to study the impact of new technologies on society. The announcement by the London-based group acquired by Google parent Alphabet is the latest effort in the tech sector to ease concerns that robotics and artificial intelligence will veer out of human control. "As scientists developing AI technologies, we have a responsibility to conduct and support open research and investigation into the wider implications of our work," said a blog post announcing the launch Tuesday by DeepMind's Verity Harding and Sean Legassick. "At DeepMind, we start from the premise that all AI applications should remain under meaningful human control, and be used for socially beneficial purposes. Understanding what this means in practice requires rigorous scientific inquiry into the most sensitive challenges we face." The post said the focus would be on ensuring "truly beneficial and responsible" uses for artificial intelligence. "If AI technologies are to serve society, they must be shaped by society's priorities and concerns," they wrote. Google and DeepMind are members of an industry-founded Partnership of AI to Benefit People and Society which includes Facebook, Amazon, Microsoft and other tech firms. DeepMind, acquired by Google in 2014, gained notoriety for becoming the first machine to beat a grandmaster in the Asian board game Go last year. Reuters Top German intelligence officials on Thursday urged lawmakers to give them greater legal authority to hack back in the event of cyber attacks from foreign powers. Hans-Georg Maassen, head of the BfV domestic intelligence agency, told the parliamentary oversight committee it should be possible to destroy data stolen from German servers and moved to foreign servers to prevent it from being misused. He said it would also make sense to infect foreign servers with software that would enable greater surveillance of any operations directed against German cyber targets, or to extract data, much as human agents are recruited for counter-espionage. In the real world, it would be like turning a foreign intelligence agent and getting them to work for us ... Something like this should be possible in the cyber world too, Maassen told the committee in its first public hearing. These are hack back instruments, but they are below the threshold of destroying or incapacitating a foreign server, Maassen said. German officials have blamed APT28, a Russian hacker group said linked to Moscow, for the May 2015 hack of the German lower house of parliament, the Bundestag, and other cyber attacks aimed at political groups, individuals or institutions. They issued repeated warnings about the possibility that Moscow could seek to influence or disrupt the 24 September German election, although officials have since said they did not see any major push by Russia to do so. Maassen said it was possible Russia decided the political cost was too great after the backlash that ensued in the United States after a similar effort there. Russia denies seeking to influence any foreign elections. Lacking Legal Authority Germanys BND foreign intelligence agency already has the expertise, but not the legal authority, to destroy foreign servers, its chief Bruno Kahl told the committee. Once the source of attack had been carefully investigated and identified, it could make sense to shut down the source of such an attack and not have to retreat and give the job of going back in and taking care of business, Kahl said. In the end, however, such decisions had to be made by politicians, Kahl said. Christof Gramm, head of Germanys MAD military counter-espionage agency, said there were questions of domestic and international law to address before empowering the agencies to take such actions. This all has to be worked out. There are international boundaries. Were not just talking about national law, Gramm told the committee near the end of a three-hour session. He said if such powers were granted, it would be up to the militarys cyber command to carry out such actions, not the MAD. Maassen said authorities needed access to streaming data from foreign servers - for instance of videos showing beheadings - to track radicalisation of possible Islamist attackers. He also called for broader powers to track communications between Germany and Raqqa, the Syrian city still under Islamic State control, noting that current law only allowed the tracking of individual communications, not broader flows. tech2 News Staff Google announced an interesting product at its 'Made By Google' hardware event on 4 October alongside the Pixel 2 / Pixel 2 XL, Google Home Mini and Max, the Pixelbook, Pixel Buds and more. This hardware product called Google Clips captures seven-second clips without any human intervention and employs on-device artificial intelligence processing to do that. Googles camera has a traditional shutter button. But users may also clip the camera onto an object and have Clips automatically record stable, clear shots of familiar faces set by the user, the company said. Each shot lasts seven seconds, and the battery survives about three hours in the smart-capture mode, according to Google. Not only does Clips capture images and videos, but it also lets selects and presents the best ones to you based on the on-device AI processing. This is made possible thanks to the Intel Movidius Myriad 2 vision processing unit, which does the on-device artificial intelligence processing. According to Intel, the on-device processing reduces the overheads that would be required for cloud processing of the same data. This makes the Clips' hardware more power efficient and reduces latency. Also, you will not require internet access to use the camera. "In our collaboration with the Clips team, it has been remarkable to see how much intelligence Google has been able to put right into a small device like Clips," said Remi El-Ouazzane, vice president and general manager of Movidius, Intel New Technology Group. According to Intel, the Movidius VPU technology has been developed to enable low-power and high performance computer vision intelligence which can be implemented in intelligent devices. Addressing some of the privacy concerns around Google Clips, product lead Juston Payne said that Google takes privacy very seriously. "We care very deeply about privacy and control and it was one of the hardest parts of the whole project," said Payne to TechCrunch. According to Payne, till recently what could only be done on the cloud with running neural networks against the data and doing semantic analysis to give you the output, can now be done on-device. According to TechCrunch, Google went about training the Clips cameras by taking the help of video editors, image raters and asking them to label the clips shot by Google, which would become the training material for Clips. With time the Clips camera will learn to recognise people, and even the animals, you are closest to and what kind of images will interest you. The focus right now for Clips is limited within a home environment, and is not ideal for something like an outdoor vacation. Of course, you can still carry it along on a vacation and take photos using the manual shutter button, but the intelligence part will be missing as the data would be brand new. tech2 News Staff At the MadeByGoogle hardware event, Google announced two smarthome speakers in addition to its Google Home. The Google Home Mini will be priced at $49, while a larger speaker called the Google Home Max will be priced at $399. The Google Home Max will come with a 12-month ad-free subscription for YouTube Music, and the Google Home Mini will be available with a Pixel 2 device as an introductory offer. The Google Home Mini is a competitor to Amazon's Echo Dot, which just launched in India at an introductory price of Rs 4,499. The new features on the new Home Devices include the ability to recognise people by their voices, and customise the experience for that user. Users can now use Google Home devices to initiate hands free calling from their numbers. The device can initiate a call through the mobile number of that user, and if a person is mentioned, pull up the individual from the contact list of the user who made the request. Google Home has expanded functionality that now allows you to preset a series of functions that get triggered by a single command. These are called routines, and saying good morning or good night can trigger a series of events. For example, after you say "Good Morning", Google Home will pull out information from your calendar, set the connected smart home devices to the appropriate settings, read out the weather information, and even play a "get out of bed" playlist. The Google Home Max is the loudest Google Home device, and has been made to deliver the ultimate audio experience. The speaker can understand where it is positioned in the room, at a height, in a corner, or in the middle of a large open space, and adjust the sound dynamically to deliver the best audio experience. This means that no matter where the speaker is placed, the sound will be close to what the producers intended when the track was put together in a studio. The tuning on the speakers also incorporates the time of the day (music will be softer in the early morning), as well as the type of content being played (audio for music and a movie will be tuned differently). The Google Home devices connect to over 1,000 smarthome devices. A number of Google Home devices in various rooms can work together, for example playing the same music throughout the house. A broadcast feature triggers the routines in all the Google Home speakers in the home. Google is also partnering with Disney to bring exclusive content that will only be available through Google Home devices. There are two woofers and two tweeters housed within the speaker. Two Google Home Max speakers can be configured as the left and right speakers. The Google Home Mini will be available in three colours, coral, white and black while the Google Home Max will be available in white and black. tech2 News Staff The long wait for the latest flagship devices by Google is finally over. Google announced its latest flagship devices, the Google Pixel 2 and Google Pixel 2 XL at the launch event in San Francisco. The company announced a number of products like the Google Home Mini, Clips, Home Max, Pixelbook, Pixelbook Pen, updated Daydream View, Pixel Buds alongside the Pixel smartphones. Specifications Pixel 2 will pack a 5-inch FHD AMOLED display with 2.5D Corning Gorilla Glass 5 and 16:9 aspect ratio with 441 PPI pixel density. Pixel 2 XL will pack a 6-inch P-OLED QHD display panel with 2.5D Corning Gorilla Glass 5, 18:9 aspect ratio and 538 PPI pixel density. Both the devices will be equipped Always-on display and front-facing speakers. Pixel 2 boasts 95 percent DCI-P3 colour coverage, Pixel 2 XL boasts an impressive 100 percent coverage. Both smartphone displays will sport 1,00,000:1 super contrast ration with True black level. Both, Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL will be powered by a 64-bit Octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor clocked at up to 2.35 GHz along with 4 GB LPDDR4x RAM. They will come with Aluminium unibody design with hybrid coating and IP67 rating for water and dust resistance. They will sport Adreno 540 GPU to handle graphic intensive tasks. Google will offer two storage variants for both the devices, one with 64 GB internal storage and the other with 128 GB internal storage. One thing to note here is that the company has not added expandable slots on any of the two devices. One interesting thing to note here is that both the devices will come with single camera setup on the back instead of the dual camera setup that is all the rage in the technology industry. Users can shoot 720p video at up to 240 fps, 1080p video at up to 120 fps and 4K video at 30 fps using the back camera. More impressive thing is that both Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL will be able to capture Portrait Mode images using the single 12.2 MP camera module with f/1.8 aperture available on the back of the devices. The company detailed that it will use machine learning along with Dual Pixel technology to generate the depth in the image. The interesting thing here is that both the devices will support Optical and electronic image stabilization at the same time during video recording. The company has also packed a new auto-focus system which uses laser and Dual pixel phase detection to lock focus. Both the devices will come with 8 MP camera on the front with f/2.4 aperture. Despite this, both the devices will be able to capture Portrait Mode images using the front camera. The company announced that Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 users will get unlimited original-quality storage for the photos and videos taken using the devices up to 15 January 2021. Confirming the rumours, the company has done away with 3.5-mm headphone jack. However, Google announced that it will pack a 3.5-mm headphone jack to Type-C adulator along with all the devices. Both the devices will support Dual-Band Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth v5.0 with LE, NFC, GPS, and USB 2.0 Type-C port with a reversible connector for connectivity. The devices will pack Proximity, Ambient light sensor, Accelerometer, Magnetometer, Pixel Imprint (the rear-mounted fingerprint scanner), Barometer, Hall effect, and Android Sensor Hub along with Active Edge to detect squeezes to enhance the feature-set of the smartphone. The devices will support Wireless HD audio with LDAC, AptX and AptX HD audio codecs for better audio quality. One interesting thing to note here is that bot the devices will come with single Nano e-SIM slot which means that users will not need to switch their SIM cards if they are changing their network provider. Both the devices will run Android 8.0 Oreo out of the box. Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL will come with Minimum 3 years of OS and security updates as mentioned on the Tech Specs page for the devices. Google did not discuss anything about the support cycle for its latest devices in the keynote. Pixel 2 will pack a 2700 mAh battery while Pixel 2 XL will run on a 3,520 mAh battery and both the devices will support fast charge. Pixel 2 will be available in Just Black, Clearly White and Kinda Blue colours while Pixel 2 XL will be available in Just Black and Black & White colour options. Pricing The company has priced the Pixel 2 at $ 649 for the 64 GB version while the 128 GB variant will be priced at $ 749. Pixel 2 XL with 64 GB internal storage is priced at $ 849 and the 128 GB variant will come at $ 949. Pixel 2 with 64 GB internal storage will be available for Rs 61,000 while the 128 GB variant will be priced at Rs 70,000. Pixel 2 XL 64 GB variant will come with Rs 73,000 and the 128 GB variant will be available for Rs 82,000 according to FoneArena. Availability Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL are available for pre-order on Google Store starting today.Pixel 2 XL will be available in Australia, India, Germany, Canada, UK, and the US at the launch. They will make its way to Singapore, Spain, and Italy later this year. The company is giving a free Google Home Mini to all Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL buyers in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, United States, the UK and Japan. Both the devices will be available in November in India. tech2 News Staff At the 'Made by Google' event, Google showed the world that it was serious about hardware. But is it really after sales, being a software-driven company at heart? In a lengthy exclusive with The Verge, Google's SVP of hardware, Rick Osterloh who once worked with Motorola, explained that Google has only one objective with hardware and that is still 'Search'. In the interview, which seems to have taken place long before the event, Osterloh told The Verge, that the Google's objectives with hardware are quite different from Apple. While Apple sells products, Google simply wants to sell you well-finished products that will drive you to eventually use Google search. Osterloh explained that the company investment in acquiring a part of HTC's smartphone division is completely different with what it did with Motorola earlier. While Osterloh was not involved when Google cooked up with deal with Motorola, Google did not have hardware as an objective back then. Now, all of that has changed, and with HTC the deal is completely different. Things have played out well with HTC, more so since Google has worked with HTC in the past, for its Nexus lineup as well. When quizzed about whether Google is pursuing sales in numbers, the SVP said that, it is focussed on sales but only in certain markets. The priority for Google with the Pixel and other products is "consumer satisfaction and user experience." But while the benchmark isn't sales right now, Google hopes to sell products "in high volumes in five years." The focus is not just great hardware with software, like Apple does, but "hardware and software and AI" said the SVP of hardware because Google's main priority is still Search. Reuters Hacking attacks on the web platform used by Italys 5-Star Movement to select representatives and shape policy threaten to dent confidence in its methods before a parliamentary election it is well placed to win. Internet-based direct democracy, in which members vote online, is a hallmark of the anti-establishment group that first entered parliament in 2013 and leads many opinion polls before the election, due to be held by May. Gianroberto Casaleggio, the late internet guru who co-founded 5-Star in 2009, believed the web would eventually supplant representative democracy, the system under which all eligible citizens vote on representatives to pass laws for them. But in August anonymous hackers broke into 5-Stars web platform, called Rousseau after the 18th century Swiss-born philosopher, and obtained secret data on its members and donors. It is unclear whether there will be any impact on 5-Stars election performance. But if it cannot secure its web platforms, it will be hard to continue using the online methods that set it apart from other political groups. Public worries over theft of personal data could also make it difficult for 5-Star to attract new members. It already has only a modest membership although it has won millions of votes at the polls with promises to clean up politics and offer universal income support for the poor. The hacking problem is very serious for 5-Star because it undermines the credibility of their direct democracy message, sociology professor Luca Ricolfi told Reuters. It will probably be overshadowed by bigger issues ahead of the election, but it hurts their image and is something they will absolutely have to resolve. Casaleggio Associati, a web consultancy company that runs 5-Stars platforms and is headed by Gianrobertos son Davide, said security would be improved before the online election of the movements new leader last month. Despite this, the election was dogged by hacking attacks which hampered voting and contributed to only 37,000 of 5-Stars 140,000 members casting an online ballot. The voting deadline had to be extended twice as members were unable to log on or connect to necessary web pages. One hacker published screenshots showing the system had been infiltrated again and that it had been possible to vote several times using the accounts of certified 5-Star members. Security "Totally inadequate" Rousseaus content systems are outdated and its level of security is totally inadequate, said David Puente, a computer expert and web developer who worked for Casaleggio Associati for four-and-a-half years until 2011. Umberto Rapetto, a cybersecurity expert who used to head the computer crime division of Italys finance police, called Rousseau a rudimentary platform with a host of weak points. Davide Casaleggio declined to answer questions for this article. Puente, a 5-Star member, said it would now be hard to update Rousseau without sacrificing many functions that have been added recently, meaning the only solution was to dismantle everything and start all over again. That would not be easy even if Casaleggio agreed. Hackers around the world have regularly penetrated the computer systems of public agencies and multinational companies with millions of euros to spend on cybersecurity. Casaleggio Associati has fewer than 20 employees, posted revenues of less than a million euros in 2016 and has run a loss for the last three years. 5-Stars new leader, 31-year-old Luigi Di Maio, says Rousseaus problems are understandable as it is a startup launched only last year. He says web-based democracy can work not only in 5-Star but in all branches of Italian politics. Yet many computer experts are sceptical about both Rousseau and internet democracy in general. One common criticism is a lack of transparency, as in only two of 5-Stars dozens of online votes has Casaleggio named an independent company to verify the regularity of the process. Critics also say there can be no guarantee that voters are anonymous to platform managers, or that the voter casts only one ballot or is not watched or coerced while he votes. Creating a structure that offers the same guarantees as paper ballots would be incredibly difficult, said cybersecurity strategist Corrado Giustozzi, a member of the European Union Agency for Network and Information Security. Detention Center The inmate count at the Platte County Detention Facility Wednesday was 50, with 45 from Platte County and five from out of county. Police Sept. 7 6:34 p.m. At 1810 Fourth St., Martin Gomez, 30, 1810 Fourth St., was cited for dog at-large. Sept. 20 4:05 p.m. At 1409 14th St., Justin Almery, 31, Lincoln, was cited for possession of stolen property. Sept. 26 8:10 a.m. In the 4400 block of 27th Street, Lizet Garza, 37, 3951 E. 21st Ave., No. 32, was cited for speeding, 41 mph in a 30 mph zone, no valid registration and no proof of insurance. 4:52 p.m. At the intersection of 26th Avenue and 28th Street, Laura Becher, 48, 2403 32nd St., was cited for failure to yield right of way. 4:52 p.m. At the intersection of 26th Avenue and 28th Street, Aron Gennrich, 33, 112 S. Roselane, was cited for a child restraint violation. 7:14 p.m. In the 2000 block of 23rd Street, traffic accident. Drivers were Zayra Cuevas Gonzalez, 16, 1253 29th Ave., and Clark Lam, 37, Holly Grove, Arkansas. Sept. 28 3:41 p.m. In the 1900 block of 15th Street, traffic accident. Drivers were Karen Bonilla Reyes, 23, 1733 SE Ninth St., and Holly Wulf, 38, 3915 35th St. Sept. 29 9:29 a.m. At the intersection of 23rd Street and 45th Avenue, Terry Seefeld, 68, San Francisco, California, was cited for a traffic signal violation. 10:30 p.m. At the intersection of 23rd Street and 23rd Avenue, Michael Veenendual, 23, 3009 13th St., No. 1, was cited for no valid registration. Oct. 1 2:44 a.m. At the intersection of 26th Avenue and 13th Street, Eduardo Quinonez, 23, 3910 18th St., was cited for a traffic signal violation and texting while driving. Daisy Gonzalez, 18, Schuyler, was cited for minor in possession of alcohol. Oct. 2 12:02 p.m. At the intersection of 26th Avenue and 17th Street, traffic accident. Drivers were Caroline Massaro, 24, Atlanta, Georgia, and Gary Hartman, 75, Rising City. Fire Oct. 3 6:34 p.m. In the 1100 block of 15th Street, medical. 11:16 p.m. In the 4700 block of 38th Street, medical. tech2 News Staff If you saw the 'Made by Google' hardware event on 4 October, one term that was the underlying leitmotif was artificial intelligence. Every hardware product announced, from the humble Google Home Mini speaker to the Pixelbook to the Pixel 2 XL to even the snap on Google Clips camera, had AI as its major component. It has been a couple of years now since Google CEO Sundar Pichai has been saying on stage that he wants Google to be an 'AI-first' company. At the Made by Google event last night, this aspect was reiterated. In an interaction with The Verge, Pichai spoke about how AI processing is moving from the cloud to on-device. Google Clips, a small camera which captures 7-second moving images using AI is an example. According to Pichai, using a hybrid approach to AI is necessary and makes absolute sense. "We will thoughtfully invest in both. Depending on the context, depending on what you're dealing with, it'll make sense to deploy it differently," he said. Over the last couple of years, Google has aggressively launched many hardware products, across categories. This year saw some more additions. According to Pichai, the hardware products are also a means to integrate AI better. For Pichai, integrating AI with every hardware product Google makes, is high on the priority list, as he feels it will be tough to drive the future of computing otherwise. In his keynote at the hardware event, Pichai spoke about how Google Maps was using AI and machine learning to map certain parts of Lagos, which is a city that is constantly changing. Another example cited was how Google Maps has added the ability to find a parking spot near your destination using AI. "I think we will all interact with [our devices] in more conversational, sensory ways: using voice, vision, and other things. That's important to me," said Pichai. But when one talks about Google, the concerns around privacy come along with it. Considering Google knows so much about you, what about AI's role in securing privacy? According to Pichai, AI could help with that as well, as the system can get more intelligent about understanding what is sensitive information for the users, as the AI understands the context better. For instance, health-related information should be treated differently than say looking for restaurants to eat in, says Pichai. Reuters London Mayor Sadiq Khan welcomed the humility shown by Ubers chief executive after the city stripped the taxi app of its license to operate, but once again criticized the companys London management on Thursday. Transport for London (TfL) shocked Uber last month by deeming it unfit to run a taxi service and refusing to renew its license, citing the firms approach to reporting serious criminal offences and background checks on drivers. Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi met TfL Commissioner Mike Brown on Tuesday for discussions both sides described as constructive. Khan said he did not have talks with the Silicon Valley firms boss. Khan, a centre-left politician from the opposition Labour party, has repeatedly criticized Ubers leadership in Britain, previously saying that instead of hiring an army of PR experts and an army of lawyers it needed to address the issues raised by TfL. But Khan, who is also chairman of TfL, contrasted that with Khosrowshahi, who apologized for the firms mistakes in an open letter to Londoners last week. What gives me confidence about the TfL decision is the fact that the global chief executive officer for Uber apologized to London, Khan told LBC Radio. I think that bodes well in relation to the humility which hasnt been shown by Uber London or Uber UK, he said. Citing separate disagreements with unions in London over strike action on the underground train network, known as the tube, Khan said he always preferred to solve matters without court action. The global CEO has gone away to do some further work and I always think, as I said before when it came to the tube strikes, the way to resolve differences is constructively and amicably around a table rather than through litigation, he said. Asked on Thursday, Uber referred to its comments on Tuesday when it promised to make things right in London. Ubers license expired on 30 September but its roughly 40,000 drivers - defined by the firm as those have made at least four trips in the last month - are still able to take passengers until an appeals process is exhausted, which could take months. Ubers fate in London will be decided by a judge who will rule on the appeal after it is submitted by 13 October. The firm reported that 2016 revenue in Britain rose 59 percent to 37 million pounds ($49 million) and its pretax profit jumped 65 percent to 3 million pounds, according to a filing posted on Britains Companies House website. Khosrowshahi, who has only been in the role for just over a month, has also had to deal with a fractured board in the United States, which on Tuesday attempted to end months of strife by unanimously passing a series of measures to shore up corporate governance, bring in major investor SoftBank and diminish the power of former CEO Travis Kalanick. The Supreme Court on Thursday referred to a five-judge Constitution bench questions like whether a public functionary or a minister can claim freedom of speech while airing views in a sensitive matter which is under investigation. A bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra said the questions raised by senior advocates Harish Salve and Fali S Nariman were required to be dealt by a larger bench. The bench, which also comprised Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud, expressed concern over the misuse of social media platforms and said that people disseminated wrong information even about the court proceedings. Nariman, who is assisting the bench as an amicus curiae, concurred with the observation of the bench and said that a lot of misinformation and abuses are there on social media platforms and he has stopped looking at them. "I have deleted my Twitter account," Salve said, adding that once when he was appearing in a case related to a Christian medical college and the subsequent happenings on his Twitter handle forced him to delete it. He said now private players were more into infringing the privacy rights and such things are no more restricted to the state only. The court was hearing a plea filed by a man whose wife and daughter were allegedly gangraped in July last year on a highway near Bulandshahr, seeking transfer of the case to Delhi and lodging of an FIR against former Uttar Pradesh Minister Azam Khan for his controversial statement that the gangrape case was a "political conspiracy". The brutal incident had happened on the night of 29 July last year when a group of highway robbers stopped the car of a Noida-based family and sexually assaulted a woman and her daughter after dragging them out of the vehicle at gun-point. Salve had told the bench that ministers cannot have personal views on official business matters as whatever the person says, must reflect government policy. The apex court had earlier said it would consider whether the fundamental right of speech and expression would be governed under reasonable restriction of decency or morality or whether other preferred fundamental rights would also have an impact on it. The apex court had on 31 July asked the Attorney General to assist it on legal issues including whether a minister or a public functionary could claim freedom of speech while airing views in matters of official business of the State, such as criminal investigation. However, Khan had on 15 December last year tendered an "unconditional apology" for the remark, which the apex court had accepted. The top court had earlier proposed to refer to a constitution bench the issue whether a minister could claim refuge under the right to free speech while expressing views in matters of official business. Tehran, Iran: A member of Iran's team of nuclear negotiators that struck the 2015 deal with world powers has been sentenced to five years in prison after being convicted in Iran of espionage, a semi-official news agency reported on Wednesday. While unnamed in the report, the only negotiator known to be facing criminal charges is dual Iranian-Canadian national Abdolrasoul Dorri Esfahani. His detention, if confirmed, would make him the latest dual national to be arrested in Iran, part of what a United Nations panel has called an "emerging pattern" since the atomic accord. The sentencing was only reported by Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency, which is believed to be close to Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, a hard-line force answerable only to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The Guard has been involved in nearly every case involving dual nationals or those with Western ties being detained. "The conviction of a member of the nuclear negotiation team who has been arrested before and released on bail has been confirmed in the Tehran provincial appeals court," the short report read. "This person has been sentenced to five years in prison." Philip Hannan, a spokesman for Global Affairs Canada, said Canadian officials were "aware of media reports that a dual national has been sentenced in Iran." He declined to elaborate. In August 2016, hard-line news outlets said authorities detained Esfahani, who reportedly worked as a member of a parallel team focusing on lifting economic sanctions against Iran as part of the nuclear deal. He was later granted bail, which is rare in Iran for those accused of having committed a serious crime. After the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Esfahani reportedly served as a member of the Iranian team working at The Hague on disputes between Iran and the United States over pre-revolution purchases of military equipment from the U.S. by Iran. He is a member of the Ontario Institute of Chartered Accountants in Canada. He also has served as an adviser to the head of Iran's Central Bank. Esfahani's family could not be reached for comment and Iran's mission at the UN did not return a request for comment. Iran does not recognize dual nationalities, so such detainees cannot receive consular assistance. In most cases, dual nationals have faced secret charges in closed-door hearings before Iran's Revolutionary Court, which handles cases involving alleged attempts to overthrow the government. Others with ties to the West detained in Iran include Chinese-American graduate student Xiyue Wang, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison in Iran for allegedly "infiltrating" the country while doing doctoral research on Iran's Qajar dynasty. Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a British-Iranian woman, was sentenced to five years in prison on allegations of planning the "soft toppling" of Iran's government while traveling with her young daughter. Iranian businessman Siamak Namazi and his 81-year-old father Baquer, a former UNICEF representative who served as governor of Iran's oil-rich Khuzestan province under the U.S.-backed shah, are both serving 10-year prison sentences on espionage. Iranian-American Robin Shahini was released on bail last year after staging a hunger strike while serving an 18-year prison sentence for "collaboration with a hostile government." Shahini is believed to still be in Iran. Also in an Iranian prison is Nizar Zakka, a U.S. permanent resident from Lebanon who advocates for internet freedom and has done work for the U.S. government. He was sentenced to 10 years last year on espionage-related charges. Former FBI agent Robert Levinson, who vanished in Iran in 2007 while on an unauthorized CIA mission, remains missing as well. Hawija: Iraqi forces retook one of the Islamic State group's last two enclaves in the country on Thursday, overrunning the longtime insurgent bastion of Hawija after a two-week offensive. IS once held one-third of Iraqi territory but it has suffered loss after loss this year and now only controls a slither of land in the Euphrates Valley near the Syrian border. "I announce the liberation of the city of Hawija," Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi told a news conference in Paris. "All that remains is the strip on the border with Syria." Iraqi forces celebrated after entering the town, posing with upside down IS flags and flashing V-for-victory signs after riding in on tanks and armoured personnel carriers, an AFP photographer reported. "Today we are in Hawija and thank God it is completely liberated," said Zamer Jabbar, a member of the Shiite-dominated Hashed al-Shaabi paramilitary units fighting against IS alongside government forces. Hawijah, 230 kilometres (140 miles) north of Baghdad, was at the centre of a pocket of mainly Sunni Arab towns that were among the final holdouts from territory seized by the jihadists in 2014. The town had been an insurgent bastion since soon after the US-led invasion of 2003, earning it the nickname of "Kandahar in Iraq" for the ferocious resistance it put up similar to that in the Taliban militia's citadel in Afghanistan. The area's mainly Sunni Arab population is deeply hostile both to the Shiite-led government in Baghdad and to the Kurds who form the historic majority in adjacent areas. Government forces bypassed it in their advance north to second city Mosul last year, which culminated in the jihadists' defeat in the emblematic bastion in July. 'Victory for whole world' Hawija lies between the two main routes north from Baghdad to Mosul and to the city of Kirkuk and the autonomous Kurdish region and its recapture is both a symbolic and a strategic victory for the government. "This a victory not only for Iraqis but also for the whole world," Abadi said, as he announced the town's recapture after talks in Paris with French President Emmanuel Macron. France is part of a US-led coalition that has been backing the campaign against IS. There was no immediate word on the fate of civilians in Hawija. The United Nations said this week that an estimated 12,500 people had fled since the launch of the offensive to retake the town and surrounding areas last month. The UN's humanitarian affairs office said the number of people still in the town was unknown but could be as high as 78,000. It said humanitarian agencies had set up checkpoints, camps and emergency sites capable of receiving more than 70,000 people who could flee. The Norwegian Refugee Council said many of those arriving in the camps had little more than the clothes on their backs. "In addition to the terror they have experienced during years under the control of the IS group, many of the families who are arriving are malnourished," said its acting area manager, Silvia Beccacece. Dwindling 'caliphate' The US-led coalition congratulated the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) for the "swift and decisive victory" against IS in Hawija after a "hard fought" battle. "The government of Iraq and the ISF, with the support of the global coalition, have liberated more than four million Iraqis and reclaimed over 41,500 square kilometres (16,000 sq miles) of land once held by ISIS," it said in a statement. It warned, however, that "an ISIS presence remains in Iraq, and the Coalition will continue to stand side-by-side with the ISF in their collective mission to defeat ISIS (Islamic State)". IS, also known as ISIS or ISIL, seized swathes of territory in Iraq and Syria during a lightning offensive in the summer of 2014 that was followed by its declaration of a cross-border "caliphate". Last week, it was ousted from Anna, one of three towns it still held in the Euphrates Valley, and Iraqi forces are preparing to advance upstream towards the other two, Rawa and Al-Qaim. Provincial civil defence chief General Fawzi Yassin said it had taken until Thursday to clear nearly 1,000 mines and booby-traps that the jihadists had planted in and around Anna. Town council chief Abdel Karim al-Ani told AFP: "This clearance operation is going to allow the displaced to return to their homes." The US-led coalition is also backing an Arab-Kurdish alliance, the Syrian Democratic Forces, that is battling to oust IS from its de facto Syrian capital Raqa. The SDF has captured about 90 percent of Raqa and is fighting fierce battles with remaining IS jihadists. IS's other main stronghold in Syria is the eastern province of Deir Ezzor, which borders IS-held territory in Iraq. Two separate offensives are under way against the jihadists in Deir Ezzor one by the SDF, the other by government forces supported by Russia. Baghdad: Iraqi forces said on Thursday they had retaken the centre of Islamic State group stronghold Hawija and were pushing forward in their assault on one of the last Islamic State enclaves in the country. Troops, police and paramilitaries "liberated the whole of the centre of Hawija and are continuing their advance," the operation's commander, Lieutenant General Abdel Amir Yarallah, said. Government and allied forces backed by a US-led coalition launched an offensive last month to oust Islamic State from Hawija, a longtime insurgent bastion. The town is among the final holdouts from the territory seized by the jihadists in 2014 and its recapture would leave only a handful of remote outposts in Islamic State hands. The United Nations said on Tuesday that an estimated 12,500 people had fled the town since the launch of the offensive to retake Hawija and surrounding areas last month. The UN's humanitarian affairs office said the number of people still in the town was unknown but could be as high as 78,000. It said humanitarian agencies have set up checkpoints, camps and emergency sites capable of receiving more than 70,000 people who could flee. Hawija, 230 kilometres (140 miles) north of Baghdad, is one of just two significant areas of Iraq still held by Islamic State, along with a stretch of the Euphrates Valley near the Syrian border which is also under attack. Washington: President Donald Trump is prepared to take "whatever steps necessary" against Pakistan if it does not "change its behaviour" and continued to support terror groups, defence secretary Jim Mattis has said. Mattis also warned Pakistan of global "diplomatic isolation" and losing its Non-NATO ally status if it failed to take action against safe havens to terrorists on its soil. "If our best efforts fail, president Trump is prepared to take whatever steps necessary," Mattis told members of the powerful House Armed Services Committee during a Congressional testimony on South Asia and Afghanistan on Wednesday. He was asked a series of questions by Congressmen who expressed their frustration on Pakistan not taking actions against terror groups. Without much elaboration, Mattis said the US has "enormously powerful number of options" if Pakistan does not follow through and be a better promoter of stability in the region. "Right now, I would like to think we will be successful," Mattis said. "With the growing consensus against terrorism, they'll find themselves diplomatically isolated." "There is an awful lot of advantage to Pakistan of coming online with the international community, and we have to stay focused there, but the penalties are just as significant as the advantages if they choose to go a different direction," he said. "But for right now, the US needs to try one more time to make this strategy work with them by, with, and through the Pakistanis," he said. When Congressman Rick Larsen asked if revocation of non-NATO allies status is on the list of possibilities against Pakistan, Mattis said, "I'm sure it will be." Mattis' tough talk on Pakistan, came as Pakistan foreign minister Khwaja Asif is visiting the US as part of efforts to rebuild bilateral ties frayed after president Trump accused Islamabad of sheltering terror groups. President Trump announced his Afghanistan and South Asia policy in August in which he adopted a tough policy against Pakistan. In a meeting with the Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Asif defended his country's role in the war against terrorism. He claimed that Pakistan has pursued a zero-tolerance and indiscriminate approach in its campaign against all terrorist and militant groups. However, Mattis told lawmakers that while the US is adopting "a whole of government approach" on Pakistan, it is also aligning NATO countries on this. "What you're going to see is 39 nations all in the NATO campaign working together to lay out what it is we need Pakistan to do, he said. "What we are doing right now is we are aligning what department of treasury, department of defence, the intelligence committee, department of state, say, this is what we must ask Pakistan to do to change its behaviour, he added. The Trump administration, he said, is going to use a whole government international effort to align the benefits and the penalties if those things are not done. "Pakistan has lost more troops in this fight against terrorist than nearly any country out there. And yet at the same time, as you know, there's been some parsing out where some terrorists have been allowed safe havens. We're out to change that behaviour and do it very firmly," Mattis asserted. As part of this, Mattis said there would be exchange of high-level visits between the two countries. Mattis said he and the Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will soon visit Islamabad. "We're not going to back off. It will start with assistant secretaries coming out of Washington and the national security staff members going into Pakistan soon followed by the secretary of state," he said. "I will go in and we have (NATO) Secretary General Stoltenberg's very clear support for this in his advocacy as the secretary general of NATO. So we're going to continue to build this up in an international way with a whole of US government argument for the Pakistanis to work in their own best interest and ours," Mattis said. After holding talks with Asif, Tillerson on Wednesday said that the US is concerned over the future of the government in Pakistan and wants to ensure long-term stability in the country. Inviting Tillerson to visit Islamabad to continue their talks, Asif said that a broad-based and structured framework for dialogue would best serve the two countries' mutual interests. Stockholm: British author Kazuo Ishiguro, best known for his novel The Remains of the Day, won the Nobel Literature Prize on Thursday, the Swedish Academy said. Born in Nagasaki, 62-year old Ishiguro moved to Britain with his family when he was five years old, only returning to visit Japan as an adult. He writes in English. The Swedish Academy cited him for "novels of great emotional force, (he) has uncovered the abyss beneath our illusory sense of connection with the world." Both his first novel A Pale View of Hills from 1982 and the subsequent one, An Artist of the Floating World from 1986, take place in Nagasaki a few years after World War II. "The themes Ishiguro is most associated with are already present here: memory, time, and self-delusion," the Academy said. "This is particularly notable in his most renowned novel, The Remains of the Day," which was turned into a film with Anthony Hopkins acting as the duty-obsessed butler Stevens. "Ishiguro's writings are marked by a carefully restrained mode of expression, independent of whatever events are taking place," it said. Apart from his eight books, Ishiguro has also written scripts for film and television. In a 1989 interview with Bomb Magazine, Ishiguro said: "I tend to be attracted to pre-war and post-war settings because I'm interested in this business of values and ideals being tested, and people having to face up to the notion that their ideals werent quite what they thought they were before the test came." Inspired by Dostoyevsky, Proust His more recent fiction contains elements of fantasy. With the critically-acclaimed dystopian work Never Let Me Go from 2005, Ishiguro introduced "a cold undercurrent" of science fiction into his work, the jury said. Inspired by Fyodor Dostoyevsky and Marcel Proust, Ishiguro's characters often painfully come to terms with who they are without closure. His latest novel, The Buried Giant from 2015 explores "in a moving manner, how memory relates to oblivion, history to the present, and fantasy to reality." In the book, an elderly couple go on a road trip through an archaic English landscape, hoping to reunite with their adult son, whom they have not seen for years. Ishiguro was not among those tipped as a favourite for this year's Nobel. His publisher Faber & Faber wrote on Twitter after the announcement, "We're THRILLED Kazuo Ishiguro has won the Nobel Prize!" Last year, the 18 members of the Swedish Academy stunned the world by awarding the honour to American rock legend and counter-culture icon Bob Dylan. The Nobel Prize is worth 9 million kronor ($1.1 million). Ishiguro will receive his prize at a formal ceremony in Stockholm on 10 December. The prize is named after dynamite inventor Alfred Nobel and has been awarded since 1901 for achievements in science, literature and peace in accordance with his will. With inputs from agencies After repeated accusations by the US and President Donald Trump that Pakistan shelters terrorists, foreign minister Khawaja Asif reached Washington DC on Thursday in a bid to improve and possibly rebuild frayed ties with the US. The foreign minister held talks with the Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Wednesday and will meet top leadership of the Trump administration. Asif, who is in the US for three days, has a tough job ahead of him. His visit comes less than a fortnight after US vice-president Mike Pence met Pakistan prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly session. The visit indicates a gradual resumption of talks between the two countries that was paused by an upset Pakistan after Trump announced his South Asia policy. What will be Asif's agenda? With concerns in Islamabad that Washington is tilting towards New Delhi and repeated warnings by the US for nurturing terrorist groups, Asif's priority will likely be to convince the Donald Trump administration that Pakistan does not harbour terrorists. Trump has warned that US will take action within Pakistan if it did not stop backing terrorists battling American forces. He accused Islamabad of sheltering "the same organisations that try every single day to kill our people". "We have been paying Pakistan billions and billions of dollars, at the same time they are housing the very terrorists we are fighting. But that will have to change and that will change immediately." Trump has also been mulling cutting all military aid to Pakistan because the president thinks US is being ripped off by Pakistan, a US official told Foreign Policy. The Pentagon has already frozen support to Islamabad under the coalition support fund, which provides payments to Pakistan for supporting counter-terrorism operations. In the wake of such strict warnings by the Trump administration, Asif's main agenda is likely to be able to assuage the fears of Washington regarding providing asylum to terrorists and prove that Islamabad is a key ally in fighting terrorism. According to the Foreign Office statement reported by The Express Tribune, Asif told Tillerson that incidents of terrorism in Pakistan have seen a sharp decline, which has been made possible because of Islamabad's pursued zero-tolerance approach in its campaign against terrorists. The second task that the foreign minister has up his sleeve is to get a more significant role for Pakistan in the new Afghanistan policy. Trump unveiled the new Afghanistan policy in August this year and called on India to help more while adding, "critical part of the South Asia strategy for America was to further develop its strategic partnership with India the world's largest democracy and a key security and economic partner of the US." After meeting Tillerson on Wednesday, Asif convinced the US administration of its importance in South Asia (at least verbally). He told Tillerson that Pakistan is winning its war against terrorism, Pakistan's embassy said. Asif conveyed to Tillerson about the strong public reaction in Pakistan to the US policy based on inadequate recognition of Pakistans sterling contribution in the fight against terrorism. He emphasised that Pakistan and the US shared a common desire for peace and stability in Afghanistan and the region at large, according to The Express Tribune report. The US secretary of state acknowledged that Washington has a partner in Islamabad, while saying that Pakistan is critical for the long-term stability of South Asia. "Not just Afghanistan, but it is the importance of Pakistan and Pakistan's long-term stability as well," he remarked. He further expressed concerns over the stability of the Pakistani government. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson comments on the important role of #Pakistan in the region. pic.twitter.com/jCCXibeO2A Department of State (@StateDept) October 4, 2017 Another important work that Asif is expected to finish is to draw the US away from India. Instead of having Washington focus on what Pakistan is doing, Asif may try to divert their attention to the "atrocities" that India is committing in Kashmir. The foreign minister said on Wednesday that "America should take notice of grass human rights violations by India in Occupied Kashmir," Samaa TV reported. He said peace in South Asia would remain out of reach until resolution of all the longstanding disputes, including the core dispute of Jammu and Kashmir. The trip as a top US General said Pakistan's intelligence agency ISI has connections with terrorist groups and runs its own foreign policy. While Pakistan has continued to deny this allegations and accusations of giving sanctuary to terrorists, US is considering ways to punish Pakistan. According to The Times of India, the US has banned operations of Habib bank, Pakistan's leading financial institution. It might also strip Pakistan of the status of non-NATO ally and impose travel ban on suspected ISI personnel. Asif's aim is to reverse these moves, try to improve relations with Washington and dissociate US from India. With inputs from agencies Washington: Visiting Pakistan's foreign minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif and US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson met and discussed about their mutual commitment to advancing a multifaceted relationship between the two countries based on "shared interest". During the meeting, the two top diplomats also discussed the importance of partnering together to establish peace and prosperity in Pakistan. Wednesday's meeting comes less than a fortnight after Pakistan's prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi met US vice-president Mike Pence when the former was in New York to attend the UN General Assembly session. According to State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert, they talked about their mutual commitment to advancing a multifaceted relationship between the United States and Pakistan based on "shared interest" in a secure, prosperous, and democratic Pakistan. The meeting also signalled a gradual resumption of talks between the two countries that was paused by an upset Pakistan after Trump announced his new South Asia and Afghan policy. Trump's new South Asia strategy announced in August also figured during their talks. In his strategy, Trump had named Pakistan for continued presence of safe havens within its territory and called for a tougher approach against Islamabad. Tillerson and Asif also exchanged ideas about how the two countries can work together to help stabilise Afghanistan. However, Nauert did not respond to questions on previous media reports that the Trump administration intends to be tough on Pakistan as possibilities of further cuts in aid, sanctions on officials with ties to known extremists exist. "We typically don't provide the fulsome types of readouts, we don't do a play-by-play, a blow-by-blow of everything that happens in our private diplomatic conversations. I know our conversations with the Pakistani Government continue to be frank," Nauert said. COLUMBUS Angela Cuffe experienced what she called the worst act of violence during her marriage at her home in the summer of 2000. She was getting ready to go to the store to buy diapers for their children when her husband became upset and belligerent because he wanted to use the couples only vehicle. Cuffe said she will never forget his words and the evil look in his eyes when he grabbed a butcher knife from the kitchen and told her hed slash the vehicle's tires or better yet, just kill her. Cuffe spoke about the cruelty she experienced in her marriage during a domestic violence awareness vigil held Wednesday in Frankfort Square. October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and events like the vigil organized by Center for Survivors shine light on the subject. Lia Grant, executive director of Center for Survivors, said one in three women and one in seven men have experienced some form of domestic violence, rape, physical violence or stalking by an intimate partner. It is important to remember this is happening in our community and our surrounding communities. Its not easy to face or admit that it is, but it is happening. So bringing awareness to this can help others get the support that they need, Grant said. Cuffe received help from Center for Survivors. After the incident with the butcher knife, the Elgin woman called 911 and her husband was arrested. She left her home with her children and the local organization provided the family with food and shelter. However, Cuffe said, like many domestic violence victims, she went back to her husband. She prayed many nights for things to get better, but the abuse continued. Then one day, I had enough. I thought to myself that my children are not going to be treating their wives and husbands the way Im being treated. This ends now, she said. Cuffe filed for divorce in 2003. With help from friends, family and the Center, she was able to restart her life. In 2012, Cuffe graduated from Central Community College-Columbus with a nursing degree. She is now an administrator at an assisted living facility. Cuffe is among the lucky ones. During the vigil, the names were read of 86 Nebraskans who were victims of domestic violence-related homicides over the past decade. The names included people in a relationship with an abuser and those killed while trying to help the victim. Grant said anyone who is in a violent relationship and needs assistance can contact the Center for Survivors for help. The office provides free support to Platte, Boone, Butler, Colfax, Nance and Polk counties and can be reached by calling 402-564-2155 or 800-658-4482. As a survivor, Cuffe urged those in attendance to take a stand against domestic violence and encouraged victims to reach out for support. If you are in a situation, get help. There is so much out there and your lives are valuable. Dont let anyone tell you different. Dont let anyone tell you that you cant do anything. Im living proof that when you fall, get back up and dust yourself off. Prove them wrong. Prove to them that you are worthy and you are somebody, she said. Moscow: Saudi Arabia's King Salman, on the first official trip to Russia by a ruler of the oil-rich Sunni powerhouse, was set to meet President Vladimir Putin to discuss energy contracts despite discord over the Syrian conflict. While they are partners on the oil market, on the foreign policy front, Moscow and Riyadh are on opposite sides of the war in Syria, with Russia supporting President Bashar al-Assad while Saudi Arabia supports the opposition. Salman and Putin are expected to discuss major defence and energy contracts, as well as extending oil production cuts ahead of the OPEC oil cartel meeting in November. Saudi Arabia and Russia are heavily dependent on oil exports and the global plunge of the price of crude that began in 2014 lashed both of their economies. Members of OPEC, of which Saudi Arabia is the biggest producer, have joined with non-member Russia and other countries in cutting crude output in a pact that has helped prop up prices. On Wednesday Putin said an extension of the OPEC deal was possible and could last "at least to the end of 2018". "Russian-Saudi contacts are important and their potential is rather great," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists. "The political will of Moscow and Riyadh for deeper cooperation on the widest range of issues is clear," he added. Awkward start The 81-year-old monarch's three-day visit got off to an awkward start on Wednesday evening after landing at Moscow's Vnukovo-2 airport when the escalator he uses to descend from his plane malfunctioned. The escalator stopped midway, forcing the king to walk down himself, to be met by Russian officials including deputy prime minister Dmitry Rogozin and a military brass band. King Salman arrived with a delegation of more than 1,000 people, reported Kommersant business daily. Kommersant also said Putin and Salman are due to discuss an arms deal worth more than $3 billion (2.5 billion euros) to supply Riyadh with S-400 air defence systems. Russian energy minister Alexander Novak told TASS news agency on Wednesday that Saudi Arabia is investing $1 billion into energy projects in Russia though he did not elaborate or specify whether these deals would be signed during the visit. The Kremlin said ahead of the visit that Salman and Putin would also discuss "the situation in West Asia and North Africa, especially focusing on conflict situations in the region." The two diverge on both Syria where more than 330,000 people have been killed since war erupted in 2011 and Yemen, where a Saudi-led coalition has been bombing Huthi rebels since 2015, drawing criticism from Moscow. Putin visited Riyadh in 2007 and last met Salman in Turkey in 2015. The Saudi king's Kremlin meeting with Putin was expected to be followed by a state dinner. The countries' foreign ministers were set to meet later in the day. Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov hailed Salman's visit as "truly an epoch-making event in our relations," in an interview published on Wednesday by the Saudi-owned newspaper Asharq al-Awsat. For more than a year, the Georgia Gun Store in Gainesville, Georgia, had no requests for a bump stock an accessory that transforms a semi-automatic rifle into a weapon capable of firing hundreds of rounds a minute. But following Sundays mass shooting in Las Vegas, the shop fielded several calls from customers asking about the product, apparently out of concern that lawmakers may outlaw it. The stores owner, Kellie Weeks, said several distributors were out of stock when she called them seeking supplies. Anybody that wants to get them is probably just worried that theyre going to be banned, said Weeks. Authorities say the shooter, Stephen Paddock, had 12 rifles outfitted with bump stocks among the arsenal of weapons in his hotel room, and audio of the attack suggested he used weapons with rapid-fire capabilities. The increased interest in bump stocks echoed the spike in gun sales that often follows a high-profile mass shooting, as gun owners become concerned about stiffer gun control laws. Gun company stocks rose in market trading following Sundays attack. Democratic US Senator Dianne Feinstein introduced a bill on Wednesday that would outlaw bump stocks and other devices that, as she put it, easily and cheaply modify legal weapons into what are essentially machine guns. Several Republicans, who typically oppose gun restrictions, signalled openness to the idea. The No. 2 Republican in the Senate, John Cornyn of Texas, called for a hearing on bump stocks. In a likely effort to avoid controversy, Wal-Mart Stores Inc and the sporting goods store Cabelas both appeared to pull bump stocks from their websites on Wednesday. Calls to the companies seeking comment were not returned. Fully automatic weapons like machine guns, which fire continuously with a single trigger pull, have been largely banned since 1986. By contrast, semi-automatic rifles fire a single bullet each time the trigger is engaged and are widely available for sale. When attached to a semi-automatic rifle, a bump stock uses the guns recoil energy to bump the trigger into the finger, causing it to fire far more quickly than possible if using ones hand manually. The device is frequently advertised as simulating a machine gun. One online video shows a shooter unloading 100 rounds in seven seconds. The product is legal because the trigger is still technically pressed for each round. On Wednesday, comments on the Facebook page for Slide Fire, a leading bump stock manufacturer, were split between critics who blamed the company for the massacre and customers who said they planned to buy more bump stocks. Keep the faith, love your product, a woman named Ashley Foote wrote. How about Stephen Paddock? I betcha he left a great review, 5 stars! retorted Paul Scott. The owner of Slide Fire, Jeremiah Cottle, did not respond to numerous messages seeking comment. In an interview with the website Ammoland in 2016, Cottle said his product was intended for people who love full auto. The device is more of a novelty item than a popular seller, according to several gun dealers, in part because it sacrifices accuracy and uses so much costly ammunition. They do sell a little bit, but its very minimal, said CJ Calesa, an employee at Birmingham Pistol Wholesale in Trustville, Alabama. We usually sell 10 or so a year. Calesa said the store began receiving calls from customers about bump stocks on Tuesday. I have no idea why, but anytime an unfortunate situation happens and they start talking about getting rid of stuff, we get those phone calls, he said. Chicago: The gunman who carried out the worst mass shooting in recent US history had booked a Chicago hotel overlooking the Lollapalooza music festival in August, the website TMZ reported Thursday. Stephen Paddock had booked two rooms at the Blackstone Hotel in downtown Chicago, overlooking an expansive park where the popular music festival took place over four days in August, according to TMZ. While the website said Paddock never showed up for his booking, the report suggested a scenario that would have been similar to the Las Vegas Strip concert Sunday night. Paddock rained bullets down on concert-goers from a nearby hotel tower, killing 58 and injuring hundreds more. "We are aware of the media reports and have been in communication with our federal partners," Chicago police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said in a statement. The hotel management company did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Hundreds of thousands attended the August music festival at Chicago's Grant Park, including Malia Obama, the former president's daughter. The Blackstone is a historic luxury hotel where heads of state including former president Jimmy Carter, and artists such as Nat King Cole and Rudolph Valentino have stayed. Lahore: Pakistan's ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif on Thursday left for London, four days before his indictment in three graft cases. Sharif left his Jati Umra residence this morning amid high security and reached the Lahore airport to catch a PIA flight for London to be with his ailing wife Kulsoom. His younger brother and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif saw him off. The ruling PML-N did not confirm whether Sharif would return by October 9 to face his indictment in corruption and money laundering cases against him in an accountability court in Islamabad. Interestingly, the return date on his ticket is 4 January. A five-member Supreme Court bench on 28 July disqualified Sharif, 67, for dishonesty and ruled that corruption cases be filed against him and his children over the Panama Papers scandal, forcing the prime minister to quit for a record third time. Since then, the PML-N chief has been raising questions against the verdict. When asked if Sharif will skip his indictment and more appearances till January 4, his political secretary Senator Asif Karmani said, "Mian sahib (Sharif) has gone to London to see his ailing wife Begum Kulsoom. He will return to face the cases like he did in the past". He said Sharif is eager to be in London to see his wife who has undergone three surgeries for throat cancer. Sharif had planned to leave for London last Thursday but deferred his departure in order to face indictment in three corruption cases. However, the court fixed 9 October as the date for his indictment. His children Hassan, Hussain and Maryam are currently in London with their mother. They have also been summoned in the accountability court for the 9 October hearing. Sharif's children and son-in-law Mohammad Safdar had skipped the previous three consecutive hearings after which the court had issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Hassan, Hussain and Safdar and bailable arrest warrant for Maryam. Sharif said his children will appear in court after the condition of his wife improves. He has described the trial of him and his family members as "targeted" saying he had no hope of getting justice. Kathmandu: Ahead of the provincial and the federal elections in Nepal, the ruling Nepali Congress is likely to announce a coalition of right-wing forces with some smaller parties to counter the grand leftist alliance. The Nepali Congress, which has expressed readiness to be part of the proposed "democratic alliance", will hold a meeting on Friday, as political parties continue to align according to their ideologies ahead of the crucial polls in the next two months. At least five political parties, including the Rastriya Janata Party Nepal (RJPN), the Federal Socialist Forum Nepal, the Rastriya Prajatantra Party Nepal and the Nepal Loktantrik Forum (NFL), have decided to forge an alliance with Nepali Congress to counter the grand leftist alliance. Their decision comes a day after the CPN-UML led by KP Oli, CPN (Maoist Centre) led by Prachanda and Naya Shakti Nepal led by Baburam Bhattarai announced a grand leftist alliance for provincial and parliamentary elections. The Rastriya Prajatantra Party Democratic is also likely to join the alliance. Fringe parties on both sides of the political spectrum such as the Rastriya Janamorcha and the Nepal Workers and the Peasant Party are under pressure to choose between the NC and the UML-led alliances due to sharp political polarisation. The grand leftist and rightist alliance is likely to make a big differences in the outcome in the upcoming elections, point out political observers. Nepali Congress has called an emergency meeting of the party's central working committee on Friday to discuss the matter, said Dhyan Govinda Ranjit, CWC member and Parliament Member from Nepali Congress. Meanwhile, Nepali Congress general secretary Sashanka Koirala has said that it is natural to forge a working alliance among the parties with common ideology prior to the elections. He also stressed the need for collaborating with democratic forces in the upcoming federal and provincial elections. Nepal's Election Commission is preparing to hold provincial election on 26 November and federal election on 5 December. Cox's Bazar: Bangladesh on Thursday announced it would build one of the world's biggest refugee camps to house all the 800,000-plus Rohingya Muslims who have sought asylum from violence in Myanmar. The arrival of more than half a million Rohingya Muslims from Buddhist-dominated Myanmar since 25 August has put an immense strain on camps in Bangladesh where there are growing fears of a disease epidemic. A Bangladesh minister gave details of the mega camp as Myanmar's army blamed Rohingya militants for setting fire to houses in troubled Rakhine state in recent days to intensify the exodus of the Muslim minority across the border. Hard-pressed Bangladesh authorities plan to expand a refugee camp at Kutupalong near the border town of Cox's Bazar to accommodate all the Rohingya. Two thousand acres (790 hectares) of land next to the existing Kutupalong camp were set aside last month for the new Rohingya arrivals. But as the number of newcomers has exceeded 500,000 adding to 300,000 already in Bangladesh another 1,000 acres has been set aside for the new camp. Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya, minister for disaster management and relief, said all the Rohingya would eventually be moved from 23 camps along the border and other makeshift camps around Cox's Bazar to the new zone. "All of those who are living in scattered places... would be brought into one place. That's why more land is needed. Slowly all of them will come," the minister told AFP, adding families were already moving to the new site known as the Kutupalong Extension. The minister said two of the existing settlements have already been shut down. This week Bangladesh reported 4,000-5,000 Rohingya were crossing the border daily after a brief lull in arrivals, with 10,000 more waiting at the frontier. 'Extraordinary generosity' The United Nations has praised Bangladesh's "extraordinary spirit of generosity" in opening up its borders. But UNICEF chief Anthony Lake and UN emergency relief coordinator Mark Lowcock said in an appeal for $430 million to provide aid that "the needs (of the Rohingya) are growing at a faster pace than our ability to meet them". "The human tragedy unfolding in southern Bangladesh is staggering in its scale, complexity and rapidity," they said in a statement calling the Rohingya crisis "the world's fastest developing refugee emergency". Rohingya who have made it to Bangladesh allege the spurt in arrivals follows a new campaign of intimidation by Myanmar's army in parts of Rakhine which were still home to Muslim communities. But the office of Myanmar army chief Min Aung Hlaing said blazes at seven houses in a Rohingya village in Buthidaung township early Wednesday were started by one "Einu", an alleged militant from the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA). "ARSA extremist terrorist" Einu had been "urging people to run" across the border to Bangladesh, said the statement published on the office's Facebook page. The refugee crisis erupted after ARSA raids on Myanmar police posts on August 25 prompted a brutal military backlash. The United Nations has said the Myanmar army campaign could be "ethnic cleansing" while military leaders have blamed the unrest on Rohingya. While the worst of the violence appears to have abated, insecurity, food shortages and tensions with Buddhist neighbours are still driving thousands of Rohingya to make the arduous trek to Bangladesh. Bangladesh has made the journey even more difficult with a clampdown on boats running refugees across the Naf river that separates the two countries. Authorities have destroyed at least 30 wooden fishing vessels whose captains are accused of smuggling Rohingya and illegal drugs into the country, officials said Thursday. The boatmen were caught in possession of about 100,000 "yaba" pills, an illegal stimulant popular in Bangladesh, said a border guard official. As the Rohingya crisis is exacerbating into one of the largest humanitarian crisis, the United Nations is constantly looking for ways to blunt the effect of the mass exodus. From asking for aid from the international community to condemning the persecution of the Rohingyas in Myanmar, the United Nations seems to be doing all it can to palliate the crisis. Nevertheless, the Rohingyas fear that the UN has failed them. While the UN is condemning world leaders for failing to find a solution to the refugee crisis, a UN commissioned report criticises the organisation's own failure in Rakhine. A copy of the report was obtained by The Guardian and it warned that the UN was not prepared to deal with the impending Rohingya crisis. The report, submitted in May, was reportedly "suppressed" by the United Nations. It predicted a "serious deterioration" in the six months following its submission and urged the United Nations to undertake "serious contingency planning". The report, entitled The Role of the United Nations in Rakhine state, was commissioned by Renata Lok-Dessallien, the United Nations resident coordinator and the organisation's most senior figure in Myanmar. It made 16 recommendations. Sources told The Guardian that the paper was "spiked" and not circulated among UN and aid agencies "because Renata (Lok-Dessallien) didn't like the analysis". Lok-Dessallien is the head of the United Nations Country Team (UNCT). BBC also reported that sources said in the four years before the current crisis, Lok-Dessallien tried to stop human rights activists travelling to Rohingya areas and isolated staff who warned that ethnic cleansing might be on its way. Myanmar has put the United Nations on a slippery slope. While it needs help of the government and the Buddhist community to tackle the crisis, it also knows that speaking about human rights would upset the Buddhists. It is caught between two stools. A senior United Nations staffer told BBC, "We've been pandering to the Rakhine community at the expense of the Rohingya." "The government knows how to use us and to manipulate us and they keep on doing it, we never learn. And we can never stand up to them because we can't upset the government." United Nations chief Antonio Guterres asked a former senior member of the United Nations to write a memo. Titled Repositioning the UN the two-page document termed the UN mission in Myanmar "glaringly dysfunctional". A United Nations official in Yangon told The Guardian, "human rights up front isn't being implemented. It just isn't. They can say that they are ticking some boxes but in terms of actions that lead to results we're seeing nothing." Despite the United Nations publishing a report about the "devastating cruelty" against Rohingya in Rakhine in February this year, little was done to get prepared. The report released by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights noted that more than half the women interviewed reported having suffered rape or other forms of sexual violence. The report also said that houses were deliberately set on fire and Rohingyas were pushed inside the burning houses. Yangon: Rohingya militants have set fire to houses in Rakhine state in recent days to intensify the exodus of the Muslim minority, the office of Myanmar's commander-in-chief said on Thursday, in an apparent rebuke to fresh accusations of arson by the army. More than 500,000 Muslim Rohingya have run from communal bloodshed in Myanmar in the last six weeks and numbers are again rising. This week Bangladesh reported 4,000-5,000 civilians crossing the border each day after a brief lull in arrivals, with 10,000 more waiting at a frontier area. Rohingya who have made it to Bangladesh allege the spurt in arrivals follows a redoubled campaign of intimidation and arson by Myanmar's army in parts of Rakhine which were still home to Muslim communities. But a post on the Facebook page of the office of army chief Min Aung Hlaing said blazes at seven houses in a Rohingya village early Wednesday were started by an "Einu" or a militant from the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA). Security forces "working for the rule of law" in Mi Chaung Zay in Buthidaung township helped villagers extinguish the fires which "broke out about 2.40 am on 4 October", the post said. Accusing "ARSA extremist terrorist" Einu, the statement said he had been "urging people to run" from Rohingya villages to Bangladesh. The refugee crisis erupted after ARSA raids on Myanmar police posts on 25 August. Refugees who have made it to Bangladesh accuse Myanmar's army flanked by mobs of ethnic Rakhine of slaughtering them and burning their villages. Rights groups say satellite data provides evidence of a systematic 'scorched earth' campaign targeting Rohingya villages - an act the UN says is tantamount to "ethnic cleansing". But Myanmar's army has denied burning Rohingya villages and consistently accused militants of razing their own homes before fleeing to drum up global support for their cause. The battery of competing claims is impossible to check independently because the conflict-wracked area of Rakhine is under an army lockdown. Since the crisis began media and international NGOs have only been given highly controlled access on officially-steered visits. Myanmar denies the Rohingya citizenship, describing them as "Bengali" interlopers. It is a well received view inside Myanmar, where the public has shown little sympathy for the Rohingya, lavishing unexpected support on an army that once ruled the country with an iron fist. Las Vegas: The girlfriend of the Las Vegas gunman who killed 58 people and himself in the deadliest mass shooting in modern US history was questioned by the FBI on Wednesday and said she had no idea he was planning violence against anyone. Marilou Danley, who returned late on Tuesday from a family visit to the Philippines and is regarded by investigators as a person of interest, said through a lawyer that the carnage Stephen Paddock unleashed while she was abroad caught her completely unaware. He never said anything to me or took any action that I was aware of that I understood in any way to be a warning that something horrible like this was going to happen, Danley, 62, said in a written statement read to reporters by her attorney in Los Angeles, where she was being questioned. I knew Stephen Paddock as a kind, caring, quiet man. I loved him and hoped for a quiet future together with him, she said. It never occurred to me in any way whatsoever that he was planning violence against anyone. Her lawyer, Matt Lombard, said Danley was fully cooperating with the investigation. Danley, an Australian citizen of Filipino heritage, said she flew back to the United States voluntarily because I know that the FBI and Las Vegas Police Department wanted to talk to me, and I wanted to talk to them. Fifty-eight people died and more than 500 were injured when Paddock, 64, strafed an outdoor concert with gunfire on Sunday night from his 32nd-floor suite of the Mandalay Bay hotel on the Las Vegas Strip. He took his own life before police stormed his room, where they found as many as 23 guns, bringing the total death toll to 59. Twelve of his rifles were fitted with so-called bump stocks, officials said, allowing the guns to be fired almost as though they were automatic weapons. US president Donald Trump visited Las Vegas on Wednesday, marking the first time since taking office that he has had to confront a major mass shooting. Following the money Investigators, at a loss to determine a motive for Sundays bloodshed, have focussed on Danley, who had shared Paddocks retirement community condo in Mesquite, Nevada, northeast of Las Vegas, before leaving the United States for the Philippines in mid-September. Federal Bureau of Investigation agents met her plane at Los Angeles International Airport and took her away for questioning, two US officials briefed on the case said. The officials said that as of midday Wednesday, there was no indication she was aware of Paddocks plans. Investigators questioned her about Paddocks weapons purchases, a $100,000 wire transfer to a Philippine bank that appeared to be intended for her, and whether she saw any changes in his behaviour before she left the United States. Assuming she had no role in his actions, the most important thing is any light she can shed on Paddocks motive, said one official, who spoke about the investigation on condition of anonymity. Danley said in her statement that Paddock had bought her an airline ticket to visit her family and wired her money to purchase property there, leading her to worry that he might be planning to break up with her. Paddocks brother Eric told reporters the $100,000 transfer was evidence that Steve took care of the people he loved, and that he likely wanted to protect Danley by sending her overseas before the attack. She arrived in Manila on Sept. 15, flew to Hong Kong on 22 September, returned to Manila on 25 September and was there until she flew to Los Angeles on Tuesday night, according to a Philippine immigration official. Discerning Paddocks motive has proven especially baffling given the absence of the usual indicators that have emerged in other mass shootings. He had no criminal record, no known history of mental illness and no outward signs of social disaffection, political discontent or extremist ideology, police said. A US official familiar with the investigation said there was no evidence that Paddock had contacts with any extremist groups, or that he might have sought out militant groups online that could have incited him to carry out a mass shooting. Trump, touring a hospital in Las Vegas, told reporters Paddock was very demented. Meeting with officers who rushed towards the shooter, Trump asked the head of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department if investigators were any closer to establishing a motive. Weve had a couple good leads and were working our way through it, Sheriff Joseph Lombardo told the president. Karachi: At least 18 people were killed and 24 others injured on Thursday when a suicide bomber blew himself up at a Sufi shrine packed with devotees in Pakistan's troubled Balochistan province, police officials said. The attacker tried to enter the Dargah Fatehpur in the Jhal Magsi district of Balochistan and blew himself up when he was stopped by the police at the main entrance, Deputy Commissioner Asadullah Kakar told the media. Kakar confirmed the death toll and said one police constable was killed while attempting to stop the suicide bomber from entering the shrine. Two other policemen were also injured in the blast. Rescue officials fear that the death toll could rise as the blast took place when there was a heavy rush of devotees who had gathered at the shrine to pay their respect. Devotees gather at the shrine of the revered Sufi saint every Thursday to participate in a dhamaal and prayers. Balochistan home minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti told the media that so far it appeared to be a suicide attack. "Investigations are still continuing and the injured have been moved to the district headquarters hospital in Jhal Magsi," Bugti said. Balochistan government spokesman Anwarul Haq Kakar confirmed that it was a suicide attack. An initial probe showed that the blast occurred when a Sufi dance called dhamal was going in the premises of the shrine. No group claimed responsibility for the attack but the Taliban usually target shrines as they consider it un-Islamic. The local administration declared an emergency at hospitals in Sibbi and Dera Murad Jamali. Thursday's attack is the second major attack at a shrine in Balochistan where in November 2016, at least 52 people were killed and 102 injured in a blast at the shrine of Shah Noorani in Khuzdar district. A semitrailer collided head-on with a motorcycle Thursday morning on U.S. Highway 81, killing a 26-year-old Lincoln man. According to the Butler County Sheriff's Office, 30-year-old Jeremy Root of Hastings was traveling south on the highway when his semi crossed the centerline and struck the northbound motorcycle driven by Arez Karim. Karim was killed in the crash, which occurred around 7:15 a.m. just north of the Highway 81-Highway 92 junction. The sheriff's office says alcohol wasn't a factor in the crash, but rainfall occurring at the time likely was. The crash is being investigated by the sheriff's offices in Butler and Polk counties and Nebraska State Patrol. Islamabad: Pakistan on Thursday refuted as "baseless" the remarks of a top US general who said the country's intelligence agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) has connections with terrorist groups, media reports said. "The US government and army cannot make Pakistan a scapegoat for its failures in Afghanistan," foreign office spokesperson Nafees Zakaria said, the Dawn newspaper reported. "It is clear to me that the ISI has connections with terrorist groups," Chairman of the joint chiefs of staff General Joseph Dunford had told the US Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday. Zakaria said Pakistan has cleared its areas and begun a decisive offensive against terrorists on its soil. Calling General Dunford's statement "baseless", he said Pakistan has acted against terrorists indiscriminately. The top American general on Tuesday was joined by his Defence Secretary Jim Mattis in slamming the ISI. "We have seen havens left to the terrorists' own devices. We have seen the government of Pakistan come down on terrorism, while ISI appears to run its own foreign policy," Mattis had said, acknowledging for the first time in public domain that ISI runs its own policy and does not seem to be controlled by the federal government. "The US is trying to blame Pakistan for its failures in Afghanistan," Zakaria said, according to the report. Washington: The US is concerned about the future of the government in Pakistan and wants to ensure long-term stability in the country, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said on Wednesday he sought to allay Pakistan's concerns over President Donald Trump's new South Asia policy. Tillerson's comments came after his meeting with Pakistan's Foreign Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, who is visiting the US as part of efforts to rebuild bilateral ties frayed after President Trump accused Islamabad of sheltering terror groups. Asif, during the meeting with Tillerson at the Foggy Bottom headquarters of the State Department, defended his country's role in the war against terrorism. They held a wide-ranging exchange of views on bilateral and regional issues of mutual interest, a statement by Pakistan's Embassy said. Today's meeting signalled a gradual resumption of talks between the two countries that was paused by an upset Pakistan after Trump announced his new South Asia and Afghan policy. Tillerson after the meeting told reporters that the US was concerned over the future of the government in Pakistan. Tillerson said that he believed that the US has a partner in Pakistan. Responding to a question, Tillerson said the US' relationship with is "extraordinarily" important regionally. The South Asia strategy rolled out by President Trump, he observed, was in a regional context, and not just about Afghanistan. "This is about the importance of Pakistan, and Pakistans long-term stability as well. We have concerns about the future of Pakistans government too...we want their government to be stable. We want it to be peaceful," Tillerson said. "Many of the issues theyre struggling with inside Pakistan are American issues," he said without elaborating further. The statement issued by Pakistan's Embassy said Asif said that the US and Pakistan shared a common desire for peace and stability in Afghanistan and the region at large. He told Tillerson that Pakistan is winning its war against terrorism. He also informed the Secretary of State about the strong public reaction in Pakistan to the pronouncement of the US administration's South Asia Policy - based on inadequate recognition of Pakistan's sterling contribution in the fight against terrorism, the statement said. "Secretary Tillerson acknowledged and appreciated the sacrifices rendered by the people and armed forces of Pakistan in the struggle against terrorism. He agreed that cooperation between Pakistan and the United States in Afghanistan was crucial to achieving durable peace and stability in the region," the statement said. "He remarked that Pakistan's interests and concerns will be accommodated since its role was critical to President Trump's South Asia Strategy. He added that future stability of Pakistan was an important element of the strategy," it added. He also raised the issue of Kashmir during the meeting. Islamabad: The Pakistan Foreign Office on Thursday rejected US General Joseph Dunford's allegations that the Inter-Services Intelligence (IS) has ties with militant groups and that terrorist safe havens existed in Pakistan. "The US government and army cannot make Pakistan a scapegoat for its failures in Afghanistan," foreign office Spokesperson Nafees Zakaria said in his weekly briefing, Dawn reported. "It is clear to me that the ISI has connections with terrorist groups," Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dunford had informed the US Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday. In response, Zakaria said that Pakistan has begun a decisive offensive against terrorists on its soil. Calling General Dunford's statement "baseless", he said Pakistan has acted against terrorists indiscriminately. "The US is trying to blame Pakistan for its failures in Afghanistan," he added. According to Zakaria, Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif discussed regional security with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Wednesday and will also meet National Security Adviser General McMaster during his visit. Zakaria also accused India of using terrorist organisations like Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Jamaatul Ahrar (JuA) against Pakistan. The foreign office also accused India of being involved in "economic terrorism" and a plot to sabotage economic activity in Pakistan by attacking the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). He accused India of committing 1,000 ceasefire violations this year, which have resulted in deaths of 45 civilians and injured 155 others, including children and women. Zakaria also mentioned Amnesty International's recent report on pellet gunshot victims and accused Indian forces of rape and 'braid-chopping' "as tools to terrorise Kashmiri women and deter the men". Huaweis Honor Brand has launched Honor 9i, the companys latest mid-range smartphone in India. It was introduced as Maimang 6 in China and as Nova 2i in Malaysia. It has a 5.9-inch Full HD+ 18:9 Full screen 2.5D curved glass display with minimal bezels, 16-megapixel rear camera with a 2-megapixel secondary camera to capture depth information and a 13-megapixel front camera with a secondary 2-megapixel camera. It has a unibody metal design, has a fingerprint sensor on the back and packs a 3340mAh battery. Honor 9i specifications 5.9-inch (2160 x 1080 pixels) Full HD+ 18:9 2.5D curved glass display Octa-Core Kirin 659 processor (4 xA53 at 2.36GHz + 4 x A53 at 1.7GHz) with MaliT830-MP2 GPU 4GB RAM, 64GB internal memory, expandable memory up to 256GB with microSD Android 7.0 (Nougat) with EMUI 5.1 Hybrid Dual SIM (nano+nano/microSD) 16MP rear camera with LED flash, secondary 2MP camera 13MP front-facing camera with soft LED flash, secondary 2MP camera Fingerprint sensor Dimensions: 156.2 75.2 7.5mm; Weight: 164g 4G VoLTE, WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS / GLONASS 3340mAh battery (typical) / 3240mAh (minimum) battery The Honor 9i comes in Aurora Blue, Graphite Black and Prestige Gold colors, is priced at Rs. 17,999 and will be available exclusively on Flipkart starting from October 14th. Commenting on the launch, P Sanjeev, Vice President Sales, Huawei India-Consumer Business Group, said: Honor is Huaweis global e-brand. In India, Honor pioneered dual camera phones over the last 3 years. Our team has spent extensive time studying what consumers in this segment prefer and we have worked to raise the bar each and every time, creating industrys new bench marks. Today with the launch of Honor 9i, we have ushered in 4-camera technology which is widely acclaimed for its excellent selfies and low light photography capabilities. We view Honor 9i as a never-before opportunity for consumers who wish to experience an outstanding product. With inputs from Sunil LINCOLN A lawsuit accuses two county sheriffs and a police chief of harassing two employees with the Nebraska Crime Commission after it denied grant funding to a western Nebraska anti-drug task force. The lawsuit filed Monday in Lancaster County District Court by Lisa Stamm and Vanessa Humaran said officials improperly used a state criminal database to check out the two in an attempt to discredit and harass them. Stamm is grants division chief for the commission and Humaran is federal Justice Assistance Grants administrator. The search on Stamm was conducted in June, the lawsuit said, a month after the commission withdrew funding for the Western Nebraska Intelligence and Narcotics Group. The commission said the group hadn't complied with grant requirements. The group had received about $100,000 in funding the year before. The group includes law enforcement agencies in Scottsbluff and the sheriff's departments for Scotts Bluff and Cheyenne counties and the lawsuit names Cheyenne County Sheriff John Jenson, Scotts Bluff County Sheriff Mark Overman and Scottsbluff Police Chief Kevin Spencer. Spencer declined to comment Wednesday. The two other men didn't immediately return calls. The lawsuit said the two searches on Humaran occurred in 2016 shortly after she assumed some of the duties as the grants administrator. Stamm alleged in the lawsuit that Overman and Spencer filed complaints with the Nebraska attorney general's office regarding private Facebook posts and made numerous telephone calls to the attorney general's office criticizing Stamm. Stamm and Humaran's attorney, Kathleen Neary, said Wednesday that the posts were "likes or share about medicinal marijuana" and said the defendants were attempting to thwart Stamm's rights to free speech. A spokeswoman for the attorney general's office said her office asked the Nebraska State Patrol to investigate whether the defendants illegally used the Nebraska Criminal Justice Information System to gather possibly damaging information on Stamm and Humaran. The patrol was instructed to turn over any results from that investigation to the respective county attorneys of the sheriffs and police chief. A message sent to the State Patrol spokesman Wednesday was not immediately returned. Stamm and Humaran are seeking a jury trial and an unspecified amount of damages. Alaska will pay each of its residents $1,100 from its oil wealth investment fund Thursday. The distribution from the Alaska Permanent Fund is essentially free money for residents, who already don't pay a state income tax or statewide sales tax. But this years dividend checks were cut for the second straight year due to a recession that was sparked by lower oil prices. Alaskans received record oil-fund checks in 2015, but a budget action by Gov. Bill Walker set a cap on the checks beginning last year. Unlike previous distributions, the amount of this year's payout was quietly announced in mid-September in a short news release. Gone was the usual announcement made with great fanfare in other years. Here are some facts and history of the checks. SHRUNKEN CHECKS A record payout of $2,072 was distributed to qualifying Alaskans in 2015. Last year, the amount was estimated to be a bit higher until Gov. Walker stepped in and shrunk the amount because of the state's multibillion-dollar budget deficit, a situation exacerbated by chronically low oil prices. Walker's action was challenged in court, and ultimately the governor prevailed. In August, the state Supreme Court ruled that Walker acted within his authority in reducing the amount set aside for checks from the fund. POLITICAL REPERCUSSIONS? The politically-charged court case played out as state lawmakers weigh a major shift that could turn the fund into an endowment and change the dividend program. Walker's actions to cut the payouts could affect him at the polls, noted Jerry McBeath, a political science professor emeritus at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. "When people think someone wants to take something away from them, which they believe they are entitled to, they are very angry," he said Wednesday. "That is what the governor has done." Walker is up for re-election in 2018. He is an independent, and will not face a primary election. There are announced Republicans in the race while no Democrats have announced their candidacy yet. HOW TO GET FREE MONEY The checks are distributed annually to Alaskans who apply for them after living in the state for at least one calendar year, or were born in Alaska by the Dec. 31 deadline of the previous year. This year, about 640,000 Alaskans will receive checks, most through direct deposit. Altogether, the checks total $672 million. The amount of the checks is based on a five-year average of the fund's investment earnings. HOW PEOPLE SPEND THE MONEY Some use the checks as fun money for purchases like big-screen TVs, traveling and furniture. But for many in cash poor villages in rural Alaska, the money goes toward necessities such as costly heating fuel or even down payments for boats or all-terrain vehicles used in subsistence hunting. In the old gold rush town of Nome on the western coast, many use the money to put food on the table, according to Mayor Richard Beneville. He said it would be nice to get the full amount, but people there understand the state's fiscal problems, and he hasn't heard anyone complain about the smaller payout. "Something is better than nothing," he said. HOW IT ALL BEGAN The permanent fund was created by voters in 1976 as an investment account for royalties after oil was discovered on the North Slope. The principal may not be spent, according to the state constitution, and the earnings may be used by the Legislature for any public purpose, including dividends. Residents began getting money from the fund in 1982. If an Alaskan has qualified for all of the checks distributed from the beginning, he or she would have received $41,221.41, said Sara Race, director of the state's Permanent Fund Dividend Division. With Thursday's distribution, the state will have paid out about $24 billion. The fund, which was valued at $61 billion on Wednesday, gets its earnings from a diversified portfolio, which includes stocks that include Apple, Microsoft, Chinese commerce company Alibaba, Bank of America and Facebook. The Associated Press contributed to this report. A majority of Americans think increased automation in the workforce will exacerbate inequality between the rich and poor, according to a new study. The Pew Research Center survey found that 76% of Americans, when asked about the impact of robots displacing humans in the workforce, thought it would lead to greater levels of inequality. Sixty-four percent of respondents also said they expected people to have a hard time figuring out what to do with their lives as a result of increased technology. Perhaps unsurprisingly, a majority of Americans had negative feelings about increased automation and the displacement of human workers in the labor market. Nearly three-quarters (72%) of respondents said they were worried about the concept, while 25% said they were very worried. According to the Pew survey, 6% of respondents have already been affected by automation in the workplace. In a study by consulting firm McKinsey, current technology could already automate nearly half (45%) of jobs humans are paid to perform. An analysis by PricewaterhouseCoopers estimated that 38% of U.S. jobs are at high risk of automation by the early 2030s. Billionaire investor Jeff Greene told FOX Business in March that service jobs will be most at risk. The United States is already dealing with a shifting labor market. Theres a widening skills gap, where millions of open jobs have gone unfilled because employers cannot find employees with the right skillset to hire. But soon, Americans and individuals across the world may have to adapt to a world without work. However, according to Pew, Americans still disagree over who should step in and provide support for displaced workers. While 77% of Democrats support the concept of universal basic income, only 38% of Republicans do. Biddeford-Saco-OOB Courier "When you shake a veteran's hand today, look them in the eye and give them a heartfelt thank you," said USAF Ret. Col. Jen Fullmer, parade grand marshal, who spoke at the event. We've all heard the narrative by now: IBM (NYSE: IBM) is in terminal decline, having fallen prey to younger, leaner companies such as Amazon. And even former cheerleader Warren Buffett is ditching the stock. To this point, IBM's revenue has been declining for 21 straight quarters, and many of the company's high-touch, high-cost offerings have become increasingly commoditized by cloud computing. While the Jeopardy-winning Watson product was supposed to be the company's next big thing, it's not showing up (yet, at least) in the company's revenues, and reports on some Watson pilot programs have not been entirely positive. However, while IBM may be hanging on to declining (but profitable) businesses and paddling hard to catch up in cloud computing, the company is also investing research dollars toward the next big thing. Here are a few moves IBM is making with an eye on the next century, not the next quarter. Quantum leaps IBM researchers recently put out a paper describing a breakthrough in their quantum-computing research lab. While a traditional computer uses ones and zeroes, or "bits," to store information, quantum computing uses "qubits" in which a one and a zero are present at the same time in a superposition state. That enables a quantum computer to process much more information than a traditional computer or even a supercomputer. IBM is pioneering research in the field, although other tech giants like Google and Microsoft are also experimenting with quantum computing. In a recent paper, IBM researchers were able to write an algorithm that harnesses quantum computing's power to "derive the lowest energy state of a molecule of beryllium hydride." While that may not seem like much, it's important because deriving an energy state of a large molecule allows researchers to understand complex chemical reactions. This research may pave the way for the development of new pharmaceutical drugs and other advanced materials. IBM invests in MIT Another major recent announcement was IBM's investment of $240 million over a 10-year period to establish the MIT-IBM Watson AI Lab, where IBM researchers and students will work on next-generation artificial intelligence solutions. It's unclear who will own the intellectual property of the venture, although I would imagine it would be shared among students and the company in some way. According to IBM's vice president of artificial intelligence Dario Gil, "The core mission of [the] joint lab is to bring together MIT scientists and IBM ... to shape the future of AI and push the frontiers of science." What's the impact? These moves clearly show that 107-year-old IBM is looking to get younger by focusing on new technologies that will impact the next generation. Skeptics may say (and would not be entirely wrong) that IBM must do this because it missed out on the current generation's leading technologies, or at least missed out becoming a leader with strong franchises. However, I think investors should be encouraged. First, the cost impacts of these investments are rather low. The $240 million the company is setting aside to partner with MIT over 10 years is a negligible portion of IBM's $6 billion annual research-and-development budget. Moreover, working on exciting new technologies is a good way to attract young talent, and IBM has more competition than ever for engineers and developers these days. A good way to get a leg up on the competition, of course, is to establish relationships with talented individuals while they are still in college or graduate school. Finally, there could (eventually) be a significant business payoff. Shareholders, of course, should not expect anything this quarter or even in the next few years -- but at the very least, new research should bolster IBM's leading patent trove. In 2016, IBM's "intellectual property and custom development income," from patent sales and licensing, amounted to $1.6 billion, or a significant 13% of the company's operating income. Moreover, it's likely IBM will acquire shares in the start-ups that come out of the MIT venture, and these start-ups could one day become successful companies in their own right. A reason to buy? It's tough to judge the cross-currents of IBM's struggling legacy businesses along with the prospects of potential technology breakthroughs. To me, IBM remains one of the most interesting companies in the market, as it trades at only 11.8 times earnings and has a dividend over 4%. Yet it faces more uncertainty than a typical large-cap dividend stock. At this valuation, IBM is weirdly both attractive to income- and growth-oriented investors. If its to live up to expectations for either set of investors, it needs strong footholds in the next age of tech, and these initiatives certainly help. 10 stocks we like better than IBMWhen 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 IBM 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 September 5, 2017 Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Teresa Kersten is an employee of LinkedIn and is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors; LinkedIn is owned by Microsoft. Billy Duberstein owns shares of GOOG, AMZN, IBM, and MSFT. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends GOOGL, GOOG, and AMZN. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Late Sunday evening, in the midst of the glitz and glamour of the Las Vegas strip, 64-year-old Stephen Paddock barricaded himself into a room on the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino and opened fire on a crowd of 22,000 unsuspecting concertgoers. It was the worst shooting in modern U.S. history, leaving at least 58 people dead and more than 500 injured, not including Paddock, who killed himself. Now, Paddocks ability to inconspicuously transport 23 guns -- including at least 12 semi-automatics -- to his room without alerting suspicion is raising questions, and concerns, about how hotels can prevent similar bloodshed in the future. Experts, however, agree that there is no panacea to preventing violence. Smart technologies, coupled with advancing practices and policies, can make a difference, Patriot One Technologies CEO Martin Cronin told FOX Business Ashley Webster Thursday. But people go there for a good time. They go to move freely. They dont want to fundamentally change the way of life. Already, some hotels across the country are implementing measures to beef up their security in wake of the shooting. The Encore and Wynn Hotel and Casinos, both located on the Strip, began checking bags with handheld metal detectors. And the Nevada Gaming Control Board said that it will put undercover security guards inside casinos across the country. MGM Resorts International, which owns the Mandalay Bay Hotel, has declined to comment on its security operations. Cronin said his company is working with partners in Las Vegas to install technology that can discretely detect the presence of weapons when a person walks by it. ACME Security Inc. president Weston Conwell said on Countdown to the Closing Bell that he suspects there will be big changes underway in how hotels manage security. But the problem is, people want a stop gap, he said. They want things to happen right away. Seven members of the Senate Banking Committee are asking the Internal Revenue Service to rescind a $7.25 million contract with Equifax. The senators say the awarding of the contract shows a clear disregard for millions of Americans who had their personal information stolen. The contract came to light as Equifax's former chief executive made the rounds at a series of congressional hearings this week on a data breach that affected 145 million Americans. The IRS renewed a contract with Equifax to verify taxpayers' identities, but only until it could resolve a protest Equifax had lodged after the IRS went with another bidder. The senators say in a letter to IRS Commissioner John Koskinen that "we have no assurances that our constituents' personal information is safe in their hands." A federal judge said current and former Wells Fargo & Co officers and directors, including Chief Executive Officer Tim Sloan, must face nearly all of a lawsuit by shareholders seeking to hold them personally liable for sales abuses and the creations of millions of unauthorized accounts. U.S. District Judge Jon Tigar in San Francisco said shareholders may pursue claims that Wells Fargo officials looked the other way as employees facing "unrelenting" pressure to meet sales quotas unlawfully opened accounts, and misled the public about fraudulent practices at the nation's third-largest bank. "Where, as here, plaintiffs' claims arise from a pervasive and undisputed fraud going to the core of the company's business, it is reasonable to infer senior executives knew about, or at least recklessly turned a blind eye to, the stream of red flags," Tigar wrote in a decision dated Wednesday. The judge also said that in the "unlikely" event Sloan did not know about the suspect practices before 2013, when he was chief financial officer, he was "certainly aware of these issues" by December 2013 when he told the Los Angeles Times: "I'm not aware of any overbearing sales culture." Wells Fargo spokesman Peter Gilchrist said in an email that the bank was taking "decisive steps" to rebuild trust, including from employees and shareholders. "We will continue to advocate strongly for our positions before the courts," he added. Lawyers for the plaintiffs did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The shareholder derivative lawsuit seeks to force officers and directors - or their insurers - to reimburse Wells Fargo for losses caused by their alleged poor oversight and misleading statements, as well as governance changes. Wells Fargo has been rocked since September 2016 by a series of scandals, including the San Francisco-based bank's creation of as many as 3.5 million unauthorized accounts. Many lawsuits have been filed, including on behalf of customers, and several top officials including onetime Chief Executive John Stumpf and retail banking chief Carrie Tolstedt have left the bank. Stumpf and Tolstedt are defendants in the derivative lawsuit. Sloan testified on Tuesday before the Senate Banking Committee about Wells Fargo's response to the scandals, and faced attacks from Republican and Democratic senators. Senator Elizabeth Warren, a Massachusetts Democrat, called for Sloan to be fired. The case is In re: Wells Fargo & Co Shareholder Derivative Litigation, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, No. 16-05541. (Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Marguerita Choy) The United States International Trade Commission (ITC) on Thursday sided with American home appliance company Whirlpool (NYSE:WHR) in its trade complaint against manufacturing rivals, concluding that U.S. washing machine manufacturers are being harmed by unfairly cheap exports from other countries. The commission, which voted 4-0 in favor of Whirlpools complaint, has recommended that President Donald Trump consider actions to remedy the situation by the end of this year, while a final decision is expected to be made by the White House next year. Whirlpool has accused Samsung and LG Electronics, its South Korean competitors, of flooding U.S. markets with cheap washing machines, pricing out domestic manufacturers. While the ITC didn't say material harm was coming from South Korea in particular, Whirlpool alleged the country's manufacturers shifted production to other countries in order to avoid U.S. anti-dumping tariffs imposed in previous years. Whirlpool is the latest U.S. company to win an antidumping trade vote with the ITC in recent months. Boeing has made headlines throughout recent weeks for its public spat with Canadian plane maker Bombardier, which the U.S. ITC also agreed was causing harm to domestic manufacturers through cheap exports. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stepped in, saying Canada was considering ending its planned purchase of Boeing fighter jets over the complaint. On Wednesday, Bombardier tweeted that the U.S. plane manufacturer used the antidumping law as a weapon to deceptively kneecap competition and customers, linking to a report by the Cato Institute that questions whether these trade laws actually serve U.S. interests. The laws, as written, preclude objective analysis at the ITC, forbid consideration of the effects of these punitive duties on downstream U.S. companies and consumers, and give the Commerce Department vast discretion over administrative matters that dramatically affect the bottom linethe duty rates calculated and applied, Catos Daniel Ikenson wrote. In August, LG Electronics announced its plans to build a 1 million square foot manufacturing facility in Tennessee, scheduled for completion by the first quarter of 2019. Meanwhile, in June, Samsung said it will open its first U.S. appliances plant in more than 30 years in South Carolina. Experts believe these two massive investments could put the Trump administration in a difficult position where the trade disputes are concerned. Former White House senior adviser and conservative firebrand Steve Bannon may once again shakeup the Republican Party by supporting and functioning as an outside adviser for a controversial candidate to defeat an establishment Republican congressman in a district that covers the New York City borough of Staten Island, FOX Business has learned. Bannon met Wednesday in Washington, D.C., with former Rep. Michael Grimm, a Republican who held the New Yorks 11 congressional district seat that covers most of Staten Island until 2015, when he was sentenced to seven months in federal prison on tax evasion charges. Grimm was eventually replaced by Republican Rep. Dan Donovan, who Grimm announced he will challenge in the districts 2018 GOP primary. In meeting with Bannon, Grimm is seeking high-profile support from one of the most important emerging power brokers in the Republican Party. Bannon, who represents the populist wing in the GOP, recently helped Judge Roy Moore defeat an establishment candidate Luther Strange in the Republican primary for the U.S. Senate seat in Alabama vacated by Jeff Sessions before he became President Donald Trumps attorney general. Ironically, in supporting and advising Moore, Bannon also defeated his old boss, the president, who campaigned for Strange before the primary. Its unclear where Trump comes out in the Grimm-Donovan run off; a White House spokesman didnt return calls for comment. The meeting between Grimm and Bannon took place at Bannons offices at the so-called Breitbart Embassy, the Washington, D.C. headquarters of the conservative media outfit, Breitbart News, according to Michael Caputo, Grimms campaign adviser and a former communications adviser to Trump during the 2016 election, who was also present. Also at the meeting was Chris Grant of Big Dog Strategies, a D.C. communications consulting firm, who intends to be general consultant to the campaign, Caputo said. We spent the afternoon at the Breitbart Embassy strategizing with Steve and his team outlining how we will work together on this race, Caputo told FOX Business in a text message. We talked to him about fundraising, wedge issues, campaign strategy and how we will win the race and unseat a key anti-Trump Republican in the House, he added. While Bannon will not officially be part of the campaign, he could play a similar role as when he was involved with Moores primary run. According to a source close to Bannon, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, the former White House official may lend outside support by giving advice on messaging and strategy. A spokesman for Bannon declined to comment and later noted he will likely only be a key supporter for the former New York congressman. Grimm was once a rising star in the Republican Party, being elected in 2010 on the anti-establishment Tea Party wave that helped the GOP win the House of Representatives during then-President Obamas first term. But in 2014 he was charged with 20 counts of fraud, federal tax evasion and perjury, and later that year he pleaded guilty to a single count of tax fraud which forced him to resign from Congress in December of that year. Grimm was also infamously known for physically threatening to throw a NY1 reporter off a balcony on Capitol Hill in 2014 and saying "I'll break you in half. Like a boy." Even with his legal baggage Grimm won re-election in 2015 before giving up the seat to go to jail. Donovan won a special election that year, and was re-elected in 2016. Bannon was the brainchild of Trumps successful America First campaign strategy that stressed nationalism in matters of economics, trade and immigration. He was ousted from the Trump White House in August, after a broad shakeup in senior personnel following the appointment of new chief of staff, Gen. John Kelly. Still Bannon remains close to the president, people familiar with the matter tell FOX Business. Despite supporting different candidates in the Alabama race, Bannon continues to consult with Trump on policy matters even as the president has surrounded himself with advisers, like Kelly, who are less nationalistic and more globalist in their politics. Grimm, meanwhile, showed his support for Trump during his opening campaign rally this Sunday in Staten Island. "I feel it's my duty to protect our president's back and to advance his agenda," said Grimm, who took the stage to Toby Keith's "Made in America" and declared of his Staten Island turf, "This is middle America." Donovan on the other hand has publicly shown mixed feelings about Trump. In April during a telephonic town hall Donovan explained to his supporters why the president should release his tax returns, dismissed Trumps proposed budget cuts as misleading and assured that Planned Parenthood facilities in New York would not be defunded. When one caller said she was worried about Trumps proposal to cut funds for environmental protection efforts, Donovan explained that the budget that youre speaking of now is just a proposed budget," adding that "the proposed cuts that you see are not going to be the budget that were voting on. Caputo said Donovans efforts to undermine the president are the reason Grimm is making a move to unseat him. Donovan has worked against the president on ObamaCare, immigration, sanctuary cities and moreall issues on which N.Y.-11 stands firmly with the president, Caputo said. Grant declined to comment at the time of publication. A spokesperson for Donovan did not return calls for comment. What do members of the president's cabinet do when they've behaved badly? In previous presidenciesand Im talking about all 44 of theminsults, open contraction, argument and plain ignorant behavior on the part of presidential cabinet secretaries was, to say the least, exceedingly rare, and even more rarely, tolerated by the president. But President Donald Trump seems to be saying to wayward secretaries that he is strong enough to put up with such insubordination from well, his subordinates. Rex Tillerson today tried to tamp down reports of a rift with Mr. Trump; his secretary of state called the media together to deny reports that he was on the verge of resigning back in July. Tillerson wasn't convincing. He did even worse when asked whether he had indeed called the president a "moron." Petty or not, it's the creation, apparently, of Tillerson himself. And the president just days ago had to rein in Tillerson for trying to negotiate with North Korea, tweeting that Tillerson is "wasting his time." Defense Secretary [James] Mattis who was once a star in the Trump lineup not only contradicts the president, but strays from his lane as he does so. Mattis just yesterday exceeded himself telling the Senate the Iran nuclear deal is in our national interest however, the president hasn't made a final determination on that issue. And as for the recently-ousted Tom Price, House Speaker Paul Ryan, who's spent more time working against than for the president, tried to persuade the administration to keep Price despite his ethical issues and failures on health care. We have a president to be proud of and the problem is some of his cabinet members are not acting, secretarial. It's time for them to accord the president the respect he and the nation deserve. And the magic word isn't pleaseit's now. Questions of Donald Trumps cabinet members loyalty arouse after two high-profile members -- Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Secretary of Defense James Mattis -- seemingly contradicted the president on two major foreign policy concerns for the United States. On Wednesday, Tillerson rebuked an NBC News report that he had considered resigning in July amid conflicts with Trump, adamantly denying that he had ever contemplated quitting his post. The report was set-off by Tillersons comments this weekend that he was open to conversing with the North Koreans through back channels. President Trump almost immediately refuted that plan on Twitter, lambasting that Tillerson was wasting his time trying to negotiate with Little Rocket Man. I told Rex Tillerson, our wonderful Secretary of State, that he is wasting his time trying to negotiate with Little Rocket Man... Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 1, 2017 ...Save your energy Rex, we'll do what has to be done! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 1, 2017 He made a mistake in revealing the fact that weve got back channels to the North Koreans, former Ronald Reagan adviser Pat Buchanan told FOX Business Lou Dobbs on Lou Dobbs Tonight. I dont think theres any reason to do that and go public with it. On Tuesday, Mattis said in testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee that he supported remaining in the Iran nuclear deal, the major foreign policy achievement under the Obama administration that curtails Irans nuclear capabilities. Trump, who is currently weighing whether the U.S. should renew it before the Oct. 15 deadline, has been highly critical of the deal, once calling it the worst deal ever made. I dont fault [Mattis] that much for it, Buchanan said. We just got the knowledge that a lot of us have suspected for a long time that many folks in there think we should sustain it because the losses from dumping it over would be great than any gain. Council of Economic Advisers Chairman Kevin Hassett lashed out at the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center (TPC) on Thursday for writing an analysis of the Republican tax plan that imagined numbers as he delivered a keynote speech as a guest of the center itself. Hassett criticized the analysis of the think tank, which warned that the Republican plan will blow a $2.4 trillion hole into the federal budget and the wealthiest people in the United States would receive more than half the benefits from the extensive tax cuts, saying it was scientifically indefensible, inaccurate and fiction. This plan is pro-growth. On the individual side it is pro-work. When you get more of an economic input like work, you get more economic output and you get more economic growth, Hassett said. And on the corporate side, companies will no longer be incentivized to offshore, and what they save in taxes should help raise corporate investment and wages, he added while also defending his critiques by touting the nine-page tax plans ability to ignite economic growth and the possibility of bringing jobs back to the United States from overseas. Hassett particularly took issue with the point that the framework would negatively impact the budget. The reconciliation instructions in the Senate that are under debate have made room for $1.5 trillion in statically scored revenue cost...I frankly justdon't understand what the purpose of a document is that shows a score for one number when there is agreement that the bill has to score to something else., Hassett said during the conclusion of his remarks. Congressional Republicans have also criticized the report with leaders such as Rep. Kevin Brady (R-Texas), chair of the House Ways and Means committee, calling the TPCs analysis misleading, unfounded, and biased." "Their analysis was a work of fiction that Stephen King would've been proud of," Brady told Fox News Radio on Tuesday. The GOP tax reform plan introduced cutting the corporate rate from 35% to 20%. The framework will also include cutting back the rate for pass through businesses from 39.6% to 25% and the top individual rate will also see a cut from 39.6% to 35%. On the individual side, taxpayers will also see their income brackets simplified from seven to three, with the rates being compressed to 12%, 25% and 35%, as well as a doubling of their standard deduction. In his role Hassett has a direct pipeline to President Trump offering advice on economic policy. Prior CEA Chairs include Fed Chair Janet Yellen and former Federal Reserve chairs Ben Bernanke and Alan Greenspan. Former White House adviser Steve Bannon may be supporting Michael Grimm in his pursuit to unseat establishment Republican Congressman Dan Donovan, but theres one powerful Bannon ally who is uncharacteristically keeping his distance from the race, FOX Business has learned. Robert Mercer, the hedge fund billionaire, mega Republican donor and the financier for Bannons conservative media platform, Breitbart News, will not be going along with Bannons backing of Grimm, a former Congressman who was forced from his seat in 2014 after a fraud conviction, according to sources with direct knowledge of the matter. He (Mercer) has not funded and has no intention of funding Grimm, according to a person close to the Mercer family who spoke on the condition of anonymity. A spokesman for Mercer had no comment but would not deny that the financier is not supporting Grimm, who, as FOX Business reported, met with Bannon on Wednesday to discuss campaign strategy. Bannon didnt return telephone calls, but people close to him say its unclear how much effort he and Mercer will devote to supporting candidates in the House because his bigger goal is to elect populist Republican candidates in the Senate and unseat his nemesis Mitch McConnell as the GOP majority leader. Meanwhile, Bannon and Mercer dont always walk in lock step. It appears both are on opposite sides in the West Virginia GOP primary for the senate with Mercer supporting Congressman Evan Jenkins, and Bannon leaning towards support for the states Attorney General, Patrick Morrisey. Still, Grimms controversial past may also be a factor in Mercer keeping his distance. A former rising star from the Tea Party wing of the GOP, Grimm was elected to Congress in 2010, in a district representing the New York City borough of Staten Island, only to be charged four years later with 20 counts of fraud, federal tax evasion and perjury. Grimm eventually pleaded guilty to a single count of tax fraud, which forced him to resign from Congress in December of that year, and he was sentenced to a seven-month term in federal prison. He also made news in other ways: As the press attention to his legal problems were mounting, Grimm physically threatened to throw a NY1 reporter off a balcony on Capitol Hill, saying "I'll break you in half. Like a boy." Grimm recently announced that he is taking aim at Donovan, who won his seat in a 2015 special election, and was re-elected in 2016. The primary will take place in 2018. Losing the backing of Mercer who Bannon has said would help finance his efforts to defeat establishment GOP candidates would be a significant blow to any effort to unseat Donovan, an incumbent who could tap into the deep pockets of GOP backers on Wall Street and the real estate industry. Michael Caputo, Grimms campaign manager, confirmed the meeting with Bannon, and told FOX Business, We havent asked the Mercers to donate and we would respect his decision because we admire his leadership for President Trump. But this changes nothing. Since leaving the White House in August, Bannon has returned to his post at the top of Breitbart, and vowed to work in support of various candidates that would better reflect his nationalist agenda on trade, immigration and economics -- platforms that candidate Trump ran on during the 2016 presidential election. As president, Trump has found it difficult to translate Bannons policy beliefs opposing trade deals such as the North American Free Trade Agreement, imposing stricter immigration controls and ending tax policies that favor Wall Streetersinto law. With that, he began a White House purge that elevated a centrist, General John Kelly to his chief of staff. Kelly immediately ousted Bannon from his role as White House senior adviser. But Bannon has vowed to fight on. He supported and served as an unofficial adviser to Judge Roy Moore, an insurgent Republican, who beat the establishment candidate Luther Strange in the GOP primary to fill the Senate seat of Jeff Sessions, Trumps current attorney general. Trump, meanwhile, supported Strange in the contest. Mercer, chief executive officer of hedge fund Renaissance Technologies and his daughter Rebekah, have a deep history of financial support of Bannons preferred candidates, most notably Trump. They were two of President Trumps most prominent financial supporters during the 2016 election and have become influential in funding super PACs that were created to finance opponents of GOP office holders who Bannon believes do not support the presidents nationalist political agenda. Campaign financing reports show that the Mercers in July made a contribution of $300,000 to a PAC charged with defeating Trump critic Senator Jeff Flake (R-AZ) in his race against insurgent GOP candidate Kelli Ward. In addition to financing Breitbart News, the Mercer family also helped fund an investigative think tank that Bannon co-founded, the Government Accountability Institute, whose president Peter Schweizer wrote Clinton Cash, a book detailing alleged conflicts of interest involving the Clinton Foundation charity. The Bannon-Mercer alliance also lead to the creation of Cambridge Analytica, a political data outfit that which worked for the Trump campaign. The Mercers were the lead financial investors for the project. This may be one of the most bizarre ex-military vehicles currently in operation. A Russian mechanics expert has restored a Soviet-era military vehicle that moves without the use of wheels or tracks - but is entirely screw-propelled. Originally built in the 1970s, the vehicle uses giant metal screws which move it forward by twisting across the ground. Formerly used by the Russian military, the truck was purchased by Alexei Anikin, who is the Director at JSC Plant of All-terrain Vehicles. His team restored the motor back to working order, recently testing it swampland near the Nizhniy Novgorod Region in Russia. Alexei Anikin said: Were proud that were the first in the country who started producing this vehicles after a roughly 30-year break, because, starting from the 1970s such automobiles hadnt been produced in our country. The unique truck can move across most difficult terrains, including water, swampland and snow. Fitted with a 159bhp engine, it is capable of carrying diggers, cranes and rescue equipment to areas that were previously inaccessible by land. Umar Vakhidov, Deputy Head of the Construction at Novgorod State Technical University said: We think, that it will be actively used, at first, by the army, at second, by geologists, by oil and gas producers. "We got used to solid surfaces, but regions of Siberia and the Far North mostly have creeping soil. This car is vital for oil and gas producers. Screw-propelled machines were first used by the military during the Second World War, after a German soldier came up with a design for a snow machine using the mechanism. The USA used similar vehicles to transport supplies across swamp lands during the Vietnam War, but they have remained largely disused since the mid-1970s. MORE AUTO NEWS FROM SUN MOTORS Former pop star Lance Bass had some blunt things to say about gun control in the U.S. and the American Red Cross in the wake of the mass shooting in Las Vegas. The star went off on social media about his efforts to donate blood as a gay man. Bass, 38, was riled up after the tragedy when he realized that he could not give blood to the victims. He sounded off in a video to TMZ on the current U.S. policy that prohibits some gay men from donating blood. Every time a tragedy like this happens, I get reminded that I cant donate blood. People just dont know that there is a ban on my blood and we have to educate people out there that there is this stigma on my blood, my gay blood, and it needs to change, he said in the video. This tragedy has brought us together, and I honestly dont have faith that this country is going to come together and make any common sense gun laws right now, so I would love, out of this tragedy, to have something good come from it. I think this ban on blood should be the easiest thing to pass. Rules imposed by the Food and Drug Administration prohibits gay men from donating blood if theyve engaged in any kind of sexual encounter with another man for the past 12 months. The rule is intended to ensure that the spread of HIV isnt exacerbated through the blood donation process, and gay men were initially considered to be the highest carriers of the disease when the regulation was established. But Bass said all blood is now tested before it is used, regardless of the persons sexual orientation. As a result, he feels that the rule is discriminatory to gay men. Late in the video, he went on to call out the American Red Cross directly, which abides by the FDAs regulations. Shame on the Red Cross for not being a leader in this over the last 20 years to help relieve the stigma of HIV in gay mans blood and donating, he said. They should really be the ones at the forefront of this movement. Bass previously posted about his frustration with the blood donation process on Twitter, where many fans shared his frustration. The Real Housewives of New York City star Bethenny Frankel has chartered 10 planes to Puerto Rico after the U.S. territory was ravaged by Hurricane Maria. Frankel, 46, who is recovering from surgery to remove skin cancer below her eye, traveled to the island to offer aid to hurricane victims, In Style reported. This is a forgotten island, Frankel told People. People have been living on their roofs for 13 days. It is like nothing I have ever seen. Peoples entire homes and cars are immersed in mud, the likes Ive never seen. REAL HOUSEWIVES STAR BETHENNY FRANKEL CRIES OVER EX-HUSBAND: IT IS TORTURE The planes were reportedly filled with diapers, non-perishable food, water, gift cards and medical supplies. Frankels charity, B Strong, is on the way to raising $1 million for Puerto Rico, People reported. The planes were utilized to take sick and wounded women and children to the U.S. for treatment, according to the outlet. The reality star visited towns outside San Juan and described the areas as a war zone. KELLY BENSIMON HOPES TO FIND LOVE ON MILLION DOLLAR MATCHMAKER AFTER REAL HOUSEWIVES WRECKED HER REPUTATION There is no color on the island. Every palm tree is rooted. This b---- hit every inch of this island. The low death toll is only counting what happened when it hit, but a storm happens more gradually than a hurricane. Now is when people are dying. They are starving. They are thirsty. They cannot communicate. They cannot bathe themselves. They wash their babies and laundry in street water, Frankel told People. It is a war zone. I do not play the blame game, but the 73 towns of Puerto Rico need to be methodically mapped out and visited, and the relief needs to be organized, delegated and executed. Frankel was in Mexico last week helping victims who were affected by a devastating 7.1 magnitude earthquake. The now-former CBS legal eagle who was fired for saying she was not even sympathetic to victims of the Las Vegas shooting because country music fans often are Republican, is now receiving online threats, according to the New York Post. Citing police, the Post reported that Hayley Geftman-Gold, the network's ex-vice president and senior counsel, has been receiving threats on her Facebook page and that authorities are investigating her complaint. Geftman-Gold took to Facebook after a gunman opened fire at the Route 91 Harvest Music Festival in Las Vegas, killing at least 59 people and sending more than 510 others to hospitals. "If they wouldnt do anything when children were murdered I have no hope that Repugs [sic] will ever do the right thing, Geftman-Gold wrote. Im actually not even sympathetic bc [sic] country music fans often are Republican gun toters [sic]. CBS quickly fired her and a network spokeswoman told Fox News that Geftman-Gold, who was with us for approximately one year, violated the standards of our company and is no longer an employee of CBS. Her views as expressed on social media are deeply unacceptable to all of us at CBS. Our hearts go out to the victims in Las Vegas and their families. Her attorney, Carrie A. Goldberg, also mentioned threats in her initial statement: In the last few hours my client, her family and friends have been bombarded by online death unimaginable in quantity and detail. We beg people to show love and support to survivors and loved ones in Las Vegas and their own lives instead of creating more violence. Geftman-Gold eventually apologized and issued a statement of her own. I posted an indefensible post in a Facebook discussion thread concerning the tragic Las Vegas shooting, a statement I sincerely regret. I am deeply sorry for diminishing the significance of every life affected by Stephen Paddocks terrorism last night and for the pain my words have inflicted on the loved ones of the victims. My shameful comments do not reflect the beliefs of my former employer, colleagues, family, and friends. Nor do they reflect my actual beliefs this senseless violence warrants the deepest empathy. I understand and accept all consequences that my words have incurred, she wrote. Geftman-Gold did not work directly with the networks news division. According to her LinkedIn bio, Geftman-Gold worked at CBS since September 2016 and graduated from the prestigious Columbia University law school in 2000. It seems that Harvey Weinstein is preparing for an intense legal battle with both The New York Times and The New Yorker. The film and television mogul has reportedly hired a team of high-powered attorneys in preparation for upcoming investigative stories about his personal life. According to The Hollywood Reporter, The New York Times has been calling many current and former employees of the executives production company, The Weinstein Co., from the past two decades to ask about his personal behavior. While nothing is known about what the newspaper is planning to publish, Weinstein is reportedly getting ahead of it by hiring a team of attorneys to defend him against possible allegations from women willing to go on the record. Meanwhile, former MSNBC host Ronan Farrow is reportedly doing a piece for The New Yorker involving similar claims against Weinstein. Variety reports that the film producer has retained litigator David Boies, as well as attorneys Lisa Bloom and Charles Harder, so that he may be prepared to refute any claims against his character. Additionally, he is allegedly trying to retain Lanny Davis, a former special counsel to former President Bill Clinton, and various public relations firms. According to both outlets, Weinstein responded to them for comment by saying that he was not aware of the news in question, and quipped that the story sounds so good that hed like to own the rights to the movie. It is unclear at this time when, if ever, the Times or The New Yorker will publish their respective pieces. Barbara Eden enchanted audiences across the country with a nod and a blink in the beloved 60s sitcom I Dream of Jeannie and 47 years later, shes still celebrated as a beloved TV icon. The 86-year-old was recently honored by the Library of American Broadcasting Foundation at the Giants of Broadcasting Luncheon for her decades-long career in film and television. But dont expect Eden to sit back and enjoy her success. She has never stopped working and still headlines shows both in the United States and abroad. Simply put, this genie has been long out of the bottle and doesnt have any plans to vanish in a cloud of smoke. Eden spoke with Fox News about her favorite memories on set, what her life is like these days and why her belly button was such a hot topic: Fox News: How does it feel to still be recognized as an icon in American TV? Barbara Eden: It feels really good! I like it. Im still active, Im still working. Its always good to be recognized for hard work youve done in the years past. While youre doing it, you dont think of it so much. Youre just working. Its a wonderful thing for someone to acknowledge it. Fox News: Whats keeping you motivated these days? Eden: I just like my work. I think Im very, very lucky to have found a profession that I fit in. So many people have to make their living doing things they dont really enjoy, but are necessary for their family. Im just lucky, very lucky. Fox News: What is it about I Dream of Jeannie that continues to entertain audiences? Eden: I think its a happy show. Of course, the genie and the fantasy is a classic story. So I think people will always be entranced by that magic. But we had a pretty good working relationship, all of us on the show. It made a difference. Larry [Hagman] was so good. And our Dr. Bellows (Hayden Rorke) was wonderful. It just made everything click. Fox News: Whats one memory you have of Larry Hagman that still makes you smile? Eden: Oh, theres so many! We seemed to have the same rhythm in our comedic timing, which was fortunate for both of us. We enjoyed working together The most outstanding story with Larry was the one when we had a lion as a guest. I had done two feature films with lions and Ive been told how to treat them. Theyre male lions, theyre lazy. If theyre well fed, they dont really want to eat you. But they do want to play with you if you run around! You have to be very quiet with them. So I went over and I told Larry, We have to go make friends with the lion. He goes, Im not going to make any friends with any bleep lion! And walks off! And so, I walked over and I did the usual things Ive been trained to do. I scratched him behind the ears. Never the ears, just behind the ears. And I rehearsed with the cat. He was 600 pounds, a big male lion. They put a little bowl of raw meat beside me. He put his head down and nom, nom, nom. Oh boy, that was good. He looks around and hes very happy. Very, very happy. And then Larry came in. They started the scene. They put the meat down and he ate his meat. He turned around, looked at Larry, and let out a huge roar! It was the loudest roar you have ever heard in your life. Larry was on the next set. He was gone! But not only was he gone, every single man on that set ran. They broke the camera, one of the pieces fell over and I had a 600 pound lion on my lap purring. He put his head in my lap and started to lick my arm, like a great, big pussycat. Fox News: Was there a moment from your time on I Dream of Jeannie that still sticks out to you? Eden: Oh my goodness, so many things happened on set. One of them was [when] my mother came to visit the set for the first time. And it was a show in which the genie was trapped in a safe. And inside that safe, dont ask me why, there was a huge lipstick and a bottle of aspirin. I dont know why that was in the safe, but it was! And of course, they would jiggle the set whenever someone would pick up this safe. Well, they jiggled it a little too hard and the lipstick fell over and hit me on the head. I was out for a couple of minutes. My mother was having a fit! Just having a fit. Fox News: Whats the story behind the belly button controversy? Eden: I have a big 'thank-you' to the media for that. I was on the set one day and [a writer] for The Hollywood Reporter walked on the set and right over to me. He said, I dont believe you have one. I said, A what? And he goes, A belly button! And then he poked me in the middle! He started writing about my belly button... The next thing I knew, the 'Laugh-In' wanted to premiere my navel on NBC. I know a lot of women are known for very glamorous body parts, but my navel? Ha! Fox News: You previously starred in the 1960 film Flaming Star alongside Elvis Presley. What was your impression of Elvis? Eden: He was a lovely man. Well brought up. Was a hard worker. A very good actor and wanted to be. This was the only film that he really had a chance of showing he could act. He got excellent reviews on the film. And, of course, it didnt make a penny because... he didnt sing a song. That wasnt what his fans wanted. But he was excellent. Fox News: How was it working alongside Lucille Ball in I Love Lucy? Eden: Oh my, that was mind-boggling for me. It was the third job I had in Los Angeles and she was so good to me. I cant tell you how sweet she was. I had a dress on that she didnt think was outstanding enough. She asked me to take it off and the next thing I knew, she was sitting there putting sparkling things all over it, just to make it look better. Heres the star of the show making this young woman look better. She was just so wonderful and so talented. Of course, I couldnt believe I was there. She wanted to sign me to a contract because she believed in comedy and thought I had a great bent for that. But at the time I had already tested at Fox, and I received the phone call while I was on the set. They picked up my option and so, instead of "Lucy" I went to Fox. Fox News: At any point in your career, did you ever feel typecast because of your success in I Dream of Jeannie? Eden: No, I didnt, I really didnt. Because after I did I Dream of Jeannie,' I did at least two other television shows. And I dont know how many television movies playing entirely different kinds of people. I was so busy So, I didnt feel that I was ever typecast. In fact, I wasnt. Jeannie just so happens to be the one people remember and thats all right with me. Shes easy to live with. I really like her. A Delray Beach, FL, woman has been accused of placing glass shards in her food to get a free meal from restaurants. DELI FACES BACKLASH AFTER CO-OWNER CALLED LAS VEGAS SHOOTING 'COMMUNITY OUTREACH' Kaitlyn Murphy, a 31-year-old resident was arrested earlier this week on felony defraud charges after she admitted to using glass to get out of paying for her food, a trick the woman claims to have learned from someone she knew in rehab. Murphy confessed that she would carry glass in her purse when she went out to eat and would sprinkle it over her food. She even intentionally cut her mouth by chewing the glass to make her story more realistic. The police reported that Murphy had visited eleven restaurants in Stuart, FL, from September 15 to September 26 claiming to find glass in her food after eating most of her meals, Local 10 News reports. FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS After Murphy reported the hazard, the restaurants would either eat the cost of the meal, or offer gift cards and free food. The police were eventually tipped off about Murphys crime spree after restaurants started describing the same woman on social media, coming into their establishments and making the same claims. The mistake that she made was this is a tight knit community. A lot of the restaurant owners and employees know each other, said Sgt. Michael German to WPTV. The pressure of social media forced Murphy to turn herself in, where police found more glass shards in her purse. In total, the police say Murphy cost restaurants hundreds of dollars in comped meals, gift cards, lost tips and lost food, as well as damaged the reputation of some servers and restaurants. Murphy originally claimed that she did it because she couldnt afford the food, but later a manager said Murphy confessed she did it for the adrenaline rush a high she was searching for after she had quit drugs and alcohol. Just before her arrest, Murphy was hired to work as a server in the area. Ben & Jerrys is promising to improve the pay and working conditions of the dairy farmers who provide milk to the Vermont-based company but it comes more than two years after they initially expressed interest in doing so. The ice cream makers and the Migrant Justice Group announced on Tuesday that they had signed an agreement in support of the new Milk With Dignity Program, a worker-driven initiative to bring together farmworkers, farmers and dairy buyers to ensure just and dignified working conditions in Ben & Jerry's dairy supply chain, according to a press release. BEN & JERRYS BANS SAME-FLAVOR SCOOPS TO PUSH MARRIAGE EQUALITY, TWITTER IS SUPPORTIVE, CONFUSED The agreement comes several months after dairy workers and activists marched to the Ben & Jerry's factory in Waterbury, Vt. to protest what they say were "slow negotiations" in reaching the Milk With Dignity deal, and more than two years since the company initially agreed to implement the campaign. According to the Will Lambeck of Migrant Justice, Ben & Jerry's had first committed to work with Migrant Justice in 2015 to implement changes to their supply chain, but had not not actually implemented any of the programs as of the April 2017 In 2015, the commitment that was signed [between Ben & Jerrys and Migrant Justice] was a commitment to work with Migrant Justice to implement that program in their supply chain, and thats what theyve yet to do, said Will Lambek of Migrant Justice in an April 2015 statement to Huffington Post. A 2014 survey of about 170 dairy workers in Vt., many of whom tend to be undocumented migrants, found 40 percent didn't get a day off and 40 percent weren't paid a minimum wage. They often worked grueling schedules that didnt allow for more than a few hours of sleep at a time and were living in substandard housing. The new agreement, however, requires Ben & Jerrys to acquire its milk from farms that adhere to the standards of the Milk With Dignity program, which ensures workers are paid at least $10 an hour, Vermonts minimum wage. Workers will also be guaranteed one day off a week, at least eight consecutive hours of rest between shifts and housing accommodations that include a bed and access to electricity and clean running water, New York Times reports. "It's an agreement that puts the worker in charge of workers' rights," he said. "It's a worker-led movement, but it's a very clever system. It's a system that really does create a win, win, win," said Jostein Solheim, Ben & Jerrys CEO. The workers, who will be informed of their rights, will help uphold the program. They are encouraged to report any violations to a 24-hour hotline, according to the Times. FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS But while Ben & Jerrys has committed to sourcing 100 percent of its dairy ingredients through this program over a period of years, it wont affect the purchase price of the final product. Stolheim said the extra money paid to farmers would not result in more expensive ice cream and the company will absorb the cost as a part of doing business. Associated Press contributed to this article The idea of a breast cancer diagnosis can be terrifying, but it's a reality that hundreds of thousands of U.S. women experience each year. The American Cancer Society predicts that for U.S. women in 2017, there will be more than 252,000 new invasive cases. Two breast cancer survivors have spoken out about the challenges they've faced -- as well as advice for other women to consider. Perform self-examinations Alison James was rubbing her pectoral muscles after a pilates class in 2014 when she noticed the top of her left breast felt like a rock, she told Fox News. BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH: STAGES AND SURVIVAL RATES Her friend, a childhood cancer survivor, encouraged her to see a doctor, James recalled. James ultimately got some bad news: at 36 years old, she had been diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer. Were always told to do self-breast exams and how many actually do them? James, a patient of oncologist Dr. Parvin Peddi, said. I know I didnt actually do them. Now 39 years old and in remission, James wondered if her cancer would have been found earlier had she been doing the regular checks. Know your family background Rachel Klenicki had no symptoms when she learned she had breast cancer, but already knew she had a BRCA-1 gene mutation -- something she shared with her mother and grandmother, she told Fox News. Klenicki said that she underwent genetic testing in 2014 after being urged by her mother -- and after finding out about the mutation, had her first mammogram later that year. A small tumor was found six months after the mammogram in a 2015 MRI, Klenicki explained. She learned she had breast cancer shortly after turning 30. Her treatment included tumor removal and chemotherapy, she explained. Klenicki, now 32, said it "would have been a bad situation" if she didn't get the test. She encouraged women to see their doctors, and also stressed the importance of knowing your family history. Speak to women going through something similar James said while she and Klenicki, a fellow patient of Peddi's, now share the same doctors, it "didn't start out that way." When Klenicki was between plastic surgeons, James recalled, her own plastic surgeon encouraged her to reach out to Klenicki, who was close to her in age. KEY BREAST CANCER TERMS YOU SHOULD KNOW "I get emotional just thinking about it," Klenicki said of their friendship. She and James also recommended women talk to others in the same health situation. "Take advantage of programs," James said, explaining that "the more you're involved and meet people in your situation and can relate to you, probably the easier" it is. Other considerations One concern, James said, was constant lethargy from when she was in treatment. "It takes time to get back to where you were" before the cancer, she said, encouraging women to be forgiving toward themselves. James also said that women with the disease shouldn't be afraid to ask for help with items like daily tasks. Klenicki also spoke about potential weight gain with chemotherapy. "If your body tells you to eat a whole plate of pasta and bread, eat the pasta and bread," she said, explaining that steroids would make her hungry. "It is what it is," she said, recommending that women "nourish how you need to nourish." Four days after the nations worst mass shooting in modern history that killed 58 people in Las Vegas, blood donation lines are not receding as hundreds of people line up to give. Red Cross officials have said they have received enough units in proportion to the tragedy. When a tragedy like this happens people want to do something, and that is something thats very easy for most people to do, but we ask people to look at their calendars for the next two to three weeksmake that appointment, Tony Briggs, a spokesperson for the American Red Cross, told Fox News. The American Red Cross of southern Nevada said they have sent 450 units of blood to 10 of the 14 area hospitals that they serve. Some people have waited up to 10 hours to give while others have been trying since Monday to make an appointment. LAS VEGAS SHERIFF: MASS KILLER LED A 'SECRET LIFE' BEFORE ATTACK Since Monday Ive been trying to donate bloodthe lines were massive, went on their websites, tried to schedule appointments and for every single date for the entire week its just been booked," Carlos Aguilar, a Las Vegas resident, told Fox News. Stockpiles of units of blood are immediately distributed in the wake of a tragedy like this shooting, Briggs said. Most of the blood already on the shelf that people donated two to three weeks ago went out to people who need it right now. The thousands waiting in lines are to replenish that stock and keep the blood flowing in the weeks ahead. Usually during the summer months, the Red Cross experiences a slowdown in people available to give. According to officials from the organization, about two weeks before the shooting there was a shortage and they sent out an appeal for donors. Many of those donating are doing so for the first time in the wake of the shooting. I think the event [the shooting] has prompted me more to show support, Genesis Contreras, a nurse who was donating the first time, said. Kimberly Brock also gave for the first time and said shes glad she finally was able to do it because she couldnt wait eight hours on Monday. Red Cross officials were reluctant to give an estimate about how many units had been donated from how many people so far due to the fact that it is constantly changing. LAS VEGAS SHOOTING VICTIM LOSES EYE, FACES POTENTIAL BRAIN DAMAGE Many in the community have been trying to find a way to help in response to the shooting. Companies like Station Casinos and Boyd gaming are offering free hotel rooms at their properties for families of victims and Las Vegas based airline, Allegiant is offering free flights for relatives of those affected. Clark County Commission Chairman Steve Sisolak set up a GoFundMe page for victims, which has surpassed $9 million. Aguilar, a former New York City resident, said it reminds him of the response after the 9/11 terror attacks. When you see something tragic, its important that we all kind of contribute one way or another," he said. Congress is too stagnant, divided and corrupted to do its job and the American people are demanding reform. The left says the system is rigged. The right demands Washington drain the swamp. Both sides need to work together to demand change in our broken national political system that will benefit us all. Young people have grown up in this broken system where conflict is profitable and short-term political gain gets far more attention than concern for our future. As a result, we are disproportionately disillusioned by politics. A survey by the Pew Research Center found that only 26 percent of millennials say politics and government is one of their top three interests, compared to 34 percent of people in Generation X and 45 percent of baby boomers. And a Rasmussen Reports poll released in July found that among all likely U.S. voters, only 15 percent said Congress is doing a good or excellent job, while 56 percent said Congress is doing a poor job. There has never been a better moment since the period following President Nixons resignation in 1974 in the Watergate scandal for fundamental Congressional reform. We need reform that will incentivize constructive leadership and restore public faith in political institutions. Todays levels of dysfunction and public distrust in Congress are fundamental threats to our republic. A terrific new book released by former Republican Congressman Chris Gibson of upstate New York, titled Rally Point, highlights needed fixes to our political system. Gibson, who was in the Army for 24 years and retired as a colonel, served as one of the most bipartisan members of Congress from 2011 to 2017. He left Congress after fulfilling a commitment to self-impose term limits. Among the reforms that Gibson highlights is the need to change how we finance campaigns. This issue was a common concern of voters for Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders in last years presidential race. The most frequent refrain I heard from Trump voters last year was their call for a president who is not beholden to special interests. Sanders repeatedly said the system is rigged for millionaires and billionaires and called for campaign finance reform as his top priority. Clinton campaigned for a comprehensive plan to achieve the same goal. The constant need to raise cash takes up enormous amounts of time and energy from candidates for Congress. They don't have time to govern and build bipartisan relationships. As one young Republican member of Congress recently lamented to me: I came here to govern not to spend all my time raising money. In Rally Point, Gibson calls for capping Congressional spending limits, full disclosure of all donations, and the prohibition of all outside spending on campaigns, including from political action committees (business, labor, outside groups, and Super PACs). Take Back Our Republic, a conservative group led by Virginia Republican Congressman Dave Brats former campaign manager, has advocated campaign finance reform including tax credits and deductions that empower small-donor contributions. The second key area of political reform is nonpartisan redistricting. We must build a bipartisan case rejecting the practice of political parties and incumbent politicians choosing their voters, instead of voters choosing their leaders. As Gibson mentions in Rally Point: The whole point of our founding was to put the citizen at the center of government. He proposes an independent redistricting amendment to the Constitution, with implementation left to the states. Nonpartisan redistricting is a cornerstone of a Bipartisan Plan to Drain the Swamp reform agenda proposed by House members Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., and Ro Khanna, D-Calif. They are members of the Congressional Future Caucus, the nonpartisan caucus for millennials. Finally, to change the culture in Washington, Gibson and the Gallagher-Khanna plan call for term limits and an end to the so-called revolving door, where powerful federal lobbying firms employ former members of Congress to advance industries that they previously regulated. The pressures and incentives to stay in office for a long time or go to federal lobbying paradoxically lead to costly, short-term policymaking. Simply look to our dangerous inaction on the long-term debt and climate crises as evidence. Among the most common critiques of term limits is that professional staff will take over policymaking. To address that, we can make term limits generous enough so that elected members still drive legislating, as opposed to the staff. Gibson and Gallagher-Khanna propose capping congressional service at 12 years, and perhaps we should consider limits as generous as 18 years. That would be long enough for a legislator to make an impact, while allowing fresh blood and new ideas to push America toward the future. In addition, Gibson and Gallagher-Khanna propose extending the current one-year ban on members of Congress from entering federal lobbying to five years, which is currently in effect for the executive branch. The point is that we need legislators to come in with purpose and urgency to solve politically difficult, long-term problems and embrace the founders vision for a citizen legislature. As I have traveled across the country for the Millennial Action Project, which engages millennial lawmakers across partisan lines, I have noticed a divide on term limits and other reforms. Outside of Washington, I have been amazed by the tremendous support from across the spectrum for these ideas, especially from young people. The most pushback comes from people who have been influencing government in Washington for decades. But without reforms, we'll continue to witness more and more extreme disruptions of our political system, preventing sensible policy from being enacted. These areas are a few of the many reforms our political system needs to be more functional, representative and future-focused. The U.S. Congress is the only federal institution capable of representing our nations diverse views and reconciling them to advance the public interest. At the same time, members of Congress cannot effectively serve that public interest in a broken political system. Now is the time for reform. If Congress passed a bipartisan bill to drain the swamp and unrig the system, I believe President Trump would likely sign it. Ronald Reagan once said, Hispanics are Republicans, they just dont know it yet. I agree! On Friday the President and First Lady will host me, along with many other Latino leaders, for a celebration at the White House commemorating Hispanic Heritage Month. Being a very public Hispanic supporter of Donald Trump is never easy, and Ive endured myriad insults, from constant social media accusations that Im a Tio Tomas (Uncle Tom), to in-person insults calling me a coconut (brown on the outside, white on the inside). For the most part, I take these barbs in stride and realize that in the incredibly polarized political environment of recent years, politics truly is hardball. For my part, accepting insults is a small price to pay for saving our country from its slide toward mediocrity. For far too long, the Democratic Party has shamelessly exploited race and ethnicity to create predictable voting blocks. But, despite big promises at election cycles, those same politicians have consistently failed to deliver tangible solutions to communities of color, as recent years see both a widening economic inequality vs. white households and a marked recent upturn in violent urban crime, which disproportionately afflicts blacks and Hispanics. For far too long, the Democratic Party has shamelessly exploited race and ethnicity to create predictable voting blocks. But, despite big promises at election cycles, those same politicians have consistently failed to deliver tangible solutions to communities of color. In contrast, in just nine months in office President Trump has already delivered real results for Hispanics in three key areaswith much more promise ahead! First, and most importantly, our economy accelerates in tangible ways since the Inauguration, with manufacturing and consumer confidence indices soaring. This palpable economic uplift of course benefits all Americans, but particularly the incredibly entrepreneurial Hispanic community, which starts small businesses at about 1.5 times the rate of non-Hispanic Americans. President Trump has already moved forcefully to reduce the regulatory burden that stifles small business growth, empowering these amazing Latino business creators. The last decade has been wonderful for owners of assets, especially stocks and real estate. Most minorities, and most Hispanics, are not yet among that ownership class and, as such, badly needed growth in wages and entrepreneurship. The tax package announced by this administration will propel a renewed economic dynamism that will vault Hispanic prosperity. Second, the President displayed wisdom and empathy in continuing the DACA program protecting illegal immigrants brought here as children. He recognizes that these young adults broke our immigration statutes through no fault of their own and comprise a separate category from adults who knowingly defied our laws. The President has sensibly charged the Congress with finding a sustainable and Constitutional solution this vexing issue, likely a compromise protecting these DACA recipients in exchange for large immigration reforms. Third, Trumps response to Puerto Rico has been as swift as it is impressive. Despite the constant grandstanding of the absurd T-shirt wearing mayor of San Juan, enabled by a mainstream media hell-bent on manufacturing Trumps Katrina, the reality is that federal response to this epic catastrophe represents a triumph of both logistics and humanitarian concern. Despite the carnage of two category 5 hurricanes, today two-thirds of gasoline stations on the island are fully operational as well as the majority of grocery stores a testimony to the determination of the Americans who call that island home as well as the 12,000 federal boots on the ground providing aid. And dont take my word for it, listen to the Democrat Governor Ricardo Rossello who told Foxs Maria Bartiromo that the president and the administration, every time weve asked them to execute, theyve executed quickly. The mainstream media narrative in 2016, which I fought so vociferously on-air, painted Donald Trump as some anti-Hispanic bigot. That slur was always false and was, thankfully, largely rejected by our own communities as Trump surpassed the Hispanic vote percentage garnered by Mitt Romney in 2012. What Trump has shown in his first months in office, through economic growth, a reasoned approach to DACA, and an outpouring of support for Puerto Rico, is that he intends to govern for the increased prosperity and security of the forgotten common working Americanincluding, of course, Hispanics. This coconut believes in that future! Let's hope Winston Churchill was correct that Americans always do the right thing after exhausting all other options, for we are running out of bad options to try in Syria. Now maybe we can try supporting Syrias Sunni Arabs against both ISIS and the Assad regime. That approach is the only one that can secure Americas vital interests in Syria. The U.S. has fantasized about many other options. We've hoped that the problem would go away, that Assad would fall, that he would win, that the Russians would help fight the Islamic State, that they'd help against Iran, that the Turks would also help. The U.S. has also pursued some policies in Syria that we hoped would suffice: that the minority Kurds would be our army, that precision airstrikes would be enough to contain al Qaeda, that we could muster a Sunni opposition to fight ISIS without helping it fight Assad. Americans must accept a disturbing reality about SyriaISIS and al Qaeda are simply not the biggest threats the Sunni Arabs there face. Assad and his Russian and Iranian controllers pose an existential threat to the Sunni, seeking to re-oppress and in some areas eliminate them entirely. The Trump administration has subtly changed our approach, striking the Assad regime when it used chemical weaponsagainand shooting down Iranian drones and Syrian planes when they seemed to threaten our forces. But the change so far is superficial. Trump policy retains the bedrock of Obama administration policy: focus on fighting ISIS first and deal with al Qaeda and Iran only in subsequent phases. The war rages on in the meantime, radicalizing Sunni populations in the region and around the globe, killing hundreds of thousands and displacing millions. Syria still hosts the largest and most dangerous concentration of Salafi-jihadi fighters and leaders anywhere in the world with the possible exception of Pakistan. It is time to face the fact that subtle policy shifts will not alter this dire reality. Let's cast our minds back to the start of this conflict in 2011, before there was ISIS, when there was only a small and irrelevant cadre of al Qaeda in Syria. The Sunni Arabs (and other parts of the Syrian population) took up arms against Assad because he was (and is) a vicious, repressive, dictator from a minority populationsimilar to uprisings in Egypt, Tunisia, Libya, Yemen, and elsewhere in the Arab Spring. But Assad did not cede power or lose his nerve as other dictators did. And he was able to call in reinforcementsIranian military advisors and steadily-increasing numbers of Iranian troops and their proxies began to flow into Syria in 2011 and 2012, allowing Assad to match growing opposition with growing brutality. The Syrian opposition to Assad began as an overwhelmingly secular force led largely by defectors from the Syrian Arab Armymany, but by no means all, Sunni. They sought Assad's overthrow and replacement by a secular government that they hoped to control. Al Qaeda remained sidelined by this movement, coming to the fore only after Assad's use of starvation, barrel-bombs, artillery barrages against civilian areas, and finally chemical weapons, brought no military response from the U.S. despite President Obama's avowed "red line." The West's abandonment of the Sunni Arab community to its fate at the hands of such a monster drove many to seek the support of the only groups willing and able to help them survivethe Salafi-jihadi movement. That is how and why al Qaeda and then ISIS got first a toe-hold and then a choke-hold on the Syrian opposition. We can't turn back time, nor simply undo that choke-hold. But we can recognize a truth that has been staring us in the face for six years nowthe Assad regime's attempts to re-impose oppressive minoritarian rule by vicious brutality is the principal driver of radicalization in Syria. Allowing the regime to do so while the U.S. raised a Kurdish army to fight ISIS has only deepened the conviction in the minds of many Sunni Arabs that the U.S. really supports Assad and Iran. The West's refusal to back the Sunni Arab opposition in any meaningful way almost ends any hope of discussion. The U.S. has supported Sunni Arabs in Syria, of course, and continues to do so in a limited waybut only to fight ISIS. Our support has largely been conditioned on promises that they not fight Assadwhich is why our attempts to recruit local Sunni Arab forces have produced such feeble results. Americans must accept a disturbing reality about SyriaISIS and al Qaeda are simply not the biggest threats the Sunni Arabs there face. Assad and his Russian and Iranian controllers pose an existential threat to the Sunni Arab community, which they seek to re-oppress and in some areas eliminate entirely. ISIS and al Qaeda do not want that. ISIS wants to govern, however insanely, Syrias Sunni population. Al Qaeda insists only that the Syrian Sunni be governed in a manner of which it approves. Both groups kill, displace, and brutalize Sunni, but they also try to provide basic serviceswhich the regime does not do. The Sunni opposition wants help against Assad first, and only then against the Salafi-jihadis. We must align our phasing with theirs to gain the only allies who can actually help us achieve our national security requirements. But we must not swing too far in this direction either, giving the impression that we want to help the Sunni Arabs in Syriaor Iraqimpose sectarian regimes of their own. The balance is tricky, but we can and must find it. So perhaps it's time to try the one thing we've refused to dowork with Syria's Sunni Arabs against Assad, Iran, and the Salafi-jihadis. This suggestion has the additional benefit of cohering with a strategy to combat Iranian malign activities and military deployments in the Middle East that the Trump administration promises to roll out shortly. This strategy is problematic, especially after years of policies that have created justified mistrust of America's intentions. It is risky and might fail. But it is the only approach that can actually work. Five years of arbitrary defense spending caps have taken a toll on U.S. military might. Every one of the service branches is today smaller and in worse shape than when Congress passed the Budget Control Act of 2011. That might not be so dangerous if the world were a safer place. But its not. Congress needs to get serious about rebuilding our depleted military, and it needs to start now. It will take years to repair the damage done to our defense forces. How bad is it? Lets look at our ground forces first. Since 2012, the Army has shrunk from 45 combat brigades to only 31. In February, Gen. Daniel B. Allyn, , informed the House Armed Services Committee that only a third of those brigades are considered combat ready and only three, count em, three, would be able to deploy immediately to a combat zone. The Marine Corps is shrunken, too. Its end-strength now stands at about 184.400down from 202,000 five years ago. Training and equipment are woefully sub-par, as well. Inadequate funding has hit Marine aviation units especially hard. Maintenance crews have to cannibalize some planes to keep others flying. Last December, only two out of every five Marine aircraft were even flyable. Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Glenn Walters warns that todays Corps is insufficiently manned, trained and equipped across the depth of the force to operate in an ever-evolving operational environment. Things arent much better for our air and sea forces. The Heritage Foundations Index of Military Strength assesses the Air Force as being 24 percent short of the 1,200 fighter jets it needs. As for keeping the aging aircraft it does have flying it lacks 1,000 pilots and over 3,000 flight maintenance crew members. Only four of its 36 combat-coded squadrons are ready to execute all wartime missions. The Navy has shriveled to 276 combat shipsthe smallest U.S. battle fleet since before World War I. And the readiness of the force continues to decline. In February, Adm. William Moran, Vice Chief of Naval Operations, testified before the House Armed Services Committee that the Navys overall readiness has reached its lowest level in many years. His testimony was subsequently affirmed by a series of accidents that revealed a deplorable decline in basic seamanship. First, the USS Lake Champlain collided with a fishing vessel. Then the USS John S. McCain and the USS Fitzgerald hit cargo ships, costing 17 American sailors their lives. All of these ships were part of the Navys Forward Deployed Naval Forces, considered our most proficient, well-trained, and experienced force because theyre operating all the time. But a report issued last month by the Government Accountability Office found that little to no dedicated training periods were built into the operational schedules. As a result, 37 percent of the warfare certifications for cruiser and destroyer crews based in Japanincluding certifications for seamanshiphad expired. While U.S. military strength and readiness has declined across the board, other nations have been ramping up their forces. And these nations are not our friends. While U.S. defense spending is lower than it was five years ago, China has increased its military budget by more than 10 percent in each of the last five years. Its standing army is 56 percent larger than ours, it is fielding a stealth fighter to compete with our F-22s and is rapidly building a blue-water navy. Beset by economic woes, Russia is now putting the brakes on its military build-up. But it has successfully propped up Assads terrorist supporting regime in Syria. Moscow also continues to occupy Ukraine and intimidate our NATO allies by sending warships into their waters, buzzing their fighter aircraft and increasing its stockpile of tactical nuclear weapons. Meanwhile, North Korea has become a nuclear power in its own right and is rapidly closing in on its goal of being able to deliver nuclear warheads to any spot on the planet. The U.S. remains the worlds most dominant military power. But that power is dwindling rapidly, challenges are growing, and old allies are not what they once were. Washington must act now to start turning this dangerous situation around. All five living former U.S. presidents will gather this month to support hurricane victims at a benefit concert in Texas. The presidents Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama will attend the hurricane relief concert, titled Deep From the Heart, on Oct. 21 at Texas A&M Universitys Reed Arena in College Station. The 43rd President and I, and our distinguished colleagues in this 'One America Appeal,' are very grateful to these wonderful performers some of them old friends, some of them new for giving their time and talent to help the urgent cause of hurricane recovery in Texas, Florida and the Caribbean, the elder Bush said in a statement. Its important that those affected by these devastating storms know that, even if the path to recovery feels like a road that goes on forever, were with them for the long haul." HURRICANE HARVEY FUNDRAISER CREATED BY FORMER US PRESIDENTS One America Appeal, a fundraiser created through the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library Foundation in September, was organized to help aid recovery efforts for Hurricane Harvey victims, just before Hurricane Irma hit the U.S. Virgin Islands and Florida. The former presidents said they were inspired to come together to lend their support to the people and communities affected and to the first responders, organizations, volunteers and neighbors who have been providing assistance to victims. The appeal has since expanded to fundraise for those affected by hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria the most recent storm which has left at least 34 people dead in Puerto Rico. The benefit concert, according to a press release, will be hosted by Lee Greenwood and feature the band Alabama, the Gatlin Brothers, Lyle Lovett, Robert Earl Keen, Sam Moore, Yolanda Adams, Cassadee Pope and Stephanie Quayle. Tickets for Deep From the Heart are now on sale at Bush41.org. The attorney general of Arkansas is asking a federal appeals court to allow the state to move forward with a law that puts new requirements on doctors who dole out abortion pills. Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge petitioned the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit on Wednesday to deny a request from Planned Parenthood to delay implementation of the law, also known as Act 577. The health organization has vowed to take the case to the U.S. Supreme Court. Planned Parenthood argues if the law were to go into effect, it would make it harder for women to gain access to medication abortions in the state. The pill induces abortions for women who are up to 10 weeks pregnant. This is not over. Were continuing to serve our patients in Little Rock and Fayetteville while we do everything in our power to protect their access to care, Aaron Samulcek, interim president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Plains (PPGP), said in a statement. PPGPs priority is to ensure Arkansans have access to expert, compassionate health care. This law does just the opposite by cutting off access to qualified medical providers. The extremists who put this law into place will now be responsible for the lives theyve put in harms way. The measure was passed in 2015 but has been on hold after a series of court challenges. It would require abortion pill providers to have a contract with another doctor who has authority to admit patients to a hospital and handle any problems that may arise. The state argues that Planned Parenthood has not given any indication as to whether the high court will grant a review. In a unanimous opinion, the 8th Circuit recognized that the lower court incorrectly analyzed the law, Rutledge said in a statement provided to Fox News. The injunction was vacated because Planned Parenthood failed to show that the state law is a substantial obstacle, preventing most women from having access to abortion services. This common sense law will help ensure that medication abortions are conducted in a safe, responsible manner and with appropriate protections for women. I will continue to defend Act 577 as Planned Parenthood continues its challenge. According to an official familiar with the case, if the 8th Circuit refuses to issue a stay and the Supreme Court decides against a review, the law will go into effect within the next few weeks. The Associated Press Contributed to this report. So-called 'bump stock' recoil devices like the ones used by the Las Vegas gunman, were first approved under the Obama administration's Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. In June, 2010, about 18 months into Obamas first term, the ATF issued an opinion letter to stock manufacturer Slide Fire on the company's after-market device. The bureau gave the company approval, according to the Media Research Center. The stock has no automatically functioning mechanical parts or springs and performs no automatic mechanical function when installed, reads the letter dated June 7, 2010. In order to use the installed device, the shooter must apply constant forward pressure with the non-shooting hand and constant rearward pressure with the shooting hand. Accordingly, we find that the bump-stock is a firearm part and is not regulated as a firearm under Gun Control Act or the National Firearms Act. The National Firearms Act prohibits the sale, manufacture, and transfer of automatic weapons to the general public. Unless a person is a member of the military or a police agency, obtaining an automatic firearm is difficult and expensive. Potential buyers must first locate a gun dealer who is authorized to sell automatic weapons. Then they must submit applications to both federal and local agencies. If those applications are approved, the buyer must pay $200 for a tax stamp. With the device, semi-automatic rifles can easily be modified to fire like fully automatic weapons. The devices allow the shooter to use the recoil of the gun to push the trigger against the stationary finger, allowing for a rapid succession of shots, similar to a fully automatic firearm. Other devices, like a trigger crank, can also modify these weapons so they fire in an automatic fashion at a very low cost and with no regulatory red tape. The approval of these types of devices falls under what some lawmakers in Washington are calling an automatic weapon loophole. And even the gun lobby is in agreement. "Despite the fact that the Obama administration approved the sale of bump fire stocks on at least two occasions, the National Rifle Association is calling on the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (BATFE) to immediately review whether these devices comply with federal law," the National Rifle Association said in a Thursday statement. "The NRA believes that devices designed to allow semi-automatic rifles to function like fully-automatic rifles should be subject to additional regulations." On Wednesday, Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., along with numerous Democratic senators, announced the introduction of a bill to close the loophole and ban devices that enable a semi-automatic weapon to fire fully automatic. Automatic weapons have been illegal for more than 30 years, but theres a loophole in the law that can be exploited to allow killers to fire at rates of between 400 and 800 rounds-per-minute," she said. "The only reason to fire so many rounds so fast is to kill large numbers of people. No one should be able to easily and cheaply modify legal weapons into what are essentially machine guns. Republicans on the Hill are also considering taking action against the sale of these weapons attachments. Fox News has learned that Rep. Carlos Curbelo, R-Fla., is writing a bipartisan bill to ban bump stocks and House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., in an interview with Hugh Hewitt, also opened the door to looking at the issue. Even the Senates No. 2 Republican, John Cornyn of Texas, opened the door to new restrictions. "If somebody can essentially convert a semi-automatic weapon by buying one of these and utilizing it and cause the kind of mayhem and mass casualties that we saw in Las Vegas, that's something of obvious concern that we ought to explore," Cornyn told reporters. The Associated Press contributed to this report. California became a sanctuary state on Thursday as Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown signed legislation protecting illegal immigrants in defiance of the Trump administration. The bill, approved by the states legislature last month, bars police from asking people about their immigration status or participating in federal immigration enforcement activities in most cases starting Jan. 1. California is home to an estimated 2.3 million illegal immigrants. In a written statement, Brown stressed that the law would not prohibit federal immigration officials from doing their jobs and would allow sheriffs to grant federal agents access to jails. But he said it prevents the commandeering of local officials to do immigration work. These are uncertain times for undocumented Californians and their families, and this bill strikes a balance that will protect public safety, while bringing a measure of comfort to those families who are now living in fear everyday, Brown said. Asked for comment, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said she hopes California will push back on their governors, I think, irresponsible decision moving forward. Californias Democratic Senate leader Kevin de Leon had introduced the bill in response to concerns in immigrant communities about President Trumps tough campaign comments and statements on immigration. But Californias influential sheriffs association opposed the measure, warning it would make it harder for them to protect the public. The legislation comes as the Trump administration has pledged to crack down on sanctuary cities that refuse to cooperate with federal immigration authorities. The bill risks the safety of good law enforcement officers and the safety of the neighborhoods that need their protection the most, Attorney General Jeff Sessions said last month in Portland, Ore., urging Brown to reject the bill, according to The Los Angeles Times. Meanwhile, members of federal immigration agencies have also voiced concern over the bill. By passing this bill, California politicians have chosen to prioritize politics over public safety, Thomas Homan, the acting director of ICE, said in a statement last month. Disturbingly, the legislation serves to codify a dangerous policy that deliberately obstructs our countrys immigration laws and shelters serious criminal alien offenders. The Associated Press contributed to this report. A top House Democrat declared Thursday that its time to pass the torch to a new generation of party leaders, in a very public swipe at Nancy Pelosi and her lieutenants that revived simmering tensions inside the caucus. Eight-term Rep. Linda Sanchez of California, in an interview with C-SPAN, said it's "time to pass the torch to a new generation of leaders, and I want to be a part of that transition. I want to see that happen." The comments from the vice Democratic caucus chairwoman, the fifth-highest ranking House Democrat, were the strongest challenge yet by a Democratic leader to Pelosi's leadership. Her comments were an implicit swipe not only at Pelosi but House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, D-Md., and Assistant Minority Leader Jim Clyburn, D-S.C. All three are in their late 70s. Sanchez, 48, told C-SPAN that the leaders do a "tremendous job," but too many younger lawmakers "don't always get the opportunities that they should, and I would like to see that change." DEMS FINALLY READY TO TOSS PELOSI? Pelosi spokesman Drew Hammill pushed back Thursday, saying "Leader Pelosi enjoys wide support in the caucus and has always said she's not in Congress on a shift, but on a mission." Fox News is told some Democratic members are incensed at the remarks. Fox News also is told that Sanchez regrets what she said and how it came out. This is hardly the first internal criticism of the House Democratic brass. Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Ohio, unsuccessfully challenged Pelosi last year, and Democrats grumbled about Pelosi in June, when the party lost a special election in a wildly expensive Georgia House race. The loss in Georgia followed similar disappointments in special House elections in Kansas and Montana, amid frustration at the party's continued minority status in the House since 2011. But such criticism from a member of the leadership team is rare. Fox News is told that House Democratic Caucus Chairman Joe Crowley, D-N.Y., doesnt see the remark as helpful. He said in a statement that the caucus stands united behind the leadership team: Leader Pelosi, Whip Hoyer, and Assistant Leader Clyburn work harder and smarter each and every day for our members and our party. The truth is we have pressing needs in this country ones President Trump and the Republican-led Congress have been unable to address over the last 258 days. The C-SPAN "Newsmakers" interview is scheduled to air in full on Sunday. Fox News Chad Pergram and The Associated Press contributed to this report. Republican Sens. Ted Cruz and Mike Lee are urging President Trump not to appoint as ambassador to Colombia a prominent career State Department official who served as a top aide to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and worked closely with her in the aftermath of the Benghazi attacks. Joseph MacManus, a 30-year veteran of the foreign service, is a top candidate to become ambassador to Colombia and was considered the frontrunner before conservatives began voicing opposition to his nomination a few weeks ago, according to several GOP sources. His nomination has the support of both Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Tom Shannon, a career foreign service diplomat who serves in the State Department as undersecretary for political affairs and is considered Tillerson's right-hand man. The two conservative senators this week expressed deep concern that MacManus was too close to Clinton during her tenure, doesn't share Trump's "America First" agenda and other conservative foreign-policy goals, and, as one of Clinton's closest advisers, was deeply involved in the State Department's initial response to the Benghazi attack. Conservatives in Congress and the foreign-policy community argue that the role of ambassador to Colombia, Washington's staunchest ally in Latin America, is a critical one and any candidate for the post should have extensive experience in the region. Click for more from The Washington Free Beacon. Rex Tillerson went before the television cameras yesterday to engage in some high-profile damage control. It was hardly the first time that President Trump has been publicly at odds with one of his Cabinet members. The former Exxon Mobil chief praised Trump and took on stories he said had been "erroneously reported," but with carefully worded denials. Hours earlier, NBC reported that "Secretary of State Rex Tillerson was on the verge of resigning this past summer amid mounting policy disputes and clashes with the White House, according to multiple senior administration officials who were aware of the situation at the time." In July, says NBC, Tillerson openly disparaged Trump as a "moron," and when the president gave a strikingly political speech to the Boy Scouts, he considered not returning from a visit to his home in Texas. Vice President Pence "counseled" Tillerson "on ways to ease tensions with Trump," and other officials urged him to stay in the job at least until years end, the network says. At 10:58 a.m., Tillerson told reporters that he had "never considered leaving this post" and Pence never tried to talk him into staying. He blamed the story on leakers, saying "there are some who try to sow dissension" in an effort to "undermine" Trump's agenda. Asking during a brief Q&A with reporters whether he had described the president as a moron, Tillerson ducked. He said he would not deal with such "petty nonsense." The lead co-author, former Wall Street Journal reporter Carol Lee, said afterward on NBC that "our reporting shows he absolutely intended to resign" and that "interestingly, he did not deny calling the president a moron." (State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert later said that Tillerson "does not use that type of language.") Trump, for his part, tweeted that "NBC news is #FakeNews and more dishonest than even CNN. They are a disgrace to good reporting. No wonder their news ratings are way down!" (CNN later said it had confirmed the "moron" comment.) But its no secret that the president is at odds with his secretary of State. Tillerson went to China last week and told reporters the administration had several channels for asking North Korea "would you like to talk?" and "were not in a dark situation, a blackout." The following day, the president appeared to undercut his chief diplomat, tweeting: "I told Rex Tillerson, our wonderful Secretary of State, that he is wasting his time trying to negotiate with Little Rocket Man." He added: "Save your energy Rex, well do what has to be done!" It looked like a public slap, although some analysts speculated that they might be engaged in a good cop/bad cop routine to keep Kim Jong Un off balance. But the New York Times reported that Tillerson "has been deeply frustrated and has told associates that he tries to ignore the presidents Twitter blasts." Trump, of course, repeatedly ripped Jeff Sessions on Twitter in what looked to many observers like an effort to push him into quitting. The president was steamed over the attorney general recusing himself from the Russia investigation. But Sessions rode out the storm and the two men appear to have patched things up. Journalists vacuum up a lot more of these leaks in this administration, but there also seems to be no shortage of infighting. By holding a news conference, Rex Tillerson magnified the NBC story but also signaled his boss that he wants to keep his job, at least for now. Pennsylvania GOP Rep. Tim Murphy has resigned from Congress amid revelations of an extramarital affair where he reportedly asked his mistress to get an abortion. House Speaker Paul Ryan said he received Murphys resignation letter Thursday afternoon. It was Dr. Murphy's decision to move on to the next chapter of his life, and I support it, Ryan said. We thank him for his many years of tireless work on mental health issues here in Congress and his service to the country as a naval reserve officer. A local newspaper published text messages this week indicating that the congressman, who opposes abortion, asked his mistress to get an abortion when he thought she was pregnant. It turned out she wasn't. Murphy voted in favor of a bill earlier this week to ban abortions after 20 weeks. PRO-LIFE CONGRESSMAN REPORTEDLY ASKED GIRLFRIEND TO GET AN ABORTION On Wednesday, Murphy announced plans to retire at the end of this term, saying he will "take personal time to seek help as my family and I continue to work through our personal difficulties." Murphy had recently acknowledged his affair with Shannon Edwards, which became public as a result of her divorce proceedings. The resignation leaves the GOP-controlled House with two vacancies, but Republicans expressed confidence they would hold onto Murphys seat, which is in a safe Republican district. As I said last night, the circumstances surrounding this situation are extremely disappointing to me, said National Republican Congressional Campaign Chairman Steve Stivers. Stivers added: However, the NRCC is undefeated in special elections this year and Im supremely confident that will continue. Fox News' Chad Pergram and The Associated Press contributed to this report. Retailers and manufacturers are seeing an apparent surge in interest in so-called bump stocks as Congress eyes a possible crackdown on the type of device allegedly used by the Las Vegas shooter. Slide Fire, which makes bump stocks, announced on its website it is suspending new orders, with a message indicating the companys supply is low. Another site that sells the companys products said in a message online that the device is out of stock and backordered. Bump stocks reportedly have stopped being offered by retailers like Cabelas as well, at least for now. This comes as Republicans and Democrats alike discuss the possibility of banning the products. The devices can be used to effectively convert semi-automatic rifles to fire so rapidly as to simulate an automatic weapon. The devices were found on guns used by Las Vegas shooter Stephen Paddock, who killed 59 and injured hundreds Sunday night. Bump stocks are legal and originally were intended to help people with limited hand mobility fire a semi-automatic without the individual trigger pulls required. They can fit over the rear shoulder-stock assembly on an automatic rifle and with applied pressure cause the weapon to fire continuously, increasing the rate from between 45 and 60 rounds per minute to between 400 and 800 rounds per minute, according to California Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinsteins office. Feinstein, a prominent advocate for gun control, already has legislation to ban bump stocks. But unlike most other gun debates, some Republicans are joining Democrats in eyeing new regulations. Fox News has learned that Rep. Carlos Curbelo, R-Fla., is writing a bipartisan bill to ban bump stocks. House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., in an interview with Hugh Hewitt, also opened the door to looking at the issue. And White House Counselor Kellyanne Conway, speaking Thursday on Fox & Friends, indicated a willingness to consider restrictions. We always welcome a thoughtful conversation on policy and issues. The Second Amendment is a bedrock in our Constitution along with the First Amendment. These rights must be protected, she said. But I know this is something that many legislators have been telling us and I read publicly that they have never even heard of the device before. And they are in Congress. So, many of them are open to a conversation. She also referenced the fact that the Obama administrations ATF gave its seal of approval to selling the devices in 2010 after concluding that they did not violate federal law: This is a device that President Obamas ATF decided would not be regulated in 2010. When asked about the devices on Thursday, Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., told Fox & Friends: Thats something were going to look at. Even the Senates No. 2 Republican, John Cornyn of Texas, opened the door to new restrictions. "If somebody can essentially convert a semi-automatic weapon by buying one of these and utilizing it and cause the kind of mayhem and mass casualties that we saw in Las Vegas, that's something of obvious concern that we ought to explore," Cornyn told reporters. "I own a lot of guns and as a hunter and sportsman I think that's our right as Americans, but I don't understand the use of this bump stock and that's another reason to have a hearing." Republicans have generally opposed almost all forms of gun regulations, and are unlikely to go beyond bump stocks. And it remains unclear whether the appetite for banning bump stocks will result in successful legislation. Asked Tuesday about "bump stocks" and whether they should be legal, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said it was not an appropriate time to be discussing legislation. Fox News Chad Pergram and The Associated Press contributed to this report. The National Rifle Association, in its first statement on the Las Vegas shooting and in a rare break from its traditional opposition to gun-related regulations, called Thursday for a federal review of so-called "bump stocks" and suggested new rules might be needed for the device apparently used by the shooter in Sundays massacre. The NRA believes that devices designed to allow semi-automatic rifles to function like fully-automatic rifles should be subject to additional regulations, the NRA said in a written statement. "Bump stocks" can be used to effectively convert semi-automatic rifles to fire so rapidly as to simulate an automatic weapon. The devices were found on guns used by Las Vegas shooter Stephen Paddock, who killed 59 and injured hundreds Sunday night. The Obama administrations ATF gave its seal of approval to selling the devices in 2010 after concluding that they did not violate federal law. On Thursday, the NRA called on the ATF to review that assessment. In Las Vegas, reports indicate that certain devices were used to modify the firearms involved, the NRA said. Despite the fact that the Obama administration approved the sale of bump fire stocks on at least two occasions, the National Rifle Association is calling on the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE) to immediately review whether these devices comply with federal law. When asked about a possible ban on "bump stocks," President Donald Trump told reporters, "we are looking into that over the next short period of time." The NRA had remained largely silent since the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history. In its written statement Thursday, the powerful gun lobby made clear its general position that gun control is not the answer to such tragedies: "In the aftermath of the evil and senseless attack in Las Vegas, the American people are looking for answers as to how future tragedies can be prevented. Unfortunately, the first response from some politicians has been to call for more gun control. Banning guns from law-abiding Americans based on the criminal act of a madman will do nothing to prevent future attacks. But the call to reconsider rules for bump stocks comes as lawmakers from both parties gear up to consider legislation on the matter. Fox News has learned that Rep. Carlos Curbelo, R-Fla., is writing a bipartisan bill to ban bump stocks. House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., in an interview with Hugh Hewitt, also opened the door to looking at the issue. And White House Counselor Kellyanne Conway, speaking Thursday on Fox & Friends, indicated a willingness to consider restrictions. We always welcome a thoughtful conversation on policy and issues. The Second Amendment is a bedrock in our Constitution along with the First Amendment. These rights must be protected, she said. But I know this is something that many legislators have been telling us and I read publicly that they have never even heard of the device before. And they are in Congress. So, many of them are open to a conversation. Bump stocks are legal and originally were intended to help people with limited hand mobility fire a semi-automatic without the individual trigger pulls required. They can fit over the rear shoulder-stock assembly on an automatic rifle and with applied pressure cause the weapon to fire continuously, increasing the rate from between 45 and 60 rounds per minute to between 400 and 800 rounds per minute, according to California Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinsteins office. Feinstein, a prominent advocate for gun control, already has legislation to ban bump stocks. Retailers and manufacturers are seeing an apparent surge in interest in so-called bump stocks as Congress eyes a possible crackdown. Slide Fire, which makes bump stocks, announced on its website it is suspending new orders, with a message indicating the companys supply is low. Another site that sells the companys products said in a message online that the device is out of stock and backordered. Even the Senates No. 2 Republican, John Cornyn of Texas, opened the door to new restrictions. "If somebody can essentially convert a semi-automatic weapon by buying one of these and utilizing it and cause the kind of mayhem and mass casualties that we saw in Las Vegas, that's something of obvious concern that we ought to explore," Cornyn told reporters. The Associated Press contributed to this report. The chairwoman of the Republican National Committee blasted former first lady Michelle Obama on Thursday for her suggestion that Republicans are essentially all men, all white. Its unfortunate Michelle Obama would disregard the contributions of conservative women and people of all backgrounds with one sweeping, false accusation, RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel told Fox News on Thursday. The former first lady spoke at the Pennsylvania Conference for Women on Tuesday and said it was important to have different types of people to gather different perspectives, saying we should be working actively to mix it up. Obama recalled visiting Congress for State of the Union addresses, and drew a stark contrast between the two sides of the aisle. What you can see is this real dichotomyon one side of the room, its a feeling of color, Obama said. On one side of the room, its literally gray and white. Literally, thats the color palette on one side of the room. MICHELLE OBAMA SLAMS WOMEN WHO VOTED FOR TRUMP She continued, On the other side of the room, there are yellows and blues and whites and greens. Physically, theres a difference in color, in the tone. Because one sideall men, all white. On the other side some women, some people of color. Obama pointed to that scene and said, No wonder people dont trust politics. Not only is the head of the RNC a woman, but dozens of women and minorities are Republican members of Congress, including Rep. Mia Love of Utah and Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina. In the 115th Congress, there are 14 minority Republicans in the House and four in the Senate. There are currently 24 Republican congresswomen and five female Republican senators. The Obama comments came after the former first lady also angered Republicans by criticizing women who voted for President Trump Any woman who voted against Hillary Clinton voted against their own voice, Obama told the audience during a talk at a marketing conference last month in Boston, according to Boston.com. She was taking a swipe at a large swath of the population -- according to exit polls, 41 percent of women voted for Trump in November. Russia-linked hackers reportedly stole details on the strategy used by the U.S. to hack into foreign networks and defend itself after targeting a National Security Agency contractors home computer which contained highly classified information in 2015. The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday that hackers identified files on the contractors computer by using an antivirus software made by Kaspersky Lab, a Russia-based company. Experts told the Journal this is one of the most significant security breaches in recent years. The stolen material reportedly included information on how the NSA penetrates foreign computer networks. According to the report, the hack is the first known incident where Kaspersky software was used by Russian hackers to conduct espionage against the U.S. The alleged breach took place under the Obama administration but was only discovered this spring, according to the report. A spokesman for the NSA did not comment on the report, saying, Whether the information is credible or not, NSAs policy is never to comment on affiliate or personnel matters. The Russian company pushed back on the Journal article. Kaspersky Lab has not been provided any evidence substantiating the companys involvement in the alleged incident, the company said in a statement. As a private company, Kaspersky Lab does not have inappropriate ties to any government, including Russia, and the only conclusion seems to be that Kaspersky Lab is caught in the middle of a geopolitical fight. On Thursday, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, called for a hearing on the report, saying it would be "beneficial both to members of the committee and the constituents they represent." The report comes amid ongoing investigations over Russian meddling and potential collusion with Trump campaign officials during the 2016 presidential race. A former NSA hacker told Fox News that Kaspersky has been known in the intelligence community to have questionable relationships. The former NSA hacker told Fox News that the NSA would likely not admit to the breach, as it would become a tight rope they dont want to walk across. The Department of Homeland Security banned all U.S. government departments and agencies from using Kaspersky products last month, saying that malicious cyber actors could use the companys software to hack into computer files. The risk that the Russian government, whether acting on its own or in collaboration with Kaspersky, could capitalize on access provided by Kaspersky products to compromise federal information and information systems directly implicates U.S. national security, the DHS said Sept. 13 in announcing the government ban. The White House did not immediately respond to Fox News request for comment on the report. San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz wore a black t-shirt emblazoned with the word nasty Wednesday during an interview with Univisions Jorge Ramos in response to President Trumps tweet criticizing the politician. Cruz told Ramos she wore the shirt because it was one of the expressions that the president used to describe me. I was a nasty mayor,' People reported. When it bothers somebody that youre asking for drinking water, medicine for the sick and food for the hungry, that person has much deeper problems than what we can discuss in an interview, Cruz said. What really is nasty is showing your back to the Puerto Rican people, Cruz added. The island was recently hit by powerful Hurricane Maria and has been working to restore power and clean water to the territory. TRUMP SURVEYS HURRICANE-RAVAGED PUERTO RICO, MEETS SAN JUAN MAYOR AFTER FEUD Cruz criticized the Trump administrations hurricane response to the island. Last Friday, the mayor appeared on television in a black shirt with white letters that read, "HELP US, WE ARE DYING." Cruz argued that federal aid had been slow to reach Puerto Rico following Maria, which knocked out power to the entire island. In response, Trump tweeted on Saturday, Such poor leadership ability by the Mayor of San Juan, and others in Puerto Rico, who are not able to get their workers to help. Trump added Cruz was very complimentary only a few days ago, but has now been told by the Democrats that you must be nasty to Trump. A number of politicians and celebrities took to social media immediately after to criticize Trumps tweets. Trump said in an interview with Fox News Sean Hannity that Cruz was very nice at the beginning but she went a little bit on the nasty side and I said I guess shes running for office, and it turns out Im right. During Trumps visit to the U.S. territory on Tuesday, the mayor and president shook hands. Trump received some criticism for telling Puerto Ricans they escaped the higher death toll of a real catastrophe like Katrina. Known deaths from Maria in Puerto Rico stand at 34, The Associated Press reported. TRUMP SLAMS FAKE NEWS FOR COVERAGE OF PUERTO RICO TRIP "Sometimes his style of communication gets in the way," Cruz said of Trumps comment. "I would hope that the president of the United States stops spouting out comments that really hurt the people of Puerto Rico." However, Cruz praised the White House staff and said, I saw a real connection between the reality and the White House staff. I think they finally understood. Trump famously called Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton a nasty woman during a debate during the 2016 campaign. The Associated Press contributed to this report. The Justice Department urged the Supreme Court on Thursday to dismiss the pending challenge to Trumps so-called travel ban. The Trump administration said the questions about the second executive order imposing separate restrictions on travel from refugees and visitors from six mostly Muslim nations are now moot because of a new policy announced by the president late last month. The Department of Justice said the new policy supersedes the earlier order, and that the latest proclamation includes two other non-Muslim countries where travel into the U.S. is restrictedVenezuela and North Korea. The mooting events in these appealsthe time limits that were features of the [executive] order from the startwere unrelated to the litigation and certainly not an attempt to evade judicial review, said U.S. Solicitor General Noel Francisco. From the beginning, the orders entry and refugee suspensions always were temporary measures to facilitate the governments interagency review processes and to protect national security in the interim. In separate briefs, the state of Hawaii and the American Civil Liberties Union representing the International Refugee Assistance Projectsaid the high court should stay in and ultimately decide now whether the president exceeded his executive authority over immigrations and whether his policy is discriminatory because it had targeted Muslim nations. Critics of the latest policy shift complained the administration was afraid of losing at the high court, and created its latest policy just ahead of the now-canceled Oct. 10 oral arguments. This Court should once again set the case for argument and adjudicate the legality of the Presidents ongoing effort to usurp Congresss power over immigration and unilaterally ban hundreds of millions of foreign nationalsthe overwhelming majority of them Muslimfrom the United States, said Neal Katyal, the attorney representing Hawaii. Immigrant rights groups have already challenged the newest policy in court. The high court had been prepared to wade into the biggest legal controversy of the Trump administration the president's order temporarily restricting travel, which even Trump has termed a "travel ban." And in a boost for the administration, the justices made clear in June that a limited version of the revised policy could be enforced. But the second temporary travel ban expired, September 24 and was replaced with what the administration said was a country-by-country assessment of security and cooperation with the U.S. No word on when the Supreme Court will decide whether the issue is moot, but a decision is expected soon. Oral arguments set for Tuesday were canceled in light of the latest legal developments. Trump had been incensed since his original executive order, signed on Jan. 27, was partially blocked by a federal court. "What is our country coming to when a judge can halt a Homeland Security travel ban and anyone, even with bad intentions can come into U.S.?" Trump tweeted on Feb. 4. He added on Feb. 11: "Our legal system is broken!" In early March, Trump issued a revised executive order which also had key provisions blocked by federal courts. That was the order the justices were considering before the policy was revised for a third time September 24. At issue is whether the temporary ban violated the Religion Clauses of the First Amendment, the Due Process Clause of the Fifth and 14th Amendments, and the ban on nationality discrimination in the issuance of immigrant visas contained in a 65-year-old congressional law. Federal appeals courts in Virginia and California in recent weeks had ruled against the administration. A majority of the 4th Circuit appeals court cited then-candidate Trump's campaign statements proposing a ban "preventing Muslim immigration." The White House, on the other hand, framed the issue as a temporary move involving national security. A coalition of groups in opposition call the order blatant religious discrimination, since the six countries involved have mostly-Muslim populations: Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen. President Trump will announce next week that he will "decertify" the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran, the Washington Post reported Thursday. An administration source pushed back on the report to Fox News, saying that a decision on the agreement was "not fully baked." During a briefing with senior military leaders Thursday, Trump said Iran had "not lived up to the spirit of the agreement" and added the U.S. "must put an end to Iran's continued aggression." Trump has until Oct. 15 to tell Congress if he believes Iran is complying with the seven-nation pact. "We're going to give [Trump] a couple of options of how to move forward to advance the important policy toward Iran," Secretary of State Rex Tillerson told reporters Wednesday. An announcement of decertification by Trump would not scrap the deal on its own. If he does decertify the deal, Congress could reintroduce economic sanctions on Iran that were suspended under the agreement. If that happens, Iran has threatened to walk away from the arrangement and restart activities that could take it closer to nuclear weapons. Trump and other U.S. officials, including Tillerson, have said Iran is violating the spirit of the agreement because of its testing of ballistic missiles, threats to U.S. allies in the Middle East, and support for U.S.-designated terrorist organizations and Syria's government. The president has called the deal, which forced Iran to scale back its nuclear program in exchange for broad relief from international economic sanctions, one of the nation's "worst and most one-sided transactions" ever. But many of his top national security aides don't want to dismantle the deal, and America's European allies have lobbied the Trump administration heavily not to walk away from the agreement. Under the 2015 Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act, Trump must determine that Iran is implementing the nuclear deal and hasn't committed a "material breach," or taken action that could advance its nuclear weapons program. The law also demands the president's verdict on a fourth question: whether suspending sanctions is "appropriate and proportionate," and if doing so is "vital to the national security interests of the United States." On Tuesday, Gen. Joseph Dunford, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told the Senate Armed Services Committee that Iran "is not in material breach of the agreement." At the same hearing, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said he believed the deal is still in the U.S. national security interest, but hinted that Trump may try to decertify without breaking the deal. "You can talk about the conditions under one of those, and not walk away from the other," he said. Fox News' John Roberts and the Associated Press contributed to this report. President Trump lashed out Thursday morning at the Senate Intelligence Committees Russia probe, asking why the panel has yet to look into Fake News Networks in the U.S. Why Isnt the Senate Intel Committee looking into the Fake News Networks in OUR country to see why so much of our news is just made up FAKE! Trump tweeted. The presidents tweets come one day after chairman of the committee Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., said the panel plans to move forward with the investigation into Russian meddling and potential collusion with Trump campaign officials during the 2016 presidential election. The committee has conducted 100 interviews, held 11 open hearings, and reviewed 100,000 documents related to the matter, Burr said. The chairman acknowledged the committee is still probing possible collusion between Trump associates and the Russians. In response to the president's tweets, Burr said Thursday that the committee is "not investigating news organizations." [We are] holding them accountable for what they say with no sources to substantiate their facts, Burr said Thursday. Our report, whatever we come out with, will present the facts. It will be the news organizations that covered it somewhere differently that will have, will be the ones with eggs on their face. Burr added that he is very, very confident that the committee will lay out factual information so that the American people will be able to tell who was covering this factually and who was sensationalizing the coverage. The presidents suggestion that the committee investigate Fake News comes as he wars with NBC News on Twitter over what he called a fake report about rifts between himself and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. After Tillerson denied the claims, Trump reprised his own criticism Thursday morning. "Rex Tillerson never threatened to resign. This is Fake News put out by @NBCNews. Low news and reporting standards. No verification from me," Trump tweeted early Thursday. TILLERSON BLASTS REPORT OF RIFT WITH TRUMP, AS PRESIDENT RIPS 'FAKE NEWS' Facebook and Twitter have become the latest additions to the intel investigation, in both the Senate and House efforts. Last month, Facebook announced it had uncovered $100,000 in fake ad spending tied to Russian operatives during the election, producing almost 3,000 ads which were connected to about hundreds of inauthentic accounts and pages, according to the social media giant. 'COLLUSION?' TRUMP SLAMS FACEBOOK, 'FAKE NEWS' MEDIA FOR CONSPIRING AGAINST HIM Facebook noted that the majority of the ads did not reference the election, voting or a particular candidate, but rather amplified divisive social and political messages. Twitter briefed the Senate Intel committee last week, but the committees Ranking Member Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., called the social media companys response deeply disappointing. SENATE INVESTIGATORS HAVE 'HIT A WALL' SEEKING ORIGIN OF SALACIOUS ANTI-TRUMP DOSSIER The president has previously slammed Facebook and fake news on Twitter, accusing media outlets and the social media network of collusion. But he also has questioned Facebooks claims of evidence of Russian ads, and suggested the Facebook ad controversy was part of the Russia hoax dispute. Meanwhile, the president Thursday morning pivoted his focus to jobs and the economy, tweeting moments later: Stock Market hits an ALL-TIME high! Unemployment lowest in 16 years! Business and manufacturing enthusiasm at highest level in decades! Fox News' Jason Donner contributed to this report. Organic molecules once thought to be produced only by life-forms have been found in two separate regions of space: a nearby comet and the debris around a pair of forming stars. Previous studies on exoplanets have considered a substance, called chloromethane, to be a biomarker molecule, which means it indicates the potential existence of life. Before now, it was known to becreated by some tropical plants on Earth as well as industrial processes, where it is known as Freon-40. However, the new findings, detailed Oct. 2 in the journal Nature Astronomy, indicate that the chemical can also form without the help of life. Edith Fayolle, the study's lead author, cautions against drawing too quick a conclusion, though. "It's not a negative, 'no it's not a biomarker,'" Fayolle told Space.com, but "it's not a direct biomarker, I would say." It could still suggest the presence of life, but it is no longer considered a definitive sign. [Alien Atmospheres: The Search for Signs of Life] At the time, Fayolle was a researcher at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (she is now at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory). Fayolle's team identified the chloromethane on Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko as well as around a pair of protostars in the early stages of forming a binary star system. The discovery was "a bit of an accident," Fayolle said. "I wasn't particularly looking for it." Fayolle was curious about the origin of chloromethane on Mars. NASA's Curiosity rover discovered the compound on the Red Planet, but there's been debate over its origins. Some scientists suggested that the compound could have formed when chlorine compounds, called perchlorates, on the surface reacted with carbon carried by the rover itself as it was analyzing samples. Scientists later confirmed that the carbon and hydrogen in Mars' chloromethane matches that found in meteorites. Therefore, impacts could be one source of the planet's chloromethane, but it could also have formed from smaller molecules on the planet's surface. Fayolle said the origin is far from settled. Fayolle's group first found chloromethane around the binary star system using data from the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), in northern Chile. The telescope was surveying the binary stars to determine the system's chemical complexity. The ALMA team was also collaborating with scientists on the European Space Agency's Rosetta mission, which led Fayolle to examine that data, too. Rosetta orbited comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko for two years until it was steered into the comet in September 2016 at the end of its mission. Measurements sent back by the spacecraft allowed the team to identify chloromethane in the comet as well. Combined, the two discoveries shed light on the progression of chemistry in solar system formation. The results from the protostar system suggest that compounds like chloromethane can form efficiently as stars coalesce, according to a statement by Nature Astronomy. Meanwhile, the data from the comet indicate that these compounds can survive the formation of planets. This supports a continuous model of solar system formation, Fayolle said, rather than one where the heat of star formation causes chemicals to recombine, leaving few compounds unchanged and resetting the system's chemistry."Based on our discovery, organohalogens are likely to be a constituent of the so-called 'primordial soup,' both on the young Earth and on nascent rocky exoplanets," co-author Karin Oberg said in a statement. This suggests that, in addition to forming in the presence of life, compounds like chloromethane may have contributed to its development. Email Harrison Tasoff at htasoff@space.com or follow him @harrisontasoff. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com. Fake information will pervade mature economies in the next few years, a new study has noted. By 2022, most people in mature economies will consume more false information than true information, according to the study from research firm Gartner. This trend will be fueled, in part, by confirmation bias, that leads all people to seek out, select and value information that parallels what they believe and expect to be proven true, the study's authors, Magnus Revang and Whit Andrews, found. FACEBOOK CEO MARK ZUCKERBERG ASKS FORGIVENESS FOR WAYS HIS 'WORK WAS USED TO DIVIDE PEOPLE And even improved artificial intelligence (AI), which companies like Facebook and Google are working on, wont be able to stop it, a separate study by Gartner found. "Counterfeit reality" or fake content, will outpace AI's ability to detect it." Generating false information will always cost less than the cost of detecting it. False information will consequently outpace true information where there is economic or political interest to purvey it, Revang and Andrews wrote. Fake information and fake news is an extremely complicated topic that is often painted with a broad brush that belies its complexity, Paula Bolyard, Supervising Editor at PJ Media, told Fox News via email. It's true that fake news is easier and less costly to produce than factual news reporting," Bolyard said. "A separate, parallel, issue is the demand for instant reactions to newsworthy events. Bolyard added, Original reporting is labor intensive and the 24-hour news cycle creates a sense of urgency that values speed over accuracy. As a result, sometimes even legitimate news sources get stories wrong in the rush to be first. FACEBOOK, TWITTER: HOW SOCIAL MEDIA GIANTS ARE INVOLVED IN THE RUSSIA INVESTIGATION President Trump's pet peeve President Trump has revisited the fake news theme regularly. This week, he lashed out a report from NBC that claimed Secretary of State Rex Tillerson considered resigning over the summer amid disagreements with the White House. The @NBCNews story has just been totally refuted by Sec. Tillerson and @VP Pence. It is #FakeNews. They should issue an apology to AMERICA! Trump tweeted on Wednesday. The President has also cited CNN's constant spotlighting of the administration's alleged "Russia collusion" as fake news. Issues with fake news The issue is, the term "fake news" is used liberally by both the left and right. A major theme for 2017 in politics and media worldwide has been the issue of the creation of fake news, the Gartner analysts said in the study. The indiscriminate use of the of the term has many stops along a spectrum from discrediting true information to its proper use to describe wholly false information, they added. But Bolyard argues that despite the mainstreaming of fake news in countries like Russia, it's not as bad as we may be led to believe. I don't think the situation is quite as dire as the study predicts," she said. "While fake news will continue to be a problem, I think perhaps we're reaching a tipping point where people are becoming more skeptical and more discerning with their media choices." A lawyer for Anila Daulatzai is claiming that his client was not booted from her Southwest Airlines flight after complaining of a life-threatening allergy to the pets on the plane, but rather because she was the victim of sexism and racial profiling. Furthermore, he writes that she was pregnant at the time of the highly publicized incident, which went viral after footage of Daulatzai being removed from the flight was shared online. WOMAN DRAGGED FROM SOUTHWEST FLIGHT DIDN'T GIVE OFFICERS 'ANOTHER OPTION,' SAYS PASSENGER In a statement released on Wednesday by Arjun S. Sethi of the Hall & Sethi personal injury firm, Sethi refutes earlier reports that Daulatzai, a 46-year-old professor, had been complaining of allergies. According to the statement, which Sethi shared on behalf of Daulatzai and her family, the woman had spoken with Southwest employees of her allergies prior to boarding the flight from Baltimore to Los Angeles, and agreed to take a seat near the back of the plane. Sethi alleges that his client was merely grading papers in her seat when Southwest employees approached her and began barraging her with questions. She was never asked for medical certification, nor would she have needed to carry that, because her allergies are not life threatening, he writes. Despite trying to convince the crew that she would be completely fine on the plane, she was asked by another Southwest representative to leave the plane. He added that Maryland Transportation Authority Police had humiliated her for the world to see in a now viral video by tearing her pants and dragging her through the aisle of the plane. The statement also claims that police later disparaged her, accused her of lying about her pregnancy, and made racist remarks about immigrants. Daulatzai and her lawyer also appeared in a segment on Thursday morning's edition of "Good Morning America" to reiterate many of these points, with Daulatzia claiming she was removed from the flight for being "a brown woman with a hoodie." WHY PILOTS AND CO-PILOTS DON'T EAT THE SAME THING ON A FLIGHT According to a statement Fox News obtained from the Maryland Transportation Authority a few days after the Sept. 26 incident, Daulatzai had been arrested and charged with disorderly conduct, failure to obey a reasonable and lawful order, disturbing the peace, obstructing and hindering a police officer and resisting arrest. She was released the same day of her own recognizance, they confirmed. These charges, however, have no merit, according to Sethis statement. Professor Daulatzai was profiled, abused, interrogated, detained, and subjected to false reporting and the trauma of racist, vitriolic public shaming precisely because she is a woman, a person of color, and a Muslim. This endangered the physical and emotional well-being of a pregnant woman, researcher, and teacher. ABC News reported that Daulatzai and her lawyer plan to pursue legal action. FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS Southwest, for its part, issued an apology to Daulatzai shortly after the incident, and claimed they would be following up to "address her concerns." The police have denied a request by the Associated Press to obtain a copy of the arrest report, claiming their investigation remains open. Hate mail filled with slurs of bigotry and adorned with an oversized red, white and black swastika were mailed anonymously to nine New York City businesses, authorities said. According to The New York Daily News, the letters were mailed this week to businesses in Brooklyn and Manhattan, including three law firms, an international financial firm, a jewelry store, a Starbucks, a kosher meat market and a bakery. The ninth institution where the letter was sent is The Israeli Consulate in Manhattan, according to CBS 2. The Anti-Defamation League is also looking into reports of another letter received at an address in Los Angeles, according to CBS 2. The full text of the flyer, according to WPIX 11, reads MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!! JUDEN RAUS. N*****S AND F*****S MUST BURN IN HELL. CHRISTIAN IDENTITY IS BACK. The handout refers to a Nazi board game and slogan called Juden Raus, meaning Jews Out. The object of the popular 1930s family game was to collect Jews and deport them by getting them off the board, according to The Daily News. The New York Police Department began an investigation after Abraham Weiss, the owner of Weiss Kosher Bakery in Brooklyn, contacted the districts assemblyman, Dov Hikind, who in turn called police. Hate crimes are serious matters, Hikind told WPIX 11. This threat against one of our communitys beloved establishments, which used the U.S. mail, is absolutely a hate crime. Its sad that we live in a time when such disgusting things are said about various races, including the Jews, but we will certainly take these matters seriously when they arise and act swiftly and responsibly, in tandem with the police, to make sure our community members are safe and protected. The NYPD told the Daily News the return addresses are connected to a location in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn. Acting Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalezs office is also investigating. This is very, very like disturbing, because this is the first time ever, Hilda Hurtado, an employee of Numero Uno Jewelry in East Harlem, told CBS 2. Hurtado opened the letter that was sent on Friday during Yom Kippur. It was very shocking because you receive this letter, also the days of your holidays it was disgusting, she told CBS 2. A married teacher in Maine accused of sleeping with a student was indicted Tuesday on a number of sexual assault charges. Jill Lamontagne, 29, turned herself into authorities after she was indicted by a York County Grand Jury on six counts of gross sexual assault, two counts of unlawful sexual contact and six counts of abuse of a minor, the Portland Press Herald reported. The indictment was the culmination of an investigation into a relationship Lamontagne allegedly had with a juvenile, male student while she was a teacher at the school, Kennebunk Deputy Chief of Police Michael Nugent said Wednesday, according to Seacoast Online. Lamontagne allegedly had a relationship with the male student, 17, who was in her health class at Kennebunk High School at the time of sexual contact. An abuse order filed by the students mother in Biddeford District Court states the relationship between the teacher and boy was revealed when he was hospitalized following a suspected suicide attempt. The student ingested a concoction of ibuprofen, Tylenol, cold medicine and blood thinner Warfarin, according to the Press Herald. The boy confessed to the relationship to his aunt a day after his hospitalization. The student and his teacher had sexual contact numerous times, in the classroom, at her house, in her car, the students mother wrote. The student said Lamontagne performed oral sex on him, adding that other stuff happened. The student allegedly told his mother and a nurse at the hospital that he loved his teacher and took the mixture of medicines to attempt suicide, Seacoast reported. MARRIED TEACHER'S ALLEGED AFFAIR WITH STUDENT BEING INVESTIGATED AFTER TEEN TRIED TO COMMIT SUICIDE Lamontagne told the student she hadnt had a sexual relationship with anyone for two years. Court records reportedly indicate she is married and has children. The teacher was placed on administrative leave June 12 when the boys family notified the school of the sexual contact. Lamontagne then filed for family medical leave, and was still on leave when she submitted her resignation in September. Lamontagne was booked on the charges and released on $1,000 bail. Shes expected to appear in court Dec. 22. Authorities say a law enforcement officer has been shot in southwest Georgia. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation said Wednesday on Twitter that the agency was responding after a deputy was shot in Clay County. The tweet said the deputy has been taken to a hospital and a suspect is in custody. The GBI, in a Facebook post, said authorities received a 911 call about a domestic disturbance about 10 a.m. After arriving at the scene, gunfire was exchanged. The deputy was shot and is recovering at a hospital. The alleged shooter has been detained. It was unknown if that person was injured. Further details were not immediately available. Clay County is just across the state line from Alabama. The county seat, Fort Gaines, is about 190 miles (306 kilometers) southwest of Atlanta. Members of the Arkansas Parole Board said Thursday that an inmate scheduled to die next month for killing a man who had helped him out doesn't deserve to have his sentence reduced to a life term. Jack Greene is set to die Nov. 9 at the Cummins Unit prison at Varner, southeast of Little Rock. He was convicted in the 1991 death of Sidney Burnett, who was beaten with a can of hominy and then stabbed and later shot. The board said Thursday it would recommend that Gov. Asa Hutchinson let the death sentence stand. In emotional and graphic testimony before the board Wednesday, three of Burnett's daughters likened Greene to a dog and a terrorist. Prosecutor David Gibbons told the parole board that Burnett and his wife, Edna, had taken in Greene and his girlfriend and given Greene work. Burnett's daughters said Greene turned on the family after Edna Burnett helped the girlfriend escape Greene's abuse. Gibbons said Greene could have killed Burnett quickly, but didn't. "The purpose was to torture that man," Gibbons said, describing Burnett being beaten and stabbed and having his face slit from his mouth to his ear. "That man felt every bit of that," Gibbons said. Only late in the attack did Greene shoot Burnett with a .25-caliber pistol. "To kill him would have been a snap." Greene's lawyers told the panel that Greene is mentally ill and that his execution would be unconstitutional. Greene appeared before the board Wednesday with rolled up tissue stuck in both ears and his left nostril. What appeared to be blood stained the skin below his left ear. The board said it would recommend against clemency in a two-line statement, as is its custom. It said the vote was unanimous, 6-0. One of Greene's lawyers, Scott Braden, called on Hutchinson to grant clemency regardless of the board's vote, saying "it would merely be a miserable spectacle" if the execution went ahead. ___ Follow Kelly P. Kissel on Twitter at https://twitter.com/kisselAP A celebration of free speech at William & Mary College in Virginia took an unexpected turn last week when protesters from Black Lives Matter swarmed the stage and forced organizers to end the event. Liberalism is white supremacy! the protesters shouted, and ACLU, you protect Hitler too! The disruption occurred before Claire Guthrie Gastanaga, executive director of the ACLU of Virginia, could give a planned speech on freedom of expression. The protesters livestreamed the demonstration on Facebook and were heard shouting other slogans, including, "The oppressed are not impressed!, Blood on your hands!, and The revolution will not uphold the Constitution! The ACLU earned the wrath of the protesters after they defended white supremacists' right to march in Charlottesville, Va., in August, according to the campus's Flat Hat News. The march in Charlottesville quickly turned violent, leading to the death of one woman and injuries to many others. Gastanaga tried to point out to the disruption as an example of why she needs to talk about freedom of expression on university campuses, saying Good, I like this, as the protesters raised their signs. "I'm going to talk to you about knowing your rights, and protests and demonstrations, which this illustrates very well," she said. "Then I'm going to respond to questions from the moderators, and then questions from the audience." But the protesters continued the disruption and barred anyone from approaching Gastanaga to speak. One organizer reportedly granted the demonstration's leader a chance to speak. When is the free speech of the oppressed protected? We know from personal experience that rights granted to wealthy, white, cis, male, straight bodies do not trickle down to marginalized groups. We face greater barriers and consequences for speaking, the protester said. William & Mary College President Taylor Reveley issued a statement afterward, saying silencing others was not acceptable in our community. This stifles debate and prevents those whove come to hear a speaker, our students in particular, from asking questions, often hard questions, and from engaging in debate where the strength of ideas, not the power of shouting, is the currency, he added. William & Mary must be a campus that welcomes difficult conversations, honest debate and civil dialogue. North Carolina investigators discovered empty boxes of cold medicine and what seemed to be bloodied sheets at the home of an aspiring preacher who admitted to authorities last month that he killed his wife in a cough syrup induced stupor. Matthew James Phelps, 29, was arrested on Sept. 1 after he called 911 and told the operator: I think I killed my theres blood all over me, and theres a bloody knife on the bed. I think I did it. Phelps, who worked at a landscaping company and studied missions and evangelism at Clear Creek Baptist Bible College in Pineville, Ky., told 911 operators that he believed he might have stabbed his wife Lauren Hugelmaier Phelps, 29, because he consumed too much cough syrup. NORTH CAROLINA MAN CHARGED WITH MURDER AFTER TELLING 911 HE WOKE UP FROM DREAM AND FOUND WIFE DEAD I took more medicine that I should have. I took Coricidin Cough and Cold because I know it can make you feel good and sometimes I cant sleep at night, Phelps told a 911 operator. I cant believe I did this, Phelps was heard sobbing. "Oh God. She didnt deserve this. Why?" When officers arrived to Phelps home in North Raleigh, they discovered Lauren Phelps with multiple stab wounds. She later died from her wounds. Investigators told The News & Observer that the aspiring pastor kept repeating that he harmed his wife when they arrested him and took him into custody. MAN WHO CLAIMS HE KILLED WIFE IN COUGH MEDICINE-INDUCED STUPOR WAS ASPIRING PREACHER Police were granted a search warrant for Phelps' home where they took a white bedspread, a white sheet, a gray white comforter and several pillowcases that were all marred with an unknown red substance, the search warrant, made public by the Wake County Clerk of Courts Office, stated. Investigators also took a Coricidin Cold & Cough medicine box that was empty, four computers, receipts, a mortgage statement, a knife set, credit cards and an iPhone that reportedly belonged to the deceased wife. Phelps, who does not have a criminal record, has been charged with first-degree murder in his wifes death. He is currently held at Wake County Jail without benefit of bail. The Associated Press contributed to this report. A female prison worker has been charged with having sexual contact with an inmate at the same New York correctional facility where an employee aided the high-profile escape of two killers. New York state police say Denise Prell, 38, was charged with promoting contraband and sexual abuse at Clinton Correctional Facility. According to Fox 28, the investigation began when a prison guard said he witnessed inappropriate behavior between Prell and an inmate. The 38-year-old was fired last month two years into her civilian job as an industrial training supervisor at the maximum-security prison. She's being held in the county jail on $10,000 cash bail. It couldn't be determined if she has a lawyer. In June 2015, two inmates escaped from the prison near the Canadian border with the help of civilian employee Joyce Mitchell. One was killed by police, and the other was captured. Mitchell is serving a prison term. The Associated Press contributed to this report. A recently-fired construction worker and a foreman died in a murder-suicide at a New York City construction site on Thursday, local media reported. Samuel Perry, 44, allegedly fatally shot 37-year-old Christopher Sayers on the 37th floor of a Manhattan site at about 7:10 a.m., the New York Post reported, adding that he took off and shot himself on the fifth floor. Perry was reportedly fired by Sayers earlier this week. Talking to some of the workers so far, they are saying he was a bit of a hothead, NYPD Deputy Chief Christopher McCormack said referring to Perry, per the newspaper. It [the dispute] was regarding respect for himself and the workers. Carpenter Robert Pagan said Perry was let go for talking back to Sayers, CBS New York reports. Police told the Post that Perry texted his brother about his plans for the murder-suicide on Thursday morning, with the sibling contacting authorities. Hes been telling me. I was trying to talk him out of it. He got fired two days ago. It pushed him to his limits, Perrys Far Rockaway neighbor Karine Gale told the newspaper. The FBI is assisting in the investigations of three women whose remains were found within the last year in the same North Carolina town where a fourth woman is now missing. Abby Patterson, 20, told her mother she'd return in an hour when she left the family's Lumberton, N.C., home on the morning of Sept. 5 and stepped into an old brown Buick parked outside. Authorities are searching for the young woman who has not been seen or heard from since as they also probe the deaths of three other women whose bodies were found weeks apart from each other in a three-block area of Lumberton. "At this point we don't know if there's a connection," Lumberton Police Chief Michael McNeill said of the women. "Were soliciting help from the community," McNeill told Fox News. "Someone out there has information we need." Investigators discovered the body of Christina Bennett, 32, on April 18 inside an abandoned home in Lumberton a city of close to 22,000 people in Robeson County. That same day, the remains of Rhonda Jones were found in a nearby trash container. Neighborhood resident 28-year-old Megan Oxendine was interviewed by a local news station at the time Jones' body was discovered. Weeks later, on June 3, Oxendine's remains were found about 500 feet away from the other womens remains. There were no obvious signs of trauma to the victims, and police are still waiting for official autopsy reports from the state Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Raleigh, McNeill said. An FBI spokeswoman confirmed to Fox News on Thursday that the bureau is assisting local police with the investigations. In the case of Patterson, police said they have identified the man last seen with the young woman, who was living in Florida and visiting her mother in Lumberton for two days when she disappeared. "Were still talking to him," Lumberton Police Department Captain Terry Parker said to Fox News. "We think its someone she knew, but we're not sure," said Parker, who did not name the man or say whether he's considered a person of interest in the case. "Abby is still listed as a missing person. We've had reported sightings of her, but none of them have been confirmed," he said. The woman's mother, meanwhile, told Fox News it was unlike her daughter to voluntarily cut all contact with her family. "We talk or text every day," said Samantha Lovette, Patterson's mother. "When she didnt come home after an hour, I called her cell phone and it went straight to voicemail." "We just want her home," said Lovette, who described her daughter, the youngest of her three children, as "bubbly and free-spirited." "Everybody she meets, she just loves and they love her," said Lovette. A $5,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the location of Patterson. Anyone with information on her whereabouts or on the deaths of Bennett, Jones and Oxendine is urged to call the Lumberton Police Department at (910) 671-3845. Stephen Paddock, the gunman who killed 58 people and injured more than 500 during Sundays massacre on the Las Vegas Strip, reportedly also took aim at nearby aviation fuel tanks during the rampage. The Las Vegas Review-Journal, citing an unnamed source, reported late Wednesday that two holes were found in one of the two jet fuel tanks near the site of the Route 91 Harvest concert. One of the bullets penetrated a tank, but did not cause an explosion, the report said. The report said FBI agents inspected the tanks and considered the bullets trajectory from where Paddock opened fire on 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. FoxNews.com could not immediately confirm the report. The paper reported that both the company that operates the tanks and the FBI did not comment for its report. Clark County Sheriff Joseph Lombardo said it's difficult to believe Paddock acted alone in the attack on the audience of an outdoor concert. Lombardo said that items confiscated from Paddock included 1,600 rounds of ammunition and several containers of an explosive commonly used in target shooting that totaled 50 pounds. But it wasn't clear what, if anything, Paddock planned to do with the explosives, the sheriff said. On Sept. 28, the 64-year-old high-stakes gambler and real estate investor checked into Mandalay Bay and specifically requested an upper-floor room with a view of the Route 91 Harvest music festival, according to a person who has seen hotel records turned over to investigators. Paddock wasn't able to move into the room until Saturday, said the source, who was not authorized to speak publicly and disclosed the information on condition of anonymity. Mike Boyd, an aviation consultant, in the meantime, told the Review-Journal that a machine gun is not going to blow up a tank of fuel. Jet fuel itself sitting there in a big wet pile is very hard to ignite. You have to be a very amateur terrorist to think anything like that. The Associated Press contributed to this report. A gunman inside a Las Vegas casino killed at least 58 people at a nearby country music festival in a late Sunday night shooting, officials said. More than 480 others were hurt in the massacre, called the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history, according to police. Here's a look at how the incident unfolded - and what authorities are currently investigating. Thursday, September 28 Suspected gunman Stephen Paddock checks into the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Sunday, October 1 9:40 p.m. Country music star Jason Aldean starts his performance at the Route 91 Harvest Festival in front of a crowd of more than 22,000 in Las Vegas. 10:05 p.m. This is when Paddock begins to fire, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department says Wednesday. 10:08 p.m. I see the shots coming from Mandalay Bay, halfway up! someone says in police scanner audio published by Broadcastify. 10:12 p.m. Two officers reach the 31st floor of the casino "and announce the gunfire is coming from directly above them," Las Vegas police later say on Wednesday. 10:15 p.m. Paddock fires his final shots, police say Wednesday. 10:17 p.m. This is when two officers get to the 32nd floor, where Paddock was, according to the police timeline. 10:18 p.m A security guard says he's been shot and tells them where Paddock's room is, police say Wednesday. 10:20 p.m. It's been awhile since we've heard any shots," someone says in a transmission, The New York Times reports. "Does anybody have eyes on the shooter? 10:26 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. This, police later say, is when eight more officers show up "and begin to move systematically down the hallway, clearing every room and looking for any injured people." 10:38 p.m. We're investigating reports of an active shooter near/around Mandalay Bay Casino, police tweet. Asking everyone to please avoid the area. 11 p.m. Part of the Las Vegas Strip is shut down, authorities tweet. 11:20 p.m. Authorities use a device to breach a Mandalay Bay room. "They observed the suspect down on the ground and also saw a second door that could be not accessed from their position," police later say Wednesday. 11:27 p.m. A second breach goes off. "Officers quickly realized there was no one else in the rooms and announced over the radio that the suspect was down," according to authorities. 11:58 p.m. Confirming that one suspect is down, Las Vegas police tweet. This is an active investigation. Again, please do not head down to the Strip at this time. Monday, October 2 12:21 a.m. "At this time we do not believe there are any more shooters," Las Vegas police tweet. 1:40 a.m. Officers confronted the suspect on the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Hotel, Lombardo says early Monday morning. Authorities say the man is dead. They don't release the suspect's name but say he is a local resident. The death toll stands at more than 20 dead and 100 injured. 1:57 a.m. Las Vegas authorities tweet they are looking for two vehicles associated with the gunman. 2:22 a.m. Las Vegas police tweet a photo of Marilou Danley, believed to be Paddock's partner, saying that they are looking for her. 3:30 a.m. At least 50 people are said to be dead, with more than 200 injured. Authorities have identified Paddock as the suspected shooter. They also say they have located Danley. "We have located the vehicles in question, and we are confident we have located the female person of interest," Las Vegas police tweet at 3:37 a.m. "Marilou Danley is no longer being sought out as a person of interest," the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said in an Atlanta Journal-Constitution report published later Monday morning. "LVMPD detectives have made contact with her and do not believe she is involved with the shooting on the strip." 4:11 a.m. "My warmest condolences and sympathies to the victims and families of the terrible Las Vegas shooting," President Donald Trump tweets. "God bless you!" 4:30 a.m. "Two on-duty LVMPD officers were injured during the shooting," police tweet. "One is in stable condition after surgery and the other sustained minor injuries." 5:33 a.m. Las Vegas police tweet a press release which says a SWAT team found Paddock dead in a hotel room at the Mandalay Bay. They say that 50 people are dead and 406 others are hurt. Police say in the release that an off-duty officer is among the dead. 8:44 a.m. The death toll reaches 58 with 515 others hurt, Lombardo says. 3:05 p.m. The death toll moves to 59 including the shooter with 527 others injured, law enforcement officials say at an afternoon press conference. 8:50 p.m. The estimated number of people injured is reduced to 516, according to a news release by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. The death toll remains at 59. 10:00 p.m. During a news conference, officials say the number of those injured was 527, despite a previous press release. Tuesday, October 3 Tuesday afternoon During a 1 p.m. news conference, authorities say Paddock set up cameras inside and outside the hotel room where he opened fire. They also say that Paddock put a camera in a food service cart outside his hotel room. Lombardo also says that Danley is once again a person of interest. Late Tuesday evening Danley, who had been in the Philippines, comes back to the United States. Wednesday, October 4 Wednesday morning Trump and first lady Melania Trump arrive in Las Vegas, where they meet with Lombardo and others. Later in the morning, they go to the University Medical Center of Southern Nevada, where they meet with victims. Wednesday afternoon Trump speaks at Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Headquarters, and tells law enforcement that they should be proud of the way they responded to the mass shooting. Wednesday evening The number of those injured was 489, Lombardo says. "Of that 489, 317 have been discharged from the hospital," he says. The Associated Press contributed to this report. The Latest on a plea hearing for one of two girls charged with stabbing a classmate in an attack they said was done to please the fictional horror character Slender Man (all times local): 4:50 p.m. A Wisconsin girl who repeatedly stabbed a classmate to impress the fictional horror character Slender Man has written a "very powerful letter" of apology to the victim and hopes it can be delivered to her one day. Anthony Cotton, an attorney for 15-year-old Morgan Geyser, says she is remorseful for the 2014 attack and wrote the letter without prompting from anyone. Geyser pleaded guilty to the stabbing Thursday in an agreement with prosecutors to avoid prison time. She and another girl, Anissa Weier, admitted to carrying out the attack in a Milwaukee-area park. The classmate survived. Geyser sobbed in court during the plea hearing as she recalled the stabbing under questioning from the judge. Doctors will evaluate Geyser's mental health by Nov. 13 and the judge will later determine how long she should be committed. ___ 4:15 p.m. Wisconsin prosecutors want a 15-year-old girl to be confined in a mental hospital for 40 years after she pleaded guilty to stabbing a classmate in an attack aimed at impressing the fictional horror character Slender Man. Fifteen-year-old Morgan Geyser will be evaluated by a doctor by Nov. 13 before a judge schedules sentencing. Geyser and another girl, Anissa Weier, admitted carrying out the 2014 attack on a classmate in a Milwaukee-area park. Their classmate survived her wounds. All three girls were 12 at the time. Geyser sobbed in court Thursday as she told a judge she "had to" carry out the stabbing. When the judge asked where she had stabbed her classmate, she said: "Everywhere." ___ 6:36 a.m. One of two Wisconsin girls who stabbed a classmate to impress horror character Slender Man is due in court to finalize a plea deal aimed at sparing her prison time. Fifteen-year-old Morgan Geyser will plead guilty to attempted first-degree intentional homicide in the 2014 attack. Prosecutors and Geyser's attorneys agreed to the plea last week, but it is being finalized during a court hearing Thursday in Waukesha County court. The plea agreement calls for Geyser to be found not guilty by reason of insanity as part of the case's sentencing phase, meaning she will be committed to a mental hospital indefinitely. Geyser's co-defendant, Anissa Weier (ah-NEE'-sah WY'-ur), pleaded guilty to a reduced charge last month and faces at least three years in a mental hospital. The president of a Massachusetts mortgage company has pleaded guilty in a $2.5 million mortgage fraud. The U.S. attorney's office says 68-year-old Robert Pena, of Falmouth, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy and six counts of wire fraud on Wednesday. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 5. Pena acknowledged his misconduct at the helm of Mortgage Security Inc. Prosecutors say the company was supposed to service loans, then send payments on to the government-backed mortgage enterprise Ginnie Mae. Instead, Pena took money that borrowers sent in to pay off their mortgages, or which were supposed to go into escrow accounts or mortgage insurance premiums. He then made false reports to Ginnie Mae about the status of the loans. A 41-year-old North Carolina man was killed early Tuesday morning after he jumped out of a moving cab's passenger window in an attempt to avoid paying for his ride, WYFF reported. Dixie Classic Fair worker Michael Curl took a trip to the fair, refused to pay for the journey and jumped, WYFF reported. He was earlier thought to have been in a hit-and-run, the station said. Curl, who was found in a road early Tuesday morning, was killed in the jump, the station said. Police told WFMY that Curl died from injuries sustained after hitting the ground. The driver reportedly kept driving and contacted a dispatcher. He reportedly didn't realize how badly Curl had been hurt. He wont be charged in the incident. The Defense Department's response to the hurricane disaster in Puerto Rico is slowing the deployment of some U.S. forces to Afghanistan and other missions around the world, including a Navy ship that was headed to the waters around the Korean peninsula, Pentagon officials said Thursday. Lt. Gen. Ken McKenzie, director of the military's Joint Staff, said there is only a "finite number" of transport aircraft and they've been tied up delivering aid and forces to Puerto Rico. He said those limitations are causing a slight delay in the flow of forces into Afghanistan and will likely slow the movement of the USS Wasp to the Pacific. "There are going to be delays. I think the delays are relatively minor," said McKenzie during a Pentagon briefing. "The secretary said we're all in to help Puerto Rico. And there are just going to be downstream effects when you make those decisions." The USS Wasp, an amphibious assault ship, arrived off Puerto Rico on Wednesday with 13 helicopters to support the ongoing relief effort, which includes supporting the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the repair of the Guajataca Dam. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis told Congress the hurricane response could affect deployments into next year because it has interrupted their preparation time. McKenzie suggested the longer delay could refer to the Wasp, and the cascading effect the delay in Puerto Rico could have on its plans to sail into the Pacific. Pentagon spokeswoman Dana White added that Mattis has signed deployment orders for troops going to Afghanistan and some have been flowing in. At least 3,500 additional forces are expected to go into the country to help train and advise Afghan forces. There are currently about 11,000 U.S. troops there. Asked what the delays say about the capabilities of the U.S. military, McKenzie said the department's response to Puerto Rico has been significant. He said deployment dalys shouldn't be interpreted as suggesting the military is "unhealthy." St. Louis police say the 143 people arrested after a protest on a busy highway near downtown are accused of trespassing. The protest happened Tuesday night on Interstate 64. Police late Wednesday released the names of those arrested, saying all of them will face the same municipal charge. The list shows the vast majority of the protesters who were arrested are from the St. Louis area. Only six are from states other than Missouri or Illinois. The protest was the latest of several since Sept. 15, when a judge found former police officer Jason Stockley not guilty of first-degree murder in the 2011 shooting death of a black drug suspect, Anthony Lamar Smith. A memorial in Ohio honoring former President William McKinley has been vandalized again. The Canton Repository reports someone unbolted two bronze window covers from the base of the McKinley National Memorial in Canton over the weekend. A facilities manager at the memorial for the 25th president says the vandals left the heavy covers behind. The memorial has been damaged and vandalized numerous times in recent years. Workers found a water bottle jammed in bronze scrollwork above the memorial's 96-foot-high (29-meter-high) doors several months ago. Facilities Manager Ronald Hermann says skateboarders continue to damage marble and concrete along the memorial's base and steps. The memorial contains the remains of McKinley, his wife and their two daughters. McKinley was assassinated in 1901 during his second term. A San Diego man accused of shooting another man in the head pleaded not guilty Wednesday to murder and gun charges. Police said Christopher James Artale, 40, was arguing with Aldo Prado, 35, outside Artale's home on Sunday when he allegedly shot the man in the head for vandalizing Artales vehicle, Fox 5 San Diego reported. Lt. Chad Bell said that when police arrived, Prado was lying in the street wounded. He died from his injuries Tuesday, police said. Deputy District Attorney Valerie Ryan said Artale could face 35 years to life in prison if convicted. He was being held on $1.5 million bail, with a preliminary hearing scheduled for Oct. 18. A fraternity at Southern Methodist University accused of hazing was shut down Wednesday. An internal investigation found evidence that new members were forced to eat jalapenos, habanero peppers, red onions and milk until they vomited. The Dallas school's Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards conducted the probe, according to a letter that university officials sent to parents Wednesday. It also found that the frat required new members to act as slaves, deprived them of sleep and forced them drink, the Dallas Morning News reported. In the letter, the university announced the suspension of the Beta Lambda chapter of Kappa Alpha Order. The chapter has been ordered to vacate its house, and sophomores living there will be reassigned to campus housing, the newspaper reported. Recruitment for the chapter will also be banned until the fall 2021 semester. Click here for more from the Dallas Morning News. The Las Vegas gunman behind the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history spent decades stockpiling guns and living a secret life and may have planned other attacks, including a car bombing, a U.S. official said Thursday. Clark County, Nev., Sheriff Joseph Lombardo said Wednesday that it was only logical to make the assumption that Stephen Paddock had some help at some point in pulling off Sunday's massacre. As evidence, Lombardo pointed to gunman Paddocks huge arsenal, explosive materials found in his car and his meticulous planning. What we know is Stephen Paddock is a man who spent decades acquiring weapons and ammo and living a secret life, much of which will never be fully understood, the sheriff said. Authorities also revealed that they believe Paddock had an escape plan, even though he turned the gun on himself as police closed in on his luxury suite at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. Paddock killed 58 people and injured hundreds in the attack as he fired from his room on the 32nd floor. Authorities are still searching for a motive. LAS VEGAS GUNMAN TARGETED AVIATION FUEL TANKS DURING SHOOTING SPREE, REPORT SAYS "Anything that would indicate this individuals trigger point, that would cause him to do such harm, we havent understood it yet," Lombardo told reporters Wednesday. "Don't you think the concealment of his history of his life was well thought out?" Analyzing Paddock's computer, cellphone and other electronic devices, investigators have found no obvious ideological motive, no clear connection to extremists or activist groups or outward display of mental illness, the Associated Press reported. An Australian man who claimed he met Paddock several times in the Philippines said the shooter was extremely intelligent, methodical, conservative -- guarded -- and strategic. A planning, thinking type of guy. The man, who spoke to The Guardian on condition of anonymity from his Brisbane home, said the encounters came through their respective girlfriends, both Philippine-born sisters, who had family reunions. He said he and Paddock had robust discussions about American gun laws and said Paddock mentioned a gun room during one stay in his home in Mesquite, Nev. His comments were that its a substantial hobby that needs to be protected: a gun room, the man told The Guardian. The materials found in Paddock's car -- 1,600 rounds of ammunition, fertilizer that could be used to make explosives and 50 pounds of the explosive substance Tannerite -- may have led authorities to believe the Paddock was possibly planning a car bombing. Authorities also revealed that the weekend before the shooting, Paddock had rented a high-rise condo in a building that overlooked the Life is Beautiful alternative music festival featuring Chance the Rapper, Muse, Lorde and Blink-182. Lombardo offered no other details on what led Paddock there. Paddock also rented a room in August at Chicago's downtown Blackstone Hotel, but never checked in. The hotel overlooks Grant Park where the Lollapalooza festival is held each year with hundreds of thousands of people in attendance. Eric Paddock called his 64-year-old brother a "private guy." As for what triggered the massacre, Eric Paddock said, "Something happened that drove him into the pit of hell." Marilou Danley, Paddock's girlfriend, returned to the U.S. from the Philippines on Tuesday and was interviewed Wednesday by FBI agents in Los Angeles. The 62-year-old said in a statement read by her lawyer that Paddock had sent her to see family in her native Philippines weeks earlier, and she was still overseas at the time of the attack. She said he wired her money so she could buy a house for her family, and she was initially pleased but later feared it was a way to break up with her. FULL COVERAGE: THE MASSACRE IN LAS VEGAS Paddock led such a low-key, private life that no one seemed to know him well, and those who did had no sense he was capable of the violence. Where other mass killers have left behind a trail of plain-sight clues that help investigators quickly understand what drove them to violence, Paddock had nearly no close friends, social media presence or other clear connections to the broader world. Even the No. 2 official in the FBI said Wednesday he was surprised investigators have not uncovered more about why a man with no obvious criminal record would cause so much bloodshed. "There's all kinds of things that surprise us in each one of these events. That's the one in this one, and we are not there yet," FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe said. "We have a lot of work to do." They wonder if he had some sort of mental break at the time that drove him to start making plans for mass murder. Authorities were looking for hints in the details of the kind of life he lived, and the kind of victims and venue he targeted, said David Gomez, a former FBI national security and criminal profiler. "We may never know to 100 percent certainty," he said. "But they will find out." The Associated Press contributed to this report. A county prosecutor in Minnesota is trying to change a state law that allows teachers to avoid criminal charges if a student with whom they have sexual relations is age 18 or older. Once a student turns 18, our law is silent. And I think that law should be changed, Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom told KARE 11. Currently in Minnesota, even if the sexual contact happens on school grounds, as long as the student is 18 years old and the act is consensual, it's not against the law, Backstrom said. When a mother who suspected her 18-year-old son of having sex with a female teacher alerted authorities, she was informed by a detective that it would not be criminal, citing the students age, KARE 11 reported. The Minnesota Department of Education appears to be on the same page as law enforcement -- avoiding such matters unless the student is under 18. I was shocked, the students mother told KARE 11. I called the Minnesota Department of Education, and they informed me there was no law broken and there would be no investigation. The lack of action has made her concerned for her sons well-being, she said, and left her feeling powerless. "There's just no way of protecting them," she said. Backstrom tried but failed to get the law changed about 10 years ago to make student-teacher sex illegal regardless of the age, but recent cases have prompted him to try again, KARE 11 reported. Authorities in Texas said Wednesday that they are seeking an 18-year-old who allegedly sucker-punched someone from behind in an incident that was caught on a closed-circuit camera. Alejandro Maldonado, 18, is wanted by Rosenberg police. Authorities reportedly called the punch callous and cruel. Maldonado was reportedly set to turn himself in, but communication with police has since been lost. Lt. Chad Pino told Houston's KRTK-TV that the assault was a serious offense and the victim spent several nights in a hospital. "You think it's a game, your friends might peer-pressure you into doing something, and it's a serious offense, it's a felony, it's an aggravated assault, he said. In this case, he sustained some serious injuries, and it's not a game. It's not going to be funny when you're in prison." Rosenberg is outside Houston. The video is brutal. The man in the video runs up from behind the victim and cocks back and unloads a right hook on the right side of the victims face. The victims hat falls off his head and he face-plants on the sidewalk. Several men are seen in the video, but none offers aid to the victim, who stayed down. Southern Methodist University has suspended a fraternity accused of forcing new members to eat hot peppers and red onions and drink milk until they threw up. The Dallas Morning News reports that the Dallas school and the national office of the Kappa Alpha Order have suspended the fraternity's Beta Lambda chapter. The suspension follows an investigation into hazing at the fraternity during the spring semester. The university says in a letter to parents that evidence shows new members were paddled and forced to wear vomit-covered clothes. The national office says it has an agreement with SMU for the fraternity to return in 2021. Last year, a Kappa Alpha Order chapter in Virginia was suspended for sending a sexist email to students. Another in Missouri was suspended over a hazing incident. next Image 1 of 2 prev Image 2 of 2 A West Point cadet whose pro-communism messages on social media were reported to his superiors in 2015 still managed to graduate from the military academy and currently serves in the field with an Army combat team, a new report says. The social media activity of 2nd Lt. Spenser Rapone was concerning, retired Army Lt. Col. Robert Heffington, who taught history that year at the Academy, stated under oath, The Daily Caller reports. I cannot reconcile the image of a first class cadet at West Point with the things he has posted online for the world to see, Heffington said in a written copy of the statement. To me, these are red flags that cannot be ignored, and I fail to see how this individual can possibly graduate and become a commissioned officer in six months. FORMER DEMOCRAT CONGRESSMAN RIPS WEST POINT GRAD One of the tweets Heffington was alarmed about was Rapone reportedly writing F*ck this country and its false freedom." From his various online rantings and posts, it appears that DCT Rapone is an avowed Marxist, which is completely out of line with the values of this nation and its Army, Heffington said. He also even implicitly justifies the actions of ISIS and blames the United States for terrorist attacks. In late 2015, Rapone was removed from his Ranger battalion for violating standards and graduated from the Academy the following year as a cadet. He currently is in the field with the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, according to the Army Times, quoting Army spokeswoman Lt. Col. Tonya Stokes. Stokes says the division is also investigating his behavior. In one incident, Heffington wrote that he confronted Rapone after he heard yelling coming from a professors office. The cadet snapped back, Sir, you dont have the right to use my honor against me! Heffington said. Heffington added that he had served as a commissioned officer for 18 years after graduating from West Point in 1997. WEST POINT GRAD CONDEMNED FOR PHOTOS, MESSAGES Rapone recently posted online two photographs that appear to be from his graduation at West Point in May 2016, The Hill reported. In one photo, he is holding the inside of his cap to the camera, showing the message communism will win written on the inside. In another, he reveals a Che Guevara T-shirt beneath his uniform shirt. Guevara was an Argentine Marxist revolutionary who partnered with Fidel Castro during the Cuban Revolution. In other social media posts, Rapone reportedly says he will happily dance on the grave of Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and calls Defense Secretary James Mattis vile and evil. McCain, who was a prisoner of war in North Vietnam for more than five years before his release in 1973, recently revealed he is battling brain cancer. Two recent Academy graduates also told The Daily Caller that they were aware of Rapones reputation before he became a news item in late September. The school told Fox News that it is looking into the newly-surfaced report and will release a statement later. It said previously that 2nd Lieutenant Rapone's actions in no way reflect the values of the U.S. Military Academy or the U.S. Army. According to the Army Times, Rapone has been awarded a Good Conduct Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, an Army Achievement Medal and the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, among others. Criminal charges have been filed against a mother accused in the death of her four-year-old son -- her only child, who had autism. The accused is 23-year-old Amelia Di Stasio, who faces a charge of first degree intentional homicide in the death of Antonio Di Stasio, which happened on September 28th near 17th and Grant. Di Stasio faces life in prison if convicted. According to a criminal complaint, around 7:30 a.m. on September 28th, the Milwaukee Fire Department was dispatched to the home at 17th and Grant for a report of "smoke." Smoke was observed coming from Apartment #2 and firefighters forced entry into the home. Smoke was observed coming from the stove, and a pile of clothing in the bathroom (in the bathtub) was noted to be smoking. NJ DAD ARRESTED AFTER ALLEGEDLY STEALING FROM WALMART, ABANDONING DYING SON IN CAR CRASH Firefighters found a lifeless child with his hands bound behind his back with several belts. The complaint says there was a garbage bag over his head. "The majority of his body was burned," the complaint says. Investigators learned the victim's body had been set on fire with the use of an unknown accelerant. A pet guinea pig was found drowned in its cage next to the tub, the complaint says. A bottle of canola cooking oil was located on the bathroom sink. Police soon arrived, and learned the victim was four-year-old Antonio Di Stasio, who lived in the apartment with his mother, Amelia. She was not home when first responders arrived. The complaint indicates the apartment's smoke detector had been removed and placed in water. Investigators spoke with a witness, who lived in the apartment building at 17th and Grant. She said Amelia and Antonio had moved in two months prior, and said Amelia "wasn't friendly and kept to herself." She noted that on September 27th, one day before Antonio died, she heard Antonio say "Please, Mommy. Stop! I won't do it again." She said she heard Amelia yell "Shut up." On the morning Antonio died, she said she heard "a banging noise" coming from Amelia's apartment unit. An autopsy revealed seven belts were used to secure Antonio Di Stasio's hands and arms to his sides, and a plastic bag had been placed over his head -- pulled tight and knotted at the back of his head. The autopsy revealed "significant charring" to his skin, and thermal injuries "to the majority of his body." His death was ruled a homicide. A second witness told investigators she saw a woman jump from the windowsill of the apartment building on September 28th. She noted that the woman looked "frazzled," according to the complaint. Amelia Di Stasio was arrested later on September 28th after an officer spotted her walking along W. Wisconsin Avenue. Read more from Fox 6 Milwaukee. A 24-year-old Washington woman who dreamed of becoming a serial killer -- by murdering a man she met online and eating his heart -- was sentenced Tuesday to 18 years in prison. Amy Caroline Brown pleaded guilty last month to attempting to kill a 29-year-old man she met on Craigslist in January, after she stabbed him in the lung with a pocket knife, Q13 Fox reported. The victim told police he met Brown on Craigslist and the two went on a date that ended up at a Seattle-area motel, according to court documents obtained by Q13 Fox. The man told police Brown asked him several times if he was a serial killer. When he told her no, the 24-year-old then climbed on top of him and said, Well, I am a serial killer and pulled out a pocket knife, the documents said. Brown then stabbed him in the chest before he was able to break free and get out of the room, according to court records. Officers arriving at the scene found the 24-year-old running across the parking lot of the motel, at which point she asked police, "Am I caught?" Authorities also found a note in her pocket that she intended to eat the man's heart and kill again, according to Q13 Fox. In addition to the note, police found a life-sized coffin in Browns bedroom and a journal outlining her plans to become a serial killer, including drawings for a murder shack, The Daily Herald reported. Brown also told cops of her murder plan, saying, I decided I wanted to become a serial killer and claim my first victim. It didnt work. Her attorney told the court she was hospitalized at 19 after trying to overdose on prescription medications, and later saw a psychiatrist and was prescribed medications, the Daily Herald reported. Brown was later diagnosed with chronic depression and post-traumatic stress disorder with psychotic features, according to court documents. The 24-year-old stopped taking her medications in January, and had stopped seeing her psychiatrist, Brown's attorney said. In a letter to the judge, Brown apologized to the victim, writing: If a person ignores the law, they may be considered as a cancer that needs to be removed from the whole. I was such a cancer. Three U.S. Army Special Forces soldiers were killed and two others were wounded Wednesday in an ambush in the west African country of Niger. Of the two Green Berets wounded, both are expected to pull through, a U.S. official with direct knowledge of the attack told Fox News. One of the wounded had life-threatening injuries at one time, but has since stabilized. The other had serious injuries. The squad of between eight and 10 soldiers was amb.ushed in a rural area about 125 miles north of Nigers capital, Niamey, near the border with Mali, the U.S. official said. "It was a routine patrol in order to train the Nigerien forces," the official said. "It was not a raid." It was unclear which terrorist group conducted the attack. In addition to Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), other groups affiliated with ISIS are active in the area. It is not clear if any U.S. aircraft were overhead at the time. Niger does not allow armed drones to take off from a base shared with the United States. White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said President Trump had been briefed on the ambush by Chief of Staff John Kelly. Africa Command says the U.S. forces are in Niger to provide training and security assistance to the Nigerien Armed Forces in their efforts against violent extremists. Niger, a former French colony, is one of the poorest nations in the world. In April, the State Department issued a travel warning advising American citizens against visiting the landlocked country's border regions, including the area where the ambush took place. "Due to security concerns and travel restrictions, the U.S. Embassys ability to assist U.S. citizens in remote and rural areas is very limited," read the statement. "There is a high threat of kidnapping by terrorist groups including AQIM, which has kidnapped Westerners and threatened U.S. citizens in Niger," the State Departments travel warning added. In 2013, AQIM was linked to a hostage crisis at a desert oil complex in Algeria, near the Libyan border. Hundreds of people, mostly Algerians, were takem hostage. The Algerian army responded by increasing its presence in the area. The website of the British government includes a list of terror incidents known to have taken place in Niger in recent years. These events have included: -- March 6, 2017: A terrorist attack at Wanzarbe, southwest Niger, resulted in the deaths of five Nigerien soldiers. -- Feb. 22, 2017: An attack on the Nigerien army in the Tillaberi region resulted in the deaths of 16 soldiers and injuries to 17. -- Oct. 17, 2016: A high-security prison near the border between Niger and Mali was attacked. -- Oct. 14, 2016: An American aid worker was kidnapped in Abalak, a province of the region of Tahoua 350 km northeast of Niamey. -- Oct. 6, 2016: An attack by violent extremists on a Malian refugee camp in Tazalit, near the Malian border, resulted in the deaths of 22 Nigerien soldiers -- June 2016: An attack by Boko Haram on the town of Bosso left 32 dead and many more injured or displaced. -- Feb. 8, 2015: An explosion in the town of Diffa resulted in several deaths and injuries. -- Feb. 6, 2015: Nigerien and Chadian military forces were attacked by Boko Haram in the towns of Bosso and Diffa. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Americans buying seafood may have accidentally subsidized the North Korean government as it builds its nuclear weapons program, The Associated Press discovered. The Hermit Kingdom distributes tens of thousands of its citizens worldwide to factories in order to make a profit. The workers bring in an estimated $200 million to $500 million a year, which could account for a sizable portion of North Koreas nuclear weapons and missile programs that South Korea estimates costs more than $1 billion. While North Korean workers have been documented overseas, The Associated Press investigation found that some products they make go to the U.S. The wire service also tracked products made by North Korean workers to Canada, Germany and elsewhere in the European Union. In response to the discovery, Senate leaders said Wednesday that the U.S. needs to keep products made by North Koreans out and get China to refuse to hire workers from the isolated country. NORTH KOREA PROMISES TO BRING NUCLEAR CLOUDS TO JAPAN; MOCKS PM AS HEADLESS CHICKEN "The [Trump] administration needs to ramp up the pressure on China to crack down on trade with North Korea across the board," said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-NY. At Chinese factories, North Korean workers are not allowed to leave their compounds without permission, and must step from housing to factories in pairs or groups, with North Korean minders. They receive only a fraction of their salaries while the rest as much as 70 percent is taken by the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK) leader Kim Jong Un's government. Besides seafood, The Associated Press found North Korean laborers making wood flooring and sewing garments in Chinese factories. Those industries also export to the U.S., but The Associated Press did not track specific shipments except for seafood. American companies are not allowed to import products made by North Korean workers anywhere in the world, and companies doing business with them could face criminal charges for using North Korean workers or materially benefiting from their labor. Meanwhile, as many as 100,000 North Koreans continue to work construction in the Gulf States, Poland, Russia and Uruguay. New U.N. sanctions ban countries from expanding their North Korean workforce. The jobs were considered highly coveted among North Koreans. BANNED VX POISON KILLED BROTHER OF NORTH KOREAN LEADER, CORONER CONFIRMS Roughly 3,000 North Koreans are believed to work in Hunchun, a Chinese industrial hub near the North Korean and Russian borders. Shipping records show more than 100 cargo containers of seafood were sent to the U.S. and Canada this year from the factories where North Koreans were working in China, including packages of snow crab, salmon fillets and squid rings. Often the fish arrives in generic packaging. But some were already branded in China with familiar names like Walmart or Sea Queen, which is sold exclusively at ALDI supermarkets. There's no way to say where a particular package ends up, or what percentage of a factory's products wind up in the U.S. ALDI did not comment and a Walmart spokeswoman told The Associated Press the company banned their suppliers from getting seafood at a Hunchun plant a year ago. Some U.S. companies had indirect ties to North Korean laborers in Hunchun. Customs records indicated that Chicken of the Sea, owned by Thai Union, did business with sister companies of the Hunchun factories in another part of China. Thai Union said the sister company they do business with meets all of their fair labor standards, and should not be penalized just because they have the same owner. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Austrian police say they have arrested a Bulgarian national after 18 migrants were found in the back of his truck during a search on the border with Hungary. A police statement issued Thursday says the migrants originate from Iraq and the Palestinian territories and comprise 10 men, three women and five children. The truck was searched Monday at the Nickelsdorf crossing with Hungary the border point that saw a huge influx of migrants heading for prosperous EU nations before states along the so-called West Balkans route originating from Greece massively increased controls and surveillance last year. The suspect faces charges of human trafficking. He remains unidentified in keeping with Austrian privacy laws. The Palestinian Hamas movement has named as its deputy leader a hard-liner who Israel says masterminded attacks against its citizens. An official in the Islamic militant group said Thursday that Saleh Arouri will be the deputy to politburo chief Ismail Haniyeh. He spoke on condition of anonymity pending an official announcement. The move comes as Hamas and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah faction are working toward reconciliation. Arouri helped to establish Hamas' armed wing in the West Bank in the 1990s. He has lived in various regional capitals since Israel released him from prison and deported him in 2010. Israel says he orchestrated several attacks, including the abduction and killing of three Israeli teenagers in 2014, which along with other events triggered that year's Gaza war. The American military strategy in Africa, where three U.S. Green Berets were killed this week during an ambush, relies too heavily on inexperienced military partners that could be ineffective, corrupt or even working in cahoots with known terrorist groups, experts say. The strategy has come under fire recently after a raid earlier this year resulted in American casualties. The Trump administration has made a renewed push in the region to establish footholds of stability where radical Islamist terrorism cannot flourish. Critics of American strategy in Africa worry that the U.S. is relying too heavily on corruptible military partners in the fight against radical Islamist groups like al-Shabab, or Boko Haram and Al Qaeda in the Maghreb (AQIM) further west in countries like Niger. THREE GREEN BERETS KILLED TWO WOUNDED IN NIGER AMBUSH You can watch in Mali and Somalia, the local militaries have swept through populated areas and cleared them, said Katherine Zimmerman of the American Enterprise Institute. Weve been a little bit blind to the methods that the governments have been using to fight these groups. For example, the methods that the Nigerian government used to fight Boko Haram stoked the insurgency. The three Green Berets were part of a squad of eight to 10 soldiers assigned to train Nigerien Armed Forces in their efforts against Al Qaeda in the Maghreb (AQIM) and other groups affiliated with ISIS. Meanwhile, the Islamist terror group al-Shabab claimed it was tipped off ahead of time about a joint U.S. Navy SEAL-Somali Armed Forces raid on May 4. A SEAL, Senior Chief Petty Officer Kyle Milliken, was killed in the intense firefight. TRUMP TARGETS AFRICA: INSIDE AMERICA'S QUIET WAR AGAINST TERROR While its unclear if al-Shabab was indeed tipped off by U.S. Somali allies ahead of the raid, experts like Zimmerman believe such incidents show a real weakness in the strategy. Weve convinced ourselves that working by and through a partner is going to solve the problem, she told Fox News. But in many cases, its making the problem were trying to solve worse. President Trump, who was elected partly for resisting foreign entanglements requiring large numbers of American troops, has nevertheless taken notice of the growing terrorist presence on the African continent. High-ranking members of his administration have been working on a strategy since the early days of his presidency. Our intent is to train and assist the African armies as much as possible, let them have the lead in fighting radical Islamist terrorists, said retired four-star Army Gen. Jack Keane. Its a high-risk strategy that is still taking shape. And while the bulk of the resources are focused on East African countries like Somalia, the U.S. military is committing troops all across the African continent. Every official who spoke with Fox News emphasized that the objective is to help African nations protect themselves. UN STUDY: YOUNG AFRICAN EXTREMISTS ARE DEPRIVED AND JOBLESS African solutions for African problems, said an AFRICOM spokesman. While former President Obama began the African troop build-up, it came after his top commanders realized mistakes had been made. And, experts say, Obama resisted the recommendations from his generals when it came to figuring out how to solve the problem. U.S. officials admitted in 2012 that the rise of Islamist groups in Africa, such as Al Qaeda in the Maghreb (AQIM), which operates in West Africa and may have been behind the fight with the Green Berets in Niger, had caught them flat-footed. In July 2012, AFRICOMs commander said that AQIM had become a much more difficult threat. We missed an opportunity to deal with AQIM when they were weak, U.S. Army Gen. Carter Ham said at the time. The Obama Administration was divided over how to tackle the rising threat. Do we or dont we deploy drones, was a big part of the conversation as late as 2012, according to the Washington Post. While Obamas National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes gradually ramped up Special Forces and drones in Africa, he kept a close lid on their ability to make tactical decisions on when and where to strike, over fear of civilian casualties. This was the Ben Rhodes machine. They did not trust the military to make these tactical decisions on their own in places like Somalia so it was very carefully managed, said one source with knowledge of the inner workings of the Obama White House. Keane said Trump has given U.S. operational commanders considerable more authority. He has decided to leave the employment of the force up to the discretion of the commanders, he said. Not up to Washington. AFRICOM tells Fox News at any given time there are approximately 5,000 to 6,000 U.S. personnel on the continent. The bulk of which, 4,000 or so, are based at Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti, which is often a staging ground for operations in both Somalia and Yemen, across the Gulf of Aden. There are at least three drone bases in Africa Djibouti, Cameroon and Niger. There is a suspected base in Tunisia, but that has not been confirmed by the U.S. military. While there are reports of many more bases that are either temporary or staging grounds for equipment, AFRICOM says it maintains 15 enduring locations. The Pentagon defines an enduring location as characterized primarily by the sustained presence of allocated U.S. Forces." They span the continent. And some take issue with the idea that U.S. special operators are there in truly advise and assist roles, particularly because of what happened on May 4 with Milliken. There has been an overreliance on special operations as a force multiplier, said retired Navy SEAL Scott Taylor, now a Republican congressman in Virginia. The Obama administration wanted to show there were no boots on the groundbut there were boots on the ground. They would say they were advisers but of course they were there. This administration has changed it a little bit but there is still this overlap. I think we have to be more discriminatory in how we use our tier one special forces. AFRICOM insists its doing just that, and it points to the thousands of troops deployed on the continent on missions, including U.S. Army First Lt. Soule Malame. Reached at Garoua airfield in Cameroon, where the U.S. operates surveillance drones, Malame told Fox News about how he left the West African country of Togo when he was 24 and is now back in Africa working with a unit designed to win hearts and minds. The message were trying to get across here is: What can we do to provide security for your area? What can we do together? Malame said the enemy in the area is Boko Haram, the group that spurred the Save Our Girls movement after it kidnapped 276 young women from a Nigerian school in 2014. They use the religion to serve themselves. They come and say Americans are bad people, not your friend. We want you to join us so you can fight them. But Malame says the Cameroon villagers open up to him when they hear his local brand of French and learn that he, like them, is a Muslim. Boko Haram and Islamic State of West Africa come looking for money and looking for influence. But they will use the money not to serve God but their own purpose, he said. I tell the villagers, they are not Muslims. Muslims will not come and tell them to kill people for no reason, and rape women, and kidnap girls. We, the Americans, are here to help them. Its a tall order, not least because of the tyranny of distance in Africa, and compounded by the U.S. reliance on shaky local governments to finish the job. The winner of the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize will be announced Friday in Oslo, Norway, and bookmakers across the globe are weighing in on who will receive this years edition of the esteemed award. From Pope Francis to North Korean despot Kim Jong Un and seemingly everyone in between, bookies have laid out the chances of who the Norwegian Nobel Committee will choose to take home this years prestigious prize. Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2016 for reaching a historic peace deal with the leftist guerrilla group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, and ending over five decades of civil conflict with the government. The awarding of the prize to Santos like those given to many other recipients was not without controversy as the peace deal was largely panned by the Colombian public and doubts remain if certain sectors of FARC will actually put down their arms. So who will win this years prize? Take a look at the odds below and place your bets before the Nobel Peace Prize is announced at 6 a.m. ET on Friday Oct 6. Pope Francis (Odds: Evens) Numerous oddsmakers have put the head of the Roman Catholic Church as the leader to win this years prize. Francis has been on the shortlist to win since becoming the pontiff in 2013 and his continued push for compassion towards refugees and migrants along with bringing a progressive voice to a historically conservative religious organization has kept him a perennial frontrunner. Our favorite for the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize is Pope Francis after all, its kind of his job to promote peace, a spokesman for Irish bookmaker Paddy Power said in a statement sent to Fox News. Angela Merkel (Odds: 13/5) After winning her fourth term as German chancellor last month, Merkel is also one of the favorites to win. The German leader earned global praise (and became Time Magazines Person of the Year) in 2015 for allowing 1 million refugees into her country from the war-torn Middle East and North Africa during the height of Europes migrant crisis in 2015. Merkels benevolence toward refugees might not have sat well with many of her fellow Germans her party came out of last months elections with a reduced majority and Germany has recently witnessed a rise in far-right politics but it could be enough for the judges in Oslo to give her the prize. White Helmets (Odds: 3/1) Predicted to win the prize last year, only to be passed over in favor of Colombias Santos, the Syria Civil Defense (known colloquially as the White Helmets) is a volunteer organization whose members go where few others dare to tread. Rushing into bombed-out buildings, the group is believed to have saved the 99,000 people in Syria since the nations civil war began in 2011. Raif Badawi (Odds: 11/1) A Saudi blogger, who was found guilty in 2012 of insulting Islam and sentenced to 10 years in prison and 1,000 lashes, has been repeatedly nominated for the prize. Human rights advocates have championed Badawi as a symbol of courage, rationalism and freedom of speech. Awarding him the prize would be seen as a repudiation of the Saudi governments repressive and brutal tactics to quell dissent. Donald Trump (Odds: 20/1) While the chances of President Trump winning the Nobel Peace Prize differ among bookmakers, Paddy Power has given him the best chances of taking home the award at 20/1. While the odds may be stacked against him given Trumps strict stance on immigration and his tense relationships with many world leaders, he would not be the first U.S. president to win the award. In 1906 Theodore Roosevelt won the prize for his work to end the Russo-Japanese war the preceding year; Woodrow Wilson won in 1919 for helping establish the League of Nations; Jimmy Carter won in 2002 for "his decades of untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development. And then there was the controversial choice of Barack Obama in 2009 only 11 months after the 44th president took office. Donald Trump ... is on the list despite doing his best to promote the opposite of peace with North Korea, Paddy Power said in a statement. We think hes unlikely to take the award but were sure hell find solace in the fact that hes above Obama in our betting. Barack Obama (Odds: 22/1) If Trumps odds are slim, the former presidents chances are even slimmer that he will take home his second Nobel Peace Prize. In fact, since the inception of the Nobel Prize awards, no person has won two peace prizes and only four have won multiple prizes in any category. The closest anyone has come was chemist Linus Pauling, who was the only person twice decorated with a Nobel Prize not shared with anyone else. He won the 1954 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his research on the nature of chemical bonding and the 1962 Nobel Peace Prize for his militant pacifism during the Cold War and opposition to nuclear weapons. Vladimir Putin (Odds: 90/1) Crazier things have happened, but there seems little chance that the Russian strongman is going to win any prize with the word peace in it. Whether its Russias incursion into the Ukraine, the sowing of discord throughout Europe, the systematic human rights abuses and extrajudicial killings in his country or the tampering of the U.S. elections, Putin looks every bit the long shot. Kim Jong Un (Odds: 500/1) If there was such a thing as an anti-peace prize then the North Korean dictator would be a strong contender. Unsurprising that a guy who presided over his countrys sixth nuclear missile test last month, maintains numerous concentration camps and has been known to execute enemies with anti-aircraft guns and mortars is not a frontrunner for a prize won in the past by the likes of Nelson Mandela, the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. British oddsmaker Ladbrokes put his chances of winning at 500/1. To be fair, Kim did win a different peace award last year when he joined the likes of Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi and Indias Mahatma Gandhi in receiving the Bali-based Sukarno Education Foundations statesmanship award. Thousands of miles outside the nations capital, a group of non-government experts are using North Koreas propaganda to track the regimes nuclear weapons program - and now they are offering a dire warning. The analysts at the Middlebury Institutes Center for Nonproliferation studies in Monterey, Calif., can pick out detailed information about the rogue nation's military capabilities just from looking at photos. "Everybody thinks theyre a joke, like theyre some kind of incompetent buffoons," nonproliferation expert Jeffrey Lewis told the Wall Street Journal as part of the new video series Moving Upstream. "We weren't surprised that they were ready to test an ICBM because I looked at the pictures," he said. Lewis said looking at photos released by North Korea, the group was able to figure out the size of rockets and estimated engine power. The team was even able to figure out the weight of the rockets based on the strength of the crane holding the weapon. Watch the full video from the Wall Street Journal. People seeking asylum are leaving America for Canada in unprecedented numbers. They pour in from around the globe. Some have been in the United States for just days or weeks. Others for years. "Most of the people want to come to Canada to become Canadian citizens," said Enrique Gasse, a constable with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP.) More than 13,000 have crossed illegally this year, according to Canadian government data. That's more than five times the number intercepted by the RCMP in 2016. The summer surge was dramatic, particularly in Quebec, where authorities set up a temporary camp near the border. In Montreal, officials briefly converted the former Olympic Stadium into a shelter. NO GUARANTEE OF RESIDENCE FOR MIGRANTS FLEEING US FOR CANADA More than 5,700 asylum seekers crossed illegally in August alone, avoiding checkpoints and the risk of being sent back to America. Most simply walk in, crossing where a rural dead end in New York meets the Canadian border. "We are living a lot of uncertainty about immigration reform in the U.S. What's going to happen with DACA or what's going to happen also with a calls for even a smaller intake of refugees and a move towards a points system in the U.S." explains Professor Mireille Paquet, currently serving as a postdoctoral fellow at Harvard University's Weatherhead Center for International Affairs. "Whether that's going to happen or not, I think there's a lot of uncertainty for populations." Advocates say it's the contrast between the Trump administration's hardline stance on immigration vs. the welcoming image projected by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that drives many migrants to Canada though the country does warn there is no guarantee that status will be granted. PM TRUDEAU SAYS CANADA WILL TAKE REFUGEES "The government has been accused of misleading migrants and telling them that things would be easier than they might sound," said immigration lawyer Guillaume Cliche-Rivard. Still, he said, many migrants have few options. "When we compare what's going on in the states, even though there is uncertainty about Canada, the uncertainty is still less than what they might be facing in the states, he said. When you have a lose-lose situation, you may choose the one that you're less losing." Outside a YMCA in Montreal where migrants are housed, it's a melting pot of cultures. Families from Syria gather alongside men from Haiti and Africa. All await hearings to determine their fate. Many stopped in America first but believe their best shot at refuge lies in Canada. One man told us he fled his home country after his life was threatened for opposing the practice of female genital mutilation. "My hope for the future is to seek a better life," he said. "A better future. A place where I can be free." Trudeau is slated to visit Washington next week but the official focus of his meeting with President Trump is expected to be on international security and trade as NAFTA negotiations continue. During a visit to Moscow, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said Wednesday that he was confident Russia would come to Venezuela's aid if the South American country were to face intrusions from the Trump administration. I am sure, even if we do not ask, we will be given even more support to boost Venezuelas defense capacity and sovereignty," Maduro said during an energy forum. The comments were prompted in part by President Donald Trump's August statement that the U.S. would consider a "military option" for stabilizing Venezuela, which has been plagued by economic turmoil and civil unrest. Maduro said he would discuss military cooperation with the Russian government next week, McClatchy reported. The Venezuelan leader thanked the Russian government and spoke about the mutual respect between former Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez and Russian President Vladimir Putin, adding that the cooperation between the two countries made the Venezuelan forces three times stronger over the past 15 years." Putin is the leader of the emerging world, the world we want to live in. Putin carries the banner of decorum, dignity and peace, Maduro added. Tensions between the the U.S. and Venezuela have increased to all-time-high after Maduro usurped democratic institutions and cracked down on protesters voicing their opposition to a socialist regime that has plunged the country into deep economic misery. Trumps threat of intervention has confirmed the fears of Venezuelan leaders, who have long accused the U.S. of meddling in their domestic politics and covertly prepping to overthrow the socialist regime, according to McClatchy. In Moscow, Maduro said the U.S. threats must not be dismissed, adding that Trump is trying to bully his country a relatively small nation with little global outreach and no nuclear weapons or military bases in other nations. Despite that, according to Maduro, the U.S. should not discount the military power of the Venezuelan military. We have a glorious history on the battlefield, he said. Tropical Storm Nate, which formed Thursday and is projected to possibly hit the U.S. Gulf Coast this weekend as a hurricane, has left at least 22 people dead as it makes its way across Central America. As of the National Hurricane Centers 8 p.m. ET advisory, Tropical Storm Nate is about 45 miles west of Puerto Lempira, Honduras, and 390 miles south-southeast of Cozumel, Mexico. With maximum sustained winds of 40 miles per hour, the storm continues to move north-northwest at 10 mph. On the forecast track, the center of Nate should move across eastern Honduras this evening and over the northwestern Caribbean Sea tonight and Friday, the Center said. Rosario Murillo, Nicaraguas vice president, said Thursday that at least 15 people had died in the country due to Nate. Murillo didnt elaborate on many of the deaths, but noted that three people who worked for the Health Ministry were swept away by a flooded canal in Juigalpa. Nicaragua has seen near-constant rain in recent weeks, which left areas flooded and rivers swollen. Costa Rican President Luis Guillermo Solis said seven people died in Costa Rica from the tropical storm, which pushed 5,000 people in the country into emergency shelters due to flooding. At least 15 people in Coast Rica remain missing. Officials in Louisiana ordered evacuations in part of St. Bernard Parish east of New Orleans, and a voluntary evacuation was ordered early Thursday in Grand Isle, south of New Orleans. New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu declared a state of emergency Thursday in preparation of Nates expected arrival in the coming days, noting the tropical storm could make landfall as a Category 1 hurricane. To the citizens of New Orleans, there is no reason to panic, but there is reason to prepare, Landrieu said. Six oil production platforms in New Orleans out of the 737 manned platforms in the Gulf had been evacuated as of midday Thursday, according to the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement's New Orleans office. No drilling rigs were evacuated, but one movable rig was taken out of the storm's path. The agency estimated less than 15 percent of the current oil production in the Gulf of Mexico has been shut-in, which equates to 254,607 barrels of oil per day. Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards also declared a state of emergency for the state, and said 1,300 National Guard troops are being mobilized, with 15 headed to New Orleans to monitor the fragile pumping system in place there. Edwards warned residents not to underestimate the storm, and to be where they intend to hunker down by "dark on Saturday." Tropical Storm Nates path is forecast to brush across the tip of Mexicos Yucatan Peninsula early Friday night, then later hit the U.S. Gulf Coast as a hurricane by Sunday morning. Florida Gov. Rick Scott also declared a state of emergency Thursday in 29 counties in anticipation of the storm, which could still experience torrential rain and the threat of tornadoes in the Panhandle, Scott tweeted. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) said its preparing for Nate ahead of its potential landfall. While dealing with the aftermath of hurricanes Harvey, Irma and most recently Maria, FEMA said its been monitoring the storm with the NHCs help, and urged families to make a plan for the possibility of a disaster striking. The official hurricane season doesnt end until November 30, and this years season might be the strongest yet. With the amount of storms that formed in the Atlantic this season, the numbers of named storms forming during September was near average and hurricanes and major hurricanes were both well above average based on a 30-year climatology, according to the NHC. September was the most active on record about 3.5 times more active than an average September during that 30-year period in terms of a measurement called Accumulated Cyclone energy (ACE), which measures combined strength and length of storms, the NHC said. The Associated Press contributed to this report. After a brief pause in tropical activity, Tropical Storm Nate formed Thursday in the Caribbean near the coast of Nicaragua and may impact the Gulf Coast by this weekend. The storm is located about 45 miles west of Puerto Lempira, Honduras, the National Hurricane Center said in its 8 p.m. ET advisory. Nate has sustained winds of about 40 mph, moving north-northwest at 10 mph, the NHC said, adding that "strengthening is likely once the center moves over the northwestern Caribbean Sea tonight and Friday." "On the forecast track, the center of Nate should move across eastern Honduras this evening and over the northwestern Caribbean Sea tonight and Friday," the NHC said. "There is quite a bit of uncertainty when it comes to timing, track and intensity, but the southeastern Louisiana coast to the Florida Panhandle should monitor the forecast and any changes over the next few days." Fox News Senior Meteorologist Janice Dean They also said the storm could reach hurricane strength as it nears the Yucatan Peninsula. The government of Mexico has issued a Hurricane Watch along the northern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula from Punta Herrero to Rio Lagartos. Bands of heavy rain and wind may affect Cancun and Cozumel by Friday, according to Fox News Senior Meteorologist Janice Dean. A Tropical Storm Warning is also in effect from Sandy Bay Sirpi, Nicaragua to Punta Castilla, Honduras as well as Punta Herrero to Rio Lagartos, Mexico. "Interests elsewhere in Honduras, the Bay Islands, western Cuba, the Yucatan Peninsula and the northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico should monitor the progress of Nate," the NHC said. TRACK THE STORM AT MYFOXHURRICANE.COM. The storm is more likely to strengthen into Saturday as it moves northward, eventually into the Gulf of Mexico, according to Dean. Any possible impact from the storm on the United States is not yet clear, but the NHC's forecast cone shows it may approach the eastern Gulf Coast near the Florida panhandle as a hurricane by Sunday. "There is quite a bit of uncertainty when it comes to timing, track and intensity, but the southeastern Louisiana coast to the Florida Panhandle should monitor the forecast and any changes over the next few days," Dean said. Florida Gov. Rick Scott declared a state of emergency for 29 counties ahead of Nate's possible approach, and warned residents along the state's Gulf Coast to have a plan, disaster kit, and "be ready today." "It clearly can get much worse than it is," Scott said, reminding residents the storm will eventually pass over warm waters in the Gulf of Mexico. In Nicaragua, Nate's arrival followed two weeks of near constant rain that had left the ground saturated and rivers swollen. Authorities placed the whole country on alert and warned of flooding and landslides, the Associated Press reported.. Nicaragua's vice president and spokeswoman, Rosario Murillo, said that two women and a man who worked for the Health Ministry were swept away by a flooded canal in the central municipality of Juigalpa while working to aid the community. Two other men drowned -- one in the Carazo area south of Managua and the other in the Coco river near the border with Honduras as the government closed schools along the Caribbean coast. Nate is the 14th named storm of the year, and comes after a month of devastation from Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria. Forecasters said the Atlantic hurricane season would be "above-normal," with 14 to 19 by the peak season. An average Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to Nov. 30, produces 12 named storms, of which six become hurricanes, including three major hurricanes, according to NOAA. The Associated Press contributed to this report. next Image 1 of 2 prev Image 2 of 2 Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has visited Belarus, emphasizing plans to bolster military ties with the ex-Soviet nation. Speaking at the start of Thursday's talks with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Maduro said that "cooperation in the military sphere has been very successful and we need to expand it." Maduro didn't elaborate and details of military cooperation aren't immediately known. Lukashenko said that Belarus would like to develop cooperation with Venezuela in energy, agriculture and construction. Belarus, Russia's neighbor and ally, has exported wheat, fertilizers and medicines to Venezuela. Maduro's visit to Belarus comes a day after his trip to Russia, where he met with President Vladimir Putin and thanked him for political and diplomatic support. New U.K. Treasury chief Jeremy Hunt has reversed most of an economic package announced by the government just weeks ago, including a planned cut in income taxes. Hunt said Monday he was scrapping almost all the tax cuts announced last month by the Conservative government of Prime Minister Liz Truss, and also signaled that public spending cuts are on the way. It was a bid to soothe turbulent financial markets spooked by fears of excessive government borrowing. The move raises questions about how long the beleaguered prime minister can stay in office, though Truss insisted she has no plans to quit. She vowed to lead the Conservatives into the next general election, but many in the party want her gone. After decades of trying to find the source of wastebe it from humans, birds or animalsthat has leached into the Potomac River at Fairview Beach and prompted more swimming advisories than any other beach in Virginia, the Fairview Beach Residents Association believes it has pinpointed one of the problems. We have literally found the smoking gun, said Terry OToole, past president of the King George County group. The association collected water samples after a heavy rain, because thats when bacteria levels in the water seemed to be the highest, from four sites between the trailer park and Tims II Restaurant. The samples were sent to Environmental Canine Services, a company whose dogs have been used in 13 states since 2009 to detect illegal sewage discharges into stormwater systems and surface waters. The dogs are trained to sniff for one thing: human waste. When they were presented water samples from Fairview Beach, the dogs barked or sat downtheir way of signifying positive resultsat four of the five samples. The association presented its findings at a July 31 meeting in Fairview Beach that included representatives from local, state and federal agencies. The group also reported that the septic system drain fields for the trailer park, which has 45 mobile homes, had not been pumped out as required by county ordinance, and the agencies made plans to move forward. It has been more than two months, and OToole believes things arent moving fast enough. He said King George County officials, God bless them, have done what they can to put pressure on other agencies, but he said it seems like no one wants to step up and take responsibility. This is a public health hazard, OToole said, shaking his head in disgust as he described brown water running down the street, into a restaurant parking lot and eventually the river. This is 2017, and were not a Third World country. King George Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Ruby Brabo had similar frustrations at the July meeting. She said the Virginia Health Department sent local, regional and state representatives to the session and, They kept saying, We have no authority, she said. Are you kidding me? You have human waste going into the water, and youre telling me you have no authority to go into the trailer park and address the matter? So who does? They all just looked at me and said they dont know. I was just incensed, Brabo said. The trailer park is owned by Fairview B LLC, and Fairview Beach resident Mike Shrewsbury is its local caretaker. He did not respond to a reporters email. OToole said it had been difficult for local agencies to get on the trailer park property, but Mike Bennett, president of the association, said Shrewsbury recently has allowed access. One septic tank that serves the trailer parkand is right next to the riverwas pumped out recently. No one seems certain of the exact location of a second septic tank, higher up the hill in the trailer park. Its along Botts Lane, and a previous homeowner filed a complaint with the local health department when she saw soil bubbling in the backyard after a heavy rain. OToole suspects that septic field may be leaking and could be one of the sources of human waste in the water samples. But an August 2016 email from Steven Valentine, environmental health specialist with the King George Health Department, said his agency investigated the complaint at Botts Lane, and the tank was pumped and repairs made. So, no obvious smoking gun from the trailer park, he wrote in an email to the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality. That area along Botts Lane is overgrown with kudzu, and no local agencies have records of where the tank is located. In fact, the King George Health Department cant locate any drawings, plans or schematics from a 2007 survey that indicated the locations of the septic tanks, Valentine wrote in August 2016. Bennett said Shrewsbury agreed to look for the septic tank again this fall, after the kudzu has died back. Brent McCord, environmental health manager with the Rappahannock Area Health District, said the information presented by the Fairview Beach Residents Association does not constitute a public health hazard. A malfunctioning drainfield or public sewerage system would be considered a public health hazard. We have not found that, he said, adding the septic tank recently pumped was functioning normally. And, a three-hour exploratory survey of the trailer park done in August 2016 by Valentine found no obvious evidence of seepage around the mobile homes or RVs where people stay during the summer. McCord also said the positive tests from the waste-sniffing dogs do not provide a link to a faulty drainfield, which the health department requires in order to take enforcement actions. If we observe sewage on the ground surface, a backup in the sewer line or a house due to a cause other than a blocked sewer line [saturated drainfield, but not surfacing], polluting the groundwater, or sewage exposed to insects are reasons where we can take enforcement actions, he wrote in an email. A new mailer approved by Republican gubernatorial nominee Ed Gillespie features a photo of the Robert E. Lee statue on Richmonds Monument Avenue and accuses Democrat Ralph S. Northam of wanting to tear down history while making life easier for illegal immigrants. The political flier, paid for by the Republican Party of Virginia, swaps out Gillespies usual For ALL Virginians slogan for the lesser-used For a safer, stronger Virginia. The new messaging is the latest sign of Gillespie and his party moving toward a more direct approach to the racially charged issues that carried anti-establishment firebrand Corey Stewart to a surprisingly strong finish in the GOP primary this year. The Republican Party declined to say how many of the fliers it had mailed or where they were sent. The flier promises that Gillespie will crack down on illegal immigration and claims that Northam, the current lieutenant governor, supported restoring rights to illegal immigrants who committed crimes, a reference to data errors that occurred when Gov. Terry McAuliffe took executive action to restore civil rights to more than 206,000 felons. The governors list at one point included a sex offender who had been deported to his native Peru. The McAuliffe administration corrected the mistakes. Northam has voiced strong support for McAuliffes expansive approach to restoring felons voting rights. He has not called for restoring rights to people who immigrated illegally, who are not allowed to vote in Virginia regardless of whether theyve committed a felony. A former fixture of the D.C. establishment who once chaired the Republican National Committee, Gillespie has been running largely on an economy-focused message of cutting taxes and reducing regulation. He has made some overtures to minority voters by calling for criminal justice reform that loosens drug laws and saying that immigrants illegally brought to America as children, the so-called Dreamers, should not be deported. But by firing up its base with stark attacks on Northam centered on Confederate symbols and illegal immigration, the GOP runs the risk of being criticized as playing to the racial divisions that many Democrats believe propelled President Donald Trump to the White House. Its sad to see Ed Gillespie stoop to Trumps divisive rhetoric in a fit of desperation, said Northam spokesman David Turner. Lacking enthusiasm, funding, and an effective message, Ed is trying to move Virginians further apart, rather than bring them together. Maybe its time for him to look in the mirror and ask himself if hes really proud of the campaign hes running. A spokesman for the Gillespie campaign responded by saying Gillespie is running on spurring growth in a stagnant economy and keeping our communities safe by combating violent gangs. Ralph Northam made statues an issue in this campaign when he called for taking them all down. He made sanctuary cities an issue when he voted against banning them. And he made blanket restoration of rights an issue when he called it one of the administrations greatest feats, said Gillespie spokesman David Abrams. Now his campaign is upset that we are highlighting legitimate policy differences while he does nothing but launch character smears against Ed. Quentin Kidd, director of Christopher Newport Universitys Wason Center for Public Policy, said the Gillespie team is looking for a way to overcome the small lead Northam has had in recent polls, and it appears a mixture of immigration, Confederate statues and crime fits the bill. The Gillespie team wants to find something to put Northam on the defensive, Kidd said, adding that the fliers are likely targeted to the Trump-Stewart wing of the Republican base and undecided voters leaning toward Northam. After the violent white nationalist rally in Charlottesville near a Lee statue in a downtown park, Northam said that Confederate statues should be taken down and that he would advocate for their removal as governor. With several polls showing a majority of Virginia voters oppose taking down Confederate statues, Northam has walked back his position, saying more recently that each locality should make its own decision and he would accept those decisions as governor. Gillespie has said statues should remain in place with added historical context. Gillespie too has said statue decisions should be made locally, but he has not explained how he would deal with a Republican-backed state law that may block cities and counties from moving their own statues. In immigration-themed TV ads, Gillespie has sought to draw attention to violent crimes tied to the gang MS-13 by featuring ominous photos of tattooed Hispanic men. The flier doesnt mention MS-13, but accuses Northam of being too lenient to illegal immigrants who want to drive or go to college. Under the headline Liberal Ralph Northam stands with illegal immigrants, the flier says that Northam supports in-state tuition and drivers licenses for illegal immigrants and that he cast a deciding vote in favor of sanctuary cities. There are no sanctuary cities in Virginia, a fact Gillespie has publicly acknowledged. Earlier this year, General Assembly Republicans trying to pass a bill to ban sanctuary policies in the future forced Northam to cast a tie-breaking vote against it. After voting no to create the tie, Senate Majority Leader Thomas K. Norment Jr., R-James City, changed his vote to pass the bill, which was then vetoed by McAuliffe. Morris Jones entered into eternal rest on September 28, 2017. He was the husband of the late Rosa L. Jones and is survived by two sons, Morris A. Jones and Carlton B. Jones (Maureen). He is also survived by one sister, Frances Morgan; brother-in-law Wilbert Ware; seven grandchildren, six great-grandchildren; as well as a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Friends may visit with family on Saturday, October 7 from 11 a.m. until time of service, 12 Noon, at People's Congregational Church of Christ, 4704 13th St., NW, Washington, D.C. Arrangements by McGuire. www.mcguire-services.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. Farmers face paying the price of bad practice in the supply chain unless processors up their game when it comes to food safety, a leading expert has warned. Chris Elliott, who led the investigation into the 2013 horsemeat scandal, spoke out after undercover footage appeared to show workers at a 2 Sisters chicken factory in West Bromwich changing the kill dates on crates of poultry, and mixing batches of old and new stock. The scandal has implications for farmers beyond the poultry sector because much of 2 Sisters chicken is sold under the Red Tractor logo the farm assurance scheme and quality marque that appears on a range of other British farm produce. See also: 2 Sisters accused of manipulating use-by dates Prof Elliott said: Farmers are jumping through as many hoops as they possibly can and if they put a foot out of place, they get heavily penalised or suspended. Work on farms is being done to a very high standard and processing has to go in exactly the same direction. Most farmers and many good companies had fantastic food hygiene and high food safety standards, Prof Elliott told Farmers Weekly. But the risk was that they could pay the penalty of other firms bad practice through no fault of their own. He added: The risk is they get tarred with the same brush. What happens is people stop eating chicken. It starts to lose the power of what that symbol is it just becomes another logo on another package. It will lose its value and its credibility. Prof Elliots comments echoed those of Manchester Universitys European food crime research group, which said the latest footage revealed in an undercover investigation by the Guardian newspaper and ITV was the latest in a long line of such incidents in the food supply chain. Previous research by the group had concluded that the structure of, and operating cultures within, the food market are such that unethical practices are embedded in routine, daily food processing, production and distribution systems and procedures. Isolated incidents The comments contrast with those made by 2 Sisters Food Group, supported by the Food Standards Agency and the British Poultry Council, which insist that the footage is far from representative of factory procedures. 2 Sisters said it was shocked and distressed by the allegations and footage which also seemed to show employees picking chicken up off the floor and putting it back on the conveyor belts. Our internal investigation has shown some isolated instances of non-compliance with our own quality management systems, said a spokesman. We have therefore decided to temporarily suspend operations at the site to allow us the time to retrain all colleagues in all food safety and quality management systems. A number of leading supermarkets immediately cancelled orders from the factory in question, including Tesco, Sainsburys, the Co-op, Marks & Spencer, Lidl and Aldi. A 2 Sisters spokesman insisted that there was enough spare capacity at the companys other sites to ensure the supply of chicken to retailers could continue unabated. The company has also revealed that the incident is costing it up to 500,000 a week. Dismay NFU poultry board chairman Duncan Priestner expressed his dismay. As farmers we produce food with integrity and we expect this to extend right through the supply chain to the supermarket shelves, he said. British farms produce food to some of the highest standards in the world and its absolutely vital that these are continued beyond the farm gate. I hope the public will continue to back British farming. Quality assurance body Red Tractor has also suspended the 2 Sisters West Bromwich site from its scheme, pending the outcome of its own independent inquiries. Whats in Your Shed? heads to Ross-shire in the Highlands of Scotland for this months instalment. We meet the Wilson family to chat about their devotion to John Deere tractors and Claas combines. We also get them to spill the beans on their best and worst performers over the years and if there are any classics in line for a birthday. Farm facts: Balnagore, Fearn, Ross-shire Combining: 800ha Drilling: 2,200ha Baling: 21,000 bales/year Baler/wrapper: 12,000 bales Other: Soil sampling, lime sales and spreading, drainage contracting, hedgecutting, muckspreading Staff: Eight full-time, plus Allan and Alyson How brand-loyal are you? We always base our buying decision on the brand and machine, rather than picking a favourite dealer and putting up with whatever they sell. For the tractors we cant look any further than John Deere, which is sold through HRN Tractors. It would take a lot to sway us because the Deere package and in particular the Greenstar is difficult to beat. We get a great service too, and they are always willing to travel out late in the evening to fix a problem. Claas is our current pick for combines and Lemken for drills, both of which come from Sellars at Invergordon. Were also big McHale fans and wouldnt have anything else for the baling side of things. See also: Whats in Your Shed? heads to Caithness Favourite dealer? Were spoilt for local dealers the furthest is 30 miles away and the fact that were a big customer to most of them for both new kit and spares often works in our favour. We dont really have a favourite, though the GPS backup from HRN has been really useful. Im too bad-tempered to accept anything other than good service, anyway. Favourite piece of kit? Without doubt its the McHale Fusion nothing can compete with the quality of silage it produces. In the past weve tried Bomford, John Deere and Claas, but all our customers want to see us running the Fusions now because they make quality, rock-hard bales. McHale also does a great back-up job. Even if the dealer is busy we can ring the factory in Ireland and more often than not theyre able to talk us through exactly what we need to do to get going again. In the shed Tractors John Deere 6215R x 3, 6175R x 2, 6630, 6620 John Deere 6215R x 3, 6175R x 2, 6630, 6620 Combines Claas Lexion 550 and 570TT Claas Lexion 550 and 570TT Loader Manitou telehandler Manitou telehandler Balers McHale Fusion baler/wrapper, McHale V660 x 3. MF185 square baler. McHale Fusion baler/wrapper, McHale V660 x 3. MF185 square baler. Drills Lemken Solitair 9 x 2, Vaderstad Spirit ST400C, Greenmaster grass seeder, Vredo overseeder Lemken Solitair 9 x 2, Vaderstad Spirit ST400C, Greenmaster grass seeder, Vredo overseeder Cultivation equipment Kverneland ploughs five- and six-furrow Kverneland ploughs five- and six-furrow Other Land drive lime spreader, Bunning Lowlander 120 muckspreader Land drive lime spreader, Bunning Lowlander 120 muckspreader Digger 16t JCB excavator, New Holland B110c digger Latest purchase? Five John Deere tractors three 6215Rs and two 6175Rs. We agreed the price before the Brexit vote and were given six weeks to sign the deal, so by the time it went through all the tractor manufacturers had hiked their prices. The change in the value of sterling worked in our favour and we ended up making a massive saving compared with the cost of the same machines just a month or so later. Oldest machine still at work? A Grays Tubeliner bale wrapper that we bought in May 1994 for 8,790. We use it half-a-dozen times each harvest to wrap ammonia-treated straw and a bit of silage. Last year it only did 1,000 bales, but in its peak back in 2000 it did 7,000 bales. We code each machine and record its workload so we know exactly how many bales it is churning out and the same goes for every other machine in the yard. Theres no reason why it cant be used more it just depends on how much demand there is for fodder. For that reason, its a useful machine to have in the yard, so well keep it unless we come across another one for sale thats in better nick. How long do you keep your machines? Theres no fixed term. The beauty of having detailed machinery service records is that we can track exactly when a machine is starting to build up higher maintenance bills. It doesnt matter if its three years old or 10 years old, if its starting to look like it might cost money and the operator has a big say in that then we look to shift it on. Whats next on your wishlist? Perhaps the two combines we usually change them both at the same time. Weve put it out to tender, so well have to see what John Deere, Claas and New Holland come up with deal-wise to replace the 25ft cut 570 and 22ft cut 550 Lexions. One is on tracks, which carries a 10,000 premium, but makes it narrower and much easier to move around. We cant get away with getting bigger headers either, because of the shear bulk of straw in the fields it takes ages to dry out. Whichever it is, well be looking for a 500-hour machine weve only once bought a new one. It was a Deutz-Fahr with a 16ft cut, which at the time made it one of the biggest combines around. Most embarrassing machinery mistake? We almost lost a Cat 215D excavator in a peat bog back in 1992. It was doing drainage work and slid off the mats before slowly sinking deeper and deeper as we tried to haul it out. It sat there for three weeks while we worked out what we were going to do, by which time the peat was halfway up the front windscreen and filling the cab. We had to get a guy in from Glasgow, who came with a 200t winch and pulled it 200m through the peat. Everyone came from far and wide to watch and in the end the whole job cost us about 28,000. Most expensive repair bill? Definitely the bill for the digger, though we did eventually get it running again. Best invention? We combined a Farm Force cultivator with a semi-mounted Accord drill because the Accord ran on two wheels and was leaving tracks in the field after drilling. The manufacturers told us it wasnt possible, but we got them cobbled together and used it for several years. Similarly, we once adapted a Simba Freeflow to grain and fertiliser, which is a must-have with the catchy weather this far north. What couldnt you live without in the workshop? Theres not one particular thing everything has its place and were pretty well equipped to deal with most emergencies. A good sense of humour is imperative, though. Do you buy second-hand? We prefer to buy everything new where possible. That way we know exactly what were getting wed rather pay an extra year of finance on a new tractor than gamble on stuff that is more likely to break down during the busy season. That said, the combines wont be brand new, and the baler was second-hand, too. Favourite job? Stuart: Ploughing. Allan: Putting the bills through. Least favourite? Chasing bad debt. Whats your everyday transport? Stuart: I have an Isuzu Denver thats on 86,000 miles. The trucks tend to slowly get passed down, so itll be on the farm for a few more years. Allan: Toyota Hilux with an auto box. Its the best off-roader Ive ever had. Best tractor youve ever had? A 120hp John Deere 6620. We still have it it came as an ex-hire in 2006 for 33,500 and is now on 11,500 hours. Its probably worth 15,000 now, so its cost us 18,500 over 11 years and has hardly seen a spanner in that time, either. Biggest machinery bargain? An NC silage trailer that came brand new from England. The dealer was struggling to sell it because it was fitted with super-singles rather than flotations, so we snapped it up. Any machinery classics in the shed? Allan: Im currently restoring a John Deere 710. I bought it 38 years ago with a seized engine, so I dropped the sump, ran some emery paper around the crankshaft and put in a new set of shells. I then quickly sold it before it went wrong again, and it has spent the last 36 years towing salmon fishing boats in and out of the water. In that time the sea air has taken its toll, and when I got it back for free in January it was in a bad way. Engine-wise it was running OK, but I split it to do the thrust bearing and replaced a load of oil seals because it was leaking like a sieve. The biggest problem is finding the spares, which often means I have to fashion replacements out of bits Ive got lying around the workshop. Hopefully Ill have it ready to go by the first local ploughing match in November. As she prepares for her inauguration as Dickinson Colleges 29th president, Margee Ensign understands the mantle shes been handed. In taking over one of the oldest colleges in America, Ensign said she is building on a foundation of civic engagement that has been crafted over the decades and centuries with the ideals of the founding fathers in mind, sharing their belief that an educated, engaged citizen is vital to the community. That focus on the community will play a vital role in the events on Thursday and Friday that lead up to her installation ceremony Saturday. These two days reflect the community coming to campus, and then the campus going to the community, Ensign said. Dickinson College announced in February that its board of trustees had selected Ensign as its next president, filling the vacancy left by Nancy Roseman, who resigned as the colleges 28th president last year after three years in the position. Provost and Dean of the College Neil Weissman had served as interim president. Ensign comes to Dickinson after serving as the president of the American University of Nigeria, a private university based on the U.S. model of higher education, and the first development university in Africa. The events surrounding Ensigns inauguration accent the connection between the campus and the community that she would like to see become stronger during her time as president of the college. The community-focused celebration begins Thursday night with the Civic Engagement Celebration in the social hall at Holland Union Building from 5:30 to 7 p.m. The celebration will give the community the chance to see the range of partnerships that help promote learning and service for the common good, Ensign said. The event sets the stage for Fridays foray into the community as the United Ways Day of Caring launches out of the campus into the community to serve local nonprofit organizations. A team that includes Dickinson College students and staff will be volunteering along with teams from other area businesses and organizations. That evening, Dickinson College students and faculty will perform at various locations as part of First Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. in downtown Carlisle. The theme for this months event is Music Walk & Dickinson Homecoming. Performances begin with an acappella concert at 5 p.m. at the Carlisle Theatre. At 5:30 p.m. eXiled Poetry will take the stage at Square bean and the Quidditch Club will be on the Weiss Center lawn. Dickinson dance groups Anwar, DTG, Synergy and Hypnotic will perform at Bosler Memorial Library at 6 p.m. A symposium, Arts for the Common Good, will be held at the Weiss Center for the Arts at 6:30 p.m. The symposium features selected performances and presentations from faculty and students that respond to Dickinsons mission to prepare students for engaged lives of citizenship in service to society. Ensign said the colleges theme is a useful education for the common good, and that is what drives the colleges participation in First Friday. Thats what all of this reflects. The arts are doing art for the common good, she said. The events culminate in Saturdays installation ceremony at 10 a.m. on the John Dickinson Campus at the corner of West High and North West streets, to which Ensign has invited the entire Carlisle community. Fifty representatives from around the world, including Dr. Gilbert Bukenya, the former vice-president of Uganda as well as a delegation of Ensigns colleagues from Nigeria, will be attending. Join our community as we continue the historic tradition of Dickinson College and American universities, Ensign said. A Pinch of Salt: The election is over, I think, so what now? The young author J.D. Salinger is walking alone one night when a teenage boy approaches wearing a red hunting cap just like Holden Caulfield's and clutching a copy of Salinger's recently published sensation "The Catcher in the Rye." "How do you know so much about ME?" says the teenager. "I don't," says Salinger. "It's just a work of fiction." "But I'm Holden!" calls out the boy as Salinger walks away. "I'm Holden Caulfield!" This encounter takes place in "Rebel in the Rye," Danny Strong's dramatization of some of the key events in Salinger's life. (The movie is based on "J.D. Salinger: A Life" by Kenneth Slawenski.) And though it's not a particularly subtle dramatic moment, there's something resonant about it. Maybe it's because we know thousands upon thousands of young people for generations to come would see themselves in Holden; and we know a very tiny percentage of seriously troubled individuals, including John Lennon's killer, Mark David Chapman, would cling to "Catcher" as some sort of totem. Salinger never allowed Hollywood to make a movie out of "The Catcher in the Rye," and though I would have loved to have seen certain actors (such as a young Timothy Hutton) playing Holden Caulfield, perhaps we're better off with "just" the book, which ranks with "The Great Gatsby" and a handful of other works as one of the true Great American Novels of the 20th century. How could any movie compare? With "Rebel in the Rye," we get a solid, well-acted and basically standard biopic about the man who created Holden Caulfield, largely in his own image. Nicholas Hoult plays "Jerry" as cocky and smart-alecky but fragile and self-centered increasingly more comfortable observing human behavior and immersing himself in his writing than interacting with friends and associates and love interests. Zooey Deutch has an early, extended cameo as Oona O'Neill, who captured the then-unpublished Salinger's heart and then broke it by marrying Charlie Chaplin while Salinger was fighting overseas for the Army during World War II. Deutch adds a sassy bit of 1930s and 1940s rapid-talking zip to her line readings, as if mimicking the acting style of the day. Kevin Spacey creates a memorable character in Whit Burnett, the editor of Story magazine and a key early mentor in Salinger's development as a writer. There's something melancholy and real about Burnett's story arc. "Rebel in the Rye" concludes with Salinger telling his agent (Sarah Paulson) he doesn't want to publish anymore that writing has become his religion, and he doesn't feel the need to share it with the outside world. So we don't see the full transformation of Salinger from difficult but still somewhat socially engaged young writer to the ever-more-eccentric author who all but disappeared from the world (and from publishing) for nearly a half-century, becoming one of the most famous recluses in American history. We could have stood to see even more of Salinger's story. The Oregon State University School of Arts and Communication hosts the United States Marine Corps Jazz Orchestra for a concert Friday, Oct. 6, at 7 p.m. in the Memorial Union Lounge, 2501 SW Jefferson Way, Corvallis. First formed in 2008, the U.S. Marine Corps Jazz Orchestra brings together the finest jazz musicians from all U.S. Corps Field Bands. The 20-piece big band is considered the top jazz ensemble of the entire corps. Notable performances have included dates at the Lincoln Center for Jazz in New York City, the Monterey Jazz Festival and tour stops throughout the nation at universities and conferences. Oregon FFA chapters (formerly known as Future Farmers of America) have partnered with Les Schwab Tire Centers of Oregon in a "Drive Away Hunger" event to collect as much food as possible to help end hunger. The initiative will take place throughout October and features FFA members from around the state doing a variety of service activities. Food donations can be dropped off at any Les Schwab Tire Center or Wilco Farm Store. In addition to nonperishable food, the FFA is seeking farm and ranch crop donations as well. People interested can contact Kevin White, executive director of the Oregon FFA Foundation, at kwhite@oregonffa.com. All donations received will be given first to local food pantries. Any surplus will be distributed by the Oregon Food Bank to other pantries throughout the state. Last year, the FFAs Tired of Hunger initiative helped raise more than 500,000 pounds of food. THURSDAY FRIDAY TUESDAY "Vietnam and the Arts," 7 p.m., LaSells Stewart Center, 875 SW 26th St., Corvallis. A panel and preview of the PBS documentary series "The Vietnam War." A screening of a 30-minute trailer and overview of the 18-hour series. The screening will be followed by a panel and question-and-answer session featuring Charlie Haughey, whose 3,000 photographs captured the experience of the soldiers in his division and the lives of the citizens they encountered. Alongside Haughey, Robert Santelli (executive director of the Grammy Museum and director of popular music, Oregon State University) will discuss the representation of the war in music of the 1960s. Jon Lewis (distinguished professor of film studies, OSU) will discuss the war as it has been portrayed on the screen. Larry Rodgers (dean of the College of Liberal Arts and professor of English, OSU) will detail how the Vietnam War became a literary subject. Thomas Zimmerman, public affairs officer at Carlisle Barracks, said the barracks annual Retiree Appreciation Day is one of the largest of its kind on the East Coast with a typical turnout of several hundred people from all branches of military service. Other installations do this (appreciation days) as well, but were unique as were the only active duty Army installation in Pennsylvania. Folks came from as far away as Pittsburgh to utilize the services we have here, he said. Its just a great time for retirees and families to get updates on services and programs that are important to them that they have earned as a result of their service. The Carlisle Barracks will host this years event Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Zimmerman said the event is for both retirees and active duty personnel, regardless of their branch of service. Most of the days activities, including the opening ceremony and welcome by keynote speaker Mark Overberg, director of Army Retirement Services, will be held in Bliss Hall, Carlisle Barracks main auditorium. Information on topics like retirement and health insurance will be available in the Root Hall gym and Reynolds Theater. Health screenings and flu shots will also be offered, and Dunham Pharmacy will be open. At 11:30 a.m., people who served during the Vietnam War will receive special pins during a ceremony recognizing the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War. Zimmerman said the ceremony is for service members who served during the Vietnam era, not necessarily in Vietnam, but if you served during that era, theres an opportunity to be recognized. Carlisle Barracks will also host Oktoberfest this weekend. Zimmerman said that event, which runs through Sunday at the U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center, is a fall festival featuring music and carnival rides. Its generally held the same weekend (as Retiree Appreciation Day), he said. A lot of people come for both events. Registrations are now being accepted for the YWCA Carlisles Youth Leadership Conference. The leadership conference runs 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 26 at the YWCA Carlisle gymnasium. The workshop, titled A Call to Action: Stand Up and Lead the Way, will be led by Shippensburg University Professor Samuel Benbow. Participants, including high school students and teachers/counselors, can expect discussions and activities focused on the increase of hate groups statewide and nationally, building alliances within schools and communities and developing action plans to promote peace and justice within the school community. Light breakfast snacks and lunch will be provided. There is no cost for students and teachers to attend thanks to YWCA Carlisles corporate sponsorships. With increased volatility and violence so many youth are experiencing today, we expect to see record number of schools registering their students for this annual session, said Robin Scaer, YWCA Carlisle executive director. We often hear from young adults about the intolerance and prejudices they experience daily, and our program serves to give voice to concerns and frustrations in a framework that then provides positive direction forward. Interested school faculty should contact Mission Impact Manager Myriam Pedercini at mpedercini@ywcacarlisle.org or 717-243-3818 to register up to 10 students plus two staff members. 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. Pennsylvania is a worldwide leader in agriculture and food production, boasting more than 57,000 farms and $7.4 billion in agricultural products sold, and yet one in seven Pennsylvanians are food insecure. The work of feeding Pennsylvanians in need is a public-private partnership. Agricultural producers, grocers and businesses, food banks and other charitable organizations, governments, volunteers, and many others play a role in making sure all Pennsylvanians have the nutrition they need for a healthy life. Yet one public program is the MVP of nutrition assistance the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as food stamps). SNAP serves 42 million people in the United States, including 1.86 million Pennsylvanians seniors, families with children, people working in low-wage jobs, veterans and people with disabilities all of whom rely on SNAP to put food on the table. The program became permanent 40 years ago with bipartisan support in an effort To strengthen the agricultural economy; to help to achieve a fuller and more effective use of food abundances; to provide for improved levels of nutrition among low-income households through a cooperative Federal-State program of food assistance to be operated through normal channels of trade; and for other purposes. Families that qualify for SNAP are issued an electronic benefits transfer card that can be used to purchase food items at participating retailers and farmers markets. The benefits are insufficient, amounting to less than $1.40 per person per meal on average, but critical to supplement the tight budgets of low-income individuals and families. Last year, SNAP provided more than 926 million meals to qualifying families in Pennsylvania. In comparison, Feeding Pennsylvanias network of food banks provided 115 million meals throughout the state. In July, the U.S. House Budget Committee passed a resolution which proposes $203 billion in budget cuts, including $10 billion in cuts to SNAP over 10 years. The Committee also recommends an additional $150 billion in cuts to SNAP over 10 years through changing the structure of the program in a way that would make fewer people eligible for the program; cap the amount of money available for qualifying households, and ask states many of which are already cash-strapped to pay for more of the costs of the program. Budgets are moral documents that express our values. The American people have always helped their neighbors in times of need. Cutting billions of dollars from an evidence-based nutrition program which provides eight times the number of meals of the entire food bank network in Pennsylvania is a bad idea. If enacted, not only would these cuts and changes to the program take millions of meals away from our neighbors in need, there would also be negative financial consequences for our Commonwealth. SNAP pumped $2.7 billion into Pennsylvanias economy in 2016. Every dollar cut from the program is taken out of local communities where those benefits are spent at grocery stores and farmers markets. Pennsylvanias food merchants are proud of their ability to provide safe, healthy and economical food to the communities in which they serve and live, but their impact goes far beyond providing food. Food Merchants also serve as economic drivers within the community by creating jobs and paying taxes. SNAP spending accounts for more than 10 percent of all spending on food purchased to be eaten at home. Any cuts to the program will have far-reaching effects beyond food vendors from growers to processors to distributors as consumers will be forced to cut back on their food purchases. Cuts to SNAP would also put serious strain on the charitable food assistance network to fill the gap, and the reality is that food banks dont have the capacity to meet the need in Pennsylvania without SNAP. As the name of the program suggests, SNAP serves as a supplement for household income so families can stretch their budgets to cover other necessities such as housing, medication, and transportation costs. Feeding Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association are both in the business of providing food to Pennsylvanians. Together, we oppose any efforts which decrease access to nutritious food, especially for our most vulnerable neighbors. Food is as basic as it gets. We must not abandon our public-private partnership to lift up Americans and to make sure that everyone has the nutritious food they need to live a healthy, productive life. Please contact your U.S. Representative and U.S. Senators and urge them to vote no to any budget resolution or bill which harms SNAP. 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. clarajancita at 5-10-2017 12:54 PM (5 years ago) (f) A bloody gun battle between US/Nigerien soldiers and deadly Al-Qaeda affiliated terrorists have left many dead in Niger. Several Nigerien soldiers and three U.S. soldiers have been killed in an ambush in Niger near the border with Mali, by terrorist group operating in the region. A bloody gun battle between US/Nigerien soldiers and deadly Al-Qaeda affiliated terrorists have left many dead in Niger. Several Nigerien soldiers and three U.S. soldiers have been killed in an ambush in Niger near the border with Mali, by terrorist group operating in the region. Reports say two U.S. soldiers were fatally wounded in the attack. U.S. Africa Command said the patrol had come under hostile fire and was working to confirm the details. The U.S. army has been providing training to Nigers army to help combat Islamist militants in the region, including the North African branch of al-Qaeda. The militants are most active in neighbouring Mali, where French troops intervened in 2013 to prevent them advancing on the capital. The Boko Haram group, based in Nigeria to the south, has also staged several attacks in Niger. U.S. President Donald Trump has been briefed by his chief-of-staff, John Kelly, about the attack, White House spokesperson Sarah Sanders said. According to Reporters, quoting a military official, three Army Green Berets U.S. army special forces were killed in the ambush which took place 120 miles (193km) north of Niamey, the capital of Niger. The paper said they were the first American casualties to die from hostile fire since the U.S. Africa Command deployed in Niger. Two wounded U.S. soldiers are in stable condition and will be flown to Germany for treatment. An official from Nigers Tillaberi region told Reuters that five Nigerien soldiers were among the dead. Officials were unable to say who fired on the soldiers. Militants belonging to al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) an affiliate of al-Qaeda are active in the region and are known to have conducted cross-border raids. Reports say two U.S. soldiers were fatally wounded in the attack. U.S. Africa Command said the patrol had come under hostile fire and was working to confirm the details. The U.S. army has been providing training to Nigers army to help combat Islamist militants in the region, including the North African branch of al-Qaeda. The militants are most active in neighbouring Mali, where French troops intervened in 2013 to prevent them advancing on the capital. The Boko Haram group, based in Nigeria to the south, has also staged several attacks in Niger. U.S. President Donald Trump has been briefed by his chief-of-staff, John Kelly, about the attack, White House spokesperson Sarah Sanders said.According to Reporters, quoting a military official, three Army Green Berets U.S. army special forces were killed in the ambush which took place 120 miles (193km) north of Niamey, the capital of Niger.The paper said they were the first American casualties to die from hostile fire since the U.S. Africa Command deployed in Niger. Two wounded U.S. soldiers are in stable condition and will be flown to Germany for treatment.An official from Nigers Tillaberi region told Reuters that five Nigerien soldiers were among the dead. Officials were unable to say who fired on the soldiers. Militants belonging to al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) an affiliate of al-Qaeda are active in the region and are known to have conducted cross-border raids. Post Reply I am a metro reporter on Gistmania, I have been publishing news materials for over 5 years Posted: at 5-10-2017 12:54 PM (5 years ago) | Hero Protesters Flood UK Embassy Abuja & Insist Uk Must Produce Nnamdi Kanu to Face Trial In Nigeria clarajancita at 5-10-2017 04:25 PM (5 years ago) (f) Protesters have flooded the British High Commission in Abuja and urged the United Kingdom to produce the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu. Scores of protesters on Thursday, October 5, stormed the British High Commission in Abuja demanding that the United Kingdom government produce the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu. Protesters have flooded the British High Commission in Abuja and urged the United Kingdom to produce the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu. Scores of protesters on Thursday, October 5, stormed the British High Commission in Abuja demanding that the United Kingdom government produce the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu. The protesters led Venantius Torkuma, the executive director of Advocates of Social Justice for All (ASJA) said, Kanu must be brought back to Nigeria to face his trial. Torkuma and his group called on the British government to release the leader of the IPOB immediately to Nigerian authorities. The group also vowed to occupy the High Commission until Kanu is produced. Torkuma said: The protesters led Venantius Torkuma, the executive director of Advocates of Social Justice for All (ASJA) said, Kanu must be brought back to Nigeria to face his trial. Torkuma and his group called on the British government to release the leader of the IPOB immediately to Nigerian authorities.The group also vowed to occupy the High Commission until Kanu is produced. Torkuma said: Quote "We had clearly stated that we shall occupy this High Commission if the UK fails to produce Kanu." "Our stance was informed by the knowledge that the UK was instrumental to the escape of the terrorist leader only for it to turn around to ask Nigerian authorities for clarification on the state and status of Kanu. "Because Nnamdi Kanu holds dual citizenship of Nigeria and the United Kingdom, we do not refute the High Commission's right to inquire about its "citizen" so to speak. "But we do have issues with what the High Commission did in the period preceding when Kanu's IPOB was declared a terrorist organization and what it did afterwards. It smacks of the worst case of double standard possible," Torkuma said. Torkuma also accused the UK government of keeping mute when her citizen, Kanu, was peddling hatred across Nigeria. He said: Torkuma said.Torkuma also accused the UK government of keeping mute when her citizen, Kanu, was peddling hatred across Nigeria. He said: Quote "It did not see this time as a period to negotiate for him to return to London as its citizen to go peddle his terrorism there. But it had the resources to provide emergency travel documents for the IPOB leader the moment a Nigerian Federal High Court ruled that he leads a terrorist organization." Post Reply I am a metro reporter on Gistmania, I have been publishing news materials for over 5 years Posted: at 5-10-2017 04:25 PM (5 years ago) | Hero BournIdentity at 5-10-2017 04:32 PM (5 years ago) (m) Hahahahahahahahahahahaha,,.,, NobsmallTin.., konfamentum Posted: at 5-10-2017 04:32 PM (5 years ago) | Addicted Hero Hahahahahahahahahahahaha,,.,, NobsmallTin.., konfamentum Reply ruthie at 5-10-2017 04:34 PM (5 years ago) (f) Quote from: BournIdentity on 5-10-2017 04:32 PM Hahahahahahahahahahahaha,,.,, NobsmallTin.., konfamentum Posted: at 5-10-2017 04:34 PM (5 years ago) | Hero my bro infact Reply ruthie at 5-10-2017 04:37 PM (5 years ago) (f) NOW THE WORLD KNOWS WHAT WE SEE...KANU A CHARLATAN AND A DESTROYER..ANYBODY WITH VALUABLE INFORMATION SHOULD PRODUCE IT...LET THE COWARD FACE THE CONSEQUENCES FOR HIS ACTIONS. Posted: at 5-10-2017 04:37 PM (5 years ago) | Hero NOW THE WORLD KNOWS WHAT WE SEE...KANU A CHARLATAN AND A DESTROYER..ANYBODY WITH VALUABLE INFORMATION SHOULD PRODUCE IT...LET THE COWARD FACE THE CONSEQUENCES FOR HIS ACTIONS. Reply BournIdentity at 5-10-2017 04:45 PM (5 years ago) (m) biafraudsters..,//biakidnappers...,,//biaterrorists all the morons must face justice..,!!! If dem no see am catch,, dem fit use forensic Morgue Attendant nonsovin take replace d scapegoat Posted: at 5-10-2017 04:45 PM (5 years ago) | Addicted Hero biafraudsters..,//biakidnappers...,,//biaterrorists all the morons must face justice..,!!!If dem no see am catch,, dem fit use forensic Morgue Attendant nonsovin take replace d scapegoat Reply Oworen25 at 5-10-2017 06:42 PM (5 years ago) (m) Who paid you'll for all this. Lazy nigerians that enjoys living in the state that lugard left you which which no one in the so call nigeria pen agreement with british to stay together. Am tired if you are not. They say that the should bring restructuring the north refuse so what are you talking about mumu. Posted: at 5-10-2017 06:42 PM (5 years ago) | Hero Who paid you'll for all this. Lazy nigerians that enjoys living in the state that lugard left you which which no one in the so call nigeria pen agreement with british to stay together. Am tired if you are not. They say that the should bring restructuring the north refuse so what are you talking about mumu. Reply Simms at 5-10-2017 06:47 PM (5 years ago) (m) A lot of mad people in that country called Nigeria. Posted: at 5-10-2017 06:47 PM (5 years ago) | Upcoming A lot of mad people in that country called Nigeria. Reply itumopapa at 5-10-2017 06:48 PM (5 years ago) (m) please, make una take am easy. Posted: at 5-10-2017 06:48 PM (5 years ago) | Upcoming please, make una take am easy. Reply KingPharoah at 5-10-2017 07:17 PM (5 years ago) (m) These idle APC idiots & their sponsorers are trying to provoke IPOB members, forget about pyton dance, IPOB/BIAFRAN agitators can put the Nation Nigeria in a stand still position if they re provoked Posted: at 5-10-2017 07:17 PM (5 years ago) | Upcoming These idle APC idiots & their sponsorers are trying to provoke IPOB members, forget about pyton dance, IPOB/BIAFRAN agitators can put the Nation Nigeria in a stand still position if they re provoked Reply philnel at 5-10-2017 07:25 PM (5 years ago) (m) Bunch of useless idiots, Kanu speaks for the future of your Children while you are busy clapping and praising the same people that are destroying the future of your country.. What a shame. Agitation without any arms yet you are blind to see. OLUWA HOLDS THE ACE Posted: at 5-10-2017 07:25 PM (5 years ago) | Upcoming Bunch of useless idiots, Kanu speaks for the future of your Children while you are busy clapping and praising the same people that are destroying the future of your country.. What a shame. Agitation without any arms yet you are blind to see. OLUWA HOLDS THE ACE Reply tonyigho at 5-10-2017 07:41 PM (5 years ago) (m) this guy is been paid to do this very clearly. Posted: at 5-10-2017 07:41 PM (5 years ago) | Gistmaniac this guy is been paid to do this very clearly. Reply Mykie010 at 5-10-2017 07:47 PM (5 years ago) (m) Big shame to Ruthie and borntroway identity, both of u are useless and worthless. Shame to una Posted: at 5-10-2017 07:47 PM (5 years ago) | Gistmaniac Big shame to Ruthie and borntroway identity, both of u are useless and worthless. Shame to una Reply ruthie at 5-10-2017 07:58 PM (5 years ago) (f) Quote from: Mykie010 on 5-10-2017 07:47 PM Big shame to Ruthie and borntroway identity, both of u are useless and worthless. Shame to una bigger shame to you..worthless piece of shit....f..scumbag Posted: at 5-10-2017 07:58 PM (5 years ago) | Hero bigger shame to you..worthless piece of shit....f..scumbag Reply willyking at 5-10-2017 07:58 PM (5 years ago) (m) Some times i feel that this our country called nigeria is cursed, but God knows is children...nigeria is a hell with so much complication.. Posted: at 5-10-2017 07:58 PM (5 years ago) | Gistmaniac Some times i feel that this our country called nigeria is cursed, but God knows is children...nigeria is a hell with so much complication.. Reply freethinker at 5-10-2017 08:26 PM (5 years ago) (m) Quote from: philnel on 5-10-2017 07:25 PM Bunch of useless idiots, Kanu speaks for the future of your Children while you are busy clapping and praising the same people that are destroying the future of your country.. What a shame. Agitation without any arms yet you are blind to see. OLUWA HOLDS THE ACE [/quote PLS DON'T MIND FOOLS THAT WANT TO DIE AS SLAVES IN THEIR OWN COUNTRY Posted: at 5-10-2017 08:26 PM (5 years ago) | Gistmaniac Reply fineboy77 at 5-10-2017 08:49 PM (5 years ago) (m) Jobless fellows paid in coins to stand under the sun while those looters will be counting the country's money in air conditioned offices What is the color beneath your skin? Posted: at 5-10-2017 08:49 PM (5 years ago) | Hero Jobless fellows paid in coins to stand under the sun while those looters will be counting the country's money in air conditioned offices Reply samybrowne at 5-10-2017 09:29 PM (5 years ago) (m) RENTED CROWED. WHO KNOWS HOW MUCH THEY ARE PAID FOR THIS PROTEST, POLITICAL SLAVES, WHO DON'T THINK ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THERE CHILDREN Posted: at 5-10-2017 09:29 PM (5 years ago) | Upcoming RENTED CROWED. WHO KNOWS HOW MUCH THEY ARE PAID FOR THIS PROTEST, POLITICAL SLAVES, WHO DON'T THINK ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THERE CHILDREN Reply gogoman at 5-10-2017 10:34 PM (5 years ago) (m) who gives a toss ? Posted: at 5-10-2017 10:34 PM (5 years ago) | Grande Master who gives a toss ? Reply ejikeiyo at 5-10-2017 10:49 PM (5 years ago) (m) WASTED GENERATION Posted: at 5-10-2017 10:49 PM (5 years ago) | Gistmaniac WASTED GENERATION Reply : ; The Bonne Terre Chamber of Commerce were given tax advice and a rundown of the Equifax data breach during their recent luncheon. Belgrade Financial Services Financial Advisor Julie Pratte said if you havent checked to see if you are a victim of the Equifax hack, you need to check immediately. Equifax is one of the three major credit reporting agencies and the information they got from them is your name, address, telephone number and date of birth, said Pratte. They have your Social Security Number, credit history and with some people they have their drivers license number and credit card numbers. Pratte said Equifax also has everyones salary information and they say they keep that on a separate database, so that is supposedly supposed to be secure. They say the reason they need our addresses is because it will show if the consumer moves around a lot and that is a signal that they are less financially stable, said Pratte. That way they would be harder to track down if there were debts left unpaid. The same thing is said of those who move around to jobs quite a bit. Pratte said the credit bureau sells this information, but the lenders give them the information for free. The credit bureau sells it back to them. In 2011, credit bureaus made $4 billion selling our information to mortgage lenders, credit card companies and things like that, said Pratte. That is why you get stuff in the mail offering lower rates or credit card offers. Pratte said the breach lasted from mid-May to July. On July 29 the breach was found by Equifax, but they did not let people know that hackers accessed the names and information until Sept. 7. The hackers had six weeks to open up credit in peoples names. This is why it is important if you havent checked to see if you are one of those affected, said Pratte. When was the last time you checked your credit report? You can get one free credit report each year from each one of the credit bureaus. By law they have to give you a free credit report. Pratte added everyone needs to make sure all the activity on their credit reports belongs to them. It was just reported this month that one in five consumers has an error on at least one of their credit reports. The errors impact your credit score and can impact you getting credit, said Pratte. If you find errors, you want to correct them as soon as possible and I urge you to monitor your credit card statements, because if you were affected they could potentially have your credit card numbers. Pratte said there are a couple different options available if they were affected. There is a credit freeze or a fraud alert. The difference is a credit freeze will put a freeze on their credit, so it makes it harder for someone to open credit in their name. It also makes it harder for you unless you lift the freeze, said Pratte. Equitrust is giving anyone who was impacted a credit freeze for free. In the state of Missouri there is a charge to do a credit freeze and you have to contact each one of the credit bureaus to do that. Pratte said they can also do a fraud alert, which is a warning that they are an identity theft victim and they should verify who they are before they open credit. This is good for 90 days and you have to be the one to notify one of the credit bureaus and they will notify the other two, said Pratte. The third option is identity theft protection and this how I found out I was a victim of identity theft. In June I was heading home from a conference and I got a text that my credit report had been accessed, explained Pratte. I logged in to my identity theft protection and it tells me that I have an overdue bill of $1,200 from Kohls. Pratte said she only shops there twice a year, so she called Kohls and they told her she had been buying iPads and iPods online and shipping them to West Virginia. She added it took about a month to get that removed from her credit report. Again, Equifax is offering this free credit freeze until Nov. 21 and they are also offering an ID theft protection called TrustedID, said Pratte. What they dont tell you, in the fine print it says you sign up for TrustedID Premier, then you are essentially saying if your identity was stolen and you have a ton of debt youre pulling your hair out trying to fix because its not your debt, you cannot sue Equifax because you have signed up for the program. To check if you are a victim of the breach, visit equifaxsecurity2017.com and click on potential impact. Toronto, Ontario (FSCwire) - Rockcliff Copper Corp. (Rockcliff or the Company) (TSX.V: RCU) (FRANKFURT: RO0, WKN: A142TR) is pleased to announce that the Company, through its 100% owned subsidiary, Goldpath Resources Corp., has entered into an option agreement to earn a 100% interest in the Berry Creek gold property, located in Snow Lake, Manitoba. The Berry Creek gold property is located approximately 5 kilometres by highway from a 2,000 tonne per day (tpd) gold mill facility in the Snow Lake mining camp within the prolific Flin Flon-Snow Lake Greenstone Belt located in central Manitoba. President & CEO of Rockcliff, Ken Lapierre commented, The Berry Creek gold property becomes our fourth high grade gold property located in the middle of a world class Volcanogenic Massive Sulphide mining camp known originally for its gold mining potential. The Berry Creek gold property hosts numerous areas with high grade gold mineralization located in outcrop and in surface trenches. Historical diamond drilling below the trenches also intersected high grade gold mineralization in gold bearing quartz-rich intrusive rocks. The gold mineralization is interpreted to be associated with fault splays off the main regional Berry Creek Thrust Fault within a large felsic to intermediate intrusive complex. The potential gold targets on the Berry Creek gold property are high grade gold within quartz veins and low grade gold in intrusive rocks which has never been investigated historically. Our plan is to advance the Berry Creek gold property through geophysics, geology and drilling in 2018. Several areas of historical gold mineralization on the Berry Creek gold property include: 1. Visible gold in grab samples. Assays from trace up to 90.0g/t gold , trace up to 2.48% zinc and trace up to 0.51% copper 2. Drill hole Snow-03 intersected 3.8g/t gold across 3.6 metres starting at 6.6 metres 3. Drill hole Snow-06 intersected 4.7g/t gold across 4.3 metres starting at 37.0 metres including 19.0g/t gold across 0.5 metres 4. Drill hole Snow-17 intersected 3.5g/t gold across 4.0 metres starting at 17.5 metres including 13.4g/t gold across 0.5 metres Several highlights of the Berry Creek gold property include: 1) High Grade Gold: surface Visible Gold and high grade gold drill results above 100 metres vertical 2) Low Grade Gold: potential for a large low grade gold environment 3) Location: 5 kilometres from a 2,000tpd gold mill facility in the Snow Lake mining camp 4) Geophysical Anomalies: untested airborne anomalies are located within property 5) Base Metal Potential: property surrounded by base metal mines and deposits Rockcliff can acquire a 100% interest in the Berry Creek gold property by paying the owner an aggregate of $140,000 cash over a three year period including $35,000 on signing and $35,000 annually in three equal payments. Expenditure requirements to keep the option in good standing over five years total $500,000 with a minimum $75,000 expenditure requirement in in any year. The owner will retain a 2.0% Net Smelter Royalty (NSR) on the Berry Creek gold property of which 1.0% NSR can be purchased at any time for $500,000 per 0.5% NSR. The owners remaining NSR will be subject to a right of first refusal in favour of Rockcliff. Ken Lapierre P.Geo., President and CEO of Rockcliff., a Qualified Person in accordance with Canadian regulatory requirements as set out in NI 43-101, has read and approved the scientific and technical information that forms the basis for the disclosure contained in this press release. About Rockcliff Copper Corporation Rockcliff is a Canadian resource exploration company focused on the discovery, advancement and consolidation of a portfolio of the highest grade, undeveloped metal deposits in the prolific Flin Flon Snow Lake Greenstone Belt located in central Manitoba. The Companys current portfolio of projects, totalling in excess of 45,000 hectares, is located in and around the Snow Lake mining camp and hosts the highest grade undeveloped NI 43-101 copper deposits (the gold-rich Talbot copper deposit and the Rail copper deposit), and the highest grade undeveloped historical zinc deposits (the Lon zinc deposit, the Bur zinc deposit, the Morgan zinc deposit and the down dip continuation of the Pen zinc deposit). The Companys projects also include Manitobas first and highest grade former lode gold producer (Laguna gold property), three additional gold-rich properties (SLG gold property, DSN gold property and Berry Creek gold property), a Net Smelter Royalty (NSR) on the Tower property (the T-1 copper deposit)slated for potential production in 2019 and the near surface MacBride zinc deposit located north of Snow Lake near Leaf Rapids, Manitoba. For further information, please contact: Rockcliff Copper Corporation CHF Capital Markets Ken Lapierre, P.Geo Cathy Hume, CEO President & CEO Off: (416) 868-1079 ext. 231 Cell: (647) 678-3879 cathy@chfir.com Off: (416) 644-1752 klapierre@rockcliffcoppercorp.com Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: This news release includes forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause the actual results of the Company to be materially different from the historical results or from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. All statements contained in this news release, other than statements of historical fact, are to be considered forward-looking. Although Rockcliff believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. To view this press release as a PDF file, click onto the following link:public://news_release_pdf/Rockcliff10052017_0.pdfSource: Rockcliff Copper Corp. (TSX Venture:RCU) To follow Rockcliff Copper 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 (FSCwire) - Maxtech Ventures Inc. (CSE: MVT) (Frankfurt: M1N) (OTC: MTEHF), (Maxtech or the Company) is pleased to announce that it has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with S.K. Sarawagi & Co. Pvt. Ltd. located in India. S.K. Sarawagi & Co. Pvt. Ltd. is one of Indias oldest and largest mining companies and one of the largest exporters of steel input minerals from India to China. The Company and S.K. Sarawagi entered into a strategic cooperation agreement to form the foundation for business development opportunities enabling the joint exploration, evaluation, development and potential acquisition of Manganese mineral deposits. The agreement provides a framework for the opportunity for S.K. Sarawagi to be able to access projects currently controlled by Maxtech or under negotiation that it may normally not be able to because of this strategic cooperation agreement. The term of the agreement is 3 years. Peter Wilson, CEO of Maxtech said Maxtech welcomes the Sarawagi family to the Company. This alliance provides a unique opportunity for Maxtech to expand its established high grade manganese claims beyond Brazil with an established Manganese mining conglomerate. The Company has begun research and preliminary due diligence on potential permits and mines for acquisition in Africa. The Company feels this jurisdiction will be an excellent near term benefit for all stakeholders. About S.K. Sarawagi & Co. Pvt. Ltd. www.sarawagi.com The Company is the flagship of the SARAWAGI Group and started as a fledgling manganese ore mining company in the year 1961 in India. Its ability to innovate, adapt, respond & deliver its products to market needs enabled the company to emerge as the largest producer - exporter of Manganese ores from India. The group has been exporting Manganese ore to East Asian countries such as Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and the People's Republic of China. In the Exim policy of 1964, the Govt. of India decided to canalise the export of Manganese ore, Chrome Ore & Iron Ore through MMTC [Minerals and Metals Trading Corporation of India] only. This proved to be a blessing in disguise as it involved greater transparency and resulted in the Companys exports touching 1.5 lakh metric tons of Manganese ore in the year 1966-67 alone, which was the second year of MMTCs operations. About Maxtech Ventures Inc. Maxtech Ventures Inc. is a Canadian based diversified industries corporation with gold and manganese mineral properties. Its focus is on mining and the products that are derived therefrom. For additional information see the Companys web site at http://www.maxtech-ventures.com Email to info@maxtech-ventures.com Phone: 604-484-8989 Further information about the Company is available on www.SEDAR.com under the Companys profile. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Certain statements contained in this release may constitute forwardlooking statements or forward-looking information (collectively forward-looking information) as those terms are used in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and similar Canadian laws. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words could, intend, expect, believe, will, projected, estimated, anticipates and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on the Companys current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. Actual future results may differ materially. In particular, this release contains forward-looking information relating to the business of the Company, the Property, financing and certain corporate changes. The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date hereof and the Company is not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Because of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions contained herein, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The foregoing statements expressly qualify any forward-looking information contained herein. To view this press release as a PDF file, click onto the following link:public://news_release_pdf/Maxtech10052017.pdfSource: Maxtech Ventures Inc. (CSE:MVT, OTC Pink:MTEHF) To follow Maxtech Ventures Inc. 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, B.C., Oct. 05, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Gold Standard Ventures Corp. (TSXV:GSV) (NYSE AMERICAN:GSV) (Gold Standard or the Company) today announced that results from 24 exploration holes have confirmed three high potential targets for resource expansion on its 100%-owned/controlled Railroad Project in Nevadas Carlin Trend. Gold Standards 2017 US$15.5 million exploration program includes up to 48,800 m of reverse-circulation (RC) and core drilling in 117 holes (see February 2, 2017 news release). The 24 initial holes drilled in this years program were located to validate key prospective targets for further drilling this year. Please click the following link to view Dark Star, Dixie and Jasperoid Wash drilling maps: https://goldstandardv.com/lp/darkstar-dixie-jasperoid-drill-maps/. The 2017 drilling continues to establish the Pennsylvanian-Permian age carbonate rocks as an important gold host on the Carlin Trend. Regionally, this highly prospective carbonate host section intersects the Carlin Trend in the southern portion of Gold Standards Railroad property. The gold mineralization at Dark Star, Dixie and Jasperoid Wash targets occurs in these favorable carbonate rocks. Jonathan Awde, CEO and Director of Gold Standard commented: These first 24 holes lay the groundwork for the next stage of exploration success at Railroad. At Dixie and Jasperoid Wash, the early results are highly reminiscent of our success at Dark Star, but with the advantage of having already unraveled many of the structural characteristics that account for better grades at Railroad. We are confident that these targets can open up into important discoveries and we are now mobilizing additional drill rigs to pursue them more aggressively. We are also confident that this years drilling will provide further evidence that the Dark Star and Pinion deposits merge into one larger deposit. Key Highlights In the east-central portion of Dark Star, DS17-14 intersected multiple zones of oxidized gold mineralization including 25.9m of 0.88 g Au/t. This intercept expands the Dark Star gold zone 140 meters to the east beyond the current resource block model. To the west of Dark Star, DS17-06 intersected 25.9m of 1.51 g Au/t approximately 70 meters west of the existing Dark Star block model. DS17-06 and DS17-14 confirm the openness and expansion potential of Dark Star. Also at Dark Star, core holes DS17-05, DS17-07 and DS17-09 returned 22.7m of 0.54 g Au/t, 41.2m of 0.56 g Au/t and 47.6m of 0.67 g Au/t respectively. These holes were designed to enhance and upgrade the geological understanding of wide-spaced, historic RC drill holes; to provide material for metallurgical samples within the current block model; and confirm tenor and grade of the block model at these locations. At the Dixie target, Gold Standard completed its first six holes into this target within the north-striking Dark Star Corridor. Core hole DX17-01 intersected multiple zones of gold mineralization including 25.9m of 0.76 g Au/t in altered Penn-Perm calcarenite and debris flow conglomerate similar to the Dark Star deposit approximately 3.5km to the north. The core hole was instrumental in verifying the Penn-Perm carbonate rocks as the host section at Dixie. Also at Dixie, RC holes DX17-03 and DX17-06 intersected 45.7m of 0.75 g Au/t and 44.2m of 0.48 g Au/t. These intercepts are reminiscent of early drilling completed by Gold Standard at Dark Star. At the new Jasperoid Wash target, which is located approximately 6 km south of the Pinion deposit, core hole JW17-01 intersected 103.7m of 0.56 g Au/t including a higher-grade zone of 30.5m of 0.93 g Au/t in pervasively oxidized and altered debris flow conglomerate in the favorable Pennsylvanian-Permian host section. The gold intercept is shallow, starting approximately 20m below the current topographic surface. This core hole twinned JW-9007, a 1990 Westmont reverse-circulation drill hole that intersected 117.4m of 0.51 g Au/t as described in a 1990 Westmont report. JW17-01 confirmed and upgraded the results in JW-9007, and secondly, confirmed that Pennsylvanian-Permian debris flow conglomerate the same host as the Dark Star deposit also hosts the gold mineralization at Jasperoid Wash. Gold Standard is expanding the drill rig count from 4 to 7 rigs, with most of the drilling focused at Dark Star, Jasperoid Wash and Dixie. Drilling will also focus on new targets between Pinion and Dark Star that were identified from two recently completed seismic lines. Mac Jackson, Gold Standards Vice President of Exploration stated: We opened a new chapter of exploration on the Carlin Trend with our Dark Star discovery leading to the recognition of the importance of Pennsylvanian-Permian carbonate host rock. Our initial drill tests of these rocks at the Jasperoid Wash and Dixie targets are very encouraging in that we have intersected shallow, Dark Star-like gold zones that remain open. The Jasperoid Wash and Dixie targets are located within the 20,941 gross acres (85 square kilometers) recently acquired by Gold Standard to the south of the Dark Star and Pinion deposits. We continue to drill these targets, as well as identify new untested targets, as we progress through this new chapter of exploration for Pennsylvanian-Permian hosted gold deposits on the Carlin Trend. Dark Star, Dixie and Jasperoid Wash drill results are as follows: Drill Hole Method Azimuth Incl. TD (m) Intercept (m) Thickness (m) Grade (g Au/t) DS17-01 RC/Core -90 61.4 No assays > 0.20 g Au/t DS17-01A Core -90 429.7 325.6 329.2 3.6 3.39 DS17-02 Core 90 -45 239.6 No assays > 0.20 g Au/t DS17-03 RC -90 550.3 38.1 39.6 1.5 0.22 DS17-04 RC 270 -70 471.0 234.7 257.6 22.9 0.57 DS17-05 Core 90 -60 234.3 42.6 43.4 0.8 2.34 114.9 116.1 1.2 0.21 134.7 137.9 3.2 0.35 142.4 144.7 2.3 0.22 145.9 147.4 1.5 0.34 151.1 173.8 22.7 0.54 DS17-06 RC 270 -70 532.0 76.2 88.4 12.2 0.45 Including Including 141.7 144.8 3.1 0.58 160.1 186.0 25.9 1.51 163.1 172.2 9.1 2.89 371.9 373.4 1.5 0.63 445.1 448.2 3.1 0.43 452.7 495.4 42.7 0.59 475.6 483.2 7.6 1.69 DS17-07 Core 123 -60 188.4 11.1 12.3 1.2 0.21 Including 38.1 39.6 1.5 0.22 83.5 124.7 41.2 0.56 90.8 108.2 17.4 0.91 DS17-08 RC 90 -80 385.7 128.0 131.1 3.1 0.22 155.5 157.0 1.5 0.24 208.8 234.7 25.9 0.32 239.3 251.5 12.2 0.31 265.2 271.3 6.1 0.29 318.5 321.6 3.1 0.23 326.2 333.8 7.6 0.26 338.4 350.6 12.2 0.55 DS17-09 Core 90 -55 293.6 32.0 34.1 2.1 0.26 Including 50.9 52.7 1.8 0.28 55.8 56.7 0.9 0.21 72.5 83.2 10.7 0.24 86.2 109.1 22.9 0.34 112.0 120.1 8.1 0.28 130.6 144.2 13.6 0.26 148.1 195.7 47.6 0.67 191.1 194.2 3.1 3.04 DS17-10 RC -90 453.0 207.3 211.9 4.6 0.28 Including Including Including 250.0 279.0 29.0 0.76 259.1 266.7 7.6 1.28 285.1 306.4 21.3 1.01 288.1 291.2 3.1 2.48 301.8 304.9 3.1 2.85 311.9 314.0 3.1 0.44 DS17-11 RC -90 544.2 No assays > 0.20 g Au/t DS17-12 RC 90 -45 708.8 No assays > 0.20 g Au/t DS17-13 RC -90 364.3 No assays > 0.20 g Au/t DS17-14 RC 90 -62 364.3 79.2 89.9 10.7 0.24 Including 106.7 108.2 1.5 0.23 114.3 126.5 12.2 0.24 137.2 163.1 25.9 0.88 150.9 161.6 10.7 1.44 DS17-15 RC 90 -75 806.4 No assays > 0.20 g Au/t DS17-16 RC 0 -45 484.8 No assays > 0.20 g Au/t DX17-01 Core 270 -50 445.7 64.6 67.0 2.4 0.20 Including 107.0 111.6 4.6 0.29 123.0 127.4 4.4 0.57 147.6 173.5 25.9 0.76 160.9 165.8 4.9 1.32 DX17-02 RC 270 -50 446.6 205.8 211.9 6.1 0.23 228.7 237.8 9.1 0.45 DX17-03 RC 270 -45 574.7 112.8 158.5 45.7 0.75 Including 143.3 150.9 7.6 1.32 164.6 173.7 9.1 0.43 DX17-04 RC -90 428.2 312.5 314.0 1.5 0.24 346.0 355.1 9.1 0.23 DX17-05 RC 270 -55 387.1 117.4 132.6 15.2 0.21 169.2 172.3 3.1 0.30 189.0 196.6 7.6 0.39 309.4 314.0 4.6 0.34 DX17-06 RC 270 -55 227.1 61.0 62.5 1.5 0.39 67.1 111.3 44.2 0.48 JW17-01 Core 090 -50 397.2 16.2 17.7 1.5 0.19 Including Also Including 26.2 129.9 103.7 0.56 60.7 68.3 7.6 1.32 60.7 91.2 30.5 0.93 133.7 139.6 5.9 0.25 144.7 149.1 4.4 0.25 220.7 223.8 3.1 0.26 228.4 232.3 3.9 0.24 * Gold intervals reported in this table were calculated using a 0.20 g Au/t cutoff (Dark Star and Dixie) or a 0.14 g Au/t cutoff (Jasperoid Wash). Weighted averaging has been used to calculate all reported intervals. True widths are estimated at 70-90% of drilled thicknesses. Sampling Methodology, Chain of Custody, Quality Control and Quality Assurance All sampling was conducted under the supervision of the Companys project geologists and the chain of custody from the project to the sample preparation facility was continuously monitored. Core was cut at the companys facility in Elko and one quarter was sent to the lab for analysis and the remaining material retained in the original core box. A blank or certified reference material was inserted approximately every tenth sample. The core and RC samples were delivered to either ALS Minerals or Bureau Veritas Mineral Laboratories preparation facility in Elko, NV where they were crushed and pulverized. Resulting sample pulps were shipped to either ALS Minerals or Bureau Veritas certified laboratory in Sparks, NV or Vancouver, BC. Pulps were digested and analyzed for gold using fire assay fusion and an atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) finish on a 30 gram split. All other elements were determined by ICP analysis. Data verification of the analytical results included a statistical analysis of the standards and blanks that must pass certain parameters for acceptance to insure accurate and verifiable results. Drill hole deviation was measured by gyroscopic down hole surveys that were completed on all holes by International Directional Services of Elko, NV. Final collar locations are surveyed by differential GPS by Apex Surveying, LLC of Spring Creek, Nevada. The scientific and technical content contained in this news release have been reviewed, verified and approved by Steven R. Koehler, Gold Standards Manager of Projects, BSc. Geology and CPG-10216, a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. ABOUT GOLD STANDARD VENTURES Gold Standard is an advanced stage gold exploration company focused on district scale discoveries on its Railroad-Pinion Gold Project, located within the prolific Carlin Trend. The 2014 Pinion and Dark Star gold deposit acquisitions offer Gold Standard a potential near-term development option and further consolidates the Companys premier land package on the Carlin Trend. The Pinion deposit now has an NI43-101 compliant resource estimate consisting of an Indicated Mineral Resource of 31.61 million tonnes grading 0.62 g/t Au, totaling 630,300 ounces of gold and an Inferred Resource of 61.08 million tonnes grading 0.55 g/t Au, totaling 1,081,300 ounces of gold, using a cut-off grade of 0.14 g/t Au. The Dark Star deposit, 2.1 km to the east of Pinion, has a NI43-101 compliant resource estimate consisting of an Indicated Mineral Resource of 15.38 million tonnes grading 0.54 g/t Au, totaling 265,100 ounces of gold and an Inferred Resource of 17.05 million tonnes grading 1.31 g/t Au, totaling 723,500 ounces of gold, using a cut-off grade of 0.2 g Au/t. The North Bullion deposit, 7 km to the north of Pinion, has a NI43-101 compliant resource estimate consisting of an Indicated Mineral Resource of 2.92 million tonnes grading 0.96 g/t Au, totaling 90,100 ounces of gold and an Inferred Resource of 10.97 million tonnes grading 2.28 g/t Au, totaling 805,800 ounces of gold, using a cut-off grade of 0.14 g Au/t for near surface oxide and 1.25 to 2.25 g Au/t for near surface sulfide and underground sulfide respectively. Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) nor the NYSE AMERICAN accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This news release contains forward-looking statements, which relate to future events or future performance and reflect managements current expectations and assumptions. Such forward-looking statements reflect managements current beliefs and are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein including, without limitation, statements about our proposed exploration programs are forward looking statements. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Risk factors affecting the Company include, among others: the results from our exploration programs, global financial conditions and volatility of capital markets, uncertainty regarding the availability of additional capital, fluctuations in commodity prices; title matters; and the additional risks identified in our filings with Canadian securities regulators on SEDAR in Canada (available at www.sedar.com) and with the SEC on EDGAR (available at www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml). These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and, except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. CAUTIONARY NOTE FOR U.S. INVESTORS REGARDING RESERVE AND RESOURCE ESTIMATES All resource estimates reported by the Company were calculated in accordance with the Canadian National Instrument 43-101 and the Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy Classification system. These standards differ significantly from the requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for descriptions of mineral properties in SEC Industry Guide 7 under Regulation S-K of the U. S. Securities Act of 1933. In particular, under U. S. standards, mineral resources may not be classified as a reserve unless the determination has been made that mineralization could be economically and legally produced or extracted at the time the reserve determination is made. Accordingly, information in this press release containing descriptions of the Companys mineral properties may not be comparable to similar information made public by US public reporting companies. On behalf of the Board of Directors of Gold Standard, Jonathan Awde Jonathan Awde, President and Director FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: Jonathan Awde President Tel: 604-669-5702 Email: info@goldstandardv.com Website: www.goldstandardv.com Vancouver, October 5, 2017 - Apex Resources Inc. . ("Apex") (TSXV: APX) is pleased to report that its Joint Venture partner, Prize Mining Corp. ("Prize" or the "Company") (TSXV:PRZ), has commenced an environmental baseline and monitoring program on its Kena-Daylight Gold Properties and Prizes adjacent Toughnut property, located near Nelson in southeastern British Columbia Feisal Somji, president and chief executive officer of Prize Mining, commented: "Having good baseline environmental data and continued water quality monitoring is a key requirement to move our project through exploration and development. With this goal in mind as well as the importance to Prize of maintaining a positive social license, the Company has initiated this sampling program. Prize is currently nearing completion of the expanded Phase I exploration program of detailed target definition (see News Release dated September 12, 2017). The company is fully financed and moving towards a fall discovery focused drill program." Masse Environmental Consultants Ltd. ("Masse"), based in Nelson, assisted in designing the baseline water quality sampling program at 16 creek sampling locations (view attached map) to monitor the upper catchment of two local watersheds. Terralogic Exploration Inc. and Prize's employees were trained by Masse to perform the sampling at all 16 sites for the past 3 months. The water sampling program is designed to record baseline chemical and sediment loads of high and low flow conditions over a one year period, and to monitor changes (if any) related to human activity in the area. Masse will help interpret the data and the results will be imperative for permitting an aggressive bulk sampling program for 2018. Jarrod Brown, P.Geo., a Qualified Person under NI 43-101, has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information in this news release. About Apex Resources Inc.: Apex is a Canadian gold exploration and development company focused on British Columbia and the Yukon Territories. Apex has a portfolio of quality properties including: 1.The 1.9 million ounce Kena-Daylight gold property under JV option to Prize Mining Corp. 2.The Jersey-Emerald tungsten-zinc property under option to Margaux Resources Ltd. 3.The Mount Anderson gold-silver property in the Yukon. 4.The Red Ridge gold-silver property in the Yukon. 5.The Cloud, Eldorado and Wild properties in BC's Golden Triangle. Apex management has a track record of mine discovery that includes the discovery and development of the renowned Hemlo Gold Mine in Ontario. For further information on Apex's projects, visit www.apxresources.com. Arthur G. Troup, P.Eng., Geological President and CEO For further information please contact: Marc Lee, Investor and Corporate Communications Tel: (604) 628-0519 Fax: (604) 628-0446 Email: mlee@apxresources.com or info@apxresources.com This release was prepared by Apex's management. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as the term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements." All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address future production, reserve potential, exploration drilling, exploitation activities and events or developments that Apex expects are forward-looking statements. Although Apex believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, exploitation and exploration successes, and continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and those actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. For more information on Apex, investors should review Apex's filings that are available at www.sedar.com or Apex's website at www.apxresources.com. Copyright (c) 2017 TheNewswire - All rights reserved. The Missouri Jobs Center in Park Hills will be hosting a retail hiring event Oct. 10, giving job seekers the chance to directly speak to 10 employers and apply for jobs. Mike Campbell with the job center said the event will be a great opportunity for people looking for all kinds of work to get hooked up with an employer. Its going to be a huge retail hiring event, Campbell said. Its going to be located at the First Baptist Church in Farmington, which is located at 210 North A Street. They have a huge gymnasium there. Well have 10 employers set up for applicants, so people looking for seasonal work, part-time work or full-time work can come in, go to each booth and talk to employers. The employers present at the event will be looking to hire people quickly, so attendees should be prepared to fill out applications and answer interview questions at the event. Its designed for people to come in and fill out applications because these employers are hiring now, Campbell said. Applicants can go up and ask questions, but the employers that will be there are looking for people. Job seekers are encouraged to bring resumes with them for the employers to look over, and Campbell said the Park Hills Job Center can help get resumes in order in addition to other forms of preparation. We can help out with the resumes if they come in before the 10th, he said. We have different workshops, like how to work a job fair, resume-building workshops and even interview workshops. Campbell said its just as important to have a successful interview as it is to be qualified for a job, which many job applicants find out too late. Once someone puts an application in and an employer calls them to come in, normally there are questions that theyll go over with the applicants and usually thats where employees can blow it, he said. I put on mock interviews where Ive got a lot of the questions that employers ask and I go over the psychology of the question and why theyre asking it, to help them prepare better. He encourages those interested in attending the hiring event to stop in at the Park Hills Job Center before Oct. 10 to receive assistance in building a resume, strengthening interview skills and printing copies of resumes for employers, all for free. With unemployment being relatively low right now in the area, Campbell said the jobs center staff have been thinking of new ways to connect employers with quality employees. Our job is really to find jobs for people, Campbell said. So I work with employers on a constant basis to try and match up what theyre looking for to find good, qualified applicants to match up for those jobs. We have two kinds of customers employers are our customers and so are the people who come in looking for work. So we try to match those up as much as we possibly can. The hiring event will be from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Farmington First Baptist Church at 210 North A Street. Participating employers include Gliks, Hibbett Sports, Lowes, Rural King, Auto Zone, Farmington and Desloge Wal-Mart, Big Lots, Goodwill and Menards. For more information, contact the Park Hills Job Center located at 403 Parkway Drive by calling 573-518-2431. Jay Jacobs, New York State Democratic Party chair, commenting on how many of his critics may consider him the worst person in the world, but believes he only ranks as third or fourth worst. Jacobs claims that many of his critics misunderstand his role as state party chair. (The Intercept Nov. 12, 2022) There are times when American public life is suffused with a sense of possibility, a common belief that government can do big things -- solve problems that have resisted solution for decades. At the national level, 1933 was one of those times, as Franklin D. Roosevelt sought to experiment his way out of economic stagnation. So was 1965, when Lyndon B. Johnson could describe his dream of egalitarian Great Society and make it sound plausible.There have been moments of similar ambition at other levels of government as well. The one that stands out clearest is 1987, a year when states and cities around the country seemed poised to emerge as sources of innovation and creativity across a broad range of policy areas: education, economic development, health care and social welfare, to provide a partial list. The federal government had been systematically cutting back its involvement in most of these fields, led by a president who had famously declared that government was the problem, not the solution. State and local leaders expressed confidence that they didnt need much help from Washington; they boasted that their governments were the true laboratories of democracy, to quote Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis familiar saying from a half-century before.magazine was born amid that wave of enthusiasm: Our first issue was published in October 1987; we celebrate our 30th anniversary this month. We started out convinced that both power and ambition were moving down from Washington to the state and local level. Over the ensuing three decades, we have seen our original vision borne out many times and contradicted by reality quite a few other times. By and large, though, we continue to believe the things we believed when we began.The centerpiece ofs first issue was a long article by John Herbers, one whose headline pretty much summed up its central thesis: The New Federalism: Unplanned, Innovative and Here to Stay. With a new sense of independence from the federal government, Herbers wrote, state and local governments have been taking on new responsibilities -- a change that promises to be both more profound and more permanent than most people have recognized.The withdrawal of the federal government from its role as a financial backer of state and local initiatives was well underway whenbegan publishing. The previous year, President Ronald Reagans administration had ended the 15-year practice of sharing revenue with governments further down the chain. By the fall of 1987, the administration was preparing to kill off Urban Development Action Grants, another source of federal largesse that was popular in cities all over the country. And another popular local aid program, the one that awarded Community Development Action Grants, was widely rumored to be on the way out, although ultimately that did not happen.The response of many state and local governments to this collapse in federal support was to ramp up their own levels of economic development and safety-net spending. Most of them were solvent enough to do that. State spending increased by 6.3 percent in fiscal 1987 over the previous year. Localities had increased their overall spending by 26 percent between 1983 and 1986. There is no question that urban America felt itself under federal siege 30 years ago, but it also displayed a rising confidence that it possessed the wherewithal to cope with its problems.Many state leaders believed that, in the absence of help from Washington, they could turn their states into economic development magnets, and quite a few created brand-new agencies to solicit new business. It was in the mid-1980s that ambitious governors began carving out a new role as international trade ambassadors, flying off to Asia and Europe on what would become a routine basis. Bill Clinton, then governor of Arkansas, reported that he went on an industry-hunting trip to Japan and found 11 other governors who were there for the same purpose.It was in those same years that states began to take a much more active role in K-12 education, which traditionally had been virtually the sole province of local government. By 1987, states were paying roughly half the cost of elementary and secondary schools, several times what they had been spending only a few years before. The era of state takeovers in education was also beginning. By 1987, Georgia and Minnesota had passed legislation allowing them to take control of school districts deemed to be failing their students.Another hotbed of state activism in the mid-1980s was social welfare policy. Experiments seemed to be underway almost everywhere, some of them relatively minor, but some highly consequential. Republican governors, led by Wisconsins Tommy Thompson, had begun to institute work requirements and time limits for adults on public assistance. Many of their ideas became part of the federal welfare bill that Clinton signed as president in 1996.The evolution of welfare policy underscores one positive feature of American government in the 1980s that will be very difficult to replicate in the 21st century. Thompson, Clinton and a handful of other activist governors were allowed to play a role on the national scene that few governors can emulate today. Republicans in Washington cut off the flow of funds to states and localities, but they encouraged waivers that let governors launch extensive welfare policy experiments. When federal welfare reform efforts began to emerge, a bipartisan group of governors came to the White House to help draft the legislation.Not only were governors working together across party lines to a remarkable extent in 1987, but states and their localities were pursuing common goals as well. One significant fact of political life was the number of states that passed laws allowing the locals to raise taxes to replace the aid that the Republican administration in Washington was no longer delivering. This was self-serving on the states part. The more money they allowed localities to raise on their own, the less they themselves would be asked to provide. But there seemed to be a more altruistic component as well: Localities had been the biggest losers in the drying up of federal aid. Most state legislatures seemed sympathetic to the local plight.States were not only granting tax leeway to localities in the 1980s -- they were raising taxes themselves. One of the more dramatic political episodes at the state level in 1987 was the multibillion-dollar sales tax increase signed into law by Texas Gov. Bill Clements. The Republican governor had campaigned for office vowing no tax increases, but when the states business leaders told him that more money was needed for education, he changed his mind.It is tempting to imagine that the current federal gridlock will lead to a new era of state and local cooperation, but that almost certainly wont be true. Partisanship today is as deeply entrenched at the lower levels of the political system as it is in Washington. Governors are not the harmonious group that Herbers saw 30 years ago; they are divided into partisan camps nearly as impenetrable as the ones in Washington. And in most of the country, states and cities have long since abandoned the cooperative relationship that prevailed for much of the 1980s. Republican legislatures in more than 30 states have spent much of the year seeking ways to prevent local governments from taking meaningful action on a variety of fronts, from wage rates to environmental protection to LGBT rights.In at least one important way, it is indeed 1987 all over again: Both state and local governments are steeling themselves for another round of austerity in Washington. But unlike 30 years ago, they show few signs of being able to work together to reduce the damage. And so the sense of heightened possibility that prevailed across the country in the fall of 1987 is very difficult to find in the fall of 2017. But breakthroughs of creativity and common purpose continue to turn up, sometimes in the unlikeliest places.will keep looking for them. Late last week, the U.S. Supreme Court announced that it will add a case critical to the future of public-sector unions to its docket. With President Donald Trump's appointment of conservative-leaning Justice Neil Gorsuch, many expect the court to rule against the unions.Such a decision would energize the recent resurgence of state laws that effectively reduce the power of unions in both the public and private sector. Expecting the worst, unions are already preparing for a potential exodus of members and a loss of revenue.Id place a bet that this doesnt bode well for public-sector unions, says Patrick Flavin, a political scientist at Baylor University who frequently writes about labor union politics and policy.The lead plaintiff, Mark Janus, is a child support worker in Illinois who argues his free speech rights are being violated by the requirement that he pay the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), the largest public employee union in the country, even though he chose not to join it and does not support itspolitical views and positions.Illinois is currently one of 22 stateswhere nonunion members still have to pay so-called agency fees to unions that negotiate on their behalf.If the Supreme Court rules that making agency fees mandatory is unconstitutional, unions in those states fear the loss of revenue from existing nonunion members and the loss of more members, who could quit unions if granted the right to avoid the paycheck deduction. Such a scenario would weaken unions' bargaining power and their political clout.It is an enormously big deal, says Harvard law professor Benjamin Sachs, who often writes about labor issues. Unions have to provide services and representation equally to everyone in a bargaining unit. But if you can get those services for free, a lot of people wont pay them. You have a classic free-rider situation.Public-sector union membership has already been on the decline. Between 2000 and 2016, it dropped about 8 percent, to 34.4 percent, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Still, that's far greater than in the private sector where only 6.5 percent of employees belonged to a union in 2016, according to the BLS.The shrinkage of unions can partially be attributed to the recent rise of "right-to-work" laws, which prohibit unions -- private or public sector, depending on the state -- from forcing people to pay dues. Of the 28 states that have passed right-to-work laws, six did it in the last five years. (Most of the rest passed this legislation in the 1940s and 1950s.) In general, the states with the lowest union membership have right-to-work laws.The right to work is only one of a series of recent attacks on public-sector unions. There have also been ongoing efforts to curtail collective bargaining, which gives unions the right to negotiate with management over wage and other employee-related issues. The passage of Act 10 in Wisconsin in 2011, for example, severely restricted collective bargaining for most state and local government employees. This year, Iowa passed similar legislation, which is now the topic of a union lawsuit.An anti-union ruling in the Supreme Court case, called Janus v. AFSCME, would mean that all states would, in effect, be right-to-work states for the public sector. In states where collective bargaining is permitted, all employees in a bargaining unit would still be covered by negotiated agreements, but nonmembers wouldnt have to pay the union for services rendered on their behalf.While awaiting a decision in the Janus case, unions arent sitting quietly on the sidelines. They are already beginning to wage a campaign to persuade employees about the importance of union membership and of the negative consequences of being a "freeloader."If unions can convince all their members to continue to pay dues voluntarily, theyll be able to survive, says Sachs, the law professor.Some, however, think the unions will have to do more than that to gain or keep members.In order for the public-sector labor movement to recover, theyd have to pretty substantially change the model theyre operating under, says Alexander Hertel-Fernandez, an assistant professor of international and public affairs at Columbia University. One strategy is to become much more service-oriented.To entice people to stay or join, unions could expand their services to include additional low-cost insurance, counseling services to help with on-the-job stress or training programs to help advance careers. This has already been a strategy in some right-to-work states, says Hertel-Fernandez.But if an anti-union decision is reached, unions may not have the resources to offer more services. In fact, according to Sachs, they might consider cutting off some of their services to nonmembers -- like refusing to provide help with grievances.Oral arguments in this case are expected to happen in early 2018, with a decision in the late spring or early summer. Over the past two years, nine states and the District of Columbia have quietly implemented a significant overhaul of the voter registration process, aiming to reduce bureaucracy and increase the number of people signed up to vote.Automatic voter registration, or AVR for short, essentially turns the current opt-in system of voter registration to an opt-out system. When eligible citizens interact with certain government offices, they are added to the voter rolls unless they say no, according to an article by the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University, which is working to advance the idea.Two years ago, no state had AVR. Today, 1 in 4 Americans live in a state that has approved automatic voter registration. AVR is coming, says Natalie Tennant, a former Democratic secretary of state from West Virginia who is now the Brennan Centers manager of state advocacy on voting rights and elections.The idea is sometimes assumed to be good for Democrats, in the same way that many reforms to broaden the electorate, such as early voting and same-day voter registration, are presumed to be.Indeed, AVR first passed in 2015 in the blue state of Oregon. Another solidly blue state, Vermont, passed it in 2016, though with strong bipartisan support in the legislature. Since then, California and Rhode Island have passed it, and Connecticut and Colorado have approved it administratively. Nevada voters will weigh in on AVR in 2018.But AVR has deep support from good-government groups, and its potential partisan impacts have been uncertain enough that Republican states have also been among those that have adopted it.Alaska passed AVR through a ballot measure; Georgia put it in place administratively; and West Virginia passed it as part of a broader, GOP-backed voter ID bill. More recently, Illinois Democratic-controlled legislature passed AVR and Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner -- despite being at loggerheads with lawmakers on many other issues -- signed it into law this August.So could there be a largely unnoticed upside for Republicans with AVR? Possibly.In only two AVR jurisdictions -- California and the District of Columbia -- do unregistered but eligible African-Americans, Hispanics and Asian-Americans collectively outnumber unregistered but eligible non-Hispanic whites, according to Census data for the 2016 electorate. In the other states, unregistered whites outnumber unregistered minorities: Alaska, Illinois, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and West Virginia.Because California is by far the most populous of these jurisdictions, todays AVR states do collectively have more unregistered minorities than unregistered whites, though narrowly.However, in the United States as a whole, there are 1.6 times as many unregistered non-Hispanic whites as there are unregistered minorities. While black, Hispanic and Asian citizens are statistically more likely to be unregistered than white citizens, the sheer number of white citizens in the U.S. is so large that more whites are unregistered overall.So potentially, at least, AVR could end up registering more white voters, and that would actually be a boon for Republicans. According to 2016 exit polls, white voters supported Trump by a 57 percent to 37 percent margin.Could AVR actually have that effect in practice? Experts we contacted say its possible, but they added that its not a slam dunk.Its complicated, says David Wasserman, an analyst at the Cook Political Report who has studied unregistered voters in battleground states. Over the long term, on average, I'd expect Democrats to gain from AVR because minorities are disproportionately nonregistrants.In addition, Wasserman says, Democrats and their allies in labor unions and minority organizations have historically had been better at the nitty-gritty of voter registration efforts than Republicans have. That said, every election is different, he says.Justin Levitt, a law professor at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles and the former deputy assistant attorney general for civil rights at the U.S. Department of Justice under President Barack Obama, agrees that its too simple to say that only one party would inevitably benefit from AVR. Not all minorities are Democrats, he says. Not all Anglos are Republicans. Not all of either group would register even in an automatic registration structure. So there's no way to know whether more of one group would register than the other.Theres another factor, too: The challenge is not getting voters registered, it's getting them to turn out, especially for noncompetitive primary and off-year elections, and presidential races with candidates who do not inspire enthusiasm, says Eric L. Davis, an emeritus professor of political science at Middlebury College in Vermont.June S. Speakman, a political scientist at Roger Williams College in Rhode Island, adds that AVR introduces a new and uncertain wrinkle into a well-defined process. Traditional voter registration drives are a form of mobilization -- having people at least sign a form is an active form of participation that may actually put them on the path to the polling place, Speakman says. AVR doesnt do that -- its passive participation. So do folks who are registered that way actually vote?The most extensive data produced so far on AVR suggests a relatively nuanced picture of the potential partisan gains. study of Oregons experience published by the liberal Center for American Progress found that voters who registered through AVR tended to be younger, more suburban than urban, likelier to live in low- and middle-income areas, more likely to live in lower-education areas and more likely to live in racially diverse areas.Thats a mix of demographic indicators that would suggest benefits for both parties. Young voters, lower-income voters and those who live in racially diverse areas tend to lean Democratic. But voters in suburban areas and areas with lower rates of college degrees tend to lean more Republican.Daniel Nichanian, a lecturer in political science at the University of Chicago who has written extensively in support of AVR, echoes other election experts when he says that hes been focusing on how to expand access to voting, not on which party it could benefit.The basic issue here is this: The country has terribly low participation rates and registration rates, and this is a major obstacle to democracy, collective decision-making and political empowerment, Nichanian says. AVR is not by itself a panacea to this situation, of course, but it's certainly part of a range of things that ought to be done in response. So it's quite exciting in its own right. Seattle mayoral candidate Jenny Durkan notched the endorsement Wednesday of Gov. Jay Inslee, while opponent Cary Moon named four members of a transition team.Inslee announced his support for Durkan in a video, saying the former U.S. attorney "has progressive values and she's fought for them ever since she was a baggage handler and Teamster up in Alaska," referring to a summer job the candidate held before law school."We need a mayor who combines progressive values with, second, the ability to get things done," the Democratic governor says in the video, mentioning Durkan's proposal that the city offer free community college to all of its public high school graduates."Her Seattle Promise plan so that every high school graduate can get community college tuition -- very farsighted, very appropriate, very Jenny," Inslee says."She's advanced some great ideas -- micro-housing and building more housing for folks to deal with this housing crisis."The governor previously endorsed former Mayor Ed Murray, who ended his re-election campaign in May amid allegations that he had sexually abused teenagers decades ago. Murray, who resigned last month, denies the claims.In addition to Inslee, the state's top elected leader, Durkan has been endorsed by two former governors -- Christine Gregoire and Gary Locke -- and by former King County Executive Ron Sims.Earlier Wednesday, Moon named Diane Sugimura, Ray Hoffman, Esther Handy, and Nicole Vallestero Keenan to a team that will help her prepare for potentially taking over as mayor.Two of the four are experienced City Hall hands. Sugimura worked for the city for 38 years, before retiring last year. She was director of the city's planning and permitting department for 14 years. Hoffman was director of Seattle Public Utilities for seven years before stepping down last year.Handy is deputy director at the Progress Alliance of Washington. She previously worked for Sims and, from 2010 to 2016, for Seattle City Councilmember Mike O'Brien.Vallestero Keenan is executive director of Fair Work Center. She served on Mayor Murray's committee that forged a compromise on raising Seattle's minimum wage.In statements, Sugimura said Moon "understands the value of working closely" with the city's department directors and Hoffman said the candidate "won't micromanage" the directors.Handy said the transition team's role will be "to establish a clear and transparent management structure," while Vallestero Keenan said the goal is to include "community, government, labor, small business, city planning, and environmental leaders."Moon also published an open letter to city employees Wednesday, saying "most good ideas are born in city departments or out in communities, not in the mayor's office."Durkan won't be naming transition-team members before the Nov. 7 election's results are in.In a statement, campaign spokeswoman Stephanie Formas said: "Jenny's focus is on earning the support of voters who are looking for bold ideas and experienced leadership come November, and if voters give her the honor of serving as the next mayor, she'll be ready and will make an announcement on her transition team at that time." A Travis County judge has blocked state officials from turning over Texas voting records to President Donald Trump's commission on voter fraud.State District Judge Tim Sulak issued a temporary restraining order Tuesday that prohibits the release of voter information for about two weeks, ruling that providing the data "without taking appropriate precautions to safeguard the privacy and security of that information" could violate state election and privacy laws."If the private information contained in the Texas Computerized Voter Registration List is transmitted without appropriate safeguards, it is likely to become public," Sulak wrote in his four-page order.Such an outcome could discourage voter participation, violate privacy rights and chill First Amendment rights, the judge said.Sulak set a hearing for Oct. 16 in Austin on whether to issue a longer-term injunction barring release of the information.Trump formed the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity in May to investigate whether ballots have been cast by immigrants in the country illegally, people voting in more than one state and voters using names of dead people.The president has claimed that millions of votes were illegally cast for his Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton, in last November's election -- an assertion that many election officials from both parties have disputed.To aid its investigation, the commission has asked election officials in each state to provide the full names of all registered voters as well as their addresses, birth dates, political affiliation, the last four digits of Social Security numbers, the history of election participation since 2006, military status, felony convictions and mail-in votes cast from outside the country.Texas Secretary of State Rolando Pablos informed the commission that his office would provide only the voter roll information that is generally available to the public, which does not include partial Social Security numbers or military status.Texas also does not ask registered voters to select a political party, though the state does keep track of voter participation in Democratic and Republican primaries.Pablos has not yet provided voter information to the commission because he was awaiting a ruling on the lawsuit before Sulak, which was filed by the League of Women Voters of Texas and the NAACP."If the wrong people get a hold of private information such as your Social Security number, date of birth, address or voting history, various aspects of our lives and even our freedoms are at risk," said Gary Bledsoe, president of the NAACP Texas State Conference."This is very serious business in a time when even foreign governments are seeking our private voter information," he said.The Trump commission's quest for voter data also has been challenged by more than a half-dozen federal lawsuits arguing that the effort violates U.S. privacy laws or other statutes.Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, who requested the state voter information as vice chairman of the commission, has promised that information on individual voters will not be made public and that records will be kept confidential and secure.The Texas secretary of state's office declined to comment on the ruling because it involves a "matter of pending litigation," spokesman Sam Taylor said Wednesday. In a sharp rebuke to President Donald Trump's expanded deportation orders, California Gov. Jerry Brown signed landmark "sanctuary state" legislation Thursday, vastly limiting who state and local law enforcement agencies can hold, question and transfer at the request of federal immigration authorities.Senate Bill 54, which takes effect in January, has been hailed as part of a broader effort by majority Democrats in the California Legislature to shield more than 2.3 million immigrants living illegally in the state. Weeks before Brown's signature made it law, it was met with swift denunciations from Trump administration officials and became the focus of a national debate over how far states and cities can go to prevent their officers from enforcing federal immigration laws.Brown took the unusual step of penning a signing message in support of SB 54. He called the legislation a balanced measure that would allow police and sheriff's agencies to continue targeting dangerous criminals, while protecting hardworking families without legal residency in the country.Legal experts have said federal officials may try to block the law in court to keep it from being implemented, though some doubt such challenges would be successful.Brown's decision comes as local and state governments are locked in legal battles with U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions over his move to slash federal grant funding from "sanctuary jurisdictions," where city and county agencies are limited when working with federal immigration officials. A Chicago federal judge largely blocked Sessions' effort just hours before SB 54 cleared the Legislature on Sept. 16.Last month, Sessions called California's sanctuary state bill "unconscionable." Other federal officials also have sounded off against SB 54, suggesting illegal immigration is tied to increases in violent crime.Throughout his campaign and in his tenure as president, Trump has tried to make the same connection, showcasing the relatives of people killed by immigrants in the country illegally. And one of his earliest executive orders put cities and counties on alert that they would lose federal funding if law enforcement did not cooperate with immigration agents.The move has struck a bitter chord in California, home to at least 35 cities that have embraced the "sanctuary" label, and where Brown and Democratic lawmakers have passed legislation to extend financial aid, health care and driver's licenses to thousands of unauthorized immigrants.In some places, the "sanctuary city" name is largely a symbolic message of political support for immigrants without legal residency. But other cities, most notably San Francisco and most recently Los Angeles, have cut ties with federal immigration officials and sought to build up social services for families, including city-funded legal aid.In a statement released hours after the bill was sent to Brown's desk, Department of Justice spokesman Devin O'Malley said that "state lawmakers inexplicably voted today to return criminal aliens back onto our streets."The bill's author, Senate President Pro Tem Kevin De Leon, a Democrat, has countered that the state law is defensible in court and will send a strong message against new federal policies that he argues have pushed some families further into the shadows. Research has shown sanctuary cities have lower crime rates and that immigrants generally commit fewer crimes than U.S. citizens.The final language of the new law was the result of months of tough negotiations between Brown, De Leon and law enforcement officials. It was the centerpiece of this year's legislative proposals in Sacramento that sought to challenge Trump's stance on illegal immigration and provide protections for families amid his threats of mass deportations.The new law will largely prohibit state and local law enforcement agencies from using either personnel or funds to hold, question or share information about people with federal immigration agents unless those individuals have been convicted of one or more offenses from a list of 800 crimes outlined in a 2013 state law.Federal immigration authorities will still be able to work with state corrections officials _ a key concession Brown had demanded _ and will be able to enter county jails to question immigrants. But the state attorney general's office will be required to publish guidelines and training recommendations to limit immigration agents' access to personal information. And all law enforcement agencies will have to produce annual reports on their participation in task forces that involve federal agencies, as well as on the people they transfer to immigration authorities.The new law doesn't specify what happens if local law enforcement agencies don't comply with the new rules. But the attorney general has broad authority under the state Constitution to prosecute police and sheriff's agencies that don't comply.For many officers across the state, the expanded restrictions won't change much. Some police and sheriff's agencies already have developed similar boundaries against working with immigration agents, either through their own policies or under local "sanctuary city" rules.For other officers, though, the legislation would set new guidelines and has long divided police chiefs and sheriffs.The California Police Chiefs Association moved its official position from opposed to neutral after final changes to the bill last month, but the California Sheriffs Association remained opposed.Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck supported the bill, joining others who said entangling police and federal immigration forces can have a negative effect on public safety, because crime victims and witnesses without legal status may refuse to come forward to authorities out of fear of deportation. L.A. County Sheriff Jim McDonnell was a vocal opponent. Even so, he said the final version of the bill, though not perfect, "reflects much of what the LASD implemented years ago and the work is well underway."Immigrant rights advocates said its passage would help keep thousands of families together. Angela Chan, policy director at the Asian Law Caucus, said it will "improve protections for immigrants in most counties in California.""This victory is the result of community organizing and directly impacted immigrants sharing their stories about being turned over to ICE at the hands of local law enforcement," she said. "And we look forward to working to pass stronger protections for immigrants throughout California in the years to come." Attorney General Ken Paxton won't face trial on a trio of criminal felony charges until next year, possibly right after the primary election, a Harris County district judge ruled Wednesday.Judge Robert Johnson granted a motion for continuance in the case at the behest of special prosecutors who pointed to the disruption Hurricane Harvey has had on the Harris County court system and said they are still waiting to be paid for building a case against the attorney general.The judge declined to say whether he was delaying due to the storm that dumped more than 50 inches of rain on parts of Houston and flooded several of the special prosecutors' offices, or because the special prosecutors want to resolve their pay issue before the trial proceeds.Brian Wice, one of three special prosecutors assigned to the case, said if they are not paid, they will eventually withdraw from the case.The parties are due back in court Nov. 2 to decide when to reschedule the trial for, but are eyeing March 6 or March 12. The primary election is March 6.The decision is the latest twist in a long-running saga over the first-term attorney general's legal troubles. More than two years after he was indicted and charged with two counts of felony securities fraud and a lesser charge for failing to register with the state, this is the third time his trial has been rescheduled this year.Paxton's legal team verbally sparred with special prosecutors on the 16th floor courtroom of the Civil Court building prior to the ruling trying to convince the judge to keep a previously scheduled December trial date.The special prosecutors' arguments are "like the Menendez brothers complaining that they are orphans," said Dan Cogdell, one of Paxton's attorneys, referring to the infamous case of two brothers convicted in 1996 for killing their parents.Wice, representing the state, called Paxton's legal response to the motion to delay the case "bush league," and equated it to a "stump speech [Paxton would] give to the tea party in McKinney, Texas."Paxton's claims that he wants a speedy trial are disingenuous, Wice said, given his legal defense team "burned a year on the shot clock" filing appeals to get the case dismissed."Johnson, who took over the case in June when it moved to Harris County, peppered both parties with questions about how a delay would hurt their case. He later stressed that since Hurricane Harvey damaged the Harris County Justice Center where his court is located, he is sharing a courtroom with another judge.Special prosecutors say they want to delay Paxton's trial because they haven't been paid. The Collin County Commissioners Court declined to pay the trio of appointed special prosecutors for about $200,000 in billable hours in January, saying a lower court judge promised them too high a fee.The Dallas 5th Court of Appeals agreed, saying the fee busted the local cap for appointed attorneys fees.According to court records, Collin County limits the fees to $1,000 for first-degree felony pleas, $500 for third-degree pleas, $1,000 for pretrial work and $500 for each one-half day of trial. A lower court judge promised Houston-area attorneys Wice, Kent Schaffer and Nicole DeBorde $300 per hour."Why should we continue to work for free," said Wice, who in September convinced the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals to look into the case. He argues the law allows judges to use discretion when setting attorneys fees in special cases.The high court is now soliciting responses and has yet to decide whether to rule on the case.Paxton's lawyers accused the special prosecutors of milking taxpayer dollars with the Paxton case, saying the three have billed for more than 1,400 hours but have yet to take Paxton to trial."They should be more than ready after 1,400 hours," said Cogdell.Philip Hilder, one of Paxton's other criminal defense lawyers, said he is sympathetic that the special prosecutors not getting paid but, "that's not Mr. Paxton's problem."His attorneys argue Paxton is entitled to a speedy trial and the criminal matter has been hanging over his head for more than two years. With a trial delay, that could turn into three years, said Hilder.Paxton, whose attendance was waived for Wednesday's hearing, was indicted in Collin County in July of 2015 and is charged with two counts of first degree felony securities fraud and one third-degree felony charge of failing to register with the state as an investment adviser.He is accused of failing to tell friends and colleagues he would make a commission off their investment in Servergy, Inc., a North Texas tech company that purported to sell a revolutionary new server.Paxton as maintained his innocence and contends he is the victim of a political witch hunt. A special ceremony with full police honors was held Wednesday afternoon in honor of a former local constable who died in the line duty 146 years ago. According to a press release from Jefferson County Sheriff Dave Marshak, Washington County Constable Samuel T. Herrington was killed in the line of duty when he was 32 years old on October 4, 1871. On October 3, 1871, a brawl was reported at a saloon in Irondale and Herrington went to the saloon to see what was going on. When he entered the saloon, a young man ran down the steps with a knife and stabbed Herrington in the stomach. Herrington died from blood loss the next day. His death is among the 30 earliest Missouri law enforcement line-of-duty deaths commemorated on the Missouri Law Enforcement Memorial in Jefferson City. Herrington is also honored on the National Law Enforcement Memorial in Washington D.C. The exact location of Herringtons original gravesite and headstone was thought to be lost for many years until this past May when his headstone was discovered by Tim Ogle, a cemetery detective with Jefferson County Historical Society, the Franklin County Cemetery Society and the OFallon Historical Society. Jefferson County Historical Society President Bernard Laiben said it was in rural Cedar Hill where Herrington was laid to rest 146 years ago that day. He was married to Jeanette Hagen on January 17, 1864 and had only been a constable for a few months when he was fatally wounded in a confrontation with three men while serving a warrant, said Laiben. At the time of his death he left a wife and three young sons, Samuel, Walter and Edward Joshua. Laiben said he was buried in this family cemetery on land owned by his father. He added it was Ogle who located the buried tombstone of Herrington, repaired it and brought it back to its original position. With the help of the Hellenic-American Progressive League they cleaned this entire area and cleared two roads to the cemetery, said Laiben. Mr. Ogle will now unveil the restored grave marker of Constable Samuel T. Herrington. Ogle said the Greek society has been great in helping clear out the cemetery and the ceremony wouldnt have been possible without them. The law enforcement community from the very beginning has been eager to help, said Ogle. I had been trying to find this gravesite for a few years. My friend in the Jefferson County Historical Society asked me to help find his fourth great grandfather, William Drennan. This was his property, it was given to him for his service in the Revolutionary War, but we didnt know where it was. Ogle said the historical society in Jefferson County compared old plat maps with the new computer software and narrowed down the search of where the property was. He added they just knocked on doors asking if anyone knew of any old cemeteries in the woods. We met an old Greek fellow who I havent seen since, who was in his 80s and spoke hardly any English, said Ogle. We told him we were looking for an old cemetery and he said I havent seen it since the 1960s when I used to hunt. We hiked through the woods to get here and it was a large area we had to search, but we found one gravestone on the ground. Ogle said Herringtons gravestone was buried 8 inches underground and no one even knew it had been there all these years. Washington County Sheriff Zach Jacobsen said it was an honor when Sheriff Marshak had called him and told him of the discovery of the tombstone. It was intriguing. I had never heard of Mr. Herrington and so I did some research, said Jacobsen. There was no information leading back to Washington County that I could directly find, but as soon as we found that information out it was intriguing to me. Jacobsen said the saloon still stands today and they went down and looked at it. He added it was very unique. I appreciate the service that Mr. Herrington (gave) to the citizens of Washington County and to the Concord Township, which is also known as Irondale, Missouri, said Jacobsen. My presiding commissioner, Marvin Wright, is going to present a resolution in honor if Samuel Herrington. Wright said it was an honor to be there and they didnt know much about Herrington either, but they took the information they could gather and wrote a resolution. The commissioners of Washington County, Missouri deem it appropriate to recognize Deputy/Constable Samuel T. Herrington's service to Washington County and the ultimate sacrifice that he made on October 4, 1871, said Wright. This is signed on October 2, 2017 by myself and Commissioners Doug Short and Cody Brinley. Missouri Department of Public Safety Director Drew Juden presented a proclamation on behalf of the Missouri Governors Office. From the beginning of this nation law enforcement officers have play an important role in safeguarding the rights and freedoms that are guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution in protecting the lives and property of our citizens, Juden read. The dedicated men and women who have chosen law enforcement as a career face extraordinary risks and danger in preserving these rights, freedoms and securities. Juden said Missouri Governor Eric Greitens proclaimed October 4, 2017 to be Constable Samuel T. Herrington Day. A medallion was presented and placed at the headstone. We cant thank Tim Ogle for the hard work that he did finding and restoring Deputy Constable Herringtons grave and making this event possible for Herringtons descendants, Juden said. Its important that we remember every fallen law enforcement officer and honor each of their families. Thats why it was an honor to be with the family. Marshak said on behalf of the Jefferson County Sheriffs Office they wanted to present the family with a medallion as well. Samuel Herrington risked and lost his life in an effort to protect his fellow citizens and bring law breakers to justice, Marshak said. It was an honor to be with the family and take part in todays ceremony. The Missouri Fraternal Order of Police also presented a medallion to the family. A 21-gun salute was performed by the Honor Guard with the Jefferson County Sheriffs Department, followed by the playing of Taps by Deputy Nicholas Gamm and "Amazing Grace" played on the bagpipes by Bill Velders. Mark Harrington, of Farmington, a descendant of the family said Samuel T. Herrington was his great-great grandfather and he had heard about him all his life. It was neat to hear his grave was found. We had always wondered what happened, said Mark. He was able to have an honorable funeral that he deserved. Im sure back in those days there wasnt much to it and they probable couldnt get too many people to be a deputy back then. Mark said he knew of the Herrington Cemetery in Pevely, but they never knew about this old cemetery. He added Samuels niece, Norma Fuchs, was told the story by her uncle, which was his great-grandfather. He was one of the little kids on the horse when they fled to a cousin's in Pevely/Festus, said Mark. We heard the story when we were growing up. Mark said they went out to the Herrington Cemetery in Pevely to visit his third great grandfathers tombstone. He added that man fought in the Revolutionary War and Sarah Barton-Murphy, who founded Farmington, decorated his tombstone then. We are really glad the sheriffs departments took time out of their days to take part in this and present a proclamation to the family, said Mark. Thank you, also, to Gov. Greitens for recognizing Constable Herrington and for proclaiming today as Constable Samuel T. Herrington Day and everyone else who came out to be a part of this ceremony. According to a pamphlet that was handed out during the ceremony, in October of 1988, the family had Sam Herrington's foot stone and his mothers headstone moved to the Herrington Family Cemetery in Pevely. On Thursday, in the morning, at 1 William Street, Brisbane, His Excellency the Honourable Paul de Jersey AC presided at a meeting of the Executive Council of Queensland. In the afternoon, at Government House, the Governor greeted members of the public visiting for guided tours of the House. In the evening, at Hamilton, the Governor and Mrs Kaye de Jersey attended a reception on-board the RSS Resolution, Republic of Singapore Navy, where His Excellency addressed guests. (TNS) -- IBM Corp. has sold its Coplink business, a suite of sophisticated data-analysis software for law enforcement agencies developed at the University of Arizona, to a California-based company.Terms of the sale to Walnut Creek-based Forensic Logic, a provider of network-search technology and cloud-based information services to law enforcement, were not disclosed.The widely used Coplink software is a search tool that meshes police data from disparate databases, such as 911 calls and mugshot files, to help solve crimes.Coplink was created in 1998 by Hsinchun Chen, a UA Regents professor in the Eller College of Managements Management Information Systems Department and head of the UAs artificial-intelligence lab.Knowledge Computing Corp., which Chen founded in 2000 to commercialize the Coplink technology, was acquired in 2009 by United Kingdom-based i2 Holdings Ltd. IBM acquired i2 in 2011 for a reported $500 million.Founded in 2003, Forensic Logic is one of the fastest-growing public-safety technology providers in the country, the company said.Bob Batty, CEO of Forensic Logic, said Coplink will be integrated into one platform with the companys search and analytical tools and data network.IBM said Coplink provides public-safety software and services to more than 5,100 law enforcement jurisdictions across the nation, with a core analysis platform and an array of software tools for investigations, operations, and compliance.The companies didnt say how many IBM employees will be affected by the acquisition or what will happen to those workers, and that information was not immediately available, a Forensic Logic spokesman said.At the time of the acquisition by IBM, i2 reportedly had about 100 employees in Tucson at an office at 7750 E. Broadway.IBM does not discuss employment levels. The company had an estimated 1,300 employees at its storage-technology group at the UA Tech Park as of 2014. (TNS) - Collier County, Fla., should receive its first batch of FEMA traveling trailers by Saturday for those displaced by Hurricane Irma, local emergency operations officials said.It's still unclear how many in Collier will receive or where the FEMA will send the recreational vehicles, almost a month after Irma destroyed more than 100 homes in Everglades City, Immokalee and other rural and coastal corners of the county.FEMA and the Army Corps of Engineers will provide RVs, what FEMA calls traveling trailers, in batches, said Dan Summers, director of the county emergency operations center."This won't be like after Hurricane Charley, where they set up a huge wave of 100 trailers at once," Summers said.The RVs are expected to be brought down in groups of about 20, he said. They'll be staged at the Naples airport until FEMA can qualify residents and decide where to put them."The good news is that we've been told the inventory has already been bought and, as the need arises, they have the ability to purchase more quickly off the lot and get them here without any lag time," Summers said.RVs might prove to be more flexible than traditional FEMA trailers. They can easily be hooked up to water, sewer and power lines.Many in Everglades City and Collier County hope they can be parked in the driveway or front lawn of a destroyed home. But that remains to be seen, Summers said."We just dont know the limitations on where these can go yet," he said. "They may have to be put in an existing RV park or may not be allowed in a flood zone."The program's parameters will be outlined in the next few days, he said.Everglades City wasted no time in preparing for the RVs. The City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to allow RVs to be parked in front lawns for up to a year as people repair or rebuild their homes.At least 70 families are going to need them in the small fishing town and its neighboring communities of Chokoloskee and Plantation Island, Mayor Howie Grimm said.That includes people who don't think they need temporary housing but might find they do, Grimm said."They're trying to save their places, but I think they're going to find out with this 50 percent rule that they can't," Grimm said.FEMA has a rule that if repairs cost a homeowner more than 50 percent of the value of the home, that home loses its grandfathered status and has to be brought up to date with all elevation, flood-proofing and hurricane codes. With some of the trailers in Everglades City valued at about $36,000, it won't take much for many with flood or wind damage to hit that 50 percent mark, Grimm said."I think a lot of people are going to find out that they need a new place," he said.FEMA spokesman Mike Wade said he couldn't say when the first batch of RVs will arrive or how many residents have qualified for them.Another tropical depression was brewing in the Caribbean Sea on Wednesday and was forecast to possibly hit the central Gulf Coast of Florida on Sunday, possibly as a Category 1 hurricane. Consequently, the deployment of the RVs might be delayed, Wade said.2017 the Naples Daily News (Naples, Fla.)Visit the Naples Daily News (Naples, Fla.) at www.naplesnews.comDistributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. (TNS) - When the Big One hits California and seismologists say its not if, but when there might not be blaring sirens or vibrating phones giving people a precious few seconds to prepare.At least, those warnings wont come if a quake hits in the foreseeable future. Californias earthquake warning system, long discussed and partially built, remains incomplete and in limbo. And if the Trump administration has its way, it might be un-funded too.But the powerful earthquakes that hit Mexico last month serve as a reminder of whats possible. There, sirens blared between 20 seconds and 60 seconds before the shaking began. Because of that, experts say, the quakes that killed hundreds also provided the latest real-world example of how a warning system can save countless more.If you look at the videos of people rushing out of the buildings before the earthquakes, there were lots, said Peggy Hellweg, the operations manager of the Berkeley Seismological Laboratory, which studies quakes and quake warning systems.There were at least thousands of people who were saved.But experts say the difference between what happened in Mexico and whats also happened in Japan in a similar fashion and what isnt yet possible in California is stark.Were behind the curve, said Doug Given, who works as the earthquake early warning coordinator for the U.S. Geological Survey, which is spearheading a stalled effort to create a system that would touch California, Oregon and Washington.Given pointed out that Mexico, Japan, Italy and China built functional quake warning systems after suffering huge quake-related losses.Many countries have had huge disastrous earthquakes that created the political will to take action, Given said.Hes hoping the same cycle wont happen here.The latest estimate on the cost of an earthquake warning system in the western United States is about $38 million to complete the one-time start-up costs and another $16.1 million a year to operate it.Those numbers which quake experts and economists say are tiny when compared with the human and financial losses associated with quake-related health spending and other preventable costs are too steep for the federal government. An early draft of the federal budget eliminated the regions early warning system entirely, though a subcommittee in the House of Representatives later restored $10.2 million to the program.That still wont be enough to finance a network of 1675 sensors needed to have a system for the western United States. So far only 740 sensors are operational, and many are concentrated across Southern California.We really cant build the complete system with two-thirds of the funding, Given said. It would be imprudent to build a system you cant maintain.The shortfall is prompting agencies to consider seeking private funding, perhaps from utility companies and others that might be vulnerable to quake costs, said Tina Curry, deputy director of planning, preparedness and prevention for the California Office of Emergency Services.Were rapidly trying to get that infrastructure in the ground, Curry said. From that, everything else will come.But Curry isnt ruling out a change of heart in Washington, either.Were hopeful that the federal government will continue to partner as they have.The warning system contemplated in the United States relies on a series of underground sensors that would detect quakes as they happen and spread that information to sensors throughout the potential quake zone faster than the shaking itself. Specifically, the detectors would track the less damaging p-waves (or primary waves) that are emitted in a quakes initial moments, and use that information to tell more distant sensors that the more damaging quake waves (s-waves, or secondary waves) are heading their way.The system isnt perfect. Areas close to the epicenter of a quake are so-called blind zones, meaning they get little or no warning before the shaking starts. But areas that are distant to the center of a quake and quakes can reach hundreds of miles get some warning, typically between 20 and 60 seconds.If the warning sounds brief, experts point out there are plenty of ways the warning can save lives, money and inconvenience.A warning of even 20 seconds is long for a family to get out of a house or apartment, or for a business to evacuate an office. Its enough time for a doctor to put down a scalpel or a dentist to turn off a drill. In 20 seconds, an elevator can stop and unload passengers.Transportation experts note a 20-second warning can be enough time for an engineer to stop or at least slow down a train, reducing the odds of derailment. In some cases, vulnerable bridges could be closed to traffic.A 2016 paper in the journal Seismological Research Letters examined the benefits and cost of an early earthquake warning system found that if people had advanced notice of a temblor, injuries could be reduced by 50 percent.Even a small increase in the number of lives saved and fires prevented would pay for one year of operating a quake warning system. Saving three lives alone would pay for the cost of operating a West Coast early warning system for a year, as would one train derailment prevented, the paper found.Its not a theoretical problem. There is a 99.7 percent chance of a magnitude 6.7 or larger earthquake striking California in the next 30 years, according to a 2014 U.S.G.S. study. In the Pacific Northwest there is a 10 percent chance of a megathrust earthquake with a magnitude 8 or 9 along the 700-mile long Cascadia subduction zone that runs from Vancouver Island to central Oregon.Those quakes with or without a warning system probably will cause billions of dollars worth of damage.The planned system for Washington, Oregon and California would install sensors every six miles in high-density areas with powerful fault lines capable of serious damage. Further afield sensors would be spread out every 12 miles, and in places where damage would be minimal, every 24 miles.We have a number of goals, one is to produce the fastest possible alert in populated areas, Given said. Were prioritizing the highest risk targets.A pilot system is already up and running with dozens of schools, transit systems, utility companies and cities receiving notices of impending earthquakes, including the cities of Los Angeles and San Francisco, and companies like Boeing and Intel. That system has found technical glitches that must be fixed before a broader rollout, but those glitches are surmountable.People working on the mass notification system dont want to see the mass casualties that spurred other governments into action.I hope the next big one will wait, Hellweg said.2017 The Orange County Register (Santa Ana, Calif.)Visit The Orange County Register (Santa Ana, Calif.) at www.ocregister.comDistributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. (TNS) - The tropical storm headed toward the Gulf of Mexico is now officially Tropical Storm Nate and while the forecast overnight shifted its projected landfall somewhere between the western Panhandle and Louisiana, it is still forecast to become a hurricane and state officials are gathering here this morning to talk about preparedness plans and the unpredictability of these storms.Gov. Rick Scott, state Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis and Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam are meeting with county emergency management officials at 11:15 a.m. at the county's Emergency Operations Center to talk about storm plans.Thursday morning's forecast put the storm - which on Wednesday was shown beelining to Bay County - making landfall to our west shortly after becoming a Category 1 hurricane early Sunday morning, according to the National Hurricane Center. The NHC had it moving across Nicaragua today with maximum winds of 35 knots and heavy rains, and the possibility of "life-threatening flash flood or mudslides" during the next 24 hours.After that, the storm will again strengthen as it cross the warmer Caribbean Sea and where atmospheric conditions are "conducive for strenghtening," the NHC reported. The amount of that strengthening before the storm cross the Yukatan Peninsula late Friday.The real concern comes with what kind of shape the storm's core is in after that landfall as it enters the much warmer waters of the Gulf of Mexico.The NHC says strengthening is possible and expected as Nate moves over the Gulf of Mexico, and its "intensity forecast brings the system to hurricane strength within 72 hours."The storm is moving northwest and forecasters are predicting that a large "mid- to upper-level ridge" will build of the southeast U.S. coast, steering the storm north/northwestward faster before it "recurves" around the ridge and heads toward, at the moment, the New Orleans Mobile area. But the cone of uncertainty stretches from there to the east almost to Bay County and officials aren't confident of anything right now.The NHC did put the following "Key Messages" for the public at its 5 a.m. forecast today:1. The depression is forecast to strengthen and bring tropical storm conditions to portions of Nicaragua and Honduras through early Friday. Heavy rainfall could produce life-threatening flash flooding and mud slides in portions of Nicaragua, Honduras, Costa Rica, and Panama through Friday night.2. The system could be near hurricane intensity when it approaches the Yucatan Peninsula late Friday, bringing direct impacts from wind, storm surge, and heavy rainfall, and a hurricane watch is in effect for a portion of this area.3. The system is forecast to strengthen over the Gulf of Mexico and could affect portions of the northern Gulf Coast as a hurricane this weekend, with direct impacts from wind, storm surge, and heavy rainfall. However, it is too early to specify the timing, location, or magnitude of these impacts. Residents along the Gulf Coast from Louisiana through the Florida Panhandle should monitor the progress of this system and heed any advice given by local officials.2017 The News Herald (Panama City, Fla.)Visit The News Herald (Panama City, Fla.) at www.newsherald.comDistributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. (TNS) - The wildfires that tore through more than a million acres of Montana this year damaged homes, cloaked communities in smoke, and burned a hole in the state budget.With winter snow already falling, Montanas blazes mostly have subsided. But the state now faces a $200 million budget shortfall exacerbated by the record cost of fighting wildfires, Gov. Steve Bullock, a Democrat, said in an early September statement explaining the crisis. We are also facing the most expensive fire season in state history, requiring spending of over $60 million to date.State and federal lawmakers across the country are looking back on a record fire season and asking whether theres a way to better prepare financially for major wildfires. The federal government spent more than $2 billion on fires from Florida to Washington this year. States spend untold millions more.As the wildfire season lengthens and the fires become larger and more dangerous a trend driven by a number of factors, including climate change both state and federal natural resource departments are spending more time and money on firefighting and less on other forest management programs that help the land recover after wildfires, or lessen the impact of future fires.Western states typically spend less than 1 percent of their general fund each year on wildfire suppression, according to a University of Idaho research group that advises the state Legislature. When fires are severe, budgets are tight or both, the share can spike above 2 percent.Such percentages seem small but can still have a big impact, said lead author Dennis Becker, an associate professor in the department of natural resources and director of the policy research group.In states with small tax bases such as Montana, expensive fires in a tight budget year can wipe out reserve funds and escalate a fiscal crisis.Each state pays for wildland firefighting slightly differently. Lawmakers in many wildfire-prone states set aside part of their general fund each year for fighting fires. Programs in Oregon and Washington are partly funded by taxing timber companies and other forest landowners, for instance. Most states also set aside pools of money to pay for natural disasters and other emergencies.But sometimes that extra money doesnt go far enough. Then its up to lawmakers to figure out how to cover the extra cost.When theres an emergency, the money gets found, someway, somehow, said Mike Morgan, the director of the division of fire prevention and control at the Colorado Department of Public Safety. In Colorado, most counties pay into a wildfire suppression fund that generates about a million dollars a year, he said. The money runs out quickly. Some of these big fires can (cost) a million dollars a day, he said.One of the biggest fires in Colorados recent history, the Waldo Canyon fire, burned near Colorado Springs in 2012 for 17 days and more than over $16.6 million to suppress, according to the National Wildfire Coordinating Group, a multiagency organization that helps coordinate wildfire suppression operations.When Colorados wildfire suppression fund is exhausted, the governor declares a state of emergency and state lawmakers scramble to find more money. They often end up taking money away from the capital budget used to pay for maintenance projects, Morgan said. Were robbing Peter to pay Paul.It can take months to tally the cost of a bad fire season.The federal government typically pays to put out fires on federal land, and states pay to put out wildfires on state and private land. But fires often straddle property boundaries. And when a fire starts, the fire crew closest to it will rush to the scene regardless of jurisdiction.To complicate matters, a dangerous blaze that threatens homes, roads, reservoirs and other infrastructure can involve local and state firefighters, firefighters from other states, and state or federal equipment such as bulldozers and air tankers.Its like an instant army that shows up, said Gary Schiff, policy director for the National Association of State Foresters, a Washington, D.C., based nonprofit comprised of the directors of state forestry agencies.The Federal Emergency Management Agency will reimburse states for three-quarters of the cost of putting out fires that threaten lives and critical infrastructure. But some fires are too rural or remote to qualify. States also spend a lot of time and money putting out smaller, less dangerous fires.Reimbursement from the federal government and other entities typically covers a fraction of a states spending on fire suppression, Beckers study found. In 2015, an extreme fire year, the nine states his team studied collectively spent $1.8 billion to fight wildfires. They were reimbursed by the federal government and other payers such as other state and local agencies for nearly $300 million.Montana used to pay for wildfires after they happened. A few bad fire years in the 2000s made that strategy untenable. In 2007 the state created a wildfire suppression fund which currently receives revenue from surplus money found in state agency budgets and the governors emergency appropriations.State Sen. Pat Connell, a Republican who helped craft the current funding mechanism, said it has worked well every year until this one.Montana came into 2017 facing a budget shortfall due to lower-than-expected revenue from taxes, fees and mineral royalties. Legislators passed legislation in May that authorized the state to withdraw $30 million from the wildfire suppression fund if the revenue situation didnt improve.The money was withdrawn in July, leaving just over $30 million to pay for fighting fires. That $30 million went up in smoke, Connell said.He said FEMA will help cover the cost of six of this years major fires in Montana, but its unclear what that will mean for the states bottom line and when the federal money will arrive.In Oklahoma, an ongoing budget crisis has squeezed the states Forestry Services Division and driven up the cost of fighting fires.Years of budget cuts have whittled the division down to 130 people, including administrators, at a time when the state is seeing more frequent major fires, said George Geissler, the Oklahoma state forester. We do not have the capacity, within our state, with our own personnel, to fight these fires.He said hes become more dependent on expensive out-of-state resources and on tapping the states emergency fund. After a major fire, his team waits for the invoices to trickle in with their fingers crossed. Weve come very close to thinking how are we going to make payroll? he said.In Oregon, state lawmakers will have to find an additional $12 million to cover the cost of fighting large wildfires this year, according to Amy Patrick, director of forest protection for the Oregon Forest and Industries Council, a trade association.Such an additional appropriation is unusual in Oregon, which has bought catastrophic wildfire insurance from Lloyds of London almost every year since the 1970s. Its the only state that uses insurance to help pay for wildfire suppression.Oregons premiums and deductible have risen along with its fire risk, however. This year the state spent $38 million on large wildfires, according to the Oregon Department of Forestry more than the $20 million it budgets for such fires but not enough to hit its $50 million deductible. The state expects about $6 million in reimbursements.As fires get worse, states need some kind of cushion to protect themselves from a costly year, Becker said, whether thats an emergency fund, an insurance policy or another mechanism.In Idaho, state forester David Groeschl said his department hired an outside contractor to take a close look at its budget and make recommendations for improving the way the state pays for fighting wildfires.Its something that everybodys taking a look at right now, he said. How do you do this without breaking the bank?Connell said he still thinks Montanas wildfire suppression fund is a good solution to the states wildfire budgeting problem. But now the fund is empty, and hes not sure his colleagues in the Legislature will be eager to make a one-time appropriation to fill it back up. There is no money in the till for 2018, he said. It will be problematic.2017 Stateline.orgVisit Stateline.org at www.stateline.orgDistributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. (TNS) -- When the Big One hits California and seismologists say its not if, but when there might not be blaring sirens or vibrating phones giving people a precious few seconds to prepare.At least, those warnings wont come if a quake hits in the foreseeable future. Californias earthquake warning system, long discussed and partially built, remains incomplete and in limbo. And if the Trump administration has its way, it might be un-funded too.But the powerful earthquakes that hit Mexico last month serve as a reminder of whats possible. There, sirens blared between 20 seconds and 60 seconds before the shaking began. Because of that, experts say, the quakes that killed hundreds also provided the latest real-world example of how a warning system can save countless more.If you look at the videos of people rushing out of the buildings before the earthquakes, there were lots, said Peggy Hellweg, the operations manager of the Berkeley Seismological Laboratory, which studies quakes and quake warning systems.There were at least thousands of people who were saved.But experts say the difference between what happened in Mexico and whats also happened in Japan in a similar fashion and what isnt yet possible in California is stark.Were behind the curve, said Doug Given, who works as the earthquake early warning coordinator for the U.S. Geological Survey, which is spearheading a stalled effort to create a system that would touch California, Oregon and Washington.Given pointed out that Mexico, Japan, Italy and China built functional quake warning systems after suffering huge quake-related losses.Many countries have had huge disastrous earthquakes that created the political will to take action, Given said.Hes hoping the same cycle wont happen here.The latest estimate on the cost of an earthquake warning system in the western United States is about $38 million to complete the one-time start-up costs and another $16.1 million a year to operate it.Those numbers which quake experts and economists say are tiny when compared with the human and financial losses associated with quake-related health spending and other preventable costs are too steep for the federal government. An early draft of the federal budget eliminated the regions early warning system entirely, though a subcommittee in the House of Representatives later restored $10.2 million to the program.That still wont be enough to finance a network of 1675 sensors needed to have a system for the western United States. So far only 740 sensors are operational, and many are concentrated across Southern California.We really cant build the complete system with two-thirds of the funding, Given said. It would be imprudent to build a system you cant maintain.The shortfall is prompting agencies to consider seeking private funding, perhaps from utility companies and others that might be vulnerable to quake costs, said Tina Curry, deputy director of planning, preparedness and prevention for the California Office of Emergency Services.Were rapidly trying to get that infrastructure in the ground, Curry said. From that, everything else will come.But Curry isnt ruling out a change of heart in Washington, either.Were hopeful that the federal government will continue to partner as they have.The warning system contemplated in the United States relies on a series of underground sensors that would detect quakes as they happen and spread that information to sensors throughout the potential quake zone faster than the shaking itself. Specifically, the detectors would track the less damaging p-waves (or primary waves) that are emitted in a quakes initial moments, and use that information to tell more distant sensors that the more damaging quake waves (s-waves, or secondary waves) are heading their way.The system isnt perfect. Areas close to the epicenter of a quake are so-called blind zones, meaning they get little or no warning before the shaking starts. But areas that are distant to the center of a quake and quakes can reach hundreds of miles get some warning, typically between 20 and 60 seconds.If the warning sounds brief, experts point out there are plenty of ways the warning can save lives, money and inconvenience.A warning of even 20 seconds is long enough for a family to get out of a house or apartment, or for a business to evacuate an office. Its enough time for a doctor to put down a scalpel or a dentist to turn off a drill. In 20 seconds, an elevator can stop and unload passengers.Transportation experts note a 20-second warning can be enough time for an engineer to stop or at least slow down a train, reducing the odds of derailment. In some cases, vulnerable bridges could be closed to traffic.A 2016 paper in the journal Seismological Research Letters examined the benefits and cost of an early earthquake warning system and found that if people had advanced notice of a temblor, injuries could be reduced by 50 percent.Even a small increase in the number of lives saved and fires prevented would pay for one year of operating a quake warning system. Saving three lives alone would pay for the cost of operating a West Coast early warning system for a year, as would one train derailment prevented, the paper found.Its not a theoretical problem. There is a 99.7 percent chance of a magnitude 6.7 or larger earthquake striking California in the next 30 years, according to a 2014 U.S.G.S. study. In the Pacific Northwest there is a 10 percent chance of a megathrust earthquake with a magnitude 8 or 9 along the 700-mile long Cascadia subduction zone that runs from Vancouver Island to central Oregon.Those quakes with or without a warning system probably will cause billions of dollars worth of damage.The planned system for Washington, Oregon and California would install sensors every six miles in high-density areas with powerful fault lines capable of serious damage. Further afield sensors would be spread out every 12 miles, and in places where damage would be minimal, every 24 miles.We have a number of goals, one is to produce the fastest possible alert in populated areas, Given said. Were prioritizing the highest risk targets.A pilot system is already up and running with dozens of schools, transit systems, utility companies and cities receiving notices of impending earthquakes, including the cities of Los Angeles and San Francisco, and companies like Boeing and Intel. That system has found technical glitches that must be fixed before a broader rollout, but those glitches are surmountable.People working on the mass notification system dont want to see the mass casualties that spurred other governments into action.I hope the next big one will wait, Hellweg said. (TNS) -- Lets say there was a bank that locked the front door at night but left all its money sitting out on a table instead of securing it in the vault. That would be incredibly stupid an invitation for thieves to break in and make off with the loot.And its precisely what nearly every big company and government agency does with peoples personal data.Barely a week goes by without news of yet another security breach involving a corporate or government database. Last week, the burger chain Sonic said its payment system had been hacked, with millions of customer credit card numbers reportedly being snatched by bad cyber-hombres.Consumers are still reeling from the massive breach of credit agency Equifax, which exposed 143 million people to potential fraud and identity theft.The company last week said it would allow consumers to lock their credit files for free basically the same as a credit freeze but easier to use and the interim chief executive, Paulino do Rego Barros Jr., expressed his sincere and total apology.Experts generally acknowledge that its impossible to keep hackers at bay. The black hats are just too clever and too determined.Theres no such thing as a totally secure network, said Nick Mancini, managing partner of the Tech Consultants, a Los Angeles technology firm. As long as things are interconnected, security will always be compromised.So the question becomes: Why do businesses and agencies make it so easy for hackers to make off with their digital assets?Relatively few databases are protected by strong encryption software that turns the contents into gibberish for anyone lacking digital keys to unlock all the goodies. As a result, once hackers break through a networks defenses, they gain access to everything.The Privacy Rights Clearinghouse in San Diego estimates that just over 7,700 security breaches have been made public since 2005, resulting in more than a billion records being compromised.Data at stake in many such incidents can represent some of the most sensitive details of a persons life Social Security numbers, drivers license numbers, credit card numbers, bank account numbers, medical files, legal files, confidential correspondence, and on and on.And frequently, as in the case of Equifax, the company never even asked permission to maintain such records. It just collected peoples personal information and profited by selling it to business partners.If theyre holding personally identifiable information, it should absolutely be encrypted, said Pablo Garcia, chief executive of FFRI North America, a maker of cybersecurity software based in Aliso Viejo, Calif. Im almost at the point where I expect my personal information to be stolen every now and then.The main problem, he and other tech-security experts say, is one of convenience.Most businesses view strong safeguards such as top-of-the-line encryption as an impediment to getting things done and being competitive. Because info frequently moves from one place to another, the requirement that all people accessing the network have digital keys can slow things down significantly.Strong encryption also can slow entire network systems and websites, again impacting ease of use.Anything that impedes commerce or a transaction obviously can have a material effect on a companys bottom line. Meanwhile, the annual cost to a large business of maintaining extensive security measures can run in the hundreds of thousands if not millions of dollars.Compared to that, businesses look at the actual losses they might suffer in a breach as minimal, said John Gunn, chief marketing officer of Chicagos Vasco Data Security, which focuses primarily on the banking industry. Some companies conclude that its cheaper to accept losses than upgrade security.This is, of course, completely unacceptable.Every company presents itself to consumers as a vigilant watchdog of personal information. Click on any online privacy policy. Its practically guaranteed that one of the first lines will be some variation of we take your privacy seriously.Heres Equifax: Safeguarding the privacy and security of information, both online and offline, is a top priority for Equifax.The idea that a company in the digital age cant be bothered to do everything possible to keep a lid on peoples data is no less reprehensible than carmakers arguing, as they did for decades, that air bags in vehicles are unnecessary because theyre too expensive and cumbersome. Federal authorities say mandatory air bags now save thousands of lives a year.As with air bags and other safety measures, it appears that industry wont take the necessary steps to protect databases until required to do so.So I propose a regulation that any company or government agency with a database containing more than 10,000 names be required to encrypt all stored data.If thats inconvenient, boo-hoo. Standing in line for a security check at the airport is inconvenient, but we all do it because we have to.To give the regulation some teeth, I propose a fine of $100 for every person affected by a security breach, up to $100 million.This strikes me as a sufficiently persuasive incentive for organizations to step up their games and take the necessary steps to prove they really do care about customers privacy.It also provides a level playing field, allowing companies that take information security seriously to gain a competitive advantage over those that dont. Again, an incentive for good behavior.The internet wasnt built for security, said Willy Leichter, vice president of marketing for Virsec Systems, a San Jose cybersecurity firm. It was built for openness.Times change. And the guardians of our personal information have to change with them.Thats a polite way of saying, Put the money in the vault, you fools. Three Steps Congress Could Take to Help Resolve the Net Neutrality Debate Without Legislating a Fix (TNS) -- Facebook wants to bring the world closer together. Twitter vows to protect freedom of expression. And as Google tries to make information universally accessible, the company urges its employees to not be evil.Now, these companies are facing a wake-up call after the U.S. presidential election highlighted how social media, ads and search results can distort facts, promote fake news or reinforce biases.U.S. lawmakers are putting more pressure on the worlds largest tech firms, drafting legislation that would require them like TV stations to disclose more information about political ads they run online, including who purchased them and the targeted audience.Accused of undermining the democratic process, the tech firms are acknowledging they could have done more to prevent foreign powers and users from buying politically divisive ads and spreading misinformation.Its not just social media, but the whole internet platform business has shifted in the last six months from good until proven otherwise to bad until proven otherwise. Its stunning, said Steven Weber, a professor at UC Berkeleys School of Information and Department of Political Science.To some extent, the damage is done: Users are questioning whether they can trust the information on these websites. Lawmakers are compelling Bay Area technology companies to testify before Congress and then in some cases, criticizing them for not taking Russias possible interference in the U.S. presidential election more seriously.Facebook this week turned over more than 3,000 ads likely linked to Russia to congressional investigators looking into whether the country meddled in the U.S. presidential election. The ads, which focused on divisive political issues such as immigration and gun rights, were seen by an estimated 10 million people in the United States before and after the election, the company said Monday.Facebook said it found 470 accounts and pages linked to Russian entities that had placed the ads, and it shut them down because their identities werent authentic.Twitter recently met with lawmakers, revealing that it found 201 Twitter accounts linked to the Russian entities that purchased ads on Facebook.And Google is also reportedly investigating whether Russian entities used its ads and services.Some tech moguls even expressed disappointment in themselves.After the election, I made a comment that I thought the idea misinformation on Facebook changed the outcome of the election was a crazy idea, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg wrote in a recent post on social media. Calling that crazy was dismissive and I regret it. This is too important an issue to be dismissive.But as Facebook digs deeper into the negative roles it may have played in the 2016 election, its also facing political heat from conservatives who question the tech firms motives.Theyve accused Silicon Valley tech firms of censoring conservative content and are suspicious of CEOs who have slammed some of the Trump administrations policies.Zuckerberg created and backs an immigration lobbying group, Fwd.us, which criticized Trumps decision to end an Obama-era policy that shielded young, undocumented immigrants from deportation. And speculation persists that Zuckerberg could run for president in 2020, even though the tech billionaire denied any intentions of doing so.We live in a time when nothing is apolitical, Weber said. Particularly for large firms to try to strike a position that theyre somehow above politics or completely impartial is disingenuous, but more importantly, no one believes it.After Facebook turned over ads to congressional investigators, Trump took aim at the company on Twitter and accused the Menlo Park-based tech firm like other media outlets of always being anti-Trump.But some experts dont think Trumps attacks on Facebook will drive users away from the worlds largest social network.I suspect that when Donald Trump strikes at Facebook by questioning its integrity, the concern might be that people who support Donald Trump might actually walk away from Facebook, said Bill Whalen, a research fellow at Stanford Universitys Hoover Institution. I dont think people are going to walk away from social media. Thats a stronger addiction than Donald Trump.Many of Facebooks more than 2 billion users worldwide rely upon the social network not only to consume news, but to promote their work or keep in touch with families and friends.About two-thirds of Americans get at least some of their news on social media, including Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Snapchat, according to a study released in September by the Pew Research Center.Some Facebook users said they are already wary about news they see on social media, noting that students should be taught in school to check the source of the information theyre consuming.Lauren Wilson, a 21-year-old Los Altos Republican, said the news she sees on Facebook is more of a conversation starter, making her more interested in searching for information on different topics.If anyone is going on Facebook to find the full truth and nothing but the truth, theyre lying to themselves, she said.Trumps criticisms did hit a nerve with Zuckerberg, who runs a company that has a mission to bring the world closer together and has been touring the United States.In a Facebook post, Zuckerberg pushed back against the allegations that Facebook wants to censor conservative content. He noted that liberals also criticized the company, accusing it of helping Trump by not doing enough to stop the spread of fake news.Both sides are upset about ideas and content they dont like. Thats what running a platform for all ideas looks like, Zuckerberg wrote.Both Facebook and Twitter said theyre making changes to protect election integrity and stop the spread of misinformation.Facebook said that in the coming months, users will be able to visit advertisers pages and see the ads theyre currently running on the social network. The tech firm is also hiring more than 1,000 people to review ads and investing more in machine learning to flag and take down ads that run afoul of its online rules.Twitter said it will beef up its enforcement of suspicious accounts, engagement and tweets on its website.Despite the social networks pledges of transparency, some experts suggested that its government oversight and regulation that will ensure tech firms follow through.U.S. Sen. Mark Warner raised concerns that the information Twitter recently disclosed in testimony to lawmakers was inadequate and questioned whether the company was taking the concerns about election integrity seriously.Warner, D-Virginia, has been working on legislation that would require digital platforms like Facebook and Google to keep a public file of certain election ads and communications. The file would include a copy of the ad, the amount it was purchased for, the number of views generated and other information.The firms would also need to make a reasonable effort to ensure that election ads are not purchased indirectly or directly by a foreign national, according to a letter by Warner and Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minnesota.No one is untouchable when the political wings really shift, Weber said. I think in some ways the rhetoric that the firms have created around their social good mission makes them more vulnerable. Country Afghanistan Albania, People's Socialist Republic of Algeria, People's Democratic Republic of American Samoa Andorra, Principality of Angola, Republic of Anguilla Antarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S) Antigua and Barbuda Argentina, Argentine Republic Armenia Aruba Australia, Commonwealth of Austria, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Bahamas, Commonwealth of the Bahrain, Kingdom of Bangladesh, People's Republic of Barbados Belarus Belgium, Kingdom of Belize Benin, People's Republic of Bermuda Bhutan, Kingdom of Bolivia, Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana, Republic of Bouvet Island (Bouvetoya) Brazil, Federative Republic of British Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago) British Virgin Islands Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria, People's Republic of Burkina Faso Burundi, Republic of Cambodia, Kingdom of Cameroon, United Republic of Canada Cape Verde, Republic of Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad, Republic of Chile, Republic of China, People's Republic of Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia, Republic of Comoros, Union of the Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, People's Republic of Cook Islands Costa Rica, Republic of Cote D'Ivoire, Ivory Coast, Republic of the Cuba, Republic of Cyprus, Republic of Czech Republic Denmark, Kingdom of Djibouti, Republic of Dominica, Commonwealth of Dominican Republic Ecuador, Republic of Egypt, Arab Republic of El Salvador, Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Faeroe Islands Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Fiji, Republic of the Fiji Islands Finland, Republic of France, French Republic French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon, Gabonese Republic Gambia, Republic of the Georgia Germany Ghana, Republic of Gibraltar Greece, Hellenic Republic Greenland Grenada Guadaloupe Guam Guatemala, Republic of Guinea, Revolutionary People's Rep'c of Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Guyana, Republic of Haiti, Republic of Heard and McDonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras, Republic of Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China Hrvatska (Croatia) Hungary, Hungarian People's Republic Iceland, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq, Republic of Ireland Israel, State of Italy, Italian Republic Jamaica Japan Jordan, Hashemite Kingdom of Kazakhstan, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait, State of Kyrgyz Republic Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon, Lebanese Republic Lesotho, Kingdom of Liberia, Republic of Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Liechtenstein, Principality of Lithuania Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Macao, Special Administrative Region of China Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Madagascar, Republic of Malawi, Republic of Malaysia Maldives, Republic of Mali, Republic of Malta, Republic of Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania, Islamic Republic of Mauritius Mayotte Mexico, United Mexican States Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco, Principality of Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic Montserrat Morocco, Kingdom of Mozambique, People's Republic of Myanmar Namibia Nauru, Republic of Nepal, Kingdom of Netherlands Antilles Netherlands, Kingdom of the New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua, Republic of Niger, Republic of the Nigeria, Federal Republic of Niue, Republic of Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway, Kingdom of Oman, Sultanate of Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama, Republic of Papua New Guinea Paraguay, Republic of Peru, Republic of Philippines, Republic of the Pitcairn Island Poland, Polish People's Republic Portugal, Portuguese Republic Puerto Rico Qatar, State of Reunion Romania, Socialist Republic of Russian Federation Rwanda, Rwandese Republic Samoa, Independent State of San Marino, Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu US Virgin Islands Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. 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 Sebastian Vettel's Japanese grand prix weekend has started well. After Ferrari's horror outing in Malaysia last week, Vettel headed to Suzuka under a cloud due to his bizarre post-race crash with Lance Stroll. The team had sent the German driver's gearbox back to Maranello, fearing a replacement would cost Vettel five penalty places on the grid this Sunday. But Ferrari says the gearbox is in fact "still available" to use in Japan. "Only the outer casing of the gearbox was damaged," a Ferrari source told us. "That can be replaced without a penalty." The source added: "It's our best news for weeks." But another piece of good news for Ferrari is that the carbon connections for the turbo units were also sent back to Maranello for checks, following two near-identical failures that cost both Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen in Malaysia. The parts have reportedly been reinforced for Japan, with the changes also not incurring penalties because they were completed purely for reliability. (GMM) Were all just looking out for something real, says Robin Wrights police captain in Blade Runner 2049. Wright, an icy, steely actress seemingly born for the world of Blade Runner, is speaking to her replicant detective whose name is his serial number: KDC-3-7 or K, for short (Ryan Gosling). But its a line that resonates beyond Blade Runner. What contemporary moviegoer wont nod with understanding? Ridley Scotts 1982 sci-fi neo-noir original extracted the frightful premise of Philip K. Dicks novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? the horror of not knowing if youre real or not and overlaid it across an eerie and mesmerizing sci-fi void. Its futuristic grandeur came with a cynical shrug. Denis Villeneuves impressively crafted and deeply respectful sequel, set 30 years later, has more than most of its rebooting ilk carefully preserved much of the originals DNA. The photography, by Roger Deakins, is resolutely gorgeous, filled with stark perpendicular lines, glowing orange hazes and yellow pools of reflected light. Gosling, a worthy heir to Harrison Ford, shares his predecessors inclination for restraint and a smirk. But while Blade Runner 2049 is always something to look at, an overly elaborate script and some other bad habits common to todays sequel machinery such as glaring product placement have broken the Blade Runner spell. It may be too harsh to grade 2049 against the original, especially when so many copycats have since diluted its dystopian wonder. Yet while 2049 still stands out from the pack, it lacks the mystery of the original. (Or at least the directors cut. The 1982 film was itself a replicant with too many versions to keep straight.) This latest updated model, less punk-rock in attitude, wants to connect the dots and illuminate backgrounds that stayed dark the first time around. There are hints, one fears watching 2049, of a cinematic universe scaffolding being erected. Scott is a producer this time around, but he had his hands in the films development, along with Blade Runner scribe Hampton Fancher (who co-writes here with Michael Green). Scott instead went off to make Alien: Covenant but there seems to be some growing connective tissue between the franchises. Certainly theres much of the same tiresome creation mythology and Christ-imagery, along with the throat-clearing monologues about angels and demons (here delivered by Jared Letos crazy-eyed AI visionary). The larger apparatus detracts from what is, at heart, a detective story and a fairly good one, at that. Like Fords Rick Deckard, K is a Blade Runner seeking out-modeled replicants to retire. But whereas Deckards identity was depending on whom you ask up for grabs, K is definitely a replicant. He undergoes baseline questioning after each mission to establish that he hasnt started feeling emotions. (The correct answer to How does it feel like to hold a baby in your arms? is Interlinked.) Gosling has little about him that suggests android, unless future scientists are planning to work extremely hard on a charmingly bemused setting. I personally prefer his more alive and loose-limbed L.A. detective from The Nice Guys, but Goslings nature plays into the movie. Were convinced K is more, especially after, while on a mission, he stumbles on to the remains of a replicant woman who apparently died in child birth. As Wrights character puts it, replicant reproduction would break the world. Humans would no longer hold dominion over their cheap, disposable work force; a rebellion would spark. If Blade Runner was the nightmare of being soulless, 2049 is the dream of being real, with a leather-clad Pinocchio in a flying car. The search for the child from 20 years earlier sends K in strange places. There is much to like here, but 2049, like Alien: Covenant, feels too enraptured with its own headiness. But its hard not to agree with the old blade runner who turns up late in the film and tells K: I had your job once. It was simpler then. Editor's note: An article posted on www.greensboro.com on Oct. 4, 2017, listed incorrect locations visited by Mickey Snow during a court-sanctioned trip to Florida. Snow was released from custody after posting bail on charges he faced at the time. Court records show Snow visited a marina in Daytona Beach, Florida. He did not visit the other four cities that were reported. The News & Record apologies for the error. WENTWORTH After being accused of violating a judges order because his medical trip to Florida turned into a mini- vacation, a prominent Eden businessman awaiting trial was told he wont have to stay in jail. However, that accusation cost Mickey Dale Snow, 77, his bond company. Florida-based Bankers Insurance Co. alerted the courts it would no longer post Snows bond. Now, he has to post $15 million in cash or with another bond company to regain his freedom. His lawyers say his children will post a cash bail before the end of the week. Snow, of 318 Bearslide Court in Eden, is accused of participating in a teen prostitution ring where two mentally handicapped girls were sold for sexual acts by their mother. Snow had been out of jail awaiting trial since 2015 on $25 million bail. But on Sept. 25, deputies arrested him again. This time, it was because of allegations that he violated his pretrial release while visiting the Mayo Clinic in Florida. On Wednesday, deputies pushed Snows wheelchair into a courtroom where he sat between his Winston-Salem attorneys, Michael Grace and Chris Clifton. Before Snows trip, his attorneys informed the Rockingham County District Attorneys Office that Snow would leave for Florida on Sept. 17, stay at a hotel overnight, travel to Jacksonville on Sept. 18 and attend two medical appointments before returning to Rockingham County all approved by Superior Court Judge Nathaniel Poovey. But he strayed from that itinerary, Rockingham County Assistant District Attorney Charlene Coggins-Franks said in court Wednesday. According to Snows electronic monitor, he spent less than five hours in Jacksonville. It also placed him at a hardware store, a Walmart, a tire shop, Krispy Kreme, Chick-fil-A, Outback Steakhouse and a home he owned in Ormond Beach. Snow returned to Rockingham County on the day he was scheduled Sept. 24 but left from his house rather than a hotel, where he was thought to be staying. He followed the spirit of your order, Grace said to Poovey. There was nothing to indicate that he couldnt eat dinner or go to the hardware store. Grace also pointed out that Snows actions in Florida were consistent with what was allowed by former Rockingham County District Attorney Craig Blitzer earlier this year. Blitzer resigned in March amid a criminal probe into his actions while in office. Poovey said in court the sheriffs office contacted him about Snows whereabouts in Florida during the trip. Poovey told a deputy that if he thought there was a violation of his order, he should take out a warrant and have the matter reviewed in court. I dont think if you look at the strict order that he violated it, Poovey said. What he violated was the states ability to trust you as his attorneys. That statement caused commotion in the courtroom. Many attorneys in the gallery began to whisper to one another. Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page left the room. Other attorneys followed. Poovey said the concerns had merit. He takes a trip and it turns into something totally different than what they were told it would be, Poovey said. Some would say that is a justifiable concern. Coggins-Franks told Poovey she had two other concerns. While dining at Outback Steakhouse, the battery on Snows electronic monitor died, leaving law enforcement unaware of his location for two hours. Thats not a violation that rises to the level of having his bond revoked, Grace argued. Snow also raised eyebrows when he visited a marina in Daytona Beach. Before Snows arrest in 2015, and as two of his co-defendants were charged, he fled to Thailand and then traveled the world going to Holland, Panama and Costa Rica. Poovey reminded Snows attorneys that federal money was spent to bring Snow back from Thailand and that he gave the impression he was going to live a new life with dyed brown hair and glasses in Costa Rica. The state is on high alert, Poovey said. If you go to a marina or an airport, that is suspicious behavior and will land you in jail. Poovey said he would allow Snow to travel back to Florida three more times before December for medical appointments as long as his monitor remains on and charged. He added that Snow would be allowed to stay at his house there and run errands. Theres no prohibition against going out to eat, going to a hardware store or whatever he wants to do, Poovey said. Hes not convicted of anything and hes presumed innocent. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close Tammi Thurm is the right candidate at the right time for District 5. Tammi will be a champion for her district, and the entire city will benefit from her expertise in making hard decisions. I have seen Tammi work, listening to all sides and digging deep into the issues before making a decision she will stand by. Tammi has spent her career working with small businesses and understands the issues they face every day. She has had to make difficult decisions dealing with budgets, head counts, forecasting and creating long-range plans. She appreciates the role entrepreneurs, small businesses and corporations play in our community. She is focused on jobs that pay a living wage. She is dedicated to serving, as is evident by her membership and participation on multiple nonprofit boards. She will not hesitate to challenge the status quo and work with all residents to make Greensboro the very best it can be for all citizens. I have worked on various boards with Tammi and am proud to support her for City Council in District 5. Sue Simmons Greensboro This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Taylor Winston, the 29-year-old former Marine who commandeered an empty pickup truck to rescue victims of the mass shooting in Las Vegas, got a text message from the truck's owner. He wanted to know if he could have the keys back. Winston helped terrified concertgoers at Sunday's Route 91 Harvest festival climb over a fence to escape the bullets that were raining down. He found a white Chevrolet Silverado extended cab with the keys inside and loaded some of the most wounded into the truck. "I started looking for people to take to the hospital," Winston told "CBS This Morning" on Tuesday. "There was just too many and it was overwhelming how much blood was everywhere." He then sped off to Desert Springs Hospital about five miles away and returned to the concert site for more. Altogether, he said he transported 20 to 30 people to the hospital. The truck owner, identified by AOL as Phelps Amelsberg, posted an image on Facebook of a text exchange between himself and Winston. Winston told Amelsberg what a critical role the truck had played in saving people's lives and apologized for "all the blood." The New York Post reported that Winston had returned the keys to the owner Monday night. Several Facebook commenters offered to send money to clean up the truck, and one suggested that a GoFundMe account be set up. Now Playing: Here are the names and faces of the Las Vegas shooting victims who have been identified Video: Cosmopolitan Winston, who served two tours in Iraq and now lives in San Diego, was dancing the two-step with his girlfriend when the shooter began firing from a 32nd-floor suite in the Mandalay Bay hotel. He attributes his quick response to his military training. Although, Winston says he's no hero, friends and other commenters on his Facebook page were hailing him as one, as well as offering their blessings and praising him for his selfless actions. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The evolution of certain downtown Greenwich streets into a shopping corridor lined with an array of home design options has prompted a cadre of businesses to band together in a branding effort. Now its official East and West Putnam avenues compose the Greenwich Design District. Organized by Darien-based public relations firm Images & Details, a handful of home-design-related shops in Greenwich have created a community to support each others businesses and convey a united front to designers and customers. So far, the endeavor includes a Greenwich Design District map in the form of a postcard illustrating a charming downtown area complete with labels for the participating businesses and town landmarks. We wanted to create something concrete to have as a tool in promoting the area, said Beth Dempsey of Images & Details. The Design District maps can be found in every store involved. Later this month, Images & Details is spearheading the groups first event intended to introduce the concept publicly and highlight the stores, with each hosting an event. The branding effort represents the businesses formalizing the streets already widely held reputation as being a destination for home design shopping. I definitely feel like thats appropriate branding, Greenwich Chamber of Commerce president and CEO Marcia OKane said of the effort. I use that term quite a bit when referring to those two blocks. One-stop shopping In recent years, its become common for design stores to open along the blocks at the top of Greenwich Avenue because other industry brands already reside there, OKane said. Local interior designer Carmina Roth, whos joined forces with the Design District, said she visits the area almost every day between bringing clients to see products and browsing through the shops latest displays. Im always making the rounds to see whats new, Roth said. Its one-stop shopping. Rather than seeing each other as competition, many of the shops view the surrounding design stores as partners in providing for their clientele, a handful of store managers and owners from Design District participants said in an interview. The experience is better for clients when were all a team in fulfilling their needs, said Amory Armstrong, a design consultant at The Shade Store, which opened on West Putnam Avenue last fall. We will send clients to other places around here all the time, Lillian August store manager Allison Lee said. Its nice to have comradery among us, where we feel comfortable telling people to pop over to another store to find what theyre looking for. Just the beginning As the Design District takes shape, and more brands in the area decide whether they want to join, the businesses hope they can continue cultivating Greenwich as an alternative to trekking into New York City for design-related needs. We want to rebuild that feeling that you can quickly pull together a project using local resources, Roth said. Looking ahead, Dempsey from Images & Details said they anticipate the branding effort will grow to encompass more shops, which would be added to the map, and hopefully include more events and services. We feel this is just the beginning, she said. The Taste & Tour of Greenwich Design District will take place on Wednesday, Oct. 18, from 4 to 8 p.m. Included in the Greenwich Design District are: Circa Lighting, Carmina Roth, Farrow & Ball, Hastens, Isabella Garrucho Fine Art, Lillian August, Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams, Nanz, Oomph, Putnam & Mason, Remains Lighting, Room, The Shade Store and Waterworks. Contact the writer at mbennett@greenwichtime.com; Twitter @Macaela_ Life is good. You have a stable job, a home, and a growing family. You are managing your finances well and using credit properly. You only have one more thing to take care of a life insurance policy so that your family is covered in the event of your death. Nobody enjoys thinking about their own death, but it's important to set up proper protection for those you leave behind. Your family will have enough issues to deal with, and financial hardship should not be among them. Most likely, you have never given life insurance a thought until now. We offer six tips to help you on your way to proper coverage. 1. Understand the Basic Policies Insurance policies are classified as either term or permanent life policies. To decide which is right for you, it's important to understand how they differ. Term life policies provide basic insurance for a set amount of time such as twenty or thirty years. If you die during that period, your family receives the death benefits. If you outlive the term, the policy simply expires and you decide on a replacement or choose to go without. Permanent life policies are designed to last for your entire life. You pay higher premiums, but those premiums are divided into a death benefit and an investment component (known as cash-value). 2. Outline Your Life Insurance Goals Whether you choose permanent or term life insurance, you are projecting far into the future. Think about where you expect to be in 20-30 years, and what will be important to you then. For example, over the long term, would you prefer to pay lower term-life premiums and invest your money elsewhere such as college funds or 401(k) programs, or is the investment component attractive to you? 3. Determine Your Coverage Needs How much money will your family need if you die? Online calculators are available to help you decide, but remember that you are covering a long timeframe. You may have mortgage payments, college funds, and other long-term expenses that haven't entered the picture yet and your income will likely change over time as well. With online calculators, you can run different scenarios and find the option that suits your balance of premium costs versus coverage. 4. Choose a Reputable Insurer If there's one thing that's important in an insurance company, it's that the company outlives you. Look at the financial stability of the insurer as well as customer service ratings. There are plenty of helpful online insurance ratings and reviews to help you decide. 5. Seek Professional Assistance You can choose an independent agent or financial advisor to help you evaluate different insurers, or you can find a suitable agent with a single chosen insurer. Either way, find an agent with whom you are comfortable and who can explain insurance coverage in layman's terms. The agent should be able to tailor policies to your situation and explain any policy riders (essentially add-ons to your coverage) that may be relevant to your needs, and do so without being pushy. 6. Use the "Free Look" Period Insurance policies have a "free look" period that allows you to review your policy, clarify any confusing issues, and change or cancel the policy within that period. Be sure to verify the length of the free look period with your chosen insurer. With a little thought and research, you can find the right policy for your needs. Put your policy in place, and you can focus on the more important task of living and enjoying your life instead of worrying about what happens to your loved ones at the end of it. Get free life insurance quotes and apply for your top choice in minutes using our Life Insurance Quote Comparison Tool. GREENWICH The Greenwich Alliance for Education has awarded 18 grants totaling $208,000 for the 2017-18 school year, bringing its contribution to Greenwich Public Schools students to more than $1 million since 2008. We are so proud of the money we raise and give out, said Julie Faryniarz, executive director of the nonprofit group that gives money to teachers and organizations that benefit public school students in town. We raise achievement for all students, we fund innovation in the Greenwich Public Schools and we provide enrichment and advancement opportunities for many of our underserved children. In a reception at Greenwich High School Thursday, the Alliance announced the grant recipients and recipients described how they will use the funds. Across the district, Greenwich Alliance for Education funds will support Dare to Care social emotional learning lessons for students, a personalized learning math pilot at seven elementary schools and the use of a SmartMusic app at Greenwich High, Central Middle and Old Greenwich School. This is an outstanding app that can be used to help students assess their own playing, do some recording and it provides feedback to the teacher on individual students, said Laura White, Greenwich Public Schools art and music coordinator. At Greenwich High, a grant will support the Innovation Lab program as it looks at expanding to ninth grade students. Innovation Lab uses interdisciplinary classes and project-based learning to teach students in grades 10 to 12 currently. There is interest in the lower grades for this kind of learning, said Christina Shaw, program associate for Innovation Lab and a GHS teacher. Alliance funds will help revamp the AVID program for first generation college students at Central Middle School through increased professional development. For the second year, a grant will support Eastern Middle Schools art program so students can visit local museums and artist studios and receive lessons from working artists. At Western, a STEM elective class will be funded for its second year. Glenville School will receive two grants, the first aimed at reducing the loss of reading skills over the summer in rising first- and second-grade students, the second to fund a transition of the schools media center into a library learning commons. Julian Curtiss School will receive funds so students in third- through fifth-grade can take ballet classes from a Connecticut Ballet member for six weeks. Hamilton Avenue, New Lebanon School and Central Middle School will add a maker space, innovation space or tinkering studio, where students can experiment with engineering and design skills. I want all 600 kids to have a VR experience this year, said Brian Carstens, a Central Middle School teacher. Grants were also given to achievement gap programs for public school students at the YMCA, Greenwich United Way and Horizons at Brunswick. Overall, we want to raise the achievement for all Greenwich Public Schools students, said Faryniarz. emunson@greenwichtime.com; Twitter: @emiliemunson Chris Murphy is using his national profile to prime the pump for gun-control groups after the Las Vegas massacre, but the Democratic senator from Connecticut is being condemned by Republicans for pairing that effort with a request for re-election campaign contributions. Murphys campaign sent out an email blast Tuesday night to supporters, urging them to give money to a trio of gun-control groups aligned with the senator, whose progressive stock has been on the rise since his filibuster in the Senate last year chiding Congress for its inaction on the scourge of gun violence. The solicitation from Murphy redirected supporters to a popular fundraising portal used by Democrats known as ActBlue, which allowed contributors to designate which nonprofit advocacy group they wanted to contribute to and select amounts. Murphys re-election campaign was listed as a fourth option. The death toll from Sundays shooting at a country music festival stands at 59. More than 500 people were wounded by a lone gunman, who used an arsenal of at least 17 guns some of them fully automatic to carry out the shooting from his Las Vegas hotel room before killing himself. If we are ever going to make our communities safer from gun violence, we have to put in the same effort to build our own political infrastructure around gun safety, Murphy wrote supporters. I am trying. You know that. But I cannot do it alone. So I have to ask you: Split a donation of any amount between the leading organizations working every day to take on the NRA and make our communities safer from gun violence. Murphys message made no mention that his supporters could designate funds for his re-election, an option that was removed as of Wednesday morning by ActBlue. Charge of opportunism Republicans compared the fundraising appeal to one made by Murphys Connecticut colleague, Democrat Richard Blumenthal, after the 2012 shooting rampage at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown. What he did shows his character, said J.R. Romano, the state GOP chairman. This is the real Chris Murphy, a political opportunist who is trying to raise his name recognition to run for president. Murphy spokeswoman Laura Maloney said the email could have been worded better, but stood by the fundraising effort. The email should have been clearer about the options available to those who chose to donate, but Chris has been totally transparent about the need to spend every single day building a well-funded political movement that will eventually win changes in the law to help end this epidemic of mass carnage, Maloney said. Thoughts and prayers wont stop this slaughter only a political movement that leads to legislative action will. Matthew Corey, one of two Republicans who have filed papers to challenge Murphy, called on the incumbent Wednesday to donate his share of the money to charity. The unfortunate part is hes still raising money on the deaths out there, said Corey, who is from Manchester. Im buying that hes politicizing a tragedy, which they always do. He hasnt come up with any solutions to control this. Taking on the NRA Murphy grabbed headlines Monday when he called on Congress to get off its ass to pass tougher control laws. Corey took Murphy to task in an email to supporters. Sen. Murphy told Congress to gets off of its ass and do something, Corey wrote. Well Connecticut has a message for Sen. Murphy. Sit your ass down and do something. You are part of the problem, not the solution. Murphys spokeswoman said Republicans are parroting the National Rifle Associations talking points. These mass shootings, as well as the daily carnage of gun murders, keep happening because politicians are so afraid of the gun lobby that they refuse to act, Maloney said. Chris isnt afraid, and every single day he is working to build a political movement that will eventually defeat the gun lobby. The notion that this political fight needs to be suspended in the wake a mass shooting is an argument perpetuated by the gun lobby and those who want the status quo to never change. Murphys name is being bandied about as a potential 2020 challenger to Donald Trump, with the Washington Post listing him behind Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden as trendy picks to win the Democratic nomination. A former three-term congressman from Cheshire, Murphy was under consideration to be Hillary Clintons running mate last year. http://twitter.com/gettinviggy; nvigdor@hearstmediact.com; 203-625-4436 Amazon has cultivated a well-deserved reputation for owning the online shopping market; but contenders like Walmart are looking to gain competitive ground. The supermarket chain, for example, moved earlier this year to offer two-day shipping for no additional charge with any online order. Sound familiar? Related: 5 Ways Startups Can Leverage Big Data for a Competitive Advantage But, even with this change and the companys recent acquisitions of specialists like Jet.com, Shoebuy, Bonobos, ModCloth, Adchemy and OneOps, Walmart still has its work cut out. After all, super-powered companies such as Amazon dont emerge by chance. Over time, Amazon has mastered the art of conversion by developing strategies from the data it's collected on customer behavior. Which brings us back to Walmart: Without a stronger sense of how to diagnose its own market and pin down its customer intent online, even a company this powerful stands no chance of claiming a piece of Amazons turf. All that, in turn, brings us to your company: If a giant like Walmart is struggling, much smaller startups might consider it a hopeless task to even make a dent in the ecommerce space. But there are methods startups can employ to cover lost ground using data. According to a survey by Interana, 88 percent of companies polled reported that while they understood the value of data, most admitted they struggle to implement accurate, agile analytics solutions. Closing the consumer data gap One way to solve this disconnect is to employ second-party data with publisher partners. OwnerIQ reports that 96 percent of companies incorporating second-party data into their marketing strategies acknowledge it as valuable to their strategic success. When campaigns are running, you too should work with publishers that effectively segment audiences and make in-flight adjustments to ensure campaign dollars are spent effectively. Startups can also exchange first-party data through a data onboarder such as LiveRamp, which has about 200 direct relationships with clients. Once the marketing team has developed a holistic view of first-, second- and third-party data, you can put all those types of data to work with platforms that help target, personalize and measure against all marketing efforts. Related: 7 Startups That Are Owning the Data Game Then, once entrepreneurs have built up their startups data sets, they'll hopefully see how vital it is to use that data to its full effect. Data is nothing if startups arent drawing insights from it via analysis. Want to know more? Here are four ways startups can give themselves a boost up to their ecommerce competitions level, through an effective use of data. 1. Make data sets manageable. Data analysis is time-consuming, but it's not impossible. In fact, a CMO Council survey found that 42 percent of marketers surveyed were seeking to analyze more connected marketing campaigns. A separate 30 percent of professionals who deal with data reported to Square Root that they were regularly interacting with an overload of data sources. Tip: Consolidate your own data sources into one manageable environment instead of forcing your marketing team to hop from platform to platform. Pull all in-house, second-party and third-party data into one data warehouse before starting the analytics process. 2. Keep analysis goal-centric. As with any efficient marketing strategy, data-analytics strategies should relate to relevant company goals and product development. Focus your resources on collecting data in areas that have the biggest influence on your company goals, and analyze the data accordingly. Data programs that work well and are efficient tend to focus on examining customer-behavior data and creating product iterations based on what that data reveals. Home security startup Vivint used customer usage data from its doorbell camera to determine that its product was used most by families with children on weekday afternoons. This insight led to the development of a new product entirely -- a two-way video chat product called Vivint Ping that allows working parents to stay in touch with their children who have arrived home from school. 3. Measure data that matters. KPIs are no good if they arent measuring data points that are useful to your company. Ensure that the KPIs your marketing team tracks are optimized for the companys overall goals and its products or services. These KPIs can range from lifetime value to margin loss, but no matter what they are, they should be useful markers for the company. For entrepreneurs struggling to determine which KPIs are most relevant for their companies, consider some options: Customer-acquisition cost (the cost spent on marketing efforts to gain a new customer), lifetime value (a customers overall value to a company) and profit margin (how much is made from a sale of a product above its production cost) are good metrics to watch. 4. Examine data companywide. Dont keep data siloed in one department alone, because that just makes each department less likely to connect the dots. An ecommerce department, for example, might struggle to understand which campaign or platform first attracted a given customer, and marketing wont be able to optimize a campaign without knowing where people left the conversion funnel. Related: 5 Misconceptions Small-Business Owners Have About Big Data Cross-department collaboration also ensures that offers can be tailored to specific customer groups throughout the funnel. The Aberdeen Group found that not only does collaboration make decision-making 46 percent faster, but customers are treated to response times 42 percent better as well. Developing a successful data strategy can seem daunting, especially when companies as big as Walmart are struggling to keep up with Amazons prowess. But keeping these four characteristics of data strategy in mind could help push your startup to the front of its industry segment's ecommerce pack. Related: Want to Be More Like Amazon? Start By Making Your Startup More Data-Driven. The 7 Most Common Analysis Mistakes New Marketers Make How to Transform a Legacy Organization Into a Legendary Company Copyright 2017 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved This article originally appeared on entrepreneur.com Haiti - Economy : Partnership between EDH and Digicel Wednesday, Herve Pierre-Louis, the Director General of Electricity of Haiti EDH signed a partnership agreement with Marteen Boute the president of the mobile phone company Digicel Haiti. This agreement will allow EDH customers to check and pay their electricity bills via the largest mobile financial service in Haiti, "MonCash" by Digicel https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-14795-haiti-economy-digicel-tchotcho-becomes-mon-cash.html "Through this partnership, the EDH intends to improve its customer service [...] ith this agreement, Digicel and ED'H send a clear signal that the future belongs only to companies that combine their efforts," stressed Herve Pierre-Louis. For the consumer subscribing to EDH and having a "My Cash" account the procedure is simple simply dial on his mobile phone : *202# Then it is enough only: Select 6 and 3 to check their EDH list; Select 3 and 4 to pay for your EDH slip; Select 6 and 1 to find an agent in order to make the deposit on his account. For more information about the "MyCash" service : dial *202# and select 6. See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-14795-haiti-economy-digicel-tchotcho-becomes-mon-cash.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-18436-haiti-notice-edh-will-diversify-the-methods-of-payment-of-bills.html PI/ HaitiLibre Haiti - Culture : Inauguration of the Alliance Francaise of Jeremie On Monday, the French Ambassador accredited to Haiti, Elisabeth Beton Delegue went to Jeremie for the official inauguration of Alliance Francaise https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-22269-haiti-news-zapping.html , which had been severely damaged during the passage of Hurricane Matthew in October 2016. The Alliance of Jeremie was completely renovated with financial support from the Quai d'Orsay (France) amounting 105,000 euros https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-20106-icihaiti-france-promise-kept.html The official inauguration of the new premises https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-22269-haiti-news-zapping.html took place in the presence of the Ambassador of France, the Councilor for Cooperation and Cultural Action of the Embassy, Alain Bonneau, the General Delegate of the French Alliances in Haiti, Eric Compan and the President and the Director of the Alliance, Aramy Dolce and Jean-Ricot Pierre as well as their entire team. An open day was organized to allow students and teachers from many schools in Jeremie to discover the new spaces of the Alliance francaise, including its brand new library and computer room, all the pedagogical and cultural activities that are proposed again. Accompanied by a cocktail and a tasting of regional products, this inauguration ended with a large concert by Jean-Jean Roosevelt, hosted by Dangelo Neard, animator of "Koze Kilti", the cultural program in French and creole of Radio France Internationale (RFI). Note that on Tuesday, the Alliance Francaise de Jeremie hosted the annual meeting of France's network of linguistic and cultural cooperation in Haiti, including representatives of the Embassy, the French Institute in Haiti and the five French Alliances in the country : Jeremie, Cap Haitien, Gonaives, Jacmel and Les Cayes. See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-22269-haiti-news-zapping.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-21186-haiti-news-zapping.html https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-20106-icihaiti-france-promise-kept.html HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - News : Zapping... Towards new Fuel Price increases Tuesday, Ronald Decembre the Secretary of State for Finance confirmed that the Government is still examining the possibility of raising fuel prices to meet the expected revenue of 11 billion gourdes provided in the 2017-2018 budget. Pierre Denize's funeral The funeral of Pierre Denize, the former Director General of the National Police of Haiti (PNH), will be sung on Saturday, October 7, 2017 at 5:30 pm at the Kraeer Funeral Home located at 1655 N University Drive, Coral Springs, Florida 33071. Tel: 954-753-8960. The 66-year-old former PNH boss died Sunday 1 October 2017 https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-22280-haiti-social-death-of-pierre-denize-former-director-general-of-the-pnh.html Justice: Memorandum of Understanding On Thursday, a memorandum of understanding should be signed between Heidi Fortune, Minister of Justice Jude Alix Patrice Salomon, Minister of Economy and Jules Cantave, President of the Supreme Council of the Judiciary (CSPJ) . This protocol will cover the social benefits to be accorded to judges, clerks, court clerks and bailiffs from the various jurisdictions of the country. Red mangrove nursery With the support of the UN Environment / Haiti, the Ministry of Environment has set up a nursery of red mangroves in St Jean du Sud. With a capacity of more than 100,000 seedlings, this nursery is intended to replant the bare areas of the mangrove ecosystem of St Jean du Sud whose black mangroves are attacked by high humidity and salinity. These red mangroves will play the role of first barrier in the eco-systemic service. This initiative is technically supported by UN environment-Haiti and financially from a bottom of the Government of Norway. Budget: National Council of Churches concerned In a note, the National Spiritual Council of the Churches of Haiti (Conaspeh) expresses its concern at the crisis Haiti is experiencing after the publication of the new budget. The Conaspeh said it regretted that Jovenel Moise did not understand the dimension of the crisis that threatens the country, where the vast majority of the population lives in poverty. The Council urges the Moise-Lafontant Administration to submit to the Parliament as soon as possible an amending budget with a view to ending the crisis. Opening of the judicial year in Jacmel Monday was the opening of the new judicial year in Jacmel. A mass was celebrated on this occasion in Jacmel's multi-purpose hall in the presence of representatives of the three powers of the State. Delegate of the department, senators and deputies, mayors and world of the basoche. HL/ HaitiLibre Published on 2017/10/05 | Source Korean drama starting today 2017/10/05 in Korea "Drama Special - Kang Deok-soon's Love History" (2017) Advertisement Directed by Hwang Seung-gi Written by Baek So-yeon Network : KBS With Kim Sohye, Oh Seung-yoon, Park Seo-yeon, Shim Young-eun, Kim Yeo-jin,... 1 episode - Sun 22:00 Part of the "Drama Special" series Synopsis A naive girl from the country falls in love with a man and heads to Gyeongsang province. Her love leads her unknowingly into the center of an independence movement. Login or sign up to follow actresses, movies & dramas and get specific updates and news Login Sign Up New Ad-free Subscriber Login Email Password Password Username Your E-mail will only be used to retrieve a lost password. Stay logged in Help 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. lity, responsibility, mutuality, efficiency and freedom.These five principles are the cornerstone of what Mars Petcare Australia stands for and really set the framework for everything that gets done in the business, said Barry OSullivan, general manager, Mars Petcare Australia.Mars Petcare Australia was recently named best workplace of businesses with 1000 or more employees in Great Place to Work Australia's announcement of Australia's best workplaces.OSullivan said that fundamental to Mars being a great place to work is the fact that it is a family business.So even though we are a large multinational business Mars is fundamentally a family business and we have always maintained that small business feel where everyones opinion counts, OSullivan told HRD.Everybody knows what is expected of them and has the opportunity to do what they do best every day and I think that is really at the core of why Mars is a great place to work.OSullivan added that everybody at Mars wants to see how the role that they play and the effort that they put in connects with the purpose of the business and why they are there.At Petcare, our purpose is to create a better world for pets because we believe they create a better world for us, he said.Our flat structure allows us to have that direct connection for every associate in our business -whether they are working in a factory, sales or marketing - to be able to make that direct connection between the effort that they are putting in and how that is contributing to really bring the purpose of our business to life.We are all about walking the talk in respect of our principals and our flat structure allows all of our associates to be active participants in that and ensure that their opinions count and that they have the opportunity to do what they do best.OSullivan said that a big part of Mars Petcare Australias agenda right now and moving forward is how they are continuing to evolve their culture to make sure that they are diverse and inclusive.We know that there is a lot of studies that diversity brings great benefits and leadership teams of businesses that have greater diversity will outperform their peer group by quite a margin, he said. National HR Summit is returning to Luna Park Sydney on 14-15 March to mark its 16th year. Bringing together some 1,000 HR professionals from diverse industries each year, the event features two conference streams comprising a mix of keynote speakers, case studies, panel discussions, interviews and workshop sessions in addition to an expo showcasing the best product and service providers.International best-selling author Saroo Brierley headlines the 2018 speaker line-up with a keynote presentation A long way home, sharing the gripping real-life story that inspired hit film Lion . Other speakers include Carnival Executive Chairman Ann Sherry, Australian HR Director of the Year winner Assistant Commander Carlene York of the NSW Police Force and the heads of HR of leading organisations including Coca-Cola Amatil, Aurecon, Australian Bureau of Statistics and BankVic.The 2018 program has been developed based on research with thousands of our readers, said HRD editor Iain Hopkins. It covers all the key topics from developing HR leadership skills to managing change through to timely issues like using big data and we are very excited to bring the HR industry another successful event in March.Find out more and register at www.hrsummit.com.au . Super Saver discounts apply to all registrations made by 15 December. You've reached your limit - Register for free now for unlimited access To read the full story, just register for free now - GET STARTED HERE Already subscribed? Log in below (Reuters) Baupost Group, one of the worlds biggest hedge funds, owns nearly $1 billion in Puerto Rican sales tax debt, a spokeswoman confirmed on Wednesday as the islands debt tumbled in the wake of suggestions from President Donald Trump that it may be erased. Baupost, which invests $30 billion for endowments and other wealthy investors, owns roughly $911 million in Puerto Ricos so-called COFINA bonds, which are backed by a chunk of the islands sales-tax receipts, spokeswoman Diana DeSocio said. To read this article: Axel Jonsson, the chairperson of separatist party, tells Uusi Suomi that there is a real possibility that the vote would fall in favour of independence. Alands Framtid, a party with three representatives in the 30-seat Parliament of Aland, believes a referendum should be organised to determine whether the autonomous group of islands should declare independence from Finland. I absolutely do, he replies when asked if he believes the independence campaign could win the support of over half of voters in Aland. Independence issues have become a topic of public debate following the events in Catalonia, Spain, on Sunday. The Spanish government sought to stop what it viewed was a banned independence referendum by deploying police officers to polling stations, sparking clashes across the region in north-eastern Spain. Catalonia has announced its intention to issue a unilateral declaration of independence on Monday, after reporting that an overwhelming 90 per cent of voters sided in favour of independence. Voter turnout, however, was only 43 per cent, as the referendum was widely boycotted by those who would prefer to remain part of Spain, according to Reuters. Jonsson underlines that an independence referendum should be organised in Aland only in the event that it has the support of the majority of representatives in the Parliament of Aland. Thats the only right way, he says to Uusi Suomi. The process has to be democratic. He estimates that only 2030 per cent of the population of the autonomous region would currently vote in favour of independence, but reminds that putting the issue up for referendum would likely encourage many to reconsider their views, as evidenced by the momentum gained by independence movements ahead of a referendum in Catalonia and, earlier, in Scotland. Aleksi Teivainen HT Photo: Pau Barrena Lehtikuva/AFP Source: Uusi Suomi ARTWORK created by students at The Henley College and the Piggott School in Wargrave is in the running to be exhibited in a national gallery. Six pieces were selected by members of the Arts Society Henley to be submitted to a national competition run by the Arts Society and the Royal Society of British Artists. Members of the society visited summer exhibitions at the two schools to view the work of sixth form students before hosting a prize-giving ceremony at Phyllis Court Club in Henley on Thursday last week. The artwork will now be judged along with hundreds of others from around the country, with several then selected to be displayed at the Mall gallery in March next year. The five students attended with their artwork at the private members club in Phyllis Court Drive, where they were presented with a cheque for 50 and a certificate from Lady Camoys, president of the Arts Society Henley. They included Sophie Chapman, 18, of Twyford, who goes to the Piggott School and had two portraits chosen by the society. One was of a woman in a headscarf and the other was a woman applying mascara. Sophie said: I focused on portraits for my A-levels and found it interesting how powerful they can be. One is based around the refugee crisis and the other is about how women present themselves. I knew which models I was going to use straight away, I like people with interesting features. Fellow Piggott student Tasia Hancock, 18, of Marmion Road, Henley, painted a row of five insects, starting with the foreground and then applying the copper background over the top before flipping the image. She said: Its painted in reverse. I chose bugs because they are quite easy to make look realistic, with a face its easier to see whats wrong. Its really good to be chosen, Ive never had my work exhibited before. Dozens of guests including the parents of the students attended the prize-giving, where they were able to view the artwork. Lady Camoys said: Im very impressed and I think they have all got tremendous talent. I hope they go on in their lives painting, as well as any other jobs they may have. Being able to keep that talent is important. Liz Jarvis, the Arts Society Henleys young arts representative, added: The prize-giving was a very happy occasion and the students were delighted to receive their awards. The Arts Society Henley members were treated to an exhibition of the artworks which was greatly appreciated and they were fascinated by the background inspiration and creativity of these works. A PUB has been honoured in the Michelin Guide 2018 just months after re-opening. The Bottle and Glass Inn in Binfield Heath is not only listed but has also been awarded LAssiette Michelin, or the Michelin Plate. The title, which was introduced last year, is for establishments which have almost reached the standards required for a Michelin star. The pub opened in April having been shut since November 2013 before being bought by the Phillimore Estate. It is run by David Holliday and Alex Sergeant. A Michelin inspector visited about a month after the pub started trading again. The guide says: This pretty thatched pub sits in a lovely, rural spot. The original part is the most characterful, while the restaurant is more up-to-date. Modern British cooking is refined but unfussy and has an appealing simplicity. The former Brakspear pub had struggled under a rapid succession of landlords before its closure. Lord Phillimore added a two-storey extension which houses a 70-cover restaurant while the original Grade II listed building has a traditional bar area. Mr Holliday, from Wargrave, and Mr Sergeant, 31, from Pinkneys Green, spent 250,000 furnishing and fitting out the interior. The pub now serves beer from the Loddon Brewery in Dunsden, which is also on the Phillimore Estate, while its menu includes Oxfordshire wood pigeon, estate fallow deer chop and cheeses from the Nettlebed Creamery. It bakes its own bread for every service and churns its own butter every day. Since its relaunch, the pub has served about 14,000 covers, more than 600 per week. Mr Holliday said: The Michelin inspector wasnt giving anything away but he said they always visit places theyre interested in soon after they open, which was promising. The fact that were not just in the guide but have won the plate shows that were on the right track and we plan to keep on doing what weve done so well. Hopefully its a precursor to even greater things. Were very proud of what weve accomplished and to get this after just 24 weeks is great. I think weve ticked all the right boxes for our customers and wed like to thank them for their support. Were also incredibly thankful to our team for working hard. Also included in this years guide are long-standing entries for the Three Tuns and Shaun Dickens at The Boathouse, both in Henley, Luscombes at The Golden Ball in Lower Assendon, the Dog and Badger at Medmenham, the Five Horseshoes at Maidensgrove, Orwells at Shiplake Row, the French Horn at Sonning and the Miller of Mansfield in Goring. All won Michelin Plates. Another winner was the London Street Brasserie in Reading, which is run by chef Paul Clerehugh, the Henley Standard food columnist who also runs the Crooked Billet in Stoke Row. Orwells has also been named one of the top 50 restaurants in the country and awarded four AA rosettes, both for the second year running. It was placed 31st in this years Good Food Guides Top 40, 13 places higher than last year. The girlfriend of mass killer Stephen Paddock had no prior knowledge of his bloody plans, according to her family. Investigators probing the Las Vegas massacre were last night due to interview Marilou Danley (62), flew into the United States from the Philippines, where she had been sent by Paddock last month. Sheriff Joseph Lombardo called her a "person of interest" in the investigation. Multi-millionaire Paddock (64) killed himself moments before police stormed the room on the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay hotel, from which he unleashed Sunday night's terror attack. Officers are still trying to establish why the property developer killed 58 people in what is the deadliest mass shooting in modern US history. Ms Danley, an Australian citizen reported to have been born in the Philippines, landed in Los Angeles on Tuesday after taking a flight from Manila. A US official said she was not under arrest but that the FBI hoped she would consent to be interviewed voluntarily. Ms Danley assured her family that she had a "clean conscience", said her brother, Reynaldo Bustos. "I called her up immediately and she said, 'Relax, we shouldn't worry about it. I'll fix it. Do not panic. I have a clean conscience'." Her sisters told Australian television that Paddock had bought Danley a ticket to the Philippines, a move they now believe was intended to allow him to plan his attack without interruption. "She probably was even more shocked than us because she is closer to him," one of them said. Anonymous Before Sunday's bloody massacre, Paddock sent $100,000 (85,000) to an account in the Philippines. This "appears to have been intended" for Ms Danley, said investigators A senior US homeland security official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said they are working on the assumption that the money was intended as an "insurance payment" for her. President Donald Trump, who strongly supported gun rights during his White House campaign, travelled to Las Vegas on a condolence visit yesterday. It was the first time as president that he has faced the aftermath of a major shooting, the likes of which have killed hundreds of Americans in recent years. "It's a very, very sad day," Trump told reporters, adding that the investigation was progressing. "They're learning a lot more, and that'll be announced at the appropriate time." In Las Vegas, police said they did not yet know what motivated Paddock, who had no criminal record, no known history of mental illness and no outward signs of social disaffection, political discontent or extremist ideology. Ms Danley had been sharing Paddock's home in a retirement community in Mesquite, Nevada, about 145km north-east of Las Vegas. Identification She arrived in Manila on September 15 and flew to Hong Kong on September 22, returning to Manila three days later. Philippine police believe Paddock used identification belonging to Ms Danley when checking into the Mandalay Bay Resort. A total of 47 firearms were recovered from his suite, his home in Mesquite, and another property associated with him in Reno. Jill Snyder, a special agent with the US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, said 12 of the guns in the hotel suite were fitted with bump-stocks, allowing them to be fired as fast as an automatic weapon. The devices are legal under US law, though fully automatic weapons are banned for the most part. The death toll far surpassed the massacre of 26 young children and educators in Newtown, Connecticut, in 2012, and the slaying of 49 people at a gay nightclub in Orlando last year. The latter attack was previously the deadliest mass shooting in modern US history. Many of the 500-plus people injured were trampled in the pandemonium. A principal who helped to save the life of a student has criticised the Department of Education for saying that installing defibrillators in schools is the responsibility of boards of management. Tim O Tuachaigh, head of Gaelscoil Ros Eo in Rush, north county Dublin, helped save a nine-year-old boy by using a defibrillator from the local GAA club after he was taken ill on September 4. Parents and staff credited the head teacher's actions for keeping the boy stable until the emergency services arrived. Mr O Tuachaigh has stepped up a campaign to have a defibrillator installed in every school in the country. He was critical of the dep- artment for saying it was not responsible for providing the life-saving devices. "Some schools have defibrillators because they fundraised or had them donated, but it's vital that every school has one," said Mr O Tuachaigh. Training "At around 1,500 for a unit with training, it would cost around 6m. "That's not a huge amount of money for the Government. These devices will save lives." The department told the Herald that the board of management was charged with the direct governance of a school. "The decision to install a defibrillator is made at school level and is a matter for the board of management of each individual school," said a spokeswoman. But Mr O Tuachaigh said the department did not provide funds for defibrillators. "It is the Government that funds the schools, therefore it is they that would have to provide the schools with the money needed," he said. Mr O Tuachaigh said the only reason staff were able to lay their hands on a defibrillator was because the GAA club next door had one that was donated by the Apache pizza company. The 212 pupils and 12 staff were just settling into the new school year when the fourth class boy collapsed in the yard. "He was totally unresponsive and his breathing was bad, and it became obvious very quickly that he needed CPR, which I started straight away," said Mr O Tuachaigh. "I don't remember telling anyone to get the defibrillator from St Maurs Club next to us, but I've been told that I did. "Three fire engines and an ambulance arrived 25 minutes later, and the crews told us that if we had not done what we did it could have been a different outcome." The boy was stabilised and took to hospital and has since undergone surgery. He is now back at home recovering. Twenty-two residents of a hostel described by a judge as a "fire trap" face having to find somewhere else to live after the High Court ordered that it be vacated immediately. The building at 12-14 Old County Road, Crumlin, came to the attention of the Dublin city fire officer last Friday, the court heard. Inspections revealed there were no escape routes or fire alarms, along with a number of other safety issues, said Conleth Bradley, for Dublin City Council. The order requiring that the building no longer be used for residential and multi-occupancy purposes, pending the fire issues being dealt with, applies to owners John and Yvonne McEleney, who, the court heard, could not so far be contacted. A man from Brazil called 'Alex' appeared to be collecting the money on behalf of someone with the same name as the McEleneys, Mr Bradley said. Most of the residents also appeared to be from Brazil. There had been up to 52 residents in the hostel but that number, as of yesterday, appeared to have dropped to 22, although the situation seemed fluid, counsel said. The layout of the building appeared to be labyrinthine and the fire officer had serious concerns in the event of a fire, Mr Bradley added. Locked Pictures provided to the court showed one exit locked from the outside and another blocked by parked cars, he said. Enquiries had been made with the Dublin Region Homeless Executive about possible alternative accommodation for the people living there, but there was "no accommodation for anybody in Dublin city tonight", counsel said. Mr Justice Seamus Noonan, who described the hostel as a fire trap, said he was concerned about putting more than 20 people out on the street when no alternative accommodation was available to them. He said he was disposed to granting the council the order it sought, seeking the immediate end to its use for residential purposes, but he wanted the case to come back to court as soon as possible. He said the order must apply to all people with knowledge of it and it should also be posted on the premises. The case will come back before the High Court tomorrow. Michael Keogh was shot dead in a car park on Dorset Street in May The Hutch gang is targeting an innocent relative of a major Kinahan mobster for murder - and plans to use his relationship with a north inner city woman as a means to ambush him. The Herald can reveal the mob singled out the relative as they see him as a "soft target", and hope his friendship with the woman will enable them to lure and shoot him on their own patch. The target, who has no connection to gangland crime, is a close relative of one of the Kinahan cartel's main Dublin-based lieutenants. Innocent Sources have confirmed the Hutch gang are now targeting "innocent" friends and relatives of the Kinahan mob because their rivals have murdered "soft targets" of their own in the past - namely the brother of Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch, Eddie Hutch Snr, and Gareth Hutch. "After the murder of Michael Keogh back in May, it is clear that the Hutch lot are very much still gunning for revenge and any target, no matter how they are linked to the Kinahan mob, is justified," a source told the Herald. "They have been emboldened by the fact that the cartel haven't successfully shot anyone linked to their gang in over nine months, and feel now is their time to get the ultimate revenge and wipe out as many Kinahan targets as possible." The threatened man is a close relative of a notorious criminal, who is currently in jail on feud-related charges. "There have been a number of attempts to set him up over the past couple of months, but so far he has escaped any injury," a source said. The revelation comes as the Herald learned a number of on-the-run Hutch gang members are "spending more and more time" in the English city of Liverpool, having spent more than a year hiding out in Northern Ireland. Members of the Hutch mob are also being investigated for the double murder of Antoinette Corbally (48) and Clinton Shannon (30) in Ballymun in August. The intended target of the attack was Ms Corbally's career criminal brother Derek 'Bottler' Devoy (37.) It has emerged that one of the two criminals being blamed for the killing by Devoy's crew is the chief suspect in the 2014 slaying of Bottler's brother, Michael 'Mad Mickey' Devoy (41). Riddled 'Mad Mickey' was murdered shortly after his release from Portlaosie Prison, his body riddled with bullets before it was discovered on the side of a road in Bohernabreena on January 18, 2014. This military-trained hitman is also a suspect in the Hutch/Kinahan feud murder of Michael Keogh, who was killed by the Hutch mob in the capital's north inner city in late May. "This gun for hire is a heavy hitter in terms of organised crime and he has close links to a number of gangs, including both feuding gangs," a senior source said. "He is involved in extortion, debt collection and is associated with provos in the north inner city." The other hitman to face the fury of the Devoy crew has been closely monitored by gardai, who believe he could be used at a "minute's notice" to carry out the murder of a Kinahan cartel member. In his 40s, he has been out of prison since 2013. He served a lengthy sentence after being arrested following a major surveillance operation by the Garda's Organised Crime Unit. A machine gun allegedly used in the double murder was discovered by gardai last week in the north inner city. Ex-taoiseach Liam Cosgrave was just 23 when he joined the Dail Former taoiseach Liam Cosgrave has died at the age of 97. Mr Cosgrave passed away last night following a battle with ill-health. He was the son of the first head of government of the Irish Free State, WT Cosgrave, and led a Fine Gael-Labour coalition government from 1973 until 1977. The father and son, who had a close relationship, dominated Irish political life for the first six decades of the State's existence, as both government leaders and leaders of the opposition. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar led tributes last night. "Liam Cosgrave was someone who devoted his life to public service," he said. "A grateful country thanks and honours him for always putting the nation first." President Michael D Higgins also paid tribute, saying: "Liam Cosgrave was committed to serving the people of Ireland with all of his energy, intellect, as well as passion." Mr Cosgrave was a staunch defender of Irish constitutional nationalism against subversive threats from the IRA and other paramilitary violence throughout the 1970s. His government took a hardline anti-terrorist stance as worsening violence in the North threatened to spill into the Republic. He also privately confronted Fianna Fail taoiseach Jack Lynch in 1970 with his knowledge of government ministers' involvement in importing arms for the IRA. This incident led to a major constitutional crisis. Mr Cosgrave's devout Catholicism and conservative stance were underlined in 1974, when the then-taoiseach walked across the Dail floor to side with Fianna Fail and stop married couples having access to contraceptives. He led six of his party colleagues to vote with the opposition and the Bill was defeated. Wilderness His view, he said, was that the Irish people were "opposed to any form of what one calls permissive society". Mr Cosgrave first joined the Dail in 1943 at the age of 23. He was also leader of Fine Gael through its fractious wilderness years, until the party finally managed to break Fianna Fail's long monopoly on power in a landmark election victory in February 1973. His 'National Coalition' was hit by a major oil crisis in autumn of that year and soon became very unpopular. An ill-judged early general election called for June 1977 led to a record landslide win for Fianna Fail under Mr Lynch. Days later, Mr Cosgrave, aged just 57, stepped down from the leadership of Fine Gael, to be succeeded by Dr Garret FitzGerald. Mr Cosgrave shared his love of horses with his wife, Vera Osborne. He and Vera, six years his junior, married in 1952 and she died in September 2016. An Abingdon, Virginia, woman facing the death penalty in Florida vehemently denies allegations that she killed a person 27 years ago, her attorney said Wednesday. Sheila Keen-Warren, 54, appeared in a Palm Beach County, Florida, courtroom on Wednesday for a first appearance bond hearing. Judge Dina Keever-Agrama denied bail, and the woman will likely remain incarcerated pending trial. The womans attorney can seek bail during a future court hearing. State Attorney Dave Aronberg, whose office is prosecuting Keen-Warren on a first-degree murder charge, said the death penalty is being sought in the case. If convicted of the charge, filed 27 years after Marlene Warren, 40, was gunned down by a person in a clown costume, Keen-Warren could be executed. My office is committed to pursuing justice for the victim, Marlene Warren, Aronberg said. I have made this decision in consultation with our death penalty committee, which carefully reviewed the statutory aggravating and mitigating factors under Florida law. Keen-Warrens attorney, Richard Lubin, told reporters at the courthouse that his client vehemently denies the killing. A representative at Lubins law firm in West Palm Beach, Florida, said the attorney declined further comment but said he would review evidence obtained through discovery. Last week, Keen-Warren appeared in a Washington County, Virginia, courtroom and waived her right to an extradition hearing, allowing authorities to transport her to Florida. She arrived at the Palm Beach County Jail after 9 p.m. Tuesday. The Palm Beach County Sheriffs Office, which investigated the 1990 murder, shared video on its social media accounts of Keen-Warren being walked into the jail. In the video, Keen-Warrens wrists are bound with handcuffs as she is escorted to the jail. Authorities continue to investigate the homicide, which occurred when a person wearing a clown costume walked up to the front door of Marlene Warrens home and shot her in the face. In 2014, authorities reopened the case and learned Keen-Warren had married Marlene Warrens widower in 2002. The widower, Michael Warren, 65, has previously been identified as a person of interest in the case. Hes not been charged and police have not said whether any additional arrests are pending. Detectives said new DNA technology was used during the investigation. 276-645-2531 Twitter: @RSorrellBHC Quigley said: Fresh on the heels of Mayweather vs. McGregor, there could be another superfight on the horizon. You asked for it (probably not) but it's coming (probably not) ...I hope you all are ready for George Foreman vs. Steven Seagal. Foreman -- the former two-time heavyweight championship boxer and guy responsible for the grill that burned Michael Scott's foot -- took to Twitter on Monday to challenge Seagal, the martial arts movie star, to a fight. https://www.cbssports.com/boxing/ne...ged-steven-seagal-to-a-fight-because-why-not/ Good lord Good lord Click to expand... George Foreman is making a comeback yet again? George Foreman made a comeback in 1984 when he boxed my friend Jeff Jordan in a three round bout. Jeff Jordan went professional and got knocked out at the end of the first round. He felt real bad about that but I said you boxed The Greatest. It is a small world we live in.edit: Watch out, he's a boxer! KINGSPORT, Tenn. Two explosions rocked Eastman Chemical Co. in Kingsport on Wednesday, 57 years to the day after another disaster killed 16 people at the plant. We feel deeply and remember the events of Oct. 4, 1960, said David Golden, a vice president. As part of our legacy, we have worked hard to improve our process safety so that never, ever happens again. He called the timing of the two events a terrible coincidence. During a Wednesday night news conference, Golden described the mornings explosions at the coal gasification site as a stark reminder of the importance of process safety, layers of protection, quick evaluations and air monitoring. I would say those secondary systems worked well today, said Golden, adding that no one was seriously injured. Around 10:40 a.m., Eastman experienced a process upset as the company performed an equipment swap in the coal gasification operations along Jared Drive. Ismail Kady, a professor of organic and industrial chemistry at East Tennessee State University, said coal gasification is the process by which coal, a solid, is turned into liquid fuel products. Gasification involves exposing the coal to steam and adding oxygen to break apart the coals molecules under high temperatures and pressure, according to the Department of Energy. Kady said an explosion could occur at many points during the process because the products involved are flammable. That [process] caused two explosions and a fire, Golden said. Were working to determine exactly what happened and the cause. Gray and white fumes could be seen billowing from the Eastman campus after the explosions. Out of an abundance of caution, we issued a shelter-in-place [order] for our neighbors, our employees and contractors, Golden said. To shelter in place means to seek safety within the building one occupies, rather than evacuate. When the first explosion occurred, Golden said Eastman immediately began following company protocol, including asking for assistance from Kingsport emergency responders. Eastmans default protocol, which was used Wednesday, allows employees and others to shelter in place. We shelter in place in places where weve done analysis before to make sure its a building thats safe to shelter in place, Golden said. That goes into default mode until we can do enough of an assessment and be able to give the all-clear. Nearby residents and businesses were also asked to turn off their HVAC systems. Golden noted that HVAC systems typically pull in air from the outside to operate. Local schools were also asked to shelter in place, and roads around Eastman were temporarily closed. Jared Drive, where the explosions occurred, remained closed late Wednesday. Kingsport City Schools and Northeast State Community Colleges Kingsport campus were briefly affected by the request for shelter in place. The Kingsport Health Department also closed. Eastman officials said they believe no dangerous chemicals were released into the air as a result of the explosions. Golden said hydrogen and carbon monoxide may have been released, but they do not pose a risk to the public. The company, the largest employer in Tennessee, also notified the Environmental Protection Agency and the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. EPA spokesman Jason McDonald said an EPA representative from Atlanta, Georgia, will be at Eastman in a support role for the near future. TDEC has two inspectors on site. TDEC has been notified of the incident at Eastman Chemical Co., said TDEC spokeswoman Kim Schofinski. We are closely monitoring the situation and working with local agencies to provide technical expertise as needed. Although no serious injuries were reported, a single-digit number of people were provided first aid, such as those who may have fallen as a result of the explosions, Golden said. A Wellmont Health System spokesman confirmed that no one was treated at Holston Valley Medical Center in Kingsport. As Eastman investigates the cause of Wednesdays explosions, the company is also assessing damage to the site, as well as any impact to business operations. Golden said its safe for employees to return to work today. No long-term impact to human health at Eastman or surrounding areas is expected, Golden added. He also apologized to local residents for any inconvenience Wednesdays explosions may have caused. John Harrison, a deacon at nearby Central Baptist Church, said he was walking outside the church when he heard a boom. I didnt feel any concussion on the ground; it was just sort of a loud boom, Harrison said. The Eastman retiree said he spoke to a friend who still works there. His friend was in a safe place. In addition to the 16 who were killed in the explosions at Eastman in 1960, another 100 people were injured, according to articles in the Bristol Herald Courier. The original explosion, in Eastmans Area A Aniline Plant, set off smaller blasts in other installations and triggered fires that raged through the night. KINGSPORT, Tenn. -- Normal operations have resumed this morning at Eastman Chemical Co. following two explosions Wednesday morning. During a press conference Wednesday night, David Golden, vice president for Eastman said the explosions at the company's goal gasification site serve as a "stark reminder" of the importance of safety, layers of protection and quick evaluations. The company, which is the largest employer in Tennessee, has notified the Environmental Protection Agency and the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conversation about the explosion. EPA spokesman Jason McDonald confirmed to the Bristol Herald Courier that an EPA representative from Atlanta, Georgia will be at Eastman in a support role for the near future. Attempts to reach McDonald for comment about what that EPA representative will do and how long they'll be on site have not been successful this morning. Eastman officials do not expect to hold any more press briefings regarding the explosions and that any new information will be sent out via e-mail as well as posted on the company's social media platforms. The horror the horror. The English language, expansive as it is, lacks sufficient vocabulary for the near-ceaseless popping sound of an automatic weapon pounding bullets into terrified people as they run away from and toward the unknown. How do you express the inconceivable, the imponderable? You try to put yourself there. What would you have done? Run, but to where? Seek cover, but under what? Help others, but how? Survival was all anyone could hope for. Then what? Guilt. Survivors now speak of feeling guilty that theyre alive while at least 59 others are not. Why were they alive? As reports of heroism flood in, they wonder: Did I do enough? Brian Claypool, who spoke to CNNs Chris Cuomo, is one of these. Tuesday was Claypools birthday and the concert had been his way of celebrating. He had meant to return to his home and family in Los Angeles on Sunday, but gazing out upon the venue from his hotel room, he decided to stay another night. When am I ever going to be able to do this again? he recalled saying to himself. Struggling with tears, Claypool wondered whether he should have died. He was on the run when a man signaled for him to dash into a small room under some bleachers. Five or six young women were huddled, sobbing, in a corner. Instinctively, Claypool stood in front of them, perhaps to protect them. Or was he supposed to go outside where others were falling? It seemed clear during the interview that Claypool was still in shock and trying hard to make sense of what had happened, discovering his thoughts and emotions as Cuomo prodded him to dig deeper. If theres an Emmy for empathetic reporting and on-the-spot psychoanalytical investigation, Cuomo deserves it. Others watching CNN surely noted his remarkable ability to help his guests navigate the chaos of their personal trauma, offering words of solace and paternal wisdom. Lisa Fine was another who tried to articulate what it was like to be suddenly transported from a happy evening of fellowship and fun to a nightmarish scrimmage in a war zone. She spoke of seeing people take a bullet and fall in front of her, of a truck loaded with bodies: It was just the luck of the draw, she said of her survival. There are no words. It was horrific. From the relative comfort of ones television-viewing perch, numbness begins to set in. Weve seen this before, heard the commentary, witnessed the overwhelming grief. Columbine, Orlando, Blacksburg, Newtown, you know the list. The Washington Posts website offered headlines that were all too reminiscent of past tragedies elsewhere: The lives lost in Las Vegas; Gunman was ... known for keeping to himself; 10 ways politics may or may not change after the Las Vegas shooting; I felt the gunfire would never stop. Monday night, America went to bed shocked at the numbers. Twenty-two thousand revelers, 23 guns in the shooters hotel room, at least 59 dead, more than 500 injured. Tuesday morning, we checked the numbers again to see if they had changed. The names, faces and short biographies of the dead scrolled across television screens. They were slaughtered by the usual suspect no one in particular. He was just a guy, said the shooters stunned brother, Eric Paddock. Neighbors delivered their script: He seemed like a regular person. Normal, you know. A gun dealer who thought he may have sold Paddock some of his guns said he didnt seem unfit or unstable. But he was obviously something. A bad seed. Sick. Evil. Why had Paddock peered out of his 32nd-story hotel window and decided that this was the night he would kill as many people as possible? By chance alone, he would not kill Claypool or Fine and theyll live with that surreal, taunting reality the rest of their days. We get to live, another survivor had said to Claypool when they chanced upon each other the next day. Yeah, Claypool said, we get to live. But why? To what end? For what purpose? Such are the questions that have stumped humankind since first consciousness made life fathomless. A random bullet from an unseen stranger brings the unbearable mystery into sharp focus. Why me? Why not me? Why at all? In the absence of answers, faith and hope intercede and the search for meaning becomes a more-manageable quest for summation. Lisa Fine, her face drawn from lack of sleep, reached through the numbness and offered the best one could: Love your loved ones, and be the best person you can be. Thats all weve got." JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.You should upgrade or use an alternative browser Column Trump undercuts Tillerson with every tweet I told Rex Tillerson, our wonderful Secretary of State, that he is wasting his time trying to negotiate with Little Rocket Man, the president tweeted. Save your energy Rex, we'll do what has to be done! Last weekend, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson was hard at work in Beijing, trying to persuade Chinas leaders to tighten economic sanctions on North Korea. The United States wants a peaceful solution, he told them, and sanctions could force Kim Jong Un to negotiate.Were not going to accept a nuclear-armed North Korea, Tillerson told reporters after his meetings. But, he said, its going to be an incremental process to get there.... Youd be foolish to think you're going to sit down and say, Okay, done, nuclear weapons are gone. This is going to be a process of engagement.He added, The most immediate action that we need is to calm things down. They're a little overheated right now.Meanwhile, in the United States, President Trump erupted.In case those two tweets werent enough to convey the nuances of nuclear diplomacy, Trump added a third. Being nice to Rocket Man hasn't worked in 25 years, why would it work now? Clinton failed, Bush failed, and Obama failed. I won't fail.Its tempting to focus here on the astonishing humiliation of Tillerson. Presidents have overruled secretaries of State before, but normally they do it in private, without publicly undercutting their diplomat in chief.And this wasnt the first time. After Tillerson spent a week in the Middle East trying to negotiate a truce between Qatar and Saudi Arabia, Trump also disavowed his effort with a tweet. The two have disagreed openly about Russia, Iran and the Paris climate agreement not exactly trivial issues.Why does Tillerson stay? He wont explain. If his goal is to turn himself into a human guardrail to stop Trump from driving foreign policy off a cliff, he deserves our thanks.But its unclear that he can succeed.... More than 40 years after the fall of Saigon, memories of the Vietnam War are still painfully close to the surface for many of the Americans who fought in Southeast Asia or stood up against the conflict here at home. The enduring rawness of those feelings was evident Wednesday evening during a two-hour forum at the Corvallis Odd Fellows Hall sponsored by the local chapter of Veterans for Peace, one of many such events taking place across the country in the wake of the 18-hour Ken Burns-Lynn Novick documentary that recently aired on public television. Were hoping this forum will provide somewhat of a catharsis for some, some healing, maybe a little bit of reconciliation about the Vietnam War, chapter president Bart Bolger said. About three dozen people attended the event, sitting in chairs arranged in two concentric circles. As the forum got underway, the inner circle was reserved for people who had either done military service during the war or participated in the antiwar movement. Seven men in their 60s and 70s occupied those seats, and every one of them said the United States military should have stayed out of Vietnam. Jesus, weve been bamboozled, Gene Russell of Corvallis recalled thinking during his tour of duty with the Army in 1969-70. They havent attacked our country. Why am I being shot at? Portland resident Mike Hastie served as an Army medic during the war. What he saw in Vietnam sickened him. It wakes you up when you take a teenager off a helicopter whos got his head missing or took a bullet in the head, he said, his voice cracking with emotion. What we saw in Vietnam was the utter complete (expletive) lie of Vietnam, he went on. Ken Burns talks about there were many truths. No! There was only one truth: The truth is the war was a lie total and complete fabricated bullshit. When he got back from Vietnam, Hastie said, he tried to explain to supporters of the war that it was a terrible mistake, but found no one would listen to him. Whenever you give information that threatens someone core belief system, there is an urgent need to deny, Hastie said. Not only am I betrayed by Vietnam, but Im betrayed by the American people when I come back and try to bear witness. Joseph White of Corvallis, who led an Air Force communications squadron in the Philippines during Vietnam, said the war dragged on as long as it did because politicians hid the truth about the conflict from the American people and the American people let them get away with it. Were the boss, he said. We forgot that. We elect the leaders. We elect the president. He urged the audience to demand strict accountability from their elected officials, from the local to the national level. I lost buddies (in the war), he said, but it was a wakeup call. Were still free. Mike DeMaio of Corvallis, who did a tour in Vietnam with the Marines in 1967-68, said he agreed the war could have been avoided but said its important to remember the context of the times. Vietnam would not have happened without the Cold War. There was a lot of paranoia, a lot of anxiety, he said. I see a lot more gray than black and white. Corvallis resident Richard Raymond was a conscientious objector during Vietnam. He, too, lost friends in the conflict people who stopped speaking to him because of his antiwar stance. At first, his parents refused to support him, but after they had a change of heart, their friends turned on them as well. The war divided the country, and I dont think its ever gotten back, Raymond said. You can listen to the people here theres been no resolution. Were still fighting about that war. Tom Motko of Salem spent about a year in Vietnam during 1971 and 1972 with the Army Security Agency, tasked with intercepting North Vietnamese communications. He said he lost faith in the war when a noncommissioned officer who had been at the Gulf of Tonkin told him the U.S. fabricated evidence of an attack as a pretext for entering the conflict. He said he gets angry when asked if he witnessed any atrocities in Vietnam. The war is the atrocity. Everything else follows from that, he said. It wasnt just murder at My Lai. It was the murder of American youth. Jon Doud of Corvallis, who joined the antiwar movement during Vietnam, said he sees parallels between that conflict and American military actions today. It doesnt feel to me that anything has changed at all, he said. Its still 18-year-old guys with guns out in the field killing people. One young woman, part of a group of Oregon State University history students attending the event, asked what civilians could do to help veterans of the Vietnam War. Motko urged her to shift her focus to the new generation of American warriors, the men and women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Support the veterans who are coming home now, he urged her. Theyre the ones who need it. Officially, the remodeled building at Linn-Benton Community College is the Non-Destructive Test and Evaluation Facility. But to Seaton McLennan, it's nothing short of the Happiest Place on Earth. "This is the Disneyland of training institutions for non-destructive testing," said McLennan, who co-chairs the Non-Destructive Test department with fellow instructor Scott Ballard. "It's all Disneyland to me." A grand opening to celebrate the institution will be held from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Friday at the facility, IA-124 in the community college's industrial complex at the north end of campus, 6500 Pacific Blvd. SW, Albany. The building used to house the college's collision repair classes. Those aren't being offered currently, and all the other automotive classes have been consolidated at the college's Advanced Transportation Technology Center in Lebanon. That left space in Albany for non-destructive testing. Part of the $34 million bond measure approved by voters in 2014 paid for the renovation of the shop. The first group of eight students started in fall 2016, but this is the first year much of the new equipment has been in place and ready to use. Nineteen students are in the program this year. McLennan taught the program for LBCC in the 1970s and '80s, but it ended with his retirement. Industry requests for workers trained in non-destructive testing prompted the college to restart the program and to seek out McLennan's leadership in getting it going again. One of the challenges in setting up such a facility is finding people qualified to teach it, said Dale Stowell, executive director of advancement/foundation. Currently, LBCC is the only community college in the state to offer a two-year program in non-destructive testing. True to its name, non-destructive testing involves using various methods to gauge the strength, durability and effectiveness of parts and equipment without breaking them. That can be done through spraying a part with magnetic particles or a penetrating dye to find tiny cracks or flaws. It can be done with various forms of radiography; from conventional film, similar to an X-ray, to digital imaging. It can also be done through giving a part a bath in a special tank, lapped in ultrasonic waves. Similar to a hospital ultrasound, the waves bounce around the part and reflect the image back to the measuring device. While plenty of such machines exist, the one in LBCC's facility may be one of a kind, given its particular setup, McLennan said. The tank features three training stations on one side, where students can get a feel for how to position the "arm" that sends the ultrasonic pulses. The training stations do the job of evaluating the mechanical parts for flaws and anomalies, but at the same time, they provide feedback to the users to help them correct any flaws and anomalies in their own understanding. When a student is fully trained, he or she can move to the other side of the tank and send the automatic robotic arm over the part to be inspected. Software for the machine is so new it's still being tweaked, even this week, McLennan said. "This is all new, state-of-the-art equipment." On the wall of the remodeled facility is a giant, multipicture graphic created by Seaton's wife, Joanne McLennan. It bears the program's mission statement: "Every part matters." Students in the program are trained to evaluate parts for a variety of industries, including aerospace, transportation, construction and power generation. They're the ones who will be determining whether a bridge truss is weakened or an airplane wing is fatigued, co-chair Scott Ballard said. "That's what this industry's all about, is preventing failures, ensuring we have quality parts." Added McLennan: "We make or break people's lives by our decisions. Because every part matters." 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 forthcoming 14th India-EU summit in Delhi has the potential to rejuvenate bilateral ties and to provide a new direction to free-trade agreement (FTA) negotiations. The EU is still one of the biggest economies in the world. It has high levels of productivity and fairly high per capita incomes. The Eurozone economic growth forecast for 2017 is 2.2%, the fastest in 10 years. This is in contrast to the last few years when Europe was seen struggling with a series of difficulties such as the Greek economic crisis, Eurozone troubles, war in Ukraine and the refugee influx. This may be good news for India. With more than $100 billion trade in goods and services, the EU is Indias biggest trading partner. Compared to a huge trade deficit with China, India-EU trade is balanced. In the last 15 years, foreign direct investment (FDI) from EU member states in India has been higher than FDIs from the US, Japan, China and Russia combined. The EU has also been an important destination for cross-border investments and overseas acquisitions for Indian companies. Although there are still uncertainties as to how Brexit will be organised, the EU is coolly preparing for a post-Brexit Europe. The rise of Right-wing populism has also been seen as a major threat to the European project. Despite some electoral gains, recent elections in Austria, Netherlands, France, UK and Germany, however, show that Right-wing political parties are still far away from being part of governing coalitions. Some populist leaders are in command in central and east Europe. And due to the influx of refugees, along with regular incidents of terrorism, Right-wing parties will continue to find some support to survive. The overall situation, however, is not alarming and a reasonable political stability is expected in major EU countries. Following the launch of the EU-India strategic partnership in 2004, the joint action plan in 2005 and the start of negotiations on a Broad-based Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA) in 2007, much enthusiasm was expressed on both sides. Between 2009 and 2015, however, the relationship somehow lost momentum. Many factors including a deadlock in BTIA negotiations, the global economic slowdown, crises in some Euro area economies, policy paralysis in India during UPA II and the Modi governments initial focus on the US and Asia contributed to this situation. Things are, however, slowly beginning to change. After realising that Europeans can contribute significantly to the NDAs domestic economic agenda, the Prime Minister has made visits to Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland and the UK. The Indo-French Rafale deal has deepened strategic engagement. After a gap of four years, the 13th India-EU summit was also held last year and resulted in an agreed agenda for action for 2020. Despite somewhat different geopolitical concerns, these interactions have brought Europe back to Indian foreign policy agenda. After realising that concluding negotiations on FTAs may take time, both started focusing on other areas. These include climate change, energy, counter-terrorism, maritime security, science and technology, development cooperation, migration and dialogues on Asia and Africa. The 14th summit could be an opportunity to at least restart BTIA negotiations. After 12 rounds, negotiations were suspended in 2013 due to mismatch between level of ambitions and expectations. In the meanwhile, India has terminated bilateral investment treaties with large number of countries, including 22 EU nations. Although investments are part of proposed BTIA, this move has created uncertainty till the time agreement is ready for implementation. The negotiations will also be affected by the final outcome of EU-UK Brexit deal. At the moment, the UK has ruled out possibility of any customs union or economic area with the EU. It means UK at best is hopeful of a separate free trade deal with the EU. So India will now have to assess an India-EU trade deal minus Britain. As UK is Indias biggest export market within the EU, New Delhi and London have also indicated a fresh exercise for a separate India-UK FTA. In these circumstances, it is unlikely that India-EU FTA will be ready for implementation in the next two-three years. However, restarting negotiations will have a positive political signal and will impact overall investment climate. The summit should focus be on issues where cooperation is already taking place and concrete results are possible. These include renewable energy, counter-terrorism, urbanisation, education exchanges and joint development projects in third countries. The EU has significant capacitates to deal with issues concerning global governance, climate change and the 2030 agenda for sustainable development. India must utilise these capacities through bilateral dialogues and consultations. Although China is an important partner of the EU, India must develop a joint strategic understanding about the Belt Road Initiative with its European partners. Working quietly on the FTA and realising concrete results in other areas can make the India-EU partnership truly strategic. Gulshan Sachdeva is Jean Monnet chair and director, Europe Area Studies Programme, JNU. The views expressed are personal The report of an expert committee of archaeologists, who studied Ujjains Mahakal Jyotirlingam last month, has revealed that the use of bhang (cannabis) in the offerings at the temple could be protecting the jyotirlingam from erosion. The committee of two experts from the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) explained in its report that most of the offerings water, milk, flowers, bhasm were eroding the sandstone jyotirlingam as they aided bacterial and fungal action precipitated by the high humidity inside the sanctum sanctorum. Hindustan Times has a copy of the report. The report said that large quantities of floral and dairy offerings on the jyotirlingam attracted bacterial action, which produces mild acidic by-products. These acidic products react with the metal ions of the sandstone in the jyotirlingam and very easily cause disintegration of the substrate (of the lingam) through leaching of the cementing material. The buds and leaves of cannabis are ground into paste to prepare bhang, which is then offered to the jyotirlingam. According to the report, the bhang paste generally contains certain chemicals (alkaloids and phenolic compounds, Cannabidiol and deleta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) that control biodegradation as they have anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. Subash Pandey, former head of the environmental sciences department at the Government Post Graduate College, Bhopal, said this means that the chemicals in bhang check the growth of bacteria and fungus that flourish on milk and floral products. Bacterial action produces chemical by-products that could damage the surface of the jyotirlingam. But bhang checks that and helps save the jyotirlingam from deterioration, he added. Pradeep Guru, priest at the Mahakaleshwar temple and member of the Mahakaleshwar Temple Management Committee said that bhang has been traditionally used on the jyotirlingam for centuries. The bhang used here is of very high quality with no adulteration. During the shringaar ritual, about one-and-a-half kilogram of bhang is used, he added. The expert committee was constituted on the directions of the Supreme Court after Indore-based Sarika Guru moved the apex court in January this year, seeking a ban on the panchamrit shringar and bhasam aarti of the jyotirlingam, which were leading to its erosion. Guru said she petitioned the Supreme Court as she wanted a restriction on rituals that were harming the sacred jyotirlingam. The committee visited the shrine last month and carried out a detailed study and analysis on the jyotirlingam. One of the committee members said the report had been sent to the additional solicitor general of India. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON An IPS officer posted in Madhya Pradesh has been stripped of a police award presented by the President after the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) charged him with orchestrating a fake encounter. A gazette notification issued on September 30 stated that a gallantry award accorded to deputy inspector general (Ratlam) Dharmendra Choudhary was being taken back in keeping with the new development. The police medal for gallantry is hereby cancelled and forfeited under rule 8 of the regulations governing the award, the document issued by the Presidents secretariat said. Choudhary was posted at Jhabua as its additional superintendent of police in 2002 when he gunned down Lohan, a criminal wanted by the law enforcement agencies of three states Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Rajasthan in connection with 11 heinous offences. Police said 22-year-old Lohan, a resident of Mehendikhera village, had a reward of Rs 15,000 on his head. On December 5, 2002, then Jhabua superintendent of police RL Borna was informed by constables Mansingh and Sanjay Pratap Singh that Lohan and two others were heading towards Pitol on a motorcycle. Following this, a police team led by Choudhary cordoned off the area and launched a hunt for Lohan. Choudhary and his men soon spotted Lohan and his accomplices, who tried to escape. The criminal reportedly tripped while trying to clear a hurdle, and began shooting at the approaching policemen. He was killed in the shootout that followed. The encounter was found to be genuine by a magisterial inquiry as well as an internal probe, and the two constables were rewarded with out-of-turn promotions. Choudhary, for his part, received a gallantry medal from then President APJ Abdul Kalam on the state home departments recommendation. A few years on, the NHRC launched a fresh investigation into the encounter after some human rights activists dubbed it as fake. The new probe found the allegations to be true, and a report was submitted to the Presidents secretariat. The matter was heard, and the authorities concerned decided that the award would have to be reclaimed. Speaking to local reporters at Ratlam, Choudhary said he was yet to receive any official communique in connection with the award reclamation. He refused to answer queries posed by the media, stating that he would prefer defending himself on an official forum. HT failed to get through to the police officer in an individual capacity because both his mobile phones were switched off. He did not respond to phone messages either. Director general of police Rishi Kumar Shukla refused to comment on the possibility of action being taken against Choudhary. You will have to ask the NHRC if its a fake encounter case. I dont know, but I will look into it. The medal has been taken back, and thats it. The officer will most probably make a representation, which I will then forward to the central government. This is a very old case. We stopped the practice of recommending gallantry award for encounters some time ago, he said. North Albany resident Tom Cordier has been on a bit of a tear lately, addressing both the Greater Albany Public Schools Board of Trustees and the Linn County Board of Commissioners about what he sees as signs of big trouble in the area's public schools. Both the commissioners and the school board, probably wisely, chose not to respond directly on this issue to Cordier, who is concerned about the performance of students on the 2016-17 round of Smarter Balanced tests for math and reading. And, truthfully, those results could have been better: In the Albany district, only about 40 percent of students achieved passing marks on the math test. The numbers were lower in other Linn County school districts. Across the state, most numbers slid back just a bit when compared to the previous year. Cordier told the commissioners this week that he feared that the poor performance on the tests possibly presaged a general dumbing-down of the area's workforce. That, he worried, could put a dent in the mid-valley's reputation as a place with an educated workforce. Well, maybe. But these days, employers don't seem to be fretting as much about the education level of potential workers as they are about those new employees' work ethic or their ability to work well with others not to mention whether they can pass a drug test. (The inability of many workers to pass that urine test has become a big deal for employers.) And this question of how our schools are performing is a much more complicated issue than just focusing on how students performed on the Smarter Balanced tests. It's a mistake to put too much emphasis on any single measurement, such as this one. (It's worth remembering that these tests are considerably harder than the tests they replaced, the Oregon Assessment of Knowledge of Skills: Students have to show their work and explain their answers and can take the test only once.) It also would be a mistake to focus too intently on local districts: A quick look at the statewide results on the math test last year shows that this is an issue for the entire state. (In fact, the Albany district was about in the middle of the pack when compared to other districts around the state.) So the issues Cordier is raising locally could be asked statewide as well. But even taking all that into consideration, the fact is that Cordier has a point: Even taking the difficulty of the test and all the other factors into account, these numbers need to be higher. Although the comparison isn't entirely fair, he argues that a 60 percent failure rate would be unacceptable in other arenas: You wouldn't want to driving an automobile that didn't start 6 out of every 10 times you tried to turn it on. Why should we tolerate that rate of failure in our schools? So we're interested in the answers to the question that Cordier asked the Albany school board: What's the plan to improve those results? But, again, the same question is an important one throughout the state: What's the plan to improve those results? Part of the answer to that question might come as educators review the test results themselves, which offer the ability to pinpoint districts that have performed relatively well on the tests: Granted, many of those districts might be in wealthier areas of the state, but that's probably not the case for all of them. There must be some good ideas in those districts worth copying. The issue is complicated, and Cordier isn't doing anybody a favor when he tries to make it too simple; there's a big role here for nuance. But the bottom line actually is fairly straightforward: These test results need to be better. How do we improve them? (mm) The film English Vinglish was a trend-setter when it released in 2012. Not only did it mark the comeback of actor Sridevi, who had ruled in the 90s and was the highest-paid actor of her time, it was also one of those rare films which instantly connected with the audience. The story was about Shashi, a middle-class housewife who makes and sells laddoos as a home-business, but is poked fun at by her family members for not being able to speak English fluently. When she goes to New York for her nieces wedding, an incident at a cafe leaves Shashi heart-broken and she finally decides to enrol herself in English-speaking tutorial classes. Upon release, the story, coupled with Sridevis heart-wrenching performance was a big hit, with colleges and schools taking students for the films screening. In a country where speaking English flawlessly is a must and people who cant, are ridiculed, this film did wonders. But did you know that Shashis character was based on the director Gauri Shindes mother Vaishali Shinde? Here are more such interesting facts you probably didnt know about this gem of a film: 1) Gauris mother Vaishali, a housewife, ran a pickle-business, and wasnt able to speak English fluently. Gauri wrote the story keeping her in mind, and has said, This film is inspired by my mom. Like most people in India struggle with this language, its just the insensitivity and insecurity that made me do this film. 2) Do you know how Sridevi came on-board for the film? While writing the script, I did not think of anyone. When Balki met Boney and Sridevi, they asked him what was he doing at that time. Balki mentioned about me writing a script. Sridevi liked the subject and I narrated the script to her and it just happened, revealed Gauri in an interview. 3) Shashis classmate Laurent, who was besotted with her, was played by French superstar Mehdi Nebbou. And this was his first innocent film. My little girl has not seen me on screen. So far all my films from France have been ...how shall I put it?...adult in content. English Vinglish is the first innocent film Ive done, he has said. 4) The films interesting promo where Sridevi can be seen trying to read the censor certificate of the film was a first of its kind. It was actually Gauris husbands R. Balkis idea. He is a director himself, who has helmed films such as Paa (2009). 5) Amitabh Bachchan was roped in for a cameo in the film, playing the role of a guy who helps Shashi on the flight to New York. He and Sridevi had last worked together 20 years ago in Khuda Gawah (1992). 6) Actor Priya Anand, who played the role of Sridevis niece in the film, was noticed by actor-producer Farhan Akhtar, who cast her in the film Fukrey (2013) as Priya, playing Pulkit Samrats girlfriend. 7) The film resonated with audiences across the world. Such was the impact, that it was later dubbed in German as well! 8) The role of Sridevi and Adil Hussains on screen kids Sapna and Sagar was played by real-life siblings Navika and Shivansh Kotia. 9) The very fact that it was Sridevis comeback to films after 15 years made it a highly-anticipated film. It was selected for premieres at various international film festivals, including the 2012 Toronto International Film Festival, where the audience gave the film a 10-minute standing ovation once the screening ended. 10) The film was trilingual, and released simultaneously in Tamil, Telugu and Hindi. South superstar Ajith played Amitabh Bachchans role in the Tamil version. 11) Adil Hussain, who played Sridevis husband in the film, recounts the first meeting he had with her. During my first meeting with Sridevi, it was a rehearsal in a makeshift set and Gauri had given us the script. She had asked us to imagine a scene. I made up a line and said, Yeh bill kahan se aaye? Before I could end the line, Sridevi gave an impromptu reply and I was thrown off by her quick response. She doesnt know this till date that this was the reason I took at least 5 seconds to respond to her dialogue! 12) Adil also tells us, We were shooting in New York in November and had to shoot the wedding scene which was set in Summer. While the men were wearing warm clothes under their kurtas, Sridevi was wearing a sari. When the director said action, she would deliver her dialogue flawlessly, and when she said cut, Sridevi would start shivering and people rushed to her with shawls. Follow @htshowbiz for more The Nobel Literature Prize for 2017 has been awarded to English writer Kazuo Ishiguro. The Swedish Academy, while making the announcement on October 5, said Ishiguro has written novels of great emotional force and uncovered the abyss beneath our illusory sense of connection with the world. BREAKING NEWS The 2017 #NobelPrize in Literature is awarded to the English author Kazuo Ishiguro pic.twitter.com/j9kYaeMZH6 The Nobel Prize (@NobelPrize) October 5, 2017 With eight books and several screen plays and short stories to his credit, Ishiguro is among the most celebrated contemporary writers. He won the Man Booker Prize in 1989 for his novel The Remains of the Day, which was also adapted for the big screen, starring Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson. Ishiguro told the BBC winning the 2017 Nobel Prize for Literature was a magnificent honour and flabbergastingly flattering. Its a magnificent honour, mainly because it means that Im in the footsteps of the greatest authors that have lived, so thats a terrific commendation. The world is in a very uncertain moment and I would hope all the Nobel prizes would be a force for something positive in the world as it is at the moment, he said. His other bestselling work Never Let Me Go was adapted into a 2010 film starring Carey Mulligan, Keira Knightley and Andrew Garfield. Kazuo Ishiguros novels on display at the Swedish Academy in Stockholm, Sweden, where he was announced as winner of the 2017 Nobel Prize in Literature. (AFP) While Ishiguro is best known for exploring themes such as memory, time and self-delusion, he introduced a cold undercurrent of science fiction into his work with his dystopian work Never Let Me Go in 2005, said the Academy. His latest novel, The Buried Giant was published in 2015 and dealt with themes of how memory relates to oblivion, history to the present and fantasy to reality. His publisher Faber & Faber said earlier on Twitter: Were THRILLED Kazuo Ishiguro has won the Nobel Prize! Kazuo Ishiguro was born in Nagasaki, Japan, in 1954 and his family moved to the United Kingdom when he was five years old. Dan Brown is once again taking on the big questions. Will God survive science? asks the author of the blockbuster The Da Vinci Code and other philosophical-religious thrillers during a recent interview. All the gods of our past have fallen. So the question now is: Are we naive to think the gods of today wont suffer the same fate? His new novel is Origin, already a chart-topper on Amazon.com, and for Brown fans a familiar blend of travelogue, history, conspiracies and whodunit, with asides on everything from the poetry of William Blake to the rise and fall of fascism in Spain. Browns protagonist Robert Langdon, a Harvard symbologist, is in Spain and back in danger. A former student, Edmond Kirsch, has been assassinated just as hes ready to unveil a scientific-technological breakthrough that he promises will bring about the downfall of Western religion and revolutionise how people think of life and death. Langdon, with the help of a princes wayward lover and a voice of artificial intelligence named Winston, attempts to find out what Kirsch had planned. The Da Vinci Code outraged church officials and scholars with such suggestions as Jesus and Mary married and had children. Brown acknowledged that the controversy led him to avoid larger religious questions in his follow-up novel, The Lost Symbol, but his skepticism remains. A native and longtime resident of New Hampshire, he remembered visiting Bostons Museum of Science as a boy and being confused by the theory of evolution and how it contradicted the story of Adam and Eve. Back home, Brown asked a priest about the differences. This guy said, Nice boys dont ask that question. I did what every little boy does, I started asking the questions, he says. I gravitated towards science. Faith became difficult for me. Brown has the time and money to research his settings firsthand and spent extensive time in Spain over the past few years. The country appeals to him, he said, because of its blend of old and new, of supercomputers and deep roots in Western religion. The violent police actions against Catalans voting on independence were heartbreaking but didnt shock him; the fault lines of Spanish culture were the reason he wanted to write about it. Speaking from a sky-high floor of a midtown Manhattan hotel, looking out on the city on a sunny fall afternoon, the 53-year-old Brown also discussed what he thought about technology, the response to his books and the future of Robert Langdon. On why hes never written about Eastern religion I spent some time in India and thought I might write about Hinduism. But its so far removed from my experience, I couldnt even get my mind around it to write about it. Christianity, Judaism and Islam share a gospel, and its the one I grew up with. ... Hinduism is not monotheistic; thats my tradition. And this is a religion of many gods. I cant decide whether it feels more advanced or less advanced. Its just so different. On what his friends in the clergy think of his book (They) would fall into three categories: Those that essentially say, Were going to have to agree to disagree. Those who would say, Hey, this is actually a really interesting dialogue. Its making me think about religion in a new and exciting way. Thank you. And those who essentially say, We cant be friends anymore. You know what those are outliers. The primary reaction I get, from atheists to the deeply devout, is that the dialogue is critical. On why he may write a book that doesnt include Langdon I think Langdon wouldnt mind a vacation. Hes had a tough few years. Hes the man I wish I could be, clearly. He has a knack for falling into fascinating situations. Hes far more daring than I am. I probably would run away from most of those adventures. On kids and their digital devices The miracles for kids today they have nothing to do with Noahs Ark. They have to do with an operating system. When I was a kid, the miracles of my life were the resurrection, a candlelight service on New Years Eve, the virgin birth and the three wise men. Things have changed a lot and it takes numerous amounts of magic to impress on a child that something is special because they have something special every day of their lives. On why hes an optimist We have plenty of technologies we could use to destroy the planet and we dont. Theres more love on this planet than hate, theres more creativity than destructive power. I know its a strange day to be saying that, but there is more love than hate by exponential factors and well find a way to express that. "In India, we essentially have a world-class filtration system in place of an education system," Kartik Muralidharan, associate professor of economics at the University of California, San Diego, told HT in May. Schools spend more time separating out successful and unsuccessful kids than teaching them anything. Instruction in junior classes is poor, Muralidharan said, while senior classes are geared towards cracking the Class 12 Board exams. This encourages teachers to teach to the test, rather than provide children with a holistic education. Universities recognise that board exams are a poor measure of learning, but their response has been to introduce even more tests in the form of entrance exams for premier degrees like medicine and engineering. Students respond by signing up for tuitions centres that have mastered the technical art of cracking entrance exams. The cycle of testing and memorisation repeats. None of this substantially contributes to getting an education, and worse, it discriminates against students who cannot afford expensive private tuitions. The pass rate in Delhi for the class 12 tests is well over 90%. That sounds good, but it's largely because failure rates are so high in lower classes, particularly Class 9, in which over 1 lakh Delhi school students out of 2.5 lakh fail each year. Seeking to create a base in Uttarakhand and replenish their ranks, the Maoist sympathisers are eyeing the growing resentment over the Pancheshwar hydropower project planned on the Mahakali river. The proposed joint project between India and Nepal would displace thousands of people on both the sides with at least 35 villages, including 24 in the border districts of Pithoragarh and Champawat, to be directly affected. Working to create a cadre base, the Maoists are now concentrating on the displacement issue, raising it among the people who are likely to be affected and whose land is likely to be submerged in Mahakali waters. This was revealed by Maoist Zonal committee member Devendra Singh Chamyal, who was arrested from Chorgaliya in Nainital district last month. The Special Operations Task Force (SOTF) arrested Chamyal alongwith his accomplice Bhagwati Bhoj from a bus. Chamyal told the investigators that he had worked with the Maoists in Jharkhand for four years and had moved to Uttarakhand to revive the Maoist movement. He also revealed that the top Maoist leadership felt that the issue of Pancheshwar dam, which would displace a large number of people, could be milked to their benefit. Chamyal told the officials that they had already gone to the area likely to be affected by the Pancheshwar dam and stoked the feelings of the people against this multipurpose hydro power project, which once commissioned, is likely to generate 5040 Megawatts of electricity Khim Singh Bora alias Vijay Pehru, another Maoist commander who is wanted by the Uttarakhand Police, is also said to be hiding in Almora district and is making moves for spreading the ultra-Left ideology among the people who are antagonized by the Pancheshwar dam. Purushottam Sharma of Lalkuan who is the also the state president of Akhil Bharatiya Kissan Mahasabha said they are opposing the Pancheshwar dam as the massive reservoir would be vulnerable to sabotage and earthquakes that could wreak havoc downstream. Sharma said that believing in the philosophy of Mao was not a crime; it was a crime only when violence was committed. At present there is resentment against the government and this could be a ploy of the government to curtail the resentment of the people, Sharma said, alleging that the agencies also stoke up the issue of Maoist activities so as to receive funds in the name of police modernization. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Nainital, Janmejay Khanduri said that the information that the Maoists were trying to make a base among the people who would be displaced by the dam has been relayed to the security and intelligence agencies of the concerned districts of Pithoragarh and Champwat. The agencies are on the alert and are trying to see to it that the Maoists do not succeed in their efforts, the SSP said. A six-year-old girl was raped in a south Delhi private school on Wednesday afternoon allegedly by a member of the institutes housekeeping staff, who was hired about a fortnight ago. Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia ordered a magisterial probe, within hours of Hindustan Times reporting the crime on its webpage on Thursday morning. Police arrested the 22-year-old suspect for sexually assaulting the Class 1 student in the school toilet, a charge he denied and said he was merely helping the girl as the woman attendant wasnt present. The crime put to question the efficacy of having a police clearance certificate for employment as the suspect was verified and cleared by Delhi Police last year. A school official said the suspect submitted the certificate and promised to renew it in a day or two. He worked for a courier company before joining the school. Wednesdays rape was the latest in a spate of crime in and around the national capital that expose the vulnerability of children in schools. In the past month, a Class 2 student was killed in a washroom at Ryan International School in Gurgaon and a five-year-old was raped inside a toilet of a private school in east Delhi. According to the complaint filed by her parents, the child returned home from school at 2.30pm and told her mother about the crime. The parents rushed to the school and informed the principal, after which police were called. The childs father said the woman attendant, who was supposed to assist children, was not in the washroom when the crime happened. She had been sent downstairs for some work. After using the washroom, my daughter called the woman for help but a male employee entered and assaulted her sexually. My daughter shouted and rushed to her class, he said. The child was taken to AIIMS for a check-up and doctors confirmed the rape. Doctors reportedly told the parents that she will need surgery to treat internal wounds. We are in shock and have nothing to say. We send our kids for education, not to become victims of perverts loitering in schools, the father said. The sub-divisional magistrate visited the school on Thursday and issued a notice to the school management. A team from the Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights will visit the campus on Friday. Chinmoy Biswal, the additional deputy commissioner of police (south), said the suspect is a resident of Govindpuri. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Next time you are travelling alone in a cab, you can ask Delhi Police control room to look out for you. Cabs in Delhi are being provided with a Quick Response (QR) code, which passengers can scan using Himmat app to inform police about their journey. The app was launched as a safety measure for women by the Delhi Police 2015. Passengers who do not have the app or are not carrying a smartphone can also avail the facility by sending an SMS. The trial run for the project started on Thursday with the QR code being installed in 10 kaali-peeli taxis operating at Delhi airport. Besides the QR code, the card that will be pasted behind the drivers seat, will also have photograph of the driver and other details. The moment a passenger scans the QR code, the details will reach our special control room which has been set up specially for this purpose. The monitoring system will generate an SMS and send it to the passengers mobile phone as an alert, said Sanjay Baniwal, special commissioner of police (airport and modernisation). He added that passengers can also simply SMS the number of the QR code card to 8130099100. Our system will revert automatically with an SMS containing all the details of the driver and the vehicle. Simultaneously, our control room will keep tracking the passengers journey, Bhatia said. During the trials, drivers of 10 taxis have been asked to inform passengers, especially women, to scan the QR code using Himmat app at the time of boarding. Later, the QR code will be put up in around 2,000 kaali-peeli taxis operating from Delhi airport, police said. Baniwal said once the code is scanned, the mobile application automatically reads the details of the vehicle, its owner and driver besides tracking the passengers journey through GPS. A message will be sent to the commuter containing details of the driver, owner and the vehicle. It will also contain a link that lead to photographs and other details of the driver such as his licence number, contact number and address. Sanjay Bhatia, DCP (airport), under whose supervision the new safety feature has been developed, said this will be followed be three more text messages. The first SMS will ask passengers to confirm if they are safe. If the passengers fail to revert within a few minutes, they will get a call from the control room and the question will be repeated. The passenger will have to respond to the call otherwise the calls will be made again, said Bhatia. In the other two messages, passengers will be asked if they have safely reached their destination. The last message will come at the end of the journey. A call will again be made from the control room if the passenger fails to respond. A road built illegally with debris to connect the Yamuna east bank with a river island appeared, disappeared and reappeared in a matter of months. The Delhi Development Authority demolished the narrow strip of road a day after Hindustan Times reported about it on September 1. But it was rebuilt, prompting ecologists and environment activists to accuse authorities of lax monitoring. Read: Cattle grazers or Sand mafia who is using the ghost road over river Yamuna? It is evident that the road has been rebuilt by dumping fresh debris. It is a brazen violation of the National Green Tribunals directions, said Manoj Misra of Yamuna Jiye Abhiyaan, a group campaigning to save the Yamuna, one of the filthiest rivers in India. The tribunal had banned dumping of debris in or near the river. Ecologists warned the road built across a channel between the eastern riverfront and an island will constrict water flow and upset natural activities such as silt transportation. Little water flows in the Yamuna as the ravages of modernity have reduced it to a frothing stream of sewage and toxic industrial waste. It is protected by laws that prevent activities that could further damage the rivers fragile eco-system and banks. Uday Pratap Singh, the DDA vice chairman, promised to step up vigil when photographs of the rebuilt road were shown to him. I have asked the officers to take immediate action. The road was demolished earlier. It seems that illegal activities are going on at night, he said on Thursday. A police complaint was filed after the demolition last month. But it couldnt be ascertained why and who built the road hidden under a Metro rail bridge. Cattle grazers often take their animals to the islands lush with tall grass. The fear, though, is that people might be using the stretch to illegally collect sand from the Yamuna. DDA officials suspected the sand mafia of building the road with debris such as plastic packets, torn clothes, concrete rubble, hay and even broomsticks. Before the road was dismantled, one of our guards walked up to the river island. He found a ditch, at least 10 feet by 20 feet. That strengthened our suspicion about the sand mafia, a senior official said. The road will choke the rivers natural flow, which can turn into an environmental disaster. The river would start depositing silt on its bed upstream and become shallow. It would then flood the banks, ecologist CR Babu said. A research published in the Current Science journal in 2014 pointed out that about 60% water flow is necessary through the year to keep the Yamuna healthy. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) and Delhi Police on Thursday welcomed the NGT order banning protests at Jantar Mantar, saying they will enforce it. The Delhi government, however, didnt react. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Thursday ordered the Delhi government, NDMC and the Delhi Police to stop all protests, public gatherings and use of loudspeakers at Jantar Mantar. However, a timeline and modalities of how the order will be implemented are yet to be fixed. The NDMC said the ban will help them better deliver civic services in the area. We will remove loudspeakers and temporary structures built by protesters from there, said Chanchal Yadav, secretary, NDMC. Recalling the recent protest by 50,000 contractual teachers from UP, Yadav said, We have to put in a lot of effort to restore the area after such big protests. Everything, from the green belt to road dividers were destroyed. There was open urination during the protest by the shiksha mitras from UP, she said. The agency deputes a team of sanitation inspectors daily since protests at Jantar Mantar take place round-the-clock. The police grants permission for protests. Our task is limited to providing mobile toilets and ensuring cleanliness, Yadav said. Delhi Police chief spokesperson Dependra Pathak said they will examine the NGT order and take appropriate administrative action. BK Singh, deputy commissioner of police (New Delhi district), said no more permissions will be granted for protests at Jantar Mantar. When asked how the police will remove those agitators/protesters who have been sitting at Jantar Mantar for months and years, the DCP said they will be removed and shifted to the alternate protest venue, as suggested by the court. If anybody will refuse, we will take action as per the law. Being an enforcement agency, it is our duty to implement the orders of the courts, said Singh. According to Delhi Police, on an average eight to ten demonstrations are held daily at Jantar Mantar. Till June 2017, 2,283 dharnas and demonstrations were held as compared to 1,921 in the same period during the year 2016. DCP Singh said at least 100 police personnel remain deployed at Jantar Mantar even on days when no big demonstrations are organised. During bigger protests with large gatherings, we increase our manpower by seeking additional force from paramilitary forces and other police districts, he said. Officials said that shifting the protest venue from Jantar Mantar will allow them to use the same manpower in other important work, including curtailing street crimes, crime detection and patrolling the streets. Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal has approved extension of the Delhi government education loan scheme to students from Delhi who wish to study in government institutions outside the Capital. The L-G has also suggested a few safeguards to ensure the scheme remains sustainable and is in the best interest of the students. Education minister Manish Sisodia took to Twitter on Wednesday to share the news with his followers. I am grateful to Hon @LtGovDelhi for clearing Delhi govts Higher Edu Loan scheme. It will help thousands of students and their parents, he said on the micro-blogging site. The L-G approved the education loan scheme because the government said it had certain safeguards to keep it sustainable. We have suggested certain other safeguards which we hope will be incorporated in a timely manner, said an official at the LGs office. These include ensuring a linkage between educational institutions and the lending institutions. ...due diligence should be taken to ensure that loans are not extended to study at dubious institutions or dubious courses that will not ensure employability, added the official. Atishi Marlena, advisor to the education minister, said this question does not arise as students can take the loan only to study in government institutions. Those who wish to study in private institutions in Delhi can take the loan only if the college/university has been accredited by an A or A+ by a national accreditation authority such as the NAAC. One suggestion we have decided to incorporate is that the application process be linked to the National Academic Depository, which has all e-certified courses and institutions. This will make it easier for the banks to access and validate the academic records of the loan applicant, said Marlena. Till now, the scheme was restricted to institutions in Delhi. The decision to extend the ambit was cleared in a cabinet meeting chaired by chief minister Arvind Kejriwal last month. Under the scheme, students from Delhi who wish to pursue higher education are given Rs10 lakh without any collateral or third party guarantee, with the government as their guarantor. Students would be eligible irrespective of their income status, said Marlena. They will be given a moratorium period of the time required to finish the course and year thereafter to find a job, before they have to start repaying the EMIs. Kejriwal had first spoken of the idea in May this year while addressing government school students who had cleared the IIT-JEE (Mains) exams. The scheme has now been passed in cabinet, and approved by the LG. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Ms. Marilyn Taggert Schlim's letter (Mailbag, Oct. 3) about J. Edgar Hoover and warnings of Communism brings up a lot of unpleasant history from the early 50's. This was a time when the paranoid House of Un-American Activities terrorized and destroyed many people. Not because they were guilty of anything, but because they were different. Sen. Joe McCarthy was the strong leader of that witch hunt until he was brought down by people seeing his manipulation and realizing that he was cruel and power crazed. Sadly, his main aid, Roy Cohn became Donald Trump's mentor in the 70's. This was also the time when many of the same people thought that President Eisenhower was a Communist, and part of an ongoing conspiracy! As for J.Edgar Hoover, he was a very troubled, paranoid individual, who used blackmail and coercion to keep the political leaders off his back. 48 years of leading the FBI gave him a lot of sensitive information. His FBI conducted covert operations, had warrant-less surveillance of Civil Rights leaders and anti-Vietnam protestors, etc. He was not someone who I would trust, without a lot of additional information. Rick Siegert Lebanon (Oct. 4) The illegal road across the Yamuna constricting its flow could not only play havoc with the rivers ecology but also inundate the rivers banks threatening human settlements in the future, experts have warned. Ecologists said the blockage would upset natural activities such as silt transportation, groundwater recharge and revival of subsoil bacteria. Flowing water is the main factor that makes river ecology different from other water ecosystems. This is known as a lotic (flowing water) system. If that is stopped, the ecology of the river would be affected, said CR Babu, ecologist. He said as the water flow is partially blocked the river would start depositing the silt on its own bed. This would further decrease the depth of the river and it would become shallow. A river, if blocked, would be unable to flow freely. It would in turn inundate the flood banks, said Sushmita Sengupta, manager water programme of Centre for Science and Environment. Experts claimed that as the Yamuna is already highly polluted, blocking its flow further would tantamount to increasing the pollution load further. This could contaminate the groundwater and aquifers, which the river used to recharge. If the river fails to flush down the pollution load, it would start getting concentrated in the stream. Ultimately, this would reach the aquifers. So we are heading for another disaster unless the blockage is removed at the earliest, said Shashank Shekhar, who teaches geology in Delhi University. Allegations have already surfaced that the road was constructed by sand mafia which used to excavate sand from the islands in the river. DDA had earlier stumbled upon a large ditch in the riverine island from where sand had been dug out. Even though it wont affect much the rivers hydrology, it would disturb the biodiversity that has evolved in that island. A lot of animals take shelter in such islands such as birds and aquatic organisms. They would be disturbed, said Shekhar. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A fact-finding committee of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has blamed Ryan International School, Bhondsi, authorities for negligence after the death of an eight-year-old boy on the school premises. In an affidavit filed in the Supreme Court on Thursday, CBSE stated, The unfortunate death incident of the boy could have been avoided, had the school authorities discharged their duties and responsibilities with care and sincerity. The affidavit states that the fact-finding team set up by the CBSE found many deficiencies in schools safety and security arrangements. There is no separate rest room for school-bus drivers and conductors and they use the same washroom as those meant for staff and students this is highly objectionable. No attendant is available in the school to accompany small children to the washrooms and toilets. Had the school management deployed an attendant, this mishap could have been avoided, it said. The class 2 student was found dead with his throat slit in the school washroom on September 8. A bus conductor confessed to the killing, but many questions still remain unanswered and the school administration has faced flak for their security lapses. The victims parents have demanded a CBI probe into the murder and have filed a petition in the Supreme Court. The CBSE affidavit is critical of the school authorities for not informing the police about the death of the boy on the school premises. It says, The school also failed to inform the police and education department of the death of the boy on the school premises. The parents of the boy informed the police about the incident. The affidavit pointed out that the school management failed to provide basic amenities on the campus. The Ryan management never provided portable drinking water to students. There was no reverse osmosis plant. Water drawn from a bore well was supplied on the campus. CCTVs on the school campus are not adequate in number and many of the installed CCTVs are not functioning, the affidavit further said. Raising concerns on adequate security in the school, the CBSE pointed out that since February 2017, the school did not have a regular principal. It pointed out that the electric panel room of the school was unlocked and it was unsafe from the safety point of view of students. Also, the school boundary wall on one side is not high enough, and that it could easily scaled by someone from outside. Deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia has directed officials not to send any bill to lieutenant governor (L-G) Anil Baijal without the minister concerned approving their comments. Sisodia issued the order soon after the Delhi Assembly passed a bill to regularise 15,000 guest teachers in government schools. The guest teacher regularisation bill passed by the House has to be sent to L-G after comments by the secretaries concerned as per the rule. I have ordered both the law and education secretary not to send the bill to L-G before the ministers approve their (secretaries) comments, Sisodia said on Thursday. Usually, ever since the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government came to power, the officials would directly sent the files to the L-G without taking comments from the ministers. According to the Transaction of Business Rules (TBR), the education and the law departments will comment on the bill, which will then be sent to the L-G by the law secretary. The relations between the officials (bureaucrats) and the AAP government had been bitter since it came to power in February 2015. Last month, CM Arvind Kejriwal had shot a letter to the L-G, saying that a proposal empowering the medical superintendent to fill the vacant posts by hiring requisite experts from outside on contract basis, was sent to him without approval from the health minister Satyendar Jain or to the CM. Before the file was sent to you, I called for the file. To my surprise, the senior officers refused to show me the file saying that they had been instructed by the L-G not to show this file to any minister including the CM, Kejriwal said in a letter to the L-G on September 23. The Delhi Assembly on Wednesday passed the Regularisation of Services of Guest Teachers and Teachers Engaged Under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan Bill, 2017, a bill expected to benefit 15,000 guest teachers. The bill had become a matter of heated debate between the ruling AAP and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) with each side accusing the other over intentions. After the cabinet approved the draft, Baijal asked the CM to re-consider the decision. We hope L-G will sign the bill, Sisodia said. Attacks Modi The Delhi government on Thursday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of misleading people by underplaying the current downturn in the countrys economic growth. Delhis deputy chief minister, Manish Sisodia, claimed the PM presented the facts wrongly when he spoke on the GDP slowdown on Wednesday. The PMs speech was more imaginative than truth. Either he is lying or he is ignoring the scale of economic crisis that the country is facing today. He said the GDP reduced in one quarter when we know it has consistently come down from 9.1% to 5.7% in the last six quarters. And he wants us not to worry, Sisodia, who is also the finance minister of Delhi, said during a presser at the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) office. The AAP leader was referring to the Prime Ministers address to a gathering of Company Secretaries where he had said that his government will continue reforms and not hesitate to take decisions to reverse the GDP slowdown witnessed in the last two quarters. Taking a jibe at Modi, Sisodia said, If I summarise the prime ministers speech...you are patting yourself on the back like a doctor who says the operation has been successful but the patient is dying. Sisodia said that the PM cannot fool people, including economists, by indulging in rhetoric while ignoring facts. He also criticised the PM of drawing parallels with the UPA government which, according to him, also failed to control the economic slowdown. Your government came to power because the previous one failed. Why go back in time and talk about economic crisis then. People used to use bullock carts before, should we stop talking about bullet trains, he said. Sisodia, who is also Delhis education minister, suggested that Modi government must take lessons from the Delhi government in running the country. Not withstanding political differences, they (Centre) can take some lessons on education and health sector from us, he said. The Union government spends almost 1% GDP on health and 3.7% of GDP on education. Our government has spend 13% GDP on health and 23% on education, He pointed out there was no mention of job creation in the 55-minute long speech of the PM. If everything is alright, then what brought the GDP down, he said. . A minor girl fell off the eleventh floor of a building in Faridabad on Wednesday allegedly in a bid to escape. The 14-year-old, who was allegedly being tortured by her employer, got caught in a net and was saved. Doctors said the child had been beaten up and suffers from malnourishment. Police said they were informed about the incident around 7pm. Residents of Kanishka Tower in Sector 37 Faridabad spotted the minor caught in a net on the tenth floor. The net had been reportedly tied to the balcony grille to keep away pigeons. The girl was caught in the net of a flat (number 1001), which was locked. After she was spotted by locals, the flat was opened by the girls employer and she was rescued. We learnt that she had been badly beaten up. She worked as a house help with a student from Patna, who is studying at a private university, said Tarun Sharma, a resident of B block in Kanishka Tower. Once the police control room was alerted, a team from Sarai police station rushed to the spot. The girls employer, a student of engineering at Manav Rachna International University, was taken into custody. The minor was rushed to a local nursing home by residents. The child needs counselling and help from social welfare department. She was battered and is a victim of malnourishment, said Rakesh Sharma of Astha Children Clinic. Harish Malik, chairman of child welfare committee, said the victim was trying to run away and had made a similar attempt earlier. I talked to her. After she made an attempt to flee some time back, the employer had been reprimanding and sometimes beating her, he said. On Wednesday, the victim tried to escape by using the grille to reach to 10th floor, he added. FIR has been registered against the accused identified as Sneha under JJ Act. The families of the accused and the victim are acquainted and based in Patna. Police said they will record the teenagers statement before the child welfare committee. A case will be registered. We have detained the girls employer, SHO Sarai, Dalbir Singh said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Transport minister Kailash Gahlot on Thursday said the government could revoke Delhi metro chief Mangu Singhs appointment if fares were increased on October 10. Gahlot reasoned that Singh, being one of the Delhi governments nominees in Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) board, should not allow a second hike in metro fares. The Delhi government is very serious about disallowing a second fare hike right now. The managing director of DMRC is the governments nominee. So, he too should voice our views as is expected from other government nominees of the board, he told Hindustan Times. In what could escalate the ongoing confrontation between the Aam Aadmi Party government and the DRMC, the minister further said, If the need may arise, where it is found that no effort is being made by him to stop the fare hike, the government will consider removal of the MD. After the first hike in May, metro rides are set to get costlier by up to Rs 10 for those who travel over two kilometers. This has been vehemently opposed by the Delhi government over the past week. A metro official who is not authorized to speak to the media said that as of Thursday evening, the hike was scheduled to be implemented on Tuesday. Even as there is no decision on a fresh board meeting so far, the transport minister asked chief secretary MM Kutty to tell the four other government-nominated directors on the metro board to aggressively oppose the fare hike. Apart from the MD, these directors include the chief secretary, commissioner (transport), principal secretary (finance) and retired IAS officer Ramesh Chandra. It is directed that a meeting of all government-nominated directors, including the DMRCs MD, be convened by you with a view to direct them to aggressively put up the stand of Delhi government against the proposed fare hike, Gahlot said in the directive to Kutty. He asked the chief secretary to submit a report on the action taken on these points by 12 pm on Friday. The Centre and Delhi government have a share of 50% each in the DMRC. While the chairman of its board is always the secretary of the ministry of housing and urban affairs, its MD is appointed by the Delhi government. Singhs tenure as DMRC MD was extended by the Aam Aadmi Party government in December last year. Meanwhile, Kutty, transport commissioner Varsha Joshi and principal secretary (finance) SN Sahai have already written to the directors, demanding a board meeting before October 10. We, the directors, further request the DMRC not to implement the proposed fare hike till the board meeting is held, else the Board meeting will become infructuous, the letter sent by the three officers read. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Thursday asked the police force in the state to adopt a zero tolerance towards crime, especially the organised crime syndicates and gangsters. He also directed them to meet the public for two hours between 11am and 1pm daily on working days to resolve grievances. The chief minister, who also hold the home portfolio, made these directions while chairing a meeting of all commissioners of police and district superintendents of police in Chandigarh. Khattar also announced the setting up of smart police stations in Gurgaon, Faridabad and Panchkula districts. He said there should not be any complaints regarding delay in investigations. All cases should be dealt with on priority so that peoples faith in the police is further enhanced. Instructions were also issued regarding installation of adequate CCTV cameras on highways and also to enhance police patrolling to avoid crime incidents in city areas. Apart from this, a backup of CCTV cameras for one year should be maintained at the respective police stations. The CM also said the present government has appointed about 4,500 constables in a transparent manner. He asked police officers to deal with all cases registered under the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act, 1994, strictly for successful implementation of Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao programme. He also asked the police officers to ensure maximum involvement of corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes to strengthen the network of police control room vehicles. While reviewing the safety arrangements in and around educational institutes, he asked police officers to ensure effective implementation of school safety guidelines as issued by the school education department. Speaking on the occasion, DGP BS Sandhu said Police Mitra Kaksha would be operational in police stations from November 1, 2017. In addition, a special task force (STF), set up to control organised crime, would start functioning from November 1, 2017. Additional director general of police, law and order, Akil Mohammad, IG CID Anil Rao, commissioners of police and district superintendents of police also attended the meeting. Actor Ben Affleck has responded to the backlash received by Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, saying that criticism of the superhero films dark tone is fair. The 45-year-old actor, who played Bruce Wayne/ Batman in the 2016 film, said the portrayal of the Dark Knight in the Zack Snyder-directed movie appeared dissimilar to how one has viewed the characters graph till now. In an interview with Empire magazine, Affleck said, I can understand people saying (Batman v Superman) was too dark, or this was outside the tone of what Im used to seeing with a Batman story, and I think thats a fair criticism. Get a new look at the #JusticeLeague - prints available in October - Check back soon for details. pic.twitter.com/zYirnR4RBI Justice League Movie (@justiceleaguewb) September 29, 2017 The movies bigger in scale than any movie Ive been involved with in my career. It feels massive in terms of the visual elements. Thats something that Zack is really good at. That will be admired. The actor will reprise his role in Justice League, which is slated to release on November 17. Speaking about Justice League, Affleck said, Zack wanted to make a movie that was more fun, that was a little bit light, that wasnt so encumbered with heavy melodrama. The film is currently undergoing reshoots under director Joss Whedon, after Snyder had to depart the project because of a personal tragedy. Follow @htshowbiz for more The best kind of science fiction, I have found, doesnt shoot for the stars in search of grandeur, it searches for the humanity within us. Some of my favourite films and television shows in the genre have been ones that tried to explore the intricacies within our souls. Inception, even with the distracting and often confusing jumps through the world of dreams, essentially makes us want to feel paranoid about our thoughts. Are they really our own? Interstellar, despite the stunning spaceships, black holes and loud church organs, challenges our idea of love. Why do we feel it and what if it is something more real than what we previously thought, enough to move mountains and bring long lost daddies back to their daughters? Arrival, even with its intelligent heptapods and mechanics of communication, raises a question we rarely ask ourselves: How much pain is worth a fleeting moment of pure happiness? Blade Runner, I have now realised, is the one behind it all. It was the beginning of filmmakers realisation that the real purpose of science fiction is to find ourselves, even if the stories are set a billion miles away from Earth. The film, while talking about sentient robots and a depleting planet, asks: What makes us human? Its 2019 and the Earth is turning into a wasteland. Humans love of slavery has not faded away and has led to the rise of artificially intelligent robots created in the image of man. The robots, called Replicants, have now begun to realise the injustice and have rebelled against the humans. They are now barred from entering Earth but a few still manage to get through the cracks. Harrison Ford plays a retired Blade Runner, a special kind of cop assigned to hunt down the Replicants. The police asks him to return one last time and find four of them currently hiding among humans. Fords performances as Han Solo or Indiana Jones never managed to leave a mark on me, but as Rick Deckard, he fit the role like a glove. His transition from has-been cop to man questioning his own humanity was one of the finest performances Ive seen him give. His empty glares, his dismay at realising the truth and the utter frustration at the world, seeping through every inch of his skin, were all essential in making him one of the best sci fi heroes. What worked for me was the music and the visual aesthetic. This was my first time watching the film, but it all felt so familiar. All the neons and the rain felt like a forgotten dream. I have seen it all before, in Akira, The Matrix, Ghost in a Shell, Dead Leaves and a host of other films. To realise this is where it all began was like finding the source of a long river, a shrine that perhaps began an entire religion. The film not only inspired the future but also borrowed heavily from the past; the femme fatale under the protection of a neutral cop, the cop caught between evil heroes and heroic villains, and stylised shots of light entering through windows - it was all straight out of noir cinema. The music is nothing like I had ever heard before. The futuristic synth mixes into tablas and jazzy saxophones and is confident enough to have a mind of its own. It plays all through, setting the mood rather than following it, and makes sure it brings neon restaurant signs back into your mind every time you hear it. The film, I believe, took too long to realise it had all the right ingredients for a sequel. With Blade Runner, Ridley Scott asked: What really makes us human, and why is a sentient robot doomed to such a small life while we reign over them like gods - both questions weve asked God many times. With Blade Runner 2049, we hope Denis Villeneuve guides us into the light. Follow the author @soumya1405 SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Actor Brooke Shields has revealed that she once turned down a date from current US President, Donald Trump. The 52-year-old star, during an appearance on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, recalled how Trump called her soon after his separation from second wife, Marla Maples. I was on location doing a movie and he called me right after he gotten a divorce, Shields told Cohen. And he said, I really think we should date because youre Americas sweetheart and Im Americas richest man and the people would love it, Shields recalled. I have a boyfriend, hes not going to be happy about it, Shields told Trump. However, Shields is not the first celebrity to turn down Trump. Actors Salma Hayek, Candice Bergen and Emma Thompson have also spoken out about their encounters with Trump. Follow @htshowbiz for more Eight newborns died at Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed Medical College and Hospital in Barpeta in Assam since Wednesday night. Five newborns, aged between 2 to 4 days, died at the government hospital located nearly 100 km west from the state capital on Wednesday night while three other deaths took place on Thursday. The hospital authorities, however, denied any negligence on the part of doctors and hospital staff, and said the deaths were due to various other factors like low birth weight of the newborns. Low birth weight is primarily the cause of the deaths, Prof (Dr) Dilip Kumar Dutta, principal cum chief superintendant of the hospital, told HT over phone. Talking to local news channels Dr Dutta denied any technical glitch behind the deaths of the newborns all of whom were kept at the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of the hospital. In many cases, theres very little antenatal care during pregnancies. This leads to very low birth weights of newborns. Of the deaths, most weighed below 2.5 kilos at birth and one newborn was less than a kilo, Dr Dutta said. He said that on an average, 1-2 deaths of newborns take place daily in the hospital and it was just a coincidence that the number shot up between Wednesday and Thursday. State health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma also gave a clean chit to the hospital authorities and stated most cases were due to low birth weights. I have asked the director of medical education to conduct and inquiry, he told journalists. The incident reminds of the deaths of more than 30 children in 48 hours in Uttar Pradeshs Gorakhpur in August. As per 2016 data released by the Union health ministry last week, Madhya Pradesh with 47 deaths per 1000 births recorded the highest infant mortality rate (IMR) in India. Assam and Odisha with 44 deaths were placed second in the list followed by Uttar Pradesh (43) and Rajasthan (41). SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Albany's 22nd annual "Walk for the Cause" welcomes walkers and runners to the Linn County Courthouse in downtown Albany this Saturday, Oct. 7. On-site registration opens at 8 a.m., along with vendor booths and a silent auction. Eight grand marshals are scheduled to share their cancer stories with the crowd before the walk begins at 9. Walkers and runners will cover 5K from the courthouse to Monteith Park, the Dave Clark Trail, and Water Street. Costumes and signs are encouraged. Pets on leashes are allowed. Sponsored by Soroptimist International of Albany, the walk is a fundraiser to support the detection and treatment of breast cancer and other cancers affecting women in Linn County. The 2016 race raised about $50,000. More than $750,000 has been raised in 22 years. The mission of the walk began as a focus on breast cancer in 1995, but has expanded to benefit the detection and treatment of breast cancer and provide support services for other diseases affecting women. Last years Walk Grant recipients were Albany InReach Services, Evergreen Hospice, Lebanon Community Hospital Foundation, Linn County Public Health, Samaritan Cancer Resource Center and Volunteer Caregivers. Soroptimist International of Albany is celebrating its 30th year helping women and children in Albany. Preregistration has ended, but information about the walk and about Soroptimist are available at sialbany.org/walk. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah skipped a scheduled event in Kerala on Thursday after the BJP announced that he was not making an appearance due to compelling reasons. During the Janraksha Yatra, Shah was supposed to lead party workers into Pinarayi, the home village of chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, as part of a high-profile two-week campaign in the state. But party state president Kummanam Rajasekharan said Shah will attend the concluding session of the yatra on October 17 in the state capital.. The prime minister has asked him to stay in Delhi for some important consultations. He will join the yatra once his busy schedule is over, he said. Shah had launched the yatra on Tuesday in Kannur, a district with a history of bloody political violence that has claimed the lives of scores of BJP, RSS and Left Front workers. The CPI (M), however, said that Shahs decision was triggered by a poor response from the crowd. Poor response forced the party president to call it a day. It shows people have rejected the much-publicised exercise of the saffron party, said CPI(M) state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan. The Congress suggested that intense infighting in the state unit might have been a factor in Shahs return to Delhi. Shahs decision to pull out clearly shows the party has run out of steam. Secular credential of the state is very strong and he cant fan trouble here like some north Indian states, said Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala. But the BJP dismissed these charges. Our political opponents are spreading canards. People who witnessed the last two days developments wont say this, Rajasekharan said, adding that he was informed about the change of schedule only in the morning. The yatra passed peacefully through Pinarayi, where CPI(M) workers had put up large hoardings and banners throughout the village carrying pictures of the victims killed allegedly by RSS-BJP workers. The BJP is aiming to use the rally to attack the state government on the issue of killings of its party workers and build momentum in a state where it has never been close to power. On Wednesday, the party had roped in Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath, who led the march and accused the Kerala government of shielding jihadi forces in the state. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON BJP chief Amit Shah skipped a leg of the Jana Raksha Yatra in Kerala that he had inaugurated two days ago with much fanfare. The BJP had announced that the 14-day rally would focus on political violence in Kannur district, where several saffron party and RSS workers have died in clashes with Left members in recent years. Here are 10 things to know: 1. BJP chief Amit Shah has decided to skip the Pinarayi leg of the Jana Raksha Yatra, a stronghold of the Left 2. Shah was expected to lead the yatra through chief minister Pinarayi Vijayans ancestral village as a show of strength in a state where the BJP has never come close to power. 3. BJP state chief Kummanam Rajasekharan said Shah had to skip Thursdays event due to several engagements. 4. Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked Amit Shah to stay in Delhi for important talks, claimed another leader. 5. Shah is scheduled to address the concluding session of the Yatra on October 17 at Thiruvananthapuram. 6. The cancellation has buoyed CPI(M) leaders, who alleged the crowds were sparse at the Yatra and that Shah was scared to visit Pinarayi. Poor response forced the party president to call it a day. It shows people have rejected the much-publicised exercise of the saffron party, said CPI(M) state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan. 7. Shah skipping the rally is also a breather for the administration and police, who were expecting rising tensions and had arranged 3,000 personnel across the district 8. The14-day Yatra was kicked off on Tuesday but soon sparked an intense war of words between the Left and saffron forces 9. The ruling CPI(M) has dismissed the rally as a gimmick and said the BJP had no mass base in the southern state but has decided to organise counter drive against the RSS and BJP. 10. This comes a day after Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath stirred controversy by claiming that the Kerala government supported jihadi elements and that his state had a better health record. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON More than 45,000 people across 42 villages and the most-populated border town of Arnia on Indo-Pak border in Jammu and Kashmir see themselves as sitting ducks for Pakistani artillery. Some of the villages in Arnia sub-sector of Jammu district that witnessed skirmishes from September 13 to September 23 are barely two to three kilometres away from the zero line and are in the line of direct fire. Guns on either side of 198-km long Indo-Pak international border fall silent intermittently, but villagers are sceptical of the fragile peace and live in a constant fear. The two nuclear neighbours had agreed to a ceasefire in November 2003 but that now lies in tatters, as different parts of the line of control and the International Border whistle to the sound of mortar shelling. The arc has widened but Arnia remains in the constant gaze of Pakistan. Artillery horror Chuni Lal, 63, a marginal farmer in Allah village, who lost his wife Ratno Devi, 50, on the intervening night of September 16 and 17 to a Pakistani mortar, recounts the spine-chilling horror. Pakistan was raining mortars that night. All of us my wife, two married sons, their wives and my six grand-children had huddled inside a room. Electricity had snapped after a mortar hit transmission lines. Around 2 am I shifted to an adjoining lobby as it was hot and sultry inside the room. Around 2.30 am my wife and daughter-in-law (Rajni Devi) came to lobby and had just opened the door when a mortar exploded with a deafening sound in our verandah. My wifes left ankle was blown away and she suffered serious injuries in her abdomen too. Rajni was also bleeding profusely. Lal sought a neighbours help, who drove his car for nearly two hours to shift Lal, Ratno Devi and Rajni Devi to a hospital in Jammu city where Ratno died. Besides Ratno Devi, a BSF jawan Brijendra Bahadur was killed and over a dozen villagers were injured in Arnia in Pakistani firing that began on September 13. Lals two sons Om Prakash, 46, and Subhash Chander, 40, work as labourers and do petty jobs to support the family. Traumatised children Subhashs wife Rajni Devi, who had suffered serious injuries, along with her two daughters Mamta, 15, Janvi, 13, and son Nitish, 9, have been living in a relatives house in a safe village, away from Pakistans firing range and away from their school as well. Pakistan had rained 82 mm and 120 mm mortars battalion level low trajectory weapons on hapless villagers. The children are traumatised from what they saw that night. They dont want to return home and we also are apprehensive of this fragile peace. Death stalks us all the time but we dont have any option says Subhash. Grim future Forget childrens education, the people in the border belt of Arnia are deprived of a normal life, says Subhash. In Arnia sub-sector, the state government has shut 33 government schools with a total enrolment of around 1500 students within five km radius of the border. Fifty-year-old Gopal Dass, a small farmer in Allah village says, Education is important, rather indispensable in present times but how could our children pursue it in such a hostile and uncertain atmosphere? Dass divulges another aspect of the shelling. At very young age these children get exposed to loud explosions, bloodshed and deaths. It leaves a permanent scar on their tender minds but then who cares for the children of a lesser God? HT came across a group of small children aged between 5 to 12 years at Pindi Charakan village. When asked why they werent in their schools, six-year-old Tannu replied, Pakistan bomb chalata hai na. School band hain. Humko chupna padta hai. (Pakistan bombs us. Schools are closed. We have to go into hiding during shelling). Farming hit hard Another farmer Rattan Lal, 63, says, While a family (of Chuni Lal) has been ruined, unexploded shells are still lying in the agricultural fields. The farmers are still not going to their fields because you never know when Pakistan starts firing at us. They cannot be trusted. Initially, heavy shelling destroyed our paddy crop, especially in the fields beyond barbed fence (towards Pakistani territory), and now out of fear, we are not able to irrigate whatever is left. Lal, like several other villagers, feels that they are caught in a Catch-22 situation. Farming, by and large, is the major source of livelihood in the border areas. Thoru Ram, 56, informs that though there has been no firing since September 23, the BSF as a precautionary measure, was not allowing farmers to go to their fields beyond the barbed fence. Farmers on other side (in Pakistan) are also not coming to their fields, he says. 7,000 people, one bunker Allah village with a population of 7,000 has only one bunker where an optimum of 30 people can take refuge during shelling. The villagers dubbed it a cruel joke as water seeps in and fills almost half the bunker during monsoons. It turns into a pool of water and is of no use. The government has spent Rs 5 lakh on it but it would have been far better and practical had the government constructed individual bunkers in the houses of the villagers, says Thoru Ram, 56. When mortars are being rained, how could one think of reaching one corner of the village to get into the bunker? I think government of the day should apply some mind, he mocks. In Rajouri district, hundred bunkers are being constructed while the state government has submitted a proposal to the Centre for constructing 621 community bunkers at a cost of Rs 6 lakh each and 8,197 individual bunkers at a cost of Rs 2.40 lakh each. Pakistans arc of fire Since May 1, when Pakistani Border Action Teams killed and beheaded two Indian soldiers JCO Paramjit Singh and BSF head constable Prem Sagar in Krishna Ghati (KG) sector of Poonch district, there has been no let up in Pakistani firing and shelling in Rajouri and Poonch border districts. In Nowshera sector of Rajouri, incessant Pakistani shelling triggered migration of over 4,000 villagers to six relief camps in Nowshera town in May. Pakistan also opened other fronts along the international border in Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts from August onwards. It has been a pattern of the enemy (Pakistan). During summers when there is no snow on the mountains and passes, Pakistan tries to push terrorists via LoC in Poonch and Rajouri districts and in winters their focus shifts to international border in Jammu region, usually Hiranagar, RS Pura, Arnia and Ramgarh. In the process they adopt all ploys of opening unprovoked fire on our posts and then flaring up the situation by targeting villages, says a senior Army officer. A police officer said that Arnia, the largest border town of the state just three km from the border is a soft target for Pakistan. The town has a population of nearly 20,000. They (Pakistan Rangers) are known for targeting hapless villagers and they know it is thickly populated, the officer adds. However, defence officials say there are other reasons, which cant be shared in public domain. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A student of Banaras Hindu University (BHU) was arrested for allegedly dragging a fellow-student by her hair and assaulting her on Thursday, barely a fortnight after the century-old institute was rocked by protests over an incident of sexual abuse on campus. The BHU administration also suspended the accused, identified as Sheetala Sharan Gond, a student of public administration who was said to be angry after the woman allegedly refused to talk to him. The woman, a post-graduate student, lodged a police complaint after informing the universitys proctorial board, now headed by a woman. A four-member committee has been constituted to probe the incident, , BHU spokesperson Rajesh Singh said. The panel will submit its report within 15 days. Police said the woman alleged that Gond misbehaved with her, snatched her mobile and smashed it on the ground. Gond allegedly followed her to the classroom where he slapped her in front of other students, police added. The station officer of Lanka police station, Sanjiv Mishra, said a case has been registered. The incident came on a day a team of the National Commission for Women (NCW) began a probe into the September 23 police baton-charge on women students who were demanding action over an alleged sexual harassment case. The caning by male police personnel on protesting students had sparked nationwide outrage, and put the spotlight on lack of security for women at the sprawling campus in Prime Minister Narendra Modis parliamentary constituency. The varsity reopened on Tuesday after an extended Dusherra holiday, announced a day after the violence on September 23. NCW member Rekha Sharma recorded statements of several students and professors, including professor Pratima Gond who sustained injuries during the baton-charge. Sharma also met proctor Royana Singh. Sharma, who is in Varanasi with two legal experts, said she would question the university vice chancellor Girish Chandra Tripathi, who is currently on indefinite leave, about the cases. I am here for two days. But if he doesnt appear before the commission, I will summon him (to Delhi), Sharma, who also holds the additional charge of NCW chairperson, told HT. Senior superintendent of police RK Bhardwaj apprised the NCW of the progress of the probe into the case of violence. He also briefed her about the investigations into the alleged sexual harassment. Earlier, police had registered a case against 1,000 unidentified students in connection with the incident before handing over the probe to the crime branch which served notice to 13 students and seven members of the proctorial board. A judicial committee headed by a retired judge of the Allahabad high court is also probing the incident. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), led by its state president and member of the Jammu and Kashmir legislative assembly (MLA), Sat Sharma along with Lok Sabha member of parliament (MP) Jugal Kishore Sharma, Rajya Sabha MP Shamsher Singh Manhas, state general secretary (organisation) Ashok Kaul held a protest march on Thursday against the atrocities on activists and their families affiliated to the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in Kerala. The leaders of the BJP from the state, district, mandals, wards and morchas participated in the foot march, while raising slogans against the Kerala government asked it to stop the mayhem. The march started from the Kachi Chawni and passed through the Sabji Mandi, Purani Mandi and the bus stand to culminate near the Press Club. Sat Sharma, while addressing, criticised the Kerala government for its indifference towards the ever increasing number of attacks on activists and their families affiliated with BJP and RSS. He said that the Kerala government has failed miserably in defending the democracy by not just promoting the attacks, but also shielding the attackers. Jugal Kishore Sharma said the nation is united over failed policies of the Kerala government and Jana Raksha Yatra is being carried all over India to show the solidarity with the activists of Kerala. Rahim Ahmad was just 12 years old when he fell in love with a girl from his neighbourhood. But the affair did not last and a heartbroken Rahim, then a Class 7 student, took to cannabis. His school grades started falling and he dropped out in Class 10; his parents brought him to a de-addiction centre recently. I was a bit depressed after the failed relationship and friends introduced me to it (cannabis)...but soon I became addicted and used to spend Rs120-Rs 400 daily, he told HT, a cocky youngster with haggard looks. Years of conflict, marked by bomb blasts and gun battles, have shrouded one of Kashmirs biggest problems: rising drug abuse among the Valleys youth. Data from Srinagars SMHS Hospital one of the biggest in the state show an 85% increase in the number of drug and substance abuse cases, from 410 in 2014 to 759 in 2016. Combined cases of drug abuse and related psychological issues also went up from more than 14,500 cases in 2014 to 33,222 in 2016, a staggering 130% increase in two years. This year till April alone, this number is 13,352. A United Nations International Drug Control Programme survey in 2008 estimated 70,000 drug addicts in Kashmir, out of which 4,000 were women. Though recent statewide numbers are not available, the data shows the growing problem in a state where militancy has killed thousands of people including civilians and security personnel over the years. Read: Young Kashmiris pursue their dreams in half-burnt school buildings Experts say the geographical location of Jammu and Kashmir helps in easy availability of drugs in the state; police say mostly from Pakistan. The ongoing turmoil has also played a huge role in pushing many to drugs, which many see as a means to escape the pain of the never-ending war. Stress and the overall turmoil naturally play a role but other factors like peer pressure, unemployment, easy availability (of the drugs) and the fact that no one wants to talk about the issue is an area of concern, too, said Arshad Hussain, a leading psychiatrist and professor, who has been practising for 17 years at the SMHS Hospital. But despite the problem, there are only two operational de-addiction centres in Srinagar one run by the police at Batamaloo and the other at the SMHS Hospital. Talking about the issue is still considered a taboo the de-addiction centre at SMHS hospital is called a community centre. Officials said this has been done to ensure that those seeking help dont face social stigma. From cannabis to medicinal opioids to inhalants such as glue and paint thinner, the youth of Kashmir are getting hooked to different substances, officials said. But it is cannabis that is most commonly used, largely due to its easy availability. Rahim Ahmad from Anantnag in South Kashmir, who was first introduced to cannabis by his neighbourhood friends, said even cleaners and sanitation staff sell it by the roadside to make quick money. Cannabis is considered a gateway drug, a common medical parlance used to describe substances that supposedly lead users on to more addictive or dangerous drugs. Arshad Hussain also said between 2000 and early 2008, substance abuse was seen mostly in the age group of 18-35. It was limited to the use of medicinal opioids. However, currently the addiction has reached as low as 10-year-olds getting into solvent abuse. It is in schools that they are getting introduced to cannabis now, he said. He also pointed to a correlation between mental illness and the use of cannabis. In most of the cases of psychiatry problems, we found that 70% tested positive for cannabis, especially in the case of men. The stigma has to be removed. It is still considered a taboo subject. Naturally, those who want help will think twice before coming forward. The government needs to ensure that school authorities counsel students at the young age itself, Hussain added. Read | Losing sight in Kashmir: Pellet guns shatter many dreams Education minister Syed Altaf Bukhari acknowledged that drug abuse is a problem among school children but played down the situation. The problem is there but it is minuscule as far as schools are concerned. It is certainly not alarming. Young students get influenced in this age especially due to the peer pressure. There is also a huge disconnect between the parents and children these days. The environment in the Valley also plays a part. We have asked schools to ensure there is proper counselling provided to students, he added. Most of the patients admitted to the hospital are between the age group of 15 an 35 years and of these 90% are between 15 and 25, officials said. Patients from Srinagar, Anantnag, Pulwama, Torda among others come from far-flung areas to get help, they said. I dropped out of college because of this habit. I was brought to the hospital five days back. My mother is aware but I havent told my father. Once I am fine I will move out of Srinagar. Its a little depressing here so will move out of the state and stay with my sister, said Rehmat, another youth undergoing rehabilitation. According to home department data, between October 2014- 2016, more than 3800 people were treated for de-addiction in Jammu, Srinagar, Anantnag and Baramulla. The highest number of cases came from Srinagar (2,260), followed by Jammu (610), Anantnag (603) and Baramulla (391). Last week, state director general of police SP Vaid sent out a tweet from the official account of Jammu and Kashmir Police. Lets free Kashmir from gun, grenade, drugs and bring peace, prosperity and smiles, he said. It just showed how deep-rooted the problem of drug abuse in Kashmir is alongside guns and grenades. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Fewer children are being adopted in the country, a concern raised by Union women and child development minister Maneka Gandhi who has asked states to implement in full the adoption guidelines to help more kids find a home. Only 2,671 children were adopted within the country in 2016-17 (till March 14). Though there is no official data, surveys done by various NGOs say there are approximately 50,000 orphans in India. This is of great concern as the adoption of children in need of care and protection under the JJ (juvenile justice) act, 2015, is not getting implemented in the right earnest, Gandhi wrote to states on Wednesday. According to ministry data, 14,000 applicants are in the queue to adopt but only 1,800 children are available. The yawning gap is because several states have failed to set up child welfare committees (CWCs), whose nod is a must before a child is cleared for adoption. A CWC has the same powers as a judicial magistrate first class. A child can be brought before the committee (or a member of the committee) by police, a public servant or a social worker. It ensures that the child is not stolen or forcibly being given up. .in many of the districts, either the CWC is not in place or the quorum of minimum number of three members is not complete, says the letter, a copy of which is with Hindustan Times. The Centre in 2015 came out with an exhaustive framework for adoptions to plug holes in the system as few people were going through the government to adopt. The whole process has gone online and all orphanages have to register with Central Adoption Resource Authority (Cara), the countrys nodal body for adoptions. But many orphanages fail to register children, preferring to operate on the sly and make money. The minister had earlier this year written to health minister JP Nadda, seeking action against unscrupulous nursing homes, hospitals and their agents who failed to register children born to unwed mothers or parents not desiring a child, under the legal system of adoption. These children, Gandhi said, were more often than not put into the illegal system of adoption. The minister also expressed concern over legal delays, saying a large number of adoption cases were pending beyond the stipulated period of two months in family and district courts. I would request that review of the same must be taken by the state governments on monthly basis, the minister said, suggesting that the help of juvenile justice committees of high courts be taken to dispose of the cases in time. Courts are the final stop in the process, as they legalise the adoption. With courts saddled with a huge backlog, adoptions are not a priority and sometime legalising an adoption can take up to four years. The minister has asked the state governments to ensure cribs were put outside nursing homes and orphanages for safe abandonment of children. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A Delhi cop was taken off duty after a photograph of self-styled god woman Radhe Maa seated in his office chair started doing the rounds on Thursday. The photograph, taken on September 28, shows SHO Sanjay Sharma standing next to the controversial god-woman with folded hands and a red chunri (stole) hanging around his neck while in uniform. Radhe Maa, whose real name is Sukhvinder Kaur, has been accused of hurting religious sentiments, threatening, obscenity and other offences. Here are 10 things to know about the controversial godwoman: 1) Radhe Maa was born in Dorangala village of Gurdaspur district in Punjab. She dropped out of school after Class 4 and married Mohan Singh at the age of 17. She had two sons when her husband went abroad for work. It is said that one of her sons is planning his acting debut. 2) Her beginnings are said to be humble. She used to work as a seamstress in Punjab. 3) She was 23 when she became a disciple of Mahant Ram Deen Das of 1008 Paramhans Bagh Dera Mukerian, in Hoshiarpur district. Das gave her the title of Radhe Maa, meaning Mother Radha. 4) Kaur likes the colour red; she almost always wears red clothes and carries a mini trishul (trident). 5) Her followers believe she is an avatar of Goddess Durga, and filmmaker Subhash Ghai and Bhojpuri actor Ravi Kishan are among her supporters. According to her official website, Chhoti Maa and Talli Baba are her closest followers. Talli Baba arranges her calendar. 6) Radhe Maa is based in the Borivali suburb of Mumbai. She lives at the residence of a Mumbai businessman Sanjeev Gupta. The house is called Radhe Maa Bhavan by her devotees and Gupta is a managing trustee of Shri Radhe Guru Maa Charitable Trust. 7) Radhe Maa ran into trouble when Guptas daughter-in-law Nikki accused Kaur of inciting her in-laws to demand more dowry, and of forcing her to work at the ashram where she was physically assaulted. On August 6, 2015, the Mumbai Police declared her an absconder in this alleged case of dowry harassment and issued a lookout notice against her. 8) In 2015, Union minister of state for social justice and empowerment Vijay Sampla defended Radhe Maa against allegations and said she is not controversial at all. Yes, I respect Radhe Maa and her style of preaching. Is it a sin? She is not controversial at all and all stories about her have been cooked by the media. The self-styled spiritual leader Radhe Maa interacts with the media at Walkeshwar, in Mumbai. (Anshuman Poyrekar/HT photo) Images of Radhe Maa in a miniskirt were circulating on social media. (Photo courtesy: Twitter handle @kharwar_IITD) 9) Two years back, a TV actress Dolly Bindra had also filed a criminal case against Radhe Maa for sexual exploitation. Bindra, who is known for her participation in reality show Big Boss, filed a complaint with the police alleging that Radhe Maa and her supporters sexually assaulted her. 10) Her official website www.radhemaa.com was hacked in August 2015 and pictures of her clad in a red miniskirt and boots were posted online. The hacker, who called himself Santya Haxor, posted several pictures of Radhe Maa. Besides the ones depicting her in miniskirt, there were photos that purportedly showed her embracing two men. (A version of this article was first published in September 2017) Kannada journalist Gauri Lankesh, a strident critic of religious extremism who was shot dead last month, has been awarded a prestigious global award, given in the memory of a slain Russian reporter and political activist. Lankesh, 55, shared the Reach All Women in WAR (RAW in WAR) Anna Politkovskaya Award with Gulalai Ismail, 31, a Pakistani peace activist who has faced death threats for speaking out against the Taliban. This award is a morale booster for people who want to write, and fight...It honours what Gauri stood for -- that you cannot silence me, Lankeshs sister, Kavitha, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation . In a note, the award committee said, It is not by coincidence that Gauris work, her personality and the way she was killed for her work reminded us so much of the way Anna lived and died for the truth. Lankesh is the first person from India to receive the honour. Addressing a press conference here, Kavitha said the award does not belong to the family but to everyone who stood by Gauri. Lankesh, an outspoken newspaper editor, was shot dead outside her home by unidentified assailants in Bengaluru on September 5, raising concerns about press freedom in India. Opposition parties and critics say that journalists seen as critical of the ruling BJP and ts brand of Hindutva are often insulted on social media and women reporters have been threatened with assault. Lankesh often wrote about religious violence, the malaise of Indias hierarchical caste system and criticised the rise of hardline Hindu groups since the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) swept to power in 2014. Speaking about the investigation into Lankeshs murder, Kavitha said the family will be happy only after the killers are brought to justice. I want the motive to be known so that Gauri will get justice, Lankeshs brother Indrajit said. The family said they are in touch with senior officers of the special investigation team formed to probe the murder. The family recently opposed a proposal to make a movie on the murder. Kavitha said the family doesnt have a problem with people making a movie about the slain journalist. But we dont want it now, when the family is still mourning, she said. The award marks the 11th anniversary of the killing of Politkovskaya, a Russian investigative reporter and activist who uncovered state corruption and rights abuses, especially in Chechnya. She was shot dead in the lobby of her Moscow apartment block at the age of 48 on October 7, 2006. RAW in WAR, a London-based, non-governmental organisation supporting women human rights defenders and victims of war, also honoured Rohingya refugee Jamalida Begum, who spoke out publicly about her rape by Myanmar security forces. (With agency inputs) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Karnataka high court Chief Justice S K Muherjee will retire on October 9, taking the number of high courts without regular CJs in the country to seven. There are 24 HCs in the country of which the HCs of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Calcutta, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand and Manipur are without a full-time chief justice, sources in the law ministry said. The Andhra Pradesh and Telangana HC has had an acting CJ since July 30 last year while the Calcutta high court has an acting chief justice since December 1, 2016. Acting CJs were appointed to the Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand and Manipur high courts this year. Sources in the ministry confirmed there is no move to fill these vacancies in the next few days. Justice Mukherjees name was recommended for transfer to the Uttarakhand high court in May last year but it did not go through. He was to replace the Uttarakhand HC CJ K M Joseph who had sought a transfer on health grounds and was recommended for transfer to the Andhra Pradesh/Telangana HC. The government is yet to take a call on the two recommendations of the Supreme Court collegium. On October 1, the total number of vacancies of HC judges stood at 387 as against 1079 sanctioned positions. Despite a string of appointments last month, Allahabad HC is still 50 judges short of the sanctioned strength of 160 while Calcutta HC has more than half of the 72 judges posts still lying vacant. Nearly a third of HC judges posts are still vacant in the country amid the wait for a new set of guidelines for appointments. The Memorandum of Procedure (MOP) stuck due to differences between the judiciary and the executive over its contours. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Air force chief BS Dhanoa warned Pakistan on Thursday that India has the capability to locate, fix and strike targets across the border. Air Chief Marshal Dhanoas comments came in response to a question on the possibility of Pakistan using tactical nuclear weapons against India. He said Indias options were outlined in its nuclear doctrine. It is answered in that what happens when the enemy decides to use nuclear weapons on us. As far as the IAF is concerned, it has the ability to locate, fix and strike and that is not only for tactical nuclear weapons but also for other targets across the border. Pakistan should not be expected to exercise restraint if India strikes its nuclear installations, the countrys foreign minister, Khawaja Asif, said in response to Dhanoas warning. Thats the most diplomatic language I can use, Asif said in Washington DC, suggesting a full-scale nuclear war. Pakistan has the worlds fastest-growing nuclear arsenal but its safety has been a cause of global anxiety. More so for New Delhi after premier Shahid Khaqan Abbasi declared in September that his country has developed short-range nuclear weapons to counter threats from India. Dhanoa was speaking to reporters at his customary press conference ahead of the India Air Forces 85th anniversary on October 8. #WATCH: IAF Chief BS Dhanoa addresses at IAF's annual press conference in Delhi. https://t.co/CNXMhLc90q ANI (@ANI) October 5, 2017 He said IAF assets werent used during the military surgical strikes on militant camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir or in Myanmar last year, but the air force is capable of full spectrum operations. A decision on targeted operations would have to be taken by the government, he added. According to him, the air force has the ability to fight a two-front war with China and Pakistan, though the possibility of such a war is low. But the enemys intentions can change overnight, he cautioned. He said the IAF would take at least 15 years to deploy its authorised strength of 42 fighter squadrons but its existing fleet is mission-ready. The IAF has 33 combat squadrons with 16 to 18 planes each. We need 42 squadrons to carry out full spectrum operations, but it doesnt mean we cant fight a two-front scenario. There is a Plan B, he said. He is second top military man to underscore the threat from Chinas growing assertiveness in the region as well as increasing Pakistani hostilities. China is gradually taking over territory and testing Indias threshold, army chief General Bipin Rawat said in September just after the countries ended one of their worst military face-offs in Doklam, a disputed area across Sikkim. He referred to China and Pakistan as northern and western adversaries, and said the country needs to be prepared for a two-front war. Dhanoa asserted that the IAF is ready to fight at short notice if need be. The air chief said Chinese troops were still in Doklams Chumbi valley for an exercise. We hope they will leave soon after its over, he said, reiterating an agreement of troop withdrawal that ended the months-long standoff in that strategic area. I expect the forces to withdraw in the future both countries are major economic and military powers in the region and expected to display maturity in resolving contentious issues, he said. Dhanoa said a batch of Rafale fighters from France and single-engine warplanes to be built in India will enhance the air forces operational capabilities. Besides, he highlighted a milestone in the IAF when Indias first batch of woman combat pilots will begin flying warplanes from December. Flying officers Bhawana Kanth, Mohana Singh and Avani Chaturvedi, enlisted in June 2016, are training on British Hawk advanced jet trainers at Kalaikunda in West Bengal. Dhanao said the IAF will pursue a programme to buy more midair refuellers. India is set to launch a fresh hunt for flying tankers to expand the strategic reach of its air force. The IAF is expected to float a tender for at least six such planes that could cost above $2 billion. A four-cornered contest is in the offing with American, Russian, European and Israeli military contractors eyeing the lucrative deal. (with inputs from agencies and HTC in Washington) Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad is being questioned by the CBI in connection with a case of alleged irregularities in giving the maintenance contract for two IRCTC hotels to a private firm. The contracts were given when Lalu was the railway minister. Lalu did not speak to the media while entering the CBI headquarters in New Delhi at 11am Thursday. He was accompanied by his daughter and Rajya Sabha MP, Misa Bharti, who was asked to wait in the lobby. The former Bihar chief minister was taken to the investigation officer of the case. Lalu had earlier skipped three summons by the CBI seeking more time due to prior engagements. The CBI has also summoned his son Tejashwi Yadav in the same case on Friday. According to the CBI FIR, when Lalu was the Union miniter, the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation a subsidiary of the Indian Railways handed over the maintenance of its two hotels in Ranchi (Jharkhand) and Puri (Odisha) to Sujata Hotel, a company owned by Vinay and Vijay Kochhar, in return for a prime plot of three acres in Patna through a benami company. A case was registered naming Lalu, his wife Rabri Devi, a former Bihar chief minister, son Tejashwi and Sarla Gupta, wife of Prem Chand Gupta, a former Union minister, as accused in the case. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The CBI questioned Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad for more than seven hours on Thursday over alleged irregularities in contracts awarded to a private firm during his tenure as railway minister nearly a decade ago. Upon emerging from the CBI headquarters at New Delhi late in the evening, the RJD chief dubbed the ongoing investigation against his family as political vendetta by the BJP-ruled Centre. I turned the loss-making Railways around with a record Rs 7,000-crore profit. It became a case study for Harvard. But now I am being accused of a scam. This is a political conspiracy against me and my family, he said. Prasad admitted that the CBI officials behaved cordially with him. They are just doing what the government has told them to do, he said. But I will uproot communalism and fascism even if the BJP hangs me. The case registered by the CBI named Prasad, his wife Rabri Devi, son Tejashwi and Sarla Gupta the wife of former Union minister Prem Chand Gupta as the accused in the case. Prasad refrained from speaking to the media while entering the CBI headquarters around 11 am. He was accompanied by his daughter, Rajya Sabha MP Misa Bharti, who was asked to wait in the lobby. The RJD chief had earlier missed three summons by the CBI due to prior engagements. The CBI has also called his son, Tejashwi Yadav, in connection with the same case on Friday. According to the CBI FIR, the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation a subsidiary of the Indian Railways awarded the maintenance contract for two of its hotels in Ranchi and Puri to Sujata Hotels (a company owned by Vinay and Vijay Kochhar) in return for a prime three-acre plot in Patna through a benami company. This happened during Prasads tenure as the railway minister between 2004 and 2009. Opposition parties have termed the investigation against Prasad and his family as selective targeting of political leaders opposed to the ruling dispensation. The BJP government is targeting Opposition leaders in the spirit of vengeance. Such an approach can spell doom for democracy in this country, said Samajwadi Party spokesperson Rajendra Chaudhary. Communist Party of India leader D Raja said that while he has no objection to investigation agencies doing their job, they should not be used to settle political scores. Nobody hears about scams in BJP-ruled states. What happened to the Vyapam scam? Or the diversion of funds meant for the PDS system in Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand? Why has the government not issued a white paper on the Panama papers? he questioned. The Sharad Yadav-led faction of the Janata Dal(United) said it will discuss ways to counter the NDA governments alleged attacks on political opponents during a meeting of the party national council on October 8. All Opposition leaders must come together on this, said party leader Arun Srivastava. Questions are being raised over the way an accident victim, 19-year-old daily wager in Thanjavur, was airlifted to a private hospital where jailed AIADMK leader VK Sasikalas husband, M Natarajan, underwent a liver and kidney transplant operation with the organs harvested from his body. The Global Hospital in Chennai admitted that the family of the patient, Karthik, were advised against moving the boy from the Tanjavur hospital but they preferred to shift him to the Chennai Gleneagles Global Health City for specialised treatment. It was here that the doctors treated Karthik but failed to revive him and declared brain- dead. The family of the boy consented to organ donation and his liver and kidney were donated to Natarajan, Gleneagles Global Health City said in a statement. Doctors conducted a seven-hour long operation for successful operation, the hospital said. But activists raised questions over the way the entire operation was carried out. Incidentally, reports said that Natarajan had registered with the organ transplant authority for liver and kidney and was waiting for the same for the past few days. Raising serious doubts over the whole exercise, BJP Tamil Nadu unit president, Tamilisai Soundararajan, on Thursday demanded a thorough inquiry into the whole affair, saying that the rights on organs belong to the hospital that declared the boy brain-dead that is, the government hospital in Tanjavur. All rules relating to organ donation and transplant were flouted, she alleged, saying that the case must be investigated. A lawyer contacted us and told us that insurance money would take care of treatment of Karthik at a bigger hospital in Chennai, Karthiks sister told a private television channel here. She said, We were advised to donate but were not aware to whom they were given. How could the family of the very poor boy afford him being airlifted to a private hospital in Chennai and who paid for the services raised important questions that point to a foul play, said Soundararajan. Incidentally, the person who allowed the organ transplant, Dr P Balaji, heads the Transplant Authority of Tamil Nadu. He was made the head of this body only recently. Dr Balaji is also the doctor who attested the fingerprint of former chief minister J Jayalalithaa on the election forms of AIADMK candidates. Citing this, the BJP leader said a high-level thorough probe into the whole affair would bring out the truth. Natarajan was admitted to the hospital at Perumbakkam on September 10 after he suffered multiple organ failure. Sasikala had earlier sought 15-day parole in order to meet Natarajan. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Madhya Police filed a case against 1,000 unidentified Congress workers a day after allegedly rounding up dozens of farmers in a Bundelkhand town and allegedly forcing them to strip inside a police station. The FIR on Wednesday coincided with an escalation in the political battle between the Congress, which led Tuesdays farm protest, and the Bharatiya Janata Party government of chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. Chouhan accused the Congress of creating tension, and state home minister Bhupendra Singh ordered an inquiry into whether the farmers at Tikamgarh were made to strip or took off their clothes on their own. Congress workers were steadfast. We will intensify our protest if government doesnt pay any attention to the demands of farmers, said state Youth Congress president Kunal Chaudhary during a protest in the state capital Bhopal. The party also called for a strike and went on a protest march in Tikamgarh, where the situation was tense. Bundelkhand is one of the most distressed farm regions in Madhya Pradesh, which saw violent protests in June over the issue of loan waivers. Five farmers were killed in police firing at the time, triggering a larger unrest that put chief minister Chouhan in a spot. On Wednesday, leader of opposition in the state assembly Ajay Singh asked the CM to resign for what he called were atrocities against farmers. The Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee president Arun Yadav said the state unit has informed Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi about the situation and the party will launch a wider campaign against the government. Chhatarpur range DIG KC Jain visited Tikamgarh on Wednesday to prepare a report on Tuesdays incident of alleged police excesses. Five doctors of the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (PGIMS), Rohtak, on Wednesday agreed to undergo polygraph test in connection with the disappearance of a newborn child from the hospital ward on September 10. The doctors had earlier refused to undergo the test and the police had alleged that they were not cooperating in the probe. Doctors expressed reservation about going to the police station for interrogation, and urged hospital administration to provide in-house security to them whenever they are called by the police. SP Sir warned them of action since it is a criminal case. The doctors were told that they are bound to cooperate in the investigations. They finally agreed to undergo the test this afternoon, said Rakesh Saini, SHO of the PGIMS police station. After their consent, the police moved the court and sought permission to conduct the lie-detection test on 14 suspects, who also include nine staff nurses and Class-4 employees of the hospital. The SHO said the permission was granted. Meanwhile, the resident doctors continued their strike for the second day, crippling the healthcare at the largest hospital of Haryana. The doctors had expressed reservation about going to the police station for interrogation, and urged the hospital administration to provide in-house security to them whenever they are called by the police. Hospital staff holding a demonstration in Rohtak on Wednesday. (Manoj Dhaka/HT) OPD SERVICES BADLY HIT Due to doctors strike, services such as scheduled surgeries and out-patient department were badly hit. Many patients complained they were being asked by the hospital to arrange for private care. My wife complained of sweat and acute weakness this morning. We checked her blood pressure in the village, which was found to very low. I brought her here at PGIMS. They just did some checking and told she has heart problem, and asked us to get her admitted to some private hospital instead, said Om Prakash, a resident of Rohtak district. The hospital, however, maintained that emergency care and deliveries are not being affected by the strike. The number of patients has come down, but no patient requiring emergency care is being turned down by the hospital. Senior doctors are working round the clock to cater to emergency patients, said PGIMS spokesperson Dr Prashant Kumar. He strongly denied media reports attributing deaths at hospital to the ongoing strike of doctors. The demands of the doctors are being considered. We are hopeful they will end the strike very soon, he added. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON For 17-year-old Kate Lam (name changed) the offer for a job in Singapore seemed the best chance to escape the poverty of her home at Churachandpur district in Manipur. The minor, however, had no idea that she would become a victim of an international trafficking racket and would be sent illegally to Myanmar to be flown later to Singapore to work as domestic worker. She was lucky. Timely action by Indian authorities ensured the minor along with seven others (three minors)all from Churachandpur--were rescued from traffickers in Yangon and brought back home last month. The girls, who were trafficked in June this year, were victims of an emerging racket of trafficking girls from poverty stricken or broken homes in northeast India to countries in South East Asia via Myanmar. Arrests of six traffickers in India and several Myanmar nationals in the neighbouring country in recent weeks have revealed how vulnerable girls are lured with offers of good jobs and trafficked abroad. The prime accused, a 32-year-old woman named Esther Lalpianmawii, a resident of Manipur, has confessed to have trafficked over 100 girls through Myanmar in the past two years, Churachandpur superintendant of police Rakesh Balwal told Hindustan Times. The latest case came to light after Balwal and his team rescued six girls while they were being transported to Myanmar. Last year too police in Manipur had rescued four girls from the state before they were sent across the border. We came to know about the plight of the girls in Yangon after one of them managed to contact her parents who in turn informed us. We contacted Myanmar government and the Indian embassy there, which resulted in their rescue, Balwal said. India and Myanmar have a free movement agreement which allows people from either side residing within a 16-km radius of the international border to travel to the other side and stay for a maximum of 72 hours without visa or passports. Traffickers use this arrangement to make fake documents for the trafficked girls so that they are able to enter Myanmar through the Moreh-Tamu border for their onward journey to Yangon. There they are kept in hideouts where they are provided training. The good looking ones are taught beauty treatments while others are trained about domestic chores. The traffickers procure fake Myanmarese passports for the girls before sending them to South East Asian nations, said Balwal. Interaction with the girls after their return to Manipur last week revealed that 20-30 of them were kept in each room and were not allowed to go out or interact with others before they are sent to SE Asian countries. Since the trafficked girls entered Myanmar without Indian passports and valid visas, bringing them back involved lot of paperwork and legal procedure. Besides government agencies, Impulse NGO Network (INGON)a Shillong-based non-profit organisation, which works in Myanmar as well, provided crucial help. The trend of trafficking girls from the northeast through Myanmar emerged nearly a year ago. Last year six girls from Mizoram, who were being taken to the neighbouring country, were rescued. Usually the destination points are Singapore and Malaysia, said Hasina Kharbhih, chairperson of the INGON. Kharbhihs team in Myanmar coordinated the rescue of the girls from a room on the fifth floor of a Yangon hotel and took care of their stay, legal processes, counseling and repatriation. We have been handling human trafficking cases for over two decades and in the recent case we used all our expertise to rescue the girls on September 9 and then take care of them until they reached Kolkata on September 29 and Manipur a day later, Kharbhih said. Though they have returned to India, the rescued girls are apprehensive to return home due to social stigma. The authorities in Manipur have placed them in care of experts who are counseling them and will provide vocational training to help them earn a livelihood. Balwal claims to have busted the trafficking racket in Churachandpur district. But there is likelihood of more traffickers like Esther still active in other states of the region. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The government has asked federal think tank NITI Aayog to draw up a roadmap to boost the economy and create jobs, Aayog officials said on Thursday, amid growing concerns over the countrys financial health. Officials said the plan will be for the remainder of the BJP-led governments term at the Centre. The next general elections are scheduled in 2019. Faced with mounting criticism of his economic policies, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday mounted a fierce defence of the governments actions, including last years demonetisation and roll out of the Goods and Servcies Tax (GST). Aayog officials said the think tank has also begun working on drawing up sector-wise actionable plans for 2022 under a new initiative focusing on India in its 75 year after Independence. The exercise is being carried out on directions from Modi who is also the chairman of think tank. Fixing agriculture, revenue generation and increasing the number of jobs are the key focus areas for the think tank, apart from improving social sector indices. We have been asked to come up with actionable targets for 2022. The exercise will also define the roadmap for setting and achieving goals in the short term, said a senior officer involved with the exercise. Another top official said NITI vice chairman Rajiv Kumar held meetings with scientists and innovators on Wednesday as part of the outreach to get ideas for a paradigm shift for higher employment generation across sectors. Besides criticism from its political opponents, the government has been sounded out by two senior BJP leaders, former ministers Yashwant Sinha and Arun Shourie, who recently described the economic policies as out of sync with reality. The BJPs ideological mentor, the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS), has also criticised the government on the economic front. Modi defence of his governments handling of the economy came shortly after the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) lowered its GVA growth estimates for the current year from 7.3% to 6.7% Modi admitted the growth rate had come down in April-June this year, but said the government is committed to reverse that and we are ready to take the decisions. The nations financial stability too has to be maintained and we will keep taking steps to improve the economy, the Prime Minister said. Earlier, growth in the first quarter of the current fiscal had slumped to 5.7% The think tank had released a 210-page three-year action agenda in August, which was criticised for being low on actionable goals. Then vice chairman of the aayog Arvind Panagriya had also promised two longer-term documents: one seven-year strategy document and a 15-year vision document. He, however, resigned in soon after. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to stop making excuses and deliver on his promises, a day after Modi complained about pessimism spread by some people in the country. Gandhi said the PM should show magnanimity in admitting that he had not been able to deliver on his promises made before the 2014 polls. Instead of talking about people creating an atmosphere of pessimism, the PM should admit that he has not been able to deliver in the last three years and say he would fulfill promises in the next one-and-a-half years, Gandhi told reporters in Amethi, his constituency on the second day of his three-day tour. Speaking at the golden jubilee celebrations of ICSI on Wednesday, Modi had said that the slowdown in GDP in one quarter had become a big news. Some people take pleasure in spreading pessimism. They get a good sleep out of it. In response, Gandhi said shortage of jobs was a serious problem in India and cited statistics to show India was creating lesser jobs per day (450) than China (50,000). They (Modi government) are not able to provide jobs This is a major problem. This is a crisis. Narendra Modi should accept there is a crisis and work to resolve it instead of panicking and making excuses. Time for making excuses is over now, he said. The opposition leader advised the PM to focus on two issues creation of jobs and resolving the crisis in agriculture sector. With BJP president Amit Shah and Union ministers planning to visit Amethi on October 10, Gandhi used the occasion to list 12 major projects, including the under-construction 200-bed hospital at Ludhauria village, and said BJP leaders were trying to take credit and re-inaugurate Congresss projects. Interacting with party workers in Tiloi assembly segment of Rae Bareli later in the day, Gandhi targeted the PM for his 56-inch chest remark ahead of 2014 Lok Sabha elections. He said Manmohan Singh delivered more as PM though he did not have a 56-inch chest. Gandhi highlighted MGNREGA and other schemes launched by the UPA government as achievements of the Manmohan Singh government. He targeted Modi for launching bullet train project by taking loan from Japan and said the amount could have been used to revamp the railways. Earlier, Gandhi sat on the ground and interacted with the women of self-help groups (SHGs) at Banjaria village. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi addressed the press as part of a three-day tour of his Lok Sabha constituency of Amethi on Thursday. Gandhi again attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying, the BJP government has completed three-and-a-half years and has only one-and-a-half years left. The prime minister should work now for employment generation and for farmers. At a farmers event on Wednesday in Amethi, Gandhi had attacked the BJP for apparently failing the youth and farmers, assuring that if the Congress came to power, the job crisis would be resolved in six months. Below are the highlights of Rahul Gandhis address here: - There is a real serious problem in India today, that we are unable to provide jobs to our youngsters. - China produces 50,000 jobs every single day. India, under Modis Make In India, produces only 450. - There is another crisis which is farm, agricultural crisis. Farmers are committing suicides. - Instead of making excuses and saying pessimists are creating an atmosphere, PM Modi should stand up and say we have not managed to deliver. - PM is the leader of the country. He should not make excuses and deliver. - PM Modi should say we have one more year, we will deliver now. That is what a true leader would do. Just days after external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj started a news television campaign to locate the family of Geeta alias Guddi, a hearing and speech impaired Indian girl brought back from Pakistan in October 2015, a couple from Nalanda district of south central Bihar has claimed she is their long lost daughter. The claim has been made by Ramswaroop Choudhary and his wife Chinta Devi, both residents of Alinagar village under Sare police station of Nalanda, about 100 km south east of state capital, Patna, Choudhary told HT that their speech impaired daughter had gone missing from a railway station when they were returning home from Karnal in Haryana, where they worked as laboruers at a brick kiln. The incident had happened about a decade ago. Choudhary, who plans to meet the Nalanda DM about the matter on Friday, said if he and his wife came face to face with Geeta she would certainly recognise them. As proof of the girls identity, he said a tattoo and a cut mark on her head. Neibours of Choudhary, including Maderan Choudhary, Shyama Devi and Mala Sinha, said going by the picture of Geeta captured on mobile phones from TV grabs, Geeta bore a close resemblance to Choudhary, who claims to be her father, Choudhary said he started pursuing this matter after one of his relatives, Yogendra Choudhary, currently staying at Asansol in West Bengal, informed him about some TV channels displaying a girls image, which could be his lost daughter. For the past few days, TV news channels have been telecasting an appeal by Swaraj, Geeta by her side, asking the people at large to help the government in finding the girls parents who were most likely to be from Bihar or Jharkhand. She also announced a award of Rs 1 lakh for anyone helping track her parents. Swaraj even requested the chief ministers of both the states to ensure that her appealwas shown by all cable TV networks for the next seven days so that her message travelled far and wide and there was a better chance of someone coming forward to help her. Swaraj said the girl had learnt the sign language during the last two years and was able to communicate. She had also learnt computers and stitching. She has been staying at an institution for hearing and speech impaired people run by an NGO in Indore (Madhya Pradesh). At times she becomes very emotional and starts crying. My appeal to her parents -- please come forward and take your daughter. I am assuring that we will not let her become a burden on you, Swaraj said with Geeta by her side. We will take care of her including her marriage and studies. Your daughter is desperate to meet you, she said. Sources recalled that soon after Geeta had come back from Pakistan, one Janardan Mahto of Ujiarpur (Samastipur) in north Bihar had claimed Geeta was his daughter. But she failed to recognise him when they came face to face and even a DNA test proved otherwise. Thereafter, the Bihar government had run newspaper advertisement seeking leads that could help located Geetas parents but to no avail. Geeta was just 7 or 8 years old when she was found sitting alone in the Samjhauta Express by the Pakistan Rangers at the Lahore railway station. In Pakistan, she was looked after for many years by the Karachi-based Edhi foundation, run by philanthropist (now late) Abdul Sattar Edhi and Bilquis Edhi. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Brushing a light patch of hair on his upper lip, 17-year-old Digant Mehariya appears shaken but resolute. I will grow a moustache long enough to proudly twirl it. And, I will maintain that look, the teenager said, sitting in the orthopedic ward of a hospital in Gandhinagar, his family smiling around him. Just 24 hours ago, a group of unidentified men attacked him and slashed his back with a blade. Mehariya says he was targeted because he is a witness in a case of alleged assault on his cousin, Piyush Parmar. Parmar was thrashed allegedly by a group of dominant-caste men in their village of Limbodara, around 30 kilometres from the state capital of Gandhinagar, for sporting a moustache on September 25. Three days later, his friend Kurnal Rohit was also attacked and his leg broken. But this has not deterred Mehariya from growing a moustache even if it triggered more violence. I already have a wound on my back with 15 stitches. I do not fear anyone anymore, Mehariya told Hindustan Times on Wednesday. For decades, Gujarats Dalits have tolerated atrocities and violence exemplified last year in Una where a group of scheduled caste men were thrashed by alleged cow vigilantes, sparking nationwide outrage. They make up just 7% of the states six crore population and say their plight has never been taken seriously by politicians. But now, things seem to be changing. Mehariya, Parmar and others are part of an assertive generation of Dalit youth, who say they cannot take attacks lying down and are devising novel ways of protesting caste atrocities. Minutes after the attack on Mehariya, hundreds of Dalit youth across the state starting posting selfies with moustaches, with many also changing their display photos to a twirling moustache and the text: Mr Dalit. The campaign has been closely coordinated on social media platform such as WhatsApp, Twitter and Facebook with hashtags such as #RightToMoustache and groups such as Moonch To Rakhenge. We use social media to tell our community that they should not get oppressed, said Ketan Solanki, an Ahmedabad resident who started Moonch To Rakhenge. In my new group, I asked every member of my community to change their display picture in Facebook to one with moustache prominently seen. If any caste thinks only they can sport this symbol of masculinity, then they are wrong, said Bhavin Ambubhai, who is a part of several such groups. There are offline protests too. On Wednesday, hundreds of Dalits led by activists Jignesh Mewani and Subodh Parmar were detained in Gandhinagar. With four atrocities cases in less than two weeks three from Limbodar over moustache and one from Anand where a Dalit man was lynched for watching garba the protesters demanded the resignation of minister of state for home Pradeepsinh Jadeja. Several such demonstrations are planned in the coming days. Back at the village of Limbodara where three of the atrocities took place, anger is simmering. The dusty village of around 10,000 has a clear caste divide the cluster of 85-odd Dalit households is separated by a narrow lane from the dominant castes of Darbars and Chaudharys. Outside a local temple, two policemen have been deployed since Tuesday night to avoid any further attacks. Most of the men in the village were out for protests when Hindustan Times visited the spot on Wednesday. Gujarat goes to the polls later this year and the administration was prompt to contain the tension. By Tuesday, Gandhinagar collector Satish Patel had arrived in Limbodara and held an all-community meeting before posting security outside the Dalit colony. Amrut Dudhapara, an elderly Dalit man, said this was the first time in 25 years that an atrocity case had been registered in the area but hinted that the low numbers were because many scheduled castes were afraid to complain. Discrimination is not uncommonmany upper castes religiously practise untouchability, he told Hindustan Times. Others lamented how the Dalit colony hadnt seen a wedding procession in years as dominant castes allegedly insisted that Dalits didnt ride horses. The administration rubbished these claims. The village chief Ranjitsinh Vaghela, himself a dominant-caste Darbar, said, All communities live peacefully. The collector echoed him. But the Dalits arent backing down. Mehariyas father, Vasant, insisted that they decided to complain for the first because they didnt want to stay silent anymore. They (dominant castes) neither eat with us nor share a cup of tea for years now. While elders have accepted this way of life, this young generation do not like if they are forced to change their lifestyle or even looks, Vasant told Hindustan Times. I have never shaved my moustache. Why should my son do that? SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Swine flu positive cases from among the samples sent for test increased more than three times this year in Rajasthan compared to last year, said a state government report submitted to the high court on Thursday. Positivity rate refers to number of cases testing positive out of the total samples sent for test. H1N1 virus causes what is commonly called swine flu. A virus originating from swine, H1N1 was first detected among people in Mexico in 2009. It spread across the world through travellers. The virus now transmits from human to human. Last year, 9.2% of suspected patients were found to be swine flu positive; this year the cases reached 33.9%. Of the 2879 patients confirmed to have swine flu this year, 224 died, the report said. The Rajasthan high court, taking note of the rise in swine flu cases, ordered the state government recently to submit a status report. Additional advocate general (AAG) Rajesh Panwar submitted the report. Referring to a report of the National Institute of Virology, Pune, the government said the Michigan H1N1 strain was behind swine flu cases this year. So far, since the 2009 pandemic, the California strain has been doing the rounds in India. The new strain is sensitive to oseltamivir drug, sold under the brand name Tamiflu. The government report said 60% of swine flu cases have been reported from urban areas and 40% from rural places. Patients found to be swine flu positive were aged between 16 and 50 years. Of the 224 deaths in the state, Jaipur reported 21 and Kota 22. Panwar told the court that the government set up 3033 screening centres and influenza OPD clinics at primary health centres to detect swine flu early. The symptoms of mild influenza are fever, cough, sore throat, headache, muscle pain, diarrhoea and/or vomiting. The symptoms of the severe ailment include shortness of breath, pneumonia, encephalitis and severe dehydration. Panwar said 1580 isolation and 214 ICU beds have been reserved for the treatment of swine flu patients; 198 ventilators was provided for serious patients. A division bench of justice Govind Mathur and justice Vinit Kumar Mathur ordered the government to take more steps to control swine flu. The court told the government to enhance medical facilities in rural areas, where the condition was worse. The court fixed October 13 as the next date of hearing. A 235-year-old Danish tavern and hotel in Serampore, a former colony of Denmark in West Bengal, has been resurrected from the ruins and is now set for rebirth as a riverside cafe. It will also have a bakery, handicrafts shop and lodging facilities and will be inaugurated early next year. A Danish colony flourished by the river Hooghly between 1755 and 1845, when Denmark handed it over to the British. The location was Serampore, about 25km from Kolkata and on the western banks of the Hooghly. The town was then known as Fredericksnagore. Apart from the tavern, the St Olavs church in the same town has also been renovated with Danish help. Restoration work going on inside the building. (Photo courtesy: Manish Chakraborty) The cafeteria will be able to accommodate about 60-70 people. Of the six rooms, three will be river-view heritage rooms. We are trying to throw it open preferably by the end of this year. The lodging facilities may be run by the West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation, Hooghly district magistrate Sanjay Bansal told HT. Known as Denmark Tavern, the original look has been restored to this two-storied building. Bente Wolff, curator of Danish National Museum, told HT earlier that they used sketches nearly 200 year old to arrive at the correct frontal view. Restoration work has reached the final stages. Were now working on interior design, Manish Chakraborty, conservation architect who is heading restoration, said on Wednesday. The tavern was rebuilt from this dilapidated state. (Photo courtesy: Manish Chakraborty) This tavern constituted the historic core of Danish Serampore, Chakraborty added. The building was lying dilapidated when restoration work started on October 6, 2015. During her previous visit to Bengal for inspection of the project, Wolff said that people from Kolkata, especially the Europeans, used to visit the place for hanging out and playing billiards. They especially enjoyed the cool breeze by the river. We had 20,000 pages of Danish documents in our archives, written in Danish language, from which we got to know many things about this tavern. These helped us know how it looked like, she had told HT. It housed a cafe, restaurant and pub. The project entailed an expenditure of Rs 4.5 crore, of which Rs 3 crore was provided by the Danish museum authorities. The state government footed the rest of the bill. Apart from the Danes and state government, West Bengal heritage commission is also involved in the project. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh got a taste of the ground reality in Darjeeling on Thursday when people from the Benoy Tamang faction of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) roughed up BJP workers accompanying Ghosh minutes after forcing him to cancel a public meeting. The incidents took place between 3.15 and 4 pm in the heart of Darjeeling town. BJP president Amit Shah later called up Ghosh and inquired about the attack. It was an embarrassing moment for the BJP as footages of the attack were aired by TV channels. BJP workers accompanying Ghosh and state BJP leader Joyprakash Mazumdar were punched and kicked in front of the media. A couple of men were beaten up with sticks and umbrellas as well. Read | Darjeeling impasse: Centre ready for talks, Mamata isnt, says Bengal BJP president The agitators were heard shouting Long live Benoy Tamang and BJP go back. Ghosh and Mazumdar watched helplessly as their men took the blows. A bearded man sporting saffron scarf was thrown against glass containers in a sweetmeat shop. The containers were shattered. Interestingly, the attackers did not touch Ghosh and Majumdar. Trinamool Congress and Tamangs men carried out the assault. First they created a ruckus inside the community hall, forcing us to cancel the meeting. After we left the hall they attacked us on the street. The police were conspicuous by their absence. One can see that peace hasnt returned to the hills, said Ghosh after lodging a complaint at the Darjeeling Sadar police station. The entire episode was scripted in Kolkata, alleged Ghosh, pointing a finger at the Mamata Banerjee government which is backing Benoy Tamang in a bid to corner GJM chief Bimal Gurung. Gurung called off the 104-day-long bandh after Union minister Rajnath Singh appealed to him on September 26 and asked the Union home secretary to convene a meeting. Having supported the BJP in two consecutive Lok Sabha polls, the GJM has been depending on the NDA Government on the statehood issue ever since the movement began in June this year. The BJP, however, has so far remained silent on the demand for creation of Gorkhaland. Read: Darjeeling settles down post GJM bandh, but Bengals hunt for Gurung could disturb peace Superintendent of police A K Chaturvedi said policemen were posted outside the hall where the meeting was organised and also at the circuit house where Ghosh was staying. The scuffling took place on the streets. We have registered an FIR and will arrest the culprits, he said. We are not justifying the violence and Trinamool Congress was not involved in it. Dilip Ghosh did not visit the hills when people were suffering and now that peace has returned, he is making provocative speeches. The BJP is trying to fish in troubled waters and people unleashed their anger, said state tourism minister and district Trinamool president Gautam Deb. Read : GJM calls off 104-day Darjeeling strike after Rajnath calls meet on Gorkhaland Trinamool secretary general and education minister Partha Chatterjee said Ghosh had been paid back in his own coin. Dilip Ghosh said that he would teach us a lesson. See for yourself who taught him a lesson today. Anti-social elements who accompanied Ghosh were responsible for the chaos. After arriving in the hills on Wednesday, Ghosh said had chief minister Mamata Banerjee agreed to sit for talks, the NDA Government would have ended the impasse in Darjeeling hills long ago. The chief minister is keen to project the agitators as anti-nationals. Or else why would she slap cases under anti-terror law against them after a couple of explosions? Bombs go off every day in all parts of Bengal but anti-terror law is not applied anywhere, Ghosh alleged at the beginning of his three-day tour. Interestingly, he did not name the GJM and Bimal Gurung who, along with top leaders of the party, have been booked under sections of the anti-terror law, UA(P)A by the state police. Muslims in West Bengals Kharagpur have decided to cancel Muharram procession this year and donate the money for the treatment of a Hindu neighbour, who is a cancer patient. Samaj Sangha Club, which organises Muharram procession in Kharagpurs Puratan Bazar, will raise Rs 50,000, the amount needed for the celebration, for Abir Bhunia (35), a mobile recharge shop owner who is suffering from Hodgkins lymphoma, a cancer of the immune system. They have already given him Rs 6,000. Bhunia is undergoing chemotherapy at Saroj Gupta Cancer Centre in the southern fringes of Kolkata and needs Rs 12 lakh for a treatment that includes bone marrow transplantation. Muharram processions can be organised every year. But we have to save the life first, said Amjad Khan, secretary of Samaj Sangha. We have started raising money. On Friday, after the namaz we will ask the imam in the mosque to announce a donation drive for Abir. We hope to raise a bigger amount than the budget for our procession, said Khan. An overwhelmed Bhunia is full of gratitude for his neighbours. I dont know whether I will be cured finally. But what my neighbours did for me have touched my heart, he said. He lost his grandmother and both parents last year, and lives with his wife, a homemaker, and they are expecting their first child. Bhunias neighbour Ranjan Ash pointed out that there were some community Durga Pujas in the locality, but none of them thought of curtailing their expenditure and help the youth. We are overwhelmed. Mohammad Bilal, a member of the Muharram committee of Puratan Bazar, saidGod would be satisfied if we serve the people. He is suffering from cancer and fighting with death. We should stand by him. As word spread of the Muslims gesture, assistance seems to be pouring in. Pradip Sarkar, chairman of Kharagpur municipality, said they would try to help Bhunia. Tushar Chowdhury, local councillor from Trinamool Congress, saluted the gesture. Chowdhury also pointed out that there is a temple for goddess Sitala (worshipped in Bengal as a protector against pox) nearby, for which the Muslim community had raised money to build a gate. He also said that food items offered to the goddess are distributed to Muslims. After the Jan Raksha Yatra by chief minister Yogi Adityanath in Kerala on Wednesday, the BJP is planning more such yatras by the UP chief minister to woo the voters in poll-bound Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh. On Thursday, Yogi was in Hisar (Haryana) to participate in a programme. To protest against targeted killing of BJP workers allegedly by CPM cadre in Kerala, BJP national president Amit Shah launched the Jan Raksha Yatra on Tuesday at Payyannur in Kannur district. He walked 8 km from Payyannur to Pilathara with hundreds of BJP workers to register protest against the killings. On Wednesday, Adityanath led the yatra along with Kerala BJP president Kummanam Rajashekharan. He marched with the BJP workers in Kannur district that is considered the stronghold of CPM and home district of Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The 15-km long march by Adityanath generated enthusiasm among the BJP workers as he lashed out at the Left government for the murder of BJP workers. The response of the people to the yatra in the southern states clearly indicates that Yogi has emerged as the poster boy of Hindutva with a pan-India recognition, said a BJP leader. The party may organize more yatras led by Yogi in other states, he said. Political observer Sanjay Singh said, Facing criticism over the economic slowdown, the BJP needs a leader who could galvanize the cadre before the assembly elections in crucial states. The BJP leadership tested Yogis charisma in Kerala where the saffron brigade is trying hard to gain a foothold. The response of the people has been good, he said. As the Yogi government has merely completed six months in power with no major projects to showcase, the BJP plans to highlight the measures taken by his government on the Hindutva plank. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Three days after the visit of Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, BJP chief Amit Shah, union minister Smriti Irani and UP CM Yogi Adityanath will reach Amethi to strengthen saffron presence in the Gandhi turf. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been gaining politically in Amethi since 2014 Lok Sabha elections. The three leaders will address a public meeting on the Samrat Cycle premises in Amethi on Tuesday. The venue holds significance as Smriti Irani had created a stir in 2015 by accusing top Congress leadership of usurping nearly 65 acres of land acquired from farmers in the name of setting up a manufacturing unit, Samrat cycle, a project that never materialised. The Congress had responded by slapping a legal notice on Irani for defamation. The party chief will visit Amethi on October 10, confirmed UP BJP general secretary Vijay Bahadur Pathak without specifying the venue for the public meeting. Experts say the meetings indicate a BJP plan to concentrate on those constituencies the party lost in 2014 and keep up pressure on Rahul Gandhi. During his Amethi visit, Rahul chose to target Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with Shah, claiming that the BJPs three years in power has been a failure. Rahuls victory margin had slumped from 3.70 lakh votes in 2009 to 1.07 lakh votes in 2014 when Irani had put up a spirited fight against him. The party also embarrassed the Congress winning 6 out of 10 assembly seats in Rae Bareli and Amethi four of them from Rahuls constituency. In 2012, BJP had not won a single seat from the two constituencies. BJP sources said Irani, who recently described Rahul as a failed dynast, could again contest from Amethi in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. Despite losing the seat, Irani has been regularly visiting the Congress bastion. Rahul is unnerved by the growing BJP focus in Amethi and Rae Bareli, said BJP spokesman Rakesh Tripathi adding that in the coming days the party would intensify attack on the Congress leadership. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Celebrating former Prime Minister Indira Gandhis birth centenary year, senior Congress leaders organised a function in UP on Wednesday. Speaking about the partys achievements since the countrys independence, the leaders also attacked the ruling BJP. Party national general secretary Ghulam Nabi Azad, state president Raj Babbar and senior leaders Mohsina Kidwai, PL Poonia, Pramod Tiwari, Meem Afzal, Somansh Prakash and Naseeb Pathan were present. Addressing workers from nine districts of western UP, they spoke about the dynamic leadership of Indira Gandhi and her efforts to build a strong India. Referring to PM Narendra Modi as TV wala prime minister, Azad also came down heavily on turncoats. They (turncoats) dont understand the value of ideology and look for personal benefits, he said while recalling the contributions of Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi. Nationalisation of 14 private banks in 1969 and the formation of Bangladesh were two major achievements of Indira Gandhi, said Azad, as he called upon party workers and leaders to face all odds with strength just as the former PM did. He also advised the gathering to read about the life of leaders like Indira, Pt Nehru, Maulana Azad, Sardar Patel and others to understand their ideology. Comparing the divide and rule policy of the British with PM Modis politics, Pramod Tiwari said, To rule, Modi has divided people in the name of religion and caste. Meanwhile, Raj Babbar accused the BJP of stealing 19 out of 23 schemes of the Congress-led UPA government and running them under new names. They have stolen the schemes, but they dont have the ability to execute them effectively, he said, urging farmers to unite against BJP. Congress leaders said that similar zone level functions will be organised all over UP to brief party workers and leaders about the achievements and work of the party during past 70 years. This will help them counter BJPs propaganda that Congress did nothing for the country, said a leader. The Allahabad High Court has dismissed a PIL challenging government order by which singing of the national anthem in all the schools and madarsas of UP was made mandatory. Highlights Article 51-A of the Constitution casts a fundamental duty on every citizen of India to abide by the Constitution and respect the national flag and the national anthem. The bench, comprising chief justice DB Bhosale and justice Yashwant Varma, while dismissing the writ petition filed by Alaul Mustafa, said that petition is thoroughly misconceived. The petitioner, claiming to be a secretary of an institution which runs a madarsa in Mau district, had challenged the government order of August 3, 2017 as also a circular dated September 6, 2017 making singing of national anthem mandatory in schools and madarsas. In the petition, a request was made for a directive to the respondents not to execute any order or force students of madarsas in UP to sing the national anthem. The court observed that it was the view of the petitioner that singing of the national anthem is forced patriotism and cannot be enforced upon persons who do not want to sing or recite the national anthem in light of their belief and custom. Petitioner was unable to refer to or draw our attention to any material which may have even remotely established that the singing of the national anthem would violate the beliefs and customs of students attending madarsas in UP. The writ petition also does not carry any evidence of students attending madarsas in the state objecting to the singing or recital of the national anthem, added the bench. The court while dismissing the petition observed, this court is constrained to record its anguish at the stand which is taken by the petitioner who quite far from espousing the interest of any body or persons appears to have made various averments in the writ petition ignorant of the duty of every citizen of this nation to respect the national anthem irrespective of his or her religious or political beliefs. The court also observed, The recitation of the national anthem is in essence the act of every citizen honouring the history and tradition of this great nation and ultimately subserves the spirit of brotherhood amongst all without exception to the religious, lingual or regional affiliation of a particular individual. The singing of the national anthem is therefore not just a constitutional duty but also fosters the spread of the spirit of democracy, secularism and the integrity of the nation. Three people were killed and many others injured in an explosion in an illegal firecracker factory at a two-storeyed house in the main bazaar area of Kanpurs Sarsaul locality on Wednesday, police said. Six houses in the area collapsed and some others developed cracks after the explosion at the residence of one Babu Singh Kushwaha. One of the three bodies was identified as that of Kushwahas son Neeraj, who was suspected to have been making crackers with his father and others. A PTI report quoted a police official naming Meraj as one of the other victims. Six injured, including a woman and a girl, were rushed to hospital. District magistrate Surendra Singh said efforts were on to rescue the others who were still trapped under the debris. The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), which has a base camp nearby, was called in to conduct the rescue operations. Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) personnel rushed to Kanpur to check whether the explosion had a terror angle. The ATS collected samples of a powder used in making crude bombs and firecrackers. The samples have been sent to a forensic lab. The extensive damage in the area indicated that a high-quality explosive was used, said an ATS official. We heard a deafening sound and suddenly my house, which was 15 metres away, collapsed. I was lucky to be out. But my family members were trapped under the debris, said Rohit Saini, whose house was reduced to rubble. Three members of his family were rescued and sent to hospital. A National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team also reached the site in the evening. The locals alleged Kushwaha and his family were engaged in making crude bombs and crackers for several years. The district magistrate said officials were checking if Kushwaha had obtained a licence for making firecrackers or was running the factory illegally. An inquiry has been ordered. We will include all aspects in the investigation. But our first priority is to rescue those trapped and provide them medical care, said the DM. Superintendent of police (rural) Jai Prakash Singh said the police will file a case against Kushwaha and others after the rescue operations. Inspector general of police (Kanpur zone) Alok Singh said, In the initial probe, it came to light that firecrackers were being manufactured in the house and also stored there. (With PTI inputs) Following a failed attempt to get an FIR registered on her gang-rape complaint, a woman reached the Aligarh senior superintendent of polices office on Thursday with a startling piece of evidence a severed ear. As the senior officer was not present, she produced the mutilated piece of cartilage before superintendent of police (rural) Yashveer Singh and complained that the police had not taken any action in her case even after two days. Singh then ordered the filing of two FIRs lodged by both the parties involved in the case. The woman told HT that she was sleeping with her children on Monday night, when four people from the neighbourhood entered their residence and raped her. When her husband who was sleeping in a makeshift room outside the house came to her rescue upon hearing the cries, they assaulted him too. In the melee that followed, the woman bit off a suspects ear. The four later left, threatening the couple with dire consequences if they told anybody about the incident. The woman said she alerted the police, who dropped by only to collect information. When the couple visited the police station the next morning, the police completed several formalities including sending the victim for a medical examination but lodged no FIR. Gonda police have now registered a case against three people, including one Ravi of Dhatauli village, for allegedly gang-raping the woman. Police said the severed ear belonged to him. A second case of assault and criminal intimidation has been registered against the victims husband on the basis of a complaint filed by the four accused. I have ordered the Gonda police to investigate the matter, said senior superintendent of police (Aligarh) Rajesh Pandey. Assaulted for resisting rape In another incident, a man allegedly thrashed a woman hailing from Iglas village when she resisted his sexual advances. When the local police failed to act on her complaint, she visited the senior superintendent of polices office where she fainted. According to sources, the woman passed out in front of the superintendent of polices office before she could submit her written complaint. Though no police personnel initially came to her assistance, a woman constable helped her to a chair after media photographers began clicking away. She was later taken to a hospital. The woman told HT that the person in question had allegedly murdered her husband four years ago. Though she eventually struck a compromise with the accused, he forced his way into her house on Tuesday night and tried to rape her. When she raised the alarm, he brutally assaulted her and fled the scene before the neighbours could arrive. The next morning, relatives of the accused dropped by and threatened her with dire consequences if the police were alerted to the incident. We have completed the medical examination of the victim. The local police have been instructed to conduct an investigation and take suitable action, said Singh. The National Commission for Women (NCW) began a probe on Thursday into the September 23 baton-charge on protesting women students of Banaras Hindu University (BHU) who were demanding action in an alleged sexual harassment case that happened on the campus on September 21. NCW member Rekha Sharma recorded statements of several students and professors, including two girl students and professor Pratima Gond who sustained injuries during the baton-charge, besides chief proctor Royana Singh at the LD guest house. Sharma, who is in Varanasi along with two legal experts, said she would question the university vice-chancellor Girish Chandra Tripathi, who is currently on indefinite leave, about the cases. I am here for two days. But if he doesnt appear before the commission, I will summon him (to Delhi), Sharma, who also holds the additional charge of NCW chairperson, told HT. Sharma also visited the spot where the girl was allegedly sexually harassed and met the inmates of the Triveni Hostel. Senior superintendent of police RK Bhardwaj apprised the NCW of the progress of the probe into the case of violence. He also briefed her about the investigation carried out so far into the alleged sexual harassment. The acting NCW chairperson condemned the controversial statements by Tripathi on the baton-charge. Earlier, police had registered a case against 1,000 unidentified students in connection with the incident before handing over the probe to the crime branch which served notice to 13 students and seven members of the proctorial board. A judicial committee headed by a retired judge of the Allahabad high court is also probing the incident. Several girls, who had sustained injuries in the cane charge, were protesting against the incident of the sexual harassment on the university campus. The BHU administration lodged a complaint with the police against two unidentified molesters on September 22. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A 55-year-old biker was killed on the Vakola flyover after he hit a stationary tempo and fell before being dragged by a sedan for about 20 feet on Tuesday. The driver of the sedan did not stop to help the victim, police said. According to the Vakola police, around 5pm, Mohammad Jhakki, 55, a businessman, was heading back to his Mazgaon home from Andheri. Jhakki was wearing a helmet, police said. He did not see the stationary tempo. The tempos tyre had burst and the driver had parked it at the corner of the bridge and was replacing the punctured tyre. Jhakki did not apply the brakes in time and crashed into the tempo, said a police officer. He suffered serious injuries. But then a fast-moving Honda car dragged him ahead a few metres. The cars driver did not bother to apply brakes in time and fled from the spot. If the driver had stopped the car, Jhakki could have been saved, said the officer. The CCTV camera on the flyover is not functioning, police said. But with the help of an eyewitness, the police reconstructed the sequence of events and also spotted the white Honda car in footage captured by CCTV cameras below the bridge. No motorist stopped to help Jhakki except for one biker who alerted the cops. The cops then rushed to the spot and took him to nearby VN Desai hospital, but he was declared dead on admission. A police officer said, Jhakki lived alone at his aunts place. He had separated from his wife. He and his cousin run a candle-making business. His cousin brother filed a First information Report (FIR) under sections 279 and 304 A of the IPC and 134 A and B of the Motor Vehicle Act for rash and negligent driving causing death and running away from the spot without rendering any help. In a case of card cloning in Powai, a PhD student from IIT allegedly lost Rs59,000. According to the Powai police, the 27-year-old student lodged a First Information Report (FIR) with them on September 22, saying that an unidentified accused used a cloned card to withdraw the amount from an ATM kiosk in Mumbai. The complainant said he was in the library of his college when between 11.45pm on September 9 and 12.05 am on September 10, he received three messages informing him that money had been debited from his bank account using his ATM card. According to the police, the victim checked his wallet and found his card in it. He then immediately called the bank to get his number blocked. In that time, the fraudster had managed to make one more transaction, taking it up to four and money lost to Rs59,000. The victim received another notification SMS on his phone before he could block the card. Last month. eight people, including four waiters from Mumbai, Thane and Pune were charge-sheeted for stealing data and cloning credit/debit cards of 1,026 customers from four districts, withdrawing well more than Rs 1 crore from it. The accused used to swipe the cards on skimmers, memorised the pin code of the customer while it was being typed. Advocate Vicky Shah, a cyber expert said, It needs to be found out if its a magnetic strip card or an EMV chip card. If its an EMV chip card ,it is very difficult to be cloned, making this a unique case. As a preventive measure, customers should replace their existing magnetic strip cards with an EMV chip card. Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray held a protest march in south Mumbai today to demand better rail infrastructure for train commuters, after last weeks stampede at Elphinstone Road station, which claimed 23 lives. MNS chief Raj Thackeray has given a 15-day deadline to the railway administration to clear hawkers from all FOBs. (Pratik Chorge) MNS workers will take matters into their own hands if the Railways fail to remove the hawkers, Thackeray threatened, while addressing the crowd at Churchgate. Supporters from across the state gathered near Metro Cinema. (Pratik Chorge/HT) Thackeray started the march from Metro cinema and went up to the Western Railway headquarters at Churchgate station. Supporters hold banners objecting to the BJPs ambitious bullet train project. (Pratik Chorge) Thackeray said there is no difference between the current BJP government at the Centre and the previous one, and that the woes of Mumbais commuters have remained unsolved for decades. A group of protesters at the venue. (Bhushan Koyande) Thackeray slammed the Modi government for chasing ambitious projects such as the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train. The project is being built for a handful of people in Gujarat and Mumbai, but the entire country will have to repay the loan to be taken for it, he alleged. The MNS chief said Suresh Prabhu was ousted from the post of Union railway minister for saying no to the bullet train project. (Bhushan Koyande) Thackeray also targeted PM Narendra Modi and the BJP government over demonetisation and economic slowdown. The crowd started gathering close to the venue around 11.30am. (Pratil Chorge/HT) He ended warning the government that if his demands are not met, his next march would not be peaceful. Maharashtra has the most number of polluted rivers in India, with 49 of the 315 river stretches identified running through the state, reveals a recent Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) report submitted to the Union environment ministry. For the report, the CPCB collated monthly water quality analysis figures submitted by all state pollution control boards (SPCB) between 2015 and 2016. The SPCBs evaluated 275 rivers across 29 states through 1,275 monitoring stations on the basis of their biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) the concentration of oxygen required for sustaining aquatic life under the National Water Quality Monitoring Programme. The report found that while Maharashtra had 49 polluted river stretches, including Mithi, Godavari, Bhima, Krishna, Ulhas, Tapi, Kundalika, Panchganga, Mula-Mutha, Pelhar, Penganga and Vaitarna, among others , Assam ranked second at 28, Madhya Pradesh third with 21, Gujarat 20, and West Bengal 17. We developed a unit called the Designated Best Use (DBU) to determine the water quality in these river stretches based on human use such as bathing, drinking and commercial purposes such as fishing, said A Sudhakar, member secretary, CPCB. Our aim was to come close to a number where the water quality at these basins could be at least suitable for bathing. Our analysis showed that 315 river stretches across 275 rivers had low DBU, and Maharashtra had the most polluted ones. All SPCBs have been asked to submit a detailed action plan for the revival of these polluted river stretches, Sudhakar said. We have instructed the SPCBs to submit them by the end of October. Once we get their reports, we have a target to restore river stretches with moderate pollution by 2020 and those with high pollution by 2022, he said. Restoration involves the civic authorities; industrial pollution needs to be controlled by SPCBs; and local agencies [hired on contractual basis] have to monitor the intersections leading up to these polluted river stretches and ensure their restoration is done first. Sudhakar confirmed that Maharashtra has the maximum number of water pollution monitoring stations in the country. Even though many of the states have sanctioned stations, they are unable to execute water quality monitoring due to lack of manpower and facilities. Whereas Maharashtra is one the well-equipped states where manpower is not an issue and thus maximum readings have come from there since there is best execution, he said. However, the MPCB said theres a reason why the state has topped the list. Maharashtra has 250 water quality monitoring stations, which is the highest in the country, and that is why the number of polluted stretches is the highest compared to other states, said YB Sontakke, joint director, water quality, MPCB. We have already cleaned up 14 of the 49 stretches. In the state, MPCB officials said, household waste is responsible for 95% of the river pollution; the rest is industrial pollution. At majority of these locations, we are facing a sewage disposal issue. Theres hardly any sewage dilution at these stretches as cities are directly releasing untreated waste, Sontakke explained. HT had reported that at least 3,000 million litres of untreated sewage and industrial effluents are discharged into Maharashtras rivers, lakes and other water bodies daily, based on a report by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change. Maharashtra generates 13% of the countrys sewage, the most by a state, according to the report, but it has facilities to treat just 5,160.36 million litres a day (MLD) against the 8,143MLD of sewage and effluents it generates. Sontakke said that of the 27 municipal corporations in the state that are collectively generating 80 per cent of Maharashtras sewage, 10 Ulhasnagar, Bhiwandi, Jalgaon, Dhule, Parbhani, Latur, Beed, among others dont have any sewage treatment facilities and are not treating effluents at all. We have roped in the National Environment Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) to help develop an action plan for each of the remaining 35 river stretches, he said. WHAT THE UNION ENVIRONMENT MINISTRY SAYS Pollution abatement of rivers is a continuous and ongoing process. We have observed that 55% of the polluted river stretches have issues related to biological oxygen demand (BOD), 44% to total coliform (bacteria), and 60% to faecal coliform (the bacteria found in human and animal excreta), said a senior official from the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC). We have taken several steps to keep a check on this problem, which include directions issued by the CPCB to local and urban bodies to set up systems for sewage collection through SPCBs; treatment and disposal of untreated waste through development of sewage treatment plants to meet the standards for non-potable use; mitigation of industrial pollution; installation of online monitoring devices, and adoption of water conservation practices. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray is all set to lead a protest march in south Mumbai today to demand better rail infrastructure for train commuters, after last weeks stampede at Elphinstone Road station, which claimed 23 lives. The march has been denied police permission, but is likely to be held anyway. Thackeray will start the march from Metro cinema and go up to the Western Railway headquarters at Churchgate station. It means that there will be a huge traffic jam in and around south Mumbai starting around 11.30 am, as the MNS cadre is expected to turn up in large numbers for a show of strength. MNS supporters reach Metro cinema (Pratik Chorge/HT) At Churchgate, Thackeray will meet senior railway officials and demand an answer on how they plan to improve Mumbais overburdened rail network and infrastructure. He will address the crowd after this. The party hopes there will be a huge turn-up for its agitation as the stampede, which took place on an old, narrow foot-over bridge at Elphinstone Road station during the morning peak hours on September 29, has built strong resentment against railway and state officials for their indifference and neglect concerning the citys rail infrastructure. The MNS, which has been struggling to stay relevant since its defeat in the polls, is looking to garner attention and support with this campaign, and has marshalled all its resources to make it a success. After announcing the march, it got active on social media, releasing a series of videos and posts asking Mumbaiites to take to the streets to express their discontent. Cops at the spot. (Pratik Chorge/HT) In its latest video, well-known Marathi actors such as Shivaji Satam and Siddharth Jadhav have appealed to people to participate in the agitation. This is the first time in five years that the MNS chief is actually stepping out on the streets for a protest. In 2012, he had held a rally protesting the mishandling of the CST riots. Thackeray had marched from Girgaum Chowpatty to Azad Maidan demanding that both then Mumbai Police Commissioner Arup Patnaik and then state Home Minister RR Patil be sacked. The Democratic Front government had conceded to his demand partially by showing Patnaik the door. After the recent stampede, Thackeray appealed to people to come out on the streets while addressing the media. Nothing will move till you hit the streets. This morcha is meant to express your anger, he said, a day after the tragedy. We will seek explanation from them. We will also give them a deadline to beef up things, and if they fail to adhere to it, we will deal with it MNS style. Political analysts said the MNS chief is trying hard to capitalise on peoples anger. Raj is exploring the possibility to make a comeback as the MNS has lost its momentum in the last few years. But he needs to keep up the momentum as just highlighting one or two issues is not going to help, said political analyst B Venkatesh Kumar. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A businessman filed a First Information Report (FIR) against four men, who allegedly duped him of Rs80.35 lakh by coercing him invest in an Singapore-based BPO, promising him that the amount will double in three years. According to the Meghwadi police, the complainant is a resident of Jogeshwari (East), and was introduced to the four accused through a trusted family friend. The complainant started investing the money since June 2011, and was told it will double and be returned to him by 2014. But even as years passed by, the accused kept delaying the payment, after which the businessman approached the police. The businessman told police that they did not sign an agreement and the entire payment was made through RTGS transactions, and no part of the amount was given in cash. The businessman has provided the cops with the bank transaction documents as evidence. A police official said, The man trusted the accused without asking for any proof or signing any agreements. Furthermore, he did not know if the accused even started a BPO. All he knows is that it was to be opened somewhere in Bengaluru and is Singapore-based. We are collecting evidence and tracing the four men. Almost a year after they applied, surgeons from Sion Hospital entered the Guinness Book of World Records this week for removing the heaviest kidney tumour. Surgeons said the 5.5kg tumour was 50 times heavier than a healthy kidney, which weighs about 110 to 140 grams. The 31cm wide and 19cm long tumour was removed from the abdomen of Bihar resident Manju Devi, 28, in November 2016. We are thrilled to inform you that your application for heaviest tumour removed has been successful and you are now the Guinness World Record title holder, reads the e-mail sent by the Guinness Book of World Records officials. The mail was sent earlier this week to Dr Ajit Sawant, head of the urology department at the hospital, who performed the surgery with his three colleagues. Sawant said Manju, a resident of Darbhanga district, had come to the hospital with a painful abdominal lump and had been passing blood in urine for the three years. Her daily activities had come to a halt because of the huge mass in her stomach, said Sawant. She was referred to Sion Hospital after being turned down by multiple local hospitals, who deferred operating on her due to the size of the tumour. A CT scan revealed that the tumour had completely taken over the right kidney, compressed the liver and pushed the great vessels (large vein that carries deoxygenated blood from the lower and middle body into the right atrium of the heart), intestines and the pancreas towards the left side of the abdomen, he added. The doctors then planned a supra-major surgery after Manjus complete evaluation. The mass was successfully removed during an eight-hour surgery performed by a team of specialist, including Sawant, Dr Prakash Pawar and uro-anesthetists Dr Geeta Patkar and Dr Aparna Nerulkar. Manju, who recovered within a week, was kept on ventilator post-surgery. A railway commuter caught a mobile thief red-handed in a crowded train in Kurla during rush hour. The accused had already stolen five mobile phones within 10 minutes of the journey from Chembur to Kurla before he was caught, the police said. The police found three mobiles in the accuseds possession, and he confessed to having passed two others to his gang members in the crowd. The accused has been identified as Sayyed Hasnuddin, 45. Railway Police Force (RPF) officials from Kurla said that on Tuesday evening, commuter Durga Prasad Singh had gone to Chembur for work and boarded a harbour-line train to Kurla at 7.45pm. As he was getting off the train, he felt someone taking his mobile phone from his side pocket and grabbed the hand, shouting out and alerting other commuters. As Hasnuddin got into an argument with Singh, other commuters joined in and began questioning the accused. The commotion on the platform attracted RPF officials who then detained Hasnuddin. We detained and searched him and found two mobile phones on him, but did not find Singhs phone, said RPF official Suresh Atri, adding that when questioned, Hasnuddin confessed to the theft and said he had passed Singhs mobile to an accomplice. He told us that the gang travels in crowded trains and steals phones from commuters backpacks and pockets and passes them on to other members of his gang who are nearby, so that even if he gets caught and frisked, he can claim that he did not steal the phone, Atri said. We are now trying to track down the other gang members. RPF officials have handed Hasnuddin over to the Government Railway Police (GRP) officers in Wadala. Mobile thefts on local trains have recorded a spike recently. Officials said they have been registering 10 to 20 cases of theft every day at each police station on the suburban railway line. Statistics show that 1,284 mobiles were reported stolen on railway premises between January and May this year. In 2016, there were 749 cases during the same period. Mobile thefts should be reported, said a GRP official. Mumbais favourite destination will soon get a facelift. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has sanctioned a number of works for the beautification of the Marine Drive promenade. In a meeting on Wednesday, municipal commissioner Ajoy Mehta assigned works to various officials, who are expected to complete the task in the next six months. Some of the prominent works include hedge plantation (planting shrubs) between National Centre for Performing Arts (NCPA) and Tambe Chowk, beautification of Tambe Chowk itself, refurbishment of the Parsi gate and all bus-stops on the promenade. Mehta has also assigned the work of the restoration of a fountain below Princess Street flyover, and repair work of the parapet of the promenade. A senior civic official, present at the meeting, said, The works have been assigned to deputy municipal commissioners and ward officers. The commissioner has called for a meeting again in the next 8-10 days to discuss the action plan. The restoration is a collective effort by BMC, residents of the area along with architect Ratan Batliboi and local BJP corporator, Harshita Narvekar. Last year, members of the Nariman Point Churchgate Citizens Welfare Trust (NPCCWT) met the civic officials to discuss the plans. Batliboi said, Most of the works are a continuation of old projects. In phase-2 of the project, we will undertake other major works too. One of the suggestions from the residents includes creating a viewing gallery near NCPA . Civic officials are still looking at these major suggestions. Officials said that they are also being careful to not hinder the view of the sea from the promenade. Apart from aesthetic works that will be undertaken by BMC, officials are also looking at surfacing of a pipeline under Princess Street flyover, repairing a toilet opposite the Air India building in Nariman Point, and looking at solutions relating to smoothening of traffic, officials said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A fraudster, posing as a bank official on the phone, allegedly cheated an HR professional from a multi-national company of Rs94,000 on the pretext of redeeming payback points. The woman shared details of four credit cards and when the fraudster asked for one more card, she shared her colleagues card details too along with the One-Time Passwords (OTP), police said. According to the Powai police, where a First Information Report (FIR) was registered on September 28, the 49-year-old woman complainant, a resident of Andheri (East), had received a phone call from the fraudster while she was at work in Andheri. The accused, posing as an official from her bank, said he could redeem the payback points on her credit cards to her accounts, police said. According to the police, the woman said the fraudster gave a name and told he was calling from the Nariman Point branch of her bank, which is why she thought it was genuine. After receiving SMSes on the mobile phone saying that money was debited, the woman realised she had been duped and went to her local police station, where a case was registered against an unidentified accused. A FIR has been registered under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and Information Technology Act for impersonation, identity theft and cheating. The police said they are trying to trace the phone call. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has been weighing his options with regard to former Congress leader Narayan Rane being inducted into his cabinet as an ally of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). While Fadnavis and senior BJP leaders are yet to decide on what portfolio Rane should get, there are also speculations about the much-awaited cabinet reshuffle and Ranes induction into it. The cabinet reshuffle is widely expected to take place only after Diwali, with a few new faces to be introduced and few incumbents likely to be dropped. A section within the BJP says Rane is likely to get the public works portfolio. Rane set up his own party, Maharashtra Swabhiman Paksha, on Sunday, two weeks after he resigned from the Congress. For a few months, he was in talks to join the BJP, and then the cabinet, but was later offered a seat of power only as an ally. This was finalised after Rane met BJP president Amit Shah in Delhi last month. HT had reported that Rane would join the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) after floating his own party and would then get inducted into the cabinet. While Rane expects a plum portfolio such as revenue, urban development or housing, senior BJP leaders are not too keen on this. Shiv Sena leaders also told Fadnavis that they are not in favour of Rane being inducted into the cabinet. I will announce my formal decision regarding the NDA in the next two days. The CM and I did not discuss my portfolio when we met, but I expect my seniority as former chief minister will be respected, Rane told HT. He added that if his portfolio has been allotted, he can be sworn in ahead of the cabinet reshuffle. There is no need to wait, he said. A BJP minister told HT that the Delhi leadership had given Fadnavis complete freedom to decide the portfolio for Rane. The national leadership has authorised Fadnavis to decide which portfolio to give Rane, who has been asking for one of the four key departments. However, the state leadership is not keen on this. We have many heavyweight leaders that have left other parties to join us, despite not having been given any major post. We will have to face them, said the minister, who did not wish to be identified. Revenue minister and senior BJP leader Chandrakant Patil said there was no reason for the Shiv Sena to be upset over Ranes induction. We have asked Rane to join the NDA and he is expected to make a decision in the next two days. I am unaware of any threats by the Shiv Sena over Ranes induction. We have been trying to maintain a cordial relationship with the party and its leaders. Fadnavis ensures that he makes time to talk to Sena leaders and ministers. They sometimes even meet at wee hours owing to their busy schedules. The Shiv Sena should not have a problem with our decision, he said. Party sources said the future of Ranes two sons will be decided during the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in 2019. Builders on Thursday assured a committee of three ministers, appointed by the Uttar Pradesh state cabinet, that they will be delivering 50,000 flats in the next three months in Noida, Greater Noida and Yamuna Expressway areas, officials said. Around 20 builders met the panel of ministers and assured them that they will be delivering 20,000 flats in the next three months. However, many builders are yet to give assurances to the committee about the same, said Dr Prabhat Kumar, Meerut division commissioner and chairman of Yamuna Expressway industrial development authority, after attending the meeting. The committee met with a delegation of homebuyers and builders at India International Centre in Delhi to discuss the issues faced by buyers and builders. The committee also met with the officials of Noida, Greater Noida and Yamuna authorities during the meeting which started at 11am and ended at 6pm. Industries minister Satish Mahana, urban housing minister Suresh Khanna and state minister (independent charge) of cane development and sugar mills Suresh Rana are the members of the committee. The panel will again meet the officials of three authorities to review the progress of various infrastructure and other projects on Friday in Delhi. The scheduled meeting on Friday in Delhi will focus only on progress of projects, including parking facility, road resurfacing and hospital construction among others. The committee will check if there is any delay in ongoing projects or not. And the panel will seek answers for the delay, if any, said a Noida authority official. Apart from discussing homebuyers issues, the ministers also discussed civic issues in Noida, Greater Noida and Yamuna Expressway areas. The committee took up civic issues as the three industrial development authorities which had been formed for industrial development also take care of the civic work. Residents complain that the three authorities are allegedly unable to address civic issues adequately and, hence, they have demanded a municipal body to be formed to properly look after civic issues. Keeping in mind this demand, the ministers panel formed two separate committees with an aim to address civic and traffic issues. The committee headed by Dr Prabhat Kumar will work to streamline municipal functions in the three authorities. Noida authority chairman and chief executive officer Alok Tandon will head the committee that will work on improving traffic management. The panel formed two committees for better municipal functioning and addressing traffic congestion issues. Now, detailed terms and reference will be drafted under which two committees will function. Once terms and reference will be made, we will select the members of these two committees to start our work, said Kumar. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON On World Teachers Day on Thursday, international students studying in Sharda University, Greater Noida paid homage to their teachers by organising a cultural event at the university campus. The event began with the students singing Saraswati Vandana and lamp lighting by the universitys vice chancellor Prof BS Pawar, followed by dance, music and theatre performances. The private university is host to around 1,600 foreign students from more than 58 countries across the world. Students belonging to at least 30 countries participated in the event. We wanted to pay homage to our faculty that helps us selflessly not only in academics but also in day-to-day lives. Therefore, we brought this concept of celebrating Teachers Day for international students, said Shashwat Aryal, a B.Tech 4th year student from Nepal. Aryal added that it is the teachers who help them cope with day-to-day issues, including language barrier. Though I am from Nepal and I am fluent in Hindi as well as English, I can tell that majority of the foreign students in Greater Noida face language issues outside their campus. It is the teachers who have helped overcome their stigma and complexes. Now we have classmates from African countries who speak Hindi fluently, Aryal said. Nguyen Tuan, a Vietnamese student,also said, In the starting, my English was weak and I found it difficult to express myself. But the teachers understood my needs nevertheless and encouraged me in academics. Now I can speak English fluently. It was really sweet of our teachers to organise a dance performance on this occasion, said Nazir, a PhD student from Nigeria. Prashant Gupta, executive director of the university thanked the international students for their efforts. I was myself a foreign student and I can recollect the difficulties I faced during my college days. However, with the help of friends and teachers, one could easily overcome these difficulties. I would like to express my gratitude to the foreign students who had put up such a marvellous show for our teachers, Gupta said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Fifty-nine teachers were found missing from their duty during a surprise inspection carried out on Wednesday by the officials of the basic education department in 93 government schools in Ghaziabad. The district magistrate later ordered the deduction of a days salary of the absent teachers and asked the officials to conduct more surprise checks in the coming days. At the 93 schools inspected, 410 teachers should have been present. The teachers who were found absent from duty were considered on leave and a days salary was deducted. We have 398 primary schools (Class 1 to 5) and 195 upper primary schools (class 6 to 8). We have nearly 2,168 on our rolls, excluding 391 shiksha mitras who have been removed. We just have 10-15 posts of teachers vacant at present, said Vinay Kumar, basic education officer. The officials said they have also come up with a procedure to mark attendance at the office of basic education officer. Under the system, anyone on casual leave will have to post a message on the system before the start of the school day. None of the 59 teachers had posted any message about their being on casual leave. They have been warned and more surprise inspections will be taken up soon in other schools, Kumar said. District magistrate Ritu Maheshwari said more such inspections will be carried out and action will be taken against the erring teachers. The DM said she will also be ordering surprise inspections of private schools as well. This is with respect to the safety and security meeting held earlier with schools on September 12. There have been certain guidelines issued by the UP Police and the Central Board of Secondary Education. Since schools were given a fortnight to spruce up safety measures and there were holidays due to Dussehra festivities, we are giving schools some more time before inspections are carried out, the DM said. On September 12, the principals and district officials had held a meeting in Ghaziabad. Schools were given a set of guidelines and also the expected measures they were to take up to ensure the safety and security of students, in the aftermath of the murder of a class 2 student at Ryan International School in Gurgaon. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The post-mortem report of GD Goenka student Arman Sehgal will now be examined by a panel of doctors from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). The move comes after the Ghaziabad district administration had written to officials of AIIMS for an opinion on the boys postmortem report. Arman, 9 , had died on August 1 this year after falling in the second floor corridor of his school. The boy had arrived at the school to appear for a unit test when he accidentally fell. Armans family had immediately alleged negligence on part of school authorities and also lodged an FIR under IPC sections of culpable homicide not amounting to murder and destruction of evidence at Indirapuram police station. Following the request from Ghaziabad district administration officials, the medical superintendent of AIIMS forwarded the request to its department of forensic medicines and toxicology and formed a medical board to study the autopsy report. The officials from AIIMS have sought certain reports related to Armans case along with pictures, videography of the post-mortem and other related documents, before they can give an opinion on the report of the deceased. We have written to the investigating officer of the case to provide details to the AIIMS panel within three days, said Rajesh Kumar Yadav, additional district magistrate (finance & revenue), who is also the official conducting a magisterial inquiry in Arman Sehgals death. A magisterial inquiry in the case was initiated by Ghaziabad authorities on August 4. The probe officer so far has recorded the statements of Armans family members and relatives and also of staff and officials of GD Goenka School in Indirapuram. The opinion of the AIIMS medical panel on Armans post-mortem report will be the last document that will be made part of the magisterial inquiry. After that, the inquiry will be concluded. The police have, so far, failed to hand over the relevant documents to the AIIMS panel, Yadav added. On their part, officers of Indirapuram police station said that the investigating officer had attended a hearing in the case on October 4 in Allahabad. The investigating officer returned on Thursday and will soon visit AIIMS, along with all documents. There is no delay on our part, said RK Mishra, circle officer (Indirapuram). GD Goenka school authorities had earlier moved the Allahabad high court in a bid to quash the FIR against five of its officials. The hearing in the case is pending. Armans family too had moved the Supreme Court in a bid to get the CBI to probe the case. However, the apex court directed them to the Allahabad high court and asked the high court to take up the case expeditiously and decide the matter by October 15. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON To encourage government schools to maintain cleanliness on the school premises, the district administration has asked school administrations to submit details of their schools infrastructure, cleanliness inside premises and awareness among students and teachers towards swachhta, officials said. The union government plans to rank schools according to their swachhta Index. The Uttar Pradesh government is observing swachhta fortnight from October 1 to 15 involving teachers and students. Likewise, the human resource development (HRD) ministry has also asked all government schools in India to participate in the ranking. Schools have been asked to upload details on the HRD ministry website. The first prize has been stipulated at 1,20,000, Prasad said. The last date for filling the form is October 31. The district administration has also asked government schools in Gautam Budh Nagar to participate in the school ranking. According to district information system for education (DISE) report 2016, there are 697 government schools in GB Nagar. Bal Mukund Prasad, elementary education officer of GB Nagar told Hindustan Times that education officials have been asked to inspect schools on certain points to decide the rankings. We have been provided a 25 pointer notice to inspect schools after they submit details about their infrastructure, teacher-student ratio, drinking water facility, toilet facilities and other aspects, said Prasad, basic shiksha adhikari (official), GB Nagar. DISE report also mentions that 99.4% schools in the district have drinking water facility and 99.7% schools have toilet facility. Prasad said schools will be inspected on various parameters such as, We want to see if students are aware of swachhta mission, whether the teachers are trained well enough to teach students about swachhta, whether students wash their hands before eating midday meals, whether safe drinking water is available or not and how clean are the school premises including toilet SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Muslim political power in the Subcontinent came to a close with the fall of the Mughal empire. But the downfall didnt descend in a flash from the heavens. Muslims manufactured it for themselves. By the time the British dismantled their political power, Muslim society was a moribund creature. A decayed society and a depraved politics in the East was no match to a thriving West. The empire fell, and with that panic seized Muslims. Its still panic-stricken. The response to the happenings, like the recent judgment on triple talaq, is an expression of the same panic. What perpetuates this panic is the inability of Muslim mind to undertake reform. Its a complete withering away, leaving Muslims incapacitated to participate in and with the changed world. The blossoming of a people is contingent on an interminable flowering of mind. This is the substance of a people when they are alive. After the decline, Muslims are fighting for dead symbols, without caring for substance. The decision on the validity of permanent separation between the spouses, as a result of uttering the word talaq thrice in a go, has once again brought to light the mortal affliction of Muslims ignoring the ever vital substance and chasing the long dead symbols. The aftermath of the decision on triple-talaq in the Supreme Court has once again raised some cardinal questions. Who are the Indian Muslims and what is their future in India? The bun fight in TV studios and triumphalist expressions of the BJP send a message: Deep recesses of Muslim society are no more a no-go area for the State structures. The era of political expediency, and the consequent appeasement of Muslims, that the Congress was accused of, is gone. The new politics has turned things upside down. With the political value coming to naught, is it time to zero in on Muslim society. When Kemal Ataturk announced the abolition of the Ottoman caliphate, Indian Muslims were crestfallen. A huge public mobilisation under the leadership of religious and political elite, later supported by Indian National Congress also, in the end was a total failure. This great failure sapped Muslim energies. As a collective, their worth in the anti-colonial struggle within India was at its lowest. The Indian freedom movement, under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi, didnt cease its anti-colonial fight. It signalled that politics in India will chalk out its own course regardless of what Muslims think, and do. From here onwards Muslims developed some deep political responses. One, to be an active part of the Indian National Movement. Two, think of a separate and self-contained politics, and fight against any designs of subsuming the Muslim society into a larger mass of Indian society, that being Hindu by way of numbers. Third, an understanding that Muslims comprise a global community and any divisions in the name of nationalism were antithetical to its society and politics. There were three broad responses that shaped up the future politics of Muslims in the Subcontinent. One, it ended up nourishing itself from the waters of Indian secular politics, for decades led (misled) by Congress. Second, it resulted in the division of territory, and partition of people. Decades later, the third response came to be known as political Islam. Muslims rushed to the frontiers to ward off dangers when the peril was at the core. Muslims predominantly looked at it as a case of Hindu India, or a Christian West, or a godless USSR, scheming against their faith. They hardly looked into the fallacies of their knowledge systems, and the decay of mind. They never thought that maybe they are the problem. Living in the excitement of past glory, Muslims engaged with the world in a state of rage, frustration, and denial. All this was wholeheartedly supported by a theological discourse, of which triple-talaq is a remnant. Muslim politics is captive to that theology. This architecture of Muslim theology needs a serious revisit. That will announce the opening up of the Muslim mind. Muhammad Iqbal was the person who emphasised this almost a century back, just some years after the failure of Khilafat movement. A century later Muslims are where the man left them. The mind is shut, the limbs shattered. Mehmood ur Rashid is opinion editor, Greater Kashmir The views expressed are personal Alabama is a badly gerrymandered state in one very predictable way: packing. The racist GOP-controlled state legislature created one congressional district, AL-07, that twists and turns and shoots out tentacles to segregate as many African-Americans in one district as humanly possible. Alabama's population is 26.5% black and has a PVI of R+14. AL-07, which manages to combine black neighborhoods of Birmingham, Montgomery, Tuscaloosa and Selma with the Black Belt rural counties in the western part of the state, is 64% Black and has a PVI of D+20. Trump won Alabama with 63% of the vote. Hillary won AL-07, 69.8% to 28.6%. This "packing" by the Republican legislators has made it all but impossible for Democrats to compete effectively or realistically in AL-01, AL-02 and AL-06, all of which have been made far whiter and far redder through the pernicious and clearly racist gerrymandering. A one-party Democratic district, AL-07 has long been a terrible anti-progressive bastion. In 1992 AL-07 elected an old time populist to Congress, Earl Hilliard, the first person of color since Reconstruction to represent Alabama in Congress. Eventually, he was defeated by an especially vile scumbag from the Republican wing of the Democratic Party, Artur Davis, a young, slick arch-conservative, who beat Hilliard with the help of AIPAC and establishment whites in Birmingham who were interested in electing an Uncle Tom type to the seat. Davis was a play-thing for the GOP in Congress, voting against Obamacare (the only black Democrat in Congress to do so) and against hate crimes legislation and generally playing the role of one of the Dems always ready to help the GOP make their legislation "bipartisan"-- the worst of the worst. In fact he eventually switched parties and became a Republican (after losing the gubernatorial nomination to Ron Sparks in 2010, Sparks even winning Davis' own district). Good to see him out of Alabama politics and out of Democratic politics-- the DCCC always labeled him "a rising star"-- and out of Congress? Well... yes, but... Davis was followed in the AL-07 seat by another conservative Democrat , Terrycina "Terri" Sewell, a worthless member of the New Dems, maybe not as bad as Davis but-- BAD. all Birmingham residents. Tonights win is just one example of why progressives must invest and support local races all across the country." So what brought on this sad little history of AL-07 lesson? Tuesday night Berniecrat Randall Woodfin unseated William Bell, the 2-term establishment incumbent mayor of Birmingham who was backed by Sewell . And on Tuesday night Our Revolution President Nina Turner said "Our Revolution is excited to congratulate Randall Woodfin on his victory tonight. From knocking on doors to sending text messages, and making calls, Our Revolution invested in Woodfins campaign because he truly believes investing in people is how we build better cities. In my travels to Birmingham, I saw firsthand, Randalls passion and commitment to the people of his city. We look forward to the Woodfin team bringing a new spirit of community and compassion to city hall. This isnt just a victory for Birmingham, its a victory for all of us... Randall Woodfin will be a mayor committed to enacting a progressive agenda that will truly serve the needs ofBirmingham residents. Tonights win is just one example of why progressives must invest and support local races all across the country." Bernie had personally endorsed Woodfin-- who, last year, had been Clinton's Alabama state director-- and recorded an ad for him. The Working Families Party and other progressive national groups helped Woodfin beat the 68 year old Bell by an eye-popping 24,910 (58) to 17,353 (41%) in the runoff. At the same time, 2 longtime Birmingham City Council members, Johnathan Austin and Kim Rafferty, lost their re-election bids while a former council member, Roderick Royal, lost in his effort to return to office, narrowly beaten by John Hilliard. Woodfin ran aggressively on a progressive Berniecrat agenda that Birmingham voters loved. During US defence secretary Gen (Retd) James Mattis visit to India last September 26, the bilateral discussion veered around to terrorism emanating from Afghanistan-Pakistan-Iran region. One of Indian national security experts argued before Mattis that three fundamental ingredients were required for terrorism to flourish in a region. They were ready supply of radicalised cadre, weapons, explosives and ammunition, and funding. The Indian expert, as an afterthought, said there was a fourth ingredient as well that ensured terrorism is sustained virtually indefinitely. The fourth element was the State. He said if the State starts sponsoring terror then it becomes a never-ending game as it has an infinite capability to provide radicalised cadre, weapons and funds to target its enemies all over the world. The purport of the experts logic was not lost on Mattis as everyone knew that the finger were being pointed at Pakistan even though Iran has also exported terror against Sunni states and Israel. The Pakistani State alone houses 44 domestic and pan-Islamic organisations, which have routinely targeted Afghanistan and India in the name of jihad and Ummah. The involvement of the Pakistani State, particularly the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in targeting India, has been well documented but has now reached a new level where Chinese-manufactured war ordnance is being passed to jihadists to kill in Kashmir. On August 26, eight Indian troopers, including four CRPF jawans, lost their lives in a Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) suicide attack at a police camp in Pulwama, south Kashmir. The attack on police lines was repelled and three JeM terrorists died in the attack two AK-47s and one AK-56 assault rifles, eight to 10 Chinese grenades, ammunition and an underbarrel rocket launcher were recovered. Investigation revealed that one of the bullets had pierced the bulletproof shield of a CRPF trooper and fatally hit the defender. Recoveries and forensic examination of the ammunition seized has confirmed that the JeM terrorists had used armour-piercing ammunition to target the Indian troopers. While it is still being ascertained whether the ammunition was being tipped with explosive or incendiary substance, which explodes after penetrating the target, the mere usage of army-grade top-end ammunition by jihadists reveals the deep linkage between the Pakistani State and the pan-Islamic terrorists. While human rights activists in Kashmir are harping about the usage of pellet guns against over ground supporters of Pakistan-based groups, the usage armour-piercing ammunition as well as hard steel rounds has dramatically escalated the counter-insurgency battle in Kashmir. Investigations show that armour-piercing ammunition has Chinese origins, which were imported by the Pakistan army in the first place as war stores. The fact is that the military tactical or strategic capability of both North Korea and Pakistan has Chinese origins with no cost to the mother state. And Pakistan gets full marks in all four elements of terrorism which were discussed with Mattis. Just as US needs to put pressure on China to drill sense into a rogue State like North Korea, Washington now understands that Pakistan will never allow Afghanistan to stabilise as an independent state till jihadists and their handlers are in power. Pakistans foreign minister Khawaja Muhammad Asifs apology to global terrorist Hafiz Saeed on a TV channel for remarks made by the politician in his recent US visit shows the clout of jihadists in that nation. It is evident that Asif was so scared of Saeed that he ended up calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi a terrorist in a bid to appease the man who carries a $10 million bounty on his head. The Tuesday attack on a BSF camp near the Srinagar airport by three JeM terrorists shows that Masood Azhar, emir of JeM, is now the favourite terror boy of the Pakistani establishment with Saeeds Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) put on the backburner due to US pressure. There is evidence now that both Azhar and Saeed used their cadre to safely house Al Qaeda fighters and shura in Pakistan during the post-9/11 Afghan war. The blood of Indian security men is also on hands of Beijing which continues to block the efforts to designate Azhar a global terrorist by the United Nations for the past years despite global requests. While the Trump administration has been making noises of putting Pakistan to stake for its terrorism record, India needs to ensure that Islamabad is made to pay for jihadi attacks through overt or covert means. The September 29, 2016 surgical strikes were a technology demonstrator of Indias capabilities with the Pakistan war machine and jihadists caught unawares. Even though the India-Pakistan backchannel remains open, New Delhi realises that there is little achieved as Rawalpindi GHQ has the current political dispensation by the scruff of its neck. Modi realises that the answer to Pakistan lies in widening the techno-military gap and not in verbally reminding Islamabad of past bilateral promises. shishir.gupta@hindustantimes.com SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON High expectations mark the proposed visit of prime minister Narendra Modi, who is scheduled to arrive here on October 14 to grace the main function of the centenary celebration of Patna university, as chief guest. Chief minister Nitish Kumar had already made it clear the Bihar government had big expectations from the centre in the aftermath of his decision last July to abandon the grand alliance and form a new government with the BJP and return the ruling JD (U) to the BJP-led NDA. It was against this backdrop that chief secretary Anjani Kumar Singh. on Thursday, held a meeting with the top brass of the state administration and Patna university, to review preparedness for the PMs proposed visit. A senior official said the PMs itinerary had still not arrived, but besides attending the main programme of PU, he would attend at least one more. Whatever is the requirement, we will be ready, he said, adding, he was coming on the invitation of PU authorities. Sources speculated the second official engagement of the PM would be laying the foundation stone of mega infrastructure projects related to the Namame Gange projects for cleaning the Ganga and a road project. According to sources, the PM is likely to be accompanied by union water resources minister Nitin Gadkari. Ahead of the PMs visit, an eight-member central team headed by Mukesh Mittal, joint secretary, ministry of home affairs, visited Bihar on Thursday to assess the situation in the wake of devastating floods that rocked the state. The Bihar government has already submitted a memorandum seeking compensation of Rs 736-crore to the Centre. Six departments rural works, road, agriculture, water resources, animal husbandry and disaster management gave a power point presentation for the benefit of the central team, on the magnitude of devastation. Later, the team left for Purnea, Araria, Kishanganj, Muzaffarpur, Sitamarhi, Darbhanga and east Champaran, for on-the-ground assessment. The PM had visited Bihar on August 26 for an aerial survey of the floods, which claimed over 425 lives, affected nearly 1.65-crore population and caused massive infrastructural damage. Announcing Rs 500-crore instant relief, the PM had assured that the Centre would provide all necessary help to compensate the huge infrastructure loss. That announcement may also be made during PMs visit. With the PM expected to address a gathering during his trip, BJP leaders are upbeat. With Narendra Modi coming, expectations are high as people trust him as a man who delivers. For Bihar, he has a special liking, as he views it as a place with huge unexplored potential. Whatever is required for the state, he will certainly do, said Bihar BJP president Nityanand Rai. However, the PMs main engagement would be the PU centenary function in the state capital. Set up in 1917, PU entered its centenary year on October 1, 2016 but could not plan celebration on time, as the term of the then VC Dr YC Simhadri was nearing its end and the plan of getting the PM for the mega event could not materialize at the time. However, a belated fresh initiative for celebrating the event got the PM in the loop. The organisers are hopeful the presence of the PM at the event will the further the cause of the demand for the central university status to be granted to the PU. The main centenary function will be held at the Patna Science College ground, which is being readied as per the requirement. PU has sent a schedule of 40-minute programme for the PM. On Thursday, Patna DM Sanjay Kumar and SSP Manu Maharaj visited Patna Science College to inspect the venue. Chancellor of universities Satpal Malik, chief minister Nitish Kumar, deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi, union law minister Ravishankar Prasad (preceding three are alumni of PU), will be on the dais along with the vice chancellor Rash Behari Prasad Singh. The list of PU alumni holding high positions in all the fields, including politics, bureaucracy and judiciary, is big and varied. The event may be attended by Modi critics like veteran BJP leader Yashwant Sinha and RJD chief Lalu Prasad. We will send invitations to all the alumni for the function, though we will also also hold a separate alumni meet in December. It is a big occasion, especially with the PM coming. President Ram Nath Kovind has agreed to grace the concluding function in December, said RB Prasad Singh, VC of PU. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday filed the chargesheet against Haryana Civil Services (HCS) officer Shilpy Pattar in a graft case on Wednesday. Pattar, who was repatriated to her home state after the case surfaced, was arrested on August 5 for allegedly taking bribe from a businessman for de-sealing his showroom. She was on deputation in UT as sub-divisional magistrate (SDM, east). The CBI submitted the chargesheet against the officer under Section 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) besides Sections 7 (public servant taking gratification other than legal remuneration in respect of an official act) and 13 (1) (d) read with 13(2) (criminal misconduct) of the Prevention of Corruption Act before the special CBI court. Recovered money, matched samples to nail HCS officer The chargesheet includes nearly 30 witness accounts and is about 1,000 pages long. Although HT wasnt able to access its copy till the filing of this report, sources said the incriminating evidence against Shilpy Pattar include the circumstantial one money that was recovered from her house during the CBI raid. The forensic report confirmed the chemical marks on the graft notes matched with the accuseds sample. Along with this, the voice samples had also matched. The CBI had also seized some property-related documents and jewellery from her house. During investigation, it emerged that there were a number of properties in her fathers and her name in the tricity. The CBI also filed the chargesheet against her two accomplices husband Dheeraj Dutt, from whom the money was allegedly recovered, and GS Brar, the alleged middleman for criminal conspiracy. Pattar had allegedly demanded Rs 5 lakh for de-sealing a showroom in Sector 26. After negotiations, the deal was struck at Rs 2 lakh, of which Rs 50,000 was to be paid on August 5. When complainant Tarsem Kumar Goyal handed over the money, the CBI team raided the house. The money was recovered from Pattars husband. Pattar had allegedly demanded Rs 5 lakh for de-sealing a showroom in Sector 26. After negotiations, the deal was struck at Rs 2 lakh, of which Rs 50,000 was to be paid on August 5. The CBI also seized some property-related documents, cash and jewellery from Pattars house, besides Rs 25,000 from the middleman. Former assistant estate officer Birender Choudharys name had also cropped up in the bribery case after Pattars interrogation. The CBI has already submitted chargesheet against him. CBI officials also confirmed the involvement of two to three UT administration officials in such cases. Hinting at officials with whom Pattar has closely worked with, sources in the CBI had earlier told HT that it was an entire nexus where these officials would get in touch with lower-rung employees to extract bribe. Chargesheet filed just in time The HCS officer had filed a bail plea on September 6, which was dismissed by the court. The defence counsel, Terminder Singh, moved another application on Wednesday, stating that the accused should be granted bail by default since it had already been 60 days since her arrest and the chargesheet hadnt been filed. However, the court informed the counsel that the chargesheet had been filed, after which he withdrew the application. The air link between Chandigarh and Kullu was established after Union minister JP Nadda and minister of state for civil aviation Jayant Sinha flagged off the first flight from the Bhuntar airport on Thursday. A 72-seater ATR aircraft of Alliance Air a subsidiary of national carrier Air India took off from Bhuntar airport in Kullu at 8:35 am and returned from Chandigarh at 9:50 am. The flight will operate seven days a week and passengers may take the connecting flight from Chandigarh to New Delhi. The flight time will be 45 minutes and a one-way ticket will cost approximately Rs 4,500. It usually takes seven hours by road between Kullu and Chandigarh, which is around 270 kilometres. Manali, the famous tourist destination, is 45km from Bhuntar airport. The ministers also announced Shimla- Kullu-Chandigarh flight under the Union governments Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN) scheme. BOOST TO TOURISM The direct daily flight from Chandigarh has elated the tourism industry of the region. The town welcomes tourists, including foreigners, every year. Since the flight has been started from Kullu, more tourists will come to the valley, said Kullu hotelier association president Gajender Thakur. Himachal has three airports- Shimla, Gaggal in Kangra and Bhuntar in Kullu. Shimla is connected to Delhi under the UDAN scheme after Prime Minister launched it earlier in April. A 30-year-old woman of Hoshiarpurs Bhungari village, who was stuck in Saudi Arabia, was rescued by Damdami Taksal, a Sikh educational organisation based in Amritsar. The organisation provided financial assistance she needed to exit the work agreement she had signed to work for a family based in Dammam, a city in eastern province of Saudi Arabia, two months ago. Akvinder Kaur, a mother of three, arrived at Amritsar on Tuesday evening. We bore the expenses of the settlement of her work agreement and return ticket which costed around Rs 1.5 lakh. Interacting with the media on Wednesday, tear-eyed Akvinder narrated her sufferings during her two-month stay in the foreign land and alleged that the family she worked for as a housemaid not only kept her in the adverse state but also physically tortured her. I was on the verge of killing myself. I cant even put into words what all I had to face there, she said. Akvinder, whose husband Ranjit Singh works as a sweeper in a factory, said her financial condition compelled her to consider the suggestion of a local woman, Neelam, who told her about the secure and high-paying job in Saudi Arabia. Neelam said she has also worked there and families in Saudi pay quite well. I had gone to work as a housemaid but never knew that things could turn so ugly for me, she said. Sandeep Singh of Damdami Taksal, who accompanied her to the press conference, said, A week ago, we found a video on the social media in which Akvinder was requesting Aam Aadmi Partys state president Bhagwant Mann to rescue her. In the video, she could be seen saying, Maan Ji! I am stuck in Dammam. I have young children. The people I work for are asking me to pay Rs 2 lakh to free me. They dont give me food to eat. Please save me. The minister then posted the video on his official Facebook page on September 24 and sought any kind of information about Akvinder. We found the video even before it was posted on Manns Facebook page. However, in the comments section, a man from Lucknow, who worked as a driver in Riyadh, helped us to get in touch with Akvinder, Sandeep said. Damdami Taksal has borne the expenses of the settlement of her work agreement and return ticket, total of which costed around Rs 1.5 lakh, he added. Meanwhile, no police complaint has been filed in the matter so far. Vintage tractors from Russia (the erstwhile USSR) DT-14 and Belarus caught the limelight at the annual Saras Mela that began at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) in Ludhiana on Thursday. Many recalled memories of these tractors being used extensively in the 1960s and 70s at the time of Green Revolution when India adopted modern methods to increase farm yield. A retired officer of Punjab police, Pawan Kumar, said that there were two tractorsDT 14 and DT-28which were extensively used when green revolution started in the state. The tractors were brought from Russia and cost around Rs 12,000 at the time. We brought it in 1958 and used it for over 12 years, he said. These Russian tractors were used extensively in the 1960s and 70s when India adopted modern methods to increase farm yield. (Gurminder Singh/HT) Kumar said that the DT-14 tractor was economical as it was cheaper as compared to the Belarus, which was mostly used by rich landlords. The DT-14 was also economical in terms of consumption and moreover had a lot of power. If the supply of DT 14 tractor had continued, it could have left behind most other tractors which are seen in the market nowadays, he added. Manohar Lal, a local resident, was overwhelmed after seeing the DT-14 tractor and was keen to buy it, but the authorities said the tractors had just been brought for display. Manohar Lal said that around four decades ago, he was planning to get a DT-14 tractor, but he was not able to buy it as he had no funds. However now, even though he has funds, he is not able to find the tractor. These are a part of our culture, said a superintendent with the municipal corporation, Jasdev Sekhon. These have been kept and maintained by different people, who are fond of them, he added. The Green Revolution, many believe, was aided as much by the US as by its Cold War rival and Indias trusted partner Russia or the USSR as it was then. Last seen in Allu Arjuns blockbuster Duvvada Jagannadham, actress Pooja Hegde has made a strong comeback to Tollywood and shes raring to go. Currently shooting for a yet-untitled Telugu project with Bellamkonda Srinivas, she has been roped in for a special number in Ram Charans Rangasthalam 1985. Most major big Telugu releases in recent past have had special numbers featuring leading actresses such as Kajal Aggarwal and Tamannaah Bhatia. The best and the most recent example being Tamannaah, who set the screen on fire with her presence in Swing Zara song in Jr NTRs Jai Lava Kusa. Apparently, Pooja will be seen in a peppy folk number in Rangasthalam 1985, and will match steps with Ram Charan, to be seen in a full-length rural avatar. The makers for long were on the lookout for a leadling lady to do this special song. Since they loved the energy with which Pooja danced in DJ, they felt she could do justice to the song and immediately roped her in. The song is most likely to be shot over the weekend or in the coming weeks. A special set has been erected in Hyderabad where it will be shot. Directed by Sukumar, the film also stars Samantha Ruth Prabhu. Its tipped to be a romantic drama set against the backdrop of 1980s. The film has been predominantly shot in rural areas of Godavari district. It also stars Aadi Pinisetty and Jagapathi Babu in crucial roles. Follow @htshowbiz for more ott:10:ht-entertainment_listing-desktop Its not every day that we come across a Tamil film teaser that has been viewed over 25 million times. Mersal is an exception and no wonder the films makers are making a big deal out of this rare feat, to be the first Vijay starrer to register over 25 million views for a teaser. Its also the most liked Indian film teaser with nearly 1000 likes, a record its set by even surpassing the Baahubali franchise and Ajiths Vivegam. Mersal, which features Vijay in a triple role, is one of the most anticipated releases of this year and it is slated to hit the screens this Diwali, provided the decision taken by theatres in Tamil Nadu to not release any new film following the double taxation row is called off. Directed by Atlee, the film marks his second collaboration with Vijay after last years blockbuster Theri. In the film, Vijay will be seen as a panchayat head, a doctor and a magician. The film also stars Nithya Menen, Kajal Aggarwal and Samantha Ruth Prabhu as Vijays love interests while SJ Suryah plays the antagonist. The film has music by A.R Rahman and has been produced by Sri Thenandal Films. Tipped to be made on a whopping budget of Rs 130 crore, Mersal is the most expensive film in Vijays career, superseding his Puli which was made on a budget of Rs 100 crore. It needs to be seen whether Mersal, given its high budget, can strike big at the box-office or not. The film has been dubbed in Telugu as Adhirindi, and it will have a simultaneous release with its Tamil version. Follow @htshowbiz for more ott:10:ht-entertainment_listing-desktop Reality television star Kim Kardashian West was upset after seeing unflattering images of herself in a bikini. In April, Kim was seen wearing a bikini on the beach in Punta Mita, Mexico, when her derriere looked bigger than usual. It also appeared as if she had cellulite. Her critics felt that previous flawless photos of the Keeping Up With The Kardashians star were airbrushed. Her reaction on seeing the image was shared online in a teaser for a forthcoming new episode of the series, reports dailymail.co.uk. Oh my god. Like, I dont get it. I literally dont look like this, the mother of two said after her assistant Stephanie Shepherd handed her a cell phone to look at the images. Kim is seen wearing a pink bikini and reclined on a lounger outside her Mexico rental. A towel is under her bottom. I need to untag myself in everything. Im literally going to go inside and just start untagging, she said. Later, Kim is seem in a black outfit next to sister Kourtney at a studio in Los Angeles as she discusses how she felt. Im already having this anxiety attack over security and Im already on high alert, said Kim, who was robbed at gunpoint in Paris a year ago. Just the scrutiny that we get all the time - we try to avoid that. So Im doing all the steps to try to be as private and discreet as possible and then you take pictures. And if theyre not perfect, people just body shame and criticize you. For people just to think thats okay is so frustrating. Follow @htshowbiz for more October 3, 1943September 20, 2017 Gerald Byers was born in Elko, NV to Louis and Mildred Byers October 3, 1943. He was raised in Lamoille, graduating from Elko High School in 1961. Upon completion of dental school in San Francisco, Jerry practiced dentistry in Walnut Creek, CA until returning to Elko in 1979, at which time he opened his dental practice and continued until his retirement. Despite his successful practice in California, his heart always remained in Nevada. In 1978, Jerry with his parents purchased a ranch in Lamoille which he operated up to the time of his death. Along with his passion for ranching, he enjoyed many excursions including fishing, camping, hunting and he was an avid skier in his earlier years. He also volunteered at the Lamoille Post Office. Jerry is survived by his daughters Nicole (Byers) Edmonds of CA and Reiley Byers of CO, grandsons Hudson and Christopher, brother, John and sisters Judy Johnson and Janet Fitzpatrick. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Jim. He will be missed deeply. At Jerrys request no services will be held; however, a celebration of life to be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be offered to Lamoille Community Presbyterian Church or a charity of your choice. At least 18 people were killed and dozens more injured when a suicide bomber blew himself up at a Sufi shrine packed with devotees in Pakistans restive Balochistan province on Thursday, officials said. The bomber, who tried to enter the Pir Rakhel Shah shrine at Fatehpur town of Jhal Magsi district, detonated his explosives when he was stopped by police at the entrance, deputy commissioner Asadullah Kakar said. A police constable was among the 18 dead, Kakar said. He was killed while trying to stop the bomber. Two policemen were injured by the blast. No group claimed responsibility for the blast. Several terror groups are active in resource-rich Balochistan, which borders Afghanistan and Iran. The shrine, which is visited by Sunnis and Shias, was crowded as a lot of people had gathered for an Urs celebration. Officials said they feared the death toll could rise. A lot of people also visit the shrine on Thursdays to participate in dhamaal a devotional dance which was underway at the time of the attack. Balochistan home minister Sarfaraz Bugti told Dawn News the toll would have been higher if the bomber had been able to enter the shrine. This was the second major attack on a Sufi shrine in Pakistan this year. In February, more than 80 people were killed and nearly 300 more wounded when a suicide bomber targeted the famous shrine of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar in Sindh. The Pir Rakhel Shah shrine was also targeted in 2005, when a suicide bomber killed 35 people. Karachi Police have arrested 16 people after a spate of stabbings targeting women left the Pakistani port city reeling in fear. Additional inspector general of police Mushtaq Maher said the 16 arrested included a key suspect. The attacks started on September 25. The perpetrators, usually on motorcycles, would target lone women in Gulistan-e-Jauhar one of Karachis biggest residential and commercial areas. After three FIRs were filed over the stabbings, police launched a manhunt and began trying to ascertain the motivation for the attacks. The attacker always wears a helmet, jeans and shirt, and appears to be between 25 and 30 years, according to the witnesses we have spoken to so far, an investigating officer told PTI last week. On Wednesday alone, three women were stabbed, bringing the total number of victims to 10, the Dawn newspaper reported. A report on the incidents was submitted before Sindh chief minister Murad Ali Shah. What is happening and why the police have failed to arrest the culprit? Shah was quoted as saying by the daily. He announced a reward of Pakistani Rs 500,000 for information leading to an arrest. Pakistan should not be expected to exercise restraint if there is a strike on its nuclear installations by India, foreign minister Khawaja Asif said on Thursday, suggesting a full-scale nuclear retaliation. Asif was reacting to Indian Air Force chief BS Dhanoas remarks that New Delhi could locate, fix and strike across the border to counter Islamabads tactical or battlefield nuclear weapons. Asif read from the reported remarks before making his own comments at a Washington think tank event. If that happens, nobody should expect restraint from us, said Asif, who is known for speaking his mind and has made it clear that he is the Pakistan governments spokesman to the world. He added: Thats the most diplomatic language I can use. Pakistan has the worlds fastest growing nuclear arsenal, and has said it has developed tactical nuclear weapons to counter Indias cold start military doctrine, which reportedly envisages lightning thrusts into enemy territory by small and heavily armed units. The tactical nukes are also meant to offset Indias overwhelming superiority in conventional military hardware. While answering a question on relations with India, Asif pulled out a folder that contained clippings of Air Chief Marshal Dhanoas statement, which was a conceptual one about the IAFs reach. It wasnt a direct threat of an impending military action. Asif proceeded to read another clipping, this time of an interview of BJP leader Subramanian Swamy, who was quoted as having said that India had divided Pakistan into two earlier the 1971 war, and the birth of Bangladesh and this time it should be cut into four. He added the BJP leader had warned this war could be launched by India in March 2018. Thats Swamys assumption, which has no official endorsement or support. But Asif used it, along with Dhanoas remarks and a comment by former US defence secretary Chuck Hagel that India uses Afghanistan to foment trouble for Pakistan, to build a case that India is the aggressor in the region and is doing everything it can to prevent peace between the two neighbours. In this atmosphere, or this climate, Asif said, Pakistan didnt see anything positive coming out of India to help in repairing the relationship, which is perhaps at the lowest ebb at the moment. Asif also argued earlier that it was Pakistan which wants peace and former premier Nawaz Sharif had made the first move in 2014 by travelling to India, and that India had not followed up. New Delhi has tied the resumption of talks to Pakistan stopping support for terrorism. On Jagmeet Singhs first day of work as leader of the National Democratic Party (NDP) in Canada on Monday (Tuesday in India), the TV channel CBCs Terry Milewski interviewed him on a show called Power and Politics, and the question of his identification with Sikh separatism vis-a-vis India came up. Milewski later tweeted that Singh the first Sikh or non-white to hold such a position in a federal party in the country first sought the questions prior to the interview and later, when refused, he reconsidered and agreed to be interviewed. Following the interview, Milewski tweeted, New NDP leader refuses to denounce display of martyr posters of Air India bomber. New NDP leader declines to denounce display of "martyr" posters of Air India bomber. @PnPCBC Terry Milewski (@CBCTerry) October 2, 2017 Also put on the website of Toronto Sun, here are some extracts from the exchange: Milewski: Do you think that some Canadian Sikhs go too far when they honour Talwinder Singh Parmar as a martyr of the Sikh nation when he was the architect of the Air India bombing? Do you think thats appropriate? (Parmar, never convicted of the 1985 mid-air bombing of Air India Flight 182 in which 329 people died in Canadas worst case of terrorism, is widely considered to have masterminded it. He was killed by the Punjab police in India in an encounter in 1992.) Singh: Well, I think its so important that we really clarify a misconception that exists. There has been a lot of work ... to be creating a conflict thats between Hindus and Sikhs, and for me thats something that really offended me ... Milewski: Forgive me, but you could do that right now by saying, No, it isnt appropriate to put up posters of Canadas worst ever mass murderer as a martyr. Do you think thats appropriate? Singh: Let me ... just clarify a point here. It is so important that we rid this notion that there has ever been a conflict between Hindus and Sikhs Milewski (interrupting): For the third time I am asking, it is not a hard question ... Is it appropriate? Singh: Let me finish my sentence Milewski: What about putting up posters of Parmar...? Is that appropriate? Yes or no? Singh: It is so unacceptable that the violence that was committed ... I regularly denounce it on the anniversary ... there is no question about this, that innocent lives were killed, and it is completely unacceptable and needs to be denounced as a terrorist act. Milewski: So you wont denounce those posters of Parmar? Singh: I dont know who was responsible. But I think we need to find out who was truly responsible; we need to make sure that the investigation actually results in a conviction of someone who was actually responsible ... Recalling its long tradition of hosting refugees from around the world, India has informed the United Nations, without naming the Rohingyas, that New Delhi has stood by and will continue to stand with refugees despite development and security-related challenges. The statement made by ambassador Virander Paul at the session of the executive committee of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Geneva on Wednesday is significant in the context of the ongoing row over refugees from Myanmar. Paul told the committee: India has a long tradition of playing host to a large number of refugees from its neighbourhood and beyond. We continue to host them, entirely using our own resources. India is not a source of refugees. Indias assimilative civilisational heritage and inherent capabilities as a responsible state gives it a rounded perspective for dealing with persons of concern. Our protection regime is based on the fundamental rights guaranteed by the Indian Constitution and other relevant legal provisions. We continue to refine our legal framework and administrative mechanisms for providing greater hospitality to refugees. The UN committee was told India has always responded readily and swiftly to any humanitarian crisis in its neighbourhood and beyond, and that the country has stood by and will continue to stand with refugees. I take this opportunity to renew India's commitment on protection of refugees and cooperation with UNHCR in discharging its core mandate under increasingly challenging and difficult circumstances, Paul said. India, he added, was among a number of countries that are not parties to international refugee instruments but have shown a generous approach to hosting refugees. We are witnessing in todays world, an unprecedented level of human mobility including that of refugees. Developing countries, host to 86% of the worlds refugees, are disproportionately affected and their capacities are severely stretched. The movement of refugees needs to be managed, in a humane and people-centered manner. This must take into account different national realities, capacities, existing contributions and levels of development and respect national policies and priorities. The states that receive large movements of refugees should be supported and their capacities strengthened, Paul added. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Newly-minted leader of the New Democratic Party (NDP) Jagmeet Singh has already attracted controversy with his refusal to condemn the practice at some Canadian gurdwaras of displaying portraits of a man considered the mastermind of the Air India flight 182 terrorist bombing in 1985 that claimed 329 lives. Asked repeatedly during an interview on national broadcaster CBC to disavow this practice of honouring Talwinder Singh Parmar as a shaheed or martyr, Singh avoided addressing the specific issue though he described the Kanishka bombing as a heinous massacre. I dont know whos responsible (for the Air India bombing) but I think we need to find out whos responsible, we need to make sure that the investigation results in a conviction of someone who is actually responsible, Singh said. This reluctance to denounce such glorification has deeply disappointed the families of those who perished in the bombing that was blamed on the pro-Khalistan Babbar Khalsa militant group. There were 268 Canadian citizens among the dead and Inder Singh Reyat was the only person convicted in the case related to the bombing. Bal Gupta, chair of the Air India 182 Families Association, said of the displaying of such portraits: The whole thing is glorifying terrorism and terrorists, it amounts to promoting terrorism. On Jagmeet Singh staying mum on the matter, Gupta commented, He should have disowned the glorification of terrorism, even suspected terrorism or promoters of terrorism. He should have clearly said that, but he has every right to his opinion. Guptas wife Ramwati was among the victims of the terrorist attack. Gupta, who lives in Toronto, watched the interview and was disappointed at Singhs non-reaction. Referring to the host of the CBC programme on which Singh appeared, Gupta said, I think Mr (Terry) Milewski did a good job to put him on the spot. Following the interview, Milewski tweeted, New NDP leader refuses to denounce display of martyr posters of Air India bomber. New NDP leader declines to denounce display of "martyr" posters of Air India bomber. @PnPCBC Terry Milewski (@CBCTerry) October 2, 2017 On Sunday, Singh became the first person of Indian and Sikh heritage to be elected leader of one of Canadas three largest national political parties. Singh, who was denied a visa by India in 2013, will lead the NDPs campaign for the federal election to be held in October 2019. Commenting on the issue, Shuvaloy Majumdar, Munk Senior Fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute in Ottawa said, Silence speaks volumes. He sidestepped the question three times, which is unconscionable given that this is the biggest terrorist incident that Canada has experienced. Majumdar said this issue and those related to it will continue to plague Singh as he undertakes his campaign to become the next prime minister of Canada. Federal leaders have a moral obligation in Canada to condemn terrorism in all forms unequivocally and give no oxygen to the idea that there is legitimacy behind the Khalistan movement, he argued. Parmar was killed in Punjab in a shootout with security forces in 1992. The Babbar Khalsa International chief was considered the key person behind the bombing at the trial and by a Canadian commission of inquiry into the Kanishka tragedy, though he was never convicted by a court in Canada. The Pakistan Army said on Thursday it is close to a decision on the mercy petition submitted by Kulbhushan Jadhav, the Indian national who has been sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court for alleged involvement in espionage and terrorist activities. Kulbhushan Jadhavs mercy petition has come to the army chief. There is a process, everything goes through a process but I can assure that it is near finalisation and we will give you news about this very soon, Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor, the chief military spokesman, told a news briefing. Ghafoor did not give any more details. A military court has already rejected Jadhavs mercy petition. If his petition is also rejected by the army chief, Jadhav can approach the president for clemency. The execution of Jadhav, a former Indian Navy officer, was stayed after India took the matter to the International Court of Justice in The Hague. The ICJ has said Jadhav should not be executed till it gives a final ruling in his case. The Pakistani military said Jadhav was arrested in Balochistan in March 2016. He was accused of involvement in spying and subversive activities in Balochistan and Karachi. India has dismissed these charges and said Jadhav was kidnapped from the Iranian port of Chabahar. Foreign minister Khawaja Asif created a stir last month by claiming that Pakistan could have swapped Jadhav for a terrorist involved in a 2014 attack on an army school in Peshawar who he said was in the custody of Afghan authorities. Afghanistan has said it never suggested such a swap. During the wide-ranging news briefing, Ghafoor also spoke on the situation along the Line of Control (LoC) with India, which has witnessed numerous violations of a ceasefire that was put in place in 2003. In the east, we have a border with India which is unsafe because of Indias inappropriate actions, he said. The ceasefire violations in 2017 are considerably more in number than any other year before, with 222 civilian casualties along the LoC. However, India has also paid a price due to our response and we will continue to (respond) if it does not act with restraint, he said. Ghafoor described the threats from India as perpetual. He added, We are a peaceful country and we do not want war with them, but we will defend ourselves and have the capability to do so. He also said Pakistan is talking to India to reduce tensions along the 742-km LoC. But war is not the solution, so we are talking to them at all levels to stop this, he said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON On notice from the Trump administration, Pakistan has tried to convince the US it is pursuing a zero-tolerance and indiscriminate approach to combating terror while complaining that its contribution to counter-terrorism had been ignored by Americas new South Asia strategy. Foreign minister Khawaja Asif told secretary of state Rex Tillerson that Pakistan has pursued a zero-tolerance and indiscriminate approach in its campaign against all terrorist and militant groups, according to a statement from Pakistans foreign ministry. Pakistan has been accused by the US, and most other nations including neighbours India and Afghanistan, of giving terrorists safe havens and acting against them only selectively, distinguishing good terrorists who serve Pakistani interests from the bad, those who dont. The US has cut aid and other payments to Pakistan as punishment for those same cynical choices Islamabad has turned into policy, and even cancelled a proposal to sell it eight new F-16 fighter jets. President Donald Trumps new South Asia strategy calls for a tougher US posture with Pakistan for the same reasons. We can no longer be silent about Pakistans safe havens for terrorist organisations, he said unveiling it in August, effectively putting Pakistan, a major non-Nato ally with military benefits, on notice. Trump also proposed a larger role for India in Afghanistan, economically and developmentally, expanding its current footprint. Islamabad had felt terribly disappointed jilted, proverbially and cancelled pre-arranged high-level official exchanges in retaliation, and Asif had put off a planned visit to the US and travelled to China instead, in a ploy to play off Pakistans two major benefactors against each other. On Wednesday, Asif was down in a room with Tillerson, complaining about the strong public reaction in Pakistan to the pronouncement of the US administration's South Asia policy - based on inadequate recognition of Pakistan's sterling contribution in the fight against terrorism. And, pushing the victimhood card, Asif griped about Afghanistan, the civil war-torn impoverished neighbour in addition to huge human and material cost incurred by Pakistan, our cultural ethos as a moderate state had suffered due to protracted instability in Afghanistan. The US state department readout of the meeting did not reflect or register the complaint lodged by Asif. The foreign minister and the secretary talked about the Presidents South Asia strategy...that was announced back in August, state department spokesperson Heather Nauert told reporters. Tillerson went much further on the US position on Pakistan, in the context of the South Asia policy, while speaking ahead of the meeting: We have concerns about the future of Pakistans government too, in terms of them we want their government to be stable. We want it to be peaceful. The state department has not explained Tillersons concerns about the Pakistan government. But Tillersons thinking on the issue came through a bit in a follow-up remark: And many of the same issues theyre struggling with inside of Pakistan are our issues. So we think there is opportunity for us to strengthen that relationship. The Pakistanis felt strangely buoyed by what they thought they had heard from Tillerson. In the words of the foreign ministry: He (Tillerson) remarked that Pakistan's interests and concerns will be accommodated since its role was critical to President Trump's South Asia strategy. He added that future stability of Pakistan was an important element of the strategy. Most importantly for some in Pakistan, Asif did not forget India. The foreign minister urged the United States to take note of the gross human rights violations being perpetrated by Indian security forces in occupied Kashmir, said the statement, adding, He said peace in South Asia would remain out of reach until the resolution of all longstanding disputes, including the core dispute of Jammu and Kashmir. Britains Prince Charles will visit India on November 8 as part of a Commonwealth-focussed visit to three countries and invite Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in April 2018 seen as key to Londons post-Brexit plans. Accompanied by his wife, the Duchess of Cornwall, the prince will visit Singapore and Malaysia before touching down in New Delhi. The two-day visit is being undertaken at the request of the British government in advance of the Commonwealth Summit in April 2018, Charles official residence Clarence House said in a statement on Thursday. Besides meeting Modi, the royal couple will attend several engagements to underscore the strength and vitality of the UK-India relationship and the rich exchange of ideas between our two countries, Clarence House said. In particular, there will be an opportunity to celebrate the vibrancy of our cultural collaboration in this, the UK-India Year of Culture, the statement said. India and the Commonwealth have come in sharper focus as London prepares for life outside the European Union. The idea is to re-vitalise trade links with them in anticipation of the loss of barriers-free access to the EU common market after Brexit. Addressing Commonwealth leaders at the UN General Assembly in September, May launched the theme for the 2018 CHOGM Towards a Common Future and set out four main goals for the summit. The goals are Prosperity: boosting intra-Commonwealth trade and investment; Security: increasing cooperation across security challenges including global terrorism, organised crime and cyber attacks; Fairness: promoting democracy, fundamental freedoms and good governance across the Commonwealth; and Sustainability: building the resilience of small and vulnerable states to deal with the effects of climate change and other global crises. Billed as the biggest meeting of heads of government Britain has ever hosted, CHOGM will take place in iconic venues in London and Windsor, including Buckingham Palace, St Jamess Palace and Windsor Castle from April 16-20, 2018. It will bring together up to 52 Commonwealth leaders, up to 52 foreign ministers and people from across business and civil society, representing the Commonwealths global network. Modis last visit of London was in November 2015, when David Cameron was the prime minister. Camerons successor Theresa May chose India for her first trip outside Europe, visiting in November 2016. Hard-pressed to find space for a massive influx of Rohingya Muslim refugees, Bangladesh plans to chop down a swathe of forest to extend a tent city sheltering destitute families fleeing ethnic violence in neighbouring Myanmar. More than half a million Rohingya have arrived from Myanmars western state of Rakhine since the end of August in what the United Nations has called the worlds fastest developing refugee emergency. The exodus began after Myanmar security forces responded to Rohingya militant attacks on August 25 by launching a brutal crackdown that the UN has denounced as ethnic cleansing. Myanmar has rejected that accusation, insisting the military action was needed to combat terrorists who had killed civilians and burnt villages. But it has left Bangladesh and international humanitarian organisations counting the cost as they race to provide life-saving food, water and medical care for the displaced Rohingyas. Simply finding enough empty ground to accommodate the refugees is a huge problem. The government allocated 2,000 acres when the number of refugees was nearly 400,000, Mohammad Shah Kamal, Bangladeshs secretary of disaster management and relief, told Reuters on Thursday. Now the numbers have gone up by more than 100,000 and people are still coming. So, the government has to allocate 1,000 acres of forest land. Once all the trees are felled, aid workers plan to put up 150,000 tarpaulin shelters in their place. File photo of a woman collapsing from exhaustion as Rohingya refugees arrive by a wooden boat from Myanmar to the shore of Shah Porir Dwip in Teknaf, near Cox's Bazar, in Bangladesh on October 1, 2017. (Reuters) Swamped by refugees, poor Bangladeshi villagers are faced with mounting hardships and worries, including the trafficking of illegal drugs, particularly methamphetamines, from Myanmar. The situation is very bad, said Kazi Abdur Rahman, a senior official in the Bangladesh border district of Coxs Bazar, where most of the Rohingya are settled. People in Coxs Bazar are concerned, we are also concerned, but theres nothing we can do but accommodate them. The pressure on land is creating another conflict, this time environmental rather than ethnic. Last month, wild elephants trampled two refugees to death and Rahman said more tragic encounters between animals and people appears inevitable as more forest is destroyed. Over a million people in need UN agencies coordinating aid appealed on Wednesday for $434 million to help up to 1.2 million people, most of them children, for six months. Their figure includes the 509,000 who have arrived since August, 300,000 Rohingya who were already in Bangladesh, having fled earlier suppression, a contingency for another 91,000 and 300,000 Bangladesh villagers in so-called host communities who also need help. Rohingya refugees queue for aid in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, on October 1, 2017. (Reuters) The Save the Children aid group warned of a malnutrition crisis with some 281,000 people in need of urgent nutrition support, including 145,000 children under the age of five and more than 50,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women. In over 20 years as a humanitarian worker Ive never seen a situation like this, where people are so desperate for basic assistance and conditions so dire, Unni Krishnan, director of Save the Childrens Emergency Health Unit, said in a statement. UN agencies are wary of planning beyond six months for fear or creating a self-perpetuating situation. Myanmar has promised to take back anyone verified as a refugee but theres little hope for speedy repatriation. There is long-simmering communal tension and animosity towards the Rohingya in Myanmar, most of whom are stateless and derided as illegal immigrants. This crisis isnt going to end soon, said a Bangladeshi interior ministry official who declined to be identified. ELKO Sheriffs detectives have collected evidence in Tuesday nights armed robbery at Port of Subs, and police are hopeful that an arrest will be made soon. The Port of Subs in the Elko Junction Shopping Center was robbed of an undisclosed amount of cash shortly after closing time. A subject brandished a firearm, he took cash and fled Elko Police Lt. Mike Palhegyi told the Elko Daily on Wednesday. Two people were involved, and both were wearing masks that covered their faces. Palhegyi said Thursday that detectives from the Elko County Sheriffs Office executed a search warrant Wednesday in Osino and collected evidence connected to the robbery. The investigation is ongoing, but they are a lot closer than they were, he said. Robbery is a category B felony in Nevada carrying sentences of two to 15 years in prison. A deadly weapon enhancement can add another one to 15 years in prison. Saudi Arabias King Salman, on the first official trip to Russia by a ruler of the oil-rich Sunni powerhouse, was set to meet President Vladimir Putin to discuss energy contracts despite discord over the Syrian conflict. While they are partners on the oil market, on the foreign policy front, Moscow and Riyadh are on opposite sides of the war in Syria, with Russia supporting President Bashar al-Assad while Saudi Arabia supports the opposition. Salman and Putin are expected to discuss major defence and energy contracts, as well as extending oil production cuts ahead of the OPEC oil cartel meeting in November. Saudi Arabia and Russia are heavily dependent on oil exports and the global plunge of the price of crude that began in 2014 lashed both of their economies. Members of OPEC, of which Saudi Arabia is the biggest producer, have joined with non-member Russia and other countries in cutting crude output in a pact that has helped prop up prices. Yesterday Putin said an extension of the OPEC deal was possible and could last at least to the end of 2018. Russian-Saudi contacts are important and their potential is rather great, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists. The political will of Moscow and Riyadh for deeper cooperation on the widest range of issues is clear, he added. The 81-year-old monarchs three-day visit got off to an awkward start on Wednesday evening after landing at Moscows Vnukovo-2 airport when the escalator he uses to descend from his plane malfunctioned. The escalator stopped midway, forcing the king to walk down himself, to be met by Russian officials including deputy prime minister Dmitry Rogozin and a military brass band. King Salman arrived with a delegation of more than 1,000 people, reported Kommersant business daily. Kommersant also said Putin and Salman are due to discuss an arms deal worth more than $3 billion to supply Riyadh with S-400 air defence systems. Russian energy minister Alexander Novak told TASS news agency on Wednesday that Saudi Arabia is investing $1 billion into energy projects in Russia though he did not elaborate or specify whether these deals would be signed during the visit. The Kremlin said ahead of the visit that Salman and Putin would also discuss the situation in the Middle East and North Africa, especially focusing on conflict situations in the region. The two diverge on both Syria - where more than 330,000 people have been killed since war erupted in 2011 - and Yemen, where a Saudi-led coalition has been bombing Huthi rebels since 2015, drawing criticism from Moscow. Putin visited Riyadh in 2007 and last met Salman in Turkey in 2015. The Saudi kings Kremlin meeting with Putin was expected to begin at 1000 GMT, to be followed by a state dinner. The countries foreign ministers were set to meet later in the day. Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov hailed Salmans visit as truly an epoch-making event in our relations in an interview published on Wednesday by the Saudi-owned newspaper Asharq al-Awsat. The special counsel investigating whether Russia tried to sway the 2016 US election has taken over FBI inquiries into a former British spys dossier of allegations of Russian financial and personal links to President Donald Trumps campaign and associates, sources familiar with the inquiry told Reuters. A report compiled by former MI6 officer Christopher Steele identified Russian businessmen and others whom US intelligence analysts have concluded are Russian intelligence officers or working on behalf of the Russian government. A spokesman for special counsel Robert Mueller declined comment. The FBI also declined comment. Three sources with knowledge of Muellers probe said his investigators have assumed control of multiple inquiries into allegations by US intelligence agencies that Russia interfered in the election to benefit Trump, a Republican. Russia has repeatedly denied any meddling in the election. Two officials familiar with the investigations said both Muellers team and the Senate Intelligence Committee are seeking any evidence that former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort or others who had financial dealings with Russia might have helped Kremlin intelligence agencies target email hacking and social media postings undermining Trumps election opponent, Democrat Hillary Clinton. On Wednesday, the Senate panels chairman Richard Burr told reporters that the issue of whether Trumps campaign colluded with Russia remains an open question. We have not come to any determination on collusion, Burr said. Trump, who has called allegations of campaign collusion with Moscow a hoax, has faced questions about the matter since he took office in January. Trump was told by former FBI director James Comey that Steeles report contained salacious material about the businessman-turned-president. Burr said on Wednesday that the Senate panel had made several attempts to contact Steele and to meet him and those offers have gone unaccepted. The committee cannot really decide the credibility of the dossier without understanding things like who paid for it, who are your sources and sub-sources, Burr said. Burr said the panel wanted to finish its investigation by the end of the year. Although several news organizations, including Reuters, were briefed on Steeles dossier before the election in November, most decided not to report on the material because its inflammatory and sometimes salacious content could not be verified. In a report published in January four US intelligence agencies said they took the dossiers allegations seriously. Separately, three Russian businessmen, Mikhail Fridman, Petr Aven and German Khan have sued Washington investigations firm Fusion GPS and its founder, Glenn Simpson, with allegations that they were libeled in Steeles dossier. A spokeswoman for Simpson and Fusion GPS declined to comment on the lawsuit filed on Tuesday in US District Court in Washington. The lawsuit said that Steeles reports were gravely damaging to the businessmen because they accused them of criminal conduct and alleged cooperation with the Kremlin to influence the 2016 presidential election. The information on Trump collected by Steele, whom officials say was one of MI6s most respected Russia hands, was laid out last year in political opposition research initially financed by supporters of one of Trumps Republican primary election opponents. After Trump won the Republican nomination in July, backers of Clinton picked up the support of Steeles work. The lawsuit said the dossiers allegations are false in implying an improper ongoing relationship between the businessmen, the Alfa Group financial company in which they were investors and Russian President Vladimir Putin, and that a Russian government official acted as middleman in such contacts. S wedish behemoth Ikea, the worlds biggest furniture retailer, marks 30 years in Britain this month. It opened in Warrington in October 1987, unveiled another store in Wembley almost a year later and became a UK home sensation. It now has 400 stores in 49 countries. Offering furniture for the masses, at the right price and right on design, the Ikea phenomenon continues to thrive. The Croydon store opened in 1992, with Lakeside four years later and Edmonton in 2005. A new small order and collection point is at Westfield Stratford, and a new store is planned for Greenwich. AFFORDABLE DESIGN Furnishing at the end of the Eighties was dominated by clunky high street chains and convoluted department stores. Habitat offered design, as did a few specialists, such as Heals, but they were not cheap. The Swedes blew UK prices out of the water. Everything for the home seemed affordable, remembers Robert Pearce, who opened his Futon Company in 1980. I will crack this: self-assembly keeps costs down. Online videos, clearer instructions and new wooden pegs instead of screws all help Ikea buyers / Getty Images/Westend61 Students and renters loved Ikea. It had that pared-down Scandi aesthetic. It brought contemporary design to mass-market Britain, says Simon Alderson, who co-founded twentytwentyone, the respected Islington specialist design store, in 1996. Ikea educated a generation of young, keen buyers. Here, crucially, was modern furniture that wasnt brown, says Kate Watson-Smyth of the award-winning madaboutthehouse.com blog. Garnering designers worldwide, Ikea always credits them. Britains Sue Pryke started in 1994, head-hunted from her RCA graduate show. She loves Ikea. They believe in the designers vision. They focus on design that works, where form follows function. They research how people live smaller houses and kitchens, limited storage, for students/renters and are aware of the environment. POWER TO THE PEOPLE The Scandinavians believe good design is the birthright of all regardless of income, says Peter Fiell, who with partner Charlotte has written more than 50 books on design. Their latest, Modern Scandinavian Design, appears this week. A cut-price classic: design buffs revere a string of pieces from Ikea including the Poang lounge chair at 95, first produced 40 years ago The Fiells, like so many other Londoners, love their Billy bookcases, created in 1978 by Ikea designer Gillis Lundgren. Todays versions cost 30 per cent less to make, thanks to changes in design and production, helping to take sales of the Billy well above 60 million, or nearly one for every 100 people on the planet. Ingvar Kamprad, 91, started the business in 1943. The name, I for Ingvar, K for Kamprad, E for the family farm Elmtaryd, and A for his home village of Agunnaryd, Sweden, wrote itself. To this day, Ikea products made in Sweden are still named after Scandinavian towns and villages. The cash-and-carry, flat pack for home assembly form of retail radically cuts production and transport costs and is a key ingredient in Ikeas success. One day, Kamprad took the legs off a table to fit it into his car. The rest is, if not history, a relentless tide of self-assembly products destined to test the patience of the best of us, and cause many a relationship-busting rumpus. Praise indeed: tables and storage from the Lack range are simple and classy says TVs Daniel Hopwood, past president of the British Institute of Interior Design. From 5 for a wall shelf But flat packs hefty to take away, embraced by the handy, loathed by most have improved. Instructions are clearer, new systems have wooden wedges/dowels in place of screws, and some designs slot together, or unfold. Ikeas website now carries assembly videos, too. Best of all, you can book someone else to assemble your purchase expertly next day, 20 an hour. EASY OPTIONS Not everything Ikea sells has to be assembled. A beautifully crafted wing chair, the Strandmon, from Romania (179) graces the latest Ikea catalogue cover; theres appealing dinnerware, and new brass-coloured cutlery at 40 for 24 pieces. Ikeas ceramic basics are pretty much unsurpassed. Its textiles are increasingly trendy and the rugs are made under good working conditions in India and Bangladesh. No assembly required: the new 24-piece Tillagd cutlery set, with clean lines and in a warm, festive brass colour, is 40 It is no secret that many architects and interior designers rely on Ikea, especially for kitchen-unit carcases to which bespoke doors can be added. Alan Dempsey, founder/director of Nex Architecture, uses the fitted furniture and storage to stretch clients limited budgets, even designing internal walls to suit, then everything fits a space like a glove. Nex is using Pax wardrobes in new flats in Kings Cross. Design buffs now revere Ikea classics, such as the 40-year-old Poang lounge chair (95), evocative of great Finnish designer Alvar Aalto. Interiors expert Daniel Hopwood, TV judge and past president of the British Institute of Interior Design, loves the simple and classy Lack furniture series. Some Ikea kitchen systems, mattresses and pans are guaranteed for 25 years; some sofas for 10 years; appliances for five years. Services include delivery at 25, kitchen planning, 40, and in-home measuring, 20. A new app lets you place a product in your room in 3D. And the meatballs and cheap coffee are legendary. Just launched is Ypperlig, a collaboration with Danish furniture designer Hay, with a one-piece injection-moulded chair for 60. Next year comes Tom Dixons Delaktig, co-designed globally with masters students, a radical kit of parts for a sofa bed. Daniel Hopwood advises, sagely: Pronounce Ikea the Swedish way ee-kay-uh it sounds so much posher. WE SHOP DESIGNER AND TEAM IT WITH IKEA Library look: Juliet McDonald and her husband Neal say their Billy bookcases are our favourite purchase PR account director Juliet McDonald, 52, and her husband Neal, 54, an engineer, are renovating their Thirties semi in Acton, where they have lived for four years. They shop at Heals, John Lewis, Skandium, Channels and The Old Cinema in Chiswick, a smart antiques emporium and Ikea. Ikea is so useful, says Juliet. We have super-smart wall-to-wall oak-veneered Billy bookcases for a library look in the study, and they are definitely our favourite purchase. The couples pocket-sprung mattress from Ikea is superb, so comfy and firm, she says. They have Hemnes bedside tables, a Branas laundry basket, and rows of white Fluns magazine files. In the loft, an array of Mulig storage rails keeps clothes hanging tidily. LAS VEGAS The recent tragedy in Las Vegas deeply affected many people. It isnt just family members and friends of those who were injured or killed by bullets who are suffering. Everyday citizens also are having difficulties processing this horrible event. The American Red Cross has licensed mental health professionals, as well as spiritual care providers who are able to provide comfort and emotional support. These services are available to survivors, family members and the Las Vegas community at large. Frequently asked questions about the Red Cross response: Does the Red Cross need more blood? Thanks to generous donors who gave blood in the past, the Red Cross was able to provide more than 450 additional blood products to local hospitals to help those injured. We stand ready to provide more blood and blood products as needed in response to this tragedy. Does the Red Cross need more volunteers, funding, food, or supplies? We understand that people around the country want to help and we appreciate that support. Right now, the Red Cross has what it needs for this event. If people want to make a donation to support the victims, please consider the Las Vegas Victims Fund or the National Compassion Fund. The Las Vegas Victims Fund, through GoFundMe, was created by Steve Sisolak, chair of the Clark County Commission. The National Compassion Fund, a 501(3), is accepting donations at nationalcompassionfund.org or by texting VEGAS to 20222 to donate $10. Id like to volunteer with the Red Cross. What should I do? The Red Cross has enough volunteers to handle this event. However, we encourage people who would like to help in their local community in the future to become Red Cross volunteers by going to redcross.org and clicking on volunteer. T he number of London homes built-to-rent has exceeded the 50,000 mark, according to new research. Mostly flats, the total completed, under construction or in the planning stage in the capital stands at 54,978, accounting for more than half of the entire UK sector. In the past five years the plight of Generation Rent, stuck in rental homes and unable to afford their own property, has encouraged developers and investors to create new-build communities aimed specifically at long-term renters instead of buyers, including at East Village, the former 2012 Olympics athletes complex in Stratford, east London. The shortage of new homes and the inability of younger potential buyers to pay for them is driving the demand for private rental property, with 60 per cent of Londoners expected to be living in rented accommodation by 2025, according to recent forecasts by PwC property consultants and advisers. 2,005 a month: in Bradstowe House, Harrow, Hamptons International has a one-bedroom built-to-rent apartment available This new sector is booming, according to the data produced by Savills for the British Property Federation. Major schemes under way across London include 600 flats destined for rent in the second phase of the huge Zone 1 Elephant & Castle redevelopment. The Canary Wharf Group, meanwhile, is building 611 homes for rent at its 60-storey Diamond Tower project. Berkeley Homes plans to include 1,151 build-to-rent properties in its 3,500-home development of a disused Parcelforce depot in Newham. And the Duke of Westminsters Grosvenor Group has announced plans for 1,500 rental homes on the site of a disused biscuit factory in Bermondsey. The disadvantage of these new apartments is that they are too expensive for low-waged young Londoners, though they do provide a secure home for professional salary earners, from both home and abroad. Most developments include electricity, gas, water bills and wi-fi. The rent offers security of tenure, long-term leases and conditions, well-designed flats with community facilities such as fitness centres, plus shared open space often roof terraces cafes, furniture packages and concierge services. However, high rents make it more difficult, even for professionals, to save for a deposit for a home of their own. In Headstone Road, Harrow, Hamptons International is advertising a one-bedroom apartment for 2,005 a month, while Tipi London has a three-bedroom flat in the Alto building in Wembley available at 3,595 a month. Ian Fletcher, director of policy at the British Property Federation, says that as the buy-to-let sector matures, it will offer a variety of rental options. Much like the hotel market you have got everything from Travelodge to the Mandarin Oriental, he explains. There are companies like Fizzy Living which are aimed at people with a household income of between 30,000 and 40,000. The Burmese politician was once admired but she has now become "one of the great ethnic cleansers", according to the Irish rock star. Aung San Suu Kyi's government has come under fire over its violent military crackdown on Rohingya muslims, which has resulted in over a half million fleeing the state during the last month alone. The Dubliner yesterday heavily criticised the Nobel Peace Prize winner, who is about to be stripped of her Freedom of Oxford honour. "Insults them all. Took the greatest prize that humans can give one another. And then becomes one of the great ethnic cleansers of our planet. Its a disgrace," he said during a speech at the One Young World conference in Colombia. "I am sick of these leaders. I am sick of Putin. Im sick of Xi Jinping. Im sick of Trump. Im sick of Erdogan. I loathe these people. I despise them. How dare they behave in the manner they behave. With her now getting stripped of her Freedom of Oxford honour, it's possible that she will also be stripped of her Freedom of Dublin which was awarded to her in the year 2000. The politician who was the Lord Mayor of Dublin when Suu Kyi was first awarded the Freedom of Dublin has slammed the iconic figure's handling of the Rohinga crisis as "deplorable" and called on her to allow UN investigators into Rakhine State. Ms Suu Kyi was first awarded the Freedom of Dublin in 2000 when Cllr Freehill was Lord Mayor of Dublin. Ms Suu Kyi was not in a position to receive the award until 2012. "The inaction of Aung San Suu Kyi in relation to the Rohingya crisis is deplorable and not in keeping with the ideals we would expect from a Nobel Peace Prize winner," Cllr Mary Freehill tells Hot Press. "Aung San Suu Kyi was awarded the Freedom of Dublin City because she was an icon of human rights, peace and freedom. It is now time for her to live up to those principles." The Labour Cllr added: "While she has said that Myanmar does not fear international scrutiny, it is now time that she put action on her words and invite UN investigators into the country, including Rakhine state. They should be allowed full a nd unshackled access to all areas, and people in need in the region." In her Nobel Lecture in 2012, Ms. Suu Kyi said, "Ultimately our aim should be to create a world free from the displaced, the homeless and the hopeless, a world of which each and every corner is a true sanctuary where the inhabitants will have the freedom and the capacity to live in peace. "Every thought, every word, and every action that adds to the positive and the wholesome is a contribution to peace. Each and every one of us is capable of making such a contribution. Let us join hands to try to create a peaceful world where we can sleep in security and wake in happiness. And "such sentiments and values", adds Cllr Freehill, "are a far cry from her current position on the 421,000 Rohingan who had to flee to Bangladesh. She concludes: "I want to add my voice to those calling on her now to take action on the Rohingya crisis." Actor Mark Salling has reached a deal with prosecutors in the USA to confess to the shocking charge. It's being reported by Associated Press that the former Glee star has admitted to possessing horrible images of "prepubescent children" in a plea agreement filed in the the federal court in LA. It's understood that up to 50,000 disturbing images were found of his computer and on a thumb drive. As part of the plea agreement, prosecutors will ask the judge for a jail time of between four to seven years. Nowadays we speak freely of mental health. This is a very good thing. It wasnt always so. For perhaps seven or eight generations, we were expected to keep a lid on inner turmoils and disturbances; take them on the chin, keep your upper-lip stiff and your back straight. Much was left unsaid, unexpressed, unrecognised. And there was so much that needed airing and acknowledgement. There still is. Of course, these things arent absolute. Families and communities have found ways to comfort and shelter those in difficulties. But the overarching impression from those eight generations is of numbness, intolerance and repression of both the issue of mental illness and the mentally ill themselves. As the late, great Irish playwright Brian Friel told Peter Lennon in 1964, the Irish mind has many windows and the blinds are often down. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate RACINE, Wis. - Residents of the southeastern Wisconsin town where Foxconn Technology Group plans a massive display screen plant greeted the announcement Wednesday with excitement about the possible economic boost and wistfulness about the community's changing landscape. Foxconn announced the location of its planned factory after months of negotiations with the company and the village of Mount Pleasant in Racine County. The company has said it intends to build a campus with about 20 million square feet of office space over 1.56 square miles, eventually employing as many as 13,000 people to manufacture liquid crystal display screens used on phones, televisions, computers and other devices. Tammy Graceffa, 54, the owner of the Hiawatha Bar and Grill just south of the plant's expected location, said the influx of workers and her land's possible purchase could bring her financial gains. But still, she found the moment bittersweet. "Where we grew up and were raised will no longer be farm fields. It will be concrete and industry," she said. The Wisconsin Legislature approved a $3 billion incentive package for Foxconn - contingent on the company fulfilling its jobs promise, and the state's economic development agency is working on the final contract. The intended industrial complex would be the largest in the state. "I think it's going to be really good. The economy ought to pick its way up around here. It's been dragging a little here" in Racine County, said Michael Rosenbaum, a village trustee in the town of Sturtevant. Rosenbaum said he understands there are landowners who are unhappy about being displaced, but hopes Foxconn will "make sure that they get a decent deal." "You can have another dream home. That's my feeling," he said. But some landowners said they felt like they didn't have much choice. "It's the Foxconn train. Get on or get run over," said Katie Spencer, 27. Gonzalo Perez, meanwhile, is already brainstorming ways to get more people to his restaurant, the House of Castlewood. The 50-year-old Mexican immigrant who bought the diner in December said he's toying with the idea of having a buffet so when the future workers come they can come in and out quicker. His restaurant is in Sturtevant, but it's just across the highway from the planned factory. "This is like something of a miracle happening here because nobody expected that kind of business would come to a small town like Sturtevant," he said. Energy Secretary Rick Perry's plan to stop more coal and nuclear plants from shutting down is already showing signs of a tough sell on Capitol Hill, as lawmakers try to come to grips with consequences for the rest of the energy sector. So far this week, Sen. Lisa Murkowski, chair of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, offered a tepid reaction when she commended Perry for "taking an action that he believes is necessary" but offered no comment on the proposal itself. Likewise, in a hearing in the House Science, Space and Technology Committee Tuesday, Rep. Marc Veasey, D-Fort Worth, who represents north Texas fracking interests, said any action would require "a strong, independently reviewed justification." "There's some people in Texas that drill for gas that will probably disagree with" Perry's proposal, he said. RELATED: Perry urges FERC to help coal, nuclear plants What Perry is suggesting is that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission rewrite current market regulations so power plants would be compensated not only for the electricity they sell onto the grid but also for their "reliability and resiliency." "The resiliency of the electric grid is threatened by the premature retirements of these fuel-secure traditional baseload resources," Perry wrote in a letter to FERC. "Ensuring that American families and their businesses have access to reliable, resilient and affordable electricity is vital to the economy, national security and quality of life." The proposal followed a study released by the Energy Department in August that found the continued closure of coal and nuclear plants threatened to increase outages on the U.S. power grid. But the rationale of trying to save more plants from closing was brought into question this week by the consultant the Energy Department hired to run its study. In an op-ed published Monday Alison Silverstein, a Texas consultant who formerly worked for FERC, criticized the study's findings as incomplete and said many of those plants that had closed were "old, smaller, inefficient, and high-cost." "Many more coal and nuclear plants face borderline economic viability and are at risk of retirement over the next few years," she wrote. "Before all of those plants retire, we need to understand based on valid reliability analyses, not just the desire to protect existing assets and jobs whether those plants play a valid reliability role." RELATED: Perry props up coal, nuclear and punishes natural gas, wind, solar Meanwhile, FERC appears to be moving quickly in considering Perry's recommendation. The five-member commission, of which three seats are filled, has requested all parties file comments by Oct. 23. At least one member of the commission, chairman Neil Chatterjee, has indicated he is amenable to raising wholesale electricity rates for specific types of power plants. In August he said coal plants need to be "properly compensated to recognize the value they provide to the system," according to Reuters. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Apartment seekers suddenly are facing higher rents as occupancy tightens across Houston and the damage estimate for flooded units reaches into the tens of thousands. Complexes that stayed dry in heavily flooded areas like west Houston, Kingwood and Spring have been slammed with new tenants. Landlords there are finding their apartments are worth much more than they were before Hurricane Harvey, when there was a glut of empty units and flagging demand. Ric Campo, CEO of Houston-based Camden Property Trust, said his company has few units left to lease and rents are definitely inching up. Camden uses specialty software to price its units based on daily supply and demand. According to the system, "we've had some properties and unit types spike 15 to 20 percent," Campo said. "We're not going to do that right now, so we override the system and let it go up 20 bucks or so." Single-family rentals are also in high demand. Audra Clark has been looking for a new rental house in the West University area after the one she was living in flooded during Harvey. She and her dog had to swim out the front window and escape by kayak, as the water had risen above her knee inside the home. Under threat: Many homeowners unaware they lived in reservoir 'flood pools' Clark thought she had secured another house to rent in West U, but then a bidding war started and she decided not to participate. She's been staying with a friend from law school as she looks for a more permanent solution. Analysts estimate anywhere from 2 to 6 percent - or as many as 43,000 units - of Houston's apartment stock suffered Harvey-related damage. As of Sept. 22, more than 8,123 units had been leased after Harvey, according to the most recent count from Houston-based ApartmentData.com, which began surveying landlords right after the storm to determine how many units were affected. After reaching 96 percent of Houston-area property owners or managers, the company determined 14,852 units were damaged. That represents 2.3 percent of the overall supply. Average rent is up at least $16 from its pre-Harvey amount to $1,000 per month. Demand likely to come After Tropical Storm Allison in 2001, rents increased 6 to 7 percent. But at that time, Houston was heading into a recession. The spike could wind up higher this time. "The economic landscape after Harvey is more positive, so that might lead to a higher rent increase," said Bruce McClenny, president of the multifamily data firm. Excluding damaged units, occupancy has increased to 90.4 percent from 89 percent before the storm. McClenny said his employees are making another round of calls to gather fresh information. "What I expect to find this time is we will see higher occupancies start to come in. There's some delay on the part of these people that may be staying with family or friends," he said. "There's some demand that's probably going to hit in October and later." Mack Armstrong, senior managing director of real estate for apartment operator Greystar, agrees that the "friends and family effect" soon will begin to take hold. But he's actually seen demand trail off after the initial burst. He said some companies that rented or reserved blocks of units anticipating their employees would need them overestimated the demand. One company, which leased 13 units in a Greystar property in the Clear Lake area, didn't need the units after all. Armstrong expects any notable spike in rents to be short term, as the damaged units will start coming back over the next couple of months. Greystar, which also uses electronic pricing for some of its properties, turned the system off in the two weeks after the storm and then put a 5 percent cap on any rent increases through the rest of September. The system is back on, but it's being closely monitored. "We're moving into a more normal period," Armstrong said. Sam Scott, his wife and their Rhodesian ridgeback Brandi recently moved into a three-bedroom rental house after staying in their flooded Willow Meadows home for three weeks. After hearing horror stories of how hard it was for people to find storage units after the storm, Scott said he was relieved that he was able to secure a nearby rental relatively quickly. "It's been brisk, but I was pleasantly surprised that there are still homes to choose from," he said. "When I first started the search, I thought, 'This is going to be impossible.' " He is, however, paying "a few hundred bucks a month more," to lease the unit through the middle of April. The Scotts are hoping to be back in their home come tax day. Spike 'expected to stay' Before Harvey, the rental market was beginning to see signs of improvement after a period of falling demand. The oil bust coincided with the opening of new apartment buildings in the city, and owners were offering generous leasing specials to attract tenants. Those specials are now mostly gone. Harvey has accelerated the recovery by an estimated 18 months, CBRE, a commercial real estate firm, said in a special post-hurricane report. "The spike in occupancy driven by Harvey related to leasing activity is expected to stay," the company said. Austin-based landlord CWS Apartments said several of its properties here were "greatly impacted" by the hurricane and many tenants were displaced. The company said it reserved a number of apartments and offered $500 in relocation assistance. It froze rental prices. Recently though, the company began leasing at "current market rents," it said in a statement to the Chronicle. With the stronger market, developers are now more likely to consider building again. "We are definitely in a mode where everything's changed," McClenny said. "We will probably be seeing more properties being permitted or proposed because of this than we otherwise would have." Axiometrics, another multifamily data provider, recently released a report showing as many as 43,000 apartments were damaged by the storm. The company waited until later in September to start surveying the properties. Some operators had more damage than they initially thought, said Jay Denton of Axiometrics, which is part of Richardson-based RealPage. West Houston complexes, especially those near the Barker and Addicks dams, had significant damage. The data show this far west Houston submarket, downstream from the reservoirs, with more than 4,700 units, or 15 percent, taken offline - the most of any neighborhood. Other westside neighborhoods with large blocks of flooded apartments include Gulfton/Westbury, Bear Creek/Katy and Alief. On Houston's north side, more than 3,000 units were affected in the Spring/Tomball area, accounting for 21 percent of the existing stock and the largest share across all neighborhoods. The Humble/Kingwood and Greenspoint areas also saw noteworthy multifamily damage. 'Could flip very quickly' The RealPage data are based on a survey of about 1,700 apartment properties located in areas where Hurricane Harvey caused the heaviest damage. If apartment operators reported damage but were unable to provide a number of units impacted, RealPage assumed that all first-floor apartments were affected. Apartment occupancies could tighten further as Houstonians wait longer for their homes to be repaired amid a labor shortage and a possible shortage of building materials. Some homeowners may decide to rent long-term instead of rebuilding. And employment could creep up, as well, leading to more natural demand. "It could flip very quickly," Denton said. Camden recently began transitioning its local apartment operations into a more normal phase. But the revenue management system it uses to price units, a process similar to airline or hotel pricing, has been tweaked to keep rent spikes down. "We're definitely not going to be at full-bore pricing until the middle of November," Campo said. At the end of September, Camden had 452 more occupied units for the month among its Houston properties. During the same month last year, the company lost occupancy. Camden, which operates 8,600 units in the area, had one property that flooded. At that complex near Spring Creek, 80 units on the first floor took in water. Campo expects those units to be back online at the end of this month. Kazuo Ishiguro is the winner of this year's Nobel Prize for Literature. The Swedish Academy's pick, announced Thursday morning, is bound to be a less controversial decision than last year's, when the prestigious literary prize went to songwriter Bob Dylan. The Nobel committee said that Ishiguro, "in novels of great emotional force, has uncovered the abyss beneath our illusory sense of connection with the world." Ishiguro is best known for "The Remains of the Day," a novel that won the Booker Prize and, in 1993, was turned into a film starring Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson. His novel "Never Let Me Go" was adapted to film as well, in 2010. Ishiguro, born in Japan, lives in England - but if scholars want to study his career, they'll have to come to Texas. Ishiguro's archive of drafts, papers and correspondence is at the Harry Ransom Center at the University of Texas at Austin; he sold it to the university in 2015 for about $1 million. In addition to reams of rough drafts and notes, the collection includes Ishiguro's diary, sketches and song lyrics he wrote in the 1970s. Two years ago, Ishiguro described for us how he preserves his papers for the archive, now that he understands scholars will be poring over them: "Until the late 1990s, I'd been throwing away huge amounts of stuff each time I'd finished a project, kind of in the spirit of a stage conjuror nervous about people finding out how his illusions are achieved. A part of me still feels that way. But around 16, 17 years ago, a friend made me aware of the existence of literary archives, and made me promise to stop all this throwing away. So since then, I've kept a large cardboard box tucked under my writing desk. I throw everything, indiscriminately, into this box, and when it gets full, I empty the contents into a plastic bag and take it up into the attic. Then I start filling the box again. It's actually easier than throwing things into the waste bin because you only have to empty the thing once every year or so." A win for Texas: How UT's Ransom Center snags potential Nobel winners When Ishiguro came to Houston in 2015 for Inprint's Margarett Root Brown Reading Series, he talked to writer Maggie Galehouse about "The Buried Giant," his first novel in 10 years - a story that took years to tell: "As much as 15 years back, I wanted to write about society's remembering and forgetting," he told her. "It was triggered by what happened in the 1990s, when Yugoslavia and Rwanda disintegrated into horrific civil wars. In both cases, people who had been living very harmoniously, sometimes next door to each other, turned on each other and massacred each other. So I had a story in my head, but it took me a long time to find a suitable setting." Read more: "Ishiguro on love, forgetfulness and samurais" When he heard the news of his award Thursday morning, Ishiguro told the BBC the Nobel Prize is a "magnificent honor" because "it means that I'm in the footsteps of the greatest authors that have lived" - a list that includes Seamus Heaney, J.M. Coetzee and Toni Morrison. "The world is in a very uncertain moment and I would hope all the Nobel prizes would be a force for something positive in the world as it is at the moment," he said. "I'll be deeply moved if I could in some way be part of some sort of climate this year in contributing to some sort of positive atmosphere at a very uncertain time." Perhaps it's unfair, but one has to wonder for whom the animated feature film "My Little Pony: The Movie" has been made. Ostensibly, it's for young kids, who count for double the ticket money with their parents in tow. But there's also a large market to be found in the "bronies" and "pegasisters," young adults who have developed a cultish fandom around the animated series "My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic." No matter who you might encounter in the theater, "My Little Pony: The Movie" signals that the unrelentingly positive pastel ponies have hit the big time. My Little Pony is a brand that has been somewhat ubiquitous since the 1980s. A toy line from Hasbro, My Little Pony was the more popular younger sibling of the hard plastic full-grown My Pretty Pony. Girls of the '80s will remember the soft, rubbery My Little Pony dolls for their resplendent and colorful manes and rump tattoos, aka "cutie marks." "My Little Pony: The Movie," directed by Jayson Thiessen, has a remarkably retro vibe. The film is done in the classic 2-D animation style and embraces the flat, colorful, Saturday-morning cartoon look and feel. If part of the appeal of the My Little Pony renaissance is the nostalgic warm-fuzzies about childhood cartoons, then this film fully delivers. All we'd need is a bowl full of sugary cereal to complete the experience. Storywise, the stakes start out quite low. Princess Twilight (Tara Strong) wants to throw the best Friendship Festival in Equestria, and her pony friends support her by singing about it. But all too soon their happy kingdom is invaded by the Storm King (Liev Schreiber), an ape/ox hybrid beast, his army led by fallen pony Tempest (Emily Blunt), a unicorn who lost her horn many years ago. The Storm King is essentially a corporate fascist overlord, and he wants to steal the ponies' magic so he can control the weather, and everything else. Little Princess Twilight is the only one to escape, and so she sets off with her pals to ask for help from the Queen of the Hippogriffs (Uzo Aduba). The approach to animated features these days is to create technological spectacle, line up an all-star cast of voice talent and pack the script with jokes for the accompanying parents to enjoy. But "My Little Pony: The Movie" zigs where others zag, throwing it back to the old school with its traditional animation and musical structure. It might not be everyone's cup of tea, but for those who already love it, it'll be just right. 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More than a month after the Aug. 27 gunfire, police still haven't found the shooter. He is described as a man between 18 and 25 years of age, with a slim to medium build. During the gunfire, he wore a dark hoodie and white rubber boots, according to a news release from the Houston Police Department. Police believe the man in the surveillance video killed Houston resident William Lawrence Duncan at about 7 p.m. at an apartment in the 8800 block of Braesmont. Duncan had gotten into a dispute earlier that evening at a convenience store in the 5400 block of Birdwood, according to police. The fight spilled over into the parking lot, sparking store clerks to intervene. Duncan then walked away from the store and toward the Braesmont apartment complex. Shortly after, he was shot in the complex's parking lot, according to the news release. Officers were initially unable to get to the apartment because of high water. By the time they reached the residence, Duncan had already been taken to Memorial Hermann Southeast, where he died. Anyone with information about the suspected shooter can contact HPD's Homicide Division at 713-308-3600 or call Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS. President Donald Trump is expected to announce next week that he will "decertify" the international nuclear deal with Iran, saying it is not in the national interest of the United States and kicking the issue to a reluctant Congress, people briefed on the White House strategy said Thursday. The move would mark the first step in a process that could eventually result in the resumption of U.S. sanctions against Iran, potentially derailing a deal limiting Iran's nuclear activities reached in 2015 with the United States and five other nations. But Trump would hold off on recommending that Congress reimpose sanctions, which would constitute a clearer break from the pact, according to four people familiar with aspects of the president's thinking. The decision would amount to a middle ground of sorts between Trump, who has long wanted to withdraw from the agreement completely, and many congressional leaders and senior diplomatic, military and national security advisers, who believe the deal is worth preserving with changes if possible. Now Playing: Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is privately urging President Trump to certify Irans compliance with the Iran nuclear deal. Ryan Sartor (@ryansartor) has that story. Video: Buzz60 CHANG W. LEE/NYT This week, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Joseph Dunford expressed qualified support for the deal during congressional testimony. And Mattis suggested he did not believe taking the step to decertify would scuttle the agreement. Trump is expected to deliver a speech, tentatively scheduled for Oct. 12, laying out a larger strategy for confronting the nation he blames for terrorism and instability throughout the Middle East. Officials cautioned that plans could still change, and the White House would not confirm plans for a speech or its contents. Trump faces an Oct. 15 deadline to report to Congress on whether Iran is complying with the agreement and whether he judges the deal to be in the U.S. national security interest. "The administration looks forward to sharing details of our Iran strategy at the appropriate time," said Michael Anton, spokesman for the White House National Security Council. The fate of the nuclear pact is only one consideration in that larger strategy, U.S. officials said, although given Trump's focus on it as an "embarrassment," it is the most high-profile element. The deal signed under President Barack Obama was intended to close off the potential for Iran to quickly build a nuclear bomb by curbing nuclear activities the United States and other partners considered most troubling. It allowed some uranium enrichment to continue for what Iran claims is peaceful medical research and energy; the country says it has never sought nuclear weapons. In exchange, world powers lifted crippling U.S. and international economic sanctions. At issue now is the fate of U.S. sanctions lifted by Obama and by extension whether the United States will move to break the deal. That could open an international breach with European partners who have warned they will not follow suit. Outreach for a "transatlantic understanding" about reopening or supplementing the deal is likely to be part of Trump's announcement, according to one Iran analyst who has discussed the strategy with administration officials. Several other people familiar with a nine-month review of U.S. military, diplomatic, economic and intelligence policy toward Iran spoke on the condition of anonymity because aspects of the policy are not yet set, and Trump has not announced his decision. Trump said last month that he had decided what to do on Iran but that he would not divulge the decision. Welcoming military leaders to a White House dinner Thursday night, Trump said Iran had not lived up to its end of the nuclear bargain. "The Iranian regime supports terrorism and exports violence, bloodshed and chaos across the Middle East," he said. "That is why we must put an end to Iran's continued aggression and nuclear ambitions. They have not lived up to the spirit of their agreement." The president's senior national security advisers agreed within the past several weeks to recommend that Trump "decertify" the agreement at the Oct. 15 deadline, two of those people said. The administration has begun discussing possible legislation to "strengthen" the agreement, congressional aides and others said - a "fix it or nix it" approach suggested by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), a leading Republican hawk on Iran. But the prospects of such an approach are highly uncertain, and many supporters of the deal consider it a dodge. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said last month that he will not reopen the agreement for negotiation. Separately, representatives of Iran, China and Russia told Secretary of State Rex Tillerson the same thing during a meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly session last month, two senior diplomats familiar with that meeting said. Cotton appeared to preview the main elements of the administration's plan this week, although he said he does not know exactly what Trump plans to do. The two met Thursday at the White House. In a speech Tuesday at the Council on Foreign Relations, Cotton said Trump should "decline to certify the deal and begin the work of strengthening it." He said decertification should be based on a finding that the deal is not in the U.S. "vital national security interest," citing "the long catalogue of the regime's crimes and perfidy against the United States, as well as the deal's inherent weakness." But Cotton said he would not push for the immediate reimposition of sanctions, as some conservative lawmakers and outside lobbying groups are pushing to do. He laid out proposals for Congress to pass new stipulations for U.S. participation in the deal, including elimination of the "sunset clauses" under which restrictions on some Iranian nuclear activities expire after several years, tougher inspections requirements and new curbs on Iran's ballistic- and cruise-missile programs. Cotton claimed that a unified statement from Congress would help Trump forge a new agreement among European and other allies and strengthen his hand for renegotiation. "The world needs to know we're serious, we're willing to walk away, and we're willing to reimpose sanctions - and a lot more than that," Cotton said. "And they'll know that when the president declines to certify the deal, and not before." In the Senate, plans have been underway for months to respond to a presidential decertification. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) has been Capitol Hill's point person on discussions with the White House. Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin (D-Md.) and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) also have been made aware of plans being discussed with the White House and State Department. McConnell is not eager to take on the issue at a time when the Senate calendar is full and midterm elections are only a year off, according to congressonal aides and a Western diplomat who has met with him. "He's not excited about getting the 'Old Maid,' " said the diplomat, referring to the card game where the player left holding a certain card is the loser. Still, Republican leaders say they are confident that they can craft a legislative response to the president's decision that can address deficiencies in the deal and avoid turning the issue into a political litmus test for the GOP. Some Republicans have also been urging the president to take a critical public stance against the deal - without blowing it up. "The president should come out and say, 'Hey, we're going to enforce this, and right now I think these different provisions are being violated,' " Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Ala.) said last week - adding that Trump should tell Iran it had a limited window to fix problems. "If they don't, do what [then-Secretary of State] John Kerry and Barack Obama said they were going to do, which is snap-back sanctions." Rep. Adam B. Schiff, D-Calif., said a decertification would undermine global confidence in the deal and in U.S. commitments generally. "If the president fails to certify the deal while saying Iran is complying with it, it's a destructive political gesture," Schiff said. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., said that beginning a process that could result in the United States withdrawing from the Iran deal would go against "advice from his own national security team and our closest allies." "Unilaterally abandoning this agreement will make the world less safe," she said in a statement. A half dozen Democrats who went to the White House on Wednesday evening to meet with national security adviser H.R. McMaster came away with the impression that he agreed with Mattis and Dunford. The group who visited with McMaster to discuss Iran included Cardin, D-Md., and Sens. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., Christopher Coons, D-Del., Joe Manchin, D-W.V., Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D., and Angus King, I-Maine, according to a person familiar with the meeting. Sen. Cory Gardner, R-Colo., called the nuclear deal "very, very flawed" but not totally ineffective - a common view among Republicans and a potential starting point for negotiations with Democrats. "What we have to figure out is how to actually accomplish what we were well on our way to do before Barack Obama gave them a patient pathway to a nuclear bomb," Gardner said, referring to what he and other Republicans see as the deal's failure to prevent Iran from developing weapons down the road. "I'm not to commit to myself to one direction, other than that we actually have a deal in place to commit Iran will come to agreement without a nuclear program." --- The Washington Post's Abby Phillip and Ed O'Keefe contributed to this report. --- VIDEO: President Trump spoke about the agreement with Iran on their nuclear program when meeting with military leaders on Oct. 5. (The Washington Post) -- http://wapo.st/2xWHpxK -- The federal government announced Wednesday it has handed out $886 million in assistance to 309,000 Texans trying to rebuild their lives in the wake of Hurricane Harvey. And that number likely will rise as Federal Emergency Management Agency officials continue to conduct inspections across the areas impacted by one of the worst storms in U.S. history. STORM COVERAGE: Everything you need to know about the hurricane "We're leaning forward to get all the inspections done so people can get assistance," said Elaine Duke, acting secretary of Homeland Security. "Returning people to their homes is currently our major focus." Now Playing: On the morning of Sunday, August 27, Houston Chronicle Managing Editor Vernon Loeb wrote in an email to the entire newsroom: "We are heading into a severe flooding emergency and everyone on the Chronicle editorial staff is activated." For the days and that followed most of the staff covered the effects of Hurricane Harvey and little else. Video: Scott Kingsley, Houston Chronicle Speaking during a brief conference call Wednesday, Duke updated members of the media on disaster relief post-Harvey. Along with the $886 million in assistance, Duke noted the numbers below: $785 million in low-interest disaster loans have been given to nearly 9,300 homeowners, renters and businesses. $1.2 billion has been paid out to nearly 89,000 policyholders through the National Flood Insurance Program. Just over 1,000 people remain shelters Duke said federal officials are working with the governor's office and the Texas General Land Office on "long-term housing restoration." "Recovering from Harvey is going to be a long process and we are there with you all the way," Duke said Wednesday. Despite the other tragedies in the news lately, she added, "We are also not forgetting about the state of Texas and its recovery from Hurricane Harvey." Alex Stuckey covers science and the environment for The Houston Chronicle. You can reach her at alex.stuckey@chron.com or Twitter.com/AlexDStuckey. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Eduardo Sanchez wants to feed his family. The husband and father of four daughters stood in line for more than three hours Wednesday to sign up for emergency food assistance under the special Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Program, known as D-SNAP. "My budget is shot," he said. "I live paycheck to paycheck, and after losing my car and my home, I don't have enough money to get back on my feet on my own and provide for my girls. Look around. I'm not alone." Sanchez, 48, was one of thousands of hot, tired people who stood in long lines Wednesday at four relief centers across the Houston area as a Thursday deadline loomed to apply for the benefits available to families recovering from Hurricane Harvey. Sanchez said he would have applied sooner, but the deadline snuck up on him. "It's easy to lose track when you have lost so much and you're trying to figure out your new reality," he said. Sanchez had already gotten in the door at the Southwest Multi-Service Center on Gulfton when news arrived late Wednesday that the state was extending the deadline through Friday. The four centers will continue to operate through 7 p.m. Thursday, but on Friday, applications will be accepted only at the George R. Brown Convention Center in downtown Houston, the Texas Department of Health and Human Services announced late Wednesday. 200,000 helped so far The looming deadline created a rush all week at the relief centers, as families crammed in to get their applications filed before it was too late. Already, more than 200,000 people have received the D-SNAP funds in Harris County, according to preliminary numbers. "We've been working closely with local officials to fine tune sites that work for people who are trying to put their lives back together after this terrible storm," Executive Health Commissioner Charles Smith said Wednesday in a statement. "We want this to be as smooth as possible for them." Those who qualify will receive benefits on a Lone Star Card, which is used to provide food stamps under the regular SNAP program in Texas. To qualify for the D-SNAP benefits, a family must live in a county declared a federal disaster area, have experienced loss of income or destruction of their home and not receive regular SNAP food benefits. Harvey victims will receive an amount equal to two months of the maximum SNAP benefits for their household size, which range from $194 a month for one person to $1,169 for a family of five, plus $146 for each additional person, according to the Texas DHHS website. The card works like a debit card at most grocery stores. The benefits cannot be used for tobacco, alcohol or anything other than food or drinks. 'Making the most of it' More than 100,000 single-family homes and thousands of apartment complexes were damaged by Hurricane Harvey, a Category 4 storm that came ashore Aug. 25 in Rockport and moved into Houston on Aug. 26. Melissa Williams, 25, a single mother of two who also takes care of her disabled mother, was living in a first-floor apartment in the Greenspoint area when the floodwaters began rising. She and her family had to be evacuated. On Wednesday, she joined a line that stretched for blocks at the Greenspoint Mall relief center. She and her family are now living in a hotel while they try to find another apartment. "I never thought I'd be here," she said. "We're making the most of it. It's tough. Recovery is long, but the most important thing to me is that I feed my children and give them a bed to sleep in." If the long lines this week are any indication, thousands more could apply by Friday's deadline. "We have hundreds of staff members on site in Harris County working as quickly as possible to help people," said Carrie Williams, spokeswoman with the state health department. "Getting people the food assistance they need has been our main focus for the last two weeks in Harris County." The deadline extension is the second time the state made accommodations for those impacted by Harvey. High demand in the Corpus Christi area for D-SNAP benefits prompted the state to extend the deadline there as well. 'We're all tired' In Harris County, the state rolled out the disaster food relief program Sept. 22, with the target end date of Thursday. The four locations also included the Fifth Ward Multi-Service Center and the Pasadena Convention Center. Those site will close at 7 p.m. Thursday before officials move Friday to the convention center, at 1001 Avenida de las Americas, which has more indoor capacity to accommodate the volumes of people. It will be open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday. Applicants must be in line by 7 p.m. to apply, officials said. Additional long lines are expected, and state officials encourage only the applicants visit the center. Tasha Spelling joined the line at Gulfton Wednesday morning - the second time she had tried to apply for assistance. The first time, she forgot her identification and was sent away. "I think we're all tired," she said. "We've been trying to recover for more than a month now. Standing in these lines feel like a waste of time, but it's hard to be upset. I'm not the only one who misses their old life. Everyone out here is hurting." This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate BAGHDAD - Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced Thursday that Iraqi forces have driven the Islamic State group from one of the extremists' last strongholds in the country, the northern town of Hawija. The victory came as Baghdad and Iraq's Kurdish region remain in a political deadlock following a controversial Kurdish independence referendum. But on the battlefield, Iraqi and Kurdish forces continue to collaborate, squeezing the jihadis who once controlled nearly a third of the country. Al-Abadi made the declaration at a news conference in Paris with French President Emmanuel Macron, who has offered to help mediate between Iraq's government and the autonomous Kurdish region, which voted for independence last week. "I want to announce the liberation of the city of Hawija today," al-Abadi said, calling it a "victory not just for Iraq but for the whole world." Still, Abadi's government is struggling to contain the fallout from the independence vote, which, while not binding or expected to lead to the formation of a Kurdish state anytime soon, was rejected as illegal by the Baghdad government as well as neighboring Turkey and Iran. Iraq's central government has imposed a flight ban on the Kurdish region, while Turkey and Iran have sent troops to the region's borders to signal their opposition to any redrawing of the map. Blockade threatened Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday appeared to threaten a blockade of the Kurdish region, saying: "All airspace will be closed, flights have already been banned. Soon the borders will be closed, too." Macron expressed concern about the escalating dispute. He said France supports the territorial integrity of Iraq and called for "national reconciliation and inclusive governance," noting France's close ties to the Kurds. He said dialogue "is the only path" out of the crisis, and said France is ready "to contribute actively to mediation." Despite the political wrangling, the Kurdish forces, known as the Peshmerga, and the Iraqi army have kept up coordination in the Hawija area as the last pockets of ISIS territory are retaken, U.S. coalition spokesman Ryan Dillon told the Associated Press. "As Iraqi security forces continue to push (ISIS) up against the Kurdish defensive line you're going to find Kurdish Peshmerga forces killing or capturing ISIS fighters that have been pushed out of Hawija city," he said. Iraqi forces have driven ISIS from nearly all the cities and towns it seized in the summer of 2014, including the country's second-largest city, Mosul, which was liberated in July following a months-long offensive. Tal Afar, west of Mosul was retaken by Iraqi security forces in August; hundreds of ISIS fighters and their families handed themselves over to Kurdish security forces in the days after. The extremists are now mainly concentrated in a region straddling the Iraqi-Syrian border and still control a cluster of towns in the far west of Iraq's sprawling Anbar province, where another U.S.-backed Iraqi offensive is underway. Iraqi officials often declare victory before the fighting has completely ended, and Dillon said troops in and around Hawija were flushing out the remaining militants in the area. Iraqi forces launched the operation to retake the town, which lies 150 miles north of Baghdad, late last month. U.S. touts 'swift' win The U.S.-led coalition issued a statement welcoming Iraq's "swift and decisive victory" in Hawija. "Our Iraqi partners fought bravely and professionally against a brutal and determined enemy, safeguarding innocent civilians throughout the entire campaign," said Lt. Gen. Paul E. Funk II, the commander of the coalition in Iraq. Still, the Kurdish referendum has been an unwelcome distraction for the Western powers focused on the war against ISIS, forcing military planners to divert resources for "contingencies" that could follow the unresolved dispute, said Dillon. Macron's offer to mediate between the Iraqi government and the Kurds had reportedly run into resistance from the Iraqi government ahead of al-Abadi's visit because of the French president's insistence on Kurdish rights. Al-Abadi said Thursday that Iraq "is for all Iraqis" and the constitution guarantees the rights of all its citizens. "We are not looking for any confrontations; we don't want animosity," he said. "But the authority of the federal state should impose its will and no one should attack the federal authority." Iraq's parliament, which is dominated by Shiite Arabs, has called for harsh measures in response to the Sept. 25 referendum, including sending federal troops to retake the contested, oil-rich city of Kirkuk, which is held by Kurdish forces but claimed by Baghdad. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Magali Rojas drove more than 70 miles to Houston from El Campo, taking time off work Wednesday, to renew the temporary work permit President Donald Trump's administration is about to phase out for thousands of young immigrants living in the country illegally. "Every day that's what I think about," the 22-year-old Rojas said. "What is going to be the next step." Such anxiety is widespread among the nearly 800,000 young immigrants in the country illegally who have been protected from deportation and allowed to work under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, program. The Trump administration announced in September that it was phasing out the Obama-era program but gave immigrants whose two-year permits expire before March 5 one last chance to renew it. That chance ends Thursday. Texas immigration advocates say confusion and fear may have stopped hundreds of young immigrants in the state from renewing their applications. Texas has the second largest population of DACA recipients in the country, about 124,300, according to the Pew Research Center. "There is a lot of misinformation about when you have to submit (the renewal)," said Mario Carrillo, the Texas director of America's Voice, an immigrant rights group. "We knew since this arbitrary deadline was set that it would be very difficult for all of them to apply." The government must receive the renewal applications in the mail by Oct. 5, effectively making Wednesday the last day advocates could help fill out applications. As of Wednesday morning, about 73 percent of the 154,000 DACA recipients eligible to renew their applications had done so, according to data from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. That means thousands of immigrants who did not renew their applications will begin losing their permission to work and could be at risk of deportation. "What we're going to be seeing is every day a new group of individuals going out of status," said Jill Campbell, an immigration attorney for BakerRipley, Houston's largest nonprofit. Confusion about deadline Campbell said the nonprofit has partnered with United We Dream, the country's largest organization for immigrant youth, to encourage people to renew their permits. The group raised enough money to help almost 1,400 people pay the $495 application fee. Other organizations across the nation had similar fundraising efforts. Despite the widespread push to renew permits, many were confused about the deadlines and the process. Several advocates in Houston say they saw fewer people renew their permits than expected. Oscar Hernandez, an organizer for Houston' chapter of United We Dream, said he has received numerous phone calls from people who want to reapply but are not eligible. "Our intention is to make sure that people aren't discouraged and don't feel like they can no longer be here," he said. "DACA isn't the end-all, be-all in our fight for immigrant rights." The group has several demonstrations planned for Thursday around the state, including Houston, demanding that Congress pass immigration reform. Cesar Espinosa, executive director of the advocacy group FIEL Houston, said the mood locally and across the country is somber. "People are very cynical right now in terms of having to fight for DACA," he said. "They don't think anything good is going to come out of any agreement." Trump has given Congress until March 5 to pass an immigration bill to replace the program, which he characterized as an overreach by the Obama administration. Bills are pending in the House and the Senate that would grant legal status to DACA recipients, but a major sticking point is what concessions, such as tougher immigration enforcement, the Republican-controlled Congress would demand in return. "We have to face the reality that an agreement might not actually be a good agreement," Espinosa said. 'Justice at the polls' State Rep. Cesar Blanco, D-El Paso, believes DACA is a defining moment for Congress and state representatives. "Texas Republicans, be warned, if you cannot muster the empathy for young people, who are American in every way except on paper, Latinos will have their justice at the polls," Blanco said. Meanwhile those like Rojas and her sister hope to at least postpone falling back in the shadows. Their parents brought them here as toddlers two decades ago from Mexico, and they have never been back. Both are store managers at a Stripes convenience store and their salary helps support their parents and four siblings. Wednesday, Rojas felt lucky. Her permit expires this week, and she was able to renew in time. But her younger sister was in tears. Her permit expired as Hurricane Harvey barreled into Houston and the first law firm she hired couldn't mail it off in time. Now she was here meeting with another attorney, Raed Gonzalez, hoping he could find a way to fix it. "We're just hoping," Rojas said. "It is all so stressing." As an existing print subscriber it is easy to get FREE access to all our online content. When you click get started below it will walk you through creating an online account to attach your print subscription number to. After your account is created it will ask you to either add a subscription for online access or click on the print subscriber button. Click the print subscriber button header and it will open a dropdown, now click on get started. The page will reload and you will be prompted to enter an account number and a zip code. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO USE THE NUMBER OFF OF THE MOST RECENT ISSUE OR ANYTHING AFTER JANUARY 28, 2019 TO GAIN ACCESS! OLD ACCOUNT NUMBERS WILL NOT WORK The account number and zip code are easily available on your most recent issue of the High Plains Journal or Midwest Ag Journal in the address fields as is shown here. Sometimes the account number has extra zero's in front of it, just ignore those. Karen Vardanyan donated 112 million drams for the medical equipment for National Center for Infectious Diseases. UCOM HAS INTRODUCED FUTURE NETWORK WI-FI 6E ROUTERS Statement by the Spokesperson on the conflict resolution and reconciliation efforts Foreign Minister of Armenia to participate in the Fifth Paris Peace Forum Google Ad Armenia: EU and Armenia Hold annual Dialogue on Human Rights Todays Shushi, Occupied and Cleared of Armenians, is a Real Example of Turkish-Azerbaijani Policy of Ethnic Cleansing of Artsakh Ookla, the the global leader in internet testing and analysis has awarded Ucom Sweden will hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union Ameriabank: At the Vanguard of Armenia's Banking Sector STATEMENT OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARTSAKH SUBSCRIBERS OF UCOMS ALL TIME BEST OFFER TO ENJOY ADDITIONAL BENEFITS Armenia-Azerbaijan: EU sets up monitoring capacity along the international borders PACE co-rapporteurs on Armenia concerned by reports of alleged war crimes or inhuman treatment perpetrated by Azerbaijans armed forces There is still 35% gender pay gap: Sona Ghazaryan Global Finance Names Ameriabank the Safest Bank in Armenia Mikayel and Karen Vardanyans provided 136 million AMD support for the overhaul of the Myasnikyan statue, which was in unsafe state of disrepair Google Ad Believe me, as a representative of a country which uses the Schengen system very often, it is quite important. Vardanyan I really look forward to having answers from the Azerbaijani side for these alleged gross human rights violations: Secretary General I call on Armenian and Azerbaijani parliamentarians to use this Assembly as an agora of opportunities President Tiny Kox UCOMS SPECIAL OFFER OF THE UNLIMITED INTERNET IS NOW TERMLESS There is no place for the death penalty in a State that respects human rights: PACE General Rapporteur EU and CoE call on two Member States that have not yet acceded to this Protocol Armenia and Azerbaijan to do so without delay An urgent debate requested on "The military hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan". UCOM AND PES-PES CONTINUE COOPERATION WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF EDUCATIONAL PROJECT The statement of the meeting between Prime Minister Pashinyan, President Aliyev, President Macron and President Michel of October 6, 2022 Largest Corporate Bond Program at the Securities Market of Armenia Completed Successfully The statement of the Defender on the video of the execution of Armenian PoWs by the Azerbaijani armed forces LEVEL UP ONLY FOR STUDENTS: UCOM OFFERS X2 AND X3 MORE INTERNET STATEMENT BY SECRETARY ANTONY J. BLINKEN ormer HR head who was sentenced to more than three years in jail after defrauding her employer of hundreds of thousands of dollars has had her parole denied this week.Joanne Harrison also known as Joanne Sharp stole $726,000 from the Ministry of Transport while she was the general manager of organisational development.The UK-born HR head held the senior position for three years before her misconduct was finally uncovered in 2016. She was later sentenced to three years and seven months in prison after charges were laid by the Serious Fraud Office.She was an incredibly manipulative, dishonest person who has now gone to jail for some time, transport minister Simon Bridges said soon after Harrisons sentencing.Both Bridges and the Ministry of Transport came under fire when it was revealed Harrison had previous fraud convictions in both Australia and New Zealand. Red flags had also been raised by a number of employees who doubted her integrity all three were made redundant just months after voicing their concerns.Now, its been revealed that Harrisons first bid for parole has been denied with the board indicating it believes she still poses an undue risk to the safety of the community.Harrison's next appearance before the Parole Board will be in March next year. She has been in custody since August last year - a total of 14 months. The former CEO of Equifax, a credit-scoring company that recently compromised personal information on as many as 145 million Americans, said a single IT technician was at fault for the data breach. Speaking before the House Energy and Commerce Committee, former chief executive Richard Smith said: "The human error was that the individual who's responsible for communicating in the organization to apply the patch, did not." The breach was caused by a vulnerability in Apaches Struts system, Smith said, something the software provider moved to eliminate by supplying a patch. The IT technician, whom he identified in the hearing, failed to install the patch, Engadget reported. Smith, who resigned last week, said the normal procedure for new patches was that a technician would install it and then scan the system for remaining vulnerabilities. Neither step was done. As a result, hackers got their hands on names, Social Security numbers, birth dates, addresses, some driver's license numbers, and about 209,000 credit card numbers, Wired reported. Moreover, 182,000 dispute documents complaint submissions that include personal identifying data were also compromised. According to Engadget, the Department of Homeland Security's Computer Emergency Readiness Team (CERT) sent Equifax a notice on 8 March about the vulnerability in certain versions of Apache Struts. Equifax sent out an internal mass-email, which should have required its internal IT team to fix the vulnerability within 48 hours. The fix wasnt done. Neither did an automatic scan a week later indicate that the Struts version Equifax was using had the vulnerability. According to Equifax, the hacker who exploited the weakness likely carried out the attack between May 13 and July 30. What tipped the company off to the breach was suspicious traffic in and out of its system on July 29. Lawmakers at the hearing were not appeased by Smiths explanations. "You can't change your Social Security number and I can't change my mother's maiden name," Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) said in the hearing, according to The Los Angeles Times. "This data is out there forever." How does this happen when so much is at stake?" Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.) told Smith. "I don't think we can pass a law that fixes stupid." Related stories: Employees get lessons in how to stop leaking How HR can reduce the costs of a cyber attack Christchurch District Court on Tuesday slapped a $157,500-fine on Rangiora Carpets Ltd. for failing to ensure the safety of its workers as prescribed by the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015.The court also ordered the company to pay $20,000 to its staff member who had fallen 2.5 metres from a mezzanine floor in June last year.This prompted WorkSafe New Zealand to warn employers that health and safety risks abound on all structures, even those that are infrequently used.The worker, who sustained significant injuries, fell from the mezzanine floor through a false ceiling to the floor.The floor was being used for storage and had not been identified as a health and safety risk.But a WorkSafe prove found that the company had failed to conduct adequate risk assessment to identify the risk of a fall from height.Thus, it also failed to ensure appropriate controls, such as edge protection or a balustrade, were in place to protect workers from the risk of fall onto the false ceiling.Structures such as storage and filing facilities need to be considered for risk and have appropriate controls put in place, WorkSafe General Manager Operations and Specialist Services, Brett Murray, said.Falls from height always present a significant risk. Even a fall of less than three metres can result in serious injuries or death. Identifying the need for a barrier to protect workers on the mezzanine floor was imperative to avoiding this incident. alexkich via Getty Images Once again the world looks on in horror as more people are killed and injured in a mass shooting in the US. Once again people cry desperately through their grief for gun control laws. But once again their cries are met with the same arguments: stop 'politicising' the issue (what else do they suggest?) and the oft-repeated maxim: guns don't kill people, people do. Advertisement In Britain, we can't fathom why Americans struggle so much with the solution to this problem. After the horrendous shootings in Hungerford (1987) and Dunblane (1996) our gun laws became stricter to the point that gun ownership is comparatively rare. And thank goodness, since then, mass shootings are unheard of in this country. But they're also relatively unheard of in Switzerland and Canada. Yet these countries have relatively liberal gun laws. So what's the difference between the US and these countries? Why do mass shootings continue to happen there, while in the UK, but also Canada and Switzerland, they're relatively rare? The answer is clear to anyone who tries to argue for gun control with an American conservative. When even the slightest tightening of gun controls is suggested, it's met with strong hostility. Why? Because their whole lives, Americans have had it ingrained that they have a constitutional right to bear arms, according to the second amendment. To be clear: that's a fundamental right to own weapons whose sole purpose is to kill. Advertisement The UK has no such right. For us it wasn't such a fundamental shift when gun controls were so strongly tightened. Canada, while permitting gun ownership in law, also has no such constitutional right. In Switzerland, there is a constitutional right, but it is qualified with a number of strict laws - numerous types of firearm are banned, it's mostly illegal to carry a gun in public without a permit, and a permit is only granted under certain circumstances. So the UK, Canada and Switzerland all have different approaches to guns. So what is it they have in common? In contrast to the US, they don't ingrain a seemingly sacrosanct right to own and use a deadly weapon into the minds of people from their youth. They don't encourage mass admiration for and festishising of guns - the kind that led Stephen Paddock, who committed these atrocities in Las Vegas, to accumulate a sizeable personal collection of firearms. Where gun ownership is legal, in Canada and Switzerland, there's a sense of proportion, with the sobering reminder that guns kill and must only ever be used under certain circumstances. People in these countries seem to understand that with the privilege of gun ownership comes responsibility. But in the US, no one dare challenge a person's right to their precious guns. For the majority of the population, we might have grave questions about why they feel such a need to own guns - but at least they haven't committed mass shootings. Advertisement Anadolu Agency via Getty Images Whether you are energised and enthused, or sick to death of post-Brexit politics, it would pay to give some attention to the last week of the British two party system's national tour in Brighton and Manchester. Love it or loathe it, this has been a conference season like no other. If you look closely enough, you can see the once-in-a-generation shift happening at the heart of British politics. There is now, for the first in many years, a new, clear left-right divide, crystallising around the old left-right divide of public spending and nationalisation versus the free market and the individual. Advertisement Despite the preening and the posturing that forms the bedrock of any conference season, battle lines are being drawn that may shape British political discourse for many years to come. And after Theresa May's speech in Manchester, it's clear that she will not be part of that future for very long. Closing her party's annual meeting, May hammered the last nail into the coffin marked "strong and stable", and perhaps even ended her hope of delivering on Brexit. Just when the Tory party so badly needed a firm stake in the ground that pointed to a future that was blue - a plan to deal seriously with the shifting tectonic plates in British politics - May gave them nothing but the prospect of yet more prevarication. First, she backed herself further into a corner on Brexit. She has left herself even more a hostage to potentially fatal outcomes. She yet again failed to come down firmly in one or other of the two camps that sit either side of the great Brexit chasm in the Tory party. She is neither aligned with Brexit zealots like Boris Johnson and Liam Fox nor the Philip Hammond-led Brexit moderates. She has to upset one side at some point and has once again kicked the task into the long grass. She also came across as wooden and woolly, proving that she has learnt nothing from the June election campaign. There has been no serious work on her delivery (compare this with Corbyn's clear improvement in auto-cue use and even suit choice). Nor has there been serious work on generating a big vision (compare this with Labour's popular manifesto). There has been no serious work done on making her government seem like a government of leaders, standing up to do the difficult thing and make the difficult decisions. Compare this with Labour's shrewd description of themselves as the "adults in the room". Advertisement The biggest lesson ignored As if these examples of failing to learn from your mistakes were not bad enough, there is another that trumps them all: there has been no reflection on the fact that part of the reason the Conservative party fared so badly in the election was that May had put herself at the heart of the campaigning. Without needing to pass judgement on her personal strengths and weaknesses, this personalising of the election backfired badly. May herself acknowledged as much at the beginning of her speech when she apologised to her party for running a campaign that was too "presidential". And yet, here she was again, front and centre, reflecting on her personal challenges, on her cabinet, her approach to work. No doubt all of this was heartfelt, but the truth is, putting yourself at the centre of the political narrative just doesn't sell right now in British politics. Of course, it's easy to explain why she would take this approach. Weak leaders - leaders so weak they cannot address the real issues they face - have very little room for manoeuvre. What else can the PM talk about, if she cannot address head on the one issue driving all others? In contrast, a strong leader would address the issues at hand. Instead of evading the big questions of the day, they address them head-on, and to hell with the consequences. What a fillip it would have been for the country at large to see a PM make a choice, take a decision, and lead. In the short term, this further evasion of the Brexit issues means the ship of state can sail on, with May at the helm. But we should all be concerned about such weak leadership and its potential consequences. Yes, someone like May might be good for smoothing over festering divisions in a party and a nation more widely. But we only need to look to Catalonia over recent days to see how ignoring those divisions does not make them go away, and how weak leaders are the worst prepared when real crises emerge. Advertisement In short, the Conservative party, and the wider electorate, were done a disservice in this speech. They have still not been given a clear steer - Leavers or Remainers. They will be concerned about this and can only hope for a denouement of the struggle for the Tory party, whether that's brought about by Boris Johnson or AN Other Cabinet big hitter. Messy though that may be, it will at least crystallise the Tory position, and allow the choice between the two parties on Brexit to match the choice they are beginning to offer on society writ large. Finding gold on your land may be seen as a blessing from God but the reality couldn't be any different for small-scale miners in East Africa. With the arrival of the first African Fairtrade-certified gold comes our big chance to make a difference as designers, consumers and human beings. "I have never seen such degradation, such harsh working conditions, such abuse as in the gold mines of Migori in western Kenya," recounts Michael Gidney. As CEO of the Fairtrade Foundation, he has seen his fair share of degradation. "For me, it was one of those shocking injustices that gold which goes into our jewellery can come at such a price." Advertisement There is no exaggerating the situation facing small-scale gold miners across the Great Lakes region. Women treat gold ores with toxic mercury in the same bowls as they wash their babies and cook, men and children risk being buried alive everyday in the pits and meanwhile the middle man waits with tampered scales to cheat them of a fair price that could feed their families. 16 million small-scale gold miners around the world face appalling conditions but East Africa is particularly susceptible to poverty, exploitation and illegal activity due to its association with conflict gold and the resulting reduction in business. We can convince ourselves this is a world away but you and I know it isn't. These men, women and children toil for us. For the rings we wear, the electronics in the iPhone that might as well be our left hand and the laptop powering our next Netflix binge. We spend billions globally on gold jewellery every year and yet these miners can earn as little as 50p a day. It is precisely why the arrival of the first Fairtrade gold from Africa is so pivotal. "This is all about the people of the land benefitting from their resources in that land," said Gidney at the launch. "It is economic, social and environmental justice for the poor." Advertisement The signet ring in front of us, commemorating the milestone, has an added sparkle attributable to knowing it hasn't been produced at the expense of anyone's wellbeing. It is some of the first and only fully traceable gold from Africa and symbolises five years of innovation, hard work and collaboration to transform the African gold industry. Designed and created by Fairtrade champion Cred Jewellery, the gold was sourced by members of Syanyonja Artisan Miners' Alliance (SAMA), the first Fairtrade-certified mine in Africa as of 2016. It is one of nine artisanal sites across Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania (representing 900 miners) that Fairtrade has been supporting since 2012 to achieve Fairtrade's ethical standards and thus certification. Thanks to the Comic Relief-funded programme and Fairtrade's partners on the ground, EWAD (Environmental Women in Action for Development), all the miners are now trading more profitably. They have undergone training in business and entrepreneurship, the safe use of mercury, labour rights and better working conditions as well as health and safety. Fairtrade is also working with local organisations to promote responsible and safe mining practices amongst Africa's further five million artisanal and small-scale miners. "Since we started working with Fairtrade, there has been no more deaths in our mines as we now use benching and other safety techniques," says Josephine Aguttu, a member of another participating mine, Tiira Small Scale Mining Association (TIIRA). "With Fairtrade we can get a fair price. We are determined; we are at the starting point to change our community." Advertisement Of course, Fairtrade only works for miners if designers decide to use the gold and customers demand and buy it. Unfortunately, just 16% of people in the UK are currently aware it exists, compared to 93% who recognise the Fairtrade mark. It's a tragedy when choosing Fairtrade over regular gold not only save lives but helps them thrive. Simple solutions, such as safety equipment and extraction machines, cost relatively little yet revolutionise the mining process. Last year, Fairtrade campaigners raised the 4500 for a communal Gold Kacha in Busia. Where once the miners toiled away with basic tools for days at a time to recover just 30-50% of the gold, with this mercury-free machine, they now recover 95% in a couple of hours. "Consumers in the UK give us courage," says Padde Stephen, a member of Busia United Small-Scale Mining Association (BUSSMA). "Thank you for the Gold Kacha. Through Fairtrade we now transcend the East Africa region." If you ever assume your retail choices will have no impact, think again. Yet, for people who have always lived hand to mouth, it is the long-term opportunities that the Fairtrade Premium offers which excites them most. With every kilogram of gold a certified mine sells, it receives $2000 to be invested back into community and business development projects. Advertisement From helping the orphans and setting up bursaries for school fees to supporting the local health centre, the miners are full of ideas as to how they want to use the funding. "We have dreams to expand our business," explains Golding Mathias, treasurer of TIIRA. "We'll be able to fulfil the Fairtrade hope within ourselves to improve our conditions, benefit from better health and feed our families." Josephine is hoping an amount will be set aside for older people so they don't have to risk entering the mine. The aim is to generate $50,000 worth of impact through sales by 2020, which is far from impossible with the landmark plans Fairtrade has in the pipeline. A new investment facility will enable mine sites, often for the first time, to access finance. Meanwhile, a new two-year partnership programme launching in 2018 with Fairphone and Phillips will open up Fairtrade gold to the technology sector. The first jewellery collections with African Fairtrade gold will be on sale in time for Christmas and Cred Jewellery will continue to buy gold from SAMA every six weeks over the coming year. On top of this, a new export platform enabling jewellers around the world to buy the gold is on the way. There are already over 200 designer-makers selling Fairtrade gold (currently from mines in Peru) all over the UK and overseas. Both bohemian fine jewellery designer Natalie Perry's debut at London Fashion Week last month and the Goldsmiths' Centre's current exhibition correct any assumptions Fairtrade should stick to bananas and coffee. Against a backdrop of eye-opening images of African miners by renowned photojournalist Ian Berry, Fair Luxury Presents features a range of new and established makers who are redefining luxury through Fairtrade gold. Advertisement "It's possible to have it all; style, luxury, unique design and a positive impact on the people who made your piece," says Sarah Greenaway of Fair Luxury, Fairtrade's co-organiser in the exhibition. The change-maker group of ethical jewellery businesses is raising awareness for better practices within the industry. "We have a mountain to climb before we can offer consumers transparency and responsible sourcing. The arrival of Fairtrade gold proves that, despite the huge barriers, it is possible to mine responsibly and maintain control of the metal all the way to the consumer." While Fairtrade still costs slightly more than standard gold, prices can start at as little as 100-200. Gold will always be an investment but, as Greenaway says, "the value of a piece lies in its unique beauty, which is vastly enhanced when it comes from a source that respects people and planet." It is something Padde Stephen knows all too well. "My message to jewellery lovers in the UK is that our gold is special; for just a little sacrifice, you can help support the African miners." In other words, pick Fairtrade and your gold will sparkle more brightly too. Fair Luxury Presents is on display at the Goldsmiths' Centre until 27th October. Entry is free. For more information on working with Fairtrade gold as a designer, click here. Charles Gullung via Getty Images On Monday I was diagnosed with endometriosis. I wasn't surprised. You see, my mum has it. My mum was diagnosed with a quite serious form of endometriosis nearly 30 years ago, back when it was relatively unknown. Apparently back then everyone thought it was an "American phenomenon" and she was told by countless doctors that she couldn't have it because she was British. While the cause of endometriosis is not known, there's pretty strong evidence it runs in the family. As such, for years I have asked to be tested for it only to be told, 'Nah, it's probably fine. Don't worry about it. Maybe just come off your pill?' Advertisement While I completely understand this response (there's no definite evidence proving it's inherited, getting a test would have involved being referred to a specialist, and of course the NHS is under pressure), I went to multiple doctors displaying symptoms of endometriosis. Now, for those of you who don't know what endometriosis entails, here are a few symptoms (see Endometriosis UK for more info): - Painful periods - Heavy periods - Tiredness - Pelvic pain - Pain during sex In addition to that list of loveliness, in some cases it can cause infertility. So, to cut a long story short, I went to a private GP, who referred me to a private specialist, who, after a few tests confirmed what I had kind of always known (yes I know I am incredibly fortunate to be able to go privately - it's not something I take for granted). Thankfully I hadn't listened to the 'come off the pill' advice given to me by countless doctors previously as apparently that would have impacted my fertility. Advertisement What I didn't mention before about my mum's story is that she had to go privately to get diagnosed too after asking GPs for three years to test her for it. To point out the obvious - there was a 30 year period in between the time my mum received her diagnosis and I received mine. While there is no doubt that treatment for endometriosis has improved, it doesn't seem that the process leading to diagnosis has, and this is so, so disheartening. Our stories are not unique. Forum after forum is dedicated to women sharing their struggles with endometriosis. But it's not just endometriosis, it's female gynaecological health. A few weeks ago at lunch my colleagues and I were talking about how little we actually know about the pills we are on. We all had stories of swapping brands, the impact these hormones had on our moods, on our weight, on our periods. When discussing my symptoms with friends, so many of them had similar stories of unusual cramping and bleeding but 'just left it' because they knew they would get no answers. Advertisement With Gynaecological Cancer Awareness Month just having passed, and the revelation that more women know the symptoms of prostate cancer than womb cancer, it really feels like more needs to be done to ensure that women know when something is wrong and that any gynaecological concerns are listened to and explained by medical professionals. No one should have to pay extra to be listened to by a doctor. There's a limit to how many days you can take off work to go to a doctor's appointment, only to be told you're fine when you know you're not. PA Wire/PA Images Tuesday should have been an important day at Tory conference. Ten speakers took to the conference hall stage and spoke about some of the greatest challenges facing our country: funding our NHS, tackling rising crime, and most of all delivering a Brexit for working people. Once again all we received was more evidence that the Tories have no plan. Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt continued Philip Hammond's theme from yesterday by turning back time, but going one better by taking us all the way back to 1944 to make the ludicrous claim that the Tories invented the NHS. Total rubbish. Luckily Labour's Shadow Health Secretary Jon Ashworth was on hand to set him straight: it was invented four years later than that by Labour's Nye Bevan. The Tories of the time voted against the NHS on 22 occasions if you were wondering. Advertisement For the rest of the time Jeremy presented a slideshow presentation that left no time at the end for questions. What about the funding crisis facing our hospitals? Or the fact that the A&E waiting time target has not been met since July 2015? Or that the waiting list in England has hit 4 million? Jeremy Hunt didn't have time to provide answers for any of these, and, unlike Labour, provided no plan to deal will upcoming NHS winter crisis. Justice Secretary David Lidington talked about the importance of rehabilitation in a year when violence, self harm and suicide levels in prisons have risen dramatically. Remarkably his speech merely rehashed previously announced policies which are clearly failing to make an impact. There are not enough prison officers to keep order, let alone rehabilitate, with a third of prisons down on staff. And he didn't even mention legal aid cuts that have priced hundreds of thousands out of the justice system. Home Secretary Amber Rudd then took to the stage and talked about a number of areas, but remarkably failed to address the issue of policing. Having lost 20,000 police officers since 2010 and with some of the most serious types of crimes on the up, it's no use inventing new laws if towns and cities across the country don't have the police to enforce them. Later in the day we heard from the three Brexit stooges - Trade Secretary Liam Fox, Brexit Secretary David Davis and Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson - who took it in turns to throw verbal fodder to die-hard Tory members. But for all the empty rhetoric, not one had a plan to drag the government's EU negotiations out of the ditch it's in. Advertisement These three have spent years plotting for a referendum on leaving the EU but obviously spent no time planning for the eventuality. Now more than a year since the referendum result they are continuing to play politics, putting forward conflicting and contradictory opinions on the country's approach to Brexit, putting us in danger of falling off a cliff edge when we leave. And if you were waiting with bated breath for Theresa May to comment on 'that Boris article', we finally got out answer. 'It doesn't undermine what I'm doing at all' she said. Hardly the most convincing of statements, and hardly the position the Prime Minister wants to be in on the eve of her speech. Rounding the day off Boris Johnson decided once again to show his true colours, by making a distasteful and crass comment on the very serious issue of Libya. As the UK's Foreign Secretary, his behaviour is simply unacceptable and calls to question Theresa May's judgement in putting him there in the first place. Lynne Jennings When our doctor referred Charlotte (aged 11) to Wythenshawe Hospital on 30th January 2014, we weren't unduly worried. She'd become very pale which, we assumed may be anaemia. Charlotte seemed equally unconcerned, dismissive of us when she was required to stay in hospital overnight, preferring we went home. Charlotte's hard to argue with so we did as she asked, but at midnight we got a call from the hospital which changed our entire lives and so began every parent's worst nightmare. Advertisement Initial tests revealed that Charlotte had a rare and extremely aggressive form of cancer called Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML). How do you explain to a young girl who had just started high school that she had cancer, would lose her beautiful golden hair, and her life was never going to be the same? We couldn't even guarantee that she'd get better. We told her she had leukaemia and checked that she understood. Other than being very quiet, she didn't react in any way. When asked whether she was ok, she said simply, "it's there, so we've got to deal with it." And she's retained that defiant attitude every step of the way. On Friday 31st January, Charlotte was transferred to ward 84 at Royal Manchester Children's Hospital and there remained for 18 consecutive weeks. After her first round of chemo, the specific type of AML that Charlotte had meant that it was too hard to treat and she would be too unwell to leave hospital. Charlotte became extremely poorly and had every possible side effect. She contracted an aggressive fungal infection called mucosal mycosis which attacked her liver, got cellulitis on her face and developed an unidentified rash. The first course of chemo failed - instead of being in remission she was showing 60% leukemic cells. In all Charlotte went through three rounds of chemotherapy, all stronger than the last and some not meant for children. Charlotte wasn't allowed off the ward so during this time she built up friendships with other children and their parents, supporting them and explaining how the younger ones would feel after certain procedures. Although she was fighting for her life she gave parents cuddles and let them cry on her shoulder. In Charlotte's mind, everyone else was worse off and she needed to make sure they were ok. Advertisement During her lengthy stay she raised 2,000 for the ward, in order to make it more homely; she wanted to get free Wi-Fi and better TVs - as she explained, we're not normal children, we could be up all night and we need to be able to watch tv and not have to pay for it or keep in touch with our friends and not have to worry about data limits. During this time, my husband Paul and I were both self-employed and not entitled to government help, so we decided that Paul would look after Charlotte and I would work so we could pay the bills. This meant that Paul would stay Sunday to Thursday and I would stay Friday and Saturday night (obviously visiting during the week). Her next challenge was a bone marrow transplant which meant she had to be transferred to the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit (BMTU). Despite Charlotte's incredibly positive attitude, her time in BMTU was a struggle. Due to the risk of infection, children on BMTU must remain in isolation cubicles - parents can visit but nobody else. Charlotte remained there for eight weeks and there were times when the boredom got to her. The children on a BMTU are in pain and although the staff do their best to keep spirits up, the rooms were stark and clinical, providing no stimulation. Charlotte turned her frustrations into a desire to make a difference, with the specific wish for her fundraising efforts to create a much more child-friendly environment in the isolation cubicles. Her determination to see this project completed has spurred her on and I don't doubt it has aided her fight against this awful disease. Advertisement Charlotte has been left disabled due to her treatment and will require surgery to replace her knees, ankles, and wrists. Her determination never ceases to amaze; in total, she'll have missed three years of school but has managed to stay in her year and will be taking her GCSE's in 2018 with her friends. To date she's raised around 18,000 for ward 84 . She is totally selfless and has raised the funds by giving up birthday parties and presents, organising Charity nights instead. She wants to give back to make it more comfortable for other children going through the same, so she is organising a charity party for her sweet 16th in April 2018. Karen Vardanyan donated 112 million drams for the medical equipment for National Center for Infectious Diseases. UCOM HAS INTRODUCED FUTURE NETWORK WI-FI 6E ROUTERS Statement by the Spokesperson on the conflict resolution and reconciliation efforts Foreign Minister of Armenia to participate in the Fifth Paris Peace Forum Armenia: EU and Armenia Hold annual Dialogue on Human Rights Todays Shushi, Occupied and Cleared of Armenians, is a Real Example of Turkish-Azerbaijani Policy of Ethnic Cleansing of Artsakh Ookla, the the global leader in internet testing and analysis has awarded Ucom Sweden will hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union Ameriabank: At the Vanguard of Armenia's Banking Sector STATEMENT OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARTSAKH SUBSCRIBERS OF UCOMS ALL TIME BEST OFFER TO ENJOY ADDITIONAL BENEFITS Armenia-Azerbaijan: EU sets up monitoring capacity along the international borders PACE co-rapporteurs on Armenia concerned by reports of alleged war crimes or inhuman treatment perpetrated by Azerbaijans armed forces There is still 35% gender pay gap: Sona Ghazaryan Global Finance Names Ameriabank the Safest Bank in Armenia Mikayel and Karen Vardanyans provided 136 million AMD support for the overhaul of the Myasnikyan statue, which was in unsafe state of disrepair Google Ad Believe me, as a representative of a country which uses the Schengen system very often, it is quite important. Vardanyan I really look forward to having answers from the Azerbaijani side for these alleged gross human rights violations: Secretary General I call on Armenian and Azerbaijani parliamentarians to use this Assembly as an agora of opportunities President Tiny Kox UCOMS SPECIAL OFFER OF THE UNLIMITED INTERNET IS NOW TERMLESS There is no place for the death penalty in a State that respects human rights: PACE General Rapporteur EU and CoE call on two Member States that have not yet acceded to this Protocol Armenia and Azerbaijan to do so without delay An urgent debate requested on "The military hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan". UCOM AND PES-PES CONTINUE COOPERATION WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF EDUCATIONAL PROJECT The statement of the meeting between Prime Minister Pashinyan, President Aliyev, President Macron and President Michel of October 6, 2022 Largest Corporate Bond Program at the Securities Market of Armenia Completed Successfully The statement of the Defender on the video of the execution of Armenian PoWs by the Azerbaijani armed forces LEVEL UP ONLY FOR STUDENTS: UCOM OFFERS X2 AND X3 MORE INTERNET STATEMENT BY SECRETARY ANTONY J. BLINKEN The adorable, long-beaked kiwi bird is in great danger of extinction. There are only 50,000 kiwi birds left on our planet and the number is falling quickly - the small population has declined by 99% in the past 80 years alone. If they continue to disappear at this rate, this one-of-a-kind animal will be wiped out of existence before we know it. So how can we help? Advertisement Luckily, this bird's special nature is cherished by the country they call home and New Zealand's mission to keep the kiwi bird safe is in full flight. Passionate about nature's adventurous playing spaces as they are, the Old Mout brand have come together with the former BBC Really Wild Show presenters to encourage global participation in the cause, this time hosting The Kiwi Wild Show. Advertisement Michaela Strachan and Chris Packham bring the plight of the kiwi bird to a wider audience in their 15-minute show. Their passion reminds us there is power in our actions and show us just how much our planet benefits from wildlife diversity. It's amazing to think that these birds can live up to 50 years and can lay close to a 100 eggs in their lifetime. If we look after this 65-million-year-old species properly, the result would be a flourishing population of sweet kiwis, which sounds like nothing short of heaven for someone like me who appreciates the bird's gentle nature. Michelle Impey, the driven Executive Director of Kiwis for kiwi, said it best: "The more people that are aware we are seriously in danger of losing the kiwi for ever if we don't act now, the better the odds of turning those statistics on their head." My connection to autism comes through my brother who this year has turned 18 and with it has legally become an adult in the UK, the beginning of a huge transition in his life. Because of my connection to autism, I've always been personally invested in what we are doing and not doing as a collective to support the autism community and through it, my brother. Advertisement When I look at the provision and landscape that faces my brother ahead of him in his immediate future it is frightening in its scarcity. It is as if for a long time, none of us collectively realised that autistic people still exist after they have turned 18. Who would have thought it? Credit Anna Farley Photography, Autography Project This scarcity of resources and understanding is reflected in some of the latest research that has been conducted across the UK. To date, just 16% of autistic adults are in full-time employment and another 16% in part-time employment. Horrendously low figures. There are wider connotations to what employment means though. It is the root for many of us - neurotypical or neurodiverse - in achieving independence and self-worth within society. I don't want to linger too much more on statistics but it's hard to ignore the horrible mental health and suicide rates amongst people with autism. A recent report conducted over in Sweden showed that the average life expectancy of someone with autism was likely to die 16 years younger than the general population with the suicide rate also much higher. Advertisement Let's be real about this, it is all interconnected. Autism apparently costs the UK 32bn per year but autism need not be a drain. The conversation must change from what it costs to what a neurodiverse workplace and society can contribute. What incentives can we provide employers? What incentives can the government be given? So much of the narrative is focussed on what someone with autism can't do, not what they can do. Right now, there is so much opportunity for everyone in this situation. From the neurotypical to the neurodiverse. Let's pause for a moment though, I mentioned neurodiverse but what do I mean by neurodiversity? It's a term that believes that neurological differences are a normal and valuable expression of human diversity. As an autism advocate, I'm tired of having to pump out so many statistics. They are damning and unfortunately have seen little improvement in the past decade. The UK Government has an aim to shift disability employment from 47% to 64% for the disabled community. There has got to be a bold change somewhere. On a wider note, much has been made about what the future of work looks like as technology continues to rapidly change how we interact and work with one another. What if we saw the workplace as a place for culture-growth rather than culture-fit? A lot of my background has been within start-ups and corporate HR teams and I've seen how easy it can be to just hire those most like yourself. That is often how cultures build within businesses that seem to be full of very similar people. Advertisement Fear not. There is already evidence of what can happen when employers proactively embrace neurodiversity in their workplace. Ernst & Young launched the first version of their Neurodiverse programme in the US last year, Microsoft run an autism specific programme with their inclusive hiring. Comparably younger companies have also begun to flourish such as Auticon, who are the first enterprise that exclusively employs autistic adults as IT and compliance consultants and have recently been backed by Virgin's Sir Richard Branson. That is because there is a strong business case for more autistic people in the workplace. Procter & Gamble and the National Autistic Society in the UK recently organised a day of engineering and technology challenges at the Gillette Innovation Centre to select two autistic job seekers or students for work experience. The results so impressed the company, that it decided to offer a third candidate an internship. If you'd like to dig further into these examples, then the recent partnership between Deutsche Bank and Autistica running an internship scheme is a fascinating and insightful read. So, what can our organisations do to make the most of the neurodiversity advantage? It could begin with rewording our job advertisements, scrapping timed online applications to give applicants to demonstrate their abilities rather than talk about them and widening our talent pools we select from. Advertisement What about asking new recruits to describe their workplace preferences, whether they work best in smaller or quieter areas or best away from any particularly bright lights, for example. These are basic adjustments and are not reliant on any 'expert' approach. Once we make those adjustments, we can create a place of acceptance for neurodiversity and a place with purpose for your business. That can only be a good thing for you and your workplace. If you have something to share about neurodiversity in the workplace or have any experiences to share about what an autism-friendly workplace looks like, please get in touch on: oli@placewithpurpose.com HuffPost UK Lifestyle has launched EveryBody, a new section calling for better equality and inclusivity for people living with disability and invisible illness. The aim is to empower those whose voices are not always heard and redefine attitudes to identity, lifestyle and ability in 2017. We'll be covering all manner of lifestyle topics - from health and fitness to dating, sex and relationships. We'd love to hear your stories. To blog for the section, please email ukblogteam@huffingtonpost.com with the subject line 'EveryBody'. To flag any issues that are close to your heart, please email natasha.hinde@huffingtonpost.com, again with the subject line 'EveryBody'. Advertisement Dan Kitwood via Getty Images A small window on the chaos that Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell would create for ordinary people can be seen in the transport nightmare facing Southern Rail passengers this week. The strikes on Tuesday and Thursday by the RMT Union have caused yet more indignation for so many of my constituents in East Surrey who commute into London for work and all the other passengers reliant on the service. Advertisement So often over the past few months they have had to endure a service blighted by strikes; getting home late to pick up their children and worrying about their jobs as they cannot make it into work on time - if at all. This simply cannot be allowed to continue. What makes it all the more galling for the passengers is the persistent support the unions receive from Jeremy Corbyn. Rather than condemning the union bosses for playing games, the Labour leader has made it abundantly clear he stands with the union barons. This is even though the independent report by Chris Gibb for the Department of Transport revealed the single most disruptive cause of Southern Rail's problems is the constant industrial action. The walk-outs are preventing the integration of new technologies - used across much of Europe and the UK already - to improve service by modernising their fleet of trains. Labour have power here and influence over their union paymasters. Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell have them on speed dial and they could end this with one phone call. The unions have consistently shown a complete disregard for the public's ability to go about their daily lives undisturbed and it is therefore unsurprising that the Labour leadership care not either. Advertisement With the number of people moving to urban areas increasing every year - by 2050, seven out of every ten people will live in a city - we need a strong partnership between government, the private sector and the people who work on the railway to help make these changes. We must embrace technology and new ways of working to make sure all these new passengers can rely on the rail network. This is where the world is going and to revert to Corbyn's idea of a stifling, state-centric plan is sheer madness and shows just how out-of-touch he is with what a modern economy looks like. Just take the recent disastrous decision to revoke Uber's license to operate in London. Sadiq Khan, the Labour Mayor, has made a decision that will affect more than 3.5 million people that use the service as well as put 40,000 jobs in jeopardy. We haven't heard a peep from Jeremy Corbyn. The vast majority of those at risk of losing their job are often from poorer backgrounds and from immigrant communities. So, where is the outcry for their loss of livelihood? It is also typical of Corbyn to spare not one second thinking about the millions of passengers who have benefitted from the improvement of transport options, especially late at night. Instead, he has decided to protect the narrow interest of the few to punish the many. That's why, I, along with many of my colleagues have called for the decision to be reversed. Although Uber has its problems; it definitely needs to improve its safety checks on drivers and make the vetting process more robust, these changes should have been conditions of their licence being renewed, not a reason to remove it. Advertisement Uber is a prime example of what can happen when individuals seize an opportunity and, through the use of technology, provide a service to willing customers whilst creating jobs. Their innovation has helped reform the wider taxi community and forced them to modernise to keep up. With a smartphone in hand, you can do almost anything these days and in this digital ecosystem lies our future, this I strongly believe. This goes beyond which side Labour back in the row over trains or a taxi app, it goes to the very heart of what it means for our future. They are striking their banners for the unions to create disruption to foment a form of revolution. And, in doing this, Jeremy Corbyn has forsaken the users of these services; you and me. If Labour's slogan of 'for the many, not the few' is more than a string of empty words, he and his party need to condemn, and bring an end to, strike action which is causing misery for thousands. Labour, instead, seem set on turning their back on innovation and entrepreneurship in the same way they want their policies to take us back to the future they dreamed of in the 1970s. Nostalgia is a great thing, but not if you are trying to help build a modern and thriving 21st Century economy. Advertisement President David Phelps and COO Diane Kelly said the hospital's strike plan is going smoothly to ensure patient care is not interrupted by the strike. BMC Management Focusing On Inside While Nurses Strike Outside Hospital officials greeted the nurses at the door Wednesday morning, but aren't letting them back to work. The lockout will last until Sunday morning, when the contract with the replacement nurses ends. PITTSFIELD, Mass. The unionized nurses at Berkshire Medical Center are certainly making their voices known this week, as they picket outside of the hospital. But inside, management isn't focused on what's happening just beyond the campus' property line. They're focused on what's happening inside. "There is a lot of discussion about what is happening outside and there is not much we can do about that. We decided to focus on what is going to happen inside our walls," President David Phelps said. That started months ago when the local chapter of the Massachusetts Nursing Association took a vote to authorize the bargaining committee to strike. The hospital's administration crafted a plan alongside the Massachusetts Department of Health aimed to provide the same level of care to the patients as always while 800 of their employees were on strike. "We are happy to report that the plan was a good one. It has gone almost exactly as planned," Phelps said. The nurses went on a one-day strike on Tuesday, but that is being followed by a four-day lockout. The hospital had contracted with U.S. Nursing Corp. to bring in 247 traveling nurses, who showed up on time and ready to work. The nurses work the for the agency and travel all across the United States, filling in during strikes and bolstering staff when hospitals are short. The nurses are specifically trained in various disciplines and Berkshire Medical Center picked the nurses with the right criteria to fill the jobs. "Health care at Berkshire is a team sport. The new nurses have fit in with our culture and have quickly stepped up to meet the needs that were left when our nurses walked out for the one-day strike," Phelps said. Phelps said those nurses were added to some 2,800 other regular employees. He said the Department of Public Health has been on site conducting interviews with patients and staff members and have no negative findings. Chief Operating Officer Diane Kelly said the nurses are working 12-hour shifts, for the most part, to cover the five days thus a 60-hour shift for each one. The rest of the employee schedules have remained unchanged, though some exempt employees have put in some extra hours during the strike. "There is no change in any of our staffing patterns. We have not lessened the number of nurses or increased," Kelly said. Kelly added that the plan was crafted to mimic the staffing on a regular day. And the hospital has remained as busy as ever, she said. Kelly said there are 247 in patients and in the operating room, there were 27 scheduled procedures and eight had been added on. And there had been 32 endoscopy procedures. "Those are normal numbers. We are seeing about the same volume in the emergency department. That one is a little hard to report because it changes every 15 minutes but it is a regular day," Kelly said. "You can really tell your volume of the emergency room through the volume of the in-patient because many of our patients turns into an admission." She did address rumors that surgeries had been canceled because of the strike. She said when she heard that she contacted the department and asked if there were any surgeons with concern. But she didn't hear anything. "We did have one surgeon who did have some cases moved from Tuesday to Wednesday and that was because just because of his schedule, not unusual," Kelly said. The strike has caused minimal distraction from patient care, she said. "We're seeing all of our other employees are really very focused and very committed and making sure everything is going smoothly," Kelly said. "Especially since they are working with these new nurses and want them to feel part of the team. We're not seeing any concern in that area." The two administrators said they have a command center set up to address anything that could arise during the strike, but only minor tinkering of the plan has been needed. The nurses went on strike for one whole day and on Wednesday morning approached the hospital looking to return to work. Right by the front gate, Kelly was joined by Chief Nursing Officer Brenda Cadorette and Vice President of Human Resources Arthur Milano right outside of the main entrance to greet the union nurses. They delivered copies of letters penned before the strike informing them of the lockout. The hospital is locking the union nurses out of work until the contract with the replacement nurses expires. "We were clear here when they started talking about a strike vote and telling their members it would not be a day, we've sent letters, we've talked to them, we've made sure that everybody knew in the union it is impossible for us to meet the needs of our community for a day. It would have to be five days," Phelps said. "For them now to act surprised and prop us this walkout thing, it is a little bit disingenuous. Our choices as a hospital is to close for a day, which we can't do, or find replacement workers to come for the five-day minimum. You can't fly 250 nurses from around the country to swing by Pittsfield for a day." In dramatic fashion, the nurses pleaded their case to come back to work Wednesday morning and burst into a chant of "our hospital, our patients." Phelps, however, said is exactly what happened in other hospitals in the state that has gone on strike. The hospital's strike plan had been partly crafted and designed after following patterns the Massachusetts Nurses Association had during strikes elsewhere. "The nurse would like everybody to think the world started today when they tried to come back to work. The fact is the Mass Nurses Association has had three strikes in Massachusetts and they all had similar attributes. They call for a one-day strike and they know it is impossible for a hospital to provide coverage for the community for a day. It is just impossible to get and to do. Yet they keep calling them," Phelps said. Also saying, "we would do anything to avoid locking our nurses out. This is a decision the union made and they knew the repercussions." The hospital says it will be spending an estimated $4 million, between replacement nurses, security, and any other associated costs for the strike. The administrators can hear what is happening outside but have been keeping focused on executing its strike plan. "It is outside, we keep it outside. We don't like that they say things about our organization which we find a bit offensive. But we get it, that's how these things go. On occasion they say things about some of us personally," Phelps said. But both Phelps and Kelly did say they appreciate the way the nurses have been picketing. They said in other strikes across the country, the workers have blocked traffic, entrances, and have intentionally gotten in the way of business operations. That hasn't happened at Berkshire Medical Center. "The union has been cooperative. They didn't try to get in the way," Phelps said. Aided in making sure traffic and the thousands of patients who come to the campus including the medical arts side was beefed up security. Phelps wouldn't reveal how much was invested in bringing in a private security company for the week, but said they're prepared if anything else happens. "We had planned for a strike and possible incidents that could occur. We saw what happened at Tufts, which had some very violent aspects to it. We wanted to make sure that the picketers, our nurses, the employees who were coming to work, and our patients were safe. If that meant spending more and overdoing security, we'd rather invest more and do that than underfund it," Phelps said. On Sunday, the replacement nurses will leave and the unionized nurses will return to work. The strike will end but the negotiations over a contract will still be ongoing. Both sides have voiced willingness to return to the table, but when a breakthrough will happen and an agreement can be reached is unknown. "I suspect within a week or 10 days after the strike is over, we settle in, get back to our normal work, and find dates through the mediator and we'll be meeting again," Phelps said. Letter: Stephanie Bosley Has Best Attributes in a Candidate To the editor: This month, I will vote for the first time in the United States. After living in the Williamstown area for over 16 years, I finally became a U.S. citizen in January 2017. I am so pleased that my first vote will go to a candidate that I can wholeheartedly support. Stephanie Bosley exhibits all the attribute I want in a candidate. She is intelligent, thoughtful, creative, energetic, a good listener. Since I wanted to participate as fully as possible in my first election, I attended a "meet the candidates" session at the Williamstown Youth Center. I went with an open mind, eager to hear and see how our potential candidates represent themselves. I wanted to get a sense who had the intellect, creativity and greatest likelihood of making strong connections in the State House that would enable her to have the needs of 1st Berkshires heard and met. Stephanie rose above the crowd. While all the candidates bring good qualities to the table, Stephanie demonstrated that not only does she have a wide-ranging background in public service, but she is patient, articulate, and brimming with ideas. She brought new ways of thinking to the table without being over critical of past attempts and current policy. I particularly like how she is developing innovative approaches to we can use technology to alleviate some transportation issues. Stephanie Boyd Williamstown, Mass. iciHaiti - Economy : New Edition of the LEAD Program Wednesday at the Karibe Convention Center, the Pan American Development Foundation (PADF) launched the new edition of LEAD Program through the Leveraging Effective Application of Direct Investments program. This year, the LEAD Program once again joined the "Konbit" project https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-16676-haiti-economy-program-konbit-of-usaid-the-details.html of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID - Haiti) implemented by Papyrus S.A. This type of activity allows the beneficiaries of LEAD to familiarize themselves with the financial and non-financial products and services available, to discuss business opportunities and challenges, as well as other related topics. The ProFin Group was the special guest at this morning's chat. The LEAD program aims to attract investment in Haitian SMEs and increase the impact of remittances on development. LEAD operates on three development corridors: Cap-Haitien, Saint-Marc and Port-au-Prince. The program is funded by USAID Haiti and implemented by the PADF. Since 2011, LEAD has provided grants to 45 Haitian Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), enabling them to expand their activities and create more jobs. For more information visit the website : www.leadinvestmentshaiti.info/ See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-16676-haiti-economy-program-konbit-of-usaid-the-details.html IH/ iciHaiti The content you are trying to view is exclusive to our subscribers. To unlock this article: Imperial Valley News Center USNS Comfort Arrives in Puerto Rico San Juan, Puerto Rico - The Mercy-class Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) arrived in Puerto Rico to assist in humanitarian relief efforts, yesterday. Comfort is part of the whole-of-government response effort and is assisting the Federal Emergency Management System (FEMA), the lead federal agency, in helping those affected by Hurricane Maria. While in San Juan, the hospital ship will host a summit with key stakeholders to synchronize efforts for the ship's mission throughout the area. Comfort is a seagoing medical treatment facility that currently has more than 800 personnel embarked for the Puerto Rico mission including Navy medical and support staff assembled from 22 commands, as well as over 70 civil service mariners. The hospital ship has one of the largest trauma facilities in the United States and is equipped with four X-ray machines, one CAT scan unit, a dental suite, an optometry lens laboratory, physical therapy center, pharmacy, angiography suite and two oxygen-producing plants. Comfort's primary mission is to provide an afloat, mobile, acute surgical medical facility to the U.S. military that is flexible, capable, and uniquely adaptable to support expeditionary warfare. Comfort's secondary mission is to provide full hospital services to support U.S. disaster relief and humanitarian operations worldwide. Imperial Valley News Center Governor Brown Signs Legislation to Protect California's Hard-Working Immigrants Sacramento, California - Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today signed a package of bills to enhance housing, school, workplace and civil protections for Californias immigrants. This action protects public safety and ensures hard-working people who contribute to our state are respected, said Governor Brown. The Governor signed the following bills today: AB 21 by Assemblymember Ash Kalra (D-San Jose) Public postsecondary education: Access to Higher Education for Every Student. AB 291 by Assemblymember David Chiu (D-San Francisco) Housing: immigration. AB 299 by Assemblymember Ian C. Calderon (D-Whittier) Hiring of real property: immigration or citizenship status. AB 343 by Assemblymember Kevin McCarty (D-Sacramento) Public postsecondary education: holders of certain special immigrant visas. AB 450 by Assemblymember David Chiu (D-San Francisco) Employment regulation: immigration worksite enforcement actions. AB 699 by Assemblymember Patrick ODonnell (D-Long Beach) Educational equity: immigration and citizenship status. SB 29 by Senator Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens) Law enforcement: immigration. SB 54 by Senator Kevin de Leon (D-Los Angeles) Law enforcement: sharing data. SB 68 by Senator Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens) Public postsecondary education: exemption from nonresident tuition. SB 156 by Senator Joel Anderson (R-Alpine) Military and veterans: transition assistance: citizenship. SB 257 by Senator Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens) School admissions: pupil residency: pupils of departed parents: residents of adjoining state or foreign country: school district reimbursement. Todays signings follow a series of actions by Governor Brown and his administration to bolster resources and support for the immigrant community. Since taking office, Governor Brown has signed the California Dream Act, which allows top students who are on the path to citizenship to apply for college financial aid and AB 60, which extends the legal right to drive on the states roadways to millions more Californians. The Governor has also signed legislation to help fund legal services for unaccompanied minors arriving in California from Central America as well as legal services to assist immigrants seeking naturalization and deportation defense; legislation to extend health care coverage and other protections to undocumented children in the state; and a number of other bills to enhance protections for immigrants. Last year, the Governor appointed a director of immigrant integration to serve as the statewide lead for coordinating immigrant services and monitoring the implementation of immigration assistance programs. Last month, Governor Brown signed legislation to provide $30 million in financial aid for immigrant students and legal services for young people with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status and the administration launched the California Immigrant Guide website to help connect immigrants with resources and services provided by the state. SDSU Helps Develop USA Trade Guide San Diego, California - For American companies looking to take their business to the next level, San Diego State Universitys Center for International Business Education and Research (CIBER) in the Fowler College of Business Administration is a source of help. SDSU CIBER partnered with the State International Development Organizations (SIDO), ThinkGlobal Inc. and more than a dozen CIBER programs across the nation to create the new USA Trade Guide. The colorful, magazine-style guide is a resource for U.S. exporters, offering the business tools they need to succeed in global markets. The free guide is available in print and online. The purpose of the guide is to provide U.S. companies and foreign investors with expert advice and answers to frequently asked questions about exporting, foreign direct investment and global business. It includes key contacts, websites and other important resources for exporters and investors to connect with service providers nationwide. Hands-on experience SDSU undergraduate students assisted in compiling the guide by developing an extensive list of international trade resources in countries around the world. The CIBER program at SDSU is the only one in the state of California, and the work students complete through the program provides crucial hands-on experience that will help them succeed in their careers, said Mark J. Ballam, SDSU CIBER managing director. The USA Trade Guide is one example of how we accomplish the universitys goal of providing a first-class educational experience while helping to improve U.S. business competitiveness at the same time. National exposure Print copies of the guide are being distributed nationwide by state and local economic development agencies, chambers of commerce, world trade centers, ports, and private sector service providers. State international trade offices are on the front line, steering companies through the export process, and working to attract investment in to our respective states, says David Mathe, president of SIDO. The guide is a valuable resource for both exporters and companies interested in site selection and investment anywhere in the United States. About SIDO SIDO is a national organization focused on supporting the international trade agendas of the U.S. states and territories. ThinkGlobal Inc. is a publishing and lead generation company that produces the USA Trade Guide and other print and web resources. About CIBER CIBER was established in 1989 and assists in linking work force and information needs of U.S. businesses with the international education, language training and research capacities of universities across the United States. President Trump Visits USS Kearsarge Caribbean Sea - President Donald J. Trump visited the amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3), yesterday, to discuss relief efforts in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands with Navy and Marine Corps leadership. "This is some ship," said Trump. "It has done a tremendous service for Puerto Rico and for the U.S. Virgin Islands." Kearsarge and the 26th MEU are assisting with relief efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. The Department of Defense is supporting the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the lead federal agency, in helping those affected by Hurricane Maria to minimize suffering and is one component of the overall whole-of-government response effort. Government Pension Offset - Social Security Matters Washington, DC - Ask Rusty - Government Pension Offset (GPO) Dear Rusty: Several years ago the husband of a friend of mine died before he collected any of his Social Security. She applied for widow benefits from his Social Security, but she was told that because she had never paid into Social Security and because she had a pension from her employer, she was not eligible to draw survivor's benefits on his Social Security. What has this got to do with her not getting his Social Security? Please help us understand this. ~ Helpful Friend Dear Helpful: It sounds as though your friend's survivor benefits are affected by something called the Government Pension Offset (GPO). The GPO affects people who have a pension from employment which did not contribute to Social Security, such as a State or local government agency, a school system, college or university, or even older Federal employees who were covered under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS). Under the GPO, Social Security reduces spousal and survivor's benefits by $2 for every $3 received from a government pension. This can partially, and often totally, offset the Social Security benefit a person might otherwise be entitled to. For example, if your friend was entitled to a Social Security survivor benefit of $1,500 per month, and she is receiving a civil service pension of $3,000 per month, she would get no Social Security benefit because 2/3rds of her civil service pension ($2,000) is more than her Social Security survivor's benefit. This appears to be what has happened in your friend's case. Public service employers who don't participate in the Social Security program usually offer employees an enhanced alternative pension program designed to replace Social Security benefits. GPO was first enacted in 1977 in order to prevent those employees from "double dipping" by receiving both a pension from work where they did not pay into the Social Security system and Social Security (which they did not contribute to). The Government Pension Offset, as well as another Social Security rule called the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP), as you can imagine, are not very popular with those affected by them. GPO affectsa non-covered worker's spousal and survivor benefit, while WEP affects a non-covered worker's Social Security retirement benefits and their spouse's spousal benefit, but not their spouse's survivor benefit. Despite their unpopularity these are, nevertheless, existing laws which affect Social Security benefits for those receiving a pension from work in which they did not contribute to Social Security. The trend appears to be that more and more public service employers are now participating in the Social Security program. Even the Federal Government, which prior to 1984 didn't participate in the Social Security program, switched to a retirement system called the Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS) which now requires employees to pay into Social Security and, thus, be eligible for Social Security benefits. Federal employees covered under FERS, and public service employees with a pension from an employer who participates in Social Security, are not affected by the Government Pension Offset. For information, the Social Security Fairness Act of 2017 (H.R. 1205 and S.915) proposes to eliminate both the GPO and the WEP, and has been referred to appropriate committees in both the House and the Senate, but there is currently no estimated probability of passage. This Isnt Our Last Love Letter Dear Don Don, Way back in 92 I walked into the room and knew Never felt this way before I shook your hand while gazing into your eyes And the feeling grew As I took a seat I knew A love that would have my heart Forever I knew Way back in 92 They say love at first sight doesnt always last or isnt true We were the exception to that rule Our love had no where to hide A spark set fire As if this is how the universe started I never doubted our love or what we could do Together we grew Forming a bond everlasting That became our glue My euphoria was YOU Im eternally grateful for the love and life we shared For how fortunate we were : to have and to hold through sickness and in health Til death do us part Until we are together again This isnt our last love letter I love you with all my heart and soul Yours forever, Deirdre (Mrs. Hank Snow) Im fortunate to have fallen in love with, marry and make a life with the sharpest, coolest, funniest, most rare, bad ass, tender loving, loyal man on the planet, my husband Don Imus. A True American Hero I dont know why it has been so hard for me to write about my dear friend Don Imus. I certainly know what he meant to me, my family, my charity, my hospital and the millions of fans that listened and loved him for so many years. I keep reading all the beautiful condolences that people are writing about how much a part of their lives were effected by listening to him over the years. But what most people dont talk enough about is what he did for all of us. In every sense of the word, he was an American Hero. His work with children with so many different illnesses and his dedication to their future was unmatched by anyone I have ever known or heard about. Besides raising over $100,000,000 for so many causes, he took care of young people for over 20 years in a state where he could not breathe. Along with his incredible wife Deirdre, he created a world where children were not defined by their disease. That was a miracle! He was a miracle. I will miss him ever day for the rest of my life. I was blessed to be a part of his and Deirdes life. No one will ever do what he did. I love you Don Imus - A TRUE AMERICAN HERO David Jurist IMUS IN THE MORNING FIRST DAY BACK! Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter for all the latest entertainment news and reviews Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the IndyArts email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} See you at Frieze this year? I asked the sculptor Alison Wilding the other day, casting around for topics of common interest. Wed just bumped into each other at a sculpture show in north London. Her friend Phyllida, our woman at the Venice Biennale who recently made a very good job of beating up the British Pavilion, was just about to join her, she told me. I dont do Frieze, she replied. The poisoned chalice fell to the floor between us, shattering into tiny pieces. We stared, momentarily, completely unflustered. It was of course a conversation stopper as she knew it would be. I walked away, wondering how much there was to dislike about Frieze, and why. Why would one not want to do Frieze? Perhaps there are a quite a lot of reasons, as it happens. What is it exactly? Well its the name of a reputable art magazine for most of the year. And then, for just four days in October, the art magazine almost melts back into the shadows, and the name is appropriated by a trade fair of the same name at the bottom end of Regents Park, which is held in a virginal-white marquee of truly enormous proportions. It seems to increase in size year on year. In shape, its a little like a giant field hospital, and its built for hand-picked refugees from austerity. A fond embrace in front of a Damien Hirst Spin painting at 2017s Frieze Art Fair in London If youre on the minimum wage or thereabouts, its unlikely that youll choose to spend your money on the cost of entry, which is somewhere between about 40 and 45 this year (and 60 upwards if you want to take in the second Frieze location, Frieze Masters, which deals with older art, and is fifteen minutes away from here by courtesy bus). The first of the four, days is Premium Day, and it costs more. Goodness knows why. Thats about three times the price of entry to the best of the temporary exhibitions at the Royal Academy or the National Gallery. Thats a lot of money just for the privilege of being granted an exclusive opportunity to spend yet more money. The fair has been going for more than a decade, and it specialises in the selling of contemporary art at very high prices. Its not easy to become an exhibitor. You have to sell the right kind of contemporary art to qualify. What exactly is the right kind of contemporary art? If you get rejected, you will discover that yours was not. Its as simple as that, dummy. Once in, having first been parted from your money for the privilege of just being there, you walk up and down endless, smoothly-grey-carpeted corridors of numbered booths in which dealers from the world over show off their art wares to collectors and aspiring collectors, who have flown in from all over the world, we are told. No one walks or takes a train. Do you in fact find yourself spending much money? Many might wish to do so, and find themselves maddeningly impeded. Spending money is often quite a difficult thing to do when it comes to modern art. It is not merely a question of being a collector with money. It is a question of being the right collector, the kind of collector who will not upset the market by, say, trying to make a bit of money quickly by selling it again the day after next. Gallerists are very watchful types. They dont just sell to anybody. And they are especially watchful if the artist is on the up and up. Thats when the sharks begin to circle. A gleaming bicycle with a thousand and one rear-view mirrors by Dinh Q. Le is worth a look The other interesting point to bear in mind is that nothing is actually priced at Frieze. You cant just go up to the label, see the price, and ponder on whether or not you can afford this or that. Each work is named and described all right but not priced. Would it be too embarrassing to blurt it out on a label? Yes, to find out the price you have to ask. And even when you enquire, there may be a certain amount of obfuscation. After all, who are you, Mr Nobody? Or perhaps you are Mrs Somebody. How much does it actually cost to take and fit out a stand here? I ask a few gallerists as I do my rounds, and there seems to be a surprising reluctance to say. Is money a slightly unseemly topic until it changes hands? Perhaps. This one doesnt know. Another one is sure that its pretty expensive because fairs like this always cost a lot. I strike lucky with the London dealer Timothy Taylor, who has a big space of about ten metres by 12. Or could it be more than that? We both look. We both try and measure the space with our eyes. Were not quite sure. I admire the way hes decorated the floor, in lovely curlicues every stand is personalised to a degree. It rather depends upon how much money you want to spend. Painting is back in vogue in a big way; Daydream, Jonathan Gardner (2017), Casey Kaplan New York, D9 How much did it cost to hire the stand, Tim? Well, every stand comes with the basic stuff electricity, white walls from which to hang things. And then the rest is up to you. The floor was by a Mexican artist called Eduardo Terrazas. And the total price? Hold your breath, Yorkshire penny-pinchers. $60,000-$70,000 (45,600-53,200) for the stand itself, and another $30,000 (22,800) to kit it out, personalise it, memorably. So this stands costs him about $100,000 (76,000) for four days. Which means that lot of money needs to change hands to make it worth his while. Whats the art like then this year? Here are a few broad-brush generalisations. Painting is back in vogue in a big way. Once trendy stuff like conceptual art and video art have all but disappeared. Its just not really saleable, is it? The kind of work thats here, often eye-catchingly big and brash, can be sold to rich collectors to hang in bedrooms or depend from pretentious atria: huge, splashy, superficial, poor-quality abstracts in day-glo colours; figurations back too, relatively realist or even glancingly Soviet-realist retro, with a bit of an experimental twist so that you couldnt quite deem it to be a bit old fashioned. Tired remnants of Pop Art are everywhere too. How many times did I see a Pepsi or a Coke bottle, a Mickey or a Minnie Mouse reprised in sculpture or painting or print? Countless times. Its so easy to re-cycle cartoon imagery. Much of the sculpture is sub-Koons, jokey, kitschy fake balloons stacked one above another on a fake stone plinth. Some jokes are better and more elegant than other a gleaming bicycle with a thousand and one rear-view mirrors attached, for example by Dinh Q. Le, and on display at PPOWs stand (B18) is worth a look. Matthew Ronay from the American West Coast has fresh-looking work at Marc Foxxs stand. The Eigen Art stand is worth some attention too, with its paintings by Ryan Mosley and David Schnell. Most of the stuff here is unserious and casually self-celebratory, with an easy-on-the-eye zinginess. Painting as evidence of and a back-drop to conspicuous consumption on the grand scale. Tired remnants of Pop Art are everywhere too reprised in sculpture or painting or print (Mark Blower/ Frieze) Are there many sharks in the privileged hospital tent during Frieze? Undoubtedly. None of them is dressed to look exactly like a shark, needless to say. Some of these sharks are also dealers because this is a notoriously under-regulated world. There is nothing to stop a dealer, for example, from bidding anonymously for a work by an artist represented by himself, and thus bidding up its value. Its a very slippery business indeed, and the value of contemporary art is difficult to judge because so much of it is unpredictably new and has therefore not yet even begun to find its own level as a raw commodity. After all, art is perfectly useless, isnt it? You have no idea what its worth until someone blurts out that its worth something, and then a chorus line of sheep with critical noses agree. On the other hand, it is just possible that today you may be a Mr and Mrs Somebody, in which case accepting your money could prove to be a little less troublesome. As a Mr and Mrs Somebody, you will also have spent these past few days attending innumerable parties on the Frieze fringe in order to see and know, and be seen and known, as a bibulous, garrulous, glad-handing Frieze personage. That will have helped a great deal. And once you are at Frieze, you will collect many Frieze anecdotes as you walk around because it is very important to have been at Frieze, and for that fact to be widely known. After all, almost everybody goes to Frieze, and those unfortunate, and perhaps even a little impoverished, absentees will always have the good grace to listen and nod in silence when being regaled by the many stories of Frieze. They will be told by those who have spent hours at the heart of it, walking up and down those dreary corridors as if you were doing, every minute that god sends, a Veronese passagiata, in your glittery heels and your red suit and your slouch beret and your yellow-framed spectacles. Being photographed in front of a Damien Hirst spin painting and perhaps, just a tad regrettably, buying less art than you might have hoped, but almost certainly not lamenting the fact that you have not yet spotted the somewhat curmudgeonly, rancorous ghost of Alison Wilding. The virginal-white marquee of Frieze Art Fair in Regents Park is a little like a giant field hospital (Neptunus) I run into British art critic Matthew Collings. Im trying to find a coffee at a price that a human being on a regular income wouldnt baulk at like a frightened steed. I try for ten minutes. I give up. What do you think, Matthew? The worst yet, he says. Never seen it so bad. Art for the nouveaux riches, we agree, damn em. Frieze Art Fair, Regents Park, 5 to 8 October (www.frieze.com) Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Independent Climate email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Three-quarters of the honey produced around the world contains nerve agent pesticides that can harm bees and pose a potential health hazard to humans, a study has shown. Scientists who tested 198 honey samples from every continent except Antarctica discovered that 75 per cent were laced with at least one of the neonicotinoid chemicals. More than two-fifths contained two or more varieties of the pesticides and 10 per cent held residues from four or five. Environmental campaigners responded by demanding a "complete and permanent" ban preventing any further use of neonicotinoids on farm crops in Europe. Experts called the findings "alarming", "sobering" and a "serious environmental concern" while stressing that the pesticide residue levels found in honey generally fell well below the safe limits for human consumption. However, one leading British scientist warned that it was impossible to predict what the long term effects of consuming honey containing tiny amounts of the chemicals might be. Dave Goulson, Professor of Biology at the University of Sussex, said: "Beyond doubt ... anyone regularly eating honey is likely to be getting a small dose of mixed neurotoxins. "In terms of acute toxicity, this certainly won't kill them and is unlikely to do measurable harm. What we don't know is whether there are long-term, chronic effects from life-time exposure to a cocktail of these and other pesticides in our honey and most other foods." For practical reasons it was "impossible to do a proper experiment to test this", he added. Neonic otinoids are neuro-active chemicals similar to nicotine that have proved to be highly effective at protecting crops from pests, especially aphids and root-eating grubs. They can either be sprayed on leaves or coated on seeds, in which case they infiltrate every part of the growing plant. Years of research have shown that under controlled conditions the chemicals are toxic to honey bees and bumblebees, causing brain damage that can affect learning and memory and impair their ability to forage for nectar and pollen. Controversy still surrounds claims that the chemicals may be harming bee colonies in the "real world" and sabotaging the insects' vital role as pollinators. In June results from the world's largest bee colony field trial in three European countries found that neonicotinoid exposure reduced the survival of both honey and wild bees in the UK and Hungary, but not Germany. The scientists were given a special dispensation to conduct the trial on 33 large farmland sites despite a temporary ban on three key neonicotinoids imposed by the European Commission (EC) in 2013. Currently it is illegal to use the pesticides thiamethoxam, clothianidin and imidacloprid, on mass-flowering crops that attract bees. The chemicals can still be used to treat other kinds of crops including wheat and other cereals and sugar beat. The new research published in the journal Science could not have come at a more sensitive time in Europe. EC policymakers are right now discussing whether to make the ban permanent and more wide ranging. A total ban would have a huge impact on cereal growers in the UK. For the study, an international team of European researchers tested almost 200 honey samples from around the world for residues left by five different neonicotinoids. Three-quarters of all the samples contained at least one of the pesticides. A total of 45% contained two or more and a tenth contained four or five. Concentrations were highest in European, North American and Asian samples. While in most cases the levels were well below the EU safety limits for human consumption, there were exceptions. Honey from both Germany and Poland exceeded maximum residue levels (MRLs) for combined neonicotinoids while samples from Japan reached 45% of the limits. Samples from England had neonicotinoid levels that were no more than 1.36% of the amount thought to be safe for human consumption. The researchers, led by Dr Edward Mitchell, who carried out the work as director of the Laboratory of Soil Biodiversity at the University of Neuchatel, Switzerland, wrote: "The fact that 45% of our samples showed multiple contaminations is worrying and indicates that bee populations throughout the world are exposed to a cocktail of neonicotinoids. "The effects of exposure to multiple pesticides, which have only recently started to be explored, are suspected to be stronger than the sum of individual effects." Dr Chris Connolly, reader in neurobiology at the University of Dundee, who wrote a commentary article accompanying the research, said the findings were "timely" and "alarming". He added: "The levels detected are sufficient to affect bee brain function and may hinder their ability to forage on, and pollinate, our crops and our native plants. "Clearly, the use of neonicotinoids need to be controlled. Their widespread use on crops is due to their prophylactic use, as insurance against the possibility of future pest attack. The neonicotinoids are highly effective insecticides with low toxicity to humans, but this unnecessary overuse is also driving the development of pest resistance against them. It is time that these chemicals are heavily restricted for use." Protests as debate over GM crops and pesticides heats up Sandra Bell, nature campaigner at the environmental group Friends of the Earth, called on environment secretary Michael Gove to back greater restrictions on neonicotinoids and pledge to ban them from the UK post Brexit. She said: "The discovery of bee-harming pesticides in honey samples across Europe reinforces the need for a complete and permanent ban on these chemicals. "Honey is a vital source of food to bees, not just a sweet treat for humans, so finding that so many of the honey samples contained a cocktail of these pesticides is a real concern - especially as scientists warn that exposure to a mixture of chemicals can be more harmful. "Nothing short of a full ban will protect our bees." Press Association Sign up to IndyEat's free newsletter for weekly recipes, foodie features and cookbook releases 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 IndyEats email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} If cuisines were people, French food would be a goody-two-shoes know it all, always the first to have their hand up in class, and Indian food would be the rebel at the back of the class in a leather jacket who everyone is intimidated by but secretly wants to be friends with. Thats because Indian food breaks all the rules of cooking. It comes down to what is known as the food-pairing theory. Originated by experimental chef Heston Blumenthal and flavour chemist Francois Benzi, it describes how foods with matching flavour molecules supposedly create the best-tasting grub. The average ingredient is packed with around 50 different flavour molecules, while something more complex like red wine can contain over a thousand. Acetal, for instance, is present in apple juice, orange juice and whiskey. This idea explains why seemingly disparate ingredients like bananas and parsley complement each other. There are two primary factors that drive a dishs flavour, explains Karen Page, who authored The Flavour Bible with Andrew Dornenburg. Number one: ingredients, and number two: techniques. In the book they highlight how it is also useful to consider some ingredients as quiet for instance butter, cream, milk, paneer, rice and tofu and loud, for instance blue cheese, chiles, horseradish, rosemary, tarragon, wasabi. Quiet ingredients pair more readily with others than loud ingredients, which are more dominant and can clash with other loud flavours, says Page. If you taste dishes from various countries that use similar primary ingredients, for instance, carrots, chicken, onions, their flavour profiles can vary dramatically. Why? It is often due to the secondary and tertiary ingredients and the techniques used. The world's biggest food fights Show all 11 1 /11 The world's biggest food fights The world's biggest food fights La Tomatina, Bunol, Spain Biel Alino/AFP/Getty Images The world's biggest food fights La Tomatina, Bunol, Spain Biel Alino/AFP/Getty Images The world's biggest food fights La Tomatina, Bunol, Spain Biel Alino/AFP/Getty Images The world's biggest food fights World Custard Pie Championship, Kent Funk Dooby/Flickr The world's biggest food fights World Custard Pie Championship, Kent Funk Dooby/Flickr The world's biggest food fights La Merengada, Vilanova i la Geltru, Spain Ajuntament de Vilanova i la Geltru The world's biggest food fights La Merengada, Vilanova i la Geltru, Spain Ajuntament de Vilanova i la Geltru The world's biggest food fights Battle of the Oranges, Ivrea, Italy Giuseppe Cacace/AFP/Getty Images The world's biggest food fights Battle of the Oranges, Ivrea, Italy Giuseppe Cacace/AFP/Getty Images The world's biggest food fights Clean Monday, Galaxidi, Greece Louisa Gouliamaki/AFP/Getty Images The world's biggest food fights Clean Monday, Galaxidi, Greece Louisa Gouliamaki/AFP/Getty Images The secondary and tertiary ingredients that give various cuisines their distinctive flavours are often herbs, spices, and other flavourings. Indian food, however, breaks the mould in comparison to Western cuisine. Dishes like the biriani dont share compounds, explains Sarah Ali Choudhury, a finalist in Tommy Miahs International Indian Chef of the Year competition. Firstly, the average meal contains around seven ingredients. The pungent ingredients used in Indian food have subtle molecular-level differences which distinguishes Indian food from Western food. Out of the estimated almost 400 ingredients in the world, our cuisine creates knock out dishes by using around 200 of these, she adds. Recommended The guilty pleasure foods that chefs secretly love to eat A 2015 study at the Indian Institute of Technology in Jodhpur investigated 2,500 recipes from regions including Bengal, Gujarat, Punjab, and South India. They discovered that the recipes were negatively paired which was exacerbated by the addition of spices like garam masala and tamarind. But Page points to the fact that the flavour theory is really just a way for scientists to try to understand what makes certain foods pop, rather than an affront to Indian chefs. Bolder cuisines that feature loud-flavoured ingredients are always trickier to manoeuvre, for instance Mexican and Thai, which feature the use of chilies and can sometimes get hot-hot-hot. Thai cuisine balances fresh chiles with aromatic ingredients, while Mexican cuisine coaxes an astonishing range of flavours through using both fresh and dried chilies, she explains. But when the execution is right, the complexity of Indian, Mexican and Thai cuisine is astonishingly appealing. 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 }} Last-minute flight prices from the UK to Europe have surged by almost a quarter after Ryanair cancelled thousands of flights and Monarch collapsed. More than two million people were hit by problems at the two airlines, causing prices to spike as travellers looked for alternative deals. Skyscanner said prices for October were 23 per cent higher after the travel chaos. The company analysed the average price of a ticket between 25 August and 11 September and compared it to those on sale between 15 September and 2 October. Recommended Monarch Airlines CEO set up new company days before its collapse It found the biggest hikes were on routes to Milan, which saw a 42.9 per cent rise from 74.46 to 106.39. Flights to Malaga in Spain rose 29.9 per cent on average, from 109.77 to 142.58. Prices for flights to Dublin rose by 25 per cent and to Malaga by 30 per cent, Skyscanner said. Passengers travelling to Alicante and Barcelona will also pay more. Hayley Shearer, growth manager at Skyscanner, said that most destinations in Europe had seen an increase in their average flight price for immediate travel, but that most return to normal or even see prices drop for travel in January and February. She added: There are still some great deals to be had if you are savvy with your travel booking though. For example, travellers can search for less-popular airports close to the busiest routes, or fly into one city and out of another. 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. Monarch ceased trading earlier this week, prompting the UKs biggest-ever peacetime repatriation exercise to bring 110,000 holidaymakers home in chartered jets. The CAA said: Everyone due to fly in the next fortnight will be brought back to the UK at no cost to them. There is no need to cut short your stay. That came shortly after Ryanair cancelled thousands of flights thanks to a pilot shortage. 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 INSIDER Summary: Social media star and professional poker play Dan Bilzerian was in Las Vegas during Sunday's mass shooting. He posted videos to his Instagram fleeing the scene. Medal of Honor recipient Dakota Meyer criticized Bilzerian for using the tragedy as content for his viewers and for running from those in need. Social media star and professional poker player Dan Bilzerian captured video of himself during the horrific shooting in Las Vegas Sunday night, but one Marine who saw the video was disappointed. Sergeant Dakota L. Meyer, a 29-year-old Marine Corps veteran and 2009 recipient of the Medal of Honor, posted a screenshot from Bilzerian's Instagram story to his own Instagram page criticizing Bilzerian for running away and filming it. "This is why children shouldn't classify heroes by their followers or their photos," Meyer wrote. "@danbilzerian, this is what kills me about people like you. Always playing 'operator dress up' and so so tough when the cameras are on. A woman just got shot in the head and you are running away filming; that's not what operators do. Please stop trying to be someone your [sic] not. People are dying, you're running away not helping them and pretending it's worthy of a video is disgusting." Bilzerian is a gun fanatic and often shares photos of his collection with his 23 million followers. A post shared by Dan Bilzerian (@danbilzerian) on Jul 20, 2017 at 4:04am PDT During Sunday night's tragic events, Bilzerian posted videos to his Instagram story saying that he saw a woman get shot in the head right next to him at the Route 91 Harvest music festival. "F---, this girl just got shot in the f---ing head," Bilzerian said in the first video, which was uploaded around 10 p.m. local time (PDT). "So f---ing crazy." In a second video, Bilzerian said he was going back to the grounds armed with a weapon. "So I had to go grab a gun. I'm f---ing headed back. It's f---ing so crazy some kind of mass shooting," he said in the video, which was shared about an hour later. World Star Hip Hop's Twitter account uploaded Bilzerian's story. Warning: Graphic language In later videos, he said he was going home saying, "I don't think there's much I can do." Meyer is the author of the New York Times bestseller "Into the Fire: A Firsthand Account of the Most Extraordinary Battle in the Afghan War" and was the first living Marine to receive the Medal of Honor since 1973. He's married to Bristol Palin. People in the Las Vegas area can donate blood to victims at these locations. Those looking to help can also donate to the Red Cross and to GoFundMe pages for the victims. Read more: This chart is easy to interpret: It says we're screwed How Uber became the world's most valuable startup These 4 things could trigger the next crisis in Europe Read the original article on Business Insider UK. 2016. Follow Business Insider UK on Twitter. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The former Conservative prime minister Sir Edward Heath would have been questioned over allegations he raped and indecently assaulted boys were he alive today, according to an investigation. Wiltshire Police said seven historic claims spanning from 1956 to 1992 would have been sufficiently credible to justify interviewing the late MP for Old Bexley and Sidcup under caution. Police said the 1.5m operation, codenamed Conifer, only aimed to assess whether there would have been enough evidence to question Sir Edward, who was prime minister between 1970 and 1974. He died aged 89 in 2005. Recommended The seven allegations Ted Heath would have faced questions on Police said none of the allegations took place while he was Prime Minister. No inference of guilt should be drawn by the decision to interview under caution, a spokesperson said. The account from Sir Edward Heath would have been as important as other evidence gathered as part of the wider investigation. They include the alleged rape of an 11-year-old boy, indecent assault of a 10-year-old boy and the indecent assault of a 15-year-old boy during three paid sexual encounters, and are said to have occurred between 1961 and 1992 in London, Kent, Sussex, the Channel Islands and Wiltshire. Chief Constable Mike Veale said there were compelling and obvious reasons to investigate the allegations. Mike Veale, chief constable of Wiltshire Police, speaks to the media about Operation Conifer on 5 October (PA) Sir Edward Heath was an extremely prominent, influential and high-profile person who was arguably one of the most powerful people in the world, he added. I hope people will understand that, given these circumstances, it would be an indefensible dereliction of my public duty as a Chief Constable not to have investigated such serious allegations against a former Prime Minister, even though he is deceased. He added that children and adults who say they have been abused deserve to be listened to and taken seriously, and must have confidence in the police. He also said the report was a watershed moment for those who made claims of an establishment cover-up, with the investigation team concluding there was no evidence. During the investigation, three people were arrested on suspicion of non-recent child abuse, with two released without charge and the third still under investigation. Lord Macdonald QC, the former Director of Public Prosecutions, accused Wiltshire Police of covering their backs at the expense of a man who can no longer defend himself. "This gives entirely bogus credibility to their investigation without meaning anything in forensic terms, he added. Former British Prime Minister Edward Heath in 2000 (REUTERS) "The bar for interview is low, in most investigations as low as the police want it to be and in the case of a dead man, virtually non-existent. Supporters of Sir Edward condemned police for leaving him unable to clear his name with their open-ended probe. Lincoln Seligman, Sir Edward's godson, called for a judge-led review into the investigation and heavily criticised the polices televised appeal for potential victims to come forward I dont believe any of the allegations. I knew him to be a man of great integrity and not so idiotic as to go and jeopardise his career and the things he wanted to achieve himself and for the country by indulging in something so dangerous and pointless. Penny Gummer, who was Sir Edward's secretary between 1971 and 1977, said he had a driver and protection officers, a policeman outside his front door and a housekeeper in his house and claimed he would not have been able to generate the unfailing respect of friends and colleagues if guilty of the alleged abuse. The Conservative MP for North Wiltshire, James Gray, said Sir Edward couldnt possibly have done what was claimed at times where he was under 24-hour close protection or taking thyroid medication that made him sexually inactive. He added that he would be raising calls for a review in the House of Commons on Monday. However, a charity supporting victims of child abuse, said it was right for officers to launch a thorough and proportionate investigation into claims the politician preyed on children in abuse spanning three decades. Far too often in the past, allegations of child abuse against people of public prominence, such as celebrities, politicians, sporting figures, priests or other figures of high standing, were dismissed out of hand, without any proper scrutiny of the claims, said Gabrielle Shaw and Peter Saunders, the chief executive and founder of the National Association for People Abused in Childhood (NAPAC). The force called its investigation impartial and thorough, stressing its legal duty to look into criminal allegations made against deceased suspects. British Prime Minister Edward Heath signs the Treaty of Accession to the Common Market in1972 (Getty) It received 42 disclosures relating to 40 people over 14 different police force areas in the UK. Of those, 19 were found not to meet the threshold for interview, three complaints were withdrawn, 10 were reported by a third party and another three allegations were made anonymously. The report revealed that there was reason to suspect two people may have intentionally misled the police by claiming that they were abused by Sir Edward. In the case of one of these disclosures, a live criminal investigation remains ongoing, it states. Another person was formally cautioned for wasting police time after admitting that they had misled the investigation by falsely claiming to be three different people in three separate claims. Operation Hydrant carried out two reviews on Operation Conifer, which concluded that the probe was proportionate and being carried out in line with national guidance. The report marks the official end of the probe, which was launched in 2015. Its findings will be passed to the wide-ranging Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, which is being chaired by Professor Alexis Jay. 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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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 Wiltshire Polices probe has proven controversial since a senior police officer made a television appeal outside Sir Edward's former home in Salisbury in August 2015, urging victims to come forward. Operation Conifer began as a corruption probe over claims the prosecution of a brothel owner was dropped after threats were made to expose Sir Edward, with Wiltshire Police leading at least seven forces carrying out inquiries into the former Prime Minister. But in May last year, the probe found no evidence to support the corruption claims involving madam Myra Ling-Ling Forde, who herself said she had no knowledge of misconduct. Dr Rachel Hoskins, a leading criminologist enlisted by detectives to examine evidence, said she had exposed a catalogue of fabrication at the heart of the investigation and warned the force it should immediately end its consideration of key accuser's pernicious claims of satanic ritual abuse. Dr Hoskins branded the inquiry a disgrace and said that, while the force had accepted her report, she had little confidence police would pass the findings on to MPs. It came after another high-profile child abuse investigation, Operation Midland, closed without any arrests being made over claims of a VIP paedophile ring after the evidence provided by a sole witness known as Nick was discredited. A raft of politicians from across the political spectrum have been accused of abusing children, including Liberal Democrat Sir Cyril Smith and Labour peer and former MP Lord Janner. 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 1.5m police investigation stretching over two years has left a cloud of suspicion over Sir Edward Heath, with little prospect of closure. Supporters of the former Conservative Prime Minister condemned police for leaving a dead man unable to clear his name with their open-ended probe, which found there would have been grounds to interview Sir Edward over claims he raped and assaulted boys as young as 10. His godson demanded a judge-led review while dismissing the allegations against the completely asexual politician but Wiltshire Police defended its controversial Operation Conifer probe as the right thing to do. Recommended Police would have had grounds to interview Ted Heath over child abuse A charity supporting victims of child abuse said it was right for officers to launch a thorough and proportionate investigation into claims the politician preyed on children in abuse spanning three decades. Far too often in the past, allegations of child abuse against people of public prominence, such as celebrities, politicians, sporting figures, priests or other figures of high standing, were dismissed out of hand, without any proper scrutiny of the claims, said Gabrielle Shaw and Peter Saunders, the chief executive and founder of the National Association for People Abused in Childhood (NAPAC). This is a highly unusual case, but it shows that the police are willing to investigate without fear or favour, and adults who were abused in childhood should feel confident about going to the police, if this is what they wish to do. Chief Constable Mike Veale said it would have been an indefensible dereliction of his public duty not to investigate the extremely serious allegations. Wiltshire Police give statement upon release of Operation Conifer He praised the bravery and courage of claimants, adding: I hope that you feel we have listened to you, taken you seriously, and you have been treated with dignity and respect. People who are victims of abuse in the past, now or in the future, should be reassured by the way in which Wiltshire Police has listened to victims and survivors and reassured that no matter who the alleged perpetrator of abuse is, we will take your allegations seriously. But Lord Macdonald QC, the former Director of Public Prosecutions, accused police of covering their backs at the expense of a man who can no longer defend himself. "This gives entirely bogus credibility to their investigation without meaning anything in forensic terms, he added. "The bar for interview is low, in most investigations as low as the police want it to be - and in the case of a dead man, virtually non-existent. "They are covering their backs at the expense of a dead man. Shame on them." Wiltshire Polices probe has proven controversial since a senior police officer made a television appeal outside Sir Edward's former home in Salisbury in August 2015, urging victims to come forward. It is the latest in a series of investigations into deceased public figures over child abuse allegations, including Jimmy Savile, Labour peer Lord Janner and Liberal Democrat Sir Cyril Smith, as well as the Metropolitan Polices botched Operation Midland. Lord Hunt of Wirral, chairman of the Sir Edward Heath Charitable Foundation, called Wiltshire Police's report "profoundly unsatisfactory because it neither justifies nor dispels the cloud of suspicion". Lincoln Seligman, Sir Edward's godson, has called for a judge-led review into the investigation and heavily criticised the polices televised appeal for potential victims to come forward UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 14 November 2022 Members of the hospitality sector demonstrate outside parliament in London. The head of the Confederation of British Industry is urging the UK government to relax immigration rules to help British companies with severe staff shortages, ahead of the chancellors autumn statement EPA UK news in pictures 13 November 2022 England celebrate winning the mens T20 World Cup in Melbourne Cricket Ground, Australia AAP Image/Reuters 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 I dont believe any of the allegations, he told a press conference. I knew him to be a man of great integrity and not so idiotic as to go and jeopardise his career and the things he wanted to achieve himself and for the country by indulging in something so dangerous and pointless. He added: What's been left is a black cloud that cannot be dispersed and that's not justice. Mr Seligman said he wanted the outstanding allegations cleared up, while the Conservative MP for North Wiltshire said some were incredible. James Gray said Sir Edward couldnt possibly have done what was claimed at times where he was under 24-hour close protection or taking thyroid medication that made him sexually inactive. He added that he would be raising the investigation in the House of Commons on Monday, with the Home Secretary having agreed to pay 1.1m towards the total cost Operation Conifer. Penny Gummer, who was Sir Edward's secretary between 1971 and 1977, said he had a driver and protection officers, a policeman outside his front door and a housekeeper in his house and claimed he would not have been able to generate the unfailing respect of friends and colleagues if guilty of the alleged abuse. Mark Dowland, who was a member of Sir Edward's yacht crew in the same decade said: I cannot believe it would be possible for anyone to have entered [his home] without being filmed or challenged by the police. (Rex (Rex) Whenever we met elsewhere he was delivered and accompanied by a chauffeur and police protection. The protection officer would always be in the same room as we dined or drank. Peter Batey, who was Sir Edward's political private secretary between 1982 and 1986, said: I never knew him to have any sexual relationship of any kind or to show any sexual interest in or attention to anybody. His energies were focused on his passions of politics, music and the arts and ocean racing. Recommended Ted Heath a notoriously secretive PM in turbulent times Police stressed their report made no findings on Sir Edwards guilt or innocence, only concluding that seven historic claims spanning from 1956 to 1992 would have been sufficiently credible to justify interviewing him under caution. No inference of guilt should be drawn by the decision to interview under caution, a spokesperson added. The account from Sir Edward Heath would have been as important as other evidence gathered as part of the wider investigation. The operation only aimed to assess whether there would have been enough evidence to question the late MP for Bexley, who died in 2005 aged 89. Police said none of the allegations, claiming Sir Edward assaulted victims as young as 10, took place while he was Prime Minister. They include the alleged rape of an 11-year-rold boy, indecent assault of a 10-year-old boy and the indecent assault of a 15-year-old boy during three paid sexual encounters, and are said to have occurred between 1961 and 1992 in London, Kent, Sussex, the Channel Islands and Wiltshire. Former British Prime Minister Edward Heath in 2000 (REUTERS) Two witnesses also told Operation Conifer that Sir Edward was sexually active with consenting adults during parts of his life but Mr Seligman described sex as something that was not on his radar. He never talked about women or men in that way. It was just not of interest to him, he added. Wiltshire Police called its investigation impartial and thorough, stressing its legal duty to look into criminal allegations made against deceased suspects. It received 42 disclosures relating to 40 people over 14 different police force areas in the UK. Of those, 19 were found not to meet the threshold for interview, three complaints were withdrawn, 10 were reported by a third party and another three allegations were made anonymously. The report revealed that there was reason to suspect two people may have intentionally misled the police by claiming that they were abused by Sir Edward. In the case of one of these disclosures, a live criminal investigation remains ongoing, it states. Another person was formally cautioned for wasting police after admitting that they had misled the investigation falsely claiming to be three different people in three separate claims. During the investigation, three people were arrested on suspicion of non-recent child abuse, with two released without charge and the third still under investigation. Its findings will be passed to the wide-ranging Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, which is being chaired by Professor Alexis Jay. Additional reporting by PA Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Almost 10,000 Afghans were sent home by European states last year, despite the high risk of torture and death they face there, a damning new report has found. Amnesty International said that 9,460 asylum seekers were forcibly returned to their homeland - a 300 per cent increase on the previous year. Meanwhile, the rate of asylum applications accepted by European states plummeted dropping from 60 per cent in September 2015 to 33 per cent in December last year. Many of them face death, torture or other human rights abuse on their return, the charity said. The number of civilians being killed in Afghanistan is currently at a record high. In their determination to increase the number of deportations, European governments are implementing a policy that is reckless and unlawful," said Anna Shea, Amnestys researcher on refugee and migrant rights. "Wilfully blind to the evidence that violence is at a record high and no part of Afghanistan is safe, they are putting people at risk of torture, kidnapping, death and other horrors." Those deported from European countries included a number of unaccompanied children, some of whom were sent to parts of Afghanistan they were unfamiliar with and where they did not know anyone, the charity said. The United Nations said 11,418 civilians were killed or injured in Afghanistan last year, many of them by groups including the Taliban and Isis. Among those who have been sent back to the country by European states, many report living in terror in a country they barely know. One young person, referred to as Farid, was deported from Norway in May 2017, despite not having lived in the country since he was a child. He told Amnesty: I am scared. I dont know anything about Afghanistan. Where will I go? I dont have funds to live alone and I cant live with relatives because they will see that I dont pray. Deportees risk persecution in Afghanistan if they are members of a religious minority, such as Christianity. They also risk death or indefinite detention for for their sexual orientation, since consensual same-sex relations are criminalised in the country. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty Horia Mosadiq, Amnestys Afghanistan researcher, said: These returns brazenly violate international law and must stop immediately. The same European countries that once pledged support for a better future for Afghans are now crushing their hopes and abandoning them to a country that has become even more dangerous since they fled. In a leaked document published in September, European Union agencies acknowledged Afghanistans worsening security situation and threats to which people are exposed, as well as the record levels of terrorist attacks and civilian casualties. Nevertheless, they insisted more than 80,000 persons could potentially need to be returned in the near future. The agencies have been accused of using international aid to blackmail Afghanistan into accepting refugees. 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 }} Fracking for shale gas will begin in the UK within weeks, the company undertaking it for the first time has announced. Third Energy said it plans to complete five fracks in North Yorkshire before the end of 2017. The controversial technique involves injecting liquid into underground rock at high pressures in order to create cracks that release trapped gas. This is then collected and used to generate electricity. Recommended Scottish government bans fracking in landmark decision Fracking has been vocally opposed by environmental campaigners but permits to use the technique have been approved by government ministers. Alan Linn, Third Energys technical director, said the final sign-off needed for fracking to begin was imminent. He said: "We're beginning to prepare for the work-over phase of the well and that should commence shortly. It will probably take us about two weeks. Once we've completed that successfully then we would begin to move into the frack. "We can't do that until we've got our final regulatory approvals in place and we hope those will happen imminently. We expect to be finished and wrapped up with the actual fracking before the end of the year. How fracking works and where it could happen Show all 2 1 /2 How fracking works and where it could happen How fracking works and where it could happen 02-FrackingHowItWorks.jpg How fracking works and where it could happen 02-FrackingMapWeb.jpg At that stage, he added, the company hopes it will be extracting gas for use at the nearby Knapton power station. Mr Linn said he thought the first onshore frack in the UK would change everything because the debate around the technique will be informed by an actual frack. The fracks will be carried out between 8,000 and 10,000 feet underground and are expected to last for up to two hours each time. They will only take place during daylight hours in order to minimise disruption for local people. Dozens of campaigners have been camped at Third Energys well site near the village of Kirby Misperton since the company began moving equipment into place last month. A number of them have been arrested. A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Police said: "A total of 26 people were arrested at the site in September 2017. "Two were released with no further action, two accepted cautions, and the other 22 have been charged to court for offences including obstructing the highway, assaulting a police officer, and obstructing a police officer." Additional reporting by agencies. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The sale of almost all ivory will be banned under new Government plans to stop elephant poaching. Laws brought in in September 2016 made it illegal to sell ivory which is less than 70 years old, but stopped short of a total ban. Conservation groups have called for the Government to outlaw almost all ivory items, warning that the UK's legal market has been used as a cover for the illegal trade of elephant tusks. Setting out proposals for a near-total ban on ivory sales, including antiques, Environment Secretary Michael Gove said declines in elephant populations fuelled by poaching shames our generation. Around 20,000 elephants are being slaughtered every year to satisfy demand for ivory products. If poaching continues at this pace, the animals could become extinct in some African countries in a matter of decades, experts warn. The UK currently makes legal shipments of antiques to Asia, helping supply the world's largest ivory markets which are driving the poaching crisis. Existing rules allow for worked or carved items produced before 3 March 1947 to be sold in the UK while sale of raw ivory of any age is prohibited. Under the new proposals, which are being put out for consultation, sales of the older worked items would be banned. The plans include some exemptions for items which do not contribute to the poaching of elephants, including musical instruments such as pianos with ivory keys, items containing only a small proportion of ivory and those which have significant historic, artistic or cultural value. Sales to and between museums would also be exempted under the plans. Mr Gove said: The decline in the elephant population fuelled by poaching for ivory shames our generation. The need for radical and robust action to protect one of the world's most iconic and treasured species is beyond dispute. Ivory should never be seen as a commodity for financial gain or a status symbol so we want to ban its sale. These plans will put the UK front and centre of global efforts to end the insidious trade in ivory. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 14 November 2022 Members of the hospitality sector demonstrate outside parliament in London. The head of the Confederation of British Industry is urging the UK government to relax immigration rules to help British companies with severe staff shortages, ahead of the chancellors autumn statement EPA UK news in pictures 13 November 2022 England celebrate winning the mens T20 World Cup in Melbourne Cricket Ground, Australia AAP Image/Reuters 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 The UK Government is also training an elite force of anti-poachers in African countries in an effort to tackle poaching. Meanwhile UK Border Force officers share expertise with counterparts in other countries to stop wildlife trafficking. Stop Ivory chief executive John Stephenson said: By starting the process to bring in a total ban on ivory sales in the UK, the Government continues to work with the African countries leading the Elephant Protection Initiative to secure a meaningful future for elephants across Africa. The unprecedented crisis we face with Africa's natural heritage being destroyed and communities put at risk due to poaching by illegal armed gangs will only stop when people stop buying ivory. Recommended Zimbabwean poacher arrested after four years on the run WWF chief executive Tanya Steele said the plans showed the UK wanted to continue to be a leader in the fight to end large-scale poaching of elephants, but warned there was a long way to go and no time to waste. She added: Whilst discussions roll on, 55 African elephants a day are killed. We need to be the generation that ends the illegal ivory trade once and for all. This is about a lot more than banning ivory sales in one country. It means working with global leaders and communities around the world, particularly in China and south-east Asia, to implement bans and stop the illegal trade. The US has already introduced a near-total ban while China and Hong Kong have announced plans to close their domestic markets. Press Association contributed to this report 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 }} There is no evidence that British and American intelligence agencies are phone tapping German citizens en masse, an investigation has found. Germanys federal public prosecutor found no evidence to support allegations sparked by documents leaked by former US National Security Agency (NSA) contractor Edward Snowden. Both the public prosecutor's investigation and the work by the Bundestags NSA investigation committee has not found any tangible evidence that American or British intelligence services carried out systematic and mass surveillance of German telecommunications and internet [usage] that is against the law, a spokesperson said. Prosecutors said that all major global intelligence agencies strategically intercept telecommunications data and internet traffic but there was no evidence the UK and US had specifically targeted Germany. A statement said the Snowden leaks provided information on the techniques and abilities of the NSA and GCHQ, but that the possibilities for reconnaissance described were already known to the German espionage defence authorities. Prosecutors said the information did not show the methods actually being used and there no evidence Germany had been targeted, meaning the investigation would be closed. The end of the probe follows a period of strained ties between Berlin, Washington and London, amid outrage over claims that first emerged in 2013. The NSA whistleblower's revelations sparked increased tensions between allies (Reuters) Allegations that the NSA bugged Angela Merkel's mobile phone shocked Germans and prompted demands for an investigation. Spying among friends - that is simply not done, the Chancellor said at the time. The Cold War is over. Prosecutors dropped an investigation into that claim in 2015, when further allegations emerged suggesting that Germany's BND foreign intelligence agency had helped the NSA spy on European companies and politicians for years. Surveillance is a particularly sensitive subject in Germany due to the activities of the loathed East German Stasi secret police, who spied extensively on ordinary citizens, and the Nazi-era Gestapo. Debates on international cyber warfare also continue in parliament, with top German intelligence officials urging politicians to give them greater legal authority to hack back in the event of attacks by foreign powers. Hans-Georg Maassen, head of the BfV domestic intelligence agency, told the parliamentary oversight committee it should be possible to destroy data stolen from German servers and moved to foreign servers to prevent it from being misused. He said it would also make sense to infect foreign servers with software that would enable greater surveillance of any operations directed against German cyber targets, or to extract data, much as human agents are recruited for counter-espionage. These are 'hack back' instruments, but they are below the threshold of destroying or incapacitating a foreign server, Mr Maassen said. German officials have blamed APT28, a Russian hacker group said linked to Moscow, for the May 2015 hack of the German lower house of parliament, the Bundestag, and other cyber attacks aimed at political groups, individuals or institutions. 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 Vladimir Putin has dismissed allegations of government interference in European and American elections. Fears of cyber attacks against the British Government and critical national infrastructure in the UK have also been mounting. The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) registered 1,131 incidents in the 12 months since the organisation began work in October 2016. Of those, 590 were considered to be significant cyber attacks and more than 30 required a cross-Government response. Organisations targeted over the year ranged from key national institutions to small and large businesses. The most high-profile episode was the global WannaCry ransomware outbreak which affected dozens of NHS trusts in May, while in June email accounts were targeted in an attack on the Houses of Parliament. Ciaran Martin, chief executive of the NCSC, described the cyber threat as large, growing and diverse and warned further attacks are inevitable. "Cyber security is crucial to our national security and to our prosperity, he added. "We're incredibly proud of what we have achieved in our first year at the NCSC, bringing together some of the best cyber security brains in the country in a single place. "But the threat remains very real and growing - further attacks will happen and there is much more for us to do to make the UK the safest place in the world to live and do business online." Additional reporting by agencies Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A man and a woman are in a critical condition after an explosion in Wishaw, southern Scotland. Emergency services were at the scene on Bonkle Road and nearby properties were evacuated after what is thought to be an accident at a former convent in Newmains. Photos posted to social media show the road being sealed off by police, with locals saying they are not being allowed through. Recommended Scotland to get its first deep geothermal heating system One witness told The Sun: "I was walking back my dog behind the convent just after 1.30pm when I heard the loudest explosion I have ever heard. I think it was a gas explosion or something. The ground moved under my feet. I heard people shouting and running out of their houses to see what was happening. And then ambulances and police started arriving. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 14 November 2022 Members of the hospitality sector demonstrate outside parliament in London. The head of the Confederation of British Industry is urging the UK government to relax immigration rules to help British companies with severe staff shortages, ahead of the chancellors autumn statement EPA UK news in pictures 13 November 2022 England celebrate winning the mens T20 World Cup in Melbourne Cricket Ground, Australia AAP Image/Reuters 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 Neil Gray, local MP for Airdrie and Shotts, said: I am shocked to hear about the explosion in Bonkle Road today. I have contacted Police Scotland and will keep in touch with them for updates as things develop. I am available should anyone need my help and my thoughts and best wishes for a speedy recovery go to those who have been injured in the blast. One witness told the newspaper they had heard "a generator exploded with three people working inside". A joint investigation between Police Scotland and the Health and Safety Executive is ongoing and the circumstances are not believed to be suspicious. Sign up to the Inside Politics email for your free daily briefing on the biggest stories in UK politics Get our free Inside Politics email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Politics email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Theresa May was accused by one of her colleagues of discriminating against immigrant children during her time as Home Secretary over proposed checks on the sons and daughters of undocumented migrants. Leaked letters from the then Education Secretary Nicky Morgan who was later sacked by the Prime Minister - reveal that she expressed her profound concerns about the practical and presentational issues of childrens education. The controversial episode re-emerged a day after Ms May used her Tory conference speech to say she wanted to give a voice to those who have been ignored or silenced for too long. Referring to the fact that her grandmother was a domestic servant, she said her dream was of a society where it did not matter where you are from or who your parents are. However, in 2015, critics accused the then Home Secretary of trying to blame children for the Governments failure to bring down immigration during David Camerons premiership when the migrant crisis was at a high. Ms Morgan wrote: These cover deprioritising illegal migrants in the schools admissions process, and carrying out immigration checks through schools. She added: Introducing these checks could lead to some children not being registered for school because of real or perceived fear of deportation. Ms Morgan also warned the end result of such a policy would be to concentrate migrant children in the least popular schools in each catchment area, jeopardising our increasingly important focus on tackling both segregation and extremism. Recommended All the policies Theresa May stole from Jeremy Corbyn Her department suggested that schools could withdraw the offer of a place for a child if their family was discovered to be in the country illegally. After an outcry from various campaign groups and MPs on both sides of the house, the proposals were eventually dropped from the immigration bill. Labours Shadow Education Secretary Angela Rayner said at the time: Denying innocent children, because of the circumstances of their parents, the right to a good education is disgusting. Its not a British value we have. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 14 November 2022 Members of the hospitality sector demonstrate outside parliament in London. The head of the Confederation of British Industry is urging the UK government to relax immigration rules to help British companies with severe staff shortages, ahead of the chancellors autumn statement EPA UK news in pictures 13 November 2022 England celebrate winning the mens T20 World Cup in Melbourne Cricket Ground, Australia AAP Image/Reuters 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 One in eight UK nationals dont have a passport either so its completely impractical. Rather than deal with the problems of her own department, Theresa May was trying to offload the failings of her department and blame children, innocent children, for that. During her disastrous speech in Manchester, Ms May said she joined the Conservative Party because she believed that each generation should live the British dream. And that dream is what I believe in. Between coughs, splutters and interruptions from a prankster, Ms May spoke of the contribution made by many who have come to the UK to build a new life. The dream that means the son of a bus driver from Pakistan serves in a Conservative Cabinet alongside the son of a single mother from a council estate in south-west London. And in a way, that dream is my story too. After failing to push through Ms Mays initial proposals, watered down Government legislation means UK schools have been collecting data on the country of birth and nationality of their pupils which some campaigners remain opposed opposed to. In 2012, it was estimated there were around 120,000 undocumented children in the UK, with fears many of them may not be educated because of their parents fears of deportation, leaving them vulnerable to poverty and exploitation. The campaign group Schools ARC (Against Borders for Children) claims the education offices agreement to send details of up to 1,500 children a month to the Home Office is creating a hostile environment for migrant children. It has called for a national boycott from schools, and claimed: This policy is unnecessary, divisive and puts vulnerable children at risk." Sign up to the Inside Politics email for your free daily briefing on the biggest stories in UK politics Get our free Inside Politics email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Politics email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The Conservative Partys own vetting procedures should have prevented a prankster entering its supposedly secure conference and handing the Prime Minister a fake P45, The Independent understands. Blame for the security breach was initially turned on G4S and OCS, the private security firms paid to guard ministers, MPs and thousands of delegates at the Manchester Central venue. But police sources say the Tory party itself is responsible for fit and proper persons checks on prospective delegates registering to attend on its website. That is supposed to check that persons character and any reputational issues, a source said. Once the party is happy that person has passed they send it to the national accreditation team and police conduct criminal record checks. Minor offences that do not result in prosecution, like Simon Brodkins cautions after previous stunts, would not be sufficient for police to refuse entry on security grounds. Greater Manchester Police confirmed the professional prankster, who performs under the name Lee Nelson, had legitimate accreditation, and announced a joint review of the process with the Conservative Party. Prankster delivers fake P45 to Theresa May during conference speech A representative for the comedian said he applied for his pass independently and in his own name, which would have revealed his occupation and track record with a cursory internet search. Amber Rudd made no admission regarding her partys alleged culpability during a heated interview where she repeatedly refused to explain how Mr Brodkin was let into the conference. We will look into that and we will do that at pace, the Home Secretary told the BBC. Im not going to comment on the ongoing investigation around that man. It was a security breach, it is disappointing and we are looking into it. Greg Clark, the Business Secretary, called on his party to investigate the incident. That could have been someone with violent intent, he told BBC Radio 4s Today programme. I dont know which part of the weakness of the system it was but it clearly needs to be established. We need to look into it and find out what happened and make sure it can never happen again. Mr Brodkin breaks ranks with the photographers he was posing amongst to approach Ms May (Reuters) Mr Brodkin posed as a professional photographer to get within inches of Theresa May during her keynote conference speech, putting down his camera to hand the Prime Minister a P45. In bizarre scenes broadcast on live television, he then managed to approach Boris Johnson the man he claimed the fake tax form was from before being removed. Mr Brodkin was escorted out of the hall by a private security guard following the stunt, as Tory members shouted Out! Out! Out!. He was arrested and handcuffed by police to prevent a breach of the peace and released a short time later. Viewers were stunned by the security breach, with one MP remarking the comedian could have been a terrorist. Angela Rayner, Labours Shadow Education Secretary, asked where the Prime Ministers security team was during the debacle, adding: We are supposed to be on high alert after recent events. If the Conservatives cannot organise their own security how can they be trusted with ours? one commenter asked. George Freeman, a Conservative who heads the Prime Ministers policy board, said: There should be some very serious questions that could have been a terroristquestions will be asked about how he was allowed to get that close. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 14 November 2022 Members of the hospitality sector demonstrate outside parliament in London. The head of the Confederation of British Industry is urging the UK government to relax immigration rules to help British companies with severe staff shortages, ahead of the chancellors autumn statement EPA UK news in pictures 13 November 2022 England celebrate winning the mens T20 World Cup in Melbourne Cricket Ground, Australia AAP Image/Reuters 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 Mr Brodkins success exposed a gap in a multi-layered security operation that was meant to be tightened in light of increased terror threat against the UK. Greater Manchester Police mounted a protection operation around the convention centre costing an estimated 2m, seeing roads closed, cars searched, snipers stationed on surrounding rooftops and 1,000 uniformed and covert officers drafted in. The next layer of protection was entrusted to the embattled security firm G4S, which checked delegates accreditation using existing lists at the perimeter and controlled airport-style scans. Another private company, OCS, was charged with internal security for the conference, and guarding of the Prime Minister herself is the responsibility of the Mets Royalty and Specialist Protection unit. A former member of the highly trained squad, Steve Park, said officers were not quick enough to act as Mr Brodkin approached. Regardless if someone low-level has got through vetting checks, in the few seconds he moved from within the photographers it should have been a decision to say, We need to remove him, he told The Independent. Im not saying there should have been a use of force but it certainly would have necessitated a couple of close protection officers. The security analyst, who now trains close protection officers, noted that Mr Brodkin was within inches of the Prime Minister for several seconds and was then able to approach cabinet members. My feeling is that the security has fallen short why did we need photographers quite so close to the podium in between the cabinet and Prime Minister? he asked. Mr Brodkin speaks to Boris Johnson before being removed (Getty) Mr Parks said that despite the increased security measures at the venue, close protection officers should have maintained the level of security required for Mrs May elsewhere. Multi-level security. I dont think theres a problem as long as everybody is working together and its cohesive, he said. At the end of the day there would be approximately 500 people in that building, most of which will be unknown. Its farcical, he added. I think theres a clear error there is a massive flaw in the vetting system from the Conservatives point of view. That layered approach is there to find all sorts of information about people you dont want and if someone has lied or appears to be fraudulent that loophole has got to be closed. Chief Superintendent John OHare confirmed Mr Brodkin had legitimate accreditation that granted him access to the conference. In light of this we will be reviewing the accreditation process with the Conservative Party, he added. Even with accreditation, everyone at the conference goes through airport-style searches before being allowed entry to the site. A spokesperson for the Conservative Party confirmed the review was underway without providing details, adding: In light of the arrest during the Prime Ministers speech we are working with the police to review the accreditation process and security arrangements for party conference. Sign up to the Inside Politics email for your free daily briefing on the biggest stories in UK politics Get our free Inside Politics email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Politics email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Wiltshire Polices investigation into claims Sir Edward Heath was a paedophile has courted controversy ever since it was first launched publicly outside the former Prime Ministers home. When Superintendent Sean Memory used a television appeal in August 2015 to urge potential victims of Sir Edward to come forward, friends of the former Prime Minister dismissed the child sex abuse allegations as totally uncharacteristic and unlikely. Former colleagues also rallied to defend his reputation and criticised the way the investigation was being handled. Recommended Sir Edward Heath child sex abuse inquiry to publish findings What began as a corruption probe over claims the prosecution of a brothel owner was dropped after threats were made to expose Sir Edward morphed into Operation Conifer, with Wiltshire Police leading at least seven forces carrying out inquiries into the former Prime Minister. Investigations later revealed there was no evidence to support the corruption claims involving madam Myra Ling-Ling Forde. In November last year a whistleblower, who was enlisted by detectives to examine the Operation Conifer evidence, said she had exposed a catalogue of fabrication at the heart of the probe. Dr Rachel Hoskins, a criminologist, also branded the inquiry a disgrace and said that, while the force had accepted her report, she had little confidence police would pass the findings on to MPs. The following month, the chief constable of Wiltshire Police, Mike Veale, wrote a public letter to set the record straight about the 1.5m investigation, saying it was complex and multi-stranded and was not a fishing trip or witch hunt. Lord Macdonald, the former director of public prosecutions, accused Mr Veale of presiding over a tragi-comedy of incompetence and called for a judge-led inquiry into how Sir Edwards name was so shockingly traduced. But some politicians have backed Mr Veale, including current Salisbury MP John Glen, who described him as a dedicated and principled police officer, who did the right thing and decided that every allegation of such a serious crime must be judged on its own merits, however unpleasant and controversial. Operation Conifer was not the only high-profile police inquiry of recent times set up in the wake of the Jimmy Savile scandal to attract fierce criticism. Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, the then Met commissioner, faced calls to quit after Operation Midland launched by Scotland Yard to investigate claims of a VIP paedophile ring and murder allegations closed in March last year without a single arrest being made. The investigation centred on the claims of one individual, known only as Nick, and related to a 10-year period in the 1970s and 1980s. Former Conservative MP Harvey Proctor, who was questioned as part of Operation Midland, revealed Sir Edward and ex-home secretary Leon Brittan had been named among his alleged co-conspirators. Sir Edward was the most high-profile political figure to be linked to child sex abuse allegations that swept across Westminster. A raft of politicians from across the political spectrum has been accused of abusing children, including Mr Proctor, Liberal Democrat Sir Cyril Smith and Labour peer and former MP Lord Janner. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 14 November 2022 Members of the hospitality sector demonstrate outside parliament in London. The head of the Confederation of British Industry is urging the UK government to relax immigration rules to help British companies with severe staff shortages, ahead of the chancellors autumn statement EPA UK news in pictures 13 November 2022 England celebrate winning the mens T20 World Cup in Melbourne Cricket Ground, Australia AAP Image/Reuters 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 It is thought Wiltshire detectives believe they have avoided the errors made by earlier high-profile investigations by not relying on a single source. Operation Conifer may now have ended, but questions about its handling and wider issues surrounding the way police approach cases involving historical allegations will rumble on. PA Sign up to the Inside Politics email for your free daily briefing on the biggest stories in UK politics Get our free Inside Politics email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Politics email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A kidney transplant patient has welcomed Theresa May announcement of shifting the balance of presumption in favour of organ donations in England, saying it will give more patients a realistic chance of receiving a transplant. Sarah Harwood said the Prime Minster's move towards an opt-out system is a really positive step. I had a transplant 10 years ago and I was lucky as I only waited eight months, but for me it felt endless because you just don't know when you will get that call, she said. So much has been done by patients, NHSBT (NHS Blood and Transplant) and charities to raise awareness about organ donation and the soft opt-out option is the right way to go. But we still need to raise awareness and remind people to talk to their families about their wishes. Mrs May told the Tory Party conference that 500 people died last year because a suitable donor organ was not available. Recommended Corbyn sets out plan to make everyone an organ donor Our ability to help people who need transplants is limited by the number of organ donors that come forward, she said. That is why last year 500 people died because a suitable organ was not available. And there are 6,500 on the transplant list today. So to address this challenge that affects all communities in our country, we will change that system. Shifting the balance of presumption in favour of organ donation. Nine-year-old Max Johnson, who has featured in a campaign by the Daily Mirror to get the law changed, received a heart transplant after seven months on a waiting list. He told the paper: I cannot believe it. I thought it would take so much longer... but yes. I know it will help other children like me. I hope they call it Max's Law, it would be fun if they did that. The announcement at the Tory Party conference in Manchester has also been praised by health charities and doctors. British Heart Foundation chief executive Simon Gillespie said: The Government's commitment to a soft-opt out system is a commitment to ending the agonising pain felt by families who risk losing a loved one while they wait for a donor. This change can't come soon enough for patients. Peter Storey, director of communications at Kidney Research UK, said: The waiting list for people who need a kidney makes up more than 90% of the organ transplant waiting list yet only around 3,000 transplants are carried out each year. It means some five people die every week waiting for a kidney transplant they cannot get. We believe much more needs to be done to improve organ donation rates across the UK and a 'soft' system of presumed consent for organ donation would help combat the severe shortage of donors in this country. The British Medical Association (BMA) said Mrs May's announcement had the potential to save many lives. BMA council chairman Dr Chaand Nagpaul said: The decision to introduce an opt-out system for organ donation in England is excellent news. The BMA has lobbied and campaigned tirelessly on this for many years and has the potential to save many lives. Theresa May's 'disastrous' conference speech in pictures Show all 8 1 /8 Theresa May's 'disastrous' conference speech in pictures Theresa May's 'disastrous' conference speech in pictures Prime Minister Theresa May arrives to deliver her keynote speech at the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester PA Theresa May's 'disastrous' conference speech in pictures Comedian Simon Brodkin, dressed as a Tory party delegate, hands Theresa May a P45 during her speech PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images Theresa May's 'disastrous' conference speech in pictures May suffering a coughing fit during her speech Reuters Theresa May's 'disastrous' conference speech in pictures May wears a Frida Kahlo bracelet and holds a sweet passed to her by Chancellor Philip Hammond as she addresses the conference in Manchester Reuters Theresa May's 'disastrous' conference speech in pictures May struggles with her water as coughing fits continued to interrupt her speech Reuters Theresa May's 'disastrous' conference speech in pictures The wording on a slogan is changed after a letter falls away from the backdrop towards the end of the speech Reuters Theresa May's 'disastrous' conference speech in pictures May is congratulated by her husband Philip, with the sign in the background missing a F and an E, after she delivered her keynote speech PA Theresa May's 'disastrous' conference speech in pictures May is embraced by husband Philip after delivering her speech Getty It is important that the new process is well publicised to ensure the public are fully aware of and understand this important change. The law has already been changed in Wales under Carwyn Jones's leadership. Humanists UK director of public affairs and policy Richy Thompson added: We are thrilled that the Government has committed to the introduction of an opt-out system, which has already been shown to be hugely successful in Wales. There is now broad cross-party support for legislation, which we are hopeful will now be implemented very soon. PA 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 }} Bob Corker has launched a thinly veiled attack on Donald Trump and hinted the president is responsible for much of the chaos in the administration. The Senate Foreign Relations Chairman, who is a former ally of President Trump, suggested White House Chief of Staff John Kelly, James Mattis, and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson are the people that help help separate our country from chaos. When asked by a reporter if he was referring to President Trump when he mentioned chaos, Mr Corker was unable to deny that he was alluding to him. The Republican said: "(Mattis, Kelly and Tillerson) work very well together to make sure the policies we put forth around the world are sound and coherent. He added: There are other people within the administration that don't. I hope they stay because they're valuable to the national security of our nation." The Tennessee Senator, who recently announced he would not run for re-election in 2018, took aim at the US president for undermining Mr Tillerson. Tension between President Trump and Mr Tillerson over how the US should resolve the North Korea crisis has reached a head in recent days. After the Secretary of State said Washington was in talks to end the missile crisis with North Korea, President Trump suggested his diplomatic efforts would fail. Iran's 'Trumpism' contest Show all 10 1 /10 Iran's 'Trumpism' contest Iran's 'Trumpism' contest AFP/Getty Images Iran's 'Trumpism' contest AFP/Getty Images Iran's 'Trumpism' contest AFP/Getty Images Iran's 'Trumpism' contest AFP/Getty Images Iran's 'Trumpism' contest AFP/Getty Images Iran's 'Trumpism' contest AFP/Getty Images Iran's 'Trumpism' contest AFP/Getty Images Iran's 'Trumpism' contest AFP/Getty Images Iran's 'Trumpism' contest AFP/Getty Images Iran's 'Trumpism' contest AFP/Getty Images "I told Rex Tillerson, our wonderful Secretary of State, that he is wasting his time trying to negotiate with Little Rocket Man," President Trump tweeted on Sunday morning. He added: Save your energy Rex, well do what has to be done! Mr Corker has now said Mr Tillerson is "in an incredibly frustrating place," adding: "He ends up not being supported in the way I would hope a secretary of state would be supported ... He's in a very trying situation - trying to solve many of the world's problems without the support and help I'd like to see him have." His comments come on the same day Mr Tillerson held an impromptu press conference to dismiss reports he has ever considered resigning from his role but also refused to deny that he had called the President a "moron" in a fit of rage during the summer. Mr Corker, who was once a vice presidential contender for the billionaire businessman, has openly criticised Mr Trump before. Days after the president blamed both sides for the deadly violence in Charlottesville which erupted in August, Mr Corker said: "The president has not yet been able to demonstrate the stability nor some of the competence that he needs to demonstrate in order to be successful. He remained steadfastly committed to the remarks when pressed about them later, saying he did not regret them. "I stand by those words," he said, adding that he visited the White House recently and discussed it directly with President Trump. He said: "When I met with the President a week ago Friday, I said, 'Mr. President I stand by what I said. At the end of September, Mr Corker announced he would be stepping down. "After much thought, consideration and family discussion over the past year, Elizabeth and I have decided that I will leave the United States Senate when my term expires at the end of 2018," he said in a statement. 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 }} At least four children are reported to have been killed after a security guard allegedly set fire to a nursery in Brazil. The guard then set himself alight at the municipal nursery, reports local newspaper O Globo. At least one teacher is said to have been injured in the blaze, which took place in the city of Januauba in Minas Gerais state in the south-east of the country. In total 40 people have been taken to hospital, with at least 25 being treated for burns. Most of the victims are children aged four or five. Some of the most severely injured children have been airlifted to a specialist burns unit in Belo Horizonte, the state capital. 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 security guard has been named by police as Damiao Soares dos Santos, 50. According to O Globe, he had recently been sacked by the nursery. Police said he had died in hospital of his injuries. Emergency services are said to have been called at around 9:40 am local time on Thursday. The call was said to be of "serious occurrence" and required all the available vehicles of the Military Fire Brigade in Janauba. Footage from outside the school shows parents panicking and in disarray while clutching their children. The Regional Hospital of Janauba is believed to be treating victims of the fire. The children are being transferred to the pediatric area, and the adults are being treated here, Helton Ricardo Mendes, the care director of the unit, told the publication. 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 say a central Wyoming man they arrested for public intoxication claimed he had travelled back in time to warn of an alien invasion. Casper police say the man they encountered at 10.30pm on Monday claimed he was from the year 2048. KTWO-AM in Casper reports that the man told police that he wanted to warn the people of Casper that aliens will arrive next year, and that they should leave as soon as possible. He asked to speak to the president of the town, about 170 miles (270 kilometres) northwest of Cheyenne. The man told police he was only able to time travel because aliens filled his body with alcohol. He noted that he was supposed to be transported to the year 2018, not this year. 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 }} This week, Mexico's biggest university began advertising a conference on feminism. There would be two panels, exploring big issues such as law and economics. The organisers had thought of everything, right down to the cheerful pink fliers used to alert students. They'd thought of everything, it seems, except including a woman. The fact that all 11 members of the session's two panels are male sparked a fierce outcry on social media. It turns out, though, that the gender imbalance was by design. The event will be moderated by Marta Lamas, one of Mexico's most prominent feminists. Called Marta Lamas in dialogue with XY, a reference to the male chromosome, it will feature spirited debate. Lamas called the event's structure different and provocative. I have spent 48 years discussing feminism on panels only with women, she told the BBC. And this time I thought, 'Okay, let's see what men have to say'... I am trying to change the world for men, too. Lamas helped pick the panels. And while she said she expected some blowback, she wasn't prepared for the online outrage. On Twitter, one woman called it the pinnacle of mansplaining. Another asked, What's next? A conference on racism with only white people? Feminism for dummies: we don't have a single representative, there are many of us and we're very diverse. Invite many women to your debates, tweeted the feminist blogger Ana Gonzalez. The event was organised by the humanities department of the National Autonomous University of Mexico, in honour of Lamas's 70th birthday. The anthropologist and political science professor has written several books on gender discrimination, abortion and prostitution. She also founded a feminist magazine called Fem in the 1980s and led a successful effort to decriminalise abortion. The university did not immediately respond to queries about the event. But allies of Lamas, like reproductive rights advocate Regina Tames, urged people to calm down. It's an event where male allies and friends are going to honour Marta, Tames argued on Twitter. Women in Mexico have long struggled with questions of representation. Even today, it's not uncommon to find panels, businesses and leadership boards run entirely by men. That's prompted one group, Con Nosotras, to call on public speakers to boycott all-male forums. 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 It's good that this has created debate about the issue, co-founder Susana Ochoa told The Guardian. I think their intention was good but it wasn't communicated appropriately. She said she hoped the outcry would inspire Mexicans to do some soul-searching about why it's so important to include women in public debate. Women have not been represented in this country for a long time, she said. 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 }} When Hurricane Maria destroyed the infrastructure of Puerto Rico, it turned the mayor of its capital city into a spokeswoman for a stranded people. Carmen Yulin Cruz Soto told the world of the horror she was seeing as whe waded through San Juan's flooded streets. And the desperation on an island that may remain without power for months. Until then, Cruz had not been a well-known politician outside the island.But after Cruz criticised Washington's response to the hurricane this week - save us from dying, she pleaded on cable network - President Donald Trump took direct aim at her Twitter. Such poor leadership ability by the Mayor of San Juan, he tweeted Saturday. The Democrats must have convinced her to say nasty things about him, he claimed. Since the President brought it up, we present below the historical record of the leadership abilities of Cruz, before and after the storm. Cruz has, in some ways, been a lifelong politician: Class president in eighth grade; student council president in high school. Like many Puerto Ricans, she left the island to pursue opportunities on the US mainland, earning a bachelor's in political science at Boston University and a master's in public management and policy at Carnegie Mellon. She stayed on the mainland for many years, according to her official biography, and worked her way up to the position of human resources director at several companies, including Scotiabank and the US Treasury Department. In a 2014 interview with a small New York newspaper, Cruz described the tug of war she and other Puerto Ricans often feel between the mainland and their home island. I often say to my friends that I felt too Puerto Rican to live in the States; then I felt too American to live in Puerto Rico, she said. So when I settled back in Puerto Rico in 1992, I had to come to terms with all of that. After 12 years on the mainland, Cruz returned to her island to plunge back into politics. She became an adviser to Sila Maria Calderon, then the mayor of San Juan who later became Puerto Rico's first and only female governor. With the experience she gained under Calderon, Cruz ran in 2000 for a seat in Puerto Rico's House of Representatives. She lost that race, but in 2008 she ran again and won. Politics is a rough game, and sometimes as females we are taught that you have to play nice, she said in a 2014 in an interview. Sometimes you can't play nice. As the race for mayorship of her home town approached in 2012, she waffled publicly on whether to enter as a candidate. At first she denied any plans to run. Once she entered the race, she strung together a series of small coalitions to form a base of support, including the LGBT community, students, Dominican immigrants and taxi drivers. Such allies helped her defeat a formidable opponent - a three-time incumbent, Jorge Santini. Carmen Yulin Cruz talks with journalists (Carlos Barria/Reuters) People don't realise they have the power, she recalled in an interview years later. People don't realise that if they come together, there are more of them than those who occupy the seat that I'm in right now. Puerto Rico's politics are largely defined by their relationship with the mainland and whether the island should remain a US territory, gain statehood or vie for independence. Cruz's party, the Popular Democratic Party, campaigns to maintain Puerto Rico's status quo as an unincorporated, self-governed US territory. But in her trips to the United States since winning office, Cruz has at times advocated for more independence. She once went before Congress to ask that Puerto Rico - crippled by debt - be able to reorganise under bankruptcy laws, and thereafter enter into commercial agreements with other countries. Puerto Rico has been denied these tools far too long, Cruz said in 2015. And as long as our options are defined by the powers of this Congress, we will always be at your mercy. The measure of our success will always be limited by the vastness of your control over our affairs. Two years later, Hurricane Maria has made the island's many dependencies all too apparent. Hurricane Maria flooded roads, destroyed phone lines and cut the island's lifeline of goods from the mainland. With limited communications and little help from the outside world in the first days after the hurricane, the mayors of Puerto Rico became the highest form of authority for many residents. Cruz worked nearly nonstop on the ground - walking its streets and doing what she could for those she met. In an interview with a Washington Post reporter just three days after the storm, she described what she was seeing. There is horror in the streets, she said at the time. Sheer pain in people's eyes. The city's hospitals had no power. Much of the country would not have electricity until 2018, she said. Looters were already taking over some streets after dark. The few who still had gasoline and drinking water were quickly running out. Cruz had written to scores of other mayors. There's no answer, she said. The mayor herself felt relatively helpless - only able to do so much for her exhausted neighbours and frightened constituents. I know we're not going to get to everybody in time, she said. All she could do was try. On her way to talk to the reporter, she said, a man had asked her for a favour: To tell the world we're here. As tears filled her eyes, Cruz obliged. If anyone can hear us, she told the reporter: Help. By Thursday night, families were searching for water by the light of dwindling cellphone batteries and moonlight. They passed through a tunnel beneath a city wall, and found at the exit a water tank left there by the city - a godsend. And then they found their mayor. Cruz hugged them as they came to her. She handed to each family a small solar-powered lantern - a box of blessings, she called it. Now this is life, she told The Post. Her people were resilient, she said. Residents had taken the streets back from criminal gangs. But if the federal government didn't step up its response, she feared, people will die. Nearly 5,000 National Guard personnel were stationed on the island before the storm, according to the White House, and the government has sent thousands more to help in the days since. But they have struggled to get even basics like drinking water to those in need. A call with the White House earlier in this week had encouraged Cruz, she said. She told the federal government that 3,000 containers were sitting in a port, trapped behind electronic gates that wouldn't open. Since then, more federal personnel had arrived, and the government had sent pallets of water and food. But her city was still on the brink, Cruz said. On Thursday, in the White House driveway, acting Homeland Security Secretary Elaine Duke defended the Trump administration's response to the storm. It is really a good news story, in terms of our ability to reach people, the director said. Carmen Yulin Cruz shakes hands with a humbled US President Donald Trump after he criticised her leadership in the the aftermath of Hurricane Maria (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters) When Cruz heard that, she made good on her warning years earlier - that sometimes in politics you can't play nice. People are dying in this country, Cruz said at a news conference on Friday. I am begging, begging anyone that can hear us, to save us from dying. If anybody out there is listening to us, we are dying, and you are killing us with the inefficiency and the bureaucracy. And with that, the mayor of a ruined city drew the attention and ire of the President of the United States. The Mayor of San Juan, who was very complimentary only a few days ago, has now been told by the Democrats that you must be nasty to Trump, he wrote on Twitter. The latter remark perplexed many experts on Puerto Rican politics. I don't know if Trump's comments shows an utter lack of understanding of the political situation in Puerto Rico, or if it's just a cover to rally his base, said Yarimar Bonilla, an anthropologist at Rutgers University. It makes no sense. Politics in Puerto Rico are completely different than the mainland, with completely different parties. Last year, Bonilla surveyed 1,000 residents of island. Most had no affiliation with Republicans or Democrats, and many had no little understanding of either party. Cruz, who is widely expected to run for governor of the island, has some understanding, of course. She isn't affiliated with either party, but has occasionally supported former Democratic President Barack Obama's policies. During the 2012 election, she met with Obama's campaign manager to push for healthcare funding and education grants for Puerto Ricans. But that is a far cry from being a tool of the Democrats, said Amilcar Barreto, a Puerto Rican political expert at Northeastern University. Complaining about people on the island not having food, electricity, water is not partisan. That's just basic human necessity. On Saturday, Cruz dismissed Trump's tweets with a smile. She was dressed in combat boots and cargo pants as she oversaw the distribution of supplies from San Juan. The most powerful man in the world is concerned with a five-foot-tall, 120-pound little mayor of the city of San Juan, she said. Suddenly, many others were concerned as well. Cruz fielded calls all day long from US senators and business leaders. Reporters mobbed her for interviews. And all day long, her criticism of the relief effort did not soften. It's like a clogged artery, she said of federal government's bureaucratic hurdles. The heart has stopped beating. When asked if there was anything political in her barbed remarks, Cruz denied it. Donald Trump's international Presidential trips Show all 22 1 /22 Donald Trump's international Presidential trips Donald Trump's international Presidential trips French President Emmanuel Macron and US President Donald Trump AFP/Getty Images Donald Trump's international Presidential trips French President Emmanuel Macron and US President Donald Trump talk as they leave the Army Museum at Les Invalides in Paris AFP/Getty Images Donald Trump's international Presidential trips German Chancellor Angela Merkel and US President Donald Trump arrive for the group photo at the G7 Taormina summit on the island of Sicily in May 2017 Getty Images Donald Trump's international Presidential trips Mr Trump was pressed on the subject at the G7 summit in Italy Getty Donald Trump's international Presidential trips US President Donald Trump gives a speeech at the Warsaw Uprising Monument on Krasinski Square Getty Donald Trump's international Presidential trips US President Donald Trump and Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May during a ceremony at the NATO headquarters before the start of a summit in Brussels, Belgium Reuters Donald Trump's international Presidential trips Montenegro's Prime Minister Dusko Markovic is seen to the right of Donald Trump at a Nato summit in Brussels REUTERS Donald Trump's international Presidential trips Pope Francis meeting with US President Donald J. Trump EPA Donald Trump's international Presidential trips Pope Francis poses with US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump AFP/Getty Images Donald Trump's international Presidential trips US President Donald Trump arrives at Palazzo del Quirinale ahead of the meeting with Italian President Sergio Mattarella Ufficio Stampa Presidenza della via Getty Donald Trump's international Presidential trips US President Donald Trump is seen during a joint press conference with the Palestinian leader at the presidential palace in the West Bank city of Bethlehem AFP/Getty Images Donald Trump's international Presidential trips Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas meets US President Donald Trump PPO via Getty Donald Trump's international Presidential trips Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks with US President Donald Trump prior to the President's departure GPO via Getty Images Donald Trump's international Presidential trips US President Donald Trump and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shake hands after delivering a speech at the Israel Museum AFP/Getty Images Donald Trump's international Presidential trips US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump lay a wreath in the Hall of Remembrance as White House senior advisor Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump watch on during a visit to the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial museum AFP/Getty Images Donald Trump's international Presidential trips US President Donald Trump visit to Yad Vashem Holocaust museum in Jerusalem accompanied by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu GPO via Getty Images Donald Trump's international Presidential trips US President Donald Trump takes his seat before his speech to the Arab Islamic American Summit in Riyadh in Saudi Arabia Reuters Donald Trump's international Presidential trips Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud, US President Donald Trump and US First Lady Melania Trump look at a display of Saudi modern art at the Saudi Royal Court in Riyadh AFP/Getty Images Donald Trump's international Presidential trips US President Donald Trump and Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud take part in a signing ceremony at the Saudi Royal Court in Riyadh AFP/Getty Images Donald Trump's international Presidential trips King Salman presents Donald Trump with The Collar of Abdulaziz al-Saud Medal at the Royal Court Palace on 20 May AP Donald Trump's international Presidential trips US President Donald Trump is welcomed by Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud upon arrival at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh AFP/Getty Images Donald Trump's international Presidential trips U.S. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump walk on the South Lawn prior to their first foreign trip Getty Images I don't have time for politics, she said. There is a mission, and that is to save lives. Then in the middle of an interview, the Mayor got a call about a generator catching fire at San Juan hospital. She quickly mobilised her staff, barking out orders like a general. Then, within minutes, she was rushing once more out into her city. 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 }} Weeks after parts of the US were devastated by a pair of deadly hurricanes, forecasters are warning that another one could strike Americas Gulf Coast over the weekend. The newly formed tropical depression is currently lingering around 45 miles away the south west Caribbean island of San Andres. But Americas National Hurricane Center has warned it is expected to become a tropical storm. It then expects the storm to develop into a Category 1 hurricane over the weekend when it will hit somewhere between Mobile, Alabama and Floridas capital, Tallahassee. The announcement comes less than a month after large swathes of the southern US and Caribbean islands were left devastated by a series of hurricanes Hurricane Harvey lashed Texas causing flooding that put it on the scale of Hurricane Sandy in 2012. It was followed by one of the most powerful Atlantic storms on record, Hurricane Irma, which ravaged several islands in the northern Caribbean before churning into Floridas Gulf Coast. Lloyds of London underwriter Hiscox Ltd estimated on Monday that it would face net claims totalling about $225m (170m) from Harvey and Irma, as insurers and reinsurers count the cost of the hurricanes. Hurricane Maria later struck the island of Puerto Rico a US territory. The Mayor of the islands capital, Carmen Yulia Cruz called the devastation something close to genocide. Hurricane Irma devastation caused in pictures Show all 45 1 /45 Hurricane Irma devastation caused in pictures Hurricane Irma devastation caused in pictures Recently planted palm trees lie strewn across the road as Hurricane Irma passes by in Miami Beach, Fla. 10 September 2017. AP Hurricane Irma devastation caused in pictures Damage outside the Mercure hotel in Marigot, on the Bay of Nettle, on the island of Saint-Martin AFP/Getty Images Hurricane Irma devastation caused in pictures People pick up debris in Fajardo as Hurricane Irma howled past Puerto Rico after thrashing several smaller Caribbean islands Reuters/Alvin Baez Hurricane Irma devastation caused in pictures Large waves produced by Hurricane Irma crash into the end of Anglins Fishing Pier in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The category 4 hurricane made landfall in the United States in the Florida Keys at 9:10 a.m. after raking across the north coast of Cuba. 10 September 2017 Getty Images Hurricane Irma devastation caused in pictures A Royal Air Force Puma has been delivered to the US Virgin Islands to assist with the humanitarian efforts post Hurricane Irma. The Puma will be delivering Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief in support of the Department for International Development. Royal Air Force logisticians from RAF Brize Norton have assisted with the delivery of military personnel and aid cargo to the Caribbean to support disaster relief in the wake of Hurricane Irma. RAF aircraft including, C-17 A400M and Voyager are supporting a Joint Task Force of RAF, Royal Marines, Army and RN personnel who are supporting the Department for International Development as it delivers aid to stricken Caribbean Islands. MoD Hurricane Irma devastation caused in pictures Flamingos at Zoo Miami, are shown in a temporary enclosure in a hurricane resistant structure within the zoo, Saturday, 9 September 2017 in Miami. Though most animals will reman in their secure structures, the cheetahs and some birds will ride out the storm in temporary housing. AP Hurricane Irma devastation caused in pictures Boats are seen at a marina in South Beach as Hurricane Irma arrives at south Florida, in Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. 10 September 2017 Reuters Hurricane Irma devastation caused in pictures Storm clouds are seen over Fisher Island as Hurricane Irma approaches on 9 September 2017 in Miami Beach, Florida. Florida is in the path of the Hurricane which may come ashore at category 4 Getty Images Hurricane Irma devastation caused in pictures Waves crash over a seawall at the mouth of the Miami River from Biscayne Bay, Fla., as Hurricane Irma passes by. 10 September 2017 AP Hurricane Irma devastation caused in pictures Some of the damage on Saint Martin EPA/Gerben Van Es/Dutch Department of Defence Hurricane Irma devastation caused in pictures The skyline is seen as the outerbands of Hurricane Irma start to reach Florida on 9 September 2017 in Miami, Florida. Florida is in the path of the Hurricane which may come ashore at category 4. Getty Images Hurricane Irma devastation caused in pictures A tree toped by hurricane Irma is seen on a empty street in Remedios, Cuba, 9 September 2017. Hurricane Irma reached Cuba bringing winds between 160 and 190 kilometers per hour. The hurricane has hit the north coast of the island. EPA Hurricane Irma devastation caused in pictures James Constantineau loads sands bags in his truck as he prepares for the approach of Hurricane Irma Saturday, 9 September 2017, in East Palatka, Fla. Gov. Rick Scott is urging anyone living in an evacuation zone in southwest Florida to leave by noon as the threat of Hurricane Irma has shifted west. AP Hurricane Irma devastation caused in pictures The Fort Louis Marina in Marigot is seen on 8 September 2017 in Saint-Martin island, devastated by Hurricane Irma. AFP Hurricane Irma devastation caused in pictures Destruction in Orient Bay on the island of Saint-Martin AFP/Getty Hurricane Irma devastation caused in pictures The wreckage in Orient Bay on the island of Saint-Martin AFP/Getty Hurricane Irma devastation caused in pictures View of the aftermath of Hurricane Irma on Saint Martin Reuters Hurricane Irma devastation caused in pictures A mobile network tower snapped in two by the hurricane on the island of Barbuda ABS TV Hurricane Irma devastation caused in pictures A house reduced to rubble on the island of Saint Barthelemy AFP/Getty Images Hurricane Irma devastation caused in pictures General view of damage on Saint Martin Reuters Hurricane Irma devastation caused in pictures A damaged Casino Royale on Saint Martin after the passage of Hurricane Irma Anna Mazur/AFP Hurricane Irma devastation caused in pictures An aerial photograph taken and released by the Dutch department of Defense shows the damage of Hurricane Irma in Philipsburg, Sint Maarten, the Dutch section of the Caribbean Island Gerben Van Es/AFP Hurricane Irma devastation caused in pictures Flooded houses in Gustavia on the island of Saint-Barthelemy Kevin Barrallon/AFP Hurricane Irma devastation caused in pictures The damage on the island of Saint-Martin, a day after Hurricane Irma hit AFP/Getty Images Hurricane Irma devastation caused in pictures A man carrying an umbrella is battered by the wind in Fajardo, Puerto Rico Reuters/Alvin Baez Hurricane Irma devastation caused in pictures A lone police car on patrol during the passing of Hurricane Irma in Fajardo, Puerto Rico Jose Jimenez/Getty Images Hurricane Irma devastation caused in pictures Haitian people walk through the wind and rain on a beach in Cap-Haitien on September 7 as Hurricane Irma approaches Hector Retamal/AFP/Getty Images Hurricane Irma devastation caused in pictures A flooded street on the island of Saint Martin AFP/Getty Images Hurricane Irma devastation caused in pictures A tree collapsed on a house in Saint Martin Hurricane Irma devastation caused in pictures A hotel in Saint Martin is gutted by floodwater during the hurricane Guadeloupe 1ere Hurricane Irma devastation caused in pictures Cars submerged in Saint Martin Rinsy Xieng Hurricane Irma devastation caused in pictures Debris floats amongst the floodwater in Saint Martin @la1ere Hurricane Irma devastation caused in pictures Household items float down the street in Gustavia, Saint-Barthelemy Carole Greaux Hurricane Irma devastation caused in pictures The coast of Saint Martin is flooded as the hurricane hits the island Meteo Express Hurricane Irma devastation caused in pictures A whole street underwater in Saint Martin @la1ere Hurricane Irma devastation caused in pictures A car crashes into the tree amongst the chaos in Saint Martin @Bondtehond Hurricane Irma devastation caused in pictures A building on the Saint Martin seafront, destroyed by the hurricane @Bondtehond Hurricane Irma devastation caused in pictures A mobile home overturned at Princess Juliana International Airport in Saint Martin @Bondtehond Hurricane Irma devastation caused in pictures Palm trees bend in the wind in San Juan, Puerto Rico as Hurricane Irma slammed across islands in the northern Caribbean Reuters/Alvin Baez Hurricane Irma devastation caused in pictures A woman runs in the rain as Hurricane Irma slammed into San Juan, Puerto Rico Reuters/Alvin Baez Hurricane Irma devastation caused in pictures A picture taken on September 5, 2017 shows a view of the Baie Nettle beach in Marigot, with the wind blowing ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Irma AFP/Getty Images Hurricane Irma devastation caused in pictures A man rides past a boarded up house as part of preparations ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Irma on September 5, 2017, in the French overseas island of Guadeloupe Helene Valenzuela/AFP Hurricane Irma devastation caused in pictures Employees of the Mercure Hotel fill sand bags on the Baie Nettle beach in Marigot, as part of the preparations for the arrival of Hurricane Irma Lionel Chamoiseau/AFP Hurricane Irma devastation caused in pictures People in line at Costco, as they find out the store has ran out of water on September 5, 2017 in North Miami Michele Eve Sandberg/AFP Hurricane Irma devastation caused in pictures Night view of the city of Cap-Haitien, in the north of Haiti, 240 km from Port-au-Prince, on September 5, 2017 Hector Retamal/AFP Almost two weeks on, nearly half of all Puerto Ricans remain without power, and many have limited access to food and water. Oxfam International a global organisation working to end world poverty has ste pped in to help, citing the US government's "slow and inadequate response". Recommended US Army faces race against time to shore up vital Puerto Rico dam President Donald Trump finally visited the island earlier this week after sparring with Ms Cruz, after she took to the airwaves earlier this week to beg for assistance for the island's capital. "Such poor leadership ability by the Mayor of San Juan, and others in Puerto Rico, who are not able to get their workers to help," Mr Trump tweeted. "They want everything to be done for them when it should be a community effort." After meeting with officials on the island At the meeting, Mr Trump joked that recovery efforts had hampered the federal budget. I hate to tell you Puerto Rico, but youve thrown our budget a little out of whack, because we have spent a lot of money on Puerto Rico and thats fine, he said. He also said that said Puerto Rico should be very proud of the death toll from Hurricane Maria, contrasting it to the thousands of people who died in Hurricane Katrina. 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 gunman who killed 58 people and injured hundreds more at a Las Vegas concert had rented another room in the city on the weekend of an alternative music festival, investigators said. Sheriff Joseph Lombardo told reporters that Stephen Paddock rented a room through Airbnb at the Ogden hotel in downtown Las Vegas but didn't know why. He said investigators have recovered items and video from the hotel, which was rented over the weekend of 22 to 24 September. The Life is Beautiful festival featured Chance the Rapper, Muse, Lorde and Blink-182. Sheriff Lombardo made the revelation at a news conference where he provided a detailed timeline of events. Calling Paddock disturbed and dangerous", he added that the number of injured was now confirmed at 489 people, although many had been released from the city's hospitals. His comments came shortly after Paddocks girlfriend said that she had no idea he was planning an attack on the Strip and was devastated for the victims. A lawyer for Marilou Danley read a statement from her after she was questioned by FBI agents in Los Angeles about her boyfriend. Las Vegas shooting in pictures Show all 15 1 /15 Las Vegas shooting in pictures Las Vegas shooting in pictures People scramble for shelter at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival after gun fire was heard Getty Las Vegas shooting in pictures People carry a person at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival after shots were fired David Becker/Getty Las Vegas shooting in pictures People run from the Route 91 Harvest country music festival after gun fire was heard David Becker/Getty Las Vegas shooting in pictures A handout photo released via Twitter by Eiki Hrafnsson (@EirikurH) showing concertgoers running away from the scene (C) after shots range out at the Route 91 Harvest festival on Las Vegas Boulevard EPA/Eiki Hrafnsson Las Vegas shooting in pictures People lie on the ground at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival after hearing gun fire Getty Las Vegas shooting in pictures A man in a wheelchair is taken away from the Route 91 Harvest country music festival after hearing gun fire David Becker/Getty Las Vegas shooting in pictures People stand on the street outside the Mandalay Bay hotel near the scene of the Route 91 Harvest festival on Las Vegas Boulevard EPA/Paul Buck Las Vegas shooting in pictures FBI agents confer in front of the Tropicana hotel-casino after a mass shooting during a music festival on the Las Vegas Strip Reuters/Las Vegas Sun/Steve Marcus Las Vegas shooting in pictures Las Vegas police run by a banner on the fence at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival grounds after shots were fired David Becker/Getty Las Vegas shooting in pictures An injured person is tended to in the intersection of Tropicana Ave. and Las Vegas Boulevard after a mass shooting at a country music festival Ethan Miller/Getty Las Vegas shooting in pictures Metro Police officers pass by the front of the Tropicana hotel-casino after a mass shooting at a music festival on the Las Vegas Strip Reuters/Las Vegas Sun/Steve Marcus Las Vegas shooting in pictures A woman sits on a curb at the scene of a shooting outside of a music festival along the Las Vegas Strip AP/John Locher Las Vegas shooting in pictures A cowboy hat lays in the street after shots were fired near a country music festival in Las Vegas Getty Las Vegas shooting in pictures Las Vegas Metro Police and medical workers stage in the intersection of Tropicana Avenue and Las Vegas Boulevard South after a mass shooting at a music festival on the Las Vegas Strip Reuters/Las Vegas Sun/Steve Marcus Las Vegas shooting in pictures Sheriff Joe Lombardo (2-R) speaking during a press briefing in the aftermath of the active shooter incident on Las Vegas Boulevard EPA Ms Danley was out of the country at the time of the attack and said Paddock sent her to see her family in her native Philippines. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump traveled to Las Vegas to meet with law enforcement officers and survivors of the shooting outside the Mandalay Bay hotel casino. FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe , speaking at a cybersecurity forum in Boston, said investigators are busy "reconstructing the life, the behaviour, the pattern of activity of this individual and anyone and everyone who may have crossed his path in the days and the weeks leading up to this horrific event." Asked if investigators had determined why Paddock carried out the attack, he said, "We are not there yet." 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 }} Bullets fired by Las Vegas gunman Stephen Paddock hit large aviation fuel tanks near the site of the Route 91 music festival, a law enforcement source has said. One of the bullets penetrated the tank but did not cause a fire or explosion, according to a report by the Las Vegas Review-Journal. The fuel tanks were in the line of sight during Mr Paddocks attack on concert-goers, but it is not known if he was specifically targeting the containers. The tanks are situated just beyond the music festival area, around 2,000 feet from the Mandalay Bay Hotel from which Mr Paddock fired into the crowd, killing 58 people and injuring hundreds more. The tanks sit on property owned by McCarran International Airport. County Clark Sheriff Joseph Lombardo told a press conference on Wednesday around 1,600 rounds of ammunition and containers of explosives were found in Mr Paddocks car at the hotel. Police said there was evidence Mr Paddock, who was found dead in his hotel room 75 minutes after the first 9/11 call, intended to survive the attack. Recommended Inside one of the Las Vegas blood donation centres One week earlier, he had rented an apartment overlooking another open-air music festival in downtown Las Vegas. Police said the reasons why Mr Paddock committed the atrocity is still unknown and whether there were any possible accomplices remains a mystery, although it was likely he had some help. Mr Lombardo told reporters: You look at the weapon obtaining, the different amounts of Tannerite [explosives] available, do you think this was all accomplished on his own? On face value, youve got to make the assumption he had to have some help at some point, and we want to ensure that thats the answer. The girlfriend of Mr Paddock, Marilou Danley, said she was not aware he was planning any violence, but said that a trip to the Philippines he sent her on during the shooting was a way to end their relationship. Las Vegas shooting in pictures Show all 15 1 /15 Las Vegas shooting in pictures Las Vegas shooting in pictures People scramble for shelter at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival after gun fire was heard Getty Las Vegas shooting in pictures People carry a person at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival after shots were fired David Becker/Getty Las Vegas shooting in pictures People run from the Route 91 Harvest country music festival after gun fire was heard David Becker/Getty Las Vegas shooting in pictures A handout photo released via Twitter by Eiki Hrafnsson (@EirikurH) showing concertgoers running away from the scene (C) after shots range out at the Route 91 Harvest festival on Las Vegas Boulevard EPA/Eiki Hrafnsson Las Vegas shooting in pictures People lie on the ground at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival after hearing gun fire Getty Las Vegas shooting in pictures A man in a wheelchair is taken away from the Route 91 Harvest country music festival after hearing gun fire David Becker/Getty Las Vegas shooting in pictures People stand on the street outside the Mandalay Bay hotel near the scene of the Route 91 Harvest festival on Las Vegas Boulevard EPA/Paul Buck Las Vegas shooting in pictures FBI agents confer in front of the Tropicana hotel-casino after a mass shooting during a music festival on the Las Vegas Strip Reuters/Las Vegas Sun/Steve Marcus Las Vegas shooting in pictures Las Vegas police run by a banner on the fence at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival grounds after shots were fired David Becker/Getty Las Vegas shooting in pictures An injured person is tended to in the intersection of Tropicana Ave. and Las Vegas Boulevard after a mass shooting at a country music festival Ethan Miller/Getty Las Vegas shooting in pictures Metro Police officers pass by the front of the Tropicana hotel-casino after a mass shooting at a music festival on the Las Vegas Strip Reuters/Las Vegas Sun/Steve Marcus Las Vegas shooting in pictures A woman sits on a curb at the scene of a shooting outside of a music festival along the Las Vegas Strip AP/John Locher Las Vegas shooting in pictures A cowboy hat lays in the street after shots were fired near a country music festival in Las Vegas Getty Las Vegas shooting in pictures Las Vegas Metro Police and medical workers stage in the intersection of Tropicana Avenue and Las Vegas Boulevard South after a mass shooting at a music festival on the Las Vegas Strip Reuters/Las Vegas Sun/Steve Marcus Las Vegas shooting in pictures Sheriff Joe Lombardo (2-R) speaking during a press briefing in the aftermath of the active shooter incident on Las Vegas Boulevard EPA Ms Danley, who spoke to the FBI on Wednesday, said she knew Mr Paddock as a kind, caring, quiet man and said she was devastated by the deaths and injuries that have occurred. In a statement released via her lawyer, she said she planned to cooperate fully with the investigation. 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 }} Authorities investigating the Las Vegas massacre are reportedly seeking information on a second woman seen with assailant Stephen Paddock. Police have said that the killer acted alone when he rained down bullets on a country music concert from his room at the Mandalay Bay Hotel, killing 59 and injuring 489. They have questioned Paddocks girlfriend, Marilou Danley, but have said she is not a suspect. However, investigators have broadened their inquiry and are hoping to learn more about a woman spotted with him in the days before he opened fire, according to NBC News. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department did not immediately respond to The Independents request for comment. Citing anonymous law enforcement officials, NBC News reported that investigators are seeking the mystery woman to help them construct a timeline of the days leading up to the attack. Some details of that timeline have already emerged. Officials have sketched out how Paddock methodically prepared for days after checking into his room, which had sweeping view over the concert ground. There he stockpiled guns and set up a surveillance system. A raid of his home in a retirement community uncovered another armoury of firearms, ammunition and explosives. Labelled a person of interest by authorities, Ms Danley returned to America from the Philippines yesterday and was questioned by the FBI. Las Vegas shooting in pictures Show all 15 1 /15 Las Vegas shooting in pictures Las Vegas shooting in pictures People scramble for shelter at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival after gun fire was heard Getty Las Vegas shooting in pictures People carry a person at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival after shots were fired David Becker/Getty Las Vegas shooting in pictures People run from the Route 91 Harvest country music festival after gun fire was heard David Becker/Getty Las Vegas shooting in pictures A handout photo released via Twitter by Eiki Hrafnsson (@EirikurH) showing concertgoers running away from the scene (C) after shots range out at the Route 91 Harvest festival on Las Vegas Boulevard EPA/Eiki Hrafnsson Las Vegas shooting in pictures People lie on the ground at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival after hearing gun fire Getty Las Vegas shooting in pictures A man in a wheelchair is taken away from the Route 91 Harvest country music festival after hearing gun fire David Becker/Getty Las Vegas shooting in pictures People stand on the street outside the Mandalay Bay hotel near the scene of the Route 91 Harvest festival on Las Vegas Boulevard EPA/Paul Buck Las Vegas shooting in pictures FBI agents confer in front of the Tropicana hotel-casino after a mass shooting during a music festival on the Las Vegas Strip Reuters/Las Vegas Sun/Steve Marcus Las Vegas shooting in pictures Las Vegas police run by a banner on the fence at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival grounds after shots were fired David Becker/Getty Las Vegas shooting in pictures An injured person is tended to in the intersection of Tropicana Ave. and Las Vegas Boulevard after a mass shooting at a country music festival Ethan Miller/Getty Las Vegas shooting in pictures Metro Police officers pass by the front of the Tropicana hotel-casino after a mass shooting at a music festival on the Las Vegas Strip Reuters/Las Vegas Sun/Steve Marcus Las Vegas shooting in pictures A woman sits on a curb at the scene of a shooting outside of a music festival along the Las Vegas Strip AP/John Locher Las Vegas shooting in pictures A cowboy hat lays in the street after shots were fired near a country music festival in Las Vegas Getty Las Vegas shooting in pictures Las Vegas Metro Police and medical workers stage in the intersection of Tropicana Avenue and Las Vegas Boulevard South after a mass shooting at a music festival on the Las Vegas Strip Reuters/Las Vegas Sun/Steve Marcus Las Vegas shooting in pictures Sheriff Joe Lombardo (2-R) speaking during a press briefing in the aftermath of the active shooter incident on Las Vegas Boulevard EPA She released a statement through her attorney disavowing any knowledge of Mr Paddocks plot. I knew Stephen as a kind, caring, quiet man, her statement. I loved him and hoped for a quiet future together. He never said anything to me, or took any action that I was aware of that I understood in any way to be a warning that something horrible like this was going to happen. 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 }} Earthquake-hit Mexico has itself offered aid to Puerto Rico in the wake of Hurricane Marias destructive passage through the Caribbean. The US's southern neighbour plans to ship experts from its state-run power company to the island, where large numbers of people are without electricity, along with 30 tonnes of water and mosquito repellent. The offer came on Wednesday, a day after President Donald Trump visited Puerto Rico. He told islanders they could be very proud that more people had not perished in the storm, compared to the toll from a real catastrophe like Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Recommended US Army faces race against time to shore up vital Puerto Rico dam Mexicos offer comes in the context of strained relations with the US in the months since Mr Trump took office. The President has promised to build a wall along the US's southern border to keep out illegal immigrants and drugs, and repeatedly claimed Mexico will pay for it. Mexico had planned to send material assistance to the US after Hurricane Harvey, which hit Texas in late August, but later withdrew the offer after the first of the two earthquakes struck in the countrys south in early September. Mr Trump was criticised in Mexico for the time he took to offer condolences to his Mexican counterpart, Enrique Pena Nieto, over the first quake, which killed at least 98 people. The US president later said he had been unable to reach Mr Pena Nieto because of poor phone reception. But after Maria struck Puerto Rico, the local mobile phone operator of Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim proved more reliable than some US competitors during the early days of the communications outage across the island of 3.4 million people. Pledging an all-out relief effort in the US Caribbean territory, and thanking those who had praised the federal response so far, Mr Trump added on Tuesday: Now I hate to tell you, Puerto Rico, but youve thrown our budget a little out of whack because weve spent a lot of money on Puerto Rico. And thats fine. Weve saved a lot of lives. Some 34 people are thought to have died on the island. Donald Trump heckled by spectator over Puerto Rico During his visit to Puerto Rico, Mr Trump threw rolls of paper towels into a crowd in the Guaynabo district, a move described by Carmen Yulin Cruz, the mayor of San Juan, as terrible and abominable. Ms Yulin Cruz has faced venomous public attacks by the President after criticising elements of the governments response to Maria. She said: Sometimes his style of communication gets in the way. I would hope that the president of the United States stops spouting out comments that really hurt the people of Puerto Rico. 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 seaside city of Loiza might be Anyplace, Puerto Rico, right now no power, scant food and drinking water, telephone poles lolling broken on house-tops. Add standing water, mixed with sewage, stewing under the sun. Even the swollen iguanas know something is off with nature. Strung along the northeastern shoulder of Puerto Rico, it does, however, have something many other communities clamouring for assistance in the wake of last months hurricane do not: its barely twenty minutes from the international airport in San Juan and therefore the rest of the world. That should make it a first stop of any island-wide effort to distribute emergency aid. And yet it seems to be no advantage at all. More than two weeks after Hurricane Maria struck, Loiza and its 29,000 inhabitants, many of whom were already living in dire poverty, are still largely on their own. There are no US soldiers handing out bottled water in the town square or keeping order when the sun goes down and you cant see beyond the toes of your boots. There is still only one available truck for city officials to attempt to get what supplies they do have nothing is more urgent than bottled water to all 44 communities that make up the city. Most astounding of all, nobody has yet thought to give the citys increasingly desperate mayor, Julia Nozorio Fuentes, a satellite phone. She has no connectivity to the rest of the island. None. That this is the situation so close to where much of the US aid and manpower is coming into Puerto Rico is a parable of the predicament of the island as a whole. President Donald Trump, who paid a brief visit there on Tuesday, has declared that the emergency response has been going swimmingly. In Loiza, like in so many other places, they beg to differ, obviously. At her wits end: Mayor Julia Nozorio Fuentes needs more help now (David Usborne) The only thing we have seen here were the military helicopters that were flying above us to protect the president when he was here, Luis Daniel Pizarro, whose job for the town is to coordinate federal programmes, noted sourly. I think that once people see a military presence or military order on the streets, it will become a little more relaxed. The town was entirely cut off for three days after the storm by water. We became an island within an island, said Mr Pizarro. Thats in part because several sections of it are below sea level, especially its most impoverished districts. It also sits on the wide estuary of the Rio Grande de Loiza river. Water careening from the mountains and a surge from the ocean converged to create a historic flood. It hardly helped that for nearly a week, the only road to San Juan was buried under thick drifts of orange sand driven by the winds off the beach. A few things are starting to get better. There are only about 60 people left at the elementary school that became the towns main emergency shelter when Maria struck, down from nearly two hundred. Some of the floodwaters that inundated thousands of homes have receded. Yet, in other ways, they may be getting worse. The water that remains is fetid with human waste and a breeding ground for mosquitoes and disease. Those who had money before the storm are running out because the banks are closed and without electricity the cash machines are dead. Social welfare benefits are not coming through. And people are just tired and discouraged. Can I speak frankly? Mr Pizarro asked, guiding The Independent through some of the worst-hit areas. I am very disappointed. We are fifteen miles from an international airport and we still have almost nothing. The water is not reaching us, its not enough. We keep hearing that aid is coming to the ports and the airport and for some reason it is not being distributed fast enough. Daisy Calderon is one of those still at the shelter. For the first ten days after the storm she and everyone else had to sleep on the concrete floors of its classrooms. Even camp-beds couldnt be found. She sees the same problem food and water may have come to Puerto Rico but bad distribution means it has not come to them. The situation is horrible, she said. They think they are helping but if they are not able to get the help to us than they are not doing their job. Daisy Calderon at the elementary school in Loiza that has been its main shelter since Hurricane Maria struck (David Usborne) Ms Calderon, 47, and her family mean to get back to their house soon. But she says everything there has been ruined, including all her clothes. She used to make money doing peoples hair in her kitchen. But without electricity, which wont be back for months, thats impossible. Her husband delivers food to schools. But the schools will remain closed for weeks or longer. She said the only money for the family will be the $350 (266) a month they get in federal food stamps. We think it is going to get more serious. People are very destroyed, warned Mayor Fuentes, whose first floor office in city hall, a modest cement building painted yellow, is besieged every day by residents demanding food and drinking water. At about 5 foot tall, she is almost at her wits end. Every night at 8pm she drives to the next big town where the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Fema, has an office just to beg beg for more help for her people. A postcard of American goodwill is included in every Fema food box along with the apple sauce and ravioli (David Usborne) I think they are trying but the strategy they are using is not the correct one, she explained. They have to come to the towns directly. They have to distribute in every town. Some food boxes have been coming in from Fema, but far too few of them. And according to the mayor whats inside them apple sauce, sweet treats, two cans of Italian ravioli is all wrong. They dont want that kind of food. They dont need snacks. They need rice. People are desperate. She needs more trucks and more water. And she needs Fema to understand better that Loiza is not Orlando or Houston. For now, it is asking residents who need help fixing their homes almost everyone to apply online, obviously a laughable request. Even if everyone in Loiza was computer literate, there are no computers to register on. And there is no electricity. Asked what she thought of Mr Trumps assurance that the relief effort is going well, Mayor Fuentes seemed unsure whether to speak or bite her tongue. Thats what Donald Trump says, but he didnt come to Loiza, he went to a town that is rich, she finally offered, referring to his stop on Tuesday in one of the more prosperous parts of San Juan. We are poor, very poor. Back at the shelter, Melanie Pizanno Quinones, 19, spends most her days trying to keep her 18-month daughter, Kamila, out of trouble and monitoring her sugar levels. Kamila has diabetes. She is grateful to be there the windows, doors, the roof are all gone from her home but she too voiced dissatisfaction with the relief effort. There is not enough food, she said. The day we visit, the shelter was filled with rumours about Mr Trump and his visit, prompted, it seemed, by a moment captured by the media of him hurling rolls of kitchen towel into a crowd in San Juan. No one in Loiza had seen the reports, but word had been filtering out. They are saying he threw paper towels in the face of the governor, Ms Quinones said. Thats what they are saying here. They are saying he is not going to help the people, that he doesnt like the people here. She paused and seemed to make up her mind. Trump is doing nothing. You are throwing paper towels when people here are dying. He is doing nothing to help us. 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 US city has declared the second Monday in October the day Columbus Day falls on as Indigenous Peoples' Day. To cheers from a packed room, Salt Lake City Council members unanimously signed a resolution that encourages citizens, businesses and schools to also celebrate the day. Celebrating the two holidays the same day is a way to inform our understanding of each others contributions to our national fabric without demeaning the significance of either, Stan Penfold, council chairman, said. Columbus Day is celebrated in countries around the Americas to celebrate the anniversary of Christopher Columbuss arrival on the continent on 12 October 1492. The moment marked the start of the European colonisation of the landmass and centuries of mistreatment towards the indigenous population. Salt Lake City joins 18 other cities - including Los Angeles - in 2017 to introduce Indigenous Peoples' Day on the same date as Columbus Day. Moroni Benally, Co-Founder of the Utah League of Native American Voters, said the resolution was a symbol with power and meaning in acknowledging a wrong doing to Native Americans. Native American tribe takes oil fight to the UN It represents a step towards correcting a history that has been sanitised, he added. Senator Jim Dabakis, who failed to pass the bill at state level in 2016, said until now Native Americans had no day to celebrate. "There's 50,000 Native Americans and they get diddly-squat. Theres no remembrance, theres no celebration, he said. The Italian-American Civic League sent a letter condemning the decision, branding it an uncalled-for affront to our culture and degrading to Italian-Americans. Charlie Luke, vice-chair of the council, responded that it was not eliminating Columbus Day. We are simply adding another group to honour on the same day, he said. Indigenous Peoples' Day will be celebrated this year on 9 October in Salt Lake City. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Two US lawmakers are pushing for Congress to classify stealthing the act of secretly removing a condom during sex as rape. The practice, which transforms a consensual act into a non-consensual one, puts the partner at risk of sexually transmitted infections and unwanted pregnancies. The phenomenon has gained increasing attention in recent months as growing numbers of women have spoken out about their experiences. Democratic Representatives Ro Khanna, who is from California, and Carolyn Maloney, from New York, sent a letter to the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday asking its members to address the problem. The lawmakers argued a hearing on the subject matter would mean members of Congress became better informed about the issue. Consent is not up for discussion, it is a requirement for the entirety of any sexual interaction. Stealthing violates an agreement between partners and is a dangerous form of sexual assault, Mr Khanna said in a statement. The implications of the practice of non-consensual condom removal are far-reaching with respect to the ongoing national conversation on the definition of consensual sex. The representatives say the disgraceful practice can inflict psychological harm on its victims and argue it needs to be seen as a "violation of trust and dignity between two sexual partners and acknowledged when developing policies to stop sexual assault and rape." "Recent legal and academic articles have considered how nonconsensual condom removal could, in fact, turn consensual sex into nonconsensual sex by way of different legal mechanisms," they said in the letter. Nevertheless, it continues to be an act which does not fit easily into legal frameworks and definitions of rape and sexual assault. "I am horrified that we even need to be having this conversation, that a sexual partner would violate their partner's trust and consent like this. Stealthing is sexual assault," Ms Maloney said in a further statement. "We need a hearing so that Congress can hear from the experts about how to best address this issue as we continue to amend our country's and universities' responses to sexual assault and rape." 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 practice gained national attention after Yale Law School graduate Alexandra Brodsky published a study about how online groups are perpetuating the act back in April. Her research led her to stumble upon online communities of men discussing how to get away with stealthing and swapping tips. Ms Brodsky has since explained that she chose to embark on the research back in law school in 2013 when she became aware of how many of her friends were struggling with mistreatment by sexual partners which were not deemed to be part of the familiar accepted gamut of gender-based violence. She argues stealthing is "rape-adjacent" and demands specific laws for condom removal to be introduced. Since the article, rape crisis organisations have come forward to support her views and argue it is a sex crime. In May, lawmakers in Wisconsin and California introduced bills to change the definition of consent and rape to include interfering with a sexually protective device without informing the other person. 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 }} Following the massacre in Las Vegas, right wing pundits are searching for something more to explain what happened. Faced with reporting on the worst mass shooting in modern American history committed by a 64-year-old white man with no apparent ties to terrorist networks some commenters have hesitated. Can we hate a man if we dont know why he rained gunfire down on innocent concert-goers? Bin Laden we knew who to hate. You saw Sandy Hook? We knew that mutant living in his basement. We dont even know enough about him to hate him yet, Brian Kilmeade, a co-host of Fox & Friends said during that networks coverage of the shooting. Meanwhile, others didn't even wonder how they might hate him, they simply placed blame elsewhere. Alex Jones, the conspiracy theorist host at Info Wars, cast blame on just about everyone including leftists, communists, globalist, Isis, and anti-fascists - or antifa. "Why does the left bring the very groups that are trying to kill you?" Mr Jones asked on his show. Las Vegas shooting in pictures Show all 15 1 /15 Las Vegas shooting in pictures Las Vegas shooting in pictures People scramble for shelter at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival after gun fire was heard Getty Las Vegas shooting in pictures People carry a person at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival after shots were fired David Becker/Getty Las Vegas shooting in pictures People run from the Route 91 Harvest country music festival after gun fire was heard David Becker/Getty Las Vegas shooting in pictures A handout photo released via Twitter by Eiki Hrafnsson (@EirikurH) showing concertgoers running away from the scene (C) after shots range out at the Route 91 Harvest festival on Las Vegas Boulevard EPA/Eiki Hrafnsson Las Vegas shooting in pictures People lie on the ground at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival after hearing gun fire Getty Las Vegas shooting in pictures A man in a wheelchair is taken away from the Route 91 Harvest country music festival after hearing gun fire David Becker/Getty Las Vegas shooting in pictures People stand on the street outside the Mandalay Bay hotel near the scene of the Route 91 Harvest festival on Las Vegas Boulevard EPA/Paul Buck Las Vegas shooting in pictures FBI agents confer in front of the Tropicana hotel-casino after a mass shooting during a music festival on the Las Vegas Strip Reuters/Las Vegas Sun/Steve Marcus Las Vegas shooting in pictures Las Vegas police run by a banner on the fence at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival grounds after shots were fired David Becker/Getty Las Vegas shooting in pictures An injured person is tended to in the intersection of Tropicana Ave. and Las Vegas Boulevard after a mass shooting at a country music festival Ethan Miller/Getty Las Vegas shooting in pictures Metro Police officers pass by the front of the Tropicana hotel-casino after a mass shooting at a music festival on the Las Vegas Strip Reuters/Las Vegas Sun/Steve Marcus Las Vegas shooting in pictures A woman sits on a curb at the scene of a shooting outside of a music festival along the Las Vegas Strip AP/John Locher Las Vegas shooting in pictures A cowboy hat lays in the street after shots were fired near a country music festival in Las Vegas Getty Las Vegas shooting in pictures Las Vegas Metro Police and medical workers stage in the intersection of Tropicana Avenue and Las Vegas Boulevard South after a mass shooting at a music festival on the Las Vegas Strip Reuters/Las Vegas Sun/Steve Marcus Las Vegas shooting in pictures Sheriff Joe Lombardo (2-R) speaking during a press briefing in the aftermath of the active shooter incident on Las Vegas Boulevard EPA In response to the outcry from conservative pundits, the Daily Show's Trevor Noah mocked the idea that it would be hard to find a way to hate a mass killer. "That is so true. How do you hate someone who's killed 59 people?" Noah said, including the shooter's death in the death toll. "Because he's not Muslim. He wasn't known to be mentally ill, he doesn't kneel for the anthem, he's just a rich white guy who shot people at a country music concert. How do you hate him? There's nothing to hate." Stephen Paddock broke two windows in his suite on the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino Sunday night and killed 58 people, while injuring nearly 500 more before killing himself. He had 23 guns in his hotel room, some of them modified so that they could shoot at a near-automatic pace. While Paddock's motives are still unclear, he had amassed his stockpile of guns since 1982, with the last purchase just days before the shooting. Las Vegas is the deadliest mass shooting in modern American history, with no other coming anywhere near matching the number of deaths and injured combined. But, some right wing media pundits, echoing a sentiment often seen on bumper stickers, argue that it isnt guns that kill people: Its people and their ideologies or sicknesses who kill people. Its clear Paddock was committing this atrocity for a cause, radio Host Bill Mitchell, an ardent supporter of Donald Trump, said. Considering the nature of his victims, most likely #Antifa or #ISIS or both. It later emerged that Paddock had booked stays looking over at least two other music festivals like Lollapalooza in Chicago, which don't necessarily have the same conservative audience as the Route 91 country music festival he ultimately targeted. But, just like with a motive for the shooting in Las Vegas, officials haven't said if he was planning on attacks at those events. Echoing a similar sentiment, Fox News commentator Tomi Lahren also argued that gun laws in the United States where mass shootings occur nearly every day isnt the point. Media focusing on guns, she said. Theres something bigger here. I think theres something more about Paddock and his girlfriend that hasnt been revealed. Marilou Danley, Paddocks girlfriend, returned to the United States Wednesday, and her lawyer says that she plans on fully cooperating with the FBIs investigation. It is unclear what Ms Danley may be able to tell authorities to help them determine a motive behind the attack, but she did say that she saw no indicator that her gun collecting boyfriend would turn violent. In the gun shops that Paddock returned to repeatedly to buy the legal firearms, neither did the employees. 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 }} More than a month before the Las Vegas mass shooting, a man believed to be the shooter booked a hotel room overlooking yet another popular music festival. The Blackstone Hotel told The Independent that a man named Stephen Paddock had booked a room during the Lollapolooza festival, but failed to show up. "We can confirm that a reservation was made under the name Stephen Paddock, however authorities have not confirmed that this is the same person as the Las Vegas shooter," a spokesperson for the hotel said. "We are cooperating with the authorities on this matter." Senior law enforcement officials told NBC News that Paddock, 64, had rented a room at a Chicago hotel, and also researched locations in Boston. Investigators looking into Paddock also came across mention of Fenway Park, Boston police Lt. Detective Mike McCarthy said, with the police saying in a further statement that there was no threat to any venue in the city. The Chicago Police Department said officers were aware of the reports and were looking into them. "We are aware of recent media reports concerning Chicago and the Blackstone hotel and have been in communication with our federal partners," CPD spokesman Anthony Guglielmi tweeted. He added: "As you saw earlier this week the city conducts extensive public safety planning and training around major events, in close coordination with our law enforcement partners, to ensure public safety." Las Vegas shooting in pictures Show all 15 1 /15 Las Vegas shooting in pictures Las Vegas shooting in pictures People scramble for shelter at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival after gun fire was heard Getty Las Vegas shooting in pictures People carry a person at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival after shots were fired David Becker/Getty Las Vegas shooting in pictures People run from the Route 91 Harvest country music festival after gun fire was heard David Becker/Getty Las Vegas shooting in pictures A handout photo released via Twitter by Eiki Hrafnsson (@EirikurH) showing concertgoers running away from the scene (C) after shots range out at the Route 91 Harvest festival on Las Vegas Boulevard EPA/Eiki Hrafnsson Las Vegas shooting in pictures People lie on the ground at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival after hearing gun fire Getty Las Vegas shooting in pictures A man in a wheelchair is taken away from the Route 91 Harvest country music festival after hearing gun fire David Becker/Getty Las Vegas shooting in pictures People stand on the street outside the Mandalay Bay hotel near the scene of the Route 91 Harvest festival on Las Vegas Boulevard EPA/Paul Buck Las Vegas shooting in pictures FBI agents confer in front of the Tropicana hotel-casino after a mass shooting during a music festival on the Las Vegas Strip Reuters/Las Vegas Sun/Steve Marcus Las Vegas shooting in pictures Las Vegas police run by a banner on the fence at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival grounds after shots were fired David Becker/Getty Las Vegas shooting in pictures An injured person is tended to in the intersection of Tropicana Ave. and Las Vegas Boulevard after a mass shooting at a country music festival Ethan Miller/Getty Las Vegas shooting in pictures Metro Police officers pass by the front of the Tropicana hotel-casino after a mass shooting at a music festival on the Las Vegas Strip Reuters/Las Vegas Sun/Steve Marcus Las Vegas shooting in pictures A woman sits on a curb at the scene of a shooting outside of a music festival along the Las Vegas Strip AP/John Locher Las Vegas shooting in pictures A cowboy hat lays in the street after shots were fired near a country music festival in Las Vegas Getty Las Vegas shooting in pictures Las Vegas Metro Police and medical workers stage in the intersection of Tropicana Avenue and Las Vegas Boulevard South after a mass shooting at a music festival on the Las Vegas Strip Reuters/Las Vegas Sun/Steve Marcus Las Vegas shooting in pictures Sheriff Joe Lombardo (2-R) speaking during a press briefing in the aftermath of the active shooter incident on Las Vegas Boulevard EPA TMZ said Paddock booked a room across from the concert venue, Grant Park, starting on the first day of the festival and ending on the last. The room would have given Paddock a bird's-eye view of the concert, similar to the perch he used when firing into the Route 91 Harvest Festival in Las Vegas. An estimated 100,000 people attended each day of Lollapalooza, which ran from August 3 through 6. Malia Obama, daughter of former President Barack Obama, was also in attendance. Paddock also booked a room near another Las Vegas concert a week before the shooting, police confirmed. The retired accountant rented multiple apartments at the Ogden, a luxury tower with a view of the Life is Beautiful alternative music festival. Partner of Las Vegas gunman releases statement describing him as "kind, caring, quiet man" Clark County Sheriff Joseph Lombardo said the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police still did not know why the additional rooms had been booked, but suggested Paddock may have been doing pre-surveillance for his attack. Police have yet to comment on why he scouted the locations in Boston and Chicago, but a federal official said that authorities are looking into the possibility that Paddock may have planned additional attacks, potentially including a car bombing. Shortly after the Life is Beautiful festival ended, Paddock checked into a 32nd-story suite at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. Over the next four days, he stockpiled more than 20 weapons and installed cameras in and around the room. On 1 October, he opened fire on the country music concert taking place below. The attacked killed at least 58 people and injured almost 500 people, making it the deadliest mass shooting in US history. Police are still searching for a motive in the attack. In the days following the shooting, officials have combed through the crime scene and Paddocks affairs, trying to determine if anybody else may have been involved. Many of those answers still remain a mystery. Yes, Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo said on Wednesday when asked if the shooter had planned to escape after the killing. He did not elaborate how: I cant tell you. The shooters girlfriend, Marilou Danley, returned from a trip to the Philippines on Wednesday, and denied any knowledge of the attack. Ms Danley, who officials have called a person of interest, said that Paddock had surprised her with a plane ticket to see her family just over two weeks ago. While there, he wired her $100,000 and told her to buy a home for her and her family. She said in a statement released by her lawyer that she feared that might be his way of breaking up with her, but nothing more. She returned to the US voluntarily, and was not arrested by the FBI upon arrival. NBC News, citing anonymous former FBI officials, reported that Ms Danley said she remembered him laying in bed and moaning and that investigators are looking at the possibility he may have been in "physical or mental anguish". Jihadi group Isis issued a statement claiming the attack in the wake of the shooting and released propaganda on Thursday claiming that Paddock had converted to Islam six months ago. However, officials have repeatedly said that they have so far found absolutely no links to international terror groups and have cast doubt on the claim. Discerning Paddock's motive has proven especially baffling as he had no criminal record, no known history of mental illness and no outward signs of social disaffection, political discontent or extremist ideology, police 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 }} Puerto Ricans have accused Donald Trump of treating them like dogs after the US Presidents ill-fated visit to the hurricane-struck island. Mr Trump visited the Caribbean US territory on Tuesday and was widely criticised after he threw packs of paper towels at residents, insulted local leaders and suggested the category 4 Hurricane Maria that wreaked havoc on the island was not a real catastrophe. Puerto Ricans were among those to join the condemnation of the US President, suggesting he had treated them like animals. He arrives with a smile on his face, makes fun of the situation, shows no empathy, lies and lies on camera as he does 24/7. And then throws paper towel rolls to people in need as if he was playing Go Fetch with dogs, Joel Isaac, a Puerto Rican who moved to New in 2014, told The Toronto Star. Frances Alvarado, a Puerto Rican who lives in North Carolina, told Newsweek: Does he think this is a show? A game? The first reaction that I had: why is he throwing things to Puerto Ricans like were animals? Mr Trump also provoked anger after suggesting there is a difference between the situation in Puerto Rico and that following a real catastrophe like [Hurricane] Katrina, which devastated many of the southern US states in 2005. Hurricane Maria killed 34 people in Puerto Rico and caused damage costing up to $85bn (65bn) after hitting last month. Many people on the island fear they could be left without power for months. Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Show all 30 1 /30 Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Threatening to shut down Twitter after being fact-checked After the president tweeted that voting by post would be "substantially fraudulent", Twitter attached a warning label to his tweet and referred readers to a site which explained how the claim was "unsubstantiated". Trump then said Twitter was "stifling free speech" and that he may have to shut it down, something which he would not have the power to do AFP/Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Flippantly dismissing a serious allegation of sexual assault When author E Jean Carroll accused Trump of raping her, the president responded: Number one, shes not my type. Number two, it never happened. It never happened, OK?" AFP/Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Insulting the Mayor of London as he landed in London Just before touching down at Stansted Airport for his state visit, Trump took time out to @ the London mayor Sadiq Khan on twitter. He said that Khan has done a "terrible job"as mayor and that he is a "stone cold loser" Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Taking plenty of "Executive Time" The president's official schedule sets aside the hours from 8 to 11am daily for "Executive Time". Further intermittent periods of "Executive Time" are scheduled throughout any given day, ranging from 15 minutes to 3 hours. His duties in these hours have not been officially disclosed, though Axios reports that he spends them watching TV, reading the newspapers and tweeting Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Shutdown the government for over a month in an effort to secure funding for his wall With Mexico declining to pay for the wall, the president has faced difficulty in raising the required $5bn at home. Due to his demand that the money for the wall be included in the budget, and Congress's refusal, the government partially shut down on 22 December 2018. It remained shut for over a month, the longest period in history Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Joking about the Nazi occupation of France to President Macron In this tweet from 13 November 2018, the president mocks Emmanuel Macron's suggestion of a "true, European army" by invoking the conflict between France and Germany in the world wars Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Railing against the Mueller investigation The president has repeatedly claimed that the Mueller investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, is a "rigged witch hunt" Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Contradicting a US intelligence report on Russian meddling in the presence of Vladimir Putin In the press conference that followed his landmark meeting with Russian president Vladimir Putin, Trump stated that he saw no reason why Russia would have meddled in the 2016 US election. This contradicted a 2017 report by the US Office of the Director of National Intelligence that found evidence of Russian interference in favour of Trump Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Contradicting his contradiction of a US intelligence report on Russian meddling Following furious backlash in the US, the president claimed that he meant to say that he saw no reason why it would not have been Russia who meddled in the 2016 US election. As to why he would have intended to use such bizarre phrasing, he did not comment Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Colouring in the US flag wrong The president coloured in the US flag wrongly during a visit to a children's hospital in Columbus, Ohio. He added a blue stripe where in tradition, and statute, there have been only white and red stripes AFP/Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Firing a Secretary of State over Twitter The president announced on Twitter that he was appointing Mike Pompeo as Secretary of State, much to the surprise of then Secretary of State Rex Tillerson Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Quoting a catchphrase from a reality TV show when discussing police brutality While addressing the issue of black athletes not standing for the national anthem in protest of police brutality, the president made reference to his catchphrase from reality TV show "The Apprentice": you're fired! Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Calling African nations "S***hole Countries" Ever one for diplomacy, the president reportedly referred to African nations as "s***hole countries". Asked to confirm this when meeting with Nigeria's President Buhari, Trump stated that there are "some countries that are in very bad shape". Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Defending Russian President Vladimir Putin Trump appeared to equate US foreign actions to those of Russian president Vladimir Putin, saying: There are a lot of killers. You think our countrys so innocent? Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Asking for people to 'pray' for Arnold Schwarzenegger At the National Prayer Breakfast, Trump couldnt help but to ask for prayers for the ratings on Arnold Schwarzeneggers show to be good. Schwarzenegger took over as host of The Apprentice which buoyed Trumps celebrity status years ago Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Hanging up on Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull Early in his presidency, Trump reportedly hung up the phone on Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull after the foreign leader angered him over refugee plans. Mr Trump later said that it was the worst call he had had so far Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... The 'Muslim ban' Perhaps one of his most controversial policies while acting as president, Trumps travel ban targeting predominantly Muslim countries has bought him a lot of criticism. The bans were immediately protested, and judges initially blocked their implementation. The Supreme Court later sided with the administrations argument that the ban was developed out of concern for US security Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Praising crowd size while touring Hurricane Harvey damage After Hurricane Harvey ravaged southeastern Texas, Trump paid the area a visit. While his response to the disaster in Houston was generally applauded, the president picked up some flack when he gave a speech outside Houston (he reportedly did not visit disaster zones), and praised the size of the crowds there AP Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... 'Little Rocket Man' During his first-ever speech to the United Nations General Assembly, Trump tried out a new nickname for North Korea leader Kim Jong-un: Rocket Man. He later tweaked it to be little Rocket Man as the two feuded, and threatened each other with nuclear war. During that speech, he also threatened to totally annihilate North Korea Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Attacking Sadiq Khan following London Bridge terror attack After the attack on the London Bridge, Trump lashed out at London Mayor Sadiq Khan, criticising Khan for saying there was no reason to be alarmed after the attack. Trump was taking the comments out of context, as Khan was simply saying that the police had everything under control Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Claiming presenter Mika Brezinkski was 'bleeding from the face' Never one not to mock his enemies, Trump mocked MSNBCs Morning Joe co-host Mika Brzezinski, saying that she and co-host Joe Scarborough had approached him before his inauguration asking to join him. He noted that she was bleeding badly from a face-lift at the time, and that he said no MSNBC Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Claiming the blame for Charlottesville was on 'both sides' Trump refused to condemn far-right extremists involved in violence at 'the march for the right' protests in Charlottesville, even after the murder of counter protester Heather Heyer AP Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Retweeting cartoon of CNN being hit by a 'Trump train' Trump retweeted a cartoon showing a Trump-branded train running over a person whose body and head were replaced by a CNN avatar. He later deleted the retweet Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Tweeting about 'slamming' CNN Trump caught some flack when he tweeted a video showing him wrestling down an individual whose head had been replaced by a CNN avatar. Trump has singled CNN out in particular with his chants of fake news Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Firing head of the FBI, James Comey Trumps firing of former FBI Director James Comey landed him with a federal investigation into Russias meddling in the 2016 election that has caused many a headache for the White House. The White House initially said that the decision was made after consultation from the Justice Department. Then Mr Trump himself said that he had decided to fire him in part because he wanted the Russia investigation Mr Comey was conducting to stop Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Not realising being president would be 'hard' Just three months into his presidency, Trump admitted that being president is harder than he thought it would be. Though Trump insisted on the 2016 campaign trail that doing the job would be easy for him, he admitted in an interview that living in the White House is harder than running a business empire Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Accusing Obama of wiretapping him Trump accused former president Barack Obama of wire tapping him on twitter. The Justice Department later clarified: Obama had not, in fact, done so Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Claiming there had been 3 million 'illegal votes' Trump was never very happy about losing the popular vote to Hillary Clinton by 2.8 million ballots. So, he and White House voter-fraud commissioner Kris Kobach have claimed that anywhere between three and five million people voted illegally during the 2016 election. Conveniently, he says that all of those illegal votes went to Clinton. (There is no evidence to support that level of widespread voter fraud.) Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Leaving Jews out of the Holocaust memorial statement Just days after taking office, Trumps White House issued a statement on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, but didnt mention jews or even the word jewish in the written statement Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Anger over Inauguration crowd size Trumps inauguration crowd was visibly, and noticeably, smaller than that of his predecessor, Barack Obama. But, he really wanted to have had the largest crowd on record. So, he praised it as the biggest crowd ever. Relatedly, Trump also claimed that it stopped raining in Washington at the moment he was inaugurated. It didnt, the day was very dreary Reuters Mr Trump was also mocked for tossing packs of paper towels to those who lost homes in the storm. Reports suggest he had to be advised not to do the same with tins of canned chicken. The mayor of Puerto Ricos capital, San Juan, had earlier criticised the Trump administration for suggesting the US response to the hurricane was a good-news story. Carmen Yulin Cruz told CNN: Dammit, this is not a good-news story. This is a people-are-dying story. This is a life or death story. This is a theres a truck load of stuff that cannot be taken to people story. This is a story of a devastation that continues to worsen because people are not getting food and water. Donald Trump heckled by spectator over Puerto Rico Mr Trump accused Ms Cruz of poor leadership in the wake of the disaster. The US President also triggered a backlash after claiming Puerto Ricos leaders want everything to be done for them when it should be a community effort. "I'm amazed that he has the gall to say Puerto Ricans expect everything to be done for them," Griselmarie Alemar, a Puerto Rican who lives in, Connecticut, told CNN. "They are working exhaustively to lift themselves up. We are citizens. We pay taxes. We serve in the military." Another, Renee Acosta, from San Juan, said: "If he's not here, he shouldn't be criticising the community efforts." Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Donald Trump has urged the Senate Intelligence Committee, which is currently investigating him over alleged ties to Russia during the 2016 election, to launch a new probe into the "fake news" media. It comes after the committee's chairman Richard Burr said the investigation "has more work to do" to determine whether there was collusion between Russian officials and members of Mr Trump's election team. Writing on Twitter, Mr Trump made the call for an investigation into fake news networks 24 hours after naming US news organisations NBC and CNN as dishonest. NBC news is #FakeNews and more dishonest than even CNN, Mr Trump wrote. They are a disgrace to good reporting. No wonder their news ratings are way down! On Wednesday NBC reported that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson called the President a moron at a Pentagon meeting in July, citing several senior Whitehouse officials. This week the news outlet reported Mr Tillerson was on the verge of resigning over the summer, citing senior administration officials. Mr Tillerson rapidly issued a statement to reporters that said: I have never considered leaving this post. However, he did not issue an outright denial of having described Mr Trump as a moron, saying, Im not going to deal with petty stuff like that. Mr Trumps call for an inquiry also comes one day after after Mr Burr said the Senate Intelligence Committee is still examining whether Russia colluded with Trump campaign advisers in efforts to influence the 2016 election. The collusion issue is still open, Mr Burr said, adding the panel had confirmed the findings of US intelligence agencies which had found Russia did interfere in the election. Mr Trumps call for the committee, which is responsible for overseeing the intelligence agencies and bureaus of the US government, to examine news reporting in the US is the latest indication of his frustration with the medias coverage of his administration. Eight of 19 of the Presidents tweets and retweets in the last 48-hours have referenced fake news or the media. 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 }} After resisting gun control legislation for decades, top Republicans have signalled they would be open to banning the device used to attack scores of people in the deadliest mass shooting in modern US history. Directly following the Las Vegas massacre, Republicans mostly brushed off calls by their Democratic colleagues to discuss gun policy. But over the last day, as more details about the shooting have continued to emerge, some members of the majority party have begun to change their tune. Authorities have revealed that the gunman, 64-year-old Stephen Paddock, rigged 12 semi-automatic rifles with bump stocks which allow semi-automatic rifles to fire rapidly and continuously, as if they were fully automatic weapons. Concerned about how these so-called bump stocks are being used, House Speaker Paul Ryan and Robert Goodlatte, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, have both suggested they would consider further rules for the devices. The National Rifle Association (NRA), one of the nation's most influential gun lobbying group, has even endorsed tighter regulations on bump stocks. The organisation for years has forcefully opposed any new gun control laws. Clearly thats something we need to look into, Mr Ryan said on MSNBC. Were going to look at the issue, Mr Goodlatte told the The Washington Post. When asked if he had a personal concern about their legality, he replied: I have a personal concern about what happened. Meanwhile, Republican Representative Carlos Curbelo has said he is drafting bipartisan legislation banning the conversion kits. Representative Mark Meadows, head of the Freedom Caucus, also said he would be open to considering a bill, while Republican Congressman Bill Flores directly called for a ban. I think they should be banned, Mr Flores told the newspaper The Hill. Theres no reason for a typical gun owner to own anything that converts a semi-automatic to something that behaves like an automatic. On the other side of Capitol Hill, members of the Senates Republican leadership also expressed interest in learning more about bump stocks. I own a lot of guns and as a hunter and sportsman I think thats our right as Americans, but I dont understand the use of this bump stock and thats another reason to have a hearing, Senator John Cornyn, the No 2 Republican in the Senate, told reporters. If somebody can essentially convert a semi-automatic weapon by buying one of these and utilising it and cause the kind of mayhem and mass casualties that we saw in Las Vegas, thats something of obvious concern that we ought to explore. Mr Cornyn later said he had asked Senator Charles Grassley, the Judiciary Committee chairman, to hold a hearing on the issue and any others that may arise out of the Las Vegas investigation. Senator John Thune, the No 3 Republican in the Senate, told Politico that he and his other Republican colleagues were at least interested in finding out more about how bump stocks are used. Las Vegas shooting in pictures Show all 15 1 /15 Las Vegas shooting in pictures Las Vegas shooting in pictures People scramble for shelter at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival after gun fire was heard Getty Las Vegas shooting in pictures People carry a person at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival after shots were fired David Becker/Getty Las Vegas shooting in pictures People run from the Route 91 Harvest country music festival after gun fire was heard David Becker/Getty Las Vegas shooting in pictures A handout photo released via Twitter by Eiki Hrafnsson (@EirikurH) showing concertgoers running away from the scene (C) after shots range out at the Route 91 Harvest festival on Las Vegas Boulevard EPA/Eiki Hrafnsson Las Vegas shooting in pictures People lie on the ground at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival after hearing gun fire Getty Las Vegas shooting in pictures A man in a wheelchair is taken away from the Route 91 Harvest country music festival after hearing gun fire David Becker/Getty Las Vegas shooting in pictures People stand on the street outside the Mandalay Bay hotel near the scene of the Route 91 Harvest festival on Las Vegas Boulevard EPA/Paul Buck Las Vegas shooting in pictures FBI agents confer in front of the Tropicana hotel-casino after a mass shooting during a music festival on the Las Vegas Strip Reuters/Las Vegas Sun/Steve Marcus Las Vegas shooting in pictures Las Vegas police run by a banner on the fence at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival grounds after shots were fired David Becker/Getty Las Vegas shooting in pictures An injured person is tended to in the intersection of Tropicana Ave. and Las Vegas Boulevard after a mass shooting at a country music festival Ethan Miller/Getty Las Vegas shooting in pictures Metro Police officers pass by the front of the Tropicana hotel-casino after a mass shooting at a music festival on the Las Vegas Strip Reuters/Las Vegas Sun/Steve Marcus Las Vegas shooting in pictures A woman sits on a curb at the scene of a shooting outside of a music festival along the Las Vegas Strip AP/John Locher Las Vegas shooting in pictures A cowboy hat lays in the street after shots were fired near a country music festival in Las Vegas Getty Las Vegas shooting in pictures Las Vegas Metro Police and medical workers stage in the intersection of Tropicana Avenue and Las Vegas Boulevard South after a mass shooting at a music festival on the Las Vegas Strip Reuters/Las Vegas Sun/Steve Marcus Las Vegas shooting in pictures Sheriff Joe Lombardo (2-R) speaking during a press briefing in the aftermath of the active shooter incident on Las Vegas Boulevard EPA I think its something we ought to look into, Mr Thune said. I dont know a lot about them and Im somebody who, Id like to think, is fairly familiar with a lot of firearms and you know, the use of those. And that incident out there is something that I think we need to take a look at. At least one Republican senator, Ron Johnson, has said outright that he would be prepared to support a ban on the devices. I have no problem in banning those, Mr Johnson said. On Wednesday, Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein, along with more than two dozen other Democrats, unveiled legislation to prohibit the sale of bump stock devices. Bump stocks which cost less than $200 (152) increase a semi-automatic rifles rate of fire from between 45 to 60 rounds per minute to between 400 to 800 rounds per minute. Thats the same rate of fire as automatic weapons, said Ms Feinstein, a long-time gun-control advocate. The only reason to modify a gun is to kill as many people as possible in as short as time as possible. Even though Republicans have expressed interest in banning bump stocks, no one from the party has endorsed a bill targeting the devices. And while the movement for gun control legislation appears to be gaining momentum, any legislative action on the issue is likely to face an uphill battle. Recent mass shootings in Colorado, Connecticut and Florida all failed to unite Congress on any legislative response. A bipartisan bill regarding background checks failed four years ago and since then, Republicans have often pointed to mental health legislation when asked about the appropriate congressional response to gun violence. Over the past few days, conservative members have already suggested they would resist any attempts to a pass a gun control bill, including a ban on bump stocks. Im a Second Amendment man, Senator Richard Shelby told Politico. Im not for any gun control, OK? None. In an interview with CNN, White House counsellor Kellyanne Conway blamed the Obama administration for not regulating bump stocks. I did note ... it was President Obamas ATF, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, in 2010 that decided not to regulate this device, she told host Chris Cuomo on New Day. That should be part of the conversation and part of the facts that you put before your viewers. Obama-era official Rick Vasquez did sign off on a recommendation that the ATF did not need to regulate the accessory, which he called a goofy, little doodad, according to The Washington Post. Mr Vasquez reasoned that the invention did not technically alter a guns trigger mechanism, as earlier attempts had, with springs, hydraulics or electric current, The Post reported. Therefore, it did not infringe on a law that bans the sale of machine guns manufactured after 1986 and restricts the sale of those made before then. 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 }} Presidential adviser Kellyanne Conway has blamed the Obama administration for failing to regulate bump stocks, a little-known device that may have helped the Las Vegas mass shooter kill more people. Ms Conway defended President Donald Trump in the wake of the shooting, arguing that former President Barack Obama was to blame for the commercial availability of bump stocks. "I did note ... it was President Obama's ATF, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, in 2010 that decided not to regulate this device," she said. "That should be part of the conversation and part of the facts that you put before your viewers." Recommended Las Vegas gunman used legal trick to fire so quickly for so long Police say bump stocks small pieces of plastic or metal that allow a semi-automatic rifle to mimic a fully automatic weapon helped shooter Stephen Paddock fire off an unusually high number of rounds into a crowded concert on Sunday. The shooter killed at least 58 people and injured more than 500, making it the deadliest mass shooting in US history. Officials say Paddock had as many as 12 bump stocks, and more than 20 weapons, in his hotel room at the time. Las Vegas shooting in pictures Show all 15 1 /15 Las Vegas shooting in pictures Las Vegas shooting in pictures People scramble for shelter at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival after gun fire was heard Getty Las Vegas shooting in pictures People carry a person at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival after shots were fired David Becker/Getty Las Vegas shooting in pictures People run from the Route 91 Harvest country music festival after gun fire was heard David Becker/Getty Las Vegas shooting in pictures A handout photo released via Twitter by Eiki Hrafnsson (@EirikurH) showing concertgoers running away from the scene (C) after shots range out at the Route 91 Harvest festival on Las Vegas Boulevard EPA/Eiki Hrafnsson Las Vegas shooting in pictures People lie on the ground at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival after hearing gun fire Getty Las Vegas shooting in pictures A man in a wheelchair is taken away from the Route 91 Harvest country music festival after hearing gun fire David Becker/Getty Las Vegas shooting in pictures People stand on the street outside the Mandalay Bay hotel near the scene of the Route 91 Harvest festival on Las Vegas Boulevard EPA/Paul Buck Las Vegas shooting in pictures FBI agents confer in front of the Tropicana hotel-casino after a mass shooting during a music festival on the Las Vegas Strip Reuters/Las Vegas Sun/Steve Marcus Las Vegas shooting in pictures Las Vegas police run by a banner on the fence at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival grounds after shots were fired David Becker/Getty Las Vegas shooting in pictures An injured person is tended to in the intersection of Tropicana Ave. and Las Vegas Boulevard after a mass shooting at a country music festival Ethan Miller/Getty Las Vegas shooting in pictures Metro Police officers pass by the front of the Tropicana hotel-casino after a mass shooting at a music festival on the Las Vegas Strip Reuters/Las Vegas Sun/Steve Marcus Las Vegas shooting in pictures A woman sits on a curb at the scene of a shooting outside of a music festival along the Las Vegas Strip AP/John Locher Las Vegas shooting in pictures A cowboy hat lays in the street after shots were fired near a country music festival in Las Vegas Getty Las Vegas shooting in pictures Las Vegas Metro Police and medical workers stage in the intersection of Tropicana Avenue and Las Vegas Boulevard South after a mass shooting at a music festival on the Las Vegas Strip Reuters/Las Vegas Sun/Steve Marcus Las Vegas shooting in pictures Sheriff Joe Lombardo (2-R) speaking during a press briefing in the aftermath of the active shooter incident on Las Vegas Boulevard EPA Former President Barack Obamas ATF approved the sale of bump stocks in 2010, concluding that they did not violate a federal ban on fully automatic weapons. Rick Vasquez, a former ATF official who signed off on the recommendation, described the device as a goofy, little doodad. Its for those guys who want to look like super ninja when theyre out on the range theyre the people my peer group makes fun of, Mr Vasquez, a former Marine, told the Washington Post. Fox News host suggests atheism may be to blame for Las Vegas shooting 2 But bump stocks and their ability to amplify the effects of mass shootings have become a focal point in the wake of the Las Vegas massacre. Three House Republicans have sent a letter to the ATF, asking the agency to reevaluate the legality of the device. Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein has introduced a bill banning the sale and possession of bump stocks and other, similar devices. But Ms Conway was sceptical of these efforts, noting that many legislators neglect the issue of gun control until a mass shooting occurs. Mr Obama passed more than 20 executive orders on gun control in the wake of a mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary, but failed to pass a proposed ban on assault weapons. I know the high horse cavalry loves to run in, thumping their chests after a tragedy, but lets step back and have a thoughtful conversation about everything that is at play here, she said. The more information all of us can learn about everything that happened in Las Vegas, the better. 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 used a visit to Las Vegas to express the sorrow and shock felt across the US in the wake of the deadliest mass shooting the country has seen in modern history, saying that America is truly a nation in mourning. Having started the day by taking off from Washington by calling it "a very, very sad day for me, personally," the president ended it by striking a sombre and stately tone that sits in contrast to his visit to Puerto Rico the day before. It was on that trip he suggested the devastation wrought by Hurricane Maria had put the US budget out of whack, Praising the bravery of first responders and seeking to comfort the families of victims during his final address of the day, Mr Trump said: We know that your sorrow feels endless. We stand together to help you carry your pain... Youre not alone. We will never leave your side. The president and First Lady Melania Trump travelled to Las Vegas as investigators searched for the motive behind the attack, blamed on former accountant Stephen Paddock. Paddock is said to have stockpiled dozens of weapons, using a number of rifles to rain bullets onto a crowd of country music festival patrons from the 32nd floor of his Mandalay Bay hotel suite. Fifty-eight people were killed, before Paddock turned a gun on himself, and hundreds more were injured. The FBI were questioning Marilou Danley, Paddock's girlfriend, on Wednesday night to see if she could provide any clues - but in a statement Ms Danley said she was "unaware" of any of his actions that led to the shooting. The trip to Las Vegas provided another test of Mr Trumps credentials as the nations comforter-in-chief after his visit to storm-battered San Juan. After a day visiting victims and survivors, medical staff and first responders, Mr Trump finished with an address at the Las Vegas Police Departments command centre, promising to stand by all those affected by the actions of a man he called sick and demented. We cannot be defined by the evil that threatens us or the violence that incites such terror, he said. Were defined by our love, our caring, and our courage. In the darkest moments, what shines most brightly is the goodness that thrives in the hearts of our people. Returning to a theme that had run through his day, praising the incredible bravery of the medics, police, firefighters and civilians who had helped victims, Mr Trump said the whole world had seen what the best of what America had to offer. Words cannot describe the bravery that the whole world witnessed on Sunday night. Americans defied death and hatred with love and courage. When the the worst of humanity and strike it did the best of humanity responds, he said. Las Vegas shooting in pictures Show all 15 1 /15 Las Vegas shooting in pictures Las Vegas shooting in pictures People scramble for shelter at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival after gun fire was heard Getty Las Vegas shooting in pictures People carry a person at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival after shots were fired David Becker/Getty Las Vegas shooting in pictures People run from the Route 91 Harvest country music festival after gun fire was heard David Becker/Getty Las Vegas shooting in pictures A handout photo released via Twitter by Eiki Hrafnsson (@EirikurH) showing concertgoers running away from the scene (C) after shots range out at the Route 91 Harvest festival on Las Vegas Boulevard EPA/Eiki Hrafnsson Las Vegas shooting in pictures People lie on the ground at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival after hearing gun fire Getty Las Vegas shooting in pictures A man in a wheelchair is taken away from the Route 91 Harvest country music festival after hearing gun fire David Becker/Getty Las Vegas shooting in pictures People stand on the street outside the Mandalay Bay hotel near the scene of the Route 91 Harvest festival on Las Vegas Boulevard EPA/Paul Buck Las Vegas shooting in pictures FBI agents confer in front of the Tropicana hotel-casino after a mass shooting during a music festival on the Las Vegas Strip Reuters/Las Vegas Sun/Steve Marcus Las Vegas shooting in pictures Las Vegas police run by a banner on the fence at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival grounds after shots were fired David Becker/Getty Las Vegas shooting in pictures An injured person is tended to in the intersection of Tropicana Ave. and Las Vegas Boulevard after a mass shooting at a country music festival Ethan Miller/Getty Las Vegas shooting in pictures Metro Police officers pass by the front of the Tropicana hotel-casino after a mass shooting at a music festival on the Las Vegas Strip Reuters/Las Vegas Sun/Steve Marcus Las Vegas shooting in pictures A woman sits on a curb at the scene of a shooting outside of a music festival along the Las Vegas Strip AP/John Locher Las Vegas shooting in pictures A cowboy hat lays in the street after shots were fired near a country music festival in Las Vegas Getty Las Vegas shooting in pictures Las Vegas Metro Police and medical workers stage in the intersection of Tropicana Avenue and Las Vegas Boulevard South after a mass shooting at a music festival on the Las Vegas Strip Reuters/Las Vegas Sun/Steve Marcus Las Vegas shooting in pictures Sheriff Joe Lombardo (2-R) speaking during a press briefing in the aftermath of the active shooter incident on Las Vegas Boulevard EPA The president had started the day by travelling to the University Medical Center that had treated many victims. On the way, he passed the Mandalay Bay, holes still visible in the windows the gunman had shot from. In the morning, authorities had opened the stretch of the Las Vegas strip passing by the casino and hotel. But police officers continued to block an approach road and hotel security was turning people way, while yellow police tape sealed off entrances. That did not stop clusters of curious onlookers from gathering on the sidewalks encircling the casino. A truck slowed down so a man in the passenger seat could point his phone at the ornate fountain that sits outside the shining gold Mandalay. Across the street, towers of speakers marked the concert grounds where scores of people were slain. When he reached the hospital, Mr Trump praised the indescribable job medics had done, and that many victims would be leaving in the coming in the coming days and weeks. He said he had met with some patients who were very, very badly wounded, and they were badly wounded because they refused to leave They wanted to help others. Donald Trump holds moment of silence for Las Vegas victims Mr Trump has faced calls from some quarters - including many Democrats in Congress - to look at gun control legislation, but he deflected a question about gun violence at the hospital. We are not going to talk about that today, he said. Later, at the police headquarters as groups of firefighters, paramedics and police officers trickled out after Mr Trumps visit, state trooper Tom Vernon paused to say first responders appreciate [President Trump] coming in this horrible time. Asked whether the topic of gun control came up, Mr Vernon said this isn't the time for that. It's time to heal, not worry about politics, he said. Elsewhere in the city, others were less pleased with Mr Trumps visit, and his lack of willingness to engage in a debate about gun control. Unless he's giving blood I'm not welcoming him here, said 45-year old Jason Engel, a Marine veteran outside one of the centres where civilians can give blood to help victims. April Engel - Mr Engel's wife - said she was not a fan of the president, a feeling that was strengthened by Mr Trump not backing tighter gun restrictions over Paddocks stockpiling of arms. He doesn't even want to address gun control? Come on, Ms Engel said. 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 will reportedly decertify the Iran nuclear deal a move that could throw another wrench into the US's diplomatic ties with other world powers. Under the 2015 agreement with six nations including the US, UK and France Iran agreed to restrict its nuclear programme for at least 10 years in exchange for the loosening of economic sanctions that had crippled its economy. According to people briefed on the matter, the President believes the agreement is not in the national interest and will punt the issue over to Congress, the Washington Post reported. Recommended Bernie Sanders launches passionate defence of Iran Deal Decertification itself would not break the US's agreement with Iran. It would start the clock on a 60-day congressional review period, during which legislators would have to decide whether to reimpose sanctions. If they decide to do so, they would effectively dismantle the deal. Republican members of Congress were unanimously opposed to the agreement in 2015, but they have wavered since then on whether Mr Trump should enforce it. Mr Trump has until October 15 to decertify the accord, but his plans could change. He is currently scheduled to give an address on October 12 in which he is expected to lay out his strategy for addressing Iran. So far, the administration has reported that Iran is complying with its commitments in the nuclear agreement. However, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has continuously noted that the country continues to be a leading state sponsor of terrorism. Donald Trump's international Presidential trips Show all 22 1 /22 Donald Trump's international Presidential trips Donald Trump's international Presidential trips French President Emmanuel Macron and US President Donald Trump AFP/Getty Images Donald Trump's international Presidential trips French President Emmanuel Macron and US President Donald Trump talk as they leave the Army Museum at Les Invalides in Paris AFP/Getty Images Donald Trump's international Presidential trips German Chancellor Angela Merkel and US President Donald Trump arrive for the group photo at the G7 Taormina summit on the island of Sicily in May 2017 Getty Images Donald Trump's international Presidential trips Mr Trump was pressed on the subject at the G7 summit in Italy Getty Donald Trump's international Presidential trips US President Donald Trump gives a speeech at the Warsaw Uprising Monument on Krasinski Square Getty Donald Trump's international Presidential trips US President Donald Trump and Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May during a ceremony at the NATO headquarters before the start of a summit in Brussels, Belgium Reuters Donald Trump's international Presidential trips Montenegro's Prime Minister Dusko Markovic is seen to the right of Donald Trump at a Nato summit in Brussels REUTERS Donald Trump's international Presidential trips Pope Francis meeting with US President Donald J. Trump EPA Donald Trump's international Presidential trips Pope Francis poses with US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump AFP/Getty Images Donald Trump's international Presidential trips US President Donald Trump arrives at Palazzo del Quirinale ahead of the meeting with Italian President Sergio Mattarella Ufficio Stampa Presidenza della via Getty Donald Trump's international Presidential trips US President Donald Trump is seen during a joint press conference with the Palestinian leader at the presidential palace in the West Bank city of Bethlehem AFP/Getty Images Donald Trump's international Presidential trips Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas meets US President Donald Trump PPO via Getty Donald Trump's international Presidential trips Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks with US President Donald Trump prior to the President's departure GPO via Getty Images Donald Trump's international Presidential trips US President Donald Trump and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shake hands after delivering a speech at the Israel Museum AFP/Getty Images Donald Trump's international Presidential trips US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump lay a wreath in the Hall of Remembrance as White House senior advisor Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump watch on during a visit to the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial museum AFP/Getty Images Donald Trump's international Presidential trips US President Donald Trump visit to Yad Vashem Holocaust museum in Jerusalem accompanied by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu GPO via Getty Images Donald Trump's international Presidential trips US President Donald Trump takes his seat before his speech to the Arab Islamic American Summit in Riyadh in Saudi Arabia Reuters Donald Trump's international Presidential trips Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud, US President Donald Trump and US First Lady Melania Trump look at a display of Saudi modern art at the Saudi Royal Court in Riyadh AFP/Getty Images Donald Trump's international Presidential trips US President Donald Trump and Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud take part in a signing ceremony at the Saudi Royal Court in Riyadh AFP/Getty Images Donald Trump's international Presidential trips King Salman presents Donald Trump with The Collar of Abdulaziz al-Saud Medal at the Royal Court Palace on 20 May AP Donald Trump's international Presidential trips US President Donald Trump is welcomed by Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud upon arrival at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh AFP/Getty Images Donald Trump's international Presidential trips U.S. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump walk on the South Lawn prior to their first foreign trip Getty Images On the campaign trail and since becoming president, Mr Trump has repeatedly criticised the agreement and labelled it one of the worst and most one-sided transactions the United States has ever entered into. In his first speech to the United Nations General Assembly last month, Mr Trump promised to revisit the deal, saying the US cannot abide by an agreement if it provides cover for the eventual construction of a nuclear programme. Mr Trumps criticism of the deal has put him at odds with other world leaders, including the UK's Prime Minister Theresa May, who has called the agreement vital, and Frances President Emmanuel Macron. During his own address to the UN General Assembly, Mr Macon said the nuclear deal was essential for peace. Iran's President Hassan Rouhani has attacked Mr Trump for suggesting the agreement could be ripped up. It will be a great pity if this agreement were to be destroyed by rogue newcomers to the world of politics, Mr Rouhani said at the UN. By violating its international commitments, the new US administration only destroys its own credibility and undermines international confidence in negotiating with it or accepting its word or promise. 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 mayor of San Juan is using fashion to make a statement to the world, and the President of the United States. In a recent interview, Carmen Yulin Cruz wore a shirt to own an insult hed thrown at her in previous days. Donald Trump had claimed the Democratic party told Ms Yulin Cruz to be nasty to him so she wore a shirt with that word prominently displayed. This was a PR, 17-minute meeting, Ms Yulin Cruz said during an interview on MSNBC, while wearing the shirt. She was describing a meeting the President had during his trip to Puerto Rico in which he assembled a roundtable of national and local officials and encouraged them to praise the federal response to the crisis on the island. She continued to criticise the Presidents visit to an aid centre, where he tossed paper towel rolls to an assembled group there, and handed out bags of rice. In fact, this terrible and abominable view of him throwing paper towels, and throwing provisions at people, its really it does not embody the American spirit, she said. Its not the first time that Ms Yulin Cruz has used a t-shirt to make a political statement since Hurricane Maria made landfall on Puerto Rico, decimating infrastructure there, and leaving much of the population without access to clean water, medical supplies, and electricity. Donald Trump's international Presidential trips Show all 22 1 /22 Donald Trump's international Presidential trips Donald Trump's international Presidential trips French President Emmanuel Macron and US President Donald Trump AFP/Getty Images Donald Trump's international Presidential trips French President Emmanuel Macron and US President Donald Trump talk as they leave the Army Museum at Les Invalides in Paris AFP/Getty Images Donald Trump's international Presidential trips German Chancellor Angela Merkel and US President Donald Trump arrive for the group photo at the G7 Taormina summit on the island of Sicily in May 2017 Getty Images Donald Trump's international Presidential trips Mr Trump was pressed on the subject at the G7 summit in Italy Getty Donald Trump's international Presidential trips US President Donald Trump gives a speeech at the Warsaw Uprising Monument on Krasinski Square Getty Donald Trump's international Presidential trips US President Donald Trump and Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May during a ceremony at the NATO headquarters before the start of a summit in Brussels, Belgium Reuters Donald Trump's international Presidential trips Montenegro's Prime Minister Dusko Markovic is seen to the right of Donald Trump at a Nato summit in Brussels REUTERS Donald Trump's international Presidential trips Pope Francis meeting with US President Donald J. Trump EPA Donald Trump's international Presidential trips Pope Francis poses with US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump AFP/Getty Images Donald Trump's international Presidential trips US President Donald Trump arrives at Palazzo del Quirinale ahead of the meeting with Italian President Sergio Mattarella Ufficio Stampa Presidenza della via Getty Donald Trump's international Presidential trips US President Donald Trump is seen during a joint press conference with the Palestinian leader at the presidential palace in the West Bank city of Bethlehem AFP/Getty Images Donald Trump's international Presidential trips Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas meets US President Donald Trump PPO via Getty Donald Trump's international Presidential trips Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks with US President Donald Trump prior to the President's departure GPO via Getty Images Donald Trump's international Presidential trips US President Donald Trump and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shake hands after delivering a speech at the Israel Museum AFP/Getty Images Donald Trump's international Presidential trips US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump lay a wreath in the Hall of Remembrance as White House senior advisor Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump watch on during a visit to the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial museum AFP/Getty Images Donald Trump's international Presidential trips US President Donald Trump visit to Yad Vashem Holocaust museum in Jerusalem accompanied by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu GPO via Getty Images Donald Trump's international Presidential trips US President Donald Trump takes his seat before his speech to the Arab Islamic American Summit in Riyadh in Saudi Arabia Reuters Donald Trump's international Presidential trips Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud, US President Donald Trump and US First Lady Melania Trump look at a display of Saudi modern art at the Saudi Royal Court in Riyadh AFP/Getty Images Donald Trump's international Presidential trips US President Donald Trump and Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud take part in a signing ceremony at the Saudi Royal Court in Riyadh AFP/Getty Images Donald Trump's international Presidential trips King Salman presents Donald Trump with The Collar of Abdulaziz al-Saud Medal at the Royal Court Palace on 20 May AP Donald Trump's international Presidential trips US President Donald Trump is welcomed by Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud upon arrival at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh AFP/Getty Images Donald Trump's international Presidential trips U.S. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump walk on the South Lawn prior to their first foreign trip Getty Images She has also previously worn a shirt with a bleak plea for help emblazoned upon it. Help us, we are dying, that shirt read. Ms Yulin Cruz later said that, while she did not think the Presidents trip personally was much help, meetings with White House staff was much more productive. The Federal Emergency Management Agency says that it has 13,000 federal staff on the ground in Puerto Rico. The response team has been able to get 74 per cent of gas stations operational, 65 per cent of of supermarkets open, and 156 bank branches open. The agency says that 92 per cent of hospitals are open, however Ms Yulin Cruz says that poor distribution of diesel fuel could mean that those hospitals that are relying on generators lose power. 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 Iraq veteran who stole a pick-up truck during the Las Vegas shooting to drive victims to the hospital has released a text message conversation he shared with the car's owner. Taylor Winston, 29, was at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival with friends when Stephen Paddock began spraying the crowd with automatic gunfire from a nearby hotel. Three days after the worst shooting in US history, the truck's owner sent the ex-marine the message: "Hey Taylor told you might have the keys to my truck?? "All I won't [sic] is the key. Other then that it's all water under the bridge to me and hows the people you hauled doing?" Mr Winston replied: "I have em for ya. When do you want to meet for em? We're at the Monte Carlo. "I took about 30 critically injured to the hospital. Your truck was extremely important saving those peoples lives. I don't know if they all made it." Mr Winston, a sergeant who served from 2006 to 2011, commandeered the vehicle after finding the set of keys inside the truck. "I saw a field with a bunch of white trucks...I tested my luck to see if any had keys," he told CBS News. "We started looking for people who needed taking to hospital, there was just too many and it was overwhelming how much blood was everywhere." He told the injured to apply pressure to wounds as he attempted to speed to Desert Springs Hospital Centre "before they bled out". Recommended Inside one of the Las Vegas blood donation centres He fears some of his passengers, who included a woman with neck and chest injuries, may have died. "I cant be for certain," he said. "Theres a few that I dont think probably made it. They were pretty limp when we were pulling them out of the truck, but they still had a pulse, so Im hoping for the best." Mr Winston estimates he transported between 20 and 30 people to the hospital in multiple trips. Las Vegas Sheriff Joseph Lombardo said on Wednesday the number injured in the attack was 489, and the death toll still stands at 58. It is understood the keys have now been returned to their owner. 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 }} It should come as no surprise that the first recorded use of the number zero, recently discovered to be made as early as the 3rd or 4th century, happened in India. Mathematics on the Indian subcontinent has a rich history going back over 3,000 years, and thrived for centuries before similar advances were made in Europe, with its influence meanwhile spreading to China and the Middle East. As well as giving us the concept of zero, Indian mathematicians made seminal contributions to the study of trigonometry, algebra, arithmetic and negative numbers among other areas. Perhaps most significantly, the decimal system that we still employ worldwide today was first seen in India. The number system As far back as 1200 BC, mathematical knowledge was being written down as part of a large body of knowledge known as the Vedas. In these texts, numbers were commonly expressed as combinations of powers of ten. For example, 365 might be expressed as three hundreds (3x10), six tens (6x10) and five units (5x10), though each power of ten was represented with a name rather than a set of symbols. It is reasonable to believe that this representation using powers of ten played a crucial role in the development of the decimal place value system in India. From the third century BC, we also have written evidence of the Brahmi numerals, the precursors to the modern, Indian or Hindu-Arabic numeral system that most of the world uses today. Once zero was introduced, almost all of the mathematical mechanics would be in place to enable ancient Indians to study higher mathematics. The concept of zero Zero itself has a much longer history. The recently dated first recorded zeros, in what is known as the Bakhshali manuscript, were simple placeholders a tool to distinguish 100 from 10. Similar marks had already been seen in the Babylonian and Mayan cultures in the early centuries AD and arguably in Sumerian mathematics as early as 3000-2000 BC. But only in India did the placeholder symbol for nothing progress to become a number in its own right. The advent of the concept of zero allowed numbers to be written efficiently and reliably. In turn, this allowed for effective record-keeping that meant important financial calculations could be checked retroactively, ensuring the honest actions of all involved. Zero was a significant step on the route to the democratisation of mathematics. These accessible mechanical tools for working with mathematical concepts, in combination with a strong and open scholastic and scientific culture, meant that, by around 600 AD, all the ingredients were in place for an explosion of mathematical discoveries in India. In comparison, these sorts of tools were not popularised in the West until the early 13th century, though Fibonnaccis book Liber Abaci. Solutions of quadratic equations In the seventh century, the first written evidence of the rules for working with zero were formalised in the Brahmasputha Siddhanta. In his seminal text, the astronomer Brahmagupta introduced rules for solving quadratic equations (so beloved of secondary school mathematics students) and for computing square roots. Rules for negative numbers Brahmagupta also demonstrated rules for working with negative numbers. He referred to positive numbers as fortunes and negative numbers as debts. He wrote down rules that have been interpreted by translators such as: A fortune subtracted from zero is a debt, and a debt subtracted from zero is a fortune. This latter statement is the same as the rule we learn in school, that if you subtract a negative number, it is the same as adding a positive number. Brahmagupta also knew that: The product of a debt and a fortune is a debt a positive number multiplied by a negative is a negative. For the large part, European mathematicians were reluctant to accept negative numbers as meaningful. Many took the view that negative numbers were absurd. They reasoned that numbers were developed for counting and questioned what you could count with negative numbers. Indian and Chinese mathematicians recognised early on that one answer to this question was debts. For example, in a primitive farming context, if one farmer owes another farmer 7 cows, then effectively the first farmer has -7 cows. If the first farmer goes out to buy some animals to repay his debt, he has to buy 7 cows and give them to the second farmer in order to bring his cow tally back to 0. From then on, every cow he buys goes to his positive total. Basis for calculus This reluctance to adopt negative numbers, and indeed zero, held European mathematics back for many years. Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz was one of the first Europeans to use zero and the negatives in a systematic way in his development of calculus in the late 17th century. Calculus is used to measure rates of changes and is important in almost every branch of science, notably underpinning many key discoveries in modern physics. But Indian mathematician Bhaskara had already discovered many of Leibnizs ideas over 500 years earlier. Bhaskara, also made major contributions to algebra, arithmetic, geometry and trigonometry. He provided many results, for example on the solutions of certain Doiphantine equations, that would not be rediscovered in Europe for centuries. The Kerala school of astronomy and mathematics, founded by Madhava of Sangamagrama in the 1300s, was responsible for many firsts in mathematics, including the use of mathematical induction and some early calculus-related results. Although no systematic rules for calculus were developed by the Kerala school, its proponents first conceived of many of the results that would later be repeated in Europe including Taylor series expansions, infinitesimals and differentiation. The leap, made in India, that transformed zero from a simple placeholder to a number in its own right indicates the mathematically enlightened culture that was flourishing on the subcontinent at a time when Europe was stuck in the dark ages. Although its reputation suffers from the Eurocentric bias, the subcontinent has a strong mathematical heritage, which it continues into the 21st century by providing key players at the forefront of every branch of mathematics. Christian Yates is a senior lecturer in mathematical biology at the University of Bath. This article was originally published on www.conversation.com Registration is a free and easy way to support our truly independent journalism By registering, you will also enjoy limited access to Premium articles, exclusive newsletters, commenting, and virtual events with our leading journalists 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 study that predicted the Rohingya Muslim crisis in Burma was scrapped by the UN because it criticised its human rights strategy in the country, a report said. An independent review into its role in Rakhine state found the agency needed to improve overall coherence in its tactics to deal with any violenc there. It urged the body to undertake serious contingency planning because it foresaw a serious deterioration in relations between the Rohingya and the mostly Buddhist local population. The document also warned that any outbreak of violence by the Rohingya, many of whom have fled a violent crackdown in Burma, would trigger a heavy-handed response by the military. But the UNs chief in Burma, Renata Lok-Dessallien, shelved the report she received in May because she didnt like the analysis, according to an insider, The Guardian reported. Months later in August more than 500,000 Rohingya fled from Rakhine amid claims the security services have burned them out of their villages. The army moved in on the Muslim minority villages concentrated in its western state after it accused a Rohingya militant group of attacking native Burmese and police outposts. The UN commissioned independent analyst Richard Horsey to review its humanitarian mission in Burma which includes the World Food Programme - earlier this year. But the report was never tabled at any meetings because Renata [Lok-Dessallien] didnt like the analysis, a source said. Another said: It was given to Renata and she didnt distribute it further because she wasnt happy with it. But a spokesperson for the UN in Burma - also known as Myanmar - said the review was discussed in a meeting open to all its aid agencies there in April: The UN agreed with the documents outline of some of the challenges of providing peace, humanitarian and development assistance in Rakhine state, and the risk of further outbreaks of violence. 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 fact, the UN in Myanmar was already putting in place some of the changes suggested in the document prior to its release." But a senior aid official said the report was kept very low-key. The source added: Criticisms, constructive ones, are rarely taken as learning opportunities but are received as personal attacks and provoke defensive responses. 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 Spanish government has suspended the Catalan parliamentary session planned for Monday in which a declaration of independence from Spain was expected to be made. The countrys constitutional court said such a declaration would be a breach of the constitution. Tensions between the central government and the region have mounted following last weekends referendum on secession, which saw violent clashes between Catalan citizens and the national police. Catalan President Carles Puigdemont had earlier said his government planned to declare independence in the wake of the referendum, in a matter of days. But the opposition socialist party in the regional parliament, which opposes secession, had called for Mondays session to be blocked a challenge which was upheld by Spains constitutional court. Separatist parties only have a slim majority of the seats in the Catalan parliament. Last Sundays referendum recorded a turnout of 2.2 million people 42 per cent of the electorate many of whom faced riot police at polling stations. In addition, police removed some ballot boxes in an attempt to enforce a Spanish court order to prevent the vote. The organisers said 90 per cent voted for independence, but have not published the final results. Lawyers representing the regional parliament had also warned that the session would technically be illegal because it planned to discuss the results of a referendum that had been previously suspended by the constitutional court. Before the vote, Madrid said the referendum was illegal, and as the results were announced Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said there had been no referendum. He subsequently said the regional Catalan government must abandon plans to declare independence, to avoid greater evils. Mr Rajoy said the solution for the region is the prompt return to legality and the affirmation, as early as possible, that there will be no unilateral declaration of independence, because that way greater evils will be avoided, he told Spain's EFE news agency. Catalonia independence referendum: Riot police clash with voters Show all 17 1 /17 Catalonia independence referendum: Riot police clash with voters Catalonia independence referendum: Riot police clash with voters A man faces off Spanish Civil Guards outside a polling station in Sant Julia de Ramis Reuters Catalonia independence referendum: Riot police clash with voters Riot police form a security cordon around the Ramon Llull school in Barcelona EPA Catalonia independence referendum: Riot police clash with voters Riot police evict a young woman during clashes between people gathered outside the Ramon Llull school in Barcelona EPA Catalonia independence referendum: Riot police clash with voters Spanish Civil Guard officers break through a door at a polling station in Sant Julia de Ramis Reuters Catalonia independence referendum: Riot police clash with voters Spanish National Police clash with pro-referendum supporters in Barcelona on Sunday AP Catalonia independence referendum: Riot police clash with voters Crowds raise their arms up as police move in on members of the public gathered outside to prevent them from voting in the referendum at a polling station where the President Carles Puigdemunt will vote later today Getty Catalonia independence referendum: Riot police clash with voters People confront Spanish Civil Guard officers outside a polling station Reuters Catalonia independence referendum: Riot police clash with voters Three man hold each other as they try to block a Spanish police van from approaching a polling station AP Catalonia independence referendum: Riot police clash with voters A woman shows a ballot to a Spanish Civil Guard officer outside a polling station Reuters Catalonia independence referendum: Riot police clash with voters A man wearing a shirt with an Estelada (Catalan separatist flag) and holding carnations faces off with a Spanish Civil Guard officer Reuters Catalonia independence referendum: Riot police clash with voters Police try to control the area as people attempt to cast their ballot at a polling station in Barcelona Getty Catalonia independence referendum: Riot police clash with voters A man is grabbed by officers as police move in on the crowds Catalonia independence referendum: Riot police clash with voters Two women argue with a Spanish National policeman during clashes between Catalan pro-independence people and police forces at the Sant Julia de Ramis sports centre in Girona EPA Catalonia independence referendum: Riot police clash with voters Sant Julia De Ramis in Spain Getty Catalonia independence referendum: Riot police clash with voters Confrontation outside a polling station in Barcelona, where police have tried to stop people voting AFP/Getty Images Catalonia independence referendum: Riot police clash with voters A Spanish National Police officer aims a rubber-bullet rifle at pro-referendum supporters in Barcelona AP Catalonia independence referendum: Riot police clash with voters Riot police clashed with voters as polls opened in Barcelona Sky News Spains King Felipe VI also condemned the actions of the Catalan administration, saying the situation in Spain had become very serious and that those who had organised the vote were outside the law. 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 }} French President Emmanuel Macron has generated outrage in France by telling protesting workers battling to save their jobs to stop wreaking f***ing havoc. Mr Macron was visiting a training centre in central France, where workers from GM&S car parts factories were protesting. As the President spoke, some of the GM&S workers demonstrating outside the building became involved in confrontations with riot police. During his visit a local Socialist party official told him another factory, 150 miles away from the threatened GM&S plant was in short supply of workers. Mr Macron reportedly said: There are some who, rather than wreaking f***ing havoc, would be better off seeking if they could get a job there because some of them have the right qualifications, the Telegraph reports. He also accused them of stirring up s***, French language website theLocal.fr reports. The President has faced repeated claims he is a president of the rich, and this week scrapped Frances symbolic wealth tax, immediately sparking remonstrations from opposition parties and unions. Prime Minister Edouard Philippe estimated some 10,000 people with 35 billion euros worth of assets left in the past 15 years, Reuters reports. The move has also caused unease among Mr Macrons centrist majority. Yachts, private jets, race horses, races cars or gold ingots are no longer included in the new wealth tax. That cant be, Joel Giraud, an allied lawmaker charged with steering the budget through parliamentary committees told Le Parisien. These kinds of symbols must be taxed much more. A yacht is bling-bling. It isnt productive for the economy, he added. Under Mr Macrons recently unveiled budget, corporation tax is also due to be reduced to 25 per cent by 2022 a substantial drop from its current level of 33 per cent. These tax measures from the right wing will have a brutal and violent effect on worsening inequality, former socialist economy minister Michel Sapin told Paris Match magazine on Tuesday. 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 Following Mr Macrons latest outburst Frances socialist party tweeted: Macron does it again, and called on him to watch his language and respect the French people. 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 faulty golden aircraft escalator and anger from Moscows elite about a 200-strong Saudi retinue taking over all the citys 5-star hotels failed to dampen the fanfare accompanying King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud on his first state visit to Russia. Met with an honour guard of dignitaries and the Preobrazhensky military orchestra, the Saudi king was sped along on a highway specially lined with billboards advertising the visit and a week-long festival of Saudi culture. This was a big deal for Russia with multi-billion energy and defence contracts in the balance and it wanted King Salman to know. Ahead of the visit, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov described the event as an historical moment. At the summit in the Kremlin on Thursday, Vladimir Putin agreed: This was a landmark event that would provide a boost to relations. And King Salman returned the compliments. Russia was a friendly country, he said. According to the Kommersant newspaper, agreement has already been reached on a $3bn (2.2bn) deal to supply the Saudis with Russias most advanced air defence missile system, the S400 Triumph. According to the publication, the deal will be signed off at a WTO meeting at the end of October. There may be other deals forthcoming on aircraft and helicopters that depending on the success of talks. Defence is one of few technological sectors where Russia can still claim to be a world leader, with over a fifth of all arms deals in 2016. But with China and India, Russias biggest markets, looking to move towards military self-sufficiency, Russia is with increasing urgency looking to open new markets. The Saudi partnership comes at the end of several years of courtship and off the back of a tetchy relationship. Russia first announced that it had brokered a $20m (15m) deal back in 2012. But that deal had several strings attached, namely a demand that the Kremlin could not sell the C-300 missile system to Iran, the Saudis major regional rivals. Then, President Putin looked the other way, signing off on a new arms contract with Tehran worth $1bn (762m). That move underlined the historical distrust between the two countries. The Saudis have been accused for supporting anti-Russian insurgency whether in mujahedeens against Soviet troops in Afghanistan, or Wahhabist Islamic groups in Chechnya and Dagestan. The presence of Ramzan Kadyrov, Chechnyas rascal president and keen promoter of rival Sufism ideology, at talks in the Kremlin served as a reminder of those differences. Most recently, Russian operations in Syria have put it in direct conflict with Saudi interests. The Saudis remain opposed to Bashar al-Assad, whose regime is being supported by Russian military power. The gulf kingdom, on its part, is also believed to be funding rebel groups opposed to al-Assad. But while the sides remain some way from a common position, the Independent has learned negotiators believe progress on de-escalation zones may be made. The Saudis have lost interest and realise that Russia now owns the crisis, says Yuri Barmin, an expert at the Russian International Affairs Council. They see how the balance of power is changing in the region: how the US is pulling out and how Russia is now increasing its influence in the Middle East. The Boeing 747 carrying Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud arrives in Moscow's Vnukovo II airport (EPA) Russias geopolitical march in the region has made a highly improbable state visit possible. But the timing of the talks has little to do with Syria. Instead, King Salman is believed to be in Moscow to shore up international support for his son, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, next in line to the throne. King Salman wants Russias backing for his son, says Mr Barmin. Bin Salman is poorly perceived at home over his role in the unpopular Yemen war and the blockade of Qatar. For Russia the stakes are even higher. Hamstrung by Western sanctions and uncompetitive industry, it hopes the new bonhomie will provide impetus to its struggling economy. On Wednesday, President Putin hinted that there would likely be further cooperation to lift the oil price, the lifeblood of the Russian economy. Ministers also made it clear that they hope the Saudi delegation will deliver on investment from the kingdoms sovereign wealth funds. So far, the record on Saudi investment is poor. Of $10bn (7bn) promised to Russia in 2015, only $1billion has actually ever materialised. 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 German teenager facing the death penalty in Iraq after she joined Isis has said she was groomed online by a Jordanian girl who put her in touch with a jihadist. Linda Wenzel was arrested by Iraqi forces after they pulled her from the rubble during the liberation of Mosul from Isis control. She is accused of taking part in combat for the jihadists, which she denies. The 16-year-old is now being held in a Baghdad prison where her fate lies in the hands of the Iraqi courts. The countrys Prime Minister last month said it was possible she could be put to death if her actions were considered serious enough. The teenager, who was just 15 when she fled her hometown in eastern Germany to become an Isis bride, claims a girl who gave her name as Fatema persuaded her to convert to Islam in 2016 after the two began chatting on jihadist forums. The German teen said Fatema introduced her to her future husband, former Isis fighter Abu Usama al-Shisani, and the two also began chatting. She said she told Chechen national al-Shisani about problems she was having at home and he convinced her to run away, promising to marry her if she joined Isis. He also told her how she could get the travel documents she needed to travel to Turkey. By the time she arrived in Turkey, he had fled to Syria but Wenzel claims the pair got married over the phone. The pair then united and moved along the Turkish borders and into Syria together, eventually reaching the former Isis stronghold of Mosul. She says her husband was killed in action three months after she arrived in Mosul, and her request to return home was rejected by the jihadists, who gave her a widows allowance of $200 (151). She was found huddled in a basement in July, after spending around a year in Iraq since leaving home aged just 15. The teenager insists she only lived as a housemaid and played no part in combat activities, as Iraqi intelligence sources claim. Wenzel is understood to be desperate to be returned to Germany amid fears she could either face years in jail, or the death penalty, which is carried out by hanging in Iraq. In pictures: Mosul offensive Show all 40 1 /40 In pictures: Mosul offensive In pictures: Mosul offensive A doctor carries an Iraqi newborn baby at a hospital in Mosul, Iraq July 18, 2017. Reuters In pictures: Mosul offensive Iraqi girls play at a yard of a school in Mosul, Iraq July 18, 2017alal Reuters In pictures: Mosul offensive A woman on crutches who is a relative of men accused of being Islamic State militants is seen at a camp in Bartella, east of Mosul, Iraq July 15, 2017. Picture taken July 15, 2017. Reuters In pictures: Mosul offensive A displaced girl, who fled from home carries a doll at Hamam al-Alil camp south of Mosul, Iraq July 13, 2017. Reuters In pictures: Mosul offensive Iraqi federal police members and civilians celebrate in the Old City of Mosul on 9 July 2017 after the government's announcement of the "liberation" of the embattled city. Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi's office said he was in "liberated" Mosul to congratulate "the heroic fighters and the Iraqi people on the achievement of the major victory" AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Mosul offensive A picture taken on 9 July 2017, shows a general view of the destruction in Mosul's Old City. Iraq will announce imminently a final victory in the nearly nine-month offensive to retake Mosul from jihadists, a US general said Saturday, as celebrations broke out among police forces in the city. AFP In pictures: Mosul offensive Members of the Iraqi federal police raise the victory gesture as they ride on a humvee while advancing through the Old City of Mosul on 28 June 2017, as the offensive continues to retake the last district held by Islamic State (IS) group fighters. AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Mosul offensive Smoke billows as Iraqi forces advance through the Old City of Mosul on 26 June 2017, during the ongoing offensive to retake the last district held by the Islamic State (IS) group. AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Mosul offensive An Iraqi man wearing the green scarf of the Shi'ite faith kisses an Iraqi Army soldier on safely reaching the Iraqi forces position as Iraqi civilians flee the Old City of west Mosul where heavy fighting continues on 23 June 2017. Iraqi forces continue to encounter stiff resistance with improvised explosive devices, car bombs, heavy mortar fire and snipers hampering their advance. Getty Images In pictures: Mosul offensive A picture taken from the inside of an Iraqi forces armoured vehicle shows residents walking through a damaged street as troops advance towards Mosul's Old City on 18 June 2017, during the ongoing offensive to retake the last district still held by the Islamic State (IS) group. Military commanders told AFP the assault had begun at dawn after overnight air strikes by the US-led coalition backing Iraqi forces. They said the jihadists were putting up fierce resistance. AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Mosul offensive Iraqi Army soldiers advance in a destroyed street after an Iraqi forces airstrike targeted an Islamic State sniper position 17 June 2017 in al-Shifa, the last district of west Mosul under Islamic State control. IS snipers, as well as car and suicide bomb attacks continue to hinder the Iraqi forces efforts to retake the final district. A series of airstrikes by Iraqi helicopter gunships attempted to hit multiple Islamic State sniper positions in al-Shifa. Getty Images In pictures: Mosul offensive An Iraqi soldier frisks a displaced Iraqi man at a temporary camp in the compound of the closed Nineveh International Hotel in Mosul on 16 June 2017 which was recovered by Iraqi troops from Islamic State group fighters earlier in the year. A screening centre set up in the compound's fairgrounds sees a constant stream of Iraqis fleeing the battle for Mosul, awaiting their turn to be checked by the Iraqi forces who are searching for suspected Islamic State (IS) group members. The small fairground lies at the end of a pontoon bridge across the Tigris recently opened to civilians that is the only physical link between the two banks of the river. AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Mosul offensive Iraqis staying at the al-Khazir camp swim in a river near the camp for internally displaced people, located between Arbil and Mosul on 11 June 2017. AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Mosul offensive Iraqi government forces drive on a road leading to Tal Afar on 9 June 2017, during ongoing battles to retake the city from Islamic State (IS) group fighters. AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Mosul offensive An Iraqi policeman carries a poster bearing an image of Mosul's iconic leaning minaret, known as the "Hadba" (Hunchback), on 22 June 2017. AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Mosul offensive Iraqis stand in line to receive food aid in western Mosul's Zanjili neighbourhood on 7 June 2017, during ongoing battles as Iraqi forces try to retake the city from Islamic State (IS) group fighters. Living conditions in Mosul have again deteriorated since the start of the Iraqi government's offensive on the city in October in which they retook a large part of the west of the city. AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Mosul offensive Displaced Iraqis carry lightbulbs and sacks as they evacuate from western Mosul's Zanjili neighbourhood as government forces advance in the area during their ongoing battle against Islamic State (IS) group fighters on 13 May 2017 AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Mosul offensive A member of the Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service (CTS) flashes the victory gesture as he patrols in western Mosul's al-Islah al-Zaraye neighbourhood on 13 May 2017 AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Mosul offensive Iraqi army soldiers from the 9th armoured division on a truck flash the sign of victory as they drive back from Mosul to the town of Qaraqosh (also known as Hamdaniya) Getty In pictures: Mosul offensive Members of Iraqi forces flash the sign of victory on their vehicle as they advance towards Hammam al-Alil area south of Mosul Getty In pictures: Mosul offensive A member of Iraqi security forces gestures in Hammam al-Alil, south of Mosul, Iraq Reuters In pictures: Mosul offensive Iraqi children, one flashing the sign of victory, greet Iraqi army's soldiers from the 9th armoured division in the area of Ali Rash, adjacent to the eastern Al-Intissar neighbourhood of Mosul Getty In pictures: Mosul offensive Peshmerga forces look at a tunnel used by Islamic State militants near the town of Bashiqa, east of Mosul, during an operation to attack Islamic State militants in Mosul, Iraq Reuters In pictures: Mosul offensive An Iraqi soldier takes a photograph with his phone as his comrade stands next to a detained man, whom the Iraqi army soldiers accused of being an Islamic State fighter, who was fleeing with his family in the Intisar disrict of eastern Mosul, Iraq Reuters In pictures: Mosul offensive Iranian Kurdish female members of the Freedom Party of Kurdistan (PAK) hold a position in an area near the town of Bashiqa, some 25 kilometres north east of Mosul Getty In pictures: Mosul offensive Iraqi families, who fled their homes in Hamam al-Alil, gather on the outskirts of their town Getty In pictures: Mosul offensive Displaced people walk past a checkpoint near Qayara, south of Mosul, Iraq AP In pictures: Mosul offensive Iraqi families who were displaced by the ongoing operation by Iraqi forces against jihadists of the Islamic State group to retake the city of Mosul, are seen gathering in an area near Qayyarah In pictures: Mosul offensive A boy who just fled Abu Jarbuah village is seen with his family at a Kurdish Peshmerga position between two front lines near Bashiqa, east of Mosul, Iraq Reuters In pictures: Mosul offensive An Iraqi child eats a pomegranate upon the arrival of Iraqi forces in the village of Umm Mahahir, south of Mosul Getty In pictures: Mosul offensive People who just fled Abu Jarbuah village sit as they eat at a Kurdish Peshmerga position between two front lines near Bashiqa, east of Mosul, Iraq Reuters In pictures: Mosul offensive A couple who just fled Abu Jarbuah village are escorted by Kurdish Peshmerga soldiers Reuters In pictures: Mosul offensive Women carry a boy over a wall as civilians flee their houses in the village of Tob Zawa, Iraq AP In pictures: Mosul offensive An Iraqi soldier and a civilian ride a motorbike as smoke rises behind them, on the road between Qayyarah and Mosul Getty In pictures: Mosul offensive A member of Iraqi forces, wearing a skull mask, waits at a checkpoint for people fleeing the main hub city of Mosul Getty In pictures: Mosul offensive An Iraqi soldier sits at a checkpoint in an area near Qayyarah Getty In pictures: Mosul offensive Iraqi men prepare food portions for Iraqi forces deployed in areas south of Mosul Getty In pictures: Mosul offensive Iraqi forces celebrate upon the arrival of vehicles bringing food to them Getty In pictures: Mosul offensive Iraqi childen smoke cigarettes upon the arrival of Iraqi forces in the village of Umm Mahahir, south of Mosul Getty In pictures: Mosul offensive A member of Iraqi forces distributes drinks to children in the village of Umm Mahahir, south of Mosul Getty Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said last month that despite her youth, Wenzel could be held fully accountable for her actions. You know teenagers under certain laws, they are accountable for their actions especially if the act is a criminal activity when it amounts to killing innocent people, he said. The German teenager is being held in a prison at Baghdads airport together with other foreign women found in Mosul and suspected of having played a role in jihadist activity, including citizens from Belgium, France, Syria and Iran. Iraqi officials told the Associated Press that hundreds more suspected Isis brides are being held in various prisons in the Mosul area. Iraq carried out at least 88 executions by hanging in 2016 and has put to death large numbers of people for terrorism offences since wresting Mosul back from Isis. If tried in Germany, Wenzel could face a prison term between of between one and ten years. Germany's Foreign Ministry previously said they were working on returning the teen and three other German women who are imprisoned in Iraq, but there is currently no extradition treaty between the two countries. Recommended US votes against UN resolution condemning gay sex death penalty Amir Musawy, an Iraqi journalist who met Wenzel after her arrest, said she was exhausted and had a leg injury when he spoke to her. I do not have the feeling that she understands what she did, and what she might have waiting for her, whether in Iraq or in Germany. She just told me that she wants her home back, like a journey that she went on and did not like. Speaking in her prison cell in Baghdad, Wenzel is reported to have said: 'I just want to get away from here. I want to get away from the war, from the many weapons, from the noise.I just want to go home to my family.' 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 key committee in Libyas parliament has condemned Boris Johnson for joking about dead bodies preventing the countrys business growth. The Foreign Secretary was widely criticised for controversially suggesting that the Libyan city of Sirte only had to "clear the dead bodies" before it could become the next Dubai. He was speaking at a fringe event at the Conservative Party conference in Manchester. The Libyan House of Representatives foreign affairs committee demanded an apology from Theresa May over the unacceptable comments. The committee demands a clarification from the British Prime Minister and an apology to the Libyan people, it said in a statement. Mr Johnsons comments about British businessmen investing in Libya were a violation of Libyan sovereignty, the committee added. The Foreign Secretary had told Tory activists: "There's a group of UK business people, wonderful guys, who want to invest in Sirte, on the coast near where Gaddafi was actually captured and executed, as some of you may have seen. Tory conference 2017 in pictures Show all 23 1 /23 Tory conference 2017 in pictures Tory conference 2017 in pictures Comedian Simon Brodkin hands Theresa May a p45 during her conference speech @simonbrodkin/Twitter screengrab Tory conference 2017 in pictures Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May struggles with her water after she suffered a coughing fit whilst addressing the Conservative Party conference in Manchester Reuters Tory conference 2017 in pictures Britain's Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson delivers his speech on the third day of the Conservative Party annual conference Tory conference 2017 in pictures Bear Grylls at the Conservative party conference at the Manchester Central Convention Complex PA Tory conference 2017 in pictures Britain's International Development Secretary Priti Patel gestures after delivering her speech on the third day of the Conservative Party conference Paul Ellis/AFP Tory conference 2017 in pictures Prime Minister Theresa May and Chancellor Philip Hammond visit a home in Manchester during the Conservative Party conference in the city Phil Noble/PA Tory conference 2017 in pictures Britain's Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson returns from a morning run on the second day of the Conservative Party Conference, in Manchester Reuters/Phil Noble Tory conference 2017 in pictures Delegates view a display board showing the history of the Conservative Party as they arrive for the first day of the annual Conservative Party conference Getty Tory conference 2017 in pictures Delegates carry pro-Brexit bags as they arrive for the first day of the annual Conservative Party conference Getty Tory conference 2017 in pictures Delegates listen to Justine Greening's speech on the first day of conference Carl Court/Getty Tory conference 2017 in pictures Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May and her husband Philip applaud a speaker on the first day of the annual Conservative Party conference Carl Court/Getty Tory conference 2017 in pictures Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson speaks at the Conservative Party Conference at the Manchester Central Convention Complex PA Tory conference 2017 in pictures Secretary of State for Education, Justine Greening, speaks on the first day of the conference Carl Court/Getty Tory conference 2017 in pictures Chairman of the Conservative Party, Patrick McLoughlin, speaks at the opening of the first day of the Tory party conference Tory conference 2017 in pictures Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond, arrives for the first day of Tory party conference Carl Court/Getty Tory conference 2017 in pictures Secretary of State for Defence, Michael Fallon, arrives at conference Getty Tory conference 2017 in pictures Home Secretary, Amber Rudd (C), attends the first day of the Conservative Party conference Carl Court/Getty Tory conference 2017 in pictures Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Sajid Javid, attends the first day of the Conservative Party conference Getty Tory conference 2017 in pictures Former Conservative minister, Edwina Currie, at the first day of conference Carl Court/Getty Tory conference 2017 in pictures Secretary of State for International Trade, Liam Fox, arrives at conference Carl Court/Getty Tory conference 2017 in pictures Britain's Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson, arrives at the conference hotel for the Conservative Party Conference Reuters/Darren Staples Tory conference 2017 in pictures The anti-Tory march makes its way to the Conservative party conference in Manchester Peter Byrne/PA Tory conference 2017 in pictures A demonstrator walks a dog wearing a European Union flag during a protest on the opening day of the Conservative Party Conference, in Manchester Reuters/Darren Staples "They literally have a brilliant vision to turn Sirte with the help of the municipality of Sirte into the next Dubai. The only thing they've got to do is clear the dead bodies away and then they'll be there. Earlier another member of Libyas House of Representatives called the joke cruel and unacceptable. Members of Mr Johnsons own party called for him to resign over the comments, while fellow Cabinet ministers queued up to distance themselves from the remarks. Tory backbencher Heidi Allen wrote on Twitter: 100% unacceptable from anyone, let alone Foreign Sec. Boris must be sacked for this. He does not represent my party. Another, Sarah Wollaston, added: Demeaning jokes about real people murdered in Libya would be crass even from a stand up; appalled to hear this from our Foreign Secretary. Conservative ministers also criticised their cabinet colleague, who has ruffled feathers in recent days with a string of outspoken interventions on Brexit. Damian Green, Ms Mays deputy, said the comments were not acceptable, while Amber Rudd, the Home Secretary, admitted Mr Johnsons remarks were sometimes ill-judged. Theresa May asked if Boris Johnson is unsackable However, the Foreign Secretary refused to back down or apologise, accusing his critics of playing politics over the issue. He wrote on Twitter: Shame people with no knowledge or understanding of Libya want to play politics with the appallingly dangerous reality in Sirte. The reality there is that the clearing of corpses of Daesh [Isis] fighters has been made much more difficult by IEDs and booby traps. Thats why Britain is playing a key role in reconstruction and why I have visited Libya twice this year in support. Sirte was a key battleground during Libyas civil war, which followed the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. It was later captured by Isis and was the scene of a bloody six-month battle last year as US-backed Libyan forces tried to oust the militant group. Hundreds of civilians were killed in the violence. 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 }} US President Donald Trump has reportedly said that he thinks Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is a bigger obstacle to the Middle East peace process than the Palestinian leadership. During a short meeting between Mr Trump and UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York last week, the US president allegedly said of Mr Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas both leaders are problematic. According to a Western diplomat who was briefed on Trumps comments, however, the general context was that from the two of them, Netanyahu is the bigger problem. Trump: Israelis and Palestinians are 'reaching for peace' The meeting was first reported by left-leaning Israeli newspaper Haaretz, who said that the account was backed up by seven different Western and Israeli sources who were either at the meeting or briefed on it afterwards. The claims have been dismissed by the White House. Israel: From independence to intifada Show all 7 1 /7 Israel: From independence to intifada Israel: From independence to intifada 26973.bin Israel: From independence to intifada 26974.bin Israel: From independence to intifada 26975.bin Israel: From independence to intifada 26976.bin Israel: From independence to intifada 26977.bin Israel: From independence to intifada 26985.bin Robert Capa/Magnum Israel: From independence to intifada 26986.bin Robert Capa/Magnum This was a short but productive meeting that primarily focused on UN reforms and the great job [US Ambassador to the UN Nikki] Haley has been doing. After discussing the United States defence of Israel at the UN, the participants quickly addressed the ongoing peace conversations, a statement said. The president said that he feels both sides want to make peace and he remains optimistic about an enduring peace deal. We are focusing on our productive conversations and not on the noise created by spoilers. Mr Trump is widely viewed in Israel and the wider Middle East as far more sympathetic to Israeli interests - including the contentious issue of settlement building - than his predecessor Barack Obama. Recommended Palestinian kills three Israelis in shooting near occupied West Bank However, he has repeatedly expressed a sincere desire to broker a peace deal in the intractable Israeli-Palestinian conflict, meeting with both sides in Washington, Jerusalem and Ramallah since taking office in January. During Mr Netanyahus state visit to DC in February Mr Trump suggested that he is open to the idea of a one-state, rather than two-state, solution to the intractable conflict. Such a move would be a marked change from US policy since Bill Clintons tenure which, alongside the UN, EU, Arab League and others, has been to promote the idea of a peace deal involving a Palestinian state. Since entering the White House Mr Trump has caught some Israeli hard-liners off guard with the suggestion the Netanyahu coalition government should hold back on settlement building in the West Bank, and his administration has equivocated over whether the US embassy will move from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem as promised. Trump meets Netanyahu and talks of "unbreakable" US-Israel bond The president has made it clear he wants to be the US leader to achieve a lasting peace settlement, previously calling it the ultimate deal. According to another high-level diplomat source who spoke to Haaretz, Mr Trump reiterated that with the elderly Mr Abbas in need of a legacy, and Israel confident in the backing of a presidency sensitive to its security needs, there is currently a a pretty good shot at peace. The administration has not so far elaborated on any new policies or timetables to revive the long-stalled negotiations 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 last urban stronghold in Iraq has been recaptured, the Iraqi military has said. The town of Hawija and surrounding area were declared as freed from the jihadists rule for the first time since 2014, a statement on Thursday said. The armys ninth armoured division, the Federal Police, the Emergency Response division and.... Popular Mobilisation Units liberated Hawija, said joint operations commander, Lieutenant-General Abdul Ameer Rasheed Yarallah. Footage shows Isis schoolgirl Linda Wenzel being captured in Iraq A total of 196 militants were killed and 96 villages around the town were liberated during the fighting, he added. US-backed Iraqi government troops and Iranian-trained Shia militias known as the Popular Mobilisation Units began the offensive on 21 September. The UN estimated 78,000 people were trapped in Hawija and surrounding villages under Isis control. Thousands of civilians braved mines, Isis sniper fire and US-led coalition air strikes to flee the fighting. In pictures: Isis' weapons factories Show all 11 1 /11 In pictures: Isis' weapons factories In pictures: Isis' weapons factories A mortar round fin manufactured by Isis in Gogjali, Mosul, November 2016 Conflict Armament Research In pictures: Isis' weapons factories Isis rocket components discovered in Gogjali, Mosul, Iraq in November 2016 Conflict Armament Research In pictures: Isis' weapons factories Isis mortars discovered near Karamlais, Iraq, in November 2016 CAR In pictures: Isis' weapons factories An Isis rocket launch frame in Qaraqosh, November 2016 Conflict Armament Research In pictures: Isis' weapons factories A memo from Isis' COSQC on quality control at a manufacturing facility in Gogjali, Mosul, November 2016 Conflict Armament Research In pictures: Isis' weapons factories Electrically-operated initiators manufactured by Isis in forces Gogjali, Mosul, November 2016 Conflict Armament Research In pictures: Isis' weapons factories Isis mortar tubes at a manufacturing facility in Karamlais, November 2016 Conflict Armament Research In pictures: Isis' weapons factories An Isis mortar production facility discovered in Gogjali, Mosul, in November 2016 Conflict Armament Research In pictures: Isis' weapons factories An Isis weapons manufacturing facilities near Mosul in November 2016 Conflict Armament Research In pictures: Isis' weapons factories Stocks of French-manufactured Sorbitol, Latvian potassium nitrate and Lebanese sugar at an Isis weapons factory in Iraq Conflict Armament Research In pictures: Isis' weapons factories A destroyed Isis weapons facility in Qaraqosh, Iraq, November 2016 Conflict Armament Research The speedy conclusion to the operation means that Isis has now lost its last major position in the country. Many militants have fled to the desert town of al-Qaim and other positions along the border with Syria. Isis is under pressure on both sides of the border and now clings on to a fraction of the territory that once formed part of its so-called caliphate across the two countries. Isis control in Iraq effectively collapsed in July, when its de facto capital, the city of Mosul, was recaptured by coalition forces after a gruelling nine-month battle. In Syria, US-backed Arab and Kurdish forces have retaken 90 per cent of Isis Syrian capital of Raqqa, and the Syrian government, backed by Russian air power and allied militias, is winning against the militants in the Deir Ezzor province. As its once mighty caliphate crumbles, analysts expect Isis to morph into an insurgency group across both Syria and Iraq, and to step up terror attacks worldwide. Last week, the first audio recording of Isis leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in almost a year which proved he is still alive despite several reports of his death called for supporters to keep fighting. 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 new UN report into child welfare in armed conflict singles out the Saudi-led military coalition currently bombing Houthi rebels in Yemen for maiming and killing hundreds of children, reports say. The potentially incendiary findings of a draft version of the report, due to be released Friday, was leaked to Reuters earlier this week. In Yemen, the coalitions actions objectively led to the listing for the killing and maiming of children, with 683 child casualties attributed to this party, and, as a result of being responsible for 38 verified incidents, for attacks on schools and hospitals during 2016, the annex to the full draft report says. The child victims of Yemens civil war The annex also blacklists the Houthis, Yemeni government forces and allied militias as well as Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula for crimes against children. In what is being seen as an effort to dampen inevitable Saudi criticism of the report, the draft notes that the coalition has put in place measures to improve the protection of children in future. The annex of blacklisted parties is split into organisations and countries which have put in place checks and balances to keep children safe, and those which have not. The situation in Yemen Show all 14 1 /14 The situation in Yemen The situation in Yemen Houthi supporters trample on a US flag during a gathering mobilizing more fighters into several Yemeni battlefronts, in Sana'a, Yemen EPA The situation in Yemen People carry the coffins of men, who were killed in the recent Saudi-led airstrikes during their funeral, in the Old City of Sanaa, Yemen AP The situation in Yemen Pro-government fighters give food to Yemeni children on the road leading to the southwestern port city of Mokha. Yemeni rebels are putting up fierce resistance in a key Red Sea port city where they are encircled by pro-government force Getty Images The situation in Yemen A Yemeni stands in front of a graffiti protesting US military operations in war-affected Yemen, in Sana'a, Yemen. According to reports, US Special Forces troops allegedly disembarked from US helicopters in the Yemeni town of Yakla and attacked several houses belonging to members of the terrorist group Al-Qaeda, killing three high-ranking Al-Qaeda members and nine civilians, six women and three children. One American serviceman has been killed and three injured in the attack EPA The situation in Yemen US Special Forces troops allegedly disembarked from US helicopters in the Yemeni town of Yakla and attacked several houses belonging to members of the terrorist group Al-Qaeda, killing three high-ranking Al-Qaeda members and nine civilians, six women and three children. One American serviceman has been killed and three injured in the attack EPA The situation in Yemen A Yemeni female fighter supporting the Shiite Huthi rebels, and carrying weapons used for ceremonial purposes, takes part in an anti-Saudi rally in the capital Sanaa Getty Images The situation in Yemen Yemeni female fighters supporting the Shiite Huthi rebels, and carrying weapons used for ceremonial purposes, take part in an anti-Saudi rally in the capital Sanaa Getty Images The situation in Yemen A boy shouts slogans next to pro-Houthi fighters, who have been injured during recent fighting, during a rally held to honour those injured or maimed while fighting in Houthi ranks in Sanaa, Yemen Reuters The situation in Yemen Balls of fire and smoke rise from a Houthi-held military camp following alleged Saudi-led airstrikes, in Sana'a, Yemen EPA The situation in Yemen Yemenis search under the rubble of damaged houses following reported Saudi-led coalition air strikes on the outskirts of the Yemeni capital Sanaa Getty Images The situation in Yemen A Yemeni boy looks on as Yemenis search under the rubble of damaged houses following reported Saudi-led coalition air strikes on the outskirts of the Yemeni capital Sanaa Getty The situation in Yemen A Yemeni boy sits amidst the rubble of damaged houses following reported Saudi-led coalition air strikes on the outskirts of the Yemeni capital Sanaa AFP/Getty The situation in Yemen Marine One with US President Donald Trump flies with a decoy and support helicopters to Dover Air Force Base in Dover, Delaware, for the dignified transfer of Navy Seal Chief Petty Officer William 'Ryan' Owens who was killed in Yemen Getty Images The situation in Yemen US President Donald Trump aboard the Marine One to greet the remains of a US military commando killed during a raid on the al Qaeda militant group in southern Yemen on Sunday, at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, US Reuters The coalition was briefly added to the blacklist in last years report and then removed by then-UN chief Ban Ki-moon pending review. At the time, the secretary general accused Saudi Arabia of exerting unacceptable undue pressure after sources told Reuters that Riyadh threatened to cut its UN funding. Saudi Arabia denied threatening Mr Ban. The wording of the draft, produced by the UNs children and armed conflict envoy Virginia Gamba, may yet be changed. It does not subject those named to any UN action, but rather shames parties to conflicts in the hope of pushing them to implement measures to protect children. Once it is approved by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres it will be submitted to the UN Security Council in the next few weeks before discussions on its findings on 31 October. Recommended UN agrees to investigate alleged war crimes in Yemen The UN itself and the Saudi delegation to the international body declined to comment, stating they would wait for the official report. Yemen descended into a full-blown civil war in March 2015, and has been suffering from a cholera epidemic since March of this year. Two and a half years of civil war have decimated the countrys infrastructure and put seven million of the 27-million strong population on the brink of famine. Michael Fallon claims Saudi Arabia is only 'defending itself' when attacking Yemen Saudi Arabia and its regional partners have justified an extensive bombing campaign on Yemens Shia Houthi rebels, who control the capital Sanaa, at the request of the exiled, internationally recognised Yemeni President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi. The intense air strikes which in some cases have targeted civilian buildings such as hospitals and funeral gatherings have killed thousands of civilians. Saudi Arabias blockade on Yemens ports, land borders and air space has also been heavily criticised for preventing food and medical aid reaching civilians. Reuters 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 }} Capping off its highly anticipated week of awards, the Norwegian Nobel Committee will announce its annual Peace Prize on Friday. The coveted prize is given to a person, or group of people, who have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations. The committee reportedly receives more than 200 nominations a year, though only a select group of people such as politicians, committee members, and Peace Prize laureates are allowed to nominate. The committee has received some questionable nominations this year both the US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are said to have been nominated but various organisations have whittled them down to a more realistic list of front runners. Topping the list is Pope Francis, who has been favoured to win since he became head of the Catholic church in 2013. No pontiff has ever won the prize, but Pope Francis has distinguished himself for his progressive viewpoints and strong statements on climate change and refugees. One British betting company told TIME that Francis received more bets than any other candidate. But if the committee is looking to reward work with refugees, they have several strong contenders. The UN Refugee Agency and High Commissioner Filippo Grandi are obvious nominees, given their work on the international refugee crisis. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who opened her country to more than one million refugees and migrants, is an outside contender. Pope Francis greets the faithful in Cartagena, Colombia (Alberto Pizzoli/Pool via AP) The Peace Research Institute Oslo, which maintains a popular list of Peace Prize favourites, is betting on two architects of the Iran nuclear deal: Mohammad Javad Zarif, the foreign minister of Iran, and Federica Mogherini, a High Representative of the European Union. The 2015 agreement ended a 12-year international diplomatic crisis over Irans nuclear weapons programme. After 20 months of deliberations, the country agreed to get rid of their uranium stockpile and allow international observers to oversee their nuclear programme. Awarding the Peace Prize to the deals authors would reward these efforts while sending a strong message to Mr Trump, who is reportedly planning to decertify the deal. If the Committee is serious about reaching Mr Trump, however, The Guardian has suggested awarding the prize to the American Civil Liberties Union. The nonprofit advocacy group has mounted some of the most effective legal challenges to Mr Trumps policies since he took office, and have seen a surge in donations in response. (Chelsea Manning poses with an ACLU sign ACLU/Twitter) (ACLU/Twitter) The committee may choose to target to another world leader, however, by awarding the prize to Turkish journalist Can Dundar. The former editor of Turkeys Cumhuriyet newspaper, Mr Dundar was convicted of espionage and aiding a terrorist group due to his groundbreaking reporting. He currently lives in exile in Germany. Seventeen of Mr Dundars former Cumhuriyet co-workers have also been put on trial for aiding a terrorist organisation. Awarding the prize to Mr Dundar, or Cumhuriyet as a whole, would be a strong rebuke of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogans media crackdown. 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 Another journalist floated for the prize is Raif Badawi, a Saudi writer who was arrested in June 2012 for insulting Islam online and on television. He was sentenced to 10 years in jail and 1,000 lashes, of which he has received 50. The award would send a similar message to the Saudi government about the importance of press freedoms. Rounding out list is one of last years top contenders, the Syrian Civil Defence (better known as the White Hats). The group, nicknamed for the helmets they wear to protect themselves, rescues civilians in Syria from bombed-out buildings. They claim to have saved 99,000 people over course of the country's six-year civil war. While they were passed over for the prize last year, theyve since had a poignant and very convincing documentary made about their work. The Nobel Peace Prize will be announced at 10am BST on Friday. Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for weekly expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Simon Calders Travel email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The man enters the dome and offers a quick smile before he sits on the floor, surrounded by 19 crystal bowls of varying sizes. He slides a mallet around the lip of one of the largest bowls, which is about the same diameter as an extra large pizza. Its a small movement but the swell of sound it creates is instant and intense, like running a wet finger around a massive wine glass. When youre ready, just roll over and close your eyes to hasten your spiritual awakening, he says, gently. So begins my sound bath with 29 strangers in the Mojave Desert. Calling this a bath is something of a misnomer. This experience doesnt involve any nudity or even any water. Its more of a sonic dip, resting on a mat for half an hour or more while a practitioner creates resonant sounds that swirl around the room and wash over the body. Proponents claim these sound frequencies focus the mind, heal the body, and find harmony maybe even helping the bather to attain spiritual enlightenment. (If youre scoffing at that last part, think of how many religions incorporate sound, from chants to hymns, as an integral component of worship.) My guide is a man named Drayton, who introduces himself as a retired surfer. The sound bath uses crystal bowls (Maggie Downs) Now I just ride the waves of sound and energy, he says, completely straight-faced. That sounds about right for Californias Mojave Desert, a sweeping landscape where artists, eccentrics, bohemians, and misfits find space to thrive. The desert boasts a certain magnetism, a definite mystical quality. Theres something about the long, open roads, the night skies spattered with stars, the sheer room to create. This is the land that attracted George Van Tassel and the reason why theres a place for sound baths in the desert at all. An aviator, mechanic, and engineer at various companies during Southern Californias aerospace boom, Van Tassel left the industry in 1947. He moved his family to the desert near Landers, California, where they lived in cave-like dwelling hollowed underneath a giant rock called well, Giant Rock. Over the following years, Van Tassel built a home, established an airport and opened a restaurant here, about a half-hour drive from what is now Joshua Tree National Park. George Van Tassel based the building on 'alien plans' (Model Citizen) This is also where Van Tassel claims he was visited by aliens. In August 1953, Van Tassel said he was taken on board a glittering spaceship by a being from Venus named Solgonda. During this contact Van Tassel was offered the plans for a domed structure called the Integratron, which had the potential to restore youth, enable time travel, and benefit mankind in myriad ways. The remainder of Van Tassels life was consumed by raising money for the Integratron, constructing the dome and hosting annual UFO conventions, attended by thousands of fellow ufologists. When Van Tassel died abruptly in 1978, the dome was completed, but it was far from the machine he envisioned a high-voltage electrostatic generator that could recharge cellular structure. Now maintained by three sisters who have no relation to Van Tassel, the Integratron is open to the public for sound baths or available to rent for private sessions. The dome is popular with recording artists for its unique acoustics (Maggie Downs) Simply from an architectural perspective, the Integratron is spectacular. Its 38ft high, 55ft in diameter and constructed entirely from light wood. No metal or nails were used during construction the domes 16 wooden spines are held together by a one-ton concrete ring at the top. Incredibly, the dome sustained no damage during the severe, 7.3-magnitude Landers earthquake in 1992. What lures most people to the Integratron now are the acoustics, which are whisper-perfect. Stand in the centre and hum, and the sound whooshes around the dome and comes back to you. Speak on one side of the room, and the person directly across the dome will believe youve whispered in their ear. Thats probably why the Integratrons substantial guestbook includes musicians like Robert Plant, Arcade Fire, Moby, Smashing Pumpkins and the Arctic Monkeys. Baths are conducted on the domes second level, where the air feels cool despite the sweltering desert day outside. The room is fragrant with rosemary and incense. I close my eyes. According to Van Tassel, the Integratron is situated above a vortex of geomagnetic forces, and perhaps its my imagination, but I swear I can feel the vibrations. As Drayton plays the crystal bowls, my body relaxes into the sensation of being submerged in sound. It is loud, though its not like standing in front of a speaker at a rock concert and getting blasted by noise. Its more like sitting atop the speaker, feeling each reverberation through the marrow of your bones. I cant decide if it is pleasant or unpleasant, but before long Im not thinking much of anything at all. When the sound bath stops, the resonance is still thrumming in my ears when a soft, melodic song plays through some speakers. Its one of the most beautiful things Ive ever heard, like notes of liquid gold. My body hums. I open my eyes, and Drayton is gone, like some kind of dream. Or perhaps the aliens have taken him, too. Travel Essentials Getting there Landers, California, is located within a two and a half hour-drive of Los Angeles International Airport; Norwegian (norwegian.com) flies there direct from 480 return. Staying there The 29 Palms Inn (29palmsinn.com) is an actual oasis in the desert. This charming retreat is both steeped in history and boasts a terrific location near the entrance of Joshua Tree National Park. Prices vary by season, but start from around $140 plus tax, room only. The Desert Lily B&B (001 310 849 7290) offers a relaxing desert experience with hammocks, fire pit and homemade cookies, as well as sweeping views of the area. Accommodation options include homestead cabins, as well as rooms in an adorable adobe house. Doubles from $165 plus tax, room only. More information A one-hour sound bath at the Integratron (joshuatree.guide/integratron) is from $30 per person for a group session; booking in advance is advised. Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for weekly expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Simon Calders Travel email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A year can be a painfully long time in aviation. Last October, the Monarch chief executive, Andrew Swaffield, received the warmest of welcomes as he made a surprise appearance on the stage at the Association of British Travel Agents (Abta) convention in Abu Dhabi. The airline had been on the danger list for a couple of weeks. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) was so unconvinced about Monarchs prospects that it had established a shadow airline, with planes waiting at holiday airports across the Mediterranean to fly holidaymakers home. The pop-up airline did not take to the skies. Just before an extended deadline for showing the authority a big bag of cash expired, Mr Swaffield sealed a 165m rescue package for Monarch. Delegates at the travel industrys annual get-together were genuinely delighted that an airline with so rich a heritage was off the danger list. Monarch is one of the rare travel brands for which many in the industry feel genuine warmth, I wrote after the chief executives speech. But after a wretched year for the airline and its staff, the financial life-support was turned off in the early hours of Monday morning. Telling the airlines 2,000 aviation professionals that they had lost their jobs ranks alongside stage designer at the Tory party conference as thankless task of the week. This weekend travel agents and tour operators fly out to Abtas 2017 venue, Ponta Delgada in the Azores. At Gatwick airport they may encounter some of the 110,000 holidaymakers being brought home by this years pop-up airline. The taxpayer-funded operation to replicate Monarchs schedules is painfully expensive: the cost for each passenger averages 545 for a one-way flight of two or three hours. But since CAAir opened for business on Monday morning, it has proved remarkably effective. Many passengers have actually had a better experience than the intended Monarch flight, thanks to the extra legroom and luxury leather seats of Qatar Airways and Canadas Air Transat. Abta delegates will argue for hours about what caused the demise of an airline that had done so much to extend travellers horizons. Sharm el Sheikh undoubtedly played a part. Until October 2015, Monarch had a flourishing business to Egypts premier resort, which solved the problem of what do we do with all these Airbuses through the winter?. But after the loss of 224 lives on a Russian charter jet was blamed on lax security at Sharm el Sheikh airport, the Government banned UK airlines from flying there until security was beefed up. Recommended Monarch package holidaymakers told to pay again for hotels With Tunisia also off limits, and a much-diminished appetite for Turkish holidays, Monarch deployed those planes and crews into the already crowded western Mediterranean. Fares plummeted: for much of August, flights to Ibiza cost as little as 20. Loss-leader fares like that are common in the deep low season of a lean winter; in a month when airlines are supposed to make handsome profits, they spelt disaster for the weakest link in the aviation chain. Ferocious competition between airlines has been hugely to the benefit of British travellers; we enjoy lower fares and wider choice than any other nation in Europe. But survival of the fittest comes at a cost to Monarch staff, and the three-quarters of a million people who had bought flights in good faith from a now-defunct airline. They are having to find, and fund, alternative flights and get acquainted with the intricacies of Air Travel Organisers Licence (Atol) refunds, Section 75 credit-card claims and the debit card Chargeback scheme to get their Monarch money back. The debate on consumer protection is a traditional Abta convention fixture. The constant refrain is that seat-only sales by airlines should carry Atol protection pushing up fares on the likes of easyJet and Ryanair with the 2.50 levy, even though the chance of either airline going bust in the next year is tiny. I shall urge the industry instead to focus on how to provide a softer landing when a travel company fails, to ease the distress that thousands have suffered this week. But I dont expect to be thanked for saying so. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} While the focus was on the terrible massacre in Las Vegas, some remarkable developments were taking place involving the Presidents senior men in Washington. Rex Tillerson held a press conference to reassure that he was not going to resign. And, at the same time, he pointedly refused to deny that he had called Donald Trump a moron. Tillerson will continue his discreet direct talks with Pyongyang, having set up the channel through diligent diplomacy in an attempt to defuse a spiralling confrontation in which Trump has repeatedly threatened to destroy North Korea. In carrying on with the talks the US Secretary of State is ignoring Trump, who has publicly dismissed them as a waste of time. Just the day before, General James Mattis told Congress that the nuclear deal with Iran was working and should not be scrapped. He stressed that this was also the view of the other international signatories to the agreement with Tehran. The US Defence Secretary was openly contradicting Trump, who has repeatedly vowed to tear up the deal. This follows Tillerson forcing the President in July to grudgingly certify that Iran was complying with the agreement. 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 same time reports have surfaced that Mattis, Trumps National Security Advisor, Lieutenant General HR McMaster and his Chief of Staff General John Kelly have renewed their pact to ensure that not all three will ever be abroad at the same time. They will ensure that at least one will remain in the country to monitor orders coming from the White House. This is quite a scenario even by the extraordinary standards of the Trump administration. It is as if some of his most senior men have decided that it is their patriotic duty to protect the country from the Presidents worst mistakes. He is facing steady and determined opposition on key issues of foreign policy in the National Security Council with senior members making no secret of their disagreements with him. Tillerson and Mattis have long become frustrated by being undermined by Trump and people close to Trump. One of the major flashpoints was over the current confrontation between Qatar and a Saudi-led alliance. The President tweeted attacks on Qatar while the State Department was criticising the Saudis for making unreasonable demands. Puerto Rico Mayor rebukes Trump for calling her nasty by wearing 'Nasty' t-shirt on TV Mattis and Tillerson were in Sydney, clearing up after the Trump administrations withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific partnership and the Paris Climate Accord and, say their aides, were blindsided by the partisan statement coming from the White House. Asked about his reaction, Tillerson said I am not involved in how the President constructs his tweets, when he tweets, why he tweets, what he tweets. The Secretary of State became convinced that Trumps statements were really coming from the UAE ambassador to Washington, Yousef Al Otaiba, who had cultivated the Presidents son-in-law, Jared Kushner. A close associate of Tillerson told the media Rex put two and two together and concluded that this absolutely vacuous kid (Kushner) was running a second foreign policy out of the White House family quartersWhat a mess. Mattis, too, was authorising people to speak on his behalf. One senior officer commented every time we have asked the Qataris for something they have said yes. They have been absolutely first rate on Isis. The Saudis have been nothing but trouble, in Yemen especially. Yemen has been a disaster, a stainand now this is going on. Pat Robertson blames Las Vegas shooting on lack of respect for Trump and the national anthem General David Petraeus, the former head of the US military and a Mattis ally, pointed out that the Saudis had attacked Qatar for backing terrorism by hosting Hamas and the Taliban when, in fact, Qatar had invited the two groups at the specific request of Washington and the White House should know this. Tillerson and Mattis went on to make a number of public displays of support for Qatar. Trump is said to have been furious, but there was no admonition from the White House, showing that a President beleaguered by problems, not least the investigation into his Russian links, and with key aides already resigning, was not in a position to confront the Secretary of State and the Defence Secretary. Relations did not improve and differences came to be highlighted regularly. When Trump defended neo-Nazis and other far-right groups in Charlottesville, Tillerson refused to back him, saying instead the President speaks for himself. Trump is said to have been irked, but the matter rested. The discord continued. Tillerson was appalled by Trumps inappropriately political speech to a Boy Scouts jamboree. Tillerson is said to have despaired to aides that it was impossible to stop Trump from embarrassing himself and the administration. The chief executive of Boy Scouts of America, an organisation Tillerson once headed, had to make a public apology for Trumps speech. Barack Obama and Donald Trump reacted to mass shootings quite differently Tillerson, by all accounts, was ready to quit by the summer. People close to him said he had been talked out of drafting a letter of resignation by his closest allies, Mattis and Kelly. He expressed his astonishment at the sheer ignorance of Trump when it came to foreign relations. They stressed this actually added to the argument for Tillerson not jettisoning his post. The Vice President, Mike Pence, also stepped in, promising the Secretary of State that there will be cohesion on foreign policy in future and the undermining of his position would stop. That has not happened. Last weekend Tillerson disclosed that he had established channels to North Korea to find a peaceful way out of the crisis. Trump saw newspaper reports the next morning and complained, in a tweet, that Tillerson was wasting his time trying to negotiate with Little Rocket Man, thus undermining the Secretary of State with not just Pyongyang but international allies. Trump, in his short Presidency, has already lost a Chief of Staff, a National Security Advisor, Health Secretary, a press secretary and two communications directors. He has fired the Director of the FBI, and belittled his Attorney General and Deputy Attorney General. He will, however, face strong opposition, not least from prominent people from his own party, if he seeks to sack the senior members of the administration standing up to him. Just today Senator Bob Corker, the Republican chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, intervened to say Secretary Tillerson, Secretary Mattis and Chief of Staff Kelly work very well together to make sure that policies we put forth around the world are sound and coherent. There are other people within the administration that dont. I hope they stay because they are valuable to the national security of our nation. These are the people that help separate our country from chaos and I support them very much. The words are quite extraordinary, providing, while giving a ringing endorsement of the men, a deeply alarming view of the state of Donald Trump's administration. 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 }} The Russian air force arrived in Syria two years ago this week to save President Bashar al-Assad and his army. They succeeded. The Syrian army held out, albeit at the cost of (then) 56,000 of its soldiers. Were not going to have another Afghanistan here, the Russians told everyone they met in Damascus. But of course, soon they would have forward air observers on the ground to vector their Sukhois onto their targets, de-mining specialists to pull the forests of Isis bombs out of the soil, military police officers to oversee the passage of Islamist fighters out of Syrias great western cities. And generals to advise and, last week, to be killed in Syria. The death of Lieutenant General Valery Asapov in the suburbs of Deir Ezzor as he assisted Syrian commanders in their recapture of the city surrounded by Isis for three years, its civilian population and at least 10,000 Syrian troops resupplied by helicopter was given little attention in the Western media. The Kurdish assault on Raqqa, with a smattering of Arabs to smother the Kurdish face of the pseudo-Syrian Democratic Forces militia and with the help of American air attacks, took first place in the Western Middle East news agenda. But the Russian Defence Ministry took the death of their highest-ranking officer in Syria along with two Russian colonels very seriously indeed. They were right. General Asapov was commander of the Russian 5th army in the Far East Russian city of Ussiriysk, not far from Vladivostok. And how did he die? According to the Russians, he was killed under shellfire from Isis forces outside Deir Ezzor, a remarkable piece of targeting if, indeed, Isis were working on the trajectories for a group which usually wastes artillery shells by the hundred in order to hit their enemies. Did they know that he was visiting this particular military position? And if so, who taught them to fire so accurately? Or was this a chance success for a defeated Islamist army? 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 These questions were asked at once by the Syrian armys high command. And by the Russians who last week accused the US military in eastern Syria of direct collaboration with the Islamic State. Several websites, including Global Research, took the conspiratorial view that Asapovs death was the indirect work of US forces who were, they said, providing free passage through Isis for the SDF to reach Raqqa. Ive never been a believer in plots but not many months ago, the US air force bombed and killed dozens of Syrias army defenders in Deir Ezzor. In the immediate aftermath, Isis swarmed forward and cut the city in half. Odd, isnt it, that the US so desperate at the time to destroy Isis in Mosul didnt bomb these new Isis targets as they broke through the Syrian lines after US air crews had mistakenly killed the Syrian troops. I frequently come across Russian troop units in Syria especially around Aleppo, in Homs, in Palmyra and further south. Early this summer, the Syrians took me to a tactical cooperation base near the Euphrates river where I met a Russian air force colonel Yevgeni by name and his Kurdish colleague who, with Syrian officers, were tasked to avoid any erroneous air strikes by the three sides. The Russians had accidentally bombed a Kurdish unit a few days earlier. So its not as if the Russians and the Syrians and the Kurds fighting for the Americans dont know what each other are doing. The Russians are not replaying the Afghan war. A few of their soldiers have been killed in Islamist ambushes, they lost a pilot at the start of their involvement after his plane was shot down by a Turkish fighter jet Erdogan has come to heel since then, of course and two Russian officers were shot dead in Palmyra when it was retaken by Isis after its original recapture by the regime. But Russian military police have played a prominent role in bussing Islamist fighters out of Homs, taking them into Idlib province (the dumping ground for all Isis and Nusrah guerrillas) or to the sanctuary of the Turkish armys own battle line, inside Syria and north east of Aleppo. Recommended May can restore some credibility by putting Boris in charge of Brexit The recapture of the crossroads town of Qaryatain, south of Homs, last week did, however, have an Afghan flavour about it. Any Russian soldiers who have read the history of their limited intervention of 1979 Brezhnevs description of their invasion know very well how easy it was to capture a town and then lose it to the enemy again the moment they press on to the next city. And here we might return to a man Ive never been very fond of, but whose wisdom on Iraq in the 1920s and by extension Iraq and Syria today is still read by military men of all sides in the Middle East. In a 1929 edition of the Encyclopaedia Britannica, TE Lawrence wrote of Turkish forces fighting his own Arab Revolt in the 1914-18 war. He might have been writing of Isis as it attacks the Syrians and Russians today. He asked of the insurgents, some of whom he led, suppose they were an influence, a thing invulnerable, intangible, without front or back, drifting about like a gas? Armies were like plants, immobile as a whole, firm-rooted, nourished through long stems to the head. [The Arabs] might be a vapour. Lawrence even wrote that the printing press is the greatest weapon in the armoury of the modern [guerrilla] commander. Today still, despite its defeats and its false claims the internet is the greatest weapon in the armoury of Isis. The Russians have read all this. So have the Syrians. And so, presumably, have Isis. They didnt need Lawrence to inspire them they have Saudi Wahhabism to do that although it is true that a British aircraft dropped a propaganda sheet over Riyadh during the First World War, warning pro-Turkish Arabs that they would be liquidated if they did not support the Islamic Caliphate which, so the British claimed at the time, represented the Arabs in revolt against the Ottoman empire. It is trite to state that history repeats itself in the Middle East it does this everywhere, even in Germany and Catalonia but those vapours have not gone away. Nor will they, even if Assads military victory is complete and Iraqs army can control its western provinces. For by then, well be dealing with Kurdistan yet again, rewriting its own history of betrayal. Russia is likely to avoid that particular war. For now. Nicola Sturgeon said Ireland and Scotland are united on virtually every issue of substance relating to Brexit Nicola Sturgeon has declared Ireland and Scotland allies in the Brexit negotiations. The Scottish First Minister told an audience of business leaders in Dublin that she will argue for the Irish border to remain open in the wake of the UK's split from Europe. She also said the Republic and Scotland are united on virtually every issue of substance relating to Brexit. After talks with Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Ms Sturgeon told an audience of about 1,500 business figures that staying in the European single market and the customs union is the obvious answer to the negotiations. "The fact that the UK Government is committed to leaving the EU means that Scotland - like Ireland, and like Northern Ireland - now faces a dilemma which is not of our choosing. We want to remain a full member of the EU but face being taken out against our will," she said. "We deeply regret that. "However, we believe that if the UK is determined to leave the European Union, it should remain a member of the single market and the customs union. "In my view, that is the obvious compromise solution. It's democratically justified - the vote to leave was a very narrow one across the UK and two of the four nations of the UK chose to remain." Ms Sturgeon's talks with the Taoiseach focused on Brexit. In her speech to the Dublin Chamber, she also disputed Prime Minister Theresa May's remarks in Florence last week and claimed that in Scotland many people have felt absolutely at home in Europe. She also emphasised the social and economic links between Scotland and Ireland, and noted the shared interest in ensuring the growth of a global economy is matched by a focus on inclusion. Ms Sturgeon said l eaving the single market will be deeply damaging for Scotland's businesses, universities, trade and jobs. "On virtually every issue of substance relating to Brexit, the Irish Government - and the Irish business community as a whole - has an ally in Scotland," the First Minister said. "Like you, we didn't want Brexit. "Like you, we support single market and customs union membership. "And, like you, we know that Ireland's circumstances require particular attention and we will argue strongly for an open border. "We believe that those positions are in the best interests of Scotland, of Ireland, and of everybody on these islands." Ms Sturgeon told business figures the global political developments are a challenge to build a fair and inclusive society. She added: "Scotland certainly hasn't got everything right, but - like Ireland - I think that we are at least facing up to the right issues. "That's important from a political, social and moral perspective - and it's also crucial to ensuring that our economic policies are successful and sustainable." Liam Cosgrave, who was taoiseach between 1973 and 1977, has died at 97 Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said Liam Cosgrave, who died on Wednesday, was an inspiration to him and he hoped to live up to his great example. Flags were lowered across all state buildings in Ireland after Mr Cosgrave, taoiseach from 1973-77, died aged 97, and tributes were paid in the Dail parliament in Dublin to a political leader regarded as one of the country's most respected statesmen. Mr Varadkar said Mr Cosgrave, who headed the government during some of the most turbulent years of the Northern Ireland Troubles, was a courageous voice against terrorism. "He looked terrorism in the eye and did not flinch," the Taoiseach told the Dail. Mr Varadkar described him as a man of great loyalty and kindness, a wonderful sense of humour and strong personal dignity. "Liam Cosgrave's entire life was in the service of the state. Politician, soldier, taoiseach. He inspired so many with his quiet, showless determination, courage and fortitude," he said. Mr Varadkar also spoke about Mr Cosgrave's commanding presence and great humility. He added: "In my own career I have been inspired by his spirit of incredible public service and as Taoiseach I hope to live up to his great example." " Liam Cosgrave is perhaps best summed up by paraphrasing one of his most famous speeches: he was a man of integrity who, totally disregarding self-interest, always served the nation." Mr Cosgrave's family, his three children, Mary, Liam and Ciaran, have been offered a state funeral. Born in 1920, he was the son of WT Cosgrave, who was a key figure in the foundation of the Irish Free State and an officer in the 1916 Rising. He went on to follow in his father's footsteps with a 40-year political career. Mr Cosgrave was part of the government which declared Ireland a Republic in 1949. He also oversaw Ireland joining the United Nations and addressed the Joint Houses of US Congress in 1976. The signing of the Sunningdale Agreement in Northern Ireland looms large among his achievements, albeit that six months later a loyalist workers' strike brought down the institutions in Belfast. He was regarded as having a good relationship with unionist leader Brian Faulkner, who introduced internment but became central to the powersharing deal. Normal Dail business was suspended as a mark of respect until next week after tributes were paid from across the political spectrum. Mr Varadkar said Mr Cosgrave's efforts to expose a plot to import arms for republicans in May 1970 was considered his " finest hour". He was leader of the main opposition party Fine Gael and after pressing then-t aoiseach Jack Lynch about the scandal he described it in the Dail as a situation " without parallel in this country since the foundation of the state". "His action and that of the taoiseach, Jack Lynch, has been credited with saving the security forces of the state from becoming embroiled in a crisis in Northern Ireland, and has been called by some a great public service, and by others his finest hour," Mr Varadkar said. As taoiseach a few years later Mr Cosgrave was deeply conscious of the potential for mass evacuations of nationalists from Northern Ireland and ordered c ontingency plans for 50,000 refugees. He was also at the head of government on the worst day of atrocities in the Troubles - the Dublin-Monaghan bombings on May 17 1974 when loyalists killed 33 people, including a pregnant woman at full term. Mr Varadkar said: " He was also able to eloquently express the mood and feeling of the country at times of crisis and tragedy. "He spoke movingly of how the men of violence were contributing to 'a world where reason and compassion are dead and only might is right'." Mr Cosgrave welcomed Edward Heath as the first British prime minister to visit Ireland following independence. When his father died, he covered the cost of the state funeral. He also sacrificed some of his pension entitlements during Ireland's economic collapse in 2010 and then, in 2015, opted not to take an increase. Mr Cosgrave was said to be a devout Catholic. He voted against proposals to legalise the import and sale of artificial contraceptives in the 1970s while offering colleagues a free vote on the issue. Mr Varadkar said Mr Cosgrave believed the issue was a matter of conscience and that he had the courage to follow his own conscience. President of Ireland Michael D Higgins, on a trip to Australia, said UN membership was one of Mr Cosgrave's most memorable achievements and gave shape to Ireland's independent voice on the global stage. Many tributes have also touched on Mr Cosgrave's love of horse racing, Gaelic games and the pride he had in his father's role in 1916. Micheal Martin, the leader of Ireland's main opposition party, Fianna Fail, said: "I have no hesitation in saying that Liam Cosgrave was a man who gave so much to Irish public life and deserves a place of honour in our history." A cut to the much-hated USC and a tweaking of income tax bands will be included in next week's Budget, the Irish Independent can reveal. As part of a compromise deal being hammered out between Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe and Fianna Fail, it has been agreed that a double-edge approach to personal taxation will be taken. The USC cut will help the 'squeezed middle' earning up to 70,000 a year, while the tax band changes will benefit people on salaries over 33,800. However, the net increase in workers' pay packets is likely to be less than 20 a month. It had been expected that taxation would prove problematic after Taoiseach Leo Varadkar signalled a move away from Fine Gael's policy of annual cuts to the USC. However, this has been a sticking point for Fianna Fail. During face-to-face negotiations with Mr Donohoe, Fianna Fail's Michael McGrath argued that the 'confidence and supply' agreement commits the Government to reducing the USC. Expand Close Minister of Finance Paschal Donohoe Photo: Tony Gavin / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Minister of Finance Paschal Donohoe Photo: Tony Gavin The Opposition party must facilitate the passage of the Budget through the Dail - and wants the 5pc rate of USC on income between 18,722 and 70,044 reduced to 4.5pc. In contrast, the minister and Taoiseach favour changing tax bands - increasing the point where workers begin paying the higher 40pc tax rate - by 1,000, up to 34,800. A compromise on the issue is understood to be agreed in principle, although the final figures have yet to be tied down. Senior Fianna Fail figures say it is agreeable to the option of widening the tax bands as long as the USC burden is eased. Similarly, Fine Gael accepts it must stick to the deal made with Fianna Fail when the minority government was formed in May 2016. Mr Donohoe and Mr McGrath met to discuss the tax issue on Tuesday evening and further talks are expected today. Read More It can also be revealed today that Fianna Fail wants to increase taxes for employers to fund investment in third-level education. Micheal Martin's party has proposed increasing the National Training Funding levy on employers via PRSI by 0.1pc, which would raise an additional 66m. In a Budget document seen by the Irish Independent, Fianna Fail suggests increasing the employer tax from 0.7pc to 0.8pc. This would be on top of another 44m the party believes should be taken from Exchequer funding to increase grants to third-level institutions. In the Dail yesterday, Mr Varadkar indicated the budget for health will be increased next week, but he criticised the HSE for its use of public funds. "The word around the campfire in the HSE is always that the cupboard is bare yet the facts say otherwise. We have the biggest health budget in the history of the State," he said. "We have the biggest health budget in the history of the State and it will rise again next year. It will not be long before we are in the top two or three in the world in terms of spending per capita. "We need to move the debate on from how much we spend to how it is being spent and what difference it is making." Meanwhile, the Labour Party has launched its alternative budget, which includes more than 1bn in revenue raising measures. Brendan Howlin's party wants to double the bank levy, abolish the Help-To-Buy scheme, increase carbon tax and add 20c to a packet of cigarettes. It proposes reducing student registration fees by 1,000, increasing parental leave by two weeks and expanding free GP care. Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System and Madison International Realty have agreed to buy the Sony Centre plaza, a building on one of Germany's most famous squares, for 1.1bn. The property on Potsdamer Platz was acquired from South Korea's National Pension Service, according to a statement on Monday. NPS has owned the Sony Centre - which has about 112,000 square metres (1.21 million square feet) of space - since 2010. Tenants include Deutsche Bahn AG, Sanofi and Facebook Inc. The acquisition is the first in Berlin by Oxford Properties Group, the real estate investment arm of OMERS, according to the statement. Potsdamer Platz, now dominated by luxury hotels and office towers, was a bombed-out wasteland for 50 years after World War II, with the wall dividing east and west Berlin tearing through it. After reunification, Daimler AG and Sony Corp. invested more than 1bn to build a complex of futuristic skyscrapers and cinemas around a roofed-in plaza that's now one of Berlin's most recognisable landmarks. Germany's attractiveness as a location for international investors was further underpinned in recent days with Singapore-based warehouse owners, Global Logistic Properties Ltd (GLP), confirming its intention to pay $2.8bn for a combined 32 million square feet of space across Germany, the UK, France and the Netherlands. GLP's acquisition of logistics property developer, Gazeley, from a fund affiliated with Brookfield Asset Management Inc is being financed by $1.6bn in equity and $1.2bn in debt. The global logistics business has been buoyed by the rapid growth of e-commerce, especially in Asia. Companies such as Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., Amazon.com Inc. and eBay Inc. are driving a boom in demand for warehouse space. GLP said it is talking to potential investors about the European business (Bloomberg) An artists impression of how the 22-storey tower on Tara Street would look An Bord Pleanala has agreed to a request from developer Johnny Ronan for an oral hearing of his appeal against Dublin City Council's rejection of plans by Ronan Group Real Estate (RGRE) to build Dublin's tallest building next to Tara Street station. While planning appeals are, in the main, decided by the Bord's inspectors, and decisions issued by way of a written order, the issues raised by Mr Ronan's team in their appeal will now be dealt with in an open forum, with submissions being heard from both the developer and objectors to the scheme. An Bord Pleanala generally limits its use of oral hearings to cases it deems to be particularly complex or where there are significant national or local issues involved. Mr Ronan's company, Tanat Ltd, is seeking permission for the construction of a 22-storey (88m) tower comprising offices, a hotel and roof-top restaurant on Tara Street. Central to the developer's appeal will be his contention that its plans for the site had followed the council's own planning policies and objectives for the Tara Street scheme. In refusing permission for the development, Dublin city planners said the proposed tower would have a "significant and detrimental visual impact" on the city's skyline. The developer is expected to argue that the Dublin City Development Plan 2016 identified the George's Quay area as a location for high buildings of over 50 metres. Expand Close Johnny Ronan / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Johnny Ronan Mr Ronan's team is also expected to say the City Plan and George's Quay Local Area Plan (LAP) prepared by Dublin City Council's planners and adopted by the council includes a provision for an 88-metre-high building on the Tara Street site. Prior to submitting its planning application, RGRE prepared over 30 proposals for Tara Street and reviewed those proposals from 42 locations in the city to assess their impact on Dublin's skyline. An assessment, carried out on RGRE's behalf by international city design expert Richard Coleman concluded that the Tara Street building would complement the Custom House, providing a counterpoint across the river. Despite positive appearances, quality of life for families is of growing importance as Ireland faces increasing competition for inward investment. Photo: Stock image Real pressure points are forming in the economy. The favourable winds that helped bring our unemployment rate down from 15pc in 2011 to below 7pc now are shifting. One of the problems for Ireland is remaining attractive as a place to live and work. Sometimes that is about more than just wage rates or taxation. It is also about housing, quality of life, transport and what plans we have for the development of our cities. Some warning clouds are already appearing. We have had genuine investment gains in relation to attracting financial services companies to Dublin in the wake of the Britain's Brexit vote but we have also lost out on several other big wins we were competing for, such as insurers AIG, Lloyds and Standard Chartered. Our reputation is suffering as a result of Apple tax rulings and comments from Brussels to Washington DC about our corporate tax practices. Chief executives might actually love it, but it doesn't mean it helps with attracting skilled workers. On a different note, a survey of staff at the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in London, found that 45pc of them said they would be unlikely to want to relocate to Ireland. The EMA is expected to move out of London after Brexit to a new EU location and Ireland would see itself as in the running to win this major prize. Unfortunately, Dublin was not among the top five locations favoured by EMA staff. We came in seventh - behind Amsterdam, Barcelona, Vienna, Milan, Copenhagen and Brussels. Staff preferences may not be the deciding factor on where the agency goes, but it will count for something. More importantly, we should ask why not Dublin, compared to those other cities. Bear in mind, the EMA is likely to have a multicultural workforce that currently lives in an English-speaking city. Yet, more of them would rather go to Austria or Denmark. This doesn't say much for the clap on the back we constantly give ourselves about the success of 'Brand Ireland' and our reputation abroad. It gets a lot more serious when the head of international financial services at IDA Ireland, Kevin Donoghue, is telling a Brexit conference that companies want to know about our future plans for our cities, how they will develop and issues like housing and infrastructure. Ireland's tourism industry is riding high with record levels of international visitors. But wanting to come here for a holiday is different to wanting to live here. They are connected in so far as they both rely on a positive international reputation or brand, but it wouldn't take somebody very long to Google the price of a three-bed semi D in Dublin or a one-bed apartment to rent. The results might be shocking. I am sure the average employee in the EMA in London is paying a right whack in mortgage or rent but they have a transport network to match. Issues around quality of life, the social and physical environment, public amenities, infrastructure, healthcare, culture, as well as personal taxation, are becoming ever more important in the battle to attract investment. Fixing the housing crisis isn't just a social imperative. It is also an economic one. Future investment decisions are taking account of new factors like having a plan for tackling the social challenges of a rising population with a greater concentration on the east coast. Dublin is a great place to live if you can get an affordable roof over your head. Galway is a wonderful city if you can get through the traffic. Unfortunately, it is a bit annoying to think the Government might really start to work on fixing these things when we think it is affecting our international image and reputation. Of course we should seek to fix these issues for the people who already live in Ireland and not just those who might come. Equally, there is an imperative to safeguard future jobs so we can retain the workforce and money required to fix these problems in the first place. But there have always been contradictions around Ireland's international image. Back in the 1980s we had postcards for tourists with donkeys, and blokes with enormous beards. There was even the famous one of the woman with a seagull on her head. At the same time IDA promotional literature was seeking to present us as the "young Europeans" full of education, ambition and progressive modern thinking. Ironically, we have got so much right for both the tourist market and the foreign direct investment sector. In a way, both have worked. But we may be running out of steam if we cannot back up the investment promises we make to multinationals or provide a better quality of life for our citizens. Many chief executives making investment decisions will look at the corporate tax rate, the business and regulatory environment, the educated workforce and the cost of doing business. But increasingly they have to examine the cost of living for potential employees, the cost of housing, health services and schools. Ireland has traditionally performed reasonably well in global reputational and brand surveys. But we have to be careful about reading too much into surveys. Like any brand in any business, perception is valuable but it has to be matched by the reality behind it, or you will eventually get caught out. We featured as No 1 in the world Good Country Index 2014, which was supposed to reflect perceptions about contributions to humanity, equality and all of that good stuff. But the following year we had fallen back to 11th. It turns out the 2014 result was based on data from 2010 and the 2015 was based on data from 2011 - the year the troika set up shop. Such swings might not say much for the usefulness of some surveys but perceptions really do count. We have consistently scored well in surveys like the Anholt Gfk Roper Nation Brand Index, which gathers the views of 20,000 people around the world. Perceptions are polled on exports, governance, culture, people, tourism and immigration/investment. Ireland typically comes in around 18th or 19th. It isn't bad for a country of our size but it has to be borne in mind that we are usually behind Denmark, Finland, New Zealand, Austria and Scotland. The top five don't change that much and include the US, Germany, UK, Canada and France. International surveys about doing business, are a dime a dozen but we usually score fairly well. Best Countries for Business had us in fourth last year. However, that isn't going to cut it for much longer. In the competition to win inward investment lots of other countries are catching up. Our business environment might appear very positive on one level. But having access to world class accountancy firms doesn't count for much if all your staff can afford to rent is a bunk bed in Dorset Street. The enhancement to our international reputation of paying up on our banking debts may well evaporate in time from the 200bn of national debt we clicked up in standing over those bond repayments. Back in 2012 the founder of the Gfk Roper Nation Brand Index, Simon Anholt, suggested that Ireland could "position" itself differently in the future after the financial crash. He suggested we could brand ourselves as "the first country to pilot and prove a new form of capitalism - more moral, more fair, more balanced, more human". Five years later we can already see that we have missed the boat on that one. A strong demand from China for infant nutritional formula contributed to pre-tax profits at a Limerick-based firm more than doubling to $336m (285m) last year. Stock photo: Getty A strong demand from China for infant nutritional formula contributed to pre-tax profits at a Limerick-based firm more than doubling to $336m (285m) last year. New accounts filed by Wyeth Nutritional Ltd based outside the village of Askeaton in west Limerick show that the company enjoyed the jump in profits after revenues increased by 11pc going from $584m to $650m in the 12 months to the end of December last. Aer Lingus would like to own or be an anchor tenant in T2 Relations between Aer Lingus and airport operator DAA have "soured immensely" as a result of differences over infrastructure development at Dublin Airport, according to the airline's chief operating officer, Mike Rutter. "It would be fair to say that relationships with Dublin Airport have soured immensely in the last 12 months, when it became apparent that the ambition that we have, and that its major shareholder has, to prosecute an agenda of growth at Dublin has not yet been matched," said Mr Rutter. He also refused to rule out the possibility that Aer Lingus would be interested in buying T2 at Dublin Airport if the terminal was ever put up for sale by the DAA, the semi-State body which controls Dublin and Cork airports. The DAA is highly unlikely to do so, however. "Aer Lingus would like to prosecute owning, in the sense of being the anchor tenant, or owning Terminal 2 and being the key player in that marketplace, as opposed to what happens today: every time a new player comes in, Aer Lingus gets squeezed," said Mr Rutter. Aer Lingus is owned by IAG, which also owns British Airways, as well as Spanish airlines Iberia and Vueling. Mr Rutter said that Aer Lingus CEO Stephen Kavanagh has already had a "constructive" first meeting with new DAA CEO Dalton Philips and is meeting him again soon. "As you can imagine, the list of improvements ... around taxiway improvements, stand improvements, to be able to prosecute our model, are very much on the agenda." A DAA spokesman said: "Dublin Airport is currently investing about 100m per year to upgrade its facilities and we will shortly present proposals for an enhanced an investment programme to our airline customers for consultation." He added: "Dublin Airport is managed in the best interests of the Irish economy to grow connectivity and to meet the needs of all of its airline customers rather than just one." Aer Lingus will take delivery of eight A321LR long-range aircraft between 2019 and 2020 that will be used to bolster its transatlantic network. That will see Aer Lingus add 700 jobs. Aer Lingus announced yesterday that it will launch a new service between Dublin and Philadelphia next March. The airline will operate record transatlantic capacity next year, with 2.75 million seats, compared to 2.5 million this year. Ireland is Europe's top SPV jurisdiction with 761bn worth of assets managed through 1865 registered entities, largely to hold financial assets. Stock image: David Ewing The financial sector has proposed a new form of Irish Special Purpose Vehicles (ISPV) in a move aimed at buttressing the industry here, following controversies over their reliance on charitable trusts and their use by private equity funds to minimise tax bills. Industry group, the Irish Debt Securities Association (IDSA) has held discussions with the Government to pitch a new regime it thinks can reform and enhance current legislation. Ireland is Europe's top SPV jurisdiction with 761bn worth of assets managed through 1865 registered entities, largely to hold financial assets. IDSA's changes would pave the way for a new, "best in class", investment vehicle known as the ISPV, according to Gary Palmer, head of the IDSA. The proposed structure would provide greater transparency and consistency to existing SPV structures, he said, and would position Ireland as a world leader in the industry. The moves, understood to be backed by the Irish Stock Exchange, could be adopted as part of the Government's IFS2020 strategy for the financial sector. However, the proposals will not change the requirement for SPVs to be owned by a trust for a charitable purpose - a legal mechanism that means firms that use SPVs can manage the assets within them at arm's length, to guard against bankruptcy at the parent level, That has long been controversial, because despite the name the trusts are not true charities - and are under no obligation to support good causes. It is understood the industry has sought a new trust classification and name to reflect that, but without success. A memo sent by the IDSA to the Department of Finance sets out a string of reforms needed to establish a "bespoke legal framework" for the ISPV. It includes an accelerated incorporation regime, meaning an SPV could be incorporated online, possibly within one or two days, as well as a more rigorous reporting regime that would require two qualified directors per ISPV, along with audited financial statements. The reforms also stipulate greater engagement with the central bank with an ISPV required to share balance sheet data with the regulator on a quarterly basis. The corporate headquarters of Caterpillar Inc. the world's largest manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, and industrial gas turbines, based in Peoria, Illinois August 5, 2009. REUTERS/Jeff Haynes Caterpillar Northern Ireland was yesterday convicted of discharging more than 40,000 litres of diesel into the Irish Sea at Larne. The company pleaded guilty at Antrim Crown Court and was fined 7,500 (8,400). The conviction comes after the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) received a report from a member of the public that a significant fuel spill had occurred in the vicinity of Larne Harbour in June of last year. NIEA immediately sent a water quality inspector to the area in order to carry out an investigation. While the NIEAs investigation was ongoing, staff from Caterpillar (NI) reported, via the NIEA Water Pollution Hotline, that a diesel spill had occurred overnight at their factory on the Old Glenarm Road, Larne. Staff at the plant first discovered the spillage on 11 June, however they initially believed that the spill had been contained within the site. The company, which employs over 1,500 in Northern Ireland, reported the incident to NIEA once they became aware that an unknown quantity of diesel had discharged to the Irish Sea. NIEAs investigation concluded that more than 40,000 litres of diesel had been discharged to the Irish Sea, impacting a significant area beyond the point of discharge at Larne. Immediately following the incident, Caterpillar also conducted their own internal investigation into the reasons for the failure of their fuel storage and delivery systems. During the hearing the Judge heard that company had put in place a number of additional 'fail safes' in respect of the operation of their fuel systems in order to minimise the risk of a similar incident occurring in the future. A sample taken at the time of the incident confirmed that the discharge was diesel. Last year Caterpillar, the worlds largest manufacturer of heavy construction equipment, announced that it was cutting up to 250 jobs in Northern Ireland after the global downturn in mining and oil exploration reduced demand for its products. Much of the production work in Northern Ireland involves the manufacturing of diesel generators. Aircraft acquisitions, start-up costs and exceptional financing requirements propelled Dublin-based airline CityJet to a pre-tax loss of 30.2m last year, according to the carrier this evening. Its loss from operations totalled 1.8m. The exceptional costs included 13.1m of foreign exchange losses on aircraft financing. An additional 8.4m of exceptional costs related to aircraft acquisitions, type conversion training and accounting policy adjustments. Revenue at the airline rose to 198.2m last year from 165.1m in 2015. Turnover in the current year is expected to hit 276m. The Sunday Independent revealed the revenue figures earlier this year. Significant progress has been made in 2016 in restructuring CityJet from being predominantly a scheduled carrier to being predominantly a wet lease operator, albeit with a significant scheduled presence, said founder and executive chairman Pat Byrne. Mr Byrne said CityJet will continue to expand its wet-lease business for other airlines, and that the 2017 accounts would reflect a full year of operations from its acquisition of Finnish airlines Blue 1, and of Denmarks Cimber. Among the new aircraft acquisitions in 2016 were eight new Bombardier CRJ900 aircraft, which were delivered between March and June 2016, and options on an additional six aircraft. The company also leased three SSJ100 Superjets with options on additional aircraft. Fleet growth has continued through 2017, with CityJet receiving 14 additional aircraft this year, bringing the fleet up to 43 passenger jets. That makes Cityjet the second largest independently-owned European regional airline. Set against the backdrop of difficult trading conditions and a major growth trajectory, we are pleased with the significant progress made during 2016 and, while further integration and restructuring is taking place this year, we are confident a profitable future lies ahead, said Mr Byrne. CityJet operates the majority of its aircraft on services on behalf of other airlines, with 34 jets in service between SAS, Brussels Airlines, Air France and KLM. Irish data protection commissioner, Helen Dixon, is considering a fresh investigation into Yahoo after the company said all three billion of its email accounts were hacked and personal information stolen. The online firm, recently bought out by Verizon subsidiary Oath, is the subject of a formal review by the data protection office here over a 2014 hack that exposed 500 million of its email accounts to thieves. However, the company now says that a separate 2013 attack, which it had earlier estimated at one billion email accounts, actually affected all three billion of its accounts. The damage to Yahoo account holders includes the theft of names, email addresses, telephone numbers, dates of birth, hashed passwords and security questions. Ms Dixon's office was notified of the original 2013 breach, but had not launched a specific investigation into that incident. But with the toll rising to three billion victims, the regulatory agency is reconsidering its options. The Irish DPC is the primary data watchdog for Yahoo in Europe because of the company's 300-strong European HQ in Dublin. "The Data Protection Commissioner was first notified by Yahoo EMEA in December 2016 of the data breach identified as having taken place in 2013," said a DPC spokesman. "The DPC has been notified by Oath (EMEA), formerly Yahoo EMEA, of the further information that has been identified recently, relating to that same data breach incident. We are continuing to examine the facts being made available to us, so that we can determine the next steps." Under soon-to-introduced EU data law, companies face fines of up to 20m or 4pc of global annual turnover in cases of data mismanagement. Caroline Casey is greeted at the One Young World summit by summit co-founder David Jones Legally blind campaigner and activist Caroline Casey has completed a 1000-km horseback trip across Colombia to launch a new campaign asking businesses to recognise the value of people living with a disability. Casey arrived at the final destination on her trek the One Young World summit in Bogota in the early hours of this morning. The campaign is supported by a number of high profile business figures including LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman and Facebook VP for Europe, Middle East and Africa Nicola Mendelsohn. The campaign entitled "#valuable" is asking businesses to put people with disabilities on their boardroom agendas. Its also seeking to identify the next high profile business leaders who will lead the charge for the one billion people living with disabilities worldwide. Since its launch on the 21 August, the campaign has reached almost 25 million people on social media. Tomorrow Casey will make a speech at the summit, where she will call on the 1500 young leaders present to start a global conversation about a world where everyone is valued equally. Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary has written to the airline's pilots in an impassioned plea to get them to remain at the airline. He has promised a raft of changes including improved pay and conditions. In a letter seen by Independent.ie, Mr O'Leary implored his 4,200 pilots not to leave to join airlines such as Norwegian. "If you have, or are considering joining one of these less financially secure or Brexit-challenged airlines, I urge you to stay with Ryanair for a brighter future for you and your family," he said. Expand Close Ryanair letter (p1) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Ryanair letter (p1) The unprecedented plea comes amid a grassroots movement among Ryanair pilots to unionise in order to seek better employment conditions and pay. Mr O'Leary also sought to clarify comments he made about pilots following the company's annual general meeting two weeks ago. He insisted that his comments were "misreported". The outspoken boss said after the AGM that pilots had an easy job except in adverse weather conditions or during air traffic control strikes. He said that Ryanair pilots only worked an average of 18 hours a week and that most of the time they could get in an aircraft and hit autopilot and often have little else to do. "I emphasised (as I always do), that Ryanair's pilots are the best in the business, who work hard, are well trained and extremely professional," he said in today's letter. "I am proud of your skill and experience, operating across multiple airports, especially during bad weather," the airline chief added. He claimed that critical comments he made were "specifically directed" at pilots of competitor airlines and their local unions "who take every opportunity to criticise and denigrate Ryanair, our pilots, our safety, our operating performance and our business model despite our collective 30-year success". Mr O'Leary also included a snapshot of Norwegian's financial performance, claiming the airline is in "trouble". Norwegian has hired 140 Ryanair pilots since the start of the year. Mr O'Leary claimed Ryanair pilots will see "significant changes to, and investment in our rostering and pilot career development" over the next six months at the airline. "Our chief people officer, Eddie Wilson, has now taken direct control of our pilot recruitment and rostering functions," he said. He said pilots would soon be informed of "significant improvements to your rosters, your pay, your basing, your contracts and your career progression". He has pledged to benchmark pilot pay against that of 737 pilots in Norwegian and Jet2, and intends to exceed what those airlines pay. He has also promised other financial measures and signed the letter, "best wishes". Hundreds of Ryanair pilots have joined unions over the past two weeks following a disastrous rostering failure that saw the airline cancel thousands of flights. Many of the pilots are unhappy with their employment terms and conditions, as well as pay. Embraers Irish boss John Slattery says the Brazilian firm is still quantifying the financial hit from alleged Bombardier subsidies. Photo: Bloomberg Brazilian jet maker Embraer is not interested in "killing" Bombardier, but wants it to behave like a "normal commercial enterprise", its commercial aviation CEO John Slattery has said. The World Trade Organisation (WTO) opened a panel last week - the initial stage of dispute resolution - after Brazil became the latest country to complain about alleged subsidies Canada has provided to Bombardier which is Embraer's biggest rival in the global regional jet market. Last week, the US Department of Commerce delivered a preliminary ruling following a separate complaint made by Boeing against Bombardier. Boeing claimed that the Canadian company had been able to sell dozens of its C-Series jets to US airline Delta at below cost because it had received subsidies. Bombardier denied the claim, but has been hit with a 220pc levy on sales of C-Series jets into the United States. The ruling has caused a political and commercial rupture between Canada and the United States, as well as between the UK and the US. Bombardier employs more than 4,000 people at four plants in Belfast, where fuselages and wings are made. About 1,000 of the Northern Ireland jobs are directly involved in making wings for the C-Series jets. "I don't want to sink anybody," Mr Slattery told the Irish Independent. "There's room for everybody. I've no interest in killing Bombardier. It's not in our DNA. All we want is a level playing field, where they behave like a normal commercial enterprise." He added: "As an Irishman, I paid attention to what was being said about the jobs in Belfast. But we're not trying to put anyone out of business. "If they can keep going back to their government for equity or for loans, when the rest of the commercial market is closed to them for equity or debt, then that's unfair by anybody's sensible and sober calculus." Mr Slattery said he believes the US preliminary ruling "validates" Brazil's position at the WTO, which Embraer is supporting. "People need to understand clearly what we're talking about here," he said. "We're talking about a situation where subsidies from a Sovereign have found their way into a commercial enterprise. "Because of those subsidies, that commercial enterprise has been able to sell their wares at a discount to their cost of goods. "They were only able to do that because they had the confidence the equity was coming from the Sovereign to back the shareholders' equity on the right-hand side of the balance sheet." He added: "Canada is a G7 nation. We're a small, private enterprise in Brazil selling to customers around the world. We do not have the capability to compete with a G7 sovereign nation." Mr Slattery pointed out that Embraer is a publicly-quoted company on the New York stock exchange. "If we can't get capital, we're out of business. That's the nature of successful commercial enterprises," he said. Embraer is the leading global seller of regional jets with between 70 and 130 seats. Its commercial aviation division generated sales last year of $3.5bn (3bn) and delivered 108 jets. Bombardier's commercial aviation revenue last year was $2.6bn and it delivered 86 jets. "We are not looking in any way, shape or form to stifle competition or to stifle innovation. Nothing could be further from the truth," Mr Slattery insisted. He added that the level of the financial hit taken by Embraer as a result of the alleged subsidies received by Bombardier is still being assessed. "It's something we're discussing at the WTO, but it's significant." Business group ISME has called for the European Union to weigh in on the dispute between Boeing and Bombardier. Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney has also said that he will raise concerns the dispute could have on Northern Ireland's peace process when he meets US Commerce Secretary and former Bank of Ireland shareholder Wilbur Ross in Washington DC this week. Ulster Bank remains unclear about the number of tracker mortgage borrowers who lost their homes as a result of the long-running tracker mortgage debacle and will not offer compensation to all affected customers until next year. Gerry Mallon, chief executive of Ulster bank, made the admission this morning at an appearance before the Oireachtas Finance Committe. He also revealed the number of borrowers caught up in the overcharging scandal, which has buffeted the industry for years, has risen to 3,500 from an earlier calculation of 2,000. According to its recent results Ulster Bank, owned by UK parent RBS, has set aside 206m to cover the costs of a mortgage redress scheme for customers but in his submission to the committee this morning, Mr Mallon said the precise compensation owed to each customer has yet to be caclulated. He also conceded the bank remains unclear about how many customers lost their homes as a result of the bank's failures. "We have not concluded the process of establishing the number of customers for who the actions of the bank caused the loss of their homes," he said. While he stressed the number of borrowers affected to this extent is low, he warned the figure may rise. "We have identified a small number of customers for whom this is the case and we have made contact with them already to begin the process of redress and compensation. The numbers are currently low but that could change as we work through the process so I can not confirm final numbers until we are through Phase three." The Ulster Bank boss said a customer redress scheme remains under construction as the lender grapples with the scale of compensation owed to each borrower. "The number of customers remediated so far is small. We are starting the process very slowly in order to test all of the calculations for each customer. We are building up a process to have a much more intensive model for calculation, contact and remediation." "Nevertheless," he added, "the process will take a number of months and will run well into 2018 before all cases are addressed. Customers then have a further 12 months to appeal if they are unhappy with any aspect of our redress and compensation payment." While attention is likely to centre on the Ulster Bank's handling of the tracker mortgage issue, Mr Mallon also sought to emphasise the lender's determination to expand its local operations. He said "we are the third largest player in the Irish market and we want to grow our market share." When he was growing up, Shannon Airport was "the coolest thing" near John Slattery's hometown in Ennis, in Co Clare. It was where he and his brother, Domhnal, discovered a fascination with aviation that became a lifelong involvement in the global industry. For years, both followed a similar trajectory, making their marks in the international aircraft leasing business. But a few years ago, they arrived at a fork in the road. John jumped at a chance in 2011 to become the head of customer finance and asset management at Brazilian jetmaker Embraer, while Domhnal ploughed ahead with co-founding Avolon, now the world's third-biggest aircraft lessor. John says he and his brother "had a conversation" about him joining Avolon, but that he instead opted for Embraer. John Slattery (49) says it was an "unusual" path for him to take, moving to an aircraft maker from leasing. "As a European to join a Brazilian aircraft maker - there are a lot of anomalies with this," he says. "But the reason I joined was the cultural fit. Domhnal and I are obsessed about values and culture. With Embraer, there was 100pc alignment on the values and the cultural fit." To date, Domhnal (50) has been the most high-profile of the duo, especially in mainstream media. He has previously reminisced about how when delivering vegetables with his father to Shannon Airport as a youngster, the kerosene seeped into his veins. Over coffee at Dublin Airport, his younger brother sets the record straight. "Domhnal tells the story, but I was there too," he says with a grin. "We used to go on alternate Saturdays actually, that was the deal. Shannon really was just ahead of the curve back then. There's a lot of lads that we grew up with who are in aviation today. It's a little unusual maybe that Domhnal and I are in the same industry, but I'm very grateful to him because that's how I got my start in aviation." But while his brother may have helped him find his feet in the sector, John Slattery has ploughed his own furrow. Having once worked with Domhnal's International Aviation Management firm, which was sold in 2001 to Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS), John worked afterwards with RBS Aviation Capital, and was based in New York, where he headed operations for the Americas. He also joined the bank's North America board. "We grew the third-largest aircraft leasing company in the world in 36 or 40 months," John recalls. "In your career, that won't happen too often. In Domhnal's career it's happened twice." RBS sold its aircraft leasing business in 2012 to Japan's Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group for $7.3bn. It was renamed SMBC Aviation Capital and remains headquartered in Dublin, run by Peter Barrett. Slattery left RBS in 2007, branching out with some of his own projects before eventually landing at Embraer. He moved to Brazil two-and-a-half years ago, and lives near Embraer's corporate headquarters in Sao Paulo with his wife (who happens to be Brazilian) and two kids. "I work at the plant, and for me it's a dream come true," he says, adding that the job also changed the dynamic of the relationship with his brother, at least to some extent. "You rarely see Domhnal and I now together in a business environment," he says. "We do cross paths, but when we get together it's behind closed doors. We don't talk about business, which people find a little unusual. It can get full of conflicts, so it's just easier if we don't. "The days of singing on stage together at industry events are long gone," he says. Last year, Slattery was named head of Embraer's commercial aviation unit. It's the biggest division, generating nearly 57pc of the group's $6.2bn (5.3bn) revenue in 2016. Embraer, listed on the stock exchange in New York, made a $206m (175.4m) operating profit last year. Embraer's commercial aviation business makes single-aisle jets, dominating the global market for aircraft with between 70 and 130 seats. In terms of capacity, they sit below single-aisle jets such as Boeing's 737 and Airbus's A320 families. In 2016, Embraer made 108 commercial jet deliveries. It's also a significant private jet manufacturer and makes defence aircraft, with the Brazilian government being its primary customer on that side of the business. At the end of June this year, Embraer's firm order backlog was valued at $18.5bn (15.7bn). It expects to deliver between 97 and 102 commercial aircraft in 2017, and between 105 and 125 executive jets. Embraer's main competitor is Canadian company Bombardier. Its commercial aviation unit generated revenue of $2.6bn last year, and delivered 86 jets. There are smaller rivals too, including Japan's Mitsubishi and Russia's Sukhoi, but Embraer significantly outsells its rivals. Embraer, which employs more than 18,000 people, is spending $1.7bn developing its next generation of commercial jets, the E2 family (an evolution of its current E175, E190 and E195 aircraft). Using state-of-the art avionics, Embraer has already drummed up significant interest and orders. Norwegian airline Wideroe will be the launch customer for the E190-E2, which has up to 114 seats. That will see the jet come into service around spring next year. The 80-seater E175-E2 is due in 2021, while Brazilian carrier Azul will debut the up to 144-seater E195-E2 in 2019. "We launched the E2 (jet family) at Le Bourget Airport [at the Paris Airshow] in June 2013, with 365 commitments that day and we continue to add to that," says Slattery. "On aggregate, we've about 750 commitments today for the E2." And surprisingly for a major aircraft development programme, Slattery points out that it is, so far, below budget, on schedule, while the jets are lighter than previously anticipated (which will further reduce fuel burn). "The three key pillars of a successful programme are to be on time, on budget and on spec. We have matched or beaten each of the three for the E2 programme," says Slattery. "That gives our customer base a lot of confidence." He insists there's a specific reason that Embraer has been able to successfully deliver the aircraft programme. "Since 2000, we have developed and certified more aircraft across the group of companies in Embraer than any other OEM (original equipment manufacturer) in the world." Embraer jets are used all over the world, with American Airlines, United, Jetblue, Flybe, Air France-KLM and British Airways being just some of the operators. Almost 1,400 original E-class jets have been delivered by Embraer. The Brazilian firm also chased Pat Byrne's Dublin-based CityJet as a client, with the carrier having instead opted for the Sukhoi Superjet as well as Bombardier CRJ900 jets for its group fleet. "We were in the mix," Slattery confirms, before alluding to Bombardier's current difficulties. In a preliminary ruling, US International Trade Commission has just slapped a 220pc tariff on imports of the Canadian aircraft maker's jets into the US, after Boeing lodged a complaint that its tiny rival had allegedly received government subsidies. Those subsidies, argued Boeing, allowed Bombardier to sell its C-Series jets in the United States at significantly less than their list price, undercutting Boeing's 737. Bombardier has denied the allegations and can appeal the initial ruling. "One of the things we're tasked with at Embraer is generating a sustainable return for our shareholders," says Slattery. "We're a public company. We're always available to structure aggressive deals, but at the end of the day I have a responsibility to the bottom line, not just the revenue line, and to try and ensure we have a sustainable business. "Profitability and cash flow are very important to us," he adds, arguing that all manufacturers want is a level playing field. Brazil has also taken a complaint to the World Trade Organisation against Canada, in relation to alleged subsidies provided to Bombardier. That complaints panel opened last week. Embraer, founded in 1969, hasn't been squeaky clean itself though. It agreed to a $205m settlement last year following a probe by the US Securities and Exchange Commission and the US Department of Justice (DOJ). Announcing the settlement, the DOJ said that Embraer had paid bribes between 2008 and 2011 - before Slattery even joined the aircraft maker - to a number of government officials and other agents in Saudi Arabia, Mozambique, India and the Dominican Republic in order to secure government contracts. Slattery says that over the next 20 years, the global market for 70-130 seater jets will be about 6,400 units. Asia as a whole, including China, will soak up about 27pc of those aircraft, he predicts. China is already an important market for Embraer. "It's a critical area for us. North America and western continental Europe will account for 50pc of our business in the next 20 years," says Slattery, adding that wealth expansion in India, China and the wider south-east Asia will help propel the growth of air travel. Slattery says that there is "some cause for concern" at the number of young airlines in Asia making "massive bets" with big jet orders. "But when you reverse-engineer the projections they have used against their local market, and the passenger growth that's being assumed, you see that the orders that they have made will be comfortably deployed in their local markets," he says. Slattery makes sure he always flies commercial airlines when travelling for work, rather than using one of Embraer's private Phenom jets. That way, from time to time, he gets to talk to pilots of the group's commercial jets to see what they think of them. That insight will serve him well if he ever becomes group chief executive at Embraer - something that surely must be at the back of his mind. The incumbent, Paulo Cesar Silva, who took on the role last year, is now 63. Slattery, who was in Ireland last week to speak to MBA students at the University of Limerick (he's an adjunct professor there), insists that he's focused on doing his job for now, and won't say if the top job is in his longer-term sights. "The future will be what the future will be. I'm focused on big challenges and a big mandate that I have to address," he says. "I'm surrounded by rock stars who are the best in the world at what they do. They're all very humble, which is one of the secret sauces of Embraer." So is being Irish. "Aviation and travel is in our blood," says Slattery of the significant Irish executive presence in global aviation. "People like to do business with us. The doors open a little easier." Healthy food company Freshly Chopped has announced that it has signed a six-figure deal to launch Freshly Chopped in Cyprus, as the company begins its expansion across Europe. Two new stores will be opened in the initial phase of the Cypriot rollout. Freshly Chopped, which first opened in Ireland in 2012, is expanding through a franchise agreement signed with Karen Polyviou. The Cypriot outlets will take on board local culinary tastes and will adjust the menu to include locally sourced ingredients. The new outlets in Cyprus will join the 30 existing Freshly Chopped outlets across the island of Ireland. "Our first outlet in Cyprus mark a significant step in our journey but this is still just the beginning. Our ultimate dream is to be as big as McDonalds, with a Freshly Chopped on every street corner across the globe," Brian Lee, co-founder and managing director of Freshly Chopped, said. Much of the attention over the last month may have been around Apple's new iPhones. But Samsung recently launched a beast of a flagship smartphone that goes head to head with the best from Apple. After a couple of weeks trying it out, here's how we found the Galaxy Note 8. 1. DESIGN This is a high point for the Note 8. With almost all of the front of the device used as a display, this is now the sleekest handset on the market (at least until the iPhone X is released in November). The most obvious reason is its 'infinity display'. Because the screen goes from edge to edge, Samsung fits a 6.3-inch display onto a phone that feels smaller in-hand. Helping this is the way that the device adopts an 18:5:9 ratio, which makes it much easier to handle for such a large screen. In essence, this is a tall, slim phone. That screen, by the way, is incredibly bright, even in sunlight. To be fair, Samsung has been ahead of the curve on screen design over the last two years and the Note 8 is the culmination of this: it's pretty gorgeous. All of this design kudos comes with two reservations. First, Samsung has the fingerprint reader on the back of the phone, which some (myself included) aren't crazy about. (However, it is at least separated from the camera lenses, unlike its sister S8 device which houses the fingerprint sensor too close to the lens, resulting in constant smudging.) The second reservation is that it's not easy to find a case for the Note 8. Its glass casing is beautiful but there's extra trepidation about dropping it. 2. FACE RECOGNITION Right now, this is all the rage. The Note 8 has it and, generally, it works pretty well. But sometimes it takes a second or two, while other times (in very bright or dark conditions) it doesn't work at all. Even when it's almost instantaneous, you have to hold the phone up or bend your face down to face the screen directly - it doesn't work from an angle. In a nutshell, I'd keep it enabled but wouldn't rely on it completely. (To be fair, it's a lot better than the Note 7's face recognition, which was really glitchy and unreliable.) 3. CAMERA This is another highlight of the flagship device. Like the iPhone 7 Plus and 8 Plus, the Note 8 has two rear camera lenses (a wide angle and telephoto lens). But unlike Apple's flagship phones, both of them are stabilised whereas only the wide angle lens on the iPhone 8 is stabilised. The upshot of this is that if you're trying to zoom in on something - in any light - the Note 8 will catch a slightly sharper image. It also has a 'live focus' mode, which allows you to generate the blurry background effect of shallow depth of field in telephoto shots. You can change the blurriness level, too, after the shot is taken. Aside from this, there's little to choose from when comparing the iPhone 8 Plus - which we previously rated very highly for its camera - and the Note 8. The only area that the Note 8 might lag Apple's phone is that it slightly overexposes some elements of a photo compared to the iPhone 8 Plus, defaulting to shadow recovery over highlights. That said, it may come down to a personal preference. Suffice to say that this is easily one of the best cameraphones on the market right now. One additional feature that's present on the camera is Bixby Vision, which attempts to identify the object you're point at, with the purpose of either scanning it (to extra text) or shopping for it (using Amazon as a default). 4. BATTERY LIFE One repercussion of the overheating battery issue in last year's Note 7 is that Samsung has played it ultra-safe with the battery in the Note 8. This means the battery is smaller than both the Note 7 and the Note 8's sister device, the S8 Plus. However, Samsung has added in some clever battery-management options that give extended performance. One I used a lot (as I hammer my phones every day) is an option in settings to trade performance off against extended battery life. This can be done to either a moderate or an extreme amount. With 70pc of battery remaining, for example, choosing "mid" will extend the battery life from eight hours of performance to nine hours and 30 minutes. In exchange, your screen's brightness is reduced by 10pc and unused apps are always in sleep mode. Choosing the 'max' battery setting (again at 70pc) bumps the remaining battery life up to a gargantuan 24 hours and 55 minutes. In this mode, you can only use a few apps (which include Facebook and Twitter) and you won't get any push notifications. It's great to have this as an option. 5. WIRELESS CHARGING AND WATER RESISTANCE Like Samsung flagship devices before it, the Note 8 works flawlessly with wireless chargers. In fact, it works with the same 'Qi' wireless chargers that mesh with the iPhone 8. Similarly, it's water-resistant. I didn't really test this in depth other than a few spots of rain. But like most water-resistant gadgets, it's not designed to be exposed to salt water. 6. THE STYLUS I'm not going to lie - I generally don't use styluses with phones. There's something fiddly and Excellish about the whole concept, not to mention that you're conceding to a two-handed operation by design. That said, the Note 8 stylus has some impressive touches. The best one is probably that you can draw quick notes on the lock screen. The feature immediately becomes active as soon as you click the stylus out of the phone and the (shareable) notes are saved in a custom Samsung app. The stylus is designed to let you capture and edit screenshots very quickly. This could be useful for people who constantly collaborate on the move. 8. CONCLUSION The Note 8 is an outstanding smartphone that deserves its flagship status. Continuing the Note range was a risky branding move from Samsung, after the overheating catastrophe that was the Note 7. But it's a good thing for the phone ecosystem that Samsung has come back for another shot. A debate on the 'burqa ban' got heated on last night's Cutting Edge. Brendan O'Connor's Cutting Edge returned for its second series and kicked off with a heated debate as panelists Baz Azhmaway, Jennifer O'Connor and Brenda Power discussed the new Austrian burqa ban. The so-called 'burqa ban' prohibits facial coverings including niqabs and burqas in Austria and came into effect today. Baz, who practised Islam as a child, admitted that while he's not a fan of the burqa or the niqab, he doesn't believe women should be banned from wearing them in public. "There's a fear that comes from it," he acknowledged. "I had a babysitter who wore a burqa and it was like being babysat by Darth Vader. "I'm not a fan of the burqa or the niqab. I just think you're entitled to wear what you want to a certain extent. My sister wears it as an armour, she wears it as empowerment. She's a strong kick-ass woman. There's no man telling her to wear it. She wears it because that's her right and that's what she choses to do." However, RTE broadcaster Brenda Power, didn't agree and said that she believes the Austrian government were right to introduce the anti-burqa law. Expand Close Baz Ashmawy on RTE One's Cutting Edge / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Baz Ashmawy on RTE One's Cutting Edge "I do not see that as an exercise of choice," she argued. "If it was accepted part of the wardrobe of the wider female population then I would say 'yes, it is about choice' but it's not. It derives from a particular, religious mindset. "It's about choice in the same way that women in Saudi Arabia can't drive." Baz argued that "everyone always mentions Saudi Arabia when they talk about Islam" and pointed out that there are other Muslim-majority countries who don't require women to wear a veil. "You're putting your version of what you think a woman is," he said. But Brenda said she believes burqas and niqabs are "sexist". "I've a huge problem with any mindset whether it's political or religious that treats women differently because of their gender and says that modest, devout women have got to cover their faces and does not say the same to men. That to me is the very definition of sexism," she said. Video of the Day "I do not believe when I see them in town and it dismays me really to see women in a modern civilised democracy looking out of the world through a blanket. I do not believe that they want to do that. I do not believe that." Baz said that he believes the burqa ban puts out a "subliminal message to society that there's 'something wrong with these people'". Irish Times journalist Jennifer O'Connor said that "as a feminist" she supports women's choice to wear a ban. She admitted that while she "feels uncomfortable" by the veils, she respects the choice. However, Brenda said her "suspicion is it's not about purity and it's not about modesty, it's about invisibility. "Their individuality has been stripped away It's the same as someone walking down the street with a balaclava or a motorcycle, it's the same because it's preventing integration," she said. Drinks giant Diageo is to develop 12.6 acres of its iconic St James's Gate site to create a new city quarter complete with 500 homes, offices and shops. It is now seeking a "world class" development partner to transform the site. It said that, following "significant investment" at St James's Gate since 2011 and advances in technology, it can now brew more beer with less space. This provides room to embark on the new venture. A portion of the residential space will be dedicated to social housing, along with public spaces and streets. According to a feasibility study submitted to Dublin County Council, the site, called 'St James's Gate Quarter', could accommodate 500 homes. The intention is that this new quarter will be fully integrated into the wider Liberties area. Oliver Loomes, country director for Diageo Ireland, told the Irish Independent that it will take years before the project is completed. "It will be many, many years before a sod is turned on this site, but it's very exciting," he said. "Social housing will of course be a part of [this project] because any large development has to have it. "We have a long-term relationship with the Iveagh Trust and our ambition would be to work with them as our social housing partner. "At this very early state, maybe a third would be residential, a third commercial and a third leisure." Earlier this year Diageo secured the go-ahead for its 25m plan to construct a distillery on the 50 acre campus for its new premium blended Irish whiskey Roe & Co. Meanwhile, Dublin City Council chief executive Owen Keegan welcomed the proposed development saying it will be a "major step in the rejuvenation of the Liberties area". Aer Lingus has seen a significant increase in short-haul bookings since Ryanair announced thousands of flight cancellations. Aer Lingus is also currently looking at recruiting pilots from Monarch Airlines, which ceased trading earlier this week. "I can absolutely confirm that since the issues that Ryanair have had, that our short-haul sales have benefitted substantially," said Aer Lingus chief operating officer Mike Rutter. "Our short-haul routes into the UK, into the European leisure destinations, and to the European cities, have seen a significant increase in sales," he added. Aer Lingus held an open day in Manchester this week and about 50 pilots from Monarch turned up following that airline's collapse. Mr Rutter also noted that since 2014, Aer Lingus has created 600 full-time jobs. An additional eight aircraft the airline has ordered will come into service between 2019 and 2020 and create another 700 positions at the airline, he said. A total of 1,400 jobs will have been added over a five-year period. "These are jobs, 99pc of which are in Ireland, which are high quality and we work within the boundaries of the social contract that exists within Ireland," he said. Meanwhile, airline boss Willie Walsh said he was "s***ing" himself over Ryanair's longer-term response to its pilot rostering fiasco. The head of International Airlines Group told a Fine Gael fundraiser, which raked in up to 20,000 for the party, that the low-cost airline will be harder to compete with in future. "Their ability to change is unparalleled and their ability to fix things is unparalleled. A lot of people are taking great pleasure out of what's going on. "Personally, I'm s***ing myself because a reformed Ryanair will be even more difficult to compete against," he said. Journalists were refused entry to the event, but the Irish Independent obtained a recording of Mr Walsh's speech. Later Ryanair came under fire at an Oireachtas Committee for the length of time it took to provide information to passengers about cancelled flights and their consumer rights. Cathy Mannion of the Commission for Aviation Regulation said the body first became aware of the cancellations through social media. She said "no clear" information was provided to customers about their rights. She also said the airline probably knew about the cancellations a week in advance. "There's no legal obligation for Ryanair to tell us in advance but it is definitely in their advantage," she said. Maurice O'Connor of the Irish Aviation Authority claimed the cancellation of flights was a "completely commercial decision at the discretion of Ryanair". A call has been made for 5.3m to be ring-fenced in the upcoming Budget for a new plan to shore up Irish language and Gaeltacht services. Conradh na Gaeilge hosted a ten-hour mobile clinic in Buswells Hotel in Dublin yesterday in support of a new investment plan, which they say could create over 1,150 jobs. The Irish Language and Gaeltacht Investment Plan aims to provide essential resources towards the Irish language planning process. Julian de Spainn, the General Secretary of Conradh na Gaeilge said that what the body is looking for is supported by 87 Irish-language and Gaeltacht groups. "They have come together to plan for the future. We need to address the devastating cuts that were made over a number of years," he told the Irish Independent. "It is a basic plan to address the cuts, and address it in a way that will create jobs and provide opportunities," he said. TDs and Senators were invited to the mobile clinic to hear the concerns of people about the need for funding from all over the country, who had travelled to the event. Sine Nic an Aili, who works in communications with Conradh, said that if the funding is secured in the Budget, work could begin on implementing the plan, which will be rolled out over three years. "There would be more Irish language officers, and more Irish language centres around the country, giving the public the opportunity to use their Irish and to make Irish more visible," she said. "We will be hoping for things like family community centres in the Gaeltacht areas to support people raising their children through Irish." "It's not only time to reverse the cuts, but to make sure the baseline funding that we have at the moment is secure," she said. "Overall we are looking for 18m over the course of three years, with 5.3m in Budget 2018," said Ms Nic an Aili. A breakdown of the 5.3m would includes some 2m for the Udaras na Gaeltachta capital budget, to create employment opportunities in the Gaeltacht. Former INLA boss Declan Whacker Duffy has pleaded guilty to assaulting one man and falsely imprisoning another man. The notorious thug appeared before a sitting of the Special Criminal Court today, where he admitted to assaulting John Roche, causing him harm, at the Towers, Garters Lane, Saggart, County Dublin. Whacker also pleaded guilty to falsely imprisoning Martin Byrne in Rathcoole/Saggart, County Dublin. Both offences date from June 9, 2015. Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding at the three-judge, non-jury court, remanded Duffy in custody until October 18, when the case is listed for mention again. The judge also ordered the preparation of victim impact statements, to be read at a future sentence hearing. Expand Close Declan 'Whacker' Duffy / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Declan 'Whacker' Duffy Duffy and his two co-accused, Christopher Maguire (38) and Daniel Kane (28), had been due this week to go on trial. Yesterday Maguire, of Dun Emer Place in Lusk, had pleaded guilty to falsely imprisoning Martin Byrne in Saggart and Lisa Byrne in the Towers, Garters Lane, Saggart, County Dublin, on June 9th, 2015. The third man, Mr Kane, of Hollycourt in Ballybrack, failed to attend the court. Their co-accused Whacker Duffy, originally from Armagh joined the Irish National Liberation Army (INLA) in the 1980s and he was still a teenager when he was involved in the murder of Sergeant Michael Newman in Derby, England in 1992. It was not until July 2010, that he was convicted and received a life sentence for this murder of the unarmed police officer was shot once through the side of the head at point-blank range as he reached his car. However Duffy was released from jail under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement. Before being convicted of that murder Duffy had served jail time here for membership of the INLA as well as his role in the infamous Ballymount Bloodbath. In 1999 his group took six men from a rival gang hostage and beat and tortured them in Ballymount industrial estate. During a bitter fight, INLA man Patrick Campbell was killed by machete blows. Duffy previously served nine years in prison for false imprisonment and possession of a gun. He was released in 2007 but immediately became involved in a bitter gangland feud with dangerous criminals based in the south inner city, Crumlin and Tallaght areas of the capital before being arrested and convicted of membership of an illegal organisation in 2008. In July of last year Christy Maguire survived an attempt on his life after being shot a number of times outside his home. A former garda accused of causing fatal brain injuries to a drunk man in an attack has claimed he was defending himself after being called a "big Irish bastard". Oliver Hurley (64) claims he only gave Manolito Chando (56) a "tiny push" as he was blocking the doors of an elevator after threatening him at a Salvation Army hostel in London, the Irish Daily Star reports. The defendant is currently representing himself at the Old Bailey in London. The court heard the alleged victim was drunk and unsteady on his feet when the former garda violently pushed him out of a lift at around 8pm on March 24 last year. Hurley, from Co Wicklow, denies manslaughter and handed himself into gardai last year after his image appeared on RTEs Crimecall. He presented himself at Greystones Garda Station hours after gardai made the TV appeal. He was subsequently extradited to the UK. The former garda told jurors he is a Christian pacifist whose only dream is to live on the sea. Hurley said that before the altercation he was playing Irish love songs in a bid to make a calmer atmosphere at the hostel where the attack happened. The trial continues. Garda Keith Harrison and his partner Marisa Simms arrive at Dublin Castle yesterday to hear evidence at the Charleton Tribunal. Photo: Stephen Collins/Collins Photos Three of four statements requested from senior garda officers on Wednesday evening were handed in to the Charleton tribunal, a barrister for the inquiry has said. Tribunal barrister Diarmaid McGuinness SC said that statements from Chief Superintendent Terry McGinn, Chief Superintendent Tony McLoughlin and Superintendent Eugene McGovern were received by the inquiry on Thursday morning. A fourth officer, retired assistant commissioner Kieran Kenny, was "on the far side of the world" and unable to provide a statement at this time, the barrister said. The tribunal asked for the statements after it heard about handwritten notes taken by Chief Superintendent McGinn at a garda conference in Letterkenny station on 8 October 2013. Tribunal chairman, Mr Justice Peter Charleton,wanted to know what knowledge each of the officers had about the meeting, which took place two days after a statement of complaint was made by Marisa Simms, the partner of whistleblower Garda Keith Harrison. Mr McGuinness aid that he understood Mr Kenny had no recollection of the events, but was not in a position to check his papers until he returned to Ireland. Mr McGuinness said that Chief Supt McGinn's handwritten notes were handed in to Garda HQ several months ago, but had not been forwarded to the tribunal. The tribunal barrister said that when Garda HQ was reviewing documents relevant to the tribunal, on its face it appeared that the note did not refer to Tusla or HSE, and so it was not forwarded to the tribunal. In the current module, the tribunal is looking at contacts between gardai and the HSE/Tusla relating to Garda Harrison. Micheal P O'Higgins SC said that he regretted the error in documentation provided to the inquiry, and Garda HQ were reviewing their processes to ensure such an error did not occur again in the future, and there was "no question of concealment or anything like that." "As I said yesterday I am going to go for the chaos theory before the conspiracy theory," Mr Justice Charleton said. He said tribunals were often "inundated with documents". Read More Supt Eugene McGovern, cross-examined by Mark Harty SC on behalf of Garda Harrison, said a decision was made to refer Ms Simms' complaint to the Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) under Section 102 of the Garda Siochana Act. Section 102 allows for a referral to GSOC where a Garda has caused death or serious harm to another person. Mr Harty said that distress was not covered by the definition of serious harm, and asked if Donegal gardai would bring charges of assault causing serious harm where no physical injury occurred. Supt McGovern said that a decision on what charges to bring would be a question for the DPP and he could not decide on hypothetical cases. He said that gardai were happy that there was a "substantial risk of death to Ms Simms." Read More Mr Harty said that nobody had given crime prevention advice to Ms Simms, and that if an officer of the calibre of the witness believed there was a serious threat, he would have done something about it. "We did. The matter was referred to the garda ombudsman," Supt McGovern said. Mr Harty said the Garda Ombudsman had no powers of arrest or crime prevention powers. Mr Harty said that in a letter on 21 October, Chief Supt Tony McLaughlin in Garda HQ wrote asking why officers in Donegal felt a Section 102 referral to GSOC was appropriate. The letter stated that the appropriate action would appear to be "for the member concerned to be confined on indoor duties." In reply, Chief Supt McGinn stated that threats made by Garda Harrison, as outlined in her statement by Ms Simms, constituted "a substantial risk of death". Supt McGovern said that a referral to the HSE was based on the contents of the statement by Ms Simms, and he was more than satisfied that it was a proper referral to the HSE. The superintendent said that Ms Simms made her statement voluntarily, and "nobody twisted her arm." Ms Simms later withdrew her statement. THE killing of a mother-of-two who was strangled to death by her partner following a confrontation at her home is one of the clearest cases of murder a jury might face, the prosecution has claimed. Danny Keena (55) was thin-skinned, jealous and bitter and had already choked Brigid Maguire before when he strangled the life out of her, barrister Remy Farrell SC said. Mr Keenas defence barrister contended, however, that it was a classic case of provocation where the accused had been told he was a bad father, which was deeply hurtful and caused him to go out of his mind. Both sides delivered their closing speeches at the Central Criminal Court this afternoon. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy then began his charge to the jurors, which is due to conclude tomorrow before they are asked to retire to consider a verdict. Mr Keena (55), a farmer from Empor, Ballynacargy, Co Westmeath denies the murder of Ms Maguire (43) at Main Street, Ballynacargy on November 14, 2015. Their daughter Jade found her mother strangled on the floor that night.The prosecution has not accepted Mr Keena's plea of guilty to manslaughter. In his closing speech, Mr Farrell said for the defence of provocation, the accused must have used no more force than was reasonable. The actual provocation, he said was a comment apparently made by Brigid Maguire to the effect that Danny Keena was a bad father. He said the jury was being asked to consider that strangling the life out of Brigid Maguire was a reasonable response having regard to the effect of that comment. The post mortem evidence was not just about strangulation, there was substantial damage done to the neck muscles and a small bone in the neck was broken, he said. One gets the impression of a substantial, significant physical assault, he said. Mr Farrell said it was clear from the accuseds account, he went to the house with the purpose of remonstrating with Ms Maguire that she really wasnt a very good mother. He said provocation was supposed to be a concession to human frailty and this case was a million miles away from that. This is a thin-skinned man, a man who is easily provoked, this is somebody who is quite happy to resort to his fists instead of words. He said the jury had evidence the accused had engaged in a pattern of bullying and domestic violence and abuse. They had this evidence from his children, Jade and Daniel and Mr Farrell said they were straightforward witnesses. The jury also had the evidence of Mr Keenas niece Mary Wallace Jnr and his sister Mary Wallace Snr. Mr Farrell said the accused accepted he did engage in violence and abuse though I dont think he would put it in those terms. He suggested Mr Keena might think it was chastisement. He said Mr Keena seemed to think he was entitled to use the back of his hand to slap Ms Maguire and knock a phone out of her hand. This is a relationship where there is a very significant background of domestic violence and domestic abuse, he said. One of the most striking aspects of the case was that Mr Keena was a person who on a previous occasion strangled Brigid Maguire. Mr Keena had told gardai he had an argument with Ms Maguire over a washing machine, and as a result of that he choked her. This is a man who has done exactly the same thing on a previous occasion not because somebody said something that wounded him so terribly this was an argument over a washing machine, Mr Farrell said. The accused had described losing it in garda interview, which Mr Farrell said he presumed meant losing his temper which was not provocation. After he had the benefit of legal advice, he said the accused gave what looks like a textbook description of provocation, saying I lost complete control, I didnt know what I was doing. He said the legal sense of provocation involved a sudden loss of control, over a short period of time. Its death by strangulation, its a very up close and personal way to kill somebody, Mr Farrell said. Mr Keena had described the choking as maybe 60 seconds, and Mr Farrell asked the jury to sit for 60 seconds and consider how long 60 seconds is if they had their hands around somebodys throat, choking the life out of them. 60 seconds is a long time, ladies and gentlemen, he said. This is a case where Brigid Maguire was unfortunately not given a quick death. Mr Keena was literally face to face with the consequences his actions as he was committing them. This is one of the clearest cases of murder you might hope for, he said. The accused had actively threatened to kill his partner on previous occasions, Mr Farrell said. The essence of the defence being advanced is that its not really his fault because its Brigid Maguire who did something that provoked him, so that he should not be responsible for his actions, Mr Farrell said. The reason Danny Keena did what he did is because he was angry, he was jealous, he was bitter, he was thin skinned. Colm Smyth SC said the defence was not going into evidence. The central plank of the defence, he said, was provocation. He told the jury it was not a court of morals but of law and asked them not to get carried away with passionate suggestions that it was a case where the accused cold-bloodedly killed his partner. He said the jury must look dispassionately at the case and not become contaminated by any dislike they might have at the accuseds behaviour as a partner or abhorrence at what they had heard. This case is a great tragedy by any stretch of the imagination, he said. Mr Keena was never prosecuted for any offence, never gave trouble to the community in any shape or form, he was a good citizen and had led a perfectly good life. No barring orders or safety orders had ever been obtained and there was no corroborative evidence on the medical side of any injury inflicted by Danny Keena on Brigid Maguire. He said the legal test of provocation was not whether it was likely or probable to trigger the reaction but if it was reasonably possible, he said. Mr Smyth asked the jury to consider the prevailing circumstances. A witness, Michelle Wallace, had given evidence of encountering the accused in the village earlier on the night and his demeanour was normal and alright. The jury had heard it was declared by Ms Maguire that the accused was no good of a father and he was extremely upset by that. He said the accused had told gardai I was out of my mind, my head was gone. He said the jury knew from the Deputy State Pathologist Dr Linda Mulligan that death by choking could follow very quickly - in a matter of seconds. He said the pressure applied by the accused while he was utterly out of control was such that it broke the hyoid bone in Ms Maguires neck. Everything has been said about him to paint him as the worst partner in Christendom, but one thing is certain, he never accused Brigid Maguire of being a bad mother, he said. Mr Smyth said the first thing the accused had said to the gardai was She said I was a bad father to Daniel. For any man to be told he is a bad father is probably one of the most hurtful things you could say to a man, Mr Smyth said. He said Ms Maguire had also been texting on intimate matters with another individual." The circumstances, combined with the deeply hurtful comment triggered in him the reaction that led tragically to Ms Maguires death, Mr Smyth said. To say of Danny Keena in the past he was an abuser and because of that he is not entitled to the defence of provocation is to say the least utter nonsense, he said. If there was ever a case where provocation should apply, I say to you its this case. Mr Smyth said the accused tried to revive Ms Maguire and was overcome with grief at what he had done. Your heart would go out to the children in the case, he said, but asked the jury not to be moved by pity for the children that could cloud their common sense and judgement. It was a classic case of provocation, he said. It was a case involving a man from a rural background, from limited enough circumstances, a man you might describe as eating his dinner in the middle of the day and someone who described his wife or partner as my woman. This did not mean he considered her to be his property, he said. He told the jury they must look through the eyes of Mr Keena, warts and all. This is a case where you must return a verdict of not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter, he said. Earlier, Garda Vincent Reynolds said analysis of Ms Maguires phone messages showed intimate communication with one male. He said the last activity was a text sent by her at 8.04pm on the night she died. Judge Patrick McCarthy began his charge to the jury and is due to conclude this tomorrow. The chairman of the Charleton Tribunal has asked for new statements from four senior gardai by this morning about a meeting which led to referrals about whistleblower Garda Keith Harrison to the HSE and GSOC. Supreme Court Justice Peter Charleton said the tribunal was only now learning for the first time that there was a reference to retired Northern Region Assistant Commissioner Kieran Kenny being consulted in relation to the Garda conference, which was held on October 8, 2013, in Letterkenny, Co Donegal. Notes from the meeting also referred to Chief Superintendent Tony McLoughlin in the B Branch (Internal Affairs) in Garda HQ. The chairman said that when he began the tribunal, he "asked for people who knew things to tell us what they knew". The October 2013 meeting was "an important pivot", the chairman said, as this meeting led to a referral to the HSE (now Tusla). The tribunal in its current module is examining contacts between An Garda Siochana and Tusla relating to Garda Harrison. Handwritten notes taken by Chief Superintendent Terry McGinn were handed in to the tribunal in June, the tribunal heard, but the chairman said that these were not searchable on the tribunal's computer system until they were typed up. The chairman said he should have received statements about Assistant Commissioner Kenny and Supt McLoughlin's knowledge of the October 2013 conference meeting, possibly from Supt Eugene McGovern, who gave evidence yesterday, and probably from Chief Supt McGinn. A Dublin youth was caught sleeping with his girlfriend in the back of a car after it was broken into, a court has heard. The 17-year-old boy pleaded guilty at the Dublin Childrens Court to a charge under the Road Traffic Act for getting into a car without the owners permission. Judge John King heard that on a date earlier this year gardai received a report about youths breaking into his car in south Dublin. The teen was found asleep in the back with his girlfriend, the court was told. The car was undamaged, Judge King was told. Sentencing was adjourned for a probation report to be prepared. He noted the teen had prior convictions but had been co-operative on arrest. He was recently released from a sentence. Defence counsel Gillian Finnane told the court that the teenager had issues and had gone through a turbulent period but has been getting help and has stabilised. He is also attending addiction services. His mother, who was present for the hearing, was very happy with his behaviour now, the barrister said. The teenager was also apologetic for the distress he caused, the judge was told. Judge King noted that this case had been delayed as a result of procedures which require all cases against minors to be referred the Garda Juvenile Liasion section before charges can be brought. Sentencing was adjourned for a probation report to be furnished to the court. An alleged victim of an assault in which his best friend was stabbed to death has denied racially abusing the Brazilian accused, who is now on trial for murder. Conor Hogan from Taghmon in Wexford admitted twice assaulting Juraci Da Silva before the Brazilian allegedly stabbed him and his friend James Banville, but denied a third assault and said he couldn't remember telling Mr Da Silva to "go back to your own country". Mr Da Silva (36), with an address at Park Lane Apartments in Waterford, has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to the manslaughter of 28-year-old James Banville at New Street in Waterford on October 8, 2016. His plea was not accepted by the State and he is on trial at the Central Criminal Court. Mr Da Silva has also pleaded not guilty to assaulting Mr Hogan causing him harm and to a charge of producing a knife on the same date and at the same place. During cross examination today defence counsel Colman Cody SC said a number of people witnessed the first assault on Mr Da Silva in an alleyway in Waterford City centre, known locally as Cross Lanes. He said one of those witnesses would say that they heard Mr Banville or Mr Hogan say: "We are done with you now, go back to your own country." Another witness would say that he heard someone say: "What do you think you are doing here. This is our country." Mr Hogan said he could not recall saying anything like that and told Mr Cody that the reason he and Mr Banville assaulted the accused was because he "got in our faces" and wouldn't go away when told. He said the colour of his skin didn't matter. Mr Cody asked: "Is it possible you said those kind of things to Mr Da Silva?" and the witness replied: "no". Mr Cody then asked if he would deny it if someone accused him of racially abusing Mr Da Silva. The witness replied: "I don't know. I would deny it." During the first assault, which happened at about 2.55am, he accepted that Mr Banville punched the accused while Mr Hogan accepted that he kneed the accused once in the head and punched him. Describing events before the assaults, Mr Hogan said he travelled to Waterford that evening in Mr Banville's car. Mr Hogan had been drinking for most of the day and had a gram of cocaine, which he shared with Mr Banville when they arrived in the city. He accepted that they could be seen on CCTV snorting cocaine at Cross Lanes in the moments before they assaulted Mr Da Silva the first time. Mr Hogan accepted that he then assaulted Mr Da Silva a second time when, as he and Mr Banville walked towards their car, they spotted the Brazilian talking to two girls outside an apartment block on John's Street. The two men then walked on up towards New Street where the witness said Mr Da Silva came running towards them "shouting like a crazy man" and stabbed him and his friend. Mr Cody put it to Mr Hogan that another witness will say that Mr Hogan and Mr Banville ran aggressively towards the accused and threw punches at him moments before the stabbing. Mr Hogan said this was not true. The trial continues before Justice Michael White and jury of six men and six women. THE Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) has been joined as a defendant in a personal injury case by a woman who claims she suffered a sleep disorder after receiving a vaccine for the swine flu virus. The application was brought on behalf of Aoife Bennett is among an estimated 70 people who have brought cases against the Minister for Health, the HSE and Glaxosmithkine (GSK) Biologicals S.A over being given the Pandemrix vaccine against "human swine flu" in 2009-10. Ms Bennett, originally from Naas in Co Kildare, claims she suffered injuries including narcolepsy and cataplexy disorder, fainting fits, as a result of being given Pandemrix in 2009. The application to join the HPRA, formerly the Irish Medicines Board, came after Ms Bennett's lawyers discovered information about the vaccine's safety records that were furnished to the then Irish Medicines Board in 2009 -2010 by GSK. The safety reports allegedly show what is claimed to be "a particularly striking" difference between the number of adverse effects in those given Pandemrix and a similar vaccine also made by GSK. It is claimed that had parents been aware of the "vast difference" in the numbers of people who had adverse effects from the respective vaccines they would not have given their consent to the administration of Pandemrix to their children. As a result of the documents Ms Bennett claims the HPRA owes her a duty of care to persons given Pandemrix, including how the safety and appropriateness of the vaccine was monitored. She alleges the manner in which the HPRA performed its functions breached those duties. On Thursday, Ms Bennett, represented by William Binchy Bl and instructed by solicitor Gillian O'Connor, secured permission from the Master of the High Court,Mr Edmund Honohan SC, to add the HPRA to the case. In a sworn statement seeking to have the authority joined, Ms O'Connor said the application came following the examination of some 4,500 documents discovered to the plaintiff by GSK. The HPRA was not represented at Thursday's hearing before the Master, but Ms O'Connor said in her sworn statement that in correspondence the board said it will not be admitting any culpability in the matter. Ms O'Connor said that the discovery process had revealed that the authority had data concerning the safety records of Pandemrix which is made in Dresden, Germany and a very similar vaccine also used to treat swine flu is made in Quebec, Canada called Arepanrix. There are some differences in the manufacturing processes between Quebec and Dresden, Ms O'Connor said. The safety records shows that the level of adverse effects in those administered Pandemrix ranged between 10 and 7 times higher than the Canadian made product. One report from late 2009 states that of the tens of millions of vaccines administered there was a serious adverse effect rate of 75.9 per million for Pandemrix compared to 7.9 per million for Arepanrix. The type of adverse effects listed in the reports range from conditions such as convulsions, facial palsy, to still birth and fatal outcomes in those who got the vaccines. Ms O'Connor said the discovered material does not indicate that the Irish Medicines Board made the information it received available to the Minister or the HSE immediately after it was received or at all. A representative of the board attended all meetings of the National Public Health Emergency Team, which was set up by the Dept of Health to oversee the administration of pandemic vaccines, she said. While discovery is being awaited on those meetings Ms O'Connor said no minutes were recorded regarding adverse effects of Pandemrix at meetings to monitor and oversee the swine flue virus. Ms O Connor added that a HSE brochure issued to the public in 2009 about swine flu contained information to the effect that it was safe to use Pandemrix and that it had been appropriately tested, and that side effects were rare. Mrs O'Connor said the reality, which known to the Irish Medicines Board, was that not all the conclusions as contained in the brochure were warranted. Pandemrix was not adequately test on children young people before it was licensed, she said adding that if parents were aware of the facts regarding the lack of testing they would have likely refused to allow the vaccine be administered on their children. A mentally ill woman who tried to force children off trams because she believed they were in danger has been found not guilty of attempted abduction by reason of insanity. Theresa Chennaux (49), who has been diagnosed with schizophrenia, later told gardai she was trying to protect the children from a paedophile. She "ranted" illogically during garda interviews and accused gardai of being vampires and sucking the blood of children. Ms Chennaux, formerly of Tonlegee Ave, Coolock, Dublin and currently in the Central Mental Hospital, had pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to attempting to take a five year child at a city centre Luas stop in one incident on November 20, 2015. She had also pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to intentionally or recklessly restricting the liberty of another child, aged 12 years old, and assaulting the girl's 14 year old sister with intent to commit false imprisonment at a second Luas stop on the same date. The court heard Ms Chennaux, who has no previous convictions, had not been taking her medication and had been brought in and out of various psychiatric bodies in the preceding months but had not fulfilled the criteria for involuntary admission. She had been advised to admit herself voluntarily but did not do so. The Criminal Law (Insanity) Act 2006 allows a jury to return a special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity. This provides that an accused person suffering from a mental disorder is not held responsible for an alleged act if they meet certain criteria laid out in the legislation. Consultant forensic psychologists for both the defence and prosecution agreed that Ms Chennaux was suffering from a severe and enduring mental disorder at the time and met the criteria laid out under the act. The jury of six men and six women returned a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity on all charges in less than 20 minutes of deliberations. Judge Melanie Greally thanked them for their attention to the case and committed Ms Chennaux to the Central Mental Hospital to be assessed for inpatient treatment. A report will be provided to the court by her treating doctor on November 13. Garda Niall Murray told Maurice Coffey BL, prosecuting, that the first incident occurred in early morning as three sisters, aged 12, 14 and 15 years old, were making their way to school on the Luas. Initially Ms Chennaux made the 14 year old girl uncomfortable by touching her hand until another passenger intervened. Witnesses on the tram described Ms Chennaux as dishevelled and appearing crazy. They said she was talking about witches and the devil. The incident was captured on CCTV. The court heard Ms Chennaux ushered the distressed 12-year-old girl off the tram at a stop. Her 14 year old sister also got off. Their older sister called them back but Ms Chennaux had her arms out to stop them getting back in. Other passengers intervened on the platform and the girls were taken to safety. Gda Murray agreed with Caroline Biggs SC, defending, that during garda interview Ms Chennaux expressed the firm unshakable belief that there was a rapist on the Luas tram and the girls were at risk. Garda Natan Foley told Mr Coffey that in a second incident later that day a mother was on the Luas with her three children when Ms Chennaux approached and asked if the children were on their own. The mother said they were with her and the accused made a sign of the cross during a brief interaction. The mother was speaking with a friend as Ms Chennaux sat down beside her children. At the next Luas stop one of the children shouted to her that the woman was pulling her five year old daughter off the tram. The mother managed to pull her daughter back, re-boarded the tram and alerted gardai. Ms Chennaux was shouting about paedophiles and rapists. This incident was also captured on CCTV. Gda Foley agreed with Ms Biggs that Ms Chennaux was accusing gardai of being dead, evil and saying that they were not human. He agreed she spat in the direction of gardai and began to make sounds which she said was praying in tongues. She would not answer routine questions, was highly agitated and dishevelled. Ms Chennaux was remanded in custody and later transferred to the CMH following assessment. Defence witness, Dr Sally Linehan, a consultant forensic psychiatrist at the CMH, said Ms Chennaux had had extensive history of medical attention and there had been some variation in her diagnosis. She said it was her belief that Ms Chennaux had a schizo-affective disorder which was a severe and enduring mental illness. She said that she was of the opinion that Ms Chennaux was experiencing a relapse of her condition at the time of the incidents. She said she was satisfied Ms Chennaux met the criteria laid out in the legislation and was driven by a belief that she had to remove the children in order to protect them. A seven-year-old girl and her five-year-old sister, both of whom escaped physical injury in a rear-ending accident more than a year ago, have been awarded 33,000 damages between them in an insurance company settlement. Circuit Court President, Mr Justice Raymond Groarke, heard Wednesday that sisters Amy and Izy Saul had missed only one day off school while attending their GP on the day after the 11th February 2016 accident involving their family car. Barrister Francis McGagh, counsel for the girls who live at Rossberry Terrace, Lucan, Dublin, told the court they had been offered settlement damages of 16,500 each, and their court costs, on behalf of defendant motorist Tadgh Hartnett. Mr Hartnett, whose address was given as that of AIG Insurance, North Wall, Dublin, which made the 33,000 settlement offer on his behalf, was not in court for the brief hearing. Mr McGagh, who appeared with Keans Solicitors for the sisters, both of whom will celebrate birthdays later this month, said neither of them had suffered any physical injury in the road traffic accident but had experienced psychological injuries following it. He said they were both rear seat restrained passengers in their family car when it was rear ended by the defendants vehicle. The court heard that the children had attended their doctor on the following day, missing that day from school. A medical report revealed that psychological injuries consisted of a mild effect on the mental health of both girls. The children were not in court which was attended by the girls mother, Claire Saul, who indicated to the judge that she was satisfied with the offer of damages to both of her daughters. Ms Saul, in an affidavit to the court, said Amy had complained on the day after the accident of having had a headache. She said both her daughters would become nervous at times in a car which, their doctor, had stated was a common symptom following a road traffic accident and which he expected to diminish. She told the court the childrens GP had carried out a review of their condition a year after the accident and had been told Amy experienced worry, panic and hyperventilation when large vehicles would pass the family car in traffic. Ms Saul said Izy would experience worry and panic when large vehicles passed the car in traffic. She was anxious when travelling in the car, particularly on the Newcastle Road, Lucan, where the accident had happened. She was fearful of another accident. Judge Groarke said he felt the offer to each child was a very good one and approved the settlements. Costs in each case would average about 5,000. Amy celebrates her eighth birthday on Friday the 13th of October while her sister, Izy, will be six on next Monday, October 9. The money will be invested in court funds until both girls reach the age of 18. Gardai believe they have foiled a Hutch/Kinahan feud murder after they caught a suspect with a loaded gun, silencer and mask yesterday. The 39-year-old man and a woman in her 30s were arrested in Ashtown, Dublin at 5pm on Wednesday. Detectives believe the arrested man, a close associate of a female Hutch family member, was on his way to carry out a hit after they discovered a loaded handgun with a silencer, a canister of petrol and a mask in the vehicle. Read More The Herald is reporting that the arrested man is the chief suspect in a city murder a decade ago. He is suspected of shooting Finglas criminal Kevin Ledwidge (27), who was gunned down outside his family home in July 2007. However, gardai were unable to gather enough evidence to secure a conviction in the case. Last night's hit was foiled after local gardai stopped a car in Rathbourne Village, Ashtown, in a planned operation. "A man and woman were arrested at the scene," a Garda spokesman said. "They are currently detained under Section 30 of the Offences against the State Act, 1939 at Finglas Garda Station." Detectives are now trying to establish the target but sources say they are confident that an associate of the Kinahan cartel was to be shot. The bloody feud has so far claimed 12 lives, with several hits also prevented in the last 20 months. The latest feud victim was Michael Keogh (37), who was shot dead in an underground car park on Dorset Street on May 31. Expand Close Michael Keogh / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Michael Keogh Assistant Commissioner John O'Driscoll, who is in charge of Special Crime Operations, recently claimed that 40 hits had been prevented by gardai. He also said organised criminals were enjoying easy access to firearms. "There was an expectation when a particular feud between two gangs began that there were going to be numerous murders over a period of time," he said. "But instead what has happened is we have an ever-increasing number, in the region of about 40 incidents, where we have prevented loss of life and where that has involved the seizure of firearms and the charging of people." The word "regrettable" covers a multitude of feelings. Paschal Donohoe has good grounds for thinking this one is rough justice from the EU machine. It was record stuff whacking Ireland in August 2016 with the task of clawing back some 13bn in back taxes from multinational giant Apple. But now EU Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager has threatened Ireland with a new side-bar European Court action for allegedly foot-dragging in efforts to fall into line. Ms Vestager, who has wide-ranging direct powers under the EU's fair competition laws, had ordered US tech giant Apple to pay an all-time record in unpaid taxes. The commissioner ruled that the multinational had received illegal state aid - Dublin vehemently disagreed and vowed to take the case to the EU Court of Justice in Luxembourg, a process which could take five years. This was one of a number of controversial deals the EU had targeted between multinationals and notably the smaller EU states, including Luxembourg, Ireland and Netherlands. Read More Ms Vestager's finding meant Ireland had to claw back the money from Apple and put it on ice in an independent account. But this is not ring-Mick-down-at-the-bank stuff. It takes time - and with a certain irony - there are EU rules on fair tendering that apply. The Finance Minister insists the Irish Government was on the case - the commissioner disagreed, pointing to a formal deadline of January 3 this year for the country to get all its ducks in a row. "More than one year after the commission adopted this decision, Ireland has still not recovered the money," Ms Vestager said. She added that Dublin had not even sought a portion of the sum. Significantly, Ms Vestager's Ireland comments came as she announced a demand for Amazon to pay 250m in taxes to Luxembourg. It opens the potential for non-compliance penalties against Ireland - but that would involve another unlikely EU court case. She is tipped as a future EU commission president - this tough stance would be no load in such a quest. Mr Donohoe said he had never accepted the commissioner's finding in the Apple case. But he again said Ireland was committed to collecting the money due, pending the appeal case finding. Officials said Ireland had been in constant contact with the commission and Apple for more than a year and was close to setting up the so-called escrow account to put the money on ice. The claim was made by the Alcohol Beverage Federation of Ireland, the drinks industry group, which also forecasts the Guinness Christmas ad about the home of the black stuff will be banned. Stock picture Farmers who till the barley for beer or grow apples for cider will no longer be allowed to feature in fields of grain or an orchard to promote alcohol once new laws are in place. The claim was made by the Alcohol Beverage Federation of Ireland, the drinks industry group, which also forecasts the Guinness Christmas ad about the "home of the black stuff" will be banned. It stepped up its opposition yesterday to the Public (Health) Alcohol Bill, which aims to curb the abuse of drink through a range of measures including restrictions on how it is promoted and portrayed. Appealing to the agriculture sector, Patricia Callan, the organisation's director, said: "The very farmers who supply the industry will be banned from ads." The bill, which was due to come before the Seanad next week, has been delayed again and is now set to return the following week. Government backbenchers and senators will be briefed on amendments to the bill, including the decision to drop the proposed "booze curtains" in smaller shops, which would have hidden alcohol from customers' view. Doctors in the Royal College of Physicians have called for no dilution of the proposed legislation. They say its provisions give a clear direction on reducing harm from alcohol and that it should not be watered down. Irish peacekeepers had to hold on a day longer before being reunited with their loved ones after an unfortunate delay - but for the 130 troops it was well worth the wait. Emotional scenes unfolded at Casement Aerodrome in Baldonnell as the 55th Infantry Group returned home from a six-month tour of duty in the Golan Heights in Syria. Children, partners, parents and siblings waited excitedly for their arrival, with many holding homemade banners aloft. Sisters Lauren and Ava Phelan went all out and wore t-shirts with their dads picture printed on them. We cant wait to see our daddy, they said. While many troops will be spending the next few weeks relaxing, Kevin Foley will be busy getting ready for his wedding day on November 2. The Dublin man had tears in his eyes as his fiance Mary Claire McEvoy greeted him with a sign saying Your next mission awaits...can we get married now?" Im over the moon, Im just delighted, he said. It's an unbelievable feeling coming home. Alan Smith, from Glendalough in Co Wicklow, described the atmosphere on the plane as they touched down on Irish soil. There was big roars on the airplane, everyone was ecstatic to arrive back. Most of the lads were on their first trip so its great to be home. My one-year-old daughter started walking while I was gone, she is running around the house now. She has grown up a lot in the last six months. Im going to have to spend a bit of time getting to know her again. Joe Foyle, from Laois, arrived home to his two four-month-old twins. His partner Deirdre held one in each arm as she eagerly anticipated his arrival. The hard work starts now with these two, Joe said, before Deirdre quipped Thats what he thinks...theyre actually sleeping at night now so the hard work is all done! A technical fault with the airplane meant the troops return was delayed by a day. The Infantry Group rotated into the mission area in April and has a wide range of capabilities including armoured force protection, patrolling, surveillance and medical and operational expertise. The youngest member of the group is Pte Dale Lawler who is 22-years-old. The average age of the group is 32. For 48 members, it was their first overseas tour and there is an accumulation of 208 tours in total. This is the incredible moment a man single-handedly coaxed a beached whale out to sea. The dramatic scenes unfolded near the harbour in Newcastle, Co Down, yesterday afternoon, much to the amazement of onlookers. A large crowd had gathered and two men were in the process of wading out after the minke whale beached on the shore. However, passer-by John Lowry noticed the crowds and luckily had a dry suit in his car. He then sprung into action. He managed to coax the whale off the sandbank it was stuck on, and it then was able to make its way to deeper water. John told the Belfast Telegraph: "I pulled over to take a closer look and spotted a whale which was in distress due to being trapped in shallow water. "I am a commercial diver and by chance I had my dry suit in my van. I spoke with some of the people on the beach who told me that the whale had been trapped for some time, and I could see that it was losing a lot of blood." With a maritime background, this was not the first time John had conducted such a rescue. Some years ago he was involved in saving a beached whale while he was a station officer at South Down Coastguard. "I know it's a very dangerous thing but if you know what you're doing you can limit the risk," he said. "I was confident that I could use my skills and experience to help in this situation. "I asked a member of the public to phone the Coastguard and request that they contact the (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs') Marine Division to inform them. "Once in the water with this beautiful mammal, which was approximately 7m long, I cautiously approached the head of the whale to establish its condition and gauge the depth of water. "I used all my strength to keep pushing its head out to sea to steer it in the right direction. "A lot of finning by the whale was helped by the incoming tide, and some persuasion eventually resulted in it managing to reach deeper water and swim out to sea. "It was very satisfying to see the whale swim away to safety. I later received a phone call from my friend Joe Breen in Marine Division who was delighted to hear that there was a good outcome for the minke whale." The image of the seat (Image via Darragh Reck) A Dublin Bus passenger has spoken of his shock and discomfort as he sat on a Dublin Bus seat this morning embedded with nails. The disturbing incident happened on the 25x service from Lucan to UCD this morning to passenger Darragh Reck. Expand Close The image of the seat (Image via Darragh Reck) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The image of the seat (Image via Darragh Reck) Mr Reck told Independent.ie about the incident. "I got on the 25x in Lucan and the bus was fairly packed but there was an empty seat near the back on the upper deck. "I went to sit down and I felt discomfort, I looked and there was a bunch of nails stuck into the seat. "I was shocked so I sat on the seat behind and put my bag there so nobody would sit on them. "Somebody then asked to sit there and I told them about the nails and they removed the nails themselves." Mr Reck contacted Dublin Bus on Twitter and they apologised, confirming they had been in touch with the Inspector on duty. 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 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 A Dublin Bus spokesperson confirmed to Independent.ie that an incident occurred on Route 25x from Lucan, this morning. They added that the bus has been taken out of service and the incident is currently being investigated. A Dublin boy who collapsed in school and was kept alive by quick-thinking staff using a defibrillator from the local GAA club is now back at home and making a recovery following surgery. The nine-year-old dropped to the ground in Gaelscoil Ros Eo in Rush in north county Dublin on September 4. Parents and staff have credited the actions of quick-thinking principal Tim O Tuachaigh for keeping the boy stable until the emergency services arrived. Mr O Tuachaigh has now stepped up his campaign to have one of the life-saving defibrillator devices installed in every school in the country, and is critical of the Department of Education for saying the responsibility of providing such equipment lies with each schools board of management, and not the Department. He said the only reason they were able to lay their hands on a defibrillator was because the GAA club next door has one that was donated by the Apache pizza company. At lunchtime on September 4, the 212 pupils and 12 staff were just settling into the new school year routine when the nine-year-old boy in 4th class collapsed in the yard. He said to the lad next to him I feel heavy and crumpled to the ground, Mr O Tuachaigh told the Herald. At first I thought the lad had got a knock to the head while playing, but he was totally unresponsive and his breathing was bad, and it became obvious very quickly that he needed CPR, which I started straight away. We rang for an ambulance, and I dont remember telling anyone to get the defibrillator from St Maurs Club next to us, but Ive been told since that I did, added the avid GAA player. Ive never seen a defibrillator up close before, and have no training in how to use one, but when we opened up this one it told us exactly what to do and we just followed the instructions, he explained. Read More Three fire brigades and an ambulance arrived 25 minutes later, and the crews told us that if we had not done what we did it could have been a different outcome, he said. The boy was stabilised and brought to hospital and has since undergone surgery. He is now back at home recovering as his family try to get their heads around what has happened. This lad is as fit as a fiddle. He plays sports, hes active, hes not carrying any weight, and in 25 years of teaching I have never seen a child collapse like that, said Mr O Tuachaigh. But now I realise the importance of being prepared, and part of that is having a defibrillator in every school in the country. I have a nine year old son myself. I'd hate to think somebody could be standing over him in the same situation and have nothing to work with. Some schools have defibrillators because they fundraised for them or had them donated, but it is vital that every school has one, he added. Ive done a few calculations and at around 1,500 for a unit with training it would cost around 6m to cover every school. Thats not a huge amount of money for a government and these devices will save lives, he explained. The Department of Education has told the Herald the board of management is charged with the direct governance of a school. The decision to install a defibrillator is made at school level and is a matter for the board of management of each individual school, said a department spokeswoman. But Mr O Tuachaigh said that while true that the governance of a school is board of management business the Department of Education does not provide funds for the installation of a defibrillator. So while any board can make the decision it is the Government that fund the schools so therefor it is they that would have to provide the schools with the money needed, he said. In a statement the Department of Health said that work is being done to on the issue. "There is a considerable amount of work being undertaken within the health service to to improve survival rates for those who suffer an out of hospital cardiac arrest through the development and implementation of an out of hospital cardiac arrest strategy. "The Minister for Health fully supports the roll out of this important programme and would like to see defibrillators available in as many locations as possible. "It is a matter for school boards of managements to decide on provision of defibrillators within their schools." A canopy covers the garda motorcycle on the N20 early this morning. Picture: John Delea. A serving garda suffered serious injuries in an accident on a busy road overnight. The accident, which occurred shortly before midnight, resulted in major sections of the main Cork-Limerick road being closed or restricted to a single lane. The man crashed his garda patrol motorcycle on a stretch of road between Blarney and Rathduff at Lissavoura, Mallow. The injured biker, aged in his 30s, was rushed from the scene to Cork University Hospital (CUH) for the treatment of what are described as serious injuries. The man is undergoing emergency surgery at the hospital this morning. It is unclear whether any other vehicle was involved. The injured man is a serving member of An Garda Siochana. Gardai are currently treating the incident as a single vehicle accident. The accident occurred a stretch of road where the central median is divided by a fence made of reinforced steel cables. A technical examination of the scene was underway today to try to determine the precise circumstances of the accident. Motorists were warned to expect delays on the route and to avoid the area if possible. Gardai confirmed that they are investigating a road traffic collision. "A male garda motorcyclist (late 30s) was seriously injured when he came off his bike and collided with the centre mediam. The injured man was removed to Cork University Hospital. "The road is closed as Garda Forensic Collision Investigators are currently at scene and local diversions are in place. Investigations ongoing." ACCIDENTS The N20 Cork-Limerick Road has been the focus of a number of high-profile accidents over recent months. Last month, two American tourists were killed and two others injured in an horrific collision near the Blarney turn-off. A total of three vehicles were involved in that accident which also left a pregnant woman injured. A proposal to create an M20 motorway linking Ireland's second and third cities has been stalled by its estimated 1 billion cost. A woman with cystic fibrosis has vowed never to watch of listen to Pat Kenny again after he linked the high rate of the condition here to our abortion laws. During The Pat Kenny Show on TV3 last night, Social Protection Minister Regina Doherty mentioned that we have the highest rate of CF in Europe, prompting veteran broadcaster Kenny to say, "is that linked to the abortion rate in other countries?" When Ms Doherty said she doesn't know, Mr Kenny claimed: "People who know they're going to have children with certain disabilities don't have them." CF is Ireland's most commonly inherited disease and primarily affects the lungs and digestive system. Around 1 in 9 Irish people carry the altered gene that causes CF, compared to just 1 in 25 in the UK. Jillian McNulty has CF and appeared on Kenny's show when she was campaigning for life-altering drug Orkambi to be made available to Irish patients. Jillian (41) is devastated about Kenny's comments, telling Independent.ie: "I have been furious all day, they are ridiculous comments and totally disgusting. "I was on the show speaking about Orkambi and told him how much it means to me, now I wonder what he actually thought, did he think my life is worth the cost of Orkambi? Does he think I'm a burden on the State?" Expand Close Jillian McNulty / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Jillian McNulty Read More Jillian, who lives in Longford town, said she has complained to The Pat Kenny Show and claims that she isn't the only person who is upset by his remarks. She said: "The whole CF community is in uproar, he should apologise. "CF patients are fighting for their lives everyday so for him to say something like this is just stupid, he's supposed to be an educated man." She continued to say: "That debate was about welfare, I don't know why he brought CF into it, I used to be a fan but now I'll never look at or listen to anything Pat Kenny does again." Read More Cystic Fibrosis Ireland also stressed that the comments must be clarified. They said in a statement: "The Pat Kenny Show has been a very important programme for highlighting the challenges for people with cystic fibrosis, services that needed to be improved and more recently access to drugs in Ireland. "We thank Pat for this role over many years - he is a true friend of CF. "However, the comment made on last night's programme has caused significant concern in the CF community - we know that no offence was intended by Pat, but his comment should be clarified by the programme." Read More A spokeswoman for the Pat Kenny Show has apologised for "any offence or upset" caused. They said: "Pat Kenny and his team at TV3, would like to apologise for any offence or any upset caused to people with cystic fibrosis and their families by comments made on last nights show. "Any offence or upset caused was completely unintentional. "We agree with the statement by Cystic Fibrosis Ireland today that the reason why Ireland has the highest rate of cystic fibrosis is because we have the highest incidence of people carrying the cystic fibrosis altered gene in the world. "As acknowledged by Cystic Fibrosis Ireland, Pat Kenny is a sincere supporter of the CF community. Pat has highlighted the cause of cystic fibrosis sufferers for many years and will continue to do so." For more information please visit www.cfireland.ie Amazon is considering an appeal against the ruling. Stock picture Amazon is the latest US tech company to be caught up in a European Union crackdown on tax deals - as it was ordered to repay about 250m to Luxembourg. EU Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said: "Luxembourg gave illegal tax benefits to Amazon. As a result, almost three-quarters of Amazon's profits were not taxed." The fine was much lower than some sources close to the case had expected - and a fraction of the 13bn Apple was ordered to pay to Ireland last year. However, Amazon said it was considering an appeal. "We believe that Amazon did not receive any special treatment from Luxembourg and that we paid tax in full accordance with both Luxembourg and international tax law," Amazon said in a statement. Amazon, with 1,500 staff there, is one of the biggest employers in the country of half a million people. It has a Europe-wide staff of some 50,000. While the exact amount Amazon needs to repay has yet to be calculated, the 250m is significantly less than the 400m that sources claimed was under consideration. The bill suggests the commission believes Amazon shielded around 900m in EU profits from tax, calculations by Reuters show. For most of its existence, Amazon has worked on razor-thin profit margins to fuel its global expansion, making only $2.4bn (2bn) profit on global revenues of $136bn (115bn) in 2016. The commission said Luxembourg allowed Amazon to channel a significant portion of its profits to a holding company without paying tax. The holding company was allowed to do this because it held certain intellectual property rights. Amazon revamped its European tax practices in 2015 so that it can book sales and pay taxes in Britain, Germany, Spain and Italy instead of channelling all sales through Luxembourg where it is headquartered, a move that may raise its tax bill. Luxembourg, whose tiny economy has benefited from providing a base for multinational companies, rejected the finding and said it was looking at its legal options. European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker was prime minister of Luxembourg for almost two decades until 2013. He has been criticised for his role in enabling the many tax deals that are now being unravelled. He denies doing anything wrong and says the commission is committed to ensuring fair taxation. In 2014, Luxembourg made international headlines in the wake of the publication of 'LuxLeaks', documents that showed how large accounting firms helped multinationals channel proceeds through the country while paying little or no tax. Although the EU has taken on several US tech companies, Ms Vestager said that her approach was not biased against foreign companies. She also welcomed the debate kicked off by French President Emmanuel Macron, who called for more integrated corporate tax regimes in Europe, aiming to close the loopholes used to reduce tax bills. Irish officials are concerned that the Spanish government will turn against any special Brexit deal for Northern Ireland given the instability in Catalonia. MEPs condemned the "conspicuous silence" of the European Council during a debate on civil rights in Spain in light of the unofficial referendum in Catalonia last Sunday. But German MEP Marcus Weber said while nobody could remain "indifferent" to the worrisome violence of last weekend, the "legitimacy of a member state" was at stake. He warned the Catalan authorities not to take "irreversible" steps. He pointed out that any separatist movement which leaves Spain automatically then leaves the European Union and "this means leaving the internal market including the eurozone and single market". Such a remark will be heard loud and clear by the Government in Ireland - which fears the Spanish government will now become more hostile to any special arrangement for the status of Northern Ireland after Brexit. Madrid may feel a special deal would initiate a "precedent for Catalonia", a senior Government source told the Irish Independent. Dublin will argue that the situation is not the same because Northern Ireland does not want to leave the EU - it is being forcibly taken out by the vote in England and Wales. Backfire The Government needs to tread carefully, as any hint of sympathy with Catalan leaders may backfire when Ireland seeks support for any Northern Ireland settlement. During a specially timetabled debate yesterday, the European Parliament's chief Brexit negotiator, Belgian MEP Guy Verhofstadt, said the violence in Catalonia last Sunday was "deplorable". He added that divisions could not be mended with the law alone, but with dialogue, understanding and a "renewed political vision". Mr Verhofstadt also addressed the Catalan authorities, saying that the poll, which was thwarted using heavy force by 17,000 Spanish police, "wasn't in the interests of your citizens", nor was it in their interests to pursue independence "at all costs". Polish MEP Antoni Legutko Ryszard criticised the EU as a "union of selective values". He accused the European Commission of having a "double standard", whereby "all are equal but some are more equal than others", in its refusal to condemn the Spanish government for its undemocratic behaviour towards the Catalan people. The EU Commissioner for the Rule of Law and Charter of Fundamental Rights, Frans Timmerman, said "respect for the rule of law is not optional, it is fundamental". He told the European Parliament that in Europe after the Second World War and then after the end of dictatorships in Spain, Portugal and Greece, "we have shaped" our democratic societies based on the "principles of democracy, respect for the rule of law and human rights". Ignore He said that the Catalan regional government "has chosen to ignore the law when organising the referendum last Sunday". He acknowledged that the scenes were "saddening" and said that "violence is never a solution". First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar meet at the Government Buildings Nicola Sturgeon has declared Ireland and Scotland allies in the Brexit negotiations. The Scottish First Minister told an audience of business leaders in Dublin that she will argue for the Irish border to remain open in the wake of the UK's split from Europe. She also said the Republic and Scotland are united on virtually every issue of substance relating to Brexit. After talks with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Ms Sturgeon told an audience of about 1,500 business figures that staying in the European single market and the customs union is the obvious answer to the negotiations. "The fact that the UK Government is committed to leaving the EU means that Scotland - like Ireland, and like Northern Ireland - now faces a dilemma which is not of our choosing. We want to remain a full member of the EU but face being taken out against our will," she said. "We deeply regret that. "However, we believe that if the UK is determined to leave the European Union, it should remain a member of the single market and the customs union. "In my view, that is the obvious compromise solution. It's democratically justified - the vote to leave was a very narrow one across the UK and two of the four nations of the UK chose to remain." Expand Close Nicola Sturgeon / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Nicola Sturgeon Read More Ms Sturgeon's talks with the Taoiseach focused on Brexit. In her speech to the Dublin Chamber, she also disputed Prime Minister Theresa May's remarks in Florence last week and claimed that in Scotland many people have felt absolutely at home in Europe. She also emphasised the social and economic links between Scotland and Ireland, and noted the shared interest in ensuring the growth of a global economy is matched by a focus on inclusion. Ms Sturgeon said leaving the single market will be deeply damaging for Scotland's businesses, universities, trade and jobs. "On virtually every issue of substance relating to Brexit, the Irish Government - and the Irish business community as a whole - has an ally in Scotland," the First Minister said. "Like you, we didn't want Brexit. "Like you, we support single market and customs union membership. "And, like you, we know that Ireland's circumstances require particular attention and we will argue strongly for an open border. "We believe that those positions are in the best interests of Scotland, of Ireland, and of everybody on these islands." Ms Sturgeon told business figures the global political developments are a challenge to build a fair and inclusive society. She added: "Scotland certainly hasn't got everything right, but - like Ireland - I think that we are at least facing up to the right issues. "That's important from a political, social and moral perspective - and it's also crucial to ensuring that our economic policies are successful and sustainable." Relations between the Government and the European Union have deteriorated dramatically after the surprise ruling over the Apple tax deal. The decision by the European Commission to initiate court proceedings against Ireland has sent shockwaves through Government circles in Dublin and prompted a series of firm rebukes from senior Government ministers. Dublin is now on a collision course with the commission after EU Commissioner Margrethe Vestager slapped down the Government over its failure to recoup 13bn in unpaid taxes from technology giant Apple. Both Apple and the Government dispute the ruling and have launched appeals. But the Irish Independent can reveal that senior Government figures, including Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, were left stunned by the decision to refer Ireland to the European Courts. There is now serious concern at senior Government level that the decision will be followed by a renewed focus on our corporation tax rate, currently at 12.5pc. There is also a view held among senior Government figures that Ms Vestager is trying to make an example out of Ireland as part of her wider ambitions to become head of the commission. The matter of Ireland's tax arrangements with Apple was discussed at European Commission level on Tuesday - with the Government being left with the impression that a three-month reprieve would be extended. Read More But very senior Government figures told the Irish Independent they were "blind-sided" and "shocked" by the move. Mr Varadkar told the Dail yesterday that the decision to refer Ireland to the European Court of Auditors was both "wholly unnecessary" and "unwarranted". Tanaiste Frances Fitzgerald described the decision as "regrettable". The view in Dublin is that the Government will put the arrangements in place to collect the money in the coming weeks and lodge it to an escrow account. But the row itself centres on the tax arrangements applied once Apple invested in Ireland in the 1990s. The commission says the US multinational giant received illegal state aid and therefore owes Ireland 13bn in back taxes. Both Ireland and Apple contest the claim. The Department of Finance missed a deadline set for early January to recoup the 13bn. The record-breaking case shone a spotlight on Ireland's tax regime and led to criticism from the likes of US President Donald Trump. Fianna Fail finance spokesperson Michael McGrath said the decision must be respected. Read More "While Fianna Fail fundamentally disagrees with the European Commission's state aid ruling last year against Ireland, the ruling has to be fully respected while the appeals process runs its course," he said. "This means the Government should have moved, without delay, to collect the 13bn plus interest from Apple and place it in an escrow account. "The European Commission confirmed its ruling against Ireland over 13 months ago on August 30, 2016, and the simple fact is the Government has failed to collect the money from Apple and place it in an escrow account. "We have now missed the January 3, 2017, deadline for collection of the money by a full nine months." A Department of Finance spokesman said: "That is why it is extremely disappointing that the commission has taken action at this time against Ireland. Irish officials and experts have been engaged in intensive work to ensure that the State complies with all its recovery obligations as soon as possible, and have been in constant contact with the European Commission and Apple on all aspects of this process for over a year." Ex-taoiseach Liam Cosgrave was just 23 when he joined the Dail Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams said Liam Cosgrave had been a divisive figure as Taoiseach in the 1970s as he extended his sympathies to the bereaved family. He was for many people during turbulent and controversial periods of our history a controversial and divisive figure but today is not the day to analyse this, the Sinn Fein leader told the Dail. But he said that this was not the time to go in those details. Speaking in Irish, he said instead he wanted to sympathise with his family, the Fine Gael party. Mr Adams said he did not know Mr Cosgrave personally, but he did see him at many of the 1916 centenary events, at other events over the years, and in Croke Park on many occasions. He said the former Taoiseach had a long career and his family and the Fine Gael were rightly proud of his achievements. He had a long career in this Dail and he had a great privilege of serving as a TD for nearly 40 years representing the people of Dun Laoghaire and Dublin county, Mr Adams said. Mr Adams said Mr Cosgrave had been chief whip, junior minister for industry and commerce, minister for external, leader of Fine Gael for 12 years, and Taoiseach. The Sinn Fein also extended sympathies to the Taoiseach as leader of Fine Gael and to the party generally. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar also paid tribute to the late Liam Cosgrave in the Dail saying his predecessor "devoted his life to public service". "Today a grateful country thanks and honours him for always putting our nation first." He said Mr Cosgrave worked to protect and defend the democratic institutions of the State and "showed great courage and determination in doing so". The Taosieach noted that as the son of WT Cosgrave, the head of the government of the Irish Free State, "Liam provided a powerful link back to the foundation of the State". Mr Varadkar referred to Mr Cosgraves period as Taoiseach in the 1970s when the Troubles in the North were at their height. "Consistently opposed to violence, Liam Cosgrave was a courageous voice against terrorism, and protected the State in times of crisis. He looked terrorism in the eye and did not flinch," Mr Varadkar said. Read More He said Mr Cosgrave was able to eloquently express the mood and feeling of the country at times of crisis and tragedy. "In May 1974, following the Dublin and Monaghan bombings, he spoke movingly of how the men of violence were contributing to a world where reason and compassion are dead and only might is right," Mr Varadkar said. He also spoke of Mr Cosgrave's role in overseeing Ireland's early involvement with the European Economic Community. Mr Varadkar extended his sympathies to Mr Cosgrave's family. "Predeceased by his beloved wife Vera, Liam was a man of great loyalty and kindness, a wonderful sense of humour, and strong personal dignity. "Our thoughts today are with his three children: Mary, Liam - who succeeded him to this House - and Ciaran," he said. The Taoiseach also referred to Mr Cosgrave's love of horse racing saying: "It was said that Liam Cosgrave marked his Cabinet papers with the same attention to detail that he marked the racing page in the Irish Independent." Mr Varadkar said: "Liam Cosgrave is perhaps best summed up by paraphrasing one of his most famous speeches: he was a man of integrity who, totally disregarding self-interest, always served the nation. "We have lost someone great from our land." Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin expressed his party's condolences to Mr Cosgrave's family and Fine Gael. Mr Martin said that WT Cosgrave showed "incredible bravery" during the Easter Rising. He added: "To be born the son of WT Cosgrave was to be born the son of an important figure in our revolution and a central figure in the early decades of the State. There is no question that an absolute loyalty to his father's ideals formed the core of Liam's beliefs. But he was also a major figure in his own right." Mr Martin noted that the late Taoiseach was a "robust opponent" of Fianna Fail but that that despite political rivalries "I have no hesitation in saying that Liam Cosgrave was a man who gave so much to Irish political life and deserves a place of honour in our history." He highlighted Mr Cosgrave's role as external affairs minister in Ireland joining the United Nations in the 1950s. "Ireland's unique contribution to the United Nations and the exceptional international standing in which our country is held by so many others began to be constructed because of Laim Cosgrave's leadership at that time," Mr Martin said. Labour leader, Brendan Howlin, said his knowledge of Liam Cosgrave had come to himself via his own predecessor and mentor, Brendan Corish. Mr Howlin said the former Labour leader and Liam Cosgrave came from very different political viewpoints but still managed to cooperate in government in 1973-1977. He said Liam Cosgrave had stood firm in the face of serious IRA threats to the institutions of state in the 1970s. Mr Cosgrave had also managed to keep a talented government team, full of strong characters, through the 1973-77 term. The book of condolence for former Taoiseach and Leader of Fine Gael, Liam Cosgrave will be open in Fine Gael Headquarters today (Thursday) from 2-6pm and tomorrow (Friday) from 9am-6pm. Mr Cosgrave's funeral mass will take place on Saturday 7th October, at Church of the Annunciation, Rathfarnham at 12 noon, followed by burial in Goldenbridge Cemetery, Inchicore. With the Budget just days away this weeks Floating Voter looks at whether Fine Gael and Fianna Fail are on a collision course. Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe has just 350m to play around with but Niall OConnor believes he has created great expectations. At the same he is in trouble with the EU for not trying hard enough to collect the 13bn owed by Apple in back taxes. The Government argues its not our money to collect because we didnt give the tech giant any State aid but Philip Ryan argues we should just give up the battle and admit to being a tax haven. Fresh from Strasbourg, Shona Murray gives the European perspective and suggests EU Commissioner Margrethe Vestagers attack on Ireland is all part of a plan to boost her own career prospects. Meanwhile back in Dublin Kevin Doyle was asked to leave a Fine Gael fundraiser in Shelboure hotel earlier this week but still managed to obtain a recording of airline boss Willie Walsh telling an audience including the Tanaiste and Attorney General that hes sh*ting himself over Ryanairs pilot problems. Ireland's largest trade union has overwhelming backed a motion to support a call for a referendum to repeal the 8th Amendment. It is expected that the referendum will be staged in mid 2018. Experts have predicted that it is likely to prove one of the most contentious of referendum campaigns waged over recent years. The union, which staged its biennial conference in Cork, voted overwhelmingly to endorse a motion to "support the call for a referendum to repeal the 8th Amendment." The motion was tabled by SIPTU National Executive Committee (NEC) member, Suzanna Griffin. It was put to the conference on behalf of the union's equality committee. Women comprise more than half of the trade union membership in Ireland and it is unacceptable that they live in a country where the law puts their health and lives at risk, criminalises them and forces them to travel abroad to avail of safe and legal abortion services," she warned. Some women have to undergo torturous situations, for example when a woman is pregnant with a foetus with a fatal foetal abnormality, or pregnant as the result of rape." "So what happens? Women travel aboard for terminations. The hypocrisy of this situation is shameful. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said a date for the referendum will only be decided when the Oireachtas has fully considered the matter. However, it is expected to be staged sometime before next June. Ms Griffin stressed that the union was not attempting to force members into a moral dilemma. But this motion is not asking any delegate here to make a moral or personal decision on the provision of abortion in Ireland," she said. "It is merely asking you to support the call for a referendum so that the people of Ireland can make a democratic decision as they did in 1983." The women of Ireland deserve our support on this and people in Ireland deserve an opportunity to vote on the 8th Amendment given that no person of child bearing age has had the opportunity to make this decision themselves. SIPTU boasts almost 175,000 members. The union has been staging a four-day Cork conference which has been dominated by issues such as pay, housing, childcare provisions and the 8th Amendment referendum. The Bombardier-Boeing trade dispute could damage the peace process as well as hit jobs, Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney warned a senior US official. In a recent preliminary ruling, the US Department of Commerce imposed a 220pc tariff on Bombardier's new C Series jets following a complaint by Boeing that its Canadian rival had received State subsidies. The C Series wings are built in east Belfast, where thousands of jobs are now at risk. Mr Coveney warned US Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross that he should "consider fully the significance of the case for the security of the economy in Northern Ireland, which is an essential support to the peace process". He was speaking to Mr Ross during the start of a two-day visit to the US. It's hard to imagine it, but Siobhan Ryan's daughter Ella has been waiting for surgery to improve her painful scoliosis condition for more than three years. Since 2014, the mum-of-three from Gorey, Co Wexford, has watched her teenager battle the painful condition, which causes a curve in the spine. And the pain has gradually worsened since Ella was first diagnosed with progressive severe scoliosis in 2014. Born with spina bifida and hydrocephalus, Ella (16) has always been in a wheelchair, but both Ella's mum and her primary care team - the dedicated nurses and physiotherapists who see her on a regular basis - believe her untreated scoliosis has caused her additional suffering. "The scoliosis is our main problem," says Siobhan. "She can't sit properly in her chair, her leg splays out, her hips are affected and her feet are affected. The way her foot is turning is causing her to hit it off the footplate of her wheelchair, causing these horrendous blisters that look like third degree burns. Pressure wounds from the skin rubbing are being caused by the scoliosis and her ribs hurt. I can see her getting worse from the position she's in in her wheelchair. I personally know someone whose son has scoliosis and it's got to the point where it is now inoperable. I'm worried we could end up in the same situation." She adds: "We're lucky Ella's curve is down low, so her lungs aren't compromised, not yet anyway. But I don't know if her kidneys are being affected or her bladder or bowel - over time, who knows? I do know that organs can be compromised. I know kids whose breathing has been affected." The Government's Action Plan on Scoliosis pledged that, by the end of 2017, no child would have to wait longer than four months for scoliosis surgery. But today, over 100 children remain on waiting lists for spinal surgery. Expand Close Life on hold: Ella Ryan was waiting three years for a surgery appointment. Photo: Frank McGrath / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Life on hold: Ella Ryan was waiting three years for a surgery appointment. Photo: Frank McGrath At three years, Siobhan has been told Ella's wait is "one of the longest", but she's never been told why. She was advised to put her daughter, who is a patient at Our Lady's Children's Hospital in Crumlin, forward for 'outsourcing' where her surgery might be carried out at the Mater Hospital, in Germany or London. "It took 70 days for us to hear back from the Mater that Ella had been turned down," says Siobhan. "Then we were turned down for Germany last week. They say that because she has complex needs and will need two surgeries - from the back and from the side, which could see her needing three weeks in hospital - her care should remain at Our Lady's Hospital. "But they've known Ella had complex needs from the start so why was outsourcing even suggested for us? When we were waiting to find out if she'd been accepted for Germany last week, Ella was visibly emotional. I could see her welling up at the idea that we might finally be getting an answer. "It's just so unnecessary. Living in limbo for three years has affected her wellbeing. Ella's a happy child and she rarely complains, but she's fed up. We all are. We're just living on the list. The surgery she needs is major enough without the problem getting worse." Life at home has been put on hold. Siobhan's husband Liam works as a sales rep and has been left not knowing when to schedule leave. The family can't book a holiday because Ella's waiting list status renders her uninsurable, nor do they want to risk missing a potential surgery date. "It's just taken over our lives," says Siobhan. "We're trying to get on with everyday life, school, homework, dinners, showers, but it's very mentally draining. And we've hospital appointments every week. Just trying to get on with all the difficulties associated with having a child with extra care needs is made all that more difficult by feeling you have to battle for every little thing." Gary Farrell from the support organisation Scoliosis Ireland, says it is "absolutely disgraceful" that so many young people are being left waiting years for life-changing surgery. "As a curvature progresses, it can put extra pressure on the heart and lungs of a child, which can cause serious health problems, often making it harder to breathe," he explains. "It makes more sense to do everything we can to reduce scoliosis surgery waiting times and give our children a better chance." He also fears the emotional impact long waiting times are having on children. "There's a lack of mental health support for these children who are waiting and we're calling for a specialist to be appointed to deal with this," he reveals. "At Scoliosis Ireland we've started mental health workshops to try and help these children in case they need additional support." It's not known what causes scoliosis, where the spine twists and curves to the side, and it can affect anyone, but most commonly starts in children aged between 10 and 15. Symptoms include one shoulder being higher than the other, one hip higher than the other or the ribcage more prominent on one side. Depending on the severity of the condition, treatment can include wearing a brace or surgery to control or straighten the spine. Certain conditions, such as spina bifida which Ella suffers from, come with an increased risk of scoliosis because of unstable muscles around the joints and other orthopaedic issues. Not all cases of scoliosis get worse. But in children who are still growing, a scoliosis curve can worsen rapidly during a growth spurt, making time of the essence when it comes to scheduling surgery. Farrell strongly believes that part of the reason so many young people are on long waiting lists lies in the fact that the new orthopaedic theatre at Crumlin, which cost in the region of 2m, is only open for surgeries three days a week. "We're in contact with the Minister for Health and An Taoiseach to increase this to clear some of the backlog," he explains. Siobhan, and some 5,000 people who have signed a petition launched last week by the Scoliosis Advocacy Network Ireland, agrees this needs to change. "I was told there was an air ambulance available for us if Germany had worked out," says Siobhan. "It costs a lot of money to send people abroad for surgery - why not just open up the facility we already have? I don't think a lot of people are aware we have this theatre that cost millions and, up until recently, it was only open one day a week. I don't know what the answer is, but they're never going to get through the waiting list on three days a week." In a happy twist of fate, Siobhan actually received a call on Tuesday morning telling her that Ella has finally been given a surgery date for next month at Crumlin. Although delighted, her mum is reluctant to fully believe it until her daughter is being wheeled into the operating room. "It's only a provisional date, but it's something and we're clinging to it," she says. But even when Ella finally gets surgery, Siobhan has vowed to keep campaigning. "It's not over," she says. "There are other parents still waiting. It isn't fair - you can't have kids spending years on waiting lists, everyone deserves to be seen within a timely matter." A spokesperson for the Children's Hospital Group said: "Reducing waiting times for children with scoliosis is a priority for the HSE and the Children's Hospital Group. We very much regret the waiting times that are being experienced by patients and their families and we are committed to working collaboratively with families of scoliosis patients and advocacy groups to meet their needs. "Significant and ongoing efforts are being undertaken to improve this service and the OLCHC has submitted a business case to the HSE for 2018 resourcing for additional surgeons, nursing and support staff for paediatric orthopaedic services. This will increase orthopaedic surgery by an additional two days per week." "Although I still face struggles, I now have experiences of survival and recovery too and not just abuse" - Aaron. Stock photo As a male survivor of childhood sexual abuse, I received the right support from the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre (DRCC) and it has changed my life. Prior to attending therapy, my feelings about the abuse were too painful for me cope with. I tried to keep everything under a lid while going to college and starting in my first jobs but I had ongoing suicidal feelings and long-term problems with depression, panic and even alcoholism which I kept secret. Coming in the door was a huge step at the beginning, my first counsellor at RCC was male and he helped me to trust men again and to understand the very deep impact the past abuse had and was still having on my life. During these times I used the RCC helpline service frequently and this was a great support in between sessions. I then started therapy with a female counsellor who I continue therapy with today. Trusting a new person with my story was a challenge at first but the kindness and support I get makes me always want to come back to therapy. It helps knowing that my counsellor is there to support my needs and at my pace. Although I am stronger in myself now, I still need therapy to deal with the challenges I face. Especially in work situations, with family, in all relationships and with intimacy. I can talk with my counsellor about anything and she is always an amazing support to me. I attended group therapy for a time at RCC where I met with other people who were dealing with sexual abuse and coping with life struggles too. People shared their stories and this helped me to feel safe and secure at a very deep level with other people. My abuse happened within my family, because of the bond in group therapy and the support from the counsellors there, I learned to overcome some of the deep feelings of shame I was experiencing. I can now be in a group or a meeting at work and not experience post traumatic stress symptoms. RCC held an art therapy workshop and that really helped me to release feelings which I was not yet able to identify or talk about. I have started to paint since and this helps me when I feel distressed at times. Although I still face struggles, I now have experiences of survival and recovery too and not just abuse. That makes me so much stronger. The ongoing support from the RCC means that I have a much better quality of life now. It is really important to know the RCC is there, understanding and supporting me and the other victims of sexual abuse. Life now seems possible! If you have been affected by the content in this article, the National 24-hour helpline can be reached on 1800 77 88 88. *Aaron is not this man's real name. The testimonial was included in the DRCC's annual report on p.16 (www.drcc.ie) and was read by an actor to close the report's launch this morning. Tony and Mary Heffernan sitting on their son Liam's bed where he passed away in 2014 from Battens Disease. His sister Saoirse died in the room next door from the same disease in 2011. Three years ago our son Liam passed away on our 13th wedding anniversary and since then weve been hoping for a happy day to mark in the calendar. This news from An Bord Pleanala is the perfect news to cap off a brilliant week. These are the words of Tony Heffernan, who lost his son Liam and his daughter Saoirse to a degenerative disease called Battens disease. Last week, An Bord Pleanala upheld the Planning permission granted by Kerry County Council earlier this year to allow the construction of Liams Lodge a new national respite centre for children with complex needs, genetic, rare & life limiting disorders in Curragraigue, Blennerville, Co Kerry. The 14m respite centre will cater for over 1,000 families a year when it opens in 2021. It will provide national respite, and palliative care supports for children primarily from the west coast and Munster areas. We are thrilled that planning permission for Liams Lodge has finally been granted. We are really eager now to get this facility up and running as quickly as we can because we know just much a facility like this is needed," Tony said. "We aim to staff Liams lodge with loving care givers who will provide the best of care to our special guests allowing Mom and Dad and healthy siblings to take a break, relax and spend some quality time with their family in a quiet, nurturing environment." "We have personal experience of the challenges that caring for a seriously ill child with complex needs can pose for the whole family and we know how much this kind of respite care is really needed. The facility, the first of its kind in Ireland, which is being spearheaded by the Saoirse Foundation (https://www.saoirsefoundation.com/) will include eight three bed family residential lodges, 14 two bed residential family lodges, a reception area, four therapy rooms, two sensory rooms, five physiotherapy suites, three offices with meeting rooms, a playroom, a cafeteria and staff facilities. Tony's wife Mary added: In recent years Tony and I lost both our children Saoirse and Liam to Battens disease when they were just five years old." "We understand only too well how families caring for seriously ill children could do with a place to go to recharge their batteries and allow their whole family time to relax and be looked after by people who understand their situation and needs. Thats what LiamsLodge will be. Were now going to go full throttle at fundraising to get this facility up and running as quickly as we can. Mae McGreevy strikes a Rocky pose the film synonymous with Philadelphia at the flight launch. Photo: Jason Clarke Aer Lingus has announced a new, direct flight from Dublin to Philadelphia as part of a bumper 2018 schedule. The new route will operate four times weekly on a Boeing 757 from March 25, and competes directly with an existing service by American Airlines. Next year will see the airline's largest ever transatlantic programme, with total capacity to North America reaching 2.75 million seats on 14 routes. Further transatlantic expansion next year will include twice-daily flights to Chicago and a daily service to both San Francisco and Los Angeles. "Each new Aer Lingus transatlantic route opens up new tourism and business opportunities and builds connectively to the Dublin Gateway," Mike Rutter, chief operating officer, said. In Europe, no new routes were revealed, but it does plan to add an extra 96,000 seats on services to destinations including Malaga, Nantes, Bordeaux, Lyon, Prague and Vienna. Over 13,300 contacts for help were made to the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre last year - including 12,400 calls to the National 24-Hour Helpline. This showed a 24pc increase in calls to the centre since 2015. Around 30pc of the contacts came from those aged 29 and under, CEO Noeline Blackwell said, highlighting the need for education about rape. A youth worker quoted in our report says that young people are really lost when it comes to consent. Our therapists see the same thing. As a society, we must be stronger in our intolerance of non-consensual behaviour. We must build a wide-ranging understanding that non-consensual sex is always rape. Approximately half of those calls were from people who were contacting the centre for the first time. Angela McCarthy, Head of Clinical Services said: Compared with 2015, 2016 showed a striking increase in the number of callers and clients who had experienced recent rape and sexual assault. There was a 24pc increase in our calls, while half of the new clients that we saw in 2016 had experienced recent rape or sexual assault. Of the 12,388 National 24-Hour Helpline contacts received, 77pc were from females, 22.5pc were from males, and 0.5% were transgender. Ahead of launching the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre Annual Report for 2016 today, Minister Charlie Flanagan said that he was delighted to launch this report, which shows the valuable work done by the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, providing services and expertise that feed into the Governments Second National Strategy against Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence. The Minister added: It is important that government and non-governmental organisations work together to eliminate the tolerance of sexual violence in our society. If you have been affected by the content of this article, the National 24-hour helpline can be reached on 1800 77 88 88. A new generation is already firmly well on the way towards forging further farming success at the Crowley dairy farm in the beautiful surroundings of West Cork. In true Irish style, the five children of Michael and Marguerite Crowley are each already playing a huge role on the farm and they have been since as long as they can remember. Michael and Marguerite dont take their legacy or the future for granted. In fact, its quite the opposite. Everything we do, we try to do it the very best way we can, so the next generation our children - see an example of how it should be done, explains Michael. The couple, who farm 86.2 hectares at Bauraville Upper, Skibbereen, Co. Cork are 3rd generation farmers. Like other farmers all over Ireland, for them, Irish farming is more than just a business its a way of life. They learned their craft from their parents and grandparents before them and are now emulating that again and so the tradition continues. Farming is our passion its not all about money It isnt all about money. Farming is our passion and were glad to say that our whole family is involved on a daily basis and love it too, says Michael. He and Marguerite have five children Brendan, Michelle, Aishling, Gavin and Colm. The attention to detail and hard work of this family has already scooped one Drinagh Milk Quality Award for their farm as well as the overall Carbery Milk Quality Award for 2015. With a herd size of 146, their average herd yield is 5,616 with an average monthly milk supply of 70,759. This family was one of the NDC & Kerrygold Quality Milk Awards Finalist and took home the award for Best Percentage Solids in the Excellence in Dairy category at this year's awards. TV chef Clodagh Cooks with the Crowleys TV Chef and cookbook author Clodagh McKenna has joined as a food ambassador for the National Dairy Council and Kerrygold Quality Milk Awards. The other judges on the panel for 2017 are Professor Pat Wall from UCD; Dr. David Gleeson from Teagasc and Dr. Jack Kennedy, Dairy Editor of the Irish Farmers Journal. Clodagh recently visited the Crowley family in West Cork to hear their family story first-hand. She joined Marguerite in the kitchen where they teamed up and did what Clodagh does best! created lunch together. Clodagh cooked her popular Smoked Haddock chowder while Marguerite baked a batch of her farmhouse brown bread, a recipe that was passed down to her from her mother and which got the thumbs up from Clodagh. A passionate advocate of quality Irish dairy produce, Clodagh was thrilled to see this family farm first-hand: As an Irish chef working abroad, Irish dairy produce has a superb reputation for quality in global markets. In Ireland, many of us take it for granted that we have countryside with so many fields of grass but our green countryside is a tremendous asset because the pasture-based model of dairy farming is a vital ingredient for the success of Irish dairy produce all over the world. Each of the finalists in this years awards have been visited by the judges over the past two months and have undergone a rigorous 12-month scrutiny. The winners will be announced at the awards ceremony in Dublin on October 4th. This years finalists In addition to the Crowley farm the other finalists include David and Kathleen Boland from Horseleap, Moate, Co. Westmeath; Patrick and Shona Crotty, Kilbaha South, Co. Clare; Gerard and Kathleen Doyle and family Pilton, Co. Kilkenny; Declan and Alison Finn, Newtown, Charleville, Co. Cork; Sean and Mary Hegarty, Whites Cross, Co. Cork; Padraig, John and Gertrude Keane, Kilcormac, Co. Offaly; Sean and Marie Lynch, Moville, Co. Donegal; John, Niall and Carol Mason, Ballyseedy, Tralee, Co. Kerry; Eamonn and Patricia McMahon, Stranooden, Co. Monaghan; Norman and Elma Perrott, Bandon, Co. Cork; Robert and Shirley Shannon, Clonakilty, Co. Cork; Philip, Nicky and Dolores Thornton, Cashel, Co. Tipperary The overall winners were John and Maria Walsh, Cahir, Co. Tipperary. Dairy co-operatives throughout the country were invited to nominate their top suppliers for the awards. The farms nominated for the annual awards had a detailed assessment by an expert judging panel based on milk quality test results and technical reports spanning a full 12 month period in order to select a short-list of finalists. Go to www.qualitymilkawards.ie to meet the 2017 National Dairy Council and Kerrygold Finalists and to find out more about the awards and read more about each finalist. Sponsored by: You can take the girl out of Essex. TOWIE star Gemma Collins (36) and a handful of castmates hit Dublin on Wednesday night and made the most of their time on our shores. Gemma was joined by Liam Gatsby, Amber Dowding and Chloe Sims, among others, as they are spending the week filming the hit ITV2 reality show in the capital. Expand Close TOWIE star Gemma Collins in Dublin. Picture: Cathal Burke/VIP IRELAND / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp TOWIE star Gemma Collins in Dublin. Picture: Cathal Burke/VIP IRELAND Collins and co partied the night away at Lillie's Bordello before ending their night the only appropriate way: with an early morning McDonald's.Earlier in the day was a significantly more glam affair as they were laden down with shopping bags from Brown Thomas and Jimmy Choo, with Gemma pictured walking arm in arm with celebrity makeup artist Aidan Corcoran, who is also a personal shopper with Brown Thomas' beauty hall. Although her visit was overshadowed by that of Victoria Beckham, whose arrival temporarily took over the second floor of the luxury department store. The TOWIE crew have been busy during their short time here, enjoying an "Irish pub extravaganza" starting in Temple Bar and they're also looking for extras if fans want to appear in the background. Earlier in the week, Gemma posted a selfie of herself on the flight to Dublin sitting next to ex James Argent with the caption, "Trust me to have to sit next to ARG. Dublin here we come I can feel the magic." The seating arrangement was all the more dramatic as she recently revealed she was trying to have a baby with him last year - without his knowledge. "It wasnt the right thing to do, but I really wanted a baby," she told the Loose Women panel. "What I did was a bit much, but it was because I knew him. "It sounds a bit crazy but Im out of that now. You dont have to trap a man. He didnt know at the time! But he does now. I apologised afterwards. We met in Marbella and I said, 'Arg, can we talk over paella for two?'" Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, Prince Oscar of Sweden, Princess Estelle of Sweden and Prince Daniel of Sweden depart after a thanksgiving service on the occasion of The Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden's 40th birthday celebrations at the Royal Palace on July 14, 2017 in Stockholm, Sweden Princess Victoria of Sweden attends the Swedish Outdoor Associations 125th anniversary celebrations at Haga Park on October 4, 2017 in Stockholm, Sweden. (Photo by MICHAEL CAMPANELLA/Getty Images) Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel of Sweden attend the Swedish Outdoor Associations 125th anniversary celebrations at Haga Park on October 4, 2017 in Stockholm, Sweden. (Photo by MICHAEL CAMPANELLA/Getty Images) The Swedish royal family are hot on the Cambridges' heels. Crown Princess Victoria (40) went for a decidedly casual look on Wednesday, dressing uncharacteristically down in a pair of bootcut jeans and a navy satin bomber jacket, wearing her hair in her signature slicked back bun. The mother-of-two to little Princess Estelle and Prince Oscar previously revealed she feels bound by duty to her country, and makes appearances at pubic engagements as often as possible. Expand Close Princess Victoria of Sweden attends the Swedish Outdoor Associations 125th anniversary celebrations at Haga Park on October 4, 2017 in Stockholm, Sweden. (Photo by MICHAEL CAMPANELLA/Getty Images) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Princess Victoria of Sweden attends the Swedish Outdoor Associations 125th anniversary celebrations at Haga Park on October 4, 2017 in Stockholm, Sweden. (Photo by MICHAEL CAMPANELLA/Getty Images) She was joined by her husband Prince Daniel, Duke of Vastergotland, a former personal trainer and CEO of a chain of gyms, who was dressed in contrast with a tweed suit. The couple, who wed in 2010, were on hand to mark the Swedish Outdoor Associations 125th anniversary celebrations at Haga Park in Stockholm. Much like Kate Middleton and Prince William's mental health advocacy, Victoria and Daniel have championed their own children's cause for their charity Generation Pep, which aims to "spread knowledge and engage both people and organizations in a joint effort to make it easier for children and young people to live a healthy life." Earlier this week, they released a video of their five-year-old daughter Estelle showing off her impressive somersault skills, which her father successfully mimics. There's something of a baby boom among the Swedish royals: Princess Madeleine (35) has announced she's expecting her third child with husband Chris O'Neill (43), while her sister-in-law Princess Sofia welcomed her second child with Prince Carl Philip - Prince Gabriel last month. Madeleine broke the news on her Facebook page, writing: "Chris and I are thrilled to announce that I am expecting. We look forward to four becoming five!" Expand Close Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, Prince Oscar of Sweden, Princess Estelle of Sweden and Prince Daniel of Sweden depart after a thanksgiving service on the occasion of The Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden's 40th birthday celebrations at the Royal Palace on July 14, 2017 in Stockholm, Sweden / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, Prince Oscar of Sweden, Princess Estelle of Sweden and Prince Daniel of Sweden depart after a thanksgiving service on the occasion of The Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden's 40th birthday celebrations at the Royal Palace on July 14, 2017 in Stockholm, Sweden TV Personality Kylie Jenner (L) and Creative Director Olivier Rousteing attend Marie Claire's Image Maker Awards 2017 at Catch LA on January 10, 2017 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for Marie Claire) Alessandra Ambrosio walks the runway during the Balmain show as part of the Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Spring/Summer 2018 on September 28, 2017 in Paris, France. (Photo by Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images) Gigi Hadid presents a creation by Balmain during the women's Fall-Winter 2017-2018 ready-to-wear collection fashion show in Paris on March 2, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / bertrand GUAYBERTRAND GUAY/AFP/Getty Images Jourdan Dunn walks the runway during the Balmain show as part of the Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Spring/Summer 2018 on September 28, 2017 in Paris, France. (Photo by Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images) Elsa Hosk walks the runway during the Balmain show as part of the Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Spring/Summer 2018 on September 28, 2017 in Paris, France. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images) Elsa Hosk walks the runway during the Balmain show as part of the Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Spring/Summer 2018 on September 28, 2017 in Paris, France. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images) Martha Hunt walks the runway during the Balmain show as part of the Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Spring/Summer 2018 on September 28, 2017 in Paris, France. (Photo by Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images) Maria Borges walks the runway during the Balmain show as part of the Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Spring/Summer 2018 on September 28, 2017 in Paris, France. (Photo by Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images) A model walks the runway during the Balmain show as part of the Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Fall/Winter 2017/2018 on March 2, 2017 in Paris, France. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images) Elsa Hosk walks the runway during the Balmain show as part of the Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Spring/Summer 2018 on September 28, 2017 in Paris, France. (Photo by Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images) Victoria's Secret is partnering with Balmain on a new capsule collection. The American lingerie brand is gearing up to unveil its annual runway spectacle, which will be taped for broadcast around the world on 28 November in Shanghai, China. Expand Close Elsa Hosk walks the runway during the Balmain show as part of the Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Spring/Summer 2018 on September 28, 2017 in Paris, France. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Elsa Hosk walks the runway during the Balmain show as part of the Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Spring/Summer 2018 on September 28, 2017 in Paris, France. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images) While 2017's Victoria's Secret Fashion Show will no doubt look to the Far East for inspiration, there will also be some French flair, as brand executives have announced that Balmain designer Olivier Rousteing will be working on looks for the show as well as a limited-edition collection. Black and white images were posted to Instagram on Wednesday, which were scrawled with graffiti-like graphics and the words, "Balmain loves VS". No other details have been released about the line as yet, though it is set to be available from Victoria's Secret stores and the brand's website. However, Rousteing will certainly feel comfortable working with the brand, as many Victoria's Secret stars, including Alessandra Ambrosio, Elsa Hosk, Sara Sampaio and Doutzen Kroes, have previously been cast in Balmain's runway shows and print advertisements. Expand Close Gigi Hadid poses prior the 2016 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show on November 30, 2016 in Paris, France. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images for Victoria's Secret) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Gigi Hadid poses prior the 2016 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show on November 30, 2016 in Paris, France. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images for Victoria's Secret) The Victoria's Secret venture marks the second major partnership Paris-based Balmain has entered into this year. In May, Rousteing revealed that he was working with L'Oreal Paris on a make-up line which would open up the luxury brand to a whole new demographic. With 12 lipstick colours on offer, plus three "jewels" where the lipstick will be encased in a wearable accessory, the fashion designer wanted diversity to be the focus of the line. "I want to speak to different girls," Rousteing previously mused to Business of Fashion. "Colour is not just in the palette of my clothes, it's also in the girls. Some (shades) are really good on white skin, some are really good on Asian skin, some of them on black skin. Each group (of Balmain women) is really powerful but in different ways. This Balmain Army will become the L'Oreal Paris army as well." The Victoria's Secret flagship Irish store will open in Dublin in December. A suicide bomber has killed at least 20 people in Pakistan A suicide bomber has targeted a Shiite shrine packed with worshippers in a remote village in Pakistan, killing 20 people and leaving at least 25 wounded in an apparent sectarian attack. The attacker detonated his explosives vest when he was stopped for a routine search by a police officer guarding the shrine in the village of Jhal Masgi, about 240 miles east of Quetta, the capital of Baluchistan province. No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack. Anwarul Haq Kakar, spokesman for the provincial government, said the death toll could rise as some of the wounded were in critical condition. Mohammad Iqbal, a district police chief, said five children, a woman and one police officer were among those 20 people killed in the bombing. He said they found body parts of the attacker and investigators were trying to determine who was behind the bombing. Sarfraz Bugti, the provincial home minister, said "terrorists have shown their inhumaneness by attacking innocent civilians" at the shrine. Atif Ali Shah, the custodian of the shrine, told reporters that had the attacker managed to enter the shrine, there would have been many more casualties. The police officer who stopped the bomber and other guards who rushed to the scene "saved many lives", he said. Hundreds of devotees were present at the shrine for a monthly gathering when the bomber hit. Local TV footage showed people crying for help in the immediate aftermath of the attack. Just hours earlier, Pakistani army spokesman Major General Asif Ghafoor said the military had received credible reports of upcoming terror attacks. Maj Gen Ghafoor told a news conference in the garrison city of Rawalpindi that the government has been alerted about possible attacks. Though no one claimed responsibility for Thursday's bombing, Sunni extremists have carried out many such attacks in the past, targeting minority Shiite Muslims in Baluchistan and elsewhere in the country. Sunni extremists perceive Shiites as apostates who should be killed. Pakistani Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi condemned the attack. In a statement, he said that "terrorists have no religion" and that his government will act against militants with full might. In June, at least 75 Shiite Muslims were killed in twin bombings at a market in Parachinar in the country's north west. At the time, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, a sectarian Sunni extremist group, claimed the bombings in Parachinar, which is a majority Shiite town. In February, an Islamic State suicide bomber struck inside a famed Sufi shrine in southern Sindh province, killing 88 worshippers as they performed a devotional dance known as "dhamal". Baluchistan, which shares a border with Sindh province, has also been the scene of a low-level insurgency by Baluch nationalists and separatists demanding more autonomy and a greater share in the region's natural resources such as gas and oil. However, Islamic militants have also carried out scores of attacks in the province. AP Britains accountancy watchdog has dropped an investigation into PwCs role as auditor to Barclays. The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) had been probing PwCs role in reporting to the then Financial Services Authority over Barclays compliance with client asset rules between 2007 and 2011. However, it said on Thursday that it is closing the probe after concluding that there is not a realistic prospect that a tribunal would make an adverse finding against PwC in respect of the matters within the scope of the investigation. It is not the first time this year that PwC has come under the FRCs microscope. In June it dropped an investigation into PwCs role as Tescos auditor during the supermarkets accounting scandal, on the same grounds that there would be no realistic prospect of a tribunal making an adverse finding. In the same month, the watchdog opened an investigation into PwCs audit of BT following the telecoms giants Italian accounting scandal. Then in August PwC was slapped with a 5 million fine by the FRC over misconduct in relation to the audit of RSM Tenon. Insurance giant Aviva has become the latest financial services firm to invest in automated robo-advice after agreeing to snap up a majority stake in Wealthify. Aviva said the move was another important step forward in its digital strategy as it looks to overhaul the insurance industry and transform itself into a fintech firm. Wealthify will become accessible through Avivas online portal alongside the insurers other products and services. 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 Cardiff-based Wealthify is a low-cost automated service which aims to make investing affordable and accessible, allowing customers to invest with as little as a pound. It was launched in April last year by technology entrepreneur Richard Theo and chartered wealth manager Michelle Pearce and offers customers the choice of investing in one of five diversified investment plans through Isas and general investment accounts. Blair Turnbull, managing director of Aviva UK Digital, said the investment underlines our commitment to invest in and partner with leading digital businesses, allowing our customers to benefit from new technology and making insurance and investments simpler, easier and more convenient. Dr Theo, co-founder and chief executive of Wealthify, said: Avivas investment in our business reflects a clear shift in market demand for high-quality, technology-enabled financial services solutions like Wealthify. The decision by Aviva to buy a stake comes amid a wave of investment in robo-advice, with price comparison site GoCompare recently taking a stake in Mortgage Gym. High street banks such as NatWest are also gearing up for robo-advice investment services. Spain's Constitutional Court has ordered Catalonia's parliament to suspend a planned session next week during which separatist lawmakers wanted to declare independence. Catalan regional authorities previously have ignored Constitutional Court orders, so it was not immediately clear if the session would go ahead and if all parties would attend. The court said its order could be appealed but also warned Catalan parliament speaker Carme Forcadell and other members of the speakers' board that they could face prosecution for failing to halt the session. Speaking to reporters, Ms Forcadell called the suspension a "violation of freedom of speech". "I won't allow censorship to enter Parliament," she said without clarifying if the meeting would go ahead or not. Earlier, Spain's Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy urged the separatist leader of the regional Catalan government, Carles Puigdemont, to cancel plans for declaring independence in order to avoid "greater evils". In an interview with Spain's official EFE news agency, Mr Rajoy said the solution in Catalonia "is the prompt return to legality and the affirmation, as early as possible, that there will be no unilateral declaration of independence, because that way greater evils will be avoided." Mr Rajoy's remarks were the first since Sunday, when Catalonia held a banned referendum on independence, amid police violence. Mr Puigdemont said the results of the vote validated the push to secede. On Wednesday, Mr Puigdemont toned down his defiant stance by calling for mediation in the conflict, although he maintained the plan to declare secession next week. The court order came as political uncertainty over Catalonia's secession bid started spreading to the economy, with stock markets falling and big Catalan firms relocating or considering a move to elsewhere in Spain. Banco Sabadell, one of Catalonia's largest banks and Spain's fifth in volume of assets, said in a statement to the Spanish stock regulator on Thursday that it was relocating the bank's base to the eastern city of Alicante. The move is largely symbolic, given that the headquarters would still remain in the Catalan regional capital, Barcelona, but is aimed at remaining under the protective umbrella of the European Central Bank, sources said. News of the possible move pushed the bank's shares up more than 6% in Thursday's trading, following heavy losses of almost 10% this week. Barcelona-based Caixabank, Spain's third largest bank in global volume of assets was expected to study relocation plans in a meeting on Friday, as the government readied a decree to make it easier for Catalan companies to move their base. In a sign that investors are taking seriously the financial risks of independence, the biotech firm Oryzon Genomics saw its shares jump 23% since announcing on Wednesday it would move its headquarters out of Catalonia. About 40% of Catalonia's electorate of 5.5 million voted in the divisive referendum marred by violence when police moved in to close polling stations and confiscate ballot boxes. As expected, the Yes side scored a landslide victory because most of those who want Catalonia to remain in Spain ignored the referendum that the courts had suspended. Catalan authorities and the Spanish central government are at odds over the legitimacy of the vote. Spain's 1978 Constitution bars any attempt to secede and rules that all Spanish nationals must have a say in the country's sovereignty. Catalonia's regional parliament called the meeting on Monday to evaluate the results of the referendum. Pro-independence lawmakers say the declaration will be made then. AP Twelve Chinese people were missing after their fishing boat collided with an oil tanker in waters near Japan, a Chinese diplomat said. An official at the Chinese consulate-general in Osaka said 16 crew members were aboard the Chinese fishing boat when it capsized after colliding with the Hong Kong-registered tanker. Four were rescued while the others remained missing. The collision occurred on Thursday 250 miles north of the Oki Islands in western Japan. The Chinese consulate has activated an emergency plan and Japanese authorities have dispatched three rescue ships. AP Business services firm TMF Group is lining up one of the biggest flotations on the London Stock Exchange this year with a 340 million euro (303 million) cash raising. The Dutch group, which counts Netflix and LinkedIn among its clients, plans to use the funds to drive down its debts and reduce leverage. While Brexit uncertainty has put the brakes on some flotations this year, TMF has brushed aside Britains divorce from the European Union and intends to switch its headquarters from Amsterdam to London once the IPO is complete. Expand Close TMF Logo / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp TMF Logo Chief executive Frederik van Tuyll said the business was primed to benefit from a rapidly changing and increasingly complex regulatory environment across the world. He said: Looking forward, we continue to see a number of highly favourable drivers for our business, which when combined with our growth plans, gives the board confidence in our future prospects. Within this context, an IPO is the next logical step for TMF Group. It will enhance our profile with existing and potential clients, provide us with access to capital markets for future growth and enhance our ability to attract and retain the best talent in our industry. TMF helps companies cope with the regulatory challenge of expanding into a new country, from gaining trade licences to filling in tax returns. The firm, which employs 7,000 people across 80 countries, said Brexit could provide an opportunity as some UK companies look to shift operations overseas. TMF Group has been owned by DH Private Equity Partners since 2008, but is looking to list on the main market of the London Stock Exchange in November. The group saw revenues rise 8% to 529 million euros (471 million) last year, while earnings lifted 6% to 138 million euros (123 million). However, its loss before tax widened over the period from 42.1 million in 2015 to 63.7 million last year. Richard Hanson, non-executive chairman of TMF Group, said: Todays announcement is another important milestone in TMF Groups exciting growth story. We have a differentiated business operating across 83 jurisdictions, with a high proportion of recurring revenues, a proven M&A track-record, significant future potential and a highly experienced management team. Becoming a publicly listed company will provide TMF Group with the heightened profile and enhanced transparency that will help us extend and build long-term relationships with customers, regulators and business partners all over the world. The IPO comes as other flotations struggle to get off the ground, with mobile operator O2 and price comparison site Compare the Market expected to launch listings next year. A prolific burglar who raided the home of music mogul Simon Cowell has had an appeal against his eight-year jail sentence thrown out by judges who said society needed a break from his activities. Darren February, 33, watched via video link from prison as three Court of Appeal judges in London warned that offenders who play for "high stakes" can expect "high sentences". February carried out the 950,000 (1,065,000) burglary at the X Factor supremo's home in west London in December 2015 as he and his family slept. At an appeal hearing on Thursday, Lady Justice Rafferty, Mr Justice Haddon-Cave and Mr Justice Turner ruled that the prison sentence handed out to February earlier this year at Isleworth Crown Court in west London was not "manifestly excessive". During the early-hours raid he made off with two passports, watches and jewellery worth about 950,000 - but only around 136,000 (152,000) worth was recovered. CCTV and DNA evidence led police to February, who denied the offence. Mr Justice Haddon-Cave, announcing the decision to reject February's argument that his sentence was "too high", said he had an "appalling" record. He was a "professional burglar", with a string of previous convictions, who targeted "high value addresses" in the upmarket London areas of Holland Park, Knightsbridge and Kensington. February committed the burglary at the Cowell home at night when a child was present, said the judge, who added: "The occupants were at home asleep and vulnerable." Mr Justice Haddon-Cave said it was relevant to have regard, as the sentencing judge had done, to the victim impact statements made in the case. It was a domestic burglary which had a "serious effect on the occupants". In his victim impact statement, which was read out during the Crown Court proceedings, Cowell said: "The whole incident has been very traumatic and there is a constant fear that it may be repeated and that it may be worse next time." Mr Justice Haddon-Cave said: "In our judgment, the judge was fully entitled to find that this was a case of greater harm and exceptionally high loss." He described February as a "professional" burglar who played for high stakes and targeted expensive London properties". The judge concluded: "Those who play for high stakes can expect high sentences. Society needs a break from this offender's activities." Comedian Simon Brodkin confronts British Prime Minister Theresa May with a P45 form during her keynote speech at the Conservative Party conference in Manchester yesterday. Photo: Peter Byrne/PA British Prime Minister Theresa May's keynote speech at the Tory conference descended into chaotic scenes after she struggled to cope with a sore throat and was interrupted by a prankster. She intended the speech to relaunch her premiership after a Conservative Party conference beset by cabinet splits and leadership speculation. She made a full apology for her disastrous snap election, admitting that it had been too "presidential" and scripted. She also conceded that her "unemotional" image as an "ice maiden" had been damaging and spoke of her sadness at not being able to have children. But her speech was overshadowed by comedian Simon Brodkin, who got through security to step up to the podium and hand the prime minister a P45. The prankster said "Boris asked me to give you this" as he managed to make his way to the front of the room and give it to her. The prank has been described as a "massive security breach" as he managed to get within arm's length of the prime minister, with police reviewing the conference security process. After taking hold of the piece of paper, Mrs May was given a standing ovation as the man was escorted out, to a chorus of "Out! Out! Out!" The prankster was arrested for breach of the peace, according to Mrs May's spokesperson. Tory MP Johnny Mercer said: "I think it's totally unacceptable that an individual should be allowed to get that close to the prime minister and behave in that manner - I just find it tough because for me a lot of it comes down to respect as well. "I feel very strongly about the respect we have for the head of government. For a prankster to get that close and do what he did presents serious questions to her security. "He was there for a long time with someone patting his back asking if he would like to come this way - that's not what I expect for the security of the prime minister." He also tweeted: "WTF? How does someone get that close to the PM, and then stay there? She's the PM. Makes me rather angry." Patrick McLoughlin, the Conservative Party chairman, said: "It is being looked at. There will be an investigation into what happened. "There will be an inquiry. I knew there was sufficient security around the prime minister." Asked if there should be an investigation, Justine Greening, the education secretary, said: "I was very surprised that somebody was able to get that close to the prime minister and also to the foreign secretary. I am sure people will want to look at exactly what happened." Mr Brodkin had accreditation, according to Greater Manchester Police, and was allowed to be in the room. He has a track record of pulling off similar stunts. He once threw a pile of dollars at then Fifa president Sepp Blatter during a press conference. He was seen speaking to Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson after he handed the prime minister the P45, which stated the reasons for termination of the job were 'Neither strong nor stable' and 'We're a bit worried about Jezza'. It also claimed to be requested by Mr Johnson. Mrs May said after it happened: "There is one person I would like to give a P45 to, and that's Jeremy Corbyn!" Speaking as he was ejected from the conference hall the prankster said: "Boris said in one of those corridor meetings, 'do me a favour, son, and give Theresa this, it is about time things moved on'. It was a P45 from Boris. He said, 'it is either me or her'." Mr Brodkin was body-searched by police and led away through the security gates in handcuffs. The comedian later tweeted: "Hi @BorisJohnson, I gave Theresa her P45 just like you asked." ( Daily Telegraph London) Telegraph Media Group Limited [2022] Four children died and several others were injured at a nursery in eastern Brazil when a guard doused the building with alcohol and set it alight. A firefighter in the city of Janauba said the guard was among those injured and was in a serious condition. The majority of the victims ranged in age from one to four years old. A childcare worker also reportedly died in the fire. The daycare centre in Janauba, in the state of Minas Gerais, cares for about 70 children, according to local media. They identified the guard as a 50-year-old man who has helped with security at the centre since 2008. The motive of the attack was unclear. Government forces have retaken the northern town of Hawija from the Islamic State group, one of the militant group's last strongholds in Iraq, the country's prime minister has said. Haider al-Abadi said in Paris on Thursday that the fight against IS will now focus on the border zone with Syria. "I want to announce the liberation of the city of Hawija today," he said, calling it a "victory not just for Iraq but for the whole world". Plans to retake Hawija had been complicated by political wrangling among the Iraqi security forces, Shiite armed groups and the Kurdish peshmerga troops. The town is part of the Kirkuk governorate, which is disputed between the central government in Baghdad and the northern Iraqi Kurdish autonomous region. Iraqi forces launched the operation to retake the town, which lies 150 miles north of Baghdad, late last month just two days after Iraqi forces began an offensive against IS holdouts in Iraq's vast western Anbar province. Earlier in the month, Iraqi and US-led coalition planes had stepped up a campaign of airstrikes on Hawija, targeting IS bases and weapons facilities. IS has been steadily losing ground and seeing its sprawling caliphate, which in 2014 spanned a third of the territory of Iraq and also neighbouring Syria, crumbling fast. The territory it still holds in the western province lies mainly along the border with Syria in the Euphrates River. "We should chase this terrorist organisation everywhere," Mr al-Abadi said. "This is a very dangerous organisation that works for spreading instability." AP Joe Lombardo said investigators were looking to see whether Stephen Paddock planned other attacks Investigators are looking into whether gunman Stephen Paddock scoped out bigger music festivals before shooting scores of country music fans in Las Vegas. Paddock booked rooms overlooking the Lollapalooza festival in Chicago in August and the Life Is Beautiful show near the Vegas Strip in late September, according to authorities reconstructing his movements before he undertook the deadliest mass shooting in modern US history. It was not clear if he aborted plans to carry out massacres at those sites. Investigators looking into Paddock also came across mention of Fenway Park, Boston police spokesman Mike McCarthy said, though he provided no further details. The details came to light as investigators struggled to figure out why the high-stakes gambler opened fire on a crowd of 22,000 on Sunday night from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay hotel casino in Las Vegas. He killed 58 people and injured nearly 500 before taking his own life. A US official said authorities are looking into the possibility Paddock planned additional attacks, including a car bomb. Authorities previously disclosed Paddock had 1,600 rounds of ammunition in his car, along with fertiliser that can be used to make explosives and 50 pounds of Tannerite, a substance used in explosive rifle targets. Investigators have been combing through his background but remain stumped as to his motive. The profile developed so far is of a "disturbed and dangerous" man who acquired an arsenal over decades, Sheriff Joseph Lombardo said. But investigators have been frustrated to find that he lived a "secret life," Mr Lombardo said, "much of which will never be fully understood". The weekend before the massacre, he rented a room through Airbnb at the 21-storey Ogden condominiums in downtown Las Vegas and stayed there during a music festival below that included Chance the Rapper, Muse, Lorde and Blink-182. "Reasons that ran through Paddock's mind is unknown, but it was directly at the same time as Life Is Beautiful," the sheriff said. Police were reviewing video shot at the high-rise to check Paddock's movements. His renting the condo was curious because as a high-roller, he could have easily got a free room at one of the casino hotels on the Vegas Strip. In early August, Paddock booked a room at Chicago's 21-storey Blackstone Hotel that overlooked the park where the Lollapalooza alternative music festival was being held, though there is no evidence he actually stayed there, a law enforcement official said. The hotel confirmed a Stephen Paddock made a reservation but said he never checked in. Lollapalooza draws hundreds of thousands of music fans every year to Grant Park. Although Paddock killed himself as a Swat team closed in, the sheriff said it appeared he had planned to survive and had an escape plan. AP At least four children are reported to have been killed after a security guard allegedly set fire to a nursery in Brazil. The guard then set himself alight at the municipal nursery, reports local newspaper O Globo. At least one teacher is said to have been injured in the blaze, which took place in the city of Januauba in Minas Gerais state in the south-east of the country. In total 40 people have been taken to hospital, with at least 25 being treated for burns. Most of the victims are children aged four or five. Some of the most severely injured children have been airlifted to a specialist burns unit in Belo Horizonte, the state capital. The security guard has been named by police as Damiao Soares dos Santos, 50. According to O Globe, he had recently been sacked by the nursery. Police said he had died in hospital of his injuries. Emergency services are said to have been called at around 9:40 am local time on Thursday. The call was said to be of "serious occurrence" and required all the available vehicles of the Military Fire Brigade in Janauba. Footage from outside the school shows parents panicking and in disarray while clutching their children. The Regional Hospital of Janauba is believed to be treating victims of the fire. The children are being transferred to the pediatric area, and the adults are being treated here, Helton Ricardo Mendes, the care director of the unit, told the publication. More than 90 people have been killed in weeks of fighting between Libyan militias in the city of Sabratha. The conflict erupted in part as an unexpected consequence of Europe's efforts to halt migrants crossing the Mediterranean. Thousands have fled the city, according to the Red Crescent and local officials. Fighting has also taken place inside Sabratha's landmark antiquity site, the 1,800-year-old remains of a Roman city. The death toll of at least 93 includes at least eight civilians, says Essam Karrar, the head of Sabratha Civil Society Federation The fight broke out in mid-September. Italy has funded two militias in Sabratha to halt boatloads of migrants, which succeeded in dramatically reducing the flow but also sparked a backlash from rival militias, local officials say. AP Thai mourners line up beside of portrait of late king Bhumibol Adulyadej (AP) The mourning period for Thailand's late king Bhumibol Adulyadej is coming to an end, ahead of his cremation later this month. Tens of thousands of mourners have been rushing to Bangkok's Grand Palace to pay their respects, as a period of nearly a year for his body to lie in state ends ahead of the October 26 cremation. Since Bhumibol's death last October 13 at the age of 88, more than 12 million people have visited the golden Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall, where the late monarch's coffin is kept behind a symbolic royal urn. The hall is to be closed to visitors at midnight on Thursday. The throne hall has been kept open 24 hours a day since last Saturday to accommodate the high number of last-minute mourners. Officials said the palace received over 96,000 visitors on Wednesday, a record number for one day. AP An Oklahoma man has been arrested after threatening to carry out shootings in Oklahoma City and San Antonio similar to the mass shooting in Las Vegas, police said. Roderick Lamar Robinson was detained on Tuesday at a home in Warr Acres, the Oklahoma City suburb where he lives, said Oklahoma City police captain Bo Mathews. Several people sent messages to police alerting them that Robinson had posted on Facebook that he would kill people in those cities in a manner similar to Sunday's shooting in Las Vegas, Mr Mathews said. A Facebook page that appears to be Robinson's contained no such threats on Wednesday. Jail records show Robinson, who is 39, remained in custody on Wednesday, while no lawyer was listed to speak on his behalf. San Antonio police spokeswoman Romana Lopez said the department was notified of the threats and learned that Robinson travels between Oklahoma and San Antonio. She said San Antonio officers notified Oklahoma City police, who then arrested Robinson with assistance from Warr Acres police. In a post on the Oaklahoma City Police Department officers praised the public for alerting them to the potential threat. "The time between when were notified of the threatening posts and his arrest was a matter of just a few hours. He was arrested on the charge of Terrorism Hoax. San Antonio Police have also issued a warrant for his arrest. "We always encourage the public to 'see something, say something'. This was a fantastic example of citizens doing just that. Through our Departments Facebook page, we received a number of messages alerting us of Mr. Robinsons posts." In the Las Vegas shooting, the gunman opened fire from his 32nd-floor hotel suite, striking fans at a country music festival below. Read More He killed 58 people and wounded more than 500 others before killing himself in his hotel room, authorities said. Mr Mathews said it isn't known if Robinson had the weapons needed to carry out a mass shooting, but that any such threat will be taken seriously. "You can't just, under your breath, say these kind of things anymore," Mr Mathews said. "You do have to take it seriously now." He added that officers become aware of such threats more quickly now because of social media. A McDonald's manager working the night shift at a restaurant in New York sold cocaine alongside burgers and fries, police allege. Authorities say Frank Guerrero, 26, was arrested after selling $10,900 worth of the drug to an undercover police officer over the course of eight occasions, at a restaurant in the Soundview area of the Bronx. At least two times, it is alleged Mr Guerrero placed the cocaine into a bag containing a cookie, which he then concealed in a larger bag with cheeseburgers, fries and a drink. On one occasion, he sold the drugs to a police officer in the toilets after hiding the cocaine in a soap dispenser, officials said. The three-month undercover investigation dubbed Operation Off the Menu also saw Mr Guerrero make five drug sales in the restaurants car park, police claim. Authorities say they seized 200g of cocaine and more than $5,000 in cash from Mr Guerreros home, which he shares with his partner and two-year-old child. Mr Guerrero, who had worked at McDonalds for eight years, was arrested on Wednesday, along with his partner Cabral Castillo. Both face charges of criminal possession of a controlled substance and unlawfully dealing with a child. Mr Guerrero also faces numerous counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance. New York Citys special narcotics prosecutor Bridget G Brennan said in a statement: The conduct was so blatant it would be comical if he werent committing a serious narcotics crime. Ordering coke took on an entirely different meaning on the night shift at this McDonalds. US President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump meet with police officers at Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department headquarters, October 4, 2017 in Las Vegas (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images) US PRESIDENT Donald Trump visited hospital bedsides and a police base in stricken Las Vegas on Wednesday, offering prayers and condolences to the victims of Sunday night's shooting massacre. However, he failed to engage in a wider discussion about gun violence. Despite a renewal of efforts in Washington to reform the countrys gun laws, the US president declined to answer a question about the countrys problem with gun violence. Were not going to talk about that today, he said. "America is truly a nation in mourning," the president instead declared, days after a gunman on the 32nd floor of a hotel and casino opened fire on the crowd at an outdoor country music festival below. Expand Close U.S. President Donald Trump speaks next to first lady Melania Trump after meeting with police at the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department in the wake of the mass shooting in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S., October 4, 2017. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp U.S. President Donald Trump speaks next to first lady Melania Trump after meeting with police at the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department in the wake of the mass shooting in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S., October 4, 2017. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque The rampage killed at least 58 people and injured more than 500, many from gunfire, others from chaotic efforts to escape. In Las Vegas, Mr Trump spoke of the families who "tonight will go to bed in a world that is suddenly empty". He said: "Our souls are stricken with grief for every American who lost a husband or a wife, a mother or a father, a son or a daughter. "We know that your sorrow feels endless. We stand together to help you carry your pain." Expand Close U.S. President Donald Trump speaks with reporters with first lady Melania Trump and UNLV Trauma Center Medical Director John Fildes after meeting with patients in the wake of the mass shooting in Las Vegas. Picture: REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp U.S. President Donald Trump speaks with reporters with first lady Melania Trump and UNLV Trauma Center Medical Director John Fildes after meeting with patients in the wake of the mass shooting in Las Vegas. Picture: REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque Earlier Trump told reporters shortly before leaving the White House that it was "a very sad thing". Were going to pay our respects and to see the police who have done really a fantastic job in a very short time. He added: Its a very, very sad day for me, personally." It was a sombre address from a provocateur president who prides himself on commanding strength but sometimes has struggled to project empathy at times of tragedy. Read More His solemn words in Las Vegas offered a sharp contrast to his trip a day earlier to hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico, where he spoke of the "expensive" recovery effort on the island and highlighted the relatively low death toll there compared with "a real catastrophe like Katrina" in 2005. While on route to Las Vegas, Trump appeared animated by other matters, tweeting: NBC news is #FakeNews and more dishonest than even CNN. They are a disgrace to good reporting. No wonder their news ratings are way down! The message appeared to be a reference to an NBC report that the secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, recently called the president a moron during a cabinet-level meeting a report that has not been disputed by Tillerson. On Wednesday, Trump took a grim tour of Las Vegas, meeting face-to-face with victims and emergency services. In prepared remarks, he spoke of the courage displayed by those who risked or lost their lives saving loved ones and total strangers. He described an eyewitness account of police officers standing as bullets slammed around them and trying to direct concert-goers to safety. He described a military veteran who had rushed to the scene in search of loved ones, but quickly turned to helping victims, using plastic barriers as stretchers for the injured and frantically searching for anything he could use to make splints. "The example of those whose final act was to sacrifice themselves for those they love should inspire all of us to show more love every day for the people who grace our lives," Mr Trump said. The president spent about four hours in a city still reeling from the worst mass shooting in modern American history. His first stop was the University Medical Centre, where he spent over 90 minutes visiting with recovering victims, some with severe injuries, and listening to their stories. While a serious visit, White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders said there was laughter and celebration in some of the visits with eight families affected by the shooting. Sanders said the visit was a moving experience for the president, who stayed longer at the hospital than planned and amended his formal remarks after the hospital trip. Trump said after the visit that he had met "some of the most amazing people" and invited them to visit the White House if they're ever in Washington. Tiffany Huizar (18) a high school student who lives in Santa Ana, California, is recovering from bullet wounds in the stomach and elbow. She said Mr Trump "was very comforting and like a father figure. ... I feel like a lot of people have negative views about him and what he posts on Twitter and social media and he was absolutely a different guy today in the hospital." Trump then headed to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police headquarters, where he met with officers, dispatchers and others who'd responded to the shooting Sunday night. A woman who worked at the US prison where another female employee aided the escape of two killers has been charged with having sex with an inmate. The charges against former Clinton Correctional Facility employee Denise Prell include promoting prison contraband and sexual abuse, New York state police said. The 38-year-old was fired from her civilian job at the maximum-security prison after a guard saw her engaged in inappropriate behaviour with an inmate. She is being held in the county jail on 10,000 dollars cash bail. In June 2015, two inmates escaped from the prison near the Canadian border with the help of civilian employee Joyce Mitchell. One, Richard Matt, was killed by police and the other, David Sweat, was captured. Mitchell is serving a prison term. AP The Japanese government has recently taken measures to address the issue of overwork A woman in Japan died from overwork after logging 159 hours of overtime in the month leading up to her death, labour inspectors have ruled. Miwa Sado, a political journalist at the countrys national broadcaster, suffered heart failure in July 2013, though her employer only made the case public this week. Officials in Tokyo deemed the 31-year-old had died from karoshi death from overwork after taking just two days off in the 30 days before she died, reports The Japan Times. Masahiko Yamauchi, a senior official at the broadcaster, said Ms Sados death was a problem for our organisation as a whole, including the labour system and how elections are covered. In a comment released by NHK, her parents said: Even today, four years after, we cannot accept our daughters death as a reality. We hope that the sorrow of the bereaved family will never be wasted. In 2015 the suicide of an advertising agency employee, who was working 100 hours overtime a month, prompted calls for a shift in Japans work culture. According to a national survey, a fifth of the country's workforce are at risk of karoshi, since they clock more than 80 hours extra work time each month. The Japanese government has recently taken measures to address the issue. In February it launched a campaign urging employees to leave early at 3pm on the last Friday of every month, and in May it named and shamed more than 300 companies that had breached labour laws. Despite predictions of a "red wave" rolling throughout the country one in which Republican political candidates would cruise to victory up and down the ballot on the strength of nationwide frustration with crime, inflation and dissatisfaction with the Biden administration Tuesday's midterm election delivered more of the same for many Rhode Islanders. In addition to Democratic victories in all the major statewide races, voters in North Kingstown, Narragansett and South Kingstown skewed overwhelmingly blue in General Assembly races and all local school boards and town council races. With the results of Tuesday's midterm election all but finalized pending a few outstanding mail-in ballots and certification, it appears local boards of government in Southern Rhode Island towns will see a large number of familiar faces. With that in mind, do you believe your local town and school committee seats are held by the best representatives available in your town? Why or why not? Let us know in this week's poll question below. You voted: The magazine provides a general overview of the options available to foreign firms to sell to the online India... W S Industries India secures Rs200.55 crore order; Stock soars 4.9% W S Industries (India) Ltd has informed that Company has bagged an order worth Rs200.55 crore. As per the regulatory filing, the order is for the Construction of Integrated Bus Termi... November 15, 2022 | 10:27 am Fusion Microfinance debuts with discount of 2% at Rs 359 Non-Banking Financial Institution (NBFC) Fusion Microfinance opened at a minor discount of 2.44% to issue price on November 15, following a lower-than-expected subscription to its initial publi... November 15, 2022 | 10:09 am Kaynes Technology IPO receives 34 times subscription application Kaynes Technology India's Rs 858 crore public issue was subscribed 34 times on Monday, the final day of bidding. In contrast to the 10.5 million shares offered, offers for 357.6 million shares ... November 15, 2022 | 9:57 am Tera Software surges 2% on receiving Rs46 crore work order from Bharat Electronics Tera Software Limited has informed to the exchanges regarding receipt of work orders worth over Rs46 crore from Bharat Electronics. As per the regulatory filing, the Compa... November 15, 2022 | 9:53 am Markets trade flat amid volatility; Nifty above 18,350; Auto index positive contributor Indian markets witnessed volatility on Tuesday tracking mixed global cues as traders are nervous amid mixed signals from Fed officials on their next rate policy decision. However, in dome... November 15, 2022 | 9:39 am When Sabrina Tumlin-Ward was 17, she was the victim of a shooting. The bullets hit both of her knees, and though she recovered from the assault, the strain of working on her feet as a server in a restaurant continued to damage her body over time. By the age of 50, the injury was so severe that her doctor told her she should not continue her work. When your knee is messed up, your body overcompensates for it. It messes up your back, your hips, said Tumlin-Ward. In 2013, she moved from New York to Indiana to be closer to her fiance. While she was thankful for his support, aspects of the transition proved challenging. When I first came here, I was on a cane and barely mobile. Coming here, I was lost, said Tumlin-Ward. I had to start from scratch with finding doctors and programs I can work with as a disabled person. (AccessABILITY) helped me get a computer, and I found out about a home nursing aid. They got me in contact with the health care that I needed and different agencies that could help me. AccessABILITY is a disability rights organization that believes those individuals should maintain control over the decisions that affect their lives. The organization provides skills training, mentorship, assistive technology services and advocacy with the goal of equipping individuals with the tools to accomplish their own objectives. All of AccessABILITYs services are free to the public, and individuals seeking help only need to call their office. The staff of the organization view their work as more of a calling than a job. In fact, many of the employees and members of the governing board have disabilities themselves. Glenda Mark has worked for AccessABILITY as an advocate for about a year and a half. She currently assists Tumlin-Ward and 32 other individuals, helping them find housing, jobs, transportation and even get their marriage licenses. Its whatever they want their goals to be, thats what we work on. If there is something that we think they should be doing and they dont agree, we dont do it, said Mark. We work to keep them in their own community, in their own home, we keep them out of nursing facilities and institutions. We connect with lots of different organizations that will assist along with us. Derick Brady, director of community engagement for AccessABILITY, says a large percentage of people who contact them do so because of issues with housing. Trying to find people safe and affordable housing, especially accessible ones, thats our push right now. We are having a major issue finding housing, but we are submitting for a couple of grants and we want to use (a room in our office) to host housing searches on laptops, and we will staff it with different advocates to work with them, said Brady. Due to cuts in funding, the number of individuals AccessABILITY is able to serve has been reduced. Brady says there are more than 200,000 people in Marion and surrounding counties who identify as having a disability. According to the 2014 American Community Survey, 14 percent of people in Indiana have a disability. The organization currently has seven advocates each helping 40 to 60 consumers a year. Tumlin-Ward said her advocate has helped her deal with issues with her landlord when he refused to make a much-needed repair for months. Most importantly, her advocate was willing to listen to what she needed when no one else would. They ask you, What are your goals, what will it take for you to be happy and self sufficient? You tell them your dreams, and they help facilitate it, said Tumlin-Ward. I came here in 2013. Before them, I was on a walker; I was in the bed all the time in constant pain. I now go places, I am the secretary of my church; I have a life. When you are in a position that causes you pain, you will have psychological problems with it. When you give them your dream list, it pulls your depression down and brings up your self worth. The person I was in 2013, I dont know who that woman was, and I will never see her again. To learn more about AccessABILITY, visit abilityindiana.org or call (317) 926-1660. In response to the ongoing mismanaged lead crisis in East Chicago and the Trump administrations cuts to the EPA and environmental justice programs, NAACP Indiana, in partnership with Indiana State University and the Union of Concerned Scientists, kicks off Our Community Scientists initiative with a series of student and community lead testing trainings the week of Oct. 9. The Trump administration defunded EPA programs that test air and water quality in places like East Chicago. The agency also recently moved the Office of Environmental Justice internally to be closer to control of EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt a move advocates say is an attempt to politicize the offices work. It is becoming increasingly clear that communities like East Chicago will need to fight to protect their communities themselves. Their government cannot be trusted. Our Community Scientists helps community members rely less on political leaders who have failed them and more on each other. The initiative consists of free trainings, organized by the NAACP Indiana State Conference, and will teach community members how to conduct tests of water, soil and air. People will be able to have their dust samples (to test for air quality), soil and water tested on-site. The trainings will show how one community is standing up for justice and is taking steps to protect their families. Historic references are frequently used to comparatively illuminate the character of current persons and/or events. Recently I have been reminded of the saying, Nero fiddled while Rome burned! In truth, Nero didnt fiddle. He, in greatest likelihood, played a lyre, a stringed instrument best described as a hand-held harp. Important in this reference is not the description of a lyre. What is important is the lack of action of the Emperor Nero. Neros rule is associated with tyranny, corruption, extravagance, debauchery and emotional instability. He is most infamous for the executions of Agrippina, his mother, and Octavia, his wife. Several executions that he ordered were justified by false revisions of the truth, and yes, he was a known liar. Although some question its accuracy, many Romans are said to have believed that Nero started the Great Fire of Rome to clear space for his planned palatial complex his Golden House. To remove suspicion from himself, it is said that he blamed Christians for setting the fire and began brutally executing many of them. Whatever the truth of the matter is, contemporarily, Nero is dramatically depicted as a self-absorbed, narcissistic maniac. Now fate presents another catastrophe of the magnitude of the Great Fire of Rome Hurricane Maria. This storm, with strength and size rarely seen in this hemisphere, has devastated and fundamentally changed the history of Caribbean islands for decades. My heart and prayers go out to all affected by Hurricane Maria (and Hurricane Irma). Specific to current concerns are the 3.5 million-plus Americans on the islands of Puerto Rico, Vieques and the U.S. Virgin Islands that have been overwhelmed in the aftermath of Maria and who lack the immediate support and recovery assistance afforded hurricane victims in the Houston area and in Florida. Maria made landfall on Puerto Rico on Sept. 21. In its wake, the entire electrical grid was disabled and water service was cut off to 75 percent of the island. Widespread flooding and wind-blown debris disrupted access to towns and cities throughout the island. Cell towers were knocked down, and communication on the island is severely disabled. Hundreds of people have crowded the San Juan airport, where temperatures soar above 100 degrees, in hopes of securing a seat on an outbound airplane to relative safety. Of more than 60 hospitals on the island, only 11 are operational; others lack the electrical power necessary to provide adequate services. People line up before dawn to get the limited supplies of ice to preserve their food and fuel to power generators and other machinery. Yet, it took No. 45 seven days to relieve Puerto Rico from the Jones Act and eight days to direct enhanced support from the U.S. military. Lt. Gen. Russell Honore, who directed Katrina relief and recovery, has publicly criticized current relief efforts. It did not take Gen. Honore to address the fact that the U.S. military was the only single entity with the personnel resourced and trained to manage a catastrophe of this magnitude. He compares the 60,000 active duty and reserve soldiers assigned to the Katrina response to the inadequacy of the 5,000 assigned to relieve Puerto Rico. Broadcasters have suggested that it was not widely known that Puerto Ricans were Americans, too. That may be true, but I add that they are mostly Americans of color and speakers of the Spanish language. History has proven a standard of disparate treatment for persons so situated. Considering the lack-luster response of No. 45s administration to the tragedy in Puerto Rico, it is easy to draw parallels between him and Nero. In the midst of suffering, No. 45 has belatedly cast a blind eye on the needs of our island kin. We must not continue to accept or tolerate his neglect. Dr. E. Faye Williams is National President of the National Congress of Black Women Inc. and a contributor to TriceEdneyWire.com. Challenging and stressful are the words Kenneth Allen uses to describe being a Black man in America in 2017, where he feels everyday activities playing, praying, walking could easily cost him his life. I see stories of people doing simple things. Think about Tamir (Rice), who was playing in Cleveland, the Charleston Nine, who were praying at church. Think of Michael Brown, who was walking, he said. Allen, a native of Gary, Indiana, grew up in a poor, single-parent household and is now an accomplished entrepreneur passionate about improving the quality of life for African-American males in Indiana. Though the stresses of growing up Black in America played a role in his adolescence, being surrounded by Black male role models who were engaged in the community helped him find success despite difficulties. As a teen, he would travel to Indianapolis each year to attend a conference hosted by the Indiana Commission for the Social Status of Black Males (ICSSBM), and his interest in civic engagement grew. The ICSSBM was legislatively established in 1993 to study the social conditions of Black men in Indiana and recommend legislative policies that would be in their best interest. Today, Allen is chair of the ICSSBMs board and is working hard to equip community leaders with strategies to support Black males. ICSSBM will host its 17th Annual Black Males State Conference on Tuesday, Oct. 10, in the Indiana Government Center South. The theme for this years conference will be Black Males: Dare To Lead, and for the first time ever, the event will be free to the public. This conference is not exclusively for men; it is for those who are in positions of power to make policy, including elected officials, service providers, concerned citizens and agencies with the ability to serve African-American males, said Allen. If you are a teacher, we want you there. If you are over a social or civic organization, we want you there. We want to have healthy discussions on how we can work together on both sides of the aisle whether Democrat, Republican, independent, gay, straight, Christian, Muslim, whatever the case may be so that we can hopefully change the conditions for African-American males. James Garret, the executive director of the ICSSBM, says he wanted to make the event free to ensure that anyone who desires a seat at the table could take part in the much-needed conversation. How do you bring about effective change? Is that through protest? Is that through civic engagement, elections, the political process? Its important to have as many voices at the table as possible to find solutions and resolutions to the things that are going on, said Garret. The conference will focus on three topics: creating a trauma-informed community, Black males and poverty, and Black males and civic engagement. Minister Nuri Muhammad with the Muhammad Mosque will be the keynote speaker. Muhammad has traveled across the country and has ventured overseas, but he says no matter where he goes, he finds Black men facing unparalleled challenges. Minister Nuri Muhammad Right now, there are more Black males born than Black females, but by the time the two reach the age of 18 and you factor in homicides, suicides and incarcerations, Black females outnumber Black men, said Muhammad. We still are the last hired and the first fired, and we live in a society where the social and political structures are opposed to Black peoples rights in general and Black males in specific. We have a hard journey and battle we need to fight as a Black man. The minister views the struggles Black men face through divine lenses and says improving the quality of life for Black men should be on the agendas of all people of faith. From a spiritual standpoint, both the Bible and Holy Quran tell us that every human is born on purpose for a purpose. The Holy Quran says I, Allah, created you in the womb of your mother. In the Bible, in the book of Jeremiah, God says I knew you before you were in the womb of your mother and I formed you in the womb. So, to be born a Black man in America is a matter of divine selection from a supreme being, and once you understand that concept, whatever challenges that come with being that, you accept it as part of the divine obstacle to make you into a better person. Allen hopes the ICSSBM conference will provide both inspiration and information while rejuvenating the publics passion for the cause. Sometimes people who are part of this movement, and part of this struggle, can get worn out, discouraged and can want to give up in fear of things not changing, said Allen. I hope people who come take away the opportunity to be inspired, to get engaged. For more information on the ICSSBM, visit in.gov/icssbm. Attendees gather at a previous ICSSBM conference regarding black male youth. 2017 MARC Conference The Midwest Annual Reformation Conference with the theme Last Things A View of Revelations will convene at New Life Community Church Oct. 1315. Services begin Oct. 13 at 7 p.m. Services and workshops on Oct. 14 begin at 9 a.m., and lunch will be included. The conferences final day starts at 9 a.m. All services will be held at New Life Community Church, 1500 W. 86th St., in Indianapolis. Registration for the conference is free. Three nationally renowned speakers have been invited to share their knowledge of the Word of God: Pastor Victor Sholar, of Main Street Baptist Church in Lexington, Kentucky; Rev. Ken Jones, of Glendale Missionary Baptist Church in Miami; and Dr. Jarvis Williams, associate professor of New Testament Interpretation at Southern Seminary in Louisville. Positioned To Prosper On Oct. 14 from 14 p.m., Authentic Identity Institute will hold an authors open house at Indiana Wesleyan University, 3777 Priority Way S., in Indianapolis. Positioned to Prosper is a book collaboratively written by 12 men and women who have answered the call to share their testimonies, encouragement and love with the world. Guests can visit with and have their books signed by all 12 authors. There is no fee or requirement to purchase the books. To learn more about the publication, visit authenticinstitute.com/aicbookprojects. Blessing Of The Animals Faith Presbyterian Church in Indianapolis will hold its yearly Blessing of the Animals event on Oct. 8 from 56 p.m. at 8710 Hague Road. The event honors the relationships we share with our pets, names our companions and encourages us to care for those who share our homes and hearts. The ceremony includes readings, prayer and individual blessings for pets in attendance. Following, pets and owners are invited to mingle and enjoy snacks. Tickets are limited to 50 pets. Humans may bring companions, bring photos of pets who prefer to stay home or just come to be part of the blessing. For safety, all pets should be on a leash or in a crate. Humans may bring seating if they would like. Prayers will begin at 5 p.m. on the west lawn of the church. Attendees are free to come and go as they or their companions require. A 31-year-old employee of a public broadcaster in Japan reportedly died due to stress from overworking. Also read: Delhi, Mumbai & Bengaluru Have Highest Prime Office Yields Among 34 International Cities Miwa Sado, who used to work at NHK logged in 159 extra hours of work in a month and only took two days off, which lead to her demise from heart failure in 2013. The details of her death were released by her previous employer this week. Unsplash.com As a result, authorities in Japan are now on the radar. Several other cases of similar cases have come out in public. Another 24-year-old woman, Matsuri Takahashi, killed herself in April 2015 due to painfully long hours at work. She used to work with Dentsu advertising agency. Also read: This Woman Was Taped To A Wall In Her Office For Driving Without A Seat Belt To Work I want to die. Another message read: Im physically and mentally shattered. Takahashi shared on her Facebook page. Unsplash.com Japan maintains this stupid belief that long work hours represent productivity, which is why many are forced and expected to work extra hours. Also read: After 20-Years, Girl Tracks Down Police Officer Who Helped Her Survive A Troubled Childhood Their government is now planning to put the cap at 100 extra hours only, and will penalize organizations who do not abide by the rule. This is imperative for a country where one in five workers are at the risk of death from overwork. Unsplash.com Last year, over 2,000 people killed themselves because of similar stress and one can only imagine how it will escalate in the future. Catalonia will move on Monday to declare independence from Spain following its banned referendum as the European Union nation nears a rupture that threatens the foundations of its young democracy. Mireia Boya, a Catalan lawmaker from the pro-independence Popular Unity Candidacy (CUP) party, said on Twitter that a declaration of independence would follow a parliamentary session on Monday to evaluate the results of the Oct. 1 vote to break away. AP "We know that there may be disbarments, arrests ... But we are prepared, and in no case will it be stopped," she said. Catalan President Carles Puigdemont said earlier he would ask the region's parliament to declare independence following the poll, which Spain's government and constitutional court say was illegal and in which only a minority of Catalans voted. "This will probably finish once we get all the votes in from abroad at the end of the week and therefore we shall probably act over the weekend or early next week," he told the BBC in remarks published on Wednesday. In an interview with German newspaper Bild, Puigdemont said he already felt like "a president of a free country where millions of people have made an important decision". He said the Madrid government's refusal to negotiate had left Catalonia "no other way" than to declare independence and he accused it of authoritarianism. "The Spanish government is letting political opponents be arrested, it is influencing media and blocking Internet sites. We are under observation day and night," Puigdemont said. "What is that other than an authoritarian state?" Spain was only restored to democracy following the death in 1975 of military dictator Francisco Franco, under whom the Catalan language and traditions were suppressed. The EU executive called again on Wednesday for the Spanish government and Catalan authorities to open a dialogue. "It's time to talk," the European Commission's deputy head, Frans Timmermans, told the European Parliament. The constitutional crisis in Spain, the euro zone's fourth-biggest economy, has shaken the common currency and hit Spanish stocks and bonds, sharply raising Madrid's borrowing costs, which rose to their highest since March on Wednesday. AFP The cost of insuring against potential losses on Spanish bank debt and Spanish, Italian and Portuguese sovereign debt has also jumped, suggesting an impact on the wider euro zone. Bank stocks were hit especially hard as the Ibex stock index fell below 10,000 points on Wednesday for the first time since March 2015. In a sign of the nervous public mood, Catalonia's biggest bank, Caixabank, and Spain's economy minister had earlier sought to assure bank customers that their deposits were safe. Influential Catalan business lobby Cercle d'Economia said it was extremely worried by the prospect of Catalonia declaring independence and appealed to both sides to start talks. "Such a declaration would plunge the country into an extraordinarily complex situation with unknown, but very serious consequences," the group said in a statement. Evening Statement Puigdemont's comments appeared after Spain's King Felipe VI accused secessionist leaders on Tuesday of shattering democratic principles and dividing Catalan society, as tens of thousands protested against a violent police crackdown on Sunday's vote. The Catalan leader was due to make a statement at 9 p.m. (1900 GMT) on Wednesday. AFP Left-wing party Podemos proposed that the Spanish and Catalan governments sit down to agree on a mediator to help find a solution to the standoff but this idea was quickly rejected by the Madrid government. Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy thanked Podemos leader Pablo Iglesias for his proposal in talks on Wednesday but told him that Puigdemont had to give up the idea of unilaterally declaring independence, a government source said.. "That is not negotiable. You can't deal with people who plan to blackmail the state so brutally," the source said. In a sign that Spanish police reinforcements sent to Catalonia might be there for an extended stay, an army logistics unit sent bunkbeds, kitchens and showers to an army barracks near Barcelona in case the police need to use the military base at some point, a Ministry of Defence spokesman said. Some police staying at hotels in Catalonia have come under pressure from local residents to leave. AFP Spain has been jolted by the Catalan vote and the Spanish police response to it, with batons and rubber bullets used to prevent people voting. Hundreds were injured in scenes that brought international condemnation. Catalans came out onto the streets on Tuesday to condemn the police action, shutting down traffic, public transport and businesses, and stoking fears about intensifying unrest in a region that makes up one-fifth of the Spanish economy. Road closures related to the protests briefly halted production at Volkswagen's Catalonia plant. Stoppages also affected production at Nestle's instant coffee plant in Girona. "As a businessman, as a Spaniard and as a person, I am very worried and I am scared by what's going on (in Catalonia)," said Juan Roig, chairman of Spain's biggest food retailer Mercadona. "Irresponsible Behaviour" Rajoy, a conservative who has taken a hard line on Catalan independence, faces a huge challenge to see off the issue without further unrest and potential damage to his minority government. Pro-independence parties that control the Catalan government staged the referendum in defiance of a Constitutional Court ruling that the vote violated Spain's 1978 constitution, which states that the country is indivisible. AP Catalonia has its own language and culture and a political movement for secession that has strengthened in recent years. Participants in the referendum opted overwhelmingly for independence, but turnout was only about 43 percent given that Catalans who favour remaining part of Spain mainly boycotted the ballot. Outside Catalonia, most Spaniards appear strongly opposed to its independence drive. In his televised address, the king said the "irresponsible behaviour" of the Catalan leaders had undermined social harmony in the region. "Today Catalan society is fractured and in conflict," he said. "They (the Catalan leaders) have infringed the system of legally approved rules with their decisions, showing an unacceptable disloyalty towards the powers of the state." Opinion polls conducted before the vote suggested a minority of around 40 percent of residents in Catalonia backed independence. But a majority wanted a referendum to be held, and the violent police crackdown angered Catalans across the divide. The 7th International Platinum Conference is to be held in Polokwane, Limpopo, South Africa in October 2017. The Platinum conference series has covered a range of themes since inception in 2004, and traditionally addresses the opportunities and challenges facing the platinum Industry. This prestigious event attracts key role players and industry leaders through: High quality technical papers and presentations Facilitating industry networking Having large, knowledgeable audiences Global participation, and Comprehensive support from industry role players. The Platinum 2017 Conference will be held in association with the Precious Metals Development Network (PMDN) of the DSTs Advanced Metals initiative (AMI Conference 2017) The AMI conference presents a forum where scientists and technologists can come together to learn and discuss the latest advances in precious metals (platinum group metals and gold) science and technology. The 2017 event will, under the guidance of the organising committee, structure a programme which covers critical aspects of this continually evolving and exciting industry. A tripartite partnership of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Seymour Aviation and Fidelity Bank, have given birth to a 1,300 vehicle car park at the Lagos airport. A new ultra-modern multi-storey car park that can accommodate 1, 300 vehicles yesterday opened at the international wing of Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA) in Lagos. The new automated car park was a product of a tripartite partnership of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Seymour Aviation and Fidelity Bank. The six-storey building is fitted with modern conveniences, executive lounges, meeting rooms and ablution areas. According to the Managing Director of Seymour Aviation, Mr. Francis Ikenga, the project was designed to provide comfort to airport users. We consider where people can park their cars and just work straight to the airport. So even if there is rain, there is no rain, there is sun, there is no sun, you are completely shielded from the effect of bad weather. Managing Director of FAAN, Engr. Saleh Dunoma represented by Director of Engineering Services, Engr. Salisu Daura said the agency was keen on fostering partnerships that would enhance passengers experiences at the airport. On his part, the Deputy Managing Director of Fidelity Bank, Mr. Mohammed Balarabe said the new car park would serve airport users looking forward to world class facility. This, he said, informs the decision of Fidelity to support the project. The ongoing enforcement at the inland waterways transport laws is meant to stop boat accidents often caused by illegal operations, this was announced by the Lagos State government. The Managing Director of the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA), Mr. Oluwadamilola Emmanuel, said illegal jetties and boat operators would no longer have space in the state. He said, The enforcement is going to be an ongoing thing because we constantly have people who are going to default. LASWA has been going round the state to close illegal jetties. Emmanuel added that the government was working to improve the sector for optimal performance. He said LASWA would also ensure that safety was not compromised on waterways. He said, The safety of boat passengers is beyond wearing of life jackets. It is important to also ensure that the jetty or boat operator put other necessary safety measures in place before embarking on any journey. One should take note of the quality of the jetty and whether it is a state approved jetty; one should also check the state of the life jacket before getting on a boat. Then, check who captain of the boat is. Emmanuel said that the government would soon create 30 additional routes across the state to boost intermodal transport. He said the state currently had 26 jetties spread across the 20 local government areas with water guard corps stationed in the jetties to ensure safety. Source: ( Punch Newspaper) The Zone 2 Police Command, Onikan, Lagos have arrested a food seller in Ogijo, identified as Sunday Ogbonna, at Mosimi-Likosi area of Ogun State. It was gathered that Sunday was taken to court after he allegedly refused to pay N100,000 bail sum demanded by some operatives of the zone. It was gathered that Sunday was detained by the commands Zonal Intervention Squad, Ladegboye Base, Ikorodu, on Sunday, 17 months after he was first arrested for buying a stolen goat by another set of policemen allegedly from the Lagos State Police Command. It was learnt that an unidentified man had sold the goat to Sunday sometime in March 2016. The following day, the policemen allegedly from Lagos command reportedly stormed Sundays shop and arrested him for buying a stolen goat. Sundays wife, Calister Ogbonna, said her husband explained to the operatives that he was not aware that the goat was stolen. She added that the policemen later collected almost N200,000 for bail and to settle the case. Calister said, We run three canteens in Ogijo and we buy goats on a daily basis. I was at the shop with my husband on that day when a man brought a goat to sell. Policemen came the next day and said my husband bought a stolen goat. They seized all the goats they saw outside the shop. They asked him to give them money to fuel their vehicle so they could leave him. They demanded N50,000. He begged them, but they beat him up and insisted that he must pay the money. My husband went inside to bring the money and a policeman followed him. He wanted to give the policeman N50,000 from a bag containing N130,000, but the policeman snatched the bag from him. I told the policeman that he had taken all the money we had and he eventually gave me N5,000 for the upkeep of my children until my husband would be back. He also gave me his phone number. They took him to their station in Ikorodu. I cant remember the name of the station, but I know the place. The following day, I went to the station to secure his bail. They demanded another N60,000. After much pleading, they collected N40,000. We told them that we didnt want embarrassment again and they promised to let go of the matter. We did not see any complainant and the seized goats were not returned. The policeman, who dropped his phone number to the woman, was later identified as Christopher. He was said to be presently serving in the Zonal Intervention Squad. Calisters said when she thought the dust had settled on the case, some operatives of the Zonal Intervention Squad invaded their residence in Oremeji Omoleye, Ogijo on October 1, 2017, to re-arrest Sunday. She said the policemen scaled the gate to gain entry and went away with four goats on the premises. She said, My husband and I were in the church that morning. When I returned home, I learnt that some policemen came. Our second child said the policemen asked her to open the gate, but she refused because we had warned her and her siblings not to open the gate for strangers. She said one of the policemen scaled the fence and started shooting. They went away with a big goat and three small ones. I went to the shop and was told that the policemen came. They went away with a pot of soup. After some minutes, they returned the pot of soup and arrested me. They locked me up in a cell. My husband later came to their station. They released me and detained my husband. They brought out a man and asked my husband to identify him. He said he was the man who sold a goat to him in March 2016, which led to his arrest. They asked the man if he had seen my husband again after selling that goat, he said no. I challenged a policeman (Christopher) who was a member of the team that handled the matter in 2016, but he said I should be calm. He asked me to settle so my husband could be released. On Monday, I called my relative who is a policeman. He sent one Fola to me at the ZIS office. The woman met with the Investigating Police Officer in charge of the case, Tobi. After their discussion, the woman asked me to raise N20,000 so that we could leave the station. Fola left to see the IPO and she came back to tell me that the IPO declined the money, adding that he said N100,000 was even too small. I told her that we did not have such amount and she left in anger. The mother of six children stated that she approached the IPO, but he insisted that she should get money to secure Sundays bail. She said Tobi scolded her for reporting the matter to human rights activists. He said he had received a lot of calls from people on the case. His boss asked me to get a surety for my husbands bail. That evening, I got a surety, Mr. Ekpe. They delayed us till around 10pm. They said they had closed and asked us to come back by 10am today (Wednesday). When we got there, they said he had been arraigned before a magistrates court in Sagamu, she added. In the charge sheet, the police accused Sunday of receiving five she-goats valued at N75,000 which belonged to a good citizen of Ogun State. Meanwhile, the National Coordinator of Network on Police Reform in Nigeria, Mr. Okechukwu Nwanguma, who intervened in the case, said he had petitioned the Officer-in-Charge of Zone 2, AIG Adamu Ibrahim, on the conduct of the officers. He added, The conduct of the officers is criminal and malicious. They are not interested in investigating crime, but simply hiding under the pretext of investigating crime to commit crime, intimidate and extort money from accused persons. Sensing that their real criminal intentions have been exposed, they thought of charging the man to court as a cover-up strategy. NOPRIN also calls on the IGP to look into this case of gross police misconduct and brazen corruption and to use the officers involved to demonstrate how serious he is with his anti-corruption campaigns. The spokesperson for the zone, SP Dolapo Badmus, said, The case has been taken to court. There is no truth in the allegation. Source: ( Punch Newspaper ) According to reports, the British Prime Minister Theresa May is not considering resigning, Sky news reported on Thursday, citing her Downing Street office. Downing Street: Resignation is not an issue, Sky said on its screen. The Prime Ministers Spokesman, did not comment on the report. Mays bid to reassert her dwindling authority was ruined on Wednesday when her keynote speech was interrupted by repeated coughing fits, a prankster, and even letters of her slogan falling off the set behind her. Source: ( PM News ) A young lady has been nabbed by the operatives of Nigerian Police for her alleged involvement in cultism, just 24 hours to her wedding introduction in Abeokuta, Ogun State. Barely 24 hours to her proposed wedding introduction in Abeokuta, a woman identified as Bose Christopher, has been arrested by the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS), during the initiation of cult members in a hotel. According to the Police, she had gone to the initiation ceremony with a boyfriend when she was arrested alongside other suspected cultists. While speaking with journalists on Wednesday while being paraded alongside 30 other members of the cult group at the police headquarters, Eleweran in Abeokuta she said; It is true, I went with my boyfriend to the party and it is also true that my wedding introduction was scheduled to hold the following day I went to the ceremony with my boyfriend, she said. Miss Christopher denied being a member of the cult group or knowing that her boyfriend, who she claimed she started a relationship with two weeks earlier, was a cultist. I met him (boyfriend) about two weeks ago and I never knew he is a cult member. He just called me after I closed from the shop to join him at the party, she said. The suspect who claimed to be a fashion designer, also disclosed that her intended husband had since stopped communicating with her since her arrest by the police. The police also paraded 35 suspects for offences ranging from armed robbery, impersonation, kidnapping to rituals. The Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Ilyasu, while parading the suspects on Wednesday, disclosed that they were arrested at different locations in the state, adding that a number of exhibits which include arms and ammunition, snatched vehicles, military uniforms and human parts were recovered from the suspects. The police boss said the suspects would be charge to court without any delay after police investigations. Veteran Entertainer and covener of the Resume or Resign protests,Charles Oputa, popularly called Charlyboy, has dragged the Nigeria Police to court. The suit before the FCT High Court in Maitama, Abuja accused the police of harassing him and members of the OurMumuDonDo campaign, and Concerned Nigerians group during the #ResumeOrResign protests. In the lawsuit against the Federal Capital Territory Police Command, and the commissioner of police for FCT, Charlyboy is seeking N500 million in damages over the infringement of his fundamental rights . Charly Boy, 66, is demanding a letter of apology published in five national dailies. The veteran musician is also seeking an injunction restraining the commissioner and the Nigeria Police Force from further interfering with or violating his fundamental rights to dignity of the human person, freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association. Recall that the Police had attacked Charly Boy with water cannons, teargas canisters on protesters who were asking that President Muhammadu Buhari either resumes duty or resign his position as the countrys leader. source: Stargist Residents of Bayelsa State will have more to worry about than the present state of the country, as a deadly viral epidemic known as monkeypox has broken out in the state. It was authoritatively learnt that a medical doctor and 10 persons, who came down with the monkeypox had been quarantined in an isolation centre at the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital, Okolobiri in the Yenagoa Local Government Area of the state. The isolation centre was reportedly created by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and the epidemiological team of the states Ministry of Health to check the spread of the virus. The NCDC and the epidemiological team were said to be tracking 49 other persons, who were said to have come in contact with persons who were infected with the virus. The state Commissioner for Health, Prof. Ebitimitula Etebu, confirmed the development, saying that samples of the virus had been sent to the World Health Organisation laboratory in Dakar, Senegal for confirmation. He described monkeypox as a viral illness caused by a group of viruses that include chicken pox and small pox, adding that the first case was noticed in the Democratic Republic of Congo with subsequent outbreaks in the West African region. The commissioner explained that the virus had the Central African and the West African types, saying that the West African type is milder and has no records of mortality. Etebu stated, Recently in Bayelsa State, we noticed a suspected outbreak of monkeypox. It has not been confirmed. We have sent samples to the World Health Organisation reference laboratory in Dakar, Senegal. When that comes out we will be sure that it is confirmed. But from all indications, it points towards it. As the name implies, the virus was first seen in monkey, but can also be found in all bush animals such as rats, squirrels and antelopes. The source is usually all animals. It was first seen in monkeys and that is why it is called monkeypox. But every bush animals such as rats, squirrels, antelopes are involved. So, the secretions from particularly dead animals are highly contagious. He listed the symptoms of monkeypox as severe headache, fever, back pains amongst other symptoms, noting that most worrisome of all the signs were rashes bigger than those caused by chicken pox. The commissioner said the rashes were usually frightening and usually spread to the whole body of an infected person. Speaking on the Bayelsa case, Etebu stated, We noticed the first index case from Agbura where somebody was purported to have killed and eaten a monkey and after that the people who are his neighbours and family members started developing the rashes. We have seen cases from as far as Biseni. We invited the NCDC together with our own epidemiological team from the Bayelsa Ministry of Health. We have been able to trace most of the people who have come in contact with the patients. So far, we have 10 patients and we have created an isolation centre at the NDUTH and most of them are on admission and we are following up the 49 cases that we are suspecting may come down with the illness. As a state we are taking care of all the expenses of all the isolated cases. The disease has an incubation period and it is also self-limiting in the sense that within two to four weeks, you get healed and it confers you with immunity for life. We have mobilised virtually every arsenal at our disposal in terms of sensitising the general public and making them aware by radio programmes, jingles and fliers. Also, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control has mobilised fully to Bayelsa State. We are on top of the situation. The only thing I will tell the general public is to observe hand hygiene and ensure they dont come in contact with dead animals and their secretions. The disease is airborne too. So, it is very infectious. People should wash their hands whenever they go in or come out of their houses. If they touch with animals, they should ensure that they wash their hands. They should be very vigilant. People should report any similar cases to the relevant authorities. A lot of people have come down with the symptoms but they are hiding in their houses. If they hide, there is the propensity for the infection to spread. It is better to quarantine them and treat them so that we can interrupt the spread of the disease. People should be calm and they shouldnt get frightened. The state has distributed personal protective equipment to workers and they are using them. Source: ( Punch Newspaper) Bayelsa, Niger Delta part of Nigeria is dealing with an outbreak of Monkeypox which has called for the urgent response of the government. Fear has gripped the residents of Bayelsa State as a deadly viral epidemic known as monkeypox has broken out in the state, According to the World Health Organisation, monkeypox is a rare disease that occurs primarily in remote parts of Central and West Africa, near tropical rainforests. The monkeypox virus can cause a fatal illness in humans and, although it is similar to human smallpox which has been eradicated, it is much milder, WHO says. It was authoritatively learnt that a medical doctor and 10 persons who came down with the monkeypox had been quarantined in an isolation centre at the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital, Okolobiri, in Yenagoa Local Government Area of the state. The isolation centre was reportedly created by the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control and the epidemiological team of the states Ministry of Health to control the spread of the virus. The NCDC and the epidemiological team were said to be tracking 49 other persons who were said to have come in contact with persons who were already infected. The state Commissioner for Health, Prof. Ebitimitula Etebu, confirmed the development, saying that samples of the virus had been sent to the World Health Organisation laboratory in Dakar, Senegal, for confirmation. He described monkeypox as a viral illness caused by a group of viruses that include chicken pox and smallpox, adding that the first case was noticed in the Democratic Republic of Congo and subsequent outbreaks in West African region. The commissioner explained that the virus has the Central African and the West African types, saying that the the West African type is milder and has no records of mortality. Etebu stated, Recently in Bayelsa State, we noticed a suspected outbreak of monkeypox. It has not been confirmed. We have sent samples to the World Health Organisations reference laboratory in Dakar, Senegal. When that comes out, we will be sure that it is confirmed. But from all indications, it points towards it. As the name implies, the virus was first seen in monkey, but can also be found in all bush animals such as rats, squirrels and antelopes. The source is usually all animals. It was first seen in monkeys and that is why it is called monkeypox. But every bush animals such as rats, squirrels, and antelopes are involved. So, the secretions from particularly dead animals are highly contagious. He listed the symptoms of monkeypox as severe headache, fever, back pains, etc., noting that most worrisome of all the signs are rashes bigger than those caused by chicken pox. The commissioner said the rashes are usually frightening and usually spread to the entire body of infected persons. Speaking on the Bayelsa case, Etebu stated, We noticed the first index case from Agbura, where somebody was purported to have killed and eaten a monkey and after that, the people who are neighbours and families started developing the rashes. We have seen cases from as far as Biseni. We invited the NCDC together with our own epidemiological team from the Bayelsa Ministry of Health. We have been able to trace most of the people who have come in contact with the patients. So far, we have 10 patients and we have created an isolation centre at the NDUTH and most of them are on admission and we are following up the 49 cases that we are suspecting might come down with the illness. As a state, we are taking care of all the expenses of all the isolated cases. The disease has an incubation period and it is also self-limiting in the sense that within two to four weeks, you get healed and it confers you with immunity for life. We have mobilised virtually every arsenal at our disposal in terms of sensitising the general public and making them aware by radio programmes, jingles and fliers. So, the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control has mobilised fully to Bayelsa State. We are on top of the situation. The only thing I will tell the general public is to observe hand hygiene and ensure they dont come in contact with dead animals and their secretions. The disease is air-borne too. So when you come down with it, it is very infectious. People should wash their hands whenever they go in or come out of their houses. If they come in touch with animals, they should ensure that they wash their hands. They should be very vigilant. People should report any similar cases to the relevant authorities. A lot of people have come down with the symptoms, but they are hiding in their houses. If they hide, there is the propensity for the infection to spread. It is better to quarantine them and treat them so that we can interrupt the spread of the disease. People should be calm and they shouldnt get frightened. The state has distributed personal protective equipment to workers and they are using them. The General Overseer of the Mountain of Liberation and Miracle Ministries a.k.a Liberation City has broken his silence over the on going Biafra agitation in the South East of Nigeria and the military exercise code named Python Dance 2 or Egwu Eke 2. The renowned man of God who is today regarded as one of Africas most accurate and revered prophets is known to always bare his mind whenever he senses a leading of the Holy Spirit. He spoke from the headquarters of his thriving ministry in the Ojodu area of Lagos. At the grande finale of an annual worldwide program of the church known as Not My Head, Not My Blood on Sunday, October the 1st, 2017, the man of God felicitated with Nigeria on her Independence Day Celebration and prayed for Peace and Unity. But he warned that no one ever achieves lasting peace and unity through the barrels of the gun. On the on going Operation Egwu Eke 2 in the South East of Nigeria, the fiery man of God known always for his unrivaled prophetic accuracy and point blankness on national issues declared that its unfair for the Nigerian government to deploy the full weight of the military in the manner they did, to quell the secessionist agitations of the IPOB members and in fact the people of that region. According to Dr. Okafor our Government needs to learn how to resolve issues with dialogue. No amount of time or resources expended towards dialogue is a waste. This is not 1967. Anybody who thinks that they can kill an agitation like Biafra with force is truly living in fools paradise. It can never happen! Biafra is a spirit. Wasnt it Ojukwu who started it? Hes gone but Biafra is still here. You cant kill a spirit with guns and arrows, not even with a nuclear bomb. If Ojukwus exit did not kill the agitation, how can any human being think or believe that Nnamdi Kanus exit will kill the agitation. As a matter of fact, more people have now joined the agitation and mark my words, worst people than Nnamdi Kanu will soon emerge-they are already there and nobody knows how peaceful those ones will be. We should behave like a 21st century constitutional entity and stop using force to do everything. Dialogue is the only way out and the Government of the day must take advantage now! he declared. Continuing he said for instance, when I heard that ipob was proscribed, classified as a terrorist organization, I had a big gasp. What terrorist organization?! They were duly registered, they havent beheaded anybody, they havent gone about killing people everywhere, they are known largely as a peaceful movement. I couldnt just reconcile that proscription with what all of us have known ipob to be over the years. These kinds of things are the reason there are agitations in the first place. Today we have the Kurds in Iraq pushing for referendum, the English speaking area of cameroun pushing as well, the Catalonians, etc. Nigeria is not the only place where people have ever agitated or are agitating for self rule. Its going on all over the world. Non of those organizations that are leading the agitations have been labeled terrorist organizations. Even the United States, the European Union, etc have also been shocked by this bizarre proscription. What is wrong with us? I think they should start talks immediately for Restructuring and Referendum if possible to lay all these to rest before it is too late. Going further he says, im in no way advocating for the dismemberment of Nigeria and everyone who knows me knows my position on that, but I repeat, if Nigeria does not put its acts together, this thing will blow up in her face and no amount of force can stop the outcome. According to the man of God I see a situation where there was an escalation and there was bloodshed everywhere. Im talking about the kind of bloodshed that even the Government couldnt handle and everyone was involved. Its going to be a nationwide thing, not just for the people in the South East or South South. See, im not a prophet of doom, but when God speaks, we must speak out also, no matter how people feel about it. I see a very black day for Nigeria if the government doesnt immediately arrest this ugly situation that has led to agitations here and there. And I hope those concerned are listening. In closing, the fiery preacher declared, let us keep praying for the country, because if we dont pray, we will all share from what is to come. We must pray in particular that God should give our leaders the wisdom to steer the ship of State in the right direction. Wisdom, the bible says, is profitable to direct. Source: Linda Ikejis blog The immediate past First Lady of Nigeria, Mrs Patience Jonathan, has filed a N2billion suit against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. Patience Jonathan, the wife of former President Goodluck Jonathan, has dragged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, before the Federal High Court in Abuja, demanding N2billion as general damages/compensation for the violation of her fundamental rights. A report by Vanguard shows that the former first lady is praying the court to declare that incessant harassment she has suffered in the hands of the EFCC, through negative media publications, denigrating and degrading her person as corrupt, without any invitation by the anti-graft agency, trial or conviction by a court of competent jurisdiction, amounted to gross violation of her rights under Section 37 of the 1999 Constitution. She equally wants, A declaration that indiscriminate freezing of her bank accounts and those of her relatives by the EFCC under the guise of investigation of proceeds of crime, without any invitation or interrogation by the respondent is a violation of her rights to own property and to fair hearing guaranteed under Sections 44 and 36(1) of the 1999 Constitution. A declaration that the invasion, breaking into and ransacking of the applicants family property by the agents of the respondent in the absence of the applicant or any member of her family, while purporting to be executing a search warrant is a violation of the applicants fundamental human rights to private and family life guaranteed under the provisions of Section 37 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended). A declaration that the incessant harassment of the applicant by the respondent on the ground of her political views expressed by reason of her being a member of the opposition party in Nigeria, is a violation of the applicants fundamental human right to freedom from discrimination, guaranteed under Section 42 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended). As well as, An order of court restraining the respondent, whether by itself, its agents, privies or any person acting on its behalf from further violating the applicants fundamental rights adumbrated above. The suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/586/2017, was supported by a 21-paragraph affidavit dated June 30 and deposed to by one Sammie Somiari. The affidavit disclosed that the applicant had on January 4, 2017, directed her lawyers to file a rights enforcement suit at the Federal High Court Port-Harcourt, marked FHC/PH/FHR/17/2017 against the EFCC. Mrs. Jonathan told the court that while parties had joined issues in the suit, the EFCC continued to violate her fundamental rights by invading and sealing up some of her properties in Abuja, including a property belonging to her Non-Governmental Organisation. She said that based on continuous violation of her rights, especially with respect to the properties in Abuja, she instructed her lawyers to withdraw suit no FHC/PH/FHR/17/2017, pending in Port-Harcourt and file the instant suit. Mrs Jonathan told the court that before her husband joined politics sometime in 1998, she had a private business she was managing. She said that between 1999 and 2015, while her husband climbed the political ladder from being the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State till he became the President of Nigeria, she continued to run her private businesses even though she was at various times the first lady of Bayelsa State and that of Nigeria. She said that when her husband was in office as the President, between 2012 and 2013, she had some health challenges that necessitated her going abroad for treatment and later surgeries. Because of the challenges of having to travel with substantial cash for her medical treatment and the need not to contravene the Nigerian Law or any other law on money laundering, she sought for opinion of the then Acting Chairman of the EFCC, Mr Ibrahim Lamorde, who advised her to obtain credit cards from her banks. It was based on the advice of Lamorde, that Mrs Jonathan invited her banks and informed them of her desire to obtain credit cards. That on the 22nd of March, 2013, she opened 5 different accounts in Skye Bank Plc and credit cards were issued in respect of the said accounts. On one of her medical trips abroad, her Debit Visa Card with Skye Bank Plc stopped functioning as she could not pay her medical bills with the said card. Upon her return to Nigeria, she made enquiries through Skye Bank as to what happened to her Debit Card. That her enquiries revealed that it was the Respondent (the EFCC) that placed a No Debit Order on the said account and four others. She said the Commission later told her lawyers that the accounts were subject of money laundering investigations. The applicant told the court that EFCC, in its determined bid to make life unbearable for her, applied and secured an order from Justice Binta Nyako of the high court, freezing not only her accounts, but also the ones belonging to her late mother, Mama Sisi Charity Oba. The Respondent has demonstrated a pathological dislike for the Applicant as the activities of the operatives of the Respondent overlook the fact that the Applicant was never a political office holder. The investigation into the operations of her pet project, NGO when she was first lady is an unprecedented act of animorsity against her as none of her project was funded by the government at any level, the affidavit further read. She maintained that unless it is restrained by the court, EFCC would continue to harrass her, adding that the agency waged a psychological war on her by its incessant threats of arrest of her relations, such as Mrs. Esther Oba, Tamunotonye Oba and her elder brother, Mr. Aseminaso Nyengierefaka. The Applicant said she was being harassed and persecuted by EFCC because of her political views which she had expressed as a member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, during the 2015 Presidential election campaign. Meanwhile, the suit which was anchored on Order 2 Rule 1 of the Fundamental Rights Enforcement Procedure Rules 2009 and Sections 34(1), 36(1), 37, 42 and 44 of 1999 Constitution as amended, has been assigned to Justice John Tsoho who has fixed it for hearing on November 16. A man is being dragged to pay for his alleged callousness after he dumped a woman he collected as much as N1.9 million to marry. Mr Ebuka Okeke, a 29-year old man, has been arrested and charged before a Lagos court for allegedly obtaining N1.9m from a single lady identified as Ogochukwu Ogbuehi under the false pretence that he will marry her but dumped her thereafter. P. M. Express reports that apart from obtaining the money, Okeke brought a baked cake and made her take an oath that she will not tell anyone that he collected the said money to marry her. The incident happened between March and July this year at the Iyana Ipaja area of Lagos where the suspect and the complainant reside. The suspect also went to the victims shop and drank assorted drinks worth N20,000 without paying at the same period. However, it turned out that it was a scam and ploy Okeke used to obtain money from her as he did not fulfill his own side of the bargain. Ogochukwu waited for Okeke to come and perform the marriage rites as they agreed but he was not forthcoming. She asked to know why he had not fulfilled his promise and he gave flimsy excuses. The lady then demanded for her money but he refused giving her back. The matter was reported to the Police at Area M Command, Idimu. Okeke was then arrested and taken to the Command for interrogation. It was gathered that Okeke admitted that he collected the said amount from her and also promised to marry her. He said he found it difficult to convince his family to accept the lady because she was far older than him. He also explained that he had spent the money and asked to be given time to pay her in bits. Okeke was charged before the Ejigbo Magistrates court for obtaining under false pretence and placing the victim under false oath. He pleaded not guilty and the presiding Magistrate, Mr Akeem Fashola granted him bail in the sum of N50,000 with two sureties in like sum. He was remanded in prison custody pending when he will perfect the bail condition and the matter was further adjourned till 18th of October, 2017. President Muhammadu Buhari is yet to clear the air about the allegations of a tune of N9 trillion naira at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation ( NNPC ), more than 24 hours after leakage of an internal memo which detailed the allegation. Presidential spokespersons, Femi Adesina and Garba Shehu, did not pick or return calls, or respond to text messages on the matter despite concerns expressed by Nigerians and activists. The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu, detailed the questionable deals when he alerted the president to the activities of the Group Managing Director of NNPC, Maikanti Baru. In the August 30 correspondence, Mr. Kachikwu said Mr. Baru circumvented extant procurement regulations in awarding a series of contracts up to $25 billion or N9 trillion at prevailing exchange rate of N360 to a dollar warning of grave consequences the decisions could wreak if allowed to stand. The letter appeared on the Internet around noon Tuesday, but no one has claimed credits for its leakage. Mr. Kachikwu gave a breakdown of the contracts said to have been awarded without recourse to the Ministry of Petroleum or the management board of the NNPC; including $10 billion crude term contracts; $5 billion direct sales direct purchase (DSDP) contracts and $3 billion AKK pipeline contract. He also said a $3 billion was awarded as a contract for various financing allocation funding contract and another $3-4 billion NPDC production service contracts. CRUDE TERM CONTRACT The crude term is the annual contract which the Nigerian government enters with firms willing to do lift crude oil in the country through competitive bidding. About 39 companies won the contract for the 2017-2018 bids, out of 224 bids submitted, according to the NNPC. The winners included 18 Nigerian companies, 11 international traders, five foreign refineries, three national oil companies (NOCs) and two NNPC subsidiaries. All the contracts are for 32,000 barrels per day except Duke Oil Ltd, an oil trading arm of the NNPC, which secured 90,000 barrels per day. The Senate on Wednesday, however, resolved to investigate the allocation to Duke Oil, after a senator alleged it was fraudulently done. AKK CONTRACT The AKK contract pipelines contract was awarded by Mr. Baru for the installation of the new Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano gas pipelines. Estimates for the contract ranged from $2.3-2.7 billion. The NNPC announced in May that a Chinese firm won the contract to complete 80 per cent of the project on public-private partnership basis. Mr. Baru was also reported to have confirmed receipt of $250 million from Chinese banks for the take-off of the project. Some Nigerian senators raised concerns about the contract shortly after it was awarded, but the Senate resolved not to take action until there is enough evidence of wrongdoing. DSDP CONTRACT The Direct-SaleDirect-Purchase was adopted by the Buhari administration last year to replace the crude oil swap initiative and the offshore processing arrangement. The policy, which was designed by Mr. Kachikwu when he was still the GMD of NNPC, was aimed at entrenching transparency in the crude oil for product transaction by the NNPC. Under the crude oil swap initiative, crude oil was exchanged for petroleum products through third-party traders at a pre-determined yield pattern. Mr. Kachikwu said the DSDP option eliminates all the cost elements of middlemen and gives the NNPC the latitude to take control of sale and purchase of the crude oil transaction with its partners. NPDC PRODUCTION SERVICE CONTRACTS The Nigerian Petroleum Development Company is a subsidiary of the NNPC that majors in the production of crude oil. The firm is responsible for the control of oil wells owned and managed by the NNPC. The production service contracts are contracts awarded for production of crude oil from oil fields run by the NPDC. The NPDC, due to its operational and capacity deficiencies, regularly enters production contracts with other oil companies especially oil majors like Agip and Shell to lift crude based on quantities determined in their contract. The minister said Mr. Baru shunned procedural requirements which stipulated that any contract award over $20 million must be reviewed and approved by the NNPC board to be valid. Source: ( Premium Times ) A Nigerian woman simply identified as Mrs. Ngozi (surname withheld), has finally opened up on why she dumped her banker husband, Agu, claims she can not cope with his short penis. According to her,she needed deep penetration during the act which she was not getting and she had to quit the marriage in order to have peace. The incident happened at Fegge in Onitsha area where her husband Agu lived while her parents resided at Obi Street in the Nkutaku area of Ogbaru Local government in Anambra. The embattled woman said that she married her husband with the high expectation of achieving s3xual desire and enjoying peaceful married life, but she did not get that and had to leave. Her family members were shocked when she parked her belongings and returned home saying she was no longer interested in the marriage. Her parents wanted to know what her husband did to her. She explained that Agu did not maltreat her; he took care of her and her baby but she had to leave the marriage to have peace. It was gathered that Ngozis husband works with a bank branch located at the bridge head where he met Ngozi, assisted her and she was also employed in the bank. They later fell in love, got married without intimate relationship and the marriage produced a female child before the incident happened. She also resigned from the bank and started private business without given any reason for her action. As she did not disclose the reason she took such decision she was accused of being possessed by strange spirit but she did not reply anybody and faced her business. However, she decided to opened up recently when she revealed that Agu was nice to her but she had strong challenge in the marriage and she decided to quit. Ngozi said that she was unable to cope with his small penis because of the nature of her body and her desire for sexual satisfaction. She told P.M.EXPRESS that it was a difficult decision she had to take despite the fact that Agu was taking care of her. She confessed that she needed deep penetration during the act which she was not getting. She further explained that she decided not to state the reason because she did not know how to give that kind of reason to the family which may portray her as a pr*stitute. She added that her estranged husband knew she did complain and it was not his fault. She however warned the reporter not to publish her full name or that of the estranged husband in order not to embarrass him as she said she does not know his whereabout after the incident. PM EXPRESS A woman identified as Ngozi Obasi has been arraigned before an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrates Court in Lagos for allegedly pouring a pot of hot water mixed with pepper on her husbands private part. The accused, who resides at 17, Fatiregun St., Ilaye in Ebute Meta, is charged with attempted murder to which she pleaded not guilty. The Prosecutor, Sgt. Kehinde Omisakin, said Ngozi committed the offence on Oct. 1 at 3.00 a.m. at their residence in Ebute Meta. She said the accused after a heated argument, emptied the pot of hot water mixed with pepper on the private part of Igwe Obasi, her husband, in a bid to murder him. The offence contravened Section 230 (b) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015. The offence is punishable with life imprisonment. In his ruling, Chief Magistrate Tajudeen Elias admitted the accused to bail in the sum of N100,000 with one surety in like sum. Elias said the surety must show proof of tax payment in the last three years to the state government. He adjourned the case until Oct. 16 for mention. Source: (NAN) Ghanaian Movie star turned Evangelist, Majid Michel in an interview with StarFM has revealed that he used to be a lover of masturbation during his youthful days, he said: I think that every adolescent has masturbated before, Michel told host Bola Ray adding, I feel guilty about it, I feel very dirty about ittheres a lot of debate about masturbation being a sin or not but I think its a sin. There is nothing said about it in the bible, nowhere in the scripture[but] it is a sin completely. The Somewhere In Africa actor also cautioned the youth against watching pornography since it had the tendency to corrupt their brains. Michel who has starred in several movies and won Best Actor in a Leading Role at the Africa Movie Academy Awards in 2012 also revealed that he charges not less than 15, 000 dollars per movie. I take $15,000 per movie and not cedis, He added that the highest amount he has taken for a movie is 35, 000 dollars. Source Ebiwalismoment Federal governments plan to boost non-oil exports have suffered a major setback following the rejection of large quantities of yams exported to the United States of America by American consumers over poor quality. The Buhari-led Federal Government is to investigate the poor quality of consignment of yams exported from Nigeria to the United States, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development , Audu Ogbeh has disclosed. According to Vanguard, Nigeria, on June 29, began to export yams to Europe and the United States, as part of moves to diversify its oil-dependent economy and earn much-needed foreign exchange. Ogbeh flagged off the first consignment of the commodity from the Apapa port, Lagos. The minister, who briefed State House correspondents after the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC), which was presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari, said his ministry had been mandated to carry out the investigation. I have been mandated to brief on one or two developments in the agricultural sector. One, is a new development about the consignment of yams which was exported from here to the US which according to report we heard today, was found to be of poor quality. The ministry will investigate because the ministry is not an exporter; exporters are private sector people. We will investigate both the company that exported it and asked our quarantine department to check and find out why such a consignment left here, On the assertion that the export of the consignment of yam was done in violation of the Export Prohibition Bill, which prohibits export of items like yam, Ogbeh announced that the National Assembly would soon repeal the law. According to the minister, there is a bill before the National Assembly to repeal the law. Its a law of 1989. It was passed in the belief that is only by preventing export that you can make food more available. We have a different philosophy grow more food. So, the law will be repealed. The minister also announced that the price of paddy rice would soon be affordable to ordinary citizens following a collaborative effort between the federal government, rice growers and millers. We are very concerned about the price of rice which is the most consumed commodity in Nigeria. The two have agreed to the plans we have been pursuing to arrive at a certain price which makes the price of paddy stabilize at a point where the millers can take the rice, mill it and put it in the market at competitive prices almost as low in price as the foreign rice including the smuggled ones is going for. That mean that in the next one month, the price of rice will become reasonable and the cost of rice would have reduced substantially. Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (AJG) has acquired the Naples, Florida-based Premier Insurance, LLC, Lutgert Insurance.Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.Lutgert Insurance, founded in 1953, is a retail property and casualty insurance broker and benefit consultant. While the broker handles both commercial and personal insurance businesses, it focuses on construction, hospitality, real estate development/property managers, and high-net-worth individuals.A release said that following the acquisition, Lutgert Insurance president and CEO Bud Hornbeck, senior vice-president Steve Benza, vice-president Marc Williams, and their associates will continue to operate from their offices in Naples, Ave Maria, Sarasota, Fort Myers and Marco Island, Florida. They will all answer to AJGs head of retail property/casualty brokerage operations and AJGs head of southeast employee benefits consulting and brokerage operations.Lutgert Insurance has an outstanding team of professionals who will contribute significantly to solidifying our geographic presence in Southwest Florida, as well as building out our private client practice in the state, commented AJG chairman, president and CEO J. Patrick Gallagher, Jr. I am very pleased to welcome Bud, Steve, Marc and their associates to our growing Gallagher family of professionals.Last month, AJG acquired another P&C insurer, Franklin-Case Agency, in Flemington, New Jersey. The growing threat from hackers and computer viruses will trigger a boom in cyber crime insurance, according to one insurer.Tryg, Denmarks largest insurer, said it expects 90% of its corporate customers to buy cyber crime coverage within five years. Its already sold 5,000 cyber crime policies since the beginning of the year, when it launched a product to help businesses restore data and get systems running again after a cyber attack.There are no corporate clients today that dont have insurance on their buildings or cars, but I think that within a very few years it will be just as evident that you should insure against cyber crime, Tryg chief executive Morten Hubbe told Reuters.According to Tryg, there was a spike in demand for cyber insurance following the Wannacry ransomware attack, which affected more than 300,000 computers in May. Hubbe told Reuters that he projected around 50% of Trygs corporate clients would buy cyber insurance by 2020, and that figure would reach 90% a couple of years after that.The biggest risk to us is that significantly more customers get hit than we believe, and that gives us a huge economic loss, he told Reuters. The insurance industry is a fantastic place for young professionals but its not doing a great job of getting that message across.A lot of people in the industry are concerned about the undeniable age gap in the insurance workforce. Theres a widespread lack of understanding among younger generations about what the industry actually entails and the lucrative career path it could offer.One way to appeal to millennials and sustain their interest is by teaching them a focused specialty, according to Patrick G. Ryan, founder, chairman and CEO of Ryan Specialty Group (RSG).When you bring young people into the industry and teach them a focused specialty, they can become experts quite quickly, Ryan told Insurance Business. Once they develop that expertise, they will have job security for life because there is always a need for specialists.I have seen the finance, consultancy and real estate industries going through cycles where really good, qualified professionals are put out on the street because their company got into a spot of trouble or had to cut costs. In the insurance industry, that wont happen. When youre good youre in demand.RSG does not agree with the widespread industry consensus that young people dont want to enter the insurance profession. In fact, the company is working hard to promote the industry by supporting several insurance schools across the US, and recruiting at universities and job fairs.The insurance industry is a terrific future for young people - we just have to communicate it more effectively, Ryan commented. Its important that recruitment not just be a HR operation, but that executives also take the time to go and meet with young people and recruit them personally.Its a different statement from the company, and it makes the potential employee think you really want them. People want to be wanted, they want to be included, and they want to be important. We can empower them in that way. Houston will shell out nearly $10 million to reinstate flood insurance coverage after damage from Hurricane Harvey exceeded its prior coverage maximum.The Houston City Council approved spending $9.7 million to reinstate the coverage. The city had a $100 million policy to protect its facilities, but Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said that damage to city buildings topped that by about $75 million.Claims against the citys flood insurance coverage had never been more than $33 million until Harvey, according to a Houston Chronicle report.While the city wasnt scheduled to renew its policy until April, the council voted Wednesday to reinstate coverage at the same level it had prior to Harvey. The item passed unanimously with almost no discussion, the Chronicle reported.Houstons coverage is provided by a combination of 18 carriers, according to the Chronicle. A company that supplied construction materials for five new schools in Horry County, South Carolina, has filed a number of lawsuits against the school district, the contractors and subcontractor involved in the projects, and their related insurance firms, alleging that it is owed payment for the products and services it rendered.Capitol Materials of Savannah filed five separate suits one for each of the new schools and is demanding to be paid nearly $780,000, court documents say. The lawsuits were filed on September 13, 14, and 15. The company is also seeking interest and attorney fees, on top of recompense.The lawsuits have named the Horry County Schools district, contractor Firstfloor Energy Positive, Hester Drywall, Inc., Metcon, Inc., T.A. Loving Company, Selective Insurance Company of America, and Travelers Casualty and Surety Company of America as defendants.Lisa Bourcier, the spokeswoman for the school district, declined to comment on the lawsuits.It is school policy not to provide any commentary on substantive matters relating to pending litigation, she told WMBF News.According to court documents, while Capitol provided labor, materials and equipment for the construction of the five schools, Hester did not pay the company, despite repeated requests.The lawsuits also states that the school district and the contractor owe Hester for its part of the work.Court records show that the insurance companies listed in the lawsuits issued bonds that named the subcontractor and contractors as principals.Two of the three schools involved in the suits Socastee Middle School and Myrtle Beach Middle School remain under construction.Firstfloor was awarded the contracts for all five schools, with the price tag of just over $240 million in November 2015. The contracts specified that all of the schools would be completed by May 01, but that deadline was not met. CEO Robbie Ferris stated that it was Hurricane Matthew that caused the delays in construction. Dr. Steve Smith, who has two decades of analytical broking experience and has led efforts at Beach Re, Tiger Risk, Willis Re, R K Carvill and ACE Tempest Re. Bharat Amin, who has 15 years of actuarial pricing and Lloyds experience Anant Borole, who will head up portfolio analysis Steve Johnson, a former and current UK reserve military officer with 20 years of political violence experience Virginia-based tech firm Fractal Industries has acquired talent from across the industry for its reinsurance vertical.Fractal, founded in 2015 by CEO Jason Crabtree and chief technology officer Dr. Andrew Sellers, offers an artificial intelligence-driven decision-making platform that helps businesses solve complex, real-world problems.Earlier this year, the company expanded into the reinsurance and insurtech spaces.The new vertical is led by Dr. Raveem Ismail, who most recently served as a specialty treaty underwriter for Ariel Re Bermuda.There is no doubt that a tidal wave of change is coming, Ismail said. We are at a fascinating confluence of capabilities at this time. Third-party capital is looking to take on more than nat cat risk, disruptive peer-to-peer ventures are attempting to eat the bottom of the industry, and some of the more complex classes are expanding and changing. Huge swathes of cyber risk cannot be accumulated in traditional ways, and even the nature of the terrorism peril is shifting to currently uninsured types of economic loss a very specific insurance gap. The tilting of losses towards intangible value at risk, that is not related to property damage, is undeniable.Joining Ismail are:We are very proud to have a team which allows Fractal to bind the right partnerships in the reinsurance world, Crabtree said. Raveem and the entire Fractal team have been working tirelessly to build an exceptional system and models to enable underwriters and portfolio managers to spend more time devoted to evaluating and selecting the right risks across business lines. Human talent is finally freed up for innovation and progress by abstracting away the complexity, friction and monotony of legal systems and processes. A.I.M. Mutual has hired Kim Walker and Brendan Carr to its injury prevention consulting team in New Hampshire. Both Walker and Carr have worked extensively in the loss control and safety fields, most recently for The Lawson Group in Concord, N.H. Walker has more than 20 years of risk management and health and safety experience, specializing in a number of industries including healthcare, manufacturing, restaurants, educational institutions and human service agencies. For the past 10 years, she has been a loss prevention consultant advising New Hampshire employers on risk reduction strategies. Carr brings more than 15 years of experience in the loss control and occupational safety consulting fields to A.I.M. Mutual. He has worked directly with management and front-line workers to actively promote safety practices in manufacturing, construction, hospitality and forestry-related environments as well as other Granite state industries. Both Walker and Carr are injury prevention and worksite wellness consultants serving A.I.M. Mutual policyholders in New Hampshire as well as in Massachusetts and Connecticut. A.I.M. Mutual, founded in 1989, provides workers compensation coverage and has been recognized for its innovation in injury prevention services. Source: A.I.M. Mutual Topics New Hampshire The Pennsylvania Supreme Court unanimously affirmed a decision by the states Superior Court that although ill-will or malice is one factor that can be used to assess insurer bad faith, it is not a prerequisite for policyholders to prevail in bad faith claims. This comes as the state Supreme Court for the first time considered the elements of a bad faith insurance claim pursuant to Pennsylvanias bad faith statute. In its decision, the court adopted the two-part test laid out by the Superior Court in a 1994 case Terletsky v. Prudential Property & Cas. Ins. Co. The test states that in order to recover in a bad faith action, the plaintiff must present clear evidence that the insurer did not have a reasonable basis for denying benefits under the policy and that the insurer knew of or recklessly disregarded its lack of a reasonable basis. In this recent case, the state Supreme Court held that evidence of the insurers knowledge or recklessness as to its lack of a reasonable basis in denying policy benefits is sufficient, and an insurance companys motive of self-interest or ill-will is not a prerequisite to succeeding in a bad faith claim. Background This case was brought about after a series of events beginning in March of 1992. While working for the United States Postal Service (USPS), Appellee LeAnn Rancosky purchased a cancer insurance policy as a supplement to her primary employer-based health insurance, according to Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Max Baer in his published opinion. The policy was issued by Appellant Conseco Health Insurance Company (Conseco). The policy contained a waiver-of-premium provision, which excused premium payments if Rancosky became disabled due to cancer. It stated that she would not be required to make premium payments if she was diagnosed as having cancer more than 30 days after the policys effective date and if she was disabled due to cancer for a continuous period of more than 90 consecutive days beginning on or after the date of diagnosis. The policy would waive premium payments for the period of her disability, except for the first 90 days. It also required Rancosky to send a physicians statement with the date of the diagnosis, the first date of her disability period and the expected date, if any, that the disability would end. Rancoskys policy defined being disabled as being unable to perform the duties of her regular occupation for the first 24 months of her diagnosis, and after 24 months, being unable to work at any job for which she is qualified for pay or benefits and being under the care of a physician for the treatment of cancer. Indeed, on February 4, 2003, Rancosky was admitted to the hospital due to intense abdominal pain and ultimately diagnosed with ovarian cancer. She did not return to her job with USPS, yet remained on her employers payroll for several months because she had accrued unused vacation and sick days, the opinion document said. Beginning in April 2003, Rancosky attempted to obtain waiver-of-premium status, claiming that she was disabled under her policy since her admission to the hospital in February of 2003. By Consecos request, she submitted waiver-of-premium forms along with the required physician statement. However, she didnt realize that the submitted physicians statement inaccurately listed her date of disability as beginning on April 21, 2003, rather than on February 4, 2003. Since Rancosky believed her premium payments had been waived because of her disability, her final premium payment came from her June 24, 2003, payroll-deducted premium. Over the next two years, Rancosky experienced several recurrences of her cancer and continued to submit claims to Conseco. In early 2005, during an audit of its payroll-deducted premium policies, Conseco apparently discovered for the first time that Rancosky had ceased making premium payments on her policy in June of 2003. Rancosky had made prior inquiries regarding her waiver-of-premium status, in which she indicated the start date of her disability as February 4, 2003, and authorized Conseco to obtain information from her physicians and employer about her disability, the opinion document stated. Despite this, Conseco informed Rancosky that it deemed her policy to have lapsed as of May 24, 2003, the date to which her final payroll-deducted premium payment extended her coverage, the opinion document added. In the following years, Rancosky had an ongoing disagreement with Conseco as to whether she was on waiver-of-premium status and entitled to continued coverage under her cancer policy. Despite its contention that her policy had lapsed in May of 2003, Conseco paid for cancer-related treatment Rancosky received in 2004 and 2005. In 2006, however, following another recurrence of her cancer, Conseco denied Rancoskys claim for further benefits based upon her failure to pay premiums. Conseco did not investigate to clarify the discrepancy between Rancoskys claimed disability date of February 4, 2003, and the physicians statement incorrectly indicating April 21, 2003, as the start date, the opinion document said. Bad Faith Lawsuit Rancosky subsequently brought a suit against Conseco, alleging breach of contract and bad faith. In her bad faith claim, Rancosky sought interest on her claim, punitive damages and attorneys fees. Rancoskys bad faith claim eventually proceeded to a non-jury trial. Though the trial court found that Conseco was sloppy and even negligent in its handling of Rancoskys claim, it ultimately found in favor of Conseco on the bad faith claim, the opinion document said. In particular, the trial court concluded that Rancosky failed to demonstrate that Conseco lacked a reasonable basis for denying benefits under the cancer policy because she did not prove that the insurer acted out of a motive of self-interest or ill-will. Rancosky eventually appealed to the Superior Court, arguing the trial court misapplied the two-part test for bad faith claims established in the 1994 Terletsky case. According to Rancosky, the trial court was wrong for requiring proof that Conseco acted out of a motive of self-interest or ill-will. In Rancoskys view, the first part of the Terletsky test is a detached inquiry into whether a reasonable insurer would have denied payment of the claim under the facts and circumstances presented, the opinion document said. In a published opinion, a three-judge panel of the Superior Court vacated the trial courts judgment regarding Rancoskys bad faith claim and remanded for further proceedings on that claim. The Superior Court agreed with Rancosky that the first part of the Terletsky test, whether the insurer lacked a reasonable basis for denying benefits, is an objective inquiry and that the intent of the insurer has no relevance. It held that the trial court erred as a matter of law in denying Rancoskys claim under the reasonable basis portion of the Terletsky test. The Superior Court concluded that if Conseco had conducted any meaningful investigation into the starting date of Rancoskys cancer disability, it would have discovered she was unable to work due to her cancer diagnosis beginning on February 4, 2003, and that she made the required premium payments during the ninety-day waiting period of her cancer policy. As a result of this discovery, the Superior Court believed Conseco would have understood Rancoskys failure to pay premiums after her final payroll-deducted premium was excused pursuant to the waiver-of-premium provision. Because Conseco failed to conduct any investigation and instead accepted the incorrect information from Rancoskys physicians, the Superior Court determined Conseco lacked a reasonable basis for denying Rancosky benefits. It then vacated the trial courts judgment and remanded for further proceedings. Supreme Court Decision In its September 28, 2017, decision regarding this case, The Pennsylvania Supreme Court noted that it has not had an opportunity to consider the details of bad faith claims arising under Section 8371 of Pennsylvania law since its enactment. Justice Baer noted in his opinion that the Superior Courts 1994 decision in the Terletsky case has been the primary ruling on this issue in the past. Accordingly, while this issue has evaded appellate review from this Court, the longstanding standard in Pennsylvania has been the Superior Courts two-pronged test in Terletsky and its subsequent clarification that self-interest and ill-will, while probative, is not required, Baer wrote in the opinion document. The Supreme Court opinion document explained that both parties generally agreed that the first portion of the Terletsky test, whether the insurer had a reasonable basis for denying benefits, is an objective inquiry into whether a reasonable insurer would have denied payment of the claim under the facts and circumstances presented. Both parties also agreed that negligence alone is insufficient for a finding of bad faith under Pennsylvania law, and the primary point of contention relates to the relevance of the insurance companys motivation under the second portion of the Terletsky test. While Conseco argued that the meaning of bad faith includes whether the insurer had a subjectively improper motive, Rancosky argues that self-interest and ill-will are probative and that knowledge or recklessness is sufficient. The Supreme Court concluded in its decision that the Superior Courts two-part test laid out in the Terletsky case indeed presents an appropriate framework for analyzing bad faith claims in Pennsylvania. Additionally, the Supreme Court held that proof of an insurance companys motive of self-interest or ill-will is not a prerequisite to prevailing in a bad faith claim. It affirmed the previous judgment of the Superior Court, which partially vacated the trial courts judgment and remanded for further proceedings on Rancoskys bad faith claim. Upon remand, the Supreme Court noted that the trial court should consider again whether both portions of the Terletsky test have been met. Topics Carriers Claims Pennsylvania Japans biggest private-sector life insurer, Nippon Life Insurance Co., is in talks to buy a majority stake in the domestic unit of U.S.-based MassMutual Financial Group in an attempt to boost its bancassurance sales, two sources said. Bancassurance, in which insurers use partner banks branch networks for distribution, has a minor presence in Japan, the worlds second-largest life insurance market, where policies have been mostly sold through an army of saleswomen who visit customers workplaces and houses to build rapport. But a growing number of the younger generation, pressed for time, prefer to buy their policies that are recommended by specialists at bank branches where they go to do other transactions. MassMutual has well-established relationships with banks in Japan that Nippon is seeking to tap, with the deal. The Nikkei business daily, which first reported the talks, said Nippon Life was likely to pay 100 billion yen to 200 billion yen ($887 million to $1.77 billion) for the stake in MassMutual Life Insurance Co. It was not immediately clear how much stake exactly Nippon wants to buy in MassMutuals unit. Nippon Life and MassMutual Life Insurance Co. declined to comment. The two people, who had knowledge of the negotiations, declined to be identified because they were not authorized to speak to media. MassMutuals Japan unit has about $25 billion in assets and had premium revenue of $2.86 billion for the year ended in March. The mid-sized insurer is known for its foreign currency-denominated products sold at bank branches. Japanese insurers are already taking steps to embrace bancassurance. Nippon Life completed a $2.5 billion acquisition of smaller domestic rival Mitsui Life Insurance Co. last year to partly bolster sales through bank branch networks. And rival Dai-ichi Life Holdings Inc. has been building distribution channels in addition to traditional door-to-door sales, setting up new insurance companies focused on selling products at bank branches and third-party insurance brokers. The MassMutual unit is not the only target that Nippon Life is eyeing. Last week, Reuters reported the company was in talks to buy into U.S. investment company TCW Group. Japanese insurers have been hit by diminishing returns from investments in Japanese government bonds and other securities amid the Bank of Japans massive stimulus measures, prompting them to seek riskier but higher-yield assets. In an interview earlier this year, Nippon Life President Yoshinobu Tsutsui said his company was looking for acquisition opportunities for overseas asset management companies and lifeinsurers. In October last year Nippon Life completed the acquisition of an 80 percent stake in National Australia Bank Ltds life insurance unit for A$2.2 billion ($1.72 billion). ($1 = 1.2773 Australian dollars) ($1 = 112.7900 yen) (Reporting by Taiga Uranaka; additional reporting by Makiko Yamazaki and Sam Nussey; editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman) A Michigan county has agreed to pay $1.07 million to settle a lawsuit brought by the family of a woman who was killed and dismembered after a Detroit-area police officer exposed her as an informant in a drug bust. Details of the deal between Oakland County and Shelly Hilliards family were released Tuesday in response to a public records request by The Associated Press. The county said an insurance company is paying the settlement. One-third of it, or $355,000, will go to attorneys at the Goodman & Hurwitz firm. Hilliard, 19, quickly agreed to help police when she was caught with marijuana at a suburban Detroit motel in 2011. Her supplier was arrested within hours, but she was killed a few days later her body burned and dismembered. During the arrest, Officer Chad Wolowiec, a member of a regional drug unit, gave enough details to the drug dealers companion to reveal that Hilliard had provided critical information. Attorneys asked him why during a deposition in the lawsuit. I dont know, Wolowiec replied. The county was facing a trial or settlement after a federal appeals court last January refused to dismiss the case, saying a jury could find that Wolowiecs blatant exposure amounted to deliberate indifference for Hilliards safety. In earlier court filings, Oakland County had argued that Hilliard was warned to stay away from Qasim Red Raqib. He was convicted of second-degree murder in her death and sentenced to at least 25 years in prison. Madison Heights, which had employed Wolowiec as an officer at the time, agreed to pay $20,000 to settle its part of the lawsuit, attorney Kathryn Bruner James said. Wolowiec now is an officer in Warren. Hilliard was known to her family as Treasure. In 2015, a documentary about her life and death as a transgender woman was presented at the Los Angeles Film Festival. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Law Enforcement Deerfield, Illinois-based Alera Group, a national employee benefits, property/casualty, risk management and wealth management firm, has acquired Axis Benefit Consultants in Westmont, Illinois, and Jeatran Associates in Menomonie, Wisconsin. Alera also has acquired an agency in California and one in Pennsylvania. All the acquisitions were effective Oct. 1. Together they add more than 50 new employees to the Alera Group team. Terms of the transactions were not disclosed. Axis Benefit Consultants specializes in benefits administration, broker and advisory services, COBRA administration and state continuation, along with superior support to provide clients with tailored plans that meet their specific needs. Axis Benefit Consultants will join Alera Group through local firm GCG Financial. Jeatran Associates offers employee benefits, individual insurance and HR consulting services to each of their clients. This firm focuses on providing affordable, effective coverage for organizations of all sizes throughout Wisconsin. Jeatran Associates will join Alera Group through local firm JA Counter. Including these four organizations, Alera Group has now announced nine acquisitions this year, opening new locations in six states. The firm continues to grow organically and through acquisitions since its formation in December 2016. Source: Alera Group Topics Mergers & Acquisitions Agencies Illinois Wisconsin A divided Oklahoma Supreme Court has overturned part of Oklahomas workers compensation law concerning how workers are compensated for their on-the-job injuries. The court handed down the 5-3 decision with one recusal on Oct. 3 in a lawsuit filed by Hobby Lobby Stores employee Brandon Gibby, who was injured when he fell from a pallet jack at work in February 2014. The ruling says Hobby Lobby provided temporary total disability and medical benefits, but objected when Gibby sought permanent partial disability, claiming the laws forfeiture provision prohibited him further benefits because he had missed medical appointments without a valid excuse. Under the challenged provision in the law, an injured worker who misses two or more scheduled appointments for treatment without a valid excuse would no longer be eligible to receive benefits under the act. Section 57 B of the statute states that the inability to get transportation to or from the appointment is never an extraordinary circumstance or valid excuse. The court struck down that portion of the law, ruling it violates the adequate remedy provision of the Oklahoma Constitution. The Oklahoman reported that with the current ruling, 44 provisions of the states Administrative Workers Compensation Act enacted in 2013 have been struck down. Attorney General Mike Hunters office declined comment on the ruling. The case is Brandon Gibby v. Hobby Lobby. Related: Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Workers' Compensation Oklahoma A Georgia insurance agent has been arrested on seven counts of insurance fraud and three counts of forgery in the first-degree for taking insurance premiums from her clients and issuing them fraudulent payment receipts, according to a statement from Georgia Insurance Commissioner Ralph Hudgens. An investigation by Hudgens Fraud Division revealed that between 2015 and 2016, Lynne Marie Webb, 33, of Carroll County allegedly pocketed premiums payments for automobile insurance from her clients instead of forwarding the money to the insurance company for coverage. At the time of the theft, Webb was employed by the Robert Kenimer State Farm Agency, in Carrollton, Ga. Fraud investigators believe that Webb embezzled approximately $2,712.00. Mrs. Webbs actions have put consumers at significant financial risk, said Hudgens. I will not tolerate any insurance agent stealing from Georgia consumers. Webb is currently being held in the Carroll County Jail awaiting bond. A disciplinary action against her license to sell insurance is currently under review by the Department of Insurance. The case will be prosecuted by the Carroll County District Attorneys Office. Commissioner Hudgens urges anyone who conducted insurance transactions with Webb to contact the insurance company listed on their policy to verify they have the coverage they paid for, or contact our Consumer Hotline at 1-800-656-2298. Insurance fraud is a felony with a penalty of two to 10 years in prison and/or a fine of up to $10,000. Source: Georgia Department of Insurance Topics Agencies Fraud Georgia One major insurance carrier already has a program underway to train claims adjusters to visit accident sites and fly drones to gather data. American Family Insurance started working on developing a drone program around 2013, and the company now has a batch of adjusters training to fly unmanned aerial vehicles at the sites where clients have reported property damage or other losses, according to Taylor Horsager, UAV chief pilot and instructor for American Family. Horsager was speaking on drones in the insurance industry on Wednesday at the Drone World Expo in San Jose, Calif., which runs through Thursday. We see drones as an opportunity to service people faster and more effectively, Horsager said. American Family is currently working on a research and development project to develop hardware and software for drones, which will eventually be directly integrated it into the carriers claims system, he said. He said the plan right now is to keep the process straightforward, as in teaching an adjuster to go to a site and operate a drone via a cellphone. Were looking at the technology on the market and trying to do things as simply as possible, he added. The company is currently conducting proof of concept testing, and creating a check list for adjusters who are going out to a site that includes basic check boxes on a list like: Is it safe to fly? Do I have permission from the property owner? Its a start, but it appears the company is already beefing up to be a big user of drones. Asked how many American Family adjusters have been trained on drones, he only offered a small batch in response. We are in proof of technology mode, he said, adding that there are issues to be overcome and the technology is not there yet. One challenge is the visual line of site rule implemented by the Federal Aviation Administration, which requires an operator to be able to see the drone with the naked eye at all times. That makes it hard to gather data for large sites. However, the said the sky may literally be the limit for what drones can do in the insurance industry, according to him. We definitely have a potential of scaling, and definitely have a potential of having third-party needs, he said. The moderator on the panel was Kathleen Swain, senior director of UAS programs for the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. She believes that if more drones were already deployed by the industry, money could have been saved by getting adjusters out to disaster sites to gather information to pay claims earlier. After hurricanes Harvey and Maria, we really see how important it is to get that technology up and running, she said. Beverly Adams, head of catastrophe planning and response with Guy Carpenter, views drones and their advanced data collection capabilities as an opportunity to get the insurance industry a seat at the table before disasters happen instead of responding to them. She noted that many national disaster plans dont even mention insurance, but that the industry should be invited to partake in such planning. Weve almost got to earn our stripes, Adams said. In fact, she said she envisions the need for drones to grow to the point where many insurers will need to seek out third-party providers to fill demand. We know right now that were not going to be charging vast amounts of money to do this, she added, addressing her comments to those potential providers in the audience who may entertain working with her company. These are risk surveys. Jessica Magill, who works with Swain as an account executive at AOPA, said shes seen a drastic change in the market in just the last 18 months, when she fielded a call from a drone pilot who wanted to make a change on his policy. That got her to learn about drone insurance and shes been embedded in it ever since. At that time she got the call, AOPA could only offer customers two choices for policies: a $1 million liability policy, or a $500,000 liability policy. And they had only one carrier to work with back then. Now theyre working with five carriers, and weve got more coming on board, she added. The firm can also now offer liability for damage caused by a drone, but also coverage for the drone itself, and underwriters are starting to open up to covering a broader range of drone operations, she said. Its really changed and its really kind of cool to see how our carriers have changed and how they are viewing the risk, she said. Swain put in that as more carriers have entered the drone insurance world, theyre coming in with a lot more to offer insureds. A lot of times were seeing open peril, no exclusion policies come to market, Swain said. Carriers are stepping up to the plate and offering policies with no exclusions. Drone VCs A surefire way to figure out how bright the future is for the drone business is to follow the money. Thats just what one group of experts discussed on a panel titled Follow the Money: Exploring the Drone Investment Climate. The last few years theres been a noticeable venture uptick in investing in drones, said panel moderator Jonathan Evans, co-president of Skyward, a venture-backed software company based Portland, Ore., which was recently acquired by Verizon. The other panelists were: Yoshi Iwakami, a partner in World Innovation Lab; Ashley Carroll, a partner in Social Capital; Bilal Zuberi, a partner in Lux Capital; Jake Kaldenbaugh, a technology M&A banker at Growthpoint Technology Partners; and Tammi Smorynski, a director with Intel Capital. Zuberi agreed with the assessment that investments in drones have picked up in recent, but he believes tha tover the past year or more that more venture capitalists are wanting to see more revenue being produced by what is so far a small number of successful drone companies before putting more money into the industry. I think all the major VCs at this point have an investment in drones, he said. He said some of the smaller drone companies may be struggling to find capital, while theres a lot of money for later-stage companies. For now, much of the backing for the industry is waiting for more success stories, he said. I think theres a lot of companies sitting in valuation between $40 and $100 million and theyre still trying to figure things out, he said. Still, he said theres a bright horizon for drones. But if you take the long-term perspective, drones are going to be around for a long time and theyre going to be an important part of the economy, he said. Hurricanes Harvey and Irma Drone response to hurricanes Harvey and Irma seemed to play an important enough role to demand a panel on it at the conference. When Harvey first happened in it became apparent pretty quickly that drones were going to be part of the story, said Christopher Korody, principal with DroneBusiness.center, an information website focused on drones. Korody was a moderator for the panel to discuss the response to these disasters. Others on the panel were Justin Adams, director of business development for Kovar and Associates, Tony Eggimann, captain of the Menlo Park Fire Protection District, Dyan Gibbens, CEO and founder of Trumbull Unmanned, Bradley Koeckeritz, chief of the UAS division for the of the U.S. Department of the Interior, and Art Pregler, UAS program director of AT&T. Adams was an early responder to both Harvey and Irma. The biggest challenge I know we had was controlling airspace, he said. We tried to control airspace very quickly. He said he and his team during Harvey had to go to the FAA to get flight level authorizations and to restrict drone flights from other operators to prevent interference. One of their big tasks following the disaster was separating fact from fiction. The drone team often flew over areas to confirm or deny that rumored flooding had occurred there. It was more rumor control, he said. When all was said and done, he and his team provided 2.8 terabytes of data to Fort Bend County, Texas, where they were surveying. Koeckeritz, who noted that the Department of the Interior is a steward for about one-fifth of the landmass in the United States, and therefore a big user for drones, said the department deployed 12 pilots and their drones to Harvey. Flight missions included data processing, flood inundation mapping and damage assessment. One of the biggest benefits of the drone missions was cost avoidance, he said, adding that they saved thousands of dollars from having to use boats to go in and assess flooded areas. Saving costs and time spent deploying boats to areas that may or may not have been flooded was also a major takeaway for Eggimann. He and his team of drone operators were OKd to head to Wharton, Texas to conduct search and rescue reconnaissance. During their time responding to Harvey, they deployed a drone to map out a plan on how to deploy boats. They sent out the drone to gather information on where to go with the boats, and then began preparing to deploy. As the guys were getting the boats up and running, the drone came back and we were able to download images and devise a plan, Koeckeritz said. He said that using drones is something his department plans to do more often. The department started a UAS program roughly three years ago, and now has five trained pilots, with what he thinks is a need to train as many as a dozen more. Pregler said AT&T deployed drones for both Harvey and Irma. The drones provided valuable information to assess the damage to communications systems in both areas and report back. However, in one case a drone proved a bit more useful than as a mere information conduit, when the drone team came across an area without power that was disconnected from fiber optic cable across the river. We pulled the fiber optic cable across the river to establish connectivity, he said. Related: Topics Carriers Flood Tech Aviation Market Voters in some parts of Alaska rejected efforts to ban commercial marijuana cultivation and retail sales, three years after the nations largest state passed a voter initiative legalizing the recreational use of the drug. The votes this week came during local elections in the states major marijuana growing areas, in and around Fairbanks and on the Kenai Peninsula southwest of Anchorage. All lost by wide margins. Im happy to know that the 100 plus employees that are employed right now are going to keep their jobs, and theres going to be many more jobs on top of that, said Amy Jackman, campaign manager for `Keep Cannabis Legal on the Kenai Peninsula, where the ban was rejected by roughly 64 percent of voters. And all these families down here, theyre not going to lose their savings and their livelihoods. The 2014 statewide initiative that legalized marijuana allows local governments to ban pot businesses within their borders. Were disappointed, but at the same time our purpose for these initiatives on the ballot was to give the voters a chance to make this decision and not have it made by our local government. So in that sense, its a success, said James Ostlind, chairman of the group that backed the bans with separate measures in the city of Fairbanks and the surrounding Fairbanks North Star Borough. Both measures were rejected by about 70 percent of voters. If the bans had been successful, they would have forced retail stores and cultivation facilities to close within 90 days and that would have left a gaping hole for other retail stores across the state in need of product. Personal use and growing pot at home for that use would still be allowed. Backers said zoning laws are too lax, letting marijuana businesses open too close to homes. Proponents fear any rollbacks will embolden other communities to institute bans or the Legislature to roll back legalization. But Jackman said the overwhelming victory in support of the marijuana industry encourages people to move on to something else. Cary Carrigan, the executive director of the Alaska Marijuana Industry Association, called the victories pivotal. A lot of these prohibition votes have been driven by church congregations, he said Theyre looking for something to demonize, and its not us. People accept us. After a failed initiative, theres a two year hiatus before it can come back, Ostlind said. He wasnt ready to predict another initiative attempt in 2019. If the marijuana industry starts to cause more damage to a community than they do good, then people will stand up and theyll want to do something about it, he said. The election was held the same day the Alaska Department of Revenue released its monthly marijuana tax receipts from cultivators. The state collected nearly $700,000 in August, which was the highest monthly amount since collections began last October. Ten new cultivators began paying taxes in August, and half are from areas where votes were being held Tuesday. Since October 2016, cultivators in the greater Fairbanks area have paid nearly $1.2 million in taxes, while those on the Kenai Peninsula have paid more than $655,000. The state doesnt have tax figures for retails stores since those taxes are paid to local governments only. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Cannabis The next United Nations Climate Change Conference, commonly known as COP23, will take place from 6 to 17 November 2017 in Bonn, Germany, under the presidency of Fiji. The session will be an event of global importance; the second one on the long road to practical implementation of the Paris Agreement concluded in December 2015. The IPU, the Parliament of Fiji and the German Parliament will organize a Parliamentary Meeting on the occasion of the Climate Change Conference in Bonn. The Meeting in Bonn will be held with a view to providing parliamentarians with an opportunity to obtain first-hand information on the main issues and orientations of COP 23, interact with experts and negotiators directly involved in the UNFCCC decision-making process, gain better knowledge of the recommendations included in the IPU's Parliamentary Action Plan on Climate Change and discuss ways of ensuring implementation of the Paris Agreement. The Parliamentary Meeting will take place on Sunday, 12 November, on the premises of the University of Bonn. The languages of the meeting will be English and French. Important notice : The IPU, the Parliament of Fiji and the German Parliament are not in a position to facilitate accreditation to COP23 or provide visa support for entry into Germany. Those matters are to be handled by each delegate individually, as part of the overall COP23 accreditation procedure. About the draft outcome document:The co-Rapporteurs of the Parliamentary Meeting, Ms. Barbel Hohn and Mr. Inia Seruiratu, appointed by the Parliaments of Germany and Fiji respectively, have prepared a preliminary draft of the outcome document, as presented below. IPU Members are invited to examine the preliminary draft and provide comments and observations on its form and content by 27 October 2017 at the latest. Participants of the 137th IPU Assembly will also have an opportunity to discuss the preliminary draft outcome document during the session of the IPU Standing Committee on Sustainable Development, Finance and Trade. The session will take place in St. Petersburg on 16 October 2017. The co-Rapporteurs will then finalize the draft and the IPU will publish it on its website ahead of the Meeting in Bonn. Due to the close proximity of the dates of the IPU Assembly and the Parliamentary Meeting in Bonn, it will not be possible to invite new amendments on the revised draft outcome document. Delegates to the Parliamentary Meeting in Bonn will be able to submit additional amendments on the spot in an individual capacity. Those amendments should be editorial and should not impact the documents overall scope or nature. The draft outcome document will be presented to the closing session of the Parliamentary Meeting on 12 November with the intention of adopting it by consensus. There will be a cut to the Universal Social Charge in next week's budget. The Irish Independent reports there will also be a change to income tax bands as Finance Minister Paschal Donohue negotiates a deal with Fianna Fail. Lawyers in the inquest of a pregnant teenager shot dead in disputed circumstances have begun preparing their final submissions. Marian Brown was killed in Belfast in June 1972. The 17-year-old was shot in the neck moments after kissing her boyfriend goodnight at Roden Street off the citys Grosvenor Road. She was struck by a stray bullet amid an alleged exchange of gunfire between an Army patrol and at least one paramilitary gunman. The source of the fatal round has long been disputed. The killing was first blamed on republican and then loyalist gunmen. But a review of the case by the polices now-defunct Historical Enquiries Team (HET) suggested the shot may have been fired by a soldier. All evidence in the fresh legacy inquest has now been heard. Former soldiers and civilian witnesses testified during the proceedings. At a review hearing in Belfast Coroners Court on Thursday, Judge David McFarland gave the legal teams representing the Ministry of Defence and the Brown family six weeks to finalise their written submissions. They will then be offered the opportunity to make oral submissions on December 8 before the judge returns to consider his verdict. Prince William has arrived in Belfast for a visit that will highlight the work of a mental health charity and the emergency services. His afternoon of engagements in the city will take in the Inspire charity and see him observe search and rescue training on the River Lagan. Concern Worldwide, Irelands largest humanitarian aid agency, has today confirmed it is treating Rohingya refugee children for severe acute malnutrition and fears diarrhoea and other water-borne diseases could break out if sanitation needs arent urgently met. An estimated 509,000 Rohingya people have fled Rakhine state in Myanmar and crossed the border into the Coxs Bazar area of Bangladesh since the latest outbreak of violence on August 25. Concern is currently providing 48,000 Rohingya refugees with food rations and providing more than 100,000 refugees - mainly children, adolescents as well as pregnant and lactating women - with nutrition services as new arrivals continue to flood into the region. Two Concern Nutrition Support Centres have been established in Moynadhona and Hakim Para areas with team members treating seriously-ill children with around seven per cent so far showing signs of severe acute malnutrition. Irish public has, as always, been incredibly generous in response to #RohingyaCrisis. @kjmcconville urges continued support for these children caught up in "epic human tragedy" https://t.co/3qJnmeiYFd pic.twitter.com/Ql1r7x7Nxs Concern Worldwide (@Concern) October 4, 2017 Damian Seal, Emergency Programme Manager said: Community outreach screening teams are reaching between 100 and 150 households a day per camp. Malnutrition cases are averaging around seven per cent, many of whom have been referred for in-patient treatment at nearby health facilities. One little girl we saw, who was about three or four years old, was half her weight and looked very ill. Its appalling to see little children suffering in this way. In Coxs Bazar there is very limited space to develop any sort of sustainable water and sanitation structures. The people have set up their shelters so close together that its nearly impossible to be able to engineer any facilities close to them. You have close to 500,000 people moving into the Coxs Bazar area, a district once inhabited by a population of 400,000 people so you can only imagine the implications in terms of space and solutions left for developing water and sanitation facilities. Mr Seal said space for sanitation is the biggest challenge and emergency response teams are "running out of options" and he fears vulnerable children are at risk of contracting life-threatening diarrhoea. If there is an outbreak of water related disease, its life-threatening for these children as their immune systems cannot fight back. These children have limited access to immediate medical facilities, they are extremely vulnerable to getting infections from dirty water and poor sanitation, he said. There are limited places where people can go to the toilet safely, there are limited numbers of latrines and there is no drainage management in place to dispose of human waste so even if we had latrines, the infrastructure needs to be in place for them to work properly. This is extremely worrying because the threat of water-borne diseases is substantial and if the cyclone seasons hits this area significantly, the impact to the community could be devastating so we hope more land will be allocated soon because we are running out of options. VR Tour: In the footsteps of a Rohingya refugee. https://t.co/xqRule61Sy Trocaire (@trocaire) October 5, 2017 Concerns Regional Director for the Middle East and Asia, Brid Kennedy, said much more funding is required to prevent the Rohingya refugee crisis from escalating further. Humanitarian organisations need around 370m over the next six months to help up to 1.2 million people, many of them children, who need life-saving help. The Rohingya population, particularly the children, is highly vulnerable and our teams on the ground are already seeing children in very vulnerable conditions. Following the initial response, Concern plan to develop more facilities and to ensure the health of children and other vulnerable people does not deteriorate. These people have suffered immense trauma and many face a grim future if they dont receive adequate assistance, she said. I was inside my home when they came, Amir said. They came through the village, shooting and setting fire to houses. #RohingyaCrisis https://t.co/QqGRyOa3B6 Concern Worldwide (@Concern) October 4, 2017 If you would like to donate to Concerns Rohingya Refugee Crisis appeal please log on to Concern.net. Russia and Saudi Arabia have struck a number of deals, including contracts for Russian weapons, as part of a groundbreaking first visit by a Saudi monarch. The Kremlin talks between Saudi King Salman and Russian president Vladimir Putin mark a thaw in relations between the countries, which have often been tense since the Cold War times when the kingdom supported of Afghan rebels fighting the Soviet invasion in the 1980s. Observers say Riyadh's decision to boost ties with Moscow reflects the expanded clout Russia has won in the Middle East with its military blitz in Syria. And it shows the Saudis' interest in keeping Russia signed up to a global deal to limit oil production and push up the price of their valuable crude exports. Hosting the Saudi king in the ornate Kremlin interiors, Mr Putin hailed his visit as a "landmark event" that will give a "strong impulse" to bilateral ties. Salman said he was looking to expand relations with "friendly nation" Russia "in the interests of peace, security and development of the world economy". The Saudi monarch noted that the two nations agree on many international and regional issues and intend to continue their efforts to shore up global oil prices. Following the talks, Saudi Arabian Military Industries (Sami) said it signed agreements with Russia's state arms trader, Rosoboronexport, for the purchase of cutting-edge Russian weapons, including the long-range S-400 air defence missile systems. In line with Saudi Arabia's intention to localise weapons production, the deals envisage the transfer of technology for the local production of Russian Kornet-EM anti-tank missiles, TOS-1A rocket launchers and AGS-30 automatic grenade launchers and the latest version of the Kalashnikov assault rifle. While the US has remained Saudi Arabia's top weapons supplier and its most critical Western ally, Thursday's deals highlighted Riyadh's intention to expand ties with Russia. The Saudis have also been eyeing Russian nuclear power technologies and appear ready to expand food imports from Russia, which is set to remain the world's biggest wheat exporter this year. Food security is a major concern for Saudi Arabia, which stopped local production of livestock feed and wheat due to water scarcity. Salman's visit comes after decades of tensions, most recently over the war in Syria, where Saudi Arabia had backed the Sunni rebels fighting to oust President Bashar Assad, while its arch-rival, Shiite powerhouse Iran, had teamed with Russia to shore up his rule. Analysts see Salman's trip to Moscow, which follows other visits by Gulf royals, as the clearest sign yet that Russia's high-risk gamble in Syria has paid off. "A number of Gulf leaders have been going with greater regularity to Moscow and I think for a simple reason: Russia has made itself much more of a factor in key parts of the Middle East as the US has taken a step back in some ways, particularly in Syria," said Brian Katulis, a senior fellow at the Centre for American Progress. Saudi-US ties grew strained under the Obama administration over its backing of a nuclear agreement with Iran and its cautious stance on the Syrian conflict. Relations improved under the Trump administration, but Washington's focus in Syria continues to be on fighting the Islamic State group, not on ousting Mr Assad. AP A suicide bomber has targeted a Shiite shrine packed with worshippers in a remote village in Pakistan, killing 20 people and leaving at least 25 wounded in an apparent sectarian attack. The attacker detonated his explosives vest when he was stopped for a routine search by a police officer guarding the shrine in the village of Jhal Masgi, about 240 miles east of Quetta, the capital of Baluchistan province. No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack. Anwarul Haq Kakar, spokesman for the provincial government, said the death toll could rise as some of the wounded were in critical condition. Mohammad Iqbal, a district police chief, said five children, a woman and one police officer were among those 20 people killed in the bombing. He said they found body parts of the attacker and investigators were trying to determine who was behind the bombing. Sarfraz Bugti, the provincial home minister, said "terrorists have shown their inhumaneness by attacking innocent civilians" at the shrine. Atif Ali Shah, the custodian of the shrine, told reporters that had the attacker managed to enter the shrine, there would have been many more casualties. The police officer who stopped the bomber and other guards who rushed to the scene "saved many lives", he said. Hundreds of devotees were present at the shrine for a monthly gathering when the bomber hit. Local TV footage showed people crying for help in the immediate aftermath of the attack. Just hours earlier, Pakistani army spokesman Major General Asif Ghafoor said the military had received credible reports of upcoming terror attacks. Maj Gen Ghafoor told a news conference in the garrison city of Rawalpindi that the government has been alerted about possible attacks. Though no one claimed responsibility for Thursday's bombing, Sunni extremists have carried out many such attacks in the past, targeting minority Shiite Muslims in Baluchistan and elsewhere in the country. Sunni extremists perceive Shiites as apostates who should be killed. Pakistani Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi condemned the attack. In a statement, he said that "terrorists have no religion" and that his government will act against militants with full might. In June, at least 75 Shiite Muslims were killed in twin bombings at a market in Parachinar in the country's north west. At the time, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, a sectarian Sunni extremist group, claimed the bombings in Parachinar, which is a majority Shiite town. In February, an Islamic State suicide bomber struck inside a famed Sufi shrine in southern Sindh province, killing 88 worshippers as they performed a devotional dance known as "dhamal". Baluchistan, which shares a border with Sindh province, has also been the scene of a low-level insurgency by Baluch nationalists and separatists demanding more autonomy and a greater share in the region's natural resources such as gas and oil. However, Islamic militants have also carried out scores of attacks in the province. AP Shares in the UKs biggest power and gas supplier to homes fell as much as 7.4% and SSE dropped as much as 5%. Utilities from Germanys EON and Spains Iberdrola with operations in Britain also fell as Theresa May followed through on an election promise to cap charges in what she called UKs broken energy market. Ms Mays government will bring an end to rip-off energy prices, she told delegates at the Conservative Partys annual conference in Manchester. We will always take on monopolies and vested interests when they are holding people back, she said. Speaking in the Dail, he said: We profoundly disagree with the commissions interpretation of state aid rules. It is our view that tax is a national competence. It is a matter for this parliament not a European matter. This is already on appeal to the ECJ. He said in the meantime, the Government was making arrangements to collect the 13bn from Apple. Elaine Rhys-Davies, aged 61, of Ballea Castle in Carrigaline, Co Cork, had claimed that she sustained horrific injuries when she fell into a manhole through a broken manhole cover. The ESB said she stumbled near the hole but never fell into it. The case went into its third day before the High Court in Cork. However, shortly after noon the plaintiffs senior counsel, James OMahony, told Mr Justice Henry Abbott the case could be struck out with no order. Mr OMahony said: I am happy to be able to tell the court the parties have resolved their differences. No details of the terms of this resolution were given in court. In the case Michael Gleeson SC, for the ESB, suggested that whatever damage was done to paving in the area was done incrementally over the years and not by the ESB once driving a truck across it and he said that was clear from the fact vegetation was growing out of some cracks. Ms Rhys-Davies replied: It was June, the fastest growing month. I dont accept the vegetation theory. She said the damage was done by the ESB. Mr Justice Abbott wondered whether it was the poet Francis Ledwidge or Gerard Manley-Hopkins who wrote about weeds growing quickly in June. Mr Gleeson quipped: Fortunately, we have engineers rather than poets to help us on how fresh those cracks were. Mr Gleeson said to the plaintiff: You have over-stated the damage the ESB did to your paving? The plaintiff replied: I have overstated nothing, so help me God. Ms Rhys-Davies said someone moved a log, 50-litre pot and temporary cover from on top of the broken manhole cover, without her knowing it, during a confused conversation she had with three workers, and she stepped into the broken manhole cover, resulting in her injuries. Mr Gleeson SC said: The evidence will be that you did not fall into that hole at all. Ms Rhys-Davies laughed at this and said: Oh that will be interesting. So what are we doing here today? Mr Gleeson said: You turned to get a replacement manhole cover, you stumbled, you never fell into the hole. The plaintiff replied: Oh well that is just untrue, they had to lift me out of the hole. It is completely, completely untrue. The plaintiff said she suffered injuries on June 1, 2012 when both of her feet went into the broken manhole, cutting her legs and grazing her hands. She said the most serious injuries were to her neck and left shoulder. It is very hard to describe the pain, it is horrific the pain I live with, she said. She also described her pain as agony. In terms of how it has affected her life, it did so particularly to her two main activities which were gardening the seven acres of formal gardens by the castle and keeping her dogs. Mr Justice Abbott warned Ms Rhys-Davies during her evidence about the concept of mental reservation, something that was highlighted by the commission into the Dublin Archdioceses. The matter arose out of how she was responding to questions from the ESBs senior counsel Mr Gleeson. Because the plaintiff attributed psychological complaints to the disputed accident in 2012, Mr Gleeson wanted to know if there had been a psychological reaction to a car accident she had previously. She said she was never treated for a psychological problem. Mr Gleeson said one of the medical reports referred to a psychological reaction from the car accident. The plaintiff then went on to qualify that there was a difference between reactive depression and endogenous depression. Mr Justice Abbott said he had taken it from her initial response that she had no depressive symptoms at all from that car crash. He said that by drawing the distinction now that she was never treated for it the plaintiff was using something akin to mental reservation. The judge said: I took it you had no depression. If you are asked, be careful how you answer. It does not reflect well on you. I take it that it is akin to mental reservation and the court will have to take a view on it. Ms Rhys-Davies said: I apologise if there was any communication differences. At the moment, it is given to infants who suffer hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), a type of brain damage that occurs when a babys brain doesnt receive enough oxygen and blood. It is administered to those with moderate or severe HIE only, however researchers at University College Cork believe it could also benefit newborns who suffer mild encephalopathy. Consultant paediatrician Deirdre Murray said they are hoping to now secure funding for a clinical trial to establish if this is the case. Theres a lot of interest in the area because it poses a big problem for doctors looking after these babies. For brain cooling to be effective it has to start within the first six hours of life. Time is of the essence. But it can be difficult to decide who to cool and we are probably missing about 20% of those who would benefit, said Dr Murray, a senior lecturer at UCC. The problem is compounded for doctors outside of the countrys four cooling centres; Cork University Maternity Hospital (CUMH) and the three Dublin maternity hospitals. For babies born with moderate brain damage who undergo cooling, follow-up research has shown it decreases the disability rate, the cerebral palsy rate and the death rate. The thinking had been that infants with mild encephalopathy did well anyway, and so didnt need cooling. However, research led by Dr Murray, published in the journal Paediatrics last year, showed that babies will mild HIE also have lower IQ levels and increased rates of disability at school age. They dont have cerebral palsy and wouldnt be expected to die, but they showed similar rates of learning disability compared to those with moderate encephalopathy. Dr Murray, who heads up a UCC research group focused on improving outcomes from early brain injury, said they hope, with other international researchers to establish an international clinical trial to find out whether cooling will benefit babies with mild encephalopathy. The estimated cost of cooling a baby known as therapeutic hypothermia is c4,000, which includes the cost of intensive care. The equipment used resembles a very thin hot water bottle filled with cooling fluid to reduce the babys temperature from 37.4C to 33.5C over a 72-hour period. Cooling reduces the rate of disability from about 55%-60% to about 30% in moderate to severe encephalopathy. We know it works, we just need to find out which babies we should be cooling, Dr Murray said. Dr Murray is among an international line-up of experts who will address the Brain Monitoring and Neuroprotection in the Newborn conference which gets underway in Killarney today, hosted by INFANT, a world-leading research Centre headed up by UCC. International engineering and hydraulics company, HR Wallingford, believes a tidal barrier would protect more of the city from flood risk than the OPWs controversial Lower Lee flood relief scheme the single largest investment in flood defences in the history of the State. The news comes as the OPW finalises its analysis of the 1,250 public submissions made on its Cork City flood defence plan. Its reliance on raised quay walls has sparked controversy, with the Save Cork City campaign group a vocal opponent. It has called for its alternative plan to be considered a downstream tidal barrier and upstream catchment management measures. The OPW has consistently ruled out its proposals, saying a tidal barrier could cost up to 1bn, and that the upstream measures would not provide adequate protection against fluvial flooding. However, in a report commissioned by Save Cork City and due to be launched today, HR Wallingford experts David Ramsbottom and Peter Hunter, said the alternative plan is viable and provides many benefits over the OPWs plan. They say a 950m sector and sluice gate tidal barrier, similar to storm surge barriers in New Orleans, could be built 10km downstream of Cork City for 140m based on 2017 figures. They said it would avoid the need to build or maintain flood defences in the city centre, avoid the disruption caused by such construction, and eliminate the visual impact of raised walls. Save Cork City spokesman John Hegarty: We want the right solution for flood relief in Cork that reflects the ambition of the city. Tidal barrier cheaper and better protection for Cork A tidal barrier could be built in Cork for 140m and would protect more of the city from flood risk than the OPWs controversial Lower Lee flood defence scheme, international experts have said. HR Wallingford, a civil engineering and environmental hydraulics firm based in England, said the alternative tidal barrier plan proposed by the Save Cork City group, which has been ruled out by the OPW on mostly cost grounds, is viable and would work. The campaign groups alternative plan has the major benefit of not requiring the construction of raised walls along the citys quays, it would help to maintain the historic landscape of the city, and would avoid the disruption caused by construction, the firm says. The alternative scheme would also avoid the scenario of overtopping or failure of flood walls in the city, which could cause a serious risk to life as well as damage to the city, it says. Image taken from teh report by HR Wallingford on the Cork City tidal barrier The details are contained in a report by two of the firms leading experts, who were commissioned by Save Cork City to examine their proposal. It will be launched today. The OPW is in the final stages of analysing more than 1,200 submissions from the public on its Lower Lee flood relief scheme the largest single investment in flood defences in the history of the State. Save Cork City is opposed to the schemes reliance on raised quay walls and has suggested an alternative plan the construction of a downstream tidal barrier combined with upstream catchment management. The OPW has consistently ruled out a barrier on cost grounds, suggesting that it could cost somewhere between 500m and 1bn, and warning that it would do nothing to protect the city from fluvial flood risk upstream. The campaigners commissioned Oxford-based HR Wallingford to provide an independent cost estimate for their alternative plan. The firms technical director, David Ramsbottom, who was involved in the technical development of the Thames Estuary 2100 Plan, and civil engineer Peter Hunter, who was a project manager on the Cardiff Bay Barrage and who is the lenders supervisor for a group of European banks for the $3bn St Petersburg Flood Defence Barrier, examined the campaigners proposal. Their report says a tidal barrier could be built 10km downstream of Cork City, at a location proposed by Save Cork City between Little Island and Horse Head, for an estimated 140m based on 2017 figures. The proposed structure would be about 950m-long and would consist of an embankment with a 60m wide navigation opening and a number of smaller gates. The main cost elements are the gates and the embankment, but the costs also include environmental mitigation measures and public amenity facilities, they said. Further study will be needed to develop the design for a barrier and refine the cost estimates. They said a tidal barrier will provide tidal flood protection for the city without the need to provide and maintain flood defences in the citys urban area. This will avoid the disruption that construction of the walls would cause and also avoid the impacts that walls would have on the city landscape, they said. They also said a tidal barrier will protect more of the city and more infrastructure from tidal flooding as it includes significant areas to the east of the OPWs walls proposal. Save Cork City spokesman John Hegarty welcomed the report which he said confirms what they have been saying all along. We want the right solution for flood relief in Cork that reflects the ambition of the city, he said. The walls scheme would set a new and dangerous precedent for Cork with water pumping systems and many kilometres of walls ensuring the likelihood of a future dangerous breach in the defences leaving the city more likely to be flooded in the future. A tidal barrier provides faster flood relief and is environmentally the better choice for the city. It represents better value for money for the taxpayer. In design terms it represents a more predictable set of circumstances so the outcome and costs are predictable too. A tidal barrier is a far safer solution for people at risk of flooding by reducing that risk. Fianna Fail senator Lorraine Clifford Lee said she was taken aback by a speech given by Mr Flanagan on the matter of direct provision. I had some notes prepared prior to the debate but I am taken aback by the ministers contribution today so I have decided instead to dissect the ministers opening statement and to refer directly to that speech, she said. It was bordering on the offensive, to be honest. At the end of the ministers statement he referred to constructive solutions and he reminded senators to not engage in negative stereotyping of asylum seekers. I believe that the ministers speech actually engaged in that negative stereotyping. In the first half of the speech the minister said quite comprehensively that the State is doing a great job. This attitude from official Ireland towards asylum seekers actually creates this negative stereotype, she added. During his speech, Mr Flanagan said that adults in direct provision will soon be allowed to work. Speaking in the Seanad yesterday, Mr Flanagan said there had been a great deal of criticism of direct provision over the years but it is changing. While he said some of the criticism was justified, a lot of it is not. Adults who will soon have access to the labour market will also see their capacity for economic independence enhanced in line with the findings of the Supreme Court. Residents have been given access to the services of the Ombudsman and the Ombudsman for Children, which is an important step forward, he said. Mr Flanagan said that while the Irish system has failings, the Government is bound to comply with international rules on asylum. Some people believe that the accommodation offered constitutes a detention centre. This, of course, is not the case, he said. Mr Flanagan said the system was a guarantee that every person who walked into the international protection office would have a bed, food, a shower, medical care, information and access to a wide range of services. He said the system was beset by problems as the State sought to grapple with a large volume of asylum applications, something Ireland was not used to. Assistant Commissioner John ODriscoll said it was obvious Stepaside would be picked from criteria given to him by the Government and Department of Justice. Controversy has erupted over the decision to reopen Stepaside over the other 139 stations closed during the recession. The station is in the south Dublin constituency of Transport Minister Shane Ross, who denies Taoiseach Leo Varadkar promised him he would get its reopening over the line. Mr ODriscoll produced a report for the Government on six stations to reopen, but picked Stepaside over any other, a decision which has prompted opposition claims of a political stroke. He told the Oireachtas Justice Committee his final report on the six stations would be finished in two weeks. It will then go to the department and the Government, who will have the final say on which stations should be reopened. But Fianna Fail justice spokesman Jim OCallaghan quizzed the assistant commissioner on whether he was put under pressure in the days leading up to an interim report submitted on June 9. This was three days after Mr Varadkar allegedly told Mr Ross in a private meeting that he would get Stepaside over the line. The alleged promise was recounted to the Irish Examinerby Mr Ross colleague, Minister John Halligan. Mr Ross, a week later on June 13, announced that Stepaside would reopen. Mr OCallaghan asked Assistant Commissioner ODriscoll whether anyone in Government or any minister had contacted him close to when he finished the interim report on June 8. Mr ODriscoll confirmed he had received a request from the commissioner of the day, Noirin OSullivan, after he advised the final report was not finished. Im not sure if requests were coming from elsewhere to the commissioners office, the deputy commissioners office or wherever. But it was on the basis that we had been requested to advise on developments and I was in a position to advise how the process had developed up to that particular time. Asked by Mr OCallaghan if former commissioner Ms OSullivan had directly asked for the report before June 8, he replied: I think requests, I had a number of reminders in writing asking me for an update. There probably is correspondence which indicates that I was again asked if I was in a position to give an update. Mr ODriscoll earlier admitted that, after the criteria were given to him by the Department of Justice to do the report, that it was obvious that Stepaside would be chosen over others. He cited his report, released over the weekend, which pointed to population changes as partial reasons for its recommendations. The decision to chose Stepaside was down to consulting with local officers and it was a bigger station than two nearby ones in south Dublin, added Mr ODriscoll. Taking all of the information into account, I think Stepaside came to the top among those three. But Fianna Fail TD Jack Chambers warned gardai had been framed on the controversy, thrown under the bus. He told gardai: They [the Government] put two and two together and you had to answer four. Judge Olann Kelleher said last week the accused could not be kept in jail forever. Yesterday he was released and given the four-month suspended jail term after he pleaded guilty to failing to have a passport or similar identification papers as required of non-nationals. Detective Sgt Sean ORegan said the man identified himself as Ambrose Amorjie, aged 37, and fingerprints sent by gardai through Interpol to EU police forces came back with a match from Austrian police. The detective said the fingerprint match was for a man under the name John Yerima. The accused said through his solicitor, Michael Quinlan, that he had given his name in Austria as John Yerima because he was not in the country legally. The defendant said his correct name is Ambrose Amorjie. He was arrested almost three weeks ago at a valeting outlet in Whites Cross and remanded in custody. From the outset, it was indicated the accused was pleading guilty to the offence of having no documents. Det Sgt ORegan said previously: He was working at a service station. He had no permission to be in the country. Judge Kelleher was told that the defendant was not employed directly but was working on a casual basis for someone else. The detective said the accused gave an address at Gerald Griffin St but that the occupant there did not know him. Det Sgt ORegan said the accused told him he came in through Austria to Dublin Airport but he would have needed travel documents. There was another teaser on Twitter a few hours later. Landed with a photo of her boots, bag and scarf on the aircraft floor. Victoria was ready to go, destination Brown Thomas, to launch for her second make-up line for Estee Lauder (the first, released last year, was lauded by beauty editors the world over). William Liam Michael Cosgrave was born in Castleknock, Dublin, on April 13, 1920. He was the eldest son of the W.T. Cosgrave, who became president of the Executive Council of the Irish Free State from 1923 to 1932. Educated at Synge Street CBS and Castleknock College, Liam Cosgrave studied law at Kings Inn and was called to the Bar on June 21, 1943. Two days later he was elected to Dail Eireann from the Dublin County constituency. Although Fianna Fail lost its overall majority in that general election, it retained power as a minority government. Cosgrave was re-elected on the first count in 1944 and changed to Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown constituency for the 1948 general election. Former Fine Gael Taoiseach Liam Cosgrave speaking at the Fine Gael 50th Anniversary in 1983. Photo: Eamonn Farrell/RollingNews.ie When Fine Gael returned to power at the head of the National Coalition in 1948, Cosgrave was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Taoiseach and Chief Whip. He retained his seat on the first count in 1951, and headed the poll in the next seven general elections, extending over 30 years. In 1954, he was appointed Minister for External Affairs in the Second Interparty Government. He headed the Irish delegation, when the country was admitted to the United Nations in 1955. He outlined a foreign policy based on three fundamental principles: (1) adherence to the UN Charter, (2) independence and non-alignment, (3) to do whatever we can as a member of the UN to preserve the Christian civilisation of which we are a part and with that end in view to support whenever possible those powers principally responsible for the defence of the free world in their resistance to the spread of communist power and influence. While back in opposition later, Cosgrave raised many eyebrows by essentially endorsing Eamon de Valeras effort to abolish Proportional Representation in June 1959. Liam Cosgrave pictured at The Gathering at Basin Lane in 2013. Mr Cosgraves father WT Cosgrave attended CBS Jamess Street. Cosgraves independence possibly cost him the party leadership four months later, when he was decisively defeated by James Dillon in a leadership contest. During the 1960s, Cosgrave supported Declan Costellos Just Society proposals. After Fine Gael failed to oust Fianna Fail in the general election of 1965, Dillon stepped down, and Cosgrave was decisively elected as Fine Gael leader. He played a particularly important role during the Arms Crisis of 1970 after a senior Garda informed him of involvement of members of the Government in a conspiracy to import arms for the IRA in Northern Ireland. Cosgrave put pressure on Taoiseach Jack Lynch, who responded by demanding the resignations of Neil Blaney and Charles Haughey. He then dismissed them when they refused to step down. Cosgrave behaved in a statesmanlike way throughout the ensuing political upheaval. He put national security and the national interest before party considerations. Ignoring internal party pressure, he passed up the opportunity to embarrass Lynchs government by refusing to oppose its anti-terrorist legislation. Cosgrave decisively confronted his party critics at the Fine Gael Ard Fheis in May 1972. He alluded to them as mongrel foxes. That November he bravely supported the Offences Against the State (Amendment), even though most of his party seemed anxious to exploit the situation to embarrass the Fianna Fail Government. Cosgrave was rewarded for his courage on March 14, 1973 by being elected Taoiseach at the head of a Fine GaelLabour Coalition. His cabinet represented the broad spread of opinion within the coalition, with the inclusion of such luminaries as Garret FitzGerald, Conor Cruise OBrien, Peter Barry, Justin Keating, and Mark Clinton. It was a Government of all the talents, according to Cosgrave. Liam Cosgrave who passed away today arrives with his daughter Anna at the Church of St Therese at Mount Merrion where the Papal Nuncio celebrated a mass to mark World Day of Peace in 2013. His style of leadership was that of a chairman, determined to implement the agreed policies of the coalition arrangement. The coalition ran into difficulties in October 1974 when the international Oil Shock, provoked extensive inflation. After the Supreme Court overturned a law banning the importation of contraceptives for married couples, Justice Minister Paddy Cooney introduced legislation to regulate the situation, but Fianna Fail opposed this in a naked attempt to exploit the situation. Cosgrave insisted on a free vote in the Dail, and then shocked his colleagues by voting against his own governments legislation. Following the death of President Erskine Childers in November 1974, the government agreed on the selection of a non-political President Cearbhall O Dalaigh, a former Chief Justice. When the government passed an Emergency Powers Bill, in the wake of the IRAs assassination of Christopher Ewart-Biggs, the British Ambassador to Ireland, the President exercised his prerogative to refer the bill to the Supreme Court, which upheld the legislation. The President then signed it into law on October 16, 1976, the same day as the murder of a Garda. Apparently feeling the delay had contributed to the Gardas death, Defence Minister Paddy Donegan sparked a constitutional crisis by denouncing the President as a thundering disgrace. Donegan tried to apologise personally, but O Dalaigh refused to meet him. Cosgrave then retaliated by refusing to accept Donegans resignation. O Dalaigh resigned as President on October 22, 1976 to protect the dignity and independence of the presidency as an institution. Cosgrave had scored a political own goal. Fianna Fail won a record majority in the general election of 1977 with extravagant election promises. Cosgrave promptly stood down as Fine Gael leader, and he retired from politics at the end of the Dail term in 1981. His monumental legacy was in putting the national interest before politics. It was his misfortune that he was faced with Jack Lynch, the most popular Irish politician of the century. Get unlimited access to all content and features at ivpressonline.com with our Full Online Access Subscription. Read our E-Edition, the digital replica of the print newspaper online, access content in exclusive sections including Family, Teen, Business, Databases, Farm and more. This option does not include daily home delivery of the Imperial Valley Press newspaper. For home delivery service, please select Premium or Premium Plus. Local Dems sweep; town rejects pot Every Democrat on the local ballot won their race Tuesday, including Jamestown resident Peter Neronhas re-election as the states top prosecutor, and local voters followed suit with the statewide trend... Voters rebuff allowing retail pot sales in shops By a margin of 157 votes, the electorate decided Tuesday not to allow local businesses to cultivate, manufacture, test or sell recreational marijuana in Jamestown. The referendum to allow the... School board agrees to contract with North Kingstown Jamestown students entering high school can continue to choose North Kingstown as their destination for grades 9-12. We are pleased to continue this historic partnership, said Ken Duva, superintendent of... WASHINGTON -- Fake news has come to the high court. At Tuesday's argument before the Supreme Court about gerrymandering -- the science of using map-drawing and Big Data to keep ruling parties in power even when a majority votes for the opposition -- Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. was searching for a way to uphold the unsavory practice. But there was a problem: Gerrymandering is making a mockery of the right to vote in Wisconsin, the focus of the case before the court, where a redrawn map allowed Republicans to hold more than 60 percent of the state assembly while getting less than half the vote. And so Alito resorted to subterfuge. He waited until the closing minutes and hit Paul M. Smith, the lawyer arguing against the Wisconsin plan, with the last question of the argument. "You paint a very dire picture about gerrymandering and its effects," Alito said, "but I was struck by something in the seminal article by your expert, Mr. McGhee, and he says there, 'I show that the effects of party control on bias are small and decay rapidly, suggesting that redistricting is at best a blunt tool for promoting partisan interests.' So he was wrong in that?" The question baffled Smith, who said he would need to see the context. "Well," Alito retorted, "that's what he said." No, it isn't. I called Eric McGhee, the expert, after the argument. The quote Alito pulled was not from the "seminal article" McGhee co-wrote proposing the legal standard for gerrymandering at the center of the case. It was from an earlier McGhee paper, using data from the 1970s through 1990s. In the paper at the center of the case, by contrast, "we used updated data from the 2000s," McGhee told me, "and the story is very different. It's gotten a lot worse in the last two cycles. ... The data are clear." Why would Alito resort to this sleight of hand? Perhaps because it's clear that if he stuck to the facts, he'd have to acknowledge that the growing abuse of gerrymandering threatens democracy. Political gerrymandering has become dramatically more precise in disenfranchising voters with the revolution in data analytics -- both in states such as Wisconsin and in Congress, where Democrats need to win the popular vote by more than seven points to break even in the House. (Democrats abuse gerrymandering, too, though they hold power in fewer states.) There's also no obvious legal reason that the court can't intervene to curb the practice on grounds of free speech or equal protection. "What's really behind all of this," Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg said during arguments, is "the precious right to vote. If you can stack a legislature in this way, what incentive is there for a voter to exercise his vote?" Smith predicted that if the court fails to intervene in Wisconsin, "you're going to have a festival of copycat gerrymandering the likes of which this country has never seen. ... The country is going to lose faith in democracy." Three members of the court's conservative bloc -- Alito, Neil Gorsuch and John Roberts Jr., the chief justice -- were searching for reasons not to intervene. (A fourth, the silent Clarence Thomas, previously voted against court involvement.) That likely leaves the decision to Anthony M. Kennedy, who is more prone to bouts of fairness than his conservative colleagues. In an unusual soliloquy, the chief justice argued that the court shouldn't get involved in the Wisconsin case because then it would have to intervene in others. "It's going to be a problem here across the board," he lamented. The poor dears. Maybe, given that democracy is at stake, they could shorten their summer holiday, which just ended Monday? Roberts continued: "The intelligent man on the street" will deduce that, if the Supreme Court rules with Democrats in a gerrymandering case, "it must be because the Supreme Court preferred the Democrats over the Republicans. ... And that is going to cause very serious harm to the status and integrity of the decisions of this court in the eyes of the country." Now he's worried about the public standing of the court? After Bush v. Gore, campaign finance rulings that give the wealthy dominance over elections, and the brazen politics of the Merrick Garland fiasco? In the gerrymandering case, the justices have a chance to restore "integrity" by defending the principle of one person, one vote. Alternatively, the five Republican appointees can defend their patrons by allowing this perversion of democracy to continue. Follow Dana Milbank on Twitter, @Milbank. The Washington Post Because they harbor criminal aliens, sanctuary cities and the debate that surrounds them confound immigration law enforcement advocates. The dispute often centers on philosophical questions like how to define the term, and whether state and local governments have the authority to establish federal immigration policy. Local and state municipalities don't have such power, and the Department of Justice can end the debate: order Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents into the offending jurisdictions with instructions to detain and begin removal proceedings against criminal aliens., Attorney General Jeff Sessions has repeatedly railed against sanctuary cities, and threatened to withhold federal grant money from them. But sanctuary city mayors have rebuffed Sessions, often brazenly. Finally last week, in what appears an "enough is enough" statement, ICE and its Enforcement Removal Operations (ERO) team launched "Operation Safe City." The mission focused on cities and regions where ICE deportation officers are denied access to jails and prisons to interview suspected immigration violators and on jurisdictions that refuse to honor, ICE detainers. Those prioritized for removal included foreign nationals with criminal convictions or pending criminal charges, known gang members, immigration fugitives from justice who ignored final deportation orders, and those who feloniously re-entered the U.S. after deportation. Deferred action for childhood arrivals recipients (DACAs) were excluded from the ERO effort. ICE arrested 498 aliens from 42 countries in these sanctuary cities: Baltimore, 28; Cook County, Illinois, 30; Denver, 63; Los Angeles, 101; New York, 45; Philadelphia, 107; Seattle, Wash., 33; Santa Clara County, Calif., 27; Washington, D.C., 14, and the state of Massachusetts, 50., Among those arrested, and previously granted sanctuary by the rogue jurisdictions, were a Salvadoran woman living in Baltimore charged with murder and attempted murder, and convicted of first degree assault; an Indian national living in Boston and registered sex offender; and a Mexican living in San Jose who overstayed his visa for more than 10 years, and with previous felony convictions on drug charges and felony child cruelty with the possibility of injury or death. In each case, the aliens had been previously released from local jails before ICE could assume custody. When the "Operation Safe City" results are compared to advocates' absurd allegations that sanctuary cities are safer than non-sanctuaries, the claim's foolishness becomes obvious. For example, in the most notorious sanctuary city, San Francisco, where in 2015 a five-time deported, seven-time convicted felon Juan Francisco Lopez-Sanchez murdered Kate Steinle, Mayor Ed Lee said earlier this year that he stands by his non-cooperation decision because "crime doesn't know documentation." Yet in San Francisco, "Operation Safe City" arrested a previously released Salvadoran alien with convictions for sex with a minor under the age of 16. Across the political spectrum and with likely voters, sanctuary cites are overwhelmingly unpopular. Most Americans will support "Operation Safe City" for the obvious reason - criminal aliens endanger communities and should be removed. Noting that non-cooperation undermines public safety, ICE Acting Director Thomas Homan said that shielding criminal aliens creates a magnet for more illegal immigrants, with criminals certain to be among them. As long as sanctuary cities remain defiantly opposed to complying with federal immigration law, and refuse to protect the public, DOJ must continue its removal operations. The Dixie Classic Fair still has four days of fine fun to go. Theres still time to get there before closing day, Sunday. Check it out. Theres still Figure 8 racing on Friday and local musicians at the clock tower stage on Saturday. There are still the fair staples: the petting zoo, the livestock and agricultural displays, the arts and crafts displays and the classic rides such as the carousel, the tilt-a-whirl, the flying swings, and, probably, some new monstrosity to challenge our courage and our stomachs. The Veterans Wall of Honor has returned for a third year, honoring the local heroes who served our nation. And, of course, there are the racing pigs. Along with the fun, the fair provides accessible opportunities to contribute to charitable causes. Food concessionaires over 100 of them will include groups that give back to the community. There are special days with special themes and discounts, like today, WXII Military Appreciation Day, during which active and retired military members with immediate family members will be admitted free. Not to toot our own horn, but Friday and Saturday will be Winston-Salem Journal Family Days, on which the special coupon located in the Journal will provide free admission for up to four kids under 11 with one paying adult. Of course, theres food: Barbecue, pizza, corndogs, Polish sausage, funnel cakes, cotton candy, French fries, fried candy bars, fried cookies, fried everything. Attending the fair is a fun community event that draws people from all around the area to mix, mingle, laugh and enjoy a grand time together. Some go just to watch the people, and they sure will be there. There is one sad note to this years fair. A concessions worker, 41-year-old Michael Jason Curl of Hickory, died early Tuesday in the 400 block of Deacon Boulevard after jumping out of a moving cab, police said. ERWIN A. TIMM, Walnut Cove Equality of poverty Taking a knee when the national anthem is played is un-American! Our American national anthem honors Americans fight for freedom. That freedom is emblazoned in our founding document the Declaration of Independence which acknowledges the fountain of freedom God our Creator who established the Laws of Nature and of Natures God, which reveals these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. Even though some politicians and judges have passed perverted laws and rulings, the goal for which we fight, and others have sacrificed their lives for, is there declared written for all to see and to work toward. That fight never ends. Colin Kaepernick who has worn a pro-Fidel Castro t-shirt and socks depicting police as pigs took a knee when the national anthem was sung, and others have done likewise. Are they ignorant of Fidel Castros Cuba with its equality of poverty under Communisms Socialism? Cuba has no such thing as freedom of speech, nor has Cuba banned slavery. It tortures political dissidents and enslaves them. The same is true for other Communist countries. *** DOROTHY MATHEWS, Rural Hall Bad for business How not to get shot: 1. Dont attend concerts. Or movies. Or political rallies. Or religious services. 2. Dont go to restaurants. Or kindergarten. Or elementary school. Or high school. Or college. 3. Dont shop in big stores. Or in malls. Or in markets. 4. Dont visit tourist spots or go to airports overseas. Or in the U.S. 5. Avoid being around people who are white, middle eastern, asian, hispanic, black, elderly, middle-aged, teenagers or children. They are either the shooters or the targeted victims. In a nutshell, stay at home with your smart phone and shoot anyone who comes to your door. Uncontrolled guns are bad for business. Except, of course, for gun sales. *** DENISE MELTON, Winston-Salem Broken by violence After the Las Vegas massacre, President Trump said, Our unity cannot be shattered by evil, our bonds cannot be broken by violence. We call upon the bonds that unite us (President sticks to somber script, Oct. 3). This is rich, coming from a man whose brand is division and outrage, a man who regularly tweets and speaks about losers and failing this or that. He launched an unprovoked Twitter attack on the mayor of London after a terrorist attack there. He attacked the mayor of San Juan after she begged for help for Puerto Rico. Does he expect us to unite with his nasty disposition and poor example? Talk-show host Jimmy Kimmel spoke eloquently about the Las Vegas massacre and the complicity of the NRA on Monday night. Hes no expert, but he has a heart and hes willing to risk his position, his popularity and his wealth to call for action. America is in deep trouble when a comedian sets a better example for the nation than its toothless president. Please submit letters online to Letters@wsjournal.com or mail letters to: The Readers Forum, P.O. Box 3159, Winston-Salem, NC 27102. Letters are subject to editing and are limited to 250 words. For more guidelines and advice on writing letters, go to journalnow.com/opinion/submit_a_letter. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc bids farewell to outgoing Bulgarian Ambassador Evgueni Stefanov Stoytchev. (Photo: VNA) The PM also expressed his thanks to Bulgaria for its support in recent years, particularly in training thousands of Vietnamese undergraduates and postgraduates. He proposed that Bulgaria, as the European Unions rotational Chair from January 2018, support Vietnam in deepening ties with the EU and push for the early signing and ratification of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA). The relations between the two countries have made significant progress but yet to match the potentials of both sides, he said, adding that he hopes they would accelerate cooperation in all fields. The Government leader also hoped that, with his experience and knowledge of Vietnam, the ambassador will continue to cultivate the good friendship between the two nations. Ambassador Evgueni Stefanov Stoytchev, for his part, highlighted the long-standing friendship between Vietnam and Bulgaria and expressed his appreciation towards support from Vietnamese ministries, agencies and local governments for his mission in the country. Vietnam has been and will continue to be Bulgarias key partner in Southeast Asia, he said. He agreed that there are still many potential for the two countries to tap in trade and investment and looked forward to firms from both sides getting more opportunities for partnership./. 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 Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith (Photo: VGP) The statement was made during a meeting with Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith, who is on a five-day visit to Vietnam, starting on October 2nd. At the meeting in Hanoi on October 2nd, PM Phuc expressed his appreciation for PM Sisouliths visit, especially with the two countries celebrating the Vietnam- Laos friendship year. Leaders of the two countries reviewed the implementation of cooperation agreements, bilateral investment and trade projects, and discussed solutions to challenges in order to meet their goals. The two sides agreed to continue high-level exchanges and visits and realise the agreements achieved at the 39th meeting of the Vietnam - Laos intergovernmental committee in Hanoi earlier this year as well as the visits by Vietnamese high-level officials to Laos. The two countries will focus on accelerating key projects like the Laos National Assembly building - a gift from Vietnam to Laos, the Hanoi - Vientiane expressway, Hon La oil and gas bonded warehouse and pipeline in the central province of Quang Binh, ports in the Vung Ang Port area, and several other energy and traffic connectivity projects. The two Prime Ministers also concurred to increase trade turnover between the two countries, facilitate Vietnamese businesses investing in Laos, and to boost ties in defence and security as well as education and training. With 2017 Vietnam - Laos friendship year, they agreed that the two countries will promote awareness programs aiming to educate younger generations on the unique friendship between Laos and Vietnam./. Armed groups in the Central African Republic are using rape and sexual slavery to terrorize women and girls, led by commanders who appear to have ordered the assaults, Human Rights Watch said Thursday. In a new report, the rights group documented 305 cases of rape and sexual slavery carried out against 296 women and girls, but these reflect only a fraction of the sexual violence, it said. The assaults were carried out from early 2013 to mid-2017, even as the large-scale violence that convulsed the country following the overthrow of Francois Bozize four years ago has subsided. "Armed groups are using rape in a brutal, calculated way to punish and terrorize women and girls," said Hillary Margolis, women's rights researcher at Human Rights Watch. The report named six rebels in leadership positions who were identified by the survivors as having committed sexual violence or ordered their fighters to carry out the attacks. To date, the attackers have faced "no consequences whatsoever," said Margolis. One of Africa's poorest countries, the Central African Republic descended into bloodletting in 2013 following the ouster of Bozize by a coalition of Muslim-majority rebel groups called the Seleka. In response, Christians, who account for about 80 percent of the population, organized vigilante units dubbed "anti-balaka" and violence between the two groups has led to thousands of deaths. More than a million people have fled their homes while 2.4 million people -- more than half of the population -- are in need of emergency food aid. "Commanders from the two main parties to the conflict have tolerated sexual violence by their forces: in some cases, they appear to have ordered and committed it," said the report on sexual violence in CAR. "At times, rape formed an integral part of armed assaults and was used as a weapon of war." Most of the documented abuses constitute war crimes, said the rights group. Some of the women were held as sexual slaves for up to 18 months, often subjected to repeated rape by multiple men, while others were forced to cook, clean and collect food as fighters' "wives." Thirteen women -- three of whom were children when they were assaulted -- said they became pregnant from the rapes. Human Rights Watch said a newly-established special criminal court set up in CAR should be up and running soon to hear cases of sexual assault. The UN peacekeeping mission MINUSCA should help authorities investigate cases of sexual violence and arrest those responsible for the crimes, the rights group said. Medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF) accused the Bulgarian, Croatian and Hungarian police of resorting to violence against migrants, notably children, in their bid to stop them from slipping into Europe. "For the children and young people trying to leave Serbia today, violence is a constant and the overwhelming majority is perpetrated by EU member states border police," the head of MSF in Serbia, Stephane Moissaing, said in a statement. "For more than a year our doctors and nurses have continued to hear the same, repetitive story of young people being beaten, humiliated, and attacked with dogs for desperately trying to continue their journeys," the statement said. In the first six months of 2017, 92 percent of children and teenagers attending MSF mental health clinics and reporting physical violence named the Bulgarian, Hungarian and Croatian police or border authorities as the perpetrators, he said. Nearly half of the children singled out Bulgarian authorities, the statement said. MSF said it was disgraceful that EU member states were intentionally using violence to deter children and young people from seeking asylum in the bloc. "It is causing serious damage, both physical and psychological, making them more vulnerable and pushing them back into the hands of the smugglers the EU and member states claim to be fighting," it said. Hundreds of thousands of migrants travelling to western and northern Europe passed through the so-called Balkan route until it was shut down in 2016. Several thousands of them got stuck in Serbia, but every day dozens try to continue on their journey. Accordingly, some 110 additional flights with over 20,000 seats will be operated on the Hanoi/Ho Chi Minh city- Da Nang routes. The Hanoi-Da Nang route to benefit 64 flights (an average of over 4,800 seats/day), while the Ho Chi Minh city-Da Nang route will see 44 flights (an average of nearly 6,000 seats/day). Each of the busiest days (October 6th and 11th), there are about 50 aircraft will take off connecting Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh city to Central Da Nang city. So, at least one flight will take off or land in Da Nang every 30 minutes. Mr Duong Tri Thanh, Vietnam Airlines President and CEO, expressed that by offering a readiness in time-table, technical maintenance and crew, his company will do its utmost to serve the rush period during the APEC event, as well as keep stabilizing its normal schedule to bring an image of a member of Sky team alliance with professional and 4-star services. Passengers are advised to update information at authorized booking offices of Vietnam Airlines, as well as visit www.vietnamairlines.com; or customer services switch board 19001100./. Madrid rejects invitation to talks with Catalan separatists Spain's government rejected an offer of a fresh round of talks with separatist leaders in the country's north-eastern Catalonia region late Wednesday, amid continued uncertainty in the wake of last week's disputed referendum on independence. GALLERY Madrid (dpa) - "The government will not negotiate over any illegal acts, nor will it be blackmailed," read an official statement released by the central government in Madrid.Referring directly to Catalonias regional leader, Carlos Puigdemont, who backs the separatist movement, the statement pointed to the serious damage already inflicted by the independence movement and demanded that separatist leaders meet with all parties in the Catalan regional government.Separatist leaders in Catalonia have been accused of attempting to exclude unionist parties from the proceedings.Earlier Wednesday, Puigdemont had called on the Spanish government, led by Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, to meet for new negotiations. However, in a television interview in Barcelona, the 54-year-old Catalan leader stressed that the regions independence would become a reality."My government will not budge a millimetre from its commitment," said Puigdemont.In a report published Wednesday evening, credit rating agency Standard & Poors stated that the region of Catalonia had been given the status of "credit watch negative," and stated that the region could experience major difficulties financing itself in the short term should it actually become independent.The ruling coalition in Catalonias regional government in Barcelona will convene a plenary session on Monday, in which independence could be declared unilaterally. In a controversial referendum on Sunday, a clear majority of voted in favour of Catalonias independence from Spain.The vote took place despite being prohibited by Spains Constitutional Court and despite Madrids express condemnation. Voter turnout in the referendum was 42 per cent, in large part because most of those opposed to independence did not participate.According to the regional government, nearly 900 people were injured as police tried to prevent the vote. Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman has said Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko intends to sign the bill on pension reform by Monday, October 9. "The president will sign the bill [on pension reform] by Monday," he said during a conference call on the implementation of the pension reform in Kyiv on Thursday. The prime minister noted that now the bill is in the Verkhovna Rada and will soon be submitted to Verkhovna Rada Speaker Andriy Parubiy for signing, and then to the president. The Verkhovna Rada on Tuesday, October 3, adopted a pension reform bill that provides for modernizing pensions from October and increasing the minimum insurance period for retirement from 15 to 25 years from January 1, 2018. Europe needs to rethink the way it is governed, at all levels, otherwise Catalonias attempt to break away will just be a taste of things to come. Last weekend was a dramatic one on the Iberian Peninsula. As the Catalans were voting on their independence, the Spanish government decided to crack down on the voters and peaceful protesters using violence and excessive force. With almost 900 people injured and shameful pictures released by the media, one could wonder how all this was helping Mariano Rajoys conservative government in its cause. Even if Rajoy was justified in his objections to the Catalan independence referendum, he has certainly lost peoples support not only in Catalonia, but in the rest of Europe too. Madrid is correct in its claims that the referendum was unconstitutional by law. But laws are not written in stone. If circumstances or the will and needs of the people change, then reforms must follow new realities. The Spanish government, after years of economic crisis, high unemployment rates, corruption, lack of opportunities for its youth and austerity, showed little competence in dealing with peoples needs. That gave the separatists a perfect platform to gain momentum and push for their cause, similarly to how, in other EU nations, weve seen the rise of radical political parties and movements. However, such developments must not be countered through violence, but dialogue, debate and deeper collaboration between Madrid and the regional governments, as well as between the regional governments themselves and the citizens of Spain. It is fair to say that the Catalan government seized an opportunity to push for its agenda, which is based on financial control and power. Very much like Britain, which always wanted special treatment within the EU and complained about its budget and how much it had to contribute, the Catalan government was in disagreement with Madrid over how much it should pay. Redistribution of wealth As part of a larger political system, richer regions are obliged to support poorer ones. That is also the case in any given nation state. Take Finland for example. Its southern regions are much richer and more developed than the northern ones, to which they provide considerable financial support. Such differences in the distribution of wealth and inequality can be blamed on a lack of resources or infrastructure in poor regions, as well as corruption and mismanagement. If each rich region wanted to break away from the poorer ones, we would not have a Europe of nations, but revert to the feudal, divided and fragmented continent of the past. However, while from the outside it might seem a homogeneous country, Spain is in reality a multi-ethnic society that has never had a proper debate or soul-searching exercise on its identity. From the imperial days to the dictatorship of Franco, its peoples, it seems, have never had a chance to properly work out how to co-exist or manage their affairs. And that perhaps is why the EU has remained so quiet during these days. If Spain but also Belgium and the UK, some of the Unions oldest member states cannot function smoothly as a federation, how can Europe succeed in creating a far bigger, more diverse, integrated society and governance? Can Europes unification project learn from the mistakes of Spain? If this country, which has existed in its current form for centuries, still fails to convince the Basques or the Catalans to accept their dual identity, what chance does the EU have? Another major failure of the government in Madrid is that it failed to mobilise the Catalans who want to stay in the Spanish union. Instead, it seems to believe that relying on the fact that the Spanish constitution prohibits such referendums and issuing a violent crackdown on the voters would solve the problem. But it backfired on them. Maybe it would be better if they allowed the democratic process to take place, yet become active in it by encouraging the majority of the people who want to remain in Spain to go to the voting stations and cast their votes against independence. Only around 42% of the electorate voted, 90% of which supported independence. If the other 58% were motivated to take part, maybe the outcome would have been different. In addition, it could have started a positive campaign to convince the Catalan electorate, rather than arresting its elected officials. It is regrettable that the people of Spain have been caught in a vicious internal power struggle between the local and central governments of their region. It is also sad to see that nationalism is rising in Europe in all forms. From Brexit to the Scottish and Catalan independence bids, the rise of far-right and Eurosceptic political parties, xenophobic, anti-immigrant and anti-refugee sentiments based on fear, the crisis in Europe does not seem to be subsiding. A new form of governance When will Europeans feel comfortable with multiple identities? One could be Catalan, Spanish and European, or Corsican, French and European. Instead of seeking constant fragmentation, perhaps we should allow more freedom and autonomy for people and regions, while maintaining a central form of government to coordinate, not dictate to its citizens. The developments in Catalonia will no doubt be felt by the rest of Europe and the EU. Apart from any economic, social and identity turmoil or instability that will most likely spill over to other Spanish regions with the same aspirations, many other parts of Europe may soon be inspired to follow suit. Or they may simply lose the appetite for European integration, seeing the failures of the Spanish government. Yet we need to remind ourselves of where fragmentation leads. We could see the Balkanisation of the Iberian Peninsula, which could cause instability for the region and Europe itself, in a period when we are only just coming out of a harsh economic crisis. It could take decades for Spain and Catalonia to settle their differences, even if the crisis does not escalate into an all-out conflict. That could push the eurozone recovery further back, with consequences that will be felt in all other member states. Therefore, Europe must support and encourage the governments in Madrid and Barcelona to settle their differences peacefully once and for all. Europe and its nations need to radically rethink the way they are governed in order to avoid similar crises in the future. It is time to stop burying our heads in the sand. Ukrainian Association of Renewable Energy will initiate reduction of feed-in tariff for solar plants The Ukrainian Association of Renewable Energy will initiate a reduction in the feed-in tariff for solar power plants, a member of the association, the owner of several hydroelectric power plants, Ihor Tynny, has said at the Kyiv International Economic Forum. "We will propose an early reduction in the tariff for "solar" electricity ... In our opinion, it is necessary to focus more on biogas and biomass," he said. Tynny stressed the current incentive system through feed-in tariffs encourages investors to invest in solar power plants. As reported, the Ukrainian Association of Renewable Energy unites companies that operate hydroelectric power plants, solar power plants and bioenergy facilities. Ukraine needs to unblock the process of privatization to accelerate economic growth and attract foreign investors, and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is still ready to provide technical support and act as a buyer of a minority stake in some objects, EBRD Managing Director for Eastern Europe and the Caucasus Francis Malige has stated. "There are still no results [of privatization]. And this is one of the biggest failures," he stated in an interview with journalists on the sidelines of the Ukraine Silk Road Trade Finance forum on trade financing issues organized by the EBRD and Ukreximbank in Kyiv. According to Malige, attempts to sell Odesa Port-Side Chemical Plant "with a known negative result" which are close to madness, and a number of sales of blocking shares of energy companies in August this year were, to put it mildly, "far from international standards," since were actually conducted on a non-alternative basis. "Such privatization is not in the interests of the state," the EBRD representative said. In his opinion, the new government bill on privatization submitted to the Verkhovna Rada, as well as political will could correct the situation. "The State Property Fund needs to use other approaches. The fund should have sufficient powers to conduct privatization. And if there is a political decision to conduct privatization, and the fund has sufficient powers, such privatization will be successful," Malige said. He explained that support from the bank, first of all, can consist of technical assistance to both the state and a particular company - in the form of targeted assistance to improve processes, as it happens in Naftogaz. When the monster finally comes alive, he suddenly attacks his creator, throttling young Dr. Frederick von Frankenstein. The good doctor tries to communicate to his dimwitted associates in crime that they should inject the monster with a sedative. The scene disintegrates into a lively game of charades until Frankensteins lab assistant finally gets the message and puts the monster to sleep. In Kearney Community Theatres production of Young Frankenstein, director Alex Schwarz and his cast and crew successfully capture the lunacy of writer Mel Brooks. Filled with hilarious moments, silly songs, outrageous characters and a solid send-up of the horror genre, the musical will delight and amuse audiences seeking a touch of the Halloween spirit. Young Frankenstein opens today at 7:30 p.m. and continues through Oct. 15 at Kearney Community Theatre. Tickets are $18 for adults and $9 for UNK/CCC students if purchased on the night of the show. This is laugh-out-loud stuff, material that zooms over the top on a regular basis. If you know the work of Mel Brooks think Blazing Saddles, The Producers then you already know all you need to know about Young Frankenstein. A worthwhile theatrical experience needs two separate elements. It must start with a strong script. The second element, execution, comes from the cast, crew and director who must bring the story alive, just like the monster. This production succeeds handsomely on both accounts. Brooks took care of the script. Brenden Zwiebel, as Dr. Frederick Frankenstein, leads the zany cast through the twists and turns of the plot. Set in 1934, the musical starts as Frederick, the grandson of the mad scientists, inherits the castle in Transylvania Heights. Hoping to resolve the estate and return to his position as the dean of anatomy at New Yorks John, Miriam and Anthony Hopkins School of Medicine, Frederick travels to visit his late grandfathers castle. Toss in Inga, a young lab assistant with a degree in Laboratory Science from the local community college, played by Taylor Ritz. Include Frau Blucher, a character with a delightfully checkered past brought to life by Lauren Bonk. A group of villagers, led by Inspector Hans Kemp, played with much humor by Gary Brandt, complete with a wooden hand and a wooden leg, confront the young doctor and express their fear of his experiements. Watch for a hilarious and creepy performance by Dale K. Steinhauser as Igor who calls himself Eye-gore the grandson of the mad scientists henchman. Steinhauser generates laughs with the mere twitch of an eyebrow or the scowl of the face. His rubbery stage presence helps the production set itself apart from the movie. While Young Frankenstein abounds with silly laughs and outlandish situations, leave the children at home. Nothing in the production exceeds the standards of a PG-13 movie, but because it happens with real people, not images on a screen, it feels so much more powerful. The term ribald comes to mind. And, occasionally, naughty. If you like parody and irreverent humor, Young Frankenstein fills the bill. This show teems with great songs, funny characters, inside jokes and delightful performances that bring it all to life, including Brandon Meseure as the monster, performing all that traditional Frankenstein stuff on platform shoes with a good extra 6 inches, just for effect. The constantly changing set also adds to the show. Come prepared for laughs and for a monster rising from the dead with a borrowed brain from some village idiot. Nebraska is a state known for growing things and making things. October is Manufacturing Month in Nebraska. Throughout the month well be celebrating our manufacturers who are making world-class equipment and growing great job opportunities across our state. There are 97,000 Nebraskans employed in our manufacturing industry. Whether its assembling cargo doors for Kawasakis first American aerospace division in Lincoln, welding livestock headgates at Pearson in Thedford, or constructing center pivot irrigation equipment at Valmont in McCook, Nebraskas manufacturers contribute $13 billion annually towards growing our state. To celebrate Manufacturing Month and our second largest industry, I am visiting several Nebraska manufacturers this week. In each year of my administration, the Nebraska Department of Economic Development and I have partnered with the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce to visit manufacturers across our state. Our annual celebration of manufacturing encourages businesses to promote opportunities in skilled labor through company tours and community events. This years visits will take us to Grand Island, Sidney, Gering, Alliance, Holdrege, and Omaha. In Nebraska, manufacturing has helped our state grow for many years. Over the last two years, the industry has helped us reach over 1 million jobs, a record level of non-farm employment for Nebraska. This year, it also helped Nebraska win the prestigious Governors Cup for the most economic development projects per capita. Investments from manufacturers like Kawasaki, Smeal Fire Apparatus, State Steel, and Worldlawn Power Equipment helped bring this award to our state. We arent taking future growth for granted. My administration has partnered with Nebraskas economic development community to encourage future growth by promoting tax reform, cutting red tape, and expanding educational opportunities in fields related to manufacturing. Passing tax reform would unleash new investment by the states manufacturers and aid the state in attracting new firms and job opportunities. This year, the Revenue Committee advanced the most significant tax reform package in a generation to the floor of the Legislature. While special interests have attempted to defeat tax reform, I continue to work on proposals with State Senators. A couple key principles are guiding my work on tax reform. First, the only way to get sustainable tax relief is by controlling spending. Second, shifting taxes from one group to another is not tax relief. My administration is also actively working on a comprehensive review of red tape to cut unnecessary regulations on the states manufacturers, entrepreneurs, and job creators. Right now, Forbes ranks Nebraska as the third best state in the nation for business and number one for regulatory environment. We cannot stand still if we want to remain competitive, and thats why this summer I launched a review of all state regulation. Under the executive order I signed, all agencies are conducting a review of existing and pending agency regulations. Every state agency will be answering key questions including: Is the regulation essential to the health, safety, or welfare of Nebraskans? Over the past three years, my administration has successfully partnered with local school districts and businesses to connect students in junior high and beyond with careers in manufacturing. In 2015, the Legislature and I worked together to create the Developing Youth Talent Initiative (DYTI). The program is exposing seventh and eighth grade students to Nebraskas manufacturing and technology sectors through partnerships between businesses and school districts in Broken Bow, Kearney, Hastings, Hebron, Omaha, Scottsbluff, and York. Our DYTI program has already shown success in growing student interest in manufacturing. During a program partnership with Distefano in Omaha, DYTI funding provided an opportunity for students to attend new classes in robotics and welding. After this experience, over 40 percent more students said that they would consider a manufacturing career than before the program. My team and I appreciate the hard work that our states business leaders, educators, and job creators are doing to grow Nebraska through manufacturing. Pete Ricketts is governor of Nebraska. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form FILE - In this Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2017 file photo, women and children from Hawija sit outside a Kurdish screening center in Dibis, Iraq. On Thursday Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi troops have driven IS militants from the town of Hawija, one of the extremists last strongholds in the country. The announcement comes amid a political crisis following a controversial Kurdish independence referendum, but on the battlefield at least, Iraq's army continues to work together with Kurdish peshmerga fighters to keep IS on the back foot.(AP Photo/Bram Janssen, File) FILE - In this January 29, 1974 file photo, singer and poet Bob Dylan performs at the Nassau Coliseum, in Uniondale, New York. Dylan was awarded the 2016 Nobel Prize in Literature, one of the most surprising decisions in award's history. The Swedish Academy praised Dylan "for having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition." This year's winner is set to be announced on Thursday, Oct. 5, 2017. ( AP Photo/Ron Frehm, File) The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is concerned about deputy amendments to the VAT refund system, according to a letter by IMF Resident Representative in Ukraine Goesta Ljungman to Verkhovna Rada Chairman Andriy Parubiy and Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman, which was published on Facebook by MP Andriy Zhurzhiy. "We are concerned about bill 7115, currently under consideration in parliament, which, if adopted, will replace the electronic verification system with the right of the regional inspectorates of the State Fiscal Service to decide at their discretion whether or not to suspend tax bills. Thus, the bill turns in the opposite direction the modernization of the system for administering VAT refunds, deals a blow to SFS's institutional integrity and risks the restoration of malicious practice of debt on VAT refunds," the letter says. As reported, according to the amendments to the Tax Code adopted in late 2016, the automated tax invoice registration system started working in the single register of tax invoices from July 2017. At the same time, the State Fiscal Service has the right to refuse registration on a number of criteria for assessing the degree of risks. Over the first ten days of its work, the system blocked 1.1% of tax invoices. Since then, the State Fiscal Service has noted a reduction in this figure. As of September 1, there were 201,000 blocked tax invoices, or 0.5% of the total number. Referring to the complaints from businesses, the parliament's committee on tax and customs policy drafted a bill on returning the automatic tax invoice system to the test mode. The bill, in particular, provides for granting the right to the heads of the main offices of the State Fiscal Service to apply the procedure for blocking tax invoices in a number of cases. The draft law was registered in the Verkhovna Rada. Prime Minister Groysman and Finance Minister Oleksandr Danyliuk opposed the introduction of such changes, emphasizing that this will trigger a return to corrupt schemes of VAT refunds. Sherri Camperchioli, left, and Jordan Cassel help set up some of the crosses that arrived in Las Vegas today to honor the victims of the mass shooting on Thursday, Oct. 5, 2017, in Las Vegas. A gunman opened fire on an outdoor music concert on Sunday killing dozens and injuring hundreds. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull) STURTEVANT Foxconn Technology Group announced Wednesday it will build its $10 billion display screen production plant in the village of Mount Pleasant, creating tens of thousands of jobs in southeastern Wisconsin while making the state North Americas largest technology center. Officials with the village, Racine County and representatives with Milwaukee 7 and the Racine County Economic Development Corporation joined Louis Woo, Foxconns special assistant to chairman and CEO Terry Gou. They announced Foxconns proposed 20-million-square-foot manufacturing campus would be located on a block of parcels off of Interstate 94 between Highway 11 and Highway KR in Racine County. As proposed, a segment noted as Area 1 would be used for the main Foxconn facility. An area located between Highway H and Braun Road to the north is designated as land for future expansion. They made the announcement to an overflow crowd of regional and political leaders gathered at Gateway Technical Colleges S.C. Johnson Integrated Manufacturing and Engineering Center. While Foxconn has said it would create 13,000 direct jobs over time, economic development and business officials note that the jobs growth would be far greater with the addition of supply chain, construction and other related jobs. Village President Dave DeGroot said the enormous, unprecedented investment would transform the region, creating tens of thousands of jobs for Racine County. Racine County Executive Jonathan Delagrave said he is thrilled and so very proud that an international company of Foxconns magnitude has chosen to invest in Racine County. It establishes Wisconsin and Racine County, in particular, as the electronics manufacturing capital of North America. We, Racine County, I know, are ready for this once-in-a-lifetime, transformational opportunity. Woo said the Taiwan-based electronics company would seek partnerships with other southeastern Wisconsin companies to bring the latest technologies to the plant. He said it could include exploring advanced manufacturing, education, safety, security and transportation innovation. We are looking for partnerships, he said. Thats where the excitement is. Its not just $10 billion. After we finish, there will be $30 billion, $40 billion in revenue in this great state. Foxconn has said it expects to hire thousands of employees, and has asserted the average salary would be $53,000 per year. The company anticipates tapping 150 suppliers, who will locate in Wisconsin, which would result in additional jobs and new tax base for the state. The project will need public infrastructure, including water and sanitary sewer services, road improvements, electric and natural gas services, and fiber optic lines. Responding in a phone interview, Kenosha County Executive Jim Kreuser said Foxconns announcement was good news for the region and will have a rippling effect outside of Racine County. He said, with the advent of Foxconn, more businesses, some that might become supply chain faculties for Foxconn, are looking for locations that would be good for their company. Kenosha County stands ready to be in line for the supply chain that stands out, Kreuser said. Declining to name any prospective companies, he said, Whats good for Racine County is good for Kenosha County. Whats good for Kenosha County is good for Racine County. Woo called Oct. 4 was an excellent day to make the announcement, because on the Chinese calendar, its the date of the Autumn Festival, similar to the American Thanksgiving. While the announcement ended speculation of where the plant would be located, Foxconn officials arrived a month ago to work on development plans at the iMET Center. Wednesday afternoon, surveyors were busy viewing the rural land to be developed. Jill Gillmore was inspired by one of the most difficult times in her life to help others especially the most vulnerable. Gillmore, a Kenosha County supervisor, has spent the last two years helping mothers caring for premature infants. In April 2015, Gillmores youngest daughter, Marleigh, was born 2 months early. She weighed just three pounds and fit in the palm of her mothers hand. I was at the hospital with my child, who was not in the best shape, Gillmore said, adding that she sacrificed valuable time with her other children to care for her. Marleigh spent 40 long days at Wheaton Franciscan Healthcares Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in Racine. After her daughter was released from the hospital, Gillmore launched Marleighs Ministry, a nonprofit aiming to help premature babies and their mothers. Now, Gillmore and her entire family run the organization, which has expanded to Michigan and Texas. Gillmore and her husband, Matt, raise money for families and assemble care packages with essential items new mothers and fathers need. Were working to send out care packages almost daily, Gillmore said. Were continuing to advocate for preemie health care. On Tuesday, the mother of seven finally got to see more fruits of her familys labors. Gillmore raised funds and partnered with Devon Borst, philanthropy manager of the hospitals All Saints Foundation, for a $10,000 ultrasound guided vein finder. It helps reduce pain and the number of pokes when inserting IVs. Its a newer technology, Gillmore said. These babies are born so, so early or are really sick, and its really difficult to find their veins. This ultrasound guided vein finder helps nurses better do their job and provide babies with better quality care. Gillmore saw the need up close and personal when her daughter needed care. When my daughter was in there she was born at 31 weeks, 9 weeks early and she had to be poked multiple times with her IV, Gillmore said. Her veins werent as big as a full grown babys, Gillmore added. Even with nurses who are highly-trained, highly-qualified who work in a neonatal care unit, these vein finders are very helpful. Seeing my own daughter suffer through a bursted IV and having to get poked again, youre kind of sitting there helpless as a mother. The health system was gifted the new vein finder in 2016, but Gillmore got to see it for the first time Tuesday. All of the staff there needed to be trained on how to use the machine, Gillmore said. There are other departments that see this as a vital tool and are using it, too. Gillmore said seeing the machine, which is smaller than an iPad, was amazing. I started crying, because the quality of life and the quality of care that these babies in the NIC unit are receiving is so much more special when you only have to poke a baby one time, Gillmore said. There are other families that may not have to go through that amount of suffering. The Russian side and representatives of certain districts in Donetsk and Luhansk regions have breached obligations they took up as part of the "school truce," the Ukrainian party to the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG) said in Minsk. "Since August 25, illegal armed units in certain districts in Donetsk and Luhansk regions fired on the Ukrainian military's positions 979 times, including with tank and artillery weapons; a Grad multiple rocket launcher was used yesterday on the Mariupol sector [the area of the populated locality of Hnutove and Vodiane]. Five servicemen have been killed and another 37 injured during the ceasefire," Darka Olifer, a spokesperson of Leonid Kuchma, the second Ukrainian President and the country's envoy to the contact group, wrote on her Facebook page following the meeting in Minsk. Since September 22, illegal armed formations have fired six times on the Hranitne, Maryinka and Zaitseve populated localities, and the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) recorded a shelling in the area of the town of Stanytsia Luhanska in the Luhansk region on September 30, she said. This "once again disrupts the implementation of the Trilateral Contact Group's framework decision on the disengagement of forces and means and jeopardizes the implementation of the Minsk Accords as a whole," Olifer said. It was earlier reported that on August 23, the Contact Group in Minsk reached an agreement on the "school truce," effective August 25. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has called for the creation of a separate anti-corruption chamber within the new Supreme Court of Ukraine, as well as for the renewal of the composition of judges of the Pechersky and Solomiansky district courts in Kyiv so as to speed up the consideration of corruption-related cases. "I think that in the near future we can create, as I've already said, a specialized anti-corruption chamber in the Supreme Court, which will have an appeal institution for all anti-corruption cases," he said at a meeting with students in Chernihiv on October 4. Poroshenko said that it was also necessary to speed up the renewal on a competitive basis of courts in Kyiv, in particular, judges in the Pechersky and Solomiansky district courts. "The capital accounts for the lion's share of anti-corruption cases that need to be considered immediately. This should be objective, fair, unbiased, but immediate," he said. Poroshenko said that this should be done not instead of creating an anti-corruption court. "This is in addition to it, so that we do not lose time as part of a single anti-corruption strategy," he said. 74 Shares Share Albert Einstein once said, The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing. No matter how advanced our artificial intelligence is and continues to evolve, it lacks the reproducibility of the powerful human instinct, sense of curiosity and constant questioning; especially when resulting in that wow moment of important scientific discoveries. Were it not for these powerful traits, medical science could not have evolved to the levels of our currently achieved milestones. Just because we question something does not make us cynics. In fact, questioning in medical science is the natural sieve for achieving progress. This brings us to the decade leading up to 2017, a year of consolidated evidence-based medical practice guidelines. These criteria have become the catchphrase for even retail medical interests and have evolved into a frighteningly (at times) enforceable mandate in todays health care community. If insurers are threatening to withhold compensating physicians who wander outside of guideline territories, we urgently need to question or certainly redefine a doctors role in clinical medicine and work on remedial measures to lift such limitations to assure unfettered physician care. Taking a step further back, just imagine the following: Most of medical education comes from Medicare, Medicaid, hefty tuition (sell your soul to the devil loans), pharmaceutical sponsorships and subsidies (even if to a lesser degree). This entraps the future physician to work for the same Medicare, Medicaid system (which also determine other insurer fee schedules), pay back loans and practice medicine based upon a largely pharmaceutically sponsored and co-created evidence-based medical guideline trajectory. Our government encourages and enforces pharmaceutically co-created guidelines which have become the basis of medical education and help mold our future physicians. What happened to discouraging physicians from being influenced by pharmaceuticals? Wheres the Sunshine Act when it comes to medical schools? Why arent these self-sacrificing students subsidized by the government as well? After all, tuitions have become prohibitively unfordable. In fact, future physicians are indentured into financial slavery. Forced into paying back steep loans and the growing hardships imposed upon them, its no wonder they are extremely unhappy, disillusioned and are quickly introduced to burnout and even suicide. Just how can physicians gladly deliver upon the real debt they owe their patients? So, imagine if real cure medical innovations that are unhampered by constant interest vested, guideline-directed, administrative and regulatory controlled firewalls where physicians are no longer controlled every step of the way? Would we be worse off? Can we even be less stressed or burnt out and reduce our suicide rates? Perhaps, we might experience overall better health for ourselves and our patients? More than just likely, we might progress towards an era of genuine clinical and scientific, curiosity led innovations that have been the foundation and cornerstone of American medicine for the last few decades. Indeed, we would most likely thrive in our sense of accomplishment and once again appreciate being members of a noble profession. In fact, instead of just keeping our patients well and medicated, wed gladly pursue a more holistic, healthier approach. We would refer to evidence guidelines when our own clinical and conscious guidelines coincide with the former instead of acting as their subjugates. Our important guidelines would never be discarded. Theyd become much more valuable by being dynamic, ever-changing, clinically modulated and adapting to breathe more truth into how we practice medicine. How many medical school, residency or postgraduate courses offer totally industry free, independent thinking, innovation, challenging and questioning the status quo of health care? After all, five of the 56 signers of our Declaration of Independence were physicians. They werent complacent, and we shouldnt be either. Now you must understand innovation and curiosity are still valued and encouraged, mostly when helping bottom lines of huge corporate interests. Even many of these innovations can be extremely advantageous. Still, most real advances are financially driven. Whats happening to American medicine? It looks like its a disheartened business model that has body snatched the original intent and spirit of medical science. We need to reclaim our greatness and once again become leaders of our noble profession instead of guided providers. Simply put, a doctor ten years ago, and many still today would concentrate on treating the patient. Whereas most of todays practitioners seem forced into a situation of providing treatments instead. Unfortunately, in this new equation, its the physician who seems to be the missing constant. Bright, young physicians are getting it. Their notable disillusionment, discontent, unhappiness and early yet fast-tracked road to burnout is becoming todays ignored norm. You wouldnt always see it as their recent boss man (yes, mostly hospital, mega group, insurance companies employ doctors or their previous practices) use multimedia marketing and Photoshop out their growing discontent with unimaginable ease. Thanks to the internet, social media and growing vociferous physician discontent these facts are no longer as easily swept under the carpet. Naysayers will argue how these are complaints and notions of our older generation physicians. Yet its almost every day that I hear from so many of our bright, recently trained, highly dedicated and caring physicians who never got what they signed up for and instead, continue to suffer in silence. All generations of physicians are equally troubled by their frequent inability to serve patients in a manner theyd idealized, imagined and are capable of. I encourage our medical students, residents and recent graduates entering the various fields in our profession to exercise their right to constantly question, lest they soon become mere appendages to various forms of artificial industry driven intelligence. Theres still time and hope to avoid our recent physician grads from being totally unprepared in dealing with their own unexplored and wasted potential as well as their very humanity. Allow your curiosity and imagination guide you each day rather than be blindly led by guidelines alone. Michael Weiss is a physician and can be reached on Twitter @HeartAndSoulDoc. Image credit: Shutterstock.com The Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada will take no part in the 137th session of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in St. Petersburg. The decision passed by 249 votes at the parliament's plenary meeting on Thursday. "We are urging parliaments of other IPU member countries to abstain from participating in the 137th session of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, which will be hosted by a country violating IPU Statutes and the UN Charter," the Verkhovna Rada said in its address to parliamentarians of IPU member countries. The 137th session of the IPU will be held in St. Petersburg next week. The Verkhovna Rada believes that Russia should have no right to host international events of international organizations whose norms and principles it is flagrantly violating because of its conduct towards Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova, and Europe at large. The late Claus Cantwell The death has occurred of Claus Cantwell, Pond Villas, Tramore, and formerly of Cantwell's Music Shop, Michael Street, Waterford, and late of Mooncoin, who died on Wednesday 4th October, 2017. Reposing at Mooncoin Residential Care Centre on Thursday from 5.30pm with Prayers at 6.30pm followed by Removal to Mooncoin Church. Requiem Mass on Friday at 11am. Burial afterwards in the adjoining cemetery. The late Joe Deasy The death has occurred of Joseph (Joe) Deasy, St Killian's Place, Ferrybank, Waterford and late of C.I.E and Waterford Corporation who died on Tuesday 3rd October peacefully at University Hospital, Waterford surrounded by his loving family, Joe will be sadly missed by his loving wife Joan, son Denis, daughter Eleanor, son-in-law Patrick, daughter-in-law Breda, grandchildren, Richard, James, Sarah and Jack, brother Ger, brothers-in-law, sisters-in law, nieces, nephews, family and friends. Reposing in Powers Funeral Home, Ferrybank on Thursday 5th October from 5pm followed by removal at 6.45pm to the Sacred Heart Church, Ferrybank. Requiem Mass on Friday 6th October at 10am followed by burial in the adjoining cemetery. The late Michael (The Budgie) Kavanagh The death has occurred of Michael (The Budgie) Kavanagh, (Ballyfermot and formerly of Kilkenny and Roadstone) (peacefully), surrounded by his loving family in St. James's Hospital, beloved husband of Nuala and much loved dad of Noel, Collette, Jacinta and Michael; sadly missed by his loving family, brothers, sisters, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews, relatives, neighbours and friends. Reposing at the Brian McElroy Funeral Home,Monastery Road, Clondalkin Village on Thursday from 3 o'c. to 6 o'c. Funeral on Friday after 10 o'c. Mass in Church of Our Lady of the Assumption, Ballyfermot and afterwards to Palmerstown Cemetery. The late Fr Finbar (Matthew) Kelly The death has occurred of Fr. Finbar (Matthew) KELLY O.P., The Black Abbey, Kilkenny City, Kilkenny on October 3, 2017 (peacefully) at Tinny Park Nursing Home. Deeply regretted by his brother Pat, nephews, nieces, his Dominican Community, Black Abbey, extended family and friends. Reposing at The Priory from 11a.m. to 5p.m. on Thursday followed by Removal to the Black Abbey for reception prayers at 5.30p.m. Requiem Mass on Friday at 11a.m. followed by burial in Foulkstown Cemetery. The late John Malone The death has occurred of John Malone, Springbank, Saggart, Dublin snd Mullinavat, Kilkenny on October. Sadly missed by his loving wife Mag, sons Ronald and Daren, daughters Karen, Grace, Denise and Rachael, grandchildren, great-grandson, brother, sisters, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. Reposing at his home on Thursday from 5.00pm to 8.00pm. Removal on Friday to the Church of the Nativity of the BVM, Saggart arriving for 11.00am Requiem Mass. Burial afterwards in Saggart Cemetery. Kilkenny County Library Service celebrated the culmination of our annual Summer reading challenge Thursday in the Ormonde Hotel, with three comedy shows delivered by Punch Lion Comedys Kevin Gildea and Paul Tylak. The national summer reading challenge for 2017, Summer Stars ran through July and August in libraries across Ireland, with children challenged to read eight books each. Various incentives such as bags, swimming hats, wristbands and pencils were awarded to children to keep up the momentum. Challenge The challenge was taken up by 1,017 children in the county an increase of 18% on 2016. 56% of our readers were female, and 44 % male, with the 54% of those finishing the challenge between the ages of 7-10 years. Improving Literacy This initiative is part of a national Right to Read Campaign, which is actively supporting and improving literacy. Research has consistently shown that reading ability can drop by up to three months during the holidays, which puts children at a disadvantage on their return to school. This challenge encourages children to maintain and improve their reading skills in a fun way over the holidays, and helps ensure that the school term success of children, parents and teachers is not reversed, said Josephine Coyne, County Librarian. We are thrilled to with the continuing success of this programme, which is increasing in popularity each year, she added. We appreciate the encouragement and support offered by parents and teachers both leading up to, and during the summer, and hope all those fantastic young children will continue to enjoy reading for leisure, she said. Membership of Kilkenny County Council Library Service is free for all. Local TD Kathleen Funchion has expressed her concern that there will be no funding model for the future of higher education outlined in next week's Budget 2018. The Sinn Fein Spokesperson for Education says that a timeline on the future of higher education funding is crucial for successful planning of any progressive publicly-funded model. "The recent Cassels report recommendations implied that an increase of fees from 3,000 to 5,000 a year could be on the table as a measure to create net savings to the public finances arising from the introduction of income-contingent loans," said Deputy Funchion. "If significantly higher third level fees combined with a supporting income contingent loan system becomes a reality for students, we will be following the precarious path of the United States where young people are saddled with debt for the rest of their lives. This is not a progressive way to treat education or to encourage students to develop their skills. "The ever-rising cost of third-level education has become a crippling cost to thousands of students and their families. Astronomical accommodation costs, a shortage of student lodgings and part-time work are all factors making third level inaccessible for so many." The Sinn Fein said there has been no increase the sufficiency of core student supports while costs continue to rise. She called for education to be made a priority in the Governments upcoming Budget 2018. "I am highly concerned that there will be no long-term outline of a third-level funding model in next weeks budget and I support the calls by USI today for the Minister to reconsider that decision," she said. The European Parliament on Thursday adopted a resolution on Crimea accusing Russia of violating human rights on the peninsula, primarily Crimean Tatars. MEPs demanded the release of a number of political prisoners and called for specialized structures of the UN, OSCE and Council of Europe to have unhindered access to Crimea. In its resolution, the European Parliament "condemns the sentencing of Ilmi Umerov, Crimean Tatar Leader and Deputy Chair of the Mejlis, Akhtem Chiygoz, Deputy Chair of the Mejlis, and journalist Mykola Semena; demands that these convictions be reversed and that Mr Umerov and Mr Chiygoz are immediately and unconditionally released and all charges against Mr Semena are immediately and unconditionally dropped.". The document lists the names of 44 other people, including Ukrainian film director Oleg Sentsov, the judgments against whom the European Parliament strongly condemns. "[The European Parliament] strongly condemns the harsh sentences handed out to leaders of the Crimean Tatar community and others opposing the Russian annexation, such as Uzair Abdullaev, Teymur Abdullaev, Zevri Abseutov, Rustem Abiltarov, Muslim Aliyev, Refat Alimov, Ali Asanov, Volodymyr Balukh, Enver Bekirov, Oleksiy Bessarabov, Hlib Shabliy, Oleksiy Chirniy, Mustafa Degermenji, Emil Dzhemadenov, Arsen Dzheparov, Volodymyr Dudka, Pavlo Gryb, Rustem Ismailov, Mykola Karpyuk, Stanislav Klykh, Andriy Kolomiyets, Oleksandr Kolchenko, Oleksandr Kostenko, Emir-Usein Kuku, Sergey Litvinov, Enver Mamutov, Remzi Memethov, Yevhen Panov, Yuri Primov, Volodymyr Prisich, Ferat Sayfullayev, Eider Saledinov, Oleg Sentsov, Vadym Siruk, Oleksiy Stogniy, Redvan Suleymanov, Roman Sushchenko, Mykola Shiptur, Dmytro Shtyblikov, Viktor Shchur, Rustem Vaitov, Valentyn Vygovsky, Andriy Zakhtey and Ruslan Zeytullaev, following farcical court proceedings and questionable charges; demands the repeal of their court rulings and the immediate release of those detained," reads the resolution. The EP considers that the rights of the Crimean Tatars have been gravely violated through the banning of the activities of the Mejlis and declaring it an extremist organization on April 26, 2016, and through the ban on their leaders re-entering the peninsula. The resolution recalls that the reality of repression and the application of legislation on extremism, terrorism and separatism has led to a severe deterioration in the human rights situation on the Crimean peninsula and to the widespread violation of freedom of speech and association, and that forced imposition of Russian citizenship has become systematic and fundamental freedoms are not guaranteed on the Crimean peninsula. MEPs called on the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) to consider all applications for redress from Crimea with the highest priority possible, as the Russian domestic judicial system cannot and does not provide legal remedies in these cases. The resolution condemns the repression of independent media outlets representing minority communities and urges the Russian authorities to refrain from placing legal and administrative obstacles to their operation. It also for the establishment of independent monitoring mechanisms; supports the initiatives led by Ukraine with a view to addressing these issues within the Human Rights Council and the General Assembly; calls on the EEAS and the European Union's Special Representative for Human Rights to pay constant attention to the human rights situation in the Crimean peninsula and to keep Parliament informed. The European Parliament called on the European Commission to support projects and exchanges aimed at improving people-to-people contacts, as well as those promoting peace-building, conflict resolution, reconciliation and intercultural dialogue, including within Crimea. The European Parliament encouraged the "avoidance of bureaucratic obstacles and encourages more flexible approaches that will allow easier access of international observers in the peninsula, including parliamentarians, with the agreement of Kyiv and without this being interpreted as recognition of the annexation." MEPs supported sanctions against "all individuals responsible for gross human rights violations, including those Crimean and Russian officials directly responsible for charging and sentencing Akhtem Chiygoz, Mykola Semena and Ilmi Umerov, and these should include the freezing of assets in EU banks and travel bans." The EP reiterated its support for the EU's decision to prohibit imports from Crimea and the export of certain goods and technologies, investment, trade and services to Crimea. The European Parliament supported the "sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders" and reiterated its "condemnation of the illegal annexation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the City of Sevastopol by the Russian Federation." MEPs supported the policy of the EU and its member states not to recognize the illegal annexation of the Crimean peninsula and to impose restrictive measures taken in this respect and expressed "deep concern about the ongoing large-scale militarization of the Crimean peninsula by Russia, which threatens regional and pan-European security." Its back-to-school time, and if you have a child starting or returning to college, no doubt tuition costs are on your mind. Hopefully youve been saving up for years, but even if you havent, here are my top 15 tips and tricks for minimizing costs and avoiding costly mistakes. Paying for School 1. FAFSA. If your child is applying for federal loans or grants, a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) must be completed each year of college. Even if you dont think youd qualify for federal aid, its worth it for college students and their parents to complete the FAFSA, because schools often use the information for other aid. So, if your child has not done so yet, work together to renew the FAFSA before the following deadlines: For attendance from July 1, 2017, to June 30, 2018, forms can be submitted from Oct. 1, 2016, to June 30, 2018. Its important to note that many states and colleges have earlier deadlines for applying for state or institutional financial aid. State deadlines can be found at https://fafsa.ed.gov/deadlines.htm. Check with individual schools for their deadlines. For attendance from July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2019, forms can be submitted from Oct. 1, 2017, to June 30, 2019. But the amount of aid available is limited and its given out on a first-come, first-served basis, so its best to apply as early as possible. 2. Free money. Explore grant and scholarship opportunities through the college or affiliation sites (e.g., veteran, firefighter, church organizations). Subscribe to Kiplingers Personal Finance Be a smarter, better informed investor. Save up to 74% Sign up for Kiplingers Free E-Newsletters Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplingers expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail. Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplingers expert advice - straight to your e-mail. Sign up 3. Dont despair. Dont assume you wont qualify for aid or low-cost loans. Many assets, like homes and retirement accounts, are not counted in the aid/loan calculation. If you have other children in college, that might also lower your expected contribution. Its worth applying to find out. Make sure to document qualified education expenses if utilizing college saving plans (e.g., 529) plans or Education Savings Accounts) or IRAs to pay for college. 4. IRAs. Remember that withdrawals from qualified education accounts and IRAs used to pay for qualified expenses must be made in the year the expense is incurred. Withdrawals made in a different year are considered non-qualified withdrawals subject to taxes and penalties. Staying Out of Debt 5. Build a budget. Work with your child to set a budget and strongly encourage her to stick with it. Dont forget to include travel expenses between school and home. 6. Credit concern. Instruct your child to avoid on-campus credit card sign-up booths and discuss the negative impact of high-interest debt. 7. Control spending. If your child already has credit cards, discuss the importance of controlling usage. When your child uses a credit card for a discretionary expense, have her save the same amount in a savings account. Managing Expenses 8. Go used. Purchase used books and classroom materials. Most campuses have online sites for sale/exchange of used books and materials. 9. Go off-campus. Buy school and household supplies off-campus. Such products are usually cheaper at off-campus budget stores or chains. 10. Go car-free. Leave the car at home. This will save on parking fees, gas, maintenance and possibly insurance costs. Uber, Lyft or a bike can be more affordable ways to travel. 11. Be smart about gifts. Have your child request money or campus bookstore gift cards from family/friends for holidays and birthdays. 12. Get cooking. Research school meal plans to save on food. If your child does not know how to cook, help her learn a few quick and healthy recipes. 13. Get a side gig. Have your student consider applying for an on-campus job. Certain jobs, such as note taking for disabled students for classes your child is already enrolled in, can allow your child to earn extra money without affecting her studies. Medical Costs 14. Explore nearby options. If your child is covered under your medical plan, make sure to go over the plan to identify in-network doctors and facilities near campus. 15. Save those receipts. Have dependent children save receipts for any medical expenses that may be reimbursable through a health Flexible Spending Account (FSA) or deductible on your tax return. Hopefully these pointers will help you get your college-bound students off on the right financial footing and teach them money-management skills that will extend well beyond their college years. See Also: 2 College Finance Conundrums Clarified Mark Kress, 59, of Sterling, Va., first realized his 88-year-old father, Willard, needed help after he saw some bills with past-due balances stacked on his fathers kitchen table. That was completely out of character for Willard, who had a successful career as a certified public accountant. Initially, Willard didnt believe he needed help. For most of his adult life, he had managed his investment portfolio and done his own taxes. But over five years, Kress and his four siblings gradually persuaded their father to let them take control of his finances. It wasnt a simple task. Willard had multiple bank and investment accounts, and none of them were online. After going through a pile of paperwork, Kress and his siblings managed to consolidate Willards bank accounts and arrange for electronic payment of regular bills. Distributions from his retirement savings account are automatically deposited in his bank accounts, along with his Social Security payments and dividends from a brokerage account. Kresss brother has power of attorney for Willards finances and has online access to his bank accounts so he can make sure theres enough money to pay the bills. Subscribe to Kiplingers Personal Finance Be a smarter, better informed investor. Save up to 74% Sign up for Kiplingers Free E-Newsletters Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplingers expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail. Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplingers expert advice - straight to your e-mail. Sign up Although the family has now successfully streamlined Willards finances, Kress says, it was a long, drawn-out process. We probably erred in not taking control sooner. Numerous studies have shown that our ability to manage complex tasks diminishes as we get olderand for financial tasks, the decline typically starts after age 60. But because the decline is gradual, many seniors dont realize that theyre having trouble managing money, says Michael Finke, dean of the American College of Financial Services, who has researched cognitive declines impact on financial decision-making. Thats why its critical to start talking to your parents while theyre still able to make appropriate decisions, Finke says. Often, by the time parents have lost their ability to make sound financial choices, theyve also lost the ability to evaluate who they can and cant trust. That makes them vulnerable to bad advice from unscrupulous relatives or financial advisers, he says. Start the conversation Knowing that the ability to make good financial decisions starts to diminish when youre still in your peak earning years can provide an opening for baby boomers to discuss this sensitive topic with their parents. Tell your parents that you have started to discuss your finances and retirement plans with your own children or others you trust. Another effective way to broach the topic of your parents finances is to ask them whether they have core estate-planning documents, including powers of attorney for finances and health care, a will and, in some cases, a living trust. You should also ask your parents whether theyve updated beneficiaries for life insurance policies, retirement savings plans and other types of accounts. If theyre reluctant to share details of their finances, stress that your main concern is to be able to locate these key documents if they become incapacitated or die. Thats how Charles Rotblut, vice president of the American Association of Individual Investors in Chicago, initiated the conversation with his father-in-law, Les. It helped that Les, a retired NASA employee, had a lifelong interest in finance and enjoyed discussing investment strategies with his son-in-law. About five years ago, Rotblut, now 50, encouraged Les to discuss plans for his estate and his funeral. Rotbluts wife, Marni, went with her parents to meet with their estate attorney in Texas, where they lived, and Rotblut dialed in. Les also allowed Rotblut to follow him around the house with a notebook so he could write down where various documents were kept. When Les died in March at age 82, Rotblut had an inventory of his in-laws bank and brokerage accounts, along with their sources of retirement income and life insurance. Rotblut also knew where to find their tax returns. Rotbluts mother-in-law (who asked that we not use her name) has continued to pay the billswhich she did while Les was alivebut her daughter and son-in-law will sometimes sit down with her while she writes the checks. And Rotblut receives monthly statements from his mother-in-laws bank and has online access to her account. Rotblut also monitors his mother-in-laws investments and has the power to make changes and withdrawals on her behalf. Its very casual, Rotblut says. Were not interfering but very quietly paying attention so we know whats going on. Many seniors are understandably reluctant to allow anyoneincluding their childrento move money on their behalf. But you may be able to persuade them to let you monitor their financial activities, which can help you identify problems early on. Some investment firms even provide read only statements to family members designated by the client. Thomas Lapp of Philadelphia says his father gave him access to his online accounts so that Lapp could keep an eye out for unusual credit card charges or other potential problems. That was about three years ago. Recently, Lapps father gave him permission to manage the accounts. It was a transition from me being a second pair of eyes and looking over his shoulder to him looking over my shoulder, Lapp says. Taking charge At some point you may need to be more hands-on. Maybe unpaid bills are piling up at your parents house, a parent was the victim of fraud, or he or she just no longer wants to deal with bills and taxes. Stepping in is one of the hardest things in the world. Its more than just having a conversation about finances, says Catherine Collinson, president of the Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies. Its a conversation with a loved one about his or her ability to continue to manage finances. If you havent been heavily involved in your parents finances, start by finding out about assets and how they have been spending money. In some ways, you have to be a detective, says Hyman Darling, president of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. Review bank and credit card statements for the past six months to learn what bills regularly come in and must be paid, says Matthew Boersen, a certified financial planner with Straight Path Wealth Management in Jenison, Mich., who managed his grandmothers finances for three years. Look for charges for services that may no longer be used and can be canceled. Investment and bank statements will give you an idea of your parents assets and income. But check your parents latest tax return and 1099 forms for any overlooked income sources. Review insurance policies as well as valuable veterans or employer benefits that even your parents may not be aware of, says Paul Tramontozzi, a certified financial planner with KBK Wealth Management, in New York City. Tramontozzi stepped in to manage his parents finances about three years ago after his father, a retired language teacher, was diagnosed with Lewy body dementia and his mother was preoccupied with caregiving. He discovered that his father had paid for years for a workplace insurance policy that provided 1,200 hours a year of home aida $30,000 annual benefit. If your parents are like many others, theyve acquired a variety of bank and investment accounts over the decades. Consolidate them to make oversight easier. Tramontozzi spent months consolidating his parents accounts, which revealed another issue. When you have your investments so fragmented like that, once you put it together, the investment mix doesnt make sense, he says. Ultimately, once you consolidate, there is some type of rebalancing. Rather than writing multiple checks every month, set up automatic bill payments for your parents. Make sure you maintain good records of income and expenses, such as medical bills that may be tax-deductible. Careful bookkeeping can also help alleviate any sibling concerns about how youre managing your parents affairs. Line up the right documents Taking charge will be much easier if your parents have signed a durable power of attorney, which can give you broad powers or spell out specific actions youre allowed to take, such as paying bills, selling assets and gaining online access to accounts, says Darling. If you dont have this document and a parent becomes incapacitated, you will have to go to court to be appointed the guardian or conservatora process that can take a month or longer and require you to make annual accountings to the court. Some parents set up a revocable trust, naming themselves as the trustee and the trust as owner of their assets. Among the benefits: A child named as successor trustee can then smoothly transition into managing those assets. Even with this, you will still need a power of attorney to handle assets and financial matters that fall outside the trust, says Leslie Thompson, managing principal at Spectrum Management Group, in Indianapolis. Many states either require banks and brokerages to honor valid powers of attorney or relieve institutions of liability when they accept the documents. But even in those states, elder lawyers say, its not uncommon for financial institutions, particularly large ones, to insist that a family use their power of attorney form. Banks and financial institutions are wary of the growing number of cases of fraud against seniorsmany of them perpetrated by family. From the banks perspective, suddenly they have people they have never met announcing themselves as the new fiduciary, often without the actual customer with them, says Corey Carlisle, executive director of the ABA Foundation. If they show up with a durable power of attorney, they can wipe out a persons account instantly. The simplest solution is for you and your parents to visit the financial institutions your parents deal with and see if they will accept your power of attorney or require you to sign theirs. This way, you wont run into surprises later, and it allows you to establish a relationship with the bank or brokerage. Help with oversight In fact, its a good idea for your parents to introduce you to all the professionals in their lives, including their accountant, lawyer, financial adviser and bank representative, who can be part of your team that manages your parents affairs. Shon Anderson, a certified financial planner in Dayton, encourages adult children of his clients to sit in on a financial planning review so they can get a good picture of their parents finances from a third party. A financial planner can also provide you with tools to help you get organized. Anderson offers his clients a digital filing cabinet for copies of key documents, such as a power of attorney and a living will. Many financial planners also offer software that can consolidate parents investments, other assets, debts, account numbers and contact information, says Scott Hughes, a certified financial planner in Herndon, Va. If your parents dont have an adviser, stand-alone programs can help with oversight. EverSafe, a monitoring service created with seniors in mind, will scan bank, retirement, investment and credit card accounts as well as credit reports to understand a customers normal financial activity. EverSafe then issues alerts to the customerand any trusted people designatedif it uncovers anything outside the norm, such as unusual spending behavior or missed deposits, says Elizabeth Loewy, a former prosecutor and cofounder of EverSafe. The monthly cost ranges from $7.49 to monitor bank and credit card accounts to $22.99 for credit reports and unlimited accounts. If fraud is a concern, freeze your parents credit reports at each of the three major credit bureaus. This prevents someone from opening credit under a parents name because companies cant view the reports. You can lift the freeze if your parents want to apply for new credit (see I Thwarted ID Thieves). Also, keep your parents up to date on the latest scams targeting seniors. Although taking control of your parents finances is a drastic move, it may be the only way to protect your parents from unscrupulous people who prey on senior citizens. David Houston, a wealth management adviser for Northwestern Mutual in Oklahoma City, learned that lesson after his widowed father was befriended by a 32-year-old woman who had a history of exploiting elderly men. She had previously persuaded an 85-year-old man in his fathers hometown to bequeath her his entire estate, leaving his family with nothing when he died. Houston was unable to convince his father, who died two years ago, that the woman was up to no good, and she ended up with more than $100,000 from his bank accounts. But Houston did persuade his father to give him control of a living trust that contained commercial real estate and other large family assets. When he voluntarily stepped down as trustee, he gave us authority to control those, Houston says. Thats the only reason we still have them. Hiring help If handling your parents finances becomes too much for youor you want to preserve your parents independence while having someone keep an eye on thingsconsider hiring a daily money manager. This person basically serves as your parents assistant, helping to pay bills, manage the mail, negotiate with creditors and even, if necessary, remind a forgetful parent not to give out bank account numbers to strangers over the phone. A lot of what were doing are the kinds of things an adult child would do, says Leah Nichaman, board president of the American Association of Daily Money Managers, which has about 800 members. Fees range from $60 to $150 an hour, and managers typically meet with clients twice a month. You can get names of daily money managers in your area at the associations website or from lawyers, accountants or your local Area Agency on Aging. When interviewing money managers, find out how long theyve done the job, how they bill, whether they charge for travel time, whether theyre insured and the steps they take to keep your parents information confidential, Nichaman says. Ask for names of clients who can tell you what the manager was like to work with. Ruth Milkman, 58, of Arlington, Va., hired a daily money manager two and a half years ago because her mother, who has Alzheimers, was having trouble staying on top of her finances. The daily money manager spends a few hours a week with 86-year-old Marianne Milkman in Washington, D.C., and has helped her with a wide range of tasks, such as paying bills, running errands, reviewing bank and credit card statements for questionable items, and negotiating with the cable TV company. When Marianne lost her wallet, the money manager canceled her credit cards and took her to the department of motor vehicles to get a new ID. She is also another set of eyes and ears at noticing how things are going with my mom, Milkman says. For instance, when her mother went on a new medication, Milkman asked the daily money manager to keep an eye out for any side effects. The daily money manager provides another important benefit to Milkman, a telecommunications lawyer, and her three siblings. We all work. We would rather spend our time with our mother on other things than going through her bills. Help your adult children help you Seniors dont need to share every detail of their finances with their adult children. You should, however, make sure that someone can manage your finances if you become unable to do it yourself. Information you should share with someone you trust includes: -- Estate-planning documents, including powers of attorney for finances and health care. -- Location of your safe deposit box (if you have one) and keys. -- Your Social Security numbers. -- Birth and marriage certificates. -- Names and contact information for your financial institutions, including banks, credit unions, brokerage firms and insurance companies. -- Information about your pension (or pensions), life insurance and annuities. -- Names and contact information for your financial adviser and tax preparer. -- Deeds to property and cemetery plots. -- Vehicle titles and registration. By Mai Nguyen HANOI, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Trade in top Asian top coffee producers Vietnam and Indonesia continued on a sluggish note this week on dwindling stockpiles in both countries, traders said on Thursday. Farmers in Daklak, Vietnam's main coffee growing province, are selling beans at 43,500-43,800 dong ($1.91-$1.93) per kg , up slightly from 42,000-43,000 dong a week earlier, tracking gains in London prices, traders said. London ICE January futures rose as much as 4.46 percent in the past week to $1,990 a tonne on Oct. 4, the highest intraday level in more than a week, Thomson Reuters data showed. Few exports deals were struck due to weak demand and low supply at the end of the October-September crop season in Vietnam, while the harvest is not yet in full swing. Importers wanted the 5 percent black and broken grade 2 robusta at a discount of $30-$40 to the January contract, while exporters sought to sell at par, traders said. Vietnam exported 1.49 million tonnes of coffee in the 2016/2017 crop year, down 14.3 percent from 2015/2016 as output fell due to heavy rains during last year's harvest, customs data showed. In Indonesia, grade 4 defect 80 robusta beans in Lampung province were quoted at a premium of $10-$20 to the November contract, as against a $10 premium last week, a trader said. Exporters are only fulfilling their signed contracts as supplies have run out, while the rest of the market is quiet, the trader said. ($1 = 22,727 dong) (Reporting by Mai Nguyen; Additional reporting by Mas Alina Arifin in Bandar Lampung; Editing by Sunil Nair) SANTIAGO, Oct 5 (Reuters) - The president of Chile's central bank said on Thursday that the 2018 budget proposed by President Michelle Bachelet's center-left government was in line with its commitment to gradual fiscal consolidation. Despite a planned increase in spending next year, the government estimates that a recovery in economic growth and tax revenues will trim the fiscal deficit to 1.9 percent of gross domestic product from a forecast 2.7 percent this year, according to the 2018 budget presented this week to Congress. "The national budget for 2018 is in line with a policy aimed at gradual fiscal consolidation," Central Bank President Mario Marcel said. (Reporting by Daniel Flynn; Editing by W Simon) 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. COPENHAGEN, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Denmark's largest lender Danske Bank said on Thursday it now expects the country's gross domestic product to grow by 2.4 percent this year, up from an earlier forecast of a growth of 1.9 percent. Danske also lifted its forecast for 2018 GDP growth to 2.0 percent from a previous estimate of 1.7 percent. While Denmark's central bank has warned about overheating, Danske said it was not that concerned at the moment. "The lack of qualified labour is a genuine problem, but the outlook is for the labour market to grow in the coming years, which hopefully means the upswing can continue without too many problems in the way of bottlenecks," the bank said. (Reporting by Teis Jensen, editing by Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen and Jussi Rosendahl) VIENNA, Oct 5 (Reuters) - The European Central Bank is likely to slow its asset purchases gently at the start of next year, policymaker Ewald Nowotny said in remarks published on Thursday, weeks before the ECB meets to decide on the future of the quantitative easing programme. With the ECB's current 2.3 trillion euro bond purchase programme due to end in December, ECB policymakers are likely to use their meeting on Oct. 26 to debate the merits of either extending the scheme for a relatively long period but with smaller monthly purchases, or retaining bigger monthly purchases, but for a shorter period. "I assume that we will transition to a cautious deceleration at the start of the coming year," ECB Governing Council member and Austrian central bank chief Nowotny told weekly magazine Trend, adding that he was largely in agreement with his German counterpart, ECB hawk Jens Weidmann. (Reporting by Francois Murphy; Editing by Shadia Nasralla) Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will visit Kyiv on October 9 to attend the sixth meeting of the High-Level Strategic Council between Ukraine and Turkey. According to the press service of the Turkish president, issues of bilateral and regional cooperation will be discussed at a meeting of the Council chaired by Erdogan and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko. In addition, the Turkish president is scheduled to meet with the parliament's speaker Andriy Parubiy and Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman. The press service of Erdogan also announced the signing of various documents and protocols on deepening the relations of strategic partnership of both countries. Questions of the Crimean Tatar people will also be raised. Alio Gold Inc (TSX, NYSE MKT: ALO) reports production of 19,429 ounces of gold in the third quarter at its San Francisco Mine in Mexico. The company also maintains fourth-quarter guidance of 20,000 to 22,000 ounces, while the range for full-year guidance was tightened to between 88,000 to 90,000 ounces. The third quarter was expected to be the most challenging period in the 2017 mine plan as we finished mining Phase 1 of the La Chicharra pit and had not fully completed the stripping of Phase 5 of the San Francisco main pit, says Greg McCunn, chief executive officer. However, we did manage to source alternative ore to keep the crushers full and have now opened Phase 5. In addition, a second mining contractor has been mobilized to commence the pre-stripping of Phase 2 of the La Chicharra pit, giving us more mining flexibility and capacity heading into 2018. By Allen Sykora of Kitco News; asykora@kitco.com Superior Gold On Track To Meet 2017 Guidance Superior Gold Inc. (TSX.V:SGI) says it is on track to meet full-year output guidance after third-quarter production of 21,621 ounces at the companys Plutonic Gold Mine in Western Australia was the second highest quarterly output since the company took ownership. We have now operated the mine for four consecutive quarters and produced a total of 82,940 ounces of gold and sold a total of 82,342 ounces of gold, says Chris Bradbrook, president and chief executive officer. The company is currently on track to meet its annual production guidance of approximately 75-80,000 ounces of gold for 2017. Development at our Hermes project continues and we anticipate production commencing by 2018. The contribution of the ore from Hermes is expected to allow us to reach our objective of increasing annual production to 100,000 ounces of gold. By Allen Sykora of Kitco News; asykora@kitco.com Caledonia Mining Lists Record Quarterly Gold Output Caledonia Mining Corp. Plc. (NYSE: CMCL; AIM: CMCL; TSX: CAL) announces record quarterly gold production of 14,389 ounces of gold from the Blanket Mine in Zimbabwe for the July-September period. Production was 15% higher than the second quarter and 7% higher than the third quarter of 2016. Officials say they narrowed the range of the 2017 production guidance from 52,000 to 57,000 ounces to a range of between 54,000 and 56,000 ounces. Caledonia also says it remains on track to achieve its production target of 80,000 ounces in 2021. BUDAPEST, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Hungary's improving economy gives a chance to use the tool of swapping maturing foreign currency bonds for longer-dated debt in the future, after a successful transaction this week, Economy Minister Mihaly Varga said on Thursday. Hungary bought back 1.2 billion dollars worth of dollar bonds this week, and issued 10-year euro bonds worth 1 billion euros, in order to lengthen the tenure of its debt. The transaction cut debt service costs, Varga said. Varga said at this moment Hungary does not need similar transactions from the aspect of debt financing. "It is worth evaluating this transaction ... and we will consider how this (tool) can become part of the end-year financing plan (for 2018)," Varga told a news conference. (Reporting by Krisztina Than) MUMBAI, Oct 5 (Reuters) - A panel appointed by India's market regulator proposed a slew of new regulations on Thursday to boost corporate governance, from enhancing the role of independent directors to improving financial disclosures. The regulator, the Securities and Exchange Board of India, set up the 25-member panel headed by Uday Kotak, managing director of Kotak Mahindra Bank , in June, following several high-profile corporate tussles. Its recommendations include mandating that boards have at least six members, half of these independent directors. Current regulations specify no board size, and the number of independent directors may vary, depending on whether the chairman is part of the main shareholder group. The panel also recommended at least five board meetings each year, up from four now, with at least one set aside to discuss issues such as board evaluation, risk management and succession planning. The need for independent directors and diverse board views was highlighted after India's Tata conglomerate fired its chairman Cyrus Mistry late last year, and removed board members who supported him. The panel also recommended making it mandatory for companies with a public shareholding of at least 40 percent to separate the role of chairman and chief executive from April 1, 2020, curbing some of the leeway companies now have. In an effort to boost transparency, the panel suggested that publicly-traded companies report consolidated financials every quarter, instead of the current annual requirement. It also said businesses accounting for at least 80 percent of a group's consolidated revenue, assets and profits should be audited. The regulator set a Nov. 4 deadline to receive comments from the public. (Reporting by Abhirup Roy and Devidutta Tripathy; Editing by Clarence Fernandez) DUBAI, Oct 5 (Reuters) - A generally positive mood in international stock markets and a stabilisation of crude oil prices after falls in the past few days may support equity markets in the Gulf on Thursday. Wall Street's three major stock indexes hit fresh highs on Wednesday, as did MSCI's all-country world stock index . Brent oil is stable on expectations that Saudi Arabia and Russia will extend production cuts, trading at around $55.80 a barrel. Top Saudi Arabian central bank officials painted a highly positive picture of the economy at a rare news conference on Wednesday, saying growth was likely to strengthen and they were not worried by deflation. However, investors remain unlikely to buy stocks aggressively ahead of quarterly corporate results due later this month. Profits in many sectors may be flat to mildly lower because of the sluggish economy and austerity policies. "There are many sectors that could see earnings erosion, especially the cement sector," said a Riyadh-based equity analyst. Rabigh Refining and Petrochemical , a joint venture between state-owned Saudi Aramco and Japan's Sumitomo , may come under pressure after saying it had shut its vacuum gas oil unit for 32 days as part of scheduled maintenance. Saudi Airlines Catering may be bid up after the company said it had signed a three-year, 27 million riyal ($7.2 million) contract with state-owned Saudia Airlines to operate a central baggage warehouse. The company expects the positive earnings impact to be reflected in the first quarter of 2018. (Reporting by Celine Aswad; Editing by Andrew Torchia) By Arno Schuetze and Claire Ruckin FRANKFURT/LONDON, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Private equity firms looking to bid for Akzo Nobel's Specialty Chemicals business, which could be valued at up to 9 billion euros, will be offered debt financing of up to 6 billion euros ($7 billion), people close to the situation said. Bankers said leveraged loans and high yield bonds in euros and dollars are all being considered in advance of the Dutch paint maker kicking off the expected sale of the business this month. The divestment is part of a strategy it committed to in order to thwart a takeover by U.S. rival PPG Industries . Akzo, which may still opt for an initial public offering of the unit if a listing commands a higher valuation, wants to receive first-round bids by the end of the year with the aim of finalising a deal by March 2018. Buyout group CVC has teamed up with rival KKR to make an offer and they will compete with a consortium comprising Advent and Bain, while Carlyle, Apollo and Blackstone may all put forward bids on their own, the sources said. "Carlyle may have a slight advantage in this process as it had discussed an asset swap of (former portfolio company) Axalta with Akzo before the Axalta IPO," one of the sources said. All the prospective bidders declined to comment while Akzo Nobel spokesman Leslie McGibbon said that the "dual track sales process is going ahead" but declined to give further details. Bankers advising potential buyers said they expect Specialty Chemicals to sell at an enterprise value of 8-9 times the unit's expected earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA). Specialty Chemicals reported EBITDA of 953 million euros in 2016 and its recently appointed CEO Theirry Vanlancker has forecast EBITDA increases of around 50 million euros per year through 2022. . Last month Akzo warned it would miss a 2017 target for the group as a whole of a 100 million euro operating profit increase due to worsening business conditions. It did not alter its forecast for Specialty Chemicals, which accounts for about a third of Akzo's sales and profits. Shareholders, many of whom were angered by Akzo's rejection of PPG's 26.3 billion euro offer, largely support the sale of the chemicals division. The company plans to call a extraordinary shareholder meeting before the end of the year to update investors. ($1 = 0.8501 euros) (Writing by Toby Sterling; editing by Alexander Smith) BUCHAREST, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Romania rejected all bids at a tender to sell Feb. 2019 treasury bonds on Thursday, central bank data showed. Debt managers, who had planned to sell 400 million lei worth of the paper, last issued the bond in August at 1.27 percent. The finance ministry last rejected all bids at debt tenders in March. Bids totalled 424 million lei on Thursday. Local money markets have faced a liquidity shortage in recent weeks and the central bank has pumped funds into the market via a repo tender. So far this year, Romania has sold 37.3 billion lei and 340 million euros of domestic bills and bonds. It has tapped foreign markets for 1.75 billion euros of 2027 and 2035 Eurobonds. (Reporting by Luiza Ilie; editing by Radu Marinas) MOSCOW, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Promsvyazbank , Russia's tenth largest lender by assets, bought back $450 million worth of its subordinated Eurobonds from the market in September, the head of the bank's financial markets unit said on Thursday. Promsvyazbank, also known as PSB, said late last month it had bought back part of its subordinated Eurobond issue maturing in 2019, but did not say how much it spent on the buyback. PSB, controlled by businessmen Alexei and Dmitry Ananyev, said at the time it was buying back the bonds to reduce debt servicing costs after it raised $500 million in a new perpetual subordinated debt in July. Some Russian subordinated Eurobonds have come under pressure since the central bank in August had to rescue Otkritie, once Russia's largest private bank. In comments provided by PSB's press service, financial markets head Dmitry Ivanov said on Thursday the bank would continue periodically buying back its instruments from the market below their nominal price. "Besides that the bank is getting profit from these deals, a reduction in the volume of papers (bonds) in circulation contributes to the stabilisation of quotes for papers (bonds) still on the market, and increases investors' trust," he said. "The bond purchases do not have a significant impact on the bank's capital because these are papers (bonds) with short maturities," he said. (Reporting by Kira Zavyalova; Writing by Jack Stubbs; Editing by Andrey Ostroukh and Jane Merriman) STOCKHOLM, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Sweden's central bank bought 1.125 billion Swedish crowns ($138.86 million) of government bonds in a reverse auction as part of its quantitative easing programme, it said on Thursday. It bought 500 million crowns of 2022 bonds at an average yield of 0.003 percent and 625 million crowns of 2028 bonds at 0.921 percent. Investors offered to sell the Riksbank 1.8 billion crowns and 1.025 billion crowns in the two bonds respectively. ($1 = 8.1019 Swedish crowns) (Reporting by Stockholm Newsroom; Editing by Simon Johnson) Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication. (Adds details, background, analyst comment, share prices) STOCKHOLM, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Swedish lockmaker Assa Abloy said it had begun the search for a successor to long-time CEO Johan Molin, seen as a potential chairman of ailing mobile telecom gear maker Ericsson . Shares in Assa Abloy, the world's biggest lockmaker, tumbled nearly 5 percent after the company said in a statement that Molin, one of Sweden's most highly regarded top executives, could step down next year. His potential departure from Assa Abloy will add to market speculation that he is poised to become Ericsson's next chairman and shares in Ericsson were up 1.6 percent. Ericsson's current chairman, Leif Johansson, said in July that he plans to quit before the company's annual meeting in 2018 as the mobile equipment firm tries to restore profitability. Ericsson has been struggling for years, hit by a drop in spending by telecoms firms, growing competition from China's Huawei and a resurgent Nokia . It appointed a new CEO, Borje Ekholm, a year ago, but activist investor Cevian Capital has been calling for further change at the company. At Assa Abloy, Molin has grown sales sharply through scores of acquisitions and robust organic growth, while maintaining a strong double-digit operating margin. "Mr. Molin's impact on Assa is difficult to overstate," ABG Sundal Collier said in a research note, as Assa shares fell 4.7 percent by 0800 GMT. Assa Abloy said it issued its statement about Molin "due to market rumours." It did not clarify any details about the rumours and made no mention of market speculation about a move to Ericsson. "Against this background, the board has begun the work on evaluating potential successors to Johan Molin and has also appointed an external recruitment consultant," it said. Since Molin became CEO in late 2005, Assa Abloy shares have sharply outperformed the Stockholm stock exchange's blue-chip index OMXS30 and the European sector index . But the shares have treaded water over the past year as the discovery of accounting irregularities at its Chinese business and a weak Chinese market have weighed. "His departure is clearly a setback for the stock, not least as it comes on the back of questions over the governance in its Chinese operations in 2016 and senior management departures in 2017," Barclays said in a note. Molin is also chairman of Swedish engineering group Sandvik and the company has seen a sharp rebound in its share price since he took the post in 2015. (Reporting by Johannes Hellstrom; additional reporting by Olof Swahnberg and Helena Soderpalm; Editing by Simon Johnson and Susan Fenton) An exclusive interview of European Commission Vice-President for Energy Union Maros Sefcovic with Interfax-Ukraine Question: Gazprom managed to lift a temporary suspension on earlier frozen OPAL pipeline in the end of July. What do you make of it? Answer: The issue concerns preliminary measures. Now we are expecting the final decision of a European court. It is worth to mention that the gas transit via Ukraines territory has increased during the last two years. In recent days, it is at a record high level. It reveals how important the transit via Ukraine is. We are doing all our best to keep this status quo after 2019. Question: Can the EU point for the sale of Russian gas be changed from the eastern to the western boundary of Ukraine? Answer: This is a good question. I know that there are very respected European companies ready to closely work with Ukrainian partners such as NJSC Naftogaz Ukrainy and PJSC Ukrtransgaz on various gas transportation mechanisms to guarantee gas transit after 2019. I have said several times that trilateral talks are the best solution to the dispute in a Stockholm arbitration court, if Ukraine is interested in them to guarantee a future gas transportation in the best possible way. Transit mechanisms highly depend on the position and approach of the Ukrainian authorities, Naftogaz unbundling. I know that in this situation European companies are ready to consider any options. Question: Can you see an interest of European companies to participate in Ukrainian gas transport system management? Answer: NJSC Naftogaz Ukrainy, PJSC Ukrtransgaz, Snam (Italy) and Eustream (Slovakia) signed earlier a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at jointly evaluating opportunities for collaboration in the operation and enhancement of the gas transmission system (GTS) in Ukraine. Ive heard about some other companies interested to join the memorandum. The cooperation opportunities were defined, therefore. A key component here is progress in Naftogaz unbundling. We must understand how the final result of this process will look like. Afterwards, we can continue negotiations. I know about the interest in Ukrainian GTS management. The European Commission supports this process since we think that it will allow to keep the transit via Ukraine. Question: Is Nagtogaz unbundling a key element of energy reform? Answer: I think it is a significant part of Ukrainian reforms. It is very important to have progress in unbundling for the future of Ukraines energy sector. EU member states have experienced similar transformations. As a result, it should increase competitiveness, enhance economy and improve energy system capacities. Question: The Nord Stream gas pipeline is under repair again since September 11. The gas is now traditionally transmitted through Ukraine. In the case of Nord Stream 2 construction, Ukraine will not have a reason to keep its huge transit capacities standby . What will Europe do? Under such circumstances Ukraine will not be able to back Europe after yet another malfunction or repair of Nord Stream. Answer: Gas transportation through Ukraine is proved to be important today. Because of Nord Stream gas pipeline repair, Ukrainian GTS is transmitting more gas. We emphasize this all the time: the EU cannot have only two routes instead of three (Ukraine and Nord Stream). We cannot ignore a big gas transmission system being constructed for many years in Ukraine. Therefore, our priority is to keep available gas transportation routes after 2019. What we mean is to have commercially viable volumes of gas transition. We understand that there is a need of a good business case to maintain such a system. And we want that the route via Ukraine would be commercially viable and operational. As Ive said before, there are at least two companies ready to work with Ukraine in GTS management. I am confident that if Naftogaz unbundling moves forward, these companies will be able to take part in GTS management project. Then we can ask international financial institutions, such as EBRD, World Bank, for financial help to modernize and improve the GTS. Question: Does the EU need Nord Stream-2 to ensure sufficient gas supply? Answer: When talking about Nord Stream-2, we mentioned that in our opinion this additional gas transportation capacity is not necessary. We see this project implemented because of five companies commercial interest as politically sensitive. It is often discussed at a very high political level in Europe. Thus, we asked for a mandate for negotiations between the EU and Russia on the essence of the projects, its correspondence with the EU legislation and on other aspects. We want to be sure that the project will respect the fundamental principles of the European law. Question: Will Ukrainian GST remain one of the main gas transportation routes for the EU despite Nord Stream-2 implementation? Answer: It is important for us to have a viable transit route through Ukraine after 2019. We think that commercial deals on gas transit expiring in 2019 should be prolonged. They should envision commercially viable volumes. We would be pleased to see a deal between Russia and Ukraine and their companies. But as Ive said, we are ready to be a mediator for this matter, as it was in the past. The EU is ready to reaffirm its interest in a transportation route through Ukraine if both sides are willing to talk in a trilateral format. Moreover, we are ready to provide our know-how, and European companies are ready to be part of this. Question: According to the last decision of the European Parliament, the European Commission has the right to ask gas companies for details of big deals which affect energy security of EU member states. Answer: We should talk here about decisions significant for energy security. The first one is about transparency of interstate treaties on gas supply. Now the European Commission must check whether such agreements fully respect EU legislation since, as we know, it is not always a case. The second one is about energy supply security. It means that if the company is dominant on a national market having more than 28%, its contracts must be scrutinized by a national regulator and by the European Commission afterwards. We think that this is a very useful tool, and we going to apply it when necessary. Question: Does the EC feel the need to ask for such details now? Answer: Now we feel comfortable, and we do not see threats in gas supply. Our supply sources are diversified. We are more connected, and we utilize gas storages in a more efficient way. Moreover, LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) has more importance for Europe now. We are better off now than 2-3 years ago. At the same time, we are ready to apply a new tool we have and ask for data we need when necessary. Question: According to Ukraines energy ministry, a consortium of three energy companies Westinghouse Electric Sweden AB, Polenergia International S.ar.l. and EDF Trading Limited are planning to participate in the implementation of the Ukraine-EU Energy Bridge project (to export energy from Khmelnytsky nuclear power plant to the EU). What can you tell us about this project? How does the European Commission see it? Answer: The idea of such a project appeared more than a year ago. But we need more information. We have not yet received answers to our questions about commercial viability of such a project, security issues. Shenandoah, IA (51601) Today Mostly cloudy skies. A few flurries or snow showers possible. High 36F. Winds NW at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy. Low around 20F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph. Air Force surgeons aid in treating Las Vegas shooting victims By Air Force Senior Airman Kevin Tanenbaum 99th Air Base Wing NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- "On Oct. 1, 2017, at 10:08 p.m., I was asleep in my bed like every Sunday before that," Air Force Maj. (Dr.) Charles Chesnut, a general surgeon assigned to the 99th Medical Group here said. "About an hour and a half later, I was awakened by the Air Combat Command emergency notification system: 'Avoid downtown Las Vegas active shooter on the strip.'" Air Force Lt. Col. (Dr.) Jason Compton, left, and Air Force Maj. (Dr.) Charles Chesnut, 99th Medical Group general surgeons, pose for a portrait in the Mike O'Callaghan Military Medical Center at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., Oct. 3, 2017. The surgeons were two members of the team that took in trauma patients at the University Medical Center of Southern Nevada during the Las Vegas shooting Oct. 1, 2017. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kevin Tanenbaum Chestnut, along with three general and three resident surgeons assigned to the 99th Medical Group, responded to the University Medical Center of Southern Nevada to help treat patients injured during the largest single-shooter massacre in modern U.S. history. "Within two hours after the incident, all the resuscitation bays were full and six patients were being operated on by trauma surgeons," Chesnut said. "Everyone worked together taking care of these patients and do some good in the face of evil. We treated over 100 patients, ranging from surgical procedures to end-of-life care." Working With Civilian Surgeons The Air Force and civilian surgeons worked hand in hand through the night to treat patients' visible wounds in the operating rooms while also addressing invisible wounds at the bedsides. "We held their hands as they charged their cell phones so they could reach out to family members, who feared for their lives," Chesnut said. After a few hours, the doctor recalled, time blurred as the second wave of injured patients arrived around 3 a.m. from smaller hospitals that no longer had the capacity to treat them. "The environment down there was controlled chaos, but the disaster response plan that the hospital had in place for a mass casualty worked," he said. "At no point did I feel like our capacity was overwhelmed." As 7 a.m. approached, the influx of patients ended, and the University Medical Center began to settle. "Days like we experienced at UMC are the toughest ones, when you have multiple patients injured while multiple patients are continuing to come to the hospital," said Air Force Col. (Dr.) Brandon Snook, a surgeon assigned to the 99th Medical Group. "Those are some of the toughest days, but also very rewarding. We all see a problem and do what we can to fix it to help out patients." The South Korean trade delegation, including Trade Minister Kim Hyun-chong, second from right, meets U.S. trade representatives in Washington on Wednesday (local time). Both sides agreed to amend their bilateral free trade agreement, at Washington's request. The U.S. claims the deal is unfair and its trade deficit has expanded. / Yonhap South Korea and the United States agreed Wednesday to begin a process to amend their free trade agreement at Washington's request, Seoul's trade ministry said. The agreement was reached during talks in Washington led by South Korean Trade Minister Kim Hyun-chong and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, the ministry said in a statement. "The two sides shared an understanding of the need to amend the free trade agreement to further strengthen the mutual benefits of the Korea-U.S. FTA," it said. In accordance with South Korean law, the ministry will carry out the procedures necessary to begin negotiations for an amendment, including an economic feasibility study, public hearings and reports to parliament, it added. The announcement marks an accomplishment for U.S. President Donald Trump, who has long vowed to fix trade deals he sees as unfavorable to American businesses and workers. The Trump administration has blamed the five-year-old agreement, known as KORUS, for the U.S.' growing deficit in goods trade with South Korea. But Seoul has argued the deficit would be larger without the deal and called for a joint review of its impact on the two economies. Wednesday's meeting was the second round of talks on U.S. demands for an amendment. The first meeting held in Seoul in August reportedly ended in an impasse. Trump then threatened to terminate the deal but stopped short amid strong opposition from within the White House, Congress and relevant industries, as well as heightened tensions caused by North Korea's Sept. 3 nuclear test. Speaking to reporters in Washington last week, Kim said he would press for a review before discussing amendments to the deal. But he also noted the threats of withdrawal were real, not a "bluff." The U.S. has a deficit of US$27.7 billion in goods trade with South Korea but a surplus of $10 billion in services trade. Since the agreement took effect, South Korean investment in the U.S. has increased from $2.2 billion to $5.8 billion and created 45,000 jobs. The two sides "held in-depth discussions on our respective issues of interest, and we explained the outcome of our (own) assessment (of the deal's impact)," Kim told reporters after the meeting. "I think it went fairly well." The assessment showed the agreement's benefits to both countries in terms of expanded trade, investment and market share, and indicated a clear correlation between tariff elimination and increases in South Korean imports of autos, machinery, fine chemicals, and agro and livestock products, according to the ministry. "Over the long term, we expect to see balanced, economic benefits to both countries based on the South Korea-U.S. FTA," it said. The top negotiators plan to meet again during Trump's visit to South Korea next month. The U.S. government is required by law to inform Congress 90 days prior to the start of negotiations on an amendment, meaning the talks could kick off as early as January. (Yonhap) By Park Si-soo / Captured from local media A South Korean judge-lawyer couple has been accused in Guam of child abuse. They reportedly went shopping on Monday with their two children locked in a car in sweltering weather. U.S. law punishes parents who leave minors unattended inside a car as child abuse. The children, aged six and one, were found "slumped forward" in the car parked near a shopping center Monday afternoon. The engine was off and the windows closed. Two people noticed the children and called police after failing to find their parents. Police rescued the children who had "sweat streaming down their foreheads and the sides of their faces." They are now recovering, according to local media. By Park Si-soo A South Korean consul has been convicted of selling working visas to unqualified Chinese people. The Seoul High Court upheld a lower court's guilty verdict, sentencing the consul, surnamed Lee, 53, to two years in prison. He also was fined 23 million won ($20,060) and forfeited ill-gotten gains of 22 million won. Lee was accused of issuing working visas to 369 unqualified Chinese people between April and September last year in return for money from a leather company here. He was also accused of leaking confidential state information. The consul is believed to have tipped off the company about the immigration office moving to investigate the case and helped it destroy evidence. "He committed a grave violation of immigration law," Judge Chung Sun-jae said. "He severely ignored his duty of fulfilling his work in a fair and transparent manner." By Park Si-soo Foreign students here are banned from taking part-time jobs at manufacturing facilities. The Ministry of Justice announced the policy on Thursday, saying it is to fix the "destabilized" job market in the manufacturing industry. It did not elaborate. The ban applies to all foreign students on undergraduate, graduate and language courses at domestic universities. Companies that provide manufacturing and other services together are obliged to submit a written promise to authorities that they won't put foreign students in a manufacturing job. As of August 31, 136,234 foreign students were studying in South Korea, up 15.9 percent from last year. Subscribe by email so you never miss a post! Demand, external factors said to buoy expansion in 2017 and 2018 The World Bank on Wednesday raised China's growth forecast for 2017 and 2018, citing an improved external environment and strong domestic demand. The bank now expects China's economy to expand by 6.7 percent in 2017, up from an April projection of 6.5 percent and, for 2018, 6.4 percent instead of 6.3 percent. "(China's) GDP growth is revised upward in 2017 in light of better-than-expected performance in the first half of the year," the World Bank said in its latest East Asia and Pacific Economic Update. China's economy grew at 6.9 percent in the first half. The updated projection is part of a broader forecast for the region to grow 6.4 percent in 2017 and 6.2 percent in 2018, compared with the previously forecast 6.2 percent in 2017 and 6.1 percent in 2018. As more efforts are made to rebalance away from investment and external demand toward domestic consumption, China's growth is projected to moderate in 2018-2019 but remain higher than many economies in the region, it said. In the year's first half, consumption contributed 4.4 percentage points of China's growth compared with 2.8 percentage points from investment, the World Bank added. In late September, the Asian Development Bank also boosted China's growth forecast for 2017 to 6.7 percent from 6.5 percent, citing a strong service sector, fiscal expansion and other factors. Yasuyuki Sawada, ADB chief economist, said, "China's economy remains resilient, consolidating its position as a global engine of growth." The revised forecasts come amid an intensified push to accelerate State-owned enterprise reforms, which are also expected to improve growth prospects, the World Bank said. But the Washington-based institution said net exports, which have recovered to contribute to growth this year, are facing risks like greater geopolitical tension, rising trade protectionism and economic nationalism. The key medium-term challenge for China is to manage an orderly transition to more equitable and sustainable growth through a greater orientation toward domestic consumption, it added. Chen Weidong, a senior analyst with the Bank of China, said China should focus on stabilizing the economy, curbing asset bubbles and guarding against risks. Contact the writers at [email protected] (Xinhua) 10:19, October 05, 2017 DAMASCUS, Oct. 4 (Xinhua) -- The Syrian army and allied fighters ended the presence of the Islamic State (IS) group in the eastern countryside of Hama province in central Syria on Wednesday, a military source told Xinhua. The achievement comes after the army retook over 50 towns and villages since unleashing its offensive to clear eastern Hama from IS on the third of September. With this achievement, the entire province of Hama has become clear of IS. Meanwhile, the source said the bomb squads are mopping up the villages in eastern Hama in search of bombs. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a war watchdog group, said 407 IS militants have been killed during the battles in eastern Hama countryside since last month. A day earlier, the Syrian army succeeded to slice through an enclave controlled by the IS militants between the central provinces of Hama and Homs. The Syrian army has previously managed to besiege IS in an enclave between the eastern countryside of Homs and Hama provinces. But on Tuesday the Syrian forces sliced through those areas, separating the IS-held areas in the eastern countryside of Hama from those in the eastern countryside of Homs. The defeat of IS in Hama adds to their losses in the eastern province of Deir al-Zour, a main IS stronghold, where the terror-designated group is losing control, as well as in the northern city of Raqqa, the IS de facto capital. The observatory previously said that the Syrian army is in control of 75 percent of the capital city of Deir al-Zour, and currently besieging the IS-held areas in the city. It added that the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) controls over 90 percent of Raqqa. La Jolla Playhouses Without Walls Festival (WoW), a biennial adventure that has been bringing theater out of buildings and into the wider world since 2013, made a giant leap this year, moving almost all performances to downtown San Diego and beyond. As before, the four-day event will feature immersive, innovative, site-specific pieces by local and international artists. This years venues are as varied as the performers, including San Diego Central Library, The New Childrens Museum, Horton Plaza Park, and Bread & Salt Art Gallery in Barrio Logan. Here are five WoW Fest highlights, some of them family-friendly. For the complete schedule and tickets, visit wowfestival.org 1) Under Construction: An American Masque This multimedia masque, presented by Sledgehammer Theatre and the UC San Diego Department of Theatre & Dance, is set in a pop-up banquet hall and features songs, dances and memory collages from then and now, mixing 1950s Norman Rockwell scenes with 21st-century settings by the late, great installation artist Jason Rhoades. Light bites will be available, too. 8:15 p.m. Oct. 19; 7:30 p.m. Oct. 20; 7 p.m. Oct. 21 and 22 at Bread & Salt, 1955 Julian Ave. Tickets $29. 2) Trisha Brown Dance Companys In Plain Site World-famous choreographer Trisha Brown, who died earlier this year at age 80, was one of the founders of post-modern dance. The company she started in 1970 continues her commitment to nontraditional performances in nontraditional settings, and it will perform a selection of her works, specially adapted to two sites on campus: the Stonehenge-y La Jolla Project part of UCSDs Stuart Collection and the Revelle College Breezeway. 2 and 5 p.m. Oct. 21 and 22, presented by ArtPower at UCSD (5 p.m. performances followed by artist/audience talkbacks) Tickets: $35. 3) Gob Squad Arts Collectives Super Night Shot A magical journey through the night-time streets of San Diego by Gob Squad Arts Collective, a Berlin-based group of British and German artists, whose website declares that they make performances and videos which search for beauty in the everyday, and look for words of wisdom from a passing stranger. Viewers become co-stars in a movie that celebrates serendipity and unplanned meetings with strangers, where anything can happen, and usually does. 7:30 p.m. Oct. 19-21 at Central Library, 330 Park Blvd. Tickets: $29. 4) FAETOPIA: A Faerie Flash Mob Faetopia is a 10-minute faerie-puppet flash mob designed and directed by master puppeteer Basil Twist, whose Seafoam Sleepwalk, featuring a giant puppet Aphrodite rising from the sea at La Jolla Shores, was one of the hits of the inaugural WoW Festival in 2013. Twist will be joined by members of the San Diego Guild of Puppetry and the UC San Diego percussion ensemble red fish blue fish. 11 a.m., noon, 1, 2 and 3 p.m. Oct. 21 and 22 at The New Childrens Museum, 200 West Island Ave. Tickets: Adults $13 for museum admission, children attend for free. 5) Model Home An urban installation by multi-award-winning set designer Mimi Lien, this large-scale piece is anchored by a construction crane suspending a bright-colored house in mid-air. The artist poses the question: As the city goes on changing, what makes a home? (Ask about scheduled times for the Crane Ballet.) Continuous performances 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 19-22 at Horton Plaza Park, 900 Fourth Ave. Free admission. Historic ties of north Meck span throughout region Though the north Mecklenburg area didnt see significant population growth until a few decades ago, its rich history dates back to the Revolutionary War. That was the basis of... An easier-than-expected first mammogram experience HUNTERSVILLE Scheduling a cancer screening probably ranks somewhere on your to-do list between "clean out the garage" and "donate those clothes that don't fit." Sure, you'll get to it at... PRESS RELEASE Wall Street in Shock at Trumps Commitment to Wipe Out Puerto Rico Debt Oct. 4, 2017 (EIRNS)Todays New York Times headline summed up Wall Streets fears: "Trump Vows To Wipe Out Puerto Ricos Debt. Can He Do That?" Wall Street remembers how Franklin Roosevelt wielded the power of the Presidency over Wall Street, and they are panicked. "Reached late on Tuesday, investors who hold Puerto Ricos debt and their advisers said they were taken aback and unwilling to comment," the Times reported. The Times piece marshaled its arguments as to why the President of the United States does not, could not, and had better not have the power to defend American lives at the expense of Wall Streets debt. They used such legalistic arguments, as that Puerto Ricos debt is in the form of municipal bonds, which are governed primarily by state laws, not by the federal government; or, yes, the Internal Revenue Service can step in under certain circumstances, "but not simply to wipe out the debt." Bloomberg news service, also, argued that "it is not clear how Puerto Ricos debt could just be made to disappear outside of bankruptcy court." The Times, Bloomberg, and other financial media are waving around as a threat, that Trumps statement on "wiping out" Puerto Ricos $74 billion in debt will be responsible for blowing out the municipal market generally. But the President simply stated reality. Puerto Ricos economy has no basis to pay Wall Streets usurious debts (as most of the other municipalities in the municipal market also cannot pay); the only solution is the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Glass-Steagall reorganization of the system as Lyndon LaRouche has insisted. Wall Street headlines changed mid-morning on Wednesday, using Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Mick Mulvaneys statements to CBS and CNN to reassure themselves that the White House had "walked back" President Trumps commitment. "I wouldnt take it word for word with that. I talked to the president at length yesterday as we flew home on Air Force One," Mulvaney said. He echoed Wall Street: "Puerto Ricos going to have to figure out its errors that its made for the last generation on its own finances." The six-part series is reported and hosted by award-winning journalist Christopher Goffard Los Angeles Times and Wonderys six-part series Dirty John premiered at No. 1 on Apple Podcasts, topping the list of streams and downloads on the popular audio-on-demand platform. This exhilarating podcast is a companion to the print and online series currently running in The Times. It is reported and written by Christopher Goffard, who contributed to the coverage of corruption in the city of Bell that brought The Times the 2011 Pulitzer Prize, has twice been a Pulitzer finalist for feature writing and captivated millions of readers last year with Framed, a six-part series about revenge and ruin in the master-planned city of Irvine. Goffard also hosts the podcast, which was produced in partnership with Wondery. A big part of our mission is bringing our award-winning journalism to readers, viewers and listeners in new and innovative ways, said Times CEO and Publisher Ross Levinsohn. This collaboration with Wondery is an excellent example of how we can expand our storytelling as platforms emerge and gain prominence and were thrilled to kick it off with a No.1 hit. Advertisement A true story of love, deceit, denial and, ultimately survival, Dirty John is one of the fastest-rising series on the Apple Podcasts chart. It jumped from #7 to #1 on October 2nd, the day the first episode launched. The first four episodes are available on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, NPR One, Spotify, iHeartRadio, TuneIn and RadioPublic, in addition the Times website. The remaining episodes will roll out over the next few days. Each episode peels back a new layer on John, a tall, handsome doctor whom Debra called her husband. But if John was an anesthesiologist in scrubs all the time, why did he never have any money? Thats only the tip of this mind-blowing journalistic series thats filled with interviews with all the subjects of this truth-is-stranger-than-fiction story. Dirty John is the kind of story that will draw both new and casual listeners to podcasts. Were proud to have joined forces with the L.A. Times on the production and marketing of this riveting miniseries, said Hernan Lopez, Founder & CEO of Wondery. The podcast was produced by Karen Lowe (This American Life) and executive produced by Hernan Lopez for Wondery. For more information about the series, visit latimes.com/DirtyJohn. Las Vegas shooter appears to have no plans to kill, girlfriend says LOS ANGELES, Oct. 4 (Xinhua) -- The girlfriend of Stephen Paddock, the Las Vegas shooter who killed at least 59 people and injured more than 500 others in the deadliest shooting in U.S. history, said here Wednesday she was not aware that Paddock was planning violence against anyone. "It never occurred to me in any way whatsoever that he was planning violence against anyone," said Marilou Danley in a statement read by her attorney outside the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Los Angeles office. "He never said anything to me or took any action that I was aware of and that I understood in any way to be a warning that something horrible like this was going to happen," said Danley. "I knew Stephen as a kind, caring, quiet man," the statement said. "I loved him and hoped for a quiet future together." Danley said that she was devastated by the deaths and injuries in the awful event. "I am a mother and a grandmother, my heart breaks for all who have lost loved ones." According to the statement, before the mass attack, Paddock bought Danley a ticket to visit her family in the Philippines and also wired her money to help her purchase a home. "I was grateful, but honestly, I was worried, that first, the unexpected trip home, and then the money, was a way of breaking up with me," she said. "I will cooperate fully with investigation," she said, promising to tell anything she knew about Paddock to the FBI and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Danley, 62, returned to the United States Tuesday night from the Philippines, her home country, and was met by FBI agents at Los Angeles International Airport. Danley lived with Paddock in Mesquite, Nevada, a town of about 18,000 people located 120 km northeast of Las Vegas. U.S. law enforcement officials hope that Danley can provide an insight into what led Paddock to carry out the massacre. Paddock, a 64-year-old gambler and real estate investor, rained bullets from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino on the Las Vegas Strip into an outdoor music festival with more than 22,000 concert-goers. Law enforcement officials believe that Paddock acted alone in the mass shooting and have said that Danley is a person of interest. Nothing stays in Las Vegas. Nothing ever did. When the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority launched its now-famous slogan What Happens Here, Stays Here in 2004, the region was climbing out of the shadows of 9/11, when tourism to the city slumped dramatically. The city had attempted to re-brand itself as a safe destination for families in the intervening years, but the fact was, no one came to Las Vegas to spend time with their families. People came to lose themselves, a simulacra of the American dream and the Wild West available to you within steps of disembarking from a flight the slot machines and video poker stalls closer than the bathrooms at most gates and only a few hundred yards over the state line as you came racing up Interstate 15. One dollar could be turned into thousands, millions, who knows, it was Las Vegas, anything could happen. You could change the entire course of your life with one bet, provided you believed in yourself and your luck. Which of course is the ultimate hubris when youre playing a rigged game of chance. The slogan promised a good time, but the wink and the nod was always more insidious, Las Vegas a town built by organized crime, abetted by violence, run by corrupt officials, its very roads and streets like a map to secret criminal behavior. Flamingo Road runs parallel to Sands Avenue, which runs parallel to Desert Inn Road and on and on, all of them running parallel to the criminals who paved them in the first place. Bugsy Siegel. Meyer Lansky. Moe Dalitz. You know their names because Omerta never really was a thing, no secrets are ever kept, no one ever stays quiet, but also because we started writing books and making movies about these guys, turning Las Vegas into the ultimate tourist cosplay experience, long before cosplay was a word. Locals started talking about how the place was better when the Mob was in charge, and in Mario Puzos The Godfather Bugsy Siegel was turned into Moe Greene and we all became Fredo, silk shirts and bad behavior. Bugsy Siegel. Meyer Lansky. Moe Dalitz... We started writing books and making movies about these guys. The corporations may have bought the casinos, made them feel more welcoming for a common person to lose their money in, but that doesnt mean the place got safer. In the wake of Las Vegas turning into a killing field last Sunday, making it home now to the deadliest mass shooting in modern history all from the window of a casino hotel one wonders if Las Vegas will ever feel safe, or why we ever thought it was in the first place. A man with a gun in Las Vegas surprises no one. The gangsters moved into the strip club business, pushed out further from the Strip, into the corner malls in the dodgy parts of town, away from the cameras. It was an open secret, the only thing that stayed in Las Vegas. Until tourists started getting stomped in parking lots by bouncers with criminal records longer than the famous crooks who used to run the town. And then it became a thing called Operation G-String, a corruption scandal that encompassed city officials, organized crime and the women earning 20 bucks a dance. The clubs got cleaned up. People went to prison. But not for long. They got out, got into real estate. Mortgage fraud. That sort of thing. Advertisement Though of course Las Vegas is more than the Strip. When I lived there from 1998 through 2000, Id wake up and walk outside, pick up the Review-Journal on my driveway in Summerlin and nod at my neighbor coming home from her shift at the Bellagio, nod at my neighbor hustling his kids into the car to take them to school, normal life things, people also coming to Las Vegas to be whatever they were going to be regardless. But live there for just a few months and the undercurrent of darkness walks into your life. Theres always a hustle. Her dining partners filled out keno slips for a dollar, Charles Bock writes in Beautiful Children, his novel of Las Vegas. Just to have some action going. They kept an eye out for the ticket girl. They called Lorraine and the ticket girl and the waitress darling. Its an ethos. You can pretend to be those kinds of people. Eventually, you wake up, and you are who you are. In the desert dawn, Vu Tran writes in his novel Dragonfish, there was a lifelessness to the way the valleys light fell across the Strip and how the shadows pooled beneath the hotels like melted paint with buildings erected from every culture and time in history, every possible mood, and with no consistency save their garishness and size. In the daylight, everything looked faraway, out of reach. If people came here to lose themselves, did they ever come to find anything? In the daylight, everything looked faraway, out of reach. If people came here to lose themselves, did they ever come to find anything? Vu Tran, Dragonfish Isnt that the eternal question? If what happens in Las Vegas stays there, too often the compulsion is to find trouble. Not that Las Vegas hasnt been prepared for it. Its the home to an elite SWAT team, the casinos and airport have the best biometric facial recognition systems in the country, and it is generally one of the best surveilled cities in the world. But what does it matter how close youre being watched when, throughout Nevada, its legal to bring a gun into a bar, into a casino including the Mandalay Bay or when theres no waiting period to buy a gun of any caliber or automation, when you can easily purchase high-volume magazines? Most of Nevada is still the literal Wild West, the stretch between Las Vegas and Reno filled with desolate beauty and scrub cities in all directions. Make that run in your car sometime and youll understand the liberal gun laws; you may even appreciate them. But you may also understand how the cowboy slowly morphed into the gangster, how a desire to have your own plot of land with a view and no one pushing you around can mutate into something harsh and angry when society pushes back. And how when people enter the city limits of a town built to defraud them, they have the propensity to act unpredictably. A frequently asked question in Las Vegas, Geoff Schumacher writes in Sun, Sin and Suburbia, his essential examination of the modern history of the city, is Do you like it here? Like many of us, Schumacher isnt quite sure. I left Las Vegas quickly I only lived there for two years and in that way, my time there wasnt all that unusual, as Las Vegas has long been marked by the rush of people coming and going. But the place has infected me ever since. I saw things in that town that you wouldnt believe, or maybe now you would. Stunning, sudden violence. Desperation. The jagged, other-worldly beauty of Red Rock Canyon. People gambling inside chain pharmacies, hooked to oxygen machines while smoking the cigarettes you saw them buy, along with their Lipitor and Coumadin. Everything looks like a con, everyone looks like the rube, which means so do you. No one comes to Las Vegas to make it small, so its absurd to think that what happens in Las Vegas will ever stay there. Violence on a grand scale is both the living horror of America and the embodiment of our freedoms. If, as Hunter S. Thompson suggested in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, the only final sin is stupidity, perhaps the question now is how much longer do we abide it. Goldberg is the author, most recently, of the novel Gangster Nation. Among literature fans, Thursdays Nobel Prize announcement came as a surprise. The author of The Remains of the Day and Never Let Me Go, though a critically acclaimed and respected novelist, had been on no ones shortlist. But then Kazuo Ishiguro, the 2017 Nobel Laureate in Literature, has always been surprising. He is, after all, that rarest of creatures a literary craftsman who also sells books. Ever since the 1989 publication of The Remains of the Day, winner of Englands prestigious Booker Prize and adapted into an Oscar-nominated film starring Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson Ishiguro has regularly landed on U.S. bestseller lists. Advertisement Thats not always true of Nobel laureates, popularity with American readers not being one of the Swedish Academys criteria. Kazuo Ishiguro is a terrific choice for the Nobel Prize. He is both a popular and accessible writer, and yet also one who is smart, sophisticated, inventive, and experimental, said Viet Thanh Nguyen, winner of the Pulitzer Prize for fiction and a professor at USC. Ishiguro had no advance warning of the award and was at home in London answering email when he got the news, which at first he thought was a hoax. Its a ridiculously prestigious honor, he said in a phone interview with the Swedish Academy that was uploaded to YouTube. I come in the line of lots of my greatest heroes. Absolutely great authors. The greatest authors in history have received this prize. Kazuo Ishiguro attends a screening of the adaptation of Never Let Me Go. The 2010 film starred Keira Knightley, Carey Mulligan and Andrew Garfield. (Evan Agostini / Associated Press ) The author of seven novels, a short-story collection and screenplays, Ishiguro was born in Nagasaki, Japan, in 1954; his mother had survived the atomic bomb attack as a teenager. He moved at age 5 with his parents to England, where his father worked as an oceanographer. His parents intended to return to Japan but never did. Still, the idea of the birthplace he didnt know left such a lasting impression that it was a setting for Ishiguros first two books, A Pale View of the Hills, published in England in 1982, and An Artist of the Floating World, published in 1986. But it was when he turned to England that Ishiguros work found its driving force: the tension between what is unexpressed and the thread of memory. The Remains of the Day looks back on the period between the world wars and, through Stevens, a loyal butler, observes British leaders that the reader can see are making dangerous choices even if Stevens cannot until it is too late. The authors subtlety and coolness are fascinating, wrote Patricia Highsmith in the L.A. Times review. The Remains of the Day is a book to make the reader feel happy and at ease on being introduced to the world of the civilized Stevens and his social superiors. The humor is sly, unwitting, and charged with social comment. Emotional restraint, moral complexity, self-delusion and the fragility of memory run through Ishiguros works, which have quietly pushed the boundaries of literary fiction. His most recent novel, The Buried Giant, is set in Arthurian England and its inclusion of ogres sent at least one prominent critic to dismiss it as ungainly and worse. I didnt anticipate this bigger debate, Ishiguro told Neil Gaiman in a 2015 interview with the New Statesman. What is genre in the first place? Who invented it? Why am I perceived to have crossed a kind of boundary? Hed already dabbled in science fiction Never Let Me Go, set in a seemingly idyllic British boarding school, was a well-received dystopia (and was also turned into a movie). Ishiguro attended British boarding schools and before college took time off, in 1974, to hitchhike around the U.S. with his guitar. He desperately wanted to be a musician, but when he felt that was not going to happen, he turned his talents to fiction. He studied philosophy and literature at the University of Kent, where he sang and played in a band, and got a masters degree in creative writing at the University of East Anglia. Steeped in the idealistic social movements of the 1960s and 70s, he worked for several years helping the homeless and on housing rights; his wife, Lorna, is a social worker. Yet he also worked flushing grouse for hunters at the British royal familys castle Balmoral, in Scotland. An underlying tension informs Ishiguros works, Nguyen points out. The fact that he is a writer who embodies some of the issues around migration, displacement, and otherness by virtue of being a Japanese-born but British-bred author writing in the most beautiful English is also personally resonant with me. He came to England at five; I came to the United States at four. I can understand why he was able to write a novel like The Remains of the Day, about an aging British butler in a dying system of class and empire. Ishiguro could see from within that system and yet look at it from the outside as well. In 1990, Ishiguro sat down with The Times to talk about The Remains of the Day. In British and Japanese society, the ability to control emotions is considered dignified and elegant, Ishiguro told The Times. In Stevens, there is the tendency to mistake having any emotions at all with weakness. Ultimately, Ishiguro said, the book is about the tragedy of a man who takes that thing too far, who somehow denies himself the right to love and be human. This is something the middle-class and upper-middle-class English do a lot. In its citation, the Nobel committee praised Ishiguro who, in novels of great emotional force, has uncovered the abyss beneath our illusory sense of connection with the world. Sara Danius of the Swedish Academy said, If you mix Jane Austen and Franz Kafka you have Ishiguro in a nutshell and you have to add a bit of Proust into the mix. The literary references were clear. Last year, the academy awarded the Nobel in literature to American musician Bob Dylan, citing his work as poetry. The decision made headlines, not all of them good. Danius declined to comment, in a streaming interview, on how the selection of Ishiguro might be received. For his part, Ishiguro didnt think last years prize was a problem at all. Its great to come one year after Bob Dylan, who was my hero since the age of 13. Hes probably my biggest hero, he told the Swedish Academy. I do a very good Bob Dylan impersonation, but I wont do it for you right now. Kazuo Ishiguro speaks to the news media after winning the Nobel Prize in Literature. (Alastair Grant / Associated Press ) carolyn.kellogg@latimes.com @paperhaus Kazuo Ishiguro is the winner of the Nobel Prize in literature, the awarding Swedish Academy said Thursday. Born in Japan and raised in Britain, Ishiguro is best known for the novels The Remains of the Day and Never Let Me Go. He is one of a handful of authors who write bestselling books while winning prestigious literary awards. Published in 1989, The Remains of the Day won the Man Booker Prize and was adapted into the 1993 film starring Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson, nominated for eight Oscars. Its the story of a butler, Stevens, at an English country estate, and begins in the comedic vein of P.G. Wodehouses Jeeves stories and ends somewhere quite different. Advertisement In British and Japanese society, the ability to control emotions is considered dignified and elegant, Ishiguro told The Times in 1990. In Stevens, there is the tendency to mistake having any emotions at all with weakness. Ultimately, he continued, the book is about the tragedy of a man who takes that thing too far, who somehow denies himself the right to love and be human. This is something the middle-class and upper-middle-class English do a lot. In its citation, the Nobel committee praised Ishiguro who, in novels of great emotional force, has uncovered the abyss beneath our illusory sense of connection with the world. Ishiguro is the author of seven novels, a short-story collection and work for the screen. Ishiguros books share a fascination with memory, identity, with the tension between obligation and desire, wrote Times book critic David L. Ulin in a review of 2015s The Buried Giant, Ishiguros most recent novel, which is set in the time of King Arthurs England. Sara Danius of the Swedish Academy said, If you mix Jane Austen and Franz Kafka you have Ishiguro in a nutshell and you have to add a bit of Proust into the mix. The literary references were clear. Last year, the Nobel in literature was awarded to American musician Bob Dylan, citing his work as poetry. The decision made headlines, not all of them good. Danius declined to comment, in a streaming interview, on how the selection of Ishiguro might be received. Instead, she focused on Ishiguros work. Hes not out to redeem the past, she said. Hes exploring what you have to forget to survive as an individual and a society. Ishiguro was born in Nagasaki, Japan, in 1954 and moved to England with his parents at age 5. His mother had survived the atomic bomb attack as a teenager; his father was an oceanographer. His parents intended to return to Japan but the family never did, and the idea of the nation he didnt know left such a lasting impression that it was a setting for Ishiguros first two books, A Pale View of the Hills, published in England in 1982, and An Artist of the Floating World, published in 1986. But it was when he turned to England that Ishiguros work found its center. The Remains of the Day looks back on the period between the world wars and, through the butler Stevens eyes, observes British leaders that the reader can see are making dangerous choices. The authors subtlety and coolness are fascinating, wrote Patricia Highsmith in our review. The Remains of the Day is a book to make the reader feel happy and at ease on being introduced to the world of the civilized Stevens and his social superiors. The humor is sly, unwitting, and charged with social comment. Ishiguro attended British boarding schools and took time off, in 1973, to hitchhike across the U.S. with his guitar. He studied philosophy and literature at the University of Kent, when he sang and played in a band, and then got a masters in creative writing at the University of East Anglia. Steeped in the idealistic social movements of the 1960s and 70s, he worked for several years helping the homeless and on housing rights. Yet he also worked flushing grouse for hunters at the British royal familys castle Balmoral, in Scotland. In his chilling 2005 novel, Never Let Me Go, three young friends grow up in an idyllic British boarding school that is not what it seems. The book was his fourth to be shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize and was made into a film in 2010 starring Carey Mulligan, Keira Knightley and Andrew Garfield. By age 10, we start to be able and powerful enough to begin to make the journey out of the protected world the adults around us have created. Its a conspiracy, really, to keep children in this bubble with nice things and nice people, he told The Times in 2000. We may not remember the transition intellectually, but this nostalgia for childhood is an important emotion. Remembering when the world was a better place is the foundation of our idealism; it can lead to the urge to make the world a better place. Regularly publishing books every five years, Ishiguro often features unreliable narrators in his work. Such is the case in When We Were Orphans (2000), which starts in Shanghai in the early years of the 20th century, shifts locations, times and, surprisingly, narrative style to become something like a detective novel an ambitious experiment. In 1995s The Unconsoled, a successful pianist is troubled by dreamlike anxieties over a weekend celebration during which it seems he can accomplish nothing; its written with characteristic grace and offbeat pungency, Richard Eder wrote in our review. It was, Eder wrote, another of Ishiguros tersely sculpted novels of moral complexity. Ive always thought that Ish is an amazing writer. The breadth of his work as a novelist is astonishing, said Sonny Mehta, editor in chief of Knopf. Weve had the good fortune of being his publisher since The Remains of the Day, a book that readers around the world have come to cherish. This acknowledgment from the Swedish Academy is the most wonderful news, and a very happy occasion for all of us at Knopf and Vintage. Although Kazuo Ishiguro has spent much of his career writing about small events in the lives of modest people, wrote poet Troy Jollimore in our review of his 2009 short story collection, Nocturne, there is nothing modest about his accomplishments. His immaculate prose is unassuming to the point of near-invisibility, like a lake whose still surface belies the turbulent currents beneath. And he has mastered the art of creating characters whose statements mean more than they say. Ishiguro described his writing style to The Times with characteristic understatement: I try to say things as simply and cleanly as possible. carolyn.kellogg@latimes.com @paperhaus ALSO The 2017 National Book Award finalists Ansel Elgort is slated the lead in the adaptation of The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt The bestselling novel Sweetbitter is coming to TV UPDATES: 7:45 a.m.: This post was updated with more information about Ishiguros books. 6:30 a.m.: This post was updated with more information about Ishiguros life and work, and a comment from his publisher. This post was originally published at 4:25 a.m. Harvey Weinstein, the pioneering independent film executive, will take a leave of absence from his namesake studio after a news report detailed decades of sexual harassment accusations against him. The article, published by the New York Times on Thursday, said that Weinstein has over the years reached at least eight legal settlements with women over alleged harassment. The allegations were levied by actresses including Ashley Judd as well as former employees of Weinstein Co. and the executives previous company, Miramax. Advertisement In a statement to the Los Angeles Times, Weinstein, 65, reiterated some comments he made to the New York Times, apologizing for behavior with colleagues in the past [that] has caused a lot of pain and said he would take a leave to deal with his issues head on. I so respect all women and regret what happened. I hope that my actions will speak louder than words, said Weinstein, who also misquoted a lyric by rapper Jay-Z about needing to be a better person and added that he has already changed his behavior. Trust me, this isnt an overnight process. Ive been trying to do this for 10 years, and this is a wake-up call. I cannot be more remorseful about the people I hurt and I plan to do right by all of them. Weinstein, a brash powerhouse in the indie film world who co-founded Miramax in 1979, is known for producing, alongside brother Bob, critical and commercial hits including Academy Award-winning Shakespeare in Love and Chicago. The brothers sold Miramax to Walt Disney Co. in 1993. They left Miramax 12 years later and went on to found their namesake company. The claims against the famously sharp-elbowed Weinstein follow several recent controversies involving high-powered men in entertainment and media. Among those accused of sexual misconduct include comedian Bill Cosby, former Fox News Chairman Roger Ailes and former Fox News host Bill OReilly. Each denied wrongdoing. Several women allegedly harassed by Weinstein described to the New York Times incidents in which the executive is claimed to have sought massages or given unsolicited ones. These women, described as Hollywood hopefuls, told the newspaper that Weinstein was naked during some of the encounters. The report also cited a settlement with actress Rose McGowan over an incident in a hotel room. This is a crisis, said Debra Katz, a partner at law firm Katz, Marshall & Banks LLP, whose focus includes sexual harassment cases. These are very serious allegations of abuse of power. Although Weinstein expressed contrition for his behavior, his lawyer, Charles Harder, issued a statement threatening legal action against the New York Times, whose article about Weinstein, he said, was saturated with false and defamatory statements. It relies on mostly hearsay accounts and a faulty report, apparently stolen from an employee personnel file, which has been debunked by 9 different eyewitnesses, Harder said in a statement. We sent the Times the facts and evidence, but they ignored it and rushed to publish. We are preparing the lawsuit now. All proceeds will be donated to womens organizations. Even before the New York Times published the article, both the newspaper and Weinstein were girding for a legal fight. On Wednesday, the New York Times deputy general counsel, David McCraw, wrote a letter to Harder, obtained by the Los Angeles Times, that defended its impending story. Any notion that we have dealt unfairly with Mr. Weinstein is simply false, and you can be sure that any article we do will meet our customary standards for accuracy and fairness, McCraw wrote to Harder. In a statement, Lisa Bloom, another attorney representing Weinstein, said that he had asked her to perform a comprehensive review of his companys policies and practices regarding women in the workplace. Bloom is well-known for representing women in high-profile sexual harassment cases, including model Janice Dickinson in a matter against Cosby. Weinstein Co. is developing a television project based on Blooms book Suspicion Nation. Weinsteins alleged behavior has long been discussed in Hollywood circles, and some industry observers couched his claimed conduct as an open secret in interviews Thursday. Hes gotten away with it for decades, said Katz, the attorney. This is a really sickening abuse of power. Whenever hes been called to account for it, Weinstein has paid for the problems to go away, but the company hasnt addressed the problems. It remains unclear what Weinsteins future at his company will be. Weinstein Co.s board is set to meet by the end of the week to discuss the matter, according to reports, and some activists have called for the company to sever ties with him. There needs to be some kind of accountability, said Shaunna Thomas, co-founder of UltraViolet, a womens group that called on Weinstein Co. to fire the executive. Taking a leave of absence is totally insufficient. A lot of people thought the casting couch was a thing of the past, but this proves that it is still very much alive today. A representative of Judd, who starred in the films Kiss the Girls and High Crimes, did not respond to a request for comment; McGowan declined to comment. But McGowan, best known for starring in Scream, the 1996 horror film released by Miramaxs Dimension Films label, took to Twitter to urge women to fight on. And to the men out there, stand up, she wrote. We need you as allies. Beyond McGowan, social media reaction was swift, with numerous people condemning Weinsteins alleged harrassment. Some also pointed out Weinstein has long been viewed as a Democratic Party power broker, an outspoken Hillary Clinton supporter and a defender of liberal causes. The controversy prompted some soul searching in Hollywood over its longstanding struggles with sexual harassment. Lena Dunham, the creator and star of Girls, wrote on Twitter that the entertainment industry, long known for spotlighting scandals such as those involving the Catholic Church, should train its spotlight on what it has condoned within the business. With Weinsteins impending leave of absence, his company finds itself in uncharted territory. Since founding the company in 2005, the Weinstein brothers have had an up-and-down run that has included soaring successes such as the Oscar-winning The Kings Speech and Django Unchained, but also a slew of box-office disappointments that have tarnished the luster of their prestigious brand. Last year, Weinstein Co. released just six movies in cinemas, not including the Dimension label, down from a high of 14 releases in 2014. Recent flops have included the Matthew McConaughey drama Gold and the Alicia Vikander period piece Tulip Fever. The company has increasingly focused on television production to diversify its entertainment portfolio. TV at this point of my career is more lucrative and a lot easier to do, Weinstein told the Los Angeles Times last year. When youre making movies, youre walking the high wire. Weinstein Co. does have one awards season contender in the drama Wind River, which came out in August and stars Jeremy Renner and Elizabeth Olsen. The company is scheduled to host a screening and Q-and-A with the films stars on Sunday at a theater in Santa Monica. Weinstein is known for a shrewd ability to secure Oscars for his films, waging intense awards campaigns to promote his projects and sometimes discrediting other companies offerings. But he has long been notorious in Hollywood for his short temper and for harshly dressing down employees and colleagues. Peter Biskinds 2004 nonfiction book Down and Dirty Pictures, which covered the rise of indie film, delved into Weinsteins volatile personality in detail. Among the incidents described were those involving physical altercations, shouting matches and others in which he reduced actors and filmmakers to tears. In his statement, Weinstein said that he has been trying to become a better person. My journey now will be to learn about myself and conquer my demons, he said. daniel.miller@latimes.com | Twitter: @DanielNMiller david.ng@latimes.com | Twitter: @DavidNgLAT ryan.faughnder@latimes.com | Twitter: @RFaughnder Times staff writers Meg James and Stephen Battaglio contributed to this report. ALSO: Lena Dunham, Rose McGowan add voices to Harvey Weinstein scandal Disneys Bob Iger criticizes gun violence in wake of Las Vegas shooting Another week, another resignation; Hollywood finally addresses sexual harassment UPDATES: 2:16 p.m.: This article was updated with details about the allegations against Harvey Weinstein. 1:43 p.m.: This article was updated with tweets from actress Rose McGowan. 12:54 p.m.: This article was updated with a statement from Harvey Weinsteins attorney, David Harder, and with more reaction. This article was originally published at 12 p.m. A Los Angeles real estate developer is building 230 apartments in the citys burgeoning Marina Arts District, a former industrial zone by Marina del Rey. California Landmark Group, which has built other residential complexes in the neighborhood, has started construction on an apartment and office project at 13448 W. Beach Ave. called G8. The $100-million complex will have six architecturally distinct structures of varying heights spanning a city block. The design by Rios Clementi Hale Studios and PK Architecture is intended improve the scale and massing of the large development. Advertisement Its over 800 feet long, like an 80-story building on its side, said Ken Kahan, founder of California Landmark. G8 will feature a pocket park, courtyards with swimming pools, shared indoor and outdoor workspaces, a fitness center and a rooftop deck. The 25,000-square-foot office component will incorporate a former industrial building on the site with new construction. The Marina Arts District is roughly bounded by Beach Avenue to the north, Maxella Avenue to the south, Del Rey Avenue to the west and Redwood Avenue to the east. The neighborhood was a hodgepodge of small residences and a variety of industrial and manufacturing complexes when it was discovered in the 1990s by developers, who were looking to provide less expensive housing than was available in Santa Monica to workers at internet companies and other creative businesses. Builders now tout the areas proximity to beaches, bike paths and jobs offered by the growing Silicon Beach technology cluster, which includes social media firm Snap Inc., automotive pricing website TrueCar Inc. and Dollar Shave Club. G8 is the seventh and largest apartment project developed by California Landmark in the Marina Arts District since entering the market in 2006. When construction of G8 is complete in late 2019, the firm will have completed more than 725 apartment units in the area. The G8 units will be priced at about $3.50 to $3.75 per square foot per month, Kahan said, or nearly $3,000 for a one-bedroom unit. He expects renters will be about ages 25 to 50 but not necessarily all tech workers. We are not relying on Silicon Beach, he said. Other creative, entrepreneurial talent has migrated close to the water. About a fourth of the occupants of his buildings are entrepreneurs who have home offices, he said. These are independent people. roger.vincent@latimes.com Twitter: @rogervincent ALSO Complex infotainment systems are putting driver lives at risk, says the AAA Gov. Jerry Brown signs bills reforming PACE energy-efficiency loan program Gov. Jerry Brown signs bill allowing consumers to sue banks over bogus accounts Mattel Inc. decided not to move forward with plans to sell a kid-focused smart hub after new executives decided it did not fully align with Mattels new technology strategy, according to a company statement. Childrens health and privacy advocates this week petitioned the toy giant not to release the device, which they argued would give the El Segundo company an unprecedented look into the personal lives of children. In a statement Wednesday, Mattel said that it had decided internally not to take the product to market after a new chief technology officer, Sven Gerjets, joined the company in July. Gerjets, Mattel said, reviewed the product and decided not to bring Aristotle to the marketplace as part of an ongoing effort to deliver the best possible connected product experience to the consumer. Advertisement Aristotle was designed for a childs room. It could switch on a night light to soothe a crying baby. It also was designed to keep changing its activities, even to the point where it could help a preteen with homework. And the device would learn about the child along the way. Objections to Aristotle were twofold. For one, the existence of a home hub for kids raised questions about data privacy for a vulnerable population. It also triggered broader concerns about how quickly companies are marketing products to parents without understanding how technology could affect early childhood development. The product drew attention from Sen. Edward Markey (D-Mass.) and Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas), who sent Mattel a letter last week asking the toymaker for more information on how it will store and retain data it collects on children. Mattel has said it would protect the Aristotle data with high-level encryption and would not sell that information to advertisers in compliance with childrens data privacy laws. But privacy concerns werent the only issue. My main concerns about this technology apart from the privacy concerns that [Markey and Barton] are trying to address is the idea that a piece of technology becomes the most responsive household member to a crying child, a child who wants to learn, or a childs play ideas, said pediatrician Jennifer Radesky, who wrote the American Assn. of Pediatrics 2016 media guidelines for children zero to 6 years of age. (Radesky was not involved with the campaign to persuade Mattel to stop Aristotle sales.) Aristotle may be gone, but it would have been one of many products firms are offering to make the parenting world more high-tech. Kid-focused tablets and apps have been around for years, and parents have made their own decisions about the proper place for technology in their childrens lives. But devices are increasingly moving into areas that are far more personal or more intrusive. There are smart cradles that can rock your baby for you. Theres a smart cushion to calm colicky infants by cradling them while playing a recording that mimics a parents heartbeat. Little is known about the effects of tech devices on early childhood development, and experts say it will take time to figure that out. But child privacy and child development experts are becoming increasingly uncomfortable with where the tech is heading. Last year, Mattel faced pushback from those worried about the surveillance possibilities of Hello Barbie, a talking version of the classic doll that learns about its human playmates by recording their voices over time via Wi-Fi. Through play sessions, the doll learns facts such as the name of the family dog. It then incorporates this information into conversation. The thought that a doll would be slowly collecting information on a child alarmed many privacy advocates who labeled the toy creepy. The product didnt sell well at launch after poor reviews, many of which mentioned the privacy concerns. Several privacy advocates and physicians, organized by nonprofit groups the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood and the Story of Stuff Project, signed a petition asking Mattel not to release Aristotle, which was set to hit stores next year. Young children should not be guinea pigs for AI experiments. Please put the well-being of children first and end the production of Aristotle, the petition said. It had 15,000 signatures. We commend Mattel for putting childrens wellbeing first and listening to the concerns of child development experts and thousands of parents who urged them not to release this device, said Josh Golin, executive director for the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood. This is a tremendous victory for everyone who believes children still have a right to privacy and that robots can never replace loving humans as caregivers. Tsukayama writes for the Washington Post. Vice President Mike Pence, in his role as chairman of the newly reconstituted National Space Council, called Thursday for the U.S. to return to the moon. That could be lucrative for commercial space companies such as SpaceX and Blue Origin. Pence said the councils objectives include laying groundwork for the U.S. to maintain a constant commercial, human presence in low-Earth orbit, as well as sending American astronauts back to the moon. The moon presence not only would leave behind footprints and flags, but also serve as a steppingstone for future human missions to Mars and beyond, he said. Advertisement Last week, SpaceX Chief Executive Elon Musk gave more details of the Hawthorne space firms plans to reach Mars. Musk described a large, fully reusable rocket and spaceship system called BFR that eventually would replace SpaceXs current line of rockets and spacecraft. To help pay for development of BFR, Musk said the system could be used for missions closer to home, as well as to transport large numbers of people to colonize the Red Planet. One of those closer missions Musk suggested was to help establish a base on the moon. Musk said lunar surface missions could be done with BFR without propellent production on the moon. Its 2017, Musk said during his speech at a space conference in Australia. I mean, we should have a lunar base by now. Company President Gwynne Shotwell attended the National Space Council meeting Thursday and talked about aspirations to reach the moon. The Jeff Bezos-led space firm Blue Origin also has announced plans for Blue Moon, a lunar cargo transport service. Blue Origin Chief Executive Bob Smith said Thursday that the transport system could be developed within the next five years and that the company was willing to invest alongside NASA to make it happen. Smith also spoke about Blue Origins plans to take paying tourists into space, noting the company expects to launch humans within the next 18 months. While a return to the moon has been periodically revisited, the mention by the National Security Council adds a certain kind of official seal on activities that the U.S. may pursue, said Phil Smith, space industry analyst at Bryce Space and Technology. It just helps to add a little more momentum to the cause, he said. Thursdays meeting was the first in almost 25 years for the council. The idea of a space advisory group first emerged during the Eisenhower administration. The council in its more current form was established by President George H.W. Bush in 1989 to advise the president on civil, commercial and military space issues. It was discontinued during the Clinton administration and resurrected this year by President Trump. samantha.masunaga@latimes.com Twitter: @smasunaga Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bill Wednesday that protects the right of consumers to sue banks alleged to have created fraudulent accounts in their name. The legislation was prompted by the ongoing Wells Fargo & Co. scandal. The bill, SB 33, was authored by Sen. Bill Dodd (D-Napa) and sponsored by State Treasurer John Chiang. It specifically prohibits banks from requiring disputes over fraudulent accounts to be sent to private binding arbitration, instead of being heard in a court. Wells Fargo, like many financial institutions, requires customers to give up their right to sue when they sign up for personal accounts and other services. Advertisement The use of arbitration clauses became controversial after Wells Fargo admitted last year that its employees had created millions of checking, savings, credit card and other accounts without customers knowledge or permission. Both before and after the September 2016 admission, Wells Fargo cited the clauses to successfully shield itself from lawsuits filed over the bogus accounts, even though customers have never agreed to open them. Critics of private arbitration say that it is stacked against consumers and that it helps large companies keep wrongdoing under wraps. Wells Fargo Chief Executive Timothy Sloan was sharply questioned about the banks position on arbitration during a Tuesday hearing held by the U.S. Senate Banking Committee, which had sought an update on the banks reforms since the accounts scandal broke. Sloan testified that the bank was no longer taking the position that its arbitration clause prevents customers from suing the bank, but was told by Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) that at least in one lawsuit the bank still held that position. SB 33 faced opposition from the California Chamber of Commerce, California Bankers Assn. and other business groups, which argued it would likely lead to years of costly litigation and ultimately be invalidated by federal courts. Over the last few decades, the U.S. Supreme Court has issued opinions in several arbitration-related cases, generally saying that states cannot make rules that disfavor arbitration and that state courts must honor arbitration agreements. The new state law applies to both federally chartered and state-chartered banks. Alan Kaplinsky, a Philadelphia attorney who pioneered the use of arbitration clauses, told The Times this spring that if the bill becomes law, he believes the Supreme Court would eventually overturn it. It clearly wont stand up, he said. Really, theres no doubt at all that the state law would be preempted. Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Sherman Oaks) and Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) have introduced matching House and Senate bills that would change federal law and prohibit the application of arbitration clauses to fraudulently opened bank and credit card accounts. However, neither measure has moved forward in the Republican-controlled Congress. A Wells Fargo spokeswoman said she was unable to provide immediate comment on the governors action. Times staff writer James Rufus Koren contributed to this report. laurence.darmiento@latimes.com As workers passed around cake and ice cream and farewell speeches rose over the din of the factory, Damesha Shine marveled at two men who were entering retirement after 50 years at the Whirlpool washing machine plant here. The bubbly, 36-year-old Shine, with 11 years at Whirlpool, was already enjoying a measure of the good life after a meager childhood as the daughter of a single mother. The farewell party triggered thoughts about her own future. Oh, my gosh, she said, reflecting on the scene, how many more years to go. Thats a milestone I want to have. Advertisement But mingled with hope was anxiety: Would she or any of her 3,000 coworkers actually get the chance to spend a 50-year career at Whirlpool? In Clyde, population 6,200, generations of workers have found a steady, rewarding career at Whirlpool to be as dependable as a birthright. Even as manufacturing shrank across the United States, Whirlpool survived the shifting economic winds. In recent years, it gobbled up domestic competitors, such as Maytag and Amana, and even brought some factory operations back from Mexico and Germany. But even Whirlpool has not been immune from the forces that have challenged other U.S. manufacturers advancing technology and foreign competition. In response to the growth of appliance imports from South Korea, the company has filed a rare type of trade complaint. On Thursday the governments International Trade Commission ruled in Whirlpools favor, as expected. The 4-to-0 vote by the commission means that the over the next two months, the independent panel will consider specific protectionist measures to recommend to President Trump. As a result, the case could become a test of Trumps new, more aggressive approach to trade and some of the complications that come with it. Whirlpools targets are Samsung and LG, two giant South Korean conglomerates that became global leaders in cellphones, flat-screen televisions and other electronics, and have more recently taken aim at the U.S. appliance market, chalking up significant gains in market share. Whirlpool has accused the Korean firms of foul play. In two earlier cases, the company convinced trade officials in Washington that Samsung and LG were dumping washing machines into the United States at below fair-market prices. But the early victories proved short-lived: LG and Samsung avoided country-specific tariffs by moving production first from South Korea and Mexico to China, and then to Thailand and Vietnam. Enter Trump. Amid his fiery rhetoric to get tough on trade and make American industry great again, Whirlpool lawyers filed a new complaint under a rarely used, so-called global safeguard provision. Ultimately, if the trade commission rules in Whirlpools favor, Trump could slap crushing penalties on imports of washers and key parts from anywhere in the world. Just how Trump comes down on the tariffs could be a harbinger of similarly tough action against trading partners involving more consequential products such as steel and automobiles. I think the worry is that the Trump administration is open for business in terms of these petitions, and we may see a lot more of them, said Douglas Irwin, a trade expert at Dartmouth College. Because of the sweeping nature of global safeguards and their impact on imports, he said, they could noticeably raise prices for American consumers and spark tensions with countries and suppliers who may get caught up in the sanctions. Whirlpool representatives say they had no choice but to bring the case and that it had nothing to do with who is in the White House. But until this year, the International Trade Commission had not investigated such a global safeguard complaint in 16 years. Aggrieved companies such as Whirlpool were reluctant to file such petitions, in no small part because U.S. presidents did not look favorably on them. Such complaints were regarded as extreme and likely to be ruled illegal by the World Trade Organization. Whatever reluctance there was before isnt there anymore under Trump. Workers at Whirlpools plant in Clyde, Ohio, churn out a washing machine every four seconds, making the facility one of the largest appliance makers in the country. (Don Lee / Los Angeles Times ) I think it is emboldening companies, said Stephen Orava, a veteran trade attorney at King & Spalding. Indeed, in another global safeguard case involving the solar energy industry, the International Trade Commission determined last month that solar panels were being imported in such quantities as to cause serious harm to domestic panel makers. The commission is now considering how much in duties it will recommend. The White House has signaled its support for the handful of U.S. solar-panel producers, even as the solar industry warns that restricting imports could threaten tens of thousands of jobs for installers of solar panels and related workers in California and elsewhere. Trump faces no less a quandary with Whirlpool. It may seem an easy decision to sign off on duties targeting a couple of foreign players that could be threatening a big manufacturer in small-town America, especially in the battleground state of Ohio, which helped catapult Trump to the Oval Office. Trump won Sandusky County, where Clyde is located, with 57% of the vote. But tariffs might provide only temporary relief. Both Samsung and LG say they are preparing to invest hundreds of millions of dollars to open washer manufacturing facilities on American soil. LG already has broken ground on a 310-acre site in Clarksville, Tenn., and Samsung has acquired an existing facility in Newberry, S.C., that Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.) told the trade commission at a hearing last month would create 954 jobs in three years. The South Korean firms would not be subject to tariffs for washing machines made inside the United States, but some officials in the states where the new plants would be located fear that Whirlpools case might derail the plans. If LG or Samsung loses market share or sees a dimmer future as a result of tariffs, they could hire fewer workers than they otherwise might, or even walk away from it all, Tennessee officials warned the trade commission. Whirlpool has not been immune from the forces that have challenged other U.S. manufacturers advancing technology and foreign competition. (Don Lee / Los Angeles Times ) This is a great opportunity for the citizens of my district, for veterans getting out of the Army looking for jobs, for our state, and for our nation, Tennessee State Sen. Mark E. Green told the commissioners. We want to encourage investment in our state and in the United States, not discourage it, he said, reminding them that his district, where LG is building its facility, is also the home of Ft. Campbell, a major base. Kim McMillan, mayor of Clarksville, put it more bluntly: Yes, this case is about U.S. jobs, but it isnt just about U.S. jobs versus foreign competition, she said. This is all about washing machines that will be made in the U.S. Its just a matter of whether they will be made in Tennessee, Ohio or South Carolina. Whirlpool answered with both U.S. senators from Ohio, Democrat Sherrod Brown and Republican Rob Portman, testifying in its favor. The company also submitted a petition signed by 2,500 Whirlpool employees, including 50 who took a 10-hour bus ride last month to attend the commissions hearing in Washington. One of them, Jeff Postl, a 32-year Whirlpool veteran and engineer, has taken apart washers made by Samsung and LG, among others. His conclusion was that theres not a whole lot of difference; they all have the basic core features. So what it comes down to is price, he said. Whirlpool itself has invested tens of millions in Clyde in recent years as it brought back production of front-load washers from Mexico and Germany. That was supposed to add hundreds of jobs and secure the future of the factory and the community for decades to come. But production of those washers has never taken off as expected. In one instance, Whirlpool says it lost $200 million in sales when LG underbid it to make Kenmore washers for Sears. Dan OBrien, Whirlpools plant manager, insists his employees could compete with anyone in the world. The key is just to have a fair playing field, he said. Shine, the 11-year Whirlpool employee hoping to get to 50, started as a temp and has worked her way up to team leader. The job allowed her to buy a house in 2014, and a year later she got her first new car, a Ford Taurus. Now, she says, she worries her future may depend on the outcome of a trade dispute. If we lose, it hurts. It hurts our company, she said of Whirlpools case. The job has been a lot to me. I dont want to be laid off. don.lee@latimes.com Twitter: @dleelatimes ALSO American households finally earn more than they did in 1999 Trumps chance to reshape the Federal Reserve could be his biggest economic legacy Why Trumps threat to withdraw from NAFTA is an empty one UPDATES: 9 a.m.: This article was updated with the International Trade Commissions ruling. This article was originally published at 5 a.m. Lupita Nyongo relates her story of inappropriate Harvey Weinstein encounters Lupita Nyongo with her Oscar after winning Best Actress for 12 Years a Slave at the 86th Annual Academy Awards. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) With stories about women allegedly harassed by Harvey Weinstein surfacing all around her, Oscar winner Lupita Nyongo decided she couldnt keep her own story squashed down any longer. She thought the things that had happened were unique to her, not a larger pattern of what she on Thursday called sinister behavior. She blamed herself for much of it. I had shelved my experience with Harvey far in the recesses of my mind, joining in the conspiracy of silence that has allowed this predator to prowl for so many years, Nyongo wrote in an op-ed for the New York Times. The 12 Years a Slave actress was still at Yale School of Drama when she and Weinstein crossed paths at a 2011 awards ceremony in Berlin, where he was introduced to the then-aspiring actress as the most powerful producer in Hollywood. Dinner companions told her he was a good man to know in the biz, but someone to be careful around because he could be a bully, she wrote. The interactions that followed between her and the producer went back and forth between seemingly appropriate and uncomfortably inappropriate, Nyongo said. The invitation to screen a movie with Weinstein and his children at his Connecticut home turned into a restaurant lunch where he tried to bully her into drinking alcohol, she wrote, followed by him cutting short her viewing of the movie after 15 minutes and taking her to his bedroom where he offered to give her a massage. She said she flipped the situation around. I began to massage his back to buy myself time to figure out how to extricate myself from this undesirable situation, the actress said. Then he wanted to take off his pants, she wrote. He couldnt make it to see a production she was in, but invited her to bring anyone she wanted to see a staged reading of Finding Neverland, one of his. Dinner followed, with her friends relegated to a non-Harvey table. The talk was shop the whole time and Harvey held court with ease. He was charming and funny once more, and I felt confused about the discomfort I had previously experienced, Nyongo said. Lupita Nyongo accepts the supporting actress Academy Award for her work in 12 Years a Slave on March 2, 2014. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) A couple of months later, he invited her to a screening of W.E. followed by a trip to the Tribeca Grill, which she said she assumed would be another group meal. It was not. His assistants, she said, had seemed uncomfortable as they set up the logistics with her. Before the starters arrived, he announced: Lets cut to the chase. I have a private room upstairs where we can have the rest of our meal. I was stunned, Nyongo wrote. I told him I preferred to eat in the restaurant. He told me not to be so naive. If I wanted to be an actress, then I had to be willing to do this sort of thing. He said he had dated Famous Actress X and Y and look where that had gotten them. She declined, and his tone changed, she said. As he escorted her out, sans meal, she checked in with him to make sure they were still good after shed said no. His response, according to the actress: I dont know about your career, but youll be fine, he said. It felt like both a threat and a reassurance at the same time; of what, I couldnt be sure. They didnt cross paths again until the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival, which she was attending in support of 12 Years a Slave. At an after-party, he found me and evicted whoever was sitting next to me to sit beside me, she wrote. He said he couldnt believe how fast I had gotten to where I was, and that he had treated me so badly in the past. He was ashamed of his actions and he promised to respect me moving forward. I said thank you and left it at that. But I made a quiet promise to myself to never ever work with Harvey Weinstein. Our business is complicated because intimacy is part and parcel of our profession; as actors we are paid to do very intimate things in public. Thats why someone can have the audacity to invite you to their home or hotel and you show up. Lupita Nyongo The following year, after her Oscar win, he tried to get her in one of his films, showering her with talk of a star-vehicle film in the offing for her later if shed first take a role in a Weinstein Co. movie shed already turned down. She held firm. When she first met the now-disgraced producer, she wrote, she was entering into a community that Harvey Weinstein had been in, and even shaped, long before I got there. He was one of the first people I met in the industry, and he told me, This is the way it is. And wherever I looked, everyone seemed to be bracing themselves and dealing with him, unchallenged. Since then, she said, she hasnt encountered treatment like that from anyone else. Still, she talked about the often-blurry lines in the workplace known as Hollywood. Our business is complicated because intimacy is part and parcel of our profession; as actors we are paid to do very intimate things in public, wrote Nyongo, who is now 34. Thats why someone can have the audacity to invite you to their home or hotel and you show up. Precisely because of this we must stay vigilant and ensure that the professional intimacy is not abused. Only one festival in Los Angeles can bring together Arnold Schwarzenegger, Dario Argento, Tommy Wiseau and Yorgos Lanthimos. Beyond Fest has fast become a fan favorite that provides a home to classic horror and action movies and the newer works of younger filmmakers who have followed in their wake. This year, the festival broke a single-day attendance record at its home venue, the American Cinematheques Egyptian Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard, and will see close to 13,000 people pass through its doors. Advertisement Italian horror master Argento made multiple appearances this week with a freshly restored version of his horror classic Suspiria. Tributes to action icons Schwarzenegger and Jackie Chan are scheduled for tonight and tomorrow night. The festival opened with Craig S. Zahlers prison-crime picture Brawl in Cell Block 99 and closes Tuesday with Lanthimos darkly comic and unnervingly austere The Killing of a Sacred Deer. Although both titles debuted at prestigious international festivals Brawl at Venice and Sacred Deer at Cannes Beyond Fest is a place where they can connect with moviegoers who share a collective enthusiasm for outre cinema. One of the things we did going in was we wanted this to be fan-friendly, said Grant Moninger, a Beyond Fest programmer and producer. [Filmmaker] Mick Garris often talks about the horror community, and the fans and the directors being part of the same community. And thats how we feel about the fans and the talent that we bring in, the programmers who put on the show and our fans. Its a combination of everyones good will and passion that makes what we do special. In between the buzzy upcoming releases and celebrity tributes, Beyond Fest showcases a wide range of movies and guests, from the ridiculous to the sublime, that represent the appetites of an audience that is at once voracious and specific. Lea Thompson appeared for a 70mm screening of the misbegotten Howard the Duck, while filmmakers Edgar Wright and Walter Hill are set for a conversation alongside screenings of their respective films Baby Driver and The Driver on Sunday. Delving deeper into cult cinema, casting and voice director Andrea Romano appeared with the animated feature Batman: Mask of the Phantasm, and Amy Holden Jones and Deborah Brock shared the rare perspective of female directors working in the slasher genre at a double bill of their respective films The Slumber Party Massacre and The Slumber Party Massacre II. Beyond Fest also featured the world premiere of Justin MacGregors Best F(r)iends, which reunited on-screen Wiseau and Greg Sestero from the cult classic The Room, which also screened. The sell-out crowd went crazy when it was announced during the Q&A that a sequel to Best F(r)iends had already been shot. The festival prides itself on the breadth of movies it shows under the banner of genre filmmaking. Were a genre fest, but we also brand things as cool, said Moninger. Things can be cerebral and still be cool, they can still be just as cool as Predator. Its not just about punching. Being cool is also about a quality, a passion behind things. Just as much as its about a fist to a face, its about a great thought. Just as much as its about a fist to a face, its about a great thought. Beyond Fest programmer and producer Grant Moninger In a rare series of appearances in Los Angeles, the 77-year-old Argento received standing ovations from three sell-out crowds. His 1977 film Suspiria was shown in a new 4K restoration, with a 35 mm print of a rare Italian cut of the picture also being screened. His 1987 movie Opera was shown as well. In an interview under an overcast sky that seemed as if Argento had brought his own gothic gloom along as a backdrop, the filmmaker talked about the inner feelings he expressed for audiences through his pictures. It was like a session of psychoanalysis, he said of his moviemaking. With my films, I move all my feelings inside me, the bad and the good, the violence and the sweeter. I move all those things deep in my unconscious. I describe for the audience all these things. As for the bold stylization of his films, with their vivid colors, costumes and design, expressive camerawork and blaring, evocative music, Argento said they were meant to transport viewers. Someone says, This doesnt exist in life and I say, This is not life, this is film. This is my imagination, Argento said. I imagine it, I have a fantasy, a special fantasy that comes from deep within my dark side. These fantasies I do in films come from dreams, come from nightmares, from these things inside. Someone says, This doesnt exist in life and I say, This is not life, this is film. This is my imagination. Italian filmmaker Dario Argento Screenings this year have been preceded by a satirical bumper proclaiming, The Peoples Republic of Beyond Fest, and a more somber one made in remembrance of three people who died in the last year, Night of the Living Dead filmmaker George Romero, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre filmmaker Tobe Hooper and Monty Lewis, a fixture of the Los Angeles film fan community. During an extended Q&A before the first screening of Suspiria, along with actors Barbara Magnolfi and Udo Kier, Argento was asked about Romero. The two filmmakers had been longtime friends and collaborators, and Argento called him my best friend and my brother, brother in films. In a separate interview, Argento spoke about Romeros legacy by saying, Night of the Living Dead is a border. After this, the films were different. Every film was different. He changed the way to do horror films. This is simply new. He changed everything, the story, the rhythm, everything. It was another way to do films. As for his own legacy and how his movies would be remembered, Argento was unconcerned. Its not my problem, he said. Its the problem of the audience. Beyond Fest has become a place where the legacy of filmmakers such as Argento and Romero will certainly not be forgotten, while at the same time forging new roads for genre fans via works like Coralie Fargeats French vengeance tale Revenge and Jimmy Hendersons Cambodian action picture Jailbreak. When Brawl in Cell Block 99 made its West Coast premiere on Beyond Fests opening night, Zahler was in attendance, along with stars Vince Vaughn, Don Johnson, Jennifer Carpenter and Kier. Having been to Beyond Fest in 2015 with his film Bone Tomahawk, Zahler was excited to return with Brawl in Cell Block 99, noting: I was looking forward to that screening more than any other in terms of what I would get back from the audience. As for the audience response, he said, They did not disappoint. Ive been to a number of screenings thus far and I would just say that in terms of audience reaction and enthusiasm, its the best crowd Ive seen both movies with. As for the intense connection between genre films and genre film fans, Zahler said that although a dissertation could conceivably be written on the subject, the simplest answer is that there is a connection of trust between the two that cannot be broken. For the most part, genre filmmaking lacks the pretense of, say, awards-bait material, Zahler said. A lot of these movies are comfortable being what they are. Times staff writer Jen Yamato contributed to this report. Mark.Olsen@latimes.com Follow on Twitter: @IndieFocus The observational documentary Bobbi Jene tracks two years in the life of modern dancer-choreographer Bobbi Jene Smith, an Iowa-born, Juilliard-trained performer who spent nearly a decade with the Tel Aviv-based Batsheva Dance Company, under the tutelage of its renowned artistic director, Ohad Naharin. There may be an intriguing, perhaps even profound story behind Smiths growth as a singular artist and woman, but director Elvira Lind keeps too much on the surface, making it hard to invest in Smiths often esoteric, self-centered journey. The film begins in 2014 with Smiths move from Israel back to the U.S. to forge her own creative path, leaving behind devoted boyfriend Or Schraiber, a fellow Batsheva dancer 10 years her junior. Lind then choppily follows Smiths travels to California and New York to teach and to stage her edgy, enervating, (mostly) solo act, as well as her return to Israel to perform. Verite-type footage captures Smiths many frank, if at times stagy, interactions with Naharin, Schraiber, her supportive evangelical Christian mother and others. But Smiths deeper goals and beliefs can feel oddly elusive despite a self-stated desire to expose truth through art. The less initiated may find Smiths work, sometimes done naked, more akin to head-scratching performance art than dance. ------------- Bobbi Jene Not rated. Running time: 1 hour, 35 minutes. Playing: Laemmle Royal Theatre, West Los Angeles. Movie Trailers calendar@latimes.com In July 1992, transgender firebrand and Stonewall riots icon Marsha Johnson a beaming, generous and inspiring fixture in New Yorks Village scene -- was found dead in the Hudson River. Ever since, the transgender community has refused to believe the polices conclusion that her death was a suicide. How to Survive a Plague filmmaker David Frances new documentary The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson examines the case through the recent investigative efforts of Marshas friend and longtime LGBT activist Victoria Cruz, an eyewitness for more than 50 years to the kind of violence, hatred and political neglect toward transgender women that have made them a tragically oppressed segment of society. Between phone calls to authorities, interviews with Johnsons confidants, and powwows with members of New Yorks Lesbian and Gay Anti-Violence Project, Cruz pieces together clues negligent cops, bigoted bashers, even mob connections that might point to an answer. Along the way, a sobering history of the gay rights movement is rendered through the lens of long-suffering transgender activists. Theres a touching portrait of Johnsons equally fired-up, gender-nonconforming compatriot Sylvia Rivera, who saw little respect for the glam-yet-rough likes of her and Johnson in the early days of an awakened movement that was mostly white and geared toward assimilation. While Cruz wins us over with her emotionally charged amateur sleuthing, the weight of a constant struggle to not just gain acceptance, but survive fighting for it, gives Frances documentary a stirring poignancy. ------------- The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson Not rated Running time: 1 hour, 45 minutes Not rated Playing: Laemmle Monica Film Center Movie Trailers calendar@latimes.com Andrew Wakefield, the subject of Miranda Baileys documentary The Pathological Optimist, earned a special place in medical history or hell, if youre a science-believing parent of a vaccinated child when he co-authored a controversial 1998 paper in the British journal the Lancet suggesting a link between the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine and autism. Though he sparked the anti-vaccination movement, the paper was found to be grossly flawed, was retracted, and suspicions surrounding the doctors motivations led to his license being revoked. Wakefields still a hero to a fierce subset of stricken moms with autistic children, however, despite repeated studies showing no link. For the record: An earlier version of this review incorrectly stated Andrew Wakefields documentary Vaxxed was pulled from the Tribeca Film Festival earlier this year. It happened in 2016. But if theres anything this carefully modulated portrait of the British expat makes clear, its that hell ride his notoriety for as long as he can to keep his unproved claims out there (including making a doc himself that got pulled from the 2016 Tribeca film festival after a public furor), to surround himself with adoring fans, and pay his legal bills over continued efforts to clear his name. Advertisement For a movie about so rabble-rousing a figure, its an unusually quiet portrait, set mostly as it is in his wooded Austin, Texas, enclave, where he lives with his protective, loving family. Up close, hes a surprisingly soft-spoken professorial type with the expected air of disheveled arrogance. But you can also see the haze of ego-driven denial that keeps him focused on publicity and cultish survival, rather than truly proving his detractors wrong. ------------- The Pathological Optimist Not rated Running time: 1 hour, 33 minutes Playing: Laemmle Monica Film Center, Santa Monica Movie Trailers calendar@latimes.com Its debatable whether or not history is written by the victors, but its certainly remembered from the point of view of those most affected. So though Norwegians likely know all about the events depicted in the gripping, finely made The Kings Choice, it will be news to everyone else, and thats a good thing. Strongly performed by unfamiliar actors and crisply directed by Norways Erik Poppe, The Kings Choice is a dramatic tale about a pivotal World War II moment, a story infused with tension and psychological conflict thats all the more engrossing for being fresh to us. The king in question is Norways Haakon VII, and the choice he came to during three hectic days in April of 1940 not only determined his countrys specific fate during the war, it speaks to broader questions about the moral role of leaders, whether they be constitutional monarchs or not. Advertisement As written by Jan Trygve Royneland and Harald Rosenlow-Eeg, The Kings Choice gives short shrift to hindsight. Its intent is to show us how difficult it is to see clearly during times of crisis, how what seems as simple as black and white today was the source of uncertainty and soul-searching when it happened. For the conflicts in this film go beyond the obvious one between invading Germans and invaded Norwegians. A significant part of The Kings Choice deals with serious internal disagreements on both sides of the battle line, and a key German official, far from being vilified, is shown to be hostile to invasion and a passionate believer in negotiation over military might. Before the film properly begins, type on screen fills in non-Norwegians on essential backstory. Norway broke away from Sweden in 1905 to become its own country and chose a Danish royal, who took the name Haakon VII, to be its new king, with his infant son becoming the newly minted Crown Prince Olav. The Kings Choice begins on April 8, 1940, with the now elderly King Haakon (veteran Danish actor Jesper Christensen) gleefully playing hide and seek with his lively grandchildren in the snowy courtyard of Crown Prince Olavs estate. Olav (Anders Baasmo Christiansen) is in a less cheerful mood. Though Norway insists that it is neutral in the war, German warships are on the way, allegedly to help the country against a putative British invasion. More impulsive and quicker to anger than his father, Olav is determined to do something, anything, as fast as possible. But Haakon, looking like the weight of the world is on him (as it surely is) and keenly aware of the constitutional nature of the monarchy, wants to make sure that the government has its say and that negotiations that might save lives are always pursued. The Kings Choice intercuts this location with several others, including the tense situation at Oscarsborg Fortress as the Norwegian military has to determine whether to fire on the Germans, and the German legation, where that countrys envoy, Curt Brauer (Karl Markovics), is intent on doing whatever he can to keep his own countrys military at bay. The films narrative extends over just two more days, but they are packed with incident and conflict. April 9 begins with Haakon and Olav and their family needing to flee from the invaders, and the scene of the chaos that results when German planes strafe their train is vivid and involving. Brauer, for his part, is trying to persuade the Norwegian government to call the unfolding invasion voluntary cooperation, while simultaneously battling his own countrys ascendant military, intent on shooting everything in sight, and his own young wife, who has political ideas of her own. On the Norwegian side, not only do Haakon and Olav have serious policy disputes, but the crown prince is also in conflict with his wife, Crown Princess Martha (Tuva Novotny) about what his personal course of action should be. Meanwhile, the king and his son are moving ever further north, trying to stay one step ahead of the Germans. Defending them are a small group of Norwegian soldiers, including a very young Fredrik Seeberg (Arthur Hakalahti), who impulsively promises to give his all for the monarch. Though touched by the boys naive earnestness, Haakon gently corrects him. We give our all for Norway, not the king, he says. And it is his unbending determination to do what he thinks is best for the country that becomes the central drama of this very satisfying film. ------------ The Kings Choice No rating Running time: 2 hours, 13 minutes Playing: Laemmles Royal, West Los Angeles, Playhouse 7, Pasadena kenneth.turan@latimes.com @KennethTuran All childhoods must come to an end, few of them as piercingly as the one in The Florida Project, Sean Bakers raw, exuberant and utterly captivating new movie. The child in question is a wild and irrepressible 6-year-old girl named Moonee, played by a startling discovery named Brooklynn Kimberly Prince. Remember and cherish that name, not least for its playful suggestion of royalty: Moonee is very much the princess in this contemporary American fairy tale, and her kingdom is the Magic Castle, a sprawling, three-story motel located not far from another Florida project called Disney World. With its bright purple exteriors and discount fairy-tale trappings, the Magic Castle is one of several tacky knockoff inns that have sprung up in that theme parks colossal shadow. Its a place where dashed hopes dwell side-by-side with ersatz dreams, where drifters and stragglers, moms and dads rent rooms for $38 a day from a hard-working manager, Bobby (Willem Dafoe, never better). The parking lot bustles with activity, whether from the Christian relief workers who show up to hand out baked goods or the noisy brawls that frequently erupt on hot summer nights. Advertisement Like the vibrantly seedy stretch of Hollywood that Baker explored in Tangerine, his scrappy, splendid 2015 comedy about the friendship between two transgender prostitutes, the Magic Castle is a harrowing world unto itself, one that inevitably breeds toughness and resignation in those who call it home. Its the kind of destination that most tourists and most filmmakers would typically steer clear of, but Baker, who wrote the script with Chris Bergoch, is decidedly not like most filmmakers. The Florida Project has the same intimately searching spirit and fascination with marginalized subcultures as Tangerine, but its also something greater: Scene by scene, it assembles one of the most infectious and thrillingly alive portraits of childhood Ive ever seen. Imagine a Sunshine State riff on Los Olvidados or Bicycle Thieves, slathered in sherbet hues and sprinkled with Pop Rocks, and youll get some sense of the strange, sun-scorched beauty of Bakers accomplishment. He has made a dazzling neorealist sugar rush of a movie. By fusing the camera to Moonees wide-eyed gaze, Baker allows us to perceive this gaudy bargain-basement wonderland the way she does, as a realm of genuine enchantment. Up and down the stairs we go, racing after Moonee and her friends Scooty (Christopher Rivera), who lives just one floor down, and Jancey (Valeria Cotto), a new girl from a nearby inn called Futureland. With rapturous abandon, they turn the Magic Castle into their playground, spilling ice cream in the lobby, triggering a power outage and generally making the kind of mischief that their guardians are too busy or too neglectful to notice. None is more neglected than Moonee, a pint-sized human whirlwind whos at once impudent and completely irresistible, and wily enough to know it. Shes already mastered the art of the hustle, having been well trained by her mom, Halley (Bria Vinaite), a 22-year-old unemployed stripper. Early on the two seem to be just about scraping by, selling bottles of cheap perfume to tourists outside the nicer hotels in the vicinity, and sneaking free food out the back of the Waffle House where Scootys mother (Mela Murder) works. With her chest tattoos and lip piercings, Halley seems almost calculated to draw the viewers snap judgments, but what makes her such an appalling mother to call her unfit would be charitable isnt her appearance but her attitude. Shes as much of a child as Moonee is, and Vinaite, another sensational newcomer (Baker found her on Instagram), plays her with a jaw-jutting defiance that can flare, in an instant, into spiteful rage. Halley is one of those lost souls who have long since decided theres no point in being kind or gracious in a world that is so completely set against you. Before long shes fast running out of friends and favors, and must take increasingly desperate actions to ensure her and Moonees survival. No one tests Bobbys patience more than Halley, for the simple reason that hes the only one who goes out of his way to help her. He is forever threatening to evict her over unpaid rent those inclined toward drinking games should take a swig every time Bobby utters the words Youre outta here! but beneath his exasperation you can sense his fundamental decency, his fondness for even his most unlovable tenants. Dafoe, the most recognizable face in the cast, gives the kind of performance that simply makes you fall in love with an actor anew: gruff, big-hearted, riven with quiet complexity. Bobby spends so much time cleaning up other folks messes that you sense hes had little chance to attend to his own. Its the tension between hardscrabble realism and buoyant fantasy and the understanding that they are both, in fact, vital aspects of the same experience that makes The Florida Project so powerfully unresolved. Another filmmaker might have stumbled into the trap of romanticizing his characters poverty, but Baker has an unusual ability to keep contradictory moods, ideas and perspectives in balance. Late in the film, he strikes a note of awe when he follows Moonee and her friends into a nearby field of grazing cattle an interlude of such lush, dreamlike poetry that youre almost taken aback when the ruthless, unsentimental logic of the story reasserts itself. That honesty finds a heartrending echo in Princes performance, which goes so far beyond the precocious mugging that often passes for child acting that it all but defies that classification. Beneath Moonees beaming innocence we can sense buried layers of suspicion and melancholy, as if she were partially aware of the cruel truths unfolding just beyond her field of vision. In one of the movies most resonant, casually revealing moments, Moonee murmurs, I can always tell when adults are about to cry. That might be another way of saying that she can see the ending coming, though Im not sure how anyone could. In its final moments The Florida Project makes an astonishing, lyrical leap, one that confirms my sense that Baker is not just an unusually observant filmmaker but also a full-fledged magician, a practitioner of the sublime. He has ventured into a world that few of us know and emerged with a masterpiece of empathy and imagination. ------------ The Florida Project Rating: R, for language throughout, disturbing behavior, sexual references and some drug material Running time: 1 hour, 55 minutes Playing: ArcLight Cinemas, Hollywood, and the Landmark, West Los Angeles justin.chang@latimes.com @JustinCChang Swedish retailer H&M Groups more upscale, minimalist brand COS (originally an abbreviation for Collection of Style) tends to fly under the sartorial radar despite having 215 stores worldwide, including a store in Beverly Hills as well as ones at the Beverly Center in Los Angeles and at South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa. This year the 10-year-old, London-based brand continued to expand its foothold in Southern California. COS quietly opened its fourth L.A.-area boutique (and 14th U.S. location) in the historic Olympic Theatre building at 313 W. 8th St. in downtown Los Angeles in late August, and it celebrated the occasion last month during a festive party at West Hollywood restaurant and lounge Ysabel. The store opening, part of a retail revival in downtown, follows COS successful shop-in-shop in November 2015 in the now-defunct concept store Austere on South Hill Street. Advertisement The building, in which COS has its 5,511-square-foot store, dates to 1927 when it was Bards 8th Street Theatre. In 1932 the theater was renamed the Olympic Theatre to commemorate the Summer Olympic Games in L.A. that year. COS had the notable Olympic sign and building facade restored, a nod to the brands commitment to architecture and design. That design-inspired focus can be found in COS fashion collections along with reasonable price points, which max out around $450 for, say, a cashmere-blend coat. Another trait COS has been known for is that it doesnt generally publicize the Hollywood stars who wear its mens and womens pieces. So it might be a surprise to learn that celebrity stylist Jeanne Yang has dressed actors Tom Holland, Kumail Nanjiani and Emmy winner Alexander Skarsgard in COSs clean-lined styles. I have always been a fan of casual-cocktail or work-to-weekend clothing separates that can straddle the line for many different occasions, Yang said. COS has been a great go-to place for me to find the right pieces that are hip and always hit the right note. These are young, cool guys who dont want to look like they are trying too hard but want that easygoing, elegant style. Karla Welch, another Hollywood stylist, is a fan of the brand. She has worked COS into the wardrobes of model-entrepreneur Karlie Kloss and actresses America Ferrera, Kathryn Hahn and Lisa Kudrow. I just love the modern yet unique quality of the clothes, Welch said. It feels sort of Japanese but not completely identifiable. Everything we create should have that feeling of quality, of something youd like to keep for a long time. Karin Gustafsson, COS creative director In collaboration with British magazine the Gentlewoman, the new downtown L.A. store offers free maps of 15 L.A.-area architectural landmarks, including the Frank Gehry-designed Walt Disney Concert Hall and the late Gin Wongs modernist Union 76 gas station in Beverly Hills. COS also publishes a biannual magazine profiling influential artists, musicians and architects alongside its seasonal fashion, and, since 2012, it has partnered with designers on installations at the renowned Salone del Mobile furniture fair in Milan, Italy. We offer a timeless aesthetic that lasts beyond the moment, COS creative director Karin Gustafsson said by phone from London. Everything we create should have that feeling of quality, of something youd like to keep for a long time. We try to look towards modernist art and Midcentury Modern furniture for inspiration. We are very much about reinventing the classics, giving them new proportions. For fall, for example, COS design team reworked the crease, a classic element on a tailored pant, and put it into a new context by using it on a skirt or dress. We looked at industrial colors, a lot of grays in concrete and metal, Gustafsson said. One of the inspirations was [San Francisco-born,] New York-based artist Tauba Auerbachs canvas fold paintings. Weve explored a way of folding fabric, creating soft looks to balance the tailoring and contrast masculine with feminine. On Oct. 20 COS will introduce the 11-piece womens capsule line, Creating With Shapes ($99-$390), at its downtown store and online. The collection, which features an intricate draping and pleating technique with no darts or seams, was developed with Usha Doshi, a longtime COS design partner and former teacher at Londons Royal College of Art. California and particularly L.A. is a vast inspiration because theres such a strong history of midcentury architecture, said Gustafsson, noting that the brand continually looks to L.A. Light and Space artist James Turrell and late architect-design couple Charles and Ray Eames for inspiration. I think design, overall, is becoming more and more an intrinsic part of the L.A. landscape and culture. The downtown area is so vibrant. image@latimes.com For fashion news, follow us at @latimesimage on Twitter. ALSO Paris Fashion Week: Spring trends include black and white and a whole lot of light(ness) Omegas Paris cocktail party marks debut of second-generation brand ambassadors Kaia and Presley Gerber Givenchy heads in a new direction were just not quite sure (yet) what it is Early on in Plum Sykes latest novel, Party Girls Die in Pearls: An Oxford Girl Mystery (Harper: 352 pp., $26.99), readers meet American girl in London Nancy Feinbaum, with her puffed-up mound of dyed blonde hair and green bat-winged sweater, bubblegum pink pedal pushers, a trilby hat and white sneakers. As you might have guessed from those sartorial details, Sykes book is set in the mid-1980s. But here and now, Sykes, a Londoner in Los Angeles, has a significantly more timeless look with her brunet hair in a face-framing long bob, just skimming the shoulders of her crease-proof, white, button-down top. Burberry lent this to me for the tour, she said during lunch at Laduree in Beverly Hills. But Ive worn it so much, I really dont think theyll want it back. Sykes was visiting the City of Angels to promote her posh, comic murder-mystery, as she put it, with a slightly unconventional and quite fashion-forward twist on the book tour. Rather than popping into bookstores, the Vogue contributing editor and bestselling author traveled cross-country for book parties at Burberry stores, with other fashion tie-in events taking place at Zac Posen in New York and Chanel in London. Author Plum Sykes (Ben Draper) If it appears odd to toast to true crime amid tulle, consider that, like Sykes earlier books, Bergdorf Blondes and The Debutante Divorcee, the clothes in Party Girls become characters of their own. Beyond bat-winged sweaters, the book showcases such 1980s iconic pieces as a Norma Kamali sleeping bag coat and plastic Fiorucci jeans. And because the story takes place at Oxford University, where black-tie parties are an essential part of the curriculum, theres a good helping of gold lame and taffeta. Unsurprisingly, on this whirlwind trip to L.A., Sykes said she squeezed in as much shopping as possible with an emphasis on Los Angeles laid-back fashion scene. However, there wasnt enough time to get to all of her favorite haunts. The Getty (Sykes said shes enamored by the grounds) and hiking Runyon Canyon were out. This trip, my only walk has been the three blocks from my hotel to Sunset Plaza, she said. But at least I have that. Here, she offers eight of her must-visits when shes in Los Angeles. The cover of Plum Sykes latest novel, Party Girls Die in Pearls, features a cover illustration by Donald Robertson. (Donald Robertson / Harper Collins) 1. The London West Hollywood at Beverly Hills 1020 N. San Vicente Blvd., West Hollywood, www.thelondonwesthollywood.com Im staying here, and I love their breakfast, she said. They do great fried eggs very important for an English person. 2. Book Soup 8818 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, www.booksoup.com My first stop is Book Soup, that amazing bookstore on Sunset. Obviously, I went there to make sure they had my book, which they did. Theyve also got such an incredible range of print magazines, including Vogue Bambini, which you cannot get anywhere, but, of course, you can get it at Book Soup. 3. Wildfox 8710 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, www.wildfox.com When Im writing in London, my uniform is basically jeans and some kind of overpriced T-shirt. You can buy Wildfox in England, but it's very, very expensive there. So when I saw the store with all its pink and little bicycles, I went and spent a fortune. Got lots of stuff for my kids. Theyre going to go mental over that really soft fabric they do. The dreamy pink exterior of the Wildfox flagship store on Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood. (Elizabeth Daniels Photography) 4. Laduree 189 The Grove Drive, Los Angeles, www.laduree.com/us/ Id never been to the Grove before, and started at Laduree, which I also love visiting in Paris. When my previous books became paperbacks and needed new cover art, I just e-mailed the publisher a picture of a Laduree box to use as inspiration. Plum Sykes visited both Los Angeles-area locations of restaurant and maccaron shop Laduree at the Grove in L.A. and on North Beverly Drive in Beverly Hills (pictured here). Her previous book covers were inspired by the pastel palette Laduree is known for. (Trevor Tondro) 5. Madewell 189 The Grove Drive, Los Angeles, www.madewell.com For my uniform, Madewell is amazing for jeans. Theyre about half the price of a J Brand or something similar. To me, the brand is a combination of Los Angeles with a little bit of Paris. I also love the fun, stripey T-shirts. 6. Nordstrom 189 The Grove Drive, Los Angeles, shop.nordstrom.com My friend Gela Taylors line, Pam & Gela, is available here, and Ive been wearing their amazing satin bomber jacket with embroidered herons and crystal beading. Its divine. And? [Its] $176. 7. Happy Isles 6671 Sunset Blvd. Suite 1595, Los Angeles, www.thehappyisles.com Meredith Melling [co-founder of fashion labels La Marque and La Ligne] told me about this cool vintage wedding dress shop, and Im going to see it out of interest not buying anything for me. Im just looking for the best new shops I can write about for Vogue. A peek inside vintage wedding dress shop Happy Isles in Los Angeles. Most of the shops visitors are brides-to-be, though Plum Sykes says visiting it for research. (Happy Isles) 8. Bondi Harvest 1814 Berkeley St., Santa Monica, bondiharvest.com Its a really cool coffee shop. Its Australian but feels very California. Its in kind of a shed, right by the Goop offices. They had all these different kinds of drinks, like lavender cappuccinos. Also, avocado toast, which I think is the most amazing thing. You can get it in just a few places in London, but most people still think its a bit weird. Fashion Videos image@latimes.com For fashion news, follow us at @latimesimage on Twitter. ALSO Natacha Ramsay-Levi's debut collection for Chloe makes her one to watch At Paris Fashion Week, Kenzo plays a memorable game of denim and dragons The harried jetsetter as spring 2018 trendsetter? Maison Margiela says, 'Oui!' A cosmopolitan crowd decked out in Chanel rolled into the Marais in Paris to celebrate the labels new Code Coco watch. A brief trek across cobblestones brought guests to a modern space in an imposing historic building, decorated with photos and screens projecting black and white images of women wearing the new steel and diamond watch. There was also a new take on the photo booth, with a tablet that snapped pictures in front of a wall of mirrors, delivering the images on cell phones or e-mail. Este, Alana and Danielle Haim, of the rock band, stood tall and ladylike for their first photos before breaking out, in sync, into disco poses. Advertisement The sisters just released a music video for their second single and were relaxing in Paris before their upcoming round-the-world tour. Amandine de la Richardiere was also in a cheerful mood, spinning out an upbeat mix of Blondie, Serge Gainsbourg and Boy George tunes from a corner of the room while people snacked on foie gras on thin slices of hazelnut toast, morsels of lobster on fancy chips and vegetable maki rolls. Alice Dellal was wearing the new watch, a long Chanel skirt, grinders and a vintage biker jacket. She just finished directing a music video for Luis Felber, a longtime friend, who was also visiting from London. Hes a really good musician. Weve known each other for 17 years, she said. If anyones gonna tell me what to do, shes pretty good at it, Felber chimed in. Ayami Nakajo, a Japanese actress on her fourth visit to Paris, said she liked how women in the city mixed vintage Chanel clothing with newer pieces and was still glowing about her recent dinner at Le Jules Verne restaurant in the Eiffel Tower: I like heights. I like airplanes, too, she said. Sophie Cookson had seen the Chanel runway show earlier in the day: Incredible. My first-ever Chanel show, the overwhelming sound of the river, the water, she said. Stella Maxwell, who modeled a black dress, clear plastic gloves and shoes in the show, said it felt very special, and described what it was like under the waterfall: It was windy, it was very windy. But, thankfully, her hat was not dislodged. ALSO Paris Fashion Week: Spring trends include black and white and a whole lot of light(ness) Omegas Paris cocktail party marks debut of second-generation brand ambassadors Kaia and Presley Gerber Givenchy heads in a new direction were just not quite sure (yet) what it is Rag & Bone is dipping a toe into the world of dance. The sportswear label, helmed by Marcus Wainwright, has teamed with choreographer Benjamin Millepied to wardrobe two new works for the American Ballet Theatres fall 2017 season. Millepied, founder of L.A. Dance Project and formerly director of the Paris Opera Ballet, has created a stage piece for ABTs annual David Koch Theater fall run, as well as a public work to be performed on the theaters Philip Johnson-designed promenade. Both pieces are set to premiere on Oct. 25. Advertisement Millepied noted of his wardrobe requirements for his public piece, aptly named Counterpoint for Philip Johnson: For the work in the public spaces I wanted to see the dancers in street clothes. Rag & Bone felt like the right company for that their clothes are so contemporary. Im not trying to create another world; I wanted something more realistic. The piece meant to be done in street clothes wanted that natural street quality to it. The piece is accompanied by a Steve Reich score, featuring a cast of 24 dancers all styled in Rag & Bone street looks. For the choreographers new stage work, I Feel the Earth Move, Rag & Bone has made minimalist shirts that accommodate an increased range of motion. You dont always need a very complicated costume for ballet, Millepied noted. I think whats great about Rag & Bone is that they have a lot of stuff thats a touch eccentric, in a way that captures how people in New York and L.A. express their own individuality. Every time I come back from Paris I love to see this. Wainwright said of the collaboration: Rag & Bone has a history of working with truly original artists, so it was a great honor to be part of Benjamins new work. He has such a modern perspective on dance and brings an authenticity that is very much in line with how we think as a brand. Bringing a twist to this performance was important for Benjamin so we worked together to pull pieces from our current collection. We think it is an interesting way to look at dancers, bringing an element of reality to the stage. This is not the brands first dance tie-up. For fall 2015, the firm teamed with Mikhail Baryshnikov and Lil Buck for a promotional video featuring its seasonal designs. ALSO Paris Fashion Week: Spring trends include black and white and a whole lot of light(ness) Schott NYC continues to make celebrity cool leather jackets as well as ones for SoCal temperatures Looking for an Instagram moment? Miu Miu pops up its oversized handbags at South Coast Plaza Californias outbreak of hepatitis A, already the nations second largest in the last 20 years, could continue for many months, even years, health officials said Thursday. At least 569 people have been infected and 17 have died of the virus since November in San Diego, Santa Cruz and Los Angeles counties, where local outbreaks have been declared. Dr. Monique Foster, a medical epidemiologist with the Division of Viral Hepatitis at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told reporters Thursday that Californias outbreak could linger even with the right prevention efforts. Its not unusual for them to last quite some time usually over a year, one to two years, Foster said. That forecast has worried health officials across the state, even in regions where there havent yet been cases. Many are beginning to offer vaccines to their homeless populations, which are considered most at risk. Doctors say that people with hepatitis A could travel and unknowingly infect people in a new community, creating more outbreaks. Police officers try to help the homeless find services in San Diego, where poor sanitation has contributed to a hepatitis A outbreak. (John Gastaldo / San Diego Union-Tribune) San Diego, Santa Cruz and L.A. San Diego County declared a public health emergency in September because of its hepatitis A outbreak. Since November, 481 people there have fallen ill, including 17 who died, according to Dr. Eric McDonald with the countys health department. An additional 57 cases are under investigation, he said. Hepatitis A outbreak 481 cases in San Diego County 70 cases in Santa Cruz County 12 cases in L.A. County 6 cases elsewhere in the state Sources: County health departments, California public health departments Hepatitis A is commonly transmitted through contaminated food. The only outbreak in the last 20 years bigger than Californias occurred in Pennsylvania in 2003, when more than 900 people were infected after eating contaminated green onions at a restaurant. Californias outbreak, however, is spreading from person to person, mostly among the homeless community. The virus is transmitted from feces to mouth, so unsanitary conditions make it more likely to spread. The city of San Diego has installed dozens of handwashing stations and begun cleaning streets with bleach-spiked water in recent weeks. McDonald said county health workers have vaccinated 57,000 people in the county who are either homeless, drug users or people in close contact with either group. The general population if youre not in one of those specific risk groups is at very low risk, and were not recommending vaccinations, he said. The outbreak has also made its way to Santa Cruz and L.A. counties, where 70 and 12 people have been diagnosed, respectively. Officials from both counties say theyve vaccinated thousands of homeless people and will continue to do so. New cases linked to the outbreak might not appear for weeks, because it can take up to 50 days for an infected person to show symptoms, said Santa Cruz public health manager Jessica Randolph. I dont think the worst is over, Randolph said. A man passes behind a sign warning of an upcoming street cleaning along 17th Street in San Diego. (Gregory Bull / Associated Press) Where next? Tenderloin Health Services, a clinic in the San Francisco neighborhood known for its large homeless population, has been offering hepatitis A vaccines to its patients for weeks. The clinic recently held an event in which workers gave shots to 80 people in three hours, said Dr. Andrew Desruisseau, the clinics medical director. The cases in San Diego and the magnitude of the epidemic there certainly set off alarms in the Bay Area, he said. So far, there have been 13 hepatitis A cases in San Francisco, but none associated with the outbreak. Desruisseau said 90% of the clinics patients are homeless and many also have other liver problems or are drug users, making the disease especially dangerous. Typically, only 1 out of every 100 people with hepatitis A dies from the disease, but it appears to have killed a higher rate of people in San Diego because of the population affected, experts say. All 17 people who have died in the San Diego outbreak had underlying health conditions, including 16 who had liver problems such as hepatitis B or C, McDonald said. Desruisseau said he was particularly concerned about conditions on the streets in San Francisco. With all of the housing crisis and gentrification in San Francisco, were seeing a much more condensed homeless population, he said. We have a lot of obstacles in keeping it a very sanitary place for our clients. Doctors and nurses in several California counties are beginning to offer vaccines to their homeless populations, as recommended by the state health department. Typically only children and people at high risk are vaccinated for hepatitis A. In Orange County, which has had two hepatitis A cases linked to the outbreak, public health workers have given out 492 vaccines, mostly to homeless people, officials said. County nurses have also been visiting shelters and parks to vaccinate people. Some officials, including in Riverside and Sacramento counties, also said they were reviewing their sanitation protocols for homeless encampments. An L.A. councilman recently called for more toilets in neighborhoods such as skid row and Venice in light of the local hepatitis cases. Many have blamed San Diegos outbreak on a lack of public bathrooms near homeless encampments. In Oakland, city workers, represented by SEIU Local 1021, sent a letter to City Hall last month saying they feared a hepatitis A outbreak in the regions homeless community. So far, there havent been any cases in Oakland or the rest of Alameda County, but city safety steward Brian Clay said he believed the city has allowed unsanitary conditions in homeless encampments. Oakland city officials did not respond to a request for comment. Theres syringes, theres human feces, there are dead animals, rats alive, and dead rats pee bottles, five-gallon buckets used as toilets, Clay said. Were definitely concerned about this added threat of hepatitis A. soumya.karlamangla@latimes.com Twitter: @skarlamangla ALSO To slow deadly hepatitis outbreak, paramedics will now provide vaccinations to the homeless West Nile virus has killed 8 Californians this year. In parts of L.A. County, the risk is especially high Medi-Cal programs to the state: Can we stop printing and mailing directories the size of phone books? Knocking on doors, climbing through fences: How L.A. County's health investigators are out trying to stop syphilis UPDATES: 3:30 p.m.: This article was updated with additional details about the outbreak. This article was originally published at 12:10 p.m. With two key California WaterFix votes looming, Gov. Jerry Brown expressed confidence Thursday that water agencies will commit to enough funding to sustain the massive project. Brown was in Los Angeles to lobby for the $17-billion proposal, which would re-engineer the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, the hub of Californias complex waterworks. Im just trying to put the ball over the goal line, he said in a telephone interview in between visits to the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and the Southern California Assn. of Governments. Advertisement MWDs board is scheduled to vote Tuesday on a $4.3-billion buy-in to WaterFix, which is a top priority for Brown. Two days later, the Kern County Water Agency board is expected to take its vote. As the two largest contractors in the State Water Project, the agencies participation is critical to WaterFix, which is to be financed by the urban and agricultural districts that get deliveries from the south delta. That financing plan suffered a major blow last month when the Westlands Water District, the nations largest irrigation district, voted against joining the project, saying it was unaffordable. But Brown said Thursday that WaterFix could survive, albeit in a scaled-down version, without money from Westlands and other agricultural districts that receive delta supplies from the federal Central Valley Project. The project can be altered to reduce the costs if the federal contractors dont want to be a part of it, the governor said. The state needs the water. Were not going to commit suicide. We gotta have it. Brown, who met this week with members of the Kern County Water Agency, was optimistic about the upcoming votes. I think we will have enough funds for the project, he said. His visit to Southern California was reminiscent of the lobbying his father Gov. Pat Brown did more than half a century ago to win support for the State Water Project, which sends delta supplies hundreds of miles down the California Aqueduct to the Southland. It was construction of the state project that helped send the delta on a downward environmental spiral, triggering endangered species protections that in recent decades have restricted delta deliveries. WaterFix calls for the construction of new diversions on the Sacramento River in the north delta that would feed two enormous tunnels connected to existing pumping plants in the south delta. Proponents including most of the states major water agencies hope that by withdrawing less water from the south delta, the tunnels will diminish environmental restrictions on deliveries. Opponents primarily environmental groups and delta growers argue that delta conditions will worsen with the new diversions, hurting water quality and further depleting imperiled salmon populations. The funding issue has loomed over the project for years. Now it has reached a critical point, with agencies deciding whether to open their wallets. Environmental groups in Southern California argue that the billions of ratepayer dollars that would go to WaterFix would be better spent developing local supplies such as recycled water or stormwater capture. To avoid a violation of the Brown Act, which generally requires legislative bodies to gather in open session, the governor met with only some members of the MWD board at the agencys Granada Hills water treatment plant. The session did not include MWDs Los Angeles delegation. Theyre hesitant to form an opinion yet. Theyre waiting, Brown said of the citys board members. bettina.boxall@latimes.com Twitter: @boxall Federal authorities have filed a lawsuit alleging that seafood distributed by a Los Angeles processing firm was prepared under conditions that may have contaminated it with dangerous bacteria. The civil complaint alleges that Michel Cordon Bleu Inc. of Los Angeles, and its owner and President Michel G. Blanchet, failed to maintain controls necessary to minimize the potential for microorganism growth and contamination. It was filed Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the Central District Court of California on behalf of the Food and Drug Administration. Advertisement According to the complaint, the FDA inspected Michel Cordon Bleus facility, at 3625 S. Western Ave., several times, including twice in 2016, and found conditions that could lead to contamination by the bacteria that cause listeriosis and botulism. FDAs analysis of environmental samples collected during the July-August 2016 inspection revealed the presence of L. mono contamination in multiple locations throughout the Michel Cordon Bleu facility, it said. The lawsuit seeks an injunction requiring the company to bring its procedures up to the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point regulations. Michel Cordon Bleu Vice President El Yaakoube said in an email to The Times that the company has produced the highest grade of safe smoked seafood for more than three decades, but he conceded the company has not kept up with new requirements. Blanchet, 70, has realized that he is not fit to keep up with all of these changes, Yaakoube said, and is in the process of selling the company to a fully capable firm that will ensure that all of these processes are fully compliant with all new and future requirements. According to the complaint, about 70% of Michel Cordon Bleus products are sold to distributors; 25% to restaurants, hotels and retailers; and 5% to cruise ship lines. Michel Cordon Bleu ships about 30% of its products via interstate commerce. doug.smith@latimes.com @LATDoug Immigration rights demonstrators blocked the intersection of Wilshire Boulevard and Veteran Avenue in Westwood on Thursday morning, creating a traffic nightmare for commuters while police scrambled to restore order. Dozens of people protesting the end of the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program filled the intersection with metal bunk beds the type commonly seen in immigrant detention facilities and jails while others stood hand in hand in the middle of crosswalks as drivers honked incessantly. People protest in behalf of DACA recipients in Westwood. pic.twitter.com/qRfDTox2WY Genaro Molina (@GenaroMolina47) October 5, 2017 Advertisement The demonstrators held up signs referring to DACA, and chanted phrases like stop deportation, and black lives matter. The LAPD declared an unlawful assembly around 10:30 a.m. and threatened to arrest the demonstrators. Nine people were taken into custody. As some officers made arrests others removed the beds from the intersection, less than half a mile from the federal building on Wilshire. Many drivers, visibly annoyed at the impromptu traffic blockade, refused to wait and weaved around the beds and dodged officers to drive through the intersection anyway. By 10:45 a.m. the demonstration had moved to the sidewalk, where more protesters gathered, along with curious bystanders. A line of helmeted officers holding batons kept protesters from reentering the intersection. Thursday was the last day for recipients to reapply for DACA protection. The program has allowed individuals who were brought to the U.S. illegally as children to remain in the country without risk of deportation under certain conditions. DACA supporters blocked traffic in Westwood on Thursday. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times ) joseph.serna@latimes.com For breaking California news, follow @JosephSerna on Twitter. UPDATES: 12:15 p.m.: This article was updated with nine people being people taken into custody. 11 a.m.: This article was updated with police clearing the intersection. This article was originally published at 10:35 a.m. A Los Angeles County sheriffs deputy accidentally shot himself while serving a search warrant in South El Monte on Thursday morning, authorities said. The narcotics deputy was serving the warrant in the 11200 block of Broadmead Street when he was hurt about 5 a.m., a sheriffs spokesperson said. The deputy shot himself in the leg and the cause of the unintentional discharge is under investigation, officials said. Video from the scene showed the deputy being loaded into an ambulance and taken to the hospital. His injury was not considered life-threatening, officials said. Advertisement Authorities detained four people as part of the warrant service but no other details were available. joseph.serna@latimes.com For breaking California news, follow @JosephSerna on Twitter. UPDATES: 10:05 a.m.: This article was updated with details regarding how the deputy was injured. 7:25 a.m.: This article was updated with details about the deputys injury. This article was originally published at 6:55 a.m. Two bodies were pulled from a wrecked car in the Kings River on Thursday during the search for a San Diego couple believed to have died in August when their car plunged down a steep canyon into the river. Using a manual winch system, the Fresno County Sheriffs search and rescue team extracted a car submerged in the Horseshoe Bend area of the river about 50 miles east of Fresno and found two bodies presumably those of Yinan Wang, 31, and his wife, Jie Song, 30 inside, said Sheriffs Department spokesman Tony Botti. Deputies hoisted each body up to a helicopter crew, which flew them to a coroner transportation unit waiting nearby. Coroners officials will conduct autopsies to identify the bodies and cause of death. Advertisement The Ford Focus from which they were pulled was registered to Wang. Authorities plan to retrieve the car as part of the investigation to determine the cause of the crash. @CHPCentralDiv @FresnoSheriff SAR Successfully Completes Recovery of Two Bodies from a Car in the Kings River https://t.co/jLsC3YT04r pic.twitter.com/qtAfOpZaZW Fresno Co Sheriff (@FresnoSheriff) October 6, 2017 Family members reported the couple missing Aug. 11 when they did not return from a road trip to Yosemite and Sequoia national parks. At the time, Fresno Sheriffs deputies were already searching for the couples car after identifying its license plate during a recovery operation for another vehicle that drove off the same bend of Highway 180 in July. While reviewing TV coverage of the Aug. 8 recovery of two Thai exchange students whose car went through a barrier and came to rest in the river, a deputy spotted a license plate that did not belong to the students rental car. Deputies determined it belonged to a 2012 Ford Focus that had not been reported missing, stolen or involved in an accident. The day after the missing persons report was filed, the Sheriffs Department and California Highway Patrol both flew helicopters over the canyon and found what appeared to be wreckage of a submerged white car. The recovery was delayed by high water in the area of Class 5 rapids, Botti said. During Thursdays recovery operation, the water was nearly 10 times lower than it was in early August, which authorities said created safer conditions for a successful operation. The San Diego Union-Tribune reported that Wang, a Chinese national, has lived in San Diego for about a year. Song lived in China and visited her husband several times a year. The couple have few family members in the United States. The couple were last in contact with their family Aug. 6 at Crystal Caves in Sequoia National Park, Botti said. They had planned to drive to Fresno that night, stay in a hotel and continue on to Yosemite National Park the next day. They were scheduled to return to San Diego on Aug. 9. Botti told the Union-Tribune the proximity of the two crashes appeared to be coincidental. Weve never thought of this as a trouble spot, at least not that were aware of, he said. That road is really so windy its just as bad before and past that spot. doug.smith@latimes.com Twitter: @LATDoug alene.tchekmedyian@latimes.com Twitter: @AleneTchek ALSO Bodies recovered from Kings River confirmed to be those of missing Thai students Californias deadly hepatitis A outbreak could last years, official says Shooting in Boyle Heights leaves one dead, two wounded UPDATES: 8:05 p.m.: This article was updated to reflect that two bodies were pulled from the Kings River Thursday. This article was originally published at noon. A priest in San Jose was sentenced to three years in prison this week for embezzling more than $1.4 million from parishioners donations and then failing to pay taxes on the stolen money, federal authorities said. Hien Minh Nguyen, 57, was convicted in March of bank fraud and tax evasion for failing to pay nearly $600,000 in income taxes on the money he stole from Vietnamese Catholic Center for the Diocese of San Jose parishioners. According to the criminal indictment, Nguyen was responsible for depositing parishioners checks and cash donations in a church-controlled bank account. Instead, he endorsed the checks, lied to bank employees and deposited the money into his personal accounts instead. Advertisement Nguyen stole the money between 2008 and 2011 and was found out by a tip to authorities, officials said. Nguyen was sentenced Tuesday to three years in federal prison, three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $1.4 million in restitution to the diocese and more than $400,000 to the IRS. joseph.serna@latimes.com For breaking California news, follow @JosephSerna on Twitter. A car fire spread to the hillside next to the 14 Freeway in Santa Clarita on Wednesday night, charring about two acres of brush and briefly shutting down northbound lanes, officials said. The car, which had a mattress pinned underneath it, caught fire on the northbound 14 near Newhall Avenue shortly after 9:30 p.m., according to the California Highway Patrol. Soon after, flames spread to the hillside. No structures were threatened and no one was injured, said Robert Diaz, a dispatcher with the Los Angeles County Fire Department. Advertisement About 100 firefighters were battling the blaze. Los Angeles Fire Department ground and air crews were also called to assist. Some lanes were reopened about 10 p.m. Officials estimated three lanes would be closed for two hours, according to the CHPs online incident log. alene.tchekmedyian@latimes.com Twitter: @AleneTchek After the dean of USCs medical school resigned last year amid long-running complaints about his drinking and boorish treatment of colleagues, university leaders assured students and faculty that his successor would be worthy of respect. The man USC chose, however, had a black mark on his own personnel record: A finding by the university 15 years ago that he had behaved inappropriately toward a female medical school fellow. USC formally disciplined the dean, Dr. Rohit Varma, in 2003 following allegations that he sexually harassed the young researcher while he was a junior professor supervising her work, according to confidential personnel records reviewed by The Times and interviews with people familiar with the university investigation. Advertisement As The Times was preparing to publish a story disclosing the case, USC announced Thursday afternoon that Varma was no longer dean. Based on previously undisclosed information brought to the university in recent days, USC leadership has lost confidence in Dr. Rohit Varmas ability to lead our medical school. As of today, he is no longer dean of the Keck School of Medicine, USC Provost Michael Quick said in a statement. Late Thursday, Quick added that the undisclosed information included details provided by Los Angeles Times and the universitys own inquiry into the matter. On Wednesday, prior to that inquiry, USC had told The Times it considered the matter resolved and that it remained confident in Varma. The woman accused Varma of making unwanted sexual advances during a trip to a conference and then retaliating against her for reporting him, according to the records and interviews. USC paid her more than $100,000 and temporarily blocked Varma from becoming a full member of the faculty, according to the records and interviews. The behavior you exhibited is inappropriate and unacceptable in the workplace, reflects poor judgment, is contrary to the Universitys standards of conduct, and will not be tolerated at the University of Southern California, a USC official wrote in a 2003 letter of reprimand. Despite this, USC soon promoted Varma to full professor. He was elevated three years ago to chair of the ophthalmology department by Dr. Carmen Puliafito, the former dean whose drug use and association with criminals The Times revealed this summer. The sexual harassment allegation is well known in the upper echelons of the university, but not among many of the students and staff. The Times learned of it after publishing the July report about Puliafito. Current and former faculty members contacted the newspaper to express concern that Varma was overseeing the medical school given the harassment finding. Candidates from top U.S. universities were in the running for the deans position, raising questions about why USC elected to follow Puliafitos troubled tenure with the appointment of a faculty member previously found to have committed misconduct. Varma did not respond to messages seeking comment. At the January ceremony formally installing Varma as dean, USC administrators lauded his groundbreaking research on eye problems in minorities. A news release noted that he was one of the leading recipients of research funding from the National Institutes of Health, delivering tens of millions of dollars in grant money to the school. Healing, passion and hope these words speak to the character of our new dean, USC President C.L. Max Nikias told the standing-room-only crowd. The harassment complaint sprang from a 2002 ophthalmology conference. At the time, Varma was a 40-year-old rising star in ophthalmology with an inspirational backstory. Raised in India, he had volunteered at a leper colony during medical school and worked alongside Mother Teresa, according to a USC press release. He had come to USC in 1993 and carved out a niche researching the prevalence of eye problems in minorities a field of study the federal government was eager to fund. A young international student working for Varma on one of those research projects an NIH-funded study of eye disease in Latinos accompanied him to the conference. The woman later told USC investigators that when they arrived at the conference hotel, Varma told the woman he had booked a single room and expected her to share a bed with him, according to two sources familiar with USCs investigation. She told the investigators that when she questioned the arrangement, Varma claimed the grant money would only cover one room, the sources said. She said that when she protested further, he took her cellphone away and threatened to have her visa revoked, according to the sources. The woman told investigators that she had no money to pay for her own room and ended up sleeping on a cot in Varmas room, the sources said. She reported the incident to USC, and the universitys Office of Equity and Diversity launched an investigation of Varma for sexual harassment and retaliation. Investigators found evidence to support her claims, according to confidential university records reviewed by The Times. It has been determined that there is sufficient basis to conclude that inappropriate behavior has occurred, then-Keck medical school Dean Stephen Ryan wrote to Varma in a March 2003 letter. Further inappropriate behavior will result in your dismissal. As punishment, Varma was denied an expected promotion to full professor and his salary was reduced by $30,000, according to the letter. (He was making about $280,000, according to a disclosure he filed in his divorce case later that year.) He also was ordered to undergo counseling about sexual harassment, the letter stated. In addition, you should avoid all one-on-one encounters with [the researcher]. Contact with [her] shall be limited to that which is necessary to perform your job, Ryan told him in the letter. Ryan, who died in 2013, wrote that the letter will be part of your permanent University file. Half a dozen USC officials were copied on the letter, including two who remain in prominent roles: Vice Provost Martin Levine, and Senior Vice President and General Counsel Carol Mauch Amir. The university reached a $135,000 settlement with the woman, according to sources with knowledge of the payment. A university source said Varma personally paid about $11,000 of the settlement. The woman ultimately left the United States. Reached by phone recently, she declined to comment. The decision to discipline Varma but keep him on the faculty came the month after he received a five-year, $11-million grant from the NIH. At the time, it was the largest grant ever awarded to USCs ophthalmology department. In the following years, USC rolled back some of Varmas punishments. University administrators rescinded the $30,000 reduction in his salary in 2004. They reasoned that the loss of a promised raise was sanction enough, according to internal university correspondence. We are confident that Dr. Varma will not make these mistakes again and that he has learned a great deal from this process, Ryan and another medical school administrator wrote to Varmas department chair in 2004. In 2005, the university promoted Varma to full professor, according to his USC bio. Through it all, Varma continued attracting substantial research funding. In the years since the harassment case, the NIH sent more than $60 million in grants to USC for Varmas projects, according to federal databases. Varma left USC in 2012 for a brief stint as chair of the ophthalmology department at the University of Illinois College of Medicine in Chicago. Two years later, then-Dean Puliafito brought him back to USC as ophthalmology department chair and co-director of what is now known as the Gayle and Edward Roski Eye Institute. By that time, Puliafito had become unpopular with many on campus. Faculty and staff made numerous complaints about his alcohol consumption at USC events and his rage-filled tirades against co-workers. Puliafito was using methamphetamine and other drugs and partying with a circle of addicts, prostitutes and other criminals in 2015 and 2016, The Times reported in July. He stepped down March 24, 2016, after Provost Quick confronted him with complaints about his job performance and behavior, according to USC. The same day, USC appointed Varma as interim dean and announced a nationwide search for a new permanent dean. A search committee headed by Quick interviewed candidates from several top universities, according to a university source. The job went to Varma, whom the provost described then as the standout to lead the medical school. The mistreatment of young female scientists by more-established and better-funded male researchers has become a pressing concern in academia in recent years. The NIH, which this year will spend more than $27 billion to support research, said last year that it was deeply concerned about sexual harassment in science and was working on ways to end misconduct by the researchers it funds. Noreen Farrell, an attorney who has represented victims of sexual harassment on campus, said universities who promote faculty found to have acted inappropriately towards women colleagues send the wrong message. It damages the credibility of schools who say they want to protect students and faculty from harm, said Farrell, now the executive director of the national nonprofit Equal Rights Advocates. Who your leaders are matters. Fatima Goss Graves, an attorney and advocate for gender equality in the workplace, said Varmas incident did not automatically exclude USC from considering him as dean. I dont want to say that no one can be rehabilitated. Of course people can, said Graves, the president and chief executive of the National Womens Law Center. I think theres a question: What steps did they take to correct the environment, and what steps did they take to ensure its not a continuing problem? In astatement Friday, Quick said USC was planning a national search for Varmas replacement. I understand how upsetting this situation is to all of us, but we felt it was in the best interest of the faculty, staff and students for all of us to move in this direction, Quick wrote. Today we learned previously undisclosed information that caused us to lose confidence in Dr. Varmas ability to lead the school. Our leaders must be held to the highest standards. Dr. Varma understands this, and chose to step down. sarah.parvini@latimes.com harriet.ryan@latimes.com paul.pringle@latimes.com Times staff writers Matt Hamilton and Adam Elmahrek contributed to this report. ALSO Harvey Weinstein to take a leave of absence amid sexual harassment claims, threatens lawsuit over report Photogenic mountain lion P-41 found dead in the Verdugo Mountains Deputies search for man who tried to kidnap 12-year-old girl during soccer practice Two bodies pulled from wrecked car in Kings River during search for missing San Diego couple UPDATES: 9:45 a.m., Oct. 6: This article was updated with additional statements from Michael Quick. 6:40 p.m.: This article was updated with new statement from USC. This article was originally published at 4:30 p.m., Oct. 5. ADS ADS While production itself has been effective for several years all of Schwarz Etiennes calibres are equipped with in-house balances and E2O Innovations is already a supplier to a number of watchmaking companies the process is now completely consolidated. Production capacity has increased to cater for the creation of tens of thousands of watch assortments per year. This makes it possible to market products, whether small or large scale, for third parties. The production of hairsprings, the very heart of the mechanical movement, is one of the most complex crafts of the watchmaking trade, with only a few players in the industry. Extreme precision is required to master this skill with tolerances lower than a micron. Indeed, a difference of 0.1 microns (100 nanometers) on the profile of these spiral springs can have an impact of up to 300 seconds on the daily rate of a movement. 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E2O Innovations objective is to continue to enrich its customer portfolio and produce several tens of thousands of assortments over the coming years. It might seem like a sudden crisis, but it has been brewing for decades if not centuries. Breakaway sentiment in Spains northeastern region of Catalonia, an area that remains fiercely proud of its own language and culture, threatens to rip the national fabric of a modern European democracy, with repercussions that would be felt across the continent and beyond. Regional Catalan leaders are saying they could declare independence within days, while the Spanish central government in Madrid is weighing drastic measures to head off such a move, even raising the specter of martial law. Advertisement With an already ugly confrontation escalating fast, here are some things to know about Catalonia, a storied enclave most familiar to the outside world for its prizewinning gastronomy, its tragic Spanish Civil War history, the vibrant tourist destination of Barcelona and a recent terrorist attack unrelated to the independence crisis. Where is Catalonia? It lies at the northeastern tip of the Iberian Peninsula, with its four Spanish provinces forming a rough triangle. The rugged Pyrenees mountain range separates it from France and Andorra to the north. It is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the east, and the Spanish regions of Valencia in the south and Aragon to the west. What language is spoken? Officially, two of them: Spanish, the national tongue, and Catalan, which many of its 7.5 million people speak at home and among themselves, especially in the hinterlands outside of the regional capital, Barcelona, and other big cities. The language is not a Spanish dialect; it is closer to French and Italian, growing out of the common speech form of Latin spoken by Roman colonizers. In the Catalan language, the region is known as Catalunya. How long has Catalonia been part of Spain? For quite some time, even while seemingly considering itself a place apart. It coalesced as a distinct region in the 11th century, later teaming up with the neighboring kingdom of Aragon as a medieval seagoing power. Then, in the 15th century, a royal marriage between King Ferdinand II of Aragon and Queen Isabella of Castile joined their realms. Catalonia became an autonomous community of the modern Spanish state, which was declared in 1931, although recent years have shown that autonomy has definite limits. Hows the economy? Humming along and thats actually part of the problem. Catalonia is one of Spains wealthiest regions, with strong manufacturing and tourism sectors. Thus, the central government in Madrid has an unvarnished interest in making sure Catalonias economy stays tightly interlocked with the country as a whole. In Catalonia, theres resentment over a sense that the region effectively subsidizes less affluent parts of the country; one secessionist rallying cry is Madrid nos roba Madrid robs us. But Catalonia also has a heavy public debt, most of it owed to the central Spanish government. The regions sheen of affluence is in large measure due to its commercial hub of Barcelona beloved of tourists the world over, harshly spotlighted by an Islamist-motivated terrorist strike on its famed Ramblas boulevard in August that killed at least 13 people. It is one of Europes sleekest and most sophisticated cities, literary and cosmopolitan, sprinkled with architectural landmarks. Whats the appeal of independence? Its partly emotional, partly political and heavily shadowed by modern history. Barcelona was a bloody battleground in the Fascist takeover of the Spanish Republic in the 1930s, harrowingly chronicled in George Orwells memoir Homage to Catalonia. The citys fall in 1939 ushered in the dictatorial rule of Francisco Franco, and while suffering due to his oppression was widespread, Catalan nationalism was a particular target of the generalissimo. After Francos death in 1975, Catalonia enthusiastically supported Spains new democratic constitution recognizing its autonomy and its language, which began to enjoy a revival. The notion of secession gained traction when a 2010 decision by the Spanish constitutional court threw out or revised some important provisions of an autonomy statute that addressed issues such as language and taxation. The courts ruling, intended to keep Catalonia closely in the Spanish fold, may have had the opposite effect, fueling separatist sentiment among those angered by the sense that autonomy was diminishing. What set off the current crisis? The immediate spark was Catalonias independence referendum, held Oct. 1 in defiance of central government warnings that the vote was illegal and illegitimate. Images of Spanish police beating and dragging away would-be voters and raiding polling places raised concerns across Europe and around the world; some 900 people were reported hurt. Regional officials say the referendum won the approval of 90% of the voters, but acknowledge that turnout was low, with most voters staying away, and some electoral benchmarks, such as an accurate census of those eligible to cast ballots, were absent. Officials said nearly 2.3 million ballots were cast, out of 5.3 million registered voters. What now? Its an extremely volatile situation. If Catalan leaders defy the Spanish state in coming days and proclaim independence, Article 155 of the Spanish constitution gives the central government the authority to take over the region administratively. In theory, that could involve drastic measures such as declaring a state of emergency or martial law, stripping regional politicians of power, shutting down Catalan broadcasters and suspending the autonomous police force. The crisis has only deepened over the past week. After the referendum, Spains King Felipe VI took the rare step of addressing the nation Tuesday night to decry what he called the disloyalty of Catalan leaders. The next day, Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy insisted his government would not yield to blackmail from the separatists, even as Catalan leaders urged mediation efforts. On Thursday, Spains constitutional court blocked a special session of Catalonias parliament scheduled Monday, during which regional leaders were expected to declare independence. It remained unclear whether the session would be held anyway. And polarization is on clear display: On Sunday, some 350,000 people attended a Barcelona rally against independence, the largest such gathering to date. Catalonia is Spain, some banners read. What about the longer term? A Catalexit would be a complex matter. Catalonia has some trappings of statehood, such as its parliament, flag and police force. But the Spanish state controls many essential government functions and institutions, including defense, the central bank, national taxation, customs and border formalities, even air traffic control. Unraveling those could prove painful and protracted for both sides. Also, there would be Catalonias external relations to consider. The 28-nation European Union generally doesnt like to back secessionist movements or interfere in member states domestic affairs. It has appealed to both sides to talk out their differences, and expressed worries about the violence that has occurred. At the same time, though, Brussels has made clear that a Catalonia striking out on its own would not automatically be recognized by other European governments, or granted EU membership. laura.king@latimes.com Twitter: @laurakingLAT ALSO Spains king says Catalonia leaders pushing independence show inadmissable disloyalty EU and Spain turn down Catalonias plea for mediation after independence vote Amid scenes of chaos and violence, Catalonia independence vote is projected to pass overwhelmingly UPDATES: 2:35 p.m., Oct. 8: This article was updated with anti-secession protest in Barcelona. 12:15 p.m., Oct. 5: This article was updated with Spains constitutional court ordering a suspension of Catalonias parliamentary session planned Monday. This article was originally published Oct 5 at 3 a.m. ResourcesVictims Oct. 5, 2017, 9:45 a.m. California residents can apply for aid for medical bills, funeral expenses after Las Vegas attacks Carmen Alegria recounts her harrowing experience surviving the mass shooting in Las Vegas. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) Californians who were injured in the Las Vegas attack may be able to get some monetary relief. The California Victim Compensation Board, a state program that offers monetary support for victims of violent crimes, has released a single application process to allow people to apply for compensation from California as well as from Nevadas program, said Julie Nauman, the boards executive director. A gunman opened fire on the Route 91 Harvest festival in Las Vegas on Sunday night, injuring almost 500 people and killing 58. Help is available for survivors of those who were killed, anyone who was injured and those in attendance at the concert, as well as their immediate family members, according to a statement the board released Wednesday. The funds can help pay for various costs, including funeral expenses, medical bills, mental health treatment, lost wages. Theres a limit of $70,000 per victim in the California program, but officials from California and Nevada are working together to maximize resources for families, Nauman said. We want victims to know that this help is available, she said. California residents can apply at https://victims.ca.gov/lasvegas/ or can call 1-800-777- 9229. Staff writer Joseph Serna contributed to this report. Oct. 5, 2017, 8:27 a.m. Las Vegas Vegas shooter booked room overlooking Lollapalooza in Chicago, official says Fans watch as Charli XCX performs at Lollapalooza in Chicagos Grant Park on Aug 6. (Rob Grabowski / Invision/AP) Police said Thursday they are examining reports that the gunman who fired on a country music festival in Las Vegas also booked rooms in a Chicago hotel overlooking the massive Lollapalooza music festival, the latest new line of inquiry as investigators try to retrace the killers steps in the days and weeks before the attack. TMZ reported that Stephen Paddock, 64, booked two rooms facing Grant Park, where the festival was held from Aug. 3 to Aug. 6, at the Blackstone Hotel, an upscale downtown hotel across the street, but he never showed. We can confirm that a reservation was made under the name Stephen Paddock, however authorities have not confirmed that this is the same person as the Las Vegas shooter, said hotel spokeswoman Emmy Carragher, adding that the guest never arrived. We are cooperating with the authorities on this matter. Lollapalooza draws hundreds of thousands of music fans every year, and this summer the shows attendees included Malia Obama, the daughter of former President Obama. Read more Suspect Oct. 4, 2017, 10:47 p.m. Las Vegas These are the video poker machines Las Vegas gunman Stephen Paddock frequented Video poker machines at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino (Ruben Vives/Los Angeles Times) At the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, the video poker machines stand at the north end of the casino, near an open court across from the black jack tables. Stephen Paddock, the gunman responsible for Sundays mass shootings at a music festival opposite the hotel, liked to play this bank of machines. Hotel staff said hed come to the Mandalay Bay up to twice a month. A real estate investor who also made regular money on gambling, Paddock is said to have preferred video poker. He gambled for 20-plus years, successfully, his brother, Eric Paddock, told reporters on Wednesday. Hed often play $100,000 at a time, he said. "$100,000 isnt that much money.... He gambled that much through a machine in hours.... Hes got the highest level of membership card at a lot of these [casino] hotels. If a lot of these hotels say they dont know Steve, theyre lying. It was from a room 32 floors above the Mandalay Bay casino that Paddock launched his deadly attack, killing 58 people and wounding nearly 500 others. On the casino floor Wednesday night, though, there was little sign of the tragedy three nights earlier. It was business as usual. Oct. 4, 2017, 8:34 p.m. Why did it take police so long to breach Las Vegas gunmans room? Heres a new timeline How long did it take Las Vegas police officers to storm into the room at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino where gunman Stephen Paddock was laying down fire on a crowd of 22,000 helpless concertgoers below? Initial reports suggested it was 72 minutes. Actually, it was 75 minutes, Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo said Wednesday, as authorities released their first complete timeline of the Sunday night shooting that left 58 people dead and nearly 500 injured. There was a reason for the delay, Lombardo said. Officers actually reached Paddocks hotel room door on the 32nd floor within 12 minutes of the first shots being fired, which is phenomenal, the sheriff said. The shots had stopped 10 minutes after they started, according to the new timeline, which factors in information recorded on police officers body cameras and closed-circuit television footage from the concert venue. The shooting apparently halted when Paddock detected the security guards approach at his hotel room door and turned to shoot the guard, Lombardo said. The first police officers arrived about two minutes after that, the new account suggests. When they saw what had happened, they evacuated nearby rooms and waited for backup from a SWAT team to enter the room. That ended up happening 75 minutes after the first shots were fired. Paddock was already dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Here is the timeline the sheriffs department released: 10:05 p.m.: First shots fired by the suspect. This was seen on closed-circuit television from the concert venue. 10:12 p.m.: First two officers arrive on the 31st floor and announce the gunfire is coming from directly above them. 10:15 p.m.: The last shots are fired from the suspect per body-worn cameras. 10:17 p.m.: The first two officers arrive on the 32nd floor. 10:18 p.m.: Security officer tells LVMPD officers he was shot and gives exact location of the suspects room. 10:26-10:30 p.m.: Eight additional officers arrive on the 32nd floor and begin to move systematically down the hallway, clearing every room and looking for any injured people. They move this way because they no longer hear the gunfire of an active shooter. 10:55 p.m.: Eight officers arrive in the stairwell at the opposite end of the hallway nearest to the suspects room. 11:20 p.m.: The first breach is set off and officers enter the room. They observe the suspect down on the ground and also see a second door that could not be accessed from their position. 11:27 p.m.: The second breach is set off, allowing officers to access the second room. Officers quickly realize there is no one else in the rooms and announce over the radio that the suspect is down. ALSO Vegas shooter booked room overlooking Lollapalooza in Chicago, official says Shooting shows how hard it is to stop a sniper Las Vegas shooting victims: Portraits of the fallen Heres what we know (and dont know) about the Las Vegas shooting Oct. 4, 2017, 7:20 p.m. Gunmans brother: If a lot of these hotels say they dont know Steve, theyre lying Eric Paddock, left, brother of Las Vegas gunman Stephen Paddock, speaks to members of the media outside his home Monday in Orlando, Fla. (John Raoux / Associated Press) The interview started with Eric Paddock crying. And then in a rambling, televised interview that stretched for half a hour in Florida on Wednesday Paddock held court on his brother Stephen, the gunman who attacked a Las Vegas country music festival. He was now one of Americas foremost experts on one of its worst mass killers, and he was trying to explain reports that Stephen Paddock had gambled heavily in Las Vegas in recent months, sometimes with at least $100,000. Were wealthy people, Eric Paddock said. "$100,000 isnt that much money.... He gambled that much through a machine in hours.... Hes got the highest level of membership card at a lot of these [casino] hotels. If a lot of these hotels say they dont know Steve, theyre lying. But his brother also didnt love the casino, Paddock said. The casino was a means to an end. The casino to him was like a job in Toyota in Japan, where you live in the Toyota apartments across the street, and then you go to the Toyota factory to work. Thats what the casino was. Its a place where you lived and they were nice to you, and you could get it paid for by playing slots. Paddock remembered his brother as a man who used his money to take care of his family financially. He helped make me and my family wealthy. I mean, hes the reason I was able to retire three years ago when I got really burned out doing the job I did, Eric Paddock said. He didnt have a lot of friends, Paddock continued. He was a private person. Theres a story about that hes, ohhhh, he kept his shades closed, and he didnt talk to me for the first three times he saw me walking in the neighborhood. Wow. That makes him really weird, doesnt it? He was a private guy. Thats why you cant find out anything about him, thats why theres no pictures. Is he such a weirdo because he didnt have a Facebook page and posted 50,000 damn pictures of himself every day? Whos weird? He said that his heart went out to the victims and that he began crying when his son had called him that day, also crying. I woke up this morning, crying, Paddock said. But, of his brothers attack, Paddock said: This is 100% Steve, did this by himself. People cant seem to cope with that either. But Steve is a was a highly intelligent, highly successful person. He could have done anything he wanted to do. And he did. He made himself wealthy. He made us wealthy. He was a very successful person. He gambled for 20-plus years, successfully. Its like a job to him. He did it mathematically. Stephen Paddock loved his girlfriend, Marilou Danley, who flew to the Philippines before the attack, Eric Paddock said. He also wired Danley money. Thats the Steve I know, Eric Paddock said. Thats something that makes sense. Steve would have wanted to take care of Marilou. The couple seem to have met at the Atlantis Casino Resort Spa in Reno, where Danely was a hostess and Stephen Paddock was a big fish, Eric Paddock said. They were adorable, he said. Steves this big, shes this tiny thing. He loved her. He doted on her. He added of his brother: It was fun to hang out with Steve, because he was a rich guy who hung out in the hotels. OK? ... Him getting on a plane and flying somewhere is like you going to Publix. Its something he does every week. The attack was so baffling that I hope to hell they find, when they do the autopsy, that theres a tumor in his head, or something, because if they dont, were all in trouble, Eric Paddock said, adding, Im praying for at least some data points. Because otherwise, the bug in Men In Black put on a Steve suit and went and did this. Theres no other rationalization. Oct. 4, 2017, 6:15 p.m. Las Vegas gunman may have wanted to survive and escape, sheriff says Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo (KVUU) The gunman who opened fire on a country music festival in Las Vegas may have wanted to survive and escape his attack, but a hotel security guard who approached his door and attracted the shooters gunfire appears to have stopped the massacre, Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo said Wednesday. His bravery was amazing, Lombardo said of the Mandalay Bay hotel security guard, who continued to help police clear guests from the 32nd floor of the hotel even after being shot in the leg by the gunman through the door of the gunmans suite. Investigators also confirmed that Stephen Paddock, 64, of Mesquite had also rented a room at the Ogden condo building earlier in September overlooking an even larger Vegas music event, the Life is Beautiful festival, featuring Gorillaz, Lorde, Chance the Rapper and other artists. Lombardo declined to say what evidence had led him to believe that Paddock might have hoped to escape after the attack, though he confirmed no suicide note was discovered in the room. Investigators were still trying to understand what drove Paddock and whether something triggered him in October 2016, when he began buying dozens of guns. Officials also declined to release details of their interviews with the gunmans girlfriend, but Lombardo said he questioned whether Paddock had managed to amass an arsenal and prepare for an attack on his own. He had to have some help at some point, Lombardo said. Maybe hes a superguy. maybe hes a super yahoo, was working out all this on his own, but it would be hard for me to believe that. Oct. 4, 2017, 4:17 p.m. Shooters girlfriend: No warning that something horrible like this would happen The girlfriend of the Las Vegas shooter told FBI agents Wednesday that she had no explanation for what motivated the massacre. Her interview with agents dashed any immediate hope that she could help unlock the mysteries of a shooting that left 59 dead and more than 500 injured. I knew Stephen Paddock as a kind, caring, quiet man, Marilou Danley said in a statement read by her attorney, Matt Lombard, after she was interviewed by FBI agents for several hours in Los Angeles. He never said anything to me or took any action that I was aware of that I understood in any way to be a warning that something horrible like this would happen, Lombard read. According to the statement, Paddock announced to Danley two weeks ago that he had bought her a plane ticket so that she could visit family in the Philippines. While she was there, Danley said in the statement, Paddock wired money to her, saying it was for her to buy a house for her and her family. The trip and money suddenly appeared to Danley to be an attempt by Paddock to break off the relationship, but she said she had no inclination he was planning to carry out the massacre. Danley returned to the United States late Tuesday and was met by federal agents after landing at Los Angeles International Airport. Oct. 4, 2017, 4:05 p.m. Online fundraisers collect millions for Las Vegas shooting victims and give people spaces to grieve (Los Angeles Times) In the midst of mass tragedy, a new normal for collective mourning has emerged. Its not uncommon for family, friends and strangers to grieve together on Facebook, on Twitter and even in the comments of online fundraising campaigns. Thats been true after many recent tragedies and certainly the case in the days since the Las Vegas shooting left 59 dead and more than 500 wounded. Dozens of campaigns on the Go Fund Me website have raised millions for victims and their families, while serving as virtual memorials and tributes. May we all remember you smiling and laughing. You dont know me but I was standing behind you in a group of moms. This is a young woman who loves with all her heart. A devoted aunt, a group of childhood friends, a sister, a brother, a fellow officer, a gubernatorial candidate -- all have launched campaigns for someone hurt or killed during the shooting on the Vegas Strip. The fundraisers have been shared widely on social media. A dip into the comments sections shows just how near and far. I was there at the festival and left unharmed. My heart breaks for all the victims. You are a true jewel. RIP Sending you love, strength and well wishes from Australia. I dont know you, but I hope you get well soon. Weve known each other a long time my friend. From 6th grade to high school. I am so happy you are well. Oct. 4, 2017, 12:45 p.m. Trump thanks doctors and police who aided Las Vegas shooting victims President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump visited doctors and patients Wednesday at a Las Vegas hospital that treated more than 100 victims from this weeks mass shooting. It makes you very proud to be an American when you see the job theyve done, the president said. Flanked by medical staff from University Medical Center, the regions only Level 1 trauma facility, Trump applauded the emergency response to the massacre. I just want to congratulate everybody, its incredible work, incredible work youve done, he said. Victims who might have died will instead be released from the hospital in the days or weeks ahead, Trump said. Trump characterized the gunman, Stephen Paddock, 64, as a very sick man, he was a very demented person. Of Paddocks motive, Trump said, You will know very soon if we find something, were looking very, very hard. Trump also praised the incredible job done by police responding to Sunday nights shooting at a country-music festival, crediting officers with stopping the gunfire from the Mandalay Bay hotel within 11 minutes. The professionalism has just been amazing, Trump said. Shortly after, the president and the first lady arrived at the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, where they were greeted by law enforcement officers who responded to the shooting, and where Trump again praised their response. The couple was scheduled to return to Washington after meeting with police. Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo, who runs the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, showed Trump the departments operations center, where police coordinated the response to the shooting. Trump said the first responders to the shooting had been a real inspiration, adding this has been a rough time, but the shooting could have been a lot worse without the help of emergency officials. Trump said he had seen professionalism like you rarely see and thanked them, drawing applause. Gun Control Oct. 4, 2017, 12:22 p.m. Reporting from Washington Sen. Dianne Feinstein proposes ban of bump stock gun modifications Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) hold a news conference to introduce legislation to ban the sale and possession of gun bump stocks. (Bill Clark / CQ Roll Call) Sen. Dianne Feinstein on Wednesday proposed legislation that would ban gun bump stocks, which police said were used by a Las Vegas shooter this week to make semi-automatic weapons work more like automatic weapons. The only reason to modify a gun is to kill as many people as possible in as short a time as possible, the Califormnia Democrat told reporters. After the shooting , many Republicans said it wasnt the right time to talk about gun laws. Its premature to be discussing legislative solutions, if there are any, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Tuesday. But several prominent Republicans appear open to the idea of banning the modifiers. Sen. John Cornyn of Texas told Bloomberg News on Wednesday that Congress should hold hearings on whether to ban bump stocks, and North Carolina Rep. Mark Meadows of the powerful House Freedom Caucus told reporters that if the modification goes around limits on automatic weapons, its something that we obviously need to look at in the future. Read more Oct. 4, 2017, 12:20 p.m. Watch live: President Trump delivers remarks in Las Vegas Oct. 4, 2017, 12:10 p.m. Concertgoer commandeered truck to take Vegas victims to hospital People take cover from the Route 91 Harvest country music festival after hearing gunfire Sunday night in Las Vegas. The shooter was firing from the nearby Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. (Getty Images) As people fell to the ground, wounded in the sprays of gunfire, Taylor Winston knew he had to do something. People were bleeding everywhere, Winston said. Gunshot wounds were everywhere. Legs, torsos, necks, chests, arms just dozens of people. The 29-year-old San Diego man said he realized he needed to help fellow concertgoers get to the hospital. Along with a friend, Winston ran to a parking lot adjacent to the fairgrounds where the Route 91 Harvest festival was staged, looking for a car or truck he could commandeer. He said he knew that festival employees often left keys in work vehicles. The first one we opened had keys inside, Winston said. Over the next 40 minutes, Winston and a friend, Jenn Lewis, would transport 20 to 30 critically injured people to a hospital in the commandeered truck. It was a lot of chaos, but within the chaos, there was a lot of good being done and a lot of people rising to the occasion and helping others, he said. Read more Oct. 4, 2017, 11:13 a.m. Las Vegas A roundup of the latest on the Las Vegas shooting: Most of gunmans weapons were purchased since October (Marcus Yam/Los Angeles Times) The gunman responsible for the massacre in Las Vegas first began buying guns two decades ago, a federal source said Wednesday, but the majority of the 47 guns he owned had been purchased since October 2016. Stephen Paddock brought at least 23 weapons, mostly rifles, to the Mandalay Bay hotel room from which he opened fire on a country music concert across the street Sunday night, an attack which left 59 people dead and more than 500 injured. Twelve of the guns were modified with bump-fire stocks, which are legal accessories that allow guns to fire at nearly fully automatic speed, officials said. Meanwhile, FBI agents were slated to interview Paddocks girlfriend, Marilou Danley, in Los Angeles. Read more Music FestivalOfficersSuspectVictims Oct. 4, 2017, 11:09 a.m. From the police scanner, a tale emerges of 72 minutes of terror (Eugene Garcia / EPA-EFE) The first call came across the Las Vegas radio channel in a burst of static. We got shots fired, the police officer said, in a breathless voice. Sounded like an automatic firearm. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Departments scanner traffic, and body camera video released Tuesday, captured officers frantic efforts to find and stop the gunman firing into a crowd of 22,000 people from a perch high above the fairgrounds at a music festival. From the first reports of gunshots at 10:08 p.m. Sunday, it would be 72 chaotic minutes until a SWAT team crept down a carpeted hallway on the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay hotel and blew open the hotel room occupied by gunman Stephen Paddock. By then, the gunfire had long since ceased and Paddock was dead. Read more Oct. 4, 2017, 10:58 a.m. Girlfriend of Las Vegas shooter is being interviewed by FBI in Los Angeles The girlfriend of Las Vegas shooter Stephen Paddock was slated to be interviewed by investigators at the Los Angeles headquarters of the FBI on Wednesday morning, an official said. Clark County Sheriff Joseph Lombardo told reporters meeting President Trumps plane in Nevada that the interview was to be conducted shortly. FBI officials would not confirm the interview timing but acknowledged that the woman, Marilou Danley, was expected to consent to be interviewed by investigators. Matthew Lombard, a Los Angeles attorney hired by relatives to represent Danley, declined to comment. He said he expected to release a statement Wednesday afternoon. Oct. 4, 2017, 10:03 a.m. President Trump lands in Las Vegas to meet with victims of the attack at music festival President Trump arrived in Las Vegas on Wednesday morning to meet with law enforcement officials and victims of Sunday nights massacre at a country-music festival on the Strip. Air Force 1 landed at McCarran International Airport at 9:37 a.m., and Trump walked out of the plane with Melania, the first lady. They were greeted on the tarmac by Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo and other dignitaries, which were scheduled to include Republican Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval and Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman, an independent. The president and first lady were scheduled to meet with patients and medical staff at a local hospital at 10 a.m. and then meet with civilian heroes and first responders to the attack at 11:50 a.m., before an expected departure back to Washington at 1:10 p.m. Oct. 4, 2017, 9:01 a.m. Las Vegas President Trump visiting Las Vegas to meet with mass shooting victims and first responders Mark Rumpeler (Ruven Vives/Los Angeles Times) President Trumps visit to Las Vegas on Wednesday is his second trip in two days aimed at comforting the victims of tragedy: In Puerto Rico on Tuesday, it was victims of Hurricane Maria; in Nevada, its the families and survivors of a mass shooting opposite the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. Trump was scheduled to arrive at 9:30 a.m. PDT and meet with patients and doctors at a hospital treating the more than 500 people injured in Sundays shooting. Later, the White House said, he was to meet with civilian heroes and first responders who were at the scene when Stephen Paddock , a 64-year-old gambler and real estate investor, opened fire from the 32nd floor of the hotel at a country music festival going on below. Well, Its a very sad thing, Trump told reporters Wednesday as he was preparing to leave Washington. Were going to pay our respects and to see the police who have done really a fantastic job in a very short time. As for the investigation into the shooting, he said: Yeah, theyre learning a lot more. And thatll be announced at the appropriate time. Its a very, very sad day for me, personally. In Las Vegas, some seemed skeptical that the presidents visit would bring much comfort. Mekhaly Rassavong, 50, was at McCarran International Airport, where Trump was to land, to light a candle at a memorial for victims of the shooting. Standing by her silver truck, she said she was worried about Trumps visit. She said she doesnt think Trump is a compassionate person. His abrasive tweets and the comments he made Tuesday while visiting Puerto Rico, she said, made her think he may fail to show genuine compassion for Las Vegas. Puerto Rico lost 16 people and hes saying their losses arent as bad as Katrina and that theyre messing with the budget, she said, shaking her head. If hes not genuinely going to show compassion here, its almost like you shouldnt be here because its just going to make people more upset. Mark Rumpeler, 58, who is a reverend and impersonates Elvis, disagrees. Hes going to salute the first responders and Americans who helped as he should, he said. Rumpeler said hes happy that the president is visiting the city because it takes someone of his caliber to address what has happened. He represents all Americans, whether you voted for him or not, he said. I think he will strengthen America and remind us to keep rowing our boat in one direction. Oct. 4, 2017, 3:00 a.m. The trigonometry of terror: Why the Las Vegas shooting was so deadly Arthur B. Alphin is well acquainted with the trigonometry of terror. The retired Army lieutenant colonel and West Point graduate, who has a mechanical engineering degree and specialized in ballistics, has testified in many multiple-shooting cases. What he sees so far about Las Vegas shooter Stephen Paddock is a patient, well-trained gunner who did not pick and choose his targets, but held to a steady kill zone centered in the middle of thousands of concertgoers. Once the trigger was pulled, simple laws of physics and trigonometry sealed the fate of more than 500 people who would fall wounded in the ensuing fracas 59 of them fatally. He had a huge area of three, four or five football fields with people standing shoulder to shoulder, Alphin said. He was not aiming at any individual person. He was just throwing bullets in a huge beaten zone. Beaten zone is an infantry term dating to World War I. Shaped like the area a searchlight casts across a flat surface, it represents the area where bullets can strike, and moves substantially with tiny changes in the tilt of the gun. If the shooter shifted by about 1 degree, or the width of two fingers held at arms length, Alphin said, the beaten zone would fall outside the crowd. Thats all the distance you have to move and you arent hitting anybody, Alphin said. So he had to be pointing or aiming at the very center of mass and then bouncing all over with the recoil. > Readers show how they would rewrite the Second Amendment From a perch 320 feet above ground in a hotel whose base was about 1,050 feet from the concert venue, Paddock was firing down the 1,098-foot hypotenuse of a right triangle and would have to adjust his aim for the arc of the bullet over that distance. Alphin said there was no way the shooter maintained such a steady kill zone by dumb luck. Steady nerves and planning are a better explanation for the casualty rate, he said. How did this guy get trained that well? Where did it come from? At least one of the 23 rapid-firing weapons authorities found in the hotel room had a bipod stand to hold it steady, according to law enforcement authorities. Paddock also may have fitted weapons with a device to make it cycle rounds more quickly into the chamber for firing, or converted some to fully automatic firing, potentially adding as many as eight rounds per second, Alphin said. There may also be expertise at work in deciding when to switch rifles, Alphin said. Gun barrels expand as they heat up, and the bullet can lose contact with the grooves that spin it and keep it point-forward. Without the spin, it will tumble. A bullet tumbling like that, good God, it will land on planet Earth but you dont know where, Alphin said. Oct. 3, 2017, 9:32 p.m. Girlfriend of Las Vegas gunman, a person of interest in mass shooting, has landed in Los Angeles Marilou Danley, the girlfriend of the gunman who shot and killed 59 people at a country music concert in Las Vegas, returned Tuesday night to the United States from the Philippines, according to multiple law enforcement sources. Danley was met by federal agents at Los Angeles International Airport, said the officials, who were not authorized to discuss the case publicly. Danley was not placed under arrest and it was not known when, or if, she would agree to be interviewed about Stephen Paddock, who killed himself in the Las Vegas hotel room from which he launched his deadly attack. Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo, whose department is leading the investigation into the shooting, on Tuesday called Danley a person of interest and said authorities hoped that talking with her would shed light on why Paddock carried out the rampage. The gunman who fired on a country music festival in Las Vegas also researched outdoor performance areas in Boston and other large cities in recent months, a law enforcement official with knowledge of the investigation said Thursday. But Stephen Paddock, 64, of Mesquite, Nev., doesnt appear to have traveled to most of those locations, said the source, who was not authorized to talk about the inquiry into Sundays mass shooting, which killed 58 people and injured nearly 500. Paddock also appears to have spent much of September in Las Vegas, where he was seen gambling in the weeks before the attack, according to casino representatives. Advertisement Officials have struggled to find a motive for why Paddock, a retired real estate investor who liked to gamble, took at least 10 suitcases worth of firearms and ammunition to the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino and opened fire on a crowd of concertgoers gathered below. But new details about Paddocks activities in recent months suggest that he may have had other targets in mind. In the first week of August, Paddock reserved rooms at an upscale hotel overlooking Chicagos Grant Park during Lollapalooza, one of the nations largest outdoor music festivals, a law enforcement source said. The event was headlined by major acts including Chance the Rapper, the Killers and Muse, and attendees included Sasha and Malia Obama, the daughters of President Obama. It would have been a target similar to the one in Las Vegas huge crowds packed into an outdoor space beneath tall buildings but with far more people. Paddock was ultimately a no-show for his reservations in Chicago. We can confirm that there was no guest under that name who stayed at our hotel in August during the Lollapalooza music festival, said Blackstone hotel spokeswoman Emmy Carragher. After paying for his girlfriends trip to visit family in the Philippines, Paddock appears to have been in downtown Las Vegas from Sept. 14 to 28, according to records reviewed by representatives of the El Cortez Hotel and Casino, who spoke to The Times on condition of anonymity. The representatives said Paddock did not spend the night there or make a reservation. But he was seen in the El Cortez on Sept. 16, and he obtained a players card and played slots and blackjack on Sept. 17, buying in on the latter with $40. Representatives said Paddock won about $300. He only played one time, one of the representatives said. Enough to get a meal. The next week, Paddock returned to El Cortez on Sept. 21 and 24. At some point, he ate two meals with his winnings. He cashed out his ticket on Sept. 24, his sole use of the casinos ATM machines. The timeline overlaps with the three-day outdoor Life Is Beautiful concert, which ran from Sept. 22 to 24 and which featured similarly high-profile acts as Lollapalooza. Paddock booked an Airbnb in a condo building overlooking the Life Is Beautiful music festival, leading investigators to gather video footage from the building to learn more. Was he doing pre-surveillance? We dont know yet, Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo said Wednesday. El Cortez representatives disputed reports that Paddock was kicked out of the property or that the hotel was sold out around the time of Life Is Beautiful. Casino representatives said he was not on the radar of management because he did not win or lose a substantial sum. After Paddock was identified, a compliance officer for El Cortez entered his name into their system and determined he had a brief, limited interaction there, representatives said. The hotel leaders then contacted police to share their findings. We never knew he was here until after this murder, one of the representatives said. During Sundays attack on the Route 91 Harvest country music festival, Paddock apparently also shot at a pair of jet-fuel storage tanks at McCarran International Airport, which sits next to both the concert fairgrounds and the Mandalay Bay hotel. Two rifle rounds struck a 1.8 million-gallon tank on the western edge of the airport. One round penetrated the tank, which was partially filled at the time, and the other round got stuck in the tanks outer steel shell, airport officials said. Neither of the shots appeared to have started a fire. Jet fuel is treated kerosene and is not classified as a flammable liquid, but as a combustible liquid, Clark County Dept. of Aviation spokesman Chris Jones said in an email. Contrary to speculation, there is almost zero likelihood gunfire damage could trigger a fire or explosion at a commercial fuel storage facility. Officials are still trying to understand what happened during Sundays attack. Clark County Fire Chief Greg Cassell said Thursday that the fire alarms in Mandalay Bay were triggered during the shooting, but he did not know whether this was caused by gun smoke, a person pulling the alarm or some other aspect of the police response. Firefighters on the ground saw flashing lights above and only later determined that the alarm had not been set off by flames. Cassell said more than 32 other calls of gunshot victims at locations on or near the Strip, including Caesars Palace and South Point Hotel, Casino and Spa, came in after Sunday nights shootings. The scattered locations of the calls contributed to the sense that other shooters may have been active and complicated the response. What is going on in our town? Is this a single event, or are we now under a Mumbai-style attack where weve got multiple things going on at multiple properties? Cassell said he wondered. The chief said 108 Clark County firefighters and 14 chief officers responded. More than 50 firefighters from neighboring departments also assisted. Paramedic crews took more than 200 patients to the hospital, the chief said. After the attack, many bodies were clustered by the music festival stage, said firefighter-paramedic Bob Stout, who was with a team of firefighters and police who went inside the concert venue to search for anyone left behind. It was an eerie scene, strewn with bullet-pocked bodies, abandoned bottles, camping chairs, sunglasses and cell phones, he said. The cell phones kept ringing and ringing. One of the tour buses was riddled with bullet holes. Stout and others followed trails of blood out of the venue; one trail went 200 yards to a parking lot, where presumably the victim whod been bleeding was picked up. Meanwhile, as lawmakers in Washington again took up the issue of gun regulation, the National Rifle Assn. on Thursday called for a government review on the legality of bump stock accessories that modify semiautomatic weapons to fire at nearly fully automatic speed. Investigators have said the Las Vegas gunman had 12 such devices outfitted on the weapons he amassed to mount the recent attack. The NRA believes that devices designed to allow semi-automatic rifles to function like fully-automatic rifles should be subject to additional regulations, the gun-advocacy powerhouse said in its statement, which asked the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to evaluate whether such devices are legal under federal law. The NRAs announcement came as some Republican lawmakers signaled that they would be open to a ban on such devices. Hamilton reported from Las Vegas, and Pearce and Winton from Los Angeles. The Chicago Tribune contributed to this report. matt.pearce@latimes.com Matt Pearce is a national reporter for The Times. Follow him on Twitter at @mattdpearce. More national headlines Republicans and NRA shift ground, say they will consider limiting firearm bump stocks He was at Mandalay Bay when he received a text: Active shooter. Go to your room How to stop a sniper like Stephen Paddock? Police sharpshooters firing from helicopters is one idea UPDATES: 6:05 p.m.: This article was updated with information about the gunmans movements at the El Cortez Hotel and Casino. 4:10 p.m.: This article was updated with information on other locations the gunman may have researched. 1:10 p.m.: This article was updated with additional information on a possible hotel reservation made by the gunman in Chicago and with information about the National Rifle Assn.s position on bump stocks. This article was originally published at 10:15 a.m. Newly formed Tropical Storm Nate was blamed early Friday for at least 22 deaths across Central America as it dumped rain across the region on a path that would carry it toward a potential landfall on the U.S. Gulf Coast as a hurricane over the weekend. Louisiana officials ordered some residents to evacuate. The U.S. National Hurricane Center said the storm could cause dangerous flooding by dumping as much as 15 to 20 inches of rain on Nicaragua, with higher accumulations in a few places. Advertisement It had maximum sustained winds of 40 mph at midday Thursday and was likely to strengthen over the northwestern Caribbean Sea on Thursday night and Friday before a possible strike on the Cancun region at the tip of Mexicos Yucatan Peninsula. In Nicaragua, Nates arrival followed two weeks of near-constant rain that had left the ground saturated and rivers swollen. Authorities placed the whole country on alert and warned of flooding and landslides. Nicaraguan Vice President Rosario Murillo said at least 15 people had died in that country due to the storm. She didnt give details on all the deaths, but said two women and a man who worked for the Health Ministry were swept away by a flooded canal in the central municipality of Juigalpa. The government closed schools nationwide. Costa Rican President Luis Guillermo Solis blamed two deaths on the storm. Flooding drove 5,000 residents into emergency shelters. In Louisiana, officials ordered the evacuation of part of coastal St. Bernard Parish, east of New Orleans, ahead of the storm. Earlier Thursday, a voluntary evacuation was called in the barrier island town of Grand Isle south of New Orleans. New Orleans officials outlined steps to bolster the citys pump and drainage system. Weaknesses in that system were revealed during summer flash floods. The forecast track showed the storm could brush across the tip of the Yucatan Peninsula late Friday night and then hit the U.S. Gulf Coast as a hurricane by Sunday morning. Forecasters said hurricane conditions were possible in Mexico on Friday night. In the Pacific, meanwhile, former Tropical Storm Ramon dissipated off the southwest coast of Mexico. UPDATES: Oct. 6, 4:43 a.m.: This article has updated with a revised death toll. This article was originally published on Oct. 5 at 1:05 p.m. Investigators are continuing to seek clues in the Las Vegas shooting that killed 58 people and injured nearly 500, hoping to create a picture that would explain Sundays massacre. TOP STORIES Did the Las Vegas Shooter Act Alone? Advertisement A gun-buying spree: 33, mostly rifles, in the last year. A gambling binge: more than $100,000 in recent months and, reportedly, eight hours the night before the attack. An Airbnb room: rented in September overlooking an even larger music event for an unknown reason. Investigators are wondering whether something changed in the gunmans life around October 2016, and whether he acted alone. As President Trump and the first lady visited victims and first responders in Las Vegas, agents interviewed the gunmans girlfriend in L.A. He never said anything to me, or took any action I was aware of, that I ever understood to be a warning that something horrible like this was going to happen, she said, according to a statement read by her attorney. More About the Shooting -- Inside the emergency room: How doctors, nurses and paramedics saved lives. Kevin Menes was the senior doctor on duty Sunday night at one of the busiest emergency rooms in Las Vegas. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times ) -- Sen. Dianne Feinstein proposed legislation that would ban gun bump stocks, and some Republicans seem open to the idea. -- The trigonometry of terror: why the Las Vegas shooting was so deadly. -- Is that Las Vegas shooting charity legitimate? Here are some tips to help you find out. She Tried to Forgive and Forget Debra Newell had more than 300 pages of documents about her husband John Meehans past. She dreaded winding up like her older sister, dead at the hands of her own husband. Yet Meehan had an explanation for everything, and Newell had been raised to always see the good in people. Part 4 of our weeklong Dirty John series of stories and podcasts looks at how she could forgive him. Civil Servants Say the Climate Isnt the Best Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke said last week he believes nearly a third of his workforce is disloyal to the Trump agenda. Could that be a reason why about 50 of the departments most experienced and highly paid managers got reassignment papers, often to jobs unrelated to their skills? One whose work focused on climate change was moved to auditing fossil fuel company leases. He quit and filed a whistler-blower complaint. Hes not alone in alleging the Trump administration is sidelining longtime civil servants with environmental expertise. More Politics -- Secretary of State Rex Tillerson denied reports he planned to resign over foreign policy differences with President Trump, but he sidestepped whether he had called Trump a moron. -- A federal judge ordered the Trump administration to enforce new restrictions on the release of potent methane emissions at oil and gas drilling operations on public land. -- Leaders of the Senate Intelligence Committee say it has not reached a conclusion whether the Trump campaign cooperated with Moscow during the 2016 election. Does the Nuclear Watchdog in Iran Need More Teeth? The head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog agency says its inspection program in Iran is the worlds most robust. Some Trump administration officials and outside experts say its not aggressive enough, especially when it comes to military sites. The transcontinental monitoring program is central to the Iran nuclear deal, which President Trump has often called an embarrassment but several top aides have urged that the U.S. stay in. Another deadline for the president to recertify the program is coming up. MUST-WATCH VIDEO -- Which buildings could be salvaged? A tour of earthquake devastation in the Mexican town of Jojutla. -- Watch these transformer robots fold themselves into boats, wheels and other useful shapes. -- The former Johnny Carson estate in Malibu has been listed for sale at $81.5 million. CALIFORNIA -- L.A. County supervisors have fired the head of the countys housing and community development programs, but offered no public explanation. -- Sidewalk vending isnt supposed to be a crime anymore in L.A., but activists say vendors are still at risk. -- After more than a year and a half, authorities have charged four men in connection with the 2016 killing of a 1-year-old girl who was shot in her crib in Compton. -- Documents show former Glee star Mark Salling admitted to possessing a massive cache of child pornography and agreed to spend up to 20 years in federal prison. HOLLYWOOD AND THE ARTS -- A former Sound City engineer details how Tom Petty and Stevie Nicks duet on Stop Dragging My Heart Around came to be. -- Will the Las Vegas massacre change country musics view of guns? -- Late-night host Stephen Colbert gave a scathing play-by-play of Trumps Puerto Rico visit. -- Kate Winslet, who told some horror stories about working with James Cameron on Titanic, will reunite with the director for the coming sequels to Avatar. CLASSIC HOLLYWOOD Moe and his brother Jerome Curly Howard performed in the late 1920s as a three-man act with failed violinist and boxer Larry Fine. Eventually theyd be known as the Three Stooges. Fine, who was born on this date in 1902, said most of the early films comedy routines were ad-libbed. The screenwriters made up the situation, he said. But on the script the only directions were, The Stooges enter and do their stuff. NATION-WORLD -- First person: What being undocumented, with and without DACA, has taught me. The deadline to file is today. -- Rep. Tim Murphy (R-Pa.) has announced he wont seek reelection after reports surfaced indicating the publicly antiabortion politician had urged his mistress to have an abortion. -- A German former actress has become the fourth woman to come forward to accuse director Roman Polanski of sexual assault, when she was 15 years old. -- Will Vladimir Putin run for president of Russia again? Hes not saying yet. -- Kazuo Ishiguro, best known for the novels The Remains of the Day and Never Let Me Go, has won the Nobel Prize for literature. BUSINESS -- Ratings for the broadcast networks premiere week were down 11% from a year ago, continuing the long-term trend of viewers shifting away from watching TV live. -- An Arkansas family that complained of bed bug bites at a Rancho Cucamonga hotel has been awarded $546,000, perhaps the biggest bed-bug judgment ever. SPORTS -- The Dodgers will face the Arizona Diamondbacks when their postseason starts Friday. -- The Minnesota Lynx defeated the Los Angeles Sparks, 85-76, to win the franchises fourth WNBA championship. OPINION -- A Duke University professor says President Trump is a racist, pure and simple. -- Tom Steyer says, Im a billionaire. Please raise my taxes. WHAT OUR EDITORS ARE READING -- In 2012, Ivanka and Donald Trump Jr. were being investigated by the Manhattan district attorneys office for claims about a development. Then Trump lawyer Marc Kasowitz, a donor to the D.A., entered the case, and soon it was dropped. (The New Yorker) -- Buddhisms bad boy: A famous Tibetan lama, whose public outbursts include punching a nun, is accused of a long list of abuses. (South China Morning Post) -- After one woman lost her job as a marketing executive, she became a movie extra as a temporary gig and found out it wasnt half bad as a way to make a living. (The Atlantic) ONLY IN CALIFORNIA What to do with those big, unsightly trash bins on the street? In Huntington Beach, artists have painted a variety of scenes on 30 dumpsters and will enlist the mayor and others to push them down Main Street this weekend. The Dumpsters on Parade project shows that one mans trash bin is another mans treasure. If you like this newsletter, please share it with friends. Comments or ideas? Email us at headlines@latimes.com. Its bad enough that Wells Fargo employees, pressured by unrealistic sales goals, fraudulently opened as many as 3.5 million new bank and credit-card accounts without their customers knowledge or approval. The first time many of those customers realized what had been done in their names was when they were hit with fees for the accounts they hadnt requested. Whats worse is that the bank, having been caught, has tried to avoid lawsuits by forcing its victims into binding arbitration. Before the bank defrauded them, these consumers had opened Wells Fargo accounts with take-it-or-leave-it user agreements that required them to waive their right to take the bank to court. Wells insisted that these arbitration clauses applied not just to the accounts people chose to open, but also to the ones opened fraudulently in their names. And amazingly, judges in several state and federal courts have agreed. Wells disgraceful efforts to steer these disputes into its preferred venue is just one illustration (albeit an egregious one) of how companies stack the deck against their customers. By requiring each victim to bring a separate complaint to arbitration rather than allowing a few of them to seek relief for the entire group, companies reduce the potential penalty for their bad behavior, because some victims wont bother to file claims and the ones who do may have trouble finding lawyers for such small stakes. Arbitrators also have a history of siding far more often with companies than consumers. Advertisement The passage of SB 33 was just one win for consumers in a much larger battle nationally over forced arbitration. Wells Fargos actions prompted two congressional Democrats, Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio and Rep. Brad Sherman of Sherman Oaks, to propose bills last December to shield consumers from having to arbitrate disputes over accounts they did not create. Their legislation has gone nowhere in the Republican-controlled Congress, though, so California lawmakers passed their own version, SB 33 by Sen. Bill Dodd (D-Napa), which Gov. Jerry Brown signed into law Wednesday. Starting in January, the measure will let courts ignore binding arbitration clauses in cases where a bank or other financial services company had fraudulently created the account without the consumers consent. Several bank and business trade groups opposed the bill, arguing that the Federal Arbitration Act preempts state laws like SB 33. But the measure doesnt try to interfere with valid contracts that include arbitration clauses; instead, it stops banks from stretching an arbitration clause in a valid contract to cover a fraudulent one. Its ridiculous to argue that consumers consented to arbitrate disputes over a contract they never saw or signed. And yet, thats what Wells Fargos lawyers continue to argue in Utah as they defend against a lawsuit brought by customers whod been signed up for accounts without their knowledge. The lawyers did so even though the bank has agreed to a $142 million class-action settlement with other defrauded customers (the ones in Utah have declined to join that settlement). The passage of SB 33 was just one win for consumers in a much larger battle nationally over forced arbitration. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau issued a rule in July that bars financial services companies from using arbitration clauses to stop customers from banding together in class-action lawsuits. The House quickly responded by passing a resolution to throw out the rule; the resolution is awaiting action in the Senate. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and several financial industry lobbying groups also have filed suit (irony alert!) to block the rule, arguing that the consumer bureaus structure is unconstitutional. Meanwhile, the U.S. Supreme Court began its term Monday by hearing three cases that all concerned employers power to force employees to resolve disputes one by one through arbitration, rather than filing joint claims. Early signs suggested that the courts conservative majority would side with employers, further amplifying the advantages companies already hold in disputes with their employees. Whats happening in Congress and the courts makes Browns decision to sign SB 33 all the more welcome. Arbitration can be a useful way to cut costs and to speed the resolution of disputes, but its value evaporates if it tilts the scales of justice. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook The non-gun-lovers among us and maybe even a few gunlovers have learned a couple of new terms over the last few days: bump stock and trigger crank. Without getting into the technical details, they are devices designed to let shooters fire semiautomatic rifles, which are generally legal to own, as though they were automatic rifles machine guns which generally are not legal to own. In other words, the bump stock, trigger crank and similar pieces of equipment dodge federal gun laws intended to keep most people from getting their hands on guns that fire bullets continuously and rapidly with a single pull of the trigger. It was the use of bump stocks, officials say, that enabled Stephen Paddock to inflict so much damage so quickly from a 32nd-floor hotel room in Las Vegas on Sunday. Its outrageous that such devices are legally bought without so much as a background check, and for as little as $100. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and fellow members of the Senate have introduced the Automatic Gunfire Prevention Act, which would ban the sale of any accessory or device that is designed or functions to accelerate the rate of fire of a semiautomatic rifle. Feinstein has pushed this issue before, to no avail. But this time in the wake of the carnage in Las Vegas some Republican congressional leaders seem to recognize that such after-market devices make a mockery of existing gun-control laws and say they would consider banning them, and even the usually unyielding NRA said Thursday the government should review whether they are legal. To show theyre serious, the gun lobby and its minions in Congress should back Feinsteins proposal. We also hope they back a measure by Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) and Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) to repeal the 2005 Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, which protects manufacturers, distributors and dealers of firearm and ammunition products not just guns and bullets, but lethal accessories such as bump stocks and trigger cranks from liability lawsuits by victims and their survivors. That was an astounding and, as the nation has seen, dangerous gift to the gun industry. Advertisement The grating thing, though, is that no matter what Congress or state legislatures do by law, and no matter what the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives does by regulation, the firearm industry seeks new and ever more innovative ways to cheat. Consider the case of bump stocks. At the moment, continuous-fire automatic weapons are largely banned. Legal semiautomatic firearms, by contrast, can fire bullets only as fast as the shooter can pull the trigger, usually about three times a second. A bump stock replaces the grip and original gun stock on a semiautomatic weapon, locks the shooters finger in place, and uses energy from the weapons recoil to slide the trigger back and forth, accelerating how fast the trigger gets pulled. The Las Vegas shooter fired 98 shots in ten seconds, by one count, about as close to automatic fire as you can mimic. Remarkably, such devices are legal, the ATF ruled in 2010, because the stock has no automatically functioning mechanical parts and performs no automated mechanical functions when installed. So the device doesnt fundamentally change how the rifle works. It just makes it work faster. The crank similarly lets the shooter spin a crank that then presses the trigger much faster than he would otherwise be able to. There is no reason for using such a mechanism other than to circumvent the ban on automatic weapons. We saw a similar adaptation with the bullet button. California requires that a semiautomatic rifle be equipped with a fixed magazine that requires a tool for its removal. So, gadget makers in the gun industry developed a locking mechanism for the magazine that can be undone simply by pressing a recessed release button using, for instance, the tip of a bullet. The change subverts the intent of the law, which was to prevent mass shooters from reloading quickly. Voters approved Proposition 63 last year to ban bullet buttons, but gun rights groups have challenged the measure. The cleanest solution would be to ban semiautomatic guns entirely, but thats not likely to happen given who controls the White House and Congress. This isnt about deterring hunting, or self-defense, or sport shooting, or even fighting off tyranny. Its about taking away the tools of mass murderers. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion or Facebook UPDATES: 12:05 p.m.: This editorial was updated to include the NRA statement on reconsidering the legality of bump stocks. 10:50 a.m.: This editorial was updated with information about proposed legislation. Originally published at 4 a.m. ADS ADS What have your priorities been since taking the helm of Sales and Marketing for Parmigiani Fleurier? Given that most of the executive committee had left the company a year before I took up my post at the end of 2016, I firstly conducted an in-depth evaluation of the situation. We then had to rebuild a sales and marketing team, appoint new market directors in Japan, the United States, China and Russia, while instilling a rigorous approach that involved all stakeholders shouldering their responsibilities. In parallel, we entirely overhauled our marketing and communication vision, choosing to communicate on the four brand pillars. This was backed by substantial marketing investments, notably in digital marketing, as well as in PR, content creation and a strategy of deployment on all digital channels. We are currently working on a new website, in China as well as the West, as well as setting up a CRM platform. How is Parmigiani Fleurier doing at this point? The brand has recently gone through three different phases. The first two saw it run out of steam under the former management until the end of 2015, followed by a transition in 2016 involving an in-depth overhaul of the product portfolio and a new executive committee which I joined at the end of the year. I brought new skill-sets to the brand in order to implement the strategic plans drawn up by the team in 2016 and to spread this new vision. The third phase began at the SIHH 2017, where the new range was an immediate hit, particularly its revamped range-entry products. By way of example, a best-seller such as the Tonda 1950, previously available in a gold version only, is now more affordable thanks to its steel interpretation, driven by the same movement (apart from the micro-rotor which is now in tungsten rather than platinum). The same goes for our best-selling chronograph, the Tonda Metrographe, featuring a pure dial design that appeals to clients with a taste for understatement and which has now been repositioned at a CHF 11,500 price point in stainless steel. This model is rapidly finding its place in boutiques and can hold its own among those from the finest high-end brands. Not only is our range-entry level picking up, with clients requesting models highlighted in our advertising, but our Haute Horlogerie segment is also enjoying a new lease on life following strategic repositioning of our prices. The business of exceptional models such as the Bugatti Super Sport has been reactivated and is surpassing expectations. We are now very proud to have reached double-digit growth and to be enjoying fresh momentum. How has the new brand vision been defined? It is based on four pillars: an active founder, restoration, Haute Horlogerie, as well as an industrial group that is vertically integrated, independent and Swiss made industrial group. The distinctive nature of Parmigiani could be summed up as the singularity of these four combined elements. As the living soul of the brand, Michel Parmigiani is in great demand and thus naturally does a lot of travelling. He naturally inspired the second pillar: restoration. Ours is a unique case in the watch industry, since we also restore models by other brands with a similar positioning. Then come our roots in Haute Horlogerie, as proclaimed in our advertising campaign by the Tonda 1950 ultra-thin tourbillon model, and by the Tonda Chronor. In my opinion, the latter is the model that best represents the brand today and indeed the only one to bear Michels signature on the barrel of its solid gold Manufacture movement that also features a split-second chronograph with two column wheels, as well as a balance wheel beating at a rate of 36,000 vibrations per hour. We produce an average of two watches per month of this 50-piece limited series with a Grand Feu enamel dial bearing a large display.. The fourth pillar is our vertically integrated production facilities: Atokalpa for regulating organs and hairsprings; Elwin for screws and pinions; Vaucher Manufacture for the movements and final casing-up; Quadrance for the dials; and Les Artisans Boitiers for the cases. These four elements set us apart from the other Haute Horlogerie brands and put us in an entirely different league notably in the realm of Swiss made, hence our slogan sil ne devait y en avoir quune (if there were to be just one). Toric Hemispheres Retrographe Parmigiani What is your most emblematic 2017 launch? Doubtless the Toric Chronometre with its chronometer-certified movement, since it is a reinterpretation of a historical model belonging to Michels first collection under the Parmigiani Fleurier label in 1996. Its at the heart of our advertising campaign, which depicts the incredible hand-knurled craftsmanship performed on a slanted plane and reflecting an extremely high degree of expertise. With all due humility, we are pleased to be able to state that demand exceeds our capacity to produce them. Whereas these models were previously selling in the tens, the figures are now up in the hundreds. We have taken action to fulfill the wishes of customers looking for resolutely high-end products at more affordable prices. How important is the selection of three of your watches for the Grand Prix dHorlogerie de Geneve 2017? It definitely counts, and even more so if we are fortunate enough to be the winner in one of the categories. The GPHG is an international showcase that raises the Parmigiani Fleurier profile and also helps to demystify the brand. We see the jurys decision to select three of our models is a strong signal of appreciation of what the brand is currently doing, while reassuring customers regarding the long-term value of their investment. The Tonda Chronor, the Toric Hemispheres Retrographe and the Tonda Metropolitaine Selene Galaxy also express the expertise of our entirely vertically integrated watchmaking division. Tonda Metropolitaine Selene Galaxy Parmigiani What is your take on the current state of the watch industry? The environment has become very complicated in recent years, and brands have realized that they could not simply keep blindly moving upscale. Based on this need for humility and strategic readjustments, Parmigiani Fleurier has been led to offer well manufactured products at attractive prices. The real problem is mainly geopolitical: certain brands imprudently relied in China for many years, and now part of this business has entirely vanished. Systemic changes have taken place in the Chinese market and the watch industry has therefore had to reinvent itself. Here at Parmigiani Fleurier we had also continued investing in Europe and the USA, an approach that is now bearing fruit. Nonetheless, even through the market is starting to show signs of recovery, things are still very tough. Due to increased competition, one has to gain additional market shares in that the market itself is not growing as much as previously. Fortunately, people still want to buy watches, and Parmigiani Fleurier has plenty more plans in the pipeline to meet that demand. This week the Supreme Court heard arguments in two cases that pose the question of whether noncitizens should be afforded at least some of the due process of law that Americans take for granted. The answer in both cases should be a resounding yes. On Monday, the justices considered whether a Filipino legal immigrant convicted of two home burglaries in California could be deported even if the wording of the federal law used to determine whether he could be removed from the U.S. was so unconstitutionally vague that it could not be enforced in a criminal court. On Tuesday, lawyers for a group of noncitizens detained by immigration authorities asked the court to rule that detainees are entitled to a bond hearing after six months of confinement. Although the circumstances and legal issues in the two cases differ, the common denominator is the importance of affording due process to noncitizens. Advertisement James Garcia Dimaya, who was admitted to the U.S. as a lawful permanent resident at the age of 13, pleaded no contest in 2007 and 2009 to two charges of residential burglary. Concluding that one of the convictions was an aggravated felony, the Board of Immigration Appeals agreed with the Homeland Security Department that Dimaya should be deported. The United States is often called a nation of immigrants. But too often immigrants havent received fair treatment from the courts. But the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals overturned that decision. It said the definition of aggravated felony in immigration law incorporated a definition of crime of violence that was similar to language in a different law the Supreme Court had concluded in 2015 was too vague to be constitutional. At Mondays oral argument, Deputy Solicitor General Edwin S. Kneedler said the law at issue in Dimayas case didnt suffer from the same vagueness problem. But even if it did, Kneedler told the court, immigration is distinctive and deportation is not punishment for [a] past offense. In other words, even if the law was too vague to be used for the purposes of criminal punishment, it could still be used for the purposes of deportation. This brought a devastating rejoinder from Justice Neil Gorsuch. I can easily imagine a misdemeanant who may be convicted of a crime for which the sentence is six months in jail or a $100 fine, and he wouldnt trade places in the world for someone who is deported, Gorsuch said. He questioned the soundness of the line that weve drawn in the past between criminal punishment and civil penalties such as deportation. We agree. If the court decides that the wording of the law that triggered Dimayas removal order was unconstitutionally vague, he should be entitled to relief. A law that is too vague to justify a criminal sentence shouldnt be a good enough reason to expel someone from the country. In the case argued Tuesday, a class-action lawsuit, noncitizens detained by immigration authorities asked the court to rule that they should receive bond hearings if their detention lasts for six months. The lead plaintiff is Alejandro Rodriguez, who grew up in Los Angeles as a lawful permanent resident. After Rodriguez was sentenced to five years probation on a misdemeanor drug possession conviction, he was detained and targeted for deportation to Mexico, the country he had left as a baby two decades earlier. He remained locked up as his legal battle dragged on for years. The 9th Circuit ruled not only that detainees were entitled to bond hearings but also that they should be released unless the government could demonstrate by clear and convincing evidence that they were dangerous or a flight risk. But on Tuesday Deputy Solicitor General Malcolm Stewart told the court that detainees have no such right. He later said that insofar as foreigners arriving in the U.S. are concerned, the Supreme Court has made it clear that whatever process Congress chooses to give is due process. Yet in recent years the court has recognized not only that noncitizens have constitutional rights but that deportation can be a catastrophic experience. In June, the court overturned the guilty plea of an immigrant from South Korea because his lawyer wrongly told him he wouldnt be deported as a consequence of a plea bargain. The United States is often called a nation of immigrants. But too often immigrants havent received fair treatment from the courts. The cases argued this week offer the Supreme Court an opportunity to rectify that injustice. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinionand Facebook On April 7, The Times published an op-ed by Lubana Adi, a Syrian American, describing her rough treatment during security screening at Los Angeles International Airport. She wrote that, at the start of a February trip to Turkey, she was sent to a separate security line, required to submit to a body search, and then interrogated. Upon her return in March, Customs and Border Protection agents conducted another, 3-hour interrogation. Adi suggested that she was singled-out because she is Muslim. It has recently come to our attention that on Aug. 1, Adis husband, Rasheed Al Jijakli, was arrested and charged with smuggling tactical military equipment to Syrian rebels from January 2012 through March 2013. Al Jijakli has pleaded not guilty. Adi has not been charged with a crime. Neither Adi nor the Department of Justice would comment on whether there was a connection between Adis experience at LAX and her husbands subsequent arrest. Advertisement Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion or Facebook As a billionaire, I would profit substantially from the tax cuts proposed last week by President Trump and the Republican Party. But I am strongly opposed to even one more penny in cuts for rich people and corporations. My reason is simple: Tax cuts for the rich defund the critical public programs on which American families depend. Three decades of data prove that tax cuts for the wealthy do not trickle down to working people or grow the overall economy. Since the Reagan era, Republicans have prescribed cuts for rich people and corporations as a cure-all. But every time they put their theory into practice, the rich just get richer and everyone else gets left behind. When such cuts drain the government of the revenue it needs to pay for essential services like public education, Medicare and Social Security, Republicans then seize the opportunity to shrink those programs. Advertisement Consider Kansas, where Republicans recently had the chance to pursue their tax-cut fantasy with an extreme anti-tax experiment. In 2012, they slashed taxes and promised fantastic growth. Instead, their scheme blew a hole in the state budget. The resulting shortfall in revenue forced severe cuts to public education and other essential programs, hurt working families and drove businesses out of the state. Lets raise taxes on the rich and use the money to invest directly in the American people. Similar experiments at the national level have left the U.S. teetering on the edge of dangerous economic inequality. Today, the top 1% of the population takes more than 20% of the income generated here in a year. Thats more than double the share that rich people took in the 1970s. Meanwhile, the earnings of Americas working families have stagnated. This degree of inequality is a major crisis, yet Republicans are proposing to exacerbate it by stripping trillions more in government revenue. Indeed, the GOP plan would put the country on a path to permanent economic inequality and maybe thats the point. Some members of the ruling class are making a concerted effort to expand the wealth gap. A gang of powerful interests, led by the Koch brothers, launched a campaign to build support for the tax overhaul before it even existed. The coalition of wealthy conservatives spent tens of millions to mislead Americans about tax cuts. They had to: As the president of the Koch-backed group Americans for Prosperity, Tim Phillips, recently said of the average Americans whose support would be needed: If they think its just a group of wealthy corporations or powerful special interests battling it out to see who gets the best carve-outs, then it will fail. If the coalition succeeded in obscuring the truth, in other words, its investments would pay off. This campaign illustrates why economic inequality poses a grave threat to democracy. In our political system, money is power. The more we allow Republicans to concentrate the lions share of wealth in the hands of a few, the more power these wealthy few will have. And they will use this power to continue rewriting the rules of both our economy and our political system in their favor. As a presidential candidate, Donald Trump promised to fix the rigged system. By fix, he apparently meant rigging it to permanently benefit billionaires like himself. Unrigging the system will require us to acknowledge that the American middle class enjoyed its strongest period of growth from 1950 to 1970 a time when the effective tax rates for the wealthy were above 40% and the U.S. took unrivaled leadership in the global economy. It will require that we think of investment not as something done solely by the private sector, but as a category that encompasses public spending. Bullish investment in the American people has arguably been the most important factor in our national success. But out of greed and selfishness, Republicans are intent on fighting such investment at every turn. After accumulating nearly all of the economys gains over the last 10 years, billionaires like Trump, and me, can more than afford to pay our fair share. Lets raise taxes on the rich and use the money to invest directly in the American people by improving infrastructure, promoting clean energy, strengthening public education and expanding healthcare. Lets boost wages to stimulate economic growth and job creation. Its the only way we will create broad prosperity, rebuild the middle class and give working families a fair shake. At a time like this, theres only one reasonable position to take: Im a billionaire. Please raise my taxes. Tom Steyer is president of the progressive advocacy organization NextGen America. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion or Facebook ALSO Editorial: Republicans death tax fixation tells you all you need to know about their concern for the working class Republicans once railed against deficits. Now President Trumps tax plan piles on more than $2 trillion in red ink Campaign contributions from Trump lawyer followed DAs decision to drop investigation of Trump children So how did the Bernie Sanders-style progressive movement fare in Tuesdays special Assembly election in Los Angeles? Great. Or, maybe not so great. It all depends on how you look at it. The question matters in this progressive stronghold of northeast and east-side Los Angeles neighborhoods that strongly favored Sen. Bernie Sanders in the presidential primary last year, yet leaned toward traditional party candidates in a recent special election for Congress. Advertisement At the surface, it appears like a straight-up victory for the progressive arm of Californias Democratic party, which has been gaining power since Sanders presidential run last year and came close to winning the chairmanship of the state Democratic Party a few months ago. Both of the top two vote getters in the race for this legislative seat have legitimate progressive claims. Wendy Carrillo is the front-runner at the moment with 21% of the vote. (Ballots are still being counted, but with such low turnout it is unlikely it will change the projected winners.) She was one of a handful of Berniecrats who ran unsuccessfully this spring to replace Xavier Becerra in Congress after he was appointed state attorney general. Coming in second with 19% of the vote is Luis Lopez, a Planned Parenthood board member who also swings progressive, supporting issues such as single-payer healthcare and curbs on corporate money in politics. He also had the distinction of being endorsed by the East Area Progressive Democrats club. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) speaks at a healthcare rally in San Francisco on Sept. 22. (Jeff Chiu / Associated Press ) Yet both Carrillo and Lopez have establishment connections as well. Carrillos race was supported by an expenditure of $314,000 by the Service Employees International Union. SEIU is influential in the state Democratic Party. And Lopez supported Hillary Clinton in the presidential primary. Meanwhile, another, and perhaps purer progressive candidate, Ron Birnbaum, came in just fifth (again, so far) in this contest despite the support of the California Nurses Assn., one of the unions pushing the state party left especially in regard to single-payer healthcare, as well the endorsement of the Feel the Bern Democratic Club of Los Angeles. He received about 10% of the vote, which was not enough to get him in the Dec. 5 runoff but still an impressive showing for a doctor who only jumped into local politics less than a year ago. Perhaps this was not the decisive victory the progressive movement hoped for. But it seems to me that when the candidates in a safe Democratic seat are working hard to out-Bernie each other thats a win nonetheless. mariel.garza@latimes.com Follow me @marielgarzaLAT Did you see or rather hear the way octogenarian Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg smacked down smart-alecky newcomer Neil Gorsuch during Tuesdays arguments at the Supreme Court? Probably not, unless you were present at oral arguments in the case of Gill vs. Whitford. The New Yorkers Jeffrey Toobin, who was there, assures us that Notorious RGB owned Gorsuch with her response to his patronizing lecture about how the Constitution might not authorize the court to disturb an overly partisan redistricting plan. Advertisement Toobin writes that Ginsburg in her still Brooklyn-flecked drawl grumbled: Where did one person, one vote come from? It was, he said, a revealing moment. Having read the transcript of the argument, which was posted on the courts website late Tuesday, Im not so sure. It would have been nice to check Toobins impression against an audio recording of the argument, but that wont be available until Friday, consistent with the courts usual practice. Given the importance of the case, four members of Congress had asked the justices to allow simultaneous online access to audio of the arguments. But their request was rejected. In a letter to the members, Jeffrey P. Minear, counselor to Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., cited the justices concerns surrounding the live broadcast or streaming of oral arguments, which could adversely affect the character and quality of the dialogue between the attorneys and justices. But it wasnt just that the arguments in the redistricting case werent live-streamed. They werent even posted on the courts website a few hours later, as has been done with arguments in other high-profile cases, including the original challenge to the Affordable Care Act (who can forget Justice Antonin Scalias question about broccoli?) and lawsuits over same-sex marriage. So the court actually seems to be going backward when it comes to transparency. Same-day audio should be the practice in every case. It would make it more likely that radio, television and online news programs would cover arguments, because they could include excerpts (yes, the dreaded sound bites) from the justices questions and comments. That breaking news coverage would impel ordinary citizens to go to the courts website and listen to the arguments of the day. And the arguments wouldnt be just educational; sometimes theyd be entertaining. Hearing Ginsburg give it to Gorsuch might not be your thing, but you might enjoy listening to Justice Elena Kagan recalling parties long, long ago at which marijuana was maybe present. (She made this reference during Wednesdays argument over arrests made at a late-night party in Washington, D.C., in 2008.) Many arguments wouldnt be entertaining or even illuminating; the courts docket includes a lot of mind-numbingly technical matters that bore even lawyers. But to the extent that citizens or the news media are interested in what is said at the court, its absurd to suggest that same-day audio would undermine the decorum of the institution. If Toobin is to be believed, the justices snipe at each other even when theres a tape delay. If we are going to read about Notorious RBG taking Gorsuch down a few notches, we ought to be able to listen to her as well. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook To the editor: When he first proposed a ban on Muslims entering the United States, then-Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump said we needed to take this action until we can figure out what the hell is going on. Stephen Paddock, according to the president, was a demented man. Nonetheless, he legally obtained dozens of guns, thousands of rounds of ammunition and accessories to convert rifles into combat killing machines. (The mystery of Stephen Paddock gambler, real estate investor, mass killer, Oct. 2) Isnt it incumbent upon Trump to apply his rationale and impose an immediate national gun ban until we can figure out what the hell is going on? Advertisement Ralph Sims, Newport Beach .. To the editor: Fifty-nine people were murdered in Las Vegas. This is a terrible tragedy that, rightly so, was followed by national media coverage and national soul searching about how to prevent such a tragedy from happening again. Since January of this year, an average of 59 people per month have been killed in Chicago. This is a terrible, ongoing tragedy that has been followed by little national media coverage and national silence about how to prevent it from continuing. What am I missing? Jim Fitzgerald, La Jolla Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook At this small town at the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers, there is a history that is well-known and a history that has been hidden. The familiar history is the story of militant abolitionist John Brown, who on the night of Oct. 16, 1859, came with a party of 22 raiders to seize the United States arsenal. His objective was to provoke a slave revolt that would spread throughout the South. Instead, Brown and his compatriots were trapped inside an engine house just inside the gate of the arsenal grounds. U.S. Marines under the command of Lt. Col. Robert E. Lee, the future Confederate commander, killed 10 of the raiders and took Brown prisoner. Brown was tried for treason against the state of Virginia a dubious offense and was hanged. I heard this tale retold by a National Park Service guide, Jim Silvia, while sitting in the restored engine house with my fellow Project Pilgrimage sojourners. All visitors to Harpers Ferry will hear this story, but Silvia added more to his narrative by taking us up the hill to the site of Storer College. Opened at the end of the Civil War in 1865, the publicly supported school was open to anyone. Because it served black students, though, no whites ever enrolled. Ironically, when desegregation became the law of the land, federal and state funding was withdrawn on the pretext that African Americans could now attend any college they chose, and Storer was shut down in 1955. Advertisement 1 / 51 la-1491523602-y7ephyarj1-snap-image (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 2 / 51 la-1491368625-0bgh58ihw8-snap-image (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 3 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 4 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 5 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon (David Horsey / Los angeles Times) 6 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 7 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 8 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 9 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 10 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon. (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 11 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 12 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 13 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 14 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 15 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 16 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon. (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 17 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 18 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 19 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 20 / 51 Trump inspires millions to take to the streets -- to oppose him. (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 21 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 22 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 23 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon. (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 24 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 25 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 26 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon. (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 27 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 28 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 29 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 30 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 31 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 32 / 51 Cartoon caption contest winner at the DENT conference in Sun Valley, Idaho: Jon Duval, executive director of the Ketchum Community Development Corporation. (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 33 / 51 Old radicals and big media descend on Selma (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 34 / 51 Horsey imagined the creation of the Ann Coulter phenomenon in this cartoon from 2007. (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 35 / 51 This David Horsey drawing is a reconfiguration of a cartoon he first published in 2006. (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 36 / 51 Donald Sterling, owner of the L.A. Clippers, should give Cliven Bundy a call. After Sterling loses his NBA franchise and the deadbeat Nevada rancher loses his cattle, the two old racists will both need a buddy. Maybe they can team up together and open an all-white rodeo. (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 37 / 51 Besides sending a chill up the spine of the international community, Vladimir Putin has accomplished one other thing by seizing Crimea and threatening the rest of Ukraine: Putin has brought back the bear. (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 38 / 51 The right-wing insurrection at the Bundy ranch in Bunkerville, Nev., has taken another weird turn with new revelations about the family history of Cliven Bundy. (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 39 / 51 See full story (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 40 / 51 See full story (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 41 / 51 See full story (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 42 / 51 See full story (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 43 / 51 See full story (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 44 / 51 See full story (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 45 / 51 David Horsey / Los Angeles Times (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 46 / 51 See full story (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 47 / 51 See full story (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 48 / 51 See full story (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 49 / 51 See full story (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 50 / 51 See full story (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 51 / 51 See full story (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) The college is, arguably, the birthplace of the civil rights movement because it was there that the precursor to the National Assn. for the Advancement of Colored People, the Niagara Movement led by W.E.B. DuBois, held a national conference in 1906. DuBois returned to the Storer campus in 1932 with the intention of installing a plaque to memorialize John Brown, who by then had achieved saintly status among black Americans. White Southerners emphatically did not share that view, and DuBois was dissuaded from erecting the memorial. One like it was not installed on the grounds until 2004. Brown remains a controversial figure. When the National Park Service held an event marking the 150th anniversary of the abolitionists raid, Silvia said, a troop of Ku Klux Klan members paraded around a book tent on the Storer grounds to express their displeasure. Brown was a true radical. He makes todays anti-fascist protesters and window-smashing anarchists look like children scuffling on a playground. Prior to the raid, he holed up with several of his men in a remote farmhouse four miles outside Harpers Ferry, where they plotted and trained for revolution. Lee called Brown a fanatic or a madman. DuBois hailed him as a hero who aimed at human slavery a blow that woke a guilty nation. When we visited the restored farmhouse, we were greeted by a rather convincing wax figure of Brown seated at a table with guns ready. I contemplated the possibility that both Lee and DuBois were right. Just a few paces up the hill from Browns hideout, we discovered another bit of black history that few white folks know about. In 1950, after buying the farm property to preserve as a shrine to John Brown, the African American fraternal organization known as the Black Elks built a nearby auditorium. It is now a vacated wreck, but between 1950 and 1965, it became a remote but successful stop on the Chitlin Circuit, the string of dance halls and bars stretching from Boston to Austin where black musicians performed for black audiences shut out of other venues by segregation. African Americans would drive in from as far away as Baltimore and Washington to dance and groove with nearly every top black performer of the era Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Little Richard, B.B. King, Etta James, Ray Charles, Chubby Checker, Fats Domino and many more. Ed Maliskas, a musician who wrote a book about the remarkable place, titled John Brown to James Brown: The Little Farm Where Liberty Budded, Blossomed and Boogied, guided us through the empty hall. An older black man, Al Baylor, a local who had come along with Maliskas, reminisced about the dance hall in its heyday, when he was a teenager. He remembered the necessity of buying a new suit, shirt, tie and shoes so that he would look as sharp as everyone else, and how the new clothes would be wet and limp after hours of dancing. Smiling wide, Baylor recalled standing in front of the stage mesmerized by the shimmy and shake of a young Tina Turner. Maliskas made a good argument that music has had as much influence on changing white American attitudes toward race as any other force. The music streamed out of the Mississippi Delta and Chicago and Harlem. It caught fire in clubs and saloons in the black communities. It got put on vinyl at Motown in Detroit and at Stax Records in Memphis, Tenn. It spread into the receptive minds and tapping toes of white teenagers everywhere. It formed common bonds of culture, smashed stereotypes and subverted prejudices. The music played and sung at John Browns farm created a revolution, one as big as fanatical old John Brown ever imagined in his wild, wild dreams. This is part four of a five-part series. Tomorrow: Finding inspiration at Gettysburg. david.horsey@latimes.com Follow me at @davidhorsey on Twitter Orange County at center of fundraising in Californias most contested races By Sarah D. Wire More than half of the money raised for the most contested House races in California is going to candidates in Orange County, another indication of its starring role in the Democratic effort to win back control of the House next year. Of the 80 or so challengers in California, 27 are running in Orange County. A Los Angeles Times analysis of this years campaign finance filings found it is also where the cash is going to: About $15 million of the nearly $28.5 million raised this year for 13 key races went to candidates in just four Orange County districts: Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Gov. Jerry Brown plans climate trip to Vatican, Belgium, Norway and Germany By Chris Megerian (Eric Risberg / Associated Press) Gov. Jerry Brown has mapped out a busy European travel schedule that includes attending the next United Nations conference on climate change in Bonn, Germany. While the White House declares war on climate science and retreats from the Paris Agreement, California is doing the opposite and taking action, Brown said in a statement. We are joining with our partners from every part of the world to do what needs to be done to prevent irreversible climate change. Roughly two dozen public events are planned over 10 days, starting with a speech at a Vatican symposium on Saturday. Brown wont be the only California politician at the conference. Rep. Scott Peters (D-San Diego) is speaking later that day, and state Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon (D-Los Angeles) is scheduled to appear Friday. After the Vatican, the governor is bouncing between Germany and Belgium, plus a stop in Norway to meet with scientists. Hes holding press conferences with the president of the European Parliament and the minister-president of Baden-Wurttemberg, a German state that has collaborated with California on an international climate pact. Once the Bonn conference begins, much of Browns focus will be on how states, provinces and other local governments can tackle climate change absent stronger action from national leaders. He was named a special advisor to the U.N. conference for states and regions earlier this year. Brown is scheduled to appear with former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg on Nov. 11 and speak at numerous other events, a packed itinerary much like the one he kept at the Paris climate conference two years ago. His last event is expected to take place Nov. 14. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement California business tax incentive program should end, legislative analyst says By Liam Dillon California no longer should give specific tax incentives to businesses and instead should provide broad-based tax relief, the states nonpartisan Legislative Analysts Office said in a new report. The analysts office examined California Competes, a program that began four years ago to give tax credits to businesses looking to move to the state or remain here, and found it puts existing companies that dont receive the awards at a disadvantage without clear benefits to the overall economy. Picking winners and losers inevitably leads to problems. In the case of California Competes, we are struck by how awarding benefits to a select group of businesses harms their competitors in California, the report said. We also think the resources consumed by the program are not as focused as they should be on winning economic development competitions with other states to attract major employers that sell to customers around the country and the world. California Competes has allowed the awarding of nearly $800 million in tax credits. The legislative analyst found that more than a third of the credits awarded through California Competes resulted in no change to the overall economy and put the states existing businesses at a competitive disadvantage. The analyst couldnt assess the value of the remainder of the credits because its impossible to know how businesses would have reacted had they not received them. California Competes is scheduled to end next year. The analysts office recommends replacing it by lowering business taxes overall or, should lawmakers want to keep it, tailor the program more narrowly to focus on attracting and retaining high-value companies. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Electric companies found at fault in North Bay fires wont be able to pass costs onto residents under proposed bill By Liam Dillon Jason Miller, 45, plants an American flag on the charred remains of his house in Coffey Park. He had lived in the Santa Rosa neighborhood for 23 years. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) If electric utilities are found at fault in the recent wildfires in the North Bay, a group of state lawmakers want to ensure they dont pass along their costs to residents. Victims of devastating fires and other customers should not be forced to pay for the mistakes made by utilities, state Sen. Jerry Hill (D-San Mateo) said in a release. Hill is one of four Bay Area legislators who said they plan to introduce a bill when lawmakers return to the Capitol in January to block any effort by utilities found at fault to recoup any costs from ratepayers. Investigators have not identified the cause of the wildfires that ripped across Northern California this month that left more than 40 people dead and thousands of homes destroyed. But the lawmakers said their legislation is motivated by San Diego Gas & Electrics efforts to recover costs from wildfires in that region a decade ago. Co-authoring the bill with Hill is Sen. Mike McGuire (D-Healdsburg), Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) and Assemblyman Marc Levine (D-San Rafael). Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Proposed initiative would end early release for some crimes, allow more DNA collection By Patrick McGreevy (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times) A coalition including police officers and prosecutors on Monday proposed a California state initiative that would end early release of rapists and child traffickers and expand the number of crimes for which authorities could collect DNA samples from those convicted. The ballot measure is sponsored by the California Public Safety Partnership, and would reverse some elements of Proposition 47, which was approved by voters in 2014 and reduced some crimes deemed nonviolent from a felony to a misdemeanor. The proposed initiative would add 15 crimes to the list of violent crimes for which early release is not an option, including child abuse, rape of an unconscious person, trafficking a child for sex, domestic violence and assault with a deadly weapon. These reforms make sure that truly violent criminals stay in jail and dont get out early, said Sacramento County Dist. Atty. Anne Marie Schubert, a leader of the coalition. The initiative would also allow DNA collection for certain crimes, including drug offenses, that were reduced to misdemeanors under Proposition 47. Assemblyman Jim Cooper (D-Elk Grove) said there have been 2,000 fewer hits matching DNA to cold cases annually in recent years. He cited one case from 1989 involving the murder of two young girls in Sacramento that was solved last year by DNA taken from a man in a drug case before those were excluded from DNA collection. If that case happens today, right now, it does not get solved, said Cooper, a former sheriffs captain. Changes in law also made theft of goods valued at less than $950 a misdemeanor, so some criminals are committing serial thefts and keeping each one to $949 or less, Cooper said. The initiative would make serial theft a felony. The measure also mandates a parole revocation hearing for anyone who violates the terms of their parole three times. A Whittier police officer was recently murdered by a parolee who had violated parole five times, said Los Angeles Police Protective League President Craig Lally, who supports the initiative. A representative of the group behind Proposition 47 said it was not reasonable to blame the ballot measure for an uptick in some crimes in some parts of the state. Fluctuations in crime have much more to do with economic and social policies and practices, said Tom Hoffman, a spokesman for the group Californians for Safety and Justice. Its so much more complicated than one piece of legislation as an issue. The proponents of the initiative need to collect signatures from 365,880 voters by the end of April to qualify the initiative for the November 2018 election. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement When men with power go too far: After years of whispers, women speak out about harassment in Californias Capitol By Chris Megerian Tina McKinnor, left, Sadalia King, Amy Thoma Tan, Jodi Hicks and Sabrina Lockhart have come forward to talk about their experiences with sexual harassment at the Capitol. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times) It started with a dinner invitation from a former assemblyman more than twice her age. He had offered his services as a mentor, but his hand reaching for her knee under the table revealed other intentions. Then came the late-night phone calls and unexpected appearances at events she had to attend for her job in the Capitol. Fresh out of college, Amy Brown did what she thought women were supposed to do in these situations she reported him. The former assemblyman accused her of slander, an experience that left her so humiliated that she left Sacramento for a new job in San Jose. I immediately got the hell out of town, Brown said. I felt like the people the person I was relying on for advancement in my career was preying on me. Stories like these have taken many forms through the years. Sometimes its a professional meeting that turned inappropriately sexual, or its a groping hand on a backside. In one case, a woman said a lawmaker masturbated in front of her in a bar bathroom. No matter the details, each story involves a man with power the kind of power bestowed by voters, an influential lobbying client or a supply of campaign cash. And instead of wielding that power to shape politics or public policy, the man used it to proposition women or to touch them inappropriately. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Big jump in the number of House challengers isnt great news for California Republicans By Christine Mai-Duc So far this year, 80 challengers have reported raising money across California for the 2018 midterm elections, more than triple the number who had done so at this point in the 2016 election. Collectively, theyve raised more than $14.9 million, and 70% of that has gone to the four Republican-held districts in Orange County that Democrats consider key to their chances. There havent been this many congressional challengers in Californias House races this early in the game since at least 2003, and that could be bad news for Republican incumbents. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Californias Senate culture doesnt encourage women to file complaints. Heres how that could change By Melanie Mason Senate leader Kevin de Leon (D-Los Angeles), shown in September, acknowledged that the Senate could improve its procedures for reporting misconduct. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) In 2014, reeling from scandals that led to the suspension of three Democratic senators, Californias state Senate changed its policies to make it easier for employees, members and the public to sound the alarm about misconduct. A Times analysis of those rule changes shows a lack of follow-through to make reporting complaints more accessible. And the lawmaker who worked on changes in the Senates operations after that scandal says more could have been done. Then-Senate leader Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) suggested at the time that the move would lead to positive cultural change and strengthen the integrity of this great institution. But as the Capitol now soul-searches over allegations of widespread sexual harassment, the current legislative leaders acknowledge the culture still does not encourage women to file complaints. The Senates effort to reform itself three years ago and how it fell short is instructive as both legislative houses embark on a new round of self-improvement. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Have you experienced sexual harassment in government or politics? Tell us your story If you work in government or politics and have experienced sexual harassment, wed like to hear from you. Please tell us your story using the form below. We will not share your personal contact information. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print California Assembly Speaker applauds Capitol staffers bravery in going public with complaint against assemblyman By Melanie Mason Gyore spoke publicly for the first time about a 2009 complaint she filed against Bocanegra. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times) Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Paramount) said Friday that the experience of a staffer who filed a complaint eight years ago against now-Assemblyman Raul Bocanegra illustrates why the Capitol culture must change. Elise Flynn Gyore told The Times about her experience filing a complaint against Bocanegra, who was then a legislative staffer, after she said he groped her and followed her in a manner she found threatening at a 2009 after-work event in a Sacramento bar. The Friday morning story in The Times was the first time she had spoken publicly of the incident and the complaint, which resulted in Bocanegra being disciplined. I appreciate Ms. Gyores bravery in bringing this incident forward. We have to change the culture in the Capitol and in society and her experience shows why, Rendon said in a statement Friday afternoon. How incidents of harassment were handled in the past can inform our current efforts to improve the system and to build a future where these injustices are prevented before they happen and no employee has to fear harassment or abuse. Bocanegra, who was first elected in 2012, is part of Rendons leadership team, serving in the position of majority whip. A top lieutenant to Rendon, Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher (D-San Diego), also chimed in with support for Gyore on Friday. I dont know Elise Gyore. But, I believe her & Im grateful for her bravery. This is unacceptable. Lorena (@LorenaSGonzalez) October 27, 2017 Former Speaker John A. Perez (D-Los Angeles), who led the Assembly from 2010 to 2014, said he was unaware of the complaints existence until The Times report. He said he had never heard of any complaints formal or informal against Bocanegra, nor had he witnessed any inappropriate behavior from the Pacoima Democrat. Also on Friday, the organizers of We Said Enough, a recently launched campaign against harassment, thanked Gyore for sharing her story. This is an act of true courage and we support every woman who chooses to do so. Sadly, this story is just one example of how the existing system fails victims and survivors. We are resolute in our call for action, the group said in a statement. The groups organizers added that they are calling for an overhaul to the complaint process such as confidential reporting, an independent oversight body and whistleblower protections to better guard against harassment. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Gov. Jerry Brown says California Republicans have slavish adherence to their partys tax plan By John Myers (Rich Pedroncelli/AP) Gov. Jerry Brown took aim at the sweeping tax overhaul plan in Congress and Californias Republican delegation on Thursday, saying their support of the plan is wrong economically and morally. Brown, who joined New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on a conference call with reporters, aimed most of his fire at the provision to cancel deducting local and state taxes paid from federal taxes. Both governors said it could have a profound impact on their states bottom lines. Brown criticized Californias 14 Republican House members for their Thursday budget vote, which allows for a $1.5-trillion deficit to help finance tax cuts. I know there is a lot of slavish adherence to the Republican leadership, Brown said. Its bad for California. Theyre doing a disservice. California and New York taxpayers have long been able to deduct the cost of paying local and state taxes from their federal tax liability. Both governors said Thursday they believed the effort by President Trump and Republicans to be at least somewhat motivated by their states voting for Democrat Hillary Clinton over Trump last November. Its using a handful of states to finance the tax cuts for their states, Cuomo said. Brown, who sent personal letters to all California GOP members of the House urging them not to go along, said the proposal was particularly unfair in light of how it would not apply equally to corporations. Its a gross manipulation of our tax code, he said. Its a Hail Mary pass by the Republicans. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Heres why Republicans could help send Dianne Feinstein back to Washington even if they cant stand her By Mark Z. Barabak Its the voters like Republican Larry Ward conservatives who feel voiceless and adrift, bobbing like red specks in a blue sea who could help usher the 84-year-old Dianne Feinstein back to Washington with a new lease on her Senate seat. Like most voters here in El Dorado County, Ward supported President Trump. He cant understand why Democrats and the media pile on and keep him from cutting taxes and fulfilling a campaign pledge to repeal Obamacare. He certainly doesnt think Feinsteins been too kind to Trump the argument made by her newly announced challenger, Kevin de Leon. The state senator from Los Angeles and others on the left were spitting fire a few weeks back when Feinstein allowed as how she hoped, given time and a radical transformation, Trump might end up being a good president. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Car runs into immigration protesters outside Rep. Ed Royces district office By Sarah D. Wire A vehicle drove into a group of protesters outside of GOP Rep. Ed Royces office in Brea on Thursday afternoon, but no injuries have been reported to police so far. (Tony Mendoza / Unite Here) A vehicle drove into a group of protesters outside GOP Rep. Ed Royces office in Brea on Thursday afternoon, but no injuries have been reported to police so far. The alleged driver, 56-year-old Daniel Wenzek of Brea, was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon. He was booked and released pending further investigation, according to Lt. Kelly Carpenter of the Brea Police Department. Organizers say several hundred people were protesting outside Royces office, many of them arriving on buses after a morning news conference with elected officials and labor leaders in Los Angeles MacArthur Park. They were trying to deliver letters to Royce (R-Fullerton) about what losing temporary protected immigration status would mean to them, said Andrew Cohen, a communications specialist with the organization Unite Here. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement California Secretary of State Alex Padilla backs Gavin Newsom for governor over former colleague Antonio Villaraigosa By Seema Mehta California Secretary of State Alex Padilla, left, and Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) Secretary of State Alex Padilla, the highest-ranking Latino in a statewide elected position in California, endorsed Gavin Newsom for governor on Thursday. Padilla said he had known Newsom for more than a decade and admired his track record as mayor of San Francisco and now lieutenant governor. Its always important to [have] leaders that are committed and get it done, and thats what Ive seen in Gavin Newsom over and over and over again, Padilla said, speaking to dozens of Newsom supporters at a union hall in downtown Los Angeles. The endorsement was seen as a slap at former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who is one of Newsoms top rivals in the governors race. Padilla was president of the Los Angeles City Council during the two years Villaraigosa was a member of the body, and for the first six months of Villaraigosas tenure as mayor. But the two men have never been viewed as close allies. They come from different power bases for Latino politicians in Los Angeles Villaraigosa from the Eastside and Padilla from the San Fernando Valley. They also have not supported each others political pursuits. In 2001, Padilla backed James Hahn over Villaraigosa in the mayoral race. In 2006, Villaraigosa backed Cindy Montanez in a state Senate race over Padilla. Padilla said he has a relationship with all of the top Democrats running for governor. This is a tough one because I do know Antonio Villaraigosa and I know John Chiang and I know Gavin Newsom, but I think that because of whats happening in the political environment at this time, this isnt one where we can sit back, Yeah. OK. Cool, lets see who wins and well work with whoever, Padilla said. If there is a candidate I believe is best for the future of California, Im compelled to weigh in and thats what Im doing today. Luis Vizcaino, a Vilaraigosa spokesman, said the announcement was to be expected and noted that Padilla had a leadership role in Newsoms short-lived 2009 gubernatorial campaign. The only surprise here is we thought Alex had endorsed Gavin months ago considering he was Gavins Campaign Chair the first time he ran for governor, Vizcaino said in an email. Villaraigosa and Chiang, the state treasurer, have also received key endorsements from Latino politicians. Villaraigosa has the backing of the Latino Caucus in the state Legislature, former Los Angeles County Supervisor Gloria Molina and Lucille Roybal-Allard. Chiang has won the support of Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon and Los Angeles City Councilman Jose Huizar. Updated at 2:07 p.m.: This post was updated to add a comment from Villaraigosas campaign. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Californias Rep. Paul Cook picked to lead Foreign Affairs subcommittee By Sarah D. Wire Rep. Paul Cook (R-Yucca Valley) has been named chairman of the House Foreign Affairs subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere. House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce (R-Fullerton) made the announcement in a news release Thursday morning following the former subcommittee chairman Rep. Jeff Duncans (R-S.C.) departure from the committee this week. As a former Marine Corps colonel, Rep. Cook is deeply committed to defending U.S. interests worldwide. I look forward to working with him to continue holding the [Raul] Castro and [Nicolas] Maduro regimes [of Cuba and Venezuela, respectively] accountable for their brutal repression, while increasing U.S. commercial opportunities throughout the hemisphere, Royce said in a statement. California holds several leadership positions on the Foreign Affairs Committee. Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Costa Mesa) is the chairman of the Europe, Eurasia, and Emerging Threats subcommittee. Rep. Brad Sherman of Sherman Oaks is the highest ranking Democrat on the Asia and the Pacific subcommittee and Rep. Karen Bass of Los Angeles is the highest ranking Democrat on the Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations subcommittee. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print GOP tightens restrictions on Rep. Dana Rohrabachers subcommittee because of scrutiny over his Russia connections By Sarah D. Wire Rep. Dana Rohrabacher speaks to Russian lawmakers at a meeting in the Russian parliaments lower house in Moscow in 2013. (Misha Japaridze / Associated Press) The congressional subcommittee led by California Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Costa Mesa) is being heavily monitored by GOP leaders because of allegations the Orange County congressman has been overly influenced by his connections to Russia. House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce (R-Fullerton) will be more involved in guiding the direction of the subcommittee that is in part responsible for examining U.S. policy in Russia, said a senior congressional aide who asked not to be identified in order to discuss internal committee matters. Rohrabacher has long said that the United States needs a better relationship with Russia, puzzling colleagues who have speculated privately about why hes willing to work with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Connections between Rohrabacher and Russian officials have been newly highlighted as Congress investigates Russian attempts to interfere in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Californias GOP members vote in favor of Republican budget, paving way for tax overhaul By Sarah D. Wire All 14 California House Republicans on Thursday voted in favor of the GOPs budget, which paves the way for overhauling the U.S. tax system. The budget, which allows for a $1.5-trillion deficit increase that sets the stage for President Trumps tax cuts, passed 216 to 212, with 20 Republicans joining Democrats in opposing it. At the root of their objection is the potential repeal of the federal deduction for state and local taxes, which would hit especially hard in wealthier states like New York and California. Gov. Jerry Brown had implored the GOP members not to support the budget, saying there hasnt been enough time to fully understand what it will mean to the estimated 1 in 3 Californians who claim the deduction. Democrats are targeting nine of the states 14 Republican-held districts, and have said theyll make the elimination of the tax deduction an issue in the campaign. Rep. Steve Knight of Palmdale said he voted for the budget because hes been assured that a fix will be made to the tax plan that will address or offset the potential tax increase caused by the elimination of the tax deduction. The tax plan is scheduled to be unveiled next week. Still worried about it, still working on it, Knight said after the vote. I am confident [it will be fixed], but Ive also said that is my No. 1 priority, so if we cant get it fixed then were going to have problems. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Gov. Jerry Brown urges California GOP House members to vote no on budget bill: First lets get the facts By Sarah D. Wire Gov. Jerry Brown implores each GOP member of California delegation to vote no on budget today over end of state and local tax deduction. pic.twitter.com/bkCihAtvFG Sarah D. Wire (@sarahdwire) October 26, 2017 Gov. Jerry Brown implored Californias GOP House members to oppose their partys budget bill over a provision that will end a deduction for state and local taxes used by one in three Californians. In letters to each Republican member of the California congressional delegation, Brown asked the members to at least ask for more time to learn the specifics of the plan. First lets get the facts. Then, debate the issue. And then we can decide whats the right thing to do, Brown says in his letter. The potential repeal of the state and local tax (SALT) deduction the federal income tax deduction for state and local taxes paid would hit especially hard in wealthier areas. The vote is scheduled to take place Thursday morning. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Six female California lawmakers back Dianne Feinstein in Senate race By Sarah D. Wire Assemblywomen Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, right, and Susan Talamantes-Eggman in May. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) Six California Assembly committee chairwomen endorsed Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein on Wednesday over their state Capitol colleague, Senate leader Kevin de Leon. In a statement released by Feinsteins campaign, Assemblymembers Cristina Garcia (D-Bell Gardens), Susan Talamantes Eggman (D-Stockton), Jacqui Irwin (D-Thousand Oaks), Blanca E. Rubio (D-Baldwin Park), Cecilia Aguiar-Curry (D-Winters) and Anna Caballero (D-Salinas) said the state needs Feinstein in these uncertain and difficult times. We are proud to endorse Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who has been an inspiration for all of us. The first woman to serve on the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, Sen. Feinstein is now the ranking Democrat on the Judiciary Committee. In that position, she is defending California against the Republicans and the Trump administration on critical issues like immigration, womens rights, federal judicial appointments, LGBT rights, civil rights, and gun control, they said. De Leon is the highest-profile Democrat to announce plans to challenge Feinstein in her bid for a fifth full term. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Kevin de Leon vows to back Medicare for all, signaling key issue in 2018 Senate campaign By Sarah D. Wire State Senate leader Kevin de Leons opening salvo in the U.S. Senate race against Sen. Dianne Feinstein takes on one of the main frustrations progressives have voiced with her, a refusal to support single-payer health care. I believe that every family, it doesnt make a difference who you are or where you come from, deserves to have quality healthcare. It is a universal right, De Leon says in a video released by his campaign Wednesday. Its not the exclusive privilege of the elite and the wealthy. The concept of single-payer healthcare has grown in popularity among Democrats since the 2016 election, with some members of the so-called Sanders wing of the party urging Democrats to use support for it as a litmus test in 2018. Such a program is unlikely to become law while Republicans control both chambers of Congress. Feinstein has said she doesnt support expanding Medicare to the entire population at this stage and has cited the cost of doing so as a reason. If he were elected, De Leon would join Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) and 15 other Democratic Senators as co-sponsors of the bill proposed by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Sen. Kamala Harris wont back federal spending bill without DACA fix By Sarah D. Wire Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) said Wednesday that she wont back a bill that allows the federal government to spend money unless Congress has a legislative fix to address the legal status of hundreds of thousands of people brought to the country illegally as children. I will not vote for an end-of-year spending bill until we are clear about what we are going to do to protect and take care of our DACA young people in this country, Harris said. Each day in the life of these young people is a very long time, and weve got to stop playing politics with their lives. President Trump announced in September that he was giving Congress until March before the program would shutter and recipients would begin losing work permits and protection from deportation. An estimated 200,000 of the nearly 800,000 recipients of the Delayed Action for Childhood Arrivals program live in California, giving the Golden State an outsized stake in resolving their legal status. Harris spoke at a Capitol Hill news conference Wednesday with other members of the California delegation to urge quick action on the issue. It is absolutely urgent that we pass the legislation, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) said. We are determined that the Dream Act will be the law of the land before the year is out. Democrats and Republicans are negotiating the details of a fix, and when something could pass. Pelosi has hinted that if Republicans dont have the votes within their party to pass the end-of-year spending bill, which Congress has to pass to keep the government open, Democrats will offer their votes for a price. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Rep. Dana Rohrabacher gets a second Republican challenger By Christine Mai-Duc A second Republican is jumping in to challenge GOP Rep. Dana Rohrabacher of Costa Mesa, and hes pitching himself as an alternative for conservatives who are fed up with Rohrabachers controversial antics. Paul Martin, 52, is a freelance writer and self-proclaimed Reagan Republican who lives in Costa Mesa. Rohrabacher is himself a former speechwriter for Reagan. Martin grew up in Anaheim with an Italian immigrant mother and a Mexican American father, and says hes opposed to many of the policies coming out of the Trump administration. Ive had enormous struggle with the rhetoric thats coming out of Washington, D.C., and even more so with the rhetoric that comes out of Dana Rohrabachers mouth, Martin said in an interview. Its just not in the spirit that I grew up with. Following President Trumps travel ban announcement, Martin started the Christian-Muslim Alliance, a campaign aimed at fostering dialogue between people of different faiths. He describes himself as a raging centrist on a personal blog, where hes criticized Trumps response to white supremacist violence in Charlottesville, Va., and Rohrabacher for taking money from the National Rifle Assn. Still, Martin says hes a true conservative who wants to focus on issues of human dignity and bring better-paying jobs to the district. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Gov. Jerry Brown, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott send a message with their World Series bet By John Myers (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) As governors of states hit hard by natural disasters, the leaders of California and Texas hope to send a message with their wager on the outcome of the World Series. The winner will receive food or drink from either Californias wine country or Houstons best barbecue joints. The bet, made Tuesday before the start of the first World Series game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Houston Astros, came with a request from both Gov. Jerry Brown and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott for tourists to come back to those regions as soon as possible. While we dont expect to have to send any vino to Texas, we hope travelers from all over the world yes, even the Lone Star State will continue to visit California, said Brown in a written statement. If the Dodgers win, Abbott will send Brown Texas-style barbecue and a six-pack of Houston-brewed beer. Should the Astros prevail, Brown has promised wine from the Sonoma, Napa and Mendocino regions. Texas and California are recovering from some of the worst natural disasters our states have ever encountered, Abbott said in a joint statement from the two governors. As we work to overcome these challenges, our two states are united by Americas pastime as we cheer on our home teams in the World Series. Go Astros! Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement California Assembly to hold public hearings to address sexual harassment By Melanie Mason Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, right. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press)) The California Assembly will hold public hearings next month to address sexual harassment in the Capitol, Democratic lawmakers announced Tuesday, as allegations of pervasive mistreatment continue to ripple through Sacramento. The announcement comes one day after the California Senate announced it has hired lawyers and human resources consultants to investigate allegations of widespread sexual harassment and evaluate Senate procedures. In a joint statement, Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Paramount), Assemblyman Ken Cooley (D-Rancho Cordova) and Assemblywoman Laura Friedman (D-Glendale) said that sexual harassment of any kind is intolerable. The lawmakers say a three-pronged approach is necessary to confront the issue: changing a climate that has been permissive to sexual harassment, offering victims have a safe place to discuss complaints and ensuring that sexual harassment is dealt with expeditiously and that the seriousness of consequences match the violations committed, they said in a statement. Vowing a comprehensive effort to address these issues, lawmakers said there will be public hearings in November to discuss how the Legislature can tackle the issue. The panel, tasked to discuss harassment, discrimination and retaliation prevention and response, is chaired by Friedman and was formed in June, though it has not yet met. The panel is a subcommittee of the powerful Rules committee, chaired by Cooley, which functions as the chambers de facto human resources department. As we move forward, we must remember that the bottom line is harassers need to stop their abusive actions, the statement said. The rest of us need to call out harassment and abuse by its name and stigmatize this behavior each and every single time we see it. Adama Iwu, who helped organize the public letter published last week decrying an atmosphere of sexual harassment in the Capitol, said she and some of the women who signed the letter were concerned if any victim would be asked to testify with no legal guarantee against retaliation. Furthermore, we are concerned about the divergent paths of the Assembly and Senate, Iwu said in a statement. It is imperative that we work with outside experts, as part of a public independent review with whistleblower protections, to address the pervasive culture of sexual harassment in the Capitol community. Meanwhile, the trade association representing lobbyists, the Institute of Governmental Advocates, said in a statement Tuesday that it unequivocally supports [the women who signed the letter] and any other person in our Capitol community who has suffered harassment. Dates for the hearings, which are expected in late November, have not been set. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Recall effort against Sen. Josh Newman still on track after too few voters request to remove their names from petitions By Patrick McGreevy State Sen. Josh Newman (D-Fullerton), left, listens to debate in June on a measure to change the rules governing recall elections. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) Of the more than 70,600 voters who signed petitions to hold a recall vote on state Sen. Josh Newman of Fullerton, only 849 asked that their signatures be withdrawn by the deadline, clearing a major hurdle for an election on whether to oust the Democratic lawmaker, officials said Tuesday. Opponents of the recall needed to get more than 7,000 voters to withdraw their signatures to deprive supporters of the 63,593 signatures needed to put the measure on the ballot, under a new system approved recently by the Democratic-controlled Legislature that slows down the process. Sen. Josh Newman has spent months lying to his constituents by claiming people were duped into signing the recall petition against him, and with todays tally, he has been unmasked again as a pathological liar who is unfit to hold office, said Carl DeMaio, a Republican activist heading the recall drive. We eagerly look forward to voters having a chance to vote him out for his lies and his decision to increase the gas tax. Newman won a close contest last November in a district formerly represented by a Republican. He was targeted for recall by Republican activists for voting in April for a $52-billion transportation plan that raises gas taxes and imposes a new annual vehicle fee. A successful recall would deprive Democrats of a supermajority in the Senate. Once Secretary of State Alex Padilla certifies that there are sufficient valid signatures based on the data collected Tuesday, the new process calls for him to notify the state Department of Finance, which will be given 30 business days to prepare a cost estimate for the recall election. Once the estimate is prepared, the Joint Legislative Budget Committee will have 30 calendar days to review and comment on the estimate, said Sam Mahood, a spokesman for Padilla. On the following business day, the secretary of State will certify to the governor that the recall has qualified for the ballot. That could happen as late as Jan. 11 if the reviews take all the time allotted. Gov. Jerry Brown must then call an election to be held 60 to 80 days later, or within 180 days if there is a regularly scheduled election within Senate District 29 during that period. There will be a June 2018 primary election for the Assembly districts that make up the Senate District, so Brown could consolidate the Senate recall vote with that state primary. However, the new, longer process could end up being abandoned if supporters of the recall are successful in a lawsuit alleging the new rules are improper. At the same time, opponents of the recall have filed a lawsuit to block the recall, alleging petition circulators misled voters by saying their signatures would help repeal the gas tax. The underhanded methods used to qualify this recall likely represent one of the worst cases of voter fraud in California history, said Derek Humphrey, a consultant for the Newman campaign. Now, millions of tax dollars will be wasted to redo an election the Sacramento special interests lost barely a year ago. Its a shameful waste of money that voters will soundly reject and vote to keep Josh Newman fighting for them in the state Senate. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Rep. Devin Nunes announces investigation into Obama-era uranium deal By David S. Cloud House Republicans are opening investigations of the Obama administrations 2010 decision to approve the sale of American uranium mines to a Russian-backed company, and California Rep. Devin Nunes is at the forefront. Nunes (R-Tulare), the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, said at a news conference that his panel and the House Oversight Committee would jointly probe the deal, which President Trump has called the real Russia story. Nunes and other Trump supporters have raised the 7-year-old uranium deal while four congressional committees and Special Counsel Robert S. Mueller III are looking into Russia interference the 2016 election and whether Moscow had any direct links to the Trump campaign. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Former deputy director of California tax agency says he was fired for whistleblowing By Patrick McGreevy The state Capitol (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) A former deputy director of the state Board of Equalization said Tuesday he was improperly fired this month after cooperating with a state Department of Justice investigation into allegations that agency officials improperly used public resources. Mark DeSio was fired Oct. 12 as the director for external affairs of the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration, which recently was split off from the board in an agency shakeup. He has filed a whistleblower complaint and appeal to the state Personnel Board seeking reinstatement to his position. He alleges the agency before its split up was rife with nepotism and that there is improper hiring and use of employees from one fund to instead help elected board members in field offices. For more than a year, DeSio gave information about the BOE to the Department of Justice and several state agencies and auditors, right up until the time of his firing, said a press release from his attorney, Mary-Alice Coleman. Despite being pressured, DeSio refused to engage in certain activities. DeSios job was threatened multiple times during the course of his employment. In April, Gov. Jerry Brown called for a Justice Department probe of allegations that employees of the state Board of Equalization misused state resources assigning high-paid tax auditors to tasks such as directing traffic for community events promoting elected board members. Brown also set in motion steps that broke up the agency in June, putting the five-member board in one office, and tax collection and appeal system in two other offices. At the time, Brown cited serious problems of mismanagement identified in a Department of Finance audit of the agency, which is responsible for collecting $60 billion in tax revenue annually. DeSio said he has also provided information on alleged improprieties to the state Fair Political Practices Commission, which investigates political wrongdoing. Days before he was notified of his termination, DeSio said he told Department of Justice investigators that the board had misused 30 information officer positions as personal staff for board members. He also said supervisors overruled him when he refused to hire 10 new call center employees from funds not set aside for that purpose. He said 10 people were hired even after Brown had revoked the agencys hiring power. DeSios complaint alleges that in August 2016, board member Jerome Horton pressured DeSio to promote a particular employee who was funded by DeSios office, but actually worked in Hortons office. When DeSio refused, saying the employee was not the top-scoring candidate, the complaint says Horton became angry and his chief of staff threatened DeSio. Board Executive Director David Gau, the complaint alleges, contacted Desio and told him to either do what Horton wanted or be fired. After meeting with Department of Finance auditors, DeSio said he was contacted by Horton in November 2016. Horton demanded to know what DOF had asked and what documentation Desio had provided in response. DeSio said he refused to disclose what he gave the auditor. Horton threatened DeSio, saying, I only need one more vote to take you out, the complaint alleges. Horton disputed the allegations. If he has filed a complaint, the facts will show that I had an excellent professional relationship with Mr. DeSio and the allegations are not true, I had nothing to do with his termination, Horton said in a statement. Gau did not immediately respond to requests for comment. DeSio also alleged multiple cases of nepotism in the agency. In one example, he alleges agency officials improperly orchestrated the hiring of the man whose wife worked for a top manager at the agency. Updated at 3 pm to include comment from Board member Jerome Horton. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Want the Sierra Clubs endorsement? Here are its standards By Chris Megerian The Sierra Club is setting some ground rules for California gubernatorial candidates that may want its endorsement. No. 1 on the list is independence from the oil industry, which has been a fault line in the Capitol during debates over climate change policies. This year, given how important Californias role has become to the nation for leadership on the environment, it made sense to lay out in advance what some of the overall characteristics that the endorsement committee will be looking for in candidates, said Kathryn Phillips, director of Sierra Club California. Other requirements include independence from the tobacco and e-cigarette industry and a commitment to public health, environmental equity and transparency. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement California Senate hires investigators to look into sexual harassment allegations By Melanie Mason California Senate leader Kevin de Leon will hire two outside firms to look into allegations of a widespread culture of sexual harassment in the state Capitol. De Leon announced Monday he has hired the law office of Amy Oppenheimer to conduct an external investigation into harassment and assault allegations, and the consulting firm CPS HR Consulting to review Senate policies on harassment, discrimination and retaliation. De Leon also sent letters to lobbyists in the Capitol community detailing how existing rules protect non-employees. Theres always more employers can do to protect their employees, De Leon said in a statement. Everyone deserves a workplace free of fear, harassment and sexual misbehavior and I applaud the courage of women working in and around the Capitol who are coming forward and making their voices heard. The women behind an open letter sent last week calling out a pervasive culture of mistreatment in the political industry said that De Leons actions were insufficient. More than 140 women, including legislators, Capitol staff, political consultants and lobbyists, signed the letter. To find the truth and rebuild trust, we need a truly independent investigation, not a secretly hand-picked self-investigation, said Adama Iwu, a government affairs director for Visa who spearheaded the campaign. We need full transparency. How was this firm selected? Who will they report their findings to? What exactly are they investigating? Is the Assembly involved? Meanwhile, the women who have signed the letter, who have coalesced into a group called We Said Enough, announced they were formalizing their advocacy efforts on Monday by launching a nonprofit organization. The group plans to hold forums to outline a plan of action for improving how harassment and abuse complaints are reported, investigated and addressed. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Kevin de Leon has millions in state campaign accounts that cant be rolled over to his Senate race By Patrick McGreevy State Senate leader Kevin De Leon has millions of dollars socked away in state campaign accounts, but federal law prohibits him from rolling over the money into his federal campaign for the U.S. Senate. So what options does the Los Angeles legislator have as he puts together a campaign to unseat Sen. Dianne Feinstein, a fellow Democrat, in next years election? Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Gov. Jerry Brown heads to Washington to talk about the threat of nuclear war Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print California Politics Podcast: What happens next in Sacramentos discussion of sexual harassment is important By John Myers Theres a big, challenging question beyond the initial shock of sexual harassment stories told by women working in California politics: What happens next? On this weeks California Politics Podcast, we discuss the allegations that have emerged from an open letter first reported by The Times on Tuesday. And a key part of the next chapter is how legislative leaders and the states major political parties respond to the concerns raised in the letter signed by more than 140 women. We also take a closer look at the new effort by wealthy activist Tom Steyer to demand impeachment proceedings against President Trump, and whether the San Francisco Democrat is thinking seriously about jumping into the U.S. Senate race. And with Gov. Jerry Browns action on hundreds of bills complete, we offer up a few notable decisions in those final signings and vetoes. Im joined by Times staff writer Melanie Mason and Marisa Lagos of KQED. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Sen. Tom Cotton chides Californians: Your sanctuary cities werent enough, you had to have a sanctuary state instead By Phil Willon Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton addresses the California Republican Party at its fall convention in Anaheim. (Phil Willon / Los Angeles Times) Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton told California Republicans they should expect better days ahead, in part, because of liberal overreach by California Democrats on taxes, immigration and other issues affecting the daily lives of working-class Americans. Cotton invoked the memory of former president and California governor Ronald Reagan as a guiding light, and ridiculed House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) as a harbinger of doom. All it takes is a little new thinking applied with old principles. The principles of Ronald Reagan, Cotton told a packed ballroom at the California Republican Partys fall convention in Anaheim on Saturday. Cottons keynote address hewed toward traditional conservative themes and was peppered with light moments and witty jabs about the Democrats grip on California politics. When Jerry Brown has to veto your legislation because its too liberal, you might have to take a look in the mirror, Cotton told the crowd. It was a big departure from the speech the night before by GOP firebrand Steve Bannon, President Trumps former political strategist. Bannon unleased attacks on former President George W. Bush and Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.). He told Republicans they needed to rise up in California or else the progressive left and lords of the Silicon Valley would try to secede from the union in 10 to 15 years. Cotton, who at 40 is the youngest member of the U.S. Senate, is widely believed to be eyeing a run for higher office. During the 2016 Republican National Convention, he was the most active politician on the breakfast circuit, visiting the South Carolina, Ohio, Iowa, New Hampshire and California delegations. California, of course, is home to more than 5 million Republican voters and has been a wellspring of political cash for GOP presidential candidates. Cottons message of hope has been a running theme throughout the three-day GOP gathering as the state party tries once again to turn things around in left-leaning California. The partys share of the state electorate has fallen to 26% and no Republican has been elected to statewide office since 2006. Cotton, however, told the party faithful to remain upbeat. Californias Republican members of Congress play a pivotal role in Washington, and there are ample opportunities to rekindle the partys presence in Sacramento and throughout the state. Cotton zeroed in on the new gas tax and vehicle fee hike in the state, which would raise $5.2 billion annually for transportation and mass transit improvements, saying it would hurt ordinary Californians. If you live in West L.A. or San Francisco and you have the money to afford a Tesla, maybe youll be OK, Cotton said. What about the farmer in the Central Valley who has a pickup truck and needs to fill it up three times a week? He also took shots at the so-called sanctuary state law signed this month by Gov. Jerry Brown, which will limit law enforcement agencies from questioning and detaining people for immigration violations. Your sanctuary cities werent enough, you had to have a sanctuary state instead, Cotton said. So all your citizens will face greater danger no matter where they live. Before he took the stage, the state GOP played a short video introduction of the Arkansas senator, focused on his experiences serving as an Army officer in Iraq and Afghanistan. In Washington, Cotton was a harsh critic of President Obama and is considered a hawk on national defense. During a hearing in June, Cotton also openly mocked the idea of the Trump administration colluding with Russia. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy criticizes Gov. Brown, lauds Trump at California GOP convention By Seema Mehta McCarthy is lauding Trump for his "character and vision and understanding," compares him to Reagan. #cagop17 pic.twitter.com/AlyvgOvQWF Seema (@LATSeema) October 21, 2017 House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield) on Saturday blasted Gov. Jerry Brown over Democrats positioning the state as the liberal resistance to President Trump and for legislative efforts to circumvent the presidents policies. Brown, he warned, could be viewed similarly to southern governors who sought to pick and choose which federal laws to uphold during the civil rights era. He focused on Browns recent signing of a bill to make California a so-called sanctuary state, which will limit law enforcement agencies from questioning and detaining people for immigration violations. I dont think history will be very kind to Gov. Brown, McCarthy told a few hundred delegates and guests at a luncheon at the California Republican Party convention in Anaheim. California is a critical part of Democrats efforts to retake the House of Representatives, with a focus on seven Republican-held districts that Hillary Clinton won in the 2016 presidential election. Only one of the Republican representatives of those targeted districts had appeared at the convention as of Saturday afternoon, Rep. Mimi Walters of Irvine. McCarthy said Vice President Mike Pence raised $5 million for the efforts to protect the seats during a recent three-day fundraising trip through California, but he did not otherwise go into detail about the congressional battle expected in 2018. He instead lashed out at Republican members of the state Legislature who voted for Democratic policies. My advice to those Assembly members in Sacramento: You will not win a majority by thinking youll be Democrat-light. You will win the majority by showing the differences in the party, McCarthy said. You will not win the majority by voting against your own principles on a Democratic policy, and let Democratic targets vote no. You will not win the majority if youre concerned about being able to stand behind a podium with a Democratic governor instead of giving the freedom to Californians across this entire state. McCarthy did not name the members he was speaking about, but it was clear he was referring to Assemblyman Chad Mayes (R-Yucca Valley) and other Republicans who voted for an extension of the states cap-and-trade program this year. Mayes stepped down as Assembly Republican leader under pressure from others in his party who were upset over his vote for the climate change program, which requires companies to purchase permits to release greenhouse gases. McCarthy spoke a day after former Trump White House advisor Stephen K. Bannon addressed the group. Bannon has declared war on the GOP establishment, of which McCarthy is a member. McCarthy did not push back at Bannons remarks, which included criticism of former President George W. Bush and Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.). Rather, McCarthy lauded Trumps vision, compared him to former President Reagan and pointed to economic gains and regulatory reform since Trump took office. What a difference nine months and one election makes, McCarthy said. What a difference: A man who ran for president on issues and keeps his word and actually enacts the things he promised to do. Trump has tried to enact many of his campaign promises but has been unsuccessful on several priorities, including a travel ban on citizens from Muslim-majority countries and a repeal of the Affordable Care Act. Tax reform is the latest priority on the Republicans agenda, and McCarthy promised that Congress would push a package by Thanksgiving that includes lowering rates for small businesses and corporations, and simplifying the tax code from seven income tax brackets to three. He also spoke out in support of one of the more controversial parts of the proposal: eliminating the deduction of state and local taxes. I dont think its fair for somebody else to subsidize poor management in California, McCarthy said. Look at the entire [tax reform] bill when it comes out, you will pay less. But no longer can Sacramento say, Im going to raise the rates just because Ill have the federal government subsidize it. They will have to be held accountable for when they want to raise taxes. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Gold Star father Khizr Khan, who clashed with Trump during the election, goes after him again in California By Phil Willon Khizr Khan at the National Union of Healthcare Workers conference in Anaheim on Saturday. (Phil Willon / Los Angeles Times) Khizr Khan, the father of a Muslim U.S. Army captain killed in Iraq who feuded with Donald Trump during the 2016 presidential campaign, on Saturday criticized the Trump White House for its clash with a widow of a fallen soldier this week. Khan, speaking to reporters after addressing a National Union of Healthcare Workers conference in Anaheim, said the families of all military members killed in combat deserve to be treated with dignity and respect, especially in the days and weeks immediately following the death of their loved one. It was disappointing to see the behavior of [the White House], Khan said, before criticizing Trump administration officials for standing in front of the cameras and providing a defense for the indefensible behavior. Khans comments came just days after the uproar over Trumps call to the widow of Army Sgt. La David T. Johnson of Florida, one of four U.S. soldiers who died in an Oct. 4 ambush in Niger. Rep. Frederica S. Wilson of Florida was with Johnsons wife, Myeshia Johnson, in a car when the widow took Trumps call on speakerphone. Wilson publicly described Trumps comments as insensitive, saying he suggested that the sergeant knew what he was getting into when he joined the Army. White House Chief of Staff John F. Kelly, whose son was killed in combat, defended the presidents comments, saying that he advised Trump on what to say and that the president was trying to praise Johnsons unselfish military service as well as offer words of comfort to his widow. Khan avoided attacking Trump directly or expanding on his remarks, saying he will address the controversy in more detail after Johnsons memorial services. The clash between Khan and Trump ignited after Khans speech at the 2016 Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia. There, Khan ripped into Trump, then the Republican nominee for president. Hillary Clinton was right when she called my son the best of America. If it was up to Donald Trump, he never would have been in America, Khan said at the convention. Donald Trump consistently smears the character of Muslims. He disrespects other minorities women, judges, even his own party leadership. He vows to build walls and ban us from this country. Trump responded by questioning whether Khans wife, who stood by her husbands side during the couples high-profile appearance, was silent because of her Muslim faith. The controversy ignited by Trumps jabs at a Gold Star family dragged on for days, and he drew rebukes from Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.). During his speech to the healthcare union Saturday, Khan lamented the loss of civility in national political discourse and pointed squarely at the president. He said the current White House has sown division by attacking immigrants and belittling political rivals. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print California Teachers Assn. votes to endorse Gavin Newsom for governor By Seema Mehta Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks with participants of a march in Pan Pacific Park in Los Angeles commemorating the 102nd anniversary of the Armenian genocide in April. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) The politically influential California Teachers Assn. on Saturday endorsed Democratic Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom for governor, praising his support for public schools and his promise to hold charter schools more accountable. Gavin has long supported increased funding for education and is committed to making investing in students a top priority as governor, CTA President Eric Heins said in a written statement Saturday. He supports a public education system that attracts, not attacks, teachers, universal preschool and affordable college for all. The move is not entirely surprising given the antagonism between one of Newsoms top Democratic rivals, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, and teachers unions in California. Villaraigosa launched his career as a union organizer, including for United Teachers Los Angeles, and labor played a critical role in getting him elected to office. But after he tried to gain control of Los Angeles schools, he questioned policies fiercely guarded by teachers unions, such as seniority protections that resulted in regular layoff notices to younger teachers who tend to staff the most challenging schools. He grew to support using student test scores to evaluate teachers and other overhauls opposed by union leaders. Villaraigosa, who eventually gained control of more than a dozen struggling city schools through a nonprofit, ultimately blasted the citys teachers union where he once worked as the largest obstacle to creating quality schools. The teachers association also passed over Democrat Delaine Eastin, a long-shot candidate who jumped into the 2018 governors race last year. Eastin, who served as Californias state superintendent of public instruction, has vowed to put education at the forefront of her campaign. The key question going forward is how much CTA plans to invest in the governors race and how it plans to spend it. In 2014, the union spent $12 million to defeat Marshall Tuck, a huge sum in an obscure race to be state superintendent of public instruction. A Democrat and former charter school leader, Tuck was hired by Villaraigosa to run the nonprofit that oversaw his schools. Tuck, who narrowly lost his race in 2014 against an incumbent, is running for state superintendent again in 2018. CTA on Saturday also endorsed his opponent, Assemblyman Tony Thurmond (D-Richmond). Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Bannons mention of Sen. John McCain, George W. Bush draws boos at California GOP convention By Seema Mehta Former Trump White House advisor Stephen K. Bannon ripped into former President George W. Bush and Arizona Sen. John McCain Friday night at the California Republican Party Convention in Anaheim, saying there has not been a more destructive presiden Mere mentions of former President George W. Bush and Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) drew loud boos and catcalls as former Trump advisor Stephen K. Bannon derided the GOP leaders in his address to California Republicans on Friday night at their fall convention in Anaheim. Bannon, who runs the far-right website Breitbart News, blasted Bush for his harsh assessment of Trump and his policies, which the former president delivered at a policy seminar in New York on Thursday. Bush suggested that Trump has promoted bigotry and falsehoods, violating this countrys values. President Bush to me embarrassed himself. Speech writers wrote a highfalutin speech, Bannon said. Its clear he didnt understand anything he was talking about. Just like it was when he was president of the United States. Bannon, who was ousted from the White House in August but said he considers himself Trumps wingman, didnt stop there. He ripped into Bush, saying he allowed China to grow as a world power under the premise that global engagement might shepherd the county toward democracy. Theres not been a more destructive presidency than George Bushs, Bannon said. Bannon also had no love for McCain, who has openly clashed with Trump and helped torpedo Republican efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act. The crowd at #CAGOP17 just booed George W. Bush and John McCain. "Hang him!" one man yelled about McCain. Seema (@LATSeema) October 21, 2017 He praised McCains military service, but said as a politician, Hes just another senator from Arizona. The boos from the crowd of Republican donors and activists show how much the state party has changed as its influence has waned and its numbers have dwindled in California. The brand of conservatism belonging to Bush and McCain resonated with Californias GOP voters during their presidential campaigns. Both men forged deep ties with the states Republican elected leaders and donors, raising tens of millions of dollars here for their political campaigns. In California, Bush received 1.1 million more votes in the November 2004 presidential election than Trump did last November. McCain received almost 600,000 more votes in the November 2008 presidential election than Trump received in the state in 2016. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print College journalists say covering Bannon at GOP convention prepares them for Yiannopoulos on campus By Anh Do Student journos Amy Wells + Brandon Pho of #CalSrateFullerton say peers are interested in party politics, esp info collected by young ppl. pic.twitter.com/b2MikBGnQD ANH DO (@newsterrier) October 21, 2017 Student journalists Amy Wells and Brandon Pho from Cal State Fullerton teamed up outside Anaheims Marriott Hotel as night descended, assigned to cover Stephen K. Bannons speech and protesters targeting him. We dont underestimate how movements can pull in more youth, especially if they hear other youth pushing it on social media, said Pho, a sophomore majoring in journalism. Were always on the lookout for more policy to dig into because we have a lot of undocumented students on our campus and theyre way aware of national issues, added Wells, a senior pursuing a journalism degree. Pho and Wells said reporting on the small crowd of protesters will prepare them for much larger turnouts when provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos visits their campus at the end of this month. While Bannon is more provocative, he doesnt have the reach of someone like Milo who knows how to engage an online audience, said Pho, 19. We learn from watching how different public figures do outreach. Wells, 22, described the nights gathering as having the feel of a college campus protest. And of course, that feels familiar, with people here maybe figuring out what to do next. Small steps. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Indivisible members rally ahead of Stephen K. Bannons speech to California Republicans By Anh Do Michelle Fowle, founder of The Resistance - Northridge, Indivisible, along w 100 supporters, launch protest vs. #SteveBannon in #Anaheim. pic.twitter.com/1yEdrUm9Si ANH DO (@newsterrier) October 21, 2017 Growing up as a Republican in Southern California, Michelle Fowle said she automatically registered to join the party because her parents were also members. I didnt know the right civics, recalled the Northridge activist, 50. I didnt really know women died for the right to vote. I just voted for whoever I saw on signs, or whose names I remembered. Now Fowle is the founder of The Resistance - Northridge, Indivisible, which united supporters outside the California GOP convention in Anaheim on Friday to protest an appearance by Stephen K. Bannon. She joined a crowd of about 50 people across the street from the Anaheim Marriott on Friday night as they denounced President Trumps former advisor. They were separated from conventiongoers by metal barriers and a cordon of private security guards while police officers observed from nearby. Information and exposure and understanding show us that he is dangerous. Hes a very, very good manipulator, Fowle said of Bannon. His goal is to try and get rid of established Republicans and bring in more extreme people. Bannon is using whatever base Trump has left to recruit. Carolyn Criss, a retired film industry researcher, drove from Sherman Oaks to protest. Bannon is a clear danger to our democracy, she said. Criss said Trumps election awoke her dormant activist tendencies, and she now regularly attends protests against the president. She said she thought Bannons visit was an effort to amplify his voice while also helping the GOP raise money. I really hope the GOP just wants to make some money off him and doesnt believe what he says, she said. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print California lawmaker plans to introduce legislation to protect workers who exercise right to free speech By Mina Corpuz San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick and Eric Reid, left, take a knee during the national anthem in a 2016 game against the Rams. (Daniel Gluskoter / Associated Press Images for Panini) A California lawmaker plans to introduce legislation that would help protect workers from employer retribution for exercising their right to free speech. Sen. Henry Stern (D-Canoga Park) said Friday that the state should be a sanctuary for free speech, including the kind that some might find offensive. He said he will introduce a measure when the Legislature is back in session in January. It doesnt matter if youre Ben Shapiro speaking at UC Berkeley, a brave female employee standing up to misogyny in her workplace through the #MeToo movement, or a Dallas Cowboy playing in California this Sunday, he said in a statement. The Constitution does not limit speech based on value judgments so long as it doesnt harm others. Stern said the presidents attempt to urge NFL owners to fire players who kneel during the National Anthem is a troubling attack on the 1st Amendment. The Constitution trumps Trump, he said. Americans of all political stripes ought to stand up and defend it. The legislation would also help public institutions fund security for events that could include offensive speech. Public institutions and law enforcement shouldnt have to bear the cost of ensuring constitutional protections for such events, Stern said. Stern, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, is part of the ongoing work to define hate speech and find a way to address it while upholding the Constitution. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom fights NRA over gun control law in federal court By Patrick McGreevy Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom. (Tim Berger / Times Community News) Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom has asked the courts to lift an order that blocks Californias ban on large-capacity ammunition magazines, which was approved in November by voters when they passed Proposition 63. In June, a federal judge in San Diego ruled in favor of a request by the National Rifle Assn. to temporarily delay the magazine ban until the court could make a final decision on the law. U.S. District Judge Roger T. Benitez wrote then: If this injunction does not issue, hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of otherwise law-abiding citizens will have an untenable choice: become an outlaw or dispossess ones self of lawfully acquired property. In a friend-of-the-court filing, Newsom and the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence argued the ban on large-capacity magazines is needed to help prevent the occurrence of high-fatality gun massacres, and to reduce the bloodshed when these tragedies occur. Newsom, a candidate for governor, sponsored Proposition 63 with the law center. Its a tragic reality that as time passes, we are presented with more and more evidence on the devastating power of large-capacity magazines, which are consistently the accessory of choice in mass shootings for mass murderers, Newsom said Friday in a statement, predicting the federal courts would uphold the ban. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print State GOP leader says the new gas tax and high poverty rate make Democrats vulnerable in California By Phil Willon California Republican Party Chairman Jim Brulte, center, addresses GOP delegates at the state partys convention in Anaheim on Friday. (Phil Willon / Los Angeles Times) California Republican Party Chairman Jim Brulte kicked off the state GOPs fall convention with a speech to delegates that outlined why he thinks Democrats will be vulnerable in the upcoming 2018 elections. Brulte zeroed in on the new gas tax and policy declaring California a sanctuary state both approved by Gov. Jerry Brown and the Democratic-controlled Legislature and both, he said, unpopular with California voters. He said Democrats have tried to deflect voter attention from these issues, as well as Californias high poverty rate and an uptick in crime, by continually attacking President Trump. Here in California, the reason they want to talk about Donald Trump is because they dont want to talk about the record they created, Brulte said. They broke it. They own it. If Donald Trump were not president, we would still have 22% of Californians living below the poverty line. Thats not Donald Trumps fault. Thats the Democrats who control California. The state GOPs three-day convention at the Anaheim Marriott will kick off in earnest Friday night when Trumps former political strategist, Steve Bannon, takes the stage for a keynote address to delegates. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Far-right blogger Chuck C. Johnson gave bitcoin donation to Dana Rohrabacher By Christine Mai-Duc Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Costa Mesa) speaks to Russian lawmakers at a meeting in Moscow in May 2013. (Misha Japaridze / Associated Press) Right-wing blogger and provocateur Chuck C. Johnson gave Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Costa Mesa) a $5,400 campaign contribution weeks after he said he helped arrange a meeting between the Orange County congressman and Wikileaks founder Julian Assange. The donation, the maximum amount allowed by law, came in the form of bitcoin, a virtual currency. Johnson, who previously was banned from Twitter after soliciting donations toward taking out a prominent black activist, is listed on campaign finance forms as a self-employed investor who lives in Rosemead. Rohrabacher campaign spokesman Jason Pitkin confirmed the donor was the same person who helped arrange the Assange meeting. Johnson also recently sat in on a meeting between Rohrabacher and Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul in the Capitol. Pitkin said they discussed Assanges legal situation and cannabis policy, among other things. Rohrabacher previously said Assange had emphatically stated that the Russians were not involved in hacking the 2016 elections but claimed his plans to bring the information directly to President Trump have been thwarted by White House staffers. Pitkin said Johnson approached the Rohrabacher campaign shortly after his trip to London and said he wanted to donate. He said, Do you take bitcoin? and I said, I think we can, Pitkin recalled. The campaign then set up a bitcoin wallet to receive the funds, Pitkin said. Rohrabacher is not the only California House candidate this cycle who has accepted contributions in bitcoin. Democrat Brian Forde, who is challenging GOP Rep. Mimi Walters of Irvine, reported raising more than $59,000 in bitcoin donations between July 1 and Sept. 30. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Government needs more women, Nancy Pelosi says By Colleen Shalby Nancy Pelosi has 30 years worth of insight for women starting out in politics. Shes run into plenty of naysayers over the years, but said she hasnt let other peoples doubt stop her. Her advice for those at the beginning of their career is simple. Know your purpose, she said in an interview Wednesday night before a Summit event hosted by the Los Angeles Times and the Berggruen Institute. The House minority leader said she hopes more women will run for office, calling their participation a necessity for government and the future. Whether its education, the environment, equal rights, womens health whatever it is. Master your subject. Have a plan on how you will implement your ideas and you will attract support. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print This Los Angeles representative spent $105,500 on Hamilton tickets By Sarah D. Wire Rep. Tony Cardenas asks a question of Lin-Manuel Miranda during a town hall at Panorama High School in Panorama City. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) Hamilton fever has caught at least two Los Angeles area members of Congress whove used campaign funds to purchase tickets to the hit musicals run at the Hollywood Pantages. Rep. Tony Cardenas campaign and his political action committee Victory by Investing, Building and Empowering PAC spent $105,500 in April buying tickets to the show, which is playing in L.A. until Dec. 30. Two fundraisers using the approximately 400 tickets have raised more than $300,000, a spokesman for the congressmans campaign said. For both Cardenas campaign and the PAC, the tickets were the single most costly expense of the year. Basically they saw this as an opportunity to have a nice fundraising opportunity and go to a show that celebrates American democracy, campaign spokesman Josh Pulliam said. The Los Angeles Democrat is friends with the father of Lin-Manuel Miranda, the Tony- and Pulitzer-winning creator of Hamilton. When the show opened in Los Angeles in mid-August, Miranda spoke to nearly 1,000 students in Cardenas largely Latino San Fernando Valley district . He raffled off some tickets to the show as an online fundraiser in September. Miranda has a history of supporting Democrats, and Hamilton has been used as a fundraiser before. In July 2016, Hillary Clintons presidential campaign hosted a special showing of the musical for donors, with a starting ticket price of $2,700. Cardenas held two fundraisers tied to the show. Miranda did not attend either event, Pulliam said. Pulliam said a few dozen tickets went to people in the community as gifts. He also raffled off some tickets to the show as an online fundraiser in September. Cardenas isnt in a particularly tough race for 2018. A Democrat and a Green Party member have filed to run in his district, but neither have raised or spent enough to require them to file campaign finance reports. Cardenas most recent report, which covers what he raised and spent in the last three months, shows he raised $232,389 and had $481,049 in the bank as of Sept. 30. Its fairly common for lawmakers or candidates to use sports events or concerts as major fundraising opportunities, especially when big names such as Taylor Swift or Bruce Springsteen play concerts in Washington. Rep. Maxine Waters campaign spent just under $11,000 on tickets to Hamilton in August. Reached by phone, the Los Angeles Democrat seemed surprised reporters were asking about the tickets. She said her campaign made $110,000 at a fundraiser using the tickets. Everybody does it, whether its a concert or a baseball game, she said. Several conservative groups have targeted Waters, an outspoken critic of President Trump, for the 2018 election. She won in 2016 with 76% of the vote over Republican Omar Navarro, who is challenging her again. In a statement released by her campaign, Waters stressed that fundraising at an event means the campaign doesnt have to rent space or buy food. These fundraising activities are similar and sometimes less expensive than the amount of money a candidate would spend to host a fundraising dinner within a private room at a restaurant or hotel once you factor in associated catering costs, she said. The price for the Hamilton tickets was similar to what one would have to pay at these venues. There was nothing improper or unusual about the expenditure. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print California Republicans increase security at state convention ahead of Steve Bannon speech By Seema Mehta (Ross D. Franklin / Associated Press) The California Republican Party is ramping up security at its weekend convention in anticipation of protests at the Friday night keynote speech by Steve Bannon, a former advisor to President Trump and the executive chairman of Breitbart News. Part of providing a good experience for our convention goers is assuring your safety, state party Executive Director Cynthia Bryant wrote in an email to attendees on Thursday describing the security measures. Attendees will pass through metal detectors and their property is subject to be searched before they are allowed to enter the ballroom at the Anaheim Marriott, where the speech and dinner are taking place. Weapons, noisemakers and signs are prohibited. We did not make the decision for the additional security lightly and we know that it does impact your convention going experience, Bryant wrote. I sincerely regret that. Its a level of security rarely seen at political party gatherings in California. Convention attendees were also screened when Donald Trump, then a candidate seeking the GOP presidential nomination, appeared at the spring 2015 convention in Burlingame. That decision was made in consultation with the Secret Service, which had already begun protecting Trump. That convention attracted large-scale protests that at times turned into tense stand-offs between activists and police officers. Bannons speech is also expected to draw protests. Bannon, a conservative media leader, promoted Breitbart as a platform of the alt-right and needled establishment Republicans when Trump selected him to be the chief executive of his 2016 presidential campaign. His views as a nationalist, economic populist and nativist indelibly shaped Trumps message to voters. Once Trump was sworn in as president, Bannon was named White House chief strategist. He was a divisive figure in the administration, disparaging his colleagues to the media before he left the White House in August. He has since declared war on the GOP establishment, including supporting challengers to incumbents and other candidates backed by Trump. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement L.A. County Supervisors unanimously back Sen. Feinstein for reelection By Sarah D. Wire L.A. County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas (Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times) The five members of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors have all endorsed Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the senators campaign announced Thursday. The announcement comes as factions of California Democrats begin weighing in on the Senate race between Feinstein and state Senate leader Kevin de Leon next year. Its a snub for De Leon, a native Angeleno who has represented part of the city for more than a decade in the Assembly and state Senate. Sen. Feinstein has been our strong partner on the critical issues confronting L.A. County homelessness, healthcare, and transportation. Her support for our county hospitals, including her commitment to our new Martin Luther King Jr. Community Hospital, has been essential to our countys healthcare system, Board Chairman and 2nd District Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas said in a statement. Ridley-Thomas said the board members support Feinstein -- including the lone Republican on the board, 5th District Supervisor Kathryn Barger, who said in a statement that California needs Feinstein in the Senate. Ive worked with Sen. Feinstein for many years. Shes extremely knowledgeable and always prepared on the tough issues we confront. Shes a problem solver we can count on now and in the future, Barger said. Feinstein already has the backing of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, which traditionally backs incumbents. Soon after he announced a challenge, De Leon was endorsed by Democracy for America, the progressive political action committee formed by former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean in 2004. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Northern California wildfires mean thousands of families will flood the regions already strained housing market By Liam Dillon Tom and Shelly Lanning, from left, talk with Lannings mother, Jeannie Anderson, on Oct.17, 2017. The Lannings have been staying with Anderson since they lost their home in wildfires. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) Even before devastating wildfires struck Northern California last week, the regions housing market was in crisis. Home values and rents already were at or near record highs, and decades of slow construction has left few homes available for the thousands of displaced residents. The number of new families flooding the market is giving rise to fears of widespread displacement and even higher costs. The scope and magnitude of the rehousing is unfathomable, said Larry Florin, chief executive of the nonprofit Burbank Housing, one of Santa Rosas largest low-income housing providers. If you take 3,000 units being demolished in a market that was already dramatically constrained, its hard to imagine whats going to happen, where people are going to go. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print California lawmaker wants to ban secret settlements in sexual harassment cases after Weinstein scandal By Melanie Mason State Sen. Connie Leyva (D-Chino), shown speaking at a 2016 news conference for ending the statute of limitations for rape, wants to ban confidentiality provisions from sexual harassment settlements. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) A California state senator says she intends to introduce a bill next year to ban confidentiality provisions in monetary settlements stemming from sexual harassment, assault and discrimination cases. Secret settlements in sexual assault and related cases can jeopardize the public including other potential victims and allow perpetrators to escape justice just because they have the money to pay the cost of the settlements, Sen. Connie Leyva (D-Chino) said in a statement Thursday. This bill will ensure that sexual predators can be held accountable for their actions and ideally prevent them from victimizing others. The measure comes after revelations of decades-long alleged sexual misconduct by Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein. Some of those incidents were obscured from public view thanks to monetary settlements whose terms required confidentiality. The issue has a renewed resonance in Sacramento after scores of women working in state politics renounced a pervasive culture of harassment and abuse in the Capitol in a public letter this week. Leyva told the Times she intends for her proposed settlement ban to include both private employers and public ones, such as the Legislature. 9:41 a.m.: This post was updated to specify Leyvas proposal would apply to private and public employers. This post was originally published at 8:54 a.m. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Nancy Pelosi: Its your problem if you dont recognize that women are ready to do any job By Colleen Shalby Nancy Pelosi knows what it feels like to have to prove herself in politics simply because shes a woman. She says she experiences the pressure every day. But its your problem if you dont recognize that women are ready to do any job, the House minority leader said in an interview before a Summit event hosted by the Los Angeles Times and the Berggruen Institute on Wednesday night. When she decided to run for a leadership position in Congress, Pelosi said a man questioned her move. As if a woman had to be told she could run, she recalled. We just laughed and said poor babies. In the midst of a growing sexual misconduct scandal centered on Hollywood film producer Harvey Weinstein, many women are sharing their stories of sexual harassment and assault. No industry has been spared women at Californias Capitol signed an open letter Tuesday outlining pervasive harassment in Sacramento. Pelosi said she wasnt prepared to share a so-called me too moment, but she thanked the women who have. The sheer numbers speak eloquently to the fact that we should get to zero tolerance, she said. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Watch: The View from California political panel with John Myers Sacramento Bureau Chief John Myers hosted a panel discussion about the view from California as part of our L.A. Times and Berggruen Institute Summit series. Joining him were state Sen. Robert Hertzberg (D-Van Nuys), Republican strategist Luis Alvarado, UCLA political scientist Lynn Vavreck and Alma Hernandez, executive director of SEIU California. We also had a conversation with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi. Watch that here. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Watch: House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi talks to the L.A. Times House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) spoke Wednesday about her view of national news, working with the Trump White House and the future of the Democratic Party. The event was co-hosted by The L.A. Times and the Berggruen Institute. Following that conversation, Sacramento Bureau Chief John Myers hosted a panel discussion about the view from California. Joining him were state Sen. Robert Hertzberg (D-Van Nuys), Republican strategist Luis Alvarado, UCLA political scientist Lynn Vavreck and Alma Hernandez, executive director of SEIU California. Watch that here. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Kevin de Leon: My whole life, Ive been told to wait my turn and know my place You know, my whole life, Ive been told to wait my turn and know my place. Well, its Californias turn to lead. And Californias place to be a shining example for the world and a stark contrast to the failures of Washington. State Senate leader Kevin de Leon, kicking off his U.S. Senate campaign Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Pelosi, in Los Angeles visit, calls on Congress to pass Dream Act By Makeda Easter Rep. Nancy Pelosi meets with young immigrants protected by the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program in downtown Los Angeles. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi on Wednesday called on the GOP-controlled Congress to pass the Dream Act by years end. Pelosi appeared at the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights with community leaders and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival recipients in Los Angeles. The San Francisco Democrat said she has confidence Republicans and Democrats will be able to work together to pass the Dream Act. President Trump said we had shared values when we spoke to him, Pelosi said. I trust that he will honor that commitment because the American people want him to do so. The Democratic leader had conversations with Trump about continuing DACA after his heartless decision to end the program. Pelosi said that President Reagan was great on immigration and noted his immigration agenda protected a larger percentage of people than President Obama did with his executive order regarding DACA. She added the last three Republican presidents strongly acknowledged the value of immigration to America. A majority of the estimated 800,000 immigrants who were brought to the United States illegally as children live in California. These newcomers make America more American, Pelosi said. She noted there have been a handful of Republicans who support forcing a Dream Act vote via a procedural move. Still, her party is in the minority. You can have all the conversation in the world that you want, but youve got to have the votes, she said, encouraging moderate Republicans to support the Dream Act. She was joined by Democratic Reps. Jimmy Gomez of Los Angeles, Judy Chu of Monterey Park and Lucille Roybal-Allard of Downey, the first Mexican American woman elected to Congress and original co-author of the Dream Act. Roybal-Allard said the so-called Dreamers have lived in this country, they have grown up here, they have pledged allegiance to our flag. To do anything else but to protect them by passing the Dream Not long ago, Paul D. Ryan stood before charts and graphs as the House Budget Committee chairman like a new Ross Perot, promoting an austerity plan that slashed taxes and spending, and warning of the dangers of deficits. The facts are very, very clear: The United States is heading toward a debt crisis, he said then. We face a crushing burden of debt which will take down our economy which will lower our living standards. Now as House speaker, the Wisconsin Republican is undergoing a role reversal, championing President Trumps tax plan, which promises massive tax cuts for corporations and to some extent individuals and which experts say will add some $2 trillion to the nations red ink over the next decade. Advertisement Its a sizable shift for Ryan, and hes hardly the only one. The Republican majority, which swept to power just a few years ago in part by warning of then-President Obamas run-up of debt, now plays down concern over deficits. Economic growth must take priority, many Republicans say, and will ultimately take care of worries about red ink. Asked recently whether he had gone to the dark side, Ryan offered a reply that sounded like something a Democrat might have said to justify spending more on repairing roads and bridges or putting additional resources into schools. If this results in giving us a faster economic growth, that will help us reduce our debt, he said in a CBS interview. You have got to have tax reform to get faster economic growth, he added. Faster economic growth is necessary for us to get our debt under control. Republicans are racing to assemble Trumps tax package, which remains more conceptual than actual legislation, at a time when the nations debt load has topped the eye-popping level of $20 trillion. For Trump, who routinely leveraged borrowing to expand his real estate empire and declared on the campaign trail that he loved debt, a tax plan that expands the governments deficit may be no problem. But for Republicans in Congress, who won their majority in the House, and later the Senate, in large part by railing against deficit spending during the Great Recession, the tax plan signifies a big change. During a recent White House meeting, Trump boasted to lawmakers from the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee that the countrys economic growth could hit 4%, 5%, even 6% under his tax plan, which administration officials say would more than cover lost revenue and even reduce the deficit. But, the lawmakers asked, what if growth isnt so strong most mainstream economists doubt it will be whats Plan B for making up the deficit shortfall? For that, there was no clear answer, said those who attended. Republicans have for years railed against deficits, said Rep. Linda T. Sanchez (D-Whittier), stunned after leaving the meeting at the White House. Youre going to have less revenue and more deficits. Central to the GOP plan are tax cuts that slash the corporate rate from 35% to 20% and cap the rate for small businesses and other so-called pass-through entities at 25%. Individual tax rates would be set at 35%, 25% and 12%, but the income limits for those brackets have not been determined. Some deductions would be eliminated and the standard deduction would be doubled, in hopes of simplifying the code and broadening the base of taxpayers. Senate Republicans acknowledge the tax cuts could add a net of up to $1.5 trillion over 10 years to the projected deficit, which they plan to make up for largely through economic growth. They have inserted a provision in their budget that waives the requirement for a nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office analysis of the tax bill before its voted on. That drew objections Wednesday from a top Democrat. Republicans spent years pretending to care about the deficit when it came to making cuts to middle-class priorities, but the minute it came to handing tax breaks to the rich, that all went out the window, said Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.). Mick Mulvaney, now the White House director of the Office of Management and Budget, was so keen on deficit reduction as a member of Congress that he urged on fellow Republicans to threaten to shut down the government rather than approve a budget that involved red ink. Sunday, in an interview on Fox News, he rejected the idea that a tax cut should not worsen the deficit. Ive been very candid about this, Mulvaney said. We need to have new deficits.... If we simply look at this as being deficit-neutral, youre never going to get the type of tax reform and tax reductions that you need to get to sustain 3% economic growth. The nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget estimates the tax plan would involve roughly $5.8 trillion in tax cuts over 10 years, and $3.6 trillion in so-called base-broadening, resulting in about $2.2 trillion in net tax cuts. We absolutely have to find a way to pay for this, Marc Goldwein, the groups senior policy director, said at a forum Wednesday on Capitol Hill. If we cut the rates at the expense of higher debt, all were doing is cutting taxes today at the expense of a tax on future generations. Later, asked in an interview about the Republican shift, he said, The hypocrisy is astounding. Republicans argue that the tax cuts ultimately will more than pay for themselves through a combination of economic growth, elimination of existing deductions and additional spending cuts. Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin has said growth from the tax cut would be as much as $2 trillion, enough to pay for the cuts and start paying down deficits. The president is not going to sign something that he believes is going to increase the deficit, Mnuchin said recently on NBC. Neither the projected growth nor offsetting budget cuts is a sure thing, however. Growth estimates are highly uncertain, and Congress repeatedly has shown, even under Republican control, that it has been unable to impose the kind of draconian reductions to Medicare, Medicaid and other safety-net programs called for in Ryans budgets. Trump has told lawmakers and others not to call the plan tax reform, which had been the preferred lingo in Congress, because its too confusing for ordinary Americans. Call it what it is, he told them a tax cut. But as members of Congress begin the hard work of filling in the details of the plan, deciding what deductions to trim or eliminate from a code that has arguably become more tangled since the last overhaul in 1986, the possibility of a tax bill that could saddle future generations with debt is giving pause to some. The question is to what degree? I think thats what were all going to struggle with, said Rep. Mark Sanford (R-S.C.). At the same time, Republicans are under great pressure to deliver on taxes, to have something to show for their hold on Congress and the presidency, especially after the collapse of efforts to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) hung a debt clock in his office even before photos of his kids after he was elected. Now, he worries that his colleagues may put aside concern over deficits. I didnt want to forget that is the main issue here that I came to solve, said the libertarian-leaning congressman. I may very well be alone. Part it is the zeal for the deal on tax reform, and people are willing to hold their nose.... Because weve done nothing else. lisa.mascaro@latimes.com @LisaMascaro ALSO Bannons ouster could boost the powerful Koch network, which has surprising sway in Trumps White House McCains surprise vote doomed GOP healthcare bill, but did it open the door for Senate bipartisanship? Is this small-town congressman from New Mexico tough enough to win Democrats the House majority? More coverage of Congress More coverage of politics and the White House Related On the trail of the Holy Family in Egypt Pope Francis on Wednesday presented Egyptian Tourism Minister Yehia Rashid with an icon depicting the Holy Family in Egypt he had blessed, a move described by Rashid as the crowning glory of Egyptian government efforts to revive international Christian pilgrimage to Egypt. According to a statement issued by the ministry of tourism, the blessing comes as an important step in the process of including the Egyptian routes in Roman Catholic pilgrimage programmes next year. The Egyptian minister flew to Rome long with a high-level delegation of tourism and business officials on Tuesday for a visit aimed at promoting religious tourism to Egypt along the route the Holy Family is said to have travelled. The icon, depicting the Holy Familys journey, was presented to the minister during the pope's weekly general audience to thousands of people in St. Peters Square in the Vatican, the tourism ministrys statement read. The visit is part of the ministry's efforts to incorporate the trip from Bethlehem through Egypt by the Holy Family (Joseph, the Virgin Mary and Jesus) in the global religious tourism map. The pilgrimage route in Egypt includes 25 sites, from Sinai in the east to Assiut in the south. The ministry said eight locations have been developed to be the key stops of the tour. These include the tree of the Virgin Mary in Cairo's Matariya suburb, the churches of Coptic Cairo, and the Monastery of Saint Pishoy in Wadi El Natrun in the desert northwest of Cairo. Egyptian tourism, a main pillar of the country's economy and a key source of hard currency, has been hit hard by years of political turmoil since the 2011 revolution. Pope Francis visited Egypt in April, the first Roman Catholic pontiff to do so since Pope John Paul II in 2000. In his speeches, Pope Francis made several reference to the Holy Familys visit to Egypt. According to Biblical tradition, Mary and Joseph fled to Egypt with the infant Jesus to escape King Herods persecution. Search Keywords: Short link: The Trump administration began unraveling the Obama-era program shielding people brought to the United States illegally as children from deportation, though a split Congress has made no progress on writing similar protections into law as President Trump asked. The phaseout of the five-year-old Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program began at midnight Thursday. The administration is no longer accepting or processing new or renewal applications for so-called DACA protections, even if they were mailed before the deadline. Now, with five months to go before hundreds of people daily begin losing their legal status, Congress is struggling to respond to Trumps request for a legislative solution over an issue that has traditionally divided lawmakers along partisan lines. Advertisement The popularity of the so-called Dreamers, however, has prompted an unusual number of Republicans to favor action to provide them with legal status, even as conservative hard-liners continue to denounce such legislation as amnesty. We need to stop talking about it and solve it, Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina, a Republican who has cosponsored one proposal, said earlier this week at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. We know what a reasonable solution is, and we should provide it. Permits already issued to live, work and serve in the military will begin to expire after March 5, continuing over the following two years. When Trump announced last month that he was ending the program, he said the delay would give Congress six months to send him legislation to put alternative protections into law for the roughly 800,000 Dreamers who have qualified for two-year permits to remain in the U.S. without threat of deportation. Of the estimated 154,000 people who were eligible to apply for renewals, about 118,000 had sent in applications to the three federal processing centers in Phoenix, Dallas and Chicago by Wednesday, according to the Department of Homeland Security. Officials will only process applications that were received by the end of the day Thursday, and will not consider forms postmarked Thursday but arriving later, said David Lapan, a spokesman for the Homeland Security Department. That left some 34,000 DACA beneficiaries just under one in four of those eligible for renewal who had yet to file in the final days before the deadline and who could lose their protected status and their authorization to work. In a related matter, the American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU Foundation of Southern California filed a class-action lawsuit Thursday on behalf of DACA beneficiaries, alleging that even before the programs phaseout, the administration was revoking beneficiaries protections for minor offenses like traffic infractions or charges for which they were ultimately cleared. Democrats in Congress, including Sen. Richard J. Durbin of Illinois, had repeatedly urged the department to extend Thursdays deadline, especially for people living in disaster zones in Texas, Florida and Puerto Rico. The Congressional Hispanic Caucus asked the administration to reset the deadline to January. But the Trump administration refused to move the dates. Thursdays deadline was both cruel and arbitrary, said Lorella Praeli, director of immigration policy at the ACLU. Immigrants advocates had scrambled to notify those who were eligible for a final renewal to take action, and expressed frustration that the government hadnt reached out to DACA participants to alert them to the changes. Since 2012, under President Obamas order, people who qualified could apply for protected status if they paid a $495 fee and submitted to a federal background check. Renewals every two years required the same steps. The fees covered program costs. But Trumps personal interest in these incredible kids, as he has called Dreamers, as well as polling that shows overwhelming public support for the mostly young people, has led more Republicans to join Democrats in considering legislation benefiting them. Trump very much wants Congress to find a solution for the Dreamers, Michael Dougherty, a senior immigration policy official at the Department of Homeland Security, told the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday. Theyre a benefit to the country, as are many immigrants coming in, Dougherty said. They are a valuable contribution to our society. We need to regularize their status through some legal means. The White House is expected to send guidelines to Congress soon for what it wants to see in legislation. An immigration task force of House Republicans formed by House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) has been meeting almost daily to assess options that could win majority support. Democratic leaders House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco and Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer of New York said that Trump told them during a Chinese food dinner at the White House in mid-September that he was willing to sign the Dream Act as part of a broader package that also increased border security. But some Republicans in Congress and the administration have cast doubt on Trumps commitment to the Democrats on Dreamers. We know what the president said. On the Dream Act, the president was committed, Pelosi said Wednesday. Schumer agreed, and said: If theyre backing off it because of pressure from the hard right, America ought to know. Several bills are making their way through Congress, including one from Republican Rep. Carlos Curbelo of Florida that puts Dreamers on a potential path to citizenship; it has more than 20 GOP sponsors in the House. Another, from Tillis and fellow Republican Sen. James Lankford of Oklahoma, also offers a citizenship process. Another possibility would be to tuck a DACA and border security agreement into a must-pass bill to fund the government that is due by Dec. 8. Democratic leaders, though, have been reluctant to engage on options other than the terms of their Dream Act, the nearly 20-year effort to provide the young immigrants with legal status and a path to citizenship. In July, Durbin and a Republican ally, Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, introduced the latest Dream Act. It would allow some people who were brought to the United States illegally as minors to apply for lawful permanent residence and eventually citizenship. But Trump has signaled in recent weeks that he will only sign a narrower bill that would allow only people who qualify for DACA to receive protections rather than expanding coverage to a broader pool of immigrants. That would exclude, for example, close relatives of those who have benefited from the existing program. DACA beneficiaries would not be allowed to sponsor relatives for migration to the United States. White House officials have also said that any law to replace DACA should come with more money for immigration enforcement, but Democrats and many DACA beneficiaries oppose proposals to toughen action beyond the border areas, fearing it would lead to more raids and deportations of non-DACA immigrants from the interior United States. Some lawmakers say seeking too comprehensive an immigration bill in Congress short time frame could doom the effort. Dont put the entirety of immigration reform on the Dreamers, Durbin said. Its too much to ask. Dreamers have flooded Capitol Hill this week, knocking on lawmakers doors and rallying outside the Capitol. Californian Denisse Rojas Marquez, 28, a DACA beneficiary who is studying to become a doctor, says she and others will face hardships if the protection expires. I have loved this country for as long as I can remember, said Marquez, who told senators how she arrived from Mexico as a 1-year-old, settling with her family in Fremont and eventually graduating from UC Berkeley in 2012, all the while fearful of being deported. Terminating DACA means I will not be able to practice as a doctor, Marquez said. It means that every aspiration and goal I have will once again be made unreachable. ...They have been in our country for many years through no fault of their own - brought in by parents at young age. Plus BIG border security Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 14, 2017 Does anybody really want to throw out good, educated and accomplished young people who have jobs, some serving in the military? Really!..... Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 14, 2017 CHAIN MIGRATION cannot be allowed to be part of any legislation on Immigration! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 15, 2017 Immigration activists protest in Newark, N.J., last month against the Trump administrations decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. (Eduardo Munoz Alvarez / Getty Images ) Twitter: @ByBrianBennett brian.bennett@latimes.com The civil rights law that prohibits discrimination in the workplace does not apply to transgender employees, Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions has decided, continuing a shift by the Justice Department against the more LGBTQ-friendly policies championed by the Obama administration. Sessions reversed a 2014 decision by a predecessor, Eric H. Holder Jr., that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination based on sex, also prohibits employers from taking any actions based on a persons gender identity. Although it provides various protections to transgender individuals, Title VII does not prohibit discrimination based on someones gender identity because the law, written in 1964, does not mention it, Sessions wrote in a memorandum: Sex is ordinarily defined to mean biologically male or female. Advertisement The Department of Justice cannot expand the law beyond what Congress has provided, said Devin OMalley, a Justice Department spokesman. Unfortunately, the last administration abandoned that fundamental principle, which necessitated todays action. Sessions went on to say that he does not condone mistreatment on the basis of gender identity and is not expressing an opinion as to whether Congress should change the law. As a U.S. senator, Sessions voted against a 2009 law that extended hate crime protections to sexual orientation, but he said the department would continue to vigorously prosecute such crimes, including ones against transgender Americans. The Trump administration moved early to start scuttling Obamas transgender policies. In February, the administration revoked an Obama-era rule instructing local school districts to allow students to choose which bathrooms to use based on their gender identity. The memo on Title VII follows another decision this summer to intervene in a discrimination case brought by Donald Zarda, a skydiving instructor in New York who claimed he was fired because he was gay. In a brief filed July 26 the same day that President Trump announced on Twitter that transgender people would not be allowed to serve in the military the Justice Department argued that the civil rights law did not apply to cases of discrimination based on sexual orientation. Also this week, the Justice Department filed court papers defending Trumps right to exclude transgender people from serving in the military. A suit that seeks to protect transgender soldiers is premature, the Justice Department said, because the Trump administration hasnt come up with a final policy. The department also argues that Trump has a right to exclude transgender people from serving if he believes they would damage a military units cohesion, drawing comparisons to a list of physical infirmities: A variety of physical and mental conditions presumptively bar entry into the armed forces, including asthma, history of severe migraines, discrepancies in leg length resulting in a limp, or any curvature of the spine that would prevent one from wearing a uniform properly, the court papers say. The latest contraction of Obamas civil rights policies drew angry denunciations from groups that work for legal protections for gay and transgender people. Its another example of how, under Jeff Sessions, the Justice Department is no longer in the justice business, said Sharon McGowan, director of strategy for Lambda Legal, a civil rights group. McGowan, a former attorney in the Justice Departments Civil Rights Division who left after Sessions became attorney general, called the policy reversal nothing short of heartbreaking. House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco was equally scathing. From banning transgender service members to dismantling protections for transgender students, this administration has consistently and cruelly put prejudice and bigotry before the civil rights of the American people, she said in a statement. joseph.tanfani@latimes.com Twitter: @jtanfani ALSO Republicans and NRA shift ground, say they will consider limiting firearm bump stocks California becomes sanctuary state in rebuke of Trump immigration policy Trumps push to ignore climate costs generates a backlash in court, slowing some projects Thirty years ago, a neighborhood association in Westwood won a lawsuit against the city of Los Angeles over the approval of a 26-story office tower. The project, the group convinced an appellate court, shouldnt have been permitted without an in-depth environmental review, even though the city said the building had met all its codes and requirements. Ever since that landmark case, most every housing development in Los Angeles with 50 or more units has undergone a full environmental analysis no matter whether the citys zoning would otherwise allow the effort to go forward. Now, thats likely to change. The author of a new state law says it will eliminate Los Angeles rule. Advertisement It would go away, said state Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco). Los Angeles policy, one of many implemented over decades that aimed to slow the citys growth, is just one example of similar rules across the state that Wieners legislation aims to jettison. In cities such as Los Angeles that havent met housing growth targets set by the state, projects that comply with a host of zoning, affordability and labor standards wont have to go through additional planning and environmental reviews that slow the pace and raise the costs of constructing housing. Wieners legislation, Senate Bill 35, is among 15 bills Gov. Jerry Brown signed last week to address Californias housing problems and is the most prominent attempt in the legislative package to spur more development by clawing power away from cities and counties. Many local restrictions, Wiener said, are a luxury the state cannot afford when California falls short of the tens of thousands of new homes needed annually to meet demand. Were in a crisis, he said. In Los Angeles County, where median home prices have soared to a record $580,000, the new law isnt likely to lead to a construction boom. But it does chip away at long-standing policies, such as the one inaugurated by the 1987 Westwood court decision, that make it more difficult for developers to build. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, who supported the legislation, said in an interview that SB 35 complements the citys other efforts, such as relaxing development restrictions near transit lines, to ease production. A lot of people dont want the brain damage or the headache of building affordable homes, Garcetti said. This makes it a much less painful process. The citys current policy forces most projects 50 units or larger regardless of whether they comply with zoning codes to complete a full analysis under the California Environmental Quality Act, the states primary environmental law governing development. These analyses cost Los Angeles developers $200,000 to $300,000 each and add 18 months to the building process, and thats before any potential challenge in court, said Jim Ries, a senior vice president at Craig Lawson & Co., a land-use consultant that advises on hundreds of city projects annually. Wieners legislation aims to wipe that process away, but only for projects that meet a substantial number of conditions: They cant be single-family homes and have to meet underlying zoning rules so no 100-unit condominiums on land now planned for 50. They cant be along the coast. They cant replace rent-controlled housing or buildings that have been occupied by tenants in the previous 10 years. Developers have to pay construction workers union-level wages and abide by union-level hiring rules. For Los Angeles, the guidelines are even stricter. Generally, Wieners legislation allows developers of market-rate homes to take advantage of the streamlined local review process. But because Los Angeles is exceeding its state housing growth targets for those earning higher-than-middle incomes, only projects that reserve at least half of their units for low-income residents will qualify. In Los Angeles, the current standard for low-income is a family of four earning no more than $72,100 a year. The restrictions over how developers can use SB 35 means that its likely to have only a limited effect on housing production, said Joan Ling, a lecturer in urban planning at UCLA and former board member of the citys redevelopment agency. No developer in Los Angeles has said it plans to use SB 35 once it takes effect Jan. 1, though Wiener said hes been told a small project in his Bay Area district expects to take advantage. It remains to be seen how much its going to help, Ling said. Still, those who support Los Angeles current system believe SB 35 is misplaced. Laura Lake, who founded the Westwood neighborhood association that successfully sued the city in the 1980s and has initiated other high-profile environmental lawsuits, argues that legislators are scapegoating state environmental laws as the cause of the housing crisis. Instead, she said, the focus should be on trying to lower the costs of land, labor and materials. Beyond that, Lake said, allowing community members to appeal projects through environmental reviews ensures more support from neighbors and fewer detrimental effects from development. Each time there is a constraint on the right to appeal, Lake said, to me its as chilling on the democratic process as voter suppression. liam.dillon@latimes.com @dillonliam ALSO Gov. Brown just signed 15 housing bills. Heres how theyre supposed to help the affordability crisis California lawmakers have tried for 50 years to fix the states housing crisis. Heres why theyve failed Southern California home prices jump again. Lots of residents worry about affordability Updates on California politics One thing we know about the Las Vegas mass murderer: He was, before obtaining all those guns, an honest, law-abiding citizen. You know, the kind of guy that the National Rifle Assn. always says its trying to protect from unconstitutional firearms laws. First, most gun control laws are not unconstitutional. They may be threats to gun industry profits, but not to the 2nd Amendment right to keep and bear arms. Advertisement The late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, a conservative hero, put it best in a 2008 opinion affirming the right of individuals to own firearms: The right secured by the Second Amendment is not unlimited. The right was not a right to keep and carry any weapon whatsoever in any manner whatsoever and for whatever purpose. No one has a 2nd Amendment right to tote around a military-style assault weapon. And courts have said so. Neither does a person have a constitutional right to modify a semiautomatic rifle with a bump fire stock, as the Vegas shooter did. That allows a weapon to discharge hundreds of rounds a minute and operate almost as an illegal automatic. Second, as weve seen time and again although the gun lobby covers its eyes too many people are law-abiding until theyre not. Until they get fired and mow down co-workers, or their spouse cheats and they unload on the family, or a professor gives a lousy grade and they spray bullets all over campus. Or theyre overcome by racial or religious bigotry. We dont know what 64-year-old Stephen Paddocks hang-up was. But does it really matter? What matters most is that he had an arsenal of 47 firearms. Twelve were equipped with bump fire stocks. At least 23, mostly rifles, were within reach in his hotel room. It took just a few minutes for Paddock to devolve from being a law-abiding citizen to becoming the deadliest mass shooter in modern U.S. history, killing 58 and injuring nearly 500. Thats why we shouldnt be selling certain high-powered weapons to someone just because he hasnt been convicted of a crime. And Paddock apparently hadnt even gotten a traffic ticket in his neighborhood in nearby Mesquite. Look, take that [gun] element out of the equation and this event never would have happened, notes Garen Wintemute, director of the Firearm Violence Research Center at UC Davis. If hed thrown knives or used a bow and arrows, that outcome would have been different. From the shooters perch in his 32nd-floor hotel room, looking down on an outdoor country and western concert packed with 22,000 people, the victims were like fish in a barrel, Wintemute adds. He didnt even need to aim, just point. We know most of these things. They get repeated after each shooting massacre, even if many gun worshipers plug their ears and their elected representatives offer only prayers and condolences. Prayers certainly are appreciated. But if prayers alone were the answer, the problem would have been solved long ago. The Almighty already has given us a tool to help fix this: a democracy capable of enacting meaningful gun controls. Another myth is that these killers are usually mentally ill, and if only we were more successful at treating mental illness, there would be a lot fewer gun deaths. Then we wouldnt need to control weapons. Rubbish. Yes, government should focus more on treating mental illness. No, treating the mentally ill isnt going to make a huge dent in mass killings. Sure, anyone who murders has a screw loose. But that doesnt make them clinically mentally ill. The Vegas killer had no history of mental illness. Police found at least 23 firearms in the Las Vegas shooters hotel room including at least 1 bump-fire stock modification. It does a disservice to people with mental illness to equate [Paddock] with the mentally ill, Wintemute says. He was homicidal. Thats different. To say everyone who murders is mentally ill lets people off the hook, he adds. They can just blame it on mental illness. We know that mental illness by itself is responsible for no more than 4% or 5% of interpersonal violence. Another predictable dodge is that right after a mass shooting is not the appropriate time to discuss the divisive issue of gun control. You heard that this week from the White House and Republican leadership in Congress. Well, sorry, but this is the best time, and the gun lobby knows it while the sound of automatic gun fire still rings in the ears and TV footage of victims running and falling is fresh in memory. If not now, when? Wait for a peaceful week? In this country, 32 people are shot to death each day. Are gun control advocates now being politically opportunistic, as the GOP charges? You bet. Thats how it works in a healthy democracy: one side urging citizens to pressure the other side when theyre paying attention. What could have prevented the Las Vegas bloodbath? Maybe nothing. But some things might have helped reduce the killing. Start with banning those bump fire stocks. They already are forbidden in California, but not in Nevada. U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) has introduced legislation to ban them nationally. Limit the number of guns anyone in America is allowed to purchase and possess. A hunter needs a shotgun for birds, a rifle for big game, a .22 for plinking, maybe a pistol for home protection and two or three extras. Not 47. Stop assuming that everyone whos a good guy will never become a bad guy. george.skelton@latimes.com Follow @LATimesSkelton on Twitter ALSO What we know about Stephen Paddock Las Vegas shooting victims: Portraits of the fallen Comprehensive coverage of the shooting and the investigation Sen. Dianne Feinstein, whose daughter almost went to Vegas concert, proposes ban of bump stock gun modifications 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 Republicans, in a shift after Las Vegas massacre, are open to considering a gun limit -- on bump stocks The Las Vegas massacre has forced a breach in congressional Republicans solid opposition to gun restrictions, prompting many, from party leaders on down, to say they will consider banning bump stocks that turn assault rifles into virtual machine guns. The National Rifle Assn., to which most Republicans are loyal and which had been silent since the gunmans attack Sunday night, on Thursday in a statement said it could back such limits -- as a federal regulation, not law. The NRA believes that devices designed to allow semi-automatic rifles to function like fully-automatic rifles should be subject to additional regulations. its statement on Thursday said. The NRAs blessing will probably increase the number of Republicans willing to back restrictions, but if those limits come in the form of regulations from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), rather than in a law, Democrats are certain to object. Just Wednesday, when California Sen. Dianne Feinstein introduced legislation to ban bump stocks by law, only fellow Democrats joined with her. By Thursday, however, top GOP leaders in the House and Senate, including Speaker Paul D. Ryan of Wisconsin and Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn of Texas, signaled their interest in working on legislation that that could limit access to the devices. Clearly thats something we need to look into, Ryan told MSNBC host Hugh Hewitt in an interview scheduled to air this weekend. Senators on Thursday morning privately discussed ways they could tackle the issue as they met for routine business. I will tell you that the unique aspect of the bump stock and how you would literally transform a semiautomatic weapon into an automatic weapon is something that I think bears looking into, Cornyn told Texas reporters on a conference call. He has asked Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles E. Grassley of Iowa to convene a hearing and look into it. Even Rep. Mark Meadows of North Carolina, chairman of the House Freedom Caucus of conservative hard-liners, told reporters earlier in the week hed be willing to consider banning bump stocks, if the Senate passes a bill and sends it to the House. The shift is notable for Republicans who, under great pressure from the NRA and other gun rights groups, have resisted past efforts at gun control, even after some of the most devastating mass shootings in the United States. Coming after the Las Vegas shooting, which left 58 dead and hundreds wounded in what authorities said is the deadliest mass shooting in modern American history, the movement may indicate the potential limits of the gun lobbys reach into politics and policy. Polls show Americans overwhelmingly want measures that could curb gun violence and pressure has mounted as cultural figures, including late-night comedian Jimmy Kimmel, have delivered heart-wrenching criticisms of congressional inaction. Democrats, who have at times splintered on firearms issues as conservative-state lawmakers joined Republicans to defeat gun-safety bills, welcomed the changed outlook. They have called on President Trump to cut across partisan lines and push Congress toward legislation to reduce gun violence that polls show most Americans would support. Will the president stand up? said Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer of New York. The president has a choice. Many Democrats, however, will not want to limit action to bump stocks. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco said bump stock legislation was one approach, but no substitute for a background check bill that she said would have bipartisan support in the House if Ryan would allow a vote. It really is all up to the speaker, she said. Is he going to bring the bill to the floor? At the same time, lawmakers were skeptical that initial interest in limited bipartisan legislation would translate into enough actual votes to write the restriction into law. We need to move Republicans from being open to the idea to being willing to actually work on it, said Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut, a Democrat who has become a leader on firearms safety measures since the 2012 killings of 20 first-graders and six adults at an elementary school in Newtown, Conn. One key Republican, Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania, who co-sponsored a bipartisan background check bill that was defeated a few years ago, was noncommittal Thursday. He said he was just learning about bump stocks and needed more information. Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas told reporters it was too soon, as the investigation in Las Vegas was just underway, to consider legislation. Lawmakers, though, appeared concerned that the device offers a way to get around the existing ban on automatic weapons, which have been outlawed for years except for military use. In the House, several military veterans, led by Rep. Adam Kinzinger, a Republican from Illinois, sent a letter to federal officials asking them to reconsider how they regulate the devices. During the Obama administration, the ATF authorized use of the stocks. This is definitely an area were going to look [at], Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy of Bakersfield said on Fox News. A number of lawmakers, including Ryan, an avid hunter, said they were unfamiliar with bump stocks before the Las Vegas shooting. The alleged gunman appears to have used the device for rapid shooting. Read More Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry held talks with Brett McGurk, the US special envoy to the coalition against Islamic State, in Cairo on Wednesday, to discuss US-Egyptian coordination on counter-terrorism. Shoukry and McGurk discussed efforts to defeat Daesh in Iraq, the post-defeat phase and how authorities can continue to hold ground, foreign ministry spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid said in a statement on Wednesday. The two officials also discussed the fight against terrorism and Daesh militants in Syria. Shoukry emphasised the importance of "battling all terrorist organisations and boosting cooperation between members of the US-led coalition to curb activities related to the financing and backing of terrorism," warning against an incomplete defeat of terrorist groups. The pair also discussed means to bolster US-Egyptian cooperation in the battle against terrorism. Egypt is the current representative of Arab countries on the Security Council and is also the current chair of the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Committee at the council. Search Keywords: Short link: Segerstrom Center for the Arts will open its 2017-18 dance season Oct. 12 to 15 with the Mariinsky Ballet and Orchestra. The Russian ballet company, which was founded in the 18th century, will return for its ninth center visit and perform a special program with four ballets choreographed by Michel Fokine, a groundbreaking Russian choreographer who died in 1942. The pieces are Chopiniana (Les Sylphides), The Swan, Scheherazade and Le Spectre de la Rose, the latter making its center premiere. Yuri Fateev, the companys acting ballet director, said Mariinsky is approaching each ballet specifically, having to fit each piece in a specifc time and remain precise in choreographic language. A short, Le Spectre de la Rose is about a girl who dreams of dancing with the spirit of a souvenir rose from her first ball. Le Spectre de la Rose is a romantic ballet, and one must be very careful because it has a spirit of decadence, Fateev said. It looks simple but its actually difficult not only for the male dancer but also for the female dancer. The romantic landscape of today is different from the romantic feel of 100 years ago and that creates a unique and interesting challenge. The one-act Chopiniana will open the set. The piece, set to music by Frederic Chopin, is considered Fokines masterwork. The evening will continue with Le Spectre de la Rose, The Swan, originally choreographed for the late prima ballerina Anna Pavlova, and Scheherazade, danced to a Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov score. Talent makes a great ballet, Fateev said. They devote their time every day rehearsing behind-the-scenes and performing onstage, Fateev said of the Mariinsky dancers, choreographers and teachers. And of course, every ballet has a flair of mystery and magic and that makes the world of dance so special. If You Go What: Mariinsky Ballet and Orchestra When: Oct. 12 to 15; 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sunday Where: Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa Cost: Tickets start at $29 Information: (714) 556-2787 or visit scfta.org. kathleen.luppi@latimes.com Twitter: @KathleenLuppi After holding hearings the past few months, the Coast Community College District board voted Tuesday to adopt a district-based trustee election system that is expected to go into effect by November 2018. In the current system, trustees who oversee Orange Coast, Golden West and Coastline Community colleges live in and represent one of five geographical zones of an area that includes Costa Mesa, Newport Beach, Fountain Valley, Huntington Beach and other cities. However, board candidates have been elected under an at-large system by voters throughout the district. Under the new rules, they will be chosen only by voters who live in each zone. The board approved the change on a 3-2 vote, with trustees Jim Moreno and Jerry Patterson dissenting. Coast held five public hearings on the matter, starting with one Aug. 2 that featured some verbal sparring. Patterson, a former congressman and mayor of Santa Ana, argued at the time that having a seven-member board would better represent minorities in the district and help get them elected. The board will remain at five seats for the time being, though under the resolution it approved, it will consider expanding to seven by the 2020 election. Final approval of the change will rest with the California Community Colleges Board of Governors. Coasts at-large system was threatened with lawsuits this year by critics who argued that it unfairly enabled the preferences of white voters to overwhelm those of minorities. Newport Beach lawyer William Hoang pointed to the 2016 battle for the seat Patterson ultimately won as an example of the problem. The attorney argued that Vong Nguyen, a Vietnamese American, had strong support in the Vietnamese community but lost because of bloc voting by the districts majority non-Vietnamese voters. bradley.zint@latimes.com Twitter: @BradleyZint Hundreds of floppy-eared golden retrievers will converge in Huntington Beachs Central Park on Sunday for the inaugural Goldie Palooza. Dogs can be entered in a Halloween costume contest for a chance to win a $25 basket of dog-related items. The event also will feature a kissing booth, a pet caricature artist and various vendors from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the park, 18000 Goldenwest St. About 300 dogs are expected to show up. The festivities are organized by SoCal Golden Retrievers Buddies, a group that meets regularly around the region. The public is welcome to participate, though a minimum donation of $5 per dog is required. To sign up, email socalgoldenretrievers@gmail.com. Donations will go to Southern California Golden Retriever Rescue and the Golden Retriever Club of Greater Los Angeles Rescue, according to Sophie Meagher, founder of SoCal Golden Retrievers Buddies. Meagher, 43, of Redondo Beach, said she founded the group about a year ago to celebrate her love of golden retrievers, largely her 2-year-old, Hugo Maxwell. The group claims about 2,000 members on social media. Meagher said Sundays event, commemorating the groups first anniversary, is expected to be one of the largest gatherings of golden retrievers ever. I was not expecting this kind of success, she said. benjamin.brazil@latimes.com Twitter:@benbrazilpilot Two people were injured in a crash early Thursday at Beach Boulevard and Warner Avenue in Huntington Beach, fire officials said. Huntington Beach firefighters responded to the intersection at 3:15 a.m. after a report that two cars had collided. A minivan rolled over onto the drivers side door. Firefighters removed the roof and pulled out the driver, who was taken to a hospital, authorities said. The driver of the other vehicle also was taken to a hospital. The extent of their injuries was not released. Details about the cause of the crash were not immediately available. hannah.fry@latimes.com Twitter: @HannahFryTCN Concerns about traffic, trash and aesthetics may doom the latest proposal to renovate the Laguna Beach Coast Inn. The city Planning Commission unanimously recommended Wednesday that the City Council deny the project. Commissioners echoed concerns of many of the meetings 41 speakers, who claimed that proposed features of the renovated hotel at 1401 S. Coast Hwy., such as a rooftop deck and pool, did not align with the inns historical integrity. There were also concerns about the adjoining Coast Liquor opening a deli with takeout service. Laguna Beach resident Chris Dornin bought the property in December 2013 and worked with architect Marshall Ininns on plans to restore the 1927 hotel, which at one time housed the Boom Boom Room nightclub. His plans call for a 24-room hotel with three restaurants. Earlier plans included a pool behind Coast Liquor, but Dornin and Ininns proposed placing the pool on the rooftop deck and reducing the size of the deck by 800 square feet to 2,812 square feet. Commissioners said the adjustments were not enough to convince them to recommend approval to the council. There are couches and lounges and tables that look like a hotel lobby, Commissioner Roger McErlane said. What you are proposing is a rooftop addition that never existed before. McErlane also said there was a disconnect between a rendering of the hotel as it looked in 1935 and a design of the proposed hotel. The representation in this image [proposed design] is not representative of the Spanish colonial revival, he said. It is very tract house-looking and does not have any quality of Spanish colonial revival. Awnings look thin and rigid. The windows look like anodized aluminum, the stucco looks like [1950s] tract housing. Ininns said he had to work with current building codes that were not in play when the hotel was built. The front, as you see toward the ocean, has no lateral support in it whatsoever, Ininns said. The existing building has no lateral support whatsoever. The code has changed 25-, 30-fold since this building was built. Speakers worried there would be an abundance of traffic on Mountain Road with delivery and trash trucks trying to safely maneuver in an area beachgoers use to access the sand and ocean. Even now, there is no safe place to walk or unload their cars, resident Rosemary Boyd said. Cars constantly back out of metered spaces on Mountain (Road). This is an accident waiting to happen. Please dont put the safety of the public at risk. Four Dumpsters would be placed behind Coast Liquor and trash collection would occur daily. There are already multiple restaurants and businesses along Mountain Road having trash picked up every single day, and they manage, said Cindy Shopoff, who lives on Mountain Road. Commissioners and residents acknowledged the hotel and liquor store should be improved, though not according to the current plan. I like the idea we can do something with else with Coast Liquor, Commissioner Sue Kempf said. I dont want to see all the trash back there. Its very narrow back there. The hotel currently houses a 54-seat restaurant and two bars that seat an additional 67 people, according to a city staff report. Dornins proposal includes an 86-seat restaurant and space for 102 people on the rooftop during normal day-to-day operations. For special events, the number of people on the deck could rise to 175, the staff report said. City staff did not say when the council, which has the authority to override the Planning Commission recommendation, would discuss the proposed project. bryce.alderton@latimes.com Twitter: @AldertonBryce There are heroes in classrooms. In 2012, an insane young man who had just killed his mother breached the front of a Connecticut elementary school and started shooting. The much-loved principal who heard the shots came running out of her meeting and lunged toward the man to stop him but was fatally shot. In the same school, a young first-grade teacher heard the shots and herded her students into a closet in the back of the room where she put herself between the shooter and her first graders. She didnt have a chance. Elsewhere on the campus, a teacher led 14 first graders into a bathroom, blocked the door and said to the crying children, I love you and everything is going to be OK. They believed her. The staff at the school led students into a storage room and gave them paper and crayons to color in order to stay calm and quiet. They lived. On an Ohio campus in 2002, students were having breakfast in the cafeteria when a student entered and started shooting. He killed two students and injured others. More students would have died if it werent for two teachers. One confronted the shooter who was pointing a gun directly at him. The kid ran away. Elsewhere, a math teacher blocked all the doors, but when he heard an injured student outside the door, he risked his life and brought his student in. A 14-year-old boy walked into a high school class in West Virginia and held the students hostage at gunpoint in 2015. The teacher not only kept calm in the class, but talked him into not allowing newly arriving students to enter after the bell rang. Those students alerted the teacher across the hall who called for help. No one was hurt. Yet another 14-year-old boy approached a South Carolina playground in 2016 and fired a weapon wounding a teacher and two boys, one of whom later died. The injured teacher was able to usher her students inside the building. Just last month, a 40-year-old high school teacher in Illinois tackled a shooter as he fired off several rounds at kids eating lunch. She held him down until help arrived. Teachers are heroes in other ways as well. In Utah in January, an AP government teacher performed CPR on a student who had stopped breathing and saved the students life. That teacher had saved lives at the Pentagon on Sept. 11. In February, a teacher in a Las Vegas high school performed the Heimlich on a student who had choked on a lollipop and stick and reportedly said to her, Youre going to be OK. The student said she thought she was going to die but the teacher calmed her down. When the family came to thank her, they all cried and hugged. A Spanish teacher at Laguna Beach High School performed CPR in March on a boy whose heart had stopped, saving his life. There are untold numbers of teachers who have saved the lives of suicidal students, not to mention helped their students in so many other ways with their money, attention, intervention and, yes, love. And there are the nosy teachers. There was one particularly nosy teacher on a plane in August who was sitting next to a man who was texting on his smartphone. The font was reportedly very large. She noticed key words that alerted her to a possible child sex crime. She did what all teachers are taught to do; she immediately informed the authorities. The man and a woman he was communicating with are in prison now, and many kids lives are saved as a result. Nosy teachers have probably stopped more crimes of abuse than any other group of people. Thank God for nosy teachers.Thank God for teachers. SANDY ASPER is a Newport Beach resident. For nearly three decades, JPL engineering manager Chris Salvo has collaborated on multimillion-dollar projects that demand efficiency and consensus and now he hopes to bring that level of scrutiny and solid decision-making to the La Canada Unified Governing Board. The 49-year-old father of two children at La Canada Elementary School, sixth-grade son Diego and fourth-grader Violet, is one of five candidates competing for three open seats on the school board. He filed papers to run on Aug. 16 after learning current board member David Sagal would not seek reelection on Nov. 7. Salvo decided to take his volunteerism as a Boy Scout parent, a JPLer who makes school appearances and a member of St. Bede the Venerable Catholic Church a step further. It was a decision we had to come to as a family, he said of his conference with wife Leticia. [But] I thought, I can do this. Salvo came to La Canada three years ago for the quality of its public schools and has not been disappointed. Still, he sees room for more discussion among board members on important matters requiring greater examination. He cited two recent examples adoption of the Everyday Mathematics K-5 textbook last summer, objected to by several petitioning parents, and the recent addition to the core literature list of the graphic novel Persepolis, a book restricted in Chicago schools for its content as cases where unanimous board votes halted rigorous discussion and debate. Having some debate or dissenting opinion on a choice the school board makes would be a healthy thing, Salvo said. When does that occur? I dont think it exists in recent years, and I wonder why not. He believes his experience as a leader and project manager on major missions would benefit the board and the school community, especially if the $149-million Measure LCF school bond passes and building projects need prioritization. Every organization needs to scrutinize itself, and not just think its great because its always been great, he said. Id like to bring the self-scrutiny Im familiar with, the weighing of conclusions. Its about the process. Other areas of focus include backing a Sagebrush territory transfer, supporting a well-rounded education that connects STEM subjects with the clear communication and presentation skills inherent in English and the performing arts, and allowing parents more chances to bring their professional talents into schools. While Salvo believes his background would help the board, he understands theres a lot to learn. I dont think I have all the ideas, he said. But I would be there to be a voice for people in the community and hear their ideas. sara.cardine@latimes.com Twitter: @SaraCardine Eight candidates are running for head of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, including former population minister Khattab, advisor to the Lebanese culture ministry Vera Khoury, former Qatari culture minister Hamad Abdul Aziz Al-Kawari, and former French culture minister Audrey Azoulay. Shoukry is set to meet with the members of UNESCOs executive board, foreign ministry spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid said, according to MENA state news agency. The selection of candidates will begin on 9 October and the vote will be by secret ballot of the executive board, which includes 58 member states. The winner must be supported by 30 of the 58 members of the board and then approved by the 195 members of the UNESCO General Assembly to succeed Bulgarian Irina Bokova, who was elected as director-general in 2009 and re-elected for a second term in 2013. The session of the organisation's executive body must end on October 18th. Khattab graduated from the Faculty of Economics and Political Science at Cairo University in 1967. A career diplomat, she has served as Egypt's ambassador to Czechoslovakia from 1990 to 1995 and ambassador to South Africa from 1995 to 1999, before becoming an assistant foreign minister. In 2002, she was appointed secretary-general of the National Council for Childhood and Motherhood and in 2010 was appointed to head the short-lived ministry of family and population. Khattab is not the first Egyptian to be nominated for the UNESCO position. In 2009, Egypt nominated former culture ministry Farouk Hosni for the post. Hosni lost the election amid allegations of anti-Semitism tied to remarks he made during his term as culture minister. Search Keywords: Short link: Issues surrounding La Canada Unifieds facilities master plan, a $149-million bond measure on the November ballot and tempering the pursuit of academic excellence with a focus on student wellness were put before five school board candidates in a forum Monday. Co-sponsored by the La Canada Council PTA and the League of Women Voters - Pasadena area, the event introduced an audience of about 50 community members to the three newcomers and two incumbents Josh Gottheim, Joe Radabaugh, Chris Salvo and current board members Kaitzer Puglia and Dan Jeffries who will be vying for three open seats on the La Canada Unified School District Governing board on Nov. 7. David Sagal, occupant of one contested seat, announced he would not run for a second term. Candidates largely supported the districts plan to modernize campuses in the coming decades, under the guidance of a facilities master plan adopted in June. They also confirmed their support for Measure LCF, a bond that would raise money for a portion of the renovations by maintaining district residents current taxation rate over an extended period. But when it came to how to execute the master plan whether two-story buildings proposed for the elementary schools are appropriate, or if campuses should be closed for better security perspectives differed. Jeffries and Puglia said two-story buildings maximize efficiency on landlocked campuses and would use natural slopes to reduce visual impacts. But Radabaugh questioned the move. I think we need to revisit that, the retired Nestle executive said of the master plan. These are not cemented in stone priorities. Theres more work to be done in terms of the scope and the design objectives. Im not convinced two-story is the way to go. Salvo, an aerospace engineering manager at JPL, said an effective architectural solution could be developed with further community input and an eyes open approach. Land-use attorney Gottheim favored the additions. Two-story is a no-brainer, Gottheim said. Weve got two-story homes in the community we dont want to use up our precious ball fields and limited land on campuses. To increase campus safety, Puglia agreed with Gottheim that recommendations developed by a district Safety and Security Committee and adopted by the board in 2014 could stand an update. The community gave feedback and the feedback they gave was split. Half felt we did not need to be completely closed in, and half felt we did, said the Pasadena City College education professor. So I do think we need to revisit [this] again. Jeffries advocated for the use of trellises, building lines and natural features over gates and walls. Were hopeful the bond measure passes so we have additional funding and can implement some of the physical changes wed like to make to our campuses to make them more secure, said Jeffries, a prosecutor for the Los Angeles City Attorneys office. On the subject of instruction, Gottheim and Salvo strongly favored bringing in resources and technology that would let students in the same classroom learn at different paces. Clearly one size doesnt fit all, and kids dont learn all at the same rate, Salvo said. We need offerings that respond to that reality, and [not to] just move everyone along at the same pace thats just demoralizing for the kids. When asked about student wellness keeping kids at their highest performance levels without causing undue stress, incumbents leaned on the benefits so far of the researched-based Stanford University program Challenge Success, implemented at La Canada High School last year and now being introduced at the elementary level. The program focuses on campus conditions, policy changes and behavioral modifications at school and at home that directly address childrens social and emotional needs. Radabaugh said hed like to see the program tailored more specifically to the unique needs of La Canada families and act as a springboard for more local actions and decisions. In closing statements, the five candidates distinguished themselves from competitors. Puglia said content standards, school funding, teacher support and board policy review would take a central role in the coming years, and promised to be an advocate for children. Jeffries said hed continue to exercise diligence, communication, cooperation and responsiveness and to give back to the community through his service on the board. Gottheim said it is imperative to maintain a culture of excellence and said hed use his passion for STEM subjects and arts education to endorse a whole-person approach to education. Salvo said hed use his background in management and practical decision-making skills to ensure the district runs a tight ship, while encouraging parents to share their own talents and expertise with LCUSD students. Radabaugh said the board needs someone with leadership experience and promised to hold the district accountable and be visible, accessible and open to community input. Voters will be asked to select three candidates on election day, Nov. 7. sara.cardine@latimes.com Twitter: @SaraCardine Brush up on history with two new American Cruise Lines voyages that visit regions that played important roles in the American Revolution and the Civil War. Revolutionary War buffs can learn more about the battle for independence on a cruise that visits Washington D.C., Annapolis, Md., and Williamsburg and Mt. Vernon, Va., places where the cry for revolution rang loudly and clearly in 1776. The 11-day itinerary gets underway April 18 and will be the first cruise for the lines new American Constitution ship. It will sail round-trip from Baltimore, visiting the most historically significant ports along Chesapeake Bay. Advertisement In Washington, guests can tour the National Mall and Smithsonian Museums. At Mt. Vernon, the lines experts will guide visitors through George Washingtons estate, and in Yorktown, theyll travel to the last battlefield of the Revolutionary War. American Cruise Lines onboard expert for the trip will be Harold Cones, a biologist and naturalist who arranges and leads tours for the Mariners Museum in Newport News, Va. Cruises will take place in 2018, leaving April 18 and 28, May 8, Oct. 29 and Nov. 8. Rates begin at $5,695 per person, double occupancy; early booking discounts are available. Civil War buffs can explore Southern battlefields, monuments and museums on a new itinerary that gets underway Dec. 9. The eight-day round-trip cruise sails from New Orleans, visiting Natchez and Vicksburg, Miss., and Baton Rouge, La. Historical sites include Vicksburg Military Park and the Louisiana State Museum, where cruisers will learn about the run-up to the war. Rates begin at $3,225 per person, double occupancy. Info: Contact a travel agent or call American Cruise Lines, (800) 460-4518. ALSO: What are the best months to sail to certain destinations? Check out Avid Cruisers month-by-month guide Eight places that look their best from the deck of a cruise ship Cruise ship that made historic return to Cuba to become Azamara Pursuit travel@latimes.com @latimestravel A Long Beach apartment building was destroyed in an explosion and resulting fire on the Fourth of July in 1973. Four residents of the building were injured. This photo accompanied a story in the July 5, 1973, Los Angeles Times reporting: A gas main explosion set off an apartment house fire in Long Beach Wednesday night, burning two persons. Two others who jumped from windows also were injured. Advertisement Authorities said 10 persons were in the two-story building - which was destroyed - when the blaze broke out. No deaths were reported. Ten engine companies were dispatched to the scene at 3351 Wilton Ave. Ten police units cordoned off the area to keep out hundreds of onlookers. The explosion which occurred after 8:30 p.m., ripped a 40-foot hole in the street and sent flames into the 15-unit structure. A separate fire roared from the hole, severing power lines, destroying five parked cars and damaging several others, officials said. See more from the Los Angeles Times archives here Running down a dream I was happy in these days of sorrow and felt guilty about it. I was on my way to photograph rocker Tom Petty at his home in Malibu, and I was driving down Pacific Coast Highway with a grin on my face. As I hummed all the Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers songs that I could from memory, I reflected on the first time I photographed Petty in the early 1980s. It never crossed my mind that Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2017, would be my last. In 1982, my friends and I found out about a secret concert that Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers were giving at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium as a warm-up to the US Festival. After the concert, we tracked Petty to his motel. He was on the balcony having a cigarette with that James Dean slouch. Hi, Tom, we shouted. Hey, guys, he responded. We all stated that the concert was a triumph, and I asked him if he would sign a few photographs I made of him at a previous show. He agreed. Before signing, he stopped and carefully looked at the photographs. Did you take these? he said. I nodded yes. Nice shots, kid, he said with a smile, and then graciously autographed my images. I shook off that memory and began to meditate on my upcoming shoot. The assignment came through saying Tom doesnt like to pose and You can only photograph him during the interview. So I thought, as with most celebrity shoots, that I had my work cut out for me. Pettys press rep warmly greeted me like an old friend. So there are many options where you can take Toms picture, she said. The proverbial clouds had parted and I was given free rein of where I could photograph Petty. I began scouting potential sites. Pop music writer Randy Lewis was my model and, as always, my moral support. Randy and I met with Petty in his studio. He greeted us with a smile. He was wearing his familiar tinted glasses, brim and an Army canvas jacket. And he wore that Tom Petty cool without effort. After congratulating him on the completion of his 40th anniversary tour, I asked if we could step outside for a few portraits. I told him that I was hoping to emulate a picture that I made of Joni Mitchell a few years ago as she meditated under a fig tree. I said that I wanted to make an image that captured him in a reflective state, remembering four decades of music. I showed him my image of Mitchell and he became animated with the prospect of recreating the moment. Let me get my favorite guitar, he said, walking briskly back into his house. He returned with an acoustic Gibson six-string guitar, a cigarette and a cup of coffee. As we made our way to the site of my first portrait, I told Petty about how one of his songs reminded me of how my girlfriend in college was stolen from me by famed rock and roll photographer Jim Marshall. I told Tom that I said to her, You sound like that Tom Petty song, So you think youre going to take her away, with your money and your cocaine. Thats exactly what he did. Tom started laughing through a smile. It was the second of many smiles that afternoon. Tom Petty at his home in Malibu on Sept. 27, 2017. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) He sat on a wrought-iron bench surrounded by greenery. He held his guitar gently like a father holds a child. He started strumming and singing something that I couldnt quite make out. I was hoping for the song Breakdown, but I didnt throw out that cliched request. I made my last portrait of him in his studio against a backdrop of guitars. The late-afternoon light was spilling in behind him. While making my last frames, he swiveled on the stool the sunlight gave his guitar a heavenly glow. He accented the photo with another smile. He went into the next room and sat on a couch, where Lewis would interview him for the last time. Before I left, Petty said it was great to meet me. I reached out and shook his hand. These are the rare times when a journalist becomes a fan. Thanks for all the amazing music, I said. Your songs have been the musical landscape of my life. Thank you. I wished him continued success and creativity and that I looked forward to his next album. He followed my comment with the best smile of the afternoon. That one I captured with my minds eye is the one Ill forever carry with me. BEIJING When China landed its first lunar rover on the moon last month, many Americans reacted with a shrug. After all, the U.S. sent men to the moon more than 40 years ago, and the Soviets landed a rover there too. But among lunar scientists, the Change 3 mission has generated considerable interest. They say the lander and the rover, equipped with ground-penetrating radar, cameras, a telescope and spectroscopic instruments, could gather significant new information, especially relating to the chemical composition and depth of the lunar soil. Such data, they say, could shed light on the history of the moon and, by extension, Earth. It could also help humans design equipment to mine the lunar surface for oxygen and other elements. Advertisement In addition, experts say, the Chinese mission is testing new equipment and technology that could be useful for future missions manned or unmanned not only to the moon but also to Mercury or Mars. The parts of the moon that have been explored are so minuscule, said Leroy Chiao, a former NASA astronaut and International Space Station commander. Its like saying you sent probes to the Earth, you looked at small areas of California and New York and now you know everything there is to know. Thats not the case. Stephen Mackwell, director of the Lunar and Planetary Institute in Houston, noted that the Change 3 mission landed in an area the right eye of the Man in the Moon distinctly different from previous U.S. and Soviet landing sites. In the years since Americans and Soviet crafts visited the lunar surface, he said, orbiters launched by Europe, Japan, the United States and others have gathered extensive data about the moons structure and composition. Now, the Chinese rover may help validate and refine that data, giving detailed information about the concentrations of elements such as titanium, aluminum, iron, potassium and sodium. Scientists are also watching closely to see how the lander and the Jade Rabbit rover survive the frigid lunar night, which lasts about two weeks. The lander and rover went into hibernation mode on Dec. 25 and 26, respectively, and will have to endure temperatures dipping perhaps as low as minus 292 degrees. The vehicles are supposed to endure two such long, cold nights during the course of the mission. This is very important for planning other missions, like one to Mercury, which could use a lander just like this one, said G. Jeffrey Taylor, a researcher at the Hawaii Institute of Geophysics and Planetology. Once you get down to minus 80 or 90, the electronics may not survive. They must be in containers with little radioactive heating units to keep things up to a certain temperature so they dont get damaged. Change 3 also carries an extreme ultraviolet camera, which is to be used to monitor Earths plasmasphere, and a near-ultraviolet telescope to observe galaxies and stars. Proponents of a lunar telescope say the moons thin atmosphere and slow rotation will allow for long, uninterrupted observations of a target. This [telescope] is another great test, said Taylor. Some people have said a telescope on the moon would be useful, others say its not useful and that we should do them all in free space like Hubble and Keppler. Its been a debate. So now well find out if we can do observations from the moon really effectively or its easier to do it another way. The Change 3 landing came more than two months after NASAs LADEE probe entered lunar orbit in early October. Initially, some American scientists had been concerned that the Change 3 landing would displace a lot of material into the exosphere, perhaps impeding LADEEs mission to gather detailed information about the structure and composition of the lunar atmosphere. As it turns out, Mackwell said, LADEE seems to have had enough time to gather some baseline measurements and can monitor the changes in the atmosphere caused by the Chinese crafts landing. We dont understand a lot about the chemistry of the atmosphere, the residence time for the dust, how various chemicals move around, he said. So in a way, this Chinese mission has given LADEE a lot of interesting stimuli to understand the lunar exosphere. Mackwell and others said they were optimistic that the Chinese will share the findings of the Change 3 mission. Some experts said that when China hosted the International Astronautical Congress in Beijing in the fall, Chinese researchers were transparent about the results of the previous Change 1 and 2 missions and their plans for the rover. I went to a conference a few years back and the Chinese were very guarded. They were very cautious. Heck, when they first launched a man into space [in 2003], they didnt even announce it until the guy was up there, Chiao said. Compared to that, this years gathering was night and day. They had a big exhibition, there were big talks about their plans for a space station, they were openly courting other countries to come join them in research and also in having their astronauts come and train with them and fly with them. I think they will share their results to show their scientific ability and what they were able to discover. Although NASA is barred by U.S. law from working with China, academics from the U.S. and around the world have been exchanging questions and information about the Change 3 in various forums. One is a popular Listserv group for lunar scientists; just hours after the Dec. 14 landing, Dr. Zheng Yongchun of the National Astronomical Observatories of China posted a message to the group, saying the rover and the lander had taken pictures of each other. The most interesting results for us are both the footprint of the Lander (weight about 1000 kg) and the wheelmarker of the Jade Rabbit (weight about 140 kg) are much more shallow than prospected, he wrote. Maybe the lunar surface soil is much [more] compact. The surface can support much heavier payloads than ever. Anyway, it is good news for the future lunar surface exploration. In 2010, the Obama administration quashed NASAs Constellation program, which aimed to return astronauts to the moon by 2020. The move was a disappointment for researchers such as Angel Abbud-Madrid, director of the Center for Space Resources based at the Colorado School of Mines, who are interested in exploiting the resources on the moon, either to use on Earth or to support further space exploration. The Chinese lander and rover, he said, can answer questions related to prospecting, or discovering whats on the moon; excavation; and processing. For excavation, you need to know how deep can you penetrate with a drill? Is the soil very compacted, or is it easy to move around? Is it electrically charged? he said. Theres a lot you need to know to design your excavator. Although some may downplay the Change 3 landing as been there, done that, Abbud-Madrid said such naysayers are missing the larger point of Chinas very systematic approach to the moon, including its eventual goal of landing humans on the surface. By the time they get there, it may be 50 years since we did it, and that may not be a big deal. But once you develop a system like this, once you have all the infrastructure, you are just increasingly raising your complexity, he said. You get rovers, then you send back samples, and once you send humans, youre going to want to spend more than three days there. Then youre going to figure out, maybe we can generate some oxygen on the moon. Then you can really start moving ahead from what was previously achieved. Hopefully between now and then, we can talk about collaboration. julie.makinen@latimes.com The Iraqi government said Thursday that its forces have recaptured the northern town of Hawija from the Islamic State extremist group, stripping the militants of their last urban stronghold in the country and leaving them concentrated in a stretch of desert outposts along the western border with Syria. Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Abadi made the announcement while on a state visit to Paris, calling it a victory not only for Iraqis but also for the whole world. The U.S.-led coalition, which provided air and other support, confirmed the swift and decisive victory in Hawija, though there were reports of continued fighting in surrounding areas. Advertisement Our Iraqi partners fought bravely and professionally against a brutal and determined enemy, safeguarding innocent civilians throughout the entire campaign, Lt. Gen. Paul E. Funk II, the coalitions commanding general, said in a statement. Islamic State, which once claimed about a third of Iraq and neighboring Syria for its self-declared caliphate, has been losing territory rapidly. But U.S. officials had worried that the fight for Hawija might be undermined by a vote for independence in Iraqs semiautonomous Kurdish region. The mostly Sunni Arab town, long a bastion of insurgency against Iraqs Shiite Muslim-led government, sits in the oil-rich province of Kirkuk. After last months referendum, Iraqs parliament called on Abadi to send troops to the city of Kirkuk, which is controlled by Kurdish forces known as the peshmerga but claimed by Baghdad. The peshmerga have played a vital role in the battle against Islamic State, fighting alongside government security forces and Shiite Arab militias, some of them armed and trained by Iran. But tensions among the various Iraqi forces have escalated since the Sept. 25 referendum, which the central government in Baghdad decried as illegal. The government imposed an international flight ban and other punitive measures on the Kurdish region, which voted overwhelmingly in favor of statehood. Iran and Turkey, which have significant Kurdish populations of their own, also threatened to retaliate. In Paris on Thursday, Abadi said the government wasnt looking for a confrontation but added, The authority of the federal government should prevail, and no one should challenge the federal authority. The United Nations has expressed concern about the fate of as many as 78,000 civilians who were believed to be trapped by the fighting in and around Hawija. Some of the estimated 12,500 who managed to get out described seeing people being buried alive by airstrikes, according to the Norwegian Refugee Council. Many said they were forced to build mud houses because their homes were destroyed, the aid group said in a statement. Some have slept in the open. The relative speed of the campaign, which was launched Sept. 21, points to the diminished capabilities of Islamic State since it lost control of Mosul, Iraqs second-largest city, in July after a punishing fight that lasted nine months. The battle for the city of Tall Afar, which took place in August, lasted 11 days. U.S. and Iraqi commanders say morale is low among militants in the Hawija region, hundreds of whom are reported to have fled with their families and surrendered to nearby Kurdish forces. But they say a concurrent campaign to drive Islamic State from the town of Qaim and other footholds in the Euphrates River valley could prove more difficult. Islamic State also controls territory on the Syrian side of the porous border, although its fighters there are under pressure from a U.S.-backed alliance of Kurdish and Arab militias, as well as Syrian government forces supported by Iran and Russia. U.S. and Iraqi commanders believe that Islamic States leader, Abu Bakr Baghdadi, is hiding in the region straddling the Iraqi-Syrian frontier. Last week, the militants released a purported audio recording of Baghdadi, in which he urged followers to keep up the fight despite recent setbacks. alexandra.zavis@latimes.com Twitter: @alexzavis UPDATES: 4 p.m.: This article was replaced with staff reporting. 11:30 a.m.: This article was updated with concerns about the fate of civilians in Hawija and other staff reporting. This article was originally published at 3:35 a.m. It hit the headlines as Ground Zero of a catastrophe, but the Enrique Rebsamen school soon became a global focus of hope amid the devastation of last months 7.1 magnitude earthquake. Breathless TV reports recounted the inspirational tale of Frida Sofia the 12-year-old who had miraculously survived in the rubble following the collapse of a school wing that killed 19 fellow students and seven adults. Alas, the news of Frida Sofia turned out to be fake, the product of misinformation, confusion and a collective desire for an upbeat narrative from the ruins of the Sept. 19 disaster. Advertisement Today, more than two weeks after the quake, the school has come to embody something else the corruption, back-door deals and shoddy building practices that authorities suspect contributed to the collapse of dozens of structures and the deaths of at least 369 in the quake. The school, shuttered and cordoned off by police tape, is now enveloped in a toxic cloud of accusations and ill will. Mexican education authorities have revoked its operating license. And the school is not the only earthquake-pummeled building here attracting law enforcement attention. The Mexico City prosecutors office says it has opened up almost 150 investigations related to the earthquake, including inquiries into the collapse of 38 buildings in the capital, among them the Rebsamen school. Future criminal charges could include homicide, fraud and negligence, officials say. Among the areas of inquiry will be whether building owners kept up with reinforcement of concrete support columns, other retrofits and assorted safety measures mandated after the 1985 earthquake, which killed thousands here. There is broad suspicion that many property owners failed to ensure their buildings were up to code, in some cases paying off inspectors to avoid doing the work. None of the cases of the downed buildings has been as incendiary as that of the Rebsamen school, with 400 students in a middle-class district in the capitals southern borough of Tlalpan. This is an outrage, Claudia Sheinbaum, Tlalpan borough chief, told reporters in announcing a criminal complaint for negligence against the schools owner/director and two former borough officials. It remains for prosecutors to determine it. But in our minds, yes, the word is corruption. Sheinbaum, considered a front-runner in next years mayoral elections as a likely candidate of the left-wing Morena party, pointedly distanced her administration from any potential wrongdoing, although she has been in office since 2015. The two borough officials whom she cited worked for a previous administration. The borough chief cited a series of irregularities, including land-use violations and improper additions to the school. In 2014, she said, the school paid a fine of about $1,400 to avoid a possible shutdown for illegal construction at the site. Sheinbaum said investigators would determine whether illegal additions at the school contributed to the disastrous collapse. Mexico City prosecutors have summoned the schools director and owner, Monica Garcia Villegas, to appear before investigators. Garcia lived in a rooftop apartment on the school grounds and survived the collapse. She has not commented publicly on the matter. Also among the multiple earthquake incidents attracting police scrutiny are the casualties suffered at another school, the Mexico City campus of the prestigious Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education. Five students were killed and dozens injured when structures collapsed or buckled on the sprawling campus of the exclusive private institution. Prosecutors are investigating whether construction or maintenance deficiencies contributed to the deaths. Authorities are also looking at possible anomalies in a doomed six-story office building at 286 Alvaro Obregon Ave. in the capitals Roma Sur district. The midday collapse turned the structure into a pancaked debris pile and a suffocating tomb, killing 30 men and 19 women. The death toll at the office building was the highest at any one venue in the earthquake. Only 28 people who had been inside the building when the earth started shaking survived, according to official accounts. Early Wednesday, rescuers pulled out the last body from the building on Alvaro Obregon. That signaled the end citywide of efforts to rescue survivors or recover corpses from the rubble. This time there would be no miracle survivors, pulled from the wreckage two weeks later. Mexicos acclaimed searchers, known as topos, or moles, were picking up their gear and leaving the scene. A heavy crane and bulldozers began clearing the mountain of debris, once a collection of offices, at Alvaro Obregon. A huge billboard with a stylized tooth advertising dental service hung on a wall next to the compressed mound of rubble where so many lives had ended. In the streets, a few of the posters seeking information on people believed missing in the office building still clung to trees and lampposts. Miles to the south, at the site of the Enrique Rebsamen school, a sense of tranquility prevails where once there was chaos. Only a few curious residents and the odd media crew stop by a cordoned-off square block that not long ago featured hordes of media and rows of satellite broadcast trucks. Interest in the earthquake-pummeled school evaporated as soon as the saga of Frida Sofia, the supposed 12-year-old trapped alive in the rubble, proved to be a sham. The whole thing about Frida Sofia was made up, they played with the hopes of those poor parents, said Claudia Herrera, a neighborhood resident and mother of two who was among the curious taking a look at the collapsed school building on a recent afternoon. On the day of the quake, Herrera recalled, she ran to a neighboring school just across the street from the Rebsamen building to pick up her children, 15 and 18. Both were safe, and her childrens school, like others in the vicinity, was not seriously damaged. Now it turns out the whole situation was about money and corruption, said Herrera. Thats why the school collapsed and those children died. Its a disgrace. Cecilia Sanchez of The Times Mexico City bureau contributed to this report. patrick.mcdonnell@latimes.com Twitter: @mcdneville All material is subject to strictly enforced copyright terms & conditions and cannot be repurposed or reproduced. 19882022 Latin American Financial Publications Inc. The cabinet also said there is no intention to cut fuel subsidies or to increase gasoline prices this fiscal year The Egyptian cabinet's Information and Decision Support Center (IDSC) dismissed on Thursday news reports the government is planning to raise cigarette and tobacco prices in order to boost tax revenues. Earlier this week, Reuters reported that the government is aiming to increase revenues from taxes on tobacco by EGP 7 billion ($397.50 million) in the 2017/18 fiscal year, which ends in July 2018. However, the IDSC says that "taxes on cigarettes and tobacco will stay as they are for the time being." Some 20.2 percent of Egyptians above the age of 15 are smokers, according to 2016 statistics. The cabinet also said that there is no intention to cut fuel subsidies or increase gasoline prices this fiscal year. Egypt has been increasing taxes and cutting subsidies to narrow its budget deficit as part of economic reforms tied to a $12 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) aimed at boosting the economy. Prior to signing the IMF loan deal in November 2016, Egypt imposed a valued-added tax on nonessential goods. The last tax increase on cigarettes saw the price of packs that cost EGP 13 or less increase by EGP 2.75, packs that cost between EGP 13 and 23 increase by EGP 4.25, and packs that cost more than EGP 23 increase by EGP 5.25. Search Keywords: Short link: Egypt condemned on Thursday an attack by Taliban militants against Afghan security forces, which killed at least 24 people in southern Afghanistan. A statement by the Egyptian foreign ministry expressed Egypt's condolences for the families of the victims as well as the Egyptian people and government's complete solidarity with Afghanistan in its quest to achieve stability and security in the country. Earlier on Thursday, Taliban militants launched an attack in the state of Zaranj, killing 18 Afghan army soldiers and six police personnel. Search Keywords: Short link: Pope Francis prayed for Egypt and the Middle East during his general audience speech on Wednesday in Saint Peter's Square, which was attended by a delegation from the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism, the Vatican Radio reported. "May the Lord protect Egypt, the Middle East and the world from terrorism," the pope said during his speech. The Egyptian delegation to the Vatican, led by tourism minister Yehia Rashid, hopes to promote a tourist trail in Egypt that follows the journey of the Holy Family of Jesus in the country. The visit is part of the ministry's efforts to incorporate the trip from Bethlehem through Egypt by the Holy Family (Joseph, the Virgin Mary and Jesus) in the global religious tourism map. Pope Francis pointed out that a number of biblical prophets had lived in Egypt. "Egypt is a land that has been blessed with the precious blood of martyrs spilled throughout the centuries," he said. Describing Egypt as the land of cohabitation and hospitality, Pope Francis spoke of his visit to the country in April, saying he had fond memories about the trip. Pope Francis also presented Minister Rashid with an icon depicting the Holy Family in Egypt which he had blessed, a move described by Rashid as the crowning glory of the Egyptian governments efforts to revive international Christian pilgrimage to Egypt. According to a statement by the tourism ministry on Wednesday, the blessing comes as an important step in including the Egyptian routes in Roman Catholic pilgrimage programmes next year. The pilgrimage route in Egypt includes 25 sites, from Sinai in the east to Assiut in the south. The ministry said that eight locations have been developed to be the key stops of the tour. These include the tree of the Virgin Mary in Cairo's Matariya suburb, the churches of Coptic Cairo, and the Monastery of Saint Pishoy in Wadi El-Natrun in the desert northwest of Cairo According to biblical tradition, Mary and Joseph fled to Egypt with the infant Jesus to escape King Herods persecution. Search Keywords: Short link: Turkey, Iran and Iraq will jointly decide on closing the flow of oil from northern Iraq, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan was quoted as saying on Thursday, a retaliatory move after the Kurdish region voted for independence. Erdogan, who was speaking to Turkish media including broadcasters NTV and CNN Turk on his return flight from a one-day trip to Iran, also criticised the inclusion of the oil-rich city of Kirkuk in the referendum, saying that Kurds had no legitimacy there. Iran and Turkey have already threatened to join Baghdad in imposing economic sanctions on Iraqi Kurdistan and have launched joint military exercises with Iraqi troops on their borders after northern Iraq's independence referendum last month. Last month, Russian oil major Rosneft clinched a gas pipeline deal in Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan to help it become a major exporter of gas to Turkey and Europe. The pipeline will be constructed in 2019 and exports will begin in 2020. Search Keywords: Short link: UPDATE: Standoff over: Suspect in custody, schools' lockdown lifted At least four Bethlehem area schools were locked down Thursday morning and local residents were advised to shelter in place after a homicide suspect was pulled over nearby, officials said. John Hann, 61, of Bushkill Township, who is charged with killing a man Wednesday night and severely wounding the man's wife in Lehigh Township, was pulled over Thursday morning by Bethlehem Township police, Lehigh Township police Chief Scott Fogel confirmed. He's in a vehicle and talking with police but not in custody. People should avoid the area of Santee and Hecktown roads in Bethlehem Township, the Northampton County emergency dispatch center said. Township police said the situation was contained and there was "no immediate danger to the public." Bethlehem Area School District Superintendent Joseph Roy said there was a call from the dispatch center before 8 a.m. advising the lockdown. Bethlehem Area Vo-Tech and Freedom High School in Bethlehem Township and nearby East Hills Middle School in the city complied, Roy said. Our Lady of Perpetual Help School in the 3200 block of Santee Road in the township was also locked down, the school confirmed. A shelter in place order went out for the vicinity of 3245 Oakland Road, Northampton County Emergency Management Coordinator Todd Weaver said. It was requested by Pennsylvania State Police and township police, Weaver added. People should stay away from windows and doors until notified further, the alert says. Santee and Oakland roads were closed, dispatches say. Many area roads were subsequently shut. Hann and the man he's charged with killing were cousins, Fogel said. Hann owns land on Three Mile Lane in Lehigh Township, the chief added. Although there was a standoff overnight at Hann's home in Bushkill Township, in the end he wasn't there, township police Chief Mike McLouth said. Hann's special-needs sister was in the car with him when it was stopped in Bethlehem Township, but she is out of the vehicle and safe, Fogel said. The incident appears to be between Hecktown Road and Oakland Square Drive in the township, reports from the scene say. The Pennsylvania State Police Special Emergency Response Team personnel arrived not long after 8 a.m. with an armored bulldozer. Authorities were staging on Oakland Road. There was local, state and federal law enforcement on the scene. School buses were diverted to a nearby grocery store parking lot, dispatches say. Students were eventually taken to Liberty High School to wait for the situation to be resolved, Roy said. Kurt Bresswein and Tim Wynkoop contributed to this report. Tony Rhodin may be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyRhodin. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. A man allegedly responsible for a homicide resulting from a double shooting Wednesday night in Lehigh Township is now in custody. Bethlehem Township police issued a nixle alert at 10:23 a.m. Thursday confirming "suspect in custody." Authorities were monitoring two locations -- in Bethlehem and Bushkill townships -- as they looked for John Hann, 61. Hann allegedly shot and killed Jospeh Mullner, his cousin, and wounded Melinda Mullner, Joseph's wife, at the couple's home in Lehigh Township, according to township police Chief Scott Fogel. Melinda Mullner was shot multiple times and remained hospitalized with life-threatening injuries, Fogel said. Bethlehem Township police saw Hann leave the township address Thursday morning and pulled him over, and a standoff ensued. Four Bethlehem area schools were placed on lockdown about 8 a.m. Thursday while police tried to persuade Hann to turn himself in. Residents were asked to shelter in place. The nixle alert from 10:23 a.m. Thursday says "shelter in place lifted." The schools' lockdown has also been lifted, a Northampton County dispatch supervisor confirmed at 10:30 a.m. "At this point, the shelter in place is being lifted, the school lockdown is being lifted and Oakland Road is now going to remain closed between Hecktown and Oakland Square," the dispatch supervisor said. Hann was armed with multiple handguns inside a pickup truck during the morning standoff on Oakland Road, just west of Hecktown Road, in Bethlehem Township, according to Pennsylvania State Police Lt. Joseph Sokolofski. That's where Bethlehem Township pulled him over after police had been searching for him overnight, including at Hann's house in Bushkill Township, according to police. "We thought we knew where he was," Sokolofski said. "He obviously wasn't there." Northampton County Coroner Zachary Lysek confirmed Thursday morning that 64-year-old Joseph Mullner died from multiple gunshot wounds. His manner of death is homicide. He died at his home in the 500 block of Longacre Drive in Lehigh Township, Lysek said. Homicide and attempted homicide charges were filed Thursday against Hann, of the 200 block of Cherry Court, police said. The Mullners' home was surrounded by yellow police tape Thursday morning, and the police chief said Pennsylvania State Police were planning to come back to finish processing the crime scene. Troopers were at the home on the corner of Longacre Drive and Old Post Road until 4 a.m., Folger said. State police are handling the investigation, "just because of the sheer scope of what's going on," Folger said. Check back with lehighvalleylive.com for continuing updates on this story. Reporter Kurt Bresswein contributed to this report. Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @RudyMillerLV. Find Easton area news on Facebook. UPDATE: Woman made up Lake Nockamixon rape story, cops say A woman reported being forced into a car and raped Monday evening at Nockamixon State Park in Bucks County, according to Pennsylvania State Police. The victim told police she was at the fishing pier at Lake Nockamixon outside Quakertown when two male assailants forced her into a silver sedan, believed to be a Honda Civic, state police at Dublin said Wednesday. She was then taken to another area of the park in Haycock Township where the assault occurred, police said. It occurred between about 5 and 7 p.m. at the park, which is run by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Police said they were continuing to investigate the report and released the following descriptions of the perpetrators: Both were described as white, male and about 20 to 25 years old. One stood about 6 feet tall with a normal build, with short brown hair and clean-shaven, and wore a black V-neck T-shirt and baggy blue jeans. The other stood about 5 feet 8 inches tall with a normal build, with short blond hair and a small mustache. He wore a red Under Armor T-shirt with the brand name spelled out in white lettering, baggy blue jeans and a red and gray snapback-style hat. Police ask anyone with information on the incident to call state police at Dublin at 215-249-9191. Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. As authorities searched for a suspect in a deadly double shooting in Lehigh Township, an armed man took it upon himself to warn his neighbors. Lehigh Township police Chief Scott Fogel said his officers were helping Wednesday night with a double shooting on Longacre Drive, when they received a call about an armed man knocking on doors in a neighborhood. Township police responded, and learned the man had been going to neighbor's homes and telling them to stay inside, even though there was not a shelter-in-place order, Fogel said. "I understand his wanting to help," Fogel said Thursday morning at the crime scene. At the time, police knew suspect John Hann was no longer in the area, so they didn't issue a shelter order. Asked if dealing with the incident amid a homicide investigation and hunt for a suspect was frustrating, Fogel said, "It makes it difficult." Fogel said he took calls from concerned residents, as word spread of the killing. Joseph Mullner was fatally shot and his wife, Melinda, was wounded in the couple's home. Authorities said 61-year-old John Hann, Joseph's cousin, was the gunman, and police began searching for him Wednesday night. Police and state troopers went to two locations -- Hann's house in Bushkill Township and a second address in Bethlehem Township. Hann was seen Thursday morning leaving the Bethlehem Township location, and township police stopped him. A standoff ensued, which ended peacefully a little after 10 a.m. and Hann was arrested. Hann is awaiting arraignment on homicide and attempted homicide charges. Melinda Mullner remains hospitalized with life-threatening injuries. Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. Authorities investigating a homicide Wednesday evening in northern Northampton County were looking for the perpetrator, District Attorney John Morganelli confirmed. One person was being taken by ambulance for treatment following an emergency response Wednesday in the residential area of Lehigh Township, according to reports from the scene. In addition, the Northampton County Coroner's Office was responding to the call in the 500 block of Longacre Drive, a county 911 dispatch supervisor confirmed. That indicates there was a victim at the scene, in addition to the person taken for treatment. A body could be seen lying under a sheet in a driveway. Police were looking for a 61-year-old man driving a dark blue or black, full-size Dodge pickup truck. He is described as standing about 6 feet tall with brown hair. Dispatchers said the man should be considered armed and dangerous. Authorities asked anyone with information on his whereabouts to call the non-emergency dispatch number at 610-759-2200. Morganelli confirmed authorities were called for one homicide victim and that a second person may have been injured. He said he could not immediately confirm the name of the man being sought. Authorities closed the road where the incident was occurring due to police and emergency medical services activity, a dispatch supervisor confirmed. Responders initially hoped to transport the patient for treatment via medical helicopter but had to cancel, reports from the scene indicated. Authorities converge the evening of Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2017, outside a home on Longacre Drive in Lehigh Township. (Mike Nester | Lehighvalleylive.com contributor) Township police and emergency medical services were called about 6:30 p.m. to Longacre Drive at Old Post Road, off Cherryville Road. Lehigh Township, Northampton and Pennsylvania State police were responding, reports from the scene indicated. State police forensic investigators were among those responding, Morganelli confirmed. Freelance photographers Chris Post and Mike Nester contributed to this report. Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. A Bushkill Township man in a standoff with police Thursday morning is facing homicide charges in connection with a double shooting Wednesday night in Lehigh Township. Homicide and attempted homicide charges were filed Thursday against John Hann, 61, of the 200 block of Cherry Court. Hann was pulled over Thursday morning by Bethlehem Township police, and a standoff ensued. By 9 a.m., four Bethlehem area schools were placed on lockdown and residents were told to shelter in place. Authorities said a man was shot dead and a woman injured Wednesday evening in the 500 block of Longacre Drive in Lehigh Township. The victims were later identified as Joseph and Melinda Mullner. Following the double shooting, police were looking for a 61-year-old man driving a dark blue or black, full-size Dodge pickup truck. He was described as standing about 6 feet tall with brown hair, and was considered armed and dangerous. Authorities went to Hann's home at 205 Cherry Court in Bushkill Township on Wednesday night, and were still there Thursday morning. Officers at cul-de-sac off Clearfield Road said the beige home with a busted-out front window was still an active crime scene. Cherry Court is closed to traffic, and a number of Pennsylvania State Police and Bushkill Township police vehicles were parked along the street. The street has 11 homes, and county property records show Hann bought the 205 property last November. A trooper said the Bethlehem barracks would handle the release of additional information related to the incidents. Tony Rhodin may be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyRhodin. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. Russia on Thursday said its air strikes in Syria had destroyed a huge underground arms depot belonging to the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, a militant alliance led by Al-Qaeda's former Syria affiliate. "Russian aviation destroyed the largest buried arsenal of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham near Abu Duhur," defence ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said, referring to a town in the northwestern Idlib province. The munitions depot was hidden underground and contained "more than a thousand tonnes of weaponry," he said in statement. Russia said its aviation destroyed the depot using high power artillery, specially designed to destroy underground targets. The strikes also killed "49 fighters, including seven leaders of the Al-Nusra Front's eastern sector." Al-Nusra Front was Al-Qaeda's affiliate in Syria until mid-2016 when it broke off ties, before going on to found a new militants-led alliance called Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which now controls large swathes of Idlib province. The statement repeated Russia's claim on Wednesday to have seriously injured Hayat Tahrir al-Sham's leader Abu Mohamed al-Jolani, saying he was "in a coma" and that this had "thrown the terrorists of the whole Idlib province into disarray." The militant-led alliance on Wednesday denied Russia's claim, saying that Jolani was in "good health." Russia, which has intervened in the Syrian civil war on the side of Bashar al-Assad's regime, said on Wednesday it had killed 12 leaders of the militant coalition including Jolani's security chief. The Syrian regime and Russia have carried out heavy air strikes on Idlib province after a September 18 militant attack on its military police deployed in neighbouring Hama province. Search Keywords: Short link: Two Laois soldiers were among 130 troops who were due to arrive home to Irish soil on Wednesday, October 4 after doing their line of duty in Syria for six months. A local family has contacted the Leinster Express to share the experience the soldiers endured on their journey home which went on over four days, a day later than expected. One family member has said that the soldiers left their base on Monday, October 2 at 3:30am but due to a faulty aircraft and a missed flight they returned home on Thursday, October 5. During the days in between, families were upset with the delay on the 5,000km journey and did not know what was causing it or if their family members were okay. A homecoming party had to be cancelled with many disappointed children and families. Read more below the picture. Picture of soldiers asleep on the floor at the airport during delays. A family member of one of the Laois soldiers shared their story. "They left their base at 3.30am on Monday. The majority of the recruits are based in The Curragh but there were other bases with them. "When they arrived on the plane for the flight to Dublin the aircraft had a fault on it. The ground control crew tried to fix the issue as far as I know the aircraft was not fit to fly then. They were then changed to a different aircraft but they missed the flying slot. They were then taken off the aircraft and left in an airport hanger for the night not knowing when they would be getting home. "They were only given 60 bottles of water to share and they all got three slices of pizza each. They were supposed to be arriving into Baldonnel, Dublin where parents, wives, husbands and children along with other family members were meeting them where a get together was arranged for them for when they arrived home but that all had to be cancelled. "As far as I know they were getting a flight at 7am on Thursday morning. Hopefully they got the flight and arrived home safely. My brother was one of the recruits out doing his line of duty and he has four kids that were very excited to go and see their daddy after six months. "Everyone was upset with what happened to them and didn't know what was going on. It goes to show that the Minister for Defence didn't do anything or help with the situation that happened," the family member said. At 3pm on Thursday, families received word that the flight had landed safely and the emotional scenes unfolded at Baldonnel Aerodrome in Dublin. A different family from Laois is pictured below. Padraic Cuddy from Laois and his daughter waiting for mammy, Denise Doyle, to come home at Baldonnel Aerodrome following a six month deployment to the Golan Heights. Picture by Stephanie Grogan (@StephGrogan3 on Twitter). This map shows the position of the Golan Heights where the Irish troops spent the last six months. It is located between Syria and Lebanon and is also connected to Jordan. Read the latest Laois news here. Kildare South TD Martin Heydon has paid tribute to the former Taoiseach Liam Cosgrave after his recent passing, calling him a decent and compassionate man who was full of integrity whose public life was one of sacrifice for the common good and the State. On behalf of the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party I extend our deepest sympathies to the Cosgrave family, Deputy Heydon said. Liam Cosgrave was a part of a pre-eminent Fine Gael family, an exceptional patriot following in the footsteps of his father W.T who laid the key foundations of the State. Liam during his tenure as Fine Gael Party Leader and Taoiseach, showed great loyalty to the State and will be remembered for his staunch protection of the State's institutions at a very turbulent time in our nations history. READ ALS0: Former Taoiseach who married a Naas woman has died He lived a long and full life, and it was a particular source of joy for us in Fine Gael that he got to share in our State centenary commemorations of 1916. May he rest in peace. Minister Paul Kehoe, TD, has announced the date for the ceremony to award the Jadotville Medal to the men of A Company, 35th Infantry Battalion and to family representatives of deceased members. The ceremony will take place on Saturday 2 December in Custume Barracks, Athlone, where A Company assembled in advance of their deployment to the Congo. Some 160 Irish soldiers were attacked by 3,000 enemy troops during the siege but less than ten were injured in the siege in a remarkable feat of resilience and courage. The medal will be give full and due recognition in honour of their courageous actions at the Battle of Jadotville in September 1961, during the UN peacekeeping operation in the Congo. Speaking in relation to the medal ceremony the Minister said I am delighted to announce the date for the ceremony to honour the bravery and courage of the men of A Company who fought so valiantly at the siege of Jadotville in September 1961. Last year I had the honour of presenting a Unit Citation to the men of A Company in recognition of their collective actions at the Siege. I feel truly privileged to have been able to take the decision together with former Taoiseach Enda Kenny T.D. to award this medal, An Bonn Jadotville (The Jadotville Medal). I believe it rightly pays tribute to the professional and courageous actions of these men. Since the 13th June, when the Minister together with former Taoiseach Enda Kenny TD decided to award a medal to the men of A Company, a working group comprising civil and military officials has been working to co-ordinate efforts required to implement the plans for a medal ceremony. A specially commissioned medal, An Bonn Jadotville 2017 (The Jadotville Medal 2017), was designed and is currently being procured. The word Jadotville is depicted on the clasp of the medal and the medal ribbon represents a combination of an Irish tricolour and the United Nations Operation in Congo (ONUC) mission medal. The medal depicts a warrior of the ancient Fianna with sword and shield. To the left is a reproduction of the Irish overseas flash. Surrounding the central motif are the words Cosaint Chalma (Valiant Defence) and Misneach (Courage). The reverse contains a unique unit identification representing A Coy, 35 Cathlan Eireannach (Irish Battalion). In conclusion the Minister said I look forward to again meeting the men of A Company and the family representatives of the deceased members. I hope that the ceremony will be meaningful and poignant for the surviving members of A Company and all the families. Kildare spokesperson on Science, Technology, Research and Development James Lawless TD has called on the Government to commit to joining the European Organization for Nuclear Research and European Southern Observatory. Deputy Lawless pointed out that membership of these organisations offers enormous benefits to Ireland and would open up new opportunities to Irelands research and development sector. WATCH: Deputy Lawless said, The Government needs to commit to joining CERN and ESO and should set out a timeline detailing the time lime for when this will become a reality. Given that space week is underway, it highlights the particular importance of these projects and the need for the Government to go beyond lip service and prioritize investment in these schemes. CERN has already proven to be a successful international collaborative body. I have met with a number of research labs and projects who have set out the enormous opportunities that membership of CERN presents Ireland with. Membership would undoubtedly benefit the research and development sector. The approximate annual fee of 10m is entirely justifiable based on the return to the State from new contracts, investment and further research opportunities. According to Deputy Lawless membership of ESO also offers significant benefits to Ireland from third level to the business sector. The Government has the opportunity in the coming days to set out a definite timeline for joining CERN and ESO, concluded Deputy Lawless. Two Kildare pubs are celebrating after coming out on top at the Irish Pub Awards 2017 regional final, which took place in Judge Roy Beans, Newbridge last night. Cunninghams in Kildare town and Clancys in Athy will now go forward to the National Awards Ceremony on November 8 next. Cunninghams was selected for Best Music Pub and Clancys for Pub Personality of the year. The Irish Pub Awards are jointly presented by Vintners Federation of Ireland (VFI) and Licenced Vintners Association (LVA). A series of seven regional events are taking place around the country between 18 September and 4 October to announce 56 finalists through all categories. The objective of the Awards programme is to recognise and reward excellence and innovation across various categories in the Irish Pub Industry. Entries closed on 30 June and judging took place during July and August. The awards were presented by President of VFI, Pat Crotty and the category sponsors Speaking at the Awards Ceremony, President of VFI, Pat Crotty expressed his delight in how well the Awards are going. Entries for the inaugural event surpassed expectations all around Ireland and the judges had a difficult decision to make to reach this final list. The pub is a central part of our hospitality and tourism sectors as well as being a meeting place for locals. It is a major contributor to growth in our regional economies, so these awards will be an important vehicle to showcase the diversity that is available in the modern Irish pub and recognise the creativity and innovation that is already there, he added. The Health Products Regulatory Authority (formerly the Irish Medicines Board) has been joined as a defendant in a personal injury case by a Kildare woman who claims she suffered narcolepsy after receiving a vaccine for the swine flu virus. The application was brought on behalf of Aoife Bennett, who is among an estimated 70 people who have brought cases against the Minister for Health, the HSE and Glaxosmithkline (GSK) Biologicals S.A over being given the Pandemrix vaccine against "human swine flu" in 2009-10. Ms Bennett, originally from Naas in Co Kildare, claims she suffered injuries including narcolepsy and cataplexy disorder, and fainting fits, as a result of being given Pandemrix in 2009. The application to join the HPRA came after Ms Bennett's lawyers discovered information about the vaccine's safety records that were furnished to the then Irish Medicines Board in 2009 -2010 by GSK. The IMB which became the Health Products Regulatory Authority in 2014, is a state body whose role is to protect and enhance public health by regulating medical products. The safety reports allegedly show what is claimed to be "a particularly striking" difference between the number of adverse effects in those given Pandemrix and a similar vaccine also made by GSK. It is claimed that had parents been aware of the "vast difference" in the numbers of people who had adverse effects from the respective vaccines they would not have given their consent to the administration of Pandemrix to their children. As a result of the documents Ms Bennett claims the HPRA owes her a duty of care to persons given Pandemrix, including how the safety and appropriateness of the vaccine was monitored. She alleges the manner in which the HPRA performed its functions breached those duties. On Thursday, October 5, Ms Bennett, represented by William Binchy Bl and instructed by solicitor Gillian O'Connor, secured permission from the Master of the High Court Mr Edmund Honohan SC to add the HPRA to the case. In a sworn statement seeking to have the authority joined, Ms O'Connor said the application came following the examination of some 4,500 documents discovered to the plaintiff by GSK. The HPRA was not represented at Thursday's hearing before the Master, but Ms O'Connor said in her sworn statement that in correspondence the board said it will not be admitting any culpability in the matter. Ms O'Connor said that the discovery process had revealed that the authority had data concerning the safety records of Pandemrix which is made in Dresden, Germany and a very similar vaccine also used to treat swine flu is made in Quebec, Canada called Arepanrix. There are some differences in the manufacturing processes between Quebec and Dresden, Ms O'Connor said. The safety records shows that the level of adverse effects in those administered Pandemrix ranged between 10 and 7 times higher than the Canadian made product. One report from late 2009 states that of the tens of millions of vaccines administered there was a serious adverse effect rate of 75.9 per million for Pandemrix compared to 7.9 per million for Arepanrix. The type of adverse effects listed in the reports range from conditions such as convulsions, facial palsy, to still birth and fatal outcomes in those who got the vaccines. Ms O'Connor said the discovered material does not indicate that the Irish Medicines Board made the information it received available to the Minister or the HSE immediately after it was received or at all. A representative of the board attended all meetings of the National Public Health Emergency Team, which was set up by the Dept of Health to oversee the administration of pandemic vaccines, she said. While discovery is being awaited on those meetings Ms O'Connor said no minutes were recorded regarding adverse effects of Pandemrix at meetings to monitor and oversee the swine flue virus. Ms O Connor added that a HSE brochure issued to the public in 2009 about swine flu contained information to the effect that it was safe to use Pandemrix and that it had been appropriately tested, and that side effects were rare. Mrs O'Connor said the reality, which known to the Irish Medicines Board, was that not all the conclusions as contained in the brochure were warranted. Pandemrix was not adequately test on children young people before it was licensed, she said adding that if parents were aware of the facts regarding the lack of testing they would have likely refused to allow the vaccine be administered on their children. Michael Byrne Bishopland, Ballymore Eustace October 3 2017. After an illness bravely borne. Husband of the late Irene and loving father of Linda, Michael and Julianne. Will be dearly missed by his family, sons-in-law Patrick and John, daughter-in-law Teresa, 12 grandchildren, brothers, sister, brother-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, extended family, relatives and friends. Reposing at his home on Thursday October 5 from 5pm to 9pm. Removal on Friday morning October 6 to the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Ballymore Eustace arriving for 11am Funeral Mass followed by burial in St, Mary's Cemetery, Ballymore Eustace. James Courtney Dangan, Celbridge October 4 2017, peacefully in the loving care of the staff of Moyglare Nursing Home, Maynooth. Deeply regretted by his loving wife Teresa, daughters Deborah & Caroline, son Paul, sons-in-law James & John, grandchildren, brother, sisters, brothers-in-law, sisters in law, nephews, nieces, relatives & friends. Reposing at his residence on Thursday October 5 from 4pm to 8pm. Removal on Friday October 6 at 11am to arrive at Newlands Cross Crematorium for Funeral Service at 12 noon. No flowers please. Donations, if desired, to Moyglare Nursing Home, Maynooth. Kevin Hallahan (WICKLOW 56) Morell Manor, Naas / Doneraile, Cork September 30 2017, Beloved husband and best friend of Catherine, and loving father of Katie, Leah and Emily, beloved son of Marie and Anthony, brother of Pamela and Tony. He will be very sadly missed by his heart broken wife, daughters, his parents, sister and brother, mother-in-law, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, neighbours, relatives, large circle of friends and his mountain rescue family. Reposing at his home on Friday (October 6) from 3pm with prayers at 7pm. Removal on Saturday morning October 7 to the Church of Our Lady and St. David, Sallins Road, Naas, arriving for Funeral Mass at 10am, followed by Cremation at Newlands Cross Crematorium. Family flowers only, donations to Dublin and Wicklow Mountain Rescue. www.dwmrt.ie Eliza Jane O'Brien Belan, Moone, Athy September 22 2017, Reposing at Rigney's Funeral Home, Athy from 5.30pm this Sunday evening October 8. Removal at 6.30pm on Sunday evening to arrive at The Church of the Most Holy Trinity, Moone for 7pm. Requiem Mass on Monday morning October 9 at 11am followed by burial in the adjoining cemetery. France offered on Thursday to mediate in a political crisis pitting Iraq's government against Kurdish regional authorities, and promised to maintain a military presence there until Islamic State was defeated. The offer by President Emmanuel Macron coincided with a visit by Iraq's Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, his first abroad since its Kurdish-held northern regions last month voted for independence in a referendum declared illegal by Baghdad. The Iraqi government has imposed sanctions in response to the independence vote, but Abadi said on Thursday he could understand the Kurds' "aspirations" -- provided they were expressed in accordance with the constitution -- and wanted to avoid violence. "We do not want an armed confrontation, we don't want clashes," Abadi said, speaking alongside Macron. "But the federal authority must prevail and nobody can infringe on the federal authority." The outcome of the referendum has raised concerns in Iraq and abroad that a conflict might break out there along ethnic lines, potentially weakening a U.S.-backed campaign against Islamic State, which still holds pockets of territory in Iraq and Syria. Macron, whose country is the second-biggest contributor to the campaign, said French forces would remain until the militant group's defeat was "total." "It is vital in the coming weeks and months that a dialogue begins that respects the unity, integrity and sovereignty of Iraq within the framework of the constitution and recognising Kurdish rights," Macron added. "France is ready, if Iraqi authorities wish, to actively contribute to the mediation launched by the United Nations." Iraqi-Kurdish tensions were ratcheted down a notch on Wednesday when the central bank in Baghdad eased financial restrictions imposed after the vote, after receiving a pledge of cooperation from Kurdish banks, an Iraqi banking source said. The central bank had said on Tuesday it would halt all foreign currency transfers to the region, banking and government sources told Reuters. All but four Kurdish-owned banks were on Wednesday again allowed to send and receive dollar and foreign currency transfers, the first banking source said. Abadi, in Paris for bilateral talks, said the Iraqis and Kurds had a common interest in maintaining peace. He had on Tuesday called for a "joint administration" of oil-rich Kirkuk and other areas claimed by both his government and the autonomous Kurdish region, provided Baghdad had ultimate authority in any such arrangement. Kurdish Peshmerga fighters took control of Kirkuk in 2014, when Iraqi forces collapsed in the face of Islamic States advance across northern Iraq. "I call on the Peshmerga to remain an integral part of the Iraqi forces under the authority of the federal authorities, to guarantee the security of citizens so that we can rebuild these zones," Abadi said, referring to areas taken back from Islamic State militants. "We respect the aspirations of all citizens, including the Kurds, I respect those aspirations, but we must work together. We are in one country." Search Keywords: Short link: This is the fifth of my posts based on a recent tour of the eastern half of the USA. I visited a number of sites relevant to African American history. To mark Black History Month , I am relating some of the things I saw, in the order I saw them. While in Detroit, I visited the Charles H Wright Museum of African American History. This museum is holding a special art exhibition to mark the 50th anniversary of the Detroit 1967 Rebellion. The exhibition is called: Say it loud: Art, History, Rebellion. The blurb says: This exhibition brings together more than 40 nationally recognized artists from multiple generations, and relies on works across disciplines to help illustrate the awe, tragedy, and potential for transformation when the people rebel. The 1967 Detroit Rebellion is described by Wikipedia as follows: The 1967 Detroit riot, also known as the 12th Street riot or the 1967 Detroit rebellion, was one of 159 race riots that swept cities in the United States during the Long Hot Summer of 1967. This riot was a violent public disorder that turned into a civil disturbance in Detroit, Michigan. It began in the early morning hours of Sunday July 23, 1967. The precipitating event was a police raid of an unlicensed, after-hours bar then known as a blind pig, just north of the corner of 12th Street (today Rosa Parks Boulevard) and Virginia Park Avenue, on the citys Near West Side. Police confrontations with patrons and observers on the street evolved into one of the deadliest and most destructive riots in the history of the United States, lasting five days and surpassing the violence and property destruction of Detroits 1943 race riot just 24 years earlier. To help end the disturbance, Governor George W. Romney ordered the Michigan Army National Guard into Detroit, and President Lyndon B. Johnson sent in both the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions. The result was 43 dead, 1,189 injured, over 7,200 arrests, and more than 2,000 buildings destroyed. The scale of the riot was surpassed in the United States only by the 1863 New York City draft riots during the American Civil War,[2] and the 1992 Los Angeles riots. If you want to get a reasonable picture of what went on, you could do worse than watch the film Detroit. Though it is partially fictionalised, it presents a harrowing account of the so-called Algiers Motel Incident (during the 67 Detroit rebellion) when police beat and murdered three teenage black civilians and tortured and beat nine others seven black males and two white females. Having watched the film, the art exhibition struck a chord, and was very moving. The one exhibit which stands out refers to the current day. Called I cant breathe it refers to the death of Eric Garner, who died after being put in what was described as a choke hold as he was being arrested by police. He said I cant breathe fourteen times. The art exhibit was a very large inflatable young black man lying on his side. Every two minutes it slowly deflated and then reflated. It was extremely powerful. In parallel to the Charles H Wright Museum art exhibition on the Detroit 1967 rebellion, the Detroit Museum of History, just across the road, is holding an exhibition called Detroit 67: Perspectives. They have a banner by their front door reading Riot? Rebellion? Revolution? It seems that violence that goes on for five days cannot be described as a violent disturbance of the peace by a crowd (riot). The Detroit 67 events would seem to be a better fit for: the action or process of resisting authority, control, or convention (rebellion). Indeed, the Charles H Wright museum, a respected academic institution, uses the term rebellion. Going as far as a forcible overthrow of a government or social order, in favour of a new system (revolution) would seem a bit of a stretch, but that is how the docent at Charles H Wright described it to me. One of the most frustrating parts of Detroit was to see justice eluding those who had been tortured and the family of those who died in the Algiers Motel Incident. * Paul Walter is a Liberal Democrat activist and member of the Liberal Democrat Voice team. He blogs at Liberal Burblings. What do people who need to enter residential care fear most? Losing the home they have worked for the best part of their lives? Separation from their spouse they have shared a bed with for decades? Going to a place where they know they are going to die? At a time when a person is at their most vulnerable we force them away from their families and potentially destroy their treasured legacy for their children and grandchildren. So lets be clear, caring for the elderly and keeping them safe as they become frail is more than just a financial crisis, but the solution to both is in how we construct the care budget. 70% of residential social care, and 50% of residential nursing care, is taken up by accommodation and hotel costs. We insist on including these costs in the care budget, forcing people to sell their homes to fund this forced move into rental accommodation. It is no accident that many care providers are housing organisations. If the person was being cared for in their family home then these non-care costs would be met, without question, by the individual. So here is my suggestion. We should make the individual responsible for their accommodation costs and let the state deal with the care. If the person is in rented accommodation and receiving housing benefit then continue this arrangement. If the individual owns their home give them the right to buy their care accommodation. This, in a single move, would bring some of the countrys wealth to bear in solving the funding of residential care and would allow the individual to retain their capital asset to pass onto to their children. As in any market with choice, it will also improve the quality of the accommodation, including expanding the number of units that can take couples. I have included both nursing and social care because I do believe that it is a nonsense that for those who win the lottery of gaining nursing care, they receive free accommodation and food as well as the care. I am sure that the electorate would be more than happy to pay the non-care costs in the case of residential nursing care as long as the care costs of residential social care then becomes a service free to all. Its worth mentioning that as well as unlocking the housing wealth of the boomers this would also unlock family homes for the younger families following them. * Following a career in the Royal Navy Steve has worked at a senior level within health, local government, criminal justice and voluntary sectors. Wilts County Councillor (1989) and NW Leicestershire District Councillor (1995) I FOUND myself listening to RTE Radio 1 one morning last week. During an ad break in the Sean ORourke show, a thirty second spot gave details for the first I.NY Festival which is to be held in Limerick from this Thursday until October 15. Forgive me if I am wrong, but this was one of the first times I had heard a Limerick festival plugged on national radio. There is a reason for this. The I.NY Festival has been in the pipeline for a number of years. A lot of planning; a lot of soul searching; a lot of research and many, many hours of work have gone in to making this festival a reality. Significantly, I.NY has received funding from Failte Ireland under the National Grant strand, the first time a Limerick project has received such funds. What is also important to note is the fact that this is the inaugural year of I.NY. The fact that Failte Ireland has committed to funding it suggests the tourism body is very aware of the potential I.NY has in terms of growth over the next three to five years. The concept of I.NY is simple. It will explore the connection between Ireland and New York City through art, literature, music, education, business and more. It will be hosted in Limerick and will welcome a diverse range of speakers. The festival has been developed by David ODonovan and Aoife Flynn. Both have many years of experience in the area of cultural, music and festival development. What interests me is the fact that both in recent years decided to embark on academic courses to further develop their skills in terms of festival development. In Flynns case she completed an MA in Cultural Entrepreneurship at Trinity College. ODonovan completed the MA in Festival Arts which is delivered by the University of Limerick. This investment in further education has clearly reaped rewards. ODonovan and Flynn have clearly developed a detailed understanding of what is required to deliver a new cultural project of note. The I.NY team have only had just over six months to deliver year one of the festival. What has been achieved in that short period of time deserves acknowledgement. They have secured names such as Damien Dempsey, Jane OMeara Sanders, Orla Kiely, Tim OConnor, Glen Hansard, Joseph OConnor and Rhonda Sherman. They have secured the organisers of the popular Dublin club Mother to host a Limerick residency which will also see New York DJ Qool Marv participate. Corks Sunday Times club will also play the I.NY Festival Club. They have formed links with the New York Tenement Museum. They have a host of film screenings. They are hosting a fascinating symposium and a I.NY Gathering event. I.NY must be acknowledged as one of the most exciting event to be developed in Limerick in many years. They team are in ongoing discussions with Failte Ireland to ensure the project continues to develop its reach going forward. If year one is anything to go by, we in Limerick should be extremely excited by the potential this festival has to put us on the map in the coming years. Full details on the I.NY Festival line-up can be found at www.thisisiny.com. A riverside walk out to University of Limerick celebrated in verse My thanks to Oonagh Kirby who sent me this poem during the week where she celebrates Limerick Smarter Travel through the form of poetry. Ode to Limerick Smarter Travel Want some soul food That's fun and free? Just stroll with me Along the riverside walk from Corbally to U.L. Who you will meet, you never can tell! First stop is The Lagoon Let's shoot the breeze, or watch the terrier give the swan a tease! Amble along with the slow talkers, Run past the fast walkers! Ramble through the woods, or grab a free lemonade before The Smarter Travel Bike Parade! Ponder on the beauty of this place, That has no boundaries for age, race or pace! Smell the freshly-cut grass, The Council Parks Team enhance the scene for Fr. Derek's mystical Dawn Mass. Mid-week attracts the junior Triathlon Team They really are living the dream! Of course, there are also the lecturers and students biking to College, where do they carry all that knowledge? Walk, run, bike, skate along the way or sit with Granny, catching the rays, Telling us, that these are the days! She says she will follow us to the Outdoor Gym, her Tir na nOg or just a whim? Watch the children cycle over the white bridges full of fun and laughter Everyone wants a Happy-ever-After! So, go raibh mile..... to Limerick Smarter Travel, What an ancient gem you did unravel! Well done Oonagh! A YOUNG man has been refused bail after he appeared in court charged in connection with an alleged slash hook attack in Limerick city earlier this week. Emmett Kiely, aged 26, of Maple Court, Kennedy Park is accused of assaulting another man causing him harm during an incident at his home on Tuesday night. It is alleged the victim, who underwent surgery at Cork University Hospital this Thursday, sustained multiple slash-type injuries in the incident. Detective Garda Paul Crowley said gardai were alerted at around 10pm on Tuesday after the 39-year-old presented at University Hospital Limerick with serious injuries. He said he sustained multiple leg injuries and that he was also struck on his shoulder, backside and left hand. It is alleged the assault happened at around 7.30pm after the victim called to Mr Kielys home. Detective Garda Crowley said it will be alleged the defendant struck him several times with a slash hook both inside and outside the house. An implement which gardai believe was the weapon used has been sent for forensic analysis at Garda Headquarters. Opposing bail, the detective said it will be alleged the defendant is a leading protagonist in an escalating feud on the southside of the city. He is a dangerous individual, he said expressing concerns that he would commit further offences if released. Solicitor John Herbert said his client denies the allegations and he submitted there were a lot of gaps in the State objection. He did not use a slash hook, he did not produce a weapon, he said adding there were questions relating to the arrival of the victim at his clients home prior to the alleged assault. Judge Marie Keane refused bail and the matter was adjourned to October 10, next for DPPs directions. LIMERICK hurler Cian Lynch who can always be called upon to lead the attack has signed up for Enable Irelands no phone survival challenge. The double U-21 All-Ireland winner and Colaiste Chiarain in Croom were among the first in the county to give the charitys plan a ringing endorsement. At noon on Tuesday, October 24, all ages are asked to turn off their mobiles to support children and adults with disabilities in their community. Its going to be one of Irelands biggest social experiments as addicted screen tapping teenagers are asked to give up their phones for 24 hours, said Ann Enright, Enable Irelands regional fundraiser in Limerick. No phones, no snaps, no photos, no shares, likes or stores, said Ann. Sponsorship cards can be downloaded from enableireland.ie. Cian is a long time supporter of Enable Ireland in Mungret, close to where he lives. He is a regular visitor to the centre and had great craic with Louise Graham, from Ballybrown, ahead of last weekends county quarter final replay. Speaking about the novel idea, Cian admits its going to be hard but he has never been one to shirk a challenge. He has a keen interest in disability services and hopes many follow his lead. Ann said it can help change the lives and futures of children and young people who rely on assistive technology to live more independent lives. By giving up their love affair with their phones, people are not just pledging to raise vital funds. They are putting the spotlight on the crucial power and impact that new technology has on the lives and independence of children and adults with disabilities. Enable Ireland provides assistive technology to many young people and adults across the country. This vital technology can support people with vision impairment or literacy challenges to read and write. It can give a voice to those who are non-speaking, or enable someone to live independently at home through the remote control of doors, windows and lights. Assistive technology can make the impossible possible, enabling people to live more independent lives at home, in school and in the workplace, said Ann. She says people think that they cant live without their phones but by giving up their snaps, messages, calls, emails, shares, likes and stories for just one day they can help raise vital funds to help us support many more people for whom technology is not just a luxury but essential to their quality of life. To register to take part in the Enable Ireland no phone survival challenge email nophone@enableireland.ie or log onto www.enableireland.ie for more. A PSYCHIATRIC report is to be prepared in the case of a man who has admitted having a significant quantity of drugs on the outskirts of Limerick city last year. When arraigned at Limerick Circuit Court, Patrick Foley, aged 28, who has an address at Brookville Avenue, Tipperary Town, pleaded guilty to an offence under the provisions of the Misuse of Drugs Act. Around 3kgs of cannabis was seized when gardai stopped and searched a car in which the defendant was travelling at Ballysimon Road on January 6, 2016. The drugs had a street value of around 60,000 and the defendant has admitted having them for the purpose of sale or supply. After Mr Foley entered his guilty plea, John OSullivan BL, prosecuting, said the plea was acceptable to State and he indicated that further charges relating to the seizure will be withdrawn following a sentencing hearing. There was no objection to the matter being adjourned to December 12 next, to facilitate the preparation of a number of reports relating to the defendant. Evidence relating to the seizure will be heard on the next day before lawyers representing the 28-year-old put forward arguments in mitigation. Because of the value of the drugs seized a mandatory sentence of ten years imprisonment applies unless Judge ODonnell rules such a sentence would be unjust given the specific circumstances of the case. A JURY has been told a Limerick man accused of kidnapping two young men from a house in Castletroy repeatedly told gardai he had no involvement in the offence. Zachary Coughlan-Ryan, aged 39, who has an address at South Claughaun Road, Garryowen, denies falsely imprisoning Stephen Cusack, 26, and Niall Reddan, 23, at Caisleann na hAbhainn on August 19, 2012. It is alleged the motivation of the accused was to extort money from Mr Cusacks mother who is the Postmistress in Garryowen. This Wednesday, the jury of six men and six woman, was told the defendant was interviewed on 11 separate occasions over a number of days following his arrest on September 24, 2012. In the first interview, Mr Coughlan-Ryan told gardai he was probably with my girl around the time the kidnapping took place. When asked to account for his movements on the night he repeatedly stated he had no involvement in what happened. I wasnt involved in any kidnapping or violence or crime, he said. The defendant, who is representing himself, put it to a number of garda witnesses that he had provided a consistent story throughout all of the interviews. He said he done his best to give details of his movements on the night despite having a hazy and foggy recollection. Detective Garda David Baynham disputed this saying he believed Mr Coughlan-Ryan had been purposely vague in his answers. There were a lot of could haves, maybes and possiblys in your answers, he said. Earlier, the jury was told Mr Coughlan-Ryan was arrested at a house at Lord Edward Street shortly before 7pm on August 24, 2012. The trial heard that having received confidential information that there was a firearm in the house, several members of the armed Regional Response Unit assisted detectives in arresting the defendant. While no firearm was found, Mr Coughlan-Ryan was pepper-sprayed and tasered as he attempted to flee from gardai. During his subsequent detention at Henry Street garda station, Mr Coughlan Ryan agreed to participate in a formal identification parade. Sergeant Mary Walsh, who carried out the parade, said eight volunteers and Mr Coughlan-Ryan took part in the identity parade on August 29, 2012. She told the court that one of the alleged victims Stephen Cusack identified the defendant as being one of the men who had kidnapped him ten days earlier. The jury has heard the defendant subsequently made a complaint to the Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission alleging that Mr Cusack had been shown his photograph a short time before the identification parade. However, following an investigation the complaint was found to be vexatious and unfounded. The trial continues, THE PARENTS of teenager say they no longer want anything to do with him, a court in Limerick has heard. The 17-year-old male, who cannot be named as he is under age, is charged with driving without a license and insurance. After Kilmallock Court was cleared to hear the case of a young person, the defendants solicitor Sabina Hegerty said he was accompanied by his girlfriend, who is aged over 18. His parents say they no longer want anything to do with him, said Ms Hegerty. Judge Marian OLeary said: That is not allowed. Garda John Ryan confirmed what Ms Hegerty said from his dealings with the parents. Judge OLeary ordered a bench warrant to be executed on the boys father. The matter can not be heard without your guardian. He has to be here, Judge OLeary told the teenager. Ms Hegerty applied for legal aid on behalf of her client as he doesnt receive unemployment benefit. Judge OLeary granted it. The defendant said he is not living at home so doesnt receive any letters about court dates. Judge OLeary told him: I am not sure when we will be back. We have to wait until your father is brought before the court. CONTROVERSY about the cost to taxpayers of Limerick councillors trips abroad has again raised its head, this time six months ahead of a proposed trip to New York for St Patricks Day. The invitation for Limerick City and County Council to send the Mayor and two councillors to the New York parade next year at a cost of 7,500 was put before councillors last Thursday. But Solidarity councillor, Paul Keller raised the cost of this years trip, which, at 28,000, he said was excessive. It is an awful lot of money, he declared. The bill covered the costs of a six-person delegation led by then Mayor, Cllr Kieran OHanlon and which included three other councillors along with two officials. Citing some figures, Cllr Keller said the total bill included 956 for a steakhouse as well as bills of 1,415 and 505 at Rosie OGradys pub. I dont think it is the duty of this council to buy drink in New York, he said, adding that this was at a time when there were insufficient funds to keep Limerick clean and litter free. We cant afford the luxury of sending a delegation to the cost of this 28,000. One official is sufficient, he added. He doesnt need a minder. Independent Cllr John Loftus said he couldnt see any benefits from this years trip but the councils chief executive Conn Murray disagreed. There was business done, he said. It is a valuable part of representing Limerick and mid-west on the international stage. Limerick.ie was listed recently among the world's Top 25 tourism board websites - according to a 2017 list published by US-based travel media site, Skift - he pointed out, and was the only website in Ireland to achieve that. But, without investment, what had been achieved would not have happened, Mr Murray argued. Unemployment in Limerick was now down and the Mid-West is the fastest growing region. These things are easily forgotten, he added, arguing that the costs of the trip were a very good investment. We are the envy of most local authorities in the country, especially in terms of foreign direct investment, Mayor Stephen Keary said. The Metropolitan Mayor has also been invited to travel to the Queens parade, the second largest in New York but no cost was given for this. Mayor Stephen Keary attended the Limerick Birmingham Associations Annual Dance in September at a total cost of 1,110.48. Iran must stop meddling in the Middle East, visiting Saudi KingSalman told Russian President Vladimir Putin during their meeting in the Kremlin on Thursday, Russia's Interfax news agency reported. "We emphasize that the security and stability of the Gulf region and the Middle East is an urgent necessity for achieving stability and security in Yemen," Salman said, quoted by the agency. "This would demand that Iran give up interference with the internal affairs of the region, to give up actions destabilizing the situation in this region." Search Keywords: Short link: 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. As Egypt promotes the trail of the Holy Family as a major tourist experience, Ahram Online republishes an account of stops and cities where the Virgin Mary, Joseph and Jesus found safety and shelter in the country "Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the King, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.'' (Matthew 2:1-2) ---------- The story of the holy familys journey from Palestine to Egypt has long been recorded with dedication by historians and authors around the world. Many look upon the journey as a mark in the history of Egypt, not merely a religious event. Egyptians look with fondness and pride on the passage of the holy mother and her child through the land of Egypt, and the fact that they found solace here. The flight to Egypt The Virgin Mary gave birth to Jesus in Bethlehem of Judaea in Palestine. Upon his birth, wise men preached to the people of the city, declaring that Jesus was the chosen one, and that, "according to prophecies" they had seen in the stars, he would become the next king of the Jews. Upon hearing the news, King Herod was overcome by terror at the possibility of losing his throne. He decided that killing Jesus was the only way to protect his royal status. In a dream, Joseph, the carpenter, was ordered by God to escort Jesus and his mother to Egypt, where they would find refuge. Both Western and Eastern traditions agree that the method of transport most likely used by the holy family on their journey to Egypt would have been a donkey. In this situation, the Virgin Mary would have been seated on the donkey, holding the child Jesus in her arms and Joseph would have walked by their side, leading the way. The holy family in Sinai Keller writes in his book, The Bible as History (1955): A day's journey from Gaza brought the holy family to the ancient township of Jenysos, which is mentioned by Herodotus, the Greek historian. Today, this village, which is part of the Gaza Strip, is known as Khan Younis. The next town on the holy family's route would have been Raphia (Rafah), the frontier town between the Gaza Strip and the province of Egypt." Continuing for another 44 kilometres, beyond Raphia, and after almost two days of traveling, the mother and child reach Wadi Al-Arish, a point at which they are safe enough to obtain food and shelter. The holy family passes by other towns in Sinai such as Al-Muhammadia and Al-Farma, located 35 kilometres east of El-Qantara City. Churches from the 5th and 6th century have recently been discovered in Al-Farma. Route to the Nile Delta The holy family continued on its trip to the Nile Delta, stopping at the city of Musturod, only 10 kilometres from Cairo. "The Virgin Lady", a 12th century church, was found in the city. Keller adds in his book: The city of Musturod was again visited by the holy family on their return journey to Palestine." After leaving Musturod and passing by Belbes, the holy family travel west to the Valley of Natroun, crossing the western branch of the Nile (the Rasheed branch). The holy family in Cairo The movie Journey of the Holy Family portrays the settlement of the blessed family in Al-Mataraya district near Ein Shams (Old Heliopolis). They find shade under a sycamore tree that came to be known as "Mariams Tree," which has evolved into an engrossing attraction for religious tourists. The holy "Mayron oil," or the "Chrism," is nowadays prepared from the oil of the tree. An ancient church was built in the area by the name of "The Virgin Mary" and is visited by people to this day. Paintings can be found inside the church, including maps of the holy familys journey, as well as a statue of Jesus and his blessed mother guarded by Joseph the Carpenter. In his book The Geography of Coptic Egypt (1989), French historian Amelenio narrates some of the stories passed down about the miracles of "Mariams Tree." One such story tells how the French army sat by the tree, drank from its well and wrote their names on its stems. It is believed that some of the wounded soldiers were healed by its oil. Amelenio adds: Al-Matarya district became the most popular shrine in Egypt; a place where people flooded to for blessings and spiritual remedies. The second district visited by the holy family in Cairo was Al-Zeitun, where a church by the name "The Virgin Mary" was constructed in Toman Bey Street. It is said that appearances of the blessed lady were witnessed around the domes of the church up until recent years. Another spot visited by the holy family was Zowela Avenue on at Been El-Soreen Street in El-Gamaleya district. An ancient church is found there with the same name, "The Virgin Mary". It is considered one of the largest churches in Egypt and is distinguished by its basaltic style. The holy family moved on to "Old Egypt" (Al-Fustaat) where they dwelled for a short time in a cave in Abi Serjas Church, within the walls of the Roman Babylon fortress. The cave is about 20 feet tall, 15 feet wide and does not have any windows, as described by Amelenio, who believes the holy family's stay in the cave did not exceed a week. After leaving Al-Fustaat, they moved to Maadi district and settled at the location where the Virgin Mary Monastery and church were later built by the Nile. Amelenio explains that during Ottoman rule in Egypt, the church had a marina for boats allocated for the transport of people and soldiers traveling to and from Egypt. Some villages in Upper Egypt were visited by the holy family such as Assiut and Minya. In the book History of the Coptic Nation, author Samy Saleh records that the holy family took the same route on their journey back to Palestine. They first go to Maadi, passing through Old Egypt, then follow the road to Ein Shams, back to the city of Mustorod, and finally El-Arish, and from there to Gaza. The trail of the blessed At present, many Egyptian historians and archeologists are calling for a project to track each town or city visited by the holy family, so as to make it easier for tourists to visit the blessed spots, thus reviving the symbolism of the holy journey and its message of peace and goodwill to all men. *This story was first publised in Christmas 2012. Search Keywords: Short link: The Oakland City Council plans to review litigation brought by the families of Ghost Ship victims and survivors at a closed-session meeting in two weeks. An agenda for the Oct. 17 council meeting says that 15 cases against the city will be considered during a session thats not open to the public, in which monetary settlements can be determined. Thirty-six people died in the warehouse inferno last December during an electronic music party. The city along with Alameda County, Pacific Gas and Electric Co. and other agencies was named as a defendant in wrongful-death and injury suits. Warehouse owner Chor Ng and Derick Almena, the primary operator of the artist collective inside it, were also among those sued by the families. Most relatives are being represented by San Francisco attorney Mary Alexander. Alexander and Alex Katz, a spokesman for Oakland City Attorney Barbara Parker, did not immediately return requests for comment. The complaint against the city alleged that Oakland firefighters, police officers and code inspectors failed to shut down the illegally converted warehouse in the Fruitvale neighborhood, despite knowledge of parties and dangerous conditions there. Many of the victims of the Dec. 2 fire were trapped among the ramshackle assembly of wood, tapestries and other flammable materials on the second floor, as flames and smoke engulfed the building. All 36 died from smoke inhalation. Investigators were not able to determine a cause for the blaze, but have pointed to fire hazards, including a makeshift stairway made of wooden pallets. Electricity was piped into the building through a single power source in an adjacent building that split into a tangle of wires that ran through the warehouse. Separate from the civil litigation, the Alameda County district attorneys office is pursuing criminal prosecution of Almena and the collectives creative director, Max Harris. They entered not-guilty pleas last week. Bobby Thompson, an attorney representing some of the families, said there have been no discussions about out-of-court settlements with the citys lawyers, who have filed a motion to remove the city from the case. City Council members discussing the case in closed session, he added, goes against their purported commitment to transparency around the fire and its aftermath. To do it behind closed doors, we feel, is disingenuous and unfair to the victims and the families, Thompson 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 Mexican soldiers have arrested three suspected street-level drug dealers in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, authorities said Tuesday. Troops with the Secretariat of the National Defense, or SEDENA, identified the suspects by their first name only: Jose Alberto, Susana and David. Soldiers arrested them Saturday. They were arrested after soldiers patrolling near the vicinity of Colonia Juarez in central Nuevo Laredo came across a blue Mazda car in a parking lot. Authorities noticed the vehicle had no license plates. READ MORE: Man found dead in west Laredo home containing guns, drugs, police say Troops encountered two men and a woman on board. In addition, soldiers said they discovered 78 doses of cocaine, 22 baggies of crack cocaine and 38,000 pesos, or $2,235. Authorities turned over the trio, the narcotics and the cash to the Tamaulipas attorney general's office for prosecution. A 52-year-old San Antonio man died Wednesday after falling from scaffolding at Valero Energy Corp.s Corpus Christi West refinery. Heraldo Pena, an investigator for the Nueces County Medical Examiners office, said Ezequiel Guzman fell off of scaffolding at the Valero West refinery around 9:42 a.m. on Wednesday. Pena said while the cause of death has not been determined, the autopsy report noted that Guzman suffered blunt force trauma to his torso. Pena said the results were preliminary until the examiner receives the toxicology report. Pena confirmed that Guzmans next of kin have been notified. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which regulates workplace safety, opened an investigation into the incident on Wednesday, said Travis Clark, OSHAs area director for Corpus Christi. He declined to provide further details due to the ongoing investigation. Valero spokeswoman Lillian Riojas deferred comment to Guzmans employer, Brand Energy & Infrastructure Services, which offers industrial scaffolding, according to the companys website. A phone call to Brand was not immediately returned. San Antonio-based Valeros Corpus Christi West refinery, along with the companys Corpus Christi East, can process 370,000 barrels of oil a day. Both refineries had been shut down prior to Hurricane Harvey hitting the Texas Gulf Coast on August 25, but the company reported on September 4 that they had resumed pre-hurricane levels of operation. rdruzin@express-news.net | Twitter: @druz_journo The Vineyard By Maria Duenas. Translated from the Spanish by Nick Caistor and Lorenza Garcia Atria. 544 pp. $26 --- Despite her international success, the name Maria Duenas once might not have triggered even a flicker of recognition among many U.S. readers. But "The Time in Between," an adaptation of her mega-best-selling 2009 novel, has turned into a streaming hit on Netflix, introducing a wider audience to the substantial storytelling gifts of this Spanish author and university professor. "The Time in Between" follows the continent-hopping adventures of Sira Quiroga, a naive Madrilena seamstress turned skillful spy who, through a series of misfortunes, finds herself stuck in Morocco around the time of the Spanish Civil War. Fans of that series, as well as the novel it's drawn from, will surely enjoy the latest offering from Duenas, "The Vineyard," which has been translated into English and is being released this month in the United States. In "The Vineyard" ("La Templanza" in the original Spanish edition), Duenas demonstrates the same breezy and entertaining style she wields to such great effect in her previous works. She is an author who seems to put story first, more interested in delivering a good old-fashioned yarn than in trying to impress you with literary pyrotechnics. The central figure in "The Vineyard" is Mauro Larrea, a wealthy and ruggedly handsome silver-mining mogul whose Mexican business empire is teetering on the brink of disaster in the early 1860s after he spends a fortune to import new equipment that is never delivered. Larrea, a Spaniard who traveled to the New World to seek riches, spends the first third of the novel, set in and around Mexico City, desperately trying to salvage his business and to maintain appearances as one of the country's great entrepreneurial successes. The 47-year-old Larrea is no dandy. He worked humbly in the mines before striking out on his own, and the mangled fingers on one of his hands attest to the dangers and rigors that first awaited him in Mexico. He lives in a grand mansion in Mexico City with a "magnificent enameled bathtub imported from Belgium." But as he steeps in the warm water contemplating his troubles, he flashes back to his early days in Mexico when "he would wash under a fig tree in a barrel of rainwater." Desperate and lacking options, Larrea borrows a large sum from a sepulchral and menacing moneylender, and sets off for Havana with designs on scouting for a new business that will allow him to not only repay his debt, but also revive his plans to develop the mine of his dreams. Larrea is so entrenched in Mexican high society that he can't leave the capital city without two wealthy friends - a countess and the father of his son's fiancee - stuffing bags of money into his hands for him to invest on their behalf. Havana turns out to be just a stopping point for Larrea, and for the galloping narrative laid out by Duenas. Without giving away too much, our hero gets drawn into an all-night billiards match in a brothel with a wealthy Spaniard. Larrea's opponent lives in Havana and believes Larrea is fooling around with his wife. For all the testosterone on display, one might think the narrative would be veering into he-man, chest-thumping territory. But Duenas is better than that. In fact, two of the most compelling characters in "The Vineyard" are women. The first is Carola Gorostiza, a shrewd and formidable daughter of Mexican privilege. The second is Soledad Claydon, an Andalusian whose family once presided over properties that fall into Larrea's hands. Duenas gives some depth to her characters by exploring the notion of national identity, a worthy topic in this era fraught with the immigration debate's tortured recasting of otherness. The Spaniards whom Larrea encounters in his travels dub him the "Indiano," a derogatory term meant to lump him with the native Mexicans encountered by Spanish colonialists. On their way to a fancy party, Claydon assures Larrea that the guests are "quite accustomed to putting up with the eccentric behavior of foreigners. And, despite our origins, at this stage in our lives that is what both you and I mainly are." At times, the book can be a bit corny, with some slapstick storylines, but it all amounts to good fun. And these days, who couldn't use a little fun to distract us from the world? The Future is History: How Totalitarianism Reclaimed Russia By Masha Gessen Riverhead. 515 pp. $28 --- Vladimir Putin has now served as Russia's supreme leader longer than anyone since Stalin. With 17 years in office and counting, Putin last month surpassed the record of Leonid Brezhnev, the bushy-browed Politburo chief whose seemingly endless tenure from the 1960s to the early 1980s became a byword for Cold War stagnation. And Putin shows no signs of giving up power anytime soon; the former KGB lieutenant colonel who became president on New Year's Eve in 1999 at age 47 faces certain re-election to another six-year term next year. By now, Putin has inspired, provoked and otherwise provided fodder for shelves of books seeking to explain his remarkable rise - and even more his remarkable hold on power. Few are as ambitious, timely, insightful and unsparing as Masha Gessen's latest, "The Future Is History: How Totalitarianism Reclaimed Russia." Gessen is a Russian-born journalist and author who returned to Moscow to cover its brief democratic opening after the collapse of the Soviet Union, only to emigrate once again to the United States amid Putin's crackdown. She has already written several chronicles of Putin and his era, including a best-selling biography, "The Man Without a Face." Her scathing essays in the New York Review of Books warning of President Trump's flirtation with Putin and his creeping authoritarianism have made her a public intellectual with a viral following. But this is by far Gessen's best book, a sweeping intellectual history of Russia over the past four decades, told through a Tolstoyan gallery of characters. It makes a convincing if depressing case that Homo Sovieticus, that unique species created a century ago with the Bolshevik Revolution, did not die out along with the Soviet Union. If that part of her case seems inarguable, Gessen's provocative conclusion that Putin's Russia is just as much a totalitarian society as Stalin's Soviet Union or Hitler's Germany may not convince all readers. Many will register skepticism about the terminology, given its association with murderous 20th-century despots whose victims outnumbered Putin's by many millions. Gessen seeks to head this off by quoting theorists of totalitarianism such as Hannah Arendt and Erich Fromm and arguing that, as one of her characters puts it, Russia's is a "recurrent totalitarianism, like a recurrent infection; as with an infection, the recurrence might not be as deadly as the original disease, but the symptoms would be recognizable from when it had struck the first time." Whatever you call Putin's Russia, you don't need to agree with Gessen's inflammatory label to find her book a sad, compelling indictment of the country where she was born, a country so traumatized by its monstrous past that it seems intent on repeating it. The death of the Russian future was anything but preordained, a fact that is hard to remember now that Putin has reigned for so long and looms so large in our American politics amid the investigations of his intervention in the 2016 U.S. election. But it is worth remembering nonetheless. Because Putin in fact started out as the unlikeliest of Russian presidents, one few thought might one day challenge Stalin for the modern record in the Kremlin. I reported from Moscow for The Washington Post during Putin's first term (overlapping with Gessen, then at U.S. News & World Report, though we met only a couple of times years later), and those years turned out to be a key period as Putin consolidated power and eliminated sources of opposition, real and potential. Yet it was by no means certain at the time how the experiment would come out. Many, including Gessen's characters, hoped for the best, a yearning I often heard expressed as the wish that Russia might finally be on its way to becoming a "normal, civilized country." "The Future Is History" is the story of how that hope died. To tell it, Gessen offers up a nonfiction Russian novel of sorts, a sprawling narrative with four main characters and three intellectual protagonists. Their stories unfold over nearly 500 pages, from "the privations of the 1980s" and "the fears of the 1990s" through "the sense of shutting down that pervaded the 2000s." Then it is on to the Putinist present, characterized by "a constant state of low-level dread." It's a bit of an unwieldy structure, and at times it's hard to keep track of everybody, but Gessen has an eye for interesting people, from Lyosha, a young gay man in a toxically anti-gay provincial town, to Masha, the scrappy daughter of a single-mom Moscow businesswoman, to Seryozha, grandson of the architect of Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev's reforms. By the time Gessen's story reaches its dramatic conclusion in the protests and crackdown that follow Putin's 2012 re-election, we share the heartbreak of Zhanna Nemtsova when her father, opposition politician Boris Nemtsov, the last of the '80s young democrats to keep protesting Putin, is murdered in the shadow of the Kremlin. What makes the book so worthwhile for me are its keen observations about Russia from the point of view of those experiencing its return to a heavy-handed state. It helps that Gessen is a participant, and not just an observer, able to translate that world adeptly for Western readers. Her footnotes are filled with Russian-language sources that distinguish Gessen from her peers whose first language is English, and the book has many insights that could come only from Gessen's living in Moscow. Early on, for example, she hits on the perfect metaphor for how Gorbachev's perestroika reforms were greeted in the stifling intellectual environment of Moscow in the 1980s: She imagines them as a blast of air coming through the tiny fortochka windows found in every city apartment in Russia, a fresh burst of oxygen injected into an otherwise hermetically-sealed-for-winter Soviet room. At its heart, this is a book about the Moscow intelligentsia by one of its own, and Gessen manages to write compellingly about the wonky academic types who tried to understand the seismic changes in their country, while trying to imagine a new one. One of the three intellectuals she follows is Marina Arutyunyan, who brings Western psychoanalysis to a Russia sorely in need of therapy; another is Aleksandr Dugin, who dabbles in what he calls National Bolshevism before becoming Russia's leading right-wing nationalist ideologue and promoter of what we now think of as Putinism. The third is the book's unlikely star, sociologist Lev Gudkov, who remains stubbornly data-driven even as the numbers tell a story he doesn't want to hear. We first meet Gudkov as a young disciple of the late Yuri Levada, the pioneer of independent survey research in the Soviet Union, and together they set out to document the end of Homo Sovieticus. But as the book proceeds, Gudkov confronts instead the resilience and resurrection of what he comes to believe is a totalitarian mind-set in the people as well as their rulers. The data did not lie. Even as early as 1994 - a full decade before Putin would call the breakup of the Soviet Union "the greatest geopolitical catastrophe" of the 20th century - polls found that just 8 percent believed that the Soviet collapse had been a positive development, and 75 percent thought it had done more harm than good. And it was Gudkov - whom I also came to rely on in many of my stories from Russia as a dispassionate numbers guy at a time of great political uncertainty - who produced what may be the most telling and depressing sign of this revanchism: the Stalin barometer. In the revolutionary year of 1989, as Soviet newspapers were filled with long-buried revelations of Stalin-era atrocities, 12 percent of those polled told Gudkov's center that Stalin was among the "greatest people who have ever lived." By 2003, the number had climbed to 40 percent. Not coincidentally, Stalin now shares a place on the list with Putin himself; after years of adulation in the state-controlled media, 32 percent in Gudkov's survey think Putin should be counted among the planet's greatest-ever people. Arutyunyan may be the shrink, but Gudkov the data analyst came up with the diagnosis of "recurrent totalitarianism" to explain these alarming numbers. It is a disease that seems to have no cure. By far the freshest and most revelatory parts of "The Future Is History" are those when Gessen takes us deep inside these past few years, as it becomes clear that Putin's Russia is now what scholars call an aggressive, revisionist power, invading neighbors such as Georgia and Ukraine and squelching dissent at home. Gessen argues that two events stand out as decisive moments in Russia's return to totalitarianism: the Bolotnaya Square protests of 2012 and the Crimea takeover of 2014. Her reporting on these events is particularly strong, and you feel right there on the streets with characters such as Masha and the two Nemtsovs as they realize, finally, that "budushchego net" - "there is no future" of the book's title. Boris Nemtsov's killing is in many ways the tragic denouement of the book, and I can't read his daughter's experience of that loss without remembering Nemtsov as I knew him: the handsome, indefatigable politician who always had time for another interview. The last time I saw him in Moscow was in the winter of 2013. It was just after the Bolotnaya protests, and Nemtsov chose to meet at a cafe near the square. Afterward, he insisted on walking the few hundred yards to where the protests had played out. (BEGIN ITAL)Here is where the police lined up; here is where I was arrested.(END ITAL) Nemtsov was eager to relive the dramatic events, and he treated the square as if it were hallowed ground, reveling in the almost-miraculous, not-soon-to-be-repeated sight of tens of thousands on the streets saying no to Putin. For a few hours at least. Nemtsov would die less than two years later, just a short walk away on a bridge crossing the Moscow River, with the Kremlin's unmistakable domes as the backdrop for the execution-style hit. As I finished reading Gessen's book, I happened upon a headline linked on Twitter. It read: "Activist guarding a makeshift memorial to Boris Nemtsov dies after attack by pro-Putin thug." This may be Russia's future, but it seems an awful lot like its past. --- Glasser is chief international affairs columnist for Politico. She and her husband, Peter Baker, former Moscow bureau chiefs for The Washington Post, are the co-authors of "Kremlin Rising: Vladimir Putin's Russia and the End of Revolution." The Collector of Lives: Giorgio Vasari and the Invention of Art By Ingrid Rowland and Noah Charney Norton. 420 pp. $29.95 --- Today, Giorgio Vasari (1511-1574) is usually remembered only as the author of "The Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects," one of the foundational works of art history and a book nearly as entertaining as its models, Plutarch's "Lives of the Noble Grecians and Romans" and Suetonius' "Lives of the Caesars." In its fullest edition, Vasari presents gossipy biographical portraits of seemingly all of Renaissance Italy's major (and minor) artists, including Cimabue, Leonardo, Botticelli, Raphael, Titian and Michelangelo. As Ingrid Rowland and Noah Charney remind us in "The Collector of Lives," scholars still turn to Vasari as a primary source, albeit with caution: He is hardly what one would call impartial or disinterested. Vasari badmouths his enemies (such as Cellini), while his novella-length account of Michelangelo approaches hagiography. Moreover, rather than verify his facts, he tends to "print the legend." Did the young Giotto really draw a perfect O when asked to supply an example of his work? Did Piero di Cosimo really live almost entirely on hard-boiled eggs? Maybe, maybe not. Some stories are too good to check. Rowland lives in Rome and is the author of a fine biography of the philosopher Giordano Bruno and of a guide to Pompeii; Charney, who resides in Slovenia, founded the Association for Research Into Crimes Against Art. How these two scholars came to work together isn't made clear, but their book's subtitle, "Giorgio Vasari and the Invention of Art," seems a somewhat audacious claim. Perhaps "the invention of art history" would be more accurate? Though mainly a life of Vasari - and one contending that he is a major - their book also touches on many of the civic, intellectual and aesthetic currents of 16th-century Italy. Consequently, the reader will learn about the painting "factories" of established masters, the intricacies of the patronage system, how to work in egg tempera, the cultural influence of the Platonist Marsilio Ficino and the rivalry between Florentine art based on disegno - a word meaning "design" or "drawing" and implying careful preparation - and the more freewheeling colorism of Titian and the Venetian school. Other pages track contemporary papal politics, the wars of the Italian city-states with France and the Holy Roman Empire, and the tragic histories of various members of the Medici family (half of whom seem to be named Lorenzo). Not least, Rowland and Charney relate much piquant trivia. For instance, "In the Middle Ages, lapis lazuli cost more by weight than saffron or gold and, for this reason, was usually reserved for the garment of the Virgin Mary." When the bubonic plague struck, the few shops that remained open "passed goods to customers through an iron grate, forbidding them to come inside. Customers placed their coins in a bowl rather than in the shopkeeper's hand, and the bowl's contents were then tipped into a jar of water to wash away potential contaminants." In Michelangelo's "Last Judgment," Christ is "so muscle-bound that he has an eight-pack instead of a six-pack." The artist who punched Michelangelo and gave him that famous broken nose - his name was Torrigiano - eventually emigrated to England "where he created some of the finest sculpture in Westminster Abbey." Interspersed with these factoids are numerous stories taken from Vasari's "Lives" itself. For example, when Italy's best architects were competing for the commission to design the complicated dome for Florence's new cathedral, one of them - Filippo Brunelleschi - proposed a contest: "Whoever could balance an egg upright on a marble slab should make the cupola ... An egg was provided, and all these masters tried to make it stand up straight, but none could find the way. When they finally told Filippo to make it stand still, he graciously took the egg, smashed its bottom onto the surface of the marble - and up it stood. When they all protested loudly that they could have done the same thing, he replied, laughing, that then they should also have known how to vault the cupola." Even now, Brunelleschi's elegant Duomo is the centerpiece of innumerable postcards mailed from Florence. Such historical tidbits are unquestionably entertaining, but they also render "The Collector of Lives" a bit of a hodgepodge - unless, of course, the authors are deliberately emulating what the period's rhetoricians called "copia," a flowery abundance. After a sensationalistic opening - Could there be a lost Leonardo behind a Vasari fresco? - the book does settle down, but many points are tediously repeated: Once we're told that "Uccello" means "bird" or that pornographer Pietro Aretino died laughing at a dirty joke, we don't need to be told again, let alone three times, as we are the anecdote about the young Leonardo depicting an angel so beautifully that his teacher Verrocchio gave up painting and decided to stick with sculpture. I'm sorry to add, too, that lax proofreading has resulted in words dropped from sentences, some grammatical errors ("no one could never") and a particularly embarrassing misspelling in the acknowledgments (Robert Silbers for Robert Silvers). Because of these blemishes, "The Collector of Lives" lacks anything approaching Raphael-like perfection. You should read it anyway. Still, what about Rowland and Charney's thesis? Is Vasari a major artist? From the few illustrations they offer, I'm not persuaded, despite an impressive portrait of a moody, unshaven Lorenzo de Medici. Vasari was certainly influential and admired in his own time, but I think for ours he will remain largely a pioneering and highly entertaining biographer and art historian. Reservoir 13 By Jon McGregor Catapult. 290 pp. Paperback, 16.95 --- In his latest novel, "Reservoir 13," Jon McGregor has revolutionized that most hallowed of mystery plots: the one where some foul deed takes place in a tranquil English village that, by the close of the case, doesn't feel so tranquil anymore. Whether you find McGregor's innovations brilliant or boring will depend on your tolerance for delayed gratification - very delayed gratification when it comes to the rudimentary questions of "what happened?" and "whodunit?" Critically speaking, I'm on the fence. McGregor's writing style is ingenious. Indeed, "Reservoir 13," which was published in Britain earlier this year, was long-listed for the Man Booker Prize, a testament to its artistry and a tip-off that this is not, in any conventional way, a mystery novel. But, as admirable as McGregor's achievement is, I frequently found myself looking for excuses to stop admiring it and read something else. Staying inside his finely wrought construction for long stretches of time made me feel wistful for Agatha Christie. I wanted clues to track, criminals to nab and, most of all, a timely solution that would lay evil to rest. The opening paragraph of "Reservoir 13" describes the disappearance of a 13-year-old girl. Rebecca Shaw and her parents were enjoying a getaway in England's rugged Peak District during the New Year's holiday, but their vacation goes tragically awry on the afternoon the family takes a walk on the moors. Rebecca's parents tramp the frozen ground at a brisk pace, while she dawdles. Her parents impatiently call to Rebecca to hurry up. When they turn around their daughter has vanished; it's as though the earth has swallowed her. In standard thriller fare, we readers would then follow police detectives as they comb the heather, interrogating hermits, village busybodies and the girl's school friends. But McGregor deliberately invokes that conventional suspense opener to challenge his readers' well-worn expectations. Through the voice of his deadpan omniscient narrator, McGregor describes what happens in the village during the next 13 years. At first, Rebecca's disappearance is all the villagers talk or think about. As years pass, the girl's vanishing becomes just one more thing for the village to absorb into its long communal history. Meanwhile, we seasoned suspense readers remain on the alert, waiting for those sporadic moments in the narrative when McGregor stokes our paranoia. We learn that a man named Richard Clark pays an annual visit to the village, at the very same holiday season when Rebecca disappeared. Was he involved? The school caretaker, an odd man by the name of Jones, lives with his troubled sister who "was never seen." Has this grim pair stowed Rebecca (or her remains) in their house? Occasionally, the reservoirs near the village are mentioned. Are they connected to the title, "Reservoir 13"? The inventive - and enervating - quality of McGregor's novel derives not only from its refusal to bend to conventional thriller expectations, but also from its form. Paragraphs frequently run on for pages - monoliths of prose in which the minutiae of life in the village is recounted. McGregor's omniscient narrator hovers above the village watching all and relating every development in a uniformly flat, democratizing tone. Updates about Rebecca's case are accorded the same emotional weight as a villager taking a new job in the meat section of the local supermarket or a new yoga class starting up. Those bland details of everyday life fill McGregor's mammoth paragraphs like foam insulation being sprayed into walls. Once in a very long while, however (every 50 pages or so), a startling update on Rebecca's case suddenly emerges: "There was talk of an environmental group setting up a protest camp against the new quarry. Les Thompson walked his fields in the evening while the sun was still warm on the grass. ... In the beech wood the fox cubs were taken away from their dens and taught to find food for themselves. A white hooded top was found in a clough on the top of the moor, oiled a deep peat-brown and fraying at the seams. The make and design were confirmed as a match by the missing girl's mother. The forensic tests took weeks and were inconclusive. Extensive searches were conducted where the top had been found but nothing further was unearthed." "Reservoir 13" generates suspense, not out of chase scenes or sly dialogue, but out of the extended narrative experience of waiting - waiting for something, anything, to break in Rebecca's case. Maybe this is not so much a thriller, but a "post-thriller"- a novel that meditates on tragedy and its inevitable fading away in memory. No matter how it's classified, "Reservoir 13" requires an extraordinary amount of patience from its readers; I suspect that most will feel that the narrative payoff doesn't justify that demand. --- Corrigan, who is the book critic for the NPR program "Fresh Air," teaches literature at Georgetown University. Movies are meant to be seen in theaters, with darkness on all sides and a bright screen in front, with speakers creating a cocoon of sound, with fellow audience members heightening tension and amplifying laughs. And despite my recent lament about the shoddy way too many theaters seem content to display the movies they're showing to an extent that were it not for professional obligations, I would avoid theaters entirely, I still believe in the theatrical experience. Even in these dark days, the theatrical experience can still be revelatory. Christopher Nolan's "Dunkirk," for instance, was a movie made to be seen in cinemas, its crystal clear images blown up to the biggest size possible, its bone-rattling bombing runs inspiring involuntary flinches of terror. "Blade Runner 2049," hitting theaters this weekend, is another example of a movie that needs to be seen on the biggest screen possible, where its stunning vistas and complicated sound design can be seen and heard most effectively. But making sure that experience is good for everyone can be tricky. Warner Bros. domestic distribution president Jeff Goldstein emphasized that when I asked him about the challenges involved with showing "Dunkirk," a film distributed in six different projection formats, including actual celluloid in 70mm, which is relatively rare but allows the filmmaker to capture more detail in each frame. "So, the population of film projectors is really low. Most of those projectors have been taken out of theaters and replaced with digital equipment, either 2K, 4K or better equipment. The niche locations that have film are few and far between. So what was interesting, just from an operational point of view, was to figure out how to do this," Goldstein said. Theater operators, perhaps recognizing the opportunity "Dunkirk" presented to get casual filmgoers back in theaters, stepped up to the challenge. "I have to say that exhibition embraced Chris and Warner Brothers in a really proactive and special way and said, 'OK, tell us how to do it. We don't have projectionists anymore. ... In many cases, we don't have equipment or if we have equipment .... we don't know how to operate it and, quite frankly, it needs maintenance,'" Goldstein said. "It's all sorts of different issues that were involved, and we figured out logistically and operationally how you get in there and bring all the equipment up to speed, and then how do you operate it. So we provided projectionists in a lot of locations. We help train projectionists, and we used outside vendors who specialize in this very narrow field." Goldstein repeatedly highlighted the importance to Warner Bros of showing "Dunkirk" in the way that best shows off Nolan's vision as a filmmaker - a key concern for studios who remain committed to theatrical distribution even as streaming increases in prominence. Consider the case of Amazon, a studio that, in theory, has the infrastructure and the customer base in place to skip theaters entirely and stream straight to homes. Contra Netflix - whose executives openly sneer at theatrical exhibition - Amazon has stepped up their distribution efforts. This has a great deal of appeal to the people behind the cameras. "Filmmakers want to go where they feel their work is respected and where a company has the resources to deliver on their vision," Christine Vachon, the founder of Killer Films, told Variety when the industry mag covered Amazon's increased efforts at distribution. "Amazon is delivering on all counts." But getting movies into theaters is only half the battle: You have to make the experience worthwhile for audiences. As Goldstein put it, "It's one thing to advertise a show time and have a patron go to a theater - you want to make sure that they're seeing the perfect version every single time that movie's shown." Enter the team at IMAX, which has emerged as the gold standard in exhibition over the past decade or two. I'll admit to having been skeptical about IMAX's push into multiplexes - in large part because the screens are smaller than those we grew used to at museums - but over the past few years, IMAX has been the only format in which I've yet to have a bad experience. In addition to properly training theater workers and ensuring that the air quality in a screening room does not degrade the equipment, IMAX focuses on important-yet-oft-ignored technical matters such as bulb brightness. If something goes wrong at a theater, IMAX employees can fix it almost immediately because the company literally has a command center that monitors the quality of projection in real time. "All of our systems are connected to our INOC - our IMAX Network Operations Center - and they're wired to that center through the Internet," said Colin Smyth, IMAX's senior vice president of global theater services. "So for example, if a system calibration failed in a theater in China ... we would take action on that. And we would contact the theater and perhaps remotely log in to find out why it failed and what we need to do to make sure that the system is being properly calibrated and that projectors are in alignment and the light output is, you know, right [and] it meets the standard and so on." The goal is to ensure that every audience member enjoys the same experience no matter where in the world he or she is - a matter of some importance to the filmmakers who have come to rely on the IMAX brand. "When you look at a filmmaker like Christopher Nolan - I think I can, I don't want to put words in his mouth - but you know we can guarantee filmmakers of that caliber, like J.J. Abrams, your Zack Snyders, they're not creating movies for you to watch them on a mobile phone or even a laptop. They are, we like to say, they dream in IMAX. They want to see their vision come to life in the biggest way possible," an IMAX spokesperson said. It is, perhaps, unrealistic to expect every single movie screen in America to be monitored in real time 24/7/365, as IMAX does. But if you want audiences to share the dream in a theater, as the original dreamer intended, then ensuring the highest-quality theatrical experience possible needs to be a bigger priority for everyone in the movie industry. Regnery Publishing WASHINGTON - For an aggrieved minority, the authors and fans celebrating the 70th anniversary of conservative publishing house Regnery on a posh rooftop party space Wednesday night seemed to have it pretty good. The self-described "scrappy band of insurgents" took in the commanding view of the Washington skyline, complete with a sun-dappled Capitol dome and the Washington Monument rising in the distance - and hey, the swamp never looked so good! Waitresses passed trays of sparkling wine and crispy duck wontons. The bars were open, serving a gin-spiked cocktail inspired by the publisher's patron saint (it's a long story). Goat cheese wrapped in bacon? Why yes, the bell-ringers warning of the demise of democracy would have some. After living in New York and Boston for much of his adult life, jazz pianist John Medeski moved to the Hudson Valley in upstate New York in 2003, trading city life for a secluded house in the woods about two hours from Manhattan. The loose region that contains the Hudson River has long been a popular enclave for musicians, and remains home to many players who migrate there from the city. "There's a certain native energy here that we tap into, that fuels us, and it's really just beautiful," Medeski says. "For the past 100 years, it's been a place for artists and musicians to come and be inspired." In 2014, Medeski and a few other jazz musicians who live in the area - drummer Jack DeJohnette, bassist Larry Grenadier and guitarist John Scofield - joined forces for a one-off show at the Woodstock Jazz Festival. Last year, DeJohnette (who played on Miles Davis' "Bitches Brew") decided he wanted to do something for his 75th birthday in 2017, so he called up his collaborators from that festival set. The band Hudson was born and a plan was hatched: They'd record original compositions, along with improvisational jazz takes on pop and rock songs that were either about the Hudson Valley, recorded there or from musicians who had a connection to the area (including Joni Mitchell's "Woodstock," Bob Dylan's "Lay Lady Lay" and The Band's "Up on Cripple Creek"). The chemistry was instantaneous. "I think it's pretty obvious in the music, when you hear it," says Medeski, a third of the avant-garde jazz group Medeski Martin & Wood, which often collaborates with Scofield. "You never know when you get a bunch of guys together - it doesn't mean there's gonna be chemistry. There's something about where we meet because we all have a lot of the same influences but varying degrees of doing different things, between jazz and popular music and funk and R&B and avant-garde music. We all have connections to that music so when we come together, the common denominators that arise are really great and we all get pushed in different directions that give the band a life of its own." You can hear that process in real time on "Hudson," the first track from the resulting album of the same name. "That (recording) was the first and only time that (song) happened, and now, when we do it live, it's different every night," Medeski says. "Everyone in the band is a composer and improviser and a great soloist, so you put that all together with the desire to make music and that kind of stuff happens where you can create this piece - this spontaneous composition can happen without having to talk about it at all." Gunman robs Albany grocery ALBANY A gunman robbed a grocery on Second Avenue Wednesday morning, police said. The man entered the K&S Deli and Grocery at 190 Second Ave. at 8:50 a.m., demanded money and fled with an undisclosed amount of cash, police said. The suspect is described as a 230-pound black man who last seen covering his face with a red-hooded sweatshirt. Anyone with information can call detectives at 518-462-8039. Staff report Early-morning assault investigated ALBANY City police are investigating an assault at about 2:45a.m. Tuesday on Lark Street. Officers found a man with cuts to his face and a possible fractured nose. The 30-year-old man told police that a unknown suspect struck him in the face with glass bottle. The victim was taken to Albany Medical Center. Anyone with information can call 518-462-8039. Steve Hughes $71,000 in business thefts are alleged COLONIE State Police said they arrested a Troy man for allegedly stealing about $71,000 from two local businesses. Police say James Piche, 32, owner of American Payroll in Latham, stole the money from two local businesses that hired him to do their payroll accounts. Piche was charged with two grand larceny counts, arraigned and released to the supervision of the county probation department pending a Oct. 25 court date. Steve Hughes Gang member gets prison in gun case SCHENECTADY A Schenectady County judge sentenced a Bloods gang member to the maximum 15 years in prison Wednesday for selling a .40 caliber semi-automatic weapon to a fellow gang member working as an FBI informant. Kenny Walters, 35, and his co-defendant, Jeffrey Hilts, members of the United Blood Nation, were found guilty at trial in July of selling the weapon to the informant for $800. It was Walters' third felony conviction, prosecutors said. On April 16, 2015, Walters offered to sell the handgun to the informant who, in turn, told his FBI handler. The informant then went to Hilts' home on Paige Street in Schenectady, where Walters and Hilts showed him the gun, which had been stolen in Vermont three years earlier, prosecutors said. Robert Gavin DEC: Bear shooting in town of Day illegal DAY A town resident used a pile of corn to lure a bear into his yard last month, then shot it, state authorities say. On Sept. 22, three officers from the state Department of Environmental Conservation investigated an illegal bear shooting in Day. A man, not named by the DEC, claimed he had shot the bear in his yard because it was a nuisance, the DEC said in a statement. The officers found a shooting lane less than 300 yards from the man's deck and hanging steel targets. Underneath the targets they found a pile of corn covered in blood and black hair. After they presented him with the evidence, the man admitted shooting the bear over the bait pile and was charged with illegally feeding, hunting and taking a bear. The bear's skull, meat and gall bladder were seized as evidence. Madison Iszler Break-in alleged at phone store MALTA A Milton man was arrested on felony charges Wednesday for breaking into Phone Wizard, a phone store on Route 9 in Malta, State Police said. Jamal Gray, 22, was charged with burglary, criminal mischief and grand larceny, troopers said. His bail was set at $10,000 and he was ordered back to court on Nov. 1. Madison Iszler Mountain search ends successfully WARRENSBURG State forest rangers rescued four 16-year-old hikers who had been lost for nearly six hours Friday near Hackensack Mountain, the state Department of Environmental Conservation said. Warren County 911 dispatchers alerted the DEC to the missing teens at 6:43 p.m. Sept. 29. The group said they did not have lights, water or food, and their only phone was dying. Their call dropped off before the dispatcher could get more information. Rangers searched the mountain, covering the ridge trail, the summit and all the town park trails, and found nothing. They expanded their search to include nearby snowmobile and lodging trails, where the teens were found at 12:19 a.m. in good condition. They had become confused by a network of private all-terrain vehicle trails and were more than a mile north of the mountain. Rangers escorted the teens to the road, where they were reunited with their families. Emily Masters This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A man drowned over the weekend at Falcon Lake after he rescued his teenage daughter, according to the Zapata County Sheriff's Office. Authorities identified him as Juan Jesus Sandoval Jr., 34. At 2:35 p.m. Saturday, deputies responded to a possible drowning at Falcon State Park's boat ramp area. Relatives of Sandoval stated he had rescued his 16-year-old daughter from drowning but he was not able to swim back to shore, authorities said. READ MORE: 2 arrested, more than $2.3 million seized in Nuevo Laredo stash house raid, authorities say The Sheriff's Office, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, U.S. Border Patrol, park rangers, Department of Public Safety and the Zapata County Fire Department dive team began searching for Sandoval. "After a thorough search for Mr. Sandoval, which agencies were unable to locate him, it was then decided to deploy the drag hooks by (Parks and Wildlife) and the ... dive team. The search then turned into a recovery operation for the body of Mr. Sandoval," the Sheriff's Office said in a statement. Authorities recovered the body at 5:18 p.m. Pct. 1 Justice of the Peace Anna Guerra pronounced Sandoval dead at 5:45 p.m. The investigation continues. 'Hero' Relatives are calling Sandoval a "hero." "R.I.P. nephew... Juan Jesus Sandoval. You left this world as a hero by giving your life for your precious daughter. You saved her from drowning, but you didn't make it back," said Facebook user Yvette Cornejo. "God decided it was your time to go home and your work was done here (on) earth." Cornejo described Sandoval as a "great father, husband, friend, son, uncle, cousin." She added that everybody loved Sandoval. "You will truly be missed Juanito. So young gone too soon. Truly an Angel and a Hero," Cornejo stated. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A man who dated a 14-year-old girl and impregnated her has been arrested on a sexual assault charge, according to an arrest affidavit filed by Laredo police. Christian Burgos-Aponte, 24, was served with an arrest warrant Monday charging him with sexual assault. He remained held at the Webb County Jail as of Wednesday evening. On June 28, police responded to a harassment report in the 3700 block of West San Francisco Avenue. A woman told officers that her daughter had met Burgos-Aponte on Facebook after he had sent her a friend request. READ MORE: Man found dead in west Laredo home containing guns, drugs, police say They started communicating via Messenger, according to LPD. Then, they met at Canta Ranas Park. She thought he was "cute," according to the affidavit. LPD said Burgos-Aponte had posed as a 16-year-old. The affidavit states the mother and her daughter believed him because "he did look very young." Burgos-Aponte and the 14-year-old girl began a relationship and she later became pregnant with his child, police said. She gave birth to a girl in June 2016. RELATED: Ninth person arrested in Laredo maquinita raids case, police say However, problems arose between the couple. The mother and daughter stated to police that Burgos-Aponte was upset because they told him they would initiate a child support case against him, according to court documents. He allegedly threatened to take the infant and flee to Mexico, police said. He also threatened the 14-year-old by telling her he would send his current girlfriend to assault her, according to the affidavit. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate As of Wednesday, the City of Laredo's consideration in turning the Old Mercy Hospital into affordable housing is no longer on the table. At their Sept. 5 meeting, City Council trepidatiously voted to enter into a memorandum of understanding with the owners of the old hospital to conduct a site analysis and appraisal of the blighted building to determine its potential use for low-income housing units. Council also voted to file a temporary restraining order to compel the property owners to mitigate the building's wide-ranging nuisance issues. That injunction should be filed within the week, according to the City Attorney's Office. The site analysis would have been conducted in joint effort with the Laredo Housing Authority, which took the lead in modifying the proposed memorandum of understanding, Deputy City Manager Cynthia Collazo said at Wednesday's Old Mercy Ad Hoc meeting. READ MORE: 35 fastest-growing cities in Texas, according to WalletHub The city and the LHA agreed to give Chendo Carranco, who owns the old hospital, until Sept. 30 to sign the memorandum of understanding. However, on Sept. 28 Carranco asked for a deadline extension, Collazo said. The city notified the LHA on Oct. 3 that they were not willing to grant this extension. "... So the housing authority has in essence advised (the Carrancos) that they will not be pursuing the joint analysis," Collazo said. This statement was met with a few seconds of shocked silence by the ad hoc committee members. Chendo Carranco's son, Andrew Carranco, who represents his father in most matters relating to the old hospital, had previously expressed his interest in pursuing this idea of affordable housing with the city. Committee member Margarita Araiza said it's clear they were not getting the responses they had hoped for in this process. "I feel like our hands are tied as far as where we can go except to say let's move forward with the next legal step," Araiza said. Jennifer Roby said she felt the committee was running in circles, but gave credit to the city and the LHA for sticking to their original deadline. "Compassion without action is only observation. What are we doing for the people? What are we doing for the community? Nothing," she said. MORE FROM LMTonline: Man found dead in west Laredo home containing guns, drugs, police say Committee member Frank Saldana said he thought the site analysis, which had a price tag of about $25,000, was a waste of money to begin with. "The fact that it didn't get anywhere is kind of telling to me," he said. Andrew Carranco then explained that his father had been sick with the flu for the past three weeks, which is why they asked for the extension. And furthermore, after having their attorney look over the memorandum of understanding, they determined that the first clause is essentially an indictment against them. "We're not trying to do anything to screw the city over or the people over. But giving us a piece of paper and asking us to sign something that's a practical indictment ... to be used in a court of law against us in the future is not only unjust, it's wrong. And I'm not going to do that," Andrew Carranco said. Since they have owned the building, the Carrancos have given other entities the ability to conduct feasibility studies, Committee Chairman Louis LaVaude said. If they didn't like the memorandum of understanding, the Carrancos should have gone back to the housing authority with their own offer, La Vaude said. Toward the end of the meeting, Andrew Carranco expressed his hope to get something done on the building quickly and wash his hands of it. "I honestly can say we're trying our best. Our best isn't good enough," he said. Julia Wallace may be reached at 956-728-2543 or jwallace@lmtonline.com The City of Bellaire held its first public hearing on a proposed property tax increase on Oct. 2 at City Hall, where some residents said the possible surge in the rate is a burden on already strapped homeowners after Hurricane Harvey damaged one-third of homes in the city. Residents who spoke at the first of two public hearings were not happy with the $0.4159 rate per $100 valuation that the city introduced, an increase from the 2016 $0.3874 per $100 valuation. Jim Avioli, a resident of Bellaire, told council that homeowners were "hit" with this increase just weeks after Harvey wreaked havoc on the neighborhood, and the proposal is "insensitive." The Chief Financial Officer with city of Bellaire Terrence Beaman made the case for the rate approved by City Council in September and said the proposed rate would generate $20.6 million of revenue for city, 1.6 million more than fiscal year 2017. "If there was a reduction in revenue, the city would also have to look at ways to reduce the operating budget to the tune of about $1.4 million," said Beaman. Jim Campbell, a resident of more than 30 years, responded to Beamer's claim and added that increases in home values made the rate unfair, regardless of whether Harvey affected one's property. "My valuation has gone up 33 percent in last four years," said Campbell. "There are $500,000 houses that are being replaced by $3 million houses. Now you're talking about taking the rate up. The chief financial officer said the city would have to find savings, I suggest you start looking for it. I suggest you start looking at a way to mirror what happened in Houston where the mayor backed away from increasing property taxes." Campbell was referring to the proposed 8.9 percent tax increase on Houston residents called for by Mayor Sylvester Turner in early September, just weeks after Harvey decimated homes in that city, but later retracted after loud opposition and a $50 million check from Texas Gov. Greg Abbott for Harvey recovery efforts. But according to Bellaire Mayor Andrew Friedberg in a conversation with Houston Chronicle around the same time, the city of Bellaire had already planned on the increase and had nothing to do with Harvey recovery. He said the city was just following through with its previous intentions. "At this past Monday night's meeting," said Friedberg via email of the September vote, "council took a record vote of intention to adopt a 2017 (tax year) rate of $0.4159. That's the same rate (adjusted slightly upon receipt from HCAD of our certified tax roll) as was proposed prior to Harvey. I mention that to illustrate that Harvey hasn't changed our proposed tax rate." At the public meeting, Friedberg defended the increase by pointing out that 67 percent of the city's general fund revenue comes from property taxes, and that 86 percent of those taxes are paid by residential taxpayers. He added that the city needs to develop more commercial property to help offset that. Bellaire City Manager Paul Hofmann responded to the request to find savings in the budget. "Any reduction in expenses will result in service delivery reductions," said Hofmann. "It sounds like I'm playing a game here, but I'm not. I suppose we could stop maintaining parks, picking up litter I'm out of ideas." Friedberg noted that the city finds itself in the position of asking for a tax rate increase at a time when most residents are absorbing costs from the disaster that Harvey wrought because of past mistakes. "I think this can has been kicked to this point," he said. "We're having to make tough choices because of all our past spending when we didn't have adequate new money coming in." The second public hearing will be held Oct. 9 at Bellaire City Hall. In the aftermath of Sunday's independence referendum in Catalonia, the rifts in Spanish society are only growing wider. "With each passing day, national authorities and the pro-independence forces in Catalonia appear to be moving inexorably toward direct confrontation," wrote my Washington Post colleague William Booth. The past few days have seen heated protests and a general strike in Catalonia, an economically prosperous region in northeastern Spain whose local government unilaterally staged the independence vote over the weekend. The bruising handling of the situation by right-wing Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, who deployed security forces to Catalonia who bloodied unarmed protesters, has hardened Catalan attitudes against Madrid. And as both sides dig in, the showdown may trigger a constitutional crisis that would have profound ramifications not just for Spain but for all of Europe. Catalan's separatist leaders say that more than 2 million people were still able to cast ballots, the vast majority of which were for secession from Spain. Officials in the region suggested they could formally declare independence as early as this coming Monday. On Wednesday, Spain's high court launched an investigation into possible sedition charges for a number of pro-secessionist Catalan police officials and politicians as they press ahead with their plans to break away. It's not clear at all what an unilaterally "independent" Catalonia will look like, but the move toward it will be profoundly messy. "We know that there may be disbarments, arrests," said pro-independence Catalan politician Mireia Boya in a message posted on Twitter. "But we are prepared, and in no case will it be stopped." The irony is that many Catalans aren't on the same page as secessionist leaders and believe their region has been hijacked by politicians pushing a narrow, uncompromising agenda. "We are completely silenced," filmmaker Isabel Coixet told my colleagues. "They have created a climate of tension in which anyone who doesn't agree with them doesn't exist and is discredited. And, honestly, there are so many people keeping quiet. The biggest problem I see is the double fracture that has been created - the division with Spain and the division between the Catalans." Meanwhile, the head of a union that represents the Guardia Civil, the national paramilitary police force involved in the Sunday crackdown, bemoaned the harassment his comrades are facing on the streets of Catalan cities and urged that reinforcements be sent from the rest of the country. A speech delivered Tuesday by King Felipe VI, Spain's head of state, echoed Madrid's position that the Catalan independence move was "outside the law" and a display of "unacceptable disloyalty." The following night, the Spanish government rejected a Catalan call for negotiations. All of this is only giving Catalan secessionists more ammunition. "Catalonia is divided. Spain is divided. King Felipe VI's speech was inadequate," noted Federiga Bindi, a senior fellow at the School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University. "He should have spoken in both languages - after all, he is fluent in Catalan and Prince of Barcelona. He should have called for dialogue and negotiations between both parties, but instead he stood firmly on the side of the Moncloa Palace" - a reference to Rajoy's residence. Carles Puigdemont, Catalonia's regional president and a leading advocate for secession, addressed the king Wednesday night, saying the monarch "disappointed many people in Catalonia who appreciate you and are expecting a call to dialogue." In earlier remarks, Puigdemont cast his region's plight as that of an oppressed fledgling democracy chafing against repression. "The Spanish government is letting political opponents be arrested, it is influencing media and blocking Internet sites. We are under observation day and night," said Puigdemont. "What is that other than an authoritarian state?" Speculation now moves to whether Rajoy will invoke what's seen as a "nuclear option": Invoking Article 155 of the Spanish constitution, which would give Madrid the authority to dissolve the Catalan parliament now led by Puigdemont. But in doing so, Rajoy risks his own political future: His fragile minority government could face a backlash and potentially lose a vote of confidence in parliament. Catalonia's silent majority of people who aren't necessarily in favor of independence could start changing their minds. The crisis is being closely watched elsewhere in Europe. Various politicians have already sided with Madrid or have referred to the matter as a purely Spanish affair. But as the showdown intensifies, they may not be able to look the other way should chaos break out in one of the more beloved corners of the continent. "If this were Crimea, say, or friendless, penniless Greece, Angela Merkel would be in full mediation mode by now," wrote Guardian columnist Simon Tisdall. "But when it comes to Catalonia, Germany's chancellor, whose [own party] is allied with Spain's ruling party, is otherwise engaged." So, too, is French President Emmanuel Macron, who, in a major speech last week, energetically championed a more "integrated Europe" - a call echoed by Catalonia's secessionists, who are fiercely pro-Brussels - yet said he supported Spain's "constitutional unity" this week. To be fair, no Western European leader is going to speak up for separatists in another Western European country. But the standoff between Barcelona and Madrid betrays the complex tensions boiling within Europe - a mess of cosmopolitan ideals, nationalist agendas and regional aspirations for more direct governance. "The Catalonia referendum has deepened cracks in the EU's plan for greater integration, driving debate around identity across the continent," noted economist Franz Buscha. "The EU has set itself the goal of countering rising illiberalism and nationalism, and it's struggling," wrote French journalist and commentator Natalie Nougayrede. "The Catalan crisis exposes its political limits and its difficulty in making citizens understand how it functions. For Europe, as for Spanish democracy, this is a major test." This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Piles of garbage and debris lining streets throughout Southeast Texas could be causing "serious latent medical illnesses" and contributing to a rise in respiratory illnesses, a health official said. Dr. A. Cecil Walkes, Jefferson County's Public Health Authority, wrote in a letter to local officials this week that the garbage is a "deadly conglomerate, an incubator for bacterial growth, parasite multiplication, fungi generation, protozoan and rickettesial replication, rodent and other small animal infestation and flies breeding." Symptoms produced by the debris can include respiratory irritation, rashes and fatigue, and the presence of bacteria and rodents can cause more serious ailments, Walkes wrote. People with pre-existing conditions or compromised immune systems are especially vulnerable, he said, including those with asthma, diabetes, COPD or cancer. Meanwhile, doctors at hospitals and clinics around the Gulf Coast are reporting a spike in patients, many from areas hit hard by flooding, seeking treatment for respiratory symptoms. The number of patients is "definitely more than I saw in the same period last year," said Dr. Chase Whitehead, a doctor of family medicine at Memorial Hermann Medical Group. "Patients are coming in with runny noses and coughs they can't shake. Former asthma patients are coming in with attacks." In addition to the debris, mold and overgrowth of plants from flooding can also trigger respiratory problems, as well as the dust and fibers released into the air from drywall, flooring and plaster during clean-up efforts. Doctors dubbed respiratory problems "Katrina cough" after that 2005 hurricane. Whitehead said he treated 10 patients recently who thought they had upper-respiratory infections. Nine turned out to have no infection but an inflammation of the lungs, which he treated with steroids. In his letter, Walkes wrote that the effects of those illnesses "could be insidious and long-lasting." He urged local leaders, espeically in Port Arthur, which "has the worst display of uncollected garbage," to remove debris within the week. Shirley Payne, whose El Vista home flooded during the storm, has left the area and is staying with friends after the smell and air quality made it hard to breathe, she said. She initially returned to Port Arthur after evacuating during the storm to Louisiana to come back to work with her family on repairing her home. About a week ago, she realized "I couldn't do it anymore," she said. Mold and dampness inside her home made it unlivable, and while sitting outside during the day, she started hyperventilating, she said. Family and volunteers have since gutted the house to let it dry out, she said, but she won't return until she knows the streets have been cleared and she'll have clean air to breathe. "It is the city's responsibility to come and pick that debris up," she said. In a post on the city website, Port Arthur said contractors are making "several passes through the city" to pick up the different types of garbage. Local municipalities have struggled with the amount of debris, which has left roads in some parts of Southeast Texas almost impassable. Harvey-related illnesses may also be exacerbated by seasonal allergies, and doctors cautioned that it's impossible to know if reactions are solely storm-related. "It makes sense that it's storm-related, the way patients starting coming in starting about a week after the storm," said Dr. Eric Sandberg, an allergist at Kelsey-Seybold Clinics. "But at this point, it's hard to differentiate - the drop in humidity typically leads to more pollen activity about now." Sandberg said October is typically a busy time for Texas allergists. Walkes said in his letter that other, non-respiratory diseases are possible due to the storm as well - bacteria can infect people when they're handling the debris and could infect water supplies, while rodents can transmit other illnesses. Todd.Ackerman@chron.com LTeitz@BeaumontEnterprise.com Twitter.com/LizTeitz Caskets with the remains of three Army Green Berets will arrive in coming days at the military's mortuary in Dover, Delaware. That much is certain. Less clear are the circumstances surrounding their deaths Wednesday in an ambush in the Central African country of Niger, and the precise nature of their mission. The Pentagon and the White House have long sought to frame the U.S. military's activities there, and elsewhere on the African continent, as providing support for American allies battling extremists throughout the region - and being removed from direct combat with those groups. That appears to be changing, observers say. "Training operations have picked up in recent years, and with this incident, the U.S. seems to be getting closer and closer to combat operations," said Andrew Lebovich, a visiting fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations. U.S. forces have expanded efforts in Niger, military officials have said, as part of a growing presence in the Sahel region. The vast expanse of desert stretches across the continent, and affiliates of al-Qaida and the Islamic State have taken advantage of instability in Libya, where arms and fighters flow into a region difficult to govern. About 645 U.S. personnel were assigned to posts in Niger as of June, mostly at two sites focused on gathering aerial reconnaissance for Nigerien forces. About 300 to the south in Cameroon provide logistical and intelligence support. Lebovich said the numbers could be even higher now. This expansion is a potential tension point for President Donald Trump, who has sought to facilitate the Pentagon's counterterrorism objectives while calling for scaling back the U.S. military global footprint because his political base does not see such missions as vital to the national interest. Those impulses appear to collide in the Sahel, putting the Pentagon and the White House in the difficult position of explaining to the American public how three elite soldiers were killed on a mission that many did not previously know existed. On Thursday, the Pentagon's chief spokeswoman, Dana White, said the soldiers died, along with a "partner nation member," from enemy contact, although she was careful to avoid the word "combat." "To the soldiers in the fight, it was combat," added Lt. Gen. Kenneth McKenzie, who is director of the Pentagon's Joint Staff. He and White endured a tense exchange with reporters, who questioned the two officials over the often-fraught characterization of troops killed by gunfire, explosions and in other hostile acts in countries such as Iraq and Afghanistan, where U.S. troops are charged with similar missions to buttress partner forces. But McKenzie emphasized that the overall conditions in western Niger were not characterized as combat. If the mission was indeed training, Lebovich said, "it seems it was meant to be a realistic training mission." The soldiers' deaths mark the first known hostile-fire casualties among U.S. forces in Niger. A soldier with the 3rd Special Forces Group, the main unconventional warfare unit in the Africa Command, was killed in a vehicle accident there in February. The incident Wednesday occurred about 120 miles north of Niamey, the capital, near the border with Mali, officials said. White and McKenzie refused to elaborate on the nature of the mission or why U.S. forces were so close to Mali, a country rife with militant activity. They would not say either whether Wednesday's operation indicates plans to expand security missions in the region or whether other hostile engagements have recently occurred there. The United States already conducts surveillance drone flights piloted from Niamey. The United States is also finishing construction on an installation at Agadez, a central city in the Sahara, that will move flights closer to southern Libya and northern Mali, allowing surveillance aircraft to stay in the air longer. Although the Africa Command did not say where U.S. troops operate beyond Niamey and the air base at Agadez, Lebovich said Special Forces personnel have, since at least 2014, run training operations out of Ouallam, a town halfway between Niamey and the Mali border, where militants cross for incursions into Niger. The Drive, a website that chronicles international defense activity, reported recently that the Pentagon has contracted fuel deliveries to Ouallam, indicating the need to keep tactical missions self-sustainable in remote regions far from Niamey. Deepening involvement in Africa translates to a learning curve for U.S. forces there, said Nasser Weddady, a regional security analyst. French military forces are posted across the region and have deeper cultural understanding because France is a former colonial power in the region, along with having business interests in uranium mines there, he said. "The French know these places. This is their Tijuana. This is their Mexico," Weddady said of the Sahel. "The U.S. is still discovering the place." News of the deaths appeared to Weddady to be a turning point in U.S. involvement in Africa, and he thinks there may be eagerness to expand operations in what he called the logic of war, which could lead to a spiral of involvement. "How do you strike that . . . balance of security and assistance?" Weddady said. "Until yesterday we had that balance. And then it went out of whack." This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate LAS VEGAS - It was different in the light of day. There was no sound of blaring sirens, no "pop, pop, pop" of gunfire, no screams. Just a quiet, sprawling lot of cars abandoned by those, like Kassidy Owen, who escaped with their lives. "It's strange to hear the silence," Owen said, "because all I remember was the noise." The 22-year-old was one of dozens of concertgoers who returned to the scene of the Route 91 Harvest festival on Wednesday morning to retrieve the vehicles they left behind as they fled from a gunman raining down bullets from high above in the tower of the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino across the street. Survivors of the deadly mass shooting in Las Vegas on Sunday needed their cars to move on with their lives - to get back to work, to school, home. It was the first time they were returning to a scene that would forever alter them, when joy and celebration and music turned into bloodshed and chaos and horror. Before they could move forward, they had to go back to the place where they thought they were going to die. On the night of the shooting, Owen texted her mother at 10:14. - - - Mom There is a shooter Mom Call me Its an active shooter People are dead - - - Owen had run to her car to hide and had tried to drive away, but she couldn't. People were running, bodies dropped to the ground, and cars bottlenecked in the parking lot. During a brief pause in more than 10 minutes of gunfire, she worried the lights of her SUV made everyone inside a shining target. "'They're shooting again!' " her best friend's brother screamed. "'Turn off the car!' " That's when she got out and fled. "I just remember slamming the door and running," Owen said. Now, nearly three days later, she was back, sitting in the driver's seat of her SUV. Her eyes were puffy and red. This was a long way from over. "You just keep hearing the gunshots in your head," Owen said. Carlos Alfaro-Sandoval had jumped into the back of a police cruiser Wednesday morning with officers who escorted him through a lot cordoned off by police tape and fencing to look for his white truck. As he rode through, he noticed shattered glass on the ground, bullet holes in the concrete walls. "It should be in that back parking where they had all the employees park with all those white tents," he told officers as they pulled up to a lot that was sectioned off. "That's unfortunately going to be the closed lot," the officer told him. "They released cars from there, but then the FBI thought there was going to be something related in the parking lot over there." Alfaro-Sandoval worked as a bartender at the country music festival. Upon hearing the gunfire, he briefly took cover but decided he had to start moving. He left his truck, backpack and tip money and just ran. "I've got a 4-month-old and a 7-year-old," Alfaro-Sandoval said. "That's why I ran." He was hoping to reunite with his truck Wednesday to start returning to a routine life. Not being able to access it meant one thing: Having to return yet again some other day. "The sleep is not fun. You start seeing the little visions or hearing the pops and people falling and just blood," Alfaro-Sandoval said. "That's the worst part. We were just jumping over people who were laying down or trying to help people up, but they couldn't get up because they were . . . " His voice trailed off, too traumatized to say it: dead. Before Wednesday, the last time Stephen Charshafian saw his maroon SUV, he and his wife were inside hoping to escape the rapid fire of bullets cutting through the night. There, the 59-year-old military veteran heard the strike of metal on metal. Charshafian knew that sound immediately. They weren't safe from the rounds hurling toward them. "It sounded like it had ripped right through the car," Charshafian said. He and his wife bailed and scrambled out into a neighborhood, leaving his wallet and cash inside the abandoned vehicle. Here he stood, again, on the same street where just days ago he had loaded wounded and bleeding concertgoers into the back of a Jeep and helped direct ambulances and traffic through the chaos. Charshafian choked back tears recalling the carnage and the brief moment he had been separated from his wife. Charshafian, of Long Beach, California, had thought about moving to Las Vegas before the shooting because the schools are better, there's less graffiti, and it's a cleaner place. That's not going to happen now. "I don't want to stay any longer than I have to," Charshafian said, his voice quaking. "I need to get away from here." Charshafian had gone back to the lot twice in previous days before he was able to retrieve his Ford SUV on Wednesday. After inspecting a small dent beneath the license plate - where it looked like a bullet left a scar - Charshafian and his wife hopped in, finally able to drive away. DIBIS, Iraq - Iraqi forces have reclaimed the town of Hawijah from the Islamic State, Iraq's prime minister said Thursday, though fighting continued in pockets of the last significant urban territory controlled by the militant group. Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi made the announcement from Paris, where he was meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron to discuss a growing crisis over an independence referendum held by Iraq's Kurds. Macron offered to mediate between the Iraqi central government and the Kurds, even as other regional powers have taken steps to isolate the Kurdish region in retaliation for last week's vote. France has been a traditional proponent of Kurdish self-determination, but Macron said Iraq's territorial integrity must be maintained - dashing hopes by Kurdish officials that France would become one of the few countries to support a possible break from Baghdad. Hawijah, about 140 miles north of Baghdad, also marked an important test of military coordination between Kurdish forces, known as peshmerga, and Iraqi government troops. The town is in Kirkuk province, an oil-rich region that is hotly disputed by both Arabs and Kurds and has been a focal point in decades-old discord between Baghdad and Kurdish leaders over borders. The United States opposed the Kurdish referendum, claiming it would threaten cooperation between Iraqi and Kurdish forces in the fight against the Islamic State at a time when the extremist group is reeling from consecutive military defeats. In a statement, the U.S.-led coalition fighting the Islamic State said some 1,000 Islamic State fighters surrendered during the fight for Hawijah - a notable figure because Iraqi and American officials had estimated there were some 1,500 fighters in the town before the battle was launched. Hundreds of suspected militants are now being held at a Kurdish intelligence facility in Dibis, about 27 miles northeast of Hawijah. "Today's victory demonstrates we are stronger together, and this coalition remains committed to supporting our partners in the tough fight ahead as we continue our mission to defeat ISIS," Lt. Gen. Paul Funk, a senior American commander, said in a statement Thursday congratulating the Iraqi and Kurdish forces. Hawijah was a strategic position for the Islamic State, also known as ISIS and ISIL, giving it a base in central Iraq to launch attacks in surrounding provinces. The battle to reclaim the town was launched Sept. 21 and involved a mix of Iraqi forces backed by American airstrikes. The fight for Hawijah was one of the few remaining areas in which Iraqi and Kurdish parties were cooperating. Last week, Kurdish authorities held a unilateral referendum on independence, which was approved by nearly 93 percent of voters in the semiautonomous Kurdish region of northern Iraq. The vote was opposed by the Iraqi central government, the United States, Turkey, Iran and others. It has set off a string of recriminations and threats of a total economic blockade of the Kurdish region by Iraq, Turkey and Iran - all of which have held military exercises as a warning to Kurdish officials. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told Turkish media Thursday that Turkey, Iran and Iraq would decide together whether to choke off the flow of oil from the Kurdish region. The Popular Mobilization Forces, an umbrella group of militias aligned with the Iraqi government, strongly opposed the Kurdish independence referendum as well. They participated in the Hawijah battle, putting them in proximity to Kurdish peshmerga forces and raising fears of clashes between the groups. In a joint news conference with Macron, Abadi said there is no "military option" to resolve the dispute between Baghdad and the Kurdish region. The relatively swift fight in Hawijah has mimicked August's battle for the northern city of Tal Afar, where the militants put up mild resistance before surrendering or withdrawing. One suspect, who spoke in the presence of his captors, said he and others had fled toward Kurdish lines because they feared they would be treated more far harshly by Iraqi troops. The battles for Hawijah and Tal Afar mark a dramatic turnaround in the Islamic State's ability to hold ground and inflict significant damage in Iraq. Iraqi and U.S. officials involved in the campaign to eradicate the group said the Islamic State was exhausted and severely depleted during the grueling nine-month battle for Mosul, the largest city in northern Iraq and the most important territory the militants held after their 2014 sweep of northern and central Iraq. Also facing the ongoing battles to evict the group from the Syrian cities of Raqqa and Deir al-Zour, the Islamic State has ceded roughly 90 percent of the territory it once controlled. In Iraq, the group now controls only a string of small towns in the vast desert of western Anbar province along the Syrian border. Iraqi forces launched a campaign there last month and expect a tough fight in an area that is difficult to control. It is in that porous border region that U.S. and Iraqi officials believe the group's leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, is hiding. Last week, the Islamic State released an audio recording purported to be of Baghdadi - defying Russian claims that the reclusive leader was killed over the summer. --- El-Ghobashy reported from Cairo. Kareem Fahim in Dibis contributed to this report. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate For four days, investigators have poured over the life of Stephen Paddock and for four days, the man who carried out the deadliest mass shooting in modern American history has largely remained an enigma. They have searched Paddock's homes, scoured his computers, assessed his finances and explored his travel history. So far, they have uncovered a complex web of clues, and no clear answers about why. In the months before he carried out the Las Vegas massacre, killing 58 people and injuring nearly 500 others, Paddock booked hotel rooms at two other major outdoor music festivals. The reservations were curious for a man who friends and neighbors say was decidedly anti-social, but investigators are now working to determine if they were a significant foreshadowing of things to come, or meaningless travels of someone with the means to fly around the country. A real estate broker who helped Paddock sell multiple properties in California more than a decade ago said the future gunman expressed dislike for taxes and the government - even selling off a series of buildings in California to move his money to the low-tax havens of Texas and Nevada. But the agent, who asked not to be identified discussing Paddock, said they never knew Paddock to be political or ideological. A person familiar with the investigation into the massacre said these anti-government views alone didn't explain why Paddock would head to a 32nd floor suite at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, break out the windows and open fire into a crowd of unsuspecting citizens. This much is certain: Paddock, 64, aimed for maximum destruction. He had with him in the suite 23 guns, a dozen of them equipped with bump stocks that would allow for rapid fire, along with thousands of rounds of ammunition that he never fired. These bump stocks have become a flash point since the shooting, and on Thursday the National Rifle Association - in its first statement since the massacre - echoed others in calling for more regulations on the devices. Investigators searching Paddock's car also found several cases containing the chemical tannerite, an explosive, and 1,600 more rounds of ammo. But Paddock, who killed himself before police stormed his suite, left precious few clues about his motive. There was a slip of paper in his suite, authorities said, but it was not a suicide note. As of Thursday afternoon, the only new information to publicly emerge from searches of Paddock's electronic equipment were details of his possible travel plans. He had booked space at the Blackstone Hotel near Chicago's Lollapalooza in August, and the following month, reserved a room at the Ogden in Las Vegas during the Life is Beautiful festival. It seems he never actually checked into the Chicago hotel, though an official said investigators were still exploring his travels. They were also looking at possible interest Paddock had in Boston, an official familiar with the case said. Paddock, a retired accountant and avid gambler, was "disturbed and dangerous," Joseph Lombardo, the Las Vegas sheriff, said at a news briefing Wednesday night. "Stephen Paddock is a man who spent decades acquiring weapons and ammo and living a secret life, much of which will never be fully understood," Lombardo said. Authorities have said that Paddock had ramped up his gun purchases in the year before the shooting, and Lombardo said police were trying to determine whether something in his life changed during that period. "Anything that would indicate this individual's trigger point and would cause him to do such harm, we haven't understood it yet," he said. The emerging portrait of Paddock suggested a man of considerable means who liked guns, gambling and women, but who so disliked interacting with people that he sought to avoid talking to them. Property records show Paddock sold several low-end apartment buildings and commercial buildings in California in the 2000s before purchasing an apartment building in Texas and homes in retirement communities in Florida and Nevada. Between 2003 and 2004, Paddock sold at least three commercial properties in California for a total of more than $5 million dollars. Paddock would buy apartments, move into them to keep an eye on his investment, but "still would employ other people to talk to the tenants because he didn't want to talk to the tenants," the broker said. The aversion to human interaction even extended into Paddock's flying, said the broker, who like Paddock enjoyed piloting personal planes. He said he knew Paddock for several years in the early 2000s, during which time Paddock had a sleek new aircraft - a Cirrus SR20. On the handful of flights they made together, Paddock mapped out his path - steering away from controlled areas - just to avoid having to talk to air traffic controllers, the broker said. Paddock stored the Cirrus at a Mesquite Metro Airport hangar between 2007 and 2009, according airport workers. The airport staff had little recollection of him, said Lt. Brian Parrish of Mesquite Police, "because he paid his bills on time and didn't cause trouble." His flying hobby appeared to come to an end in 2010. Because of a medical restriction - he needed glasses for near vision - Paddock would have been required to renew a medical certificate to fly. But once his certificate expired in 2010, he never sought an application to renew his licenses, a Federal Aviation Administration official said. Paddock's aversion to human contact, the real estate broker said, was in part why he preferred playing video poker, a type of gambling that doesn't require interaction with other players. Paddock's wardrobe did not bespeak of a man of wealth, said the broker. Paddock often went out unshaven, in sweats and flip flops, even on his thrice-weekly excursions to casinos, where he ate at the buffet. Jonathon Speece, a gunsmith at Guns & Guitars in Mesquite, Nevada, where Paddock had purchased weapons, said he had met Paddock several times over the last year and never found him to be out of the ordinary. Paddock, who had a home in Mesquite, never made any statements suggesting a hint of coming violence, Speece, 41, said in an interview at the gun shop. "He was just like anybody else," Speece said. "All of the locals around here are asking why he did it. Nobody has any answers. It doesn't make sense. I don't think I'll ever understand it." As authorities pieced together Paddock's life, they were assessing if he hoped to escape from the hotel alive, if anyone helped him and if he planned other attacks before firing upon the country music festival Sunday night. The most significant might have been in Chicago, where Paddock reserved space in the Blackstone, a 335-room high-rise hotel overlooking the Lollapalooza music festival in August, according to two people familiar with the investigation. A hotel representative said someone reserved a room under Paddock's name but did not stay in the hotel during the festival. Lollapalooza, which draws an estimated 100,000 people each day, was held in Chicago's Grant Park. Among those in attendance was Malia Obama, the older daughter of former president Barack Obama. While investigators puzzled over Paddock's potential interest in other concerts, they sought answers from those who knew him. On Wednesday, FBI agents interviewed Marilou Danley, Paddock's girlfriend, hoping she could provide insight. Danley, who was out of the country during the shooting, told investigators that Paddock bought her a plane ticket to the Philippines to visit relatives. Danley said Paddock then wired her a substantial sum of money and told her to use it to buy a home - which she said made her think Paddock was ending their relationship. "It never occurred to me in any way whatsoever that he was planning violence against anyone," Danley said in a statement that was read aloud by her attorney. Her attorney did not respond to messages seeking comment Thursday. According to authorities, Paddock had prepared meticulously and mercilessly. He assembled an arsenal in his suite and, police say, stashed cameras around him to know when officers were closing in. Speaking Wednesday night, Lombardo, the sheriff, offered the most detailed timeline yet of the incident, describing how officers heard the gunshots, closed in on Paddock's suite and - 75 minutes later - breached the door to find Paddock dead, a handgun not far from his body. The timeline offered by Lombardo depicts officers desperately trying to rush people inside the hotel to safety. Gunshots first rang out at 10:05 p.m., and seven minutes later, two officers arrived on the floor below Paddock and heard gunfire above them, Lombardo said. The gunfire ended at 10:15 p.m., police said. Far below, chaos dominated the streets and sidewalks as people fled the venue, scattering to hotels, the airport's tarmac and nearby neighborhoods. "It was not in one building, it was not in one spot, it was not in one address," Clark County Fire Chief Cassell said. "It was spread over a massive area." In the hotel, police continued searching for the shooter. At 10:17 p.m., Lombardo said, officers arrived on the hotel's 32nd floor, and just a minute later, a hotel security officer relayed that he was shot. By 10:30 p.m., eight more officers were on the floor, clearing room after room. At 11:20 p.m., SWAT officers breached the door. They found Paddock's body, Lombardo said. Before they arrived, Paddock had put a gun in his mouth and pulled the trigger. It remains unclear when exactly Paddock shot himself. - - - Julie Tate, Devlin Barrett, Abigail Hauslohner and Ashley Halsey III in Washington; Lynh Bui in Las Vegas; Kevin Sullivan in Mesquite, Nevada; William Dauber in Los Angeles; and Barbara Liston in Orlando, Florida, contributed to this report, which has been been updated throughout the day. U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May is losing the confidence of her colleagues and should consider stepping down, a former minister suggested, after a key speech aimed at revitalizing her leadership descended into chaos. Conservative lawmaker Ed Vaizey is the first member of Parliament since the speech to publicly air concerns about May continuing as leader, adding that he believed many of his colleagues feel the same. Vaizey was a culture minister under May's predecessor and left when David Cameron resigned. If more Tories join him on the record in asking her to go, May's position could become untenable. Speaking anonymously, one Tory lawmaker said May should resign now to allow a new leader to be elected because she would lead the party to defeat at the next election. The Tory expressed hope that colleagues would speak to May to urge her to step down over the weekend. "I think there will be quite a few people who will now be pretty firmly of the view that she should resign," Vaizey told BBC Oxford in an interview on Thursday, when asked whether May should step aside. "In private people are very concerned. It is a difficult situation." This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 3 1 of 3 Bloomberg photo by Chris Ratcliffe. Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Joe Giddens/SUB Show More Show Less 3 of 3 The pound fell against most major peers as May's leadership came under question and the crisis comes at a sensitive time for Brexit talks, and risks further postponing any progress. May had just won some goodwill from EU partners with her concessions in Florence, giving some momentum to talks. Discussions are meant to resume in Brussels on Monday, and EU counterparts will be struggling to understand who is calling the shots in London. The prime minister is struggling to reassert her authority after she gambled on an early election in June. Instead of boosting May's party's power in Parliament, the vote cost the Tories their majority in the House of Commons. In an attempt to reboot her leadership, she apologized for the election fiasco in a speech to the Tory party conference on Wednesday. Yet that address was overshadowed by a succession of mishaps, after a prankster interrupted her to handed her a P45 form, the paperwork people receive when they leave their jobs. She then struggled to contain a coughing fit for the remainder of her speech, repeatedly pausing to sip water and suck a throat drop. As a final indignity, the letters of the Tory slogan began to fall off the stage set behind her. May has received public backing from members of her Cabinet, including Boris Johnson, the troublesome foreign secretary who had been criticized for undermining her leadership with his own rival Brexit agenda. Greg Clark, the Business Secretary, praised the "guts and grace" the Prime Minister showed during her speech in Manchester. He told BBC Radio's Today program that the party needs to concentrate on being "effective and cool-headed" in government and that there would be no patience with any "distractions." Other Tories were also supportive. "Theresa's main task is to get us out of the EU with the best deal; anything that takes attention from that purpose is unhelpful to her, to the people and the country," said Conservative member of Parliament Bill Wiggin, in an interview. "We don't want to strengthen Michel Barnier's hand during the negotiations." In his interview, Vaizey, who supported staying in the EU at last year's referendum, said the Conservative Party is "split down the middle" on Brexit "and that's very bad for the country." "The Tory party conference was the great opportunity to re-boot the party and therefore re-boot the country to give a clear sense of direction and that didn't happen so yes I am concerned. I'm finding it increasingly difficult to see a way forward at the moment and it worries me." This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Out of 7,002 bills filed during the 85th Texas Legislature earlier this year, 1,301 became law. Among those that passed, 13 were spearheaded by state Rep. Will Metcalf, R-Conroe. Metcalf provided a synopsis on the session, bills that enacted significant reform and pro-life measures, and seven proposed constitutional amendments during the North Shore Republican Women's monthly luncheon Wednesday at Bentwater Yacht Club. "It truly is an honor to serve you and thank you from the bottom of my heart for sending me to Austin to fight for your values ...," Metcalf said. Metcalf discussed his cosponsored bills, including Senate Bill 4 related to sanctuary cities and Immigration and Customs Enforcement; Senate Bill 8 pro-life legislation banning partial-birth abortions; Senate Bill 500 regarding ethics reform related to convicted felons; Senate Bill 5 on Voter ID; Senate Bill 15 and Senate Joint Resolution 1; and Senate Bill 12 to support law enforcement. Other accomplishments Metcalf listed included legislation to bring transparency and accountability to the Lone Star Groundwater Conservation District, a bill to reform the municipal utility district election process, and a bill to reduce state debt and reform property tax appeals. Some bills addressed public education regarding school funding and creating individual graduation committees to help satisfy certain requirements. School funding is an issue that has directly affected District 16, which he represents, and encompasses the Northwest and East Montgomery County areas. Under the state's complex public school funding system, the Montgomery Independent School District's high property wealth per student actually is creating a budget shortfall, leaving the district so cash-strapped that it had to postpone the opening of a planned elementary school for the 2017-18 school year and did not provide teacher raises. Montgomery ISD will be forced to pay $3.7 million back to the state this year in recapture payments for exceeding the maximum wealth value per student. Now, a bill passed establishes a commission to study school finance, Metcalf said. "I am very thankful this passed," he said. "I believe what we have right now is not working with Robin Hood Chapter 41, Chapter 42 schools, so hopefully we can come back with this commission to have a better formula that we are all proud of." Child Protective Service reform, pro-life and veteran health care-related bills also were passed and discussed at the NSRW meeting. "There were so many I was in favor of like Right to Life and Veterans," said Joan Martin, who is one of the NSRW's 153 active members. "I'm really proud of Will Metcalf and how he represents us." Metcalf's legislative focus is on supporting business and job creation. He serves on several committees, including the Economic & Small Business Development, Economic & Small Business Development-S/C on Small Business (Chair), Homeland Security & Public Safety, and Redistricting. Currently, Metcalf serves as vice president & director of Business Development at Spirit of Texas Bank. He also serves on the board of the Conroe Industrial Development Corporation, the Greater Conroe Economic Development Council, the Conroe Family YMCA, and the Montgomery County Fair Association. He is a lifetime member of the NRA, the 100 Club, a member of the Conroe Noon Lions Club and a member of the Friends of Conroe. For more information, visit http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/member-page/?district=16 or http://www.nsrepublicanwomen.org/. 1 Methane restrictions : The Trump administration was ordered by a federal judge Wednesday to immediately enforce new restrictions on the release of potent methane emissions at oil and gas drilling operations on public land. The ruling came at the behest of California and other states, which charged the administration is required by law to enforce the new rules intended to cut the release of 175,000 tons of the potent greenhouse gas annually, as well as reduce the emission of associated toxic pollutants. The ruling was the latest in a series of legal setbacks for the Trump administration, as the courts find flaws in its plans for dismantling executive branch actions taken to confront climate change before President Trump took office. 2 P rotesters arrested: Police say 143 people were arrested following a protest that shut down a busy highway near downtown St. Louis. The department on Wednesday did not say what charges those arrested during Tuesday nights protest will face, but a spokeswoman for the Circuit Attorneys office says they likely will face charges in municipal court. Protesters gathered and marched to Interstate 64, where some of them walked onto the roadway and blocked traffic for several minutes. Police arrested protesters after they left the highway. Demonstrators have been protesting since mid-September over the acquittal of a white former police officer, Jason Stockley, in the 2011 killing of a black drug suspect, Anthony Lamar Smith. More than 300 people have been arrested during demonstrations since the judges verdict. WASHINGTON - Near the end of September, officials at the Interior Department bureau that oversees hundreds of millions of acres of public land hosted a conference with state, county and local government representatives to discuss ways to loosen environmental rules. Bureau of Land Management hoststold attendees and those joining the invitation-only meeting remotely that they wanted to streamline a powerful law that protects wildlife and public land, the National Environmental Policy Act. They asked how its rules could be smoothed out to limit delays that slow public and corporate development so that the federal government, as President Donald Trump and Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke have said, can be a better partner rather than a hindrance. The meeting covered ways to fulfill the president's executive order to remove impediments to new infrastructure, mining and other development on federal land. At least two groups not on the invitation list obtained the call-in information for the meeting and secretly sat in and took notes, which one group provided to The Washington Post. During the Sept. 21 webinar, the BLM and its guests discussed ways to water down NEPA and more. They talked about working around environmental analyses that determine whether infrastructure projects harm ecosystems, about stripping conservation groups of the power to sue the BLM if it wrongly approves a project and about limiting the number of federal Freedom of Information Act requests that allow the public to scrutinize how decisions were made. "We're seeking a better decision-making process that's more productive and getting decisions faster," Leah Baker, the BLM division chief for planning and NEPA, said in an interview Tuesday. "We heard through this process that we should try and streamline regulations . . . and that the agency leaves a little to be desired in how effectively we coordinate" with states and local governments. When a participant in the meeting noticed that the event was being recorded, BLM officials assured the group that it would not be distributed. A second webinar attended by native tribes took place Sept. 25, BLM officials said in an interview this week. A few days after the webinars, Zinke called employees who disagreed with Trump's vision for change disloyal and vowed to move policymaking positions at Interior's Washington headquarters to offices out West, possibly to Denver. Zinke has already reassigned dozens of senior Interior employees to positions they did not want. Interior's inspector general is probing the legality of Zinke's rapid reassignments. NEPA is one of the oldest and most progressive environmental laws on the books. Established in 1970, it has been called an environmental Magna Carta that dozens of governments across the globe have used to craft their own environmental policies. But corporations and some state and local government officials have long criticized it as an impediment to development and revenue. The webinar's participants, which included the Western Governors' Association and the National Association of Counties, also took aim at the Equal Access to Justice Act, which allows groups to seek reimbursement of attorneys' fees when they win cases against the government. BLM officials and their guests said the reimbursements fuel more lawsuits from people who disagree with their land management practices. The participants complained that the BLM is being overwhelmed with Freedom of Information Act requests from groups and individuals, more than 1,000 so far this year and growing. They discussed submitting recommendations to Zinke to limit those requests in addition to altering NEPA and EAJA. Kelly Fuller, energy campaign coordinator for the Western Watersheds Project, said some state and local governments want to align the BLM's environmental priorities with weaker or, in some cases, nonexistent rules of municipalities. "They want BLM planning outcomes to match local and state plans . . . but there are different obligations," Fuller said. "State and local plans are about development and extraction and making more money, creating more revenue." Since legislation is required to make those changes, they hoped Zinke would encourage Republicans in Congress, some of whom are working to weaken environmental rules such as the Endangered Species Act and Migratory Bird Act, to include the September meeting's recommendations as part of overall reform. "They may say they want to streamline, but what they mean is cut the public out of the process, do less environmental review and have more secrecy so they can give oil, gas and coal companies unfettered access to our treasured public lands," said Tiernan Sitterfeld, a vice president for government affairs at the League of Conservation Voters, who called the meeting an attempt to weaken NEPA. "Let's be perfectly clear," said Bethany Cotton, a spokeswoman for WildEarth Guardians, based in Santa Fe, New Mexico. "The Trump administration's efforts to roll back environmental protections are meant to strip the public of the opportunity to be informed and weigh in on proposals that will negatively impact our public lands, air, water, and most imperiled animals and plants. Each of these attacks is meant to cede power to resource extractive industries and anti-conservation localities." Cynthia Moses-Nedd, the BLM's liaison to local and state governments who participated on the webinar with Baker and at least two other federal officials, said the issue isn't so black and white. She recalled that a local government official suggested introducing legislation that would change the Equal Access to Justice Act. "EAJA . . . is used to fund lawsuits against the BLM," Nedd said, and can "paralyze the BLM when it's doing its work. There needs to be something that deals with that . . . so BLM can do the work and not be hampered and paralyzed." Nedd said BLM isn't necessarily trying to give its allies a greater role in environmental assessments. "I think our goal is to make sure we're coordinating better . . . that's where we saw the greatest input from our state and local partners." Baker called the NEPA statute "a cool law" but said complying with its rules is "a heavy lift. We're trying to figure out how we do it quicker. . . . There are things routine in nature that can make [the process] speed up." She said she recalled an experience where a single misstep caused a decision that could have been completed in months to take years. Officials worried that the misstep would trigger a lawsuit that would doom an entire project. The National Association of Counties agrees with local officials who say they're cut out of NEPA's processes to determine environmental harm and want to help decide how its analysis should be done. Association spokesman David Jackson said counties suffer when a NEPA analysis drags on for months and sometimes years. "NACo supports the revision of NEPA to strengthen the involvement of local government in the federal decision-making process. We also support more public involvement." Jackson said the association's position is that EAJA also should be reformed to ease lawsuits. "You can't do effective forest management, for example, because you get sued at every turn." Fuller, of the Western Watersheds Project, said: "We're waiting to see the BLM's recommendations report to Secretary Zinke to give local governments and the states greater control. . . . How far is he going to go?" The nation's largest gun-lobbying group said devices that allow semiautomatic rifles to function like automatic firearms should be subject to new regulation after a growing number of Republican lawmakers say they're open to such restrictions. Following a mass shooting in Las Vegas on Sunday, in which the gunman had weapons modified to allow rapid firing, the National Rifle Association called on the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to review whether the "bump stock" devices used to modify semiautomatics comply with federal law. "The NRA believes that devices designed to allow semi-automatic rifles to function like fully-automatic rifles should be subject to additional regulations," the group said in a statement on Thursday. The NRA also criticized politicians seeking to ban guns, saying doing so wouldn't prevent a "criminal act of a madman." For years, Republican lawmakers have been largely in line with the NRA, which has long objected to new restrictions. The shooting in Las Vegas, in which 58 people were killed, has brought new attention to bump stocks, aftermarket accessories that allow more rapid firing, and prompted Republicans' comments. Many Democrats have long called for much stricter gun laws. With the NRA and Republicans, who control both chambers of Congress, open to more strict regulation of bump stocks, it stands a good chance of taking affect. House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wisconsin told MSNBC that changing the law is "something we need to look into." "I didn't even know what they were until this week and I'm an avid sportsman," Ryan said. President Donald Trump hasn't weighed in on the bump stock debate yet and has deflected questions on gun control since the attack. On Wednesday, Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, the No. 2 Republican leader, said he's open to considering new limits on bump stocks and called for a hearing. Sen. Ron Johnson, a Wisconsin Republican, called for a ban on the devices. "My reaction was that this was all designed to kill or injure as many people as possible as quickly as possible, and that's the reason why automatic weapons are generally not available," Cornyn said Thursday. "No sportsmen or hunter uses them." Sen. James Inhofe, an Oklahoma Republican, said he doesn't see a need for the devices to be legal but wants to hear more about the accessories before making a final decision. Arizona Republican Sens. John McCain and Jeff Flake made similar comments. "I'm open to finding out about it and maybe putting it on the category that would be outlawed," Inhofe said. Other Republican senators, including Orrin Hatch of Utah and John Thune of South Dakota, said they're considering whether changes are needed. Sen. John Barrasso, a Wyoming Republican, said he wants more study of the bump stocks and isn't ready to call for a ban. "For a guy from Wyoming who owns plenty of guns, it's something I'd never heard of until yesterday," he said. "This news is terrible and what's happened is a great tragedy." The NRA statement reiterated its position that "banning guns from law-abiding Americans based on the criminal act of a madman will do nothing to prevent future attacks." The group also urged Congress to pass legislation that would require states to recognize right-to-carry permits issued by all other states. Democrats, including Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California, on Wednesday introduced legislation banning aftermarket products designed to allow more rapid firing. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of California called on lawmakers to add various new restrictions, including bolstered background checks of gun purchasers and a ban on bump stocks. But Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill of Missouri said her party should be careful not to push too hard. "Let's stay focused on the possible," she said. Right now, she added, lawmakers in both parties are talking about bump stocks and "I'd like us to stay focused on it." Selling and manufacturing automatic weapons has been illegal since 1986, and weapons purchased before then are regulated by the federal government. Products to modify semiautomatic firearms are legal. Bump stocks "may be an area where we need to look to be sure the law is not being subverted," said Sen. Roy Blunt, a Missouri Republican. GOP Rep. Mark Meadows of North Carolina said lawmakers are drafting a letter to ATF seeking more information. Meadows said he doesn't understand why someone would want to buy one. --- Bloomberg's Jennifer Epstein contributed. Energy Secretary Rick Perry's plan to reward coal-fired power plants that keep large stockpiles of fuel won't be enough to reverse the industry's long-term decline, analysts say. Perry has proposed extra payments for power generators with at least 90 days' worth of supplies on site, arguing that will make America's electric grid more "resilient" in the face of major supply disruptions. While the measure will probably keep some coal plants open that would otherwise be forced to retire, it doesn't address the industry's core problem: namely, that overall U.S. electricity demand has flattened while natural gas, wind and solar power are stealing market share. To that end, industry experts doubt it'll be enough to make good on President Donald Trump's repeated vows to bring back coal. "It doesn't solve some of the largest underlying structural challenges to coal demand in this country," Lucas Pipes, an analyst at FBR Capital Markets & Co., said in a phone interview. "We're in a no-growth market." While any measure that prevents the further erosion of coal's market share would help the industry, Perry's proposal poses some complications for power generators. For one thing, utilities haven't been in the business of hoarding coal. With the U.S. coal sector oversupplied in recent years, power plant operators have preferred, when possible, to buy the fossil fuel "on-demand" rather than maintain large stockpiles, said Andrew Cosgrove, an analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence. That's because stockpiling coal costs money. If left untreated, coal piles can spontaneously catch fire, something that's especially problematic for high-moisture coal from Wyoming and Montana's Powder River Basin, said Andy Blumenfeld, head of market analytics at Doyle Trading Consultants. There are also environmental costs associated with suppressing coal dust and handling runoff. Finally, the quality of stored coal degrades over time, Blumenfeld said. For utilities participating in Perry's program, costs would go up as it "might require more personnel and equipment," Blumenfeld said. In July, coal accounted for 32 percent of U.S. electricity generation, down from 47 percent a decade earlier, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Gas was king, at 36 percent, up from 25 percent in July 2007. In order to qualify, most power plants would also have to go out and buy coal. As of August, power plants holding Powder River Basin coal had an average of 75 days of supplies. Those with Illinois Basin coal had 91 days and those with Northern Appalachian coal had inventories in the low 70s, according to Pipes. As long as the coal plants aren't expected to run all out, every day, then getting those stockpiles back over 90 days should be doable, said Matt Preston, a coal analyst at Wood Mackenzie Ltd. As recently as early 2016, America's coal plants had, on average, more than that on site. It'd be much harder, though, if the plants were expected to have enough coal to run full-blast, around-the-clock, for three months straight. That would "require a significant increase in storage area at almost all plants," Preston said. "Some would definitely have to consider offsite storage which may or may not be economically feasible." WASHINGTON - A senior House Democrat said Thursday that it's time for House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and two top lieutenants to prepare to step down and make way for the next generation of lawmakers in her caucus. The comments by Rep. Linda Sanchez, Calif., who as vice chairman of the House Democratic Caucus ranks fifth in the 194-member body, are the most explicit by a senior congressional Democrat and a member of the California congressional delegation about Pelosi's political future. Pelosi, 77, has served in Congress since 1987 and has led House Democrats for 14 years. She served as House speaker from 2007 to 2011 and has remained as minority leader since Democrats lost control of the chamber. In recent weeks she has emerged as an unlikely partner of President Donald Trump in negotiations over spending bills and the future of immigration policy. Now Playing: Trump wants to deregulate silencers. Video: NowThisNews But Pelosi faced a stronger-than-anticipated challenge to her leadership post last fall after Democrats failed again to take back the House. Sixty-three members of her caucus voted instead for Rep. Tim Ryan, Ohio, who had mounted an upstart bid to unseat her just a few days before. In the months since, Pelosi has created new leadership positions for younger and newer lawmakers in a bid to address concerns that there are few opportunities for advancement as long as Democrats remain mired in the minority. On Thursday, Sanchez signaled in a television interview that the generational rift remains. "I do think it's time to pass a torch to a new generation of leaders, and I want to be a part of that transition," Sanchez said on C-SPAN's "Newsmakers" in an interview conducted by reporters with The Washington Post and the Los Angeles Times. "I want to see that happen. I think we have too many great members here that don't always get the opportunities that they should. I would like to see that change." Pressed to clarify her comments, Sanchez went further and said House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, Md., and House Assistant Minority Leader James Clyburn, S.C., who have been part of Pelosi's leadership team for more than a decade, also should prepare to step down. "They are all of the same generation, and, again, their contributions to the Congress and the caucus are substantial. But I think there comes a time when you need to pass that torch. And I think it's time," Sanchez said. She said that the leadership change did not need to happen immediately but should around next year's elections. The 48-year-old lawmaker also stressed that her concerns were about seniority. "This is not an age thing," Sanchez said. Hoyer, 78, has served in Congress since 1981 and as Pelosi's deputy since she took the top spot in 2003. Clyburn, 77, has been in Congress since 1993 and served as majority whip when Democrats controlled the House from 2007 to 2011. In the years since, he has served as "assistant Democratic leader." Drew Hammill, a Pelosi spokesman, said in an email that she "enjoys wide support in the Caucus and has always said she is not in Congress on a shift but on a mission. Leader Pelosi is focused on winning back the House, and anything else is a distraction from our path to the Majority." Hoyer said in a statement that Sanchez is "an outstanding" caucus vice chairman, "and I agree with her that we have talented leaders throughout our Caucus. I remain laser-focused on taking back the House, a goal all House Democrats share and are working tirelessly toward." In an interview with the New York Times last week, Pelosi said that she might have been thinking about leaving Congress but felt compelled to stay after Trump's victory. "One of the reasons I stayed here is because I thought Hillary Clinton would win, we'd have a woman president and so there would be a woman not at a seat at the table, but at the head of the table for the world," Pelosi told the Times. "We wanted to have a woman president," she added. "But when we didn't, then I couldn't walk away and say, OK, just let all the men have the seats at the table that are making decisions for our country." Aides to Clyburn had no immediate comment. Sanchez said she didn't know whether Pelosi could survive another challenge to her leadership position and didn't know who might seek to serve as the next Democratic leader. But, she said, "I think I'm well placed to help make that transition to a new generation of leadership." Sanchez has served in Congress since 2003, representing parts of eastern Los Angeles County. She was narrowly elected as caucus vice chairman last year, served as chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and sits on the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee. She was part of a group of moderate Democrats who met with Trump last month at the White House to discuss tax and immigration policy. The C-SPAN "Newsmakers" interview is scheduled to air in full on the public affairs network this Sunday. The World Bank is supposed to distribute loans based on the needs of developing countries. But a recent study has found that countries with seats on the U.N. Security Council receive a disportionate amount of loans, indicating the World Bank can be a tool for donor countries, particularly the United States, to wield geopolitical influence. Traditional World Bank loans typically take two to three years to disburse. But after 2007, in response to criticism of its bureaucratic snail's pace and as the world faced a food and energy crisis, the bank implemented a change that dramatically increased the amount and frequency of supplemental loans. These loans can now be approved in as little as 100 days. Since then, supplemental loans have accounted for up to 30 percent of all World Bank loans, up from as low as 1 or 2 percent in earlier decades. That makes these loans potential tools of influence on U.N. Security Council non-permanent member countries, which are elected for two-year terms. That's too short a period for a traditional loan to be disbursed, but plenty of time for supplemental loans to come through, potentially allowing World Bank donor countries to wield loans as geopolitical carrots (or sticks). And indeed, Christopher Kilby and Erasmus Kersting, both professors at Villanova University in Pennsylvania who study international aid and organizations, found evidence of such correlation in a 2016 paper and subsequent research. They analysed World Bank loan data and found a clear correlation between UN Security Council membership and the disbursement of these supplemental loans. In fact, Kilby and Kersting's analysis of 2015 data revealed that a full 10 percent of all supplemental lending was related to Security Council membership. Mexico, for example, has sat on the Security Council for 8.5 percent of its total time in the U.N., but during its tenure as a council member received 67.9 percent of the total amount of supplemental loans it has ever received from the World Bank, according to data provided by Kersting. If Security Council membership were unrelated to the disbursement of supplemental loans, those two numbers should be similar. Mexico served as a non-permanent member of the security council from 2009 to 2010. In 2010, it received a massive supplemental loan of $1.25 billion. Numerous other countries display the same pattern. Jordan has also sat on the Security Council for 8.5 percent of its total time in the U.N., but received 60.2 percent of its supplement loans during this period. For Uruguay, the numbers are 5.6 percent and 58.1 percent; for Rwanda, 5.6 percent and 41 percent. Other countries that show a similar correlation include Brazil, Senegal, Bolivia, Nigeria, Vietnam, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Togo. "By charter, the World Bank is supposed to be apolitical," said Kilby in an interview with Foreign Policy. It's difficult to know exactly what factors in each case influenced the disbursement of these loans, explained Kilby, which is why they have taken a statistical approach to look for correlation in the data. "The paper trail is quite hard to follow," he said. Correlation between Security Council membership and World Bank supplemental loan disbursement also may not be an explicit quid pro quo. Countries that sit on the council may generally be viewed as more important, mentioned more frequently, or may have a louder megaphone with which to advertise their needs, and as a result, are more likely to receive loans. But there are documented cases of the United States exerting pressure on other international lending organizations to withhold funds for political reasons. In the late 1990s, the Inter-American Development Bank approved Haiti for several loan packages. But after the Haitian legislature ratified the packages in 2000, in the wake of a controversial election in which the United States had a stake, the funds were never released. In a 2001 letter from to the bank's president, later made public, U.S. representative to the Inter-American Development Bank Lawrence Harrington wrote, "We do not believe that these loans can or should be treated in a routine manner and strongly urge you to not authorize any disbursements at this time." As noted in The Nation at the time, interference in loan disbursement by a bank member country is a violation of the bank's charter. Such evidence of a smoking gun is rare. At the very least, Kilby's and Kersting's research provides further evidence that U.N. Security Council membership, for one reason or another, comes with perks. "It is clear that when countries get on the Security Council, they expect there will be a bunch of benefits that come with it," said Kilby. Three Army Special Forces soldiers were killed in Niger in northwestern Africa after their joint patrol with Nigerien forces was ambushed, according to reports. "We are working to confirm details on the incident and will have more information as soon as we can confirm facts on the ground," a spokesman for the Africa Command told The Washington Post. The Associated Press reported that two U.S. soldiers were wounded. The New York Times was the first to confirm the deaths. LAS VEGAS - The first thing Aaron Stalker heard when he answered the phone late Sunday night was his girlfriend's anguished scream. "There's just been a shot fired! Mom is shot!" He tried to talk to her, but she couldn't hear him over her screams: "I need you here. I need you here!" Then Stalker, 28, was out of the house and in his car, driving 10 miles - without regard for speed limits and bumping into sidewalks - toward the music festival that had just become a horror show. For what he did next, Stalker was honored by President Donald Trump on Wednesday during a "heroes meet-and-greet" at the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department headquarters. While thousands of people scrambled from the parking lot where the Route 91 Harvest music festival was held as bullets rained down from overhead, Stalker ran straight into the crowd. He searched frantically for his girlfriend and her mother. Unable to find them in the chaos, "I just started helping anyone and everyone I could," Stalker said. He went to the first wounded person he could find and ripped up a piece of clothing to use as a tourniquet. He made splints, patched bullet holes, flipped over the plastic barriers that had been set up around the perimeter of the festival and turned them into stretchers. With two other men whose names he never learned, he carried the wounded to cars that would take them to the hospital. A U.S. Army veteran who served as a combat videographer for two years in Iraq, Stalker was trained to keep his cool amid chaos. But this was scarier than anything he saw overseas, he said, "by far." "It's not even close to the same. It was hundreds of people. There, you're safe, you have a weapon, you have people at your back who know what to do." On Sunday night, he said: "I had nothing. I was helpless." But that didn't stop him from trying. Stalker can't say how long he spent shuttling the wounded back and forth to cars, or how many people he carried. Was it 75, 100, 150? He can't even remember their faces. "It was like a dream," he said. There was no thought except the next wounded victim, no sound but the ringing of hundreds of abandoned cellphones jangling in his ears. Finally, Stalker heard from his girlfriend, Stephanie Melanson. After her mother was shot, a retired firefighter found Stephanie kneeling over her wounded mother, along with her sister Paige Melanson and Stalker's sister Shelby Stalker. The firefighter urged the women to flee - "I'll stay with her," he promised. "If you want to live, you have to go." Stalker found Shelby and Paige hiding at the Tropicana resort nearby. Paige had been grazed by a bullet on her elbow and was sopping up the blood with a cloth napkin. She went to the hospital, and Stalker headed to the Las Vegas Convention Center, where victims and families were congregating and where he was able to track down Stephanie. But no one could find Stephanie's mother, Rosemarie Melanson. Unable to sit still, Stalker handed out blankets and bottles of orange juice to shocked concertgoers. Then he took the Melansons to the police station to wait for word of their mom. It finally came around 8 a.m.: Rosemarie was at Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center, alive and stable. Paige got her wound stitched up. As of Wednesday night, Rosemarie remained on a ventilator in the ICU, recovering from two surgeries to repair damage to her lungs, liver and spleen. Stalker went home, took a shower, drank a cup of coffee. Then he went to work, at the dance studio that the Melanson sisters run. He hadn't slept, but someone needed to check on the building, call parents and let them know that classes were canceled, send out the email explaining what happened. Robyn Garcia, a pastor at the International Church of Las Vegas, had never met Stalker before this week. But she reached out to him after a mutual friend told her about what he had done on the concert field. When the White House contacted Garcia's church Wednesday morning and told her they were looking for heroes, Stalker's was the first name that came to mind. "You're my hero," she told Stalker on Wednesday. Trump used that word, too, in his address after the meet-and-greet Wednesday: "Every hero saved so many lives. And believe me, a grateful nation thanks you." On Wednesday afternoon, the manager of a local BMW dealership offered to fix his damaged car free - the vehicle had taken a beating during the frenzied drive to the concerts. A student at the dance studio walked up to him on her way into class and handed him two foil-wrapped packages. "Homemade spanakopita and lasagna," she explained, then ran inside. But Stalker is uncomfortable with the attention and reticent when asked to explain why he ran into the fray. "I was trained to help people," he said. He was just a person who knew what to do, he said. So he did it. President Donald Trump scored a nomination. So did Russian leader Vladimir Putin. That's right. The leaders of the United States and Russia, respectively, were nominated for the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize. The winner will be announced by the Norwegian Nobel Committee on Friday. Getting nominated isn't actually very prestigious. Qualified nominators can throw anyone's name into the ring, and they do. In years past, Nazi leader Adolf Hitler and Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin both received a nod. Of course, Trump and Putin are very long shots. The Peace Research Institute Oslo, an independent foundation, puts together its own shortlist of much more valid contenders. Here are some of their best guesses for who might win this year: - Mohammad Javad Zarif and Federica Mogherini: Iranian Foreign Minister Zarif and High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Mogherini negotiated the Iran nuclear deal. As PRIO wrote, "the peaceful and successful resolution of the Iran nuclear dispute . . . would be a worthy and notable winner of the Nobel Peace Prize." Something else working in their favor: The committee may well want to reaffirm the value of the deal at a time when President Trump is considering pulling out of it. - Filippo Grandi: The United Nations High Commissioner on Refugees had a big year. His organization took on an unprecedented refugee crisis across Europe and the Middle East. There are more than 65 million people in the world who are forcibly displaced; over 22 million of whom are refugees. At the same time, European countries and the United States are growing less and less willing to take them in. "In this situation, the Office of the UNHCR has shown its capacity and integrity in standing up for refugees' rights and needs time and time again," PRIO wrote. - Cumhuriyet and Can Dundar: Cumhuriyet editor and columnist Dundar was arrested this year and jailed on charges of disclosing state secrets and aiding a terrorist group. He moved to Germany after being found guilty. Dundar has become the face of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's vicious crackdown on free press and civil liberties. "Cumhuriyet, has been renowned for its impartial reporting and fearlessness in criticizing the authorities," PRIO wrote. "This September, no fewer than 17 of Cumhuriyet's employees stand trial for various charges of being complicit in terrorism." - The Economic Community of West African States: ECOWAS played a vital role in the political transition in Gambia, which was seen as a victory for African democracy. More broadly, the group exemplifies "how increased political and economic interaction contributes to ensuring long term regional stability," PRIO wrote. The bloc has organized several successful peacekeeping missions. - The White Helmets and Raed al Saleh: In some ways, the White Helmets/Syrian Civil Defence is an ideal contender for the Peace Prize. The civilian group in Syria, led by Saleh, has been credited with saving lives and easing suffering during a brutal, years-long war. "A prize to the White Helmets would not be a prize only for humanitarian efforts, it would also draw attention to the remarkable - yet rarely celebrated - resilient forces of societies hit by armed conflict," PRIO wrote. The organization is controversial, though. Allies of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad have accused the group of being a creation of the West and suggested that they work with extremists. Meanwhile floating around the internet: British odds-makers say Pope Francis is favored to win the honor for his unflinching advocacy of migrants and refugees, along with his efforts to halt climate change. Angela Merkel could also have a shot. The German chancellor welcomed more than 1 million refugees into her country in 2015, despite sustained opposition. Merkel has also been a steady voice for international cooperation, making the case again and again for the European Union. The Washington Post's Fred Hiatt has called on the committee to "infuriate China" by awarding the prize to democracy activist Liu Xia, the widow of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Liu Xiaobo. Liu Xiaobo died in July, while serving a 11-year prison sentence for "subversion of state power" after helping to write and circulate a call for democratic and human rights reforms. Liu Xia was confined to house arrest by the Chinese government in 2010, after her husband won his Nobel Prize, though she has never been charged with a crime. Liu Xia is a courageous figure in her own right, a poet and photographer. As she left a courthouse in 2013 where her brother was on trial, she shouted to reporters, "I am not free. If they tell you I'm free, tell them I'm not free." The Guardian has suggested the American Civil Liberties Union could walk away with the prize for its efforts against several decisions by the Trump administration. The publication also lists Raif Badawi, a Saudi blogger who's been in prison since 2012. "His victory, after repeated nominations, would be for courage, rationalism and freedom of speech - and an implicit criticism of a brutally repressive regime," the paper wrote. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A jury found former H-E-B Vice President John Campbell guilty Wednesday of 48 counts of possession and promotion of child pornography and could face spending the rest of his life in prison. Campbell, 66, had been free on bond since his 2014 arrest, but he was put in custody after the verdict was read. He hugged and kissed his wife, Carol, who had sat behind him during the emotional day of closing arguments and five hours of jury deliberations. State District Judge Catherine Torres-Stahl set his sentencing for Dec. 6 and said she will consider this week whether Campbell can be released with a monitoring device until then. Campbell was found not guilty on five counts of possession that his lead attorney, Bob Featherston, said involved photos that were likely of questionable lewdness in the jurors minds. He was convicted of six counts of promotion of child pornography, a second-degree felony carrying a sentence of two to 20 years. The remaining possession counts are third-degree felonies with a two- to 10-year range. Prosecutors had told the jury that morning that Campbells defense lawyers engaged in a two-week-long strategy to distract them from the evidence lewd photos of underage boys and confuse them with irrelevant technological jargon. Theres even a name for all this, prosecutor Patrick Ballantyne said in his closing argument. Its called techno-mystification. Its what you do when you know your client is guilty. You throw anything you can at the jury and hope they forget what the trial is about. The trial was about the photos that shook you to your core, he told the jurors. Campbell, 66, whose 40-year career with H-E-B included designing its upscale Central Market stores, was indicted on 53 counts of possession and promotion of child pornography. He was charged and lost his job at H-E-B after admitting he attached a photo of a naked male minor to a business email in April 2014. Ballantyne and fellow prosecutor Josh Somers said the defenses efforts to bring up esoteric technological issues such as hash values of digital images, the pixel resolution of enlarged photos and the labeling of prosecution image files were like famed magician Harry Houdini trying to make an elephant disappear before an audience. The elephant in the room, Somers said, is that John Campbell is attracted to prepubescent boys, and when he was caught by H-E-B he said, This is what happens when you play with fire. He knew what he was doing. The defense countered by attacking the states argument that what you see is what you get when the jury was asked to consider the 53 separate charges. Featherston asked the jury to view its duty as an evaluation of 53 separate cases and to acknowledge that the state failed to prove that the images had not been digitally altered or that Campbell knew the ages of anyone with whom he exchanged photos. Defense attorney Charlie Baird, a former state appellate judge, asked the jury to take into account that Campbell was a total amateur in the world of Skype chatting and the exchange of photos on the internet. Frankly, he was bored after 40 years with the same company and he was seeking some excitement, something that would give him a rush, Baird said. But he was a total novice. Campbell was not accused of meeting any of the juveniles, and prosecutors offered no evidence that the photos in question were of actual juveniles with whom Campbell chatted on the internet. All the photos were of the variety that just churn on the internet. They're from everywhere. Europe. Nudist colony stuff. Everywhere, Featherston said. bselcraig@express-news.net The Hays County Sheriff's Office announced the arrest of eight suspects in connection to a rash of vehicle burglaries reported last week in Dripping Springs. Investigators said several vehicles were broken in on Sept. 25 and Sept. 26. In one incident, a car was stolen from a business and used to smash through fences in two other break-ins, according to the news release. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The 39-year-old gym owner arrested Wednesday in connection with the May blaze that killed a San Antonio firefighter admitted to starting the fire to get out of his lease, according to court documents. Emond Javor Johnson, 39, now faces one charge of murder, two arson charges and two additional charges of arson causing bodily injury. Online records indicate he was also booked into the Bexar County Jail on two domestic violence charges. According to a lengthy arrest affidavit, Johnson's motive for setting the blaze stemmed from his disarrayed finances. At the time of the May 18th fire at the Ingram Square Shopping Center, he had five open collection accounts for more than $12,000 and he was behind on rent for his gym, The Spartan Box, by nearly $7,000. RELATED: Gym owner charged with murder in death of S.A. firefighter Scott Deem Now Playing: San Antonio Fire Department Chief Charles Hood was grief-stricken as he explained why firefighters had to leave one of their own behind. Scott Deem was killed, and two firefighters were injured, while battling a blaze late Thurs., May 18, 2017. Video: San Antonio Express-News When the fire broke out around 9 p.m. that night, Deem, Phipps and other firefighters entered Spartan Box. They reported zero visibility and zero ventilation, according to recordings of scanner traffic, and a commander ordered all firefighters out of the building. Soon after, a mayday was called over the radio. San Antonio Fire Chief Charles Hood said conditions inside the building changed at some point during the battle, forcing an evacuation, but Deem never made it out. "It was a very rough decision to leave a firefighter behind. That is not what we do, but we had the risk of losing probably an additional 15 to 20 firefighters if we did not go defensive on this fire," Hood said in a brief statement to the media after the fire. Firefighters Brad Phipps and Robert Vasquez were injured in the blaze, Phipps severely. Johnson met with authorities the day following the fire. He reportedly told investigators he held a class the night of the fire that ended around 8:30 p.m. and he saw three homeless people when he went out back to close the gym's double doors. "He was unable, however, to provide any specifics about these individuals other than they were Hispanic males," according to his arrest warrant. He also told investigators the lights had been "flickering more than usual" that night. He said he closed the gym at precisely 8:54 p.m. and that he knew the time because he was on the phone with a friend and saw the clock, according to the affidavit. His phone records, however, contradicted his statements, officials said. According to his arrest warrant, he received a call at 8:42 p.m. and there was no other activity on his number until 8:59 p.m., when he received a text from a different number. On May 31 he told authorities he had only seen two Latino men outside the gym, contradicting his earlier statement of having seen three, according to the affidavit. Authorities watched surveillance footage from the back of the gym and didn't see any people, the warrant says. Investigators also discovered Johnson's poor financial situation at the time of the fire. He had five open accounts for collection totaling more than $12,000. He was the sole lease of the the Spartan Box's property and was behind on rent by more than $6,800 at the time of the blaze, authorities said. Thirteen hours after the fire, Johnson started a GoFundMe page called "The Spartan Box Recovery" with a goal of $10,000. Employment records show he applied for a job at Lifetime Fitness in April and his first day at work was the day before the fire. RELATED: Man charged in death of S.A. firefighter started crowdfunding page for gym he's accused of burning Investigators also caught him in lies regarding which doors he had wedged shut before the fire, and nearby surveillance cameras caught him walking toward the rear of the gym where the fire began moments before smoke started pouring out of the structure. Authorities finally interviewed a final time on Wednesday and Johnson said someone spilled a container of gasoline mixed with oil, that was used for a gas blower, that day around 3:30 p.m. and a large spill had flowed towards the rear double doors of the gym. Johnson eventually admitted to using a cigarette lighter to ignite the gas inside the gym that night because "he wanted to get out of his lease and had begun receiving eviction notices." "He said he used a disposable cigarette lighter, which he threw out of his truck window after the fire was set," according to the affidavit. "Johnson stated he applied the open flame from the lighter to the spilled gasoline mix, igniting the fire responsible for the death of Scott Deem, bodily jury to Brad Phipps and Robert Vasquez and damage to the buildings housing the Texas Thrift Store and Ingram Square Center..." Text "NEWS" to 77453 for breaking news alerts from mySA.com cdowns@mysa.com | Twitter: @calebjdowns This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The San Antonio skateboarder who was struck and dragged by a grey sedan on Sept. 20 doesn't remember the incident, but she can't forget the aftermath. Ashley Martinez, 21, was skating with her boyfriend after getting out of work that day. They were in a familiar area, where they frequently skateboarded together. She was struck by the car as she crossed the intersection of De Zavala Road and Silicon Drive. A video of the collision shows the sedan hitting her, slowly moving forward as she's dragged underneath, then speeding away. Martinez struggles to get up as her boyfriend and others rush over. RELATED: Police arrest man accused of running over skateboarder, fleeing scene "I woke up in the ambulance while they were injecting me with needles," Martinez said. "I was just crying. Everything was in pain. I was in so much pain." The video, captured by Santiago Hyslop III, helped in the arrest of 19-year-old Nathan Thomas Losoya, who was brought into custody Tuesday by the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force. He's accused of failing to stop and render aid. Martinez was fortunate to survive the wreck, police said, but she suffered serious injuries. "I have a dozen fractures from head to toe," Martinez said. The fractures range from her skull, down to her ribs and knees. She also suffered serious scrapes from the car dragging her. It wasn't until the morning after the crash that Martinez had learned what happened to her by watching the video that was shared by hundreds of San Antonio residents on Facebook. "It was really tough (to watch)," Martinez said. "I couldn't believe it was actually me." RELATED: BCSO: Drunk man killed after he ran out into road, got hit by SUV Now Playing: Facebook user Santiago Hyslop III posted video and a description of the violent DeZavala Road collision online on Sept. 20, 2017. The post had over 4,600 views and 240 shares as of Friday afternoon. Hyslop asked for the public to send any information on the case and encouraged others to share the video. Video: Courtesy Santiago Hyslop III Martinez, who has since been released from the hospital, is grateful for the witnesses who helped police track Losoya down, as well as Hyslop, who visited her twice in the hospital, she said. "I'm so glad so many people helped because I know what happened to me now," Martinez said. Now, she's focusing on her recovery, which will take up to 8 weeks. A family friend created a GoFundMe page to help raise funds for her medical expenses. "I feel much better," Martinez said. "I'm walking almost normal again." When asked about Losoya, Martinez said she's not mad at him but is upset he fled the scene. "I'm just disappointed, mainly," Martinez said. "He needs to grow up and face the facts." RELATED: Man arrested for threats to kill on S.A.'s Main Avenue 'Strip' days after Las Vegas attack Once she's cleared, Martinez is looking forward to getting back on her board. "Absolutely I'm going to keep skating," she said. Click through the slideshow to see photos of her injuries. fsabawi@mysa.com | Twitter: @FaresInSA This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Texas rapper Tay-K 47 - whose music video featuring him posing with his own wanted poster raked in more than 62 million views on YouTube even as he sat in jail on murder charges - is the suspect in a fatal shooting at a San Antonio Chick-fil-A, according to records obtained by mySA.com. New details have emerged in the murder charge against 17-year-old Taymor Travon McIntyre. He is in the Tarrant County Jail on unrelated capital murder and aggravated robbery charges. That McIntyre was charged with capital murder in Bexar County was first reported at the time of his much-publicized arrest in late June, but no details of the accusations against him were disclosed. RELATED: S.A. skateboarder dragged by car speaks out, shares graphic photos of her injuries Now Playing: S.A. ranked first out of 15 largest U.S. cities in 2016. Video: San Antonio Express-News According to a police report obtained by mySA.com, McIntyre is a suspect in an April 23 fatal shooting at a North Side Chick-fil-A at 27 Northeast Loop 410. The police report said witnesses saw three people arguing in the back of a black SUV on the Loop 410 access road and someone in the front passenger seat pointed a gun at the victim, identified as 23-year-old Mark Anthony Saldivar. Saldivar got out of the car and started yelling for help, then stood in front of the SUV, witnesses reportedly told police. The driver accelerated at Saldivar but Saldivar held onto the SUV as it swerved, then jumped onto the vehicle after it pulled into the Chick-fil-A parking lot and began kicking the windshield, police said. RELATED: Affidavit: Gym owner describes how he used lighter to set fatal fire in S.A. shopping center The front passenger stepped out of the car, shot Saldivar once, and the four occupants of the vehicle, one of whom has now been identified at McIntyre, drove off, according to an affidavit. The identities of the three other suspects are not known at this time. Saldivar's body was found in the Chick-fil-a's parking lot with loose marijuana in his mouth and a bag of it underneath him. A few days after the shooting Crime Stoppers offered a $5,000 reward on info leading to the arrest in connection to Saldivar's death. A police report says surveillance cameras captured the shooting. RELATED: Man arrested for threats to kill on S.A.'s Main Avenue 'Strip' days after Las Vegas attack According to a probable cause affidavit, McIntyre also participated in a botched armed robbery at a home in the 1500 block of Aspen Court in Mansfield, Texas, on July 27, 2016, with several others. Authorities allege he conspired with four others to rob Ethan Matthew Walker. After sending three women into Walker's home to scope it out, McIntyre and another person rushed into the home with "guns pointed at everyone," according to the affidavit. Walker came out of a room and tried to shoot McIntyre and the other suspect, but they fired back and killed him. Another victim was also shot, police said. The five suspects then fled, but but one later confessed to the robbery during interviews with officers. McIntyre was later arrested in connection to the killing. According to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, he and another juvenile charged in the case slipped their ankle monitors on March 27, 2017. RELATED: SAPD: Teen stabs 28-year-old boyfriend during argument over infidelity He apparently made his way to San Antonio, where about a month later he was allegedly involved in Saldivar's killing. He was eventually arrested June 30 in Elizabeth, New Jersey by the U.S. Marshals' New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force. He remains in the Tarrant County Jail on a $500,000 bond. Since his arrest, McIntyre's music video for his song "The Race," in which he poses in front of his own wanted poster, has been viewed more than 62 million times, his music has been featured on iTunes and Spotify, and his fans have started a hashtag, #FreeTayK47. Text "NEWS" to 77453 for breaking news alerts from mySA.com cdowns@mysa.com | Twitter: @calebjdowns A Texas firearms dealer who had sold handguns to Las Vegas gunman Stephen Paddock in 2010 and 2011 remembers him coming into the shop last year with girlfriend Marilou Danley. Paul Peddle, who owns B & S Guns in Garland, Texas, said Wednesday that Paddock didn't buy anything on the most recent visit but asked about a way to modify a gun to make it easier to pull the trigger. WASHINGTON Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo, speaking Thursday at a national immigration forum, blasted Texas' new anti-sanctuary cities law, known as "SB4," that requires police officers to question the immigration status of people they detain. "It is so counter-intuitive, counterproductive," Acevedo said in remarks that recalled Sunday's mass shooting in Las Vegas that took the lives of at least 58 people as well as the gunman. "When you have millions victims and witnesses of crime that you're pushing back into the shadows, people who might know about a guy who's going crazy and might shoot up 20,000 concertgoers, and they're afraid to come forward," he said. "How is that a public safety measure? It's a real problem." Acevedo delivered his remarks at conference of the National Immigration Forum, a group that has sought to rally moderates and conservatives to a "center-right" consensus on immigration reform. The conference also marked Thursday's deadline for so-called Dreamers to reapply for legal status under former President Barack Obama's Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which President Donald Trump is phasing out. As lawmakers in Congress look for a way to continue legal protections for young immigrants who were brought into the country illegally as children, Acevedo called for compromise. While some immigration activists have held out for a path to full citizenship for Dreamers or their family members, Acevedo called for a compromise on legal status. "What they want is legitimacy," he said. "Their kids will be able to vote all they want. So it's got to be a give and take. It can't be all or nothing." Acevedo, an outspoken critic of SB4, a law aimed at so-called sanctuary cities, said Houston continues to work with its federal partners in combating gang violence and crime, including requests by federal authorities to hold suspected immigration violators 48 hours past their legal release times. Last month a federal appeals court in New Orleans ruled in a legal challenge to the 2017 law that parts of the sanctuary cities ban can go into effect, overruling a lower court ruling that had blocked it. The three-judge panel of the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals said the state can enforce a section of the law that says police executives cannot stop their employees from assisting federal immigration agents. The judges also said the state can make jails comply with immigration "detainers" requests from federal officials to hold people in their custody for immigration authorities. In an interview, Acevedo said his department has received only five detainer requests so far this year from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers. Meanwhile, he said, while SB4 prevents law enforcement executives from telling officers they can't ask criminal suspects about immigration status, the law still affords protections to victims or witness to crime. Despite the restrictions of SB4, which critics have dubbed the "show me your papers" law, Acevedo said he is keeping the department squarely focused on law enforcement. "Trust me when I say I will manage my own work force," he said. "The Legislature is not going to decide the priorities of the people of Houston, or of the Houston Police Department. Our priorities will be based on what our local community wants. And what they want is, we have 20,000 documented gang members. They want to make sure we keep those people in gangs in check." "We had 302 homicides last year," Acevedo continued. "They want us to do everything we can do reduce that number and save lives. What they want is when they call 911 because someone is breaking in and they're hiding in their closet, we get there in a matter of a minute or two, not 10 ,15, or 20 minutes because an under-resourced, under-staffed police department is busy booking a day laborer at Home Depot. That's not the priority of the people we serve." He said Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, "appropriately, wants us to focus on crime, not be ICE agents." Ultimately, he said, police officers are in the front lines of the immigration debate. "We're the ones who get stuck," he said. "Everybody wants to talk about community policing, yet nobody wants to do the things that are really important to true policing, and that's immigration reform... There are so many people who live in the shadows, who are afraid to come forward." Because of Congress failure to act, he said, the states are stepping with a "hodge-podge" of ill-advised laws like SB4: "If we don't do something on the national level, there will be more and more bad laws passed at the state level, and that's not in the best interests of anybody." While backers of SB4, which Gov. Greg Abbott signed in May, say it is meant to uphold the law, Acevedo said it undermines law enforcement. "What we don't want to get involved in is immigration enforcement because our No. 1 force multiplier in law enforcement really is the community," he said. "We cannot have a significant segment of society afraid to come forward and stand up for their neighbor or themselves because they're afraid they'll be deported." Allen Breed/STF AUSTIN The Texas-based manufacturer of "bump stocks," the accessory used to accelerate gunfire in the Las Vegas massacre, has temporarily suspended its online sales due to overwhelming demand. Slide Fire, based in Moran, 40 miles east of Abilene, posted a notice on its website that it was no longer taking orders "to provide the best service with those already placed." The company is the largest producer of the device. In a period of less than one week, Americans have again witnessed shootings by police. First, Georgia Tech student Scout Schultz was shot by a university police officer. Days later in Oklahoma City, Magdiel Sanchez died after two police officers shot him in his front yard. These tragedies share a common thread that demands attention: Both victims were individuals with disabilities who died during police encounters. Their deaths may have been prevented with more specialized training and better education of law enforcement. Disability plays a central role in a surprising number of police shootings, yet it often remains overlooked. Schultz was shot during a mental health crisis, as was Charleena Lyles of Seattle. Sanchez was deaf. Freddie Gray suffered the effects of lead exposure during childhood. Chicago teenager Stephon Watts had Aspergers. Robert Ethan Saylor had Down syndrome. And then theres Charles Kinsey, the behavioral therapist shot while trying to help Arnaldo Rios-Soto, who has autism and was under his care. The officer admitted he had been aiming at Rios-Soto. This follows broader national trends that are known yet not widely discussed. A 2016 report by the Ruderman Family Foundation found that up to half of the people killed by police in the U.S. have a disability. As an anthropologist who studies disability in the U.S., I believe that disability is an overlooked part of diversity. While society becomes increasingly comfortable discussing topics such as race and gender, disability is mistakenly thought of as a health issue and not a key facet of diversity. The situation is also complicated by confusion regarding what counts as a disability. According to the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the category of disability can include people with intellectual, developmental, sensory and physical disabilities, as well as mental illness and related psychological conditions. Between the shootings of Schultz and Sanchez, journalist Steve Silberman penned an impassioned piece in the New York Times calling for increased police attention to and training on autism. He emphasized that the behaviors associated with autism are often impossible to spot from a distance, and that there is potentially overwhelming stress among people on the spectrum when confronted by police sirens, shouting or the expectation of eye contact. He also highlighted some innovative programs within law enforcement to build awareness among officers about neurodiversity. There is no doubt that the crisis of disability and police violence transcends a particular diagnosis. More must be done to address all forms of disability. In the case of Schultz, the officer who shot him had not attended the intensive but optional trainings for law enforcement officials on mental illness. Days later, Sanchez was shot halfway across the country after he appeared to ignore police orders, despite his neighbors shouts that he was deaf and could not hear. The officers assumed he was noncompliant and dangerous. The problem is that what might look like noncompliance can be something else entirely, as we saw in the case of Sanchez. Because certain responses or behaviors connected to a persons disability might be mistaken for defiance, there must be an alternative to using lethal force. There has been growing attention to this in recent years, with innovative initiatives such as the Pathways to Justice program of The Arcs National Center on Criminal Justice and Disability. Similar initiatives have provided targeted trainings for officers about deafness and autism. The recent tragedies are part of a pattern that shows the urgent need for improved and mandatory police training on disability. Education and outreach on disability issues must be part of standard law enforcement training across the country. Without implementing this necessary change, our law enforcement officers will continue to be placed in situations they have not been equipped to handle. Elizabeth Lewis is the project manager for the Texas Center for Disability Studies at the University of Texas at Austin. This weeks decision by a billionaire landowner to finally let people visit a beach near Half Moon Bay through his property does not sufficiently address his violations of state law guaranteeing public access to the coast, the California Coastal Commission said Thursday. Representatives of venture capitalist Vinod Khosla told the commission that the gate blocking access to the road leading to picturesque Martins Beach is being reopened, but only between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., and not every day, said commission spokeswoman Noaki Schwartz. Its a good first step, but its frankly insufficient, Schwartz said. That is not full public access, and theres no certainty the gates will remain open. Many people at this time of year want to use the beach before they go to work think surfers or after work. Khosla, co-founder of Sun Microsystems, notified the commission of his plans Sept. 29, a little more than two weeks after the commission sent him a letter saying it would begin cease-and-desist proceedings, which would enable fines to be levied if he continued to block access to the sandy cove. Schwartz said Khoslas representative told the commission that his ability to grant public access would be subject to staffing and other factors, and that the beach may not be open all week. He was facing possible fines of $11,250 a day, or more than $4 million a year, for every violation, she said. Although Khosla said he planned to open the gate, he did not do so until Wednesday, two days after lawyers for the Surfrider Foundation filed papers urging the First District Court of Appeal in San Francisco to enforce its August ruling that Khosla could not block access to Martins Beach without a permit. The Surfrider Foundation sued Khosla in 2013, arguing that the shoreline had been open to all comers since at least 1918 and belonged to the public. Lawyers for the foundation say Khosla is trying to repeal the California Coastal Act, the law passed by the state Legislature in 1976 protecting public access to 1,100 miles of California shoreline. The Coastal Act calls for full and regular access, said Jennifer Savage, the California policy manager for the Surfrider Foundation. That includes early morning surf and sunsets. Surfrider will not settle for less. Khoslas lawyers could not be reached for comment this week, but they told the court in August that any interference by the state with his fundamental right to exclude the public from private property would be a type of confiscation a taking, in legal terms that requires compensation under U.S. Supreme Court property-rights rulings. Peter Fimrite is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: pfimrite@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @pfimrite This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 3 1 of 3 Catherine Avalone/Journal Register Co. Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Karen Warren/Staff Photographer Show More Show Less 3 of 3 The numbers are not overwhelming, but police are writing tickets related to a texting while driving ban that went effective statewide on Sept. 1. The new law bans drivers from using their phones to "read, write, or send an electronic message while operating a motor vehicle unless the vehicle is stopped." We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Culture / Events We share a few details about the Palace anniversary party that will be held during the upcoming SINGAPORE RENDEZVOUS Oct 04, 2017 | By LUXUO At the upcoming SINGAPORE RENDEZVOUS (Thursday 5 to Sunday 8 October), guests can look forward to several lifestyle options that are sure to be a treat for the whole family. Come sundown, the Raffles Marina will host selected cocktails and parties such as the Palace 6th Anniversary cocktail. The cocktail will start from 5.30 pm on October 6, with a walk-through of the upscale property showcases in the ballroom. There will be complimentary wines from Epicurio for invited guests at the cocktail to be held at the Veranda. Celebrating another yearly achievement for one of the upscale publications under Lux Inc Media, this is an opportunity for a discerning audience to meet the team behind PALACE. With a circulation of 38,000, PALACE is a leader among the regions property magazines, featuring upscale residential real estate available for sale from around the world. PALACE, a quarterly publication, is the go to source of information for serious institutional or individual buyers. Kindly RSVP of this cocktail event at: al@lux-inc.com. For more information, visit the SINGAPORE RENDEZVOUS website or Facebook page. Business / Finance Cryptocurrency has been such a fast growing, unregulated asset class that a Member of Parliament raised a question in session, eliciting a response that no regulations were planned. Oct 28, 2017 | By Jonathan Ho Cryptocurrency has been such a fast growing, unregulated asset class in Singapore that Saktiandi Supaat, Member of Parliament for Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC raised a question in session yesterday, 4 October 2017. Supaat asked: (a) How prevalent is the use of cryptocurrency in Singapore; and (b) what measures will MAS introduce to regulate Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs). Singapore Financial sector, among the most private (account information security) and strictest (in terms of regulation), found the governments position on the matter of cryptocurrency in Singapore vocalised by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Tharman Shanmugaratnam. Monetary Authority of Singapore: No plans to regulate Cryptocurrency The Minister of Finance highlighted that cryptocurrency is not considered legal tender by the government. While some people have put their trust in them and accept them as a means of payment, cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ether are not backed as a legal medium of exchange by the Central Bank, even if they can be used by people in the community to pay for goods and services. According to Shanmugaratnam, MAS has been monitoring the use of such virtual currencies and at the moment, about 20 Singapore retailers like restaurants and online shops currently accept Bitcoins, hence, the government does not consider their use to be prevalent. That said, Singapore is cognizant of the fact that in countries like Japan, use of cryptocurrency is approaching wide adoption but in the context of Singapore financial industry, use of virtual currencies as a mode of payment is not significant. Trading is generally for speculative investment purposes, and the volume is low compared to other countries such as US, Japan and Hong Kong. Due to its relative low volume, Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) does not regulate such virtual currencies per se, However, MAS is regulating the activities associated with cryptocurrencies that fall within their purview as a financial regulator: Due to the anonymous nature of the transactions, MAS shares concerns about the use of the blockchain medium for money laundering and terrorism financing risks. Currently MAS is working on a new payment services regulatory framework that will address these risks. In light of their use for fund-raising, these virtual currencies can go beyond their uses for just payments and evolve into second generation tokens representing benefits such as ownership in assets, like a share or bond certificate also known as ICOs or initial coin offerings, MAs has been monitoring these ICOs given the recent number of ICOs have been structured out of Singapore in recent months. As of 1 August 2017, MAS clarified that if a token is structured in the form of securities, the ICO must comply with existing securities laws aimed at safeguarding investors interest. So the requirements of having to register a prospectus, obtain intermediary or exchange operator licences, will apply. These intermediaries must also comply with existing rules on anti-money laundering and countering terrorism financing. Currently, MAS has not issued new legislation specifically for ICOs but will continue to monitor their development and consider more targeted legislation if necessary. While there is concern of public attraction to virtual currencies and digital tokens due to their recent exponential rise in value, it is not within MAS ambit as financial regulator to police all products that people put their money in thinking that they will appreciate in value its focus is securitised interests in assets such as shares in a company. But recognising that the risks of investing in virtual currencies are significant, MAS and the Commercial Affairs Department have published an advisory alerting consumers to these risks, and are working together to raise public awareness of potential scams. You can read the Minister of Finances full statement on Singapore Government stance on cryptocurrency at MAS. Mongolia might be the last country that comes to mind when you think of fashion. But with a new generation of local fashion designers making waves in the fashion scene, you might want to include this country on your fashion radar. Perhaps following its 25th year of democracy last year, after a long history of colonial rule, Mongolia has seen a reawakening of nationalistic pride that has also seeped into its budding fashion industry. Its capital city of Ulaanbaatar, home to the Urlakh Erdem Fashion Design Institute, now hosts its own Ulaanbaatar Fashion Week. And now, partly thanks to the popular Mongolias Next Top Model which regularly features local Mongolian designers, theres been a strong local support and interest to the local fashion scene. This is monumental considering the fact that like the rest of Asia, Mongolians have always followed the fashion trends in Japan and Korea. Even their local designers are fully embracing their ethnic Mongol roots, artfully adopting generations-old techniques, fabrics and designs into their contemporary fashion creations. No doubt, Mongolia is definitely the new Asian fashion destination to keep on your radar. Piqued? Browse the 5 best Mongolian designers and stores you can find in Ulaanbaatar in the gallery above! Sarah Khan Read More: Fashion Update: 8 Malaysian fashion designers you should know Local Bling: 10 Jewellery designers from Singapore we love Nestled far west in the Indonesian island of Flores lies the scenic town of Labuan Bajo an impossibly beautiful and underrated marine oasis, known to tourists as the launching point for impressive trips to the beautiful Komodo Island. For those of you familiar with Labuan Bajo, it is just an hours flight away from Bali. It is perhaps more famously known for the infamous komodo dragons, a world-famous aqua playground for diving enthusiasts and soon enough its very first (and only) five-star accommodation. Called AYANA Komodo Resort, Waecicu Beach the resort is set to open in the summer of 2018 on Waecicu Beach. The resort will feature 12 suites, 189 premium guest rooms and an unconventional architectural design that lets guests check in from the 11th floor lobby, interestingly enough. The resort will boast of its very own luxurious 9-bedroom phinisi ship (a traditional Indonesian sailing ship), that spans 54-meter long and 11-meter wide. Christened AYANA Lakodia (meaning safe journey to the locals), this impressive ship will take guests around the stunning island for brief explorations spanning up two or three nights per trip. Exquisitely furnished with lounge and dive decks, guests can sink their teeth in a range of activities like island-hopping, diving, snorkeling and trawling. Planning for a destination wedding? Besides the rooftop wedding and function suite featuring a stunning ocean view terrace in the main resort, you can also opt to have your special day onboard the AYANA Lakodia. AYANA will also be actively raising funds to support Komodo National Park, to develop its facilities and enhance both the safety and training of the Komodo Rangers. With sublime rooms offering flawless views of the molten gold Komodo archipelago sunset, exceptional hotel restaurant and bars, and that incomparably affable local and Balinese hospitality Indonesia is reputed for, you cant deny the AYANA Resort will be a truly unforgettable hotel experience. Watch this space in summer 2018! Sarah Khan Photo: AYANA Read More: Heaven on Earth: A guide to the best islands in the Philippines Incomparable Beauty: 5 Underrated Indonesian islands you need to visit Canopy Livin: The 5 Most breathtaking tree houses in the Philippines STUART Several people recently were sentenced on drug charges in Patrick County Circuit Court. Sarah Danielle Ratcliffe of Stuart, who pleaded guilty to two counts of distributing a Schedule I or II controlled substance and one count of abuse or neglect of child, was sentenced to a total of 25 years in prison, with 21 years and six months suspended on conditions including supervised probation and payment of a $1,000 fine and $120 restitution. The offenses allegedly happened on Jan. 27 and Feb. 14. Lisa Dean Crockett, also known as Lisa Gilbert, of Galax, who was charged with sale of a Schedule I or II controlled substance and conspiracy to sell controlled substance, pleaded guilty to reduced charges of two counts of misdemeanor disorderly conduct and was sentenced to a total of 24 months in jail, all suspended on conditions including unsupervised probation and payment of a $1,000 fine. The offenses allegedly happened on July 26, 2015. Mary Kay Cox of Stoneville, North Carolina, who was convicted of distributing a Schedule I or II controlled substance and conspiracy to distribute a Schedule I or II controlled substance, was sentenced to a total of 10 years in prison, with nine years and seven months suspended on conditions including supervised probation and payment of an $800 fine and $80 restitution. The offenses allegedly happened on Jan. 11, 2016. PATRICK COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT In another recent case in Patrick County Circuit Court, Michael Anthony Burdge of Claudville, who was charged with aggravated sexual battery and taking indecent liberties, pleaded guilty to reduced charges of two counts of misdemeanor assault and battery, and was sentenced to a total of 24 months in jail, with 23 months suspended on conditions including supervised probation. The offenses allegedly happened on Aug. 3. PATRICK COUNTY GENERAL DISTRICT COURT A judge sent to Patrick County Circuit Court a charge of eluding/disregarding police against James Brian Farmer of Danbury, North Carolina. The offense allegedly happened on Sept. 7, 2016. A judge sent to circuit court charges of destruction of property and entering house to commit a designated crime against Wendy Baker of Stuart. The offenses allegedly happened on June 16. MARTINSVILLE CIRCUIT COURT A judge found Geno Antonio Clark Jr. of Ridgway not guilty of a charge of feloniously obtaining money by false pretense. Clark was charged after an incident on Nov. 8, 2016. Clark pleaded guilty to a charge of possession of a firearm by felon. A judge ordered a presentence report and set sentencing for Nov. 16. The offense allegedly happened on Dec. 5, 2016. TODAYS WORD is deterge (di-TUHRJ). Example: Mary had to thoroughly deterge the minivans interior after taking the kids on a trip to the fudge factory. WEDNESDAYS WORD was antitussive. It means something that suppresses or relieves coughing. Example: Grandpa didnt like doctors; when he had a cold, his preferred antitussive was a belt of good whiskey. Pancake Days The Meadows of Dan Ruritan Club and Fire Department will host the 52nd Annual Pancake Days Fundraiser on Sunday, Oct. 15 and Sunday, Oct. 22 from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. The event will take place at the Meadows of Dan Community Building at 2858 Jeb Stuart Highway. The menu fill feature all-you-can-eat plain pancakes, buckwheat pancakes, sausage, gravy and more. Prices are $10 for adults, $5 for children ages 5-12, and free for children younger than 5. To-go orders are welcome. Freshly ground sausage will be available for sale, and commemorative T-shirts will be available for purchase. Call 952-2744 for more information. Proceeds from the event will benefit various Patrick County organizations, including the volunteer fire department, rescue squad, schools, college scholarships and food drives. TODAY IS: National Apple Betty Day Similar to what is known as apple crisp, crumble or cobbler, the American variant known as Apple Betty or Apple Brown Betty dates from colonial times. It is generally made with crumbs, apples, cinnamon and sugar. Class of 57 The Drewry Mason High Class of 1957 will have their reunion on Oct. 7, starting at 5 p.m. Itll be just over the border at Debs Restaurant in Stoneville, North Carolina. Thats located at 123 South Henry Street in Stoneville. Open House Martinsville Fire & EMS invites everyone out to visit their main station, over at 65 West Church Street during Saturdays Oktoberfest in Martinsville. From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., there will be free popcorn at the station, snow cones, face painting, a bounce house and balloons. Sparky the Fire Dog will also be on hand to take pictures with kids and you can also check out the restored 1934 LaFrance fire engine. Its part of the departments 126th year anniversary. The Big Sick On Friday, the Martinsville Library will show the movie The Big Sick from 6-8 p.m. The critically-acclaimed movie has a 98 percent fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes and stars Kumail Nanjiani, Zoe Kazan, Ray Romano and Holly Hunter. Free popcorn will be provided. TRIVIA QUESTION: Other than humans, what is the only animal that has a chin? WEDNESDAYS TRIVIA ANSWER: What U.S. state has the lowest average elevation? Like the Stroller, you might have guessed Louisiana, which has a low point of eight feet below sea level. You might have also guessed Florida, which has a peak elevation just 345 feet above sea level. You might have even guessed California, since the states Badwater Basin in Death Valley is a whopping 279 feet below sea level. However, the actual answer, surprisingly, is Delaware. The average elevation in Delaware is just 60 feet above sea level, compared to Florida and Louisiana, which both have an average elevation of 100 feet above sea level. Our most elevated state, on the other hand, is Colorado, with an average elevation of 6,800 feet above sea level. Catalonias Independence Referendum on October 1 has opened up a major regime crisis in Spain. Braving brutal police repression, hundreds of thousands occupied and defended polling stations so that 2.2 million people could vote on the day. There were images of police officers using hammers to break through the doors of polling stations and then snatching polling boxes from the hands of the people, of police officers using batons against unarmed civilians, including elderly ladies, of police officers throwing people downstairs. Those sights are now burnt into the consciousness of the Catalan people. As a result, on October 3rd, a national shutdown paralysed Catalonia with huge demonstrations against police repression. October 1st showed two things clearly: Firstly: the importance of Spanish unity and the denial of the right of self-determination for the maintenance of the 1978 constitution regime. This regime represents the limited bourgeois democracy established at the end of the Franco dictatorship as a result of an agreement between the old order and the leaders of the left parties in order to stave off revolution. Secondly: the Catalan peoples strength of will to exercise their democratic right to decide their own future, regardless of whether that is allowed by the Spanish constitution. The movement for Catalan independence has come out enormously strengthened from the last few weeks of struggle. There is a mood of peoples power, the idea that the mass mobilisation of the many is stronger than any police repression. There is a sense of indignation, of rage, at the brutal repression enacted the Spanish police and civil guards against people exercising their right to vote. These forces are now considered as being occupation forces and that is really the way they acted on October 1. The organisation of the defence of the referendum, which the Spanish state had declared unconstitutional, relied to a large extent upon initiatives from below by neighbourhood and city wide Referendum Defence Committees. In many cases, these then turned into October 3 Strike Committees. The October 3 strike had been called a week earlier by the CGT and a few other small unions (COS, IAC, I-CSC) in order to fulfill the legal requirements of a 10-day-warning for a general strike. The bigger unions, CCOO and UGT, had refused to join in the call. Then, on the day of the referendum, under extreme pressure from below to give a clear answer to the brutal state repression, they said they would join in the protest, but in order to avoid using the words general strike, they called it a countrywide stoppage (aturada de pais). The CUP for its part decided to join the general strike. The Round Table for Democracy, set up by CCOO, UGT and a number of civil organisations together with the small and medium enterprises bosses organisation, however, insisted that what they were calling for was not a strike, but a stoppage that had to be decided by workers together with their employers. In the public sector, the Catalan government Generalitat, announced it was joining in the stoppage and therefore would not deduct wages from workers taking part. CCOO and UGT went as far as giving out leaflets in factories (like the giant car producer SEAT) explicitly saying they were not calling for a general strike!Regardless of this deliberate attempt to create confusion and downgrade the character of the protest, tens of thousands of health workers and teachers met in mass meetings and voted to take part in the strike. At the forefront of the participation by the working class in the movement are the Barcelona dockers and firefighters. The former voted not to handle a cruise liner, which was being used to host thousands of police officers sent to Catalonia to prevent the referendum. The latter played a key role in defending polling stations and have been central to all the demonstrations. The dockers also voted unanimously to join in the general strike. Here are the scenes when their columns joined together on October 3: La Columna dels Estibadors ja puja per la Rambla i cap a Jardinets de Gracia! Nosaltres els seguim #VagaGeneral3O #3OCT pic.twitter.com/GFXkc3Roh1 CDR Gotic-Raval (@CDRGoticRaval) October 3, 2017 In any case, the stoppage was massively followed in the public sector, particularly in the health care system, in education but also transport. Thousands joined mobile pickets, shutting down main motorways across Catalonia, accesses to industrial areas and wholesale markets. Small shops were generally closed. Newspaper workers at El Periodico went on strike. The weakest point was private industry, particularly because of the open sabotage of the strike on the part of the leaders of CCOO and UGT. Throughout the day the masses were on the streets in cities and towns. Early in the morning there were huge pickets (like the one in Cornella displayed below), at lunchtime mass demonstrations in the main squares and outside town halls, which were surpassed by even larger rallies at 6pm. Company arquitecte ha posat les fotos en pla i quantifica el piquet manifestacio de Cornella en 4500 persones,maxima participacio en 25 anys pic.twitter.com/JPJTzjvmvz Vidal Aragones (@VidalAragones) October 3, 2017 In Barcelona a massive demonstration led by the students went from Pca Universitat to the Catalan Parliament and were joined by the firefighters. Local police put the figure at 300,000. A highlight of the march was when protesters passed the Barcelona National Police HQ in Via Laietana. The huge crowd stopped to shout defiant slogans: We have voted, Dont touch our grannies, Occupation forces out and even this building will be a library, showing the mood of defiance and confidence. The masses on the streets feel they are in charge and that from now on they will be the ones making decisions. "Aquest edifici sera una biblioteca" canta la gent davant la Jefatura Superior de Policia. #3oct : pic.twitter.com/6uNmnImcl0 Alex Tort (@alextortsagues) October 3, 2017 In the evening, two marches had been called, that of the unions calling for the strike and the CUP at Jardinets de Gracia, and another one by the Round Table for Democracy at Pca Universitat. In reality, the two merged together as people packed the streets of the centre of Barcelona from end to end. Local police estimated the figure at 700,000, but it is likely there were at least a million people on the streets. Again they marched to the Via Laietana Police HQ to shout slogans against repression. Significantly there was a smattering of Spanish flags in the demonstrations, showing that a layer of people who are not for independence and perhaps some who didnt participate in the referendum on Oct 1, came out to show their rejection of the brutal police repression. Outside Barcelona there were marches in all towns and cities, big and small. In most cases these were the largest ever. Over 50,000 marched through the streets of Girona (pop 100,000), 45,000 in Lleida (pop 140,000), Sabadell saw two massive rallies, one at lunch time and one in the evening, each marking a record for attendance. In Manresa (pop 75,000) 28,000 marched and contrary to the advice given by the Catalan police Mossos, they also went to the HQ of the Civil Guard to protest their brutality. There were also huge demonstrations and rallies in Reus, Tarragona, Tortosa, Hospitalet, Badalona, Vic, etc. Reus a mitja hora de la mani d la tarda. Centenars als carrers adjacents. #VagaGeneral30 pic.twitter.com/u3lRK5smj1 Jorge Martin (@marxistJorge) October 3, 2017 The day was closed by a surprise televised broadcast by the King. Usually the King is seen as a figure standing above politics, but at this time of serious crisis of the 1978 regime, his address was an attempt to bring unity amongst the political parties that are linked to the regime and to lay the ground for a further assault on Catalonia. The King used very strong language to attack the actions of the Catalan government and Parliament in convening the referendum and demanded that Spanish legality be restored. The message was a clear instruction to the PSOE to join in with the ruling PP party in moving to prevent any further moves by the Catalan Parliament, including by suspending self rule through the implementation of article 155 of the Constitution. His speech was received by a deafening session of banging of pots and pans across Catalonia. The idea of Catalan independence is closely linked to the idea of a Republic, reflecting a deep seated rejection of the whole 1978 regime. Now the King has linked his fate to that of the repression of the Catalan people. His speech to the nation was entirely in line with the tone of the Rajoy government. Podemos and United Left should take advantage of the crisis in order to mobilise against the Monarchy and the weak and corrupt PP government. Important sections of the Spanish and Catalan ruling class are very worried and they would like to find a negotiated solution which stops the movement of the people from below. There is a deafening cry for talks, mediation and negotiation coming from all layers of bourgeois public opinion: lawyers, archbishops, business organisations, etc. The ruling PDCAT in Catalonia is divided over how to proceed next and has called for international mediation. The problem for them is that they are trapped. On the one hand they have unleashed a mass movement in Catalonia that has acquired its own dynamics and could go outside of their control if they were seen as betraying it. On the other hand the Spanish state is offering them nothing, not even talks. On the contrary, the PP and the whole of the Spanish regime is escalating the situation by issuing constant threats. The PP spokesperson in Parliament, Hernando, described the October 3rd stoppage as having a Nazi character. PP Minister of Defence Cospedal reminded Catalonia that the constitution says the Armed Forces are there to guarantee the unity of Spain, while sending several Army convoys to Catalonia to supply the police forces already there, which have come under growing opposition from the masses. Former PSOE leader Alfonso Guerra also suggested the Army should be sent in, while former PP premier Aznar demanded tough action by the Rajoy government, or else they should resign and call elections. At the same time the PP and its allies, particularly Ciudadanos, are promoting a Spanish reactionary nationalist movement under the slogans of the defence of the fatherland, defence of the unity of Spain, defence of the security forces, etc. So far this has only attracted a far-right fringe, but it is not ruled out that it could grow over the weekend, also in Catalonia where a demonstration has been called on Sunday. As I am writing these lines, news arrives that the Constitutional Tribunal has suspended Mondays session of the Catalan Parliament which was supposed to discuss the referendum results and take a decision on declaring independence in one way or another. This is a major assault on Catalan democracy, as in effect it closes down its democratically elected parliament. This move can only further enrage the masses and push Catalan Puigdemont president to go further than he might have intended. The Catalan masses need to maintain and expand their committees and link them up at a local and national level, to give the movement a democratic and accountable leadership. Catalan Parliament should meet on Monday in defiance of the undemocratic instructions of the Constitutional Tribunal, and the session should be protected by the masses in the streets. A national assembly of Defence Committees should be convened in order to decide on the next steps for the movement. These should include the preparation of a proper general strike, decided and voted in mass assemblies in workplaces and neighbourhoods, which should be used as a launchpad to declare the Republic. Catalan Strike / Own Work Events in the last days and hours confirm what we had warned in advance: in the context of the Spanish regime of 1978, the task of national self-determination becomes a revolutionary one and therefore cannot be completed under the Catalan bourgeois politicians, but only by revolutionary means and by winning over the Catalan working class as a whole. Marxists stand for a Catalan Socialist Republic which should serve as a spark for revolutionary developments across all Spain. Foreigners from different part of the world are curious about different things about Korea, a report on search terms by the Korea Tourism Organization suggests. The KTO looked at major search engines in eight language groups over the last year, including Google for English and German, Baidu for Chinese, and Yahoo for Japanese. It found that kimchi was the most searched Korea-related keyword in the English- and German-speaking world, the demilitarized zone and trendy Sinchon in Seoul on Chinese sites, and K-pop in Japanese search engines. FAIRFAX, Va. -- The National Rifle Association called Thursday for the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to review the legality of "bump stocks" and cranks that allow shooters to rapidly fire semi-automatic guns as if they were fully automatic. Investigators believe the shooter responsible for killing 59 people and wounding hundreds more at a Las Vegas concert Sunday used a bump stock, which uses the force of a gun's recoil to pull the trigger for the next round. "The NRA believes that devices designed to allow semi-automatic rifles to function like fully-automatic rifles should be subject to additional regulations," reads a message sent out Thursday by NRA CEO Wayne LaPierre and Executive Director Chris Cox. The same message from Cox and LaPierre calls on Congress to pass national right-to-carry legislation that would negate many gun laws in states like Massachusetts. Besides bump stocks, some shooters use a crank device to rapidly pull a trigger and make an semi-automatic gun fire like a fully automatic. A semi-automatic fires once each time a trigger is pulled. A fully automatic fires continuously as long as the trigger remains pulled. Bump stocks are legal in Massachusetts, and both types of devices are readily available online. Newsweek reported this week that gun dealers are selling out of bump stocks. The NRA is also pushing for changes in federal law that would make sound suppressors more readily available. Springfield's American Outdoor Brands, the parent company of Smith & Wesson, has a subsidiary that makes suppressors. Easthampton's Yankee Hill Machine and Ludlow's DaVinci Arms also manufacture suppressors. Updated on Thursday, Oct. 5, at 8:45 p.m.: Dr. Seuss Enterprises and the Springfield Museums have decided to remove the mural. Three children's book authors declined to take part in the Springfield Children's Literature Festival at The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum because of a mural there with a "jarring racial stereotype." However, museum officials noted the original artwork on which the mural was based was created 80 years ago, adding they would not "alter or edit an artist's work." The artwork appeared in Theodor Geisel's first Dr. Seuss book, "And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street," which was published in 1937. Authors Mo Willems, Mike Curato and Lisa Yee of Northampton, who signed the letter and posted it on social media, said they found part of the mural "deeply hurtful" and would not attend the Oct. 14 event. (The festival has since been canceled.) "... we recently learned that a key component of this institution honoring Dr. Seuss features a mural depicting a scene from his first book, 'And to Think I Saw It on Mulberry Street,' and within the selected arts is a jarring racial stereotype of a Chinese man, who is depicted with chopsticks, a pointed hat, and slanted slit eyes. We find this caricature of 'the Chinaman' deeply hurtful, and have concerns about children's exposure to it." The character is described by Seuss in the 1937 book as "a Chinese boy who eats with sticks." Willems is no stranger to Dr. Seuss. Hie "Elephant and Piggie" books won the Theodor Seuss Geisel Medal in 2008 and 2009 and took home Geisel Honors from 2011 through 2015. The three authors noted that Geisel's early work used racial stereotypes, but that he grew to "challenge those divisive impulses with work that delighted his readers and changed with the times." They said they had voiced their concerns to museum officials, who felt it was "the responsibility of visitors to contextualize the oversized painting of the 'Chinaman'." Springfield Museums officials said they offered to meet with Willems, Curato and Yee, but they declined. In a letter to the authors, Springfield Museums President Kay Simpson wrote, "We take the concerns you shared with us very seriously as it is our mutual goal to educate and delight children. The museum contains unedited material by Dr. Seuss during his lifetime from 1904-1991. As a museum, we do not alter or edit an artist's work." "Dr. Seuss's books taught life lessons, from being a faithful friend, to not discriminating based upon appearances, to keeping your promises," Simpson wrote. "Dr. Seuss was a product of his era and his attitudes evolved over time. It is our hope that parents and teachers can use the evolution of Dr. Seuss, including the mural of Mulberry Street in Springfield from Dr. Seuss's first book published in 1937, as a teachable moment for children in their charge." Last week, Cambridge Public Schools Librarian Liz Phipps Soiero turned down a gift of Dr. Seuss books from First Lady Melania Trump for National Read a Book Day. "You may not be aware of this, but Dr. Seuss is a bit of a cliche, a tired and worn ambassador for children's literature," Soeiro wrote on Horn Book's Family Reading blog. "Another fact that many people are unaware of is that Dr. Seuss's illustrations are steeped in racist propaganda, caricatures, and harmful stereotypes. Open one of his books and you'll see the racist mockery in his art." Following the uproar over Soeiro's decision, Mayor Domenic J. Sarno invited President Donald Trump and the first lady to Springfield to visit the museum. George Clooney will be the recipient of the 46th American Film Institute Life Achievement Award, the highest honor for a career in film. The award will be presented to Clooney, 56, at a tribute on June 7 in Los Angeles. It will subsequently air on TNT, followed by encore presentations on its sister network Turner Classic Movies. While best known to many as an actor, Clooney has also worked as a director, writer and producer. He has received eight Academy Award nominations and won twice. He received the Oscar for for Best Supporting Actor for "Syriana" in 2005 and a Best Picture award seven years later for producing "Argo." Clooney has appeared in such films as "O Brother Where Art Though," "Oceans 11," "Michael Clayton" and "Gravity." In 1984, the Kentucky native landed his first major role on the short-lived TV sitcom "E/R" -- not to be confused with the long-running hospital drama "ER," which made Clooney a household name. In 2010, the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences honored him with the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award in recognition of his humanitarian efforts. The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency has is expected to deploy 69 Massachusetts police officers to assist the island with their recovery efforts. The 69 officers will be deployed in smaller teams over the course of six weeks. While deployed, the officers will assist Puerto Rico's law enforcement officers with enforcing curfew and other security measures. Thirteen Massachusetts State Police cruisers will also be deployed during the six-week duration. The first week will bring 24 officers to the island, a majority of which will come from the Massachusetts State Police and Boston Police departments. Officers from Chelsea, Easthampton, Everett, Hampden, Holyoke, Littleton, Lowell, Peabody, Provincetown and Waltham will also be deployed. "The deployment of these law enforcement officers from Massachusetts will provide the citizens of Puerto Rico an added sense of security during recovery efforts," said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. As the island continues to recover from the devastation of Hurricane Maria, Governor Charlie Baker said MEMA will continue to dedicate resources to assist Puerto Rico. Last week, MEMA also announced it would send a six-person National Guard team to help repair communication lines on the island. Baker has also created a task force to provide support for Hurricane Maria evacuees who choose to seek temporary or permanent residence in Massachusetts. "We are proud that a team of law enforcement officers will deploy to Puerto Rico to help keep residents safe after the recent catastrophic hurricanes," Gov. Charlie Baker said. "The Commonwealth continues to offer personnel and equipment resources as needed to Puerto Rico, and is preparing to welcome disaster survivors traveling to Massachusetts." Three Army Special Forces soldiers were killed in Niger in northwestern Africa after their joint patrol with Nigerien forces was ambushed, according to reports. "We are working to confirm details on the incident and will have more information as soon as we can confirm facts on the ground," a spokesman for the Africa Command told The Washington Post. The Associated Press reported that two U.S. soldiers were wounded. The New York Times was the first to confirm the deaths. Africa Command did not elaborate on the nature of the patrol or why the unit would come into contact with enemy forces. The AP reported the attack occurred north of the capital Niamey, near the Mali border. The deaths mark the first hostile fire casualties in Niger. A 3rd Special Forces Group soldier was killed in a vehicle accident there in February. The United States has expanded its operations in Niger in recent years, including surveillance drone flights piloted from Niamey. The United States is also finishing construction on an installation at Agadez, a central city in the Sahara, that will move flights closer to southern Libya and northern Mali, where drone operators can monitor militants traversing remote desert stretches. Third Special Forces Group and other forces are tasked with training missions in Niger to combat extremist groups in the region, including security assistance with intelligence and reconnaissance efforts. Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb operates in Mali, further straining security on the border region. Nasser Weddady, a regional security analyst, told The Post it was unusual for U.S. troops to operate far into the western parts of the country. (c) 2017, The Washington Post. Alex Horton wrote this story PITTSFIELD -- An Adams woman was sentenced Wednesday to three to five years in state prison after pleading guilty to stealing thousands of dollars from Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort, her former employer. Jennifer A. Thurston, 45, while employed at the Hancock resort, took approximately $23,000 between Dec. 15, 2015, and April 1, 2016, according to the Berkshire district attorney's office. Thurston pleaded guilty in Berkshire Superior Court to one count of larceny over $250 (ongoing and continued offense), 29 counts of uttering a false check and 29 counts of forgery of a check. Judge John Agostini ordered that Thurston serve concurrent three- to five-year sentences at the Western Massachusetts Woman's Correctional Facility in Framingham. The judge recommended that the sentence be served at the Western Massachusetts Regional Women's Correctional Facility in Chicopee. The investigation was conducted by state police assigned to the district attorney's office. The Boston division of the FBI has announced that as the investigation of the mass shooting in Las Vegas continues, there is no information indicating an additional threat to the city. "We have no information to indicate any additional threat," Harold H. Shaw, special agent in charge, wrote in a statement. "We always work with our federal, state and local partners to ensure the safety of the public and continue to do so." Investigators are still working to determine a motive in the shooting, which killed more than 50 and injured more than 500 people at a country music concert on Sunday. "The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department along with the FBI has been investigating the attack in Las Vegas and we are following the evidence in search of the facts," Shaw said. "Our sympathy is with the many victims, their families and friends in this difficult time." On Thursday, information was revealed that indicated the shooter, Stephen Paddock, researched hotels near Fenway Park previously. No hotel nearby the park has a clear view of the Fenway stands. "The FBI Boston Division is actively assessing intelligence and at this time has no information indicating specific and credible threats to any segment to our community," Shaw wrote. "The safety and security of the people of Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island is our top priority and we work hand-in-hand with our law enforcement partners to share and act upon threat information as it comes to our attention," he continued. "In that light, we urge the public to report any and all suspicious activity." The FBI will work closely with the Boston Police Department, the Massachusetts State Police, and other law enforcement to investigate any and all leads out of Las Vegas, the statement said. "We've been in constant contact with Boston Police and Massachusetts State Police since the Las Vegas shooting," Shaw wrote. "Any possible nexus to Boston discovered during the ongoing investigation has and will be immediately briefed to the Boston Police Department, and other affected law enforcement agencies." The Boston division of FBI said it will assist in the Las Vegas investigation in any way possible. SPRINGFIELD -- Drug charges against three women were dropped this week after two male co-defendants pleaded guilty in the case. A charge of heroin trafficking in the amount of 18 to 36 grams was dropped for Dayana Mojica, 22, Carmen Vega, 42, and Lizmarie Patoja-Vega, 34, all of Holyoke. On Wednesday, German Pantoja, 24, of Holyoke, pleaded guilty to five counts of distribution of heroin, one count of possession of heroin with intent to distribute, two counts of assault and battery on a police officer and one count of resisting arrest. Hampden Superior Court Judge John S. Ferrara sentenced Pantoja to three years in state prison, the sentence recommended by prosecution and defense. After Pantoja's guilty plea, co-defendant Luis Ramos pleaded guilty to distribution of heroin and negligent operation of a motor vehicle. He was sentenced to two and one half years in state prison. Ramos, 28, drove Pantoja to the March 16, 2016, heroin transaction. SPRINGFIELD -- Former Pelham police chief Edward B. Fleury was sentenced to two years probation and fined $7,500 on Thursday for improperly storing firearms in his home. During a hearing in Hampden Superior Court, Judge Daniel Ford also barred the defendant from owning firearms or storing them in his home. "He is a former police chief. He should have known better," the judge said, before adding that Fleury's lack of criminal convictions, two decades of public service and other factors weighed against the prosecution's request for a prison sentence. "One of the cardinal rules of sentencing is that the punishment should fit the crime. The punishment should also fit the defendant," Ford said. Northwestern Assistant District Attorney Matthew Thomas requested a sentence of one to three years in state prison, followed by five years of probation. But the judge adopted defense lawyer Elizabeth Rodriguez-Ross' recommendation of probation, and added the fine. The sentencing came two weeks after a Hampshire Superior Court jury convicted Fleury of 12 counts of improperly storing a firearm and acquitted him on 10 of the same charges. The charges stemmed from a September, 2014 search of his home by police seeking a Glock handgun that Fleury allegedly pointed at a friend outside a Belchertown bar in 2014. He was acquitted of assault with a dangerous weapon in an October 2016 trial in connection with that incident. He was initially set to be sentenced on Sept. 22 in his latest case, but was hospitalized earlier that day, reportedly after not taking his insulin. A second date, scheduled for Sept. 27, was also postponed. On Sept. 21, a jury found Fleury guilty on the firearms storage charges following a four-day trial. Jurors began deliberations Wednesday around noon. Harvard University police say a female undergraduate student escaped an attacker who grabbed her while she was on a late-night run along the Charles River in Cambridge Wednesday night. The student told police a man grabbed her from behind near the corner of Memorial Drive and Western Avenue, and she ended up struggling free. She then ran to the River Houses, a string of undergraduate living spaces located nearby, reporting the attack to university police at 11:50 p.m. Massachusetts State Police are heading up the investigation into the assault. The victim was unable to provide a description of her attacker. Anyone with information is asked to call 617-727-4812. As investigation into the incident continues, university police are telling students to exercise extra caution and not go on unattended late-night runs. Despite Kim Jong-un's repeated provocations and willingness to engage in heated rhetoric, top U.S. intelligence officials say the North Korean leader is not crazy. "Kim Jong-un is a very rational actor," the deputy assistant director of the Central Intelligence Agency's Korea Mission Center said Wednesday. "Bluster and rhetoric aside, Kim Jong-un has no desire to go toe to toe with [U.S. and South Korea's] combined forces command," Yong Suk Lee said at a CIA-sponsored intelligence conference in Washington. "Kim Jong-un wants what all authoritarian rulers want... to rule for a long time and die peacefully in his own bed," Lee said. At Odds with Trump View The intelligence assessment would appear to run counter to the rhetoric being used by U.S. President Donald Trump. In a series of tweets, Trump has referred to the North Korean leader as "Little Rocket Man," and, in one tweet last month, said Kim Jong Un was "obviously a madman." Lee and other CIA officials, however, believe there has been a "clarity of purpose" to the way the North Korean ruler is acting on the world stage. Pyongyang's goal, they say, is to gain recognition as a major nuclear power and eventually negotiate a deal with the United States that sees American forces leave the Korean peninsula. Intelligence officials see North Korea's repeated nuclear and missile tests as a way to create some space and give Pyongyang room to maneuver as it pursues its goals on the peninsula. "He wants to keep us out of his sandbox," Lee said, predicting another test or provocation could be coming as soon as Oct. 9, which marks the founding of the country's ruling political party, as well as the Columbus Day holiday in the U.S. A man wanted in Florida on several "stolen valor" charges was arrested in Ayer this week after a roommate follow up on another one of his suspicious tales. According to Ayer police, Kyle Barwan, 27, of Polk County, Florida, had at some point moved to Ayer, Massachusetts and was staying with a roommate. Police said that the roommate had started to become suspicious of Barwan's stories, which he said weren't "adding up." The resident did some research and discovered that Barwan had been arrested several times for impersonating military and uniformed personnel. The man contacted Ayer police, who determined that Barwan had a nationwide warrant out for his arrest, authorities said. Barwan was taken into custody on Sept. 29 and appeared in court the following Monday, where he was held without bail. Polk County police are expected to pick him up and return him to Florida by mid-October. Barwan's first run-in with the law in Florida occurred in January, when he told a woman on the online dating service "Plenty of Fish" that he was a military officer who had served five years in Afghanistan and England, according to WFLA. When the two met in public, Barwan showed her cellphone pictures of him in desert camouflage and claimed he had be shot in the face while storming a building. Barwan allegedly asked the victim for $80 to help buy a video game controller for a benefit tournament being held to honor a soldier killed in war, WFLA reported. During a dinner with the victim's family, Barwan pretended to receive a call from the military claiming that he had just been promoted to a captain. Several of the victim's family members had prior military experience and immediately became suspicious of Barwan's story, according to the Polk County sheriff. The victim met with police in January and had Barwan arrested. When news broke of his story, several more victims came forward. According to WFLA, Barwan allegedly scammed another woman he met on "Plenty of Fish," this time claiming to be a Green Beret. Barwan also told her he worked as a paid mercenary for the CIA. Over time, the victim sent Barwan money for food, phone bills and rent. After about a month, the victim felt that she was being lied to by Barwan and tried to cease communications with him. According to WFLA, Barwan texted the victim that he was going to meet her at her house and that it was pointless to call the police because he was so well connected. She did not call police until after learning Barwan was in jail. Barwan was released on felony propbation at some point after receiving his second stolen valor charge. Police said he immediately started scamming victims again, this time approaching people in a local park as a member of the Green Beret and soliciting donations for the homeless. In late April, a woman who had been approached by Barwan alerted police of his activities and he was arrested again. He was placed on felony probation afterwards. Barwan was enlisted in the Army National Guard of Kentucky in 2007, but was discharged in 2008 in less than 180 days for failing to meet medical procurement standards, according to WFLA. He has already served five years in federal prison for impersonating military personnel, according to Polk County police. Ce urmeaza dupa retragerea rusilor din Herson: Putin e pe cale sa faca o grava eroare din punct de vedere militar / Niciodata sa nu-ti intrerupi dusmanul cand face o greseala For the first time in two decades, the US dollar and the Euro hit parity in July 2022. The currency, shared by 19 European countries, has slumped more than 11 per cent since the beginning of this year. But the weakened Euro holds great economic significance for businesses as well as individuals, especially those earning and spending in US dollars, or in currencies pegged to the dollar. In terms of real estate too, while certain property values have gone up, the cost in plenty of areas has come down from what it was two years ago. June 2022 alone recorded the highest figures with over 78 million investments in the Portugal Golden Visa program, a first since 2020. Rise in numbers: More than 78 million investments in Portugal Golden Visa in June. Real estate in Lisbon growing at a rate of 2.5% annually since 2016. Santa Maria da Feira experienced an annual growth of 12%. Demand for properties has grown by 20% in Porto and Sintra. 83% of investors in Portugal foresee a rise in demand from tenants for sustainable properties. This certainly also makes it the best time to invest in a long-term residence permit in Europe. June 2022 alone recorded the highest figures with over 78 million investments in the Portugal Golden Visa program, a first since 2020. Jeremy Savory, founder and CEO of Savory & Partners a leading global residency and citizenship by investment (RCBI) company headquartered in Dubai, says, If I can talk about the impact in the context of the RCBI industry, its an excellent opportunity for those earning in dollar-pegged currencies. Right now, many investors see everything turning red in terms of stock, crypto, and real estate. Now is the time for people to invest in something that is already discounted, diversifies their currency, and with interest rates that dont directly affect their investment. Real estate boom Savory points out that the Portuguese Golden Visa program is one of the best ways for investors to access this market. Adding, however, that time is of essence here. Cyprus has closed down its citizenship program and the Montenegro citizenship program is expected to close by the end of the year, Turkey has increased its investment threshold and Greece is expected to follow suit. I think we have some months before it comes into effect. Portugal only changed their legislation nine months ago, so I cant see them changing it again so soon. Increased threshold does not mean higher fees. It means you just end up buying more real estate and theres nothing wrong with buying more property. Best places to invest in real estate in Portugal As a long-term resident of Portugal himself, Savory says Portugals golden visa gives the investor the opportunity to be part of one of the most progressive real estate destinations in the world. Three popular neighbourhoods across Portugal that according to him are the best for families to choose to buy a home in are Melides, the Municipality of Oeiras and Belem. Melides, right next to Comporta, is fast becoming one of the most expensive price per sqm attracting ultra HNW Europeans and Americans, he says, adding that you can invest in an office space in Oeiras, get a Golden Visa, and you would get very high-quality tenants too. A personal favourite of Savory, Belem, with its beautiful parks, beach-front restaurants and cultural landmarks is a preferred real estate investment. Jeremy alongside his wife, Helena Savory, expanded the family business with the RCBI company, and with just the two of them in the beginning, Savory and Partners has now grown to become a global corporation with over 60 industry experts worldwide. Helena Savory, Managing Director of the company and a mother of two young boys says access to exceptional education, high quality healthcare, low cost of living, safety and its amazing climate made Portugal a preferred option for her to gain residency in as a family and businesswoman. As an example, a coffee and the much-loved pastry, Pastel de Nata, would cost you not more than 1 (equivalent to $0.96 cents), which shows you the unbelievably low cost of living in Portugal. Helena Savory Helena adds that Portugals education sector is impressively expansive. Its higher education system is ranked as the 35th best in the world. Public education is free and compulsory until the age of 18. She notes that the country occupies the sixth position in the ranking of countries with the highest percentage of women entrepreneurs, ahead of countries such as Spain, Italy or Ireland. Women are making their way to the top of the business ladder, and investment migration can help them take their success to a global stage. Portugal is witnessing an increased interest in investors looking for property and recently, the Green Visa scheme was introduced through which investors can obtain the Portuguese passport with an investment in environmental projects. Partager et informez vous aussi...... 0 shares Share Tweet LinkedIn Articles similaires With lower birth rates, the population is expected to cross 10 billion only by the end of this century in 2100. Error 404 Not Found You may have mis-typed the URL. Or the page has been removed. Actually, there is nothing to see here... Click on the links below to do something, Thanks! Take Me our of here If you thought the Rolls Royce Wraith, Ghost, Dawn, Phantom or Cullinan were the cars of your dreams, we'll show you something that will make you reconsider that thought. Even though currently it is only in the concept stage, this particular Rolls Royce will make you wish it were real, even if you couldn't ever own it. Take a look at the very futuristic and glass-shatteringly beautiful Rolls Royce Exterion. The Exterion is stuff that the future is made of with its shiny electric blue and matt black bodywork. Designed by Sergey Dvornytskyy, an automotive concept designer, who has also created fantastic illustrations for luxury car majors like Maserati, Citroen, Lamborghini and Mercedes-Benz, the Rolls Royce concept is a breath of fresh air. Sergey Dvornytskyy Behance What looks like a mix of two of Rolls Royce's existing vehicles, the Exterion packs the front of the 2018 Phantom with a closed off grille and the rear end of the Sweptail with the one oddity of a distended splitter. We're not complaining about the splitter, it looks like it could accommodate a canoe, how fancy is that? Sergey Dvornytskyy Behance There is also a seamless roof that swoops down to the bonnet all the way up to the hood ornament. There is red strip defining the rear windscreen as well. Sergey Dvornytskyy Behance The doors appear to have been created keeping sheet metal in mind as they lack visible handles. We wonder if Dvornytskyy had finger print sensors in mind, it's all too exciting. Sergey Dvornytskyy Behance An extended horizontal panel in matt black runs through the entirety of the vehicle, forming the front and back wheel fenders, culminating in the rear splitter. Sergey Dvornytskyy Behance The design is on point but does it do justice to automative aerodynamics, we're not sure, but we can say that the render looks like it was inspired by speed, which is not something Rolls Royce advertises as a significant feature. We surely hope to see a prototype of the vehicle out soon, and we're keeping our fingers crossed for Rolls Royce to approve the design. People at Rolls Royce, if you believe in making dreams come true, you know that this is what we're dreaming of. Call it our sadistic pleasures or mean mentality, but in our growing years we loved watching and laughing hysterically at people fall into muddy waters, get clobbered and caught by evil-looking monsters who will stop at nothing to prevent them from reaching the final showdown'. Yes we are talking about the cult show Takeshi's Castle'. Even after 31 years when it was first aired, Takeshi's Castle' still rules as one of the best shows ever made, filled with mind blowing games and super funny penalties. While the rest of the world will credit the show's success to its concept and various challenging levels, we loved the show solely for one thing Javed Jaffrey and his hilarious commentary! Honestly, kids today will never understand the joy of sitting for hours in front of TV, watching contestants shout ganbarimasu and try not to die laughing from Javed Jaffrey's epic rant on all the crazy things happening in count Takeshi's castle. Such was the show's craze that we religiously watched the repeat episodes too. Having said that, there's now a great reason to rejoice for all the 90s kids! You won't have to watch the old episodes on YouTube anymore as General Lee is gearing up to comically terrorize us Keshi heads' again. Yes our excitement is hitting the roof right now because Takeshi's Castle' is being rebooted and all the mayhem will take place in Thailand! The reboot will feature 100 participants fighting it out to reach the final level where they will attack the castle. Comedy Central will air the new episodes of the series this autumn. According to Digital Spy, Louise Holmes, Vice President, General Manager, Comedy Central UK said Takeshi's Castle is the gold standard of physical game shows and we can't wait to bring the delightful mayhem of this show back t the UK with this new series. Takeshi's Castle is returning to UK television - without Craig Charles!https://t.co/hNU5N2PxNs pic.twitter.com/b3O6lB4D0E Digital Spy (@digitalspy) 3 October 2017 Earlier, commentary for the UK version was done by Craig Charles, but the new show will be voiced by popular British talk show host, Jonathan Ross. (Raise your hands if this tiny piece of information did not affect you in any manner). Because for us Takeshi's Castle will always be about Jaffrey and his witty one-liners that left us rolling on the floor with laughter. While fans are expecting Jonathan Ross to wave his magic on the show, we are rooting for Jaffrey to come back into our lives. And to reminisce the good ol' days, here is a glimpse of some of his golden words. Source: Digital Spy We understand that it's too early to talk about Christmas, since most of us are prepping up for Diwali and Halloween, but this is an important piece of information that we can't help share with you guys. First of all, if people ever called you crazy for believing in Santa Claus or said that Santa was actually some random grandpa with a fake white beard and red costume going ho ho ho' over our fanciful wishes, you can now go and slap this article on their faces because Santa aka Saint Nicholas is for real. But as we rejoice over this revelation, we also came across some bad news that Santa is now dead, at least that's what these Turkish archeologists have found. Wikimedia Apparenty, archeologists have unearthed a tomb, beneath the ancient St. Nicholas church in Demre, southern Turkey, which they believe is of original Santa Claus. According to Cemil Karabayram, head of Antalya's Monument Authority, it was unraveled during electronic surveys that found gaps beneath the church and the tomb has not been damaged at all. In a report published in The Telegraph, he was quoted as saying, We have obtained very good results but the real work starts now. We will reach the ground and maybe we will find the untouched body of Saint Nicholas. Facebook In Demre that was earlier known as Myra, St. Nicholas was known for his generosity, especially towards kids. In fact, people believed that he would secretly givechildren gifts on his feast day and put coins in the shoes of those who left them out for him. Earlier, it was believed that his remains were smuggled to Italy by merchants around the 1080s. However, it is only now that Turkish experts claim that bones of a local priest were removed instead of St. Nicholas'. This means, people have been offering their prayers to the wrong guy at the Basilica di San Nicola. Wikimedia/ For Representation So how did the generous St. Nicholas become the legendary sleigh-riding Santa Claus? Well, in Europe in the 16th century, he came to be known as Father Christmas. Later in the United States, after the arrival of Dutch settlers, he came to be apparently known as Sinterklaas. Many kids around the world will be disappointed to know that Santa is now dead. It is definitely a big revelation and although still in the nascent stage, it has already affected the whole world. But once the archeologists complete the whole excavation process and the remains turn out be Santa's, then he will once again bestow Demre with an anonymous gift i.e. booming tourism. Source: Telegraph On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Greece and Kazakhstan, I would like to express my heartfelt wishes for progress, prosperity and peace for Kazakhstan and its people. I also want to congratulate the Head and the personnel of the embassy, who are worthy representatives of our traditional friend, Kazakhstan. Greece supports Kazakhstans efforts towards the promotion of international peace and its initiatives for nuclear disarmament and interfaith dialogue. We salute the mediating role your country is playing by hosting of the meetings of the Astana process, which contribute to the maintenance of the ceasefire in Syria. We believe that Kazakhstans international role will grow even further in strength via its participation in the UN Security Council, as a non-permanent member, in 2017-2018. Kazakhstan is an important regional power. As a country where various ethnic and religious groups reside, it contributes to the consolidation of stability and security in Central Asia. Recognising the constructive role Kazakhstan plays in this region, and appreciating the friendship between our countries, we have set our working hard to further develop and expand our cooperation as a priority. The strong ties between Greece and Kazakhstan derive from the long presence of some 10,000 Greeks in Kazakhstan and 80,000 citizens of Kazakhstan in Greece, with the Diaspora contributing, as a bridge of communication and understanding, to the enhancement of the relations between the two countries. I am certain that Greece and Kazakhstan, on the basis of common principles and ideals, will continue to strengthen their bilateral relations in the direction of ever-closer cooperation, to the mutual benefit of the Greek and Kazakh peoples. Good morning. We now continue with the second meeting of the four countries of the South as I call it, of southeastern Europe. Yesterday we had a very interesting discussion with the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and the other Ministers on the situation in the region, on the future of the region, both as regards the european prospects of the area, and as regards our collaboration. We spoke about the preparation of the next meeting and we exchanged views on the topics that we will be discussing during lunch. This morning we have two sessions. The first concerns matters of security; citizens security and cross border collaboration, as well as new issues, such as fire fighting and fire safety, because in the summer we witnessed the need for collaboration between our countries, in order to combat large fires. As you are aware, fires know no borders. They are globalised phenomena that exceed borders, which require collaboration in firefighting efforts. In the third session we will be discussing issues related to energy. These are issues of great significance to us all. Our region is very central for future energy pipelines. In general, I would like to thank all the Ministers from all four countries for coming here, for attending this meeting. We all agreed that this collaboration is beneficial to everyone. These are meetings where we share with great sincerity our thoughts for the future, and discuss issues that need to be resolved and clarified. And this is also an element of our overall policy, namely the building of great schemes of cooperation throughout the region, both in Southeastern Europe and in the Mediterranean, particularly in the Eastern Mediterranean. I take this opportunity to remind you that on the evening of 29th October, and mainly on the 30th, we will be holding the 2nd International Meeting for the Protection of Religious and Cultural Communities in the Middle East, who are the great victims of the wars taking place there. And my colleagues from the other three countries are welcome to attend that meeting also. They have an open invitation. And they have also been invited to the third Rhodes Conference on Security and Stability, to take place in the last week of June of 2018. This demonstrates that our cooperation is not only taking place on a bilateral or a european level, but is multifaceted, covering many aspects of multilateral diplomacy. Thank you, once again, for attending. Welcome to you all. Thanks to all my colleagues for their cooperation and to all the delegations here. And a good morning to the press. Man pleads to controlled substance charge A Bad Axe man recently pleaded guilty in court to one count of delivery of a controlled substance. Jason Charles Loughner, 33, is scheduled to appear in court next on Dec. 11 for sentencing. He was ordered to pay full restitution and was not charged as a habitual offender in exchange for his plea agreement with the Huron County Prosecutors Office. Loughner is being represented by Sebewaing-based attorney Jill Schmidt. Man takes no contest plea in domestic case A Harbor Beach man pleaded no contest to one count of third-degree domestic violence during recent court proceedings. Stephen Alan Murray, 47, also pleaded guilty to being a third-time habitual offender. He is scheduled to appear in court for sentencing on Nov. 20. Murray is being represented by Bad Axe-based attorney Michelle Siev. Woman admits guilt in drug case A Kinde woman recently pleaded guilty in court to a single count of delivery of a controlled substance. Nicole Lee Krueger, 24, was ordered to pay full restitution and no further charges would be sought in a plea agreement exchange with the Huron County Prosecutors Office. She is scheduled to appear in court next on Nov. 20 for sentencing. Krueger is being represented by Bad Axe-based attorney Elizabeth Weisenbach. Man pleads to two charges A Bad Axe man pleaded guilty to one count of delivery of a controlled substance as well as being a second-time habitual offender during recent court proceedings. Joshua D. Nowiski, 26, will appear for sentencing on Nov. 20. In exchange to pleading guilty through a deal with the Huron County Prosecutors Office, the prosecutor agreed to not enhance the charges. Nowiski is being represented by Bad Axe-based attorney Walt Salens. Currently Reading 50 things to do this Columbus Day weekend in Connecticut, October 6-9 DURHAM Vendors are welcome to participate in the Church of the Epiphanys Christmas Bazaar on November 4-5, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Tables are $50. Applications and more information can be obtained by leaving a message at the church office at 860.349-9644. Church of the Epiphany, 196 Main St., Durham. MIDDLETOWN The Church of the Holy Trinity will hold their Annual Holiday Fair on Saturday, Dec. 2 from 9 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. at 381 Main St. Middletown. The fair will be held on the 1st and 2nd floors of the Parish Hall and the Church, with elevator access to the 2nd floor. This is a great location as the Holiday on Main Street activities are all going on. Many people are out and about on Main Street during the holidays. Spaces are still available; call Taylor Duckworth at 860-342-3800, Holy Trinity office at 860-347-2591, or e-mail to office.holytrinityct@gmail.com for more information about renting a space, which is $35 for a 6 foot table. CT Draft Horse Rescue holding benefit ESSEX Entries for Save a Horse - Buy Art, a juried art show, are now being accepted. The show, which benefits Connecticut Draft Horse Rescue, will be held Oct. 27-29 at the Essex Art Association, 10 North Main St, Essex. The call for entries is open through Sept. 30. Artists will be notified of acceptance in early October. Artists, photographers, fiber artists, potters, sculptors, and artists from other mediums are all encouraged to submit entries for consideration. Entries do not need to be horse related/themed. Details regarding art show rules and how to enter are available at www.facebook.com/ctdraftrescue. For information, email CDHRartshow@outlook.com. Red Cross encourages donations FARMINGTON The American Red Cross urges eligible donors of all races and ethnicities to give blood to help ensure a diverse blood supply for patients in need. Some blood types are unique to certain racial and ethnic groups, so a diverse blood supply is important to meeting the medical needs of an increasingly diverse patient population. Patients who need repeated transfusions, like 11-year-old Tymia McCullough who has sickle cell disease, must have blood that is matched very closely. Patients are less likely to have complications from blood donated by someone with a similar ethnicity. Donors of all racial and ethnic backgrounds, as well as all blood types, are needed to help patients fight sickle cell disease, alpha thalassemia and other illnesses. Make an appointment to give blood by downloading the free Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting redcrossblood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). To help reduce wait times, donors are encouraged to make appointments and complete the RapidPass online health history questionnaire at redcrossblood.org/RapidPass. In Middlesex County, blood drives are scheduled in: Chester, Oct.10, 12:45 p.m. - 6 p.m., St. Joseph Parish Hall, 48 Middlesex Turnpike/Rt. 154 Cromwell, Oct. 2, 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., Cromwell High School, 34 Evergreen Road; and Oct. 13, 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Church of LDS, 130 South St Essex, Oct. 6, 12:45 p.m. - 6 p.m., Essex Town Hall, 29 West Avenue Middletown, Oct. 3, 11:45 a.m. - 5:15 p.m., Wesleyan University Beckham Hall, 45 Wyllys Ave., and Oct. 4, 11:45 a.m. - 5:15 p.m., Wesleyan University Beckham Hall, 45 Wyllys Ave. Westbrook, Oct. 6, 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., St. Mark the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church, 222 McVeagh Road. Senior center to host seminar EAST HAMPTON The East Hampton Senior Center is hosting a seminar, A Gift for your family, Wednesday, Oct. 4, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. at the center. This seminar is designed to help people talk about their wishes for end-of-life care. Sharing wishes with loved ones is a very practical and loving gift that helps families navigate through the loss of their loved one, knowing the loved ones wishes are being carried out. Pastor Tom Cowger of the Haddam Neck Covenant Church will lead the seminar utilizing the information from the Institute for Health Improvements Conversation Starter Kit. If interested, call 860-267-4426 or sign up in the Activity book when at the center. Cheers for Adelbrook tickets available CROMWELL Cheers for Adelbrook, a wine tasting fundraiser to benefit the children and young adults with autism and neurodevelopmental disorders served by Adelbrook, will be held at the Radisson in Cromwell, 100 Berlin Road, Cromwell, on Friday, Oct. 13, 6 - 10 p.m. Tickets are $40 or $70 for a pair and must be reserved in advance. Guests can enjoy live music performed by Will Evans, a Connecticut musician with a Jack Johnson feel. The event is emceed by Renee DiNino Host: Community Access & Celebrity Access, Midday Host: The River 105.9 FM and Director of Community Affairs & Programming at iHeart Radio. Renee is an outspoken advocate for individuals with autism and a supporter of Adelbrook. There is a live auction with wonderful items, along with a silent and teacup auction. The menu will consist of light fare, catered by the Radisson. Sweet Harmony Cafe and Bakery will be providing the desserts. For more information or to buy tickets, contact Sharon Graves at 860-635-6010 x327 or via email sgraves@adelbrook.org The Air Force has laid out plans to welcome back retired pilots into active-duty staff positions. The service, through the Voluntary Retired Return to Active Duty Program, or VRRAD, is encouraging pilots who held a job in the 11X career field to apply before Dec. 31, 2018, officials said in a release this week. In an effort to address the increasing pilot shortage, Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson last July signed off on the program, which aims to fill flight staff positions with those who have prior pilot experience and expertise, thus allowing active-duty pilots to focus on training and missions. Returning retirees will not be eligible for aviation bonuses, the release said. They will deploy only if they volunteer. Related content: Pilots under the age of 60 who retired within the last five years in the rank of captain, major or lieutenant colonel can apply for VRRAD, according to the service's criteria for the program. While the Air Force select candidates on a first-come, first-served basis, officials said, applicants are required to be medically qualified for active duty with a flying class II physical; must have served in a rated staff position within the past 10 years; or have been qualified in an Air Force aircraft within five years of application. Officers who retired following, or in lieu of, a Selective Early Retirement Board, and officers who retired for a physical disability are not eligible to apply, the release said. "We will match VRRAD participants primarily to stateside rated staffs that don't require requalification in a weapon system, with emphasis on larger organizations like major command staffs," said VRRAD Rated Liaison Maj. Elizabeth Jarding. "They'll fill critical billets that would otherwise remain vacant due to the shortage of active-duty officers available to move out of operational flying assignments," Jarding, who works at the Air Force Personnel Center, said in the release. The Air Force is looking to fill 25 positions for an active-duty tour of one year. "We have a number of positions around the Air Force that require the expertise of someone who has been a military pilot, and [we] would like to be able to keep our pilots who are current in the aircraft in the aircraft and try to fill some of these vital flight slots," Wilson said in August. Should those positions remain unfilled through 2018, the Air Force will keep the program open for additional applicants, the release said. Former airmen can apply for the program, which began Aug. 11, through the Air Force Personnel Center via the myPers website. Those without a myPers account must establish one via http://www.afpc.af.mil/myPers/. -- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Oriana0214. The confirmed death toll in Puerto Rico has risen to 34 from Hurricane Maria and its aftermath two weeks after the storm devastated the island, the U.S. territory's Gov. Ricardo Rosello said Wednesday. Rosello made the announcement that the death toll had more than doubled from 16 to 34 at a San Juan news briefing as the amphibious assault ship Wasp arrived offshore to aid in the relief effort. The Wasp was joining the amphibious assault ship Kearsarge, the transport dock Oak Hill, the hospital ship USNS Comfort and at least 14 other Navy and Coast Guard vessels that have assembled off Puerto Rico. Rosello's announcement came a day after he told President Donald Trump during his visit Tuesday that the death toll stood at 16. Trump said that Puerto Ricans should be "proud" of the low death toll compared to the "hundreds and hundreds and hundreds" of deaths in Hurricane Katrina on the Gulf Coast in 2005. Related content: Rosello said he was able to certify the 34 deaths after communications were restored and accurate counts were confirmed with hospitals and morgues around the island. Nineteen people were killed directly by the storm in drownings and mudslides, or by being hit by debris in the sustained winds of more than 150 mph that hit the island on Sept. 20, Rosello said. Fifteen others died indirectly from Hurricane Maria, some from lack of medical care and some from poor conditions in hospitals that were without power or fuel for generators, Rosello said. "We were not able to aggregate this complete set of data before," Rosello said, but the island's government now has "a more complete picture of what has occurred in terms of direct deaths due to the storm and indirect as well." Rosello also estimated the Puerto Rico suffered an estimated $90 billion in damage from the storm, and renewed his call for Congress to pass an immediate aid package. Trump's behavior and his remarks during his visit to San Juan and the Kearsarge rekindled his feud with San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz and led to street protests by Puerto Ricans in New York City. During a visit to a church, Trump flipped paper towels to a crowd and repeatedly praised the relief effort on an island where more than 90 percent of the 3.4 million U.S. citizen residents still lack power and more than half have no access to safe drinking water. "I think it's now acknowledged what a great job we've done, and people are looking at that," Trump said. Yulin Cruz called Trump's visit a public relations stunt and charged that he failed to consult with the island's mayors. "And in fact, this terrible and abominable view of him throwing paper towels and throwing provisions at people -- it does not embody the spirit of the American nation," Yulin Cruz said on MSNBC. "He was insulting to the people of Puerto Rico." Trump's later remarks in an interview with Fox News that his administration could wipe out Puerto Rico's $73 billion in outstanding debts also rattled Wall St. markets and caught Rosello by surprise. "That is the president's opinion," Rossello said. "I am concerned only with actions and not words. I am concerned with getting the people of Puerto Rico what they need." In the interview, Trump told Geraldo Rivera, a Fox News correspondent, that Puerto Rico owes "a lot of money to your friends on Wall Street, and we're going to have to wipe that out. You can say goodbye to that. I don't know if it's Goldman Sachs, but whoever it is, you can wave goodbye to that." Trump administration officials later had to dial back on the president's remarks. White House Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney said on CNN of Trump's remarks that "I wouldn't take it word for word with that." He said that "Puerto Rico's going to have to figure out how to fix the errors that it's made for the last generation on its own finances." U.S. Northern command, which has been overseeing the military's response in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, said in a statement that the number of active-duty personnel on the ground and offshore involved in the relief effort had increased since Sunday by an additional 2,400 personnel, bringing the total to 5,700. Marines from the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit based at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, and sailors from ships offshore had also cleared about 42 miles of road through Tuesday in Puerto Rico to allow for the distribution of aid, NorthCom said. -- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com. Three U.S. troops were killed and two wounded Wednesday in an ambush of their joint patrol with local forces in the north-central African state of Niger, U.S. Africa Command said Thursday. The AfriCom statement did not identify the attackers, but the al-Qaida offshoot known as Al Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) operates in neighboring Mali and has conducted cross-border raids into Niger. The two wounded U.S. troops are in stable condition and were flown for treatment to a military hospital at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany, AfriCom said. A fourth service member from a "partner nation" also was killed in the ambush near the Mali border about 120 miles north of Niamey, Niger's capital, AfriCom said. Related content: The Pentagon and AfriCom did not immediately disclose the troops' names or service affiliation pending notification of their families, but several news outlets said they were members of the U.S. Special Forces. The three killed Wednesday are the first U.S. combat casualties since U.S. forces entered Niger in 2013. In February, a member of the 3rd Special Forces Group was killed in a vehicle accident in Niger, the Pentagon said. "U.S. forces are in Niger to provide training and security assistance to the Nigerien Armed Forces in their efforts to counter violent extremist organizations in the region," AfriCom said. In neighboring Mali, about 1,600 French troops with U.S. support have been assisting local forces in battling AQIM and tribal Tuareg rebels. AQIM has conducted cross-border raids into Niger to expand its footprint in the region. In 2013, then-President Barack Obama notified Congress that about 100 U.S. troops were being deployed to Niger. They set up a drone base near Niamey to assist the French with surveillance and intelligence, and also began serving in a train, advise and assist role with Nigerien forces. The U.S. had already been providing the French with aerial refueling for its Mirage and Rafale warplanes. In June, as required by law, President Donald Trump notified Congress that about 645 U.S. military personnel were in Niger. In May, Marine Gen. Thomas Waldhauser, the AfriCom commander, said at a Pentagon briefing that he had asked for more "flexibility" that would "allow us to process targets in a more rapid fashion" without going to the top of the chain of command for approval. Waldhauser's request was approved by Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and authorized by Trump. Similar authority has been given to U.S. commanders in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan. At the time, Waldhauser also confirmed that the U.S. had a small Special Forces contingent in Libya bordering Niger to the north to call in airstrikes in support of U.S.-backed Libyan forces battling an offshoot of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. On Sept. 24, the Pentagon and AfriCom said armed U.S. drones had conducted several "precision strikes" on an Islamic State training camp in Libya, killing 17 militants in the first American airstrikes in the strife-torn North African nation since January. -- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com. Related video: Camp Lejeune Town Halls Aim to Help Those Exposed to Toxic Water. Heres How You Can Go. Retired Marine Master Sgt. Jerry Ensminger made it his mission to tell the world that if they lived or served on Camp Lejeune... U.S. and coalition troops were ambushed in Niger, the U.S. Defense Department confirmed on Wednesday evening. U.S. Africa Command didn't immediately confirm a New York Times report that three Green Berets were killed and two wounded in the attack. But the command said a joint U.S. and Nigerien patrol came under hostile fire in the southwest part of the country. "We are working to confirm details on the incident and will have more information as soon as we can confirm facts on the ground," the statement reads. U.S. troops are in Niger provide training and security assistance to Nigerien forces, as well as intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, to target extremists in the region, according to the command. The ambush took place about 120 miles north of the capital Niamey near the border of Mali, where al Qaeda-affiliated militants have launched raids, the Times reported. The U.S. military has a relatively small footprint in the country. There were barely more than a dozen American military personnel and civilians in Niger as of June, according to Pentagon personnel statistics, though the figures may not take into account troops deployed to the country on a temporary basis. This is a developing story and will be updated. -- Brendan McGarry can be reached at brendan.mcgarry@military.com. Follow him on Twitter at @Brendan_McGarry. The criticism by a parent in Hanoi about the harsh education methods applied by a private high school in Hanoi has raised a question about what Vietnamese teachers do when their students make mistakes. Vuong Tuan, a high school teacher in Nghe An, said he has used many different measures to deal with the students making mistakes.If students chat during lessons and dont concentrate, he warns them and asks them to stop chatting. If they continue chatting, they will note the mistake in the class punishment book and report to the head teachers, so that the head teachers will impose reasonable punishment. If students dont do homework or learn their lessons, he will also warn them and ask them not to repeat the same mistake. If the students once again dont fulfill their duties, they will have to do extra homework and report to the teacher next time. Sometimes he gives the students a zero mark if they forget to do homework, but he will later give opportunities to the students to clear them of the bad mark by calling on them to answer questions. Tuan said he has many memories working as a teacher. One day, it was very noisy in the classroom. I asked some naughty students to concentrate on the lessons, but one of them showed opposition. I told him to go stand at the corner. But he continued to annoy. As I lost my temper, I gave him a thick ear and expelled him from the class, he said. Later, Tuan regretted his behavior and went to see the students parents and apologized. The parents said they did not blame him for anything. Meanwhile, the student later became obedient. Tran Dieu Huong, a teacher in Thu Duc district, HCMC, described herself as a severe teacher. When a new academic year begins, Huong shows the draft class regulations to students for discussion. All students have to obey the regulations if they agree on the rules. Regarding the punishments, Huong said students are mostly asked to copy out passages from books or stand at the corner of the classroom. Or they are reprimanded before class and the school. In case they make serious mistakes, they will be expelled from school. However, the decision to expel someone can be done only by the headmaster after he or she talks with teachers and the management board. Thu Nguyet, a chemistry teacher in district 11, HCMC, said she applies different kinds of punishments, because students have different characteristics. Mild warnings will be useful for some students, but a warning wont work for the students who repeat mistakes continuously, she said. RELATED NEWS Three students expelled from school for misconduct, parents complain Teacher dismissed for assaulting student Dat Viet The Argyle mine, located in the Kimberley region in the far north-eastern area of Western Australia, was the worlds largest single producer of diamonds. The mine lies some 550km south-west of Darwin by air. The region is remote, rugged and hot, with temperatures of more than 40C during the wet season from October to March. Jim Harger | jharger@mlive.com Jim Harger | jharger@mlive.com Michigan has fewer banks and fewer branches than one year earlier, according to a summary of deposits released by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC) this week. But those banks and branches held about $10 billion more in deposits, according to the annual report. Michigan had a total of 126 FDIC-insured banks with 2,599 branches as of June 30, according to the report. Thats down from 136 banks with 2,715 branches on year earlier. Those banks held $210.6 billion in deposits, a 5 percent increase over 2016, when total deposits for Michigan were $200.4 billion, Here are the 20 largest banks operating in Michigan, ranked by their deposits in Michigan as of June 30, 2017. Don't Edit Jim Harger | jharger@mlive.com No. 1 JPMorgan Chase Bank Total deposits in Michigan: $43.9 billion Deposits outside of Michigan: $1.2 trillion No. of offices in Michigan: 240 Market Share in Michigan: 20.87 percent Last year's rank: No. 1 RELATED:J.P. Morgan Chase invests $5 million in Detroit neighborhood initiative Don't Edit Jim Harger | jharger@mlive.com No. 2 Comerica Bank Total deposits in Michigan: $29.5 billion Deposits outside of Michigan: $27.9 billion No. of offices in Michigan: 196 Market Share in Michigan: 14.0 percent Last years rank: No. 2 RELATED: Comerica will close 16 bank branches in Michigan by spring 2017 Don't Edit Jim Harger | jharger@mlive.com No. 3 Bank of America Total deposits in Michigan: $17.8 billion Deposits outside of Michigan: $$1.25 trillion No. of offices in Michigan: 119 Market Share in Michigan: 8.47 percent Last years rank: No. 4 RELATED: Bank of America will be anchor tenant in renovated office building Don't Edit Jim Harger | jharger@mlive.com No. 4 PNC Bank Total deposits in Michigan: $17.4 billion Deposits outside of Michigan: $240.3 billion No. of offices in Michigan: 190 Market Share in Michigan: $8.27 percent Last years rank: No. 3 Don't Edit Don't Edit Jim Harger | jharger@mlive.com No. 5 Fifth Third Bank Total deposits in Michigan: $17 billion Deposits outside of Michigan: $87.9 billion No. of offices in Michigan: 190 Market Share in Michigan: 8.27 percent Last years rank: No. 5 RELATED:Bank closes 7 Michigan branches thanks to customers' digital shift Don't Edit Jim Harger | jharger@mlive.com No. 6 The Huntington National Bank Total deposits in Michigan: $15.2 billion Deposits outside of Michigan: $62.7 billion No. of offices in Michigan: 336 Market Share in Michigan: 7.22 percent Last years rank: No. 6 RELATED: Huntington Bank pink slips 129 workers in Holland Don't Edit Jim Harger | jharger@mlive.com No. 7 Chemical Bank Total deposits in Michigan: $11.8 billion Deposits outside of Michigan: $1.5 billion No. of offices in Michigan: 218 Market Share in Michigan: 5.59 percent Last years rank: No. 8 RELATED: Chemical Bank restructuring includes layoffs in Michigan Don't Edit Jim Harger | jharger@mlive.com No. 8 Flagstar Bank Total deposits in Michigan: $9 billion Deposits outside of Michigan: 0 No. of offices in Michigan: 99 Market Share in Michigan: 4.28 percent Last years rank: No. 7 RELATED:Pistons to include Flagstar Bank ad on jerseys in 2017 Don't Edit Jim Harger | jharger@mlive.com No. 9 Citizens Bank Total deposits in Michigan: $5.5 billion Deposits outside of Michigan: $82.4 billion No. of offices in Michigan: 95 Market Share in Michigan: 2.63 percent Last years rank: No. 10 Don't Edit Don't Edit Jim Harger | jharger@mlive.com No. 10 TCF National Bank Total deposits in Michigan: $3 billion Deposits outside of Michigan: $14.6 billion No. of offices in Michigan: 52 Market Share in Michigan: 1.43 percent Last years rank: No. 12 Don't Edit Jim Harger | jharger@mlive.com No. 11 Wells Fargo Bank Total deposits in Michigan: $28 billion Deposits outside of Michigan: $1.2 trillion No. of offices in Michigan: 18 Market Share in Michigan: 1.34 percent Last years rank: No. 13 Don't Edit Emily Zoladz No. 12 Mercantile Bank of Michigan Total deposits in Michigan: $2.4 billion Deposits outside of Michigan: $0 No. of offices in Michigan: 49 Market Share in Michigan: 1.13 percent Last years rank: No. 14 RELATED: Mercantile Bank returns to Southeast Michigan Don't Edit Jim Harger | jharger@mlive.com No. 13 Independent Bank Total deposits in Michigan: $2.3 billion Deposits outside of Michigan: $0 No. of offices in Michigan: 65 Market Share in Michigan: 1.08 percent Last years rank: No. 15 Don't Edit Jim Harger | jharger@mlive.com No. 14 Macatawa Bank Total deposits in Michigan: $1.5 billion Deposits outside of Michigan: $0 No. of offices in Michigan: 30 Market Share in Michigan: 0.70 percent Last years rank: No. 16 Don't Edit Don't Edit Jim Harger | jharger@mlive.com No. 15 KeyBank Total deposits in Michigan: $1.4 billion Deposits outside of Michigan: $103.9 billion No. of offices in Michigan: 23 Market Share in Michigan: 0.67 percent Last years rank: No. 17 Don't Edit Courtesy photo No. 16 Bank of Ann Arbor Total deposits in Michigan: $1.3 billion Deposits outside of Michigan: $0 No. of offices in Michigan: 8 Market Share in Michigan: 0.63 percent Last years rank: No. 22 RELATED:Bank of Ann Arbor completes merger with Bank of Birmingham Don't Edit Jim Harger | jharger@mlive.com No. 17 Old National Bank Total deposits in Michigan: $1.3 billion Deposits outside of Michigan: $9.5 billion No. of offices in Michigan: 31 Market Share in Michigan: 0.63 percent Last years rank: No. 18 Don't Edit Jim Harger | jharger@mlive.com No. 18 CIBC Total deposits in Michigan: $1.3 billion Deposits outside of Michigan: $18 billion No. of offices in Michigan: 3 Market Share in Michigan: 0.60 percent Last years rank: No. 21 Don't Edit Jim Harger | jharger@mlive.com No. 19 Isabella Bank Total deposits in Michigan: $1.2 billion Deposits outside of Michigan: $0 No. of offices in Michigan: 29 Market Share in Michigan: 0.58 percent Last years rank: No. 20 Don't Edit Don't Edit Jim Harger | jharger@mlive.com No. 20 Monroe Bank & Trust Total deposits in Michigan: $1.2 billion Deposits outside of Michigan: $0 No. of offices in Michigan: 20 Market Share in Michigan: 0.56 percent Last years rank: No. 19 EAST LANSING, MI - Michigan State University Police have determined that an object identified by a student as a noose isn't a noose at all, but a packaged leather shoelace. MSU spokesman Jason Cody released a statement updating earlier remarks made by MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon saying the matching packaged shoelace was found outside of the residence hall. According to the statement, officers located and spoke to the student who lost both of the shoelaces, which are packaged in a way that someone could perceive them to look similar to a noose. The student who lost the shoelaces lives on the same floor as the student who made the original report, the statement said. The original shoelace found inside the residence hall was not directed at any individual. It originally was seen on hallway floor and later on a stairwell door handle, where officers believe someone put it after picking it up. "As we did in this case, the university takes any reported racial incident very seriously," Cody said in the statement. "We feel it is important to quickly communicate what we know to the campus community and provide updates as necessary. MSU continues to provide support to the students involved." YPSILANTI, MI - Washtenaw County Public Health has confirmed a case of hepatitis A in a local restaurant worker, and people who recently ate at the restaurant may have been exposed to the disease. The diagnosed individual works at Cardamom Restaurant located at 1739 Plymouth Road in Ann Arbor, according to a press release issued Thursday, Oct. 5 by the health department. Anyone who ate at the restaurant between Sept. 16 and Oct. 3 may have been exposed. The individual with hepatitis A infection is not currently working and is receiving medical care. Washtenaw County Public Health is working closely with the restaurant to vaccinate all employees and to eliminate any additional risk of exposure. Concerned individuals are urged to contact Washtenaw County Public Health or their health care provider with questions, and the health department asks people do not contact the restaurant about the hepatitis A exposure. "While hepatitis A can be very serious, we are fortunate to have an effective vaccine available," said Dr. Jessie Kimbrough Marshall, medical director with Washtenaw County Public Health. "We encourage anyone concerned about potential exposure to talk with their health care provider or Washtenaw County Public Health as soon as possible. Vaccination is strongly encouraged for all eligible individuals, as multiple counties in southeast Michigan have seen outbreaks of hepatitis A in recent months." Hepatitis A is caused by the hepatitis A virus, and it can cause damage to the liver and other health problems. Anyone who has consumed food and/or drink at Cardamom since Sept. 16 should monitor for symptoms of hepatitis A, including fatigue, poor appetite, stomach pain or tenderness, nausea or vomiting, dark urine,and yellowing of the skin (jaundice). Most children less than 6 years old do not experience symptoms. Symptoms typically appear two to six weeks after exposure. Individuals with symptoms should call their provider or seek care. The hepatitis A virus is most commonly spread from person-to-person by the fecal-oral route. Most infections result from contact with an infected household member or sex partners. Sometimes, infection results from food or drink that is contaminated with the virus. It is not spread through coughs or sneezes. Anyone who has hepatitis A can spread it to others for one to two weeks before symptoms appear. Frequent hand-washing with soap and warm water after using the bathroom and before handling food can help prevent the spread of hepatitis A. Appropriately cooking foods can also help prevent infection. Freezing does not kill the virus. The best way to prevent hepatitis A is to get vaccinated. The hepatitis A vaccine is now routinely recommended for children at 1 year of age. Most adults, however, may not be vaccinated unless they did so for travel or other risk factors. Hepatitis A vaccine or immune globulin (IG) may provide protection against the disease if given within two weeks of exposure. Hepatitis A vaccine is available from health care providers, at pharmacies and at Washtenaw County Public Health. People who have had hepatitis A disease or previously received two doses of the hepatitis A vaccine do not need to be vaccinated again. There have been 341 cases of hepatitis A diagnosed in Southeast Michigan since August 2016, a 16-fold increase compared to the previous year. As of Oct. 5, Washtenaw County has not been identified as a part of this outbreak. It is not yet known if this currently diagnosed case is related to the outbreak. ANN ARBOR, MI - At the center of the University of Michigan campus on a busy afternoon, one thing can stop students in their tracks, forgetting about their class schedule and responsibilities for a few minutes. His name is Reggie, and though he is low to the ground in stature, UM's unofficial "Campus Corgi" stands tall as a growing celebrity among students. For more than two years, the red and white Pembroke Welsh corgi's owner Michael P. Sola - a self-described townie who has lived outside Ann Arbor since 1977 - has been taking Reggie to the Diag during peak foot traffic hours to let students pet him, give him a treat and take their photo, which is shared on Reggie's official Facebook page. Sola, who adopted Reggie five years ago at the age of 2, said Reggie always draws a crowd and is a welcomed distraction from a student's busy day. "You can bet that every one of those students just forgot their problems for a minute and smiled," Sola said, looking on as Reggie is devoured with attention by a group of UM students. On a Wednesday afternoon, students can be found recognizing the trained service and therapy dog from a distance, yelling, "Oh my God, it's Reggie," while others get their phones out for a mandatory addition to their Snapchat stories. The majority of student approaching him know him by name. Others ask Sola how a recent eye surgery went that kept Reggie out of commission for almost a month. Reggie hurt his eye, developing into a corneal ulcer. He underwent debridement procedure, which he has recovered from slowly, but surely. "He's fearless around people," Sola said. "He'll go up to anybody. The fact is, he doesn't have any sisters or brothers at home, he just has me. When he's down here, this is like his family. "He gets excited when he sees me say, 'You wanna go see your friends?'" he added. It's easy to understand why Reggie is so popular. He moves slowly but approaches every student effortlessly. Sola gives students a treat to feed the dog, who has 2,937 friends on Facebook since the page was created back in March. UM Freshman Efe Osagie smiled with delight encountering Reggie for the first time after friending him on Facebook. "People love dogs, they love corgis, and it's also just kind of a cute campus thing," she said. "You just get excited because he's a campus celebrity. Among the giant campus of 43,000 students, there's one Reggie that's known by everyone." UM freshman Stef Reamer, who also was meeting Reggie for the first time after learning about him on social media, said the corgi provides temporary fix for students who might be missing their own dog back at home. "Dogs are awesome and everyone misses their dog back at home," Reamer said. "Plus, corgis are quite popular with people. I have two dogs at home and they're very close, and it kind of makes me a little homesick. Getting to interact with a dog is always fun and it can brighten your day." After petting Reggie and grabbing a photo with him in between classes, UM student Nikoo Ghaffarloo said she could hardly contain her excitement as a dog lover. "I am literally the second owner to my friends' dogs, I swear I love them as much as they do," she said. "They're so low to the ground and chubby and their ears ... they're just so cute." ANN ARBOR, MI - Missing University of Michigan student Xin Rong has officially been declared dead. Court records show Washtenaw County Judge Julia Owdziej issued an order Thursday, Oct. 5 establishing the death of Rong, 27, who disappeared in March after renting a private plane and flying somewhere between Ann Arbor and the north shore of Lake Superior in Ontario, Canada. Rong was a doctoral candidate in UM's School of Information. The plane crashed in Canada late on March 15, but authorities did not find Rong with the wreckage. They believe Rong jumped from the plane, but he was still listed as missing or endangered by the Michigan State Police. Surong Ruan, Rong's wife, filed a petition in May to have Rong declared dead so she could move forward with settling Rong's estate and the airplane rental's insurance company. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Pursuant to Regulation 30 of the SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements), 2015, please find enclosed herewith the summary of the Proceedings of 25th Annual General Meeting of the Company held on 29th September, 2017 at Lakhani Banquets, Quantum Tower, Chincholi Bunder Road, Malad west, Mumbai-400064.Kindly acknowledge and take the same on your record.Thanking you,Yours faithfully,For SIKOZY REALTORS LTDJigar DesaiComliance OfficerSource : BSE Read More Ashwani Gujral of ashwanigujral.com told CNBC-TV18, "In midcaps we are getting a lot of traction on the upside and yesterday broker dealers did very well. So that seems to be a theme, so right from LKP Securities to Geojit to Motilal everything moved higher." "Motilal Oswal Financial Services is a buy with a stoploss of Rs 1,360 target of Rs 1,420." "Tata Motors DVR failed to make a fresh low in this previous correction. That is a buy with a stoploss of Rs 234, target of Rs 252." "Bata India is a buy with a stoploss of Rs 725, target of Rs 750. It is getting to its previous all-time high, so once that is taken out, you could have a stronger action." BANGALORE, INDIA - SEPTEMBER 1, 2016: Nandan Nilekani, Chairman of the Unique Identification Authority of India, photographed at Better Place office in Bangalore. (Photo by Hemant Mishra/Mint via Getty Images) Advisory firm Stakeholders Empowerment Services (SES) has alleged that Infosys violated corporate governance norms at the time of Nandan Nilekani's appointment, reports The Hindu Businessline. In August this year, Nilekani was appointed the Chairman after MD & CEO Vishal Sikka resigned. According to SES, Nikekani was appointed without a proper board meeting, even before the directors met. Decisions at the board level are taken after due deliberations in the board meetings and this has been given a go-by, SES said. Nilekani was made the chairman in a board meeting that he was present at, which means that the decision was taken earlier, JN Gupta, MD of SES said. However, a source-based report by CNBC-TV18 said that Nilekani's appointment announcement was preceded by a two-part meeting of the Board, the first part of which was presided over by former Chairman R Seshasayee. According to sources, Nilekani joined after the resignations of ex-chief executive Vishal Sikka and two other members of the board- Jeffrey Lehman, John Etchemendy- were accepted. Seshasayee also stepped down as the Board Chairman. Co-chairman Ravi Venkatesan also resigned, but continues to be on the board. Gupta also questioned resignations that followed Nilekani's appointment. According to SES, all the appointments and resignations were a part of a 'comprise' formula, which was worked upon outside the boardroom. The fact that the decision was taken outside and endorsed in the board meeting goes against the corporate governance standards, Gupta said. However, other firms have a contrarian views that said in cases like these, decisions are often taken 'offline' before seeking consent from the shareholders. But, it does goes against corporate governance rules, Kris Lakshmikanth, founder of HeadHunters India told the newspaper. Infosys has been in limelight over corporate governance issues between the co-founders and the management. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Drawing from the success of the revolutionary JioPhone (owned by Reliance Industries), handset maker Nokia may soon foray into the 4G feature phone market, various media reports quoted Ajay Mehta, India VP for HMD Global as saying. HMD Global is the company that develops and markets feature phones and smartphones under the Nokia brand name. The company has been operational since December 2016, after it bought Microsoft Mobile's feature phone business. The move follows the extraordinary success of Reliance's JioPhone, which has pushed other handset makers and telecom operators to work on lower-cost 4G LTE devices. At the moment, Lava, Intex, Idea and Airtel are all working on developing such devices. HMD Global is in talks with multiple telecom operators to collaborate for its plan. Although it has a number of feature phones in the Indian market already, none of the existing Nokia feature phones can function on 4G LTE only networks. "Feature phone is a critical category... and we see operators as a partner here. There is sizeable volume in this segment, roughly 10 million devices monthly. Nokia has traditionally been strong here, and there is huge opportunity," Mehta told Times of India. The company recently launched the Nokia 8 smartphone in India, priced at Rs 36,999. The phone has received rave reviews for its physical durability. (Disclosure : Reliance Industries Ltd. is the sole beneficiary of Independent Media Trust which controls Network18 Media & Investments Ltd.) petrol diesel price hike The government's move to cut excise duty on petrol and diesel by Rs 2 per litre is like a drop in the ocean as it comes after months of rising fuel prices, the Shiv Sena today said. The Sena used a popular idiom -- "oont ke muh me jeera" (a small cumin seed in a camel's mouth) -- to describe the inadequacy of the recent excise duty cut. Bowing to public pressure, the government had on October 3 cut excise duty on fuel to moderate the relentless rise in fuel prices witnessed for the last three months. "While this decision will benefit vehicle owners and common man, it is like 'oont ke muh me jeera'. First they raised the prices exponentially and then reduced for namesake when there was commotion everywhere," the Sena said in an editorial in party mouthpiece 'Dopahar ka Saamana'. The Sena, an ally of the NDA at the Centre and BJP in Maharashtra, said the step was like a drop of cold water falling on a body in the scorching sun -- using yet another idiom to hit out at the government. Petrol & Diesel Rates Nov 13, 2022 Petrol Rate in Mumbai Nov 13, 2022 Current Petrol Price Per Litre 106 106 View more Diesel Rate in Mumbai Nov 13, 2022 Current Petrol Price Per Litre 94 94 View more Show It also accused the ruling party of not being "mentally prepared" to reduce fuel prices. The petrol price jumped by Rs 7.8 per litre since July 4, while the diesel rates touched an all-time high after rates went up by Rs 5.7. The government, which had between November 2014 and January 2016 raised excise duty on petrol and diesel on nine occasions to take away gains arising from plummeting global oil prices, has been criticised for not cutting excise duty despite a sustained rise in fuel prices since early July. The Sena said that the prices of fuel have increased substantially since the present government came to power, despite the fact that the rate of crude oil, which was around USD 100 a barrel initially, has come down considerably. "Despite the fall in crude oil prices, the rates of petrol and diesel simply did not come down from Rs 80 and Rs 63 respectively. It seems that the Centre and the state governments were just not mentally prepared to reduce the soaring rates," it said. The government brought 'acche din' (good days) for fuel selling companies and bad days prevailed for the common man, said the party. From the sidelines of the World Economic Forum India Summit, DIPP Secretary Ramesh Abhishek spoke to CNBC's Martin Soong about Government's tax moves on the real estate sector. He said real estate in India was been driven by cash economy and so prices of land and real estate were staggering compared to any standards, which was not justified with our per capita income. Therefore, the government brought in number of reforms in the real estate sector, he said. GST, RERA have now come into existence. Government is trying to fix the real estate sector in such a way that there are fundamental changes, which could have some impact in the short-term but one has to live with that, said Abhishek. It is important to grow rationally, he added. Government is also keen that the macro-economic stability should not be disturbed and so fiscal deficit targets have been adhered to, he said. Government is not looking at any short-term fixes but looking at medium and long-term, said Abhishek. About 60 goods and services are likely to get cheaper, with Finance Minister Arun Jaitley expected to push for big tax rate cuts in the GST Council meeting on Friday as part of a broader strategy to help the economy claw out of a three-year growth slump. Prime Minister Narendra Modi brainstormed for over three hours with Jaitley and BJP president Amit Shah on Thursday, taking stock of the current state of the Indian economy that is smarting under an untidy goods and services tax (GST) rollout and the lingering effects of demonetisation. According to an official, who did not wish to be identified, the Centre is going to propose GST rate cuts in many items that fall in the highest tax bracket of 28 percent. Besides, the GST rates on several goods and services may be cut from 18 to 12 percent. A decision towards this is yet to be taken as it would require Council's approval, the official said. The rate cuts, if announced on Friday, will help boost household spending just in time for the pre-Diwali buying season. GST has a four broad slab structure 5, 12, 18 and 28 percent along with a cess on luxury and demerit goods such as tobacco, pan masala and aerated drinks. The states would receive provisional compensation from Centre for loss of revenue due to abolition of taxes such as VAT (value added tax), octroi and implementation of new tax system. The compensation would be met through levy of a 'GST Compensation Cess' on luxury items and sin goods like tobacco, for the first five years. The government also plans to introduce slew of measures to reduce compliance burden for small taxpayers struggling under the country's new indirect tax system, GST that was rolled out from July 1. The Council may consider relaxing return filing timeline for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), defer reverse charge mechanism, and reopen registration for composition scheme for the third time to March 31, 2018 and hasten tax refunds for exporters battling cash crunch. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI), which on Wednesday kept its key lending ratethe repo rateunchanged at 6 percent, acknowledged that the disruptions from goods and services tax (GST) have worsened the broader economys prospects in the short term. The RBI also sharply revised the economys growth forecasts for 2017-18. The central bank now expects the gross value added (GVA) to grow at 6.7 percent in 2017-18 from 7.3 percent projected earlier. Indias real or inflation-adjusted gross domestic product grew 5.7 percent in April-June, the slowest in 13 quarters. The implementation of the GST so far also appears to have had an adverse impact, rendering prospects for the manufacturing sector uncertain in the short term, RBI governor Urjit Patel said on Wednesday. This may further delay the revival of investment activity, which is already hampered by stressed balance sheets of banks and corporates. The RBI has placed the onus firmly on the government to engineer a quick turnaround in the economy that was still smarting under an imperfect GST roll out, marred by complaints about technical glitches on the tech backbone and procedural hassles. Delayed GST tax refunds have also resulted in severe fund shortage for exporters. This has hurt their working capital availability, affecting normal operations. Exporters fear funds worth Rs 65,000 crore could get locked up in GST input tax credits if rules are not eased by December. A panel headed by Revenue Secretary Hasmukh Adhia is looking into the matter and suggest solutions to the Council on Friday. GST, billed as Indias most ambitious reform move, has consolidated a patchwork of 17 local and central duties into a single levy, stitching together a common national market, and enabling way for a more robust economy. Among various challenges, small and medium businesses have been particularly hit due to higher compliance burden owing to complex monthly return filing and glitches in the information technology (IT) portal GST Network (GSTN). "There could be a change in return filing cycle for small tax payers. A quarterly return filing could be implemented for small businesses," a senior government official told Moneycontrol. However, what could be a business' annual turnover cut off for it to be called a small taxpayer, will be decided by the Council on Friday, the official said. Currently, regular businesses have to file three monthly returns, in addition to one annual return. A total of 68.2 lakh taxpayers were required to file returns for the month of August, out of which, 37.63 lakh assessees filed returns, as on September 25, which was surprisingly lesser than the 38.38 lakh returns have been filed in July, the first month of the indirect tax reform. The low level of compliance has been a matter of concern for the government and keep this in mind, the Council could make key changes to provide some relief to small businesses grappling with the several changes under the new system. The Council may reopen registration for composition scheme for the third time. The scheme is an alternate method of taxation, which allows small businesses with annual turnover up to Rs 75 lakhs, to pay tax at a concessional rate, as well as reduce the compliance cost. The enrollment into the plan is however, optional. If the Council approves, registration for the composition scheme will be open till March 31, 2018. The annual turnover for businesses opting for the scheme may be increased up to Rs 1 crore, another official said. Under the scheme, traders, manufacturers and restaurants can pay tax at 1, 2 and 5 percent, respectively. Compliance burden for taxpayer would reduce as they will have to file returns only once in a quarter as against monthly returns that needs to be filed by other normal taxpayers. However, dealers cannot avail input tax credit, unlike a normal taxpayer. Initially, the response for the composition scheme was lukewarm, with only 10.24 lakh dealers opting for it over a span of one and half months, starting July 1. Last month, the Council decided to reopen registration for the scheme from September 17. This time, however, more than 5 lakh dealers opted for the scheme over just 13 days, making to the total number of assessess 15.43 lakh. In addition, the Council may also defer the reverse charge mechanism (RCM), that has been especially bothering the small tax payers, the first official said. Reverse charge is a mechanism where the recipient of the good or service will have to pay GST, which is otherwise paid by the supplier. The charge is applicable on a registered dealer, if he buys goods from a dealer not registered under GST. However, the receiver of the good is eligible for input tax credit, while the unregistered dealer is not. Businesses are getting affected by RCM. Registered taxpayers are not willing to take the burden of paying tax, while small or unregistered taxpayers are running out of business if registered dealers are not buying goods from them, the official said. There could be a decision towards deferring RCM for at least some time, the official said. Picture Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons India not complying with a 2015 WTO order on poultry import ban is a "troubling issue", the US president's nominee to be the next envoy to India has said, underlining that if confirmed, this would be one of the top trade issues for him. In 2015, India had lost a case at the World Trade Organisation when the body ruled that India's ban on import of poultry meat, eggs and live pigs from the US was "inconsistent" with the international norms. India was given 12-18 months to implement this ruling, after which the US can begin exports of these products to India. During his confirmation hearing, Kenneth Juster assured members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that this would be one of the top trade issues for him in Delhi. "That is a troubling issue," Juster said when Senator Chris Coons asked about hurdles in exporting US poultry products to India. "Since 2006 there had not been any imports of poultry. It is a WTO case that the US prevailed in. But in our view, India still has not complied with that," he said. "So, this will be another of the trade and business issues that if confirmed will be pursing with the Indian government," Juster said. Coons said that the Indian market is one from which the US has been effectively excluded for a number of years. "I would hope if you are to be confirmed to have the opportunity to pursue further with you a discussion about how we might access the Indian market for this tasty high quality American agricultural export," he said. Prataap Snacks saw a strong listing, with the stock listing at Rs 1,270 in the opening tick, a gain of over 35 percent. Talking about the outlook for the company going forward Amit Kumat, MD & CEO, Prataap Snacks said the street will be positively surprised with the company financials. They expect a minimum of 20 percent revenue compound annual growth rate (CAGR) for the next five years. The margins for the company are also expected to improve substantially going forward from the current 4.5 percent, after tweaking grammages, changing raw material procurement pricing and have also change some product configurations, said Kumat. When asked about advertisement costs, he said they wont exceed 3.5 percent of sales. Any acquisitions is not on top of the mind but if a suitable opportunity and anything in right geography comes up, they would go for it, said Kumat. The leverage currently is around Rs 45 crore which will be paid from IPO proceeds and then there will be lot of free cash available, he said. business Avoid Bank Nifty Today is likely to be a good day for the market. I know the SGX Nifty is telling you that the market may open a bit soft. The Indian market, which was once considered as the preferred destination for foreign portfolio investors (FIIs), might be losing its status of favoured investment country among the emerging market (EMs) pack. The risk appetite is on the uptrend which will be positive for EMs. But, what we have seen in the last couple of months, India is losing its favoured status (for investment) which it enjoyed over the last 12 months, Pramod Gubbi, Head of Equities, Ambit Capital said in an interview with CNBC-TV18. The large part of the change in trend could be attributed to rise in commodities, especially crude oil prices. A large part of the shift could be because of a rally in commodity pack. A lot of other EM markets which are commodity-heavy have found favour while Indias valuations have created some sort of deterrent to park their money, he said. Within the EM class, India is a net loser but overall Gubbi thinks that people/investors are net overweight on India. Although the extent of overweight has reduced in the recent past. The trend is likely to continue until we get more clarity in how deep will be the unwinding from the Fed. Commenting on the FII selling, Gubbi said that most foreign investors do not see valuations and fundamentals stacking up. For the sentiment to improve, either we have to see significant recovery in underlying fundamentals or they need to see a sharp correction. Foreign investors pulled out over Rs 11,000 crore from stocks in September due to geopolitical concerns, a slowdown in corporate earnings due to GST and demonetisation and higher valuations. I feel that GST disruptions are here to stay and that will hold back any firm recovery in the underlying economy as well as earnings growth. I do not see a steep correction unless there is a massive selloff from FIIs, said Gubbi. Commenting on the earnings, Gubbi said that September quarter will be another quarter of disruptions that should hold back any meaningful recovery in earnings. The festive season seems to be showing some positive light (auto numbers were good). The trend suggests that the underlying demand remains strong while the supply side is witnessing disruptions. He is positive on select Pharma & IT stocks which are looking attractive. Sensex_Nifty Indian stocks are set to rise further over the coming year but will lag predictions from three months ago on worries shares have become too pricey and that the economy is headed for a rough patch, a Reuters poll showed. The BSE Sensex, already up over 18 percent this year, is forecast to add another 3 percent by end-2017 to 32,500 from Tuesday's close of 31,497, according to the poll of 50 strategists taken over the past week. If realised, that would mark its best calendar year performance in percentage terms since 2014. The latest predictions were lower than the 33,000 - which would be a record - forecast in the June poll. The existing record high, struck in August, is 32,686. While Indian shares have been among the star global performers this year, the domestic economy has been slowing since the middle of 2016. The latest data showed economic growth cooled to a three-year low in the quarter through to June. That unexpected slowdown, which was reported in August, prompted foreign investors to pull cash out of India and triggered two consecutive down months in the Sensex for the first time since early 2016. Still, the average price-to-earnings ratio of 23 on the BSE Sensex is at a 17-year high, suggesting stock prices are stretched. "Valuations are very rich and even the liquidity flow from FIIs (Foreign Institutional Investments) is now drying up," said B.V. Rudramurthy, managing director at Vachana Investments. About 60 percent of respondents said the index was overvalued. The remainder don't think Indian shares are overvalued now, though they expect it will be so if further gains were made as predicted in the latest Reuters poll by end-2018. "The stock market has been optimistic about an eventual corporate earnings recovery, justifying the valuations. That is the single biggest risk," said Ajay Bagga, executive chairman at OPC Asset Solutions. The Sensex was forecast to rise to a record high of 34,000 by the middle of next year and then to 35,000 by end-2018. The biggest risks to those forecasts were persistent weakness in economic activity and lower-than-expected corporate earnings, according to analysts. The government's decision late last year to ban high-value currency notes took over 85 percent of cash out of circulation, a demonetisation drive that has hurt consumer spending and businesses. That, along with a push this year in July to unify various state-level taxes into one national goods and services tax, has disrupted business and cast a shadow over economic activity. "Economic activity has to pick up for corporate (profit) growth as there is unutilised capacity. But too many harsh reforms have impacted growth at a time when the market is overvalued," said A.K. Prabhakar, head of research at IDBI Capital. "Still, there is no major avenue to invest post demonetisation. The idle cash which has come into the system is likely to keep markets elevated." The Nifty50 which opened higher in morning trade failed to hold on to momentum and slipped below its crucial support level of 50-days exponential moving average (DEMA) and 9,900 on Thursday. The index made a bearish candle on the daily candlestick charts. The Nifty index which opened at 9927 rose to an intraday high of 9945. It slipped to an intraday low of 9881.85 before closing the day 26 points lower at 9,888.70. The index closed below its crucial short-term moving averages such as 50-DEMA, 20-DEMA, 10-DEMA, and 13-DEMA. If the weakness sustains and the index slips below 9850 the selling pressure could accelerate which could take it towards next support placed at 9737. The Nifty50 made a bearish candle after forming a bullish candle in the previous trading session which suggests that there is a tussle between the bulls as well as the bears. Investors are advised to tread with caution as index could move in either direction. The Nifty50 registered a small bearish candle as it is struggling to get past the resistance levels placed around 50-Days Moving Average. Interestingly, this kind of supply pressure is occurring around 50% retracement level of its fall from the highs 10179 whose value is placed around 9933 levels, Mazhar Mohammad, Chief Strategist Technical Research & Trading Advisory, Chartviewindia.in told Moneycontrol. Besides, the large bear candle, registered on 27th of September, from the highs of 9,921 is also acting as a supply point thereby preventing the up move of the indices. Unless Nifty50 decisively conquers these multiple resistance points on closing basis bears will continue to have upper hand, he added. Mohammad further added that in the fourth coming sessions if the index closes below 9,850 then the selling pressure may accelerate further. Contrary to this, if Nifty50 closes above 9,945 levels then bulls can look for targets in the zone of 9,990 10,080. India VIX marginally fell down by 0.76 percent at 11.71. Volatility has been cooling down from last five sessions and now a small rise in VIX could pause it bounce back rally. On the options front, maximum Put OI was seen at strike prices 9800 followed by 9700 strikes while maximum Call OI is intact at 10,000 followed by 9,900 strikes. Fresh Put writing was seen at strike prices 9900 and 9800 while fresh Call writing was seen at all the strikes from 9900 to 10,200 strikes. Option data suggest a small decline then a range bound move with limited upside. The Nifty index failed to surpass 9,950 zones and witnessed profit booking after the bounce back move of last four trading sessions, Chandan Taparia, Derivatives and Technical Analyst at Motilal Oswal Securities told Moneycontrol. If Nifty negates the formation of higher highs higher lows of last four sessions by holding below 9,880 then it may again start the decline towards 9,820 then 9,777 zones. On the upside, the index has hurdle near 9,950 and then towards 9,980 levels, he said. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Mahindra & Mahindra will not be making any money on any of the 150 fully electric sedans it has committed to supplying to the government following its aggressive bid which matched Tata Motors. Speaking to journalists Pawan Goenka, Managing Director, M&M said, It is difficult to comprehend the price quoted by the L1 bidder (Tata Motors) though we have been in the electric vehicle business for sometime and we know the cost structure and subsystems very well. We will not be making any money on the cars we supply to EESL (Energy Efficiency Services). We will be losing money on every car. Tata Motors has won the contract, billed as one of worlds single largest order, for supply of 10,000 fully electric cars to a government-owned company EESL. Tata Motors bid at a price of Rs 11.2 lakh for each car, which was Rs 2.3 lakh lower than the price quoted by M&M. The contract will have to be executed in phases. Under Phase 1 manufacturers will have to supply 500 cars. Tata Motors is believed to have opted to supply 250 cars of this and the rest was offered to M&M. However, M&M has instead decided to supply only 150 cars keeping in consideration that it would not be making any money. Goenka declined to reveal the financial impact the company was willing to take. However, he mentioned that the M&M car was more powerful and bigger than the Tata Motors car. Tigor, a sub-4 meter compact sedan, which was launched a few months ago, was the bid car by Tata Motors. For M&M it was the Verito, which is essentially a restyled Renault Logan. I do not know the specifications of the L1 car since it is not yet out in the market unlike the Verito which has been in the market for sometime. But the Verito is a bigger car and has a 20.5 kwh electric motor which can do 170-180 kms on a full charge. We dont know what the battery size of the L1 car is, added Goenka talking to Moneycontrol. As per requirements mentioned in the tender floated by EESL the electric sedan should have a range of 130 kms on a full charge, should be fully charged in 6 hours and should also have a fast charge option of 90 minutes. Based on cost efficiencies and other viability M&M will consider making a bid for the rest of the contract. It will take a call on it in due course. If we are able to bring down the cost only then shall we make a bid for Phase 2, added Goenka. Tata Motors' bid for annual maintenance contract was also substantially lower than M&M at Rs 0.25 /km as compared to Rs 1.35/km. At Rs 11.2 lakh per vehicle the contract for supply of 10000 such vehicles is estimated to cost Rs 1120 crore to the government. Deliveries of all the cars have to be completed by November 30, 2017. Goenka, however, praised the speed at which the whole tendering process was executed. The tendering process began on August 18 and it was completed on October 4. This was the fastest and most efficient tendering process I have ever seen, added Goenka. Mahindra is the only company to have launched electric passenger cars in the country though the EESL contracts saw interest from Japanese giant Nissan as well. Mahindra is lining up investments of Rs 600 crore into the EV space which will be deployed for setting up a battery assembly plant, motor, power electronics and product development. The company will be launching two electric cars with the first one coming by the end of next year and the other coming in middle of 2019. We will be forming a joint venture for motors and for power electronics. These will be available for purchase to anyone who wants to buy. The battery plant will be owned by Mahindra, added Goenka. Future Retail has announced a Rs 655 crore deal with HyperCity through a combination of cash and shares. Future Retail says HyperCity will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of the company and the acquisition will be completed in three to five months. 23:36 There has been no update on whether the Prime Minister will address the nation, so we can safely say it won't happen today at least. Sorry if you stayed up for it! 21:15 The Prime Minister had earlier in the day held a high-level meeting with Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and BJP president Amit Shah. 21:10 Prime Minister Narendra Modi may address the nation shortly. 20:48 Big Bazaar, Future Retail's flagship brand, is India's largest organised store-based retail market, with nearly 20-25 percent market share. The brands 253 outlets are spread across 127 cities in 26 states of India (as on June 30, 2017). 20:33 By acquiring Hypercity, Future Retail aims to leverage its retail capabilities by building economies of scale, reducing overall cost of operations, expanding the number of small/convenience outlets (especially in the metros), and pushing the sales of its margin-accretive private label consumer products. 20:24 Future Retail says HyperCity will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of the company and the acquisition will be completed in three to five months. 20:22 Hypercity, a subsidiary of Shoppers Stop (also co-owned by K Raheja Corp), is one of Indias most renowned supermarket retail brands. Its 19 big-box format stores span marquee locations of Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Ludhiana, Amritsar, Jaipur, Pune, Ahmedabad, Delhi, and Noida. 20:18 After taking over four regional retail brands (Bharat Retail and Big Apple in north India, Heritage Fresh and Nilgiris in south India) to strengthen its store network in the past, Future Groups agenda to expand its grocery retail footprint pan-India had led to speculation of it eyeing Hypercity, a business that hasnt done too well under Shoppers Stop. Will it result in a win-win deal? Here's our detailed analysis. 20:14 Future Retail has announced a Rs 655 crore deal with HyperCity through a combination of cash and shares, reports CNBC-TV18. 20:02 We have some more information on what the government is up to with regard to the economy. The Prime Minister is said to be keen on taking measures to provide an impetus to the economy and a big bang announcement may be made before Diwali. With this in mind, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley met Cabinet colleagues including Piyush Goyal and Suresh Prabhu today. The GST Council will meet on Friday, where sources say it will discuss the possibility of bringing petroleum products under the ambit of GST with a view to reducing prices. 19:43 Some sad news from Pakistan where at least 13 people have been killed following a blast at a shrine in Balochistan. Dozens have been wounded. 19:34 That update comes following a top-level meeting at the Prime Minister's residence this afternoon which was attended by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and BJP President Amit Shah. 19:22 News18, quoting sources, is now reporting that the government is likely to announce a major spending measure before Diwali. 19:00 For the full story on those recommendations made by the Uday Kotak-led panel with regard to corporate governance, click here. 18:45 Finance Minister Arun Jaitley is set to speak at the India Economic Summit in 30 minutes from now. Stay tuned for live updates. 18:20 The excise duty cut on petrol & diesel is a case of one mans meat, anothers poison. The relief to the consumers comes at the expense of government finances that are already struggling, writes Ruchi Agrawal. Read the full story here. 17:50 A spokesperson for the Pakistani army says that the mercy plea of Indian 'spy' Kulbhushan Jadhav is before the country's Army Chief and 'nearing finalisation'. "We will get news soon on this," said Major General Asif Ghafoor, Director-General of Inter-Services Public Relations. 17:35 The Uday Kotak committee report on corporate governance states that directors must attend at least half of the meetings over a two-year period. 17:24 The committee has also said that there should be mandatory disclosure of consolidated quarterly earnings. 17:16 Succession planning and risk management should be discussed at least once a year, says the Kotak panel's report. 17:11 The committee report on corporate governance says that listed entities should mention the competencies of every director on the board. 17:02 More on those corporate governance recommendations. The committee has suggested that at least half of company boards must be independent directors. 16:48 News18, quoting sources, says that Modi, Jaitley and Amit Shah are discussing the state of the economy at that high-level meeting underway at the PM's residence. and that a major announcement is likely before Diwali. 16:33 British author Kazuo Ishiguro has been awarded the 2017 Nobel prize for literature. 16:29 One of the recommendations is to split the Chairman and Managing Director posts at listed companies. 16:27 SEBI has given time till November 4 for public comments on the report, which is available on the regulator's website. 16:23 The Uday Kotak-led committee has submitted its report on corporate governance to SEBI. The recommendations assume significance in light of corporate governance-related issues at major companies such as Tata Sons and Infosys. 16:20 A couple of days ago, sources had told CNBC-TV18 that IDFC and Shriram Transport Finance Corporation are still working on new deal structure and that Ajay Piramal will not hold more than 5 percent stake in IDFC Bank. 16:17 IDFC and Shriram Group have extended the agreement for strategic combination till November 8, reports CNBC-TV18. 15:53 A top-level meeting is currently underway at the Prime Minister's residence, reports News18. BJP President Amit Shah and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley are in attendance. The development has triggered buzz of a major announcement, especially since Shah abruptly abandoned the BJP's Jan Raksha Yatra in Kerala to return to Delhi. 15:42 The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena has given the Railways 15 days to evict all hawkers from foot-over bridges across Mumbai's suburban rail network. "If the Central and Western Railways don't clear all foot-over-bridges of hawkers, we will do it ourselves," Thackeray threatened. Raising the pitch against Gujaratis and Prime Minister Narendra Modis bullet train project, he said it doesn't serve the needs of thousands of Mumbai's commuters and is just a gift for a handful of Gujaratis. In a pointed attack on the NDA government, Thackeray said that the Centre is wasting its time on 'trivial issues' like demonetisation, Goods & Services Tax, Swachh Bharat, yoga, etc. In doing so, it's ignoring real issues. But if it continues doing this, I won't remain peaceful," Thackeray said. 15:07 Working on various areas across the railway ecosystem in India can create 10 lakh jobs within a year, Union Minister Piyush Goyal said. Monetising the real estate assets as well as fast tracking some of the existing investment plans would generate a lot of employment opportunities in the railways and the ecosystem around it, he told PTI. 15:05 The European Union agreed new rules on Tuesday to guard against excessively cheap Chinese imports, ending 18 months of wrangling over trade ties with Beijing, reports Reuters. The European Union and many of Chinas other trading partners have debated whether to treat China as a market economy, which Beijing says was its right at the end of 2016, some 15 years after it joined the World Trade Organisation. The European Commission, member states and EU lawmakers finally overcame their differences on Tuesday after a number of failed attempts. In determining whether to impose import tariffs, the EU will now treat all WTO members the same. Their businesses will only be dumping if their export prices are below domestic prices. But the EU will make exceptions for cases of significant market distortions, such as excessive state intervention, an exception expected to cover many Chinese firms. 14:53 Godrej Agrovets Rs 1,157 crore initial public offering has been fully subscribed on day two of the bidding process on Thursday. 14:49 Australian retailers suffered their worst decline in sales since early 2013 as debt-laden consumers tightened their purse strings, slashing spending on food, furniture and clothing, an outcome that bodes poorly for third-quarter economic growth, reports Reuters. Thursdays data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) showed retail sales dropped 0.6% in August, confounding expectations for a 0.3% increase. July was also revised down to show a 0.2% fall. The 0.8% slump in July and August is the biggest back-to-back fall since October 2010. 14:37 Housing sales fell by 35% across eight major cities in the July-September quarter this year as demand slowdown continued in the property market, says research firm PropEquity. Housing sales stood at 22,699 units during third quarter of 2017 in eight major cities as against 34,809 units in the previous quarter. These eight cities are Gurgaon, Noida, Mumbai, Kolkata, Pune, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Chennai. 14:34 Union Minister CR Choudhary said cosmetic and personal care industry has potential to generate more jobs and entrepreneurs should take advantage of schemes like Startup India that promote setting up of new business, reports PTI. He said companies should not befool consumers with cheap products and should sell superior quality products complying with national and international standards. 14:30 As many as seven women have been named in Forbes India's 100 richest persons list, including OP Jindal Group Chairperson Savitri Jindal and biotechnology pioneer Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw. Jindal and family ranked the highest at the 16th place on the coveted list with a net worth of $7.5 billion, followed by the Gupta family, which was ranked at the 40th place with a fortune of $3.45 billion. The Gupta family gets its fortune from a 47% stake in pharma major Lupin, founded by Desh Bandhu Gupta, who died in June 2017. Manju Desh Bandhu Gupta, wife of the late patriarch, is Non-Executive Chairman of Lupin. The coveted list also includes Vinod and Anil Rai Gupta and family, ranked 48th with a net worth of $3.11 billion. Mother and son Vinod and Anil Rai Gupta draw their fortune from a 60% holding in flagship Havells India, founded by Vinod's late husband Qimat Rai Gupta in 1958 as an electricals trading business. At the 51st place is the Jain family with a net worth of $3 billion. The Jain family controls media powerhouse Bennett, Coleman and Co, which is run by brothers Samir and Vineet, sons of matriarch Indu Jain. 14:24 US-based payments company Mastercard said it is open to acquiring companies in India and will invest $800 million over the next 4-5 years, reports PTI. 14:19 Reliance Communications' aborting the plan to merge with Aircel is credit negative for the Anil Ambani-led firm as it was crucial to pare debt, Moody's Investors Service said. RComm and Aircel had in September last year signed a binding agreement to merge their mobile businesses. But, on Sunday, RComm announced that the agreement had lapsed owing to legal and regulatory uncertainties, objections by interested parties and delays in receiving relevant approvals. 14:17 One of Bharat Road Networks (BRNL) associate firms has won an arbitration award of over Rs 100 crore and is looking forward to the release of money by NHAI soon. "Shree Jagannath Expressways Pvt, one of the associate companies in Odisha, has won an arbitration award of over Rs 100 crore," BRNL said in a BSE filing. Given the stated stand of the government to not get into long-term disputes and settle claims as per award of arbitration, the company said, it is likely that the National Highway Authority of India would soon release the money. 14:08 Indian Air Force chief BS Dhanoa said the possibility of two-front war was low, but was quick to warn that enemy intentions can change overnight. Even then, he said the force was prepared for a two-front war, reports CNN-News18. In a veiled threat to Pakistan, the air force could destroy the belligerent neighbours nuclear arsenal in a surgical strike if the need arose. He said IAF will achieve its sanctioned strength of 42 fighter squadrons by 2032. Stating that the single engine fighter was a procurement priority, he promised a right to request for information (RFI) soon. 13:46 The National Company Law Tribunal reserved its order on the plea of ousted Tata Sons Chairman Cyrus Mistry seeking transfer of his petitions challenging the ouster to the New Delhi bench from the Mumbai one, reports CNBC-TV18. The principal bench of the NCLT, headed by Chairman Justice MM Kumar, will pronounce its verdict on Friday. 13:42 Drug firm Zydus Cadila has received final approval from the US health regulator to market capsules used in treating overactive bladder with symptoms such as urinary frequency. The company received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) to market the fesoterodine fumarate extended release capsules in strengths of 4 mg and 8 mg. It will manufacture the drug at the group's formulations manufacturing facility in Moraiya, Ahmedabad. Quoting IMS sales data of August 2017, the company said sales of fesoterodine fumarate extended release capsules are estimated at $195.5 million. 13:34 Mylan has launched a generic version of Tevas multiple sclerosis (MS) drug - Copaxone 40 mg/mL - in the US market. The launch occurred even as analysts were debating whether Mylan should await the outcome on the pending patent ligation or go ahead and launch at risk. The company will have to pay millions of dollars in damages to Teva if it fails to invalidate the remaining patents held by the Israeli drug maker. Teva has already warned Mylan of significant damages if it goes ahead and launches the generic version of Copaxone 40mg/ml prior to the resolution of the pending patent litigation. 13:26 German luxury carmaker Audi on Thursday launched the A5 in the Indian market in three avatars to take on the Mercedes and BMW from the same segments. The A5 Sportback is priced at Rs 54.02 lakh, the A5 Carbriolet is priced at Rs 67.51 lakh and the S5 is priced at Rs 70.6 lakh. Audi is the third largest luxury car maker in India trailing Mercedes-Benz and BMW in that order. The A5 sports a 2.0 litre engine that generates peak power of 190 bhp with a top speed of 235 kmph. The sedan can achieve 0-100 kmph in 7.9 seconds. The S5 however is bigger and faster. The car has a 3 litre engine producing 354 bhp in peak power and a top speed of 250 kmph. This car can do 0-100 kmph in 4.7 seconds. 13:08 Tackling bad loans will be a priority for Indias largest bank, said the newly appointed chairman of State Bank of India, Rajnish Kumar, addressing his first press conference since the appointment was announced late on Wednesday. SBI, which accounts for more than a fifth of Indias banking assets, has seen bad loans rise after it absorbed five subsidiary banks earlier this year. Kumar said SBI had tackled issues that came as a result of that deal and would see asset quality numbers looking much better. 13:02 The Centre is considering exemptions sought by Apple for setting up a unit to assemble iPhones, Ramesh Abhishek, the top bureaucrat in the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, told Reuters. Apple has asked federal government officials for a range of tax and policy changes to help build out its iPhone assembly work in India. It is seeking permission to open its own retail stores in India where it currently sells iPhones through resellers. 12:49 As many as 4.5 lakh directors may face disqualification for their association with shell companies, Minister of State for Corporate Affairs PP Chaudhary said. Even as the government steps up its fight against the black money menace, the minister asserted that genuine corporates will not face action. As the ministry pushes ahead with the efforts to weed out shell companies -- a term used for entities that have not been carrying out business for long and are allegedly used as conduit for illegal fund flows -- Chaudhary told PTI that the profile of all disqualified directors will be examined. 12:42 The Gujarat High Court rejected Zakia Jafri's plea challenging a lower court order upholding SIT's clean chit to then chief minister Narendra Modi and others on allegations of larger conspiracy in connection with the 2002 post-Godhra riots, reports CNN-News18. The high court, however, allowed Zakia to approach higher forums for further investigation in the case. Zakia, the wife of slain former MP Ehsan Jafri, and activist Teesta Setalvad's NGO Citizen for Justice and Peace had moved the criminal review petition against a magistrate's order upholding the clean chit given by the special investigation team (SIT) to Modi and others regarding the allegations of a "larger criminal conspiracy" behind the riots. The petition demanded that Modi and 59 others --including senior police officers and bureaucrats -- be made accused for allegedly being part of a conspiracy which facilitated the riots. 12:38 Wipro Digital announced the signing of a definitive agreement to acquire Cooper, an award-winning design and business strategy consultancy. Cooper will become part of Wipro Digitals strategic design arm Designit, and add to its design and innovation capabilities, expanding its reach in North America and adding capabilities in professional design education. 12:35 Delhi Police has begun an inquiry after a photograph showing controversial godwoman Radhe Maa sitting on the SHO's chair in the Vivek Vihar police station surfaced online, reports PTI. Station house officer Sanjay Sharma, draped in a red and gold shawl worn by Hindu devotees, can be seen standing next to her with his hands folded in the photograph. 12:33 The Supreme Court said it would consider on Friday a plea seeking restoration of its November last year's order banning firecrackers in Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR), reports PTI. The matter came up for hearing before a bench comprising Justices AK Sikri and Ashok Bhushan which said that it would consider the plea tomorrow. 12:24 The Japanese utility Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) has received approval to operate reactors for the first time since the 2011 Fukushima meltdown, reports ZeroHedge. On Wednesday, the Nuclear Regulation Authority said TEPCOs two reactors in northern Japan met new and stricter safety standards. The authority unanimously approved the draft certificate for reactors number 6 and 7 at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant, marking the first step in the process toward restarting them. Portions of the plants reactors were damaged in a 2007 earthquake. 12:21 Employees of government-run banks who worked in extended shifts for days, soon after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced demonetisation of old currency notes, have threatened to launch a strike and take legal actions if their employers don't clear their overtime dues, reports Hindustan Times. At various places, these bank employees had worked for around 14 hours in a day and also their leaves were cancelled to handle the note ban rush in the banks. As many as 4 lakh bank employees who put in extra hours and are yet to get additional pay and overtime. 12:07 Advisory firm Stakeholders Empowerment Services (SES) has alleged that Infosys violated corporate governance norms at the time of Nandan Nilekani's appointment. In August, Nilekani was appointed the Chairman after MD and CEO Vishal Sikka resigned. According to SES, Nikekani was appointed without a proper board meeting, even before the directors met. Decisions at the board level are taken after due deliberations in the board meetings and this has been given a go-by, SES said. 12:01 Bloomberg takes a look at the candidates US President Donald Trump is considering over the next few weeks to nominate as chairman of the Federal Reserve and where they stand on monetary policy. 11:58 As US President Donald Trump threatens to destroy North Korea, even some of his closest aides have warned of the potentially disastrous effects of a war, reports Bloomberg. New research published on the 38 North website points to just how catastrophic the impact might be on the regimes neighbours. If Kim Jong Un were to launch a nuclear attack on Seoul and Tokyo -- both within striking distance of his weapons -- as many as 2.1 million people could die and another 7.7 million could be injured, according to the 38 North report. The analysis by Michael J Zagurek Jr, a consultant specialising in databases and computer modelling, is based on North Koreas current estimated weapons technology and bomb strength. Zagurek assumes Kim has a baseline arsenal of 20-25 warheads and the capacity to put them on ballistic missiles. 11:33 Wind power tariff has dropped sharply to an all-time low of Rs 2.64 per unit during the second auction conducted by the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) for 1 GW projects, reports PTI. Renew Power Ventures, has emerged as the lowest bidder by quoting Rs 2.64 per unit for a capacity of 250 MW, followed by Orange Sironj Wind Power at Rs 2.64 for 200 MW. 11:30 A leopard was spotted early this morning in Maruti Suzuki's plant in Manesar here following which police and forest officials cordoned off the premises and launch a search for the wild cat, reports PTI. The leopard was found roaming inside the 'Engine Department' at around 4 am by a security personnel on duty. Thousands of workers, who arrived for the morning shift at around 7 am, have been asked to stand outside the plant due to safety reasons, a senior police officer said. 11:27 Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav was unanimously re-elected as the party's national president for a five-year term, reports PTI. The party's constitution was amended to extend the tenure of the party chief to five years from the existing three years. Now that 44-year-old Akhilesh will remain at the helm for five years, the 2019 Lok Sabha and state Assembly elections in 2022 will be held under his presidentship. 11:20 Activity in Indias services companies limped out of contraction in September as demand recovered and pushed firms to increase hiring at the fastest pace in over six years, reports Reuters. The Nikkei/IHS Markit Services Purchasing Managers Index rose to 50.7 in September from 47.5 in August, moving back above the 50-mark that separates growth from contraction. 10:29 The Mumbai Police has denied Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray permission to lead a march to the headquarters of Western Railway at Churchgate today. The MNS chief is protesting against the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project and demanding better infrastructure for suburban railway commuters in the wake of the Elphinstone stampede. Thackeray had last personally led a march was on August 21, 2012, when he protested the violence against police and media by the Raza Academy in Mumbai. MNS was the only political party which registered a public protest against the violence that did not spare even women police personnel. 10:22 Mukesh Ambani retains his title as Indias richest for the tenth year in a row with $38 billion. Ambani added $15.3 billion to his net worth this year, making him the biggest dollar gainer on the list and one of Asias top five richest. Improved refining margins and his telecom unit Reliance Jios thundering success in notching up 130 million subscribers since its 2016 launch boosted shares of his Reliance Industries. The list will appear in the October issue of Forbes India which will be available on newsstands from November 3. 10:13 There was no evidence at this point to indicate that the mass shooting in Las Vegas this week was terrorism, a Federal Bureau of Investigation agent told Reuters. FBI Special Agent in Charge Aaron Rouse also said federal authorities have questioned the girlfriend of the gunman and no one has been taken into custody as a suspected accomplice. 10:07 Prataap Snacks has debut on the exchanges at Rs 1,300 per share as against its issue price of Rs 938 per share. The packaged snack, chips and namkeen food companys Rs 482-crore IPO was oversubscribed 47.39 times during September 22-26. 09:59 SBI Life Insurance Company scrip has slipped below its issue price of Rs 700 per share. The recently listed stock is trading over a 1% lower. On Tuesday, the stock saw a muted listing on the bourses, settling at Rs 708, a premium of just 1.14% over its issue price. 09:54 Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) scrip gained over 2% as investors cheered a ratings upgrade by CLSA. The global brokerage firm upgraded its rating on the stock to outperform and raised the target to Rs 1,610 per share. 09:52 The Election Commission of India said it would be "logistically equipped" by September next year to hold simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha and Assemblies, reports PTI. 09:43 Many of the infotainment features in most 2017 vehicles are so distracting they should not be enabled while a vehicle is in motion, according to a new study released Thursday by University of Utah researchers. The study, led by psychology professor David Strayer, found in-vehicle information systems including SatNav, MP3 players, radios, cellphones and messaging devices take drivers attention off the road for too long to be safe, much like texting, reports MarketWatch. 09:39 The Indian freight forwarding and logistics sector is set to lose a major chunk of Rs 20,000-crore international freight forwarding business to international competitors because of a tax parity issue following the roll-out of the goods and services tax (GST) regime, reports The Financial Express. By virtue of Section 13 (9) in the Integrated Goods and Services Tax (GST) Act, 2017, an Indian freight forwarding company has to levy GST on all shipments to India to an overseas supplier. However, the overseas company is not faced with any incidence of tax on the same transaction if it chooses to work with a foreign freight forwarder. It implies that Indian freight forwarders are losing their edge when competing with foreign freight forwarders for transactions involving imports to India. 09:31 The Shoppers Stop stock is up close to 6% on reports that Future Retail is set to acquire HyperCity, a premium chain of 19 hypermarkets from the company, for Rs 700 crore through a combination of cash and shares to further consolidate his footprint in western India. 09:26 Which stocks and sectors are on the wish-list of foreign and domestic brokerages today, click here to find out 09:12 Medicines may soon come labelled with the landed price if they are imported, or ex-factory price if locally made, along with the maximum retail price, a move that the government claims will bring more transparency in pricing, reports Mint. The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has proposed amending Rule 96 of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act to make such pricing information mandatory for all drug makers. The ministry of health and family welfare will soon come out with a draft notification to this effect, a government official said. 09:04 Automaker Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) has matched Tata Motor's e-vehicle price for the government's electric vehicle procurement. It will supply 150 electric vehicles in the first phase versus 250 vehicles by Tata Motors. In an exclusive chat with CNBC-TV18, Pawan Goenka alleges that the current pricing of e-cars does not add up. 09:01 Prataap Snacks, whose initial share sale offer received robust investor demand last week, will list its shares on bourses today. The Rs 482-crore IPO was oversubscribed 47.39 times during September 22-26. The packaged snack, chips and namkeen food company has fixed its issue price at Rs 938 per share. 08:49 State Bank of India's Managing Director Rajnish Kumar has been appointed as the next chairman of the bank. Kumar will take over from Arundhati Bhattacharya once her term expires. Kumar has worked with SBI for around three decades and he has been serving as an MD since May 2015. He has been appointed as the chairman of the bank for a period of three years. In an interview to CNBC-TV18, Kumar said improving asset quality and digitisation are on top of his mind. 08:39 Prime Minister Narendra Modi tore into critics of the economy, saying the temporary slowdown has been exaggerated by pessimists. He also gave a detailed presentation of how macros are stable and compared his tenure versus UPA-II. 08:28 The Pentagon is injecting $440 million more into missile defence, including yet another expansion of its fleet of missile interceptors, to counter North Korea's accelerating push for a nuclear-armed missile capable of hitting the United States, reports AP. As a reflection of its urgency, the Pentagon asked Congress to let it shift funds from the current budget rather than wait for the next defence budget. The Pentagon already had $8.2 billion in its missile defence budget prior to the add-ons. The Pentagon spelled out $367 million of the shifted money, with the rest expected to be announced later. The spending has come under increased scrutiny as North Korea's nuclear and missile programs have progressed and critics have questioned whether the Pentagon has developed missile defences that would work in combat. Some of the additional USD 440 million is for projects that are classified secret, including USD 48 million more for development of technology for cyber "operations," according to a breakdown of the spending by the Pentagon's budget office. 08:17 CNBC reports that a dating app with a racist ad and an income filter is now on Apple's App Store. Dating app HighBlood attracted furious criticism for a Facebook post that said "no banglas, no maids, no uglies". The app was originally rejected by Apple's App Store, but that decision was reversed. Founder Herbert Eng said he has not received investor funding, but claimed the app has more than 500 sign-ups. 08:09 Dan Morehead, chairman of digital currency exchange Bitstamp, said bitcoin and other digital currencies will likely become assets serious investors will want in their portfolios, reports CNBC. "Bitcoin's essentially going to revolutionise currency, or money," Morehead said on Wednesday at the Sohn Investment Conference in San Francisco, which was attended by portfolio managers and asset allocators. "If it does work, the upside is so high, it's a rational, expected thing to have in your portfolio," he said. Bitcoin is "going to disrupt money just like voice-over IP" took away the dominance of giant telecommunications companies on communication, he said. VOIP, or voice over internet protocol, is the technology that allows real-time voice calls over the internet. 08:04 Oil giant Saudi Aramco will open an Indian subsidiary next week as the top global oil exporter looks to tap rising demand and invest in the worlds third-biggest consumer, reports Reuters. The company is investing in refineries in major markets to lock in customers ahead of its initial public offering next year, and the India unit, on top of sales, will look for opportunities to take stakes in refining and petrochemical projects in the country. Saudi Arabia is competing with Iraq to be Indias top oil supplier, with Iraq displacing it for a fifth month in a row in August. 08:00 Alphabets Google on Wednesday unveiled the second generation of its Pixel smartphone along with new voice-enabled home speakers, redoubling its commitment to the hardware business as it competes with a surge of devices from Apple and Amazon.com. Googles new products, including a Pixelbook laptop, wireless earbuds and a small GoPro-like camera, showcase Google-developed operating systems and services, notably the voice assistant. That means usage of those devices should stoke the companys core ad sales business as buyers of the hardware use Google services like search and maps. 07:39 Britains banks need a watertight Brexit transition deal by Christmas to avoid a potentially disorderly shift of people and operations to the European Union, a top Bank of England official told Reuters. BoE Deputy Governor Sam Woods said that while the British government wants a deal to bridge leaving the EU in March 2019 and the start of new trading terms, the EUs position was still unclear and the clock was ticking. 07:36 Britains economy remains stuck in low gear but price pressures are rising again, according to surveys on Wednesday that will probably keep the Bank of England on track to raise interest rates soon, reports Reuters. The IHS Markit/CIPS Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) also showed businesses were increasingly worried as Britains departure from the European Union approaches with little clear sign of its future trading relationships. The PMI showed growth in services activity unexpectedly sped up a little last month, compensating for weaker readings in manufacturing and construction reported earlier in the week. Even so, growth among British companies lagged behind that of their peers in a resurgent euro zone. Taking the three surveys together, Britains economy probably expanded at a quarterly rate of around 0.3% in the third quarter, matching its second-quarter performance, survey compiler IHS Markit said. 07:33 Business across the euro zone grew rapidly in September as firms struggled to keep up with demand, a survey showed on Wednesday, with October looking likely to be lively as well, reports Reuters. IHS Markits final composite Purchasing Managers Index for the euro zone bounced to 56.7 last month from Augusts 55.7, in line with an earlier flash estimate and comfortably above the 50-mark that separates growth from contraction. A sub-index measuring new orders jumped, while one for backlogs of work climbed to 54.3 from 53.0, its highest since February 2011, suggesting the increase in the pace of activity was not enough to keep up. 07:30 The US budget deficit is proving to be a major obstacle to the tax reform plan being offered by President Donald Trump and top congressional Republicans, with one leading Senate hawk saying a week after the plan was introduced that any enlarging of the fiscal gap could kill his support, reports Reuters. From proposed infrastructure enhancements to a military build-up, the deficit long ago put the brakes on major new federal spending programs; now Trumps tax-cut proposal is threatened. The main problem is that the federal government is swimming in red ink with an annual deficit of $550 billion and a national debt -- the accumulation of past deficits and interest due to lenders to the US Treasury -- exceeding $20 trillion. 07:28 Gold prices were little changed early on Thursday as the dollar held firm on strong US services sector growth, with markets awaiting the key US non-farm payrolls report on Friday. 07:28 Oil prices dipped on Thursday after the United States reported record crude exports, although traders said that efforts led by OPEC and Russia to cut production meant markets remained well supported overall. 07:25 US companies scaled back their hiring to an 11-month low in September after two powerful hurricanes disrupted some business activities, while the vast domestic services sector overcame those snags to expand at its fastest pace in 12 years, reports Reuters. The latest data helped soothe investors who have been worried about Hurricanes Harvey and Irma dragging on US economic growth. The Institute for Supply Managements index of non-manufacturing activity rose to 59.8, the highest since August 2005. 07:15 US stocks edged up to extend their run of record closing highs on Wednesday as data on the services sector added to signs of strength in the economy and prospects for earnings. It was the third straight session where all three major indexes hit record closing highs, though the small-cap Russell 2000 broke its string of eight all-time high finishes, ending down 0.3%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 19.97 points, or 0.09%, to end at 22,661.64, the S&P 500 gained 3.16 points, or 0.12%, to 2,537.74 and the Nasdaq Composite added 2.91 points, or 0.04%, to 6,534.63. Asian shares were a tad firmer on Thursday, taking their cues from strong US data although holiday-thinned trade and uncertainty about the impact of recent hurricanes on the US economy are likely to keep investors cautious. Japan's Nikkei ticked up 0.1% while the SGX Nifty is trading marginally in the red. Trade is expected to remain subdued in Asia with China, Hong Kong and South Korea closed for public holidays. A rating programme for healthy buildings for real estate occupiers, the IGBC Healthy Building Rating was launched at the 15th CII-IGBC Green Building Congress 2017 held in Jaipur on Thursday. It seeks to evaluate buildings on the metric of people-centric design and on the basis of certain parameters such as energy consumption levels, water use and waste management. The Healthy Building Rating for Occupants developed by CII-Indian Green Building Council addresses the physical, intellectual and social well-being of its occupants. The current green footprint for India stands at 4.68 billion sq ft of built-up space. The target for the green building's footprint for the year 2022 when India celebrate 75 years of independence, including the green cities is 10 billion sq ft. Of the additional 5 billion sq ft to be added in the next five years, at least 5 percent will be contributed by the new healthy wellness system, says V Suresh, Chairman, Policy & Advocacy Committee, IGBC. The three-day international conference and exhibition of the 15th edition of Green Building Congress 2017 was inaugurated on Thursday by Rajpal Singh Shekhawat, minister for Industry, NRI & Govt. Enterprise, Government of Rajasthan. Speaking at the occasion, Shekhawat said, Government of Rajasthan is committed to facilitating sustainable development in the state. It has introduced a slew of measures, including offering 5 per cent additional FAR (Floor Area Ratio) for projects under JDA (Jaipur Development Authority). Its encouraging to see that, the State of Rajasthan has already 83 IGBC registered projects with a footprint of 103 million sq ft. of green buildings making Rajasthan the role model for other states. Awareness about the importance and benefits of adopting the green building concept is very important to further this growth. Appreciating CIIs support to the Government of Rajasthan in its growth initiatives, Gajendra Singh Khimsar, Minister for Environment & Forest, Government of Rajasthan said, India, which is currently the 2nd largest country in the world with Green Building footprint of 4.68 billion sq ft, has the potential to be the worlds leader soon. Rajasthan has taken a leadership position in this area and can play a significant role in helping the country to achieve IGBCs vision of 10 billion sq. feet green built up environment by 2022. The green building movement should not just be urban centric, it should reach villages and rural part of India. With these objectives, IGBC on one hand has been driving initiatives to introduce various rating systems customized to meet the requirements of different types of built environment including IGBC green building village rating system. At the same time, our effort has been to create opportunities for market transformation and make green building affordable to ensure greater participation, said V. Suresh, Chairman, Policy & Advocacy Committee, IGBC. Sharing his views Tai Lee Siang, Chair, World Green Building Council said, India has made significant progress in promoting the adoption of green building practice and to take it to the next level, we need to make green building a part of our tradition by going beyond the business case. The Asia pacific region which includes India, is one of the fastest growth regions in the green building space. WorldGBC is driving the mission of ensuring green building for everyone-everywhere. India, one of the first founding members of WGBC, has been playing a vital role in accelerating the global green building movement, said Terri Wills, CEO, World Green Building Council. The three-day Congress, that began on Wednesday, is hosting over 2000 delegates, with representation from 31-member countries of the World Green Building Council. The event features an exhibition on technologies and processes that have transformed the global construction industry. A SpiceJet passenger aircraft taxis on the runway at the airport next to a slum area in Mumbai December 19, 2014. REUTERS/Shailesh Andrade/File Photo - RTSEFTH SpiceJet plans to purchase more than 100 amphibian planes, estimated to cost USD 400 million, as the no-frills airline looks to boost regional operations, its chief Ajay Singh said today. With regard to purchase of the 14-seater amphibian aircraft, that can operate on land as well as on water bodies, SpiceJet has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Japan's Setouchi Holdings. Announcing its plans to enhance regional operations, Singh said the MoU is to explore whether the amphibian planes can be used by the airline in a cost-effective manner. "If it is done, it will be done in excess of 100 planes," he said in response to a query on how many amphibian aircraft would be ordered. Noting that these aircraft are not expensive, he said one amphibian plane costs around USD 4 million. This would translate to a total amount of more than USD 400 million (about Rs 2,600 crore) for over 100 such planes. "We are studying the commercial viability (of this project). SpiceJet will get involved whatever the structure might be... directly, separately or as part of travel vertical," the airline's Chairman and Managing Director said, adding that the interests of states have also to be assessed. He was responding to queries about the structure that would be in place to operate amphibian planes. Speaking to reporters here, Singh said if things move ahead, then the project would be done in one year. Quest Aircraft Company, LLC -- part of Japan's diversified Tsuneishi Group -- is a manufacturer of the amphibian planes. The company is owned by Setouchi Holdings, part of Tsuneishi Group. Quest Aircraft also manufactures Kodiak 100 aircraft can carry up to eight passengers, depending on the configuration. It can take off and land on a short runway as well as handle uneven terrain and mountainous areas, according to the Japanese group. So far this year, the airline has announced plans to order 275 planes for about USD 26 billion. To a question on whether SpiceJet would look at low-cost funds from Japan for the purchase of the amphibian planes, Singh said it would study that possibility. With the ability to land in a small or confined space, smaller fixed-wing aircraft is the perfect flying machines that can effectively connect the country's remote cities and airstrips which can, in turn, revolutionise the regional connectivity scheme, he said. "Indian market is the most important market in the world... Today we have a partnership with SpiceJet," Setouchi Holdings Executive Managing Director Go Okazaki said. Speaking on the occasion, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said SpiceJet's plan would be a big boost for regional connectivity scheme. The scheme, also known as UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Naagrik), seeks to provide air connectivity to unserved and under-served airports as well as make flying more affordable. Currently, SpiceJet operates three RCS flights -- Mumbai to Kandla, Mumbai to Porbandar and Hyderabad to Puducherry. The airline has plans to launch such flights from Delhi to Jaisalmer, Kanpur and Adampur as also from Jaipur to Jaisalmer. SpiceJet does not take Viability Gap Funding (VGF) extended by the government under UDAN. Under the scheme, fares are capped at Rs 2,500 for one- hour flights and the participating airlines are provided VGF. Embarking on an ambitious expansion path, SpiceJet has announced this year plans to order 225 planes from Boeing and another up to 50 aircraft from Bombardier. The budget airline operates an average of 384 daily flights, with a fleet of 35 Boeing 737NG and 20 Bombardier Q- 400 planes. Flipkart Flipkart on Thursday said its sellers doubled their business during the current Big Billion Day Sale as compared to the last year sale with over 3000 sellers added to the company's millionaire club. "50 sellers from Mumbai witnessed sales of over Rs 10 lakh during the sale on the platform and approximately 310 sellers from the city achieved sales of over Rs 1 lakh," the company said in a statement. The company didn't disclose details of the sellers in other cities. It also claimed that of the total sales that a seller-generated across various platforms, Flipkarts share of wallet from a seller was more than 70 percent, during the sale period. "We are delighted that we were able to fulfill our promise of 2x growth to our sellers. Initiatives like smart fulfilment, caretouch and express program not only enhanced seller experience but also enabled business growth for them on the platform," said Nishant Gupta, director, Flipkart Marketplace. Flipkart claims to have 100,000 sellers on its platform. During the festive season sale last month, Flipkart claimed to have grabbed 70 percent market share even as rival Amazon India said that the claim was ill informed adding that Amazon was the largest marketplace in the country. While Flipkart claimed that its sales doubled this year during the five day festival sale period, as compared to the last year, Amazon said that over 50 percent of its categories doubled over last Diwali with categories like smartphones and large appliances growing 2.5x and 4x, respectively. 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, Ruchit Jain, Rakesh Bansal and Vishal Malkan battle it out for top honours. Below their top stock picks and analysis: Ruchit Jain of Angel Broking Sell Apollo Tyres with a stoploss at Rs 243.50 and target of Rs 227 Sell Dish TV with a stoploss at Rs 74 and target of Rs 66 Buy Radico Kaitan with a stoploss at Rs 168 and target of Rs 184 Buy Tata Motors DVR with a stoploss at Rs 234 and target of Rs 247 Rakesh Bansal of RK Global Buy Ganesh Benzoplast with a stoploss at Rs 78.5 and target of Rs 107 Buy Southern Petrochem with a stoploss at Rs 31.9 and target of Rs 48 Buy Dhanlaxmi Bank with a stoploss at Rs 36.5 and target of Rs 42 Buy DHFL with a stoploss at Rs 545 and target of Rs 572 Vishal Malkan of malkansview.com Buy Ashok Leyland with a stoploss at Rs 121 and target of Rs 130 Buy Bank of India with a stoploss at Rs 136 and target of Rs 147 Buy Century Textile with a stoploss at Rs 1230 and target of Rs 1290 Buy Reliance Infra with a stoploss at Rs 460 and target of Rs 495 live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More M&M Brokerage: CLSA | Rating: Upgrade to outperform | Target: Raised to Rs 1,610 CLSA observed that volume growth for the company is on an uptrend, while the tractor business is seeing strong demand. Moreover, the SUV business is a drag, but volumes are seeing a recovery on low base. In fact, it expects the upcoming MPV launch to boost FY19 growth. The stock, the brokerage said, looks attractive after underperforming the Nifty by 13 percent since June. Tata Motors Brokerage: Macquarie | Rating: Outperform | Target: Cut to Rs 525 The global research firm lowered FY18/FY19 EBITDA estimates by 4-5% on lower JLR sales volume. Going forward, the firm expects new models to drive growth despite a weak environment. It also highlighted how the management was confident of an improvement in JLR margin in the second half of this fiscal and FY19. Housing Development Finance Corporation Brokerage: Macquarie | Rating: Outperform | Target: Rs 1,890 Macquarie said that the management indicated temporary slowdown in the core mortgage business due to RERA Act. Moreover, loan growth of 15%+ in core mortgage book still possible. Listing Of life & AMC business, stable asset quality will be catalysts. Jubilant Food Brokerage: Macquarie | Rating: Outperform | Target: Rs 1,465 The global brokerage firm said that Dominos same-store-sales growth is seeing an uptick due to new campaign. It sees strong demand in some outlets on the back of models and establishment act. The company remains a top pick in the consumer discretionary space. Motherson Sumi Brokerage: HSBC | Rating: Buy | Target: Rs 365 HSBC said that an analysis suggests that arms account for 16-21 percent of the net profit. Further, it expects core business to continue to grow on more complexity in auto components. Cadila Health Brokerage: Credit Suisse | Rating: Outperform | Target: Rs 540 Credit Suisse said that the company benefits from an atenolol shortage as it is the only player to not face the shortage. The brokerage also observed that it increased capacity and share has ramped up to 47 percent now. Kajaria Brokerage: HSBC | Rating: Buy | Target: Raised to Rs 800 HSBC said that the industry is still facing headwinds but is slowly returning to normalcy. It expects the firm to benefit from market share gains with GST in place. Financials Brokerage: Credit Suisse Credit Suisse said that SLR cut to benefit banks with high loan-to-deposit ratio. In case of LDR, for many private banks, this has reached 90 percent, while for PSUs, this has dropped to 50-740 percent. Going forward, it expects release of SLR will benefit HDFC Bank, Kotak, IndusInd Bank & Yes Bank. HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank & IndusInd Bank are its preferred picks. Sushil Finance's commodity report on crude oil Oil prices fell on Wednesday after a surprising jump in U.S. crude exports to a record 2 million barrels per day fanned worries about global oversupply. U.S. crude stockpiles fell sharply last week, but crude exports rose to 1.98 million bpd, the Energy Information Administration said. U.S. exports have became more attractive to buyers because the price of U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude (WTI) futures has been trading at a steep discount to Brent. Rising U.S. crude production has held down WTI prices, while Brent's price has been heavily influenced by policy directions over output cuts led by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries. On Wednesday, OPEC Secretary - General Mohammad Barkindo said he was confident his organisation could restore sustainable stability to markets. Russian President Vladimir Putin said he did not exclude an extension of output cuts until the end of 2018. Russia is part of the supply agreement. Outlook We expect crude oil prices to trade sideways on the back of short covering after drop 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 live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Tata Motors fell around a percent intraday on Thursday after Macquarie cut the target price on the stock. The global research firm maintained its outperform rating on the stock, but cut it to Rs 525 from Rs 550, implying a downside of 4.5 percent. The global research firm lowered FY18/FY19 EBITDA estimates by 4-5% on lower JLR sales volume. Going forward, the firm expects new models to drive growth despite a weak environment. It also highlighted how the management was confident of an improvement in JLR margin in the second half of this fiscal and FY19. At 14:05 hrs Tata Motors was quoting at Rs 424.00, up Rs 0.60, or 0.14 percent, on the BSE. It touched an intraday high of Rs 426.00 and an intraday low of Rs 420.30. The four stocks they exited are Macpower CNC Machines, NDR Auto Components, Novartis India and RSWM, according to Dolat Capital. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More HDFC Securities' research report on United Spirits United Spirits (UNSP) is the undisputed liquor leader in India. Long term investors in Indias consumption story have been motivated by the transformation of UNSP under Diageo. Mgt has pushed for premiumisation, cost control, de-leveraging and has franchised out low-end brands. This has fuelled investor aspirations of sustainably better margins and falling debt. While we are believers in most of the repair work at UNSP (as well as the broader Indian consumption story), we are skeptical on stock return hereon. Our thesis is premised on three important factors, namely (1) We see persistent structural hurdles for liquor branding, distribution and pricing power in India, despite broader reforms in the nations policy mix. Liquor is a whipping boy for state governments across the political spectrum (2) GST has added to costs, and (3) Competition is sniping at UNSPs heels. Outlook UNSPs stock is up 24% YTD (36% from its 52-week low) as states have denotified certain highway stretches in an effort to circumvent the Supreme Courts ban on retail sales along highways. In view of the longer term challenges, UNSPs currently rich valuations (43x FY20E EPS) offer a decent EXIT point. This is a great business, but we suspect the hangover is persistent. SELL, with a TP of Rs 2,060 (40x Sep-19E EPS). 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 (REUTERS/Mansi Thapliyal) Around 87 percent households in India's capital Delhi start worrying if an unaccompanied female member does not return home by 9 pm, a survey by Safety Trends and Reporting of Crime (SATARC) suggests. In contrast, less than 30 percent of Mumbaikars feel concerned if an unaccompanied female in their household doesn't return by 9 pm. Only one percent of respondents in Delhi said that they do not worry if a female member of the household is out any time of the day. About 13 percent respondents in Mumbai and 8 percent respondents in Chennai and Bangalore expressed no anxiety in such a case. [caption id="attachment_2405593" align="aligncenter" width="750"] Source: SATARC[/caption] Concerns over men's safety do rise, however, only after 11 pm, the SATARC report suggests. Around 95 percent people in Delhi said that they start worrying if an unaccompanied male has not returned home by 11 pm. In Chennai and Bangalore, the percentages are 84 and 83 respectively. 60 percent people in Mumbai expressed less concern in this area. [caption id="attachment_2405597" align="aligncenter" width="838"] Source: SATARC[/caption] Precautionary Measures When it comes to taking precautions for safety, 51 percent people in Delhi prefer not to walk alone followed by keeping away personal stuff and avoiding to walk in certain areas. Almost 40 percent people in Mumbai prefer to keep their personal belongings away while only 33 percent avoid walking alone. Just 26 percent people avoid walking in certain areas. [caption id="attachment_2405599" align="aligncenter" width="571"] Source: SATARC[/caption] Talking about crime in the cities, 51 percent respondents in Delhi think crime is a serious problem in their area. 21 percent people in Bangalore and 16 percent people in Mumbai consider crime as a serious problem in their area. Only 5 percent people in Chennai think so. A whopping 76 percent people in Chennai think crime is not a problem in their area. 46 percent people in Mumbai and 41 percent people in Bangalore don't consider crime as a serious problem in their areas. However, only 20 percent Delhiites think so. Late Night ATM Withdrawals Little more than 50 percent people in Mumbai feel unsafe to withdraw cash from the Automated Teller Machine (ATM) after 11 pm. However, less than 10 percent people feel unsafe in doing so up to 9 pm. Nearly 55 percent people in Delhi feel unsafe in withdrawing cash from ATMs around 9 pm, while more than 80 percent people feel unsafe doing that around 11 pm in the country's capital. Trust in Police Machinery Around 91 percent people in Chennai believe police can be relied upon when needed. That number comes down to 85 percent in Mumbai and 81 percent in Bangalore. About 75 percent of the respondents in the nation's capital believe the police machinery can be trusted in times of need. [caption id="attachment_2405603" align="aligncenter" width="504"] Source: SATARC[/caption] More than three-fourth of Mumbai and Chennai citizens believe that the police are doing a good job in maintaining a safe environment in the city. Only 59 percent people in Delhi believe so. Only 28 percent people in Delhi feel the police is underpaid and overworked. 53 percent people in Mumbai think on the same lines while 46 percent of the respondents in Chennai and Bangalore think the police is underpaid and overworked. Vijay Mallya The luxurious London residence of Vijay Mallya was bought using Indian taxpayers' money, claims a British agency. Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has found that the mansion called Lady Walk was bought by Mallya using money that was routed through his companies in the UK. As per a report by India Today, the investigation by the agency has revealed that Mallya bought the mansion for Rs 39.7 crore using Kingfisher Airlines' HSBC account in London. The money, as per reports, was paid to the British company Continental Administrative Services which had ownership interests in the Hertfordshire mansion that earlier belonged to F1 racer Lewis Hamilton. As per the reports, the SFO is sharing the details with Central Bureau of Investigation(CBI) that has been in pursuit of the absconding liquor baron. The SFO also stated that close to Rs 242 crore was routed from the Axis Bank account of Kingfisher to its London-based accounts. As per the agency, loans disbursed by various Indian banks to Mallya were also diverted using this Axis Bank account. harsimrat_kaur_badal The food processing sector will attract investments worth at least USD 10 billion in the coming two to three years, riding on reforms initiated by the government, Union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal said today. "I estimate that over the next 2-3 years there should at least be a 10 billion dollar investment in the food processing sector in India," Badal told PTI. She was speaking on the sidelines of the India Economic Summit organised by the World Economic Forum in partnership with CII here. The minister said foreign direct investment (FDI) in the country's food processing sector has risen by 40 percent since last year. "There has been a 40 percent increase in the inflow of FDI to the food processing sector from last year to this year. In fact the first two months of this financial year (April- May) there's already been a USD 200 million inflow," she said. Talking about the upcoming World Food India conference which is scheduled to take place here between November 3-5, the Food Processing Minister said: "After World Food India we are suddenly going to see in the next few years this (FDI) move into much bigger figures because the government has been focusing on creating that infrastructure over the last three years, we have created an environment, brought out policies and programmes". She said the platform is ready for joint ventures to take place as India has a raw material base as well as consumption and marketing base to offer to companies that are looking for new markets. The global spotlight is on Canada's Jagmeet Singh after he became the first non-white to head a major political party in Canada, putting him on track to take on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in the 2019 national elections. The 38-year-old Sikh criminal defence lawyer-turned-politician registered a convincing victory to be elected as the leader of New Democratic Party (NDP). Singh, the son of immigrant parents from Punjab, joins an elite club of top political leaders with Indian roots. Here's a look at some of the other names in that group: Antonio Costa (Portugal) Antonio Costa has been Portugal's Prime Minister since November 2015. He is of Goan descent on his fathers side. Costa's father migrated from Margao to Lisbon as a youth and became a writer, poet and a member of the Communist Party, an act which was outlawed at the time in Portugal. Costa, a lawyer, has inherited his fathers political inclinations and has pushed for a socialist agenda in his political career. He is credited for bringing about an economic transformation in the country. Leo Varadkar (Ireland) Leo Varadkar was born and raised in Ireland to an Irish mother, but his father, a doctor, hails from Mumbai. The senior Varadkar moved to Ireland after spending some time in England. Varadkar studied medicine before switching to politics. He is pro-Europe and has some controversial positions on issues such as naming and shaming people who commit welfare fraud and also suggesting that prisoners pay for their prison time. Moses Veerasammy Nagamootoo (Guyana) Nagamootoo (left) is of Tamilian origin. His ancestors were indentured labourers who decided to stay on in Guyana after their period of indenture was completed. He is well known in Guyana as an eminent author, Attorney-at-Law and distinguished journalist. Nagamootoo was sworn in as the Prime Minister of Guyana in 2015. Ashwin Adhin (Suriname) Adhin became the Vice President of Suriname at the age of 35 in 2015, the youngest person to hold the office in the country. He is a trained engineer and started out as an educator in 2011. Adhin is known for his efforts towards developing cultural sensitivity and the appreciation of ones heritage. His leadership qualities at an event celebrating 140 years of the Indian immigration caught the attention of the President. Adhin went on to become to become the Minister of Education and Community Development in 2013. He is also an active member of the Vishva Hindu Parishad in Suriname and the Mata Gauri foundation. A Dutch colony during the heydeys of the colonial era, Indo-Surinamese make about 25 percent of the population. The British first brought Indians to the country as indentured labourers, under a contract with the Dutch. Tharman Shanmugaratnam (Singapore) Tharman is of Tamilian origin. An economist by profession, most of Tharmans career was spent with the Monetary Authority of Singapore (the Central Bank of the country), before he entered politics and became the minister of education, finance and ultimately the Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore. Indians have been settling in Singapore as early as 1819 when the modern state of Singapore was first founded. They currently make up more than five percent of the population, which makes them the third largest ethnicity by population. Jagmeet Singh (Canada), National Democratic Party leader Jagmeet Singh recently won an election to become the leader of the National Democratic party, a major party in Canada. The son of Indian immigrants from Punjab, Singh faced racism based on his name, skin colour, and long hair since childhood, prompting him to enter activism. Aside from fair labour standards, improving the conditions of the differently-abled and racial justice, Singh has called for electoral reform, the removal of Canadas anti-terrorism act, and stronger pro-environment policies. People embrace during a memorial for Rachael Parker and Sandy Casey, victims of the October 1st Las Vegas Route 91 music festival mass shooting, in Manhattan Beach, California, U.S., October 4, 2017. REUTERS/Patrick T. Fallon - RC1EF94CA100 Moneycontrol News As per a recent study based on graphs in Hedenometer, a social media barometer for Twitter, the Las Vegas shooting was the saddest day ever on the microblogging platform. The tool that was designed to measure sentiments on Twitter and other social media platforms, showed the lowest-ever happiness level of 5.77 for Twitter in the aftermath of a mass shooting in the US that killed 59 people and left more than 500 injured after a gunman opened fire at a concert. The previous low was recorded at 5.84 when 49 people were killed at Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando and 5.87 on November 9, 2016, a day after Donald Trump won the election. The barometer shows average happiness metre of Twitter users based on their posts and has been tracking Twitter usage emotions since 2008. By this measure, Twitter users were sadder about Trump becoming president than they were when Michael Jackson died. Yesterday's horrific mass shooting in Las Vegas brought a new record low in Twitter's collective happiness:https://t.co/1Y7RgoYq22 pic.twitter.com/qzeepk86mo October 3, 2017 Created by mathematician Peter Dodds and computer scientist Chris Danforth at the Advanced Computing Center of the University of Vermont, it measures the mood by assigning a value to words on a scale of one to nine based on emotion expressed. How does it work? The tool does a daily random sampling of tens of millions of tweets revealing how people are responding to news of the day. For instance, the sentence I feel extremely sad scores as one, and I am extremely happy, scores a nine. There is a very noticeable weekly pattern seen on the Hedenometer as well, with people feeling happier on Saturdays rather than Tuesdays. Two other very notably sad days on Twitter included the gunning at the Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, England in May, and when counter-protester Heather Heyer was killed at a neo-Nazi rally in Charlottesville. Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted a top-level meeting at his residence on Thursday which was attended by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Bharatiya Janata Party President Amit Shah, triggering buzz that a major announcement is imminent. News18, quoting sources, said that that Modi, Shah and Jaitley had discussed the state of the economy at the meeting, and that a major announcement can be expected before Diwali. The Prime Minister is said to be keen on taking measures to provide an impetus to the economy. With this in mind, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley met Cabinet colleagues including Piyush Goyal and Suresh Prabhu on Thursday. In addition, the GST Council will meet on Friday, where sources say it will discuss the possibility of bringing petroleum products under the ambit of GST with a view to reducing prices. It will also consider other relaxations to ease the pain brought on by the common tax regime. The development comes a day after Modi sternly defended the state of the economy in a speech to company secretaries. The Prime Minister pulled out a series of statistics to prove that the economy has significantly improved since he came to power in 2014. He also labelled those criticising the economy as pessimists, adding that judgements should not be made based on one quarter of slower growth. Modi had also said he was open to a comprehensive review of GST based on feedback from the first three months since its implementation. ALSO READ: Stung by mounting criticism, GST council to make returns filing easier for SMEs on Friday Further fuelling speculation of a major announcement was the fact that Shah had abruptly abandoned the BJP's Jan Suraksha Yatra in Kerala to return to Delhi. There has been talk of a fiscal stimulus being under consideration to boost the economy, after India grew at just 5.7 percent in the quarter ending June 2017. Vijaypat Singhania Capital markets regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has written to textile manufacturer Raymond questioning the latter's real estate agreements for JK House and a property at Alibaug used as a guest house, Mint reported citing three unnamed sources with direct knowledge of the development. SEBI has also reportedly asked whether Raymond made any undisclosed related-party transactions after the regulator's Listing Obligation and Disclosure Requirements (LODR) norms came into effect in September 2015. An email sent by Mint to SEBI on Friday went unanswered. "This is the same old issue that is being referred to more than a month ago where we stated that Sebi had sought certain clarifications which have been duly addressed and we are compliant with all regulations. Since there is no new development in this context and the matter is old and already reported, this query from Mint does not merit any response, a Raymond spokesperson was quoted as saying in an emailed response. SEBI had questioned Raymonds board and audit committee in June as to why the information about the tripartite agreement relating to JK House was not disclosed to the stock exchanges and investors over the last ten years. The agreement in question was signed in November 2007 between the company, Pashmina Holding and each of the sub-lessees. Subsequently, SEBI wrote to Raymond once again in August, according to one of the three sources mentioned above. In its first letter to Raymond, the market regulator asked for the agreement involving JK House, where family members of the promoters are locked in a legal battle over the thwarted sale of four redeveloped flats. Under the terms of the 2007 agreement, these flats were meant to be sold to members of the Singhania family. The company's shareholders rejected this proposal when the board sought their approval earlier this year after proxy firms pointed out that the sale prices of the flats were at a deep discount to prevalent market rates. SEBI's second letter to Raymond questioned transactions related to the company's Alibaug property, its lease deed, and rental agreement between the company and its subsidiaries Pashmina Holdings and Avani Agricultural Farm. The agreement was to use the Alibaug house as a guest house. The property originally belonged to Pashmina Holdings but was later sold to Avani Agricultural. In 2013, the property was let out to Silver Apparel, another wholly owned subsidiary of Raymond, the company said in response to the regulator's queries. Raymonds expense towards Alibaug house on the companys books could be in violation of SEBI's listing regulations and norms towards related party transactions. The multi-layered agreement and details were not shared with shareholders, said one of the people cited above. SEBI is examining the responses. In addition, SEBI has also taken information from stock exchanges pertaining to Raymond this includes its financial numbers, corporate announcements and Raymonds shareholding pattern for the past five years, said one of the other sources. A general view of a 500-meter-long tunnel that would lead into the main vault of Bank of Brazil, according to police, in Sao Paulo, Brazil October 3, 2017. REUTERS/Paulo Whitaker - RC1BFCFB2F50 Brazilian police have foiled what could have been the world's biggest bank robbery ever. The story came into limelight after the police busted a gang that was attempting to rob cash of Rs 2072 crore from a Sao Paulo bank. As per a report in The Guardian, the police arrested 16 members of the gang, after they had constructed a 500-metre long tunnel underground to the Sao Paulo branch of the Banco do Brasil from a property they had rented nearby. This would have been the biggest bank robbery in the world, chief investigator Fabio Pinheiro Lopes was quoted saying in the report. He also added that the gang had a long criminal history and were professionals, If you look at their ages most are above 35 well above the age of your average Brazilian criminal. The gang which allegedly consisted of 20 members built a tunnel for four months with proper ventilation and lighting, after raising over Rs 8 crore for the attempt. However, the gang was arrested when the police raided the warehouse they were using as a base. The police have also accused that the gang leader Alceu Ceu Gomes Nogueira was also behind another heist that had taken place in the county earlier this year. The police are also investigating whether there is any link between the gang and the Sao Paulo based drug smuggling gang 'First Command of the Capital'. Brazil has witnessed many bank robberies in the past. The most infamous among them being the 2005 robbery at Fortaleza in which around Rs 3o0 crore were stolen. "The thought is that parents, grandparents, will bring their kids there to have fun, to use the trails, but also to understand the history of veterans' service in Towamencin," land planner Peter Simone Community Life as seen on social media Letter to editor: Gas pump politics and the election Rabbis installation at Keneseth Israel will get a boost of student creativity October 05, 2017 Syria - Russia Issues Third Warning Against U.S. Cooperation With Terrorists The Syrian Army was on its way across the Euphrates river to liberate the oil- and gas-fields east of Deir Ezzor city. The U.S. countered the move. It sent a small forces of Arab tribal mercenaries who were earlier allied with the Islamic State (ISIS). These proxy forces came from a northern direction and moved through Islamic State held areas without fighting and casualties up to the walls of Deir Ezzor city. Map by Weekend Warrior - bigger The Syrian army was about to win the race when it started to cross the Euphrates. But it suddenly was surprised by a large al-Qaeda attack in southern Idleb province. That area had been quiet for months. 29 Russian troops who were supervising a deescalation zone there were nearly encircled by al-Qaeda forces. They only escape after an emergency relief operation had cut through al-Qaeda lines. The Russian Ministry of Defense accused the U.S. of having communicated the position of the Russian platoon to al-Qaeda. Shortly thereafter a Russian general, visiting Deir Ezzor city to supervise the Euphrates bridge crossing, came under extremely well aimed mortar fire by the Islamic State. The general and two other high ranking officers were killed. During years of fighting around Deir Ezzor ISIS had never shown the capability for such a precise strike. Someone must have communicated with the terrorists and transferred the exact position of the local headquarter, as well as the time of the Russian general's visit. A week later a concentrated ISIS attack on the main supply road between Palmyra and Deir Ezzor was attacked by a large number of ISIS forces. It is trying to retake al-Suknah in the middle between the two cities. The Russian Defense Ministry claims that the attacking ISIS forces came from southern areas of al-Tanf near the Jordan border which are under control of U.S. forces. Should ISIS take al-Suknah the Syrian-Russian contingent in Deir Ezzor would gain be cutoff. Due to those three attacks the Syrian-Russian move towards the eastern oil-fields came to a near standstill. U.S. proxy forces are now slowly taking the area. It seems obvious that the U.S. military is again cooperating with terrorist groups in Syria. There must be at least some information flow between U.S. intelligence and al-Qaeda and ISIS. It seems that deconflicition data the Syrian-Russian alliance is sharing with U.S. forces in Syria is ending up in the hands of the extremists. This explains how al-Qaeda and ISIS can suddenly and very precisely attack critical Syrian and Russian positions which are known to only very few people. The Russian have protested several times and had warned the U.S. not to continue with their nefarious scheming. The third severe warning came yesterday with statements by the Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov and direct accusation against the U.S. military by the spokesman of the Russian Defense Ministry. In an interview with the semi-official Saudi paper Asharq al-Awsat Foreign Minister Lavrov was extraordinary frank (the full interview was covered only in the Arabic edition). Interfax recapitulates: "The US-led forces' activities in Syria cause many questions. In some cases these forces mount allegedly accidental strikes against the Syrian Armed Forces, after which the Islamic State counterattacks, in other cases they inspire other terrorists to attack strategic locations over which official Damascus has restored its legitimate authority, or stage fatal provocations against our military personnel. I would also mention numerous "accidental" strikes against civilian infrastructure that have taken hundreds of civilian lives," Lavrov said in an interview with the Asharq Al-Awsat pan-Arab newspaper ahead of the Russian visit of Saudi King Salman al-Saud. These accusations, from a very high level of the Russian Federation hierarchy, should not be ignored. But the "western" media were silent over Lavrov's accusations. Only AFP picked up some bits but missed the central point. The Russian Defense Ministry was even more direct: A spokesman for Russia's Defense Ministry said on Wednesday that a series of attacks launched by Islamic State in Syria on government forces had come from an area near the border with Jordan where a US military mission was located. The spokesman, Major-General Igor Konashenkov, said in a statement the attackers had the precise coordinates of the Syrian government forces, which could only have been obtained through aerial reconnaissance. Konashenkov accused the U.S. of "flirtation" with the terrorists and warned that, should similar happen again, Russia will take severe countermeasures. While these accusations fly, and the relation between U.S and Russian contingents in Syria further deteriorate, Russian diplomacy is winning the day. Last week the Russian President Putin visited Turkey. (At about the same time the Egyptian chief of intelligence was also in Ankara. He allegedly met his Turkish colleague. A few days later he visited Damascus.) Yesterday the Saudi King arrived in Moscow for an unprecedented visit. Meanwhile the Turkish president Erdogan touched down in Tehran in an unusual amikal atmosphere. Instead of reporting on diplomacy and the increasing chances of a military conflict between super powers in Syria, U.S. media asks if Secretary of State Tillerson called President Trump a "moron" or a "fucking moron". (For the record - the NBC journalist who overheard Tillerson's outburst says it was "fucking moron".) There have now been three significant incidents against the Russian-Syrian alliance in which, according to Russia, U.S. malignancy played a role. Each time Russian officials warned of consequences. To some extend the U.S. hostility is incited by Israeli nagging. But the record shows that CentCom, the U.S. military command in the Middle East, is overtly aggressive and not always following Washington's line. It is high time for the White House to get the situation under control. The bear is a docile animal. But it should not be provoked. There is reason to believe that the Russian forces and their allies in the Middle East have the ability to surprise the U.S. military with unforeseen and deadly moves. Should these U.S. provocations continue Moscow will have no choice but to order harsh retaliations. Posted by b on October 5, 2017 at 7:00 UTC | Permalink Comments next page Ever find it hard to find the right kind of movie to watch? This could fix that At first glance, a stroll down Lindo Lane in west Morgan Hill depicts a typical residential neighborhood with single-family homes and manicured front lawns. However, a closer look at one beige, two-story house in particular reveals a burgeoning tax preparation and bookkeeping business that seconds as the home of the self-made industry leader who founded it 15 years earlier. This started as just something to do when the kids were in school in my spare time, said AdminBooks CEO Renee Daggett, who went from being a stay-at-home mom (she now has two adult children) doing the bookkeeping for her husbands construction company to winning accolades as one of the Top 15 Firms of the Future in a worldwide contest by Intuit. Im still in shock, Daggett said of the prestigious recognition. To me, its validation of the hard work of our whole team. Surprisingly, Daggett never had to leave home to accomplish it. Not too shabby for the self-starter whose knack for detail and numbers also saw her teaching the Quickbooks software program to other adults for some extra coin before founding AdminBooks. Her firm, still run on the ground floor of her 125 Lindo Lane address, now employs 16 full-time number crunchers (six on-site and 10 working remotely in several different states). They assist 55 monthly bookkeeping clients and 350 consulting customers on an as-needed basis, as well as 50 payroll and 500 tax preparation clients. When I first started out, we were Quickbooks-centric.Then, my clients asked, since youre doing my books, can you do my taxes?, said Daggett, who took that bit of advice to heart and went out and got her tax preparation license. I love numbers. I love taking a clients chaos and creating order. Daggett, who earlier had earned her elementary education degree from San Jose State University, went to work in a small makeshift office designed by her husband in 2002. Word began to spread and the former stay-at-home mom gradually began picking up client after client. Meanwhile, her husband was busy expanding the office space little by little over the last decade. Hes converted all of the downstairs rooms into business areas, and even built an extension onto the house. I was a business owner previously so I know the client perspective. Thats where my heart is. I prepare their books as if they were my own. I prepare their taxes as if they were my own, Daggett said. I explain and educate them on their tax situation and give them options and the consequences of those options so they can be more in control. Hand in hand with her expanding clientele, Daggett grew her AdminBooks workforce by investing in women who want to work with me because I cant do it all on my own. And just as she bettered her own position while diversifying her work skills, Daggett did the same for her employees. Having all smart women to help, I just couldnt do this without them, said Daggett, stressing AdminBooks workforce age diversity. One employee came in fresh out of college, another who was advancing in her career and others returning to the grind after raising a family. Handpicked employees like AdminBooks tax preparer Misty Wolsfeld, of Morgan Hill, a former bank manager who was looking to re-enter the workforce after leaving for eight years to raise her children. Hired as an administrative assistant four years ago, Wolsfeld found an aptitude for doing taxes, and it just grew from there as she also earned her tax preparation license. Thats happened over and over, where they come in as an administrative assistant and then get that experience in taxes and bookkeeping and climb the ladder, Daggett said. On the bookkeeping side, manager Nikki Mulder is the head honcho, according to Daggett. Mulder was looking to jump from a part-time job with another firm to a full-time gig four years ago as her kids became older. In her current duties, she check ins with bookkeepers working in the office and most remotely in places such as Idaho, Nevada and Houston. I think were a pretty positive crew here, said Mulder, who has three children and five grandchildren. Were always learning new things all the time. That lifelong learner mindset starts at the top, according to Wolsfeld. Renee is always looking 12 months down the road, what processes can we improve and what can we do to get there, said Wolsfeld, with admiration for her inspirational boss. Renee is a really great mentor for us. Shes really invested in furthering our education. Building for the future Daggetts proactive, nurturing work ethic is turning heads and changing the landscape in the tax preparation and bookkeeping industry. Shes helping to take tax preparation into the 21st century. The entire AdminBooks team will attend the QuickBooks Connect conference this November in San Jose, where they hope to further educate themselves on all the new technologies being offered. Daggett has already turned AdminBooks into a paperless, secure, cloud-based tax firm. Renee is a thought leader in our industry, Wolsfeld said. She is leading the pack and demonstrating where accounting will go in the future. Daggett has given webinars on the topic (her last drawing 800 listeners); was invited to be on a panel with InTuit in November; authored a self-help book titled Your Financial Flight Plan: Pilot Your Business to Profitability; and kept the door open for any new opportunities to promote her brand. The Firm of the Future contest, which is in its third year, recognizes the most forward-thinking accounting, bookkeeping and tax firms that are able to best showcase how they see the value of the cloud, use business models to better value their expertise and grow their practice with modern marketing techniques. A lot of tax preparers are older and getting close to retirement, Daggett said. I want to educate people on tax preparation and make this an attractive and fun industry for them to consider. Petty theft Someone stole a ladder from a commercial business on the 200 block of West Main Avenue. The theft was reported 3:28 p.m. Sept. 26. A thief or thieves stole the tags from a license plate on a vehicle parked on Barrett Avenue. The theft was reported 1:33 p.m. Sept. 25. A teenager stole beer and vodka from Safeway, 235 Tennant Station. The theft was reported 12:43 p.m. Sept. 20. Someone stole a license plate from a vehicle parked on the 200 block of West Main Avenue. The plate was later found in Milpitas. The theft was reported 2:24 p.m. Sept. 19. Disturbance Two customers at Rosys At The Beach restaurant, 17320 Monterey Road, became upset because their table was not ready, and threw a plastic water bottle at another customer. The disturbance was reported 7:42 p.m. Sept. 26. A witness picked up a juvenile male who was being chased and threatened by a group of teens who were throwing rocks at him in the area of Hale and West Main avenues. The witness drove the victim a few blocks away, when the child got out of the vehicle and went home with his brother. The disturbance was reported 9:31 p.m. Sept. 15. Accident, DUI A male driver crashed a vehicle into a tree and a fire hydrant on Madrone Parkway, but no one was in the vehicle when witnesses and police checked the scene. Police searched the area and later located a man on foot in the nearby business park, who officers determined was the driver who crashed into the tree and hydrant. The man was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence. The accident was reported 1:07 a.m. Sept. 24. Stolen vehicle Someone stole a Penske truck from Executive Inn & Suites on Condit Road. The theft was reported 8:23 a.m. Sept. 24. A white GMC Sierra pickup stolen out of San Jose was recovered on Longview Drive in Morgan Hill. The vehicle was reported recovered 9:13 a.m. Sept. 24. Patrol check A witness called to report three middle aged men on bicycles hanging out on LaCrosse Driveone asleep against a tree, one lying on a picnic bench and one standing next to the bench. The witness heard one of the men say, Man, that was some good dope. The incident was reported 10:45 a.m. Sept. 24. Drunk in public A man in his 40s was passed out in the elevator in the downtown parking garage, 50 East Third Street. The man was transported to Saint Louise Regional Hospital and later released with a citation for public drunkenness. The incident was reported 9:47 a.m. Sept. 25. Auto burglary Someone broke into a white Dodge Charger on the 16500 block of Monterey Road and stole a wallet, checkbook and credit cards. The break-in was reported 7:33 a.m. Sept. 22, and the victim thinks the crime occurred overnight the previous night. Burglary A thief or thieves broke into a storage shed behind Forbes Grill restaurant, 18599 Sutter Blvd. The crime was reported 11:17 a.m. Sept. 22. Someone smashed the window of Las Delicias Ice Cream & Botanitas, 16999 Monterey Road, and stole a cash register box that contained an unknown amount of cash. The crime was reported 11:10 a.m. Sept. 16. Municipal code violation Someone repeatedly dumped trash outside the Masonic Lodge located at 380 West Dunne Ave. The crime was reported 1:08 p.m. Sept. 22. Grand theft A thief or thieves stole the tires and rims off two vehicles parked on Laurel Road. The crime was reported 9:49 a.m. Sept. 20. Theft Someone stole a pet cat from a residence on La Selva Drive. The theft was reported 6:46 p.m. Sept. 16. All subjects are innocent until proven guilty. Information is compiled from public records. Morgan Hill Unified School District showed a slight decline in state student test scores this year and maintained a cavernous achievement gap between Hispanic students and their classmates based on the 2017 Smarter Balanced Assessment Results released last week. However, one local school district official thinks there is something seriously wrong with the states testing system, and claims the scores are inaccurate. Glen Webb, MHUSDs Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment, said he has concerns over the functionality of the tests and that a nationwide trend in which the same exams are given proves his point. The decline in SBAC scores across the nation is statistically improbable, and should be a red flag to all districts, Webb said in a MHUSD press release titled Test Scores Marred by Questions of Test Functionality dated Sept. 27. It suggests that the measurement tool (the SBAC test itself) is not functioning properly. His argument relies on his own analysis of test scores across several states that use either the SBAC or another similar testing system. Webb posed questions from his findings to education assessment experts who supported further analysis of the SBAC tests. State Superintendent Tom Torlakson described the latest tests as far more rigorous and realistic than the previous paper and pencil tests. We are asking more of our students, but for a good reasonso they are better prepared for the world of college and careers, Torlakson said in the California Department of Educations press release. The state did not respond to Webbs claims when asked about them specifically. MHUSD produces subpar scores In Morgan Hill, the SBAC results revealed half the students in MHUSD schools, grades third through eighth and 11th, have either met or exceeded state standards in English Language Arts/Literacy (ELA). In mathematics, nearly 40 percent of the same crop of MHUSD students met or exceeded state standards while 60 percent did not meet or nearly met that subjects requirements. Meanwhile, the achievement rate in both ELA and math was significantly higher among Ann Sobrato High School 11th graders who are now in their senior years. Nearly three-quarters of Sobrato students tested last year (73.69 percent) met or exceeded ELA standards while almost 50 percent met or exceeded math standards to surpass the district-wide results. At Live Oak High School, last years 11th graders eclipsed the district totals in ELA with more than 56 percent meeting or exceeding standards. But the same could not be said in math, where just over 31 percent met or exceeded standards. MHUSDs overall scores in ELA and math, which can be viewed on the California Department of Education website (cde.ca.gov), dropped slightly from the previous years 52 percent at or above in ELA, and 41 percent at or above in math. As for countywide results, 62 percent of students met or exceeded the ELA standards compared to 49 percent of students statewide. In math, 55 percent of county students met or exceeded the standards compared to 38 percent of students statewide. When asked about the validity of the 2017 results, County Office of Education Superintendent Jon Gundry didnt go as far Webb in challenging their accuracy in his emailed statement to the Times. It is the understanding of the Department of Assessment and Accountability at the Santa Clara County Office of Education that while the California Department of Education does not suspect that there are technical issues with the current scoring, a technical advisory committee will investigate the scores at an October Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium Conference, Gundry said. Achievement gap persists Always on educators radar is the achievement gap on state standardized tests between Hispanic or Latino students compared to their White and Asian counterparts. As for the 2016-17 scores, that achievement gap remains glaring in districts throughout the state, according to state data. In Morgan Hill schools, about 34 percent of all Hispanic students tested met or exceeded ELA standards compared to nearly 67 percent among White students and 80 percent among Asian students. In math, 23 percent of Hispanic students met or exceeded standards compared to nearly 57 among White students and nearly 74 percent among Asian students. Looking at the same comparisons in countywide results: In ELA, 37 percent of Hispanic students met or exceeded standards, compared to 76 percent among White students and 83 percent among Asian students. In math, 26 percent of Hispanic students met or exceeded, compared to 69 percent among White students and 83 percent among Asian students. Webb questions these results too, contending that data such as this needs to be broken down even further with factors such as parent education level and socioeconomic status to get a true reading of how the district is serving the different ethnic groups. The states online database allows users to isolate the test scores using varying factors. Fortunately for MHUSD students, we dont rely solely on the SBAC as the only assessment for student achievement, the districts press release states. Using a variety of academic and social-emotional tests, we are able to better assess individual student needs and provide multi-tier programs and enrichments that better support their needs. What are these state tests? The California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress Online Tests are now in their third year of existence since replacing the former Standardized Testing and Reporting program that included the Academic Performance Index or API. The computer-based tests use Californias challenging academic standards and ask students to write clearly, think critically and solve complex problems, just as they will need to do in college and 21st century careers. CAASPP results will show their greater value with time. The numbers will eventually allow us to track student progress and development over time, and the more data received, the greater understanding we will have, said Gundry in an earlier Sept. 27 press release. CAASPP includes a number of assessments, but the most widely given are the Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments, which evaluate student progress on the California standards in Mathematics and English Language Arts/Literacy, often referred to as the Common Core. The CAASPP tests for English Language Arts/Literacy and mathematics were given to students in grades three through eight and grade eleven. Ninth and 10th graders are not given the CAASPP exams. They consist of two parts. First, there is an adaptive test taken on a computer that gives students different follow-up questions based on their answers, thereby providing a more refined picture of a students abilities. Second, there is a performance task that challenges students to apply their knowledge and skills to real-world problems. The two parts measure depth of understanding, writing, research and problem-solving skills. Morganton will again host a popular doll extravaganza this weekend. The 10th annual Southeastern Doll Show will take place Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the lower level of the Collett Street Recreation Center. Admission is $5 per person. The event will be co-sponsored by Dolls & Designs by Sandi and WMNC 92.1 FM. The show will feature thousands of dolls on exhibit and for sale by professional and individual vendors from across the region, according to Sandi Walker, owner of Dolls & Designs by Sandi of Valdese. Doll enthusiasts and professionals will give live demonstrations on how to make and appraise dolls. Walker will run a doll hospital at the show, where visitors can bring in dolls to be repaired. To honor the anniversary of the untimely passing of Great Britains Princess Diana, Walker will showcase a life-sized doll of the late princess wearing a black and gold beaded sequin gown at the show. Princess Di will be joined this year by Lady Liberty, a reproduction of the Statue of Liberty. Visitors may have their photos taken with the dolls. Walker also will display a rare antique Bebe Jumeau doll and a small, all-bisque German doll known as the wrestler. She said the two dolls have never been shown before. Dolls & Designs by Sandi also will present a 6-foot Christmas tree decorated with 25 Barbies and Friends, which will be raffled off on Dec. 2 at noon after the Valdese Christmas Parade. Those interested may sign up for the raffle by visiting Walkers shop at 122 W. Main St. in Valdese. They may earn extra coupons by making purchases at the shop. People also can get coupons at the show or in the Burke-Catawba Saver or Iwanna sale publications. Walker took over organizing the event from a local doll club, who had presented the show for twenty years before deciding to discontinue it. I had participated in this event for eighteen years, Walker said. I felt this was too important to let the doll show just go away. I worked with the doll club to keep the event viable. She sponsored the doll show and organized the event in Valdese for two years, until the response became so large, she had to move the venue to a larger location. Dolls & Designs has sponsored the doll show at the Collett Street Recreation Center for the last eight years. Walker said it will be the only doll show in the western part of the state for the rest of this year. This effort has been successful in providing the doll making and doll collecting people with an event they could find to fill their respective desires, Walker said. Doll collecting and making is the largest hobby in the country. Let's keep it going. Much has been written about Chinas Belt and Road Initiative but Morningstar equity analysts think much of the overwhelmingly positive commentary lacks context and is wide of the mark. Major iron ore miners such as BHP Billiton (BLT), Rio Tinto (RIO), and Fortescue (FMG) all expect BRI to drive further growth in steel demand in China, and in turn support growing demand for iron ore. BHP expects Chinas steel demand to continue to grow at about 1% a year until the middle of the next decade. However, we think the likely spend on Belt and Road, and its consequent boost to steel and iron ore demand, is small in context of Chinas already heady spending on fixed asset investment. Chinas increasing reliance on fixed asset investment to drive economic growth has the unwelcome impact of growing debt, declining productivity and a diminishing pool projects worthy of investment and capable of delivering an acceptable return. Fortescue was an early vocal supporter of Belt and Road, but more recently, BHP has grabbed headlines with a bullish take on its potential to drive Chinas steel consumption. Recent commentary from BHP makes BRI sound like a very big deal, saying it is seven times larger than the Marshall Plan to rebuild post-war Europe and estimates total spending of $1.3 trillion. The company says Belt and Road could drive an additional 150 million tonnes of incremental steel demand in 10 years, approximately 15 million tonnes a year. This all sounds material and positive for the miners, however, we think context is important. Chinas steel consumption in 2016 was about 713 million tonnes, so if BHPs estimate of 15 million tonnes of additional steel consumption is correct, it would translate to a one-time increase in Chinas steel consumption of about 2%. Versus global steel output, which in 2017 is tracking towards 1.69 billion tonnes given year-to-date growth in output of 4.9%, BHPs estimate of the impact on steel demand from Belt and Road translates to a once-off 0.9% rise. A possible once-off 0.9% increase in steel demand from Belt and Road is small given our view of the headwinds facing steel demand, namely from a likely material decline in fixed asset investment growth in China as investment projects become increasingly inefficient and bad debt builds as a consequence. With respect to BHPs Marshall Plan comparison, it is notable that global steel production in 2017 is about nine times larger than the 189 million tonnes seen in the 1950s. China's Steel Consumption Set to Decline Contrary to the upbeat commentary from the miners, we think the recent uptick in commodity demand and prices is just a cyclical upturn driven by Chinas 2016 stimulus. Long term, structural headwinds remain and Chinas steel consumption is likely to decline in the next decade. This, along with further low-cost iron ore supply additions, should drive a flattening of the iron ore cost curve and producer margins. The major miners remain overvalued with the market too optimistic on future demand growth for mined commodities, particularly for the steel making materials - iron ore and coking coal. Chinas economy has reached diminishing returns from increasing fixed asset investment and we think future demand growth for mined commodities is likely to suffer as a result. BHPs London-listed Plc stock is the cheapest of the major miners, but still somewhat overvalued, trading at an approximate 20% premium to our fair value estimate. We think BHP, particularly its Plc shares, is less overvalued than its peers given its greater exposure to oil and lesser exposure to iron ore. BHPs Australian listed BHP Limited shares and Rio Tintos London-listed Plc shares trade at close to 40% premiums to our fair value estimates while the higher-cost or more iron ore exposed miners, such as Fortescue, Vale (VALE) and Anglo American (AAL), trade at premiums of at least 60% to our fair value estimates. Stock Valuations are Too High Our key disagreement with the market on valuation is around long-term commodity prices and likely midcycle earnings. Current conditions are very favourable for the miners, reflecting the reduction in capital and operating costs since 2014 and the upturn in prices. Our forecast-adjusted earnings of 6.39 Australian dollars a share for Rio Tinto in 2017 is in line with 2012 levels, when the China boom was still going strong. We expect Rio Tintos midcycle earnings in 2021 to be approximately 40% lower versus consensus expectations for broadly steady earnings. External estimates we have seen suggest Belt and Road spending of around $900 billion in total, equating to an annual spend of approximately $90 billion were outlays spread evenly over a 10-year period. That's slightly below BHPs $130 billion a year estimate. Again, this figure needs to be seen in context. We expect Chinas gross capital formation, or spending on infrastructure projects, in 2017 to be about $5.4 trillion, so a Belt and Road spend of $90 billion gives a one-time boost to gross capital formation of 1.7%. Assuming a similar intensity of steel use as for Chinas other gross capital formation spend nets a once-off 12 million tonne boost to Chinas steel consumption from Belt and Road. We contend continued elevated expenditure on fixed asset investment is driving a reduction in Chinas total factor productivity. Between 2011 and 2016, the largest contribution to Chinas GDP growth was growth in capital formation at 5.2% a year, broadly in line with the two decades ended 2010. However, the contribution to GDP growth from total factor productivity declined to 2.3% versus nearly 5% a year in the two decades ended 2010. We think an increasing proportion of investment in unworthy projects and stalled economic reform is weighing on total factor productivity and overall GDP growth. Chinas GDP growth is increasingly tied to growth in fixed asset investment, yet the lack of projects with reasonable returns means pulling the investment lever has reached the point of diminishing returns. Falling Returns on Investment Since 2008, returns from investment have faltered due to repeated stimulus and stalled reforms. China's total capital-output ratio, which measures how efficiently the country's total capital stock is being used, has deteriorated by nearly one third amid overinvestment across vast swathes of the economy. Chinas stock of capital is increasingly akin to a developed country. For example, by 2016, China's National Trunk Highway System spanned 130,973 km, making it more than two thirds longer than the 77,334km long Interstate Highway System in the United States, a country of comparable landmass. While China has one third fewer motor vehicles than the US - 186 million versus 265 million - it now has more than double the expressway kilometres per vehicle. It's not just broad economic figures showing capital misallocation in China. There are several tangible examples of mis-steps regionally as part of the Belt and Road. Theres Sri Lankas Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport which has capacity for one million passengers a year, yet receives just one or two flights a day. The proposed high-speed rail link between Northern Myanmar and Rangoon seems a wasteful luxury for a country with one-quarter of its population in poverty and lacking basic infrastructure. Ratings agency Fitch has been one of few critics of Chinas Belt and Road, saying the effort is driven by the governments attempts to relieve domestic overcapacity. Fitch said the projects might not address the most pressing infrastructure needs and may fail to deliver expected returns. Excess capacity has arisen as Chinas economy transitions from investment-led growth and Belt and Road is an effort to export the spare capacity. Part of the goal of Chinas Belt and Road is to grow its geopolitical influence through the region and this could see investment in otherwise unviable projects, resulting in growth in bad debt. China can no longer rely on brute capital accumulation as a major source of productivity gains. If anything, maintaining the current level of spending would likely reduce productivity growth. Overinvestment and overborrowing are direct consequences of China's political economy, which prioritises and incentivises growth at all costs and does not subject government-linked borrowers to market discipline. These problems are structural and, as such, cannot be solved with political discipline. Beijing's frequent admonitions of reckless borrowing and spending by provincial and local governments have had little impact over the years. President Xi's various "supply-side reforms," which include capacity reduction quotas, debt-to-equity swaps, and hybrid ownership structures, are also unlikely to have lasting consequences. Until Beijing abandons overly ambitious GDP growth targets, repeated stimulus efforts are likely despite diminishing returns. Barring true structural change, returns on capital will deteriorate further, bad debt will continue to accumulate, and productivity growth will come under added pressure. E! News: In the finale, Lestat isn't burned and instead left in the dump, meaning he's still alive. Can you definitely say if we will see Lestat in season two? Jacob Anderson: Yes, I can definitely say that you will see Lestat in season GET OUR APP Our Spectrum News app is the most convenient way to get the stories that matter to you. Download it here. It has been a cloudy evening across Central Florida, with a few scattered showers. Couple of showers possible overnight More showers, storms expected Friday Hazardous boating conditions RELATED: Tropical Storm Nate SEE BELOW: See our 7-day forecast A couple of showers will remain possible overnight under mostly cloudy skies. Overnight low temperatures will be in the mid 70s. More showers and storms are expected Friday. We will again see partly sunny to mostly cloudy skies with a good bet for showers and storms. Highs for Friday will be in the upper 80s. The weekend also looks unsettled as more tropical moisture lifts into the area. Well see partly sunny skies both Saturday and Sunday with a 60 percent chance of showers and storms. Highs both weekend days will be in the upper 80s to lower 90s. WEATHER ON THE GO: Download the News 13+ app and get StormTracker 13 & Safety Net alerts wherever you are. GET WEATHER ALERTS: Sign up to receive weather text alerts from News 13 Drier air does make an appearance next week, bringing more sunshine and reducing the threat for scattered showers. Highs next week will hold in the upper 80s. In the tropics, Tropical Storm Nate continues to dump heavy rainfall over Central America. Nate will lift into the Gulf of Mexico late Friday and will likely make landfall as a hurricane this weekend. There is now high confidence of a landfall somewhere in the northern Gulf Coast. Nate will not directly impact the weather here in Central Florida. Elsewhere, there is a tropical wave near the Florida Keys that is producing clouds and showers. This system has less than a 10 percent chance of development. A small craft caution is again up for Friday, with winds at 5 to 10 knots and seas at 5 to 7 feet. Surfers will experience poor conditions Friday, with an easing east-northeast swell. The rip current threat for Friday will be moderate. StormTracker 13 Doppler Radar &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;nbsp; View LIVE Interactive StormTracker 13 Radar Map We want your pictures! Show us what the weather looks like in your neighborhood. Your photo could end up on News 13 and mynews13.com/weatherpics. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A San Antonio gym owner has been arrested in connection with a blaze that killed a firefighter and severely injured another. Emond Johnson, 39, was arrested Wednesday morning on one charge of murder, two arson charges and two additional charges of arson causing bodily injury. Officials allege he set fire to his own gym, Spartan Box, on May 18, as a way of getting out of his lease because he owned almost $7,000 in rent for the property. According to an affidavit, he admitted to using a lighter to set fire to a mixture of gasoline and oil inside the building. Firefighter Scott Deem was killed in the blaze at the Ingram Square Shopping Center and Brad Phipps was severely injured. "There is not a member of this organization who has not shed a tear because of the culmination of his," Fire Chief Charles Hood said. RELATED: Man charged in death of S.A. firefighter started crowdfunding page for gym he's accused of burning down Now Playing: San Antonio Fire Department Chief Charles Hood was grief-stricken as he explained why firefighters had to leave one of their own behind. Scott Deem was killed, and two firefighters were injured, while battling a blaze late Thurs., May 18, 2017. Video: San Antonio Express-News When the fire broke out, firefighters entered the shopping center looking for people needing to be saved, Hood said. "Ironically, the person they went in to rescue looks like the person that committed this fire," Hood said, adding, ""That does cause some anger within our organization." Deem, Phipps and other firefighters who entered Spartan Box reported zero visibility and zero ventilation, according to recordings of scanner traffic, and a commander ordered all firefighters out of the building. Soon after, a mayday was called over the radio. RELATED: Affidavit: Gym owner describes how he used lighter to set fatal fire in S.A. shopping center Emotions ran high for firefighters Wednesday. Many hugged each other and teared up before the start of a press conference. Deem left behind three kids, one of whom was born after his death. "(Deem) was a tremendous young man," Hood said. "A lot of times you don't realize those things about someone until they're gone." Phipps suffered severe burns and is still recovering from his injuries. "This guy iss going to come back and get on a fire truck," Hood said as his voice quivered. "He's strong." Firefighter Robert Vasquez is expected to make a full recovery. Bexar County District Attorney Nico LaHood said his office is "laser-focused" on prosecuting the case, but declined elaborating on any specific questions about the investigation. VIDEO: Firefighter injured in blaze that killed Scott Deem returns home after months in hospital Less than a day after the fire, Johnson set up a crowdfunding page to raise money for his gym. He was interviewed by media and spoke with investigators several times. According to his arrest warrant, those investigators continuously poked holes in his story about that night until he confessed on Wednesday. While the tragic incident left firefighters upset, Hood said the mission of protecting their community and their loved ones remains the same for firefighters. "There's no doubt about the courage, physical abilities, strength and resiliency of this organization," Hood said. fsabawi@mysa.com | Twitter: @FaresInSA | Staff writers Kelsey Bradshaw and Caleb Downs contributed to this report A man reportedly faces charges for making terroristic threats after a Wednesday incident on a Houston METRO bus, according to local media. Wayne Darryl Dalcourt was arrested in the 5200 block of Airline Drive after making threats on a bus, according to Channel 13. Political events in the Bay Area Politics and media: Longtime San Francisco journalist Tim Redmond discusses media coverage and the Trump administration. Event begins at 3 p.m. in the Richmond Meeting Room of the Sen. Milton Marks Branch Library, 351 Ninth Ave., San Francisco. http://bit.ly/2wJub72 Single-payer: Peter S. Arno, senior fellow and director of health policy studies at the Political Economy Research Institute, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, will speak on single-payer health coverage for the state and how to pay for universal coverage. The event will be at 1333 Pine St. in Martinez from 3-5 p.m. Haiti: A screening of a new documentary Serenade for Haiti will be held at 7 p.m. at the Roxie Theater with a question and answer session following. The screening will benefit Engineers Without Borders working in Haiti. http://bit.ly/2hSWieo Democracy, explained: Learn how to run a campaign and get appointed to a commission from the Lamorinda Democratic Club, from 7-9 p.m. The event will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Lafayette Library and Learning Center, featuring elected officials, campaign managers and consultants. http://bit.ly/2hGwXnJ Limits of Whiteness: Neda Maghbouleh, assistant professor of sociology at University of Toronto, will lecture on how Iranian Americans move across a white not-white color line, discussing race in North America today. The lecture runs from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m at the Humanities Auditorium at the San Francisco State University. http://bit.ly/2fHvtFF Black Panther history: Joshua Bloom and Waldo E. Martin Jr., authors of Black Against Empire: The History and Politics of the Black Panther Party, discuss their book at the San Francisco Main Librarys Koret Auditorium. 1 p.m. Oct. 29. Information about this event and others noting the books selection in the One City One Book program: http://bit.ly/2eTr1mz To list an event, email Annie Ma at ama@sfchronicle.com Earnest , a well-funded startup with bold ambitions to create a modern financial institution, is being bought by student loan company Navient for $155 million in cash, according to the Wall Street Journal. Investors had put roughly $320 million into the company, which started out with a focus on providing small loans to people based on their earning potential and evolved to provide personal loans to a broader base of customers, as well as lend money to coding academies. In 2015, Earnest was valued at about $375 million, according to the Journal, more than double the price for which it has agreed to sell. Separately, Pennsylvanias attorney general is suing Navient over abusive practices, a filing revealed. Air power As automakers race to build battery-powered cars, a Boeing-backed startup plans to put a hybrid-electric aircraft into commercial service within five years. Zunum Aeros 12-seat plane will carry battery packs and a small fuel reserve for a backup engine. The first model will fly about 700 miles, far enough to ferry travelers from the Bay Area to Los Angeles, the company says. Zunum, backed by JetBlue Airways as well as Boeing, is racing competitors such as Europes Airbus. Scenes from a mall Hey, Jeff, wanna go shopping? Amazon, which helped get the world hooked on online commerce, could choose a defunct mall for its second headquarters. After the Seattle company announced last month that it is hunting for a second North American home with 500,000 square feet, developers jumped. One plan floated for the Dallas area would make the site of the nearly vacant Valley View Mall the cornerstone of an up-to-400-acre development. Mall developers in suburban Phoenix and Detroit also hope to court Amazon. Daily Briefing is compiled from San Francisco Chronicle staff and news services. See more items and links at www.sfgate.com. Twitter: @techchronicle Lowes Home Centers plans to hire more than 200 employees at nine stores in San Antonio, Houston and South Texas to meet demand for construction supplies in the wake of the Harvey storm system, the company said Thursday. The big-box retailer will hold job fairs at nine stores Saturday to fill a mixture of full-time and seasonal part-time positions including cashiers, loaders, customer service associates and sales specialists in its flooring, millwork, appliances and pro services departments. Bangalore, India-based manufacturer Indo-MIM has opened its first U.S. plant at Port San Antonio with 52 workers and plans to expand to 330 employees, a company executive said Thursday. First announced in 2015, the metal-injection-molding plant held formal opening ceremonies this week after starting operations in September, said Jag Holla, marketing senior vice president for the company. Indo-MIM, founded in 1997, has invested $22 million at its 100,000-square-foot factory so far, the companys first U.S. manufacturing site. The investment will rise to about $30 million, mostly in manufacturing equipment, by the middle of 2018, Holla said. In 2015, Indo-MIM initially sought 58,000 square feet at a Port San Antonio building on 36th Street, but started last month at 100,000 square feet. Holla said the company has options to expand up to a total of 250,000 square feet in the 300,000-square-foot building. The lease is for 20 years, according to Port San Antonio. By February, Indo-MIM will employ 100. It could take up to three years to get to 330 employees, but that could change, Holla said. Customer inquiries are coming in. It could be sooner than we thought. Plant supervisors are earning between $17 to $20 an hour, while shop floor operators are earning $13 to $14. Five to eight years of manufacturing experience is sought for supervisor positions, but entry workers can be trained in one week for shop floor positions, Holla said. The company received a $500,000 economic development grant from the city of San Antonio as an incentive. Indo-MIM also has received a 10-year, 100 percent personal property tax abatement and an 85 percent personal property tax abatement from Bexar County, Holla said. Indo-MIM makes precision component parts through high-pressure metal injection molding in a process that mixes powered metal with binder material, Holla said. The small, intricate metal parts go into products that include surgical instruments, hand tools, power tools, auto parts, handguns and rifles, Holla said. Customers include medical tool companies Medtronic and Ethicon, along with Leatherman Tool Group Inc. and Smith & Wesson Corp. Its a diversified portfolio of customers, Holla said. Port San Antonio CEO and President Roland Mower said attracting Indo-MIM to the industrial park is a case study in how the city, county, San Antonio Economic Development Foundation and workforce agencies worked together to create jobs. In the economic development world, landing an advanced manufacturer is a big deal, especially an international manufacturer. This company has taken a second-generation Air Force warehouse and turned it into a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, Mower said. Mower said the port will visit other Indian companies for possible investments. This is a blue-print for the future. Anyone in advanced manufacturing will see that the value we offered Indo-MIM. Domestically, it will help us, and internationally as well, he said. dhendricks@express-news.net This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate While San Antonio may not be first city on the lips of tech talent across the country, it's a place where cybersecurity and other technology-driven companies are blossoming. While city leaders are working to create a startup culture here, established defense contractors based elsewhere, like Northrop Grumman Corp., are also expanding their presences in the Alamo City to meet contracting demand. RELATED: Scaleworks moves in to new digs in Savoy Building And San Antonio has been getting recognition of late as a cybersecurity industry hub. It was recently featured as a case study of three regional cybersecurity "clusters" by the think tank New America, in a report published in September. "The major factor supporting the recent development of this cluster is the city's proximity to military and government organizations, which was significantly bolstered by the recent arrival of the 24th Air Force, Air Forces Cyber, which was founded at Lackland Air Force Base in in 2009 and became fully operational in 2010," the report notes. "From 2011-2014, San Antonio's 100 cybersecurity companies increased regional jobs by 30 percent." RELATED: Hixon partnership plans office building on Broadway downtown While the cybersecurity industry here has deep roots in the Air Force, as well as the National Security Agency, many local names in technology have also been working to foster a startup ecosystem in San Antonio for all types of technology companies. New startups focused in areas other than cybersecurity have also made San Antonio home. Venture equity provider Scaleworks, for example, is acquiring and operating startups that focus on software for businesses. It just moved into its new home on East Houston Street, and has seven companies in its portfolio. To be sure though, not all employees for those companies work out of the new digs in San Antonio. RELATED: City, county offer $8.8M in incentives to Credit Human to move to Pearl, sources say The investment firm now sits right by Geekdom, which is providing a place for many to suss out ideas in a co-working space. And that co-working space has led to success stories, such as that of virtual reality company Merge VR. Geekdom actually introduced the company's founders. New to San Antonio and trying to figure out what tech and cyber jobs are out there? Click through the slideshow above to see some companies doing work in San Antonio. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate It's been at least a decade since Bill Miller Bar-B-Q sold their beloved but bygone cherry cobbler and if you've been missing it you're in luck. On Friday, customers will be able to reunite with the dessert as the San Antonio-based barbecue chain begins bringing back discontinued menu items as part of a "Stranger Things"-inspired promotion. "Stranger Things Have Happened" lasts through October, coinciding with the release of the second season of the popular show on Netflix. RELATED: Bill Miller Bar-B-Q custom breakfast taco orders you'll probably want to try Now Playing: A themed "Stranger Things" pop-up bar just opened with show-inspired art installations, music, and adult beverages. Sean Dowling (@seandowlingtv) has more. Video: Brandpoint "Every Friday a new item will return from the other side, allowing fans to indulge in nostalgia," according to a news release. Cherry cobbler portions will be sold for $1.49 while supplies last and will only be available on Friday. Bill Miller Bar-B-Q Spokeswoman Barbara Newman said the cobbler is delivered fresh, so all participating locations in San Antonio, Austin and Corpus Christi should be stocked by 9 a.m. The promotion is a response to social media chatter by customers yearning for items that are no longer offered at stores. The restaurant selected four fan favorites, including the cobbler, to bring back each Friday. "While Bill Miller Bar-B-Q can't bring "Barb" back, we can bring back some great food from the past for our fans!" stated PJ Peek, Director of Quality Assurance for Bill Miller Bar-B-Q, and fan of the show. "Our fans are going to have a lot of fun!" No word yet on what the other favorites coming back will be. What would you like to see back on the menu? mmendoza@mysa.com | Twitter: @MaddySkye WASHINGTON - It's 9:15 p.m. on a warm August night - five days after an anti-racist protester was run over and killed in Charlottesville, Virginia, two days after President Donald Trump insisted there was "blame on both sides" of the white-supremacist demonstration there - and, in Washington, a projectionist provocateur named Robin Bell is about to light up the night. Like a hit-and-run editorial writer, Bell, 39, has flashed dozens of messages and images on the architecture of federal power since Election Day. The creation that garnered the widest attention debuted in May, when a series of phrases suddenly appeared in giant lighted capital letters over an entrance to the Trump International Hotel in Washington: "EMOLUMENTS WELCOME," "OPEN 24 HOURS" and "PAY TRUMP BRIBES HERE," accompanied by a glowing arrow pointing to the entry arch. Then the Constitution's foreign emoluments clause itself scrolled across the facade, a reference to the controversy over whether Trump is improperly profiting from foreign governments doing business with his properties. Tonight, Bell and his crew are again parked across the street from Trump's hotel. He has decided his response to Charlottesville will come as a projection triptych conveying distinct moods, displayed in separate parts of downtown, with videos of the action streamed on Twitter. Betraying a touch of pre-showtime jitters, he told me earlier, "I'm not 100 percent certain this will work." Outside the hotel, a practiced mission discipline takes hold of Bell's group. Each person has a role: a police liaison to sweet-talk security and buy time, a videographer and a photographer to document the scene, and two production assistants. They set up a two-wheel handcart that has been modified with shelves and platforms to hold a truck battery, an inverter to convert DC power to AC power, a projector and Bell's laptop. A tattoo of Don Quixote peeks from beneath the sleeve of Bell's T-shirt as they wheel the cart up the block and stop opposite the hotel entrance. He aims the projector, and 8,000 lumens of bright white light smack the darkened stone facade. For a frantic half-minute - the half-minute Bell always pre-apologizes for, because he knows he will get just a little tense and snippy - they adjust the height of the projection while Bell strafes his keyboard to fix the size and shape of the display. "Out of my way, out of my way," he barks. "Up, up. Shims. Little bit. There you go. That's it. Just - even, even, even, even!" An announcement appears above the glittering sign of the hotel, in letters three times the size of the golden "Trump": "THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES IS A KNOWN RACIST AND A NAZI SYMPATHIZER." That line disappears and is followed by: "THIS IS NOT A DRILL." Then, "WE ARE ALL RESPONSIBLE TO STAND UP AND END WHITE SUPREMACY," and "#RESIST." And repeat. As visually arresting as this is, to me the projection lacks the ameliorating whimsy of some of his other work. Bell told me this was intentional; he considered it a simple statement of fact, based on Trump's rhetoric and positions - although among the president's comments in the days after Charlottesville was a condemnation of "racism" as well as "the KKK, neo-Nazis, white supremacists and other hate groups." A stream of cars passes, but hardly anyone is on the sidewalk. One of the first to notice the display is a hotel security guard, who crosses the street. Samantha Miller, the police liaison, cheerfully greets him. He studies the projection with an inscrutable smile. He asks if this is the same group that's done this before. --- "It's popular," Miller says, not exactly acknowledging that, in fact, this is their seventh projection visit to the hotel. "We won't be long." The guard asks that they not shine light into the hotel's windows. "No, no, we're keeping it under the windows," Miller assures him. "Wouldn't want to disturb all those nice guests inside." "Much appreciated," says the guard. Two college students who used to live in Iran marvel at the free expression. An African American couple walking to their car after dinner say they're glad Bell is using his white privilege to speak out. "If I had done this right now, I'd probably be arrested," says one of the pair, Brandon Marshall, from Prince George's County, Maryland. "I think it's awesome, all caps," says Marshall's dinner partner, Crystal Scott, who posts a picture to Facebook. Another couple approaches. "What's happening?" asks the man. Bell fills him in. Zach - no last name, please - is a 28-year-old Army veteran who served in Afghanistan and is now a graduate student, trying to protect his ability to get a job in the government. He and his girlfriend just moved to town and were checking out the monuments when they saw this. "I took an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States," Zach tells me. "The first among those rights is the right to free speech. It's pretty incredible that probably not a quarter-mile from the house where the president lives, citizens can come out here and project statements that are unequivocally critical directly onto his property. I think it's a beautiful thing. It's a beautiful feature of this country. I've been to places where this sort of thing would be lethal for the artist. So I love this. And I love that he's not afraid." There are other perspectives, of course, such as one I find later from a viewer on Twitter, where the audience for one of Bell's projections can number in the tens of thousands: "Cool, your mom taught you how to use an overhead projector and you call it art so people will tolerate your message." For weeks I've been wrestling with my own thoughts about Bell's projections. That Bell is a provocative and novel messenger is clear. But what is it about such a simple conceit - putting words temporarily on the building implicated in the message - that we find so mesmerizing? And while Bell's fleeting jeremiads certainly take us by surprise, what, if anything, do they leave us with when the message goes dark? --- The fountainhead of protest projections in Washington was a legendary demonstration in 1989. The arts community was in an uproar over the Corcoran Gallery's decision to cancel a controversial exhibit by photographer Robert Mapplethorpe. In response, laser artist Rockne Krebs projected 50-foot enlargements of 10 images of Mapplethorpe's work on the gallery's facade. The protest drew more than 900 people and revealed the asymmetrical power of projections as a political weapon. The unauthorized images cast upon the building had the effect of shining a light into what some saw as the corrupted soul of the institution. Bell - who reveres Krebs - is jovial and diffident in person, more in keeping with the wry twinkle of some of his projections than the strident condemnations of his others. One evening in his Mount Pleasant studio, he tells me how he came to his distinctive art form. He first studied printmaking at Northern Virginia Community College and on an exchange program in Florence, but video stole his passion in 2000 when he joined a generation of young videographers documenting the anti-globalization and antiwar movements sweeping European capitals and Washington. He started mixing video montages behind DJs in clubs and making music videos with politically inclined bands and rappers. One of his first significant video projections came during the "Sorry State of the Union," a madcap live event that took place on the Mall during George W. Bush's 2003 State of the Union address, as the Iraq War loomed. Bell's multilayered, fast-paced collages of armies, commercials, politicians, surreal beasts and more played on a screen behind bands and speakers. Mainstream gigs came his way as well. He edited videos for a political consultant, was hired to work on "Foreign Exchange With Fareed Zakaria" on PBS and taught at the Corcoran College of Art and Design. He was the videographer for the local band Thievery Corporation's record label and also made the independent feature documentary "Positive Force: More Than a Witness" (2014), about the evolution of a storied Washington, D.C., punk collective that combined music, art and social action. Over the past several years - as affordable yet powerful projectors became much more compact than in Krebs' day - Bell began experimenting with taking projections out of clubs and studios, and going mobile. In 2013, working with the American Civil Liberties Union on a project called "Stop Watching Us," Bell and a team carried a projector around town and beamed imagery critical of surveillance by the National Security Agency under the Obama administration. The 2016 presidential campaign coincided with Bell's mastery of the medium, and the subsequent triumph of Trump only increased demand for his work. He went from doing a handful of projections per year to one or more per week. The high stakes of the new political era made the traditional protest tool kit of banners, spray paint and wheat paste seem old school - and Bell was perfectly placed to provide an attention-grabbing alternative. "Right after the election, a bunch of artists I know, we all felt like ... maybe some of the ways that we're communicating aren't clear," he says. The projections are "a form of retooling a little bit." --- Bell's projections now come regularly enough that during especially volatile news cycles, it's like sensing mayhem in Gotham and looking out for a bat signal. Some of them - such as the emoluments piece and the Charlottesville response - are created by him and his team on their own. But other projections - such as the 2013 ACLU project - are paid collaborations with nonprofit groups pushing causes he believes in: Amnesty International, MoveOn.org, the Sierra Club and others. Bell creates videos of the projections that the clients later feature in catchy social media campaigns. He won't say how much he charges for projections, in part so he can be flexible depending on the complexity of a project and the client's means. One of his clients told me a projection costs in the "few thousand dollars" range. Expenses include paying his crew for several hours of night work, participating in planning meetings about messaging and the overhead of a professional artist. His margins, he tells me, are thin. A $100 parking ticket is enough to bust a hole in a budget. Clients say that in addition to his mastery of the technology and logistics of projection, Bell helps hone their messages to expressions that will blaze memorably on the side of a building. Amnesty International USA, for instance, enlisted Bell to produce three projections around the ban on travel from certain Muslim-majority countries - one at Dulles International Airport, one on the Customs and Border Protection building and one on the Trump hotel. Eric Ferrero, a deputy executive director with the organization, tells me, "The projections are a way to be frankly more in your face, and to deliver a strong, clear message right to the doorstep of power." Rather than simply flash slides or transparencies, as Krebs did on the Corcoran, Bell constructs projections with video-editing and motion graphics software. Other software lets him "map" the imagery, or shape it, so that it fits like custom wallpaper. Words flow up and down columns and across the bases of pediments. Images seem light-painted onto panels of limestone and granite. But just like Krebs at the Corcoran, Bell's projections call into question the nature of the work being done inside the buildings. On the facade of the Department of the Interior, he unspooled the names of national open-space monuments being considered for reductions in size. At the Customs and Border Protection headquarters, he shined quotes, supplied by Amnesty, from immigrants or refugees who could be affected by the travel ban. In his collaboration with MoveOn.org, Bell projected the phrases "Investigate Sessions" (referring to Attorney General Jeff Sessions) and "Investigate Trump" on the Justice Department. When an oversize animated magnifying glass passed over the words, the letters changed from English to Cyrillic, the alphabet used for Russian. --- Now, at 10:20 p.m., it's on to round two of Bell's Charlottesville response. He parks across from the Newseum, whose large panel displaying the text of the First Amendment is one of his favorite walls to project on. This time the team places the projector on the roof of Bell's van, and after the requisite frantic half-minute, a simple set of billboard-size characters appears 30 feet above the avenue: "HEATHER HEYER 1985-2017." Bell aims his phone at the image to video-record a minute of silence in memory of the woman who was killed in Charlottesville. The voice of a girl walking with her parents pipes up above the sound of traffic. "Look at that!" 9-year-old Bianca Gorbenko squeals. Her father, Alex, looks up, sees the name, "and all of the sudden I get this chill," he tells me moments later. "I get this absolute chill in my body." The family, from Long Beach, California, had been distressed by Charlottesville and Trump's equivocating comments. Now here, somehow, on a wall in the nation's capital, was the sum of their anger and dismay simultaneously boiled down and blown up. "I hope her death isn't in vain," says Linda Gorbenko. Bianca chimes in again: "Dad, look, it keeps on doing different things!" Bell has changed the projection after the minute of silence to show the earlier message. Bianca reads along out loud: "This is not a drill. We are all responsible to stand up." Next Bell projects his Swamp Monsters - a series of gargantuan portraits of Trump and his inner circle that he has been projecting around town. They are based on photographs that he has turned creepy with the slightest touch-ups, adding a tiny nod of the head, a slow blink, a dash of eye color, or a glimpse of teeth. "Fantastic," says Alex. But Linda Gorbenko disagrees with Bell's monstrous take on one of Trump's generals. "I think this guy actually wants to do the right thing," she says. "I really want to think he's a patriot." I've seen Bell's projections have this effect before. Passersby are drawn in by the sheer spectacle - as Bell told me, the most important criterion for a successful piece is that, "at the end of the day, it has to look cool" - and suddenly the sidewalk becomes a forum, where some members of the audience clarify their own thinking in relation to Bell's outspokenness. Witnesses complete the projection, until Bell pulls the plug, and then strangers, temporarily dazzled and united by contemplation, scatter. --- Several weeks earlier, at the opening of an exhibit of "resistance" art at the Zenith Gallery, Bell is projecting his Swamp Monsters on the ceiling. He has become a bit of a celebrity. Painters, sculptors and art collectors press in to shake his hand. Japanese public television interviews him. A painter steps up and asks, "What's the most common question you get?" Without a pause, Bell replies, "Is it legal?" Indeed, the aura of transgression - the suspicion that Bell could be skirting the law - likely explains part of the appeal of his art. But the projections are probably legal. That, at least, was the conclusion of Eugene Volokh, a law professor at UCLA who examined Bell's projections in light of legal precedents and posted an analysis on The Washington Post's website. Volokh cited an apposite case from Nevada, where a state appeals court held that there was nothing illegal about a union projecting a message onto an employer's wall. Trespass, the court noted, is usually defined as an invasion by a physical object, or when intangible matter, such as pollution from a factory, causes substantial damage to property. So the projections can't really be classified as a form of trespass. And they probably aren't a nuisance either: "It would be hard to show that a projected message is a 'nuisance' in the legal sense of the word," Volokh wrote, "at least unless the message causes some harmful physical effects," such as "it shines brightly into some guests' windows and keeps them up at night." Justice on the streets, however, ends up being more of a negotiated concept. Some nights Bell projects as long as he likes, undisturbed. Other times, interactions with security officers ensue at varying levels of intensity. I was tagging along when Bell was at the Department of Veterans Affairs, projecting "WHERE IS THE DEBATE ON AFGHANISTAN?" and "STOP THE #WARMACHINE." (The piece was pegged to "War Machine," the recent film starring Brad Pitt, a satirical depiction of U.S. futility in Afghanistan.) Within seconds a security guard came striding toward the projector. "Hey, man, shut that s--- down. Shut it down!" Bell introduced himself and stuck out his hand, which the guard did not shake. --- "Right now you're putting something on a government federal building," the guard said. "I know that's what I'm doing." "You cannot do that, sir." "Actually, I can." The guard pulled out his retractable baton but did not raise it. Bell decided it wasn't the moment to assert what he considered his rights. The projection had been up for about three minutes, which was long enough to make a video and stills for social media. Later, I asked the D.C. police about Bell's projections. A spokeswoman wrote in an email: "There is no indication that a crime has been committed." (A spokeswoman for the Trump Organization did not respond to a request for comment.) Over the course of three nights in six projection locations, I never saw a member of the public react with hostility - though Bell says it does happen. "The projections offer a venue for someone to come in and talk," he says. "But if someone is so ideological they can't even talk, unfortunately, there's not much my medium can do with that. ... You might not agree with me, but at least you can acknowledge we're having this conversation." Of course, the nature of the medium means that Bell gets the last word. The Judiciary Square subway stop is deserted at 10:50 p.m. when Bell pulls up for the third part of his Charlottesville trilogy. He can already tell that the video streams of the night's work are drawing intense interest. They will ultimately log nearly 370,000 viewers. He carries a small projector to a wall in front of a statue of Albert Pike, a Confederate general and member of the nativist Know-Nothing Party who rewrote "Dixie" to better inspire Confederate soldiers. (He is honored by Masons for his work building Freemasonry after the Civil War.) Bell sees an opportunity here to project forward to future actions. A local movement is calling for the removal of the Pike statue, and he wants to join the national wave of dismantling statues in the way a projectionist can. He switches on the projector. A dotted line appears across the base of the statue. A pair of scissors cuts along the line, again and again. Below is the instruction: "REMOVE RACISM ABOVE LINE." A few people glimpse it through the windows of passing cars. The only pedestrian is a corrections employee getting off work who says, "Wow, looks pretty good." Bell silently tracks the course of the tireless anti-racist scissors. "My job in general is pretty easy," he says. "The people who are doing the day-to-day work, that's the hard stuff. Being on the street. The people in Charlottesville. The idea is that this stuff hopefully inspires people, lets them know they're being heard, and motivates them." Finally, after about 20 minutes, he switches off the projector. The statue withdraws into the shadows, and it's as if nothing happened here at all. --- VIDEO: Washington's projectionist provocateur Robin Bell garnered international notice for his rogue light shows on the Trump International Hotel, ranging in topics from Trump's emoluments controversy to how he handled the violence in Charlottesville, Va. (Bell Visuals) --http://wapo.st/2xRxKX6 This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate BROOKFIELD St. Josephs Catholic Church has joined several other churches across the state in going green. The 475 new solar panels on the roof of St. Josephs School went live Thursday, providing energy for the church, rectory and parish center. Well be just about completely green, which is amazing to have a facility this size be solar-powered, the Rev. George ONeill said. ONeill said the church worked for 18 months on the $450,000 project, installing the solar panels over the summer. In addition, the buildings have state-of-the-art, low-energy heat and ventilation systems. The Diocese of Bridgeport has urged churches across the state to go solar through the Connecticut Property Assessed Clean Energy program, or C-PACE, which helps building owners finance energy-efficient projects. Eversource and federal, state and town governments are involved in the program. Immaculate High School in Danbury installed solar panels last year, while St. Andrew Academy in Bridgeport added them over the summer and St. Rose of Lima Church in Newtown installed them in 2014. Through C-PACE, the church will repay the $450,000 over the next 20 years. ONeill said the church used to pay $52,000 a year for heat and electric for the three buildings, but with the panels will not need to worry about heat and electrical costs and will spend only $36,000 a year to pay off the project. The key to this is the energy savings should pay that note completely, ONeill said. I wont have to pay anything. Although the panels are on the school, the energy will only go to the church, rectory and parish center. The budget for those three buildings stays consistent, but the schools budget could change, based on demographics, over the next 20 years, ONeill said. If the project is successful, the church could add the school to the system, he said. ONeill said the buildings systems were outdated and needed to be replaced. In the beginning, I was looking more toward how could I upgrade these buildings, the HVAC of these buildings, at a low cost, he said. But he said he has grown more excited about the prospect of helping the environment at the same time. As I saw what was happening, I saw the incredible benefit of it, he said. If this is what they say its going to do this will be amazing. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Troy When Jamie Magur was deciding whether to run for City Council, he had a difficult meeting with Dean Bodnar. Both men are Republicans, and Magur was thinking about running for the seat Bodnar is leaving. But their conversation was about much more than politics. Magur talked about how he had gone to prison for 18 months for repeatedly driving drunk. He explained his past and how he wanted to redeem it. He hoped Bodnar could forgive him. He wanted Bodnar's blessing. Both men understood why he was asking. Nineteen years before the conversation, Bodnar's daughter was killed by a drunken driver as she stood on a Congress Street sidewalk. Allison Bodnar was 16 when she died. Magur considered her a friend. All these years later, Bodnar had questions for Magur. How many DUIs did you receive? Six, Magur said. "I almost fell off my chair," Bodnar remembered. "I was kind of stunned." Did you ever injury anybody? No, Magur said. Bodnar asked Magur what he had done to change his life and how he planned to stay out of trouble. He asked Magur how he would repay his community. Bodnar says he was impressed by Magur's responses, but left that day without giving him an answer. He could only promise to think about it. Afterward, Bodnar considered Magur's life since being released from prison in 2014. He thought about the strength of Magur's family and faith. Bodnar talked things over with his wife. More Information Contact columnist Chris Churchill at 518-454-5442 or email cchurchill@timesunion.com See More Collapse Ultimately, he concluded he would bless Magur's campaign. "I really see a young man who wants to do good," Bodnar said. "He has paid his price." Magur, 38, is a Troy native who owns a downtown barber shop. He graduated from Catholic Central in 1997. He has a wife and two children and lives near Frear Park. Magur is seeking to represent District 3, which straddles Hoosick Street and stretches from Frear Park to RPI. He's facing author Coleen Murtagh Paratore, a Democrat, and schoolteacher Neil Abdul-Wahab from the Green Party. To this point, Magur's past has not been an issue in the election. To my knowledge, this is the first it's been reported. To Magur's credit, he didn't dodge questions when I called to ask about it. "I own what I did," he said. "It's not something I want to hide. I want everyone to know about it." That may seem hard to believe, but Magur knew his prison stay wouldn't remain a secret through an election. When he told friends and family he intended to run, they said he was crazy. Didn't he realize that his troubled past would be dragged into the open? But Magur wants to be an example for other alcoholics and convicted felons. "I want to show other people who are suffering from alcoholism that there is redemption," Magur said Wednesday as we sat at a table outside his River Street barber shop. "Things can be put back together." Magur needed a Certificate of Good Standing from the state Department of Corrections to vote and to be eligible for the ballot. He wants other felons to know that, contrary to popular belief, they can get involved with the political process. "There are a lot of great people in state prison," he said. "That probably sounds crazy, but there really are." Magur said he started drinking heavily in 2011 after his father and grandfather died. It was a coping mechanism, he said, but things spiraled out of control. He made mistake after mistake. He kept drinking and getting behind the wheel. In the spring of 2013, he was sentenced to three years in prison. His first child was born soon after. "I beat myself up for it," Magur said. "But I can't take it back." I don't know how voters will respond to Magur's past. Will they forgive him? Can they overlook that number six and the way he endangered the lives of others? As Magur concedes, he was lucky not to have hurt anybody. But if Bodnar can forgive Magur ... well, I suspect that will be enough for many. "We don't want to scare off people who are capable of doing good," Bodnar said. "If I had reservations, if I thought he was bulls----ing me, then believe me, I wouldn't be willing to give him the benefit of the doubt." We know our elected officials aren't angels, and it's silly to expect them to be. The best we can ask, in most cases, is that they admit their mistakes and try to learn from them. As Magur joked, politicians in New York usually become convicted felons after they get elected but he's already checked that box. He knows what it means to go to prison. "And I don't want to go back," he said. cchurchill@timesunion.com 518-454-5442 @chris_churchill This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Maria Marrero, 17, is a high school senior who misses her friends. But Hurricane Maria last month ravaged Carolina, the town where she lives on the outskirts of San Juan, knocking out power to her school, Gilberto Concepcion De Gracia School. No one knows when it will be restored. So it was decided for the time being, Marrero would come live with her sister, Iris Lozado, in Bridgeport. She arrived on Sunday. It was not a hard decision, shes family, Lozado said. She is hoping temporary. She wants to go home. Still clutching paperwork from Bassick High School, where Marrero will start classes Friday, Lozado brought her younger sister to City Hall on Thursday. Mayor Joseph Ganim was there with book bags to welcome Marrero as well as Jan Casiano, 13 and Juan Casiano, 12, who also arrived Sunday on a flight from Puerto Rico. Marreros book bag was green, matching her new schools colors. I am glad you got to come here and be part of our community, Ganim told them. I hope this is a good place for you to be for however long that happens to be. The brothers came with an aunt, Ariadna Correa. Another aunt and uncle Suheily Martinez and Jose Casiano who live in Bridgeport are putting them all up. Both boys will be enrolled at Luis Munoz Marin school starting next week. We are not sure if it will be short term or long term, Martinez, said. The family lives near Bridgeport Hospital and has three children of their own, one at Hall School and two others at Achievement First. Both boys are in the seventh grade. Ganim told him he remembers switching schools in the seventh grade. Someone will come up and make friends, Ganim assured them. City schools announced earlier this week they were throwing out the welcome mat for any students displaced from the Hurricane-ravaged island who came to live with relatives. Federal law requires them to do so. Bridgeport has more than 30,000 residents of Puerto Rican descent. Schools Superintendent Aresta Johnson said so far six students displaced from Puerto Rico have arrived in the district. She expects more. The Casiano brothers, who spent several years in Texas before moving to Bayamon, Puerto Rico, both know English. They came with a suitcase full of clothes but little else. The aunt who arrived with them, said their apartment was flooded during the storm. It was scary, Juan Casiano said. The family huddled in a hallway for two days. When they finally emerged, they found fallen trees and broken buildings everywhere. The boys said they have seen no one come to their town to offer assistance in the storms aftermath. Marrero said it was a week after the hurricane before any help arrived to her neighborhood and then it was just water and gasoline. Tree trunks and cables still block many roadways. Cell phone signals are impossible to find. Alma Maya, an aide to the mayor, was at the book bag presentation and said she is headed to Puerto Rico this weekend to collect her mother. My mom is in suburbs of San Juan, 10 minutes from the airport and still has no power, Maya said. On Wednesday, Maya said two of her moms neighbors died. They are older. They cant take the heat and can not stand in lines for water. No one, Maya added, has knocked on doors in her mothers neighborhood offering assistance. Maya doesnt expect her mom will stay in Bridgeport, but she is determined to keep her at least until power is restored. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate City leaders told Dayton Chamber of Commerce members that growth is imminent, but dealing with it in a proactive way is the key to retaining quality of life. The business leaders from around the city and beyond filled a part of the Dayton Community Center on Tuesday for the regular meeting of the Chamber of Commerce to hear the State of the City which was largely given by new city manager, Theo Melancon. Census numbers, even as late as 2014, show the city has grown from 7,200 in 2010 to 7,734 as of 2014, a modest gain of 534 residents. But a more glaring number shows the town has grown in population by 35 percent since the turn of the century. The city manager shared more facts, including the median age of the town is 34-years old, a little on the young side and with a median household income of $52,600. "One of the things that has been a very good thing for the city is the proactivity of the DCDC board, the city council, and planning commission. They are about to roll out their Comprehensive Plan and have just begun the process of the Downtown Revitalization Plan redefining where downtown is and working with local businesses," he said. In preparation for that growth, city facilities have been upgraded and remodeled including the new public safety building for police, fire, and municipal courts. The old police department has been remodeled and now houses an expanded city planning department. "With growth, you need permitting and the ability to assure that people are following the regulations regarding subdivisions," he said. Melancon showed photos of Sumiden Wire and Wachter and said these were only early signs of what was coming on 146. "Some of the challenges we face is making sure we are promoting the right kind of growth in Dayton," he said. "That's why the downtown revitalization and deciding what type of plan and land use we want for our community and incentivize the right growth," he said. With that growth, Melancon said the city also had to meet the demands of that new growth with water, sewer, and utilities. "We have to come up with solutions on ways to fund that infrastructure improvements without breaking the backs of those currently living in the city," the city manager said. Some of those solutions included in-city MUDs, industrial revenue bonds, Chapter 380 agreements and more opportunities for the citizens of Dayton without them having to shoulder the expense of bringing in new business. Melancon said the growth would include city personnel. "We need more officers, more administration on the permitting and planning side, and make sure we stay one step ahead of the growth that's coming," he said. Then the city leaders showed a recruitment video made and sponsored by Entergy for Liberty County. The video is used for seeking out new business both in the states and the world abroad. "With 3,600-acres under property development, what that means is as soon as the property transitions from an agricultural state to development for residential or industrial, overnight that 24.5 square miles would increase to 31-square miles in the city limits when the development occurs," Melancon said. He also pointed out that the city limits stretch along the highways and major thoroughfares that are outside of the city proper. For instance, the city limits along 146 is about 10 miles from the downtown area itself. "If we filled in all the fingers from US 90, SH 146, FM 1960, CR 686 and CR 321, we would be 65 square miles," he said. He also said that adding in all the areas they could possibly annex would expand the city to 125-square miles. At 65-square miles, that would place the city alongside municipalities of the same size such as Temple, Irving, Texas City, Frisco and McKinney. With 125-square miles, the company the city would keep becomes even more significant including Corpus Christi, Brownsville, Lubbock, Abilene, and Amarillo. "Whether we choose growth or not, it's going to show up on its own so we choose to manage it," he said. Melancon said their number one priority was quality of life. "Not only is it great for the residents but for us recruiting new business to the area," he said. By quality of life, he named a good park system, quality homes that appreciate over the years, emphasis on multi-family and single-family homes, enforcing codes, having neighborhood preservation standards, and increasing recreational opportunities for the young and old. "It also means trying to take advantage of our foreign trade zone, attract more retail and what you'll see is that we have world-wide recruitment," he said. Melancon said it was also about diversification. "We can't be about one industry town. We need to have oil and gas, industries that service them, white collar jobs and others that will sustain us when the economy is down," he said. Mayor Lambright also offered some stats worth considering. "With our proximity to Houston and with SH 99 coming in, the increase in traffic in Courtland's office (DCDC) used to get three to four calls for businesses wanting to move here in a month. That's increased to 10-20 calls per week of businesses contacting him wanting to come here," the mayor said. "We have developers contacting the city wanting to put housing here and we're not talking 10 or 15 homes, we're talking 400, 500, and 600-acre developments looking to build," Lambright said. The council, he said, wanted to be proactive in the type of growth and development they will support for Dayton. The mayor said it was basically a triangle: Industrial, Residential, and Retail. "You don't get one without the other. As soon as we get our industrial and residential up, we'll see that Starbucks or Chick-Fil-A and all the other stuff we want," he said. "The reason we're doing all of this is because of those young men and women (Chamber Ambassadors from Dayton High School) over there. Many went off to college and didn't come back here, but now we're providing opportunities for them to come back and build their life here," he said. Melancon finished with these basic tenets: Honor and preserve the past, manage growth for the future, and to never compromise the quality of life for Dayton. For the second year in a row, Ross Sterling Middle school is hosting a Hispanic Heritage Month full of educational opportunities and food tastings for students and community members. Jadhai Blackwell, secretary to the assistant principal, has worked closely with Veonda Mahoney, eighth-grade principal, on putting together a number of festivities to play out during the designated Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 dates. Ross Sterling uses the time to highlight the struggle for independence many Central American countries endured. The festivities kicked off Sept. 20 with Hispanic dress-up day, and students were able to wear the colors of their countries or anything symbolizing their country of origin. On Sept. 27, they had pinata day, and students were asked a series of questions throughout the week and awarded a ticket for each correct answer. Tickets could be exchanged for the opportunity to hit the pinata or spent on some traditional Mexican snow cones, respados A dancing with the stars event was held Oct. 4 and included a dance off with Latino music playing throughout various times of the school day for a chance to win a Los Cucos gift card. Next up is a Day of the Dead celebration, which is a prominent holiday in Mexico, allowing students to paint faces on skulls that can be placed on a small stick to carry around throughout the day. Lastly, the school plans to host Fiesta Night at Ross Sterling in the evening with 12 different tables, each one dedicated to a different country. Each table will have specific foods popular to each country. "We tried to get everyone together, no matter what race you are, and the kids get so involved, and we like that kids look forward to participating in something," Blackwell said. Fiesta Night is open to the community at no cost. It is scheduled for Oct. 13 from 6-8 p.m. National Hispanic Heritage Month has been celebrated by Latino Americans since it was first enacted into law on August 17, 1988, by then President Ronald Reagan. Sept. 15 was chosen because of the relevance and importance it had to Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Each of those countries gained their independence from Spain on Sept. 15, 1821. Mexico celebrates its independence day on Sept. 16, Chile celebrates on Sept. 18 and Belize on Sept. 21. Both Mexico and Chile gained independence from Spain in the year 1810, while Belize gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1981. Separatist leaders in Catalonia are seeking to avoid an immediate declaration of independence from Spain as officials in Madrid and business leaders in Barcelona ratchet up pressure on the nationalist camp. With the movement's leaders divided on the issue, some on the Catalan side want to create space for a negotiated settlement, according to two people familiar with their plans. Regional President Carles Puigdemont's mainstream separatist group is concerned that a unilateral move toward independence would send the economy into a tailspin, the people said. But following Sunday's referendum on secession -- which the regional government said won the support of 90 percent of 2.3 million voters -- hardliners from the anarchist party CUP are demanding a quick break with Spain, according to the people, who asked not to be named because the conversations are private. A spokesman for the Catalan government declined to comment. Spanish markets surged after reports of the more conciliatory stance by the separatists. The IBEX 35 stock index rose 2.3 percent versus a 2.9 percent fall Wednesday. Spanish 10-year bonds rose for the first time this week with the spread over German bunds narrowing by 8 basis points, and the euro edged higher for a third consecutive session. The Spanish Constitutional Court, meanwhile, suspended a session of the Catalan Parliament scheduled for Monday, and Economy Minister Luis de Guindos slammed the Catalan administration. Highlighting the economic risks of secession, he said Spain has nothing to discuss with the secessionists until rule of law is restored. Catalan banks "have indicated that if this process goes on, they are totally open to relocating their headquarters," de Guindos told Bloomberg Television. "This is a clear indication of how insane is the regional government of Catalonia." The board of Banco Sabadell was scheduled to meet at 5 p.m. Thursday to discuss a plan to shift its headquarters to Alicante, further down Spain's eastern coast. And Barcelona-based CaixaBank is considering a temporary move of its legal domicile to the Balearic Islands, according to the daily El Mundo. Puigdemont on Wednesday night called for outside mediators to help broker a settlement and said the regional government in Barcelona would soon apply the results of Sunday's makeshift vote. He stopped short of saying how or when he would trigger the process to leave Spain. Puigdemont is trying to hold together a movement that includes a broad swathe of Catalan society, from the anarchists of the CUP to business leaders like Abertis Chairman Salvador Alemany. While Puigdemont heads the regional executive, civic groups like the Catalan National Assembly, or ANC, hold much of the power. It's the ANC that brought more than a million people onto the streets of Barcelona, and the group took the lead in organizing the vote last Sunday. "The group within the Catalan government that is calling the shots is the CUP, an extremely radical group with a lot of anarchist links and they are the ones setting the agenda," de Guindos said. "Everybody has started to realize." Puigdemont's democratic mandate is relatively weak. He was parachuted in to head the regional government as a compromise candidate after regional elections in 2015 left the mainstream separatist alliance, Junts pel Si, unable to form a majority without the anarchists. The prospect of secession is boosting pressure on Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy and his minority government in Madrid. The premier has been seeking cross-party political support for his hard-line approach after police stormed polling stations and triggered mass demonstrations. The next move could involve suspending the regional government and implementing direct rule from Madrid. The moderates want to avoid declaring independence without triggering unrest on the streets from supporters who might feel let down. One formula under discussion would involve deferred independence, with Puigdemont announcing a period of weeks before his decree will be implemented in an effort to force the Spanish government to the negotiating table, the people said. The divide will fuel further uncertainty over the path to independence for Catalonia, which accounts for about 20 percent of Spain's economic output, raising questions about whether Puigdemont will ultimately back down from his demands. The Spanish government has resolutely opposed any talks while the threat of independence is still on the table. "This is not a question of arbitration or mediation, it is a question of a government that has to enforce the law," de Guindos said. "There is nothing to negotiate without the full respect of the rule of law." --- Bloomberg's Francine Lacqua contributed. Interstate 12 twists through 85 miles of eastern Louisiana, stringing Baton Rouge to Slidell on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain. The bayou roadway and the rural parishes off its exit ramps were, until almost year and a half ago, Chad Scott's turf. A swaggering drug cop with the Drug Enforcement Administration, Scott and the task force he ran played hardball with the dealers running product through the region, earning big busts and kudos from superiors. Blond and tan, a champion windsurfer, he cultivated the street image as a self-professed "white devil." One dealer reportedly put out a $15,000 contract on his life, the Advocate reported. Houston rapper Scarface derisively name-checked Scott in a 2000 song. Scott boasted to dealers and informants he was the "baddest" guy to be found on the I-12 corridor. Today, federal prosecutors concur. Over the weekend, the 49-year-old Scott was arrested on 10 charges, the culmination of a large-scale federal probe into illegal activity in Scott's team, according to a news release from the Department of Justice. Scott pleaded not guilty at his initial court appearance this week. "Special Agent Scott is a dedicated and award-winning law enforcement professional who has given his entire adult life to combating crime," Scott's lawyer, Matthew Coman, said in a statement, according to the Associated Press. "For those heroic efforts, Special Agent Scott now faces the prospect of losing his career and freedom as a result of baseless allegations." Last year, two officers from Scott's team pleaded guilty to federal charges, prompting Scott to lose his badge and gun and be suspended. A third, Rodney Gemar, was indicted along with Scott. According to court documents, prosecutors say the Scott lied on the witness stand, falsified witness testimony to secure a conviction, and pocketed money from criminals. The team's implosion threatens more than the careers of the officers. Authorities have already overturned convictions resulting from the corruption, and more cases are under review. The arrests also have also put the DEA in the awkward position of explaining why Scott was seemingly allowed to run wild along Interstate 12 when, as the Advocate has reported, red flags had already been raised about the agent. The agent's law enforcement career began and then boomeranged back to the Interstate 12 corridor. Scott began as a sheriff's deputy in the early 1990s in Tangipahoa Parish. In 1997, he signed on with the DEA, working a stint later in the same decade in Houston investigating drug ties to the local hip-hop scene (hence the Scarface shout-out). By the early 2000s, he was back running the task force in eastern Louisiana. Early last year, federal investigators began taking a hard look at the task force, starting with a raid on local police stations in the region, NOLA.com reported. According to court documents, in early 2016, two former Tangipahoa deputies who worked on Scott's team - Johnny Domingue and Karl Newman - were indicted on charges stealing cash, pain pills, methamphetamine and marijuana from dealers and out of law enforcement evidence rooms. On the day he was arrested, a search of Domingue's home turned up 300 grams of cocaine, oxycodone, methadone and Xanax, among other drugs. Both former task force members pleaded guilty and agreed to work with prosecutors as they built a case. In a recent court hearing, investigators testified they learned Scott's team had illegally seized money, jewelry and wallets from dealers and suspects, saving the items in a filing cabinet in the task force's office. They also told the court that after Domingue's arrest, Scott and another agent, Rodney Gemar, shredded the evidence and dumped the remains in a swamp. The recently filed indictment against Scott includes charges of falsification of government records, obstruction of justice, perjury and illegal gratuity. Court records accuse the agent of knowingly lying in court about an informant identifying a suspected heroin dealer. The indictment says Scott in fact coerced the informant make the identification to make the case. The indictment also accuses the law enforcement agent of taking $10,000 in exchange for recommending to prosecutors a lighter sentence for a drug defendant. This "resulted in the filing of papers in federal court and the ultimate release of" the defendant "from incarceration before he otherwise would have been released." On Tuesday, Scott was released on $300,000 bail. He will be back in court next month. The main organizer behind the deadly white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, has been indicted on a count of felony perjury stemming from his conviction on a misdemeanor assault charge earlier this year. Court records show that on Monday a grand jury in Albemarle County, Virginia, indicted Jason Kessler, a 34-year-old blogger who planned the "Unite the Right" rally in August that sparked violence in the city and left one woman dead. An arrest order was issued at 3 p.m. Tuesday, according to court records, but it was not clear later in the night whether Kessler had been booked by police. Kessler did not immediately respond to a request for comment, and attorney information was not immediately available. Local media reported that the perjury charge was related to a statement Kessler gave to a magistrate judge in January after he scuffled with a local resident on Charlottesville's Downtown Mall. Kessler alleged that on Jan. 22, James Justin Taylor attacked him on the outdoor mall while he was collecting signatures to remove the city's vice-mayor from office. Kessler swore out an assault complaint, claiming Taylor grabbed him and violently shook his arm, according to the local station WCAV. But surveillance video later showed that Kessler was the aggressor, as the Daily Progress reported. In April, he pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault, admitting that he had punched Taylor in the face. Kessler received a 30-day suspended sentence and was ordered to perform 50 hours of community service. Taylor was cleared of any wrongdoing. "I'll admit that what I did was not legal," Kessler told the Daily Progress after entering his guilty plea. "I was having a bad day. I've never done anything like this before and it will never happen again." Perjury is a Class 5 felony in Virginia, punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $2,500 fine. Kessler got his start as a local blogger, using his now-defunct personal website to inveigh against what called "white genocide" and an "attack on white history." He drew national attention last year when he unearthed a series racially-charged and homophobic tweets by the city's vice-mayor, Wes Bellamy. He called Bellamy - who apologized for the tweets - a "blatant black supremacist" and campaigned unsuccessfully to force him out of office. Last spring, Kessler teamed up with other white nationalist groups opposing the Charlottesville City Council's decision to remove a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee from a downtown park. In May, he marched with white nationalist leader Richard Spencer at a torch-bearing rally around the monument, then started planning for a larger demonstration. The Aug. 12 "Unite the Right" rally drew thousands of white supremacist protesters and others on the extreme right, including members of the Ku Klux Klan and neo-Nazi groups, who fought with counterprotesters in the streets throughout the day. One counterprotester, 32-year-old Heather Heyer, was killed and others were injured when a car plowed into a crowd of activists. James Alex Fields Jr., a 20-year-old Nazi sympathizer, was charged with second-degree murder in the hit-and-run. The day after the rally, Kessler gave a news conference in Charlottesville, pinning blame for the violence on law enforcement and claiming "anti-white hate" fueled the chaos. Minutes into his remarks, a group of protesters chased him away from the podium, and he was escorted to safety by police. Two people were arrested last month and charged with misdemeanor assault in connection with the incident. For a few weeks after, Kessler fell off the radar, temporarily shutting down his blog and social media accounts. He told Fox News he had to go into hiding after being barraged with death threats. Spencer and other white nationalists denounced him over a tweet sent from his account on Aug. 18 that called Heyer a "fat, disgusting communist" and said her death was "payback." Kessler suggested he may have written the tweet while taking prescription drugs but did not say definitively whether the words were his. "I will no longer associate with Jason Kessler," Spencer tweeted in reaction. "No one should." For The Intelligencer COLLINSVILLE Louer Facility Planning, Inc. has been named by the St. Louis Business Journal as one of the bi-state regions largest women-owned businesses. The publications list rankings were based upon total revenue in 2016. Louer Facility Plannings annual revenues last year totaled $6.5 million. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate NORWALK Police were at multiple locations around the city Wednesday morning to mingle with locals and some not so local during National Coffee With a Cop Day. Grace Hendry-Nash from Glasgow, Scotland was one of a group of visitors who interacted with Norwalk police officers at the Starbucks on Main Avenue. I enjoy American police movies, so this was a nice surprise to be able to speak with some officers, Hendry-Nash said. Were staying at the hotel across the road. Hendry-Nash, her husband Gerry Nash and sister Rosemary Hendry, chatted over a cup of coffee with Lt. Terry Blake and Officer Josh Avila about a host of topics. Coffee with a Cop is a day of positive interaction in a low-stress environment, Blake said. Its a fantastic community-building event where people can come chat, ask questions or voice concerns. While Norwalk police host regular Coffee With A Cop events at various locations around the city, in recognition of the National Coffee with a Cop Day, on Wednesday Norwalk police were not only at Starbucks, but at McDonalds on Connecticut Avenue, Harbor Harvest in East Norwalk and Caffe Social in South Norwalk. Coffee with a Cop is a great chance for people to voice their concerns and get to know the officers, said Deputy Chief Susan Zecca. Coffee with A Cop was launched in Hawthorne, Calif. in 2011, as members of the Hawthorne Police Department were looking for ways to interact more successfully with the citizens they serve. Since then, Coffee with a Cop events have been hosted in all 50 states and outside the Unites States to Canada, Europe, Australia, and Africa. The key to Coffee with a Cops growing success is that it opens the door for interactions outside of the crisis situations that typically bring law enforcement officers and community members together, according to Coffee with a Cop website. llake@hearstmediact.com Roy Moore didn't travel to Washington, D.C., on Wednesday to kiss and make up with the Republican leaders who opposed his nomination to fill the Senate seat formerly held by Attorney General Jeff Sessions. He came to continue the revolt. Moore didn't meet with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., or stop by the White House to make nice with the forces that tried to defeat him. Instead, he huddled with Stephen Bannon, President Donald Trump's former chief strategist and one of Moore's most outspoken advocates, and spent time in the office of a House Republican from Alabama. The latest skirmish in the escalating war for the soul of the GOP was more than awkward: It was a window into what might be coming for Republicans next year, when hard-right conservatives emboldened by Moore's runoff victory against Sen. Luther Strange, R-Ala., last week are likely to target still more establishment incumbents. It also has immediate and potentially dire implications for the GOP's slim working majority in the Senate. Although Moore still faces a general election on Dec. 12, he is widely seen as the front-runner in that race, given Alabama's heavy conservative tilt. The growing hostilities threaten the effort by Senate GOP leaders to foster enough unity in their ranks to pass a sweeping rewrite of the nation's tax laws - which they are wagering is the only thing left that can reverse the political damage the party has sustained this year. Moore is seen as a wild card who could complicate if not derail that task. The controversial former judge's Washington debut as the Alabama GOP nominee was highly unusual. His trip was a surprise to many party officials, who said they did not hear from him or his team in advance. Rather than meeting with McConnell, Moore was on the House side of the Capitol on Wednesday. In a brief interview as he left the office of Rep. Robert Aderholt in the afternoon, Moore said he had no meetings set up with McConnell or members of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, the Senate majority's campaign arm, which spent millions trying to defeat Moore in the primary. "Nothing confirmed," he said casually, as an aide tried to head off questions. Asked why he decided to come to Washington, Moore simply replied: "Beautiful place." In the evening, Moore met with NRSC Chairman Sen. Cory Gardner, R-Colo., according to a Republican close to Gardner and a second Republican familiar with the talk who was granted anonymity to describe the closed-door session. Moore's campaign declined to comment. The meeting appeared to be hastily arranged, given Moore's afternoon remark and Gardner's uncertainty earlier in the day, as he and other Republicans struggled to save face. "I haven't looked at the schedule - I don't know that yet," said NRSC Chairman Cory Gardner, R-Colo., when asked whether he planned to meet with Moore. Even Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala., was left in the dark. "Once he calls me, I'll meet with him," said Shelby. He said he had not spoken to Moore since his victory last Tuesday over Strange. Shelby, McConnell, Gardner and much of the mainstream wing of the party aggressively backed Strange, who was appointed to fill the Sessions seat. So did Trump. But Moore's pitch as strict Christian conservative and Washington outsider, which was bolstered by support from Bannon, proved to be the better fit for the restive GOP primary electorate that had grown frustrated with Republican lawmakers. After eight months in which the Republican-controlled government fell short of its seven-year goal of dismantling the Affordable Care Act and failed to produce any major legislation, party officials are bracing for a similar backlash in other places across the country. "We want outcomes. And clearly not getting to a point where we think we're moving health-care in the right direction was very disappointing," said Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C. While Strange's most prominent backers promptly endorsed Moore after he won, he has shown considerably less interest in aligning with them. There are strong hints of the company Moore plans to keep if he wins in December. On election night, he named three senators most known for taking defiant stands against GOP leaders, saying he had spoken with each to before giving his victory speech: Rand Paul, R-Ky., Mike Lee, R-Utah, and Ted Cruz, R-Texas. Moore's itinerary on his first trip to Washington reflected the theme, with Wednesday evening plans expected to include Lee and Cruz. and a planned private meeting with Paul on Capitol Hill on Thursday. Former South Carolina Republican Sen. Jim DeMint, a longtime McConnell foil now running the Conservative Partnership Institute, plans to meet Thursday with Moore to talk policy, said several people granted anonymity to discuss private plans. One of the reasons Republicans spent so much money to defeat Moore was a fear that his views would make it harder to strike compromises needed to pass legislative priorities such as tax cuts. "Good luck moving President Trump's growth agenda forward," Scott Reed, the senior political strategist for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, said last week after the election. "The deadline for tax reform just became Dec. 12th." By some measures, Republican prospects for passing a bill by then are slim, given the existing challenges associated with wrangling enough support among current GOP lawmakers who even without Moore in the mix have shown a tendency to disagree on major policy decisions. "I've maintained all along, contrary to some of our colleagues who have felt that tax reform's going to be a lot easier than health care, that tax reform is going to be enormously complex and challenging," said Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., a top McConnell lieutenant. At Moore's meeting with Bannon on Wednesday morning, the two men compared notes on messaging and political strategy for the coming general election fight against Democratic nominee Doug Jones. "The judge obviously really likes and respects Steve, and Steve really likes and respects the judge," said Andy Surabian, the senior adviser to the conservative advocacy group Great America Alliance, who attended the meeting Monday. Some Republicans worry that Moore is a general-election liability who could alienate moderate voters with his controversial positions and past. He was twice ousted as chief justice of the Alabama Supreme Court - once for defying the U.S. Supreme Court's legalization of same-sex marriage and another time for refusing to remove a monument to the Ten Commandments installed at the courthouse. Bannon and other Trump loyalists are bent on repeating their success in Alabama in some of the 2018 contests already taking shape. The White House has also signaled hostility toward several incumbent senators. In remarks to Republican donors Tuesday, Vice President Mike Pence's chief of staff Nick Ayers endorsed a "purge" of GOP lawmakers disloyal to Trump's agenda. Politico first reported the comments. Mica Mosbacher, a Republican fundraiser who attended the event, said many attendees agreed with the sentiment. "They are extremely disappointed in the do-nothing Congress," said Mosbacher, who is affiliated with America First Policies, a pro-Trump organization. In some corners of Capitol Hill, however, Ayers's remarks were met with a different response. Asked whether the comments amounted to an effective strategy for the party, Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., responded, "probably not," with a tone suggesting the answer should be obvious. But in a yet another sign that not all Republican senators are on the same page, one of Scott's colleagues reacted very differently. "I can tell you that people are upset that Republican senators are not backing the agenda of this president," said Sen. David Perdue, R-Ga., a Trump ally. Moore's ascent and the broader GOP war also jeopardizes Trump's attempt to build a bipartisan agreement to protect thousands of young undocumented immigrants from deportation, according to several Republican aides on Capitol Hill. While GOP lawmakers met with Trump this week to talk about framing an agreement on conservative terms, congressional GOP aides said more Republicans may still be wary of backing a deal on that issue because they fear primary repercussions if they align against the far right wing of the party. White House officials have announced no plans for a Moore visit. Aides did not expect that to change, though they were hesitant to rule out any meetings and noted that the president is busy with the federal response to Las Vegas and recent hurricanes. While Moore has been highly critical of McConnell, he has been warm to Trump, even as the president campaigned for his opponent. McConnell's office confirmed that Moore and the majority leader spoke briefly by phone the day after Moore's victory. But on Wednesday, others were getting face time. Aderholt, after meeting with Moore in his office Wednesday, downplayed the significance of the gathering. "Just a meet-and-greet," he said. --- The Washington Post's Michael Scherer and Robert Costa contributed to this report. Facebook has said ads bought by Russian operatives reached 10 million of its users. But does that include everyone reached by the information operation? Couldn't the Russians also have created simple - and free - Facebook posts and hoped they went viral? And if so, how many times were these messages seen by Facebook's massive user base? The answers to those questions, which social media analyst Jonathan Albright studied for a research document he posted online Thursday, are: No. Yes. And hundreds of millions - perhaps many billions - of times. "The primary push to influence wasn't necessarily through paid advertising," said Albright, research director of the Tow Center for Digital Journalism at Columbia University. "The best way to to understand this from a strategic perspective is organic reach." In other words, to understand Russia's meddling in the U.S. election, the frame should not be the reach of the 3,000 ads that Facebook handed over to Congress and that were bought by a single Russian troll farm called the Internet Research Agency. Instead, the frame should be the reach of all the activity of the Russian-controlled accounts - each post, each "like," each comment and also all of the ads. Looked at this way, the picture shifts dramatically. It is bigger - much bigger - but also somewhat different and more subtle than generally portrayed. Albright, who also is a faculty associate at Harvard's Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society, has been studying fake news and Russian propaganda for months. And over the past week, as the names of some of the 470 Russian-bought pages and accounts have trickled out in news reports, he has been using a Facebook-owned analytics tool, called CrowdTangle, to measure the Russian campaign and also has downloaded the most recent 500 posts for each of them. For six of the sites that have been made public - Blacktivists, United Muslims of America, Being Patriotic, Heart of Texas, Secured Borders and LGBT United - Albright found that the content had been "shared" 340 million times. That's from a tiny sliver of the 470 accounts that have been made public. Even if those sites were unusually effective compared to the 464 others, Albright's findings still suggest a total reach well into the billions of "shares" on Facebook. The terminology is important here. For the purposes of these metrics, a "share" is essentially how often a post may have made its way into somebody's Facebook "news feed" - without determining whether any of these users actually read the post. Another metric, called "interactions," counts something narrower but more important -- the number of times individual users acted on what they had read by sharing a post with their Facebook "friends," hitting the "like" button, making a comment or posting an emoji symbol. That measurement for those six accounts, Albright's research showed, was 19.1 million. That means that more people had direct "interactions" with regular posts from just six accounts than saw the ads from all 470 pages and accounts that Facebook has identified as controlled by the Russian troll farm in St. Petersburg, called the Internet Research Agency. Facebook had no immediate comment on Albright's research. The company has shut down all 470 pages and accounts it has identified as controlled by the Internet Research Agency. In a blog post on Monday, Elliot Schrage, vice president of policy and communications, wrote, "We're still looking for abuse and bad actors on our platform - our internal investigation continues. We hope that by cooperating with Congress, the Special Counsel and our industry partners, we will help keep bad actors off our platform." The other revelation in Albright's download, including thousands of posts he has put online in an interactive graphic, is that most of them have nothing to do with the Nov. 8 election. Instead they are tailored to fit seamlessly into the ordinary online conversation of their particular audiences - politically activated African Americans, gay women, Muslims and people concerned about illegal immigration, Texan heritage or the treatment of veterans. There is talk of political issues, but relatively little about voting for Republican Donald Trump or against Democrat Hillary Clinton. That suggests that the Facebook part of the Russian disinformation campaign consisted of at least two steps: The first was to identify voters and sort them into buckets based on the issues they responded to. This was done through the organic posts. The second step was to target voters in these buckets with Russian- bought political ads shaped to their interests, with the intention -- in at least some cases -- of affecting voting behavior. "They were working to lead people along and develop a sense of trust," Albright said. The tone of the posts varies strikingly by the page. The one seemingly managed by a lesbian is intimate, confidential and chatty, with complaints about parents and teachers not understanding the challenges of being young and gay. The English is nearly flawless. One popular post said simply, "Bi and proud!" with a thumbs-up emoji attached to the end. The United Muslim posts take pride in their religion, demand respect and seek to distance their faith from terrorism and ISIS. "Share if you believe Muslims have nothing to do with 9/11. Let's see how many people know the truth!," said one that reached 35,275 news feeds. The Blacktivist posts are assertive and often angry, with many references to police violence against African Americans. Several urge the sharing of a video. One that reached 68,000 news feeds said, "There is a war going against black kids." The other pages are conservative and anti-immigrant, with particular complaints about the treatment of U.S. veterans. One on "Being Patriotic," said, "At least 50,000 homeless veterans are starving dying in the streets, but liberals want to invite 620,000 refugees and settle them among us. We have to take care of our own citizens, and it must be the primary goal for our politicians!" That post reached the news feeds of 724,323 Facebook users. The most explicitly political of the posts may be from Secured Borders, which routinely refers to Clinton as "Killary" instead of Hillary.Many of the posts ones Abright collected went viral, reaching tens or hundreds of thousands of Facebook news feeds, often by posing a question or calling for a response - tools known to people savvy in the use of social media. "Issues that divide and outrage tend to spread the most, which is a common theme in social networks," he said. One final insight from Albright's research: To the extent there is a discernible political motive in them, the goal seemed less to inspire enthusiasm for one candidate than to dampen support for voting at all. This fits with what many other researchers and investigators have said about the Russian disinformation campaign, that it drove directly at the fractures in American society and sought to widen them. "A lot of these posts had the intent to get people not to vote," Albright said. "This is a concerted effort of manipulation. Based on the engagement and reach and the outcome of the election .. I'd say it's been fairly successful, sadly." Greenland, the world's largest island and home to its second largest ice sheet, is a land of ragged cliffs, breathtaking fjords and unimaginable amounts of water on either side of the freezing point. It has also, until now, been something of a mystery. Greenland drew some pointed attention during the world wars and the Cold War, thanks to its strategic location. But it is only today, thanks to rapid climate change, that scientists are beginning to take the full measure of all the earth, rock and ice in a place that's now raising seas by nearly a millimeter every single year. Two new studies of Greenland, using sophisticated technologies and large scientific teams to pull together and process the data, have now gone further in taking the full measure of the island through that ever-so-basic scientific act: mapping. The first, a comprehensive seabed mapping project, relying in part on new data from NASA's OMG ("Oceans Melting Greenland") mission, concludes that the Greenland ice sheet is far more exposed to the planet's warming oceans than previously known - and has more ice to give up than, until now, has been recognized. The massive study, published last month in Geophysical Research Letters, pulls together a large number of data records to provide a comprehensive map of the shape of the seabed around and lying beneath Greenland's glaciers, based on state of the art soundings taken by ships and other data sources. The research - which pulls together a body of evidence that has now been accumulating for a while - measures the depth and contours of the ocean floor both beneath liquid water in Greenland's fjords and beneath ice in places where the ocean may someday flow. The work was led by Mathieu Morlighem of the University of California, Irvine, with no less than 31 other authors from institutions in the United States, Canada, Britain and across Europe. The researchers have found that Greenland contains more total ice above sea level than previously thought - the entire ice mass is capable of raising sea levels by 24.3 feet, about three inches more than previously realized. Still more significant is how much of that ice is vulnerable to warm water that reaches the bases of the ice sheet's deeper glaciers. The new research finds that "between 30 and 100% more glaciers are potentially exposed to [warm Atlantic water] than suggested by previous mapping, which represents 55% of the ice sheet's total drainage area." In other words, more than half of Greenland's ice lies in or flows through areas that could be influenced by warming seas. "The typical result is that we find these fjords to be much deeper than represented in previous maps," said Eric Rignot, a NASA and UCI scientist who has been working on mapping Greenland for a decade and is a co-author on the work. "They're deeper because they've been carved by glacial cycles, multiple times." The study, which catalogues 243 separate Greenland glaciers, also underscores that the island has several vulnerable points where a submerged passageway penetrates into the center of the ice sheet, where the bedrock also lies below sea level. One is at Jakobshavn Isbrae (or Jakobshavn Glacier), the fastest flowing of all Greenland glaciers, racing outward at over eight miles per year, and lying over a deep channel that cuts into the center of Greenland from its western flank. Another is at Petermann Glacier in northwest Greenland. Petermann is not flowing as rapidly as Jakobshavn, and isn't currently as deep. But both glaciers have vast drainage areas, accounting for the potential for large sea level rise. And those are just the goliaths of Greenland. There are hundreds of other glaciers and, the new research finds, 134 of them currently sit in the ocean waters, and thus are resting on a bed below sea level. Of those, 89 rest 200 or more meters below sea level, and 59 rest 300 meters or more below sea level, including some of Greenland's fastest flowing glaciers (and Jakobshavn and Petermann). For dozens of these glaciers, the new study calculates a deeper depth than previously realized, which means they are all more potentially exposed than previously thought to warm seas. All of this new data, Rignot said, will now be fed into sophisticated models that, he thinks, will probably lead to higher estimates of Greenland's sea level rise potential in this century and beyond. "I think when they're going to use these new bed models, the projections are going to change," he said. Meanwhile, on Wednesday, a separate team of scientists used another quite different large-scale mapping exercise to document a surprising - but closely related - change in Greenland's above-water topography. Publishing in the journal Nature, they showed that the contours of the huge island are changing because with all the ice melt rushing from glaciers to the sea, river deltas are expanding outward - a rare occurrence these days when deltas around the world are generally retreating, threatened by rising seas (think of the Mississippi River delta, for instance, and its vanishing wetlands). The study used aerial photos of Greenland taken in the 1940s by U.S. pilots and digitized their coordinates - so researchers were able to compare the extent of 121 Greenland deltas during two periods: from the 1940s to 1980, and the 1980s to the present. In the latter period, the work determined, the deltas showed a pattern of marked expanse. "Over the period of the 1980s to 2010s, rapid increase of meltwater and sediment fluxes caused dramatic advance of these deltas into the ocean," said Irina Overeem, one of the study's authors and a researcher at the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research at the University of Colorado, Boulder. The work was led by Mette Bendixen of the University of Copenhagen and had 11 other authors from Danish, U.S. and Greenlandic institutions. This delta expansion is not just a curiosity, Overeem explained, it's a confirmation that Greenland has been losing more ice in the past few decades, awakening large flows of water from land to sea that carry sediment with them along the way. "It's like a fire hose with slurry, and it's been turned on way faster now, because there's so much more meltwater," she said. Indeed, while direct satellite measurements of Greenland's ice mass loss don't go back very far in time, the delta research now suggests that it has been going on since the 1980s. The researchers had expected that delta growth would be muted or counteracted by another factor - the decline of floating sea ice, which allows for more ocean wave action that can erode coasts. But in the relatively narrow and calm fjords of Greenland, that didn't seem to matter as much, and in these protected spaces, deltas expanded rapidly. Citing the new maps of Greenland's seabed, Overeem sees an overlap: Regions with the deepest glaciers, and hence the most potential to feed ice into the ocean, often also support some of the largest deltas. "Just from looking at where many of the biggest deltas are, if you look at the map of the bed, those are the valleys that go the furthest back under the ice sheet," she said. "Those are the deepest gorges that go way under the ice. Often the biggest delta systems are associated with the places where the bedrock map shows that there's large drainage basins." Simply put, there's just a lot of ice to melt in these areas, whether it enters the ocean directly in the form of icebergs or flows into it in the form of a river. Together, the new studies underscore that Greenland's very topography - and coastline - is changing before our eyes. And they suggest that it's only the beginning. WASHINGTON - Attorney General Jeff Sessions has reversed a three-year-old Justice Department policy that protected transgender workers from discrimination under federal law. In a memo to his U.S. attorney offices and agency heads, Sessions said that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 does not protect transgender people from workplace discrimination by private employers and state and local governments. "Title VII's prohibition on sex discrimination encompasses discrimination between men and women but does not encompass discrimination based on gender identity per se, including transgender status," Sessions wrote in the memo dated Wednesday. The attorney general's memo says the Justice Department will take this position "in all pending and future matters," indicating his policy will have a wide-ranging impact. Civil rights groups quickly lashed out at Sessions and accused him of "yet another rollback of protections for LGBTQ people." "Today's announcement is the latest example of how the Trump administration and the Sessions Justice Department are undermining equal rights and dignity for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individual," said Vanita Gupta, former head of the Civil Rights Division in the Obama administration and now president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights. Justice spokesman Devin O'Malley said Sessions changed the policy because the previous administration had not accurately interpreted the civil rights law. "The Justice Department cannot expand the law beyond what Congress has provided," O'Malley said. "Unfortunately, the last administration abandoned that fundamental principle, which necessitated today's action." Sessions' memo was first reported by BuzzFeed. Sessions' memo went out on the same day the Justice Department asked a federal court to dismiss a lawsuit seeking to block President Donald Trump's proposed ban on transgender people serving in the military. In their federal court filing, Justice attorneys called the lawsuit "premature several times over." The lawsuit is filed in Washington by two gay rights organizations representing eight transgender U.S. service members. The Justice Department said the lawsuit was asking U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly for the District of Columbia "to prejudge the constitutionality of a future Government policy" that has not been drafted. The groups that sought an injunction said that even though Defense Secretary Jim Mattis has not taken action against service members as the Pentagon reviews its options, he committed in an August guidance document to carrying out the Trump policy by March 23. As a result, service members face the imminent prospect of being denied reenlistment, promotions, deployments and even medical care, the groups said. In the first response to challenges to the ban in several courts, however, the government said that none of those actions will take place while the policy is being studied. "No actual discharge or denial of accession has occurred, and they will not suffer a hardship if the Court withholds consideration until after the policies challenged in this case are implemented and are found to impact Plaintiffs," Ryan Parker and Andrew Carmichael wrote for the Justice Department's civil division. As for two named plaintiffs, Regan Kibby, who is a midshipman at the U.S. Naval Academy, and Dylan Cohere, an Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps cadet, the Justice Department claimed that despite the threat to their future enlistment, neither will be set to apply for officer's commissions until they complete studies in 2020 at the earliest. The government's 44-page filing before a midnight deadline did not argue the merits of a ban, but argued on procedural grounds that the court has no jurisdiction yet to act. In response, the suing groups, the National Center for Lesbian Rights and GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD), called it a "fantasy" that Trump's tweeted announcement July 26 that the government "will not accept or allow Transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the U.S. Military," followed by an Aug. 25 presidential memorandum, has not affected thousands of service members and their families. In court filings, they said two plaintiffs have been informed that they cannot undergo "urgently needed surgeries," another has been unable to reenlist for two more years to meet her 20-year mark, and Kohere's ROTC commander barred him from participating in the program, for example. "The government's response reads like pure fiction," said Jennifer Levi, director of GLAD's Transgender Rights Project. "Every day this reckless ban stays in place, our military strength is diminished and our country is less safe for it. We are optimistic the court will see through this smokescreen and halt the ban." The ban has left "real people and real families . . . scrambling to make new plans for their futures, just as it has undermined our nation's security. This is the exact opposite of how military policy should be made," Shannon Minter, NCLR's legal director, added in a statement. The ban would reverse an Obama administration decision to allow transgender people to serve openly. The armed forces were set to begin enlisting transgender people July 1, but Mattis suspended that move, while announcing in September that current enlistees will be allowed to continue serving, pending the results of a study and recommendations by a panel of experts. Before the Obama policy change, the Pentagon had concluded that there was no basis for the military to exclude transgender people, as long as they could meet the same fitness requirements as other service members. The review examined medical care, military readiness and other factors. There is no official tally of transgender military members, and estimates vary widely. One recent study by the Rand Corp. put the number on active duty at about 2,500, while another from the Williams Institute at UCLA Law School estimated that there were 15,500 on active duty, in the National Guard and in the reserves. As President Barack Obama's first year in office drew to a close, he addressed the nation after a mass shooting in Fort Hood, Texas, saying the country must do everything it can to prevent future gun violence. But in the weeks after he spoke, federal agents in West Virginia began taking turns firing a rifle with a stock-like contraption clamped to the back, the predecessor to a device that authorities say was used this week in Las Vegas, in the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history. The molded piece of plastic or metal - a "bump stock," as it has become known to assault-rifle enthusiasts - harnesses a gun's natural recoil, allowing it to bounce back and forth off a shooter's trigger finger and unleash up to 100 rounds in seven seconds, according to an ad for one of the devices. "It's a goofy, little doodad," said Rick Vasquez, the former firearms official who first signed off on a recommendation that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives need not regulate the devices. As Vasquez reasoned, the invention did not technically alter a gun's trigger mechanism, as earlier attempts had, with springs, hydraulics or electric current. So it did not infringe on a law that bans the sale of machine guns manufactured after 1986 and restricts the sale of those made before then. Functionally, however, weapons experts say, the increasingly popular bump stock has allowed even novice gun-owners to easily modify a legal semiautomatic rifle into one that resembles a battlefield machine gun. "It's for those guys who want to look like super ninja when they're out on the range - they're the people my peer group makes fun of," Vasquez, a former Marine, said Wednesday, returning from a firearm instruction course he conducted in South Carolina. "If you want a machine gun, join the Marines." Federal law enforcement officials said that gunman Stephen Paddock fired weapons outfitted with bump stocks, a dozen of which were found in his hotel suite. Audio of the attack, experts said, makes clear that the shooter unleashed a torrent of bullets faster than he could have fired manually. The devices have quickly become a new political flash point in the nation's gun debate. On Tuesday, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., introduced a bill specifically targeting bump stocks and similar inventions, including trigger cranks that accelerate a semiautomatic rifle's rate of fire. "The only reason to fire so many rounds so fast is to kill large numbers of people," Feinstein said. Bump stocks would have been banned under legislation Feinstein introduced after the 2012 shooting of elementary students in Newtown, Connecticut. That effort collapsed. The National Rifle Association declined to comment on the use of the devices in the Las Vegas attack, or on Feinstein's proposed legislation. Two attorneys for the most prominent bump stock manufacturer, Slide Fire, which received the favorable 2010 ATF decision, also declined to comment. The Slide Fire website on Wednesday said the device was out of stock "due to extreme high demands." Federal campaign data shows Slide Fire and the handful of other manufacturers of bump stocks have succeeded so far with little-to-no contributions to federal lawmakers. "These are small companies, with no involvement in lobbying or pushing anything politically, because all they need to operate is this one-page letter from ATF," said Mark Terry, a Miami patent attorney who represented a competitor called Bump Fire. "They are young entrepreneurial guys who want to sell a product that people like and want to buy." Asked if he had any regrets given the shooting this week, Vasquez said: "It's not my place to judge. We followed the law, and everything was evaluated fairly and honestly with the regulations." - - - Magda Jean-Louis contributed to this report. The Willis Independent School District is reassessing its instruction to better serve students. Thirty-three WISD educators and counselors attended a Response to Intervention Conference about two weeks ago. It provided an opportunity for the employees to talk to experts about ways to intervene to help a student succeed. "We want to make sure all of our children have processes to make sure they are growing and receiving intervention when necessary ... but are also receiving extensions to lessons when necessary," new Assistant Superintendent of Innovation and Learning Brian Greeney said. Greeney said the conference and focus is an extension to build on what Willis ISD already practices. Through the conference, the district looked at initial instruction, intervention and targeted intervention that address at least four main questions. "We've got to start with curriculum and identifying those essential standards," Greeney said. "What do we guarantee our children are going to learn? What are the most important high-leverage curriculum every child should get? What are we going to do if they don't get it? What are we going to do if they do get it and how are we going to assess that they've actually learned?" This could include stepping in with additional support before a student is identified for special education; providing an advanced placement student with extra help, if needed; and utilizing an advisory period, such as to assist English language learners or a student who may be struggling in math outside of normal class time, according to Greeney. The framework is established to address all students, including those in regular, advanced or special classes. "It's not about whether you identify a kid for special education or not because if a child needs to be in special education, they need to be in special education," Greeney said. "It's about making sure opportunity is there for every child to receive intervention." As a result, the staff is resetting its focus to better serve the students, including by hosting a staff development meeting Monday. During the meeting, teachers will break into grade groups and reassess the essential standards curriculum and decide where to prioritize emphasis in their lessons for their students, such as by spending more time on learning about the order of operations in math class that Greeney said may be more important than knowing if something is a rational number. "I can tell you right now if we had not gone to that conference, this would not be happening on October 9," Greeney said. "There would have been other great things, but this is very focused on student learning. When you have those types of things happen, when you focus on student learning, your teachers are focused on digging into that curriculum and really identifying the most important things and you see growth just from that. "Without even having intervention you'll have growth. Then you add that intervention in and you just see exponential growth from that." For more information, visit www.willisisd.org. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Houston hosts hundreds of massage parlors described in sleazy online sex forums like RubMaps.com that generate about $107 million in illicit revenues each year, according to a new study by Vanessa Bouche, a Texas Christian University political science professor and human trafficking expert. Erotic pseudo spas both here and in other U.S. cities often serve as fronts for sophisticated multinational human trafficking rings that import and exploit mostly Asian victims, often from China or Thailand, according to U.S. State Department reports, federal court cases and other studies. Houston has long been considered a hub for human trafficking - a form of human slavery - and Bouche's study, which employs a unique method to gauge the economic power of the growing network of rogue businesses, underscores how lucrative fake massage parlors can be. Bouche mined internet sex forum reviews to identify 207 Houston-area massage parlors that appeared to be both illicit and blatantly open for erotic business. She then picked 32 massage parlors to study in-depth, placing hidden cameras on public streets near entrances and collecting 24-hour surveillance videos in December 2015. Based on reviews of that sample, she estimates that 2,869 men per day visit illicit massage parlors across Houston for sexual services that ranged in cost from $50 to $100. Most of the so-called illicit massage parlors - IMPs - are in suburban strip malls and were busiest between noon and 4 p.m. "Men are visiting these places for services on their lunch hour," Bouche said. Tips? Reach the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 The study underscores that these businesses are common, lucrative and incredibly easy to detect, and yet spa operators have been very difficult to stop even in Houston, where state and federal authorities have active anti-human trafficking task forces and use civil lawsuits to sue landlords and criminal front companies. For more than a decade, Houston-based state and federal agents have busted large multinational rings that kidnapped and sold Mexican and Central American women and teens out of cantinas near the Port of Houston. They also have successfully gone after U.S. traffickers who used online advertising and Backpage.com to lure American teenagers into prostitution and then sold them to strangers. Related: Notorious brothel madam gets life in sex-trafficking case But locally and nationwide, federal prosecutors have made only a handful of criminal cases against the owners of erotic massage parlors who prey on mostly Asian immigrant victims, said Bouche, who also maintains a database of human trafficking prosecutions. 'An interesting puzzle' Last year, federal prosecutors in Minnesota made a case against Thai sex traffickers tied to spa operations in multiple U.S. cities, including Dallas and Houston. "One of the reasons it does pose an interesting puzzle is you have a city that has done a lot to oppose sex trafficking, but less has been done in this particular sector," she said. JoAnne Musick, chief of sex crimes for the Harris County District Attorney's Office said her unit continues to try to coordinate with the county attorney and others to tackle the massive massage parlor problem. "We routinely work with police to build cases and prosecute the workers, buyers, managers and owners who are part of the illicit massage business," Musick said. "Based on the sheer number of operations, this is a tremendous battle." In December 2015, the Houston city council approved a tough massage parlor ordinance to allow police better access to inspect facilities. In the aftermath, officers targeted several rogue operations, including PH Spa that was open seven days a week and where officers found lingerie, condoms and erotic posters as well as bedrooms. Related: City strengthens law to crack down on illicit massage businesses Under the new law, uniformed officers can inspect, either with the owner's permission or a warrant, any facility that advertises massage services, in addition to state licensed massage parlors. Yet many illicit spas operate in unincorporated Harris County beyond the reach of that ordinance, The new study shows. The TCU research reveals illicit massage parlor clusters in the International District in southwest Houston, in the Galleria area, in Katy and along F.M. 1960 in northwest Houston. The report was coauthored by TCU's Sean Crotty, an expert in urban economic geography. In the last two years, Assistant County Attorney Celena Vinson has filed 24 civil lawsuits to try to shut down and evict massage businesses that appear to harbor human trafficking by using laws designed against "public nuisances." Related: Crackdown forces closures of illicit massage parlors, spas But even when she wins, Vinson said her goal is not to rescue victims or even to prosecute owners but rather to get landlords to evict illicit massage businesses by presenting information about illegal activity that often must be gathered through time-consuming undercover police work and repeated prostitution stings. Unfortunately, the same rogue operations tend to pop up in another location or reopen under another name. Vinson said she will use the new research as a tool to continue that fight. Mattresses a clue Vinson urges citizens to report illicit massage parlors. Unlike legitimate massage studios, the so-called IMPs sometimes simply refuse women customers. Entrances often have odd security doors or barriers that block the view to massage rooms. Employees often appear to live on-site - mattresses, refrigerators, suitcases and cooking facilities are commonly seen by inspectors. "No legitimate (massage) business should have a mattress," she said. Vinson and criminal prosecutors say it's often difficult to determine true owners of rogue massage businesses she attempts to target through civil actions. Many have registered business names that lead only to shell companies with post office boxes for addresses. Ringleaders have proven particularly difficult to prosecute, according to a review of dozens of Texas and federal trafficking cases. When arrests are made, it's typically women who are arrested for prostitution, Vinson said. "In those cases, arguably you are arresting the victims," she said. Some of the latest massage parlor-related arrests came at a Cypress massage parlor called LL Spa on Huffmeister Road on July 24. Two women were arrested for prostitution; at the time, officials said they found no evidence of human trafficking. But gathering that evidence isn't easy. Victims often are extremely reluctant to testify against their handlers, said Dottie Laster, a longtime anti-trafficking activist who has rescued Asian immigrant victims exploited in massage parlors in Houston and elsewhere. Related: Human Trafficking reports on the rise Bad reviews can hurt Victims often are brought here by their traffickers who often hold them captive, threaten or beat them and force them to work without pay or as prostitutes to pay off immigration debts. Yet customers who comment on massage parlors online seem to assume victims are willing prostitutes. One of the most popular Houston illicit massage parlor sites in Bouche's study had more than 100 online forum reviews. Posters don't realize that negative reviews they post about women's body parts or indifferent attitudes could produce beatings from handlers, Laster said. "If she gets a negative rating some punishment most likely will occur," Laster said. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A federal judge will not postpone the fraud trial involving a failed sand-fracking business at the center of an FBI probe that also ensnared state Sen. Carlos Uresti. A lawyer for Stan Bates, the former CEO of the now-defunct FourWinds, filed for a continuance this week, saying that his other cases had stacked up and he may not be able to adequately prepare for Bates trial. But Senior U.S. District Judge David Alan Ezra stood firm that Bates, Uresti and a consultant, Gary Cain, will be tried on Oct. 23. As the trial inches closer, federal prosecutors filed a motion Thursday seeking to limit what arguments Uresti might make to jurors as part of his defense. The trio was charged in May in a 22-page indictment, with counts that include securities fraud and wire fraud, among others. All three have denied the charges. FourWinds was formed to buy and sell sand, which is used in hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, to produce oil and gas. FourWinds entered bankruptcy in August 2015 amid allegations from a handful of investors that they were defrauded. The feds say it was a Ponzi scheme. Uresti served as FourWinds lawyer from about June or July 2014 until January 2015. He testified in a bankruptcy hearing in September that he originally was introduced to Bates as a potential investor, though he didnt have the $1.4 million required to invest with FourWinds. Uresti said he sought to bring in investors for FourWinds. Former Uresti law client Denise Cantu of Harlingen invested $900,000, earning Uresti a $27,000 commission. The $900,000 was part of a settlement Uresti, with other lawyers, helped win for Cantu in 2012 in the settlement of a wrongful-death case involving her children. She lost most of her money, and has sued Uresti, Bates and FourWinds. Shortly after the 2012 settlement, according to prosecutors filings on Thursday, Uresti in an email in January 2013 proposed that Cantu invest some of her settlement with some investors Uresti knew. Part of the proposal she was pitched was to invest $25,000 to be repaid at 12 percent interest over 12 months, later modified to 18 months, according to the prosecution motion. On March 14, 2013, Cantu wired Urestis law office $25,000 of her settlement proceeds. The stated purpose of the wire on the authorization is investment, Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Roomberg wrote in the filing. But rather than use it for the investment, the prosecution intends to show that the $25,000 was used exclusively by Uresti. The January 2013 email and the transfer of the $25,000 form the basis for two of the fraud counts against Uresti in the indictment. The United States anticipates that Uresti will assert that he paid Cantu back her money and by virtue of paying her back, is not therefore guilty of fraud, Roombergs motion said, adding that federal law bars Uresti from making that claim. It is no defense to a fraud case because a defendant testifies he had a good-faith intention to pay back the money, that this somehow negates the specific intent to defraud. The prosecutors motion requests that Urestis legal team not make that argument in front of jurors without first approaching the bench for permission. A judge has set a $1.63 million bail amount for the gym owner accused of setting the fire that killed a San Antonio firefighter and injured two others, one severely. Emond Johnson, 39, faces one charge of murder, two charges of arson causing bodily injury, two charges of arson and one charge of domestic assault. 1 Quake victims: The last body known to be trapped in rubble following Mexicos magnitude 7.1 earthquake has been recovered, officials said Wednesday, and they raised the overall death toll from the quake to 369. The body was recovered from a collapsed office building in central Mexico City where a steadily dwindling number of families kept vigil for two weeks as an international assortment of rescuers worked a massive rubble heap. It was the last known active recovery site. Roberto Campa, the Interior Departments deputy secretary for human rights, said via Twitter that 49 bodies were recovered from the site. They were of 19 women and 30 men. 2 Life sentences: A court in southwestern Turkey sentenced 40 suspects to life in prison Wednesday, convicting them of charges that include attempting to kill President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during last years failed coup, Turkish state television TRT reported. A total of 46 suspects 37 of them former military personnel have been on trial since February in the city of Mugla accused of attempted assassination, violation of the constitution and other crimes against the state during the July 15, 2016 coup attempt. The defendants were accused of using helicopters to attack the hotel in the resort of Marmaris where Erdogan and his family members were staying, killing two policemen. Erdogan had left the hotel shortly before it was attacked. VIOLENCE rocked the MDC-Ts Harvest House headquarters in Harare Tuesday evening with the opposition party immediately blaming ruling Zanu PF party youths for the clashes. The attackers allegedly fired live bullets and reportedly smashed windows at the building, causing panic as passers-by ran for cover. Shops along Nelson Mandela and Angwa streets were also forced to close earlier than usual because of the violence. Police spokesman Chief Superintended Paul Nyathi however professed ignorance over the clashes. I am far away. I can only give full details of what transpired tomorrow (Wednesday) morning; so, get in touch with me, he said. Still, MDC-T youth leaders blamed Zanu PF rival Godwin Gomwe for the violence. According to MDC-T activist Denford Ngadziore, Gomwe teamed up with dozens of ruling party youths and stormed the opposition partys offices armed with pistols and other missiles. Yes, we have been attacked by Zanu PF youths who were being led by Godwin Gomwe, Ngadziore told NewZimbabwe.com. I am not so sure yet what the motive of the attack was but, I heard something happened at Zimex Mall a few days ago which we are yet to establish. Gomwe however, distanced himself from the violence. I would like to categorically state that I was neither involved nor associated with the MDC headquarters violent disturbances, whether directly or indirectly, he said in a statement. I got the shock of my life when I came across a message on social media suggesting I was gun totting and leading in the violent acts. Whatever happened, not only was I not present, but I do not know anyone that sells phones at Zimex. The Zanu PF Harare youth leader claimed that the fight was between vendors at Zimex Mall and MDC-T youths who allegedly looted mobile phones from the traders. The rowdy MDC-T youths usually raid the dealers of their wares and use Harvest House as their hideout, said Gomwe. Another Zanu PF youth leader, Kudakwashe Masamvi, also denied involvement in the clashes. There is nothing like that, he said. As Zanu PF youths, we are not involved in fights with opposition. This incident has nothing to do with us. The MDC-T is to blame because its youths are thieves who steal phones at the mall car park and hide them at Harvest House. New Zimbabwe Breaking News via Email President Yoon Suk-yeol will hold his first summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Bali on Tuesday, his office said, with North Korea certain to dominate the talks amid concer... MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai will next week hold crisis meetings of his partys top organs in a bid crush dissent and re-energise the movement that appears to be running out of steam ahead of crucial polls. Tsvangirai, who has been in the opposition trenches for nearly two decades, is expected to read the riot act to those stirring up mayhem in the MDC when the national standing committee, the national executive and the national council hold their separate meetings in the capital next week. While he may not mention them by name, his vitriol would be directed at his long-time deputy, Thokozani Khupe, whose revulsion for the MDC Alliance formed in August last year is creating political ripples in the southern part of the country. Khupe has been on record saying the MDC does not need an alliance to win an election in the three Matabeleland provinces, sentiments that have made her a force to reckon with among like-minded party faithful who include influential figures such as Lovemore Moyo (the partys national chairperson) and Abednico Bhebhe, its national organising secretary. A faction loyal to Khupe has angered Tsvangirai even more by pushing for a special congress aimed at retiring the MDC leader on health grounds. Tsvangirai is therefore seen using the meetings to assert his authority and crush dissent, although he may not put his opponents under the guillotine for fear of weakening the MDC ahead of crucial polls. The former trade unionist who rose to prominence as secretary-general of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions before assuming leadership of the MDC in 1999, first went public about his health status in 2016, revealing he had been diagnosed with cancer of the colon. Ever since, he has been in and out of the country, seeking treatment. His occasional medical sojourns have aroused succession wars in the MDC, which Tsvangirai thought had been over and done with when he severed ties with rebels led by Tendai Biti, his former secretary-general in 2014 following an emotive debate over the partys embarrassing loss in the 2013 elections. The departure of long ruling Zanu PF leader, Robert Mugabe in November last year has brought more misery for Tsvangirai than happiness. It has presented Tsvangirais internal enemies with new talking points as they are now calling on him to emulate Mugabe by stepping aside to allow for leadership renewal in his party. MDC secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora confirmed the meetings on Monday. He told the Daily News that the meetings will discuss party programmes for the current year and receive a report from the partys negotiator in the MDC Alliance on how the project has progressed. The meetings will also receive a report on the allocation of seats in the alliance and the report will then be debated otherwise there wont be any discussion around whether there should be an alliance or not because that was settled by the national council a long time ago, he said. While Mwonzora downplayed the possibility of clashes at the meetings, a national executive member privy to the twists and turns in the MDC said the indabas would be explosive because Tsvangirai was desperate to get his charges to sing from the same hymn sheet. It is clear to all in the party that there are people who have grown too big for their shoes and are working against the president and they need to be cut to their real sizes before the president launches his campaign around mid-month, said an MDC insider. We cannot afford to have a few people derailing a national project in pursuit of their parochial individual agendas. Tsvangirais bid for presidency of the country has since the formation of the MDC in 1999 been hit by divisive power struggles in his party that dampened spirits of those who had seen it as an alternative to Zanu PF. In 2005, his then secretary-general Welshman Ncube led a split from the MDC. This was to be followed by another split in 2014, led by Biti, who also happened to be the MDCs secretary-general at the time. Daily News Breaking News via Email GOVERNMENT says is keeping an eye on Harare city councillors describing them as not worth the ballot paper they were voted on as service delivery has deteriorated to alarming levels. Secretary for Local Government, George Magosvongwe, who accompanied the new Local Government minister July Moyo on a familiarisation tour of council, said councillors needed to up their game and deliver. Otherwise they are not worth the ballot paper they were elected on. We are saying performance, performance and specific substantive product must come of the local authority system, Magosvongwe said after meeting the city delegation, which was led by the mayor, Bernard Manyenyeni and acting town clerk, Hosiah Chisango. For us as a ministry, it is the fusion of a new culture, it is the motivation of the employees that we have in the ministry and in the local authorities so that as we change the performance culture, we are also guaranteed to improve the standard basic living of our people. Among the deliverables, which were under discussion, was water supply and its impact on economic development. For purposes of coordination of governments 100-day programme, we wish to improve service provision in the city and in the country in general. The focus was on matters related to water provision, the need for Harare City to take the subject seriously because it impacts development and it impacts the living standards of the people and it is an obligation that all local authorities must provide, Magosvongwe said. He said Harare, as the capital, mirrors the image of the country, it also reflects the images of all the others the sum total of the local authorities that we have. So we want Harare to be a model city that leads by example. The local authority has been making headlines when it comes to corruption-related scandals and plunder of public resources. Magosvongwe said council must grow its revenue base by ensuring that its licensing system is effective. In relation to the licensing system, your shops, your factories, they all attract a service so they must pay licences. At the end of the day, we have been saying Harare must not just come back to its Sunshine City status, it must create a new culture that enables futuristic vision to emerge so that we do not sit on the 50-year plan we inherited from colonialism, but we have a futuristic plan for the development of the country as a whole vision on the model that Harare will set, he said. Newsday Breaking News via Email In its July proposed rule, the agency put forth a volume of 2.1 billion gallons of biomass-based diesel for 2019. WASHINGTON Yesterday, the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) published in the Federal Register a Notice of Data Availability (NODA) to provide public notice and an opportunity to comment on potential reductions to the 2018 biomass-based diesel, advanced biofuel, and total renewable fuel volumes, as well as the 2019 biomass-based diesel volume under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program. In its July proposed rule, EPA had put forth a volume of 2.1 billion gallons of biomass-based diesel for 2019the same amount as 2018 levels finalized in November 2016. As previously reported, two recent developmentsthe expiration of the biodiesel blenders tax credit at the end of 2016 and the U.S. biodiesel industrys efforts to impose tariffs on biomass-based diesel imported from Argentina and Indonesialed to EPAs announcement to seek comments on potential cuts to biodiesel and advanced biofuel volumes. The deadline to file comments is October 19, 2017only a 15 day comment period. After the comment period closes, EPA will review all comments and send its final rule for the renewable volume obligations to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). By statute, EPA is supposed to finalize the 2018 volumes by November 30, 2017. EPAs announcement signals its intent to lower the biodiesel and advanced biofuel volumes. Any regulatory action that impacts the renewable volume obligations under renewable fuels standard program affects the convenience and fuel retailing industry. NACS will be submitting comments. If you have any questions regarding the public comment period, please contact Paige Anderson, NACS, Director Government Relations at panderson@convenience.org. For members of NACS, a memorandum has been prepared by counsel to provide more details in EPAs action. The Federal Register notice is available online. WASHINGTON Last year, the Obama administration proposed changes to what is known as section 2704 of the Internal Revenue code. The proposed rules impact how much a minority stake in a family owned business is valued at for purposes of the estate or gift tax rules. Currently the IRS recognizes that due to lack of controlling interest a minority share is not necessarily equal in valuein real termsto a majority share. Therefore, theyve been giving a valuation discount for these tax purposes. For example, if you own 15% of a family-owned company and want to pass that share to a child, the IRS would likely value that share at something less than 15% of the total value of the company based on number of possible e factors. Your family would only owe the applicable estate or gift tax amount on that discounted valuation. The Obama administrations proposed rule would have essentially ended this practice costing family businesses more money in taxes. The proposed rule was widely panned in the business community as being overly burdensome and unworkable. NACS joined with a number of other business associations to send a letter to then Treasury Secretary Jack Lew expressing concerns with the rule, and with the estate tax in general. Fortunately, Treasury was unable to finalize the rule before the end of the Obama Administration earlier this year. Yesterday, Treasury Secretary Mnuchin announced a number of Obama era regulations that will be either withdrawn or partially or fully repealed. Among those was the proposed Section 2704 regulations. This is a significant win, primarily for small family owned businesses. A formal withdrawl statement is expected in the near future. Alameda police are searching for ways to stop laptop thefts from happening after nearly a dozen laptop thefts at coffee shops have been reported in the last few months. The most recent theft occurred at local Peets coffee shop in Alameda where Mehrdad, a software engineer, was working on it with a friend. Mehrdad, says he noticed someone walking around him after a group of ten people came into the coffee shop and before he knew it, that person grabbed his laptop and ran away. We knew something was about to happen, but we were not prepared for this, said Mehrdad. Ive never seen such a thing. According to officials, there have been eleven similar incidents at various coffee shops since mid-July, each with different suspect descriptions. Since these laptop thefts have occurred, only one arrest has been made. Police are hoping to educate the public on the rise in laptop thefts by distributing fliers and have also posted surveillance video from a theft in September. In the video, two suspects, believed to be 18-20 attempt to take a laptop from a customer at a Starbucks on Blanding Avenue. Later the suspects are seen at another Starbucks on Park Street snatching laptops again. Officials are recommending people not to go after the thief, but rather keeping devices password protected and install tracking software. Pop rock band Coldplay brought its act to Levi's Stadium on Wednesday night and, as expected, blew right past the controversial 10 p.m. curfew. The band's managers and the stadium management, run by the San Francisco 49ers, were turned down by the Santa Clara City Council last week when they requested the weekday curfew be extended to 11 p.m. 49ers president Al Guido said they were merely asking for four extensions a year for concerts that generate revenue for the entire city, and he emphasized bands can't accommodate such an early curfew. He pointed to the 30 annual allowances granted to Great America. There were earlier hints Coldplay would play past the curfew as U2 did in May. Santa Clara Councilwoman Teresa O'Neil vowed it would cost the band and the 49ers. "Coldplay management and the stadium management will be fined by the city," O'Neil said. "It'll be $750 to $1,000." For the most part, neighbors of the stadium had mixed feelings about the concert volume after 10 p.m. "The noise, the lights, its almost impossible to sleep really," resident Victor Ho said. "I mean, during the daytime its not too bad, but at night, after 10, it can be a problem." "I don't have small children or anything like that, and at that point, I'm pretty much still wide awake, so it doesn't bother me personally," resident Elena Butler said. "But I can understand why it would be a concern for some people." City officials say they want to support residents who have complained. And the city has planned community meetings to address the curfew issue, but those meetings have yet to be scheduled. "It could be that 95 percent of the residents who live within a mile of the stadium will say they don't mind if there are a few events during the summer," O'Neil said. "Or it could be the opposite." Regardless of what time the concert ends, Santa Clara police say officers will be there for the duration. "We are staying as long as they're playing in the concert and there are fans there to tonight," Santa Clara police Lt. Dan Moreno said. There was also a SWAT unit from Sunnyvale on hand for increased security in the wake of the Las Vegas shooting Sunday. The 49ers' Guido released a statement Wednesday night just as Coldplay breezed past the 10 p.m. deadline: "Public safety officials have been clear that abruptly ending a concert could ceate a public safety emergency. We followed their direction as it related to the event. We are concerned that concerts may not come to Levi's Stadium again unless the music ban is resolved in a way that works for everyone. We have already lost one event and will continue to lose more, costing thousands of local jobs, millions of dollars in needed revenue, and the world-class entertainment options that other major cities enjoy." A Los Angeles Fire Department captain is hoping that tragedy does not strike twice after his daughter was left comatose following the deadly mass shooting at a Las Vegas concert. Kristina Terrill Staples, 34, had gone to the concert with her husband and some family members, eager to see Jason Aldean perform. As she worked her way toward the front of the stage, Stephen Paddock began raining gunfire from above, a bullet striking Staples in the head. As the gunman fired and bullets skipped on the ground around them, Staples' husband frantically began searching for his wife. He found her in the hospital as an anonymous Jane Doe, lying comatose. "My wife was in the same position she was, laying there on life support," said LAFD Capt. Greg Terrill, who fought back tears as he described his dread at what may come. Terrill Staples' condition is uncanny as it is devastating. Thirty-four years ago, this same month of October, then-baby Terrill Staples' mother suffered major head trauma in a car accident in Orange County. Terrill Staples has a year-and-a-half year old daughter. When her mother died of her injuries, she had a year and-a-half-old son. Now Terrill has to bear the heartache of watching his daughter clinging to life on a hospital bed. "It's very tough for me to even walk in there," he said. The doctors have told him it's a waiting game. His only recourse has been to yell at her to try to will her back to life. "She has to wake up," Terrill said. If you would like to donate to a GoFundMe account set up to help fund Terrill Staples' medical bills, you may do so here. Note that GoFundMe deducts 7.9 percent of all funds raised in the form of platform and payment processing charges. Residents in downtown Berkeley were told to shelter in place late Wednesday due to police activity. Police issued an alert on Nixle just before 7 p.m. to announce the shelter in place order and said "negotiations are in progress." During the response police told people to avoid the area of Bancroft Way and Roosevelt Avenue, near Berkeley High School. Berkeley police at 7:36 p.m. tweeted the incident was safely resolved and rescinded the shelter in place order. No other information was immediately available. On a recent day, the eyes and ears of marine biology rode a research boat past the Golden Gate Bridge beyond the Farallone Islands some 27 miles off San Franciscos shores, to begin a 10-hour day of research that would surround them with whales, sea birds, and the chemistry of a changing ocean. The journey marked the 50th time since the program launched in 2004 that the combined scientific forces of Point Blue Conservation and Science and the Gulf of Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries would head out to sea to document seabirds and mammals while taking a snapshot of ocean conditions. Its really hard to keep long term monitoring sets like this going, said Cordell Bank Researcher Danielle Lipski. And so that is really meaningful that weve hit this milestone. Joe Rosato Jr. The team of researchers aboard the Fulmar have visited the waters of Cordell Bank and Gulf of Farallones National Marine Sanctuaries over 13 years not only documenting the ocean itself but the visible creatures living there. Theyve studied it during El Nino years, during the strange phenomenon known as the warm blob and through growing concern over the increasingly acidic ocean conditions. We have seen a lot of variability between good years, said Point Blue scientist Jaime Jahncke. We have seen bad years, we have seen cold years, we have seen really extreme warm years. During the day-long treks, the teams pull-off a myriad of scientific studies. They navigate a series of fixed paths taking samples of ocean waters. They sample for krill the main food staple of whales. Joe Rosato Jr. Then they settle in to ride pre-designated routes recording every mammal, seabird and vessel they see along the way. It was somewhat fitting that during the groups 50th journey landed in the middle of what they estimated were about 100 humpback and blue whales traversing and feeding. Blue whales passed within yards of the boat, loudly belching up a blast of anchovy breath. Spouts filled the horizon in all directions as the sound of blow holes peppered the quiet tranquil waters. One of the very few times that Ive been among, and in the mix of a hundred plus whales, said Point Blue researcher Ryan Berger. Its incredible to see and just look everywhere around you you just see spouts going on. Joe Rosato Jr. The teams data of increasing whale populations and habits has helped NOAA re-route shipping lanes away from the whales regular pathways, helping to reduce the number of ship strikes. But Berger said there are increasing reports of whales snagged in fishing gear. We had 2002 to 2012 an average of 8 to 10 reports in California, Berger said. In 2016 there were over 70 reports confirmed. Berger said the group is hoping its data can shed more light on where fishermens crab pots and whale trajectories intersect. The information could lead to a strategy to better keep the two separated. Were all coming together to share perspectives on how to mitigate whale entanglement, Berger said. Trying to break a bad cycle of skyrocketing car break-ins, San Francisco city leaders on Wednesday unveiled a new plan with a twist. Car break-ins citywide are up 25 percent since just last year. Two supervisors were working on a plan to dedicate an officer in every district of the city to property crime. But on Wednesday, they basically scrapped it. Instead, they opted for a resolution to fight the problem, handing police Chief Bill Scott the keys to the car. Essentially that means, absent of any city mandates, the San Francisco Police Department will deal with the "epidemic" of car breaks-ins with whatever strategies gain traction. And so far, there has been some early promise. Over the summer, the department doubled foot patrol in the hardest hit areas, such as Lombard Street and Fishermans Wharf, and Scott says auto burglaries dipped 8 percent in the first month. The chief will be creating a campaign called Park Smart, educating people on how not to become targets. And police will have decentralized, neighborhood units for property crime. Supervisor Hillary Ronen, sponsor of the original legislation, says the emphasis is on getting the government and the police department tackling car break-ins immediately, and not waiting weeks or months for new legislation to pass. Supervisor Jeff Sheehy, however, was a bit skeptical, saying, "We dont have enough officers to clamp down on property crime." By the end of the year, SFPD is expected to have 270 more officers than last year, and the supervisors pledged to spend more money, if needed, for resources. The National Hurricane Center has issued storm surge, hurricane and tropical storm advisories for parts of the U.S. Gulf Coast as Tropical Storm Nate approaches. A storm surge watch has been issued from Morgan City, La., eastward to the Alabama-Florida border, including the northern and western shores of Lake Pontchartrain. A hurricane watch is in effect from Morgan City eastward to the Mississippi-Alabama border, including metropolitan New Orleans, Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Maurepas. Punta Herrero, Mexico, to Rio Lagartos was also included. A tropical storm watch has been issued from the Mississippi-Alabama border eastward to Florida's Okaloosa-Walton County Line. A tropical storm watch was also declared west of Morgan City to Intracoastal City. Tropical Storm Nate was blamed Thursday for at least 22 deaths in Central America as it dumped rain across the region on a path that would carry it toward a potential landfall on the U.S. Gulf Coast as a hurricane over the weekend. Louisiana officials ordered some people to evacuate coastal areas and barrier islands, and evacuations began at some offshore oil platforms in the Gulf. The NHC said the storm could cause dangerous flooding by dumping as much as 15 inches of rain in western Nicaragua and southern Honduras. As of 5 a.m. Friday, Nate had maximum sustained winds of 45 mph. The storm was about 75 miles east-southeast of Isla Guanaja, Honduras, and was moving northwest at a speed of 12 mph. It is likely to continue over the Gulf of Honduras Friday and across the Caribbean Sea. Florida Gov. Rick Scott on Thursday urged residents in Florida's Panhandle to keep an eye on the storm, and declared a state of emergency for 29 counties in north Florida and the Panhandle. Scott was in Pensacola on Thursday morning, meeting with city and emergency management officials. He said in a news release that the order helps ensure that federal, state and local governments can work together easily and make sure storm-related resources are provided without delay to local communities. The western part of the Florida Panhandle remained in Nate's forecast track, along with Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana. In Nicaragua, Nate's arrival followed two weeks of near-constant rain that had left the ground saturated and rivers swollen. Authorities placed the whole country on alert and warned of flooding and landslides. Nicaragua's vice president and spokeswoman, Rosario Murillo, said that at least 15 people had died in that country due to the storm. She didn't give details on all the deaths, but said two women and a man who worked for the Health Ministry were swept away by a flooded canal in the central municipality of Juigalpa. The government closed schools nationwide. Costa Rica's Judicial Investigation Organization blamed seven deaths in that country on the storm and said 15 people were missing. Flooding drove 5,000 residents into emergency shelters. In Louisiana, officials ordered the evacuation of part of coastal St. Bernard Parish east of New Orleans ahead of the storm. Earlier Thursday, a voluntary evacuation was called in the barrier island town of Grand Isle south of New Orleans. New Orleans officials outlined steps to bolster the city's pump and drainage system. Weaknesses in that system were revealed during summer flash floods. The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement's New Orleans office said in a news release that as of midday Thursday, six production platforms, out of the 737 manned platforms in the Gulf, had been evacuated. No drilling rigs were evacuated, but one moveable rig was taken out of the storm's path. The agency estimated less than 15 percent of the current oil production in the Gulf of Mexico has been shut-in, which equates to 254,607 barrels of oil per day. The forecast track showed the storm could brush across the tip of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula late Friday night and then hit the U.S. Gulf Coast as a hurricane by Sunday morning. Forecasters said hurricane conditions were possible in Mexico Friday night. In the Pacific, former Tropical Storm Ramon dissipated off the southwestern coast of Mexico. Swiss authorities said Wednesday that a German woman has filed a complaint alleging Oscar-winning director Roman Polanski sexually assaulted her 45 years ago in a Swiss resort town while she was in her mid-teens. Renate Langer, 61, filed the complaint last week in a police station in the northern city of St. Gallen. She said Polanski had raped her at his house in Gstaad, a well-known Alpine resort town, in February 1972, according to police and the regional state prosecutor's office. French attorney Herve Temime, who represents Polanski, tells The Associated Press that he plans to discuss the allegations with his client, but hasn't yet spoken with him about them. The Associated Press does not typically name people who say they are victims of sexual assault, but Langer spoke publicly in a New York Times interview published this week. Polanski, 84, has been a fugitive since fleeing to France in 1978 after pleading guilty to having unlawful sex with a minor in California. His victim was 13 at the time. This summer, she asked a judge to drop the 40-year-old case against Polanski, who can only travel between France, Switzerland and his native Poland. Langer told the Times she waited to report the allegation largely out of concern for her parents. Her father died this past summer and her mother two years ago. Police spokesman Florian Schneider said it was unclear why Langer filed the complaint in St. Gallen because Gstaad is under the judicial jurisdiction of the Bern region to the southwest. Polanski owns a chalet in Gstaad and spent time there fighting possible extradition from 2009 to 2010. The St. Gallen prosecutor's office said the case will be transferred Wednesday to the "appropriate authorities," which would be the Bern regional prosecutor's office. That office will decide whether to pursue the case. According the Times, Langer said she went to Gstaad because Polanski had shown an interest in casting her in a film. She was working as a model in Munich at the time. She told the Times that Polanski raped her in a bedroom at his home. Polanski was in Switzerland on Monday with his wife, French actress Emmanuelle Seigner, and attended a screening of his new movie, the French-language thriller "Based on a True Story" at the Zurich Film Festival. She is one of the stars of the film. A Chicago neighborhood has been named one of the ten hottest in the country. Popular travel website Lonely Planet dubbed Avondale one of the communities that travelers have to put on their "must-visit list." Praised for its "scruffy, artsy, lived-in magic," the Northwest Side neighborhood earned its spot in the rankings thanks to a survey of travel experts and locals. [[430891713, C]] "A neighborhood where you can hit up a pierogi buffet (Red Apple Buffet), a theater giving equal time to kitty cats and Ionesco plays (Prop Thtr), and a streetwise Michelin-starred restaurant (Parachute) in one fell swoop? Yes, please," a Chicago resident and travel expert wrote of Avondale. "Avondale offers no hotels or tourist sights. Its mostly humble two-flat homes and the occasional smokestack or steeple popping up. But throughout this working-class beat on Chicagos northwest side, groovy things are brewing," the description continues. "Thats literal in the case of Revolution Brewery, whose sprawling tap room makes hop fiends swoon." [[440326333, C]] Avondales culinary scene gets a nod, with mentions of Kumas Corners "hulking burgers with a side of heavy metal," plus Honey Butter Fried Chickens "sweet-and-salty bird" and the smell of kielbasas wafting from Milwaukee Avenue thanks to the neighborhoods Polish community. "Get here soon though, because Avondale teeters on the edge," Lonely Planet recommends. "Hipster 'hoods nibble at its borders, poised to spill over." Focusing on up-and-coming areas of cities across the United States, the list also highlights Point Loma in San Diego, Denvers River North (RiNo) and Frelard in Seattle, among others. A man who killed six people in Illinois before killing two people in Missouri wept and begged the victims' families for forgiveness Wednesday before he was sentenced to life in prison for the Missouri deaths. Nicholas Sheley, who initially faced the death penalty, was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole for the 2008 deaths of Jill and Tom Estes. The Arkansas couple were killed while staying at a hotel in Festus, about 30 miles (48 kilometers) south of St. Louis, after they left a graduation party. Investigators said Sheley happened upon the couple during a drug- and alcohol-fueled rampage that began in his Illinois hometown. Sheley dropped to his knees during the sentencing hearing, saying he wished he could take back what he did. He also apologized to law enforcement and others touched by the crimes, The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported . "What I did about 10 years ago was wrong on every level, unjustified, completely uncalled for. Cowardly acts," Sheley said, weeping as he read for 20 minutes from a statement. Missouri prosecutors initially said they wanted to seek the death penalty, after former Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn formally abolished the punishment in his state in 2011. But prosecutors later changed their strategy in Missouri without explanation in a decision that infuriated victims' relatives, many of whom were in the courtroom Wednesday. "We are all angry and disappointed. This it totally unjust. That was not a victory," said Cari Randall, whose father was killed in Galesburg, Illinois, one of three Illinois towns where Sheley's victims were found dead. Dallas Branson, whose only son was also among Sheley's victims, said he didn't believe Sheley's apology. "He is a manipulator and it's pure evil when you kill eight people," said Branson, who lives in Sterling, Illinois, Sheley's hometown. "A bad guy can make an apology but there is no apology for killing eight people." Prosecutors have said Sheley started his rampage because he believed one of the Illinois victims, 29-year-old Brock Branson, was having an affair with his wife. One witness told police Sheley and Branson had argued about drugs. Following Wednesday's sentencing, Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney Forrest Wegge didn't address why prosecutors didn't pursue the death penalty in Missouri. Under the Missouri plea deal, Sheley also was sentenced to 75 years in prison for two counts of armed criminal action. Sheley is already serving life sentences for the Illinois killings. Investigators said the killings began on June 26, 2008, in Sterling, Illinois, where the body of 93-year-old farmer Russell Reed was found in the trunk of his car. The bodies of Jill and Tom Estes were found four days later, the same day investigators found the body of Ronald Randall at a grocery store in Galesburg, Illinois. Authorities also found the bludgeoned bodies of four other people that day: Kenneth Ulve, 25; Branson; Branson's fiancee, Kilynna Blake, 20; and her 2-year-old son, Dayan Blake. Their bodies were found inside a Rock Falls apartment in northwestern Illinois. Sheley was arrested on July 1, 2008, outside a bar in Granite City, Illinois, after patrons recognized him from media coverage of the killings. A former law enforcement officer who became the center of a days-long manhunt across several northern Illinois cities turned himself in Thursday morning during a standoff with police, authorities said. Police said Max Ambler, a former LaSalle County Sheriff's officer, was in custody just before 9 a.m. and was being transported to the Lee County Correctional Center in Dixon, Illinois. A standoff between Ambler and LaSalle County police began just after 7 a.m. when authorities say Ambler entered a home in Earlville. Police could be seen surrounding a home in the north central Illinois town with guns drawn. A man and a woman were inside the home at the time, but the woman was released shortly after police arrived, authorities said. Not long after, police say the man was allowed to the leave the home. Both were unharmed. Eventually, authorities said Ambler surrendered and was taken into custody. "Things ended up I think very much as good as we could have possibly hoped," LaSalle County Sheriff Thomas Templeton said. Dozens of police vehicles were in the area overnight and into Thursday morning as authorities hunted for Ambler, who resigned from the department more than a decade ago. Police were guarding the perimeter and also keeping an eye on homes in the area before the search resumed at 6 a.m. Earlville Community Unit School District 9 canceled school Thursday "under the advisement of law enforcement." "Keeping your children safe is a top priority and we appreciate all of your cooperation in this situation," the district wrote in a note to parents. Authorities believed Wednesday Ambler may have been hiding out in the woods south of Earlville. They said Ambler likely picked the area because he hunts there and knows it well. They had called off the search until Thursday morning, noting the difficulty of continuing the manhunt into the pitch-black forest at nighttime. On Wednesday evening, heavily armed police converged on the wooded area just south of Route 34 near Earlville. "He's armed we believe with a .45 caliber semi automatic pistol," said Templeton. "He's on the run. He's, I'm sure, very desperate right now." Police focused their search on the wooded area after two LaSalle County sheriff's deputies spotted a stolen vehicle and noticed a campsite nearby. "When they pulled up they saw the campsite and they saw ambler bolt from campsite ... into the woods," Templeton said. Ambler has been on the run for days after fleeing from police who tried to arrest him for a bond violation. Police said the situation began "spiraling" about a week ago. Investigators believe he stole a corn hauling truck near Mendota and then ditched it in Plainfield where he carjacked a man at gunpoint Wednesday morning. "I knew who it was, so I wasn't surprised because I heard he was armed and dangerous," the carjacking victim, who NBC 5 is not naming, said. The victim--who spoke exclusively with NBC 5-- encountered Ambler while checking in on his recently deceased uncle's barn. "That's when he took me to the other part of the barn and told me sit in the straw," he said. Officials from a recently incorporated city outside Atlanta want to shed some of their new municipality's land and rename it Amazon, Georgia. Their hope is that the change will spur the e-commerce giant to locate a second headquarters there. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that the Stonecrest City Council voted 4-2 on Monday to de-annex 345 acres (140 hectares) of land and to ask the Georgia General Assembly to use it to form the city of Amazon. Amazon has said it will spend more than $5 billion to build a second headquarters, dubbed HQ2, in North America with as many as 50,000 jobs. The Seattle-based company said it's looking at metropolitan areas with populations of more than a million people, which have the potential to attract top technical talent. Stonecrest officials plan to submit a bid for Amazon's HQ2 by the company's Oct. 19 deadline. The company expects to make a decision next year. Stonecrest is located about 20 miles (30 kilometers) east of Atlanta, and is home to about 53,000 residents. It incorporated as a city this year. Connecticut State Police are investigating after a bicyclist was injured in an accident on the Whitehead Highway in Hartford Wednesday. Police said the 54-year-old cyclist was riding on Whitehead Highway to access Interstate 91 when he was struck by a car traveling the same direction. The cyclist was taken to Hartford Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. State police are investigating the accident. Anyone who witnessed the crash is asked to contact Trooper Bernier at Troop H at 860-534-1000. As the tragedy in Las Vegas continues to unfold, one Connecticut couple is on their flight back home to the Nutmeg state from Nevada. Tracy Schoenfeldt, of Guilford, spent the last few days in Las Vegas as her boyfriend, Joel Karabeinikoff, of Southington, was playing in a softball tournament. But when NBC Connecticut spoke with the couple on Monday via Facetime, they were at the Las Vegas airport, located just minutes away from where the gunman opened fire, and the couple couldnt wait to get out of Nevada. "It was very scary and theres another Connecticut team out here, too, which we know, but theyre all OK," Karabeinikoff said. First reports of the shooting were around 10:08 p.m.local time. The couple didnt go to the concert but said they had just passed the music venue minutes before the attack. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary then. "We drove next to it. I said to our taxi driver, 'What is this big white tent?' and the driver said, 'Thats where the big country music show is.' And I said, 'I love country music.' Not even 45 minutes later my cousin is texting me to make sure Im OK,' Schoenfeldt said. Once they learned about the what unfolded, their first thought was to check with their friends on the strip. "First we had to make sure our friends were OK. Found out they were in lockdown in the convention center and the Luxor, they had been at a comedy show, they were all okay and scared to death," Schoenfeldt said. The couple was staying about 20 minutes away from the Vegas strip. They described the aftermath caused by the shooting as they were on the way to the airport. "Its a mess, the highway, the freeways, a mess. Everythings a mess here," Karabeinikoff said. "Everyones trying to leave, everybody looks like theyre trying to get out. There was a mound of traffic, four lanes broken down to two, four broken down to two and then were turning for the airport, and on each side, there was police looking for vehicles." Ultimately, the couple ended up missing their flight because of traffic, but they have since headed back to Connecticut. Thousands of students in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands have had their education interrupted as a result of Hurricane Maria. Now, Connecticut State Colleges and Universities are offering to open their classrooms to these students. It may not be the vision students on the islands may have had, but it may become their reality. President Mark Ojakian of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities submitted a proposal that would allow students from Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands impacted by hurricane Maria to continue their studies at CSCU. I think its a good idea, said CCSU freshman Devyn Rockefeller. Give them more opportunity to educate themselves while their homes are being repaired. If the proposal is passed, displaced full-time and part-time students from the University of Puerto Rico and the University of the Virgin Islands can attend one of the four CSCU universities, or 12 community colleges. Students would pay in-state tuition rates. How many students could come to Connecticut, however, is up in the air according to CSCU spokeswoman Maribel La Luz. We havent gotten a specific request yet, said La Luz And probably because communication right now is really difficult. Its logistically difficult to communicate with actual universities and colleges. A hurdle theyll face until the power is restored on the island. Until then, La Luz said, We just want to be ready and prepared if and when we get that request, because its an issue thats close to home for a lot of our faculty, a lot of our staff, a lot of our students, and just the surrounding communities. NBC Connecticut spoke with CCSU students who look forward to the potential campus addition. Freshman Chloe Chance says its a good opportunity to expand campus diversity. Usually just people from Connecticut come here, so itd be great to have people from other places beside Connecticut, she said. CCSU junior James Simpson agrees. Theyre the territories. I think because of the hurricanes and everything, I think its a great idea help everybody out. The Finance Committee will review the proposal Wednesday, Oct. 11. If passed, a resolution will go before the full Board of Regents for a vote on Thursday, Oct. 19. A 17-year-old from Cornwall was seriously hurt when he was hit by a Jeep in Canaan Monday afternoon, according to Connecticut State Police. Police said the boy was walking on Beebe Hill Road at the intersection with Route 7 around 3:40 p.m. when the accident occurred. According to police, the teen was in a crosswalk but did not stop at the intersection to check for traffic before crossing the street. The boy suffered serious but non-life threatening injuries. He was initially taken to Sharon Hospital then later airlifted to Hartford Hospital for further treatment. The 31-year-old driver did not report any injuries. The crash remains under investigation. No charges have been filed. It was a day of tears, laughter and pure joy as the USS Missouri came home to the Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton on Wednesday after six months at seas. Newborn Carson Hammer was waiting to meet his dad. He was born while his father, Nuclear Machinist Second Class Christopher Hammer, was overseas on the USS Missouri. It was Hammers first deployment. But he was able to FaceTime with Carson the day he was born. "Its his little twin. I mean, he looks just like him," Rachael Hammer, Christophers wife, said about baby Carson. She dressed Carson in a onesie that read, "Welcome home daddy. Ive waited my whole life to meet you." On Wednesday, a crew of 132, made up of 15 officers and 117 enlisted sailors, came face-to-face with their loved ones. "Its been a long six months and I missed these kids and my wife so much," said Chief Systems Technician-Submarine Anthony Rossi, who lives in Groton. When Cmdr. Fraser Hudson walked off the submarine, his children ran into his arms. His wife joyously exclaimed, "Its so good to see you!" Betty Ann Gerhart has three generations of Navy in her family. "Im very proud. Im like in tears. The anticipation is really tough," Gerhart, of Philadelphia, said. On Wednesday she was waiting for her son, Chief Petty Officer Nicholas Calvin Gerhart, to come home for the last time after 11 years of service. "Hes missed a lot of family functions, and holidays and all. But hes serving his country and Im proud of that," Gerhart said. Carole Shrader said the last time her husband, Navigator Brent Shrader, came back from deployment, she was pregnant. Now he has two people to hug; She and their son, Hunter, even got to see him at some of the port stops in Europe. "Words cant express how proud we are of him and all the guys on the boat," Carole Shrader said, choking back tears. "They do so much. But were also happy to have him back." "Im happy to be here. Proud to serve. And I dont even know how to explain how I feel right now. Its just its just awesome," said Electronic Technician Second Class Darryl Baukman. The USS Missouri is a Virginia-class, nuclear-powered, fast-attack submarine. It returned from the European Command Areas of Responsibility. During deployment, the submarine traveled approximately 35,000 nautical miles and made port visits in Haakonsvern, Norway and Faslane, Scotland. There's a lot of discussion on bump stock devices, a term many people have never heard before the Las Vegas shooting. The devices are thousands of dollars less than a fully automatic weapon, allowing the gun owner to manipulate a semi-automatic to operate like a fully automatic weapon. "(With) a semi-automatic, every time you press the trigger, it fires one round, John Ferris, a shooting range owner, told NBC Connecticut. Ferris, the owner of Tactical Arms and Indoor Shooting Range in Torrington, showed NBC Connecticut the difference between a semi-automatic and automatic weapon. "(With) the automatic setting, you pull the trigger back and it releases rounds," Ferris said. Authorities said the Las Vegas gunman, who sprayed hundreds of bullets into a crowded country music festival, had bump stock devices that could speed up the gunfire. "It allows you to manipulate the trigger system to make a faster rate of fire," Ferris said. The NBC Connecticut Troubleshooters found the devices for sale Tuesday on retail websites, including at Cabela's, but on Thursday, the kit was removed. Elsewhere on the web, the add-ons didn't appear as plentiful as they had before. "We do not sell them, they're available. They were available online. I did check last night to see if they're available with any of the distributors and it looks like they were completely sold out," Ferris said. Connecticut lawmakers are contemplating a ban on bump stocks. "If you see something, say something." Retired state police lieutenant, J. Paul Vance, spends part of his retirement speaking about active shooters. "We've got to do everything we can as law enforcement, civilians and citizens of this country to do everything and anything to keep this from reoccurring again anywhere near us," Vance said. Vance never saw a bump stock on a Connecticut State Police call. "I personally see no need for automatic weapons in the hands of civilians. As a state trooper for a long time, it worries you to go on a gun call, but it's not for me to decide, it's for our leaders, legislators to examine," Vance said. "And by no means am I saying take guns away from people." NBC Connecticut reached out to Cabela's for comment, but have not heard back. We also reached out to Republican lawmakers in our state and are still waiting to hear back, after a Democrat on Tuesday told NBC Connecticut he may introduce legislation to get rid of them in Connecticut. The NBC Connecticut Troubleshooters obtained arrest warrant affidavits for multiple staffers arrested in an alleged patient abuse case at the Whiting Forensic Division, Connecticuts maximum security psychiatric hospital. The nine files were unsealed nearly a month after the NBC Connecticut Troubleshooters broke the story of the nine arrests. These arrest warrant affidavits connect the dots, in terms of who is accused of doing what. Perhaps even more eye opening, is what those staffers said to investigators. The documents said the staffers arrested stand accused of offenses of varying degrees, from as severe as kicking a 59-year-old patient to the point of knocking him off his bed, to putting a soiled diaper on his head, to simply poking him repeatedly. It happened over a month long period earlier this year, all of it on surveillance tape, some seen by the patient's co-conservator Karen Kangas, who said, "I thought, 'My goodness, why would you be doing this?' It was just, it looked like, it looked like abuse." State police apparently agreed. The nine staffers were charged with cruelty to persons. None spoke about the alleged abuse at their court appearances. Two did comment to investigators earlier. According to the affidavits, mental health worker Greg Giantonio said he, "Had never abused or witnessed anyone ever abusing the patient." Mental health worker Willie Bethea gave a written statement explaining the patient, "Enjoys engaging in behaviors to get physical contact from staff," and admits he, "was guilty of 'horseplay' but that he has never hurt the patient." The agency overseeing Whiting said, in part, "The department remains steadfast in its commitment to ensuring that justice is served for our client." The union representing staffers gave a statement including, "Patient abuse is totally unacceptable. The events of the last few months have made it clear that there is much needed reform required at Whiting Forensic. Our members are working to develop reform policies." Bethea's attorney told NBC Connecticut, the statement his client gave to police speaks for itself and once the entire picture unfolds, it will become clear his client did not commit any criminal activity. In a statement, the SEIU Healthcare 1199NE union spokeswoman Jennifer Schneider wrote: "Patient abuse is totally unacceptable. The events of the last few months have made it clear that there is much needed reform required at Whiting Forensic. Our members are working to develop reform policies in an effort to help eliminate these abuses and make Whiting a safer and more efficient facility. The Whiting Forensic Division is Connecticuts maximum security psychiatric hospital. In the Whiting building, there are five in-patient units: three are for admissions to determine whether court-referred citizens may be considered not guilty by reason of insanity (NGRI) and two units that house and treat long-term, chronically-ill patients who have been adjudicated and found to meet that standard. Those patients have committed violent crimes, including murder, arson, pedophilia, and rape. The following are reform proposals from Whiting workers to help bring systemic change to the Whiting Forensic facility. *Connecticut should conduct a national search for a new Director of the Forensic Division. *DMHAS should revise and expand training for current employees and orientation for new employees. *DMHAS must invest in hiring additional staff to provide care and reduce mandatory overtime. *DMHAS must develop a new approach to behavioral interventions that is better aligned with the particular needs and challenges of the Whiting population." A spokeswoman for the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services also provided a statement to NBC Connecticut news, stating: "The Department remains steadfast in its commitment to ensuring that justice is served for our client. The affidavits underscore the importance of the Departments actions to immediately involve the Connecticut State Police in the investigation into alleged client abuse." A North Texas couple has been awarded more than $40 million in a lawsuit over alleged shoddy repair work that came to light after a near-fatal car crash. No one was killed in the December 21, 2013 crash. The four-year legal fight could also lead to changes in the collision repair industry. I have flashbacks all the time and relive it every day, said Matthew Seebachan. He said hes still haunted by memories of that day. I remember the passenger side of the pickup just filling up my entire field of view, he said. Seebachan remembers the crash much more clearly than his wife Marcia does. I could just smell metal and rubber, he said. I was screaming for my life that Im on fire. I need to get out of here.' Both survived after being pulled from the burning car, but they sustained numerous injuries. Three of my injuries couldve killed me, two shouldve killed me, said Marcia Seebachan. Matthew, who was driving, remembers his feet lodged underneath the pedals as the cabin filled with smoke and fire. He sustained burns to part of his body as well. Both my heels are broken, he said. Any kind of pressure on my feet makes them feel like theyre being crushed. It was only after the crash that the couple found out that the used 2010 Honda Fit they had recently purchased had received repairs. The repair work was not included in a car history report the couple asked for before buying the car, according to their attorney. The repairs had been requested by the previous owner who took the car to John Eagle Collision Center in Dallas. The Seebachans and their attorney, Todd Tracy, filed a lawsuit accusing the body shop of performing defective, negligent and untested repairs. The roof of the car had been replaced with a new roof and in doing so, the lawsuit states workers at John Eagle used a glue-like adhesive instead of welding the roof shut, as is recommended by Honda. Shoddy work, they claim, led to the fire and the couple being trapped inside. A Dallas County jury agreed and on Monday, awarded the couple $42 million. It was just so validating to have a bunch of strangers look at us and hear our story and tell us: you matter, said Marcia. The couple wants their victory to send a message to companies. Integrity matters, said Marcia. You dont get to make decision in the best interest of your company and prevent customers from making informed decision about the safety of themselves and their family. Dallas automotive executive John Eagle released a joint statement with the couples attorney saying: "Dallas automotive executive John Eagle and vehicle safety lawyer Todd Tracy agreed to work together today to improve safety standards in the nations collision repair industry The damages were awarded to a Dallas couple who were critically crushed and burned following a high speed head on collision when the roof of their 2010 Honda Fit separated in part due to being repaired with bonding epoxy instead of welded in accordance with an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) bulletin. The legal fight is not over. The Seebachans are now named as plaintiffs in a lawsuit against State Farm Mutual Automotive Insurance Company. The couples attorney, Todd Tracy claims the insurance giant forced the body shop to use the adhesive rather than welding the roof. State Farm released a statement to NBC 5 saying: The comments made about State Farm cited in this lawsuit and press release are not supported by the facts. Additionally, they are not in line with State Farms mission to serve the needs of our customers and our long, proud history of advancing vehicle safety. A Southern Methodist University fraternity has been suspended for hazing students. According to a letter sent to parents on Wednesday, the Beta Lambda chapter of Kappa Alpha Order was under investigation for hazing during the new member education period of spring 2017. "The suspension comes in response to operational and new member incidents that violated the SMU Student Code of Conduct and the fraternitys policies," a statement issued by SMU read. During the investigation, the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards found evidence of hazing including: Paddling Forcing new members to eat hot peppers and milk until vomiting Forcing new members to wear vomit-covered clothes. Forcing new members to consume alcohol Forcing new members to participate in calisthenics Servitude required of new members Sleep deprivation Underground membership The fraternity's assistant executive director, Jesse S. Lyons, released the following statement Thursday morning: "Kappa Alpha Order has suspended our chapter at Southern Methodist University, in cooperation with SMU administration, due to violations of our risk management policies. We have an agreement with SMU to return to campus in 2021." Members of the fraternity have until 3 p.m. Saturday to remove all belongings from the house and are required to stop any chapter activities. "SMU has made available alternative living arrangements for students who lived in the fraternity house, as well as other resources to help with their transition," school officials stated. Students say the behavior reflects poorly on the campus. "Yeah, it's really, really terrible. Really concerning," said student Tohid Sardarmehni. "I understand that people want to party and do stuff that they think is adventurous, but it's sad," said another SMU student. Parents like Jackie Hurtado hope SMU's decision to shut down the house sends a clear message. "I think all schools should take the same approach just to show that the agenda is to go to school and all of this added danger is not needed at the college," Hurtado said. A judge has again delayed when Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton will stand trial on securities fraud charges. State District Judge Robert Johnson on Wednesday postponed the trial until 2018 after prosecutors requested a delay. Paxton's trial was scheduled to start in December, more than two years after being indicted on charges of misleading investors in a tech startup. The Republican has pleaded not guilty. Similar federal charges were dropped earlier this year. A new trial date wasn't set. But the Houston Chronicle reports that Paxton could now wind up on trial in the midst of his first re-election campaign. Texas' primary elections are March 6. Prosecutors sought a delay partly because they haven't been paid amid a dispute over their fees. They're asking another court to reinstate their pay. The Santa Fe Depot the iconic, 102-year-old downtown San Diego Landmark known for its soaring towers and tilted domes is in the process of being sold, according to a media report. The building on San Diegos Kettner Boulevard and Broadway is being sold to a local private investor, according to The San Diego Union-Tribune. Escrow is set to close the first week of next month; Voit Real Estate Services is representing both the buyer and seller. Per the deal, the building which was constructed to welcome visitors to San Diego for the 1915 Panama-California Exposition would remain in place, as would its use as an Amtrak station, at least through 2021. The deal doesnt include the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, which is housed in a building that was once used for baggage. The Santa Fe Depot includes a waiting room, souvenir and snack stands, train ticketing offices and an information booth. It is unclear if those parts of the facility will remain as is, or if they will transform into other retail or restaurant spaces. The building, designed by the San Francisco firm of Bakewell and Brown, became known as Union Station between 1916 and 1951 because it harbored passengers of the San Diego and Arizona Railway, according to The Great American Stations website. In 1972, the Santa Fe Depot landed a spot on the National Register of Historic Places. Over the decades, the building and surrounding site has been restored several times, including the addition of the landscaped plaza. With the sale, additional refurbishments are likely, including improvements to the restrooms and towers. Bruce Coons, executive director of the Save Our Heritage Organisation, told The San Diego Union-Tribune that the depot is one of San Diegos most iconic historic structures, alongside the San Diego Mission, Hotel del Coronado and Balboa Park exposition buildings. The current owner of the Santa Fe Depot is ProLogis, a San Francisco-based logistics real estate company. Joining a broadening probe of flutes and recorders possibly contaminated with "bodily fluids" prior to being used in music classes at several Orange County school districts, Fullerton police said Wednesday that they are helping collect flutes handed out to students at Rolling Hills Elementary School. Fullerton Elementary School District officials called police last Thursday, saying they had received a call from the state Department of Justice informing educators about an investigation of a "male who had possibly distributed flutes tainted with bodily fluids in schools within several school districts," including Fullerton, according to police Sgt. Jon Radus. School officials asked Fullerton police to verify the call, and they confirmed that a probe was underway, but were initially told that investigators did not need the Fullerton Police Department's help, Radus said. The Department of Justice is investigating the case with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. The Department of Justice official last week told Fullerton police there was no need to collect any flutes in the district, Radus said. Last night, however, USPIS officials called to say they needed students at Rolling Hills to turn in the flutes and place them in a paper bag and deliver them to the Fullerton Police Department, Radus said. At this time, "there is no indication that these flutes are, in fact, tainted," the sergeant said. "This is being done in an abundance of caution." On Monday, Santa Ana police reported they were also assisting in the investigation. The instruments that were potentially contaminated in Santa Ana were recorders, which are played like flutes. Santa Ana police have identified about 55 children who took a class at Bowers Kidseum on June 27 and 28 and July 22, according to police, who said an independent contractor hired by Bowers taught the class. Detectives have contacted most of the parents and the 11 recorders used in the class have been rounded up, according to Santa Ana police, who asked anyone who took a class at the Kidseum on those dates to call investigators at 714-245-8351. Earlier, authorities reported potentially contaminated instruments were delivered to elementary school students in at least three Orange County school districts. The Attorney General's Office issued a statement confirming an investigation was underway and saying that the musical instruments were being rounded up with help from local law enforcement agencies and school districts. Emails were sent to parents of students Friday, notifying them of the investigation regarding the flutes given to them by an instructor who also is under investigation. The instructor, who was not identified, is an independent contractor, the Orange County Register reported. The suspect wasn't an employee of the affected Orange County districts and worked at multiple school districts in Southern California, according to the newspaper, which reported that the California Department of Justice is investigating the contractor along with the Postal Inspection Service. The flutes are made of PVC plastic piping and a single wine cork and have an exterior that can be decorated. "We were informed that an independent contractor who provided a music enrichment program to the fifth-grade classes at Courreges Elementary School in June 2017 gave the students flutes/recorders that were potentially contaminated with bodily fluids," Fountain Valley School District Superintendent Mark Johnson said in an email obtained by the Register. Johnson wrote that the flutes possibly went to children who participated in the Flutes Across the World Program and that Courreges Elementary was the only site in his district that may have been affected. Similar messages went to families of students at Sonora Elementary School in Costa Mesa and the Capistrano Unified School District, though the affected schools weren't specified there. Fountain Valley police Sgt. Kham Vang told the Register that the department was collecting the flutes at its station at 10200 Slater Ave. Capistrano Unified School District officials were working with law enforcement to determine how to collect the instruments, which are considered by the district to be "inappropriate and unsanitary" for a child to have contact with, according to the newspaper. Huntington Beach resident Andrea Castilla was enjoying her 28th birthday celebration at the Route 91 Harvest Country Music Festival when 64-year-old Stephen Paddock opened fire on over 22,000 concertgoers. She and her sister Athena Castilla were having the time of their lives enjoying the music as big country fans before tragedy struck. "Being there in the moment was insanely beautiful," Athena Castilla said. The victim was holding her sister's hand as she was fatally struck while trying to protect her. "She said, 'Duck,' and all of a sudden she was already hit," Athena Castilla said. The victim's boyfriend, Derek Miller, and her sister carried Andrea Castilla outside the venue. They said a stranger in a dark truck rushed them to the hospital. Although they were unable to catch the good Samaritan's name, they hope to find him and thank him some day. Little to the victim's knowledge, Miller planned to propose the evening of the concert. Miller shared his thwarted plans with the victim's family as they waited at a hospital to hear word on her condition. "If I could bring my daughter back, it would be for him, not for me," Andrea Castilla's father Gus said as he choked back tears. Gus Castilla was able to retrieve a scarf that Andrea was wearing at the concert. "I'm happy to have a part of her," he said. "I can't bring her back." If you would like to donate to a GoFundMe account set up to help fund Castilla's funeral costs, you may do so here. Note that GoFundMe deducts 7.9 percent of all funds raised in the form of platform and payment processing charges. Sunday nights massacre brought up horrible memories for one local police chief. Miami Beach Police Chief Dan Oates worked for the Aurora Police Department in 2012, when a gunman opened fire in a movie theater. Our event back in July of 2012 was at the time the largest mass shooting in U.S. history. That term begins to have no meaning anymore, said Oates. That mass shooting forced him to re-evaluate law enforcements preparedness for that type of enclosed attack. The mass shooting in Las Vegas has him taking another look at their active shooter game plan. Theres this perverse fraternity of communities, police departments, police chiefs, that have been through this kind of thing and you cant find words to describe the cataclysm that happens to a community when youre victimized this way, said Oates. Oates says its hard to watch news coverage of what happened in Las Vegas, but the automatic weapon massacre changes everything. What this guy did was truly diabolical, said Oates. The automatic weapons is a huge escalation. Its as if each person is trying to outdo the last terrible evil person who tried to commit mass murder. Oates never comments publicly on issues like gun control, and he cant talk specifics on tactical training. Were a very open society. Thats not going to change, said Oates. And every police chief in America, every leader in America will think differently about open venues where there are high rise buildings nearby. Just as important as tactical training, is training for paramedics and firefighters and coordinating help for the injured. He also requires Miami Beach officers to complete Stop the Bleeding training. We recently this year issued tourniquets and gave a half day of training on the use of tourniquets to every police officer in Miami Beach. Thats also happening across the country, said Oates. What to Know On several occasions, Frank Guerrero served the drugs with burgers and other food in McDonald's bags, prosecutors allege He allegedly stored drugs in a bathroom soap dispenser before placing them in baggies He has been night shift manager at the McDonald's location for eight years, according to prosecutors Police have arrested a Bronx man for allegedly dealing thousands of dollars worth of crack and cocaine out of a McDonald's he managed, prosecutors say. Frank Guerrero, 26, was arrested by NYPD and ICE Homeland Secruity Investigation agents early Wednesday morning at the 24-hour McDonalds where he was night shift manager for eight years, according to prosecutors. Guerrero allegedly sold nearly $10,900 worth of cocaine and crack to an undercover officer over the course of eight occasions at the Bruckner Boulevard location in Pelham. On at least two occasions, Guerrero put the cocaine into a cookie bag, which he then place inside a larger McDonalds order containing burgers and fries, prosecutors allege. [[4449482213, C]] He hid drugs in a soap dispenser, where he'd retrieve it before placing it in plastic bags, according to prosecutors. On Sept. 22, Guerrero sold 100 grams of cocaine and a quantity of crack to the undercover officer for $6,250 inside the franchises restroom, prosecutors say. After making the deal, the officer took a seat at a booth, where Guerrero served him a bag of food with the drugs, according to prosecutors. Authorities released photos Wednesday showing bags of cocaine next to cheeseburgers and fries. Special Narcotics Prosecutor for the City of New York Police searched Guerreros Bronx home Wednesday and allegedly found 200 grams of cocaine. Prosecutors say $5,300 in cash was also found inside a dresser in the room of a 2-year-old child. Neighbor Joan Gravina said that police swooped in to make the arrest. "About six or seven SUVs pulled up, police got out with their shields and their jackets on," said Gravina. The child's 24-year-old mother was at the home at the time. She too was arrested and, like Guerrero, faces drug charges. The two of them were expected to be arraigned Wednesday evening in Manhattan Criminal Court. It wasnt immediately known if Guerrero had an attorney who could comment on the charges. Special Narcotics Prosecutor for the City of New York Tony Rodriguez, the owner and operator of the McDonald's franchise where Guerrero worked, said he is cooperating with the NYPD. "The actions of this employee are unacceptable and will not be tolerated in my organization," he said. Editor's note: A subheader in a previous version of this story initially listed the incorrect value of the drugs that were allegedly sold in the McDonald's. The story has been updated. What to Know A disgruntled construction worker shot and killed his former foreman in Manhattan, then turned the gun on himself, according to police The 44-year-old shooter, described by co-workers as a "bit of a hothead," was laid off two days ago by the 37-year-old foreman The nearly two-hour long search for the shooter sparked a massive police response that shut down a part of the West Side A laid-off construction worker shot and killed a foreman inside a high-rise building under construction on Manhattan's West Side Thursday morning before turning the gun on himself, according to police. The 44-year-old worker -- identified by former co-workers as Samuel Perry -- went into the 645 W. 59th St. building, found his former supervisor on the 37th floor, and shot him in the head just after 7 a.m., police said at a news briefing. The NYPD went into its active shooter protocol and deployed its Emergency Services Unit, Critical Response Command and Strategic Response units to the scene. The building was evacuated as police in tactical gear streamed in, Chopper 4 over the scene showed. Police were stationed all around the building with guns drawn, and construction workers who had vacated the site gathered on a corner up the block. NYPD Deputy Chief Executive Officer Philip Rivera said, "During the course of the search, we realized we were dealing with a workplace violence situation. The shooter had a dispute with the foreman and shot him several times." Nearly two hours later, at about 8:45 a.m., the Perry was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound on the fifth floor, police said. A 9 mm semi-automatic weapon was found on the scene. Police said Perry had been let go two days ago by the 37-year-old foreman, Christopher Sayers of Long Island. They're investigating how Perry was able to get back into the building. Carpenter Robert Pagan said he was working in the building when he heard gunfire and ran to help. "When I got upstairs I see my foreman on the floor, which is a good friend of mine as well," said Pagan. Co-workers described Perry as "a little crazy," but would never have expected him to kill anyone. One worker said that when his wife died in 2015 -- police said she set herself on fire -- they all collected money for him. Pagan said he even hugged Perry on the way out of the building Thursday, moments before the man took his own life. "He's a good worker. An excellent worker," he said. "For him to do this? He could have gotten a job anywhere. He's a good guy. It's shocking." Perry's neighbor, Mike, said he was dumbfounded as to why he'd shoot his boss over being laid off. He said like Perry, he's a contractor, and that being laid off is part of the job. He added that Perry had asked him to watch his dog a few days ago, saying that he'd have to shoot the dog in the head and bury it if he didn't take it. Perry has been arrested three times in the past, according to police: twice for assault, and once for burglary. His last arrest was in 2005. Workers at the site, meanwhile, remembered Sayers as a quiet, but good, manager. "He comes in the morning right there, real early. He drinks his coffee, smokes a cigarette," said Greaves. "He calls me 'Old G' because I'm an old man, then he goes about his business. He never gave nobody a hard time. Never." Pagan, meanwhile, called his former boss a "great guy." A message has been left with the construction company that employed the men. A spokeswoman for the New York City and Vicinity District Council of Carpenters union said in a statement to News 4, "Our hearts are heavy upon hearing the news of the tragic event that occurred this morning involving two of our union brothers." She added that the union is cooperating with authorities. "Our sincere condolences to the family and friends of NYCDCC member Christopher Sayers who lost his life to reckless workplace violence at 645 W. 59th St," the spokeswoman said. Stepping off a boat in New Hampshire port in 1796, 22-year-old Ona Judge was on the run from the family of President George Washington. Judge, who was born into slavery and served Martha Washington for most of her young life, had slipped away from the president's residence in Philadelphia and boarded a ship as the Washingtons prepared to return to their plantation house in Mount Vernon, Virginia. With a reward posted for her capture, Judge knew she had to keep a low profile. She turned to the network of free blacks in Portsmouth for help. "She gets off the boat. She is in a strange place," said JerriAnne Boggis, director of the Portsmouth Black Heritage Trail. "She comes to Portsmouth and there is a dearth of people of color. So, she has got to be scared. She has been scared the whole time not known where she is going." The story of Judge's escape and life on the run in New Hampshire is the subject of Erica Armstrong Dunbar's book "Never Caught: The Washingtons' Relentless Pursuit of Their Runaway Slave, Ona Judge." The book has sparked renewed interest in Judge's life. The Portsmouth Black Heritage Trail is offering a tour of sites in the seacoast city associated with Judge and is looking to fund a trolley that would bring visitors to site of Judge's last home nearby in Greenland, New Hampshire. The tour in Portsmouth starts with the wharf near Prescott Park, the focal point of the slave trade for much of the 1700s in Portsmouth. Judge arrived on a ship called Nancy as the slave trade was in decline New Hampshire. From there, visitors walk past several historic homes that played a critical role in the near-decade Judge spent in the city, the church where she was married and the market where she was spotted by a family friend of the Washingtons - an event that almost led to her being captured. "Her story, her life reflects this underdog story in the most underdoggish of ways," said Dunbar, a Rutgers University history professor who's scheduled to give a lecture and book signing Oct. 12 at Keene College. "She was technically human property and was owned by the most important family in the new nation,'' Dunbar said. "Even with that being the case, she was able to carve out a life for herself...Ona's story represents what many enslaved (individuals) wished, longed for and that was a chance to be an independent person." Meghan Dunn, a University of New Hampshire lecturer who had brought a group of students on a recent black history tour, said she was struck that Judge "was here, hiding here and there was a community that was hiding her." "We don't have a very in-depth history of slavery in our schools. But when we hear about slavery, it seems to be something that is just in the South," she said. "We don't think about the connection we have up here to slavery and the history of African-Americans." Dunbar and others also said Judge's story offers an opportunity to present a more complicated portrait of Washington - moving "beyond cherry trees and false teeth and to look at the George Washington who was sitting at the center of the biggest debate of what would become the new nation. That was the debate around slavery." "Every reader who talks to me after they read the book says the same thing. They say, 'I will never think about George and Martha Washington in the same way,'" she said. "Washington was someone who had changing ideas about slavery but at the end of the day he was a slave holder." Susan P. Schoelwer, the Robert H. Smith Senior Curator at George Washington's Mount Vernon, agreed. "Did George Washington own slaves? Yes, he was human and he had flaws," she said. "He changed his attitude during the course of his life. By freeing his slaves in his will, he definitely intended for that be example of what he saw as the future." The Ona Judge tour ends in Portsmouth but Judge's story continued onto Greenland. Fearing that Washington's men were closing in on her, Judge would flee to in 1799 to the home of a free black family, Phillis and John Jacks, where she remained until she died in 1848. Washington would die several months later in 1799 followed several years after that by Martha Washington. No one else would come for Judge, but that didn't mean life was easy. She was impoverished, often depended upon charity and outlived her three children and husband. The site where Judge lived in a small house on a quarter acre of land has been given over to nature. Nothing is left of her house and the only sign that she was here is an unmarked burial site several hundred feet off a two-lane road, in which only the headstone of Phillis Jacks remains. Pottery shards have been found in a nearby creek as well as a horse shoe and some old nails. John Brackett, whose family has owned the land for generations, said he has seen more town residents knocking on his door curious about Judge. But he can't say for sure where she is buried, although he is open to putting a marker near the site and even allowed researchers to use ground-penetrating radar to identify what they believe are several bodies there. "It's quite likely she is buried out here with the Jacks family," Brackett said, as he passed downed trees and a gurgling brook on the way to the burial site. Police say a 61-year-old man shot his cousin and his cousin's wife at their home in eastern Pennsylvania, then held police at bay during a standoff that lasted several hours.[[449679233, C]] Authorities say John Hann of Bushkill Township killed 64-year-old Joseph Mullner on Wednesday night and seriously wounded Mullner's wife, Melinda, at the couple's home north of Allentown. District Attorney John Morganelli says the shooting appears to have stemmed from a "personal dispute" between the cousins. Police located and surrounded Hann's truck Thursday morning, prompting a lockdown at three nearby schools. Hann, who was armed with several handguns, eventually surrendered. [[449577533, C]] Morganelli says Hann had his mentally disabled sister with him in the truck. Authorities believe she witnessed the shooting. Hann is charged with homicide. Court records don't list an attorney who could speak on his behalf. UPDATE: Police took the suspect into custody after an armed standoff in Bethlehem Township. The manhunt for a gunman who killed a man and injured the victim's wife spanned miles across a Pennsylvania county, eventually leading to an armed standoff near a school that ended peacefully. Gunfire rang out at a home on the 500 block of Longacre Drive in Lehigh Township Wednesday. Neighbors told NBC10 they heard the sound of people fighting around 6:30 p.m. We started hearing a woman screaming," said neighbor Kelsea Weber. When police arrived at the home, they found 64-year-old Joseph Mullner dead from and his wife, Melinda, hurt. Melinda Mullner has called 911 after her "hubsand's cousin, Johnny," shot them, according to a criminal complaint. Officers found Joseph Mullner dead in the driveway of his home and Melinda Mullner suffereing from three gunshot wounds in the kitchen, police said. Melinda Mullner told investigators she believed Hann aimed at her husband, police said. Police are searching for a gunman who shot and killed a man and injured the mans wife at a Lehigh Township home. NBC10s Drew Smith has the latest details on the manhunt. The search for the shooter spanned across Northampton County as it became focused on Hann's home about 13 miles away from the scene of the killing in the area of Clearfield and Moorestown roads in Bushkill Township overnight. Polie said Hann's phone rang within 1,500 feet of his home late Wednesday night. Just after daybreak, SWAT officers could be seen entering Hann's Cherry Court home. Then, before 8 a.m., police could be seen racing from the Bushkill Township scene. A killer is on the run in the Lehigh Valley. NBC10's Randy Gyllenhaal is following the manhunt from a very active investigation site in Bushkill Thursday morning. A short time later, police in Bethlehem Township surrounded a pickup truck near Oakland and Santee roads -- more than 11 miles from the Bushkill Township home. The armed standoff caused nearby Bethlehem Area School District schools including Freedom High and East Hills Middle schools to be put on lockout. Police finally took the man -- identified in court records as Jonn Hann -- into custody, alive, around 10:15 a.m. The 61-year-old faces criminal homicide charges. Earlier, investigators spent hours at the scene of the shooting collecting evidence. I had people scared texting me asking if were OK, Weber said. Because you just would never hear it in a small town like this." A Pennsylvania man will spend at least six months in prison for fatally stabbing a dog that he believed had put a "hex" on him while he was high on methamphetamine. Twenty-nine-year-old Joseph Elliott was sentenced by a Lancaster County judge on Monday after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor count of animal cruelty for the stabbing at his Elizabethtown apartment on April 28. Police say they arrived to find Elliot naked and the dead dog in the bathroom with lacerations on its body. Humane officer for the Lancaster County Animal Coalition Jennifer Nield took the dog for a necropsy which revealed eight gashes from an edged object and bruises on the dog's body. According to police, Elliott admitted to choking the dog. Elliott will spend one to two years in prison because he was also sentenced Monday for briefly stealing a man's Volkswagen Jetta on April 4 and then giving police the owner's name as his own. The six-to-23-month animal cruelty sentence will run concurrently to the one- to two-year car theft sentence. These are the victims from Southern California killed when a gunman fired from a hotel room on the Route 91 Harvest Country Music Festival in Las Vegas on Sunday. The shooting left at least 59 people dead and hundreds injured. It is the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history. For an up to date list of victims from Southern California see our photo gallery. Sandy Casey, Manhattan Beach Casey was a special education teacher from the Manhattan Beach Unified School District. Casey worked at the district for nine years. "This is unbelievably sad and tragic," said Superintendent Mike Matthews. "We lost a spectacular teacher who devoted her life to helping some of our most needy students." Rocio Guillen, Eastvale Jesse Guillen, her ex-husband and father of four children, wrote: "Words can not explain how much it hurts me to see the pain in my boys eyes when they found out that their mom was taken from them last night in Las Vegas by a senseless act of violence. Please hold your loved ones close. Life is too short and too precious. Please keep Marcus, Christopher and Rocios 2 small infant children in your prayers." Rachael Parker, 33, Manhattan Beach Parker was a records technician at the Manhattan Beach Police Department. Susan Smith, 53, Simi Valley Smith was a Simi Valley Unified School District office manager. She worked for the district for 16 years. Virginia's attorney general is appealing a judges decision that ordered convicted D.C. sniper Lee Boyd Malvo be resentenced Malvo was 17 years old when he and John Allen Muhammad terrorized the Washington, D.C., area with a string of shootings in the fall of 2002. Ten people died and three were wounded. Both men were convicted in Maryland and Virginia, and Muhammad was executed in 2009. Malvo is currently serving life without parole, but his attorney, James Johnston, has argued that such sentences are unconstitutional for juveniles. On Tuesday, Attorney General Mark Herring outlined several arguments against resentencing for Malvo. In his brief, Herring says the District Court erred in ordering Malvo be resentenced in Virginia since the state has never imposed life-without-parole sentences for any homicide offenses. The brief also says Malvo waived any entitlement to relief when he pleaded guilty under a plea deal that traded life-without-parole under the condition of avoiding the death penalty. In August, a Maryland judge denied Malvos motion for resentencing in that state. An Alexandria, Virginia, man has been arrested nearly two years after police say he threatened to murder African Americans at Howard University in Washington, D.C. John Edgar Rust, 24, has been charged and faces a maximum sentence of 5 years in prison if he's convicted, the U.S. Attorney's Office said on Wednesday. Rust is a previously convicted felon, the office said. According to the Virginia sex offender registry, Rust was convicted of indecent liberties with child by custodian and aggravated sexual battery in 2012. On Nov. 11, 2015, the threat was posted on the website 4Chan, which allows users to post anonymously. The post spewed racial slurs and threatened to murder African Americans. According to an FBI affidavit, Rust concluded the threat by saying "After all, it's not murder if they're black." The affidavit states investigators traced the threat to a Panera restaurant in Alexandria. Agents then determined Rust's computer was connected to the restaurant's Wi-Fi network, and that he made a restaurant purchase that day on his credit card. Howard University increased security on campus and at nearby Metro stations after the threat and students held rallies to speak out against the racist message. Rust is in custody and is set to appear before a federal judge Thursday afternoon. A Virginia mother is in jail and facing felony charges after she left her three young children in a 150-degree minivan while she went to work, police say. Alexa Faulkison, 26, was arrested Tuesday after she left her 5-year-old, 6-year-old and 7-year-old children in the sweltering minivan for at least 45 minutes, Fairfax County police said Thursday. Her boss, immigration attorney Sam Hasan, said Faulkison previously had child care plans, but they fell through. "I think she probably thought that she could keep the kids with her in the car as she went back and forth to work," he said. Faulkison's boss said the crime was "very uncharacteristic" of her. Shes a very good employee," he said. Faulkison works in his office as a filing clerk, heading back and forth to court several times a day with documents. I think she didnt think that she would be out of the car for that long. Im assuming," Hasan said. He said that if he had known her children were with her, he would have told her she could bring them inside. He guessed that she had not wanted to ask because she was new to the job. The children were found inside the van, suffering from heat exhaustion, because of an alert man who saw something wrong and called police. A man walked by the van, parked on the 5600 block of Columbia Pike, and noticed that plastic covering one of the side windows had been damaged. Apparently there was some plastic over one of the windows or a portion of the window and one of the children had poked a hole in the window to get more air in the car," Pfc. Courtney Young said. Then, the good Samaritan saw the children. He called police right away, at about 2 p.m., police said. Officers arrived, got the children out of the van and rushed them to a hospital. Faulkison was charged with three felony counts of cruelty to a child. The children are now with their stepfather, police said. News4 tried to talk with Faulkison's family. At her home in Falls Church, a man opened the door but declined to speak with News4's David Culver. A minivan with ripped plastic over a side window was parked in the driveway. Police say that even with the car windows slightly open, on a 93-degree day, the temperature in a hot car can still get up to 140 degrees in 40 minutes. It can get so hot in a car so quickly, especially when its sunny out, that we just advise no one leave children or animals in a car, even if youre running a quick errand," Young said. The situation could have ended in tragedy, Lyn Balfour said. Her 9-month-old son Bryce died after she accidentally left him in a car for seven hours. "There's not a day goes by that I don't think about my son. Think about the fact that I thought I had dropped him off and I didn't," she said. Balfour advised parents to not be fooled by mild weather. The day that my son died, it was 66 degrees," she said. "When they tested the vehicle around 4 p.m., it was 105 degrees. As of September 2017, 739 children have died in vehicles due to heatstroke since 1998, according to NoHeatStroke.org. To avoid accidentally leaving children in a car, experts recommend using visual reminders such as placing your bag, briefcase or even your shoe in the backseat with your child, or telling yourself out loud, "remember to get the kids" or "don't forget the kids." U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley has been reprimanded for violating a law limiting government employees' political activity by voicing support for a South Carolina congressional candidate. Last week, the U.S. Office of Special Counsel notified Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington it had issued a warning letter to the former South Carolina governor but would pursue no further action. A Haley spokeswoman didn't immediately respond to a text message seeking comment. The watchdog group in June wrote to the Special Counsel, accusing Haley of violating the Hatch Act, a 1939 law allowing government officials to personally donate money to political committees or engage in a variety of partisan activities, so long as they do so during their personal time and don't use government resources. The group said at the time that Haley should not have retweeted one of President Donald Trump's Twitter messages earlier that month supporting Republican Ralph Norman, who went on to win a special election for the seat formerly occupied by Trump budget director Mick Mulvaney. On June 19, the day before Norman faced off with Democrat Archie Parnell in South Carolina's 5th District, Trump sent several tweets praising the millionaire real estate developer as someone who would be a help to him in Congress and urging voters to "#VoteRalphNorman tomorrow!" Ralph Norman, who is running for Congress in SC's 5th District, will be a fantastic help to me in cutting taxes, and.... Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 19, 2017 Later that day, according to CREW, Haley retweeted the first message from her verified Twitter account, which lists her as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. At the time, the group said, Haley had at least 356,000 followers, a number that has since grown to more than 516,000. Haley deleted the message after journalists questioned it on Twitter, but the group said Haley should still be investigated and disciplined. In its Sept. 28 letter the CREW, the Special Counsel said it had advised Haley on how to avoid further violations and would consider "such activity to be a willful and knowing violation of the law" if Haley did it again. "Thus, although we have concluded that Ambassador Haley violated the Hatch Act, we have decided not to pursue disciplinary action and are closing the above-referenced file without further action," the Office of Special Counsel wrote. Haley isn't the first Trump administration official accused of sending tweets in violation of the Hatch Act. Earlier in June, White House social media director Dan Scavino was issued a warning for using an official-looking Twitter account to call for a Michigan congressman's defeat. CREW filed a complaint in that case also, and Scavino was warned if he engages in such activity in the future, the office will consider it a "willful and knowing violation of the law." Other Cabinet officials campaigned in a special election to fill Georgia's 6th District seat, with Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price and Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue stumping for Republican Karen Handel earlier this year. An invite for that event reportedly didn't mention the title "secretary" instead calling the two Cabinet officials "special guests." Earlier this year, Haley made a nominal donation of $100 to the GOP primary campaign of Norman, a former state lawmaker who was one of her chief legislative supporters when she served as governor. A Maine man accused of killing his ex-girlfriend before leading police on the longest manhunt in state history in 2015 has been found guilty of murder. Jurors in the trial of 40-year-old Abbot resident Robert Burton came back with the guilty verdict following two days of deliberations, according to WCSH. Burton went on the run after fatally shooting 37-year-old Stephanie "Ginn" Gebo at her Parkman home in June 2015. Defense lawyers said Burton shot Gebo in self-defense with her gun after she shot him in the shoulder. Burton turned himself in after 68 days on the lam, where he hid near camps and stole food to survive. State police spokesman Stephen McCausland said the estimated cost of the manhunt was around $500,000. Gebo's body was found on June 5 by her daughter who, along with a younger brother, had been asleep upstairs. Burton testified he never intended for anyone to be shot. He even went so far as to use a fake gun and mattress to demonstrate to jurors how the struggle went down. Gebo's father, Vance Ginn, disagreed with the accounts of the night his daughter died. "In my opinion, when you look at the evidence, all the stuff [the defense] was saying wasn't true," said Ginn. Ginn is hoping his daughter's death will result in changes for other victims of domestic violence. "We're never going to stop domestic violence, but we have means to slow it down," he said Wednesday. A Maine high school health teacher accused of having an inappropriate relationship with a student has been indicted on more than a dozen sex-related counts. Police say 29-year-old Jill Lamontagne of Kennebunk High School turned herself in Wednesday after being indicted by a York County grand jury on six counts of gross sexual assault, two counts of unlawful sexual contact and six counts of sexual abuse of a minor. She was released on bail and is due in court on Dec. 22. Her lawyer, Peter Rodway, didn't immediately return a message left at his office. A judge already ordered the teacher not to have contact with the student. Regional School Unit 21 Superintendent Katie Hawes announced in June that Lamontagne was being placed on leave during an investigation. In a Massachusetts town known for its contentious Board of Selectmen meetings, Tuesday night was no exception after a heated exchange between a selectman and a resident. That exchange led Stoughton Selectman Peter Brown to resign but the Chair of the Board says not so fast. The exchange happened during the public comments section of Tuesday night's meeting, when Brown and Patrica Colburn, a Stoughton resident, started going back and forth, talking over each other. "This meeting tonight was an absolute embarrassment, an absolute embarrassment," Colburn said at one point. "Excuse me Ms. Colburn, you want to make the allegations, you should listen, no, this is not what this is about Mr. Brown. I will not be yelled at for calling you on this stuff," Brown replied. "I had enough of your nonsense. You and everyone else that is in the recall," Brown went on say, referencing a Dec. 5 recall election. "You call us out and you say things and you expect us to take it and say, 'oh, no big deal?' We are big bad boys." Reached outside her home Tuesday night, Colburn said the exchange still bothered her. "My first thought was, here we go again," she said. "All I do is stand up and he loses control." "Unfortunately it is like the fourth time it's happened to me, I expect it, but I'm shocked every time it does," she added. "The level of anger." David Souza, Chairman of the Board of Selectman defended Brown Wednesday night. "We are not out of line, we have passion for this town, we love this town," Souza said. "Are we polished and all of that? I'm not polished and we know we are not polished but our heart burns with the black and orange of the Town of Stoughton." Twenty minutes after Tuesday night's exchange, Brown told the crowd he had just received a phone call from his daughter. "I just got a call from my daughter who was visibly upset and told me that I was an embarrassment and I agree with her," Brown said. "I am going to apologize to the residents of Stoughton and I am going to officially resign. I am no longer going to be on the Board of Selectman." "I'm giving my notice this instant," he added. On Wednesday night, Souza said he hadn't received anything. To officially resign, Brown would need to submit a letter of resignation to the Town Clerk and Souza. "Mr. Brown is still a member of Selectmen and will be a member of the Board of Selectmen until I see a letter," Souza said. Through Souza, Brown declined to comment to NBC Boston. "This is not anyone's dirty laundry, this is our hometown laundry, it happens," Souza said. A 76-year-old combat veteran in New Hampshire is fighting again, this time for a handicapped parking spot outside his Portsmouth townhouse. But hes been denied, twice. Im not looking for a gold medal, said Jim Arena. He says he is just looking for a handicapped parking spot outside his Spinnaker Point townhouse. I am in constant pain, he said. He served in Vietnam, suffered multiple injuries during battle, and still has shrapnel in his back. I put my life on the line, for me and for you too, he said during an interview Wednesday afternoon. Hes had handicapped plates for ten years, and last week, for the second time, Arena asked the Spinnaker Point Management Board to convert a resident parking space outside his home into a handicapped one. They denied his request. Its a very bad feeling, Arena said. He says the disappointment goes as deep as when he returned Vietnam, walking through the airport in his war fatigues. People were spitting at me, I mean spitting at me, Arena recalled. It was the worst feeling of my life and thats what I feel like now. Some of Arenas neighbors are equally as frustrated, saying theyre happy to give up a parking spot if it means giving back to someone who gave so much for all of us. I personally feel we need to honor our veterans thats why were here, its just disgraceful, said Jenny Kruzal. I dont want the world dont get me wrong, Arena said. I just want some consideration. A few other neighbors who didnt want to go on camera are painting a different picture, saying Arena has caused trouble in the neighborhood since he moved in a couple years ago. They dont believe he needs a designated spot because they say theres ample parking even on evenings and weekends. The Spinnaker Management Board declined to comment. Fans of fall foliage have been waiting all year for mother nature's annual show, and in much of Vermont, they're still waiting. "It is kind of hard to remember it being so subdued for so long," said Michael Snyder, the commissioner of the state's Forests, Parks, and Recreation Department. Snyder said the recent stretch of dry and unusually warm weather means the trees' gradual transition is a little slow this year, noting that scientists hes spoken to consider this within the normal range of foliage transformation. Despite the delay, there is plenty of color out there in Vermonts fields and on its hillsides, if you explore. Our news camera captured some vibrant reds in Stowe, and a bold hillside in the small town of Georgia. However, Snyder said especially in the Champlain Valley and other lower elevations down to Bennington County, there are still a lot of green leaves left in the trees. The commissioner said he has received reports from across the state in the past one to three days describing significant color changes, seemingly all of a sudden. "They say it's a little late because the weather's been warmer," said Donald Flynn, a traveler to Vermont from Alabama. "I'm not disappointed!" That was the sense many travelers shared in the tasting room of Boyden Valley Winery & Spirits in Cambridge. Some travelers who had never before glimpsed Vermonts autumn landscape said they were very impressed, even with what locals have told them seems to be a later-than-usual display. "I'm really looking forward to seeing fall foliage in New England. I've never been able to do that," said Phillys Hill, a traveler from Texas. "It's worth the wait already. It's already meeting my expectations, and people tell me, 'Oh, it's just starting.'" "We have pretty trees home in Alabama, but it's not like this," said Joyce Long, another visitor to Vermont. "This is gorgeous; the hillsits just really pretty." Synder said the colors will keep emerging, especially if we see colder nights to go with sunny days. "We have faith in Vermont's forests, they don't let us down," Snyder said, smiling. And remember, we're on the trees' schedulestheyre not on ours. For information on visiting Vermont, including updated foliage conditions, visit this website from the Vermont Department of Tourism & Marketing. By Online Desk The Election Commission (EC) of India on Wednesday said it would be logistically equipped to hold simultaneous polls for state assemblies and Lok Sabha by September 2018, reported the Indian Express. Election Commissioner O P Rawat told reporters, as quoted by the Indian Express, that the government had sought a response from the EC on the holding of simultaneous state and national polls. The EC had informed the government that funds would be needed for a requisite number of EVMs (Electronic Voting Machines) and VVPATs (Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail) and had received Rs 3,400 crore and Rs 12,000 crore respectively for them. The VVPAT machine is connected with EVMs and dispenses a paper proof for the voters so that they can verify that their vote is cast correctly. Rawat was in Bhopal for the launch of the ERONet, the new software system introduced by the Election Commission to check inaccuracy and duplicity of votes. Rawat said that orders for the machines had been placed with two government undertakings and the delivery had already begun. The EC will be in a position to hold simultaneous polls from September 2018, by when all machines are expected to be delivered. Around 40 lakh EVMs and VVPATs would be needed for simultaneous polls, said Rawat, after which the Centre will have to take a decision and make necessary legal amendments. The EC, had last month, directed that VPAT or paper trail machines will be used at polling stations in all future elections. The poll panel had in its affidavit to the SC on September said that it will be able to conduct the upcoming 2017 Gujarat assembly polls using EVMs with VPATs if it gets 73,500 VVPAT machines by September from manufacturers. The poll panel had told the SC that around 48,000 units were expected to be delivered by Bharat Electronics Ltd and Electronics Corporation of India Ltd by August 31 while another 25,500 such units would be delivered by September. Around 70,000 VVPAT units would be required for the Gujarat assembly polls. In 2018, elections to assemblies in seven states will be due Gujarat (terms ends January 22); Himachal Pradesh (January 7); Karnataka (May 28); Meghalaya (March 6); Mizoram (December 15); Nagaland (March 13); and, Tripura (March 14). Except for Mizoram, elections in the remaining six will be over by September 2018. Those in favour VS those against KJ Rao, former advisor to the Election Commission of India, earlier this year, had told the New Indian Express on how exhaustive election processes in the country keep the election commission busy for almost nine months of the year, making election reforms difficult. When elections take place in so many different phases across the states, there is so much pressure. The expenditure incurred, not just by political parties, but also individuals is tremendous. Then the number of people employed for election duty is also a big number. All of this can be minimised, he said. We have so many issues to take care of and there is a lot of pressure at the time of elections - before, during and after. Election season should be scheduled during April and May. Conducting them in two or four phases makes it more systematic. It will also help record real expenses of those contesting elections. A common man can also contest fearlessly. Political consensus is important for this, he said. PM Narendra Modi, has on several occasions, called for holding simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and Assemblies but with an eye for a 2024 rollout. The BJP-led NDA government at the Centre appears to have set the ball rolling on the one nation, one election slogan. A top BJP source had told the New Indian Express earlier this year that a political consensus was necessary among all parties as the move would entail constitutional amendment. Former president Pranab Mukherjee had made a strong pitch for it, as well, during his Republic Day address in January this year. The Niti Aayog has also recommended conducting synchronised two-phase Lok Sabha and assembly elections from 2024 --- in national interest. The government think tank has said simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies will ensure minimum campaign mode disruption to governance. This would require a maximum one-time curtailment or extension of some state assemblies, the Niti Aayog said in its recent report. The policy think tank has also suggested formation of a group of experts to devise a mechanism for proper implementation of the plan. It said a focused group of stakeholders comprising constitutional and subject matter experts, think tanks, government officials and representatives of political parties should come together to work out appropriate implementation-related details. CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury had opposed the idea of one nation one election last month, saying it was a move aimed at ushering in a virtual presidential form of election in the country "which is anti-democratic". He had said that the one nation one election idea "is essentially a presidential form (of election) towards which it (BJP) wants to move, which is anti-democratic." "In all these measures, the rights of the elected state governments and the statutory rights of the various Constitutional bodies including those of the Parliament are being undermined to advance their agenda," Yechury claimed. Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi recently advocated holding the polls simultaneously, saying it would curb vote bank politics and maintain the pace of development activities. On the other hand, while Bihar CM Nitish Kumar declared that simultaneous elections were a good idea that would save costs, but felt it should only be done in 2024, after a possible Constitutional amendment. We (JD-U) support simultaneous elections to the state assemblies and Parliament, but it does not mean we want Bihar Assembly polls to be held in 2019, said Kumar, seeking to clear the air over widespread speculations about whether JD(U) would gain enough if polls are held for Bihar Assembly a year-and-a-half before schedule. He said elections for Lok Sabha, state assemblies, urban local bodies and panchayat raj institutions should be held simultaneously and in two phases across the country. Nitish's former ally, Lalu Prasad Yadavs RJD, currently Bihars main Opposition party, which has the largest number of MLAs, had protested against the proposal for simultaneous polls. (With inputs from Express News Service and PTI) The Election Commission (EC) of India on Wednesday said it would be logistically equipped to hold simultaneous polls for state assemblies and Lok Sabha by September 2018, reported the Indian Express. Election Commissioner O P Rawat told reporters, as quoted by the Indian Express, that the government had sought a response from the EC on the holding of simultaneous state and national polls. The EC had informed the government that funds would be needed for a requisite number of EVMs (Electronic Voting Machines) and VVPATs (Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail) and had received Rs 3,400 crore and Rs 12,000 crore respectively for them. The VVPAT machine is connected with EVMs and dispenses a paper proof for the voters so that they can verify that their vote is cast correctly. Rawat was in Bhopal for the launch of the ERONet, the new software system introduced by the Election Commission to check inaccuracy and duplicity of votes. Rawat said that orders for the machines had been placed with two government undertakings and the delivery had already begun. The EC will be in a position to hold simultaneous polls from September 2018, by when all machines are expected to be delivered. Around 40 lakh EVMs and VVPATs would be needed for simultaneous polls, said Rawat, after which the Centre will have to take a decision and make necessary legal amendments. The EC, had last month, directed that VPAT or paper trail machines will be used at polling stations in all future elections. The poll panel had in its affidavit to the SC on September said that it will be able to conduct the upcoming 2017 Gujarat assembly polls using EVMs with VPATs if it gets 73,500 VVPAT machines by September from manufacturers. The poll panel had told the SC that around 48,000 units were expected to be delivered by Bharat Electronics Ltd and Electronics Corporation of India Ltd by August 31 while another 25,500 such units would be delivered by September. Around 70,000 VVPAT units would be required for the Gujarat assembly polls. In 2018, elections to assemblies in seven states will be due Gujarat (terms ends January 22); Himachal Pradesh (January 7); Karnataka (May 28); Meghalaya (March 6); Mizoram (December 15); Nagaland (March 13); and, Tripura (March 14). Except for Mizoram, elections in the remaining six will be over by September 2018. Those in favour VS those against KJ Rao, former advisor to the Election Commission of India, earlier this year, had told the New Indian Express on how exhaustive election processes in the country keep the election commission busy for almost nine months of the year, making election reforms difficult. When elections take place in so many different phases across the states, there is so much pressure. The expenditure incurred, not just by political parties, but also individuals is tremendous. Then the number of people employed for election duty is also a big number. All of this can be minimised, he said. We have so many issues to take care of and there is a lot of pressure at the time of elections - before, during and after. Election season should be scheduled during April and May. Conducting them in two or four phases makes it more systematic. It will also help record real expenses of those contesting elections. A common man can also contest fearlessly. Political consensus is important for this, he said. PM Narendra Modi, has on several occasions, called for holding simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and Assemblies but with an eye for a 2024 rollout. The BJP-led NDA government at the Centre appears to have set the ball rolling on the one nation, one election slogan. A top BJP source had told the New Indian Express earlier this year that a political consensus was necessary among all parties as the move would entail constitutional amendment. Former president Pranab Mukherjee had made a strong pitch for it, as well, during his Republic Day address in January this year. The Niti Aayog has also recommended conducting synchronised two-phase Lok Sabha and assembly elections from 2024 --- in national interest. The government think tank has said simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies will ensure minimum campaign mode disruption to governance. This would require a maximum one-time curtailment or extension of some state assemblies, the Niti Aayog said in its recent report. The policy think tank has also suggested formation of a group of experts to devise a mechanism for proper implementation of the plan. It said a focused group of stakeholders comprising constitutional and subject matter experts, think tanks, government officials and representatives of political parties should come together to work out appropriate implementation-related details. CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury had opposed the idea of one nation one election last month, saying it was a move aimed at ushering in a virtual presidential form of election in the country "which is anti-democratic". He had said that the one nation one election idea "is essentially a presidential form (of election) towards which it (BJP) wants to move, which is anti-democratic." "In all these measures, the rights of the elected state governments and the statutory rights of the various Constitutional bodies including those of the Parliament are being undermined to advance their agenda," Yechury claimed. Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi recently advocated holding the polls simultaneously, saying it would curb vote bank politics and maintain the pace of development activities. On the other hand, while Bihar CM Nitish Kumar declared that simultaneous elections were a good idea that would save costs, but felt it should only be done in 2024, after a possible Constitutional amendment. We (JD-U) support simultaneous elections to the state assemblies and Parliament, but it does not mean we want Bihar Assembly polls to be held in 2019, said Kumar, seeking to clear the air over widespread speculations about whether JD(U) would gain enough if polls are held for Bihar Assembly a year-and-a-half before schedule. He said elections for Lok Sabha, state assemblies, urban local bodies and panchayat raj institutions should be held simultaneously and in two phases across the country. Nitish's former ally, Lalu Prasad Yadavs RJD, currently Bihars main Opposition party, which has the largest number of MLAs, had protested against the proposal for simultaneous polls. (With inputs from Express News Service and PTI) Photographer: Jim Bucko Summary Author: Jim Bucko Featured above are two photos showing the Newgrange tomb or temple in the Boyne Valley of Ireland. It dates back to approximately 3200 BC. The mound is 280 ft (86 m) in diameter, about 44 ft (13.5 m) high and is encircled by 97 kerbstones. A 62 ft (19 m) long passage, leading to a cruciform chamber (3 alcoves), is illuminated by the Sun at dawn on the winter solstice. Additionally, there's an entrance stone at the opening of the passage bearing petroglyphs (bottom photo). Some of the stones on the lower wall have petroglyphs as well. Note that it's not known what these symbols mean. There are several similarities here to the temples I saw when I visited the Mediterranean islands of Malta and Gozo earlier this year. Not only are some of the architectural features similar, like the passage and cruciform chamber, many of the petroglyph designs are similar, particularly the spirals and circles. Photo Details: Top - Camera Model: Canon PowerShot SD1200 IS; Focal Length: 6.2mm; Aperture: /8.0; Exposure Time: 0.0080 s (1/125); ISO equiv: 80. Bottom - same except: Aperture: /2.8; Exposure Time: 0.0040 s (1/250). PCD captures Division IV girls soccer title as Rogers comes up short When the final horn sounded the Knights raced toward their keeper Sarah Howe and the celebration was on. It was a sweet win, one the Knights earned. Champaign, IL (61820) Today Mainly cloudy with snow showers around in the morning. High 38F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 50%.. Tonight Cloudy skies. A few flurries or snow showers possible. Low 29F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph. Kolkata: The Election Commission of Indias (ECI) proposal to hold both Lok Sabha and state elections together has triggered a debate on possible misuse of Article 356 of the Constitution commonly known as President's rule. While some seem to be supportive of the move, with a few amendments in Article 356, others were vehemently opposing the decision by terming it as a ploy by the BJP to weaken the democratic structure of India. Speaking to News18, Trinamool Congress MP and former Railway Minister, Dinesh Trivedi, said, Let them conduct Uttar Pradesh (UP) Assembly Polls and 2019 Lok Sabha elections together. Not only UP, wherever BJP is in power, let there will be fresh elections along with 2019 Lok Sabha polls. Then we will see. When asked why he is opposing the move, Trivedi said, See, I am not opposing it. All I am saying is, if they are ready for UP state poll with Lok Sabha in 2019, only then will the others consider it. They have to clear their intentions first and only then can others start thinking above it. Jo mera hai, woh mera hai. Jo tumhara hai, woh bhi hamara hai. Aise nahi chalta. (What is mine, is mine. What is your is also mine. Things dont work like that), he added. CPI (M) Politburo member and Lok Sabha MP Md Salim said, Ideally it (assembly and Lok Sabha poll) should be together but the situation is not ideal right now. Considering the current situation, this cannot be possible because of various reasons. When asked to elaborate, he said, The main reason is Article 356 of the Constitution. The central government can break the government before completion of its tenure (five years). There will be misuse of power. They can dissolve the Assembly citing that the state government is not being able to function. Where is the guarantee that they will allow states to function despite their best performance. It is not an ideal situation there could be horse trading... Who will take the responsibility if MLAs will be kept in five-star resorts to break the government? We have seen such practices in recent past. We feel that before implementing such rule, we first safeguard the democratic structure, said the leader. Congress Bengal President Adhir Chowdhury, however, said, I dont have any problem with the proposal but it should be imposed with certain amendments to protect the rights of the state government. We have to see that sarkar bhang karney ki noubat na aaye (there should not be any deliberate attempt to dissolve the Assembly). Also, the central government have to ensure that an elected state government is allowed to function for five years. If they are ready to discuss these concerns, then we dont have any problem. The next Assembly election in Bengal is in 2021 and Lok Sabha is in 2019. The Bengal government or any other government should get their full term. Any democratically elected government should be respected, he said. Over in Andhra Pradesh, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said, "I don't know how the CEC can take a call on when the elections can be held. The TDP, though, is a 35-year-old party and we will be ready for polls whenever they are held." Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been pushing for simultaneous assembly and Lok Sabha polls to curtail huge election expenses. He had even discussed the matter with former President Pranab Mukherjee. On Wednesday, ECI told the Central government that it will be logistically ready by September 2018 to hold both Lok Sabha and state elections together. Election Commissioner OP Rawat had said that they will get 40 lakh VVPAT machines by September 2018 and they would be logistically ready to hold simultaneous polls by September 2018. It is up to the government to take a decision and make necessary legal amendments for it," he further said. The poll panel has also launched a web-based application called Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) network for the same. There are seven states where assembly elections will be held in 2018 including Himachal Pradesh where the present governments tenure will end on January 27, 2018. In Gujarat the tenure of present government will end on January 22, 2018. The other states which will have assembly elections are Karnataka (tenure ends on May 28, 2018), Meghalaya (tenure ends in March 6, 2018), Mizoram (tenure ends in Dec 15, 2018), Nagaland (tenure ends in Mar 13, 2018) and Tripura (tenure ends in March 6, 2018). New Delhi: Abusive tweets and social media posts became the focus of a hearing in the Supreme Court as senior lawyer Harish Salve disclosed he had to delete his Twitter account because of extremely offensive posts. On the other hand, eminent jurist Fali S Nariman said he was fortunate to not have a Twitter account at all. A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra was adjudicating whether MPs and MLAs can get away by issuing reckless statements on pending criminal investigations. The moot question was whether their right to free speech will protect them even though their statements might influence the probe. Salve, one of the amicus curiae in this matter, was of the opinion that free speech would not mean a liberty to hamper a probe or tarnish reputations of others. Justice DY Chandrachud, one of the judges on the bench, pointed out how Nariman, another amicus in this case, was attacked on social media for seeking protection for Rohingya immigrants in India. "I was shocked to see the kind of comments made against Mr Nariman. People feel free to say anything. How can that be? After all, he is an officer of this Court and a senior lawyer of stature," remarked Justice Chandrachud. Responding, Salve disclosed that he felt compelled to shut his Twitter account because of abusive comments. "It is so disturbing. I was appearing for Christian College and when I came back from Court, I saw so many offensive comnments that I decided to close my account. They say all kinds of things under the guise of personal views and then there is no accountability," rued Salve. The senior lawyer opined that there has to be some guidelines to fasten accountability with those posting abusive materials on social media. Nariman, a more conventional and old school lawyer, quipped: "That's why I feel it is better to stay away from all this. I am in a reasonably happy state because I don't have a Twitter account." At this, Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra recalled his judgment upholding constitutional validity of criminal defamation, and emphasised importance of people's reputation. "Everyone is abusing everyone else and it looks okay at some time. But it pinches when you are attacked. Now Mr Salve says he has closed his Twitter account and Mr Nariman feels happy he doesn't have one. Right to reputation is a facet of Article 21 (life and liberty) and that's what I said in our judgment," said the CJI. New Delhi: With Saudi Arabias latest gender reform allowing women to drive the issue of gender equality is being debated again. In India, where the role of women and their parity with men has been debated often, the truth is that a decades old Womens Reservation Bill hasnt been passed yet. In fact the strength of female representatives in the lower house of Parliament stands at just 11% and representation of women in state assemblies is, in most cases, even lower. So have women really broken the glass ceiling and made giant leaps to finally catch up with men? A recent survey asked this and some other questions to a range of male and female correspondents in the country and found some surprising results. Men were much more likely to say that there has been progress on gender equality in their country in recent years, whereas women were more likely to say the situation hasnt changed or has gotten worse, states the Equal Measures 2030 report on Policymakers and Gender Equality: What they know and how they know it. Albert Motivans, who lead the data strategy of Equal Measures 2030, told News18, This is particularly important observation keeping in mind that there are many more male policymakers than female across the world. In Indias Lok Sabha for example, just 11% of MPs are women. According to the report, 65% policymakers in India felt that men and women had become more equal in the last five years, but a plurality (46%) also felt that gender issues received too little attention in state policy. The survey was done, explained the people behind it, to keep a track of the progress made on 17 Sustainable Development Goals adopted by the United Nations in 2015. Of the 17, number 5 on the list is to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls by 2030. The report shows that Indian policymakers had the lowest awareness about the SDGs among the five countries in the study. For example, 38% of policymakers in India said they had no knowledge or not much knowledge of the SDGs, compared to 10% in Indonesia and Kenya, he added. For example, early marriage was one of the issues where policymakers were least confident in their knowledge of the facts. Across the five countries they surveyed, just 1 in 8 thought they knew the proportion of girls married before the age of 18. The sample was divided equally in relation to men and women respondents and just over half (54%) of the sample was over 50 years of age. Respondents were mainly (69%) in government and most likely working at the regional/local level (42%) or national level (39%). The study, based on face to face and telephone interview was carried out between July-September 2017. There are glaring challenges in achieving the SDGs across the countries surveyed, Policymakers were not confident in their knowledge of the facts on several key issues that are especially important for girls and women if policymakers are largely unaware of the scale of the big gender equality challenges in their country, it will be very difficult for them to know what to prioritize or to set the right laws, policies and budget allocations to solve the problems, Motivans said. He added that the results of the research point out that gender equality is thought to be given much more priority in education and health, for example, than in Finance. Four fifths (81%) of policymakers thought that gender equality concerns were given a high or very high priority when setting policy on education, whereas just 38% thought gender was given a high or very high priority when making decisions about public finance. This is very important to understand because gender equality is about what happens to half of the population. Gender equality issues cut across every single area of policy making. Public finance, the decisions that are made about taxation or public spending affect almost every area of a girl or womans life. So if gender equality concerns arent part of the really big decisions of government, were not going to see the needed changes, he added. Chennai: A hospital here has rejected media reports suggesting that there is something suspicious in how jailed AIADMK ex-chief VK Sasikala's husband M Natarajan underwent a liver and kidney transplant with organs taken from a teen accident victim - but this has thrown up even more questions. Chennai's Gleneagles Global Health City on Thursday released a statement denying that 19-year-old accident victim, Karthik, was shifted by his family from Thanjavur to Chennai in a brain-dead state, which is against the rules. "Karthik, a young gentleman from Thanjavur, was admitted at the local hospital on Sept 30 with severe head injuries and associated injuries like long bone fracture. The doctors at the hospital apprised the family of his poor outcome. Against the medical advice, the family decided to move him to a private hospital for second opinion and specialised care," the statement read. It stressed that Karthik was moved to Chennai "against medical advice", but was silent on whether he was brought in an air ambulance and, if yes, how the family of a daily wage labourer could have afforded that. How was a young man from a poor family taken to a global hospital. Who funded this? This needs to be investigated, said state BJP president Tamilisai Soundararjan. This raised another question - on how Karthik, who was admitted at the Government Medical College Hospital, Thanjavur in an accident case could be legally moved out without informing the police. The statement further went on to say that despite treatment at Gleneagles, Karthik was pronounced brain dead on October 3 and his family gave consent for organ donation after counselling. Natarajan underwent lifesaving liver and kidney transplant on Wednesday, with the hospital insisting he got the benefit of the in-house organ donation because he was "first on the waiting list". There are several questions being raised , and all these need to be answered. If not, poor patients who are to receive organs, will forever remain in the queue, Tamilisai said. Sasikala, who is lodged at a Bangalore prison following her conviction in a disproportionate assets case had applied unsuccessfully for parole to visit her husband in hospital. The two have been living apart ever since Sasikala left him to live in the house of former Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa. One of Indias most respected scientists, Soumya Swaminathan, made history by being appointed as Deputy Director General of the World Health Organisation (WHO), the highest post held by an Indian. A paediatrician by training, 58-year-old Swaminathan is currently the Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and is known for her work on tuberculosis. Talking to News18, she spoke about the importance of research and said India needs at least 20 medical colleges producing the kind of work a Harvard, a Stanford or a Johns Hopkins is producing. The new WHO team that youll be part of has given leadership roles to people from developing countries. What difference will that make in WHOs work? We do come with different perspectives and it will be good to have that balance in the team. Of course, the WHO works for the whole world, but its impact is probably felt more in low to middle income countries. Having that balance, like the DG (Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of WHO) said, of gender, geographic diversity and also expertise will be helpful in making policy and setting direction. Past experiences of people and the realities they've seen in their work will have an impact. So, what realities from your own work here will have an impact on your role in the WHO? Ive always been a research and science based person. Though Ive been involved in public health for a long time, Ive always approached it from the research end. If you want to solve a problem, you need to understand it first; the issues, the determinants, why that problem is happening. Thats where the research, the evidence and the data come in. I would carry that philosophy with me. The WHO also tries to be as evidence based as possible in the guidelines and recommendations it makes. A very transparent system has been in place for the past few years to make these guidelines. They collate the data from around the world rather than base guidelines on expert opinions alone. They apply an equity and ethics lens to that data. Theres plenty of inequity in the world today, whether its access to universal health, or to drugs and diagnostics. They make sure their guidelines take these differences into account. Youve spoken about the need for basic research before. How can the WHO support such research and also be actively involved in it? Its a little complex and Ill have to see once I get there. Obviously the priorities of the WHO will be set by the DG and they need to be approved by the member nations and the Executive Council and the World Health Assembly. The WHO is not a research organisation but it has many divisions that have helped and have conducted research in different countries. I find that approach useful. There are many advantages of the WHO getting directly involved in research. It can set the priority on what research question should be answered to make an impact on global health. Sitting in the WHO, you know what the global priority is and you can direct research in that direction. Of course, it cant be what we call blue sky research, which is a curiosity driven thing. Basic research can also mean understanding a disease process or outcomes that will have an impact on health immediately. As you leave the ICMR, what stage is it at and what direction does it need to take in the immediate and far future? I should say the ICMR is a 100-year-old institution and it has always played an important role in national health. One hopes it will grow stronger. As far as the new priorities that we set in the last two years, the recommendations of the committee chaired by DR MK Bhan, former Secretary of Department of Biotechnology, are important. Theyve put a lot of emphasis on strengthening research in medical colleges. I hope that will continue because, so far, research is mainly done in institutes such as ICMR, CSIR, and a few medical colleges. That is a handful. We need at least 20 medical colleges producing the kind of work a Harvard, a Stanford or a Johns Hopkins is producing. That has to start with getting medical students interested in research, getting opportunities for people to train abroad, garner funds to keep them incentivised and excited. Your work on tuberculosis is extensive. How will you take that forward as part of the WHO? When I became DG of ICMR, I had to go from looking at TB to overseeing all of medical research. At the same time, I was able to start the international TB consortium. I have full commitment from the health minister that the TB work will be supported. The consortium is a very exciting thing and the whole world is looking at India. As Deputy DG of the WHO, my role will be very broad, including supporting the DG in the goals hes already laid out. Having said that, TB will be a high priority for WHO as its the top killer among infectious diseases. So, I should be able to contribute to that as well. What will be your other areas of focus? I think Im very well aligned with the goals the DG has laid out; of universal health coverage, of ensuring people everywhere have access to healthcare. That means fighting the inequities we see in India and other countries, in access to medicines, in responding to emergencies. Then there is the growing burden of the non-communicable diseases. That has been a priority for us in ICMR, too. Weve taken up mental health, cardiovascular disease and hypertension as focus areas. That will have a big impact on cardiovascular mortality. New Delhi: The mercy petition of Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav, a retired Indian navy officer sentenced to death by a Pakistan military court allegedly for espionage and subversive activities, is in its "final stages" and a "good news" is likely to come "very soon," a senior Pakistani army officer told news reporters in the country on Thursday. Though he didn't spell it out, the "good news" for Pakistan is likely to be the army chief turning down Jadhav's mercy petition, clearing way for his execution. Talking to reporters in Rawalpindi, the Director General of Inter Services Public Relation (ISPR), Major General Asif Ghafoor on Thursday said that a "good news" on the Kulbhushan Jadhav case could be expected anytime soon. How will, if at all the Chief of Pakistan Army General Qamar Javed Bajwa turns down the mercy appeal of the Indian national, such an execution order be viewed in context of the ongoing arguments at International Court of Justice remains to be seen. In a hearing of the case on May 18, a 10-member bench of the ICJ restrained Pakistan from executing Jadhav. The top UN court had ruled that Pakistan "shall take all measures at its disposal to ensure Jadhav is not executed pending final decision." On September 27, Pakistan's Foreign Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif claimed that a proposal was made to swap Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav for a jailed terrorist in Afghanistan, who was responsible for the horrific 2014 Peshawar school attack. India vehemently denied the claim. "The terrorist who killed children in APS (Army Public School) in Peshawar is in Afghan custody. The National Security Advisor (NSA) told me that we can exchange that terrorist with the terrorist you have, which is Kulbhushan Jadhav," Khawaja Muhammad Asif told a New York audience on Wednesday. This was followed immediately by a rebuttal from Afghan National Security Adviser, Mohammad Haneef Atmar, who is a statement, said there was no mention or reference of India or an Indian citizen during his meeting with the Pakistani foreign minister on September 21 in New York. Jadhav, a 46-year-old retired Indian Navy officer, was in April sentenced to death by Pakistan's Field General Court Martial on charges of his alleged "involvement in espionage and sabotage activities" against Pakistan. New Delhi/Faridabad: A 13-year-old girl on Wednesday attempted suicide by jumping off the 11th floor of a building in Faridabad, in order to escape slavery and torture that she endured for two years. The minor victim, who hails from Bihar, was caught in a bird net on the 10th floor balcony and was rescued after several hours of being stuck. Police have booked a 23-year-old woman, who had allegedly kept the minor girl under captivity. SHO Balbir Singh of Sarai Thana, Faridabad said, "An FIR has been lodged against a 23-year-old. Sections of the Juvenile Justice Act has been invoked and we will start an investigation soon." Residents of Kanishka Towers in Faridabad, who rescued the girl on Wednesday, said there were burn and injury marks all over her body and that they would often hear cries from the 11th floor flat. The shocking incident of slavery and child labour came to light only after the minor victim went through several months of torture and abuse at the hands of a woman who had locked her up in the apartment for two years, police said. The accused never allowed the girl to step out of the house. Locals said it looked like she has been starved for quite some time. Meanwhile, Maneka Gandhi, Union Minister for Women and Child Development, took note of the incident and condemned child labour. Cases of minors kept as domestic help should be strongly denounced. I urge all to come forth against #childlabour. https://t.co/LGCoJhE5Gf Maneka Gandhi (@Manekagandhibjp) October 5, 2017 "We would often hear cries. But the woman, who told us that she studies at a private university, would tell us to mind our own business," said a neighbour at Kanishka Towers. "On Wednesday morning, the victim jumped off the 11th floor apartment and got stuck in a bird net of balcony on the 10th floor, which is vacant. The girl was stuck there till around 4.30 pm when the owner of the flat at ninth floor, a school teacher, heard her cries," said Roobesh, another resident of Kanishka Towers. The residents then called the police and Shakti Vahini, a local NGO working against urban slavery. "The victim has burn marks all over her back, she has bruises on her head and her hands have deep marks that appear old. The girl is extremely scared and is in a traumatic condition. Doctors say she has been starved for long," said Rishi Kant, spokesperson of Shakti Vahini. The victim was presented before the chairperson of the Child Welfare Committee, Faridabad, HS Malik. He has asked the victim to be kept at a child protection centre. However, according to the police, residents of the building were in a state of panic and gave contradictory statements. Burn marks on the girl's body. (News18) News18 also spoke to HS Malik, who said that the accused's family appears to have known the victim's family from Patna. "The accused is a student a private university in Faridabad. She used to beat up the girl regularly. Both the girls hail from Patna and the parents of the victim work as servants at the accused girls home in Bihar," Malik said. "I have given directions to invoke specific provisions of bonded labour and child labour in this case. Even provisions of the Juvenile Justice Act will be invoked. She might have made attempts earlier to run away, but was unsuccessful," Malik added. News18 also got in touch with the National Commission For Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), which is going to take it up with the district magistrate. We are looking into the incident and if we see a lacuna in the process, we will intervene. We will intimidate the district magistrate and make sure that the girl is compensated and given medical attention. We are speaking to the chairperson of the child welfare committee to understand how the case is proceeding, said Yashwant Jain, Member Child Labour, Laws related to children at NCPCR. Patna: Once touted as a game changing initiative, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumars flagship scheme to provide bicycles to girl students, is floundering with the state education department unable to meet the demands. During his first term as Bihar chief minister, Nitish started the ambitious project in 2007 and soon, it was admired globally as it substantially increased the number of female enrollments in schools. A phenomenal rise in the number new admissions up to Class 8 is still seen across Bihar. However, budgetary support for the scheme is falling fast. In all, over 7,25,000 girls were promoted from Class 8 in the year 2014-15, which went up to 11,70,000 in 2017-18. The scheme promised to provide bicycles to girls when they would be promoted from Class 8 to get an admission in Class 9. However, budgetary allocation for the bicycle scheme fell from Rs 204 crore to Rs 50 crore in the successive period, as a result of a huge burden on the state education department. State government allocates Rs 2,500 per student as subsidy to buy a bicycle and going by the estimates, the state education department requires Rs 246.6 crore to provide bicycles to all girl students promoted in class 8. Clearly only 20 percent of the girls would be getting bicycles this year. When asked how his department would carry forward the dream project of Nitish Kumar, states education minister Krishna Nandan Verma was ignorant about the figures and said, I will not allow such a condition to prevail. I will seek additional funds. This scheme has tremendous contribution in womens empowerment and would be continued at any cost. New Delhi: Just when Election Commissioner OP Rawat set the cat among pigeons by stating that the Commission would be ready for simultaneous polls by September 2018, he also added a caveat that this would not be possible unless certain constitutional amendments were carried out. In an interview with CNN News18, Rawat said there hasnt been a study on what provisions need to be amended. All aspects need to be looked at for making one nation, one poll a reality. He also said that new conditions need to be accommodated and provided for. What happens if one or two states fall out of cycle? All such circumstances need to be provided for. However, constitutional experts and jurists seem to differ. Eminent constitutional expert, Subhash C Kashyap, former Secretary-General of Lok Sabha, said there is no constitutional amendment required and all that is needed is a political will. If the Article 83 (2) and Article 172 (1) of Constitution are taken into consideration, the term unless sooner dissolved provides for a situation of simultaneous polls and hence there is no need for any amendment. No constitutional amendments are required and the reading of both the Sections state that Constitution allows simultaneous polls and dissolving the Assembly before five years, but all that is needed is political motive. Personally speaking, it is very difficult to achieve, Kashyap said. The important constitutional provisions in this matter is Article 83(2), which provides for a term of five years for Lok Sabha, from the date of its first sitting, unless dissolved earlier. Similar provisions under Article 172(1) provide for a five-year tenure for state legislative Assemblies from the date of its first sitting. Echoing Kashyaps view, PDT Acharya, former Secretary General of Lok Sabha said this was an impractical proposal by the Election Commission and that no Constitution amendment would be needed. This appears to be a very impractical proposal. Constitution does no need amendment as the wording unless sooner dissolved makes it possible to dissolve an Assembly before the expiry of five years, but now Assembly cannot be dissolved like this as they have been elected for a period of five years. When an Assembly is dissolved before their expiration date, it is only on the advice of the council of ministers. There can be a situation where there is a lot of turmoil or the MLAs defect and in such a situation, the government falls and within six months elections have to be conducted. The six-month period has been fixed by the Supreme Court and not the Constitution, so making such a proposal that simultaneous polls can be held is impractical, said Acharya. In India, simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabhas were organized in the years 1951-52, 1957, 1962 and 1967. Thereafter, however, the schedule could not be maintained. Acharya also pointed out an important aspect where the term of the state Assemblies could be made co-terminus with that of the Lok Sabha and highlighted that a constitutional amendment may be required in such a case. Now if the tenure of the state Assembly has to be made co-terminus with that of the Lok Sabha, then Constitutional amendments would be required. For example, the point unless sooner dissolved can be amended to read that the term of the assemblies shall be co-terminus to that of the Lok Sabha. So the amendment can happen like this. But now if the constitutional amendment is passed by both the Houses by two-third majority, even then this needs to be ratified by half of the states since states are affected by this amendment, said the constitutional expert. While parliamentary polls are scheduled for 2019, Assembly elections will be due in eight states after September 2018. Polls in Mizoram, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan are slated for the end of 2018 and early 2019. Polls for the remaining four states are slated to be held with the general elections. The BJP-led government at the Centre has been aggressively pushing for the system of simultaneous parliamentary and Assembly polls. Acharya said the ruling party was trying to avoid people and any feeling of anti-incumbency as simultaneous polls would ensure they are not responsible to the people for the next five years. When simultaneous polls happen, the ruling party will come to power in most of the states, and after that for five years they would not be going for any election and they will perhaps not face repercussions of a situation when the wind is blowing against them. If some of their policies go wrong then through simultaneous polls they will be able to escape the fallout. The PM is answerable otherwise, said Acharya. This proposal of EC Rawat was also called out by senior advocate Indira Jaising who said the constitutional amendment Rawat is referring to would destroy the federal structure. The constitutional amendment Rawat is referring to is something which enables the central government to dissolve all the state Assemblies. But such amendment can never happen which gives power to any one authority to dissolve all state governments in one go. What about the states in which BJP is not in power? If they say we want to run for full five years, how can the simultaneous polls happen? There cannot be a central directive on this, nor can the election commissioner direct the states to dissolve their Assemblies, Jaising said. Mumbai: As Raj Thackeray called on Mumbaikars to join his protest against train services in Mumbai following the Elphinstone stampede, irate city dwellers took to the streets in large numbers. Hundreds of MNS supporters gathered at the Metro cinema at Marine lines on Thursday morning. While Raj Thackeray is yet to arrive for the rally, hoardings and banners against the much-hyped Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project have been put up at various places. Soon after the stampede in Mumbai, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray on Saturday threatened not to allow the construction of bullet train infrastructure in Mumbai until the existing rail network was fixed. Thackeray came out all guns blazing against the BJP-led central and state government, saying it was false to say rains caused the death of 23 people. "They (Railway) say it happened due to the rains... It is not the first time that it rained in Mumbai," he said. A large number of people gathered on the Elphinstone road station footover bridge on Friday morning when heavy rains lashed the area. According to a Railway spokesperson, a person slipped and chaos ensued, leading to a stampede, killing 23 people and injuring several others. "People are dying here, after falling off the trains. Small children have to cross railway tracks on their foot as there are no bridges. Women do not have washrooms at the stations. What is the government doing? Where are all these facilities? Mumbaikars are dying here and our government wants bullet trains. We will not allow any bullet trains here. Give us these facilities first. Spend the money on Mumbaikars," an angry woman protester said at the gathering. Meanwhile, the rally has already caused massive traffic disruptions in South Mumbai. While the police did not give a formal permission to the protest, a heavy bandobast was seen in the area. "We had written to the police seeking permission. But we haven't yet been granted permission. We have told the police that we will abide by the laws. This is an outburst of the ordinary Mumbaikar. We are only leading it," said Sandeep Deshpande, MNS leader. Shalini Thackeray, a prominent MNS leader, said, The agitation demonstrates how Mumbaikars can come out against the government spontaneously. The government is in shambles. The Elphinstone stampede is an example of the inefficiency of the government. We are not against progress. But we want basic infrastructure for Mumbai." New Delhi: Air Force chief BS Dhanoa on Thursday said the force is ready for a full-spectrum operation across the border, but added that any decision on surgical strikes involving the IAF has to be taken by the government. Addressing a press conference on the eve of Air Force Day, Air Chief Marshal Dhanoa said, Air Force has the capability to locate, fix and strike across the border.... We are ready to take on any challenge." Dhanoas statement came in response to questions on Pakistans claim of possessing short-range nuclear weapons to counter the cold start doctrine adopted by the Indian Army. Dhanoa added that the Air Force is ready to counter any threat from China and was also ready to face a two-front war. The Air Force chief added that more than assets, the question was what China can and cannot do operating from Tibet against India, adding that Chinese troops are still stationed in the Chumbi valley, of which Doklam is a part, and he hoped that they return soon. "We are not in physical face-off but in Chumbi valley their troops are still deployed," said Dhanoa. "Hope they will withdraw in future after their exercises are over," he added. He also said that there was no face-off in the air during the over 70-day long standoff and there were no air violations. "I take this opportunity to assure the nation of our sacred resolve in defending the sovereignty of our skies," he added. The Chief of Air Staff also said the IAF will achieve the sanctioned strength of 42 fighter squadrons by 2032. "We need a strength of 42 squadrons to carry out full spectrum operations, but it doesn't mean we can't fight a two-front scenario. There is a Plan B," he said when asked about being prepared for a two-front war. Army Chief General Bipin Rawat had said last month that the country should be prepared for a two-front war, insisting China has started "flexing its muscles", while there seems to be no scope for reconciliation with Pakistan whose military and polity saw an adversary in India. (With inputs from agencies) Kolkata: Former President Pranab Mukherjee has denied giving any interview to the Bengali publication 'E-Bela', a day after he was quoted as saying that that the "country seems to be moving towards Balkanisation due to the climate of polarisation." A statement issued by the former President's office on Friday said that the statements attributed to Pranab Mukherjee by the Bengali publication are "false and baseless." "The Former President, Shri Pranab Mukherjee has not issued any statement and not given any interview to any publication or correspondent, including that from 'E-Bela'," reads the statement. (An earlier version of the story had carried excerpts from the E-Bela story. It has been updated). New Delhi: Supreme Court judge Justice DY Chandrachud on Thursday took strong objection to a senior counsel describing the top court judges as "pro-government". Sitting on a bench with Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra, Justice Chandrachud suggested that lawyers should attend the Supreme Court hearings to know better. "President of a Bar Association commented yesterday that the Supreme Court is dominated by pro-government judges. He should come and sit here for a day to know in how many cases, we haul up the government day in and day out...based on issues," remarked Justice Chandrachud. The judge's strong refutation has come in the wake of an "open letter" written on Wednesday by president of the Gujarat High Court Advocates Association (GHCAA) Asim Pandya. Pandya wrote the open letter to pro-government judges, asking them to uphold the Constitution as opposed to supporting the dispensation. In 2009, the recommendation for his elevation to the Gujarat High Court was rejected. New Delhi: Hours after a 13-year-old girl was rescued from Faridabad, her 23-year-old employer has been arrested for exploiting a child labourer under Juvenile Justice Act. The 23-year-old, identified as Sneha, is a student of computer science at a private university in Faridabad. The minor victim, who hails from Bihar, tried to escape physical and mental abuse by jumping off the 11th floor of Kanishka Towers on Wednesday morning. In a lucky escape, she got stuck in a bird net on the 10th-floor balcony. The girl was rescued after being trapped for several hours. She displayed grievous injuries on her body. The police have booked the accused under Section 75 and Section 79 of the Juvenile Justice Act. She has been lodged at the Faridabad District Jail (Neemka Jail). Section 75 of the JJ Act deals with punishment regarding cruelty to a minor and has a punishment term which may extend to three years, or with fine of one lakh rupees, or both. Section 79 of the JJ Act deals with punishment when a child employee is exploited and has a punishment term of a rigorous imprisonment which may extend to five years and shall also be liable to fine of one lakh rupees. SHO Balbir Singh of the Sarai Thana, Faridabad, under whom investigations are currently underway had told News18 that the girl did not attempt suicide by jumping off the 11th floor and the injury marks on her body were old. Did Faridabad Police File Weak FIR? The FIR filed by a group of residents states the accused had tortured the victim forcing the latter to escape by jumping off the houses balcony on the 11th floor. But police havent mentioned the injury marks on the girls body in the FIR. When questioned, Balbir Singh said this complaint would serve the purpose to stop such atrocities against a minor child and also stop bonded labour. However, Senior Advocate Colin Gonsalves, who heads Human Rights Law Network, said there was a grave omission in the FIR as the part dealing with physical injuries was not mentioned. The JJ Act is an addition to the provisions of the Indian Penal Code and Sections in the IPC which deal with torture and grievous hurt need to be looked into. Every special Act has to be read with the IPC and this must be brought to the notice of the SHO looking into the matter. Moreover, the fact that the FIR does not mention in detail about the injury suffered by the girl is a grave omission and must be looked into, Gonsalves told News18. Additionally, activist Nirmal Singh who works towards the rescue of bonded laborers told News18 that if the accused had got the minor girl from Patna to work at her place, as alleged by residents, then a case under Section 370 of the IPC could be made out which is a punishment for bonded labour. This Section should be added too. We are also writing to the SHO. However, SHO Balbir Singh told News18 that there was enough time to add Sections against the accused and the part about the injuries will only be added after the receipt of the medical report. The accused now has been sent to the Neemka Jail in Faridabad and Sections of IPC can be added over next two months. The medical report that we have received is handwritten and we are now waiting for the computer-typed copy, said SHO Singh. When asked, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) said it will take up the matter with the district magistrate. We are looking into the incident and if we see a lacuna in the process, we will intervene. We will intimidate the district magistrate and make sure that the girl is compensated and given medical attention. We are speaking to the chairperson of the child welfare committee to understand how the case is proceeding, said Yashwant Jain, Member Child Labour, Laws related to children, NCPCR. French luxury designer Christian Louboutin announced the launch of an exclusive collection of womens and mens shoes and small leather goods created of handcrafted sari fabrics from the archives of Indian designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee. "Indian handicraft is the best of the best in the world. The luxuriance of Indian workmanship is at the maximum. I would love the world outside of India to love it as I do," Louboutin said in a statement. The two met in Sabyasachi's Mumbai boutique and that led to an immediate connection followed by sharing an adoration of India's culture, exquisite craftsmanship and love of food. "India has been at the heart of luxury since the age of the Maharajas. Working with Christian revisits that couture tradition, connecting our handicrafts with his eclectic point of view to create bespoke delights for cultural magpies," said Sabyasachi. Women's shoe styles includes an exquisite thigh-high boot crafted with delicate leather strips designed to harness and highlight the leg. Aptly named Tall and Deep, a very few pairs will be available worldwide as an exclusive, made-to-measure item. For men, Louboutin chose to revisit select iconic styles from his collections. The Dandelion loafer received the Sabyasachi magic touch with an embroidered toe-cap recalling traditional Indian wedding shoes while Louis Junior is transformed into an incredibly rich patchwork of motifs and colours. The Piloutin, an evening bag designed to look like a precious pillow, was created from Sabyasachi sari ribbons collection. As a declaration of love to the glamorous Bollywood actresses dressed in Sabyasachi, an adorable Poupette handbag charm was created to complement the bags, adorned with embroidered ribbons and crystals, said a statement. The two associated first in July 2015, when Louboutin conspired to create the extraordinary shoes that walked the runway of Sabyasachi's annual couture show held in Mumbai, followed again in October 2016, with a small number of exquisite handbags added to pair with the shoes. Next, came an invitation to "Sabya's" home city of Kolkata, and a rare visit to his private archive of saris and ribbons. Chennai: Amid persistent speculation that he will take the political plunge, noted actor-filmmaker Kamal Haasan on Wednesday met members of his fans associations here to discuss activities to be carried out on his birthday on November 7. Kamal will turn 63 this year. "We discussed welfare activities that we have planned for his birthday across Tamil Nadu," Thangavelu, Treasurer of the All India Kamal Haasan Fans Welfare Association, told the media here. Amidst speculation that the actor will form a political party on his birthday, Thangavelu said: "He has already made it loud and clear that he will take the political plunge. As his welfare association, we are ready to support him in his journey. "If he has plans to announce, he will do it. With us, he only discussed about how the welfare activities have to be carried out." In recent months, Kamal has been very vocal about his political ambitions. He has also been overtly critical of the AIADMK, triggering counter-criticism from the ruling party. At the finale of the Tamil version of reality television show Bigg Boss, he pointed towards the audience and said: "I'm definitely coming there." "I'm not exploiting this stage. I'm speaking from the bottom of my heart. If you think I should continue acting, then say it aloud. If you think I need to serve the society and bring about a change, say it now. I'm prepared to die in service of my nation," he added. Kamal has in recent weeks met Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and discussed the state of politics in Tamil Nadu. While the actor met Vijayan in Thiruvananthapuram, Kejriwal flew to Chennai and met him. The actor has also declared that "saffron is not my colour" -- meaning he was not sympathetic to the BJP. New Delhi: Ahead of the Samajwadi Party national convention in Agra, party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav has once again attempted to broker peace between the warring factions of the party. MSY had a detailed discussion with brother Shivpal Yadav on Wednesday afternoon at his residence in Lucknow. Shivpal, it is reported, congratulated nephew Akhilesh over telephone on getting a second term as party president. A proposal to nominate Akhilesh as party chief by extending the term to five years was passed by the national convention of the party on Thursday. Elected for five years, Akhilesh will be the final arbiter in ticket distribution for the next round of Lok Sabha and UP assembly polls. The move is aimed at quelling rebellion in the party by resolving festering leadership issues. Shivpal in the last one year has emerged as the main challenger to Akhilesh as MSY prepares to hand over reins of power to next generation. It is however not clear if MSY and Shivpal Yadav will attend the party convention in Agra. The national convention will also pass a resolution on the current economic situation in the country, especially on the impact of GST and demonetisation on farmers, small traders. In its political resolution the party may keep its options open for a tie-up with friend Congress in the next general elections. The SP will however go alone in upcoming urban local body elections in UP. But it would be interesting to see what SP resolution says on any possible alliance with Mayawati in the future. The partys stand on BSP will in many ways determine the future of Mahgahtbandhan in Uttar Pradesh in the run up to the next general election. Kolkata: West Bengal BJP President Dilip Ghosh, along with other BJP leaders, was allegedly chased and heckled by rebel Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) activists on Thursday in Darjeeling. The incident took place in the afternoon when rebel GJM leader Binay Tamangs supporters gathered and raised slogans against the state BJP leaders for saying no to Gorkhaland. They also disrupted the Vijaya Samellani meeting as planned by state BJP President. We had to cancel the event due to hooliganism of Binay Tamangs supporters, Dilip Ghosh said. The miscreants chased and attacked us with sticks. It is unfortunate that we have not got any help from police or the administration. Some of our workers are injured, he said. Ghosh alleged that it was a pre-planned attack with the help of Trinamool Congress and police. "We condemn this attack, and these people may someday find themselves in a similar situation. We will wait for that time." Speaking to News18, founder of Jan Andolan Party (JAP) Harka Bahadur Chettri said, How dare they come to Hills? These BJP leaders said no to Gorkhaland and now they are coming to Hills to add fuel to the fire. The BJP is fooling us for so many years. Its time to say no to them. Meanwhile, Siliguri Mayor and senior CPI (M) Asok Bhattacharya condemned the attack on BJP leaders. He said, We dont support violence, but this is a fact that BJP is trying to instigate people. In fact, all of them - the Trinamool Congress and BJP - are befooling the people of Hills. Backing GJM Chief Bimal Gurung, he said, If the state government can initiate talks with Maoists if central government can talk with insurgents, separatists, then why Bimal Gurung should be left out of talks between the state government? No one believes in Binay Tamang. He cheated the people of the Hills. The central government should immediately initiate talks keeping Bimal Gurung in the loop. On October 2, Chairman of Board of Administrators for Darjeeling Hills (BoADH) Binay Tamang warned Darjeeling MP SS Ahluwalia and State BJP President Dilip Ghosh against visiting the Hills without any clear stand on the demand for Gorkhaland. Since 2009, Gorkhas are sending BJP leaders to Parliament with a hope of Gorkhaland, but nothing has been done so far. Recently, our party MP SS Ahluwalia made a statement in Tripura that division of Bengal and Tripura is not possible. Dilip Ghosh and Amit Shah also said the same thing. It is unfortunate that despite supporting our cause for Gorkhaland in their manifesto, now these leaders are making such statements. We want an immediate apology from these leaders, Tamang had said. Bengaluru: Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah said on Thursday that there was no question of his government rolling back Value Added Tax on fuel prices in immediate future. Siddarmaiah, who also holds the Finance portfolio, took umbrage at the Centres suggestion that since it had cut excise duties by Rs 2, it was now left to the states individually to reduce fuel prices further for their citizens. "He cannot give diktats like that to states," Siddaramaiah told mediapersons, about Dharmendra Pradhan's statement on Wednesday. "See, they have reduced it only by Rs 2. What is the international price of crude oil? $42/barrel; earlier it was $130/ barrel," he said, adding that the Centre hadn't reduced the prices proportionately. "Let them reduce prices first." High fuel prices, despite low international prices of crude oil, has fuelled a lot of resentment, with many questioning the Central government why consumers are paying through their nose for petrol and diesel. Taxes on fuel, in fact, are estimated to be higher than the cost of the fuel itself. Union Minister KJ Alphonse found himself at the centre of a controversy last week when he said that rich who own vehicles must not have a problem paying the taxes. Karnataka is the first state to defy the Centre's stand that states must now look at bringing down their State VATs. Other States, including the ones ruled by the BJP, are yet to decide whether or not to go with Centre's suggestion. New Delhi: A day after BJP chief Amit Shah left Kerala after attending a rally, leaving the party's ambitious Janraksha Yatra in between, it is now confirmed that he would not return for the second day of the padyatra. Shah was supposed to meet state party leaders on Wednesday after the rally, but had to cut short his visit and return to Delhi on the same day. Sources told CNN-News18 that Shah will not be returning to Kerala. Reasons for the same are yet to be known. The BJP chief launched a foot march on Tuesday to protest political killings in the state. He was joined by UP CM Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday, who raked up the love jihad issue as well. The ruling party, led by CM Pinarayi Vijayan, retorted back saying that the "break in Kerala would help Yogi rejuvenate and look at issues in UP." Amit Shah on Tuesday trained his guns on the Left saying that political killings are common in both Kerala and Tripura, both Left front rules states. Whenever the Left Front comes to power the cycle of violence begins in Kerala. Over 120 BJP and RSS workers have been killed and Kerala. Over 80 of them have been killed in Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayans constituency. He needs to answer to the public, Shah said. He also questioned human rights organisations for not talking about and protesting against the political killings in Kerala. Amazon on Wednesday announced the launch of cloud-based voice service "Alexa" in India, along with three Alexa-enabled voice-controlled speakers Echo, Echo Plus, and Echo Dot. "Alexa" delivers a customised Indian experience, including an all-new English voice with local pronunciations and intonation; support for music titles, names and places in additional non-English languages; local knowledge; and local skills from Indian developers, the company said in a statement. "Tens of millions of customers are already using 'Alexa' and today we're excited to bring it to India with an all-new experience designed from the ground up for our customers in India," said Dave Limp, Senior Vice President, Amazon Devices and Services. Priced at Rs 9,999, "Echo" is a hands-free, voice-controlled speaker that allows users to access "Alexa" from anywhere in the room with far-field voice control. It uses on-device software to detect the wake word, "Alexa". When Echo detects the wake word, the device's light ring turns blue and begins streaming the request to the cloud where "Alexa" processes the request. Another device, "Echo Plus", to be available at Rs 14,999, includes all the features of Echo, including room-filling sound powered by Dolby and a far-field microphone array, and adds a built-in smart home hub. "Echo Dot" also uses the same far-field voice recognition as Echo. Priced at Rs 4,499, it has a sleek and compact design and comes in either black or white. The company also said it will soon be bringing its music streaming service -- Amazon Prime Music -- to India. Eligible customers can avail a discount of 30 percent as an introductory offer on the voice-controlled speakers. They may request an invitation to purchase devices beginning Wednesday at amazon.in. It will begin shipping the Echo speakers starting the week of October 30. Watch Video: Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Review: The Best Galaxy Note Ever Software major Infosys on Wednesday said leading Finnish elevator-cum-escalator firm Kone had selected it for providing IT support services. "Our strengths in SAP, systems delivery and automation will strengthen Kone's IT capabilities in application development and maintenance," said the company in a statement here. The IT major is also setting up a design and innovation centre at Helsinki in Finland to offer disruptive technologies to its clients like Kone in the Nordics region. The Helsinki facility will provide technology, consulting and systems integration services. It will also have a design thinking and innovation lab where its customers across the Nordics will have access to disruptive tools to transform their businesses. "Our people plus software approach, design thinking and zero distance innovation have enabled our team to transition, elevate, evolve and transform Kone's ERP (enterprise resource planning) service delivery and landscape," said Infosys Vice-President and Global Head of Manufacturing Nitesh Banga in the statement. The euro 8.8-billion Kone provides elevators, escalators and automatic doors to buildings for making people's journeys safe, convenient and reliable. "As digitalising our business has been a strategic imperative, developing our IT function is an integral part of our business transformation. We were looking for a partner like Infosys with expertise in SAP operations and implementation to enable us do more," said Kone Chief Information Officer Antti Koskelin on the occasion. The outsourcing firm will also deliver services at Kone's hubs in China (Shanghai), Finand (Espoo) and the US (Moline). Watch Video: Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Review: The Best Galaxy Note Ever Washington: US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said he has total confidence in his Secretary of State Rex Tillerson after the latter denied having offered to resign from his cabinet and dismissed as petty nonsense a media report that he had called the president a moron. The NBC News had reported that Tillerson came close to resigning this summer but was requested to stay in the job until the end of the year. The White House and the State Department denied the story. Total confidence in Rex. I have total confidence, Trump told reporters travelling with him in Las Vegas. I'm very honoured by his comments. It was fake news. It was a totally phony story, Trump said as he slammed media reports about writing a story which was inaccurate. "It was made up. It was made up by NBC. They just made it up," he alleged and in another tweet the president sought an apology from NBC news. Heather Nauert, the State Department Spokesperson, said Tillerson never used that word."The Secretary does not use that type of language. That Secretary (Tillerson) did not use that type of language to speak about the President of the United States. He does not use that language to speak about anyone," she told reporters at her daily news conference. Earlier, Tillerson in an impromptu statement to the press said that he never offered to resign. He described such reports as erroneous. "I have never considered leaving this post," he said. Later he spoke with Trump over phone. News reports said that Vice President Mike Pence convinced him not to resign. His office denied this. "The Vice President can confirm that...the Secretary of State made clear, at no time did he and the Secretary ever discuss the prospect of the Secretary's resignation from the administration. Any reporting to the contrary is categorically false," his office said. Tillerson, Nauert said, is clear, direct, and pulls no punches. He is not a politician who seeks the spotlight, and many in foreign policy and media circles simply don't understand that, she added. "The Secretary has never considered resigning from his post. And for those who want him to do so, go ahead and keep pushing, because that will only strengthen his resolve," she said. NBC News, however, stood by its story. NBC News spoke with a dozen current and former senior administration officials for this article, as well as others who are close to the president, it said. Tillerson, who was in Texas for his son's wedding in late July when Trump addressed the Boy Scouts, had threatened not to return to Washington, according to three people with direct knowledge of the threats, the news channel said. His discussions with retired Gen. John Kelly, who would soon be named Trump's second chief of staff, and Defence Secretary James Mattis, helped initially to reassure him, four people with direct knowledge of the exchanges said, according to NBC. Washington: In the latest in a series of broadsides against the media, US President Donald Trump suggested Thursday that lawmakers investigate journalists for their work. "Why Isn't the Senate Intel Committee looking into the Fake News Networks in OUR country to see why so much of our news is just made up-FAKE!" Trump said in a tweet. Why Isn't the Senate Intel Committee looking into the Fake News Networks in OUR country to see why so much of our news is just made up-FAKE! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 5, 2017 That was a reference to a Senate panel which on Wednesday said it was still investigating collusion between Trump's 2016 presidential campaign and Moscow. Trump has long railed against what he sees as unfair press coverage and used attacks on the media to rally supporters. The latest fit of pique was prompted by an NBC News report that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson had considered resigning from the administration earlier this year and openly referred to Trump as a "moron." "Rex Tillerson never threatened to resign. This is Fake News put out by @NBCNews. Low news and reporting standards. No verification from me," he tweeted. Paris: France offered on Thursday to mediate in a political crisis pitting Iraq's government against Kurdish regional authorities, and promised to maintain a military presence there until Islamic State was defeated. The offer by President Emmanuel Macron coincided with a visit by Iraq's Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, his first abroad since its Kurdish-held northern regions last month voted for independence in a referendum declared illegal by Baghdad. The Iraqi government has imposed sanctions in response to the independence vote, but Abadi said on Thursday he could understand the Kurds' "aspirations" -- provided they were expressed in accordance with the constitution -- and wanted to avoid violence. "We do not want an armed confrontation, we don't want clashes," Abadi said, speaking alongside Macron. "But the federal authority must prevail and nobody can infringe on the federal authority." The outcome of the referendum has raised concerns in Iraq and abroad that a conflict might break out there along ethnic lines, potentially weakening a U.S.-backed campaign against Islamic State, which still holds pockets of territory in Iraq and Syria. Macron, whose country is the second-biggest contributor to the campaign, said French forces would remain until the militant group's defeat was "total." "It is vital in the coming weeks and months that a dialogue begins that respects the unity, integrity and sovereignty of Iraq within the framework of the constitution and recognising Kurdish rights," Macron added. "France is ready, if Iraqi authorities wish, to actively contribute to the mediation launched by the United Nations." Iraqi-Kurdish tensions were ratcheted down a notch on Wednesday when the central bank in Baghdad eased financial restrictions imposed after the vote, after receiving a pledge of cooperation from Kurdish banks, an Iraqi banking source said. The central bank had said on Tuesday it would halt all foreign currency transfers to the region, banking and government sources told Reuters. All but four Kurdish-owned banks were on Wednesday again allowed to send and receive dollar and foreign currency transfers, the first banking source said. Abadi, in Paris for bilateral talks, said the Iraqis and Kurds had a common interest in maintaining peace. He had on Tuesday called for a "joint administration" of oil-rich Kirkuk and other areas claimed by both his government and the autonomous Kurdish region, provided Baghdad had ultimate authority in any such arrangement. Kurdish Peshmerga fighters took control of Kirkuk in 2014, when Iraqi forces collapsed in the face of Islamic States advance across northern Iraq. "I call on the Peshmerga to remain an integral part of the Iraqi forces under the authority of the federal authorities, to guarantee the security of citizens so that we can rebuild these zones," Abadi said, referring to areas taken back from Islamic State militants. "We respect the aspirations of all citizens, including the Kurds, I respect those aspirations, but we must work together. We are in one country." Tehran: Iranian courts banned the use of hookah water pipes in public in the holy city of Qom and northern province of Alborz, in a fresh crackdown on smokers, media reported Thursday. "Consuming tobacco or using hookah pipes are forbidden in coffee houses, traditional eateries, restaurants, cafes, hotels, hostels, parks and all other public places," prosecutor Mehedi Kahe said, semi-official news agency ISNA reported. Kahe said the ban -- set to be made public in the next few days -- was taken on health grounds and warned that any establishments breaking the rules will be shuttered. In the northern province of Alborz that neighbours Tehran, the public prosecutor said: "The police will close all establishments that serve hookahs." Haji-Reza Shakarmi said smoking in all its forms was prohibited in public places in the province. "The law is in force and all institutions have to comply," he said, quoted by the Mehr and Tasnim news agencies. Smoking tobacco in public places, except for in the street, has been officially forbidden in Iran since 2006, but the measure is often violated. In 2008, the government reversed a plan to ban hugely popular hookah pipes in traditional coffeehouses after protests by owners who complained it would deprive them of the vast bulk of their income. The city of Qom, some 120 kilometres (75 miles) south of Tehran, is a major Shiite theological centre and one of the most conservative cities in Iran. According to the latest World Health Organization figures, some 20 percent of men and 0.6 percent of women among Iran's population of 80 million smoke every day. Moscow: On a landmark visit to Russia, Saudi Arabia's King Salman and President Vladimir Putin were set today to clinch a host of multi-billion-dollar energy and defence deals despite discord over the Syrian war. The first official trip to Russia by a Saudi monarch will also see the leaders of the world's largest energy exporters discuss an extension of an OPEC agreement to cap oil output. "This is the first visit by a Saudi Arabian monarch in the history of our relations and that in itself is a landmark event," Putin said as he welcomed King Salman to Moscow in an ornate gilded Kremlin hall. "I'm sure your visit will boost the ties between our countries," he said. "We aim to strengthen our relations in the interests of peace and security, in the interests of developing the world economy," the Saudi king responded. Citing Russia's energy minister Alexander Novak, the Financial Times reported that Russia and Saudi Arabia were expected to sign deals worth over USD 3 billion, including a USD 1 billion energy investment fund and a USD 1.1 billion agreement for Russia's petrochemicals giant Sibur to build a plant in Saudi Arabia. Russia's Kommersant business daily reported Putin and Salman were also due to discuss an arms deal worth more than USD 3 billion, to supply Riyadh with S-400 air defence systems. Russia and Saudi Arabia are heavily dependent on oil exports and the global plunge of the price of crude that began in 2014 lashed both their economies. OPEC members have joined with Russia and other countries in cutting crude output in a pact that has helped prop up prices. Putin said yesterday it was possible to extend an OPEC deal to cap oil output "at least until the end of 2018". The current agreement runs until March 2018. "We strive to continue the positive cooperation between our countries to achieve stability on world oil markets which promotes the growth of the world's economy," Salman said in Moscow. The leaders held one-on-one talks, followed by broader discussions. Once they sign the expected deals, Putin will host a state dinner for Salman. "The political will of Moscow and Riyadh for deeper cooperation on the widest range of issues is clear," Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists ahead of the meetings. The 81-year-old Saudi monarch's three-day visit got off to an awkward start yesterday evening after landing at Moscow's Vnukovo-2 airport when the escalator he uses to descend from his plane malfunctioned. The escalator stopped midway, forcing the king to walk down himself, to be met by Russian officials including deputy prime minister Dmitry Rogozin and a military brass band. His delegation of around 1,000 people occupied all the available hotel rooms in five-star hotels around the Kremlin, including one entire hotel, state RIA Novosti news agency reported. Salman arrived in Moscow along with Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih, Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir and Minister of State Musaed al-Aiban. The head of Saudi's state-owned oil giant Aramco Amin Nasser told Rossiya 24 state television ahead of the talks that the company would sign agreements with Russia's Gazprom, Gazprom Neft and Sibur energy companies as well as with an affiliate of Lukoil. The Kremlin said ahead of the visit that Salman and Putin would also discuss the Middle East, "especially focusing on conflict situations in the region." While Russia and Saudi Arabia are partners on the oil market, they are at loggerheads on Syria, where Moscow supports President Bashar al-Assad and Riyadh backs the opposition. They also diverge on Yemen, where a Saudi-led coalition has been bombing Huthi rebels since 2015, drawing criticism from Moscow. Putin visited Riyadh in 2007 and last met Salman in Turkey in 2015. Salman said he last visited Russia in 2006, before becoming king. Stockholm: Kazuo Ishiguro, the British author of "The Remains of the Day", won the Nobel Prize for Literature on Thursday for a run of "exquisite" novels that the award body said mixed Franz Kafka with Jane Austen. The 62-year-old writer called the news "flabbergastingly flattering" and said he initially thought it was a hoax. He told reporters his wife had rushed home from the hairdressers after seeing reports on her phone. "It comes at a time when the world is uncertain about its values, its leadership and its safety. I just hope that my receiving this huge honour will, even in a small way, encourage the forces for good," Ishiguro said. The award of the 9-million-crown ($1.1-million) prize marks a return to a more mainstream interpretation of literature a year after it went to singer-songwriter Bob Dylan. Ishiguro is the first Briton to win the world's most prestigious literary award in a decade, since Doris Lessing's recognition in 2007. He said he was sitting in the kitchen when his agents called and let him listen in to the Nobel announcement live over the phone, without knowing he would win. "I thought it was a hoax, in this time of fake news. So I asked them to check up," he said at his north London home. "Eventually a very nice lady called from Sweden and asked me first of all if I would accept it ... I was surprised at how low-key they were, it was like they were inviting me to some kind of party." His best-known work, "The Remains of the Day", won the 1989 Man Booker Prize and became an Oscar-nominated movie starring Anthony Hopkins as a fastidious and repressed butler in postwar Britain. "GREAT EMOTIONAL FORCE" "He is an exquisite novelist. I would say if you mix Jane Austen and Franz Kafka you get Ishiguro in a nutshell," Sara Danius, permanent secretary of the Swedish Academy, which chooses the literature winner, told Reuters. The Academy hailed Ishiguro's ability to reveal "the abyss beneath our illusory sense of connection with the world ... in novels of great emotional force" that touch on memory, time and self-delusion. Ishiguro's latest novel, "The Buried Giant", in which an elderly couple go on a road trip through an Arthurian England populated by ogres and dragons, "explores ... how memory relates to oblivion, history to the present, and fantasy to reality," the Academy said. He told reporters he was currently in discussions to work on a graphic novel. Ishiguro was born in Japan and raised in Britain. I've always said throughout my career that although I've grown up in this country and I'm educated in this country, that a large part of my way of looking at the world, my artistic approach, is Japanese, because I was brought up by Japanese parents, speaking in Japanese," he said on Thursday. Ishiguro has waded into British politics during his career, calling a rise in hostility towards immigrants after the Brexit vote "a fight over the very soul of Britain". He takes his place beside past winners including Alexander Solzhenitsyn, Toni Morrison, Samuel Beckett and Ernest Hemingway. The prize is named after dynamite inventor Alfred Nobel and has been awarded since 1901 for achievements in science, literature and peace in accordance with his will. Lahore: Pakistan's ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif on Thursday left for London, four days before his indictment in three graft cases. Sharif left his Jati Umra residence this morning amid high security and reached the Lahore airport to catch a PIA flight for London to be with his ailing wife Kulsoom. His younger brother and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif saw him off. The ruling PML-N did not confirm whether Sharif would return by October 9 to face his indictment in corruption and money laundering cases against him in an accountability court in Islamabad. Interestingly, the return date on his ticket is January 4. A five-member Supreme Court bench on July 28 disqualified Sharif, 67, for dishonesty and ruled that corruption cases be filed against him and his children over the Panama Papers scandal, forcing the prime minister to quit for a record third time. Since then, the PML-N chief has been raising questions against the verdict. When asked if Sharif will skip his indictment and more appearances till January 4, his political secretary Senator Asif Karmani said, "Mian sahib (Sharif) has gone to London to see his ailing wife Begum Kulsoom. He will return to face the cases like he did in the past". He said Sharif is eager to be in London to see his wife who has undergone three surgeries for throat cancer. Sharif had planned to leave for London last Thursday but deferred his departure in order to face indictment in three corruption cases. However, the court fixed October 9 as the date for his indictment. His children - Hassan, Hussain and Maryam - are currently in London with their mother. They have also been summoned to the accountability court for the October 9 hearing. Sharif's children and son-in-law Mohammad Safdar had skipped the previous three consecutive hearings after which the court had issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Hassan, Hussain and Safdar and bailable arrest warrant for Maryam. Sharif said his children will appear in court after the condition of his wife improves. He has described the trial of him and his family members as "targeted" saying he had no hope of getting justice. Tehran: A member of Irans team of nuclear negotiators that struck the 2015 deal with world powers has been sentenced to five years in prison after being convicted in Iran of espionage, a semi-official news agency reported. While unnamed in the report on Wednesday, the only negotiator known to be facing criminal charges is dual Iranian-Canadian national Abdolrasoul Dorri Esfahani. His detention, if confirmed, would make him the latest dual national to be arrested in Iran, part of what a United Nations panel has called an emerging pattern since the atomic accord. The sentencing was only reported by Irans semi-official Tasnim news agency, which is believed to be close to Irans paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, a hard-line force answerable only to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The Guard has been involved in nearly every case involving dual nationals or those with Western ties being detained. The conviction of a member of the nuclear negotiation team who has been arrested before and released on bail has been confirmed in the Tehran provincial appeals court, the short report read. This person has been sentenced to five years in prison." Philip Hannan, a spokesman for Global Affairs Canada, said Canadian officials were aware of media reports that a dual national has been sentenced in Iran. He declined to elaborate. Karachi: A suicide bombing at a shrine in southwest Pakistan killed 22 people and wounded more than 30 on Thursday in the latest sectarian attack in Baluchistan province, authorities said. Minority Islamic groups in the province are routinely attacked by militant outfits including Islamic State, which has claimed responsibility for several bombings. A police officer apprehended the bomber at the entrance to the Sufi shrine and was among those killed, but his heroic action reduced the number of casualties, Baluchistan home minister Sarfraz Bugti told Reuters. Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack via its Amaq news service. The shrine in the district of Jhal Magsi was packed with devotees mourning the death of a local spiritual leader. Such incidents fuel concern about security for projects in the $57 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, a planned transport and energy route from western China to Baluchistan's deep-water port of Gwadar. The province has been rocked by violence on two fronts for over a decade. As well as the Taliban and other Sunni Islamist militants, Baluchistan separatists mount attacks on targets linked to the central government. A suicide bomber killed 52 people and wounded over 100 at a Baluchistan Sufi shrine in November last year, in an attack claimed by Islamic State. In February, IS attacked a Sufi shrine in Pakistan's southern Sindh province, killing 83 people. Campbell County and Altavista EMS could be seeing each other in court to decide the fate of two ambulances currently held by the independent agency that suspended operations six months ago. In a unanimous motion following a closed session discussion, the Campbell County Board of Supervisors this week gave county staff the authority to use legal action if necessary in order to take possession of two Altavista EMS ambulances purchased with the assistance of $300,000 in Campbell County Capital Improvement Plan funds. When the vehicles originally were purchased with the combination of Altavista EMS and Campbell County funds, the Memorandum of Understandings mandated the vehicles return to the countys possession if the EMS agency ceased operation. Spring Hill Supervisor James Borland first broached the topic early in Tuesdays regular board of supervisors meeting, strongly condemning Altavista EMS for refusing a request early last month from the county to turn over the vehicles. The Altavista EMS has been holding two vehicles, which conflicts with MOUs that allowed them to operate within the county, he said. After they ceased operation, those MOUs said they would return those two vehicles. We need those two vehicles, and if they do not return them, then we need to take all lawful means and take them back into service. After the closed session to discuss the matter, Rustburg Supervisor Eric Zehr voiced his support for potential legal action but reiterated this was not a government takeover of a volunteer agency. This is a situation where volunteer services are unable to keep those ambulances and get them moving to give the service to the people that need it, Zehr said. The idea to request the ambulances from Altavista EMS was brought up in the countys Public Safety Committee meeting last month. Between the expanded service area after Altavista EMS closure and ambulances in need of maintenance, the county requires more resources to meet community needs. According to Campbell County spokesperson Sherry Harding, the county currently has seven ambulances in its fleet. One of the seven is considered a backup unit that has been put into full-time operations due to high call volume. County EMS staff serving in the Concord area also currently are using a Concord volunteer agency-owned truck to meet increasing call volume. In the six months since Altavista EMS closed, the county has had to absorb an average of 99 extra calls per month. In absorbing more calls from the southern areas of the County, we obviously have more demands on not only our EMS teams, but also our equipment fleet, Director of Campbell County Department of Public Safety Tracy Fairchild said in an email to The News & Advance. Were collectively working with our Board of Supervisors, County Administrator, and other EMS agencies to find fair, cost-effective, and sustainable solutions to these equipment needs in response to our rising call volume. Altavista EMS suspended operations March 31 after the resignation of Operational Medical Director Leonard Cohen. According to Virginia law, all EMS agencies must operate under a licensed emergency medicine certified physician called an OMD. Two months after Altavista EMS closure, the Virginia Office of Emergency Medical Services slapped the agency with five citations after a months-long inquiry for violations of regulations for proper storage of drug boxes; upkeep of patient care records; and failure to develop a quality management program that continuously monitors, assesses and improves patient care. The same inquiry also resulted in a five-year EMS certification revocation for former Altavista EMS Chief of Operations Mark Moss on July 24. He was issued three citations at the end of May for violating state EMS regulations, including the improper maintenance of patient care records; patient abandonment; and making false statements or submissions to OEMS investigators, according to the investigations case file obtained by The News & Advance through a Freedom of Information Act Request. Altavista EMS last two employees were laid off at the end of September, according to former-Deputy Chief of Operations Hope Meeks. Citing Memorandums of Understandings from November 2013 and August 2014, Campbell County Administrator Frank Rogers asked in a Sept. 9 letter to Altavista EMS President James Kent that the agency transfer the two ambulances to the county now that it has closed. In a written response, Kent said he would not return the ambulances because his agency has a considerable investment in them. As a compromise, he suggested the agency only turn over one of the ambulances to Campbell because it is not fair Campbell County is the recipient of state funds directed for improvements to EMS equipment and Altavista EMS is not. The ambulance Kent proposes Campbell County take possession of was purchased by Altavista EMS for $201,981 with the assistance of $150,000 from Campbell County and a $10,000 grant from the town of Altavista, according to Kents letter. The second ambulance Kent wishes to keep for his agencys use was purchased for $161,000 with the assistance of $150,000 from Campbell County, also according to Kents letter. Kent said in the letter he does not wish to return the ambulances to Campbell County Public Safety because the contracts were signed by former Altavista EMS President Jason Bradner, who Kent said did not tell the agencys board of directors about the arrangement to fund the purchase of two new trucks. Bradner rebutted that claim last week. The board was most certainly informed that an agreement was necessary to be signed for the release of county CIP funds provided for both of those units with the only stipulation being if Altavista EMS failed to operate that their return to Campbell County would be required, and Ill be happy to testify to that fact in any court necessary, he said. Kent said the desire to keep at least one ambulance stems from his plan to reopen the agency to serve the Pittsylvania County half of the agencys former service area. Pittsylvania County already has signed a contract for EMS services from private EMS contractor Regional One from Sept. 1, 2017, to Aug. 31, 2018. The contract provides a third ambulance in the county to help cover the Hurt area previously in Altavista EMS response area. 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. Six months ago, the Altavista Life Saving and First Aid Crew ceased its operations. The squads operational medical director had resigned with no replacement in sight, and under state law all emergency medical service providers must have a licensed, emergency-medicine-certified physician on board. Following an investigation, the Virginia Office of Emergency Medical Services imposed the Altavista squad with five citations, involving everything from improper storage of drug boxes to failure to develop and implement internal quality control systems. Last month, the squads last two paid employees were laid off. The Campbell County Public Safety Department, with its paid full-time staff, has stepped into the breach to provide emergency medical services to the southern part of the county. Pittsylvania County has contracted with a private EMS provider to cover the portion of that county that was in the Altavista squads coverage area. Heres the rub: For six months, the squads ambulance fleet has sat in storage at the squads headquarters facility, unused and gathering dust. Two of the ambulances were purchased with money from the taxpayers of Campbell County, leading one to think they could now be utilized by the Public Safety Department. Thats the thinking, too, of County Administrator Frank Rogers. On behalf of the county and Board of Supervisors, Rogers wrote to James Kent, the Altavista squads president, last month officially requesting the squad turn over the vehicles to the county so they could be used as intended. One vehicle was bought for $202,000, which included $150,000 from the county and $10,000 from the Town of Altavista. The second vehicle Rogers requested be turned over to Public Safety was bought for $161,000, again with a $150,000 grant from the county. One would think its a pretty clear-cut case for ownership. After all, taxpayers of the entire county paid more than $300,000 of the $363,000 total cost of the two vehicles. One would be not wrong. The Altavista squad, though, is willing to relinquish control of the first vehicle Rogers and the county are requesting but doesnt want to let go of the second. And why? Because the new leadership of the squad hopes it might be able to reconstitute to serve at least the Pittsylvania portion of its former coverage area. Squad leaders contend the former president signed contracts with the county, entangling the agency without the knowledge of the board of directors. Were saddened by the hard times that have befallen the Altavista squad. It has a long history in the town going back decades, and its members have give of their time and talents in service to their neighbors. But the fact remains that the squad is no longer in operation and its chances of reconstitution are bleak at best. Campbell taxpayers bought the two vehicles in question, and they should be returned to the county forthwith so Public Safety emergency responders can carry out their new duties. This is a no-brainer; lets move on it. DALEVILLE Eldor Corp. remains on track to begin mass production in June at its new automotive parts factory under construction in Botetourt County. That was the message Wednesday from Stefano Concezzi, president and CEO of the Italian companys nascent North American operation, Eldor USA. Concezzi, who lives in Michigan but will be a regular presence at the plant, was on site this week to monitor its progress. Our appetite to grow is second to no one, he said of the global companys plans to build ignition systems for auto engine manufacturers across the continent with 80 percent of that customer base within 500 miles from where the factory will sit in the Greenfield industrial park. Eldor plans to hire 350 workers within the next five years to work in a 250,000-square-foot, high-tech factory that it is spending $75 million to build. Longer-term plans call for another 300 jobs by 2024. We are in full recruiting mode, Concezzi said, adding that some of the companys first hires have already been sent abroad for training at Eldor factories in Turkey and China. Eldor broke ground on the site shortly after announcing its plans in March 2016. Assembly lines are expected to be ready for test runs in January, with production ramping up after that over the next six months. The companys plans mark the biggest economic development announcement in the history of Botetourt County, and the largest expansion of new manufacturing jobs in the Roanoke Valley in at least a decade. While Botetourt has been on a streak of job creation since early 2016 Concezzis visit happened to coincide with the announcement Wednesday that a cinema screen manufacturer will re-locate to the countys EastPark Commerce Center the Eldor announcement has carried the most horsepower. This was a huge key to the advancement of Botetourt County, County Administrator Gary Larrowe said of the Eldor factory and its potential to drive additional growth. This is the one that really turned the floodgates loose. Facebook Inc., the California-based social media and networking giant, will build a $1 billion data center in eastern Henrico County, according to multiple sources familiar with the project. The project would create thousands of jobs during construction and more than 100 full-time jobs in a data center of more than 970,000 square feet that represents the first phase of the companys plans for property in White Oak Technology Park, the sources said. Gov. Terry McAuliffe will make the announcement on Thursday at the state Capitol with state and local lawmakers. The technology park, about 4 miles from Richmond International Airport, is home to a 1.3 million-square-foot data center operated by QTS, which acquired the former Qimonda computer chip plant in 2010. The park, now owned by the Henrico Economic Development Authority, was created in 1996 for a $1.5 billion joint venture by Motorola Inc. and Siemens AG to build a plant to manufacture memory chips for semiconductors. The plant became part of Infineon Technologies and then Qimonda, but closed in early 2009, laying off thousands of workers. The Henrico Planning Commission voted last month to approve a development plan for a data center at White Oak of up to 2.5 million square feet, but the details were shrouded under the code name Project Echo. It would be built in phases, with the first being a 1 million-square-foot data center on a 328-acre site on the northeastern and northwestern corners of the intersection of Technology Boulevard and Portugee Road, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reported in mid-September. Future phases would include three buildings totaling 1.5 million square feet. The planning documents do not indicate who the user of the facility would be for Project Echo. The developer is listed as Scout Development LLC and the project engineer is Northern Virginia-based Christopher Consultants. The occupant would have 100 employees and contractors in the first phase and about 240 at full build-out, according to Henrico planners. The county has taken steps this year to attract other data centers by dramatically reducing its tax rate on computers and equipment related to data centers, which store and process vast amounts of digital information. In April, the Board of Supervisors cut the tax rate by nearly 90 percent from $3.50 per $100 of assessed value to just 40 cents per $100. The new rate went into effect July 1. Mutare City Council through its attorney Mr Johannes Zviuya of Bere Brothers had approached Mutare Civil Court praying for Mr Muzawazis eviction, but senior Mutare magistrate Mr Innocent Bepura dismissed the case. Mr Bepuras verdict comes after a Labour Officer, a Mr B Hwacha, had earlier ruled that House Number 2 Shangai Drive be awarded to Mr Muzawazi at 50 percent of the market value. It is common cause that the order of Mr Hwacha was not complied with. It is also apparent that the Labour Officer has since made an application for confirmation of his order in terms of Section 93 (5a) of the Labour Act (Chapter 18.07). The two parties appeared before the Labour Court on July 27, 2017 where they argued on the application for confirmation of the Labour Officers judgment. It is notable that ruling was reserved by the Labour Court after the applicant had requested for the referral of the matter to the Constitutional Court. Therefore, the application for confirmation is still pending, said Mr Bepura. While the application for confirmation of the Labour Court was still pending, Mutare City Council rushed to Mutare Civil Court seeking an order to evict Mr Muzawazi from the house in dispute. The applicant and the respondent are a former employer and employee respectively for a period of nine years. The applicant, City of Mutare, is the fourth biggest city of Zimbabwe and the respondent is its former Town Clerk. The respondent has, therefore, been the captain in the applicants organisation, holding the steering for a period of nine years. I do not think it will be a misrepresentation of facts if I would liken the then relationship of the applicant and the respondent during the subsistence of their employer-employee relationship as that of husband and wife. I say so because in the two I see love. I also say so because the streams of love always end in salty oceans. I mean that when love ends, it is always tensions and squabbles, said Mr Bepura. Mr Bepura added: Anyway, it is common cause that the employer-employee relationship between the applicant and the respondent is now history as this relationship was extinguished upon the respondents tendering of his resignation letter on January 26, 2016. It is apparent that the resignation was by consent as what appears on the resignation letter itself. Mr Bepura said it was not proper for the court to be convinced into accepting the argument that the order made by the Labour Court was a none event. I believe the conciliation order of the Labour Officer is not just like a tooth pick that is used to remove some unwanted stuff and then thrown away and becomes useless, he said. I believe it is useful and effective in dispute resolution of labour matters. I insist that the conciliation order entered by the Labour Officer binds both parties because it is not an under the tree discussion. It is rather a quasi-judicial decision that is sanctioned by an Act of Parliament. herald MUTARE City Councils quest to evict its former Town Clerk Mr Obert Muzawazi from the house he was occupying in Murambi hit a brick wall last Friday after a local magistrate dismissed the case with costs.Mutare City Council through its attorney Mr Johannes Zviuya of Bere Brothers had approached Mutare Civil Court praying for Mr Muzawazis eviction, but senior Mutare magistrate Mr Innocent Bepura dismissed the case. Mr Bepuras verdict comes after a Labour Officer, a Mr B Hwacha, had earlier ruled that House Number 2 Shangai Drive be awarded to Mr Muzawazi at 50 percent of the market value.It is common cause that the order of Mr Hwacha was not complied with. It is also apparent that the Labour Officer has since made an application for confirmation of his order in terms of Section 93 (5a) of the Labour Act (Chapter 18.07). The two parties appeared before the Labour Court on July 27, 2017 where they argued on the application for confirmation of the Labour Officers judgment. It is notable that ruling was reserved by the Labour Court after the applicant had requested for the referral of the matter to the Constitutional Court.Therefore, the application for confirmation is still pending, said Mr Bepura.While the application for confirmation of the Labour Court was still pending, Mutare City Council rushed to Mutare Civil Court seeking an order to evict Mr Muzawazi from the house in dispute.The applicant and the respondent are a former employer and employee respectively for a period of nine years. The applicant, City of Mutare, is the fourth biggest city of Zimbabwe and the respondent is its former Town Clerk. The respondent has, therefore, been the captain in the applicants organisation, holding the steering for a period of nine years. I do not think it will be a misrepresentation of facts if I would liken the then relationship of the applicant and the respondent during the subsistence of their employer-employee relationship as that of husband and wife. I say so because in the two I see love. I also say so because the streams of love always end in salty oceans. I mean that when love ends, it is always tensions and squabbles, said Mr Bepura.Mr Bepura added: Anyway, it is common cause that the employer-employee relationship between the applicant and the respondent is now history as this relationship was extinguished upon the respondents tendering of his resignation letter on January 26, 2016.It is apparent that the resignation was by consent as what appears on the resignation letter itself.Mr Bepura said it was not proper for the court to be convinced into accepting the argument that the order made by the Labour Court was a none event.I believe the conciliation order of the Labour Officer is not just like a tooth pick that is used to remove some unwanted stuff and then thrown away and becomes useless, he said. I believe it is useful and effective in dispute resolution of labour matters.I insist that the conciliation order entered by the Labour Officer binds both parties because it is not an under the tree discussion. It is rather a quasi-judicial decision that is sanctioned by an Act of Parliament. herald CHIEF JUSTICE Luke Malaba has criticised lawyers bringing needless cases to the Constitutional Court as a tactic to shield their clients from facing trial in the magistrates courts, insisting this will not work in his court. The Chief Justice made the remarks while dismissing the constitutional case involving controversial pastor Phillip Mugadza, who is being accused of purportedly prophesying President Mugabes death. He is now set to face trial at the magistrates courts. Mugadzas case was referred to the Constitutional Court after the man of the cloth raised constitutional issues. Mugadza, who is leader of Remnant Pentecostal Church, had argued that his fundamental rights are being violated. But the full Constitutional bench led by Chief Justice Malaba unanimously agreed to dismiss Mugadzas application, saying it was not properly before the court. Chief Justice Malaba said lawyers should seriously interrogate the merit of their clients cases before seeking referral to the apex court. Cases are coming to the Constitutional Court for purposes of avoiding facing the day in court for trial. The perception now is that cases are being brought to the Constitutional Court as a tactic of avoiding facing trial in the magistrates courts. We should not allow such kind of behaviour. We cannot be used in that manner. It is abuse of court process. The court did not hear the merits of the case as it preferred to deal with the preliminary point raised by the State on whether the matter was properly before the apex court. Mugadza, who is being represented by the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, requested the court to bar the State from being heard, arguing it failed to file its heads of argument within the prescribed period. But Chief Justice Malaba noted that the proceedings that led to the case being referred to the Constitutional court were flawed. He ruled that the defence motion to bar the prosecution from audience was a nullity given that the proceedings at the lower court were void from the beginning. In the end, the court decided the matter on the objection raised by the prosecution and dismissed the application for want of proper procedure. Mugadza was arrested in January for prophesying the death of President Mugabe. He was charged with causing offence to persons of a particular race and religion or alternatively causing criminal nuisance. Mugadza appeared before Harare magistrate Nomsa Sabarauta and challenged his arrest and prosecution, arguing that it violated his fundamental rights. In his application, Mugadza challenged the constitutional validity of Section 42 (2) as read with Section 42(1) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act (Chapter 9:23, arguing it violated his rights to dignity, equal protection and benefit of the law, freedom of conscience and freedom of expression. The prosecution alleges that Mugadza insulted the Christian religion and African tradition by uttering words predicting the death of President Mugabe this month and causing the publication of a story in an online media publication entitled Pastor Mugadza says Mugabe to die in October. Herald Chickens that were part of a consignment deemed unfit for human consumption are being sold to unsuspecting customers in Harare and its hinterland, raising serious health risks. The chickens, weighing about 12 tonnes, had been planted into the belly of Pomona Dumpsite after they were condemned by various chicken breeders operating in the capital city. But they were dug up by vagrants and other unscrupulous merchants who appeared to have worked in cahoots with workers at the dumpsite. City officials raised the red flag yesterday, warning Harares two million residents to desist from buying chicken from dubious restaurants and from the streets in case they may consume the condemned birds. The most direct effect of consuming condemned birds is food poisoning, whose common symptoms include nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. Harare City Council (HCC) spokesperson Michael Chideme confirmed the development. He said: There were about 12 tonnes of chickens which were condemned and buried at Pomona Dumpsite at the weekend. Some vagrants, however, went there and dug up the chickens, which are now being sold in the various residential areas. People should be wary of the chickens on sale. They could be the condemned birds and they are dangerous for human consumption as some of them were already rotting. Chideme said city fathers have been told that most of the chickens were on sale in Harares oldest and populous suburb of Mbare, adding that some of the birds were being sold to people running catering businesses, including restaurants that are mushrooming everywhere, including in alleys. Health experts have reacted angrily to the development, accusing the city fathers and the corporates concerned of dereliction of duty. They said the chickens should have been incinerated, a process that involves destruction of any material through burning. Rutendo Bonde, the chairperson of the Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights, said there was gross negligence by both council and corporates involved in the dumping of the chickens. She said there are stipulated by-laws and statutory instruments that govern the disposal of condemned poultry, which were ignored in this case. There has been a dereliction of the constitutional right to health by everyone involved. The companies did not notify that they were disposing of their chickens, while council also failed to properly manage the disposal. However, the companies involved should be heavily-fined for their behaviour, said Bonde. The biggest question that should be asked is; why did the companies not incinerate the birds on their premises instead of transporting them across the city to Pomona? How can the epidemic (avian flu) be contained when there is uncontrolled movement of infected birds? There should have been thorough communication by all the involved parties because if this is not dealt with the avian flu will remain an issue, she added. HCCs health director, Prosper Chonzi, said while contaminated birds should be incinerated, there seems to have been some miscommunication, which resulted in the chickens being buried instead. He said consumers should desist from buying any meat products they were not sure of their origins, adding council would prefer the harshest penalties on anyone found selling unsafe meat, whose health risks are not only restricted to people but also pets such as dogs and cats. We are still dealing with the avian flu outbreak that occurred and if people are selling these chickens then it could prove to be fatal. Ideally, contaminated birds should be incinerated but there seems to have been some miscommunication, which resulted in the chickens being buried instead, he said. People should be careful of who they buy from and where they buy their meat. The most direct effects of consuming these birds is food poisoning. However, the long-term effects of eating avian flu contaminated birds need to be determined. In the unfortunate event that people get into contact with it, it will spread very fast. For those chickens that have not yet been dug up, they will surely be burnt to avoid a similar incident, Chonzi said. The outbreak of avian flu hit the countrys largest producer of chickens, Irvines in July. This prompted government and the breeders to destroy thousands of chickens. Combined Harare Residents Association chief executive officer Mfundo Mlilo said the digging up of diseased birds was a sign of the desperation that has befallen Zimbabweans to the poor economic situation. He said the economic situation was constrictive and forcing people to do anything to ensure that they make some money. Consumers, who are desperate for a cheaper source of protein, flock to buy these chickens because they are cheaper than birds being sold in shops and butcheries. This is a reflection on the state of the economy, which seriously needs to be fixed as it is the root cause of the situation. Also standards of planning in the city have also been compromised as anyone can access junk or even rotten food from the dumpsite and sell it to others without thinking of the health implications involved, said Mlilo. We need strong monitoring mechanisms by both the city health department and the ministry of Health. These two departments need to conduct every possible compliance check on all meat vending and ensure that it is fit for human consumption. If not, then there will likely be another health disaster on our hands, he added. Daily News Western mining experts hid exploration maps on Zimbabwes mineral resource base during the colonial era, but the country is slowly discovering its worth in terms of underground wealth, First Lady Dr Grace Mugabe has said. It is believed that the whites undertook massive exploration works in Zimbabwe before independence, but never made public their findings. The move was deliberate to ensure that after independence, the new State would not know its value in terms of minerals. Addressing investors of African origin based in the United Kingdom at her Mazowe Childrens Home on Tuesday, Dr Mugabe said Zimbabwe was endowed with vast resources and God was already revealing some of the hidden wealth. You can actually mention any of the minerals Zimbabwe has that mineral. Even some people believe that we have oil somewhere. Yes some people know. Our erstwhile colonisers had maps and they hid some of the information from us but we are getting to know bit by bit. God is revealing that this is yours use it, she said. In furtherance of the quest to establish the countrys worth in terms of mineral value, Finance and Economic Development Minister Patrick Chinamasa in his 2015 National Budget presentation said Government had proposed to set aside $3 million towards exploration activities. Minister Chinamasa said Government had already acknowledged the need to set up of an exploration firm because the country was not fully knowledgeable about the extent of the value of its mineral resource base. He said this inevitably resulted in poorly negotiated contracts, potentially prejudicing the benefits accruing to the State and its citizens. As such the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development resolved to set up the Minerals Exploration Promotion Corporation to solely deal with exploration activities. Apart from the vast mineral resources, Dr Mugabe said after independence President Mugabe resolved that political freedom was not enough without economic control. Dr Mugabe said the President pioneered empowerment programmes for the nation. As part of the empowerment drive, President Mugabe championed programmes such as the Land Reform Programme and indigenisation that had empowered the previously marginalised black majority. We of course went to war, fought the struggle, won it but our President went further to say that yes we fought for independence but independence alone is not enough. When we went out to the struggle we slept in the bush, we were being bitten by mosquitoes and lots of lives were lost. They were not lost just to say we are free, freedom alone is not enough unless we have economic freedom. Herald Under the regulations gazetted last week through Statutory Instrument (SI) 122A of 2017- Exchange Control (Amendment) Regulations 2017 (No 5), police are now empowered to arrest illegal money-changers and seize whatever currency in their possession. Government has established cash vending as a catalytic agent to arbitrary price hikes and rent-seeking behaviour. Illegal cash traders had turned Eastgate Shopping Mall, Copacabana, Roadport, Market Square and First Street into zones for illicit foreign currency deals. Following the new regulations, which effectively amended the Exchange Control Regulations of 1996, published in Statutory Instrument 109 of 1996, in particular Section 2 of the principal regulations, the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has since launched an operation code-named Dzosai mari, which has since led to the ongoing arrests. Abel Sibanda (21), Faith Muchemwa (28), Lovemore Bangwanyo (20), Shelly Danda (51), Kudzayi Musande (31), Sibongile Nyahanana (40), Joyce Marufu (33), Admire Chikanga (34), Esseline Siziba (49), Trymore Tara (35), Ruth Mutenure (30), Fiona Mapfumo (37), Khan Zeyn (28), Catherine Tekwa, Alec and Tichafa Manangazira, Abel Shambare, Debrick Hwara and Sarah Hanyani initially appeared in court on Tuesday and are still in custody pending bail ruling. They appeared on separate records before magistrate Ms Nomsa Sabarauta charged with contravening the Exchange Control Act. They are being represented by Messrs Dumisani Mthombeni, Norman Tsarwe, Tawanda Takaendesa, Gwinyai Shumba, Steady Kachere and Liberty Mandivei. Fang Wei (35), Wu Huanjiu (42) and Wei Wei (30), who are also being implicated in various cash vending activities, were found in possession of $50 000 worth of bond notes, which have also been seized. Fang and Huanjiu are employed at Hanjiu Mineral Development Pvt Ltd as accountant and managing director, while Wei is the operations manager at Planners Stationery. The trio appeared before the same magistrate yesterday and were remanded in custody to today for bail ruling. The prosecutor Ms Francesca Mukumbiri opposed bail on the basis that there was overwhelming evidence against the gang as they were caught red-handed illegally trading money. What they were doing has a negative impact on the economy and if they are convicted, they are likely to face a lengthy prison term, hence this will induce them to abscond, she said. On October 3, police detectives got a tip-off that Fang, Wei and Huanjiu were in the business of selling cash at a premium. The detectives went to 136 Seke Road to conduct their investigations and they saw Wei coming from a building with a box which he put in his car and drove off. They followed him and stopped him along Enterprise road before searching his vehicle. They recovered $50 000 worth of bond notes which were in the box, leading to his arrest. Fang then implicated his alleged accomplices. On October 2, police detectives were assigned to arrest illegal money peddlers in the CBD and during the patrol, the officers proceeded to the intersection of Robert Mugabe and First Street where they saw Siziba conducting illegal transactions. She was arrested and police allegedly recovered $905 in bond notes, US$231, R450 and P320. The officers proceeded to Copacabana bus terminus where they observed Chikanga taking several people to his parked vehicle on different times and they pounced on him. He was searched and found in possession of $1 800 in bond notes, the court heard. Other money changers were arrested at various spots around town. herald THREE Chinese nationals and 19 illegal money-changers have been arrested in Harare since the gazetting of regulations criminalising cash vending, with police recovering $55 000 worth of bond notes, US$1 662 and R6 000. The suspects were also found in possession of 10 000 Tanzanian shillings and 320 Botswana Pula.Under the regulations gazetted last week through Statutory Instrument (SI) 122A of 2017- Exchange Control (Amendment) Regulations 2017 (No 5), police are now empowered to arrest illegal money-changers and seize whatever currency in their possession. Government has established cash vending as a catalytic agent to arbitrary price hikes and rent-seeking behaviour. Illegal cash traders had turned Eastgate Shopping Mall, Copacabana, Roadport, Market Square and First Street into zones for illicit foreign currency deals.Following the new regulations, which effectively amended the Exchange Control Regulations of 1996, published in Statutory Instrument 109 of 1996, in particular Section 2 of the principal regulations, the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has since launched an operation code-named Dzosai mari, which has since led to the ongoing arrests.Abel Sibanda (21), Faith Muchemwa (28), Lovemore Bangwanyo (20), Shelly Danda (51), Kudzayi Musande (31), Sibongile Nyahanana (40), Joyce Marufu (33), Admire Chikanga (34), Esseline Siziba (49), Trymore Tara (35), Ruth Mutenure (30), Fiona Mapfumo (37), Khan Zeyn (28), Catherine Tekwa, Alec and Tichafa Manangazira, Abel Shambare, Debrick Hwara and Sarah Hanyani initially appeared in court on Tuesday and are still in custody pending bail ruling.They appeared on separate records before magistrate Ms Nomsa Sabarauta charged with contravening the Exchange Control Act. They are being represented by Messrs Dumisani Mthombeni, Norman Tsarwe, Tawanda Takaendesa, Gwinyai Shumba, Steady Kachere and Liberty Mandivei.Fang Wei (35), Wu Huanjiu (42) and Wei Wei (30), who are also being implicated in various cash vending activities, were found in possession of $50 000 worth of bond notes, which have also been seized. Fang and Huanjiu are employed at Hanjiu Mineral Development Pvt Ltd as accountant and managing director, while Wei is the operations manager at Planners Stationery.The trio appeared before the same magistrate yesterday and were remanded in custody to today for bail ruling. The prosecutor Ms Francesca Mukumbiri opposed bail on the basis that there was overwhelming evidence against the gang as they were caught red-handed illegally trading money.What they were doing has a negative impact on the economy and if they are convicted, they are likely to face a lengthy prison term, hence this will induce them to abscond, she said.On October 3, police detectives got a tip-off that Fang, Wei and Huanjiu were in the business of selling cash at a premium. The detectives went to 136 Seke Road to conduct their investigations and they saw Wei coming from a building with a box which he put in his car and drove off. They followed him and stopped him along Enterprise road before searching his vehicle.They recovered $50 000 worth of bond notes which were in the box, leading to his arrest. Fang then implicated his alleged accomplices. On October 2, police detectives were assigned to arrest illegal money peddlers in the CBD and during the patrol, the officers proceeded to the intersection of Robert Mugabe and First Street where they saw Siziba conducting illegal transactions.She was arrested and police allegedly recovered $905 in bond notes, US$231, R450 and P320. The officers proceeded to Copacabana bus terminus where they observed Chikanga taking several people to his parked vehicle on different times and they pounced on him. He was searched and found in possession of $1 800 in bond notes, the court heard. Other money changers were arrested at various spots around town. herald The future looks bright for Soul Jah Love, but it seems the musician is not bright enough to look into the future. The Mbare-bred chanter is fast winning hearts among music followers and can be credited for attracting people that were non-dancehall followers to the genre because of his hits. However, Soul Jah Love has become a name that is always swimming in controversy with his major weakness being failure to respect his fans and promoters. The musician has always been arrogant and that character seems hard to prune off the musicians blooming career it is a black cloud threatening to blanket a shining star. Violence has become common at most shows where Soul Jah Love is booked, either because he comes late or fails to turn up. Promoters have lost equipment when violence erupts because of the musicians behaviour. Violence at shows cannot be tolerated, but taking fans for granted cannot be tolerated too. Fans get impatient and angry because they would have spent money in anticipation of merrymaking and what they get is disappointment when the artiste fails to value their sacrifices. What Soul Jah Love fails to realise is that indiscipline has swallowed many artistes that had great potential and some that had actually gone beyond his level. The late Andy Brown had become and international star and the likes of Oliver Mtukudzi looked up to him as an icon, but he failed to maintain that status because he would come for shows drunk or failed to fulfil assignments. I remember how in 2009 Brown decided to join us for drinks in Livingstone, Zambia when his band was waiting for him in Victoria Falls where they were supposed to perform. When he heard that other Zimbabweans were partying at Music Crossroads Inter-regional finals in Zambia, Brown crossed the border and forgot about the show. By the time of his death in 2012, Brown was no longer a star that he was supposed to be. Even at State galas where he was regularly given space to showcase his prowess, Brown became known more for his drunken burst-outs than the immense guitar-playing skill that he was endowed with. When we laid him to rest in Mberengwa, the burial did not mirror someone who had once made history by signing a contract with South Africas Sheer Sounds one of the biggest record labels on the continent. Then there is Progress Chipfumo who is one of the most talented musicians in the land. He has not been able to utilise his potential due to lack of professionalism. Although he has reformed, it will be difficult for Chipfumo to reach the level that his talent deserves. Roki is another example. The young man has great talent and works miracles in the studio and on stage. He had a potential of becoming an international star, but his wayward behaviour affected him. These are a few examples that should inform Soul Jah Love that multitudes of people that are following his music are not stuck to his art. They have other choices and it does not mean that if they appreciate his talent they will swallow everything he hammers down their throats. That is why they talk about bitter pills to swallow. Soul Jah Love should put his house in order. His manager Benjy Nyandoro of Jive Zimbabwe has tried his best to build Soul Jah Love brand, but it seems the musicians head is too hot. The musician sometimes books shows behind the managers back and does not communicate well with Nyandoro. Honestly, how can Nyandoro explain the incident when he drove all the way to Beitbridge and waited for his artiste who only arrived in the morning when the show had ended and chaos had left a trail of destruction? Nyandoro needs new strategies to handle Soul Jah Love, otherwise the brand Jive Zimbabwe will be soiled by the mud that the musician is splashing everywhere. Promoters are losing confidence in Soul Jah Love. Fans are getting impatient. Yes, the star is shining and the future is bright, but someone needs to show Soul Jah Love that fans cannot show that love forever. herald Despite the fact that millions of Zimbabweans are trapped in abject poverty, Zanu PF is going on a spending spree ahead of the 2018 polls to ensure its campaign machinery is well-oiled to face a tricky opposition that appears likely to rally behind one presidential candidate to face President Robert Mugabe. The Daily News can report that the ruling party will be spending big on campaign material, advertising and promotions, as well as on vehicles to get its officials to connect with the grassroots, especially in its rural strongholds. Much of the budget would be directed towards vehicles, amid indications that 210 Ford Fiestas with a retail value of about $25 000 each would be allocated to those who would have won in the primary elections and given the green light to stand on the partys ticket. The party is also considering buying a new fleet for its provincial chairpersons and other vehicles for party districts which act as the bridge to party wards and cells. Zimbabwe has 10 administrative provinces and 59 districts. Assuming that the party decides to go for all-terrain Ford Rangers for the 59 districts and 10 provinces, it would have to part with at least $3 million. Combine that with the vehicles for the aspiring Members of Parliament, Zanu PF could easily fork out about $8 million on vehicles alone. Earlier this year, the ruling party splurged almost $60 million on vehicles and buses, which are being used to mobilise the masses to attend its rallies. Zanu PFs secretary for transport, welfare and communication Oppah Muchinguri confirmed to the Daily News that the vehicles will be bought but refused to divulge at what cost, saying the revolutionary party does not discuss its plans in the media. Since when did we start sharing what we are doing with the media to say we are buying cars for so and so? Besides, we have not had our primary elections so it does not make sense to be giving MPs cars now because they have to win internal elections first, she said. What I know, however, is that we last replenished our fleet in 2007 and it is those cars that are in a deplorable state now hence we are seeking to replace them for our provinces and districts, said Muchinguri. The Daily News is, however, reliably informed that Zanu PF will splash millions on Ford Fiestas for its aspiring lawmakers, which are lowly-priced than the Ford Everests acquired ahead of the 2013 polls. Well-placed Zanu PF insiders told the Daily News that the party would soon take delivery of the 210 new vehicles for use in campaigns for the 2018 elections. Among the new fleet are Ford Fiestas similar to the ones which were recently purchased for the police and top-of-the-range Ford Rangers and buses. On average, a standard Ford Ranger single cab starts at about $40 000. Critics are, however, questioning the source of funding for the election-related projects amid fears that Zanu PF could be engaged in foggy back-to-back deals that could involve conflating the partys financial needs with those of government. This could involve arrangements whereby investors gaining access into the resource sector might be coerced into funding specific party projects as a precondition to get the necessary approvals. It is known that the party has not been getting much from its ordinary membership as well as from its investments due to the harsh economic environment in which the majority of Zimbabweans are living on less than $1 per day. Most of the companies in which Zanu PF is invested in are bellies up and face the risk of closure, while a number of the partys officials are also fighting sequestration due to mounting debts. All these difficulties have seen the partys coffers running dry to the point where Zanu PF is failing to pay its workers and service its debts. Coming at a time when long-suffering Zimbabweans are struggling to make ends meet, opposition parties have accused Zanu PF of being insensitive to the plight of the masses. The secretary for finance and economic affairs for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Vince Musewe, said it could be that the ruling party might have been behind the missing $15 billion from diamonds, otherwise how else could one explain the source of funding. We can only speculate that the missing $15 billion is now coming in handy. We are dealing with a kleptocracy that can never imagine itself out of power. One fine day the chickens will come home to roost. The economy is bleeding each day; no amount of cars in the streets will change that, Musewe said. PDP spokesperson Jacob Mafume weighed in saying Zanu PF was abusing foreign currency to prepare for 2018 elections. The foreign currency is being abused by Zanu PF to oil their machine ahead of 2018 elections. Its gross and criminal abuse of foreign currency, right now they are going all over the country using State resources during their so-called interface rallies. Only last year, the party spent almost $60 million on a new fleet of cars, trucks and buses, for party businesses. Apart from buying cars for its parliamentary candidates and party structures the ruling party is also under pressure from traditional leaders to buy them cars. A fortnight ago, traditional leaders told the Daily News that they were demanding cars. Considering that the country is hurtling towards crunch elections in 2018, it is likely that the chiefs will have brand new cars ahead of other urgent national needs. MDC spokesperson Obert Gutu said the ruling party doesnt care about peoples plight. The Zanu PF regime has never really cared about the well-being of the generality of the people. Zanu PF has always been a commandist and fascist organisation that believes in retaining power at whatever cost, Gutu said. This is the main reason why State resources are being abused for the purposes of purchasing campaign motor vehicles for every Zanu PF 2018 parliamentary candidate. They loot the national Treasury and ensure that Robert Mugabe and his inner circle are always spoilt rotten. The Mugabe family lives life in the fast lane. They spent money like its about to get out of fashion. In fact, Zimbabwe will be permanently located in the miserable pool of failed States if the incredible happens and Zanu PF somehow manages to win next years elections, said Gutu. daily news Bezos' Ex Is Already Doing This. Now He Is, Too After a mass shooting, their names and faces are plastered on every news site, the front page of every newspaper, and every cable news channel. But more than 140 expertsprofessors, scholars, law-enforcement professionals, and moresay it's time for the media to stop identifying these killers, Newsweek reports. "All of us agree that it is important to stop giving fame-seeking mass shooters the personal attention they want," the experts say in a signed letter following the death of 59 people in Las Vegas. According to Live Science, the letter states journalists should report all other details of a mass shooting, but "the particular sequence of letters that make up offenders' names, and the particular configuration of bones, cartilage and flesh that make up offenders' faces are among the least newsworthy details about them." Adam Lankford, a professor of criminology at the University of Alabama, was one of the drafters of the letter. He cites research that shows many mass shooters are motivated by fame and that killers who admit to seeking celebrity kill twice as many people. "They want to be celebrities," Lankford says. The letter states journalists can and should still report details about the killers' lives and interview their friends and family. And the letter admits that there are some extenuating circumstances when a killer should be named and have their photo shared, such as if they are still on the loose. The letter sent to media in the wake of the Las Vegas shooting is far from the first time such an argument has been made after a mass killing. (Read more mass shootings stories.) Americans buying seafood for dinner may inadvertently have subsidized the North Korean government as it builds its nuclear weapons program, an AP investigation has found. Their purchases may also have supported forced labor. At a time when North Korea is banned from selling almost anything, the country is sending tens of thousands of workers worldwide to bring in an estimated $200 million to $500 million a year. That could account for a sizable portion of North Korea's nuclear weapons and missile programs. While North Korean workers have been documented overseas, the investigation reveals that some products they make go to the US. AP also tracked products made by North Korean workers to Canada, Germany, and elsewhere in the European Union. At Chinese factories, North Korean workers aren't allowed to leave their compounds without permission, and must step from housing to factories in pairs or groups, with North Korean minders. They receive a fraction of their salaries, while the restas much as 70%is taken by the North Korean government. Shipping records show more than 100 cargo containers of seafood were sent to the US and Canada this year from the factories where North Koreans were working in China, including packages of snow crab, salmon fillets, and squid rings. Often the fish arrives in generic packaging. But some were already branded in China with familiar names like Walmart or Sea Queen, which is sold exclusively at ALDI supermarkets. Read the full investigative piece here. (Read more seafood stories.) "He never said anything to me, or took any actionthat I was aware ofthat I understood to be in any way a warning that something like this was about to happen," the Independent quotes Marilou Danley as saying in her first public statement after her boyfriend, Stephen Paddock, killed 59 people Sunday in Las Vegas. Danley's statement was read by her lawyer Matthew Lombard on Wednesday in Los Angeles, where she was being questioned by the FBI, the AP reports. According to NBC News, the 62-year-old Danley said in her statement she was "devastated" by what happened in Las Vegas. "I knew Stephen as a kind, caring, quiet man," she said in the statement. While Danley's statement didn't provide a possible motive for Paddock's actions, it did explain why he recently wired $100,000 to an account in the Philippines, where Danley reportedly was at the time of the shooting. Lombard said Paddock sent the money to Danley and her family to "buy a house." He said Danley was worried it was Paddock's way of breaking up with her. Danley returned to the US on Tuesday night, and Lombard said she is cooperating with investigators. (Read more Las Vegas shooting stories.) The deadliest mass shooting in modern US history might actually result in bipartisan progress on gun controlalthough it involves a device many people hadn't heard of before the Las Vegas massacre. Republicans in the House and Senate say they're willing to consider banning bump stocks, a device used by gunman Stephen Paddock that allowed him to fire semi-automatic rifles at a rate close to that of fully automatic weapons, the New York Times reports. "I own a lot of guns, and as a hunter and sportsman, I think that's our right as Americans, but I don't understand the use of this bump stock," says Sen. John Cornyn, the No. 2 Republican in the Senate. On Wednesday, Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein introduced a bill to ban the devices, which use a firearm's recoil to bump the trigger over and over again without the shooter having to move their trigger finger. The NRA has yet to comment, though Erich Pratt of the Gun Owners of America group says they see it as "an item that is certainly protected by the Second Amendment" and will try to block attempts to ban it. Walmart appears to have already stopped selling bump stocks, Reuters reports, though other gun shops say there has been a surge of interest in the previously obscure item from people who want to acquire one while they still can. (Paddock bought 33 guns in the year before the shooting.) US officials say three US Army special operations commandos were killed Wednesday and two others were wounded when they came under fire in southwest Niger. The officials say the two wounded were taken to Niamey, the capital, and are in stable condition, the AP reports. The officials say the commandos, who were Green Berets, were likely attacked by al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb militants. In a statement, US Africa Command said the American forces were on a joint patrol with Nigerien Armed Forces troops north of Niamey, near the Mali border, when they came under hostile fire. Africa Command said the US forces are in Niger to provide training and security assistance to the Nigerien Armed Forces in their efforts against violent extremists. The White House says President Trump was notified about the attack Wednesday night as he flew aboard Air Force One from Las Vegas to Washington. The military says the two wounded soldiers will soon be transported to Germany for medical treatment, CNN reports. (Read more Niger stories.) Scrolling through YouTube, one might assume the Las Vegas shooting was carried out by a member of "antifa," or perhaps government agents. That's because dozens of conspiracy theory videosincluding one from Alex Jones, viewed more than 1 million timesare being promoted by YouTube in the wake of the mass shooting. As the Guardian reports, YouTube searches for "Las Vegas shooting" return clips titled "Proof Las Vegas Shooting Was a FALSE FLAG attack" and "Las Vegas 'Shooting' ... Did It Actually Happen?" According to Fast Company, five of the top 13 results in this search are for conspiracy theory videos. And victims are outraged. "When I see my wife fighting for her life with a gunshot wound to her chest it's pretty conclusive evidence that it did happen," one man says. YouTube, which says the videos don't violate its standards, isn't alone here. Facebook and Google also promoted conspiracies or fake news, per Media Matters. Google even listed a 4chan thread that misidentified the shooter in its top stories section, William Turton writes at the Outline. Google has blamed its algorithms for weighing "freshness" over "authoritativeness," but Turton, who sees a trend of social media sites brushing off blame, notes algorithms "are doing what they were designed to do. The problem is that they are not designed to exclude misinformation or account for bias." Indeed, the Guardian reports viewing a YouTube video suggesting the shooting was staged to change gun control laws resulted in the promotion of dozens of similar videos "painting a picture of a massive conspiracy." (Read more Las Vegas shooting stories.) One of the most amazing stories of heroism to emerge from the Las Vegas mass shooting is that of Jesus Campos, an unarmed security guard who was the first to locate gunman Stephen Paddock. Union chief Dave Hickey says Campos arrived at the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay hotel by elevator because Paddock had apparently barricaded the stairwell doors, the Daily Beast reports. He was shot in the leg after trying to open the door of Paddock's hotel room, which had also been barricaded. The injured guard, who was carrying only a baton, radioed dispatch and told them where the shooter was. Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo says that after Campos approached, Paddock stopped shooting at the crowd below and fired more than 200 rounds into the hotel hallway, the Telegraph reports. The guard's "bravery was amazing," Lombardo says. "He gave our officers the key guard for the room and then continued clearing rooms until he was ordered to go seek attention." Campos is scheduled to undergo surgery to remove the bullet in his leg. "I'm fine," he tells ABC. "I was just doing my job." A GoFundMe campaign a co-worker started for Campos has raised almost $6,000. President Trump praised Campos during his visit to Las Vegas Wednesday, saying: "He did a good job, didn't he?" (Read more Stephen Paddock stories.) Three naval vessels berth in London for five-day goodwill visit Chinese naval guided-missile frigates Huanggang (R) and Yangzhou are seen in London, Britain, on Oct 3, 2017. China's 26th naval escort fleet arrived here Tuesday for a five-day friendly visit to Britain. This is the first time for Chinese naval ships to pay an official visit to the British capital city. [Photo/Xinhua] After visiting the Belgian port of Antwerp and making a stop in Denmark, two naval frigates and a supply ship from the 26th Escort Task Group of the People's Liberation Army Navy berthed at London's Canary Wharf on Monday at the start of a five-day goodwill visit to the United Kingdom. The visit, which Liu Xiaoming, China's ambassador to the UK, described as history making in the realm of China-Britain military relations, is expected to offer the British public and its military the chance to see first hand China's growing military strength and its unremitting contribution to world peace. Senior Captain Wang Zhongcai, who is also the fleet commander, said the ships will be open to the British public so people can get a better understanding of China and its Navy. Wang said there will also be a number of deck receptions for special guests. In a move highly unlikely to be approved by the NRA, Michael Moore has come up with a replacement for what he says is the "ancient and outdated" Second Amendment. In a Facebook post Wednesday, Moore offered a 28th Amendment that protects the right of people to "be free from gun violence," Hot Air reports. "A well regulated State National Guard, being helpful to the safety and security of a State in times of need, along with the strictly regulated right of the people to keep and bear a limited number of non-automatic Arms for sport and hunting, with respect to the primary right of all people to be free from gun violence, this shall not be infringed," it reads. "The public's safety comes ahead of an individuals right to own and fire a gun," wrote Moore. He said under the new amendment, it will be possible to pass laws requiring people to keep their guns at government-regulated storage facilities instead of at home, the Hill reports. He also suggested limiting clips to six bullets, banning semi-automatic weapons, and requiring men buying guns to obtain waivers from current and former spouses. This approach, he wrote, will meet the needs of everybody except the "serial killer, the mass murderer, the violent ex-husband, the disgruntled employee, or the disturbed and bullied teenager." (Lawmakers want to ban a device the Las Vegas gunman used.) Embattled British Prime Minister Theresa May promised to restore the "British Dream" Wednesday, in a nightmare speech that saw her plagued by a cough and interrupted by a prankster, while parts of the backdrop fell down as she was speaking. In a mishap-prone Conservative Party conference address, May vowed economic help for struggling families for whom "the British Dream that has inspired generations of Britons feels increasingly out of reach." But a speech intended to strengthen her tenuous grasp on leadership was chaotically interrupted by a comedian who handed May the British equivalent of a pink slip, the AP reports. The party says it is reviewing security after the breach. May needed a strong speech to help fight off rivals to her job, including ambitious Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson. But things did not go to plan. May struggled with a cough and a hoarse voice that forced her to pause repeatedly. Midway through the speech a prankster walked up and handed May a P45the form given to people being laid off in Britain. As he was bundled away by security, the jokeridentified in media reports as comedian Simon Brodkinsaid "Boris told me to do it." As May neared the end of her televised speech, two letters fell off the slogan on the wall behind her"Building a country that works for everyone." (Read more Theresa May stories.) In a story about Stephen Paddock's life as a Vegas gambler, the New York Times includes an interesting nugget: The night before his shooting spree, Paddock called security to complain about loud music in the room below him. Twice. Albert Garzon of San Diego recalls that security guards knocked on his door in the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino about 1:30am Sunday and asked him to turn down his music. Garzon was confused because the rooms on either side of him on the 31st floor were pretty far away, until the security guards said, "It's the guest above you." Garzon dutifully turned down the music, only to have the security guards return 30 minutes later with the same complaint. This time, he turned off the music completely. Garzon didn't realize that it was the shooter who had been complaining about him until hours after the massacre Sunday night. I looked up and I could see his curtain flapping in the wind, he says. (Paddock had broken windows in order to shoot.) Also of note: Paddock's room had been comped; he was staying there for free as a reward for his heavy gambling. It otherwise would have cost him $590 a night, notes the AP. (Read more Stephen Paddock stories.) Note to movie makers: Give the police a heads-up when filming a robbery scene in public. Newly released police bodycam video released by the city of Crawfordsville, Ind., shows how close one actor came to learning that lesson in the worst possible way. Officers responded to a robbery call at a local bar when someone spotted a masked gunman entering. Cops arrived just as actor Jim Duff was stepping back out, holding a fake gun, and an officer fired a shot when he didn't immediately drop his weapon as ordered, reports ABC 7. Luckily, the bullet didn't hit him. "We're doing a movie," Duff can be heard trying to explain as officers order him to get on the ground. Police ended up holding him in custody until they confirmed that he was, in fact, part of a movie being filmed. No charges will be filed related to the incident, reports the Journal & Courier. "We ask, for obvious safety purposes, that our department be notified of future instances where toy or prop weapons are going to be used," said a city statement. (Read more police shooting stories.) The FBI has arrested a white man in his mid-20s who allegedly threatened to kill black students at Howard University two years ago, and the investigation involved a nifty bit of internet sleuthing. Agents first traced the threat posted on Reddit and 4chan to the wireless internet at a Panera Bread in Alexandria, Va., reports KSDK. Then they looked at who was on the network that day in 2015 at Panera and discovered that John Edgar Rust was among those who had connected, per the Washington Post. This was already strike one against Rust, who wasn't supposed to be on the internet at all thanks to a 2012 conviction for aggravated sexual battery and "indecent liberties with a child by a custodian." Agents searched Rust's computer and found that he'd visited both Reddit and 4chan around the time the threats were posted. They also found text of the posted threat, which read in part, "Any n-----s left at Howard University after 10 tomorrow will be the first to go," he wrote. "After all, it's not murder if they're black." The threat also referred to race protests at the University of Missouri, and agents found searches on Rust's computer about that. Authorities arrested Rust on Wednesday, and he faces up to five years in prison over the threat. "Relieved," read a tweet from Howard University upon news of the arrest. (Read more racism stories.) Whether you love or loathe President Trump's tweeting, we now know where credit belongs for the presidential Twitter account. "I said, 'I think you should tweet ... if you want to get your words across rightly, without telling the New York Times, which is going to twist every single word of yours, this is how you get your message out,'" the Hill quotes Ivana Trump as saying in an interview airing Sunday on CBS Sunday Morning. The president's first wife, for her part, thinks his tweeting is good. "Well, it's a tweeting president," Ivana Trump says. "This is his new way, how to put the message across." Ivana Trump, who says she still talks to her ex once a week or so, also says he offered her the ambassadorship to the Czech Republic, where she's originally from, CNN reports. She says she turned him down to maintain her freedom. "OK, why would I go and say bye-bye to Miami in the winter, bye-bye to Saint-Tropez in the summer, and bye-bye to spring and fall in New York? I have a perfect life," she says. Donald and Ivana married in 1977 and divorced in 1992 after his affair with Marla Maples. The full interview with Ivana Trump includes her thoughts on Maples, Melania Trump, and her new advice book for parents, per CBS News. (Read more Ivana Trump stories.) A National Security Agency contractor who apparently wanted to get a little extra work done from home inadvertently provided highly classified material to the Russian government, the Wall Street Journal states in an exclusive report. Unnamed sources say an NSA contractor brought the material home with him in 2015 where it was identified by hackers working for the Russian government through the contractor's use of antivirus software made by Russia's Kaspersky Lab. Kaspersky says it has more than 400 million users around the world, and US security officials have long believed it works with the Russian government. NSA employees and contractors are discouraged from using Kaspersky products on their home computers. Russian hackers are said to have gotten their hands on information regarding how the US accesses foreign computer networks and defends itself against cyberattacks, and the computer code used by the NSA for spying. Sources say the stolen data could help the Russian government protect itself from NSA spying or find new ways to access US computer networks. The breach, which didn't become known until spring of 2016, was so serious it was given a code name, members of Congress were informed, and NSA head Adm. Michael Rogers was reprimanded by his superiors. It has yet to be publicly acknowledged. The NSA is refusing to comment, and Kaspersky says it has no evidence of hackers using its products for such a breach. Read the full report here. (Read more Russian hackers stories.) Harvey Weinstein has settled with at least eight women regarding sexual harassment allegations, the New York Times states in a bombshell report on the powerful Hollywood producer who faces undisclosed allegations going back nearly three decades. One of those women accusing Weinstein is Ashley Judd. She says she was called to Weinstein's hotel room as a young actor for what she thought was a business meeting. Instead, she says Weinstein repeatedly asked to massage her or for her to watch him shower. Another actor, Rose McGowan, settled with Weinstein stemming from an incident in 1997. "Women have been talking about Harvey amongst ourselves for a long time," Judd says. "It's simply beyond time to have the conversation publicly." Dozens of former and current employees say they knew of Weinstein's inappropriate conduct, but Weinstein Company employee contracts forbid criticizing leadership in a way that could hurt reputations. The accusations against the Oscar-winning producer of Pulp Fiction and Good Will Hunting follow a pattern: Women are invited to Weinstein's hotel room on the pretense of business only to be confronted with a fully or nearly naked Weinstein, who pressures them for a massage or tells them to watch him bathe. It apparently got so bad that some employees formed a buddy system for meetings with Weinstein. "I'm trying to do better," Weinstein says. "I know I have a long way to go." The AP reports Weinstein will be taking a leave of absence from his company following the report; but according to the Hollywood Reporter, the producer also plans to sue the Times over the story. (Read more Harvey Weinstein stories.) Sorry! This content is not available in your region New Delhi: In a bid to remind the filing of the final returns for the first month of GST, the Sushil Modiled Group of Ministers has asked the IT backbone provider GSTN to send reminder text messages to 20 lakh businesses which are yet to submit the tax forms. The group of Ministers (GoM) asked the GST network to brace for the rush of last-minute filers in its second meeting. The last date for filing of final sales returns for July in GSTR1 form is October 10, while the date for uploading of purchase returns in GSTR2 is October 31. The final GSTR3, matching GSTR1 and 2, is to be filed by November 10. So far 33 lakh businesses have filed GSTR1 for July, while 53 lakh had filed the initial GSTR-3B returns. So 20 lakh more businesses have to file in the next six days, GoM Chairman and Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Modi said. We appeal to people to file the returns on time. Infosys has prepared a list of businesses who are yet to file returns. GSTN will be sending out mobile messages to these 20 lakh businesses reminding them to file returns, he said. Besides, the GoM has also asked Infosys, which has prepared the backend of the GST Network portal, to be prepared to handle the load that would come for GSTR2 filing between October 11 to 31. GSTR2 filing load is the second big challenge and we have alerted Infosys to be prepared, he said. The next meeting of the GST will be on October 6 which will be apprised of the deliberations of the GoM and the improvement in GST Network functioning over the past one month. So far over 43.58 lakh businesses have filed GSTN. We are satisfied with the performance of GSTN. Since the formation of GoM, a lot of issues have been resolved, still some issues remain for which Infosys has been given a timeline to resolve, he said. To monitor and resolve technical challenges faced during GST return filing, a group of ministers under Sushil Modi was constituted last month. At the time of the first deadline for filing of July returns approached, the GSTN, the information technology (IT) backbone and portal for real-time taxpayer registration, migration and tax return filing under the GST had been facing downtime which forced the government to extend the last date. Kerala Finance Minister Thomas Isaac is also a member of the group. The other members are Amar Agarwal, Minister for Commercial Taxes, Chhattisgarh; Krishna Byregowda, Minister for Agriculture, Karnataka; and Etela Rajendar, Finance Minister, Telangana. For all the Latest Business News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: The managing director of the State Bank of India (SBI), Rajnish Kumar was appointed as the new chairman of the largest public sector bank on Wednesday. He replaced Arundhati Bhattacharya, who completed her one-year extended term on Friday. Kumar, 59, who joined the SBI board on May 26, 2015, will have to deal with a daunting task of addressing the issue of huge NPAs of the bank. Kumars appointment was approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet. He has been appointed for a period of three years from the date of taking over the charge on or after October 7, as per the order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT). Before giving him the supreme responsibility of the bank, he was appointed as the Managing Director - Compliance and Risk, and Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of SBI Capital Markets Limited. The new SBI chairman has also worked as Chief General Manager, Project Finance and Leasing Strategic Business Unit. He has held several key assignments across various business verticals, including two overseas assignments in Canada and the UK. ALSO READ: SBI Life Insurance shares make stellar market debut, lists at 5 per cent premium over IPO price A large number of banks are facing the issue of the non-performing assets. Bhattacharya became the first woman chairperson of SBI in 2013. She was given a years extension in October last year to ensure continuity as the SBI was then in the process of absorbing five associate banks. State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur, State Bank of Hyderabad, State Bank of Mysore, State Bank of Patiala, State Bank of Travancore and Bharatiya Mahila Bank merged with SBI on April 1, 2017. Gross NPAs of the public sector banks rose to Rs 6.41 lakh crore at the end of March 2017 as against Rs 5.02 lakh crore a year ago, according to a Finance Ministry data. SBI and its erstwhile associates alone wrote off Rs 27,574 crore NPAs in 2016-17, according to an RBI data. (With PTI inputs) ALSO READ: SBI asks customers to stop using cheque books of these 6 banks For all the Latest Business News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: The 52-year-old Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan has applauded his Dangal co-star and the lead actor of the Secret Superstar Zaira Wasim, saying she is the finest actor in the Hindi film industry today. He was speaking at the promotional event of the upcoming movie Secret Superstar at the Global Indian International School in Singapore. Both the actors also features in the upcoming Advait Chandan movie Secret Superstar in which Aamir Khan plays a role of creepy music director named Shakti Kumaarr while Zaira plays an aspiring rockstar Insiya. While he was speaking about the younger generation of new actors in Filmdom and more precisely Zaira, Aamir said "These kids are so bright and intelligent. Zaira, for me, if you ask me who is the finest actor in the Hindi film industry today, I would say Zaira. She's absolutely amazing." Also Read: 'Secret Superstar': Aamir Khan shares poster of Zaira Wasim starrer "There's a very famous quote by a Hollywood personality 'Never work with animals and children because they steal the scene away from you and as an audience, your heart goes out to them'," Aamir added. Not only this, he also praised the child actor Darshel Safary and emphasized that whether you are a child or an adult the criteria of being a good actor is the same. You have to be the part, be the character and be able to deliver that. So the criteria are the same. "I had a wonderful experience working with, whether it was Darsheel Safary in Taare Zameen Par or Zaira in Dangal or even Kunal Kemmu in Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke," he said. Aamir Khan and Zaira are sharing the screen for the second time, before that, this duo appeared in the Nitesh Tiwari's Dangal, which released last year in which Zaira played the younger version of the Phogat sisters. Also Read: Secret Superstar: How Aamir Khan was transformed into Shakti Kumaarr, see video Ahead of Dangal's release, Aamir had everything good to say about the younger lot: "If I have to rate our performance in the film, I would say that these kids performed ten times better than what I did. No, I am not exaggerating anything. Once the film releases, the audience will understand. I have been working in the industry for last 25 years, but these kids are highly talented," told to Media sources. Currently, Aamir Khan is busy in promoting Secret Superstar which will be released on the October 19. For all the Latest Entertainment News, Bollywood News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party leader Manish Sisodia on Thursday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying that the latter has put facts wrongly on the GDP slowdown. Sisodia likened Modi to a surgeon who claims that the operation has been successful even when the patient is on the verge of death. He said the Prime Minister presented the facts wrongly when he spoke on the GDP slowdown during an event at Vigyan Bhavan. He was referring to the PMs address to a gathering of Company Secretaries where he had said that his government will continue reforms and not hesitate to take decisions to reverse the GDP slowdown witnessed in the last two quarters. Taking a jibe at Modi, Sisodia said, If I summarise the PMs speech...you are patting yourself on the back like a doctor who says the operation has been successful but the patient is dying. The PM tried to present a picture of the economy before the nation which was more imaginary than factual, he told reporters. Also Read | Delhi school child rape: Education minister Manish Sisodia gives directions on safety measures Sisodia, who is also the finance minister of Delhi, said contrary to the prime ministers claim, the GDP fell from 9.1 per cent to 5.7 per cent in the last six quarters. Also Read: Manish Sisodia inaugurates Urdu literacy centres, says language is tool to unite society For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Tue., Nov. 15, 5:30 p.m. Lincoln Library 326 S. Seventh St., Springfield Downtown Free History Some of the weird and wacky requests made to the Sangamon Valley Collection will be presented by a panel of experts. The Sangamon Valley Collection manager and city historian, Curt Mann, along with assistant Stephanie Martin, will discuss some of the requests they have handled. Other panelists include Cinda Klickna, the society's vice president and Mike Kienzler, SangamonLink editor and Summer Griffith, Lincoln Library director will offer insights into the future of the SVC. 217-525-1961 New Delhi: The key middleman in Agusta Westland VVIP chopper deal, Carlo Gerosa, has been granted conditional bail by a court in Italy on Thursday. Though, he was given bail but will be restrained by Italy. Italy also set timeline for extradition.A It was reported that Gerosa had multiple identities. Earlier on Thursday, Gerosa has been apprehended by authorities in Italy on the basis of an Interpol notice activated by the ED in connection with its money laundering probe in the a3,600 crore AgustaWestland VVIP choppers deal case. aThe global police has informed the agency of his detention and an extradition request is being moved,a a senior official privy to the probe said. The official said Gerosa was held when he was coming from Switzerland to Italy. A joint team of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is now working on this case, the official said. Mr. Gerosa, 70, is one of the three alleged middlemen wanted in this case and his interrogation and statement is very important for both the ED and the CBI who are probing the case. The ED has notified an Interpol red corner notice (RCN) against Mr. Gerosa and two others a British national Christian Michel James and Italian Guido Haschke a last year.A For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: A day after Banaras Hindu University (BHU) appointed woman guards for the first time, a girl on Thursday alleged that she was eve teased and beaten by a postgraduate student in the varsity premises. The victim has lodged a complaint with the Lanka police station. We have arrested the accused student, said a senior police officer of Lanka police station. He added that the victim is married and pursuing her masters in Social Science in BHU. The police officer told News Nation that the victim told them that the accused, Shitla Prasad Gaur. He is also pursuing masters in the university. Also read: BHU mulls relaxation of hostel curfew hours for female students; to be at par with male timings The victim has alleged that Gaur eve teased her. On protesting she was beaten and her mobile phone was broken. Police have registered an FIR under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 354 B Any man who assaults any woman or abet such an act with the intention of disrobing her, 504 intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace, 506 threat to cause death or grievous hurt, 427 cause loss or damage to the amount of Rs 50 or upwards, 323 voluntarily cause hurt. Also read: Banaras Hindu University appoints woman guards in varsity campus Last month students in large numbers were protesting against the BHU administration after a student was eve teased by bike borne miscreants. The protest was followed by clash between students and police. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: A friend of mine in a village in Haryanas Rohtak district was single. He travelled over 2,000 km to find himself a bride and change his status. He was the one among 121 people who dont find a girl in Haryana to marry them. The state of Haryana has only 879 girls for 1000 boys while the sex ratio in India is 940 females for 1000 males. The girls in Haryana and other parts of the country have not vanished overnight. It took decades of female foeticide and sex determination tests that have changed Indias gender geography. According to a UNICEF report, the decline in child sex ratio in India is evident by comparing the census figures. In 1991, the figure was 947 girls to 1000 boys. Ten years later it had fallen to 927 girls for 1000 boys. Since 1991, the states of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Haryana have recorded over 50 point decline in child sex ratio in this period. The women are killed all over the world, but in India, they are being brutally murdered even before they born. In this part of the world, women dont just face inequality but they are also denied their right to be born. The reports of infant girls found in the dustbins, train toilets, dump yards are very common in India, rapes happen later if they survived. However, there are laws in Indian constitution that prevent this brutal form of killing if executed seriously. Also Read | Sex ratio 2016: 3 out of 100 women delivered kids in 2016 were 19 years and below Laws that give women right to be born: Two laws that prohibit the sex selection of a fetus in India are the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971 (MTP), as amended in 2002, and the Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques (Regulation and Prevention of Misuse) Act, 1994 (PNDT), as amended in 2002. The MTP Act prohibits illegal abortions while the PNDT Act prohibits sex determination tests of a fetus with views towards aborting it. The Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971 (MTP) Act makes abortion illegal even if caused by the pregnant women herself. Under the Section 312 to 316 of the Penal Code, anyone found guilty of performing illegal abortion shall be sentenced to imprisonment up to seven years and fine. However, the MTP Act allows termination of pregnancy on certain conditions and health grounds. If there is a danger to the life of the women, she can be allowed to terminate the pregnancy. Also on some humanitarian grounds, if the pregnancy arose from rape, women are allowed to abort after courts permission. Under the Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques (PNDT) Act, those found guilty of sex determination including doctors who perform the test shall be fined up to Rs 5 lakh and a jail term from 5 to 7 years. However, the poor implementation of the Acts has been the biggest failing of Indias campaign against sex selection. According to a UNICEF data, till , 22 out of 35 states in India have not even reported a single case of violation of PNDT Act since it came into force. We at News Nation are running a special Beti Bachao (save our daughters) campaign to throw light on the growing atrocities against women across different sections, age groups and social classes in the country. Our campaign sends out a telling message to the society that the upliftment and betterment of women shall auger for a better India in the near future. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Border Security Forces (BSF) troopers gunned down a Pakistani woman along the International Border in the Dera Baba Nanak sector after she trespassed into Indian territory at Punjabs Gurdaspur on Thursday. The patrolling team of the BSF detected suspicious movement along the barbed wire fence at the border outpost in Ghania Ke last night, the official said. He added that the killed woman is yet to be identified. The official added that BSF troopers opened fire at her after she ignored the repeated warnings to surrender and kept moving towards the fence. BSF officials contacted the Pakistani Rangers to hand over the killed womans dead body. The Pakistani Ranger denied to accept the killed womans body. The BSF officials later handed over the womans body to Dera Baba Nanak police station for last rites. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: It seems that tension between Chinese and India armies has yet not reduced as the former has still maintained a sizeable presence of its troops near the Dokalam Pleateu. Sources said China is slowly enhancing its troops in the Dokalam Plateau which could further escalate tension between the two nations. India has reasons to be concerned about it, sources added. Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa also gave similar indication that tension could prevail in the region due to the presence of Chinese forces in the Chumbi Valley in the Dokalam Plateau. The two sides are not in a physical face-off as we speak. However, their forces in Chumbi Valley are still deployed and I expect them to withdraw as their exercise in the area gets over, Dhanoa told reporters. There has been territorial disputes between China and Bhutan over Dokalam and India has been staunchly supporting Thimphu over the issue. Troops of India and China were locked in a 73-day-long standoff in Dokalam since June 16 after the Indian side stopped the building of a road in the disputed area by the Chinese Army. Bhutan and China have a dispute over Dokalam. Also Read | India-China standoff: US wants India, China to have direct dialogue to reduce tensions Bhutan and India were in touch with each other during the course of the face-off that ended on August 28. Days after the face-off ended, Army Chief Bipin Rawat had said China has started flexing its muscles and warned that the situation in Indias northern border could snowball into a larger conflict. There are also reports that Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) has increased more troops on its forward post in Yatung. Sources said though Chinese troops have been deployed in Dokalam Plateau, they leave the area during winters. Also Read | Bhutan acknowledges that Dokalam is a Chinese area: Beijing But, there were indication that they may leave the areas this time, they added. (With PTI Inputs) For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Five-year-old girl who was raped by a housekeeping staff in a school toilet in South Delhi will have to undergo surgery, said doctors of AIIMS to victims parents. The victims father reportedly told the media that their daughter will have to undergo surgery to treat her internal wounds. The Delhi Police has arrested the housekeeping staff of Saint Nirankari School in Malviya Nagar. The arrested has been identified as 22-year-old Rakesh. Deputy Commissioner of Police Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Chinmoy Biswal said, We accused was arrested as soon as the victim identified her perpetrator. Also read| Beti Bachao: Crime against women rose by 200% in two decades Meanwhile, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident. The incident came to surface after the minor narrated her ordeal to her mother on Wednesday after returning home from school. Also read| Ajmer: 25-yr-old girl accuses father of rape, says she is being threatened Police said that the victim told her mother that after using the washroom, she called the woman staff for help but the accused entered the toilet and assaulted the minor. The Delhi Police during their course of interrogation have learnt that the accused was hired by the school administration three months back. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: In yet another Delhi shame, a class I student was allegedly molested by school staff at Sant Nirankari Public School in Malviya Nagar, reports said on Thursday. The accused has reportedly been sent to judicial custody. On Wednesday, two women were allegedly raped by three youths at Kasiadih village in Palamau district, police said on Thursday. Both the women had completed their matriculation and were living in a lodge to pursue their studies, said Superintendent of Police, Indrajeet Mahatha. They were allegedly raped by the three youths on Wednesday night. Mahatha said one of the accused was also living in the lodge and was familiar to them. As per the statement given to the police, the survivors stated that all the accused were drunk when they committed the crime. The SP said the accused have been identified and will be arrested soon. A massive man hunt has been launched to apprehend them. In a similar incident, a minor girl was allegedly raped by four youths in Muzaffarpur district of Bihar last week, and the act was video graphed and later uploaded on social media, a senior police official said on Monday. In Pics: From Nirbhaya gangrape to JNU student molestation, 10 spine chilling atrocities against women in India For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Honeypreet Insaan, Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Singhs adopted daughter, is not co-operating in interrogation claims Haryana Police on Thursday. Panchkula Police Commissioner talking told the media, Honeypreet is not co-operating in police interrogation as desired. If she continues in following manner we will have to ask for further remand Sources in the the police department said that Haryana Police will approach the court for Honeypreet's narcotic test. Haryana Police had arrested Dera chief Gurmeet Singhs 'adopted daughter' from Zirakpur, around 25 kilometers from Haryana-Punjab capital Chandigarh on Tuesday. Haryana Police working on intelligence inputs made raids and arrested Honeypreet from her hideout in Zirakpur, an adjoining city to Panchkula. Also read: No special treatment for Honeypreet Insan during police remand; kept in closed room Honeypreet has been charged with sedition by Haryana government for allegedly inciting violence after a Panchkula CBI court held Dera chief Gurmeet Singh guilty in a rape case. Haryana Police on Tuesday has interrogated her for more than five hours but she did not answer to the questions. Also read: Honeypreet was hiding in Bathinda to evade arrest A senior police officer said, She was evasive in her replies about her whereabouts and her roles in inciting violence. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Chief ministers of Haryana and Punjab entered into a blame game on Thursday regarding the arrest of Honeypreet Insan, adopted daughter of the jailed Dera Sacha Sauda chief. Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar accused the Punjab Police of not sharing information with its Haryana counterpart ahead of her arrest on 3rd October. On the other hand, Punjab CM Amarinder Singh alleged that the allegations were an attempt to shift attention from the situation in Haryana. The Punjab Police should have informed the Haryana Police about Honeypreets whereabouts earlier. Something smells fishy, Khattar told reporters. He was responding to questions about Honeypreet appearing before some media channels hours ahead of her arrest. This (delay in her arrest) has happened due to the Punjab Police. How much the Punjab police helped (her) and how much was in their knowledge...If it was in their knowledge they should have passed information to the Haryana Police and handed her over to them, he claimed. After Honeypreets interrogation, many things would come out in the open, he said adding that innocent people would not be punished and guilty would not be spared. On being asked whether any political leader was involved in shielding Honeypreet, he said that it was not appropriate to comment on the issue as the interrogation was underway.As things come, they will become clear, he said. However, again commenting about Punjab Police, Khattar said, I already said this about Punjab police that their people and their cars were present, something smells fishy, he said. He was apparently referring to a raid by the Haryana Police in Rajasthan to nab Honeypreet on September 22. Meanwhile, Aamrinder Singh lambasted Khattar for raising questions about the role of the Punjab Police in the case. Singh asked Khattar to refrain from such alleged fabrications to shield his own governments failure in the Dera Sacha Sauda case. He alleged that Khattar was trying to divert public attention from the collapse of the law and order in Haryana since conviction of Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh. The Punjab CM rejected claims of any involvement of the Punjab government or any of its institutions in the episode leading to Honeypreets arrest. He further said that if the state police had any information about her they would have shared it with their Haryana counterparts. As per reports, Amarinder Singh claimed that a senior Haryana police officer had known about Honeypreets whereabouts for several days but had failed to arrest her. He alleged that instead of probing the role of his own officials in the affair, Khattar was trying to shift focus to Punjab. He trashed Khattars charges that the Punjab Police had failed to give intelligence inputs to the police in the neighbouring state. The Punjab CM said that the Punjab Police had been giving regular inputs to their counterparts in Haryana even before the hearing in Ram Rahims case in Panchkula. He claimed that the Haryana government and police had failed to take cognisance or act on the information.The chief minister said though the Punjab Police was not pursuing Honeypreet as she was not wanted in any case in the state, there was no question of shielding her. He said Khattar should focus on taking the case to its logical conclusion and on maintaining law and order in Haryana. With PTI inputs For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Mumbai: Pallavi Vikamsey, daughter of Institute of Chartered Account of India (ICAI) president Nilesh Vikamsey, who went missing on Wednesday, was found dead on railway tracks under mysterious circumstances in Mumbai. The 21-year-old intern with Oasis Counsel went missing on Wednesday. The parents of Vikamsey informed Police and launched a manhunt to find her. Family members launched a manhunt after her parents failed to contact her, police said. Police said that the deceased was returning home from a law firm in Fort where she was interning. She lived in Parel with her family. READ MORE | ICAI president's daughter Pallavi Vikamsey sent no one is responsible text before death GRP Police sources said she was last seen boarding a train from platform no. 5 at Mumbais CSMT station. Pallavi vikamsey, aged 20 is missing since 4th oct 2017. Call Apurva 7045488750 for any leads. Thank you pic.twitter.com/imfw6MfZKU CA NARESH DHOOT (@CAnareshdhoot) October 5, 2017 The sources said that Dadar GRP Police has traced an eyewitness and a statement shall be recorded on Friday. It is not clear whether Vikamsey fell from the running train on the opposite tracks or whether she jumped off in front of an oncoming train, said Nitin Bbade, senior police inspector of Dadar GRP. The parents of the deceased had not alleged any foul play and police is investigating the case to find out the reasons behind her mysterious death. Friends, relatives and people from the CA fraternity are offering condolence to the ICAI president. RIP.Death occurred of Pallavi daughter of President icai Nilesh Vikamsey.She just 21.Heartfelt condolences on this tragic loss.@NileshVik CA NARESH DHOOT (@CAnareshdhoot) October 5, 2017 For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Pakistan on Thursday violated ceasefire in Digwar sector of Poonch district in Jammu and Kashmir. Indian Army retaliated heavily and strongly to the ceasefire violation. Earlier on Wednesday, Three Army jawans were today injured as Pakistani troops fired from automatic weapons and shelled mortars at forward posts and villages along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmirs Poonch district. Pakistani troops also violated the ceasefire in Laam sector by briefly opening fire along the LoC, police officials said. On October two, two minors were killed and 12 civilians injured in cross-border shelling by Pakistan along the LoC in Poonch district. Five children were among the injured, the youngest being five-year-old Zobia Kousar. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Bharatiya Janata Partys Janaraksha Yatra has reached Pinarayi, native village of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, sans Amit Shah on Thursday. BJP Kerala state president Kummanam Rajasekharan told the media that Shah could not participate in the party march as he had to attend a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The rally on its third day was between Mambaram and Thalassery via Pinarayi. BJP claims that Janaraksha Yatra is being organised by the party to create awareness among people of Kerala against red terror. Also read: Amit Shah launches Gaurav Yatra in poll-bound Gujarat, blames Congress for injustice to state Shah earlier had said that the rally is being organised to protest the political murders being carried out by the CPI (M) in Kerala. Hundreds of party workers led by the state unit chief participated in the rally. According to reports shops remained closed when the yatra reached Pinarayi. Rajashekharan said Shah's presence in the yatra was not required to offer resistance to CPI(M) workers of Pinarayi village. Also read: BJP inciting violence against CPI(M) cadres, alleges Brinda Karat The BJP party workers also paid a visit to the house of slain RSS worker Remith at Pinarayi. Last year Remith was hacked to death allegedly by CPI (M) party workers. Kerala party chief told the media that Shah is scheduled to re-join the yatra on Thursday. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: RJD supremo and former Bihar chief minister Lalu Prasad Yadav on Thursday appeared before CBI in connection with alleged corruption in awarding the maintenance contract for two IRCTC hotels to a private firm. He was summoned by the central agency for questioning in the alleged corruption case. CBI sources said Yadav, who arrived at the headquarters at 11 am, was accompanied by his daughter Misa and did not speak to the media. He was taken to the investigation officer while Misa was asked to wait in the lobby. His son Tejashwi Yadav, the former deputy chief minister of Bihar, is scheduled to appear before the agency on Friday. Delhi: Lalu Prasad Yadav at CBI HQ, he is appearing in connection with the Railway hotel tender case pic.twitter.com/aSA0M24V9T ANI (@ANI) October 5, 2017 The two were asked by the CBI to appear for questioning on October 5 and 6 in the alleged corruption case. This was after both leaders expressed their inability to appear on October 4 and 5. It is alleged that Yadav, as railway minister in 2006, handed over maintenance of two Railway hotelsBNR Ranchi and Purito Sujata Hotel (a company owned by Vinay and Vijay Kochhar) after receiving a bribe in the form of three acres of prime land through a benami (shell) company. Also Read | Benami assets case: I-T issues final attachment order to Lalu and family For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Maharashtra Navnirmaan Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Thursday threatened the government, saying if the latter does not bring change in the system, his partyas next rally awould not be peaceful.a While addressing the party workers, Thackeray said, aThey have organised this rally peacefully. But, if there is no change in the system of government then our next rally will not be peaceful.a Thackeray said the central government is wasting its time with non-serious issues like Demonetisation, GST and Yoga. He said if the core issues will not be addressed soon, his party would not remain peaceful. MNS staged a protest over Elphinstone Road stampede near Metro cinema area after the Mumbai Police denied permission to the party for the protest to Western Railways Headquarters in Churchgate.A We have organised this rally peacefully.But,if there is no change in system of government then our next rally will not be peaceful:MNS Chief pic.twitter.com/h2VUkIEcjU a ANI (@ANI) October 5, 2017 On September 29, a massive crowd of morning rush hour commuters had stampeded on the stairwell of a narrow foot overbridge (FOB) at the station, leaving 23 dead and more than 30 injured. Mumbai: MNS Chief Raj Thackeray joins MNS workers protesting in Metro Cinema area over #ElphinstoneStampede; Police had denied permission. pic.twitter.com/d7wmgNE4iL a ANI (@ANI) October 5, 2017 For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: The NHRC on Thursday issued a notice to the Uttar Pradesh government and its police chief after a man recently killed in an alleged fake encounter in Greater Noida. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) affirmed it has issued the notice to the state's chief secretary and the director general of police (DGP), and sought a report in four weeks. As per media reports, Sumit Gurjar, an alleged gangster, was killed by the police on October 3. The family members of the deceased have alleged that he was killed in a "staged encounter" after the police picked up him from a market, the NHRC said in a statement. The family members along with villagers had protested near the mortuary at Sector-94 against the police action and had also blocked traffic at the Mahamaya Flyover for about 45 minutes, the NHRC said quoting from media reports. "Elimination of a criminal in such an unlawful manner can never send a good message to a civilised society. As has been emphasised time and again, the police do not have the right to take away life of a human being. It is not the lawful way to deal with the criminals," the rights panel said. Also Read: Gujarat Police officers accused in fake encounter case forced to resign by Supreme Court The Commission has observed that the allegations levelled by the family members and the villagers, if true, "raise serious issue of violation of human rights" of the deceased and the aggrieved family. (With PTI Inputs) Also Read: Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case: Former Gujarat Cop DG Vanzara discharged For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Speaking ahead of Indian Air Forces 85th anniversary on October 08, 2017, Air Force Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa on Thursday said that IAF is capable of carrying out a two-front war and can destroy Pakistan's nuclear weapons if the need arises. Dhanao said Air Force needs 42 squadrons to carry out a full spectrum of operations in case war breaks out on two fronts and IAF has that number. "We need 42 squadrons to carry out the full spectrum of operations in case of two-front war. With numbers, we've got, we are capable of carrying it out," IAF chief Dhanoa told ANI. Reacting to the issue of the tactical nuclear weapon of Pakistan, Dhanoa said, "Air Force has the capability to locate, fix and strike across the border." "IAF is prepared to fight at short notice in full synergy with other two sister services, should the need arise, he added. Earlier last month, after the end of Doklam standoff with China, Army Chief General Bipin Rawat had said the nation must be must be prepared for two-front war with China and Pakistan. As far as our western adversary is concerned, we dont see any scope of reconciliation, because the military, polity and people of that nation have been made to believe that their eastern adversary, which is India, is all out to break the nation into pieces. Therefore, the kind of propaganda that is prevailing on to our west, makes them believe that India is their long-term adversary and will continue to remain so, he said. Dhanoa said China has not yet withdrawn its troops from Chambi Valley, Doklam even after the two countries have reached an agreement to end the two-month-long standoff. "Their (China) forces in Chumbi Valley (Doklam) are still deployed and I expect that they withdraw as summer exercise gets over," IAF chief Dhanoa said. Indian and Chinese troops had been locked in a standoff in Dokalam since June 16 after Indian troops stopped the Chinese army from building a road in the disputed area. After rounds of rhetoric and diplomatic talks, the standoff came to an end in August after both countries reached a mutual agreement and deiced to pull back their troops. In June this year, Army Chief Rawat had said that Indian Army is fully ready for a two and a half front war with Pakistan, China and internal insurgents (Naxals). However, Air Chief Marshal denied using force against Naxals and said we dont use kinetic air power against our people. We don't use kinetic air power against our people. We are in Recce& transport role in Op-Triveni, Dhanoa said on involvement in anti-naxal operations. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi by saying that he should hand over the power to Congress if he is unable to provide employment to youths and redress problems of farmers. Rahul said that Congress will take only 6 months to accomplish these tasks. Rahul visited Amethi after six months. He was there during the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections which happened six months before. Congress vice president also slammed the government over GST, saying the tax rates are high and the slabs multiple. He asked the prime minister to review the GST as its aim is one-nation, one-tax and emphasised that the tax rate should not be more than 18 per cent. Gandhi, who arrived here on a three-day visit, said, Prime Minister Narendra Modi needs to stop wasting time of the countrymen and start giving employment to the youth as promised. He said the issues of the farmers and the youth are the two main concerns of the country and if Modiji cannot address these, he should say so and Congress will come and do his work in six months. With PTI inputs For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday hits back at Prime Minister Modi, saying the latter should stand up and admit that they have failed to deliver instead giving excuses. Instead of excuses and saying pessimists are creating an atmosphere, PM Modi should stand up and say we have not managed to deliver, he said while talking to reporters in Amethi. Rahul said the government is unable to provide job to youths and it is a serious problem in the country. Instead of excuses & saying pessimists are creating an atmosphere, PM Modi should stand up & say we have not managed to deliver:Rahul Gandhi pic.twitter.com/CpngLENvwp ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) October 5, 2017 The Congress vice-president said,China produces 50,000 jobs every single day. India, under PM Modi's Make In India, Start Up and Stand Up India, produces 450 jobs. There is a real serious problem in India today, that we are unable to provide jobs to our youngsters: Rahul Gandhi in #Amethi #UttarPradesh pic.twitter.com/9DkKhwicoG ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) October 5, 2017 He said the two major sectors, agriculture and farm, are facing crisis and farmers are committing suicide. He said the Prime Minister should assure people that they will deliver in rest of his tenure in power. PM Modi should say we have one more year, we will deliver now. That is what a true leader would do: Rahul Gandhi in Amethi, Uttar Pradesh ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) October 5, 2017 Also Read: Prime Minister Narendra Modi says Congress is a party on bail For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: World's heaviest kidney tumour removed from a womans stomach weighing 5.5kg by Doctors from the civic-run Sion Hospital. The surgery was performed three months ago after which the tumour removed was termed as heaviest which was later confirmed to be the heaviest tumour documented till date in the world. According to the doctors, the surgery had several risks as the 5.5 kilograms (31 by 19 cm) tumour had completely covered her right kidney. A 28-year-old woman, Manjula Devi, resident of Darbhanga, Bihar had an abdominal lump on right side accompanied by pain and blood in urine for the last three years. She travelled to Mumbai seeking treatment for her peculiar condition. She eventually approached the urology department of Sion Hospital, said a doctor. The size and weight of the tumour, which the doctors retrieved from the patients stomach, were of unimaginable proportions. The doctor, who treated Devi, said that they conducted a CT scan in which it showed that there was a huge lump which completely replaced the kidney. The tumour which weighed 5.5 kg (31 by 19 cm) was taken out had completely replaced her right kidney. A huge tumour was compressing the liver and pushed the great vessels (inferior vena cava), intestines and the pancreas to the left half of the abdomen., said a senior doctor. "She had persistent pain on the right side and was passing urine in blood. The tumor 31cm by 19cmwas compressing the liver and pushing the vessels, intestines and the pancreas to the left half of the abdomen. She was referred to multiple hospitals over the past three years but the surgery was deferred because of the size of the tumour," stated a release from Sion Hospital. "The enormity of the surgery can be understood by comparing the weight of the kidney tumour5.5kgwith that of a normal kidney, which is 110gm to 140gm," said Sawant. The patient was kept on ventilator for a day. She recovered completely in a week. Doctors said that Devi has returned to her normal life. The official certificate from the world record managing team of the Guinness book has been recived by the hospital. The head of the urology department of Sion hospital said that The tumour was on her right side. Vital blood veins are on the right side of our body. If the tumour is massive then sometimes you have to open the chest. We had taken her family into confidence and had told them about the risks involved. I am really glad that we successfully carried out this surgery, said Dr Ajit Sawant, Professor, and head of urology department. Dr Sawant further added that after the surgery, Manju Devi has resumed her day to day activities and now is on regular follow-ups. She visits the hospital once in three months for a check-up. New Delhi : Chinese smartphone manufacture company Oppo Electronics finally received permission to open single brand based stores in India ahead of Apple, Louis Vuitton, Amazon.com and Acer. Opening their own retail shop will make the way for the company to see directly to consumers which will add to their existing wholesale business. Oppo aims to set its target of building around 550 stores across the worlds third-largest smartphones market. On Tuesday, Foreign Investment Promotion Board approves Oppos request to a notice on the departments website. Officials of Oppo in a statement told, While we cannot divulge the investment in SBRT, to provide better service to our Indian consumers we closely work with our distribution and retail partners, we are aiming at building 550 service centres by the end of 2017 to cover all regions among India. As per latest reports, Oppo is planning to build a manufacturing plant near New Delhi and export smartphones which is made in India to other markets for instance Philippines. However, Indian government requires foreign investors to source 30% of the products locally to operate their own retail stores. Soon, Luxury goods retailer Louis Vuitton also to open its own retail stores in India New Delhi: An Al-Qaeda commander was killed after a US drone fell on the central province of Baida, Yemen, security sources said on Friday. Shroum al-Sanaani, a leading figure with Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula group, was travelling on a motorbike along with an unidentified man when the strike killed them both, the sources said. The attack was carried out on the Yakala area, a stronghold for the jihadist group where US drones have repeatedly targeted Al-Qaeda members in the past few months. The United States considers the Yemen-based AQAP to be the groups most dangerous branch. A long-running drone war against AQAP has intensified since US President Donald Trump took office in January. An air raid he ordered that month killed a US Navy SEAL and several Yemeni civilians in Baida province, south of Marib. AQAP has taken advantage of a war between the Saudi-backed government and Shiite rebels to expand its presence in several areas of eastern and southern Yemen. More than 8,000 people have been killed since Saudi Arabia and its allies joined the conflict in 2015. With PTI inputs For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Pakistan on Wednesday raked up the Kashmir issue again at the United Nations with its envoy Maleeha Lodhi accusing India of spreading terrorism in the Valley. Hitting out at the neighbour, India described Pakistans attack as a "lonely voice from the wilderness". During a debate of the General Assembly, Pakistan's Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN Lodhi said India made a "false claim" of conducting surgical strike across the LoC to provoke conflict with Pakistan. Warning New Delhi, Lodhi said any aggression by it would receive a "matching and effective response". During the debate on the Report of the Secretary General on the work of the world body, she said "This claim, and India's repeated threats to conduct such strikes across the LoC, constitute flagrant violations of the UN Charter's injunction against the use or threat of use of force." The United Nations should not "ignore these open threats to use force" by India, she said. The international community should take urgent action to ask India to halt its provocations against Pakistan, she added. Lodhi further attacked India saying "To cover up its crimes against the Kashmiri people, and to divert world attention, India resorts to daily violation of the ceasefire along the Line of Control in Kashmir." The international community represented in the United Nations cannot allow "India impunity to conduct "crimes against humanity" in Kashmir under the "flimsy cover" of combating terrorism, she said. "The only terrorism in Kashmir is India's state terrorism. State terrorism is, in fact, considered as the gravest form of terrorism by the Non-Aligned Movement, comprising almost two thirds of the General Assembly s membership," she alleged. ALSO READ | J-K: Pakistan violates ceasefire in Digwar sector of Poonch district; Army retaliates Eenam Gambhir, First Secretary at the Permanent Mission of India to the UN, exercising the country's right to reply said, "We have heard a lonely voice from the wilderness articulate a narrative of the past." Pakistan, Gambhir said, has "focused on a topic that has not even been deliberated upon for decades" at the UN. "An issue which that delegation tries to keep alive by procedural stratagems even while the world has moved on. Yesterday's people reflecting antiquated mindsets of the bygone times are symbolic of what holds us all back," she said. The Indian delegation does not wish to "waste the precious time of this August Assembly" in engaging further with such distractions, Gambhir said. Lodhi also said India's claim of carrying out the surgical strike provides Pakistan "sufficient reason" to respond and exercise its right to self-defence. Lodhi went ahead to warn India, saying it should not "underestimate Pakistan's resolve and capacity to defend itself". During the General Assembly debate last month which was addressed by leaders from more than 100 countries, not a single country supported Pakistan's Kashmir policy. Unmindful of that, Lodhi reiterated her allegation with regard to non-implementation of the UN Security Council resolution on Kashmir. In her address to the UN General Assembly last month, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had responded to a similar allegation raised by the Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on UN Security Council resolution. "Prime Minister Abbasi has recalled old resolutions that have been long overtaken by events. But his memory has conveniently failed him where it matters. He has forgotten that under the Shimla Agreement and the Lahore Declaration India and Pakistan resolved that they would settle all outstanding issues bilaterally," Swaraj had said. (With PTI inputs) ALSO READ | Pakistan's intelligence agency ISI runs its own foreign policy: US For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. United Nations: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is heading to the hurricane-battered Caribbean, where he says scientists predict the extreme storms of this year's hurricane season "will be the new normal of a warming world." Category 5 Hurricane Irma devastated Barbuda, while Hurricanes Harvey and Irma marked the first time two Category 4 storms made landfall on the United States mainland in the same year. Hurricane Maria followed, decimating Dominica and severely impacting Puerto Rico. Read more: Las Vegas shooting: Donald Trump meets victims at hospital Guterres said on Wednesday that "scientists are learning more and more about the links between climate change and extreme weather." Guterres said the world has "the tools, the technologies and the wealth to address climate change, but we must show more determination." For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. 2017-10-05 20:58:01 Verses "Do now receive me washed O Christ," Mamelchta declared, and she was struck with stones. Saint Mamelchta (or Mamelta) was from Persia and served as priestess of the Temple of Artemis. Her sister however was a Christian. St. Mamelchta the Martyr (Feast Day - October 5) One night she saw an Angel of God in her dreams, who showed her and instructed her in the mysteries of the Christians. When she woke up in fear and trembling, she told her sister about her dream. Her sister brought her to the Bishop, and since she came to believe in Christ, he baptized her. When the pagans found out about this, they became enraged and stoned her to death, even as the blessed one was still wearing the white garments of Holy Baptism. After this they took her holy relic and threw it into a very deep pit, which the Christians soon after recovered with much effort. The Bishop then went to the King of the Persians, and received permission from him to tear down the Temple of Artemis, and over it to be build a church to the Holy Martyr Mamelchta. Doing so, they treasured her honorable relic in the newly-built church. paraklisi paraklisi Saint John Mauropous was born in Paphlagonia around 1000. He came to Constantinople, and quickly gained a reputation as a teacher of rhetoric. Among his students, Michael Psellos was to be the most important. While teaching at the University of Constantinople, he helped reorganize it.Saint John Mauropous, Metropolitan of EuchaitaIt was also Psellos who introduced him to the emperor Constantine IX Monomachos (1042-1055). In 1046 he became a monk and was ordained a priest at the Monastery of Petra, which was dedicated to the Honorable Forerunner. For a couple of years, Mauropous belonged to the favored circle of poets and scholars that Constantine gathered around him, and he functioned as a court orator. But for an unknown reason, these friends suddenly fell from favor around the year 1050, and presumably on this occasion, Mauropous was appointed Metropolitan of Euchaita. In many letters, Mauropous complained of this "honorable exile", and asked his friend Psellos to urge the succeeding emperors to call him back to the capital. This seems to have succeeded at the end of Mauropous' life: he retired to the Monastery of Petra in Constantinople. Towards the end of his life he became blind and his hands paralyzed, and he was confined to bed. He reposed in peace presumably in the 1070s.It seems that Mauropous had prepared during his lifetime a collection of his own literary works. The manuscript Vaticano Graeco 676 is a very close copy of this collection. That collection consists of ninety-nine poems (epigrams, polemical and autobiographical poems, funeral orations in verse), seventy-seven letters and thirteen speeches (with for the most part were religious in content).Apart from these works, Mauropous composed a huge amount of liturgical canons. He wrote about 150 canons, 72 of which are dedicated to the Theotokos, 26 are dedicated to Christ, 11 are dedicated to John the Baptist, 8 to the Apostles Peter and Paul, 9 to John Chrysostom, 8 to John of Damascus, and 1 to the Guardian Angel. Mauropous has been seen as a precursor of the new cultural mentality in mid-11th century Byzantium. The typical blend of religious piety and classical culture links him with his pupil Psellos, and contemporary poets like Christopher the Patrician of Mytilene. A particular theme in his poems and letters are the vicissitudes and dangers of public life and political careers, which is not surprising given the political and social instability of this period.Most notably, John Mauropous is known for introducing into the Orthodox Church the feast of the Three Hierarchs which is celebrated on January 30th. This common feast of these three teachers was instituted a little before the year 1100, during the reign of the Emperor Alexis I Komnenos, because of a dispute and strife that arose among the notable and virtuous men of that time. Some of them preferred Basil the Great, while others preferred Gregory the Theologian, and yet others preferred John Chrysostom, quarreling among themselves over which of the three was the greatest. Furthermore, each party, in order to distinguish itself from the others, assumed the name of its preferred Saint; hence, they called themselves Basilians, Gregorians, or Johannites. Desiring to bring an end to the contention, the three Saints appeared together to the saintly John Mauropous when he was Bishop of Euchaita, a city of Pontus in Asia Minor, and they revealed to him that the glory they have at the throne of God is equal, and told him to compose a common service for the three of them, which he did with great skill and beauty. Cincinnati, OH (45221) Today Rain and snow showers in the morning changing to rain showers in the afternoon. High 41F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%.. Tonight Showers in the evening, then cloudy overnight. Low 33F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate STAMFORD Aircraft leasing firm Aircastle announced this week the planned acquisition of 20 narrow-body aircraft from Dublin, Ireland-based SMBC Aviation Capital. We are pleased to have reached an agreement to acquire these high-quality aircraft on lease to a geographically diverse group of airlines, demonstrating our unique ability to find attractive growth opportunities throughout the cycle, Aircastle CEO Mike Inglese said in a statement. We appreciate the opportunity to work with SMBC Aviation Capital to further optimize our fleet mix with the addition of these in-demand, current generation A320s and 737NGs. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. The addition of the aircraft, which are now on lease with 13 airlines across the world, would support Aircastles strategy of building up its passenger plane holdings. Nearly a decade ago, freight airplanes comprised about one-third of Aircastles fleet. Now, those jets account for around 4 percent. Aircastles portfolio included about 200 planes as of the end of the second quarter of 2017. Aircastle, which has about 20 employees based in Dublin, is seeing most of its growth in developing regions. With 71 customers in 38 countries, it is leasing aircraft to carriers based in Brazil, Indonesia and India. We think the underlying fundamental drivers of aircraft demand are good on a long-term basis and should allow opportunities for us to find incremental growth in the context of a growing marketplace, without having to plan on stealing market share from others, Inglese said in an interview last month. Aircastle acquires many planes from larger leasing companies, having generally focused on purchased aircraft five to 10 years old. At the same time, it competes with those firms to secure leases. The company recorded in the past quarter a combined loss of about $66 million for the sale of three freighters, contributing to a quarterly net loss of about $7 million. In the same period, revenues hit about $224 million, a jump of about 18 percent from the same time frame last year. In Aircastles first chief executive change in its 13-year history, Inglese was appointed CEO in June, succeeding Ron Wainshal who stepped down to deal with undisclosed health issues. Founded in 2004 and taken public in 2006, Aircastle is headquartered in the First Stamford Place complex, in the citys Waterside section. It employs about 70 there. In addition to the 20 in Dublin, it also employs about a dozen in Singapore. pschott@scni.com; 203-964-2236; twitter: @paulschott DANBURY - The citys Democratic Party is hosting a Columbus Day meet-the-candidates event. The Oct. 9 event, planned for 7:30 p.m. at Democratic headquarters, 161 Main St., will give voters a chance to meet a slate of candidates that represent the mosaic that makes up our city. We have incumbent office holders, veterans and people newer to the electoral political process; people of all ages, races, nationalities and creeds, said Danbury Democratic Town Committee Chairman Gene Eriquez. The idea is to offer a casual environment where voters can understand party positions and discuss concerns with candidates, according to a release. Light refreshments will served. The Democratic ticket is led by decorated veteran Al Almeida, who is challenging longtime GOP Mayor Mark Boughton for the citys highest elected office. I am writing to inform you that with the number of hurricanes we have been witnessing nationwide and most recently the hurricane we witnessed in Florida and Puerto Rico, it is time to consider climate change. In many speeches, President Trump has discussed climate change as a hoax. We need to take a stand against this accusation and come to terms with the way our environment is evolving and devolving. Many scientists have tried to reach out to President Trump warning him of the consequences of the climate changing. The letters that they have sent to Trump himself and to the Trump administration have gone unnoticed and unanswered. In many recent interviews during the storms Irma and Harvey, Trump has given millions of dollars to the people in need, but will not review his stance on climate change. Scientists are able to draw more links from the magnitude of the hurricanes, the scale being on a 5.0, and the rising global temperatures. Ben Kirtman, a professor of atmospheric science at the University of Miami, said he believes failing to discuss climate change hurts Florida and the entire country. This is something many are starting to agree with when comparing data. If we considered climate change, then we would be more prepared as a country for the storms that are coming our way. We had hurricanes in the 90s that were on the 5.0 scale, but the global temperatures have never been rising so high before. The global temperatures dont just affect storms, they also affect the oceans and the air making them both hotter, causing storms to occur more often than not. There are many results to the rising temperatures hurricanes Maria, Irma and Harvey. President Trump needs to reconsider his stance on climate change being a hoax and take a good look at the data that lies right in front of him. Brianna Straiton Danbury The writer is a student at the Plymouth State University in New Hampshire. NEW CANAAN No one would guess that the elegant, timeless, well-appointed gray shingle and stone colonial at 79 Devonwood Lane was built as a spec house. Few houses built on speculation have the number of amenities and level of detail that this 8,003-square-foot, 14-room residence does. When it was built in 2006 this house was given generously proportioned spaces for living and entertaining, an English pub-like bar with a kegerator, wine cellar, gym and training rooms, heated in-ground swimming pool and spa, an outdoor fireplace, and fully equipped outdoor kitchen. It is also wired for both Crestron and SONOS audio systems, and it has decorative moldings and millwork. The majestic house sits on a majestic two-acre level property half way down a quiet cul-de-sac providing it immense privacy and yet it is only about three minutes from the center of town and the Metro North train station. The front of the property is bordered by a stone wall and the entrance to the long driveway is marked by two stone pillars topped with lanterns. The front yard contains a large open lawn, landscaped shrubbery, a pond, a stream, a footbridge, and a stone well. From the circular driveway lined in Belgium block there is a bluestone path to the covered front entrance, which features four columns, decorative glass and wood sidelights and an arched transom. The door opens to the two-story foyer, which has a marble floor, a gracefully curved staircase, paneling on the lower walls, and fluted pilasters flanking the front door. Off the foyer is the formal dining room in one direction and the formal living room on the other. Both rooms have wainscoting on the lower walls, wood-burning fireplaces with ornate mantels, and crown molding depicting an egg and dart pattern. The living room fireplace contains Ionic rounded and fluted columns. Its firebox of red brick is arranged in a herringbone pattern, as are the dark hardwood floors in the living and dining rooms, both of which have a light wood inlaid border. Step down into the sunken family room, which has four Doric columns, a coffered ceiling, a stone fireplace, bead board on the lower walls, and French doors to the expansive patio and backyard. There are French doors into a cherry paneled office, which features Corinthian columns, built-in bookshelves, and a window seat. On the other side of the family room step up into the breakfast room, which is open to the large gourmet country kitchen. More Information ABOUT THIS HOUSE STYLE: Colonial ADDRESS: 79 Devonwood Lane PRICE: $4,750,000 ROOMS: 14 FEATURES: 2.1-acre level property, heated in-ground swimming pool and spa, wine cellar, English pub-like bar, wet bar, bluestone terraced patios, outdoor kitchen, three fireplaces (one outdoors), pond, stream, billiards room, gym and training rooms, aquarium, generator, lawn sprinkler, playroom with custom playhouse, changing room with full bath, porch, front and rear stairs, six-zoned heating system, storm windows, well water, wood roof, full finished walk-out basement, attached three-car garage, only one mile to train station, house wired for both Crestron and SONOS audio systems, six bedrooms (all en suite), seven full and one half baths SCHOOLS: East Elementary, Saxe Middle, New Canaan High School ASSESSEMENT: $3,179,260 MILL RATE: 16.312 mills TAXES: $52,998 See More Collapse In the kitchen features include a center island with a beveled wood counter and prep sink, a farm sink, two butlers pantries, built-in desk area, built-in Miele espresso maker, and a pot-filler above the Viking Professional six-burner range. There are side by side ovens in the range and two additional wall ovens. The perimeter counters are granite with beveled edges. The mudroom is large and includes a full bath, a changing room, and French doors to a covered bluestone patio and pool area. The terraced patio has a flat screen hook-up, dining area, and outdoor kitchen. On the second floor the master bedroom suite has a tall tray ceiling, a decorative carved marble fireplace, sitting room, large double walk-in closets, dressing room, built-in vanity area with three beveled mirrors, and a spa-like marble master bath with a jetted tub and large shower. There are three more bedrooms on this level, all en suite, and there is one more bedroom suite on the third floor with a large walk-in closet. Back on the second floor there is a large playroom with a large built-in playhouse complete with shutters and scalloped wood roof. There is also a den or television room. The finished lower level has several rooms including a billiard room with a beamed ceiling, paneling on the lower walls, a stone fireplace and door to the yard. The English pub is also on this level, as is the gym, which has a rubberized floor and mirrored wall. In one wall there is a large built-in aquarium. This level also has the sixth bedroom. For more information or to make an appointment to see the house contact Christine Saxe of Halstead Property at 203-273-1548 or csaxe@halstead.com. By GMM 5 October 2017 - 07:34 Sebastian Vettels Japanese grand prix weekend has started well. After Ferraris horror outing in Malaysia last week, Vettel headed to Suzuka under a cloud due to his bizarre post-race crash with Lance Stroll. The team had sent the German drivers gearbox back to Maranello, fearing a replacement would cost Vettel five penalty places on the grid this Sunday. But Ferrari says the gearbox is in fact "still available" to use in Japan. "Only the outer casing of the gearbox was damaged," a Ferrari source told us. "That can be replaced without a penalty." The source added: "Its our best news for weeks." But another piece of good news for Ferrari is that the carbon connections for the turbo units were also sent back to Maranello for checks, following two near-identical failures that cost both Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen in Malaysia. The parts have reportedly been reinforced for Japan, with the changes also not incurring penalties because they were completed purely for reliability. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate FAIRFIELD Nancy Lefkowitz could be heard holding back tears as she slowly rang a bell 58 times Wednesday night, for those killed in Saturday nights massacre on the Las Vegas strip. Before Lefkowitz rang the bell, she read the words of the poem, Think of me: Remember me in your heart, your thoughts, and your memories of the times we loved, the times we cried, the times we fought, the times we laughed. For if you always think of me, I will never have gone. The candlelight vigil sponsored by the group, Connecticut Against Gun Violence, was held on the lawn behind the Burr Mansion. Once again, we have to deal with a heinous shooting, said Ron Pinciaro, the groups executive director. Frustrating, isnt it? But when he asked the crowd that had gathered if they were going to stop fighting for sensible gun laws, their answer was a resounding, No. We have an American problem that Americans refuse to resolve, Pinciaro said. And while Connecticut has tough gun laws, We know thats not enough. All gun deaths, he said, are horrific, whether they are from a mass shooting, an urban homicide or a rural suicide. Rabbi Dan Sklar, the cantor at Westports Temple Israel, said he was sorry to have to be there, especially on the first night of the Jewish harvest festival of Sukkot. There was some debate back at the temple, he said, as to whether he should be there or at the vigil. I said, I cant be anywhere else, Sklar said. Anyone who has a child, or a conscience, or a lick of common sense knows theres something very, very wrong here. He lead the crowd in singing the Bob Dylan classic, Blowing in the Wind, and said, We cant continue like this. First Selectman Mike Tetreau said while it was an honor to be asked to speak, I dont know the words to say. When he saw the news and looked at the number of the dead being reported, he said, he thought that cant be right. Sandy Hook hit too close to home, Tetreau said. This, as far away as it was in Las Vegas, hit too close to home. Chris Coogan, and the Good News Gospel Choir, moved the crowd when they sang I Need You to Survive, a song that said, I cant hurt you with words from my mouth, I love you, I need you to survive. When the short program ended, Norwalk resident Kara Baekey, a member of Moms Demand Action, was more than happy to stay and talk, as she handed out T-shirts, bracelets and contact information. She has two children, 10 and 12 years old. After the shooting at the Las Vegas music festival, My daughter said she was scared now to go to a rock and roll concert. The thing is, Baekey said, her daughter has yet to go to a big concert and now, I dont know when shell ever want to go or if Ill want to let her. Baekey joined Moms Demand Action following the Sandy Hook shooting. We are mothers, and we will never back down, she said. Their latest mission, she said, is aimed directly at the National Rifle Association. Were going after them, and maybe its time to get a little nasty. ANSONIA Police are investigating a robbery complaint that took place near Ansonia Middle School on Tuesday. A black male in his early 20s approached a female as she exited her car on Howard Ave. and pointed a gun at her. The man demanded her keys and after she complied, fled on foot, according to a police press release. The suspect was unable to take the car and fled on foot after being approached by the victims mother, according to police. The suspect fled north on Howard Ave. toward Grove St. He is described as 5-foot-5 with short, dark hair and wearing a grey jacket. Anyone with information is asked to call Ansonia Police Department Detective Kristen Hunt or Detective Brian Harte at 203-735-1885. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate NEW HAVEN The downtown restaurant and bar community will gather around a mobile Irish pub parked in Temple Plaza on Oct. 15 for a daylong fundraiser for workers and tenants displaced by a fire last month. The multi-story building at 157 Orange St. that housed four apartments on the upper floors and the Trinity Bar and Restaurant on the first floor was damaged when a fire started Sept. 1 on the second floor of the structure, leaving one of the tenants with serious burns and Trinity with smoke and water damage. Trinity, which is owned by Shane Carty and Eddie Higgins and managed by John Greco, has business interuption insurance that covers the three main principals in the business. In addition to displacing four tenants, the fire left around 17 bartenders, waitstaff and kitchen personnel out of work and not covered by this insurance. Damian Cashman, who was a partner in OTooles Irish Pub, which occupied the Orange Street site before Trinity took over, has organized restaurant and bar owners, as well as other groups that have benefitted from the many fundraisers at those restaurants, to now come to the assistance of the fire victims. Cashman, a serial entrepreneur, owned Keys to the City dueling piano bar in the Long Wharf area before opening OTooles and was also the manager for the Playwright Restaurant when it was on Temple Stree for eight years before that. For the past three years, he has had a consulting business marketing Irish whisky along the East Coast and is now opening a catering and pub business on his mobile Rambling Inn, which serves food and drink for events. Cashman said he stripped down a 30-foot 1992 Sunchaser travel trailer and built the Rambling Inn to resemble an Irish cottage equipped with beer taps, a space that can hold 18 to 20 people. He compared the project to putting together an adult Lego-like project that now looks like a tiny house on wheels. Cashman, who is from Tipperary, Ireland, said there a lot of bar cottages in rural Ireland. Other New Haven vendors and restaurants are also donating their time, food and spirits to the event so all the proceeds can benefit the people whose lives have been disrupted by the fire. Cashman hopes they raise some $10,000. Win Davis, executive director of the Downtown Special Services District, said it has been great to watch the community come together to help out another business and the renters. He said nonprofit New Haven Festivals Inc will be the fiduciary for the fundraiser and handle all the money. Davis said a percentage of the funds will go to the employees, depending on how many hours they worked at the restaurant, while a certain amount will go to the tenants. A number of local bands alsoare donating their time including The Alehounds, Ian Biggs and the Jeff Tuohy Band for the event that is scheduled from noon to 8 p.m. Cashman said the Regal Beagle, Ordinary, Elm City Social, Portofino, Temple Grill, Bull & Swine, the Orange Alehouse and Tommy Sullivan will be represented, while the Elm City Party Bike will stop by. He expects others will also come forward. The fire marshal is still investigating the cause of the fire. Greco said, if everything goes smoothly, Trinity hopes to reopen around Christmastime. Some demolition work has been done inside the restaurant and they are waiting for the go-ahead to begin repairs. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate When two black holes merged 1.8 billion light-years away, their violent union sent shock waves through space and time. On Aug. 14, three precisely tuned machines sensed the cosmic fallout, a ripple known as a gravitational wave. August's event marked the fourth time that astronomers have observed black hole collisions. An international team of scientists announced the discovery on Wednesday from Turin, Italy, at a meeting of the G7 science ministers. The science of hunting gravitational waves is old on paper and young in practice. Albert Einstein, through his General Theory of Relativity, predicted in 1916 that the waves should exist. It would remain a prediction for 98 years, until the LIGO Scientific Collaboration detected the first gravitational wave in September 2015. The two L-shaped detectors that make up LIGO, located in Washington state and Louisiana, recently partnered with a third: the Virgo detector near Pisa, Italy. "LIGO and Virgo are the most sensitive instruments ever built by mankind," said Jo van den Brand, a physicist and Virgo Collaboration spokesman, during the announcement. The detectors hear waves as a spike in frequency sometimes called a cosmic chirp. August's chirp was the first signal detected by all three observatories. Virgo was officially online for just two weeks when it detected the gravitational wave. Now that Earth's three-detector network for sensing gravitational waves is operational, astronomers hope to zoom in on the source of the waves. Massachusetts Institute of Technology research scientist David Shoemaker, spokesman for the LIGO Scientific Collaboration, used the analogy of a camera tripod at Wednesday's conference. Work your way up the three legs of a tripod, and you'll find the location of the camera. In this sense, the LIGO detectors and the Virgo detector form the tripod's feet. Where the legs met, 1.8 billion light-years away, was a ball of space so compact light cannot escape. The two black holes that merged were massive: one hole was 31 times the mass of the sun, and the other was 25 solar masses. They twisted together to form a single spinning hole 53 times more massive than our star. The missing three suns' worth of mass became energy, expelled as gravitational waves. Now Playing: Astronomers in Japan believe they have found the missing link between small and super massive black holes, and the candidate is close to the center of our own galaxy. Video: GeoBeats Gabriela Gonzalez, a professor of physics and astronomy at Louisiana State University and former spokeswoman for the LIGO team, said this is a milestone detection for the collaboration. The Virgo detector - a nearly 2-mile-long, V-shaped instrument dug into the Italian countryside - is less sensitive than the two American detectors that first found gravitational waves two years ago. But its inclusion in the collaboration allows scientists to triangulate the origin of these space-time ripples with greater precision. "We go from hundreds of square degrees, almost thousands, to only 30 square degrees," Gonzalez said. ("Square degrees" are the units with which astronomers measure the celestial sphere of the night sky; the full moon takes up about 0.2 square degrees, and the large constellation Hydra covers 1,303.) Astronomers said they were able to trace the gravitational wave, GW170814, to a region of sky of 60 square degrees. Virgo's addition shrank the space by a factor of 10. What's more, the detector in Italy added "a new dimension to the fundamental tests we can carry out," said Frederique Marion, a Virgo Collaboration senior scientist, during Wednesday's announcement. The LIGO detectors are essentially aligned. Virgo is not. With the third detector, researchers can analyze the space-time distortion in three dimensions. They found, just as Einstein predicted, that wherever space stretched, it contracted in the dimension at a right angle - as what happens when you tug on a wad of putty. Such precision becomes even more important as gravitational wave detectors begin to detect signals from events involving objects other than black holes. Whereas black holes emit no radiation and are impossible to directly observe, other potential sources of gravitational waves - colliding neutron stars, supernovas, binary star mergers - can be seen through conventional telescopes. Knowing exactly where a gravitational wave came from, Gonzalez said, will help LIGO scientists correlate their detection to optical counterparts - heralding a new era of astronomy in which celestial events are "heard" as well as "seen." "This proves we are now ready to do that kind of astronomy," Gonzalez said. In fact, since mid-August, rumors have circulated that the detectors sensed gravitational waves from colliding neutron stars on Aug. 17. If so, it is an event that might also have been seen on the electromagnetic spectrum by telescopes like Hubble and the Chandra X-ray Observatory. In mid-August, these telescopes were all abruptly aimed toward the origin of a gamma-ray burst, an explosion predicted to come from the impact of two neutron stars. (In a news release for Tuesday's announcement of the gravitational wave, the LIGO and Virgo researchers hoped to tamp down some of the speculation: "LIGO and VIRGO's partner electromagnetic facilities around the world didn't identify a counterpart for GW170814, [the gravitational wave from colliding black holes] which was similar to the three prior LIGO observations of black hole mergers. Black holes produce gravitational waves but not light.") Gonzalez said that the LIGO team is still seeking to confirm several potential detections from the latest observing run, which started in January and ended Aug. 25. She would not say whether the Aug. 17 signal was among them. But Gonzalez explained that gravitational wave events with optical counterparts can take longer to confirm because of the consistency tests involved. And there's always next year. The next observational run will begin in late 2018. Mr. Ciruli is the Director of the Crossley Center for Public Opinion Research at the University of Denvers Josef Korbel School of International Studies. He is an adjunct professor teaching public opinion and foreign policy. The Crossley Center conducts research and presents live and virtual programs on foreign policy, politics, public policy and public opinion. Mr. Ciruli holds a law degree from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. and a bachelors degree cum laude in political science from UCLA. He is a member of the American Association of Public Opinion Research (AAPOR), and is the past-president of the Pacific Chapter of AAPOR (PAPOR). Mr. Ciruli is a board member of the Social Science Foundation of the University of Denver Josef Korbel School of International Studies and past-president of the Georgetown Law Alumni Board and the Denver Athletic Club. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate NORWALK The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk hopes to build and open a 4D theater next to its main entrance before the state starts replacing the Walk Bridge in 2019. Four-dimensional technology gives theatergoers an immersive experience, feeling wind and rain and even smells. The Connecticut Department of Transportation intends to take the existing IMAX Theater, raze it, and use the area to stage the replacement of the 121-year-old Walk Bridge, which bisects the aquarium at 10 North Water St. In order to minimize the disruption to the Aquariums operations and visitors, the Aquarium has decided to proactively seek approvals to reconstruct the IMAX theater wing on the northeast side of the building adjacent to the Aquariums main entrance at North Main and Ann Streets, wrote Elizabeth Suchy, the attorney representing the plan before the city. Proposed is a two-story, 11,900-square-foot addition on the east of the main entrance. The addition would house a 4D, 178-seat theater, entrance lobby, ticket area and other space. The aquarium also has proposed a two-story, 8,700-square-foot addition on the east side of the existing building to house the aquariums seals. That addition would replace the existing tent structure and exhibits along the Norwalk River, according to Suchy. The aquarium recently submitted to the citys Department of Planning and Zoning conceptual drawings showing its plans to replace the theater, enclose and improve its harbor seal exhibit, create new space for its Go Fish! exhibit and move its main entrance to North Water Street, opposite the Maritime Garage. The Meerkat exhibit will be relocated internally to a new second floor in the Maritime Hall that doesnt affect the existing footprint, according to a statement released by the aquarium. The aquarium said discussions continue with the goal of building the new theater and making other necessary changes to the building and its exhibits. Loss of the IMAX Theater and the vital revenue stream that it brings without a replacement would be detrimental to the long-term sustainability of the organization. These renderings are preliminary, and final details may change, but it was critical to file an application now if the Aquarium is to achieve city approvals and complete its construction prior to commencement of the bridge project in early 2019, the Aquarium said in the statement. This submission is just an initial step in this long but important process of protecting our animals, guests and the institution as a whole. The Maritime Aquarium, which opened in 1988 and draws up to 500,000 visitors annually, learned last year that the DOT intends to demolish the IMAX Theater to make room for replacement of the Walk Bridge over the Norwalk River. The theater wont be the only casualty. The IMAX theater wing on the southern end of the Aquarium campus along with the permanent tent structure containing exhibits and tanks will need to be demolished, Suchy wrote. Approximately 25,000 square feet of existing Aquarium space is expected to be demolished for the Walk Bridge project, which is expected to commence in 2019 and is scheduled for completion in 2023. The IMAX Theater, although a big draw at the aquarium, is outdated in terms of technology. Aquarium spokesman Dave Sigworth has described the roughly 300-seat facility as limited given its reliance upon 70-millimeter film rather than digitally produced movies. The Common Councils Land Use and Building Management Committee was scheduled to review the conceptual plans Wednesday evening. Numerous approvals are required. We look forward to presenting the details of our application and their supporting reasons first to the required city commissions, agencies and committees in the coming weeks, Sigworth said. Donald Trump campaigned as a fierce defender of the Second Amendment and the favored candidate of the National Rifle Association, vowing to undo any actions by President Barack Obama on gun control. But when Trump nixed one of Obama's most significant efforts to expand background checks on prospective gun buyers, he did so without fanfare. The Feb. 28 bill signing, which blocked the Social Security Administration from reporting mentally impaired recipients to a national background-check database, earned just a brief mention at the end of a White House advisory that contained no reference to firearms. Reporters ushered into the Oval Office that day heard Trump extol two other bills encouraging women to pursue careers in science. Before Sunday's mass shooting in Las Vegas, activists on both sides of the gun debate were focused on high-stakes legislation that would make it easier to buy gun silencers and to carry concealed weapons across state lines. That legislation has now stalled. But, with less public attention, the Trump administration has eased some gun regulations in recent months. Among them: The Army Corps of Engineers has filed notice in a court case that it is reconsidering a ban on carrying firearms on its land; the Justice Department narrowed its definition of fugitives barred from purchasing weapons; and the Interior Department lifted a federal ban on hunting with lead ammunition in national parks. A White House official denied any deliberate effort to play down the change to the background-checks policy and declined to comment on that change or others related to guns. "It was very quiet because if anyone looks under the hood of these laws, they can recognize that this has caused a significant threat to public safety," said David Chipman, senior policy adviser for the gun-control group Americans for Responsible Solutions and a former official with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). "If these laws were good laws supported by the public that protected people's rights while ensuring public safety, they'd proudly talk about what they are." The catalyst for the Social Security rule was a law signed by President George W. Bush intended to upgrade background checks on gun buyers after 32 people were shot and killed at Virginia Tech in 2007. The shooter was able to buy firearms because his mental health record was never submitted to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), a 19-year-old database that gun-control advocates say lacks reams of pertinent information. The law prodded states and government agencies to step up reporting to NICS that would disqualify gun buyers because of their criminal records, immigration status or mental health problems. The Social Security Administration's plan to identify an estimated 80,000 mentally impaired recipients incapable of managing their own finances was finalized a few days before Christmas in 2016. "Grandma Got Run Over by Obama," the NRA's political arm blasted in a riff on the novelty Christmas song. Gun rights groups have long fought efforts to improve the database, calling it federal overreach in the face of the Second Amendment. One month into the Trump administration, the Republican-led Congress turned to a rarely used law that allows it to quickly unravel the prior president's last-minute regulations. The House and Senate revoked the Social Security rule, along with several environmental regulations imposed in the waning days of the Democratic administration. The move was opposed by gun-control advocates and cheered by an unusual coalition that included the NRA, the American Civil Liberties Union and some advocates for the mentally ill. Some gun-control activists said they were not aware of the Trump bill-signing. "He did it in the dark of night, as we say, with no announcement," said Robin Lloyd of Americans for Responsible Solutions, the group founded by Gabrielle Giffords, the former Arizona congresswoman shot in the head while meeting with constituents in 2011. Even less noticed was the Army Corps of Engineers' decision to reconsider a Nixon-era gun policy prohibiting firearms, except for those used for hunting in some places, on lands and waters under Corps jurisdiction. The Corps is the nation's largest administrator of outdoor recreation, administering 422 lake and river projects in 43 states and more than 4,500 miles of trails. "In general, people who are carrying guns are safe and law-abiding and don't become problematic just because they are on Army Corps of Engineers land," said David Kopel, adjunct professor at Denver University's Sturm College of Law and an analyst at the libertarian Cato Institute. "There's been some progress under Trump in undoing or moderating anti-gun policies from anti-gun administrations." At the Interior Department, Secretary Ryan Zinke overturned a ban on lead ammunition and fishing tackle on federal lands, at a ceremony attended by Chris Cox, executive director of the NRA's political arm. The Obama administration had imposed the ban, aimed at protecting birds and fish from lead poisoning, one day before Trump's inauguration. Zinke cast the regulation as a constraint on access to public lands and outdoor recreation. "It worries me to think about hunting and fishing becoming activities for the landowning elite," Zinke, a former Montana congressman and an avid hunter and angler, said on March 2, his first day on the job. Two weeks earlier, the Justice Department had issued a new definition of "fugitive" that allows more people with outstanding arrest warrants to legally buy guns. Under the revised rule, the FBI can block gun sales only to fugitives who have fled the states where their arrest warrant was issued. The change got little media coverage, though some law enforcement leaders raised concerns. "Removing the people with warrants, you have to wonder if that's putting guns in the hands of the people who maybe shouldn't have them," said Darrel Stephens, executive director of the Major Cities Chiefs Association. The exact definition of a "fugitive" has long been a matter of debate. The FBI had a broad view of the term. But even before Trump took office, Justice Department officials sided with ATF, which argued that under federal law, gun purchases can be denied only for fugitives with arrest warrants who have fled across state lines. After Trump's inauguration, justice officials narrowed that category further to those who have fled across state lines to avoid prosecution for a crime or to avoid giving testimony in a criminal proceeding. Trump was the first sitting president to address the NRA since Ronald Reagan. The NRA spent more than $30 million boosting his campaign and attacking Democrat Hillary Clinton, more than any other outside group, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. NRA officials declined to comment on the administration's recent actions on gun policy. "You came through big for me, and I am going to come through for you," Trump said at the NRA convention in April. "The eight-year assault on your Second Amendment freedoms has come to a crashing end." Obama fell far short of his goals on gun control, leaving a limited number of executive actions for his successor to overturn. Congress rebuffed his push in 2013 to expand background checks to most gun sales and ban certain military-style assault rifles after 20 children and six adults were slain at a Newtown, Connecticut, elementary school. During his last year in office, Obama unveiled a broad package of more-incremental proposals to reduce gun violence, including money for mental health treatment, plans to sponsor research into "smart gun technology" and background checks for gun buyers using a trust or corporation to purchase some of the most dangerous weapons. Chipman, of Americans for Responsible Solutions, called the package "meaningfully symbolic." One of Obama's most substantive proposals would have required gun sellers online and at gun shows to obtain federal licenses and conduct background checks. ATF did not receive additional funding, however, to expand its enforcement responsibilities. ATF officials said Tuesday they could not immediately comment. In an early sign of the Trump administration's posture on firearms, the second-highest-ranking official at ATF wrote a "white paper" - dated Jan. 20, the day of the inauguration - on loosening gun regulations. Ronald Turk, ATF associate deputy director and chief operating officer, called for lifting restrictions on sales of gun silencers, easing federal scrutiny of gun dealers who sell weapons later traced to crimes and reexamining the ban on importing assault weapons. Three months later, Democrats on the House Oversight Committee grilled Turk. "Do you represent the NRA?" demanded Rep. Gerald Connelly, D-Va. "Or do you represent the American people at ATF? . . . I represent victims from Virginia Tech in my district. We buried six young people. And I couldn't explain to them why an ATF agent or representative would think that legalizing silencers might be a good idea." Turk testified that he was gathering ideas for the new administration and that ATF should review its restrictions on armor-piercing ammunition. "With the change in administration it was our impression that we . . . could expect a conversation about the regulations within the firearms industry," he said. Although the white paper boasted the ATF seal and listed Turk's name and title, officials said it did not represent the views of the agency. NEW HAVEN A third member of a violent local gang has been sentenced to a long prison term in connection with a slaying and drug trafficking in the city, federal authorities said. Trevor Murphy, also known as Snookie, 29, of West Haven, was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge Janet C. Hall to 30 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for murdering Joseph Zargo on Dec. 23, 2011, authorities said in a release. Murphy previously pleaded guilty to interference with commerce by robbery and using a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, according to the release. In January 2014, ATF and the New Haven Police Department began Operation Red Side through a series of controlled narcotics purchases and firearms seizures. The investigation revealed that members and associates of the Red Side Guerilla Brims, a sect of the Bloods street gang based in New Haven, were engaged in narcotics trafficking and related acts of violence, including murder, attempted murder, assaults and armed robberies, according to federal authorities. In addition to distributing crack cocaine and other narcotics in and around New Haven, the investigation indicated that members and associates of the RSGB, transported the drugs to Bangor, Maine, and sold them in Bangor and its surrounding communities. The RSGB also traded narcotics for firearms, brought the firearms back to New Haven and distributed them to gang members, according to the release. Murphy was a member of RSGB, who had ordered a quantity of ecstasy from Zargo as part of a plan to rob Zargo of drugs and cash, authorities said. Just after midnight on Dec. 23, 2011, Murphy met Zargo on Houston Street in New Haven. After Murphy took the ecstasy pills from Zargo, Murphy pulled out a firearm. When Zargo reached into his pocket, Murphy shot Zargo once in the chest, and Zargo died later that morning, the release said. Murphy has been detained since his arrest on Sept. 30, 2015. Other RSGB members Jeffrey Benton, 32, and Robert Short, 30, both of New Haven, were sentenced Wednesday to 40 and 30 years in prison, respectively. As a result of this investigation, 21 members and associates of the RSGB were convicted of federal charges in Connecticut and Maine. The investigation has resolved seven murder cases, four attempted murders and four armed robberies that occurred in 2011 and 2012. U.S. Attorney Deirdre Daly noted in the release federal prisoners are required to serve at least 85 percent of their sentenced term of imprisonment and are not eligible for parole. US officials announced that three US Army special operations commandos were killed Wednesday and two others were injured when they were ambushed in southwest Niger. The officials said the two wounded commandos were taken to Niamey, the capital, and are fortunately, in stable condition. The officials say they were not authorized to discuss the incident publicly so spoke on condition of anonymity. The officials said the commandos, who were Green Berets, may have been attacked by Al Qaeda terrorists in the Islamic Maghreb. In a statement, US Africa Command said the forces were with a joint US and Nigerien patrol just north of Niamey, near the Mali border, when they came under hostile fire. Africa Command said the US forces were in Niger to provide training and security assistance to the Nigerien Armed Forces in their efforts against violent extremists. Source: AP Former head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, has appealed to Nigerians not to tear the nation apart. Former head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, has appealed to Nigerians not to tear the nation apart. Abdusalami said, rather, the youths should build on the legacies of the founding fathers and remain positive for its continued existence. He gave this charge yesterday at the official launch of Emeka Anyaokus Institute of International Studies and Diplomacy, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State. We must allow peace to reign without which development would be impossible. Altogether, there is strength in diversity. All hands must be on deck to make our great Nigeria greater, he said. Also speaking at the event, a former chief of army staff, Gen. Theophilus Danjuma, described the present agitation for restructuring of the country as a good idea. He, however, said it should not be pursued with violence. Earlier in his speech, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, said he was humbled by the encomiums showered on him by the dignitaries present at the occasion. He expressed appreciation to the university for the honour conferred on him in his lifetime. Anyaoku, however, noted that his major challenge had been his inability to document his personal papers like his predecessors in the Commonwealth and said the institute had provided the platform for him to accomplish same. I am glad that Nnamdi Azikiwe University has provided the opportunity for me to deposit personal papers and books I have written. he said. A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Olisa Agbakoba has called on the National Assembly to drop the Bill seeking for the establishment of a Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) Regulatory Commission.The proposed commission is for the Supervision, Coordination and Monitoring of Non-Governmental Organizations and Civil Society Organizations among other, and was sponsored by the Deputy Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Umar Buba Jubril.But Agbakoba, who is the senior counsel of The Human Rights Law Service (HRLS) in a letter dated October 3, 2017 and addressed to the Senate President, Bukola Saraki and Speaker House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogora, argued that there is no need for such a Bill.According to him, Civil Society is concerned by the implication of this bill and can see no reason for its proposed enactment as there is a plethora of laws on our statute books regulating activities of NGOs in Nigeria. The growing perception is that the bill is an attempt to proscribe some NGOs in Nigeria.I am shocked that 18 years after defeating the military and enthroning democracy; civil society still has to fight to exist in a democracy. I urge the National Assembly to withdraw the bill.The Bill on NGOs has over the last few weeks generated countless debates, with many Nigerians also condemning the move which they argued was meant to stop NGOs and CSOs from monitoring and criticising the activities of political leaders in the country. A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Buba Galadima has said that if he were to be the Independent National Electoral ... A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Buba Galadima has said that if he were to be the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the ruling party would have been deregistered. He said the partys handlers had refused to abide by the rules they set. Galadima made this comment while speaking with the Hausa Service of the BBC, yesterday, According to Galadima, if he were INEC, he would have seized APCs certificate of registration because three years after its establishment, the party could not hold a single Board of Trustees (BoT) meeting, and that it had also failed to deliver on any of its promises. He said, APC does not deserve to be a political party; its constitution clearly states that the BoT, the National Executive Committee (NEC) and the National Working Committee must meet once every three months. Now, since the registration of the party, was there any time that the BoT met? The party never referred to its founding fathers to gauge their mood and to know their feelings on whether it is on the right track or not. Im one of the nine people who signed the MoU for the establishment of APC based on certain agreements and ground rules. Sadly, none of these promises have been met and Nigerians cannot endure uncertainty anymore, Galadima said. However, he expressed hope that the party would reinvent itself not necessarily around President Muhammadu Buhari. I detest a situation whereby some people would hang the survival of APC on one individual; the party belongs to all of us, Nigerians. Politics and political power are transient and we must look ahead of time, Galadima said. Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, yesterday walked out Major Daniel Ehicheoya of the Nigerian Army Directorate... Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, yesterday walked out Major Daniel Ehicheoya of the Nigerian Army Directorate of Legal Services, a representative of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Yusuf Tukur Buratai. This occurred at a hearing into a petition on compulsory retirement by Lt. Col. Abdulfatai Mohammed. Mohammeds case is part of a petition involving 21 other officers: two Major Generals, five Brigadier Generals, eight Colonels and seven Lieutenant Colonels, all compulsorily retired in June 2016. The lawmakers expressed displeasure that Buratai, despite his insistence that the letter inviting him must be signed by Chairman of the Committee, did not appear. The Chairman, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, said I was called two weeks ago that the Chief of Army Staff said I must sign the letter to him personally. So how come he is not here? It is an insult to us. When invitation letters are signed, it is by the Clerk, but he insisted I sign his. We have invited the Air Force Chief and he came here, Anyanwu said. Senator Mao Ohuabunwa (Abia North) condemned the compulsory retirement. How can they just summarily retire young men, whom the country has spent so much money training? he quipped. In his address, Mohammed told the committee that he was wrongfully retired after 22 years of meritorious service in the Army which included an award of the First Order of Merit at the India Staff College. I was in my office on June 9, 2016 when I received a call that I have been compulsorily retired, he recalled. I never received any query, nor faced a disciplinary panel, nor gotten into an altercation with any of my superiors. Mohammed said he was posted to Konduga in 2013 at the height of the Boko Haram crises and was part of the pivotal unit that ensured the strategic town did not fall to the hands of the insurgents. The day after I was retired, the NA declared in the media that the affected officers were involved in partisanship in the 2015 general election; that I was involved in election partisanship while on election duty in Edo State, he said. Mohammed insisted that he was nowhere in or around Edo State at the time of the elections, nor was he involved in election duty in any part of the country. The NA records show that I was actually fighting to protect this country in the North-east during the elections and I earned two commendations for bravery for risking my life for this country. He accused the leadership of the army of surreptitiously substituting the names of culpable officers with his name and other innocent officers in a gross act of corruption and deliberately misled the president on the matter. Mohammed called for justice not just for himself but to protect fighting men and women who are risking their lives to protect the territorial integrity of Nigeria. Amidst increasing concerns over the level insecurity in the Edo State, a senior staff of the University of Benin, Edo State, Prof. Paul Otasowie, has been killed by gunmen.It was learnt Otasowie was shot dead by the armed men in front of his residence on Ekehuan road in Oredo Local Government Area of the state on Wednesday evening.There was, however, speculation that the professor in the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering was either assassinated or gunned down by suspected armed robbers.According to another version of the incident, the deceased, who was a former director of the universitys Industrial Training and Student Industrial Work Experience Scheme, was allegedly shot during an attempted kidnap.It was gathered that the news of his death left the university community in a state of mourning.The Public Relations Officer of the institution, Mr. Michael Osasuyi, confirmed the incident to The PUNCH on Thursday.Osasuyi stated, We lost him (Otasowie) yesterday. We are trying to gather the right information now (because) we are getting different versions.The first version said that it was an assassination (while) the second version said that it was armed robbery, that he was inside a car and they shot him.He described the death of the professor as a huge loss to the university community, adding the deceased was a hardworking and dedicated staff.Osasuyi said, For now, the university cannot ascertain what has transpired. But we are sending delegates now to the house to meet with the family.We commiserate with the family and it is a big blow to the university. He was one of the persons who have ensured that work is done and done well.He, however, noted that the institution was concerned about the level of insecurity in the state.The vice-chancellor, Prof. Orunmwense is saddened with this development. We just wish that this insecurity in Edo State is looked into. Just recently, (Joseph) Osayomore was kidnapped.The level of insecurity now is becoming something else. The vice-chancellor commiserates with the family and the school is mourning, the spokesman added. Senator Shehu Sani has advised President Muhammadu Buhari to relinquish the Petroleum minister portfolio and appoint someone else to manage... Senator Shehu Sani has advised President Muhammadu Buhari to relinquish the Petroleum minister portfolio and appoint someone else to manage the nations oil industry. In a facebook post, Senator Sani representing Kaduna Central in the upper chamber of the National Assembly said President Buhari should disengage from being a petroleum minister. President Buhari should disengage from being a Petroleum Minister and appoint a substantive minister whom the nation can hold accountable to the happenings in the nation oil industry. The President position as a minister can drag him into issues in the oil sector of which he has limited time to attend to. A broom immersed in oil cannot sweep clean, he posted. Senator Sanis advice is coming on the heels of a disturbing memo written to the president by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, where he complained of being humiliated by the Group Managing Director of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Maikanti Baru. Kachikwu revealed that his working relationship with Baru has been fraught with humiliation, sidelining, and campaigns of character defamation against me. This is particularly frustrating given the many contributions I have made to the growth and stability of the Nigerian oil and gas industry through the many policies I have introduced since August 2015. If NNPC is considered and known to be one of the parastatals under the ministry, why does the GMD refuse to report to my office or to the board on serious issues such as above, especially given that I have been by Your Grace, the minister with oversight responsibilities over these parastatals for two years? Kachikwu queried. The minister further alleged that when he called for meetings, Baru would send his subordinates without the courtesy of a call to explain his absence. He said he had managed the bad perception created by Barus blatant insubordination and disrespectful attitude and had also worked hard to avoid being seen as petty and meddlesome. The minister alleged that Baru has created a fear culture in NNPC, against the open administration he had introduced with the presidents support in their first year of pushing reforms. NNPC staff are afraid of contacting me to avoid being punished, sidelined in appointments and targeted. Indeed, the key factor for growth and advancement in NNPC of today is to avoid the Minister of States Office, Kachikwu added. The President will today meet Minister of State for Petroleum Resources Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu. The President will today meet Minister of State for Petroleum Resources Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu.The minister has alleged that $25billion contracts have been wrongly awarded by Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Group Managing Director Dr. Maikanti Baru.Kachikwu wrote President Muhammadu Buhari on the bravado management style employed by Baru as a result of which he has sidelined the minister and the board of the NNPC on matters they should take decisions on.Baru remained silent on the allegations yesterday.The Senate also yesterday expressed shock at the allegations. After a debate on a motion on the matter, a panel of senators headed by Senator Aliyu Wammako, was raised to investigate the matter.The meeting between the President and the minister is expected to be on the issues raised in the August 30 memo.There were indications last night that the Presidency might probe the allegations against the GMD.Besides, it was not clear yesterday if Buhari got Kachikwus memo.A source, who pleaded not to be named because of the sensitivity of the matter, said: The President will have a fact-finding session with Kachikwu on some of the claims in his August 30 memo. The President and cabinet members were shocked by the issues raised by the minister.This audience is already in the schedule of the President today. Kachikwu will have the opportunity to explain what went wrong in the NNPC and the insubordination of the GMD.For instance, the issue of lack of access to the President and sidelining him are really strange. Buhari wants to go into the details.The source added: President Buhari does not condone indiscipline. There is a high probability that some of the allegations were not brought to his notice.The real questions are: Why did GMD Baru sideline his supervising Minister? How did Baru get approval for the contracts? Could he have misled the government with a cover-up memo? Did anybody or group take advantage of the Presidents medical trip?The Presidency may probe these allegations against Baru.If the issues are true, said the source, the President may take some drastic measures.The Presidency will certainly not spare the rod and the President is determined to get to the root of the $25billion contracts, the source said.A shocked government official said: It is evident that there are some moles in this government. They want to do everything to pull down this administration.After addressing the key issues, the government will also ask the appropriate agencies to probe the leakage.If the minister is culpable, he might be sanctioned for alleged violation of his oath of office and oath of allegiance. The days of moles in government are numbered. The attorney-general of the federation, Abubakar Malami, has said that Nigeria will not bring back Diezani Alison-Madueke to face corruptio... The attorney-general of the federation, Abubakar Malami, has said that Nigeria will not bring back Diezani Alison-Madueke to face corruption charges. The former minister of petroleum had urged the Federal High Court in Lagos to compel the AGF to bring her back to Nigeria from the UK but The Punch reports that Malami who is also the minister of justice said there was no need to. The minister who was speaking on Wednesday, October 4 said since the UK has opened investigations related to corruption on the former minister, it was better she faced the investigation there. He however said Nigeria would bring her back to the country if there was any need to. The truth of the matter is that steps have been taken by the United Kingdom authorities on issues bothering on corrupt practices involving Nigerians. If Nigeria feels strongly that there is need to bring Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke here to face charges of corruption, government will not hesitate to do that. As things are now, there is no need for that since the UK Government is already investigating her and government will not take any decision that will jeopardise what the UK Government is doing. He said it would be wrong for anyone to think the government was not doing enough in dealing with the issue of corruption. On whether Diezani would get a fair hearing in Nigeria, Malami said: Well, the issue is not about fair hearing now. We are talking about investigation first and is not within Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke powers to ask the Federal Government to bring her to testify in any case in Nigeria. Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke is facing charges of money laundering and acquisition of properties in United Kingdom. So, it is important to face the charges there than for her to come as a mere witness in a case in Nigeria. Fake checks are a huge tool for scammers. Sometimes, a scammer will post a fake job. When the new employee accepts the position, the phony boss will send a check to cover expenses for training or supplies. The employee is directed to deposit the check, then wire a certain amount to the employer's vendor. Several days later, the check bounces and the accountholder is on the hook for the money. Fake checks are similarly used in sweepstakes scams. The "winner" is mailed a check to cover taxes or other fees. After money is wired out to cover those costs, the check bounces, and again, the accountholder is out the cash. There are other schemes, too, and that's what made Donna D'Amato nervous. D'Amato serves as the treasurer for the Maplewood Committee for Servicemen and Servicewomen. The nonprofit, which sends gift cards to Maplewoodians serving on active military duty, received two unexpected donation checks. They were from a company called TRUiST, and they were for unusual amounts: $10.34 and $27.20. Along with the checks came information on how to register with TRUiST to learn more about the checks. It said a "Donor Recognition Report (DRR)" is available online, and to access it, D'Amato would have to create an account on its site. "Once your account has been created, you will have access to your organization's information at any time," the letter said. D'Amato was suspicious. Her organization had never received donations from the group before, and she didn't want to log in on an unknown website and give information about her or her charity. "I am hesitant to cash these, suspecting some sort of scam," she said. "I went on the internet and they have sites, but these could be bogus. I would have to register and don't wish to give any information to them without verifying their authenticity." We recommended she take the checks to Wells Fargo, the issuing bank, to see if it could verify the account on which the checks were written. A Wells manager did verify the checks, but D'Amato still worried, so she visited a second branch. Employees there advised her not to cash the checks, she said. "I also would not want to deposit the checks as that would necessitate adding our banking information to them," D'Amato said. "We have never gotten anything like this in the past and in light of the (Equifax) nonsense, I'm more cautious than ever." With ID theft and other scams to steal private information rampant, D'Amato was smart to be concerned. But in this case, she has nothing to worry about. TRUiST is a brand of FrontStream, a legitimate company that offers services to charities and companies that want to engage in charitable giving. It engineers many programs, including one that allows employees to donate to charities through payroll deduction. That's exactly where the checks for the Maplewood Committee for Servicemen and Servicewomen came from. After leaving several unanswered messages for the company's media contact, we got a little impatient, so we got our call into the hands of a customer service rep. A close look at the TRUiST checks received by the Maplewood Committee for Servicemen and Servicewomen. With the check number, the rep was able to explain everything. The donation checks were for real. The donor, we learned, is an employee of Macy's and makes regular donations through payroll deductions. The donor also requested to remain anonymous. As for the unusual amounts? That's because Macy's elected to have the 4 percent fee charged by TRUiST for its services deducted from the donated amount. Other companies may decide to pay the fees themselves, leaving the full amount donated to go to the charity. The TRUiST rep said it has a large list of nonprofits that comes from IRS databases, and employees of companies who offer charitable payroll deductions can choose their charity. That's how D'Amato's group ended up receiving the donation. So in this case, these checks were completely for real. But if you or your organization receives something fishy, do some homework before you make a deposit. First, think about why you received the check. If it has something to do with a promise of a job, an inheritance, a prize win or other unexpected cause, be wary. Try to learn what you can about the person or organization writing the check. If you're not sure, contact the bank on which the check was written. It should be able to confirm if the account is real and whether or not the account has enough funds to cover the check. If you decide to deposit the check, don't take out any of the money. Give it more than a few days. Give it at least a week. Or wait even longer. Make sure the check doesn't bounce, and remember that banks often release funds to you quickly, even if they haven't received the funds from the issuing bank. At least then, your only potential loss would be a bounced check fee instead of thousands of dollars. It's better to be safe than sorry, right? D'Amato said she's glad the checks were legit, and she gives her thanks to the anonymous donor. To make a donation or to learn more about the Maplewood Committee for Servicemen and Servicewomen, email maplewoodmilitary@yahoo.com or send a message to the group at Municipal Building, Maplewood, NJ 07040. Have you been Bamboozled? Reach Karin Price Mueller at Bamboozled@NJAdvanceMedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @KPMueller. Find Bamboozled on Facebook. Mueller is also the founder of NJMoneyHelp.com. Stay informed and sign up for NJMoneyHelp.com's weekly e-newsletter. Debasish "Deba" Dutta is Rutgers University's new chancellor for the New Brunswick campus. (Aristide Economopoulos | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) By Adam Clark | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com NEW BRUNSWICK Debasish Dutta thinks his answer might surprise you. When asked what the No. 1 problem facing Rutgers University is, Dutta the new chancellor at the New Brunswick campus, doesn't hesitate to respond. "The No. 1 problem," Dutta says from his office overlooking the Old Queens' lawn, "is how does Rutgers reflect itself accurately in all the national rankings?" Dutta, a veteran Big Ten college administrator, began his Rutgers tenure on July 1. He's making a $480,000 base salary to oversee the university's flagship campus with more than 50,000 students and 4,000 faculty, instantly becoming one of Rutgers most powerful administrators. Here are seven things we learned from an exclusive interview Dutta participated in with NJ Advance Media. Don't Edit 1. College rankings matter to him College rankings, the lists administrators often dismiss as meaningless when they are unflattering, have become increasingly more visible and important, Dutta said. Students look at the rankings, as do their parents, and everybody wants to go to a school ranked No. 1, he said. "I'm not one who is going to complain about the rankings just because I didn't fare well," Dutta said while also acknowledging that college ranking methodologies are in no way foolproof. "Just denying them is not going to get you anywhere." Improving Rutgers' standing in those rankings will be Dutta's top priority, he said. "I want Rutgers to be recognized for what it is," Dutta said. "As of now it's not. It is punching way below its weight. That is not acceptable." Don't Edit 2. He doesn't like the term "RU Screw" Rutgers students have long complained about the "RU Screw," an expression used to describe ways their university is seemingly making life more difficult for them. Dutta doesn't want to hear it, he said. "I don't like that terminology," he said. "I want us to move to a different framing of the Rutgers experience." Over time, he hopes a new positive, pithy phrase will emerge, he said. Don't Edit 3. He's not worried about "liberal" professors A Pew Research Center poll this summer found that 58 percent of Republicans and conservative-leaning independents say colleges and universities have a negative impact on the country. Dutta isn't concerned by those findings or criticism among conservatives that college professors indoctrinate students with liberal ideals, he said. "I think it's a very small group of people who might be saying that in the current complex political environment," Dutta said. "I think the college professor or college administrator comes in all stripes and what they do in the classroom is educate the next generation based on the knowledge that they have acquired from their scholarship as well as the real world." College students grow from hearing different viewpoints, he added. "I don't think we are making liberals out of our new students anymore than we are making conservatives," Dutta said. Don't Edit 4. He won't make any promises about tuition Drew University, one of New Jersey's most expensive colleges, slashed tuition by 20 percent for 2018-19, following a "tuition reset" tactic used by other private universities. Purdue University, the public institution where Dutta worked before coming to Rutgers, has been under a tuition freeze since 2013. Will Rutgers ever be able to freeze or reduce tuition? "What we can do in the future, and how far in the future, I cannot predict," Dutta said. However, he does want to look for ways to reduce administrative costs and will be watching any tuition increases approved by the university Board of Governors closely, he said. "I don't take it lightly," Dutta said. Don't Edit Don't Edit 5. Rutgers' athletic spending isn't a problem for him Critics have ripped Rutgers for its spending on athletics, particularly the football program. But Dutta doesn't think an investment in athletics hurts academics, he said. "It adds a lot to the student experience. It adds a lot of the faculty pride, alumni pride," he said. "It's an ecosystem. You cannot just take one piece and say you are spending too much." Dutta predicts Rutgers struggling Big Ten teams will eventually perform well, he said. Don't Edit 6. He thinks memes about him are a good thing It didn't take long for Dutta to become the topic of student-created memes, humorous images shared on social media. One recent creation features Dutta's face photo-shopped onto a character from the popular TV show "The Walking Dead" with the title name changed to "The Walking Deb." If having fun at the chancellor's expense is a way students express their creativity, Dutta is "all for it," he said. "It's a good thing if the students get a chance to say whatever is on their mind about me, good or bad," Dutta said. Don't Edit 7. He hasn't had a Fat Sandwich... yet. When Dutta moved to New Jersey he made a promise to his wife, who has yet to relocate from Illinois, he said. Dutta vowed not to try a fat sandwich, the iconic Rutgers meal, until she can join him. "The Fat Sandwich thing is going to happen," he said. "But we'll do it together." Don't Edit Read more about Rutgers 10 construction projects changing the face of Rutgers 20 famous Rutgers graduates 10 mega-gifts to Rutgers Don't Edit Adam Clark may be reached at adam_clark@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on twitter at @realAdamClark. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Don't Edit CAPE MAY -- Looking at a monarch butterfly, it's hard to imagine an insect with a four-inch wingspan flying all the way across Delaware Bay. But every year, to the delight of New Jersey butterfly lovers, thousands do just that. According to Mark Garland, the director of the Monarch Monitoring Project at New Jersey Audubon's Cape May Bird Observatory, this has been an above-average year in terms of the numbers of monarchs spotted in Cape May. Migration season for the insects began a few weeks ago and will continue through the end of October, or the first severe freeze, according to Garland. "They have no ability to withstand the winter in any of their life forms," Garland said. People hoping to see the monarch migration should visit along the shore of Cape May Point -- try Cape May Point State Park, on a day when the wind is blowing from the north or northwest. The butterflies will tend to land in the dunes, where they eat their fill of nectar from the seaside goldenrod plants, according to Garland. Like airplanes lining up on an airport taxiway, the monarchs rest in Cape May and wait for the right winds to stir before attempting to fly across Delaware Bay. In the spring, the butterflies will leave the tropics and head north in search of milkweed, a genus of plants that create a milky sap which, according to Garland, is the only thing that monarch caterpillars eat. It takes the insects about a month to grow from egg to adult, and then the adult butterflies will live up to eight weeks. This means that several generations of monarchs will live and die during the summer, so the butterflies that fly north in the spring are not the same ones that fly south in the fall. The cool weather will drive the butterflies back south, where they will spend the winter months formant in the high mountain forests of Mexico before starting the whole cycle again in the spring. The Monarch Monitoring Project is in its 26th year of censusing the migrating butterflies, according to Garland. The program tags butterflies in Cape May in order to study their migration patterns. Garland estimates that about 70 of the butterflies tagged by the project have been tracked all the way to Mexico. One even made it from Cape May to central Georgia in just three days. Monarch butterflies have suffered a significant decline in population, and no one is quite sure why. Garland, and many conservationists, believe that a decline in milkweed on farms in the central U.S. due to herbicide use has essentially starved the species. Scientists, however, have so far been unable to prove that the loss is milkweed is driving the monarch's decline. According to the Center for Biological Diversity, the monarch population was estimated at 150 million butterflies in 2016. That's a rebound from the low point of 25 million in 2014, but a far cry from the peak population of 682 million in 1997. Michael Sol Warren may be reached at mwarren@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MSolDub. Find NJ.com on Facebook. If you're a parent of a child in grade school, you're likely familiar with the ordeal: You wrestle your child into a chair to finish his or her homework -- a bevy of assignments that are sometimes frustrating and occasionally incomprehensible. After an hour (or two, or three) of negotiation, occasional tears and shouting, everyone is exhausted. And you're left wondering: Is all this homework really necessary? For an increasing number of educators in New Jersey and nationwide, the answer is no. In recent years, Woodbridge Township, Princeton and West Windsor-Plainsboro school districts have experimented by either doing away with traditional homework or opting for "homework-free" days or weekends. The "no homework" movement is proving especially popular with parents (and -- perhaps not surprisingly -- young students), who see it as an opportunity for children to spend more time with family or pursue their own passions. Experts say the movement is growing, even as conventional thinking still holds that homework is a good way for young students to establish an academic routine, and concerns remain about the ability of American children to compete globally. Of course, who wouldn't like more recess and less homework? Though no local studies have tracked the trend, New Jersey public schools have placed restrictions on homework since at least 2013, when students and parents reacted favorably to limits on homework in the Hopewell Valley School District. The district later extended the policy, setting specific time restrictions, like one that disallowed third graders from doing more than 30 minutes of assignments. In 2015, Princeton schools began periodically implementing homework-free weekends, following the lead of West Windsor-Plainsboro schools (which began offering some homework-free nights in 2014). And last year, Robert Mascenik School #26 in Woodbridge Township deemphasized traditional homework in favor of reading. Administrators said children should spend the time playing and interacting with their families. So did Port Reading School #9, another elementary school in the same district. In 2016, the no-homework movement went viral when Brandy Young, a second-grade teacher in Godley, Texas, sent a note to parents letting them know she wouldn't be giving any homework. Young explained that research didn't bear out the benefit of homework for young students, saying it was more important for them to play and get to bed early. I Kissed Homework Goodbye: Interview with Brandy Young, the No Homework Teacher from Texas... https://t.co/iZSxLp9JjE pic.twitter.com/xf8qfYmEhS -- hamish_edtech (@hamish_edtech) September 13, 2016 Parents are celebrating no-homework policies as a kind of forward-thinking approach to early education. Consider Jennifer Rittner, who felt that her son Theo's kindergarten homework was so unnecessary and detrimental that she was willing to put him in private school. "I can't draw, I can't do math, I can't read," he would say. Rittner, who lives in Montclair, placed part of the blame on the "depressing" worksheets that followed Theo home after school. When first grade rolled around, he left for a private school -- the Montclair Cooperative School. There, students kept nightly journals where they could log whatever they wanted to read. Later, they were assigned "ownwork," for which they performed and logged a weekly "self-initiated task." For Theo, now 7, that could mean playing darts or making a paper airplane. Jennifer Rittner of Montclair looks at a graphic novel with her son Theo, 7. Partly because of the worksheets a teacher sent home in kindergarten, she moved him to a progressive school for first grade. (Amy Kuperinsky | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) "The work that we do with children needs to be productive, not just kill time," says Amanda Marchesani, Theo's former teacher at the school. She reconsidered her approach to homework after hearing Alfie Kohn, a scholar of progressive education known for his views on reward-based learning (no gold stars, please) and grading (it shouldn't exist), speak at a conference. Does that mean teachers who see homework as indispensable -- even at a young age -- are wrong? In 2006, Harris Cooper, a psychology professor at Duke University, published an analysis of research conducted between 1987 and 2003, finding that even a little bit of homework could have a positive influence. But the association held strongest in grades seven to 12; younger students did not demonstrate the same benefit. Theo says he liked his new teacher's version of homework, called 'ownwork,' simply because it was 'fun.' (Amy Kuperinsky | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) Homework, he wrote, could trigger loss of interest in a subject or make students see school in a negative light. Despite this, he advised teachers to put stock in the "10-minute rule," the notion -- endorsed by the PTA and National Education Association -- that 10 minutes of homework should be added per grade level, starting with 10 in first grade and topping out at two hours in 12th. So are worksheets like the ones assigned to Theo in kindergarten really going to help students get into Harvard one day? Rittner thinks the push to start so young is reflective of parental neurosis. "I think it's generalized social anxiety that children in our country are falling behind children in other countries," says Rittner, who teaches social justice and design for graduate students at the School of Visual Arts in New York. Still, many educators believe that young children should do homework to foster a love of learning, says Kedra Gamble. "Homework when done well is a wonderful place to do that," says Gamble, assistant professor at Rutgers University Graduate School of Education in New Brunswick. She adds, "The function of school is very different than it was 20, 30 years ago. You can get content from everywhere. Now we're teaching them to think, to posit questions, to conduct research, to solve problems." Steven Isaacs teaches a game design class at William Annin Middle School in Basking Ridge where he asks students to design their own games in the context of Minecraft, covering topics such as narrative and coding. A former special education teacher, he was never a fan of homework. Why? It changes the focus of school, he says. Steven Isaacs teaches game design at William Annin Middle School in Basking Ridge and was never a fan of giving homework. 'It's not about the learning, it's about the finishing the homework, and that really bothers me,' Isaacs says. (Stuart Ramson for Microsoft) "It's not about the learning, it's about the finishing the homework, and that really bothers me," Isaacs says. He frames his class as a "studio" where students pick passion projects. "When a kid has agency and is excited about something, there's a good chance when they come home they're going to continue working on that," Isaacs says. But in the face of school benchmarks, creative freedom isn't always a possibility. Not all districts have the resources of the Bernards Township School District, and priorities can be different in a disadvantaged school. Moreover, in high school, hours of homework remain a necessary part of life as students move towards college. For those hoping to get into a top school, this can mean a fiercely competitive admissions process. If relieved of homework in subjects like math, history and English, would students become less desirable candidates for the academic rigor that awaits? Well, no. But yes, too. Ashley Kollme is a college counselor for IvyWise, a New York college planning company that ministers to New Jersey students whose parents plunk down thousands of dollars for tutoring and advising -- in effect, giving them more homework. Following a full slate of extracurriculars that creeps into early evening, students come home to so much work that they end up sacrificing sleep, she says. "Something has to give," Kollme says. "There are only 24 hours in a day." An oppressive amount of homework doesn't necessarily mean better college preparedness, she says. "Colleges are not focused so much on just the numbers -- what are your test scores and what are your grades," Kollme says. The broader question: "Do you have a love of learning?" Amy Kuperinsky may be reached at akuperinsky@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @AmyKup or on Facebook. NEWARK -- At a recent City Council meeting, a short, wiry woman approached the podium with her four young children. Yanira Cortes told the council her daughter had a question for city leaders. "Why do my mom and my brothers and sisters have to live in an apartment with rats?" the little girl asked, stretching on her tippy toes to reach the microphone. For years, Cortes said she's lived with her children in a leaking, rat- and cockroach-infested apartment and has been battling her landlord to fix the uninhabitable conditions. Cortes filed a class-action lawsuit against Pueblo City Housing Company, which that owns the federally subsidized building, alleging a host of health and safety violations and the landlord's failure to fix them. "1 a.m., 4 a.m. my children run into my bedroom and tell me, 'Mommy, there's a rat running in my room.' 3:45 a.m., on a school night," Cortes said during the September meeting. "How can I provide them a good education when they have to worry about rats?" The lawsuit filed last month alleges, among other things: Uneven floors that lead to cracked floor tiles Windows that do not latch properly Leaks in the living room and bathroom Improper security allowing illicit drug use in the area Rat and cockroach infestations A woman who answered the phone last week at the offices of Virginia-based Realty Management Associates, which manages Pueblo City Housing, said she could not comment on the allegations because the company had not been served with the suit. She declined to give her name but said she was a company employee. Cortes and her attorney declined to comment on the lawsuit. "It's a positive move as far as quality of life, sustaining housing for everyone," said Felicia Alston-Singleton, the city's Fair Housing Officer, who has worked with Cortes to fight for better living conditions. "It's going to inspire a lot of people to raise the bar on their standards. She is brave and courageous to step out there. Everyone knows that these (landlords) are notorious, their behavior is so egregious, they are over the top." The 20-unit building on 86 Brunswick St. at the center of the suit receives federal subsidies so low-income residents can afford to live there. Tenants pay about 30 percent of rent and the U.S. Housing and Urban Development Department (HUD) pays the landlord the rest of the unit's fair market price. The building has been cited in multiple inspections by the Bureau of Housing Inspection for unhealthy living conditions, infestations and hazardous violations, the lawsuit said. The Real Estate Assessment Center, which inspects properties on a scale of 1-100, gave the building a score of 10. A passing score is 60. The class-action suit extends to those who have lived in the building in the last six years. The suit is asking a judge to grant rent abatements and place the property in receivership which would appoint a receiver to oversee rehabilitation and rents. 'I've never seen anything like it' Sen. Jennifer Beck, R-Monmouth, who is spearheading efforts to overhaul housing conditions for low-income families, described Cortes' apartment as "beyond deplorable." "I've neer seen anything like it ... literally the kids stomp their feet before they go into the kitchen" to scatter the rats, she said. "There is a systemic failure of this landlord to propertly care for these units." Beck, together with Sen. Ronald Rice, D-Essex, have proposed the Safe Sanitary Subsidized Rental Housing Bill of Rights that would hold landlords accountable for poor housing conditions by withholding federal subsidies until such repairs are made. It also improves coordination between federal, state and local agencies to ensure properties are being routinely inspected and tenants are protected. Beck cited the investigation by The Asbury Park Press that found HUD continued to pay rental subsidies to landlords despite deplorable living conditions and failed inspections. "It should be a shot across the bow to all those bad actors and slumlords that have been taking advantage of our families for decades to know that we're coming for them," Beck said. "And give families hope and strength that they can speak out and see results and see change." Wayne and Denise Fox, lead executives at Realty Management Associates, also operated Aspen Stratford Apartments at 2 Stratford Place. Mayor Ras Baraka condemned the building in 2015, citing ongoing problems at the property that stretched on for decades. But it took months to transition residents to new homes and secure housing vouchers for them. Wayne Fox also sued the Baraka administration, claiming his company was being blamed for conditions in the building caused by crime and other social ills in the area. The case was settled and dismissed in 2016. The Foxes own at least 18 other properties in the city, housing advocates said. Alston-Singleton said better city and federal coordination would have prevented the well-intentioned effort from taking so long to help residents and could have prevented the low-income building's closure. "We need to start at the federal level and each government agency should be responsible," she said. Karen Yi may be reached at kyi@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at @karen_yi or on Facebook. NEWARK -- Troopers rescued a German Shepherd from along a busy stretch of Interstate 280 in Newark and found another dog dead in the area Thursday, New Jersey State Police said. Totowa Station troopers first received a call of two dogs in the shoulder of the highway and found the German Shepherd lying next to a deceased pit bull, according to a statement on the State Police Facebook page. "With no owner in sight, [troopers] knew they had to get the Shepherd off the highway, but she did not want to leave the other dog's side," the statement said. "They eventually were able to get her out of harm's way and into the back of a troop car." Neither of the dogs had collars and troopers brought the German Shepherd back to the station. "They gave her water and maybe, just maybe, played a quick game of fetch," State Police wrote in the post. "Exactly how the dogs ended up on the side of the highway remains under investigation. We are deeply saddened by the passing of the other dog, but we're elated that we were able to rescue the Shepherd," the post said. Police contacted a local shelter to take the Shepherd. Posted by New Jersey State Police on Thursday, October 5, 2017 Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahyc and on Facebook. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips JERSEY CITY -- Alison Jackson was disappointed. Jackson, 42, was at the Landmark Loew's Jersey Theater on a recent Saturday morning to ask candidates seeking the Ward C City Council seat about their plans to make Jersey City more affordable. A student advisor at a New York City university who lives on Tonnelle Avenue, Jackson said the prices at many of the new developments in Journal Square would force her to shell out more than 50 percent of her income on rent. After hearing from the council hopefuls, she told The Jersey Journal their answers showed they do not understand the enormity of the affordability problem facing the city and don't seem to have plans to address it. "I understand they're politicians and can't commit to anything. I know they need to make comprises, yada yada," she said. "But I was a little disappointed that they couldn't give me a concrete answer on what's happening right now, because that told me they're not fully familiar with what the current situation is." With about a month until Jersey City voter heads to the polls in the quadrennial mayoral and council races, affordable housing has emerged as one of the major issues on voters' minds, with candidates saying they hear from residents citywide who are anxious about rising rents and property taxes. Voters tell The Jersey Journal the same. Ada Vazquez, who is native to Jersey City, also lives near Journal Square, where one tower of luxury apartments opened in March and eight more are planned. Vazquez -- a renter, like about 70 percent of the city's population -- said the towers cater to affluent transplants from across the Hudson River and they threaten to push longtime residents out. "It's out with the old and in with the new," Vazquez said. "And the 'new' is New York City." RENTS ON THE RISE Data from real-estate sites Zillow and Trulia show rents in Jersey City rising over the last three years even as rents county- and statewide have dipped. Trulia says median rent for one-bedroom apartments in the city's four largest zip codes rose from $1,395 in October 2014, the earliest month for which data is available, to $1,590 in September 2017. Countywide rent dipped from $2,285 to $2,000 in roughly the same period, while rent statewide dropped from $1,900 to $1,850. Zillow, which has data on most of Downtown Jersey City and a portion of the Heights, shows median rents rising in those areas from $1,742 to $2,000 since 2014. Attorney Bill Matsikoudis says he has a plan to help. Matsikoudis, 46, is the former city corporation counsel who is challenging Mayor Steve Fulop's bid for a second term on Nov. 7, when the mayoralty and all nine council seats are up for grabs. Matsikoudis won cheers from a crowd gathered at New Jersey City University on Monday when he decried the escalating cost of living in Jersey City. "It's out of control," Matsikoudis said. "I'm hearing about people that are getting pushed out of Jersey City, who've had to move from Downtown to the Heights or from McGinley Square to Greenville and the next step is out of Jersey City." Matsikoudis, who over the summer issued an 18-page policy paper devoted to affordable housing, said on Monday that if elected mayor he would require for at least one year that all redevelopment plans require affordable housing, on- and off-site; revise local rent control laws to make them apply to buildings with fewer than five units; and open a city office of affordable housing that would connect residents with vacant units. "Right now there's no door to knock on, there's no phone number to call," Matsikoudis said on Monday. "If you need help finding affordable housing, well, it's up to you to figure it out. Well, we're going to change that." FULOP'S PLAN Fulop, 40, has made affordable housing a cornerstone of his campaign for a second term and has slammed Matsikoudis' promises to implement changes, saying the attorney's "track record says otherwise." Both men are Democrats. The Nov. 7 municipal race is nonpartisan. Between 2015 and 2017, the city approved tax breaks for four Downtown residential towers in exchange for the developers agreeing to construct a total of 290 units set aside as affordable housing (two of the towers received $80 million total in state tax credits first). Fulop said last week he does not envision any more Downtown abatements for plans without affordable housing. In the last six months the City Council has pushed a number of initiatives council members say are intended to make housing cheaper, particularly in upscale Downtown neighborhoods, where rents in some new luxury buildings exceed $5,000 a month. One of those measures, which would have required 20 percent affordable housing in any Downtown building that receives a tax abatement, stalled after developers cried foul. Fulop acknowledges the feeling among voters that Jersey City is becoming more unaffordable and he argues that his administration has spent four years "making up for lost time." Speaking at NJCU on Monday after Matsikoudis, Fulop, made a pitch for his re-election. "The job isn't done and I'm committed to finishing what I started," he said. "To get the city what has been neglected for a long time is still my primary objective. Fulop says that in the years prior to him taking office "there was zero plan in place" to make housing more affordable for residents, and on the campaign trail he has repeated a claim that his administration has built more affordable housing in the last four years than in the last 10 years combined. That's a direct shot at Matsikoudis, who was the city's corporation counsel under Fulop predecessor Jerramiah Healy from 2004 to 2013. City spokeswoman Jennifer Morrill provided a spreadsheet compiled by a city worker showing the Fulop administration from 2013 to 2017 has overseen construction or approval of 1,444 affordable units, versus 1,298 constructed from 2005 to 2013. The Fulop administration's tally drops to 792 when only units completed or under construction are included. When only units completely built are included, the number of affordable units is 173. In an email, Fulop accused The Jersey Journal of attempting unfairly to "cherry pick" the data by separating completed units from those approved or under construction. Some of those units, like the 85 affordable apartments at VYV, a new tower on the old Pep Boys site, are nearly complete, he noted. Fulop has said affordable housing "has been an essential part of my administration's vision for a growing Jersey City since day one," and he included the issue among seven accomplishments he touted in his first television commercial of the campaign. Released last month, it includes a shot of Fulop sitting on a rooftop terrace and proclaiming that his administration has delivered "housing you can afford." The terrace is on the roof of a condo building on Webster Avenue in the Jersey City Heights. Tax records show the last unit sold in November 2015 for $445,000. Asked about this, Fulop said he did not intend for the commercial to imply that specific building includes affordable housing. "I was on the roof of a friend's apartment in order to make filming easy," he said. Terrence T. McDonald may be reached at tmcdonald@jjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @terrencemcd. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook. JERSEY CITY -- A Jersey City man pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter today and admitted covering his girlfriend's nose and mouth with his hands and suffocating her during an argument in the Heights in April. Miguel Angel Cabrera Romero, 56, was charged with murder after the body of Albenelis Vidal De Larosa, 51, of Bergen Avenue, was found wrapped in blankets in front of 79-89 Reservoir Ave. on April 29. The location is across the street from Cabrera Romero's home. Under the plea deal laid out by Hudson County Assistant Prosecutor Leo Hernandez in court today, the state will recommend Cabrera Romero be sentenced to 30 years in prison with no chance of parole until after serving more than 25 years. When Hudson County Superior Court Judge Patrick Arre asked Cabrera Romero why he was pleading guilty today, Romero said "I committed the crime," through a Spanish translator. Cabrera Romero is not a United States citizen and Arre told him he will be deported after serving his sentence. He displayed no emotion while admitting killing De Larosa and how he did it. While placing a factual basis for the plea on the record, Cabrera Romero's attorney asked him if his actions displayed "an extreme indifference to the value of human life?" Cabrera Romero answered "Yes." The killer was arrested a day after the homicide and has remained in custody at the Hudson County jail in Kearny since then. He will be sentenced by Arre on Jan. 12 in the Hudson County Administration Building in Jersey City. Family members of the victim in court today chose not to comment on the guilty plea. Cabrera Romero would have faced 30 years to life in prison if convicted of murder at trial. UNION CITY -- Three police officers were struck by a hit-and-run motorcyclist in Union City Wednesday night as they worked at an earlier fatal accident scene, reports said. The officers were at the scene where a 16-year-old bicyclist was fatally struck by a garbage truck when two motorcycles hit the officers near Palisades Avenue and 31th Street, according to reports from CBS-2 and NBC New York. One officer was listed in critical condition, NBC New York reported. One motorcyclist was hospitalized while the other fled, CBS-2 said. "Please pray for all the officers injured in Union City incident tonight. Officers have been taken to area hospitals," the New Jersey State Policemen's Benevolent Association said on Twitter. Witnesses told WABC the teen bicyclist was struck a garbage truck. Union City and Hudson County authorities did not immediately provide more details on the incident. A spokesman for the Hudson County Sheriff's Office did not immediately return calls for comment. Video on Instagram showed police vehicles from area departments at the scene. #BREAKING: witnesses say at least 1 motorcyclist drove thru crime scene in #UnionCity & struck several officers. @CBSNewYork pic.twitter.com/adNirqEAaM Andrea Grymes (@AndreaGrymesTV) October 5, 2017 UNION CITY - Sean Lemus was the kid who made going to school enjoyable. The 16-year-old cracked jokes in class to lighten the mood and was expert at making his fellow Union City High School classmates smile, students said. Sean's life was cut short on Wednesday night, when the bicycle he was riding collided with the back of a city garbage truck near Palisade Avenue and 31st Street, authorities said. He died from his injuries. Students at the Kennedy Boulevard high school said they felt the sadness in the hallways and classrooms throughout the day. "The class today without him was really upsetting," said Myleen, a junior. Myleen met the teen this summer through a friend who was in a relationship with Sean. She called him a "caring and happy person." School officials said Sean was an officer with the school's HOSA organization, an international group for students considering a career in health care. Another student, Victor, said many students did not attend class today, meeting with crisis counselors at the school instead. "As we are challenged with these unprecedented tragedies that impact our educational community, we also grow stronger as a family and always provide the necessary resources to those affected," a statement from the school read. The district is expected to hold a fundraiser next week for Sean's family. Authorities continue to investigate the crash that killed Sean. In the aftermath of the crash, they say, two motorcycles plowed through the scene, injuring three police officers. One motorcyclist fled the scene and the second was brought to a hospital for treatment. The drivers' identities have not been released. One was expected in court this afternoon and the other, sources say, has been apprehended. A memorial has been growing at the intersection where Sean died, with pink and blue balloons tied to a fence above Route 495. Candles have been placed on the sidewalk alongside handwritten notes on loose-leaf paper. "You left me too soon," reads a message written on a blue star-shaped balloon. Another, written on a pink balloon, reads, "Sean. The best brother ever, I swear you left me. That it will you be you and I forever our promises we made. I thank you for everything that you have done for me. I love you so much." A memorial service will be held Thursday night at Elim Church -- located at 2715 Palisade Ave. in Union City -- beginning at 8 p.m. Sean is at least the second Union City High School student to be killed during a traffic incident in less than two years. In 2016, 17-year-old Bryan Rodriguez was fatally struck while walking on the sidewalk by a driver who authorities say was driving 74 mph and jumped the curb. Caitlin Mota may be reached at cmota@jjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter @caitlin_mota. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook. UNION CITY -- Three Union City police officers remain hospitalized Thursday after they were struck by a motorcyclist who plowed through an investigation of a fatal crash that left a 16-year-old high school student dead, officials said. The Union City High School student was pronounced dead at the scene after his bike collided with the back of a city garbage truck at Palisade Avenue and 31 Street, Mayor Brian Stack said. The student was identified as 16-year-old Sean Lemus by school officials. Police officers stopped traffic for blocks in each direction to investigate the 8 p.m. crash investigation, said Stack, who joined officers at the scene. Suddenly, he heard engines revving in the distance and two motorcyclists raced toward the intersection at a high rate of speed, Stack said. One of the motorcycles struck three officers, sending them flying into the air, before the bike slammed into garbage truck involved in the initial crash investigation, Stack said. The other motorcyclist fled at speeds Stack estimated at 100 mph. It remains unclear if that motorcyclist has been captured. "I couldn't believe this happened," said Stack, who was just feet from the officer when they were hit. "There was no way a car could get through. The only thing that could have gotten through was a motorcycle." Capt. Joseph Botti, Lt. Michael Bergbauer, and Officer Nick Alverez were injured by the motorcycle crash and taken to local hospitals. Their conditions were not immediately available Thursday. The New Jersey State Policemen's Benevolent Association wrote on Twitter late Wednesday that the officers had been taken to area hospitals. Authorities say they are expected to survive. The PBA asked people to "please pray for all the officers injured." The motorcyclist who struck the officers was taken into custody and faces multiple charges, though the rider's name has not been released, Stack said. The cause of the initial crash involving the 16-year-old on the bicycle remains under investigation, Stack said. The Union City garbage truck was making routine rounds for bulk pickup items when the teen collided with the truck and was pinned underneath, he said. Grief counselors are being made available at Union City High School on Thursday for students. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Steve Strunsky may be reached at sstrunsky@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @SteveStrunsky. Find NJ.com on Facebook." MERCER COUNTY - Burger and taco fans will soon have Shake Shack and Surf Taco to choose from in Mercer County in the future. Surf Taco, a popular Jersey Shore "Surf Mex" restaurant, will continue its march inland this fall with a new shop in the Princeton Shopping Center, in Princeton. The taco company opened a location in Hoboken last week, and at Rutgers University last year. The other 10 locations are in Monmouth and Ocean counties. Coming Soon... Surf Taco Princeton. Princeton Shopping Center. 301 N. Harrison Street. Fall '17. Posted by Surf Taco on Thursday, August 31, 2017 Shake Shack, which started as a food cart in lower Manhattan and now has well over 100 locations globally, was approved to open on Route 1 in Lawrence. Community News reports the chain wants to demolish a furniture store on Brunswick Pike and build a 3,622 square-foot restaurant. The town's planning board approved the development in August. The chain has not said when the Lawrence location might start serving burgers and fries - and ice cream shakes. A teriyaki chicken taco at the first Surf Taco in Point Pleasant Beach in this file photo. Paige Gross may be reached at pgross@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @By_paigegross. Find NJ.com on Facebook. TRENTON -- The state Supreme Court has ruled that a class action against Carrabba's Italian Grill can proceed, while sinking a similar class-action lawsuit accusing TGI Fridays of price gauging customers. Patrons of the restaurant chains alleged the establishments failed to post beverage prices and that they were charged one price for their first drink and a different price for their second without notice. A patron at a Mount Laurel TGI Fridays location, Debra Dugan, claimed she was charged $2 for a beer at the restaurant's bar before she was seated and $3.59 for a second beer at her table. Patron Ernest Bozzi claimed he was charged two different prices for beers at a Carrabba's Italian Grill in Maple Shade without any notice of a happy hour. Both attempted to mount class-action lawsuits against the restaurants' parent companies. The court heard arguments in April over whether failing to list prices is grounds for a class-action lawsuit under the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act and the Truth in Consumer Contract, Warranty and Notice Act. The justices split 5-1, with Justice Barry Albin dissenting. In the TGI Fridays case, the court decertified the class, reversing the lower court and finding that Dugan's counsel failed to prove there were issues common to the members of the class. The trial court had broadly certified the class as anyone to visited a New Jersey TGI Fridays between 2004 and 2014 and purchased a beverage when the price was not disclosed. Dugan's attorney had argued the company conducted an internal study that found patrons spent $1.72 less per visit when drink prices were in writing and thus paid more than they would have if prices had been listed on the menu. "Individual plaintiffs may be able to establish ascertainable loss and causation by showing that they would not have purchased the beverages or would have spent less money on them had they been informed of their cost," Justice Anne Patterson wrote, adding they had not established those damages as a class. Dugan's case can proceed as an individual. In the second case, Bozzi accused Carrabba's parent company OSI Restaurant Partners of "intentionally misleading customers through stealth price adjustments." Patterson said Bozzi focused more narrowly on customers who "were charged different prices for beverages of the same brand, type, and volume." "There are common questions of fact relating to OSI's pricing practices and at least one common question of law -- whether increasing the price of a beverage during a customer's restaurant visit without informing the customer constitutes an unlawful practice," she wrote. In his dissent, Albin said Wednesday's ruling "steepens the path to justice for consumers with small claims." "The decision will make it more difficult for a class of many thousands of defrauded consumers to act collectively in pursuit of a common remedy against a corporate wrongdoer," he wrote. Donald Doherty, Bozzi's attorney, agreed the court erred in rejecting Dugan's class-action, saying Fridays won on a technicality. "I think the ruling is incorrect. My case was always much simpler because two different prices is two different prices. That's just wrong. You don't need to be a rocket scientist to figure that out," he said. "But big business don't always act like used car dealers where they're easy to catch." Samantha Marcus may be reached at smarcus@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @samanthamarcus. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook. TRENTON -- Some of the biggest names in the national Democratic Party are headed to New Jersey to campaign for Democrat Phil Murphy in the final few weeks before voters pick who will succeed Chris Christie as governor. The list includes former vice presidents Joe Biden and Al Gore, former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, and current Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez. But it does not include a planned appearance by former President Barack Obama. Murphy's campaign said last month that Obama would host an event sometime this fall for Murphy, who served as U.S. ambassador to Germany under Obama from 2009 to 2013. But details are still not available, said Daniel Bryan, a spokesman for the campaign. The upcoming visits over the final five weeks before Murphy faces Republican Kim Guadagno and five third-party or independent candidates in the Nov. 7 election to succeed Christie, a Republican who is prohibited by law from seeking a third consecutive term as governor. Murphy said in a statement Thursday that he is "humbled to see the outpouring of support" that his campaign has received from Democrats. "We are working nonstop to bring our plans to spark New Jersey's economy and make it fair again to as many voters as possible," he added. New Jersey is one of only two states to host a governor's race this year, along with Virginia. The most recent poll showed Murphy, a former Goldman Sachs banking executive, leading Guadagno, Christie's lieutenant governor, by 14 percentage points. The list also includes Cory Booker, one of New Jersey's U.S. senators; U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Lujan of New Mexico, the chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee; Khizr Khan, the Gold Star father who feuded with Donald Trump on the presidential campaign trail last year; and former U.S. Rep. Gabby Giffords and her husband, astronaut Mark Kelly, a West Orange native. Biden campaigned for Murphy at a rally in Lyndhurst in May during the Democratic primary. The tentative dates released by Murphy's campaign are: Oct. 9: DNC Chairman Tom Perez Oct. 10: U.S. Sen. Cory Booker Oct. 11: Former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry Oct. 12: Former Vice President Joe Biden Oct. 15: Former Vice President Al Gore Oct. 22: U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Lujan, the DCCC chairman Oct. 23: Former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder Oct. 26: Khizr Khan Nov. 2: Former U.S. Rep. Gabby Giffords and Mark Kelly Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @johnsb01. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook. TRENTON -- A group of veteran Democratic state lawmakers said Wednesday they will unveil legislation that would ban the sale and possession in New Jersey of a gun accessory that the shooter in the recent Las Vegas massacre used to help make his weapons fire bullets at a more rapid pace. The bill would institute an outright prohibition on "bump stocks," which can be affixed to rifles to mimic automatic fire. The accessories have become a flashpoint in the renewed debate over gun control in the days after Sunday's attack at an outdoor country music festival, which left 58 people dead and more than 500 wounded. It was the deadliest mass shooting in modern American history. State Sens. Raymond Lesniak and Richard Codey and Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg said they would introduce the measure at Thursday's Senate voting session in Trenton. Lesniak, D-Union, the prime sponsor of the bill, said the shooter's "firepower was dramatically increased" by these devices, essentially turning his guns into "automatic rifles." Weinberg, D-Bergen, said there is "no legitimate use for these devices other than to increase the killing power of the weapons they are designed for." "No single law can prevent all the gun violence, but we need to use the tragic lessons of these cases to make our communities safer," she added. The lawmakers' announcement came the same day that Democrats in Congress introduced a bill that would institute a federal ban on bump stocks. But it also came hours after Gov. Chris Christie, a Republican who may decide the New Jersey bill's fate, doubled down on his stance that more gun laws are not needed after the Las Vegas attack. Christie said only a complete ban on all weapons could have kept the massacre from happening because the shooter, Stephen Paddock, had no history of mental illness, no criminal past, and had passed background checks. "It's an awful tragedy," Christie said at an unrelated news conference in Toms River. "I'm not taking it lightly." "But, on the other hand, I'm not going to be one of these Pollyanna politicians who runs to the microphone the first time a tragedy happens and tries to take political advantage over it by suggesting a solution that's not a solution," the governor said. Paddock, 64, opened fire into the crowd at the concert from his 32nd floor room at an adjacent hotel. Police later found Paddock dead in the room, as well as 34 guns and 12 bump-fire stocks, officials said. Bump stocks -- which are can be bought legally across the U.S. for as little as $50 -- use the recoil of a gun to help the shooter pull the trigger more frequently, making a semiautomatic weapon resemble an automatic one. Automatic guns are mostly illegal in America. Technically, bump stocks are legal to sell, buy, and own in New Jersey. But under state law, they are not legal to possess in the state if they are "utilized on a firearm or in the vicinity of a firearm on which it could be placed," according to Jeffrey Flynn, a spokesman with the State Police. That means it is already illegal to a have bump stock affixed to a gun in New Jersey or in your possession if you have a gun in the state. This bill, if signed into law, would make it illegal to sell to possess one entirely. Under the measure, violating the law would be a third-degree offense punishable by three to five years in prison. Those already in possession of bump stocks would have a 90-day grace period to turn them in to police, and retailers would have 30 days. Both houses of the Democratic-controlled state Legislature would have to pass the state's bill before it heads to the governor's desk. Which governor would sign it depends on when it passes. Christie is in office until Jan. 16. Democrat Phil Murphy, Republican Kim Guadagno, and five third-party and independent candidates are running in the Nov. 7 race to succeed Christie. Christie has vetoed bills in recent years strengthening New Jersey's already tough gun laws. Brian Murray, a spokesman for his office, said Wednesday that "we don't discuss pending legislation until we see a final bill and we have had time to review it." Daniel Bryan, a spokesman for Murphy's, told NJ Advance Media that Murphy would sign the bill if he's elected. Ricky Diaz, a spokesman for Guadagno's campaign, did not immediately return a message seeking comment. But Guadagno said earlier this week she would not change New Jersey's gun laws if elected, saying they are already among the most strict in the nation. As for the bill in Congress seeking a national ban on bump stocks, top Republicans have signaled they'd be open to such a measure, according to a report by the New York Times. One New Jersey Republican, U.S. Rep. Leonard Lance, R-7th Dist., said Wednesday he was one of them. "Fully automatic weapons are already illegal in this country, so any mechanism that essentially converts semi-automatic firearms into fully-automatic weapons should also be illegal," Lance said. Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @johnsb01. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook. TRENTON -- New Jersey's attorney general on Thursday formally filed a lawsuit accusing a major U.S. drug manufacturer of fueling the state's opioid addiction crisis by aggressively pushing its painkillers. The suit accuses Arizona-based Insys Therapeutics, Inc. of breaking state laws and potentially killing patients by marketing a highly addictive opioid aimed at cancer patients for wider use. The complaint was filed against the backdrop of a spiraling overdose death rate in New Jersey, where an NJ Advance Media investigation earlier this year found doctors were profiting off a spike in prescriptions for fentanyl, a highly potent synthetic opioid It also comes as attorneys general in more than 40 states are investigating the marketing and sales practices of drug makers. "The conduct alleged in our lawsuit is nothing short of evil," Attorney General Christopher Porrino said on Thursday. A spokesman for Insys Therapeutics, which produces the fentanyl variant known as Subsys, did not respond to a message seeking comment Thursday. Porrino said the company allegedly pushed for "broad-based consumption" of the drug, which is meant for patients who are gravely ill. "We contend that the company used every trick in the book, including sham speaking and consulting fees and other illegal kickbacks, in a callous campaign to boost profits from the sale of its marquee drug Subsys," the attorney general said. The four-count complaint came a day after sources told NJ Advance Media that Porrino's office was investigating the practices of several drug companies, including Insys and the Connecticut-based Purdue Pharma, which is not named in the new lawsuit. According to a copy of the suit, Insys is accused of violating New Jersey's Consumer Fraud Act and False Claims Act. The lawsuit attributes the company's behavior to the death of "at least one" New Jersey resident, 31-year-old Sarah Fuller, who overdosed on fentanyl she had been prescribed to treat fibromyalgia last year. It also alleges that New Jersey's state employee health benefits plans had paid more than $10 million to reimburse Subsys prescriptions over a four-year period. The company, which authorities claim hiked the price of Subsys annually, sold more than $74 million worth of the drug in New Jersey alone, according to the attorney general. Authorities say Subsys was approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration for the "narrow" purpose of treating cancer pain in patients who had developed a tolerance to opioids. NJ Advance Media's July investigation found oncologists only accounted for a small fraction of fentanyl prescriptions, which were being handed out by family doctors, nurse practitioners and physician's assistants at a much higher rate. The Attorney General's Office claims Insys representatives aggressively pushed doctors to consider "off label" uses of the drug -- "even to podiatrists and other specialty practitioners who typically would have little call to prescribe" potent painkillers. Sources previously told NJ Advance Media that Porrino's office had also subpoenaed multiple drug companies as it weighed additional lawsuits, but Thursday's complaint was targeted only at Insys. Lee Moore, a spokesman for the attorney general, said the office does not comment on its pending investigations. "However, Attorney General Porrino has said publicly that he is deeply concerned about whether and to what extent the marketing and sales practices of certain pharmaceutical companies contributed to the opioid crisis we are suffering in New Jersey, and he has said publicly that our office is committed to taking a close look at that conduct," Moore said. NJ Advance Media staff writer Claude Brodesser-Akner contributed to this story. S.P. Sullivan may be reached at ssullivan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter. Find NJ.com on Facebook. TRENTON -- A Jewish advocacy group is calling on the state's pension investment overseers to divest from a Danish bank it accuses of boycotting Israeli businesses. The State Association of Jewish Federations on Wednesday argued before the State Investment Council that the foreign bank refuses to do business with a pair of Israeli defense companies, in violation of a year-old state ban on investing in companies that boycott Israeli goods and services. Jacob Toporek, executive director of the association, appealed to the members of the State Investment Council after the director of the Division of Investment concluded earlier that Danske doesn't meet the terms of the ban. In 2016, the state Legislature passed and Gov. Chris Christie signed a law requiring the $75 billion pension fund dump its stake in any companies participating in the boycott, divest and sanction movement. New Jersey has one of the largest Jewish populations in the U.S. and is said to trade more than $1.3 billion in goods each year with Israel. The Division of Investment reported in April that there were no such holdings. But Toporek said the state is giving Danske Bank a pass, even though it is refusing to do business with Elbit Systems and Aryt Industries. A Treasury Department spokesman said in an email that the Division of Investment reviewed divestment decisions in other states and consulted a "leading third-party research firm responsible for identifying companies that boycott Israel" before clearing Danske. While the bank has a spot on New York's list of blacklisted institutions, spokesman Willem Rijksen noted that Illinois and Florida boards had removed Danske from their boycott lists. Toporek argued Wednesday that New Jersey's law is different, in that it's "a straightforward divestment mandate," and unlike in Illinois and in Florida, it doesn't question why a boycott exists -- just that it does. A spokesman for Danske denied boycotting Israel or Israeli companies. Rather, the bank contracts with a firm that provides lists of companies that "do not meet the requirements of responsible investment principles." Those companies can be found in the U.S., the U.K., Canada, France and the Netherlands, among others, spokesman Kenni Leth told NJ Advance Media. "The inclusion of the two Israeli companies on the list does not reflect a decision by Danske Bank to boycott Israel or otherwise restrict its business with Israeli companies," said Leth. According to Toporek, McDonough used advice from that same independent firm, ISS-Ethix, in making his decision to stick with the Danske investment. Tom Byrne, chairman of the investment council, said Wednesday he would ask the Attorney General's Office to review the investment's compliance with the anti-BDS law. Byrne described the investment in Danske a small part of an international index in which the state invests, and one that would be easy to terminate. Rijksen said if there's still some doubt after Attorney General's Office weighs in, the division will divest "in order to comply fully with the statute." Samantha Marcus may be reached at smarcus@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @samanthamarcus. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook. TRENTON -- Eliciting wild applause and chants of "thank you" from a gathering of families at the Statehouse, the state Senate Thursday gave final approval to legislation that would impose tougher scrutiny on the operators and employees of group homes for people with developmental disabilities. The 32-0 vote sends the "Stephen Komninos Law" to Gov. Chris Christie, who is expected to sign it. The governor rejected an earlier version of (A2503) and rewrote portions that he said were too onerous for state regulators to enforce. Christie's spokesman Brian Murray declined to say when the governor would sign the bill. The law's namesake, a 22-year-old man who choked on a bagel while under the supervision of Bancroft Neurohealth, died on Oct. 8, 2007, almost exactly a decade ago. The Senate scheduled a special session to return from a pre-election summer recess to pass the bill at the request of Martha Cray of Roselle Park, a mother-turned advocate whose son was found dead in his group home on Aug. 27. The group home is operated by Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health of New Jersey in West Deptford. State Human Services officials and an attorney for the family has declined to discuss the ongoing investigation into William "Billy" Cray's death. Human Services spokeswoman Pam Ronan said the investigation is ongoing and the results from the autopsy are not ready. The law's provisions include: Requiring the state to make two unannounced visits at group homes a year; Mandating that group home operators must call a parent or guardian within two hours following an injury or other critical incident, but gives an eight-hour window if the extenuating services are explained in writing; Requiring group home workers undergo drug testing before they are hired, and face random drug testing if employers have reason to suspect drug use. "This has been a long, hard-fought victory on behalf of Stephen Komninos and his family," said Assemblywoman Valeri Vainieri Huttle D-Bergen, one of the bill's prime sponsors. "This bill, while not ideally what we were seeking, will still guarantee a significant overhaul to our system and help us meet our goal of preventing future tragedies. "At the end of the day, it puts significant protections in place to help uncover any incidents of abuse or neglect and ensure that these incidents are addressed as swift ly as possible and those responsible are held accountable," Huttle said. Susan K. Livio may be reached at slivio@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SusanKLivio. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook. WOODSTOWN -- Part of the main road through the borough was shut down for five hours early Thursday after a tractor-trailer jumped a curb and crashed, police said. Woodstown Public Safety Director Cris Simmermon said the accident was reported at 1:38 a.m. on U.S. Route 40, also known as West Avenue. According to Simmermon, the 2005 tractor-trailer, being driven by Leon-Herandez, 26, of Vineland, was headed westbound when it left the roadway in the area of 63 West Ave. and traveled along the sidewalk before coming to a halt at 75 West Ave. Simmermon said there was "significant damage to vehicle and property" along with a fuel spill from the tractor-trailer, Simmermon said. The tractor-trailer did not hit the house there, but came to rest on the embankment in front of it. Herandez refused medical treatment, according to Simmermon. A section of the road in the area of the crash was shut down until 6:30 a.m. for the cleanup. Responding to the scene were Reliance Fire Co., American Legion Ambulance of Woodstown, Woodstown and Salem County emergency management officials and the state Department of Transportation. New Jersey State Police are assisting the Woodstown Police Department in the accident investigation. No charges had been filed as of Thursday morning. Bill Gallo Jr. may be reached at bgallo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow Bill Gallo Jr. on Twitter @bgallojr. Find NJ.com on Facebook. The meeting of the Albanian parliament was suspended several times today, on Thursday, (05.10), as the opposition requested a session of debates on the amendments in the election code. Following the negotiations between the majority and opposition, it was decided that the session should be adjourned to the beggining of next week. You can read this story in full by subscribing at [email protected] FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) Survivors of Hurricane Ian face a long emotional road to recover from one of the most damaging storms to hit the U.S. mainland. For those who lost everything to disaster, the anguish can be crushing to return home to find so much gone. Grief can run the gamut from frequent tears to utter despair. The Lee County medical examiner says two men in their 70s even took their own lives a day apart after viewing their losses. Experts say suicides climb after disasters and more funding for mental health should be provided as climate change makes storms and fires more frequent and devastating. John Thompson stands in the front room of the REI, Resurrection after Exoneration, House on St. Bernard Ave. Wednesday, September 2, 2009. Thompson spent 18 years in jail, 14 of which were on death row, for a murder and carjacking. Ultimately courts found that DA Harry Connick's office had concealed evidence that could have helped Thompson's defense. He was acquitted , exonerated and awarded $14 million from the DA's office for their prosecutorial misconduct. Since his release, Thompson has been working hard to set up a program to help exonerees and other former inmates to put their lives back together.(JENNIFER ZDON | The Times-Picayune) 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. WASHINGTON President Donald Trumps choice of former Georgia governor Sonny Perdue to lead the U.S. Department of Agriculture sent ripples of concern through Midwestern farming and ranching circles. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, reflected that sentiment when he took to Twitter after hearing of Perdues selection. Im interested in how MidWest Ag will hv a seat at the table, Grassley wrote. Since then Trump has been filling seats at the USDA table with folks from Nebraska and Iowa. Among the nominees: Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey as undersecretary of farm production and conservation Iowas Sam Clovis as undersecretary for research, education and economics Nebraska Agriculture Director Gregory Ibach as undersecretary of marketing and regulatory programs The Ibach and Northey nominations will go before the Senate Agriculture Committee on Thursday. Both of Iowas senators are members of the committee; neither Nebraska senator is on the panel. Perdue represents the first Southerner to head the USDA since Mississippian Mike Espy left in 1994 Bill Clintons first term. Most recent U.S. agriculture secretaries have come from the Midwest, including former Nebraska Gov. Mike Johanns and former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack. One reason background is so important at the USDA is that agriculture is an area in which issues often break down along geographic or crop-specific fault lines, as opposed to partisan or ideological ones. Thats one reason the three Midlanders headed to the USDA have been hailed by those in the area. Nebraska Farm Bureau President Steve Nelson said farmers and ranchers are facing tight margins at the moment. It just naturally is a good thing to have somebody who understands your type of agriculture, Nelson said. Having representation from this part of the country, from the central part of the country, its very good from our perspective. Among the areas under Ibachs jurisdiction, if hes confirmed, will be: The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, which is responsible for wildlife damage and disease management, regulation of genetically engineered crops and protection of public health and safety. That includes combating diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease and avian influenza, which can be disastrous to American livestock. Agricultural Marketing Service, which oversees programs for creating international marketing opportunities for U.S. producers. Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration, which promotes competitive agricultural trading practices. Nelson said having someone with Ibachs background in that position would be helpful. Theres a lot of diversity in agriculture across the United States, and all of the different types of agriculture need and deserve representation, and I think that hell do a good job, he said. In particular, Nelson stressed the importance of international trade to Midwestern agriculture. Some of the protectionist sentiment that Trump and his team have expressed has caused heartburn among Midwestern producers as they watch Mexico, for example, talk about buying its corn from other countries. Ibach, a rancher and farmer who has led the Nebraska Agriculture Department for 12 years, has been part of international trade delegations to countries including Canada, Japan and China. Congress also could be tackling immigration soon, an area agriculture interests will be watching closely. Grassley has said its important to have the undersecretaries in place as Congress debates a new farm bill this fall. Northeys area includes the Farm Services Agency, the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Risk Management Agency. Northey, a corn grower, is serving his third term as Iowa secretary of agriculture. Iowa Farm Bureau President Craig Hill said Perdue has done a good job so far without the help of undersecretaries and a lot of other staff. However, he does urgently need to get staffed, and the Midwest will be well represented, Hill said. It is important to have geographic diversity to some extent ... but history has shown us leadership at USDA represents American agriculture and not a single commodity or region. Both Northey and Ibach appear to be on a solid path. Grassley said hes been told that Northey in particular is on the verge of moving forward. Clovis has encountered resistance, however, from those who say he doesnt have the kind of research science background required for the new job. And a recent report by Politico is likely to add fuel to that fire: it highlighted a number of USDA hires who worked for the Trump campaign but have questionable expertise in agriculture. Clovis unsuccessfully ran for the U.S. Senate and for state treasurer before working on first the Rick Perry presidential campaign and then Trumps. Grassley has repeatedly pushed back on criticism of Clovis qualifications, noting that he had been a professor of economics at Morningside College. Most stuff dealing with government policy and regulations and science, it involves economics as well. So it seems very appropriate that we would have him be head of that, Grassley said, before also citing Clovis work for Trump. Particularly when it is a political appointment and hes been so loyal. I mean, hes one of the few people, just think of it, in on the ground floor of the Trump campaign. If youre a metro-area business traveler looking for easy access to midsize cities like Louisville, Kentucky, or Milwaukee, major commercial airlines wont have you covered with a nonstop flight. People who fly regularly to such markets can now instead look to OneJet, a new airline that will begin offering a twice-per-weekday nonstop flight between Milwaukee and Omaha, starting Nov. 1. OneJet Chief Executive Matthew Maguire said in an interview with The Omaha World-Herald that the Milwaukee route could be just the beginning of its service out of Omahas Eppley Airfield. It could expand service to other midsize cities from Omaha. Were starting with the Milwaukee route, but we see a lot of potential for additional routes out of Omaha. It really meets the profile for the type of city were looking to get into, Maguire said. OneJet passengers will have to pay a little more roughly $40 to $60 more than most round-trip flights on major airlines. They can also expect to share the plane a Hawker 400XP turbojet with just six other passengers, rather than a commercial jet that seats 50, 100 or more people. Although its private-jet-like, the service is not like buying a seat on a private plane. Passengers must go through TSA security in the main terminal before boarding. Tickets can be purchased by anyone and are booked and sold just like any other airline, though the planes flown are the same type often used by companies as corporate jets. The company opened its first base in Pittsburgh in May 2016, offering two daily flights. It now offers roughly 180 flights to and from Pittsburgh, with weekday flights to secondary cities that arent hubs for major airlines, like Louisville; Indianapolis; Hartford, Connecticut; Cincinnati; Richmond, Virginia; Albany, New York; and Providence, Rhode Island. Instead of flying between lots of cities, OneJet opens a base at one airport and then expands its offerings to and from that city, Maguire said. Milwaukee will be the companys second base of operation. From there, it will begin flying to Columbus, Ohio, along with Omaha. The second base was opened with the help of a seven-figure investment round led by Tim Hoeksema, former chief executive and chairman of the now-defunct Midwest Airlines. Milwaukee once was a hub for the airline. Omaha was a great market for Midwest Airlines, Hoeksema said. With OneJet, future potential service out of Omaha to other cities I think is real, and hopefully the community will strongly support it, he said. Hoeksema will also serve in an advisory role for OneJet. Thats encouraging to David Brown, president of the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce. He understands our market really well. It seems that theyd be coming in here with at least some reasonable understanding of what the market wants, Brown said. Omaha last had a nonstop flight to Milwaukee in 2012, said Steve McCoy, manager of airline affairs for the Omaha Airport Authority, which manages Eppley Airfield. The average business traveler probably could justify even a $100 difference in round-trip fare if it means avoiding a connecting flight and thus gaining productive work time, said Nancy Miller, senior vice president of operations for Omaha-based Travel and Transport, a corporate and leisure travel management company. Travelers also could potentially avoid an overnight stay in Milwaukee with the twice-daily flights. Its kind of like theyve taken a corporate jet and theyve given it public service, Miller said. Its a niche that right now has no competitors, she said. Often business travelers trying to get to secondary cities like Milwaukee will instead opt to drive rather than fly and connect via Chicago or Minneapolis. Those are exactly the customers OneJet hopes to serve. The business came about after industry mergers shrunk nine airlines to just four in the span of roughly 10 years. That was bad news for medium-hub airports like Eppley, which lost many nonstop flights as airlines consolidated, a study by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology found. Officials from MIT and the Department of Transportation brainstormed how to bring that service back without government subsidies. OneJet was the answer, Maguire said. There had to be some alternative options, especially for business travelers. This is about regional transportation infrastructure and its importance for cities to grow, Maguire said. While airlines have again expanded nonstop service in recent years, its typically to large cities like Seattle, Los Angeles and San Francisco, Miller said. The OneJet model is economical because the airline flies such small planes, so flights sell out often. The company also is selective about which markets it flies to and from, Maguire said. Roughly half of OneJets bookings come from major corporate travel programs, and the other half come from non-managed business travelers who work for smaller companies. The airlines flights are scheduled in the mornings and evenings to accommodate business travelers schedules. The new flight will leave Milwaukee at 8:40 a.m. and arrive in Omaha at 10 a.m. It will then leave Omaha at 10:20 a.m. and arrive in Milwaukee at 11:35 a.m. The second flight will leave Milwaukee at 5:40 p.m. and arrive in Omaha at 7 p.m. It will head back to Milwaukee at 7:20 p.m. and arrive there at 8:35 p.m. OneJet does not accept checked luggage. Passengers are allowed one carry-on-sized bag and one personal item, which includes purses and briefcases. The airline offers a selection of snacks and complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi. American Airlines to add twice-daily nonstop flight between Omaha and Philadelphia American Airlines will begin offering a twice-daily nonstop flight between Omaha and Philadelphia International Airport this spring. The flight will launch May 4. The airline will fly the route with an Embraer E0175 seating 76 people. American also provides daily nonstop service to Chicago; Charlotte, North Carolina; Dallas; Los Angeles; Miami; and Phoenix. This announcement marks the third new destination by American from Omaha in two years and is another demonstration of passenger demand fueled by a strong local economy, said Steve McCoy, manager of airline affairs for the Omaha Airport Authority, which operates Eppley Airfield. Flights will be available for purchase Monday. Frontier Airlines also announced last week it would offer a nonstop flight four times per week to Philadelphia, starting April 9. The American flight is scheduled to leave Omaha at 5:54 a.m. and arrive in Philadelphia at 9:50 a.m. It will then leave Philadelphia at 10:30 a.m. and arrive back in Omaha at 12:35 p.m. The second flight will leave Omaha at 1:05 p.m., arriving in Philadelphia at 4:59 p.m. It will then leave Philadelphia at 5:39 p.m. and land in Omaha at 7:52 p.m. Philadelphia International Airport is a hub for American, with many flights departing from there for Europe. Carly Kreibaum was known as a kind person who flashed big smiles and showed artistic talent, a former classmate and teacher said. Kreibaum, of Sutherland, Iowa, was among those killed during a mass shooting in Las Vegas on Sunday. Kreibaums sister-in-law confirmed her death but declined to comment further, saying the family wanted privacy. The Sioux City Journal reported that Kreibaum, 33, attended the concert with two friends, who said they got separated from Kreibaum after she was shot. She was caring and fun-loving, said Pearl Hansen, a retired art professor at Wayne State College in Wayne, Nebraska. Kreibaum graduated from the school in 2006 with a bachelors degree in art education, the college said. Hansen, who was Kreibaums adviser, said she was good at mentoring younger art students at Wayne. Her student teaching also showed she was good in the classroom, Hansen said. She had a gentle touch and rapport, she said. Hansen said Kreibaum also showed promise as an artist and was particularly good at oil painting and water colors. Kreibaum was a mother of two. She was a Sibley, Iowa, native who graduated from Sibley-Ocheyedan High School. Kerry Krogman, a high school classmate, recalled Kreibaum as someone people easily connected with. She was good at asking about friends lives. People were drawn to her, she said. The Sutherland Church of Christ has set up a bank account for donations to Kreibaums husband and children. This report includes material from the Associated Press. Jury members deliberated whether a girls minor-in-possession charge was warranted Wednesday morning. But the jury was made up of students, and the girl was made up completely. A mock trial preceded County Government Day at the Lincoln County Courthouse. Juniors and seniors from each of Lincoln Countys high schools participated as audience or jury members in deciding whether Faith Innocence deserved getting a MIP after she attended a friends party. Instead of drinking, Innocence moved beer cans out of the way to lounge on the couch after searching for the friend who lived at the house. The day showed students real public-safety roles: Defense Attorney Chawnta Durham and Deputy County Attorney Kortnei Hoeft played out their real roles in court. North Platte Police Officer Adam Miller portrayed the officer who busted the house party. Area lawyers and public safety officials portrayed the judges and witnesses. Student jurors in the days first mock trial session found Innocence not guilty; the second session was to be decided later in the day. Later, roughly 284 students would see other facets of public safety, including a tour of the county jail and presentations by Region 51 Emergency Management, the county surveyor, the register of deeds and other officials. Brenda Aufdenkamp, an educator at the University of Nebraska-Lincolns Extension office in North Platte, said County Government Day was an annual event years ago, died down about eight years ago and was restarted in recent years. She said the presentations are good for students civics education, as well as for growing up. You dont utilize various county offices until your adult life, she said. Kristyna Prickett, a senior at Maxwell High School, said she had always wondered what would happen to an underage person whom police found sober at a house party. As the mock trial case went on, she and a friend went back and forth about Innocences innocence, she said. While Prickett imagined that such a minor would be held accountable, I just didnt know if there was an actual law in place, she said. County Government Day also featured door prizes and a free lunch for the students. Aufdenkamp hoped the day would prove both fun and helpful. Kade Wroot, a senior at North Platte High School, said he was most influenced by the mock trial and the jail tour. When you think of jail, you know theres high security, he said. But you dont really realize how high the security really is until you actually see it. While the jail and trial showed the most color, Aufdenkamp said students also learned more about staffers they think of as strangers in the courthouse offices. Theres a lot of friendly people there, she said. And theyre always there to help. He is glad the nickname that stuck with him is Halvin. I dont know where that came from, Hal Weitzel said with a laugh. Nobody every believes my name is Hal. They say, well what is it short for? Its not short for anything, its Hal. Its not short for Harold or Halvin or Halitosis or anything like that. So Im glad Halvin stuck and Halitosis didnt. Weitzel, who grew up in North Platte, volunteers three days a week at Great Plains Health, where he mans the valet booth. I went to Buffalo Elementary, Madison and then North Platte High School, Weitzel said. Then I went to Kearney State College and a semester here at North Platte Junior College. He graduated from North Platte High School in 1966. My grandparents came over from Germany, so they were pretty close to the German heritage, Weitzel said. I think what brought them here was just a chance for a better life. His grandparents settled in Gering before moving to North Platte. My grandfather was a truck farmer and they had an orchard in Arkansas where they grew peaches, Weitzel said. They trucked their peaches and other produce they would buy down there up here to Nebraska and sell it. Thats how they made their living in the early days. Weitzel said he retired from Union Pacific in 2008 after working as an engineer for 39 years. The Weitzels have two children, son Kristopher and daughter Hally. I am married to Donna, a local girl, Weitzel said. It will be 50 years weve been married next June, and we will be spending it in Israel. The couple is looking forward to their trip. We are just so excited to go there, Weitzel said. We want to see where Jesus was, and they have the spot marked where the cross was and it just gives me chills to think about it. Weitzel enlisted in the Navy in 1968. I was in the Navy for four years, from 1968-72, Weitzel said. I did not have to go to Vietnam. I was stationed in Pensacola, Florida, in a training squadron. I got lucky. While in the service, he lived a number of places. North Platte is home, Weitzel said. Weve been all over. I lived in Florida when I was in the service and in Tennessee, but this is where my roots are. He and Donna like to travel, and there is one place in Nebraska they would like to visit Gavins Point Dam on the Missouri River bordering Nebraska and South Dakota. My wife and I would like to go to Gavins Point and fish for paddlefish, Weitzel said. My wife likes to fish, but shes not wild about boats. If you can do it from the bank ... Fishing is one of his favorite hobbies. I like to fish with my son, Weitzel said. I also like yard work and volunteering (at Great Plains Health). Weitzel likes to cook. I do most of the cooking at home, he said. My favorite dish to cook is cheesecake. When I buy cream cheese, I buy it like 10 pounds at a time. Thats how many of them I make, and I give them all away. One thing about Weitzel that not many people know is his sensitivity. Most people think Im a grouchy old German, but theres a part I dont let too many people see, Weitzel said. Im very sensitive. I hate seeing cruelty to animals or people who are less fortunate, I dont like to see people who just arent doing well, it bothers me. Take a knee joke viewed as discriminatory A Thursday evening post on the Logan County Sheriffs Offices Facebook page has caused controversy. In the post, the department said it was replacing their sirens with the National Anthem to force all suspects to stop running and take a knee. The post has since been taken down, and it was replaced Friday with another one: Yesterday evening I made a post on this page meant in good humor. Some received that post as racially motivated or discriminatory. That was in no way intended. In light of this confusion, the post has been deleted. The Logan County Sheriffs Office could not be reached for comment. Chancey Sazama wasnt surprised by the post. The 32-year-old grew up in Stapleton in Logan County and now lives in Lincoln. I was embarrassed, Sazama said. (But) I wasnt that surprised. The people in that community helped mold me, so I know there are good people. But racism is nothing new there. Shane Hobbs, 23, from north-central Nebraska, said he didnt understand why people were offended by the post, which he saw as just the opinion of the sheriff. (The post) was in no way racial, Hobbs commented on the second Facebook post. Sara Cowan, 30, of Omaha said she hopes that the Logan County Sheriffs Office takes cultural sensitivity training. These are the people that are supposed to be serving and protecting our community, and these comments were denigrating and racist by implying that all suspects are black, she said. Though she was glad that the original post was deleted, Cowan said it wasnt enough. I think they should apologize and take steps to rectify the situation, she said. Like most of its peers, Yamana Gold (NYSE: AUY) has struggled to create shareholder value over the long term. While most gold stocks have been handily beaten by the returns of the S&P 500 in the last five- and 10-year periods, the company's shares rank at the bottom of nearly every comparison. Total returns of negative-85% and negative-74% in those respective periods will do that. Remarkably, despite the awful historical performance of Yamana Gold stock, it has some of the best growth prospects in the industry. Several mines new and old are slated to increase gold and silver production in the next two years, which should increase companywide production of each precious metal by at least double digits. Growing production should also result in growing cash flow, making it easier to reduce debt and potentially increase its dividend -- if selling prices cooperate. The nearly overnight turnaround in the company's prospects begs the question, where will Yamana Gold be in three years? Growth projects galore Yamana Gold shareholders look likely to reap the benefits of production gains this year -- before major growth projects begin contributing to operations. The miner is on pace to beat its full-year production guidance based on first-half 2017 production volumes and historical trends. Gold, silver, and copper production through the first six months of this year represent 49%, 51%, and 46% of their respective full-year expectations. Considering production between first and second halves of each year dating back to 2010 has averaged 46% to 54%, respectively, Yamana Gold should have no trouble beating its original 2017 guidance. That would be quite the treat, especially considering what may be ahead for the company. Yamana Gold expects to produce 940,000 ounces of gold and 4.74 million ounces of silver in 2017. While that represents respectable operations, upcoming mine openings and expansions underpin formidable growth. Next year, the Cerro Moro mine in Argentina comes online, and is expected to singlehandedly lift full-year 2018 gold production to 1.03 million ounces and silver production to an astounding 10 million ounces. Better yet, the mine's low operating costs will drop per unit expenses across the company's portfolio. The gains in production and operating efficiency are expected to continue beyond 2018. Precious Metal 2017E 2018E 2019E 2017 to 2019 % Change Gold 0.94 million ounces 1.03 million ounces 1.1 million ounces 17% Silver 4.74 million ounces 10.0 million ounces 14.5 million ounces 206% These production gains, coupled with lower capital expenditures from more recent years, when mines were being readied for production, is expected to result in a more than 75% increase in EBITDA from 2017 to 2019. However, it should be noted that although the company reports this figure in its investor presentations, it's not actually a company figure, but instead the consensus estimate from Wall Street analysts. That means the number is not very robust and investors shouldn't completely rely on it. After all, Wall Street estimates change frequently, especially for estimates that are forecasting two years into the future. That said, if Yamana Gold executes on its expected production increases in the next two years, then it will be difficult to not see a few step changes in revenue, earnings, and cash flow. Indeed, the company wants to reduce is net debt-to-EBITDA ratio from 2.8 at the end of 2017 to less than 2.0 in the near term, with a long-term target of 1.5. The Cerro Moro mine factors heavily into the debt reduction and management plans, but it isn't the only development project investors have to look forward to. Mine Project (Location) Development Stage Notes Cerro Moro (Argentina) Advanced Commissioning in Q1 2018, ramping up in Q2 2018. Initial life of 7 years. Malartic (Canada) Advanced Extending existing mine life to 2027. Yamana Gold owns a 50% interest. Suruca (Brazil) Advanced Initial project will produce for 5 years at 40,000 ounces of gold per year. Monument Bay (Canada) Early Gold and tungsten deposit being evaluated for extraction scenarios. Kirkland Lake Assets (Canada) Early Potential to expand around Upper Beaver Project. Yamana Gold owns a 50% interest. Agua Rica (Argentina) Early Reviewing potential for a mine producing copper, gold, and molybdenum. Suyai (Argentina) Early Working on obtaining agreements with locals for a very high-grade, high-potential gold mine. In addition to development projects, there are at least six exploration projects underway throughout the Americas that could support production or offset production losses far off in the future. That could mean Yamana Gold will finally be a reputable gold stock, despite its lackluster history. So where will Yamana Gold be in three years? It could be producing around 17% more gold and 200% more silver than it does today, thanks to the Cerro Moro mine alone. That may increase revenue 33% and cash flow 50% if prices remain where they are today. By then, additional details or investments may be announced in other late-stage development projects, while early-stage projects could be upgraded to advanced status. In other words, the company has a lot of potential catalysts on the horizon. If it executes, then it could be a big winner for investors. What does it mean for investors? You can make a strong argument that Yamana Gold stock is undervalued at today's $2.5 billion market cap if it meets its ambitious production increases. Since the Cerro Moro mine is slated for commissioning and ramp-up in the first half of 2018, there's much less uncertainty surrounding those production increases than the stock price seems to suggest. Then again, for a company that has been a major disappointment for most of its public history, the current valuation isn't too surprising. I'm not a big fan of gold stocks or precious-metals miners, so I'll be staying on the sideline here. But if you're looking for a gold stock with big potential, then you should give Yamana Gold a deeper look. 10 stocks we like better than Yamana Gold When investing geniuses David and Tom Gardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.* David and Tom just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy right now... and Yamana Gold wasn't one of them! That's right -- they think these 10 stocks are even better buys. Click here to learn about these picks! *Stock Advisor returns as of September 5, 2017 Maxx Chatsko has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. HAMMOND A Purdue University Northwest physics professor and two students majoring in physics and mathematics spent weeks at CERN in Switzerland last summer doing scientific research. Neeti Parashar, who heads PNW's high-energy physics program, has conducted research with colleagues on the Compact Muon Solenoid at CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, a multinational research center in Switzerland. Parasher, PNW junior Christopher "Eddie" McGrady and senior Christopher Perry went to Switzerland this past summer. At CERN, physicists and engineers are probing the fundamental structure of the universe. According to CERN's website, scientists use the world's largest and most complex scientific instruments to study the basic constituents of matter called the fundamental particles. The particles are made to collide together at close to the speed of light. The process gives the physicists clues about how the particles interact and provides insights into the fundamental laws of nature. It was just five years ago that Parashar learned she was among those on the winning team that won the 2013 Nobel Prize in physics. The prize was awarded to Peter Higgs, of the University of Edinburgh, and Francois Englert, of the Universite Libre de Bruxelles, for their discovery of the Higgs boson subatomic particle, dubbed "the God particle." Parashar was among thousands of physicists who served on the winning team. At that time, Parashar said she had been working on the theory for 10 years. She said it may be another 100 years before physicists really know how the particle can be used or what applications there will be for society. "It's kind of like when an electron was discovered years ago," she said Monday in her office at Purdue. "No one knew how electrons would be used when they were first discovered. Now we know that electron means light, electricity," she said. "It's a building block. The boson is a theory that things in air, things in space, join up and stick together. The discovery itself is a crowning achievement. This particle had remained elusive for 50 years. It's a big deal for the entire physics community." Parashar said the work scientists do at CERN is pure research, meaning they do not concern themselves with how they might apply what they are trying to understand. "It's figuring out the structure of the universe," she said. "Are there particles that exist in nature that we are not aware of? There is a long list of fundamental questions that help us to know about our universe. These things are important to the world of science." Parashar has been a faculty member at Purdue's Hammond campus since 2005. Supported by the National Science Foundation, Parashar has conducted most of her research on the Higgs boson at Fermilab in Batavia, Illinois, in partnership with the National Science Foundation. She also involved several of her students in the research. "There is not an immediate application," McGrady said. "Relativity was discovered in the early 20th century, but it didn't have any applications until we started using GPS (Global Positioning Systems); now it's something we use all the time. "We use quantum physics for the internet. We use electrodynamics for electricity. These are things that take decades to figure out the applications. It's a process. You have the mathematics, which starts the process. Then, physicists use the mathematics to figure out more about the universe. Somewhere down the line, engineers begin applying it. ... Understanding it eventually leads to application." HOBART Five hundred Northwest Indiana public officials and business and nonprofit leaders were urged to further efforts to work through differences and find consensus to move the Region and country forward. "I want us to get back to basics. I want us to reflect, to think about first principles," said Buie Seawell, keynote speaker at the annual One Region luncheon Thursday at Avalon Manor. "At this difficult stage in our nation's history we need to pause and reflect about who we are, where we came from and where we're headed." Seawell, a recently retired professor from the Daniels College of Business at the University of Denver, said today's divisive politics threatens self-government and democracy. "The first freedom is the freedom to govern yourself, and to participate in your government," Seawell said during a 25-minute address that brought a standing ovation at its conclusion. "If we lose the freedom of self-government, all others are in jeopardy." Seawell, a North Carolina native and 45-year resident of Colorado, worked as an ordained minister during the civil rights era in the South, and then had a career in politics and public policy before entering academia. Seawell said America's form of government is kept alive by a striving for consensus. "What has kept us alive for 241 years is that we finally come to agreement and move forward." "Factions don't work, in the end, in this country," he said. "A fractured national is not a nation that will long survive." Seawell commended the attendees at Thursday's luncheon for their efforts to achieve the consensus he believes necessary. "Democracies are fragile. That's their very nature," he said. "And ours is in a place in time where what you represent in this room and what you do together is priceless, is critical, is absolutely necessary." Seawell was invited to Northwest Indiana by a former student, One Region President and CEO Leah Konrady, who anticipated Seawell's themes when discussing One Region's activities and goals at the luncheon's opening. Consensus-building in support of the South Shore Line's West Lake Corridor and double-tracking projects proved the area's willingness to work through differences, Konrady said. "I have seen real evidence of collaboration and teamwork to move our Region forward," she said. Konrady said population growth, particularly attraction of members of the millennial generation, is One Region's central goal in its effort to draw and retain talent and to boost incomes. She said the organization, which is governed by a nine-member board of directors from business and education, is studying several growing regions as models for Northwest Indiana: the New Jersey suburbs of New York; Pittsburgh, a steel city that's transformed itself in recent decades; and Denver, which has invested heavily in infrastructure and is attracting millennials by the thousands. Connectivity to Chicago, strong and active downtowns and the Lake Michigan shore will help "promote our Region as the best place to live in Chicago," Konrady said. "Our Region is primed to rock-and-roll," she said. A team of more than 60 people, including business leaders, union officials, state lawmakers and politicians from Rensselaer to South Bend, have been assembled to make Northwest Indiana's bid for Amazon's second headquarters. The highly sought-after economic development prize would mean $5 billion in investment and as many as 50,000 high-paying jobs. The city of Gary announced it was making a formal bid in conjunction with the Northwest Indiana Forum, the consulting firm SEH Inc., the Indiana Economic Development Corp. and NIPSCO officials. Both the city and the Northwest Indiana Forum, a Portage-based economic development agency, are pitching the Region as a lower-cost corner of the Chicago metropolitan area with a better tax environment and more stable political climate. "This response combines Garys location, the availability of vacant land and transportation assets with Indianas favorable business climate and fiscal strength," Gary Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson said. "The Regions proposal is also enhanced by the existence of a commuter rail system that will facilitate travel between Gary and Chicago in approximately 35 minutes." Chicago is of course also bidding with the help of Fortune 500 CEOs and was ranked the second-best prospect after New York City by Anderson Consulting Group, based on its labor pool and infrastructure, including airports with many nonstop domestic and international flights. Plenty of competition More than 100 cities across the country have reportedly expressed interest in the corporate headquarters, which officials have tried to woo with trips to Seattle, gifts of cacti, video pitches, placing huge Amazon delivery boxes around town and giving the online retailer the option to name a city Amazon. The project is widely expected to land a record tax break, and CNN reports the state of New Jersey is looking to offer $5 billion in incentives over the next 20 years. Freeman-Wilson said the Rust Belt steel mill town of Gary is not typically at the top of most site selectors' lists, but said the bid was "not a Hail Mary." That is narrow thinking," Freeman-Wilson said. "The reality is that a Gary location provides the best of many worlds. Gary boasts the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, a part of the National Park Service; historic architecture; a Big Ten university; and affordable real estate." Freeman-Wilson said Northwest Indiana has the population, cultural diversity and range of communities to meet the tangible and intangible needs of Amazon as a company and as an employer. "We also have an added feature, we give Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos an opportunity to grow his world class organization while playing a vital role in the transformation of a community and region, she said. Gary makes its pitch After taking out an ad in the New York Times business section, Gary also has launched a MoveOn.org petition to encourage Bezos to locate Amazon HQ2 in the Steel City. "I spend a lot of money with amazon," one woman wrote on the petition page. "Consider my city." Gary touted companies that have recently moved to or located operations in the city, including HMD Trucking, T & B Tube, Edsal Manufacturing and Superior Truss & Panel. We take every opportunity to explain the advantages of a Gary business address, Gary Economic Development Corp. Executive Director Bo Kemp said. The city is motivated to welcome new businesses and excited that so many other Northwest Indiana leaders have signed on in support of this effort. Consider 'The Region' The Northwest Indiana Forum also is preparing a bid, touting potential sites across the Region, including both greenfield and redevelopment options. I believe in Northwest Indianaour physical assets, our people, and our business climate. When you couple these features with our proximity to Chicago, we will continue to attract meaningful business investment," said Heather Ennis, CEO of the Northwest Indiana Forum. "I am proud to be a part of this team to move the Region forward. We welcome opportunities like Amazon and many others that might want to be a part of the bright future of Northwest Indiana. The Northwest Indiana Amazon Bid Steering Committee includes many local leaders, such as Majestic Star Casino CEO Peter Ligouri; Purdue University Northwest Chancellor Thomas Keon; Cal Bellamy, a partner at Krieg DeVault; Robert Bobb, Chase Street Industrial Center; Northwest Indiana Bancorp Executive Chairman David Bochnowski; South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg; and NIPSCO President Violet Sistovaris. Amazon currently occupies 8.1 million square feet of office space in 36 different office towers across downtown Seattle, so a building boom would be necessary if it were to choose Northwest Indiana. A 2016 study by the Merrillville firm Commercial In-Sites found heavily industrial Northwest Indiana had about 1.4 million square feet of rentable office space, and that was before it was announced the Twin Towers in Merrillville one of the largest office complexes in the Region would be torn down. To view Gary's petition supporting its campaign to land Amazon's second headquarters, visit petitions.moveon.org. This weekend, you can belt out karaoke songs, snap your fingers to spoken word poetry, watch Puerto Rican and Cambodian food being cooked, and of course look at art at the Lubeznik Center for the Arts. The Lubeznik Center at 101 W. Second St. No. 100 in downtown Michigan City will host its second annual karaoke contest from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday during the First Friday open house. Ten karaoke contestants will compete for a prize of $250. Attendees can vote for their favorite for a $5 donation that will benefit children's educational art programming. They can enjoy light bites, get drinks at a cash bar and buy raffle tickets for a photograph of David Bowie by local photographer Bobby Talamine. They can check out the nationally juried Home exhibit, photographer Patty Carroll's Anonymous Women series and new art. "Opening in the NIPSCO Education Studios Area Artists' Association Gallery is artist Kei Constantinov's Through a Medieval Lens," the Lubeznik Center said in a news release. "Using time-honored methods and materials with a somber out-of-time palette Constantinov seeks to "edutain" herself and her audience. The references, both literary and historical, are presented within a 13th century context, often dealing with cruel Inquisitors, Gypsies, Black Plague and cogship seafaring." Then on Sunday from 4 to 6 p.m., artists Anthony Febo and Ricky Orng will stage Adobo-Fish-Sauce, an interactive poetry cooking show, at the Lubeznik. The Lubeznik Center describes them as "a Puerto Rican and Cambodian duo that fuses spoken word, cooking, music, crying and laughing through an interactive multicultural spoken word show." "I became acquainted with these guys while living in Massachusetts and I'm so excited to bring them to LCA," Education Director Hannah Hammond-Hagman said. "Spoken-word performances really seem to resonate with our audiences here, so I felt it was a natural fit as a program. We are so fortunate to have them come to Michigan City with their amazing show." Elvis Presley died 40 years ago on a hot August night in Memphis at the age of 42. The entertainer hailed worldwide as "the king of rock 'n roll" is as popular today as ever with fans often debating what the kid with sideburns might have done had he lived. "I think Elvis would still be doing what he always did, singing and helping people," said Kay Lipps of Carmel, Indiana who loved Elvis so much that a quarter century ago she co-founded the Elvis FANtasy Fest. This weekend, the fest celebrates its milestone 25th anniversary at Woodland Park Plaza in Portage. "We are very excited to be returning to Portage again," added Lipps, who was gifted with scarves by Elvis himself at some of his 1970s performances. "For the past 25 years the Northwest Indiana community has welcomed us with hospitality and has helped this continue each year. This event has always been to honor Elvis' generosity and giving nature." Lipps co-founded the event with her late husband Paul Lipps. They also co-founded the Indianapolis-based Presley fan club called "Takin' Care of Elvis." "Did I ever think this event would still be happening 25 years later and that every October I would be in Portage celebrating Elvis' life and music with other fans? YES! Yes I did. Because Elvis' popularity will never fade away because there are new generations growing up loving him and his music," said Lipps. "Some things have changed over the years though." The classic car show that was once part of the first few years of FANtasy events no longer happens and the roster of special guests who personally knew and worked with Elvis has been greatly impacted by the passing of time as many have died. "Over the years, we have had some wonderful guests who shared a lot of great stories about Elvis," she said. "Some of our past guests have included Joe Esposito, DJ Fontana, The Sweet Inspirations with Myrna Smith and Estelle Brown, Jerry Shilling, Al Dvorin, some of Elvis' film co-stars, and some of the musicians who played live with Elvis in the 1970s." Although Elvis has been gone for four decades, his songs are still being sung and people are still being helped in his memory across the globe by various fan clubs and special Elvis-themed events such as Northwest Indiana's annual gathering in Portage. Elvis FANtasy Fest started when the director of the Porter County Tourism Board contacted Graceland to find Elvis Presley Fan Clubs in Indiana and inquired if there was any interest in starting an annual city event tied to Elvis. They contacted me and we did the first one, explained Lipps. "Since then, we have raised about $350,000 for the Porter County Special Olympics." Statistics reveal that the publics love of Presley continues to generate millions of dollars each year making Elvis second only to Mickey Mouse as the worlds most recognizable pop culture figure of all time. He's followed by Michael Jackson, Marilyn Monroe and James Dean. Lipps and others believe some of that tremendous revenue being generated should help people, just as Elvis did in so many ways during his lifetime. Elvis did a lot of good things for a lot of people, Lipps said. He was very much a humanitarian. Elvis fan clubs all over the world do charity work year round in his name. We average over a thousand people throughout the weekend. This weekend's silver anniversary FANtasy Fest begins at 5 p.m. on Friday with a welcome party hosted by local tribute artist Quentin Flagg. He'll serve as emcee for a 6 p.m. youth talent show featuring several Porter County Special Olympic athletes. "I know two of them in the contest are doing Elvis performances, but this talent show does not have to be Elvis-related," said Lipps. "This is about giving them a chance to share whatever talents they have, and to have the experience to go on a stage and perform." Following the talent show on Friday will be "Raised on Rock," a musical rock 'n' roll greatest hits revue featuring live performances by special guests. At 11:30 a.m. on Saturday begins the first of three elimination rounds of the Ultimate Tribute Artist Contest, which runs through 6 p.m. The contest finals then take place on Sunday, following with a special 10 a.m. to noon Sunday Brunch and an 11 a.m. Gospel Show. "We have 22 tribute artists competing this year and they travel from all across the county to be here for this," Lipps said. Veteran Elvis performer Irv Cass will serve as emcee of Saturday's and Sunday's tribute artist competitions. Another Saturday event is the That's The Way It Was," a headline concert event which features performances by last year's Portage champion Matt King, Ted Torres, and two former "Ultimate..." competitors, Cote Deonath and Diego "Di" Light as well as other past winners. This is the first time for Light, who is from Brazil, to attend the Portage event. All artists over the weekend are backed instrumentally by The Change of Habit Band. Special guest this year is Charlie Smith, a 1961 graduate of Merrillville High School, who was crowned Miss Indiana in 1965 and went to Hollywood, where she worked professionally as Arlene Charles in such hit TV series like "Wild, Wild West", "The Monkees," and "The Flying Nun." The Hoosier model/actress also appeared in several pop culture films of the 1960s -- "Dr. Goldfoot & The Bikini Machine," "I Sailed to Tahiti With An All Girl Crew, " and in such Elvis Presley films as "Clambake," "Spinout," and "Paradise, Hawaiian Style." "This event is a lot of fun," said Smith. "This is my second year doing 'FANtasy Fest' with Kay (Lipps) and I'm very happy to be a part of it. Elvis was a really wonderful person. So charismatic and so kind." Expect Smith to share some great Elvis memories from the stage on Saturday. She'll also sign copies of the books "Talking Sixties Drive-In Movies" and "Glamour Girls of Sixties Hollywood" by author Tom Lisanti, in which Smith is prominently featured. Smith will not only meet with fans at this weekend's event, but will also serve as a celebrity judge on a panel for the Ultimate Tribute Artist Contest, a qualifying regional contest to choose a champion to compete at the international competition produced by Elvis Presley Enterprises in Memphis in August. This part is of the fest is produced by license agreement with Elvis Presley Enterprises (EPE). "The 'Ultimate Elvis Contest' has been going for 10 years now," Lipps said. "We haven't had any of our Portage champions win in Memphis yet, but we send one down every summer to compete. One of ours, Tim E. Henry from Canada, represented us a few years ago when he made the Top 10." Spending 25 years of her life raising money for the Porter County Special Olympics in Elvis' name has been hard work but Lipps said the hugs she gets, the tears of joy from the athletes and their families, and the common bond of love for Elvis make it all well worth it. "There are many people who work very hard to make the Elvis FANtasy Fest happen each year," she said. "This has always been a team effort, and once the event ends each year, we all start focusing on next year!" HAMMOND An alleged Latin Dragons gang member's arraignment has been postponed until next week due to the defendant's lack of counsel. Manuel Diaz, 26, of Hammond, is accused of firing a single shot from his revolver Saturday at a moving vehicle and killing the driver, Charles Berrios Sr., 50, of Hammond, after a brief confrontation at a gas station between Diaz and another individual. Berrios was reportedly not the initial intended target. According to court records, he was shot by Diaz while intervening and trying to place distance between Diaz's vehicle and the individual Diaz was targeting in another vehicle. Before the start of Thursday's scheduled detention hearing, Diaz entered the room, handcuffed and dressed in an orange jumpsuit, and turned around in his chair to face the U.S. marshal standing between he and his family. They were seated in the second row. "You said I can't talk to them?" Diaz asked, nodding to his family. He was told no. After Diaz said he nor his family could afford an attorney, Judge John E. Martin asked Diaz a series of questions and deemed him qualified to receive a court-appointed counsel. Outside the courtroom, Diaz's family declined to comment. According to the allegations, Diaz engaged in a brief confrontation Saturday afternoon with a driver of an SUV at Luke's gas station at Indianapolis Boulevard and Carroll Street in Hammond, during which Diazs passenger flashed gang signs at the SUV's occupants. The driver of the SUV displayed a semiautomatic weapon, records show. After they left the lot, Diaz pursued the SUV, but a third car, driven by Berrios and traveling with the SUV, refused to allow Diazs vehicle to pass, records show. Berrios stayed at a stop sign at Howard Avenue to place space between Diaz's Mercury and the SUV, records show. When he finally proceeded through the intersection, a witness with Berrios said he looked back to see Diaz point a chrome revolver at their vehicle, records show. While police said it's unclear if the driver of the SUV is a "full-fledged gang member," the individual displayed a firearm in a threatening manner leading up to the homicide, court records show. "As a member of the Latin Dragons, once challenged or threatened in such a fashion, it would have been incumbent on Diaz to take action ... This murder, therefore, was committed ... for the purpose of maintaining or increasing in position in the Latin Dragons," investigators allege. Diaz's detention hearing has been rescheduled for 11 am. Tuesday. WASHINGTON An alleged Latin Dragons street gang member has been charged with murder in aid of racketeering in connection with a Hammond man's fatal shooting Saturday, U.S. District court records show. Manuel Diaz, 26, of Hammond, is accused of killing Charles Berrios Sr., 50, of Hammond, according to police and U.S. District court records. The Chicago-area Latin Dragons gang has been trying to increase its street presence in Northwest Indiana in recent years, taking advantage of the void left by recent federal indictments of rival gangs such as the Latin Kings, Imperial Gangsters and the Two Six, according to a criminal complaint filed Tuesday. Berrios was reportedly not the original intended target. According to court records, he was shot by Diaz while intervening and trying to place distance between Diaz's vehicle and the individual Diaz was targeting in another vehicle. According to the allegations, Diaz engaged in a brief confrontation Saturday afternoon with a driver of an SUV at Luke's gas station at Indianapolis Boulevard and Carroll Street in Hammond, during which Diazs passenger flashed gang signs at the SUV's occupants. The driver of the SUV displayed a semi-automatic weapon to Diaz, court records show. After the SUV left the parking lot, Diaz left, too, and made an immediate U-turn to head southbound on Indianapolis Boulevard in pursuit of the SUV, court records show. A third car, driven by Berrios and traveling with the SUV, intervened and refused to allow Diazs vehicle to pass, the release said. A witness traveling with Berrios said Diaz's Mercury followed them westbound on Michigan Street and attempted to pass them at every stop sign, court records show. Berrios stayed at a stop sign at Howard Avenue for about one minute in an attempt to put some space between the Mercury and the SUV, records show. When he finally proceeded through the intersection, a witness traveling with Berrios said he looked back at the Mercury to see Diaz point a chrome revolver at their vehicle. The witness heard a single gunshot and was sprayed in the face with glass before turning to Berrios, who was slumped over in his seat, court records show. Berrios was airlifted to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where he was pronounced dead. Diaz denied shooting Berrios in an interview with police Sunday, but video surveillance shows his green Mercury Cougar, which has a unique red bumper, at the intersection, along with Berrios' vehicle. Members of the gang under Latin Dragons rule are required as "to take immediate violent action against anyone who threatens them, and gain respect and status within the gang by doing so," the complaint said. While police said it's unclear if the driver of the SUV is a "full-fledged gang member," the individual displayed a firearm in a threatening manner leading up to the murder, court records show. "As a member of the Latin Dragons, once challenged or threatened in such a fashion, it would have been incumbent on Diaz to take action ... This murder, therefore, was committed ... for the purpose of maintaining or increasing in position in the Latin Dragons," investigators allege in the criminal complaint. CROWN POINT A criminal court judge denied bond Thursday for a 47-year-old man accused of ordering the murder more than six years ago of a state witness. Ronnie E. Major will remain jailed until a Jan. 29 trial, according to court records. Major was charged in December 2016 in Lake Criminal Court with murder and conspiracy to commit murder on allegations he arranged the killing of Jocelyn Blair, a 31-year-old woman shot to death Dec. 9, 2010, at the Coney Island Restaurant in Gary, according to a probable cause affidavit. A witness allegedly told police Antoine J. Gates was paid $10,000 to kill the woman so she could not testify against Major at trial in an attempted murder case, the affidavit states. Gates, 39, is alleged to have shot a second man at the restaurant, 60-year-old Michael C. Rivera, who police allege was also a co-conspirator in the killing. Major's attorney, Scott King, filed a petition to allow bail in January. Several hearings on the issue were held this summer before Judge Samuel L. Cappas' ruling Thursday. CROWN POINT A 20-year-old man was found guilty at the jury trial Wednesday of aggravated battery and vehicle theft in the shooting of a childhood friend February 2016 in Gary. The jury found Tyler L. Steffey not guilty of attempted murder, battery by means of a deadly weapon, battery resulting in serious bodily injury and misdemeanor theft. The jurors deliberated for about two hours before reaching their verdict after a two-day trial. Steffey, who had posted a $4,000 cash bail, was taken into police custody to await a Nov. 3 sentencing date. Steffey told family members in attendance he loved them while being led by bailiffs out of the courtroom. We'll get through this, he said. It's some bull. Aggravated battery, a level 3 felony, is punishable by three to 16 years in prison. Auto theft, a level 6 felony, is punishable by six months to two-and-a-half years in prison. The state's case against Steffey mostly relied on the testimony of Kendra Skinner, who told the jury she was shot in the head and abdomen Feb. 19, 2016, while in her vehicle with Steffey in an alley in the 900 block of Chase Street. The 19-year-old woman said she remembered laying bloodied in the alley watching her vehicle speed off from the scene. Skinner crawled to a neighbor's home, where a woman dialed 911, and she was eventually transported to an Illinois hospital. Skinner said she and Steffey were friends since middle school, and had not been in any arguments before the shooting. Steffey's attorney, Marc Laterzo, said in opening statements his client did not see Skinner on the day of the shooting, and there was no forensic evidence connecting him to the crime scene. He asked the jury whether they could convict a man based on the testimony of a single witness, who had suffered a traumatic brain injury as a result of the shooting. Deputy Prosecutor David Rooda said the state did not need to provide a motive for the shooting, but offered that maybe Steffey's intent was to rob his friend of her gun, cell phone and vehicle. Steffey declined to testify on his own behalf. CROWN POINT Two men entered guilty pleas to armed robbery earlier this week on allegations they robbed an undercover police detective at gunpoint. The defendants, Deandre Gardner and Melquan Travis, admitted in their plea agreements they robbed Gary police Detective Lorenzo Davis Jr. on Aug. 27, 2015, near the intersection of 35th Avenue and Buchanan Street in Gary. Gardner, 20, and Travis, 19, were lured to the area by the detective, who was working an undercover operation to investigate armed robberies involving the smartphone application OfferUp, according to the plea agreement. The men also pleaded guilty to attempted armed robbery on allegations they used the smartphone application to lure another man to the same area Aug. 26, 2015, the agreement states. That man sped off from the scene in his vehicle after Travis pointed a gun at him and demanded his money. The Lake County prosecutor's office agreed to dismiss 11 other charges pending against each of the defendants as part of their plea agreements. The men will face between three to nine years prison on both counts, the agreements state. They are scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 14. HEBRON Police said they had to use a Taser to subdue a Crown Point woman who was pulled over Saturday night for alleged drunken driving. Taylor A. Thomas, 22, faces charges of operating while under the influence, resisting law enforcement and reckless driving, according to a news release from the Hebron Police Department. Police say Thomas was observed speeding and crossing the center line at about 12:30 a.m. Saturday near 100 S. 725 West in Hebron just east of the Lake of the Four Seasons subdivision. When police attempted to pull her over, Thomas allegedly pulled into a parking lot and tried to turn around, but the officer blocked her from exiting with his squad car, a police report states. Backup was requested as Thomas' passenger, Zakary R. Torkelson, 24, of Hebron, tried to run from police. He was arrested for resisting law enforcement and public intoxication, records show. Taylor allegedly exited her car and "became combative with officers," prompting officers to deploy a taser until she was subdued, the police report states. Both were arrested and taken to the Porter County Jail. MICHIGAN CITY Police say they have developed suspects who reportedly damaged several cars and businesses in the past few weeks. Several vehicles had side mirrors broken, according to Michigan City Police Detective Sgt. Ken Havlin. Vehicles had windows broken out and some business had broken windows, he said. The damage was caused from bottles and other objects. Havlin declined to say Wednesday where in the city the crimes occurred and generally what time of day the property damages occurred, citing the ongoing investigation. He urged anyone who notices damage to vehicles or property to contact the police department to file a report. An estimate of damage repair or a copy of a receipt if that repair has already been done is helpful, police said. Michigan City police can be reached at 219-874-3221. VALPARAISO A 27-year-old Michigan man on Thursday morning was at the Porter County Courthouse to plead guilty to breaking into the building more than a year ago and causing an estimated $12,000 in damages. Kristopher Newcomb, of Battle Creek, pleaded guilty to a felony count of burglary and misdemeanor criminal mischief in return for prosecutors dropping a misdemeanor theft charge and agreeing to allow the sentences for the two offenses to run concurrent rather than one after another, according to court documents. The felony count carries a sentence of between one to six years behind bars. Newcomb broke into the five-story building in downtown Valparaiso on July 19 or 20, 2016, through a ground-level boiler room window on the south side of the structure, police said. The break-in occurred sometime between the last person leaving the building at 10 p.m. July 19 and an employee of the adult probation department arriving shortly before 5:45 a.m. July 20 to discover Newcomb sleeping on the courthouse floor. Much of the damage was focused on the upper floors of the building at 16 Lincolnway. Porter Circuit Court Judge Mary Harper said at the time while her third-floor office and courtroom were protected by heavy doors, the staff offices sustained damaged furniture and equipment. Paperwork from as many as 40 to 50 primarily civil case files also was scattered around the room, tainted further with blood stains and shards of glass from the door window. Newcomb also broke the glass on the door to the county prosecutor's victims assistance unit, and damaged a laptop computer and printer, officials said at the time. A chair was found lodged in what had been a window of the door leading to Magistrate Court 2. Vending machines were damaged, some inactive wiring for the building's heating and air conditioning unit were pulled out, and blood was found smeared on walls. The proposed plea agreement, which was taken under consideration until Nov. 2, calls for a restitution amount to be determined. Figures totaling nearly $6,000 are written on the agreement. CROWN POINT A criminal court judge affirmed a trial date later this month for a 22-year-old Gary man accused of attempted murder in a woman's shooting in Gary. Devonte D. Hodge appeared Thursday in Lake Criminal Court with defense attorney Derla Gross, who told Judge Clarence Murray she was scheduling depositions and awaiting evidence from the state. The judge affirmed a trial date for Oct. 30. Hodge is accused of shooting the woman Dec. 8 after a meeting in the 400 block of Matthews Street, according to a probable cause affidavit. A witness told police he drove with the woman to meet D, whom he identified in a photo lineup as Hodge, and got into a confrontation with Hodge's cousin, Andrew Ford, the affidavit states. He said Ford shot him in the leg, and he returned fire, killing the 24-year-old Gary man, according to the affidavit. Police found Ford dead and the woman suffering from six gunshot wounds, the affidavit states. The woman was transported to an Illinois hospital, where she identified her shooter as Hodge. Hodge has twice previously been charged with murder in unrelated shootings, but the cases were dismissed after one witness turned up dead and a second witness recanted. A Gary police detective testified at a bond hearing earlier this year Hodge was a suspect in four murders, including the state witness' homicide. Hodge is jailed on a $500,000 bond, according to court records. He is also charged with aggravated battery and battery by means of a deadly weapon in the woman's shooting. CROWN POINT The Lake County Council voted 4-3 Thursday to set aside $150,000 to assist the struggling Gary Public Transportation Corp. Council members from north and south county communities bitterly debated whether all county taxpayers should support the Gary-based bus service. The Gary Public Transportation Corp. is pushing for local funding to preserve its Lakeshore South route, which loops among Hammond, Munster and Highland. The transit agency has said a reduction in federal funding may require eliminating that route by December without receiving $200,000 locally. Paratransit service provided by GPTC in the area of the bus route would also end in December. Service on Lakeshore South, as well as the Lakeshore Connection route running from Gary into East Chicago, has already been reduced this year. Washington said he has voted in the past for millions of dollars in property taxes paid by north county residents for road repairs for south county. "Now the north has issues. GPTC does transportation for the Region. They run routes for Hammond, Whiting, Merrillville and Crown Point and take a lot of residents from the north to the south to get to work, groceries and child care." Councilman Eldon Strong, R-Crown Point, asked, "Is it going down to Lowell? Is it going down to Cedar Lake? I don't see where the county has the responsibility to support the Gary bus service." Councilwoman Elsie Franklin, D-Gary, said, "I really hate when you are cutting up Gary. When you do that you make it personal. That is my community." Strong and Councilman Dan Dernulc, R-Highland, who both voted against giving GPTC county money, said they voted against the $150,000 subsidy on broad fiscal policy principles. "I object and am disappointed that you think I'm taking a shot at Gary, because I'm not," Strong said. Council President Ted Bilski, D-Hobart, said he supports helping the Gary bus service, but was voting no because he preferred to wait to negotiate the county's fair share with other communities served by the buses, which should also be contributing. "If we now approve $150,000, do we expect anyone to come and ask for less than $150,000?" Bilski said. The council will meet Tuesday afternoon for a final vote on county government's 2018 budget. That budget will raise property taxes countywide to generate an additional $850,000 next year for bridge and stormwater drainage ditch repairs. The balanced budget also grants a 3 percent pay raise for hundreds of full-time employees. That will add $2.1 million to county spending this year. INDIANAPOLIS Should individuals sentenced to die at the Indiana State Prison in Michigan City, as well as Hoosiers generally, have a say over which drugs the state uses to carry out lethal injections? The Indiana Supreme Court heard oral arguments Thursday to help determine whether the Department of Correction is permitted to change the lethal three-drug cocktail whenever it chooses, or if revisions to the agency's execution protocol must be opened to public comment through the state rulemaking process. Deputy Attorney General Stephen Creason said the relevant statute uses the word "may," and therefore clearly gives DOC the option of going through the rulemaking process. But that also means the agency is not required to seek public input before selecting its execution drugs, he said. From a practical perspective, Creason argued that having to go through the six- to eight-month rulemaking process every time a change is needed could unduly delay executions especially given the ongoing shortages of execution drugs across the United States. David Frank, the attorney for death row inmate Roy Lee Ward, attempted to persuade the five justices that because the state's execution protocol has a general effect similar to a law, it only is valid if adopted through the rulemaking process. Justice Geoffrey Slaughter, a Crown Point native, pushed back on that argument. He said the protocol directs DOC employees how to proceed with an execution, including the specific drug cocktail, it's not regulating the conduct of Ward or anybody outside the DOC. Frank replied: "Respectfully, your honor, it's the ultimate regulation of conduct. After this rule is applied there will be no more conduct on Mr. Ward's behalf, and he will have been unlawfully executed." Justice Mark Massa was skeptical of that contention. He suggested Frank was looking for "an opportunity to just throw more sand in the wheels" and slow the process toward Ward's execution. Indiana's death penalty effectively is on hold while the case is pending. Though none of the 13 individuals on death row were scheduled to be executed. A Supreme Court ruling is expected in the next few months. GARY The city of Gary has been awarded a grant to support the development of a National Civil Rights Hall of Fame, according to a release Thursday from the office of U.S. Representative Pete Visclosky, D-Merrillville. The $59,000 grant comes from the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration. It will be used to support the development of a feasibility study and business plan to establish a National Civil Rights Hall of Fame facility and headquarters for the National Civil Rights Institute and Hall of Fame, Inc., in Gary, according to the release. Last year, Gary Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson sponsored a resolution that supported the National Civil Rights Hall of Fame Board's grant request. The Gary Common Council approved the resolution allowing the City to contribute the required local match. Former Mayor Richard G. Hatcher has spoken of creating the facility for about 30 years. He appeared before the Lake County Council in March 2016 seeking county funding. The Times reported at the time that county officials wanted more financial data and other information on the proposal. Hatcher's foundation was reported at that time to have purchased Gary's former Benjamin Bannecker school and its 10-acre campus near 23rd Avenue and Garfield Street in 2015 and to have hired a Chicago architect to plan the four-story, $10 million facility. In Thursday's release, National Civil Rights Institute and Hall of Fame Board Member Lamar Taylor stated Hatcher and others associated with the project "are hopeful that this grant will allow us to continue to move forward and build the National Civil Rights Hall of Fame. Visclosky stated he deeply appreciated Gary's "unrelenting initiative to establish this historical and significant facility. It will undoubtedly build upon the foundational economic attractions of Gary and draw additional visitors and businesses to our region. Freeman-Wilson stated the building "is just the right fit for Gary and a fitting tribute to Mayor Hatchers legacy. Over the past five years, we have had numerous discussions about the project and have continued to work with board members through our Department of Commerce. Receiving this grant is huge." HAMMOND Joshua Barnes, of Schererville, signed up for the Summer on the Shore passport app program to give his friends, family and himself something to do. The biggest thing was there was no effort. I like getting out of the house in the summer. Plus I needed a car, Barnes said at Wednesdays celebration at the South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority Welcome Center where he received the keys to his new blue Subaru Forester provided by Castle Subaru, of Portage. Barnes, who works as a sales lead at Best Buy near Southlake Mall, said hes been driving a 2004 Honda Accord with 240,000 miles and no air conditioning. The windows were down everywhere I went. The Summer on the Shore program grew from an idea proposed last winter that brought together the SSCVA, The Times Media Co. and Castle Subaru and included 62 restaurants, shops, parks, festivals and other locations throughout Northwest Indiana, said Joe Battistoni, vice president of sales & marketing for The Times Media Co. We wanted to build Region pride, said Speros A. Batistatos, SSCVA president/CEO. Participants signed up for their passport by downloading an app. They then visited any of the 62 locations where they scanned a QR code for their stamps. By collecting six stamps they were automatically entered in the contest. Munster resident Gary Kozlowski won the third prize a set of four framed South Shore Line posters depicting the four seasons. Kozlowski said he and his wife, Carole, visited a number of places including Growlers, Albanese Candy, Chicagoland Popcorn, Valparaiso Market Days and the Memorial Opera House in Valparaiso. This is a really pleasant surprise, Carole Kozlowski said. Whiting resident Amy Bucher wasnt able to attend the celebration, but will receive a Staycation basket with items valued at more than $1,000. INDIANAPOLIS The Indiana Department of Education on Wednesday released the 2016-17 School Accountability Grades showing that nearly 25 percent of schools improved one or more letter grades, with close to 6 percent improving their letter grade to an A. Overall, 62 percent of schools received an A or B. Local school grades mirrored other districts in the state with some schools showing improved grades, some remaining the same and other school grades dropping. The school corporation grades have not yet been released. The state is scheduled to release that information in November. Seven of the schools in the Crown Point Community School Corp. earned an A, while the other three -- Taft Middle School, Col. John Wheeler Middle School and Timothy Ball Elementary School maintained a B. Of the 11 schools in the Valparaiso Community School Corp., seven earned an A, while the other four earned a B. Thomas Jefferson, Cooks Corners, Hayes Leonard, Northview and Memorial elementary schools all maintained an A grade in 2016 and 2017. Merrillville High School went to a C from a B. Lake Central High School moved to an A from a B. Hosford Park New Tech Elementary School in the Lake Ridge New Tech Schools maintained its A grade. Krueger Middle School in the Michigan City Area Schools had an F in 2016 and 2017. Westville High School in the MSD of New Durham Township maintained a C grade. Marquette High School in Michigan City and Bishop Noll Institute in Hammond went to an A from a B, while Andrean High School maintained its A grade in both years. Ambassador Academy in Gary was graded a D both years. Portage Christian School dropped to a D from a B. Kesling Middle School in LaPorte improved to a B from a C. Gary emergency manager maps plan No grades were released for the Gary Community School Corp. where school officials have appealed the grades for several different schools. According to the report, the School City of East Chicago also appealed the school grades for Central High School, Harrison Elementary School and Block Middle School. State department spokesman Adam Baker said school audits and appeals are common in the accountability grade process. "It provides schools the opportunity to ensure they present their data accurately and to ask questions, should they have any," he said. The Gary Community School Corp., which has been graded an F, has been taken over by the state, and an emergency manager was appointed to improve the school district's finances and academics. Reached by telephone Wednesday while at an Indiana State Board of Education meeting, Gary schools emergency manager Peggy Hinckley said the district is committed to assisting the Department of Education on auditing the data. She said the district is at the state board meeting to talk about Marquette and Beveridge elementary schools, both of which have had F grades for several years. "We're presenting improvement plans for those schools," Hinckley said. "I don't have enough information to say exactly what the state is looking at as part of the audit. I know that for Marquette and Beveridge, we're going to implement double success periods for language arts and math. We're going to try and catch those students up immediately as they fall behind rather than waiting until the end of the school year and putting them in summer school. That's going to mean we're going to extend their school day for 2 1/2 hours," Hinckley said. She said the district would not ask teachers to stay late, but instead would hire education majors from Purdue University Northwest, Calumet College of St. Joseph and Indiana University Northwest to tutor those students. Hinckley said this effort will cost about $200,000 per school and is being funded through Title 1 money. Several local superintendents pleased Other local school leaders are pleased with their school grade. East Porter County School Corp. schools Superintendent Rod Gardin said he's pleased with the grades this year. "Four out of six schools received an A, and two schools received a B," he said. "Those grades are a testament to the hard work that our teachers and principals do every day to make sure that students are learning. We've got 2,547 students, that's up 47 students this year. That includes 250 students who are transfer students from all over, including adjacent corporations." Gardin said that means parents from outside the school corporation see the good work done by teachers and they want their students in the corporation. "They're willing to sacrifice time and money to drive their kids to school to make sure that they get an excellent education," he said. Lake Station schools Superintendent Thomas Cripliver said Edison Jr.-Sr. High School, and Hamilton and Polk elementary schools' letter grades improved this year to a B. He said Bailey elementary maintained its B. "We did some professional development with our teachers in English/language arts and math and really focused our instruction," he said. "Our students and teachers worked really hard to make these improvements." Michigan City Area Schools Superintendent Barbara Eason-Watkins said the district is pleased that Michigan City High School earned a grade of B this year. She said this reflects a strong graduation rate, significant growth in achievement among students who were struggling academically and the fact that a majority of the graduates earn dual credits or industry certifications. "The ISTEP and the complex formula used by the state to calculate grades has challenged our elementary and middle schools, as it has many schools across our state," she said. "Each of our schools has developed specific strategies to accelerate growth and achievement. Knapp Elementarys co-teaching program to support students with special needs, a strong gifted/talented program and a focus on growth for underachieving students have been key in their strong performance, and we are implementing many of these same strategies across the district." Some charter schools weigh in on grades Sean Egan, principal/superintendent at Hammond Academy of Science and Technology, said the charter school is happy with its letter grade for the 2016-17 school year. It improved to a B from a C. "We are especially proud of the growth that a large percentage of our students were able to accomplish," he said. "Also, our high school program demonstrates exceptional results in both our career- and college-readiness and our graduation rates over time." At 21st Century Charter School in Gary, Principal Anthony Cherry said, "Our school grade is not what we would like, and we are in the process of appealing. We are supposedly a D school, two points away from a C. Primarily the reason for our grade is low ISTEP scores K-8. It's the old educational conflict of growth versus proficiency." Added Kevin Teasley, 21st Century superintendent and president/CEO of Indianapolis-based GEO Foundation, "We are appealing our grade. To us, the grade makes no sense. We are the only school in the state to graduate a student who earned her bachelor degree while in high school. We graduated many others with an associate degree. "The report card does a good job of being punitive, but doesn't recognize the positive things the outcomes we are producing. "Over and above all of these points, 21st Century administered state tests to 122 new students last year, of which 84 percent failed the math and 62 percent failed the English portion of ISTEP. We don't blame the kids; rather, we want to serve these kids. But given that these students came to us way below grade level, the state should take that into account. ... We are an open-enrollment school and will continue to be. We are here to serve all," he said. Today, the Department of Homeland Security is slated to stop accepting renewal applications for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. Across the country, many young people like me are scrambling to come up with attorney fees and the $495 we need to re-apply and then to get paperwork filed on time. I pray someday I wont have to go through this process. I believe in my heart Im an American. Ive been here for 17 years. I graduated from a high school in Oklahoma, and I'm pursuing a career as a doctor. All the memories I have made are from this great country. Im not an American on paper, however, and with DACA ending Congress must pass a bill like the Dream Act that would allow me a shot at achieving my hope of legal permanent residency. Im in Washington this week to meet with members of Congress to encourage them to do just that. I believe most Americans, even those who want enhanced border security, want to give me that opportunity. More than 800 business leaders from every sector of the economy and all across the nation have written to congressional leaders asking them to pass the Dream Act. This support has heartened us and made us feel even more a part of the communities in which we live. Last week, The Washington Post and ABC News released the results of a survey that asked voters their feelings about immigration. Almost nine in 10 respondents said they support DACA. We also know that the president and many prominent conservatives want Congress to pass the Dream Act, or similar legislation. President Donald Trump has said hell revisit his choice to end DACA if Congress doesnt act. Hes said he has great love for me and my fellow recipients, and hes implied that no one wants to deport good, educated and accomplished young people..." I hope hes right, and Im encouraged other prominent Republicans have echoed the presidents statements. House Speaker Paul Ryan has acknowledged Dreamers know no other country as their home. Hes said that both he and the president want a humane solution. If Congress doesnt pass a bill like the Dream Act, I will lose the opportunity to continue my studies, and I wont be able to use the skills I am learning to help the people who have done so much for me. Over the next two years, every DACA recipient will lose his or her ability to work, go to school or serve in the U.S. military. According to the Center for American Progress and data from the Cato Institute, each day 1,400 young people will lose their jobs. That will hurt me, but Cato says it also will cost U.S. employers $6.3 billion. Those costs would be needless. My fellow Dreamers and I, we are here to work. In fact, we already pay taxes. According to the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, we supply about $2 billion in revenue each year to state and local governments. I want to stay. I want to help make this country great again. Record Number of Black Candidates Seeking History During Midterm Elections While some already are household names like Stacey Abrams in Georgia, Val Demings in Florida, and Anthony Brown in Maryland, others like Natalie James in Arkansas, Will Boyd in Alabama,... Tell the Supreme Court: We Still Need Affirmative Action One of the great joys of my life is teaching. Im fortunate to teach classes on social justice at the University of Pennsylvania, one of the most respected schools in... Capella retired, heading to Australia A recurring fetlock injury has robbed Capella of a start at Hastings and led to her early retirement. The Gary Harding-bred and raced Rip Van Winkle five-year-old will fly to Australia next Tuesday with a tentative booking to Arrowfield Stud stallion Snitzel. Capella Photo: Trish Dunell Matamata trainer Danica Guy withdrew Capella from Saturday's Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) at Hastings earlier this week after her fetlock injury flared up again. "Things have just gone wrong with her. She sprained her fetlock in the Rich Hill Mile and she must have torn the ligament over the fetlock worse than we thought she had," Guy said. "She'd been coming along great but it's just flared up. She's got no problem with her bone structure and she's X-rayed clean but it's just a shame this has happened again. "Gary has had a good offer for her and he'll have to weigh that up but either way, she's heading off to Arrowfield on Tuesday." Out of Harding's Group Three-winning Grosvenor mare Limerick, Capella won three of her 14 starts, claiming the Gr.2 Eight Carat Classic (1600m) at Ellerslie as a three-year-old before finishing third in the Gr.2 Sir Tristram Fillies Classic (2100m) at Te Rapa and fourth in the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) at Ellerslie. She went on to finish fifth in the Gr.1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) and seventh in the Gr.1 Australian Oaks (2400m) in Sydney. "Her Eight Carat win was massive but her run in the Derby was super too. She only went down half a length," Guy said. "I've had nothing that can gallop like her. She can run fast sectionals and maintain that. She's a bit freakish like that." Without Capella, Galaxy Miss will be left to fly the flag for the stable this weekend, though Guy had yet to decide whether to tackle the Gr.3 Red Badge Spring Sprint (1400m) at Hastings on Saturday or the New Zealand Red Cross 1400 at Te Rapa on Friday. "My thinking is if we get a bit of rain, we may as well go down and run in the black-type race. If we had a shower or two of rain and the track was a dead four or five, it's probably a better race for her," Guy said. "She's going okay. She's eating well and looks great. From barrier one, with Danielle [Johnson, jockey] on and carrying 53 kilos, she'd have to be a chance with the cut out of the track." TAB bookmakers have Galaxy Miss at $16 for the Spring Sprint in a market headed by Francaletta at $4. - NZ Racing Desk At the age of 101, Beauregard resident Dorothy Howard lives her life to the fullest. Originally from California, Howard moved to Alabama to be with her daughter in Beauregard, where Howard has been living for six years. Jan Hovey, Howards daughter, said her mother has always been an active person. She believes in exercising, Hovey said. At the age of 91, Hovey said her mother enjoys participating in a water aerobics class. Four centenarians from Lee County and the surrounding areas were honored with portraits Wednesday at the Lee-Russell Council of Governments Area Agency on Agings Opelika headquarters, where the portraits were unveiled to family and friends of the honorees. We just want to honor them because theyve lived life so much, said Jackie Pinkard, director of the Lee-Russell Council of Governments Area Agency on Aging. The project for creating the photo tribute to the areas centenarians started five years ago after Pinkard approached executive director Suzanne Burnette with the idea. The Lee-Russell Council would later partner with Jernigan Photography owner Charlie Jernigan, who donates his services for the project. Opelika Mayor Gary Fuller said senior citizens are an integral part of a community. I think it says something about an area and community on how we treat and care for our senior citizens, Fuller said. Auburn Mayor Bill Ham and Loachapoka Mayor Zach Holmes expressed their appreciation to the centenarians. Folks that are 100 years old are absolutely amazing to me, Ham said. The stories and the history that each of you hold is absolutely incredible. It is truly an honor to be in your presence at the longevity of life that you have attained, Holmes said. The centenarians honored at the event were Howard, Annie Lias, the late Alice Allen and the late Dorothy Dobbs Head. Howard and Lias cousin were in attendance at the event. The portraits, which include each centenarians name, date of birth and a piece of advice, are displayed permanently at the headquarters. Pinkard said the agency is always looking for centenarians to recognize at this annual event. People who know of centenarians in the area can contact the agency at 334-749-5264. It looks like JavaScript is either disabled or turned off. Please enable JavaScript to correctly view this web site. Parece que JavaScript esta desactivado o apagado. Por favor, activar JavaScript para ver este sitio de web. Afigura-se o JavaScript esta desativado ou desligado. Por favor ative o JavaScript para visualizar este site. Il semble que JavaScript est dasactive. S'il vous plait, activer JavaScript pour visualiser ce site. The months of May and October are special months on the Catholic Churchs liturgical calendar, dedicated to the veneration of the Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus. May is the liturgical month of the Blessed Virgin Mary whose commemoration according to the Catholic Encyclopaedia dates from the 17th century. That is when the custom of consecrating the month of May to the Blessed Virgin by special observances was first adopted. Observance of the month of May became more solidified as a Marian month in 1945 when Pope Pius XII proclaimed May 31 as the feast day of the Queenship of Mary. In later years, the day was moved to August 22. A statue of Mary procession in Nigeria The Church also based on the May 13, 1917 apparitions of Mary at Fatima in Portugal to further affirm the month of May as a Marian month. According to Rev Fr Henry Ssebwana, the vice rector of Bukalasa Minor Seminary in Masaka diocese, on May 13, 1917, three young girls, Lucia Santos and her cousins Jacinta and Francisco Morta were herding sheep when they saw a woman brighter than the sun, shedding rays of light clearer and stronger than the rays of the sun. The lady is said to have asked them to devote themselves to the Holy Trinity and to pray the rosary every day, to bring peace to the world and an end to war. The month of October is dedicated as the Most Holy Rosary primarily because October 7 is the feast day of Our Lady of the Rosary the day on which the church in Europe registered victory against the Muslim Turks in 1571. The Turks who controlled vast Muslim lands in the Middle East were expanding into Europe forcing Pope Pius V to call on the Christian princes of Europe to rally to defeat the Islamic threat. In addition, he called for special processions and public recitation of the rosary, asking the intercession of the Virgin Mary leading to the defeat of the Muslim army at the Battle of Lepanto. During those months, we pay special homage to Mother Mary by saying the rosary daily and the litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary, seeking for her intercession, Fr Ssebwana said. The litany of Mary is a special prayer recited after the rosary. It was composed and first used by pilgrims at the Marian shrine in Loreto, Italy in the 16th century and approved by Pope Sixtus V in 1587. Besides the two months, the Church also has other special days dedicated to the glorification of Mother Mary. One such a day is August 15, which is the feast day for the Assumption of Mary into heaven. The Roman and Orthodox Catholic Churches believe that on this day, the Virgin Marys body was taken up into heaven at the end of her earthly life. The Assumption of Mary into heaven is one of the major feasts of the Catholic Church and on that day, the church allows moderate processions to give reverence to Mary because of her role as Mother of God, Fr Ssebwana said. Some of these processions were witnessed in Kampala with a priest holding the statue of the Virgin Mary in an open-roof car, followed by a brass band and devotees. It is a long-held tradition that Christians move with the statue of Mary... because at the time there were fewer households, a priest would move with the statue of Mary and visit households which we call Mary visiting homes. It could also be done by small Christian communities of about 10 households who move around with it [the statue] showing the significance of Mary in the church, and also praying for her intercession, Ssebwana said. During the processions, the devotees invoke Mary through recitations of the rosary and litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary. sadabkk@gmail.com Seven opposition leaders were either arrested or prevented from leaving their homes yesterday morning as police launched a fierce crackdown on peaceful protests against the lifting of presidential age limits. Both the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) and Uganda Law Society (ULS) slammed the arrests, which continue a countrywide trend of attacks on Ugandans fundamental human rights and freedoms of assembly and expression. Those arrested were Erias Lukwago (Kampala lord mayor), Robert Kyagulanyi (Kyadondo East), Ssemujju Ibrahim Nganda (Kira municipality), Moses Kasibante (Lubaga North), Muwanga Kivumbi (Butambala) and Ingrid Turinaawe ( FDCs secretary for mobilisation). Police arrest Ingrid Turinawe from a commuter taxi in Kasangati Kampala metropolitan police commander, Frank Mwesigwa, told The Observer the politicians were detained at undisclosed locations. We cannot allow the protests to go on. These people were planning to block roads by burning tyres and police cant sit back. We learnt a lesson from the past walk-to-work protests and we cant let it happen the second time, Mwesigwa said. In 2011, the police broke up peaceful opposition (walk-to-work) demonstrations against high fuel prices and rising cost of living in a brutal campaign which left scores dead. Like in 2011, the police yesterday did not prove its claims that the peaceful protests were a cover to cause chaos. Addressing media on Saturday at his Katonga road office in Kampala, opposition kingpin, Dr Kizza Besigye, challenged the elite, concerned about President Musevenis mismanagement of the country, to take a stand beginning Tuesday. He said, they should either walk, move on boda bodas or use public means as a form of protest. Besigye himself wasnt allowed to leave his home. Police camped outside his gate. He later called a media conference at which he lashed out at government for stifling peaceful opposition voices. The Forum for Democratic Change founding father also condemned the hurling of grenades into opposition politicians homes. They do that not only to intimidate them but also their families so that they can put pressure on them to abandon the struggle, Besigye said. Ingrid Turinawe with some of the youth with red ribbons Turinawe, for example, was pulled out of a commuter taxi and bundled into a waiting police van. The police action runs counter to articles 43 and 29 of the constitution, which guarantee freedom to protest and demonstrate in a democratic society. UHRC spokesperson Florence Mugerwa said that if the opposition intends to hold peaceful demonstrations, police ought to respect their rights. The laws are clear, people are free to express themselves but police are the custodian of the law. If police sees that there is a security threat from a demonstration, they can intervene, Munyirwa said. Law society president Francis Gimara said all freedoms must be respected because it is what the constitution requires. It is not for police to decide which freedoms to grant them. It should instead ensure that they [freedoms] are promoted in a manner that protects human rights, Gimara said. Calm in the city A stroll by The Observer around Kampalas central business district yesterday revealed relative calm. At Makerere University, all gates were clear. Lectures at the institution went on undisturbed. A student (name withheld) at the university said Ugandans are not happy but: many think if you go to the streets, police or military will shoot you but Ugandans are not cowards as Museveni might think. He is pushing us to the wall and when our backs finally touch the wall, we shall strike. This protester opted for his wife's knicker Kyambogo University was not any different. Deployment at the Constitution Square was at its usual premium levels. There were about seven police trucks. I would rather work and feed my family than engage in a protest where Im not sure I will come back alive, this government is brutal, Hamis Nduga, a boda boda cyclist, said. Nduga added; Give us good schools, work on our roads, build hospitals, pay civil servants, crush corruption and then you can think of changing the constitution, he said. In downtown areas, some people put on the protest symbol: red ribbons, caps or red shirts and dresses. Sandra Akello, a shopkeeper, said: So what if our businesses are disturbed, does it mean we should accept to continue living in this situation? No, we have to stand up and show our dissatisfaction with what some greedy people in government are doing. For John Kitimbo, the opposition should be planning how to keep those greedy NRM MPs out of parliament in the next election. We should make sure NRM doesnt win parliamentary seats countrywide and we see how Museveni will run government with an opposition parliament. kamogajonathan50@gmail.com When Nelson Mandela was still under incarceration and singing positively about him was literally criminal under Apartheid, in 1987, the South African legendary artiste Chicco Chimora sang a transparently-veiled, highly emotional song with the lyrics: We miss you Manelo, where are you? Mama was crying the day you disappeared; Papa was weeping when you ran away; Come back home, were missing you Of course, it is said that when he performed it at concerts, crowds insisted on singing we miss you Mandela in place of the Manelo guise. Similarly, Lucky Dube hid behind metaphor in songs like Slave (1989) where he sings: Ministers of religion Have visited me many times To talk about it They say to me I gotta leave it ... Its a bad habit for a man But when I try to leave it My friends keep telling me Im a fool amongst fools Now Im a slave, a slave... Im a liquor slave. You just have to replace the word Liquor with Power to dig out the message depicting the situation of the Apartheid regime that had become enslaved by its own misdeeds and no longer sure who to listen to between its sycophants and those who wanted to save it from itself. Listening to these songs a few weeks ago, I was sent into helpless nostalgia. Not about the songs and their context, but about President Museveni from my childhood memories. I loved drawing right from primary school, and I remember being punished a couple of times for being found drawing during class time. I still keep some of these books, and I look at the many drawings in imagination and reminiscence of what could have been going on in my young mind. Most of the drawings were of President Museveni, Salim Saleh, Philly Lutaaya, and some dancer called John Jones. The drawings of Museveni clearly depict the fantasy and admiration I had for him as a child. This wasnt only because he was the president; he was uncontestably an enigma across the social and political spectrum. Yes, we had heard about all the myths surrounding his bush war escapades and mysteriousness. Who had not heard about how he would turn into a cat and disappear when Tito Okellos soldiers surrounded him? Talk about his bank robberies was everywhere, but in a heroic interpretation. Many of the things we had watched in Hollywood movies were partly brought close to us in bush war narratives, mainly as told and embellished by the victors. But even beyond the narratives, I dont think there is any president in Ugandas history that has achieved as much popularity as Museveni did at the time. In our child games, how we euphorically sang those charismatic war songs! Eeh moto unawaka maama eeeh moto unawaka... Amba Museveni ambaaa, kulika entalo, ambaaa... We felt the man, we felt the liberation. We received free high-quality 96-page exercise books labelled Government of Uganda, Not for Sale even in private schools. If it wasnt for the exclusionary post-war anyanya narrative that demonised people from Northern Uganda, I think Museveni would have scored about 90 per cent had there been an election in the late 1980s. When he spoke, even for a child, you wanted to listen on and on. The sagacity in his oratory deployment of local proverbs was always a thing to look forward to in his speeches. And all was easily taken in because he not only spoke, he lived his word no lies, no summersaulting. So, it was hard to doubt him without seeming odd. Like is said of good wine, his name needed no bush. I remember in P6 we had an inter-school art exhibition, and one of our teachers, Master Budde, drew an awesome portrait of Museveni waving a salute. It stole the whole show. One simply had to look in Musevenis eyes to see a bright future for the country. Or was I just a naive child? When Nelson Mandela visited Uganda in the 1990s, we lined the roads in chants as they [Mandela and Museveni] waved at us through the roof of an SUV. We had waited for about five hours in our school uniforms without anything to eat. But the hunger meant nothing at that special moment. It was my first time to see my hero, Museveni, alongside another African legend. That picture is still fresh in my mind. Well, I will skip all else we know too well that happened in subsequent years of liquor. The next time I came closest to him again was coincidentally at the launch of the Nelson Mandela Lecture Series at Makerere University a few weeks ago. He was seated in my eyes direction. I looked at him for hours and somehow found a tear rolling down my face. This was not helped by his long, patronising speech and saying that he finds no problem with overstaying in power! That now we have to sing the moto unawaka songs in resistance of the same man that was our hero is quite painful. Its more disturbing that he no longer seems to care what we feel about him. This cant be him! When we travel outside Africa and say we are from Uganda, we had gotten used to being asked about Amin. But that we are now asked about Museveni in almost the same mockery is ironical. We miss you Museveni; where did you go? Please come back and talk to this one in your body to honorably leave before all your legacy is irreparably reversed. I pray the sycophants that surrounded him when you left will allow you to access him. They have no reputation to lose and would even exchange their name for good food, but you still do. Come back home and quit the liquor. jsssentongo@gmail.com The author heads the Center for African Studies at Uganda Martyrs University, Nkozi. Dear President Museveni, I write this letter as a concerned citizen of Uganda. You have been in power for more than 30 years. But it seems you are not ready to retire. Any sane Ugandan who would like to see a peaceful transfer of power must be worried! Peaceful transfer of power prevents bloodshed and politically motivated killings of any kind. It further prevents fear, worries of the unknown and secures the future of the younger generation. Peaceful change guarantees stability. Mr President, I am sure you know the history of countries such as Somalia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt and Libya. Are you happy when you think about what happened and is still happening in these countries? Are you happy when you see lives of innocent civilians being wasted just because a few greedy and selfish people want to stay in power by hook or crook? Do you want Uganda also to follow the same trend? Do you love the land, but not the people living in it? Would you like to be pushed out of office by removing all constitutional safeguards? Remember, Uganda is not only for you, but for all of us. It is futile for you to try to stifle the potential of the young emerging leaders. Suffocating leadership development of any kind breeds insecurity. You have done your part, good or bad, but leave the stage when the dance is still sweet. Bloodshed is not what Ugandans wish to see or go through again but tinkering with the Constitution points us to that direction. Many Ugandans lost their lives, property and loved ones during your struggle for power. Do you want to take them through the same scenario? When swearing in, in 1986, you were welcomed by thousands of Ugandans, not because you were the best leader, but because Ugandans were tired of bloodshed. The Nairobi peace talks in 1985, which others called Nairobi peace jokes, were purposely to stop the bloodshed going on in Uganda, which you never cared about, except the power. You rejected that agreement after signing it and pushed your way to power. However, despite the destruction left behind in Luweero, Ugandans welcomed you. Ugandans thought you would be the first president to hand over power peacefully to another president. But it seems you are not ready for that; more Ugandans are getting disappointed each passing day. Charles Oruk, rkchrls620@gmail.com. NRM MPs a national shame On Wednesday last week, members of parliament affiliated to the ruling NRM and some independents granted MP Raphael Magyezi leave of parliament to draft a private members bill to amend article 102 (b) of the Constitution to lift the 75-year cap for anyone wishing to stand for president. What these MPs are doing is not priority for this country! As we speak, women are being killed in Nansana and Entebbe; people were buried by mudslides in Sironko and their dead bodies are yet to be found; Uganda lost billions of shillings to the armyworm invasion and the country risks famine because of floods! How can the MPs turn to discussing issues of lifting the presidential age limit as opposed to the above problems in addition to the bad contracts being or set to be signed for the oil sector, power dams and roads? Religious and cultural leaders have been vocal on the proposed land amendments and it is high time they pronounced themselves [those that have not] on this matter too. If they think the removal of age limit is good for the country, let them clearly say so; and if they think it is bad, say so. For the last 31 years, President Museveni has failed us on most of his promises; why should we give him more time? Cyrus Kabaale, Kampala. Why you need reason, knowledge Immanuel Kant asserted that because of limitations of reasons, no one could really know if there is a God and an afterlife. Therefore, people are reasonably justified in believing in everything tabled before them; they would never know for sure whether they are real or not. Thats why we have different people engaging in debates about religion and politics. This is justified because people have limited knowledge and reason. The solution to your limited reason is enlightenment. Most philosophers defined enlightenment as daring to know. This involves thinking autonomously, free of the dictates of external authority. This means that in every step you are going to take, especially concerning political or religious decisions, first be enlightened without any external intervention. In this submission, I will not divorce enlightenment with rationalism. This is a belief or theory that opinion and actions should be based on reason and knowledge, rather than on religious beliefs or emotional response. In this, I dare Ugandans trying to amend the Constitution to show cause that there is reason and knowledge in their actions. Marvin Kushaba, 0705873431. Can NRM save us from poverty? The media reported that the recent household survey found that the number of poor people in Uganda has increased from 6.6 million in 2012 to 10 million people in 2016/17, an increase of 3.4 million. The trend in resource-rich countries such as Uganda is expected to have an upward curve. It is surprising that under the NRM, the opposite is true. This government has even failed to maintain its small average economic growth of five per cent. Resource-rich Uganda is unlucky to be led by the current regime which imposed itself on Ugandans by the force of the gun and has clung on power through questionable elections and is unwilling to leave power in spite of its dismal performance. Under good governance, resource-poor countries such as South Korea, Hong Kong and Singapore were able to develop even without clear examples to learn from. Why cant we learn from them? Kennedy Kabonge, kabongek@yahoo.co.uk. letters@observer.ug Power belongs to us, and until that is realized, nothing will ever change in Uganda. To reclaim our power, we need to get cool and sober heads together to wrap their agile minds around an initiative of bringing change on Uganda. Tyrants create an impression that it is only I who can do this or that for you. Without fail, President Museveni keeps reminding us that he is the only revolutionary/sabalwanyi preordained for Uganda, who has to accomplish this or that. In essence, how would we live without him? How would we breathe without him? Nature will one day knock on his door, anyway. But when he ever goes, how would we survive? Those blurring questions need answers. Museveni doesnt cease to amaze me; he talks about Bonna bagaggawale or Bonna basome (prosperity for all or education for all)! Ironically, it is his family that decides who should be wealthy or edified! His brother, Gen Salim Saleh, is given exorbitant billions of money to create wealth for us! His wife, Janet is the minister of education! Museveni has a mandatory budget for presidential donation! Like I stated before, Uganda is led by the army. It also represents us in parliament without our mandate. It always toes Musevenis line in parliament! It has a special force which, until recently, was led by his son, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba. In his infamous letter, Gen David Sejusa [Tinyefuza] alleged that there was a ploy to eliminate those who are opposed to the Muhoozi project of succeeding his father. That may well be false, however, what is not is the fact that Muhoozi rapidly rose through the ranks than those who risked their lives in the Luweero bush war. Food for thought: what are the chances of Musevenis family ever parting with power? What I am trying to point out is the fact that reclaiming our power from the jars of tyranny wont be easy, because we are against a well-organized and oiled regime, which has been symmetrically built for over 30 years. Lets cogitate over what we had before Musevenis regime: Cooperatives, coffee marketing boards and their banks, which were essential to farmers. These are all obliterated. Uganda Cooperative Bank, which was essential to traders, was given to Musevenis cronies. A public transport system that comprised a bus and train network vanished and was replaced with a boda boda system! How many people have lost their loved ones due to accidents caused by boda bodas? Despite being hazardous, they are a major source of livelihood for many families, hence a catch 22. Is there hope for change by perpetuating the status quo? We take hope for granted; however, life without hope is worthless. I have two brothers who share the same name, Kigozi. To distinguish them, we named one hopeless and another egaga. Egaga has a flamboyant personality, and Hopeless is self explanatory. About 26 years ago, both left for London for a promising future. They are now British citizens and called muuva bulaayas. A wave of despair has descended over us like a blanket of morning fog for the 31 years of Musevenis rule. Like the Kigozis, people are fleeing Uganda like never before because of despair. Most have even vowed never to stay in Uganda but only to be brought for burial. That has caused most countries to toughen their itinerary to obtain a visa, and some, like the UK, have eliminated a visa-free status for us. People sell their property and invest their hope to go or send their loved ones abroad! We are enslaving ourselves abroad because of hopelessness in our country. Our mothers, sisters and daughters are enduring all kinds of abuses in some Arab countries and elsewhere because of unbearable pain of despair in Uganda. Every concerned and caring Ugandan should play a part in ending this misery. This requires not only political activists, but religious and cultural leaders too. Tyranny will never restore pride in our country, but people power will. History will judge us harshly if we let the perpetrators of tyranny have the upper hand. Let us shun and isolate them as if they have a contagious disease. Hold your nose whenever you see them as if they stink. Every religion should dedicate a day of prayers every month to end tyranny. Like never before, this is the time to be united, focused and indomitable as a nation, because the man we are fighting is adamant to keep us in subjection, and believes that he is invincible. The author is a former journalist with Ngabo and The Star newspapers. The PR industry needs advocates who can communicate with the media and general public, said Francis Ingham, director general, PR Consultants Assn., London. Ingham spoke in September after the 20,000-member PRCA expelled Bell Pottinger which had been accused of running a campaign that inflamed racial discord in South Africa. Francis Ingham The firm went into "administration" (similar to bankruptcy) after a campaign that triggered client defections, resignation of CEO James Henderson, five-year expulsion from the PRCA, and failure of consultant BDO to find a buyer. PRSA, Other Groups Called on to Act Ingham aimed his message of PRs duty to engage with the public specifically at anybody representing our business which would include PR Society of America, Intl Assn. of Business Communicators, PR Council and other trade groups. PRSA abandoned its enforceable Ethics Code in 1999 and has seen its membership total stagnate since then. Enrollment of 19,600 in 2000 grew to only 21,000 in 2017. Revenues in 2016 of $11.3M were below revenues of $11.4M in 2006. Modern PR is much more than traditional media relations but an antagonistic relationship with traditional media means our story seldom breaks through to the business community or general public, added Ingham, who is celebrating his tenth year as director general. PRCAs suspension of BP shows that members will be held to account by its ethical code, said Ingham. He added that Agencies that arent members need to be able to justify their position. PRSA Is in Communications Breakdown PRSA, facing the bone-rattling issue of whether communications should replace PR in most places in the bylaws, an issue to be decided Saturday by its Assembly, has lapsed into silence on the issue. An outcry by members at the proposal forced leaders to say that the proposal was being amended. But changes can only be revealed at the Assembly in Boston, said Mark McClennan of MSL Group, 2016 chair. Membership discussion and debate on the PRSA website has been cut off. Reporters are barred from covering the Assembly. In contrast, the Canadian PR Society not only allows press attendance but provides a live, interactive public webcast of its annual legislative body. PRSA should be advocating on behalf of public relations, wrote Kay Barkin, MHMR, Fort Worth, on the PRSA website before discussion was cut off. PRSA's Kane Defends Proposal PRSA CCO Laura Kane Wouldnt it be the role of PRSA to help individuals with all these different titles to understand they are part of PR, instead of simply making PR part of communications? she asked. Titles that Kane had mentioned in a response to her would fit neatly under PR in the professions truest sense as strategies or tactics, and it seems to me PRSA should be advocating on behalf of PR, she added. Anthony Hicks of SRVS, Memphis, said Completely eliminating the words PR from the bylaws of a professional assn. with PR in its official name, that is founded and grounded in PR, is a pretty significant move that seems to warrant a compromise. PRSA CCO Laura Kane, answering the critics, said only 13% of members have PR in their titles. We selected the term communications because it is more encompassing than PR, she said, adding that the intention of the bylaw was to address the importance of digital and social on the profession as it continues to evolve. What has traditionally been defined as PR is now being described as social media, digital communications, content management and influencer marketing among others. The reason for the change, wrote Kane, was to take a forward look at where titles associated with our profession are headed. Ballard Partners, which has close ties with the Trump White House, has inked a $600K one-year contract to promote free and fair elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Brian Ballard, a top Republican fundraiser, chaired the Trump Victory organization in Florida during the 2016 presidential campaign. He also led the Sunshine States campaigns of John McCain and Mitt Romney. Tallahassee-based BP, which opened a DC office earlier this year, is to provide strategic consulting and advocacy services to the Group of Seven political coalition regarding its pitch to Washington. DRC president Joseph Kabila, who has been in power since 2001, booted G7 representatives from the government for voicing opposition to his continued rule. Kabila was supposed to leave office by the end of 2016, but a new election date has not been set for the nation of more than 70M people. BP also will make G7s case before the United Nations about its return to the Congo and ability to participate in the electoral process. Weber Shandwick is launching VoiceUp video interview series with SellersEaston Media content shop to tell the stories of women executives in a bid to accelerate gender parity in the ranks of top management. Gail Heimann Pattie Sellers Nina Easton The firms research shows that visibility of women in executive roles increases the desire of female professionals to become leaders. Gail Heimann, president of WS, said though there is plenty of discussion about gender imbalance in the C-suite, there arent enough stories about women who have made it to the top. This series is an opportunity to lift the profiles of these highly successful women in a way that inspires rising stars to earn their own seats at the table, she said in a statement announcing VoiceUps launch. Pattie Sellers is a former assistant managing editor of Fortune and executive director of Fortune Most Powerful Women live content at Time Inc. Nina Easton covered politics, economy and foreign affairs at the Los Angeles Times and Fortune. She currently chairs Fortune Most Powerful Women International and co-chairs Fortune Global Forum. Weber Shandwick will work with SellersEaston Media to select women for VoiceUP, shape their narratives and amplify their messages. The Interpublic unit has a solid track record in advocating on behalf of female executives. Its Executive Equity & Engagement practice, which is headed by executive VP Carol Ballock, has counseled more than 125 CEOs and top corporate executives during the past six years. The Decker/Royal Agency adds slew of new ones. Decker/Royal is now agency of record for Los Angeles-based Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection for the launch and ongoing support for its new brand, U by Uniworld, the first river cruise dedicated to travel enthusiasts aged 21 to 45. The agency has added three other clients in the guided vacation space. Trafalgar offers more than 230 trips to destinations including Europe, the Americas, Asia, Australia and New Zealand. Brendan Vacations creates authentic vacation experiences in Ireland and Scotland and CostSaver offers tours at discount prices. Diamond Public Relations gains AC Hotel Gainesville Downtown to its Florida-based client roster. The agency, headquartered in Miami with an office in Los Angeles, will handle all North American public relations efforts on behalf of the property. The hotel, which is slated to open January 31, 2018, is located near the University of Florida campus. Diamonds experienced team of UF alumni will be an asset for shaping the AC Hotel Gainesville Downtown into a unique staple for the local community, said Robert Plutto, the hotels general manager. Mardiks Public Relations signs Visit Sarasota County to develop and implement a multi-channel media outreach campaign. The campaign will put the spotlight on the citys hotel-development boom, with more than 1,000 rooms coming online this year and next. Our selection committee was impressed with the Mardiks PR teams creative concepts and strong national media contacts, said Virginia Haley, president, Visit Sarasota County. This is a pivotal period for the destination with our significant increase in lodging inventory. 05/10/2017 - Full and effective implementation of recent reforms, including the Jobs Act and the Good Schools reform, would help boost growth in Italy by improving peoples skills and ensuring their more effective use across the country, according to a new OECD report. OECD Skills Strategy Diagnostic Report: Italy 2017 says that the country is struggling more than other advanced economies to make the transition towards a thriving and dynamic skills-based society. The OECD Survey of Adult Skills (PIAAC) reveals that over 13 million adults or 40% of Italys adult population have low numeracy and literacy skills. The report, presented in Rome by OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurria alongside Italys Minister of Finance, Pier Carlo Padoan, and the Minister for Territorial Cohesion and the Mezzogiorno, Claudio de Vincenti, identifies priority areas for future action. These include raising investment in higher education and vocational training, encouraging companies to invest in highquality training and scalingup resources for public employment services. Recent reforms are starting to pay off, with more than 850,000 new jobs created, said Mr. Gurria. Italy must now sustain this positive momentum to ensure that schools, universities and workplaces equip all Italians with the skills needed to succeed in the economy and society. Read the full Speech. The report says that Italy is currently trapped in a low-skill equilibrium where the low supply of skills is accompanied by low demand from firms. Small and often family-owned business account for more than 85% of all firms and about 70% of employment. But managers of many familyowned businesses often lack the skills needed to adopt and manage new, complex technologies. Pay scales in Italy are also often related more to seniority than to performance. This reduces the incentive for workers to use their skills at work and invest in learning new skills. Skills mismatch is pervasive in Italy. Around 6% of workers in Italy are under-skilled while 21% are under-qualified. Over-skilled workers (11.7%), or those who report having the skills to perform a more demanding job, and over-qualified (18%) workers, or those with qualifications that exceed what is required for their job, comprise a big part of the Italian workforce. Around 35% of workers are also working in fields unrelated to their studies. Nearly one in four young Italians (aged 15-29) are neither in employment, education nor training so-called NEETs the second highest rate in the OECD. More efforts are needed to improve teaching quality and bridge the performance gap between regions, according to the report. Increasing access to tertiary education is key, particularly for students from poorer families: the share of 25-34 year-old Italians with university-level education is just 20%, compared to the OECD average of 30%. To encourage more adults to boost their skills, more part-time and distance learning programmes are needed, as well as improved access to childcare. Training subsidies aimed at low-skilled adults should be introduced. Other recommendations in the report include: Continue efforts to create a clearer and more transparent certification system and establish a national system of recognition of non-formal and informal skills acquired on the job or in life. Improve policies such as accommodating housing policies and relocation subsidies, and providing greater work flexibility and family support to promote regional mobility. Encourage companies to invest in high-quality training targeted to the development of labour market relevant skills, and reward workers who participate in education and training, while also subsidising training programmes for low-skilled adults who often face difficulties in accessing such opportunities. Since the responsibility for skills policies is shared across ministries, levels of government and other stakeholders, it is important to harmonise information systems for skills assessment and anticipation, to enable policymakers to understand and respond better to changes in skills demand. For further information, journalists should contact the OECDs Media Office (+33 1 45 24 97 00). Working with over 100 countries, the OECD is a global policy forum that promotes policies to improve the economic and social well-being of people around the world. Related Documents Renowned Midlands charity fundraiser Eamon Martin will fly the Irish flag for a good cause, when he travels to Ethiopia to take part in Africas biggest road race, this Autumn. Eamon, from Killurin, Offaly, will be joined by 20 supporters of Irish development charity Gorta-Self Help Africa, when he jets off for this years edition of the popular Great Ethiopian Run in the heart of the countrys capital, Addis Ababa. Eamon has raised hundreds of thousands of euro for a variety of local and international charities over the years, and is appealing to the Midlands community to support his latest charitable quest. Gorta-Self Help Africa has been implementing agricultural development projects in Ethiopia for more than 30 years, and is currently supporting more than half a million rural poor households in sub-Saharan Africa to grow more food and earn more from their small farms. Ive supported Gorta-Self Help Africa for a long time, and am looking forward to joining the team in Ethiopia. Helping households to grow more on their small farms is more critical than ever, as the region is currently experiencing one of the worst food crises that the world has seen, following years of successive crop failures, Eamon Martin said. 80% of people in sub-Saharan Africa live on small farms, but the vast majority could be producing much more. I want to do my bit to help unlock Africas potential, and invite the Midlands community to help me along the way, he added. Gorta-Self Help Africa Business Developement representative Ronan Scully, whose family come from Clara, is organising the trip, which he says will raise over 50,000 to support the charitys work. Since I started working with Gorta Self Help Africa, the focus has been on food and particularly how it can be grown in difficult conditions and in tough climates in the developing world. These issues have come into sharp focus with the current famine and drought in parts of East Africa where over 25 million people are facing desperate food shortages due to climate change. At Gorta-Self Help Africa, we are not only responding to the emergency, we are empowering people with the means to live a life free from hunger and poverty, through providing good quality seed and implementing a range of other measures. If you would like to help Eamon organise a fundraising event or support him in his cause, give him a call on (087) 7168272 . Eamon will also be having a church gate collection on the weekend of October 7 & 8. To find out more or to get a registration/application brochure form for the Great Ethiopian Run, conta ct Ronan Scully on (087) 6189094, visit www.selfhelpafrica.org or email ronan.scully@ selfhelpafrica.org For more information on the work of Gorta-Self Help Africa, visit www.selfhelpafrica.org and follow @selfhelpafrica on Twitter and Facebook, and @self_help_africa on Instagram. Test your skill can you figure this out? Mary has twice as many brothers as sisters while her brother John has twice as many sisters as brothers. How many children are in their family? Over a quarter of a million people will enjoy fun events and numerical challenges during Maths Week Ireland, the worlds largest festival of maths and numeracy, taking place from Saturday, October 14 to Sunday, October 22. 1,500 students in Offaly will be taking part with Oaklands Community College, Scoil Bhride BNS, Ard Scoil Chairain Naofa, Gallen Community School, Killina Secondary School, Sacred Heart School and St. Mary's Secondary School all signed up with many more expected to make it the biggest Maths Week celebration to date. Throughout the week, world-renowned mathematicians will be on hand to entertain people of all ages with the wonder of maths through fun and interesting talks, games, teasers, challenges and magic maths shows. Eoin Gill, Founder of Maths Week Ireland, Maths Week would not be the success it is today without students from across Ireland, including those in Offaly. Its a true partnership of people working together for a common aim, promoting mathematics for all. With events up and down the country during the week there is something for everyone, young or old. You can find out more about what is happening in your area by logging onto www.mathsweek.ie or on Twitter @MathsWeek. Maths Week Ireland is the biggest festival of its kind in the world. It has now also been adopted as an initiative by Scotland, in recognition of the important contribution that maths promotion events make in helping young people to have a positive attitude towards maths. Co-ordinated by Calmast at Waterford Institute of Technology, Maths Week Ireland is run as a partnership of over 50 public and private sector institutions and groups including universities, institutes of technology, schools, professional bodies, libraries, visitor centres that are committed to promoting an interest in mathematics, as well as many of Irelands flagship employers. It is an all-island event. NOTE: The answer to the question at the top is four - Mary has two brothers and one sister while John has two sisters and one brother..... Eight Chadron State College ROTC students will hit the streets of Washington, D.C., on Sunday for the Army Ten-Miler, the third-largest 10-mile race in the world. Of the 35,000 runners, race organizers say, 35 are from Nebraska, and 70 are from Iowa. This is the first time the Chadron State ROTC will attend the annual event. Based on last years times, Chadron States team, which will compete against other ROTC and military academy teams of four to eight runners, has a good chance of placing in the top half, said Nate Reicks, Chadron State ROTC instructor. The times of the teams top four finishers will be used for scoring. Freshman Calvin DePriest said he is excited to run the same race his father did when he was in the Army. I want to run fast, DePriest said. Im mostly just running against myself and going to have fun. Itll be a fun experience, and Ill try to get some good splits. DePriest was on the cross-country, track and swimming teams at Omaha Central High School. He said the team has been logging extra miles in addition to its normal ROTC training. The race will start at the Pentagon and pass Arlington National Cemetery, the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument and the Jefferson Memorial. Also running is senior Sam Vanderheiden, a Millard North graduate; sophomores Mason Marsh of Gering and Mitchell Parish of North Platte; plus other runners from outside the state: senior Justyn Curtis, junior Connor Besse and sophomores Kalli Talbot and Konery Klueber. Women can get a free breakfast on the go Friday while learning about the risks of breast cancer. Nebraska Medicine will host its fourth annual Big Breakfast on Friday at two locations. In addition to receiving a drive-thru breakfast including croissant sandwiches, fresh fruit and Greek yogurt diners will be given breast health information. The event also encourages women to schedule mammograms. After skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, according to the American Cancer Society. Theres a 1 in 8 chance a woman will develop breast cancer in her life. Breakfast will be served from 6:30 to 9 a.m. at Nebraska Medicine-Village Pointe, 111 N. 175th St., and Shadow Lake Towne Center, near 72nd Street and Highway 370 in Papillion. Other events this week: Alice In Runderland 5K When: 9 a.m. Saturday Where: Walnut Creek Lake and Recreation Area, 11601 S. 96th St., Papillion Cost: $15 Cathedral Cup Run/Walk When: 9 a.m. Saturday Where: St. Cecilia Cathedral School, 3869 Webster St. Cost: $12-$35 Halfway 2 Heaven Hill Challenge 5K When: 10:30 a.m. Saturday Where: St. Philip Neri School, 8202 N. 31 St. Cost: $30 Compiled by Kate Malott Check out our complete list of health and fitness events at livewellnebraska.com/calendar. Ontario, Canada-based Agri-Plastics will open its first U.S. facility in Sidney, Nebraska, next year. The company plans to hire more than 20 employees next month in Sidney for manufacturing and production jobs. The company manufactures calf hutches, which house dairy calves that have been weaned, and plastic products for the dairy industry. State and local leaders have been focused on recruiting new businesses to Sidney since Bass Pro Shops said last year it would buy Cabelas, which has its headquarters there. Bass Pro finalized its purchase of Cabelas last month, but its still unclear what will happen to operations there. A Bass Pro spokesman did not respond to questions about Cabelas future in Sidney. Agri-Plastics will take over part of the building formerly occupied by wiring plant CommScope, which closed last year, and invest $4.5 million into the project. Part of the building already is used by Lukjan Metal Products, which was recruited to Sidney this year. Gov. Pete Ricketts met with Agri-Plastics corporate leaders during Nebraskas first trade mission to Canada in August. The company is in the process of applying for the states economic incentives package and incentives from the Site and Building Development Fund. Agri-Plastics cited Sidneys arid climate ideal for plastics production plus access to Interstate 80 and a quality workforce as factors that ultimately won Sidney the plant. Agri-Plastics President and Chief Executive Darren VanBuuren said the company had been looking to open a facility near emerging dairy markets in the mountain states and the Southwest. While we considered growing our company in these other states, accessibility to Nebraskas strong economic development programs and opportunities to build our workforce in Sidney are in line with our companys goals for growth, he said in a statement. It might not be your typical weekend excursion: a peek inside a new mortuary. But owners of Heafey Hoffmann Dworak & Cutler say community interest has been so high that they wanted to provide a public opportunity to view the just-finished complex. The 26,000-square-foot funeral chapel at 78th Street and West Center Road replaces, on the same spot, the 1980 version destroyed in a fire in January 2016. For 20 months weve had people asking, said co-owner Bill Cutler. Its unbelievable the support weve had from the community, everybody. People attending open houses Saturday and Sunday will find a familiar feel in a bigger and more high-tech structure. As visitors enter a lobby area that has 18-foot ceilings and is about four times the size of its predecessor, theyll be greeted by a receptionist and a huge stained-glass backdrop. One of the mortuary owners saw the 7-foot-by-11-foot stained glass at an Omaha business that was relocating. He bought it because the window resembled one destroyed in the fire. The colorful glass can be backlit, and a grand chandelier in the foyer also stays on at night, illuminating the lobby, said interior designer Mark Bourne of Smith Bourne & Associates. Outside, Bourne said, brick and Indiana limestone are an attempt to match the old facade. Among other changes: A sound-proof wall that separates two main viewing rooms can fold up into the ceiling to create one giant parlor. Rooms are larger, and those used for services are equipped with video screens and sound systems. Cutler said the previous mortuary could hold about 500 people for funerals; capacity now is about 1,000. A wall off the lobby reflects the outpouring of support following the fire. More than 25 cards colorfully illustrated and written as only first-graders can are artfully displayed. The collage is accompanied by a letter from teacher Rose Fitch of Omahas St. Stephen the Martyr School. Cutler said the childrens well-wishes came at a low point, and the funny but heart-warming messages brought the staff to tears. The crematory machine will be housed on campus but separately from the main mortuary. Said Cutler: When your building burns down, and it started with the crematory, we just thought it would be wise. Cutler said that despite the overall gain of about 8,000 square feet, the mortuary layout remains basically the same. He said theres also about 25 percent more parking. Though most was lost in the fire, owners were able to salvage something of great sentimental value: a century-old desk set that had been handed down from Patrick C. Heafey. Pulled from the ruins, the hand-carved wooden desk and chairs were refurbished and returned to Heafeys great-nephew, Tom, for his new office. I didnt know, after that fire, if it was going to work , said co-owner Tom Heafey. It did. The Omaha Fire Department declared the inferno unintentional. The mortuary and its insurers, according to a lawsuit, are seeking at least $5.75 million from a Pennsylvania company that they claim didnt properly rebuild a cremation machine allegedly at the root of the fire that disrupted some burial services and injured four people. Among those injured was Cutler, who had gone inside with a firefighter to try to retrieve remains the funeral home had been servicing. A piece of ceiling fell, and the injury required 15 stitches to Cutlers head. The new mortuary will be open to visitors, and refreshment will be available, Saturday from 2 to 4 p.m. and Sunday, 1 to 4 p.m. We just hope its welcoming and homey, said Cutler. BOSTON (AP) A cybersecurity adviser to President Donald Trump is pushing to phase out the use of Social Security numbers as a form of identification. White House Cybersecurity Coordinator Rob Joyce said Wednesday that using a persons Social Security number as an identifier or access control is just a horrific idea. Joyce said a federal team is looking at what the technologies are that could change or replace these identifiers, such as using public key encryption. He said theres no specific timeline to make changes. Joyce was among several federal officials speaking in Boston at the Cambridge Cyber Summit, hosted by CNBC and The Aspen Institute. Speaking a day earlier at a cybersecurity summit hosted by the Washington Post, Joyce said there needs to be and should be a government role in heading off and responding to data breaches like Equifax. I think its really clear there needs to be a change, he said. Social Security numbers were among the data stolen during a hack of credit bureau Equifax that involved the personal information of 145 million Americans. This report includes material from the Washington Post. George Haddixs preference for hunting and fishing while a student at North High gave little hint of the entrepreneur he would become. But Haddix, now 78, developed expertise in math, computerization and company leadership, and last month he and wife Susan gave Creighton University $10 million for academic programs, faculty development, laboratories, student opportunities and advising. Haddix has donated to other schools he has attended, including North High, Doane University and the University of Nebraska at Omaha. And he has influenced the metro areas view of the need for collaboration when it comes to science, technology, engineering and math, now widely known as STEM. When people in different subject areas work together, Haddix said, they see things in new ways. And there are certain things that they can do better together, Haddix said last week. Youre always fighting the isolation problem, of different colleges (or disciplines) not talking to each other. Haddix has funded UNO community chairs, or leadership positions, in education, math, science and the physical sciences to work together to improve STEM education and research. Hes essentially very good about working across interdisciplinary lines to solve problems, said Neal Grandgenett, the UNO community chair of STEM education. Hes certainly a leader that really helps build collaborative efforts. Haddix wants cross-pollination among those in education and those in math, for instance, so teachers of math understand their subject. Grandgenett and others say Haddix was an inspiration for a regional effort to improve STEM education, research and innovation involving businesses, schools, universities, organizations, museums and the Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium. The effort, called the Omaha STEM Ecosystem, is all about breaking down barriers, and Haddix is a big proponent of that, said Julie Sigmon, director of that group. For his part, Haddix says STEM projects are best when they keep a sharp focus. This STEM thing has kind of caught fire nationally, Haddix said. In general, I think its good. ... Sometimes these things, they get so popular that they dont have any meaning anymore. He said there are many STEM programs for young kids. His focus is on older students, at the high school and college levels. Thats where Creighton comes in. Haddix, who earned a masters degree in math at Creighton and taught there from 1969 to 1971, said Creighton will maximize the use of the $10 million. The 8,650-student university is small enough for professors of different disciplines to know one another and work together, he said, but big enough to offer a spectrum of schools and colleges medicine, dentistry, nursing, law, and arts and sciences. Well see some good results from doing this at Creighton, Haddix said. Creighton and the Haddixes agreed on four initiatives for the $10 million: 24th Street STEM Corridor The program exposes excellent students from North, South and Central High Schools to Creighton through summer programs and workshops. Faculty Innovation Fund The fund will help renovate the Rigge Science Building labs and modernize equipment. Faculty Research Incubator This initiative aims to give professors opportunities to focus on research. Ignatian Advising Program The program will give students chances to consider their higher purpose, perhaps through a sophomore retreat or cultural events attended by students and professors. Bridget Keegan, dean of arts and sciences at Creighton, said every student at the university will be touched in some way by the funding. This is just absolutely a transformational gift, Keegan said. Susan Haddix said one of her goals for the money is simple. I want to see as many students as possible who cant afford a Creighton education to have a Creighton education, she said. Creighton initially called it the largest gift for academic programs in university history, then modified that to the biggest gift to Creightons College of Arts and Sciences. George Haddix said his father worked in a South Omaha meatpacking plant. Im sure some people would say we were poor, but we werent poor at all, he said. Haddix started his college career at Doane, to which he has donated enough money to have his name on the Doane rec center and arena. Haddix typically doesnt reveal how much he has donated but made an exception with the $10 million gift to Creighton. He earned a bachelors degree at Omaha University (now UNO), a masters from Creighton and a doctorate from Iowa State, all in math. He has donated large amounts of money to all except Iowa State. His son, Grant, got his bachelors degree from Iowa State. Haddix said when Iowa State approaches him for money, he says, Go see my son. While teaching at Creighton in the late 1960s, Haddix started a consulting firm providing mathematical models for water systems and other projects. Through his career, he was chief executive officer, president or founder of numerous companies, including Applied Communications, CSG Systems and PKWARE. His companies provided such things as data security, billing software, software related to ATMs and other services. Haddixs first wife, Sally, died eight years ago. He married Susan, who is 55, three years ago. Haddix retired a few years ago but still goes to his Ralston office to manage his investments and study. And he continues to hunt and fish, just as he did when he was a boy. He and his wife have a German short-haired pointer hunting dog. His name is Buck. A 15-year-old sophomore who attended Waverly High School was killed and two other people were injured Wednesday night in a two-vehicle crash in Sarpy County. Authorities identified the girl who was killed as Alexandra Linscott. She died at the scene of the crash, which occurred around 9:10 p.m. at Riha Road and Nebraska Highway 50, just north of Louisville and the Platte River. Cory Worrell, superintendent of the Waverly school district, said the districts response team was available Thursday for students or staff who needed extra support. Counselors will continue to be available in the days to come, he said The school community extends our heartfelt sympathies to family and friends, Worrell said in a written statement. Alexandra has attended our district since kindergarten and involved herself in many activities. The Sarpy County Sheriffs Office said both vehicles involved in the crash were white Ford Fusions. Sarpy County Deputy Attorney Ben Perlman said alcohol was suspected to be a factor in the crash for the driver of the northbound vehicle. The northbound vehicle was driven by 22-year-old Paige Seaton of Omaha. The southbound vehicle was driven by 48-year-old Elisa Linscott of Eagle, Neb. Alexandra Linscott was a front-seat passenger in Elisa Linscotts car. Seaton was taken to Creighton University Medical Center-Bergan Mercy in serious condition. Elisa Linscott was taken by a medical helicopter to the Nebraska Medical Center in critical condition, according to rescue squad personnel at the scene. According to court documents, Seaton is on probation after pleading guilty to driving under the influence in Douglas County. The crash remains under investigation, the Sheriffs Office said. Elisa Linscott remained in critical condition late Thursday night. World-Herald staff writer Emily Nitcher contributed to this report. LINCOLN State Medicaid officials said health coverage for some 55,000 Nebraska children appeared to be safe for now. But the state funding for the Childrens Health Insurance Program will run out in the spring if the program is not reauthorized, according to a spokeswoman for the Department of Health and Human Services. Congress allowed funding for the popular program, known as CHIP, to expire Sept. 30. Partisan divisions have stalled reauthorization proposals so far. CHIP covers children whose families make too much to qualify for regular Medicaid. In Nebraska, coverage is available to those making up to 213 percent of the federal poverty level. Nebraska CHIP covered 55,041 children last year. On Thursday, a coalition of health care and education groups raised concerns about the programs uncertain future. The group asked how Gov. Pete Ricketts and the Legislature would deal with the potential of losing federal CHIP dollars. HHS spokeswoman Julie Naughton said state Medicaid officials expect that the program will be reauthorized but are monitoring congressional actions. In the meantime, the officials are working with the Governors Office on different funding scenarios, she said. They plan to keep the Legislatures Appropriations and Health and Human Services Committees informed. WASHINGTON The top agriculture officials for Nebraska and Iowa breezed through a joint hearing Thursday on their nominations to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Nebraska Agriculture Director Gregory Ibach and Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey appeared before the Senate Agriculture Committee for just over an hour, during which they heard warm comments from senators on both sides of the aisle. There doesnt seem to be any opposition, Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, a member of the committee, told The World-Herald after the hearing. A tendency for committee members to focus on regional concerns was evident in the discussion. The panels top Democrat, for example, invoked her home states cherry trees as she talked about strengthening farm safety net protections for producers beyond basic commodities such as corn and wheat. A Minnesota Democrat cited the need to protect livestock from diseases such as bird flu and noted that her state ranks first in turkey production. Committee Chairman Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., and other senators highlighted the importance of crop insurance. Northey was welcomed by Ernst and Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, who is also a member of the committee. Grassley praised Northeys involvement in soil conservation, renewable energy and water quality issues. Northey has been nominated to serve as undersecretary of farm production and conservation. For the first time in nearly 50 years, the committee has no members from Nebraska. But the states senators, both Republicans, showed up to introduce Ibach, tapped to serve as undersecretary of marketing and regulatory programs. The Nebraska senators praised Ibachs work to promote agricultural interests around the world and his ability to build relationships with regulators and producers. He understands the unique challenges our farmers and ranchers face because he is completely immersed in the industry, Sen. Deb Fischer said. Sen. Ben Sasse said Ibach would bring personal vigor to USDA. Greg has built his entire career and his whole life on honesty and on hustle, Sasse said. Ibach, who has led the Nebraska department for 12 years, talked about his personal farming background and repeatedly used the word balance to describe how he approaches the need to improve opportunities for producers while also looking out for consumers. 2008-2022 One News Page Ltd. All rights reserved. One News is a registered trademark of One News Page Ltd. 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. Rumble 19 Oct 2022 The media tells us that bump stocks were the catalyst in this horrible act, but the FBI apparently referred to prohibited.. Bennett ends Quakers season in AA semifinals After allowing 460-yards and five touchdowns in their Sept. 24 matchup, Orchard Park head coach decided that if Bennett was... Quakers reach Sectional Finals vs Lancaster Orchard Park boys volleyball coach Rick Albano always wants his team to be playing their best volleyball at the end... Bertola leads harriers on record day at sectionals Orchard Park cross-country coach Steve Dillsworth went pretty far back into the history of Quakers cross-country, and he was unable... All-Bee Girls Soccer Majority of First Team are past honorees Many of the First Team selections on the 2022 All- Bee Girls Soccer Team are no strangers to the all-star... Starting later this month, buses in Clark County will make an end-run around traffic on a frequently backed-up highway by driving on the shoulder. The transit agency C-Tran and the Washington State Department of Transportation will test the concept along State Route 14 in east Vancouver. It's expected to shave 4 to 6 minutes off of some morning bus trips and 2 to 4 minutes from evening commutes once it launches Oct. 23. The test is the first of its kind in Clark County, and also the first in recent memory in the metro area. But it's an increasingly common approach to getting transit through rush-hour traffic in other parts of the country, including Minnesota, which has 300 miles of bus-only shoulders. The Washington state transportation department also operates bus-only shoulders on a highway in Bothell. Signs showing where C-Tran buses may drive on the shoulder went up in July. Elliot Njus/The Oregonian Six minutes might not seem like a lot on a 25-minute trip that can turn into a 90-minute trip in heavy traffic, but C-Tran spokeswoman Christine Selk said the time saved on each trip will have ripple effects on the following trips and help improve reliability overall. And it could encourage drivers to consider taking the bus, said Bart Treece, a state transportation department spokesman. "If you're driving on SR 14 and you see the bus on the shoulder passing you, you might think about your options," Treece said. The change is also a relatively cheap solution to a growing problem. The agencies spent about $50,000 to re-stripe SR 14, adding a few more inches to accommodate buses on the shoulder, and to make new signs marking the transit-on-shoulder corridor. The state transportation department also measured the depth of the pavement on the shoulder to ensure it could stand up to the weight of occasional bus traffic. The bus-on-shoulder corridor will run between 164th Avenue and Interstate 205 in east Vancouver. Buses that use the stretch of highway include Route 164 (Fisher's Landing Express), Route 65 (Parkrose Regional) and Route 41 (SR 14 Limited). Buses will only move to the shoulder if traffic is traveling at less than 35 mph. They'll travel no more than 15 mph faster than other traffic, up to 35 mph. Portland had a short-lived experiment with opening the shoulder of Interstate 84 to buses and carpoolers during rush-hour in the late 1970s. The resulting carpool lane was removed in 1982, when the freeway was widened in conjunction with the construction of the Banfield light-rail project that would become MAX. TriMet and the city of Portland are considering bus-on-shoulder corridors alongwith a slate of other potential ways to speed the travel of buses through the city. The agencies haven't identified any potential test site. Clark County's experiment could also ultimately be short-lived. It's scheduled to run at least 18 months for evaluation, after which it could be continued or expanded to other routes. The Washington Legislature this year funded a project to add a lane in each direction to the SR 14 bus-on-shoulder corridor. That project is still being designed, and it's not clear if the transit lanes will survive the project. -- Elliot Njus enjus@oregonian.com 503-294-5034 @enjus By Tyson Alger, The Oregonian/OregonLive The last time Washington State came to Oregon, the Ducks welcomed the Cougars to Eugene with Lewis & Clark-themed jerseys. They also were on the receiving end of this. Two years later, the Ducks aren't going with themed for the Cougars. They're going yellow. Here's a look at the jerseys the Ducks will wear on Saturday. Don't Edit Don't Edit Don't Edit Don't Edit Don't Edit Don't Edit -- Tyson Alger talger@oregonian.com @tysonalger Oregon and California's four senators, all Democrats, stepped up the pressure on the Trump administration Wednesday to approve disaster assistance for salmon fishermen along 200 miles of coastline. In April, the Pacific Fishery Management Council, which manages coastal salmon seasons, recommended closing coastal and commercial salmon fishing entirely along an area equal to roughly half of Oregon's coastline. Govs. Kate Brown of Oregon and Jerry Brown of California requested emergency funding relief in May, to no avail. The fall chinook fun on the Klamath is the biggest and is important for recreational and tribal fisherman as well as commercial fisheries. The Yurok tribe, which has preference along the waterway, also had its allocation severely curtailed this year, to roughly 650 fish. Management officials estimated returning salmon to be roughly 12,000. Oregon has had success in securing emergency assistance for salmon fishery disasters under both Republican and Democratic administrations. Emergency funds were approved in 2006, 2008, 2009 and 2010. Oregon Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, and their California counterparts, Sens. Diane Feinstein and Kamala Harris, sent a letter Wednesday to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's fisheries division urging action before the end of 2017. "In both of our states, closed or curtailed salmon fishing seasons have resulted in severe economic hardship felt throughout the seafood supply chain," the senators said. "Working waterfronts have been unable to address basic repairs and upkeep. Seafood processing jobs have been lost. Fishermen have left the industry, unable to make a living on the water. These additive effects have resulted in a weakening of our coastal communities which, if not provided for, may be lost." The 2017 closure comes on the heels of a poor 2016 fishing season on the Klamath River, which winds its way from Southeast Oregon until it meets the Pacific Ocean in Northern California. California officials estimate a $2.5 million revenue hit for its fishermen. In an interview this past June, Pacific Fishery Management Council Deputy Director Mike Burner said poor ocean conditions were the main driver behind the fishery closure But drought conditions and other factors like several dams on the Klamath River also pose a challenge. Three dams on the river are slated to be removed by 2020. Burner said the conditions and the fishery go through cycles. As recently as 2012, the fishery projected 1.6 million fall chinook, but those projected returning spawners was one of the lowest on records earlier this year. The closure affects nearly half of Oregon's coastline, causing economic distress for already struggling coastal communities. In California, it is expected to result in a loss of $2.5 million in revenue. Both states were hard-hit by a poor 2016 season, which resulted in millions in lost revenue. If approved, disaster funds could help compensate fishermen for lost revenue in 2016 and 2017 as well as provide job training, low interest loans and offer research assistance to help study the Klamath fishery. -- Andrew Theen atheen@oregonian.com 503-294-4026 @andrewtheen An Idaho woman was arrested Wednesday and charged with stabbing her husband's ex-wife to death in her Gresham apartment more than a year ago, police said. Gresham detectives arrested Angela Rose McCraw-Hester in Pocatello, Idaho on Wednesday, police spokesman Brandon Crate said. McCraw-Hester is charged with the murder of Annastasia Hester, who was stabbed to death in June 2016. Hester, 36, called 911 on June 10, 2016 to report she had been stabbed several times in her apartment. She stayed on the phone with dispatchers until police reached her home in the East Park Apartments off the Springwater Corridor, in the 100 block of Southwest Eastman Parkway. She later died from her injuries. Detectives worked to solve the homicide for more than a year. This week, they went to Idaho to continue the investigation, Crate said. McCraw-Hester was taken into custody after detectives executed a search warrant at her home in the 2000 block of Monte Vista Drive, Pocatello, Idaho. McCraw-Hester is currently married to Annastasia Hester's ex-husband, Matthew Hester, Crate said. McCraw-Hester was lodged at the Bannock County Jail in Idaho on Wednesday. She will be extradited to Oregon, Crate said. No other details were available Wednesday. -- Samantha Matsumoto A machete-wielding burglar who entered an unoccupied Lake Oswego-area home and later killed one of the returning homeowners was found guilty Thursday of murder. Erik Meiser initially was accused of aggravated murder in the September 2012 death of 57-year-old Frederick "Fritz" Hayes, but Clackamas County Circuit Judge Katherine Weber said she determined he was guilty of the lesser charge. She also found Meiser guilty of second-degree burglary for breaking into another home in the area after attacking Hayes. His wife, Margaret Hayes, wasn't injured. But the judge found Meiser, now 42, guilty except for insanity of first-degree robbery and first-degree burglary for stealing a samurai sword from a downtown Lake Oswego ninjutsu martial arts school the day before the killing, burglarizing the Hayes' home and intending to rob them. Meiser, who has been diagnosed with schizophrenia, made no statements during the hearing. He has been at the Oregon State Hospital in Salem since March 2014 to receive treatment to be able to assist in his defense. He is scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 6. His trial before the judge began Aug. 1. Weber began considering a verdict on Aug. 29. Meiser faces a life sentence with a mandatory minimum of 25 years before being eligible for parole on the murder verdict. Weber didn't provide any explanation for her verdict. Defense attorney Jenny Cooke asked the judge for a written opinion and a memo laying out her conclusions by Meiser's sentencing date. His state of mind at the time of the crimes was at the heart of his trial. He has experienced delusions since at least 2005 and has been diagnosed with schizophrenia and other mental illnesses. The defense argued that Meiser's actions were driven by psychosis from his schizophrenia, which caused him to believe his children were in danger of becoming cannibals and dying. He sought money to prevent that fate. His attorneys contended that he wasn't able to fully recognize the criminality of his actions, and medical evidence showed he was "substantially impaired" by his schizophrenia. The prosecution argued that Meiser has chosen to commit crimes despite his mental illness for years. They said his anti-social personality disorder and belief that he is a victim of society led to Hayes' death -- not schizophrenia. They described Meiser as an intelligent man whose concerns and beliefs may be influenced by his mental illness, but he has enough ability to "resist the voices in his head." According to prosecutors, Meiser left his wife and two young children in Southern California in September 2012 seeking work and money. Over nearly two weeks, Meiser took trains and buses to Utah, Montana, Washington and, finally, Oregon. After breaking into the ninjutsu school, Meiser wandered into the Hayes' neighborhood early Sept. 17 and spotted Margaret and Fritz Hayes as they left their home to walk their dogs. A voice, Meiser later told investigators, told him to kill Fritz Hayes. Meiser went into their unlocked home and rummaged through their belongings, taking a machete from the garage. The couple encountered him standing in their kitchen holding the blade and another knife. Meiser chased after the 57-year-old husband, who fell to the ground. Meiser then hit him four times with the machete in the driveway. Hayes died at the scene. Meiser fled and broke into a nearby house, showered, changed his clothes and left again. Police tracked him to a Corvallis motel on Sept. 22 after a nationwide manhunt. He had changed his appearance and used aliases to evade arrest. Authorities said Meiser, a former white supremacist and neo-Nazi, has a history of violence dating to his teens. He had prior arrests in California, Colorado, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Meiser is also accused in the July 2012 killing of 28-year-old Nick Fickett, who was found dead along the east bank of the Cowlitz River in Kelso, Washington. According to court records, investigators found Meiser was staying at a Kelso motel on the day of Fickett's death, and Meiser's DNA was found on a knife sheath and on the inside waistband of shorts found near Fickett's tent. The Washington case is pending. -- Everton Bailey Jr. ebailey@oregonian.com 503-221-8343; @EvertonBailey BY MEGAN McARDLE The justice system is no longer set up to provide an innocent man his day in court. It is a machine for producing plea bargains in industrial quantities. It can operate no other way, because the volume of cases is far larger than the court system can actually handle. So instead of trials that take a long time and cost a lot of money but ideally separate the guilty from the innocent, we have become dependent on an assembly line where the accused go in at one end and come out the other a (relatively) short time later -- as convicted criminals, regardless of their guilt or innocence, but with shorter sentences than they would have faced if convicted at trial and with smaller lawyers' bills than they would have faced if they had gone to trial. As this suggests, there are real benefits to the plea-bargaining system, even for the defendants. But there is a drawback as well. In 1979, law professor Malcolm Freeley published "The Process Is the Punishment," a book in which he used the lens of the New Haven, Connecticut, court system to show the ways in which the trial itself -- as separate from any sentence imposed -- can function to punish people. This can be a problem even if the defendant turns out to be guilty, but at least we have the option of compensating for this extra-judicial punishment by reducing the formal sentence. But when the system gets out of control, it produces Kafkaesque results even for guilty defendants: How many of us think that three years behind bars is the right sentence for the theft of a backpack? And of course, when the defendant is innocent, this jail term is not merely excessive, but something close to a crime itself. This is not what the machine was designed to produce. The most obvious way to begin repairing this broken system is to spend more money building courtrooms and hiring judges, so that defendants actually do have a chance at their constitutionally guaranteed right to a speedy trial. We should also take a long, hard look at the number of things that are crimes, and the sentencing laws that require many crimes be requited with very harsh penalties. Most our mass incarceration problem is a sentencing problem, driven by both mandatory minimums and prosecutors who are rewarded for being "tough on crime." These factors aggravate the flaws of the plea-bargaining system. Prosecutors can threaten to prosecute on draconian charges, which carry draconian sentences -- and all but force a defendant, even an innocent one, to take a plea bargain, with a lesser charge and a lesser sentence. Defendants (guilty and innocent alike) usually conclude that the risk of going to trial is simply too great. And the plea bargains, in turn, keep the machine from choking on the volume of cases being run through it. Instead it grinds out a very poor substitute for justice. Reducing the number of laws and reducing the ability (or requirement) for prosecutors to secure serious jail time for so many offenses would reduce mass incarceration and start to unclog our court system. We should do these things. Unfortunately, they won't be enough. While the popular picture among de-incarceration advocates is of prisons and courtrooms is of a system choked with nonviolent drug offenders, in fact, the system handles an immense amount of real, harmful crime. We're not going to decriminalize theft or assault or robbery, nor should we. If we really want a justice system that is not too overwhelmed to provide justice, we are going to have to focus on reducing crime. Step one is to recognize and avoid the "solutions," like harsher sentences, that created the current problem. Instead we're going to have to spend the money and change the law to create a criminal justice system that can provide more intensive, but less impersonal, attention to crime and criminals. Fortunately, there are ways to do this. Mark Kleiman of NYU, who has taught me most of what I know about crime policy, wrote a brilliant book called "When Brute Force Fails," on the ways we can retool the justice system to actually reduce crime, rather than simply punishing it more harshly. Kleiman is liberal, but conservatives should have no fear: This is not a book about how we need loads more social spending and liberal policies to address the "root causes." This is a book about how we can police and punish more effectively. The sort of proposals that should be welcomed by left and right alike. Kleiman's ideas and insights are too many to sum up in a column, so I'll focus on a core observation: Bad policing, and bad prison policy, can create more crime. Our current justice system provides what Kleiman calls "randomized draconianism": Your odds of getting caught and punished are not very high, but if you are caught, you'll get treated very harshly. The likelihood of punishment is so low that there is no deterrent effect to prevent crime, and the severity of punishment is so harsh that it may simply make those who are caught more likely to commit further crimes. Putting people in jail cuts them off from their families, deprives them of any opportunity to get integrated in the non-criminal economy, and oh yes, introduces them to many criminals with whom they can pursue future crime-related business opportunities. Our current system seems almost purpose-built to create a large class of disaffected people who commit a lot of crime. What's the alternative? Raise the odds of punishment, and lower the severity. That means more police on the streets, focused on steadily reducing crime hot-spots and making it unattractive to take up a life of crime in the first place. It means probation and parole systems that provide much more intensive monitoring, but use lighter sanctions like a night or two in jail, rather than revoking someone's parole and sending them back to prison for five years. It means exploring new technologies that allow us to put people under "house arrest" of varying intensity. In the short term, this will mean spending more money and effort on the system. But there's good news: Prison is so expensive that even many expensive programs can save money on net if they keep people out of long prison terms. Better still, effective reforms may reduce recidivism, so that we can spend less money on all these things in the future. And best of all, the innocent majority in the U.S. who do not commit crimes will experience safer communities and less fear -- less fear of criminals, and less fear of one day being caught up in a system that so often punishes the innocent along with the guilty. -- Megan McArdle is a Bloomberg View columnist and author of "The Up Side of Down: Why Failing Well Is the Key to Success." While not surprising, it's still disappointing that the U.S. Supreme Court declined to take up a case from Louisiana that challenges the constitutionality of non-unanimous juries. The court has declined previous opportunities to review the practice, which is legal only in Louisiana and Oregon, and allows state juries to convict a person of non-murder felonies by a 10-2 vote. But criminal justice advocates had hoped that a Supreme Court decision in this case would be the one to get Oregon's fundamentally unfair and discriminatory law off the books. Looks like they'll have to go about it the hard way. That means a lot of time and money to educate the public about Oregon's law and how it can compound existing disparities in the justice system's treatment of racial and other minorities. And how Oregon weirdly lets non-unanimous juries convict people of such serious crimes as manslaughter, but demands unanimous juries for much lesser crimes. And it means working with legislators to pass a bill that ultimately refers a measure to overturn this law to voters. Oregonian editorials Editorials reflect the collective opinion of The Oregonian/OregonLive editorial board, which operates independently of the newsroom. Members of the editorial board are Laura Gunderson, Helen Jung, Mark Katches and John Maher. To respond to this editorial, post your comment below, submit an OpEd or a letter to the editor. If you have questions about the opinion section, email Laura Gunderson, editorial pages editor, or call 503-221-8378. But advocates should also try to enlist county district attorneys into voluntarily committing to a unanimous jury standard. While that's admittedly a longshot, some prosecutors are acknowledging that it's time to give the non-unanimous jury law another look. As elected officials, district attorneys ultimately answer to voters. So while the Supreme Court may not be insisting on that standard, Oregonians can and should do that themselves. - The Oregonian/OregonLive Editorial Board The Oregon Department of Energy will once again be seeking a new director after the current occupant, Michael Kaplan, leaves in December to become chief operating officer at the Oregon Treasury. Treasurer Tobias Read said Wednesday that he has hired Kaplan to serve as the second-in-command overseeing the agency's financial programs. He also said the position would relieve some of the workload for the Deputy Treasurer, Darren Bond, and help in succession planning as Bond is eligible to retire in 2019. Michael Kaplan In a news release, Read described Kaplan as "a proven leader" who had pushed for a full accounting and investigation of the Energy Department's business energy tax credit program, trimmed the agency's budget, and advocated for killing underperforming tax credit programs. At the very least, after four years at the helm, Kaplan will be escaping one of the most thankless assignments in state government, trying to rehabilitate and reenergize what had become one of Oregon's most dysfunctional agencies. For a decade, the Energy Department has been beset by serial financial scandals, staff turnover, lawsuits from stakeholders, criticism from the public and heavy political pressure from the governor's office and lawmakers, up to and including a discussion last year of dissolving the department altogether. In June, one of its former staffers, Joe Colello, admitted to accepting almost $300,000 in kickbacks for helping an outside consultant sell state tax credits. Colello is awaiting sentencing, and the consultant is under indictment on dozens of bribery, racketeering and forgery charges. Lawmakers never followed through on the threat to close the agency. Indeed, after promising a top to bottom review and holding a year's worth of bipartisan hearings on restructuring the department, the committee couldn't agree on recommendations and the Legislature essentially did nothing. Kaplan joined the energy department as deputy director in August of 2013 after serving as Gov. John Kitzhaber's deputy legislative director. He was appointed acting director in May 2014 after his predecessor was removed from her job. He assumed the director position six months later, the fifth leader of the agency in as many years. Kaplan has worked to rehabilitate the agency's operations and reputation even as scandals kept spinning out of its tax credit and loan programs. He revamped its leadership and refocused on core responsibilities outside of incentives, including nuclear safety, energy policy and siting new energy facilities. He was a strong advocate for letting the department's various tax incentive programs expire in the last two legislative sessions. In hearings with lawmakers, Kaplan was upfront about the agency's issues and advocated for the governor's office to launch a full-scale forensic audit of the business energy tax credit program. Gov. Kate Brown did not take that step, and former Secretary of State Jeanne Atkins eventually launched a smaller audit that sampled a fraction of the 12,000 tax credits issued by the agency from 2006 to 2014. Nevertheless, that report, authored by an outside financial crimes consulting firm, raised concerns with up to a third of the $1 billion tax credits issued during that time. In a statement he emailed Wednesday, Kaplan said he came into the job with specific goals in mind, including establishing greater accountability, bringing in talented managers and staff, addressing legacy problems, reducing the budget and improving efficiency. "My biggest responsibility was to address the agency's tax credit programs by advocating for their review, investigation, and, ultimately, sunset," he said. "I also wanted to rebuild the agency's confidence in all the things it does well. This rarely earns headlines, but the agency does exceptional work in a lot of areas." Kaplan said that while much of his focus was on reacting to problems of the past, he hoped the next director and the agency staff could focus on future energy and climate change issues facing the state. The governor's office said it would announce an open recruitment next week to fill Kaplan's position, along with an interim leadership announcement. - Ted Sickinger tsickinger@oregonian.com 503-221-8505; @tedsickinger Want to know how Digital Humanities could help your research? Want to find out how to use Digital Humanities tools? Want to be a Digital Humanist but dont want to code? What will be covered at the Digital Humanities Expo II 15 minute talks from Otago researchers demonstrating different aspects of Digital Humanities scholarship, including: Virtual reality in prisons Drones as mapping tools Building a digital archive Analysing text to detect bias Understanding the effects of climate change Funding, PBRF recognition and new library initiatives for Digital Humanities Also under discussion: Funding and PBRF recognition for DH work New library initiatives for Digital Humanists Refreshments at half-time. Date Friday, 6 October 2017 Time 2:00pm - 4:30pm Audience All University Event Category Humanities Event Type Open Seminar Campus Dunedin Location Main Common Room, Arana College Contact Name Associate Professor James Maclaurin Contact Email humanities.communications@otago.ac.nz Save this event Thursday 5 October 2017 12:31pm University of Otago-based up-and-coming scientists Drs Aniruddha Chatterjee (Pathology, Dunedin) and Alex Gavryushkin (Computer Science) are among the latest recipients of the prestigious Rutherford Discovery Fellowship. These much sought-after fellowships, of which only ten are given each year across all research disciplines of science, arts and engineering, support New Zealands most talented early- to mid-career researchers for a five-year term. The Rutherford Discovery Fellowships, administered under the Royal Society Te Aparangi, aim to allow researchers to develop a research group and programme around a particular topic, and are designed to ensure they establish themselves as contributors to and future leaders of New Zealands research community. The Fellowships are valued at $160,000 per year. Their programmes, which involve taking advantage of state-of-the-art scientific techniques and multidisciplinary approaches, are titled: Investigating the origin and consequences of epigenetic alterations in cancer metastasis Dr Aniruddha Chatterjee $800,000 over five years Online algorithms in evolutionary biology Dr Alex Gavryushkin $800,000 over five years Dr Aniruddha Chatterjee: Investigating the origin and consequences of epigenetic alterations in cancer metastasis Dr Aniruddha Chatterjee Dr Chatterjee is an expert in epigenetics, molecular biology and the bioinformatics analysis of next generation sequencing data. His fellowship will allow him to establish and head a major research programme and build a leading laboratory in epigenomics. This field of study focuses on DNA modification that alters gene function without changing the DNA sequence or letters of the genes themselves. He says he regards gaining the fellowship as a fantastic outcome I am very thrilled to get this premier fellowship from the Society. Dr Chatterjee explains that many people are working on primary cancer (when a tumour remains in its site of origin) while others are working on how such cancers are able to invade other parts of the body. My research aims to join these important stages of cancer together to work out the whole story about why, and how, a primary cancer cell spreads in the body and becomes fatal. I will use cutting-edge epigenomic tools, single-cell level analysis on tumour cells from a patients blood, and modern molecular manipulation methods to answer this fundamental question. I am very grateful to my post-doctoral mentor Professor Mike Eccles, my fantastic team and students and collaborators (particularly Drs Peter Stockwell and Euan Rodger) and the Department of Pathology for the tremendous support which enabled me to walk on this road of being a laboratory head and obtain this prestigious fellowship. Biography: During Dr Chatterjees PhD research, he pioneered the first analytical pipeline for large-scale DNA methylation analysis in Australasia and documented some of the first DNA methylation maps in human tissues and zebrafish. He was awarded his PhD in 2013 from the University of Otago, and has subsequently worked as a New Zealand Institute for Cancer Research Trust funded Research Fellow in the Department of Pathology at the University of Otago. His work in this period enabled detection of aberrant methylation and microRNA patterns in melanomas and hepatoblastomas and development of new cancer epigenomic analysis tools. He is also an affiliate investigator for the Maurice Wilkins Centre, China-New Zealand Health Research Centre and the National Science Challenge programme, Healthier Lives. He has received many awards, including the prestigious Illumina Emerging Researcher Award in 2015 and the young investigator award from the Australian Genomic Research Facility in 2011. Dr Chatterjee is excited to be part of the next generation of Kiwi scientists that are able to use their skills, networks and the unique advantages of New Zealand to lead a world-class research programme. Research programme summary Cancer is a leading cause of illness and death worldwide. Metastasis (the spread of cancers to distant organs) is responsible for about 90 per cent of cancer-related deaths, and yet the question of what causes primary cancer cells to become metastatic is still unsolved. While we have now identified many genetic causes of primary cancers, genetic mutations do not appear to be a causal factor for metastasis. This indicates that DNA modifications that do not directly alter the DNA sequence but instead changes the frequency by which a cell uses specific genes (termed epigenetic modifications), are important in influencing how metastatic cancer cells behave. In his research programme, using a Discovery to Function approach, Dr Chatterjee proposes to identify the mechanism by which specific modifications of DNA alter primary cancer cells to become metastatic. He will identify changes in DNA modifications (e.g., methylation of DNA) and gene expression patterns between primary tumour cells, tumour cells circulating in the blood, and metastatic tumour cells from the same individuals to work out the epigenetic origin of metastasis. Using state-of-the-art epigenomic tools such as single cell level analysis of tumour cells and new epigenetic editing, he will identify drivers of tumour metastasis and specifically engineer these epigenetic drivers in model laboratory systems to determine how these changes decipher cancer cell function. This research will establish new methods and capability in New Zealand to investigate epigenetic patterns in cancer. The research will furthermore help to answer fundamental questions about the mechanisms responsible for the development of cancer metastasis. In the long term, this work has the potential to improve the way we diagnose, prognose and treat cancer. Contact: Dr Aniruddha Chatterjee Email aniruddha.chatterjee@otago.ac.nz Dr Alex Gavryushkin: Online algorithms in evolutionary biology Dr Alex Gavryushkin Dr Gavryushkin will come to take up a post at Otagos Department of Computer Science fromSwitzerland, where he is currently a Research Fellow in the Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering at ETH Zurich. His research interests are in mathematical and computational genomics. He says he feels very excited and overwhelmed by the plethora of opportunities that the Rutherford Discovery Fellowship opens up for him. I chose Otago because I believe my planned investigations and the work being done here (in genomics, mathematical and computational biology,and biomedicine) will complement each other in a synergistic way. Hence I believe that I will be able to fulfil the objectives of my research programme in the most efficient way possible. The biomedical component of the recently launched Government initiative Genomics Aotearoa is centred around the Dunedin School of Medicine. I believe that the knowledge and skills that my group and I will bring are of high value for Genomics Aotearoa and Im very excited about the prospects of this collaboration. Dr Gavryushkin adds that his Rutherford proposal is a highly multi-disciplinary research programme. To successfully achieve the goals of the research, we need a fertile interdisciplinary environment, with mathematicians, computer scientists statisticians,and biologists (including students and postdocs in these disciplines) all working together. This is something that is very hard to achieve in the often conservative department- and lab- based system. My new programme will allow me to create a network of researchers from the diverse range of areas working together towards the common goal of answering the big genomic questions, fundamental to biology and biomedicine. Ultimately the promising idea is to develop data-scalable computational biology methods that can handle data changes in an effective way. Biography Dr Alex Gavryushkin conducts research within the area of mathematical and computational genomics. In 2009 he completed a PhD in mathematics at Novosibirsk University (Russia). Alexs subsequent research in theoretical computer science, focused on computational methods and online algorithms, was funded by a Government of Russia Doctor of Science Fellowship and a research grant from the University of Auckland. Alex used these prestigious awards to develop the mathematical and algorithmic fundamentals necessary for the online evolutionary analysis of large molecular sequence data, while at the University of Auckland. This work led Alex to Switzerland, where he took up a Research Fellow position in the Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering at ETH Zurich (2016). Alex will now return to found a research group working on data-scalable computational methods in biology and biomedicine at the Department of Computer Science at University of Otago, an institution at the heart of New Zealands biomedical community. Research programme summary Evolutionary analysis of large molecular sequence data is widely employed throughout modern biology, medicine, and pharmacology. Thanks to next generation sequencing technologies, thousands of whole genome sequences are constantly produced at low cost. Today's computational methods and technologies are barely prepared to analyse the huge amount of data produced and answer basic biological questions in a statistically sound way. As a result many big data sets are analysed with simple and inappropriate models, or using approximations that may produce inaccurate inferences. The roots of the problem lie in our lack of understanding of fundamental mathematical principles that form the grounds for evolutionary analysis of data. The pressing need to develop effective computational methods that can accurately analyse big data under appropriately complex evolutionary models constantly requires new algorithmic ideas as well as solutions of standing computational challenges. The ever-accelerating pace at which molecular sequence data is produced in the modern world makes it impractical to rerun all analyses every time new data arrives or existing data is refined. This motivates research on so-called online computational biology algorithms capable of integrating new data as it appears. Such algorithms enable data-scalable methods in evolutionary analyses of molecular data. In this research programme Dr Gavryushkin will develop mathematical, statistical, and computational machinery for evolutionary analysis of omics data, with a specific focus of enabling such online algorithms. He and his research team will apply methods from modern branches of computational geometry, data science, and computer science to enhance statistical and computational performance of evolutionary approaches used in epidemiology, cancer research, ecology, and pharmacology. Specifically, they will develop efficient online methods. Contact: Dr Alex Gavryushkin Email alex@gavruskin.com For more information contact: Simon Ancell Communications Office University of Otago Tel +64 3 479 5016 Email simon.ancell@otago.ac.nz In 1994 Jane Servinski and her cousin Dr. Yolanda Edler visited Arlington National Cemetery and verified that their great-great-grandfather Patrick Cullen was buried there. It was the ending of a long search by two-great-great granddaughters who refused to give up in their quest to actually find where Patrick Cullen had been buried in 1864. Wounded at the Battle of Cold Harbor near Mechanicsville, Virginia, Patrick Cullen died from the belly wound he suffered in one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War. The Battle of Cold Harbor lasted from May 31 to June 12, 1864 as the Union General Ulysses S Grant made a futile frontal attack on the fortified positions of Confederate soldiers led by General Robert E. Lee. The Confederates won the battle. Years later when he wrote his memoirs, Grant wrote, "I have always regretted that the last assault at Cold Harbor was ever made. No advantage whatever was gained to compensate for the heavy loss we sustained." Patrick Cullen died as a Union soldier in that disastrous battle with the Confederate Army, leaving a wife and five children in Bay City, Michigan. Letters that were in his pocket identified him. He was buried on the Arlington House estate which had been the estate of Robert E. Lee's wife Mary Anna Custis Lee. Mary Anna was a great-granddaughter of Martha Custis Washington, the wife of our first president George Washington. Today, soldiers from every war our country has fought have been buried in what today is known as Arlington National Cemetery. Two U.S. presidents are buried in Arlington National Cemetery, William Howard Taft in 1930 and John F. Kennedy in 1963. In March of 1963, Kennedy and his friend John Warnecke were standing on a hillside below Arlington House. Struck by the beauty and stillness of the view, Kennedy said to Warnecke, "I could stay here forever." Eight months later on Nov. 25, 1963 John F. Kennedy was buried there. Three million people visit Arlington National Cemetery each year. Patrick Cullen, Jane Servinski's great-great grandfather emigrated from Ireland in 1850 during the Great Hunger. From 1845 to 1852 the potato famine changed Ireland forever. One million died. One million emigrated. And the rise of Irish nationalism began changing forever the political world the Irish had lived in under England's rule. On board ship from Ireland to America, Patrick Cullen met Mary Clark and when the ship docked, Patrick and Mary were married by a Justice of the Peace in Buena Vista in December 1850. From 1853 to 1863 they had five children. James was born in 1853, John in 1855, Mary Anne 1858 (died of La Grippe), Kittie 1860 and Margaret in 1863. A little-known fact about the Civil War is that many men who could have served in the Union Army did not enlist. The Enrollment Act of 1863 enabled a "draftee" to pay for a substitute enrollee to serve in his place. The sum to pay a substitute was $300, a large sum of money in 1864. In January of 1864 Patrick Cullen, an Irish immigrant struggling to provide for his family, was asked to be a substitute enlistee for $300. The sum seemed like a fortune and he accepted the money and became a soldier in the Union Army. The $300 was enough to buy a home for the Cullen family but no one could foresee that Patrick Cullen would lose his life in the Battle of Cold Harbor in Virginia less than six months after his enlistment The death of Patrick Cullen in 1864 found his oldest son James becoming the head of the family. (James would become the great-grandfather of Jane Servinski.) At the age of 11, James began his role of taking care of the family now that his father was gone. His mother Mary eventually was able to collect a pension of $6 each month and $2 for each child since her husband Patrick had been a veteran of the Civil War. Mary did washings, housework for people and continued living in the home on the corner of 14th and Monroe that Patrick had paid for being a substitute draftee during the Civil War. Their daughter Kittie died in childbirth in 1890 Their daughter Margaret who had been 1 year old when her father was killed, became a matron at the County Jail and lived in a house next door to her mother. Mary Anne died of the flu. James took any job he could get to help support the family. He drove horses and cleaned stables in the beginning. The Delta Planetarium in Bay City is built on the site of the stables he cleaned. As he grew up he was hired by the Wenona Hotel to pick up freight from the Railroad Freight Office and deliver it around Bay City to the stores who had ordered supplies. Still later he became a teamster for the Wenona Hotel. He married Mary Elizabeth Avery who came from English stock and lived on the family farm in Sebawaing. Mary Elizabeth Avery and James Cullen had six children: May (she died at the age of two), Isabel, Margaret, Kathleen (Jane's grandmother), James Jr. and Charlie. When Charlie was born, Mary Elizabeth decided that she had had enough of motherhood and left James Sr. with the children. James took his daughters and Charlie to live with his mother-in-law Mrs. Avery. James Jr. was sent to live with an aunt and uncle. Charlie died at the age of four from pneumonia. Isabel at the age of fourteen was living with a family on Lincoln Street in Bay City and had a job taking tickets for the vaudeville shows at the Washington Theatre. In his later years James Cullen Sr. lived in an apartment on Water Street where the Bay City Antique Mall is located today. Although she deserted her family, Mary Elizabeth Avery Cullen continued to keep "close tabs" on her growing children. Kathleen who would become Jane's grandmother lived in Bay Port and married H. E. Henne. His family came from Germany moving through Ohio to Michigan and his father was a cabinet maker. Kathleen (called Kate) and her husband had 10 children: Warren 1905, Anne 1907, Ruth 1912, Ralph, Willo 1918, James, Frances, Jane, Isabel and Kathleen born in 1927, H. E. Henne worked for Wallace and Morley Elevator Company, which had a total of 16 elevators in Michigan. Mr. Wallace who lived in Bay Port knew H. E Henne and Henne eventually became president of the company. (Part II will appear in two weeks.) An international food tasting, diversity training and a student artwork display are part of a month's worth of cultural awareness events facilitated by the Midland Area Community Foundation. From today through Oct. 23, a number of cultural awareness events will be held -- during the month of October. A Cultural Diversity Committee was founded years ago at the community foundation by an African-American Dow scientist who came to Midland and noticed a lack of understanding when it came to cultural awareness, said Sharon Mortensen, Midland Area Community Foundation president and CEO. Over time, the committee grew to become the Cultural Awareness Committee, and has been more active in recent years, she said. The committee of about 30 people meets monthly year-round. The committee plans cultural events annually, dubbing October "Cultural Awareness Month." "We're a predominately white community if you just look at the surface," Mortensen said. "We need more diversity in our community. Having those different perspectives and backgrounds, it helps to build a great community." The goal of Cultural Awareness Month is to promote sustainable cultural awareness in Midland County, Mortensen said. "We want to encourage diversity and respect, and increase appreciation for diversity in our community," Mortensen said. The theme of this year's Cultural Awareness Month focuses on people of different backgrounds sharing their stories of equality and inequality, said Program Officer Melissa Kesterson. The events focus on cultures across a broad spectrum and go beyond racial and religious diversity to people with disabilities and mental illness, she said. "One of the things we're here to do is to help build a healthy, dynamic, vibrant community," Mortensen said. "This is a part of it - an important part of it." A creativity contest is open to all Midland County students. They can submit any creative work in the form of an essay, poem, visual art or musical piece centering on the month's theme of "sharing stories of equality and inequality." Rrules for the contest are at www.midlandfoundation.org/cultural-awareness Oct. 5 What: A Saginaw native will read his award-winning short story that chronicles having deaf parents. When: 7 - 8:30 p.m. Where: Creative 360 Price: $8 Oct. 7 What: A film screening of "Re: Saginaw" - a story of a violent city, the root causes and how Saginaw is taking action. When: 7 - 9 p.m. Where: Creative 360 Price: $10 Oct. 12 - Nov. 16 What: An information session about the teachings of Islam. When: 6 - 7:30 p.m. Thursdays Location/Signup: Creative 360 Price: $75 Oct. 18 What: Two community members share their experiences traveling to Cuba. When: 7 - 8:30 p.m. Where: TBD Price: $5 Oct. 19 What: An international food tasting from Northwood University international students. (18 and over) When: 4:30 - 7 p.m. Where: Dow Commons Dining Hall at Northwood University Price: free Oct. 20 What: A screening of "Hometown Anonymous" by Dexter Brigham, with a brief history on the concept of the show and question/answer session. When: 6 - 9 p.m. Where: Grace A. Dow Memorial Library Price: free Oct. 21-27 What: A display of work by local students addressing the theme, "Sharing our stories; equality and inequality." Where: Grace A. Dow Memorial Library Price: free Oct. 22 What: A tour of a troubled artist who used art to express himself at the John Pratt Mosaic House. When: 2 - 4 p.m. Where: 102 E. Isabella Road in Midland Price: free Oct. 23 What: Diversity training will be offered addressing stereotypes. When: 5:30 - 7 p.m. Where: Windover High School Price: Free Paducah, KY (42003) Today Cloudy. Slight chance of a rain shower. High 44F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Mostly cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy after midnight. Low near 30F. Winds light and variable. 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. NORMAL For 26 days between May 1 and July 31, 2016, Advocate BroMenn Medical Center despite being designated a Level II trauma center did not have a cardiovascular surgeon available to treat chest trauma patients within 60 minutes of notification, alleges the Illinois Department of Public Health. As a result, in July 2016, a chest trauma patient was transferred from BroMenn to a Level I trauma center 40 miles away, IDPH said. The patient died shortly after surgery at that hospital. "This type of complaint is uncommon," IDPH spokeswoman Melaney Arnold said Wednesday. In May 2017, IDPH required BroMenn to file a written plan of correction and filed a notice of intent to fine BroMenn $90,500. But Arnold said Wednesday the case had been settled, a plan of correction was implemented by BroMenn and continues to be followed, and the medical center was fined $55,000. In a statement released Wednesday evening in response to Pantagraph questions, Advocate Health Care Vice President of Public Affairs Lisa Lesniak said: "When this was first brought to our attention, we worked closely with the Department of Public Health to respond to their concerns, which dated back to mid-2016. "We resolved the matter, and continue to maintain our Level II trauma center designation," Lesniak's statement continued. "The safety of our patients is our top priority and we continue to ensure our emergency department is appropriately staffed to provide the highest quality care in the safest environment." According to the IDPH complaint dated May 11, 2017, BroMenn, 1304 Franklin Ave., Normal, as an IDPH-designated Level II trauma center, is required to have a surgeon capable of cardiothoracic surgery on call to arrive at BroMenn within 60 minutes of notification. But on at least 26 days last year, cardiovascular surgeons taking chest trauma calls for BroMenn were more than 60 minutes away, including from locations in the Chicago area, IDPH said. BroMenn did not alert local emergency medical service providers, even though another Level II trauma center (OSF HealthCare St. Joseph Medical Center in Bloomington) is nearby, nor did it alert IDPH, as required whenever a trauma center makes a "resource limitation decision," IDPH said. In July 2016, when an EMS provider contacted the BroMenn emergency department that a chest trauma patient was being brought in, BroMenn did not recommend that the patient be transported elsewhere, IDPH said. EARLVILLE (AP) Authorities in north central Illinois say they've captured a former LaSalle County sheriff's deputy wanted for contacting the mother of a teenage girl he's accused of holding against her will. LaSalle County Sheriff Tom Templeton tells WLS-TV in Chicago that 46-year-old Lowell Maxwell Ambler of Mendota was "peacefully taken into custody" Thursday morning. Ambler was in a friend's house in Earlville. He walked out of the house and surrendered. Templeton said the friend wasn't harmed. Earlville is about 70 miles (112.65 kilometers) west of Chicago. Authorities previously said they believed Ambler may be armed with a semi-automatic weapon and they considered him dangerous. Ambler was arrested Sept. 15 and charged with home invasion and aggravated kidnapping. He was freed on $250,000 bond. A warrant was issued for his arrest after he contacted the girl's mother on Sunday. NORMAL One man was treated for a gunshot wound to the neck late Tuesday night, an evening in which both Bloomington and Normal police departments investigated separate reports of shots being fired. Officials don't think the cases are connected, and no arrests had been made in either case as of Wednesday. The man, whose name has not been disclosed, showed up at OSF HealthCare St. Joseph Medical Center, Bloomington, and told police he'd been shot, police said. He was treated and then released. He just said he was walking in the area, said Normal Police Chief Rick Bleichner. "We have been investigating the incident all morning and filling out reports, and now, we will reach out to the public for help on anything they might have seen." Illinois State University police issued a statement Wednesday night to allay concerns raised by parents and others about the incident, which occurred in an area of predominantly off-campus student apartments and about a mile from the quad. The department, which had officers at the scene, said it did not believe the ISU campus community ever was in danger from the incident. "The shooting ... is believed to be an intentional act, specific to that address, and not a random event targeting students," ISU police said in a Facebook post, adding that ISU police have confirmed the injured man was not an ISU student. Witnesses told officers about six to 10 shots were fired in the Vernon Avenue incident, and police found bullet holes on the single-story house at 304 E. Vernon Ave. and multiple shell casings in the area. At least one bullet penetrated the house, police said, but no one inside was injured. Police said the shots apparently originated from outside an apartment across the street. Police cordoned off yards on either side of Vernon about a block east of Linden Street until early Wednesday, and officers dug a hole about 2 feet across and sifted dirt in the southwest corner of the front yard at 304 E. Vernon Ave. Police declined to say what they were looking for. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Brad Underwood at the Normal Police Department at 309-454-9798 or via email at bunderwood@normal.org. In the Bloomington incident, around 10:02 p.m. Tuesday, police officers responded to the area of Graham and Mason streets for multiple reports of shots fired. Officers who arrived at the scene were told a tall black man, about 18 to 20 years of age with a thin build and short dreadlock-style hair, attempted to punch the victim after a confrontation. Shortly thereafter, unknown subjects driving a black Chevrolet Impala reportedly fired shots toward a residence in the area. During a subsequent investigation in the 700 block of West Graham Street, officers did not locate any evidence of a shooting. No injuries were reported in that case. That investigation also is ongoing, and anyone with information is asked to contact Bloomington police Detective Todd McClusky at 309-434-2380 or tmcclusky@cityblm.org. If you want to remain anonymous, call McLean County Crime Stoppers at 309-828-1111. If your call leads to the arrest and indictment of suspect(s) you may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. DANVERS A man suspected of stealing at least two trucks and fleeing from police has been captured in Danvers, police said on Wednesday. Chad J. Matheson was arrested by McLean County Sheriff's deputies and Danvers Police around 12:30 p.m. Matheson, 42, of Sullivan, pleaded guilty to a forgery charge in Moultrie County on Sept. 7 and was sentenced to three years in prison. He was scheduled to begin his term on Sept. 25, but court records indicate he filed a motion to withdraw his guilty plea on Sept. 22. A spokesman for the McLean County Sheriff's Department said the stolen vehicle was located in Danvers at a bar. Matheson attempted to flee, but struck a Danvers police car. He was checked by medical personnel and then transported to the McLean County jail. A photo shows the crash took place near the intersection of Sherman and Exchange streets, about two blocks west of the downtown area. "The man ate a cheeseburger lunch without incident and left a $2 tip," said Angie Siscoe, manager at the Vault Bar & Grill in downtown Danvers. She said nothing happened inside the business. Outside was another story. Bo Dannenberger, who lives adjacent to the Vault, said he saw a man outside the tavern bolt when he spotted police and fled west in a truck. Law enforcement officials from throughout Central Illinois had been searching for Matheson since Tuesday morning, when he was accused of stealing a truck and fleeing from police. Prior to his arrest in Danvers, he was last seen Tuesday evening in LeRoy. At 8:21 a.m. Tuesday, the Piatt County Sheriffs Office was notified by Macon County that a gray 2015 Ford F-250 truck had been stolen from the Caseys General Store in Argenta in Macon County. Around 10 a.m., Piatt County deputies were notified of a high-speed pursuit in DeWitt County on Illinois 54 near Farmer City, involving the stolen vehicle. DeWitt County cut the pursuit off because of safety concerns. Fifteen minutes later, Piatt County received information from Macon County that the owner of the stolen truck was able to provide authorities with a way to track the truck's location using GPS. The Macon County Sheriffs Office relayed that the vehicle was located on the west side of Galesville in Piatt County. Deputies arrived on the scene and located the Ford F-250 truck with the driver door ajar and the engine running. A deputy familiar with the property, knew that there was normally a dark blue 2006 Toyota Tacoma pickup truck parked in front of the shed, but it was not there. Deputies contacted the property owner, who confirmed that his 2006 Toyota Tacoma truck had been stolen. Police say around 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Matheson was seen in LeRoy at the True Value Hardware Store. He had changed license plates on the truck and was hauling a stolen trailer from Bloomington, police said. The trailer was located south of LeRoy in DeWitt County, where he apparently left it. Former Pantagraph reporter Sharon Wolfe contributed to this story. BLOOMINGTON At Mayor Tari Renner's first meeting since returning from a monthlong hiatus from his elected duties, the City Council will consider on Monday prohibiting elected officials from using city credit cards. HUDSON A termination letter from Hudson Police Chief Dale Sparks indicates a doctors restrictions placed on a pregnant officer were reason enough for her dismissal. A copy of the letter, signed by Sparks and the officer, Kayley Sprout, on Sept. 5 has been obtained by The Pantagraph. Residents in Hudson say they want more answers about the termination, and several spoke out at a Village Board meeting Tuesday night at the Hudson Area Library community room. Half a dozen of the estimated 50 people at the meeting spoke on Sprouts behalf. I think there is more to the story, said resident Kathy Brooks. I hear gossip, but I am curious as to what happened. In the letter, which was written on Hudson police stationery, Sparks acknowledges that on July 5, Sprout informed the village of her pregnancy and the doctors recommendations, which included a restriction on lifting more than 25 pounds. At this point, the village no longer has any further work available in the police department or anywhere else in the village that would meet your restrictions, he wrote. He added that an essential function of an officer is to arrest and transport individuals when necessary. Many times, arrestees are not cooperative and resist arrest, he added. The village is unable to ensure that your contacts with the public as a patrol officer would not potentially violate your work restrictions ... As a result, the village must regretfully dismiss you from the village as an employee because of your inability to perform in the position you were hired to do. The Illinois Human Rights Act, effective Jan. 1, 2015, creates protection for pregnant employees. Under Public Act 98-1050, it is illegal for an employer to fail to reasonably accommodate a pregnant employee, unless the accommodation will impose an undue hardship. Sprout was not present at the meeting Tuesday and has declined interview requests from The Pantagraph. Board members did not comment on Sprouts firing during Tuesday nights meeting and did not return requests for comments on Wednesday. Hudson resident Jamie Current presented a petition to the board, containing 1,450 electronic signatures, opposing Sprout's dismissal. Last week, Sparks released a written statement to The Pantagraph, on behalf of the village. The village of Hudson is an equal opportunity employer committed to ensuring compliance with all applicable federal and state laws," it said. "While the village is unable to comment on the employment of any specific employee due to privacy concerns for that individual, in general, the village treats each employee request for work accommodations on an individual, case-by-case basis, taking into account such factors as the employees work restrictions and length of time those restrictions will be in place, the essential and nonessential job functions of the employees position, and the impact of the employees restrictions on other employees with the same job duties. Residents say they will continue to fight for Sprouts reinstatement. Even if there is a loophole in the law, I would hope that we, as a community, might think we can do better than that, said Becky Roesner. Give her an unpaid leave of absence or something. "A lot of small towns might not hire a woman, but I think its great that we did because it is important that our youth see both men and women in those positions," Roesner said. "I hope the board can be accommodating. On Tuesday, the board referred all legal matters and grievances for the police department to an outside legal firm. CHARLESTON A psychiatrist has talked to the teenage boy accused of shooting a fellow Mattoon High School student, but reports on his condition haven't been submitted yet. That was the update during a court hearing Thursday for the boy, accused in the Sept. 20 shooting in the school's cafeteria. Another boy, who reportedly wasn't the actual target, was shot during the incident before the shooter was subdued, according to authorities. The victim was hit in the upper chest, but he is recovering from his wounds. The boy, 14 and a freshman at the time, is charged in juvenile court with aggravated battery with a firearm, a felony offense that could lead to him being held by the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice until the age of 21. In another development, the teen's new attorney, Ed Piraino of Champaign, made his appearance on Thursday. Piraino told Circuit Judge Matt Sullivan that psychiatrist Lawrence Jeckel met with the boy but not to the extent needed to make any evaluations. State's Attorney Brian Bower said there's been no indication yet from Jeckel on when the evaluations will be complete. The evaluations will address the possibility of insanity at the time of the incident, whether the boy is a risk to himself or others, and if he's able to understand and help with his defense. The teenager is being held in a juvenile detention facility. Piraino said it appeared that it's best for him to "stay where he is." Bower also said subpoenas have been issued for records, which he didn't specifically identify, that Jeckel has indicated he wants to use in the evaluations. Piraino also said he hasn't received police reports about the shooting, but Bower said he understands Mattoon police have completed more than 200 interviews and the reports should be ready soon. Based on the time needed for the various records and the attorneys' schedules, Sullivan scheduled the next hearing for Nov. 17. According to information presented during a previous hearing and from authorities, the teen started to aim the gun at a girl, but Mattoon High teacher Angie McQueen grabbed him by the arm and the shot hit the other student instead. More shots were fired into the cafeteria's ceiling before McQueen and Mattoon police school resource officer Kasey Alexander subdued the boy, according to police. There has been some indication that bullying might have been the motivation for the shooting. Authorities haven't said how the boy was able to bring the gun inside the school. 100 years ago Oct. 5, 1917: Charles Buffalo Jones, formerly of Normal, is reported critically ill in San Antonio. His two daughters have been called to his bedside. Jones earned his nickname by his tireless efforts to preserve the buffalo species and developing a crossbreed called the catalo. 75 years ago Oct. 5, 1942: The St. Louis Cardinals won the World Series, beating the New York Yankees 4-2. The Series went only five games. Yankee Stadium was slow to fill up for this game. An hour before game time there were many $3.30 seats left in the upper grandstand. 50 years ago Oct. 5, 1967: State Rep. Harber Hall of Normal predicts I-74 will be under construction between Bloomington and LeRoy some time in 1968. The states construction budget for next year hasnt come out yet. But Hall says he has been assured it will happen. 25 years ago Oct. 5, 1992: The unique items museum pieces, really from the Pigs Hip in Broadwell will go on the auction block this weekend. The restaurant has been a landmark on old Route 66 since 1944. It opened in 1937 as the Harbor Inn. Ernie Edwards has run it from the very start. Can you imagine having a brand so definitive that you can spin it off into French cookies that literally taste like you? No? That's because you're not iconic artist Marina Abramovic, who is so Marina Abramovic, that there is nothing Marina Abramovic left to surprise us about Marina Abramovic's endeavors. Her latest performance art piece is macarons Marina Abramovic-flavored macarons. What that means exactly we just don't know, but it's certainly hugely Marina Abramovic. According to ArtNet, the project is in conjunction with luxury dessert brand Kreemart and Abramovic wants her audience to really taste her, or "eat her." She explained in a video that played macarons' release event at Art Frieze London that the project's inspiration came from her childhood. "My grandmother, early morning, making coffee," Abramovic said. "The smell of coffee was everywhere in the house. Then I remember the smells of fresh basil, thyme, cardamom seeds, and exotic smells from the trips I took later on and remember exploring volcanoes and waterfalls and remember this feeling in the early morning when I see the line of the sea just meet the ocean, and ocean meet the sky. All of this, in this macaron of me." "My work is most of the time immaterial because performance art is immaterial, it is conceptual and limited by time," she continued in a statement. "Kreemart's work in the medium of sugar is completely immaterial too, because you consume it, you eat it, and it's gone. What is left behind is the memory of what you eat." Kreemart alluded to plans to release the macarons in New York, Tokyo, LA, Miami and Milan, but they're currently available for purchase at Harrods in London. Be warned, however, ArtNet says that "much like the artist herself, [the macarons] aren't for everybody." Iconic. [h/t i-D] Images courtesy of Kreemart There's no question Princess Nokia personifies cool, so it's only natural cult streetwear brand MadeMe tapped the New York rapper to front their AW17 campaign. The Kim Gordon-founded label also recruited Mayan Toleado to shoot Nokia, born Destiny Frasqueri, in a series of locations (stay tuned for iconic graveyard pics). Princess Nokia follows a line of heavy-hitting MadeMe muses, including Coco Gordon Moore and Lourdes Leon. The collection has more than its fair share of late 90s/early noughties nostalgia pleather and kilt city and is bound to have every cool girl in a 100-mile radius of New York flocking. Flick through the campaign below. Images courtesy of MadeMe. Mayor of San Juan Carmen Yulin Cruz is not backing down after Trump's attempts to silence her via his favorite medium, Twitter. Trump called Cruz "nasty" on Saturday, a day after the mayor said in a press conference, "I am begging, begging anyone who can hear us to save us from dying. If anybody out there is listening to us, we are dying, and you are killing us with the inefficiency." Taking this desperate plea for help as unfair personal criticism, Trump wrote on Twitter the next day that Cruz "has now been told by the Democrats that you must be nasty to Trump." The hardy San Juan mayor is not one to be silenced, though, and in an interview with Univision on Wednesday she wrote a black T-shirt with the word "nasty" on the front. She acknowledged that the shirt was a direct response to Trump's tweets at her, adding: "When someone is bothered by someone claiming lack of drinking water, lack of medicine for the sick and lack of food for the hungry, that person has problems too deep to be explained in an interview. What is really nasty is that anyone would turn their back on the Puerto Rican people." "Lo que es 'nasty' es que se de la espalda al pueblo puertorriqueno": alcaldesa de San Juan @CarmenYulinCruz pic.twitter.com/f0U92cln0F Al Punto Univision (@AlPunto) October 4, 2017 Cruz wore a shirt that read "Help us we are dying" during an interview with CNN's Anderson Cooper last week. Desperate times call for desperate measures, and though the situation in Puerto Rico remains dire, the president is clearly not taking it seriously. If painfully simple optics are what is needed to draw attention to a humanitarian crisis, so be it. To learn how to help Puerto Rico, head to our guide here. [h/t The Cut] Image via @DavidRutz Patna: Criminals, defying law and order in the city, shot a 23-year old man in his stomach and escaped with Rs. 1 lakh in cash on Thursday afternoon. The incident took place near a slum behind Panchshiva Temple in Kankarbagh around 2:30 pm. As reported, Samir Kumar Singh, a native of Jamui living in a rental house in Beur area in Patna worked as a collection agent for the Sudha Dairy. On Thursday, he had collected about Rs. 1 lakh and was headed to other vendors to collect money from them when two men wearing helmet on a motorcycle forced him to pull over near a slum behind the temple. They tried to snatch the laptop bag that contained money but when Samir showed reluctance in handing over the cash to them, the man sitting on the passenger seat pulled a gun and shot him from behind. The bullet pierced his body coming out from his stomach. The criminals then took the bag and escaped. Locals in the area called the police. Samir was rushed to a nearby hospital and then transferred to the Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) where he remains in critical condition but out of danger. Samir was able to speak but told the police he could not tell which way the criminals went after the robbery. Authorities are hoping to catch the criminals by identifying them on video footage captured on surveillance cameras in the region. New Delhi: After asking for being relieved from appearing before a CBI probing team in connection with the 'land for railway tender' scam a number of times, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) President and former Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav ran out of excuses on Thursday and presented himself before the investigative agency where he was grilled for nearly seven hours by the probing team. Yadav, who was accompanied by his daughter and MP Misa Bharti, was questioned for almost seven hours during which the investigators asked him about 100 questions from a prepared list. The RJD chief was asked about the terms and conditions of the deal between the Railways and the BNR Hotel Group owned by the Kochar Brothers, what role he played in the deal, what sort of business the Delight Marketing owned by Yadav's family members involved in, how long he had known Sarla Gupta, what were the reasons for the Kochar Brothers to give land to Yadav's family in 2005, did he know about the involvement of his wife Rabri Devi and son Tejaswi Yadav in the land deals; and is he familiar with all the properties owned by his wife and son; among many other questions. Sources said Yadav, at the guidance of his lawyers, answered 'I do not recall' to most of the questions though he denied ever engaging in corrupt practices while he was the Railway Minister of India. Talking to the reporters after being grilled by the CBI, Yadav said that the Nitish government in Bihar, in collusion with the Narendra Modi administration in Delhi, was trying to intimidate him in an attempt to finish him politically. "I and my family members are being harassed unnecessarily by the CBI but I am not afraid of anything. All my properties are in public domain and the CBI should stop treating me as if I am Vijay Mallya," the RJD chief said referring to the fallen millionaire facing a slew of white collar crimes. Expressing his faith in the Indian judiciary, Yadav said that it was the golden age of the Indian Railways when he was the Railway Minister in the UPA government. "I made the railways profitable for the first time without ever downsizing human resources or services. That is why the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is trying to punish me. This government is trying to break the nation on communal lines. They can hang me but they cannot crush my voice against communalism and fascism," he said. Yadav's son and former Deputy Chief Minister Tejaswi Yadav is expected to appear before the CBI court on Friday. Unlike Rob Ford, Ana Bailao's past forgivenBy Sue-Ann Levy, Toronto SunFirst posted: Friday, October 06, 2017 07:52 PM EDT | Updated: Friday, October 06, 2017 08:09 PM EDTOn Wednesday night before the vote on whether to rename Centennial Park after the late Rob Ford Mayor John Tory got up and reminded council of the controversial mayors past.His words were like a dog whistle to council to vote down the plan. If he wanted the motion to go through, he would not have even mentioned a word about the mayors past.But he did.We cannot erase history and gloss over very difficult parts of our citys past (with Ford as mayor), Tory said that night, reminding us that the divisive era (created by Rob Ford) is over.But on Friday morning when he gleefully announced that downtown NDP councillor Ana Bailao would become the new deputy mayor of Toronto and East York replacing the late Pam McConnell any mention of her drunk-driving history was conspicuously absent.Tory contended that the determined Bailao has championed the improvement of housing conditions and the lives of residents in Toronto Community Housing, yada, yada.What I didnt hear from Tory Friday was any mention of the drunk driving charge Bailao hid for three months in 2012 until it became clear she would have to fess up before she got to court.I mean fair is fair. If Tory was going to dredge up Fords past, surely to goodness he should do the same with Bailao, especially considering she was being appointed to a plum post.I was there at that January 2013 press conference when a teary-eyed Bailao informed us shed quietly pled guilty to having over 80 mg of alcohol in 100 ml of blood.That was after shed blown .130 (just shy of twice the legal limit) in October 2012 following an evening of copious drinks with casino lobbyists at the Thompson Hotel.Bailao, who refused to resign at the time, was fined $1,000 and ordered not to get behind the wheel for 12 months.Mayor Ford rushed to her defense that day, saying shed taken full responsibility for her actions and that he has faith in the consequences meted out by the justice system.One would have expected Bailao if shed been the slightest bit a mensch to offer Ford the same redemption Wednesday. But she was part of the cabal that stood in judgement and voted down the stadium memorial.Bailao did not respond to Toronto Sun requests for comment, which is entirely predictable.But Torys spokesman Don Peat told me Bailao admitted what she did, paid her fine and went on to be re-elected by the residents of her ward...and since then has worked tirelessly.Hey why dont we substitute the name Ford in the Mayors hypocritical comment: He admitted what he did (his addiction), went to rehab, was never convicted of anything and went on to be re-elected by the residents of his ward, working tirelessly until he succumbed to cancer.Oh never mind. Details, details.Look, in my view, Tory is really scraping the bottom of the barrel with his choice of Bailao for deputy mayor and Joe Mihevc for councils poverty pimp, er advocate.Still, we all know this is not about competence. And it is definitely not about the optics or the integrity the mayor claims he brought to City Hall.Its all about the mayor shoring up NDP support for the 2018 election with leftist yes-men in the hopes that no one on the left will run.But sadly this is yet more proof that a terrible double standard reigns supreme at Mayor John Torys City Hall and that the mistakes are only egregious when they involve someone on the right.Were talking about a City Hall where council and the mayor turn a blind eye to a colleague with a criminal conviction (because shes NDP) while refusing to redeem a mayor who was addicted to alcohol but was never charged criminally (and did plenty good for taxpayers).Yet Tory has the gall to pretend the era of divisiveness is over?Oh the irony. Patna: Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) senior leader Raghuvansh Prasad Singh on Thursday took a shot at the upcoming party election of the office bearers saying the whole election thing was rigged as the party bigwigs had already decided who will get which post. "This election is for show only; it has already been finalized who will get what post," Singh, who still hasn't forgotten how he was deliberately overlooked by party chief Lalu Prasad Yadav in 2000 when Yadav made his politically inexperienced wife Rabri Devi the Chief Minister of Bihar before going to jail in connection with the multi-crore rupees fodder scam. Singh said this on the day when his boss was facing a CBI team in Delhi probing many corruption charges against him. Earlier on Wednesday, Rabri Devi had called an emergency meeting of the party leaders at her official residence on 10 Circular Road in which she said that the RJD would be holding its election, including the new national President, on 20th November. Another senior party leader Jagadanand Singh tried to downplay Singh's statement saying everyone in the party had the right to speak his or her mind and though the party election should have been ordinarily held in January 2019, it is being moved to an early date since 2019 also coincides with the Lok Sabha elections. Mr Adam Mutawakilu, Ranking Member, Parliamentary Select Committee on Mines and Energy, says it is incumbent on the public to identify legacy projects from the proceeds of revenue emanating from oil and gas. He said there were currently over 160 projects, which proceeds from oil and gas were to be used in executing. However, he said, monies used in all those projects were not adequate enough to complete them hence the public was unable to evaluate their impact on the people. Mr Mutawakilu was speaking at the launch of a project dubbed: Enhancing the Role of the Media to Promote Oil and Gas Sector Transparency and Accountability, in Accra on Wednesday. Under the project 10 journalists are being trained for 10 days and equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to better inform the public and civil society on oil and gas issues. It also aimed at increasing transparency and accountability through effective oversight on oil and gas resources and revenue management. It was organised by Penplusbyte, a new media hub in Accra, in collaboration with Ghana Oil and Gas for Inclusive Growth (GOGIG). Mr Mutawakilu said the public should also be involved in identifying those legacy projects adding that discussions on them should not be conducted along political lines. He, therefore, said government must prioritise legacy projects instead of embarking on numerous projects simultaneously as that did not augur well under the Petroleum Management Act. Comparing the Gas Infrastructure projects and those under the oil sector, Mr Mutawakilu said it was easy to quantify those projects under the Gas Infrastructure but the situation was different under the oil sector. Much resources were pumped into the oil sector as a result of exploration, appraisal and production and so it was important the nation got things right, he said. If you dont get things right you end sinking so much money in the sector and in the end get little money from oil and gas, he said. He said he was happy that Ghana had put in place Legal and Legislative Instruments (LIs), which has spared the country of scandals in the oil and gas sector. We are also operationalising more LIs to respond to every activity, he said. Mr Mutawakilu underscored the critical role the media played in oil and gas revenue noting that without the media, we will be in the dark in terms of information. It is only the media that get the public to listen to how our revenues are managed. He, therefore, commended the organisers for empowering the media to bring up issues so that the nation would be known as a hub of accountability and transparency. Mr Mutawakilu declared his support for laws that would prosecute people who do not use revenue of oil and gas for stated projects. Mr George Sarpong, the Executive Secretary of the National Media Commission (NMC), lauded the organisers for equipping journalists with the requisite skills to report on Oil and Gas revenue accountability and transparency. Mr Kwame Ahiabenu, the Executive Director of Pensplusbyte, said the public ought to be informed of how revenue from Oil and gas were managed adding that skills of journalists must be sharpened so they could report accurately. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The CEO of uniBank (Ghana) Limited, Dr. Kwabena Duffuor II, was on Friday, September 29, 2017 adjudged the most Enterprising Young Executive in the Banking and Finance category at the Ghana Forty Under 40 Awards ceremony held at the Kempinski Gold Coast Hotel. The Forty under 40 Awards, organized by Xodus Communications Limited sought to identify, honour and celebrate the nation's most influential and accomplished young business leaders under age 40 from a wide range of industries. Dr. Duffuors award was premised on his commitment to business growth, professional excellence and ability to progress in the ranks of enterprising and challenging financial sector at a relatively young age. Dr. Duffuor II, as the Executive Director and COO of the Bank from 2012 to June 2017 was instrumental in the steady rise in the fortunes of uniBank; having assisted the then Managing Director in leading the management and the bank to attain its current enviable position in the banking sector. He is largely credited for his efforts in transforming uniBank from a second tier bank to a tier one, boasting as one of the biggest in terms of assets, deposits, loans and profitability in the industry. Under his leadership, uniBank received a number of awards at the Ghana Banking Awards and has been accredited as the 6th most prestigious company by Ghana Club 100. His disposition towards business has already been underscored by some significant business strides making him prime to surge uniBank to greater heights. His in-depth knowledge of the business world necessitated the opening of global business hubs in Dubai and London to position uniBank to advance expedient business enclaves that enable Ghanaians living abroad to open, manage and monitor their accounts in Ghana. With a zeal for obtaining a highly talented workforce, developing, motivating and retaining them for higher productivity and business growth, Dr. Duffuor led management of the Bank to develop human resource management strategies and policies that ensure employees go through competency-based technical and managerial training programs in Ghana and other parts of the world. He personally mentors high-flyers in leadership positions in the Bank and ensures departmental and divisional heads provide mentorship to identified proteges at all levels in the Bank. Dr. Kwabena Duffuor II, currently serves on many Boards including uniBank (Ghana) Limited, Prime Insurance Company Limited; Alban Logistics; Apex Capital Group and uniSecurities Ltd. Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research is calling for an amendment to the current Labour Act, 2003, Act 651 to enable the export of labour, particularly unemployed graduates to three English West African countries-Sierra Leone, Liberia and The Gambia. Director of ISSER, Professor Felix Asante told Business Finder on the sidelines of the launch of the Ghana Social Development Outlook 2016 that this is one of the pragmatic ways of reducing graduate unemployment in the country which is in hundreds of thousands. Liberia and Sierra Leone are two English West African countries hit hard by civil war for about a decade or more, a situation that led to the exodus of some of its human capital to Europe and the USA in particular. According to the economist, there is huge potential for skilled human resources in the English speaking West African countries- Liberia, Sierra Leone and The Gambia. Commenting on whether the Free SHS policy was sustainable going forward, Professor Asante said it can be sustainablebut we have to see the whole policy document before we can be sure it is sustainable going forward. The free SHS will lead to massive enrolment into universities and it was the need for the labour act to be altered to enable us export graduates to three English West African countries. Continuing he said Let me congratulate the Government of Ghana for a successful implementation of the Free SHS programme. Just like all programme implementation, there will be problems with the rollout and I am hoping that these will be solved come next year. Some issues of concern he raised included the need to discuss and come out with a funding arrangement for the programme which will see to its implementation under successive administrations, capacity to admit students who will pass the SSSCE and what next for the graduates after completion of school. He was however hopeful that Ghana could become an education hub in the sub-region, adding for this to happen, there was the need to categorize secondary and tertiary institutions. This should be for both the private and public institutions. It is high time we have grade A, B and C institutions, he emphasized. On the petroleum sector, the ISSER Director called for some direct government intervention to help cushion the effects of petroleum price increases despite deregulating the sector. Some of the intervention he said includes the reduction of some of the levies of fuel and the use of the Price Stabilization and Recovery Levy in the petroleum product price build-up. Deregulation can lead to increase in the price of petroleum products in the short run which can translate into increased cost of transportation, increase in cost of rent, decline in real income of workers and ultimately lead to job cuts. The third edition of the Ghana Social Development Outlook 2016 examined the state of social development in Ghana and proffered policy prescriptions. Thematic areas addressed included health, education, employment, housing, governance, water and sanitation, energy and environment. Source: The Finder Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video DP World Group has met with the President of Ghana to discuss cooperation in customs technology, port operations, developing a freezone, rail transport and inland container depots to develop trade. A new customs agreement with Dubai company Customs World opens new areas for cooperation between the global port operator and the West African country. Customs World is a subsdiary of PCFC (Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation) - Trakhees, which provides services to Dubai World and its subsidiaries in Dubai, as well as other areas controlled by Dubai Customs. Ghana signed a deal with Customs World in which it will supply customs clearing services in the country and a national single window. Customs World had acquired West Blue Ghana, the Ghanian IT firm engaged for the provision of Ghanas national single window and its risk management system, back in September, 2017. Customs World plans to invest in new technologies and training for digital customs platforms, as it does in other countries worldwide. The implementation of the new systems will be based on a risk engine that will improve efficiency in the countrys ports and customs operations. It targets an increase in the governments revenue, while it reduces the cost of doing business at the ports for businesses. Another goal of the customs upgrades is to make processes efficient, lowering costs for ports and transport providers and enabling more efficient trade flows. Ghanas trade development projects will also support businesses aiming to reach international markets. A report by DP World on Africa an arm of the US magazine The Economist called Intelligence Unit projected an 8.3% reduction in trade costs from various trade-related projects. DP World Group Chairman and CEO Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, said: Integrating ports, customs, and freezones in Ghana will benefit the country enormously, enabling business to trade faster and more efficiently than ever before. Dubai is a model for the world and we can support developing nations such as Ghana in the long term implementation of such strategies as the recent agreement with Customs World demonstrates. Our flagship Jebel Ali port in Dubai is a pioneer with its logistics corridor connecting freezone, port and nearby airport with customs operations and digital processes such as the Dubai Trade portal to enable companies to move their goods. Ghanas ports and customs systems can make it a regional trade transport and logistics hub and a leader on the continent. Trade and not just aid is one of the key action points African nations have raised and development of infrastructure and transport connectivity will help considerably. Trade is a gateway to development and regional cooperation through public private partnerships and will benefit all. Africa is in a unique position in that it has the chance to trade with an untapped market itself. Countries such as Ghana can help make this ambition a reality given its access to the sea and the fact that 90% of trade in Africa is along its coastline". Source: Naomi Obenewaah Abrokwa/Peace FM News Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Supreme Court has called off the Oral examination of businessman Alfred Agbesi Woyome by the Deputy Attorney General Godfred Yeboah Dame. According to an Accra-based Kasapa FMs reporter, the sitting judge Justice Ampah Benin is unavailable for the hearing, which was slated for today (Monday). Mr Woyome was expected at the Supreme Court today to be interrogated on how his GHc51.2m judgement debt received from the State could be refunded. It is unclear the next sitting date but Kasapa FM report says Todays sitting has been cancelled, because the judge (Justice Ampah Benin) is on an interview panel at the Ghana School of Law concerning their admission Normal sitting resumes on October 10, so I am sure it would be listed among the cases for October 10, a source at the registrars office stated. The oral examination of Mr Woyome started on July 24 and was expected to continue today October 2, following a three-month legal vacation. Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/Peacefmonline.com/ Twitter: @Washman5/ Instagram: Ambrose_wash 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 At least 173 factories are ready to be rolled out as part of the governments flagship One-district One-factory initiative, Deputy Trade and Industry Minister, Robert Ahomka Lindsay has said. According to him, all the 173 projects will be carried out by private businesses with support from the government. In a radio interview on Accra-based Citi FM, Mr Ahomka Lindsay said about 600 applications have been received from various businesses in and outside Ghana as well as 457 business plans. For some time now, we have been receiving expressions of interest from various businesses in and outside Ghana. As of yesterday [Wednesday], we had received close to 600 expressions of interest and we have received from that, 457 business plans. He added that the ministry has set up a technical support group to review all business plans from the potential investors and establish their viability. The Deputy Trade Minister said, the support group has so far concluded that 173 of the business plans are viable, and largely positive to be considered for the roll-out of the program. We have formed a technical support group and we have reviewed 435 business plans. Of those 435 business plans, 173 are what you can term as bankable. They are in 95 districts and wholly private, Ahomka Lindsay said. Local participation The Deputy Minister said majority of businesses being considered were locally owned, and that the government is ready to accord them the necessary support. He noted that, in spite of the governments interest in local participation, it requires them to step up to meet the requirement in order to be shortlisted. Funding Ahomka Lindsay said the selected businesses were making their independent financial arrangements which include loans and equity. He however noted that, the government was supporting them through a number of partnerships it had formed with banks including UMB and GCB. Sectors of focus The Deputy Minister noted further that, most of the business plans received were in the agro-processing industry. Of that 173, 46% are in agro-processing, and 36% are manufacturing, he said, adding that 65% of the projects were expansions of existing factories that had collapsed, or were under-functioning, while 35% were entirely new projects. The one-district one-factory program is one of the governments key policy initiatives seeking to revolutionize industry in Ghana. The program will see at least one factory each, built in all 216 districts across the country. President Akufo-Addo launched the program by commissioning the first project, a pineapple factory at Ekumfi in the Central Region. Source: Citifmonline 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 Chief Justice, Ms Justice Sophia Akuffo has unveiled plans to close down all dilapidated court structures to safeguard the safety and security of judges and court users. She said the current state of most court structures across the country were death traps and demeaning to the administration of justice. According to the Chief Justice, she recently visited the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) Court where conditions were so deplorable. Addressing members of the Association of Magistrates and Judges of Ghana (AMJG) at their 37th Annual General Meeting (AGMs) annual conference in Accra Wesdnesday, Ms Akuffo planned to close the courts to make them safe for use by judges and the public. It is about time, we showed as a nation, respect for justice, Ms Akuffo said. This years two-day conference was on the theme: Judiciary, A Bastian of Democracy, and is being attended by more than 100 judges and magistrates. Finances Turning to financing of the Judicial Service, Ms Akuffo urged the government to consult the Judiciary before allocating budget to it. She said funds released to the Judiciary were not enough partly because it was not consulted at the planning state. She further stated that the 15 per cent allocated to the Judiciary from its internally generated funds (IGF) was not adequate. She said the Judiciary could be truly independent when it was allowed to have financial independence as enshrined in the 1992 Constitution. Ms Justice Akuffo accordingly charged the magistrates and judges to explore new ways by which the Judiciary could be financed to guarantee its true independence. Backlog of cases Ms Justice Akuffo said there was currently a backlog of cases, a situation which did not create a good image of the Judiciary in the eyes of the public. She said backlog of cases leading to delays in justice delivery was unacceptable and for that reason we are analysing to ensure all judges do make case management plans and abide by those plans. The Chief Justice said a contract for the justice project under the e-governance programme had been signed. The project, when rolled, will track cases from the beginning to the end. For instance, in the case of criminal cases, the system would track from the arrest stage to the date of conviction or acquittal. She said the programme would be rolled out to ensure that all people were treated fairly under the law. Ms Akuffo also assured the gathering that all lower courts across the country would also be automated. Problems Ms Justice Akuffo said she had noted the problems facing the Judiciary and was poised to ensure they were all resolved. She said there were more than 200 vacant positions yet to be filled in the Judicial Service but noted that her outfit had to be given financial clearance before it could engage new hands. AMJG address The President of the AMJG, Mr Justice Victor Ofoe, touched on the problems facing his colleagues, including promotions that had been pending since 2013, poor security and inadequate infrastructure among other issues. Mr Ofoe expressed worry over the delays in the payment of pensions to retired judges. Former CJ honoured The AMJG honoured the former Chief Justice, Mrs Justice Georgina Theodora Wood for her sterling leadership while in office. She thanked the magistrates, judges and staff of the Judicial Service for their support while she was in office. Source: Daily Graphic 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 Audio Attachment: Listen to Kofi Adams National Organizer of the opposition National Democratic Congress [NDC], Kofi Adams has described President Akufo-Addos appeal to Ghanaians to be considerate in their demands as hypocritical. President Nana Akufo-Addo on a two-day working visit to the Upper West Region as part of his 7-day tour in the Northern Region, in a respond to demands made by some chiefs and individuals of the Dorimon traditional area at Jambusi in the Wa West District, asked Ghanaians to be considerate in their demands on his government as he makes effort to put the economy on a sound footing. The Chiefs had earlier notified the president of some developmental challenges they faced. In response, the President stressed, what we are saying is that, all the things that you have put to me are things that I am very concerned about extending the school feeding programme, establishing a nurses training collegebut a lot of them depend on the state of our public finances. And the truth of the matter is that, I am not a lucky son, I did not inherit a rich father. The inheritance I got from my predecessor was an empty treasury so Im working my way from the bottom up. He however, assured Ghanaians of his commitment to honour all his campaign promises. Speaking with CITI FM on President Akufo-Addos claims that a challenged economy was bequeathed to him, Kofi Adams stressed His Excellency the president is not only showing signs of double standards but is also peddling falsehoods, I can tell you on any day that President Akufo-Addo inherited a better economy than possibly any of our presidents have had in the 4th Republican constitution. He said, the current government is fortunate with the kind of economy inherited from the NDC because the NDC inherited an economy in 2009 that was borrowing to pay salaries. Indeed we went out there and took bonds (Euro bonds) before we could pay salaries that was the type of economy we inherited. The NPP inherited an economy that never borrowed to pay salaries, we paid salaries using revenues generated internally, we have added a lot more infrastructure that did not exist. Go to our airports today, go to our sea ports today,...we expanded Kumasi airport, Tamale airport...the Kotoka International Airport itself is seeing massive expansion works," he added. Source: Elizabeth Semiheva Bedi/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 Two days ago, a health-related article was published by renowned American News Agency New York Times on obesity. The article sought to look at the causes of obesity and based their research on Ghanas own franchise of Americas Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC). In addition to indicating that having a meal at the popular restaurant was a social status the report called President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo round-faced and overweight. That portion of the article was captioned, Like many of his countrymen, the round-faced president himself is overweight. Many Ghanaians did not take kindly to the description given to the Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Army and took to their social media handles to express their displeasure at the distasteful words used. Many people argued that describing someone as obese or overweight in the Western world was seen as an insult and many people took offence in that. The article also insinuated that even though the president was concerned about the increasing number of fast food restaurants in the country, very little was being done to avert the risks that come with eating junk food. Some social media users had this to say: Source: yen.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 First Nations confident courts will stop Kinder Morgan pipelineLawyers for the federal government are sitting in a Vancouver courtroom this week on opposite sides of seven First Nations who are challenging the federal approval of Kinder Morgans Trans Mountain expansion tarsands pipeline and tanker project, while more than 100 First Nations across Canada and tribes in the United States stand in support.I cant imagine that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who claims to be a vocal advocate for improving the lives of First Nation communities, can be happy about this. The problem is, by approving the Kinder Morgan project last November, he is the reason for this court case and conflict.Prime Minister Trudeaus approval was based on the National Energy Boards (NEB) review of the project the same broken and biased NEB process that Trudeau himself had roundly criticized and that he had promised to overhaul before making any decision on the Kinder Morgan project.Such broken promises have been disappointing to First Nations who had high expectations after the Harper years. Yet, here First Nations are back in court challenging a federal approval of a B.C. tarsands pipeline and tanker project almost two years to the day when First Nations challenged another B.C. tarsands pipeline and tanker project: the now-defeated Enbridge Northern Gateway project. The acting Ashanti Regional Organiser of the New Patriotic Party, Daniel Agyenim Boateng, said to be involved in a recruitment fraud has been invited by the police. Mr Boateng was at the Tafo Pankorano police station on Wednesday to write a statement in the case in which he is said to have defrauded seven persons with the promise of giving them jobs in government and in the security service. He is said to have taken Ghc2000 from each of the five alleged victims and Ghc700 from two others. The police in Ashanti are yet to officially comment on the matter. Source: Daily Graphic 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 McDonald's is returning to 1998 with a re-release of a limited-supply of Szechuan Sauce for one day. Packets of the dipping sauce will be available at 2 p.m. Oct. 7 at select McDonald's restaurants across the nation, including one restaurant in central Pennsylvania. Find it at the McDonald's at 333 E. King St. in Shippensburg. The savory and slightly sweet sauce, with hints of soy, ginger, garlic, and slight vinegar notes, will be available at the restaurant along with a chance to receive a limited-edition sauce poster. The posters were announced last week in tandem with the release of McDonald's new Buttermilk Crispy Tenders. The nine gig-style posters were designed by artists from Delicious Design League. The custom screen-printed posters showcase different sauces - Creamy Ranch, Honey, Honey Mustard, Hot Mustard, Spicy Buffalo, Sriracha Mac Sauce, Sweet 'n Sour, Tangy Barbeque and the new Signature Sauce. The posters will be available at the Shippensburg restaurant. Also, McDonald's restaurants in Lancaster County at 210 W. King St. and 1295 Millersville Pike will have the posters but no sauce. Purchase of Buttermilk Crispy Tenders is required to be eligible for the poster giveaway. The Szechuan Sauce has regained popularity thanks to the Adult Swim cartoon, "Rick and Morty." It was originally released as part of a promotion connected to the Disney movie "Mulan." Three U.S. Army Green Berets were killed in an ambush in Niger Wednesday, according to a New York Times report. The attack happened 120 miles north of Niamey, Niger's capital, near its border with Mali. Two other Green Berets were wounded in the attack, which took place where Al Qaeda militants with the Islamic Maghreb have conducted raids, according to the report. The Nigerien army also suffered casualties, but no details were available. The U.S. deaths were the first American casualties under hostile fire since special forces troops have been providing training and security assistance to Nigerien armed forces. A special forces troop died in a February vehicle accident in Niger. BEIRUT -- Just hours after Stephen Paddock unleashed a hail of bullets on a country music festival in Las Vegas, the Islamic State group issued a flurry of statements claiming the 64-year-old gunman as one of its own. The quick responsibility claim -- discounted by FBI officials -- is the latest in a series of dubious or seemingly fake IS claims, reflecting the extremists' eagerness to latch onto global attacks it can tout as its own as it fights for survival in its Mideast base. Three years after it declared its so-called Islamic caliphate across huge swaths of Syria and Iraq, IS has lost most of the territory and is on the run in its few remaining bastions. Far from the confident propaganda it pumped out when it controlled a pseudo state, the group now justifies its losses to its supporters and urges them not to give up the fight. "It really reflects the existential crisis facing ISIS," said London-based Mideast analyst Fawaz Gerges, using an alternate acronym for the group. Investigators are still looking for clues to explain what drove Paddock, a high-stakes gambler and retired accountant, to gun down 58 people from his high-rise hotel room in the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history. The IS statement did not provide a shred of evidence to support its claim that he was a "soldier" from its ranks, saying only that the man, who it identified by the alleged pseudonym "Abu el-Bar al-Amriki," had converted to Islam three years ago. The Associated Press reported the IS claim, but noted the group provided no evidence of a link. Unlike previous attacks claimed by IS, there is no indication Paddock had religious or political inclinations, nor did he leave a video message of himself pledging allegiance as some attackers have. Paddock killed himself as police closed in, making it easier for IS to make the claim. The group has a history of exaggerated, unsubstantiated or false claims, but these have picked up in frequency as its position at home became more tenuous. In June, the group claimed an attack by a gunman who ignited a casino fire that left 36 people dead in the Philippine capital, Manila. It turned out to be a botched robbery by a heavily indebted Filipino gambling addict. The group also claimed a knife attack on Sunday that killed two women in Marseille, France, but French authorities say they have found no link between the attacker and IS. From Orlando, Florida, to Manchester and London in the U.K, to the Champs Elysee in Paris to Bangladesh, Libya, Syria and Yemen -- almost every day, the group claims responsibility for an attack somewhere in the world. Many have been at least inspired by the group. Some claims have simply been false. The recent claims are a far cry from the carnage in Paris in November 2015 that killed 130 people, or the 2016 suicide bombings that ripped through Brussels airport and subway, killing 32 and injuring 320. Both were said to have been planned and directed by IS. Experts say the recent false claims are a reflection of the group's desperation to project strength and remain in the news as something other than a terrorist group on the wane. The militants lost Mosul, their biggest prize and last major stronghold in Iraq, in July after a grueling months-long battle, and are currently holed up in a few remaining neighborhoods in Raqqa, where U.S.-backed Syrian forces are bearing down on them. In an apparent attempt to raise morale, IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi released an audio message last week, the first since November, vowing to continue fighting and lavishing praise on his jihadis for their valor in the battlefield. He also urged followers to step up attacks and "burn" their enemies everywhere. Gerges said the Las Vegas attack claim illustrates the extremely difficult position IS faces at home and its lack of strategic coordination. "To take responsibility for a deranged American, a criminal American, tells you exactly that this is about media narrative. This is about trying to remain in the news cycle, trying to say we are still here," he said. Experts say the group, which has called for lone wolf attacks in the Las Vegas strip among other landmark Western targets, has nothing to lose by making such claims. "ISIS is essentially trying to piggyback on the atrocity in Las Vegas," said Colin P. Clarke, an expert at the RAND Corporation. "This is merely a way to garner more attention ... even though the claim is patently ... false." "More likely, ISIS's supporters will believe what the group says and not what is proven beyond a doubt by the Western media," Clarke added. --By Zeina Karam First the good news: Whoever told you that Santa Claus was an impostor with a fake beard collecting a Christmastime check at the mall or a lie cooked up by your parents to trick you into five measly minutes of quiet was, at minimum, misinformed. The bad news: Santa Claus is definitely dead. Archaeologists in southern Turkey say they have discovered the tomb of the original Santa Claus, also known as St. Nicholas, beneath his namesake church near the Mediterranean Sea. Saint Nicholas of Myra (now Demre) was known for his anonymous gift-giving and generosity. People believed he'd put coins in the shoes of anyone who left them out for him on his feast day, Dec. 6. As the story goes, he was a monk who gave away his hefty inheritance and instead chose to help the poor and the sick. He's also a patron saint of sailors and was, of course, especially fond of children. (There's one slightly bizarre story, more Halloween than Christmas, of St. Nicholas saving three children who had been "lured into the clutches of an evil butcher.") He was so popular, according to History.com, that he survived the Protestant Reformation, "when the veneration of saints began to be discouraged." It wasn't until the 16th century that St. Nicholas began to take on his modern, candy-cane hued form in images and imaginations. In Europe, he became known as Father Christmas. He migrated to the Americas with the Dutch, who called him "Sinterklass" and gathered every year on the anniversary of his death. He started making appearances in stores in the 1840s, according to History.com. The writer Clement Clarke cemented the American image of Santa Claus with his poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas," which begins with the words " 'Twas the night before Christmas." Now, Santa is all but entrenched in the Christmas lexicon, the rosy-cheeked face of Christmas who is the subject of movies, perennial parental lies and debates about childhood materialism. There is an annual argument about whether it's okay to portray Santa as only white. There was a Santa photographed last year with a shovel near a fence on the U.S. border with Mexico, a dig at Trump's immigration policies. And there was a Santa who's been called a liar for a story about telling a dying child that he was Santa's "number one elf." Through it all, the remains of the real-life St. Nicholas were apparently the subject of a centuries-old case of mistaken identity and grave robbery. According to the Telegraph, St. Nicholas died in A.D. 343 and was interred at St. Nicholas church in Demre, on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey. In 1087, apparently, merchants dug up his bones and smuggled them to the Italian city of Bari, the Telegraph reported. It's still a holy site, visited by Christians paying homage to St. Nicholas. But archaeologists say pilgrims to the Basilica di San Nicola are praying to the wrong guy. The bones belong to another local priest, not one of the most famous saints, the Telegraph reported. Archaeologists conducting recent surveys at the church in Demre found gaps beneath it. The shrine, they say, is underneath the church and untouched. "We believe this shrine has not been damaged at all, but it is quite difficult to get to it as there are mosaics on the floor," Cemil Karabayram, the head of Antalya's Monument Authority, told the Turkish Hurriyet Daily News. Karabayram told the newspaper that he's confident that archaeologists can reach the tomb. At that point, he believes, nearly 1,700 years after St. Nicholas died, he'll give another gift to the people of Demre: Tourism dollars. (c) 2017, The Washington Post. Cleve R. Wootson Jr. wrote this story. A two-alarm fire destroyed an East Pennsboro Township home Wednesday afternoon. Fire officials were dispatched to the blaze at around 2:55 p.m. on Lafayette Street in the township. Northeast fire officials have not determined the cause of the fire. Early indications are that the home was a total loss. No injuries were reported. The American Red Cross is assisting the six people who were displaced by the fire. Police are looking for a silver Chevy Silverado pickup truck similar to this in connection with Oct. 1-2 abduction and robbery in Middlesex Twp. Police continue their search for a couple who abducted a man on a Middlesex Township parking lot late Sunday or early Monday and dumped him duct-taped in the woods of Perry County after robbing him. Warrants have been issued for John William Williams, 47, and Charmayne Patricia Maddy, 45, both of Dauphin County, on charges they ordered a man at gunpoint into their vehicle on an "abandoned" parking lot. The parking area is along Harrisburg Pike (Route 11) near Petro truck stop, said Trooper Brent Miller. This is a heavily-traveled road lined with truck stops, restaurants and motels. "We are receiving some tips, but so far they have not panned out," he said Thursday. "We're thinking they're still in Pennsylvania somewhere, but you never know these days," Miller said. Inside the restaurant at Petro, several workers said they hadn't heard about the incident, and the manager said she can't comment. Across from the abandoned lot where the abduction may have occurred, resident George White said he didn't hear or see anything that night. He said he's surprised no one saw it happen, with all the traffic in the area. "There's always trucks going in and out of this area, even at 2 or 3 in the morning," White said. Down the street at the Bar B Que Tavern, customers and the bartender also said they didn't know anything about the incident. "That's crazy," said a worker. "I never really heard of anything like that happening around here." Williams and Maddy removed some of the victim's clothes, duct-taped him, and they dumped him in the woods off Millers Gap Road in Perry County. The victim, who was known by the couple, was found by a hunter around 7:15 a.m. Monday, police said. Warrants are issued for Williams and Maddy on charges of robbery, unlawful restraint, theft and access device fraud. State police said they only issued a news release on the abduction Wednesday morning because the crime was still under investigation. Williams and Maddy used the man's Visa card at various ATM locations in Cumberland County, the last time between 5 and 6 a.m. Monday, police said. They are believed to be driving a 2014 silver Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck with Pa. registration ZHA8333. They had a pump-action 12-gauge shotgun with a wood stock. Police said they are considered armed and dangerous, and Anyone with information is asked to call Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers at 1-800-472-8477. Callers remain anonymous and could be eligible for a cash reward. Perry County Crime Stoppers are also offering a reward, and can be reached at 866-210-8477. Williams is described as a white male, 5 feet 9 inches tall 190 pounds, with brown hair and hazel eyes. He has several body tattoos and a neck tattoo. He was last seen wearing blue jeans, tan work boots, red HACC sweatshirt and a green hat with a red bill that said "Mexico." His last known address is 249 Maclay St., Harrisburg, and he is also known to frequent campsites in Perry, Cumberland and Dauphin counties. Maddy is described as a black female, 5 feet 5 inches tall, 145 pounds, with brown hair and eyes, and a tattoo on her left arm and ankle. She was last seen wearing a black shirt and black pants. Her last known address is 4429 Avon Drive, Harrisburg, and she is also known to frequent Perry, Cumberland County and Dauphin county campsites. The Greater Fremont Community is being invited to attend a special musical and spiritual event at Salem Lutheran Church. At 6 p.m. Oct. 15, Dave Anderson and Roger Walck are presenting a concert inside the church, located at 401 East Military Avenue in Fremont. Dave and Rogers music is a blend of contemporary, gospel, hymns and an assortment of old-time Sunday School songs, released information from Jeff Hoffman, director of music and worship says. Dave Anderson comes from Arizona and Roger and his wife, Patti, live in Corona, Calif. Dave grew up as a Lutheran preachers kid in Minnesota, South Dakota and Wisconsin. Dave has been involved in lay ministry in the Lutheran church for 48 years, first in youth ministry (Dave is the founder of Lutheran Youth Encounter) and then music ministry including concerts and worship resources. Roger Walck is a skilled vocalist, guitarist and a worship team leader. Roger is a graduate of Vanguard University studied at Fuller Seminary and Azusa Pacific University. For many years, Roger taught theology at Orange Lutheran High School in Orange, Calif. For many years Roger has led Spanish-language worship in various Orange County churches. During the concert, Dave will share from his personal experiences from having traveled 4,000,000 miles over the past 35 years of concert ministry. These travels have included concerts in Saudi Arabia, Nepal, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, the Scandinavian countries and 25 trips to Australia and New Zealand. In 1993, Dave, his wife Barbara, and five others were rescued by a group of brave men from 36-degree water after their plane crashed into the Bering Sea while returning from a missionary and humanitarian mission in the Russian Far East. All seven men and women survived a situation that would have been fatal in most circumstances, released information says. Following the crash, the story was heard by millions around the world on radio, TV, and through personal appearances. The Rescue Story points to the God which rescues men and women from overwhelming circumstances in their lives, released information says. Dave will tell highlights of this story at the concert. To learn more about the incredible story, people are encouraged to visit www.TheRescueStory.com. Dave, Barb and Roger are currently involved in one of their most ambitious projects yet: Shepherds Canyon Retreat, a special counseling ministry for burned-out and emotionally wounded Protestant ministers and their spouses, released information says. Week-long Shepherds Canyon Retreats are held at the ministrys new home-base called Standing Stones which is located 90 minutes northwest of the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix, Ariz. For more information, people are encouraged to visit www.StandingStonesArizona.org. A free-will offering taking place at the concert will benefit the Shepherds Canyon Retreat ministry. For more information, people are encouraged to contact Salem Lutheran Church at 402-721-6158. Two Lebanon men have been charged with criminal homicide and other charges. Police say that Scott Kirchner II, 26, and Charles Holloway, 32, allegedly entered a home in the 700 block of Mifflin Street in Lebanon at 3:53 a.m. Sept. 25 to commit a robbery/burglary. During the robbery/burglary, Joseph Blanco, 54, was shot and killed. His 53-year-old wife was shot in the upper leg and another 53-year-old woman was struck in the head with a blunt object suspected to be a handgun and also threatened to be shot, police said. Police previously said that the incident did not appear to be random, and that the residents were specifically targeted. Kirchner and Holloway are being held in the Lebanon County Correctional Facility without bail. As a result of the investigation into the incident, Lebanon City police have also charged Cory Blanco, 25, of Lebanon with possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, endangering welfare of children and corruption of minors. He is accused of possessing and selling methamphetamine and prescription pills to include oxycodone. He was released on Tuesday after posting $10,000 bail, according to court records. In the emotionally charged aftermath of the nation's latest mass shooting the debate over gun control and gun rights emerges at the forefront of national discourse pitting activists and advocates from across the political spectrum. In the wake of Sunday's bloody massacre in Las Vegas the conversation across the country and in Washington has been following a now-familiar playbook - with gun control activists crying "enough is enough" and gun rights proponents vehemently propping up and shielding the Second Amendment. "Once again, the call will be 'more gun control!' which isn't the answer and fails to identify the real issue," said Rep. Scott Perry, R-4th, on Wednesday. "Infringing on the Constitutional rights of millions of legal gun owners and giving a false sense of security to the public is not the solution." But across Pennsylvania gun control advocates called for legislative action even after Republican leaders signaled that Congress will take no action on gun legislation in the wake of the Las Vegas massacre. "I'm pretty angry," said Shira Goodman, executive director of CeaseFirePa. "When they say it's not the time ... we are passed the time. We are beyond time. It's so passed the time that we have gotten to the point that it's OK that 93 American die everyday because of guns. I think it's offensive." But just days after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said it was premature discuss legislative solutions, if any existed, senior congressional Republicans said they are open to considering legislation banning "bump stocks," the Associated Press reported. Authorities say the Las Vegas shooter used such a tool to make semi-automatic rifles perform more like fully automatic weapons. Such comments coming from high-ranking lawmakers such as Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, marked a surprising departure from GOP lawmakers' general antipathy to gun regulations of any kind, the AP reported. On Thursday, authorities continue to take apart the mind of a man they believe was "descending into madness" as the investigation into why 64-year-old Stephen Paddock executed a deadly rampage on a Vegas concert crowd leaving 59 people dead and more than 500 injured entered day five. Authorities say Paddock led such a low-key, private life - devoid of social media - that it presents a formidable challenge to their task of understanding his motives. A Shippensburg, Pa., man was among the shooting victims Meanwhile, gun control advocates such as Goodman, of CeaseFirePa, who in recent years has increasingly been called upon to speak about the need for gun control in the wake of the latest mass shooting, argued that the Second Amendment did not extend an "absolute" right. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, on an average day, 93 Americans are killed with guns. "We have to say that 93 lives a day is something shameful. We shouldn't be complacent," Goodman said. "It's not rocket science." CeaseFirePa is advocating for expanded background checks, limits to magazine capacity, the legality of tools such as silencers and the legality of automatic weapons. "We elect people to go to Harrisburg or Washington to do the hard work and solve the tough problems," she said. "Their silence is offensive." House Republicans tabled a bill that would have loosened access to gun silencers immediately after the Las Vegas massacre, but Deb Marteslo, the state leader for Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, said she is appalled at the possibility that restrictions on the gun tool might be eased. "Can you imagine what that shooting would have been like if people weren't able to hear the gunshots?" she said. "That would have been a tragedy beyond all tragedies." Marteslo, whose group was founded in the days following the 2012 Sandy Hook massacre, railed against the National Rifle Association, which she said has purchased the votes and ears of conservatives in Congress. The NRA has largely come under fire for shutting itself out of the national conversation on guns. PennLive contacted the group's media office on Wednesday and was told the organization is collecting media requests from across the country. Marteslo debunked House GOP notions that the aftermath of Las Vegas was an inappropriate time to take up legislative action. "When 9/11 happened we took action immediately," she said. "When the Tylenol deaths occurred, we took action. There's never been a time in our history that we didn't jump on problems and immediately acted. It's only gun violence. They wait for the sentiment and emotion to die down and fade away and don't act on it." Yet even as House GOP widely retreated on the gun debate this week, some members of Pennsylvania's Congressional delegation weighed into the debate. On Wednesday, Sen. Pat Toomey, a Republican, said he was interested in reviving his background check legislation and is trying find a path forward. "I continue to look for ways to advance legislation expanding background checks to keep firearms out of the hands of dangerous criminals, terrorists, and the violently mentally ill," said Toomey. "While I am generally skeptical of banning firearms or firearm accessories outright, I am certainly open to Congress holding hearings to learn more about bump stocks and related matters." Once a favorite of the NRA, Toomey has in recent years pushed for legislation that called for expanded regulations on the sale of guns. In 2013, he teamed up with West Virginia Democrat Sen. Joe Manchin to sponsor a bill that would have expanded background checks on gun purchases. The bill was defeated. Last year, Toomey sided with the NRA with his support of a measure to deny a gun sale to a known or suspected terrorist, but only if prosecutors could convince a judge within three days that the would-be buyer was involved in terrorism. Toomey last year also helped to defeat a Democratic-sponsored bill to close the gun show loophole and expand background checks. Rep. Lou Barletta, a Republican from the 11th congressional district, said he didn't want to wade into "any hypotheticals about future legislation" without all of the facts about the Last Vegas massacre. "What I can say is that I believe in the 2nd Amendment and I will always believe in the 2nd Amendment," said Barletta, who is in the Senate race in the upcoming election. "Commenting on Congressional action following the tragedy in Las Vegas without all of the facts is irresponsible to my constituents back home in Pennsylvania." Keeping among Democratic ranks, Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) on Wednesday added his name to sponsors of a bill to close a loophole that allows semi-automatic weapons to be easily modified to fire at the rate of automatic weapons. Casey called the Automatic Gun Fire Prevention Act an important proposal that could decrease the risk of another Las Vegas. The bill would ban the sale, transfer, importation, manufacture or possession of bump stocks, trigger cranks and similar accessories that accelerate a semi-automatic rifle's rate of fire. "Congress has an obligation to implement laws that make people safer," Casey said. "This legislation would close a dangerous loophole that makes it all too easy to create DIY automatic weapons." Under the National Firearms Act, the sale, manufacture and transfer of automatic weapons are illegal. However, bump stocks, slide fire devices and other similar accessories are able to be attached to semi-automatic weapons, allowing them to reach fully-automatic rates of fire. Semi-automatic rifles typically have a rate of fire between 45 and 60 rounds per minute. A bump stock, or other similar devise increases the semi-automatic rifles rate of fire between 400 and 800 rounds per minute. Kim Stolfer, president of Firearms Owners Against Crime, a political action committee, argued that nothing that gun control advocates have proposed up to now would have stopped the Las Vegas massacre. "Why are they proposing new violations of the Second Amendment? Because they are trying to advance an agenda and it has nothing to do with making people safe," Stolfer said. "We do not base people's freedom on the actions of a madman. Once we start down on that road, we have lost what need to be Americans." Stolfer called gun control advocates - in the public and Congress - "political hacks and demagogues." "As a military veteran, I am infuriated over this," he said. Stolfer argued that Paddock would have passed expanded background checks. "He would have passed every test," he said. "That wouldn't have stopped it." Neither would have bans on assault weapons, he argued. He said such a ban would have to grandfather in all assault weapons legally owned today - unless the amended law called for confiscation. "It gets to the heart of the issue. What does the Second Amendment mean?" Stolfer said. "Until we repeal it we are supposed to honor and revere it just as we do the First Amendment." He said gun control advocates are acting on emotion and "factless" agenda. "This is nothing more than people with their own biased agenda trying to drive an issue because they have a phobia about something and have no knowledge to consider the consequences," Stolfer said. William Sanchez was so distraught over committing a Harrisburg murder that he wept and admitted to the crime, Sanchez's former cellmate at Dauphin County Prison testified Thursday afternoon. "He would wake up in the middle of the night crying," Nelson Martinez testified. "He would start confessing." Martinez testified on the third day of Sanchez's trial for the Aug. 17, 2015 slaying of Jorge "Pikachu" Toro in an alley on the city's south side. Prosecutors Stephen Zawisky and Ryan Shovlin are seeking a first-degree murder conviction and a life prison sentence. They claim Sanchez lured Toro, an addict, to the ambush by promising to sell him heroin. Sanchez was angry because Toro, 28, had stolen a gun from him, they contend. Under Shovlin's questioning, Martinez claimed Sanchez told him about Toro's slaying when they were jailed together a month after the murder. Martinez said Sanchez, 27, told him "the reason he killed the guy was because Pikachu sold him a gun and he had stolen it from him." Sanchez claimed Toro laughed at him when they met on Dean Street around 9:30 p.m. on the night of the murder, Martinez said. He said Sanchez told him that was when "he shot (Toro) once in the stomach." Sanchez said Toro "fell down on the floor. Then he shot him twice in the head," Martinez testified. He said Sanchez told him he shot Toro with a 9mm pistol. Earlier Thursday, a state police firearms expert said three 9mm bullets were found in Toro's body. Sanchez also told him that two men who were with him fled when the shots were fired, Martinez said. Martinez said he told police about his conversations with Sanchez in December 2015. He took the witness stand in an orange prison uniform and said he is awaiting sentencing in a federal drug case. On cross-examination by Chief Deputy Public Defender Gregory Mills, Martinez said he knew nothing about Toro's murder until Sanchez started talking. He said Sanchez claimed the other two men with him had guns as well and that one of them had a license to carry a concealed firearm. Another prosecution witness, Irving Morrero, testified earlier that he is licensed to carry a gun and that he saw Sanchez point a pistol at Toro. Although inmates at the county prison are barred from having cell phones, Martinez said he did get access to one and spoke with people outside the jail. Mills and Public Defender Petra Gross are claiming Sanchez is innocent and that Martinez is one of a string of disreputable prosecution witnesses who are trying to frame him. Captain Gabe Olivera of the city police testified that he acted as a Spanish interpreter during an interview of Sanchez hours after the killing. Sanchez claimed his cell phone had been stolen hours before Toro was murdered, Olivera said. Moments later, Detective Jason Paul testified that there were numerous calls between Sanchez's phone and Toro's in the hours leading up to the slaying. Sanchez also is being tried on a charge of resisting arrest. Officer Michael Rudy said Sanchez fought with officers, and struggled even after being Tased, when he was arrested at his Hall Manor home in September 2015. After Zawisky rested the prosecution case and testimony ended for the day, Sanchez told Judge John F. Cherry he won't testify when his trial resumes Friday. After donating $1.5 million in 2015 to the South Okanagan Similkameen Medical Foundations $20-million PRH equipment campaign, Sylvia and George Melville will now see their name associated with the UBC Faculty of Medicine facilities in the new tower. Mayor Rob Ford is shown pausing while participating in a mayoral debate in Toronto on July 15, 2014. Toronto city council has voted against naming a stadium after former mayor Rob Ford.Council voted 24-11 against renaming the stadium at Centennial Park after Ford, who died in March 2016 at the age of 46 after being diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of cancer. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darren Calabrese Members of Stop Energy East Halifax protest outside the library in Halifax on Monday, Jan. 26, 2015. TransCanada says it's cancelling plans for the Energy East pipeline and Eastern Mainline projects. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan Bargain hunters are seen at the Sears store in St. Eustache, Que., Friday, July 21, 2017. Sears Canada has until Oct. 13 to assess a revised bid from a buyer group led by its executive chairman or face liquidation in the coming weeks. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz Researchers examine one of the six North Atlantic right whales that have died in the Gulf of St. Lawrence in a recent handout photo. Veterinarians examining the carcasses of six right whales found dead in the Gulf of St. Lawrence this summer say four died from blunt force trauma, one was entangled in fishing gear and the other was too decomposed to say for sure. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO- Marine Animal Response Society MANDATORY CREDIT NIGER COMMANDOS 100517: Map locates Niamey, Niger, where 3 US commandos were killed; 1c x 2 1/2 inches; with BC-US--United States-Niger; JEM; ETA 7 a.m. SOURCE: maps4news/HERE, U.S. Africa Command. Editors Note: It is mandatory to include all sources that accompany this graphic when repurposing or editing it for publication Pakistani security personnel stand guard at the site of a blast in Jhal Magsi, about 400 kilometers (240 miles) east of Quetta, Pakistan, Thursday, Oct. 5, 2017. A suicide bomber struck a Shiite shrine packed with worshippers in a remote village in southwestern Pakistan on Thursday, killing many people and leaving at least 25 wounded, a provincial government spokesman and the police said. (AP Photo/Ayub Khosa) FILE - In this March 30, 2014, file photo, Islamic State group militants hold up their flag as they patrol in a commandeered Iraqi military vehicle in Fallujah, Iraq. Just hours after Stephen Paddock unleashed a hail of bullets down on the crowd at a country music concert in Las Vegas, the Islamic State group issued a flurry of statements adopting Paddock as one of its own. The claim of responsibility - discounted by FBI officials who have ruled out a connection to an international terrorist group - is the latest in a series of dubious or seemingly fake IS claims. (AP Photo, File) JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) Alaska marijuana grower Mike Emers has been losing sleep with a vote fast approaching that he says could shutter his familys business and financially ruin them. The statewide initiative that legalized recreational marijuana in 2014 allows local governments to ban pot businesses within their borders. And on Tuesday, voters in two of Alaskas major marijuana-growing areas - including the Fairbanks area, where Emers operates Rosie Creek Farm - will decide whether to do so. If the proposed bans on marijuana growing, manufacturing, selling and testing are successful,... Germany's Dea Deutsche Erdoel and Egypt's Cheiron winners at Pemex's farmouts German company makes huge offer of $213.8 million to break four-way tie at onshore field and Cheiron Holdings of Egypt place the high bid to partner with Pemex at the Cardenas-Mora field . By Kathrine Schmidt MEXICO CITY Petroleumworld 10 05 2017 Germany's Dea Deutsche Erdoel ended a farm-out bid round in Mexico with a splash on Wednesday, offering an aggressive tiebreak bid of $213.8 million to best three competitors and offer the high bid to partner with state oil company Pemex on the onshore Ogarrio area. The tract brought in four maximum offers on one bidding variable, an additional royalty to the Mexican government, of 13%. But tiebreak bonus offers from the other bidders did not come close to touching Dea. California Resources of the US, along with Mexican independent Petrobal, offered $52 million. Argentina's Tecpetrol, along with Galem Energy, put in $30.1 million and Ogarrio E&P of Chile offered $20.5 million. "It is a good day for Pemex, it's a good day for the country and is one more step for the energy reform," chief executive Jose Antonio Gonzalez Anaya told reporters in a news conference after the event. Asked what gave the company the confidence to make the aggressive bid, Dea country manager Juan Manuel Delgado cited the strong evaluation of the tract. "We see the value and upside of the field," he told Upstream on the sidelines. Dea will also make a $190 million upfront payment in recognition of the investments already realized by Pemex on the block. In addition to capturing what was a record tiebreak bid for Mexico's oil and gas acreage offerings so far, Pemex also saw Cheiron Holdings of Egypt place the high bid to partner with Pemex at the Cardenas-Mora field. The shallow-water Ayin-Batsil area, however, went unclaimed. Pemex has laid out farm-outs of its key assets as a strategy to ramp up investments and projects amid sharply lower oil prices and steep budget cuts from the government. According to Mexico's energy reform law, that process must take place via a transparent offer process, run by the country's National Hydrocarbons Commission (CNH) instead of direct negotiations. Looking at the results by the numbers, authorities estimate the process will lead to $539.5 million in initial payments for Pemex in recognition of investments already made, as well as investment of $225 million over the life of the projects. The government will also receive $30 million in payments to Mexico's national petroleum fund and will capture an estimated 84% of the profits. Earlier in the day, Cheiron Holdings of Egypt placed the winning offer to partner with Pemex on Mexico's Cardenas-Mora onshore field. The company placed an aggressive offer, proposing the maximum additional royalty of 13% and a cash bonus of $41.5 million designed to break a potential tie. But Canada's Gran Tierra Energy, in partnership with Sierra Blanca P&D - the only other bidder - only offered an additional royalty of 5.09%. Cheiron will also pay a charge of $125 million in recognition of the investments previously made by Pemex on the block. "We're extremely happy. We're looking forward to this operation here in Mexico," Shady Kabel, managing director for the company, an affiliate of Pico Energy, told Upstream on the sidelines of the event. "We trust this partnership with Pemex will be very valuable to us and our presence as operator in this part of the world." Cheiron partnered with Pemex in prior rounds of onshore service contracts before Mexico's energy reforms allowed it to assume full E&P partnerships. Cheiron has been in the country for about eight years, Kabel said, and the Cardenas-Mora block was attractive because it was a close match with existing assets in the company's portfolio. The activity came after no companies bid earlier this morning to partner with Pemex on the shallow-water tract of Ayin-Batsil. At 9am local time in Mexico City that area was declared "abandoned" by leasing officials. The state-led oil company had been hoping to tie in a new partner at the southeast basin field to follow up its successful farmdown of the Trion discovery in deep waters to BHP. Though multiple players active in shallow-water had pre-qualified, none ultimately placed an offer. One company had struggled with the highly regulated process of exchanging information prior to the bid, a source said, with delays from Hurricane Harvey also contributing. Trion was also seen as a superior resource in both size and quality, according to another. Regulators said they had worked hard to work out what they believed were competitive terms for the round, but "the competition has given its own opinion," deputy under-secretary for hydrocarbons Aldo Flores Quiroga said. Regulators said they would review the bid opportunity and hope to try to find a partner again in a future round. The company's initial farm-out of the Trion discovery was well-received by industry and was awarded to BHP Billiton, now known just as BHP, in late 2016 with a $624 million offer, adding to a pre-established minimum for investments of $1.19 billion. The two onshore fields, Cardenas-Mora and Ogarrio, were bid under a licence contract. The new partner will operate the field in both cases, with a 50-50 stake split with Pemex. Both are essentially secondary recovery projects in need of revitalisation that are in decline but each producing about 10,000 barrels per day. Production costs are characterized as low, at $16 per barrel for Cardenas-Mora and $11 per barrel at Ogarrio, according to CNH President Commissioner Juan Carlos Zepeda. He reckoned the interest ran higher for Ogarrio, though it was smaller, because its reserves are located in sandstones where operators globally have more experience, while Cardenas Mora is prospective for carbonates, he said. The goal will be to raise production to between 13,000 and 14,000 barrels per day in the next two years at Cardenas-Mora and Ogarrio to 13,000 or 14,000 barrels per day in the next year or so. Ogarrio lies 100 kilometres north-east of Villahermosa and is prospective for a formation called Encanto in both Neogene and Palaeogene zones, with black oil as the target. Estimated possible reserves remaining are 54 million boe. Cardenas-Mora has targets in both the Upper Jurassic Kimmeridgian and Lower Cretaceous zones, and is prospective for volatile light oil. It lies about 35 kilometres south-east of the city of Comacalco and spans 168 square kilometres. Remaining possible reserves are estimated at 93.19 million boe from the two fields. The Ayin-Batsil tract lies off Tabasco state, spanning over 1000 square kilometres in about 160 metres of water. Pemex would have taken a 50:50 split on the area alongside a partner under a production sharing contract. The area has combined possible reserves of 297.2 million boe, with a further median prospective resource at 224 million boe. Prospective plays include Pliocene, fractured Cretaceous and Jurassic Kimmeridgian, with main targets being heavy oil, medium oil and dry gas. Story by Kathrine Schmidt from Upstream. upstremamonline.com / 10 04 2017 In general, men are twice as likely to cheat on a spouse than women are. That frequency increases over the lifespan, peaking among the elderly. Among men 18 to 29 who have ever been married, about 1 in 10 is Energage, the Exton firm formerly known as Workplace Dynamics, has raised $15 million from investors and is looking to open a new office in Philadelphia, using 10 years' worth of corporate employee surveys as a basis for new "HR tech" services it expects will elevate its profile among clients and technology investors. "Our model has changed quite a bit. We have a whole new round of offerings in our employee-engagement platform, just two weeks ahead of the HR Tech Conference in Las Vegas," said Fraser Marlow, director of research at Energage, which employs 110, including 100 in Exton. Part of the money will be used for expansion. Energage wants to open an office in Philadelphia to hire more "creative staff and programmers," said Marlow, a GE veteran who is among several senior managers joining the company in the last year. "We've interviewed quite a few who wanted to work for us, but the commute to Exton was not quite appealing," he said. SEPTA's Paoli/Thorndale Line trains can take more than an hour to reach Exton from Center City; expresses are faster, if they run to schedule. As Workplace Dynamics, the company partnered with newspapers and media sites including Philly.com to survey local employers and assemble lists of "top workplaces." "Running all those surveys gave us a ton of data and insight into companies," said Marlow. "We're now providing tools that help [employers] engage in a dialogue with all employees and really get a good hand on what's going on on the ground." The company says it works with thousands of employers each year. As Energage, the company says it is using past survey results and new data to build what chief executive Doug Claffey calls "employee engagement," so clients can make better staffing and "culture-building" decisions. Following are details of the new $15 million financing: NewSpring Capital, the Radnor-based firm that manages $1.7 billion in stock and debt investments, mostly in East Coast firms, led the $10 million equity investment. Previous investor Rittenhouse Ventures, of Philadelphia, has increased its stake as part of the deal, said Rittenhouse principal Jayson L. Tischler. "We are excited about their direction," Tischler said. The remaining $5 million in new money is debt financing from Silicon Valley-based Bridge Bank. The new investors also are buying out Merion Investment Partners' stake. "We had supported Doug Claffey's buyout of his partners four years ago, along with some growth capital," Merion managing partner William M. Means said. "It was an exit opportunity for us, which we chose to take given the reset of the investment horizon. The company has performed very well and represents a great opportunity for NewSpring." Christina Verrellis Pumpkin Ravioli from the Pillsbury Bake-Off in 2012. Read more After a three-year absence, the Pillsbury Bake-Off arguably the world's most prestigious contest open to amateur cooks has returned, though without the $1 million grand prize and much of the pomp and circumstance. For the 48th Pillsbury Bake-Off, General Mills and partners the Food Network and Pioneer Woman star Ree Drummond are soliciting original recipes of eight ingredients or fewer along with the stories behind them. Judges will consider both the recipe and the story. The recipes, each using Pillsbury products, should fall under the categories of Cozy Breakfasts, Appetizers for Any Party, Dinners with Heart, and No-Fuss Desserts. Grand-prize winner will receive a kitchen makeover from GE Appliances, $50,000 in cash, and appear on an episode of The Kitchen, as well as in Food Network Magazine. Four category winners will be awarded a trip to New York for an appearance on The Kitchen, a feature in Food Network Magazine, a suite of GE Appliances and $5,000 in cash. Deadline is Nov. 10 and winners will be announced in February. Contestants from the Philadelphia area have fared well in previous Bake-Off contests, when finalists and a companion were flown to a remote city and wined and dined before the cooking competition, held in a hotel ballroom. In 2010, Sue Compton of Delanco, N.J., won with Mini Ice Cream Cookie Cups and in 2012, Christina Verrelli of Devon won with Pumpkin Ravioli With Salted Caramel Whipped Cream. Here are the instructions for entering and the contest rules. WASHINGTON In the aftermath of the last month's Equifax data breach, which exposed the personal information of millions of Americans, White House cybersecurity coordinator Rob Joyce said that the Social Security number has "outlived its usefulness" as a national identity method. "It's a flawed system," Joyce said on Tuesday in an interview with The Washington Post. "If you think about it, every time we use the Social Security number you put it at risk. By interacting with it, you've given a key piece of information out publicly." Joyce, a special assistant to the president and a top voice on cybersecurity in the administration, said he has asked departments and agencies within the government to begin discussing ideas for moving away from Social Security numbers and toward a more "modern cryptographic identifier." Speaking at The Post's seventh annual Cybersecurity Summit, Joyce said "there needs to be and should be a government role" in heading off and responding to data breaches like Equifax. "I think it's really clear there needs to be a change," he said. The Equifax breach has spurred some government officials to call for more stringent regulations on credit reporting agencies. However, Joyce urged caution. "We need to be careful about balkanizing the regulations," Joyce said. "It's really hard on companies today with state regulators, local regulators, maybe multiple federal regulators, federal law, international law." Joyce said cybercrimes against the U.S. government, including Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, should be met with stronger penalties. "Whether it's diplomatic tools, whether it's judicial tools, subpoenas and arrests. The idea that we can use sanctions, that's a very powerful tool for the U.S. government.," Joyce said. "And then there's even military options when things are really egregious threats." The Animas Vibe insulin pump, manufactured by Animas Corp., a diabetes-care unit that parent company Johnson & Johnson plans to close. Read more Animas Corp., a Johnson & Johnson diabetes-care company in Chesterbrook, said Thursday that it plans to close operations and get out of the insulin-pump business. About 90,000 patients using Animas pumps will be offered the option of transferring to pumps made by Medtronic PLC, the company said. Animas employs 410 globally, about half of whom work in Chesterbrook and at a manufacturing plant in West Chester. In January, Johnson & Johnson said it was evaluating strategic options, including the possible sale of some of its diabetes-care businesses. J&J said Thursday that it continues to review potential options for its blood-glucose monitoring business, LifeScan Inc. Animas will stop selling the pumps, Animas Vibe and OneTouch Ping, in the United States and Canada, effective immediately. Operations in other countries will continue for a while, but eventually end, the company said. "We will continue to operate certain functions of the business including manufacturing, customer and safety support, as examples for an indeterminate amount of time as we help our patients transition," said Bridget Doherty, spokeswoman for Animas. "Accordingly, we will provide support to impacted employees and their families through the transition. "A decision and timing to exit markets outside of the U.S. and Canada is pending consultation with relevant works councils," she said. Chesterbrook and West Chester will continue to operate for an "indeterminate amount of time to provide support for our current patients, help them transition, and to support the business outside the U.S. and Canada," she said. Valerie Asbury, general manager of Animas, said: "With changing needs of customers, rapidly evolving market dynamics, and increased competitive pressures, it proved too difficult to sustain the insulin-pump business, and we decided to pursue an exit. This decision was extremely difficult and comes following the extensive exploration of all other viable options for the Animas business." Animas said it will work with Medtronic as a "partner of choice" to help ensure a smooth transition for patients on insulin pumps. In a statement late Thursday, JDRF, formerly known as the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, said the Animas closing takes away choice for 1.25 million Americans with type 1 diabetes. Animas is the second-largest manufacturer of insulin pumps, after No. 1 Medtronic. "It means fewer treatment options," said Derek Rapp, CEO of the nonprofit group. "Pump choice is critical, and people with type 1 diabetes need the ability to choose the devices that work best for them." In a news release, J&J said it "remains committed to the prevention and treatment of diabetes," and will continue to serve patients through products from its medical-device, pharmaceuticals, and consumer businesses in areas such as bariatric surgery and medicines such as Invokana (canagliflozin) and Invokamet (canagliflozin/metformin HCI), which are used to treat type 2 diabetes. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission sued Aqua America Inc. in federal court Sept. 29, saying that the Bryn Mawr-based water treatment company discriminated against African Americans at its Bear, Del. facility, including African American employee, Henry Blue. Blue worked at Aqua's plant as an operator and foreman from January 2015 through May 2016 when he was terminated after complaining about supervisors, the suit said. Blue said in the suit that Aqua's supervisors used racial slurs when referring to him and other African American employees. Blue and the other African American employees complained, but the behavior didn't stop, according to the suit filed in Philadelphia. The suit asks Aqua to institute and enforce better practices, and to compensate the workers. The suit does not say how many employees were involved. "We are completely disheartened by these allegations, which concern a previous subsidiary," the company said in a statement. "The actions described in this lawsuit run completely counter to everything Aqua stands for as a company." The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission sued a New Jersey real estate management company saying it discriminated against its pregnant employees. Read more Brianna Mazzella had been working at Friedman Realty Group's Prospect Park office for about five months when, in March 2013, she told her supervisor that she was pregnant, the lawsuit said. "When women get pregnant, they get stupid," and "pregnancy makes you retarded," was the reaction of Mazzella's boss, according to a federal lawsuit filed against the company by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on Sept. 29. The supervisor gave Mazzella more onerous tasks and scrutinized her work more closely, terminating her in August, after telling another supervisor that "we had to get rid" of her. Two other Friedman employees were also fired when they told their bosses they were pregnant, the lawsuit said. Federal law prohibits discrimination against pregnant employees. "It's bad for a society when an employer deprives hardworking women and their families of their livelihood because of pregnancy," Kevin Berry, the EEOC's district director said in a statement. Friedman vice president David Friedman said Wednesday that his company deeply values "fairness, diversity, and inclusion" and "takes seriously any claims of discrimination of any kind." However, he said, the company has done nothing improper and "did not terminate any of these women for the reason advanced in the complaint." Friedman, based in Gibbsboro, acquires and manages apartment complexes, shopping centers, and professional office buildings. The EEOC's suit asks the judge to order Friedman to carry out practices that don't discriminate against pregnant women and to pay compensatory and punitive damages to the three women and other pregnant women who may have faced discrimination. The same supervisor who fired Mazzella was involved in firing another pregnant employee in the same office, the lawsuit said. In April 2013, after working at the Prospect Park office for nearly three years as a cleaner, Allison Robovitsky told the supervisor that she was pregnant and was immediately written up for bad performance. Three days later, she was fired. A similar thing occurred in Friedman's Somers Point office, where Nichole Milano had worked as a leasing agent for nearly two years, the lawsuit said. In January 2017, Milano informed the company that she was pregnant. In March, her position was advertised and in April, she was fired, the suit said. In the lawsuit, the EEOC said it had tried to reach a settlement with Friedman, but was unsuccessful. The supervisor, reached by phone at her new employer, referred questions to Friedman. None of the three women mentioned in the suit, filed in U.S. District Court in Camden, could be reached for comment. Philly Fed chief Patrick Harker (center) discussed apprenticeships Thursday in Austin, Texas. In June, he visited with apprentices at the Philly shipyard. Read more These days, economic pundits and finance folks hang on Patrick T. Harker's every word, hoping for clues to when the Federal Reserve will raise the rate at which banks can borrow money from one another. The rest of us just go to work. Whether that work works to sustain a family, build a career, and enrich a nation's economy is another issue altogether. Which was Harker's point in remarks made Thursday morning at the Investing in America's Workforce Capstone Conference in Austin, Texas. As president and chief executive officer of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, Harker is part of the Federal Reserve system that sets U.S. monetary policy. Harker also has spearheaded the Fed's look into the nation's workforce, including job quality, skills gaps, and barriers to employment. "While we're essentially at the point of maximum employment in its simplest terms, if you want a job, you can get one relatively easily that doesn't mean it's a good job, or that it pays a living wage, or that it comes with the benefits that can be truly family-sustaining," Harker said in remarks delivered at the conference. "This situation doesn't actually keep people from work, but it does affect their ability to move up the economic ladder. And that's not just a problem for individuals, families and communities, but for the economy as a whole," he said. On the one hand, Harker said, employers are identifying skills gaps and labor shortages. Even as employers automate, they need more workers with tech skills. But, he said, the labor force isn't getting enough education, and what it is getting isn't good enough. There are other barriers, too, though: addiction, incarceration, the cost of child care, and something as simple as being able to catch a bus on time to get to work. "We have to stop looking at workforce development as just a social service," he said. Instead, the public sector needs to see it as "an investment in the economy." "Investors," he said, "succeed when the company they're backing does well. The U.S. economy succeeds when we back programs that move people out of poverty and into stable, sustainable employment." That investment, Harker said, looks like improved early-childhood education and apprentice programs. He used the occasion to release a 37-page report, written in Philadelphia by Noelle St. Clair, who came to the Fed system as a community-development specialist from a Philadelphia-area organization, Uplift Solutions, a nonprofit loosely affiliated with Brown's Super Stores, a chain of ShopRite supermarkets in and around Philadelphia. Uplift Solutions is working on just the kind of program Harker suggests moving people with criminal records into jobs at supermarkets, starting with low-wage jobs that lead to more opportunity later. The report was produced in conjunction with the John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development at Rutgers University in New Brunswick. Here are some of its findings: Office building at 714 Market St., where the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania departments will relocate. Read more The Philadelphia County court's probation and pretrial divisions are leaving their current home at 1401 Arch St., which is to be converted into apartments, according to a broker with the commercial real estate firm CBRE who helped arrange the agencies' move. The First Judicial District of Pennsylvania departments will relocate to a 120,000-square-foot space at 714 Market St., beside the National Park Service's Declaration House at Seventh and Market Streets, by the end of 2018, CBRE senior vice president Michael Kane said Thursday in a news release. The 220,300-square-foot 1401 Arch St. building at Broad and Arch Streets, which now has a McDonald's restaurant on its ground floor, was recently acquired from Swiss pension-fund adviser AFIAA by Philadelphia-based Alterra Property Group, which plans the apartment conversion, CBRE said. The owner of the 266,000-square-foot 714 Market St. building, the Brooklyn-based Leser Group, was represented in the lease by Vincent Jolly of CVA Commercial Group. The First Judicial District "now has the opportunity to vacate a building that was functionally obsolete for their purposes and custom-design new space in a location that is accessible to the courts, their clients, and employees," Kane, who represented the court, said in the release. Alterra did not respond to a phone message seeking details of the apartment-conversion plan. Jimmy Kimmel has made headlines again for his response to the Las Vegas massacre. Read more At first I was puzzled, watching TV funnyman Jimmy Kimmel deliver an emotional, 9:54-minute monologue on his show Monday night about the massacre that happened the day before on the Las Vegas strip. Kimmel cried as he choked out a shaking rant about maniacs like Vegas shooter Stephen Paddock and about America's stupid reverence for firepower. This was a different Kimmel from the one who took the stage right after the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School on Dec. 12, 2012, that killed 20 little kids and six adults. Back then, his mention of Sandy Hook was heartfelt but brief just 54 seconds and quickly followed by a promise to lighten the mood. "My job tonight is to give you a little break from being sad, and I'll try my best to do that," he said, pausing for effect. "So: Do you want to see some Christmas lights shaped like a penis?" The crowd roared and the show went on, twinkling phalluses and all. So what changed for Kimmel between then and now? He became the father of a critically sick baby, that's what. On April 21, his wife, Molly McNerney, gave birth to the couple's son, Billy, who was diagnosed with a rare heart condition and needed emergency surgery to save his life. Additional surgeries will be needed to keep the little guy out of the woods. Ten days later, when Kimmel told viewers about the ordeal, he was still raw a weeping, pulpy blob of paternal love, exhaustion, fright, and hope. He was grateful for his medical insurance, which funded Billy's treatment, and furious that proposed cuts to Obamacare might deny other sick babies the same chance at life. Basically, he got woke, in the most real and awful way, to the fragility of life and how suddenly it can all end. Maybe that traumatic realization fueled Kimmel's emotional monologue after the Vegas shootings. How could it not? "It changes you," says Julie Keeton, a mother from Tennessee who lived at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia for three years while her son, Weston, waited for a heart and double-lung transplant. He received the organs in December 2013 but died the following March. He was just 7. "One moment, you have a child you think is fine; the next moment, a doctor is telling you he might die. You go from thinking of your own needs to being focused entirely on your child, who has all these tubes and wires coming out of him and is depending on you to make the right decisions," she says. "The stress is unbelievable." While at CHOP, she met fellow parents who'd lost their jobs, their cars, or their homes because they refused to leave the bedsides of their critically ill children. None of it mattered more than being there. "Having a sick child changes what you care about and what you couldn't care less about any more," she says. "It changes how you see life and what makes you mad. And you never go back to who you were." Brian Farrington is not the same man he was before his daughter Emma, 5, was diagnosed with Rett syndrome, a horrible neurological disease. She can't speak, has the developmental abilities of a toddler, and has had uncontrollable seizures since January. "I'm more sympathetic as a result of my daughter's diagnosis," says Farrington, of Bucks County, who has good insurance through his government job but who also depends on Medicaid to pay Emma's uncovered medical expenses $25,000 per year. "My previous position was that most of the safety nets were for those who made conscious bad decisions that necessitate the need for government assistance," he says. Now, though, "You tend to see the other side of the coin. There's a lot of people in need as a result of the random misfortune of luck." I don't think the wealthy Kimmel is in need, but, thanks to his child's medical odyssey, he has become enlightened about what matters in ways that viewers seem to appreciate: This week, for the second Monday in a row, Jimmy Kimmel Live was the No. 1 late-night talk show in the coveted 18-to-49 age group, besting rivals Jimmy Fallon and Stephen Colbert. Those are awesome ratings. And I'm betting he'd trade them in a heartbeat for his tiny son's good health. Wesley Muhammad, who claims the U.S. government produces a type of marijuana that makes black men become gay, was pulled from an event this weekend to be held at a Philadelphia charter school. Read more A speaker who claims that the U.S. government produces a form of marijuana that makes black men become gay was pulled from an event to be held this weekend at a Philadelphia charter school after an outcry about his message. Wesley Muhammad was scheduled to speak Saturday at the 23rd annual International Locks Conference, whose organizers had rented out space in Universal Audenried Charter High School in Grays Ferry. Muhammad, who has written a handful of books on topics from Islam to race, advertised his scheduled speech on social media, saying: "Homosexualization of the Black Community is one of the clearest and most egregious illustrations of the US Government's Scientific Assault on the Black Man. Join us in Philly this weekend at the Locks Conference as we document this charge." Muhammad's ad caught the eye of State Rep. Jordan Harris (D., Phila.), whose district includes the school. He called administrators and raised concerns about Muhammad's message. "There are students of every orientation that go to that school, and what we cannot have is an environment created where students may feel unwelcome," Harris said. "That's just unacceptable." Devon Allen, a spokesman for Universal Cos., which runs Audenried, said school officials were not aware of Muhammad's message until they saw the ad this week. Allen said the school does not tolerate hateful or anti-LGBT rhetoric. But ultimately the Locks Conference canceled Muhammad's speech. It's unclear why Muhammad was initially invited to the conference, which celebrates natural hair and beauty. The conference's organizers said in a statement, in regard to Muhammad's ads promoting his talk, that "this was not the original topic agreed upon with Dr. Muhammad," but they did not elaborate on what that original topic was. "The opinions of various speakers at the Locks Conference do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Locks Conference Organizing Committee," the statement, first released to Philadelphia Magazine, said. "Since our conference has a long track record of being a cultural and family-oriented event, and due to Dr. Muhammad's change of topic, we have uninvited Dr. Wesley Muhammad." On his Facebook page, Muhammad said he was uninvited because his lecture subject caused controversy. "That's unfortunate," he wrote. "Nevertheless, I continue to support the Locks Convention and pray that our people support it, and that the 23rd Annual is a success." Two Wharton School students, who earlier this year faced criminal charges for allegedly beating another student, received diversionary sentences Wednesday that allow them to avoid pleading guilty and serving jail time. The pair allegedly had stormed into the third student's dorm room and accused him of trying to take sexual advantage of an intoxicated female student. James Funt, the attorney for one of the defendants, Dante Benitez, called the resolution "a victory" after a hearing before Municipal Judge James DeLeon at the Criminal Justice Center. But attorney Timothy Creech, who represents the victim, Max Arias, said the defendants "clearly haven't paid for what they have done," and now will have to defend themselves against a lawsuit he's filing on behalf of his client. The Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) program that Benitez and codefendant Ivan Loginov, both 19, were allowed to enter is normally reserved for nonviolent first-time offenders. But the fact that Arias, also 19, suffered a concussion, temple contusions, and a broken nose, wrist, and right hand, does not disqualify Benitez and Loginov from the program, said Jan McDermott, a supervisor in the District Attorney's Office. "I've seen cases go into ARD with accusations of violence before," she said after the hearing. "It's a very broad spectrum. There's nothing in the ARD statute that precludes it." Under the terms of their ARD agreements, Benitez received one year of probation and must perform 50 hours of community service. Loginov received two years of probation and voluntarily agreed to withdraw from Wharton. Both read short statements apologizing to Arias. Their records can be expunged once they complete all requirements. Pending the outcome of an ongoing University of Pennsylvania investigation, both have been suspended from attending classes on the Ivy League campus. Shortly after the early-morning brawl April 8, the DA's Office charged Benitez and Loginov with three felonies, aggravated assault, burglary, and criminal trespassing; and with three misdemeanors, conspiracy to commit simple assault, simple assault, and recklessly endangering another person. After a preliminary hearing Aug. 17, Municipal Judge Karen Y. Simmons dismissed the felonies and held the defendants for trial on the misdemeanors. At that time, McDermott said her office would consider refiling the criminal charges in Common Pleas Court due to the seriousness of the injuries suffered by Arias. On Wednesday, McDermott said her office decided it would be unable to prove burglary and aggravated assault beyond a reasonable doubt. "These are young men who are not career criminals, who, in all likelihood, will never see the inside of the criminal justice system again," she said in an interview. During the hearing, Courtney Arias, Max's mother, read a victim-impact statement written by her son accusing the defendants and their lawyers of peddling to the media a "false narrative" that damaged his reputation. "This isn't a story about consent on campus, as Loginov and Benitez through their expensive attorneys have tried to portray. This is a story about how those affluent students hired big-ticket lawyers to circumvent justice. It is not a story about vigilantism; there was no vigilante justice to dispense," Max Arias wrote. "These defendants have tried to make heroes of themselves. But in reality, they are nothing but cowards who jumped me in my dorm room and viciously assaulted me. Through their attorneys, they attempted to blame me, the victim, for their actions by invoking the serious issue of consent in a situation where it had no relevance." Max Arias, who had testified at the preliminary hearing that neither he nor the woman was drunk, could not attend the hearing because he was taking an exam at Wharton, his parents said. During the hearing, Assistant District Attorney Lori Edelman said the woman in Arias' room had told police that she was not forced to go with him and "'went on my own.'" DeLeon suggested that in future similar cases the DA should make public such information to counterbalance statements from defense attorneys. Funt, however, maintained that had the case gone to trial he would have presented evidence that the woman's blood alcohol level was nearly three times over the legal limit to drive. "Dante Benitez and Ivan Loginov are the heroes of this story," he said in an interview. Loginov's attorney, Brian McMonagle, declined to comment. SIOUX CITY (AP) Many days, Kris Hurlbert's business is literally buzzing with activity. This is a good thing since his more than 2 million employees have a tendency to be a bit flighty. Nevertheless, Hurlbert is as content with his workforce as they are with him. With more than 40 hives with around 60,000 bees a piece, he realizes the marketplace can be sweet but he acknowledges it can also sting likes the dickens. More than six years ago, Hurlbert began producing raw, unfiltered honey at his home in rural Sioux City. Deciding to go into business, he named the company Ollie's Little Honey Bees, after his son Oliver, who is now 5. "I want to eventually pass the business down to Oliver and his 2-year-old sister Agnes," he told the Sioux City Journal . "You're never too young to start acquiring a good work ethic." Perhaps the two can look to honeybees for inspiration. "The lifespan of honeybees is typically about 40 days and they literally work themselves to death," Hurlbert explained. The typical day in the life of a honeybee consists of visiting a flower and gathering nectar a sugar-rich liquid produced in the glands of many plants. Nectar can keep a colony of bees alive in the winter. But, when left alone, nectar can ferment. This is why bees turn the nectar into honey. This requires a whole lot of teamwork. From the worker bees searching for nectar-rich flowers to the hive bees that turned it into honey, all have an important job to perform. And how much honey can a single bee produce in its lifetime? About one-twelfth of a teaspoon. That's why operations like Hurlbert's require so many hive and so many bees. "Each year, we increase the number of hives we have," he said. "First, we had one. The next year, we had four. After that, 12. Now, we have 40." Hurlbert said the 40 hives is manageable. "We don't want the business to grow too big," Hurlbert said. After all, Ollie's Little Honey Bee was created as a way to teach his kids the importance of hard work. So, how is that working out? "We sell Ollie's Little Honey Bees products at both the Marketplace and Southern Hills Mall Hy-Vee stores," Hurlbert said. "Oliver loves to tell people it's his name on the label." Likewise, Agnes is intrigued by the buzzing little hive dwellers. "Yeah, they've been bitten before," Hurlbert said. "But I've been bitten a lot more." Watching over his hives in mid-September, Hurlbert knows it is getting close to the end of honey-making season. "Bees are most productive in July and August, when the days are hot and sunny," he said. "By September, they aren't quite so active." That just means Hurlbert will have more time to sample the handiwork of some honeybees. "I love sweetening my morning coffee with a spoonful of honey," he said. Hurlbert said he also enjoys honey on grilled meat. "There's something wonderful about pure honey. You can really taste the difference." So far, no one has tried to yank the Christopher Columbus statue off its pedestal in South Philadelphia, but that doesn't mean everyone reveres the monument or the man. Vienna Enos and Signe Espinoza-Nelson don't. Both young women launched online petitions: one to abolish Columbus Day, the other to remove two city memorials that celebrate the Italian explorer. With the approach of the Monday holiday, a call is going up for Philadelphia to fall in line behind the growing number of American cities and states that have axed Columbus Day in favor of Indigenous Peoples Day, recognizing that a man heralded as a great European adventurer committed unspeakable cruelties against native peoples. "A killer and a slaver," said Kevin Gover, director of the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, who will take part in a Columbus Day discussion Monday at the Museum of the American Revolution in Old City. "Historians have shown us conclusively what a bad guy Columbus really was." That view can hit hard and meet resistance in Philadelphia, a place of rich Italian culture and cuisine where the annual Columbus Day parade, scheduled for Sunday, draws thousands. "Everyone deserves their holiday," said Barbara Ann Zippi, producer and host of TV's Ciao Bella Living Italian Style. And that includes Columbus Day, an occasion of pride for Italians, just as the Irish have St. Patrick's Day and the Germans mark Octoberfest, she said. City Councilman Mark Squilla calls himself a proud Italian American and the parade a great event. Philadelphia, he said, can weather difficult truths: "We have to be able to speak our history, to tell the entire history, good, bad, or indifferent." For others, the truth of Columbus is plain. "A murderer is a murderer," said Priscilla Bell, whose Taino ancestors were among the first to greet Columbus in the Bahamas, and were soon after enslaved and nearly exterminated. "You have this guy who was respected as a hero all these years, and it's very much a myth." Bell is a cofounder, with Mabel Negrete, of Indigenous 215, a group of Philadelphia-area native people and supporters that will be holding a Columbus teach-in Thursday at the Philadelphia Art Museum's Perelman Building, Fairmount and Pennsylvania Avenues. "Native history is American history," said Negrete. This year, Columbus Day falls amid a volatile, sometimes violent national debate over who should be honored and why, centered on the removal of Confederate monuments across the country. Philadelphia already is embroiled in argument over the statue of Frank Rizzo, the polarizing former police commissioner and mayor. One person was arrested after the statue was tagged with spray paint. New York has seen three Columbus monuments smashed or defaced in recent weeks, including a Central Park statue that had its hands marked with blood-red paint and "Hate will not be tolerated" scrawled on its base. Columbus statues in Baltimore, Houston, and San Jose, Calif., were vandalized in August and September. Philadelphia hosts two prominent memorials. A statue was erected near Memorial Hall in 1876 as part of the city's grand Centennial Exposition, and moved to Marconi Plaza in South Philadelphia in 1982. The marble figure of Columbus appears to gaze across Broad Street his right hand on a globe, a ship's anchor at his feet. At Penn's Landing towers a laudatory, 125-foot obelisk, raised in 1992 to mark the 500th anniversary of Columbus' first voyage. The same year, City Council renamed part of Delaware Avenue as Columbus Boulevard. "I know the City Council is working on the Rizzo statue, and so I'm wondering if that will open up the conversation a bit more to other monuments," said Enos, a Philadelphia artist. Los Angeles became the latest big city to adopt Indigenous Peoples Day and drop Columbus Day, its City Council voting 14-1 in August. It joined Seattle, Minneapolis, Denver, Phoenix, Albuquerque, N.M., and other cities, along with Alaska, Vermont, Hawaii, Oregon, and South Dakota. Many of those places have prominent native populations. Not so in Philadelphia. Indigenous peoples number about 7,000 in the city, less than 1 percent of the population, a lasting result of tribes having been killed or forced to flee Pennsylvania. By contrast, Italian immigrants stamped a permanent mark on Philadelphia, arriving in droves at the turn of the 20th century. Today 111,952 residents claim Italian heritage, about 7 percent of the population. City Council took a stab at creating some kind of parity in 2011, when it declared the first Saturday of October to be Indigenous Peoples Day a resolution that was promptly ignored and forgotten. Now, the Museum of the American Revolution has scheduled three days of programming on what it calls Indigenous Peoples Weekend, culminating in a Columbus Day panel on history's omissions and distortions. "It reflects our institutional commitment to telling lesser-known stories," said R. Scott Stephenson, the museum's vice president of collections, exhibitions, and programming. Generations of American schoolchildren grew up learning that in Fourteen Hundred and Ninety-two, Columbus sailed the ocean blue, discovering America and opening a new world to settlement. President Franklin Roosevelt proclaimed Columbus Day a federal holiday in 1937, and in 1971 President Richard Nixon permanently set the observance on the second Monday in October. But resistance has grown during the last 20 years, particularly in the West, as more native voices speak up and new discoveries rewrite old narratives. In truth, historians note, Columbus never set foot in North America. His diaries and letters, and those of men in his expeditions, describe how he seized land, enslaved natives to dig for gold, cut off hands and heads, and sold girls as young as 9 as sex slaves. To natives, Columbus' arrival marked the start of a consuming genocide. As a boy, Oneida Indian Nation Representative Ray Halbritter was stunned when teachers said that Columbus had discovered America, knowing "we were the people here, watching the boats land on the beach." The nation's founding is bound to native peoples the Oneida were among America's first allies in the Revolution but the stories too often go untold, he said. Halbritter, who serves on the Revolution Museum board, will join Gover and others on Monday's panel. The evening starts with a 6 p.m. screening of People of the Standing Stone, a documentary narrated by Kevin Costner, that shows how the Oneida fought alongside Continental Army troops. Ultimately, their land was appropriated by the federal government and by European settlers. Many people don't know that, Halbritter said. And it's time they did. "Native Americans have experienced the effects of immigration more pointedly than any other people in the world," he said. "We live in a generation that wants to know the truth." At the Museum of the American Revolution: Saturday Oct. 7 and Sunday Oct. 8 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., and Monday Oct. 9 at 11 a.m., Darren Bonaparte of the Mohawk community of Ahkwesahsne performs Wampum Chronicles, a colorful telling of native history, in the Patriots Gallery. At noon, 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. on Monday Oct. 9, Oneida Nation dancers perform in the Patriots Gallery. At 6 p.m. Monday Oct. 9, a showing of People of the Standing Stone, narrated by Kevin Costner, which examines Oneida solidarity with the colonists during the American Revolution. Afterward, a panel discussion, "Our Shared History: Lifting Up Lesser-Known Stories of our Nation's Founding." Tickets to the screening and discussion are $15; members and students $5. The other events are free with museum entrance: Adults, $19; youths 6-17, $12; members, and children five and under, free. Federal prosecutors say that Mohammed Jabateh of Delaware County committed murder, rape, and cannibalism under the nickname Jungle Jabbah during Liberias first civil war. He denies the charges, but does not dispute that this 1993 photo a faded image of a gaunt young man with an automatic rifle slung over his shoulder is him. Read more They marched their civilian prisoners at gunpoint, through bushland and surrounding villages, to Bopolu, a city deep in Liberia's northwestern mining country. They separated the group by gender shaving the heads of the men with jagged shards of bottle glass, parceling off the women as sex slaves for guerrilla commanders. And when, during that sorting, the rebel captors suspected they had located a rival faction's spy, they killed him, cut out his heart, and took turns eating its pieces. All the while, said the woman who recounted those scenes Wednesday in a Philadelphia federal courtroom, the rebels' general a gaunt, dreadlocked fighter named "Jungle Jabbah" was egging his soldiers on. " 'Anybody that refuse to eat a heart,' " she recalled the man saying, " 'they gonna die.' " That witness a 36-year-old private security guard from Monrovia became one of the first victims to testify at the trial of a man who U.S. authorities say was behind a series of wartime atrocities in his native Liberia. Prosecutors allege that Mohammed Jabateh, a 51-year-old East Lansdowne father of five, lied about his past as the savage warlord "Jungle Jabbah" while applying for political asylum in the late 1990s. Although he is charged only with immigration fraud and perjury, government lawyers have accused him of committing all manner of horrific misdeeds including rapes, murders, and cannibalism as he led a band of soldiers in the 1990s for the United Liberation Movement of Liberia for Democracy (ULIMO) during Liberia's first civil war. In the trial's second day Wednesday, Jabateh, who has denied the allegations, sat quietly during testimony against him by three women among the more than 20 witnesses whom the Justice Department has flown in for the case. Reunited after more than two decades with the man they say brutalized them, each offered a different reaction. One eyed Jabateh apprehensively throughout her testimony. Another teared up while recalling the public execution of her sister, only to gather her emotions and lock eyes with the man when asked by prosecutors to identify the killer in court. Together, their testimony painted a harrowing picture of the fate of women caught in a conflict that left 250,000 Liberians dead one driven largely by men. Because they are alleged victims of sexual assault, their names are being withheld by the Inquirer and Daily News. The security guard dead-eyed and speaking in affectless tones throughout much of her stint on the witness stand told jurors she was only 13 when she witnessed the ritual heart-eating she described. Moments after, she said, she was handed off to a burly commando she knew only as "Cobra Red" and forced to endure daily rapes for more than a month by the man who was more than twice her age. She recognized Jabateh, she said, because she often was forced to comb through his dreadlocks for lice. Another woman a clothes vendor who strode into court Wednesday in a colorful purple-and-black dress with matching head wrap told jurors Jabateh plucked her off a porch in 1994 and selected her to become his concubine. "We had sex two, three times a day," she said. "They had guns all over. I did it because I was afraid." Even women who managed to find some stability amid the chaos faced a constant threat that at any moment that peace could be quickly and brutally shattered. The last woman to testify Wednesday said she ran a nightclub with her sister, Tina, where Jabateh and other ULIMO commanders routinely ate in Tubmanburg about 50 miles north of Liberia's capital, Monrovia. Tina, she said, was a favorite of the generals, as much for her food as for the three children whom she had borne to one of them, a commander named "T-Kahla." "Everybody used to be friends with her," she said. "Everybody used to come eat with her." But when factional rivalries split ULIMO in two in 1994, that friendship evaporated. Testifying Wednesday, the witness said she watched from hiding as a furious Jabateh stormed into town, dragged Tina half-naked from her nightclub by her hair and demanded to know where T-Kahla, now his enemy, was hiding. Tina offered no answer. So Jabateh threw her to the ground, put his boot on her head, and shot her in the chest and vagina, the witness said. "He left a message that no one should pick up the body from there," Tina's sister said. Jabateh's lawyer Greg Pagano, as he did with all three women who testified Wednesday, questioned why she did not report the incident to authorities at the time. The woman stared back incredulously. "Who am I gonna tell? Nobody," she said. "I didn't tell any local official, because they couldn't do nothing about it." Testimony is set to resume Thursday. Bucks County District Attorney Matt Weintraub answers questions from reporters after he announced a major drug bust involving 6 kilograms of heroin valued at $4 million Thursday at the Bensalem Police Department. Read more A routine traffic stop for illegally tinted windows last week led a Bensalem drug-sniffing police dog to discover more than 13 pounds of heroin valued at $4 million. The seizure of six kilograms occurred Friday. Bucks County District Attorney Matthew Weintraub said the bust of "400,000 doses of death" was the largest he could recall in recent county history. "It is much more preferable for me to stand here before you today to celebrate getting these doses of death off the streets," Weintraub said, "than it is to come before you again and again to lament how many of our children are being killed by this poison." Authorities said they were investigating where the occupants of the car came from and where they were heading, as well as doing forensic testing on the heroin to determine its origin. The drugs were discovered after Bensalem police spotted a white Toyota Tacoma with illegally tinted windows in the area of I-95 and Street Road. The stories the three occupants told police didn't make sense, authorities said, leading officers to enlist the department canine to search the truck. The dog alerted police that narcotics were present. When police told the occupants, driver Edward Torres, 30, of Philadelphia, who wore an ankle bracelet, ran. Police later discovered he was on house arrest for a robbery and firearms violation. Inside a hidden compartment underneath the back seat of the truck, officers discovered the six kilograms of raw heroin in bricks, police said. Torres was arrested for drug trafficking, as were passengers Sergio Arturo Maciel Landeros, 27, and Alejantro Levya Granados, 41, both of whom had no fixed addresses but were from the Philadelphia area, according to police. Police then focused their search on a home at 6215 Algard St. in Philadelphia, where they said they discovered $50,000 and drug paraphernalia. They would not elaborate on what led them to that residence or who lived there. All three men were being held Thursday in the Bucks County Prison on $1 million bail each. Torres maintains his innocence, said his attorney, Jason Javie, who said he could not comment further about the case. No attorneys for Maciel Landeros and Levya Granados were listed on court documents as of Thursday. In Bucks County in 2016, opioid overdoses killed 185 people, twice as many as the year before. The announcement of the bust occurred two days after Montgomery County announced the seizure of one kilogram of fentanyl, a painkiller said to be much stronger than heroin, and a week after Montgomery County joined Philadelphia and Delaware, Chester, and Camden Counties as a nationally recognized High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area. As the national opioid crisis continues, Weintraub said, he is looking into how Bucks County can apply for that designation, which comes with federal money, resources, and training to combat drug-related crime. "It is something we have been interested in for a long while," Weintraub said. "We're not yet a member, but if I get my way we soon will be." Two men were killed in a pair of triple shootings Wednesday night in different parts of the city, Philadelphia police said. The first shooting happened about 8:40 p.m. on the 1500 block of South Stanley Street in Grays Ferry. Responding officers found two wounded men, including the one who would die, on the street and a third in a house on South Napa Street two blocks away. Police said Rodney Copeland Jr., who was shot in the chest, was taken to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, where he died at 10:40 p.m. He had lived on the 1600 block of South Napa. A 21-year-old man who was found on the street with Copeland had been shot in the back. He was taken to Penn Presbyterian, where he was in stable condition, according to police. The third man, a 20-year-old who had been shot in a foot, was treated at Penn Presbyterian and taken to Police Headquarters to be interviewed by homicide detectives. Police said they had not identified any possible suspects, and investigators have not disclosed if they have established a motive. Nearly three hours later, about 11:30 p.m., gunfire erupted on the 2500 block of North Dover Street in North Philadelphia. Officers called to the block for a report of person with a gun found three men who had been shot. A 24-year-old man whose name has not been released was taken to Temple University Hospital with numerous gunshot wounds to the chest, back and legs. He died at 12:06 a.m. Thursday, police said. A 17-year-old, who also had been shot numerous times, and a 24-year-old man, who had a bullet wound in his right leg, also were taken to Temple and reported in stable condition, police said. Police said investigators were seeking a motive. When Allen Woods' son turned 6 recently, Woods couldn't wish him a happy birthday in person, give him a hug, or marvel at how tall he'd grown. He had to send a card in the mail. That's because Woods who has been awaiting trial at the Federal Detention Center in Philadelphia on marijuana-dealing charges for the last 15 months is up against a strict visitation policy the FDC put in place in July 2016, barring all visitors but immediate family. Since Woods is not married to son Daylan's mother, Chamira Williams, she was no longer allowed to bring the boy to visit. (Unaccompanied minors also are not permitted.) A proposed class-action lawsuit filed Thursday in federal court on behalf of Woods and other inmates called the policy "cruel and unconstitutional," and "among the most draconian in the federal system." Dana Bazelon, a Philadelphia lawyer who filed the suit with the Public Interest Law Center and Drinker Biddle, said that since virtually none of her clients are married, the policy has been tearing families apart. "Not being able to see their kids is really devastating to these men, and obviously runs counter to everything we know about how we rehabilitate someone: Strong contact with the community is really crucial," Bazelon said. "For the children, that contact is really important, so you don't feel like you've just been abandoned. It's not something you can do over the phone or over email with a little kid." The policy affects only pretrial inmates, who account for about 900 of the 1,000 inmates at FDC. But Ben Geffen, of the Public Interest Law Center, noted that many of those inmates can remain incarcerated for months or years, and some will eventually be acquitted. The detention center's spokesman, Michael Carroll, said the policy change was necessary to stem the flow of illegal drugs through the visiting room. He said exceptions are made case by case, but he would not say how many exceptions had been made. Bazelon said some of her clients have applied for exceptions, but none were successful. Dayna Walter, 29, a dental assistant who described her own criminal history as "a speeding ticket, once," was among those denied. Walter had sought to bring her 2-year-old son to visit his father her boyfriend of 10 years, Keith Campbell, who is charged with kidnapping a man in the course of a robbery. The family has not been able to see Campbell since he was transferred to FDC in April. Between the visiting policy and limited phone minutes Campbell is allotted 200 minutes per month she said maintaining the father-son bond is a constant concern. "I worry about that almost every day," she said. "When you're far away from someone and can't visit, it puts a strain on everything. You rely a lot on love and hope to get you through. You keep pictures around of him, so his son can see his face and recognize who he is when he's talking on the phone." Marie Gottschalk, a University of Pennsylvania political scientist and author of the 2014 book Caught: The Prison State and the Lockdown of American Politics, said that the courts have typically given prisons wide berth to adopt restrictive policies in the name of security. "There's a broader trend across the country of making it more difficult to visit people who are incarcerated," she said. "We're seeing greater use of videotaping rather than letting people come visit. It's part of dehumanizing people in prison. It's also making their reentry much more difficult." That's not to mention the impact on children. Having an incarcerated parent, she said, is linked with mental health problems, behavioral issues and depression in particular. "Many times, people think, the person in prison committed a crime, so it's better for the kid to be away. But what we've found for most kids is, unless there was abuse against a parent or the child, it's very helpful for the parent to be able to see the child. Denying that contact on top of the issues the child is already facing is going to make those issues even more severe." Bazelon said she first sought to change the policy without litigation, and believed it would be simple for the FDC to address if administrators there chose to do so. Instead, Carroll said, the FDC is offering its own fix for those who accept it. "One thing we did do recently is allow inmates to get married," on FDC wedding days that take place every six months, the spokesman said. He would not say how many couples had taken advantage of that offer so that fathers and their children could be reunited. About 40 demonstrators gathered in Center City on Thursday to pray and protest a federal immigration sweep that took 107 undocumented Philadelphia residents into custody last week. Outside the office of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the activists built a sukkah on the Cherry Street sidewalk. The small hut marked the Jewish festival of Sukkot, which began Wednesday evening. The weeklong holiday commemorates the 40 years the Israelites wandered in the desert, living in temporary shelters, and celebrates inclusion, hospitality, and sanctuary. The demonstrators' sukkah, said Rabbi Linda Holtzman of Tikkun Olam Chavurah, a Philadelphia-based spiritual and political community, is "a house that welcomes everyone. No one needs paperwork." People held hand-lettered signs reading "Immigrants are not criminals" and "No hate, no fear, refugees and immigrants are welcome here." More than a half-dozen officers from various police agencies watched from across the street. "We are here to tell ICE they have not broken our spirit," said Jazmin Delgado of the New Sanctuary Movement, which assists immigrants regardless of status. "We are building sanctuary within ourselves and one another until the laws of respect and hospitality become the laws of the land." Federal authorities seized nearly 500 undocumented immigrants during a four-day sweep targeted at "sanctuary cities" around the county. The largest number of arrests took place in Philadelphia 107 people caught in raids aimed at cities and states that seek to protect undocumented residents, or at least treat them like everyone else who enters the justice system. Immigrant advocates said that targeting Philadelphia looked like retribution. The raids came a month after Mayor Kenney sued Attorney General Jeff Sessions over the federal attempt to withhold grant money from sanctuary cities. ICE officials said that the sweep, called Operation Safe City, captured scores of residents who allegedly violated immigration laws, prioritizing those with criminal convictions, pending criminal charges, or gang affiliations. Among those arrested were people who had committed sex crimes against children, sold drugs, and possessed weapons, the agency said. Hurricane warnings are in effect from Grand Isle, La., to the Alabama/Florida border as Tropical Storm Nate, the 14th of a monumentally busy season, threatens the Gulf Coast with a fresh storm of anxiety. It is possible that the storm's remnants ultimately will pass near Philadelphia, and while the region won't experience the predicted deluges in Central America, Nate might water down the burgeoning drought conditions around here. At 11 a.m. Nate was about 185 miles southeast of Cozumel, Mexico, with peak winds at 45 mph, the National Hurricane Center said. But the center said Nate would exploit the warm Gulf waters as it traveled northward and could make landfall on the coast as a hurricane during the weekend. Ultimately, Nate's leftovers could affect the Philadelphia region, which is within the cone of the storm's projected path. But at this point that wouldn't necessarily be a bad development, given that nothing has fallen in two weeks and that the government says we're officially rainfall deficient. After the making landfall, the current track brings it toward Pennsylvania, and the center could pass near Philadelphia. By the time it would get anywhere near here, it would be what the meteorologists call "post tropical," and the juiciness of any leftovers would be impossible to nail this far in advance. However, the government's Weather Prediction Center on Friday foresaw the potential for 2 inches of rain, and the hurricane center the hurricane center sees an outside chance for tropical-storm force winds at the Shore and perhaps as far west as Philadelphia. We certainly could use some rain. The U.S. Drought Monitor on Thursday painted the city and adjacent areas on both sides of the river in its "abnormally dry" zone. It noted that the latest U.S. Department of Agriculture report showed a big uptick in "very short topsoil numbers" across Pennsylvania. As we've reported, rainfall for the last month has been about a quarter of normal in Philadelphia's Pennsylvania collar counties, and about a third of normal in the city and adjacent South Jersey. Rains would be welcome as long as they don't get carried away. The girlfriend of Stephen Paddock, the gunman who opened fire on a country music festival in Las Vegas earlier this week, said Wednesday that she had no warning about his plans to carry out the massacre. "I knew Stephen Paddock as a kind, caring, quiet man," Marilou Danley, Paddock's girlfriend, said in a statement read by her attorney. "He never said anything to me or took any action that I was aware of that I understood in any way to be a warning that something horrible like this was going to happen." Danley was out of the country when Paddock, 64, carried out his rampage, officials said. She returned late Tuesday to Los Angeles, where FBI agents interviewed her on Wednesday. "I am devastated by the deaths and injuries that have occurred and my prayers go out to the victims and their families and all those who have been hurt by these awful events," Danley said. Danley said that she left the country because Paddock bought her a ticket to visit her family in the Philippines. While there, she said, Paddock wired her money that he explained was meant to help her purchase a home for Danley and her family. "I was grateful, but honestly, I was worried, that first, the unexpected trip home, and then the money, was a way of breaking up with me," she said. "It never occurred to me in any way whatsoever that he was planning violence against anyone." Danley, who pledged to cooperate with authorities, is viewed by officials as a key part the investigation into the deadliest mass shooting in modern American history. Paddock brought a small arsenal into a two-room suite on the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino and began raining bullets on the thousands of concertgoers far below. Authorities have described a chilling level of preparation but have been unable to discern a motive for the shooting. Paddock, who had set up cameras so he could monitor the approach by police, turned a gun on himself as a SWAT team closed in. Danley is considered a critical witness in trying to decipher Paddock's motive, according to a person familiar with the probe. Police have described her as a "person of interest," though they have not suggested that she is considered an accomplice or involved in any way. Federal agents who are assisting the Las Vegas police in the investigation have essentially two critical questions for Danley: Did she have any idea what motivated him, and did she have any knowledge of what was about to take place and not alert authorities? That was deemed to be the case with Noor Salman, the wife of the Orlando, Florida, gunman who killed 49 people last year. Salman was later arrested and charged with aiding and abetting terrorism and obstructing justice. There were no immediate, obvious indications that Danley would fit the same bill, the person familiar with the case said, though they stressed that the investigation was still early. Investigators still have to run down any potential leads Danley may provide. Given how little has emerged in Paddock's past that could foreshadow the attack, the "best lead is through this girlfriend," said Sen. Dean Heller, R-Nev., who has been briefed by authorities. Authorities expressed bafflement at what could have motivated the rampage. FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe said Wednesday he is surprised they have not found evidence pointing to the gunman's motive yet. "There's all kinds of things that surprise us in each one of these events," McCabe told CNBC. "This individual and this attack didn't leave the sort of immediately accessible thumbprints that you find on some mass casualty attacks. We look for actual indicators of affiliation, of motive, of intent, and so far we're not there. We don't have those sort of indicators." McCabe said agents have been reconstructing "the life, the behavior, the pattern of activity of this individual and anyone and everyone who may have crossed his path in the days and the weeks leading up to this horrific event." So far, he said, investigators have not had any problems accessing the gunman's computer electronic devices. Amid a backdrop of anguish and questions, President Donald Trump on Wednesday headed to Las Vegas to visit with survivors of the attack and law enforcement personnel. He echoed authorities in saying that they have not identified a motive. "Not yet," Trump said during remarks to reporters. "We're looking. I can tell you, it's a very sick man. He was a very demented person. We haven't seen that yet, but you will know very soon if we find something. We're looking very, very hard." Trump declined to speak about gun violence in America during his remarks. When he appeared with the sheriff and other officials, Trump said he was praying for the recovery of those injured, noting those in law enforcement particularly. "We grieve the loss of the law enforcement personnel who were killed in this vicious attack," Trump said. "Many families tonight will go to bed in a world that is suddenly empty." Piece by piece, investigators have put together a profile of Paddock a retired accountant making meticulous preparations for the moment when he smashed a plate-glass window in the 32nd floor of his hotel room and opened fire with a weapon, apparently modified to spew bullets with the split-second speed of an automatic rifle. As he fired round after round during an 11-minute stretch from a suite at the Mandalay Bay, Paddock used multiple video cameras to keep an eye out for police storming his hotel room, according to Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo. Cameras were stashed in the suite's peephole and in the hallway. "It was preplanned, extensively, and I'm pretty sure that he evaluated everything that he did in his actions, which is troublesome," Lombardo said Tuesday. In addition to guns found in the suite, investigators later found another 26 guns at two other properties in Nevada, as well as collections of ammunition and a chemical that can be used to make bombs. Many of Paddock's guns were purchased in recent years. Between October 2016 and Sept. 28, the day Paddock checked into the Mandalay Bay, Paddock bought 33 guns, the "majority of them rifles," Jill Snyder, the special agent in charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in San Francisco, said Wednesday in an interview with "CBS This Morning." Paddock also had substantial ammunition in the room, with clips containing between 60 and 100 rounds, Snyder said. During a news briefing a day earlier, Snyder said Paddock had purchased shotguns, handguns and rifles in Nevada, Utah, California and Texas. She also said that inside Paddock's suite, authorities found a dozen "bump" stocks that can enable guns to fire bullets at a more rapid clip. Until carrying out the massacre Sunday night, Paddock had no criminal history himself. He was known to gamble frequently and extensively. Despite repeated claims by the Islamic State to the contrary, he also had no ties to international terrorism groups, authorities said. Some public officials seemed to suggest Paddock's mind was troubled, though there were no immediate indications that he had been diagnosed with a mental illness or was anything other than fully aware of what he was doing. "A normal person would not cause this type of harm to innocent people," said Rep. Ruben Kihuen, D-Nev. "Clearly, there was something wrong with this man." People close to the investigation also said that in the weeks before the attack, Paddock transferred a large amount of money close to $100,000 to someone in the Philippines, possibly his girlfriend. The significance of that development was not immediately clear, though investigators said they were interested in probing Paddock's finances and his avid interest in high-stakes gambling. Danley's sister, interviewed by Australia's Channel 7, suggested that Paddock had arranged Danley's trip to visit her homeland to keep her from undermining the attack plans. "I know she doesn't know anything as well like us," said the sister, whose identity was shielded by the channel. "She was sent away. She was away so that she would not be there to interfere with what he's planning." At his home in Orlando, Eric Paddock, Stephen Paddock's brother, said he also doubts Danley had any prior knowledge of the incident. He speculated Stephen might have tried to quietly ensure Danley's financial security. "He manipulated her to be as far away from here and safe when he committed this," Eric Paddock said. "The people he loved he took care of, and as he was descending into hell he took care of her." Coroner John Fudenberg on Tuesday evening clarified that Paddock was among the 59 counted as slain; previously, authorities had said he wasn't. More than 500 people were wounded in the attack or injured in the rush to flee, dozens of whom remain in critical condition. Undersheriff Kevin McMahill, speaking after Fudenberg at a briefing, warned that the number of dead and injured could fluctuate as the investigation progresses. BRITT | After more than two years with the city of Britt, Shell Anderson has resigned as city administrator/clerk. Anderson, who was hired as the city clerk in May 2015 and appointed as city administrator/clerk in July 2015, submitted her letter of resignation for city council approval Tuesday. Working for the city of Britt has been a great learning experience for me. I have a much better understanding and appreciation for all that goes into running an effective city, she wrote in her letter of resignation. I am grateful for the experience and the relationships I have gained throughout my time here. Anderson said she has accepted an accounting position at IMT in Garner. Although a number of factors lead me to this decision; ultimately, I want to be able to focus more of my attention on finance and accounting, her letter said. Her last day is Oct. 26, but she has offered to come back on an hourly basis to keep the citys finances up to date and help train the new city administrator/clerk. On Tuesday, the city council although reluctant unanimously accepted Andersons resignation, while expressing appreciation for the work shes done in organizing community events and creating a social media presence for the city of Britt. Thank you for all the work youve done, Councilor Paul Verbrugge said. The city council also approved posting for the city administrator/clerk position. The position requires a bachelors degree in public administration, business management or a related area of study, and experience in long-range planning, economic development, intergovernmental relations, finance and budgeting is preferred. Salary will be dependent on qualifications. Andersons current salary is $56,375. Applicants must submit a resume, cover letter and application to the city of Britt by 5 p.m. Oct. 24. President Donald Trump scored a nomination. So did Russian leader Vladimir Putin. That's right. The leaders of the United States and Russia, respectively, were nominated for the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize. The winner will be announced by the Norwegian Nobel Committee on Friday. Getting nominated isn't actually very prestigious. Qualified nominators can throw anyone's name into the ring, and they do. In years past, Nazi leader Adolf Hitler and Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin both received a nod. Of course, Trump and Putin are very long shots. The Peace Research Institute Oslo, an independent foundation, puts together its own shortlist of much more valid contenders. Here are some of their best guesses for who might win this year: Mohammad Javad Zarif and Federica Mogherini: Iranian Foreign Minister Zarif and High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Mogherini negotiated the Iran nuclear deal. As PRIO wrote, "the peaceful and successful resolution of the Iran nuclear dispute . . . would be a worthy and notable winner of the Nobel Peace Prize." Something else working in their favor: The committee may well want to reaffirm the value of the deal at a time when President Trump is considering pulling out of it. Filippo Grandi: The United Nations High Commissioner on Refugees had a big year. His organization took on an unprecedented refugee crisis across Europe and the Middle East. There are more than 65 million people in the world who are forcibly displaced; over 22 million of whom are refugees. At the same time, European countries and the United States are growing less and less willing to take them in. "In this situation, the Office of the UNHCR has shown its capacity and integrity in standing up for refugees' rights and needs time and time again," PRIO wrote. Cumhuriyet and Can Dundar: Cumhuriyet editor and columnist Dundar was arrested this year and jailed on charges of disclosing state secrets and aiding a terrorist group. He moved to Germany after being found guilty. Dundar has become the face of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's vicious crackdown on free press and civil liberties. "Cumhuriyet, has been renowned for its impartial reporting and fearlessness in criticizing the authorities," PRIO wrote. "This September, no fewer than 17 of Cumhuriyet's employees stand trial for various charges of being complicit in terrorism." The Economic Community of West African States: ECOWAS played a vital role in the political transition in Gambia, which was seen as a victory for African democracy. More broadly, the group exemplifies "how increased political and economic interaction contributes to ensuring long term regional stability," PRIO wrote. The bloc has organized several successful peacekeeping missions. The White Helmets and Raed al Saleh: In some ways, the White Helmets/Syrian Civil Defence is an ideal contender for the Peace Prize. The civilian group in Syria, led by Saleh, has been credited with saving lives and easing suffering during a brutal, years-long war. "A prize to the White Helmets would not be a prize only for humanitarian efforts, it would also draw attention to the remarkable yet rarely celebrated resilient forces of societies hit by armed conflict," PRIO wrote. The organization is controversial, though. Allies of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad have accused the group of being a creation of the West and suggested that they work with extremists. Meanwhile floating around the internet: British odds-makers say Pope Francis is favored to win the honor for his unflinching advocacy of migrants and refugees, along with his efforts to halt climate change. Angela Merkel could also have a shot. The German chancellor welcomed more than 1 million refugees into her country in 2015, despite sustained opposition. Merkel has also been a steady voice for international cooperation, making the case again and again for the European Union. The Washington Post's Fred Hiatt has called on the committee to "infuriate China" by awarding the prize to democracy activist Liu Xia, the widow of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Liu Xiaobo. Liu Xiaobo died in July, while serving a 11-year prison sentence for "subversion of state power" after helping to write and circulate a call for democratic and human rights reforms. Liu Xia was confined to house arrest by the Chinese government in 2010, after her husband won his Nobel Prize, though she has never been charged with a crime. Liu Xia is a courageous figure in her own right, a poet and photographer. As she left a courthouse in 2013 where her brother was on trial, she shouted to reporters, "I am not free. If they tell you I'm free, tell them I'm not free." The Guardian has suggested the American Civil Liberties Union could walk away with the prize for its efforts against several decisions by the Trump administration. The publication also lists Raif Badawi, a Saudi blogger who's been in prison since 2012. "His victory, after repeated nominations, would be for courage, rationalism and freedom of speech and an implicit criticism of a brutally repressive regime," the paper wrote. Top House Republicans said they will consider restricting "bump stocks," the firearm accessory used to accelerate gunfire in the Las Vegas massacre, opening the door to heightened regulation in response to the tragedy. Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Robert Goodlatte (R-Va.) both said Thursday that lawmakers will consider further rules for the devices, which allow legal semiautomatic rifles to fire as rapidly as more heavily restricted automatic weapons. "Clearly that's something we need to look into," Ryan said on MSNBC. "We're going to look at the issue," Goodlatte told The Washington Post. Asked if he had a personal concern about their legality, he said, "I have a personal concern about what happened." A House Republican with close ties to leadership who spoke on the condition of anonymity to speak frankly about private conversations said there was a growing willingness to address the accessories among GOP lawmakers if only to combat the perception that Congress has done nothing to address mass shootings. The lawmaker said he doubted the National Rifle Association would "put up much of a fight" and noted that it was under the Obama administration that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives ruled the devices legal. Republicans said Tuesday that they had halted plans, at least temporarily, to advance a bill that would make it easier for Americans to buy gun silencers. The shooting in Las Vegas on Sunday night that left at least 58 dead and hundreds injured magnified the focus on the legislation, which passed a House committee last month. "That bill is not scheduled now; I don't know when it's going to be scheduled," Ryan told reporters. "Right now we're focused on passing our budget." The Las Vegas shooting is the latest incident of mass violence to put Republican lawmakers on the defensive over their opposition to new gun restrictions and, in some cases, their efforts to eliminate existing ones. The Sportsmen's Heritage and Recreational Enhancement Act passed the House Natural Resources Committee on a party-line vote on Sept. 13. Owning a firearm silencer requires a special license from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, similar to the regulations surrounding machine guns and explosives. The House bill would instead treat silencers like firearms, requiring only a federal background check. The legislation also includes provisions that would loosen restrictions on transporting firearms across state lines and prevent certain types of ammunition from being designated as "armor-piercing" and thus subject to tighter federal oversight. House Rules Committee Chairman Pete Sessions (R-Tex.) acknowledged that the Las Vegas shooting was a "complicating issue" with the bill though he did not rule out that it could come to the floor later in the current Congress. "Nobody wants to bring up something when there's something like that," he said. "We wouldn't want to bring up any difficult issue." Opponents of the silencer provision say that it could make it harder to identify a shooter during an incident such as the one in Las Vegas. Its proponents argue that the devices only muffle not silence a high-powered rifle, helping to protect the hearing of law-abiding shooters. Law enforcement officials have not indicated that the Las Vegas shooter, 64-year-old retired accountant Stephen Paddock, used a silencer in his attack. But they have said another controversial accessory was found at the scene: a "bump stock," which can allow a legal semiautomatic rifles to fire as rapidly as more heavily restricted fully automatic weapons can. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) called attention Tuesday to the legal status of bump stocks, noting the devices are available online for less than $200 and "inflict absolute carnage." "I'm looking at how best to proceed with legislation to finally close this loophole," she said. "This is the least we should do in the wake of the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history." Even some outspoken conservatives suggested that bump stocks might need to be restricted. The chairman of the House Freedom Caucus, a hard-line group whose members are generally strong proponents of gun rights, said "greater scrutiny" is warranted. "You have to have a special class of license to have an automatic weapon, and so if this is something to bypass this, I think it becomes something that we obviously need to look at in the future," Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.) said. He added that the aftermath of a tragedy "is not the best time to look at any legislation." Opponents of the measure say that the silencer provision, in particular, could make it harder to identify a shooter during an incident such as the one in Las Vegas. But Rep. Jeff Duncan (R-S.C.), the bill's sponsor, said in an interview Monday that the silencer provision would have had little bearing on the massacre in Nevada pointing to media reports that the shooter may have had more than a dozen firearms, some of which may have been illegal. "He's already breaking the law shooting an automatic weapon that wasn't registered, so what's going to stop him, had he chosen to shoot a suppressed weapon, to do that?" Duncan said. "The thing is, and the thing he probably realized is, it doesn't make any difference it's still loud." Democrats again argued Tuesday that there is no better time to highlight congressional inaction on guns. They blamed Ryan, for instance, for refusing to allow votes on a universal background check bill and blocking requests for hearings on the issue. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) asked Ryan on Monday to launch a bipartisan special committee on gun violence, but Democrats said Ryan turned down the request. They also said he rejected a proposal from Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.) for a show of unity and action to curb acts of gun violence. "We were told in caucus today that the response was, if it has to do with policy, it was a nonstarter," said Rep. Mike Thompson (D-Calif.), chairman of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force. After last year's nightclub shooting in Orlando, Democrats occupied the House floor for more than 24 hours to draw attention to efforts to expand federal background checks for gun buyers. Rep. Linda T. Sanchez (D-Calif.), vice chair of the House Democratic Caucus, said Tuesday that there are no plans for another sit-in or for a petition to force a vote on any of the gun bills Democrats have proposed so far. Democrats are planning a rally on the steps of the Capitol on Wednesday morning to call attention to Republicans' inaction on gun control. The event will be led by Lewis, Pelosi and former congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, who was shot in the head by a gunman who opened fire at a constituent event in her Arizona district in 2011. At a closed-door meeting of House Republicans on Tuesday, there was talk about what happened Sunday in Las Vegas, but, according to several members, little was said about a legislative response. "We all discussed the tragedy and certainly all of our thoughts and prayers go out to them, and that was pretty much the total extent of it," said Rep. Chris Collins (R-N.Y.). Collins added that Congress ought to focus on mental health rather than gun restrictions: "We are not going to knee-jerk react to every situation. The Democrats continue to want to say, when a mentally deranged person does what they do, it's the gun's fault, not the shooter's fault. . . . People focused on mayhem and the kind of evil this person was in their heart, you can't stop them. They will do it one way or the other. You can't stop a mentally deranged person." Law enforcement officials have not given any indication that Paddock was ever treated for mental illness or showed any signs of instability. Ryan also told reporters that the focus ought to be on mental health rather than gun restrictions. Congress passed an overhaul of mental health laws last year, but that legislation did not include some firearm restrictions that gun-control advocates had pushed for. "One of the things we've learned from these shootings is that often, underneath this, there is a diagnosis of mental illness," Ryan said. " . . . Mental health reform is a critical ingredient to making sure that we can try to prevent some of these things from happening." Rep. Mark Amodei (R-Nev.), who represents the northern part of the state, said it is a "humbling time" for Nevadans but did not mention the need for any specific legislative response. "There's time in the coming weeks to find those answers and do those sorts of things that we need to do and see what lessons are learned," he said. "But I think right now, it's just that humility thoughts and prayers to those folks that were affected, both those that are here and those that are gone." WASHINGTON The moment was as remarkable as it was unprecedented: A sitting U.S. secretary of state took to the microphone to pledge his fealty to the president despite his well-documented unhappiness in the job and the growing presumption in Washington that he is a short-timer. Rex Tillerson said Wednesday he would stay as long as President Trump wants him to, and Trump said he has "full confidence" in the former ExxonMobil chief executive. Shortly afterward, Tillerson's spokeswoman also felt compelled to publicly deny an NBC News report that Tillerson had called the president a "moron," and she said he was determined to remain in his job. But Tillerson's move on Wednesday to reassure Trump of his convictions may well be too little and too late for the long term, according to the accounts of 19 current and former senior administration officials and Capitol Hill aides, most of whom spoke on the condition of anonymity to offer candid assessments. The already tense relationship between the two headstrong men one a billionaire former real estate developer, the other a former captain of the global oil industry has ruptured into what some White House officials call an irreparable breach that will inevitably lead to Tillerson's departure, whether immediately or not. Tillerson's dwindling cohort of allies say he has been given an impossible job and is doing his best with it. For months now, Trump has been piqued by rumors of disloyalty that have filtered up to him from the State Department. In private meetings, the president has also been irked by Tillerson's arguments for a more traditional approach on policies, from Iran to climate change to North Korea, and his visible frustration when overruled. Trump has chafed at what he sees as arrogance on the part of an employee. And as Tillerson has traveled the globe, Trump believes his top diplomat often seems more concerned with what the world thinks of the United States than with tending to the president's personal image. Meanwhile, Tillerson who ran the world's largest corporation with near-dictatorial control has struggled to submit to the whims and wishes of a boss who governs by impulse. Deliberative in style, he has been caught off guard by Trump's fiery and injudicious tweets and repulsed by some flashes of the president's character, such as when Trump said there were "fine people" among those marching at a deadly white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Va. "The president speaks for himself," Tillerson said at the time. Tillerson has also been uncomfortable with the chain of command in the West Wing, sometimes "table dropping" his proposals in meetings springing PowerPoint slides on his national security colleagues without advance notice. "He, from my perspective, is in an incredibly frustrating place," Sen. Bob Corker (R., Tenn.) said of Tillerson on Wednesday, calling him one of several administration officials "separating our country from chaos." "He ends up not being supported in a way that I would hope a secretary of state would be supported," Corker said. Two career businessmen with different worldviews and management styles, Trump, 71, and Tillerson, 65, came together in something of an arranged marriage last December. Each has been exasperated at the way the other has handled his job, current and former officials said. But tensions have escalated badly over the past few weeks as Tillerson and his small circle of aides clashed with White House officials over matters as big as the direction of U.S. policy in Afghanistan and as small as Tillerson's habit, according to White House officials, of neglecting to return phone calls. Tillerson's public remarks Wednesday came after months of disagreements between Tillerson and the White House over staffing and administrative matters at the State Department and a disconnection over what Trump saw as Tillerson's conventional approach to policy matters. Over the weekend, Trump contradicted Tillerson on diplomatic relations with North Korea and its leader. Trump tweeted that the secretary of state was "wasting his time trying to negotiate with Little Rocket Man" his nickname for North Korea's Kim Jong Un. Tillerson has repeatedly ended up on the losing side of important policy discussions, and people familiar with White House views say Trump resents him for the debates he has won, including a grudging decision last month to add U.S. forces to the inconclusive 16-year war in Afghanistan. "Rex Tillerson has been dealt a bad hand by the Potus & has played it badly. For both reasons he cannot be effective SecState & should resign," Council on Foreign Relations president Richard Haass wrote on Twitter ahead of Tillerson's statement Wednesday. Haass, a former top State Department official, declined an interview request but also wrote that it would be hard for anyone to do the job well. He cited a Trump policy agenda that includes separating the United States from trade deals such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership and international compacts such as the Paris climate accord, Trump's Twitter habit, plus a lack of staff and money. "The White House thinking is unequivocal that he's going to be gone soon, but the assumption is that he's going to quit on his own so Trump can say, 'Thank you for your year of service,'" said a former senior official who has held recent meetings at the White House. Tillerson entered office as one of the mainstream foreign policy and national security voices around Trump, putting him at odds with Trump's first national security adviser, Michael Flynn, and his former chief strategist, Stephen K. Bannon. He also held an uncertain balance of power with Trump's son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner, whom Trump tasked with seeking Middle East peace and describes as a key foreign policy adviser. Tillerson has complained about the fuzzy lines of authority and about being cut out of some decisions involving Kushner, two people familiar with his thinking said. Kushner has told others in the administration that Tillerson is too dismissive of colleagues. Trump himself has groused that Tillerson isn't supportive enough during national security meetings, speaking little and sometimes in clipped tones. Tillerson clashed with other Trump advisers over the administration's approach to the Iran nuclear deal, and whether Trump should certify to Congress next month that the landmark agreement is in the U.S. national interest. Tillerson has argued internally that it is, despite what he calls serious flaws in the deal, and Defense Secretary Jim Mattis went public Tuesday with the same argument. But Trump has strongly suggested he will go the other way, and has bristled at being "steered" toward what he views as an inauthentic position, several people familiar with the dispute said. Tillerson would not say Wednesday whether he agrees with Mattis, whose own position within the administration appears more solid. In this case and others where they have disagreed, Tillerson advocated what Trump has complained is a "totally conventional" position that is at odds with Trump's break-the-mold philosophy. Trump, for example, was incensed last weekend when he thought Tillerson was "freelancing" a diplomatic overture to North Korea, one official said. Trump has said he believes talking to North Korea has failed for three decades and he sees no reason it would work now. "His is the traditional, establishment model," one person who has discussed Tillerson's views with Trump said. "It's the same foreign policy that John Kerry had and it's the same foreign policy that Hillary Clinton had. It is not America leading. It is America trying to be cordial and collegial with everybody." On Wednesday, Tillerson praised the foreign policy model that Trump espouses and that Tillerson has argued against in a series of internal debates. Trump's national security team is united in "doing great things for the United States of America to make America great again," Tillerson said, echoing Trump's campaign theme. "He loves his country," he said. "He puts Americans and America first. He's smart. He demands results wherever he goes and he holds those around him accountable." Trump responded favorably. "I was very honored by his comments," he told reporters during a visit to Las Vegas. "Total confidence in Rex, I have total confidence." The White House and State Department both denied the NBC report that Tillerson had insulted Trump after a national security meeting at the Pentagon over the summer by calling him a "moron." But West Wing aides said the rumor of such a remark had floated in the halls before the NBC story Wednesday. Tillerson declined to directly address the name-calling detail, calling it "petty" and an example of Washington backbiting that is foreign to him. But his spokeswoman, Heather Nauert, said later in the day that Tillerson had explicitly denied it in a conversation with her. "The secretary did not use that type of language to speak about president of the United States," she said. "The secretary does not use that language to speak about anyone. He did not say that." Tillerson and his aides first found themselves at odds with some Trump aides months ago, when the chief diplomat launched a management overhaul at State that is projected to take years, to the annoyance of some senior White House officials eager to fill jobs. Tillerson, in turn, was annoyed by what he saw as continued chaos and ineptitude in the administration that continued for months, people familiar with his thinking said. He also complained to friends about competing power centers and a culture of backstabbing within the Trump administration that is very different from the top-down corporate culture he left. That same corporate experience gave Tillerson a background in the sensitivities and demands of a large and diverse workforce, and appeared to inform his clear disagreement with Trump over Charlottesville. Vice President Mike Pence at one point tried to help ease tensions, counseling Tillerson that he should take up any concerns he has directly with the president in private, rather than airing his grievances publicly, a White House official said. But Pence was described as "very annoyed" Wednesday after a State Department spokesman, R.C. Hammond, claimed in the NBC story that Pence had urged Tillerson not to resign and had asked Tillerson if U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley was a problem for the administration. The vice president's office put out a statement Wednesday denying those parts of the story, while Hammond took to Twitter to apologize, writing, "I spoke out of line about conversations I wasn't privy to." Nauert said Tillerson "never considered resigning from his post and for those who want him to do so, go ahead and keep pushing because that will only strengthen his resolve," to stay. Still, Tillerson's tenure remains decidedly uncertain, and many in the West Wing and in Congress suggested Wednesday that a "Rexit" was still likely to happen by early 2018. Tillerson also remains isolated in political Washington, with few confidants aside from Corker on Capitol Hill. He has met only twice with Sen. John McCain (R., Ariz.), the chairman of the Armed Services Committee and his party's leading voice on national security. One of those meetings was before Tillerson's Senate confirmation. "Tillerson has no help. No team, no natural allies and he's not hiring anyone," one former senior official said. "There's a kind of death spiral." The Washington Post's Carol Morello and Karoun Demirjian contributed to this report. NBC News correspondent Stephanie Rhule is not backing down from President Trumps attacks against her network and her own reporting. Read more NBC News reporters have no plans to back down from President Trump, no matter how many times he calls them "fake news." Early Thursday morning, President Trump unleashed another fiery Twitter assault against the network after a story published on Wednesday reported that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson called Trump a "moron" and threatened to resign during a meeting at the Pentagon in July. In a pair of early-morning tweets, Trump called NBC News "fake news," a moniker he typically reserves for CNN, and suggested the Senate Intelligence Committee should investigate the network for what he deemed "made up" news reports. On Wednesday, in a hastily arranged press conference, Tillerson pushed back against the report but refused to deny several key points made by the story. He also avoided denying that he called Trump a moron, casting questions about it aside as "petty stuff." Following the press conference, State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert denied Tillerson called Trump a "moron," and Vice President Mike Pence said in a statement, "Any reporting to the contrary is categorically false." Despite that, NBC News correspondent and MSNBC anchor Stephanie Ruhle, one of four reporters who worked on the Tillerson story, offered an impassioned defense of her team's reporting, and went after Trump specifically after he complained the network didn't verify their report with him. "Sir, we didn't need you to verify that he called you a moron," Ruhle said. "He did it behind your back." It was the second day in a row Ruhle appeared on MSNBC to defend NBC News' reporting. On Wednesday, Ruhle, who was in Las Vegas reporting on the massacre, told her college Hallie Jackson on MSNBC, "My source didn't just say that he called him a moron. He said an f-ing moron." NBC national political reporter (and noted Philadelphia Eagles fan) Carol E. Lee also publicly defended the report's accuracy, and said Trump's fiery rebukes are a way to avoid accepting the damning facts of the story. "If the president were to accept our reporting as true, which it is, he would essentially have to fired Rex Tillerson," Lee said, adding that NBC News worked with the White House on the story, and that one official even confirmed Pence has had repeated conversations with Tillerson about showing more respect to the president. NBC News isn't alone in reporting on Tillerson's unease about working for Trump. On Thursday, the New York Times reported that allies close to Tillerson, including Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and White House chief of staff John F. Kelly, had to talked him out of drafting a letter of resignation several times. Sources told the Times that Tillerson has also "regularly expressed astonishment at how little Mr. Trump understands the basics of foreign policy." That point was underscored on Wednesday by Sen. Bob Corker (R., Tenn), the chairman of the Foreign Relations Committie, who told reporters in shockingly candid terms, "I think Secretary Tillerson, Secretary Mattis and Chief of Staff Kelly are those people that help separate our country from chaos, and I support them very much." There have also been public signs that a rift has formed between Tillerson and Trump. Last week, the president undercut Tillerson on Twitter by saying the secretary of state is "wasting his time" attempting to negotiate with North Korea. After the president's much-maligned comments about Charlottesville, Tillerson pointedly separated himself and the State Department on Fox News by repeatedly stating, "The president speaks for himself." To Trump's request that NBC News should apologize to everyone for the story, MSNBC host Hallie Jackson offered a pointed retort. "It's safe to say NBC News will not be issuing an apology to America," Jackson said. Howard Kellogg, 102, formerly of Bryn Mawr, a Philadelphia lawyer whose leisure-time passion was hiking, died Sept. 19 of old age at Foulkeways at Gwynedd. Known as "Hal," Mr. Kellogg spent his entire career at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, where he focused on real estate law. When he joined Morgan Lewis in 1940, it was a fledgling firm with 24 lawyers. It now has a global presence. Mr. Kellogg interrupted his law work for four years to serve with both the Army and Navy during World War II. After the war, he rejoined the firm. He was named partner in the 1950s and retired in 1978. Born in Keokuk, Iowa, and reared in Boston and New York, he graduated from Noble and Greenough School in Dedham, Mass., Harvard College in 1937, and Harvard Law School in 1940. As a boy, Mr. Kellogg loved to climb in the Squam Range of New Hampshire with his pals. As a young man, he met his match in Frances Saunders Perkins, who was a member of the Alpine Club of Canada and loved hiking in the mountains as much as he did. They married in December 1946 and reared five children in Bryn Mawr. Within a week of his retirement, at the age of 63, Mr. Kellogg hit the trail at Springer Mountain, Ga., and finished hiking the nearly 2,200-mile-long Appalachian Trail five months later at Mount Katahdin, Maine. "It was the one thing he wanted to accomplish," said his daughter Molly Kellogg. "He was a goal-setter." At age 80, he climbed every 4,000-foot-high mountain in New England. He and his wife made many trips to the Canadian and American Rockies, the Alps, and the Himalayas. In 1999, three generations of Kelloggs went on a wilderness trip to the Wind River Range in Wyoming, where the clan ascended to 11,120 feet at the Continental Divide. Mr. Kellogg continued to hike into his mid-90s. Mr. Kellogg took each of his teenaged sons on a three-week hiking trip through the heart of the Swiss Alps. David Kellogg, his youngest son, recalled: "This intense father-son experience opened my eyes to so many possibilities that have shaped my life. Our family's shared love of the mountains and hard physical effort is a lasting bond for all of us." Mr. Kellogg was an active community volunteer, offering his services as a reader for what is now the Associated Services for the Blind & Visually Impaired, starting in 1978. He was assigned to Sebastian Demanop, a supervisor at the Pennsylvania Office for the Visually Handicapped. The two men forged a lasting friendship and occasionally drank a highball together. "We clicked right away," Demanop said. "Hal was devoted to me and introduced me as his brother." After Demanop retired, Mr. Kellogg continued to read to him until well into his 90s. Mr. Kellogg served on the boards of Episcopal Community Services, Main Line Federation of Churches; Shipley School; W.B. Saunders Co.; Gladwyne Civic Association; Philadelphia International Visitors Council; Philadelphia Urban Finance Corp.; and Philadelphia Chamber Ensemble. Among the numerous awards he received was the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations Human Rights Award in 1975. He was a longtime blood donor, starting when he was doing military service. As of February 2002, he had donated 184 units of blood, according to the detailed notes that he kept. "He was both an extremely respectful man who wanted to do the right thing, and a man who could go his own way and be unconventional when he needed to," daughter Molly said. In addition to his wife, daughter, and son, Mr. Kellogg is survived by children Jane, Elizabeth, and Thomas; nine grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. A memorial service was scheduled for 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 7, at St. Peter's Episcopal Church, 300 Pine St., Philadelphia. Burial will be private. Memorial donations may be made to Episcopal Community Services via www.ecsphilly.org, Associated Services for the Blind & Visually Impaired via www.asb.org, or the Appalachian Trail Conservancy via www.appalachiantrail.org. There comes a moment, soon after an appalling mass shooting, when many horrified people cry out in exasperation: Explain, please, why is it that anybody in America needs an automatic weapon? By this they mean the rapidly firing weapons that are at the center of many of today's gun-control debates. But the moment they're brought up, someone inevitably counters: You don't mean automatic weapons what you mean to say is semiautomatic! Learn a thing about guns before running your mouth! Now this contingent (however hairsplitting and off-putting their response may seem) is basically correct: Closely regulated by the National Firearms Act of 1934 (passed in response to fears of Tommy gun-wielding bank robbers), the sale of automatic weapons (or "machine guns") which continually spit out bullets as long as the trigger is held down was all but eliminated by the Firearm Owners Protection Act of 1986. As a result, as noted in Slate, automatic weapons are today very regulated, expensive, and rare and their use in crime basically negligible. Moreover, the vast majority of mass shootings are carried out with semiautomatic not fully automatic firearms. Surprisingly, the gut-wrenching, incomprehensible carnage of Sunday's massacre in Nevada may have been an exception to this: Reports suggest that one way or another perhaps by the addition of a device called a "bump-stock" the shooter used some automatic fire. But this is admittedly extremely rare, and mostly beside the point. Had he committed the same crime in the same manner but with a semiautomatic rifle and a tall pile of large-capacity magazines, the carnage could probably have been just as bad. The reality is this: A semiautomatic firearm whether a long gun or a handgun is a weapon of profound destructive capacity. Though semiautomatic (as opposed to automatic) guns require that the trigger be pulled once to discharge each bullet, they still allow a shooter with a quick finger to unleash an avalanche of bullets at a horrifying pace. When unloaded into a densely packed space, the resultant hail of bullets is just as capable of inflicting massive damage. Once fired, each of these projectiles then cuts a path through body, stretching adjacent tissues, and so creating a path of destruction the "wound cavity" that can widen even more as the bullet tumbles and sometimes fragments, creating new smaller missiles each with their own trajectory; more bullets thus mean more punctured lungs, more shattered bones, more lacerated arteries, more severed spines. In short, semiautomatic weapons are capable of inflicting egregious harm on a large number of people in a very short period, even when wielded by deranged users with no remarkable shooting skills. For instance, Adam Lanza, the perpetrator of the Sandy Hook massacre, used a semiautomatic rifle to fire 154 rounds and kill 26 individuals in under five minutes, as MSNBC reported; Seung-Hui Cho, responsible for the Virginia Tech massacre, fired 170 rounds with a pair of semiautomatic pistols in only nine minutes, leaving 30 dead, according to the Washington Post. To the extent that anything should be done about the types of guns available in America, we should end the sale (as others have previously argued and as the American College of Physicians suggested in a statement Monday) of all semiautomatic firearms, whether handgun or long gun. The liberal obsession with "assault weapons" is thus a colossal mistake. The assault-weapons ban identified such firearms by a host of largely cosmetic characteristics that were mostly irrelevant to their lethal potential and had no discernible effect on overall gun deaths. Collapsible stocks, pistol grips, bayonet mounts who cares? Perhaps there is some utility to some of these features in combat settings, but when it comes to a mass shooter in a civilian environment, what matters more than anything is the sheer quantity of terrifying projectiles flying through crowded spaces at thousands of feet per second. To a lesser extent, things like the kinetic energy of a bullet also matter, but this can actually be higher in traditional hunting rifles than so-called assault weapons. What would a ban on the sale of semiautomatic weapons mean for shooters? It would mean that pistols would be "single-action": After discharging the gun, the shooter would have to cock the hammer to fire again. Long guns would require the operation of a lever, a pump, or a bolt already typical of many of the guns used in hunting and target shooting currently after each shot. Some might invoke constitutional challenges to a semiautomatic weapons ban, which seems irrelevant: If it is entirely constitutional to restrict access to automatic firearms, why not semiautomatics? In any event, the Supreme Court has thus far declined to hear at least one challenge to a ban on semiautomatic rifles. Others might contend that non-semiautomatic weapons would be inadequate to resist a tyrannical U.S. government. They are entirely right, but that is equally true of semiautomatics. To effectively resist the American government, one would need at least a battalion of tanks, batteries of powerful artillery, an array of antiaircraft missiles, and so on and so forth. In short: nothing you could buy at your local gun shop, at any rate. This kind of a shift in the national weapon stock could have advantages outside the context of mass shootings: The fewer projectiles whizzing through the air during a street-corner firefight, the better. There are no simple solutions to drastically reduce America's gun violence. Much needs to be done on many fronts, from expanding mental-health access to addressing the adverse socioeconomic circumstances that engender street crime and day-to-day violence in the first place. Nevertheless, much will be said about gun control in coming days. Many proposals will be offered, and realistically nothing will be accomplished at least in the short term. As political circumstances change, however, some good may be able to be done. When that happens, insofar as we want to do anything about the types of guns people can buy, we should aim for an across-the-board semiautomatic firearms ban. Adam Gaffney is an instructor in medicine at Harvard Medical School and a pulmonary and critical care physician at the Cambridge Health Alliance who serves on the board of directors of Physicians for a National Health Program. He wrote this for the Washington Post. CEDAR RAPIDS Legislation stepping up enforcement and increasing penalties for criminals and con artists who prey on Americas senior citizens is headed to President Donald Trumps desk and Sen. Chuck Grassley is hoping he signs it as soon as possible. Citing the case of a Cedar Rapids couple who spent more than $40,000 buying nutrition-related supplements of questionable value, Grassley said the legislation would increase penalties and improve coordination at the Justice Department and Federal Trade Commission. Exploiting and defrauding seniors is cowardly, and these crimes should be addressed as the reprehensible acts they are, the 84-year-old Grassley said. Legislation the Senate Judiciary Committee chairman sponsored with Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., will send a clear signal from Congress that combating elder abuse and exploitation should be a top priority for law enforcement. The Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act of 2017 passed the House of Representatives by voice vote earlier this week. It passed the Senate by voice vote in early August. One of the challenges of protecting seniors from scams is that technology changes quickly and criminals are constantly coming up with new scams, Grassley said. None of us are completely immune. Six million seniors fall victim to abuse and exploitation each year, Grassley said. In 2016, Karl and the late Marlene Sibert of Cedar Rapids were among that number. They spent about $44,000 on nutritional supplements over 20 months for health and nutrition-related products when her mother was hospitalized. When their daughter, Karla Sibert of Palo, became aware of the spending, she contacted the Iowa Office of Attorney Generals Consumer Protection Division at an Iowa Fraud Fighters and filed a formal complaint. Its investigation discovered telemarketers handwritten notes indicating Siberts mother had memory issues and her father had dementia, according to Attorney General Tom Miller. In the Siberts case, the telemarketer complied with his offices demand to repay every dime the couple had spent on the supplements. But similar problems continue, Miller said Wednesday. They have new tricks, new schemes, but the principles remain the same, often including repeat victimization, Miller said. Although he sees the new federal law as helpful, Miller said his office relies on state law to combat elder exploitation. Grassley called those who exploit seniors cowardly and said those crimes should be prosecuted as the reprehensible acts they are. Although elder exploitation may not be a prominent or popular issue, Grassley said its an important kitchen table issues for Americas seniors, families and caregivers. Our legislation will enhance our nations response to these crimes and help families across America by equipping law enforcement, seniors and caregivers with additional training and tools to better deter crimes and hold perpetrators accountable. Sgt. Mike Pershall of the Modesto Police Department with K-9 Ike. (Photo: Modesto Police Canine Association) Modesto, CA, officials decided Tuesday that Ike a 3-year-old police dog can retire and live out his days with the family of his former handler, Sgt. Mike Pershall, who was killed in August by a suspected drunken driver. The City Council voted 7-0 to sell Ike to the Pershall family for $1. Ike is a Belgian Malinois and cost the Police Department $9,137, the Sacramento Bee reports. Police Chief Galen Carroll asked the council essentially to give Ike to the Pershall family. He said in an interview last week that this might not be popular with everyone Ike is 3 years old and most K9s work until they are 8 or sometimes even 10 but it was the right thing to do. It is not a good deal for the Police Department to lose the dog, Carroll said last week. But there is also the human factor of, you have a wife and two kids who just lost their dad, and thats the family dog. What is the right thing to do? Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print On Tuesday, the Supreme Court of the United States listened to oral arguments in Gill v. Whitford, the gerrymandering case. The highlight of was, without doubt, Ruth Bader-Ginsburgs exchange with Trumps only win since he took office, Justice Gorsuch. Ruth Bader-Ginsburg took him down a peg in his effort to emulate Trumpian level arrogance. From the transcript JUSTICE GORSUCH: Maybe we can just for a second talk about the arcane matter of the Constitution. And where exactly do we get the authority to revise state legislative lines? When the Constitution authorizes the federal government to step in on state legislative matters, its pretty clearif you look at the Fifteenth Amendment, you look at the Nineteenth Amendment, the Twenty-sixth Amendment, and even the Fourteenth Amendment, Section 2, says Congress has the power, when state legislators dont provide the right to vote equally, to dilute congressional representation. Arent those all textual indications in the Constitution itself that maybe we ought to be cautious about stepping in here? JUSTICE GINSBURG: Where did one-person/one-vote come from? The importance of this case cant be emphasized enough since it could stop partisan gerrymandering, limit restrictions only to the most severe cases, or maintain the status quo. This case stands out for another reason as well. Typically, oral arguments dont really make much difference to the final disposition of the case. But this is one of those rare moments when oral arguments may have determined the cases outcome. This was noted by Edward Foley, an expert on election law at Ohio State University Moritz School of Law observed. The fact is that both parties use gerrymandering to their advantage, so in reality, this isnt and shouldnt be a partisan issue. But because the resulting representation is increasingly distorted as a result of increased gerrymandering, the very existence of democracy is at stake. This case wound its way through the judicial process for that past two years. This was after Democrats won 51% of the vote Republicans won 48 % in Wisconsins 2012 election. Under the voodoo math of gerrymandering, Republicans won 60% of the state legislature. It got worse in 2014. Republicans won 63 of 99 seats with just 52% of the vote. Several court observers concurred that the Justices agreed gerrymandering is unconstitutional reasonably early during the argument. The problem is if the court should police the practice and if so is there a workable standard the court can apply? Amy Howe of SCOTUS Blog (my italics) A federal court struck down the plan last year, agreeing with the plaintiffs that it violated the Constitution because it was the product of partisan gerrymandering that is, the practice of purposely drawing district lines to favor one party and put another at a disadvantage. After roughly an hour of oral argument this morning, the justices seemed to agree that partisan gerrymandering is, as Justice Samuel Alito acknowledged, distasteful. But there was no apparent agreement about whether courts could or should get involved in policing the practice. Adam Liptak and Michael Scherer of the New York Times (my italics) There was something like consensus among the justices that voting maps drawn by politicians to give advantage to their parties are an unattractive feature of American democracy. But the justices appeared split about whether the court could find a standard for determining when the practice was unconstitutional. Michael Joseph Stern of Slate (my italics) And, most importantly, has Justice Anthony Kennedy finally settled on a test to determine when political gerrymanders cross a constitutional line? What was apparent, however, is that a majority of the Supreme Court is disgusted by hyperpartisan redistricting and eager to do something about it. In short, the court agrees that partisan gerrymandering is unconstitutional The problem is in finding a solution that the Justices can agree on and this was the point where the consensus among court observers also ended. Stern concluded the Court would allow gerrymandering to stand, while Howe, Liptak, and Scherer opined that gerrymandering could very well be in its dying days. Gleening the transcript, its fairly clear that this will be a 5-4 ruling with Justice Kennedy casting the deciding vote. The big question is whether Justice Kennedy believes there is manageable standard for the court to intervene. According to Perry Grossman,who co-wrote an amicus brief in favor of ending partisan gerrymandering and Dahlia Lithwick of Slate, Kennedy already told us what hes looking for in his dissenting opinion in another case, Vieth v. Jubelirer The Kennedy criteria are as follows: 1. A recognition that partisan gerrymandering is unconstitutional because it violates the first amendment vs. the fourteenth amendment. Simply put; Kennedy is arguing that gerrymandering amounts to the government rewards or punishes people for having a particular political viewpoint which makes it a first amendment issue. The fourteenth amendment is about discrimination against members of a protected class (race, religion, ethnicity, gender) 2. A workable standard would not ask courts to guarantee a political party would win the number of seats proportionate to the votes it received. Coupled with Kennedys questioning about gerrymandering and the first amendment issue, Lithwhick and Grossmans analysis, this bodes very badly for partisan gerrymandering. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print A federal judge smacked down a new effort by the Trump administration to roll back an Obama-era rule aimed at restricting harmful methane emissions from oil and gas production on federal lands, according to a new report on Wednesday. The news comes as Donald Trumps Interior Department was in the process of delaying the regulation until 2019, calling it too burdensome to the industry. More from the report via The Washington Post: The order by a judge in San Francisco came as the Interior Department moved to delay the rule until 2019, saying it was too burdensome to industry. The action followed an earlier effort by Interior to postpone part of the rule set to take effect next year. U.S. Magistrate Judge Elizabeth Laporte of the Northern District of California said Interior had failed to give a reasoned explanation for the changes and had not offered details why an earlier analysis by the Obama administration was faulty. She ordered the entire rule reinstated immediately. As the U.S. Magistrate Judge Laporte noted in her ruling, the reason she called for the Obama-era rule to be reinstated right away is that the Trump administration cannot give a reasoned explanation as to why its flawed. In a way, that cuts to the heart of everything this administration has done so far when it comes to environmental policy. After all, there is no reasonable explanation for anything this president has done when it comes to the environment, whether its allowing toxic sludge to be dumped in our waterways or pulling out of the historic Paris climate accord. While the previous administration let science and data drive its climate agenda, the Trump administration has had one goal in mind: destroying former President Obamas environmental legacy. On Wednesday, one federal judge reminded Donald Trump that hating Barack Obama is not a good enough reason to ignore key environmental protections. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print While most Republicans have insisted that now is not the time to discuss legislative action on gun violence, one GOP congressman is planning to propose a bill that would limit at least one firearm accessory. According to The Hill, GOP Rep. Carlos Curbelo plans to unveil bipartisan legislation that would restrict deadly bump stocks, a device that essentially turns a semi-automatic gun into a fully automatic weapon. As the reported noted, Curbelo joins a growing number of Republicans who have expressed support for prohibiting the devices. Another high profile Republican Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin also expressed support for such a ban on Wednesday, according to The Hill. The fact that fully-automatic weapons are already illegal and this makes another weapon capable [of automatic fire], I would be supportive of that, Johnson said of the proposal, according to the report. Republican Rep. Bill Flores also told The Hill that he believes bump stocks should be banned. Theres no reason for a typical gun owner to own anything that converts a semi-automatic to something that behaves like an automatic, he said. The news comes after a handful of Democrats have already put forward similar legislation, including Sen. Diane Feinstein who is leading the post-Vegas charge in the U.S. Senate. While its good news that lawmakers on both sides of the aisle seem to have found some gun-related legislation they can agree on, its not even close to enough. Congress should act quickly to push legislation to expand background checks to include gun shows and internet sales and to ban yes, ban weapons of war meant solely to kill the most people in the least amount of time. This is not about the Second Amendment. Its not about hurting law abiding citizens. Its not about taking away anybodys rights. Its about basic common sense. If we truly care about protecting law-abiding Americans, then we will come together right now and reform our gun laws so that more of those law-abiding citizens arent gunned down at a school or a church or concert. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print President Trump has claimed multiple times that the NBC News story about Rex Tillerson calling him a moron is fake. NBC and MSNBC have responded by basically telling the president to shove it. Trump has spent his day, not paying attention to Las Vegas shooting victims, but ranting about a story that NBC News ran. Trump even demanded an apology to America. MSNBC told Trump on the air that they would not be apologizing to him or America, and to drive the point home Ali Velshi of MSNBC tweeted: So @realDonaldTrump reiterated his claim that @NBCNews reports on Tillerson is false. NBC stands by its reporting. Tillerson DID NOT refute Ali Velshi (@AliVelshi) October 4, 2017 Trump isnt getting his apology for journalists reporting the news. The President doesnt understand the role of the free press. He has shown himself to be an enemy of press freedom, and all journalists and organizations should have the courage to stand up to Trumps bullying. Donald Trumps constant war with the press is intentional. The White House believes that Trump needs an opponent to run against, and they think that a war with the press is a winning strategy. On a day that is supposed to be about the victims of the Las Vegas shooting, Trump is spending the day unhinged and tantruming at NBC News. The IRS award of a $7.25 million no-bid contract to Equifax after a hack of the credit reporting and data services company that exposed personal information on as many as 145 million Americans just doesnt add up, according to Sen. Chuck Grassley. Given recent Equifax breach the IRS needs 2make clear &demonstrate that taxpayer information is safe if doing biz w Equifax, the Iowa Republican wrote Wednesday on Twitter. Not only was I surprised, but I was sitting with a senator in Judiciary (Committee) today that was told that by another senator and he said, You got to be kidding, Grassley said during his weekly call with Iowa reporters. The IRS termed the contract a sole source order, meaning Equifax is the only company able to provide the service. It was awarded on the final day of the federal fiscal year to prevent a lapse in identity checks while the agency resolves a dispute over a separate contract. According to the contract, Equifax will verify taxpayer identity and assist in ongoing taxpayer verification and validations. Given Equifaxs recent track record, Grassley said he and other members of Congress are concerned. In September, Equifax reported a cybersecurity breach that potentially compromised personal information, including Social Security numbers, of more than 145 million Americans. Equifax is one of three major credit reporting bureaus and its data is used to determine credit ratings for mortgages, car loans, credit cards and other financial instruments. In expressing his concern, Grassley cited an IRS code section guaranteeing the privacy of sensitive information taxpayers submit. Yeah, we ought to be more concerned about it, Grassley said. noting the cybersecurity breach and the potential for a similar hack of IRS data are both concerns. Its wrong either way, he said. Both Republicans and Democrats have voiced similar concerns. One House member initially thought the report was from The Onion, a parody news site. Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, chairman of the Finance Committee that Grassley serves on, expressed concern that the IRS lacks the cybersecurity needed to safeguard taxpayer information. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print MOSCOW (Reuters) President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that a military strike against North Korea designed to destroy its nuclear and missile program might not succeed because Pyongyang could have hidden military facilities that nobody knows about. Russia is strongly opposed to the idea of such a strike, an idea U.S. President Donald Trump has floated, favoring a mixture of diplomacy and economic incentives instead. But Putin, speaking at an energy forum in Moscow, mused on the subject on Wednesday, making it clear he had serious doubts about the military efficacy of such a move, as well as other political and moral concerns. Can a global strike against North Korea be launched to disarm it? Yes. Will it achieve its aim? We dont know. Who knows what they have there and where. Nobody knows with 100 percent certainty as its a closed country. Putin said Russia had more reason than most to be concerned by Pyongyangs missile program, saying that North Koreas nuclear testing range was located just 200 kilometers (124.27 miles) from the Russian border. The Russian leader also reiterated his call for diplomacy to be allowed to run its course and for all sides to dial down the bellicose rhetoric. He also said he thought Trump was listening to Russias views on the crisis. More sanctions were the road to nowhere, Putin told the same forum, saying around 40,000 North Korean citizens were currently working in Russia. Such workers are known to regularly send back part of their wages to the North Korean authorities. (Reporting by Jack Stubbs/Katya Golubkova/Vladimir Soldatkin/Dasha Korsunskaya/Olesya Astakhova; Writing by Andrew Osborn; Editing by Jack Stubbs) Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print Trump couldnt hold it together in Las Vegas, as he went off on a rant about NBC News while he was meeting with first responders. Video: Transcript via The White House: Q Mr. President, any response to Rex Tillersons comments THE PRESIDENT: Yeah. Im very honored by his comments. It was fake news. It was a totally phony story. Thank you very much. It was made up. It was made up by NBC. They just made it up. Thank you all. Thank you. Q Do you have confidence in him? THE PRESIDENT: Total confidence in Rex. I have total confidence. NBC News has responded by telling Trump to stick his claims of fake news where the sun doesnt shine. Of course, they put it in more professional terms by stating that they will stand by their reporting because Sec. Tillerson has not refuted their story. Trump couldnt possibly show less interest in being in Las Vegas than he has so far. Trump has looked completely tuned out, but he has mentioned the NBC News story three times already today. The President is more about his media coverage than leading the nation after the worst mass shooting in US history. Trump is obsessed with the NBC News story, and the claim that he has total confidence in Tillerson means that the Secretary of State will probably be gone in a Friday news dump to come. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print Trump was unable to give any off the cuff remarks that showed empathy or emotion for the victims of the Las Vegas shooting. Instead, Trump stood on stage and read from a script in the most wooden fashion. Video: After this performance, America needs to be asking what is wrong with this man? The White House couldnt trust Donald Trump to deliver remarks to police and victims of the Las Vegas shooting, so they chained him to a script. A lot of presidents read prepared remarks, but the difference with Trump is his inability to show emotion, empathy, or real feelings about what he is reading. Obama could be trusted speak in an appropriate way in these situations. George W. Bush might mangle some words, but his tone was never inappropriate. Donald Trump cant be the leader of the country in a time of crisis because he is an empty sociopath who feels nothing. Trump cant express real sadness or relate to the people in Las Vegas because he is an empty shell of a human being. America needs a president. Instead, the country has a psycho who has to constantly read from a script with lacking the ability to show any emotion. After watching Trumps flat wooden delivery, it is obvious that there is no humanity inside of this president. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print Kellyanne Conways days in the White House could be numbered as House Oversight Committee ranking member Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD) has launched an investigation into her private jet travel with Tom Price. Here is the letter that Cummings sent to Conway: No one seems to know what Kellyanne Conways job is in the White House. People inside the White House have been asking for months what Conway does when she isnt on television supporting Trump. As Vanity Fair reported: Even in the White House, there has been a growing lack of clarity. There is some confusion about what she does day to day, one White House aide told me. She has an agenda of the issues she wants to work on and is very passionate about and plans to help out with. But its less clear how shes working on them on a daily basis. Conways job appears to be to babysit Trump and act as his personal cheerleader. Much like everyone else in this administration, she doesnt appear to be accomplishing anything, and now, her lavish private jet travel has drawn Congressional oversight. Rep. Cummings is putting the heat on Conway, who has not said a word about the flights, to pay back the taxpayers. If Kellyanne Conway becomes a distraction, she will find herself booted from the White House. She doesnt need to be a White House senior adviser to go on cable news and lie for Trump. Conways days in the White House could be numbered, as Democrats arent backing off of the Trump administrations waste of taxpayer money on private flights. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print Trumps version of America first is destroying our international reputation. As always, Trumps tweets are a factor, but when Niki Haley voted no on a UN resolution to ban the death penalty for apostasy, adultery, blasphemy and same sex relations, she was exposed to be as incompetent as her boss. Worse, Haley told the world we arent the champions of human rights we used to be. Needless to say there was a major backlash from a variety of people. As reported by Newsweek, Human Rights Campaign condemned Haleys vote saying in a statement: Ambassador Haley has failed the LGBTQ community by not standing up against the barbaric use of the death penalty to punish individuals in same-sex relationships. Our former Ambassador to the UN, Susan Rice tweeted: Shame on US! I was proud to lead U.S. efforts at UN to protect LGBTQ people, back in the day when America stood for human rights for all of us. Shame on US! I was proud to lead U.S. efforts at UN to protect LGBTQ people, back in the day when America stood for human rights for all https://t.co/3Y403bP7Wh Susan Rice (@AmbassadorRice) October 3, 2017 Worse than the vote itself, was the walk-back beginning with Haleys attempt to clarify the vote via twitter, amid a substantial backlash. Fact: There was NO vote by USUN that supported the death penalty for gay people. We have always fought for justice for the LGBT community. Nikki Haley (@nikkihaley) October 4, 2017 Haley tried to explain that the U.S. doesnt really back the death penalty for gay people and her vote was really no different previous U.S. votes. From a policy perspective, shes right about the U.S.s votes on anti-death-penalty resolutions. But this also makes a statement about the company we keep. The countries the U.S. joined in that vote are hardly models of human rights. As the Intercept pointed out: Twelve other countries joined the United States in voting against the resolution, including Egypt, which executes political dissidents, Ethiopia, which is considering the death penalty for same-sex activity, and Saudi Arabia, which, in 2015, beheaded more people than the Islamic State . The walk-back went from bad to worse when State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert added that the U.S. unequivocally condemns applying the death penalty to homosexuality, adultery, and religious offenses. By voting no on the resolution, the fact is the United States did the very opposite of what Nauert said is our policy. Granted, this was language that was included in a resolution that was designed to ban the death penalty over-all and the United States has never voted to condemn the death penalty. Still there were other better options than voting in opposition to the resolution. Haley could have abstained but that would have been too establishment for Mr. Trump. Still, it is what the Obama Administration did in 2014, on a motion that condemned the death penalty, but didnt highlight LGBT rights. Of course, that would mean doing something the same way as Obama did, but this way, like it or not, the vote amounted to a reversal of U.S. policy condemning application of the death penalty for homosexuality, adultery and religious offenses. Speaking of optics, Haley cast votes for two failed amendments proposed by Russia. The crux of Russias failed amendments stated the death penalty is not necessarily a human rights violation and it is not a form of torture, but could lead to it in some cases. Not the smartest thing to do with multiple investigations of the Trump campaign and administrations relationship with Russia. Historically, the United States and Russia were arch enemies on human rights issues, as reflected in a Reuters article published roughly two weeks before the 2012 presidential election. Russia accused the United States on Monday of double standards on human rights, criticizing its failure to close Guantanamo Bay prison and its use of the death penalty while the U.S. Congress considers a law which could punish Moscow for alleged abuses. Incidentally, then Republican candidate Mitt Romney described Russia as Washingtons number one geopolitical foe, while Moscow has chafed under recent U.S. allegations that it harbors human rights abusers. Moreover, according to Reuters, Russia has Trumps ear on North Korea. In other words, Russia has more influence over our foreign policy than Secretary of State Rex Tillerson does. Again, not the smartest thing to do if youre trying to play down suggestions that Russia compromised U.S. sovereignty in the 2016 presidential. .The fact is, when it comes to international affairs, the Trump administration is as inept as it is on domestic policy. For all Trumps criticism of President Obama as leading from behind Trump isnt leading at all. Haleys vote in one sense wasnt a radical departure from US policy on the death penalty. But in this case, abstention would have shown more leadership. By voting the way she did, Haley told the world that we are not the champion of human rights we used to be.She also reminded Americans we have good reason to want answers about Trumps relationship with Russia especially when it results in departure from our policies. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print President Trump started his morning off by declaring NBC news report fake news, attacking them for not getting verification from him, as if the news doesnt exist unless Trump says it does. Rex Tillerson never threatened to resign. This is Fake News put out by @NBCNews. Low news and reporting standards. No verification from me. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 5, 2017 The President is angry that NBC reported that his Sec. of State Rex Tillerson called him a moron and wanted to resign. Tillerson refused to address the moron quote, but tried to soften the resignation blow by saying he wasnt considering it. In the wake of the NBC report, Buzzfeed reported that although Tillerson was very frustrated with Trump, a U.S. official said he would likely stay in his position due to his agreement with Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin. Tillerson, Mattis, and Mnuchin made a suicide pact in which all three members of President Trumps Cabinet would leave if one of them becomes a target of the president. Tillerson was reportedly driven to consider resignation over the Presidents inappropriate speech to the Boy Scouts of America, which Tillerson used to helm, and foreign policy disputes with regarding Qatar and Iran. The President expects news organizations to run reports by him for verification? Thats not how the news works. The news is the news even if Trump doesnt agree with it or like it. But even worse, Trump has established that his word is worthless. Trump claims he sees things that never happened, he makes up attendance numbers to his own events, he peddles conspiracies and he is currently denying the fact that Russia interfered with the 2016 election to help him. The President literally wants news organizations to get his verification before they print the news. This is authoritarian and not acceptable for the president of a democracy. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print By Daniel Wiessner and Sarah N. Lynch (Reuters) The U.S. Department of Justice has reversed course on whether federal law banning sex discrimination in the workplace provides protections for transgender employees, saying in a memo that it does not. The memo sent to U.S. Attorneys offices on Wednesday by Attorney General Jeff Sessions says Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 only prohibits discrimination on the basis of a workers biological sex, and not their gender identity. Sessions rescinded a Justice Department memo from 2014 that said Title VII does protect transgender people, a position also taken by several federal appeals courts in recent years. It was the Trump administrations latest move to roll back Obama administration policies on LGBT issues. In August, President Donald Trump signed a memo directing the U.S. military not to accept transgender men and women as recruits, reversing a policy that allowed transgender people to serve openly. And last month, the Justice Department appeared before a federal appeals court in Manhattan to argue that Title VII does not provide protections to gay and lesbian workers. The Democratic National Committee criticized Wednesdays memo in a statement, and urged Congress to pass a law explicitly protecting LGBT workers from discrimination. Department of Justice spokesman Devin OMalley said in a statement on Thursday that the government could not expand the law beyond what Congress had intended. Unfortunately, the last administration abandoned that fundamental principle, which necessitated todays action, he said. But Sharon McGowan of LGBT group Lambda Legal, who worked at the Justice Department during the Obama administration, said the memo blatantly ignores a growing body of court decisions that said discrimination against transgender people is a type of sex bias. We are confident that the courts will see this flip in position for what it is an anti-LGBT political pronouncement that finds no support in the law, she said. All three federal appeals courts to consider the issue over the last two decades have said discrimination against transgender workers is unlawful. Most recently, an appeals court in Atlanta in 2011 said the Georgia state legislature unlawfully fired a transgender woman after she told her supervisor she planned to transition from male to female. (Reporting by Daniel Wiessner in Albany, New York and Sarah N. Lynch in Washington; Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi and Bernadette Baum) Hungary will adopt the euro as late as possible, but it eventually will - Csanyi Hungary may adopt the euro sooner than Prime Minister Viktor Orban's government is willing to admit, as Europes renewed integration drive will pull even countries reluctant to join into the common currency, Bloomberg cited the chief of the countrys largest lender on Thursday. Leaders in Hungary, Poland, Romania and the Czech Republic - the four biggest economies in the European Unions eastern wing - have refused to set target dates for adoption despite largely meeting accession criteria and being obliged to swap their currencies. While countries like Hungary will not rush it, they also will not want to be left out from deeper integration , said Sandor Csanyi, Hungarys richest man and Chief Executive Officer of its largest lender OTP Bank. At the end of the day, Hungary will join the euro zone and well go together with those pushing for deeper integration. But Im sure well enter at the latest stage possible , Csanyi said in an interview last week in Budapest.That may not be far off, Bloomberg said, reminding that European officials started a debate over closer cooperation last week, and French President Emmanuel Macron has said the discussions should include a common budget and single finance minister for the euro area.Thats nudged some eastern EU members into action. Croatia, which joined four years ago, is aiming to enter the exchange-rate mechanism, i.e. the anteroom for euro adoption, by 2020 and officially join the euro a couple of years later," Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said last week. Bulgaria is also pushing for entry. Five of the EUs 11 ex-communist members - Slovenia, Slovakia, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania - have entered the currency area.Hungarian Economy Minister Mihaly Varga said last July the country could adopt the euro by the end of the decade if it made progress closing the living-standard gap with western Europe.A few days later, though, he backed away from that stance and said the country had to close in on the euro-area average, from about two-thirds of that level now.Euro adoption will be timely once Hungarys economic development nears the euro area average. Otherwise the country could lose out with accession just like some of the Mediterranean countries did," the ministry replied to Bloombergs e-mailed questions on Wednesday.Csanyi also said concerns over sovereignty would fall to the wayside if euro area countries push on with integration, the only viable way ahead for the EU. No country will be forced to give up 100 percent of its sovereignty. Charleston, SC (29403) Today Rain and scattered thunderstorms in the afternoon. High 72F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%.. Tonight Scattered thunderstorms during the evening, then cloudy skies overnight. Low around 55F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%. CEDAR RAPIDS As the demand for naloxone, a countermeasure to opioid-related overdoses that health officials say claimed 180 lives in Iowa last year, is increasing, the cost will drop as the result of an agreement the Iowa Attorney Generals Office reached with a drugmaker. The deal makes public agencies law enforcement, emergency medical services and hospitals eligible for a $6-per-dose rebate on naloxone purchases, Attorney General Tom Miller told a news conference Wednesday at the Cedar Rapids Fire Department Central Station. Quite literally, naloxone may be someones only lifeline if they overdosed on prescription painkillers or heroin, Miller said. Naloxone revives a person experiencing an opioid overdose by quickly stopping and reversing its effects. The two-year agreement with Amphastar Pharmaceuticals, a California drug manufacturer that supplies more than half of the naloxone dosages administered by Iowa first responders, makes the rebate available regardless of where the naloxone is bought. The agreement came in response to the growing number of opioid-related overdoses and the cost that comes with administering naloxone. One of the situations we see as there is more demand for a drug prices sometimes tend to skyrocket, Miller said. While were fortunate to have naloxone and its so effective, we must also realize that making it available impacts budgets that fund Iowas first responders and public health care providers. The regular price for a dosage of naloxone runs from $23 to $48, Miller found. Cedar Rapids Fire Department Training Chief Andy Olesen said many of the first responders in the area buy naloxone through Mercy Medical Center to get the best possible price. Miller said the rebate agreement will provide some relief to public agencies that are pushed for public resources in so many ways. We also think it may be an indirect way to restrain increases in the future. Negotiations have not been successful with all pharmaceutical companies, but Miller is continuing his efforts. There are more than 900 EMS providers in Iowa. About 800 doses of naloxone have been administered across the state this year, according to data provided to Millers office. Speakers at Millers news conference offered various numbers, but agreed naloxone use is increasing. In Cedar Rapids, first responders administered 78 naloxone doses between March 1 and Oct. 1, according to Amy Kunkle, the departments EMS program director. The regional EMS provider for Cedar Rapids and surrounding communities, Area Ambulance Service, reported administering naloxone to 102 people in 2016. In Scott County, Linda Frederiksen of MEDIC EMS said administration of naloxone has gone from occasional to daily. So far, 450 doses have been administered this year and the county is on track to hit 600 before years end. Her company alone has administered 306 doses to 215 people this year, she said. Those numbers highlight a trend emergency medical service providers are reporting: the need for more than one dose of naloxone to treat someone who is overdosing. Thats increasingly the case with people who use illicit opioids, which often are smuggled into this country, according to Dale Woolery of the Governors Office of Drug Control Policy. Some agencies have doubled and tripled the number of naloxone injectors they carry, he said. Nationally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 33,091 people died of an opioid overdose in 2015, or about 91 people per day. Emergency rooms treated more than 1,000 people per day for misusing prescription opioids. Data provided to Millers office showed that several of the Iowas larger EMS agencies report administering from dozens to hundreds of naloxone doses so far this year and last year: Davenport MEDIC EMS 317 though Sept. 25; 319 in 2016 Des Moines Fire Department EMS 180 through Sept. 1; 191 in 2016 Dubuque EMS 32 through mid-September; 57 in 2016 Council Bluffs EMS 41 through Sept 21; 51 in 2016 West Des Moines EMS 34 through Sept. 21; 48 in 2016 Sioux City Siouxland Paramedics 70 through Sept. 22; 28 in 2016 Mason City EMS 23 through Aug. 31; 17 in 2016 A state law passed last year eased restrictions on the opioid antidote, enabling adults at risk of opioid-related overdose and their family and friends to purchase the drug from a pharmacy without a prescription. Last month, Miller announced Iowa is part of a multistate investigation that seeks to determine whether opioid manufacturers and distributors engaged in unlawful practices in the marketing, sale and distribution of opioids. A new study says half the savings in Iowa from the Republican tax plan outlined last week would go to the richest 1 percent at first and rise over time, while a chunk of people in the state would pay more in taxes. The study, by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, said that the richest households in Iowa, those with annual incomes of about $440,000 and up, would save $50,050 on average in 2018 and see an increase of 4.3 percent in their incomes. The average middle-income household, meaning those making between $42,000 and $64,000, would save $340 on average, increasing their incomes by 0.6 percent, the study said. "What were seeing is massive tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires and mystery meat for the middle class," said Seth Hanlon, an economic policy adviser in the Obama administration official and now a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress. Hanlon and several others critical of the tax plan took part in a conference call Wednesday aimed at publicizing estimates of how the plan would affect people in Iowa. The tax plan, a wide-ranging effort of the Trump administration and GOP leaders in Congress, was released a week ago. It would reduce the corporate tax rate, change the way small businesses pay taxes, cut the number of individual income tax brackets from seven to three and double the standard deduction while eliminating other exemptions. It also would end the estate tax. Proponents say the plan would deliver tax cuts to people across the income spectrum and it would, in many cases, allow people to file their taxes on a postcard. Since the plan's release, a handful of analysts have tried to determine its impact on income groups. The institute's estimates are just the latest. In addition to saying most of the benefits would go to upper income people, the study estimated that 12 percent of Iowa households would pay higher taxes in 2018. A fifth of middle income households would face higher taxes, the report said. The change would mostly come because of revisions the rules for standard deductions and exemptions, the report said. "Families who itemize their deductions (rather than claiming the standard deduction) may pay higher taxes because the framework repeals most itemized deductions, including the deduction for state and local taxes," the report said. The report comes as the Senate Budget Committee was taking up its 2018 budget resolution. Organizers of the conference call noted that Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, is a member of the panel. Many of the details of the GOP tax plan still are missing, so analysts have had to make assumptions about how those would be filled in by Congress. Still, that some American might actually pay more taxes is likely to give lawmakers pause. On a conference call Wednesday, Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, said, "I don't want taxes to be raised on the middle class." However, he conceded, in some circumstances, "I suppose there could be" somebody with a lower income who could see an increase because of changes to deductions and exemptions. Grassley, though, suggested mostly that would be confined to wealthier tax payers. "You've got to look at the overall goal of what we're trying to accomplish to make taxation much fairer, simpler -- as a postcard would indicate -- and to make our economy more competitive," he added. A meeting Wednesday evening to discuss concerns and answer questions was billed as a joint effort between Rochester Public Schools and the Rochester Police Department, but Superintendent Michael Munoz opened the event by telling the crowd there is "very little the district can say." The panel consisted only of members of law enforcement, something that didn't go unnoticed by many in attendance. "The fact that (the school district) had absolutely no one on the dais was pretty telling," one man said after the event. Several parents asked for information from the district during the meeting, but Munoz said data privacy laws prevented him from answering. So for the next hour, members of the special victims unit of the police department explained the process involved when investigating claims of physical or sexual abuse of children or vulnerable adults. ADVERTISEMENT The meeting was scheduled after it was revealed last week that a former employee with the district was charged with multiple felonies after he allegedly sexually assaulted a child at an elementary school. Nicholas Gerald Keller, 29, of Stewartville, faces one count of second-degree criminal sexual conduct and eight counts of possession of child pornography. The school board accepted his resignation at the May 16 school board meeting with the approval of the Human Resources Actions, which were in the consent agenda. The resignation was effective at the end of the day May 9 10 days before the police investigation began. The district's timeline, Munoz said Wednesday, was "the allegations were made in May, the staffer was placed on leave" and an investigation was initiated. Keller resigned, school officials reported the claim to the Minnesota Department of Education and the police department, then "reached out to the families who were named" in reports gathered, he said. Keller was employed for 10 years at Sunset Terrace Elementary School in the School Age Child Care program, as well as performing other duties in the classroom and playground. His first court appearance has been set for Nov. 30. ADVERTISEMENT The investigation was prompted by "some brave kids who said they weren't comfortable with what was going on, and wanted to protect the younger children," said Sgt. Jennifer Hodgman. Investigator Sherry Bush-Siem conducted 15 one-time, one-on-one interviews with children as part of the investigation. Done at the Child Advocacy Center , the interviews are video- and audio-recorded as a multi-disciplinary team watches from another area. Other professionals include someone from the medical community, the county attorney's office, victim services office , the mental health community and child protection services . They are able to communicate with Bush-Siem as she interviews the child, helping her tailor each interview to the child. She asks open-ended questions to allow the children "to provide their accurate description of what happened," she said. Each interview and its accompanying process can take up to three hours; no child is interviewed without a parent's knowledge, said Capt. John Sherwin. In addition to the 15 children, other interviews were conducted with people who may have had knowledge of any suspicious or criminal behavior, he said, generating "100 pages of written reports." The charges against Keller involve only one victim; any other accusations were unfounded, Sherwin said. ADVERTISEMENT Still, parents were unhappy with the way the information was shared. "Not hearing anything from our school district this is 10 days after the fact," one woman said of the meeting. Information should've been distributed at Sunset Terrace, she said, "so we felt supported." "I found out through the news," one man said, "and I was sick to my stomach until I talked to my daughter." Others questioned why the district hadn't contacted parents whose children were in contact with Keller in years past. "We don't have any evidence that this was going on for 10 years, or that there are hundreds of other victims," Sherwin said. "Something changed this year, because a number of people came forward. There was no word of it happening in the past." Munoz acknowledged that the district "learned a lot" through the incident. "This is not something we'd dealt with in the past." "I think it opened eyes to parents that you have to be proactive as a parent" about educating children about sexual assault and appropriate contact, said Julie Rowse, a parent of two Sunset Terrace students. "You can't expect the schools to be the ones to do this." Parent reaction Some in the audience asked why the district didn't notify parents in May that there was an ongoing investigation, just to make them aware, and then release more specific details once the charges were made. But Munoz said employee data privacy laws and the police department's investigation limited what the district could tell parents. Some were also concerned with how the district handled notifying parents and the community of the meeting with an online flier and posting on the district's website and Facebook page. The flier detailed a "Question & Answer session with the Rochester Police Department," and the event's time and place, but made no mention of sexual assault allegations against Keller. "Is this Question and Answer session on anything in particular or in general?" commented one school board member on the Facebook post, prompting the district to link to a since removed page on its website. That page said: "As you may know, the district has been made aware of a pending criminal matter involving a former RPS SACC and Sunset Terrance employee." Munoz said the district couldn't detail the specific charges, despite the specifics becoming public information once Keller was formally charged on Sept. 25. "We, from our guidance from our attorney and working with the police department, made statements we felt we were allowed to make," he said, noting the police department was running the event. "It was their event, here in our site." Still, some felt the district skirted the issue. "Not explaining the purpose of the meeting will probably dramatically limit the number of people who would otherwise very much want to participate from knowing that this offense has occurred," said Barbara Huning on the post, who recommended the district "get in front of the story by being transparent." Munoz said the district was responsive to requests for resources when parents asked for them, prompting the district to send those out to every parent at Sunset Terrace. "In the future, will we do a few things differently? Probably." Munoz said. "Unfortunately, we'll still have some of the same laws that restrict what we can and can't do." He said suggestions that came out of Wednesday's meeting were good, and noted the district "would have liked to do this sooner, but it didn't work out that way." Some left Wednesday night feeling more comfortable after learning about the investigation process. "I think they were well prepared, I do feel I know a lot more about what happened than I did before," said Emily Andersen, who has two children at Sunset Terrace. May 9: Family reported alleged abuse to law enforcement. July 19: Olmsted County Attorney's office received the investigative file. Sept. 7: The file was signed by Mark Ostrem, county attorney. Sept. 28: Charges were filed against Nicholas Keller. If you have questions or concerns about abuse, the victim services phone number is answered 24 hours a day: 507-289-0636. ST. PETER An Oronoco man has been convicted of two counts of fifth-degree criminal sexual conduct in a case that sparked protests on a college campus. Justin Scott Dewitz, 23, a 2012 graduate of Lourdes High School, pleaded guilty in July to the gross misdemeanor counts. In exchange, one felony count of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct was dismissed. He was sentenced last month in Nicollet County District Court to 365 days in jail, stayed for four years, and 40 hours of sentence to service work. In addition, Dewitz must register as a predatory offender, complete an adult sex offender treatment group program, complete a polygraph exam "to clarify sexual concerns and the discrepancy between your own report and the report of the victims" and write an apology letter to each of the victims, court documents say. The investigation began in January 2016, when two Gustavus Adolphus College students told authorities they'd met Dewitz then a freshman at the school at a party and allowed him to sleep in a dorm room with them Dec. 13, 2015. ADVERTISEMENT One of the women told police Dewitz sexually assaulted her while she was asleep, the criminal complaint says, and the other reported he had unwanted sexual contact with her. Hundreds of students protested the way the college handled the case; petitions were sent to Gustavus Adolphus College President Rebecca M. Bergman the first female president at the school demanding change in its tolerance of sexual assault cases. The petitions popped up in March 2016 amid comments on Facebook and Twitter calling out two Gustavus students one of them Dewitz accused of sexual assaults. The comments expressed anger that the two men still were enrolled at the college. Students were informed of the Dec. 13 incident nearly two months after the fact. More than 500 students signed petitions protesting the college's response to the incident. "Gustavus Adolphus College does not tolerate sexual misconduct of any kind," Bergman said at the time. She announced the formation of a task force to review the demands for harsher punishment for alleged sexual predators. Space is so tight at Folwell Elementary School that classes formerly reserved for art and music were converted into grade-level classrooms. As Folwell and others throughout the Rochester Public School district are feeling this squeeze, leaders are beginning to consider how to make space. Part of that strategy, for the time being, has included converting classrooms. Art and music now are taught off of a cart at as many as six other elementary schools throughout the district looking to free up classrooms for the influx of students. School district leaders say it's clear a new school will be needed in the next few years, but in the meantime, parents are worried about the impact on students. "We have more students, and we're growing, and we're probably going to continue to grow," school board member Gary Smith said. "The question is where do you put them?" That's the question the school board and administration are beginning to consider, especially after this year's first-day student count was beyond initial projections just shy of 17,980 students. The district is beyond capacity at eight schools, as defined by Minnesota Department of Education standards, and nearing capacity at four others. ADVERTISEMENT For Folwell parent Suzanne Brady, that's concerning. Her son is a fourth-grader at the school, and when an older child went through the school four years ago, it was a completely different place. "It's a lovely public school, but it's just getting crunched and crunched," she said. "At some point, that's going to have an effect on education." For Brady, in an environment that strongly focuses on testing, art and music are a valuable part of an education. But she thinks putting that on a cart diminishes its value for students. "What we're sort of saying to the kids is it's not so important," Brady said. "It's not just drawing, it's appreciation of art. And if you have a good art teacher, you get an appreciation of the world." Buying time The district has begun renovations that will "buy it some time," according to John Carlson, director of finance. Those began when RPS made moves to condense much of its early childhood programs, with the renovation of the former Burr Oak school, to open the 11-classroom Mighty Oaks Early Learning School. Now, in that same line of thinking, the district is working to double Hoover Elementary's footprint with a 35,000-square-foot addition that will bring 21 new classrooms. That addition will pull 16 existing pre-K classrooms scattered across the district's elementary schools into one location, freeing up additional space at each of those schools for other grade-level classrooms. ADVERTISEMENT Currently, administrators are looking at each building's capacity and enrollment trends, Carlson said, but are "very early in the process." Once the official student count is taken in October, they'll have a better idea of what's to come. That could mean boundary changes or even getting a little more creative with some school day scheduling changes. "We feel like we're tight in certain schools," Carlson said. "We need to do something." Still, planning can be tricky, Carlson said, because capacity can change depending on which grade level you're looking at. For example, kindergarten classrooms typically house about 21 students, while fifth-grade classrooms can handle about 31 students. "They are looking at every little option they can, not just spending money options," Carlson said. "How can we maximize what we've got and make sure it's efficient before paying for a new building?" Cost and location With three properties throughout the city, the district has options. The sites are large enough to build an elementary school on, Carlson said, which the state requires to be situated on 10 to 15 acres. Though the best option from a financial standpoint would be to go with a property RPS already owns, they're not limiting themselves, Carlson said, noting areas such as northwest and southwest Rochester where the city is expected to see growth are under consideration. It's likely any building would be financed through a request to taxpayers, but school leaders say the cost would be alleviated with Century and Riverside set to be paid off during the 2019-20 school year. At the same time, RPS is projecting budget deficits beginning in the 2020 school year, with a $69,000 deficit, according to the district's five-year financial forecast presented on Sept. 19. ADVERTISEMENT "We are very aware that no matter what option we do, we are going to incur more cost because we just have more students," said school board member Anne Becker, adding the district is looking at ways to minimize that, including some creative scheduling at a recent school board meeting. School board members and administrators were sure to note nothing has been decided yet. But whatever the decision, the community will play a large role in it. But in a fast-growing community, some are worried the district hasn't acted soon enough. "Every year seems to be getting worse," Dwight Ferguson, a parent of a fifth-grader at Elton Hills Elementary, said of the crowding. With all the investment projected to come from Destination Medical Center, in a city boasted as one of the best placed to live, Ferguson said, he'd like to see more of that reflected in the schools. "I'm thinking with DMC, if we're going to have this population boom, we can't build a school in three months," Ferguson said. "We've been listed as No.1 place to live; we have the best health care in the country, and our schools are lagging." WABASHA The Wabasha City Council took a step forward Tuesday toward a major expansion of the National Eagle Center. The council voted 6-1. with Jeff Sulla being the lone "no" vote, to enter into a development agreement with the Eagle Center to expand the facility to make room for a donated collection of eagle art the center received last summer. The Eagle Center expansion is part of a larger riverfront expansion planned for downtown Wabasha, said City Administrator Chad Springer. That project would include upgrades to Big Jo Alley, the road the runs beside the Eagle Center between Pembroke and Allegheny avenues, a commercial boat dock to accommodate paddlewheel boats, and improvements to the green space adjacent to the Eagle Center. The 19,000-square-foot expansion will move partially into that green space, but mostly into the buildings across the alley from the Eagle Center, said Rolf Thompson, executive director of the National Eagle Center. The remainder of the green space will be used to connect downtown Wabasha with the river and possibly for an amphitheater. The expansion to the Eagle Center is all about what Thompson calls the three E's. ADVERTISEMENT "Exhibits, education and eagles," he said. "We really need a 120-seat theater style auditorium. And more space for live eagles. Basically, we need to double the space for live eagle exhibits and care so we can Increase the number of birds under our care." The new space would include exhibit space to house the 20,000-piece collection of eagle art worth about $2 million donated by San Francisco collector Preston Cook. That collection is currently sitting in a warehouse awaiting the expansion, Thompson said. Springer said architectural plans for the expansion would be due by June 30, 2018, to be approved by the city and Eagle Center. If the deadlines are all met, construction on the expansion would begin around March 31, 2019, and last about two years. The development agreement would include a new 30-year lease on the city-owned property with the Eagle Center, which operates as a nonprofit organization. Funding for the project would include $500,000 from the Eagle Center, funding from the city, and, hopefully, $8.2 million in bonding funds from the state, Springer said. The total project is estimated at just under $20 million. Thompson said getting the development agreement done is the next step toward putting the package together to make the case for state bonding support. In other business, the city council heard from a port authority report on a pair of city properties the city plans to market. The properties, located at 128 and 142 Second St., could become retail, housing, parking or whatever the city can attract to the location, said Council Member John Friedmeyer, who also serves on the port authority board. "Part of that discussion, from my perspective, is to sell them," said Mayor Rollin Hall. "But not to just anyone. We'd recruit the type of business we need." ADVERTISEMENT Council Member Brian Wodele said parking might not be the best option for the location. Most business owners he has spoken to downtown, he said, are looking to attract more businesses to the area first and foremost. Finally, the city has set a public hearing for the assessments for the 2016 street project for the November council meeting on Nov. 7. The city plans to assess property owners a total of $278,778 for a variety of projects around the city. If confirmed for a national post, Iowas agriculture secretary said Thursday he would ensure crop insurance remains as a support for the countrys farmers. I read it as I wrote it. Crop insurance is the most important part of the farm safety net, Bill Northey said in opening remarks during a hearing on his nomination to serve in the U.S. Department of Agriculture. While our farm safety net has worked for many, many producers, I do also hear that there are producers who are left out. I am committed to this committee to work with you to make sure all producers have the risk management tools that they need, Northey added. The U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee held a hearing for just over an hour Thursday to vet Northeys nomination to serve as the USDAs Undersecretary for Farm Production and Conservation. The hearing also included Nebraska Department of Agriculture Director Greg Ibach, who has been nominated to a separate USDA position. Committee Chairman Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kansas, hailed Northey and Ibach as farmers with boots-on-the-ground experience. They know what weighs on the minds of farmers and ranchers, the challenges they face on daily basis, and the focus and drive they put into their lifes work, Roberts said. The committees ranking Democrat, Sen. Debbie Stabenow of Michigan, pushed Northey to expand access to crop insurance and prioritize land and water conservation practices. I know you personally understand that agriculture needs to be a part of the solution in addressing water quality issues, Stabenow said. If confirmed for this role, I urge you to continue to prioritize the protection of our land and our water. President Donald Trump officially selected Northey in September to serve in the USDA. The FPAC secretary would oversee three USDA agencies: the Farm Service Agency, the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Risk Management Agency. Programs under the role would include crop insurance, conservation, disaster assistance and producer lending services, Roberts said Thursday. Northey told committee members of conservation efforts in Iowa, including the states nutrient reduction strategy and planting of cover crops. The momentum is really growing. Do we have a long ways to go? Absolutely. We have lots more that needs to get done, but what Im excited about is the momentum, both in the interest of farmers and outside groups, Northey said. Northeys nomination still requires a vote by the Senate Agriculture Committee and then the full Senate. Were going to do that as expeditiously as we possibly can, Roberts said of his committees vote. Both of Iowas U.S. senators, Republicans Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst, are members of the Agriculture Committee. Should the Senate approve his nomination, Northey would be sworn in to the post and resign as Iowas Agriculture Secretary. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds would appoint Northeys replacement, who would serve the rest of his term. The state position is up for election in 2018. A spokeswoman for the governor said Thursday her office still is gathering resumes and did not have an update on possible successors. Northey, a Spirit Lake corn and soybean farmer, has served in multiple roles with state and national farm groups. A Republican, he is currently serving his third term as the states agriculture secretary and is a state co-chair of Reynolds 2018 gubernatorial campaign. I will be an advocate within the administration for the producers in the countryside, Northey said at Thursdays hearing. Northey, 58, graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in agricultural business and received a masters in business administration from Southwest Minnesota State University. He has three children with his wife, Cindy. Introducing Northey Thursday, Grassley hailed him for his leadership during an outbreak of avian flu in Iowa two years ago and his conservation work in the state. Perhaps his most important quality is his vision that he has shown leading the Iowa Department of Agriculture. As an example, Bill was focused on water quality issues in Iowa years before many farmers and press outlets became engaged, Grassley said. Grassleys grandson, state Rep. Pat Grassley, is among the names circulated as possible replacements for Northey. Two House Democrats have written a letter to Twitters Jack Dorsey, threatening increased regulations if Twitter fails to crack down on objectionable speech. Bridget Johnson reports at PJ Media: Two House lawmakers have asked the CEO of Twitter to take immediate action to identify and suspend Twitter accounts and automated boys [sic] that are being used to spread racist and violent behavior, stressing its incumbent for the social-media platform to combat the racial animus that is being spread there. Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.), the first African-American woman to serve in Congress from her home state, and Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.), former chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, sent the letter Tuesday to Twitter chief Jack Dorsey. The letter also referred to Russian accounts, about which a Twitter vice president recently met with Congressional staff. But its main focus was speech deemed racially offensive: It is also troubling to learn that Twitter has become a platform where people feel comfortable sharing racist ideologies, ultimately contributing to the type of violence that we witnessed in August 2017 at the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, the lawmakers wrote. *** They acknowledged Twitters power for good as a tool to galvanize social movements, but added that as a result of the far-reaching nature of Twitters technology, we have seen an effort to undermine our democracy, create or fan flames of racial divisions, and spread hate speech that can ultimately culminate into violence. No one I know is in favor of racism or racist speech. I spend very little time on Twitter, but the tweets I have seen that fan flames of racial divisions have nearly all been of the Black Lives Matter variety, and worse of the same sort. Some of those, we now know, came from fake Russian Twitter accounts that sought to amplify the Black Lives Matter message. But I dont suppose that is what the Congressmen are talking about. And hate speechgenerally defined, as best I can tell, as speech liberals dont likethat can ultimately culminate into [sic] violence is constitutionally protected, a fact that the letters authors either dont know or dont care about. We heard hate speech at the Democratic National Convention in 2016, and it may have ultimately culminated in James Hodgkinsons attempt to assassinate Republican Congressmen. Nevertheless, it was protected by the First Amendment. We are concerned that insufficient government oversight over your firm is inadvertently leading to deeper racial divisions and threats to our democracy, Cleaver and Watson Coleman added. If Twitter continues to prove unable or hesitant to grasp the seriousness of this threat and combat the racialized climate that is being stimulated on your platforms, we, as members of Congress, will be left with little option but to demand for [sic] increased regulations and government oversight of this industry to address these problems. Nice platform you have here. Shame if anything were to happen to it. This is the Washington protection racket: threaten unconstitutional increased regulations and government oversight in order to intimidate companies into complying with government demands. But then Twitter, like most companies, is probably led by liberals who are happy to go along with demands to rid their platform of nonconforming speech. Twitter likely will find ways to crack down on speech liberals dont like, even though the two representatives of the minority party who issued the threat have zero ability to enact legislation. Is that assessment too cynical? I sincerely hope so, but I doubt that it is. Earlier this week, former HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius testified in the corruption trial of former Senator Robert Menendez. According to Sebelius, she was pulled into an unusual meeting regarding an $8.9 million billing dispute between Menendezs friend and benefactor, Dr. Salomon Melgen, and Medicare. The meeting occurred in the office of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, with Reid present. Though Dr. Melgens name apparently wasnt mentioned during the meeting, Menendez tried to persuade Sebelius to change the applicable billing policy. Melgen apparently was the only provider demanding a change in this policy and involved in a payment dispute over it. Moreover, Sebelius knew he was a crony of Menendez. Thats why, according to her testimony, she avoided Menendez. Thus, Sebelius understood what the New Jersey Senator wanted, and why. Sebelius testified that this sort of dispute was not the kind of thing she became involved in. Sebelius knew that Menendez wanted such a meeting, but she had avoided granting him one. According to her testimony, Sebelius staff had advised her to ignore Menendezs calls and to let lower-level staff rebuff his requests for a meeting. Why, then, did the meeting occur? Sebelius testified that she granted it on the request of Harry Reid. According to Sebelius, Reids request was unprecedented. She testified: It was unusual for Senator Reid to ask me to come to a meeting involving another member of Congress. I think this was the only time in five and a half years that that occurred. Why did Reid push Sebelius to meet with Menendez? Was it just a courtesy to his fellow Senator? Conceivably. But remember, this was the only such request Reid made to Sebelius in five and a half years. Its unlikely that Menendez was the only Senator who wanted to meet with her during this period. Ed Morrissey offers a better explanation. Dr. Melgen, on whose behalf Menendez wanted to meet with the HHS Secretary, was a major donor not just to the New Jersey Senator, but to other Senate Democrats as well: Menendez wasnt Melgens only target for donations, even in the US Senate; he poured money into the coffers for Bill Nelson (FL), Amy Klobuchar (MN), Tom Harkin, and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee $30,400 in 2009. Even Kendrick Meek got a taste in Floridas 2010 special election that resulted in Marco Rubios election. Reid certainly knew where that money originated. . . . The prosecution reportedly has decided not to call Reid as a witness, presumably because it fears he will find a way to help his old crony. It will rely on Sebelius account of the meeting in question. Its not clear whether the defense will call Reid. If it does, both sets of lawyers will probably be on pins and needles, just as the ex-Majority Leaders staff used to be when this loose cannon spoke on the Senate floor. All indications are that President Trump next week will decline to certify Iran as in compliance with the nuclear agreement negotiated by former President Obama. So report Eliana Johnson of Politico and Adam Kredo of the Washington Free Beacon, among others. I dont see how Trump, in good faith, can certify that Iran is complying. Last week the head of the IAEA revealed that his organization cant verify that Iran is fully implementing the nuclear deal specifically Section T which prohibits certain activities related to the design and development of a nuclear explosive device because Iran has barred inspectors from military sites where those activities would be occurring. In addition, Senators Tom Cotton, Ted Cruz, David Perdue, and Marco Rubio have pointed to four ways in which Iran is out of compliance. Any one of them is grounds for non-certification. So, for that matter, is a finding that the agreement is not vital to the national security interests of the United States. If Trump doesnt certify the deal, what happens then? Eliana Johnson reports that Trumps national security team has unanimously recommended that the president NOT push Congress to reimpose sanctions on Iran that could cause the deal to unravel. Congress has the power to reimpose sanctions within 60 days of White House non-certification, but is not required to. In lieu of such sanctions, the White House would serve up new non-nuclear sanctions ones that dont violate the agreement with Iran. In addition, the administration would target Iranian-backed militias and terrorist groups, including Lebanon-based Hezbollah, and the financial web that facilitates them. Iran has warned that if the U.S. reimposes sanctions lifted pursuant to the deal, it might press ahead vigorously with its nuclear program. That threat seems quite plausible. Clearly, the U.S. would need a plan to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. John Bolton has developed such a plan. Its a serious one, as would be expected from Bolton. However, theres a good chance, I think, that military action would be required to prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear power in fairly short order following its abrogation of the deal. Is Trump prepared to take military action against Iran or to back such action by Israel? If not, then reluctance by Trump and/or his team to scuttle the deal is understandable. As Steve discusses in the post just below, students affiliated with the Black Lives Matter movement shut down a presentation at the College of William & Mary. They rushed the stage and prevented the invited guest from speaking. The invited guest was Claire Gastanaga of the American Civil Liberties Union. Gastanaga, a William & Mary alum, had intended to speak about Students and the First Amendment. She never got that chance. The protesters drowned her out with chants of ACLU, you protect Hitler, too, the oppressed are not impressed, and shame, shame, shame, shame. Tellingly they also chanted: The revolution will not uphold the Constitution, (we know) and Liberalism is white supremacy (that, I didnt know). After 20 minutes of this, a co-organizer of the event rewarded the Brownshirts by handing one of them a microphone. The protester read a prepared statement that apparently attacked the ACLU for its principled defense of the civil liberties of the alt-right Charlottesville protesters. Then came what Steve calls the most chilling part. Having given the BLM mob a platform without having secured one for the ACLU, the organizers declared the event cancelled. Some members of the audience approached the podium in an attempt to speak with Gastanaga, but the BLM thugs would not permit it. They surrounded Gastanaga, raised their voices even louder, and drove everybody else away. William & Mary responded to this assault on free expression with the following statement: William & Mary has a powerful commitment to the free play of ideas. We have a campus where respectful dialogue, especially in disagreement, is encouraged so that we can listen and learn from views that differ from our own, so that we can freely express our own views, and so that debate can occur. Unfortunately, that type of exchange was unable to take place Wednesday night when an event to discuss a very important matter the meaning of the First Amendment could not be held as planned. Silencing certain voices in order to advance the cause of others is not acceptable in our community. This stifles debate and prevents those whove come to hear a speaker, our students in particular, from asking questions, often hard questions, and from engaging in debate where the strength of ideas, not the power of shouting, is the currency. William & Mary must be a campus that welcomes difficult conversations, honest debate and civil dialogue. If William & Mary has any commitment to the free play of ideas, it must identify and punish the perpetrators. Otherwise, as Reasons Robby Soave says, the colleges high-minded statement is meaningless. College isnt for everyone. Its not for those who are unwilling to tolerate respectful dialogue, including disagreement. Not only can they not learn, they are an impediment to others learning. College students, like the rest of us, can believe and spout whatever idiotic propositions e.g. liberalism is white supremacy capture their fancy. But they cannot be allowed to shutdown speakers either liberal or conservative who hold differing views. William & Mary is a state school. It likely will be under pressure to respond to the outrageous treatment of the ACLU speaker with more than just slaps on the wrist. But that doesnt mean it will so respond. This is a good test case. Well be watching closely. Students and staff at The University of Michigan-Dearborn are remembering two longtime lecturers at the school who recently died. Angela Allen, who taught organic chemistry at the university for 22 years, died Sept. 8 at age 54. Allen was a mentor and inspiration to many. Colleagues remember her encouraging students to get involved on campus and in their communities, sharing positive messages on her social media channels, and energetically teaching her class even through rounds of debilitating chemotherapy. She didnt only teach organic chemistry, said Chemistry Associate Professor Sheila Smith, colleague and friend. Through her actions always being there for her students and colleagues, seeking out ways to be a peacemaker, and having an outgoing positive attitude even when she knew it was near the end she taught all of us how to live. A longtime member of the campus community, Allen was active in many areas. In addition to teaching organic chemistry lecture and lab, preparatory chemistry, and chemistry for non-science majors in the Department of Natural Sciences, she also served as the academic adviser to the chemistry: instructional-track majors for many years. She served as faculty adviser for several on-campus organizations, such as Minority Association of Pre-med Students and Mu Phi Beta, a professional health sorority for minority women. She served as CASL ombudsperson from 2007-10, and was elected council member of the local American Chemical Society Chapter many times. With all of the knowledge Allen shared, Smith said theres one overarching lesson that all who met Allen received: the importance of persistence. Allen was a first-generation college student who earned a masters degree in organic chemistry from Wayne State University in 1993. The only woman in her graduating group, Allen was at the top of her class. She beat her first diagnosis of cancer in 2011 into submission/remission twice. She was a featured 2015 MHealthy champion who lost 140 pounds and kept it off after completing Active U. And when the cancer returned in 2016 and she was given a short window of time, Allen chose to continue teaching her summer semester organic chemistry courses. Lindsey Nealy, a student of Allens and a founding member of Mu Phi Beta, said Allen continued to focus on her students even when making final preparations. Nealy said shed return to campus to visit her mentor and to see how Allen was feeling. Despite being a hospice patient, she was still teaching, Nealy said. This didnt surprise me, knowing Professor Allen. She loved teaching and her students that much. When visiting her office, I once asked if she had a ride home. She replied, Honey, Im still driving. You cant stop a proud black woman.' Smith said Allen was dedicated to her profession and wanted to finish what she started. She taught until two weeks before she passed away from a cancer that was vicious, she said. Being here is what she wanted and the department supported her. Even with all she was going through, she wrote her final, graded the final and submitted her grades. Angela told me, Teaching is what gets me out of bed every morning.' A message Allen wrote for her colleagues and students now is taped on her office door in the Science Faculty Center: My journey is over. My battle has been wonThank you for your love. And I love you more. Mechanical engineering lecturer Dr. Terry Ostrom is being remembered on campus as an encyclopedia of materials science. He died Sept. 11 at age 74. Ostrom taught in the department for 26 years, starting shortly after he completed his post-doctoral research with Paul Trojan the first chairman of U of M-Dearborns Engineering division, which later became the College of Engineering and Computer Science. A man ahead of his time, Ostrom was instrumental in the department especially in the materials science and materials processing research areas. He was a walking encyclopedia of materials science, said Mechanical Engineering Associate Professor German Reyes-Villanueva, who co-taught Manufacturing Processes with Ostrom. He had the knowledge and also had the gift of telling stories. Terry had a way of sharing that knowledge with his students in a relatable way. Ostrom earned a bachelors degree in metallurgical engineering from the Colorado School of Mines in 1965 and a doctoral degree in metallurgical engineering from University of Michigan in 1984. He was scheduled to teach with Reyes-Villanueva this fall, just like they had done together for the past decade. Terry was the best colleague. Hed always ask how he could help, even with projects that were not his, said Reyes-Villanueva, noting Ostrom recently produced images with the scanning electron microscope equipment Ostrom was familiar with using to help his colleagues. He cared about us and the work we were all doing, Reyes-Villanueva said. He was always smiling and so positive. Hed ask you how you were doing when he saw you in the corridor and stop to hear what you had to say. Reyes-Villanueva said Ostroms frequent visits to his office were welcomed and memorable. Theyd talk about course preparations, interesting observations on how materials behaved and life. He said that Ostroms presence, wisdom and positive attitude is greatly missed. You could ask him anything and hed have an answer, he said. With Terry, you could talk for hours. He always had such interesting stories. Now there is silence, but the knowledge he shared remains. Source: The University of Michigan-Dearborn NORTHFIELD Atlantic County freeholders will meet Tuesday in a return to regular business after several people spoke out against a freeholders Facebook post regarding the Womens March in Washington. The 30 people who spoke, most of them women, said they were offended by Freeholder John Carmans meme that pictured a woman standing over a cooking pot with the caption, Will the womans protest be over in time for them to cook dinner? Carman refused to apologize during the meeting, but did several days later at the public urging of Atlantic County Executive Dennis Levinson. Todays meeting is set to start at 4 p.m. at the Stillwater Building. John DeRosier PLEASE BE ADVISED: Soon we will no longer integrate with Facebook for story comments. The commenting option is not going away, however, readers will need to register for a FREE site account to continue sharing their thoughts and feedback on stories. If you already have an account (i.e. current subscribers, posting in obituary guestbooks, for submitting community events), you may use that login, otherwise, you will be prompted to create a new account. The Cumberland County Improvement Authority has been awarded a $2.5 million grant for construction of a Food Commercialization Center in Bridgeton, U.S. Representative Frank Lobiondo R-2nd announced Thursday. The grant, acquired through the U.S. Economic Development Administration, will be used toward the construction of a 27,000-square-foot, multi-tenant facility at the Florida Avenue Industrial Park for industrial food processing, shipping and administration. The facility is expected to create 190 agriculture and food-processing jobs. The total project will cost $9.2 million, according to a statement from LoBiondo. Capitalizing on our regions natural strengths and the success of the Rutgers Food Innovation Center, the development of a Food Commercialization Center in Bridgeton will create local jobs, encourage additional private investment and grow the local economy, LoBiondo said. The Rutgers Food Innovation Center first discussed the plan earlier this year, in an effort to increase manufacturing jobs in South Jersey. In June, Lobiondo sent a letter of support for the project to U.S. Economic Regional Director Linda Cruz-Carnall during the pre-application process. ALGONA | Algona superintendent says schools are back to normal Thursday after social media threats prompted the district to go into lock-down Wednesday. Algona and Clarion-Goldfield-Dows school officials reported receiving threats against their districts late Tuesday night and Wednesday afternoon. One person was taken into custody in relation to threats made against Algona Schools, Superintendent Marty Fonley said in a district post on Facebook Wednesday evening. Wednesday evening a 16-year-old Algona youth was charged with threat of terrorism, a Class D felony, for making a threat of violence on a social media post Tuesday evening, said Kendall Pals, Algona police chief. In the Facebook post, Fonley said the threat was deemed to be non-credible by law enforcement and is considered an isolated incident, The district had canceled classes Wednesday but planned to resume school as normal Thursday. Fonley said the district uses gov delivery, the student information system, Twitter, Facebook, the district webpage and local radio to get news out to parents in these situations. With 590 school districts in New Jersey, more than 200 in the state are involved in a sending-receiving relationship with another district, including every school district in Cape May County. While shared services are ubiquitous throughout the county, which has been losing student population for several years, the idea of consolidation has never caught on. Proponents say countywide consolidation could bring equity to school funding and curriculum, while opponents believe it will drive up taxes for more wealthy communities and take away home rule. New Jersey has this historic attachment to home rule, said John Weingart, associate director of Rutgers Eagleton Institute of Politics. Its difficult. The negotiations or the proposals to consolidate almost always leave some group of people feeling like theyre sacrificing something for a benefit theyre not sure theyre going to see. The question of more consolidation isnt on the table right now in the states peninsula, but over the summer, one North Jersey town made the extraordinary proposal to save taxpayers money. Lower Cape May Regional School District Superintendent Chris Kobik, who described himself as not necessarily a person who is simply happy with the status quo, said while he isnt against small community schools, he believes in having the consolidation conversation. The state of New Jersey recognizes four ways of combining school districts: regionalization, consolidation, merger and a sending-receiving relationship. Weingart said these types of agreements can reduce the amount of administrative layers, ultimately saving money. Administrative costs and administrative staff are essential, but its a question of the number of them and the efficiency of it, he said. Cape May County is home to only four public high schools. It also has three of the states 16 nonoperating districts, which send their students to neighboring districts through tuition agreements. Shared-service agreements are usually a more attainable goal than consolidation or regionalization, Weingart said. They both save some money and set up some standardization of practices across a larger region. But consolidation is a little like congressional districts or doctors, where people complain, but then say they want to keep theirs, he said. While there are many shared-service agreements, there are far less regional school districts in the state. Of New Jerseys 69 regional school districts, Lower Cape May Regional is the only one in Cape May, serving seventh- through 12th-grade students from Cape May, Lower Township, Cape May Point and West Cape May. Those towns all pay a regional school tax rate based on each towns valuation, in addition to their local school tax rate. These types of arrangements can sometimes lead to disproportionate funding from wealthier communities and disputes as in the case of Lower Cape May Regional five years ago where Cape May residents, who were being asked to pay the equivalent of $50,000 per student, tried to dissolve or pull out of the regional district through a referendum that ultimately failed. Cape May County, with its 12,583 students, already does a lot to regionalize education, but countywide consolidation finds few supporters. I cant see any incentive whatsoever for Avalon, said Board of Education President Lynn Schwartz. Avalon is smallest school district in the state, at 43 students enrolled. The borough has one of the highest tax bases and lowest school tax rates in the county, along with its neighbor Stone Harbor, with which it shares several school services through a tuition-based agreement. Schwartz said taxpayers there dont want their school taxes to increase in order to subsidize a countywide system where they would have very little say. We like the fact that we can make the decision for how our taxpayer money is spent, she said. Schwartz added that research has not always supported the bigger the school the better. Thats true: Studies have found that when school districts become too large, they experience diseconomies of scale. However, school consolidation can improve access to quality education, studies have shown. Kobik said larger school districts provide opportunities to leverage costs, share and cycle staff more easily, and provide for professional growth for educators. Regionalized or consolidated schools can improve educational programming by creating continuity of curriculum, access to technology and developing best practices, he said. They can also be reorganized to create magnet programs, Kobik said. If we really want stronger, healthier communities, looking at change in school structure and design as a means to advance a modern, rigorous, 21st Century design and program would need to be at the top of the list, as well, he said. Weingart said consolidation in New Jersey is never an easy process, using the municipal consolidation of Princeton Township and Princeton Boro as an example. That took four tries before it happened. As one person said, It turned out to be easier to consolidate East and West Germany, he said. Kobik said that due to declining population, its important for communities in Cape May County to have the conversation but doesnt see it likely happening without a funding crisis. However, he warned it shouldnt be done just to save money. We should be mindful that it needs to be done in light of: How can we make sure our kids are best prepared to function in the world that we live in? I would certainly be part of that conversation, he said. OCEAN CITY Amy Andersen, an American Sign Language teacher at Ocean City High School, is the 2017-18 Governors Teacher of the Year, the state Board of Education announced Wednesday. Its pretty exciting and Im just trying to let it all sink in. Its hard to believe, Andersen said Wednesday afternoon after being honored by the board in Trenton. It wasnt hard for others to believe. Im not surprised because she really does work really, really hard, said former student Ashlyn Petro, of Marmora. Andersen, 45, of Cape May Court House, has been teaching sign language in Ocean City since 2004, when the district started its program. Prior to that, she was a teacher of the deaf in Boston. Thanks to Andersens efforts, the Ocean City program has expanded and students who take it can earn a Seal of Biliteracy on their high school transcript. She has developed an amazing program, one that not only is a model in the region, the state, but also nationally. I think thats what makes her stand out, said Joe Clark, president of the Ocean City Board of Education. Clark said Andersen is the second state Teacher of the Year from the Ocean City School District. Many of Andersens students have gone on to pursue careers in sign language, as interpreters or teachers. Petro, 19, graduated Ocean City High School in 2016 after taking three years of American Sign Language under Andersens direction. Now, she is a sophomore at Gallaudet University, which is primarily for those who are deaf or hard of hearing, although Petro is able to hear. Petro said before she took Andersens class, she had no understanding of the deaf culture of ASL.(tncms-asset)e383b8ac-2595-53b4-aac1-90f253854414[3](/tncms-asset) She (Andersen) hands you over to the deaf community and you find a friend and you learn from them. That kind of full-body immersion really helps you to see what you want to do in the future, Petro said. Superintendent Kathleen Taylor traveled to Trenton with Andersen for the announcement. Its a phenomenal for Amy, for the high school, for the school district, for the community, Taylor said. Knowing Amy, seeing what she has done in the classroom and connecting students with the hearing and deaf community, she just is an outstanding teacher and she has tremendous impact on our students. Andersen said the greatest part of receiving the honor is the recognition it brings to the profession of teaching. There so many teachers who are giving their free time and dedication, and really investing in their students. I think this award really represents that and the work that teachers do, she said. Watching her students develop and knowing she helped them, Andersen said, is the greatest gift. When someone who is kind of shy and trying to find their way or doesnt have that self confidence yet and through ASL starts being able to express their feelings to see that blossoming and having an effect on kids, thats the reward, Andersen said. Andersens students were able to watch her receive her award through an Instagram livestream her 13-year-old son set up. Then it was like I was able to bring them with me, Andersen said. As part of the award, Andersen will take a six-month paid sabbatical to serve as a liaison to the state Board of Education, meet with teachers statewide and discuss ways programs can be improved. Andersen said she hopes to be able to use the opportunity to expand access to American Sign Language classes in districts throughout the state. She said would like to involve her students in Teacher of the Year activities where she can. The state Teacher of the Year is selected from finalists from each of New Jerseys 21 counties. Andersen will go on to represent New Jersey at the National Teacher of the Year competition. ATLANTIC CITY A photography exhibit highlighting Hispanic culture in South Jersey is on display at the Noyes Arts Garage of Stockton University. The Hispanic Heritage Month Photo Exhibition features images of local events and celebrations of Hispanic heritage. Juan Rodriguez, founder and director of New Life Alliance, has organized the exhibit for years but said this is the first time he has showcased his photos in Atlantic City. Ive taken these photos from many events over the years, Rodriguez said. I go to Cinco De Mayo, Puerto Rican Day, the Vineland parade and events all throughout Cumberland and Atlantic counties. Rodriguez pointed out photos he took during the Vineland Cinco De Mayo parade in 2016, featuring traditional Mexican dancing horses. I think its beautiful and great to show in pictures, he said. Latino Cultural Association President Hector Rivera explained how the celebration of Latino culture is so important in areas such as South Jersey, where the Hispanic and Latino population has grown rapidly during the past decade. He said it offers an opportunity to bring to light issues facing the Hispanic community. The association does a lot in the county and has expanded to Vineland because of the growing Hispanic population, Rivera said. We provide social services focusing on immigration and medical services. National Hispanic Heritage Month began Sept. 15 and continues until Oct. 15. According to the Library of Congress website, Sept. 15 is the anniversary of independence for Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua, followed by Mexicos independence day Sept. 16 and Chiles independence day Sept. 18. President Ronald Reagan expanded Hispanic heritage week to a 30-day observance in 1988. On Wednesday, Rodriguez was setting up to host an event honoring individuals and community groups that have helped his nonprofit organization. Ventnor attorney Jude Nelson was one of the honorees as a supporter of Rodriguezs exhibit. Many of my clients are Mexican, Honduran, El Salvadoran and by supporting the Latino community and promoting their culture, it shows what that culture has to offer to the whole community Nelson said. Without immigrants, theres no America. All of us, we have a heritage, and its important to celebrate it. ATLANTIC CITY The four mayoral candidates went face-to-face Tuesday night, each citing his accomplishments, hopes and visions for the city. But it wasnt long before Republican incumbent Don Guardian and Democratic challenger Frank Gilliam took center stage, swapping subtle and not-so-subtle jabs and opposing views. Guardian, who is seeking a second term in the Nov. 7 election, highlighted what his administration has done over the past four years. Gilliam, currently a city councilman, had a different take on Guardians tenure. Guardian cited increased employment, budget reductions and more affordable housing units. He also spoke about upcoming projects in the city, such as Stockton University and Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. When I became mayor, I found a city that was broken and on the verge of bankruptcy, he said. Im happy to say we were able to save us. Gilliam said hes hoping to bring better times to the city. Over the past three years, weve seen our city dwindle to almost nothing, he said. When asked how the candidates would get the state out of Atlantic City, Guardian said gubernatorial candidates have told him they would end the state takeover after the election. Gilliam took the microphone and responded that Guardian brought the takeover to the city. Don Guardian was the entity who brought the state here from Day 1, Gilliam said. We dont know when hes telling us the truth or when hes being fictitious to us. Third-party candidates Joseph Polillo, running as an independent, and Henry Hank Green, running for the Green Party, both expressed frustration with the state takeover, saying its unconstitutional and that they planned to sue the state. The candidates also addressed crime, how they would get more city employees to live in the city, and what kind of programs they would support to benefit city residents. On the perception the city is unsafe, Guardian stressed the importance of working with the Police Department and promoting involvement with youth and schools. He cited a reduction in crime and fewer internal affairs complaints and cases of use of excessive force during his time as mayor. Gilliam cited poverty, saying the city should focus on educating the youth and giving people jobs to address the citys image and safety. The candidates were also asked what they would do to reduce taxes. Gilliam said he hopes to audit the budget to find out what residents should be paying, while Guardian said new businesses and new homes being built would help ease the tax burden. Green said he hoped to get all employees who work in the city to live in the city. At one point during the debate, Gilliam was asked about his relationship with the Norcross family, referencing Camden County Democratic powerbroker George Norcross, who also leads a coalition of South Jersey Democrats. The boogeyman Norcross, Gilliam said, adding he never met him. Who is he? He said the city has to be open to anyone and not run away from people like Norcross because hes a Democrat. If you want Camden County Democrats to be running Atlantic City, the choice is pretty clear, Guardian said. The debate, hosted by the First Ward Civic Association, drew a standing-room-only crowd of more than 100 people to Uptown School Complex. Before the mayoral candidates spoke, council candidates had the chance to take questions and talk about their platforms for the three at-large seats open. Ron Bailey, Paul Tonacci and Stacey Kammerman are running on Guardians ticket, while Jeffree Fauntleroy II and Councilmen Moisse Delgado and George Tibbitt are running on Gilliams ticket. Tom Forkin is running as an independent. ATLANTIC CITY Police seized drugs, weapons and cash from two wanted men Tuesday in separate incidents after citizen complaints. At 2:41 p.m., a citizen told police about a wanted man in the area of the Buzby Homes Village in the Chelsea Heights section, Sgt. Kevin Fair said. Officers found Orion Austin, 21, of Atlantic City, who had an active warrant from Hamilton Township, on North Drive in possession of a loaded handgun and 34 grams of marijuana, Fair said. Austin faces drug and weapons charges, including possession with intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance. He was taken to the Atlantic County jail. In a separate incident about 3:30 p.m., a citizen alerted police about a potential burglary in progress on the 2500 block of Pacific Avenue. Officers saw Emery Chapman, 38, of Philadelphia, inside a store, Fair said. He was ordered to exit the store and attempted to run out the front door, Fair said Inside the store, officers found 610 bags of heroin, narcotics packaging materials and two loaded handguns, one of which had been stolen from Bridgeton, Fair said. Police said they seized $2,150 from Chapman, who had several active warrants. It is believed to be proceeds from the sale of illegal narcotics, Fair said. Chapman faces drug and weapons counts, as well as charges of receiving stolen property and criminal trespass. He was taken to the Atlantic County jail. The engagement and cooperation by the community with our officers has greatly improved over the years, Chief Henry White Jr. said. They are a key to the success of the Police Ddepartment and the city in combating gun violence and the distribution of illegal narcotics. This is a team effort, and we would not be as successful if it wasnt for the citizens of this community alerting us to individuals that are attempting to bring us down. Anyone with information about either incident can call the police Criminal Investigations Section at 609-347-5766, Special Investigations Section at 609-347-5858 or text an anonymous tip to tip411. EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP Atlantic City International Airport will soon be the home of a new aviation maintenance academy. Atlantic County announced Wednesday it will partner with Atlantic Cape Community College to create an aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul training institute at the airport that will train students to fix planes for small and major airlines around the country. The program will take one to two years to be developed by Atlantic Cape with technical support from the county, according to college President Barbara Gaba. Atlantic County looks for tax incentives to bolster Atlantic City airport Separate bills by Assemblymen Chris Brown and Vince Mazzeo seek to do essentially the same t We have the facility and the interest. What we are lacking is a professionally trained workforce to support this field, County Executive Dennis Levinson said in a statement, adding the county has had discussions with several airlines interested in participating. We plan to take advantage of our assets to build an aviation industry. This is yet another step in that direction that should bring good-paying jobs to our region and help us diversify our economy beyond gaming. The idea of creating an aviation maintenance academy has been discussed by county officials for more than a year. Last year, the county looked to partner with Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology, located in New York, to create the school, but the plans remained stagnant. Gaba said Atlantic Cape has worked with Vaughn College in the past, but it is too early to determine what institutions they will partner with for this project. Both organizations, along with the county, will work to secure funding for implementation and operation of a Federal Aviation Administration-approved program. This initiative is fully supported by the South Jersey Transportation Authority, according to the county. The SJTA operates and maintains the airport and has looked to expand its use in the past. The aviation academy will prepare students for FAA certification and provide a foundation for an associate of applied science degree in aviation maintenance with the ability to transfer into a variety of four-year programs, according to a statement from the county. Gaba said those in the program will be Atlantic Cape students and they will be available for the same financial-aid opportunities current students have. The FAA will determine the requirements to be accepted in the program. Creating an aviation industry was a key element in a report authored by Texas-based economic firm Angelou Economics in 2015 that urged Atlantic County to diversify its economy away from gambling in the wake of five casinos closing in Atlantic City. A 2015 Boeing technical outlook forecasts the need for more than 609,000 maintenance technicians during the next 17 years. Construction on Stockton Tech Park officially begins after decade of delays EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP After a decade of disappointments and setbacks, federal and local offi The creation of the maintenance program would go along with the building of the Stockton Aviation Research and Technology Park, which the county broke ground on earlier this year. We see this as a tremendous opportunity and are very appreciative of Atlantic Cape President Dr. Barbara Gaba and her team for their shared vision in moving this forward, Levinson said in the statement. Aviation maintenance and repair-technician careers should appeal to both our youth as well as those who may be currently underemployed or unemployed. Democrat Colin Bell was officially sworn in as a state senator Thursday during a ceremony at the Statehouse in Trenton. Bell, 36, of Margate, was unanimously selected by the Atlantic County Democratic Committee to fill the seat of the late Jim Whelan, who died in August. He is also running in this Novembers election for a full four-year term in the Senate against Republican Assemblyman Chris Brown. The unpopularity of outgoing Republican Gov. Chris Christie and the election of Donald Trump as president helped create a flurry of Democratic candidates in state Assembly and county freeholder races, resulting in a contested Atlantic County Democratic Convention in March. But for the state Senate, county Democrats united behind Bell. With less than five weeks left before the general election, Bell said he is looking to lead the Atlantic County ticket to a rare Democratic sweep in the Senate, Assembly and freeholder races. Theres been great enthusiasm this year for Democratic politics, Bell said, adding he thinks some of that has to do with Trump and Christie. Ive been involved in politics for about 10 years here, and there have been times when weve been on the phone begging people to run for freeholder the night before the convention. That was not the case at all this time around. Everyone wants to be involved. Bell graduated from Oakcrest High School in 1999 and received his bachelors and law degrees from American University in Washington, D.C. At Oakcrest, Bell was an athlete, a member of the student council and an anchor on the schools television news show because the TV studio was the only room in the school that had air-conditioning at the time, he likes to joke. His first foray into politics was working in New Hampshire for former U.S. Sen. Bill Bradley during his 2000 presidential campaign. Though Bradley would lose the Democratic nomination to Al Gore, Bell came away hooked on politics. After graduating from American University, Bell returned to Atlantic County in the footsteps of five generations of his family. His great-grandfather, Max Slotoroff, had a clothing store on Virginia Avenue in Atlantic City. His grandfather was a dentist in Pleasantville after returning from service in World War II and his great-uncle was a doctor in Pleasantville, and both of them served the Jewish immigrant farmers in Mays Landing and Vineland. Bell clerked for Judge Michael Donio, which is where he met his wife, Sarah Beth Johnson. He now works as a civil lawyer who represents general contractors and subcontractors in construction litigation. He said while he enjoys his job as a lawyer, he still has the political bug. After serving on the Atlantic County Board of Chosen Freeholders for one term and a failed state Assembly run in 2015, Bell is looking to become the top Democrat in Atlantic County. In the spring, Bell announced he would again seek a seat in the Assembly after Democratic Assemblyman Vince Mazzeo announced he would run for state Senate following the retirement of Sen. Jim Whelan. That ticket didnt last long. After the death of his father, Mazzeo decided he would rather run for re-election to his Assembly seat. There was speculation around the county the Democrats were looking to replace Mazzeo after a telephone poll asked whether residents would likely vote for Mazzeo or Chris Brown if the election were held then, but Democrats and Mazzeo insist that the decision only came after Mazzeos father died. Bell moved to the top of the ticket and ran unopposed at the Atlantic County Democratic Convention in March. He says he is now ready to help lead the Democrats to try and sweep one of the only swing counties in New Jersey this year. This community has been good to me, Bell said. I think I have something to offer and I have things that I believe in that I think will be very beneficial to Atlantic County. This is one of two stories that will look at the candidates for state Senate in the 2nd Legislative District. Check back this weekend for a profile on Republican candidate Chris Brown. MASON CITY Dentists Jay Lala and Matt Hansen, partners in Central Park Dentistry, received the Small Business of the Year award at the Mason City Area Chamber of Commerce annual meeting Thursday at The Music Man Square. The event marked the 101st anniversary of the Chamber of Commerce. Michael Mahaffey, chief development officer at One Vision (formerly Opportunity Village,) received the Boss of the Year award. This years Distinguished Citizen Award was presented to longtime community volunteer Ozzie Ohl. The winner is selected each year on the basis of leadership, membership and participation in community organizations, length of residence, and active service to the community. For the second year, the Chamber teamed with the Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health and the Blue Zones Project to recognize a worksite that emulates total worker health and well-being. The leadership and employees of Metalcraft were recognized for their commitment to an active workplace wellness program. Metalcraft was one of the first worksites to earn Blue Zones Project certification. Each year Chamber Ambassadors present an award to one of their members who has worked the hardest in support of the Chamber. Steve Kruse was named Ambassador of the Year a recognition he has received many times throughout his years of service. (Photo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/567939/Dubai_Future_Accelerators_program.jpg ) (Photo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/568309/DFA_Auditorium.jpg ) (Photo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/567940/Dubai_Future_Accelerators_Logo.jpg ) DFA, a unique Government-supported accelerator program, an initiative of the Dubai Future Foundation, received over a 1,000 applications for this cohort. The submissions cover a range of innovative ideas that seek to shape the future of key sectors, find effective solutions to the challenges facing the future of the planet, transforming them into opportunities for sustainable development, and, ultimately, creating a better life for future generations. Emirates airline has joined the program to help identify the most pressing challenges facing the aviation sector and to develop solutions and transform these challenges into opportunities that support the sector's long-term sustainability. Khalfan Belhoul, CEO of Dubai Future Accelerators, said: "The program offers an ideal platform to forecast and plan for the future as it gathers the world's brightest minds and most innovative companies to join hands with government entities in the UAE and address challenges in key sectors using cutting-edge technologies. We are proud to see local companies among the participants; this underlines the great progress that the local tech scene has achieved, placing it on par with major global competitors." The DFA program received numerous applications from the UAE and accepted nine companies into the program - making the UAE the second-largest source market of all participating companies, doubling the percentage of UAE companies from last cohort. Meanwhile, the USA came in first place with 10 companies, the UK tied with the UAE with nine participants, followed by Austria with four companies, Canada with three, two companies from New Zealand, two from Singapore and one company from China, Germany, Hungary, Lebanon, South Africa, Spain, South Korea and the Netherlands. DFA's "Humanitarian Accelerators" program signed an agreement with Dubai Cares, and will work with 3 companies: two from the UAE and one from the US. The Humanitarian Accelerators is a first-of-its-kind initiative in the Arab World connecting start-ups and established companies with the humanitarian sector to tackle social, cultural and environmental challenges in the Arab region. The first and second editions of the Accelerators program received over 4,000 applications to solve strategic challenges in key sectors. In the first phase of the program, 19 MoUs were signed; that number increased by 27% to 28 MoUs in the second cycle. SOURCE Dubai Future Accelerators AIX-EN-PROVENCE, France, October 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- SUNPARTNER Technologies, a pioneering company which develops and integrates photovoltaic glass for the building market, has announced the opening of a new production site in Rousset, near Aix-en-Provence. During the opening ceremony, the company and the European Investment represented by his Vice-President, Ambroise Fayolle, signed a EUR 15 million financing to boost the development and research programs of the company. The EIB financing is guaranteed under the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI), the heart of the Investment Plan for Europe commonly known as Juncker Plan. (Photo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/568305/SUNPARTNER_Technologies_EIB_Logo.jpg ) The EFSI-backed financing will allow the company to establish its commercial infrastructure, invest in R&D and further expand its manufacturing capacity. SUNPARTNER Technologies previously raised EUR [55.0] million of capital investments and the EIB financing brings the total financing to EUR [70.0] million. "This is a key loan for innovation and climate action that comes at a crucial time for this firm with strong growth potential," said Vice-President Ambroise Fayolle at the event. "The EIB is particularly proud to be financing this innovative project, which will enable SUNPARTNER Technologies to market its cutting-edge technology while developing its future production lines." Ludovic Deblois, CEO of Sunpartner: "The support of the EIB is essential to accelerate our growth. This financing also shows the strong involvement of the European Union to protect our planet." The European Investment Bank (EIB) is the EU bank, and together with the European Investment Fund (EIF) forms the EIB Group. Thanks to its reliable expertise and the financial attractiveness of its AAA rating, the EIB Group has doubled the volume of its activities in France since 2012 (reaching EUR 9.3bn in 2016), not only supporting SMEs and innovation but also financing investment in strategic sectors such as climate action, energy, healthcare, education for young people and training facilities. SUNPARTNER Technologies develops innovative photovoltaic solutions for the consumer electronics, building, and transportation markets. Its Wysips technology captures solar energy and converts it to electricity. SUNPARTNER was founded in 2008, has today 85 employees, raised 70 million since its creation. Press contacts: EIB: Anne-Cecile Auguin, a.auguin@bei.org, tel.: +352-43-79-83330 / Mobile: +352-621-36-19-48 Website: http://www.eib.org/press - Press Office: +352-4379-21000 - press@eib.org Sunpartner Technologies: Anastasia Cailly ana@hikou.fr - +33-6-82-52-85-25 SOURCE SUNPARTNER Technologies MOSCOW, October 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Vnesheconombank's Supervisory Board approved a draft plan for financing VEB-Leasing's railcar leasing portfolio for cargo shipping between Russia and China. To this end, the parties will use the loan raised by Vnesheconombank from the China Development Bank (CDB). The project implemented in the context of conjunction of integration processes in the Eurasian Economic Union and the Chinese One Belt One Road initiative will be launched this autumn. In December 2015, VEB's Supervisory Board approved a deal to raise CNY10bn (approximately, USD1.5bn) in loans from CDB for a period of up to 5 years. CNY3.3bn (approximately, USD0.5bn) of the loan will be used to finance the railcar leasing portfolio. "By making this investment, VEB will inject Chinese funds into Russia's economy. Financing the railcar leasing is a strategic project of national significance both for Russia's and China's foreign economic activity," said Sergey Gorkov, Vnesheconombank's Chairman. Vnesheconombank has been working to strengthen the trade and financial cooperation between Russia and China with CDB being the Bank's strategic partner. SOURCE Vnesheconombank As a result of their recent work, Arhue was named as the best SF web design company by 10 Best Design, a media platform which has been providing news and updates about the fields of both traditional and digital design for the better part of a decade. 10 Best Design has evolved over the years; however, as its offerings have expanded to include a podcast, user-voted website awards, and detailed industry research, among other interesting articles. Arhue is an agency which is carving out a name for itself, not only as a top SF Bay Area web design house, but as one of the best in the country, as well. Their creative team has worked with internationally recognized brands like Benefit, Salesforce, and Google, but they also cater to emerging brands and startups who are looking for a premier level of design and service, but are working under a moderate budget. Arhue certainly appears to be on track to grow into one of the great design and branding firms of the world. See 10 Best Design's SF Best Web Design Companies SOURCE 10 Best Design Related Links https://www.10bestdesign.com OXFORD, United Kingdom, Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The PostgreSQL Global Development Group today announced the release of PostgreSQL 10; a major milestone for the project and PostgreSQL community, containing additions that have been anticipated for several years. Some of the most notable features in this release have been developed by members of the 2ndQuadrant team, which has proudly contributed to the PostgreSQL project consistently for the past 15 years. The biggest splash of the release has been made by Logical Replication. This long-awaited feature addition allows more flexibility than physical replication, including replication between different major versions of PostgreSQL and selective-table replication. As part of this feature, 2ndQuadrant has also contributed the ability to create temporary replication slots that are automatically removed on session exit or error. The feature acceptance comes after multiple years of persistent efforts from Petr Jelinek, later championed by Peter Eisentraut. Another exciting feature 2ndQuadrant contributed to PostgreSQL 10 is the ability to add Multi-Column Optimizer Statistics to compute the correlation ratio and number of distinct values. This addition is yet again the result of a multi-year effort, this time by Tomas Vondra. He was later assisted by David Rowley and Alvaro Herrera, who helped with reviews and code structure rework to get the feature into final shape for the release. "It's the Big One the release where we finally get logical replication into core!" said Simon Riggs, founder and CEO of 2ndQuadrant. "This work has taken many years of effort to bring to the current level, resulting from many 2ndQuadrant developers and various reviewers and testers." As major contributors and thought leaders of the PostgreSQL project, the members of 2ndQuadrant are excited about this release as they have many notable contributions in terms of both features and bug fixes. Some of the major contributions by 2ndQuadrant include: IDENTITY columns and Sequence improvements [ Peter Eisentraut ] ] ICU support for better national language support [ Peter Eisentraut ] ] BRIN index improvements [Alvaro Herrera] Improvements to Money datatypes [ Peter Eisentraut ] ] Improvements to server startup/shutdown (pg_ctl) [ Peter Eisentraut ] ] Consistent parallel backup with pg_dump from a standby server [Petr Jelinek] Replication speed enhancements [ Simon Riggs , David Rowley ] , ] New test infrastructure for Replication & Recovery [ Craig Ringer ] 2ndQuadrant has also worked actively with fellow members of the PostgreSQL community to contribute: Reduced locking for changing column parameters [Simon Riggs, Fabrizio Mello] Improvements in JSONB and XML handling [Alvaro Herrera, Andrew Dunstan, Pavel Stehule] VACUUM speed enhancements [Claudio Freire, Alvaro Herrera] 2ndQuadrant plans to continue playing an integral role in supporting the growth of PostgreSQL and contributing to its development. "Open Source PostgreSQL has been gaining traction year on year and we're attracting interest from the largest enterprises now due to its robust capabilities," explains Riggs, "and 2ndQuadrant is proud to be a key part of the PostgreSQL community." To learn more about PostgreSQL and its scalable business benefits, attend 2ndQuadrant PostgreSQL Conference 2017 being held November 6th & 7th in New York and November 9th in Chicago. About 2ndQuadrant 2ndQuadrant is the Gold Standard for PostgreSQL Products & Services and consistently contributes enterprise features to enhance performance, scalability, security, and stability in PostgreSQL. Spanning 22 countries and 5 continents, 2ndQuadrant is the largest single collective organization of PostgreSQL experts. They have adopted the open source business model and are Platinum sponsors for the PostgreSQL project. Their focus on service quality is reflected in the consistent best-in-class NPS of over 75 for more than 2 years. Media Contact Britt Cole [email protected] SOURCE 2ndQuadrant EL SEGUNDO, Calif., Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Six local government agencies in Texas, Virginia, Georgia, Kansas and California stepped into the winner's circle this fall to receive awards for websites designed by the online government innovators at Vision, the company announced today. "Creating local government websites that meet the needs of today's citizens is a complex process," said Vision CEO David Nachman "These award-winning sites have several key things in common. They are easy to navigate, easy to understand, engaging, mobile and search-centric. They deliver exceptional service and value to the people they serve. We congratulate each of the winners for their excellence and their innovation." National Association of Government Web Professionals (NAGW) Pinnacle Awards: Judged by a group of public and private sector web professionals, Pinnacle Awards are presented based on website content, organization, design, performance and flexibility, accessibility and interactivity. The City of Peachtree Corners, Georgia won the top Pinnacle Award among cities and counties with populations of 40,001 to 95,000, while the cities of Hurst, Texas and Williamsburg, Virginia won the Pinnacle Award and Members' Choice Award, respectively, among cities and counties with populations of 40,000 and fewer. City-County Communications & Marketing Association's (3CMA) Savvy Awards: The Savvy awards recognize outstanding local government achievements in communications, public-sector marketing and citizen-government relationships. The City of Olathe, Kansas won a Silver Circle Award for its "updated layout, navigation, use of large images and condensed content that is readable and very mobile-friendly" in the category of Digital Interactive-Overall Website serving populations of 126,000 and up. Santa Clarita, California won an Award of Excellence in the same category for its "great looking simple website that highlights what's happening in the cultural community and integrates collaborative information and images that have resulted in a significant increase in use." Texas Association of Municipal Information Officers 2017 TAMI Awards: Two Texas cities, Cedar Park and Hurst, shared the top TAMI Award for websites serving populations up to 85,000. The awards recognize excellence in all forms of local government communications. For information or to request a free website review and consultation, call Vision at 888-263-8847 or visit info.visioninternet.com/free-consultation. About Vision Headquartered in El Segundo, Calif., Vision is a national leader in government website design, development and hosting with more than 700 government, non-profit and education clients in U.S. and Canadian communities with populations that range from less than 1,000 residents to more than 5 million. For more than 20 years, Vision has created cost-effective solutions that increase government efficiency, build transparency and promote interactive communications with citizens. CONTACT: Lynette Viviani 973-534-1004 [email protected] SOURCE Vision INDIANAPOLIS, Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, a new shipment of commercial medicines, including more than 36,000 vials and pens of insulin, arrived in Puerto Rico. The delivery by Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) includes 3,000 vials for humanitarian distribution and enough commercial insulin to help re-stock operational pharmacies. Lilly's humanitarian donation now includes 5,400 insulin pens and vials since Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico on September 20. "The arrival of this additional insulin will help our efforts considerably," said Angel L. Comulada, M.D., president of the Puerto Rican Society of Diabetology and Endocrinology (SPED). "The recovery effort on the island has been difficult, and people with diabetes are particularly vulnerable without a dependable supply of insulin. This is an important step in our re-building efforts." For people who can get to a pharmacy, the best way to access medicines is through normal channels. If their pharmacy is not open, insulin can be picked up at the following locations: Bayamon Health Center, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. , Monday through Friday , Monday through Friday Centro de Diabetes para Puerto Rico , 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. , Tuesdays and Thursdays , , Tuesdays and Thursdays Hospital Municipal de San Juan , 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. , Monday through Friday "We're committed to helping the people of Puerto Rico recover from the destruction of Hurricane Maria," said Enrique Conterno, president of Lilly Diabetes and Lilly USA. "Our humanitarian shipments are now being complemented with commercial insulin, allowing wholesalers to begin re-stocking products which, in turn, will allow the people of Puerto Rico to find medicine more regularly at their pharmacies. And our humanitarian shipments will provide relief for many who may have no other options." Lilly's first humanitarian shipment, 2,400 pens and vials of insulin, arrived in San Juan on September 24. Recipients of the insulin included the Municipality of San Juan, Centro Medico, San Jorge Children's Hospital, and Guaynabo, Hato Rey and Cayey Dialysis Centers. The additional 3,000 humanitarian vials will be distributed to centers established by SPED and to other locations by Direct Relief International, in close collaboration with local health experts and authorities. Lilly knows the humanitarian needs around the island are significant and intends to make additional donations of insulin and other medicines in the weeks ahead as efforts to provide needed medical assistance continue. "The devastation inflicted on Puerto Rico is beyond what many of us can imagine, and the health and safety of everyone is on all our minds," Conterno said. "This latest shipment of medicine is an important step, but much work remains. Lilly will continue to monitor developments on the island closely and work to ensure our medicines are available." Tips for Storing Insulin and Other Helpful Info1 The FDA offers guidance on insulin storage in an emergency: Insulin products that are in vials or cartridges can be left unrefrigerated for up to 28 days, even if it's already been opened. Ideally, the temperature should still be between 59F and 86F, but in an emergency like this, insulin may still be used if the temperature is greater than 86F. Insulin can lose some of its effectiveness when exposed to extreme temperatures. The longer the exposure, the less effective insulin becomes. People using insulin exposed to high temperatures should check their blood sugar as often as possible in case more insulin than usual is needed. Insulin should be kept as cool as possible, but not frozen. People should not use insulin that has been frozen. Also keep insulin away from direct heat and out of direct sunlight. For questions about insulin or if someone is in need of insulin, contact Lilly at (800) 545-5979. The FDA can also be reached for questions at (855) 543-3784. If a patient is uncertain as to the effectiveness of his or her insulin based on difficulties with storage/exposure to extreme temperatures, and unexplained loss of glucose control is seen, it is advised that new insulin be obtained if possible. If a patient's insulin has been damaged or destroyed by the storm, he or she can talk to their pharmacy about getting a new 30-day supply. Many insurance plans have "disaster overrides" that allow people to replace their destroyed medicine for the cost of a co-pay. If they don't have a disaster override, Lilly will replenish customers with a new 30-day supply at no charge. And if patients have a high-deductible plan that normally requires patients to pay the full price for their treatment, they will receive a 30-day supply at no charge if their medicine is destroyed. Further assistance is available via The Lilly Answers Center at (800) 545-5979. About Eli Lilly and Company Lilly is a global healthcare leader that unites caring with discovery to make life better for people around the world. We were founded more than a century ago by a man committed to creating high-quality medicines that meet real needs, and today we remain true to that mission in all our work. Across the globe, Lilly employees work to discover and bring life-changing medicines to those who need them, improve the understanding and management of disease, and give back to communities through philanthropy and volunteerism. To learn more about Lilly, please visit us at www.lilly.com and www.lilly.com/newsroom/social-channels. C-LLY References 1. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Information Regarding Insulin Storage and Switching Between Products in an Emergency, Last Updated Sept. 19, 2017. Available at https://www.fda.gov/drugs/emergencypreparedness/ucm085213.htm. October 2017. CONTACT: Kelley Murphy; [email protected]; 317-701-4007 SOURCE Eli Lilly and Company Related Links http://www.lilly.com ROCKVILLE, Md., Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Kalorama Information said that market share change is a given in the point-of-care part of the in vitro diagnostics market with the now-completed acquisition of Alere by Abbott. The healthcare market researcher said the acquisition means the conjunction of the #2 and #3 companies in the POC market. Abbott said this week in a filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission that it has completed its acquisition of Waltham, MAbased testmaker Alere, a deal first announced in February 2016. Alere participates in nearly all POC test segments but has a dominating position in rapid cardiac markers, blood glucose including HbA1c, coagulation, drugs of abuse, infectious disease, lipid and pregnancy and fertility testing. Kalorama covers the POC market in its report Point of Care Market and Market Share Analysis. "Point of care is a faster revenue growth area than most testing and new technologies have increased its ability to deliver," Kalorama Information Publisher Bruce Carlson said. "Molecular technologies, microfluidics, better connectivity to EMRs are among the recent developments that are making the concept more practical. We think this is the reason behind the initial move, which has been complicated by the legal delays." Based on 2016 data compiled by Kalorama Information, the new company would be the largest point-of-care diagnostics with nearly a quarter of the POC market. While that would hypothetically be more than market leader Roche's 22% POC market share as determined in Kalorama's 2017 report, Kalorama says divestures made to accommodate regulatory clearance will cloud exact market share determination until Q4 financials. To overcome antitrust regulation, Alere sold off its Triage and B-type naturietic peptide assay businesses to POC specialist Quidel for $440 million. It also sold its blood gas assets to Siemens in order to get the European Commission to sign off on the deal. Abbott's Epocal line was sold to Siemens Healthineers this year as well as part of regulatory clearance. For their part, Abbott does claim it has "created the world's largest point-of-care business." Alere became a subsidiary of Abbott and the company said in an SEC document that its shares have been removed from the New York Stock Exchange. In March, Kalorama estimated that Alere's equipment was used in 455 million test procedures last year, adding to Abbot's own total of 3.1 billion test procedures in which its equipment was used. By comparison, Kalorama said, 21 billion test procedures were completed globally in 2016. Though the firm said most common global procedures are clinical chemistry procedures, and the types of procedures Alere brings tend to be of higher margin. In May, Kalorama noted that the merger would create a clearer #2 in the overall IVD industry between the four giants Roche, Abbott, Danaher and Siemens Healthineers. "It turns a three-way tie for second place in world IVD into a battle for third place," said Carlson. "It doesn't change the gap between first and second. It doesn't change that Roche is on the top and staying their for the perceivable future." Kalorama Information's Point of Care Market and Market Share Analysis is one of many reports available on the company's Kalorama Diagnostics Knowledge Center, which allows informed companies access to every report the firm has published and will publish. About Kalorama Information Kalorama Information, a division of MarketResearch.com, supplies the latest in independent medical market research in diagnostics, biotech, pharmaceuticals, medical devices and healthcare; as well as a full range of custom research services. Reports can be purchased through Kalorama's website and are also available on www.marketresearch.com and www.profound.com. We routinely assist the media with healthcare topics. Follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and our blog on our company website. Press Contact: Bruce Carlson 212 807 2262 [email protected] SOURCE Kalorama Information Related Links https://www.kaloramainformation.com There is no cure for alopecia areata, an autoimmune skin disease that causes obvious bald patches on the scalp, eyebrows and other hair-growing areas of the skin. There are treatments that work in milder cases in some patients, but long-range studies are needed to assess the risks and benefits of newer drugs. In the U.S., approximately 490,000 people suffer with alopecia areata today with a lifetime risk to two percent of the population. Of more than 1,000 diseases considered, the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) selected just 24including alopecia areatafor meetings, followed by "Voice of the Patient" reports through 2017. The FDA was specifically interested in diseases that have few or no FDA-approved treatments and where daily quality of life is compromised. The agenda included an overview of alopecia areata and current treatment options, group discussion, and patient and caregiver testimonies. Thea Chassin, founder and CEO of Bald Girls Do Lunch, a national non-profit, was in attendance as an expert. In 2015, Chassin encouraged BGDL members to write testimonies about the impact of alopecia on their lives, to boost the chances that the disease would be chosen for a patient-focused meeting. "This was a groundbreaking day to foster understanding of the real-world physical and psychological effects this disease has on the sufferer, family and friends," says Chassin. "This is an important step for decision makers in the governmental regulatory and pharmaceutical industries to learn what treatment benefits matter most to patients." The FDA is accepting written comments from alopecia patients through November 13, 2017. Submissions can be made by visiting: https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=FDA-2017-N-3067-0001. About Bald Girls Do Lunch: Founded in 2007, BGDL provides advocacy, community and education to its thousands of members who suffer alopecia areata across the United States and around the world via a strong online community. Contact: Thea Chassin Bald Girls Do Lunch 914.945.0245 [email protected] Available Topic Expert: For information on the listed expert, click appropriate link. Thea Chassin http://www.profnetconnect.com/thea_chassin SOURCE Bald Girls Do Lunch, Inc. AGOURA HILLS, Calif., Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- American Homes 4 Rent (NYSE: AMH) announced today that the Company will release its third quarter 2017 financial and operating results on Thursday, November 2, 2017, after the market closes. The Company will host a conference call on Friday, November 3, 2017, at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time to review third quarter results, discuss recent events and conduct a question-and-answer period. Live conference call Toll free number: (877) 451-6152 (for domestic callers) Direct dial number: (201) 389-0879 (for international callers) Passcode: Not required Simultaneous audio webcast link: www.americanhomes4rent.com, under "For Investors" Conference call replay Toll free number: (844) 512-2921 (for domestic callers) Direct dial number: (412) 317-6671 (for international callers) Passcode: 13671946# Webcast link: www.americanhomes4rent.com, under "For Investors" Date accessible through: November 17, 2017 About American Homes 4 Rent American Homes 4 Rent (NYSE: AMH) is a leader in the single-family home rental industry and "American Homes 4 Rent" is fast becoming a nationally recognized brand for rental homes, known for high quality, good value and tenant satisfaction. We are an internally managed Maryland real estate investment trust, or REIT, focused on acquiring, renovating, leasing, and operating attractive, single-family homes as rental properties. As of June 30, 2017, we owned 48,982 single-family properties in selected submarkets in 22 states. Additional information about American Homes 4 Rent is available on our website at www.americanhomes4rent.com. Contact: American Homes 4 Rent Investor Relations Phone: (855) 794-2447 Email: [email protected] SOURCE American Homes 4 Rent Related Links https://www.americanhomes4rent.com ATLANTA, Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Rural counties consistently had higher suicide rates than metropolitan counties from 2001-2015, according to data released today in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Suicide is the tenth leading cause of death in the United States. There were more than half a million suicides during the 20012015 study period. "While we've seen many causes of death come down in recent years, suicide rates have increased more than 20 percent from 2001 to 2015. And this is especially concerning in rural areas," said CDC Director Brenda Fitzgerald, M.D. "We need proven prevention efforts to help stop these deaths and the terrible pain and loss they cause." Mortality data from the National Vital Statistics System (NVSS) include demographic, geographic, and mechanism of death information derived from death certificates filed in the 50 states and the District of Columbia. The new report examined annual county level trends in suicide rates during 2001-2015 for rural counties, medium/small metropolitan counties, large metropolitan counties, as well as demographics and mechanism of death. Overall, suicide death rates for rural counties (17.32 per 100,000 people) were higher than medium/small metropolitan counties (14.86) and large metropolitan counties (11.92). Additional findings from the CDC study: Across metropolitan and rural areas, suicide rates for males were four to five times higher than for females during the study period. Suicide rates for Black Non-Hispanics in rural areas were consistently lower than suicide rates for Black Non-Hispanics in urban areas. White Non-Hispanics have the highest suicide rates in metropolitan counties while American Indian/Alaska Native Non-Hispanics have the highest rates in rural counties. Findings by age group revealed increases in suicide rates for all ages with the highest rates and greatest rate increases in rural counties. "The trends in suicide rates by sex, race, ethnicity, age, and mechanism that we see in the general population are magnified in rural areas," said James A. Mercy, Ph.D., director of CDC's Division of Violence Prevention. "This report underscores the need for suicide prevention strategies that are tailored specifically for these communities." CDC recently released a technical package (a compilation of a core set of strategies based on the best available evidence that have the greatest prevention potential) to prevent suicide that includes examples of programs that can be customized to fit the cultural needs of different groups. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has developed activities to address suicide in rural areas including epidemiologic studies, research, telemedicine and programs addressing primary health care providers. To read the article, visit the MMWR Homepage. Visit CDC's Website to learn more about suicide prevention. For more information on rural health, visit www.cdc.gov/ruralhealth. For best practices on suicide reporting, please refer to the Recommendations for Reporting on Suicide. If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide or needs support, help is always available. Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or visit http://suicidepreventionlifeline.org. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services CDC works 24/7 protecting America's health, safety and security. Whether disease start at home or abroad, are curable or preventable, chronic or acute, or from human activity or deliberate attack, CDC responds to America's most pressing health threats. CDC is headquartered in Atlanta and has experts located throughout the United States and the world. Contact: CDC Media Relations (404) 639-3286 SOURCE Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Related Links https://www.cdc.gov VANCOUVER, Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ - Aritzia Inc. ("Aritzia" or the "Company") (TSX: ATZ), an innovative design house and fashion retailer of exclusive brands, today announced financial results for the second quarter of fiscal 2018. "We are pleased with our strong financial results for the second quarter as we continued to deliver double digit revenue growth, in addition to significant normalized margin expansion. Our net revenue was driven by our new and expanded stores, meaningful growth in our eCommerce business and continued growth in our comparable store sales," said Brian Hill, Aritzia's Founder, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman. Mr. Hill added, "Looking ahead, I believe we remain well positioned to deliver significant growth as we continue to focus on identifying premier locations, meaningfully growing our eCommerce business, and consistently delivering product that our customers want. We plan to support our long term growth objectives through strategic investments in technology, infrastructure and talent. Overall we see continued momentum in our business and are pleased with the progress we are making on executing our strategic initiatives which keeps us on track to achieve our stated 2021 performance targets." Unless otherwise indicated, all amounts are expressed in Canadian dollars. Certain metrics, including those expressed on an adjusted or comparable basis, are non-IFRS measures. See "Non-IFRS Measures including Retail Industry Metrics" and "Selected Consolidated Financial Information" further below. Highlights for the Second Quarter Net revenue increased by 10.2% to $174.0 million from $157.9 million in Q2 last year from in Q2 last year Comparable sales growth was 5.4%, following 16.4% growth in Q2 last year Gross profit margin was 36.3% during the quarter. Continued improvement in product costs and lower markdowns were partially offset by additional straight-line rent expense from the new Vancouver distribution centre under construction, as well as rent expense related to flagship stores not yet open during the quarter. Excluding these items, gross profit margin for Q2 was 37.4%, compared to 35.9% in Q2 last year distribution centre under construction, as well as rent expense related to flagship stores not yet open during the quarter. Excluding these items, gross profit margin for Q2 was 37.4%, compared to 35.9% in Q2 last year Adjusted EBITDA increased by 4.5% to $20.7 million from $19.8 million in Q2 last year. Included in Adjusted EBITDA are the straight-line rent expense related to the new distribution centre and flagship stores not yet opened during the quarter, along with unrealized operational foreign exchange losses. Excluding these items, Adjusted EBITDA increased by 23.0% to $24.3 million from $19.8 million in Q2 last year from in Q2 last year. Included in Adjusted EBITDA are the straight-line rent expense related to the new distribution centre and flagship stores not yet opened during the quarter, along with unrealized operational foreign exchange losses. Excluding these items, Adjusted EBITDA increased by 23.0% to from in Q2 last year Net income increased to $5.0 million , compared to a net loss of $67.3 million in Q2 last year , compared to a net loss of in Q2 last year Adjusted Net Income increased by 11.8% to $10.4 million , or $0.09 per diluted share (treasury stock method (1) ), from $9.3 million or $0.08 per diluted share (treasury stock method (2) ), in Q2 last year. Included in Adjusted Net Income are the straight-line rent expense related to the new distribution centre and flagship stores not yet opened during the quarter, along with unrealized operational foreign exchange losses, and related tax effects. Excluding these items, Adjusted Net Income increased by 39.2% to $13.0 million , or $0.11 per diluted share (treasury stock method (1) ), compared to $9.4 million , or $0.08 per diluted share (treasury stock method (2) ), in Q2 last year , or per diluted share (treasury stock method ), from or per diluted share (treasury stock method ), in Q2 last year. Included in Adjusted Net Income are the straight-line rent expense related to the new distribution centre and flagship stores not yet opened during the quarter, along with unrealized operational foreign exchange losses, and related tax effects. Excluding these items, Adjusted Net Income increased by 39.2% to , or per diluted share (treasury stock method ), compared to , or per diluted share (treasury stock method ), in Q2 last year The Company opened two new stores ( Rush Street in Chicago and Babaton Yorkdale in Greater Toronto ) and expanded one store (Square One in Greater Toronto ) during the second quarter of fiscal 2018 Second Quarter Results All comparative figures below are for the 13-week period ended August 27, 2017, compared to the 13-week period ended August 28, 2016. Net revenue increased by 10.2% to $174.0 million from $157.9 million in the second quarter last year. The increase was primarily driven by the revenue from eight new store openings and four expanded or repositioned stores since the second quarter of fiscal 2017, as well as comparable sales growth of 5.4%. Comparable sales growth was supported by continued momentum in the Company's eCommerce business and positive in-store performance. Gross profit increased by 11.4% to $63.1 million, or 36.3% of net revenue, compared to $56.7 million, or 35.9% of net revenue, in the second quarter last year. Continued improvement in product costs and lower markdowns were partially offset by straight-line rent expense from the new Vancouver distribution centre, which is under construction, as well as rent expense related to flagship stores not yet open during the quarter. Excluding the impact of the straight-line rent expense related to these activities, gross profit margin was 37.4% in the quarter. Selling, general and administrative ("SG&A") expenses decreased by 4.0% to $44.6 million compared to $46.4 million in the second quarter last year. The second quarter of last year included $4.6 million of costs related to the Company's IPO. Excluding these costs, SG&A was $41.8 million in the second quarter last year. This increase in SG&A dollars during the quarter was primarily due to variable selling expenses driven by higher sales volume and investments in information technology. SG&A for the quarter was 25.6% of net revenue, compared to a normalized 26.5% in the second quarter last year after excluding IPO-related costs. Other expenses, net were $6.4 million, primarily driven by the significant strengthening of the Canadian dollar during the quarter, compared to $0.1 million in the second quarter last year. Other expenses, net this quarter primarily relate to realized operational foreign exchange losses of $0.5 million, realized foreign exchange losses on U.S. dollar forward contracts of $1.1 million, unrealized operational foreign exchange losses of $1.7 million and unrealized foreign exchange losses on U.S. dollar forward contracts of $3.2 million. Adjusted EBITDA increased by 4.5% to $20.7 million, or 11.9% of net revenue, compared to $19.8 million, or 12.5% of net revenue, in the second quarter last year. Adjusted EBITDA in the quarter excludes stock-based compensation expense of $3.0 million and unrealized foreign exchange losses on U.S. dollar forward contracts of $3.2 million. Adjusted EBITDA for the second quarter last year excludes stock-based compensation expense of $90.9 million, IPO-related costs of $4.6 million, and unrealized foreign exchange losses on U.S. dollar forward contracts of $0.4 million. Included in Adjusted EBITDA are the straight-line rent expense related to the new distribution centre and flagship stores not yet opened during the second quarter of 2018 of $1.9 million, unrealized operational foreign exchange losses of $1.7 million in the quarter and gains of $0.1 million in the second quarter last year. Excluding these items, Adjusted EBITDA increased by 23.0% to $24.3 million, or 14.0% of net revenue, compared to $19.8 million, or 12.5% of net revenue, in the second quarter last year. Stock-based compensation expense was $3.0 million, consisting of $0.6 million in expenses related to the accounting for options under the legacy option plan and $2.4 million in expenses primarily related to the accounting of options under the new option plan. Net income for the quarter was $5.0 million, compared to a net loss of $67.3 million in the second quarter last year, primarily due to the factors discussed above. Adjusted Net Income increased by 11.8% to $10.4 million, or $0.09 per diluted share (treasury stock method(1)), compared to Adjusted Net Income of $9.3 million, or $0.08 per diluted share (treasury stock method(2)), in the second quarter last year. Adjusted Net Income excludes the impact of stock-based compensation expense, unrealized foreign exchange losses/gains on U.S. dollar forward contracts and other non-recurring items, net of related tax effects. Included in Adjusted Net Income are the straight-line rent expense related to the new distribution centre and flagship stores not yet opened during the quarter of $1.9 million, unrealized operational foreign exchange losses of $1.7 million in the quarter and gains of $0.1 million in the second quarter last year, and related tax effects. Excluding these items, Adjusted Net Income increased by 39.2% to $13.0 million, or $0.11 per diluted share (treasury stock method(1)), compared to $9.4 million, or $0.08 per diluted share (treasury stock method(2)), in the second quarter last year. Year-to-Date Results All comparative figures below are for the 26-week period ended August 27, 2017, compared to the 26-week period ended August 28, 2016. Net revenue increased by 12.2% to $319.0 million from $284.3 million in the prior year. The increase was primarily driven by comparable sales growth of 7.1%, driven by continued momentum in the Company's eCommerce business and positive in-store performance, as well as the revenue from non-comparable stores. Gross profit increased by 11.9% to $120.7 million, or 37.8% of net revenue, compared to $107.9 million, or 37.9% of net revenue, in the prior year. Continued improvement in product costs and lower markdowns were partially offset by straight-line rent expense from the new Vancouver distribution centre, which is under construction, as well as rent expense related to flagship stores not yet open during the period. Excluding the impact of the straight-line rent expense related to these activities, gross profit margin was 38.8% in this period. SG&A expenses increased by 5.7% to $85.4 million, compared to $80.8 million in the prior year. Excluding the impact of the IPO-related costs of approximately $4.6 million incurred in the second quarter last year, SG&A expenses, as a percentage of net revenue, were flat at 26.8% compared to the prior year. Other expenses, net were $4.2 million, primarily driven by the significant strengthening of the Canadian dollar during the second quarter of fiscal 2018, compared to $0.2 million in the prior year. Other expenses, net this year primarily relate to realized operational foreign exchange losses of $0.5 million, realized foreign exchange losses on U.S. dollar forward contracts of $0.7 million, unrealized operational foreign exchange losses of $0.9 million and unrealized foreign exchange losses on U.S. dollar forward contracts of $2.4 million. Adjusted EBITDA increased by 11.8% to $44.7 million, or 14.0% of net revenue, as compared to $40.0 million, or 14.1% of net revenue, in the prior year. Included in Adjusted EBITDA are the straight-line rent expense related to the new distribution centre and flagship stores not yet opened during the period of $3.2 million, unrealized operational foreign exchange losses of $0.9 million in the period and losses of $0.7 million in the prior year. Excluding these items, Adjusted EBITDA increased by 20.1% to $48.8 million, or 15.3% of net revenue, compared to $40.6 million, or 14.3% of net revenue, in the prior year. Stock-based compensation expense was $7.7 million, consisting of $2.9 million in expenses related to the accounting for options under the legacy option plan and $4.8 million in expenses primarily related to the accounting of options under the new option plan. Net income was $13.1 million, compared to a net loss of $59.5 million in the prior year, primarily due to the factors discussed above. Adjusted Net Income increased by 20.9% to $22.9 million, or $0.20 per diluted share (treasury stock method(1)), compared to Adjusted Net Income of $18.9 million, or $0.16 per diluted share (treasury stock method(2)), in the prior year. Included in Adjusted Net Income are the straight-line rent expense related to the new distribution centre and flagship stores not yet opened during the period of $3.2 million, unrealized operational foreign exchange losses of $0.9 million in the period and losses of $0.7 million in the prior year, and related tax effects. Excluding these items, Adjusted Net Income increased by 31.7% to $25.7 million, or $0.22 per diluted share (treasury stock method(1)), compared to $19.5 million, or $0.17 per diluted share (treasury stock method(2)), in the prior year Outlook The Company remains pleased with the performance of its new fall product which is being well received among customers. At the start of the third quarter, comparable sales were trending higher than in the second quarter until the unseasonably warm weather across the continent arrived in the latter half of September. The resulting pressure on outerwear sales impacted comparable sales growth such that third quarter to date, comparable sales are trending slightly below that of the second quarter. However, based on product trends to date, the Company currently expects sales to regain the prior momentum once seasonable weather patterns return. The Company has already opened one new store in the third quarter, a Babaton store in Vancouver's Pacific Centre Mall, and expanded an Aritzia store in Toronto Eaton Centre Mall. In addition, the Company currently plans to open two new stores and expand or reposition three to four existing locations through the remainder of fiscal 2018. This includes the repositioning of an existing San Francisco location into a flagship store on Market Street. For the remainder of fiscal 2018, the Company intends to continue making meaningful strategic investments in infrastructure and technology, as well as people where it believes there are unprecedented opportunities to recruit exceptional talent. The Company believes these investments will position Aritzia to meet and/or exceed all of its five-year growth targets. For additional information, please see the "Outlook" section of the Management's Discussion and Analysis for the second quarter ended August 27, 2017. Conference Call A conference call to discuss second quarter results is scheduled for Thursday, October 5, 2017, at 1:30 p.m. PDT / 4:30 p.m. EDT. A replay will be available shortly after the conclusion of the call and will remain available until October 19th, 2017. To access the replay, please dial 1-855-669-9658 and use replay access code 1711. A live and archived webcast will be available and will remain on Aritzia's investor relations website at investors.aritzia.com for 30 days. ______________________ (1) Adjusted Net Income per diluted share for Q2 2018 and YTD 2018 is a non-IFRS measure and is calculated by dividing Adjusted Net Income by the total number of outstanding shares plus the total number of dilutive share options that would be included under the treasury stock method as at August 27, 2017 (or 116,745,179 diluted shares). For reconciliation of diluted shares to a reported measure, please see "Selected Consolidated Financial Information" below. (2) The Company effected changes to its share capital in connection with the Initial Public Offering ("IPO") completed in Q3 2017. For comparative purposes, Adjusted Net Income per diluted share for Q2 2017 and YTD 2017 is based on the same diluted share count as Adjusted Net Income per diluted share for Q2 2018 and YTD 2018, respectively. About Aritzia Aritzia is an innovative design house and fashion retailer of exclusive brands. The Company designs apparel and accessories for its collection of exclusive brands and sells them under the Aritzia banner. The Company's expansive and diverse range of women's fashion apparel and accessories addresses a broad range of style preferences and lifestyle requirements. Aritzia is well known and deeply loved by its customers in Canada with growing customer awareness and affinity in the United States and outside of North America. Aritzia aims to delight its customers through an aspirational shopping experience and exceptional customer service that extends across its more than 80 retail stores and our eCommerce business, aritzia.com. Non-IFRS Measures including Retail Industry Metrics This press release makes reference to certain non-IFRS measures including certain retail industry metrics. These measures are not recognized measures under IFRS do not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and are therefore unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. Rather, these measures are provided as additional information to complement those IFRS measures by providing further understanding of our results of operations from management's perspective. Accordingly, these measures should not be considered in isolation nor as a substitute for analysis of our financial information reported under IFRS. We use non-IFRS measures including "EBITDA", "Adjusted EBITDA", "Adjusted Net Income", "Adjusted Net Income per diluted share", and "gross profit margin". This press release also makes reference to "comparable sales growth", which is a commonly used operating metric in the retail industry but may be calculated differently compared to other retailers. Beginning Q1 2018, we changed our calculation methodology by applying the prior year's average quarterly exchange rate to both current year and prior year comparable sales to achieve a consistent basis for comparison. Prior to Q1 2018, comparable sales growth was calculated using a U.S. dollar to Canadian dollar exchange rate of 1:1. These non-IFRS measures including retail industry metrics are used to provide investors with supplemental measures of our operating performance and thus highlight trends in our core business that may not otherwise be apparent when relying solely on IFRS measures. We believe that securities analysts, investors and other interested parties frequently use non-IFRS measures including retail industry metrics in the evaluation of issuers. Our management also uses non-IFRS measures including retail industry metrics in order to facilitate operating performance comparisons from period to period, to prepare annual operating budgets and forecasts and to determine components of management compensation. Definitions and reconciliations of non-IFRS measures to the relevant reported measures can be found in our MD&A. Such reconciliations can also be found in this press release under the heading "Selected Consolidated Financial Information". Forward-Looking Information Certain statements made in this press release may constitute forward-looking information under applicable securities laws. These statements may relate to our future financial outlook and anticipated events or results and include, but are not limited to, expectations regarding industry trends, overall market growth rates, our growth rates and growth strategies, expectations regarding our capital expenditures, operations and use of future cash flow, our financial position, financial results, business plans and strategies, expectations regarding brand expansions, expectations regarding eCommerce growth, expectations regarding new store openings and the expansion and repositioning of existing stores, our ability to recruit exceptional talent, our belief that our business model will enable us to deliver consistent sales and profitability growth and in turn, increase shareholder value over the long term and intentions with respect to the implementation of new accounting standards and other statements that are not historical facts. Particularly, information regarding our expectations of future results, targets, performance achievements, prospects or opportunities is forward-looking information. As the context requires, this may include certain targets as disclosed in the prospectus for our initial public offering, which are based on the factors and assumptions, and subject to the risks, as set out therein and herein. Often but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may" "will", "expect", "believe", "estimate", "plan", "could", "should", "would", "outlook", "forecast", "anticipate", "foresee", "continue" or the negative of these terms or variations of them or similar terminology. Forward-looking statements are made current as of the date they are made and are based on applicable estimates and assumptions made by us at the relevant time in light of our experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors that we believe are appropriate and reasonable in the circumstances. However, we do not undertake to update any such forward-looking information whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under applicable securities laws in Canada. There can be no assurance that such estimates and assumptions will prove to be correct. Many factors could cause our actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements or future events or developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, the factors discussed in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's annual information form dated May 10, 2017 for the fiscal year ended February 26, 2017 (the "AIF"). A copy of the AIF and the Company's other publicly filed documents can be accessed under the Company's profile on the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval ("SEDAR") at www.sedar.com. The Company cautions that the list of risk factors and uncertainties described in the AIF is not exhaustive and other factors could also adversely affect its results. Readers are urged to consider the risks, uncertainties and assumptions carefully in evaluating the forward-looking information and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such information. Selected Consolidated Financial Information CONDENSED INTERIM CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS: (Unaudited, in thousands of Canadian dollars, unless otherwise noted) Q2 2018 13 weeks Q2 2017 13 weeks YTD 2018 26 weeks YTD 2017 26 weeks Net revenue $ 173,968 100.0% $ 157,918 100.0% $ 319,014 100.0% $ 284,325 100.0% Cost of goods sold 110,838 63.7% 101,247 64.1% 198,346 62.2% 176,443 62.1% Gross profit 63,130 36.3% 56,671 35.9% 120,668 37.8% 107,882 37.9% Operating expenses Selling, general and administrative 44,572 25.6% 46,411 29.4% 85,415 26.8% 80,838 28.4% Stock-based compensation expense 3,044 1.7% 90,946 57.6% 7,711 2.4% 94,666 33.3% Income (loss) from operations 15,514 8.9% (80,686) (51.1%) 27,542 8.6% (67,622) (23.8%) Finance expense 1,382 0.8% 2,274 1.4% 2,648 0.8% 4,558 1.6% Other expenses, net 6,420 3.7% 145 0.1% 4,194 1.3% 178 0.1% Income (loss) before income taxes 7,712 4.4% (83,105) (52.6%) 20,700 6.5% (72,358) (25.4%) Income tax expense (recovery) 2,722 1.6% (15,817) (10.0%) 7,581 2.4% (12,818) (4.5%) Net income (loss) $ 4,990 2.9% $ (67,288) (42.6%) $ 13,119 4.1% $ (59,540) (20.9%) Other Performance Measures: Year-over-year net revenue growth 10.2% 30.1% 12.2% 29.4% Comparable sales growth 5.4% 16.4% 7.1% 14.7% Capital expenditures $ 12,968 $ 6,142 $ 29,418 $ 13,222 Number of stores, end of period 83 75 83 75 New stores added 2 1 4 1 Stores expanded or repositioned 1 1 2 3 RECONCILATION OF NET INCOME TO ADJUSTED EBITDA: (Unaudited, in thousands of Canadian dollars, unless otherwise noted) Q2 2018 13 weeks Q2 2017 13 weeks YTD 2018 26 weeks YTD 2017 26 weeks Net income (loss) $ 4,990 $ (67,288) $ 13,119 $ (59,540) Depreciation and amortization 5,379 4,709 10,854 9,284 Finance expense 1,382 2,274 2,648 4,558 Income tax expense (recovery) 2,722 (15,817) 7,581 (12,818) EBITDA 14,473 (76,122) 34,202 (58,516) Adjustments to EBITDA: Stock-based compensation expense 3,044 90,946 7,711 94,666 Unrealized foreign exchange loss (gain) on forward contracts 3,183 385 2,379 (794) IPO costs - 4,600 - 4,600 Other non-recurring items(1) - - 361 - Adjusted EBITDA $ 20,700 $ 19,809 $ 44,653 $ 39,956 Adjusted EBITDA as a Percentage of Net Revenue 11.9% 12.5% 14.0% 14.1% Reconciliation of Net Income (Loss) to Adjusted Net Income: Net income (loss) $ 4,990 $ (67,288) $ 13,119 $ (59,540) Adjustments to net income (loss): Stock-based compensation expense 3,044 90,946 7,711 94,666 Unrealized foreign exchange loss (gain) on forward contracts 3,183 385 2,379 (794) IPO costs - 4,600 - 4,600 Other non-recurring items(1) - - 361 - Related tax effects (837) (19,362) (720) (20,031) Adjusted Net Income $ 10,380 $ 9,281 $ 22,850 $ 18,901 Adjusted Net Income as a Percentage of Net Revenue 6.0% 5.9% 7.2% 6.6% Adjusted Net Income per Diluted Share(2)(3) $ 0.09 $ 0.08 $ 0.20 $ 0.16 Notes: (1) Other non-recurring items include separation costs related to a senior Company executive departure. (2) Adjusted Net Income per diluted share for Q2 2018 and YTD 2018 is a non-IFRS measure and is calculated by dividing Adjusted Net Income by the total number of outstanding shares plus the total number of dilutive share options that would be included under the treasury stock method as at August 27, 2017 (or 116,745,179 diluted shares). For reconciliation of diluted shares to a reported measure, please see below. (3) The Company effected changes to its share capital in connection with the IPO completed in Q3 2017. For comparative purposes, Adjusted Net Income per diluted share for Q2 2017 and YTD 2017 is based on the same diluted share count as Adjusted Net Income per diluted share for Q2 2018 and YTD 2018, respectively. RECONCILATION OF DILUTED SHARES TO SHARES OUTSTANDING (for purposes of Adjusted Net Income per diluted share): (Unaudited) Q2 2018 13 weeks YTD 2018 26 weeks Weighted average number of basic shares outstanding 109,593,759 109,238,499 Adjustment to account for difference in weighted average number of shares outstanding and actual number of shares outstanding 605,740 961,000 Total number of shares outstanding 110,199,499 110,199,499 Dilutive share options under the treasury stock method 6,545,680 6,545,680 Total number of diluted shares for purposes of Adjusted Net Income per diluted share 116,745,179 116,745,179 CONDENSED INTERIM CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOWS: (Unaudited, in thousands of Canadian dollars) Q2 2018 13 weeks Q2 2017 13 weeks YTD 2018 26 weeks YTD 2017 26 weeks Cash Flows: Net cash generated from operating activities $ 8,966 $ 7,660 $ 3,331 $ 21,321 Net cash generated from (used in) financing activities 2,580 (196) 2,903 (361) Net cash used in investing activities (12,968) (6,142) (29,418) (13,222) Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents (263) (7) (181) (17) (Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents $ (1,685) $ 1,315 $ (23,365) $ 7,721 CONDENSED INTERIM CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION: (Unaudited, in thousands of Canadian dollars) As at August 27, 2017 As at February 26, 2017 Assets Current assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 56,162 $ 79,527 Accounts receivable 1,381 2,624 Income taxes recoverable 5,655 - Prepaid expenses and other current assets 13,203 12,743 Inventory 97,164 74,184 Total current assets 173,565 169,078 Property and equipment 111,217 95,695 Intangible assets 59,617 58,484 Goodwill 151,682 151,682 Other assets 1,878 2,052 Deferred tax assets 9,502 9,854 Total assets $ 507,461 $ 486,845 Liabilities Current liabilities Accounts payable and accrued liabilities $ 64,542 $ 50,484 Income taxes payable 256 19,222 Current portion of lease obligations 462 766 Current portion of long-term debt 15,296 15,288 Deferred revenue 14,953 15,749 Total current liabilities 95,509 101,509 Other non-current liabilities 51,931 47,711 Deferred tax liabilities 15,715 16,555 Lease obligations 165 983 Long-term debt 118,542 118,479 Total liabilities 281,862 285,237 Shareholders' equity Share capital 147,159 131,853 Contributed surplus 84,437 88,612 Retained earnings (deficit) (5,361) (18,480) Accumulated other comprehensive loss (636) (377) Total shareholders' equity 225,599 201,608 Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $ 507,461 $ 486,845 SOURCE Aritzia Inc. ROLLING MEADOWS, Ill., Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (NYSE: AJG) today announced the acquisition of DiBrina Group. Headquartered in Sudbury, Ontario, DiBrina Group has offices in Toronto and New Liskeard, Ontario. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Founded by Michael DiBrina in 1989 and incorporated in 1997, DiBrina Group provides human resources, employee benefits, wealth management and life insurance consulting and brokerage services to clients throughout Ontario. Michael DiBrina, Tim Lychy, Diego Favero, Aurel Malo, Ehren Baldauf, Jeff St. Cyr and their associates will continue to operate from their current locations under the direction of Leslie Lemenager, head of Gallagher's international employee benefit consulting and brokerage operations. "The DiBrina Group brings a unique mix of benefits and HR consulting capabilities to our existing Canadian operations by combining group benefits, group retirement, HR consulting and individual wealth management into one practice," said J. Patrick Gallagher, Jr., Chairman, President and CEO. "I am very pleased to welcome Michael, Tim, Diego, Aurel, Ehren and their associates to our growing Gallagher family of professionals." Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., an international insurance brokerage and risk management services firm, is headquartered in Rolling Meadows, Illinois, has operations in 34 countries and offers client service capabilities in more than 150 countries around the world through a network of correspondent brokers and consultants. Investors: Ray Iardella Media: Linda J. Collins VP Investor Relations VP Corporate Communications 630-285-3661/ [email protected] 630-285-4009/ [email protected] SOURCE Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Related Links http://www.ajg.com SAO PAULO, Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Azul S.A. today announced plans to expand Recife, its Northeast hub. Starting in 2018, Recife will be connected to two new international destinations and two new domestic destinations. Rosario and Cordoba in Argentina will be served once a week with Airbus A320neo aircraft, with capacity for up to 174 passengers. In addition, Fort Lauderdale in the U.S., which already receives daily Azul flights from Campinas, will also receive flights from Recife twice a week, with Airbus A330 aircraft that seat up to 271 passengers. Domestic destinations include Serra Talhada and Caruaru, two cities in the interior of the state of Pernambuco. John Rodgerson, Azul's CEO, highlighted the company's growth in Recife, which already offers half of the departing flights and more than 40% of the seats available from Pernambuco's main airport. "Our service from Recife continues to grow, allowing us to offer fast and convenient connections to various destinations in Brazil and throughout the world. With the expansion of our Northeast hub we will increase the number of people traveling between Brazil, Argentina and the US, encouraging business and tourism," Rodgerson said. "The government of the state of Pernambuco is a great partner to Azul, and has worked to create conditions that allow us to continue to invest in the expansion of our operations in the state. With Azul, Recife is now the fifth most-connected city in Brazil in terms of number of destinations, following only Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte and Brasilia," he concluded. In addition to increasing international traffic from business passengers, tourists and freight, Azul also seeks to increase the hub's regional scope as it prepares to launch flights to Caruaru and Serra Talhada, in the interior of Pernambuco, in addition to Mossoro, in Rio Grande do Norte. Service should begin after the airports are certified to receive the company's ATR 72 turboprops with capacity for 70 passengers. The state governments are investing in the airports so that infrastructure will be suitable. Azul in Recife Azul operates nearly 50 daily flights from Recife to 23 domestic and international destinations, as well as hundreds of international destinations through its partners. In the high season of summer 2017-2018, the company will reach the milestone of 25 destinations and 57 daily flights. Domestic destinations currently served by Azul in Recife: Aracaju, Belem, Belo Horizonte, Curitiba, Fernando de Noronha, Fortaleza, Sao Paulo (Guarulhos), Goiania, Juazeiro do Norte, Joao Pessoa, Maceio, Natal, Petrolina, Ribeirao Preto, Sao Luis, Salvador, Teresina, Uberlandia, Campinas, Campina Grande, Parnaiba and Juazeiro do Norte. During the high season, Cuiaba and Paulo Afonso will also be served. International destinations currently served by Azul in Recife: Orlando, USA. About Azul Azul (B3: AZUL4, NYSE: AZUL), the largest airline in Brazil by number of cities served, offers 739 daily flights to 102 destinations. With a fleet of 123 aircraft and more than 10,000 crewmembers, the company has a network of 202 non-stop routes as of June 30, 2017. Among other awards, Azul was named third best airline in the world by TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice in 2017, best low cost carrier in South America for the seventh consecutive time by Skytrax in 2017, and the world's most on-time low-cost airline in 2015 by the Official Airline Guide (OAG). For more information visit www.voeazul.com.br/ir. Media Relations Tel: +55 11 4831 1245 [email protected] Investor Relations Tel: +55 11 4831 2880 [email protected] SOURCE Azul S.A. Related Links http://www.voeazul.com.br/ir "Bank of the West is very pleased to be increasing our presence in Arizona a state known for its diverse, talented and entrepreneurial residents. Our new facility in Tempe will be an important addition to our footprint and play a key role in our long-term growth," said Nandita Bakhshi, President and CEO of Bank of the West and Co-CEO of BNP Paribas USA. "We appreciate the support we've received from Governor Doug Ducey, the City of Tempe, and the Arizona Commerce Authority, and we are eager to welcome area workers to our growing team at Bank of the West." Bank of the West's Head of Corporate Services Division John Thomason will lead the office, bringing to the position more than 20 years of experience with Bank of the West, including more than a decade serving on the Bank's Senior Management Committee. As Head of the Tempe Office, Thomason will manage the new location, and will be a champion of the company's culture, vision and values to those at this new office. Thomason first joined Bank of the West in 1996 as a real estate lender and has held positions of increasing responsibility throughout his tenure, including Division Head of the Real Estate Industries Division, Real Estate Managed Assets and Other Real Estate Owned (OREO) Manager. He has also served more than 23 years in the U.S. Army and Army Reserve. After a nationwide search for a new location, the merits of the Phoenix metro area were compelling for the Bank. "Tempe is a vibrant, centrally located community and we are thrilled to be a member of the local economy," said Thomason. "In Tempe, we will be hiring a wide range of professional positions, including traditional corporate service and support roles." With strong roots in real estate and financial services industries, a robust pool of talented professionals, and favorable business conditions, Tempe is an ideal market to expand the Bank's operations. A recent report from the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce found that 88 percent of local companies rate the business environment as excellent or good and two in three businesses project their revenue to increase in the year ahead. "Bank of the West's decision to locate in Tempe emphasizes that Arizona has the ideal operating environment and high-quality talent required to meet the needs of industry-leading companies," said Governor Doug Ducey. "This project will create new financial services jobs for Arizonans, and I thank Bank of the West for their commitment to our state." "Bank of the West is an exciting and impactful addition to Tempe's growing financial sector. We are thrilled to welcome Bank of the West and their employees to Tempe there is no doubt they will be a great value to our local economy," said Tempe Mayor Mark Mitchell. "Bank of the West's investment in Arizona is the latest evidence of our state's strong leadership position in the business and financial services industry, and we're thrilled to welcome them to our state," said Sandra Watson, President and CEO of the Arizona Commerce Authority. "This announcement shows that Arizona's value proposition continues to resonate with industry-leading firms." "The financial services industry in Greater Phoenix is growing at an accelerated rate, outpacing the national average for growth," said Greater Phoenix Economic Council President & CEO Chris Camacho. "Access to talent and a growing labor force, proved critical for Bank of the West in their selection of Tempe for their next financial services outpost, and we look forward to welcoming them to the market." To join the Bank of the West team, visit our career page: www.bankofthewest.com/about-us/careers About Bank of the West Bank of the West is a regional financial services company headquartered in San Francisco with $86.9 billion in assets as of June 30, 2017. Founded in 1874, Bank of the West provides a wide range of personal, commercial, wealth management and international banking services through more than 600 branches and offices in 23 states and digital channels. Bank of the West is a subsidiary of BNP Paribas, a leading bank in Europe, which has a presence in 74 countries with more than 192,000 employees. To learn more about Bank of the West, visit About Us via BankoftheWest.com. Member FDIC and Equal Housing Lender. 2017 Bank of the West. Doing business in South Dakota as Bank of the West California." Connect with us SOURCE Bank of the West Related Links http://www.bankofthewest.com Total Retail annually honors an individual and business with its Retailer of the Year award. The brand's editorial team considers candidates including surveying its audience of retail executives for their recommendations that have proven sustained excellence in their careers, including leading their companies to new heights. Since founding Bluemercury 18 years ago with his wife, Marla, Barry Beck's leadership has helped the luxury beauty brand become one of the industry's fastest-growing retailers. Bluemercury now operates nearly 200 stores in more than 30 states (it grew its store count by more than 50 percent in 2016), and has 2,000 employees. In 2015, Macy's acquired Bluemercury. "We've always adhered to the company's mission of being the best in the world at giving beauty advice," Beck says. "Our sustained competitive advantage has always been our expertise. It's what sets us apart from the pack. It's our secret sauce and enduring secret weapon, which has helped Bluemercury become an iconic luxury brand and household name. However, I'll never forget that it took us 18 years to become an overnight success." To learn more about Barry Beck, and why Total Retail has chosen him as its 2017 Retailer of the Year, check out the cover story interview with him in Total Retail's Fall issue. Beck discusses a wide range of topics, including what inspired him to launch Bluemercury, the business leaders he admires, his thoughts on the current state of the retail industry, the technologies he believes are going to transform retail, his advice for young entrepreneurs, and much more. About Total Retail/NAPCO Media Total Retail is the go-to source for retail executives looking for the latest news and analysis on the retail industry. Featuring a quarterly print magazine, daily e-newsletter (Total Retail Report), daily-updated website, podcast channel, virtual and in-person events, and research reports, Total Retail offer retail executives the information they need to do their jobs more effectively and grow their professional careers. For more information visit: http://www.mytotalretail.com/. NAPCO Media, Total Retail's parent company, has been a leading information source in the markets it serves since 1958. NAPCO Media continues to evolve with information distribution methods and specializes in the creation and cross-channel distribution of exceptional content. Our mission is to build community between our audience and our clients. For more information visit: http://www.napco.com/. Contact: Joe Keenan 1-215-238-5435 [email protected] SOURCE Total Retail Related Links http://www.mytotalretail.com SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- After a six-month, extensive site selection process, global design, engineering and manufacturing leader Benchmark Electronics (NYSE: BHE) today announced its new corporate headquarters will be located at Rio 2100, a new 52-acre, Class A office park situated in the heart of Tempe, Arizona. The company announced relocation plans to Arizona from Angleton, Texas in April of this year and expects to add approximately 500 new jobs to the greater Phoenix area over the next five years. Groundbreaking for the new site is expected to begin before the end of the year with an expected completion date in early 2019. In the interim, Benchmark's headquarters is at 4141 N. Scottsdale Rd. The current and new headquarters will house the corporate leadership team and key corporate functions in finance, human resources, legal, marketing, operations, and supply chain. Benchmark's Internet of Things (IoT) and RF and High-Speed Design Centers of Innovation will also transition to the new location. "This is an exciting time for our company as we look forward to our new headquarters, which will allow us to grow in a single, cohesive location," said Paul J. Tufano, president and CEO of Benchmark Electronics. "Rio 2100 is an ideal location to drive organizational alignment and attract and develop top-notch talent, as already evidenced in our strategic partnership with Arizona State University." "ASU's partnership with Benchmark is an example of universities and corporations working together to foster an innovative ecosystem that benefits students, businesses and communities," said Sethuraman Panchanathan, executive vice president of Knowledge Enterprise Development and chief research and innovation officer at ASU. "We are looking forward to joining forces with Benchmark and offering multidisciplinary problem-solving teams of faculty and students, developing innovative and impactful solutions, and creating new high technology jobs in Greater Phoenix." Benchmark's 23 locations span eight countries across the globe. The new corporate headquarters near Sky Harbor International Airport gives the company quick access to customers worldwide. "Tempe is known as a destination for tech companies, such as Microsoft, Amazon, GoDaddy and now Benchmark," Tempe Mayor Mark Mitchell said. "We appreciate Benchmark's investment in Tempe and the jobs they are bringing to our community." Located at the southwest intersection of the Loop 101 and 202 freeways, Rio 2100 is a premier business park development by The Boyer Companies and Tellurian Development Company. At build-out, Rio 2100 will include office, retail, restaurant and multifamily space, as well as two hotels, within Tempe's Rio Salado corridor. Managing Director Andrew Medley, from the Phoenix office of JLL, represented Benchmark and assisted with the site selection process and lease negotiations. CBRE Senior Vice President Bryan Taute represented Boyer. JLL's Project Development Services team will manage all tenant improvements. "Benchmark is a tremendously forward-thinking company," said Medley. "They had a vision for their new corporate headquarters and this development will more than fulfill those expectations with an exceptionally centralized location and a collaborative work environment designed to attract and retain the industry's top talent." "We could not be more excited to partner with Benchmark Electronics on this new building," added Adrian Evarkiou from The Boyer Company. "Benchmark is a truly elite firm, and the Tempe submarket and Rio 2100 are premier places for them to conduct and grow their business." About Benchmark Electronics Benchmark provides worldwide integrated electronics manufacturing services (EMS), engineering and design services, and precision machining services to original equipment manufacturers of industrial equipment (including equipment for the aerospace and defense industries), telecommunication equipment, computers and related products for business enterprises, medical devices, and test and instrumentation products. Benchmark's global operations include facilities in eight countries, and its common shares trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol BHE. SOURCE Benchmark Electronics, Inc. Related Links http://www.bench.com MASON CITY | Two men and two women were arrested Wednesday in a Mason City home, two for long-standing outstanding charges and two for actions while law enforcement was present. Mason City Police arrested Cameron Joe Brunstein, 26, and Megan Michelle Eckenrod, 25, on outstanding warrants at a residence on the 200 block of Eighth Place Southeast. Sidney Kristine Garcia, 20, was arrested and charged with interference with official acts while officials were detaining Brunstein and Eckenrod. Channing Roger Greer, 19, of Mason City, was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, a clear plastic zip lock baggie typically used to store methamphetamine as officials were processing the house Wednesday. Brunstein, of Mason City, was wanted on controlled substance violation, failure to affix drug stamp and possession of drug paraphernalia charges from May 17. He was stopped about 4:30 p.m. May 17 on the 500 block of Ninth street Southeast. According to court documents, Brunstien allegedly attempted to elude plain clothes officers while driving and then ran on foot. He was arrested for driving while barred and a search warrant was obtained to search his vehicle. According to the criminal complaint, officers seized two digital scales, a glass pipe used for smoking marijuana, a broken but used glass pipe used for smoking methamphetamine, several syringes, and plastic baggies in the vehicle. More than 14 grams of methamphetamine was found on the front passenger seat. Brunstein is held for $5,000 bond in the Cerro Gordo County Jail. Eckenrod was wanted for a third-degree theft charge from August. According to court documents, while working as a cashier at Yesway, located at 1303 Fourth St. S.W., she allegedly ran merchandise refunds on store products that were not purchased and returned by store customers on 19 different occasions from Aug. 13 to Aug. 20. Eckenrod picked up items from displays in the store to scan and then run the refunds, the criminal complaint said. After running the refunds, Eckenrod then took the refunded money from the cash register drawer. Eckenrod then returned the scanned products to the store displays. More than $501 was stolen, according to police. Eckenrod is held for $2,000 bond in the Cerro Gordo County Jail. PITTSFIELD, Mass., Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc. (NYSE: BHLB) is pleased to announce the addition of three new leaders to the Bank's established team in the Greater Boston area: Paul Kelly, Regional President Boston and Worcester; Doug MacLean, Senior Vice President, Commercial Real Estate Market Executive; and Susan Yahn DiPinto, Senior Vice President, Private Banking. By adding these top bankers, Berkshire deepens its capacity to serve the Eastern Massachusetts market. "As we expand our presence in Greater Boston, it is key that we use our resources to add highly qualified people who are passionate about bringing our AMEB culture to Boston," said Berkshire Bank President, Richard Marotta. "That culture is reinforced by the men and women that we employ and the strength of the teams we put in place. With our planned headquarters move to Boston, we've assembled a strong team with all the tools needed to navigate the Boston market and compete effectively with the larger institutions in the area." Kelly joins Berkshire from People's United Bank where he was Regional Market President for Central MA. Prior to that he was Market Leader in Boston for Santander Bank. Kelly brings 30 years' experience in banking in Greater Boston with a proven track record of strong financial, strategic, and operational leadership. Kelly and the existing team are well positioned to enhance and expand the Bank's commercial relationships in the area, including the Boston and Worcester market, in support of Berkshire's expansion initiatives. MacLean joins Berkshire Bank from KeyBank where he served as the New England Market Executive of First Niagara Bank, which Key acquired in 2016. He is a 30 year commercial banking veteran, including having served as the Division Head for TD Bank's CRE Lending operation, with experience not only in financing real estate but also in real estate development. As a native of Hudson, MA, a graduate of MIT, and a current resident of Harvard, MA, MacLean's knowledge and experience in eastern Massachusetts is a welcome addition to the Berkshire Bank team as the Bank continues its expansion. DiPinto joins Berkshire with 30 years of relationship management and leadership experience, most recently with Boston Private Bank. Consistent with Berkshire's highly personalized private banking model, DiPinto will leverage her local experience to expand the Bank's customer relationships across Berkshire's full suite of products and services. Her breadth of experience will also enhance Berkshire's MyBanker Concierge Banking in Boston. This platform provides a single point of contact for all banking needs, combining direct access to a dedicated Berkshire Bank relationship expert with the convenience of technology. "The energy and depth of experience Paul, Doug and Susan add to our Boston area team strengthens our ability to fill an unmet need for innovative and personalized banking services," commented Chief Operating Officer, Sean Gray. "Their placement as leaders in the Boston market further solidifies our commitment to the region. Since first announcing our plans to open a branch on Congress Street in 2016, we've strategically added to the team and know that the bank is poised to make a real impact in the local market." Berkshire subsidiary, First Choice Loan Services, Inc., also recently announced the addition of Kevin Gillis as New England Regional Vice President. Gillis is an established regional leader with decades of experience and national recognition as a top mortgage professional. He oversees a large team of residential mortgage lenders in the Greater Boston area. Gillis will enhance the local presence of First Choice, a nationally prominent mortgage provider, and will support Berkshire's overall consumer banking offerings in the Boston market. Berkshire's Boston team is led by Boston native and Senior Executive Vice President, George Bacigalupo, and includes well-established banking leaders Mark Foster, Executive Vice President, Regional Commercial Leader Asset Based Lending; Brant McDougall, SVP Commercial Regional Leader Eastern Massachusetts; Gregory DiMarzio, SVP Regional Operations Leader Boston; and Julinda Sheshi, VP, Relationship Manager. ABOUT BERKSHIRE HILLS Berkshire Hills Bancorp is the parent of Berkshire Bank - America's Most Exciting Bank. The Company has approximately $9.6 billion in assets, 97 full service branches in Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, Vermont, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania providing personal and business banking, insurance, and wealth management services. The Company also offers mortgages and specialized commercial lending services in targeted national markets. The Company has a pending agreement to acquire Commerce Bancshares Corp., the parent company of Commerce Bank, a $1.9 billion bank with 16 branches in the Worcester, MA and Boston, MA markets. For more information, visit www.berkshirebank.com. CONTACTS Investor Relations Contact: Allison O'Rourke; Executive Vice President, Investor Relations Officer; 413-236-3149 Media Contact: Elizabeth Mach; Senior Vice President, Marketing Officer; 413-445-8390 SOURCE Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc. Related Links http://www.berkshirebank.com DUBAI, UAE, October 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- BIOS Middle East, the United Arab Emirates #1 Cloud Service Provider, is ready to face the future with its new integrated cloud offering. Azure Stack built on Cisco and managed by BIOS brings the power of Microsoft Azure in-country. Azure Stack will provide the same look and feel as Azure while federating to Azure to take advantage of things such as Big Data Analytics, Development tools & Artificial Intelligence. The stack which comes with a fully managed service and security wrap around is available on a shared platform, Azure Stack-as-a-Service or as a dedicated appliance, Azure Stack. The shared platform caters for SME's while the dedicated platform is targeted towards Enterprises. BIOS will be formally launch this groundbreaking new product on the CISCO stand at GITEX 2017, the Middle East's largest IT industry exhibition. Azure Stack-as-a-Service and Azure Stack unlocks the agility of cloud-based applications for in-country and on premise networks, delivering Azure services from BIOS's datacenters to customers in the Middle East. With these new offerings organizations can now build modern applications across hybrid cloud environments, balancing the right amount of flexibility and control with a consistent set of development tools. Businesses of all sizes can accelerate the development and deployment of new applications with optimal use of resources and keep business critical data in country. This new set of solutions provide a continuous stream of innovation, enabling developers and IT to quickly address business needs without location or compliance limitations. "This new service will speed development pipelines by allowing access to a new set of high-end tools," says Dominic Docherty, BIOS's Founder and Managing Director. "It enables the power of the cloud computing across corporate assets to compete in a truly global marketplace. As technological investment in the Middle East and UAE continues to grow, we are ready to offer key services to clients throughout the region." This new service is supported by BIOS's existing infrastructure, marrying hybrid and private cloud platforms with a new set of powerful tools. For organizations already standardized on Microsoft's Azure platform, this new flexibility means development tools and environment can stay consistent, shortening time to market and reducing time between iterations. Customers will have access to the full suite of Azure web and mobile services, containers and micro-service architectures to update and extend existing applications or build new ones. Azure-Stack-as-a-Service and Azure Stack can be used to process data in-country, reducing customer-facing latency issues dramatically and cutting down on costs. While round-trip latency to Azure Global Datacenters can be as much as 200 milliseconds from the UAE, local Azure Stack instances can provide 20 milliseconds latency. Azure-Stack-as-a-Service and Azure Stack can also be used to build applications that meet regulatory and policy requirements, with easy options for global audits, financial reporting, healthcare and foreign exchange trading. By combining Azure Stack, BIOS 10 years' experience in delivering cloud solutions in the UAE and BIOS's unique in-region infrastructure, companies will have the technology platform they need to drive growth and compete in the global marketplace. The platform is supported with managed cloud services and managed security services, including BIOS's 24/7 NOC and SOC, both based in the United Arab Emirates. By combining Azure Stack with managed services and security, customers get the only true hybrid cloud solution available in the market. Hybrid cloud technology has already been identified as a major business requirement, with nearly 80 percent of large organizations (more than 1,000 employees) already using hybrid cloud infrastructure. BIOS is ready to answer that client demand with an extensible, secure solution that leverages the flexibility of the hybrid cloud with the security, power and familiarity of Azure. BIOS have been building private cloud services for more than a decade and providing public cloud services for more than five years. BIOS is a CISCO Gold partner and CISCO Master Managed Service provider and operates the only CISCO-powered certified cloud in the United Arab Emirates. In 2017, BIOS's cloud platform CloudHPT was included alongside tech giants in Gartner's Disaster-Recovery-as-a-Service Magic Quadrant, receiving a "Visionary" ranking. In addition BIOS was Cisco and Veeam's cloud provider of the year for 2016/17. About BIOS Middle East BIOS Middle East, the UAE's #1 Cloud Service Provider, in conjunction with CISCO we will be launching Azure Stack on the CISCO stand at Gitex 2017. BIOS & Cisco Azure Stack brings the power of Microsoft Azure in-country and in-region. It will be available as a private cloud or on a shared platform. Both of which will federate to Microsoft Azure to allow companies to keep certain data in-country while leveraging Azure to take advantage of Big Data Analytics & Artificial Intelligence. The platform comes complete with managed services and managed security supported by its 24/7 NOC & SOC in the UAE. BIOS is a CISCO Gold partner & CISCO Master Managed Service provider and operates the only CISCO powered certified cloud from the UAE. BIOS is also a Microsoft Azure partner. In 2017 BIOS's cloud platform CloudHPT was listed in Gartner's DRaaS Magic quadrant. For more information, please visit http://www.biosme.com Nidhi Savla Group Marketing Manager BIOS Middle East | CloudHPT Mobile: +971-504569833 Email: [email protected] SOURCE BIOS Middle East DETROIT, Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- CarbonTV debuts the brand new series "Neutral Ground," presented by Chevy Trucks, featuring Bone Collector founder Michael Waddell. "Neutral Ground" is available on-demand for free on www.carbontv.com and CarbonTV OTT apps. In the six-episode mini-series, Waddell is joined in the outdoors by Bone Collector colleague and friend Jackson "Boo" Bishop. First, the hunting pros go on a multiple day turkey hunt in Alabama, alongside two "average joes," with no prior knowledge of the lay of the land and relying solely on their skills as seasoned hunters to succeed thus putting them on "Neutral Ground" with the joes. The teams challenge one another to see who will land the first turkey. The two "average joes" are fans Kyle Edie and Dillion Dixon, who received the opportunity to hunt with Waddell after winning a fan video submission contest on Waddell's Facebook page that received thousands of entries in early 2017. View original casting call video at www.facebook.com/BoogerBottom/videos/10154820129121558. After the hunt, Waddell and Bishop mix things up by heading to the Florida Keys for the first time and immersing themselves in deep sea fishing. With roles now reversed, they will have to apply their fresh new skills to compete against each other and professional fishing boat captains for who will reel in the largest fish. "We are very excited to work with Michael Waddell and his team on Neutral Ground," says Kelley Wolf Griffith, VP of Production at Carbon Media Group. "He is a great fit for our CarbonTV Originals." Waddell co-hosts the television shows "Realtree Road Trips" and "Bone Collector," and serves as the national spokesperson for the National Wild Turkey Federation. Watch "Neutral Ground" now: www.carbontv.com/shows/neutral-ground/seasons/1/episodes/1 About CarbonTV The best of what's happening outdoors is happening here. With more than 200 shows and 6.3 million monthly views, CarbonTV is the leading online streaming destination for outdoor and rural lifestyle video. CarbonTV is the digital home to acclaimed shows, such as Heartlandia, American Elements, Heartland Bowhunter's Behind the Draw, and Mega Truck Series. All video content is available on demand, for free at CarbonTV.com and through the CarbonTV app available on iOS, Android, Roku, Samsung Smart TVs, and Xbox One. To learn more, visit www.carbontv.com. Download the iOS app: http://apple.co/1Niz17J or the Android App: http://bit.ly/2ccI18C. Connect on Facebook: www.facebook.com/CarbonTV. SOURCE CarbonTV Related Links http://www.carbonmedia.com DALLAS, Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Brainspace, a Cyxtera business, today announced a technology partnership with Reveal Data. This partnership will enable Reveal Data to integrate Brainspace's best-of-breed analytics within Reveal Data InControl to further enhance its fast and flexible document review capabilities. The arrangement provides legal teams with the flexibility to meet the diverse challenges of litigation, internal investigations, and compliance projects. Brainspace's advanced visual analytics can be brought into a workflow at any time to follow an investigative pattern of thought, uncover the truth behind the data, and dramatically accelerate document review. This integration exemplifies Brainspace's commitment to partnering with leading software vendors to provide the best available technology to address the complex needs of investigators and attorneys across the enterprise, law firms, and litigation service providers. "Reveal Data's InControl has rapidly become one of the most trusted and capable platforms in eDiscovery," said Dave Copps, chief executive officer for Brainspace. "The combination of our two specialties analytics and review provide a compelling alternative to other market players tacking on 'analytics' as an afterthought. The integration of Brainspace analytics has created a powerful and scalable system that can quickly surface patterns and insight, dramatically accelerating review in even the largest digital investigations." InControl from Reveal Data can be used throughout the eDiscovery process to perform document review, processing, project management and productions. InControl is designed to make the users' experience a success at each phase. Reveal Data has designed InControl to be an agile, innovative, cost effective resource. It is the only application available exclusively through channel partners which can be deployed behind a firewall or in the cloud. Reveal Data is easing the capital expense as organizations transition away from other document review technologies. "Brainspace is the most innovative and thought-provoking technology available to our clients," said Wendell Jisa, chief executive officer for Reveal Data. "In combination with InControl it enables the legal industry to change the way they conduct business. We believe this combination is greater than the sum of its parts, and our clients will benefit greatly from this integration." About Brainspace Brainspace, a Cyxtera business, is altering the field of digital investigations through the unique combination of machine learning technology and interactive data visualizations. Our unique solutions utilize our patented Brainspace platform and are leading the industry in text analytics, e-discovery, digital investigations and defense intelligence. Our customers include the Fortune 500, leading consulting firms, legal service providers, and government agencies. About Reveal Data Reveal Data Corporation is paving the way for a more flexible e-discovery solution by combining processing, document review, analysis and production into a faster e-discovery application. Our customizable technology and flexible licensing options provide our channel partners the opportunity to scale to their client's needs faster than any other application in our industry around the globe. Our customers and their customers include legal service providers, the Fortune 500, law firms, government agencies and financial institutions on 5 continents and in more than 42 countries. CONTACT: Jacob Morse, [email protected] SOURCE Brainspace Related Links http://www.brainspace.com BOISE, Idaho and WEST DES MOINES, Iowa, Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Kno2, the company that optimizes patient document exchange for everyone in healthcare, and Briggs Healthcare, a trusted partner and a leading provider of a variety of compliance tools to the long-term care, assisted living, home care, hospice, hospital, physician and clinics and other healthcare markets, today announced a partnership agreement. The combined capabilities of these two leaders in their respective areas will give post-acute care organizations the agility to meet rapidly changing compliance requirements, enhance efficiencies and quickly expand interoperability. It will also accelerate their transition to electronic documentation no matter where they are on that journey, enabling them to significantly reduce readmissions, improve patient care, and decrease administrative costs in a space that is urgently seeking relief from operational expenses. All post-acute care providers will be able to benefit from the partnership, from those who use paper for the majority of patient charting all the way through to those who have a fully deployed electronic health record (EHR) system. "This is an important strategic step forward because it brings together two organizations who have an immense presence in post-acute care, as well as in other areas of healthcare," said Dustin Epstein, chief digital officer at Briggs Healthcare. "There is a natural synergy between our two companies. Briggs is the gold standard for paper-based forms for post-acute care, and has now taken a leadership position in electronic forms. Kno2 is the most widely deployed platform for connectivity and interoperability for EHR vendors in that space. By pooling our efforts and resources, we can make it easier for post-acute care providers to fully adopt electronic documentation. This will enhance patient care, ensure compliance with government requirements and drive down costs while also making them more attractive referral partners for hospitals and health systems." From paper to electronic Briggs Healthcare has long been the most dominant provider of paper forms in the post-acute care sector. These forms are used to capture a wide variety of patient/resident health information to document compliance with federal and state requirements, as well as day-to-day care coordination activities, in the most clinically friendly and efficient manner possible. Many post-acute providers lag behind acute care facilities in implementing EHRs and continue to rely on Briggs Healthcare paper forms. In addition, many post-acute providers that have or are implementing EHRs are choosing to maintain usage of Briggs Healthcare forms for clinical purposes including familiarity, value-added content and compliance purposes. To address this issue and help ease the transition to electronic documentation, Briggs Healthcare developed electronic versions of its forms under the eBriggs brand. eBriggs enables post-acute care providers to move to fully electronic documentation or to print the forms on-demand rather than ordering pre-printed forms. Print-on-demand eliminates issues of obsolescence since the forms are always updated automatically in the system, ensuring that staff is using the most current forms. It also mitigates the cost and environmental impact of disposing of boxes of obsolete forms held in inventory. With the integration of Kno2's electronic document exchange capabilities, post-acute care providers now gain electronic connectivity to hospitals and health systems, making them more attractive referral partners, while joining the more than 2.5 million providers in Kno2's national healthcare directory. It also gives these facilities the instant ability to participate in electronic, secure exchange of patient records, even in the absence of an EHR. Electronic forms, in conjunction with secure and interoperable document exchange all for the same investment being made in paper forms today will be a significant enhancement to those still using patient charts to manage care. Interoperability with EHRs Post-acute care providers that already have a partially or fully deployed EHR also stand to benefit from the new Briggs Healthcare/Kno2 partnership. They immediately gain access to the entire eBriggs form library to address important compliance and regulatory needs beyond the key assessment, which they can print on-demand if necessary. In addition to obtaining connectivity and access to Kno2's national healthcare directory, in many cases providers can take advantage of Kno2's integration within their current EHR. This advanced integration gives facilities the ability to use a well-known and familiar form to document care while charting the information electronically, making it easy to attach directly to a resident/patient record. Kno2 is currently integrated into roughly 70 percent of the EHRs designed specifically for post-acute care providers. "The partnership of Kno2 and Briggs Healthcare reflects and reinforces our shared commitment to uniting all healthcare providers everywhere," said Jon Elwell, CEO of Kno2. "It takes a dedicated effort, combined with easy-to-use yet powerful tools, to raise the level of connectivity and electronic document exchange for post-acute care providers. Our mutual vision is that our combined technologies will finally bring into the fold the post-acute care providers and complete the circle of patient care." About Briggs Healthcare Briggs Healthcare has been a trusted partner and a leading provider of a variety of compliance tools to the long-term care, assisted living, home care, hospice, hospital, physician and clinics and other health care markets for more than 70 years. Briggs serves more than 50,000 customers with professional documentation systems and forms, compliance services and data submission and analytic capabilities through our subsidiary SimpleLTC. Visit Briggs online at BriggsHealthcare.com for more information. About Kno2 Kno2 optimizes patient document exchange for everyone in healthcare. The company's cloud-based platform improves the healthcare experience for providers and their patients by making the sharing of documents easy, affordable and secure. Even healthcare providers with limited resources can participate in the simple, structured exchange of patient documentswithout changing their workflow or technology infrastructure. The Kno2 platform captures and exchanges documents from virtually any source, ranging from a fax machine to an EMR/EHR. The intelligent platform determines the most interoperable format and method of exchange for a document. All of this functionality is available through a simple set of APIs or through Kno2's provider portal. Learn more about how Kno2 adds value to patient document exchange at www.kno2.com. Media Contact for Kno2: Joy DiNaro Amendola Communications [email protected] 847.809.0406 Media Contact for Briggs Healthcare: Tim Caver Briggs Healthcare [email protected] 847.525.0263 SOURCE Kno2 Related Links http://www.kno2.com MELVILLE, N.Y., Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Canon Solutions America, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Canon U.S.A., Inc. today announced an expansion to its award-winning Professional Services offerings through a partnership with Keypoint Intelligence InfoTrends, developed to strengthen business development and expansion. The collaboration with Keypoint Intelligence InfoTrends is poised to help Canon Solutions America customers uncover new inkjet market opportunities and allow them to make informed decisions when entering the fastest-growing sector within the printing industry. Canon Solutions America recognizes that print service providers (PSPs) need more than leading technology in today's market. To facilitate business expansion and to migrate to high-speed inkjet, they need a strategic business plan that defines the right applications combined with a business strategy to match the capabilities of today's technologies. "We are committed to developing industry-leading resources that help ensure the success of our customers and our customers' clients and this partnership is guaranteed to further support this goal," said Francis A. McMahon, senior vice president, Marketing, Production Print Solutions, Canon Solutions America. "By offering services provided by InfoTrends, customers can tap into a long history of enabling successful digital printing businesses to help reduce the learning curve for sales teams and realize profitable revenues more quickly. Sales training needs will be addressed with a level of expertise that would take companies years to develop." Based on experience, Keypoint Intelligence InfoTrends will deliver Canon Solutions America Production Print Solutions customers the help they need to: Understand the inkjet market and technology trends Provide objective research and meaningful recommendations for the PSPs business strategy Deliver sales training to articulate the value proposition associated with migrating traditional offset to a digital world Keypoint Intelligence, built upon the preeminent InfoTrends and Buyers Lab brands, has been on the forefront of digital business communications technology for over 20 years, advising technology and equipment vendors, print and communications service providers, and their customers about strategy, sales, operations, and workflow to help them grow and transform their businesses. Through direct interaction with PSPs and their organizations in a structured workshop, Keypoint Intelligence InfoTrends will collaborate on how to most effectively position business leaders' products and services for growth, and help to educate their sales force on how to deliver an effective value proposition. This will be done by developing an action plan with detailed and executable steps to help customers achieve their goals. "With color inkjet being the fastest-growing sector within the printing industry, the companies that will succeed are those that take the initiative to accelerate innovation, growth, and customer value," said Kate Dunn, director at Keypoint Intelligence InfoTrends. "We are proud that Canon Solutions America will be including our customer strategy services as part of their portfolio, as they have a clear vision for the future of inkjet and will drive incredible innovation for the industry by empowering their customers through educational resources. Keypoint Intelligence will provide the clarity customers need to help make every decision with confidence." Canon Solutions America continues to be dedicated to providing its customers with unparalleled service and support. Throughout every aspect of customer solutions, its team of highly trained professionals has one goal helping maximize a customer's investment and enhance their core business. Whether the team is integrating a solution into a client's existing workflow or designing one from scratch, companies can rely on Canon Solutions America's Professional Services team for implementation, training, continuing support, and solution support services. Whenever you need it, Canon Solutions America is here to help and support businesses of all sizes. Currently the company's offerings incorporate: Application Consulting Print Media Consulting Document Workflow Consulting Canon Workflow Consulting and Training Implementation and Project Management Services Remote Training and Solutions Support Services Click here to learn more about this team of industry professionals and how they can help your business and its operations become more efficient starting today. About InfoTrends InfoTrends is the leading worldwide market research and strategic consulting firm for the imaging, document solutions, production print, and digital media industries. We provide insights and advice to help clients understand market trends, identify opportunities, and grow their business. For media inquiries contact Donna O'Malley at [email protected] or +1 781.616.2116. About Keypoint Intelligence Keypoint Intelligence is a global data and market intelligence leader for the digital imaging industry. The company has over 125 professionals around the world who provide critical planning and go-to-market services, including in-depth market research, competitive intelligence, sales training, product testing, content creation, and customer engagement. For more information, contact Mike Fergus at [email protected] or +1 973.797.2150. About Canon Solutions America, Inc. Canon Solutions America provides industry leading enterprise, production, and large format printing solutions, supported by exceptional professional service offerings. With the technology offerings of the Canon and Oce brands, Canon Solutions America helps companies of all sizes improve sustainability, increase efficiency, and control costs through high volume, continuous feed, digital and traditional printing, and document management solutions. A wholly owned subsidiary of Canon U.S.A., Inc., Canon Solutions America is headquartered in Melville, N.Y. and has sales and service locations across the U.S. For more information on Canon Solutions America, please visit csa.canon.com. Canon is a registered trademark of Canon Inc. in the United States and elsewhere. Oce is a registered trademark of Oce-Technologies B.V. in the United States and elsewhere. All other referenced product names and marks are trademarks of their respective owners and are hereby acknowledged. 2017 Canon Solutions America, Inc. All rights reserved. Canon Solutions America, Inc. Website: http://csa.canon.com For sales info/customer support: 1-844-443-INFO (4636) Editorial Contact: Conor Febos 631-330-4109 [email protected] SOURCE Canon Solutions America, Inc. Related Links https://csa.canon.com BOULDER, Colo., Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Canopy, a venture fund and business accelerator for ancillary products and services companies in the legal cannabis industry, is pleased to announce open registration for its 2nd FREE JumpStart Conference for Entrepreneurs & Startups, as well as Demo Days in 4 cities to mark the graduation of its Fall 2017 CanopyBoulder cohort. "When investing in cannabis startups, it is important to think about goals and success in the long-term rather than the short-term," said Micah Tapman, co-founder and Managing Director of Canopy's growth fund. "Canopy's accelerator program helps us to find and develop promising new companies, while allowing Canopy's growth fund to foster their future success as the industry continues to mature." Canopy's nine companies will present their ancillary products and services to an audience of investors, industry VIPs, and select media in San Francisco on October 12th, Boulder on October 18th, Denver on October 19th, and Las Vegas on November 13th. In addition, Canopy will produce its 2nd FREE Canopy JumpStart Conference for Entrepreneurs & Startups on October 19th at Cultivated Synergy, a cannabis industry coworking and event space in Denver, Colorado. Further details around all the events are available at www.canopy.vc. "Our fall cohort of computer vision, IoT, online education, quality management, industrial services, and software companies are focused on solving the pressing business problems of the legal cannabis industry," said Patrick Rea, co-founder and Managing Director of Canopy. "There is no better time to launch an innovative company in the cannabis industry." Each company accepted to Canopy's 16-week business accelerator program receives $30,000 in seed funding and a chance to earn an additional $50,000 in during in the program. The Canopy investment model prioritizes connecting its portfolio companies with experienced mentors, industry pros, Canopy alumni, and a broader cannabis investor network, including investor members of Canopy partner, The Arcview Group. The nine companies graduating from the fall cohort include: Virtugro has created a cloud-based connected indoor agriculture monitoring system that allows cultivators to cut waste and optimize yield. Founded by Mark Stratton of Silverthorne, CO , Russ Baker of Black Hawk, CO and Leland Sindt of Kansas City, KS. of , of and of BDTNDR.co incentivizes budtenders to engage in a brand-focused learning management system modules and become experts on new products in the cannabis industry. Founded by Ebony Costain from Richmond, VA . from . Cannabis Quality Group is a cloud-based quality management software that reduces risk, streamlines quality processes, and designed to give cannabis companies more transparency and control over their increasingly complex supply chains. Founded by Donavan Bennett of Roswell, GA and Joe Novalany of Edison, NJ . of and of . Serene is a corporate wellness program for cannabis industry companies. The employees/users are incentivized to digitally record their health and wellness activities, and earn rewards. Founded by Ed Mcllory and Adam Bray , of London, England . , of . Redfield Proctor solves efficiency problems in the cannabis industry and monetizes commercial grow waste. Founded by Stephen Martin of Quechee, VT . of . Dispenserly is an online software platform focused on helping dispensaries collect, analyze, monitor, and monetize consumer/customer reviews. Founded by Matt Cooke of Ann Arbor, MI and Kevin Smithwick of Storrs, CT . of and Kevin Smithwick of . DeepGreen utilizes artificial intelligence and computer vision to identify problems in crops earlier than which can be identified by the human eye to decrease costs and increase margins. Founded by an international team hailing from France and Germany - Maxime Clauss and Maximilian Unfried . and - and . GreenScreens manages a rapidly growing network of digital flat-screens in dispensaries (and other retailers) that rotate menu information, education, and advertising to target customers in the store at the point of sale. Founded by Ryan Sterling and Martin DeFrance of Aspen, CO , and Jeremy Klammer of Denver, CO. and of , and of 420 Klean s a central distributor of industry-specific cleaning products and services to cultivators, extractors, and dispensaries in the cannabis industry. Founded by John Kelly , Trever Boothby , Greg Pace , and Colin Wells of Steamboat Springs, CO. Canopy is now accepting submissions for its 16-week Spring 2018 accelerator program in Boulder, CO, which offers up to $80,000 in seed funding for ancillary cannabis startups, as well as mentor and investor connections. Interested applicants can view full details and apply here. About Canopy Canopy is a venture fund and business accelerator that invests in companies developing ancillary products and services for the legal cannabis industry. Companies are handpicked to receive up to $80,000 in capital and participate in an intensive 16-week accelerator program. Canopy advisors and mentors work closely with each company, helping define business models, refine unique selling propositions, and focus marketing and fundraising activities. For more information, please visit www.canopyboulder.com. About The Arcview Group Founded in 2010, The Arcview Group is responsible for a number of groundbreaking ventures in the cannabis industry. The Arcview Investor Network includes more than 600 accredited investors who have put more than $152 million behind over 162 companies. Arcview Market Research produces the State of Legal Marijuana Markets report, which is the most oft-cited market data report. In 2015, Arcview became a partner in Canopy, the first seed-stage mentor-driven business accelerator in the cannabis industry. Arcview is also co-founder of Cannasure Insurance Services, the leading provider of business insurance to the cannabis industry. For more information, please visit www.arcviewgroup.com. SOURCE Canopy Related Links http://www.canopyboulder.com WARREN, Mich., Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Snap! Share! Win! Nigel Barker, the internationally renowned celebrity fashion photographer who turned his eye for style toward furniture design last year, will greet guests and introduce his new NB2 Collection at Art Van Furniture in Kildeer (20393 N. Rand Road) and Downers Grove (1021 Butterfield Road) on Saturday, October 14. Barker will take selfies with fans between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. in Kildeer and 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. in Downers Grove. Fans can share their photos on social media, using the hashtag #sofaselfie #artvan, for a chance to win a $500 Art Van gift card. He will discuss his inspiration for his NB2 Collection, an expression of his cosmopolitan New York City lifestyle. This modern collection is highlighted by sleek silhouettes and classic shapes pairing minimalist style with maximum comfort. "After our first collaboration with Nigel, when this accomplished photographer shot our Art Van catalog, our joint passion for sharing great style and design in innovative ways with people everywhere, was undeniable," said Kim Yost, president and CEO of Art Van Furniture. "Nigel has developed a special relationship with our guests, connecting with them personally and through his stunning furniture." The NB2 Collection for living room, dining room and bedroom features a deep seating sofa, genuine leather accent chairs, velvet daybed, occasional tables with cafe noir wood, and signature canopy bed with antique brass and upholstered headboard. Barker's NB1 Collection debuted in September 2016, paying homage to his international travels. Both lines are available exclusively at Art Van Furniture. For more information, visit artvan.com. About Art Van Furniture Art Van Furniture is the Midwest's largest furniture retailer. The company operates more than 120 stores throughout Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Iowa, including freestanding Art Van PureSleep mattress stores, Art Van Flooring stores, Art Van Furniture franchise locations and Scott Shuptrine Interiors, the interior design division of Art Van Furniture, as well as a full-service e-commerce website. Founded in 1959, the company is headquartered in Warren, Mich. Visit artvan.com for more information. SOURCE Art Van Furniture Related Links http://www.artvan.com NEW YORK, Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The Conference Board Measure of CEO Confidence, which reached prerecession highs in the first quarter, declined for a second consecutive time in the third quarter of 2017. The Measure now reads 59, down from 61 in the second quarter (a reading of more than 50 points reflects more positive than negative responses). "CEO confidence declined again in the third quarter and has cooled since hitting pre-recession highs at the start of this year," said Lynn Franco, Director of Economic Indicators at The Conference Board. "CEOs still rate current conditions in the US favorably, but their short-term expectations for growth have eased. CEOs also remain optimistic about the growth prospects for both mature and emerging economies, but expectations for Brazil are moderately negative. Regarding spending plans, about 29 percent of CEOs say they have boosted their capital spending plans since January and only 14 percent claim they have scaled plans back." CEOs' assessment of current economic conditions was mixed. Currently, 56 percent say conditions are better compared to six months ago, down from 60 percent in the second quarter. Business leaders, however, are more positive in their appraisal of current conditions in their own industries. Now, 53 percent say conditions in their own industries have improved, up from 47 percent last quarter. Looking ahead, CEOs' optimism regarding the short-term outlook for the economy is slightly more pessimistic. Currently, 39 percent expect economic conditions to improve over the next six months, compared to 41 percent last quarter. However, 14 percent expect economic conditions to worsen, compared to 3 percent last quarter. About 36 percent of CEOs anticipate an improvement in their own industries over the next six months, down from 48 percent in the second quarter of this year. Global Outlook CEOs' assessment of current conditions for the United States moderated from levels seen in the second quarter, while their assessment of current conditions for Europe and Japan were more positive. Despite a slight decline, CEOs' assessment of current conditions remains positive for India. Sentiment for China was neutral, while Brazil held steady but remains slightly negative. Looking ahead, CEOs' short-term expectations for the United States and Europe remain positive, but less upbeat than last quarter. Expectations for India improved slightly, while sentiment regarding China and Japan remained slightly positive. The outlook for Brazil continued to deteriorate. Capital Spending Plans Up Moderately About 29 percent of chief executives report increasing their companies' capital spending plans since January of this year, while about 14 percent claimed to have scaled back spending, based on a supplementary question. In 2016, when we last asked this question, 23 percent of respondents had increased their capital spending plans and an equal portion of respondents had made cuts. An increase in expected sales volume was the most common reason given for increasing capital investment plans. Results are from surveys fielded from mid-August to mid-September 2017 Source: CEO Confidence Survey 3rd Quarter 2017 The Conference Board ABOUT THE CONFERENCE BOARD The Conference Board is a global, independent business membership and research association working in the public interest. Our mission is unique: To provide the world's leading organizations with the practical knowledge they need to improve their performance and better serve society. Winner of the Consensus Economics 2016 Forecast Accuracy Award (U.S.), The Conference Board is a non-advocacy, not-for-profit entity holding 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt status in the United States. www.conference-board.org SOURCE The Conference Board Related Links http://www.conference-board.org CH2M's preliminary front end engineering design (Pre-FEED) deliverables support final decision-making on the hub location, layout, and the form and method of construction of the inshore hub and support to marine operations and project execution planning. BP named KBR as an Engineering Services Contractor for the Tortue development, and KBR selected CH2M as the BP-approved civil and marine engineering support provider. According to Dr Colin Skipper, CH2M Vice President and Practice Director, "CH2M has a strong civil and marine works portfolio for global energy producers, and we are pleased to perform a critical role working with KBR on this technically challenging project for BP. Delivering this project requires deep technical experience and innovative thinking--qualities on which our reputation has been built." With a longstanding oil and gas industry service record, CH2M has worked for major energy producers on many projects around the world for over 30 years. Civil and marine engineering support for the Tortue are being delivered in the UK by CH2M's international terminal, pipeline and infrastructure engineering team. About CH2M CH2M leads the professional services industry delivering sustainable solutions benefiting societal, environmental and economic outcomes with the development of infrastructure and industry. In this way, CH2Mers make a positive difference providing consulting, design, engineering and management services for clients in water; environment and nuclear; transportation; energy and industrial markets, from iconic infrastructure to global programmes like the Olympic Games. Ranked among the World's Most Ethical Companies and top firms in environmental consulting and programme management, CH2M in 2016 became the first professional services firm honored with the World Environment Center Gold Medal Award for efforts advancing sustainable development. Connect with CH2M at www.ch2m.com; LinkedIn; Twitter; and Facebook. Contact: John Petraglia CH2M, Corporate Marketing and Communications 510-587-7509 [email protected] SOURCE CH2M Related Links http://www.ch2m.com GARNER | Garner community members and GoServ Global are calling on area residents to help the victims of Hurricane Harvey through a Stuff the Bus drive. GoServ Global, a faith-based disaster relief organization headquartered in Eagle Grove, is hoping to fill the school bus with items like cleaning supplies, hygiene items, diapers, formula, new socks and underwear, paper goods and tools. Items can be dropped off at the Garner Chamber of Commerce, 485 State St., until Friday, Oct. 6. The school bus, which was donated by Schmidt Trucking, will be delivered by IMT Transport to Houston, where GoServ Global will eventually bring it to Nueva Concepcion in Guatemala. Financial donations may also be made to the cause by visiting www.goservglobal.org/give and selecting Hurricane Harvey in the drop-down. For questions, call Deb Schmidt at 641-425-9985. Ashley Stewart SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Chilean government officials were joined by San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee and more than 200 guests representing a variety of business sectors yesterday to celebrate the opening of InvestChile in San Francisco, the foreign investment promotion agency's first overseas office. InvestChile in San Francisco is the first of three global outposts announced by the Latin American economic powerhouse last year as part of its bold new strategy by to promote foreign direct investment. The San Francisco office targeting North American partnerships will be headed by Investment Commissioner Patricia Hansen. In months ahead, InvestChile will also open an Asian office in Tokyo, and a European office in Frankfurt, Germany. Chilean President Michelle Bachelet cited innovation, entrepreneurship and technology among shared strengths that were instrumental in Chile's decision to locate its first global InvestChile office in San Francisco, in her pre-recorded video message for yesterday's celebration. "Its selection for InvestChile's first office reflects Chile's intention of serving the world's most sophisticated companies as their port of entry into Latin America, using the region's leading country as a hub," Bachelet said. "Chile is a country of opportunities, and through InvestChile we can help you to take advantage of those opportunities, working with our global-minded and talented professionals, and enjoying the leading business environment in Latin America." Among many business opportunities Chile offers for foreign direct investment, industry sectors emphasized by InvestChile include: global services and technology; food industry and agriculture; green energy; eco-tourism; mining technologies and services; and a vast mineral wealth comprising more than half the world's lithium reserves and 29 percent of its copper resources. "Historically, Chile has been an attractive country because of its natural resources, its solidity and stability," said InvestChile Director Carlos Alvarez at yesterday's event in San Francisco. "Ours is a reliable country, with excellent credit ratings and indices close to those of the developed countries. But we are not satisfied: our country has the opportunities and the talent to move on to a new phase, one that is in tune with the fourth industrial revolution." Learn more about InvestChile at https://investchile.gob.cl/; and view Chilean President Michelle Bachelet's video message at: https://twitter.com/InvestChile/status/915750880359649281. SOURCE InvestChile Related Links https://investchile.gob.cl/ Major Accounts John Alfieri has been appointed Executive Vice President of North America Major Accounts, which serves large U.S. and Canadian-based companies. In this role, Mr. Alfieri will be responsible for field operations for the company's Major Accounts business, and for developing and implementing strategies designed to deliver Chubb's comprehensive suite of risk management solutions to large domestic and multinational companies. He will also oversee Chubb's network of client executives, and the large account distribution management team working closely with the broader North America Field Operations team. Mr. Alfieri will report to Matthew Merna, Chief Operating Officer of Chubb's North America Major Accounts division, and continue to be based in New York. Prior to this role, Mr. Alfieri served as Chubb's Regional Executive Officer (REO), for the New York Region. "Chubb's New York Region has thrived under John's leadership," said Chris Maleno, Division President of Chubb North America Major Accounts. "Furthermore, Chubb's extensive network of regional and branch offices enable us to better align with our distribution partners and more effectively meet the needs of clients locally. John has more than three decades of experience in the large account segment of the industry and is recognized throughout North America for his deep expertise and understanding of the unique risks often faced by clients. He brings tremendous value to how Chubb works strategically with clients and the brokers and agents that represent them, and further exemplifies the strength of our deep bench of talented field leaders." New York Region With the appointment of Mr. Alfieri, Peter Tucker will take on the role of REO for Chubb's New York region, and focus his efforts on executing the underwriting and sales strategies of the North American business units, staff management, production, profit and loss, and distribution management for the region. He will report to Jerry Butler, Division President, Field Operations, North America Insurance and will be based in New York. Prior to this appointment, Mr. Tucker served as Chubb's Regional Chief Operating Officer (RCOO) for the New York Region. Amy Feller, who previously served as Chubb's Long Island Branch Manager since 2010, will now assume responsibility as the company's New York RCOO and New York City Branch Manager, reporting to Mr. Tucker. In this role, Ms. Feller will work with Mr. Tucker in overseeing and managing the overall strategy around underwriting, distribution and sales in the New York region. As New York city Branch Manager, she will support the overall performance of retail branches throughout New York area, with special attention to sales, customer experience, and growth objectives. Ms. Feller has more than 25 years of insurance industry experience, having started at Chubb as a personal lines underwriter and later moving into commercial lines. Throughout her tenure, she has held numerous positions of increasing responsibility within Chubb underwriting and field leadership. Kevin Guinan has been named Chubb's new Long Island Branch Manager, and will also report to Mr. Tucker. In this capacity, Mr. Guinan will be responsible for business development, distribution management, customer relations and staff development within the region. Prior to this new position, Mr. Guinan served as Chubb's Executive Vice President and Eastern Underwriting Center Manager in Chubb's commercial lines business. With more than two decades of industry experience, Mr. Guinan has developed an outstanding track record of success, including managing commercial underwriting in the field and in the Eastern Underwriting Center for Chubb. "Chubb has an extensive presence in the New York Region, across personal and commercial lines of business," said Mr. Butler. "Peter, Amy and Kevin bring deep ties to the New York and Long Island broker and client communities. Their extensive industry experience and strong understanding of the specific needs within the New York area represent the quality of service Chubb is known for in the marketplace. And, that combination positions them well to further lead our next phase of growth within the region." About Chubb Chubb is the world's largest publicly traded property and casualty insurance company, and the largest commercial insurer in the United States. With operations in 54 countries, Chubb provides commercial and personal property and casualty insurance, personal accident and supplemental health insurance, reinsurance and life insurance to a diverse group of clients. As an underwriting company, we assess, assume and manage risk with insight and discipline. We service and pay our claims fairly and promptly. The company is also defined by its extensive product and service offerings, broad distribution capabilities, exceptional financial strength and local operations globally. Parent company Chubb Limited is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: CB) and is a component of the S&P 500 index. Chubb maintains executive offices in Zurich, New York, London and other locations, and employs approximately 31,000 people worldwide. Additional information can be found at: chubb.com. Chubb, Chubb logo and Chubb. Insured.SM are trademarks of Chubb. SOURCE Chubb Related Links https://www2.chubb.com/us-en PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, David L. Cohen, Comcast Corporation's Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer; Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro; Philadelphia Mayor James Kenney; and Ric Harris, President and General Manager of NBC10 and Telemundo62 announced a new Internet Essentials partnership to educate seniors, parents, and children across the Commonwealth about how to stay safe online. This innovative, multi-dimensional effort will combine public service announcements, free in-person training programs, and free educational resources including videos, brochures, and booklets that will also be made available online. "Protecting Pennsylvania consumers is a top priority of the Office of Attorney General," Attorney General Shapiro said. "With this partnership, we're doubling our efforts to educate seniors on Internet safety and do more to protect Pennsylvanians from the scams, fraud, identify theft, and financial exploitation that is costing America's seniors $3 billion every year." Pennsylvania has the fifth most seniors of any state, with 2.2 million residents over the age of 65. That number is only expected to increase over the next several years. According to a Pew Research Center study, 64 percent of seniors regularly use the internet, with more seniors coming online every day. "As a media and technology company, Comcast is uniquely positioned to contribute to this effort," added Cohen. "We also know that one of the major reasons why low-income households, and especially seniors, don't purchase internet service at home is because they're afraid of it. They're afraid of online scams and of being taken advantage of. Fortunately, as part of our Internet Essentials program, we have an outstanding network of nonprofit partners in whom we can invest to teach more seniors, adults, and students that the internet can be perfectly safe once you know how to use it and what to watch out for." Since 2011, Internet Essentials, Comcast's signature community investment program and the nation's largest and most successful broadband adoption initiative for low-income families, has connected more than four million low-income Americans, living in more than one million households, to the Internet. The number includes 272,000 residents across the state of Pennsylvania, which makes it the fourth most successful state in terms of participation in the program with nearly 125,000 from the city of Philadelphia alone. "I want to commend Comcast and the Office of the Attorney General for their partnership to help protect Philadelphia's residents when they are online," said Philadelphia Mayor James Kenney. "The internet is an amazing resource, but our citizens need to be aware of and educated about what they can do to be safe online. This effort will go a long way to reinvigorate that dialogue." Attorney General Shapiro pledged to expand senior education efforts by increasing his Office of Public Engagement's outreach on Internet safety and producing new educational content including videos, brochures, and public service announcements. Through partnerships with Comcast, nonprofits, and other advocates, the Office of Public Engagement will double the number of seniors it educates about Internet safety from an estimated 25,000 in 2016 to at least 50,000 in 2018. At the event today, Cohen announced Comcast would provide in-kind contributions to support a Public Service Announcement across Pennsylvania that will reach millions of residents and help raise awareness about Internet safety issues for seniors, families, and their children. He also said it is making three investments in nonprofit partners including: Philadelphia Corporation for Aging in Philadelphia; Steelton Senior Center in Harrisburg; and Vintage, Inc. in Pittsburgh, to support Internet safety training classes for low-income parents and seniors, along with laptop donations to each organization. In addition, Comcast announced it would print and distribute for free 10,000 copies of "A Senior's Guide to Online Safety," written by Larry Magid, president and CEO of ConnectSafely.org and founder of SafeKids.com. The senior guide was developed and released last year at an Internet Essentials event for seniors in San Francisco. The Company will also add new content to and links from its online Internet Essentials Learning Portal, www.InternetEssentials.com/Learning, where seniors and adults can find and access all of these internet safety materials and more. Ric Harris, President and General Manager of NBC10 and Telemundo62, also announced that his TV stations would produce a series of free educational videos, using its anchors and on-air talent, to address a variety of internet safety and security topics for seniors, parents, and students. The videos will be made in both English and in Spanish. "NBC 10 and Telemundo62 are thrilled to bring our talent and production resources to this partnership," said Harris. "Accessible and engaging content from a trusted news station can go a long way to raise awareness and keep seniors and families safe online. Our goal will be to tackle a variety of internet safety topics like online scams to watch out for, how to create strong passwords, how to protect your privacy online, how to deal with cyberbullying, and more. We'll break these topics down into simple and informative video content, which is exactly what our news teams do best." "Since January, our Office of Public Engagement has delivered more than 800 interactive presentations and reached more than 100,000 Pennsylvanians," Attorney General Shapiro said. "By further expanding and targeting our outreach next year, my Office is focused on educating seniors and protecting them from the scams and fraud being perpetrated online." Anyone interested in scheduling a free presentation with the Office of Public Engagement should contact the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General at 717-772-2424 or [email protected]. SOURCE Comcast Cable The Seamless app makes it easier for public transit riders to pay for their travel without the hassle of missing tickets or cards. Available to U.S., Canadian and European public transit agencies, it's the next-gen approach to ticketless public transit . Operators simply install Near Field Communication (NFC) tags provided by Conduent on their transport network, including trains, buses and trams. Riders download the app onto their NFC-enabled Android smartphone and register with Conduent Seamless to activate their account. The app will also be available for use with Bluetooth-enabled Apple iPhones soon. To travel, riders simply tap their smartphone on any Conduent Seamless NFC tag. During the tap the tag creates and stores an encrypted transaction and relays it to the smartphone, offering the same security guarantees as conventional contactless ticketing. Billing is processed automatically at the end of the month, based on the number of trips completed on the various transport providers. U.S. availability follows a successful pilot in the city and area of Valence, France. A group of 300 participants tested the app in partnership with the local transport authority, Valence Romans Deplacements. "We're thrilled with the results of the pilot study and having achieved a 90 percent satisfaction rating from a customer survey," said Don Hubicki, general manager, Conduent, Public Sector, Transportation. "Conduent Seamless complements existing ticket infrastructures, and the pilot results will help us work with other public transit agencies across the U.S., Canada and Europe who are looking to modernize without replacing their entire system, and enhance the rider's transit experience." Conduent will also have the following solutions on display at the APTA Expo (Booth #7405) in Atlanta, Georgia from October 9-11, 2017: Transportation Analytics: Public transit operators must continuously look for ways to increase capacity and optimize the use of infrastructure. Conduent's transportation analytics provide data so agencies can better manage transportation networks and accurately forecast adjustments to routes, service frequency and stop locations. Public transit operators must continuously look for ways to increase capacity and optimize the use of infrastructure. Conduent's transportation analytics provide data so agencies can better manage transportation networks and accurately forecast adjustments to routes, service frequency and stop locations. Mobile Supervisor Solution: Conduent's Mobile Supervisor Solution is a mobile incident and performance management application. It offers two-way communication between supervisors and vehicle operators, enables dispatch, creates detours and can map views of vehicle locations with turn-by-turn directions providing a new way for staff to effectively respond to incidents, road calls and service issues while in the field. It's accessible using any smartphone, tablet, laptop, or PC via iOS, Google, Android and Windows operating systems. Conduent is a leading provider of public transportation and mobility solutions including Electronic Toll Collection, Transit and Public Transport, Parking and Safety which offer automated, analytics-based, personalized services for government agencies and their constituents. The company has been helping transportation clients in more than 27 countries for over 40 years. Click to Tweet LinkedIn About Conduent Conduent (NYSE: CNDT) is the world's largest provider of diversified business services with leading capabilities in transaction processing, automation and analytics. The company's global workforce is dedicated to helping its large and diverse client base deliver quality services to the people they serve. These clients include 76 of the Fortune 100 companies and over 500 government entities. Conduent's differentiated offerings touch millions of lives every day, including two-thirds of all insured patients in the U.S. and nearly nine million people who travel through toll systems daily. Whether it's digital payments, claims processing, benefit administration, automated tolling, customer care or distributed learning - Conduent manages and modernizes these interactions to create value for both its clients and their constituents. Learn more at www.conduent.com . Note: To receive RSS news feeds, visit www.news.conduent.com. For open commentary, industry perspectives and views, visit http://twitter.com/Conduent, http://www.linkedin.com/company/conduent or http://www.facebook.com/Conduent. Conduent is a trademark of Conduent Incorporated in the United States and/or other countries. i The Pew Charitable Trusts. (May 2016). Who Uses Mobile Payments?. The Pew Charitable Trusts. SOURCE Conduent Incorporated Related Links https://www.conduent.com "At Continental, diversity and inclusion power our engine of growth and propel the drive we need to develop pioneering ideas, innovative products and new business models," said Samir Salman, CEO, Continental North America. "Continental is committed to fostering a more equal gender balance. Our percentage of management positions held by women has increased by double digits and we are committed to continuing this growth." The 22nd Annual Women of Color STEM Conference held October 5-7 at the Cobo Center in Detroit recognizes the significant contributions by women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields and addresses the need for retention and recognition of women in STEM jobs and best practices in diversity and inclusion. Continental will sponsor the 2017 Women of Color STEM Conference Technology Luncheon on Friday, October 6 in Cobo Center's Grand Ballroom, where rising stars and tech all stars will be recognized. The company will also participate in the conference's Career Fair Expo on Saturday, October 7 starting at 10:00 a.m. in Exhibit Hall E2 at Cobo Center. Aruna Anand, head of Continental Engineering Services North America, will receive the Professional Achievement in Industry award during the Women of Color Awards Gala and Dinner on Saturday, October 7 in Cobo Center's Grand Ballroom. Anand has enjoyed a most distinguished career, having held numerous leadership positions of increasing responsibility in each of Continental's divisions. Today, she oversees a team of more than 120 people tasked with developing intelligent technologies for transporting people and their goods around the globe. Anand's technical expertise, coupled with her business acumen, has earned her a reputation as someone who gets things done and done well. "This award intensifies my sense of responsibility to further the growth of women in STEM," said Anand. "I believe it is vital that I do everything to the best of my ability. I'm grateful for this demanding journey that helped unveil strengths I wasn't sure I possessed." Continental will actively recruit at WE17, the world's largest conference and career fair for women in engineering and technology. Held October 26-28, at the Austin Convention Center in Austin, Texas, the Society of Women Engineers convenes, celebrates and inspires more than 10,000 women in all career stages and provides invaluable ways for them to connect to discover career opportunities and pursue professional development. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, women accounted for 14 percent of full-time wage and salary workers in architecture and engineering in the U.S. An article on ASME.org reveals that now, 18 to 20 percent of engineering students are women, compared to the early 1980s when less than six percent of engineers in the U.S. were women. Continental is expanding the range of flexible work practices offered to more than 18,000 employees in the U.S. The company now provides employees a longer paid maternity leave and offers dads paid paternity leave. Telecommuting - the most utilized flexible work option at Continental - is extended to all eligible employees, provided the duties of their job allow them to perform their work at an offsite location. Continental also offers part-time positions and the option for employees to apply for an unpaid sabbatical for up to one year. For more information on Continental Careers or to search for available opportunities, please visit www.careers-continental.com. Continental develops pioneering technologies and services for sustainable and connected mobility of people and their goods. Founded in 1871, the technology company offers safe, efficient, intelligent and affordable solutions for vehicles, machines, traffic and transport. In 2016, Continental generated sales of 40.5 billion and currently employs more than 227,000 people in 56 countries. Links For the latest Continental news and information, follow us on: Facebook www.Facebook.com/ContiPress Twitter www.Twitter.com/ContiPressNA Online press portal: http://www.continental-corporation.com/www/pressportal_com_en/ Online video portal: http://videoportal.continental-corporation.com/ Online media database: http://www.continental-mediacenter.com SOURCE Continental Related Links http://www.continental-corporation.com A simple, efficient, and highly effective design. That was Coravin Founder and Inventor, Greg Lambrecht's objective in developing the new aeration device. Showcasing the company's nimble approach to innovation, the Aerator went from Lambrecht's concept prototype to the consumer launch in just 99 days. Unlike traditional bar tools that use gravity to aerate wine, the Coravin Aerator yields smoother, more aromatic pours by taking advantage of the System's pressurized argon gas instead. The pressure behind the pour allows the small spout-sized device to force wine through 24 carefully placed and sized holes, creating small jets that dramatically expand the surface area of wine exposed to air. This process makes the Coravin Aerator extremely effective in rapidly aerating the wine and yielding silky, smooth, and aromatic results. Preliminary tests indicated that utilizing the new aerator is equivalent to decanting wine for approximately 45 minutes. "Our Coravin team is passionate about enhancing the wine experience by ensuring that wine lovers get elevated enjoyment out of their wine experience," said Lambrecht. "Consumers have expressed a desire for a Coravin aerator since we introduced the original Coravin System in 2013. I'm thrilled that wine lovers around the world can now aerate by the glass, while simultaneously preserving their favorite wines using their existing Coravin Wine Preservation Opener." The Coravin Aerator is constructed from premium materials and features stainless steel accents. The device fits securely on the spout of all Coravin Wine Preservation Openers to aerate any amount of wine. Simply press on the tip and use your Coravin System as you normally would. The Coravin Aerator launch follows the recent addition of the Coravin Screw Cap ($29.95) to the company's innovative portfolio, providing the ability to pour and protect wines closed under screw cap for up to three months. Every Coravin accessory is compatible with all models of its Wine Preservation Openers. The Aerator ($69.95) and all Coravin products are available for purchase online at www.coravin.com and at select retailers and was launched simultaneously in Europe and Asia Pacific as a global product. About Coravin, Inc. Coravin, Inc. is a privately held company located in Burlington, Massachusetts focused on transforming the way wine is served, sold and enjoyed. Coravin designs and markets the Coravin Wine Preservation Opener for wine enthusiasts, restaurants, wine stores and wineries. Unparalleled in craftsmanship and design, Coravin uses proprietary patented technology to access and pour wine from a bottle without pulling the cork. Wine enthusiasts can now enjoy wine sealed with corks without feeling the need to commit to the whole bottle, allowing them to enjoy any wine, any time whether they want a sip, a glass, or more. After enjoying a glass of wine, the remaining wine in the bottle will be perfectly preserved for weeks, months, or even years. For more information, please visit www.coravin.com. Media Contact: Jackie Guzman 561-998-1995 [email protected] SOURCE Coravin, Inc. Related Links http://www.coravin.com NEW YORK, Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- On October 2, 2017, Credit Suisse declared a Coupon Amount for the Credit Suisse S&P MLP Index ETN (the "ETN"). ETN Ticker ETN Name Ex-Date Record Date Coupon Payment Date Coupon Amount per ETN Coupon Frequency Current Yield* MLPO Credit Suisse S&P MLP Index ETN 10/12/17 10/13/17 10/23/17 $0.2423 Quarterly 6.42% * The "Current Yield" equals the current quarterly Coupon Amount, annualized and divided by the Closing Indicative Value of the ETN on September 29, 2017. The Current Yield is not indicative of future quarterly Coupon Amounts, if any, on the ETNs. The quarterly Coupon Amount (if any) is variable and dependent on the most recent distributions of the MLPs included in the index, and such amount does not represent a fixed periodic interest payment. There can be no assurance that the MLPs included in the index will make any distributions in any future period. Press Contact Nicole Sharp, Credit Suisse AG, telephone +1 212 325 8708, [email protected] Azar Boehm, Credit Suisse AG, telephone +1 212 538 3953, [email protected] Credit Suisse ETNs Telephone +1 800 320 1225, [email protected]suisse.com The ETNs may not be suitable for all investors and should be purchased only by knowledgeable investors who understand the potential consequences of investing in the ETNs. The ETNs are subject to the credit risk of Credit Suisse. You may receive less, and possibly significantly less, than the principal amount of your investment at maturity or upon repurchase or sale. Investors will not have any partnership interests or other rights in the MLPs included in the index. Coupon Amounts on the ETNs will vary and could be zero. An investment in the ETNs involves significant risks. For further information regarding risks, please see the section entitled "Risk Factors" in the applicable pricing supplement. Credit Suisse AG Credit Suisse AG is one of the world's leading financial services providers and is part of the Credit Suisse group of companies (referred to here as 'Credit Suisse'). As an integrated bank, Credit Suisse offers clients its combined expertise in the areas of private banking, investment banking and asset management. Credit Suisse provides advisory services, comprehensive solutions and innovative products to companies, institutional clients and high-net-worth private clients globally, as well as to retail clients in Switzerland. Credit Suisse is headquartered in Zurich and operates in over 50 countries worldwide. The group employs approximately 46,230 people. The registered shares (CSGN) of Credit Suisse's parent company, Credit Suisse Group AG, are listed in Switzerland and, in the form of American Depositary Shares (CS), in New York. Further information about Credit Suisse can be found at www.credit-suisse.com. Credit Suisse has filed a registration statement (including a prospectus) with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, for the offering to which this press release relates. Before you invest, you should read the applicable Pricing Supplement, the Prospectus Supplement dated June 30, 2017, and the Prospectus dated June 30, 2017 that Credit Suisse has filed with the SEC for more complete information about Credit Suisse and this offering. You may obtain these documents without cost by visiting EDGAR on the SEC website at www.sec.gov or clicking the hyperlinks below: Pricing Supplement dated June 30, 2017: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1053092/000089109217004787/e74706_424b2.htm Alternatively, Credit Suisse, Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC or any agent or any dealer participating in this offering will arrange to send you the applicable pricing supplement, prospectus supplement and prospectus if you so request by calling 1-800-320-1225. This document was produced by and the opinions expressed are those of Credit Suisse as of the date of writing and are subject to change. Copyright 2017, CREDIT SUISSE GROUP AG and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. SOURCE Credit Suisse AG Related Links http://www.credit-suisse.com "I am deeply honored to serve as President of a community that is so innovative, intellectually rigorous, self-directed, creative, and bold. From its founding in 1926, Sarah Lawrence College has been an imaginative and influential change-maker in higher education a place to take a principled stand when important issues are at stake and a community willing to confront difficult challenges. In this inaugural year, we are building on that legacy. As a college, as a community, we will address pressing questions of national relevance as we ask: Are we prepared to change the odds for students through the education we provide? To change the odds in higher education for those we serve and how we serve them? Sarah Lawrence doesn't stand on ceremony, but we do, and we must, stand for significance." In a moment fitting President Judd's background as a scholar and professor of music, the inaugural ceremony will include the world premiere of a new musical work, "Changing the Odds," composed by Anna Weesner, and performed by the Cosmopolitan Brass Quintet. Democracy and Education: Inauguration Year Theme and Series The inauguration marks the launch of a yearlong series of events exploring the theme "Democracy and Education." John Dewey's landmark book from 1916 of the same name serves as the catalyst to engage on critical issues facing the US and society as a whole, including: What are the essential elements of a "democracy"? Who gets to be a "citizen" and why? How do we learn to speak to one another across deep ideological divides? How can we best balance the ideal of free speech in the face of hate speech? And what role should education and higher education in particular play? These issues were foundational for the College when it was established in 1926 and remain core to its educational mission. This series of inaugural events is as an invitation to the Sarah Lawrence community and to those in higher education and beyond to join in this conversation. The series will officially commence with an inauguration-morning symposium featuring a distinguished panel, including: Martha Minow , Carter Professor of General Jurisprudence, Harvard University Distinguished Service Professor, Harvard Law School , whose work focuses on civil procedure and the intersection of law and education. , , whose work focuses on civil procedure and the intersection of law and education. Salamishah Tillet , University of Pennsylvania Associate Professor of English and Africana Studies , who has explored issues of citizenship and racial democracy. , , who has explored issues of citizenship and racial democracy. Daniel Weiss , The Metropolitan Museum of Art President and CEO , who has held several leadership positions in higher education at Johns Hopkins , Lafayette College and Haverford College . , , who has held several leadership positions in higher education at , and . Moderator: Gregg Horowitz ( Sarah Lawrence College alumus, '80), Professor of Philosophy at Pratt Institute . He has taught at Vanderbilt University , the University of Chicago , and Sarah Lawrence College , and is a past winner of the Berlin Prize at the American Academy in Berlin . Prior to her work at The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, Dr. Judd served as Dean for Academic Affairs and Professor of Music at Bowdoin College, where, working with the faculty, she fostered a culture of spirited intellectual inquiry among students, and an enhanced support for student fellowships and research. Together with colleagues, she created nationally recognized programs for faculty development, championed efforts for diversity and inclusion, and supported new policies addressing work-life balance and workplace equity. Earlier in her career, she was an award-winning Professor of Music at the University of Pennsylvania. President Judd earned degrees in music performance and musicology from the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University and in music theory from King's College, University of London. Her research is widely published, and she has served on the boards of the Society for Music Theory and the American Musicological Society. She succeeds Karen Lawrence, who served as President for 10 years. For more information on the inauguration theme, "Democracy and Education," and its central events, please visit https://www.sarahlawrence.edu/inauguration. About Sarah Lawrence College Founded in 1926, Sarah Lawrence is a prestigious, coeducational liberal arts college that consistently ranks among the leading liberal arts colleges in the country. Sarah Lawrence is known for its pioneering approach to education, rich history of impassioned intellectual and civic engagement, and vibrant, successful alumni. In close proximity to New York City, the historic campus is home to an intellectually curious and diverse community. sarahlawrence.edu SOURCE Sarah Lawrence College Related Links https://www.sarahlawrence.edu PHOENIX, Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Nearly 75,000 Arizonans will turn 65 this year and become Medicare eligible. As many are starting to review their options to identify the right Medicare plan, research shows that 30 percent of older adults delay shopping for Medicare coverage when they are first eligible*, roughly three months before their 65th birthday. Whether aging-in or looking for a new Medicare plan, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona (BCBSAZ) and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona Advantage (BCBSAZ Advantage) urge Arizonans to take action sooner rather than later. There are many options when it comes to Medicare. To help weigh and evaluate 2018 Medicare plans, consider these three things: ask the right questions, consult an expert and remember key dates. Ask the Right Questions To make the best decision for future care, review each plan carefully to ensure the network and benefits are a good match. Start by asking the following questions: Have your health needs changed? What are the costs associated with the plan including deductibles, premiums, copays and out-of-pocket? Is your doctor in the plan's network? Will your prescription drugs be covered and are there limits? Which medical services are most important to you and are they covered? Have you received and reviewed your Annual Notice of Change letter? Does your plan include access to wellness programs or fitness discounts? Look for benefits like those offered through BCBSAZ Advantage's Medicare Advantage plans such as Silver&Fit that provide free access to fitness facilities and specialized exercise classes, or TruHearing, which allows for a hearing exam, fittings, evaluations and two hearings aids per calendar year at low copayments.** Additionally, find out if the plan offers any household discounts. In 2018 BCBSAZ Medicare Supplement plans will offer a Household Discount which allows two or more Medicare Supplement members living in the same household to receive a 5 percent discount on their premium.*** Consult an Expert There are many knowledgeable professionals available to help review plan choices and answer questions. For example, there are 800 Medicare brokers in Arizona who will schedule face-to-face meetings, including some that will make in-home appointments. Consider visiting a dedicated service center that offers informational seminars and one-on-one consultations. For BCBSAZ and BCBSAZ Advantage Medicare locations, as well as appointment times and seminar topics, go to Azblue.com/seniors. For more information about our Medicare benefits and plans, enrollees can call 1-(888) 288-0019 (toll-free) or 711 (TTY) daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Remember the Key Dates Each year Medicare Open Enrollment takes place from October 15 to December 7. This should not be confused with the Affordable Care Act Open Enrollment for individuals, which starts in November. No matter if this is the first time enrolling or the fifth, take the time to learn about eligibility, plan options and Medicare changes. Start by visiting Medicare.gov. About Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona (BCBSAZ) is committed to helping Arizonans get healthier faster and stay healthier longer. With a focus on connecting people with the care they need, BCBSAZ offers health insurance and related services to nearly 1.5 million customers. BCBSAZ, a not-for-profit company, is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. The company employs nearly 1,500 people in its Phoenix, Chandler, Flagstaff and Tucson offices. Through advanced clinical programs and community outreach, BCBSAZ is moving health forward. BCBSAZ Advantage is a joint venture between Banner Health and BCBSAZ to sell Medicare products. BCBSAZ Advantage provides all-in-one Medicare Advantage plans with medical and prescription drug coverage to members in Maricopa and Pima counties and select zip codes in Pinal County. To learn more, visit azblue.com. *Deft Research. BCBSAZ purchases the studies as part of a syndicated research series. 2017 Medicare Age-In Study, July 2017, page 48. Deft 2017 Medicare Age in Study is not endorsed by Medicare. **The Silver&Fit program is provided by American Specialty Health Fitness, Inc., a subsidiary of American Specialty Health Incorporated (ASH). ASH is an independent and separate company contracted with BCBSAZ to provide health and wellness services to BCBSAZ members. The Silver&Fit program is not an insurance policy and does not provide insurance coverage. The relationship between Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona Advantage (BCBSAZ Advantage) and TruHearing is that of independent contractors. TruHearing is an independent and separate company contracted with BCBSAZ to provide hearing services, hearing aids and related accessories to BCBSAZ members. ***Medicare Supplement Household discount does not apply to those living in an assisted living facility. Members must sign an attestation form confirming they have the same address. You are eligible to enroll in a BCBSAZ Medicare Supplement plan if you are age 65 or older, entitled to Medicare Part A, enrolled in Medicare Part B, and you live in the plan service area. You must continue to pay your Medicare Part B premiums (and Part A, if applicable), if not otherwise paid for by Medicaid or another third party. During the first six months when you are age 65 and also enrolled in Medicare Parts A & B you cannot be denied a Medicare Supplement plan when you apply for one, regardless of health status. If you apply outside of this timeframe, you may be subject to medical underwriting. This information is not a complete description of benefits. Contact the plan for more information. Limitations, copayments, and restrictions may apply. Benefits, premiums and/or co-payments/co-insurance may change on January 1 of each year. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona Advantage (HMO) is an HMO plan with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona Advantage depends on contract renewal. Blue MedicareRxSM (PDP) is a Prescription Drug Plan with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in Blue MedicareRx depends on contract renewal. SOURCE Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona Related Links http://www.azblue.com/ KANSAS CITY, Mo., Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- DST Systems, Inc. (NYSE: DST), a leading global strategic advisory, technology, and operations outsourcing company, today announced it was honored with two NICSA 2017 NOVA Awards -- one for Innovation in Product Development and Marketing for its risk and compliance intelligence suite, and the second for Mike Akins as a NOVA Emerging Leader in the Asset Management Industry. The NOVA Award for Innovation in Product Development and Technology recognizes trendsetting product development and marketing. The recipients of this award demonstrate outstanding leadership in concept development and delivery resulting in "game changing" investment products or services. DST recognized the industry's need to find new ways to help financial services firms in their compliance programs and show proof of oversight. DST's Risk and Compliance Intelligence Suite provides tools to assist with various compliance and supervisory testing activities across an organization through a single platform. The Risk and Compliance Intelligence Suite helps firms to scale up their compliance programs, optimize their resource footprint and spend, and drive transparency as needs dictate all through an integrated compliance framework. Nick Nichols, Vice President of Risk and Compliance Intelligence at DST, in accepting the Innovation in Product Development and Marketing Award on behalf of the Company, said, "We greatly appreciate this recognition by NICSA for the work of our dedicated team and our drive toward excellence in innovation. We are proud of our achievements and consider it a win every time we help companies address some of the complexities of maintaining regulatory compliance and dealing with new forms of risk." Mike Akins, SVP and Head of ETF's at ALPS, a subsidiary of DST, was also honored this year as one of NICSA's NOVA Emerging Leaders in the Asset Management Industry. This award recognizes investment professionals demonstrating excellence in performance innovation with outstanding contributions to the development of the asset management industry. "We are proud to be recognized by NICSA this year for all our hard work in the ETF space at ALPS," said Mr. Akins. This year's awards presentation took place today, October 5th at NICSA's 2017 General Membership Meeting in Boston. About DST DST Systems, Inc. (NYSE: DST) is a leading provider of specialized technology, strategic advisory, and business operations outsourcing to the financial and healthcare industries. DST enables clients to transform complexity into strategic advantage by helping them continually stay ahead of and capitalize on ever-changing customer, business and regulatory requirements in the world's most demanding industries. For more information, visit the DST website at www.dstsystems.com. About ALPS Through its subsidiary companies, ALPS Holdings, Inc. is a leading provider of innovative investment products and customized servicing solutions to the financial services industry. Founded in 1985, Denver-based ALPS delivers its asset management and asset servicing solutions through offices in Boston, Golden, New York, Seattle, and Toronto. ALPS is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kansas City-based DST Systems, Inc. For more information about ALPS and its services, visit www.alpsinc.com. Information about ALPS products is available at www.alpsfunds.com. Media Contact: Laura M. Parsons DST Global Public Relations +1 816 843 9087 [email protected] Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20131023/CG03088LOGO SOURCE DST Systems, Inc. Related Links http://www.dstsystems.com A discussion on criminal justice system reform will be held Oct. 15 at North Iowa Community Kitchen Center in Mason City. The discussion will be held from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. followed by refreshments until 3:00 at the North Iowa Community Kitchen Center. Board members of the Iowa Justice Action Network will present a panel discussion about the need to reform our criminal justice system. Speakers include Al Hays, Gina Mallet and the Rev. Chuck Lane. Mallet has a family member in prison and will speak from personal experience. Lane has worked in prisons and also runs a summer camp for kids with incarcerated parents. The Iowa Justice Action Network was formed in 2015 to advocate for policies that reduce mass incarceration in Iowa. Mass incarceration is a criminal justice system in which the number of people who are incarcerated in federal prisons, state prisons, and jails far exceeds the number necessary to maintain public safety. Western European countries have far fewer people incarcerated and yet, in general, have lower rates of serious crime than the United States, according to the Iowa Justice Action Network. Community kitchen is located at 606 Monroe Ave. Courtney Fiorini MODESTO, Calif., Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- E. & J. Gallo Winery announced today that it has donated an additional $100,000 to the American Red Cross to aid with earthquake relief efforts in Mexico City. The funds are in addition to the $300,000 donation that the company previously made to the American Red Cross to assist with hurricane relief efforts in Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. "We are pleased to continue our long-standing support of the American Red Cross and their more than 2,000 volunteers who are providing much needed relief to those communities struck by last month's earthquake in Mexico City. On behalf of our employees and their families, as well as our distributor partners and vendors, we are making this additional contribution to help those impacted by this disaster," said Joseph E. Gallo, Chief Executive Officer and President of E. & J. Gallo Winery. "Our hearts go out to those affected." In addition, E. & J. Gallo Winery confirmed its commitment to also match personal donations dollar for dollar made by its employees through the company's Employee Match Program. The donation will assist the American Red Cross with providing shelter, food, and immediate disaster relief and recovery support. About E. & J. Gallo Winery Founded by brothers Ernest and Julio Gallo in 1933 in Modesto, California, E. & J. Gallo Winery is the world's largest family-owned winery and the acclaimed producer of award-winning wines and spirits featured in more than 90 countries around the globe. A pioneer in the art of grape growing, winemaking, sustainable practices, marketing and worldwide distribution, Gallo crafts and imports wines and spirits to suit a diverse range of tastes and occasions, from everyday offerings to boutique, luxury bottlings. The Gallo portfolio is comprised of more than 80 unique brands, including Barefoot Cellars, Dark Horse, and Gallo Family Vineyards, as well as premium box wines The Naked Grape and Vin Vault. Premium offerings include Apothic, Carnivor, Chateau Souverain, Columbia Winery, Ecco Domani, Edna Valley Vineyard, J Vineyards & Winery, Louis M. Martini, MacMurray Estate Vineyards, Mirassou, Orin Swift, Talbott Vineyards, and William Hill Estate, along with highly acclaimed imports, such as Alamos, Brancaia, La Marca, Las Rocas, Martin Codax, Whitehaven, and LUX Wines, importers of Allegrini, Argiano, Jermann, Pieropan and Renato Ratti. Gallo Spirits offers New Amsterdam Vodka and Gin and E&J Brandy, in addition to imported Scotch whiskies from Whyte & Mackay, including The Dalmore, Jura Single Malt and John Barr Blended. SOURCE E. & J. Gallo Winery Related Links http://www.gallo.com WASHINGTON, Oct. 4, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Edison Electric Institute (EEI) Executive Director of Security and Preparedness Scott Aaronson released the following statement on EEI's efforts to coordinate with the federal government and industry partners to support power restoration and recovery efforts in Puerto Rico. "The primary focus in Puerto Rico has been on the distribution of commodities such as food, water, and fuel for temporary power at critical facilities, as well as improving security, removing debris, and clearing roads. As these operations bring stability to Puerto Rico, efforts are shifting to long-term recovery and restoration of critical infrastructure, including the energy grid. "The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has been tasked with leading power restoration efforts on the island and will be working directly with the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority on this mission. "Along with our colleagues at the American Public Power Association and the Electricity Subsector Coordinating Council, EEI will continue to monitor the progress of this restoration mission and will work closely with all industry mutual assistance networks to ensure that any additional worker and resource needs are addressed quickly. EEI member companies and the entire electric power industry stand ready to support the long-term recovery efforts in Puerto Rico. "EEI also is tracking a new storm in the southern Gulf of Mexico that could threaten the Gulf Coast this weekend. The electric power sector remains in close coordination during this already historic hurricane season, and CEOs from electric companies in the new storm's path already have convened to prepare the industry and our customers for the possibility of another significant weather event." EEI is the association that represents all U.S. investor-owned electric companies. Our members provide electricity for about 220 million Americans, and operate in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. As a whole, the electric power industry supports more than 7 million jobs in communities across the United States. In addition to our U.S. members, EEI has more than 60 international electric companies, with operations in more than 90 countries, as International Members, and hundreds of industry suppliers and related organizations as Associate Members. Organized in 1933, EEI provides public policy leadership, strategic business intelligence, and essential conferences and forums. SOURCE Edison Electric Institute Related Links http://www.eei.org ARLINGTON, Va., Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Endgame today announced Matthew Bruening will join the company as Senior Vice President of Sales. Bruening brings over two decades of experience in sales leadership, with a focus on enterprise security sales. He will lead a team of accomplished Endgame sales professionals as the company continues its explosive growth into commercial and federal sectors. Prior to Endgame, Bruening led SecureWorks' Americas Enterprise teams for over 11 years to record revenue growth through its 2016 IPO, making a material contribution to SecureWorks' $450M annual revenue run rate. His career started at CompuServe Network Services, a managed network services firm that grew from $40M to $300M in annual revenue prior to its acquisition by Worldcom. From 2001-2004, he was VP of Global Sales at Applied Innovation, a publicly-traded firm delivering network management solutions to major service providers. "At Endgame, we're committed to delivering unparalleled results for our customers," said Nate Fick, CEO of Endgame. "Matt is a proven leader with an impressive track record growing sales for large enterprise security organizations. We're thrilled to have him on our team leading Endgame through its next phase of growth." On the heels of signing the largest EDR contract of 2016 with the Air Force, Endgame is rapidly becoming the standard endpoint protection platform across the Department of Defense in 2017. Endgame's commercial customer base has grown rapidly as targeted attacks have become widespread, including in critical industries like financial services, energy and education. With Endgame, users of any skill level can prevent, stop, and proactively hunt ongoing threats that bypass incumbent security solutions. "It's clear that Endgame is providing differentiated value in the endpoint market," Bruening said. "This value is exemplified by the tremendous growth the company has experienced in 2017. I'm excited to join such a talented team and deliver on Endgame's mission to protect the world's data from attack." About Endgame Endgame's converged endpoint security platform is transforming security programs - their people, processes and technology - with the most powerful endpoint protection and simplest user experience, ensuring analysts of any skill level can stop targeted attacks before information theft. Endgame unifies prevention, detection, and threat hunting to stop known and unknown attacker behaviors at scale with a single agent. For more information, visit www.endgame.com and follow us on Twitter @EndgameInc. Media Contact: Margot Koehler [email protected] (202) 649-0517 Follow Endgame: Website: endgame.com Blog: endgame.com/blog Twitter: twitter.com/endgameinc LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/endgame Facebook:facebook.com/EndgameInc YouTube: Endgame on YouTube SOURCE Endgame Related Links http://www.endgame.com In 2016 , Engel & Volkers Snell Real Estate were presented with two impressive awards at the 24th annual International Property Awards held at The Savoy, London, taking home a Five-Star Award for Best Real Estate Agency in Mexico , and additionally, Number One Real Estate Agency in Central and South America competing against the best property professionals across the world. This years prestigious Americas awards ceremony will be held at The Fairmont Royal York Hotel, Toronto, Canada on November 13, where Engel & Volkers Snell Real Estate will proudly accept their country-level awards in both categories over an extravagant gala dinner. Subsequently, on December 4 in London, the 2017 international winners will be announced and identified as the Worlds Best. In the coming months, Engel & Volkers Snell Real Estate eagerly awaits to learn if they will once again earn the esteemed position as among the best in the international luxury real estate industry. Now officially celebrating their unprecedented dual success for the highest level of achievement within the Americas region [Mexico], Engel & Volkers Snell Real Estate is extremely pleased to reveal this honorable achievement which furthermore supports their position as the number one choice for buying and selling luxury real estate in the Baja California Sur market. ABOUT INTERNATIONAL PROPERTY AWARDS Judged by an independent panel of 70 experienced real estate experts who focus on design, quality, service, innovation, originality and commitment to sustainability when making their decisions, The International Property Awards includes the best from around the globe in Architecture, Design, Developers, Interior Design, and Real Estate, and are one of the largest, most prestigious, and widely recognised property awards in the industry. The International Property Awards headline sponsor is the highly-renowned Telegraph newspaper, with Emirates as the official Airline sponsor. CONTACT: Tania Ashby [email protected] 866.650.5845 (Toll-free) www.loscabos.evfinehomes.com SOURCE Engel & Volkers Snell Real Estate BOSTON, Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- LENAJAPON USA (https://www.lenajapon.us/) is thrilled to introduce a new ecommerce site connecting American consumers with the company's superior skincare products for the first time. LENAJAPON's natural botanical products are designed for all ages and skin types, including dry and damaged skin. LENAJAPON USA Reiko & Lena (Mother & Daughter) "Our signature products, LJ MOIST BAR and LJ MOIST BALANCE, are the secret behind the ageless, beautiful skin seen in Japan," says Lena Kanise Jenson, CEO of LENAJAPON USA. "We're excited to bring our all-natural product line to the U.S. Our vision is to provide women and men everywhere with the best skincare products for creating radiant, healthy skin." Beautiful Skin Begins With LJ MOIST BAR Among LENAJAPON's most popular products is the LJ MOIST BAR, a professionally handcrafted and unmilled 100g bar of rich foaming facial soap. All-natural, precious botanical extracts such as Quince Seed Extract and Extract of Chardonnay help remove excess oils with the first wash, then exfoliates with the second without over-drying. LJ MOIST BAR is gentle enough for even the most sensitive skin, and leaves the skin feeling refreshed. LJ MOIST BALANCE Keeps Skin Clear, Supple and Protected After the Deep Wash with LJ MOIST BAR, the next step is to Nourish the skin with a generous amount of LJ MOIST BALANCE. This specialty beauty lotion delivers deep moisture to the skin, helping it stay smoother longer while also relieving the symptoms of dry skin. LJ MOIST BALANCE also protects against harsh environmental factors like sun, wind and cold. It's made from ultra-pure water and precious botanical extracts like Quince Seed Extract. And like the LJ MOIST BAR, this moisturizer contains no alcohol or artificial colors. The opening of its new ecommerce shop for U.S. consumers is only the first phase of LENAJAPON's strategy to build an exceptional and highly respected global brand. Soon, the company plans to make its products available not just online, but also at salons and yoga studios across the country. A mother's love for her daughter, Lena, was the inspiration behind LENAJAPON skincare products. That's why each one is pure and safe to use daily. And now, U.S. consumers can enjoy these remarkable products too. About LENAJAPON Mother of Lena, LENAJAPON Founder and CEO Reiko Kanise was born and raised in Fukuoka, a major southwestern Japanese city blessed with the bounty of nature. In 1975, she joined Hakuhodo, Japan's leading advertising agency, as a branding specialist and copywriter primarily in the field of food and cosmetics (such as Estee Lauder, Origins) before becoming President and CEO of Aeon Forest in 1999, the head franchisee of The Body Shop in Japan. Her passion and dedication for setting women free from uncomfortable skin disorders led her to start her own skincare firm in 2007 and create the LENAJAPON brand. It is now internationally recognized as being among the best natural skincare products available anywhere. Contact: Lena Kanise Jensen 646-584-4742 [email protected] website- www.lenajapon.us SOURCE LENAJAPON USA Related Links https://www.lenajapon.us NEW YORK, Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Humanitarian arts and educational organization Experience Ayiti will hold a special benefit concert on Sunday, November 19, 2017, at DROM in New York City, for the organization's second annual mission trip to Haiti. The show will present an All-Star ensemble featuring saxophonist and Experience Ayiti's founder Godwin Louis, vocalist Pauline Jean, along with Billy Buss (trumpet), Willerm Delisfort (piano), Jonathan Michel (bass), Allan Mednard (drums), and Markus Schwartz (percussion), with several surprise guests. The impetus for Experience Ayiti's annual trip is to carry out the organization's mission, which is to facilitate cultural exchange between Haiti and the world through education and the arts. The initiative uses performing arts to foster collaborations between local and visiting musicians, guests, volunteers, and charitable organizations while paying homage to Haiti's local customs and traditions. Last December, participants from Experience Ayiti visited different regions in Haiti, including Carrefour (a poor suburb of Port-au-Prince still recovering from the catastrophic damages in the 2010 Earthquake). Over four days, members provided aid and presented a series of free concerts and educational workshops. While in Haiti, Experience Ayiti was able to feed over 500 participants through its program in Carrefour, Leogane and Jacmel, and distributed first aid kits and musical equipment (reeds, strings, manuscript paper, etc.). All this was made possible through direct fundraising efforts and both private and corporate donations. Last year's participants included Godwin Louis, Pauline Jean, Billy Buss, Aaron Goldberg, Michael Feinberg, Allan Mednard, Bennie Wallace, Jhony Keys, Johnbern Thomas, Robin Margolis, and Dan Louis. Recognized sponsors included individual donors, as well as College Louis Joseph Janvier, Hotel Villa Therese, Le Villate, and Yamaha, to name a few. This year's mission trip will take place from December 26 to December 30, 2017, and will build upon the significant strides made in 2016. Many of the regions that were visited before will once again be targeted this year, with the goal of raising additional funds to allow for greater outreach and amplified relief efforts. Experience Ayiti is led by a team of visionary artists who are dedicated to the cause, and who volunteer their time and expertise to advance the effort. Community support is vital, and the organization gladly welcomes donations in the form of monetary contributions, musical instruments, portable sound systems, and generators. For more information on how you can help or to attend this year's mission trip, please visit: http://www.experienceayiti.org/ Click here to purchase tickets for the Experience Ayiti concert, or visit: http://bit.ly/2xT68Db https://youtu.be/mStdmXRSciU Photo(s): https://www.prlog.org/12668110 Press release distributed by PRLog SOURCE Experience Ayiti Related Links https://www.experienceayiti.org BELLEVUE, Wash., Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Apparently fearing a devastating loss that could crush arbitrary concealed carry laws in a handful of states, the District of Columbia has declined to appeal its loss of a concealed carry case that struck down its "needs based" permit requirement, the Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) learned today. The SAF case is Wrenn v. District of Columbia. A three-judge panel on the U.S. District Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia struck down the city's "good cause" requirement as unconstitutional in July. The court declined a request for an en banc panel review last month. "We believe the city was under intense pressure to take the hit and not appeal the ruling by the U.S. District Court of Appeals," said SAF founder and Executive Vice President Alan M. Gottlieb. "If the District had lost the case before the high court, it would have dealt a fatal blow to similar requirements in California, New Jersey, Maryland and New York, for example, and that prospect had anti-gun politicians in those states quaking in their shoes." Gottlieb recalled that the District's loss in 2008 when the Supreme Court struck down its handgun ban as unconstitutional under the Second Amendment opened a floodgate for legal challenges to state laws. That led to SAF's 2010 victory in McDonald v. City of Chicago, which not only nullified the Windy City's handgun ban but more importantly incorporated the Second Amendment to the states via the 14th Amendment. "Let's face it," Gottlieb said, "anti-gunners are determined to cling to their dogma of public disarmament rather than admit that their resistance to common sense concealed carry reform amounts to nothing more than stubborn denial. These people simply do not want to enter the 21st Century. They refuse to accept the Supreme Court ruling that the Second Amendment protects and affirms an individual right to not only keep arms, but to bear them as the Founders understood. "However," he added, "this decision opens the gate farther to an inevitable high court confrontation because there are now conflicting opinions on concealed carry from the different circuit courts. Common sense says that the 14th Amendment's equal protection clause will not allow that conflict to continue." The Second Amendment Foundation (www.saf.org) is the nation's oldest and largest tax-exempt education, research, publishing and legal action group focusing on the Constitutional right and heritage to privately own and possess firearms. Founded in 1974, The Foundation has grown to more than 650,000 members and supporters and conducts many programs designed to better inform the public about the consequences of gun control. SOURCE Second Amendment Foundation Related Links http://www.saf.org More than 250 HealthSource clinics across the country will reduce initial visit fees from $189 to just $20 from October 1 through November 30. The $20 fee will then be donated to The Salvation Army, an organization that is on the front line of the opioid crisis. In addition, the back treatment teams at participating clinics will provide Stress Breaks with free massages to employees at area businesses and Lunch & Learn pain management sessions at community centers. The Salvation Army operates more than 139 rehabilitation centers that help individuals overcome drug and alcohol addiction, including opioid or heroin addiction. The organization uses work therapy, group and individual counselling sessions, spiritual direction and life-skills development to help residents learn to abandon substance abuse. The Salvation Army has more no-fee residential treatment facilities than any other rehab program in America. "Many Americans don't realize how big of a role The Salvation Army plays in helping individuals and families who are dealing with drug and alcohol addiction," said Lt. Col. Ron Busroe, National Community Relations and Development Secretary for The Salvation Army. "We are pleased to partner with HealthSource to raise funds and awareness for the substantial need for opioid rehabilitation services in the cities we serve." One positive coming out of the opioid crisis is that medical doctors, chiropractors, acupuncturists and others focused on back pain management are coming together to recommend non-pharmacologic, non-surgical options for patients. In April 2016, the American College of Physicians revised its guidelines for treating back pain, citing evidence that massage, acupuncture and spinal manipulation are effective alternatives to painkillers. This is an approach that Dr. Chris Tomshack has supported since he founded HealthSource in 2006. "This is a huge problem in our country, and fortunately there are real solutions for those who are in pain," Dr. Tomshack said. "We want everyone to know that we can get you out of pain, without the use of drugs. We're so happy to be able to partner with The Salvation Army to contribute to this very sad epidemic." About HealthSource HealthSource, a national chiropractic franchise founded by Dr. Chris Tomshack, treats ailments first and pain points second, focusing on sustained wellness and not only on immediate relief. HealthSource treats pain throughout the entire body, sciatica, fibromyalgia and other common concerns, and also focuses on pain prevention and nutrition. The company continually implements new treatments and medical advancements, staying on the cutting edge of medicine. HealthSource began franchising in 2006 and has nearly 300 domestic and international locations. For more information about HealthSource, visit www.healthsourcechiro.com. About The Salvation Army The Salvation Army, established in London in 1865, has been supporting those in need in His name without discrimination for more than 130 years in the United States. More than 25 million Americans receive assistance from The Salvation Army each year through a range of social services: food for the hungry, relief for disaster victims, assistance for the disabled, outreach to the elderly and ill, clothing and shelter to the homeless, and opportunities for underprivileged children. 82 cents of every dollar donated to The Salvation Army is used to support those services in 5,000 communities nationwide. The Salvation Army tracks the level of need across the country with the Human Needs Index (HumanNeedsIndex.org). For more information, go to salvationarmyusa.org or follow on Twitter @SalvationArmyUS. Media Contact: Matt Siegler, Fishman Public Relations, [email protected] or (847) 945-1300 SOURCE HealthSource Related Links http://www.healthsourcechiro.com DRAPER, Utah, Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Flexpoint Sensor Systems, Inc. (FLXT) is pleased to announce it has recently received follow-on production orders from global market virtual reality leader, Manus VR. "Manus VR is achieving remarkable success in the virtual reality/augmented reality (VR/AR) market as a whole, and seeing significant traction in the B2B segments. Manus continues to submit purchase orders with us which have increased in size and frequency over time," commented Paul Sexauer, Flexpoint's Vice President of Sales and Marketing. In 2016, Manus VR successfully brought to market the industry's first fully functional, virtual reality glove. A tremendously feature-rich offering, the glove integrates a number of technologies into a unique and truly inspired design. Manus' overall vision is to supply the industry's finest components that integrate with various VR hardware platforms offered by such notable companies as HTC, Vicon, Xsan and others. As previously announced, The Manus VR glove offers a revolutionary new VR experience. It allows for a truly immersive VR experience by tracking hands in real-time. The Manus VR Gloves bring solutions for training simulations, VR arcades, robotics, medical purposes and motion capture. The B2B market has seen the value and adoption has proven to be more rapid than expected. Sexauer further commented, "Flexpoint is proud to be fully integrated into the virtual reality product from a prestigious firm like Manus. We anticipate a long-term business partnership that is mutually beneficial. This relationship validates and reinforces our unique position in the exciting and rapidly growing VR market. This will be a major contributor to our record setting revenue growth this year and going forward." VR/AR will be an $80 billion market by 2025 according to Goldman Sachs. By Comparison the TV market is $99 billion, the tablet PC market is $63 billion and the video game industry is $11 billion. Over $10 billion in venture capital has been poured into the VR/AR industry since the beginning of 2014. The waterproof Manus VR gloves are compatible with several systems including HTC Vive (Vie Tracker and Steamer Tracking), and motion capture systems like Vicon and Xsens, and they plan to make solutions compatible with every major virtual reality system on the market. In addition to the gloves, Manus VR is developing a software development platform that enables software developers to design and build applications that extend far beyond virtual reality. This opens up a strong portion of the market that includes retail, healthcare, engineering, military and real estate applications. Please visit http://www.flexpoint.com/ for more information. About Manus The Manus VR glove will revolutionize the VR market. It is set to play a huge role in the virtual reality revolution. Manus VR believes in open innovation through sharing knowledge and experience. The possibilities of the Manus gloves are virtually endless and extend far beyond virtual reality. In October 2014, Manus VR was selected from 10,000 candidates who took part in the Dutch StartupBootcamp HighTechXL, together with eleven other participants. The program helped Manus VR accelerate and build the business in just three months. After the program's Demo Day in February 2015, the company signed up leading development partners and clients. Furthermore, it was fully funded at record speed, enabling the company to further develop the product. Since developing the first working prototype in 2014, Manus has been a fast-growing company. It has grown around 300% and developed a functioning product in combination with a strong development platform. About Flexpoint Sensor Systems, Inc. Flexpoint Sensor Systems, Inc. (FLXT) is an innovative technology firm specializing in developing products that feature the Company's patented Bend Sensor and related technology. The Bend Sensor is a groundbreaking sensing solution that is revolutionizing applications in the automotive, safety, medical and industrial industries. The Bend Sensor single-layer, thin film construction cuts costs and mechanical bulk while introducing a range of functions and stylistic design possibilities that have never before been available in sensing technology. Flexpoint's technology and expertise have been recognized by the world's elite business and academic innovators for over 17 years. The company is setting a new standard for sensing solutions in the "smart" age of technology. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains certain forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that certain statements in this release are "forward-looking statements" and involve both known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors. Such uncertainties include, among others, certain risks associated with the operation of the company described above. The Company's actual results could differ materially from expected results. Contact Information: Flexpoint Sensor Systems Clark Mower, President 801-568-5111 Brokers and Analysts Chesapeake Group 410-825-3930 SOURCE Flexpoint Sensor Systems, Inc. Related Links http://www.flexpoint.com On September 29 th , NHCSL wrote a letter to President Donald Trump asking for a more robust federal response to the disaster relief and recovery efforts in the aftermath of Hurricanes Irma and Maria. The letter was sent to the White House at 6:42PM that Friday, well after close of business. At exactly 7:37PM, just 55 minutes after the e-mail went out, NHCSL got a response from the White House's Office of Intergovernmental Affairs. NHCSL's Executive Director Kenneth Romero had just stepped out of his office. Before he even had time to notice that there was a White House email sitting in his inbox, he received a call on his cellphone from DHS Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary John Barsa to schedule a meeting along with top-level officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), prior to President Trump's visit to Puerto Rico the following Tuesday. The next day, Mr. Romero asked DHS if they would agree to bringing a select delegation of elected officials from Puerto Rico to DC, to make the meeting face-to-face and have the senators speak authoritatively on the disaster, with the most current facts on the ground and begin working with the Administration on specific policy recommendations. Once NHCSL got the green light, its staff quickly put together a high-level bipartisan delegation from Puerto Rico. Aware of the devastation in the USVI and knowing that one of their member senators from the Virgin Islands was in San Juan to advocate for more federal resources, NHCSL asked her to join the delegation. After an ordeal to secure airline tickets for the delegation, on Saturday afternoon, NHCSL emailed schedulers of the Leadership and key Members of Congress to alert them that the delegation would be in Washington, but only for two days. After watching Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin state, on NBC's Meet the Press, that "the entire administration and the entire cabinet are very much focused on this working with Secretary Perry on the electrical system," Mr. Romero quickly realized that, beyond immediate relief, Washington's focus was on target: energy and the electric grid are the key to the islands' long-term recovery. So, NHCSL immediately contacted the Secretary of Energy's office. Reps. Nydia Velazquez (NY) and Luis Gutierrez (IL) had already expressed an interest to meet with the delegation, but NHCSL knew that Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's involvement would be the real game changer. The next morning, at exactly 8:27AM, Senator McConnell's office reached out to Mr. Romero and informed him that, despite a very full schedule, the Majority Leader could meet with the Senators the next day at 11:00AM. This is their story. After days without taking a hot shower, the three Senators arrived on a late-night flight on Sunday. The next morning, they met with Barsa, along with FEMA's Deputy Director for Intergovernmental Affairs, Robert Nadeau, and its Assistant Administrator for Recovery, Alex Amparo. Romero told federal officials that "Lt. General Jeffrey Buchanan, who's in charge of the federal response in Puerto Rico, described the devastation as the worst he's ever seen. Our message to the federal government is that the worst disaster, requires the best response with the most resources." Before concluding the meeting, Barsa promised to meet with Senators Rios and Bhatia again in Puerto Rico, immediately upon his arrival to the Island this week. During the meeting, FEMA agreed to extend its claims deadline so that it would not be an issue for victims who cannot access the Internet to file their claims. Later that day, they were joined by NHCSL President and Pennsylvania State Representative Angel Cruz, who led the delegation to meet with Congresswoman Velazquez to discuss their four-point plan. "In addition to resources for immediate relief, and on behalf of the 3.5 million American citizens that live in the Islands, we are requesting full funding for reconstruction, parity in Medicaid funding and all federal health care programs for Puerto Rico, and an extension of the 10-day waiver of the Jones Act for at least a year, to facilitate shipping vital goods to Puerto Rico," said Cruz as requested in NHCSL's letter to the President. The letter also makes the point that any supplemental spending measure for the recovery effort in the USVI and Puerto Rico needs to include economic development measures for the islands, as the only path to a true recovery. The next morning, Senator McConnell hosted the delegation in his office. "The key point we conveyed to Senator McConnell is that Congress needs to enact a new Marshall Plan for Puerto Rico. This was not a run of the mill hurricane that requires an average federal response. Maria's damage in Puerto Rico and the USVI is only comparable to that of a war zone and needs to be addressed as such. Our delegation brought the perspective from the ground and told them the real necessities our constituents have. I shared with him the situation facing a community in Toa Baja, a city in my district, that lost 290 out of 325 homes. We told him of the need for flexibility in the use of federal funds so that our government does not run out of money and essential services can be met," said Senator Rios. Romero added that "Senator McConnell expressed his personal connection to both Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, and how important they are to him and to all Americans." He described the meeting as 'hopeful' and stated that Senator McConnell welcomed the delegation "in a manner that only the Senate Majority Leader can pull off, accompanied by three of his key advisers and with no sense of time constraint, even though we knew there was one". Once the meeting ended, the delegation rushed to Senator Schumer's office and met with senior staffers, while they reworked his entire schedule so that the Democratic Leader could meet with the delegation three hours later. Senator Millin Young (USVI), who lost the roof of her home and all her belongings in the storm, said "the American citizens of the US Virgin Islands need a robust federal assistance package from Congress to ensure that our fragile infrastructure is restored and that our people can get the emergency relief assistance they need in the short-term. We had a very productive meeting with Senator Schumer. He heard from us that the conditions on the ground in our islands is desperate and the need for rescue and relief efforts is urgent. Through NHCSL we will continue to follow up so that hand in hand, Puerto Ricans and Virgin Islanders can continue to advocate for the recovery efforts to be conducted in the most thorough and thoughtful way possible." From the US Capitol, the delegation sped to the US Department of Energy. They were not able to meet with Secretary Perry, who was in Puerto Rico that day accompanying President Trump. There they held productive conversations with Deputy Assistant Secretary of Energy Douglas Little and several DOE senior officials. Senator Bhatia, who has spent years focusing on the islands' energy issues, was encouraged by the meeting. "My colleagues and I conveyed our desire to partner with our federal counterparts so that the relief efforts can help the most vulnerable and worst affected citizens in our jurisdictions. I especially stressed the need for a new energy grid in Puerto Rico. We cannot merely patch up the old and outdated grid. We must have a modern grid with a renewable energy portfolio that is up to 21st Century standards. General Buchanan himself said that there are 'some parts that we're going to have to start from scratch.' Obviously, the electric grid is at the top of that list," he said. At Senator Bhatia's behest, DOE officials agreed that infrastructure in Puerto Rico and the USVI should be rebuilt with state-of-the-art technology, with the priorities being robustness and price, particularly an emphasis on solar energy and microgrids. Regarding the short-term relief phase, DOE expects to make good progress clearing the debris that is interrupting energy distribution by the end of this week. In addition, Assistant Secretary Little committed to offering greater detail and a preliminary plan on all fronts within the week, after he and his staff brief Secretary Perry. From DOE, they quickly returned to the US Capitol to meet with Senate Assistant Democratic Leader, Dick Durbin, his Chief of Staff, Patrick Souders, and several key staffers. Senator Rios seized the opportunity to convey that "Puerto Ricans from all over the US mainland and the Island are united in one voice: our government, the federal government, needs to do a better job of addressing the humanitarian crisis in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. These are US citizens and it is unacceptable that two weeks after Hurricane Maria, 95% of Puerto Rico is still without power, 88% of cell sites are down, and 55% of Island residents don't have drinking water. In the USVI, most of the 55,000 US Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority (WAPA) customers also do not have electricity and two of the three health care facilities there were destroyed." The next morning, just before boarding a plane back to Puerto Rico, the delegation met with senior staff from House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi's Office, led by her Chief of Staff, Robert Edmonson, to make sure that both houses were on the same page regarding the required Plan for relief and recovery. Mr. Edmonson underscored Leader Pelosi's commitment to robust relief and recovery and stressed the need to continue working together with NHCSL and the senators in the upcoming weeks and months. "At NHCSL, we are proud that, in addition to advocating for important Hispanic issues such as immigration reform, Latina entrepreneurship, apprenticeships and college graduation rates, we could put together this delegation from Puerto Rico and the USVI at this critical time. It is also our responsibility to advocate on their behalf before federal officials and in the media," concluded NHCSL Executive Director Romero. SOURCE National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators (NHCSL) MASON CITY | When a bike-share program for Mason City was announced earlier this year, the hope was that it would be up and running by this fall. But the program has encountered some obstacles in the delivery of the bikes, according to Steve Schurtz, a member of the city's Active Living and Transportation Commission, who has spearheaded efforts to start the program. He said Koloni Share, the bike vendor located in Pocahontas, orders bikes through a company in Ames. The bikes are manufactured in China. "We had expected our bikes to arrive in mid- to late-July," said Schurtz. That's when the first problem occurred. "The Ames company ordered 200 bikes, of which 12 are ours," he said. "Apparently, 200 bikes is a small order for the manufacturer, so the order was delayed. But it was completed, crated and ready to ship in late September." But another problem surfaced. The Chinese government put a one-week delay in the shipping, reason unknown even to Koloni, said Schurtz. "The bikes should ship this month and arrive in the U.S. in early November." The program experienced even more challenges. Koloni provided Mason City with four loaner bikes for bikers to use until the full shipment came in. They were in the rack at City Hall for about a week. But they were inoperable. "We experienced problems with the app and with the locking mechanism. The lock problem has been addressed, and the app revision is in progress," said Schurtz. "When that is ready, and if the weather holds, we may have a soft launch later this month. He's hoping that by next spring, all systems will be go and the community can help celebrate a public launch for the new program. ATLANTA, Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- After leading Katy Industries for over eight years as CEO and more than 20 years in senior management positions, David Feldman is putting his proven track record of success to helping establish DJF Enterprises, LLC, which is a consulting management company. The success Feldman had at Katy Industries was based on turning the company from a loss to profitability through improving the core operations and strategic acquisitions and divestitures. To improve business operations, Feldman focused the company on the janitorial and retail storage segments to bring the company back to profitability. In 2011, after only a few years at the helm of Katy Industries, David Feldman was able to retire the majority of Katy's debts, as well as give much-needed cash for capital investment for future ventures. Two events during that year that lead to these results were; first, divesting the DISCO division of CCP for proceeds of $19 million, and second was signing a new credit agreement with the Private Bank and Trust Company, which provided Katy Industries greater flexibility in advancing their strategic plan. While those decisions were key factors to the turnaround of Katy Industries, David Feldman also continued to stress the importance of four core concepts that were designed to improve customer satisfaction while also maximizing shareholder value. Those four core concerts were Customer Focus, Operational Excellence, Focus on Cash, and Niche Market Mindset. Feldman was also extremely excited to report improvements in Katy's plastic manufacturing, as he was able to report reduced labor costs and improvement in schedule attainment rates. These feats were important to the sustained success and profitability of the company. Under Feldman, Katy Industries successfully completed the integration of their Fort Wayne Plastics acquisition in 2014, which is based in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The additional capacity of structural foam provided support for Katy's future and continued growth, while also providing a wider platform for contract manufacturing. At the end of 2014, David Feldman was proud to announce that Katy Industries had achieved a 27.3-percent increase in sales growth versus the prior year and $2.5 million net income for the company. In 2015, Feldman and Katy saw double-digit sales growth, which was possible through continued success with their, brand recognition, and expansion of sales. They were also able to acquire an Ohio-based injection molding manufacturing facility and its existing home storage product lines. This was a huge acquisition for Katy, as they were able to strengthen their position as a premier supplier into the $9.4 billion home storage market. This acquisition lead to an improved 2015 when David Feldman announced that Katy Industries operating income improved by $2.6 million, and saw a sales increase of 14.3 percent. Feldman expects to be able to leverage his experience at Katy Industries as well as his years of experience as President of Air Serv and President of Cooper Lighting. Currently, Feldman has been working with a number of startups through Thayer Cooper and is the CEO of Shelves West, a plastics molding manufacturer serving the retail industry. Press Contact: Eric Blankenship 786-332-6554 SOURCE DJF Enterprises, LLC BOSTON, Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Forum Systems Inc., a pioneer in API security technology, today announced the Orlando API Summit, the latest event in a series dedicated to examining the fundamentals of API security. Taking place Thursday, November 9, from 9:30 a.m. 4:30 p.m. EDT at the Walt Disney World Swan Hotel, the Orlando API Summit will feature Forum Systems CEO Mamoon Yunus and other industry experts exploring the best practices in securing API-based architectures. During the event, Forum Systems will showcase how its Forum Sentry API Security Gateway is providing businesses with award-winning solutions for defending against API threats and vulnerabilities. "APIs are the foundation of innovation in architecture design and modernization, including mobile, cloud, IoT and other key enterprise initiatives. But as evidenced by the recent Instagram vulnerability, despite their role as strategic business enablers, there's still a dearth of security mechanisms employed to protect APIs," said Yunus. "As such, we've established our yearlong 'Summit Series' London, Amsterdam, and now, Orlando as collaborative venues for sharing real-world API security strategy and insights, particularly through case studies from leading organizations like WellCare." At Forum Systems' Orlando API Summit, attendees will learn the best practices and common deployment scenarios of API Gateways and why they are an essential component of a secure, robust and scalable API infrastructure. Additionally, the event will feature informative discussions on how to achieve flexible and secure API integration without coding; simplifying Identity Federation and extending trust of identity management systems to cloud services; and combining identity and data inspection to unify authentication and access control. Notable Orlando API Summit sessions include: Content- and Context-Based Access Control Migrating to the Cloud in a New API Era Cybersecurity in an API Economy The complimentary event will include lunch and be followed by dinner at Epcot. For more information and to register, please visit: http://info.forumsys.com/forum-systems-api-summit-orlando-2017. About Forum Systems Forum Systems Inc. is the leader in API Security Management. Providing centralized security, identity and integration for API communications, the Forum Sentry API Security Gateway enables enterprises to manage complex API strategies in an efficient, agile, highly secure manner. Processing more than 10 billion transactions per day worldwide, and architected on "security-first" design principles, Forum Sentry delivers unparalleled protection against modern API vulnerabilities. Forum Sentry is the industry's only FIPS 140-2 and NIAP NDPP-certified API Security Gateway for enabling secure connectivity between users, applications and the cloud. For more information, please visit www.forumsys.com. All product and company names herein may be trademarks of their respective owners. SOURCE Forum Systems Inc. Related Links http://www.forumsys.com GREENSBORO, N.C., Oct. 4, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Based on the success of its industry-wide relief programs benefitting victims of Hurricane Harvey and Louisiana's 2016 flood, FurnishAid is initiating a program to assist Florida victims of Hurricane Irma. The non-profit organization is seeking donations of basic bedroom, dining room, living room, and office furniture. Caracole will coordinate the pickup and transportation of donated furniture and goods to the impacted regions and is once again working with Volunteers of America to coordinate local facilities, staffing, and distribution. To make a product donation, volunteer or get involved, visit FurnishAid.com. "The support we've received within our industry for these disaster relief programs is nothing short of remarkable," says Triche Leander, Caracole Chief Operations Officer. "We are seeing great generosity demonstrated by all segments of home furnishings. From freight carriers to manufacturers and retailers, the spirit of giving has taken hold and is truly inspiring. We're now building on this success and initiating a program to help the victims of Hurricane Irma." The Hurricane Irma Relief Program will focus on helping flood victims in the areas of Key West, Naples and Jacksonville. Applications to receive furniture, vetting of the applicants, and local distribution are all handled by Volunteers of America. The organization requires valid FEMA numbers and verifies all applicants are legitimate prior to selecting recipients. Volunteers of America also provides tax donation receipts for all goods and services donated. FurnishAid is currently operating a Hurricane Harvey Relief Program to benefit victims in the Houston area. An additional initiative to support victims in Puerto Rico is also in development. Visit FurnishAid.com for more information. Created by furniture resource, Caracole, in 2016, the non-profit organization FurnishAid was established in response to the devastating flood that hit southern Louisiana last fall. The largest flood in 1,000 years, it destroyed an estimated 200,000 homes and 10,000 businessesthe majority of which did not have flood insurance. Thanks to generous industry participation, the initiative helped 1,052 flood victims with over $1.5 million in donated goods and services. No one was charged for any goods they received, and 100 percent of the proceeds went to flood victims. ABOUT CARACOLE A leader in both style and quality, Caracole delivers distinctive designs with high-style at an exceptional value. Known for its unique materials, rich finishes and on-trend fabrics, the whole-home furniture manufacturer offers a variety of stylish product portfolios designed to fit today's homes and lifestyles. These include Caracole Classic, Caracole Modern, Caracole Signature, Compositions, and Caracole Couture Custom Upholstery. Available to the trade and designers, Caracole shows in two locations: its flagship showroom at the High Point Furniture Market in the IHFC -C500 and at Atlanta's AmericasMart in Building 1, Suite 14-C-6. For more information, visit caracole.com. SOURCE Caracole Related Links https://caracole.com Chicago-area-based Fellowes Brands, category leader and inventor of the personal shredder, is a fourth-generation privately held company with a passion for producing quality office products and for giving back both locally and globally. As AOR, Gatesman is charged with developing an integrated marketing plan for 2018 and for providing Fellowes' full range of anticipated marketing services, including brand development, advertising, public relations, social media, digital and analytics, and media planning and buying. For confidentiality reasons, Gatesman was not able to disclose the budget, but confirmed the account will rank among the agency's largest. "We are proud to be working with Jeff Dryfhout, John Fellowes and the team at Fellowes Brands to help them achieve their goals and vision of being the premier office brand in the world," said John Gatesman, CEO, Gatesman. "It is a privilege to work with companies that have a strong social conscience with the culture and values that Fellowes exhibits." Currently celebrating its 100th year anniversary, Fellowes is striving to expand its current positive reputation and further its vision to be the most trusted business products brand in the world. Fellowes plans to continue its leadership in core markets segments, including storage/organization and shredders, while growing its portfolio in workplace management segments promoting the benefits of well-being and health, including sit-stands, furniture and air purification. The company is also committed to helping those in need. The Fellowes GIVE program has donated more than 5,000 employee hours and $1.3 million across various partner causes. "We are a passionate company and wanted an equally passionate partner to help bring our brand story to life and build on our positive reputation globally," said John Fellowes, CEO, Fellowes Brands. "The Gatesman team had the strongest approach with the greatest insights into our target customer, and we're excited to see how this multi-faceted partnership will take our brand story and leadership to a new level." The Fellowes account will be led out of Gatesman Noble's Chicago office. The pitch was one of the first following Pittsburgh-based Gatesman's acquisition of 49-year-old Noble Communications, with offices in Chicago and Springfield, Mo. The acquisition increased the agency's depth of expertise in new and existing areas with combined talent from both organizations, and added new and complementary capabilities to even better serve regional, national and international clients. "It was an amazing experience to see our combined team in action, and we're even more excited to see the results we'll achieve together for this motivated and visionary new client," added Gatesman. For more information on Gatesman, visit our website. Join in on the conversation on Facebook or Twitter. About Gatesman: Gatesman is one of the fastest-growing, mid-size, privately owned agencies in the U.S. With offices in Pittsburgh, Chicago, and Springfield, Mo., Gatesman is a fully integrated, independent marketing communications agency with expertise in strategy/branding, advertising, digital, public relations, social media, media planning and buying, and insights/analytics. Gatesman is a partner in AMIN Worldwide, an alliance of over 50 independent marketing agencies, and IPREX, a global communications network. Gatesman acquired Quest Fore in 2014 and Noble Communications in 2017. About Fellowes Brands: Fellowes is a global and market leader of solutions which help professionals be at their best through organizational, productivity and well-being solutions. Founded in 1917 by Henry Fellowes, as the Bankers Box Company, Fellowes has expanded its solutions to include a broad selection of business machines and workspace management products, now including furniture which promotes the benefits of well-being and health. In recent years, Fellowes Brands has expanded into commercial air purification under the AeraMax brand continuing its commitment to improve the wellness of global professionals. For more information, visit: www.fellowesbrands.com. CONTACT: Beth Thompson Gatesman 412-339-5152 [email protected] SOURCE Gatesman VALLEY COTTAGE, New York, October 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Future Market Insights has conducted a comprehensive study of the global geosynthetics market in its recent report 'Geosynthetics Market: Global Industry Analysis 2012-2016 and Opportunity Assessment 2017-2027'. The geosynthetics market is expected to grow at an exponential CAGR of 10.1% for the forecast period and be worth more than US$ 22 billion by end 2027. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161020/430874LOGO ) Material Type - Polypropylene Used in Textile Industry and in Consumer Products Polypropylene based geosynthetics are anticipated to have a market share of more than 50% of the geosynthetics market at the end of the forecast period. Polypropylene is useful in manufacturing packaging materials, consumer products, fabrics, and plastic parts and is also used in geotextiles and related composites. Polyethylene is primarily used to produce geomembranes giving it added flexibility and waterproofing. The polyethylene segment accounts for the second largest share in the geosynthetics market. View Full Report at https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/geosynthetics-market Product Type - Low Cost of Geotextiles Makes It Desired in Geosynthethics Market The geotextile segment is the largest in the geosynthetics market in terms of volume sales and is poised to push past 6.6 billion square metres by end 2027. Geotextiles are more cost-effective than other products available in the geosynthetics market and this explains their comparatively lower value share. Primary Application - Reinforcement Binding Factor in Geosynthetics Market The reinforcement segment in the geosynthetics market is projected to gain a massive 390 BPS from 2012 to 2027, making it imperative for key stakeholders to be present in this segment. Along with reinforcement, separation and containment segments hold great scope in the geosynthetics market. Containment materials are required in canals, erosion control, dams, etc. and have an incremental dollar opportunity of more than US$ 2 billion over the course of the study period. Request to View Sample Report - https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-475 End Use - Water Containment Critical to Prevent Impending Water Scarcity Large scale infrastructure projects planned across developed and emerging economies should directly benefit the geosynthetics market. China, India, and the US in particular have the maximum ongoing infrastructural improvement activities in place and companies are advised to focus on these huge and dynamic nations. An exploding population has led to high water consumption and a looming water crisis of the future. Thus, governments are rushing to conserve their limited water resources for both present and future generations. Governments, NGO's, and private companies are actively involved in water containment projects for industrial and irrigation applications. Geocomposites are the preferred option for waterproofing or water containment as they form a layer that avoids water absorption. Region - Modernisation and Urbanisation in APEJ Outpaces all Other Regions The APEJ region is riding high on the strong economic growth in China, India, and a number of ASEAN nations and the region is on track to witness an exponential CAGR of 12.8% from 2017 to 2027. The rapid modernization in these countries and the shift of millions of people from rural to urban areas is creating limitless opportunities for all companies in the geosynthetics market. The region has the added advantage of surplus labour allowing manufacturers to offer their products at a relatively lower cost, thus boosting adoption in the APEJ geosynthetics market. Request to download and view full ToC - https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/geosynthetics-market/toc Competition Dashboard in the Geosynthetics Market The companies profiled in the geosynthetics market report are Low & Bonar PLC, Raven Industries, AGRU Kunststofftechnik GmbH, Tensar Corporation, Thrace Group, Officine Maccaferri, GSE Environmental, HUESKER Synthetic GmbH, Koninklijke Ten Cate B.V., Solmax International, Garware-Wall Ropes, Advanced Drainage Systems, Cooley Group, Geofabrics Australasia, NAUE GmbH & Co, Propex Operating Company, and Taian Modern Plastic Co. Insights on the Geosynthetics Market Companies could try to establish their manufacturing units in high-demand zones to provide geosynthetic products at a lower cost by reducing transportation and distribution expenses. In addition to this, innovation may create new products that could serve multiple industries and use-cases at lower prices and this might even turn into a USP for differentiation in the geosynthetics market. Global Geosynthetics Market Report is available @ $ 5000.00 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 and an aerial view of the competitive framework and future market trends. Contact Us 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018, Valley Cottage, NY 10989, United States T: +1-347-918-3531 F: +1-845-579-5705 T (UK): +44(0)20-7692-8790 Sales: [email protected] Website: http://www.futuremarketinsights.com SOURCE Future Market Insights DENVER, Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Thursday, October 19, 2017 | Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design is opening its doors and sharing its latest innovation and technological improvements to empower students to realize their artistic potential and career goals. For more than 50 years, RMCAD has been instilling students with a passion for innovation and lifelong learning. This special event honors the men and women who have led the way and celebrates their achievements with a GLIMPSE into the exciting future of RMCAD. "This is the perfect time to share our evolving and dynamic campus with the community that we call home," says Chris Spohn, President of RMCAD. "We are surrounded by a rich history that continues to inspire our innovation and dedication to preparing students to be effective forces for change. That's what this event is all about." Among the highlights of the evening will be a viewing of the Texas Building remodel, a state of the art showcase for students and alumni; an introduction to the new FAB lab; announcement of a new VR/Motion Capture Stage for development of projects that showcase these new technologies. Guests will also be invited to attend the opening night of three new gallery events, including contemporary photographer, Selena Roman. "We are excited to open up our doors and let the community peek into the future," says Neely Patton, Senior VP of Academic Affairs. "From VR and motion capture to 3D printing, updated displays, and new department chairs, the changes we're implementing at RMCAD are allowing us to compete on a national stage." Other GLIMPSE activities include gallery walks, student and alumni artwork showcases, virtual reality and new technology demonstrations, open labs, and live music. There will also be a Texas Building ribbon cutting and reception at 6:15 p.m. Visit www.rmcad.edu/glimpse for a full schedule of events. ABOUT ROCKY MOUNTAIN COLLEGE OF ART + DESIGN A premier arts school in the Denver area, Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design is an innovative, rigorous, and community-oriented global learning environment that inspires passion for critical thinking and prepares learners to be forces of change in the creative industries, our communities, and the world. MEDIA CONTACT: Daron Rodriguez [email protected] 303.753.6046 SOURCE Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design Related Links http://www.rmcad.edu VALLEY COTTAGE, New York, October 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Future Market Insights (FMI) has offered an exhaustive analysis on the global advanced analytics market, for the forecast period 2017 to 2022, in its one of the recent research reports. FMI's report projects the global market for advanced analytics to reflect a steady 5.5% CAGR through 2022. Revenues from the global advanced analytics market will exceed US$ 13,500 Mn by 2022-end. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161020/430874LOGO ) Advanced Analytics to Witness Huge Demand for Addressing Diverse Business Requirements Adoption of advanced analytics solutions has witnessed a considerable surge over the recent past, with increased demand for addressing diverse business requirements. With increasing competition, businesses are focusing on rapid expansion for gaining higher market shares along with retaining their customers. These businesses require intelligence, which will help in predicting future scenarios, identifying opportunities, improving processes and anticipating problems. Advanced analytics helps in meeting all these business requirements by analysing structured as well as unstructured data. A number of niche players are entering the market with the provision of advanced analytics solutions at a relatively lower costs, which in turn has fuelled the adoption of these solutions. In addition, several medium- and small-sized industries are now offering updated services & solutions to optimise business efficiency at low costs. The introduction of advanced analytics is helping various organisation in incorporating efficient techniques including big data analytics, location intelligence, and data mining. The organisations are able to extract valuable information, and make better business decisions. Request a Sample Report with Table of Contents and Figures: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-5087 Key Takeaways from FMI's Report on Global Advanced Analytics Market The global advanced analytics market is projected to witness the fastest expansion in North America , with sales estimated to reach approximately US$ 2,500 Mn in revenues by 2022-end. Enterprises in the region are increasingly adopting advanced analytics solutions for gaining insights on the available data, and identifying various industry trends. Asia-pacific excluding Japan (APEJ) and Europe are anticipated to follow the footsteps of North America in terms of CAGR through 2022. In addition, APEJ will remain the largest market for advanced analytics, in terms of revenues. Middle East & Africa will exhibit a sluggish expansion in the global advanced analytics market over the forecast period. , with sales estimated to reach approximately in revenues by 2022-end. Enterprises in the region are increasingly adopting advanced analytics solutions for gaining insights on the available data, and identifying various industry trends. excluding (APEJ) and are anticipated to follow the footsteps of in terms of CAGR through 2022. In addition, APEJ will remain the largest market for advanced analytics, in terms of revenues. & will exhibit a sluggish expansion in the global advanced analytics market over the forecast period. Based on solutions, big data analytics and visual analytics are projected to register a parallel expansion in sales through 2022. Revenues from these solutions will collectively account for over one-third share of the market in 2017. However, sales of big data analytics and visual analytics will exhibit the lowest CAGRs in the market through 2022. Predictive analytics will register the highest CAGR in sales, to remain the most lucrative solution of advanced analytics over the forecast period. In addition, risk analytics will also discern a rapid expansion in its sales through 2022. Advanced analytics solutions are anticipated to experience the fastest sales expansion in retail & consumer goods industry, with sales poised to account for nearly US$ 3,000 Mn revenues by 2022-end. Government and healthcare industries are also projected to ride on a high CAGR in the market through 2022. In contrast, BFSI industry will register a relatively lower CAGR throughout the forecast period. However, BFSI will remain the most lucrative industry in the global advanced analytics market, in terms of revenues. Vendors being Encourages to Integrate Analytics Solutions with Technically Advanced Features Several enterprises in the market viewed advanced analytics to be an expensive technique. However, this perception is witnessing a rapid transformation, as enterprises are realising the advantages of analytics in developing market strategies that are customer-oriented. This is further encouraging vendors to integrate these solutions with technically advanced features. Key companies profiled by FMI's report, who are actively contributing to expansion of the global market for advanced analytics, include CA Technologies, Oracle Corp., Teradata Corporation, Infor Inc., SAS Institute Inc., Microsoft Corp., Intel Corp., and IBM Corporation. Preview Analysis on Advanced Analytics Market: APEJ to Remain Most Lucrative Market for Advanced Analytics: Global Industry Analysis & Opportunity Assessment (2017 - 2022): https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/advanced-analytics-market More from FMI's Reports: Internet of Things (IoT) Security Product Market Segmentation By Component - Hardware, Software; By Deployment Type - End-point or Device Security, Network Security, Identity and Access Management, Vulnerability Management, Messaging Security, Web Security, Others; By Application - Machine-to-Machine (M2M) Communication, Smart Grid, Home and Building Automation, Wearable Computing Devices, Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) Communication; By Vertical - Consumer Goods and Retail, Manufacturing, Transport: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/internet-of-things-security-products-market Augmented Reality And Virtual Reality Market Segmentation By Application - Gaming, Media & Entertainment, Real Estate, Retail, Education, Healthcare, Engineering, Others; By Hardware - Hardware, Display, Processor, Sensors, User Interface Ics, Power Management Ics, Others, Software, Services; By Devices - Head Mounted Display, Handheld Devices, Head-Up Display, Smart Glasses, Others; By End User - Consumer, Commercial / Enterprise; By Technology - Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/augmented-reality-and-virtual-reality-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 and an aerial view of the competitive framework and future market trends. Browse More Electronics, Semiconductors, and ICT Contact Us 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018, Valley Cottage, NY 10989, United States T: +1-347-918-3531 F: +1-845-579-5705 T (UK): +44(0)20-7692-8790 Sales: [email protected] Press Office: [email protected] SOURCE Future Market Insights NEW YORK, October 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Flexible plastic packaging makes use of thin and stretchable plastics that preserve and maintain the properties of products and are puncture and wear resistant. The global flexible plastic packaging market has witnessed a robust growth path due to several aspects impacting it. The rise in population especially middle class, growing demand for flexible plastic packaging from the food and beverage industry and pharmaceutical industry, and rising preference of convenient packaging and handling are few of the aspects fuelling the growth of the flexible plastic packaging market. Moreover, this growth can be attributed to the rising adoption of plastic flexible packaging owing to various benefits it offers, such as, light weight, easy to store, carry and reseal, inexpensive, supports the shelf life of the products, creates appeal, enables visibility of the products within, easy to transport, can be used to package a wide variety of products, indicates and maintains freshness, gives sufficient room for innovations and designing, and delivers effective product to package ratio. These factors are expected to contribute in pushing the growth of the flexible plastic packaging in the years to come. However, unstable prices of raw material can pose restraints to the growth of the global market for flexible plastic packaging. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161114/438683LOGO ) Global Market Research Report Overview on Flexible Plastic Packaging @ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/market-research/flexible-plastic-packaging-market.asp A comprehensive research report on "Flexible Plastic Packaging Market: Global Industry Analysis (2012-2016) and Forecasts (2017-2022)" by Persistence Market Research uncovers various market facts that can be used as guidelines by the reader to achieve stability in the changing dynamics of the market and plan future expansions on a global basis. As per the research study, the global flexible plastic packaging market is projected to witness a high 6.7% CAGR during the period of assessment 2017-2022. A sample of this report is available upon [email protected] https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/18763 5 Key Highlights on Global Flexible Plastic Packaging Market Food and beverage segment is expected to dominate the global flexible plastic packaging market by end use category to reflect a high market value in 2017 and likely to retain this trend throughout the period of assessment, 2017-2022. This segment reflects a high market share of 67.4% in 2017 and is poised to grow at a high CAGR during this assessment period Personal care products segment by end use is projected to grow at the highest pace throughout the assessment period and projected to register a 7.9% CAGR. This segment is the third largest segment with respect to market share in the end use category. Flexible plastic packaging is also widely used in the packaging of tobacco products, which is driving the growth of the tobacco products segment. Food and beverage and tobacco products segment show similar pace during the 2017-2022 period Asia-Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ) region is the largest region from the market share perspective and is set to lead the global market in the coming years. Moreover, APEJ also shows high growth rate throughout the assessment period, to register a CAGR of 7.3%. This is the most lucrative region with higher market attractiveness in the global flexible plastic packaging market. From growth standpoint, after APEJ, North America, Middle East and Africa, Japan and Europe regions reflect a moderate growth rate Sachet and pouches segment by pack type show high potential and poised to grow at a high 7.7% CAGR throughout the period of assessment Polyethylene segment in material type category is the largest segment enjoying a high market share of about 50% and is expected to lead the global market in the coming years. BOPP segment is projected to show high pace during the 2017-2022 period View Report Table of Contents, Figures, and [email protected] https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/market-research/flexible-plastic-packaging-market/toc Global Flexible Plastic Packaging Market: Competitive Assessment The research report on global flexible plastic packaging market includes profiles of key players operating in this market. Tier companies like Bischof & Klein GmbH & Co. KG, Ampac Holdings LLC, Constantia Flexibles Group GmbH, Huhtamaki Oyj, Sonoco Products Company, Mondi Group plc, Berry Global Group, Inc., Sealed Air Corporation, Bemis Company, Inc., and Amcor Ltd., are described in this research report. Flexible Plastic Packaging Market Report is Available for US$ 4,900 Persistence Market Research Overview 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. Contact Persistence Market Research U.S. Sales Office: 305 Broadway, 7th Floor New York City, NY 10007 +1-646-568-7751 United States USA - Canada Toll-Free: 800-961-0353 Email: [email protected] SOURCE Persistence Market Research Pvt. Ltd. LONDON, Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Persistence Market Research's research report on "Food Fiber Market: Global Industry Analysis (2012-2016) and Forecast (2017-2022)", provides a broad spectrum of all the aspects involved along with forecasts thus supporting to detect major revenue pockets. Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/5134439 The market research report on global food fiber market is a comprehensive study, which focuses on the global scenario and provides actionable insights on various aspect influencing the market growth. This is done with the help of strong data and statistical analysis, to deliver an unbiased view of the market by including segments such as product type and application across the major geographies of North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia-Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ), Japan and Middle East and Africa (MEA). The gathered data helps in catching the exact rhythm of the market by putting forth a logical format, while a deep data mining ensures an all-inclusive information from various sources in the market. The research report on the global food fiber market has provided an in-depth weightage on statistics, and all figures, numbers, and graphs, are based on a perfect, and clear market understanding. This will enable the reader to take informed decisions with the help of well-furnished insights by research analysts and domain experts. The upcoming trends and developments, new innovations in products & varying product portfolios, new acquisitions, end user analysis and much more actionable acumen offer a holistic approach to the market report on food fibers ultimately providing the reader with the necessary backbone for all the strategies which he/she can plan in order to establish firm grip in a particular region or in a particular segment. Market Segmentation The global food fiber market is segmented based on product type, application, and region. A detailed market segmentation for food fibers is highlighted below. The research report includes a chapter on competitive landscape, which covers the market shares, revenues, growth strategies applied, product portfolio analysis, distribution channels, expansion in several geographies, marketing strategies, SWOT, and pricing analysis of various key players in the global food fiber market. Such an intelligence framework can be used by readers to devise appropriate strategies in order to gain competitive advantage in the long run. Highlights of the Report In-depth market analysis, with scrutiny across major regions Market segmentation up to third level Historical data, current statistics and a projected view of the market (forecasts) over a period of five years Competitive landscape including analyses on key players Unbiased view of the global market slating a realistic contour of data projections Strong accurate research from a strategic standpoint Weighted analyses which gives justice to the market segmentation covered A One-Of-Its-Kind Research Methodology Leveraging expertise in secondary research in order to get an overall market understanding and the main players involved is just one aspect. Additionally and more importantly, an extensive primary research is carried out and opinions from the key industry experts and market observers are obtained. These three aspects are coupled together to achieve maximum accuracy. The research process includes several steps which involve cross verification of data points at each step. The data thus gathered has undergone re-evaluation and re-validation with a view to remove any deviations or possible errors. This adds to the credibility of the research. Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/5134439 About Reportbuyer Reportbuyer is a leading industry intelligence solution that provides all market research reports from top publishers https://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 PORTLAND, Oregon and PUNE, India, October 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- According to a new report published by Allied Market Research, titled, "Roof Coatings Market by Material, Technology, Roof Type, and Application: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2017-2023," the global roof coatings market was valued at $951 million in 2016, and is expected to reach $1,680 million by 2023, registering a CAGR of 8.8% from 2017 to 2023. Asia-Pacific dominated the global market, accounting for more than one-third share in 2016. Roof coatings are used as a protective layer on the surface of buildings, which help to sustain the impact of rain, sunlight, and other physical damages. The growth of the global roof coatings market is driven by the growth in global economy. In addition, surge in construction activities, especially in the developing countries, and increase in population are expected to boost the growth of the market during the forecast period. Moreover, increase in awareness among people pertaining to the global warming and other concerns about the environment supplement the growth of the market. However, volatile raw material prices restrains the market growth. Do Enquiry for Sample Report@ https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/3410 The roof coatings market is segmented on the basis of material as elastomeric & plastic, bituminous, tiles, metals, and others. The metals segment is estimated to account for major share in the global roof coatings market in 2016. The elastomeric & plastic segment accounted for a significant share in 2016, and is expected to witness high growth rate during the forecast period. This is attributed to ability of elastomer & plastic to keep the objects cooler as compared to other materials. The water-based coatings are anticipated to gain significant acceptance in the global roof coatings market during the forecast period, owing to increase in demand for green technologies across the globe. In addition, stringent government regulations pertaining to emission of volatile organic compounds is expected to boost the adoption of water-based coatings in the near future. The commercial segment accounted for a significant share in 2016, and is anticipated to maintain its dominance during the forecast period. This is attributed to rise in construction activities and increase in industrialization worldwide. In addition, the development of green roofing technology is expected to drive its demand during the forecast period. Do Enquiry before purchasing [email protected] https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/3410 KEY FINDINGS In terms of value, the metals segment accounted for significant share of the global market in 2016, and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.8% from 2017 to 2023. The elastomeric and plastics segment is anticipated to grow at the highest CAGR of 10.7% over the forecast period. Asia-Pacific is anticipated to witness the highest growth, registering a CAGR of 9.2%, in terms of value. is anticipated to witness the highest growth, registering a CAGR of 9.2%, in terms of value. China and South Korea are expected to occupy approximately three-fifths share of the total Asia-Pacific market by 2023. and are expected to occupy approximately three-fifths share of the total market by 2023. Water-based segment is expected to grow at a CAGR of 9.6%, in terms of value from 2017 to 2023. In 2016, Asia-Pacific accounted for the highest share, and is expected to continue its dominance during the forecast period, due to rise in adoption of roof coatings in the construction industry. Asia-Pacific is expected to grow at the highest CAGR in the near future. Ask for discount before buying@ https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/get-discount/3410 The key players operating in the global roof coatings market are RPM International Inc., The Dow Chemical Company, AkzoNobel NV, BASF SE, Nippon Paint Co. Ltd, Valspar Corporation, PPG Industries, Inc., The Sherwin-Williams Company, and Hempel A/S. About Us: Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions." AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain. We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry. Contact: Dhananjay Potle 5933 NE Win Sivers Drive #205, Portland, OR 97220 United States Toll Free : +1-800-792-5285 UK : +44-845-528-1300 Hong Kong : +852-301-84916 India (Pune) : +91-20-66346060 Fax : +1855550-5975 [email protected] Web: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com SOURCE Allied Market Research MASON CITY | Puerto Rico native Noemi Cruz-Orcutt has never felt as far away from home as she does now. Cruz-Orcutt, a dentist at Mint Springs Dentistry, has lived in Mason City with her husband, Kevin, and their two children for two years, but much of her family remains in Puerto Rico, where hurricanes Irma and Maria struck in September within weeks of each other leaving millions on the island without power and running water while limiting access to food, gasoline and other day-to-day necessities. When you can talk on the phone or Skype, you dont feel that far away, but now that you cant, I feel isolated from them, she said. Prior to the hurricanes, Cruz-Orcutt was in contact with her family, including her parents, brothers and grandparents living more than 2,000 miles away in Orocovis, Puerto Rico regularly, but since the storms hit, shes spoken with them twice. That has been the hardest, she said. But its getting better. Four days after Hurricane Maria ripped through the island, she received a phone call from her mother letting her know that they were safe, but other communication has been limited due to the power outages and their proximity to an operational cell phone tower. Everything is safe, Cruz-Orcutt said. I dont know how the house didnt get damaged honestly because when I was looking on Facebook and watching the news, I just imagined that everything was destroyed. And while her family is safe and their homes have received minimal damage, others have been far less fortunate. Its heartbreaking to see the island the last couple weeks, Cruz-Orcutt said. On Tuesday, the official death toll from Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico increased to 34 from 16, the U.S. territorys governor said. Gov. Ricardo Rossello also said he believes the hurricane that struck on Sept. 20 with winds over 150 mph caused $90 billion in damage across the Caribbean island. Its for that reason, and the fact that so many community members have expressed interest in helping, Cruz-Orcutt is encouraging members of the Mason City area to join Mint Springs Dentistry in supporting United for Puerto Rico, an initiative brought forth by the Puerto Ricos First Lady Beatriz Rossello, in collaboration with the private sector, with the purpose of providing aid and support to those affected by the hurricanes on the island. The reason I chose United for Puerto Rico because the governors wife set it up as a trusted source and being in Iowa its hard to collect food or supplies and mail it there, so monetarily its an easy way to do that, she said. People can donate directly to the relief effort by visiting the United for Puerto Rico website or they can drop off donations at Mint Springs Dentistry, 851 South Taft Ave. in Mason City, where they will be forwarded directly to United for Puerto Rico. Cruz-Orcutt said she is also working to set up an account at First Citizens Bank under Mint Springs Dentistry for Puerto Rico, so community members have another option to contribute to the cause. Its going to take a few years for [Puerto Rico] to come back to what it was, so anything would help, she said. Nearly two weeks after the storm, 95 percent of electricity customers remain without power, including some hospitals. Some people have expressed concerns about the effect that extended outages will have on the ill and vulnerable in the tropical heat. According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, there are now more than 10,000 federal officials on the ground on the island, and 45 percent of customers now have access to drinking water. Rossello has said he hopes 25 percent of electricity customers will have power by the end of October. My mom told me that it looks like everything caught on fire, Cruz-Orcott said. It just doesnt look like Puerto Rico right now. Cruz-Orcutt said she was planning on visiting Puerto Rico over Thanksgiving to visit her family, but due to the hurricane damage, shell be postponing the trip until power is restored on the island and her family is comfortable. I am very grateful for everyone who has been asking and being concerned in the community, she said. It does mean a lot. For more information or questions about donating to United for Puerto Rico, call 641-424-9898. BALTIMORE, Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Maryland Governor Larry Hogan will deliver remarks at the CyberMaryland Conference during the opening session on Wednesday, October 11, at the Baltimore Convention Center. Home to the federal government's major cybersecurity agencies including the National Security Agency, U.S. Cyber Command, and CECOM as well as a robust community of cyber companies, Maryland plays a critical role in the nation's cybersecurity. As Governor Hogan has led Maryland to develop a knowledge-driven economy, innovation and investment in Maryland's cybersecurity landscape have continued to grow. "Maryland is home to the premiere cyber-related federal government agencies, as well as more than 1,200 private sector cybersecurity companies, and our world-class academic community is educating the next generation of cyber warriors," said Governor Larry Hogan. "Our administration is proud to support an event that showcases Maryland's unique assets and proves why our state is leading the next cyber generation." In addition to Governor Hogan, this year's featured speakers and special guests include: George C. Barnes , deputy director and senior civilian leader, National Security Agency; , deputy director and senior civilian leader, National Security Agency; Capt. Ed Devinney USN, director, corporate partnerships and technology outreach, U.S. Cyber Command; Brett Kelsey , Chief Technical Strategist for the Americas, McAfee; , Chief Technical Strategist for the Americas, McAfee; Ron Gula , founder, Gula Tech Adventures; , founder, Gula Tech Adventures; Catherine Pugh , mayor, City of Baltimore ; , mayor, ; Chris Van Hollen , U.S. senator for Maryland ; and , U.S. senator for ; and Brett Williams , chief security officer, IronNet Cybersecurity. Recognized as one of the region's premier collaborative platforms, the CyberMaryland Conference includes more than 25 sessions along eight tracks: Cyber Risks, Cyber Education, Cyber Threat Intelligence, Acquisitions and Business Development, Cyber Insider Threats, Hacker Adaptability, Cyber Workforce, and Cyber Innovation. For information on CyberMaryland 2017, visit www.thecybermarylandconference.com or contact the Federal Business Council at 800-878-2940. Follow conference updates on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. For more information, contact: Spenser Wempe [email protected] 240-841-2207 SOURCE CyberMaryland Related Links http://www.thecybermarylandconference.com CLEVELAND, Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- In recognition of 10 years of immense impact in the community, HandsOn is hosting a one-time gala with title sponsor Flexjet, to celebrate the power of volunteerism, and the fact that together, the sky's the limit! The gala will be on Thursday, October 19, 2017 at the Flexjet Corporate Airplane Hangar and will honor corporate contributions from Global Technical Recruiters, Dealer Tire, Eaton and Flexjet. Sponsorship and ticket information can be found at https://handsonneo.ejoinme.org/gala A HandsOn Northeast Ohio volunteer plays BINGO with a member of the Eliza Bryant Village community. This kind of volunteer opportunity is one of many that is available Saturday mornings throughout the year. HandsOn Northeast Ohio was founded in 2007 to build stronger communities where everyone has discovered their power to make a difference through service. Our mission is to make it easy for people of all ages to volunteer in meaningful projects, led by fellow volunteers that build stronger communities. Each year, HandsOn manages over 700 volunteer service projects connecting 5,500 plus volunteers benefiting over 100 agencies in Lake, Cuyahoga, and Lorain County. This year during our 10th year of operation, HandsOn Northeast Ohio will manage our 40,000th volunteer in Northeast Ohio, serving and strengthening our community through over 100,000 volunteer hours. Our coordination of volunteers has saved our nonprofit partners over $500,000 in staff time. Since 2007, HandsOn NEO has been advancing and strengthening community through signature programs: ongoing HandsOn Managed Projects, National Days of Service, Youth & Family engagement and Corporate Volunteer Engagement. HandsOn NEO's core programs provide the full management and coordination of volunteer projects and as a result, volunteerism is more effective, monitored, constantly evaluated and improved. By providing for the comprehensive volunteer management needs of our agency partners, from recruitment to training to evaluation, we build capacity for our partners, saving them time and money while also making volunteering easier for the members of our community that are eager to make a difference. HandsOn NEO: remains the only volunteer center organization in the State of Ohio delivering this model. delivering this model. is the only local volunteer organization that provides individuals and families of all ages with coordinated opportunities to serve. "We have always believed that everyone has the power to change the world," said Executive Director and Co-Founder, Jeff Griffiths. "The impact of this power is reflected daily at our projects in a greater respect for the elderly, a love for animals, sustaining our natural environment, empowering kids and adults, opportunity for those with disabilities, a stronger community and so much more." About HandsOn Northeast Ohio HandsOn Northeast Ohio strives to be a leader in volunteerism. HandsOn Northeast Ohio's mission is to make it easy for people of all ages to volunteer in meaningful projects, led by fellow volunteers that build stronger communities. HandsOn Northeast Ohio is the official Volunteer Action Center for Cuyahoga and Lorain Counties and affiliate of the Points of Light, Keep America Beautiful and the Youth Volunteer Corps. Visit us at www.HandsOnNEO.org. SOURCE HandsOn Northeast Ohio Related Links http://www.HandsOnNEO.org MUMBAI, October 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Hexaware Technologies Ltd, the fastest growing automation-led, next-generation provider of IT, BPO and consulting services, today announced that it has been placed the highest in the overall satisfaction ratings, in 2017 UK IT Outsourcing Study, conducted by Whitelane Research and PA Consulting Group. (Logo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/530945/Hexaware_Rebranding_Logo.jpg ) The 5th annual UK IT Outsourcing Study, conducted by Whitelane Research, in cooperation with PA Consulting Group, evaluates more than 800 unique IT outsourcing contracts held by over 250 of top IT spending organizations in the United Kingdom. The survey provides a comprehensive overview of the IT outsourcing landscape in UK and 33 significant IT service providers were ranked based on their clients' perception. The study revealed that 65% of respondents in the study confirm that they will continue to outsource at the same rate or more. This year, innovation is important for organizations and outsourcing is used as a lever for this. The positions of key IT service providers were based on different parameters, divided into four dimensions - Service delivery, Relationship, Commercial and Transformation. Hexaware along with another IT service provider have been ranked number one with a general satisfaction score of 84. Hexaware ranks first in Application Development, Maintenance and Testing satisfaction. The company ranks second on various KPIs like Service Delivery, Account Management, Proactivity, Business Value Understanding and Contract Flexibility KPIs. It has also ranked third on Innovation and Transformation Quality KPIs. "This is a very proud moment to have been yet again recognized as the top performing organization in UK. Our two-pronged Shrink IT Grow Digital strategy, along with our customer-first mindset is reaping great dividends," said Amrinder Singh, Senior Vice President - Europe Operations, Hexaware Technologies. He further added, "This recognition is a validation of our superior service, robust partnerships, 'Executive Attention' and strong footholds in UK and Europe." Hexaware has a strong European presence with its offices in UK, Germany, Netherlands and Romania. The company's local presence has helped it serve some of their top-notch customers across these regions. About Whitelane Research An independent organisation uniquely focused on and dedicated to (out)sourcing research and events. Visit http://www.whitelane.com. About PA Consulting An independent firm of over 2,600 people, we operate globally from offices across the Americas, Europe, the Nordics, the Gulf and Asia Pacific. http://www.paconsulting.com. About Hexaware http://www.hexaware.com Safe Harbor Statement http://hexaware.com/investors/ Media contact: Sreedatri Chatterjee [email protected] SOURCE Hexaware Technologies Ltd. CHICAGO, Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- HighTower announces the launch of True Wealth Advisory Group under the leadership of Founder and CEO Marc Shachtman. The Miami-based practice was previously with J.P. Morgan and manages $500 million in assets. "HighTower advisors share our passionate commitment to putting the client's needs first," said Kimberly Papedis, Managing Director, Head of National Sales & Platform Strategy at HighTower. "Marc and the team at True Wealth Advisory Group exemplify the integrity and dedication that are hallmarks of the HighTower community." Prior to the creation of True Wealth Advisory Group, Marc served as Executive Director and Senior Banker at J.P. Morgan Private Bank. There, he led an integrated team of specialists who advised clients on their complex wealth management needs, including investments, wealth transfer strategies and lending. He also served as a Banker Team Lead for the Miami market, mentoring a team of colleagues, and was a member of the J.P. Morgan U.S. Private Bank Advisory Council which solicits feedback and ideas that help address local and global business challenges and shape Private Bank priorities nationally. Prior to joining J.P. Morgan, Marc was a Vice President in the Investment Management Division at Goldman, Sachs & Co. in Miami where he advised ultra-high net-worth-clients and led a training program for summer associates. "The HighTower platform caters to our specialized needs as financial advisors and independent business owners," said Mr. Shachtman. "Affiliating with HighTower was unequivocally the right choice for our team and our clients." About HighTower HighTower is reshaping the financial services industry from the inside out. As one of the nation's largest Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs) dedicated to providing advice, not selling a product, we are a relentless champion of the fiduciary standard. We believe that the wealth management industry can and should do a better job of serving the needs of individual investors and their financial advisors. We built HighTower upon a commitment to put our clients' best interests first. For the 6th consecutive year, HighTower ranks on the Inc. 5000 list of the fastest-growing companies in America (2012 2017). For more information, see www.hightoweradvisors.com and www.byadvisorsforadvisors.com. SOURCE HighTower Related Links http://www.hightoweradvisors.com CHICAGO, Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: HRC), announced today that Chairman of the Board Rolf Classon will not stand for re-election to the board of directors when his current term expires on March 6, 2018, at the company's 2018 Annual Shareholder Meeting (the "2018 Annual Meeting"). Mr. Classon has served as chairman of the board since 2006. The board of directors intends to appoint current independent director William Dempsey to the role of chairman of the board, if he is re-elected by shareholders. Mr. Dempsey has been a member of the board of directors since 2014. The company also announced the appointment of Gary Ellis, retired chief financial officer and senior vice president of Medtronic plc, to its Board of Directors, effective October 5, 2017. "It has been an honor and privilege to serve this company over the last fifteen years and support its efforts aimed at enhancing outcomes for patients and caregivers, while creating significant shareholder value," said Mr. Classon. "I am confident in Hill-Rom's growth prospects and management and believe the company is well-positioned for future success." "On behalf of Hill-Rom's entire Board, I want to thank Rolf for his commitment and partnership in strengthening the company's foundation. We have benefited from Rolf's deep industry knowledge, financial acumen and broad experience, which has resulted in a stronger company with a more effective and diverse board," said John Greisch, president and CEO, Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc. "As Hill-Rom continues to transform into a leading medical technology company, we are pleased to have an outstanding new addition to our board. Gary's strategic skills, strong operational and financial expertise, and breadth of leadership experience will bring new perspectives and help Hill-Rom capitalize on the opportunities ahead of us." Mr. Ellis was previously chief financial officer and senior vice president of Medtronic plc. Mr. Ellis serves as an independent director of The Toro Company. He is a Certified Public Accountant and holds a bachelor of science in Accounting from the University of South Dakota, where he graduated summa cum laude. 2018 Annual Meeting Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc.'s 2018 Annual Meeting is scheduled for March 6, 2018, at 10:00 a.m. Central Time, and will be held at 180 North Stetson Avenue, Two Prudential Plaza, Suite 1630, Chicago, Illinois 60601. This press release is not a proxy statement or a solicitation of proxies from the holders of common stock of Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc. A solicitation of proxies in connection with the 2018 Annual Meeting will be made only by Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc.'s definitive proxy statement that will be mailed to all shareholders of record on the record date of January 1, 2018. Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc., will be filing a definitive proxy statement for the 2018 Annual Meeting with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). Shareholders are urged to read the proxy statement and any other relevant documents filed or that will be filed with the SEC when they become available because they will contain important information. Shareholders will be able to receive the proxy statement and other relevant documents free of charge at the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov or through the company's own website at http://ir.hill-rom.com. The directors, nominees for election as director, executive officers and certain other members of management and employees of the company may be deemed "participants" in the solicitation of proxies from stockholders of the company in connection with the matters to be considered at the 2018 Annual Meeting. Information regarding the persons who may, under the rules of the SEC, be considered participants in the solicitation of the stockholders of the company in connection with such matters will be set forth in the definitive proxy statement for the 2018 Annual Meeting to be filed with the SEC. In addition, information about the company's executive officers and directors may be found in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017, when available, and in its definitive proxy statement filed with the SEC on January 27, 2017. About Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc. Hill-Rom is a leading global medical technology company with more than 10,000 employees worldwide. We partner with health care providers in more than 100 countries, across all care settings, by focusing on patient care solutions that improve clinical and economic outcomes in five core areas: Advancing Mobility, Wound Care and Prevention, Patient Monitoring and Diagnostics, Surgical Safety and Efficiency and Respiratory Health. Hill-Rom's people, products, and programs work towards one mission: Every day, around the world, we enhance outcomes for patients and their caregivers. Visit www.hill-rom.com for more information. CONTACT INFORMATION Investor Relations Contact: Mary Kay Ladone, Vice President, Investor Relations Phone: 312-819-9387 Email: [email protected] Media Contact: Howard Karesh, Vice President, Corporate Communications Phone: 312-819-7268 Email: [email protected] SOURCE Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc. Related Links http://www.hill-rom.com NORTH ADAMS, Mass., Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- During a 5 p.m. rally in North Adams on Thursday, Berkshire Medical Center nurses and advocates will bring attention to the economic and health care injustice of BMC making $47 million in profits last year more than three times the state average while refusing to provide safe RN staffing and essential hospital services in North Adams. North Adams Rally What: BMC nurses and advocates, including the North County Cares Coalition, will advocate for a fair BMC RN contract and full hospital services in North Adams. Learn more about the illegal closure of North Adams Regional Hospital at www.northcountycares.com. When: 5 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 5 Where: Outside Berkshire Health North at 71 Hospital Ave. in North Adams. "How can a hospital that relies on public dollars and turns a huge profit justify the 437 times nurses have documented unsafe patient care conditions?" said Alex Neary, RN and Co-Chair of the MNA BMC Bargaining Unit. "Berkshire Medical Center can afford to ensure safe patient care, but refuses to be held accountable. Management would rather exert absolute control over nurse staffing than agree to a reasonable compromise like limiting charge nurse assignments so we can provide safe care at all times. Our patients deserve better, our nurses deserve better and our community deserves better." Berkshire Medical Center Profits Massachusetts 2016 hospital industry median profit margin: 3.1% Northeast U.S. 2015 hospital industry median profit margin: 2.8% BMC 2016 profit margin: 9.7% BMC 2016 profits: $47.2 million Berkshire Medical Center Profit History/Comparison: Year BMC Profit Margin BMC Profit Margin relative to MA Median BMC Profit Margin relative to NE median 2016 9.7% 313% 346% 2015 10.2% 329% 364% 2014 9.7% 313% 346% 2013 8.8% 284% 314% 2012 11.8% 381% 421% Source data: http://www.chiamass.gov/assets/Uploads/mass-hospital-financials/2016-annual-report/berkshire.pdf Rather than restore full hospital services in North Adams and agree to a fair RN contract that provides safe RN staffing levels and quality, affordable health insurance, Berkshire Health has used its profits to fund large executive salaries. In 2015, CEO David Phelps' compensation was $863,000 and the top ten executives took home more than $5 million in salary and other benefits. One-Day Strike and Lock Out Background BMC refused to allow its own nurses back into the hospital on Wednesday morning after their 24-hour strike ended. Nurses were ready to return to caring for their patients after advocating for them and a fair contract. The hospital had previously announced it would lock out BMC nurses and keep them outside for four days as a consequence of the strike. The hospital said instead it would pay for replacement nurses from outside the community. The MNA is seeking information from the employer to counter evidence that this is retaliatory and therefore unlawful. The nearly 800 registered nurses of Berkshire Medical Center, who are represented by the Massachusetts Nurses Association, delivered a 10-day notice to hospital management on Friday, Sept. 22 notifying BMC of their intent to hold a one-day strike beginning at 7 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 3 and running until 7 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 4. BMC nurses have been bargaining in good faith for a year, seeking to ensure that their patients are able to receive the safest and most effective nursing care possible. The hospital has refused to negotiate over concrete improvements to patient care and RN staffing. BMC management has also refused to provide information necessary for nurses to negotiate quality, affordable health insurance. MassNurses.org Facebook.com/MassNurses Twitter.com/MassNurses Instagram.com/MassNurses Founded in 1903, the Massachusetts Nurses Association is the largest union of registered nurses in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Its 23,000 members advance the nursing profession by fostering high standards of nursing practice, promoting the economic and general welfare of nurses in the workplace, projecting a positive and realistic view of nursing, and by lobbying the Legislature and regulatory agencies on health care issues affecting nurses and the public. SOURCE Massachusetts Nurses Association Related Links http://www.MassNurses.org CHICAGO, Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Hub International Limited (Hub), a leading global insurance brokerage, announced today that it has acquired the assets of Costello & Sons Insurance Brokers, Inc. (CSI). Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. With offices in San Rafael, San Francisco, Irvine, Santa Barbara and Walnut Creek, California, CSI specializes in commercial lines insurance for technology, venture capital and private equity firms as well as private client services. Bryan Costello, CEO of CSI, will join Hub California and report to Kirk Christ, President, Hub California. About Hub's M&A Activities Hub International Limited is committed to growing organically and through acquisitions to expand its geographic footprint and strengthen industry and product expertise. For more information on the Hub M&A experience, visit WeAreHub.com. About Hub International Headquartered in Chicago, IL, Hub International Limited is a leading global insurance brokerage that provides property and casualty, life and health, employee benefits, investment and risk management products and services from offices located throughout North America. For more information, please visit hubinternational.com. CONTACT: Media: Marni Gordon Phone: 312-279-4601 [email protected] M&A: Clark Wormer Phone: 312.279.4848 [email protected] SOURCE Hub International Limited Related Links http://www.hubinternational.com BOSTON, Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- IFM Therapeutics, LLC (IFM), a privately held biopharmaceutical company focused on developing therapies that modulate novel targets in the innate immune system to treat inflammatory disorders and cancer, announced today that William R. Roush, Ph.D., will join the company as executive vice president of chemistry. Roush joins IFM after having originally served as a senior advisor of the company. In his new role, Roush will oversee IFM's chemistry efforts aimed at discovering and developing drugs that target the innate immune system. "IFM is committed to developing transformative medicines that precisely target the innate immune system, with the potential to significantly improve the lives of patients with autoimmune disorders and cancer," said Roush. "I am pleased to join the IFM senior management team to help steer the company forward and further explore the promise of the innate immune system to develop potential new treatments that may make a difference in solving current medical challenges." Roush brings extensive and deep experience in synthetic organic chemistry, chemical biology and medicinal chemistry to IFM after previously serving as a senior advisor for the company. Roush joins IFM from The Scripps Research Institute where he served as a professor of chemistry, executive director of medicinal chemistry and associate dean of Scripps' Kellogg Graduate School. Prior to that, he held faculty positions at the University of Michigan, Indiana University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Roush is the recipient of numerous awards for his scientific contributions, including a Sloan Foundation Fellowship, a Merck Faculty Development Award, the Alan R. Day Award of the Philadelphia Organic Chemist's Club, an Arthur C. Cope Scholar Award of the American Chemical Society, a Merit Award from the National Institutes of Health, the Paul G. Gassman Distinguished Service Award of the American Chemical Society, the American Chemical Society Ernest Guenther Award in the Chemistry of Natural Products, and was elected to the inaugural class of Fellows of the American Chemical Society. "We are excited to welcome Bill as a full-time member of IFM's senior management team," said Martin Seidel, Ph.D., Executive Vice President of R&D. "As one of IFM's early scientific leaders, Bill has helped to shape the company from the very beginning, and his contributions have been invaluable to the development and progress of the science. His deep understanding of chemical biology, drug discovery and natural product synthesis will greatly enhance our knowledge and capabilities in the development of potential new drug candidates focused on innate immunity as IFM continues to search for novel treatments for patients suffering from cancer, inflammatory and autoimmune diseases." Roush received a bachelor's degree in chemistry, summa cum laude, from the University of California at Los Angeles, and he holds a doctorate in chemistry from Harvard University. About IFM Therapeutics, LLC IFM Therapeutics, LLC is a privately held biopharmaceutical company based in Boston, Massachusetts. The company was founded by an international group of preeminent scientists and physicians who have spent decades understanding innate immunity and the role it plays in regulating the immune system. IFM's team has discovered and developed small molecules that modulate novel targets in the innate immune system as next-generation therapies for cancer, autoimmunity, and inflammatory disorders. For more information, please visit www.ifmthera.com. SOURCE IFM Therapeutics Related Links http://www.spectrumscience.com DALLAS, Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- According to the American Heart Association (Association), individual behaviors aren't the only factors that affect health. Community environments also play a determining role in health outcomes. In fact, people living just five miles apart can have a difference in life expectancy of more than 20 years. On Oct. 17 and 18, as part of the Association's EmPOWERED To Serve movement, which was developed to build a sustainable culture of health in diverse communities across America and encourage people to get involved in their communities, leading experts and thought-leaders will convene in Washington, D.C. to discuss and address: Community transformation and the root causes that impact social determinants of health. Why and how your zip code may increase your risk of stroke, high blood pressure and other types of heart disease. Engaging unconventional partners to drive creative solutions for collaborative health impact. Additionally, as a part of the summit, 10 finalists in the American Heart Association's EmPOWERED To Serve Urban Business Storytelling Competition, which sought innovative solutions to remove barriers to health and wellbeing, will present innovative, urban business solutions to a judging panel. Three winners will be chosen to implement their business solution in their selected community. Winners will receive financial awards ranging from $10,000 to $30,000. Who: Hosted by the Mid-Atlantic Affiliate of the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. Attendance of approximately 200 invitation-only professionals and organizations, including those listed below. The event will be livestreamed to accommodate overflow capacity. The Mark and Brenda Moore Family Foundation, funders of the EmPOWERED To Serve movement and the summit. Mark and Brenda Moore serve as American Heart Association and Mid-Atlantic Affiliate EmPOWERED to Serve volunteers and Ambassadors and are co-hosting the competition. Keynote Speaker: Robert Johnson , managing partner, Solomon Group, LLC; chief diversity and inclusion officer, Quintarios, Prieto, Wood & Boyer Moderators/Presenters: Keith B. Churchwell , M.D., FACC, FAHA, FACP, senior vice president, operations and executive director, Heart and Vascular Center and Transplantation Center, Yale-New Haven Health; chair, American Heart Association Health Equity and Social Determinants of Health Task Force Calvin Butler , CEO, Baltimore Gas & Electric Competition Judging Panel: Lawrence Griffith , founder and CEO, Digital Factory, Inc. Vanessa Mason , co-founder and managing director, P2Health Ventures Ryan Mundy , chief strategist, Techlete Ventures; CEO, 12AM Holdings What: Inaugural summit on social determinants of health and addressing barriers to healthy living and wellbeing in urban communities. When: 8 a.m. 9:30 p.m., ET, Tuesday, Oct. 17; 8:00 a.m. 1:00 p.m., ET, Wednesday, Oct. 18. Where: Kellogg Conference Hotel at Galludet University, 800 Florida Avenue, N.E., Washington, D.C. Why: There are many factors that affect a person's health, including community environments. People living just five miles apart can have a difference in life expectancy by more than 20 years. Thus, the American Heart Association is working in communities and joining with alliances to address key factors that impact health and wellbeing: economic stability, education, societal influences, neighborhoods and healthcare. The competition is an opportunity for community-focused companies, organizations and individuals to help affect community change. Media Advisories: For more information about EmPOWERED To Serve and the summit, visit empoweredtoserve.org. For more information about the EmPOWERED To Serve Urban Business Storytelling Competition, visit the competition website. The summit and competition will be livestreamed; register and view the action. Social Media: #EmPoweredToServe on Facebook @EmPoweredToServe and Twitter @AHA_EmPOWERED. About the American Heart Association The American Heart Association is devoted to saving people from heart disease and stroke the two leading causes of death in the world. We team with millions of volunteers to fund innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies and provide lifesaving tools and information to prevent and treat these diseases. The Dallas-based association is the nation's oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke. To learn more or to get involved, call 1-800-AHA-USA1, visit heart.org or call any of our offices around the country. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter. About the American Stroke Association The American Stroke Association is devoted to saving people from stroke the No. 2 cause of death in the world and a leading cause of serious disability. We team with millions of volunteers to fund innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies and provide lifesaving tools and information to prevent and treat stroke. The Dallas-based association officially launched in 1998 as a division of the American Heart Association. To learn more or to get involved, call 1-888-4STROKE or visit StrokeAssociation.org. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter. The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association receives funding mostly from individuals. Foundations and corporations donate as well, and fund specific programs and events. Strict policies are enforced to prevent these relationships from influencing the Association's science content. Financial information for the American Heart Association, including a list of contributions from pharmaceutical companies and device manufacturers, is available at http://www.heart.org/corporatefunding. SOURCE American Heart Association Related Links http://www.heart.org/ LOS ANGELES, Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Leaders in the biogas and renewable gas industry will gather in Sacramento today to share their knowledge of this growing business. Utilities Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) and Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), along with national nonprofit organization Energy Vision, will host the free one-day conference, called "The Power of Waste: Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) for California." "'The Power of Waste' workshop brings together experts in the field of sustainable energy and provides a valuable day of learning and conversation for anyone interested in becoming more knowledgeable about renewable gas opportunities, including the economic and policy landscape," said Lisa Alexander, vice president of customer solutions and communications at SoCalGas. "Renewable natural gas derived from organic sources like animal and plant waste is the next chapter as we look to maximize renewable sources of energy and, clean our air and reduce greenhouse gas emissions." "RNG is one of the lowest carbon fuel sources available, and drastically cuts health-damaging pollutants like particulates and NOx," said Joanna Underwood, chair of Energy Vision. "Over its lifecycle, it cuts GHG emissions 80 percent or more compared to diesel, and is actually net-carbon-negative, according to the California Air Resources Board, when made from food waste. So the more RNG gets made and used, the more it can reduce overall carbon emissions. California has the greatest biogas potential of any state. A recent study by UC Davis estimates that the natural gas needs of around 2.4 million California homes could be fueled with RNG derived from the state's existing organic waste alone. We estimate California could produce enough RNG to replace 75 percent of its diesel road fuel consumption. In the workshop, we'll discuss practical ways to get there." "Arguably one of the greatest steps the state could take to reduce methane emissions from the dairy sector, as well as from landfills and wastewater treatment facilities, is to incentivize or otherwise enable the development of renewable natural gas (RNG) production facilities at each site" said Johannes Escudero, chief executive officer at the Coalition for Renewable Natural Gas. "RNG projects capture and convert methane that would otherwise escape fugitively into the atmosphere as a super-pollutant that is many times more potent than carbon, and convert it for a positive end-use, including as a feedstock for renewable electricity or ultra-low carbon transportation fuel." The conference will include panelists from state agencies discussing their efforts to reduce short-lived climate pollutants and increase renewable energy production. Renewable gas developers including those producing gas from dairies as well as landfill-diverted organic waste facilities will share insight into building successful projects. Additional speakers will review the latest technologies that upgrade biogas to biomethane or RNG which meets utility pipeline specifications. Just like electricity, natural gas can be made from renewable sources. Already, 60 percent of the fuel used in natural gas vehicles in California is renewable, and SoCalGas expects that to increase to 90 percent by 2018. This can help reduce the need for other fossil-based fuels, and increase our supplies with a local renewable fuel. Renewable gas project developers, government leadership, local and state agencies, facility operators, equipment vendors, utilities, academia and the media are invited to attend this no-cost workshop, which will take place at Capital Plaza Halls, Grand Ballroom, 1215 J Street, Sacramento, CA 95814 on Thursday, Oct. 5th from 8:00 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. About SoCalGas Headquartered in Los Angeles, SoCalGas is the largest natural gas distribution utility in the United States, providing clean, safe, affordable and reliable natural gas service to 21.7 million customers in Central and Southern California. Its service territory spans 22,000 square miles from Fresno to the Mexican border, reaching more than 550 communities through 5.9 million meters and 101,000 miles of pipeline. More than 90 percent of Southern California single-family home residents use natural gas for home heat and hot water. In addition, natural gas plays a key role in providing electricity to Californiansabout 60 percent of electric power generated in the state comes from gas-fired power plants. SoCalGas has served communities in California for 150 years and is committed to being a leader in the region's clean energy future. The company has committed to spending $6 billion over the next five years to modernize and upgrade its gas infrastructure, while also reducing methane emissions. SoCalGas is working to accelerate the use of renewable natural gas, a carbon-neutral or carbon-negative fuel created by capturing and conditioning greenhouse gas emissions from farms, landfills and wastewater treatment plants. The company is a subsidiary of Sempra Energy (NYSE: SRE), a Fortune 500 energy services holding company based in San Diego. For more information visit socalgas.com/newsroom or connect with SoCalGas on Twitter (@SoCalGas), Instagram (@SoCalGas) and Facebook. About Pacific Gas and Electric Company Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation, is one of the largest combined natural gas and electric energy companies in the United States. Based in San Francisco, with more than 20,000 employees, the company delivers some of the nation's cleanest energy to nearly 16 million people in Northern and Central California. PG&E has proudly served northern California communities, families and businesses since 1905 and is committed to become the safest, most reliable, affordable and clean energy company in the country. PG&E is making strategic investments in new technologies and processes, including biomethane and low-carbon gas alternatives, that help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Since 1998, the company has reduced its SF6 emissions rate by more than 85 percent and total emissions by more than 70 percent. About Energy Vision Energy Vision is a non-profit organization which researches, analyzes and promotes currently viable technologies and strategies for accomplishing the transition to a sustainable, low-carbon energy and transportation future. Learn more at www.energy-vision.org. SOURCE Southern California Gas Company CLEAR LAKE | A meeting has been scheduled to discuss the fate of the longest dock in Clear Lake. The Sunset Bay dock, currently 496 feet long, could be trimmed to less than 300 feet due to new state regulations for private docks. The Iowa DNR will host a public meeting at the Clear Lake State Park Lodge 5:30-7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 16. Clear Lake's longest dock could be trimmed, worsening slip space shortage CLEAR LAKE | The longest dock in Clear Lake could be significantly shortened if a contract w Dale Entner, the late father of Tim Entner, the current owner of the dock, had a special waiver in his contract with the DNR to allow it to remain at its current length, despite new state regulations in 2008. Tim wants the waiver to be extended, given the demand for boat space on the lake. The DNR believes that whoever buys the dock from Tim there is a clause stating it can't be transferred between family members should have to follow the new regulations. Steve Bohnel NEW YORK, Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Information Builders, a leader in business intelligence (BI) and analytics, data integrity, and integration solutions, today announced that it has been ranked a market leader in the BARC Score Enterprise Business Intelligence and Analytics Platforms. In its third edition, the BARC Score, developed by the European Business Application Research Center (BARC), leverages research and customer feedback to evaluate top global vendors' ability to fulfill broad enterprise requirements for modern BI. Tweet This: [email protected] once again named a market leader for enterprise #BI & #analytics by @BARC_Research. Learn more: http://ow.ly/pMdu30fDvJC According to the European analyst firm, a modern enterprise BI platform is indispensable to enterprises as it supports not only management decisions with traditional and explorative BI and analytics, but also helps to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of operational processes through embedded applications. In addition to supporting a broad range of users with various front-end capabilities, modern BI and analytics platforms must have a strong foundation, which includes data integration and data quality capabilities. Information Builders received strong scores in the two evaluation categories Portfolio Capabilities and Market Execution resulting in its ranking as a market leader in the BARC study. The company earned high marks across the report's sub-criteria for market execution, including sales and marketing strategy, financial performance, and customer feedback. Additionally, BARC rated Information Builders for WebFOCUS' features and functionality, such as self-service BI and data discovery, which supports increased flexibility for data-driven workers and allows them to gain insights from a variety of data sources. The report also recognized WebFOCUS as a "very flexible and scalable solution." It noted the platform's differentiators, such as its ability to facilitate analysis from a wide range of data sources and support for large user groups, as well as its highly formatted documents, ad hoc reporting, dashboards, and individual BI applications for operational BI. Other key strengths cited include the ability for business users to leverage InfoAssist+ for ad hoc reporting, query, and data discovery as well as develop predefined interactive applications for operational and strategic BI with InfoApps. Dr. Carsten Bange, founder and CEO, BARC said: "Modern enterprise BI and analytics platforms must support a broad range of use cases through strong front-end tools for a variety of users and a suitable infrastructural foundation. Our evaluation revealed that Information Builders delivers a highly competitive, modern enterprise BI and analytics platform that supports those requirements. Once again, WebFOCUS earned strong marks in the BARC Score's various functional evaluation areas, resulting in the company's positioning as a market leader." Gerald Cohen, president and CEO, Information Builders, said: "Companies' data environments are quickly evolving, and competitive organizations know they not only need to put data into the hands of their business users, but they also must ensure that it is accurate and complete. Information Builders prides itself on its long-standing ability to help organizations meet these end-to-end BI and analytics needs. Our consistent positioning as a market leader in the BARC Score is a testament to our ability to deliver value to businesses no matter the size or use case." Download the 2017 BARC Score: Enterprise BI and Analytics Platforms report today. About Information Builders Information Builders provides solutions for business intelligence (BI), analytics, data integration, and data quality that help drive performance improvements, innovation, and value. Through one set of powerful products, we enable organizations to serve everyone analysts, non-technical users, even partners, customers, and citizens with better data and analytics. Our dedication to customer success is unmatched with thousands of organizations relying on us as their trusted partner. Founded in 1975, Information Builders is headquartered in New York, NY, with global offices, and remains one of the largest independent, privately held companies in the industry. Visit us at informationbuilders.com, follow us on Twitter at @infobldrs, like us on Facebook, and visit our LinkedIn page. Press Contacts Kathleen Moran Information Builders (917) 339-6313 [email protected] Katie Schira LEWIS (781) 761-4500 [email protected] SOURCE Information Builders Related Links http://www.informationbuilders.com SALT LAKE CITY, Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Ivanti announced today that CRN, a brand of The Channel Company, has recognized Ivanti in its 2017 Cloud Partner Program Guide, a list of leading technology vendors with cloud-related partner programs that enable and accelerate the growth of solution providers' cloud initiatives. The CRN 2017 Cloud Partner Program Guide serves as a valuable resource for solution providers navigating the booming cloud marketplace, helping them to identify technology suppliers with innovative cloud offerings and partner programs. To qualify for participation in the Cloud Partner Program Guide, technology vendors must have a unique set of partner program benefits for solution providers that deliver cloud infrastructure or applications. "In a saturated cloud market, it can be difficult for solution providers to differentiate among cloud vendors and find the right ones to partner with," said Robert Faletra, CEO of The Channel Company. "CRN's Cloud Partner Program Guide simplifies this painstaking process, identifying the cloud partner programs with a compelling combination of resources, support, training and financial incentives. Our 2017 guide features a strong lineup of cutting-edge companies with proven track records of helping partners meet and exceed their customers' needs." Ivanti offers a comprehensive set of cloud-enabled unified endpoint management (UEM), security, and service management solutions that permit managed service providers (MSPs) to profitably add new customers with existing personnel and resources. By powering the delivery of these solutions from the cloud, Ivanti accelerates its partners' time to value, maximizes productivity and drives revenue growth through innovative services including mobility and security management. Flexible cloud-based delivery, licensing and pricing models seamlessly align with MSP and cloud service provider (CSP) business models for rapid value. "At Ivanti, we're enabling the efficient cloud delivery of a complete suite of solutions to unify IT and security operations," said Reza Parsia, Senior Channel Director, Ivanti. "For MSP and CSP partners, we're also delivering these solutions with the flexible cloud delivery, licensing and pricing they need to drive revenue growth, expand customer footprints and build long-term customer loyalty." To learn more about Ivanti partner programs, visit: https://www.ivanti.com/partners. The Cloud Partner Program Guide will be featured in the October issue of CRN and can be viewed online at www.crn.com/cloud-ppg. Ivanti: The Power of Unified IT. Ivanti unifies IT and Security Operations to better manage and secure the digital workplace. From PCs to mobile devices, VDI and the data center, we discover IT assets on-premises and in the cloud, improve IT service delivery, and reduce risk with insights and automation. We also help you leverage modern technology in the warehouse and across the supply chain to improve delivery without modifying backend systems. Ivanti is headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, and has offices all over the world. For more information, visit www.ivanti.com and follow us at @GoIvanti. About the Channel Company The Channel Company enables breakthrough IT channel performance with our dominant media, engaging events, expert consulting and education, and innovative marketing services and platforms. As the channel catalyst, we connect and empower technology suppliers, solution providers and end users. Backed by more than 30 years of unequaled channel experience, we draw from our deep knowledge to envision innovative new solutions for ever-evolving challenges in the technology marketplace. www.thechannelco.com Follow The Channel Company: Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook Copyright 2017, Ivanti. All rights reserved. SOURCE Ivanti Related Links http://www.ivanti.com Preorder Chasing Trane: The John Coltrane Documentary Original Soundtrack: https://UMe.lnk.to/ChasingTraneOST View / embed the trailer for Chasing Trane: The John Coltrane Documentary: https://youtu.be/PY5XCEd3fRQ Written and directed by John Scheinfeld [The U.S. vs. John Lennon; Who Is Harry Nilsson (And Why Is Everybody Talkin' About Him?)], Chasing Trane: The John Coltrane Documentary is a rich and compelling portrait of a remarkable artist that reveals the critical events, passions, experiences and challenges that shaped the life of John Coltrane and his revolutionary sounds. The captivating film is produced by Spencer Proffer, John Beug, Scott Pascucci, and Dave Harding, with the support of the Coltrane family and the record labels that collectively manage the Coltrane catalog. Chasing Trane's DVD and Blu-ray packages include a booklet with an essay by Scheinfeld and rare photos seen in the film. The soundtrack's booklet also includes rare photos from the film and an essay by journalist and film participant Ashley Kahn. Chasing Trane: The John Coltrane Documentary features never-before-seen Coltrane family home movies, footage of Coltrane and his band in the studio (discovered in a California garage during production of the film), along with hundreds of never-before-seen photographs and rare television appearances from around the world. The smart, passionate, thought-provoking and uplifting film reveals the critical events, passions, experience, and challenges that shaped Coltrane's life and his revolutionary sounds. It is a story of demons and darkness, of persistence and redemption. Above all, it is the incredible spiritual journey of a man who found himself and, in the process, created an extraordinary, iconic body of work that transcends all barriers of geography, race, religion and age. "A music titan gets his cinematic due in Chasing Trane, a comprehensive, engrossing and, it's tempting to say, worshipful account of the life of John Coltrane..." - Todd McCarthy, The Hollywood Reporter John Coltrane's incredible story is told by the musicians who worked with him (Sonny Rollins, McCoy Tyner, Benny Golson, Jimmy Heath, Reggie Workman), musicians inspired by his fearless artistry and creative vision (Common, The Doors' John Densmore, Wynton Marsalis, Carlos Santana, Wayne Shorter, Kamasi Washington), Coltrane's children and biographers, and well-known admirers including President Bill Clinton and Dr. Cornel West. Although Coltrane did not participate in any television interviews and he recorded only a handful of radio interviews during his lifetime, he is an active and vibrant presence throughout the film, in his remarkable performance clips and in thoughts he expressed during print interviews. In Chasing Trane, the words of John Coltrane are spoken by Denzel Washington. "In many of his roles Denzel radiates an exceptional quiet strength," says the film's director-writer John Scheinfeld. "Coltrane, many of his friends told me, embodied a similar strength. That's why Denzel was my first choice to speak his words and I'm thrilled he made the time to participate in our film." After playing to critical and audience acclaim at its fall 2016 world premiere at the Telluride Film Festival and at the Toronto International Film Festival, IDFA and DOC NYC, Chasing Trane's spring 2017 theatrical release was presented by Abramorama. Chasing Trane: The John Coltrane Documentary will make its television broadcast premiere on Independent Lens on Monday, November 6, 10:00-11:30 PM ET (check local listings) on PBS. During the month prior to the broadcast, Indie Lens Pop-Up, presented by ITVS, Independent Lens, and local partners across the country, will host free preview screenings and discussion events for the film in dozens of U.S. cities. For more information, visit www.pbs.org/independentlens/films/chasing-trane. On Friday, November 17, the same day the 'Chasing Trane' home video and companion soundtrack album will be released, the GRAMMY Museum at L.A. LIVE in Los Angeles will open a sweeping new John Coltrane exhibit, titled Chasing Trane: Coltrane's Musical Journey Transcended. The long-term exhibit, featuring rare performance footage and audio recordings from Coltrane's Japanese tour in 1966, handwritten manuscripts, instruments, and more, will be a primary installation at the museum through September 2018. Chasing Trane: The John Coltrane Documentary and Chasing Trane: The John Coltrane Documentary Original Soundtrack are essential for anyone who appreciates the power of music to entertain, inspire, and transform. The producers of the film were, themselves, moved by this force, collectively stating, "We entered into this project with great respect for John Coltrane and his music. Our deep appreciation for both only increased during the production of the film, as we witnessed the profound impact that his music still has on so many people -- a breadth of audience that defies any simple categorization." http://www.coltranefilm.com/ Chasing Trane: The John Coltrane Documentary [DVD; Blu-ray] Feature film, plus 43 minutes of exclusive bonus features: - Painting Trane, featuring Rudy Gutierrez and his paintings seen in the film and on the DVD and soundtrack album covers - Brain on Coltrane, profiling pioneering brain researcher Dr. Charles Limb - Obsessed by Coltrane, an extended cut of the film's Japan sequence - Transformed by Coltrane, the life-changing power of Trane's music on Vietnam veteran Douglas Taylor - Kids for Coltrane, about the unique, Coltrane-centric New York City public school curriculum spearheaded by Christine Passarella - A Conversation with Rudy Van Gelder, a rare visit with Trane's most trusted recording engineer Chasing Trane: The John Coltrane Documentary Original Soundtrack [CD; 180g 2-LP Vinyl; Digital] 1. A Love Supreme Part 1 Acknowledgement (7:43) 2. Russian Lullaby (5:33) 3. Trane's Slo Blues (6:06) 4. Giant Steps (4:48) 5. My Favorite Things Pt. 1 single version (2:47) 6. My One and Only Love with Johnny Hartman (4:56) 7. Alabama (5:11) 8. After the Rain (4:10) 9. Moment's Notice (9:10) 10. I Want to Talk About You (Live) (8:19) 11. Chasin' The Trane (Live) (16:12) About the Filmmaker John Scheinfeld (Writer/Director) is an Emmy, Grammy, and Writers Guild Award nominee and writer/director/producer of documentaries for theatrical and television distribution. His films have premiered at Telluride, Toronto, Venice and IDFA and include The U.S. vs. John Lennon, Who Is Harry Nilsson (And Why Is Everybody Talkin' About Him?), We Believe, and Dick Cavett's Watergate. In addition, Scheinfeld has written pilot scripts for drama series for ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox. He is a graduate of Oberlin College and received his MFA from Northwestern University. SOURCE UMe Related Links http://www.coltranefilm.com/ ROSEMONT, Ill., Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Both prospective dental implant patients and the general public agree in a new study: oral and maxillofacial surgeons are the most qualified to perform the procedure to replace missing teeth. The study also finds the public needs more education about dental implants, and dental providers should emphasize this information to potentially improve patients' experiences. For the study, two groups of adult patients were asked about dental implants and where they obtained information about them. The general population group had 50 randomly selected patients at the emergency clinic at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry. These patients had no plans to have dental implants placed. The other group had 76 patients who had scheduled a dental implant consultation at the school's Dental Implant Clinic. Most participants from both groups agreed: 1) oral and maxillofacial surgeons are the best doctors to place implants, 2) implants need the same dental hygiene as a normal tooth, and 3) the top factor for not getting an implant is cost. Nearly 25 percent of the general population group had never heard of dental implants. Most participants in this group received their implant information from less dependable sources, according to the study published in the July issue of the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. These participants were more likely to obtain information from their friends or family members, while the implant consultation patients were more likely to say their dentist was their top source for information. The study also finds that patients who understand the dental implant procedure and their role in post-surgical care and oral hygiene can have an overall successful experience. Doctors should have an understanding of a patient's knowledge about implants, the accuracy of that information and why patients may decline getting them, researchers wrote. "Although this study showed that patients presenting for dental implants generally are better informed than the general public, the fact that even in this group some were less knowledgeable than others indicates that there is still a need for public education," the authors wrote. The authors of "Public and Patient Knowledge About Dental Implants" are George Deeb, DDS, MD, Associate Professor, Bryan Wheeler, DMD, Chief Resident, Daniel Laskin, DDS, MS, Professor Emeritus, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Dentistry; Margaret Jones, BS, Student, School of Dentistry; Caroline Carrico, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Research Administration; and Janina Golob Deeb, DMD, MS, Assistant Professor, Department of Periodontics, School of Dentistry; all from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Va. The full article can be accessed at www.joms.org/article/S0278-2391(17)30342-7/fulltext. ________________ The Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery is published by the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons to present to the dental and medical communities comprehensive coverage of new techniques, important developments and innovative ideas in oral and maxillofacial surgery. Practice-applicable articles help develop the methods used to handle dentoalveolar surgery, facial injuries and deformities, TMJ disorders, oral and head and neck cancer, jaw reconstruction, anesthesia and analgesia. The journal also includes specifics on new instruments and diagnostic equipment, and modern therapeutic drugs and devices. SOURCE American Association of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons CHICAGO, Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Susan G. Komen Chicago is gearing up for Breast Cancer Awareness Month and its 20th Anniversary, and this year it plans to go big. Leading up to the non-profit's Ignite the Fight Gala presented by Wintrust, Komen Chicago will turn the city pink with a bridge lighting and a day full of festivities. Hosted by Mario Lopez, Emmy-winning host of "Extra," the Ignite the Fight Gala presented by Wintrust on Oct. 21 is the anchor of the festivities, and those interested in celebrating beyond the "main event" can take part in a Rose 3K Wine Walk with City Winery Chicago Riverwalk as well as the Raising the Bar Gala After Party hosted by INDISTRY TV at The Virgin Hotel Chicago. The events will celebrate the profound impact that Komen Chicago has made throughout the city over the past 20 years, and will raise funds to enable the organization to continue funding breakthrough research and providing critical breast health services for the underserved. For a complete list of October initiatives, visit www.komenchicago.org. The Ignite the Fight Gala presented by Wintrust kicks off with a bridge lighting ceremony at 7 p.m. led by Ed Wehmer, president and CEO of Wintrust. The river will be illuminated in pink as the Dearborn Street bridge, Clark Street bridge, City Winery Riverwalk and The Virgin Hotel Chicago light up. The Gala begins at 7:30 p.m. at the Westin River North (320 N. Dearborn St.) and will feature NBC5 anchor Zoraida Sambolin, a breast cancer survivor, as the emcee for the evening. The event will honor 20 More Than Pink Heroes for their compassion, bravery and leadership in the fight against breast cancer, including Roz Varon, ABC7 traffic anchor and a breast cancer survivor. Additionally, Komen Chicago will present awards to exceptional survivors, doctors and supporters who have made significant contributions to the fight, including Illinois Senate President John J. Cullerton, who also will deliver the Gala's keynote address. Pink ties and pink cocktail attire are encouraged! Tickets are on sale at www.komenchicago.org/gala. "We are proud to host these exciting events and make such a major statement in our city during the month of October," says Bonnie Gordon, Komen Chicago executive director. "We all know it's Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but at Komen Chicago we prefer to think of it as Breast Cancer Action Month. This is the time to remind everyone of what we must do to ensure quality care for every Chicagoan." Gordon says more than 1,000 people in the Chicago area die from breast cancer each year, and there is a large disparity in the city, with the mortality rate of African-American women being 40 percent higher than Caucasian women. Many of those deaths could have been prevented, if a diagnosis had been made earlier and all had optimal care. The 20 More Than Pink Heroes who will be honored at the Gala include those who have lost loved ones to breast cancer or faced the disease themselves, as well as activists, volunteers and caregivers who support patients through diagnosis and treatment. About Komen Chicago: Susan G. Komen's promise is to save lives by meeting the most critical needs in our communities and investing in breakthrough research to prevent and cure breast cancer. Komen Chicago has distributed $17.4 million in community grants over the past 20 years, to ensure the underserved throughout the Chicago area get the care they need. Komen Chicago donates 75 percent of net funds raised to community grants and dedicates 25 percent to global research. CONTACT: MICHELLE MEKKY, MEKKY MEDIA RELATIONS, [email protected], 312-305-0181 WWW.KOMENCHICAGO.ORG SOURCE Komen Chicago Related Links http://www.komenchicago.org GREENVILLE, S.C., Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Kopis, one of South Carolina's leading custom software development and Business Intelligence companies, and Zipit, an Internet of Things technology company, announced today a strategic partnership to reduce the complexity of developing and supporting Internet-connected products and services. Kopis will become a distributor of Zipit's award-winning IoT connectivity and device management software and services, enabling Kopis to easily add device and system management capabilities, along with cellular connectivity when developing IoT applications for companies in various markets like connected health, home automation, intelligent factories, smart cities and more. "We're observing more companies getting into the IoT space, whether that is in autonomous vehicles, wireless medical devices, or various applications in manufacturing environments," said Andrew Kurtz, CEO of Kopis. "Leveraging Zipit's device management and wireless technology will help us scale our ability to support IoT development projects and help bring new innovations to market much faster, with no compromise in security or reliability." Ralph Heredia, Zipit's VP of Business Development, said "Our goal is to provide technologies that make IoT solution development faster, more cost effective, and secure throughout the product lifecycle enabling companies to successfully launch business initiatives around connected products and services. Zipit is excited to be formalizing this partnership with Kopis." About Kopis Founded in 1999, Kopis began as a technology consulting and custom software development company. Today, Kopis is one of South Carolina's leading software companies and an anchor in the technology community. With locations in Greenville and Charleston, S.C., Kopis provides services for a wide variety of clients, ranging from Fortune 100 companies to successful start-ups. Kopis services include: software development, Microsoft Dynamics ERP solutions, business intelligence, mobile app development and SQL managed services. For more information: www.kopisusa.com. About Zipit Zipit Wireless ("Zipit") provides business and technology solutions for the Internet of Things, that leverage highly scalable, industry-leading cloud infrastructures as well as the company's proven cloud-based device management technologies, deep IoT consultation expertise and managed IoT services. Zipit helps companies bring IoT products to market faster by offloading the complexities of securing, managing and supporting Internet-enabled solutions. For more information www.zipitwireless.com. Contact: Adam Drewes [email protected] Contact: Dan Heredia [email protected] SOURCE Kopis Related Links http://www.kopisusa.com SALT LAKE CITY, Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Flycraft, known as the world's most versatile inflatable fishing boat, proudly announces Landon Mayer, legendary fly fishing author and pro, as their newest brand ambassador. Flycraft USA Announces Landon Mayer as their newest brand ambassador. Landon Mayer, legendary fly fishing author and pro, is Flycraft USA's newest brand ambassador. Flycraft USA makes inflatable fishing boats. "The Flycraft Stealth has changed the way I fish Colorado lakes," 21-year fly fishing veteran, Mayer, said of the inflatable fishing boat. "This boat is extremely portable with an inflated weight of 98 lbs with the frame. Within minutes, I can unload it from the bed of my truck ready and inflated, roll it to the water, and launch from any location. I am now able to add an additional layer of flexibility to my adventures by expanding my trout hunt to locations that are suitable for any particular day, regardless of wind conditions." "It is truly a traveling anglers ultimate tool!" About Landon Mayer Landon Mayer, a fly-fishing instructor, long-time guide in the Florissant, CO area, and author, has made his mark in the fly fishing world with his obsession and expertise pursuing large trout with small flies and lightweight fly-fishing gear. Mayer's passionate about sharing his techniques and tricks of the sport with other fly fishing enthusiasts via guiding, teaching classes, writing for Fly Fisherman and High Country Angler magazines, and through his books 101 Trout Tips: A Guide's Secrets, Tactics and Techniques (new for 2015), Colorado's Best Fly Fishing, Sight Fishing for Trout, and How to Catch the Biggest Trout of Your Life, in addition to two DVDs: Landing the Trout of Your Life and Weapons of Bass Production. Mayer also raves about the ease of throwing the Stealth into the back of his truck, and heading out to fish, no problem. A trailer is not needed with the Flycraft Stealth small fishing boat, which is a plus for fishing pros and all fishermen alike. "It's also a huge advantage to be able to stay low and stealthy to sneak up on rising fish, but then be able to stand up once in position to fight that fish for make that longer cast to a fish further away," says Mayer. Contact: Natalie Orvis 801-810-4022 https://www.FlycraftUSA.com SOURCE Flycraft USA Related Links https://www.flycraftusa.com RESTON, Va., Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --Leidos (NYSE: LDOS), a FORTUNE 500 science and technology company, has scheduled a conference call for Thursday, November 2, 2017, at 7:30 AM ET to announce its third quarter 2017 financial results for the period ending Friday, September 29, 2017. The company plans to issue its quarterly earnings press release before the conference call on November 2, 2017. The details for the earnings conference call follow: Date: November 2, 2017 Time: 7:30 AM (ET) To Listen via the Internet: We are pleased to offer a live and replay audio broadcast of the conference call with corresponding supplemental information at http://ir.leidos.com. To Listen via Telephone: 877-869-3847 (toll-free U.S.) +1-201-689-8261 (for International Callers) Replay: A telephone playback of the third quarter 2017 earnings conference call is scheduled to be available beginning at 11:30 AM (ET) on November 2, 2017, through 11:59 PM (ET) on November 9, 2017. The replay will be accessible by calling 877-660-6853 (International callers: 201-612-7415), and entering conference ID 13671145. An archived version of the webcast will be available on the Leidos Investor Relations website at http://ir.leidos.com. About Leidos Leidos is a Fortune 500 science and technology solutions and services leader working to solve the world's toughest challenges in the defense, intelligence, homeland security, civil, and health markets. The company's 32,000 employees support vital missions for government and commercial customers. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $7.04 billion for the fiscal year ended December 30, 2016. For more information, visit www.Leidos.com. Media contact: Melissa Koskovich 571.526.6850 [email protected] Investor Relations: Kelly M. Freeman 571.526.7686 [email protected] SOURCE Leidos Related Links http://www.leidos.com NEW YORK, Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Luxury lingerie leader Journelle is celebrating its tenth anniversary this month. The company has five retails stores, including a new Los Angeles location which opened 3 weeks ago, and newly built flagship in the Union Square neighborhood of New York City. Additionally, the company runs a growing e-commerce site and is launching its fifth season of their private label line, Journelle Collection. The company's mission statement underpins all their work: to help women feel beautiful and confident, starting from the inside out. Journelle's CEO, Lyn Lewis, describes the importance of the new west-coast expansion: "This is such an exciting time for our company. We've always wanted to be in Los Angeles, where we already have so many online customers. This new California store is an opportunity to connect with these women in person, as well as to meet many others who I'm sure will also love discovering lingerie with us. Journelle- and lingerie- is all about feeling great, beautiful, sexy, and confident, and it's a pleasure and a privilege to now get to connect with amazing women in new parts of the country." Journelle opened its new Los Angeles store on September 21, 2017 in Westfield Century City's newly renovated shopping center. The 1,500 square foot boutique store features both a full range of Journelle's core items, including great basics for everyday as well as luxury pieces. Additionally, Journelle selected many styles specifically for the L.A. market, stocking the store with bralettes, lingerie in brighter colors, and more fashion forward pieces. Additionally, the brand's New York Flagship in the heart of Union Square will be reopening on October 18th, after moving across the street. The new space has 7 fitting rooms, instead of the 4 in the prior location, and a larger retail floor space. Journelle first launched its own in-house collection in Autumn 2015. On Oct 1, 2017, the company released its fifth new lingerie and loungewear season. Inspired by romantic Parisian nights, and the brand's anniversary theme, "Constellations," the collection is unapologetically bold and naturally sexy. The color palette includes burgundy, midnight blue and black, juxtaposed against delicate nudes. True to Journelle's brand origins, this season's Journelle Collection embodies strength, femininity, movement, and a natural sexiness. Journelle will also partake in numerous fall and winter partnerships with like-minded brands that cater to the lingerie company's devout customer. The tenth anniversary will be celebrated through several in-store and online promotions, the launch of new Journelle Collection, and other seasonal collaborations, which will encompass experiential events for VIP customers. Through the fall season, major wine distributor Boisset will serve as Journelle's exclusive spirits partner, with Haute Couture French Bubbles available at all in-store events. Boisset and Journelle will also be hosting a VIP giveaway contest beginning in October, for a luxurious trip for two to iconic Napa, California. ABOUT: Founded in 2007, Journelle is the leader in the luxury lingerie industry, bringing a fresh approach to the category through fashion-forward merchandise selection, sophisticated store design, and exceptional customer care. The name, taken from the French word "journellement," meaning daily, is a nod to the belief that wearing lovely lingerie is an everyday luxury. Journelle's mission is to help women feel beautiful and confident starting from the inside out. The multi-brand retailer currently has store locations in New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles, as well as an e-commerce site at www.journelle.com. SOURCE Journelle Related Links http://www.journelle.com FERTILE | Niman Ranch, a national leader in sustainable agriculture and humane livestock practices, has named its top scholarship this year in honor of the late Phyllis Willis, well-known North Iowa farmer and environmentalist. The Phyllis Willis Pioneer Scholarship Award has a $10,000 value this year and will be part of the annual Niman Ranch Next Generation Scholarship awards. This year's winner is Elle Gadient of Cascade, recognizing her interest in sustainability and in a safe environment. Willis, 74, who died in April, was co-founder of the Niman Ranch Pork Co. and enjoyed hosting farm tours for guests from all over the country and was a champion of clean air and water as well as animal rights. Even as her health was failing, she appeared at many public meetings throughout North Iowa promoting environmental causes, including the fight against the proposed Prestage pork processing plant in Mason City in 2016. "She had the Mother Jones philosophy pray for the dead and fight like hell for the living," said environmental activist Tom Willett at the time of her death. "Only she would have said it in a softer tone." Niman Ranch awarded 32 scholarships this year, totaling $106,000 through its National Generation Scholarship Fund. Paul Willis, a Niman Ranch founder, said the scholarships are to help winners with student loan debts, "crucial to helping new farmers stay on the land," he said. This year's scholarship winners were from Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri and California. "All will have a greater chance of returning to the farm after college with the funds awarded to help pay for their education," said Willis. "With her extensive knowledge in commercial lines, Robin is a great addition to our team as we continue to grow in the Mountain West," said Chuck McDaniel, president and chief executive officer of the Mountain West series. "We strive to provide our clients with the best professional services and Robin solidifies our commitment of providing that knowledge for our clients." Rider has an extensive background in complex real estate construction, gaming/hospitality and public entities. Prior to joining Lockton, she spent more than decade at Willis Tower Watson working with large real estate, hospitality and construction clients. She will partner with Lockton's Producers and service teams to onboard new clients, collaborate on client strategy, and manage client relationships The insurance business has always been a part of Rider's life since her father started Rider Risk, Specialists Insurance Agency in Cape Cod, MA, where she started her career. Rider maintains CPCU, ARM and CRM designations and is a Cum Laude graduate of Emmanuel College in Boston. Robin Rider can be reached at 702-641-0707, or [email protected] . She splits her time between the Denver and Las Vegas offices. About Lockton More than 6,500 professionals at Lockton provide 50,000 clients around the world with risk management, insurance, employee benefits consulting, and retirement services that improve their businesses. From its founding in 1966 in Kansas City, Missouri, Lockton has attracted entrepreneurial professionals who have driven its growth to become the largest privately held, independent insurance broker in the world and 10th largest overall. For six consecutive years, Business Insurance magazine has recognized Lockton as a "Best Place to Work in Insurance." To see the latest insights from Lockton's experts, check Lockton Market Update. SOURCE Lockton Related Links http://www.lockton.com SANTA ANA, Calif., Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- McGuff Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of McGuff Company, Inc. announces the United States Food and Drug Administration's New Drug Approval (NDA) of Ascor (Ascorbic Acid Injection USP). Ascor is provided in a 50 mL vial labeled as a Pharmacy Bulk Package with a strength of 500mg/mL. Ascor (Ascorbic Acid Injection, USP) Ascor is vitamin C indicated for the short term (up to 1 week) treatment of scurvy in adult and pediatric patients age 5 months and older for whom oral administration is not possible, insufficient or contraindicated. Ascor is the first single moiety ascorbic acid drug approved for the US market and is the result of a multi-year development effort. Ronald McGuff, CEO said, "The FDA approval of Ascor Ascorbic Acid Injection USP will allow McGuff Pharmaceuticals, Inc. to deliver this medically necessary drug to US hospitals and pharmacies to improve patient health. In addition, McGuff Pharmaceuticals, Inc. currently holds Ascorbic Acid Injection USP approvals in multiple other countries." McGuff Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is building a new 86,000 ft2 manufacturing facility in Santa Ana, Orange County, California to manufacture both branded and contract labeled sterile pharmaceutical products. About Ascor Indication ASCOR is vitamin C indicated for the short term (up to 1 week) treatment of scurvy in adult and pediatric patients age 5 months and older for whom oral administration is not possible, insufficient or contraindicated. Limitations of Use ASCOR is not indicated for treatment of vitamin C deficiency that is not associated with signs and symptoms of scurvy. Important Safety Information Ascorbic acid has been associated with development of acute or chronic oxalate nephropathy following prolonged use of high doses of ascorbic acid infusion. Patients with renal disease including renal impairment, history of oxalate kidney stones, geriatric patients, and pediatric patients less than 2 years old may be at increased risk. Patients with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency are at risk of severe hemolysis; a reduced dose is recommended. Ascorbic acid may interfere with laboratory tests based on oxidation-reduction reactions, including blood and urine glucose testing. Ascorbic acid may decrease the activities of erythromycin, kanamycin, streptomycin, doxycycline, and lincomycin. Bleomycin is inactivated in vitro by ascorbic acid. Ascorbic acid may cause acidification of the urine and result in decreased amphetamine serum levels and affect excretion and plasma concentrations of other drugs sensitive to urine pH. About McGuff Pharmaceuticals, Inc. McGuff Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of McGuff Company, Inc. McGuff Pharmaceuticals is a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) inspected sterile fill manufacturer that maintains a tradition of quality and core competency in both FDA current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) and International Organization for Standardization's Quality Management Systems 9001, a unique combination for any pharmaceutical manufacturer. McGuff Pharmaceuticals currently manufactures both branded and generic injectables under its own label as well as providing contract manufacturing services, for distribution to key market segments, both domestically and internationally. MPI also offers contract clinical trial services and international import / export regulatory services. About McGuff Companies The McGuff family of companies consists of four US and one foreign corporation. All corporations are family held and veteran owned. McGuff Company, Inc. and subsidiaries provide the following diverse capabilities; aseptic drug manufacturing, medical products distribution and 3PL logistics, pharmacy compounded drugs and Canadian drug distribution. For more information about Ascor including approved package insert visit: http://www.mcguffpharmaceuticals.com//About/Ascorbic-Acid-Injection.aspx For more information about the McGuff family of companies visit: www.mcguff.com For more information on the FDA's Drug Review Process: Ensuring Drugs Are Safe and Effective visit: https://www.fda.gov/Drugs/ResourcesForYou/Consumers/ucm143534.htm To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact McGuff Pharmaceuticals Inc., toll free at 1-800-603-4795 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch SOURCE McGuff Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Related Links http://www.mcguff.com Combined company renamed Maxar Technologies and dual-listed on NYSE and TSX Creates distinctive portfolio of leading advanced space technology brands Offers integrated solutions expertise including space and ground segments Dan Jablonsky appointed president of DigitalGlobe Tony Frazier appointed president of Radiant Solutionsthe combination of DigitalGlobe l Radiant and the MDA Information Systems businesses SAN FRANCISCO and VANCOUVER, Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ - MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. ("MDA" or the "Company") (TSX: MDA), a global communications and information company providing technology solutions to commercial and government organizations worldwide, today announced it has completed its acquisition of DigitalGlobe, Inc. ("DigitalGlobe"), the global leader in high resolution Earth imagery and information about our changing planet. The merger creates the leading integrated commercial provider of satellites, imagery and geospatial solutions to commercial and government customers worldwide. The newly combined company will offer a broader set of space-based solutions, increased scale and a more diversified revenue base. "Today is a very exciting day for our customers, partners, employees and shareholders," said Howard L. Lance, president and chief executive officer of MDA. "Together, in partnership with the outstanding team at DigitalGlobe, our combined company will offer an unmatched suite of solutions, benefit from increased scale and a more diversified revenue base, and drive increased value by leveraging the sales channels of both companies. The combination of our strong, diversified core businesses will create expanded opportunities for team members and customers alike. I am very excited to get to work with the new leadership team to drive top and bottom line growth and future success." NEW CORPORATE NAME The Company also announced today that MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. (MDA) will become Maxar Technologies Ltd., and its U.S.-headquartered operating company, SSL MDA Holdings, Inc., will become Maxar Technologies Holdings Inc. The new Maxar Technologies launches a distinctive group of leading space brands, technologies and capabilities. "Our new corporate name highlights the broader capabilities of the combined organization," said Mr. Lance. "Maxar Technologies encompasses four of the leading commercial space technology brandsSSL, MDA, DigitalGlobe and Radiantand represents the expanded benefits and value we will offer to our customers, shareholders, partners and employees." The Company plans to continue to use the individual business unit brands and will roll out the new corporate branding design elements by the end of 2017. MDA undertook a major corporate reorganization in May 2016 as part of its "U.S. Access Plan" strategy, including the appointment of Mr. Lance and the formation of SSL MDA Holdings, Inc., with its headquarters in San Francisco, which manages and controls all of the Company's operations across Canada, the U.S. and internationally. This process was completed under the guidance and approval of the U.S. Department of Defense, whereby SSL MDA Holdings operates under a Security Control Agreement. This structure allows the Company to pursue and execute U.S. government programs that require security clearances. The Company will begin trading today on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "MDA." However, the Company's ticker symbol on both the New York and Toronto Stock Exchanges will be changed next week to "MAXR" to reflect the Company's new name as Maxar Technologies. In addition, as announced at the time of the proposed merger, the Company has committed to further reorganize all or part of the combined Company's corporate and operating structure to ensure the ultimate parent of DigitalGlobe is incorporated in the U.S. by the end of 2019, subject to customary approvals. A PORTFOLIO OF BEST-IN-CLASS BRANDS Maxar Technologies is uniquely positioned to capture growth in the U.S., Canada and global markets given its ability to provide advanced satellites and space systems, high resolution Earth imagery and geospatial solutions. With the addition of DigitalGlobe and Radiant Solutions, the Maxar Technologies portfolio of best-in-class brands offers a full suite of end-to-end solutions capabilities with deep domain expertise and space heritage. SSL : the leading commercial provider of communications and Earth observation satellites and scientific mission spacecraft for commercial and government markets; : the leading commercial provider of communications and Earth observation satellites and scientific mission spacecraft for commercial and government markets; MDA : an internationally recognized leader in space robotics, satellite antennas and subsystems, surveillance and intelligence systems, defense and maritime systems and geospatial radar imagery; : an internationally recognized leader in space robotics, satellite antennas and subsystems, surveillance and intelligence systems, defense and maritime systems and geospatial radar imagery; DigitalGlobe : the global leader in high resolution optical satellite imagery and information about our changing planet; and : the global leader in high resolution optical satellite imagery and information about our changing planet; and Radiant : a highly specialized provider of geospatial data, analytics, software and services to facilitate insights and intelligence where and when it matters most. COMBINED GEOSPATIAL AND ANALYTIC CAPABILITIES MDA Information Systems, based in Gaithersburg, Maryland, and DigitalGlobe l Radiant, based in Herndon, Virginia, have been combined into a new business unit called Radiant Solutions. Radiant is focused on providing advanced geospatial data collection and analytics capabilities to offer enhanced support to the U.S. Department of Defense and Intelligence Community, along with international government and commercial customers. With over 1,000 cleared spacecraft and sensor engineers, developers, geospatial analysts, data scientists and image scientists, Radiant Solutions will be able to deliver innovative solutions across the entire geospatial intelligence value chain with smart tasking, multi-intelligence collection, automated information extraction, pattern discovery and change detection. LEADERSHIP Mr. Lance will lead the combined company as president and chief executive officer. Mr. Lance's extensive experience in the global aerospace, defense and security markets will position the combined company to capture growing demand for end-to-end space systems solutions. The Company's senior leadership team will be comprised of executives from both MDA and DigitalGlobe. William McCombe has been appointed chief financial officer of Maxar Technologies. Anil Wirasekara, who previously served as Chief Financial Officer of MDA since 1994, will continue with the Company and serve as the senior financial executive, based in Canada. Mr. Wirasekara will continue to report to Mr. Lance, with a significant portfolio of executive responsibilities. "Bill has done an outstanding job as chief financial officer of our operating company since his appointment in 2016. He is now ready to take on the public company duties as well," said Mr. Lance. "I am fortunate to have Anil continue to serve as my most trusted advisor across a multitude of issues, given his long experience and tenure with the Company." "After 23 years as the chief financial officer of MDA, the time has come to change the scope of my responsibilities," said Mr. Wirasekara. "I have worked with Bill for many years and I am confident in his ability to succeed in his expanded role. I am fully committed to provide Bill and Howard all the support they require." Timothy M. Hascall has been appointed chief operations officer. Mr. Hascall previously served as executive vice president responsible for the Imagery business unit at DigitalGlobe, including operations and customer experience. "I am pleased that Tim will be joining the team as COO," said Mr. Lance. "His experience at DigitalGlobe, combined with his many years of prior experience at Accenture driving operational transformations, will be instrumental as we deliver on the synergies and operational efficiencies from the combination." Daniel L. Jablonsky has been appointed president of DigitalGlobe. Mr. Jablonsky previously served as general manager of the U.S. and International Defense and Intelligence businesses at DigitalGlobe, as well as serving as its senior vice president and general counsel. "I'm confident that Dan will successfully lead DigitalGlobe into the next phase of its growth," said Mr. Lance. "He is an experienced leader with a track record of delivering results." Mr. Lance added, "I want to acknowledge and thank Jeff Tarr, who led DigitalGlobe as president and chief executive officer of DigitalGlobe for the past six years, for his partnership during the merger process and his many contributions to DigitalGlobe during his tenure." Dr. Walter S. Scott has been appointed chief technology officer for Maxar Technologies. Dr. Scott formed DigitalGlobe in 1992 as WorldView Imaging Corporation, the first company to receive a high-resolution commercial remote sensing license from the U.S. Government, and will continue to lead DigitalGlobe's Platform business while taking on expanded responsibilities for the Company. "Walter's experience and track record driving technology and innovation will not only continue to benefit DigitalGlobe, but the broader Maxar Technologies space and ground portfolio going forward," said Mr. Lance. "His industry leadership is recognized for its vision and leading-edge thinking." Tony Frazier has been appointed president of Radiant Solutions. Mr. Frazier previously served as senior vice president of Services at DigitalGlobe. Don Schaefer, who previously served as president of MDA Information Systems, has been appointed chief strategy officer of Radiant Solutions. "Together, Tony and Don in their new roles will position Radiant Solutions as the leading provider of insights and intelligence for the geospatial markets," said Mr. Lance. In addition, three members of the DigitalGlobe Board of Directors, Howell M. Estes III, Roger Mason, Jr. and Nick S. Cyprus, have been appointed to the MDA Board of Directors. To learn more about today's news, please visit www.mdacorporation.com/winningtogether. Forward-Looking Statements This release contains forward-looking statements and information, which reflect the current view of the Company with respect to future events, financial performance and operational capabilities. The forward-looking statements in this regard include statements as to management's expectations with respect to: the benefits of the transaction and strategic and integration opportunities; the Company's plans, objectives, expectations and intentions; expectations for sales growth, synergies, earnings and performance; the timing of the change in MDA's ticker symbol on the New York and Toronto Stock Exchanges; shareholder value; and other statements that are not historical facts. Although management of the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Any such forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results and experience to differ materially from the anticipated results or expectations expressed in this press release. Additional information concerning these risk factors can be found in the Company's filings with Canadian securities regulatory authorities, which are available online under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com, the Company's filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, or on the Company's website at www.mdacorporation.com, and in DigitalGlobe's filings with the SEC, including Item 1A of DigitalGlobe's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified in their entirety by the foregoing cautionary statements and are based upon data available as of the date of this release and speak only as of such date. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements in this press release as a result of new information or future events, except as may be required under applicable securities legislation. ABOUT MDA MDA is a global communications and information company providing operational solutions to commercial and government organizations worldwide. MDA's business is focused on markets and customers with strong repeat business potential, primarily in the Communications sector and the Surveillance and Intelligence sector. In addition, the Company conducts a significant amount of advanced technology development. MDA's established global customer base is served by more than 4,800 employees operating from 15 locations in the United States, Canada, and internationally. The Company's common shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol TSX:MDA. For more information, visit www.mdacorporation.com ABOUT SSL MDA HOLDINGS, INC. SSL MDA Holdings, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. and serves as the operating company for all MDA businesses. SSL MDA Holdings is headquartered in San Francisco, California. ABOUT DIGITALGLOBE DigitalGlobe is a leading global provider of high-resolution Earth-imagery products and services sourced from our own advanced satellite constellation and third-party providers. Our imagery solutions support a wide variety of users in defense and intelligence, civil agencies, mapping and analysis, environmental monitoring, oil and gas exploration, infrastructure management, Internet portals, and navigation technology. Each day users depend on us to better understand our changing planet in order to save lives, resources and time. CONTACTS Investor relations: Marissa Poratto, MDA, (604) 331-2044, [email protected] Media relations (Canada): Wendy Keyzer, MDA, (604) 231-2743, [email protected] Media relations (United States): Sheila Ennis, Abernathy MacGregor, (415) 926-7961, [email protected] SOURCE MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. Related Links http://www.mdacorporation.com In 1997, a group of physicians helped launch a new, unified brand name for five Southern California hospitals. It was then, that the MemorialCare Health System name was born. Their goal was to make clinical care across Orange County and Los Angeles County significantly betterby working together as a system. They created best practices and committed to using evidence-based medicine throughout the new system, called MemorialCare. Since then, MemorialCare has grown from five to more than 200 locations from the South Bay to South Orange County. Through two medical groups, MemorialCare Medical Group and Greater Newport Physicians, MemorialCare sees more than 600,000 patients each year in primary care settings alone. Today, the health system also includes numerous free-standing imaging centers, breast centers, surgical centers and dialysis centers, over 2,500 affiliated primary care and specialty physicians, and its own health plan, Seaside Health Plan. "MemorialCare's new look is more than a change of symbol, it's a symbol of how much we've changed," says Barry Arbuckle, PhD, CEO, MemorialCare. "In 20 short years, we've grown from a system of five hospitals into a fully integrated health system, delivering care to our entire community from the 25 year-old who needs his yearly physical for preventive care to a grandmother battling breast cancer. We are here for every person, at every age, at every stage of life." MemorialCare's new visual identity includes a tree element, representing working together as a coordinated health delivery system. The accessibility offered to millions of patients at over 200 locations is shown with overlapping, connected windows of care. One of the most important elements of the new look is a continued focus on delivering a simply better, patient-centered experience across all of our locations, which is embodied in an up-reaching figure. Healthcare consumer research shows that communities want doctors, hospitals, pediatric care, and health centers to be connected and provide integrated healthcare. By showing the name 'MemorialCare' first and foremost in all of its entity names, the system is helping patients connect the dots across all its integrated acute care, ambulatory, pediatric specialty and primary care services. Miller Children's & Women's Hospital Long Beach, named after a generous donor, will also carry the brand name MemorialCare. The only fully integrated healthcare system with a dedicated women's and children's hospital, MemorialCare takes pride in Miller Children's & Women's patient and family centered experience. The hospital's new look features Millie the dolphin and her pup, playfully representing the fully integrated, specialized care that is provided for both maternity and pediatric patients. This new look not only connects the dots among all MemorialCare entities, but goes a step further, asking the more than 11,000 MemorialCare employees to continue to deliver on our promise to the community of always delivering simply better care. "Simply Better care is about continuing to strive far beyond the expected, to deliver an exceptional experience for each and every patient," explains Arbuckle. "It's living out our brand promise in which our patients and their families trust us with what they value most, excellence in service at every touch point." About MemorialCare MemorialCare is a nonprofit integrated healthcare delivery system that includes: MemorialCare Long Beach Medical Center MemorialCare Miller Children's & Women's Hospital Long Beach MemorialCare Community Medical Center Long Beach MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center The system includes award-winning medical groups MemorialCare Medical Group and Greater Newport Physicians; Seaside Health Plan; and convenient outpatient health centers, imaging centers, surgical centers and dialysis centers throughout Orange and Los Angeles Counties. SOURCE MemorialCare DARMSTADT, Germany, Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany today launched Embracing Carers, a global initiative to recognize and raise awareness of the crucial role of unpaid caregivers. At the International Carers Conference in Adelaide, Australia, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany unveiled the findings of the Embracing Carers International Survey which concludes that a strong need for increased support to caregivers exists globally. Since caregivers are people who provide unpaid assistance to someone in need, their own needs are often overlooked. Belen Garijo, Member of the Executive Board and CEO Healthcare of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, said: "Working with caregiver thought leaders, we aim to elevate caregiving as a global public health priority. Not enough services and programs exist today to help caregivers address their own health and well-being and it's our aim to champion caregiver support and become a long-standing partner for the caregiver community. Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany's responsibility and commitment to helping patients live longer, more fulfilled lives, stretch beyond medical innovation for patients." Advised by leading caregiver organizations from around the world, Embracing Carers is a multi-dimensional initiative to fill the need for better support and recognition of caregivers. As its first steps, Embracing Carers has undertaken to: Support the caregiver infrastructure by making possible the International Alliance of Carer Organizations' (IACO) Carer Toolkit, providing countries without a caregiver infrastructure the information to develop a national caregiver organization. Convene caregiver organizations from across the world to serve as strategic advisors in increasing support and recognition of caregivers. Develop calls to action to broaden stakeholder engagement, increase global awareness of challenges, drive legislative action and engage with healthcare systems. The survey1, which questioned 3,516 unpaid caregivers across seven countries (Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom, United States), revealed a strong need for increased support to caregivers. In fact, more than half (55%) of unpaid caregivers feel that their physical health has suffered as a result of their caregiver duties and 54% of unpaid caregivers don't often have time to book or attend medical appointments for themselves. Co-created with the Embracing Carers strategic advisors, the Embracing Carers Carers Report: Embracing the Critical Role of Carers Around the World was also presented at the conference. The report concluded that caring for a loved one is an activity that cuts across most demographic groups, including age, race, educational attainment and household income. "The Embracing Carers International Survey and Carers Report clearly demonstrates the need for more action to be conducted on an international level to address the challenges that family caregivers face when caring for a family member or friend," said Rick Greene, Executive Advisor, International Alliance of Carer Organizations. "The coming together of industry and advocacy results in greater expertise, resources and support for caregivers within healthcare systems wherever they live." Embracing Carers is advised by leading caregiver organizations including the Caregiver Action Network, Carers Australia, Carers UK, Carers Worldwide, Eurocarers, National Alliance for Caregiving, International Alliance of Carer Organizations (IACO) and Shanghai Roots & Shoots, China. For more information on Embracing Carers, the International Survey or Carers Report, visit our website at www.embracingcarers.com. About the Embracing Carers strategic advisors Caregiver Action Network US-based Caregiver Action Network (CAN) serves a broad spectrum of family caregivers ranging from the parents of children with special needs, to the families and friends of wounded soldiers; from a young couple dealing with a diagnosis of MS, to adult children caring for parents with Alzheimer's disease. CAN (the National Family Caregivers Association) is a non-profit organization providing education, peer support, and resources to family caregivers across the country free of charge. Carers Australia Carers Australia is the national peak body representing Australia's carers, advocating on behalf of Australia's carers to influence policies and services at a national level. It works collaboratively with partners and its member organisations, the Network of state and territory Carers Associations, to deliver a range of essential national carer services. Carers UK Established in 1965, Carers UK is the UK's only national membership charity for carers, offering a supportive community and leading a movement for change. Its mission is to make life better for carers, through giving expert advice, information and support; connecting carers so no-one has to care alone; campaigning together for lasting change; and innovating to find new ways to reach and support carers. Carers Worldwide Carers Worldwide develops and promotes cost effective, sustainable and easily replicable methods of providing support to carers in low and middle income countries. In partnership with local agencies, it aims to enable service providers, policy makers and other stakeholders to recognise and respond to the needs of carers in the developing world, ensuring balance and equal value is given to the needs of the carer and the person receiving care. Eurocarers Eurocarers is a European network representing informal carers and their organizations, seeking to advance the recognition of informal care acting on behalf of all carers, former carers, and their organizations, irrespective of their age or the particular health need of the person they caring for. Eurocarers brings together carers' organisations as well as relevant universities & research institutes to ensure that care is valued and unpaid care is recognised as central to the sustainability of health and long term care systems. National Alliance for Caregiving Established in 1996, the National Alliance for Caregiving is a non-profit coalition of national organizations focusing on advancing family caregiving through research, innovation, and advocacy. Based in the United States, the Alliance conducts research, does policy analysis, develops national best-practice programs, and works to increase public awareness of family caregiving issues. International Alliance of Carer Organizations (IACO) Incorporated in 2012, the International Alliance of Carer Organizations (IACO) serves as an umbrella organization that provides cohesive direction, facilitates information sharing, and actively advocates for carers at an international level. IACO aims to investigate and address issues of international family caregiving with the intent of increasing public awareness of the needs of the family caregiver on a global scale. Shanghai Roots & Shoots, China The Shanghai branch of Roots & Shoots was founded as a volunteer organization in November, 1999. Five years later, in November, 2004, Roots & Shoots was granted a Non-Profit Organization status by the Shanghai Municipality Government. The program aims to foster respect and compassion for all living things, to promote understanding of all cultures and beliefs, and to empower and inspire individuals to take action to make a positive difference in our world. About the Embracing Carers International Survey The Embracing Carers online survey was conducted by Censuswide on behalf of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany. It questioned 3,516 unpaid carers aged 18-75 years including 2,106 respondents aged 35-55 in Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, UK and the US between 27 July and 8 August, 2017. All Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, press releases are distributed by e-mail at the same time they become available on the EMD Group Website. In case you are a resident of the USA or Canada please go to 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 Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, is a leading science and technology company in healthcare, life science and performance materials. Around 50,000 employees work to further develop technologies that improve and enhance life from biopharmaceutical therapies to treat cancer or multiple sclerosis, cutting-edge systems for scientific research and production, to liquid crystals for smartphones and LCD televisions. In 2016, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, generated sales of 15.0 billion in 66 countries. Founded in 1668, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, is the world's oldest pharmaceutical and chemical company. The founding family remains the majority owner of the publicly listed corporate group. Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, holds the global rights to the Merck" name and brand. The only exceptions are the United States and Canada, where the company operates as EMD Serono, MilliporeSigma and EMD Performance Materials. References: Embracing Carers International Survey. Censuswide 27 July 8 August Your Contact Lisa Buffington +1 781 681 2340 SOURCE Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany READING, Pa., Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Metropolitan Edison Company (Met-Ed), a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE), has completed equipment upgrades at a substation in Reading to enhance service reliability and help meet growing demand for electricity for about 2,500 customers in the Glenside area of the city. The centerpiece of the $3 million project was replacing a transformer and other equipment in the substation, which originally was constructed in 1940. Substation transformers enable higher transmission voltages to be changed to lower levels that can be used by customers to power electrical devices. As an added benefit, the refurbishment was designed to increase the local electric system's capacity without having to expand the substation's footprint or build new power lines. The upgrade included new circuit breakers and relay devices, which automatically interrupt the flow of electricity to protect equipment from events such as tree-related outages or lightning strikes. Met-Ed dispatchers can now remotely monitor conditions at the substation, and if needed, reset the devices automatically to help reduce the duration and number of customers affected if an outage occurs. This remote-control capability was not available at the time the substation was originally built. "Refurbishing this substation will help position our system to better meet the electrical growth that has occurred in the Glenside area of Reading during the past 50 years," said Ed Shuttleworth, regional president of Met-Ed. "The planning work for this project began late last year and construction has been completed in a timely and efficient manner to help us deliver the safe and reliable electric service our customers have come to expect." Met-Ed, a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE), serves approximately 560,000 customers in 15 Pennsylvania counties. Follow Met-Ed on Twitter @Met Ed and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MetEdElectric. FirstEnergy is dedicated to safety, reliability and operational excellence. Its 10 electric distribution companies form one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems, serving customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Maryland and New York. The company's transmission subsidiaries operate more than 24,000 miles of transmission lines that connect the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions. Follow FirstEnergy online at www.firstenergycorp.com and on Twitter: @FirstEnergyCorp. SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp. Related Links http://www.firstenergycorp.com JACKSON, Mich., Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- MiraMed Global Services, Inc. (MiraMed), a leader in healthcare business process outsourcing (BPO) solutions, announces it will be attending the 2017 AHIMA Convention & Exhibit, along with partner company MiraMed OnCall, a provider of credentialed coders to the healthcare industry. With a theme of Inspire Innovate Lead, the 2017 AHIMA Convention and Exhibit is being held October 7th 11th in Los Angeles, CA at the Los Angeles Convention Center. "The healthcare industry is balancing the need to provide quality care while reducing costs and managing population health. To do this effectively, healthcare organizations are becoming more reliant on the optimal gathering, analysis, and use of health information," AHIMA states on its 2017 Convention and Exhibit website. MiraMed Global Services and MiraMed OnCall are a part of the MiraMed family of companies, working together to provide you the services and information you need in today's healthcare industry. MiraMed Global Services is the premier global provider of business process outsourcing solutions to healthcare organizations nationwide, partnering with hospitals, health networks, physician practices and related industry service organizations to provide customizable solutions, uncover and capitalize on hidden financial opportunities, improve productivity and ultimately increase profits. MiraMed OnCall is a leading provider of credentialed HIM staff for healthcare organizations, with the knowledge, proven staff and resources to assist its healthcare clients with medical record coding, cancer tumor registry, auditing and interim management. Visit them in booth #935. Tony Mira, Chairman and CEO of MiraMed Global Services, says, "Since the MiraMed Family focuses exclusively on the healthcare market and health information management, AHIMA 2017 is a priority for MiraMed. Our commitment to health information is evident in our proprietary data analytics software and our CMS-credentialed MACRA MadeEasy Quality Payment Program. We believe in the work of AHIMA and are proud to support the American Health Information Management Association." About the MiraMed Family Headquartered in Jackson, Michigan, MiraMed Global Services stands as the premier global provider of business process outsourcing solutions to healthcare organizations nationwide. MiraMed partners with hospitals, health networks, physician practices and related industry service organizations to provide a broad portfolio of customizable solutions, uncover and capitalize on hidden financial opportunities, improve productivity and ultimately increase profits. MiraMed has offices in Jackson, MI, Chicago, IL, Birmingham, AL, Thousand Oaks, CA, Walnut Creek, CA, Baton Rouge, LA, Boston, MA, Dearborn, MI, Santa Fe, NM, Portland, OR, Dallas, TX, Chennai, India and Manila, Philippines. MiraMed OnCall has built a solid reputation on superior customer service and client satisfaction. Superior customer service begins with the right people and client satisfaction is maintained with highly trained professional staff that provides a quality work product. Our staff is up to date on all coding conventions, guidelines and regulations. We are proud of our consultants and stand by them 100%. We also constantly invest in our staff and provide a great work environment. Happy and valued employees are more productive and satisfied. MiraMed OnCall is the future of HIM today. MiraMed pairs healthcare industry experts with world-class processes, infrastructure and technology to deliver meaningful and measurable results. This proprietary model enables sustainable change by delivering a complete, customizable enhanced revenue cycle solutions devised to meet a client's own unique financial and organizational needs. If you would like more information, please go to www.miramedgs.com or http://www.miramedoncall.com/ or email [email protected]. Twitter LinkedIn Facebook Google Contact: Lori Imboden Tel: 517-787-7432 Email: [email protected] SOURCE MiraMed Global Services, Inc. Related Links http://www.miramedgs.com MCKINNEY, Texas, Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Rey Colon, founder and CEO of MyTelemedicine, has been selected to participate in the upcoming fall cohort of the Stanford Latino Entrepreneurship Initiative (SLEI). The exclusive seven-week education program is offered through the Stanford University Graduate School of Business in collaboration with Latino Business Action Network (LBAN) to help propel up-and-coming Latino entrepreneurs to even greater success. The program includes strategies that speak directly to the unique challenges Latinos face in scaling their businesses, plus support through world-class mentors and connections to capital providers. The Stanford Latino Entrepreneurship Initiative The Stanford Latino Entrepreneurship Initiative Since its introduction in 2015, the program has built an alumni base of almost 300 graduates whose businesses have combined annual gross revenues of more than $760 million. The immersive, customized course encompasses live webinars and online learning, and each cohort is limited to 80 participants, who must meet rigorous selection criteria: Applicants must have either generated $1 million in revenue or raised $500K in funding for their business. "It is a tremendous privilege to be selected to the program and join together with other Latino entrepreneurs from across the country," says Colon, who launched MyTelemedicine in late 2015. The cloud-based telehealth service provider has since enrolled over half a million members nationwide and was named on the 2016 Entrepreneur Magazine 360 List as one of the most innovative companies in the healthcare space. Notes Colon of the SLEI program, "Learning how to take a business like ours to the next level will not only benefit our clients and employees but help strengthen America and the Latino community, as well." As one of the nation's fastest growing telemedicine providers, MyTelemedicine specifically targets the needs of the Hispanic and Latino market across the U.S. Through its user-friendly Access a Doctor service, the MyTelemedicine platform provides families and individuals with direct access 24/7 to Spanish-speaking doctors and healthcare advocates. LBAN aims to make America stronger by empowering Latino entrepreneurs to grow large, thriving businesses, with the ultimate goal of double the number of multi-million-dollar Latino-owned ventures by 2020. As a participant in the Stanford Latino Entrepreneurship Initiative, Colon says he looks forward to coming together with the best entrepreneurial minds in the Latino community to learn from outstanding professors, strategically innovate with think-tank mentors, and meet the needs of businesses and individuals even better in the years ahead. About MyTelemedicine MyTelemedicine developed a proprietary, HIPAA-compliant telemedicine platform that works in the cloud and lets healthcare providers consult with patients remotely. Our Advanced API technology allows third parties to integrate and offer a customized telemedicine experience to support their brand identity. Physicians can perform on-demand consultations with members anywhere via telephone and video technology. Patients get advice, recommendations and a diagnosis, which may include a prescription for common illnesses. For more information please visit www.mytelemedicine.com. Media Contact: Chelsea Zaragoza 1-469-640-6101 [email protected] SOURCE MyTelemedicine Related Links http://www.mytelemedicine.com WASHINGTON, Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following is a statement from acting NASA Administrator Robert Lightfoot about the results from the first meeting of the National Space Council on Thursday: "It was my pleasure today to attend the first meeting of the new National Space Council. The council includes government leaders from civil and military space, and the group also heard from space industry leaders. The council has historic roots in the earliest days of the Space Age, and it has been established by the president to streamline and coordinate national space policy. "The council is chaired by Vice President Mike Pence, who continues to demonstrate extraordinary interest in our work. In fact, he recently visited the Marshall Space Flight Center, Johnson Space Center and the Kennedy Space Center. He addressed the workforce at our centers with great passion and introduced our new astronaut candidates class. At today's meeting he made it clear that space is a national priority. "The vice president also announced a call for renewed U.S. leadership in space with a recommendation to the president that NASA help lead and shape the way forward. Specifically, NASA has been directed to develop a plan for an innovative and sustainable program of exploration with commercial and international partners to enable human expansion across the solar system, returning humans to the Moon for long-term exploration and utilization, followed by human missions to Mars and other destinations. "The recommendation to the president would modify the existing National Space Policy to provide focus and direction to some of NASA's current activities and plans, and remove a previous guideline that NASA should undertake a human mission to an asteroid as the next human spaceflight milestone beyond low-Earth orbit. The National Space Council acknowledged the strategic importance of cis-lunar space -- the region around the Moon -- which will serve as a proving ground for missions to Mars and beyond and advance our stepping stone approach to going farther into the solar system. Based on a number of conversations I've had with the council, we have highlighted a number of initiatives underway in this important area, including a study of an orbital gateway or outpost that could support a sustained cadence of robotic and human missions, as well as ensuing human missions to the lunar and Mars surfaces, and other destinations. "The direction builds on the hard work we have already been doing on the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft, our efforts to enable our commercial partners and work with our international partners in low-Earth orbit at the International Space Station, and what we have been learning from our current robotic presence at the Moon and Mars. It adds further definition to the exploration plan we have been implementing, and strengthens and provides a context for studies and planning efforts underway across our human spaceflight, science and technology directorates. Among new areas, we will work with industry and the international community on robotic lunar landers that explore the nature of the Moon and its resources, such as water. "We have already been planning human missions to cis-lunar space beginning with Exploration Mission-2, and with the upcoming budget process, we will look to solidify this work with our new goals in place. "Working in close coordination across government through the new National Space Council, and with our commercial and international partners, we are going to chart a new future in space with opportunities for all." SOURCE NASA Related Links http://www.nasa.gov GREENWOOD VILLAGE, Colo., Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- National Bank Holdings Corporation (NYSE: NBHC) expects to report its third quarter financial results after the markets close on Wednesday, October 18, 2017. Management will host a conference call to review the results at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, October 19, 2017. Interested parties may listen to this call by dialing (877) 272-6762 / (615) 800-6832 (International) using the Conference ID of 92242777 and asking for the NBHC Third Quarter Earnings conference call. A telephonic replay of the call will be available beginning approximately two hours after the call's completion through November 3, 2017, by dialing (855) 859-2056 (United States) / (404) 537-3406 (International) using the Conference ID of 92242777. The earnings release and an on-line replay of the call will also be available on the Company's website at www.nationalbankholdings.com by visiting the investor relations area. About National Bank Holdings Corporation National Bank Holdings Corporation is a bank holding company created to build a leading community bank franchise delivering high quality client service and committed to shareholder results. National Bank Holdings Corporation operates a network of 85 banking centers located in Colorado, the greater Kansas City region and Texas. Through the Company's subsidiary, NBH Bank, it operates under the following brand names: Bank Midwest in Kansas and Missouri, Community Banks of Colorado in Colorado, and Hillcrest Bank in Texas. More information about National Bank Holdings Corporation can be found at www.nationalbankholdings.com. For more information visit: bankmw.com, cobnks.com, hillcrestbank.com or nbhbank.com. Or, follow us on any of our social media sites: Bank Midwest: facebook.com/bankmw, twitter.com/bank_mw, instagram.com/bankmw; Community Banks of Colorado: facebook.com/cobnks, twitter.com/cobnks, instagram.com/cobnks; Hillcrest Bank: facebook.com/hillcrestbank, twitter.com/hillcrest_bank; NBH Bank: twitter.com/nbhbank; or connect with any of our brands on LinkedIn. SOURCE National Bank Holdings Corporation Related Links http://www.nationalbankholdings.com STOCKHOLM, Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Navetti today announces the release of Navetti PricePoint 4.8, the latest version of Europe's leading price optimization software. The new version offers a wide range of new features that help companies around the world master their strategic and tactical pricing by seamlessly integrating Navetti's advanced business intelligence software with their enterprise systems and IT platforms. The average Navetti PricePoint customer manages 28 million price points, i.e. the number of individual prices that exist when accounting for the range of products, markets, currencies and commercial conditions. Among the new features, users are now able to: save advanced searches as dashboard alerts do even more advanced simulations based on future cost and value provide even more options and flexibility when rearranging product and price structures allow sales companies more autonomy in simulating and setting local prices customize the approval framework for when and how prices should be deemed valid All versions of Navetti PricePoint are ISO 27001/IEC certified, and SOC 1 & 2 type 2 compliant. Invitation to webinar presentation of Navetti PricePoint 4.8 The new release, Navetti PricePoint 4.8, will presented in a webinar on Tuesday October 10th at 10am CET. To join the webinar, please register by emailing [email protected]. ABOUT NAVETTI Navetti offers a unique combination of advanced price optimization software and consulting expertise. Navetti PricePoint is the acclaimed software suite, an essential tool for day-to-day price optimization across all aspects of pricing strategy. This is supported by the expertise of the consultants at Navetti Consult that help customers achieve increased profits faster through insightful value-based pricing strategies and rapid system deployment. Originally developed to solve the complex pricing challenges in large international B2B markets, Navetti's approach of Operational Pricing is today equally at home in B2C e-commerce applications, as demonstrated by a large and growing number of blue-chip customers. For more information, please contact: Kelly Mae Spicer Marketing Manager [email protected] tel +46-76-012-12-11 This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com http://news.cision.com/navetti/r/navetti-pricepoint--4-8-is-now-available-,c2361103 The following files are available for download: http://mb.cision.com/Main/15864/2361103/732123.pdf Press release (PDF) http://news.cision.com/navetti/i/navettipricepoint4-8-white-171004-1,c2241567 NavettiPricePoint4-8 white 171004 1 SOURCE Navetti SAN MATEO, Calif., Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Neo4j, the market leader in connected data, today announced the agenda for its annual GraphConnect conference, to be held at Pier 36 in New York City on October 24 with training sessions scheduled for October 23. Making its second appearance in New York, GraphConnect is the largest-ever gathering of graph database enthusiasts, developers, architects, technical managers, directors and CTOs. For the past six years, GraphConnect has continued to entice a wide variety of speakers from leading global companies around the world, including LendingClub, Microsoft, eBay, Comcast, UBS, Blackstone Federal, the Department of Homeland Security, Oregon Health & Science University and many more. At GraphConnect New York, speakers from a variety of industry verticals will share their stories on how Neo4j has made an impact in terms of innovation, technology and the bottom line from the scale of small startups all the way up to global enterprises. These impact stories will detail everything from reduced costs, increased revenue, improved performance, expanded scale and game-changing innovations. Kicking off the event will be Neo4j's CEO and Founder, Emil Eifrem, who will give an overview of the graph database landscape and the future of graph technology. He will also be unveiling two major announcements about the future of the company and the overall graph database market. Chief Scientist Jim Webber will be closing out the day with his keynote discussion about graph databases and where they're headed in the modern enterprise. This year's sponsors include IBM, GraphAware, GraphGrid, Structr, Cambridge Intelligence, Tom Sawyer Software, Expero, Linkurious and FactGem. GraphConnect New York highlights include: "Attack and Defense with Graphs at Microsoft" Presented by Sacha Faust , principal technical lead under the Cloud + Enterprise (C+E) Red Team at Microsoft Presented by , principal technical lead under the Cloud + Enterprise (C+E) Red Team at Microsoft "Graph-Powered Conversational Commerce at eBay" Presented by Ajinkya Kale, MTS applied researcher & data scientist and Anuj Vatsa , senior software engineer, eBay Presented by Ajinkya Kale, MTS applied researcher & data scientist and , senior software engineer, eBay "Natural Language Processing and Topic Modeling for Social Network Analysis" Presented by Laura Drummer , director of software & engineering at Novetta Presented by , director of software & engineering at Novetta "Xfinity xFi and User Personalization" Presented by Mark Hashimoto , director of engineering of the Internet of Things & Jessica Lowing , senior manager of product & engineering, Comcast Presented by , director of engineering of the Internet of Things & , senior manager of product & engineering, Comcast "Microservice and Module Management with Neo4j" Presented by John Lavin , software architect at Vanguard Presented by , software architect at Vanguard "Intelligent Recommendation Engine for Financial Analysts" Presented by Geoff Horrell , director of product incubation at Thomson Reuters Presented by , director of product incubation at Thomson Reuters "Neo4j and Information Sharing for Enterprise Architects" Presented by Jessica Dembe , front-end developer at Blackstone Federal Presented by , front-end developer at Blackstone Federal "Mapping Ontologies in Graphs for Personalization at Gousto" Presented by Irene Iriarte-Carretero , data scientist at Gusto Presented by , data scientist at Gusto "Using Neo4j to Design High-Performance Processors for Neo4j" Presented by Chuck Calio , the IBM Power Systems offering manager for modern data platforms and cognitive solutions View the full GraphConnect New York agenda here: http://graphconnect.com/#agenda For additional information and registration, visit: www.graphconnect.com GraphConnect New York Event Venue Pier 36 299 South Street New York, NY 10002 About Neo4j, Inc. Neo4j is an internet-scale, native graph database that leverages connected data to help companies build intelligent applications that meet today's evolving challenges including machine learning and artificial intelligence, fraud detection, real-time recommendations and master data. As the #1 platform for connected data, Neo4j has over three million downloads, the world's largest graph developer community, and thousands of graph-powered applications in production. The world's most sophisticated organizations worldwide, from enterprises like Walmart, eBay, UBS, Cisco, HP, adidas and Lufthansa to hot startups like Medium, Musimap and Glowbl, use Neo4j to harness the connections in their data. Neo4j is privately held and funded by Eight Roads Ventures (an investment arm of Fidelity International Limited), Sunstone Capital, Conor Venture Partners, Creandum, Dawn Capital and Greenbridge Investment Partners. With its headquarters in San Mateo, Calif., Neo4j also has regional offices in Sweden, Germany and the UK. For more information, please visit Neo4j.com and @Neo4j. All trademarks and registered trademarks, including Neo Technology and Neo4j are the property of their respective owners. Media contact Dan O'Mahony, InkHouse for Neo4j [email protected] SOURCE Neo4j Related Links http://Neo4j.com ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Central New Mexico Community College (CNM) in Albuquerque has launched the public phase of what's considered to be the largest fundraising campaign in the country for a community college, notwithstanding capital campaigns that fund the construction of buildings. CNM's Step Up Campaign seeks to raise $20 million by 2020 to support initiatives focused on graduating more students, improving the quality of the workforce and generating economic development. Learn more at www.cnm.edu/stepup. "We've taken on the fundraising goal of $20 million by 2020 to boost CNM's ability to do even more for our students, community and economy," CNM President Katharine Winograd said. "CNM will be using the funds raised to support strategic initiatives that will help us increase CNM's positive impacts on our community and workforce. We hope those who value the critical role of community colleges will support us in this important cause." CNM has been in a silent phase of the campaign for the past year and has already raised $10.8 million toward the $20 million goal. Some of the initiatives that the Step Up Campaign funds will support include: Graduation: CNM ranked No. 1 in the nation for associate degrees and certificates awarded to Hispanics and Native Americans in the 2014-15 academic year, and No. 2 in the country for total associate degrees and certificates awarded. In 2016-17, CNM awarded more than 13,000 associate degrees and certificates. Through additional funding of scholarships and student support programs, CNM is aiming for 15,000 associate degrees and certificates awarded each year through 2020. Increase Military Veteran Graduations: CNM has more military veteran students than any other higher education institution in New Mexico. Last year, 840 military veterans graduated from CNM. CNM is aiming to help 1,000 veterans graduate each year through 2020. Business Incubations: CNM, which is currently incubating six businesses, is aiming to significantly increase business incubations to spur economic development. Job Creation: CNM plans to boost the local economy by helping businesses and industries create 500 new jobs in New Mexico by 2020. FUSE Makerspace: CNM is seeking to grow its FUSE Makerspace. The Makerspace provides entrepreneurs, small businesses, students and hobbyists access to high-tech machinery and software to design and prototype new products, micro-manufacture products, create artistic works or pursue their hobbies while working in a collaborative, supportive environment. It's outfitted with equipment for woodworking, metalworking and machining; electronics fabrication; laser and vinyl cutting; 3D printing; screen printing; robotics; and more. Student Work Experience: CNM is working to help improve the quality of the state's workforce by providing 100 percent of CNM students with work experience prior to graduating. Job Placement: CNM is committing to having 90 percent of CNM graduates gain employment in their field of study, which will benefit the graduates and the economy. Related Links http://www.cnm.edu SOURCE Central New Mexico Community College (CNM) Related Links http://www.cnm.edu WASHINGTON, Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Thycotic, a provider of privileged account management (PAM) solutions for more than 7,500 organizations worldwide, in conjunction with Cybersecurity Ventures, a leading research and market intelligence firm focused on the cybersecurity industry, have released a joint market report that evaluates the relationship between complex cybersecurity and the frequency of the latest vulnerabilities and cyberattacks. According to the report, as the crisis in complexity for cybersecurity continues to escalate, the mandate to adopt more effective solutions will only grow in importance. By implementing simplified, automated and cost-effective cybersecurity solutions that contribute value to the productivity of IT professionals, the cybersecurity industry could potentially save billions of dollars for its customers, as well as an enormous amount of time and effort. "Cyberthreats are becoming mainstream," said Joseph Carson, Chief Security Scientist at Thycotic. "Unfortunately, traditional cybersecurity is no longer sustainable. It is often too complex, too difficult to manage and as a result they are too costlyboth in time and money. Therefore, organizations will have little choice but to accelerate the move to simpler solutions that remove complex management demands on IT staff while at the same time building in more secure, seamless integrations." Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) around the world are making decisions today based on solutions that are outdated and not capable of keeping up with the speed of today's threats. Organizations are spending blindly on security solutions that will be extinct because they are not aware that many of today's IT security solutions contain lethal attributes that are incapable of delivering the protection needed at the rapid pace of evolving cyber threats. This is a major reason why companies are experiencing cyber-attacks, despite investing billions on IT security. "Far too many companies are installing and managing cybersecurity software 'like it's 1999.' Spending months to perform software upgrades or waiting for skilled professionals to become available is no longer a viable cybersecurity strategy," said Steve Morgan, editor-in-chief, Cybersecurity Ventures. "In the race to stop the rapidly morphing exploits of hackers and cyber criminals, complexity in cybersecurity solutions acts as a ball and chain, preventing us from ever catching up." Thycotic products incorporate the key principles of a simplified solution. However, according to the company, simplified does not mean PAM solutions are less robust or lack enterprise scalability. Thycotic PAM solutions, such as Secret Server, are easily customizable to fit a specific environment whether administrators rely on REST API or writing custom powershell scripts. Thycotic PAM tools encompass the full privilege security spectrum of security, with High Availability and GeoReplication capabilities to ensure that any global organization has an enterprise ready PAM security solution. To download the full report, please visit https://thycotic.com/resources/the-complexity-crisis-in-cybersecurity-simplify-or-die/. To learn more about Thycotic, please visit the company's website and follow Thycotic on Twitter at @Thycotic. About Thycotic Thycotic, a global leader in IT security, is the fastest growing provider of Privilege Management solutions that protect an organization's most valuable assets from cyber-attacks and insider threats. Thycotic secures privileged account access for more than 7,500 organizations worldwide, including Fortune 500 enterprises. Thycotic's award winning Privilege Management Security solutions minimize privileged credential risk, limits user privileges and controls applications on endpoints and servers. Thycotic was founded in 1996 with corporate headquarters in Washington, D.C. and global offices in the U.K. and Australia. For more information, please visit www.thycotic.com. For further information, please contact: Steve Kahan Jacqueline Velasco Thycotic Lumina Communications T: 202-802-9399 T: 408-680-0564 E: [email protected] E: [email protected] SOURCE Thycotic Related Links http://www.thycotic.com COLUMBUS, Ohio, Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- For the first time, and for one day only, White Castle will be serving a slider created, and named, by one lucky Craver. Rich Lerner won the honor of putting his creative touch on The Original Slider as part of a charity raffle. The signature sandwich will be sold in White Castle restaurants across the country on Sunday, October 8, when Cravers can get a taste of Rich's creation, "The Chipper." Rich Lerner, lifelong Craver and creator of The Chipper seen here with White Castle chefs The auction was part of a charity fundraiser, proceeds from which went to support individuals of all ages living with Autism. In further support of Autism research, Rich and White Castle have each pledged to donate ten cents per "Chipper" slider sold on Sunday, October 8, to Autism Speaks, a leading organization dedicated to increasing understanding and acceptance of people with autism spectrum disorder. "When they first announced I had won, I initially thought, 'I couldn't possibly change the recipe, the Original Slider is too perfect as it is!" said Rich Learner. "But once I arrived at White Castle's test kitchen and met with the Head Chef, I was inspired to draw from some of my favorite items off the menu and produce this simple, yet delicious sandwich. The whole experience was a dream come true!" Mr. Lerner wanted to highlight the flavors already loved by Cravers everywhere. Utilizing The Original Slider, "The Chipper" is stacked high with onion chips and topped off with ketchup, for extra zest and flavor. "White Castle is extremely proud to support Autism Speaks and other charities dedicated to conducting critical research, and promoting solutions, across the spectrum and throughout the lifespan for individuals with autism and their families," said Jamie Richardson, Vice President at White Castle. "It has been a pleasure to get to know Rich and work with him to create his signature slider for all to enjoy. Most of all, we thank him for his incredible generosity to a cause near and dear to our hearts." In May 2017, White Castle announced the completion of its 10th annual fundraiser with Autism Speaks, bringing the decade total to more than $6.5 million in contributions. Visit whitecastle.com for more information. About White Castle White Castle, America's first fast-food hamburger chain based in Columbus, Ohio, has been making Bold Moves as a family-owned business for more than 96 years. Cravers on-the-go can access sweet deals and place a pick-up order any time in the official White Castle app (iTunes App Store or Google Play) or in a grocery store's frozen section near you. www.whitecastle.com About Castle Shares By feeding hunger, hope and dreams, the White Castle family helps build strong, thriving, Craver communities through the Castle Shares program. Founder Billy Ingram believed in taking care of people and giving back to the community. His philosophy still remains a focus of the family-owned business today. White Castle donates over $2 million every year to a variety of charities across the nation, including over $850,000 to Autism Speaks in 2017. The White Castle family supports more than 50 charities each year with volunteers, money and food donations. SOURCE White Castle Related Links http://www.whitecastle.com WARREN, Mich., Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Snap! Share! Win! Nigel Barker, the internationally renowned celebrity fashion photographer who turned his eye for style toward furniture design last year, will greet guests and introduce his modern new NB2 Collection at Art Van Furniture in Novi (27775 Novi Road) on Friday, October 13. Barker will take selfies with fans between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. and fans are encouraged to share their photos with the Art Van style icon on social media, using the hashtag #sofaselfie #artvan, for a chance to win a $500 Art Van gift card. He will also share his inspiration for his NB2 Collection home furnishings line, an expression of his cosmopolitan New York City lifestyle. This timeless collection is highlighted by sleek silhouettes and classic shapes pairing minimalist style with maximum comfort. "After our first collaboration with Nigel, when this accomplished photographer shot one of Art Van's catalogs, our joint passion for sharing great style and design in innovative ways with people everywhere, was undeniable," said Kim Yost, president and CEO of Art Van Furniture. "Nigel has developed a special relationship with our guests, connecting with them personally and through his stunning furniture." The stylish NB2 Collection for living room, dining room and bedroom features a deep seating sofa, genuine leather accent chairs, velvet daybed, occasional tables with cafe noir wood and trendy antique gold, and signature canopy bed with antique brass and upholstered headboard. Barker's NB1 Collection debuted in September 2016, and pays homage to his international travels. Both lines are available exclusively at Art Van Furniture. For more information, visit artvan.com. About Art Van Furniture Art Van Furniture is the Midwest's largest furniture retailer. The company operates more than 120 stores throughout Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Iowa, including freestanding Art Van PureSleep mattress stores, Art Van Flooring stores, Art Van Furniture franchise locations and Scott Shuptrine Interiors, the interior design division of Art Van Furniture, as well as a full-service e-commerce website. Founded in 1959, the company is headquartered in Warren, Mich. Visit artvan.com for more information. SOURCE Art Van Furniture Related Links http://www.artvan.com BOSTON, Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- NuOrder Tech , the specialized online ordering solution, today announced a partnership with LevelUp to help restaurants grow their order ahead sales via new distribution partners. The partnership enables nuOrder Tech to provide its restaurant clients including leading brands such as Illegal Pete's, MOD Pizza, Flower Child and WaBa Grill free distribution through LevelUp's extended network of consumer channels. Customers now have more ways to order from their favorite restaurants, and those restaurants benefit from an increase in orders at no additional cost. LevelUp has a large, engaged user base of nearly 1 million monthly active users that have come to expect convenience, speed and flexibility while interacting with restaurant chains across the country. The newly developed integration allows nuOrder Tech restaurant partners instant access to the LevelUp network, reaching millions of potential new customers across LevelUp partner channels like Chase Pay. Through LevelUp's partnerships, orders flow from those apps to the nuOrder Tech online ordering system directly to the restaurant's point-of-sale. "There is a growing demand within the restaurant industry for innovative ways of attracting new customers while ensuring that current ones remain happy and loyal," said Thomas Kuehle, president of nuOrder Tech. "We pride ourselves on providing our restaurant clients with custom online ordering experiences and unparalleled service and support. We're taking this commitment and dedication even further through this partnership by offering a unique and effective way to access new customers across the LevelUp network." The exposure to new customers promises to drive higher order volume, ultimately increasing restaurant revenue. For restaurants, the benefits of the LevelUp network will continue to grow as the company publicly announces more strategic partners in the coming months. "We continue to build partnerships with the industry's top players so together we can deliver the greatest number of options to consumers when it comes to interacting with restaurants across the country," said Seann Moriarty, director of strategic partnerships at LevelUp. "By introducing nuOrder's merchant partners to the LevelUp network, they now have access to millions of new consumers who will benefit from the choice and convenience offered by these new order ahead functionalities." About LevelUp LevelUp aims to build the next-generation mobile payment network, connecting consumers and merchants with a seamless payments experience that blends payments, analytics and rewards. LevelUp is bringing this technology to market in three distinct ways; via the LevelUp app which lets consumers order ahead and skip the line at their favorite lunch spots, embedded into partner restaurant apps to provide a full-stack customer engagement solution, and via an open developer platform that powers over 200 mobile apps. LevelUp is based in Boston, MA and backed by leading investors such as Google Ventures, Highland Capital and JPMorgan Chase. About nuOrder Tech nuOrder Tech is a technology services company that enables restaurant brands to digitally engage with their customers. nuOrder Tech makes digital innovation accessible and affordable to restaurants through combining a fully featured, highly scalable online ordering platform with custom services that ensure brands are well represented as their customers order through websites, mobile apps, tablets, and kiosks. Whether for takeout, delivery, catering or in-store convenience, nuOrder Tech provides a superior customer experience through seamless integration with leading solutions across point of sale, loyalty, data analytics, delivery, and payment processing. nuOrder Tech is based in Costa Mesa, CA with a technology center in Tempe, AZ. SOURCE LevelUp A native of Venezuela, Modestino, 31, is recognized for his work integrating solar processes into the chemical industry, replacing fossil fuel-intensive practices with sustainable methods that rely on biomass feedstocks and solar energy. Modestino's primary focus is the textile industry; specifically, he is working to revolutionize the process of producing nylon used for fabrics and industrial components a $20 billion per-year market. An estimated 6 million tons of petrochemical-based nylon is produced worldwide each year in a process that generates significant emissions of carbon dioxide. Modestino's research is paving a path toward sustainable nylon production by harnessing energy from sunlight to fuel the electrochemical and thermochemical reactions necessary to transform plant waste into the precursor materials needed to produce the material. Modestino recently demonstrated in his laboratory a prototype of a solar electrochemical reactor capable of producing adiponitrile from acrylonitrile, a critical early step in nylon production. "We can redefine every step of this process to reduce the environmental impact of nylon production without sacrificing the end product," said Modestino. "By swapping fossil fuel-based feedstocks for plant-based ones and using solar power to drive the chemical reactions, we can bring significant improvements in this industry and create a model for sustainability in other aspects of the chemical industry." Modestino emphasizes that while these technologies are still early stage, he and his collaborators are taking a pragmatic approach to technology development and potential commercialization. "We're working within the infrastructure that already exists in chemical plants," he said. "It's much easier to design a technology that can be integrated into an existing nylon manufacturing plant it may mean the difference between having a real impact on this industry in 5 years instead of 20." Modestino joined the NYU Tandon faculty in 2017, after completing his postdoctoral fellowship at Ecole Polytechnique Federal de Lausanne (EPFL). He was recently awarded the Global Change Award from the H & M Foundation in recognition of his efforts to create sustainable textiles. In addition to being featured in the online magazine published with partner Opinno, winners of the MIT Technology Review Innovators Under 35 in Latin America will attend a summit in Mexico City in November, joining 200 innovators from more than a dozen countries in the region to exchange ideas and promote collaboration. About the New York University Tandon School of Engineering The NYU Tandon School of Engineering dates to 1854, the founding date for both the New York University School of Civil Engineering and Architecture and the Brooklyn Collegiate and Polytechnic Institute (widely known as Brooklyn Poly). A January 2014 merger created a comprehensive school of education and research in engineering and applied sciences, rooted in a tradition of invention and entrepreneurship and dedicated to furthering technology in service to society. In addition to its main location in Brooklyn, NYU Tandon collaborates with other schools within NYU, the country's largest private research university, and is closely connected to engineering programs at NYU Abu Dhabi and NYU Shanghai. It operates Future Labs focused on start-up businesses in downtown Manhattan and Brooklyn and an award-winning online graduate program. For more information, visit http://engineering.nyu.edu. www.facebook.com/nyutandon @NYUTandon SOURCE NYU Tandon School of Engineering Related Links http://engineering.nyu.edu WASHINGTON, Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency will host two workshops at the Holiday Inn Louisville Airport, Louisville, Ky., November 14-15, for directors of national community banks and federal savings associations supervised by the OCC. The Credit Risk workshop on November 14 focuses on credit risk within the loan portfolio, such as identifying trends and recognizing problems. The workshop also covers the roles of the board and management, how to stay informed of changes in credit risk, and how to effect change. The Operational Risk workshop on November 15 focuses on the key components of operational riskpeople, processes, and systems. The workshop also covers governance, third-party risk, vendor management, and cybersecurity. The workshop fee is $99 and open to directors of national community banks and federal savings associations supervised by the OCC. Participants receive a pre-workshop reading package and course materials, and assorted supervisory publications. The workshop is limited to the first 35 registrants. The workshops are taught by experienced OCC staff and are two of the 35 offered nationwide to enhance and expand the skills of national community bank and federal savings association directors. For information, including a complete list of available workshops, or to register for a workshop, visit www.occ.gov/occworkshops or call (240) 485-1700. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency ("OCC") charters and oversees a nationwide system of national banks and federal savings associations and assures that these banking institutions are safe and sound, competitive, and capable of serving the banking needs of their customers in the best possible manner. OCC press releases and other information are available at http://www.occ.gov. To receive OCC press releases and issuances by e-mail, subscribe at http://www.occ.gov/subscribe/occ-email-list-service.html. SOURCE Office of the Comptroller of the Currency Related Links http://www.occ.gov WASHINGTON, Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --There are more than 4.2 million living disabled veterans in the U.S. Despite the fact that they have sacrificed parts of the bodies and in some cases their minds defending the freedoms and ideals enjoyed and cherished by all Americans, they have never been given their own special recognition. Until now. Disabled veterans gathered in the nation's capital today (Thursday, Oct. 5, 2017) to receive a long-overdue honor: their own national day of tribute. The Inaugural Commemoration of the National Day of Honor for American Veterans Disabled for Life, held at the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial, featured remarks from: David J. Shulkin , MD, U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs ; , ; U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois , an Army Lieutenant Colonel who lost her legs and partial use of her right arm when the Black Hawk helicopter she was piloting in Iraq was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade; of , an Army Lieutenant Colonel who lost her legs and partial use of her right arm when the Black Hawk helicopter she was piloting in was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade; U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel (D-FL), who introduced the Congressional resolution leading to this National Day of Honor. The resolution was contained in the U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller and U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal Veterans Health Improvement Act of 2016. It was signed into law on December 16, 2016 by President Obama; (D-FL), who introduced the Congressional resolution leading to this National Day of Honor. The resolution was contained in the U.S. Rep. and U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal Veterans Health Improvement Act of 2016. It was signed into law on by President Obama; Paul Rieckhoff , an Army First Lieutenant and Infantry Rifle Platoon Leader in Iraq who is the founder and executive director of the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America organization; , an Army First Lieutenant and Infantry Rifle Platoon Leader in who is the founder and executive director of the and Afghanistan Veterans of America organization; Don Overton , who, as a member of the 82nd Army Airborne Division, was blinded in Operation Desert Storm (the first Gulf War); Of particular note, attendees heard from Florida philanthropist and disabled veterans advocate Lois Pope, who envisioned the National Day of Honor and who created and spearheaded the building and dedication of the Memorial, the nation's first and only permanent public tribute to the 4.2 million disabled American veterans and all those who died. The Memorial was dedicated on Oct. 5, 2014, making the Oct. 5 date the "most appropriate day for all Americans to show gratitude and support for the men and women who continue to bear the scars of war long after the fighting on the battlefield ends," she said. "Our wounded warriors have come home from battle missing arms and legs, blind and burned, and permanently traumatized both physically and emotionally. They left the war but the war will never leave them," declared Mrs. Pope, who has championed the cause of disabled veterans for more than a quarter-century. "Now we finally have an opportunity, a day each year to recognize their courage, sacrifice and fortitude. " Secretary Shulkin echoed this sentiment, saying that, "The brave men and women wounded in defense of our nation have earned the eternal gratitude of the American people. The American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial is testament to this, and the National Day of Honor for American Veterans Disabled for Life is an important opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to recognizing and serving this special group of patriots." "Our nation's Veterans living with a disability have made incredible sacrifices for our country and I'm honored to be a part of this Day of Honor commemorating their service," said Sen. Duckworth. "These brave heroes risked everything to protect our freedom, and I'll keep working to make sure our servicemembers and our Veterans receive the quality care and support they have earned." The idea for the day came at a Veterans Day ceremony almost 20 years ago, when Mrs. Pope said to then Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the now late Jesse Brown, "We have Veterans Day, complete with all the parades, pomp and pageantry. But, we should also have a day specifically for disabled veterans -- a day for all Americans to show gratitude and support for the men and women who continue to bear the scars of war long after the fighting on the battlefield ends." Secretary Brown agreed, and while Mrs. Pope was raising funds to build the Memorial, she kept the possibility of the National Day of Honor in her mind. Once the Memorial was officially dedicated, the Day was a natural next step. "While it is my hope that all Americans experience the Memorial in person, I know that not everyone has the means to come to Washington DC," she said. "A National Day of Honor for American Veterans Disabled for Life would provide the opportunity for all Americans, wherever they are, to celebrate the heroism of disabled veterans and pay back the debt of honor we owe them for their courage and sacrifice." Because she couldn't just declare such a day, she reached out to those who could, most notably Congresswoman Frankel and Congressman Jeff Miller, who was then chairman of the House Veterans Committee. Rep. Frankel, whose son is a Marine veteran who served eight years at war in Iraq and Afghanistan, cheered this day finally coming to fruition: "It is with profound appreciation that we recognize our brave men and women who return from war with life altering injuries. Helping these heroes has been a lifetime passion for Lois Pope." The commemoration also featured a Navy Color Guard, "The President's Own "Marine Corps Brass Band, an Invocation and Benediction by Military Chaplain Carl Barnes, and children's chorus from Hoffman Boston Elementary School in Arlington, VA. CBS Radio correspondent and veteran Eric Dehm served as master of ceremonies. SOURCE Inaugural Commemoration of the National Day of Honor for American Veterans Disabled for Life SACRAMENTO, Calif., Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Hanson McClain Advisors, an independent investment financial advisory firm, and Parthenon Capital Partners ("Parthenon"), a growth-oriented private equity firm, have closed their previously announced strategic partnership. The partnership was first announced in July 2017, pending standard regulatory approvals which have since been received. "We are excited that the deal is now closed and we can focus exclusively on growing the Hanson McClain Advisors model and continuing to provide unbiased, straightforward financial and retirement advice to new and existing clients," says Scott Hanson, co-founder and senior partner at Hanson McClain Advisors. To ensure the company remains client-centric, Hanson McClain co-founders, Scott Hanson and Pat McClain, will continue to run the day-to-day operations, the leadership team will remain unchanged, and the firm's headquarters will continue to be Sacramento, California. "We are very excited that our partnership with Hanson McClain Advisors is now finalized," says Andrew Dodson, a managing partner of Parthenon. "Hanson McClain Advisors is remarkably well positioned for expansion; they have a strong history of growth and leadership in the financial services space; and their team is poised to take the firm to new heights." With the finalization of the partnership, and fueled by Parthenon's capital investment, Hanson McClain Advisors will look to expand upon its competitive advantages by entering new markets, both organically and through acquisition, and invest in technology, systems, and people to expand its business and to continue to provide best-in-class service to its current clients. "We believe a fiduciary, financial planning approach is best, and we want to see that available to as many people as possible," says Pat McClain, co-founder and senior partner of Hanson McClain Advisors. Anthony Orazio, a vice president at Parthenon, added, "Finalizing our partnership with Scott and Pat represents the culmination of a longstanding Parthenon effort in the wealth management and RIA space. We look forward to working closely with the Hanson McClain team to achieve our shared vision." Hanson McClain Advisors Hanson McClain Advisors (www.HansonMcClain.com) is an independent investment financial advisory firm that specializes in retirement planning, investment advising, and 401(k) management with a direct approach to financial planning. Hanson McClain delivers long- and short-term investment planning solutions and advice to help clients achieve their goals and plan strategically for retirement. About Parthenon Capital Partners Parthenon Capital Partners (www.parthenoncapitalpartners.com) is a leading mid-market private equity firm based in Boston and San Francisco. Parthenon utilizes niche industry expertise and a deep execution team to invest in growth companies in service industries. Parthenon seeks to be an active and aligned partner to management, either through recapitalization transactions or by backing new executives. Parthenon has particular expertise in healthcare technology and services, financial and insurance services, and business services, but seeks any service, technology or delivery business with a strong value proposition and proprietary know-how. Parthenon's investment team has deep experience in corporate strategy, human capital, capital markets, and operations, thereby enabling the firm to pursue complex, multi-faceted value creation opportunities. SOURCE Hanson McClain Advisors Related Links http://www.hansonmcclain.com MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Global law firm Perkins Coie adopted cloud services such as Microsoft Office 365 and Salesforce to ensure attorneys could quickly retrieve and update information on the go. The company's previous mobile device management (MDM) solution could not secure apps and cloud services, leaving attorneys without access to critical information outside the office. To stay competitive, Perkins Coie deployed MobileIron Access, a cloud security solution, to secure the Salesforce1 mobile app and enable seamless access with single sign-on (SSO). Read the full case study: https://www.mobileiron.com/en/customers/case-studies/perkins-coie "Our employees need to be able to use the same popular cloud services that our clients use, such as G Suite and Microsoft Office 365. But it is critical that our data can't be accessed from unmanaged devices," said Chelan Simonds, Mobile Device Engineer at Perkins Coie. "We maintain a 100 percent BYOD environment, so it is critical that we provide a secure and consistent user experience on any device. MobileIron has been a strategic partner in helping us meet all of those requirements." When time is money, secure mobile productivity is critical Perkins Coie initially chose the MobileIron enterprise mobility management (EMM) platform to deliver secure email and applications. When the company later started to support cloud services, they needed to provide secure, simplified, multi-OS access from personally owned devices. The company also wanted to prevent employees from accessing corporate resources from unsecured mobile devices and unmanaged apps, such as an unmanaged version of Salesforce1 on a family iPad. "MobileIron Access has been a game-changer for us. Single sign-on makes it easy for employees to launch Salesforce1, without having to enter their credentials every time. Employees have been impressed with the simple experience and the security team has peace of mind because we can ensure that only authorized devices, apps, and users can access corporate cloud resources," said Simonds. MobileIron Access secures cloud-based apps by leveraging MobileIron Tunnel, a multi-OS app VPN that provides seamless, certificate-based authentication to any public, in-house, or cloud application. Using a combination of MobileIron Tunnel and AppConnect, a secure app container on the device, Perkins Coie was also able to securely deploy Connections Mobile. This in-house mobile app provides access to critical internal resources such as the company directory, office information, and 24x7 assistance. The future of mobile depends on innovation and flexibility Maintaining a relentless customer focus is a major priority for Perkins Coie. For that reason, the company needs the flexibility to meet rapidly changing customer and employee business requirements today and down the road. "We have to be able to support the platforms and technologies our clients are using, not the other way around," said Simonds. "MobileIron helps us stay competitive because they are always coming out with new products, updates, and features, so we can be sure we're offering the latest mobile and cloud capabilities to all of our clients and end users." About MobileIron MobileIron provides the secure foundation for companies around the world to transform into Mobile First organizations. For more information, please visit www.mobileiron.com. SOURCE MobileIron Related Links http://www.mobileiron.com NEW YORK, Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Piedmont Lithium Limited (ASX: PLL) ("Piedmont" or "The Company") today announced that it will present at the Benchmark Minerals' Cathodes 2017 Conference, being held October 8-10, 2017 in Newport Beach, California. Keith Phillips, President and Chief Executive Officer of Piedmont, will be giving a presentation and meeting with investors throughout the conference. Event: Cathodes 2017 Conference Date: October 9, 2017 Time: 4:30pm PT Location: Balboa Bay Resort, Newport Beach, CA For investors attending the Cathodes 2017 conference, please contact Piedmont Investor Relations to schedule a meeting with Piedmont management at [email protected]. For further information, contact: Keith D. Phillips President & CEO T: +1 973-809-0505 Anastasios (Taso) Arima Executive Director T: +1 347-899-1522 Tirth Patel Investor Relations, Edison Group T: +1 646-653-7035 [email protected] About Piedmont Lithium Piedmont Lithium Ltd holds a 100% interest in the Piedmont Lithium Project which is located within the world-class Carolina Tin-Spodumene Belt ("TSB"), and along trend to the Hallman Beam and Kings Mountain mines, historically providing most of the western world's lithium between 1950 and 1990. The TSB is one of the premier localities in the world to be exploring for lithium pegmatites given its history of lithium bearing spodumene mining, favourable geology and ideal location with easy access to infrastructure, power, R&D centres for lithium and battery storage, major high-tech population centres and downstream lithium processing facilities. The TSB has previously been described as one of the largest lithium provinces in the world and is located approximately 40 kilometres west of Charlotte, North Carolina, United States. The TSB was the most important lithium producing region in the western world prior to the establishment of the brine operations in Chile and Argentina in the late 1990's. The TSB extends over approximately 60 kilometres in length and reaches a maximum width of approximately 1.6 kilometers. The Project was originally explored by Lithium Corporation of America which eventually was acquired by FMC Corporation ("FMC"). FMC and Albemarle Corporation ("Albemarle") both historically mined the lithium bearing spodumene pegmatites from the TSB with the historic Kings Mountain lithium mine being described as one of the richest spodumene deposits in the world by Albemarle. These two mines and their respective metallurgy also formed the basis for the design of the two lithium processing facilities in the region which were the first modern spodumene processing facilities in the western world. Albemarle and FMC continue to operate these important lithium processing facilities with FMC's Bessemer City lithium processing facility being approximately 14 kilometres from the Project whilst Albemarle's Kings Mountain lithium processing facility is approximately 17 kilometres from the Project. The Company is in a unique position to leverage its position as a first mover in restarting exploration in this historic lithium producing region with the aim of developing a strategic, U.S. domestic source of lithium to supply the increasing electric vehicle and battery storage markets. SOURCE Piedmont Lithium Limited Related Links http://www.piedmontlithium.com LAS VEGAS, Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- PinkCherry owns and operates a warehouse less than a mile from where the tragedy occurred in Las Vegas. On Friday, Oct. 6, sales on PinkCherry.com will go to support the immediate and long-term needs of the victims of the Oct. 1 shooting; 100 percent of sales up to $100,000 will be donated. PinkCherry (pinkcherry.com) is working with the National Compassion Fund to ensure all funds are distributed directly to the victims (https://nationalcompassionfund.org). The National Compassion Fund provides a single, trusted way for the public to donate directly to victims of a mass crime, such as a shooting or terrorist attack. Donations to the Fund are held separately from general donations to the National Center for Victims of Crime. About PinkCherry PinkCherry offers consumers and retailers a one-stop shop for buying and selling adult novelties and clothing. PinkCherry has a Canadian and American online store as well as a Wholesale site. For more information about PinkCherry or this Press Release: For more information contact: Daniel Freedman CEO, PinkCherry Phone: 416-420-3211 Email: [email protected] SOURCE PinkCherry WILTON, Conn., Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- PCR, the provider of TotalWealthViewstm, the premier wealth data aggregation and reporting service for UHNW Advisors and Clients, is pleased to announce the appointment of Brian Shapiro as Senior Vice President of Product Strategy & Marketing. As a member of the senior management team, Mr. Shapiro will oversee the development of client technology strategies, investments and alliances that lay the foundation for PCR's overall direction, and the execution and communication to clients and the market. He will report to Robert Miller, CEO of PCR. A 25-year veteran in the alternatives industry focusing on product marketing and development, Mr. Shapiro joins PCR from Simplify, a provider of web-based software and data services to institutional investors, where he was Managing Member and Founder. He was also a member of the founding team of Gapstow Capital Partners, a $1.2B multi-manager and private equity platform focused on credit markets, real estate debt, direct CLO and community bank investments. Preceding Gapstow, Mr. Shapiro was Managing Partner of CarbonBased Consulting, the firm he founded in 1998, and ran until its acquisition in 2007. His first software company, DataExchange was acquired in 1997 by then Advent Software, now SS&C. The software he pioneered at DataExchange later evolved to become the hedge fund industry's standard bearer accounting system called Geneva. "We have seen a number of data companies come to market claiming they can provide data aggregation services to the wealth management industry; however, that may not always include hard-to-aggregate illiquid holdings like alternatives," said Mr. Miller. "Brian brings a unique combination of investment product knowledge, technology-driven and operations-focused skills that will strengthen PCR's existing presence in the alternatives space in offering UHNW clients and advisor's total wealth aggregation services." Mr. Miller added, "PCR's objective is to provide our clients with an even more intense focus on hedge funds, private equity and real estate coverage, as well as further strengthen our increasingly diverse and global network of partner relationships. Experience and expertise matters in this highly competitive Wealthtech industry, and PCR holds a 15-year track record of delivering a tailored outsource of complex UHNW data aggregation and client reporting focused on the unique demands of wealthy families and their advisors." "I am thoroughly impressed with PCR's consistent execution on countless large scale deployments for some of the biggest private banks in the country, and I am excited to help the firm continue to scale and broaden these efforts, both in the design of our products and their presentation to the world," said Mr. Shapiro. "Access to properly curated data is a strategic weapon for leading Private Banks, Trust Companies, and Institutional Investors worldwide and being able to confidentially execute complex transactions quickly and efficiently based on full 360-degree view is often the key differentiator to success. Private Client Resources is making a huge difference for its clients in this regard and re-asserting its dominance in the institutional investor, advisor and UHNW markets." Mr. Shapiro is also an operating partner and advisory board member to NES Financial, a Silicon Valley financial technology (FinTech) with $25B in assets under administration, providing technology and accounting services to Private Equity and Commercial Real Estate Funds. About Private Client Resources PCR, founded by Family Offices in 2000, powers the interactions between ultra-high-net-worth advisors and their clients. The company delivers data aggregation, integration, reporting and analytics solutions which efficiently deliver a total wealth view critical to providing great advice. The solutions cater to the unique needs of UHNW clients including the consolidation of extensive hard-to-aggregate illiquid holdings, multi-generation wealth structures, complex ownership modeling and custom composite views of their data. PCR's award-winning managed services have long been recognized as the premium solution for UHNW advisors/clients because of their secure process of obtaining data that does not rely on controversial sharing of usernames/passwords, unmatched data quality and service commitment that goes beyond just technology. SOURCE Private Client Resources Related Links http://www.pcrinsights.com NEW YORK, Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- This fall, QOR, the luxe performance lifestyle label, is expanding into womenswear, breaking into the emerging active-fashion category with clothing that's distinctly feminine, and designed to perform across all facets of active life. Founded by former CEO of Athleta, Joe Teno, QOR's new collection of 22 stylish women's pieces is crafted with intelligent fabrics and technical details that support an active lifestyle. QOR as in core strength inspires everyone to move more and reconsider how and when they're active. QOR is fashion that moves you forward. "Life is busy and being active is key to enjoying it, so we set out to design premium apparel that is made for motion," says Joe Teno, Founder of QOR. "Our women's collection is designed to move with consumers through life with comfort and ease. We wanted to create attractive, fashionable styles that support an overall active lifestyle; most of which can be worn everywhere: from work, to yoga, or travel," says Teno, describing the brand's adaptability. Each functional piece is designed with understated style, seamlessly merging classic fashion elements with a comfortable fit. QOR's new women's line fuses premium fabrics with advanced textile technology to create apparel that withstands the rigors of any activity. The collection features moisture-absorbing merino shirts, cashmere studio crew sweaters and non-wrinkling merino dresses, in addition to luxe basics such as leggings and t-shirts, ranging in price from $48 to $248. QOR will add additional styles to the womenswear collection in Spring 2018, expanding their line of versatile clothing, always utilizing the world's best performance materials. What kind of active are you? Whatever your lifestyle, QOR has developed a "kit" to fit. Each kit has a carefully curated selection of outfits that not only look and feel great, but also have reliable technical performance at its core. Take the pain out of outfit planning by perusing the QOR Kits, including "Travel Kit", "Workout Kit", "Weekend Kit" and "Office Kit". It's what QOR does, so you can keep doing what you do. Moving through life. ABOUT QOR QOR as in core strength - is a luxe performance fashion label with stylish designs that are constructed with intelligent fabrics and technical details that support an active lifestyle. Providing high-performance fabrics that keep you comfortable all day, from the office to the outdoors, QOR's urban aesthetic merges fashion and function. The versatile pieces are designed to inspire men and women of ranging ages and abilities to be more active, and to reconsider how and when they're active. QOR is fashion that moves you forward. Backed by a lifetime warranty, the collection invites shoppers to explore the re-imagined world of active-fashion, exclusively available at QORkit.com. SOURCE QOR SINGAPORE and CHENNAI, India, Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Ramco Systems, a leading enterprise software provider on cloud and mobile, and Anaplan, a leading platform provider driving a new age of connected planning, today announced a collaboration to build joint go-to-market initiatives. As part of the collaboration, Ramco's Cloud Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Human Capital Management (HCM), and finance modules now have standard connectors for Anaplan's connected planning platform. This will offer comprehensive planning, budgeting, and consolidation capabilities to Ramco's clients around the globe. "The strength of our workforce planning solution, combined with capabilities from the Ramco HCM suite, is a powerful proposition that could disrupt the legacy HCM market," said Paul Melchiorre, Chief Revenue Officer, Anaplan. "The transaction systems of the legacy application vendors do not provide the extensive planning functionalities of the Anaplan platform." "We live in a connected world and ensuring we have a strong ecosystem of like-minded partner offerings is key to driving transformational growth for clients," added Virender Aggarwal, CEO, Ramco Systems. "Our collaboration with Anaplan offers enterprises a compelling joint value proposition of powerful planning and budgeting capabilities on top of Ramco's workforce, finance, and supply chain modules." With 38 ready-to-use workforce planning applications on its App Hub, Anaplan allows companies to partner with the finance department and lines of businesses to align people with plans in order to achieve business goals. Complete with chatbots, a simplified user experience, and an intelligent in-memory engine that identifies and resolves errors, organizations can deploy Ramco HCM in the cloud or on-premise, or leverage it as a managed service. The multitenant architecture with embedded intelligence and device agnostics features serves more than 450 customers worldwide. With innovative concepts such as haptic design, context-sensitive pop-ups, facial recognitionbased attendance, and chatbots to carry out self-service, Ramco has been setting the benchmark for innovation in this segment. Ramco's Finance & Accounting solution is being leveraged by several medium- to large-sized organizations both as part of a full-suite ERP, as well as a stand-alone application. Ramco distinguishes itself by focusing on building deep domain-integrated financials and offering next-generation features that bring automation, simplification, and cognitive capabilities to the application, helping organizations move towards an era of self-running finance. About Anaplan Anaplan is driving a new age of connected planning. Large and fast-growing organizations use Anaplan's cloud platform in every business function to make informed decisions and drive faster, more effective planning processes. Anaplan also provides support, training, and planning transformation advisory services. Anaplan is a privately held company based in San Francisco with 16 offices and over 150 expert partners worldwide. To learn more, visit anaplan.com. About Ramco Systems: Ramco is a fast-growing enterprise software player disrupting the market with its multi-tenant cloud and mobile-based enterprise software in the area of HCM and Global Payroll, ERP and M&E MRO for Aviation. Part of the USD 1 billion Ramco Group, Ramco Systems focuses on Innovation and Culture to differentiate itself in the marketplace. On Innovation front, Ramco has been focusing on moving towards Cognitive and Robotic ERP with features such as Bot It which allows users to complete transaction using natural conversations; Mail Bot transact with the application by just sending an email; HUB It - a one screen does it all concept built to address all activities of a user; Thumb It mobility where the system presents users with option to choose rather than type values and Prompt It a cognitive ability which will let the system complete the transaction and prompts the user for approval. With 1600+ employees spread across 22 offices, globally, Ramco follows a flat and open culture where employees are encouraged to share knowledge and grow. No Hierarchies, Cabin-less Offices, Respect work and not titles, among others are what makes the team say, Thank God it's Monday! Positioned as Niche Vendor in Gartner Magic Quadrant for Cloud Financials & Cloud HCM Suites; Recognized as a 'Highly Recommended' Payroll Software Supplier of the Year 2017 by Global Payroll Association; Positioned as 'Achiever' in Everest Group's Multi-Country Payroll Platform Assessment; Winner of ISG Award for Innovation; Winner of HR Vendors of the Year Award 2016; Chosen as Preferred Next-Gen MRO IT Vendor by ARSA For more information, please visit http://www.ramco.com/hcm. Follow Ramco on Twitter @ramcosystems / @ramcohcm or read latest updates on http://blogs.ramco.com/ SOURCE Anaplan Related Links https://www.anaplan.com WALTHAM, Mass., Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) today announced that Todd Ernst has been named vice president, Corporate Development to succeed Michael J. Cody, who is retiring after serving more than eight years in the role at the company. The change is effective Nov. 6, 2017. Ernst adds oversight of merger and acquisitions while continuing his role as head of Investor Relations. He also continues to report to Raytheon vice president and Chief Financial Officer Toby O'Brien. "Todd's expertise in finance, banking and strategy is ideally suited to his expanded role as we continue to position the company for global growth," said O'Brien. "I want to thank Michael for his solid leadership of our Corporate Development function and congratulate him on an impressive career supporting our overall global growth, competitive advantage and enterprise collaboration goals." Ernst has led Raytheon's Investor Relations since November 2010. He joined Raytheon in January 2010 as director, Competitive Assessment for Corporate Strategy. Previously, he held senior equity analyst positions at Balyasny Asset Management and Neuberger Berman, covering aerospace and defense and other industry sectors. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from DePauw University and a Master of Business Administration with an emphasis in Finance and Corporate Strategy from the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business. He is also a designated Certified Treasury Professional. Cody has led Corporate Development since June 2009 when he joined Raytheon. He was instrumental in shaping the company's cyber and technology portfolios, leading 20 acquisitions including Raytheon's $1.57 billion agreement with Vista Equity Partners to form a new company that combined Websense (a Vista portfolio company) with Raytheon Cyber Products to become what is now Forcepoint. Previously, he served in senior corporate development roles at Ensign-Bickford Industries Inc., Meadowood Capital Ltd, EMC Corporation and United Technologies Corporation. He also held investment banking positions at PricewaterhouseCoopers and Kidder Peabody & Co. Additionally, Cody served as a director on the boards of MTI Technologies Ltd. and Safeguard Scientifics Inc. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Massachusetts, and a Master of Business Administration from Columbia University Columbia Business School. About Raytheon Raytheon Company, with 2016 sales of $24 billion and 63,000 employees, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, civil government and cybersecurity solutions. With a history of innovation spanning 95 years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration, C5I products and services, sensing, effects, and mission support for customers in more than 80 countries. Raytheon is headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts. Follow us on Twitter. Investor Relations Contact Todd Ernst +1.781.522.5141 Media Contact Corinne Kovalsky +1.781.522.5899 SOURCE Raytheon Company Related Links http://www.raytheon.com NEW YORK, Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Red Stone Equity Partners, LLC ("Red Stone Equity"), a privately-owned real estate finance and investment company specializing in multifamily residential funds and financings, announced the closing of Red Stone Equity - 2017 National Fund, L.P. ("2017 Fund"), a $188-million multi-investor Low Income Housing Tax Credit ("LIHTC") investment fund. The 2017 Fund is the seventh and largest Red Stone Equity multi-investor fund offering to close in the last six years and includes investments from 11 institutional investors. The Fund's proceeds will be used, along with other project-level financing sources, to finance the construction and/or rehabilitation of more than 1,800 units of affordable housing across 25 properties located in 12 different states. With the closing of the 2017 Fund, Red Stone Equity has now raised over $450 million of LIHTC equity capital thus far in 2017. "We are pleased to announce the closing of our largest multi-investor LIHTC fund to date, which includes investments from eight repeat Red Stone Equity investors and welcomes three new ones to our family of LIHTC funds," said Ryan P. Sfreddo, Red Stone's Managing Director of Investor Relations. "With many federal housing programs facing deep cuts and with the tax reform tempest swirling around us, we are proud to have executed on this fund closing which will provide construction and permanent jobs, as well as much-needed quality affordable housing, to thousands of people across 12 different states." Red Stone Equity also announced a major milestone in the company's history by celebrating its 10th anniversary in the multi-family housing industry and surpassing $3.5 billion of tax credit equity raised and invested since inception. The company has established itself as leading real estate investment firm focusing on the syndication of LIHTCs and Renewable Energy Tax Credits, with a national presence and offices in Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Cleveland, New York, Los Angeles and San Diego. "We are proud of the investor and developer partnerships built over the last 10 years that have provided a strong foundation for the company, allowing for continued expansion while maintaining our entrepreneurial identity," said Eric McClelland, Red Stone Equity's President and Chief Executive Officer. "We also want to thank our employees for their hard work and commitment, as they have played an integral part in Red Stone Equity achieving this milestone." With $3.7 billion of tax equity raised and under management, Red Stone Equity has helped finance the development of more than 27,000 units of affordable housing across more than 300 properties located in 36 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. About Red Stone Equity Partners, LLC Red Stone Equity Partners, LLC ("Red Stone Equity") is a leading real estate investment firm specializing in the syndication of Low-Income Housing Tax Credits and Renewable Energy Tax Credits to facilitate the development of affordable multifamily rental housing and renewable energy projects, respectively. Red Stone Equity builds upon long-lasting relationships with investors and developers as it acquires, structures, and provides long-term asset management services to its institutional clients. Its senior management represents more than a combined 100 years of tax credit equity syndication experience, involving the acquisition and syndication of approximately $15 billion of tax credit equity. Red Stone Equity has offices in Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Cleveland, Los Angeles, New York, and San Diego. For more information, please visit www.rsequity.com or www.linkedin.com/company/red-stone-equity-partners-llc. SOURCE Red Stone Equity Partners, LLC Related Links http://www.rsequity.com CHARLOTTE, N.C., Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Building Uplifted Families, a community collaboration between Renaissance West Community Initiative, Novant Health, Carolinas HealthCare System, UNC Charlotte, and Mecklenburg County Public Health, has been awarded a $250,000 BUILD Health Challenge grant to improve the health and overall well-being of Renaissance West residents and neighbors along Charlotte's West Boulevard corridor. This BUILD Health Challenge grant, with matching funds from Novant Health and Carolinas HealthCare System, will be led by William "Mack" McDonald, chief executive officer of the Renaissance West Community Initiative, Dr. Ophelia Garmon-Brown, senior vice president for community wellness & education at Novant Health, Dr. Alisahah Cole, system medical director for community health at Carolinas HealthCare System, and Dr. Michael Dulin, director of The Academy for Population Health Innovation. "Renaissance West Community Initiative is excited to work alongside Carolinas HealthCare System, Novant Health, the Mecklenburg County Health Department, and other community partners to bring this transformative approach to community revitalization," says McDonald. "Building Uplifted Families will allow us to reach more children and families as they work to improve their situations and prospects for future success. This is truly a life changer for so many of our neighbors." Over the course of the two-year grant period, this partnership will focus on bettering the lives of Renaissance West families by addressing health disparities and improving access to preventive healthcare. Additionally, resources will be directed towards tackling social determinants that have a direct impact on the health of this community. These include access to grocery stores and nutritious food; educational opportunities and job training; transportation; and developing holistic solutions that improve overall quality of life. Despite recent economic growth in the Charlotte region, a 2014 Harvard and University of California Berkeley study found that Charlotte and Mecklenburg County ranked 50th out of the 50 in economic upward mobility. This finding highlights the serious challenges that many of Charlotte's residents face daily. "We're focused on neighborhoods where fundamental questions of equal access to jobs, quality schools and healthcare are top of mind." said Gene Woods, President and CEO of Carolinas HealthCare System. "We aspire to be better by working together to foster a thriving community where everyone has an opportunity to reach their highest potential for health, in the broadest sense of the word. Our collective aspiration for Charlotte is to be the national example for how a city can think differently and challenge social and economic issues in new and collaborative ways." "I am a firm believer that no single sector of the community is able to tackle the barriers to health alone," said Carl Armato, president and chief executive officer of Novant Health. "Building Uplifted Families is an exciting example of a cross-sector collaboration focused on addressing the root causes of disparities in order to build a culture of health." Building Uplifted Families is one of 19 community projects in 12 states selected to participate in the BUILD Health Challenge, a national program that supports community collaborations that are Bold, Upstream, Integrated, Local, and Data-driven projects addressing upstream factors affecting health. The BUILD Health Challenge grant provides funding, capacity building support, and access to a national peer learning network to enhance collaborative partnerships. The BUILD Health Challenge is supported by a unique collaborative of local and national funders, which includes the Advisory Board, the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation, the Colorado Health Foundation, the de Beaumont Foundation, the Episcopal Health Foundation, Interact for Health, The Kresge Foundation, Mid-Iowa Health Foundation, New Jersey Health Initiatives, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Telligen Community Initiative, and W.K. Kellogg Foundation. About Renaissance West Community Initiative: Renaissance West Community Initiative (RWCI) is a nonprofit organization leading the revitalization of the former Boulevard Homes public housing site into a vibrant village called The Renaissance. The initiative uses a holistic community redevelopment approach and works with a coalition of community partners focusing on multiple critical factors including mixed-income housing, educational opportunities, youth and adult development programs, health and wellness services and commercial investment. RWCI is responsible for developing, coordinating, and evaluating a comprehensive array of services and supports, such as health care, outof-school-time programs, and workplace skills development to break the cycle of intergenerational poverty. Renaissance West Community Initiative was formed in the fall of 2012 through a collaboration of community leaders, the Charlotte Housing Authority and other public and private partners. It is governed by a 15-member Board of Directors. For more information, please visit www.rwci.org and follow us on Twitter @_RWCI . About Novant Health Novant Health is an integrated network of physician clinics, outpatient facilities and hospitals that delivers a seamless and convenient healthcare experience to communities in Virginia, North and South Carolina, and Georgia. Named in 2016 by Becker's Hospital Review as one of the nation's 150 best places to work in healthcare, Novant Health network consists of more than 1,500 physicians and over 26,000 employees that provide care at over 470 locations, including 14 medical centers and hundreds of outpatient facilities and physician clinics. Headquartered in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, the health system serves more than 4.4 million patients annually and in 2016 provided more than $725.5 million in community benefit, including charity care and services. Diversity MBA has recognized the organization as one of the 50 best places for women and managers of diverse background to work and SK&A ranks Novant Health among the top 25 integrated health systems in the nation. Novant Health provides care in Virginia under the joint operating company, Novant Health UVA Health System. For more information, please visit our website at NovantHealth.org. You can also follow us on Twitter and Facebook. About Carolinas HealthCare System Carolinas HealthCare System (carolinashealthcare.org), one of the nation's leading and most innovative healthcare organizations, provides a full spectrum of healthcare and wellness programs throughout North and South Carolina. Its diverse network of care locations includes academic medical centers, hospitals, freestanding emergency departments, physician practices, surgical and rehabilitation centers, home health agencies, nursing homes and behavioral health centers, as well as hospice and palliative care services. Carolinas HealthCare System works to enhance the overall health and wellbeing of its communities through high quality patient care, education and research programs, and numerous collaborative partnerships and initiatives. You can also follow us @Carolinas and on Facebook. About the Academy for Population Health Innovation (APHI) The Academy for Population Health Innovation (sites.uncc.edu/aphi/), is a partnership founded by The UNC Charlotte College of Health and Human Services and Mecklenburg County Public Health. APHI is designed to enhance public health for the Charlotte community by utilizing academic resources (including faculty, students, and data management capabilities) to address our community's most important health needs. The APHI vision is to make Charlotte the healthiest community in the U.S. SOURCE Carolinas HealthCare System Related Links http://www.carolinashealthcare.org ENCINO, Calif., Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Research Solutions, Inc., (OTCQB: RSSS), a pioneer of cloud-based solutions for scientific research, today announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary Reprints Desk has entered into an agreement with the Virtual Library of Virginia (VIVA) to provide access to essential scholarly content with Article Galaxy Reprints Desk's online research intelligence and retrieval platform. VIVA is a consortium of more than seventy non-profit, academic libraries within the Commonwealth of Virginia, including all of Virginia's state-assisted colleges and universities. Powerful complements to interlibrary lending and borrowing systems, Article Galaxy academic library consortia agreements provide an online gateway to journal articles from tens of thousands of scholarly publications, as well as hundreds of thousands of book records, at a low academic royalty rate from dozens of leading scientific, technology and medical (STM) publishers including Elsevier, John Wiley & Sons, and Wolters Kluwer. Reprints Desk delivers content in high-quality PDF format for a small transactional fee plus a copyright royalty charge. VIVA's access to Article Galaxy includes: 24/7 customer support Integration with popular interlibrary loan (ILL) lending software such as ILLiad, RapidILL and The Information Delivery Services (IDS) project A searchable and browsable A-Z list of participating publishers and publications Optional secondary sourcing for articles beyond the main collection Access to Reprints Desk's automated Open Access Filter Single-source billing "As Reprints Desk's service to the academic sector continues to grow, we are delighted to collaborate with the VIVA consortium to make Article Galaxy available to so many libraries and students," said Tony Landolt, Business Development at Reprints Desk. "With fast access to full-text journal articles at special copyright royalty charges, coupled with our 24/7 technical support, VIVA's members, like all of our academic consortium partners, are realizing measurable benefits that go well beyond the traditional interlibrary loan process." "VIVA provides students and faculty at institutions of higher education in the Commonwealth of Virginia with access to the journals, books, reference sources, and databases that are essential for their success," said Anne Osterman, VIVA Director. "The Reprints Desk Article Galaxy solution is an excellent addition to the VIVA program and will go a long way in helping us realize our goal to provide the fastest, most cost-effective information delivery possible to our more than 400,000 users." Academic institutions, corporations and government organizations around the world rely on Reprints Desk and its online platform Article Galaxy for fast, legal access to full-text scientific, technical, and medical (STM) content. Reprints Desk has ranked #1 overall and in each category in every Document Delivery Vendor Scorecard survey of buyers from information analyst and advisory firm Outsell, Inc. About VIVA VIVA is the consortium of the nonprofit academic libraries within the Commonwealth of Virginia. Members include all of Virginia's state-assisted colleges and universities, as well as 32 private, nonprofit institutions and the Library of Virginia. www.vivalib.org About Research Solutions Research Solutions, Inc. (OTCQB: RSSS) is a pioneer in cloud-based research intelligence and retrieval solutions for R&D-driven organizations. More than 70 percent of the top 25 pharmaceutical companies in the world rely on services delivered by Research Solutions' wholly owned subsidiary Reprints Desk. The company's Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform provides customers with on-demand access to, and augmented data from, tens of millions of scientific, medical, and technical (STM) documents, helping them to accelerate acquisition at the point of discovery, save time and money, and remain copyright-compliant. For more information, visit www.researchsolutions.com. About Reprints Desk Reprints Desk, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Research Solutions, simplifies how organizations procure, access, manage, use, and legally share scholarly journal articles, clinical reprints, patents, and other content in medical affairs and scientific, technical, and medical (STM) research. Organizations fueled by intellectual property choose Reprints Desk because of its collaborative business approach, efficient article supply system and services, and commitment to quality post-sales support. Reprints Desk has ranked #1 in every Document Delivery Vendor Scorecard from industry analyst and advisory firm Outsell, Inc. since 2008. For more information, visit www.reprintsdesk.com. Forward-Looking Statements Certain matters discussed in this press release may be forward-looking statements. Such matters involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially, including the following: changes in economic conditions; general competitive factors; acceptance of the Company's products in the market; the Company's success in obtaining new customers; the Company's success in technology and product development; the Company's ability to execute its business model and strategic plans; the Company's success in integrating acquired entities and assets, and all the risks and related information described from time to time in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), including the financial statements and related information contained in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and interim Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. The Company assumes no obligation to update the cautionary information in this release. SOURCE Research Solutions, Inc. Related Links http://www.researchsolutions.com More Than 320,000 Interview-Appropriate Items Collected Over Past 15 Years MENLO PARK, Calif., Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Every year since 2002, Robert Half offices across North America have collected interview-appropriate clothing and accessories for economically disadvantaged job seekers. This year, nearly 24,000 pieces were donated by staff and their local business partners, bringing the 15-year program total to more than 320,000 items. Donations were distributed to nonprofit organizations, including Dress for Success, one of Robert Half's national charity partners, to be shared with their clients. "Every day, Robert Half helps people find satisfying work, and that includes preparing them for a successful job interview," said Reesa Staten, senior vice president of Corporate Communications for Robert Half. "By providing interview-appropriate attire, the nonprofits we support during our suit drive are giving disadvantaged job seekers a leg up in the job search and boosting their confidence in the process." View an infographic of highlights from the suit drive including the number of participating offices and the cities that topped the list in donations. Founded in 1948, Robert Half is the world's first and largest specialized staffing firm and a recognized leader in professional consulting and staffing services. The company's specialized staffing divisions include Accountemps, Robert Half Finance & Accounting and Robert Half Management Resources, for temporary, full-time and senior-level project professionals, respectively, in the fields of accounting and finance; OfficeTeam, for highly skilled administrative support professionals; Robert Half Technology, for project and full-time technology professionals; Robert Half Legal, for project and full-time staffing of lawyers, paralegals and legal support personnel; and The Creative Group, for interactive, design, marketing, advertising and public relations professionals. Robert Half also is the parent company of Protiviti, a global consulting firm that provides clients with consulting solutions in finance, technology, operations, data, analytics, governance, risk and internal audit. Robert Half has staffing and consulting operations in more than 400 locations worldwide and offers job search services at www.roberthalf.com. SOURCE Robert Half Related Links http://www.roberthalf.com WINTER PARK, Fla., Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Ruth's Chris Steak House is closing out its acclaimed TasteMaker Dinner series with the Guado al Tasso Estate wines of Marchesi Antinori, one of Italy's most historic and renowned wine houses. Ruth's TasteMaker Dinners were launched earlier this year and have featured exclusive menu and pairings from some of the most awarded and revered wine and spirits makers in the world, from Veuve Clicquot to Johnnie Walker Whisky. The sixth and final dinner in the series for 2017 will be held on October 15 and 16, and will include an Italian-inspired, five-course meal to complement the Antinori family's celebrated Tuscan wines from Bolgheri. "Tuscan wines are known for being fuller-bodied and bold so we wanted to create a menu that enhanced those distinct characteristics," said Abdiel Aleman, Vice President of Culinary Development for Ruth's Chris Steak House. "For this menu, we took classic Italian flavors and dishes and fused them into our own traditional steakhouse fare." The resulting courses include pairings like Beef Tenderloin Carpaccio served alongside the Tenuta Guado al Tasso Scalabrone Rosatowhich has a crisp flavor similar to a French rose, but is richer in taste and color. Other courses which will be served at the dinner include Burrata Cheese and Heirloom Tomato Salad, Pan Seared Halibut and Patatas Bravas, Porcini Rubbed Filet topped with Fried Veal Ravioli and a Banana and Honey Panna Cotta. Ruth's TasteMaker Dinners were inspired by Ruth's Chris Steak House founder Ruth Fertel, who mortgaged her home more than 50 years ago to purchase her first restaurant. The single mother had no prior restaurant experience, but was able to succeed because of her commitment to providing exceptional food and service to all of her guests. Each of the pairing partners for the TasteMaker Dinners has stories that echo Fertel's own fearless spirit of entrepreneurship and dedication to quality. Marchesi Antinori is one of the oldest, family-owned wine companies in the world and can trace its winemaking history in Italy back to 1385. Throughout its long, storied history of innovation, the Antinori family is most notably credited with sparking the Italian wine revolution of the 1970's with its creation of Tignanello one the world's first "Super Tuscan" wines. Reservations for Ruth's TasteMaker Dinner with Marchesi Antinori are now available at participating locations. For more information, please visit: www.ruthschris.com/ ABOUT RUTH'S CHRIS STEAK HOUSE Ruth's Chris Steak House was founded by Ruth Fertel 50 years ago in New Orleans, La. Ruth had a recipe for everything from how to prepare her signature sizzling steaks to how to treat her guests. This timeless formula is a testament to how one neighborhood eatery has become the largest collection of upscale steak houses in the world, with more than 150 restaurant locations around the globe. Ruth's Chris remains true to its heritage, helping guests make their best memories on 500-degree sizzling plates. Ruth's Chris Steak House. This is how it's done. SOURCE Ruths Chris Steak House Related Links http://www.ruthschris.com WATERTOWN, Mass., Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- In a move that underscores Sasaki's drive to solve some of the world's most pressing problems through design, the firm has hired Alexandra Lee as executive director of its nonprofit Hideo Sasaki Foundation. Lee, formerly executive director of the Kendall Square Association, will guide the Foundation in a new direction. The Foundation, created in 2000 after founder Hideo Sasaki's passing has most notably supported academic programs at the Boston Architectural College and research grants at the Society for College and University Planning (SCUP) through the Perry Chapman Prize. With Lee, the organization will establish a more expansive research agenda and seek new partners to drive innovation. One facet of this effort includes the launch of the new Sasaki Incubator, one of the first of its kind within the design industry, at the firm's Watertown headquarters. "Having Alexandra Lee as executive director of the Foundation shows our commitment to expanding the sort of research, partnerships, and thought leadership initiatives that will help create a more sustainable future for our communities," said James Miner, managing principal, Sasaki. "The Foundation will bring together committed and inquisitive partners to help solve societal challenges, such as sea level rise; affordable housing; public health; and, transit equity." The Foundation's renewed mission and vision also includes bringing more diversity into the design profession. The board of directors believes that design can lead impact on the world if designers more regularly reach across the traditional boundaries of practice, academia, and industry to partner with others who want to solve collective problems through coordinated effort. "The opportunity to lead this initiative that honors Hideo Sasaki's legacy of collaboration and creativity resonates deeply with me," said Lee. "I'm passionate about bringing people together and through an entrepreneurial, research-driven approach, I aim to build partnerships, and connect with the design and startup communities to make meaningful impacts." Lee will curate the Sasaki Incubator, a 5,000-square-foot co-working space that will bring like-minded nonprofits, institutions, organizations, and individuals together, offering the opportunity to partner with Sasaki to test new ideas, tools, and technology on projects to drive innovative solutions across industries. About Sasaki At Sasaki (www.sasaki.com), we believe in the transformative power of place. Places transcend physical spaces, becoming the context and the content of our experience of life. For over sixty years, Sasaki has brought together the best of architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, planning, urban design, civil engineering, graphic design, place branding, and data science to shape the places in which we live. Out of our Boston and Shanghai offices we are defining the contours of place and redefining what's possible along the way. Today we are a diverse practice of 270 professionals who share a singular passion for creating spaces and places around the world that prove human potential. SOURCE Sasaki Related Links http://www.sasaki.com BOSTON, Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The Saul Zaentz Early Education Initiative at the Harvard Graduate School of Education has released preliminary findings from the first phase of its Early Learning Study at Harvard ([email protected]), a first-of-its-kind, large-scale, population-based study of young children's learning and development, which launched with a household survey earlier this year. Early results, based on data from the household survey, suggest that 4-year-olds are more likely to be in "formal" education and care settings (e.g., centers with classrooms, including Head Start, public pre-K, community preschool, and parochial preschool) than are 3-year-olds. Specifically, 53 percent of 4-year-olds are in formal care only, while 39 percent of 3-year-olds are in such settings. "We set out to learn more about the landscape of early education and care for 3-and 4-year-old children in Massachusetts," said Nonie Lesaux, Academic Dean and the Juliana W. and William Foss Thompson Professor of Education and Society at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. "These early findings indicate that 4-year-olds in Massachusetts are more likely to be in formal settings than 3-year-olds, which could reflect that they have more formal options to choose from at this age, or that parents are responding to the movement toward a year of preschool before school begins." The early findings also show that 3-year-olds in Massachusetts are equally likely to be in formal or informal settings. Informal settings include family child care run out of a home, care by a non-relative, care by a non-parent relative, and care exclusively by a parent or guardian. Lesaux added, "What we don't yet know is what these various experiences mean for children's learning and growing. These kinds of questions are central to the Early Learning Study at Harvard ([email protected]), which will ultimately help us address questions about the features and characteristics of all types of early education and care settings and their links to children's outcomes over time. We expect this work to inform a broader conversation about how we can improve quality of and access to early education and care for all of our early learners." In the household survey parents and guardians were also asked questions about their hopes and concerns about their children's education and their future. For one question in particular parents were asked to describe their biggest worry about their preschool-age child. Parents cited education and academic skills as their biggest worry, and at 32 percent this was overwhelmingly the most prominent worry, with social-emotional development and physical well-being next at 17 percent and 16 percent, respectively. Other areas mentioned by parents included the state of the world and negative peer influences. "It's clear that families believe in their children," said Stephanie Jones, Professor of Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. "In fact, they described them in the most glowing terms using words like smart, loving, curious, and kind, but they also expressed clear and legitimate worries about the future. In particular, parents identified children's educational pathways and academic opportunities as a major worry, but also their social-emotional and physical needs. These data will help fuel the discussion of how to improve and scale high quality early care and education options for parents." In addition, the data indicated that while most parents feel confident in their children's schooling, they tended to be more confident in their medical care than schools. Methodology: Harvard Graduate School of Education and the Saul Zaentz Initiative partnered with a Massachusetts-based research firm, Abt Associates, to conduct the first phase of the study. The research team is currently in the process of drawing a representative sample of 5,000 3- and 4-year-olds within the state of Massachusetts. The study will follow the families for four years. Twice a year, children will complete select activities with the study team to gauge their development. The places where children spend time and the adults who care for them will play an important role in the study. The data reported here are for 444 children living in 69 census block groups. Since the household survey is being rolled out by location, the preliminary results are not representative of the state of Massachusetts, though the results of the complete household survey will be. For more information about the Saul Zaentz Early Childhood Initiative and [email protected], visit here. About The Saul Zaentz Early Education Initiative The Saul Zaentz Early Education Initiative at the Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE) is a major investment to drive transformation in U.S. early childhood education. The Initiative promotes the knowledge, professional learning and collective action necessary to cultivate optimal early learning environments and experiences. The Saul Zaentz Early Education Initiative is supported by a $35.5 million gift from the Saul Zaentz Charitable Foundation, one of the largest gifts ever given to a university for advancing early childhood education. SOURCE Saul Zaentz Early Education Initiative Related Links https://zaentz.gse.harvard.edu/home INDIANAPOLIS, Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Schlage, a brand of AllegionTM that has been creating stylish, innovative door hardware for more than 95 years, is pleased to announce new residential purchasing arrangements with three of the nation's top home builders: PulteGroup, Smith Douglas Homes and Hanover Builders, Inc. Schlage locks will now be exclusively purchased and featured on all new developments as a part of each builder's ongoing commitment to offer stylish and secure residential door hardware solutions to single-family homeowners. Trusted in more than 40 million homes nationwide, Schlage door hardware offers an easy way for home builders to enhance the style of a home, provide increased security and even make it smarter. As the No. 3 builder in the U.S., PulteGroup extends its relationship with Schlage until 2021 to integrate more electronic lock options into nearly 50 residential markets throughout the country. The brand's relationship with Smith Douglas Homes will run through 2020 and support the builder's mission to continue providing quality homes at affordable rates. Furthermore, Schlage's relationship with Hanover Builders will primarily support the builder's new development in Central Florida through 2020. "We are excited about our new and continued partnerships, as well as the opportunity to exclusively have Schlage door hardware featured inside single-family residences developed by some of the most prestigious home builders across the nation," said Dave Perozzi, residential professional channel leader at Schlage. "We take pride in providing the highest level of service and resources to all of our customers, and we look forward to growing these new and exciting relationships, along with our presence in the marketplace." In addition to helping each builder identify the best door hardware systems for each of their residential projects, Schlage will also provide hands-on management support and resources to ensure the best quality experience during each phase of the relationship. For more information about Schlage, please visit www.schlage.com. About Allegion Allegion (NYSE: ALLE) is a global pioneer in the field of safety and security. We keep people and their property safe, wherever they are, bringing together simple solutions and advanced technology. Allegion is a $2.2 billion company, with products sold in almost 130 countries. For more, visit www.allegion.com. SOURCE Schlage Related Links http://www.schlage.com HONOLULU, Oct. 4, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Science of Identity Foundation is honored to have sponsored and participated in the 12th annual observance of Mahatma Gandhi Day at Kapiolani Park Monday evening. Several hundred people, including various religious leaders, state legislators, and a representative from the Honolulu Mayor's office, gathered to honor one of the most important political and spiritual leaders of our time and the pioneer of satyagraha, or peaceful resistance. Science of Identity Foundation By United Nations proclamation, October 2nd is also celebrated throughout the world as The International Day of Non-Violence. As such, yesterday's celebration was especially poignant, coming only one day after the horrific tragedy in Las Vegas. Jeannie Bishop, president of Science of Identity Foundation, said: "Today's celebration was especially unique, because there was a palpable sense in the air that people were determined to follow the example set by Mahatma Gandhi, and that even in the wake of yesterday's tragedy, love would triumph hate, and violence would be overcome with aloha." Festivities included performances by musicians, a hula halau, and a candlelight vigil. Members of Science of Identity Foundation also held a brief impromptu kirtan honoring Gandhi and his movement of peace and non-violence. Founded in 1977 by Jagad Guru Siddhaswarupananda, the Science of Identity Foundation teaches ancient yoga wisdom, mantra meditation, and other techniques to help individuals achieve mental, physical, and spiritual well-being. Media Contact Jeannie Bishop 808-367-2633 [email protected] Official Websites & Social Media https://sif.yoga/about https://twitter.com/sif_yoga https://www.instagram.com/scienceofidentity Related Images image1.jpg image2.jpg image3.jpg image4.jpg Related Links Other News Social Media Related Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVjVUqz5oNI SOURCE Science of Identity Foundation Related Links http://sif.yoga Notably, all new employees have the opportunity to meet with Rob Siegfried, CEO and Founder, about Siegfried's higher purpose: We help People transform themselves into better Leaders to exponentially improve their Lives. "During your career you've gained a lot of knowledge, and as a result, you've joined our Firm. And we appreciate you for that," said Siegfried. Siegfried is pleased to welcome all of our talented new Professionals to the Firm! Rebecca Barto joins the Philadelphia Metro Market as a Senior Associate. She brings an exacting and logical style of critical thinking to achieve a balance between efficiency and integrity. Barto attended Rowan University, where she earned her Bachelor of Science in accounting and finance. Before this, she was at Baker Tilly, where she focused on the financial services and insurance industries in the New York Metro area. Wes Bazelais joins the Philadelphia Metro Market as a Senior Associate after spending four busy seasons with PwC, where he worked on a large chemical company audit. Bazelais, a dedicated and compassionate professional, earned his Bachelor of Science in accounting from Delaware State University. Jeremy Berkus joins the Los Angeles Market as a Senior Associate. He takes pride in his leadership qualities and works to improve efficiency in team environments. Berkus attended the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Economics with an emphasis in accounting. Before coming to the Firm, Berkus gained three years of audit and two years of transaction advisory service experience at BDO. Kayleigh Bosco, CPA, joins the Atlanta Market as an Associate Manager after spending the last seven years working in the insurance and banking industries, most recently at Fiserv, Inc. She earned her Bachelor of Science in accounting and her master's degree in business administration from LaSalle University. Bosco's astute attention to detail allows her to offer precise solutions to complex matters and deliver polished results that continually exceed expectations. Bridget Curran, CPA, joins the D.C. Metro Market as a Senior Associate. Curran's steadfast commitment and attention to detail for any task enable her to build credibility and help her teams achieve a shared goal. She earned her Bachelor of Business Administration in accountancy from the University of Notre Dame and was most recently at EY as a Senior Associate. Chris Fallon, CPA, joins the Chicago Market as a Senior Associate. Fallon's strategic and analytical approach to problem solving helps him tackle diverse and challenging projects. He comes to Siegfried from BDO, where he gained audit and tax experience after earning his Bachelor of Science in accounting from the University of Iowa and his master's in accounting from the University of Notre Dame. Aman Gill joins the Philadelphia Metro Market as a Senior Associate after spending the last three years working for BDO as an auditor. After earning his Bachelor of Science in accounting from Drexel University, Gill returned to complete his master's degree. As someone who relentlessly works hard to accomplish the task at hand, Gill manages even the most complex issues with a combination of precise planning and great attention to detail. Nikole Goddard joins Siegfried's Operations team as a National Recruiting Associate. Goddard brings her energetic personality and strong communication skills to the team. She earned her bachelor's degree in agribusiness economics from the University of Florida and is currently working towards an MBA in human resource management from Goldey Beacom College. Most recently, she was at Xelerate, LLC where she was a Senior Talent Acquisition Consultant and acted as a strategic talent advisor for her clients. Noelle Harper joins the D.C. Metro Market as a Senior Manager after spending the last nine years managing financial reporting at Washington Gas. After earning her Bachelor of Science in accounting from North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University, she started her career as an auditor at Arthur Andersen, subsequently acquired by Ernst & Young. Harper's naturally outgoing personality and strong emotional intelligence allows her to easily assimilate into any environment. Tim Henderson, CPA, CA, joins the Los Angeles Market as an Associate Manager after spending six years working in audit for KPMG in Vancouver and in Calgary and Prague. Henderson enjoys working in a dynamic and collaborative environment, and attended the University of British Columbia, where he earned a degree in psychology. Chris Herber joins the San Francisco Market as an Associate Manager. A professional with a wide variety of experiences, Herber has the ability to connect with individuals in different situations. He earned his Bachelor of Science in accounting and international business from the University of Denver and was most recently a Senior Consultant III at Agility Solutions, LLC. Andrew Ho, CPA, CA, joins the Philadelphia Metro Market as a Senior Associate. He strives to continually broaden his horizons and embraces opportunities to learning. Ho earned his Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting from the University of Toronto. Most recently he was at KPMG, where he gained three years of audit experience as a Senior Accountant. Drew McGillowey, CPA, joins the Boston Market as a Senior Associate. With the ability to drive innovation and motivate his team, McGillowey is an essential resource in the workplace. He earned his Bachelor of Science in accounting from the Isenberg School of Business at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and was most recently at Deloitte, where he gained four years of experience. Ken McHugh joins the Philadelphia Metro Market as a Senior Associate. McHugh is a motivated professional who possesses the unique ability to remain enthusiastic and driven in the face of challenges. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with concentrations in both accounting and finance at Shippensburg University. Most recently, he was at BDO as an Audit Senior Associate. Roxanne Meyer joins the South Florida Market as a Senior Associate. As someone who brings a strong work ethic, positive attitude, and desire to learn and do things the right way on all her clients, Meyer strives to overcome even the most formidable obstacles with a combination of mental agility and innovation. She earned her Bachelor of Science and master's degree in accounting from the University of Miami, and most recently was an Audit Senior at Deloitte. Maria Navarro, CPA, joins the Charlotte Market as a Manager. Navarro likes to be productive and focuses on adding value wherever possible. She earned her bachelor's degree in both accounting and finance from of the University of South Carolina and most recently was the Manager of General Accounting at Dollar Express, LLC. Jordan Payne, CPA, CA, joins the Houston Market as a Senior Associate. Payne's focus on results allows him to drive his team to meet their goals in an effective and timely manner. He earned his Bachelor of Business Administration at Camosun College in British Columbia, and was most recently a Senior Accountant at EY. Spencer Sandy joins the Philadelphia Metro Market as a Senior Associate. A creative thinker who excels in reinventing, he earned his Bachelor of Science and Master of Accountancy from Pennsylvania State University. Most recently, Sandy was an Assurance Senior at EY. Rushabh Shah, CPA, joins the Boston Market as an Associate Manager. Shah enjoys coming up with innovative solutions to any problem and looks forward to new challenges. He earned his bachelor's degree from Boston University and his master's degree from Northeastern University. Before coming to the Firm, Shah gained almost six years of audit experience at PwC. Amol Shenoy joins the Los Angeles Market as a Senior Associate. An enthusiastic professional, Shenoy prides himself on his ability to adapt to new environments and maintain a positive attitude. He earned his Bachelor of Science in accounting from the University of Southern California and most recently served as an External Audit Associate at Deloitte. Vince Taddeo joins the Cleveland Market as a Senior Associate after spending the first two years of his career as an auditor for EY and the next two years in business development at a financial services firm. He earned his Bachelor of Science in accounting and finance and his master's degree from Baldwin Wallace University. Taddeo embodies what it means to go above and beyond, using a meticulous approach and tireless work ethic to routinely exceed high expectations. Sam Vela joins the Chicago Market as a Senior Associate. Vela continually brings a positive attitude and commits herself to providing high-quality client service. She earned her Bachelor of Science in accounting and finance from DePaul University and was previously an Audit Senior at Deloitte. James Wheeler, CPA, joins the Boston Market as a Senior Associate after spending three years with Wolf and Company and BDO. Charismatic and energetic, he earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in accounting and his master's in accountancy from the University of New Hampshire. More information about Siegfried and its career opportunities is available at siegfriedgroup.com. About The Siegfried Group, LLP The Siegfried Group, LLP (Siegfried) works alongside financial executives across the nation, on their most important accounting and finance projects. Filled with an innovative spirit and led by an ambitious entrepreneur, Siegfried provides unique Leadership Advisory combined with high potential talent. At the heart of our Firm is our approach to individual leadership and the continual pursuit of helping people grow both personally and professionally. As a whole, we value having fun, being fair, and building and sharing stakeholder value. Contact: Karen S. Campbell (408) 209-2545 [email protected] SOURCE The Siegfried Group, LLP Related Links http://www.siegfriedgroup.com SANTA CLARA, Calif., Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Solix Technologies, Inc., a leading big data application provider for empowering data-driven enterprises, today announced the appointment of Rishi Kumar, Vice President of Verticals Business Strategy & Marketing/Communication. Rishi is a former IBM veteran, where he held various technology leadership roles in the public, healthcare, financial, and retail sectors for over 14 years, and was awarded IBM's Lou Gerstner Award, Best of the West Award, and others. Rishi is also a Silicon Valley elected official and community leader, currently serving as a Council Member for the city of Saratoga, California, where he is responsible for setting policy and ordinances around capital improvement projects, public safety, major repair projects, land use development, strategic, and fiscal planning. Amongst the many years of hi-tech leadership experience in Silicon Valley, Rishi held roles at Cisco Systems, Imaginea Technologies, and Smart Utility Systems. "Solix has built one of the most innovative data management platforms for enterprises around the world, clearly exemplified by Solix's presence in the 2016 Gartner leadership quadrant," said Rishi Kumar, Vice President of Verticals Business Strategy at Solix Technologies, Inc. "I look forward to spearheading the company's continued success, enhancing Solix's vertical specific application offerings in the marketplace, establishing strong branding, and helping grow business in every vertical." Solix continues to expand with substantial investments in research and development of products including the Solix Big Data Suite and Solix Enterprise Data Management Suite, along with sales and marketing. Solix's Common Data Platform (CDP) features industry standard ingestion capabilities of structured and unstructured data, coupled with a robust Information Lifecycle Management (ILM) framework making it well suited to address the business challenges across many verticals, via information governance, efficient infrastructure utilization, and advanced analytics at a petabyte scale. "Over the last 12 months, Solix has reached an incredible milestone by adding a wide range of customers across many industries," said Sai Gundavelli, Founder/CEO of Solix Technologies, Inc. "We look forward to continuing this growth trajectory with Rishi's presence in the Solix team." To learn more about Solix, click here. About Solix Technologies Solix Technologies, Inc., is a leading big data application provider that empowers data-driven enterprises with optimized infrastructure, data security and advanced analytics by achieving Information Lifecycle Management (ILM) goals. Solix Big Data Suite offers an ILM framework for Enterprise Archiving and Enterprise Data Lake applications with Apache Hadoop as an enterprise data repository. The Solix Enterprise Data Management Suite (Solix EDMS)enables organizations to implement Database Archiving, Test Data Management (Data Subsetting), Data Masking and Application Retirement across all enterprise data. Solix Technologies, Inc. is headquartered in Santa Clara, California and operates worldwide through an established network of value added resellers (VARs) and systems integrators. To learn more, please visit http://www.solix.com Connect with Solix Visit our website: http://www.solix.com Follow us on Twitter: @solixbigdata Join us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/solixtechnologies Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/9661 Press Contact Zach Taiji PulpPR for Solix [email protected] (971) 333-1761 SOURCE Solix Technologies, Inc Related Links http://www.solix.com "StarKist continuously strives to meet the needs of consumers, ensuring that we are providing them with the most in-demand flavors," said Andy Mecs, Director of Marketing & Innovation, StarKist Co. "For many, Tapatio Hot Sauce is an everyday staple to add extra flavor and kick to their meals, making it an ideal addition to our on-the-go BOLD pouches." Tapatio is the latest flavor that brings the heat to the growing StarKist Tuna & Salmon Creations line of single-serve pouches, which now consists of 15 varieties, including six BOLD flavors. As protein snacking is on the rise, StarKist BOLD pouches ensure that consumers are satisfied with the flavoring, while staying fueled with the protein they need. This exciting meal solution maintains a convenient, tear-open and no-drain design, a necessity for those always on the move. In addition to the StarKist Tuna Creations BOLD Thai Chili Style, Tuna Creations BOLD Jalapeno and Tuna Creations BOLD Hot Buffalo Style, the Tuna Creations BOLD Tapatio flavor is another delicious, gluten-free option for all to enjoy. "We are delighted to partner with StarKist, a category leader, in offering a convenient, on-the-go meal that will help Tapatio fans enjoy their favorite hot sauce in new formats," said Luis Saavedra, General Manager at Tapatio Hot Sauce. "This partnership is a natural fit for us as we continue to expand our licensing portfolio." This new, boldly seasoned premium tuna flavor retails for approximately $1.34 per pouch and can be found in the shelf-stable tuna section in retailers nationwide: StarKist Tuna Creations BOLD Tapatio Brings the Heat StarKist is taking spiciness to the next level with this new Tapatio premium tuna. With 70 calories and 14g of lean protein per pouch, BOLD Tapatio Tuna will keep you fueled longer. It goes perfectly with tortilla chips, your favorite mix of veggies or straight from the pouch. In addition to the new BOLD offerings, StarKist's current line of delicious, seasoned Tuna and Salmon Creations pouches include a variety of flavor options to suit everyone's cravings. Choose from Ranch, Lemon Pepper, Sweet & Spicy, Herb & Garlic, Bacon Ranch, Honey BBQ, Hickory Smoked and Salmon Creations Lemon Dill and Mango Chipotle. These convenient, single-serve tuna and salmon 2.6oz pouches make it easy to reach the recommended two servings (8oz.) of seafood weekly. While the BOLD flavors can be enjoyed straight from the pouch, they are also a great addition to a variety of meals. Visit www.starkist.com to learn more about the brand, its products and to explore StarKist developed recipes such as the Spicy Seven Layer Dip Cups below: Ingredients: 2 pouches (2.6 oz.) StarKist Tuna Creations BOLD Tapatio 1 cup black refried beans (or cup smashed black beans) 1 cup shredded lettuce 1 cup small diced tomatoes 1 cup crumbled Queso Fresco cheese (or cup neufchatel cheese, room temperature) 1 cup small diced red onion 1 cup prepared guacamole 8, 8 oz. juice or martini glasses Directions: Line up glasses on a work surface. Place 2 Tbsp. of refried beans in the bottom of each glass and smooth out. Top each with a layer of ~ 2 Tbsp. lettuce, followed by 2 Tbsp. tomatoes, 2 Tbsp. cheese, 2 Tbsp. red onion. Top the red onion with 3 Tbsp. guacamole and spread evenly over the onion. Top the guacamole with ~ 1-1/2 Tbsp. tuna. Serve with hearty tortilla chips or vegetables on the side. Servings: 8 Prep Time: 15 minutes This new, boldly seasoned tuna flavor retails for approximately $1.34 per pouch and can be found in the shelf-stable tuna section in grocery stores nationwide: About Tapatio: Tapatio Foods, LLC started in 1971 from humble beginnings. Over 40 years later Tapatio Foods is still a family run business and has grown to become a staple not only in Hispanic households but in most American households today. Tapatio is the #1 hot sauce in the west, and the #3 hot sauce in the country, and has built an extensive licensing portfolio with partners including Frito-Lay, BIG's sunflower seeds, Colorado Premium meats, and more. Now available in many different sizes, Tapatio is a sauce that can be used with everything! About StarKist: StarKist Co. is a food company that provides trusted, healthy, and shelf-stable seafood products in the United States. An industry innovator, StarKist was the first brand to introduce StarKist single-serve pouch products, which include Tuna Creations and Salmon Creations. As America's favorite tuna, StarKist represents a tradition of quality, consumer trust and a commitment to sustainability. StarKist's charismatic brand icon, Charlie the Tuna, swam into the hearts of tuna fans in 1961 and is still a fan favorite today. StarKist Co. is a subsidiary of the Dongwon Group. Media Contact: Michelle Faist 412-323-7457 [email protected] SOURCE StarKist Co. Related Links http://starkist.com/ [Breaking news update at 6:56 p.m. ET] Marilou Danley said she voluntarily flew back to the United States because she knew the FBI and the Las Vegas police wanted to talk to her, according to a statement read by her attorney. "And I want to talk to them. I will cooperate fully with their investigation. Anything I can do to help ease suffering and help in any way, I will do," she said in the statement. [Breaking news update at 6:50 p.m. ET] Stephen Paddock "never said anything to me or took any action that I was aware of, that I understood in any way to be a warning that something horrible like this was going to happen," Marilou Danley said in a statement read by her attorney. [Breaking news update at 6:39 p.m. ET] Marilou Danley said Stephen Paddock bought her a cheap ticket to see her family in the Philippines a little more than two weeks ago and then wired her money, she said in a statement read by her attorney. Paddock said the money was for her to buy a house for her and her family, Danley said, according to her attorney, Matt Lombard. "I was grateful, but honestly, I was worried that first, the unexpected trip home, and then the money, was a way of breaking up with me," she said in the statement. [Breaking news update at 6:25 p.m. ET] "It never occurred to me in any way whatsoever that he was planning violence against anyone," Marilou Danley, the live-in girlfriend of Las Vegas shooter Stephen Paddock, said in a statement read by her attorney. [Previous story, published at 6:09 p.m. ET] Almost three days after the deadliest mass shooting in modern American history, investigators appear no closer to answering the question: Why? Why did Stephen Paddock, a 64-year-old retired accountant, fire from his 32nd-floor hotel window into a crowd of 22,000 concertgoers in the heart of Las Vegas? Why did he continue firing with an arsenal of weapons for nine to 11 minutes, leaving at least 58 people dead and more than 500 with gunshot wounds or stampede injuries? At this point, Paddock's motive and aims remain a mystery to investigators. FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe told CNBC on Wednesday that the lack of a clear motive was a "surprise" in this mass shooting. "This one is somewhat different than many of the ones we've dealt with in the past, because we don't have any immediately accessible thumbprints that would indicate the shooter's ideology or motivation, or really what compelled him to get there," McCabe said. Police believe Paddock acted alone when he sprayed gunfire on the crowd at the Route 91 Harvest festival. McCabe told CNN that the FBI was going through Paddock's communications, financial records, associates and video surveillance -- anything to try to piece together the puzzle of his motive. "We will look at every one of those lanes, pull every possible thread," he said. Authorities are hoping to find answers when Paddock's girlfriend, Marilou Danley, is questioned on Wednesday. She was out of the country during the shooting and returned to the United States on Tuesday night from the Philippines. Clark County Sheriff Joseph Lombardo told reporters Wednesday just after 9 a.m. local time that Danley would be questioned in the next half hour at the FBI's Los Angeles field office. In an interview with CNN affiliate Seven Network Australia, Danley's sisters said that Danley did not know about the shooting and was "sent away" before the attack. Still, one sister hoped that her perspective could provide some clues as to what happened. "Of all the people that they have interviewed ... no one can put the puzzles together -- no one -- except Marilou, because Steve is not here to talk anymore," Danley's sister said. "Only Marilou can maybe help to solve this investigation and what and why he's done this." President Donald Trump, who visited Las Vegas victims, first responders and heroes on Wednesday, offered his own analysis of the shooter's motives. "He's a sick, demented man," Trump said. "The wires are screwed up." Paddock's violent transformation has mystified everyone -- his brother, investigators and the families he victimized included. The 64-year-old, retired, twice-divorced accountant -- who at one time had jobs at the US Post Office and the IRS, a representative of the Office of Personnel Management told CNN -- had no significant criminal history and was previously unknown to police. President Trump said that America was a "nation in mourning" on Wednesday and praised the work of first responders, hospital staff, local leaders and the people of Las Vegas. "Words cannot describe the bravery that the whole world witnessed on Sunday night," he said. "Americans defied death and hatred with love and with courage." "When ... the worst of humanity strikes, and strike it did, the best of humanity responds," Trump said. "Parents and spouses used their own bodies as shields to protect their loved ones. Americans dashed into a hail of bullets to rescue total strangers." Separately, a GoFundMe for the victims of Las Vegas has raised almost $9 million as of Wednesday afternoon. Shooter bought 33 firearms The evidence laid out by investigators so far shows Paddock meticulously planned the shooting. He purchased 33 firearms, mostly rifles, between October 2016 and September 2017, according to an ATF spokesperson. The gunman checked into the room days in advance, stocked a cache of weapons there and set up cameras inside his hotel suite and in the hallway. The first call reporting shots fired came at 10:08 p.m. Sunday, and the gunfire didn't stop until 10:19 p.m., Clark County Undersheriff Kevin McMahill said. The shooting continued off and on for nine to 11 minutes, he said. Paddock had an arsenal of weapons in his hotel suite, including bump-fire stocks -- legal devices that enable a shooter to fire bullets rapidly, similar to an automatic rifle. He had outfitted 12 of his firearms with the bump stocks, said the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The killer also had cameras set up inside and outside the suite. Police don't know if the devices were transmitting -- the FBI is investigating their use -- but the Clark County sheriff said he thinks Paddock might have used them to watch for people approaching his room. One camera looked out the peephole on the suite's door. The hail of gunfire stopped when security guards approached Paddock's room at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, McMahill said. Paddock turned his attention to those outside his door and fired, wounding one of them. The guard was "very heroic" and provided police with information about the shooter's location, McMahill said. When officers entered the hotel room, they found Paddock dead. Authorities believe he killed himself. Wounded security guard recovering David Hickey, president of the union representing the hotel's officers, identified the wounded guard on Wednesday as Jesus Campos. Paddock had barricaded the stairwell doors and pointed his makeshift cameras system toward the elevator as Campos approached, said Hickey, head of the International Union, Security, Police and Fire Professionals of America. Campos, who was shot in the right leg, was out of the hospital on Wednesday. He was expected to have a round removed from his leg at a later date, Hickey said. The union has seventeen armed officers at Mandalay Bay. Hickey was uncertain if Campos was armed. Shooter's girlfriend back in United States Danley, the gunman's girlfriend, entered the Philippines September 15 and again on September 25, traveling on her Australian passport, said Maria Antoinette Mangrobang, spokeswoman for the Bureau of Immigration in the Philippines. Danley had lived in Mesquite, Nevada, with Paddock. She was out of the country during the shooting, police said. Mangrobang said authorities in the Philippines have been communicating with the FBI and the US Department of Homeland Security. Paddock had wired $100,000 to the Philippines, a law enforcement source said, but officials haven't been able to say exactly when the money transfer took place or who was the recipient. The FBI is working with Philippine authorities to determine details. Danley's sisters, speaking to CNN affiliate Seven Network Australia, said that Danley didn't know anything about the shooting ahead of time and that Paddock "sent her away" before the attack. "She was sent away so that she will be not there to interfere with what he's planning," one sister said. The sisters, who were not identified by name and whose faces were blurred, added that Danley would willingly cooperate with investigators. Attorney Matt Lombard is working with Danley, according to Lori Stanton with Lombard Law. Stanton said Lombard is expected to put out a statement later Wednesday. Assault-style rifles strewn across room The UK's Daily Mail newspaper published several photos taken in Paddock's room after the shooting. They show semi-automatic assault-style rifles on the floor and on furniture. Stacks of ammunition magazines used in rifles can also be seen. One photo shows Paddock's legs splayed on the floor near several weapons, apparently after he killed himself. Police said they're investigating the source of the leaked photos. The rifles in the photographs were far from the gunman's only weapons. A total of 47 guns have been recovered from three locations: Paddock's hotel room and his two Nevada homes in Verdi and Mesquite. The guns were bought in Nevada, Utah, California and Texas, said Jill Snyder, special agent in charge of ATF field division in San Francisco. Authorities also found thousands of rounds of ammunition in Paddock's Mesquite home, and an ingredient used in explosives was discovered inside the killer's car. CNN's Steve Almasy, David Williams, Dan Simon, Kyung Lah, Chuck Hadad, Paul Murphy, Laura Jarrett, Liz Landers and Steven Brusk contributed to this report. "We are so proud of the response we are seeing from our employees. They are eager to work alongside their neighbors to build and revitalize their homes and help them realize their dreams. This is what our Neighborhood of Good is aboutturning caring into doing," said Kellie Clapper, assistant vice president Philanthropy/Human Resources at State Farm. State Farm has been a supporter of Habitat for Humanity International's youth initiatives since 2007. The company's commitment has helped to mobilize more than 650,000 young volunteers to build homes and advocate for affordable housing. "We are incredibly grateful for the generosity State Farm continues to extend to help connect young leaders to Habitat's mission and to help families achieve the dream of home ownership," said Colleen Finn Ridenhour, Habitat's senior vice president of Development. "We are proud of our accomplishments together and look forward to celebrating this milestone year of partnership." About Habitat for Humanity Driven by the vision that everyone needs a decent place to live, Habitat for Humanity began in 1976 as a grassroots effort on a community farm in southern Georgia. The Christian housing organization has since grown to become a leading global nonprofit working in more than 1,300 communities throughout the U.S. and in more than 70 countries. Families and individuals in need of a hand up partner with Habitat for Humanity to build or improve a place they can call home. Habitat homeowners help build their own homes alongside volunteers and pay an affordable mortgage. Through financial support, volunteering or adding a voice to support affordable housing, everyone can help families achieve the strength, stability and self-reliance they need to build better lives for themselves. Through shelter, we empower. To learn more, visit habitat.org. About State Farm The mission of State Farm is to help people manage the risks of everyday life, recover from the unexpected, and realize their dreams. State Farm and its affiliates are the largest providers of auto and home insurance in the United States. Its nearly 19,000 agents and nearly 70,000 employees serve more than 84 million policies and accounts more than 81 million auto, fire, life, health and commercial policies, and more than 2 million bank accounts. Commercial auto insurance, along with coverage for renters, business owners, boats and motorcycles, is available. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is the parent of the State Farm family of companies. State Farm is ranked No. 33 on the 2017 Fortune 500 list of largest companies. For more information, please visit statefarm.com. SOURCE Habitat for Humanity International Related Links http://www.habitat.org SEATTLE, Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Stoel Rives LLP is pleased to announce that J. Nathanael Watson has joined the firm as an Of Counsel attorney in the Environment, Land Use and Natural Resources (ELUNR) Group in Seattle. Watson adds his litigation experience to Stoel Rives' national practice, including recent matters involving the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, the Indian Reorganization Act, tribal recognition, the National Environmental Policy Act, the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, federal common law trespass actions, and First Amendment freedom of association. Watson was previously employed as a trial attorney for the Environment & Natural Resources Division of the U.S. Department of Justicefrom 2009 to 2013 for the division's Natural Resources Section in Washington, D.C., and from 2014 to 2017 for its Indian Resources Section in Denver, Colo. After law school, he was a law clerk for the Honorable Andrew J. Kleinfeld of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. "I am looking forward to taking the next steps in my legal career with Stoel Rives, a firm with a sterling reputation for client service in the Pacific Northwest," said Watson. "I have been involved in a wide variety of cases and matters, and I believe working for Stoel Rives gives me a great opportunity to fully use that experience and to expand on it." Watson received his law degree from Emory University School of Law and his bachelor's degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology. He is a member of the Georgia State Bar and is in the process of applying for admission by motion to the Washington State Bar. Read more about Watson here. About Stoel Rives LLP: Stoel Rives is a leading U.S. corporate and litigation law firm. One of the largest national firms focused on energy, natural resources, climate change and the environment, Stoel Rives also serves the agribusiness, food and beverage, health care, life sciences and technology industries. With more than 350 attorneys operating out of 10 offices in seven states and the District of Columbia, Stoel Rives is a leader in regulatory and compliance matters, and business, labor and employment, intellectual property, land use, and real estate development and construction law. For more information, follow us @stoelrives or visit www.stoel.com. Contact Stoel Rives LLP: Jasmine Trillos-Decarie, Chief Business Development Officer, 206.386.7637 SOURCE Stoel Rives LLP Related Links http://www.stoel.com "We knew when we launched Project 2025 that it would take generous donations like this one from the Keith Milano Memorial Fund to meet our bold goal of reducing the suicide rate. It is for people like Keith, and those he left behind, that we continue our work by investing in Project 2025 the Sprung family is contributing to helping us save lives and bring hope to those affected by suicide," said Robert Gebbia, AFSP CEO . Keith Milano grew up on Long Island where he attended Newfield High School. He went on to the University of Buffalo, and then to Stony Brook University where he graduated with a bachelor's degree in Geology. After graduation, he worked as a hydrogeologist for EnviroTrac. Denise Milano Sprung, Keith's older sister by three years, also attended Newfield High School and the University of Buffalo. Denise and her husband Larry run the Keith Milano Memorial Fund in honor of her younger brother. The Sprung family also made a personal donation to Project 2025 and have been generous contributors to AFSP for many years. More about Project 2025 Launched in October 2015, Project 2025 uses a dynamic systems model approach based on what the evidence tells us about suicide. The model has already revealed four areas for critical action including: (1) firearms and suicide prevention, (2) healthcare systems, (3) emergency departments, and (4) justice systems. Through collaborating with other organizations, accrediting bodies, professional associations, and leaders in other industry sectors, AFSP is focusing its prevention efforts on the kinds of programs, policies and interventions in these four areas that will save the most lives in the shortest amount of time. About the Keith Milano Memorial Fund The Keith Milano Memorial Fund was established to help raise awareness about the devastating deadly disease that is mental illness. Keith's spirit and laughter is kept alive through our efforts to increase awareness about mental illness and to raise money for education and imperative research. Keith often struggled with society's perception of mental illness. Our hope is that by having the strength to say that Keith was "Bipolar" we can strip away the stigma and help others to be more open about their disease. About AFSP The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is dedicated to saving lives and bringing hope to those affected by suicide. AFSP creates a culture that's smart about mental health through education and community programs, develops suicide prevention through research and advocacy, and provides support for those affected by suicide. Led by CEO Robert Gebbia and headquartered in New York, and with a public policy office in Washington, D.C., AFSP has local chapters in all 50 states with programs and events nationwide. AFSP celebrates 30 years of service to the suicide prevention movement. Learn more about AFSP in its latest Annual Report, and join the conversation on suicide prevention by following AFSP on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. SOURCE American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Related Links http://www.afsp.org 21,621 OUNCES OF GOLD PRODUCED IN THE THIRD QUARTER, AND 82,940 OUNCES OF GOLD IN THE FIRST 12 MONTHS OF OPERATIONS (In US Dollars unless otherwise stated) TORONTO, Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ - Superior Gold Inc. ("Superior Gold" or "The Company") (TSX.V:SGI) is pleased to announce production results for the third quarter of 2017 from the Company's 100%-owned Plutonic Gold Mine, located 800 kilometres north east of Perth, in Western Australia . QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS Gold Produced was 21,621 ounces was 21,621 ounces Gold Sold was 20,836 ounces was 20,836 ounces Second highest quarterly production at the Plutonic Gold Mine since taking ownership Released underground drill results of up to 11.7g Au/t over 11.45 metres and 35.3g Au/t over 3.75 metres Commenced development of the Hermes open pit project Production details for the third quarter and first nine months of 2017, are summarized in the table below. Three month period ended September 30, 2017 Nine month period ended September 30, 2017 Twelve month period ended September 30, 2017 Gold Produced (ounces) 21,621 59,946 82,940 Gold Sold (ounces) 20,836 61,990 82,342 Chris Bradbrook, President and CEO of Superior Gold stated: "We are pleased to announce another strong quarter of production, our second strongest since taking ownership of the Plutonic Gold Mine. We have now operated the mine for four consecutive quarters and produced a total of 82,940 ounces of gold and sold a total of 82,342 ounces of gold. The Company is currently on track to meet its annual production guidance of approximately 75-80,000 ounces of gold for 2017. Development at our Hermes project continues and we anticipate production commencing by 2018. The contribution of the ore from Hermes is expected to allow us to reach our objective of increasing annual production to 100,000 ounces of gold." The Company will be releasing throughput, grade and recovery information for the third quarter of 2017 shortly and will release complete financial and operating results for the third quarter and first nine months of 2017 before market open on November 15, 2017. Qualified Person Scientific and technical information in this press release has been reviewed and approved by Simon Lawson who is a member of the AusIMM and a "qualified person" within the meaning of NI 43-101. Mr. Lawson is an employee of the Company and serves as the Chief Geologist. About Superior Gold Superior Gold is a Canadian based gold producer that owns 100% of the Plutonic Gold Operations located in Western Australia. The Plutonic Gold Operations include the Plutonic Gold Mine, which is a producing underground operation with a central mill, the Hermes open pit development project and an interest in the Bryah Basin joint venture. Superior Gold is focused on expanding production at the Plutonic Gold Operations and building an intermediate gold producer with superior returns for shareholders. Forward Looking Information This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws that is intended to be covered by the safe harbours created by those laws. "Forward-looking information" includes statements that use forward-looking terminology such as "may", "will", "expect", "anticipate", "believe", "continue", "potential" or the negative thereof or other variations thereof or comparable terminology. Forward looking information in this news release includes, but is not limited to, the Company's objectives, goals or future plans, and statements regarding exploration results and exploration plans. Forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance and is based upon a number of estimates and assumptions of management at the date the statements are made. Furthermore, such forward-looking information involves a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual plans, intentions, activities, results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future plans, intentions, activities, results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. See "Risk Factors" in the Company's prospectus dated February 15, 2017 filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com for a discussion of these risks. The Company cautions that there can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Accordingly, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Except as required by law, the Company does not assume any obligation to release publicly any revisions to forward-looking information contained in this press release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE Superior Gold Transforming travel for new markets and traveler expectations SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Switchfly, a travel commerce company for direct channel booking, and WestJet, a leading Canadian airline, are partnering to better manage and expand WestJet's ability to dynamically package flight and hotel to all destinations. WestJet will offer its guests a more complete travel experience while increasing ancillary revenue. "Switchfly will enable WestJet to offer our guests the freedom to create their own unique travel experiences through access to a global selection of hotels and travel products seamlessly bundled into an easy to book trip," said Ed Sims, WestJet Executive Vice-President, Commercial. "Switchfly complements our strategy of becoming a global carrier, serving the needs of today's traveler and increasing our ancillary revenue opportunities." Airlines miss out on significant ancillary revenue because they are not equipped to manage the vendor relations and distribution of third-party inventory such as hotel rooms. Switchfly, however, manages this for them with over 410,000 unique and verified hotel properties in one booking engine. WestJet can now package its own fares and existing WestJet hotel contracts with a global network of hotel inventory, without having to manage thousands of new contracts or costly new IT systems. Travel technology and deeper customer loyalty Switchfly offers a fully hosted white-label booking engine that is completely brand-matched meaning airline customers will have the same branded website experience with Switchfly inventory as they do with their preferred airline. WestJet can set any business rule in the booking engine to get the right package to the right customer at the right time, and adjust for different channels, languages, currencies, business units and selling countries. The partnership also creates significant new value and benefits for loyal WestJet guests. Members of the WestJet Rewards program will have expanded destinations and opportunities to earn WestJet dollars on customized trips, vacation packages and more. Members use WestJet dollars towards the purchase of flights and vacations packages to any WestJet destination with no blackout periods, and have access to Member Exclusive fares offering deals to WestJet destinations throughout its network and those of partner airlines. "We are excited to engage in a partnership with WestJet for growth on the Switchfly platform, through expanded travel options that will drive enhanced value and additional benefits for their loyalty program members," said Daniel Farrar, CEO of Switchfly. As travel complexities increase new ancillary channels, new business units, new routes airlines need outside help to manage and connect all systems and drive maximum loyalty and revenue. WestJet has partnered with Switchfly to make those connections -- helping sell more flight and hotel packages, increase ancillary revenue and capture more share of travel wallet as WestJet grows destinations in North America and internationally. To interview Switchfly CEO, Daniel Farrar please contact Vanessa Horwell at [email protected] or visit switchfly.com. To interview Ed Sims, WestJet Executive Vice-President, Commercial, please email [email protected]. About Switchfly Switchfly, Inc., is a travel commerce platform for direct channel booking that drives maximum loyalty and revenue for its clients. Through the company's global network of ancillary merchandise for activity, air, car, hotel and insurance, Switchfly facilitates the redemption of more than 40B points and miles and generates over $3B in revenues for customers each year. The company's global customer base includes American Airlines, JetBlue and LATAM Airlines; IAG Avios and United MileagePlus; InterContinental Hotels Group, Marriott International and Starwood Hotels and Resorts; Groupon and Living Social; and MasterCard and VISA. For more information, visit www.switchfly.com. About WestJet WestJet is proud to be named Best Airline in Canada and one of the best Low Cost Airlines in North America, based on authentic reviews from the travelling public on Trip Advisor, the world's largest travel site. We are one of very few airlines globally that does not commercially overbook. Together with our regional airline, WestJet Encore, we offer scheduled service to more than 100 destinations in North America, Central America, the Caribbean and Europe and to more than 175 destinations in over 20 countries through our airline partnerships. WestJet Vacations offers affordable, flexible vacations to more than 60 destinations and the choice of more than 800 hotels, resorts, condos and villas. Members of the WestJet Rewards program earn WestJet dollars on flights, vacation packages and more. Members use WestJet dollars towards the purchase of flights and vacations packages to any WestJet destination with no blackout periods, and have access to Member Exclusive fares offering deals to WestJet destinations throughout our network and those of our partner airlines. WestJet is publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) under the symbol WJA. For more information about everything WestJet, please visit westjet.com. Recent recognition includes: 2017/2016 Canada's Most Trusted Airline (Gustavson School of Business at theUniversity of Victoria) 2017 Best Airline in Canada and Travellers' Choice Winner Mid-Sized and Low Cost Airlines North America (TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice awards for Airlines) 2016 Canada's most reputable company for Corporate Social Responsibility (Reputation Institute) 2016/2015/2014/2013/2012 Ranked top three for Canadian Brands (Canadian Business Magazine) 2016/2015/2014/2013 WestJet RBC World Elite MasterCard ranked #1 in Canada(MoneySense magazine) 2015/2011/2010/2008/2007/2006/2005 Canada's Most Admired Corporate Culture (Waterstone Human Capital) 2015 Best Employers in Canada (Aon Hewitt) Connect with WestJet on Facebook at facebook.com/westjet Follow WestJet on Twitter at twitter.com/westjet Subscribe to WestJet on YouTube at youtube.com/westjet Read the WestJet blog at blog.westjet.com Media Contact Vanessa Horwell [email protected] +1.305.776.8817 SOURCE Switchfly Related Links http://www.switchfly.com The Telepizza Group, the leading non-US based pizza delivery company by number of stores, has announced the opening of its first 10 stores in Czech Republic, after the joint venture agreement signed in March 2017 with Forty's Pizza, the Czech Republic's leading pizza delivery company. These stores are being inaugurated this week in the city of Olomuc. The Czech joint venture is being led by owner and founder of Forty's Pizza, Mr. Jakub Slezar. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150317/735407-a ) (Photo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/568329/Telepizza_Czech_Republic.jpg ) Today, all the Forty's Pizza stores have become Telepizza's stores, offering the best flavour of the Spanish brand, with its excellent dough and the best local quality ingredients, as well as its expertise and proven track record in marketing, technology, franchising and supply chain. Pablo Juantegui, Chairman and CEO of Telepizza explains that "Our international expansion is one of the keys to our success, and we look forward to new business opportunities to bring our brand all over the world. The openings in Czech Republic are key for Telepizza, in order to take full advantage of this growth opportunity for expanding our franchising business in Central Europe." "We are very proud of the inauguration of our first 10 Czech stores. We are really confident that our customers will love our products and service," states Telepizza President of International, Giorgio Minardi. International expansion, key pillar for Telepizza The plans for Telepizza in Czech Republic are ambitious. The company's forecasts include operating in the country through 25 stores in the next three years. In fact, agreements with leading businesses in key markets are a vital part of Telepizza's plans for international growth, alongside innovation. "With its strong heritage and focus on quality, the Telepizza brand has been a perfect match for us. We are delighted to have joined such a great organisation and are looking forward to using our extensive local knowledge to help grow the Telepizza business in the Czech Republic," Mr. Jakub Slezar comments. Telepizza Group: We are the largest non-U.S.-based pizza delivery company in the world by number of stores. Headquartered in Madrid, Spain, Telepizza operates in more than 20 countries through a network of own stores, franchisees and master franchisees, with 1,440 stores globally, including 469 own stores (33%) and 971 franchised and master franchised stores (67%) as of 30 June, 2017. Including our U.S.-based competitors, we are the fourth largest global player in pizza delivery in terms of number of stores. We are the market leader in our core markets by number of stores (number one in Spain, Portugal, Chile and Colombia and number two in Poland). The total sales within our network, including own stores, franchisees and master franchisees, are recorded as chain sales, which amounted to 541.2 million in the twelve months ended 30 June 2017. Telepizza listed on the Barcelona, Bilbao, Madrid and Valencia stock exchanges with its shares starting trading on 27 April 2016. The total number of shares is 100,720,679. http://www.telepizza.com https://www.facebook.com/telepizza https://twitter.com/telepizza_es Contact: Telepizza, Miguel Justribo +34-91-6576200 [email protected] SOURCE Telepizza NEW YORK, Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Terra Capital Partners ("Terra") today announced the closing of a preferred equity investment for SECO Development's corporate reorganization of the Bristol I Apartments in Renton, WA. Terra, a New York based income fund manager, will provide a $22.5 million investment to fund the recapitalization of the property, nearby development projects, and a preferred return reserve as well as cover closing costs. Bristol I Apartments in Renton, WA. Located in the waterfront community of Southport on Lake Washington near Seattle, Bristol I is a mid-rise apartment complex with 188 units that is currently 79% occupied. The property offers exceptional lifestyle amenities including an onsite cafe, 24-hour waterfront fitness center, business center, residents' club and full kitchen for entertaining. "We are delighted to have completed this investment with SECO Development, one of the true pioneers of apartment development in the Seattle area," said Dan Cooperman, Chief Originations Officer at Terra. "The property's waterfront location and proximity to demand drivers, coupled with SECO's operational strength, make this an exciting investment for us." "Terra's team mobilized quickly and closed the loan on the agreed-upon terms," said Michael Christ, Chief Executive Officer of SECO Development. "We thank Terra for their partnership." "You can live on the water at a reasonable cost, grab a great meal or a drink at one of the nicest hotels in the region and walk across the street to work in a brand new glass tower overlooking Lake Washington and the Seattle skyline," said Dave Karson, Executive Managing Director at Cushman & Wakefield. "SECO and Terra both recognized a great opportunity to help expand and improve the Southport campus." Terra is a New York-based lender that specializes in mezzanine and bridge loans in high quality commercial real estate. Terra lends on multifamily, hotel, office, retail and industrial properties throughout the United States. Dan Cooperman, Chief Originations Officer (212) 753-5100 ext. 217 [email protected] Jonathan Keehner / Ed Trissel / Julie Oakes Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher (212) 355-4449 SOURCE Terra Capital Partners HORSHAM, Pa., Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Fruity, savory and fresh: these delicious flavors were brought to the cutting board for the fourth annual America's Better Sandwich Contest, which tallied thousands of entries from contestants across the country. Today, Arnold, Brownberry and Oroweat Bread unveiled the five finaliststhe delicious and nutritious sandwich recipes that will move on to the next round. Alongside Chef Tom Colicchio, it's now time for America to step in to help judge each recipe and determine who will take home the grand prize dough of $25,000. America's Better Sandwich Contest From October 5 until October 26, sandwich lovers can hone their judging skills and vote for the recipe they think deserves the title and the dough at www.americasbettersandwich.com. For every vote, Arnold, Brownberry and Oroweat Breads will also donate a loaf of bread, up to 10,000 loaves, to Feeding America, the contest's official charitable partner, in addition to the loaves that will be donated for each entry received to help feed families across the country. The Top 5 finalists for the "America's Better Sandwich" Contest are: Tracy M. ( Mount Juliet, Tenn. ): "Savory Grilled Vegan Delight Sandwich" ): "Savory Grilled Vegan Delight Sandwich" Ben M. ( San Francisco, Calif. ): "Mediterranean Cauliflower Salad Sandwiches" ): "Mediterranean Cauliflower Salad Sandwiches" Tiffany A. ( Quitman, Ark. ): "Orange Kissed Turkey Sweet Potato and Watercress Salad Sammie" ): "Orange Kissed Turkey Sweet Potato and Watercress Salad Sammie" Jason S. ( Detroit, Mich. ): "Last Night's Grilled Flank Steak with Plum Sauce 'Banh Mi' Style Sandwiches" ): "Last Night's Grilled Flank Steak with Plum Sauce 'Banh Mi' Style Sandwiches" Ronna F. ( Rockville, Md. ): "Egg, Fig and Berry Toasted Breakfast Sandwich" In addition to consumer votes, Arnold, Brownberry and Oroweat Bread have enlisted the help of seasoned food judge and sandwich expert, Chef Tom Colicchio, to help determine the next top sandwich. Each finalist's recipe will be evaluated by its nutritional analysis, creativity/innovation and taste. "There were so many creative recipes submitted to this year's America's Better Sandwich Contest featuring delicious ingredients on a variety of Arnold, Brownberry and Oroweat breads, and the five finalists represent the very best of the submissions," said Colicchio. "As the finalists head to the next round, we invite everyone to help us judge the recipes and vote for their favorite better sandwich. It's definitely not going to be easy to choose just one!" Once the judging and voting is complete, the sandwich recipe with the highest combined overall score will be deemed the Grand Prize winner and receive $25,000, and one runner-up will be awarded $5,000. The Grand Prize and Runner-Up winners will be announced on "National Sandwich Day," November 3. "This year's America's Better Sandwich Contest pulled in so many unique and original recipes featuring a variety of our products, from Whole Grain and Country Bread to Sandwich Thins Rolls and more," said Marlene Sidhu, Director of Arnold, Brownberry and Oroweat Breads. "The Top 5 finalists were chosen for their ability to craft a delicious and nutritious sandwich, and we can't wait to see which recipe rises to the top!" To vote for your favorite recipe(s) in the America's Better Sandwich Contest and to view official rules and donation program terms, visit www.americasbettersandwich.com. About Bimbo Bakeries USA Bimbo Bakeries USA (BBU) is a leader in the baking industry, known for its category leading brands, innovative products, freshness and quality. Our team of more than 22,000 U.S. associates operates more than 50 manufacturing locations in the United States. Our distribution routes deliver our leading brands such as Arnold, Bimbo, Boboli, Brownberry, Entenmann's, Francisco, Freihofer's, Heiner's, Marinela, Mrs Baird's, Oroweat, Sara Lee, Stroehmann, Thomas' and Tia Rosa. No Purchase Necessary to Enter or Win the America's Better Sandwich Contest or Vote. Both programs end at 12:00 p.m. ET on 10/26/17 (or donation will end when max donation has been reached, whichever is sooner). Bimbo Bakeries USA will donate one (1) loaf of bread to Feeding America for each entry and/or vote received in the Contest, with a maximum of 10,000 loaves donated. Contest is open to legal residents of the 50 United States, District of Columbia and Puerto Rico who are 18+ and have reached the legal age of majority in their jurisdiction of residence at time of entry. Void where prohibited. Contest rules and donation terms available at https://www.americasbettersandwich.com. Offered by Bimbo Bakeries USA, Inc. SOURCE Bimbo Bakeries, USA, Inc. Related Links http://www.americasbettersandwich.com VANCOUVER, Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ - Trilogy Metals Inc. (TSX, NYSE American: TMQ) ("Trilogy", "Trilogy Metals" or "the Company") is pleased to report its third quarter results for the period ended August 31, 2017. Details of the Company's financial results are contained in the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements and Management's Discussion and Analysis which will be available on the Company's website at www.trilogymetals.com, on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on EDGAR at www.sec.gov. All amounts are in United States dollars unless otherwise stated. Third Quarter 2017 Highlights: Strong working capital position of $11.2 million , with cash on hand of $10.2 million . , with cash on hand of . The focus of this third fiscal quarter has been working to advance our Upper Kobuk Mineral Projects. With a combined 2017 budget of $17.1 million for the Bornite and Arctic Projects, this quarter was busy at our project sites in northwest Alaska . for the Bornite and Arctic Projects, this quarter was busy at our project sites in northwest . Financial partnership announced with South32 Limited in Q2 2017 granting an option to form a 50/50 joint venture for a minimum investment of $150 million , subject to certain adjustments. South32 is required to fund a minimum of $10 million per year, for up to three years to keep the option in good standing. Bornite Project We are currently executing a $10 million exploration program at the Bornite Project, funded by South32 Limited (ASX/JSE/LSE: S32), ("South32") under an Option Agreement on the Company's Upper Kobuk Mineral Projects ("UKMP") announced on April 10, 2017 ("Option Agreement"). The focus of this year's program is to target high-grade copper mineralization north and east of the previously identified resources which were last drilled by the Company in 2013. This year's exploration at Bornite was approved by a joint Trilogy-South32 Technical Committee. Under the terms of the Option Agreement, we granted South32 the right to form a 50/50 joint venture to hold all of the Company's Alaskan assets currently held directly by our wholly owned subsidiary NovaCopper US Inc., doing business as Trilogy Metals US ("Trilogy Metals US"). Upon exercise of the option, Trilogy Metals US will transfer its Alaskan assets, including the UKMP and South32 will contribute a minimum of $150 million, subject to certain adjustments, to a newly formed 50/50 joint venture. To maintain the option in good standing, South32 is required to fund a minimum of $10 million per year for up to a three year period, which funds will be used to execute a mutually agreed upon program at the UKMP. South32 may exercise its option at any time over the next three years to enter into the 50/50 joint venture. Provided that all the exploration data and information has been made available to South32 by no later than December 31 of each year, South32 must decide before the end of January of the following year whether: (i) to fund a further tranche of a minimum of $10 million, or (ii) to withdraw and not provide any further annual funding. If the election to fund a further tranche is not made in January, South32 has until the end of March to exercise the option to form the LLC and make the subscription payment. This year's exploration program at Bornite is one of the larger programs in the history of drilling at the Bornite Project. With an approved budget of $10 million, we plan on drilling approximately 9,000 meters at Bornite this field season to test the extension of the mineralization from the drill holes from our 2013 drill campaign along with a ground gravity survey, continuation of hydrology data collection and initiating metallurgy and acid based accounting for Bornite. Drilling at the Bornite Project began in early June and is expected to be finished by mid-October with results released throughout the fall. We completed 6,037 meters by August 31, 2017 and released our first results on September 18, 2017 from the first three holes comprising 3,083 meters. Arctic Project In early June 2017, we announced the engagement of Ausenco Engineering Canada Inc. to prepare the Arctic Project Pre-feasibility Study ("PFS") technical report anticipated to be complete in Q1 2018. The Company has also engaged Amec Foster Wheeler to complete mine planning and SRK Consulting (Canada) Inc. to complete tailings and waste design, hydrology and environmental studies. The summer field program for the Arctic Project PFS was conducted in July with the completion of 257 meters of geotechnical drilling and 26 test pits completed to determine site facility locations and mine design. We also completed geophysical ground surveys to evaluate ground conditions. We continued our environmental baseline program through the summer of 2017 which includes baseline data collection on aquatic and avian resources, ongoing water quality, hydrology and meteorology. The water quality program was expanded in 2017 to include additional sample locations and increased sample frequency. The results from this summer's field program are currently being compiled and analyzed by the PFS consultants. We currently anticipate the completion of the PFS in Q1 2018. We also completed 455 meters of in-fill drilling at Arctic in late August collecting PQ size core to provide two tonnes of material for an ore-sorting study to be initiated in Q4 2017. We anticipate releasing assay results for the additional Arctic in-fill holes by November. The results of the ore sorting program will be evaluated in Q1 2018. Selected Results The following selected financial information is prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. in thousands of dollars, except for per share amounts Three months ended Nine months ended Selected expenses August 31, 2017 $ August 31, 2016 $ August 31, 2017 $ August 31, 2016 $ Foreign exchange (gain) loss (592) 3 (542) 8 General and administrative 273 311 1,050 1,030 Mineral properties expense 8,471 3,077 10,407 4,067 Professional fees 86 84 404 430 Salaries 218 250 683 719 Salaries stock-based compensation 104 146 603 544 Unrealized loss on held for trading investments 83 - 1,252 - Loss from continuing operations for the period 8,992 3,902 14,378 6,885 Loss from discontinued operations for the period - 353 - 712 Loss and comprehensive loss for the period 8,992 4,255 14,378 7,597 Basic and diluted loss per common share $0.09 $0.04 $0.14 $0.07 For the three months ended August 31, 2017, Trilogy reported a net loss of $9.0 million (or $0.09 basic and diluted loss per common share) compared to a net loss of $4.3 million for the corresponding period in 2016 (or $0.04 basic and diluted loss per common share). This variance of $4.7 million was primarily due to the size of the field programs at the UKMP in 2017 as well as the timing of the program. An increase of $5.4 million in mineral property expenses incurred during the three months ended August 31, 2017 compared to the three months ended August 31, 2016 accounted for the increase in its entirety. The 2017 program consists of a $10.0 million exploration program at the Bornite Project, funded by South32, and a $7.1 million program towards completing a pre-feasibility study at the Arctic Project expected to be completed in Q1 2018. Comparably, in 2016, the field program consisted of a drill program at Arctic to prepare the project for pre-feasibility work. The field program in 2017 began in late May and continued through the third quarter. In 2016, the field program consisted of a 45-day program that wrapped up in late July. The increase in the mineral property expenses is due to the size and variety of the programs being undertaken. The increase was offset by slight decreases in general and administrative, salaries and stock-based compensation expense during the three months ended August 31, 2017 compared to the three months ended August 31, 2016. Trilogy recognized a gain on foreign exchange during the three months ended August 31, 2017 of $0.6 million due to the appreciation of the Canadian dollar in the current fiscal year. We were holding a higher average volume of cash and cash equivalents in Canadian dollars during the third quarter of 2017 mainly due to the sale of investments which consist of shares in Gold Mining Inc. ("GMI"). The investments are also denominated in Canadian dollars and benefited from the appreciation of the Canadian dollar in the third quarter. We acquired the investments on September 1, 2016 as consideration for the sale of Sunward Investments Limited ("Sunward") and its Titiribi gold-copper exploration project in Colombia. As such, a comparable foreign currency movement did not exist in the third quarter of 2016. There was also a loss from discontinued operations of $0.4 million for the three months ended August 31, 2016 which relates to the sale of Sunward. There is no comparable amount in the current fiscal year as the sale was completed on September 1, 2016. Other minor differences noted for the comparable periods were i) a small decrease in general and administrative expenses; ii) a small decrease in salaries due to lower level of staff in the third quarter of 2017 compared to 2016; and iii) a small decrease in stock-based compensation due to the timing of the amortization of expense. The basic and diluted loss per common share of $0.09 for the three months ended August 31, 2017 increased from the basic and diluted loss per common share of $0.04 for the three months ended August 31, 2016 due to the increased loss as described above. For the nine months ended August 31, 2017, Trilogy reported a net loss of $14.4 million (or $0.14 basic and diluted loss per common share) compared to a net loss of $7.6 million for the corresponding period in 2016 (or $0.07 basic and diluted loss per common share). The increase in net loss is primarily due to an increase in mineral property expense of $6.3 million from $4.1 million for the nine months ended August 31, 2016 to $10.4 million for the nine months ended August 31, 2017. Similarly to the variance in the three-month periods, the field program being executed in 2017 is significantly larger and more varied than the field program completed in 2016. The variance is also due to an unrealized loss on investments on the GMI securities of $1.3 million classified as held for trading for which changes in the fair value of the investments are recorded through the statement of loss. There are no comparable amounts for the nine months ended August 31, 2016 as the Company acquired the investments in September 2016. Trilogy recognized a gain on foreign exchange during the nine months ended August 31, 2017 of $0.5 million due to the appreciation of the Canadian dollar in the current quarter as well as the volume of funds held in Canadian dollars. There is no comparable amount in 2016 due to the timing of acquiring the GMI investments. Additionally, there was a loss from discontinued operations of $0.7 million for the nine months ended August 31, 2016 from the operations of Sunward for which there is no comparable amount in 2017. Other minor differences noted for the comparable periods were i) a small increase in general and administrative expenses; ii) a small decrease in professional fees due to a lower level of corporate activity compared to 2016, iii) a small decrease in salaries due to lower level of staff in the third quarter of 2017 compared to 2016; and iv) a small increase in stock-based compensation due to increasing Black-Scholes valuations from an increased share price. The basic and diluted loss per common share of $0.14 for the nine months ended August 31, 2017 increased from the basic and diluted loss per common share of $0.07 for the nine months ended August 31, 2016 due to the increased loss as described above. Outlook Our 2017 program has a total budget of $17.1 million with $7.1 million to be expended during the fiscal year to advance the Arctic Project to pre-feasibility and $10.0 million for the exploration program at the Bornite Project. The Arctic Project PFS will be supported by information collected during the 2015 - 2017 field seasons. The completion of our 2017 field program has completed a staged three-year site investigation program where the first two years focused almost exclusively on collecting data in and around the proposed Arctic open-pit, and the third year focused on infrastructure and mine design. The Arctic Project PFS is anticipated to be completed in Q1 2018. The exploration program at the Bornite Project is an opportunity to potentially expand the size of the Bornite deposit by drilling the extensions of mineralization last drilled by the Company in 2013. It is expected that approximately 9,000 meters will be drilled at Bornite which drilling will be focused entirely on testing the size and depth of the extension of the known deposit. Qualified Persons Andrew W. West, P.Geo., Exploration Manager for Trilogy Metals Inc., is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Mr. West has reviewed the technical information in this news release and approves the disclosure contained herein. About Trilogy Metals Trilogy Metals Inc., formerly NovaCopper Inc., is a metals exploration company focused on exploring and developing the Ambler mining district located in northwestern Alaska. It is one of the richest and most-prospective known copper-dominant districts located in one of the safest geopolitical jurisdictions in the world. It hosts world-class polymetallic VMS deposits that contain copper, zinc, lead, gold and silver, and carbonate replacement deposits which have been found to host high grade copper mineralization. Exploration efforts have been focused on two deposits in the Ambler mining district - the Arctic VMS deposit and the Bornite carbonate replacement deposit. Both deposits are located within the Company's land package that spans approximately 143,000 hectares. The Company has an agreement with NANA Regional Corporation, Inc., a Regional Alaska Native Corporation that provides a framework for the exploration and potential development of the Ambler mining district in cooperation with local communities. Our vision is to develop the Ambler mining district into a premier North American copper producer. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release includes certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation including the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, including, without limitation, statements relating to our outlook, the future operating or financial performance of the Company, planned expenditures and the anticipated exploration and development activity, including with respect to the drilling at Bornite, the timing of drill results at Bornite, the preparation of a PFS on the Arctic deposit and timing of its release, and the potential exercise of the option by South32 are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "potential", "possible", and similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions, or results "will", "may", "could", or "should" occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements involve various risks and uncertainties. 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. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include the uncertainties involving the need for additional financing to explore and develop properties and availability of financing in the debt and capital markets; uncertainties involved in the interpretation of drilling results and geological tests and the estimation of reserves and resources; the need for cooperation of government agencies and native groups in the development and operation of properties as well as the construction of the access road; the need to obtain permits and governmental approvals; risks of construction and mining projects such as accidents, equipment breakdowns, bad weather, non-compliance with environmental and permit requirements, unanticipated variation in geological structures, metal grades or recovery rates; unexpected cost increases, which could include significant increases in estimated capital and operating costs; fluctuations in metal prices and currency exchange rates; and other risks and uncertainties disclosed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended November 30, 2016 filed with Canadian securities regulatory authorities and with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and in other Company reports and documents filed with applicable securities regulatory authorities from time to time. The Company's forward-looking statements reflect the beliefs, opinions and projections on the date the statements are made. The Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements or beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by law. SOURCE Trilogy Metals Inc. Related Links www.trilogymetals.com ATLANTA, Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Tropical Smoothie Cafe, the leading fast casual cafe concept known for its better-for-you food and smoothies with a tropical twist, announced today it signed a franchise development agreement with area developer Cody Sommer to further expand the brand's footprint in Utah. Sommer currently operates six existing locations throughout the state, and will be opening four new cafes in Draper, Springville, Herriman and American Fork over the next year. Tropical Smoothie Cafe has experienced a surge in franchise development fueled by several years of compounding success, signing more than 140 franchise agreements this year alone to propel its ongoing nationwide expansion. "Over the past several years, our brand has grown from a regional concept to one of the fastest growing brands in the fast casual segment, which we've achieved through our commitment to our core values and by continually investing in product innovation. As a result, we've seen many of our existing franchisees decide to expand within their territories, which is a true testament to their confidence in the company," said Mike Rotondo, CEO of Tropical Smoothie Cafe. "Since joining Tropical Smoothie Cafe in 2012, Cody has been a driving force in our efforts to further our expansion and drive brand recognition throughout the west, and we look forward to seeing what the future holds as he continues propelling his business forward in Utah." Cody Sommer, president of Mystere Holdings, LLC and owner of Nevada-based civil engineering company, Syntech, was introduced to Tropical Smoothie Cafe in 2012 in Las Vegas. He was immediately attracted to the brand, concept and menu offerings and knew he needed to open his own cafe in Utah. Sommer opened Utah's first Tropical Smoothie Cafe in 2013 in St. George and established exclusive rights to develop a total of 25 cafes throughout the state by 2022. In fact, his first location in Utah landed in the company's top 10 performing cafes in its second year of business. With this new agreement, Sommer has grown his portfolio to 10 locations throughout Utah and has plans for continued expansion throughout the state, eyeing Salt Lake City for future development. "The tremendous success that we have achieved throughout Utah further validates my own personal passion and belief in this brand," said Sommer. "There is a rising demand for an excellent quality of life in the state but a lack of easily accessible, better-for-you food options, which is why residents have taken so well to our concept. We're proud to bring another batch of Tropical Smoothie Cafes to Utah and provide them with food and smoothie offerings that truly match the active lifestyle goals of this growing health conscious community." Tropical Smoothie Cafe currently has franchise opportunities across the U.S. in markets such as Indianapolis, Nashville, Houston, Dallas, Cincinnati and Minneapolis, among others. By 2020, Tropical Smoothie Cafe plans to have 1,000 stores open across the U.S. The food and smoothie franchise is looking to add qualified franchisees to its growing brand. Candidates should have business experience; $125,000 in liquid assets and a minimum net worth of $350,000; and an initial investment of between $222,770 and $525,400. The better-for-you food franchise currently boasts an average unit volume (AUV) of more than $662,000 the highest in the company's 20-year history with the top 50 percent reporting an AUV of more than $846,000. Tropical Smoothie Cafe's aggressive franchise growth is backed by the entrepreneurs at the BIP Franchise Accelerator, a division of venture capital firm BIP Capital, which invested in the brand in 2010. BIP Capital has invested more than $250 million in emerging, high-growth brands across the franchising, software, and technology and consumer products industries. BIP Capital created the BIP Franchise Accelerator to leverage its leadership team's deep franchise experience to help emerging brands accelerate their growth. In addition to Tropical Smoothie Cafe, the BIP Franchise Accelerator's portfolio includes Tin Drum Asian Kitchen, which has grown to 11 locations in Georgia. For more information about opening your own Tropical Smoothie Cafe franchise, please visit www.tropicalsmoothiefranchise.com. About Tropical Smoothie Cafe Celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2017, Tropical Smoothie Cafe is a fast-casual restaurant concept inspiring healthier lifestyles across the country, with more than 600 locations nationwide. With snack and meal options for any time of day, Tropical Smoothie Cafe serves better-for-you smoothies, salads, wraps, sandwiches, and flatbreads. Upgraded app technology and enhanced mobile ordering capabilities further elevate the digital and dine-in cafe experience and emphasize the brand's focus on convenience. The rapidly growing franchise has received numerous accolades including being ranked on Entrepreneur's 2017 Franchise 500, 2016 Fast Casual Top 100 Movers and Shakers, Franchise Times' Top 200+ and Nation's Restaurant News' 2016 Top 200. Tropical Smoothie Cafe is seeking qualified franchisees to expand throughout the United States in markets such as Indianapolis, Nashville, Houston, Dallas, Cincinnati and Minneapolis, among others. About the BIP Franchise Accelerator The BIP Franchise Accelerator is a division of BIP Capital, an Atlanta-based venture capital firm with over $250 million invested in over 26 companies in emerging, high-growth brands across the franchising, software, technology and consumer products industries. BIP Capital created the BIP Franchise Accelerator to leverage its leadership team's deep franchise experience to help emerging brands accelerate their growth. The BIP Franchise Accelerator not only provides investment capital, but also uses proven strategies to help companies evolve into mature, thriving brands. From fast casual and QSR concepts to service brands and healthcare and education concepts, the BIP Franchise Accelerator has invested in emerging brands driven by people with an entrepreneurial spirit that have a great growth potential. Its current portfolio includes Tropical Smoothie Cafe, Tin Drum Asian Kitchen and BIP Franchise Finance. For more information on BIP Franchise Accelerator, visit www.bipfranchiseaccelerator.com. MEDIA CONTACT: Fish Consulting Courtney Whelan [email protected] 954-893-9150 SOURCE Tropical Smoothie Cafe Related Links http://www.tropicalsmoothiefranchise.com MADISON, Ala., Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- TFab Defense Systems, LLC (TFD), a subsidiary of Tyonek Manufacturing Group, Inc. (TMG) and Tyonek Native Corporation (TNC), has been awarded a contract by the U.S. Army Contracting Command Aberdeen Proving Ground to provide Improved Environmental Control Units (IECU). The company forged a partnership with HDT Global (HDT) and Rocky Research to pursue the effort. "This is a great win for the manufacturing division of our company. Tyonek has a long history and extensive technical experience in the design and production of environmental control products for U.S. military applications," said Steve Adlich, President, TMG. "Additionally, we are excited about our partnership with HDT Global and Rocky Research in support of this requirement. Both HDT and Rocky Research bring a wealth of experience to our team and together we look forward to supporting the Army's readiness mission." As the prime contractor, TFD will manufacture, test, and deliver four ECU variants which are designed to replace currently fielded units. The new variants will comply with statutory and regulatory restrictions on the use of Class II Ozone Depleting Chemicals (ODCs). The products will be produced in TFD's Madison, Ala. manufacturing facility and HDT's facility in Solon, Ohio. Director of Army Programs, HDT, Jeremy Alford added "As the global leader in advanced tactical infrastructure, we are equally excited for the partnership with TFab Defense Systems as well as the opportunity to be a part of the team providing the next generation of enhanced HVAC capability to our Warfighters." About Tyonek Native Corporation Tyonek Native Corporation (TNC) is the parent company to a variety of subsidiary businesses in industries including ISO 9000 certified defense manufacturing and engineering, aircraft maintenance, information technology services, land and resource development, and construction. The company owns and manages over 200,000 acres of land, primarily on the West side of Cook Inlet in South Central Alaska. An Alaska Native Corporation formed under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971 (ANCSA), the company is governed by a board of nine directors and a management team who are accountable to a community of more than 900 shareholders. The corporation's headquarters is in Anchorage, Alaska, with offices in Madison, Alabama, and subsidiary facilities located throughout the continental United States. For more information, visit www.tyonek.com. About HDT Global Headquartered in Solon, Ohio, USA, HDT Global is the industry leader in the production of state-of-the-art, fully-integrated deployable solutions, including shelters, generators, heaters, air filtration devices, robotics and other engineered technologies, currently used by U.S. and allied military units worldwide, as well as civilian government and commercial customers. Proven Solutions for Extreme Environments. We're there with you. For more information, visit www.hdtglobal.com. SOURCE Tyonek Native Corporation Related Links http://www.tyonek.com "With more than 500 aircraft purchased or on order, UAE airlines continue to inject tens of billions of dollars into the US economy, helping to support hundreds of thousands American jobs into the next decade," Ambassador Al Otaiba noted. "These same UAE airlines have also carried tens of millions of visitors to the United States, injecting billions more dollars into local communities and supporting hundreds of thousands of more US jobs in hospitality, retail, and domestic airlines." During his remarks, the Ambassador emphasized the importance of the UAE-US "Open Skies" aviation agreement that has enabled both countries to benefit, creating and supporting jobs in both the UAE and US. Ambassador Al Otaiba also underscored that commercial aviation represents the biggest share of the US' $19 billion trade surplus with the UAE, the US' third largest trade surplus globally. "Simply put, without Open Skies, the full scope of Boeing's business with UAE airlines and the economic benefits realized by communities all across the US would not be possible," Ambassador Al Otaiba said. "The agreement works for everyone, and the aviation trade relationship is an essential part of the broader economic exchanges that connect the UAE and the US and promote our shared prosperity." For eight years in a row, the UAE has remained the largest export market in the Middle East region for the US. Bilateral trade between the UAE and US exceeded $25 billion in 2016. The UAE and US signed an Open Skies agreement nearly 20 years ago, giving UAE and US passenger and cargo airlines equal access to each other's markets. Under the agreement, FedEx established its Mideast hub in Dubai. And UAE international airlines, Emirates and Etihad, now serve 11 US gateway cities from Dubai and Abu Dhabi respectively with more than 260 weekly flights. Beginning next year, the Boeing South Carolina facility will assemble 787-10 aircraft slated for delivery to Etihad Airways. Etihad is responsible for nearly 20 percent of the total 149 Boeing 787-10s that are currently on order, helping to support 7,000 Boeing jobs in South Carolina. All of the 787-10 aircraft will be fitted with US-manufactured advanced GE engines. Etihad also flies 23 777's and has many more on order. Dubai-based Emirates Airline is the world's largest operator of Boeing 777s and was the launch customer for the 777X model. According to Boeing data, Emirates' current 777 fleet includes 123 aircraft and it has an additional 166 777 aircraft on order. All of Boeing's 777 aircraft are manufactured in Everett, Washington. FlyDubai has announced its purchase of 76 Boeing 737-MAX aircraft, which are manufactured in Renton, Washington. In total, according to Boeing, UAE airlines have ordered 545 Boeing aircraft, of which 321 are still to be delivered. Emirates and Etihad combined have the world's largest fleet of wide-body Boeing aircraft. The majority of these orders were announced by UAE airlines in 2013, at the time the largest commercial aircraft order in history valued at $120 billion. "Open Skies is a trade agreement that is working, delivering huge value and benefits to both countries it benefits millions of flyers, it supports hundreds of thousands of jobs, it is critical to hundreds of cities and communities," said Ambassador Al Otaiba. "Attempts to roll back Open Skies will only hurt communities like Charleston and employees like those at Boeing and its suppliers across the US and world. Flyers will also have fewer choices and less convenience." Multiple studies have shown that nonstop international flights into the US generate hundreds of millions of dollars in local economic activity each year. For example, the Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation found that a single long-haul wide-body flight to LAX such as Emirates generates $623.5 million in annual economic benefits. The Houston Airport System and the University of Houston found that the economic benefits generated from Emirates' services would be $257 million a year, with 98,000 new passengers travelling each year to or via Houston. Emirates' flights to Dallas/Fort Worth produce $300 million in economic impact annually for the region, according to DFW Airport estimates. According to Ambassador Al Otaiba, UAE airlines fly to markets in Africa, Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent that are underserved by US airlines and their European alliance partners. Abu Dhabi and Dubai provide convenient connections from those points to the US, and the net result is an overall increase in passenger traffic. The UAE Ambassador also highlighted that the US-UAE aviation relationship facilitates people-to-people exchanges and inbound Foreign Direct Investment in the US, while also opening up new markets to American businesses. "Looking to the future, I see more opportunities for increased trade between the UAE and the US," said the Ambassador. Media requests and questions should be addressed to: [email protected] SOURCE Embassy of the United Arab Emirates Related Links http://www.uae-embassy.org FARMINGTON, Conn., Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX) will issue its third quarter 2017 earnings press release on Tuesday, October 24, prior to the stock market opening. A conference call will take place at 8:30 a.m. ET. A presentation corresponding with the conference call will be available on the company's website at http://www.utc.com for downloading prior to the call. To listen to the call by phone, dial (877) 280-7280 between 8:10 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. ET. The conference operator will take your name and place you on hold until the conference begins. Please limit your use of the phone's speaker mode to optimize the audio quality of the call for all participants. Analysts who wish to ask a question following the prepared remarks should press "1" on their push button phone during the call. Your name will be placed in queue. To remove yourself from the queue, press "#". Please note this capability is only possible when using your handset. If you need assistance, press "star zero" on your touch tone phone to reach the conference operator. Reporters with questions should call (860) 728-7907. The call will be broadcast live on the Internet at http://www.utc.com. A recording will be archived later on the site and will be available for replay by phone from 12 p.m. ET Tuesday, October 24, to 11:30 am ET Tuesday, October 31. For a replay, dial (404) 537-3406. At the prompt for a conference ID number, enter 77847488. UTC-IR Contact: Media Inquiries, UTC (860) 728-7907 Investor Relations, UTC (860) 728-7608 SOURCE United Technologies Corp. Related Links http://www.utc.com MIAMI, Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ - Miami-based United American Corp (UnitedCorp), (OTC: UAMA) announced today that it will take further enforcement steps related to its patent infringement action against Snap Inc. (NYSE: SNAP) regarding Snap's use of geo-location based filters which it markets as "Geofilters". On October 3, 2017 the iFramed technology for which UnitedCorp holds the technology rights to, received a Notice of Allowance from the US Patent Office under US patent application No. 15/240,515. UnitedCorp contends that the Geofilters used by SnapChat for photos and videos are based on iFramed technology and therefore are a direct infringement of the rights created by the Notice of Allowance). In June 2016 iFramed also received a patent in Canada the technology is patent pending in numerous international jurisdictions. Beginning today UnitedCorp began issuing cease and desist notices to Snap corporate clients which use SnapChat Geofilters. Many major corporations such as The Walt Disney Company, Taco Bell and Starbucks use the Geofilters as a part of their promotional campaigns. While these companies may until now have been unaware of the situation, under US Law, (35 U.S.C. Section 271 (a) (b) and (c)) any entity which makes use of a patented invention even by a 3rd party , without authority can be held liable as "induced infringer" since they ultimately contribute directly to the infringement. "We believe to date Snap's clients have been using SnapChat Geofilters in good faith," stated Benoit Laliberte, UnitedCorp's President, "However they now need to know that by doing this they are potentially in violation of US patent law. All these companies have their own portfolios of intellectual property and I am sure they take their rights quite seriously. We hope that they will respect our rights as well. Nevertheless UnitedCorp will pursue all legal remedies available in order to protect its IP if needed." iFramed's U.S. Patent Application Publication no. US 2016/0359987, which was derived from International Application Publication No. WO2015/100496 filed December 30, 2014 and claiming a first priority date of January 3, 2014, was allowed by the USPTO and is scheduled to Issue within the following weeks. Corresponding Canadian Patent No. 2,887,596 issued June 14, 2016, and is the subject of an ongoing infringement dispute against Snap Inc. in the Federal Court of Canada. UnitedCorp will provide the companies it notifies, the opportunity to discuss various iFramed licensing options that would improve significantly their commercial exposure by permitting the use of overlays to all major social media sites simultaneously. UnitedCorp provides an array of licensing packages for sponsored geolocation-based image overlay picture and video filters through the iFramed app and which can be offered to sponsors on a pay per post or per user basis. The iFramed app provides a simple smartphone App to post users pictures and videos with a geolocation based sponsored overlay to FacebookTM, InstagramTM, TwitterTM, YoutubeTM and soon to Instagram StoriesTM . About iFramed iFramed is a dedicated mobile content sharing application and platform which allows its users'-originated content to be posted in real time on their social media accounts with a digital integration of external content selectable by its users based on their geo-location. iFramed, the world's first and only social media posting gateway technology and next generation social network content sharing platform. About UnitedCorp UnitedCorp is a Florida-based holding and management company focusing on telecommunications and information technologies. For more information, visit: www.unitedcorp.com This news release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to various risks and uncertainties. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of numerous factors that may be beyond the Company's control. Forward-looking statements are based on the expectations and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made, and the Company assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements should circumstances in management's expectations or opinions change. SOURCE United American NEW YORK, Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Pioneering taxi technology company KAPTYN INC. has signed a 5-year agreement with Houston taxi company Taxis of Houston to outfit the Texas fleet with their NCWM/NIST certified smart meter and proprietary software platform. The contract adds another major U.S. city to an established portfolio that has already delivered over 60 Million rides in the Las Vegas taxi market. The platform is comprised of a first-of-its-kind taxi meter equipped with an open platform to best-in-class ride hailing applications, dispatch systems, and payment and cashiering options. Acting as the brain of a connected taxi, the meter collects, processes, and reports live trip data, while simultaneously functioning as a federally-regulated meter. The data is then consolidated into KAPTYN proprietary CabManager operating system, providing owners, drivers and regulators a comprehensive view of their operations, allowing for cashiering, shift tracking and performance data to be easily tracked and reconciled in real time. Additional added value lies in the dispatching and demand components of the system. KAPTYN directs demand through a single funnel to create efficient, reliable supply in any taxi market. KAPTYN brings more ways to connect drivers and passengers than ever before. The platform is fully e-hail agnostic, allowing any mobile app to communicate directly and securely to dispatch the closest vacant, licensed taxi. Additionally, riders are able to push dedicated KAPTYN Taxi buttons in high-traffic locations that integrate into the dispatch funnel to immediately dispatch the closest car. "It's great to add another key U.S city to the KAPTYN platform. Our commitment has always been to create a flexible and sustainable solution for fleets and drivers. We are in over 90% of the Las Vegas market and have been able to operate in parallel with the emergence of TNC's. Our goal is for them to realize that pairing their mobile platform with our justified and proven supply chain is the right answer to the taxi ecosystem. We're a company built by taxi veterans and we want to be partners with owners, invest in their businesses and succeed with them and their drivers." Said Andrew Meyers, CEO of KAPTYN INC. "Taxis of Houston is excited to partner with KAPTYN and improve the quality of our service. As a taxi company, we have been quick to acknowledge that the industry needs significant changes following the disruptive entrance of technology driven companies. KAPTYN'S revolutionary platform competes on behalf of the traditional taxi, offering additional opportunities for drivers to balance service offerings with market demands. The KAPTYN and Taxis of Houston partnership will bring new, technology driven operational methodologies to Houston's taxi service, providing additional income options for drivers and new service level heights for Houston riders," said Michael Holt, President, Taxis of Houston. KAPTYN is poised to bring back the taxi market to its fleets and drivers, and want to empower more cities with the technology and infrastructure to compete with rideshare companies. They have an active survey and forum on their website for interested fleets and drivers to reach them directly. Bring KAPTYN to your city http://www.kaptyn.co/. About KAPTYN KAPTYN Inc. is a leading Smart Taxi Technology company with an expanding portfolio of contracts in major cities across the U.S. including New York and Las Vegas. Our proven platform reinvents the regulated taxi market with the first ever NCWM/NIST approved Smart Meter and software combination that allows for driver route and trip data collection, real-time cashiering, reconciliation and reporting, automated dispatch and external application integration including E-hail. Through comprehensive data collection and analysis, innovative dispatch solution, back office management suite and flexible integration capabilities we help better operate, manage and monetize commercial taxi fleets, and provide the industry with the tools to compete in a digital demand driven world. For more information please visit: www.kaptyn.co. Contact: Chris Hall, [email protected] SOURCE KAPTYN Related Links http://www.kaptyn.co VANCOUVER and SMITHS FALLS, ON, Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ - Valens GroWorks Corp. (CSE: VGW) ("Valens GroWorks", or the "Company") is pleased to announce that its wholly owned subsidiary Valens Agritech Ltd. ("Valens"), a Health Canada Licensed Dealer, has signed a supply and sales agreement with Canopy Growth Corporation (TSX: WEED) ("Canopy Growth") for the distribution, marketing and sale of the Company's branded products through Canopy Growth's extensive CraftGrow distribution network, including Tweedmainstreet.com, to take effect upon Valens securing a Health Canada licence under the Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations ("ACMPR"). The deal secures a diverse supply of curated products for Canopy Growth and a reliable sales channel and stream of revenue for Valens. "This supply and sales agreement with Canopy Growth, a world leader in the cannabis space, is a significant milestone ensuring Valens will have a secure revenue stream from our production while building brand recognition through a substantial distribution pipeline, after becoming a Licensed Producer under the Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations," said Tyler Robson, CEO of Valens GroWorks. "This is the beginning of a long-term partnership through which we will be able to commercialize our unique product strains and innovative technologies for mutual benefit. By joining CraftGrow, we also have the opportunity to work with Canopy Growth's expert team to share know-how, technology, and best growing practices to maximize yield and ensure the highest quality products." Canopy Growth is Canada's preeminent cannabis company with international reach and a reputation for partnering with some of the biggest names in the cannabis industry. Valens joins a select group of companies in the CraftGrow program. "We welcome Valens to the Canopy Growth family and look forward to collaborating with their team to provide a steady and high quality source of cannabis products to increase product variety for our customers," said Mark Zekulin, President, Canopy Growth. "CraftGrow aims to build an ecosystem of fantastic options for patients and we look forward to including the Valens offering into our shop and onto store shelves as we continue our work through provincial jurisdictions to establish a national presence for our brands and our partners." The CraftGrow program also provides Valens direct access to Canopy Growth's extensive operational, distribution, marketing and sales infrastructure through the Tweed Main Street online marketplace where a new order is placed on average every ninety seconds. Its sector-leading fulfillment centre then ships these orders to customers all across the country. "Securing a long-term supply agreement with the industry leader will provide a stream of revenue to fuel the Company's expansion while focusing on our core competencies, production and innovation. Working together with Canopy Growth's marketing and logistics teams will also help us introduce our unique products to the largest group of cannabis patients in the country," said Saul Katz, President and Executive Chairman of Valens GroWorks. "This deal will also enable the Valens brand to achieve broad consumer exposure and immediate sales volume with a much-reduced marketing and logistic spend." The agreement calls for CraftGrow to purchase up to 100% of Valens' harvests as specific whole-flower strains or as premium oil products. It also provides Valens the opportunity to build and service its own customer base including medical cannabis patients and for exportation to international markets in the future. "It is a great honour and opportunity to join Canopy Growth's CraftGrow distribution network," continued Mr. Robson. "We are on track to realizing our objective of becoming a leading purveyor of products and technologies in the cannabis sector worldwide. Coupling Canopy Growth's marketing and distribution expertise with our product innovation and quality control capabilities creates a 'dream team' scenario." About Canopy Growth Corporation Canopy Growth is a world-leading diversified cannabis company, offering distinct brands and curated cannabis varieties in dried, oil and capsule forms. Through its whollyowned subsidiaries, Canopy Growth operates numerous state-of-the-art production facilities with over half a million square feet of GMP-certified indoor and greenhouse production capacity, all to an unparalleled level of quality assurance procedures and testing. Canopy Growth has established partnerships with leading sector names in Canada and abroad, with interests and operations spanning four continents. The Company is proudly dedicated to educating healthcare practitioners, providing consistent access to high quality cannabis products, conducting robust clinical research, and furthering the public's understanding of cannabis. For more information visit www.canopygrowth.com. About Valens GroWorks Corp. Valens GroWorks Corp. is a CSE-listed biotechnology company with an aggressive buildout strategy in progress. The Company seeks to capture a broad spectrum of medical cannabis users, and adult recreational users once legalized, as well as clinical trial and R&D clients, in pursuit of its ambitious seed-to-sale and farm-to-pharma objectives. The Company provides management, consulting, testing and support services to domestic and international licensees, as well as financial support to fully-licensed third-party operations. The Company operates through two wholly-owned subsidiaries based in the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia: Valens Agritech Ltd. ("VAL") holds a Health Canada Dealer's License and is commencing cannabis production and further expansion, and Supra THC Services Inc. ("Supra"), a Health Canada licensed cannabis testing lab providing sector-leading analytical and proprietary services to Licensed Producers and ACMPR patients. Both subsidiaries are involved in a collaborative research partnership with BC-based universities UBC Okanagan and Thompson Rivers to explore the vast range of bioproducts that can be made from cannabis plant materials. Supra, in collaboration with Thermo Fisher Scientific (Mississauga) Inc., is developing a "Centre of Excellence in Plant Based Medicine Analytics" at the Company's 17,000 square foot facility located on two acres in Kelowna. For more information, please visit http:/valensgroworks.com, http://valensagritech.com/ and http://www.suprathc.ca/. On behalf of the Board of Directors, VALENS GROWORKS CORP. (signed) "Tyler Robson" Chief Executive Officer Notice regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of such statements under applicable securities law. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "continue", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "potential", "proposed" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. These statements are only predictions. Various assumptions were used in drawing the conclusions or making the projections contained in the forward-looking statements throughout this news release. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made, and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. The Corporation is under no obligation, and expressly disclaims any intention or obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable law. The CSE or other regulatory authority has not reviewed, approved or disapproved the contents of this press release. We seek Safe Harbour. SOURCE Valens Groworks Corp. ORLANDO, Fla., Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Vestagen Protective Technologies, Inc., which develops and markets VESTEX Active Barrier1 fabric healthcare uniforms, lab coats and patient garments, today announced the closing of a $9.5 million financing. Existing investors Advent Life Sciences and HealthQuest Capital, and new investors Greenline Ventures, Northwell Ventures and Mercy Health of Cincinnati, participated in the funding round. Proceeds from the financing will primarily be used to generate additional clinical evidence of VESTEX's ability to protect healthcare workers and patients from the risks of unanticipated exposures to body fluids, to obtain regulatory review of the protective properties of VESTEX fabric and to expand the company's commercialization activities. "The need for new approaches to support the safety of our healthcare system has helped propel adoption of our VESTEX Active Barrier uniforms by leading institutions such as Northwell Health and Mercy Health," said Bill Bold, Chief Executive Officer of Vestagen. "This financing provides additional resources for our clinical and regulatory initiatives and enables expansion of the commercialization activities we are conducting on our own and with the support of partners. We appreciate the confidence of our existing investors and welcome our new investors. We are especially proud that our new investors include two healthcare organizations who are also Vestagen customersin our view a tremendous validation of the value and potential of VESTEX attire." "Investing in young companies with disruptive potential such as Vestagen is an important part of our economic development mission," said Patrick Vahey, President of Greenline Ventures. "Vestagen has made substantial progress in achieving adoption of its breakthrough VESTEX apparel by influential healthcare leaders. We are pleased to support their next phase of growth by providing capital that will help them achieve their business targets while creating high quality jobs in the geographic areas where they operate." "Northwell Ventures invests in growth companies whose innovative products and services aim to strengthen the patient and customer experience and enhance organizational effectiveness," said Michael Dowling, President and CEO of Northwell Health. "We are pleased to be able to participate in Vestagen's new financing, as its VESTEX uniforms are already making a difference in our hospitals in addressing what we see as a large unmet need and market opportunity." "Mercy Health is a mission-driven organization that supports the development of promising companies with the potential to make a positive difference for our community," said Justin McGoldrick, MD, Mercy Health's Chief Medical Officer, Research and Innovation. "Vestagen's VESTEX uniforms, which represent a practical technology-based solution designed to support the everyday safety of healthcare workers and patients, align with our Mission and Values. As we pilot VESTEX attire within our healthcare facilities, we are pleased to have the opportunity to participate in their future success." VESTEX Active Barrier fabric is a unique combination of technologies used to produce comfortable, continuous-wear healthcare worker and patient garments intended to minimize the risks associated with unanticipated exposure to body fluids during routine use, by repelling fluid splatter and spills from the fabric. It contains an EPA-registered antimicrobial agent2 shown in controlled conditions in laboratory and hospital settings to inhibit the growth of certain bacteria on the fabric3, 4 A peer reviewed hospital-based study published in a leading medical journal showed reduced acquisition and retention of certain microorganisms on VESTEX scrubs compared to conventional healthcare uniforms. VESTEX has earned an exclusive endorsement from the American Hospital Association. For more information about Vestagen and VESTEX, visit vestagen.com and VESTEX.com. 1 - Neither liquid repellency nor antimicrobial tests are intended to assess the VESTEX active barrier apparel's ability to meet personal protective equipment requirements. The ability of the fabric to reduce exposure to microorganisms or infections has not been studied. 2 - VESTEX garments do not protect users or others against disease-causing bacteria. Always clean the garment thoroughly after each use. 3 - Bearman, G., Rosato, A., Elam, K., Sanogo, K., Stevens, M., Sessler, C., and Wenzel, R. P., "A Cross-over Trial of Antimicrobial Scrubs to Reduce MRSA Burden on Healthcare Worker Apparel," Infect. Control Hosp. Epidemiol., Vol. 33, No. 3, 2012, pp. 268275. 4 - Hardwick, Matthew, Walsh, Thomas, and Cotton, Margaret, "Fabric Challenge Assays: New Standards for the Evaluation of the Performance of Textiles Treated with Antimicrobial Agents," Pesticide Formulation and Delivery Systems: Innovating Legacy Products for New Uses on November 13, 2011 in Tampa FL; STP 1558, M. Bernards, Editor, pp. 114, doi: 101520/STP155820120184, ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA 2013. About Advent Life Sciences Advent Life Sciences founds and invests in early- and mid-stage life sciences companies that have a first- or best-in-class approach to unmet medical needs. The investing team consists of experienced professionals, each with extensive scientific, medical and operational experience, a long-standing record of entrepreneurial and investment success in the US and Europe, and is particularly focused on supporting entrepreneurs and founders to take innovative new medical entities from concept to approval. The firm invests in a range of sectors within life sciences, principally drug discovery, enabling technologies and med tech, always with an emphasis on innovative, paradigm-changing approaches. Advent Life Sciences has a presence in the UK, US and France. For more information, please visit AdventLS.com. About Greenline Ventures, LLC Greenline Ventures specializes in capital markets solutions for economic development activities nationwide. To date, the firm has raised over $1.8 billion of capital and invested over $2.5 billion in projects and businesses nationwide. Greenline Ventures, which is 100% employee owned and operated, is headquartered in Denver, Colorado and maintains offices in Washington DC and Baltimore, Maryland. . For more information, visit greenlineventures.com/. About HealthQuest Capital HealthQuest Capital makes go-to-market and early growth investments in innovative healthcare companies that are improving both patient outcomes and healthcare economics. Investments focus on the medical device, diagnostics, patient care products, consumer health/OTC and healthcare IT fields. The HealthQuest investing team includes deep operational, clinical and scientific expertise and worldwide relationships throughout the healthcare industry that can be leveraged to add value to our portfolio companies. HealthQuest Capital is headquartered in Menlo Park, California, with offices in Southern California, Florida, and Georgia. For more information, please visit healthquestcapital.com. About Mercy Health Mercy Health (formerly Catholic Health Partners) is the largest health system in Ohio and one of the largest health systems in the United States, employing more than 33,500 employees in Ohio and Kentucky. With $6 billion in assets, Mercy Health operates nearly 500 health facilities, including 23 hospitals, eight senior living communities, five hospice programs and seven home health agencies. Its accountable care organization (ACO), Mercy Health Select, is one of the top 10 ACO's in the country for Medicare Shared Savings, generating more than $15 million in savings in 2014. In keeping with its mission, Mercy Health provides about $1 million per day in community benefit services. Mercy Health is a founding member of Health Innovations Ohio, which focuses on providing health services that result in higher quality, better health and greater value. For more information, visit www.mercy.com or connect with Mercy Health on Facebook, LinkedIn, Google+, Pinterest and Twitter (@LivingMercyHlth). About Northwell Ventures Northwell Ventures (NV), the corporate venture arm of Northwell Health, launched a fund to invest in and actively manage companies that represent a current or future strategic interest. The NV fund seeks to identify and invest in novel technologies and business models that have the prospect to advance Northwell's growth and generate attractive returns. The group, as a whole, works to accelerate Northwell's broader strategic healthcare focus by utilizing Northwell as a laboratory to rapidly validate technologies, new business models, and conduct research to build profitable companies and increase the quality of care for our patients. For more information, please visit northwell.edu/ventures About Vestagen Protective Technologies, Inc. Vestagen develops advanced performance textile products and technologies including VESTEX, which represents a new class of Active Barrier protective fabrics combining antimicrobial, liquid repellent and breathability properties. VESTEX fabric is designed to protect the uniforms and apparel healthcare workers and their patients wear. For more information, visit www.vestagen.com. Vestagen Contacts Corporate: Media: Marc Lessem Barbara Lindheim 407 781-2570 BLL Partners 212 584-2276 [email protected] SOURCE Vestagen Protective Technologies, Inc. Related Links http://vestagen.com The company will continue to use their configuration management (CM) experts to provide a range of support services for the VA EPMO, to include product and project level configuration management and change control, configuration environment administration, build engineering, and Veterans Information Systems and Technology Architecture (VistA) standardization, modernization and virtualization support. As VA systems migrate from development to maintenance, the National Configuration Management Support Services (NCMSS) team will ensure that consistency, conformity and certification procedures are followed to reduce risk, costs, ease transition, and aid in future repeatable processes, protecting the VA's mission critical IT systems. "As we broaden our health portfolio, this award allows us to continue serving the Veterans Administration with the experienced and highly skilled team we have assembled," said Tom Ferrando, President of Salient CRGT. "We value the sacrifices that our nation's veterans and their families have made. By providing high-quality, effective, and efficient information technology solutions to those providing benefits to veterans in an effective, timely, and compassionate manner is one way to ensure that veterans get the services they deserve." About Salient CRGT Salient CRGT provides federal civilian, defense, homeland, and intelligence agencies, as well as Fortune 1000 companies, with expertise and leadership in health, data analytics, cloud, agile software development, mobility, cyber security, and infrastructure solutions. We support these core capabilities with full life-cycle IT services and trainingto help our customers meet critical goals for pivotal missions. The most innovative talent delivery model in the industry, scientifically providing exactly the right people for the customers' most pressing requirements, fuels these critical capabilities. Salient CRGT has earned a record of success with integration and operations of largescale, high-volume solutions. On March 1, 2017, Salient CRGT completed its acquisition of Information Innovators, Inc. visit newsroom and explore www.salientcrgt.com . Tweet: VA Awards @Salient_CRGT $17.4M Order to Deliver IT National Configuration Management Support Services http://bit.ly/1MGSz5l SOURCE Salient CRGT, Inc. Related Links http://www.salientcrgt.com The collaboration marks the first time that the lingerie retailer has partnered with a luxury brand to create an exclusive collection. Rousteing has also designed a section for the 2017 VICTORIA'S SECRET FASHION SHOW, which will debut on the runway this November. The exclusive VSxBALMAIN capsule collection will feature looks from the runway and will be carried in select Victoria's Secret stores and on VictoriasSecret.com, beginning November 29th. The 930-guest Viking Orion reached a major construction milestone last week, when the ship met water for the first time during her "float out" ceremony at Fincantieri's Ancona shipyard. Dr. Fisher attended the September 28 ceremony and assisted with several maritime traditions. Viking Orion will spend her maiden year sailing itineraries in the Mediterranean, before making her way to Asia, Australia and then Alaska. "Vikings were the original long-distance explorers and the first to use the stars and constellations as a way to navigate uncharted territory," said Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking. "The spirit of exploration is at the heart of everything we do, and so I am especially proud that an astronaut will be honored as godmother to our new ship. Dr. Fisher is a past Viking guest, a fellow scientist and a true explorer. As one of the first women in space, she has inspired generations of curious minds, and I look forward to welcoming guests onboard Viking Orion to learn more about her impressive career in space exploration." "The idea of exploring new territories has always appealed to me, whether through science or by traveling the world. I was 12 years old when I heard Alan Shepard's voice on the radio during his sub orbital flight, and at that moment, I knew that I also wanted to explore beyond earth's atmosphere. I knew from that young age that I wanted to be an astronaut," said Dr. Fisher. "I always wanted to be an explorer and I am proud and honored to be godmother to Viking Orion a ship that was designed to help her guests see more of the world." A float out ceremony is significant because it denotes the first time a ship touches water and moves into its final stage of construction. Viking Orion's float out began at approximately 11:00 a.m. local time, and in keeping with maritime tradition, Dr. Fisher, as godmother to the ship, assisted with the ceremony, first "mast stepping," by welding coins under the ship mast. The commemorative coins she welded represented her birth year, as well as the birth year of Chairman Hagen. Two special coins were also welded to represent members of the Hagen family: 1911 to represent Ragnhild "Mamsen" Hagen, the mother of Chairman Hagen, and 2012 to represent Finse, the yellow Labrador of Karine Hagen, Viking's senior vice president and daughter of Torstein Hagen. Dr. Fisher then cut a cord to allow water to begin flowing into the ship's building dock. Following a two-day process that set Viking Orion afloat, the ship was then moved to a nearby outfitting dock for final construction and interior build-out. Dr. Anna Fisher, Godmother of Viking Orion Born in New York City and raised in Southern California, Dr. Fisher holds bachelor's and master's degrees in chemistry, as well as a Doctor of Medicine degree, from the University of California, Los Angeles. Selected as an astronaut in January 1978, Dr. Fisher was one of the "original six" women accepted into NASA's Astronaut Training Program. Dr. Fisher became the first mother in space when she served as a mission specialist on STS-51A aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery, which launched on November 8, 1984. During her NASA career, which spanned more than three decades, Dr. Fisher contributed to three major initiatives: the Space Shuttle program, the International Space Station and Orion, NASA's new crew-rated exploration spacecraft. Prior to her retirement in April 2017, Dr. Fisher was also the oldest active American astronaut. In celebration of her retirement, Dr. Fisher sailed on Viking's Rhine Getaway itinerary in July 2017. Viking Orion Viking's ocean ships have a gross tonnage of 47,800 tons, have 465 cabins and accommodate 930 guests. Viking Orion, formerly known as Viking Spirit, is the fifth of eight ocean cruise ships currently planned for the fleet. By 2019 Viking will welcome its sixth ship and will become the largest small ship ocean cruise line. Two additional ships are on order for delivery in 2021 and 2022. Viking's ocean fleet features understated elegance and modern Scandinavian design. Highlights include: All Veranda Staterooms: Guests can choose from five stateroom categories, starting from a 270 sq. ft. Veranda Stateroom, all with private verandas and premium amenities that include king-size beds with luxury linens, large showers, luxury toiletries, heated bathroom floors and large interactive flat-screen LCD TVs with movies-on-demand. Guests can choose from five stateroom categories, starting from a 270 sq. ft. Veranda Stateroom, all with private verandas and premium amenities that include king-size beds with luxury linens, large showers, luxury toiletries, heated bathroom floors and large interactive flat-screen LCD TVs with movies-on-demand. Explorer Suites: The ships feature 14 Explorer Suites, which are two-room suites ranging from 757 to 1,163 sq. ft. that offer sweeping views from wraparound private verandas as well as the most amenities and privileges of any category onboard. The ships feature 14 Explorer Suites, which are two-room suites ranging from 757 to 1,163 sq. ft. that offer sweeping views from wraparound private verandas as well as the most amenities and privileges of any category onboard. Two Pool Choices: In addition to the Main Pool with a retractable roof permitting any-season swimming, the ships feature a first-of-its-kind glass-backed Infinity Pool cantilevered off the stern, allowing guests to swim surrounded by their destination. In addition to the Main Pool with a retractable roof permitting any-season swimming, the ships feature a first-of-its-kind glass-backed Infinity Pool cantilevered off the stern, allowing guests to swim surrounded by their destination. LivNordic Spa: In keeping with Viking's Nordic heritage, The Spa onboard is designed with the holistic wellness philosophy of Scandinavia in mindfrom the centuries-old tradition of the sauna to a Snow Grotto where snowflakes gently descend from the ceiling through chilled air. Berlitz Cruising & Cruise Ships 2017 named it one of the "5 best cruise ship spas." In keeping with Viking's Nordic heritage, The Spa onboard is designed with the holistic wellness philosophy of Scandinavia in mindfrom the centuries-old tradition of the sauna to a Snow Grotto where snowflakes gently descend from the ceiling through chilled air. Berlitz Cruising & Cruise Ships 2017 named it one of the "5 best cruise ship spas." Explorers' Lounge and Mamsen's: Share a cocktail with friends. Linger over a Norwegian breakfast and a nautical history book. The Explorers' Lounge and Mamsen's gourmet deli are thoughtful spaces located at the bow and designed in the Scandinavian spirit, for complete relaxation and for marveling at sweeping views through double-height windows. Share a cocktail with friends. Linger over a Norwegian breakfast and a nautical history book. The Explorers' Lounge and Mamsen's gourmet deli are thoughtful spaces located at the bow and designed in the Scandinavian spirit, for complete relaxation and for marveling at sweeping views through double-height windows. The Wintergarden: Guests looking for serenity will find it in the Wintergarden. In this elegant space under a canopy of Scandinavian trellised wood, guests can indulge in afternoon tea service. Guests looking for serenity will find it in the Wintergarden. In this elegant space under a canopy of Scandinavian trellised wood, guests can indulge in afternoon tea service. Dining Choices: Viking's ships offer multiple restaurant locations and food choicesfrom fine dining in The Restaurant, which serves three full meals and the widest choice of culinary options, and the World Cafe, which serves international fare and regional specialtiesto intimate dining experiences at The Chef's Table, which offers a multi-course tasting menu complete with wine pairings, and Manfredi's, which features freshly prepared pastas and Italian favorites. Additionally, The Kitchen Table focuses on regional dishes from market to table; the Pool Grill specializes in gourmet burgers; afternoon tea and scones are available in the Wintergarden; and Mamsen's serves Norwegian deli-style fare. Furthermore, with multiple choices for outdoor seating during meals, Viking's ocean ships offer the most al fresco dining at sea. Viking's ships offer multiple restaurant locations and food choicesfrom fine dining in The Restaurant, which serves three full meals and the widest choice of culinary options, and the World Cafe, which serves international fare and regional specialtiesto intimate dining experiences at The Chef's Table, which offers a multi-course tasting menu complete with wine pairings, and Manfredi's, which features freshly prepared pastas and Italian favorites. Additionally, The Kitchen Table focuses on regional dishes from market to table; the Pool Grill specializes in gourmet burgers; afternoon tea and scones are available in the Wintergarden; and Mamsen's serves Norwegian deli-style fare. Furthermore, with multiple choices for outdoor seating during meals, Viking's ocean ships offer the most al fresco dining at sea. Enriching Entertainment: Connecting guests to their destinations through authentic experiences is central to Viking in creating "the thinking person's cruise." Instead of casinos and water slides, guests are offered Viking's Culture Curriculum including: world-class lectures on history and art; personalized opportunities for learning with the Viking Resident Historian program; tasting of vintage wines from their destinations; restaurant menus inspired by local cuisine; informative port talks; enriching Destination Performances featuring folkloric shows and musicians playing regional and classical music; an onboard cooking school allowing guests to learn how to prepare local specialties. Onboard Viking Orion, guests will also enjoy lectures on astronomy and space exploration. Connecting guests to their destinations through authentic experiences is central to Viking in creating "the thinking person's cruise." Instead of casinos and water slides, guests are offered Viking's Culture Curriculum including: world-class lectures on history and art; personalized opportunities for learning with the Viking Resident Historian program; tasting of vintage wines from their destinations; restaurant menus inspired by local cuisine; informative port talks; enriching Destination Performances featuring folkloric shows and musicians playing regional and classical music; an onboard cooking school allowing guests to learn how to prepare local specialties. Onboard Viking Orion, guests will also enjoy lectures on astronomy and space exploration. Sustainable Features: Designed with the environment in mind, Viking's ships feature energy-efficient hybrid engines, hydro-dynamically optimized streamlined hull and bow for maximum fuel efficiency and equipment that minimizes exhaust pollution and meets the strictest environmental regulations. The Viking Difference Designed for discerning travelers with interests in science, history, culture and cuisine, Chairman Torstein Hagen often says Viking offers guests "the thinking person's cruise" as an alternative to mainstream cruises. Ships are small to get guests closer to their destination, with more time in port and more overnights. Onboard, guests find serene Scandinavian spaces, where every room is beautiful and functional, quiet and filled with light. All-veranda ships mean that guests experience every day with a new, expansive vista. With the most al fresco dining at sea, featuring regional cuisines and always-available American classics, Viking's guests can truly dine in their destination. A focus on cultural enrichment brings immersive experiences onshore and onboard. And only The Viking Way brings guests itineraries that feature Local Life, Working World and Privileged Access experiences. In addition, Viking Inclusive Value provides a small ship experience at a big ship value and no nickel-and-diming with every cruise fare including a veranda stateroom, shore excursions in each port of call, all onboard meals, and all port charges and government taxes. Guests also enjoy many complimentary amenities as part of their fare, including: beer and wine with lunch and dinner service; premium dining reservations; Wi-Fi; self-service laundry; access to the Thermal Suite in the LivNordic Spa; and 24-hour room servicean included value of more than $200 per person, per day for an average cruise. Booking Details From now through October 31, 2017, Viking is offering U.S. residents special offers, with 2-for-1 cruise fare and up to free international air on select river and ocean itineraries. Call Viking toll free at 1-855-8-VIKING (1-855-884-5464) or contact a travel agent. About Viking Viking was founded in 1997 with the purchase of four ships in Russia and is now celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2017 as the leader in river and small ship ocean cruising. Designed for discerning travelers with interests in science, history, culture and cuisine, Chairman Torstein Hagen often says Viking offers guests "the thinking person's cruise" as an alternative to mainstream cruises. In its first two years of operation, Viking has been rated the #1 ocean cruise line in Travel + Leisure's 2016 and 2017 "World's Best" Awards. Viking currently operates a fleet of 63 vessels, offering scenic cruising on rivers and oceans around the world. By 2022 the company will operate eight 930-guest ocean cruise ships and will be the largest small ship ocean cruise line. In addition to the Travel + Leisure honors, Viking has also been honored multiple times on Conde Nast Traveler's "Gold List" as well as recognized by Cruise Critic as "Best Overall" Small-Mid size ship in the 2017 Cruisers' Choice Awards, "Best River Cruise Line" and "Best River Itineraries," with the entire Viking Longships fleet being named "Best New River Ships" in the website's Editors' Picks Awards. For additional information, contact Viking Cruises at 1-855-8-VIKING (1-855-884-5464) or visit www.vikingcruises.com. SOURCE Viking Related Links http://www.vikingcruises.com NEW YORK, Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Weber Shandwick, one of the world's leading global communications and engagement firms, announced today an exclusive partnership with SellersEaston Media, a content creation company led by Pattie Sellers and Nina Easton, to develop a new video interview series, VoiceUp. The series is designed to tell the stories of female executives and accelerate gender parity in the executive ranks. At a time when women are still significantly underrepresented in leadership positions in business, research from Weber Shandwick shows that the visibility of women in top executive roles significantly increases the interest level of rising female professionals to become leaders themselves. By providing female leaders a platform with VoiceUp, Weber Shandwick builds on its longstanding commitment to advancing gender parity at the top levels of business. One-on-one videos produced by award-winning filmmakers will document the pivotal moments that led top-ranking women across diverse business sectors to seize their rightful share of voice as business leaders. "There's no lack of discussion around the gender imbalance in the C-suite but amid the flurry of dismal data that we trench through daily, what we don't hear about often enough are the remarkable stories behind the women who have made it to the top how they got their voices and raised them to find success," said Gail Heimann, President of Weber Shandwick. "This series is an opportunity to lift the profiles of those highly successful women in a way that inspires rising stars to earn their own seats at the table. Pattie and Nina were the obvious choice to partner on this endeavor, as their reputations as two of the foremost experts on leadership are undeniable." Founded by Sellers and Easton in 2016, SellersEaston Media captures and curates the stories behind the lives, times and accomplishments of successful people. With decades of experience interviewing and writing about CEOs and other leaders in print, on video, on stage Sellers and Easton understand that what matters most is impact: how leaders effectively inspire with purpose and strong voices. Moreover, Sellers and Easton have dedicated their careers to studying and interviewing women leaders in business and other fields. The two women remain involved at the senior-most levels of Fortune's Most Powerful Women Summits. "The first step in advancing gender parity is to showcase female role models and help these women understand their own paths to success and amplify their leadership stories," Sellers said. Easton added: "The theme of finding and using your voice talking with each woman about how she found her voice and uses it to lead is inspirational and important. As we interview these women leaders and help them communicate their stories on video, we're helping them raise their voices." For VoiceUp, Weber Shandwick will work with SellersEaston Media to select women for the series, shape the narrative of each woman's leadership story, and amplify her message. The partnership underscores Weber Shandwick's longstanding expertise in advising female executives. Over the past six years, the firm's Executive Equity & Engagement specialty has counseled more than 125 CEOs and other C-level executives. One-third of these executives have been women. Experts from Weber Shandwick's Executive Equity & Engagement specialty within in its global Corporate practice will lead the work on the VoiceUp project. About Weber Shandwick Weber Shandwick is a leading global communications and engagement firm in 80 cities across 34 countries, with a network extending to 128 cities in 81 countries. The firm's diverse team of strategists, analysts, producers, designers, developers and campaign activators has won the most prestigious awards in the world for innovative, creative approaches and impactful work. Weber Shandwick was the only public relations agency included on the Advertising Age Agency A-list in 2014 and 2015 and the only PR firm designated an A-List Agency Standout in 2017. Weber Shandwick was honored as PRWeek's Global Agency of the Year in 2015, 2016 and 2017, The Holmes Report's Global Agency of the Year in 2010, 2012, 2014 and 2015 and The Holmes Report's Global Digital Agency of the Year in 2016. The firm deploys deep expertise across sectors and specialty areas, including consumer marketing, corporate reputation, healthcare, technology, public affairs, financial services, employee engagement, social impact, financial communications and crisis management, using proprietary social, digital and analytics methodologies. Weber Shandwick is part of the Interpublic Group (NYSE: IPG). For more information, visit www.webershandwick.com. About SellersEaston Media Founded by award-winning Fortune Magazine writers Pattie Sellers and Nina Easton, SellersEaston Media works with individuals to capture their life stories, companies to fortify their brands, and executives to elevate their careers. SellersEaston is built on the premise that life stories, credibly told, are fundamental to building authenticity and trust. Applying their keen understanding of leadership honed over decades writing about prominent people in business, government and philanthropy, Pattie Sellers and Nina Easton work with utmost care and discretion to help clients identify the essence of their story, shape their narrative, and communicate what is most valuable to the audience they want to reach. SellersEaston works in a variety of formats, including video, print, digital, and live events. The client owns the contentand by sharing that content, with the attendant values and lessons that come with success, anyone can secure a bright future and positively impact generations to come. Contact: Michelle Giuda Company: Weber Shandwick Phone: 212.445.8088 Email: [email protected] SOURCE Weber Shandwick Related Links http://webershandwick.com BENTON HARBOR, Mich., Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) voted unanimously that a surge of large residential washer imports from Samsung and LG have seriously injured American manufacturers and workers. The vote was part of a section 201 safeguard petition Whirlpool Corp. filed earlier this year to stop Samsung and LG from repeated country hopping to evade U.S. trade laws. "The ITC vote is an important win for American manufacturers and American workers," said Jeff M. Fettig, chairman of Whirlpool Corp. "For the third time since 2013, the ITC has found that Samsung and LG engaged in unlawful conduct by violating U.S. trade laws. This vote sets the stage for the administration to put in place an effective remedy to create a level playing field for American workers and manufacturers. This type of corrective action will create U.S. manufacturing jobs." The ITC will vote on a remedy in November before making an official recommendation to the president in December. The safeguard petition applies to finished large residential washing machines as well as major parts, including the washer cabinet, assembled washer tubs and assembled washer baskets. This scope ensures Samsung and LG are not able to circumvent the eventual remedy by establishing what are known as "screwdriver operations," a facility that assembles major parts delivered to it from overseas for final assembly, rather than a full product manufacturing plant in the United States. Case Timeline: October 19: Remedy hearing ITC hearing on proposed remedies to address serious injury to the U.S. washer industry from Samsung and LG's increased washer import volumes. November 21: Remedy vote The ITC votes to determine what relief to recommend to the president to address the serious injury that Samsung and LG's increased washer import volumes have caused the U.S. washer industry. December 4: Remedy recommendation ITC transmits its written remedy recommendation to the president. Such relief may include a tariff, quantitative restrictions, or a combination of tariff and quota (i.e., tariff-rate quota, or TRQ). The president will then have approximately two months to consider ITC's recommendations and to fashion a remedy that he deems most appropriate. Background on the Safeguard Petition: A safeguard petition is the only effective means available to the U.S. Government to address Samsung and LG's pattern of cheating through country hopping. The U.S. Government previously applied country-specific antidumping remedies to Samsung and LG for washers made in South Korea, Mexico and China. In contrast, this safeguard remedy addresses imports from Samsung and LGwherever they are made outside the United Statesthat cause serious injury to U.S. washer manufacturers. Whirlpool Corp. filed the petition to ensure fair competition and to enable U.S. manufacturers to continue creating jobs, investing in new facilities and funding research that drives innovation to benefit consumers. Samsung and LG's Pattern of Country Hopping to Avoid U.S. Trade Remedies: In 2013, the U.S. Government found that Samsung and LG were unlawfully dumping South Korean and Mexican washers into the United States . . The two companies responded by moving washer production to China to continue their illegal dumping behavior. to continue their illegal dumping behavior. In late 2015, Whirlpool Corp. filed a new petition to address the Samsung and LG production now coming from China . In reaction, Samsung and LG immediately began stockpiling product into the United States and moving their production againthis time to factories in Vietnam and Thailand . . In reaction, Samsung and LG immediately began stockpiling product into and moving their production againthis time to factories in and . Earlier this year, the U.S. Government issued a new antidumping order against Samsung and LG in China . But the two companies already had made great strides in their second end run around U.S. trade laws and have continued their assault on American manufacturers and workers. . But the two companies already had made great strides in their second end run around U.S. trade laws and have continued their assault on American manufacturers and workers. On May 31 , Whirlpool Corp.led by 2,464 of its more than 3,000 Clyde, Ohio , manufacturing employeesfiled a safeguard petition with the U.S. ITC to end this pattern of serial country-hopping to circumvent these trade orders. More than 50 Clyde employees made the trip to Washington to attend the ITC safeguard hearing on Sept. 7 . About Whirlpool Corporation Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE: WHR) is the number one major appliance manufacturer in the world, with approximately $21 billion in annual sales, 93,000 employees and 70 manufacturing and technology research centers in 2016. The company markets Whirlpool, KitchenAid, Maytag, Consul, Brastemp, Amana, Bauknecht, Jenn-Air, Indesit and other major brand names in nearly every country throughout the world. Additional information about the company can be found at WhirlpoolCorp.com, or find us on Twitter at @WhirlpoolCorp. Whirlpool Corp. Additional Information Certain statements in this press release relating to the safeguard petition and the expected timing for resolution and benefits to the company constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These statements reflect management's current expectations regarding future events and speak only as of the date of this press release. Forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties, should not be read as guarantees of future performance and will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether or not, or the times at or by which, events will occur. Actual performance may differ materially from that expressed or implied in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these expectations include, among other things, the risk that the timing for resolution of these matters may be significantly delayed, that our petition may not be successful, and that we may not realize expected benefits following resolution of our petition. In addition to these risks, reference should also be made to the factors discussed under "Risk Factors" in Whirlpool Corporation's periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based upon what are believed to be reasonable assumptions, investors cannot be assured that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements, and the differences may be material. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release and, except as expressly required by applicable law, Whirlpool Corporation assumes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. SOURCE Whirlpool Corporation Related Links http://www.whirlpoolcorp.com NEW YORK, Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory U.S. today announced that General Counsel Navigator, the company's leading workflow solution for corporate counsel professionals, has been redesigned and relaunched on a new platform. Designed by in-house counsel, the solution features a new, intuitive user interface and search capabilities, providing users with a single resource to access Wolters Kluwer's expert content and actionable information more quickly than ever before. Wolters Kluwer will feature the tool at the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) Annual Meeting from October 15-18 in Washington, D.C. After launching in 2013, Wolters Kluwer's General Counsel Navigator has been recognized as a market-leading workflow solution for in-house counsel in smaller legal departments for its ability to address their unique research and daily workflow needs. With its new interface and search functionality, the tool now allows users to pinpoint information on any number of legal topics more quickly, ultimately allowing for significant legal spend optimization, or decreasing the spend on outside counsel. General Counsel Navigator also allows users to work more efficiently across their own legal departments with easy document-sharing capabilities. "The new platform for General Counsel Navigator is the result of extensive conversations with our customers to address the pain points and challenges that in-house counsel face every day," said Tina Ayotte Welu, Corporate Counsel Practice Lead for Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory U.S. "By integrating a wide range of materials with new technological features and search capabilities, the new interface brings the capabilities of the original tool to the next level." Notable features of General Counsel Navigator include: An intuitive interface and topical hierarchy created according to the Corporate Counsel viewpoint; Eight multistate surveys across key topical areas, as well as checklists, forms, news, secondary information and primary law; Practical information created by in-house counsel coupled with explanatory material from Wolters Kluwer's experts; experts; Quick Answers, a tool that highlights a quick summary answer with applicable quick links to more in-depth information at the top of your search results; News written for corporate counsel; Complete primary law source collection including federal and state information; "Ask an Editor", providing users with the ability to email Wolters Kluwer's expert editorial staff for assistance finding resources on a particular topic. The ACC Annual Meeting will be held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. To speak with Wolters Kluwer experts to see a demo for General Counsel Navigator and learn about other workflow solutions, visit Booth #355. To learn more about General Counsel Navigator, visit: www.WoltersKluwerLR.com/GCN About Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory U.S. Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory U.S. is a part of Wolters Kluwer N.V. (AEX: WKL), a global leader in information services and solutions for professionals in the health, tax and accounting, risk and compliance, finance and legal sectors. We help our customers make critical decisions every day by providing expert solutions that combine deep domain knowledge with specialized technology and services. Wolters Kluwer reported 2016 annual revenues of 4.3 billion. The company, headquartered in Alphen aan den Rijn, the Netherlands, serves customers in over 180 countries, maintains operations in over 40 countries and employs 19,000 people worldwide. For more information about Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory U.S., visit www.WoltersKluwerLR.com , follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. Media Linda Gharib Director, Communications Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory U.S. Tel: +1 (646) 887-7962 Email: [email protected] SOURCE Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory U.S. Related Links https://lrus.wolterskluwer.com WASHINGTON, Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease commences its 16th annual Science & Leadership Symposium hosted at the world-renowned Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota this Friday. The largest gathering of women heart disease survivors yet, this year's incoming class of WomenHeart Champions is comprised of 61 women from 23 states, four of whom are in their 20s. They will join the ranks of over 800 WomenHeart volunteers who lead Support Network meetings, conduct media outreach, and educate in their local communities. "The fall 2017 WomenHeart Science & Leadership Symposium is an opportunity for women all over the country living with heart disease to come together to support and empower one another through, storytelling, education, community outreach, and the spirit of giving back," says Mary McGowan, Chief Executive Officer of WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease. At the Symposium, the incoming class will learn from world class cardiologists passionate about women's heart health and leading experts in advocacy, policy, and communications. "This training empowers future WomenHeart Champions to become the boots on the ground in improving heart health for women," says McGowan. "Heart disease is the number one cause of death in women; for this reason, it is critical to have passionate advocates like our WomenHeart Champions speaking out and educating the public about heart disease in women." The WomenHeart Science & Leadership Symposium began in 2002 as the nation's only volunteer program training women to support other women heart patients and lead the fight against heart disease. There are currently nearly 48 million women living with or at risk of heart disease. The fall 2017 WomenHeart Science & Leadership Symposium is sponsored by Novartis, Mylan, Amgen, Boston Scientific, Abbott Vascular, with donated facility from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease As the leading voice for the nearly 48 million American women living with or at risk of heart disease, WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease is the nation's only patient-centered organization solely dedicated to advancing women's heart health through patient support, community education, and advocacy. WomenHeart is both a coalition and a community of thousands of members nationwide, including women heart patients and their families, health care professionals, and health advocates, all committed to helping women live longer, healthier lives. To join or donate, visit www.womenheart.org. SOURCE WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease Related Links http://www.womenheart.org THE WOODLANDS, Texas, Oct. 4, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Woodforest National Bank has been nationally recognized by the American Bankers Association Foundation for its Wealth Building through Homeownership program with a 2017 Community Commitment Award. The award was given to Woodforest for its efforts in the Affordable Housing category and will be presented during ABA's annual convention in Chicago on October 17. Entries were divided in to six categories including affordable housing, community and economic development, financial education, economic inclusion, protecting older Americans and volunteerism. Award winners were chosen by a field of nationally-recognized experts. Woodforest's Wealth Building through Homeownership program, created in November, 2016, expands down payment assistance (DPA) through a first-of-its kind private-public venture with Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) to encourage low-to-moderate income (LMI) homeownership through an innovative $10 million loan agreement that increased access to DPA and closing cost funds. In the first five months, the program with TDHCA created over 1,500 new homeowners, with more than 81% of homeowners being LMI, representing over $250 million in new mortgages. The effectiveness of the program was also buoyed by Woodforest expanding housing counseling capacity across Texas through both direct homeownership education as well as providing scholarships through NeighborWorks America to Housing Counseling Organizations to prepare for the Dodd-Frank Housing Counseling Certification. "Research indicates a down payment can be one of the biggest hurdles for a potential homeowner. By lending TDHCA $10 million in affordable, long term, and reusable capital, TDHCA was able to increase the amount of funds available to Texas borrowers for zero percent down payment and closing cost assistance loans and offer a lower rate on their first mortgage; thus reducing the cost of home ownership. Since Woodforest is not a traditional mortgage lender, we wanted to find an effective solution to help people afford a home," said Doug Schaeffer, Executive Vice President-CRA Director for Woodforest National Bank. "This program has had a tremendous direct impact in our communities. We are proud to lead the charge in finding new and innovative ways to grow homeownership in low- and moderate-income communities across Texas. Woodforest is currently syndicating the next round of financing and encourages interested community banks and minority depository institutions to participate in this innovative program. Interested parties can contact our Community Development team at the information provided below." "In a public/private structure the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs works with Woodforest National Bank to fund down payment assistance, making stable and affordable home ownership possible for low, very low and moderate income Texans. In addition to the benefit to these homeowners, it helps ensure Texas communities of a more stable workforce and provides essential financing for Texas' homebuilding industry," said Tim Irvine, Executive Director of TDHCA. "This isn't a win/win. It's a win/win/win/win!" "Wealth Building through Homeownership Program demonstrates Woodforest's strong and passionate commitment to bettering the lives of its customers and local community," said Rob Nichols, ABA president and CEO. "Their work embodies the mission of the Community Commitment Awards and they are a truly well-deserved recipient." About Woodforest Celebrating over 35 years of community banking service, Woodforest National Bank has successfully stood among the strongest community banks in the nation, proudly offering unsurpassed quality customer service since 1980. Woodforest currently operates over 700 branches in 17 states across the United States. For more information about Woodforest National Bank visit www.woodforest.com. Media Contact Cindi Stewart Sr. Vice President-Public Relations Director Woodforest National Bank 832-375-2508 Community Development Team Contacts Doug Schaeffer EVP-Director Community Reinvestment Daniel Galindo VP-Director of CRA Strategic Initiatives Media Contact Cindi Stewart Sr. Vice President-Public Relations Director Woodforest National Bank 832-375-2508 [email protected] Community Development Team Contacts Doug Schaeffer EVP-Director Community Reinvestment [email protected] Daniel Galindo VP-Director of CRA Strategic Initiatives [email protected] SOURCE Woodforest National Bank Related Links http://www.woodforest.com ST. PAUL, Minn., Oct. 04, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- H.B. Fuller Company (NYSE:FUL) announced today that Ruth Kimmelshue has been appointed to the companys board of directors, effective October 4, 2017. Kimmelshue serves as Cargills corporate senior vice president, Business Operations & Supply Chain, and is a member of the executive team. Before taking her current role, Kimmelshue held a number of leadership positions for Cargills businesses, including corporate leader for the Animal Protein and Salt businesses, business unit president for Turkey & Cooked Meats, business unit president of Salt, and vice president and commercial manager of AgHorizons. Kimmelshue also led Cargill Supply Chain Solutions, an internal consulting organization serving Cargills businesses around the world. Ruths global experience and strategic insight, coupled with her experience in operations and supply chain will be extremely valuable to our board of directors and our management team, says Jim Owens, president and CEO, H.B. Fuller. I look forward to working with her. Kimmelshue began her career in 1986 at Continental Grain and held various roles of increasing responsibility with the company in the U.S. and Europe until it was acquired by Cargill in 1999. She earned a bachelors degree in international relations and a masters degree in agricultural economics from Stanford University. Kimmelshue also is a board member with the Agriculture Future of America, a nonprofit focused on building bridges for young leaders to foster engagement and innovation in food and agriculture. We are fortunate to have Ruth join our board, says Lee Mitau, chairman of the H.B. Fuller Board of Directors. With the depth of experience she has leading successful businesses in a challenging global environment, along with her supply chain expertise, she will help propel H.B. Fuller forward. About H.B. Fuller Company: For 130 years, H.B. Fuller has been a leading global adhesives provider focusing on perfecting adhesives, sealants and other specialty chemical products to improve products and lives. With fiscal 2016 net revenue of $2.1 billion, H.B. Fullers commitment to innovation brings together people, products and processes that answer and solve some of the worlds biggest challenges. Our reliable, responsive service creates lasting, rewarding connections with customers in electronics, disposable hygiene, medical, transportation, clean energy, packaging, construction, woodworking, general industries and other consumer businesses. And our promise to our people connects them with opportunities to innovate and thrive. For more information, visit us at www.hbfuller.com. Maximillian Marcy Investor Relations +1 651 236 5062 max.marcy@hbfuller.com Kimberlee Sinclair Global Communications +1 651 236 5823 kimberlee.sinclair@hbfuller.com October 5, 2017: OSLO, NORWAY, PGS will release its third quarter 2017 results on Thursday, October 26, 2017 at approximately 7:00 am Central European Summer Time (CEST). The earnings release and a corresponding presentation will be posted on www.newsweb.no and on PGS' web site www.pgs.com. A presentation is scheduled the same day at 8:00 am CEST at PGS' headquarters at Lilleakerveien 4C, Oslo, Norway. A conference call of the event is scheduled for 8:00 am CEST - dial in to listen to the presentation and ask questions after management's remarks. An additional conference call is scheduled the same day at 3:00 pm CEST. To access the conference call scheduled at 8:00 am CEST, please dial-in at the number provided below, corresponding to your location. The conference ID is 8836662. Location Dial-In Number Norway (toll free) 800 51 084 Norway (toll) 23 50 02 96 International (toll) +44 (0)330 336 9411 or +1 719 325 2202 US (toll free) 866 548 4713 A digital replay will be available shortly after the conference call and until November 2, 2017. The access number for this service is 8836662. Please access the replay by dial-in at the number provided below. Location Dial-In Number Norway (toll free) 800 19 672 Norway (toll) +47 23 50 00 77 International (toll) +44(0)207 984 7568 or +1 719 457 0820 UK (toll free) 0 808 101 1153 US (toll free) 888 203 1112 To access the conference call scheduled at 3:00 pm CEST, please dial-in at the number provided below, corresponding to your location. The conference ID is 6593156. Location Dial-In Number Norway (toll free) 800 51 084 Norway (toll) 23 50 02 96 International (toll) +44 (0)330 336 9411 or +1 719 325 2213 US (toll free) 800 289 0438 The telephone will be open for questions at the conclusion of management's remarks. A digital replay will be available shortly after the conference call and until November 2, 2017. The access number for this service is 6593156. Please access the replay by dial-in at the number provided below. Location Dial-In Number Norway (toll free) 800 19 672 Norway (toll) +47 23 50 00 77 International (toll) +44(0) 207 984 7568 or +1 719 457 0820 UK (toll free) 0 808 101 1153 US (toll free) 888 203 1112 FOR DETAILS, CONTACT: Bard Stenberg, VP IR & Corporate Communications Mobile: +47 99 24 52 35 **** Petroleum Geo-Services is a focused marine geophysical company providing a broad range of seismic and reservoir services, including acquisition, processing, interpretation, and field evaluation. The company also possesses the world's most extensive MultiClient data library. PGS operates on a worldwide basis with headquarters at Lilleaker Oslo, Norway. For more information on Petroleum Geo-Services visit www.pgs.com. --END-- If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here New Delhi, Sep 29 : President Ram Nath Kovind would visit Djibouti and Ethiopia in Africa from October 3 to 6 as his maiden overseas visit after assuming office. He would first visit Djibouti on October 3 and would leave for Ethiopia on October 4, it was announced on Friday. "On the invitation of Djibouti President Ismail Omar Guelleh, President Ram Nath Kovind is undertaking a state visit to Djibouti on October 3 and 4. It will be first country the President will visit after assuming office," Ashok Malik, Press Secretary to the President, told reporters. It would also be a first visit by an Indian head of state or government to Djibouti as the previous highest level visitor from India was a Minister of State, Malik said. During the visit, Kovind would be received by his counterpart and will have official talks with him. "He is also expected to be received by Djibouti Prime Minister Abdoulkader Kamil Mohamed," Malik said. During the visit, an agreement on institutionalising foreign office consultations is expected to be signed apart from agreements related to accelerated and greater economic cooperation between the two countries, he added. "The President would also address the small Indian community consisting of a few hundred people." Neena Malhotra, Joint Secretary for East and Southern Africa, said that Kovind would visit Ethiopia from October 4 to 6, which would be the first visit by an Indian President to Ethiopia after almost 45 years. Last such visit was by then President V.V. Giri was in 1972. "Africa is chosen as first overseas destination of President's visit and that reflects importance given to African continent by the current government," Malhotra said. She added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has declared that Africa is priority for India's economic and foreign policy and hence 16 VVIP visits have been made to the continent in the last three years and there is no country in the continent not visited in last three years by an Indian minister. "Ethiopia as one of the fastest growing non-oil producing economies in Africa offers immense opportunities for India and Indian businesses," she said. Panaji, Sep 29 : The Congress on Friday described former Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha's critique of the Indian economy as the "biggest surgical strike". Bharatiya Janata Party leader Sinha, by criticising the economic policies of the Modi government, had exposed its "half-witted" policies, Congress leader Girish Chodankar told the media here. "This is the biggest surgical strike. He has exposed the ground realities before the (central) government. This surgical strike raises questions over the direction in which our country is heading," Chodankar said. Calling Sinha a "good economist", the Congress leader said: "The Indian economy has been reduced to half by the half-witted central government." Sinha kicked up a political storm on Wednesday through a strongly-worded critique on the state of Indian economy under the current government, saying it was headed for a "hard landing". Kuala Lumpur, Oct 2 : Two women charged with the murder of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's estranged half-brother, Kim Jong-nam, pleaded not guilty in a Malaysian court on Monday, the media reported. The two defendants, 25-year-old Siti Aisya from Indonesia, and 29-year-old Doan Thi Huong from Vietnam, are the only suspects detained in connection with the assault and poisoning of Kim Jong-nam with the powerful VX nerve agent at the Kuala Lumpur airport on February 13, reports Efe news. They could face the death penalty if found guilty. The two women, handcuffed and wearing bullet-proof jackets, were escorted on Monday morning in a police convoy to the court in Shah Alam, about 25 km southwest of Kuala Lumpur. The authorities have blocked media access to the courtroom for security reasons. Airport security camera footage purportedly showed the two women approaching Kim in the departures hall, before smearing his face with the VX nerve agent, considered a weapon of mass destruction by the UN. The women, who said they were tricked into playing a prank for a TV programme, were detained within two days of the incident and were charged with murder on March 1. Kim Jong-nam, born in 1971, was the son of late North Korean dictator Kim Jong-il and actor Song Hye-rim. He was considered the favourite to replace his father until he fell out of favour in 2001 after being detained with a Dominican passport in Japan. Kim Jong-nam had spent the past few years in self-imposed exile in China, drawing international attention in 2012 for his criticism of the regime in Pyongyang and its succession system. Defence counsel Hisyam Abdullah, who represents Doan, told CNN the lawyer who was appointed by North Korea to watch the brief has been instructed by their embassy to disengage himself from observing proceedings. A second lawyer for the Vietnamese woman, Hisyam Teh Poh Teik, said that he expects the prosecution case to last until November, while the defence will start in the new year. "Doan looks forward to the trial where her innocence will be established," the lawyer told CNN. North Korea has repeatedly and vehemently denied any involvement in the assassination. The poison from the VX nerve agent kills by sending the nerve system into overdrive causing convulsions, paralysis and eventually death due to respiratory failure. It was banned under the 1993 chemical weapons convention. New Delhi, Oct 2 : Describing the CPI-M-led Kerala government as a party of "Maoists" which engages in "murder politics", Human Resource Development Minister Prakash Javadekar on Monday said BJP President Amit Shah will commence a three-day Jan Raksha Yatra against the killings of party workers in the state. "We are seeing a trend of murder politics in Kerala," Javadekar said at a press conference here. Slamming the CPI-M led state government, the Minister said that the party which stood for Communist Party of India-Marxist now stands for "Maoists". "CPI(M) has always engaged in murder politics in Kerala, they believe in violence," he alleged. He said that in a democracy there is no place for violence and "it is the reason why Amit Shah has decided to start three-day Jan Raksha Yatra from tomorrow (Tuesday)". Lashing out at Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Javadekar said: "Whenever the CPI-M government comes back to power in the state, murder politics makes a comeback." "Over 124 BJP workers have died in Kannur which is the constituency of Vijayan, and in the last one and a half years over 14 party workers have been killed." He also accused the state government of sponsoring and protecting the attackers. "It is a state sponsored violence and murder politics of CPI-M," he added. New Delhi, Oct 3 : The CBI on Tuesday issued fresh summons to RJD chief Lalu Prasad and his son Tejashwi Yadav in the ongoing probe into alleged irregularities in an IRCTC hotels' contract case. "The Central Bureau of Investigation has summoned both for questioning on Thursday and Friday," agency spokesperson Abhishek Dayal told IANS. The CBI's latest move comes after Lalu Prasad and Tejashwi skipped three earlier summons. On September 26, summons were issued to the father and son for October 3 and 4. Earlier, the agency had summoned them on September 22 to appear before it on 25 and 26 respectively. But, they sought two weeks' time. The CBI had summoned the former Bihar Chief Minister and son Tejashwi, who is a former Deputy Chief Minister, on September 7 as well for questioning on September 11 and 12. The CBI had, on July 5, filed a corruption case against Lalu Prasad, his wife Rabri Devi and Tejashwi Yadav for alleged irregularities in the allotment of contracts for Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) hotels at Ranchi and Puri in 2006 to a private company when Lalu Prasad was the Railway Minister from 2004 to 2009. The contracts were allegedly handed over to Sujata Hotels company owned by Vijay and Vinay Kochhar in lieu of a bribe in the form of a plot of prime land in Bihar, the CBI said. According to the CBI, Lalu Prasad allegedly granted illegal favours to Sujata Hotels. The CBI, which registered the case under charges of criminal conspiracy, cheating and the Prevention of Corruption Act, claimed that the kickbacks were paid through a 'benami' company owned by Sarla Gupta, wife of RJD MP Prem Chand Gupta. The CBI preliminary inquiry allegedly found that the said land was sold by the Kochhars to Delight Marketing, and payment was arranged through Ahluwalia Contractors and its promoter Bikramjeet Singh Ahluwalia. The Enforcement Directorate, which is also probing the financial irregularities in the case, has questioned Ahluwalia and also summoned Sujata Hotels owners for questioning. The ED had, on July 27, registered a separate case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act following the CBI FIR and was probing allegations against Lalu Prasad and others for alleged transaction of money through shell companies. Barcelona (Spain), Oct 3 : Large numbers of Catalans on Tuesday observed a general strike to condemn police violence during a banned weekend referendum on independence, as Madrid comes under growing international pressure to resolve its worst political crisis in decades. Protesters blocked major roads in Catalonia and there was little public transport. At least 24 protesters' roadblocks were reported across Catalonia, causing big traffic jams. Barcelona port was at a standstill, union sources were quoted as saying by the BBC. Many small businesses were shut for the day. Schools, universities and medical services were also closed or operating at a minimum level. The strike was called in protest against "the grave violation of rights and freedoms" during Sunday's ballot which was declared illegal by the Madrid government. Almost 900 people were hurt as Spanish police tried to prevent voting. Police officers were seen firing rubber bullets, storming into polling stations and pulling women by their hair. Thirty three police officers were also injured in Sunday's clashes, Catalan medical officials said. However, over 2.2 million people reportedly voted in spite of this. The Catalan government said the vote in support of independence was nearly 90 per cent, but official results have not yet been released. Turnout was relatively low at a reported 42 per cent. Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy held emergency talks after Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont declared on Sunday that Catalonia had "won the right to an independent state". Puigdemont said he wanted a new understanding with the central government in Madrid, but the Spanish government warned it could suspend the autonomy of the wealthy north-eastern region. "An attack on democracy without precedent in recent times calls for a united response," said Javier Pacheco, the secretary general in Catalonia of the Comisiones Obreras union. "We have called on all sectors to take part." Barcelona's public universities were expected to join the strike, as was the contemporary art museum and the Sagrada Familia, the basilica designed by Antoni Gaudi and one of the city's most popular tourist sites, the Guardian reported. FC Barcelona said it would take part in the strike, adding that it would close its headquarters and that none of its professional or youth teams would train. UN rights chief Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein said he was "very disturbed" by the referendum unrest while EU president Donald Tusk urged Madrid to avoid further violence. The European Parliament will hold a special debate on Wednesday on the issue. New Delhi, Oct 3 : With a focus on women entrepreneurs, the Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES) will be jointly inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and advisor to the US President Ivanka Trump at Hyderabad on November 28, it was announced here on Tuesday. The three-day summit -- with the theme "Women first, prosperity for all" -- would this year focus on the tremendous potential women bring to entrepreneurship, the Niti Aayog said in a statement. A high-level delegation of the US government, led by Ivanka Trump, daughter of US President Donald Trump, met officials at the Niti Aayog here to plan the summit, which is an annual gathering of emerging entrepreneurs, investors, and business leaders from around the world. The summit "will create an environment that empowers innovators, particularly women, to take their ideas to the next level", the statement said. "Women represent tremendous promise for economic growth and prosperity -- but in both developing and developed countries, they also face tremendous barriers to building businesses," it added. The summit is expected to be attended by over 1,600 delegates, including entrepreneurs and investors and CEOs of major knowledge-based industries from across the world. Niti Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant said it is a unique opportunity for Indian startups and innovators to interact and network with the finest entrepreneurs of the world. "We need to harness technology to solve some of the most pressing problems in healthcare delivery, education, energy, safe drinking water and agriculture, among others, for the benefit of communities at large. "Innovation and entrepreneurship will play a decisive role towards this end. I am sure this will be a unique opportunity for entrepreneurs to interact with the best," he said. Jennifer Arangio, Senior Director at the National Security Council at the White House, said the event would highlight the Trump administration's commitment to the principle that "when women are economically empowered, communities and countries thrive". "Hosting GES in India is a signature of the broad and enduring partnership between our two countries. We thank our co-host, the Indian government, for their support, energy and hospitality, and look forward to a high-impact summit that brings together ground-breaking US entrepreneurs and investors with their counterparts from around the world," she said. Niti Aayog and the US Embassy are planning a series of "Road to GES" events in collaboration with different agencies to generate enthusiasm and attract the attention of different stakeholders, the statement said. English Lithuanian Panevezys, Lietuva, 2017-10-05 08:14 CEST (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hereby we announce the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders (hereinafter the Meeting) of AB Linas Agro Group, registered address Smelynes St. 2C, Panevezys, Lithuania, code 148030011, (hereinafter the Company) is convened. The date, time and venue of the Meeting 26 October, 2017 at 10.00 a.m., hotel Smelyne, Conference Hall (Smelynes St. 3, Panevezys, Lithuania). Accounting day of the Meeting is 19 October, 2017. Only the persons who are the shareholders of the Company at the end of the Accounting day of the Meeting shall have the right to attend and vote at the Meeting. The Rights Accounting day is 10 November, 2017. Only the persons who are the shareholders of the Company at the end of the Rights Accounting day shall have proprietary rights. Agenda of the Meeting: 1. Presentation of the Companys Audit committee activity report. 2. Presentation of the independent auditors report. 3. Presentation of the consolidated annual report of the Company for the financial year 2016/2017. 4. Approval of the consolidated and the Companys set of financial statements for the financial year ended 30 June, 2017. 5. Approval of the Distribution of the Companys profit. 6. Election of the Companys auditor for the financial year 2017/2018 of the Company and establishment of the payment for the services. Initiator of convening of the Meeting is the Board of the Company. The Meeting is convened by the decision of the Board of the Company, adopted on 3 October, 2017. Registration of the Shareholders of the Company starts: 26 October, 2017 at 9.15 a.m. Registration of the Shareholders of the Company ends: 26 October, 2017 at 9.55 a.m. The Company does not provide possibility to attend and vote at the Meeting through electronic means of communication. Persons who at the end of the Accounting day of the Meeting will be shareholders of the Company, or their authorized persons, or persons with whom an agreement on the disposal of the voting right has been concluded, will have the right to personally participate and vote at the meeting. A person attending the Meeting must submit a persons identification document. A person who is not a shareholder must additionally produce a document confirming his/her right to vote at the Meeting. Each shareholder shall have a right in the manner established by the Laws to authorize natural or legal person on his/her behalf to attend and vote at the Meeting. At the Meeting, an authorized person shall have the same rights as the shareholder represented by him/her, unless otherwise specified in the issued power of attorney. A power of attorney issued abroad must be translated into Lithuanian and legalized in the manner established by the Laws. The Company does not require a special form of power of attorney. The agenda of the Meeting may be supplemented by initiative of the shareholders holding shares carrying at least 1/20 of all the votes. The drafts of proposed decisions on proposed issues or, if the decision shall not be adopted, explanation on each proposed issue of the agenda of the Meeting shall be presented alongside with the proposal to supplement the agenda of the Meeting. The proposal to supplement the agenda shall be submitted in writing by sending it by registered mail to AB Linas Agro Group at the address Smelynes St. 2C, Panevezys, Lithuania or by e-mail group@linasagro.lt. The agenda of the Meeting shall be supplemented if the proposal is received not later than 14 days before the Meeting. The shareholders who own shares carrying at least 1/20 of all the votes shall have the right at any time before the Meeting or during the Meeting to propose new draft decisions on the issue already included or to be included in to the agenda of the Meeting. The proposed draft decisions must be presented in writing by sending them by registered mail to AB Linas Agro Group at the address Smelynes St. 2C, Panevezys, Lithuania or by e-mail group@linasagro.lt. The shareholders shall also be entitled to propose draft decisions on the agenda issues of the Meeting in writing during the Meeting. The shareholders shall have the right to present questions related to the agenda issues of the Meeting to the Company. The questions in writing can be presented not later than 3 working days before the Meeting, by providing the shareholders personal identification number and consent to process personal data personal identification number by e-mail group@linasagro.lt or delivered to AB Linas Agro Group at the address Smelynes St. 2C, Panevezys, Lithuania. Responses of general character shall be posted on the Companys website www.linasagro.lt. The Company will not respond to the shareholder personally if the respective information is posted on the Companys website. A shareholder or a person authorized by him/her shall have right to vote in writing in advance by filling in the General Voting Ballot. Upon a written request of the shareholders holding the voting right, the Company shall send the General Voting Ballot by registered mail not later than 10 days before the Meeting or present personally against acknowledgement of receipt at the registered office of the Company. The General Voting Ballot is also provided on the Companys website www.linasagro.lt. The filled in General Voting Ballot must be signed by the shareholder or by the person authorized by him/her. If the person who is authorized by the shareholder is voting, the document confirming the right to vote must be attached to the filled in General Voting Ballot. The document confirming the voting right must be in Lithuanian or translated into Lithuanian by authorized translator and his/her signature must be confirmed by notarius. The filled in General Voting Ballot and the document confirming the voting right must be submitted to the Company in written form not later than the last working day before the Meeting, by sending it by registered mail to AB Linas Agro Group at the address Smelynes St. 2C, Panevezys, Lithuania or personally to the Company against acknowledgement of receipt. The shareholders can familiarize themselves with the documents, related to the agenda of the Meeting, draft decisions on each issue of the agenda, documents to be submitted to the Meeting, and other information regarding execution of the shareholders rights, in the website of the Company www.linasagro.lt, also at the Companys office during business days from 8.00 a.m. till 12.00 a.m. and from 1.00 p.m. till 5.00 p.m. On the day the Meeting is convened the total number of the Company's shares is 158,940,398, and the number of shares granting voting rights is 158,158,426. The own shares in amount of 781,972 acquired by the Company do not grant voting rights. The ISIN code of the Company's shares is LT0000128092. Sincerely Chairman of the Board Darius Zubas Chandigarh, Oct 3 : Former SAD Minister Sucha Singh Langah, who is facing rape and cheating charges, on Tuesday moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court here, seeking transit anticipatory bail. The application is likely to come up for hearing on Wednesday. Langah had presented himself before the Duty Magistrate at the district court here on Monday. The court had then refused his plea and asked him to surrender in Gurdaspur town where the case against him was registered. The Punjab Police, which had been claiming that it was conducting raids across the state for the past three days, did not reach the district court complex to arrest Langah even though he remained there for several hours. The former Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) Minister was booked in Gurdaspur last week on the complaint of a woman employee of the Punjab Police Vigilance Department. The victim, a widow, claimed that she had been sexually exploited and raped by Langah since 2009 under the threat of death. She also said that she was a classmate of Langah's daughter in college. Langah had remained underground since the registration of the case and failed to surrender in Gurdaspur or Pathankot as promised. The police had conducted raids at various places in Punjab in order to arrest him. He was booked under Sections 376 (rape), 384 (extortion), 420 (cheating) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code at the Gurdaspur City police station. Langah, who was a member of the Akali Dal core committee and President of its Gurdaspur district unit, announced his resignation from all party posts and from the membership of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) after the case was registered against him. SAD President Sukhbir Singh Badal, who accepted the resignation with immediate effect, had said that Langah resigned to "submit himself to the process of law". Meanwhile, Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of the Sikh religion, has called a meeting of five Sikh high priests on October 5 to discuss the situation emerging out of the registration of the case against Langah. Langah has termed the case "political vendetta" and "premeditated" just before the Gurdaspur Lok Sabha seat bypoll on October 11. The SAD and its alliance partner Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have defended Langah, contending that the case was motivated by Punjab's ruling Congress before the crucial bypoll. The Congress has rubbished the charges. New Delhi, Oct 3 : Indian and US officials met here on Tuesday in the run up to the November 28-30 Global Entrepreneurship Summit in Hyderabad that will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Ivanka Trump, President Donald Trump's daughter and advisor. According to an official statement, Indian and US officials met at NITI Aayog office here to plan the 2017 Global Entrepreneurship Summit which is themed around "Women First, Prosperity for All". The summit is expected to be attended by over 1,600 delegates, including entrepreneurs and investors, CEOs of major knowledge-based industries, representing the full measure of entrepreneurial talent from diverse backgrounds across the world. The participants from 160 countries will represent a diverse range of geographies, industries, business size and scalability. "Investors and representatives from organizations that support entrepreneurs will be hand-picked to catalyze investment, networking and mentoring. There will be special emphasis on empowering young and women entrepreneurs and the role they play in making communities more prosperous and secure through enterprise," the statement said. NITI Aayog is taking the lead in organising the summit. Amitabh Kant, CEO NITI Aayog, said it was a unique opportunity for Indian startups and innovators to interact and network with the finest entrepreneurs of the world. "We need to harness technology to solve some of the most pressing problems in healthcare delivery, education, energy, safe drinking water and agriculture, among others for the benefit of communities at large. Innovation and entrepreneurship will play a decisive role towards this end. I am sure this will be a unique opportunity for entrepreneurs to interact with the best," Kant said. Jennifer Arangio, Senior Director at the US National Security Council, was quoted in the statement as saying the US was proud to partner with India for this year's GES. "Uniting under the theme Women First, Prosperity for All, the summit will highlight the Trump administration's commitment to the principle that when women are economically empowered, communities and countries thrive." Arangio said hosting the summit in India was a signature of the "broad and enduring partnership between our two countries". NITI Aayog and the US Embassy here are planning a series of 'Road to GES' events in collaboration with different agencies to attract the attention of different stakeholders. As part of the summit, there will be a virtual exhibition of India's innovative prowess in collaboration with the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion. It is also proposed to showcase India's heritage, social entrepreneurship and craftsmanship in collaboration with the Ministry of Rural Development and Ministry of Culture. Beijing, Oct 3 : An increasing number of Indian tourists are visiting China, a Chinese government official has claimed. Tian Xin, an official from the New Delhi office of the China National Tourism Administration, told Xinhua news agency that China was becoming one of the most popular destinations for Indian tourists. Xin said that in 2014, the number of Indian tourists to China was 709,900, up by 4.6 per cent year-on-year from 2013. In 2015, the number increased to 730,500 and in just the first nine months of 2016, the number had already reached 600,900. Indians and Chinese don't visit each other's countries owing to political tensions, language barrier and other factors. Ties between the two countries have been marred by a dragging border dispute and other contentious issues. China and India decided to boost bilateral tourism in 2015 when New Delhi organised a "Visit India Year" campaign in Beijing. China launched the "Visit China Year" in India in 2016. Tian said both the countries have been working together to improve service quality, simplify visa procedures and increase direct flights to boost tourism. He said both have natural advantages in tourism development. "China and India are neighbouring countries and have a long, good relationship. The Silk Road once closely connected China and India. Now, tourism services are the bonds linking the two countries," Tian said. New Delhi, Oct 4 : With a spurt in players selling products online and offline to woo millennials, and the Indian retail industry scouting for solutions to read consumer behaviour and personalise the shopping experience, IBM's cognitive AI platform Watson is helping them reach out to the right audience. Watson gathers insights of the latest trends, fuses all aspects of marketing and combines the elements, thus helping the brands improve profitability and drive efficiency in their businesses. IBM deputes Watson to analyse data collected through various Internet of Things (IoT) sensors. Watson then gathers insights to predict, improve and track performance of machines and devices and enhance customer experience by providing tailor-made solution to its clients. "We are now in a phase where, whether it's marketing or supply chain or commerce, people want to be totally personalised to and with," Harriet Green, General Manager, Watson IoT, Customer Engagement and Education, IBM, told IANS. "IBM has reshaped its entire portfolio around three major areas -- supply chain, marketing and commerce. With the power of Watson, the decision support is not risky," Green added. With a market capitalisation of over $136 billion, IBM, which traditionally has been manufacturing and selling computer hardware and software, has now forayed into areas like artificial intelligence (AI) and cognitive analytics. It has made a $3-billion investment globally to bring AI capabilities to IoT, with a focus on capturing the Indian IoT market. IBM has doubled its growth in India for Watson IoT in the last one year. "We just don't look at the retail but at the whole experience of the channel from the minute you envision and create a product in your mind till you make it and get it out in the market," Green noted. According to a recent report in The New York Times, IBM employs 130,000 people in India -- which is about one-third of its total workforce and more than its employee base in the US. According to Nishant Kalra, Business Unit Leader at IBM Watson Customer Engagement (India/South Asia), the retail trends in India differ from other countries. "India is slightly more complex as the country has online marketplaces like Myntra, Jabong and Flipkart as well as the online presence of the brands themselves," Kalra told IANS. "We are doing a lot of transformational work within India to make our clients get a full picture, ability to promise and eventually fulfil that promise. IBM is empowering Indian retailers to convert challenges into opportunities," he added. The list of Indian retail clients includes Tata Croma, Aditya Birla Online Fashion (abof), Titan Company and Metro Shoes that are using IBM Watson and Cloud solutions to gauge customers' behaviour. With Watson capabilities, IBM creates a 360-degree view of the customer by analysing his/her social behaviour. This enables the retailers make the interactions with consumers more meaningful and personalised. In India, there is an omni-channel environment where different channels -- online and offline -- become multi-purpose themselves. "Consumers are leading this change. Brands are doing retail planning keeping in mind the purchasing behaviour of its customers. People are shopping in different ways. They search for products online, shortlist some and then go to the stores to try and buy them," Green commented. For Kalra, Indian customers are tech-savvy and digitally-influenced shoppers, saying that 60 per cent of Indians search for products online before walking into the store. "India has the fastest-growing middle class where the consumption is maximum. The expansion of services is still happening in tier II and tier III cities," Kalra said. (Sourabh Kulesh can be contacted at sourabh.k@ians.in) New Delhi : Mandated by the UN, the coalition forces invaded Iraq in 2003 to destroy its "chemicial weapons of mass destruction" without finding a smoking gun. That's the negative. There's also been a positive. Thirty years ago, member-states of the UN reached amazing consensus, without any sign of a smoking gun, and sealed a deal to take daring action. To dramatise the story, 24 countries on that day decided to start destroying what could be called "chemical weapons of mass destruction" that were being emitted, albeit unintentionally, in millions of tonnes annually and getting "stocked" in the sky. Those groups of chemicals were called ozone-depleting substances, mainly chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), which were predicted to be the cause of the destruction of the Earth's defence system -- the stratospheric ozone layer. When the final negotiations under the umbrella of the UN Environment Programme ended on September 16, 1987, with a historic agreement called "The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer", there was no smoking gun evidence that CFCs were the cause of the global depletion of the ozone layer. The ozone hole -- loss of more than 50 per cent (and even 95 per cent in places) of the ozone -- was observed over Antarctica's stratosphere when the negotiations were taking place, but scientists could not firmly implicate CFCs for it in a conclusive manner. The evidence of the predicted impact on life on Earth was even farther and nowhere visible. The only push came from scientists who theorised the destruction of the ozone layer and the study reports from more than a decade of research after the proposed hypothesis was first made. Delegates, however, agreed not to give a cynical shrug to the lack of specific attribution and causation. They no longer demanded a smoking gun. They decided to begin action to eliminate production and consumption of CFCs. The Montreal Protocol proved to be a historic first step. Sealing that one deal began the journey of the most successful multilateral agreement in the annals of not only global environmental accords but for any UN global accord. It gave birth to the concept of the "precautionary principle" which was the seminal theme of the Agenda 21 that the world leaders agreed on five years later, in June 1992, in Rio de Janeiro. It signalled an approach that necessarily requires action to control inputs of such substances and happenings even before a causal link has been established by absolutely clear scientific evidence. The story is nothing short of extraordinary. It started with the concurrent publication of two scientific papers in two American universities -- one by Richard Stolarsky and Ralph Cicerone of the University of Michigan, and other by Mario Molina and Sherwood Rowland of the University of California-Berkeley. Extraordinary, because a scientific paper is rarely the subject of discussion in the buzzing corridors and glittering halls of the UN. Second, the papers theorised a postulation, based on the not-so-simple chemistry taking place high up in the sky. Specifically, the papers stated that CFCs being exceptionally stable, once released into the atmosphere, can transgress to the stratosphere 15 km above the Earth. They would then have been decomposed by high-energy solar UV rays and would release chlorine atoms that could eliminate ozone molecules existing in the rarefied concentration of one in a million other molecules. That would trigger the dangerous loss of ozone in the stratosphere, because each chlorine atom could destroy hundreds and thousands of ozone molecules which form the ozone shield that protects life on the earth. That was a shocking hypothesis, almost like a gunshot fired at close range. UN delegates, used to dealing with conflicts on the ground, could hardly be expected to take note of such a postulation, leave alone take action to eliminate causative reasons. Subsequent worldwide collaborative scientific study did find the smoking gun within months of the Montreal Protocol's signing. Scientists like Susan Solomon of NOAA (now MIT) were able to solve the jigsaw puzzle of chlorine and other species observed over Antarctica by linking them to very low temperature catalytic reactions accelerated by the ice crystals of the polar stratospheric cloud. The Montreal Protocol has since succeeded in phasing out 98 per cent of the ozone-depleting chemicals, including nearly 100 per cent of CFCs. But more importantly, it phased-in the important precautionary principal lesson in the history books of the UN's multilateral environmental agreements. Last month's observations of the ozone layer over Antarctica by NASA records definite slowing of its depletion and better recovery than last year -- rare success that exemplifies the positive results of UN efforts and collective global action. Two years ago, world leaders adopted the Sustainable Development Goals -- SDGs -- a collective action for a better world by 2030. This agenda carries forward the seminal principle of the precautionary approach. (Rajendra Shende, an IIT alumnus, is Chairman TERRE Policy Centre and a former UNEP Director. The views expressed are personal. He can be contacted at shende.rajendra@gmail.com) Patna, Oct 4 : Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Wednesday took part in a "yagna" organised in Bhojpur district of Bihar to mark the 1,000th birth anniversary of Ramanujacharya on October 4 and addressed Hindu priests and devotees. Speaking at the yagna, Nitish Kumar said: "The Bihar government has been working for material as well as social development. We first imposed a total liquor ban and now have launched a campaign against child marriage and dowry." He said a strong message against child marriage and dowry would be sent to the entire country by thousands of "Vidwans" (learned persons) participating in the event. Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Bhagwat said there was no place for "jaat-paat" in the Sanatan religion. "This is not our tradition. We have to rise above caste and have to think about all and treat all equally." Bhagwat said the path shown by the ancestors should be followed and everyone should follow religion. It was first time that Nitish Kumar as the Chief Minister attended a function in which Mohan Bhagwat was also present. He had strongly criticised the RSS chief when the latter gave his statement pertaining to a review of the reservation policy ahead of the Bihar Assembly election in October-November 2015. The millennial yagna began last week and will conclude on Thursday. Saint Ramanujacharya was a Hindu theologian-philosopher, born in 1017 AD in Perumbudur of Tamil Nadu. According to organisers, about 10 million devotees have attended it so far. Las Vegas, Oct 4 : Stephen Paddock, the gunman who massacred dozens of people in Las Vegas on Sunday, was a high-stakes gambler who wired thousands of dollars to the Philippines -- the home country of his girlfriend Marilou Danley -- just days before the shooting, a federal official said. The authorities could not confirm to whom the transactions were intended. On Tuesday, Federal Bureau of Investigation agents met Danley, a "person of interest" in the case, at Los Angeles International Airport after she arrived on a flight from the Philippines, the New York Times reported on Wednesday. As police scramble to identify a motive for the attack on a music concert at the Mandalay Bay Hotel that killed at least 59 people and injured 527, officers focused on financial transactions carried out by the 64-year-old retired accountant. Paddock sent the money to the Philippines last week, authorities in Manila said on Wednesday, citing the FBI. Investigators said Paddock had installed at least three video cameras in his 32-floor hotel suite and in the hallway outside of it before the shooting, apparently to keep an eye on potential threats. Speaking for the first time on Tuesday night, Danley's family said they believed Paddock had sent her away to her relatives deliberately in the run up to the attacks. "I know she didn't know anything as well like us. She was sent away. She was away so that she will be not there to interfere with what he's planning," her sisters said in an interview with Australia's Channel 7 News. Danley was not arrested on her arrival at Las Vegas airport, but agents were expected to speak to her in an attempt to discover what led Paddock to carry out the worst mass shooting in American history. A Philippines immigration spokeswoman said Danley arrived in the Philippines on September 25 on a flight from Hong Kong. That was nearly a week before Paddock carried out the attack. Investigators at the hotel from which Paddock launched his assault found no fewer than 23 guns, including a Kalashnikov and AR-15 assault rifles, and a vast stockpile of military grade .223 calibre ammunition. In total, across three locations, 47 firearms were recovered. Pictures emerged from the hotel room showing Paddock lying dead, surrounded by weapons and spent ammunition. Police said they believed he had used 10 suitcases to smuggle the weapons up to the room. The shooting also sparked debate over US gun laws, but President Donald Trump said the discussion over what, if anything, needs to be done was "not for now". With hundreds of victims still hospitalised, officials said the death toll was likely to rise. Los Angeles, Oct 5 : Comedian Ricky Gervais has urged people to "save the lives" of innocent animals by removing fur clothes from their wardrobe. The 56-year-old has joined forces with Animal Defenders International (ADI) organisation in a new anti-fur campaign after he was disturbed by undercover footage of a fox on a fur farm in Poland, reports mirror.co.uk. "Fashion is a form of escapism for many but for the animals, imprisoned and denied their most basic needs, death is the only escape. It doesn't have to be this way - save lives by going fur-free and supporting ADI," Gervais said. Besides Gervais, actress Joanna Lumley has also begged people to save the "fashion victims" from a miserable short-lived life. "Be comfortable in your own skin, and not that of a poor defenceless animal caged and killed to provide it. Say no to fur and yes to helping these fashion victims. Please help ADI stop this brutal trade," she said. Madrid, Oct 5 : Spain's Deputy Prime Minister, Soraya Saenz de Santamaria, said on Wednesday evening that the President of the regional government of Catalonia, Carles Puigdemont, lives outside the law. The Deputy Prime Minister made this statement after Puigdemont gave a speech saying that the Spanish King Felipe VI's speech had disappointed many Catalans and had ignored millions of citizens in Catalonia, Xinhua reported. She criticised Puigdemont for reminding the King's duties and his comment on the King's speech saying "with this tone you had disappointed many people who respect you". "I ask Puigdemont to respect Spain, Catalonia and its institutions", Santamaria said, also asking Puigdemont to respect especially the Catalans, "who do not deserve to see and live what they are living". The Spanish King on Tuesday delivered a TV speech accusing the Catalan authorities of "breaking the Spanish constitution and autonomous status", saying that "with their decisions they have repeatedly broken the law systematically showing an inadmissible disloyalty to the powers of the state". The regional government of Catalonia called for a referendum on independence on Sunday that had been declared illegal by the Spanish Constitutional Court as it breached the country's constitution. Las Vegas, Oct 5 : The girlfriend of Stephen Paddock, the Las Vegas gunman who killed 59 people in one of the deadliest mass shootings in history, has said that she had no prior knowledge of the attack, the media reported. In her first public statement since the Las Vegas massacre took place on Sunday night, Marilou Danley, 62, on Wednesday said Paddock, a retired 64-year-old accountant, had sent her on a trip to the Philippines and wired her money there, but that she did not know he was planning to harm anyone, reports The New York Times. Danley's statement came after she went to the Los Angeles offices of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for questioning, according to a law enforcement official. She stressed that she returned to the US voluntarily, "because I know that the FBI and the Las Vegas police department wanted to talk to me, and I wanted to talk to them". "I knew Stephen Paddock as a kind, caring, quiet man. I loved him and hoped for a quiet future together with him. "It never occurred to me in any way whatsoever that he was planning violence against anyone." Danley said she was grateful to Paddock for the trip to the Philippines, her native country, to visit family, but when he wired her money, "which he said was for me to buy a house for me and my family", she feared that it was his "way of breaking up with me", The New York Times reported. She boarded a flight from Manila to Los Angeles on Tuesday, according to Antonette Mangrobang, a spokeswoman for the Philippine Immigration Bureau. The authorities, who met Danley at the Los Angeles airport, had called her a "person of interest" in the investigation into why Paddock opened fire from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino on the Las Vegas Strip into an outdoor music festival with over 22,000 concert-goers. Besides the casualties, a total of 489 people were injured in the attack, and 317 have been released from hospitals. Investigators are yet to discover Paddock's motive for the shooting. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump on Wednesday paid tribute to the professionalism of the doctors who treated the Las Vegas shooting victims, saying that meeting with the patients at one hospital made him "proud to be an American". In brief remarks to the media before meeting with law enforcement officials in Las Vegas, Trump said: "I think the only message I can say is that we are with you 100 per cent." Investigators at the hotel from which Paddock launched his assault found no fewer than 23 guns, including a Kalashnikov and AR-15 assault rifles, and a vast stockpile of military grade .223 calibre ammunition. In total, across three locations, 47 firearms were recovered. Pictures emerged from the hotel room showing Paddock lying dead, surrounded by weapons and spent ammunition. Police said they believed he had used 10 suitcases to smuggle the weapons up to the room. Ocean View, Delaware, Oct. 05, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Automotive Relay Market share is set to cross USD 18 billion by 2024; according to a new research report by Global Market Insights, Inc. Continuously rising demand for innovative products along with growing automobile production is boosting the industry growth over the forecast timespan. Industry gains are credited to advancements in miniaturization and high contact capability development to address limitations during its employment in the vehicles ECU. Ongoing developments in printed circuit boards (PCBs) have led to replacement of complex and traditional relays. Technological advancements also support in weight reduction and ease of installation. Government norms to enhance safety and security will generate revenue over the projected time span. Mandating on the installation of automobile safety systems is anticipated to fuel the industry size. Several regulatory bodies such as National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in the U.S. has addressed on obligatory installation of these security devices in the vehicles. European Directives regarding incorporation of road safety features into automobiles and fuel efficiency standards will further gain advantage in the industry revenue generation. Additional number of relays are required for ensuring total road safety and is likely to drive the automotive relay market size. Request for a sample of this research report @ https://www.gminsights.com/request-sample/detail/619 Advent of nascence technology in the automobile industry may introduce advanced electronic device in the next eight years. This product improves the intelligent transportation systems, automobile safety, and space consumption. Innovations will aid in improving quality, flexibility, production time tables, functionality, and efficiency. Developments in Internet of Things and semiconductors will further drive the industry demand over the study period. Convenience systems holds the highest industry revenue share and will continue its dominance over the forecast timeframe. The modern HVAC systems in vehicles are equipped with numerous switches for the ease of driver. In 2016, convenience systems accounted for over 34% of the automotive relay market share in terms of unit shipments. Electronic power steering is one of the convenience system that witnesses high product adoption rate owing to its specifications such as large switching capacity, space saving, compact size, and high level of compatibility. Due to these notable features, the product acceptance is also high in other convenience applications including infotainment, interior lights, and keyless entry systems, supporting the automotive relay market dominance over the forecast time line. Browse key industry insights spread across 365 pages with 360 market data tables & 9 figures & charts from the report Automotive Relay Market in detail along with the table of contents at: https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/automotive-relay-market Powertrain systems are anticipated to account for approximately 23.5% industry revenue share over the forecast timeline owing to high usage of plug-in relays in these systems. Plug-in relays are preferred in powertrain systems due to its features such as ability to sustain in elevated temperatures, fluctuations, and vibrations. The powertrain systems are susceptible to frequent voltage fluctuations along with high surge loads, thus require high switching capacity, and escalating the industry demand over the next eight years. Asia Pacific is anticipated to dominate the industry revenue share over the forecast timeframe. This growth is attributed to increased vehicle manufacturing across the region, especially in emerging economies including India, China, and Indonesia. China is a substantial contributor in the regional industry revenue generation. Increasing automobile production coupled with rising domestic demand will propel the countrys share over the projected time span. North America industry was valued at over USD 2 billion in 2016 and is expected to exhibit 5% CAGR in the projected time line owing to the matured automobile industry in the region. Moreover, the presence of well-established players will strengthen the regional business position over the next eight years. Rising product aftermarket demand from countries like Mexico will further induce immense potential to the automotive relay market growth rate till 2024. ABB, TE Connectivity, Cynergy3 Components Corporation, Denso Corporation, Fujitsu, Eaton Corporation, Omron Corporation, Littelfuse, and NEC Corporation are among the prominent players in the automotive relay market share. Other notable players include Idec Corporation, Panasonic Corporation, Relpol, Sharp Corporation, Salzer Electronics, Microsemi Corporation, and Rectifier Corporation. Industry players witness intense competition owing to design expertise, innovation, and strong distribution channels. Players focus on product enhancement that will lead to efficient automobile functioning and improves driver experience. Many automakers have substantially improved fuel efficiency and reduced carbon footprint as a corporate priority. Numerous manufacturers are accredited with standards such as ISO/TS16949, that covers total quality management system and addresses cost performance, along with ongoing improvements. Make an inquiry for purchasing this report @ https://www.gminsights.com/inquiry-before-buying/619 Browse Related Reports: Automotive Aftermarket Size By Vehicle Part (Replacement Parts [Belt, Brake, Clutch, Lighting, Electrical, Engine & AC, Exhaust, Filters, Suspension, Transmission, Wiper], Accessories), By Sales Outlet (Professional [Garages & Service Stations, Automobile Dealerships, Government], DIY, OEM), By Region (U.S., Canada, Germany, UK, Russia, China, India, South Korea, Japan, Indonesia, Thailand, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, South Africa, GCC), Industry Analysis Report, Regional Outlook, Application Growth Potential, Price Trends & Forecast, 2016 2024 https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/automotive-aftermarket Automotive Switch Market Size By Product (Knob, Lever, Button, Touchpad), By Application (HVAC, Indicator System, EMS), By End-Use (Commercial Vehicles, Passenger Vehicles), Industry Analysis Report, Regional Outlook (U.S., Canada, UK, Germany, France, Italy, Russia, China, Japan, South Korea, India, Brazil, Mexico, Egypt, South Africa) Application Potential, Price Trends, Competitive Market Share & Forecast, 2017 2024 https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/automotive-switch-market 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: New York, Oct 5 : Microblogging site Twitter is serving as "an avenue to spread racism and bigotry", two US lawmakers have alleged. The tech industry as a whole must identify and suspend the accounts behind such messages on their platforms in order to avoid regulation, US Representatives Bonnie Watson Coleman and Emanuel Cleaver said this week, according to a ReCode report on Wednesday. "As a result of the far-reaching nature of Twitter's technology, we have seen an effort to undermine our democracy, create or fan flames of racial divisions, and spread hate speech that can ultimately cumulate into violence," the two Democratic lawmakers wrote in a letter to Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey. For them, the tipping point appears to be reports that Russian agents sought to stir political unrest ahead of the 2016 presidential election by stoking racial tensions, even running ads targeting groups like Black Lives Matter, the report said. But those ads actually ran on Facebook, not Twitter. Nevertheless, Watson Coleman and Cleaver stressed that Twitter long has struggled to address racism and other hate speech spread on its site, sometimes by bots. "We are disturbed by the ease with which foreign actors were able to manipulate your platform to advance anti-American sentiments that both exacerbates racial tension and ultimately threatens our democracy," they added. "More importantly, we are disappointed by the silence from you and others in your industry on ways to counter such blatant manipulation of this medium to build racial animosity, the consequences of which are quite literally life threatening," the two congressmen added. Facebook and Twitter will appear before the Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on November 1 to testify into Russian interference during the 2016 US presidential election, according to reports. Patna, Oct 5 : Bihar's ruling Janata Dal-United (JD-U) and its friend-turned-foe-turned-ally Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have hit some political roadblocks. The JD-U is upset after the BJP's senior leader and former Union minister C.P. Thakur publicly questioned Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's much-hyped launch of a campaign against child marriage and dowry. And senior BJP legislator Nawal Kishore Yadav added fuel to the fire by saying that if the JD-U was with the BJP and National Democratic Alliance (NDA), then it should have no problems with RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat. The JD-U has been trying hard to maintain a distance from Bhagwat. The JD-U has not been mum either. "We don't know who is speaking what but no one can raise a finger or question the decisions of Nitish Kumar," JD-U state President Vashisht Narain Singh said. Thakur on Tuesday said there was no problem with the campaign against child marriage and dowry, but new provisions to enforce it were not right. "Innocent people would be framed under the provisions of the anti-dowry Act. It can also be misused as it is mandatory for every bridegroom to submit the list of dowry items before officials in the district," he said. Nawal Kishore Yadav said the JD-U and Nitish Kumar should not distance themselves from the RSS and Mohan Bhagwat in public. But Nitish Kumar did just that. On Wednesday, he avoided Bhagwat by attending a separate session of the celebrations to mark the 1,000th birth anniversary of Swami Ramanujacharya in Ara. Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad said Nitish Kumar had spoken of a "Sangh-mukt Bharat" (RSS-free India) during the 2015 election when the two parties defeated the BJP and took power. He took a dig at his former ally when he tweeted: "Muh mein Ram, Dimag mein Nathuram. Tabhi tho bana Palturam" (Ram on his lips and Nathuram in his head, that's why Nitish became a turncoat). Nitish Kumar had come down heavily on the RSS chief when the latter called for a review of the reservation policy ahead of the Bihar election. JD-U leaders say the BJP leadership both in Bihar and nationally were behaving differently this time. A JD-U legislator who did not want to be named complained that the BJP was acting like a big brother though it has only 53 legislators. "JD-U was the big brother when it formed the government with the BJP in 2005. Now the BJP is not ready to play second fiddle." According to JD-U leaders, the party had hoped that, after it joined hands with the BJP and formed a government in July, the central government would announce a special package for Bihar. That has not happened. The BJP has also announced plans to make inroads into Nitish Kumar's own Kurmi vote bank. This is seen as an attempt by the BJP to promote a Kurmi leader in Nitish Kumar's stronghold Nalanda. The BJP is also set to launch a "New Bihar" campaign to reach out to all sections of society. "The BJP is aiming to become the number one party in Bihar," a party leader said. An uneasy JD-U has announced its decision to contest all 40 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar. It made the announcement to counter BJP President Amit Shah, who told party leaders from the state to work on all the 40 Lok Sabha seats. There is speculation that the BJP won't give more than seven or eight Lok Sabha seats to the JD-U in the 2019 Lok Sabha battle on grounds that it won only two seats in 2014. In any case, the BJP has to take care of its old allies like the LJP, RLSP and HAM. In 2014, the BJP alone won 22 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar. Two of its allies won nine more seats. (Imran Khan can be contacted at imran.k@ians.in) Copenhagen, Oct 5 : Danish waste water treatment company Aarhus Vand A/S is looking at India's Smart Cities project to lend its expertise in setting up integrated sewage treatment plants with a focus on generating power, company officials said. To start with the company is looking at Udaipur in Rajasthan to provide its domain expertise, officials told visiting international journalists at its Marselisborg sewage treatment plant in Aarhus, around 300 km from here. "Owned by Aarhus municipality, the company while treating waste water generates power from bio-gas, fertiliser, and enable district heating system. The company also plans to recover phosphorous from the waste water," said Lars Schroder, Chief Executive Officer, Aarhus Water Ltd. When pointed out the presence of sewage treatment plants in India, including in Udaipur and the absence for the need for district heating system, officials said Aarhus would provide its expertise in safe power generation from methane. "In India the focus is on treatment of sewage water and not on energy. It may look easy to operate a waste water treatment plant, but it is not so. Power generation using methane has to be handled very carefully," said Per Overgaard Pedersen, Chief Engineer, Production Department and Research Development. At its Marselisborg sewage treatment plant, Aarhus powers its gensets with biogas produced while treating the water. The power generated is used to run the plant and also wheel the surplus to the grid. For a water and waste water treatment company power cost accounts for a major share, officials said. According to Pedersen, the next round of discussion with the Udaipur municipal authorities is expected to happen in November 2017. Apart from treating around 32 million cubic metres of waste water per year generated by around 350,000 people of the town, the 90 million euro turnover Aarhus also supplies drinking water to the populace and provides energy for district heating system. The company supplies around 15 million cubic metres of drinking water per year here. Pedersen said the company is setting up a phosphorous plant at an outlay of around two million euros. (Venkatachari Jagannathan is in Denmark at the inviation of Aarhus Vand A/S. He can be contacted at v.jagannathan@ians.in) Accra, Oct 5 : In a region plagued with conflict of various kinds, Mahatma Gandhi's credo of non-violence and the philosophy of black American civil rights leader Martin Luther King should be included in the curriculum of West Africa's schools to educate children about living in peace and avoiding violence, a top official has said. "Our political landscape is filled with hate speech, but you cannot confront one evil with another. There may be certain things that may not be relevant today as in the days of Gandhi, but his teachings on non-violence are still valid today as they were before," Chukwuemeka B. Eze, the Executive Director of the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP)," told IANS in the Ghanaian capital. . "There are a lot of misleading processes in peace-building in our part of the world, and it is for this reason that attempts at teaching the issue must be sustained," he added. The West Africa region is plagued with various forms of conflict -- ranging from Boko Haram in parts of Northern Nigeria and a breakaway agitation in the southeast of that country as well as crises of various forms in Togo, Burkina Faso and Cote d'Ivoire. "It looks like these conflicts are not being properly managed," Eze said, adding: "Most people believe that there could be peace without confronting the injustices and structural violence that bring about the conflicts." Noting that October 2 is celebrated around the world every year as the International Day of Non-Violence, he said, "there is no way one can achieve peace without removing the causes of injustices in society", a creed central to the teachings of Gandhi and King. Eze said it was important to understand that in their efforts to preach non-violence, Gandhi and KIng did not just discuss the issues that sparked violence. "They also talked about the strategies that must be adopted against violence." He said those who "stand on the fence are equally guilty as those who perpetrate violence" because those who remain silent are only helping to perpetuate a cycle of violence that would continue for a long time. Eze said the two icons did not keep quiet but talked about what were creating conflicts in their societies. "They did not walk to keep the peace at their time but were looking at the peace of tomorrow," he added. (Francis Kokutse can be contacted at fkokutse@gmail.com) New Delhi, Oct 5 : Actress Kalki Koechlin has tied up wih a cosmetic company for a digital film that focuses on bringing a "beautiful change" by giving a helping hand for a brighter future. "I am glad to be a part of this film with such a wonderful thought. In this world, we all need a helping hand to grow and before expecting it from some else, we must initiate it at our end," the actress said in a statement. "No matter big or small, it is upon us to make an effort of bringing that change towards a brighter future and motivate people around us to do the same. Because, you never know that your small step might go a long way," she added. Oriflame India along with their creative digital agency on record, Brandmovers India has stirred up important conversations with their latest digital film titled #beautifulchange. With their latest campaign, the brand is urging everyone to make a beautiful change - it could be a small step or a giant leap, every little thing counts. Naveen Anand, Senior Director, Marketing, Oriflame South Asia, said, "We're proud to kick-start Oriflame's global #beautifulchange campaign in India with this lovely film featuring Kalki Koechlin, our brand ambassador. As a brand, Oriflame believes in sustainability and this film voices that sentiment. We truly hope the film strikes a chord with the audience and encourages them to make a beautiful change as well, in their own way." The film not just engages the viewers, but also makes us sit up and think. Sharing his views on the film, Suvajyoti Ghosh, MD and Chief Creative Officer of Brandmovers India, said, "This was not just a great film for us to make but an important one too. The thought behind the film is pertinent and we hope that it initiates these important conversations on social media and otherwise." Noida, Oct 5 : Kaya, a leading provider of specialty skincare, haircare and beauty solutions, has collaborated with Biologique Recherche, Paris, the renowned French luxury professional brand, to introduce the Luxe Lissant Beauty Ritual in India. With over 40 years of passion in skincare and presence in 70 countries across the world, Biologique Recherche's methodology has a reputation for high levels of efficacy using pure and natural ingredients without the addition of artificial fragrances or preservatives, as well as innovative protocols and procedures. "We are very excited to introduce one of our top of the line treatments in India with Kaya. A shared passion for superior efficacy of products, innovation and technology makes Kaya a perfect platform to unveil Luxe Lissant Beauty Ritual." said Pierre-Louis Delapalme, CEO Biologique Recherche, who was on his India visit too. "Kaya has been a pioneer in bringing the best of global skincare, haircare and beauty solutions to Indian consumers. We are confident that our customers will appreciate this endeavor." added Rajiv Nair, CEO Kaya Limited. Luxe Lissant Beauty Ritual is 3-dimensional treatment leaves skin visibly smoother and de-stressed. This unique hydrating treatment stimulates the skin's natural defense system and thus helps maintain the skin's youth. Delapalme also said that in India skin education is really needed and they are here to serve them better. "I came to India when I was 18 years and now we got the right partner. We want to give lot of education. One should know that your skin changes every day. Indian skin is not different from rest of the world in the sense that every Indian has a specific skin has a specific skin. The challenge for us is education. Sometimes you have to re-educate from scratch how the skin works," he said. Ahmedabad, Oct 5 : The Gujarat High Court on Thursday rejected the plea of Zakia Jafri, the wife of slain former MP Ehsan Jafri, challenging a clean chit by the Special Investigation Team to then Chief Minister Narendra Modi and other top officials in the 2002 Gujarat riots. The court rejected Zakia Jafri's plea on allegations of "a larger conspiracy" behind the riots. Ehsan Jafri, a Congress leader, was one of the 69 people killed when a large mob attacked Gulbarg Society in Ahmedabad on February 28, 2002. Rome, Oct 5 : Police in Italy and Germany have arrested 37 Sicilian mafia suspects in an operation against its Rinzivillo clan, seizing over 11 million euros of assets. Police held 35 people in Italy, in Sicily, in the central Lazio region and in the northern Lombardy, Piedmont and Emilia Romagna regions, Il Giornale della Sicilia daily said on Wednesday, citing police. Among the suspects arrested was 57-year-old clan boss Salvatore Rinzivillo, who had lived in Rome since his release from jail in 2013, the daily reported. Those arrested included two Carabinieri police officers accused of hacking police databases and passing confidential information to the Rinzivillo clan. Also targeted by the operation was a Rome-based lawyer, Giandomenico D'Ambra, who faces charges of mafia association, according to the paper. The other two arrests were made in unspecified locations in Germany, the Giornale della Sicilia said. The bust came after a "complex" probe coordinated by Italy's national anti-mafia and anti-terrorism directorate which involved anti-mafia prosecutors in Rome and Caltanissetta. The investigation uncovered the Gela-based Rinzivillos' operations in Rome, northern Italy and in Germany, where the clan was building a drug trafficking racket and was in contact with notorious Calabrian mafia fugitive Antonio Strangio, Giornale della Sicilia reported. New Delhi, Oct 5 : Google's India-born CEO Sundar Pichai is a big fan of artificial intelligence (AI). No doubt these are early days for AI, but for him it is the most promising New-Age technology -- one that can potentially change the way enterprises work and grow. Now, AI in smartphones is nothing new. Apple's Siri, Samsung's Bixby and Google's very own Google Assistant are evolving as people communicate with their devices. But this time around, Pichai is betting big on a mix of AI, software and hardware to take on Apple and Samsung -- the undisputed leaders in the premium segment. Industry analysts believe there is space for Google Pixel 2 and 2 XL -- launched on Wednesday -- to become serious contenders in the segment. With the right set of innovations and improvements in its sales and marketing network, these analysts say, Pixel could become a headache for Apple and Samsung in the days to come. Currently, Pixel which was first launched last year, has less than two per cent market share globally. "No matter how great the new Google-branded smartphones look, the main challenge is how to truly become a hardware company (and) to make itself available to consumers on the shelves," Thomas Husson, Vice President and Principal Analyst, Forrester, told IANS. "It implies mastering the supply chain, partnering with carriers and other distribution channels, training vendors and investing a lot in marketing. That's no small task and quite far away from the company's DNA," Husson noted. Google is nevertheless trying its best to make an impact. Last month, it acquired part of the Taiwan-based HTC Corporation's mobile division team for $1.1 billion. This team was working with Google to develop its Pixel smartphones. This is the second time Google has acquired a smartphone manufacturer. It announced a $12.5 billion buyout of Motorola Mobility six years back and, in 2014, sold it to Lenovo. According to Navkendar Singh, Senior Research Manager at IDC India, this underlines Google's ambitions as a serious smartphone maker. "However, considering the design language, it looks like Google wants to play the premium smartphone game more from a software angle than a hardware one," Singh told IANS. At the premium end of the market, design, looks and overall aesthetics matter a lot more than a smartphone that only works well and is pragmatic. "With the recent launches of Samsung Galaxy Note8 and the upcoming iPhone X with full screen, bezel-less displays and overall design, Apple and Samsung have taken the aesthetics and design language to the next level," Singh emphasised. Considering this, the Pixel 2 range will face a stiff challenge in getting the desired volumes at the premium end of the market. "Having said that, initial reports suggest that camera remains a strongpoint for the Pixel range, apart from giving stock Android experience with updates available as soon as they are released," the IDC India analyst added. Launched last year, the Google pixel started off well. Tarun Pathak, Associate Director, Mobile Devices and Ecosystems, Counterpoint Research, said that even though it didn't manage a significant market share, the device attracted users' attention -- especially those looking for choice in the Premium Android segment. "This is likely to give a boost to the Pixel 2 family which has been priced very close to Samsung flagships. To summarise, it still might be a long way before Pixel makes a significant impact on Apple or Samsung, but it provides an alternative to users looking for something beyond these two brands," Pathak noted. Addressing a jam-packed San Francisco event as he launched the new Pixel family, Pichai said: "Computing will now be conversational, ambient and contextual. It's a unique moment in time, when Google can bring AI, software and hardware together." To remain a relevant platform between consumers and brands, Google needs to feed data into its AI machine to make its software smarter. "Such relevant data will increasingly come from a more integrated hardware experience as demonstrated by the Google Lens preview. In order to catch up with Apple and its 'ARKit', Google was right to remind its ecosystem how AR is becoming a part of their platform play with 'ARCore' and Google Lens," Husson informed. (Nishant Arora can be contacted at nishant.a@ians.in) New Delhi, Oct 5 : RJD chief Lalu Prasad on Thursday appeared before the CBI here in response to join investigation into alleged irregularities in the IRCTC hotels contract case. Lalu Prasad appeared at the Central Bureau of Investigation headquarters on Lodhi Road at around 11.30 a.m. "His questioning has started," CBI spokesperson Abhishek Dayal told IANS. The CBI on September 26 issued fresh summons -- the third in a month -- to the RJD chief and his son Tejashwi Yadav in the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corp contract case. The CBI move comes after Lalu Prasad and Tejashwi Yadav skipped two earlier summons. The CBI on July 5 filed a corruption case against Lalu Prasad, his wife Rabri Devi and Tejashwi Yadav for alleged irregularities in the allotment of contracts for IRCTC hotels in Ranchi and Puri in 2006 to a private firm when the RJD chief was the Railway Minister. The contracts were given to Sujata Hotels, a company owned by Vijay and Vinay Kochhar in lieu of bribe in the form of a plot of prime land in Bihar, the CBI said. A preliminary CBI inquiry found that the said land was sold by the Kochhars to Delight Marketing and payment was arranged through Ahluwalia Contractors and its promoter Bikramjeet Singh Ahluwalia. The Enforcement Directorate has questioned Ahluwalia. The ED had on July 27 registered a separate case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act following the CBI FIR and was probing Lalu Prasad and others for alleged transfer of money through shell companies. FORM 8.3 PUBLIC OPENING POSITION DISCLOSURE/DEALING DISCLOSURE BY A PERSON WITH INTERESTS IN RELEVANT SECURITIES REPRESENTING 1% OR MORE Rule 8.3 of the Takeover Code (the "Code") 1. KEY INFORMATION (a) Full name of discloser: Rathbone Brothers PLC (b) Owner or controller of interests and short positions disclosed, if different from 1(a): The naming of nominee or vehicle companies is insufficient. For a trust, the trustee(s), settlor and beneficiaries must be named. (c) Name of offeror/offeree in relation to whose relevant securities this form relates: Use a separate form for each offeror/offeree Clinigen Group PLC (d) If an exempt fund manager connected with an offeror/offeree, state this and specify identity of offeror/offeree: (e) Date position held/dealing undertaken: For an opening position disclosure, state the latest practicable date prior to the disclosure 04/10/2017 (f) In addition to the company in 1(c) above, is the discloser making disclosures in respect of any other party to the offer? If it is a cash offer or possible cash offer, state "N/A" Yes 2. POSITIONS OF THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE If there are positions or rights to subscribe to disclose in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 2(a) or (b) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security. (a) Interests and short positions in the relevant securities of the offeror or offeree to which the disclosure relates following the dealing (if any) Class of relevant security: 0.1p Ordinary Interests Short positions Number % Number % (1) Relevant securities owned and/or controlled: 6,699,920 5.81 (2) Cash-settled derivatives: (3) Stock-settled derivatives (including options) and agreements to purchase/sell: TOTAL: 6,699,920 5.81 All interests and all short positions should be disclosed. Details of any open stock-settled derivative positions (including traded options), or agreements to purchase or sell relevant securities, should be given on a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions). (b) Rights to subscribe for new securities (including directors' and other employee options) Class of relevant security in relation to which subscription right exists: Details, including nature of the rights concerned and relevant percentages: 3. DEALINGS (IF ANY) BY THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE Where there have been dealings in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 3(a), (b), (c) or (d) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security dealt in. The currency of all prices and other monetary amounts should be stated. (a) Purchases and sales Class of relevant security Purchase/sale Number of securities Price per unit (p) 0.1p Ordinary Sale 3,950 1151,.5 (b) Cash-settled derivative transactions Class of relevant security Product description e.g. CFD Nature of dealing e.g. opening/closing a long/short position, increasing/reducing a long/short position Number of reference securities Price per unit (c) Stock-settled derivative transactions (including options) (i) Writing, selling, purchasing or varying Class of relevant security Product description e.g. call option Writing, purchasing, selling, varying etc. Number of securities to which option relates Exercise price per unit Type e.g. American, European etc. Expiry date Option money paid/ received per unit (ii) Exercise Class of relevant security Product description e.g. call option Exercising/ exercised against Number of securities Exercise price per unit (d) Other dealings (including subscribing for new securities) Class of relevant security Nature of dealing e.g. subscription, conversion Details Price per unit (if applicable) 4. OTHER INFORMATION (a) Indemnity and other dealing arrangements Details of any indemnity or option arrangement, or any agreement or understanding, formal or informal, relating to relevant securities which may be an inducement to deal or refrain from dealing entered into by the person making the disclosure and any party to the offer or any person acting in concert with a party to the offer: Irrevocable commitments and letters of intent should not be included. If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state "none" None (b) Agreements, arrangements or understandings relating to options or derivatives Details of any agreement, arrangement or understanding, formal or informal, between the person making the disclosure and any other person relating to: (i) the voting rights of any relevant securities under any option; or (ii) the voting rights or future acquisition or disposal of any relevant securities to which any derivative is referenced: If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state "none" None (c) Attachments Is a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions) attached? NO Date of disclosure: 05/10//2017 Contact name: Emma Mulhearn - Compliance Department Telephone number: 0151 236 6666 Public disclosures under Rule 8 of the Code must be made to a Regulatory Information Service. The Panel's Market Surveillance Unit is available for consultation in relation to the Code's disclosure requirements on +44 (0)20 7638 0129. The Code can be viewed on the Panel's website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk. Kuala Lumpur, Oct 5 : Traces of the VX nerve agent were found on the clothing of the two women on trial for the murder of Kim Jong-nam, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's estranged half-brother, a chemical expert told a Malaysian court on Thursday. Raja Subramaniam, head of the Malaysian government's Centre of Chemical Weapons and Analysis, said they found residues of VX, a colourless and odourless nerve agent deemed by the UN as a weapon of mass destruction, on the clothes of the two accused, Siti Aisyah of Indonesia and Doan Thi Houng of Vietnam, reports Efe news. He also testified that based on research, the same amount of VX would be 26 times less potent on the palms of human beings as compared to their cheeks. The two women were accused of smearing the poison with their bare hands on Kim Jong-nam's face on February 13, when he was about to leave for Macau, where he lived in exile, from the departure terminal of the Kuala Lumpur airport. Malaysian forensic scientists had found traces of the poison in Kim Jong-nam's eyes, urine, blood and personal objects. The prosecution also asked Subramaniam, the only Malaysian to hold a PHD in chemical weapons analysis, about how easy it would be to decontaminate from VX, a substance which he said could kill with even one drop in its purest state, reports Channel News Asia. "We have to wash with running water plus physical scrubbing for a certain period of time before you get medical assistance," he said. Both Doan and Aisyah, who pleaded not guilty when the trial began on Monday, told the police they believed they were playing a prank for a television show and thought the poison was baby oil. Four North Korean men, who the Malaysian police suspect of plotting the attack, left the country on the same day as Kim Jong-nam's murder and have been missing since. South Korea and the US have accused North Korea of masterminding Kim's murder. Kim Jong-nam, born in 1971, was the son of late North Korean dictator Kim Jong-il and actor Song Hye-rim and was considered a favourite to replace his father until he fell out of favour in 2001. The poison from the VX nerve agent kills by sending the nerve system into overdrive causing convulsions, paralysis and eventually death due to respiratory failure. It was banned under the 1993 chemical weapons convention. Rome, Oct 5 : A boy accidentally killed his 67-year-old grandmother in southern Italy with his father's licensed hunting rifle. The tragedy unfolded on Tuesday evening at the family home in Teana in the Basilicata region as the boy was holding the rifle after his father returned home from a hunting trip. The boy is 13 years old, local daily La Gazzetta del Mezzogiorno reported on its website. The boy's grandmother died instantly. Las Vegas, Oct 5 : The girlfriend of Stephen Paddock, the Las Vegas gunman who killed 59 people, said she saw no signs that he was planning "something horrible" and was "devastated" by the gruesome attack. In her first public statement since the Las Vegas massacre on Sunday night, Marilou Danley, 62, on Wednesday said Paddock, a retired 64-year-old accountant, had sent her on a trip to the Philippines and wired her money there but she was unaware of any attack, reports The New York Times. Danley said Paddock "never said anything to me, or took any action that I was aware of, that I understood in any way to be a warning that something horrible like this was going to happen. "It never occurred to me in any way whatsoever that he was planning violence against anyone," she said in the statement. Her attorney Matt Lombard said Danley was fully cooperating with the investigation into why Paddock fired for nine to 11 minutes from the 32nd floor of Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino into a crowd of 22,000 concert-goers in the heart of Las Vegas, reports CNN. Paddock took his own life as police closed in. Besides the casualties, a total of 489 people were injured in the attack and 317 have been released from hospitals. Investigators are yet to discover Paddock's motive for the shooting. "I knew Stephen Paddock as a kind, caring, quiet man," Danley said. "I loved him and hoped for a quiet future together with him." While she was in the Philippines, Danley said, Paddock wired her money that he said was for her to buy a house for her and her family, CNN reported. Danley said she was grateful but worried that the unexpected trip home and the money "was a way of breaking up with me". Danley said she had voluntarily flown back to the US because she knew investigators wanted to talk to her. She arrived late Tuesday at the Los Angeles International Airport from the Philippines. Danley lived with Paddock in Mesquite, Nevada, northeast of Las Vegas. Investigators at the hotel from which Paddock launched his assault found no fewer than 23 guns, including a Kalashnikov and AR-15 assault rifles, and a vast stockpile of military grade .223 calibre ammunition. In total, across three locations, 47 firearms were recovered. Pictures emerged from the hotel room showing Paddock lying dead, surrounded by weapons and spent ammunition. Police said they believed he had used 10 suitcases to smuggle the weapons up to the room. Florence (Italy), Oct 5 : Anti-mafia investigators in Florence have impounded assets worth 1.5 million euros from a 38-year-old Chinese businessman, including a villa two luxury cars, bank accounts and other financial assets. The villa is located in Tavola, outside the Tuscan textiles city of Prato, where the man, named as C.Y., owns businesses, police said. A court in Prato ordered the asset seizures after a complex probe by tax police of C.Y., who together with other family members declared almost- zero earnings while enjoying a lavish lifestyle. The court rejected claims by C.Y. that his high standard of living owed to several tens of thousands of euros he had won playing on slot-machines. The man was arrested in 2012 amid a probe into smuggled merchandise and received a conviction the same year for running illegal gaming parlours inside industrial warehouses. In 2004, C.Y. was convicted of abetting illegal immigration for his role in a fraud scam aimed at bringing Chinese migrants into Italy, according to police. Ranchi, Oct 5 : A farmer committed suicide in Jharkhand after a bank official refused to let him withdraw his money due to a pending loan, police said on Thursday. The incident took place in Chotki Khargdih village of Giridih district on Wednesday night. Kailashpati Rana, 50, had an account with the Bank of India. On Wednesday, he went to withdraw Rs 4,000 that his son had transferred into his account, according to police. But a bank official did not release the amount saying his Rs 35,000 loan was pending and adjusted the money against the loan, family members said. According to them, he was also humiliated by the bank official. The Giridih administration has set up a team to probe the incident. This year, seven farmers have committed suicide in Jharkhand -- the highest number since the state was created. New Delhi, Oct 5 : The CPI-M has accused BJP President Amit Shah of unleashing "lumpen politics" against it in Kerala but said the Marxists won't be cowed down. "Amit Shah has embarked on a dangerous course of inciting violence against the CPI-M by levelling false charges and accusations against the party," CPI-M journal "People's Democracy" said in an editorial. Shah launched a Bharatiya Janata Party 'yatra' in Kerala on Tuesday, starting from Kannur district where he blamed Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan for the political killings in the state. "Filled with the arrogance of power, Amit Shah thinks that he can bulldoze the Sangh politics into Kerala using the false flag of red terror," the editorial said. "This, in itself, shows the inability of the BJP-RSS combine to counter the CPI-M and the Left politically in Kerala." The Communist Party of India-Marxist added: "Amit Shah is the last person who should be accusing an elected Chief Minister of being responsible for murders." It pointed out that as the Home Minister under now Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Gujarat, Shah was booked in a false encounter case in which Sohrabuddin and his wife Kauser Bi were killed by police while in their illegal custody. "He was discharged in the case by the Mumbai High Court but his sordid record as a minister, during which period many false encounters took place, has qualified him as a specialist in 'encounter politics'." Shah has called for protests by BJP workers outside the CPI-M headquarters in New Delhi every day till October 16. "The fact that the ruling party of the country is daily organising protests outside the office of a national political party speaks much about the lumpen politics that Amit Shah has introduced. "There is no way such intimidatory tactics will work as far as the CPI-M is concerned," it added. Mumbai, Oct 5 : With the digital India initiative firmly in place, enterprise solutions provider SAP is ready to not only enable the integration of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) into the digital economy but also help big firms bolster their networks to derive competitive advantage, a top company executive said here on Thursday. SAP India announced the launch of its "Leonardo" portfolio here that will fuel the goal of a $1 trillion digital economy by 2025. "SAP Leonardo" is a digital innovation system that brings together machine learning, Internet of Things (IoT), blockchain, analytics and Big Data on SAP Cloud Platform, using design thinking services. With this offering, SAP will create a digital ecosystem which will enable companies to rapidly innovate and embed digital innovation into all their applications and business processes, thus creating efficient businesses, revenue growth and improving customer experience. "Currently, a wave of digitisation is happening in India as well as a regulatory framework being rolled out with the GST roll out," Deb Deep Sengupta, President and Managing Director, SAP India Subcontinent, told IANS. As a result, "a lot of smaller companies are joining formal economies, where they need to adopt digital technologies. On the other hand, mid-to-larger companies would have to innovate through digital technologies at faster speed to be able to keep up the pace with the rivals. It is here that 'SAP Leonardo' plays a significant role," Sengupta added. SAP India has partners who are spread across six focus areas -- connected products, connected assets, connected fleet, connected infrastructure, connected markets and connected people. Through this ecosystem, SAP will deliver innovation capabilities and services that integrate with core business applications so that customers can seamlessly bridge between operating and innovating. "We believe helping these customers over the next 12-18 months will also drive our revenue and growth," Sengupta said. Started in 1996, SAP India with over 11,000 employees is the second largest subsidiary and one of the fastest growing companies within SAP worldwide. Headquartered in Germany, the multinational software corporation - that develops enterprise software to manage business operations and customer relations - has a presence in eight Indian cities including Bengaluru, Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata. "We look at India not just as a market opportunity but also help it grow through giving back," Sengupta said. The company also announced "SAP IoT Connect 365". It is a managed, Cloud-based service that simplifies IoT connectivity by enabling mobile network operators to connect with enterprise, governments and people to leverage technologies that can drive out supply chain inefficiencies and sub-optimal asset utilisation. "SAP IoT Connect 365 delivers choice and flexibility to enterprises, laying the foundation for a well-connected, cost-efficient and secure environment," the company said. (Rachel V. Thomas can be contacted at Rachel.t@ians.in) New Delhi, Oct 5 : In mid-September, a team of Haryana Police investigating the sensation murder of a minor boy studying in Ryan International School in Gurugram, had rushed to Mumbai as part of the larger probe into the case. Despite all their efforts, the team failed to meet any of the known trustees -- Augustine Pinto, his wife Grace Pinto and their son Ryan -- at either the headquarters of the St. Xaviers Eduational Trust in Kandivali East or the residential address provided by the family. Since then, the trustees have been moving one court after another -- the Bombay High Court, the Punjab and Haryana High Court, sthe Supreme Court, and now the CBI Special Court in Gurugram - seeking anticipatory bail against possible arrest. While the Haryana Police camped in Mumbai for nearly a week, unknown to them, or the Mumbai police and even the school administration, the family remained cosy and beyond the reach of the law at their home in a posh Bandra West locality. "All attempts by us to contact and question them at their given residential address in the affidavit submitted to the courts -- Ashok Tower, Kulupwadi, Borivali East -- proved futile. The trust and school administrative staff claimed they had no knowledge where their trustees, the Pinto family, could be traced," confided an officer familiar with the investigations, preferring not to be identified. Official sources and independent IANS investigations reveal that the Pintos are residing in a posh duplex apartment of a prominent residential tower in near Ambedkar Road in Bandra West, adjacent to the home of Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt. The building also houses several other Bollywood personalities and any visitor seeking to meet the Ryan International School trustees is stonewalled by the security. Prominent advocate of the Law Chartered firm Vinod Tiwari said that as per the law, anybody providing a wrong address in an affidavit attracts severe action, including perjury, as it hampers the course of justice. "This is sheer mockery of the law by such powerful persons and the lawyer, as an officer of the court, who has identified and confirmed that the concerned person/s (Pintos) are residing at the given address, can also be held liable," Tiwari told IANS. Interestingly, Tiwari is the National Co-Convenor and Vice-President of the Bharatiya Janata Party's powerful Legal & Legislative Cell and practices in Maharashtra and New Delhi. Birbal Jha, head of the New Delhi-based Mithilalok Foundation, social service organisation, termed the revelations as "shocking and clearly intended to misguide the police and the courts" and demanded immediate action in the matter. The NGO is providing legal assistance to the victim's family in the case. Incidentally, the Pintos have given the same Borivali East address -- where nobody resides since nearly two decades -- in their affidavits filed in different courts where their transit anticipatory bail and later anticipatory bail applications came up for hearing before several judges in the past nearly one month. The Pintos have been virtually on the run since September 8 when seven-year old Pradhuman Barun Thakur was murdered inside the school premises of Ryan International School in Bhondsi adjacent to Gurugram) Following a nationwide furore, the Haryana government transferred the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which is now handling the matter, while the Bhondsi school management has been taken over by the local government. Ahmedabad, Oct 5 : Five years since challenging the clean chit to former Chief Minister Narendra Modi and a battery of senior police officials and bureaucrats in the 2002 Gujarat riots, Zakia Jafri, widow of slain Congress leader Ehsan Jafri, lost yet another legal battle here on Thursday. A single judge bench of Justice Sonia Gokani of the Gujarat High Court rejected her plea challenging a lower court order upholding a clean chit to Modi and others in the riots cases. The septuagenarian Zakia Jafri had called the riots a state-sponsored violence on the Muslims that left 1,100 people killed and alleged a larger conspiracy. The hearing of the petition before Justice Gokani had concluded on July 3 this year. The High Court, however, allowed Jafri to approach higher forums for further investigation in the case. Jafri and activist Teesta Setalvad's NGO Citizen for Justice and Peace had filed a criminal review petition against a magistrate's order upholding the clean chit given by a Supreme Court-monitored Special Investigation Team (SIT) to Modi and as many as 59 others on the allegations of a "larger criminal conspiracy" behind the riots. The petition also sought the High Court's direction for fresh investigation into the matter. Ehsan Jafri, a former Congress MP, was among 68 people who were killed at the Gulberg Society in Gujarat when a large mob attacked it on February 28, 2002, a day after the Godhra train burning incident which set off riots in the state. The SIT submitted before the High Court that its investigation was conducted under the Supreme Court's watchful eye, and its report was largely accepted by all. The lower court went over all the aspects of allegations in detail to conclude that it was no longer necessary to look into the "larger conspiracy" angle, the SIT argued. Jafri's lawyer Mihir Desai forcefully argued in the High Court that the magistrate accepted the SIT's closure report, but did not even consider other options such as rejecting it or ordering a fresh probe. Desai asserted that the lower court ignored the Supreme Court guidelines and did not consider signed statements of witnesses which suggested that there was a conspiracy, he argued. Desai submitted that the magistrate also ignored submissions of key witnesses like former IPS officers Sanjiv Bhatt, R.B. Sreekumar and Rahul Sharma, besides the findings of Tehelka magazine's sting operation. He alleged that the riots could have been prevented if certain ministers, police officers and bureaucrats had not abetted the violence. The SIT's closure report, filed on February 8, 2012, gave a clean chit to Modi and others. In December 2013, the metropolitan magistrate's court here rejected Zakia Jafri's petition against the report, after which she moved the High Court in 2014. New Delhi, Oct 5 : The Indian Air Force is ready to fight a two-front war and has adequate capability to take on any military challenge from China, Air Chief Marshal B.S. Dhanoa said on Thursday. Addressing the annual IAF press conference ahead of Air Force Day on October 8, Dhanoa said in a single front scenario, whether it is Pakistan or China, the IAF was adequately capable of tackling any threat from the neighbours. Dhanoa said though the Air Force did not have the sanctioned full squadron strength of 39 but it still had a Plan B in case a war breaks out simultaneously from the eastern (China) and western (Pakistan) borders. "We need a strength of 42 squadrons to carry out full spectrum operations in a two-front (war) scenario. It doesn't mean we are not capable of fighting a two-front war. We have a Plan B. "To cater for the strength there are ways and means by which you can generate more sorties, you can carry out 24-hour operations, whatever we can do at our level, increase the serviceability of our aircraft, we are doing so that we are able to carry out the task mandated by our government," he said. Dhanoa, who as the Vice Chief of the IAF had said the number of fighter aircraft squadrons in India was not enough to fight a war on two fronts, maintained on Thursday that the remark to a Parliamentary Standing Committee was in reference to "full spectrum operations". The IAF currently has 33 combat squadrons against a sanctioned strength of 39.5, which is sought to be raised to 42. Dhanoa's predecessor Arup Raha, days before his retirement, had said the IAF needed at least 200 more fighter jets in the next 10 years. Dhanoa said the IAF had a plan to address the shortage of fighter squadrons and by 2032, the force would have its full squadron strength. He said "politically, till date we have not been part of a two front war". Asked if he felt a two-front war was unlikely, the IAF chief said: "What I am trying to say is that the possibility of a two-front war in the current geopolitical situation is low. But at the same time, I said your response has to be based on the enemy's capability, because intentions can change overnight." Asked about his earlier comments on the squadron strength not being enough, he said the remarks were about full spectrum operations for which the IAF needed 42 squadrons. "There is a plan by the government of India to induct fighters and by the end of 15th Plan - 2032, we will have the authorised strength. But the numbers that we have got, we are capable of carrying out operations anytime." He said that in terms of its assets, India was adequately equipped against Pakistan and China "If you take a single front scenario, either Pakistan or China, our capability is adequate." About China alone he said it was not about what assets they have but about what they can deploy in Tibet which is a plateau with an average elevation of 4,500 metres. "If you take China, it is not what China has got, it is what China can project against us. To project against us is what they can get into Tibet. Look at Google Earth and see what they can or cannot do from Tibet. That will give you an answer what is our capability. Our capability is adequate," he said. Referring to the Doklam military standoff, the IAF chief said Chinese forces were still present in Tibet's Chumbi Valley which lies close to the disputed tri-junction. "The two sides are not in a physical face off as we speak, in face to face contact. However, the (Chinese) forces in Chumbi valley are still deployed," Dhanoa said. The Chumbi Valley is north of Doklam, where Indian and Chinese troops were locked in a long standoff after India objected to China building a road in the uninhabited tri-junction claimed by Bhutan and China. Asked about the two and a half-front war - in which the half-front is in reference to internal security threats, Dhanoa said while the force was involved in anti-Maoist operations in support roles, it would not use fire power on its own citizens. "The half-front that you are referring to is internal security. We are actively engaged in operations of providing recce and transport support. As a democracy, we don't use kinetic air power against our own people," he said. AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands, Oct. 05, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- KASEYA CONNECT EUROPE -- Kaseya, the leading provider of complete IT management solutions for managed service providers (MSPs) and mid-market enterprises (MME), today announced its GDPR Resource Center and Compliance Pack to help customers around the world tackle the requirements of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Scheduled to go into effect May 25, 2018, GDPR is a set of rules created by the European Parliament, European Council and European Commission to strengthen data protection for individuals within the European Union (EU). The regulation applies to all companies worldwide, who have data on EU citizens, and violations have significant fines of 4 percent of the violating companys global annual revenue or 20m, whichever is greater. GDPR is a major reform in data protection law that has huge implications for our customers and our business, said Jorn Hamann, managing director, Conform IT. While there is much to do to prepare for the regulation, its also a prime opportunity for us to reassess the security of our clients data. VSA and the new Kaseya GDPR Compliance Pack will play a significant role in helping us comply with the regulation and demonstrate to our customers our ability to safeguard their data. The Kaseya GDPR Resource Center helps organisations understand, plan and build their compliance strategies. It includes a community portal where professionals can exchange ideas and best practices. The new GDPR Compliance Pack includes new compliance reports and technology to help customers worldwide comply with the regulation. Available as a free plugin to Kaseyas flagship remote monitoring and management solution, VSA, the GDPR Compliance Pack allows IT professionals, data compliance officers and data privacy officers to: Discover all IT systems across their infrastructure to meet the GDPR risk assessment requirements Audit the current state of their infrastructure and user accounts to identify vulnerabilities Update and patch operating systems and third-party software applications to mitigate and remediate IT issues Protect data against malware and viruses Continuously demonstrate compliance with GDPR requirements with the help of purpose-built reports Since GDPR was announced last year, our customers around the world have been struggling to understand the ramifications and coming to us for help to prepare them for the impact of the impending regulation. We developed the Kaseya GDPR Resource Center and Compliance Pack in response to this overwhelming feedback. Now our customers have the level of visibility they need to proactively mitigate and immediately remediate non-compliance issues within their infrastructure, said Mike Puglia, chief product officer, Kaseya. The implications of GDPR are far reaching and not limited to companies in the EU. Every company that handles data for customers in Europe must begin preparing for GDPR compliance now. The Kaseya GDPR Compliance Pack is now available in VSA by Kaseya. To learn more, go to: https://www.kaseya.com/resources/gdpr. About Kaseya Kaseya is the leading provider of complete IT management solutions for managed service providers (MSPs) and midsized enterprises. Through its open platform and customer-centric approach, Kaseya delivers best in breed technologies that allow organisations to efficiently manage and secure IT. Offered both on-premise and in the cloud, Kaseya solutions empower businesses to command all of IT centrally, easily manage remote and distributed environments, and automate across IT management functions. Kaseya solutions manage over 10 million endpoints worldwide. Headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, Kaseya is privately held with a presence in over 20 countries. To learn more, visit www.kaseya.com. New Delhi : On October 3, 2017, the Nobel Prize for Physics was awarded to three American physicists "for decisive contribution to Laser Interferometry Gravitational Observatory (LIGO) detector and observation of gravitational waves", a sort of extremely faint ripples propagating through the very fabric of space-time resulting from most powerful cosmic catastrophes. Some Nobel prizes in the past have kicked up controversies. The latest award may join the list if one seriously considers the questions raised by some physicists in the recent years in peer-reviewed journals and which remain unanswered. While everybody would be in awe for the success of the mechanical and optical engineering behind LIGO, the claim for decisive discovery of gravitational waves did not appear convincing to all. The maiden detection of gravitational waves occurred on September 14, 2015 and was announced few months later. This event was due to a catastrophic collision between a pair of unusually massive black holes, a kind of extremely compact objects whose gravity is so strong that nothing, not even light, can escape from them. However, having examined the same LIGO data, a group of astrophysicists from The Niels Bohr Institute & Discovery Center, Denmark, concluded that, the claim was somewhat suspect as the LIGO team had failed to remove noise from the data. This group published this conclusion in August in the high-impact Journal of Cosmology & Astroparticle Physics. They found similar presence of noise for two more events of gravitational waves detected by LIGO. Following the reanalysis of LIGO events, Sabine Hossenfelder, a German theoretical physicist and a famous science blogger, even wrote a blog titled: "Was It All Just Noise? Independent Analysis Casts Doubt On LIGO's Detections." Gravitational waves are ripples so weak that even the proverbial "needle in the haystack" fails to adequately describe them. Actually, searching for gravitational waves is like searching for an atom in a haystack. Accordingly, a team of more than 1,000 physicists has been toiling for decades to improve the sensitivity of the gravitational wave detectors. By 2015, the sensitivity of an advanced version of LIGO seemed to be just adequate for this purpose. However, a super-sensitive detector is like a double-edged sword: It picks up not just the feeble gravitational waves but even more, the faintest of noises too. Therefore, while the LIGO team made the utmost effort to indeed eliminate all known sources of noises, there could still be some poorly understood or even unknown noises contaminating the LIGO signal. One such potential source of uncontrollable noise could be "Schumann resonances" -- global electromagnetic resonances generated and excited by lightning discharges in the cavity formed by the Earth's surface and the ionosphere. Since these are global disturbances created by strong (local) lightning, the associated electromagnetic disturbances (as reported in a paper published in Physical Review D) may affect the kilometer-long metal arms of advanced LIGO detectors spread across the globe and simulate fake gravitational wave signals. More recently physicist Z. K. Silagadze of Russia's Novosibirsk State University, in her blog, has suggested that the LIGO gravitational wave signal could be due to such global ionospheric disturbances. The claim by LIGO team that the gravitational waves detected by it were due to collision of black holes has also been questioned -- in a paper in Physical Review Letters -- by a team of general relativists from Portugal who showed that the LIGO signal, even if true, need not be due to collision of "exact" black holes. On the other hand, stars almost as compact as black holes -- but from which light may just be able to escape -- could also generate similar signals. A smoking gun leaves evidence to show it recently fired a bullet: light flashes, sound and the smell of gunpowder. Similarly, for cosmic catastrophes, one anticipates electromagnetic signals like a burst of gamma rays, X-rays and light or radio waves. Recently, 25 telescopes searched for signals of such smoking gun from the latest LIGO detection of gravitational waves. Unfortunately, no evidence of emission of any attendant electromagnetic emission was found. And, only future detection of such circumstantial evidence may confirm the claims of direct detection of gravitational waves which are likely to be swamped by infinitely stronger noises. The motion of compact celestial objects are indeed expected to emit bursts of gravitational waves and these have indeed been detected earlier -- albeit in an indirect manner. The famous Hulse-Taylor binary comprising two neutron stars orbiting each other is known to shrink over years due to emission of such waves. In 1993, the Nobel for Physics was awarded for this discovery to Russel Hulse and Hooton Taylor. But this was after almost two decades of observation in a meticulous manner. And there was no controversy for the claims of such (indirect) detection of gravitational waves. But this time, LIGO's claim of direct detection of gravitational waves had triggered a controversy. No doubt the claim would eventually be confirmed after verification by independent groups of researchers. Pending that Physics Nobel for 2017 may be considered by some to be somewhat premature. (Abhas Mitra is former head of the Theoretical Astrophysics Division of the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai and currently adjunct professor in Homi Bhabha National Science Institute, Mumbai. The views expressed are personal. He can be contacted at abhasmitra@gmail.com) New Delhi, Oct 5 : A cross-sectional rally, comprising hundreds of students and activists, was organised here on Thursday denouncing the RSS and allied groups for the death of journalist Gauri Lankesh. The protest was organised to mark one month of Lankesh's murder who was shot dead outside her house in Bengaluru. Her supporters have since alleged that her killing was the result of a vendetta by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) for writing against the group in her tabloid Gauri Lankesh Patrike. About 500 persons took part in the march comprising students of Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi University and other varsities. At least nine civil society groups joined the protest from Karnataka to demand justice for Lankesh. "Around 150 people arrived last (Wednesday) morning. We are not here for Lankesh only but because of the ideology she stood for. We do not want such thing to happen again. We want justice not only for her but for others also," Harshita J.K., a law student, told IANS. "We don't want only murderers but the people behind the act," she said. Mallige, founder of Karnataka Janashakti, an organisation fighting for women's rights, told IANS that the resistance movement was started in her state and they recently decided to bring it to the national level. "She gave up her life fighting against the fascist forces and we will not let her struggle go in vain," she said. The All India Democratic Women's Association, All Indian Progressive Women's Association, Saheli NGO, Progressive Writers' Association, Basti Suraksha Manch, Swaraj Abhiyan, Krantikari Yuva Sangathan and National Federation of Indian Women participated in the demonstration along with scores of farmers, teachers and sex workers. New Delhi, Oct 5 : The Congress on Thursday said it was ready to face the Lok Sabha elections any time. Reacting to reports that the Narendra Modi government might be planning for early General Elections, Congress Spokesman Randeep Singh Surjewala said the Election Commission must have been sounded out by the government on the matter but the Congress had no knowledge of it. "The Election Commission has a constitutional obligation to conduct free and fair elections and be ready to conduct elections on an appropriate notice from the government. So the EC must have been sounded out by the current Bharatiya Janata Party-led government that they were going to advance parliamentary elections. The Congress has no such knowledge," he said. "However, we are prepared to face elections any time," he added. Surjewala said the country's people are "fed up with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's jumlas (pet phrases)" and the way his government is going about "decimating jobs, businesses as also trade and agriculture" in the country. "So, I think the people will give a befitting reply, just like they did in 2004 during the 'India Shinning' campaign to the (Atal Bihari) Vajpayee government if elections are advanced. People are waiting for General Elections to happen so that they can actually ask Modi-ji as to where the 'acchhe din' (good days) promised by him are," the Congress leader said. On Wednesday, Election Commissioner O.P. Rawat said the Election Commission will be ready by September 2018 to hold simultaneous polls to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. New Delhi, Oct 5 : A six-year-old girl student was sexually assaulted in a private south Delhi school, for which a sweeper has been arrested, police said on Thursday. Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident. Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Chinmoy Biswal said the Class I student was sexually assaulted around 1 p.m. on Wednesday at the Sant Nirankari School in Malviya Nagar by accused sweeper Rakesh, 22. "The girl returned home and informed her parents, who then went back to the school and met the Principal," the DCP said. Biswal said the parents informed police about the crime around 8 p.m. on Wednesday. The officer said the accused was arrested after the girl identified him. On Thursday evening, Delhi Chief Minister's Media Adviser Nagendar Sharma tweeted that Sisodia had directed Chief Secretary M.M. Kutty for a magisterial probe into the matter. A Delhi government official told IANS that members of the Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights will visit the school on Friday. New Delhi, Oct 5 : IAF's first three women fighter pilots are set to be commissioned by the end of this year, and a second batch of three more women pilots are now being trained for the role, Indian Air Force chief B.S. Dhanoa said on Thursday. "Last year we took a step forward by inducting the first batch of women pilots in the fighter stream. You will be glad to know that their performance has been at par with other pilots despite the strenuous and demanding nature of flying," Air Chief Marshal Dhanoa said addressing the annual press conference ahead of Air Force Day on October 8. "Consequently next batch of three women trainees has been selected for fighter stream in July 2017," he said. Dhanoa said the first three women fighter pilots - Bhawana Kanth, Mohana Singh and Avani Chaturvedi - are about to complete their training. "On completion, these three women will be commissioned in fighter stream by the end of this year," he said. Asked if more women officers were to be commissioned as fighter pilots, he said it depends on how many women volunteer and how many of them clear the aptitude and other tests required for the role. "As far as the women fighter pilots are concerned, they have volunteer for it. Secondly they have to make a cut in their aptitude. "Flying is governed by laws of physics... It is like driving a car, it is gender neutral," he said Dhanoa also said that at present, it is an experimental project for five years, and after that the Defence Ministry will take a call on whether to continue it. The Indian Air Force, in June last year, commissioned three women as fighter pilots. Women form a very minor section in the armed forces, with the IAF having the highest number at 1,350 followed by the army with 1,300 and the navy with 450 women officers, according to official information. The 1.3 million-strong armed forces have 59,400 officers. New Delhi : A living example that literary art has no national landscapes or limitations, Japanese-born British writer Kazuo Ishiguro, the 2017 Nobel Literature laureate, is possibly its first recipient whose range of evocative works is not in his mother tongue and deals with situations and settings from far beyond his old and new homelands and times. Spanning reminiscences of high life in the turbulent 1930s through the eyes of an English country house butler in the acclaimed Booker-winning "The Remains of the Day" (1989), the question of personal guilt a painter-turned-propagandist confronts in post-war Japan in "Artist of the Floating World" (1986), or other works set in Europe, colonised China, Arthurian Britain or in a dystopian future, Ishiguro's small corpus is distinguished by its variety as well as some customary motifs and style. The narration in all but one of his seven books is in first person, and the works usually deal with the past of the protagonists. As he noted in an interview, he was more "interested in memory because it's a filter through which we see our lives, and because it's foggy and obscure, the opportunities for self-deception are there. In the end, as a writer, I'm more interested in what people tell themselves happened rather than what actually happened". Then the endings are never cut and dried, with the protagonists gradually revealing their failings but without clearly stating they're even aware of them, and thus ending up resigned to their inability to fully comprehend or change their lot in life. It is possibly this sentiment of a gradual, and even nostalgic, alienation which the Swedish Academy cited as it lauded Ishiguro for having "uncovered the abyss beneath our illusory sense of connection with the world" in his "novels of great emotional force". While "The Remains of the Day", about the dignified and proper butler pondering over his past and wondering about his future after a life completely devoted to the service of another person, remains Ishiguro's most famous -- perhaps after its 1993 film adaptation -- his other books also deal with this motif in unusual ways. A personal favourite would be the surrealistic, dreamlike -- and much panned by baffled critics and readers -- "The Unconsoled" (1995). It is the story of concert pianist Ryder's visit to an unnamed Central European city for a performance, where he finds himself besieged by people he has no recollection of, accosting him with a raft of appointments and promises he has no memory of or can possibly fulfill in his brief stay. Then there is his darkly dystopian "Never Let Me Go" (2005) which memorably combines the British boarding school tale tradition with the commoditisation of the human body. Author and columnist Kiran Manral, who has a pretty varied range of books herself, says what marks Ishiguro out is the focus on "the individual placed at the centre around which the universe and its chaos unfolds". Confessing to being a Ishiguro fangirl since reading "Never Let Me Go", she admits it "still haunts her", but also "made me realise the immutability of an ending which did not have a conclusion". Born in Nagasaki in 1954, Ishiguro grew up in England where his family moved in 1959, and began writing after doing his Masters in 1980. His first work, "A Pale View of the Hills" (1982), came out the same year in which he himself became a British citizen. While his first two works have Japanese themes, "A Pale View.." was an indicator of his craft and vision. Though dealing with a Japanese woman discussing the suicide of her eldest daughter with her younger child, it takes place in England where the older woman is living. "Artist...", his second book, is set in an unnamed town in post World War II Japan, but then came "Remains..." which cemented Ishiguro's position. After "The Unconsoled", came "When We Were Orphans" (2000), termed a detective story with the protagonist, who lived in the Shanghai International Settlement in the early 1900s till both his parents disappeared, returning there in the late 1930s to investigate their disappearance. It was not very well received and even he admitted it was not one of his best. There was a long hiatus after "Never Let Me Go", but "The Buried Giant" (2015) literally broke new ground in substance and style, as well as its setting -- a fantasy, post-Arthurian Britain. And soon, Ishiguro may surprise us again. (Vikas Datta can be contacted at vikas.d@ians.in) Lahore, Oct 5 : Former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Thursday left for London to tend to his ailing wife, Begum Kulsoom Nawaz, who has been diagnosed with cancer. His London trip comes four days before his indictment in three corruption cases in connection with the Panama Papers case. Sharif, who was this week re-elected Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz president, boarded a Pakistan International Airlines flight for London at 11 a.m. However, the flight was delayed for one hour as the health of two female passengers suddenly deteriorated, Geo News reported. Sharif is accompanied by his secretary Mohammed Hanif Khan. Prior to his departure, Nawaz met party leaders and government officials at the departure lounge of the old airport. This is the second visit of the ousted Prime Minister to London after his wife was diagnosed with lymphoma (cancer of lymph nodes) by British doctors on August 22. Sharif, who left for London on August 30 on account of his wife's medical treatment, returned to the country on September 25 to face the Supreme Court-directed corruption cases against him. Mohsin Ranjha, a member of Sharif's legal team, told the media that the former Prime Minister's indictment has been deferred to October 9, the next date of hearing. Sharif's PIA ticket has a return date of January 4, 2018, according to a copy of his ticket obtained by Geo News. However, sources said that is only because of a 'requirement' and the former premier may come back at any time before that. Sharif's children are still in London. On September 26, the court had also issued bailable arrest warrants for his children and son-in-law as they failed to appear before it, despite two earlier summons. His daughter Maryam Nawaz had gone to London after the by-election on Sharif's home seat in Lahore, held on September 17, which was bagged by Kulsoom by a winning margin of around 14,000 votes. The seat was vacated after Sharif's disqualification by the Supreme Court in its July 28 judgment in the Panama Papers case. Bengaluru, Oct 5 : Slain journalist and activist Gauri Lankesh will be posthumously awarded the Annual Anna Politkovskaya Award, an award for women human rights defenders from war and conflict zones, for her fearless journalism, it was announced on Thursday. The award has been conferred by international human rights organisation Reach All Women in WAR (RAW in WAR) to Lankesh a month after she was shot dead outside her residence here on September 5. "Today (Thursday), RAW in WAR honours Gauri Lankesh and her fearless journalism as a strong critic of rightwing Hindu extremism, campaigner for women's rights, fiercely opposed to the caste system and campaigner for the rights of Dalits," the organisation said in a statement. "The award will be given jointly to Lankesh, posthumously, and Pakistani activist Gulalai Ismail, who similarly to Gauri, is fighting against the Islamic extremism in her country, Pakistan," it said. Lankesh, the editor of Kannada tabloid "Gauri Lankesh Patrike" is the first Indian to win the award. Lankesh's family addressed reporters after the award announcement. "Gauri, as a journalist, we lost because of her activism. We are pained by that. At the same time, we feel very proud of her as a family that she has won this international award," her brother Indrajit Lankesh told reporters. "The only question we as Lankesh family have, is not just about who her killers were, but we want to know why she was killed. "Lot of questions will be answered (by knowing the motive), whether it is M.M. Kalburgi's, Narendra Dhabolkar's or Govind Pansare's murders through Gauri's murderers," he added. "We request the government and the Special Investigation Team to catch the killers as soon as possible and find the answers to why Gauri was killed," he said.A The award is named after Anna Stepanovna Politkovskaya, a Russian journalist, writer and human rights activist, who was shot dead on October 7, 2006 in Moscow. The assassination of Politkovskaya, whose work was considered critical of the Russian government and President Vladimir Putin, gained international attention. Russian human rights activist Natalia Estemirova, Afghan activist and writer Malalai Joya, Pakistani activist and Nobel Peace laureate Malala Yousafzai were some of the previous winners of the Anna Politkovskaya Award. This year's awards will be presented to the winners in March 2018 at the Women of the World Festival in London, the organisation said. New Delhi, Oct 5 : The CBI questioned RJD chief Lalu Prasad for over seven hours on Thursday in connection with its ongoing probe into alleged irregularities in the 2006 IRCTC hotels maintenance contract case. Lalu Prasad, a former Railway Minister, appeared before the agency's investigators for questioning in the case at the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) headquarters on Lodi Road here around 11.30 a.m. The CBI has also summoned his son Tejashwi Yadav, a former Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar, in the case. Tejaswi may join the probe on Friday. "Lalu Prasad was questioned for over seven hours. Our main focus was on allegations against him on which basis the CBI had registered the FIR in the matter," CBI Spokesperson Abhishek Dayal told IANS. Informed sources said Lalu Prasad faced over 100 questions related to the case. Asked if the former Bihar Chief Minister will again be summoned for another round of questioning, Dayal said: "We will decide it later." The senior Rashtriya Janata Dal leader was accompanied by his daughter and RJD's Rajya Sabha MP Misa Bharti, who is also under investigation by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a money laundering case involving shell companies. On September 26, the CBI issued fresh summons -- the third in a month -- to the RJD chief and his son Tejashwi Yadav in the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation contract case. The CBI move came after Lalu Prasad and Tejashwi Yadav skipped two earlier summons. The CBI on July 5 filed a corruption case against Lalu Prasad, his wife Rabri Devi and son Tejashwi Yadav for alleged irregularities in the allotment of contracts for IRCTC hotels in Ranchi and Puri in 2006 to a private firm when the RJD chief was the Railways Minister. The contracts were given to Sujata Hotels, a company owned by Vijay and Vinay Kochhar -- both named in the CBI FIR as accused -- in lieu of bribe in the form of a three-acre commercial plot at a prime location in Bihar's Patna district, the CBI said. A preliminary CBI inquiry allegedly found that the said land was sold by the Kochhars to Delight Marketing Company and payment was arranged through Ahluwalia Contractors and its promoter Bikramjeet Singh Ahluwalia, another accused person. The ED has since questioned Ahluwalia. Delight Marketing, which bought the property from the Kochhars, was later taken over by Rabri Devi and Tejashwi, alleges the CBI. Sarla Gupta, wife of RJD chief's close associate Prem Chand Gupta and a director of Delight Marketing, is a co-accused in the case, apart from then IRCTC Managing Director P.K. Goel. The ED had on July 27 registered a separate case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act following the CBI FIR and was probing Lalu Prasad and others for alleged transfer of money through shell companies. The ED has summoned Rabri Devi to appear before it next week. Dhaka, Oct 5 : The Bangladesh government on Thursday announced that it will identify Rohingya refugees as "forcefully displaced Myanmar citizens". Disaster Management Minister Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya made the announcement at a press conference after his visit to the refugee camps in Cox's Bazar, the Dhaka Tribune reported. "As per the decision of the Foreign Ministry, the state will identify Rohingya people as forcefully displaced Myanmar citizens. This identity will be assigned from today," he said. The number of unregistered refugees who began coming into Bangladesh from Myanmar from August 25 has already exceeded 500,000, he said. "Another 400,000 Rohingya are already here as refugees. All of them will be brought under the biometric registration system," the Minister said. So far 61,000 refugees have registered themselves and at the Kutupalong camp in Cox's Bazar, 6,000-7,000 people were getting registered every day, he added. The government is allocating another 1,000 acres of land for accommodation of the refugees, Maya said. Previously the government had allocated 2,000 acres of land to build temporary shelters for the Rohingya in Kutupalong and Balukhali. "But there is not enough space to keep all the Rohingya people in one place, so we are allocating another 1,000 acres," the minister said. The 3,000-acre Kutupalong camp has been divided into 20 blocks and the government has built 75,000 of the planned 84,000 sheds to shelter 420,000 people, the minister said. "But with more people arriving, we are now planning to build a total of 150,000 sheds," he added. Authorities have begun the process of moving Rohingya refugees who arrived in Bandarban to the Kutupalong camp, and they will be brought back from other areas as well. The World Health Organisation is providing food for 520,000 people and the rest is being provided from various local and international relief efforts, Maya said. "The refugees need a daily supply of 120,000 tons of rice. All of that is being supplied from foreign aid. The government has provided 10 tons of rice and Tk30 lakh from its own reserves," he said. By October 10, the government will finish building roads within the Kutupalong camp and by October 15 street lamps, health centres and police outposts will be in place. "Then it will look like a suburban area. But this is all a temporary arrangement," he said. Maya said law enforcement and intelligence agencies were alert to prevent any politics, coercion or extortion against the Rohingya refugees. "Anybody trying to take advantage of their condition will face stern action," he said. In reply to a question about whether the allocation of additional land would be harmful to the local ecology and forestation, the minister said: "This land belongs to the Forest Department but it was not a dense forestation, so it will not be very harmful." Asked why the registration of the Rohingya refugees had not been given to the UN refugee agency UNHCR, the minister replied: "We have not declared them as refugees, so we cannot involve UNHCR in this. We are sheltering these people purely for humanitarian reasons. We are hoping that they will go back to their country soon." On October 2, Myanmar proposed to take back the hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims who have fled to Bangladesh. Kyaw Tint Swe, a Minister in the office of Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, made the proposal during talks with Bangladesh Foreign Minister A.H. Mahmood Ali here. Both countries also agreed to form a joint working group to resolve the Rohingya crisis. City of Industry, CA, Oct. 05, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Marina Biotech, Inc. (OTCQB: MRNA), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of innovative therapeutics for hypertension, arthritis, pain and oncology, announced today that Amit Shah will join the company in the newly created role of Chief Financial Officer, effective immediately. Prior to joining Marina, Mr. Shah served as Senior Director of Finance ERP, at Youngs Market Company. Prior to Youngs, he was the Vice President of Finance & Accounting, and Acting Chief Financial Officer, of Insightra Medical Inc. Mr. Shah also previously served as VP Finance and Acting Chief Financial Officer at IgDraSol Inc., as Corporate Controller & Director of Finance at ISTA Pharmaceuticals, as Corporate Controller at Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, and Controller/Senior Manager Internal Audits at Caraco Pharmaceuticals Laboratories. Mr. Shah received a Bachelors of Commerce degree from the University of Mumbai, and is an Associate Chartered Accountant from The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India. Mr. Shah is also an inactive CPA from Colorado, USA. We are thrilled to have Amit join the Marina Biotech team to establish a strong finance and accounting organization for Marina Biotech. Amit brings with him over 15 years of strong financial, accounting and auditing experience to Marina, stated Joseph Ramelli, CEO of Marina Biotech. Our recent acquisition of the FDA approved therapy Prestalia represents a large and attractive market opportunity for Marina, which made finding the right Chief Financial Officer essential. I am confident that Amit is that person. Mr. Shah stated, The opportunity to work with the leadership at Marina on a new vision for building a strong finance and accounting organization for Marina, as well as growing the company through sales of Prestalia is exciting. I am equally excited to be contributing to the transition of Marina into a strong and growing commercial organization. There are several promising therapies in our clinical pipeline that, if they are approved by the FDA, we could bring to market using the sales and marketing platforms developed for Prestalia. About Prestalia Prestalia contains perindopril arginine, an ACE inhibitor, and amlodipine, a dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker, and is indicated for the treatment of hypertension to lower blood pressure. Prestalia may be used in patients whose blood pressure is not adequately controlled on monotherapy. Prestalia may be used as initial therapy in patients likely to need multiple drugs to achieve blood pressure goals. Lowering blood pressure reduces the risk of fatal and nonfatal cardiovascular events, primarily strokes and myocardial infarctions. These benefits have been seen in controlled trials of antihypertensive drugs from a wide variety of pharmacologic classes, including amlodipine and the ACE inhibitor class to which perindopril principally belongs. About Marina Biotech Our mission is to provide effective and patient centric treatment for hypertension- including resistant hypertension. In doing so creating a universal platform for the effective treatment of hypertension as well as for the distribution of fixed dose combination [FDC] hypertensive drugs such as Prestalia and those in our pipeline. The company commercial product Prestalia is approved by US FDA for the treatment of hypertension and being commercialized through the DyrctAxess platform. The company is also developing and commercializing late stage, non-addictive pain therapeutics. The companys next-generation of celecoxib, including IT-102 and IT-103, are designed to control the dangerous side-effect of edema that prohibits the drug from being prescribed at higher doses. These have the potential of replacing opioids and combatting the opioid epidemic. Additional information about Marina Biotech is available at http://www.marinabio.com. Forward-Looking Statements Statements made in this news release may be forward-looking statements within the meaning of Federal Securities laws that are subject to certain risks and uncertainties and involve factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or suggested. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: (i) the ability of Marina Biotech to successfully integrate its business operations with those of IthenaPharma; (ii) the ability of Marina Biotech to obtain funding to support its clinical development; (iii) the ability of Marina Biotech to attract and/or maintain manufacturing, research, development and commercialization partners; (iv) the ability of Marina Biotech and/or a partner to successfully complete product research and development, including preclinical and clinical studies and commercialization; (v) the ability of Marina Biotech and/or a partner to obtain required governmental approvals; and (vi) the ability of Marina Biotech and/or a partner to develop and commercialize products prior to, and that can compete favorably with those of, competitors. Additional factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or suggested in any forward-looking statements are contained in Marina Biotech's most recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Marina Biotech assumes no obligation to update or supplement forward-looking statements because of subsequent events. New Delhi, Oct 5 : An RSS-affiliated body on Thursday said it will sprearhead a campaign on the contributions made by unsung heroes of the past who did not get due recognition in Indian history, which needs to be written with a national perspective. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh has prepared a list of such unsung heroes -- who made the supreme sacrifice for the country -- through its subsidiary body, the Akhil Bharatiya Itihas Sankalan Yojana, and will run the campaign in society to present their contributions, the body's chief Balmukund Pandey told media persons here. "History we have been studying since childhood is not as per the national perspective. It was written by the British with a colonial mindset. After Independence, the Leftists distorted this history to their own benefit. Now, this needs to be changed," Pandey said. He said many academics and research scholars were working to give the unsung heroes of ancient Indian history and the freedom struggle their due credit. "The last Hindu ruler of Delhi, Hemchandra Vikramaditya or Hemu, was not given due credit in history. In his place, Mughal ruler Akbar was described as The Great. Likewise you don't find mention of Banda Bairagi, Veer Kunwar Singh, and many others," he said. The organisation will hold a seminar in Delhi this week on Hemu's contribution and why he was not given due credit in Indian history, Pandey said. He alleged that well-known historian Bipin Chandra has described Shaheed Bhagat Singh as a "terrorist" in one of his books and the new generation is taught only what he has said. Pandey, however, maintained that the body was not in favour of deleting any name from the history books. "But when we add some new names, the space for earlier ones will shrink," he said. The RSS leader also rejected the idea of constructing a temple dedicated to humanity at Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh, with a Ram temple in the centre and surrounded by holy places of other religions. "There must be a Ram temple there. There can't be any other option," he said. Agra, Oct 5 : Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav was on Thursday re-elected the national President of the Samajwadi Party for a five-year term, virtually ending the long innings of his father and party founder Mulayam Singh Yadav. A largely youthful crowd of over 25,000 delegates attending the party's National Executive elected the 44-year-old Akhilesh Yadav for another term. The meeting also amended the party constitution to increase the term of the President to five years from the present three. Both Mulayam Singh and his brother Shivpal Yadav did not turn up for the meeting at the CTO compound despite being invited though Akhilesh Yadav tried to play it down, saying he had the blessings of his father and uncle. Among the delegates, no tears were shed for Mulayam Singh though party veteran Azam Khan did mention his name a couple of times. The other mostly younger leaders appeared to stand firmly behind Akhilesh Yadav, who led the Samajwadi Party to defeat in this year's assembly elections shortly after staging a coup against his father. Delegates said the Samajwadi Party would now take a new direction targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. "From now on it will be a very aggressive and focused Akhilesh, no looking back," said a party worker from Firozabad, Ram Dhari Yadav. Former MP and a minister in the Chandra Shekhar government, Ramji Lal Suman, said the party had taken a new direction. Akhilesh Yadav's election was announced by party General Secretary and Rajya Sabha member Ram Gopal Yadav, who was also the election officer. The re-election of Akhilesh Yadav means he will lead the party into the next Lok Sabha and state assembly elections. Akhilesh Yadav was earlier elected as party President, replacing his father, on January 1. There were indications of some thaw in the frigid relations between the father and son this week when Akhilesh Yadav drove to Mulayam Singh's residence next door and invited him to attend the Agra convention. He also telephonically spoke to his estranged uncle Shivpal Yadav on Wednesday evening, after nine long months. Shivpal Yadav reportedly blessed Akhilesh Yadav. The turnout at the convention was large. The whole of Mall Road as well as Mahatma Gandhi Road were decorated with party flags and hoardings hailing the new leader. Muslims were adequately represented at the venue, as were women. Washington, Oct 5 : US President Donald Trump on Thursday said the Senate panel investigating alleged collusion between his campaign and Russia during the 2016 presidential race should instead devote its efforts to probing what he termed "biased" and "untruthful" reporting by major US news outlets. Trump again used his Twitter account to level his latest criticism against the Senate Intelligence Committee and mainstream media outlets such as NBC News, Efe news agency reported. Why isn't the Senate Intel Committee looking into the "Fake News Networks in our country to see why so much of our news is just made up-fake", Trump said in a tweet after the committee chairman, Richard Burr (Republican) and vice chairman, Mark Warner (Democrat), on Wednesday provided an update on their investigation into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. The senators said they agreed with a previous assessment by the US intelligence community indicating the Kremlin carried out a "determined" attempt to influence the campaign via cyberattacks and propaganda. They said the investigation currently was focused on determining if there was some type of coordination between the Kremlin and members of a campaign -- supposedly the Trump camp -- to hurt the electoral chances of Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton. "The issue of collusion is still open," Burr told reporters. Trump also continued his attacks on the media over a report by NBC News the day before indicating that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson was on the verge of resigning this summer due to policy disputes with the President. Tillerson never threatened to resign, this is fake news by NBC News, he said. "Low news and reporting standards. No verification from me," Trump tweeted. Bangkok, Oct 5 : A fossil of a dinosaur, believed to be the biggest ever found in Thailand, has been discovered in the country's northeastern regiony, said a senior government official on Thursday. More than 20 pieces of the fossil of the herbivorous dinosaur have been discovered, after one piece was discovered by a villager last year in Nong Bua Raheo district of Chaiyaphum province, about 340 km northeast of Bangkok, said Niwat Maneekut, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Mineral Resources. The dinosaur was estimated to be about 100 million years old with its size believed to be the biggest ever found in Thailand, Xinhua news agency reported quoting Niwat. The agency is conducting research on the species of the herbivorous dinosaur in comparison with those found in other countries, he said. The newly-found dinosaur was believed to be related to the Titan Dinosaur species with long front legs, he added. New Delhi, Oct 5 : As the AAP-led Delhi government continues to oppose the proposed Metro fare hike, Delhi Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot on Thursday asked Chief Secretary M.M. Kutty to call a meeting of all Delhi government-nominated Directors on the DMRC Board. Gahlot asked Kutty, one of the five government-nominated Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) Directors, to call the meeting to direct these officials to "put up Delhi government stand against the proposed hike". The Minister also asked Kutty to request DMRC Chairman to call a Board meeting before October 9, a day before the proposed hike is to be enforced, and a decision be taken to defer the fare hike. The Delhi government has locked horns with the DMRC over the proposed hike, the second this year. In May, the minimum fare went up from Rs 8 to Rs 10 and the maximum from Rs 30 to Rs 50. Last week, Kejriwal had asked Gahlot to find within a week a way to stop the "anti-people" fare hike. Gahlot met DMRC Managing Director Mangu Singh and asked for putting on hold the proposed hike till the Delhi government completed an inquiry on the matter. On Friday, the AAP warned of protest if the DMRC remained adamant on increasing fares. The DMRC defended its decision by saying its input costs have gone up over the years, and the increase is at par with Metro rails in other cities. On Saturday, Kejriwal urged Union Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Puri to direct the DMRC to withhold the hike and on Sunday called for an independent audit of DMRC's accounts. The Delhi assembly will meet on Monday to discuss the proposed hike and pass a resolution against it. Beijing, Oct 5 : China has issued another travel advisory to its citizens in India, asking them not to take photographs of border areas and military installations. "(Visitors should) not photograph India's border and military facilities and vehicles. While travelling on India's border neighbouring Nepal, avoid visiting border markets, and do not enter the territory of other countries by mistake," it said. This is the first travel advisory after the resolution of Doklam stand-off but the third one since the crisis began in June. The 73-day stand-off between Indian and Chinese troops at Doklam in the Sikkim section was resolved on August 28. "Some Chinese citizens visited Andaman and Nicobar Islands, which are restricted areas for foreigners, without gaining permits from India. Some tourists were asked to return upon arrival; some were even arrested or investigated," said the advisory, reported the state-run Global Times. According to the report, the Chinese Embassy in New Delhi issued the warning on Tuesday. The advisory also elaborated how Chinese tourists were denied entry or investigated while travelling in India and how the Embassy had to step in. The first advisory was issued on July 7, asking Chinese to reduce unnecessary travel to India. It was reissued on August 24. Naples, Oct 5 : Police in Naples on Thursday arrested three youths for the gang rape of a 15-year-old girl in an upscale district of the southern Italian city in May and said they had incriminating evidence linking the trio to the attack. The three youths are being held in a juvenile prison pending charges, police said. Police launched an investigation when the teen reported that she was gang raped in an isolated spot at the Naples seaside resort of Marechiaro after one of the youths invited her for an ice-cream. Two members of the gang took off her bikini while the others removed their clothes, surrounded her and took it in turns to rape her, according to the girl, who only told her parents in July of her ordeal. The girl was able to show her mother photos of her alleged rapists on Facebook. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Oct. 05, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reliq Health Technologies Inc. (TSX VENTURE:RHT) (OTCQB:RQHTF) (Reliq or the Company), a technology company focused on developing innovative mobile health (mHealth) and telemedicine solutions for Community-Based Healthcare, is pleased to announce that it now has 1,000 paid subscribers using its chronic care management, remote patient monitoring and telemedicine solution, representing recurring monthly revenue of US$50,000/month. We are excited to announce that we now have 1,000 patients live on our platform, said Dr. Lisa Crossley, CEO of Reliq Health. This is a critical milestone for Reliq as we move forward with our roll out to over 40,000 patients in accordance with our previously-announced contracts with Paz Home Health, LLC (Pharr, TX) and Rio Grande Valley Health Alliance, LLC (McAllen, TX). We expect to enroll at least 1,000 new patients per month through 2018 with these two contracts, which together are worth over US$26 Million annually in recurring revenue at full deployment. Reliqs digital health solution provides high quality virtual care in the community by creating a virtual hospital ward within the patients home, automatically collecting vital signs and tracking medication adherence. Reliqs interactive voice technology provides patients with audible alerts and reminders to take their medications, collect their vitals using Bluetooth-enabled monitoring devices and perform prescribed rehab or fitness activities. Reliqs two-way voice hub provides voice-activated access to patient education content, empowering patients and family members to proactively manage complex chronic conditions. The Reliq Health cloud platform instantly alerts the clinical care team if a patient develops key warning signs, allowing clinicians to intervene before a health crisis occurs and preventing costly and disruptive hospital readmissions and ER visits. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD Dr. Lisa Crossley CEO and Director For further information contact: Renmark Financial Communications Inc. Laura Welsh: lwelsh@renmarkfinancial.com Tel: (416) 644-2020 or (514) 939-3989 www.renmarkfinancial.com or CORE Capital Partners at 604-566-9233 or investors@ccpartnersinc.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. Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward Looking Information Certain statements in this press release constitute forward-looking statements, within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements that are not historical facts, including without limitation, statements regarding future estimates, plans, programs, forecasts, projections, objectives, assumptions, expectations or beliefs of future performance, are "forward-looking statements". We caution you that such "forward-looking statements" involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual and future events to differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to commercial operations, including technology development, anticipated revenues, projected size of market, and other information that is based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management. Reliq Health Technologies Inc. (the "Company") does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements except as required by law. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties relating to, among other things, technology development and marketing activities, the Company's historical experience with technology development, uninsured risks. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The Harrisburg University of Science & Technology's Academic Center used architectural precast concrete wall panels to blend the parking garage at the building's base with the classroom levels above. It was important to the project team to create a building that would be an iconic expression for the university and the City of Harrisburg. The Harrisburg University of Science and Technology is the first independent science and technology-focused, non-profit university to be established in Pennsylvania in more than 100 years. The university was created to address the Capital Regions need for increased educational opportunities in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) careers. When it was time to build their new academic center, the university chose precast concrete for various applications in the buildings construction. The university turned to Architectural Precast Innovations (API) in Middleburg, PA to provide the precast concrete components. API is a producer member of the Mid-Atlantic Precast Association (MAPA). PROJECT OVERVIEW The Academic Center is 373,713 gross square feet and 16 stories high. It includes classrooms, laboratories, administration and faculty offices and a conference center. The center also houses a seven-story parking structure that is nestled between the ground floor and the academic floors. Located on a downtown Harrisburg corner, the site afforded the university the opportunity to create stronger ties to the city and leverage the existing services in the downtown area. It was important to the project team to create a building that would be an iconic expression for the university and the City of Harrisburg. To accomplish this, they developed a massing strategy that respected the contextual scale of the city by breaking down the massive structure to a scale consistent with its neighbors. To achieve this, precast concrete was used in various applications. Large precast monoliths provide visual support for the cantilevered roof structure, in addition to containing the elevator towers. PRECAST SOLUTION Utilizing large precast panels, the team created the relatively joint-less monolithic towers that house the buildings core elements. Unlike a traditional high rise, the centers design pulls core elements to the perimeter. The resulting massing firmly roots the building while providing an abundance of open learning commons space. The learning commons area incorporates an abundance of natural light and offers scenic views of the city. For the buildings garage, precast concrete panels were used to enclose the garage floors. The panels doubled as barriers and eliminated the need for additional barrier systems. Attached to the garage precast is a decorative screen that conceals the parking garage floors. Its design a syncopated overlay of perforated metal screen elements is inspired by DNA maps and hints at the digital aspirations of the institution that built it. The screens also allow natural ventilation of the garage. The screen is attached to the precast by integrating the structural connection points into and through the precast panels. This marriage of screen and precast mimics the bay structure of the neighboring buildings. On the upper floors, articulated precast panels and continuous ribbon windows are used to incorporate contextual materials and complement larger neighbors. While the building respects its surroundings, massing decisions, facade articulation and a distinctive roof profile set the building apart. The design team strived to stay faithful to the aspirations of the university and helped to create an iconic presence on the Harrisburg skyline. The use of precast concrete helped make that vision a reality. For a project photo gallery, visit the Harrisburg University Academic Center Project Profile on the MAPA website. PROJECT AT-A-GLANCE Location: 326 Market Street (Harrisburg, PA) Precaster: Architectural Precast Innovations API (Middleburg, PA) Owner: Harrisburg University of Science and Technology (Harrisburg, PA) Architect: Burt Hill (Butler, PA) Engineer: Barber and Hoffman (Cranberry Twp, PA) Contractor: R.T. Reynolds, Inc. (Harrisburg, PA) Square Footage: 373,700 Level/Floors: 16 ABOUT MID-ATLANTIC PRECAST ASSOCIATION The Mid-Atlantic Precast Association (MAPA) is a professional marketing organization committed to the growth and greater profitability of the Precast Industry in the Mid-Atlantic region. Founded in 1978, MAPA is comprised of 13 prestressed/precast producer member firms located throughout the Mid-Atlantic States, including New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and Washington, D.C. The organization is closely associated with the Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute (PCI) and has over 50 associate member companies that produce a variety of concrete industry related products. For more information, visit http://www.mapaprecast.org. On October 12, Center for Hospice Care (CHC) will host the 6th Annual Okuyamba Fest to benefit their international partner, the Palliative Care Association of Uganda. The event begins at 5:30pm and takes place on CHCs Mishawaka campus. It offers attendees the opportunity to learn more about Ugandan culture while enjoying food and beverages. The event features a silent auction during which many hand-made Ugandan art and craft pieces will be made available. Proceeds will benefit CHCs Road to Hope program that supports children in sub-Saharan Africa who have been effectively orphaned after caring for their terminally ill parent or parents. Participants will also be able to sign up to sponsor a specific child in the Road to Hope program, to ensure this child has his or her basic needs met for food, clothing and education. Registration for this special event is $25 a person or $45 a couple. Students with a valid Student ID can register for $5. For more information, please contact Hannah Birong at BirongH(at)cfhcare(dot)org or 574.243.3119, or visit foundationforhospice.org. About Center for Hospice Care and the Hospice Foundation Established in 1978, Center for Hospice Care is an independent, community-based, not-for-profit organization, improving the quality of living through hospice, home health, grief counseling, and community education. With offices in South Bend, Plymouth, Elkhart and Mishawaka, CHC serves Elkhart, Fulton, Kosciusko, LaGrange, LaPorte, Marshall, Porter, St. Joseph and Starke counties in Northern Indiana. The Hospice Foundation is committed to supporting the work of CHC through community outreach and education, fundraising activities and other special events. The Foundation helps CHC keep its 37-year promise that no one eligible for hospice services will be turned away, regardless of their ability to pay. Detroit Employment Solution Corporation joins MITN Purchasing Group Our valued vendors can now save time and paper. Plus they not only have direct access to our open bids, but those from other agencies throughout the state. The Detroit Employment Solution Corporation announced it has joined the MITN Purchasing Group and will be publishing and distributing upcoming bid opportunities on the system. BidNets MITN Purchasing Group connects nearly 200 participating agencies from across Michigan to a large vendor pool and streamlines the bid and vendor management process. BidNets MITN Purchasing Group provides notification to registered vendors of new relevant solicitations, and any addenda and award information from participating agencies. The Detroit Employment Solution Corporation joined the purchasing group in September. Detroit Employment Solution Corporation will utilize the system to streamline their purchasing process including bid management, bid distribution and vendor relations. The MITN Purchasing Group is a single, online location for managing sourcing information and activities and provides local Michigan government agencies the tools needed to minimize costs and save time throughout the purchasing process. Before joining the MITN Purchasing Group, Detroit Employment Solution Corporation was distributing bids and managing their procurement process manually. The traditional, paper procurement process is being replaced by local government agencies throughout Michigan. In joining the MITN Purchasing Group, Detroit Employment Solution Corporation looks to save time, reach out to more vendors automatically and achieve cost savings over the traditional paper-based bid process. The MITN Purchasing Group expands an agencys vendor pool and enhances vendor competition without increasing distribution costs. In addition to the existing agencies on the MITN Purchasing Group, all vendors looking to do business with Detroit Employment Solution Corporation can register online at http://www.bidnetdirect.com/mitn. Detroit Employment Solution Corporation invites all interested bidders to register today. Registered vendors can access all open bids, related documents and files, and additional addendum and award information. In addition, the MITN Purchasing Group offers a value-added service to notify vendors of new bids targeted to their industry, all addenda and advance notification of expiring term contracts. Registered vendors have access to not only the Detroit Employment Solution Corporation bid opportunities, but all participating agency bids. Our valued vendors can now save time and paper. Plus, they not only have direct access to our open bids, but those from other agencies throughout the state. We invite all of our current vendors to register on the MITN Purchasing Group to start receiving business opportunities, stated Alessia Baker-Giles, Finance Director of the Detroit Employment Solution Corporation. Vendors may register on the MITN Purchasing Group by visiting http://www.bidnetdirect.com/mitn. BidNets vendor support team is available to answer any questions regarding the registration process or the bid system at 800-835-4603 option 2. Other local Michigan government agencies looking to switch from a manual bid process, please contact the MITN Purchasing Group for a demonstration of the no-cost sourcing solution. About the Detroit Employment Solution Corporation (DESC): Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation believes in the revitalization of Detroit. By assisting employers with finding talent and jobseekers with finding jobs, they are working to raise the employment rate and ultimately to restore Detroit as a center of growth for businesses and jobseekers. Founded as a non-profit in 2012, DESC is part of the Michigan Works! system and is one of 16 Michigan Works! Agencies located across the state. We provide adult and youth programs that develop and place applicants in the growing job market, and we work with businesses to source and develop the talent they need. DESC is the fiscal and administrative agent of the Mayors Workforce Development Board (MWDB) appointed by the Mayor of Detroit. The MWDB is the governing body responsible for the successful execution and delivery of workforce and training programs for Detroit jobseekers and businesses. It is supported in this by the DESC Board, which is charged with oversight of DESCs day-to-day operations. About the MITN Purchasing Group: The MITN Purchasing Group is a part of BidNets regional purchasing groups available at no cost to local government agencies. With years of input from procurement professionals, BidNet specifically developed the bid system to fill the need for a robust bid and supplier management solution for local government agencies. To learn more about the features and modules available to government agencies, please visit http://www.SourceSuite.com. Deputy Mayor Andrea Zopp Delivers a Keynote Speech at Year Up Chicago's Opportunity Breakfast Deputy Mayor Andrea Zopp gave the keynote speech at Year Up Chicagos fifth annual Opportunity Breakfast on Friday, September 29, followed by Bridget Gainer, Cook County Commissioner 10th District. The breakfast took place from 7:30 am to 8:45 am at the Union League Club in Chicago, where the Mayor and Commissioner Gainer joined executives, philanthropists and other community leaders to celebrate the workforce development nonprofit and discuss plans for the future. I am proud to support the continued growth and success of Year Up. They understand the hurdles our students face, and are uniquely qualified to provide the skills, experience and support necessary to ensure they reach their potential, said Deputy Mayor Andy Zopp. More now than ever, Chicago students are achieving record academic successes, and programs like Year Up are helping to make sure whichever path they chose after graduation is a successful one. "Nothing builds a future like a job and nothing builds a City like a generation propelled by opportunity," said Bridget Gainer, Cook County Commissioner, in her speech. Were thrilled to have the Deputy Mayor and Commissioner Gainer join us this morning to discuss the Opportunity Divide in Chicago the gap between the 97,000 young adults in Cook County who are out of work and out of school, and the thousands of unfilled jobs in Chicago, said Year Up Chicago Executive Director Jack Crowe. With the support of our citys leaders, executives and donors, Year Up Chicago can continue to grow quickly to close the Opportunity Divide and help low-income youth access careers in top industries. Since 2010, Year Up Chicago has helped more than 850 young adults achieve their professional and educational goals through hands-on technical and professional skills training, college credits and internships. These young adults provide 45 of Chicagos leading businesses including JPMorgan Chase, Allstate and Northern Trust with a pipeline of skilled, motivated talent for entry- and mid-level roles in Sales, IT, Financial Operations, Cyber Security and Business Operations. Year Up Chicago now serves more than 220 people each year, with 88 percent of graduates employed or attending college full-time within four months of completing the program. Year Up is free for students, who also earn weekly stipends and college credits throughout the year. Learn more about Year Up Chicago by visiting us on Facebook and Twitter. About Year Up Year Up's mission is to close the Opportunity Divide by providing urban young adults with the skills, experience, and support that will empower them to reach their potential through professional careers and higher education. Year Up achieves this mission through a high support, high expectation model that combines marketable job skills, stipends, internships and college-level coursework. Its holistic approach focuses on students' professional and personal development to place these young adults on a viable path to economic self-sufficiency. Year Up currently serves more than 3,600 students annually across 24 campuses in Arizona, Baltimore, Bay Area, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Greater Atlanta, Greater Boston, Greater Philadelphia, Jacksonville, Los Angeles, National Capital Region, New York City, Providence, Puget Sound, South Florida and Wilmington. To learn more, visit http://www.yearup.org, and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter: @YearUp APL nextED, a trailblazer in faculty management technology, has announced the launch of its Faculty Management Solution (FMS), a comprehensive digital solution for managing, measuring and reporting on all tenured and non-tenured faculty data. APLs FMS is the first of its kind to offer faculty lifecycle management for both tenure and non-tenure track faculty. APLs new Faculty Management Solution benefits higher education institutions in numerous ways including time and cost savings related to faculty hiring and staffing, evaluation and promotion, professional development, and accreditation review preparation. The platform allows colleges and universities to centralize data in one secure single sign-on platform for improved data quality and accessibility. Dr. Vipin Gupta of California State San Bernardino commented, I can't commend the APL team enough for their professionalism, promptness and service mindset. APL's platform is simple and a delight to manage. APL nextED is improving the way higher education collects and uses their faculty data, said Kathleen Gibson, APL nextEd Founder and CEO. Today data is stored in multiple systems across departments, sometimes even in paper files. With the APL nextED platform all this data is quickly accessed and easily managed. In addition to simplifying workflows and centralizing data, APL nextED is poised to serve as a vital resource when an institution is preparing for accreditation review. APL nextED provides a variety of standardized and customizable reports that make reporting to stakeholders easy and efficient. Streamlining the task of assembling faculty information can not only smooth and inform the accreditation process but also support institutional research, planning and recruitment, said Jamienne Studley, former deputy under secretary, US Department of Education, and a member of APL nextEDs advisory board. As the APL nextED platform provides efficiencies for administrators and faculty, there is more time to focus on students and learning. states Gibson. More than 60 years of research shows that excellent teaching is the single most important factor in student success. By simplifying time-consuming operational processes, APL helps support the primary goal of all colleges and universities, student learning and success. Founded in 2015, APL launched as a talent matching service for colleges and universities that needed qualified faculty to teach. The CEO, Kathleen Gibson, founded the company after spending 14 years in higher education as a dean and professor. About APL nextED APL nextED is a comprehensive Faculty Management Solution (FMS) for managing and reporting on all faculty data for tenure and non-tenure faculty. APL provides all stakeholders involved in the faculty lifecycle with a solution to manage workflows for accreditation review reporting, evaluation, promotion, professional development, recruiting, and staffing. APL currently has 35 partner schools nationwide and has provided schools with hundreds of qualified candidates to teach across the country. For more information, visit http://www.aplnexted.com kathleen.gibson(at)aplnexted(dot)com http://www.aplnexted.com VICTORIA, British Columbia, Oct. 05, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Carmanah Technologies Corporation (TSX:CMH) (the Company or Carmanah) announces that it has taken up and paid for 6,000,000 million common shares (Shares) at a price of CAD $5.00 per Share under Carmanahs substantial issuer bid (the Offer) for a total cost of CAD $30.0 million. The Shares purchased represent 24.09% of the Shares outstanding immediately prior to the purchase. After giving effect to the purchase, Carmanah has 18,908,019 Shares issued and outstanding. Shareholders had the opportunity under the Offer to tender Shares until 5:00 p.m. (Vancouver time) on October 4, 2017. Approximately 14,862,667 Shares were tendered to the Offer. The Shares will be taken up on a prorated basis in accordance with the terms of the Offer. Payment for the purchased Shares will be completed by Computershare Investor Services Inc. (the Depositary) in accordance with the Offer. Any Shares tendered and not purchased will be returned to shareholders promptly by the Depositary. About Carmanah Technologies Corporation Carmanah designs, develops and distributes a portfolio of products focused on energy optimized LED solutions for infrastructure. Since 1996, we have earned a global reputation for delivering durable, dependable, efficient and cost-effective solutions for industrial applications that perform in some of the worlds harshest environments. We manage our business within two reportable segments: Signals and Illumination. The Signals segment serves the Airfield Ground Lighting, Aviation Obstruction, Offshore Wind, Marine, Traffic and Telematics markets. The Illumination segment provides solar powered LED outdoor lights for municipal and commercial customers. Contact Carmanah Technologies Corporation: Evan Brown, (250) 380-0052 Chief Financial Officer/Corporate Secretary investors@carmanah.com This release may contain forward-looking statements. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as expects, estimates, could, will or variations of such words and phrases. Forward-looking statements or information in this news release relate to, among other things: payment for the purchased Shares being completed by the Depositary and the return of any Shares tendered and not purchased to shareholders promptly by the Depositary. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of Carmanah to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: delays to (i) the payment for purchased Shares to shareholders by the Depositary and (ii) the return of Shares tendered but not purchased to shareholders by the Depositary. These forward-looking statements are based on managements current expectations and beliefs but given the uncertainties, assumptions and risks, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements or information. Carmanah disclaims any obligation to update, or to publicly announce, any such statements, events or developments except as required by law. For additional information on these risks and uncertainties, see Carmanahs most recently filed Annual Information Form (AIF) and Annual MD&A, which are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on the Companys website at www.carmanah.com. The risk factors identified in Carmanahs AIF and MD&A are not intended to represent a complete list of factors that could affect Carmanah. Heather Shore, Writer of Deeply Wounded Hope is helping women by claiming their freedom from abuse and life hardships. Her first Book Release party is 10/26/17 at Interstate Kitchen and Bar (1001 Santa Fe Dr. Denver, CO 80204) at 5:30 pm. Light refreshments will be provided for attendees. October is Domestic Violence Awareness month. 1 in 4 women will experience some form of abuse in their lifetime. Anyone can be a victim of domestic violence, regardless of race, age, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or economic status. It happened to Heather when she was 23 and can happen to anyone in your community. Come hear Heathers story and her work against ending domestic violence. Loved this book! It's a good example of how faith in God can help overcome life struggles. Definitely recommend it. reader, Katie Sixta Heather is a wife, mom, and writer. She enjoys the outdoors with her family, exercise, traveling and seeing what adventure God will bring them through next. After surviving domestic violence trauma in her early twenties, she realized her true calling was to help other women overcome domestic violence and life hardships. Her ministry is to encourage women and help them to embrace freedom and abundant life in Christ. Her book Deeply Wounded Hope is a non-fiction work based on that experience. Read more at http://www.heathervshore.com. Hire Dynamics, a leading commercial staffing provider in the Southeast, today announced it has completed the acquisition of StaffMasters, a leading commercial staffing provider in the Carolinas. The combined company will serve over 1500 clients and offer work to more than 38,000 people, including 900 veterans, making it one of the Top 5 staffing companies in the Southeastern U.S. Hire Dynamics, headquartered in Atlanta with operations in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama and Texas, was founded in 2001 by Dan Campbell and Jon Neff with the mission to be the #1 staffing company you refer to a friend. With that as their vision, Hire Dynamics now serves more than 800 clients and offers work to more than 22,000 individuals, including 600 veterans. It has earned client and talent satisfaction ratings that merit Inaveros Best in Staffing award recognizing the top 2% of the 10,000+ staffing companies in the U.S. for the last eight years. Additionally, it has been voted a Best Place to Work by its employees in Atlanta, Charlotte, Greenville and Nashville. StaffMasters, headquartered in Charlotte, NC, has 23 branches throughout North Carolina and South Carolina. Founded in 1982 by Richard Langdon, StaffMasters serves more than 715 clients and offers work to more than 16,000 individuals, including 300 veterans. Like Hire Dynamics, StaffMasters has received Inaveros Best in Staffing award for several years, earning client and talent satisfaction ratings in the top 2% of the 10,000+ staffing companies. The combination of Hire Dynamics and StaffMasters is an ideal match. It brings together staffing providers known for their high service levels and their focus on the Southeastern United States, said Larry Feinstein, CEO of Hire Dynamics. The companies both provide support for contact centers, warehouses, administration and manufacturing, and both have growing businesses in the Carolinas. StaffMasters branches are complimentary to Hire Dynamics branches and will expand our coverage. StaffMasters has a long history of focus on superior service to our clients and talent as does Hire Dynamics, added Richard Langdon, President and CEO of StaffMasters. We look forward to working with Hire Dynamics to implement best practices from both our companies to yet better serve our clients and talent and to accelerate our growth across the Southeast. The transaction closed October 2, 2017. Richard Langdon, Founder of StaffMasters, will remain an investor and will join the board of Hire Dynamics. He will work with Hire Dynamics to ensure a seamless transition of employees and operations. Hire Dynamics is owned by MSouth Equity Partners, a leading Southeast private equity company headquartered in Atlanta. CHILDS Advisory Partners andHilliard Lyons acted as exclusive financial advisors to StaffMasters. About Hire Dynamics: Putting an average of 5,000 people to work every week, Hire Dynamics is an industry leading provider of commercial staffing, ranked in the Top 2% of staffing companies based on client and talent satisfaction. Specializing in contact (call) centers, manufacturing facilities, logistics/e-commerce operations and office support, Hire Dynamics has been recognized by Staffing Industry Analysts Best Staffing Firms to Work For, is a nine-time winner of Inaveros Best of Staffing Awards, and has been listed nine times on Inc. Magazines Fastest Growing Private Companies in the U.S. Hire Dynamics has been named a Best Place to Work for several years in all the markets where it does business. Founded in 2001 with the mission to be the #1 staffing company you refer to a friend, Hire Dynamics now serves more than 800 clients and offers work to more than 22,000 individuals, including over 600 veterans. The company has 11 branch offices and 27 on-sites throughout the Southeast. Learn more at http://www.hiredynamics.com, on LinkedIn here, and on Facebook and Twitter @HireDynamics. About StaffMasters: Founded in 1982 by Richard Langdon, StaffMasters is an industry leading provider of commercial staffing ranked in the top 2% of staffing companies based on client and talent satisfaction. StaffMasters has been recognized by Inaveros Best of Staffing awards for the last 3 years. StaffMasters has 23 branches and 8 on-sites across North and South Carolina which provide support to over 715 clients contact (call) centers, warehouse and logistics operations, administrative services and manufacturing facilities; and offers work to more than 16,000 individuals including 300 veterans. Learn more at http://www.staffmasters.com, Linked In here and on Facebook and Twitter @staffmasters. Roylen Griffin, NAAMTAs Executive Director said, Hawaii Life Flight will be entering their 7th year of accreditation and demonstrating a continuous commitment to exemplary patient care and transport safety as defined in the NAAMTA standards. Using a comprehensive audit of administrative documentation, medical practices, and facilities, NAAMTA is awarding Hawaii Life Flight accreditation for their medical transport program. NAAMTAs Accreditation focuses on quality patient care and transport safety. Hawaii Life Flight demonstrates compliance to each of the defined standards, excels in identifying best practice procedures, and instills these values in their employees. NAAMTA verified compliance through employee interviews, process reviews, and on-site evaluations, all of which were conducted using ISO 9001:2015 auditing guidelines. Roylen Griffin, NAAMTAs Executive Director said, Hawaii Life Flight will be entering their 7th year of continuous commitment of demonstrating NAAMTA standards compliance. I continue to be impressed by the attitudes and willingness of all departments to perform at a high level. I want to bring attention to Hawaii Life Flights Maintenance Department, for their dedication, organization, and good management; making this department one for other maintenance shops to emulate. Hawaii Life Flights Program Director, Mark Leggett stated, "Hawaii Life Flight appreciates the continued privilege of providing safe, compassionate, and efficient air medical services to all the residents and visitors of Hawaii as they call upon us in their time of need. Completing our third re-accreditation with NAAMTA helps us continue to ensure the highest standards for safety and quality of care; moreover, helps HLF fulfill the important commitment we have to our patients, their families, and our community. In addition to the accreditation award, Hawaii Life Flight continues as a member of the NAAMTA Alliance. This alliance unifies accredited organizations in the promotion of continuous improvement through shared education, experience, and quality management principles by Alliance members. About NAAMTA NAAMTA is an accreditation standard-bearer for the medical transport industry, offering procedures that include guidelines for developing a system focused on transport safety, patient care, quality management, and continuous improvement. NAAMTA is globally recognized for its ISO 9001:2008 QMS certification and the implementation of quality practices in their accreditation program. NAAMTAs certified quality management system is audited annually by PRI Registrar, which is an ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board-approved Registrar accredited to certify organizations to a variety of management systems including ISO 9001. NAAMTA has successfully made great strides in identifying key best practices to improve the standard of performance among EMS and inter-facility providers at national and global levels. Through a dynamic approach to auditing and a vast array of web-based reporting and learning tools for members, NAAMTA distinguishes itself as an accreditation source interested in providing services to their members and work toward the improvement of medical transportation practices. About Hawaii Life Flight Hawaii Life Flight has been providing air medical transportation in Hawaii since 2006. With the most experienced air medical teams in Hawaii, they have built a solid reputation for excellent patient care, as well as an outstanding safety record. While improving transport times and upgrading the standards of care, Hawaii Life Flight has saved thousands of lives by providing access to the highest level of care to everyone living in the Hawaiian Islands, 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. In 2010, Hawaii Life Flight was awarded the Fixed-Wing Award of Excellence from the Association of Air Medical Services (AAMS). Roylen Griff Griffin, Executive Director NAAMTA P.O. Box 111 American Fork, UT 84003 (801)-756-7215 http://www.naamta.com Cambridge Assessment, a department of the University of Cambridge responsible for providing exams and education systems in over 170 countries is rebranding two of its exam boards in collaboration with leading consultancy BrandCap. The two exam boards Cambridge English Language Assessment and Cambridge International Examinations are both launching updated brand identities (names, visual identities and propositions) to emphasise the fact that they are part of the University of Cambridge and reflect the evolving needs of their customers: the millions of learners, teachers, parents, schools and education institutions, ministries and partners they serve across the globe. The brands have been designed to feel warm, approachable and learner-focused. Additionally, they have been more closely aligned to the parent brand by incorporating Cambridge Assessment into their names. While both brands draw on the Groups combined qualities they also have distinct audiences and offerings which needed to be taken into consideration. Cambridge Assessment English formerly Cambridge English Language Assessment helps people learn English and prove their skills to the world. It has an unrivalled depth of experience in English language learning and every year, more than five and a half million Cambridge English exams are taken in over 140 countries. The new visual identity expresses this idea and conveys the belief that learning English is an exhilarating journey. Imagery depicts learners out in the real world living, working and studying in their own environment. The visual identity is based on a set of shapes in warm, vibrant colours representing the communication skills Cambridge Assessment English assesses: reading, writing, speaking, and listening. The overall impression is of a dynamic, energised and learner-centric brand. Jacqui Bullock at Cambridge Assessment English comments: Our new brand is focused on the proposition for every learner, every step of the way and our commitment to giving learners the skills to communicate with confidence and access a lifetime of enriching experiences and opportunities." Cambridge Assessment International Education formerly Cambridge International Examinations provides exams for international studies across all qualification levels and subject areas. Its goal is to prepare school students for life, helping them to develop an informed curiosity and passion for learning. The new name and visual identity is a clear and compelling expression of its personality and what it does for ministries, national education organisations, schools, parents and learners. With one million learners across 10,000 schools globally, Cambridge Assessment International Education is the common thread in a culture of global communication. The sentiment was captured by drawing inspiration from symbols of different cultures around the world to create Cambridge Assessment International Educations own motif which could be used across its portfolio of products, offers and materials. The most significant part of the name change for this part of the Group is not what has been taken away, but the addition of the word education. The new name reflects the full breadth of the education offer it provides; bringing the exam board closer to the educational experience of learners. In addition, it is introducing Cambridge Pathway, a new way to describe its educational programmes for schools and will be launching other exciting new programmes and services later in the year. This is the second phase of work for Cambridge Assessment, which launched an evolved Group brand in January 2017, also in collaboration with BrandCap. The new brands were developed in close consultation with hundreds of internal and external stakeholders worldwide. Stephanie Matthews, Director, BrandCap, said: Exams and assessments are a fact of life. However, they dont have to be associated with dread for many theyre a gateway to future opportunities. We wanted the brands to radiate the confidence people get from their qualifications. Consequently, the changes go much further than simple visual updates. They reflect a strategic move to transform the way they work and ultimately, offer a more inspiring and integrated customer experience across the Group. With these updates, Cambridge Assessment English and Cambridge Assessment International Education will forge more emotive connections with customers and learners around the World. We look forward to honoring top hospitality leaders who actively promote group travel in their field by providing the best services, activities, and all-around experiences. Group travel fans are urged to submit their vote for the 2017 American Group Travel Awards (AGTA) to help recognize the finest group travel suppliers and organizations in the industry. There is still time to vote for your favorites at https://americangrouptravelawards.com/AGTA/voting.cfm. Online voting will officially close on Sunday, October 15th at 12am EST. This year, there are 22 outstanding categories delivering the highest quality of group travel services and experiences. Categories range from hotels, cruise lines and ground transportation to convention centers, airlines and car rentals, among others. The fourth annual black-tie awards gala, hosted by Dylan Ratigan, former MSNBC television host, TV journalist, and documentary film producer, will be held on Monday, November 13th at the TAO Downtown in New York City. Music for the night will be provided by local native DJ Dalton and performances by award-winning Broadway musicals Chicago and Waitress. St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital will serve as the official charity for the evening, raising funds to end childhood cancer. We look forward to honoring top hospitality leaders who actively promote group travel in their field by providing the best services, activities, and all-around experiences, said Tim Hentschel, CEO of HotelPlanner.com, and co-creator of AGTA. Go online and get involved by voting for your favorites today. Sponsorship for the event is being provided by the industrys top hospitality and travel suppliers including Best Western, Choice Hotels, Highgate Hotels, Wyndham Hotel Group, Expedia, Hotels.com, SuperShuttle, and PNC Bank. The AGTA winners will be announced on-stage during the awards ceremony. For more information on this years 2017 awards, please visit americangrouptravelawards.com and follow #AGTAwards on Facebook and Twitter for all of the latest event updates. About American Group Travel Awards: The American Group Travel Awards (AGTA) was created by Tim Hentschel, CEO of HotelPlanner.com, and Peter Stonham, Editorial Director at Landor Travel Publications. Mr. Hentschel and Mr. Stonham organized the AGTA to recognize all the effort and dedication that organizations in the United States put into providing group travelers with exceptional travel experiences. The concept was introduced into the marketplace by Peter Stonham who, with Group Travel Organiser, have been providing group travelers with information and ideas for group travel trips since 1988. The event in London, called the UK Group Travel Awards, is attended by nearly 500 attendees and awards are provided in 23 categories. HotelPlanner and Landor Travel Publications also launched the European Group Travel Awards which took place in Berlin, Germany on March 9th, 2017 at the Intercontinental Hotel Berlin. The European Group Travel Awards recognizes the finest suppliers on the continent that specialize in group travel. HotelPlanner and Group Travel Organiser believe that the group market will continue to grow. Shared travel experiences with family and friends and by corporations and businesses help build more productive relationships and memories that last a lifetime. Aquitas Solutions, a leading provider of EAM and IoT solutions that optimize asset intensive industries, announced today that they will be a Platinum Sponsor at the Maximo Utility Working Group (MUWG) Fall Workshop October 30th November 2nd, in Nashville, TN. The event, hosted by Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), will have two main focus areas: Translating Maximo Data into Feedback for Action and Adjusting Business Practices to Support Cultural Change Based on Maximo Data. Aquitas Solutions has strong domain expertise in both of these areas and has been addressing the unique asset management needs and challenges of the utility industry for nearly two decades. We are delighted to support the Fall event in Nashville, commented Jeff Brown, Executive Vice President of Operations, Aquitas Solutions. He added, driving collaboration in the utilities industry is fundamental in developing goals and business processes across all critical areas. We know the industry and understand the technology to help our clients establish standards and measurements for success. A new wave of accelerating business value is hitting the utility industry in such areas as collecting and exchanging data, safety and regulatory risk, and operational equipment effectiveness, commented, Ray Miciek, Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Aquitas Solutions. He added, we are excited to once again be a Platinum sponsor of MUWG and share the strong progress we have made in expanding Maximos capabilities with IoT. Aquitas looks forward to meeting and greeting MUWG first timers as well as legacy attendees during the Hospitality Night on October 30th and Vendor Night on October 31st. The company will have several team members on site including Gina Leonard, former IBM Maximo Supply Chain Offering Manager. With over 25+ years of maintenance experience and a strong background in the natural gas and utility industry, Gina can offer a realistic approach and practical solution for any of your Maximo needs. ### About Aquitas Solutions Aquitas Solutions is a leading provider of EAM and IoT solutions that optimize asset intensive industries. The Company prides itself on working strategically and collaboratively with the top, globally recognized EAM and IoT platform solution providers to heighten business value and bring bottom-line benefits to their clients. Based in Atlanta, GA, Aquitas leadership team and management consultants have nearly one thousand man years of enterprise asset management experience and have been early adopters of IoT technology that helps clients leverage their EAM system to optimize performance and improve productivity and service levels across the entire spectrum of their organization. The Company has a long history of delivering faster, smarter, and more agile solutions at a competitive rate helping customers streamline their internal processes and compete more efficiently in an increasingly synergetic world. Aquitas Solutions is a registered Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) and proud supporter of Women in Reliability Asset Management (WIRAM). http://www.aquitas-solutions.com/ Fides EFT Web is a highly integrateable, single platform can process payments of all formats through the optimal channels to global banking partners." Fides Treasury Services AG, the global leader in multibank connectivity and communications, has announced the release of its latest corporate payments solution, EFT Web. The new EFT Web offers a highly intuitive UX; making it easy for treasury teams to access, manage, validate, and execute payment files of any format. By reducing and optimizing integration touchpoints, the solution helps treasury teams easily achieve automation and decreases the threat of cyber-attacks. While the system can process any file and format type, the newly released platform was uniquely built based on the complex ISO standards, making EFT the most comprehensive solution for multibank communications. ISO standards are very high and present a lot of challenges for treasury teams. By starting with the most difficult issues, we were able to create a solution that would be highly versatile and therefore highly useful for corporate treasurers," says Andreas Lutz, CEO of Fides. With the release of the new EFT Web payments solution, we have given the market highly sophisticated capabilities that are also extremely flexible and easy to use. Born from an intensive user-driven research and development process, the firm is confident that the new solution brings to market the capabilities that are needed. Key areas of functionality include: Security and Cyber-Crime prevention through reduced integration touchpoints and advanced controls Ease-of-Use in the areas of security set-up, user and permissions administration, controls Performance Enhancements to improve processing times and handling of high account volume Flexibility for single and bulk payment file detail management and workflow In-depth reporting customization and automation Ease-of-Integration with TMS/ERP Minimize internal access restrictions and/or permission limitations Corporations want their payments executed on time and at low cost, continues Lutz. What they don`t want, is to set up proprietary bank interfaces, worry about data breaches, or evaluate connectivity options on their own. Now, with the availability of Fides EFT Web Solution, they dont have too. Our highly integrateable, single platform can process payments of all formats through the optimal channels to the corporation`s global banking partners. ABOUT FIDES Fides is the global leader in multi-bank connectivity and transaction communications. With the industrys largest bank connectivity network, Fides helps over 3,000 active clients communicate with more than 10,000 banks globally. Our geographic reach spans 170 countries across the Americas, EMEA, and the APAC regions. Committed to helping corporations optimally connect and interact with their banks for over a century, Fides solutions deliver critical multi-bank account statement, payment workflow and reporting capabilities that allow treasury and finance teams to easily, accurately and securely communicate with their banks through any possible channel such as SWIFT, EBICS, SFTP or any alternative network. Press Contact: Please email marketing(at)fides.ch for all press inquiries The team at EyeforTravel would like to extend their deepest condolences to the victims, their families, and all those affected by the senseless tragedy that took place in Las Vegas this week. Having held numerous past conferences in the city, EyeforTravel knows that its people and businesses are resilient and will recover. Tim Gunstone, EyeforTravel MD says: Our upcoming summit is to be held at the Mandalay Bay Hotel where this senseless act took place. As our hearts go out to all those affected, we as an industry are also acutely aware of how these random events can destroy travel businesses, like hotels and airlines, and the countless livelihoods that they support. This week we also saw the demise of Monarch Airlines in Europe, which attributed much of its demise to terrorism and the closure of markets that have been affected like Turkey, Tunisia and Egypt. Gunstone continues: Of course, we completely understand that people may be reluctant to attend the Las Vegas Summit so soon after such a tragedy but as a business that stands with the travel industry, and one that has held numerous events over the years in the city, we have decided to show our solidarity by proceeding with our Summit this month. Twenty percent of the value of all tickets sold between now and the event will be donated to the American Red Cross. The EyeforTravel team would also like to thank the all the delegates and speakers who have shown support in confirming their attendance. For questions, please email me directly at tim(at)eyefortravel(dot)com. MedTech Deal Activity by Out-of-Industry Companies The evolution of the U.S. healthcare industry has been a matter of both regulatory change principally catalyzed by the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and its imperative to shift the industrys business incentives from volume to value Healthcare companies, facing new and unprecedented pressures from regulators, competitors, and consumers, continue to turn to dealmaking by way of M&A, joint ventures, and other forms of partnership as a means to survive in the industrys new world order. Previously, weve profiled the drivers and models of deals among payers, providers, and pharmacy companies, though we have yet to touch upon an adjacent segment medical technology where dealmaking is unfolding in a distinct but interrelated manner. Recently, Water Street Partners sat down with Rick Anderson, Managing Director of PTV Healthcare Capital, a late-stage venture and expansion capital firm based in Austin, TX, and Greg Davis, CEO of MedCelerate, a consulting group that supports the growth of medical device companies through manufacturing and commercial ramp-ups, and Adjunct Professor at the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University. We discussed highlights of dealmaking trends among medtech companies today and talked about how companies in this sector are leveraging particular types of deals to propel innovation. Disruptive Dynamics in Healthcare and the Impact on Medtech The evolution of the U.S. healthcare industry has been a matter of both regulatory change principally catalyzed by the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and its imperative to shift the industrys business incentives from volume to value in addition to transformation compelled by macro-trends like the rapid advancement of technology and big data and their increasing accessibility to individual consumers. The impact on medical device, or medtech, companies is multifold: they are experiencing the pressure of reimbursement cuts indirectly through interactions with their customers, and they are also witnessing out-of-industry companies like Apple and Google testing capabilities in the traditional medtech domain. Consolidation between and among payers and providers, who represent key customers of medtech, has contributed to parallel consolidation trends among device companies. Greg Davis notes that medtech companies have observed intense provider consolidation and reacted accordingly: Medtech companies are continuing to consolidate at a rapid pace, making a scale and size play. Especially as payers and providers grow more consolidated, this approach helps the medtech players remain at the negotiating table, by enabling them to talk about a wider range of products. Moreover, Rick Anderson points out that device companies, particularly those in commodity categories, are facing tremendous pricing pressure from payers and providers, and have reacted by leveraging acquisitions in an effort to, get too big to ignore they want to ensure that the payers and health systems and integrated delivery networks have to pay attention to them. The shift in traditional purchasing dynamics for devices has also impacted how medtech companies approach selling, as they increasingly need to engage a larger stakeholder group and acknowledge the emerging emphasis on value. According to Davis: for decades, the med device industry has been focused on the physician as the key decision maker. But now many physicians are employed by hospitals; while theyre still at that negotiating table, theyre only a single voice at the table today. Additionally, medtech companies are responding to the needs and preferences articulated by their customer base and regulators by increasingly considering broader contracting arrangements that cover larger product sets and reflect the emphasis on value and risk-sharing that is ubiquitous today among payers and providers. Davis says that device companies are expressing interest in getting into the services side of the business; theyre talking about developing more complete packages that might mean they get paid based on the continuum of care, rather than for a particular implant or other device. That said, Rick Anderson suggests that theres an element of dissonance between what many medtech companies communicate publicly versus carry out in day-to-day business operations: Theyre saying all the right things and claim to be figuring out population health, but the absolute truth is that most are really doing nothing about it in fact, if they were really to enable population health initiatives, it would disrupt their business model; having to deal with things like risk-sharing would be inconsistent with how they sell their products. Medtech companies lack of substantive action on the population health front has facilitated the entrance of out-of-industry players like IBM and Alphabet (Exhibit 1), who, in Andersons words, are looking over the fence at healthcare, and saying, we can innovate in that space. While medtech companies collect and manage enormous amounts of data, Anderson and Davis suggest that technology companies like IBM Watson and Verily are the driving force behind new data analytics partnerships with established medtech players like Medtronic and Johnson & Johnson. Anderson says, the people who are really doing something on this front are the data people, like those at Verily; its those tech companies who really understand the value of the data, and medtech is chasing rather than leading those partnership conversations. While early examples of these partnerships like Verb Surgical and Galvani Bioelectronics still have yet to launch major product offerings, Anderson and Davis agree that the wealth of data housed in the medtech space is likely to continue attracting the attention of out-of-industry innovators. Positioning for Success Emerging Models For Medtech Dealmaking In reviewing industry dynamics and the deal activity of medical device companies, Anderson and Davis describe a cast of archetypes that are likely to emerge as various players leverage different strategies and more specifically, types of deals to cope with industry-wide disruption. Anderson observes, bigger companies are deciding, as we speak, whether to be too big to fail or to be technology innovators. He comments that the largest global players like Johnson & Johnson are more likely to choose the former, because, theyre giant players with an unmatched global footprint; their strategy will be to occupy categories where they can win with scale. Companies like these, in Andersons opinion, may invest modestly in innovation, but generally will play a consolidator role, operating under the assumption that they can buy whatever they want at whatever price. Anderson also describes an alternative approach, in which companies like Siemens, GE, and Philips seek to vertically integrate and make targeted investments in particular services and therapeutic areas. The key to making this a winning strategy, according to Anderson, is to pick the right verticals that are well-positioned for innovation. Underpinning both of these approaches is a heavy preference for acquisition on the part of traditional medtech companies. In Davis words, large medtech companies have historically relied on a model of buying innovation from small companies, and then throwing it into their big company sales engines. However, both Anderson and Davis point out the pitfalls of this attitude, commenting, after the financial crisis, throughout 2008-2009, there was almost zero startup activity in medtech the largest hole ever in our industry is playing out right now, and the big companies are complaining that theres nothing to buy. Anderson says, the biggest medtech players are blindly going about what theyve been doing, thinking the ecosystem will produce more companies when in fact, the tech folks like Qualcomm and Google see this as an opportunity to come in and disrupt their businesses. Creative Approaches to Medtech Deals Faced with a shortage of conventionally attractive acquisition targets, some medtech companies are turning to partnerships and creative deal terms to alleviate the stress of investing in early-stage, high-risk startups. Anderson remarks that while large device companies are starving for growth, many remain reluctant to make investments that are not accretive on day 1. Moreover, theres real risk of crushing new startups with heavy corporate structures, policies, and management. That said, Anderson argues, theres an awakening happening these companies are realizing that they can support off-balance sheet R&D units, and then leverage their global footprint to sell and share margin. Arguably the most creative of these partnership structures are what Anderson calls build and buy deals, a form of synthetic joint venture or phased acquisition between a startup technology company and its venture capital or private equity partners on the one hand, and an established medtech player on the other. The parties pre-agree to an overall partnership timeframe, development and other milestones, incremental funding commitments, exit ramps, and other key deal terms. As the partnership launches and progresses, the startup company gets access to capital in pre-agreed portions by way of convertible debt, off of the larger companys balance sheet as it achieves the predetermined milestones. Those milestones pertain not only to proving and scaling the technology in question, but also may include integrating the startup organization and its capabilities into the larger companys structure and product suite. If successful, the larger company will officially acquire the startup at the end of the programmed collaboration period, having already proven out the technology, tested the relationship, and proactively addressed the logistics of integration. There are several clear benefits to this type of deal structure. In leveraging a build and buy deal, large medtech companies have an opportunity to more exhaustively vet and nurture emergent technologies before taking major hits to their P&Ls. Startups receive the funding they need, but in Andersons words avoid being tinkered to death by the corporate structure and processes of an established medtech company. Looking ahead, Anderson believes that this type of collaborative transaction will be an appealing mechanism to de-risk key investments while fostering critical innovation in the medtech ecosystem. Like most of the healthcare industry, Davis and Anderson agree that the medtech sector today is in a transitional period, anticipating a tsunami of digital innovation and beginning to leverage collaborative deals as a means to capitalize on it. The companies best positioned to succeed will be those who commit meaningfully to innovation and are willing to flex collaborative partnership muscles that have been neglected by medtech players historically. Stryrofoam Round Up Norris Project 2017 Public Lands Day One of the great assets that the Tennessee River Valley enjoys is an abundance of public lands and waterways. The Tennessee River and its tributaries stretch from the headwaters in Virginia, through east Tennessee and North Georgia, crossing Northern Alabama and Mississippi, before turning north back into Tennessee and Kentucky. The miles of water serve as a habitat for aquatic wildlife; a recreational resource for paddling, boating, rafting, sailing, and fishing; an economic corridor for transportation and movement of goods, businesses dependent on water resources, commercial fisheries, agriculture; and the demand for homes and businesses with an address along the waterways. The challenge of keeping the river and the shorelines clean is a labor of love for groups and people who play, work, and live in the watersheds. While most efforts are local grass roots projects, the net impact is regional. What happens upstream impacts the conditions of the watershed downstream, said Keith Montgomery, Big Ridge State Park Ranger and volunteer with the Norris Project. "Our islands and lake are popular with campers, boaters, and fishermen. The Norris Project celebrates Public Lands Day by hosting an Island Invasion clean up. This year, our volunteers launched from 7 locations and collected 52,000 pounds of trash." The Norris Project was recognized at the 2017 annual Awards of Excellence for the work they are doing to improve the Clinch and Powell Rivers in East Tennessee. Since 2009, this group has removed over 100 tons of litter from the waterways and planted 2000 plus trees to improve wildlife habitat. Keep the Shoals Beautiful in Decatur, Alabama holds an annual competition to keep the city river banks and boat launches clean. Further down river, the Pickwick Parrot Heads are invested stewards of the river near Pickwick Dam. Along the waterways of Land Between the Lakes, paddlers join in to collect debris that collects in coves. In August 2017, the newly chartered non-profit Keep the Tennessee River Beautiful Board met to talk about aligning these types of projects to grow the miles of shorelines and waterways that are adopted and improve downstream water quality. The Tennessee River Valley Stewardship Council applauds the work of these groups. Conservation of the river is a core priority for the Council and community groups are encouraged to nominate their projects and events dates to the mapguide. Our goal for the TRV mapguide project is to build great communities where people want to live. Clean water and open green spaces are attractive to families and businesses and will lead to greater economic opportunities for our region, says spokesperson, Julie Graham. MONTREAL, Oct. 05, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MOBI724 Global Solutions Inc. (MOBI724) (CSE:MOS) (OTCQB:MOBIF), a fintech leader offering integrated EMV payment, card-linked offers and digital marketing, via its subsidiary MOBI724 Asia Inc., is pleased to announce that its Transaction Payment Host has successfully completed the final steps of a rigorous testing process and has received Host System Certification from BancNet. This certification will allow local prospects who use MOBI724s solutions the ability to roll out a full EMV solution to their customers. Our local customers will benefit from their inclusion on BancNets Certification Approval List, as it helps to reinforce and aid in the development of new partnerships with local acquiring banks, as well as increasing their processing transaction volume. With the completion of this final step, we have also officially received our first Point of Sale Device order, says Marcel Vienneau, CEO of MOBI724. This allows us to commence planning the rollout of our first EMV end-to-end solution in the Philippines. About MOBI724 Global Solutions MOBI724, a leader in the fintech industry based in Montreal (Canada), offers a unique and fully integrated suite of payment & digital marketing solutions with a combined EMV Payment, Card Linked Offers, and Digital Marketing platform that works on any card and any mobile device. MOBI724s solutions add value to all types of transactions benefiting banks, retailers and cardholders by leveraging available user and purchasing data to increase transaction volumes and spend. MOBI724 provides a turnkey solution to its clients to capture card transactions on any mobile device, at any point of sale or from any payment card. MOBI724 provides its customers with full and comprehensive traceability and enriched consumer data through its offering. Its solutions enable card associations, retailers, manufacturers, offer providers, mobile operators and card issuers to create, manage, deliver and track and measure incentive campaigns worldwide to any mobile device and allow redemption at any point of sale. Forward Looking Statements Certain statements in this document, including those which express managements expectations or estimations with regard to the Companys future performance, constitute forward-looking statements as understood by applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements are, of necessity, based on a certain number of estimates and hypotheses; while management considers these to be accurate at the time they are expressed, they are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and risks on the commercial, economic and competitive levels. We advise readers that these forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other known and unknown factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied in these forward-looking statements. Investors are advised to not rely unduly on the forward-looking statements. This advisory applies to all forward-looking statements, whether expressed orally or in writing, attributed to the Company or to any individual expressing them in the name of the Company. Unless required by law, the Company is under no obligation to publicly update these forward-looking statements, whether to reflect new information, future events, or other circumstances. The Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) has not reviewed this news release and does not accept responsibility for its adequacy or accuracy. This news release does not constitute a solicitation to buy or sell any securities in the United States. For further information MOBI724 Global Solutions Inc. Marcel Vienneau 1-514-394-5200 x 413 www.MOBI724globalsolutions.com Renmark Financial Communications Inc. Bettina Filippone: bfilippone@renmarkfinancial.com Media - Kellie Coppin: kcoppin@renmarkfinancial.com Tel: (416) 644-2020 or (514) 939-3989 www.renmarkfinancial.com "An unidentified Ammi Phillips portrait has been identified by Connecticut House Histories" The subject of a 181-year-old portrait by American folk artist Ammi Phillips has been identified by Connecticut House Histories, LLC, a genealogical research firm based in Fairfield, Conn. After more than a year of exhaustive research, CTHH confirmed the identity of the sitter in the circa 1836 painting to be Myra Ann Raymond Haxtun Wheeler, the daughter of a prominent family in Kent, Conn. At the time Ammi Phillips painted her, he was in the midst of his "Kent Period," which spanned from 1829 - 1838, based on the groundbreaking research done by Barbara and Lawrence Holdridge, who compiled their investigation into the artist in the book "Ammi Phillips Portrait Painter, 1788 - 1865" published in 1968. In addition to the portrait's identification, CTHH discovered an 1842 lease agreement Phillips signed for the use of a "public house" located in South Kent in the Connecticut community. Phillips had an option to renew the lease for up to three years, which could have extended his "Kent Period" to 1845. "Finding the 1842 lease agreement was an exciting discovery on many fronts," Melanie Beal Marks, founder of CTHH and principal researcher, said, "but, specifically, it physically put Ammi Phillips in Kent, Connecticut. Because of this document, it led us to look at other land records more closely in Connecticut, New York and Massachusetts. "Locating the lease agreement also made us question how many more important documents regarding Ammi are just waiting to be found. Knowing his whereabouts at any given time helps us to search numerous repositories to find more information about him and his work. We are always thinking outside the box when it comes to where to go and look, which has made us successful." CTHH's final report, which included numerous vital records and other documentation proving the portrait's identity, was provided to Sotheby's, from where the current owners purchased the painting in 2007 for $264,000 at an auction. The portrait of Myra Ann Raymond Haxtun Wheeler was owned by members of the Raymond family and their descendants through 1941, according to CTHH's provenance. Myra Ann Raymond Haxtun Wheeler was 18 years old when her portrait was painted by the itinerant artist. She first was married to Andrew B. Haxtun, a broker and real estate owner in Brooklyn, N.Y., then to David E. Wheeler, a prominent attorney in Brooklyn. Myra Ann Raymond Haxtun Wheeler died in 1886 at the age of 68. Connecticut House Histories, LLC, uses a team of historic research consultants who have decades-worth of experience in researching genealogy, historic homes and properties. The consultants have extensive experience helping clients in Connecticut and New York trace the pasts of their families and homes, but frequently work with people from around the country. For more information, visit cthousehistories.com. Martin Whittaker, bmi regionals COO stated, AeroVision has provided bmi regional a custom-made component support offering that will allow us to better service our customers in a cost-effective manner. This partnership will help underpin bmi regionals long-term growth plans. AeroVision International (Muskegon, Michigan) announces the execution of a comprehensive 5-year cost-per-hour parts agreement in support of the airline bmi regionals fleet of 20 ERJ aircraft. The bmi regional fleet of Embraer ERJ 135/145 aircraft will benefit from AeroVisions on-site consignment inventory throughout its network, as well as from material located at AeroVisions 3PL site at Heathrow Airport (LHR) and the US headquarters warehouses. We are pleased to be selected by bmi regional to provide this support, said Angela Baker, AeroVisions Vice President Components. This agreement will enable bmi regional to manage their operational requirements in a 'no surprise' environment and AeroVisions extensive inventory resources and best-in-class AOG support will be leveraged to support their dispatch reliability targets. Martin Whittaker, bmi regionals COO stated, AeroVision has provided bmi regional a custom-made component support offering that will allow us to better service our customers in a cost-effective manner. This partnership will help underpin bmi regionals long-term growth plans. About AeroVision International LLC: Founded in 2003, AeroVision International has become a trusted business partner to business and regional aircraft MR&O shops worldwide. AeroVision supplies business and regional commuter engines and engine parts (PW100 / AE3007) in support of operators and MRO facilities around the world. With a strong focus on regional aircraft like the ATR 42/72 & Embraer EMB 120, ERJ & EJet type aircraft, AeroVision offers sales & leasing of aircraft, engines, auxiliary power units, avionics and landing gear as well as outright or exchange sales of all major internal and external spare parts. Information on AeroVisions support for regional aircraft can be found at http://www.aerovi.com. About bmi regional: bmi regional operates an all-jet fleet comprising 20 Embraer 135 and 145 aircraft. The airline now operates over 400 scheduled flights a week across a network of 42 destinations in 11 European countries and employs more than 400 staff. The airline also operates an extensive ad hoc charter business and flies on a contract basis on behalf of other carriers. Its scheduled network includes Oslo and Stavanger in Norway; Brussels in Belgium; Esbjerg in Denmark; Toulouse, Nantes and Paris in France; Graz in Austria; Brno in Czech Republic; Bremen, Frankfurt, Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Nuremberg, Rostock, Stuttgart, Munich and Saarbrucken in Germany; Bari, Venice, Verona, Bologna, Florence, Milan Malpensa and Milan Bergamo in Italy; Lublin in Poland; Jonkoping, Norrkoping, Gothenburg and Karlstad in Sweden and Aberdeen, Birmingham, Bristol, Derry, East Midlands, Edinburgh, London Heathrow, London Stansted, Manchester, Newcastle, Southampton and Norwich in the UK. M+K logo "Being a pioneer is a core value for us, not only as a business practice, but as a commitment to social justice." Joe McCormack Continuing its 24-year record of successful executive placements, McCormack+Kristel recently recruited new chief executives for PFLAG National and New Yorks Bailey House, and launched a CEO search for The San Diego LGBT Community Center. PFLAG National recently appointed Dr. Jaime Grant as their new Executive Director. Founded in 1972, PFLAG has nearly 400 chapters and more than 200,000 members and is the nations largest family and ally organization. Grant has a three-decade-long track record of leadership in the LGBTQ and feminist movements. She previously held the position of Policy Institute Director at the National LGBTQ Task Force and is the founding executive director of the Arcus Center for Social Justice Leadership. Most recently, she served as the founder and director of the Global Trans Research and Advocacy Project. Said Jean Hodges, PFLAG President, Our search for a new Executive Director for PFLAG National was handled efficiently, thoroughly, and with grace by McCormack+Kristel Partner Michelle Kristel. Her excellent communication, her extensive network of contacts which enabled a large pool of qualified applicants, her sensitivity to issues of diversity, and her skill and expertise in interviewing top candidates were all critical to keeping the process moving on a well-paced timeline. Best of all was the wonderful result in hiring exactly the right person for the job. John Oda, the Chair of the PFLAG Search Committee added, "McCormack+Kristel was the perfect firm for our Executive Director search. Their expertise and experience was noticeable and crucial from the start to the end." McCormack+Kristel also announced the successful completion of the Chief Executive Officer search for New Yorks Bailey House. Established in 1983, Bailey House provides supportive housing for people living with HIV and AIDS and advocates on their behalf. In addition, the program connects individuals with medical care and other health and social services. Special housing units are set aside for LGBT homeless youths, with a number of units specifically for supporting transgender youth. Daniel Tietz, the new CEO, is presently Chief Special Services Officer at NYC Human Resources Administration. He was previously the Executive Director of ACRIA, the AIDS Community Research Initiative of America, and the Deputy Executive Director of the New York Coalition for the Homeless. He is an RN by training and holds a JD degree from the New England School of Law. Bailey House Board Chair Matt Farber said, "Dan's entrepreneurial spirit, unique combination of advocacy and nonprofit experience, and relentless approach to improving the lives of some of New York City's most vulnerable citizens make him the perfect fit to lead Bailey House." The San Diego LGBT Community Center has recently retained McCormack+Kristel to assist with the search and selection process to recruit a successor for long-term Executive Director Dr. Delores Jacobs. McCormack+Kristel brings 24 years of recruiting experience to this executive search. Founder and managing partner Joe McCormack says, We were the first retained search firm to recruit leadership for the HIV/AIDS and LGBTQ communities, and we are the first retained search firm to embrace the transgender community as a valuable source of talent for our clients. Being a pioneer is a core value for us, not only as a business practice, but as a commitment to social justice. We are honored to support The San Diego LGBT Community Center during this important leadership transition. Since its founding in 1993, McCormack+Kristel has completed more than 400 searches for CEOs, board members and C-suite executives for large and small nonprofit organizations across the country. Clients have included the ACLU, the Los Angeles LGBT Center, Planned Parenthood, SAGE, the Tides Foundation, and many more. For additional information, contact Joe McCormack, Managing Partner, McCormack+Kristel at Joe(at)mccormackkristel(dot)com or (323) 549-9200. L6NRG Montana I, LP L6NRG, LLC, Managing Partner of L6NRG MONTANA I, L.P. (the "Company") today announced that the Company's President, Frederic G. Scheer, will attend the A&D Strategies and Opportunities Conference & Workshop at the Omni Dallas Hotel, located at 555 S Lamar, Dallas, TX on October 12 & 13, 2017. The A&D Strategies and Opportunities Conference & Workshop is presented by Hart Energy and hosted by Oil & Gas Investor. Top executives from the companies leading, financing and forecasting North Americas shale revolution, the globalization of LNG, and other major energy trends are expected to attend the event. About L6NRG: L6NRG is an independent energy company engaged in the acquisition, exploration, development and production of oil and natural gas properties, primarily in the Bakken and Three Forks formations within the Williston Basin in North Dakota and Montana. We believe the location, size and concentration of our acreage position in one of North Americas leading unconventional oil-resource plays will provide drilling and development opportunities that result in significant long-term value. Our primary focus is oil exploration and production through non-operated working interests in wells drilled and completed in spacing units that include our acreage. As a non-operator, we intend to diversify our investment exposure by participating in a large number of gross wells, as well as entering into more project areas by partnering with numerous experienced operating partners. L6NRG is based in Bozeman, Montana. please visit http://www.L6nrg.com About L6nrg Montana I, L.P. L6NRG, LLC, is a Delaware limited partnership, managed by L6NRG, LLC. a Montana Limited Liability company, engaged in the business of oil and gas exploration and production of oil and natural gas properties primarily in the Bakken and Three Forks formations within the Williston Basin in North Dakota and Montana. L6nrg Montana I, L.P. has been structured to allow investors to participate into such exploration with lower risks and to benefit from the attractive tax treatment reserved by the US Tax Code to investors in the Oil & Gas Industry. Visit: http://www.L6nrgmontana1lp.com Safe Harbor Statement This news release may contain "forward-looking" statements. These forward-looking statements are only predictions and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ from those in the forward looking-statements. Potential risks and uncertainties include such factors as uncertainty of consumer demand for the Company's products, as well as additional risks and uncertainties that are identified and described in Company's reports. Actual results may differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this press release. Statements made herein are as of the date of this press release and should not be relied upon as of any subsequent date. The Company does not undertake, and it specifically disclaims, any obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect occurrences, developments, events or circumstances after the date of such statement. MSUAA Logo This years recipients truly embody what it means to be a Spartan. Each person selected has made a positive impact at home and at-large. Their accomplishments are an inspiration, not just to all of our graduates, but to the world. Michigan State University (MSU) Alumni Association is proud to honor its outstanding alumni. The MSU Alumni Association will recognize exceptional alumni during its annual Grand Award Gala on October 19 that reflects the prestige of MSU and its values in five categories. This years recipients truly embody what it means to be a Spartan. Each person selected has made a positive impact at home and at-large. Their accomplishments are an inspiration, not just to all of our graduates, but to the world. By investing in our students and alumni, we are investing in our future, said Scott Westerman, associate vice president, Alumni Relations. The award categories for this years Alumni Grand Awards include: Alumni Service Award, honoring those alumni that have demonstrated service to MSU and/or commendable public service on a local, state, national, or international level; Distinguished Alumni Award, honoring alumni that have differentiated themselves by achieving the highest level of professional accomplishment; Honorary Alumni Award, honoring those non-alumni candidates that have made an outstanding impact on behalf of MSU; Philanthropist Award, honoring those individuals, families, associations, corporations, or foundations that have generously demonstrated ongoing financial support and leadership to MSU; Young Alumni Award, honoring those alumni under age 40 who have distinguished themselves through a high level of professional accomplishment. This years MSU Alumni Grand Award recipients are: Distinguished Alumni Award: Mona Hanna-Attisha: Hanna-Attisha, MD, MPH, FAAP, obtained her M.D. from the MSU College of Human Medicine in 2002; she is known for spearheading the discovery of lead in Flints drinking water in 2014. Earvin Magic Johnson: Johnson, a former Spartan basketball star and MSU honorary degree recipient, was recently named the president of Basketball Operations for the Los Angeles Lakers in addition to serving as chairman of Magic Johnson Enterprises and the Magic Johnson Foundation. He is a passionate advocate for HIV/AIDS awareness/educational programs. Earleatha Cookie Johnson: Earleatha received her BS from the MSU College of Communication Arts and Sciences in 1981. Better known as Cookie, she is a New York Times best-selling author, entrepreneur, and serves as the secretary to the board of directors for the Magic Johnson Foundation. Craig Menear: Menear, chairman, CEO and president of The Home Depot, earned a BA from MSUs Eli Broad College of Business in 1979; he serves on the board of the Atlanta Committee for Progress, which brings together top CEOs, to provide leadership on issues of great impact for the city. Alumni Service Award: Donald Maine (Dr. Don W. Maine): Dr. Maine received a BA from MSUs College of Education in 1965 and his MA from the college in 1972. He is the chancellor emeritus of Davenport University and was instrumental in development of the MSU College of Human Medicine campus in Grand Rapids, Mich. His estate has been gifted MSU to establish the Donald W. Maine Endowed Graduate Fellowship in Higher Education Administration. Michael & Margaret Morrow: Michael received a BS from the MSU College of Social Science and is the owner of MGB Associates, LLC. Alongside his wife, Midge, who received her BA from the MSU College of Education, the couple has donated countless volunteer hours and pledged over $300,000 in support of various campus initiatives. Young Alumni Award: Joel Clum: Clum received a BA from MSUs Eli Broad College of Business. He currently serves as the COO of Worldwide Express Operations. At MSU, he led a nonprofit consulting initiative, Students Consulting for Nonprofits, and as an alumnus supported its expansion to universities across the country. Jonathan Kirkland: Kirkland received a BA from the MSU College of Music. In 2014, Kirkland made his television debut on NBCs hit show, Shades of Blue. He is currently performing with the Chicago Company of Hamilton, and prior to, he performed onstage in regional and off-Broadway productions of Sister Act, Generations, and Cabin in the Sky. Kaleb Thornhill: Thornhill received a BA from the MSU College of Social Science in 2007 as well as a Master of Science in kinesiology and sports administration in 2009. He currently serves as the director of Player Engagement for the NFLs Miami Dolphins and is co-founder of APEX Academy. Honorary Alumni Award: Thomas Luccock: Luccock joined the Spartan family in 2000 when he was hired to serve as director of internal audit and subsequently senior advisor to the president of MSU, a total of 15 years of service to the institution. His legacy continues to grow as he displays leadership through means of volunteerism, mentoring, philanthropy, and general support for higher education at MSU. Philanthropist Award: Thomas Yunck: Dr. Yunck is the founder of GeoOptics, Inc. and serves as its chairman and chief technical officer. Known for his research on GPS signals and with strong family ties to MSU, he granted MSU a $10.5 million bequest, which will be used toward his familys endowments. MSU Alumni Association will be hosting their Grand Award Gala on October 19 in the Big Ten Rooms at the Kellogg Hotel & Conference Center in East Lansing, Mich. The reception starts promptly at 5:30 p.m. For more information, visit alumni.msu.edu/traditions/alumni-awards. About MSU Alumni Association: The MSU Alumni Association embodies Michigan State Universitys world-grant mission to make the world a better place through collective Spartan power. Through engagement and continuing education, MSUAA fosters lifelong connections with more than 500,000 Spartans around the world. For more information, visit alumni.msu.edu. Facebook Twitter YouTube # # # Understanding the microbiome, the millions of bacteria that live in our guts, is one of the newest frontiers in human health. Gut Love: You Are My Future, the newest exhibit on display at the University City Science Centers Esther Klein Gallery (EKG), offers an artists perspective as it explores the human condition through the lens of the gut microbiome. Gut Love opens October 12, 2017, and runs through November 25th. An opening reception for the exhibit will be held at EKG, 3600 Market Street, on October 12th from 5 7:30 p.m. Created by performance artist Kathy High, Gut Love embraces metaphors of interspecies love, immunology and bacteria as it examines research in fecal microbial transplants and gut biomes to better understand the importance of bacterias function in our bodies. We have millions of bacteria and fungi in and on our systems; how do these ecologies of the body coexist? As a patient with Crohns disease, Highs interest in gut microbiota starts with her own body. Led by High, Gut Love includes collaborations with William DePaolo, Guy Schaffer, Oliver Kellhammer, and Allison Berkoy, with creative input from Zach Appio, Diane Bertolo, DePaolo Lab team (Andrew Johnson, Denise Chac, Melissa Kordahi, Bayaan Haidar, and Amy Parker), Caitlin Foley, Eleanor Goldsmith, Shannon Johnson, Jillian Hirsch, Kat McDermott, Solon Morse, Senem Pirler, and Paul Vanouse. The exhibition also features a performance and research talk with Kathy High, Guy Schaffer and William DePaolo, on October 26th from 7 8 p.m. and October 27th from 12:30 1:30 p.m. at EKG. Schaffer, a Science Technology Studies (STS) scholar, will discuss his research on Dr. Chalis Underdue, a radical proctologist from the 1800s. Immunologist and Director of the Center for Microbiome Sciences and Therapeutics William DePaolo will join High to talk about their collaboration in gut microbiome manipulations. Kathy High is an interdisciplinary artist, educator working with technology, art and biology. She collaborates with scientists and other artists, and considers living systems, empathy, animal sentience, and the social, political and ethical dilemmas of biotechnology and surrounding industries. She has received awards including Guggenheim Memorial Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, and National Endowment for the Arts. Her art works have been shown internationally at documenta 13, in Germany; New Yorks Guggenheim Museum and the Museum of Modern Art; UCLA; Dublins Science Gallery, NGBK in Berlin and Fesitval Transitio_MX in Mexico, as well as at MASS MoCA, in North Adams, Mass., and Para-site in Hong Kong. High is Professor in the Arts, and has a lab in the Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY. She is an ongoing artist in resident with the Center for Microbiome Sciences & Therapeutic, DePaolo Lab, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle. This exhibit is sponsored by CMiST Center (University of Washington), The Mutter Museum and The College of Physicians of Philadelphia, Coalesce Center for Biological Art at the University of Buffalo, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute/School of HASS, The Kenneth Rainin Foundation, and the University City Science Center. About the Science Center Located in the heart of uCity Square, the Science Center is a mission-driven nonprofit organization that catalyzes and connects innovation to entrepreneurship and technology commercialization. For 50+ years, the Science Center has supported startups, research, and economic development in the life sciences, healthcare, physical sciences, and emerging technology sectors. As a result, graduate firms and current residents of the Science Centers incubator support one out of every 100 jobs in the Greater Philadelphia region and drive $13 billion in economic activity in the region annually. By providing resources and programming for any stage of a businesss lifecycle, the Science Center helps scientists, entrepreneurs and innovators take their concepts from idea to IPO and beyond. For more information about the Science Center, go to http://www.sciencecenter.org About the Esther Klein Gallery The Esther Klein Gallery (EKG), which opened in 1977, uses the creative arts as a platform to explore relationships between art, science and technology. EKG seeks to positively impact the cultural life of both its immediate neighborhood of West Philadelphia and the broader Philadelphia community. EKG programming is designed to explore the range of art, science and technology exhibitions, and includes gallery talks, panel discussions, and education programs. For more information, visit http://www.sciencecenter.org/discover/ekg. Central Valley residents are invited to participate in the American Heart Associations 2017 Central Valley Heart & Stroke Walk and Lawyers Have Heart Run. Marking its 25th anniversary, the annual Heart Walk includes a 5k run and 2-mile walk, plus Kids Fun Run. The event is set for Saturday, October 21 at Tesoro Viejo, an upcoming master planned community located at Highway 41 and Road 204, just 10 minutes north of River Park Shopping Center. Presented by Tesoro Viejo, the annual Heart & Stroke Walk is the largest local event for the association and has a goal of exceeding the $235,851 raised at last years event, the highest tally to date. All proceeds will go toward the American Heart Associations overall goal of funding research to find better ways to treat and prevent cardiovascular diseases and stroke while providing educational health resources to the local region. With this, the 25th anniversary of the Heart Walk in the Valley, we're excited to celebrate this milestone by making this years event the biggest and most successful one yet, said Todd Suntrapak, president & CEO of Valley Childrens Healthcare and the 2017 Heart Walk chair. Were encouraging everyone to come out and take steps to being Healthy For Good. Its a great time to engage your family, friends and coworkers in a cause that will improve the health of our local community. We are thrilled to host again this year the Heart Walk at Tesoro Viejo, where participants can take in the scenery of the vineyards, orchards and gorges along with the beautiful backdrop of Little Table Mountain, and hope to have another record breaking year, said Karen McCaffrey, vice president of Tesoro Viejo Development. Tesoro Viejo has been thoughtfully planned as a healthy, sustainable community where residents can enjoy an enhanced quality of life focusing on health, wellness and vitality. As this event promotes physical activity and heart-healthy living, we are proud and excited to host it for the next three years. The event is open to the public with families, companies and people of all ages encouraged to attend. Everyone is invited to participate in the non-competitive 2-mile Heart & Stroke Walk that starts at 9:30 am. While still hosted in the same beautiful location, walkers will follow a new course this year that will wind through the trails and vineyards. Over 75 local businesses have already signed up and will be represented with teams of employees bringing along friends and family members. Those not on a company team are invited to form community teams to help raise funds and encourage friends and family to participate. Heart disease and stroke survivors will receive special survivor caps to distinguish them from the rest of the pack. Participants can walk or run and there is no registration fee for the walk. Walkers who raise $100 or more will receive the official 2017 Heart Walk t-shirt. The Lawyers Have Heart Run kicks off at 8:00 am and is a timed 5K event on a moderate trail. The $40 registration fee benefits the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association, and all runners will receive an official Heart Run t-shirt. Participants will have their run timed, and the top male and female runners will be awarded prizes. Everyone is invited to stick around and peruse the health expo where they will find booths on wellness, healthy snack samples, a kids zone with fun activities and more. According to the American Heart Association, walking is the simplest positive change individuals can make to effectively improve their heart health because its free, easy and has the lowest dropout rate of any exercise. Research has shown walking is the single most effective form of exercise to achieve heart health. The benefits of walking and moderate physical activity for as little as 30 minutes each day can help reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke - the number 1 and number 5 killers of Americans, respectively. For information on participating or to make a donation, visit http://www.centralvalleyheartwalk.org or call (559) 650-4010. About the American Heart Association The American Heart Association is devoted to saving people from heart disease and stroke Americas No. 1 and No. 5 killers. We team with millions of volunteers to fund innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies, and provide lifesaving tools and information to prevent and treat these diseases. The Dallas-based association is the nations oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke. To learn more or to get involved, call 1-800-AHA-USA1, visit http://www.heart.org or call any of our offices around the country. The Heart & Stroke Walk is locally presented by Tesoro Viejo. The local Heart & Stroke Walk top sponsors include Valley Childrens Healthcare, Educational Employees Credit Union and Quiring Construction. The media sponsors are CBS 47, Telemundo 51, The Fresno Bee, KMJ Now and KISS Country. For a complete list of sponsors, visit http://www.centralvalleyheartwalk.org. About Tesoro Viejo Situated at the foot of Little Table Mountain, Tesoro Viejo, is an upcoming 1,600 acre master-planned community located off Highway 41 in Madera. A model of innovative design and sustainable living, the community will be a vibrant hub for southeast Madera County where residents can live, work, and play with housing and business opportunities, a walkable town center, green living, thriving industry, and neighborhood parks and schools. In a study recently published in the Journal of Preventive Medicine, Adams and colleagues showed a linear association between a number of modifiable risk factors and multiple chronic conditions, making those modifications a key to health care cost savings and to preventing a wide range of conditions. The data analyzed for the study, https://authors.elsevier.com/a/1VpFeKt2pmc9H, were from the publicly available 2013 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System and included 483,865 non-institutionalized US adults ages 18 years old or older. Chronic conditions included asthma, arthritis, heart disease, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cognitive impairment, cancer other than skin, and kidney disease. Risk factors included obesity, current smoking, sedentary lifestyle, inadequate fruit and vegetable consumption and sleeping other than seven to eight hours, while depression, hypertension, high cholesterol, and diabetes were considered in each category. Previous research by Thorpe and colleagues had estimated that the care of adults with four or more chronic conditions (17.1% of all adults in the study) is responsible for 77.6% of all health care costs in the U.S. today. The potential savings by reducing just two risk factors (diabetes and hypertension) and their related comorbidity was estimated previously by Ormond and colleagues at $9 billion annually over one to two years and closer to $25 billion a year after 5 years or more, factoring in possible complications. True Health Initiative founder, Yale University Prevention Research Center Director and study co-author David L. Katz, MD, MPH, FACLM, pointed out that in addition to costs, another implication of the study results is an individuals access to healthcare if they have one or more of the chronic conditions. Although insurers decide what qualifies as a pre-existing condition, all the chronic conditions used in this study except cognitive impairment are commonly included, he said. Individuals with a pre-existing condition could be denied coverage or face higher premiums. While having a pre-existing condition might not affect coverage for adults eligible for Medicare, over half of all adults with multiple chronic conditions are ages 18 to 64 years. American College of Lifestyle Medicine President George Guthrie, MD, MPH, FACLM, said the study confirms the necessity for addressing the root cause of chronic conditions. The evidence shows that the risks for chronic disease are rooted in lifestyle choices, he said. More than ever, it is important to emphasize lifestyle medicine as the first treatment option for preventing, treating, and in some cases, reversing the cause of chronic conditions. If we can help people with chronic conditions, we can add years to their life and life to their years, as well as lower the ever-increasing costs of healthcare for everyone. ABOUT THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF LIFESTYLE MEDICINE: ACLM is the physician-led professional medical association for clinicians dedicated to the advancement and clinical practice of Lifestyle Medicine as the foundation of a transformed and sustainable healthcare system. More than a professional association, ACLM is a galvanizing force for change. ACLM addresses the need for quality education and certification, supporting its members in their individual practices and in their collective desire to domestically and globally promote Lifestyle Medicine as the first treatment option, as opposed to a first option of treating symptoms and consequences with expensive, ever increasing quantities of pills and procedures. ACLM members are united in their desire to identify and eradicate the cause of disease. Learn more at http://www.LifestyleMedicine.org. Board certification in the field is available through the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine. Visit http://www.ablm.com for details. ABOUT TRUE HEALTH INITIATIVE: True Health Initiative (THI), founded in association with the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, is the global voice for lifestyle as medicine. It was established to make evidence-based fundamental truths about healthy, sustainable living and eating common knowledge. Through unity, we will change the global understanding of the lifestyle practices that most likely help people live longer and live healthier, free of chronic diseases. We are supported by a growing coalition of more than 370 experts including physicians, scientists, nutritionists and authors from more than 35 countries. Today, Cram Fighter Inc., the industry leader in personalized study schedule creation for medical board exams, and Pastest, which provides test prep materials that enable doctors to achieve exam success, announced they have renewed their partnership. The partnership will provide Cram Fighters medical student customers with free access to Pastests online question bank as they prepare for the USMLE Step 1, a key exam milestone in their medical education. Were excited to renew our partnership with Pastest, which empowers med students studying for Step 1 with their innovative, valuable Qbank resource, said Amit Mathew, the CEO of Cram Fighter. Were thrilled to collaborate again with Pastest, whose vision to provide a world-class Step 1 study resource aligns with our core mission to help students achieve high USMLE Step 1 exam scores. Cram Fighter helps thousands of med students annually organize their resources and prepare for medical board exams such as the USMLE and COMLEX. The company offers an automated and personalized study plan solution, so students can free up hours of time, versus creating and managing a study plan by hand. Damon Hampson, Development Manager at Pastest, said, Since we first partnered with Cram Fighter we have been able to connect with students through their excellent Campus Hero program and hear first-hand about how we can continue to add value to our USMLE Step 1 resource with new features and innovation. We are delighted, therefore, to continue our partnership and work together to realize our joint mission of helping students to maximize their exam success. Pastest is a global provider of medical test prep resources with subscribers in 190 countries. Pastest is at the vanguard of medical test preparation, with a consistent track record of developing innovative products that have a measurable impact on student success. The Pastest USMLE Step 1 online question bank, which is available to students free-of-charge through August 31, 2018, features over 2200 high quality questions and explanations written by expert physicians and high performing medical students from top US medical schools. The elegant, user-friendly interface takes USMLE test prep to the next level and the cutting edge mobile app allows students to work faster and smarter, so they can answer questions anytime and on any device, even when offline. Pastest joins Cram Fighters growing roster of partnerships in the medical education industry, as Cram Fighter continues to provide value-added content and resources to subscribers and strengthen its position as the top study scheduling application for med students preparing for board exams. For more information on Cram Fighter, please visit http://www.cramfighter.com For more information on Pastest, please visit https://www.pastest.com/usmle-step-1/ Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices KoenigRubloff Realty Group has announced that on Saturday, October 14, 2017 and Sunday, October 15, 2017, the company will hold a Paint the Town Cabernet Open House Blitz to showcase properties for sale throughout Chicagoland. The name of the event was inspired by the companys cabernet color and the plethora of cabernet signs that will be outside Chicagoland homes that weekend. A comprehensive list of the open houses can be found at PaintTheTownCabernet.com or KoenigRubloff.com. During our Paint the Town Cabernet event, many of our more than 3,000 listings across Chicagoland will be shown, said Nancy Nagy, CEO of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices KoenigRubloff Realty Group. She continued, The event allows buyers to view and compare a wide range of homes with ease. For real estate agents, sharing their listings and knowledge is so fulfilling, but knowing that theyve played a role in helping someone find the home of their dreams? Thats their ultimate goal! About Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices KoenigRubloff Realty Group Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices KoenigRubloff Realty Group is a full-service real estate firm with nearly 1,500 real estate professionals and staff in 24 offices serving customers throughout the Chicago metropolitan area, the North Shore, Western Suburban communities and Harbor Country, Michigan. Deep local roots are complemented by the extensive global reach of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, the top real estate brand in the nation. Affiliated and ancillary services in the form of HomeServices Lending, Fort Dearborn Title, and HomeServices Insurance complete the comprehensive services offered to clients. Visit KoenigRubloff.com. MATAWAN, N.J., Oct. 05, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- iCIMS, Inc., a leading provider of cloud-based talent acquisition solutions, released a new report today that uncovers how consumer technology trends are shaping job seekers expectations of the career search and application process. In the report, The Modern Job Seeker, iCIMS reveals the trends and drivers behind what makes a great candidate experience and the impact online employee reviews, social media, employee referrals and mobile technology have on recruiting efforts. To compile the report, iCIMS conducted a survey among 500 full-time employed U.S. adults, ages 18+ and provided additional commentary from iCIMS customers, Golds Gym, Trilogy Health Services, and iCIMS partner, rGlassdoor. The employee voice is an essential piece of a companys employer brand, said CHRO at Glassdoor, Carmel Gavin. Smart companies are actively empowering their people to share authentic workplace feedback because this kind of information helps candidates make informed decisions about their next job. Employers that take the time to read employee reviews are in a better position to highlight their positive attributes with a candidate who is on the fence, and course correct negative attributes before things go awry. Key findings from the report include: How Job Seekers are Researching Companies Before Applying The content that is most important to job seekers when researching a potential company to work for include employer reviews (37 percent), textual content on a company website (24 percent) and company publications or products (24 percent). Seventy percent of workers have searched for a new job while at work. Nearly 1 in 3 workers have declined a job offer primarily because the company had negative online employer reviews. The Importance of Social Media and Peer Referrals Social media is more than just a millennial trend. Ninety-four percent of all working Americans surveyed would visit a companys social media page when searching for a job. The top social media apps for job searching include LinkedIn (56 percent), Facebook (54 percent) and Glassdoor (34 percent). Eighty-six percent of workers expect to be happier at a job they were referred for than one they were not referred for. Sixty percent of employers believe referrals bring in candidates that are a better fit for the company. The Technology Capabilities Job Seekers Expect Job seekers expect the same ease of use and functionality they see in apps and websites they use every day when searching and applying for a job. When searching for a job, people want to visit job search sites that allow them to: Instantly mark jobs of interest (54 percent); receive recommendations based on job preferences and resume (53 percent); and input salary requirements and enable employers to reach out directly (53 percent). Sixty-six percent of working Americans, including 82 percent of millennials, expect every company to have a mobile-friendly career site and job application process. The majority of working Americans (85 percent) believe the popularity of mobile job search applications means they would have to act quicker than ever to be considered for a position. Recruiting has a direct impact on a companys corporate brand and revenue, said Susan Vitale, chief marketing officer at iCIMS. Candidates who have a negative recruitment experience are less likely to purchase products from the hiring company and are more likely to share negative feedback with their network. Without the right hires found on pace with the business needs, corporate performance is at risk. Recruiting is too important to overall business performance to tackle without the right technology in place, not to mention that organizations risk turning off potential applicants, hindering their candidate pipeline, Vitale explained. Recruiting is no longer just a concern for the HR department; it needs to be top of mind for senior executives in all areas of the business. To view the full report, please visit iCIMS Hiring Insights. Attachments: A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/fa4396be-4107-4310-b38b-3490bda55502 All of us at Lazydays RV are committed to raising awareness and funds to help fight the battle against breast cancer. We hope our involvement in this event will help make a meaningful difference in the lives of those who are impacted by breast cancer. Lazydays, The RV Authority and worlds largest RV dealership, is proud to sponsor the American Cancer Societys upcoming Tampa Bay Making Strides Against Breast Cancer fundraising event. As a supporting contributor, Lazydays RV is sponsoring the event stage for the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer of Hillsborough Walk at Amalie Arena in Tampa on Saturday, October 28, 2017. Last years Tampa Bay event had over 22,000 participants and raised over $800,000. This is our second year as a sponsor of the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer fundraising event, and we couldnt be more proud to support this worthy cause, said John Lebbad, Lazydays Chief Marketing Officer and Chair of the Tampa Bay Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Event. All of us at Lazydays RV are committed to raising awareness and funds to help fight the battle against breast cancer. We hope our involvement in this event will help make a meaningful difference in the lives of those who are impacted by breast cancer. The Lazydays-sponsored arena plaza main stage will host the events opening ceremony, as well as music and dancing with a live DJ and other family-fun activities. Lazydays RV will also have a 36-foot Class A motorhome on display and open for browsing. Participants can sign up for the walk at the Lazydays display and purchase commemorative items from the adjacent Making Strides Against Breast Cancer store. In addition to its role as main stage sponsor, Lazydays RV is sponsoring a team of participants at the event. Lazydays will be donating over $14,000 for the Tampa walk. Lazydays RV has also contributed to the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer silent auction, donating a four-day RV camping getaway at the Lazydays RV Resort. ABOUT LAZYDAYS RV Lazydays RV, founded in 1976, operates the worlds largest RV dealership, based on 126 acres outside Tampa, FL. Lazydays also has dealerships located in Tucson, AZ and Loveland, Denver and Longmont, CO. Lazydays RV has the largest selection of RV brands in the nation featuring more than 2,500 new and pre-owned RVs, over 300 service bays and two on-site campgrounds with over 700 RV campsites. Lazydays RV Accessories & More offers thousands of accessories and hard-to-find parts at all of our store locations. Lazydays also has RV rental fleets in Florida, Arizona and Colorado. Lazydays RV has built its reputation on providing an outstanding customer experience with exceptional service and product expertise. More than a half-million RVers and their families visit Lazydays every year, making it their home away from home. Lazydays has been recognized as a Top 50 RV Dealer by RV Business and as one of Tampa Bays Top Work Places. The Lazydays Employee Foundation, supported by payroll contributions from more than 65% of Lazydays employees, has contributed more than $1.7 million to make many historic changes for at-risk children in the Tampa Bay, Tucson and Colorado communities. For most people, Lazydays RV isn't just the beginning of their journey; it's very much a part of their ride. To learn more, visit http://www.lazydays.com. ABOUT MAKING STRIDES AGAINST BREAST CANCER The American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walks raise awareness and funds to save lives from breast cancer. Each event is a noncompetitive 3 to 5 mile walk that brings people together to make a difference for everyone who has been touched by breast cancer. The events raise money to fund innovative research, provide free information and support, and to help people reduce their breast cancer risk or find it early when it's most treatable. For more information, visit makingstrides.acsevents.org. ### Don Zelezny, Director of Business Development Zelezny brings over 40 years of experience as a principal in North Texas firms providing financial, accounting and technical automation. Starting with simple accounting tools offered to small businesses in 1976, his local practice grew to become #1 nationally with Sage and other publishers. Along the way, he founded 1st Tuesday Alliance Connections, a monthly event promoting his firms thought leadership and brand. Don has deep connections with the Dallas area CPA community, his financial software reselling peers, and local business leaders. 26 years ago, Dons company delivered the infrastructure on which I deployed my first accounting software sale, said Brian Terrell, Managing Partner of BTerrell Group. So, in a lot of ways, we are just picking up where we left off. Ive seen Don grow his businesses from startup to national status, and Im excited to see how his experience and extensive business network will benefit BTerrell Group. Zeleznys career took off as the accounting industry adopted the personal computer and Don delivered some of the very first PC-based solutions. Ultimately, he pioneered not only accounting and financial management automation in the mid-market, but also human capital management and customer relationship management applications. Im excited to join BTerrell Group and return to the business I have enjoyed so much over the years, states Zelezny. Brian and I share a commitment to help client companies do more work with less effort, and I look forward to seeing what we can do together. While not working, Zelezny serves on the Board of Directors of BYO Musicians, which is a networking organization comprised of business professionals who are also performing musicians. Following in the footsteps of his grandfather, who played violin and piano for his own 32-piece orchestra at the Waldorf Astoria in the 1920s, Don leans toward songs which have good stories to tell, or help say how I feel about something. Zelezny applies the same success formula to music that has served him so well in business: Work hard, have fun, market smart, work hard, and have more fun! Did you know that in America one out of six children go to bed hungry? Or that there are over thirteen million food insecure children here, whose lack of nutrition impairs their ability to thrive emotionally, physically, and in school? At Sababa Water, they are helping turn the tide of these troubling statistics by donating a meal to a food insecure child for every bottle of water they sell. We are a One into One company dedicated to helping the kids in our own backyards, explains co-founder Jonathan Stone. If you buy a bottle of water in San Diego, the meal is going to go to a child in need in San Diego. The brand started by selling cases to local natural food stores, cafes, and yoga studios, but has since grown to selling pallets and is now moving their bottles by the truckload. So far in 2017, Sababa has provided over 150,000 meals to children in the USA. Most recently, a store in Calexico immediately sold out of their 1000 bottle run because the community wanted to help feed their local children. People are looking for ways to participate, said Stone. Our goal is to rally our communities to care for the future generation while taking care of their own health. Sababa Water is a natural water that boasts a pH of 9+ that is maintained from the time of bottling until it is opened. High alkaline water supplies the same benefits as drinking regular water, but can also help with balancing acidity and pH levels and is filled with active minerals. Sababa Water can be purchased in select states as well as at Food4Less and FoodsCo stores across California. About Sababa is a socially conscious One into One company launched by Jonathan Stone and Dawn Elyzabeth in 2014. For every bottle of their crisp high alkaline water thats sold, they donate a meal to a child in that same community. Their mission is to help build a stronger, happier generation by ending childhood hunger. We are excited about the release of our new car transport results page. National Dispatch introduces a new car transport quote result page. A quote can be obtained on the companys website through the instant, easy-to-use quote calculator. National Dispatch is always seeking out new ways to improve upon the customer experience. The updated results page promises to do just that by simplifying the process of requesting a free auto transport rate. National Dispatchs online quote calculator is different from many other competitors in the industry. No personal information is required to receive an actual quote. Upon entering four fields of information, the user will be instantly redirected to a screen to see the car transport rate. The only fields of information that are required are vehicle make, vehicle model, pickup location, and delivery location. The new results page allows viewers to see multiple shipping options at one time. Therefore, customers can see price variations within different shipping time-frames all at once. It also allows the customer to change between various methods of transport. This would include choosing between open and enclosed transport, as well as running and non-running vehicle transport, without switching pages. The online quote calculator was created with the customer in mind. Therefore, National Dispatch made it as user friendly and hassle-free, as possible. In addition, the page containing the car shipping rates is free of clutter. It contains only pertinent information. Not only does it make the page more visually appealing, but it eliminates the need to sort through unnecessary content. More developments and improvements are on their way. The nationwide auto transport company plans on adding an online ordering system very soon. This addition will allow customers to book car transport services at the click of a button, making the process easier and more convenient. National Dispatch is a leading provider of auto transport services, shipping vehicles anywhere in the United States. Try out the free online quote calculator to receive an instant car shipping rate in seconds without any personal information required. I am delighted to connect with other members of this community, share respective expertise and broaden our collective impact. Brandon Klein, director of sales, strategic accounts at FreeConferenceCall.com For Business, has been accepted into the Forbes Business Development Council, an invitation-only community for senior-level sales and business development executives. His extensive experience in telecom and sales enables him to provide a wealth of strategic thinking and operational experience to the organization. Klein joins other Forbes Business Development Council members, who are hand-selected, to become part of a curated network of successful peers that provides access to a variety of exclusive benefits and resources, including the opportunity to submit thought leadership articles and industry-related tips on business topics to be published on Forbes.com. It is an honor to have been selected to join the Forbes Business Development Council, says Klein. I am delighted to connect with other members of this community, share respective expertise and broaden our collective impact. Forbes Council combines an innovative, high-touch approach to community management perfected by the team behind Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC) with the extensive resources and global reach of Forbes. As a result, Forbes Council members get access to the people, benefits and expertise they need to grow their businesses and a dedicated member concierge who acts as an extension of their own team, providing personalized one-on-one support. Scott Gerber, founder of Forbes Councils, says, "We are honored to welcome Brandon into the community. Our mission with Forbes Council is to curate successful professionals from every industry, creating a vetted, social capital-driven network that helps every member make an even greater impact on the business world." To read Kleins articles on Forbes Business Development Council connect with him on LinkedIn. For more information about the enterprise-grade conferencing and collaboration services provided by FreeConferenceCall.com For Business, visit our website. About FreeConferenceCall.com Freeconferencecall.com is the most recognized conferencing brand on the planet with users in more than 800,000 businesses, including nearly all Fortune 500. Service offerings around the globe with unlimited use include: high-quality HD audio conferencing, screen sharing, video conferencing, audio and visual recordings, customized greetings, security features, desktop scheduling and mobile applications. Mid-market and enterprise customers can take advantage of FreeConferenceCall.com For Business: high-quality, reliable and secure conferencing and collaboration services complemented by 24/7 customer support, enterprise account management teams, consolidated billing, customized user analytic reports, employee rollout and training and white-label services. FreeConferenceCall.com was founded by David Erickson in 2001 and is based in Long Beach, California. The addition of FiscalReps presents an opportunity to better prepare insurers for the digital future of tax compliance and reporting, while at the same time adding a talented team to support our clients in the region. Global tax compliance and reporting software leader Sovos announced today that it has acquired U.K.-based FiscalReps, Europes leading solution for Insurance Premium Tax (IPT) compliance, adding a critical indirect tax solution to its Intelligent Compliance Cloud and expanding its team to support increased demand for tax and reporting automation in the region. Insurers across Europe trust FiscalReps because the solution safeguards their businesses from mounting risks from governments looking to close longstanding gaps in IPT compliance, said Sovos CEO Andy Hovancik. "The addition of FiscalReps presents an opportunity to better prepare insurers for the digital future of tax compliance and reporting, while at the same time adding a talented team to support our clients in the region. Similar to other indirect tax regulations, IPT compliance has become increasingly burdensome in recent years, requiring insurers to comply with 90 unique taxes and more than 500 complex forms in the European region alone. As governments turn to technology to clamp down on non-compliance, businesses have quickly turned to automation. Through a combination of managed services and software, FiscalReps helps more than 400 businesses, including 20 of the top 50 insurance companies in Europe, calculate and file IPT in 27 European countries. FiscalReps gives those businesses a more automated and more accurate solution for filing thousands of IPT reports each year. The addition of FiscalReps to Sovos cloud software platform takes the solution one step further, according to FiscalReps CEO Mike Stalley, setting the stage for a unique global solution for the insurance market and accelerating software innovation in IPT compliance. The acquisition by Sovos is a great opportunity for our insurance clients, who will now have a truly global solution for all of their premium tax and regulatory reporting needs, Stalley said. "With a proven track record in delivering tax technology solutions globally, the Sovos strategy aligns perfectly with FiscalReps ambitions to remain the market leader in this increasingly complex and challenging environment. We look forward to being part of the Sovos team and contributing to the success story. The FiscalReps acquisition is the second major deal in three months for Sovos, which recently announced its acquisition of Paperless, a leading software solution for a similar compliance challenge, real-time VAT reporting. Sovos has been acquiring leading software businesses around the globe and integrating them into its global platform, an approach Sovos Vice President of Corporate Development John Gledhill says is critical to keeping multinational businesses ahead of disruptive tax and regulatory reporting requirements. The IPT market is another great example of governments pushing businesses toward global software automation by getting aggressive on enforcement of regulations to collect tax revenue, Gledhill said. "As that trend continues to accelerate, Sovos is committed to adding market-leading solutions, like FiscalReps, to solve our clients biggest compliance challenges on a single platform and from a single source of data. The terms of the deal were not disclosed. Sovos is owned by London-based HgCapital and Vista Equity Partners. Burness Paull LLP provided legal counsel for Sovos. Menzies LLP served as financial advisor to FiscalReps and Taylor Wessing LLP provided legal counsel. About Sovos Sovos is a global leader in tax compliance and business-to-government reporting software, safeguarding businesses from the burden and risk of compliance around the world. As governments go digital, businesses face increased risk and complexity. The Sovos Intelligent Compliance Cloud combines world-class regulatory analysis with a cloud software platform to create an adaptable, connected and global compliance solution that keeps businesses ahead of the ever-changing regulatory environment. Sovos supports 4,500 companies, including half of the Fortune 500, and integrates with a wide variety of business applications. Based in Boston, Sovos has offices throughout North America, Latin America and Europe. For more information visit http://www.sovos.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter. About FiscalReps FiscalReps is the leading solution for Insurance Premium Tax compliance in Europe, providing tax compliance services and software to over 400 insurance clients in every European country, including 20 of the top 50 insurance companies in the region. FiscalReps has received several awards, including recognition from the Finance Awards and a UK Captive Award in each of the past four years. FiscalReps is based in Farnborough, U.K. In 2013, Wisconsins legislature added a statewide voucher program to its longstanding Milwaukee voucher program and a newly enacted voucher program in Racine. The state expanded the statewide program in 2015 and changed the funding mechanism of the program so that its cost was borne by local school districts. The program is already distributing tens of millions of dollars to pay private school tuition across the state, and, because of Wisconsins school funding system, its fiscal impact is not evenly distributed across Wisconsins public schools. In a peer-reviewed policy memo released today, University of Wisconsin-Madison Ph.D. student Ellie Bruecker analyzes the fiscal effects of Wisconsins expanded statewide Parental Choice Program. Bruecker describes how the voucher program alters the relative share of public education spending borne by the state and by local districts, and she estimates the differential fiscal impact of the program on Wisconsin school districts. Brueckers analysis finds that while the fiscal effects of the program on public school districts are still relatively small, they are likely to grow over time. She notes that the majority of students currently eligible to participate in the program live within 15 miles of a voucher school and that as participation grows even school districts with low participation rates could lose a substantial portion of their state aid. Small rural districts, as well as urban districts such as Green Bay, would be negatively affected. Bruecker also points out that as the program expands, unless Wisconsin increases the amount of per-pupil funding provided by the state, the result of the voucher program expansion will a net reduction in the amount of state financial support for each student. As more states enact or expand their voucher programs, the case of Wisconsin illustrates how one-size-fits-all statewide programs have the potential to exacerbate funding disparities in the public system. Find Assessing the Fiscal Impact of Wisconsins Statewide Voucher Program, by Ellie Bruecker, on the web at: http://nepc.colorado.edu/publication/funding Find Documents: Press Release: http://nepc.info/node/8856 NEPC Publication: http://nepc.colorado.edu/publication/funding This policy memo is made possible in part by support provided by the Great Lakes Center for Education Research and Practice: http://www.greatlakescenter.org The National Education Policy Center (NEPC), housed at the University of Colorado Boulder School of Education, produces and disseminates high-quality, peer-reviewed research to inform education policy discussions. Visit us at: http://nepc.colorado.edu Kevin Connolly Joins Gilbane Building Company Chicago Team Gilbane Building Company is pleased to welcome Kevin Connolly as a senior manager of business development in our downtown Chicago office. Mr. Connolly brings with him a solid reputation in the AEC industry and over 10 years of experience in several markets including office, industrial, mixed-use, retail, hospitality and healthcare. Most recently, Mr. Connolly led preconstruction and business development efforts for his previous employer. In his career to date, Kevin has worked for both construction companies and real estate developers and in a variety of roles including owners representative, preconstruction, business development/sales and project management. This diverse background will bolster Gilbanes strategic efforts in the downtown Chicago market. We couldnt be more pleased to have Kevin join our efforts. He will be an integral part of and a significant contributor to our private sector growth initiative, said Gary Thalheimer, Vice President/District Manager at Gilbane Building Company Mr. Connolly is a graduate of Northern Michigan University where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management. He is a member of the Internal Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) and the National Association of Industrial Office Properties (NAIOP). He is also a Commissioner for the Village of Barrington Architectural Review Commission and is on the Associate Board for the Harold E. Eisenberg Foundation. About Gilbane Building Company Gilbane provides a full slate of construction and facilities-related services from pre-construction planning and integrated consulting capabilities to comprehensive construction management, general contracting, design-build and facility management services for clients across various markets. Founded in 1873 and still a privately held, family-owned company, Gilbane has more than 50 office locations around the world. For more information, visit http://www.gilbaneco.com. Gilbane has two permanent offices located in Chicago, as well as an extensive knowledge of the Chicagoland market including construction processes, area subcontractors/suppliers, local M/WBE contractors, and familiarity with Chicago jurisdictional authorities. With 39 years of success in the highly competitive Chicagoland market, Gilbane is committed to continuing the strong tradition of excellence in the Chicago construction industry. Global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLPs Greg Sperla spoke at the 2017 Prop 65 Conference in San Francisco on Sept. 25. Held in the Julia Morgan Ballroom of the Merchants Exchange Building, Sperla participated on the panel, Listings of Controversial Chemicals: How Successful are Court Challenges?, which discussed the chemicals that may be listed in the future and the regulated communities options concerning them. The firm was a premier sponsor of the event. Hosted by Prop 65 Clearinghouse, the 12th annual conference brought together more than 150 people from businesses, trade associations, government, and law firms. The program gave attendees insight into how Prop 65 affects their businesses and clients through a variety of expert panels. Additional information on the conference and the full agenda can be found here. Sperla is an associate in the firms Sacramento office, representing businesses and trade associations on regulatory compliance, litigation, and government affairs. He regularly works with national consumer product companies on California and federal compliance issues, including product safety, product registration, labeling, claims/marketing and licensing, among other areas. Sperla also litigates related cases brought under Californias many consumer and environmental protection laws, including Prop 65, the false advertising law, the unfair competition law and slack-fill, in addition to class action and general commercial litigation. He has represented clients in a number of industries, including food, drug, supplement, cosmetic, apparel, and industrial equipment. He received his J.D. from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law, and his B.A. from San Francisco State University. About Greenberg Traurig, LLP Greenberg Traurig, LLP (GTLaw) has more than 2,000 attorneys in 38 offices in the United States, Latin America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East and is celebrating its 50th anniversary. GTLaw has been recognized for its philanthropic giving, was named the largest firm in the U.S. by Law360 in 2017, and among the Top 20 on the 2016 Am Law Global 100. Web: http://www.gtlaw.com Twitter: @GT_Law. Educational opportunities are the focus of the second annual UNCF (United Negro College Fund) Wichita Mayors Luncheon to be held at noon on October 5 at the Hyatt Regency. More than 100 community leaders, including the event host, the Honorable mayor Jeff Longwell and event chair, the Honorable vice mayor LaVonta Williams, will attend the event benefiting Kansas students and UNCF-member institutions. I urge you to help us in our quest to support educational opportunity growth in our community, said Longwell. The funds raised at this luncheon will help students in our community to pursue their dreams and raise themselves, and as a result, our city and region, up through increased knowledge and personal achievement. Understanding the importance of expanding pathways to better futures, UNCF Koch Scholar and Wichita native Marshall Johnson will drive the conversation through a Q&A session. Currently a junior at Wichita State University, Johnson represents the countless number of students benefiting from the communitys investment in paying it forward. Through scholarships and other academic support, UNCF is committed to minority students who have an interest in developing and applying an entrepreneurial mindset to their career pursuits. More than half a million dollars in scholarships have been awarded to students attending colleges in Kansas and, with the help of this years sponsors, Cox Communications, Wichita State University, Wichita Ministerial League and longtime supporter Koch Industries, UNCF will continue to raise awareness on the benefit of investing in the next generation of leaders. Akeam Ashford, KWCH 12 Eyewitness News, will serve as master of ceremonies for the luncheon featuring a student testimonial from Darrell Allison, Wichita State University, class of 2021. To purchase tickets, which are $50, please contact the UNCF St. Louis local office at 314.241.5958. If you are unable to attend but want to make a difference in a students life, text UNCFSTL to 50555. Stay connected throughout the year by visiting uncf.org/stlouis About UNCF UNCF (United Negro College Fund) is the nations largest and most effective minority education organization. To serve youth, the community and the nation, UNCF supports students education and development through scholarships and other programs, strengthens its 37-member colleges and universities, and advocates for the importance of minority education and college readiness. UNCF institutions and other historically black colleges and universities are highly effective, awarding nearly 20 percent of African American baccalaureate degrees. UNCF awards more than $100 million in scholarships annually and administers more than 400 programs, including scholarship, internship and fellowship, mentoring, summer enrichment, and curriculum and faculty development programs. Today, UNCF supports more than 60,000 students at more than 1,100 colleges and universities across the country. Its logo features the UNCF torch of leadership in education and its widely recognized motto, A mind is a terrible thing to waste. Learn more at UNCF.org, or for continuous updates and news, follow UNCF on Twitter at @UNCF. Latvian English Notice of convening of the extraordinary shareholders` meeting of JSC Ditton pievadkezu rupnica Under sections 176, 270 and 273 of the Commercial Law and subsections 54 (2)1 and 54 1 of the Financial Instrument Market Law of the Republic of Latvia, pursuant to Company`s Articles, Regulations on the convening and course of shareholders meeting, the Management board of JSC DITTON pievadkezu rupnica (reg. No.40003030187) is pleased to invite shareholders to the extraordinary shareholders` meeting that will take place at the company's administrative building at Visku St. 17, Daugavpils, on 10 November 2017, at 9 a.m.. Agenda: 1. Election of the sworn auditor of the Company. Registration of shareholders will take place on the meeting day on 10 November 2017 from 8 a.m. until 9 a.m. at the venue of meeting. Only those shareholders, who on the 02 November 2017 - the record date for participation at the extraordinary shareholders` meeting of JSC Ditton pievadkezu rupnica - are registered with the number of shares by the Commercial Register Office in the registration file of the Company, have the right to participate in the extraordinary shareholders` meeting of the JSC Ditton pievadkezu rupnica on 10 November 2017. Each shareholder may exercise the rights: to the extent that an order under sections 274 (2) and 276 (3) of the Commercial Law, subsections 54 (2) 1 and 54 (2) 2 of the Financial Instrument Market Law provides within seven days from the day of publication of the notice and on the day of shareholders` meeting; and 54 (2) of the Financial Instrument Market Law provides within seven days from the day of publication of the notice and on the day of shareholders` meeting; in pursuance of an order under sections 276 (4) and 283 (1) of the Commercial Law at least seven days before the stockholders` meeting and on the meeting day. Additional information on shareholders` rights mentioned above is available on the website of the JSC Ditton pievadkezu rupnica www.dpr.lv . The total number of voting shares is 7 400 000. All shares are of the same category. Each share is entitled to one vote. The shareholders may participate at the meeting in a person or by delegating an authorized representative or a proxy. Authorized representative of the shareholder, registered as a legal entity in Latvia, should provide a document justifying the identity and an original of the notary decision on the appointment as a legal representative or a statement on the granting of rights to represent the interests of this legal entity issued by the Enterprise Register not earlier than 5 days prior to the day of meeting (printouts from data bases of Lursoft or Firmas.lv shall be accepted as well). Authorized representative of the shareholder, registered as a legal entity in a foreign country, should provide a document justifying the identity and a power of attorney granting authority to represent this legal entity, issued and certified under the law of the corresponding state. Proxies should provide a document justifying the identity and the power of attorney certified according to the Laws of the Republic of Latvia, Articles and Regulations on the convening and course of shareholders meeting of the Company. Form of the power of attorney is available in the attachment. Other pro forma procedures on the convening and course of shareholders meeting of the Company can be found on the Companys website www.dpr.lv . In case, on 10 November 2017, the extraordinary shareholders` meeting of JSC Ditton pievadkezu rupnica will fail due to lack of quorum pursuant to Company`s Articles regardless of the reasons, the shareholders may postpone decision-making process on issues of the agenda announced in accordance with Company`s Articles. The reconvened meeting with the agenda mentioned before shall be held on 11 December 2017 at 9 a.m. in the administrative rooms of JSC Ditton pievadkezu rupnica at Visku St.17, in Daugavpils. The registration of shareholders will take place on the meeting day when the meeting is continued from 8 a.m. until 9 a.m. due to order mentioned before. The shareholders can become acquainted with the draft decisions on the considered issues and fulfil other procedure formalities starting from 27 October 2017 till 09 November 2017 including, and additionally, in case shareholders` meeting is adjourned - from 27 October 2017 till 10 December 2017 including, on working days from 9 a.m. until 16 p.m. in the secretariat of the Company at Visku St.17, in Daugavpils. Draft decisions will be available also on the website of JSC Ditton pievadkezu rupnica www.dpr.lv . For more information, please contact by (+371) 65402333 Management Board of the JSC Ditton pievadkezu rupnica 2017 AMUG Conference attendees engaging, collaborating and networking. AMUG has the single best ROI of any conference Ive ever attended. By the end of the first day, it had already paid for itself. The conference was phenomenal. The Additive Manufacturing Users Group (AMUG) today announced that online registration is now available for its 2018 Education & Training Conference, which will be held in St. Louis, Missouri, at the historic St. Louis Union Station from April 8 12, 2018. The users group conference, now in its 30th year, is open to owners and operators of industrial additive manufacturing (3D printing) technologies used for professional purposes. AMUG brings together engineers, designers, technicians, supervisors, plant managers and educators from around the world to share expertise, best practices, challenges, and application developments in additive manufacturing. Unique among additive manufacturing (AM) events, the AMUG Conference is differentiated by the openness of attendees and their willingness to share. Paul DeWys, owner of Forerunner 3D, stated, AMUG has the single best ROI of any conference Ive ever attended. By the end of the first day, it had already paid for itself. The conference was phenomenal. Paul Bates, AMUG president, said, "It is my pleasure and honor to lead AMUG in the milestone year of its 30th anniversary. Way back in 1987, our organization hosted its first conference. It was a small gathering of early adopters of rapid prototyping, which we now call additive manufacturing. Over the past 30 years, the technology has become mainstream, the options have expanded and the applications have progressed beyond simple models. More individuals are doing more with the technology, often in surprising ways. It is the mission of AMUG to help our members understand how they can do more with the available AM technologies. The AMUG Conference will include technical sessions and hands-on workshops designed to help users get more from, and do more with, their systems. Through its Innovators Award, Technical Competition and Awards Banquet, excellence in applying additive manufacturing and contributions to the industry will be recognized. The five-day event also includes the two-night AMUGexpo, networking receptions and catered meals. The conference agenda is expected to contain over 200 presentations and hands-on workshops. One highlight will be the fourth annual Innovators Showcase. The showcase is an on-stage interview, which has the feel of a fireside chat, where attendees get to know an innovator in the industry and discover insights from that individuals experiences. For 2018, the special guest will be Wilfried Vancraen, founder and CEO of Materialise, who has built a well-regarded AM software and services company. Bates noted, "I encourage everyone to register as soon as possible. We have made every effort to have spots for all that wish to attend, but the growing interest in additive manufacturing and growing respect for AMUG may lead to a repeat from the 2017 conference a sellout with no standing-room-only options. We are expecting yet another record-breaking year, which could push attendance beyond capacity. The advanced, all-inclusive conference registration fee is $895.00. For details and a link to registration, visit http://www.amug.com. Companies interested in participating as exhibitors or sponsors may also use the online registration process. Representatives of the financial market and media should contact AMUG directly for more information. ABOUT ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING USERS GROUP (AMUG) AMUG is an organization that educates and advances the uses and applications of additive manufacturing technologies. AMUG members include those with industrial additive manufacturing/3D printing technologies used for professional purposes from companies such as Stratasys, Somos, Concept Laser, SLM Solutions, EOS, ExOne, Renishaw, Carbon, Arcam, envisionTEC, HP Inc., Prodways, 3D Systems and GE Additive. AMUG meets annually to provide education and training through technical presentations on processes and new technologies. This information addresses operation of additive manufacturing equipment and the applications that use the parts they make. Online at http://www.amug.com. Kimble Applications presents a series of 20-to-25 minute fireside chats with consulting industry leaders. Five of these, each offering some of the subjects secret sauce, are available to download from the Kimble website immediately and more will follow. This is genuine thought leadership. These are fascinating podcasts which offer valuable insights from people who have achieved great things in our industry. They are also in an easily accessible format for listening to on the move. said Rob Bruce, VP of Marketing at Kimble. Serial entrepreneurs such as Dom Moorhouse, Steve Anderson and David Bailey share their wisdom and their hands-on experiences of challenges such as leading a business in the right direction; designing a consulting business to be attractive to a potential acquirer, and creating a world-beating team. High-performance Teams Award-winning entrepreneur and business writer Dom Moorhouse kicks off the PS Insights series by discussing his belief that the single most important factor in creating a world-beating enterprise is having a great team. The nub is not the strategy, not the plan, but have you got the team? A former Royal Marine, Moorhouse says that having the right stuff on the proverbial bus is what helped him to build a multi-million business from scratch. Moorhouse found in a survey of professionals in the consulting industry that feeling part of a high-performing team and doing intellectually stimulating work are more important than salary in attracting the best people. Listen. Measuring the Health of Consulting Businesses Investor Steve Anderson, who has successfully built and sold two IT services companies, and advises many others, lays out the steps he takes to assess and improve the performance of professional services businesses. He goes into specifics about his process and explains why companies often underperform. For him, a big ingredient in the secret sauce is for the management team to make sure that they have time to step back and look at where the company is headed. A company needs to have goals, it needs to have a strategy and it needs to measure how it is doing against that. Being totally focused on solving todays problems is likely to lead to a business not fulfilling its potential. The management team need to delegate so they can focus on driving the business forward. Listen. What Acquirers Look for in a Consulting Firm Next up is management consulting guru David Bailey, who founded and grew the consulting firm Impact Plus which was acquired by Hitachi. Later, he went on to acquire other businesses for a range of companies including KPMG. Bailey discusses what makes a business attractive to an acquisitive bigger firm. For Bailey, the most important drivers of value for a consulting business are its strength and competence in a particular area of the market, its profitability and its probity. A clean business with clear and referenceable financial data at its fingertips and which is not encumbered by too many areas of difficulty - such as legal disputes or non-profitable offices - will be more attractive to acquirers. You dont want anything hanging off the side, he said. Listen. Creating a Process-Centric Organization Operations Director Graham Underwood set up GFT in the UK, growing the turnover from 0 to 50 million in ten years. In the three years to 2015, he took the firm from 1,300 to 4,000 staff. He talks to Steve Brooks about the importance of creating a process-centric organization. For Underwood, making sure the processes are right is a first step. He pays particular attention to those that run across the business, the lead-to-order process, the order-to-delivery process and the month-end close. The key to successful change is senior champions, Underwood explains. Listen. Industry-Leading Resourcing Practices For managing partner Marc Lacroix of resource management consultants RTM, one of the biggest challenges facing the companies he works with is the rapidity of technological change. Being able to deal with that and to see opportunities within it depends on optimum management of the human resources of the business. Interviewed by technology journalist Ian Murphy, Lacroix argues that too many firms are in reactive mode, scrambling to see who is going to the engagements next week. This mode leads to poor decisions. But looking further ahead - what is the picture in three months time - enables firms to meet challenges better. Having a reliable source of data which is shared across the business, and making timely decisions based on it are among the secrets of better resource management which Marc discusses. Listen. These five 20 to 25 minute podcasts are available here. Aprio, LLP, the new name for HA+W, the nations premier accounting and advisory firm for the title industry, has launched a professional-grade escrow reconciliation solution that provides real-time monitoring of escrow accounts to protect title agents from their greatest point of fraud vulnerability. In partnership with RynohLives industry-leading escrow account management and fraud detection platform, Aprios escrow reconciliation service offers an unparalleled level of data security, real-time transaction monitoring, fraud detection, audit readiness and professional independence. For title agents, Aprios solution eliminates the burden of performing timely escrow reconciliation and enables them to better utilize resources for revenue-generating activities. For underwriters, the risk associated with their agents reconciliation and bookkeeping is minimized. As the leading accounting firm serving the title industry, our team has identified a need to provide the industry with a more robust solution for escrow reconciliation, said Lee Fields, partner-in-charge of Advisory Services at Aprio. Beyond ensuring reconciliation is performed timely and accurately, Aprio will provide clients with peace of mind that they are better protected from their single-greatest point of fraud vulnerability through continuous monitoring. Independently, both Aprio and RynohLive have played integral roles in financial protection and compliance in the title industry, said Dick Reass, CEO and founder of RynohLive. Through this partnership, we firmly believe that our companies will set the standard for escrow account monitoring and fraud mitigation. Aprios escrow reconciliation services business will be led by Bryan Colbert, who joins the firm as a director within the Title Industry Services group. Bryan brings more than 17 years of escrow account auditing and reconciliation experience. During his career, Bryan has both run an independent escrow reconciliation company and held senior audit positions with major national title insurance underwriters. For more information about Aprios professional-grade escrow reconciliation services, contact Adam Klein at adam.klein(at)aprio(dot)com or 770-353-4775. About Aprio Title Industry Services Aprios Title Industry Services group elevates the operational effectiveness of agents, underwriters, lenders and service providers across the title industry. The group pioneered ALTA Best Practices compliance testing and reporting and, as the industry leader, has continued to refine it. The depth of the teams industry knowledge and business expertise allows them to offer a comprehensive range of products and services that go far beyond compliance and serve the industry with innovation available nowhere else. Whether in escrow reconciliation, compliance, business valuation, cybersecurity, enterprise risk management, mergers and acquisitions or tax planning, Aprio protects its title industry clients and strengthens their businesses, delivering peace of mind. To learn more about Aprios Title Industry Services, visit https://www.aprio.com/industry/title-industry/. About RynohLive: RynohLives patented software system provides absolute financial protection for the real estate settlement industry, and provides the financial transparency mandated by Dodd-Frank and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Since its national market introduction in 2007, RynohLive has protected over 5 million real estate transactions worth in excess of $1.25 trillion. Recognized as an Elite Provider by the American Land Title Association, RynohLive is universally acknowledged as the industry standard for the financial management and protection of settlement funds. RynohLive operates out of Virginia Beach, VA, and is provided by Segin Software, LLC. For more information about RynohLive, please call 877-467-9664, visit rynoh.com, or email sales(at)rynoh(dot)com. The large population of elderly residents in Florida need our help after one of the most powerful storms to ever impact the state, says Elizabeth Strauss, Executive VP of CareOne and Special Projects Director for the companys charitable giving. As the state with the highest percentage of residents 65 and older, Florida faces another stark reality: many elderly people living in nursing homes and assisted living facilities are in need of medical supplies, food and other non-perishable goods in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma. New Jersey-based CareOne is offering assistance to this fragile population by donating equipment and supplies to seniors who are in Florida nursing homes and assisted living facilities. The community can join CareOne in the relief effort by dropping off donations at CareOne at King James in Atlantic Highlands prior to October 5. The public is invited to a send-off event for the donation truck to Florida on October 5 at 11:00 a.m. at CareOne at King James. During the event, people who were helped after Hurricane Sandy by the CareOne Sandy Relief Fund will join Atlantic Highlands Mayor Rhonda C. LeGrice. CareOne is sending sanitation and general cleaning items, childrens and adult diapers, toiletries, batteries, formula, adult and childrens clothing and jackets, non-perishable food items and blankets to the residents of Florida. Monetary donations for Florida and Puerto Rico support efforts can be made out to The Gwendolyn and Joseph Straus Charitable Foundation. Florida is home to nearly 5.2 million seniors age 60 and older and approximately one in four of them suffers some physical impairment, according to the Florida Department of Elder Affairs. The large population of elderly residents in Florida need our help after one of the most powerful storms to ever impact the state, says Elizabeth Strauss, Executive VP of CareOne and Special Projects Director for the companys charitable giving. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates there were more than 1.6 million people who were at least 75 years old in Florida in 2015, and it considers almost half of them disabled. This includes 221,000 who have trouble concentrating, remembering things or making decisions. CareOne is also joining the relief efforts in Puerto Rico, flying in over 20k lbs of generators, 1,000 vials of insulin, food and water, as well as evacuating elderly residents in need of medical care. CareOne and InnovaCare have also organized a Starry Night Masquerade Ball benefit for Puerto Rico on Oct. 19 in New York City to fast-track disaster relief funds to the island, where residents are in crisis and millions still remain without power, For more information on how to participate in these relief efforts, call CareOne at 1-877-99-CARE1 (22731) or visit http://www.care-one.com/puertorico. Monetary donations can be made to the Gwendolyn and Joseph Straus Charitable Foundation. About CareOne With services that include post-hospital care, rehabilitation, assisted living, long-term care and a variety of clinical specialty programs, CareOne offers compassionate care in gracious, professionally managed centers and communities. CareOne serves thousands of seniors every day. With more than 29 centers in New Jersey, CareOnes outstanding programs and services are conveniently located throughout the state. Interested parties can engage with CareOne on social media by following @CareOneMgt on Twitter, @careonemgt on Instagram, and Care-One Management, LLC on Facebook and LinkedIn. For more information about CareOne, please visit http://www.care-one.com ### Media contacts: Patricia Chiorello VP of Communications and Census Development, CareOne 551-245-4840 Beth Brody Oxford Communications 908-295-0600 beth(at)brodypr(dot)com The 8th Annual Idaho IT Symposium is returning to the Student Union Building on the campus of Boise State University on Thursday, November 7, 2017. This is a one-day, executive-level event designed for Chief Information Officers and their management teams. There will be over 100 CIOs and members of their executive management teams present at this years event. The event will be highlighted by three keynote speakers. Employee Engagement guru Dr. Daren Martin, PhD. will open the event by discussing the lack of employee engagement facing business owners and leaders today. Daren delivers proven insights and solutions he uses to create ownership cultures in some of the biggest companies in the world. Dr. Jeremy Graves , PhD. will share information on "Understanding The Dynamics of the Multi-Generational Workforce Within Your Organization". Jeremy will explore how generations view the workplace, the values that each generation brings to the workplace and how to bridge the gap when working multi-generationally. With the hopes of giving you some tips and tools for engaging the multi-generational workforce. The day will end with a special presentation by VJ Smith, author of The Richest Man in Town. VJ shares a remarkable and unforgettable story, leaving audience members to evaluate how they can improve their personal and working relationships, setting higher standards on taking care of customers and giving deeper thought on what is truly important in life. If you and your team would like to join us for a great day of education, networking, and collaboration, please register at http://www.idahoitsymposium.com. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to me. NOTE: This event is closed to any non-sponsoring IT vendor companies. For sponsorship information, please contact Jason Heinz at jason(at)efminc(dot)com. David J. Dykeman patent attorney, co-chair of the firms global Life Sciences & Medical Technology Group and the Intellectual Property(IP) Group in Boston, spoke at the Boston Bar Associations (BBA) Life Sciences Conference, Oct. 3, 2017, at the Boston Marriott, Cambridge. The conference explored the interplay between the life sciences sector and the law through panels covering corporate, regulatory, and intellectual property (IP) law. Dykeman participated on the panel, Personalized Medicine, which provided perspectives from venture capitalists, company executives, and attorneys on new developments in precision medicine and whats ahead. He was joined by Robert Ang, MD MBA, Chief Business Officer, Neon Therapeutics; Neil Exter, Partner, Third Rock Ventures; Marc Rubenstein, Partner, Ropes & Gray; and Diane Wuest, PhD, Director, Precision Medicine Initiatives, GNS Healthcare. Dina Ciarimboli, General Counsel, Third Rock Ventures, served as the moderator. Chinh H. Pham, co-leader of Greenberg Traurigs Emerging Technology Group, co-chair of the firms IP Group in Boston, and secretary of the BBA Council, served on the conference advisory committee. About Greenberg Traurigs Life Sciences & Medical Technology Group Greenberg Traurigs Life Sciences & Medical Technology Group advises clients ranging from startups to large multinational public companies to leading research institutions. The groups attorneys work closely with clients, providing innovative legal counsel to help them achieve their objectives from discovery through commercialization and product marketing. About Greenberg Traurigs Boston Office Established in 1999, Greenberg Traurigs Boston office is home to nearly 70 attorneys practicing in the areas of corporate, emerging technology, governmental affairs, intellectual property, labor and employment, life sciences and medical technology, litigation, public finance, and real estate. An important contributor to the firm's international platform, the Boston office includes a team of nationally recognized attorneys with both public and private sector experience. The team offers clients the value of decades of legal experience and hands-on knowledge of the local business community, supported by the firm's vast network of global resources. About Greenberg Traurig, LLP Greenberg Traurig, LLP (GTLaw) has more than 2,000 attorneys in 38 offices in the United States, Latin America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East and is celebrating its 50th anniversary. GTLaw has been recognized for its philanthropic giving, was named the largest firm in the U.S. by Law360 in 2017, and among the Top 20 on the 2016 Am Law Global 100. Web: http://www.gtlaw.com Twitter: @GT_Law. Not all heroes wear a cape. Often, they are everyday people who work amongst us. Security Officers, Associates, Executives, and Managers who see a need and rise to the occasion to provide better outcomes U.S. Security Associates (USA), the market-leading, wholly-owned American security solutions provider, honored three heroes with the companys first Hero Awards at this years ASIS International Annual Seminar and Exhibits (ASIS 2017). All of USAs Associates work diligently to provide our clients better outcomes, but on occasion there are those who go far above the call for service. Although they dont leap tall buildings or move faster than a speeding bullet, these individuals are heroes for their sacrifice and motivation to ensure the safety, security, and livelihood of others. They each embody the meaning of the word Hero through their selfless actions. Not all heroes wear a cape, USA President and CEO Richard L. Wyckoff said last week at the Dallas, TX, conference for security professionals. Often, they are everyday people who work amongst us. Security Officers, Associates, Executives, and Managers who see a need and rise to the occasion to provide better outcomes. Security Officer Roderick R.J. Nowlin, Regional Vice President John McCracken, and Area Vice President Larry Price each rose above their ordinary responsibilities to help save lives. In July, a frantic Benjamin and Angela Anderton brought their unconscious 2-year-old son Judah to the guard station where Nowlin was on duty. Theyd just found Judah drowning in their pool nearby, and the toddler hadnt been breathing for more than 10 minutes. USAs emergency first responder training and industry-leading SecuritySTARS initiative provided Nowlin the skills needed to save the childs life. His quick thinking and superior life-saving skills gave Judah and his parents the ultimate better outcome: another chance at life. After Hurricane Harvey hit the Houston area, McCracken went out on his boat to survey the damage to client sites, and his recon expedition turned into a rescue mission. Over the course of two days, he was able to ferry 80 people from flooded and storm-ravaged homes to dry land and safety before having to return to pluck his own family from rising waters. Among the rescued were 49 children,11 dogs, and two cats. Well before Hurricanes Harvey and Irma made landfall, Price had devised a plan to keep Associates who would be on post in the path of these storms connected to USAs network of Managers and capable of keeping client sites safe and secure. From outlining a transportation plan and arranging accommodations for displaced Security Officers to establishing an effective communications network and making sure Associates were able to be paid despite potential power outages, Price steered the teams in Florida and Texas through both the pre-planning and the aftermath of the hurricanes. His methods were so effective that they have become the protocol for all future USA disaster preparedness efforts. The security company has a rich and diverse history of Associate recognition programs and unique methodologies in how they honor the work of their staff. From the industry-exclusive SecuritySTARS program to the annual Winners Circle Awards event to regular recognition for service excellence, the company selects the best candidates, recognizes their achievements, and strives to be the employer of choice to provide the clients and communities they serve better outcomes. ABOUT U.S. SECURITY ASSOCIATES U.S. Security Associates (USA) is the market-leading, wholly-owned, American, full-service safety and security solutions provider. With over 160 locally-responsive offices, international locations and over 50,000 dedicated professionals, they offer the most complete array of physical security, remote surveillance, and global consulting and investigations to ensure better outcomes for thousands of clients and a range of industries. Innovative applications of leading-edge, proprietary technology enables USA to rank annually among the Worlds best training companies, sustain the highest standards of quality, and underscore world-class customer service with unparalleled accountability. USAs rise as one of the largest innovative security solutions leaders is a natural byproduct of these differentiators and enables the company to provide the most Safe. Secure. Friendly. Environments for people, assets, and brands. For more information, visit http://www.ussecurityassociates.com. # Maritime Executive Michael Inman joins Windstar Cruises as Director of Risk Management and Compliance Given Michael Inman's extensive professional experience in these areas, there is no doubt that his vast knowledge and expertise will help us meet our critical objective of safe operations everywhere we sail, every day, and on every ship. Windstar Cruises has announced that they are welcoming seafaring safety specialist Michael Inman as the newest member of the boutique cruise lines highly accredited leadership team. Bringing with him a diverse spectrum of experience from both the U.S. Coast Guard and the cruise industry, Inman will report directly to Windstar President John Delaney and work alongside fleet and technical operations officials to further maintain and enhance the luxury lines high standards for safety and traveler welfare. Michael Inman is no stranger to the Windstar family, explained Delaney. Hes worked with us in a large capacity over the last nine months, consulting on our new Alaska voyages and has given us critical support with respect to safety, environmental, and regulatory issues. Given his extensive professional experience in these areas, there is no doubt that his vast knowledge and expertise will help us meet our critical objective of safe operations everywhere we sail, every day, and on every ship. Inmans distinguished career with the U.S. Coast Guard involved leading complex operations across drastically different geographic areas including the Caribbean Sea, Bering Sea, Gulf of Alaska, and North Pacific Ocean. His day-to-day work life involved commanding multiple Coast Guard vessels and their crews, overseeing emergency search and rescue missions and spearheading intense international law enforcement efforts including counter drug, human smuggling and mass migration. He also helped plan and expand Coast Guard operations in the Arctic, influencing national level policy and decisions. Inmans in-depth knowledge of maritime operations in Alaska will continue to provide Windstar with significant advantages for any upcoming Alaskan itineraries, which begin in May 2018. Having served as the Captain of the Port for Southeast Alaska, Sector Juneau an area known for its limited port facilities while remaining a number one cruise ship destination with over 1 million passengers visiting the region yearly Inman oversaw more than 12,000 miles of coastline and was responsible for all marine safety, law enforcement matters, environmental protection policies, aids to navigations, and national security issues. Most recently, Inman worked for Holland America Group for five-and-a-half years, focusing on safety, occupational safety and environmental issues for a fleet of more than 30 cruise ships. Inman also led the marine safety investigation program while at the cruise line and played a key role in supervising emergency response, maritime regulatory audits, environmental compliance and safety management systems. Educated at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy with a Bachelor of Science in Marine Science and a Master of Science in Telecommunications Systems Management from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School, Inman is also an associate fellow of The Nautical Institute and a board member for both the Alaska Maritime Prevention and Response Network and The Puget Sound Maritime Historic Society and Youth Maritime Training Association. Inman joins the 130 employees on the Windstar corporate team, based at the Seattle headquarters for the six-ship fleet, which offers more than 300 cruises annually sailing to 170 ports worldwide. To learn more about Windstar Cruises, visit http://www.windstarcruises.com. Mojios in-market success with powerhouse brands like Deutsche Telekom and T-Mobile, combined with the companys impressive growth trajectory, is a rarity amongst venture-backed tech companies. Mojio, the leading platform for connected cars in both North America and Europe, today announces that Param Singh has joined the team as Chief Operating Officer. Singh will lead the companys global operations, as Mojio rallies around growing demand from major wireless carriers looking to join the connected car movement. Singhs joining of the Mojio team signifies the high calibre tech industry talent that the fast-growing company is attracting. Singh brings more than 18 years of experience to the Vancouver-born tech company. He has led teams at both Fortune 100 and high growth VC-backed companies, across Europe, Asia, and North America. In addition, he has worked with major wireless carriers across a range of technologies, all with the shared goal of generating valuable experiences in our increasingly connected lives. Singh prides himself on making a positive, tangible impact within his first 90 days on the ground. Mojios in-market success with powerhouse brands like Deutsche Telekom and T-Mobile, combined with the companys impressive growth trajectory, is a rarity amongst venture-backed tech companies, shared Singh. Im incredibly excited to join such an energetic, experienced leadership team and help Mojio achieve its mission of giving every vehicle a voice. Singh began his executive career as the VP of Corporate Finance and Strategy at Destinator Technologies, which was one of the first companies to provide consumer navigation software. From there he moved on to Jentro Technologies, serving as COO. Jentro was the first company to consolidate local business information across Europe and provide an ad-funded local search/navigation mobile application. Singh then went on to work as the President of Ubidyne Inc., the company that created the worlds first digital, Antenna Embedded Radio system for wireless communications. Before joining Mojio, Singh worked in the UK as the Managing Director and COO at 4energy, a company that delivers Industrial IoT solutions for critical facilities to the Telecommunications & Utilities sectors. In this role, he won several big mobile operators globally as customers and delivered 30%+ annual revenue growth for 3 straight years. Mojios CEO, Kenny Hawk, added, We are thrilled to have Param join our executive leadership team and drive our global operations. His track record of scaling growth companies and delivering enterprise-grade solutions to major telecommunication brands is a perfect fit for us. We look forward to his immediate impact. In his new role at Mojio, Singh will work hand-in-hand with Mojios CEO to scale the company to meet demand from wireless carriers looking to deliver branded connected car services to their subscribers. Singhs three areas of focus are: -Managing the evolution of Mojios organization in response to the growing global demand for connected car technology -Defining and leading the execution of the companys go-to-market strategy and B2B2C distribution model -Delivering revenue improvements and unlocking cost efficiencies, optimizing overall operational performance About Mojio Open, scalable and hardware agnostic, Mojio is the cloud platform of choice for the deployment of secure, branded connected car apps and services. Mojios platform delivers a smarter, safer and more convenient driving and vehicle ownership experience to subscribers of major wireless carriers, including Deutsche Telekom, Rogers Communications, T-Mobile and TELUS. Companies throughout the automotive value chain rely on Mojios apps, services and data insights to deliver connected car experiences and capitalize on untapped revenue streams. Founded in 2012, Mojio nurtures one of the industrys strongest cloud ecosystems with key partners like Amazon Alexa, Google, Microsoft and SAP. Mojio is hiring for exciting positions in Palo Alto, California, Sofia, Bulgaria and Vancouver, BC. Visit Mojios careers page to learn more. Valued at just US$180 million in the 1970s, compared to the US$50 billion we see today, the UAE-India partnership is a great example of how strong leadership and collaboration delivers Indias business community is increasingly looking to use Dubai as a hub to expand their business and grow internationally, DMCC, the worlds most interconnected Free Zone, and the leading trade and enterprise hub for commodities in Dubai, said as it concluded its week-long roadshow visiting Mumbai and Kolkata, West Bengal. Headquartered in Dubai, and home to 13,700 companies and growing, one Indian company joins DMCC every working day. Over 2,000 Indian businesses have already come to DMCC to grow their business in Dubai and beyond, including the Tata Group, the UPL Group, Rosy Blue, the Adani Group, Blue Star. McLeod Russell and many others. Passionate about connecting people and markets, DMCC visited Mumbai on 3 October with their Made for Trade Live roadshow. With over 300 Indian business leaders in attendance, the roadshows agenda explored the opportunities of setting up a company in DMCC, and the flexible benefits of operating out of Dubai. A second roadshow that attracted over 150 people, marked DMCCs inaugural roadshow in Kolkata, West Bengal, took place on 4 October. Both events garnered strong support from high level delegates in both India and the UAE. DMCC expressed gratitude for the strong support it received from esteemed government representatives including UAE Consul General, H.E. Mohammed Saleh Ahmed Jalah Al Teneij; H.E. Dr. Ahmed A.R. Albanna, Ambassador of UAE to India; Ahmad Sultan Al Falahi, Minister Plenipotentiary Commercial; and Javed Ahmed Khan, Minister of the West Bengal Government. Valued at just US$180 million in the 1970s, compared to the US$50 billion we see today, the UAE-India partnership is a great example of how strong leadership and collaboration delivers. Our inaugural DMCC Made for Trade Live road shows in Mumbai and Kolkata sets out to build on this success by connecting business leaders here with Dubais pro-business community to unlock new opportunities and strengthen the future of trade for all, stated Mr. Gautam Sashittal, Chief Executive Officer, DMCC. Trade between UAE and India has a prosperous history. During the roadshow, DMCC highlighted its role in driving the next generation of cross-border trade to new heights, and shared it aims to build on the strong bilateral trading ties and cultural friendships that exist between the UAE and India. As a Free Zone, DMCC continues to be an ideal partner for Indian business. For the last two years, DMCC has been ranked the number one Free Zone in the world by the Financial Times fDi magazine. The Free Zone offers an ultra-modern commercial environment in which resident businesses maintain 100 per cent ownership, pay zero corporate taxation and in which there is no limit on the repatriation of profits. Beyond high quality commercial space and infrastructure, DMCC provides cutting-edge physical platforms for trade, for example of gold, diamonds, tea, coffee and other commodities. Dubai is playing a major role for global tea trade. Last year, more than 45 million kilograms of tea was traded through the DMCC Tea Centre, more than four million kg of which came from India. DMCCs exchange, the Dubai Gold & Commodities Exchange lists many India-centric products, including gold, the BSE Sensex, Indian rupees futures and Indian single stock futures. Today, almost thirty percent of the global trade in Indian rupee futures takes place on DGCX. A market-maker for global trade and enterprise with a mandate to facilitate trade through Dubai and to connect new markets and more established markets, DMCC provides all of the products, services, physical and financial infrastructure business makers need to trade with confidence. For more information on DMCCs Made for Trade Live roadshow visit: http://landing.dmcc.ae/dmcc-roadshow. For more information on DMCC visit http://www.dmcc.ae TURBO, Colombia, Oct. 05, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Genesis Electronics Group Inc., (OTC-Pink:GEGI) announces it has signed agreement with Morrocota Gold to operate what will be called The Project Gomez Plata. The project is fully permitted and the project is operational within two months. The plant is presently being overhauled and has a capacity of 100 tons per day. The gold bearing structure is referred to as Sesgalete. The structure is over a mile long and an average width of 1.5 yards. The mineral material amounts to 1,170,000 tons with 154,227 ounces of gold, and 2,408,000 ounces of silver. Juan David Perez Schile, CEO, comments, We are thrilled to enter into this agreement, and my team is anxious to work with this group. They have identified our teams ability to optimize projects and produce cash flow. This project will be a model for our strategy going forward. We provide all the engineering and will receive half the profit. Contact information: info@caciquemining.com About Cacique Mining The Guayuco project is a gallery project. Cacique Mining Inc. and Green Mine Solutions has entered into an agreement with Inca Worldwide to grow Sacha Inchi on the land above the mine. www.caciquemining.co Contact information: info@incaworldwide.com About Inca Worldwide (OTC-Pink:QEDN) Our Inca Seeds (Roasted Sacha Inchi) a complete protein with all 9-essential amino-acids rich in Omega 3, 6 & 9 and an antioxidant. A real Super-food. www.incaworldwide.com Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements: Our public communications and SEC filings may contain "forward-looking statements" that is, statements related to future, not past, events. In this context, forward-looking statements often address our expected future business and financial performance and financial condition, and often contain words such as "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "believe," "seek," "see," "will," "would," or "target." Forward-looking statements by their nature address matters that are, to different degrees, uncertain, such as statements about our announced plan to reduce the size of our financial services businesses, including expected cash and non-cash charges associated with this plan and earnings per share of QED retained businesses (Verticals); expected income; earnings per share; revenues; organic growth; growth and productivity associated with our Digital business; margins; cost structure; restructuring charges; acquisition-related synergies; cash flows; returns on capital and investment; capital expenditures, capital allocation or capital structure; and dividends. The Coleman Institute My interest in addiction stemmed from encountering a large number of patients in the ER who had overdosed or were experiencing withdrawal. The Coleman Institute, a nationally recognized leader in opioid use disorder treatment, is pleased to announce its partnership with Dr. Faried Banimahd of Orange County, CA. Dr. Banimahd through Zephyr Medical Group, will now offer Accelerated Outpatient Detox and Naltrexone therapy in addition to his existing outpatient treatment options for substance use disorders. "My interest in addiction stemmed from encountering a large number of patients in the ER who had overdosed or were experiencing withdrawal, shares Dr. Banimahd. I realized that these patients were not being treated as effectively as they could be, and I saw an opportunity to truly make a difference for those struggling with the disease of addiction. Dr. Banimahd received his Doctorate of Medicine from the University of California at Irvines School of Medicine. His background is primarily in Academic Emergency Medicine and clinical training. In this role, he has been involved in the practice of emergency medicine, training future physicians, and clinical research which has resulted in the co-authorship of several publications. Dr. Banimahd held positions as both an Assistant Clinical Professor for the Department of Emergency Medicine at UC Irvine Health in Orange County, and was an Attending ER Physician and Clinical Instructor at Kern Medical Center/UCLA in Bakersfield, CA. His current role as Medical Director at both the California Addiction Institute for Mind and Medicine and Zephyr Medical Group has further developed his passion for providing evidence-based, compassionate care for those working to recover from addiction. Dr. Banimahd has a distinctive approach to outpatient treatment, with an emphasis on long-term care, offering follow-up services for up to two years after the completion of a treatment program. The Coleman Institutes programs utilize medically supervised detoxification to comfortably and safely control the physical symptoms of withdrawal that can make recovery from opiate addiction challenging, if not impossible. The combination of detoxification and after-care support, including Naltrexone therapy, provides patients with a comprehensive, individualized treatment plan offering the real possibility of experiencing long-term sobriety. Dr. Peter Coleman, founder and National Medical Director for The Coleman Institute stated, More than 2 million people nationwide suffered from an opioid addiction in 2015, and that number has undoubtedly continued to climb. The Coleman Institute is honored to partner with physicians who have the same goals of providing compassionate, patient-focused care. To meet Dr. Banimahd, visit: https://thecolemaninstitute.com/locations/orange-county-california For more information on The Coleman Institute, or to find a location near you, visit: https://thecolemaninstitute.com/ About The Coleman Institute: Established in 1998 in Richmond, VA, The Coleman Institute has developed a unique and customizable approach to assisting patients in overcoming their physical dependency on drugs and then accessing the long-term support resources needed to maintain their sobriety. Since its inception, The Coleman Institute has helped thousands of patients detoxify and recover from the effects of heroin use and other opioids such as OxyContin, Percocet and Vicodin. The Coleman Institutes treatment program enables over 98% of its patients to successfully complete their detox and begin Naltrexone therapy. The Coleman Institute has 13 offices nationwide. (Richmond, Atlanta, Austin, Cherry Hill, Metro Chicago, Denver, Indianapolis, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Phoenix, Seattle, Tampa, Southern California, and Northern California.) Bishop Minerva Carcano, Chair of the Council of Bishops Immigration Task Force We are praying for DACA recipients and their families and all undocumented immigrant communities as they continue to find themselves in the unending crisis of being undocumented in this country. United Methodist bishops are urging the United States Congress to pass a Clean Dream Act that would allow undocumented young people the opportunity to work, receive an education and serve in the U.S. military. In a statement released today, the bishops said they are praying and urging action for the young people affected by the U.S. governments decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. The young immigrants, also known as Dreamers, had an October 5 deadline to renew their permits one last time. We are praying for DACA recipients and their families and all undocumented immigrant communities as they continue to find themselves in the unending crisis of being undocumented in this country. By March 5th, 2018, Congress must determine how it will respond to this crisis. We urge Congress to begin by passing a Clean Dream Act, the statement from the bishops said. The statement signed by Council of Bishops President Bishop Bruce R. Ough and Bishop Minerva Carcano, chair of the COB Immigration Task Force, noted that a Clean Dream Act should not be used to pit undocumented young people against their parents, families, and immigrant communities. We continue to believe that government leaders have the wisdom and the resources at their disposal to create and implement a Clean Dream Act that will protect vulnerable young people for whom the U.S. is the only home they know and have, the bishops said, adding that, A Clean Dream Act could be the beginning of helpful and healing immigration reform in the U.S., and even inspire the reform of migration laws around the world that would help young people everywhere. CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL STATEMENT FROM THE COUNCIL OF BISHOPS Dr. Daniel Morgan, chief of Hospital Epidemiology at the VA Maryland Health Care System and an associate professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, has been selected for a prestigious "We hope that the research findings will further our efforts to pioneer best practices for high quality care in support of Marylands veterans, said Dr. Adam Robinson, Jr. director of the VA Maryland Health Care System Dr. Daniel Morgan, chief of Hospital Epidemiology at the VA Maryland Health Care System and an associate professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, has been selected for a prestigious National Institutes of Health (NIH) Directors New Innovators Award. Morgan is being selected for a system-wide research project aimed at critically assessing and improving how physicians understand fundamental aspects of patient testing and treatment. The $ 2.3 million, 5-year grant is given to exceptionally creative scientists proposing high-risk, high-impact research at all career stages. Were excited that our chief epidemiologist is thinking about innovative ways to prevent medical overuse, a problem plaguing the health care industry, said Dr. Adam M. Robinson, Jr., director of the VA Maryland Health Care System. We hope that the research findings will further our efforts to pioneer best practices for high quality care in support of Marylands veterans. Morgans research focuses on pragmatic solutions to common problems by improving clinicians testing and treatment decisions to limit medical overuse. This New Innovators project takes on the tendency among clinicians to believe that tests and treatments are more beneficial than evidence indicates. Sites in Maryland, including within the VA Maryland Health Care System and the University of Maryland Medical System, the VA medical center in San Antonio, Texas and the VA Portland Health Care System in Oregon, will evaluate the reasons clinicians make this error. A team of evidence-based medicine, psychology, anthropology and graphic design experts will develop visual aids that will explain risks implicit in clinical decisions. With a more evidence-based understanding of tests and treatments, clinicians can better inform patients making difficult decisions, and avoid harmful medical overuse. The overall objective is to use real-time visual-aid presentations of established medical evidence to transform how physicians and patients make decisions to order tests and treatments, Morgan said. This has the potential to impact a diverse group of patients with a variety of illnesses within a short timeframe by reducing harms of unnecessary care, improving outcomes, and ultimately providing greater overall value. Uncertainty in diagnosis and treatment is common in clinical medicine. Diagnosis of disease is a series of probabilities and nearly all treatments are administered based on the chance of benefit. This art of medicine is learned primarily through apprenticeship in medical training. Doctors are rational decision-makers, but they can make the same mistakes as laypeople when making decisions in situations with changing factors. Although the project is aimed primarily toward physicians, it will be in a format that patients can easily understand and consider when making medical-related decisions, said Dr. Thomas Hornyak, associate chief of staff for Research & Development for the VA Maryland Health Care System, which conducts over $25 million in research annually. Clinician-scientists like Dr. Morgan offer a unique perspective on disease, using insights from the patient care they provide to drive questions they can answer with health system research. His cutting-edge research on epidemiology can improve the essential aspects of clinical caretesting and treatment. The NIH Directors New Innovator Award initiative supports a small number of early stage investigators who propose bold and highly innovative new research approaches that have the potential to produce a major impact on broad, important problems in biomedical and behavioral research. The New Innovator Award initiative complements ongoing efforts by NIH and its Institutes and Centers to fund early stage investigators through R01 grants, which continue to be the major sources of NIH support for early stage investigators. The NIH Directors New Innovator Award initiative is a component of the High Risk - High Reward Research Program of the NIH Common Fund. # # # The VA Maryland Health Care System (VAMHCS) provides a broad spectrum of medical, surgical, rehabilitative, mental health and outpatient care to veterans at two medical centers, one rehabilitation & extended care center and five outpatient clinics located throughout the state. More than 52,000 veterans from various generations receive care from VAMHCS annually. Nationally recognized for its state-of-the-art technology and quality patient care, VAMHCS is proud of its reputation as a leader in veterans health care, research and education. It costs nothing for Veterans to enroll for health care with the VA Maryland Health Care System and it could be one of the more important things a Veteran can do. For information about VA health care eligibility and enrollment or how to apply for a VA medical care hardship to avoid future copayments for VA health care, interested Veterans are urged to call the Enrollment Center for the VA Maryland Health Care System, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at 1-800-463-6295, ext. 7324 or visit http://www.maryland.va.gov. This lab is a natural progression for us to expand our innovative work in data analytics to the intersection of law and business, said Richard D. Phillips, dean of the Robinson College. A groundbreaking new lab at Georgia State University is bringing business and legal scholars together with data scientists to analyze millions of litigation filings and outcomes, corporate financial disclosures, patent applications and other legal documents to identify patterns and evaluate how the law operates to predict future outcomes. The Legal Analytics Lab, an initiative of the J. Mack Robinson College of Business with support from Georgia States College of Law, will be housed in Robinsons big data analytics facility, the Institute for Insight. The lab will first focus on three subject areas: civil litigation, intellectual property, and compliance and corporate social responsibility. This lab is a natural progression for us to expand our innovative work in data analytics to the intersection of law and business, said Richard D. Phillips, dean of the Robinson College. Interdisciplinary collaboration is core to Georgia States DNA, and this collaboration between the colleges of Business and Law will advance the theory and practice of both disciplines. Lab faculty, students and corporate partners will use the tools of big data analytics, including text mining, machine learning, image analysis and other methodologies, to produce original research. They also will work with strategic partners, including companies and law firms, to help these organizations uncover predictors within large volumes of data. Were extremely pleased our law students will have an opportunity to work with applied data in real situations, said Wendy F. Hensel, interim dean of the College of Law. Attorneys increasingly are turning to artificial intelligence and innovative technologies to create competitive advantages in the legal market. The potential demand for young lawyers able to harness the power of analytics is tremendous. Projects underway include the following: -Mining corporate disclosure filings and other materials for an international provider of insurance coverage to directors and officers, to uncover predictors of securities class action lawsuit filings and litigation outcomes. -For the U.S. Department of Labor, using text mining and machine learning techniques to analyze judges decisions in cases where a workers status as an employee or independent contractor is in dispute, to learn how judges are distinguishing between the two categories of workers and predict outcomes.Through the Labor Department grant, legal analytics lab faculty are working with the Free Law Project to expand a searchable archive of tens of millions of federal court opinions to make those judges decisions free to the public. -Using network mapping and analysis to study the relationships among plaintiffs employment law attorneys to explain a substantial increase in Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) litigation (minimum wage and overtime cases) and the spread of such litigation across jurisdictions. -Using machine learning to identify fintech patent applications and to assess their impact on the financial services industry. Planned projects include applying text mining to financial disclosures to understand policies, procedures, fee calculations and other operations that affect the investing public, analyzing supply chain disclosures to evaluate transparency and corporate social responsibility (CSR) policies, and identifying novel metrics beyond traditional financial accounting to answer value proposition questions related to CSR and social enterprise. The lab is also the first step in a larger curricular initiative that will develop new capabilities in legal analytics for business and law students as well as professionals in the legal community. The important work done at Georgia States legal analytics lab inspires a deeper focus among our lawyers and professionals into how we might leverage big data to provide leading-edge legal services to our clients, said Brett Bartlett, a partner with Seyfarth Shaw LLP. In July 2017, five female high school students from Boston Latin School traveled to Cortez, Colorado to work alongside Dr. Susan Ryan and her all-female research team as part of Earthwatchs Girls in Science fellowship program. The students spent the week excavating ancestral Pueblo households and analyzing artifacts at the Crow Canyon Archaeological Center. They were joined by five female students from Ramona High School in California. Engaging young women is so important because a lot of the sciences are dominated by males, said Ryan. We need to empower them so they know theyre completely capable of doing the same exact job that men have traditionally done in these disciplines. Boston has consistently been ranked as among the top 10 metro areas in the U.S. for STEM jobs, but according to the Institute for Womens Policy Research, only about 30% of jobs in STEM fields are held by women in Massachusetts. Earthwatch, a Boston-based non-profit organization, launched Girls in Science in 2016 to arm young women who have a vested interest in science with the skills and confidence to pursue higher education opportunities and careers in STEM fields. During their time in Colorado, the student fellows participated in facilitated learning sessions focused on developing story-telling skills, exploring women in science, and understanding the impacts of climate change and sustainability on their local environment. I have always been an indecisive person, but theres one thing Im sure of that my future will be in science, said Boston Latin student Kelly Chin. The opportunities I have been given, including joining this Earthwatch expedition and meeting amazing females in the science field, have given me the confirmation and encouragement I needed to go for it. Over the next decade, the U.S. needs an additional one million STEM professionals beyond what is projected at the current rate to retain the countrys historical preeminence in science and technology, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Women can play a critical role in closing the future STEM workforce gap, said Earthwatch CEO Scott Kania. By connecting young women with leading female scientists on Earthwatch research expeditions, we aim to provide students with the confidence they need to follow their passions. Earthwatchs Girls in Science program is funded by the Harry H. and Anna Borun Foundation. ### Earthwatch Institute (earthwatch.org) is an international nonprofit organization that connects citizens with scientists to improve the health and sustainability of the planet. Since its founding in 1971, Earthwatch has empowered nearly 100,000 volunteers from all walks of life to join leading scientists on field research expeditions that tackle critical environmental challenges around the globe from climate change to ocean health, human-wildlife conflict, and more. Earthwatch works with all sectors of society, from corporations to teachers, students, community leaders, zoos and aquaria, and more. Media contacts: Alix Morris, Earthwatch Institute, amorris(at)earthwatch(dot)org, 978-450-1229 VIDEOS AND PHOTOS AVAILABLE The Control Group is proud to support the ongoing efforts of the Helen Woodward Animal Center. Our TCG office dogs are an integral part of our company culture, and joining the Remember Me Thursday campaign ensures that were doing our part to help place wonderful, adoptable pets in loving homes. On Thursday, Sept. 28, The Control Group joined the Helen Woodward Animal Center to support Remember Me Thursday. This annual event is intended to raise awareness of pets in shelters, encourage adoption and decrease euthanasia. At The Control Groups Little Italy and Pacific Beach locations, employees wore T-shirts and took photos to spread the word about the campaign. Remember Me Thursday unites animal-lovers, celebrities, social media influencers, and animal welfare organizations around the globe. The campaign has far-reaching impacts; it has resulted in 865 million social media impressions, 180 unique countries of participation, participation by over 700 animal welfare organizations, and over 50 celebrity luminaries, including Katherine Heigl and the San Diego Padres. The campaign was created by Mike Arms, President and CEO of Helen Woodward Animal Center, a non-profit organization based in San Diego. The Control Group is a supporter of the Helen Woodward Animal Center, and the company covers adoption fees for any employee who adopts through the center. Steven Gray, President at The Control Group, said, The Control Group is proud to support the ongoing efforts of the Helen Woodward Animal Center. Our TCG office dogs are an integral part of our company culture, and joining the Remember Me Thursday campaign ensures that were doing our part to help place wonderful, adoptable pets in loving homes. Helen Woodward Animal Center saves 3,300 pets each year through its adoption program. Annually, the centers Pet Encounter Therapy program enables 22,000 children and adults to connect with a therapy animal. To learn more about Remember Me Thursday, please visit http://www.remembermethursday.org. About The Control Group Created in 2011, The Control Group is one of the fastest-growing technology companies headquartered in San Diego. Their expertise is in web development and internet marketing. The company is the developer of InstantCheckmate.com, one of the top people search engines in the world, and NextGen Leads, an extremely high-quality insurance leads platform focused on streamlining lead acquisition. Because the company is already profitable, it has been able to develop a company culture that is shaking up the technology sector. At the core of its company culture, The Control Group seeks to make a positive impact in its community by volunteering, supporting and getting involved in numerous important causes. Ron's charismatic leadership and nuanced understanding of indirect sales channels have helped AireSpring to grow one of the largest and most successful channel programs in the nation. AireSpring, a leading provider of cloud communications and managed connectivity solutions, today announced that Ron McNab, Senior Vice President of Channel Sales, has been named to the Top Midmarket IT Executives list by the Midsize Enterprise Summit (MES). This annual list honors influential vendor and solution provider executives who have demonstrated an exceptionally strong commitment to serving the midmarket. The Channel Company and Midsize Enterprise Summit are proud to recognize these individuals and the companies they represent for their remarkable efforts to meet the unique IT needs of this fast-growing industry, said Robert C. DeMarzo, Senior Vice President of Event Content and Strategy, The Channel Company. Honorees are selected by The Channel Companys editorial staff, based on their industry standing, professional history, and commitment to serving the particular needs of the midmarket enterprise. The final list of Top Midmarket IT Executives was announced on September 18 at the Midsize Enterprise Summit-Fall, held September 17-19, 2017, at the JW Marriott Hill Country in San Antonio, TX. AireSpring congratulates Ron McNab for achieving this well-deserved professional honor on behalf of the company, stated Daniel Lonstein, AireSpring COO. Ron is a well-known and highly regarded channel executive with decades of success building high-performing sales organizations. His charismatic leadership and nuanced understanding of indirect sales channels have helped AireSpring to grow one of the largest and most successful channel programs in the nation. About AireSpring Inc. Headquartered in Los Angeles, AireSpring is an award-winning provider of cloud communications and connectivity solutions serving thousands of businesses nationwide. AireSpring provides fully managed and connected end-to-end, next generation solutions for multi-location enterprise customers, including SD-WAN, Cloud Contact Center, Unified Communications, Business VoIP Phone Systems, SIP Trunking, MPLS, and Internet. AireSprings solutions are offered through a diversified network of channel partners that includes distributors, master agents, managed service providers, and value added resellers. AireSprings services are delivered over its revolutionary nationwide MPLS MESH network, providing customers a fully integrated, end-to-end solution from a single vendor. AireSpring has received numerous industry awards for Product of the Year, Best Telecom Deal, Best in Show, and Top Channel Program. AireSpring is privately held, diversified, debt-free, and renowned in the industry for delivering a broad range of innovative cloud communications and connectivity solutions at competitive rates. To find product information or to become an AireSpring partner or agent, please visit http://www.airespring.com or contact us at 888-389-2899. About The Channel Company The Channel Company enables breakthrough IT channel performance with our dominant media, engaging events, expert consulting and education and innovative marketing services and platforms. As the channel catalyst, we connect and empower technology suppliers, solution providers and end users. Backed by more than 30 years of unequalled channel experience, we draw from our deep knowledge to envision innovative new solutions for ever-evolving challenges in the technology marketplace. Angel Taveras, a shareholder in Greenberg Traurig, LLPs Boston office and former Providence, Rhode Island mayor, was the keynote speaker at the National League of Cities Early Childhood Education Summit, Oct. 4 in Portland, ME. Taveras discussed what Providence has done to support young children and their families, the importance of early childhood education in the community, and the reasons why leaders should support early childhood systems. The Summit is part of the National League of Cities' Early Learning Nation program and was conducted in partnership with a Portland coalition of early childhood stakeholders named Starting Strong. From 2011 to 2015, Taveras served as the Mayor of Providence, Rhode Island, where he led a city government with 5,700 employees and a budget of $678 million. He is credited with rescuing the city from the brink of bankruptcy and confronting a $110 million structural deficit through landmark reforms to pensions, negotiated concessions in labor contracts, and unprecedented assistance from tax-exempt institutions. Under his leadership, Providence was recognized with the All-America City Award from the National Civic League for its plan to boost third-grade reading proficiency, was the recipient of a $3 million award from the Carnegie Foundation to create innovative high schools, and received the City Livability Award at the U.S. Conference of Mayors in 2014. In addition, Taveras won Bloomberg Philanthropies' Mayors Challenge $5 million grand prize for his innovative proposal to improve the vocabularies of pre-school age children. Taveras focuses his practice on municipal restructuring, public finance, commercial litigation, pension litigation, and public infrastructure. With over 14 years of experience in litigation, he is a licensed attorney in Massachusetts, New York, and Rhode Island. His diverse litigation practice includes complex commercial matters, including matters arising under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Truth in Lending Act, the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, as well as bankruptcy litigation, zoning and land use, shareholder disputes, and election recounts and challenges. He is an adjunct professor at Providence College where he teaches a leadership seminar. In addition, he serves on the boards of the Alliance for Early Success and Green City Force. In 2016, Taveras was elected to the national board of Latino Justice PRLDEF, one of the foremost Latino civil rights organizations in the country, serving a pan-Latino constituency. About Greenberg Traurigs Boston Office Established in 1999, Greenberg Traurigs Boston office is home to nearly 70 attorneys practicing in the areas of corporate, emerging technology, governmental affairs, intellectual property, labor and employment, life sciences and medical technology, litigation, public finance, and real estate. An important contributor to the firm's international platform, the Boston office includes a team of nationally recognized attorneys with both public and private sector experience. The team offers clients the value of decades of legal experience and hands-on knowledge of the local business community, supported by the firm's vast network of global resources. About Greenberg Traurig, LLP Greenberg Traurig, LLP (GTLaw) has more than 2,000 attorneys in 38 offices in the United States, Latin America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East and is celebrating its 50th anniversary. GTLaw has been recognized for its philanthropic giving, was named the largest firm in the U.S. by Law360 in 2017, and among the Top 20 on the 2016 Am Law Global 100. Web: http://www.gtlaw.com Twitter: @GT_Law. Dickinson Wright PLLC is pleased to announce that Attorney Carolyn Johnsen will be honored at the 2017 Turnaround and Transaction of the Year Awards on October 23, 2017 in Fort Worth, Texas. Ms. Johnsen is part of the team that is being recognized for Turnaround of the Year: Mid-Size Company Gilbert Hospital, LLC and Florence Hospital at Anthem, LLC. Gilbert Hospital is a small emergency hospital located in Gilbert, Arizona, a metropolitan suburb of Phoenix. Florence Hospital at Anthem is a small emergency hospital located in Florence, Arizona, a rural community located 60 miles from Phoenix. The two hospitals were founded by the same physician but were run entirely separate with different management and vendors. They did have a common secured lender. Each hospital suffered from lack of capital, competition, lack of leadership and poor collections. Each filed separate Chapter 11 bankruptcies a year apart. In an extremely unprecedented move, Gilbert Hospital and the secured creditor proposed a plan of reorganization joining the two essentially unrelated hospitals. However, under the plan, the secured creditor would receive additional collateral and ultimately be paid in full while unsecured creditors would receive a cents-on-the-dollar recovery. Ms. Johnsen representing the unsecured creditors committee in the Florence case countered with a Committee plan and then orchestrated a series of negotiations among all the factions that included the lender, the hospitals landlords, the United States Trustee and the Court-appointed patient ombudsman. The result was a full payment to all creditors. This case ultimately was a successful and creative solution to merge a rural and a suburban hospital and combine their respective strengths and reduce their respective weaknesses. Ms. Johnsen serves as the Trustee for the payments to creditors and will achieve the 100% mark. Ms. Johnsen is a Member in the firms Phoenix office. Her experience includes creating complex plans of reorganization for multi-million dollar companies in a wide-range of industries, including mortgage lending, real estate, manufacturing, retail, refining, hospitality, aviation and energy-related. She has advised private and public corporations in formulating and implementing managerial, personnel and operational structures. She has also guided numerous boards and senior managers in developing strategies and solutions for revising operations and restructuring debt to effectuate the emergence of a stronger business through bankruptcy, or to take advantage of acquisition and sale opportunities, including the application of bankruptcy procedures favorable to corporate securities regulation compliance. In addition, Ms. Johnsen has negotiated multiple multi-million dollar transactions with lenders, investment bankers and brokers, asset purchasers and sellers, and governmental agencies. Since 1993, the Turnaround Management Association has honored excellence through its annual awards program, which recognizes the most successful turnarounds and impactful transactions. The winners will be honored during a special awards celebration at The 2017 TMA Annual, taking place October 23-25 at the Omni Fort Worth Hotel in Fort Worth, Texas. To learn more, please click here. 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 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. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone who has already donated. Helping one person might not change the whole world, but it could change the world for one person. Past News Releases RSS Ledgecrest Health Care Center... Puerto Rico, post-Hurricane Maria, is facing a humanitarian crisis of epic proportions. Many of the islands 3.4 million residents, who are U.S. citizens, are living without power and running water, and food supplies are rapidly dwindling. In an effort to help the people of Puerto Rico, Ledgecrest Health Care Center, part of Apple Rehab Inc., is hosting a donation drive from now through December. Items needed include non-perishable foods, toiletries and clothing and shoes for men, women, children and infants. Donated items can be dropped off at Ledgecrest Health Care Center, located at 154 Kensington Road, Kensington, CT 06037. I was immediately on board when the employees came to me with this idea. I could see how concerned they were for not only their own family members, but the entire island. Quite a few of the employees grew up in Puerto Rico, said Kerri Kuhn, administrator at Ledgecrest Health Care Center. Ledgecrest Health Care Center is set to send its first box of donated items, and will continue to collect and send boxes in the coming months. Boxes will be sent via UPS to a Ledgecrest employees family member in Puerto Rico who will help distribute donations. Liz Davila, the employee of Ledgecrest Health Care Center, said, Thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone who has already donated. Helping one person might not change the whole world, but it could change the world for one person. About Ledgecrest Health Care Center, Apple Rehab Inc. Ledgecrest Health Care Center programs are designed to help each resident reach his or her maximum potential, whether they are admitted for short- or long-term care. It provides physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech/language therapy and specialty services. Apple Health Care is the nations leading privately held nursing home company. Consumer Reports has rated Apple Rehab as the best for-profit long-term care company in America. For more information, please call Ledgecrest Health Care Center at (860) 828-0583, or visit http://www.apple-rehab.com. Ledgecrest Health Care Center is located at 154 Kensington Road, Kensington, CT 06037. 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. HOUSTON, Oct. 05, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- LINK Staffing headquartered in Houston, TX, won two 2017 American Staffing Association Genius Award for Social Media Campaign and Mobile Application in the Staffing Firms with $25 million - $100 million in annual sales class. This national awards program recognizes the best and most innovative communications and marketing campaigns among ASA member staffing, recruiting, and workforce solutions companies. LINK was honored for our Social Media campaign that was designed to increase brand awareness by creating an inclusive online community both locally and nationally. By creating a robust editorial calendar and communicating our efforts with the teams monthly, we have organically revamped and grown our online footprint by an average of 166%. Our second award was for our LINK 360 Mobile application, a simple, yet innovative way to streamline our site evaluation process, collect, and share information instantly, while keeping safety center stage. A panel of communications and marketing experts selects the honorees based on the overall quality of their campaigns messaging, design and visual appeal, originality of approach, and outcomes. For more information about LINK, visit www.linkstaffing.com For more information about ASA and the ASA Genius Awards, visit americanstaffing.net. About LINK LINK Staffing is the premier provider of light industrial, skilled trades, administrative and professional talent on a contract, project, and direct hire basis. Founded in 1980, we operate nationwide, employing over 17,000 employees per year. Based in Houston, TX, we have 41 locations in 11 different states. We provide competent, dependable talent who will get your job done. We make it easy to meet your needs by offering some of the most flexible and reliable programs in the industry. For more information, please visit http://www.linkstaffing.com, or call 1-888-929-LINK. About the American Staffing Association The American Staffing Association is the voice of the U.S. staffing, recruiting, and workforce solutions industry. ASA and its state affiliates advance the interests of the industry across all sectors through advocacy, research, education, and the promotion of high standards of legal, ethical, and professional practices. For more information about ASA, visit americanstaffing.net. Contact Kathryn Mujezinovic Vice President of Business Development LINK Staffing 800-848-5465 marketing@linkstaffing.com ezCheckprinting business software from Halfpricesoft.com can now print checks without a required signature as a draft check. This application can print regular business checks or draft checks for businesses who need to receive payment online, via fax, email or phone. There is no additional fee for printing draft checks for current ezCheckprinting customers. Business establishments can print draft checks with no signature required using ezCheckprinting business software. said Halfpricesoft.com founder Dr. Ge. With ezCheckPrinting software, clients can write and print a check in just a few clicks. Potential customers can download the trial version at http://www.halfpricesoft.com/check_printing_software_download.asp. The unique features of this MICR & laser cheque writing and printing software include: Network and multi user versions available at additional cost Print checks on blank check stock or pre-printed checks in check-on-top, check-in-middle, or check-on-bottom formats Add a company logo and other customizable design features for a professional, corporate look to company checks No limit to the number of accounts that can be used Write an unlimited number of checks Add a second signature line for peace of mind and security Prints MICR characters accepted by most banks (for use with laser printers) no need to order expensive checks pre-printed with bank information Export and import of check data for use with ezTimeSheet, Excel file, QuickBooks, Microsoft Money, and other accounting software. ezCheckprinting is compatible with Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10 with .Net Framework v2.0 or later. It is also available for MAC computers. Starting at just $39 per installation (Free through TrialPay offer), ezCheckPrinting is affordable for any size business and is compatible with all popular brands of laser printers (most of which can print bank-accepted MICR numbers) and specialized MICR printers. To learn more about ezCheckPrinting check writing software and the win-win deals, user can visit http://www.halfpricesoft.com/product_ezCheck.asp. About Halfpricesoft.com Founded in 2003, Halfpricesoft.com has established itself as a leader in meeting and exceeding the software requirements of small businesses around the world. Offering payroll software, accounting software, employee attendance tracking software, check writing/printing software, W2 software, W2 Correction software, Affordable Care Act Form software, 1099 software and ezACH deposit software. It continues to grow in the philosophy that small business owners deserve affordable, user friendly, and totally risk-free software. At Credico South Africa, we are not just colleagues, we believe in making a happy working environment for everyone. This month field marketing specialists Credico South Africa welcomed Spring with a bang and held a companywide celebration for its employees and colleagues. About Credico: http://www.credico.com/who-we-are/about/ 2017 has been an incredible year for Credico South Africa, which has seen the agency make significant strides in increasing its market reach across the country. The firm also welcomed the return of its annual Awards Gala back in February. This years event was the companys biggest to date; inviting special industry guests from Australia, America, and the UK, and packing out Cape Towns award-winning function venue The Lookout. Determined to maintain momentum moving into Quarter 4 and complete 2017 on a high note, Credico South Africa recently organised a Spring Fling party to see in the change in season. Holding a party at its Randburg Head Quarters, Credico South Africa invited employees and colleagues from all departments to dress in their best spring and summer attire and join them for food, drinks, and celebration. The Spring Fling was a great opportunity for us to come together and have some fun outside of the daily workings of the business. At Credico South Africa, we are not just colleagues, we believe in making a happy working environment for everyone. Stated a spokesperson from Credico South Africa. The agency has long adhered to the belief that to build a strong and successful business; it takes more than strategies and talent. Credico South Africa believes success comes from respecting and listening to the needs of a workforce and creating a like-minded, motivated community. Bringing people together for celebrations such as this breaks down barriers and drives communication and collaboration, this is what we think has been central to our success so far.' Digital Veteran Peter Ford Joins Ecommerce Software Visionary Elastic Path as VP EMEA and APAC Elastic Path is extremely fortunate to attract Peter to our global expansion team. He is not just an industry veteran; he is also a true visionary and respected thought leader in digital experience platforms and ecommerce. Elastic Path Software Inc., a leading provider of the worlds most extensible API-first enterprise commerce solutions, today announced it has hired influential business leader Peter Ford as Vice President EMEA and APAC. Ford will build Elastic Path's partner network of systems integrators and interactive agencies working with companies looking to transform their enterprise business through innovative, personalized customer experiences. Ford joins Elastic Path from Adobe where he was responsible for EMEA partnerships focused on digital marketing. During his time at Adobe, Ford was responsible for over 350% EMEA partner business growth in three years. Elastic Path is extremely fortunate to attract Peter to our global expansion team," said Harry Chemko, CEO, Elastic Path. "He is not just an industry veteran; he is also a true visionary and respected thought leader in digital experience platforms and ecommerce. His decades of experience working alongside big system integrators including Accenture, Deloitte, Capgemini, Infosys, Sapient and CGI, make him the perfect person to drive our partner-driven expansion in EMEA and APAC. With over 30 years in technology sales, Ford has guided partner sales teams at tech industry giants his entire career including Xerox, Interwoven, OpenMarket, Oracle ATG and Adobe. With both broad and deep channel experience, his thought leadership has made him a sought after speaker at Gartner, Deloitte Digital, Accenture Interactive and Accenture Digital, IBM Global Services and Capgemini events. "Having worked closely with Elastic Path during my time with Adobe, and with my commerce experience, it was apparent the business had uniquely created an entirely new and innovative approach to digital customer engagement," said Peter Ford, Vice President EMEA and APAC, Elastic Path. "Being able to show both customers and the partners that support them the importance of real agility and time to value is redefining the commerce market. Customers will no longer accept the constraints and restrictions of the lumbering legacy systems and their substantial running costs, and are increasingly seeking more flexible options, leveraging existing infrastructure investments in their marketing tools, and helping to monetize the next-generation of customer experiences." About Elastic Path Defining the future of digital commerce, Elastic Path develops the worlds most sophisticated API-based enterprise commerce platform. The companys flagship product, Elastic Path Commerce, has helped the worlds top brands generate over $45 billion in over 170 countries. Customers from industries as diverse as travel, telecoms, publishing, software, and retail enjoy the benefits of a flexible, open architecture that drives brand-defining customer experiences, facilitates business agility, and eliminates sales channel silos. Elastic Path is a private company based in Vancouver, Canada with sales offices in the UK and US. For more information, visit http://www.elasticpath.com. The award is a testament to our hardworking, client-focused team and to the amazing clients that they dedicate themselves to every day. Past News Releases RSS Scarborough Law Helps International... Scarborough Law Expands with New... Scarborough Law, L.L.C., which is celebrating its fifth anniversary offering family and business immigration services, recently made the prestigious Law Firm 500 Award Honorees List of Americas Fastest Growing Law Firms. The award honorees are a beacon of light for the legal industry demonstrating innovation, operational excellence, and a commitment to client service. It is a great honor to be recognized for our growth.The award is a testament to our hardworking, client-focused team and to the amazing clients that they dedicate themselves to every day, said Stephanie Scarborough, founder of Scarborough Law, L.L.C. The Law Firm 500 Honorees List recognizes law firms, such as Scarborough Law, that have achieved significant growth in revenues and showcases the top 200 fastest-growing law firms in the United States. Since its inception five years ago, Scarborough Laws business has grown more than 400 percent, and the firms goals for the future include doubling that growth over the following five years. The Law Firm 500 Conference & Awards Gala will be held October 19-21, 2017, at the Boca Raton Resort & Club in Florida. The award ceremony will begin with a powerful keynote presentation by pioneer entrepreneur, NY Times best-selling author and investor on ABCs Shark Tank, Daymond John, who will be translating his $6 billion business success into success for law firms. Tickets to attend the conference and gala are available at http://www.lawfirm500.com. About Stephanie Scarborough, Scarborough Law, L.L.C. Stephanie Scarborough is an Attorney and Business Counselor to small businesses and multinational corporations. Scarborough manages Scarborough Laws offices in Jacksonville, Florida, and Alpharetta, Georgia, and is admitted to practice law in New York and Georgia. Scarborough Law has three offices: 6622 Southpoint Drive South, Suite 330, Jacksonville, FL, 32216, (904) 389-0055; 4080 McGinnis Ferry Road, Suite 204, Alpharetta, GA, 30005, (678) 257-1808; and Scarborough Immigration Services Pvt. Ltd., Trivandrum, India, +91 98955 98755. For more information, visit http://www.scarboroughlaw.com. 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. Welcome Guest! You Are Here: Home Regional News East New York,, Oct. 05, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- M2 Compliance ("M2"), www.m2compliance.com , a world-leading filing agent registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission and full-service provider of EDGAR, XBRL, Inline XBRL (iXBRL) and print-related services, announced today its premier sponsorship of the MicroCap Conference held on October 5th, 2017 at the JW Essex House Hotel, 160 Central Park S, New York, NY 10019. The MicroCap Conference will highlight the most attractive companies across various sectors. We will be bringing 90 companies in addition to expert panels and speakers to present to the audience. M2 is known for their UNLIMITED EDGAR & XBRL PROGRAM as well as for providing unparalleled 24/7 dedicated service and delivering faster turnaround times for EDGAR & XBRL. M2 has been in business for nearly 8 years and launched their UNLIMITED program for an all-inclusive rate of $4,995 per year just over three years ago, and today has saved public companies over $3,200,000 combined when compared to the fees they would have spent with their previous provider(s). M2's UNLIMITED program was created to serve public companies with a market cap less than 300M and to bring the pricing down across the industry, while delivering accurate and reliable data in EDGAR & XBRL formats. "For years, public companies have been gouged by other filing agents by excessive charges for per page rates, changes, and other fees for any part of the production process. The cost reductions are important but not as important as the quality of service, that's why we hold a 99% retention rate with clients and represent 1/4 of all public companies with a market cap under 300M to date. It is our mission to provide an improved service offering and reduce reporting costs significantly," said David McGuire, Founder & CEO of M2. M2 is the only industry provider to offer a full-service and truly UNLIMITED program for EDGAR & XBRL. The UNLIMITED program translates into not just a package for regulatory filings, but rather an UNLIMITED structure which also includes author's alterations, images and graphics, exhibits, tabular pages, and everything else required for EDGAR & XBRL, all without any hidden fees and without any compromise on service. M2 does offer UNLIMITED programs for companies that have a market cap above 300M, but these are based on customized quotes. About the MicroCap Conference The MicroCap Conference is an exclusive event for investors who specialize in small and microcap stocks. It is an opportunity to be introduced to and speak with management at some of the most attractive small companies, learn from various expert panels, and mingle with other microcap investors. Investors can register to attend The MicroCap Conference by visiting the conference website at: http://microcapconf.com/conferences/new-york-2-2017/ and click "Investor Registration." About M2 Compliance The fine is a 72% increase from the Sh157 million the telecommunications giant was fined in 2016 over a similar period. It should be noted that we, along with the other Kenyan mobile network operators, have expressed concerns regarding the quality of service measures used by the authority, we continue to engage them with expectations that our concerns will be met, the report states in part. The regulators evaluation, however, revealed that the leading firm attained 62.5 per cent compliance against the minimum required of 80 per cent. The compliance implied that the service provider has tremendously improved its service delivery including the upgrade of the quality of voice and data services, call completion rate, call drop rate, call block rate, speech quality and signal strength of the operators from the base transmission station. Safaricom, for the fourth time, Communication Authority of Kenya said, failed to meet the required level of quality of service as prescribed by the regulator. In 2015, Safaricom was fined Sh500, 000 for poor service quality. Fired staff Owing to the various fraudulent issues, the Bob Collymore led firm was forced to fire 52 staff members within the year. The report enumerates that the stringent action was necessitated by the need to guard data and key information at the company. The types of fraud that led to the dismissals include theft, asset misappropriation, policy breaches such as unauthorized access to data systems and fraudulent SIM swap, among others. In addition, the company told shareholders, 14 others were warned against engaging in fraud. The new figure which stands at 52 swell from the previous years 31 members of staff. 33 other members of staff, the firm said, were under investigation. While the number of investigations carried out during the year was substantively the same as Financial Year 2016, the number of staff dismissed for fraudulent behaviour increased to 52, Safaricom said in its latest Sustainability report. There have been a wave of complaints from the users of the telecom services that the secrecy of the information and data have not been achievable as one would easily obtain crucial information from the staff without much ado. Some chains are mediocre, some are fine but nothing special and some are so good that we're insanely in love with. Business Insider Sub Saharan Africa rounded up some of the most delicious, enviable, and unique fast food chains around the world that we wish would come to Ghana. Flunch: France Flunch, which we assume is short for "French lunch," or maybe "fast lunch," revolutionizes the fast food experience. At Flunch, food is self-served, and customers can pick from a large spread of options, including the famous grilled meats menu. Noodle Box: Australia Noodle box is as simple as it sounds: oodles of Asian-style noodles in a "box" (cardboard cup). As one of the largest Asian fast-food franchises in Australia, you can get your noodles made with shrimp, Mongolian beef, honey chicken, and more. We really can't think of a Ghanaian equivalent to this chain. Chicken Cottage: The UK The Brits love their fast-food chicken. Chicken Cottage is popular for its fried, grilled and BBQ halal chicken, as well as its sandwiches and wraps. Of course, they also are known to slather on some peri-peri sauce (we really need to make that a thing in Ghana) Mini Kalzone: Brazil If there's something we're lacking in Ghana, it's an entire restaurant chain devoted to calzones. These are basically like cheesy hot pockets that come in a variety of flavors. The menu is simple, but you can also get smoothies and cookies if you're still peckish after a kalzone. Toast Box: Singapore Can you imagine an entire fast-food chain dedicated to toast? Toast Box is one of the most popular Singaporean food chains and serves unique toasty creations alongside artisan coffee. Hell Pizza: New Zealand As their tagline says, "The best-damned pizza, in this life or next!" This hell-themed pizzeria has interesting names for their pizzas. Greed is made with double the ingredients, while Wrath is spicy. We think this would do especially well in Ghana. FEBO: The Netherlands Stephen Paddock, a 64-year-old retired accountant, left 58 people dead and 489 injured when he opened fire on a crowd of 22,000 concertgoers, police say. The number of injured people was revised downward from 527 Wednesday night. His attack appears to have been meticulously planned, but Paddock left few clues as to his motive, and investigators had been hopeful that Danley would provide more information. Danley, who had been in the Philippines visiting family at the time of the shooting, arrived back in the US late on Tuesday and was interviewed by the FBI on Wednesday. "I knew Stephen Paddock as a kind, caring, quiet man. I loved him and hoped for a quite future together with him," Danley said in the statement read to media by her attorney. "He never said anything to me, or took any action that I was aware of that I understood in any way to be a warning that something horrible like this was going to happen." Danley's statement said Paddock had purchased her a ticket to the Philippines roughly two weeks ago, and told her to visit her family. She said he wired her some money, which she believed to be a way of breaking up with her. "It never occurred to me in any way whatsoever that he was planning violence against anyone," Danley said in the statement. She added that she was "devastated" for those who were killed or injured in the shooting. "I have faith in God and I will continue to pray for everyone who has been harmed or hurt. I am a mother and a grandmother, and my heart breaks for all who have lost loved ones," she said. Watch a clip of Danleys statement below: The full statement, as read by her attorney, is below: "I am devastated by the deaths and injuries that have occurred. And my prayers go out to the victims and their families, and all those who have been hurt by these awful events. I have faith in God and I will continue to pray for everyone who has been harmed or hurt. "I am a mother and a grandmother, and my heart breaks for all who have lost loved ones. I knew Stephen Paddock as a kind, caring, quiet man. I loved him and hoped for a quite future together with him. He never said anything to me, or took any action that I was aware of that I understood in any way to be a warning that something horrible like this was going to happen. "A little more than two weeks ago Stephen told me he had found a cheap ticket for me to the Philippines and that he wanted me to take a trip home to see my family. Like all Filipinos abroad, I was excited to go home and see family and friends. While there, he wired me money, which he said was for me to buy a house for me and my family. I was grateful, but honestly I was worried at first that the unexpected trip home and then the money was a way of breaking up with me. "As I said last night, the circumstances surrounding this situation are extremely disappointing to me," Stivers, an Ohio congressman, said in a statement. "However, the NRCC is undefeated in special elections this year and I'm supremely confident that will continue." "In the meantime, we look forward to seeing how national Democrats can spin yet another special election loss into a so-called 'moral victory,'" he continued. Murphy, a congressman from Pennsylvania who prominently held anti-abortion positions, resigned following a firestorm over his suggestion to a mistress that she have an abortion. "You have zero issue posting your pro-life stance all over the place when you had no issue asking me to abort our unborn child just last week when we thought that was one of the options," wrote Shannon Edwards, a forensic psychologist with whom Murphy was having an extra-marital affair, The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported. "I get what you say about my March for life messages. I've never written them," Murphy responded in a text message."Staff does them. I read them and winced. I told staff don't write any more. I will." WASHINGTON, DC, Oct. 05, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Cameroon Cataract Development Impact Loan, a new way of funding health care in low and middle income countries, will be used to prevent blindness through the provision of as many as 18,000 cataract surgeries in Cameroon over the next five years, by bringing together public and private investors, health donors, and eye care delivery experts. This is a type of Development Impact Bond, a results-based contract in which investors provide financing for social programs upfront, and donor organizations repay investors their principal plus a return based on realized performance in delivering social outcomes. In an environment where the need for international development funding often outstrips the resources available, these instruments offer a promising new solution for more effective, efficient financing. The Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) has committed a USD $2 million loan in support of this project. OPIC, the U.S. Governments development finance institution, is one of the first development finance institutions to commit funding to a project using this kind of innovative financial instrument. The Netri Foundation, a private foundation that fights poverty through social impact investments, will also be providing upfront financing for this project. The funding will support the Magrabi ICO Cameroon Eye Institute (MICEI), which has been established by the Africa Eye Foundation. MICEI will not only provide comprehensive, high-quality and affordable eye care procedures, but will also play an important role in strengthening health care systems by developing healthcare talent for the region by providing certified (through the University of Yaounde) training to grow the next generation of African eye care experts. This Cameroon transaction is anchored by a diverse coalition of partners. Those who will repay investors upon meeting performance goals include The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, The Fred Hollows Foundation, and Sightsavers. The Africa Eye Foundation is the implementing partner and service delivery expert. D. Capital Partners is the financial intermediary who helped structure and raise this funding. The primary donor and founder of the hospital, Dr. Akef el-Maghraby, internationally renowned ophthalmologist and Chairman of the Magrabi Hospital Group says, My goal is to make high quality eye care accessible to the people of Cameroon regardless of their ability to pay. MICEI is the first of AEFs three projects in sub-Saharan Africa as we aim to construct and operate a network of integrated and self-sustainable eye hospitals, across Africa. As the main financial contributor to the outcome funding pool, We are thrilled to be part of an innovative approach to addressing cataract presented in the Cameroon Cataract Performance Bond, said Peter Laugharn, President and CEO of the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation. This pioneering financing mechanism will help build greater eye care capacity and contribute to the financial sustainability of MICEIs operations, providing vital services to those needlessly suffering from avoidable blindness both now and into the future. In Sub-Saharan Africa, the rate of blindness and vision impairment is twice the global average, with 80 percent of cases preventable or treatable. Half of those living with avoidable blindness are affected by cataract, a clouding of the lens which can be easily treated with a simple 20-minute surgery. Investors will have the unique opportunity to positively influence the lives of some of the worlds most vulnerable people, said Brian Doolan, CEO of The Fred Hollows Foundation. Cataract surgery is one of the most cost-effective interventions available as it delivers high quality treatment with consistently high success rates. Cataract remains the single biggest cause of avoidable blindness and making eye health services accessible to all, including the worlds poorest people, is essential if we are to prevent millions from losing their sight unnecessarily, says Sightsavers CEO, Caroline Harper. Impact bonds are a new way of financing eye health care in low and middle income countries and we are keen to learn how such schemes can be scaled up and sustained in the long run as they have the potential to unlock resources, not only to provide cataract surgery, but also to strengthen eye health systems through improving health care infrastructure and the training of ophthalmic staff. An estimated 48,000 surgeries are needed each year in Cameroon to treat new cases of cataracts as well as the current backlog of people who need cataract surgery, estimated to be 115,000. OPIC understands that investment is essential for addressing major challenges like access to healthcare in the developing world, and we are committed to using innovative financing structures to help ensure resources are used efficiently and results are tracked, said Ray W. Washburne, OPIC President and Chief Executive Officer. The use of development impact bonds will bring both efficiency and accountability to this important project to reduce preventable blindness in Cameroon, which disproportionately affects women. Netri is excited to support MICEIs implementation of the Aravind Model in Cameroon, first demonstrated as an effective cross-subsidization model in India, where paid eyecare services are used to subsidise free and discounted cataract surgeries for low-income patients. Thousands of people will regain their eyesight who otherwise would not have had the means to receive such treatment says Josephine Ragni, Social Investment Manager at Netri. There are just three ophthalmologists per one million people in Cameroon, compared with a global average of around 31 ophthalmologists per one million people. D. Capital believes innovative financing mechanisms like this impact loan can be a powerful tool to tackle pressing social challenges and we are privileged to play a role in making this landmark transaction a reality, says Lily Han, a Principal at D. Capital. At present, around 15,000 cataract surgeries are performed each year in Cameroon, less than a third of what is needed. MICEI could enable Cameroons cataract surgical capacity to increase by around 40 percent in 5 years. ### Media enquiries: Press Office, Overseas Private Investment Corporation (US) Phone: 202-312-2186 or 202-336-8460, Email: press@opic.gov Alison Hill, Global Lead Communications, The Fred Hollows Foundation (Sydney) Mob: + 61 407 570 640, Email: alisonhill@hollows.org Dan Tester, Senior Media & PR Officer, Sightsavers (UK) Mob: + 44 7957291718, Email: dtester@sightsavers.org Or Maria Fsadni, Senior Media & PR Officer, Sightsavers (UK) Mob: +44 7535 059244, Email: mfsadni@sightsavers.org OPIC The Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) is a self-sustaining U.S. Government agency that helps American businesses invest in emerging markets. Established in 1971, OPIC provides businesses with the tools to manage the risks associated with foreign direct investment, fosters economic development in emerging market countries, and advances U.S. foreign policy and national security priorities. OPIC helps American businesses gain footholds in new markets, catalyzes new revenues and contributes to jobs and growth opportunities both at home and abroad. OPIC fulfills its mission by providing businesses with financing, political risk insurance, advocacy and by partnering with private equity investment fund managers. OPIC services are available to new and expanding businesses planning to invest in more than 160 countries worldwide. Because OPIC charges market-based fees for its products, it operates on a self-sustaining basis at no net cost to taxpayers. All OPIC projects must adhere to best international practices and cannot cause job loss in the United States. The Africa Eye Foundation Africa Eye Foundation (AEF) is a not for profit organization whose goal is to promote and advocate for better eyesight and the prevention of needless blindness and visual impairment across Africa. The Foundation has already mobilized more than USD $8.2 million to operationalize the MICEI, which was inaugurated in March of 2017. The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation is a family foundation established in 1944 by the man who started Hilton Hotels. It provides funds to nonprofit organizations working to improve the lives of disadvantaged and vulnerable people throughout the world. The Fred Hollows Foundation The Fred Hollows Foundation is an international development organisation established in Australia which works in 25 countries and has restored sight to more than two million people worldwide. The Foundation believes in a world where no person is needlessly blind and Indigenous Australians exercise their right to good health. It is inspired by the life and work of Professor Fred Hollows, an internationally acclaimed eye surgeon and activist for social justice who championed the right of all people to high quality and affordable eye care. Sightsavers Sightsavers is an international organisation that changes lives for the long term. Sightsavers works in more than 30 developing countries to prevent blindness, restore sight and advocate for social inclusion and equal rights for people with disabilities. www.sightsavers.org. In the six decades since its foundation, Sightsavers has: Supported over 873 million treatments for neglected tropical diseases (of which 480,239,508 are for the potentially blinding diseases trachoma and river blindness) Carried out over 9.39 million operations to restore sight Trained more than 522,000 primary eye care workers Carried out rehabilitation training for 210,889 blind or low vision beneficiaries Supported 46,573 blind or low vision children to gain a school education Netri Foundation The Netri Foundation is a Spanish private charitable organisation, whose main focus is contributing to alleviate extreme poverty. Since 2006, Netri has been providing financing to socially motivated institutions in the areas of financial inclusion, rural development, education, health, and sustainable energy solutions. D. Capital Partners D. Capital Partners is an investment advisory firm facilitating the placement of impact capital into underserved communities. As a mission-driven investment company, it uses the incentives and instruments of disciplined finance and investing to provide transparent and efficient capital solutions to human development challenges. Attachments: A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ac160d56-f77a-490f-8717-5a78bdc88dd8 Attachments: A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6961f942-36fe-4724-a173-468548865ae5 Mandalay Bay and other MGM Resorts, including the Bellagio, Monte Carlo, and the MGM Grand, have increased security levels, according to a spokesperson from the company. The Wynn Resort in Las Vegas added new security measures after the shooting, scanning guests with metal detectors and putting bags through X-ray machines. "The very first thing that hotels [will consider] is more visible security," Deanna Ting, hospitality editor at travel industry intelligence company Skift, told Business Insider. "The hotels in Las Vegas are going to start asking themselves if they should have metal detectors or baggage screenings at the entrance of their properties." There are no industry-wide security standards in the hotel industry. Before now, most Las Vegas hotels have not had metal detectors. And, according to experts, there's a good reason for that. Las Vegas hotels are packed with hundreds to thousands of people. Mandalay Bay has 4,700 rooms. The Venetian, which is the city's largest hotel, has more than 7,000 rooms. Getting people checked in, into elevators, and up to their rooms smoothly is a difficult enough feat. Adding metal detectors or other screening measures would create inevitable bottlenecks. "Imagine yourself going to Las Vegas for a conference," Dick Hudak, managing partner of the Resort Security consulting firm, told Business Insider. "Are you going to be very happy after traveling five or six hours through airports, and then you get to the hotel and you're standing in line, and you have to pick up your suitcase and put it on this conveyor belt?" "Is it reasonable to screen them?" Anthony Melchiorri, host of Travel Channel's "Hotel Impossible," asked rhetorically. "I don't think so." Ding believes hotels will likely consider visible security when guests check in, especially in the short term to boost customers' confidence. But, she says hotels would have to deal with questions of privacy and the cost of installing and maintaining machines if they want to use them for screening in the long term. Some hotels internationally have successfully added X-ray machines or metal detectors after catastrophic incidents. Certain hotels in Indonesia, for example, added X-ray machines after a bombing in 2003 at a Marriott Hotel in South Jakarta. However, while Americans are willing to sacrifice convenience for safety in airports, they may be less likely to do so in hotels. "Security requires inconvenience. Certain industries can deal with inconvenience, like banks, airlines," said Hudak, who previously worked as director of security at Sheraton. "Hotels can't deal with inconvenience. Guest will go someplace else where they don't have to deal with this stuff." Speaking on Starr Chat Wednesday with Bola Ray he revealed that he charges nothing less than 15,000 dollars per movie. I take $15,000 per movie and not cedis, the 'Best Actor in a Leading Role' at the Africa Movie Academy Awards in 2012 revealed adding that the highest amount he has taken for a movie is 35,000 dollars. The actor also revealed that he was a masturbator in his youth and advised the youth against it. Speaking to Kofi TV he revealed that, the hit song by Swedru based artist, Patapaa is influencing some Ghanaian children as well as adults and has increased promiscuity among the Ghanaian youth. The Pastor said there it was crucial we condemn the song before it destroys the country. Kumchacha was of the opinion that, songs are supposed to inspire people and help change their ways but such is not so with the One Corner song which has taken the country by storm adding that recent songs rather deteriorate morality in the country. The couple needs a lot of money for services such as pre-wedding and post-wedding photoshoot, interior decoration, a huge wedding cake, an elegant wedding gown, a bridal shower and much more. These things needed for the wedding means there must money available. READ ALSO: Newmont ranked industry leader for third consecutive year However, there are couples who cannot afford the kind of weddings they want. The news is that some banks provide loans for weddings. Below is a list of some of the banks in Ghana that can give you loans in order organise your luxurious wedding. GCB Bank Just as their tagline says GCB is your bank for life. Throughout every life stage, they will be there to offer help when they are needed. On the official GCB Bank website, it is stated that if you want a fast loan with simple terms and flexible payments. Perhaps you want some home improvements, need to finance a wedding or pay for a well earned holiday, or maybe you need a new car or just want assistance with paying some bills. Whatever you need a loan for, we can help. Societe Generale The website of the bank indicated that it provides loans for would-be couples who need some money to organise the wedding of their dreams. Do you need a short to medium term loan to finance the purchasing of the latest appliances, your dream car, wedding or family holiday?...The Societe Generale Ghana Consumer Loans are the perfect solutions for you! Beige Beige used to be a financial institution but it has now been accredited by the Bank of Ghana (BoG). Beige allows spouses-to-be to fill a form on their website or physically in their office. Afterwards, an amount is given to the couple or the half that requested the money. They are expected to pay back the money with its interest as agreed between the bank and the couple. HFC Bank Ghana HFC Bank has a saving package called I do. This is meant for you to save for the wedding. In a statement issued the Chambers Head of Communications & Research, Derek B. Laryea said Kenneth Ashigbey is expected to assume office November 1, 2017. Kenneth joins the Chamber from the Graphic Communications Group Limited, where he was the Managing Director. READ ALSO: Newmont ranked ranked industry leader for third consecutive year He was previously the CEO at Optimum Media Prime (OMP) and also worked as the Chief Technology Officer at the Multimedia Group Ltd. Chair of the Chamber, Yolanda Cuba, said we welcome Kenneth to the Chamber. With a customer base of more than 19 million unique subscribers in Ghana, the mobile industry continues to change how we communicate. We look forward to working with Ken to deliver a lot more excitement to customers. Ashigbey on his part said he was happy to join the industry considering the opportunities that abound in the sector. READ ALSO: These banks will give you a loan for your luxurious wedding I am honoured to be joining the industry at such a time of significant opportunities, despite the progress made. The Chamber will continue to positively impact the lives of Ghanaians by advocating for the right policy, legal and regulatory environment. He acknowledged the tremendous work done by his predecessor, Kwaku Sakyi Addo and remains confident that together, we can build on that. Bridget Enchill Obengs arrest follows reports that she allegedly hoodwinked over 10 unsuspecting people under the pretext of selling vehicles to them. The suspect, who also goes by the name Naana, was apprehended at Baah Yard, Awoshie, Accra, after reportedly playing hide-and-seek with the police over the period. READ MORE: Fake military man arrested The police earlier arrested a different person they had suspect and later realised it was a mistaken identity. However, upon a tip-off, Enchill was later busted by the Osu police in another case and handed over to the CID for investigation. The Police service has revealed that the Tesano, Adabraka, Teshie and Airport police are also investigating her for fraud. The CIDs Director of operations at the headquarters, ACP Peter Gyimah, told DAILY GUIDE that, Enchill Obeng, who operated with the name Naana, displays various vehicles for sale with her contact numbers on them. He said when interested persons contact her, she then arranges to either meet them or asks her accomplices to do so and in the process, takes from prospective buyers monies ranging from GH9,000 to GH50,000 and goes into hiding. Modus Operandi According to ACP Gyimah, the suspect takes the buyers to other persons she claims are the real owners of the vehicles. A After the money has been paid, Enchill and her accomplices then present the victims with fake car keys and documents and asks them to go for the vehicles. The victims get the shock of their lives when they go to the locations only to neither meet any car nor person. Police investigations have revealed that the suspect and her accomplices often use apartments with owners outside the country or hospitals for their nefarious activities. Some politicians in authority allocated to themselves tractors brought into the country by government for farmers and others ride on the back of the horse to use state coffers to buy pampers, Khebab among others for themselves. READ MORE: Here are the politicians deemed incorruptible in Ghana Many people including some MPs are indicted in bribery allegations. Some members of Parliament refuted the claims and rubbishes it. Pulse.com.gh brings you another list of politicians who are accused of corrupt allegations since 2009 t0 2017. Alhaji Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka (Pampers/Khebab) Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka is the Member of Parliament for Asawase in the Ashanti region. He was the Minister for Youth and Sports. He was requested by the late President Mills to proceed on leave while allegations of corruption against him were investigated. The Muntaka pampers/Khebab scandal that rocked the government of the late Atta Mills caused his administration its first political casualty, is bound to linger on for years. Even though National Security and late President Mills said they have dealt with the matter conclusively, indications are that more can of worms could be opened on the matter one of these fine days. Abuga Pele, former GYEEDA boss and MP Abuga Pele, the former Member of Parliament for Chiana-Paga constituency who was indicted in the GYEEDA scandal for alleged malfeasance and misappropriation of funds has said he is completely innocent of the charges proffered against him. He has been charged with causing financial loss to the state, defrauding by false pretences and aiding and abeting crime. Abuga Pele and the Chief Executive Officer of Goodwill International Group appeared in court Friday to answer a total of 19 charges, in connection with their roles in the GYEEDA rot. Victoria Hammah, former deputy Communications minister Former Deputy Communications Minister Victoria Hammah was sacked after she was recorded allegedly saying she would stay in politics until she has made $1m (600,000). Ms Hammah has not yet commented on the tape or her sacking. Some pundits were vindicated over her sacking, as they warned that she was too young and inexperienced to serve in government. In August 2013, she said there was a lot of pressure on her to steal public money because people thought that, as a minister, she was rich. Ms Hammah first came to the public attention after stumbling several times while making a speech and then saying she had been given the wrong text. On the tape, which has not been independently verified, she says: "I will not quit politics until I make one million dollars." She also criticized another deputy minister, calling her "senseless, ugly, loud and egoistic". Mahama Ayariga, MP for Bawku Central (Tractors) The former Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry, Mahama Ayariga was accused for allocating five state tractors to himself just after the NDC assumed office in 2009. He applied for a tractor but was given five (5) by the Ministry of Agriculture which was contrary to the rule governing the acquisition of the tractors. The tractors were to be acquired by companies and corporate bodies and not individuals, but Members of Parliament were allowed to apply for a tractor each. According to reports, contrary to assertions by Mr. Ayariga that the tractors were hired for GH1O to plough an acre of land, the tractors were rather hired for GH25. The tractors were being used to lure NPP supporters to join the NDC who are expecting a bye-election, since an NDC supporter had dragged the former Member of Parliament (MP) for Bawku Central, Adamu Dramani to court on allegations that he had not renounced his British citizenship. Joe Osei Owusu, First deputy Speaker Mr Osei-Owusu, known in political circles as Joe Wise, was a polling station chairman for the NPP at Bekwai, became central ward chairman and later constituency chairman for the party at Bekwai. He had earlier served as an assembly member in the area. But that was not to be as President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and the party bigwigs had another plan for him; to take the chair of the First Deputy Speaker. Not long ago, he appeared before the special committee to conduct an inquiry into allegations of collecting bribe against him and the Minority members. He repeated his earlier position that he never took any money from Energy Minister Boakye Agyarko, to be given to the Minority members on the committee to influence his approval for the position. READ MORE: Speaker pardons Ayariga after apology He informed the five-member committee, chaired by Mr Joe Ghartey, MP for Essikado Ketan and former Deputy Speaker of Parliament in Accra, that the allegation according to Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, MP for North Tongu, was to equalise and spread allegations of corruption against former President John Mahama and for the Majority NPP to feel the heat of making allegations against the former president. The bribery allegation followed the reluctance by the Minority side of the Appointments Committee to recommend Mr Agyarko for passage over certain comments he made against former President Mahama during his vetting. According to the witness, Mr Ablakwas statement was made at a conclave meeting at the Speakers Lobby, to consider issues and reach consensus on approving Mr Yaw Osafo-Maafo, then Senior Minister Designate and Mr Boakye Agyarko, then Energy Minister Designate, on whom the Committee had recommended majority approval rather than consensual. Mr Osei-Owusu and Minority Chief Whip Mohammed Muntaka were implicated in an allegation that they received GH100,000 to share GH3,000 each from Mr Agyarko as bribe money for his approval. The narrative has been contested by Messrs Osei-Owusu and Muntaka who both denied receiving and sharing money to the MPs and accused Mr Ayariga of peddling falsehood. Mr Osei- Owusu, said he was infuriated and became emotional at the statement. Mr Ghartey, in a preliminary statement, before the submission of Mr Osei-Owusu justified the setting up of the committee and its jurisdiction, against public outcry of conflict of interest by the committee. Mr Ghartey explained that he did not see any conflict of interest and that the committee was established under Order 191 of the Standing Orders of Parliament which gives the House the power to appoint a special or ad-hoc committee to investigate any matter of public importance. Okudzeto Ablakwa, former deputy Education Minister Opposition NDC MP for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa was one of the officials in the NDC administration, whose name was constantly on the lips of NPP communicators, accused of amassing wealth through abuse of public office. The then opposition party alleged that the young Minister owned scads of fuel stations among other big investments across the country and overseas. However, responding to the allegations, Mr. Okudzeto Ablakwa stated that the claims were unfounded and were mere pejorative speculations spread by the NPP to create opprobrium. Dzifa Attivor, former Transport Minister (Bus branding saga) Dzifa Aku Ativor was Minister of Transport until her resignation due to a controversial GH3.6m bus re-branding contract. She was appointed in February 2013 by former President Mahama. She attended the Evangelical Presbyterian Primary School at Abutia Teti between 1960 and 1970. Her secondary education was at the Kpedze Secondary School and the Peki Secondary School, both in the Volta region between 1970 and 1975. She then trained at the Government Secretarial School qualifying as a Stenographer Secretary in 1981. Mrs Ativor contested the HoWest constituency primaries in 2008 but lost. She was however appointed Deputy Minister for Transport by the late former president John Evans Atta Mills from 2009 to January 2012. READ MORE: NDC Chairman calls Nana Addo to jail Dzifa Attivor After, former president John Mahama appointed her as the substantive Minister for Transport. Governments decision to spend a whopping GH3.6 million on re-branding 116 buses, has angered many Ghanaians, with the majority questioning how that outrageous expenditure could be approved under the watch of the President. Her resignation comes barely a day after a report was presented to the Chief of Staff; Mr. Julius Debrah, following an investigation he demanded into the controversial contract. Details of the investigative report have not been made public yet. It is thus unclear why the Minister has chosen the path of resignation even before the report is made public. Dzifa Attivor resigned after some seven Ghanaian citizensinstituted a court action against government over the controversial contract. A detailed pro-forma invoice for the re-branding of the buses has revealed that stickers on each bus cost GH11, 000. The pro-forma invoice dated 17th July 2015, and signed by the Accounts Officer of Smarttys Management and Productions and copied to the Ministry of Transport, put the total cost of branding for each bus at GH30,420. Smarttys Management and Productions is owned by Selassie Ibrahim, an actress cum entrepreneur and TV personality. Alban Bagbin, former Works and Housing minister Alban Kingsford Sumani Bagbin, was accused about the much-talked-about $10 billion STX Korean housing deal which has been a subject of heated controversy taking the matter to the door-steps of the New Patriotic Party (NPP). The late Mills-led NDC government has been working on the US$10 billion housing deal with STX Korea for the construction of 200,000 houses across the country in the next five years, putting the average cost of each house at $50,000. The agreement, which was initially placed before Parliament was quickly withdrawn by the government upon realising that the loopholes in it included the non-provision of a leader for the $10 billion funding. READ ALSO: Pressure group accuses Alban Bagbin of destroying NDC Though government claims the deal is the best answer to the over one million housing deficits in Ghana, the NPP and some stakeholders including the civil society organizations such as the Danquah institute and the Imani centre, have all raised issues with the terms of the agreement. No costing was made for each of the housing unit, raising questions about its transparency. The STX deal, according to critics, would lead to the eventual mortgaging of Ghanas oil. On May 4, 2010, the Government sought to push through several loan agreements under a certificate of urgency when Parliament was on recess. One was a Suppliers Credit Financing Agreement between the Government of Ghana and STX Engineering and Construction Limited (a subsidiary of the STX Group, Korea) for an amount of $1, 525, 443, 468.00 to construct 30,000 housing units for the Security Services- with 20,000 units for the Police Service (including 10,240 units), and the remaining 10, 000 to be spread among the other security agencies, including the Military and the Prison Service. Asiedu Nketia, NDC General Secretary The General Secretary of the NDC has rejected conflict of interest allegations made against him over the construction of the Bui Dam project. Johnson Asiedu Nketia, who was also a member of the Board of the Bui Authority is said to be a major supplier of blocks used in the construction of the project, a practice the opposition New Patriotic Party has cited as potential conflict of interest situation. A former and current Chief Executive Officer of the Bui Project, Fred Oware accused the NDC scribe of selling the blocks at a higher price which has consequently increased the total cost of the project but Johnson Asiedu Nketia admitted selling the blocks to contractors of the project but vehemently rejected conflict of interest allegations. He said he noticed the seeming difficulties by subcontractors of the Bui project in buying blocks and therefore decided to extend his block factory. Hannah Bissiw, former deputy Works and Housing Minister Former deputy Works and Housing Minister Dr. Hannah Bissiw was accused of stinking corruption. She was cited by anti-corruption group for a multi-million mansions she is said to have been built by her in the hometown. The group known as the Forum for Public Accountability (FoPA) accused Dr. Bissiw, among other offences, 'receives a per diem of GH800 per week instead of the rightful amount of GH200. Which fact means that she receives an impress exceeding her monthly income.' A statement from Mahamas office Thursday said "Mahama is leaving Accra today for Monrovia to lead the Observer Mission of ECOWAS to the October 10, 2017 Liberian general elections. "As former Chair of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, President Mahama has been celebrated for his commitment to ensuring the stability of the sub-region and the continent generally." Below is the full statement: As former Chair of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, President Mahama has been celebrated for his commitment to ensuring the stability of the sub-region and the continent generally. His tenure as Chair saw the quick handling of various sub-regional crisis including the Burkinabe Political turmoil, the election dispute in Togo and the outbreak of Ebola in three West African countries including Liberia. Since leaving Office in January, President Mahama has been helping to entrench democracy and stability in Africa. He has also been working with the African Development Bank to help improve agriculture. Liberia votes In landmark elections slated for October 10, Liberians will vote in the countrys third postwar presidential and legislative races. Incumbent Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Africas first female president is ineligible to run because of constitutionally mandated term limits. So January 2018 will mark the first time in recent memory that a democratically elected Liberian president will hand power to a similarly elected head of state. His inheritance here is referring to the state of the economy he inherited from former President John Dramani Mahama. Akufo-Addo was speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the water project in Wa in the Upper West Region. He said there are other projects his government wants to implement but a lot of them depend on the state of our public financing. The truth of the matter is that I am not a lucky son, he told the gathering of chiefs and people in Jambusi last Monday. I did not inherit a rich father. The inheritance I got from my predecessor was about an empty treasury so I happen to work my way from the bottom up. But I know that with your support, I will find the money and we will do these things that need to be done, he added. However, President Akufo-Addo said despite the challenges, he would ensure that all his promises are fulfilled. The Minister was speaking at a Town Hall meeting organized by Gh One Television for residents of Old Fadama in Accra. He told the residents and other in attendance that the poor were often the casualties during political tensions. He, therefore, called on party foot-soldiers to reorient themselves. In the public domain Ghanas 2 main political parties, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC), are seen to have some bad blood between them. This has sometimes caused their supporters to fight each other which has sometimes led to the death of some supporters. Saddique said all the conflict you see in Ghana and outside is brought about by two things; poverty and politicians. When you see us arguing, we are not fighting. When we finish, we go to drink tea and eat meat. READ ALSO: This is why JM 2020 will leave NDC on the brink of collapse He further stated that key politicians had siblings on either side of the political divide and always benefited from all governments that take over power. Osafo-Maafo is in NPP, but his brother, Kumah Adjei Maafo is in NDC. Sherry Ayitey is NDC but her elder brother, Professor Ayitey is NPP. NDC lawyer, Larry Adjetey is the son of NPPs Peter Ala Adjetey. Samuel Jinapor is NPP his elder brother John Jinapor is NDC, and then myself I am NPP but my elder brother, Baba Kamara is NDC so how can we fight? NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES CALGARY, Alberta, Oct. 05, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Gibson Energy Inc. ("Gibsons" or the "Company") (TSX:GEI) today announced that it has closed its previously-announced offering of CDN$250 million aggregate principal amount of 5.25% Senior Unsecured Notes due July 15, 2024. Gibsons intends to use the net proceeds from the offering to redeem the U.S.$211.2 million aggregate principal amount of outstanding U.S. dollar denominated 6.75% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2021 (the "U.S. 2021 Notes"), being all of the Companys U.S. 2021 Notes. The redemption date in respect of the U.S. 2021 Notes is October 28, 2017. These transactions will strengthen Gibsons balance sheet, decrease annual interest costs, extend its debt maturity profile and provide additional financing flexibility. The Notes have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), or applicable state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. The Notes have not been, and will not be, qualified for sale to the public under applicable Canadian securities laws and, accordingly, any offer and sale of the Notes in Canada will be made on a basis which is exempt from the prospectus requirements of such securities laws. The Notes will be offered and sold only to non-U.S. persons in reliance on the "accredited investor" prospectus exemption in Canada. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or purchase, or a solicitation of an offer to sell or purchase, any securities. No offer, solicitation, purchase or sale of securities will be made in any jurisdiction, in which such an offer, solicitation, purchase or sale would be unlawful. About Gibsons Gibsons is a Canadian-based midstream energy company with operations in most of the key hydrocarbon-rich basins in North America. With headquarters in Calgary, Alberta, the Companys North American operations include the storage, blending, processing, transportation, marketing and distribution of crude oil, liquids and refined products. The Company also provides oilfield waste and water management services. Gibson Energy Inc. shares trade under the symbol GEI and are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange. For more information, visit www.gibsons.com. Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements contained in this news release constitute forward-looking information and statements (collectively, "forward-looking statements") including, but not limited to, statements concerning the proposed use of proceeds and the redemption of the U.S. 2021 Notes. These statements relate to future events or Gibsons future performance. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. The use of any of the words "anticipate", "plan", "contemplate", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "intend", "propose", "might", "may", "will", "shall", "project", "should", "could", "would", "believe", "predict", "forecast", "pursue", "potential" and "capable" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements. No assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements included in this news release should not be unduly relied upon. These statements speak only as of the date of this news release. Gibsons does not undertake any obligations to publicly update or revise any forward looking statements except as required by securities law. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of numerous risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, the risks and uncertainties described in "Forward-Looking Statements" and "Risk Factors" included in Gibsons Annual Information Form dated March 7, 2017 as filed on SEDAR and available on the Gibsons website at www.gibsons.com. "Air space will be closed ... the border will also be shut soon," Erdogan said in a televised speech. "How will you (the Iraqi Kurds) have imports and exports then?" he added. "The clock is ticking against them," said Erdogan. In the wake of the non-binding poll, which was overwhelmingly won by the 'Yes' camp, Erdogan has repeatedly told Arbil the Habur border crossing would be closed but this has yet to happen. Turkish carriers have already suspended their flights to Iraqi Kurdistan, although this was in line with an order from Baghdad rather than a reprisal from Ankara. Turkey fears the vote will embolden its own sizeable Kurdish minority, and is eager to work with Iran and the central government in Baghdad to block it. Erdogan's comments came a day after a key visit to Tehran where both countries presented a united front in their opposition to Iraqi Kurdish aspirations of independence. He reaffirmed his belief that only Israel was in favour of Iraqi Kurdish independence. "They are not your friends," he said. But some analysts argue Turkey will be wary of cutting off economic ties with Iraqi Kurdistan as this risks hurting the domestic Turkish economy. Thanks for signing up for our daily insight on the African economy. We bring you daily editor picks from the best Business Insider news content so you can stay updated on the latest topics and conversations on the African market, leaders, careers and lifestyle. Also join us across all of our other channels - we love to be connected! LONDON Senior Tesco directors feared being jailed and worked in an environment of "anxiety" and "tension" in the weeks before the retailer announced a 250 million ($331 million) black hole in its accounts in 2014, a court heard on Wednesday. Three former Tesco executives are standing trial for fraud for their alleged involvement in overstating the firm's profits. All three deny guilt. Amit Soni, a senior member of Tesco's finance team who allegedly acted as a whistleblower in the case, gave evidence on the fourth day of the trial at Southwark Crown Court in London on Wednesday. He said defendant Chris Bush, former Tesco UK managing director, arranged meetings with Tesco's commercial directors in August 2014 the month before the company restated its profits at which the directors voiced concerns about the practice of "pulling forward" income from future accounting periods and booking it ahead of time. One of the commercial directors, George Wright, told Bush that he was uncomfortable with conversations with suppliers relating to "pull-forward" and said he felt uncomfortable with using the practice to plug gaps in accounts. Wright is said to have told Bush: "I don't want to go to jail for this." Soni said that his team had prepared a document for the meetings, which suggested Tesco's budget could fall 240 million short of the overall target for the first half of Tesco's financial year. Soni said the gap began "looking insurmountable." He said Chris Bush's told commercial directors who were worried about the figure "to go back and make plans to hit the numbers rather than come out with gaps." Philip Clarke leaving was a relief Soni also told the court that he was relieved to learn that former Tesco CEO Philip Clarke was leaving in 2014 because he felt he was responsible for the company's faltering strategy. Clarke is not charged with any wrongdoing, nor implicated in the case. He was interviewed by the Serious Fraud Office who decided not to press any charges. Soni said Tesco UK was under financial pressure when he joined in 2013, both because of external factors, such as competition from discounters Lidl and Aldi, and because of internal pressures to meet targets. "There was a sense that there was a lot of hard work that was going on internally but it was not showing anywhere in the results," he told the jury. Soni said that it was a "relief" when the departure of former Tesco CEO Philip Clarke was announced. "I felt, personally, that the pressures in the business were due to in part the strategy that Clarke had for the company," Soni said. Former Tesco UK managing director Christopher Bush, former UK finance director Carl Rogberg, and former food commercial director John Scouler are all charged with fraud by false accounting and of fraud by abuse of position. The trio were formally charged by the Senior Fraud Office last year. Lawyers acting for the trio have already pleaded not guilty. One year in Creche, two years in kindergarten, three years in lower primary, three years in upper primary and another three years in Junior High School for basic education. Senior High School adds another three years before tertiary education. Thats a total of fifteen years in school before tertiary education (for a person who starts school at age zero). Ruth Ama Gyan-Darkwa has defied the odds in Ghana after getting admission to the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) at the age of 13, the first in the schools 65 years of existence. The 13-year-old is the daughter of Mr and Mrs Kwadwo Gyan-Darkwa and lived on the Prempeh Colleges campus, one of Ghanas best Senior High Schools, where her father is a senior tutor. For her basic education, Ruth Ama GYan-Darkwa attended Christ Our Hope International School in Kumasi before moving to Abraham Lincoln Junior High School. Now KNUSTs youngest freshman since the school was founded in 1952, Ruth wrote her final Junior High School exam at the first year of junior high school instead of the usual third and was successful. She then enrolled at St. Louis Senior High School at the age of 10, where she offered General Science. Ruth Ama Gyan-Darkwa at the age of 13 has been admitted to the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology to offer BSc. Mathematics. 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! According to the report, food availability and affordability are some of the biggest challenges in Nigeria. The affordability index had the lowest score among the parameters assessed by the study, thus putting the country in 93rd position out 113 countries surveyed. The Economist stated that the report is to provide a framework for understanding the problem of the food crisis in the world. The Economist Intelligence Units provides a common framework for understanding the root causes of food insecurity by looking at the dynamics of food systems around the world. It seeks to answer the central question: How food-secure is a country? Says the report. In Africa, South Africa has the best food security situation with 64/100 score point. Botswana and Ghana followed in second and third position. Nigeria was 12th in the continent but have one of the best quality and safety procedure as regards food in Africa. On food affordability, South Africa has the best score and was followed by Botswana, Kenya, Cote dIvoire and Uganda in the top five positions in Africa. Botswana is the best in food availability while South Africa is best in food quality and safety. Natural resources use and resilience of Uganda was adjudged better than others in Africa. But Coles launched her journalism career in a place far from the world of glossy monthlies, as a reporter for The Guardian and The Times of London. On an episode of Business Insider's podcast, "Success! How I Did It," Coles told Business Insider US editor-in-chief Alyson Shontell that she leapt from newspaper to magazine journalism because she thought the lifestyle of a magazine editor was more conducive to being a mom. Coles said, "I always urge women to aim for the highest job they can get because you get more money and you get more support and you get more control, and those are the three things that actually make life easier." Listen to the whole episode and subscribe for more Success! Coles described what the transition from The Times of London to magazines was like: "It was quite jarring to go from newspapers to magazines, and the reason I did it was because I had my second son, and with my second child I just thought I can't travel at will, which you really need to be able to do. And so I had a sort of slow realization that I could no longer do the job that I loved. It wasn't the job's fault it wasn't the newspaper's fault. I was just at a life stage that didn't make sense. ... "So I moved into magazines because I thought I would have more control over my schedule. I wanted a desk job, I didn't want to be traveling all the time, and I'm not someone who found it easy to travel with young children, and I wanted to see them. And it was very difficult. The transition of a desk job, having to be in the office at the same time every day, I found super hard. But I did it for three years, and that led to me taking over at Marie Claire, which was a really exciting experience." Coles hammered home the point about flexibility being key for her and for all working parents: "[When I took over at Marie Claire] I had the opportunity to make my own schedule a bit more, which was, again, something I always try and tell women who are anxious about taking on more responsibility when they have children that, if you can create your own schedule, if you are in control of your schedule, that's one of the most important things that helps with children." Other executives agree with Coles about the importance of a malleable schedule. Weebly CFO Kim Jabal previously told Business Insider that flexibility is integral to work-life balance. "Rigid work hours and work location make it much more challenging," she said. Jabal's personal schedule is "home an hour in the morning, get kids to school, work in the office 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., have dinner with kids, work three hours at night." If you're thinking about finding a job that makes it easier to juggle work and family responsibilities, check out this list of the best jobs for parents. Magazine editor isn't on there but you'll find 10 other relatively high-paying, low-stress jobs that offer flexibility. This explains why he started the #free the sheeple movement which is focused on helping Nigerians change their mindset on religion. Recently, the popular OAP had an interview with the host of the Linda Ikeji TV, Tope Olowoniyan, where he dissected this issue. He also gave reasons why Christians are not obligated to pay tithes. His reasons were all based on the scriptures. Here are ten things Daddy Freeze said about religion and tithe. 1. Religion is the easiest way to play politics. 2. Boko Haram is as a result of religion. 3. The religious man is a tool being used by the man selling him that religious brand. He is simply a puppet. 4. The guy that is telling you to bring your tithe so that God will bless you is telling you lies. 5. If you pay tithe to any Nigerian pastor you are a goat. 6. If you want to give your money to Jesus, give it to the homeless, people in the hospital, hungry and naked people. 7. Private jet-flying Daddy G.Os should be paying tithe to their church members. 8. Many people are under the bondage of Malachi 3:810 which is actually about the priests robbing God, not the congregation robbing God. 9. Megachurches are sitting on countries. 10. What are the churches doing with the 10% of 80 million peoples income? These are just some of the things that he said in the interview. More can be found in the video below. His songs are always back to back hits, that doesn't take the fact from it that Davido is one controversial musician. We take a look at five times the music star has been caught up in controversies 1. The call girl Lovers and fans of Davido were shocked beyond belief when photos of himself and a call girl surfaced on the Internet. It was reported that the girl took the pictures after having a wild time with the star and decided to leak the photos after their escapades. This was actually the beginning of more drama and controversies to come for the star who at that time was just a rising star. 2. The baby mama drama This probably was one of the most read gists in 2016. Davido and his baby mama, Sophia got into a nasty public fight over the custody of their daughter. Davido had claimed that Sophia was into drugs at the same time breastfeeding their baby, a situation which he didn't take slightly. The drama took a different twist when Sophia got her uncle and media mogul, Dele Momodu involved. Davido wasn't going to lay low just because of the status of Mr. Momodu as he called him out, he even went as far as making a reference to him in two of his featured songs. 3. The family feud ALSO READ:5 celebrities Eedris Abdulkareem has insulted Davido's controversial lifestyle has no boundaries as his cousin and musician, B-Red got caught up in the web of drama. Davido actually called out his cousin when he was praising the efforts made by Mayorkun, an artist signed to his record label. He had gone to his Twitter page to pour praises on Mayorkun for hitting a record 1million views on Youtube, then he said " My own blood hating on me...Over MAYORKUN's success wow!!! I've done so much for u.. U still no blow!! FUCK OUTTA HERE!! Hater oshi" 4. The police showoff On August 1, 2017, a video went into circulation on social media in which some men alleged to be policemen were seen shooting in the air on the street in a moving vehicle. It was later revealed that the owner of the car was Davido and the officers involved were attached to him. This was revealed after Davido posted the video of his police escorts shooting in the air, thereby causing commotion along the streets of Lagos. The incident was so messy that the The Head Public Complaints Rapid Response Unit (PCRRU), ACP Abayomi Shogunle had to release a statement and the police officers involved where eventually arrested. 5. The mysterious death Now, this is the latest of the controversies surrounding the music star. On Tuesday, October 3, 2017, Nollywood actress, Caroline Danjuma blasted Davido for , Tagbo at an undisclosed General hospital in Lagos. DALLAS, Oct. 05, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fostering communication, education and collaboration between dental plans and providers earned Amy Marko of Starmount Life Insurance Company, Unum Groups dental and vision center of expertise, the 2017 Gabryl Award, the dental benefits industrys highest honor, presented by the National Association of Dental Plans (NADP). NADP presented the Gabryl Award during its recent annual conference, CONVERGE 2017, in Atlanta, Georgia. The Gabryl Award honors long-term volunteer achievements that help NADP fulfill its mission to promote and advance the dental benefits industry as well as improve consumer access to affordable dental care. NADP Gabryl Award recipients are nominated by volunteer groups and selected by the Board of Directors. Both the NADP Membership WorkGroup and Education Commission recommended Markos Gabryl Award nomination. In her acceptance speech Marko thanked the NADP Board of Directors, staff, and fellow volunteers for their work to advance the industry. She noted, As I reflect on those early years, I recall our goal was simply to change the reputation of managed care plans, trying to meet with anyone who would listen, and there werent many. Today, we stand before senators, CEOs and others, and they are not just listening to us; they are seeking us out. We are no longer changing a product but changing an industry. NADP Volunteer Service Because Markos professional experience includes service for leading carriers and Dental Support Organizations (DSOs), she is able to see common issues from both perspectives. With this expertise and knowledge, she has been a highly effective chair of the NADP Operations WorkGroup, which recently released two invaluable tools benefitting the entire industry from both plan and provider perspectives: the uniform provider directory validation spreadsheet and a single-page credentialing and attestation form. Marko has served NADP in many volunteer roles including the Education Commission in 1996, serving as Vice-Chair in 1998 and 1999. In 1998, she also chaired the Subgroup on Alternative Educational Initiatives that was responsible for developing Provider Relations seminars held in California and Washington D.C. She was elected to the NADP Board in 1999 and served through 2004. While on the Board and through 2005, she continued as a member of the Education Commission. She served on the Research Commission from 2008-2012 and Communications Committee from 2011-2012. She rejoined the Education Commission and joined the Operations Workgroup in 2012. She became chair of the Operations WorkGroup in 2014 after receiving a Star Award for her work bringing DSOs into discussions on working better with dental plans--particularly on work toward credentialing solutions. It has been my privilege to know Amy and serve with her during the course of her career and volunteer service to NADP. She has made service to the dental benefits industry a priority in all of her professional positions and made sure her company was engaged in the work of the association. Both NADP and the industry have benefitted from her service, said NADP Executive Director Evelyn F. Ireland, CAE. Professional Experience Marko is the senior vice president of dental and vision products and professional relations for Starmount. She oversees the development and management of Starmounts dental and vision provider networks, including leased networks and the proprietary AlwaysCare Dental and First Look Vision networks. Marko is also Starmounts strategic lead for product development, network growth and utilization management for all dental and vision related programs. Marko began her managed dental care career with Safeguard Health Enterprises in 1977 and held progressively more responsible positions in network management, sales and customer service. In 1994 she left Safeguard as senior vice president with regional responsibility to join Prudential as executive director for Central Group operations. When Prudential sold to Aetna in 1999, Marko transitioned to vice president/general manager until she moved to the West Coast in 2004 as vice president of dental for Kaiser Permanente. In 2011, she joined Aspen Dental as vice president of insurance and managed care operations. Later she transitioned to InterDent as vice president of insurance operations. She now brings this wealth of experience to Starmount. About NADP National Association of Dental Plans (NADP), a Texas nonprofit corporation with headquarters in Dallas, Texas, is the representative and recognized resource of the dental benefits industry. NADP is the only national trade organization that includes the full spectrum of dental benefits companies operating in the United States. NADPs members provide Dental HMO, Dental PPO, Dental Indemnity and Discount Dental products to more than 184 million Americans with dental benefits. For more information, visit www.nadp.org. About Starmount Starmount Life Insurance Company is a member of the Unum Group family of licensed insurers, and is a leading national provider and administrator of dental and vision insurance coverage for individuals and employees. Known for reliable service and customer satisfaction, Starmount is admitted in 49 states, and rated A- (Excellent) by A.M. Best (2017), independent insurance analysts. The company also earned a spot on the prestigious 2016 Wards 50 Top Performer list in life and health insurance. For more information, please visit www.StarmountLife.com. According to the movie star who wrote on Instagram yesterday, October 4, 2017, a bunch of women like her have dedicated time to fix damaged male interests who always turn out to be a disappointment. She questioned the psychology that had encouraged her female contemporaries to see themselves as the saviours of these type of men who she described as "selfish". The actress who is currently on a trip to Dubai seemed to have had an epiphany when she wrote: "I used to be a fixer. I stayed in bad relationships, attracting the same type of menmen who needed to be fixed. I know so many women in the same position. We attract cheating men, commitment-phobic men, emotionally unavailable men, emotionally damaged men, alcoholics, drug abusers, narcissists and sociopaths. Its like we are a magnet for men whose pieces are shattered all over the place. And for some reason, we feel compelled to put these pieces back together. But I must admit, I have failed every single time. I never gave myself a chance to sit back and question my motives. Instead of asking why I constantly felt obligated to pick up someone elses broken pieces, I ran to pick them up without a second thought. Being selfless made me think that coming second didnt matter because I was putting someone elses worthiness first. And in the end, rank doesnt matter, right? I realized that the reason I was attracting these types of men was because I believed I could save them. As selfless, thoughtful, giving women, we think we will be that womanthe one who will change them. We think we can turn a cheater into a loyal boyfriend. We think we can help him walk away from the drugs and alcohol. We believe we can help him get over his commitment issues and aim for a stable future with us. We trust that we can get rid of the emotional baggage that he has been carrying for years. We attract these men because we believe they need us. And to leave them would be selfish, insensitive and ruthless. The sad news is, we constantly blame ourselves when they dont change. Every time they fail us, we think its because we failed them. Their hold on us becomes stronger; they keep us around knowing they have nothing to offer. Its just my view. Whats your view??? Lets interact.#JustMyView #JMVwithDayoAmusa #TAO #millionshadesoftao." ALSO READ: Kemi Olunloyo drags actress for calling her a psycho Amusa's opinion is a relevant discussion that touches on the lives of a number of women who often get to be undervalued by their partners. Nollywood actresses in particular have launched a bad trend that has seen them exit a relationship after enduring some years of maltreatment. On this photo of the day, Yvonne Nelson doesn't just look beautiful but she looks like some model ready to blow our minds off on the cover of a lingerie magazine. Yvonne Nelson is known for her acting prowess, declared that she was going to get married before the end of 2017. While speaking with BBCs Veronique Edwards, she said This year. Ill be getting married this year. The State Police Public Relations Officer [PPRO], ASP Abimbola Oyeyemi, in a statement, said Christopher was arrested during a raid at a hotel following a tip-off that some cult members had gathered there for an initiation ceremony. It turned out that while Christopher's fiance and his family were preparing for their wedding the next day, she had gone to the cult initiation with another of her boyfriend and was arrested in the process with other suspected cult members. Christopher who spoke to journalists at the State Police Headquarters at Eleweran in Abeokuta, denied being a cult member, saying she only went to the initiation on the invitation of the boyfriend. It is true I went with my boyfriend to the party and it is also true that my wedding introduction was scheduled to hold the following day I went to the ceremony with my other boyfriend. I am not a cult member. I met him [boyfriend] about two weeks ago and I never knew he is a cult member. He just called me after I closed from the shop, to join him at the party, she said. The death verdict was handed down on the accused by Justice Kudirat Jose found him guilty as charged and ordered that he should be hung by the neck until he dies. In her judgment, Justice Jose noted that the prosecution had proven its case beyond every reasonable doubt and the evidence of the victim, Uchenna Ukah, was pivotal in convicting Ajaere. According to the judge, Ukah, in his testimony, was 'clear and emphatic' about the series of events of the armed robbery and from his demeanour while giving evidence, the court found the complainant to be 'cogent and believable'. During the trial, the prosecution led by Mrs. A.B Awosika, told the court that Ajaere committed the offences around 9.30 pm on June 22, 2012, at No. 12, Vincent Eze, Street, Ajao Estate, Lagos. According to the prosecution, the convict alongside an accomplice, had accosted Ukah at gunpoint outside his flat and robbed him of the items. After confronting Ukah, the victim led them to his flat where they stole a laptop, a modem and a blackberry mobile phone. Ajaere and his accomplice after the robbery, locked the complainant in his apartment with the intent to also rob his neighbours. The complainant managed to get out of his apartment to raise an alarm leading to Ajaere and his accomplice being apprehended. Ukahs laptop and modem were recovered from the duo, however, his blackberry mobile phone was never recovered, Mrs. Awosika told the court. In passing judgment, Justice Jose said: The evidence of the prosecution witness proved that the defendant was one of the armed robbers, therefore, all the ingredients of the crime of armed robbery has been shown. The prosecution has proved the charge of conspiracy to commit armed robbery and armed robbery beyond a reasonable doubt. The defendant is hereby sentenced to death for conspiracy to commit armed robbery and sentenced to death for armed robbery. He is to be hanged by the neck till he is dead; may the Lord have mercy on his soul. While testifying in his defence during the trial, Ajaere denied robbing the complainant, claiming that he only went to Ajao Estate for hairdressing work and was arrested by policemen during a raid. In 2017, the only thing standing between your bank account and a zero balance is a hard-working hacker, the right software and a VPN to disguise the location of the numerous young fraudsters who have made cyber-crime into an art and an industry. As intimidating as it may sound, years before the internet swam its way into Nigeria on the back of telcos, a Nigerian bank official secured a bounty that would inspire the most secluded yahoo boy to shoot a series of music videos. In a series of events that is credited as the third largest financial crime in World History, Emmanuel Nwude, a director at Union Bank, defrauded Nelson Sakaguchi and the Brazilian bank, Banco Noroeste Brazil of the sum of 242 million dollars with a scheme that, in retrospect, seems like something out of an episode of Impractical Jokers. According to a Newswatch editorial dated Monday, July 07, 2003, Emmanuel Nwude was, at the time he was caught, one of the wealthiest Igbo businessmen in Nigeria. Popularly known as the Owelle of Abunuga, Nwude is said to have owned a 10-storey building in the heart of Lagos. In a manner consistent with his wealth and flashy luxury, he lived on the top floor of the building while the bottom floor housed a commercial bank. Every meter of space in between those two floors was dedicated to his private concern, Euro-Holdings. Nwude was said to own buildings across Nigeria and cities in the United States. He was also reported to be a major financier of the Peoples Democratic Party and as Newswatch reported, a close ally of former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar. Anyone who wondered about his wealth would have found a simple convincing response. Nwude owned millions of shares as the singular largest equity holder in Union Bank. Until 2001, he was also a member of the board of directors of the bank. It was in this capacity that Nwude pulled off one of the most daring and outrageous schemes that the world has ever seen. According to Nuhu Ribadu, who was EFCCs chairman at the time of his conviction, the swindle took place over a four-year period starting in 1995. His main tactic was impersonation. Nwude posed as the CBN governor at the time, Paul Ugwoma. ALSO READ: Business man remanded for impersonating Niger governor His accomplice, Ikechukwu Anajemba posed as Rasheed Gomwalk who was the CBN's Director of International Remittance. Anajembas wife, Amaka posed as Gomwalks wife, completing the unholy trio. Ikechukwu Anajemba would die in 1998, as the proceeds of the scam were finally delivered, leaving his wife to take his share. Together, the trio and a host of ancillary accomplices presented a proposition to the head of International Finance at Brazils Banco Noroeste Brazil, Nelson Sakaguchi. Using false correspondence and Nwudes access to confidential, high-level documents, they convinced Sakaguchi that the Nigerian government was seeking investors to build an airport in Abuja, the new capital. If Sakaguchi could provide the first investment of 242 million dollars, they said, he would be entitled to a commission of 10%. The deal has not been presented as a corporate offering so Sakaguchi did what he thought he had to do; he illegally into his banks funds and began to make a series of payments to accounts around the world. He and Nwude agreed that he would pay some of the 242 million as cash and the rest in some form of facility. Between 1995 to 1998, Sakaguchi transferred 191 million in cash to Nwude and his accomplices. The rest was conveyed as some form of outstanding interest. During this period, Nwude and his accomplices spent lavishly. Amaka, Anajembas wife, became known as a socialite, erecting massive edifices in her hometown of Enugu and making forends among Nigerias political class. The fraud was only discovered in 1997 when the victim bank was the subject of a buy-out by the Spanish bank, Santander. At a joint board meeting in 1997, an official from Santander inquired about why a large sum of money, two-fifths of Noroestes total value and half of their capital, was sitting in the Cayman Islands unmonitored. ALSO READ: How Internet fraud has taken over Nigerian music This discovery led to extensive criminals investigations in five continents. The effect on Banco Noroeste was fatal. The owners had to pay the missing 242 million dollars out of their pockets to for the purchase to go ahead, but that narrow escape did not secure its future. In 2001, Banco Noroeste collapsed. Nwude and his accomplices enjoyed their loot for years, but in 2003, a trail created by years of reading the fine print and making connections from the Cayman Islands landed in Lagos. Newswatch reported that Nwude was picked up early June 2003 at his residence in Ikoyi, Lagos. Seven of his exotic cars were also taken to the premises of the EFCC on 15, Awolowo Road, Ikoyi. So began a series of trials with the Central Bank of Nigeria and the newly created Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on the one hand, and Emmanuel Nwude and his accomplices on the other. In February 2004, Amaka Anajemba, Emmanuel Nwude, Emmanuel Ofolue, Nzeribe Okoli, and Obum Osakwe, with Ikechukwu Anajemba post-humously mentioned, were all charged in the Federal Hgh Court, Abuja with 86 counts of fraudulently seeking advance fees and 15 counts of bribery related to the case. They all pleaded not guilty. Their trial only got more eventful from thereon out. By early 2004, it almost appeared that judicial bureaucracy had brought the trial to a stalemate. In a report dated Tuesday, July 20, 2004, the BBC reported that the presiding judge, Lawal Gumi declared that the elements of the crime had not taken place in Abuja, and as such, he lacked the jurisdiction to hear the case. It is my considered view that the appropriate place for the trial of the accused on those charges is the high court of Lagos. For these reasons I do decline and strike out the case from my list, Gumi is quoted as saying. Nwude and his accomplices were released, only to be re-arrested outside the court and taken to Lagos. The next year, with the trial nearing a definitive conclusion, underhanded tactics began to play out. ALSO READ: Nigerian student defrauds US companies of millions of dollars Nwude allegedly attempted to bribe the EFCC head honcho, Nuhu Ribadu with 75,000 dollars in cash. He was charged with additional counts for his trouble, in addition to a five-count charge for an incident where a prosecution witness was almost kidnapped. In September 2005, a bomb scare during his trial caused the court-house to be evacuated and the trial adjourned. Resolution finally came in its first form when Amaka Anajemba admitted to helping her husband. She was sentenced to two and a half years in prison and ordered to repay $25.5 million. Weeks after, Sakaguchi, the object of Nwudes fraud offered first-hand testimony in a Lagos high court. With little room to manoeuvre, Emmanuel Nwude and Nzeribe Okoli pleaded guilty to the charges against them. They had conceded grounds in hopes of getting a lenient sentence. That did not seem to matter much; both were sentenced to 37 years in prison collectively. According to Reuters, Emmanuel Nwude was sentenced to 25 years and Nzeribe Okoli to 12 years for their part. Reading his final judgement, Justice Joseph Oyewole was reported as saying: The activities of the accused persons not only led to the collapse of a bank in a foreign country but also brought miseries to many innocent people. The next Monday, according to IRIN News, EFCC chair Nuhu Ribadu made the refund of US $17 million to William Richey, a lawyer representing the defunct Banco Noroeste. Nwudes assets were confiscated and he was charged with paying a fine of 10 million dollars to the National government. For most who followed the trial from the pages of newspapers and television screens, the victory was somewhat short-lived. Emmanuel Nwude was released in 2006. In the months after, he instituted many Fundamental Rights cases against the government for the recovery of some of his property, on the grounds that he had acquired them before the fraud. Nwudes fraud put Nigeria in a delicate situation. With the advanced free fraud of the 1970s and 80s and the internet scams of the digital age, it is easy to see why the country suffers such a bad reputation in the international community and Nigerians are portrayed first as enterprising fraudsters before anything else. For every Nwude who was caught, there are 100 affluent Nigerians enjoying the fruit of ill-gotten gains in peace and tranquillity. It is easy to assume that the long arm of fate will catch up with them at some point. In truth, that is only a hopeful conclusion. More than a decade after his release, Nwude presently sits in one of the cells at the creatively-named Arkham Prisons, Gotham City in Anambra State, awaiting trial for murder. On August 19, 2016, about 200 people attacked the town of Ukpo in the Dunukofia area of Anambra state, ostensibly as part of a land dispute with the neighbouring Abagana, where Nwude still enjoys heavy clout. The Anambra Police Command arrested him as one of the sponsors of the attack, charging him on 27 counts of murder, attempted murder and terrorism. The matter is currently before a High court in the state. WASHINGTON, Oct. 05, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MacAulay-Brown, Inc. (MacB), a leading National Security company delivering advanced engineering services, cybersecurity and product solutions, announced today that Don Raines, Senior Vice President of Corporate Business Development for MacB, generously funded a 14-day Face of Battle Staff Ride for six cadets enrolled in the Department of History at the U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA). The European tour was funded by Mr. Raines through an Air Force Academy Endowment, which helps provide financial support for vital programs and services for cadets and graduates. Details of the trip, and a one-page feature on Mr. Raines, were published in the September issue of Checkpoints, an alumni quarterly magazine issued by the Association of Graduates (AOG) of the USAFA. Participating cadets were part of a semester-long class, studying six major battles spanning more than 600 years, using military historian John Keegans book The Face of Battle as a backdrop for the trip name. In June 2017, they visited historic sites in Great Britain including Winston Churchills War Rooms, and recounted the Battle of Britain with a walking tour of key sites. Next was an evening trip across the English Channel to Normandy, France (D-Day), as well as a trip into the forests of the Ardennes in Belgium where Allied troops battled during the Battle of the Bulge. Cadets also recounted trench warfare at the Battle of the Somme during World War I, studied the tactics of King Henry V during the medieval Battle of Agincourt in 1415, and revisited Napoleons defeat in 1815 during the Battle of Waterloo. Mr. Raines is an alumnus and enthusiastic benefactor of the Air Force Academy, graduating in 1986 with a bachelors degree in History. He served more than 20 years in the Air Force Security Forces, including 10 years in support of the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), officially retiring with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in 2006. Over the years, Mr. Raines has been a strong supporter of the Academys Department of History, and is also an avid collector of Napoleonic Books and memorabilia. He has graciously bequeathed to the Academys McDermott Library his collection of more than 1,000 leather-bound antique books (including two that bear the cipher of Napoleons wife), Waterloo medals, swords, artwork prints and other items acquired over a 30-year period. My goal for the six cadets who made the summer trip was to aide in their transformation from cadets to young officers, who in a year or two may be making life-or-death decisions on their own battlefields, said Raines. Walking the terrain, seeing the foxholes that Allied troops used, and visiting the cemeteries makes the history books come alive. Cadets can imagine the battles in real-time, wondering how they would have reacted in those dire circumstances versus just reading assigned books or watching war movies in their dorms. Click here to read the full story in Checkpoints entitled Treading on Hallowed Ground by contributing writer Gary Martyn (pages 74-77). For more information about the magazine, visit USAFA.org. ABOUT MACAULAY-BROWN, INC. (MacB) For more than 37 years, MacAulay-Brown, Inc. (MacB) has been solving some of the Nations most complex National Security challenges. Defense, Intelligence Community, Special Operations Forces, Homeland Security and Federal agencies rely on our advanced engineering services, cybersecurity, and product solutions to meet the challenges of an ever-changing world. With Corporate Headquarters in Dayton, Ohio and National Capital Headquarters in Vienna, Virginia, our more than 1,500 employees worldwide are dedicated to developing mission-focused and results-oriented solutions that make a difference where and when it matters most. Learn more about MacB at www.macb.com. Follow MacB Press Contact: press@macb.com My husband and I began trying for our second child in the spring of 2015, and that May, we learned we were pregnant. We'd conceived our first child quickly and without incident, and this time was no different. I still have the video on my phone of my 2-year-old daughter running up to my husband with a positive pregnancy test in a shirt that said "I'm going to be a big sister." Our family was so excitedmy daughter was even talking to my belly. At 18 weeks and three days, my husband and I went in for an anatomy scan ultrasound, a standard procedure where they check to make sure the baby has all of its appendages, organs, fingers, and toes. When I went into the appointment, I thought the most important thing Id learn was whether we were having a boy or a girlsomething I feel naive admitting now. When they told us it was a girl, I was elated and started crying, saying that my daughter would have the sister I never did. But the technician kept going back to our babys heart, which made me nervous. She said something was wrong and that she was going to get the doctor. Those 45 minutes she was gone were agonizing. My tears of joy turned to tears of panic, and my mind was reeling over what could be wrong with our baby. When the technician reappeared with our doctor, we learned that our daughter had a thick white lining on her right ventricle, which they said might be a sign of hypoplastic right heart syndrome, a very dangerous condition that prevents the heart from forming properly. They said that if this was the case, our daughter would certainly need a heart transplant but that a series of surgeries could buy time until that operation become necessary. At that point, the doctors noted that termination was an option, which was an overwhelming thought to digest after having just being told something was wrong 45 minutes prior. When the pediatric cardiologist came down to see us and explain the condition further, he was shaking like a leaf. That was a big red flag. At the end of that day, the doctors said they couldnt offer us an official diagnosis because our baby's heart was still so small. They also said that there were some indications that it might not be hypoplastic right heart syndrome at all, but regardless, it was something to be taken seriously. So they had us book another fetal echo appointment for three weeks later. The not knowing left us feeling frustrated and helpless, but all there was to do was wait and learn as much as we could about our baby's condition. We went home with literature on the condition and started thinking about what kind of quality of life our daughter would havewhat this would mean for her and our family. We were looking into all of our options at this time, and I sent the doctors an email with at least 20 questions. A few of these were geared toward the option of termination, asking what that would entail if we did choose that route. The response I got was that if we wanted to terminate, it would be out of networkmeaning the hospital would not be able to perform the procedure, and that my insurance wouldn't cover it. A little backstory here: My husband is in the Coast Guard and we were getting care from a military hospital. I was also covered by his insurance at the time, and The Hyde Amendment (a provision of Roe v. Wade that bars federal funds from being used for abortion) doesnt allow military healthcare providers to perform or insure abortions. I don't want to speak ill of anyone at the care facility; it wasn't that they were unhelpful or unkind, it was just that, when it came to the question of terminating, they made it clear their hands were tied. I decided to get an outside opinion before going back for the second scan. By the time I was able to get an appointment, I was 21 weeks' pregnant. We were told the doctors saw that same white lining on the left ventricle of her heart, as well as on the mitral valve, the part of the heart that pumps blood out toward the lungs. This ruled out the previous diagnosis of hypoplastic right heart syndrome. The doctors told us that having a complication on the left ventricle was concerning, and that the spreading of this white lining on the right and left ventricles was essentially unfixable. When we went back to our original hospital at 21 and a half weeks, we found out there was even more thick, white liningbasically, the walls of our babys heart looked like what a skull would look like on an ultrasound. Everydoctor who we saw said there was no medicine to fix this and that there was little they could do. As a sort of Hail Mary, we decided to go to a children's hospital in Pennsylvania for a third and finalopinion. This is what a future without legal abortion would look like: The Decision The five weeks leading up to that final appointment were hell. I would put my 2-year-old to bed and stay up until 1 a.m., pouring over medical journals. I wanted to make the best decision possible for our baby and for our family. If there was a chance of a positive outcome, if there was some specialist somewhere who could solve our daughter's heart issues, I wanted to find them and see them. At the same time, I had to research the alternative option of termination. It wasnt like I was six weeks' pregnant; I needed to know exactly what this procedure would involve, where we would go, and how we would pay for it. Fortunately, one of my closest friends had started an abortion fund in New Jersey while she was living there, and she referred me to the National Abortion Federation website. Abortion funds help women cover the out-of-pocket costs of abortion, as they're often not covered by insurance. As I was making appointments to get second and third opinions on my baby, I was also calling abortion clinics in the D.C. metro area, in Maryland, and in New Jersey. I couldnt go anywhere in Virginia because theres a state law that any abortion performed after 12 weeks must be performed in a hospital, and as a family on a single military income, with a child, we couldnt afford the $20,000 bill that would come with an induction abortion at a non-military hospital. Nor did we even know of a civilian healthcare provider that could help us with that. I felt like I had no support from the medical community. Another option we looked into was carrying to term and then admitting our daughter to perinatal hospice care, but our research revealed that those caring for her would have the power to decide if they should keep her alive by any means necessary, despite her discomfort. And if we objected to it, we could be charged with child abuse or neglect and could even lose custody of our oldest daughter. Knowing that, we didnt feel we could risk carrying our baby to term and doing perinatal hospice. Ultimately, our greatest concern for our unborn daughter was what her life would look like. Life is so much more than just having a beating heart and oxygen in your blood. We did not want to put our child through a life consisting only of pain. We knew at that point that, in order to give her the most peaceful life possible, we had to take all the pain on ourselves. By the time we made it to our third hospital appointment, I was at 23 weeks exactly. After eight hours, five of which were spent ultra-sounding, we learned that the dead tissue that was causing her heart to fail had spread even further. It was on three out of the four chambers of her heart. They also found fluid collecting outside of her heart, which was likely turning into fetal high drops, a condition that is in and of itself dangerous and has a very high mortality rate. When you couple that with a heart defect, there is almost no chance a baby will survive to term. There, they told us that if she made it to birth, the damage that she had on her heart would cause her difficulty breathing, heart attacks, seizures, and strokes due to a lack of oxygen getting to her brain. It sounded like a nightmare, like something youd experience as an 88 year-old man, not a newborn baby. Our longest shot would have been a heart transplant at birth (if she made it), which means we'd be waiting on someone elses baby to die so ours could live. Truthfully, we knew going into that final appointment in Pennsylvania that it would take a miracle to change the outcome for our baby, so we made an appointment for a dilation and evacuation (D&E) at a clinic in New Jersey to coincide with that trip. It was important for us to make the appointment there for a few reasons. For starters, many places in D.C. cut off abortions at 18 weeks, even if they're medically necessary. By comparison, there are three clinics in New Jersey that offer abortion up to 24 weeks, including the one we went to. This clinic also offered full anesthesia, which was important to me, as I didn't want to remember the procedure. We were also able to receive some assistance for the $3,000 procedure from the abortion fund that my friend had set up. We drove from Philadelphia and had to get a hotel in New Jersey for the two-day procedure. The first step would be dilating my cervix, for which I'd be awake, and the next day, they'd "evacuate" the fetus while I was anaesthetized. I remember standing at the check-in desk thinking, This cant be really happening. When we pulled into the clinic, there were protestors outside, and I was a major target, being as far along as I was. Even in the waiting room, I was getting looks from everyone. I probably broke down crying four or five times just sitting there. There wasnt any privacy, so I couldnt rub my belly or sing to my baby in order to enjoy those last hours with her. The first day of the procedure started with an ultrasound to make sure everything was normal and ready for the procedure. Then, they administered a shot of digoxin into the uterus, which slowed and eventually stopped the babys heart. It took about three hours before she stopped moving. Those hours were excruciating and seemed to crawl by. I felt completely devastated. Then, they inserted the laminaria, which helps the cervix expand for labor and sent us on our way. In total, I was there for about six hours. That night, the laminaria caused a lot of cramping. The next day, we went in early and I was one of five women taken back to a little locker room-like exam room to wait. It felt like none of us were getting the privacy we deserved, not at the fault of the doctors or nurses, but because the resources were so limited. All of the nurses and doctors there were incredibly compassionate, maybe some of the most compassionate medical professionals Ive seen. They gave us Cytotec (a hormonal medication that stimulates the uterus) that morning, which Id actually had with my first labor and delivery when I was induced. We were all sitting in the room together, and my contractions started to come more regularly. The staff started taking each woman back, one by one, into the pre-op room to get into the gowns and be hooked up to I.V.s. Then it was my turn. The next thing I remember, I woke up in the recovery room, which had several other women in it, as well. I remember being in a lot of pain. They gave me some crackers. It was really no different than the recovery after my first daughters birth. Afterward, I kept asking if my husband knew I was okay because, at that point, he was at the funeral home signing all the paperwork to have our daughter cremated. We were very fortunate to have a clinic that worked with a funeral home in the area so we were able to get remains. Not everybody is able to do that. We were sick with grief for several months after the procedure. After our termination, the clinic gave us a mold of our daughter's footprints, which I really appreciated. I used to hold those footprints up to my cheek and just cry because that was the closest I could come to touching my baby. The footprints and remains are the only tangible things I have of her. I sought out grief counseling and was fortunate enough to get that through my husbands employee assistance program. My therapist specialized in perinatal loss and was wonderful. Because we never received a firm diagnosis on what was wrong with our daughter, we continued searching for a medical cause through genetic testing; we wanted to know the likelihood of this happening if we tried to get pregnant again. We found that I had SSA/SSB antibodies that are typically linked to rheumatoid arthritisbut while this could have caused a minor heart defect, the doctors said our experience was basically a fluke. After eight months, we felt brave enough to start trying for another baby. We were fortunate to get pregnant quickly, but after that, it was nine months of holding our breaths. We had 20 echocardiogram exams done, and countless ultrasounds. It was intense, and I also had to monitor my baby's heart twice a day through a doppler, a machine that lets you listen to the baby's heartbeat at home. I was put on Plaquenil, a immunosuppressive typically used to treat lupus or rheumatoid arthritis, to keep the antibodies from attacking the baby's heart. We were very lucky this time around, and now we have a healthy six-month-old baby. Protecting My Choice Ive always been pro-choice, but I was one of those women who'd conveniently say, Im pro-choice, but I dont think Id ever make that decision for myself. I realize now what a narrow-minded way of looking at things that is. I certainly didnt think that, as a grown woman in a stable relationship with the means to support myself, Id face abortion. But it comes in all different circumstances, each one of them valid. This week, the House of Republicans voted to pass the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, a bill that bans abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy. The bill proposes penalizing those who perform the procedure, rather than the women who receive it. House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy claims that this legislation "will respect the sanctity of life and stop needless suffering" based on the controversial claim that a fetus can feel pain at 20 weeks. Next, the bill will go before the Senate. But instead of simply saving herself in the hysteria, she acted heroically, going back and helping anyone she could. There was very short increments where there was breaks in between the shots, the Orange County, California resident told Las Vegas news station KTNV 13 of the initial moments of gunshots. But it literally felt like, it just continued for 20 minutes straight. And every time there was a break, we ran, and we ran. Vanessa, whose last name is unknown, explained that even while she was running, she still wasnt sure if the noises she was hearing were actually bullets until her friend noticed that someone near them had been shot. Las Vegas shooting described by nurse, people stepped in to help In an act of heroism, Vanessa says that she ended going back into the scene of the crime because she is a nurse. I just felt that I had to, she explained. So I went to three different scenes, the first one was okay, the second one was worse, and by the time I got to the third one, there was just dead bodies, there was like six. And they were all young people. She went on to explain that everyone, from doctors, nurses, cops, and paramedics, to regular citizens, were all working together to help other people. "Everyone's just communicating and working together, You got this person, You got this person, You got this person. It was completely horrible. But it was absolutely amazing to see all the people come together. Olufemi made the assertion on Thursday when he spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of the activities to mark the 2017 World Teachers Day. He said that allowing western civilisation and global trends to influence negatively the morals of students was detrimental to the education system as they were against the peoples culture. Olufemi said that when education was introduced to the African setting, the colonial masters did not tamper with the culture of the society; instead, they embraced and encouraged it. First and foremost, there is no society without its origin, culture, norms and values, but along the line, we started eroding our own culture by borrowing foreign cultures. Adoption of foreign culture into our curriculum is damaging and counter-productive. We are Africans and not white, we have our own way of doing things. You look at our values and culture; they are the best in the world. The question is, why are we copying? Discipline in our schools now is nothing. We have no right to correct students by beating them. How will they respect us? Our education is not at its best because we left our indigenous practices for the foreign. The use of cane is now regarded to as barbaric, he said. Olufemi said though he was not calling for the re-introduction of the use of cane, yet, discipline should be seen as part of educational development. Although I am not calling for the re-introduction of cane, yet discipline should be seen as part of educational development. The role of discipline cannot be overstated in the development of a child. Discipline allows for trust between the teachers and students. When it comes to discipline, gone are the days when students tremble at the sight of their teachers. Nowadays things have changed, no respect, no regard, for how long will we live like that? The freedom being enjoyed by the student is too much; it has desecrated our moral values. Here's a short list of the others, since you asked: 1. Abike Dabiri Vs Geoffrey Onyeama In March, 2017, Foreign Affairs Minister Geoffrey Onyeama and Senior Special Assistant on Foreign, Diaspora Affairs to President Muhammadu Buhari, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, sparred over a US travel advisory. Dabiri-Erewa issued a travel advisory after it was revealed that Nigerians are being turned back at US airports with Donald Trump as newly elected president of the United States. Moments later, Foreign Affairs minister Onyeama overruled Dabiri-Erewa. On the issue of Nigerians being turned back from the US, this is not the case. If the Nigerian government is speaking on any external relations, you will hear it from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Office of the President. I have reached out to the US Ambassador to Nigeria and the countrys high level officials who said nothing of such had happened. I can tell you to ignore the advice to reconsider travelling to the US because there is no basis for that, Onyeama said flatly. 2. Isaac Adewole Vs Usman Yusuf In July 2017, Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole, suspended executive secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Prof Usman Yusuf, for three months. Except that Yusuf refused to be suspended. Adewole suspended Yusuf following allegations bordering on corruption levelled against the latter. But Yusuf told Adewole that only President Buhari has the powers to suspend him. Except removed from office by the president under circumstances specified in the NHIS Act, my appointment is for a period of five years subject to further term of the same period at the discretion of the president, Yusuf said. You cant beat that, can you? 3. Ibrahim Magu Vs Lawal Daura In December 2016, the Director General of the Department of State Security (DSS) Lawal Daura, authored a petitionthat accused acting EFCC Chairman Ibrahim Magu of corruption and living above his means. That petition formed the basis of the senates rejection of Magu after the executive sent the anti-graft czar to the national assembly for confirmation. In March 2017, Daura wrote another letter to the senate, insisting that Magu is unfit to run the EFCC. Twice, the executive has sent Magu to the national assembly for confirmation, twice Magu has been rejected by lawmakers. The lawmakers have often cited letters authored by Daura for chasing Magu out of the red chamber. President Buhari has kept Magu on the job, however. 4. Abubakar Malami Vs Ibrahim Magu Attorney General Abubakar Malami has publicly disagreed with EFCC boss Magu over how best to prosecute the administrations anti-graft war. Malami believes that the government hasnt been able to score high profile convictions because prosecution anchored by EFCC has been shoddy at best. He says Magu doesnt run case files through his office even though the EFCC is compelled by law to work under his office. Magu and Malami still do not agree on a lot of things to this day. As matters got to a head between both men in late August, Information Minister Lai Mohammed had to admit that the president was investigating the feud. There are divergent views between the AGF and the EFCC chairman and the appropriate authorities will look into it, Mohammed said. The fact that the AGF and the EFCC chairman do not see eye to eye on the methods or the approach does not mean that both of them do not believe in the ultimate which is that corruption must be addressed. If they disagree on approach, then the president will look into the matter and make his pronouncement. He will ask why the AGF is taking such a position and why the EFCC chairman is taking another position. This, to me, is a purely administrative matter and if it is not, Mr President will take appropriate action. The President is aware and is investigating it. He is the employer of both of them, he added. 5. Ibe Kachikwu Vs Maikanti Baru Minister of State for Petroleum, Kachikwu, wrote a memo to Buhari, saying NNPC GMD Baru doesnt respect him, runs the NNPC without carrying him along, makes appointments without comparing notes with him and all that jazz. ALSO READ: 4 options before minister after leaked letter The Presidents Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, said the president made his feelings known in a letter he wrote to the governments of Jigawa and Kano States. He said the letter was handed to Gov. Badaru Abubakar of Jigawa by a Federal Government delegation on Thursday. In the letter, President Buhari revealed the intimate nature of the relationship between him and the deceased military top brass, saying he had lost a friend in peace and in war. The delegation, which was led by the Chief of Staff in the Presidency, Abba Kyari with four ministers and three presidential aides, was in Dutse, the Jigawa State capital where a similar letter of condolence signed by the President was handed over to the Emir, Dr Muhammadu Sunusi, the statement said. The presidential aide said the team was also in Kano where they met both the Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje and the Emir Muhammadu Sunusi II before participating in the funeral prayers which took place at night due to the late arrival of the body from United Kingdom. President Buharis condolence letter said, Late Mukhtar was my friend in war and in peace. He was a brilliant Air Force officer, a good administrator and a patriot. All those who came in contact with him have recognized him as a brave man of vision and energy. These qualities he brought to bear in his service to Nigeria. In politics, he was dogged and determined to enthrone a good government, to clean up government business and establish democracy and rule of law. The late Waziri was a highly intelligent person and very brave in the face of challenges. He was prepared, and did leave his post on a point of honor and principle. He was a worthy and a true son of Nigeria. The two state Governors and the Emirs praised the the exemplary qualities the late military officer and thanked the President for standing by their people in their hour of trial. ALSO READ: Buhari presides over FEC meeting The federal government delegation included the Ministers of Interior, retired Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau; Defence, retired Brig. Gen. MansurDan-Ali; Education, Adamu Adamu and the Minister of State, Aviation, Hadi Sirika. Others were the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Abubakar Sadiq, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media, Garba Shehu, that of Special Duties, Yau Darazo, Shaaban Sharada and Musa Daura, a nephew of the President. The angry members of the Committee said Buratai insulted the Senate by not appearing in person, and more so for sending low ranking officers to represent him. When the Army Chief was first invited to justify the compulsory retirement of the affected officers, he rejected the invitation because it was signed by the clerk, which the committee said is the practice. Buratai asked that the letter is signed by the Chairman of the Senate Committee, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, which was complied with. "I was called two weeks ago that the Chief of Army Staff said I must sign the letter to him personally. So, how come he is not here? It is an insult to us. When invitation letters are signed, it is by the clerk; but he insisted that I signed his. We have invited the Air Force Chief and he came here; same with the Nigerian Navy," Anyanmu lamented when he learnt Buratai only sent representatives to the hearing of the petitions against him and the army. Lt. Col. Abdulfatai Mohammed and the 21 officers who were sacked had separately petitioned the Senate, protesting their dismissal. Two Major Generals, five Brigadier Generals, eight Colonels and seven Lieutenant Colonels were retired in June 2016, allegedly without any justification by the Nigeria Army. One of the Committee members, Senator Mao Ohuabunwa, said the army has failed to justify the compulsory retirement of the officers. "How can they just summarily retire young men, who the country has spent so much money training?" he said. Philadelphia, PA, Oct. 05, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Deacom, Inc., the provider of a single-system Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solution, has started implementation for Tulco Oils, a leading distributor and contract manufacturer of high-quality lubricants in the United States. This investment is part of a significant expansion project that the manufacturer is making to advance and position the business for long-term success. Upgrading our technology was an important part of our growth strategy as we look to increase our international footprint and expand our contract manufacturing business, said Don Stanton, Vice President of Operations for Tulco Oils. We needed a system that could manage both our distribution and manufacturing businesses as if they were one not independent organizations. With expertise and focus on these two industries, coupled with its all-encompassing software, Deacoms ERP solution provides the tools our business needs to improve workflow management and company-wide visibility. While other ERP systems in the market often require attaching manufacturing and distribution-focused modules to a main application, Deacom houses all relevant functionality within a single piece of software. This structure allows workflows between various departments to progress in an inherently simpler manner and enables true process control. For example, sales orders made in DEACOM are instantly communicated to impacted departments to establish and manage product delivery commitments as well as related production scheduling. By keeping all data within the system and avoiding external workarounds, Tulco Oils stakeholders are able to consolidate data between their four facilities in real time so the most accurate analysis of performance can be achieved. Deacoms technology not only delivers a cohesive view into our entire business but also strong functionality that is designed to progress alongside our business, said Stanton. Their commitment to continuous improvement allows us to focus on quality products and services with the knowledge that the latest technology will always be available to us. For more information about Deacom, visit www.deacom.com or call 1-877-4-DEACOM. ### About Deacom, Inc. Deacom, Inc. is the producer of DEACOM ERP, a scalable, single-system ERP solution specifically designed to streamline operations for manufacturers and distributors. As the artisans of ERP software, Deacom operates upon the principle of Complexity made Simple, developing a solution without customization or bolt-ons to increase efficiency and decrease the total costs of ERP ownership. The companys headquarters is located in Chesterbrook, Pa. To learn more, visit www.deacom.com, follow on Twitter or call 1-877-4-DEACOM. Attachments: A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/38fd2786-0b90-41f2-8720-1ba12d39f99b The former minister is seeking to be joined as defendant in a N500 million fraud charge slammed on Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Dele Belgore. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had also joined in the charge, former Minister of National Planning, Abubakar Suleiman. In essence, Allison-Madueke wants the court to compel the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) to bring her back to Nigeria from UK, where she has been since 2015, to put up her defence in the case. The EFCC had in a five-count amended charge, named former petroleum minister as culprit in the criminal trial of Belgore and Sulaiman over alleged N500 million fraud. She was, however, described as being at large . The anti-graft agency claimed that the N500 million was part of 115 million dollars which the former minister allegedly doled out to compromise the 2015 general elections. Earlier efforts by Allison-Maduekes lawyer, Obinna Onya, to move his application on Tuesday, was turned down by Justice Aikawa on the grounds that he was yet to serve same to all parties. The judge said he could only hear the application after all parties had been properly served. The lawyer also earlier contended that contrary to declaration by EFCC that Allison-Madueke was at large, the former minister was in UK and was willing to return to Nigeria to defend the charges. He insisted that since his clients name had been mentioned in the charge, it would be unfair to allow the case to proceed without affording her the opportunity of self defence. On Wednesdays proceedings, EFCCs lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo, informed the court that he had now been served with the application. The court earlier took arguments from parties on the propriety or otherwise of admitting a document containing electronic mail communication between Allison-Madueke and a bank managing director. EFCCs lawyer, Oyedepo, sought to tender the document (mail) during examination of the second prosecution witness, Usman Zakari. Opposing the request, however, defence lawyers Ebun Shofunde (SAN) and Olatunji Ayanlaja (SAN) contended that the document was not admissible because it did not meet the requirement of the Evidence Act. They argued that the prosecution had not placed any material facts before the court to confirm the genuineness of the signature on the face of the document. In urging the court to admit the document, EFCCs lawyer said the objection to the admissibility of the document by the defence was misconceived. ALSO READ: 20 things you should know about Diezani's latest looting allegation He argued that the certificate accompanying the document substantially complied with the provisions of Section 84 of the Evidence Act. Oyedepo further submitted that the document sought to be tendered was certified by the officer in whose custody the mail attached to the certificate was generated. He argued that an investigative officer such as witness in the box, could tender documents he received in the course of investigation. He submitted that the document sought to be tendered was relevant to the case and urged the court to admit same. After entertaining arguments from parties, Justice Aikawa adjourned ruling and continuation of trial till Oct. 30. In the amended charge, the former petroleum minister was alleged to have conspired with Belgore and Sulaiman on or about March 27, 2015, to directly take possession of N450 million, which they reasonably ought to have known formed part of proceeds of unlawful act. The trio were also alleged to have taken the said fund in cash, which exceeded the amount authorised by law, without going through financial institutions. Belgore and Sulaiman were also alleged to have paid N50 million to Sheriff Shagaya without going through any financial institution. Its Managing Director, Alhaji Modibo Gidado, disclosed this on Wednesday in Jos, at a customers consultative focum. He said that the meters were being installed to minimise electricity theft and ensure that electricity consumed was paid for. The Managing Director, who was represented by Mr Verr Jirbo, the Executive Director (marketing), particularly warned customers in the four states covered by the JEDC Plateau, Benue, Gombe and Bauchi against by-passing meters. I want to strongly warn customers against stealing electricity and by-passing meters installed by us. Anyone caught will face the full wrath of the law, he said. He said that electricity theft was a criminal offence which JEDC would no longer tolerate. The JEDC boss said that the company had massively procured prepaid meters and had ordered for even more in its efforts to eliminate the regime of estimated billing. We are determined to achieve 80 per cent connectivity milestone by 2019; our commitment to modern metering is critical and total, he said. Gidado said that JEDC meters had been tested, certified and certificated by the Nigeria Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA), warning that the outfit would not entertain any attempt to subvert effort toward quality service. The whereabouts of the separatist Kanu remain unknown, days after the army raided his apartment in Umuahia, Southeast Nigeria. The raid that led to Kanus sudden disappearance occurred on September 14, 2017. The federal government, the army and Kanus lawyer all say they have no idea where the eccentric Kanu is. However, former Governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor Kalu--quoting an unnamed relative--says Kanu fled to London through Malaysia in the wake of the raid on his fathers compound in Afaraukwu, Umuahia, Abia State. As speculation over Kanus whereabouts persists, his younger brother, Kingsley Kanu, 48, says even their parents may have been picked up by the army. According to Reuters, the younger Kanu said; They (soldiers) were shooting everything they saw. There were visible bullet holes on the windows and walls as Kingsley spoke, Reuters reports. They came here just to kill everybody, he said, adding that around 20 IPOB members were shot dead but most of the bodies were taken by soldiers. Kingsley also added that; If they [the army] have killed him, let them give us the corpse. Reuters also quotes Kingsley as saying that his missing 82-year-old father and 67-year-old mother should be released if they are being held. The army has denied keeping Kanu in some detention facility. Kanus IPOB has been proscribed by the federal government with its activities banned by Governors from the Southeast region. Clashes between IPOB members and soldiers led to heightened tension in the Southeast days before Kanus sudden disappearance. Kanu was arrested in 2015 as soon as he set foot in Nigeria from his UK base where he ran a hate spewing radio station. The IPOB leader is due in court later this month to continue trial on charges bordering on treason and illegal possession of firearms. The federal government has promised to arrest eminent leaders of society who signed Kanus bail bond if the separatist isnt produced in court for prosecution on the next adjourned date. Malam Hussaini Ibrahim, the Public Relations Officer of the agency, confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna on Wednesday. He said the deceased were traveling on Tuesday from Yauri in Kebbi and Mage around Kontagora area to Manhuta in Niger. Ibrahim said that seven of the travelers were, however, rescued. ALSO READ: 3 children, 4 others drown in boat accident in Rivers According to him, the victims were traveling to Mahuta following information that a divine stone, with an islamic inscription was found there, when their boat capsised. Some of the survivors said the boat hit a log of wood inside the river and capsized, he said. It all started when Misau accused the Police boss of illegally pocketing N10 billion which should have gone to government coffers on a monthly basis. Police spokesman, Jimoh Moshood immediately dismissed the allegation. That's not all. Moshood accused Misau of deserting the Force for politics, forging his retirement letter and so on. Senator Misau was a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DPS) before he retired and found his way to the Senate where he currently represents Bauchi Central Senatorial District. Since then, it has been more accusations and counter accusations. The latest was on the floor of the Senate on Wednesday, October 4, 2015. For those who do not know, Senate plenary is usually aired live on Nigeria owned television station, the NTA, every Wednesday. Wait a minute. Did Misau deliberately choose Wednesday to throw shade at the Police IG? Coincidence, maybe. The lawmaker wasted no time in bringing up the issue as a matter which bothered on his privileges as a serving Senator. Here is everything Misau said about IGP, Ibrahim Idris. 1. Evans arrest is not an achievement Remember the billionaire kidnapper, Evans? Yeah, same Evans. Senator Misau says the Police IG should stop celebrating Evans' arrest as his achievement. The lawmaker believes anyone could have arrested Evans. Sometimes I laugh when I see the IG celebrating that he has arrested Evans, Misau said. Evans was operating in Lagos openly until when he kidnapped somebody who jumped into somebody's house and they went to report. This is an achievement of IG? This cannot be achievement of the IG. Even an ordinary person can do that, he added. 2. The IGP is dating two female cops! Senator Misau accused the inspector general of Police of having sexual relations with two female officers. The lawmaker gave their names as Amina and DSP Esther. The IG is openly having two relationships with police women which he gave special promotion. One of them is Amina and one of them is DSP Esther, Misau announced. 3. The IGP impregnated one and married her secretly According to Senator Misau, IGP Idris impregnated one of the female officers, DSP Esther, who he secretly tied the knot with on September 15, 2017. The IGP impregnated DSP Esther which the IG on 15th of last month got married to that woman DSP. He quickly did a secret wedding in Kaduna because the lady is four months pregnant. I am saying this because of the institution. I am supposed to be a stakeholder in that institution. It is the institution that brought me here which I'm proud of. There are serving police officers who now demoralized because of the activities of the office of the IGP, the lawmaker said. 4. The IGP broke Police rules Senator Misau accused IGP Idris of breaking the Police service rules by marrying a serving officer. "Under police act and regulations, you cannot marry as serving woman police unless that woman retire," Misau said. 5. Promotions and appointments under Idris are not based on merit According to Misau, the Police boss appoints and grants special promotions to his boys. Mr President, even when it comes to appointment, the IG decided to have his own boys who are just assistant commissioner of police. He will give them special promotion. He will give them deputy commissioner of police. They won't spend three months or six months he will just give them acting commissioners of police, the lawmaker said angrily. According to a report by Premium Times, the meeting was scheduled to start at 11:30am on Thursday, October 5, 2017, at the Presidential Villa. The meeting is undoubtedly a result of a leaked letter sent by Kachikwu to President Buhari, who is also the Minister of Petroleum, where he accused Baru of insubordination and illegal conducts. The minister said he considered it important to call the attention of the president to his concerns about Baru because they're capable of hindering progress in the petroleum sector. In the letter dated August 30, 2017, Kachikwu had also complained about how attempts to book an appointment with the president had failed. The commands Spokesman, SP Othman Abubakar, said the incident occurred following a misunderstanding between some passengers and a routine patrol team along the road. He said the late inspector was mobbed to death, adding that the police had recovered his corpse and gun with eight rounds of live ammunition. An eyewitness, who simply identified himself as Sadiq, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the incident followed a disagreement over a N50 bribe. According to him, the driver of the vehicle in which the late passenger was travelling in offered a N50 bribe to the policemen but they insisted on collecting N100. He said that a passenger challenged them and that led to a hot argument and the shooting of the passenger and injuring of another by the inspector. Lake Mary, FL, Oct. 05, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- UPS announced the opening of its ninth U.S. UPS Integrad driver training facility in Lake Mary, FL. Since the first UPS Integrad site opened in Landover, Md., in 2007, the company has seen dramatic improvements in safety, production and service indices, as well as a reduction in turnover. The curriculum in the one-week course teaches drivers through experiential learning that emphasizes hands-on, real life scenarios, now enhanced by the VR simulations. Prior to UPS Integrad training, the majority of initial driver training was classroom- and lecture-based. Now, drivers practice delivery methods in a realistic setting on an outside course designed to mimic a small town called, Clarkville USA. Arrayed with small houses, street signs and even a dog bowl to alert drivers of the presence of a dog, Clarkville provides realism in a controlled environment. In addition to the hands on training that is key to the Integrad curriculum, UPS has added virtual reality driving simulations. The use of virtual reality technology allows students to drive without leaving the building. The intent of the simulations are to help students identify potential hazards by visualizing other vehicles, pedestrians, traffic signs and signals, the basis of what a driver needs to drive defensively. A significant portion of training at UPS Integrad is focused on safe driving, and is designed to enhance the companys already strong road safety accomplishments. UPS currently employs more than 9,349 Circle of Honor drivers who have driven 25 years or more without an accident. The sophisticated training at UPS Integrad and our focus on adaptive learning styles will guarantee a new generation of Circle of Honor drivers, said UPS Integrad Expansion Director Jeanne Lawrence. The Lake Mary site joins existing facilities in West Boylston, MA, Atlanta, McKinney, Texas and Menlo Park, Calif. suburban Chicago, Phoenix, Portland, Ore., and Landover, Md. UPS also has locations in Cologne, Germany and Burton upon Trent, United Kingdom. The president's Personal Assistant on Digital/Online Media accused the former minister of stealing 'blood money' from Nigeria and planning to run off to the Caribbean Island before she was arrested by UK authorities in 2015. She also accused Diezani of trying to return to the country because she believes she'll be able to get away with her crimes, something Onochie assures her will be impossible with Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Walter Onnoghen determined to 'clean up the judiciary'. She promised that the former minister will most definitely be jailed in the UK, face trials in the United States of America and Italy, before she will be returned to Nigeria. Posting on her Facebook page on Thursday, October 5, 2017, she said, "And then, there's Diezani Alison Madueke. She too, wants something. She wants to return home. Remember you are in the UK for medical purposes. Remember the photoshopped images her image launderer plastered all moved the tabloid and the Social Media? "Diezani is over 18 years old. That makes her an adult. She dusted her passport and flew out of this country, Nigeria. "She had concluded plans to run off to a Caribbean Island to live off the blood money she stole, no hauled from the poorest and the most vulnerable citizens of this nation. "She had no idea that she had become attractive to the British authorities And had been in their view since 2013. "The adage that what a man can do a woman can do better, has never been proven more by anyone than Diezani Madueke. "The forfeitures the Nigerian people have been awarded against Diezani, the pending and on-going corruption investigations and cases, are a testimony that this woman, who was elevated to the status of a goddess by ex-President Jonathan, has cases to answer, from UK to USA, Italy to the Carribean. "Why Mrs Madueke suddenly developed an urge to return home, is not clear. But many Nigerians think its not unconnected to the perceived cash and carry criminal justice system in Nigeria. But she's probably not aware that the Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Onnoghen, has vowed to clean up the judiciary. But there might be those judges who would be tempted by the mouth watering inducement that flows from the bottomless pit of Diezani Madueke's haulage. "May I remind Mrs Madueke that a certain Rtd Admiral Alison Madueke, warned President Muhammadu Buhari to leave his wife alone. May I also remind Diezani that Nigerians assume that she is that wife that the retired Naval officer warned the President about. "Now that she has been left alone, if she needs to return to Nigeria, she will also need her husband to threaten President Buhari to come after her, Hahahahaha.... "Dear Sis, in the meantime, you should make yourself comfortable in the UK. Attend to your criminal trials going on there. When found guilty, happily serve your jail term because it's just the beginning. "Then when you are done, repeat the same process in America and then in Italy. If you are still alive by then, you should then be retired to Nigeria, to begin the same process that will ultimately lead you to your retirement home. "You have a choice between Kirikiri and Kuje, among other prisons. Till then, it's Goodbye Diezani. You aren't coming home soon!" Onochie also backed her recent criticism of former First Lady, Patience Jonathan who had accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of unfairly targeting her and warned President Buhari to restrain the anti-graft agency. She urged the former First Lady to be sincere and come clean about the ill-acquired wealth that's making anti-corruption agencies circle around her. She said, "Recently, Nigerians were assaulted by the demand by the Wife of the former President, Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria, Patience Jonathan, asking President Muhammadu Buhari to "Tell EFCC to leave her alone". Fat chance! "EFCC is an institution, not an adulterous man running after someone else's wife. So, woman to woman, I asked her to look inwards. Patience should wear the sort of aura that dispels, rather than attract law enforcement agencies. "She can start by being honest and coming clean, regarding everything - cash, properties, etc., that were ill-acquired. Then hand them back to the rightful owners. Yes, back to Nigerians via the EFCC. "You see, EFCC, ICPC, DSS, CCT, all follow the smell of crimes. If she does not have suspicions of criminal activities oozing and buzzing from and around her, there's no way she'll be dragging President Buhari to commit impunity by ordering EFCC to leave you alone. "But there again, she's been busy swatting the bees, she had no time to see that her husband's reign of impunity, ended many moons ago. But that's not the end of the story." Onochie further accused Patience and Diezani of wasting the opportunity to better the lives of Nigerians by using resources available to them to selfishly better their own lives instead. "You see, these women, who own choice properties and obese bank accounts they do not need, across the world including Nigeria, had the best of opportunities to improve the lives of Nigerians, especially those who suffer health hazards from environmental degradation in the bowels of the Niger Delta where these two come from. Mr Olawale Uzzi, the Director in-charge of Voters Education Department, INEC, Abuja made the position of the commission known during Voter Education Providers Implementation Meeting held on Thursday in Awka. Uzzi said that the commission required a total of 6,200 card reader machines for the conduct of the Anambra election, noting, out of these number, we have more than 5, 000 machines working optimally. He said before the election all the machines and other arrangements would be completed. Uzzi, who harped on the imperative of effective participation, said low involvement of voters in an election was a clear indicator that electoral conduct was poor. He, however, called on the participants, especially the media, to partner with INEC to mobilize, enlighten and educate the masses on the need for them to take part in the election. Dr Nkwachukwu Orji, the Anambra State INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner said the commission was doing everything possible to ensure the people have confidence in the process. Represented by Mr Charles Mbanaja, the state INEC administrative secretary, Orji appealed to the voters to ensure they take part in the exercise, adding that it would be free, and fair. Mrs Uloma Osuala, the Deputy Country Director of International Foundation for Electoral System (IFES) said that IFES would continue to build the capacity of INEC and other key stakeholders to achieve smooth conduct of Nov.18 poll in the state. Osuala, who said that IFES had participated in election exercise in more than 150 countries, called on the mass media, civil society organisations, security agents and INEC to collaborate for successful election. Mr Ebenezar Olawale, the State Coordinator of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) commended the effort of INEC in carrying out enlightenment campaigns. Olawale said NYSC would provide needed support to INEC by allowing willing corps members to serve as ad-hoc staff during the election, saying we have more than 10, 000 NYSC members, but we are not sure if all of them would be willing to participate. While addressing journalists in Kaduna, chairman of the party's National Caretaker Committee said the party's decision to zone its presidency to a candidate from the northern region means it cannot entertain any other candidate that doesn't come from the region. He said, "He is on his own. What he is doing is not in compliance with the position of the party. The party's position has not changed. "The convention has zoned the presidency to the North and the chairmanship of the party to the South." On Thursday, September 28, 2017, Governor Fayose officially declared his intention to contest for the 2019 presidential elections under the umbrella of the PDP despite being from the southwest. The governor attacked the party's decision to zone the presidency to the north and asked for interested candidates from the region to signify interests first before his candidacy is dismissed by the party's leadership. "If PDP gives me ticket, I will use it and win. They say they have zoned presidency to the north, what if nobody comes out from the north? "Whoever wants to contest for the seat of President, what are they afraid of? Let them come out. We don't want to package anyone for president again. God forbid," he said. As published on the website of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Thursday, January 21, 2016 the anti-graft commission arraigned one Bright Echefu before Justice S.C Amadi of the State High Court, Port Harcourt, Rivers on a one-count charge bordering on Issuance of dud cheque and obtaining by false pretense. The story also added that; the accused allegedly received computer accessories, laptops and stationeries which were delivered to his (suspect) business premises at Touchville Hotel, Ada George Road, Port Harcourt by the victim. After the supply, the suspect issued a post dated UBA cheque of One Million, One Hundred and Sixty Five Thousand, Five Hundred Naira (N1, 165, 500. 00), with a further agreement to pay the balance of One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (N150, 000) on a latter date. But the cheque was returned unpaid due to insufficient funds on the suspects account. All efforts made to recover the money by the victim, were futile. The defendant (Bright Echefu) was subsequently remanded in prison pending the hearing of his bail application. Look-alikes Bright Echefu. Remember the name. The man who stood beside minister of information and culture, Lai Mohammed, during the grand launch of TSTV on October 1, 2017, is also called Bright Echefu. Was this Bright Echefu of TSTV the same dude who issued a dud (pun not intended at all) cheque and was arrested and charged back in 2016? Or was this just another person in another part of the planet who bears the same first and last names as the TSTV CEO? After all, in Nigeria, thousands of people bear the same first and last names. It cant be the same guy, can it? Why do they have this uncanny resemblance about them? Pulse was confronted with a barrage of these questions and much more all week long. To provide answers, we went digging as we normally do around here. Searching for doppelgangers from thin air isn't exactly our thing, but we promised to try. EFCC boss and the search for Samin First off, we rang the mobile of acting EFCC Chairman Ibrahim Magu and shared all of the details of the 2016 saga with him. Was this Bright Echefu who was arraigned by his commission last year, the same fella who runs TSTV? Give me a minuteId have to check and get back to you on this, said Magu. However, as we went back and forth over the phone, Magu apparently had a change of mind. Why dont you go to the court where he was arraigned? Is the court in Lagos? No sir, the court is not in Lagos, we thundered from the other end of the line, not in the least bit exasperated. The court is in Rivers StatePort Harcourt. Hmmm, Magu responded. Ok, go to my office in Lagos and ask for Samin. Tell him I said he should confirm this for you, Ok? Sammy? Saminhes my media officer in Lagos. SaminSAMIN, Magu made sure to spell out the name for us. As temperatures in the Lagos area hovered near the 32 degree Celsius mark, we pulled the car out of a packed driveway on Stella Ogunleye street in Lekki, Lagos and joined the traffic heading for Ikoyi. The EFCCs Lagos office is perched on Awolowo way in Ikoyi. We first showed up at the wrong EFCC address. Its the EFCC office alright, tucked somewhere off Ribadu drive in rustic Ikoyi, but it wasnt the one Magu had in mind. Thankfully, the police officers who did the rounds as sentry personnel, were kind enough to explain how we could get to the other EFCC address on Awolowo way. We grabbed murderous ice cold bottles of Coca Cola along the way, as the sun blazed through journalistic skulls. After inquiring from a couple of pedestrians, we found the right EFCC address, just beside the imposing Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) structure on Awolowo way, and made for the reception. After getting frisked with our cellphones taken off us, we filed through the cordon of stern looking police officers with their guns drawn by default, and ended up at another reception hall. Hello officer, we are looking for SaminS.AM.IN..the.the.EFCC Chairmanasked that we should see.see.him. Ok, sign herethe next left turn second door by your rightknock on that. Samin wasnt in his office when we showed up, but his colleagues kept assuring that he was within the premises and we should wait. To wait for Samin, we were beckoned into an adjoining office where the television is permanently tuned to NTA. As we would find out, all the TV sets in the EFCC zone are permanently glued to NTA. We didnt ask why. Samin appears This writer had dozed off for what seemed an eternity, when the door blazed open. A thickset, bald man draped in bespoke suit, peered inside. He looked imposing, stern and mild mannered all at once. He was Samin. Samin looked like hes not missed a gym session in years. Samin Amaddin is Head, Public Affairs at the Lagos Zone of the EFCC. He led us into his sparsely furnished office; where shelves overflowed with all sorts of anti-graft books and materials. We delved into the subject matter without delay. Samin often listened with a furrowed brow and a knowing expression. This writer reeled out the details of the 2016 case by rote. Is he the same Bright Echefu? It was the one million dollar question the world had been asking. The elephant in the room. Samin grabbed his sleek gadget and together we ran several searches that revolved around Bright Echefu, comparing photographs from different era and what life has been like for the Echefus. Hmmmmhe looks the same person, Samin said at one point and minutes later, he would punctuate his searches and introspection with hmmmm, he doesnt look like the same personhe is the same personhe is not. And on and on he went. It was an EFCC room full of confusion. For once, photo evidence would prove painfully inadequate in cracking a case. The Bright Echefus of this world take very little pictures and are camera shy, it appeared, because we kept happening on the same photos as we went back and forth. The EFCC detectives and the journalists were confused. We couldnt crack this case, hard as we tried. An hour later, we all gave up. It was the wisest thing to do at the time. Ill get back to you on this tomorrow. I promise. Or just call me same time tomorrow, Samin assured. Sources at the EFCC told Pulse that detectives worked the phones and pored through a trove of case files after we exited the building. The next day, at the Ikeja City Mall, over crispy chicken and chips, two EFCC agents went through several documents with us. The verdict stared us in the face: The Bright Echefu who was arraigned by the agency last year may have looked like the dude who launched a new cable TV company that seeks to rival DSTV, but he wasnt the same person, EFCC operatives announced. Still not satisfied, we called Samin. Hes not the same person from what we have found so far.but..I called our Port Harcourt agents and they told me that the Echefu of TSTV is more literate than the other one. We also asked Samin what has become of the dud cheque case. Did that Bright Echefu ever serve jail term? Was he found guilty or set free? Its difficult to say at this point because this case was in Port Harcourt. If it were in Lagos, we would have immediately pulled out documents to hand you a definitive answer. It looks like after he was arraigned, the plaintiff and defendant asked to settle out of court. That may have been what happened, Samin conjectured. Samin also assured Pulse that his team will keep digging. As we joined the bedlam out of the mall, we couldnt help but groan about what the Bright Echefus had just put us through. Whats in a name? Oh well, ask the Echefus. TSTV boss TSTV CEO Bright Echefu hails from Obowo in Imo State. He is the MD/CEO of Bricke and Athens limited--owners of AHTV-Heath Television and Telcom Satellites TV (TSTV). Echefu has been MD/CEO of these companies since November 2014. He attended the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, before leaving the countrys shores to pursue further studies abroad. Echefu also serves as the Chairman of Briechberg Investment Limited, owners of Bright FM. He is also on the board of Bright Joy Multiventures limited. His skills are listed as Strategic Planning Research, Nonprofits Public Speaking, Program Management and Fundraising Program Development. Echefu is also newlywed. ALSO READ: Almost 9,500 Afghans went back to their homeland in 2016 after their applications for asylum in Europe were rejected, compared with nearly 3,300 a year earlier, the human rights group said. The figure covers asylum seekers who were detained and then deported from European countries, and those who "ostensibly voluntarily" returned with financial assistance, Amnesty said. Migration is a hot button issue in Europe and politicians are under pressure to bring down the number of asylum seekers after hundreds of thousands of migrants flooded the continent since 2015. "European governments are forcing increasing numbers of asylum seekers back to the dangers from which they fled, in brazen violation of international law," Amnesty said in a report, "Forced Back to Danger". The influx of returnees from Europe coincided with rising civilian casualties in Afghanistan's bloody conflict as Afghan security forces struggle to beat back Taliban and Islamic State jihadists in much of the country. Nearly 11,500 civilians were killed or wounded in 2016 -- one third of them children -- according to the United Nations, the highest number of annual non-combatant casualties since it began collecting figures in 2009. Civilian casualties stayed at record highs in the first half of 2017 as the war enters its 16th year. 'Wilfully blind' As part of its research for the report Amnesty said it gathered testimony from 18 Afghan men, women and children "forcibly returned" to Afghanistan. One woman sent back with her family from Norway said her husband was kidnapped and murdered a few months after they returned to Afghanistan. In another case a two-year-old child forced to leave Norway with his family was wounded in an Islamic State-claimed attack on a Shiite mosque in Kabul in October 2016. "Wilfully blind to the evidence that violence is at a record high and no part of Afghanistan is safe, they are putting people are risk of torture, kidnapping, death and other horrors," said Anna Shea, Amnesty's researcher on refugee and migrant rights. Amnesty called on European countries to suspend further deportations until the situation in Afghanistan "permits returns to take place in safety and dignity". The report comes after Germany resumed deportations last month, after suspending the process when a huge truck bomb hit the Afghan capital Kabul on May 31, killing about 150 people and wounding hundreds more. The latest group represented the sixth wave of repatriations of Afghans from Germany since December under a disputed Afghan-European Union deal aimed at curbing the influx of migrants. Returnees face an uncertain future in Afghanistan which is struggling with high unemployment, a weak economy and masses of refugees being ejected from Pakistan and Iran, as well as hundreds of thousands of others uprooted by war. Some asylum seekers left Afghanistan when they were children and have no memories of the country, while others live in fear of persecution if the Taliban discover they are gay or no longer Muslim, Amnesty said. The detention took place at the Brazilian-Bolivian border, said a spokesman for the Federal Highway Police, declining to give more details. "For now we only know that he was detained," the spokesman told AFP. There was no official information on the cause of the incident or where Battisti, 62, who is wanted in Italy and has long feared deportation, was now. According to the respected O Globo daily's website, Italy asked Brazil's government last week to reconsider the decision not to extradite Battisti, which was made under former leftist president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. "Brazilian authorities believe Battisti was trying to take refuge in Bolivia," the report said, adding that he was attempting to take out about $5,000 and 2,000 euros. Battisti was convicted in 1993 for his part in four murders blamed on an armed Marxist group active in Italy in the 1970s. The council unanimously adopted a British-drafted resolution that welcomed the ceasefire and agreed to a request from the government for UN observers to take part in monitoring, alongside ELN representatives and the Catholic Church. "We know that this is just the start," British Ambassador Matthew Rycroft told the council after the vote, who stressed that the top UN body had moved quickly to shore up the truce. "Let us do all we can to support the government of Colombia and the ELN in that effort." Under the measure, the mission will report regularly to the council on the ceasefire with the ELN, which is to remain in force until January 9. The FARC and ELN were formed in 1964 to fight for land rights and to protect rural communities. The conflict drew in leftist guerrillas, right-wing paramilitary groups and state forces and has left 260,000 people dead, more than 60,000 missing and seven million displaced. After completing a first mission to oversee the disarming of FARC rebels, the United Nations in July established a second presence to help former combatants return to mainstream society. Fayez al-Sarraj, head of the internationally recognised Government of National Accord, met the British ambassador Peter Millett to demand an explanation of the "unacceptable" comment, according to the GNA's Facebook page. It quoted Millett as saying that Johnson was referring to the dead of the Islamic State jihadist group who had killed hundreds of Libyans. Libya's rival authorities in the east of the country, through parliament's foreign affairs committee, condemned Johnson's "irresponsible" comment that was "an affront to the dignity" of the Libyan people, demanding an official apology. Vice-President Phelekezela Mphoko said his counterpart Emmerson Mnangagwa had undermined President Robert Mugabe when Mnangagwa claimed to have been poisoned at a rally in August. Mugabe, 93, has maintained strict discipline over his government for decades, but the public dispute comes amid growing in-fighting over who will eventually succeed him. Mugabe has said that Mnangagwa was not poisoned, apparently to dispel rumours of an assassination attempt. Mphoko accused Mnangagwa of making a "calculated" challenge to the president's account of the incident. "There appears to be an agenda to undermine the authority of President Mugabe and to destabilise the country by using lies," Mphoko said in a statement. "This must stop." Mnangagwa is a favourite to succeed Mugabe, while Mphoko is seen as having no plans to run for the leadership. The rare public rift came as Mphoko served as acting president during a visit by Mugabe to South Africa. Mnangagwa, 75, was flown to South Africa for emergency treatment after falling ill at the ZANU-PF party rally in the southern town of Gwanda on August 12. Some supporters claimed he had been given poisoned ice cream in an attempt to kill him. Mugabe has already been named by the ZANU-PF as its presidential candidate for the 2018 elections. "I announce the liberation of the city of Hawija," Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi told a news conference in Paris. "All that remains is the strip on the border with Syria." The operation's commander, Lieutenant General Abdel Amir Yarallah, had earlier announced that troops, police and paramilitaries had retaken the city centre. Hawijah, 230 kilometres (140 miles) north of Baghdad, was at the centre of a pocket of mainly Sunni Arab towns that were among the final holdouts from the territory seized by the jihadists in 2014. The town had been an insurgent bastion since soon after the US-led invasion of 2003, earning it the nickname of "Kandahar in Iraq" for the ferocious resistance it put up similar to that in the Taliban militia's citadel in Afghanistan. The area's mainly Sunni Arab population is deeply hostile both to the Shiite-led government in Baghdad and to the Kurds who form the historic majority in adjacent areas. Government forces bypassed it in their advance north to second city Mosul last year, which culminated in the jihadists' defeat in the emblematic bastion in July. 'Victory for whole world' Hawija lies between the two main routes north from Baghdad -- to Mosul and to the city of Kirkuk and the autonomous Kurdish region -- and it recapture is both a symbolic and a strategic victory for the government. "This a victory not only for Iraqis but also for the whole world," Abadi said, as he announced the town's recapture after talks in Paris with French President Emmanuel Macron. France is part of a US-led coalition that has been backing the campaign against IS. There was no immediate word on the fate of civilians in Hawija. The United Nations said this week that an estimated 12,500 people had fled since the launch of the offensive to retake the town and surrounding areas last month. The UN's humanitarian affairs office said the number of people still in the town was unknown but could be as high as 78,000. It said humanitarian agencies have set up checkpoints, camps and emergency sites capable of receiving more than 70,000 people who could flee. The Norwegian Refugee Council said many of those arriving in the camps had little more than the clothes on their backs. "In addition to the terror they have experienced during years under the control of the IS group, many of the families who are arriving are malnourished," its acting area manager, Silvia Beccacece, said. Dwindling 'caliphate' Coalition spokesman Ryan Dillon hailed the latest advance on Twitter, saying Iraqi forces were continuing "to crush ISIS in Hawija pocket" and that Abadi's pledge to "liberate all Iraqi territory and to cleanse it from terrorists" was "close" to being fulfilled. IS, also known as ISIS or ISIL, has been forced out of most of the territory it seized in Iraq and Syria during a lightning offensive in the summer of 2014 that was followed by its declaration of a cross-border "caliphate". At one point it controlled nearly a third of Iraqi territory. Last week, it was ousted from Anna, one of three towns it still held in the Euphrates Valley, and Iraqi forces are preparing to advance upstream towards the other two, Rawa and Al-Qaim. Provincial civil defence chief General Fawzi Yassin said it had taken until Thursday to clear nearly 1,000 mines and booby-traps that the jihadists had planted in and around Anna. Town council chief Abdel Karim al-Ani told AFP: "This clearance operation is going to allow the displaced to return to their homes." The US-led coalition is also backing an Arab-Kurdish alliance, the Syrian Democratic Forces, that is battling to oust IS from its de facto Syrian capital Raqa. The SDF has captured about 90 percent of Raqa and is fighting fierce battles with remaining IS jihadists. IS's other main stronghold in Syria is the eastern province of Deir Ezzor, which borders IS-held territory in Iraq. CLEARWATER, Fla., Oct. 05, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On September 30th, more than two-hundred supporters of Miracles Outreach, a non-profit organization housing at-risk youth to reduce factors leading to juvenile delinquency, gathered in the Fort Harrison, the Church of Scientologys International Religious Retreat, to hold their 5th annual From Runaway to the Runway Fashion Show and fundraiser. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b90d4797-5016-4b8e-96dc-33bf65cb1678 This event is very dear to my heart, said Robert, one of the guests. It made me so emotional to see some of those girls who had come from a background of human trafficking to be where they are now. It touches my heart. The keynote speaker was the Assistant U.S Attorney, Ms. Stacie Harris, who spoke about how human trafficking and the state of Florida. Ms Harris said, Human Trafficking is a devastating human rights violation that takes place not only internationally but also here in the United States, said Ms. Harris. It is indeed a form of modern slavery. Traffickers use force, fraud, coercion to enslave their victims where they can exploit them sexually or for other things. The highlight of the event was the fashion show, featuring the young survivors of human trafficking. The show was followed by acknowledgments for their key supporters, a raffle with prizes and other fundraisers. The Church of Scientology is very proud to host this event and support Miracles Outreach, said Mr. Dylan Pires, Community Affairs Director for the Church of Scientology in Clearwater. In 1969 Scientology founder, L. Ron Hubbard, said Human Rights must be made a fact, not an idealistic dream and that is just as true now as it was then. For more information about the Fort Harrison or to attend a future event, please call (727) 467-6860, or email dylanpires@churchofscientology.net. The Fort Harrison Religious Retreat: Since its construction in 1927, the Fort Harrison in Downtown Clearwater has been the home for many community events and charitable organizations. The Fort Harrisons current owner, the Church of Scientology, has hosted over 500 community events there since a top-to-bottom restoration in 2009. The Scientology religion was founded by humanitarian and philosopher, L. Ron Hubbard, and incorporated in 1954. To learn more, visit www.scientology.org. Dylan Pires 727-467-6860 While they are partners on the oil market, on the foreign policy front, Moscow and Riyadh are on opposite sides of the war in Syria, with Russia supporting President Bashar al-Assad while Saudi Arabia supports the opposition. Salman and Putin are expected to discuss major defence and energy contracts, as well as extending oil production cuts ahead of the OPEC oil cartel meeting in November. Saudi Arabia and Russia are heavily dependent on oil exports and the global plunge of the price of crude that began in 2014 lashed both of their economies. Members of OPEC, of which Saudi Arabia is the biggest producer, have joined with non-member Russia and other countries in cutting crude output in a pact that has helped prop up prices. On Wednesday Putin said an extension of the OPEC deal was possible and could last "at least to the end of 2018". "Russian-Saudi contacts are important and their potential is rather great," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists. "The political will of Moscow and Riyadh for deeper cooperation on the widest range of issues is clear," he added. Awkward start The 81-year-old monarch's three-day visit got off to an awkward start on Wednesday evening after landing at Moscow's Vnukovo-2 airport when the escalator he uses to descend from his plane malfunctioned. The escalator stopped midway, forcing the king to walk down himself, to be met by Russian officials including deputy prime minister Dmitry Rogozin and a military brass band. King Salman arrived with a delegation of more than 1,000 people, reported Kommersant business daily. Kommersant also said Putin and Salman are due to discuss an arms deal worth more than $3 billion (2.5 billion euros) to supply Riyadh with S-400 air defence systems. Russian energy minister Alexander Novak told TASS news agency on Wednesday that Saudi Arabia is investing $1 billion into energy projects in Russia though he did not elaborate or specify whether these deals would be signed during the visit. The Kremlin said ahead of the visit that Salman and Putin would also discuss "the situation in the Middle East and North Africa, especially focusing on conflict situations in the region." The two diverge on both Syria -- where more than 330,000 people have been killed since war erupted in 2011 -- and Yemen, where a Saudi-led coalition has been bombing Huthi rebels since 2015, drawing criticism from Moscow. Putin visited Riyadh in 2007 and last met Salman in Turkey in 2015. The Saudi king's Kremlin meeting with Putin was expected to begin at 1000 GMT, to be followed by a state dinner. The countries' foreign ministers were set to meet later in the day. Tens of thousands of well-wishers waving the country's flag lined the streets and cheered as Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, the world's second-longest reigning monarch, passed by in a chariot pulled by dozens of his subjects. Marching bands took part in the colourful procession as it made its way through the streets, the highlight of about two weeks of celebrations to mark the golden jubilee of one of the world's richest men. An absolute monarchy with strict Islamic laws, Brunei is one of the world's wealthiest nations thanks to abundant oil and gas reserves, although analysts warn it faces serious challenges to diversify the economy as oil prices fall and its reserves dwindle. "His majesty cares about the people, their welfare, education and health," she told AFP. "Everything is subsidised by the government, so for that we are very, very thankful." Celebrations got under way earlier at the sultan's sprawling palace, where an honour guard performed a 21-gun salute and the ruler and his wife sat on golden thrones for a royal audience. The 71-year-old ascended to the throne of the Muslim country perched on the north of tropical Borneo island in October 1967, and comes from a royal family that has ruled the country for over 600 years. His decades ruling Brunei have seen the country gain full independence from Britain and living standards soar to among the highest in the world. Islamic law, high-priced harem But his reign of Brunei, which has a population of about 400,000, has also been marked by controversies. These include the introduction of tough Islamic laws in 2014, which will eventually include penalties such as severing of limbs and death by stoning, a move that sparked rare domestic criticism as well as international condemnation. The royal family was also deeply embarrassed by a sensational feud between Hassanal and his younger brother Prince Jefri Bolkiah over the latter's alleged embezzlement of $15 billion during his tenure as finance minister in the 1990s. During the scandal, salacious details emerged of the prince's jet-set, un-Islamic lifestyle, including allegations of a high-priced harem and a luxury yacht he owned called "Tits". There are also challenges for the younger generation, who fear their futures may not be secure as the oil-dependent country struggles to find new revenue sources. "They still have not really made any significant headway moving beyond this major sector (oil and gas)," said Bridget Welsh, a Southeast Asia expert from John Cabot University. Still, the jubilee stood out as a rare source of excitement in the sleepy sultanate, which is known for its slow pace of life and lack of nightlife -- alcohol is largely banned under Islamic practice. Thursday's festivities began with Hassanal, dressed in yellow and gold royal finery and accompanied by his wife Anak Hajah Saleha, inspecting a guard of honour in the grounds of his palace, before the gun salute. The couple then held the royal audience in the throne room of the palace, a vast complex of resplendent white buildings with golden domes and almost 1,800 rooms, before heading to take part in the procession. jpegMpeg4-1280x720The festivities will continue Friday when Southeast Asian leaders, from countries including Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines, and Middle Eastern royalty attend a banquet to mark the jubilee. The sultan only comes behind one sovereign in terms of having the longest reign -- Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, who ascended to the throne in 1952. After a similar move infuriated Saudi Arabia last year, the latest draft report placed the coalition on a separate section of the list of shame, which noted that measures had been taken to improve the protection of children. "In Yemen, the coalition's actions objectively led to the listing for the killing and maiming of children, with 683 child casualties attributed to this party, and, as a result of being responsible for 38 verified incidents, for attacks on schools and hospitals during 2016," said the draft report. Yemen's government forces, pro-government militias, the Huthi rebels and Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) were also blacklisted, but they have failed to take measures to protect children, the draft said. The final report and the list, contained in an annex, are to be sent to the Security Council on Thursday before its public release on Friday. The council will hold a debate on children and armed conflict on October 31. Saudi Arabia leads an Arab military coalition that intervened in Yemen in 2015 to support the government of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi after Iran-backed Huthi rebels forced him into exile. The United Nations has listed Yemen as the world's number one humanitarian crisis, with seven million Yemenis on the brink of famine and cholera causing more than 2,000 deaths. Former UN chief Ban Ki-moon last year was forced into an embarrassing climbdown when he removed the coalition from the list after Saudi Arabia threatened to cut off funding to UN humanitarian programs. Ban had publicly complained that it was unacceptable for countries to "exert undue pressure" on the United Nations to avoid scrutiny of its actions. Saudi Arabia denied that it had pressured Ban and has insisted that the coalition is respecting its obligations under international humanitarian law. Children dying from coalition bombs Another draft of the full report circulated in August said that 51 percent of the 683 child casualties in 2016 were attributed to the coalition. Nearly three-quarters of the 38 verified attacks on schools and hospitals in 2016 were carried out by air by the coalition, it said. Human rights groups had pushed UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to return the coalition to the blacklist and send a strong message about the horrific toll that the war has taken on children. Watchlist on Children in Armed Conflict, which groups leading human rights organizations, said it hopes that the draft listing will make it into the final report. "Watchlist has documented many instances of the coalition's attacks in Yemen, and naming the coalition as responsible in the secretary-general's annual report is hopefully the first step in holding it accountable and stopping these atrocities," said Eva Smets, executive director of Watchlist. The draft report indicates that Guterres "believes the Saudi-led coalition has taken positive measures, but we continue to receive disturbing reports of children dying from preventable diseases and the coalition's bombs," she added. British-based Save the Children said adding the coalition to the list of shame should serve as a "wakeup call to every party in Yemen's conflict -- and countries that are supporting or arming them." WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. A Purdue University professor of electrical and computer engineering and a recent Ph.D. graduate have found a way to make smaller, more efficient motor drive systems for hybrid and electric cars, trucks, trains, ships and aircraft. Oleg Wasynczuk, a professor in Purdues School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Minyu Cai have designed an improved power inverter that can be used to convert direct current electricity from a battery, fuel cell or other source into alternating current to power a motor. Conventional power inverter technologies require passive filters to protect motors from side effects due to high voltage edge rates (dv/dt). However, the filters increased power loss, weight and overall volume. The Purdue researchers developed a circuit, entitled auxiliary resonant soft-edge pole (ARSEP), to control the dv/dt using a mechanism called soft-switching, which eliminates the need for a filter and further reduces power loss. High dv/dt can cause over voltages at motor or inverter terminals, electromagnetic interference and failure of motor bearings because of micro-arcs. These effects lead to shorter motor life times, said Cai, who received his Ph.D. from Purdue in electrical and computer engineering this year. Our technology can reduce the dv/dt at a much lower cost than passive filters. Instead of adding passive filters, which are conducting all the time, the researchers ARSEP circuit augments an inverter with auxiliary circuits that are active only during voltage transitions. The auxiliary circuits are only active for short time periods, Cai said, Therefore, the average current going through the circuits are small, which results in lower power loss and smaller components. The ARSEP circuit not only generates less loss than passive filters, it also can reduce the loss in the inverter main circuit through soft-switching. Soft-switching eliminates switching losses to almost negligible levels, Wasynczuk said. So you are able to achieve a better efficiency compared to the current state of the art. Cai and Wasynczuk have built a prototype of the ARSEP inverter with funding from the Department of Energy. In an 800-watt case study, the ARSEP circuit was 45 percent lighter, and occupied 61 percent less volume than a passive filter. The overall system loss was reduced by 20 percent. That is a significant improvement, Wasynczuk said. Now we want to show its commercially viable. Virtually all variable-speed motor drive systems, such as those used in hybrid or electric vehicles, and grid-connected renewable generators, such as solar and wind, use inverters. This new technology has wide applications and it can be integrated into existing inverters. The researchers are hoping automakers, truck manufacturers, makers of trains, ships and aircraft, and other industries, such as heating, ventilation and air conditioning, and solar power companies will be interested in working with them to further develop the inverter. They say even with current considerations to ease fuel economy standards for automobiles and trucks, an improved inverter will still be sought by U.S. and global automakers. There are still incentives to electrify, Wasynczuk said. Wasynczuk said other nations are seeking to phase out production and sale of gasoline and diesel vehicles. Among those nations and the years they plan to stop sales of fossil-fueled-powered vehicles are Norway (2025), India (2030), France (2040), Britain (2040) and the Netherlands (2040). China also has announced plans to limit carbon emissions by 2030, putting fossil-fueled vehicles in the target. Wasynczuk and Cai have filed for a provisional patent for the inverter through Purdues Office of Technology Commercialization. About Purdue Office of Technology Commercialization The Purdue Office of Technology Commercialization operates one of the most comprehensive technology transfer programs among leading research universities in the U.S. Services provided by this office support the economic development initiatives of Purdue University and benefit the university's academic activities. The office is managed by the Purdue Research Foundation, which received the 2016 Innovation and Economic Prosperity Universities Award for Innovation from the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities. For more information about funding and investment opportunities in startups based on a Purdue innovation, contact the Purdue Foundry at foundry@prf.org. For more information on licensing a Purdue innovation, contact the Office of Technology Commercialization at innovation@prf.org. Purdue Research Foundation contact: Tom Coyne, 765-588-1044, tjcoyne@prf.org Source: Oleg Wasynczuk, 765-494-3475, wasynczuk@ecn.purdue.edu Washington D.C., Oct. 05, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Institute for Critical Infrastructure Technology ( www.icitech.org ), Americas Cybersecurity Think Tank, has published a series of reports on the recent Equifax breach, authored by James Scott, co-founder and Sr. Fellow of ICIT. The first report, entitled Equifax: Americas In-Credible Insecurity Part One: Yet Another Dragnet Surveillance Capitalist Cautionary Tale, offers an in-depth analysis of the catastrophic breach of Equifaxs systems, its poorly executed incident response, and an analysis of how other data brokers, including Experian and TransUnion, may be just as vulnerable. The report also provides a list of actions consumers can take in the wake of the breach, as well as technical and non-technical controls data brokers must implement to improve their cybersecurity posture and cyber hygiene. In the second report, entitled Equifax: The Hazards of Dragnet Surveillance Capitalism Part 2: Just Another Data Breach? Or C-Suite Criminal Negligence?, Mr. Scott discusses how data collection has developed into a national security and privacy epidemic and educates the reader on the dangers of treating consumer data as a commodity. The report also offers guidance on how legislators and consumers can rein in negligent data brokers and the role of Equifax senior executives in the breach. Download Equifax: Americas In-Credible Insecurity Part One: Yet Another Dragnet Surveillance Capitalist Cautionary Tale Download Equifax: The Hazards of Dragnet Surveillance Capitalism Part 2: Just Another Data Breach? Or C-Suite Criminal Negligence?" About ICIT : The Institute for Critical Infrastructure Technology, a 501(c)(3) non-profit Think Tank, provides objective, non-partisan cybersecurity and cyberwar advisory to the legislative community, federal agencies and critical infrastructure executives. Through original, cutting-edge research, publications and educational events, ICIT and its members are improving National Security and the resiliency of our nation's critical infrastructure sectors. www.icitech.org Attachments: A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/acd2d9c8-8b2b-430d-b492-afb0c0b5771b CLEARWATER, Fla., Oct. 05, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Tampa Bay Youth Coalition of Interfaith Tampa Bay held its first annual event to Honor our Youth at the Scientology Information Center in downtown Clearwater on September 30th. Forty members from a diverse range of churches and groups attended. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/efc32ab9-599a-4c54-bf6f-a22b1489c41b Mr. Joran Oppelt, the President of Interfaith Tampa Bay, delivered the main address on the importance of broadening the acceptance of all faiths. Representatives and youth from St. Marys Lady of Grace Church, Unitarian Universalists of Clearwater, the Abrahamic Reunion (an interfaith coalition of Jewish, Christian and Muslim faiths) and the Church of Scientology awarded youth from their churches who have shown dedication, care and interest in their churches and their religious duties. The representative from the Church of Scientology, Rev. Patricia Harney introduced a young man, Dario Vidilli, from the Church of Scientology, who worked with the Scientology Volunteer Ministers preparing hygiene kits and supplies for hurricane victims of Hurricane Irma and helping to pass out food and ice to neighbors who were without power for a week after the storm. The Church of Scientology holds an important belief that one should, 'Respect the religious beliefs of others,' as stated by L. Ron Hubbard, Scientologys Founder, said Amber Skjelset the Center Manager. We are honored to support and work with other churches to encourage youth to be active in their communities. For more information please visit http://www.scientologyreligion.org/religious-freedom/ or http://www.scientology-fso.org/ The Scientology Information Center: The Scientology Information Center, located in the Historic Clearwater Building in downtown Clearwater, opened on July 11, 2015, and currently houses a gallery of audiovisual displays with some 400 videos. The Center, open to all, provides a self-guided tour showing basic Scientology beliefs, Churches around the world, ongoing social programs supported by the Church and the life of L. Ron Hubbard, Scientologys founder. The Center also hosts community events and meetings for a variety of nonprofit organizations. Contact Amber Skjelset (727) 467-6966 ILLINOIS CITY -- Proceeds from a legacy trust set up by a local family more than 30 years ago continue to provide funding for Loud Thunder Forest Preserve. Marvin and Leona Martin established the trust in 1986, leaving $1.5 million to be used for land acquisition or capital improvements. Money from the trust was made available upon Mr. Martin's death in 1993 at the age of 79. Mrs. Martin preceded him in death in 1990. Mr. Martin worked at the Defense Supply Agency for 25 years before retiring in 1971. The couple had no children. Jeff Craver, who has been Forest Preserve District director since 2006, said the gift generates about $60,000 annually that is used for improvements at Loud Thunder. "It's been very helpful to the district," Mr. Craver said. "Without that, there would not be funds for capital improvements unless we levied those." Forest Preserve Commission President Kai Swanson said the trust had a 20-year life span, expiring in 2013. At that time, Rock Island County Board members approved converting the trust into the Loud Thunder Forest Preserve Endowment, working in partnership with the Community Foundation of the Great River Bend. "It was established with high parameters around it," Mr. Swanson said. "The Martins wanted it used for the purchase of lands where appropriate. The principal of the trust is protected. This way, it perpetuates the legacy of the Marvin Martin Trust. "When the trust expired, so did the rules governing it. You more than double the impact if you keep it alive for 20 more years. The core asset remains intact. Do you take that corpus and spend the entire thing, or do you create a legacy? I thought it was wise." Mr. Swanson said some of the proceeds are being used for bio-sustainability studies and skilled scientific work, with students from three classes at Augustana College, Rock Island, assisting with the work. Forest Preserve Commission members voted at the Sept. 19 meeting to approve $4.5 million in bonds to repair the dam and spillway and to make improvements to campgrounds at Loud Thunder, including the construction of four rental cabins with private docks. Mr. Swanson said letting bonds was a more reasonable action than liquidating the endowment to repair the dam and spillway, estimated to cost $1.9 million. "We could use the trust now, but then you cut off a revenue source," he said. "By not spending the corpus, not only do we preserve the source of that money, we can actually expect it to grow. I would like to see people contribute to the Loud Thunder Endowment." Mr. Craver agreed that emptying the endowment fund would not help Loud Thunder in the long run. "We can only withdraw 4.5 percent of the principal," he said. "That is the Community Foundation's policy. Liquidating it to fix the spillway is not the intent." Over the years, Mr. Craver said interest generated by the endowment has paid for construction of shower buildings at the White Oak and River campgrounds, an office building, and for road repairs to the picnic area and River campground. The endowment also has paid for a picnic shelter, a fuel tank, spillway weir repairs, slab replacements for the spillway, electrical upgrades to picnic shelters and for a trail renovation project. "Our office and shower buildings were significant projects for us, and we made improvements to the ranger's residence," he said. Mr. Craver said the money generated as a result of the endowment has benefited the preserve in many ways, and he looks forward to more improvements in the near future. "Our boat launch along the river needs an upgrade. We'd like to get some additional boat ramps, and some picnic facilities need new roofs." 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... Omaha, Nebraska, Oct. 05, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AccuQuilt Announces the 2017 Quilt Block Design Contest Winners Prize packages awarded to grand prizewinner, runner-up, and fans choice AccuQuilt announced the winners of this years 2017 Quilt Block Design Contest. Reed Johnson of Largo, FL is the grand prizewinner, and his prize package is worth over $5,000. His eye-catching winning design, Purple Rose, will be displayed on a 17-foot sign outside of AccuQuilt Headquarters for an entire year. Visitors who come in for a tour of AccuQuilt will see the impressive billboard too. Johnsons prize package also includes two round trip tickets to Omaha, hotel accommodations for two nights, and a $1,000 AccuQuilt shopping spree. The runner-up winner is Terri Vanden Bosch of Doon, Iowa who designed the beautiful Red Rock of Shell Canyon quilt block. Vanden Boschs prize package includes a $500 AccuQuilt shopping spree and fabric bundles from Northcott and Marcus Brothers, and much more. Lovenia Casto of Milton, West Virginia is the fans choice winner, and she designed the creative Bright Star. Casto will receive fabric bundles from RJR Fabrics, Cloud 9, and a 2-pass class from Craftsy. Greg Gaggini, President of AccuQuilt said, The annual quilt block contest is our biggest event of the year. Quilters from all over the country come for the block unveiling. We had over 100 entries this year and we are always amazed at the creativity of our customers. We are really honored to have the winning block design displayed on our building all year long. This year marks AccuQuilts 8th Annual Quilt Block Design Contest (originally called the Barn Quilt Contest). AccuQuilt started these contests as a way to pay homage to the Barn Quilt Trail movement, which was started in 2001 by Donna Sue Groves of Adams County, Ohio. When Groves and her mother moved to a farm that had an unappealing tobacco barn, Groves promised to paint a quilt square on it one day, and thus, the movement began. Eventually, Groves worked to create a driving trail of numerous quilt squares where people would come to Adams County to see the barns with quilt squares. Grand prizewinner Johnson will be publicly acknowledged at the AccuQuilt Unveiling Event on September 29. He and hundreds of others will watch on as his quilt block design is unveiled on the huge, 17-foot billboard. Johnson will also have the honor of meeting special guests, Marianne Fons and Ann Rehbein, from the Quilts of Valor Foundation and the Under our Wings program through Quilts of Valor. About AccuQuiltBetter Cuts Make Better Quilts Headquartered in Omaha, Neb., AccuQuilt offers quilters, fabric crafters and retailers a premiere line of fabric cutters, dies, quilting patterns and other quilt and fabric cutting solutions that help quilters quickly and accurately cut shapes for quilting and fabric crafts. AccuQuilt also offers quilters a wide variety of rich educational resources to enhance their quilting experiences. Cutting with AccuQuilt cutters is a natural evolution of fabric cutting methods. First scissorsthen rotaryfinallyAccuQuilt for fast, easy, accurate fabric cutting. For more information, visit accuquilt.com or call 888.258.7913. The three-year agreement was signed on September 29 by Ms Mercedes Vidal, president of TMB, and Dipl-Ing Gunter Steinbauer, chairman of Wiener Linien, at the end of the International Association of Public Transports (UITP) metro assembly in Vienna. The agreement includes opportunities for mutual learning and an option for extension. TMB opened its first fully-automated metro line in 2009. Driverless operation now accounts for around 25% of the 130.9km network, and this proportion is expected to increase with the planned completion of lines 9 and 10. Barcelona is the location of the UITPs Automatic Metro Observatory which disseminates and shares knowledge about automated metro operation. Chinese citizen charged with Savrasov painting export goes on Russian trial ST. PETERSBURG, October 5 (RAPSI, Mikhail Telekhov) Chinese citizen Xu Chao, who allegedly attempted to export a work by the Russian landscape painter Alexey Savrasov, will stand trial in St. Petersburg. The case has been submitted to the Moscow District Court of St. Petersburg, a courts representative told RAPSI on Thursday. Xu Chao is charged with illegal export of cultural values across the Customs Unions border, according to prosecutors. Investigators claim that in March 2017, the defendant registered his luggage with the hidden Wintry Landscape painting by Savrasov and concealed a sketch-book by Olga Lagoda-Shishkina in hand baggage when leaving St. Petersburg for China. The cultural values estimated at more than 1.3 million rubles ($22,600) have not been declared. The Chinese national has not obtained permit to export the works of art, prosecutors said. MOSCOW, October 5 (RAPSI) Ten land plots, a house and a Land Rover automobile belonging to Russias former economy minister Alexey Ulyukayev have been seized as part of corruption case against him, RAPSI learnt in the Zamoskvoretsky District Court of Moscow on Thursday. One of the seized land plots in Moscow is valued at as high as 45 million rubles (about $784,000), a prosecutor said during the trial of Ulyukayev. On September 5, head of Russias largest oil corporation Rosneft Igor Sechin signed a statement forwarded to the Federal Security Service FSB chief claiming that Ulyukayev tried to extort $2 million. According to Sechin, Ulyukayev demanded money for allowing Rosneft to privatize Bashneft oil company. On the same day, a high-ranking official of the Corporate Governance Department in the Economy Ministry Yulia Moskvitina testified that Ulyukayev personally initiated removal of Rosneft from a list of potential privatizers of Bashneft. Ulyukayev was arrested while receiving an alleged bribe in mid-November 2016. According to the Investigative Committee, the former minister threatened to create obtrusions for Rosneft with the use of his position. On November 15, 2016, 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. Ulyukayev pleaded not guilty and stated that he believed the case was fabricated. The defendant noted that there was a provocation, orchestrated by the Federal Security Service (FSB) and that there was no sound evidence in the case, aside from a testimony provided by Sechin. Russian law enforcement authorities conduct searches in ex-Yukos owners case MOSCOW, October 5 (RAPSI) Russian investigators along with police officers on Thursday conducted searches as part of a criminal case against former Yukos shareholders over oil stealing and money laundering, the Investigative Committees spokesperson Svetlana Petrenko told journalists. Law enforcement officers raided premises and offices of businessmen and other persons, who are allegedly financed from foreign accounts of companies controlled by Mikhail Khodorkovsky, Leonid Nevzlin and other members of their group, the statement reads. Investigators have obtained evidence entitling them to declare four foreign companies allegedly connected with financing businessmen and firms acting on behalf of Open Russia organization undesirable. However, financing from abroad is still in progress, according to the Investigative Committee. The check of facts of embezzling Yukos shares, funds and subsequent money management is underway because of international proceedings initiated on behalf of Hulley Enterprises Ltd., Yukos Universal Ltd. and Veteran Petroleum Ltd., seeking to recover over $50 billion from Russia, Petrenko said. According to Open Russia, on October 5, law enforcement officers raided premises of the organizations executive director Timur Valeyev, the websites editor-in-chief Veronica Kutsyllo, parents of Alexander Solovyev, the chair of cognominal movement, network engineer Artem Minich, former Open Russia employee Nikolay Levshits, and daughter of the Investigations Management Centers editor-in-chief Andrey Konyakhin. Searches were also conducted in the editorial office of Open Russia website in central Moscow, the organization claimed. Earlier this month it was revealed that Russian-linked Facebook accounts purchased more than $100,000 in divisive political advertisements on the social network during the 2016 election. Combined with Wikileaks coordination on other Russian meddling , the campaign revealed the fragility of our exposed democratic machinery in the information age. We can safely predict that it will not be the last time foreign actors attempt to disrupt American politics, and that the Russians will not be the only ones who try. At the same time that foreign influence threatens the very fabric of our democracy, the integrity of American commercial institutions are also under siege. Vast breaches of sensitive data have become almost routine, exposing compromising information to bad actors motivated either by politics or mere profit. The scope and scale of these challenges are difficult to fathom, but collectively they comprise forms of irregular warfare that exploit the vulnerabilities of an open society and a free market, threatening the legitimacy of both. The United States needs a multidimensional counter-offensive to brush back this new wave of attacks on American institutions. Contours of the Problem It was not simply the pilfering of emails that threw the 2016 campaign into disarray. The welter of disinformation, some 3,000 ads on Facebook, the assault on back-end processes such as voter registration and local election databases, and the hacking of critical election service providers all left intolerable levels of doubt in the minds of the American electorate. New defenses against these attacks will be necessary if we are to preserve our basic rights and the integrity of our electoral system. In the meantime, Americans will not find solace in the integrity of their digital privacy. It will take years to understand the full impact of the recent grand theft of sensitive personal, commercial and security data. This summer,Equifax, one of Americas three large credit-monitoring companies, reported its failure to protect birth dates, social security numbers, and drivers license numbers for more than half of the adult population. This breach of personal information comes only a few years after Yahoo apparently had all 3 billion users' accounts hacked. Around the same period, cyber warriors linked to PLA Unit 61398 cracked into the Office of Personnel Management and gained access to 5 million fingerprints and the complete files of 4.2 million U.S. government workers. Yet the most highly sophisticated Chinese cyber espionage is said to have been undertaken by a clandestine state outfit known as Axiom, which in recent years has penetrated Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, software firms, think tanks and nongovernmental organizations. While both nongovernmental and state actors have proven adept at stealing Americans personal information, foreign powers are thought to be the driving force behind the large-scale intellectual property theft facing the U.S. economy. The costs of this theft is estimated to run as high as $600 billion a year. Its a vast problem involving many actors, although China is said to be responsible for 5080 percent of the problem. A bipartisan commission led by retired Adm. Dennis Blair and former Gov. Jon Huntsman detailed the problem and outlined a comprehensive set of responses in a revised 2017 report. To compound the issue, China is not only stealing our intellectual property, but also using state-owned companies to spread strategic influence throughout Eurasia and the Indo-Pacific region as part of its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The initiative is making big promises, not all of which it will be able to keep; but China is likely to build more miles of highway alone by 2020 than exist throughout the entire U.S. interstate system. In addition to robbing the United States of its innovative edge, large scale intellectual property theft also threatens the potency of our defense industrial base. If even the best defense company starting today were to design a complex weapon system, how likely is it that it would remain uncompromised by the time it became operation? Threats to our core defense programs from theft, manipulation, corruption, and degradation have never been greater than they are today, and the situation is far from under control. Major defense acquisition programs and goods and services increasingly are in jeopardy from foreign intelligence officers, terrorists, criminals and employees. With concentrated databases, one corrupt contractor can do untold damage to U.S. security. Finally, the United States must take an expansive view toward strategy in the twenty-first century. Competitors like China are using novel tools (like cyber espionage) to shape what it views to be the future geostrategic and geo-economic battlefield. China is less to blame for pursuing its national interest than America should be scolded for squandering its security advantage. We are failing to safeguard that which is valuable and in many cases facilitating the ability of our potential adversaries to plunder our democracy and use of our strongest assets against us. For these and other reasons, the United States requires a comprehensive response to defend the homeland from more than just physical attack. Here are five responses that might comprise the pillars of a counter-offensive. 1 - We Need a Rigorous Net Assessment of Foreign Influence The United States needs an expansive threat assessment of internal threats and vulnerabilities, with a robust set of indicators that could measure our vulnerability over time. This ongoing endeavor would be strengthened through shared threat assessments with our closest allies and partners around the world. This assessment could help delve into everything from our exposure to digital dependence to vulnerabilities in the supply chain. 2 - We Need a Root-And-Branch Review of the Legal Framework for Protecting the United States from a Diverse Array of Foreign Influences A combined public and private sector review is needed on how assess nefarious foreign influence over investments, real estate, cyber intrusions, political disruptions and espionage. This is bigger than reforming the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), although that is necessary.The Blair-Huntsman commission report offers short- and long-term remedies, including making intellectual property (IP) a chief criterion for CFIUS approval of foreign investments, and promoting means to identify and recover IP stolen through cyber space. Similarly, the Trump administration is to be applauded for seeking possible new trade measures to counter threats as diverse as economic cyberespionage, hostile takeovers of high-tech businesses, and unfair rules imposed on joint ventures. But the Executive and Legislative arms of government need to work in tandem on a series of legislative reforms aimed at cracking down on clandestine foreign activities, not unlike those championed by Attorney General George Brandis in Australia. 3 - We Need to Build a New Strategic Communications Capability We have long since forgotten the art of strategic communications, even though we presently face unprecedented degrees of disinformation and propaganda. This capability should be resuscitated to so that twenty-first century democracies can withstand challenges from foreign disruption, subversion and espionage. Such strategic communications should include an offensive capacity, able to project the truth into areas where censorship prevails. Yet fighting social media ads with more social media ads ultimately will not be enough; as one astute analyst has noted, we will also need to train the foot soldiers who can take the argument the final three feet in face-to-face discussions. 4 - Diplomacy Should Be Used to Curb Undesirable Actions by Major Powers and Other Actors Negotiation can help to set higher standards regarding what constitutes impermissible foreign intrusion into the affairs and cyber domain of another state. The Obama administration started a robust but focused dialogue with China aimed at defining interest-based cyber norms. The Trump administration should determine which rules of the road are most important, negotiate enforceable standards with China and Russia as possible, and use diplomacy with allies and partners to help burnish a rules-based system. 5 - As a Prerequisite for All Other Pillars of an Effective Response, We Need a Coherent Strategic Vision The Trump administrations first National Security Strategy, the core elements of which are currently being debated, should strive to protect American interests from a position of strength, by maintaining a balance of power and preserving U.S. competitiveness. When the strategy is completed, it should be used in part to engage close allies, so that common strategies can be forged for countering Russian influence operations, Chinas geostrategic and geo-economic competition and other salient challenges. In the twenty-first century, state integrity includes far more than durable borders. These five steps are neither exhaustive nor simple, but in combination represent important initial moves to help buttress modern American sovereignty. Find a great selection of commercial real estate, manufactured homes, timeshares and more for Sale Buy real estate. Find a great selection of commercial real estate, manufactured homes, timeshares and more for Sale in US and Canada. Search Real Estate CLEARWATER, Fla., Oct. 05, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Florida chapter of the Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR), a non-profit mental health watchdog established by the Church of Scientology in 1969 to expose human rights violations of mental health, is holding a march to protest the drugging of children at the Florida Psychiatric Society annual meeting in Sarasota, Florida on October 7th 2017. According to CCHR Florida, 8 million U.S. children are currently being prescribed psychiatric drugs, with more than 1 million between the ages of zero to five.i Children are being drugged simply because psychiatry has labeled normal childhood behaviors as mental disorders resulting in millions of children being drugged for behaviors repackaged by psychiatry as disease, said CCHR Florida President Diane Stein. According to one report, mental health treatment has been reduced to the prescribing of antidepressants or antipsychotic drugs and new research shows that the trend is worsening especially among children less than 2 years of age.ii Reports show that psychotropic drug prescriptions among babies doubled from 2013 to 2014 and that psychiatrists are prescribing these drugs to young children and babies for aggression, temper tantrums, or lethargy despite the more than 400,000 adverse reaction reports filed with the U.S. FDA.iii Despite the fact that these drugs can result in death and homicides in older children and adults, these dangerous psychiatric drugs are being given to infants and toddlers,iv stated Diane Stein. Why is this being done despite the known risks? It is all about the money a psychiatrist prescribing drugs can make up to four times as much as one who doesnt and drugs prescribed for ADHD alone make billions every year.v In 2015, the research arm of Florida's child-protection system showed that foster children are being put on psychotropic medications without caregivers following proper procedures and that 11 percent of the children in foster care had active prescriptions for at least one psychotropic drug. Additionally, a review of 140 children's files showed that just 20 percent of these children met all the key requirements for administering such medication.vi The Florida policies for using psychotropic drugs on foster kids was updated after the tragic death of 7-year-old Gabriel Myers in 2009, who was found hanging from a shower fixture in his foster home, an apparent suicide, after having been prescribed two black box medications intended for adults. However, with the recent news of a third Florida foster child hanging herself in less than a year, and the second for whom psychiatric drugs may have played a role, it is evident that the changes made are not enough and CCHR is continuing to demand that a thorough investigation into the link between antidepressants and suicide be conducted.vii Anyone interested in joining the protest should contact CCHR Florida at (727) 442-8820. For more information on the psychiatric drugging of children please visit www.cchrflorida.org. About CCHR: Initially established by the Church of Scientology and renowned psychiatrist Dr. Thomas Szasz in 1969, CCHRs mission is to eradicate abuses committed under the guise of mental health and enact patient and consumer protections. It was L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology, who brought the terror of psychiatric imprisonment to the notice of the world. In March 1969, he said, Thousands and thousands are seized without process of law, every week, over the free world tortured, castrated, killed. All in the name of mental health. i https://www.cchrint.org/psychiatric-drugs/children-on-psychiatric-drugs/ ii http://www.medicaldaily.com/psychiatric-drugs-babies-more-kids-aged-2-and-under-getting-prescribed-antipsychotics-365236 iii https://www.cchrint.org/psychiatric-drugs/ iv http://www.cchrflorida.org/infants-being-given-psychiatric-drugs-on-the-rise/ v http://www.apa.org/monitor/2012/06/prescribing.aspx vi http://www.orlandoweekly.com/Blogs/archives/2015/09/22/report-finds-florida-foster-kids-put-on-psychotropic-drugs-without-following-proper-procedures vii http://www.miamiherald.com/news/state/florida/article165102502.html Media Contact: Diane Stein President, CCHR Florida 727-442-8820 diane@cchrflorida.org www.cchrflorida.org Property details: PLEASE READ ENTIRE LISTING BEFORE BIDDING!!!!! 6,000 Annual Bluegreen PointsCibola Vista Resort & Spa A luxurious vibe for any desert getawayCibola Vista Resort and Spa brings the beauty and adventure of Americas Southwest to life. Just minutes from Phoenix and a short drive from the popular water-sport excitement of Lake Pleasant, this quiet slice of desert offers guests two distinct vacation experiencesan ultra-relaxing spa vacation and a desert sightseeing adventure. With a central loca... Price: $ 355 Seller State of Residence: Missouri State/Province: Arizona City: Peoria Property Address: 27501 N. Lake Pleasant Pkwy. Zip/Postal Code: 85383 Type: Attractions Location: 658**, Springfield, Missouri You will be redirected to eBay Nearby Attractions , We're sorry, this article is not currently available Denver, Colorado, Oct. 05, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- DENVER, CO Eleven teams involving hundreds of collegiate students from the United States and Europe have assembled at the 61st and Pena Station in Denver, Colorado, to showcase their highly energy-efficient, innovation-packed solar houses for the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2017 (see photos here). This signature Energy Department event is making its debut in Denver after successful runs in Washington, D.C. and Orange County, California. Todays opening ceremony, headlined by U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette, kicked off the highly anticipated international competition that shows consumers how to save money and energy with affordable energy products that are available today. The Solar Decathlon inspires and challenges college students to think creatively about energy innovation for the future through design, said Deputy Secretary Brouillette. Students are actively addressing global energy challenges such as reliability, resilience, and security by incorporating the use of innovative energy and water efficiency technologies into their professional projects. This award-winning competition engages students from across the nation and Europe to develop the skills and knowledge to become the next generation of energy experts. The competition fosters collaboration among students from different academic disciplines including engineering, architecture, interior design, business, marketing, and communications, who otherwise might not work together until they enter the workplace. Over the last decade, the U.S. competition and its international counterparts have prepared approximately 35,000 students worldwide to become future innovators in clean energy technologies and efficient building designs. Thousands are expected to visit the houses, which will be open to the public free of charge on eight days over two weekends: from Thursday, October 5, through Sunday, October 8, and Thursday, October 12, through Sunday, October 15, from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm MDT. It will also be open on Monday, October 9, from 1:00 pm to 7:00 pm MDT. Visitors are able to tour the houses, gather ideas to use in their own homes, and learn how energy-saving features can help them save money today. The overall winner will be announced on Saturday, October 14, at 9:30 am MDT. This Solar Decathlon is the eighth U.S. competition since 2002. This years collegiate teams were chosen nearly two years ago through a competitive process. The selected teams and their projects represent a diverse range of design approaches, building technologies, and geographic locations, climates and regions including urban, suburban and rural settings. They also aim to reach a broad range of target housing markets including empty nesters, disaster relief, low income, multigenerational and single family, and Native American communities. Teams have gathered their combined interdisciplinary talents to design and build the houses, as well as to raise funds, furnish and decorate the houses, and optimize the houses performance. Solar Decathlon 2017 teams competing in Denver, Colorado Las Vegas: University of Nevada, Las Vegas (Las Vegas, Nevada) University of Nevada, Las Vegas (Las Vegas, Nevada) Maryland: University of Maryland (College Park, Maryland) University of Maryland (College Park, Maryland) Missouri S&T: Missouri University of Science and Technology (Rolla, Missouri) Missouri University of Science and Technology (Rolla, Missouri) Netherlands: HU University of Applied Science Utrecht (Utrecht, Netherlands) HU University of Applied Science Utrecht (Utrecht, Netherlands) Northwestern: Northwestern University (Evanston, Illinois) Northwestern University (Evanston, Illinois) Swiss Team: Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne, School of Engineering and Architecture Fribourg, Geneva University of Art and Design, and the University of Fribourg (Lausanne, Switzerland) Team Alabama: University of Alabama at Birmingham and Calhoun Community College (Birmingham, Alabama) University of Alabama at Birmingham and Calhoun Community College (Birmingham, Alabama) Team Daytona Beach: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and Daytona State College (Daytona Beach, Florida) Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and Daytona State College (Daytona Beach, Florida) UC Berkeley/U of Denver: University of California, Berkeley, and University of Denver (Berkeley, California) University of California, Berkeley, and University of Denver (Berkeley, California) UC Davis: University of California, Davis (Davis, California) University of California, Davis (Davis, California) Wash U St. Louis: Washington University (St. Louis, Missouri) Ride the University of Colorado A line commuter rail to the event site at the 61st and Pena Station (6045 N. Richfield St.) near Denver International Airport. Free parking will be available, as well as $2.00 parking in the solar-covered parking lot operated by RTD (see directions and a map). For full event information, current standings, high-resolution photos, and videos, visit www.SolarDecathlon.gov. You may also follow the competition in real time on Facebook at Facebook.com/DOESolarDecathlon and Twitter at @Solar_Decathlon. Photos are also available on Flickr at http://www.flickr.com/photos/solar_decathlon/. More about the Solar Decathlon The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon is a collegiate competition made up of 10 contests that challenge student teams to design and build full-size, solar-powered houses. The winner of the competition is the team that best blends design excellence and smart energy production with innovation, market potential, and energy and water efficiency. Competing students gain hands-on experience and unique training that prepares them to enter the energy workforce. Solar Decathlon is more than a student competition. Its an intensive learning experience for consumers and homeowners as they experience the latest technologies and materials in energy-efficient design, innovative energy technologies, smart home solutions, water conservation measures, electric vehicles, and sustainable buildings. Solar Decathlon 2017 is made possible by a public-private partnership between the U.S. Department of Energys Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy and Energetics Incorporated, with the generous support of the Solar Decathlon 2017 Supporting sponsors Wells Fargo, the City and County of Denver, and Denver International Airport (DEN), and Solar Decathlon 2017 Contributing sponsors L.C. Fulenwider, Schneider Electric, Regional Transportation District, Xcel Energy and Panasonic Enterprise Solutions. Attachments: A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0db18664-838d-40a8-ab15-a3b1367a1dc2 WEST CHESTER, Pa., Oct. 05, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On October 9th, Key Financial will be hosting their second annual fall client seminar at the Desmond Hotel, featuring Memory Expert Matthew Goerke. Matthew is nationally regarded as an expert in the field of memory development, and has worked with such well known speakers as Zig Ziglar, Tony Robbins and Ed Forman. He specializes in offering practical techniques that help train the brain to remember information from meetings and to-do lists, to names, dates, and other practical information. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/65258a17-4856-42c0-acf6-089fa5d6743a This meeting will be the second time this year the West Chester based wealth management firm will bring together clients for an informational seminar, following their well-received Valentines Day wine tasting seminar held in February. Its something both the clients and our team at Key Financial look forward to, says Reporting Specialist Maddie McTigue. Its a great opportunity for us to reconnect with clients outside of the office, and thanks to our event planning team, our event speakers are always very entertaining. Its truly a win-win for everybody who attends. Last fall Key Financial hosted their first fall client seminar featuring Cyber Security expert Jeff Lanza, who led the night with information regarding identity theft prevention, cyber security and fraud. In light of the recent Equifax hack, we have received great feedback from clients who put Lanzas tips into practice following our seminar, and were able to stay calm despite the breach, commented CEO and President Patti Brennan. The Key Financial event planning team looks forward to hosting timely informational seminars in the months to come. About Key Financial, Inc. With total client assets nearing $800 million, Key Financial, Inc. provides comprehensive financial planning and wealth management services and is located at 1045 Andrew Drive Suite A. West Chester, PA. For information about the firms planning services or to speak with Patti Brennan, call (610)429-9050 or visit www.keyfinancialinc.com. A graduate of Georgetown University, Patti is a Certified Financial Planner with almost 30 years of experience providing financial advice in West Chester, PA. In addition to being President and CEO of Key Financial, Inc. she also serves on the National Advisory Board, the YMCA of Greater Brandywine and Cuddle My Kids. She formerly served on the Boards of the Chester County Economic Development Council, SEEDCO and Penn Medicine Chester County Hospital. The Forbes ranking of Americas Top Wealth advisors is based on an algorithm of qualitative and quantitative data, rating thousands of wealth advisors with a minimum of seven years of experience and weighing factors like revenue trends, assets under management, compliance records, industry experience and best practices learned through telephone and in-person interviews. There is no fee in exchange for rankings. Securities offered through Royal Alliance Associates, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. Insurance services offered through Patricia Brennan are independent of Royal Alliance Associates, Inc. Advisory services offered through Key Financial, Inc., a registered investment advisor not affiliated with Royal Alliance Associates, Inc. Key Financial, Inc., 1045 Andrew Drive, Suite A, West Chester, PA 19380. Ph: 610-429-9050. Email: pbrennan@keyfinancialinc.com Third-party rankings and recognitions are no guarantee of future investment success and do not ensure that a client or prospective client will experience a higher level of performance or results. These ratings should not be construed as an endorsement of the advisor by any client nor are they representative of any one clients evaluation. The event will run from 6:30 - 8pm, along with light refreshments prior to the presentation. Contact: Carrie Brennan carrie@keyfinancialinc.com (610) 429-9050 Images Sorry, there are no recent results for popular images. The Las Vegas shooter chose to take the lives of all of those people into his hands that day, and because of that a new sense of fear has been instilled on all Americans. The youth have to turn into entrepreneurs if Indias massive demographic dividend is to be taken advantage of: Smriti Irani. Illustration: Uttam Ghosh/Rediff.com Senior Union ministers on Wednesday urged students and alumni of the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi to be job creators rather than job seekers. Textile Minister Smriti Irani and Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha addressed the My India @ 2022 programme organised by the World Economic Forum (WEF), in association with the Confederation of Indian Industry, as part of the 33rd India Economic Summit (IES). Irani said about 800 million Indians are below the age of 35 years. The youth have to turn into entrepreneurs if Indias massive demographic dividend is to be taken advantage of. She added an upward mobile population and growing opportunities have resulted in many young people giving up the profession of their ancestors, such as handloom weaving. This is a massive loss in cultural heritage. Irani also discussed some of the plans of her ministry, which was focusing on small and medium enterprises to make up the bulk of the textile sector. The ministry will also take 15 national banks to 400 clusters to help workers in the sector open bank accounts. Jayant Sinha said the government was focusing on jobs growth. In the past three years India has been witness to Reforms 3.0, he said. This is the third wave of major reforms in the economy since liberalisation in 1991 and those initiated by Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The third panelist was Hari S Bhartia, founder and co-chairman of the Jubilant Bhartia group. He said technological disruptions were churning the job market like never before. I have 1,100 pizza outlets. Now, most orders are placed online. As a result, we dont need two people receiving calls anymore. Thats a loss of 2,200 jobs, he said. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Commerce Minister Suresh Prabhu, Food Processing Industries Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari and Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan will be attending the summit. The recent slowdown in India's economic growth is an 'aberration' mainly due to the temporary disruptions in preparation for the goods and services tax, the World Bank said on Thursday, pointing out that it will get corrected in the coming months. World Bank President Jim Yong Kim also said that the GST is going to have a hugely positive impact on the Indian economy. "There's been a deceleration in the first quarter, but we think that's mostly due to temporary disruptions in preparation for the GST, which by the way is going to have a hugely positive impact on the economy," Kim told a group of reporters during a conference call ahead of the annual meeting of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank in Washington, DC. Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley would be leading the Indian delegation to the annual meeting next week. Kim was responding to questions on slowdown in India's growth in the first quarter, which the Opposition and several economists have attributed to demonetisation and the GST. India's GDP grew 5.7 per cent on a year-on-year basis during the April-June period (Q1). During the previous quarter (January-March) the GDP had grown by 6.1 per cent. The GDP growth rate for the same quarter last year was 7.9 per cent. Responding to questions, the World Bank president insisted that this slowdown is temporary. "We think that the recent slowdown is an aberration which will correct in the coming months, and the GDP growth will stabilise during the year. We've been watching carefully, as Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi has really worked on improving the business environment, and so, we think all of those efforts will pay off as well," Kim said. Next week, both the World Bank and the IMF are expected to come out with their new GDP figures and growth projections for India and the rest of the world. "Let me just say, as I said from the beginning. I'm not sure that I could say that any country in the world is investing enough in their human beings. I think there's no country in the world that can't improve its healthcare system. There's no country in the world that can't improve its educational system," Kim said. Ahead of the annual meeting, Kim said after years of disappointing growth, the global economy has begun to accelerate, and trade is picking up as well, but investment remains weak. "We are concerned that downside risks such as a rise in protectionism, policy uncertainty, or possible financial market turbulence could derail this fragile recovery," he said. "Countries need to continue to advance their reform agenda, they need to invest in people. They need to build resilience against overlapping challenges, including the effects of climate change, natural disasters, as well as conflict, forced displacement, famine and disease." Responding to a question on India and human capital, Kim said Prime Minister Modi has made a huge commitment to sanitation issues, and 'Swachh Bharat' is one of the 'most effective programmes' anywhere. "I know that Prime Minister Modi himself personally is very committed to improving opportunities for all of India. But, India has a lot of challenges. We look at some of the educational outcomes, we've looked at some of the health outcomes, and India has room to improve, like most other countries," he said. "Our job is to take the political will and commitment that Prime Minister Modi has clearly demonstrated and has communicated to everyone, and then bring to India the most effective intervention that will, as quickly as possible, improve the stock of human capital," Kim said. That's the message for every country in the world, he said. "The Bank stands ready, with lots of new insights on how to improve health outcomes and improve education outcomes to help every country in the world with financing, with technical knowledge, and with direct support around implementation that will lead to a situation where we can talk about an emerging equality of opportunity, which has got to be the central focus of all this work," he said. Kim said investing in people drives economic growth. But far too many leaders undervalue the contribution of human capital which one builds through effective investments in people through health care, quality education, jobs and skills. "Human capital is the key to reducing poverty and to reducing inequality," he said. This year, the Bank is producing a new report in a series on 'The Changing Wealth of Nations'. For the first time, it has added human capital to its wealth analysis, in addition to produced capital, things like machinery and buildings, natural capital, energy, forests, agricultural lands, and net foreign assets, he said. Illustration: Uttam Ghosh/Rediff.com In effect, companies which put their money in telecom in India would have done much better to keep the cash in bank and earn interest. Image: A young artist dressed as Hanuman speaks on a mobile phone before his performance on the occasion of Ram Navami inside a temple in Bengaluru. Photograph: Abhishek N Chinnappa/Reuters Sistema Shyam Teleservices is expected to get a final nod for its merger with Reliance Communications in a few days. But this is one merger deal which the Russian company may not like to remember as part of its Indian telecom journey. Sistema, which launched CDMA (code division multiple access) services under the MTS brand in 2010, had invested over $3.5 billion (Rs 22,750 crore) to set up a pan-India network. Now, under the deal with RCom, it gets a 10 per cent stake in the company, in return for merging its business along with the valuable 800 Mhz spectrum. Taking the current market cap of RCom, its shares are valued at only Rs 420 crore (Rs 4.2 billion). It could get another $200 million (Rs 1,300 crore) from RCom once the spectrum is made contiguous, but that is still uncertain because the Anil Ambani company faces new challenges in its debt reduction plan after its merger deal with Aircel collapsed. Most foreign telcos, which earlier made a beeline for the high-growth industry, have hardly found any return on India investments. The process of their exit at a substantial loss is being accentuated by the onslaught of Reliance Jio in the market. Telenor India is another example of a serious player losing its India investment. The Norwegian company is estimated to have invested around $3 billion in its India venture. When it sold its business to Bharti Airtel, which finally got clearance a few weeks ago, it got no cash in return. Airtel agreed to take over its outstanding spectrum payments of Rs 1,650 crore (Rs 16.5 billion) and obligation of the leases of the towers it owned. Telenor also agreed to pay back its debts in the company. The parent company in Norway, meanwhile, took an impairment of over Rs 5,800 crore (Rs 58 bilion) in 2016 on its books after revaluing some of its installations, radio switches as well as licences in India. Earlier in 2012 too, it had written off Rs 3,500 crore (Rs 35 billion) on account of Indian operations. The financial mayhem in the sector is reflected in Bharti Airtel CEO Gopal Vittals recent statement that with an industry debt of Rs 4.5 lakh crore, the return on capital is as low as one per cent. In effect, companies which put their money in telecom in India would have done much better to keep the cash in bank and earn interest. Vodafone, the second-largest telco in the country has faced tough times too. Earlier this year, it decided to merge with Idea Cellular and make the combined entity the largest telco in the country. Over a decade ago Vodafone plc had paid $10.9 billion (Rs 71,000 crore at current conversion rate, but it was around Rs 47,000 crore at 2007 prices when the deal was done) to acquire Hutchisons stake in India, but it took two large impairments on its books - in 2010 of around Rs 20,000 crore (Rs 200 billion) and another just a year ago of Rs 38,400 crore (Rs 384 billion), which is nearly what it paid for the initial acquisition. In a financial statement last year, Vodafone plc stated it had recorded a non-cash impairment of Euro 5 billion, net of tax, in the period (first half ending September 2016) relating to the Indian business, driven by lower projected cash flows and increased competition (with the launch of Jio). As a result, the UK companys losses soared and it eventually decided to merge its Indian business with Idea Cellular. Analysts say Vodafone put in around Rs 150,000 crore (Rs 1,500 billion) (which includes cost of acquisition, buying out Essar stake and picking up spectrum and licences) in the country. And in 2016 it injected fresh equity of Rs 47,700 crore (Rs 477 billion) to expand and take on Jio as well as retire debt. But its Ebitda in FY17 was a mere Rs 13,115 crore (Rs 131.15 bilion), according to their own declared figures. Among others losing out in the India market, Malaysian telco Maxis, which acquired Aircel in 2006, has put in over Rs 47,000 crore (Rs 470 billion) till now. This includes the cost of acquisition from its former promoter C Sivasankaran. With its adjusted gross revenue for Q1 2017 declining by over 32 per cent due to pricing pressure with the entry of Jio, the group has been looking at ways to get out of the mess, and the proposed merger with RCom was one such route. But with that deal collapsing, Aircel with a debt of over Rs 15,500 crore (which was reduced by Rs 2,394 crore from sale of 2,300 MHz to Airtel last year) has limited options despite funding support from the promoters. Can you guess where this is? IMAGE: 'Need Vitamin Sea'. Photograph: Kind courtesy, Ileana D'Cruz/Instagram Ileana D'Cruz loves pictures -- not only featuring in them but also clicking them. The other thing she loves is travelling. Her favourite destination is Fiji, an island country in the South Pacific. IMAGE: Dreaming of tan lines, sunshine, palm trees, sea breeze and salt hair at Turtle Island Fiji. Photograph: Kind courtesy, Ileana D'Cruz/Instagram "We went to Fiji recently and, oh my God, I miss that place so much!" she exclaims. IMAGE: Striking a pose. Photograph: Kind courtesy, Ileana D'Cruz/Instagram "Fiji was just so beautiful. The minute you go there, you feel like the stress is just being sucked out of you," she shares. IMAGE: Her most impressive welcome ever at Nanuku Auberge Resort. Photograph: Kind courtesy, Ileana D'Cruz/Instagram "You just go 'ahh' as soon as you get there," she sighs. IMAGE: She wants to go back to this place! Photograph: Kind courtesy, Ileana D'Cruz/Instagram This isn't Ileana's first visit to Fiji. She first went to the beautiful island country on holiday. Check her FUN Fiji holiday pictures. IMAGE: 'I had the best time meeting with Minister Faiyaz Koya aka Minister Awesome! Vinaka for making me feel so at home and welcome in your country.' This is at the Grand Pacific Hotel, Suva. Photograph: Kind courtesy, Ileana D'Cruz/Instagram The second time, she was invited by the government. "It was a cool thing we did for the tourism," she says. IMAGE: 'The beautiful ladies of the Koromakawa village'. Photograph: Kind courtesy, Ileana D'Cruz/Instagram "For me, very honestly, there are lots of beautiful places in the world but what actually makes it so much fun and much more enjoyable to experience is when the people are really nice," Ileana tell us. IMAGE: 'I make weird squishy faces to cover up my insane fear of height.' Photograph: Kind courtesy, Ileana D'Cruz/Instagram "If you go to a pretty place and if the people are not as welcoming or friendly ad warm, you don't enjoy yourself much," she adds. IMAGE: Paddle boarding at Marriott Momi Bay. Photograph: Kind courtesy, Ileana D'Cruz/Instagram "Honestly with Fiji, there's a whole tagline -- 'Where happiness finds you'. It literally feels that," she says. IMAGE: Showers of blessing. Photograph: Kind courtesy, Ileana D'Cruz/Instagram Every time she goes there, she feels like she's home. "They are always welcoming, they want to feed you, they are always singing. It's the kind of place I'd be the most relaxed and happy." IMAGE: Relaxing in Fiji. Photograph: Kind courtesy, Andrew Kneebone/Instagram So what were the essentials she packs while she's travelling? "See, it depends. I can talk about the usual stuff but you got to carry underwear!" she giggles. IMAGE: 'Enjoying the Fijian sun'. Photograph: Kind courtesy, Ileana D'Cruz/Instagram "The essentials have to be a pair of sneaker and some sort of workout gear. I always carry a formal outfit and nice pair of heels that will work with it," she says. IMAGE: Stretching out against the blue seas. Photograph: Kind courtesy, Ileana D'Cruz/Instagram "I always carry my swimwear as well, you never know when you can go swimming." IMAGE: text here. Photograph: Kind courtesy, Ileana D'Cruz/Instagram "If I am going to a wintery place, then I like to carry a lot of layers of scarves and winter wear, boots and stuff," she says. IMAGE: She looks forward to travel always. Photograph: Kind courtesy, Ileana D'Cruz/Instagram "If I am going to a place like Fiji, it's the swimwear, sun screen, it's your beach outfits of sarongs and coverups, lots of lovely sandals and yes, minimal makeup." TAMPA BAY, Fla., Oct. 05, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On October 3rd, volunteers of The Foundation for a Drug-Free World (FDFW), a group supported by the Church of Scientology, disseminated the Truth About Drugs materials to several organizations and over 400 attendees at three national Night Out Against Crime events throughout Tampa Bay. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ef73c468-de70-4be7-b7d2-7f4b1aec132e National Night Out Against Crime fosters increased awareness about police programs in communities, such as drug prevention, town watch, neighborhood watch, and other anti-crime efforts. The President of the Florida Chapter for FDFW said, We partner with police departments, schools and other non-profit organizations to educate youth and adults on the dangers of drugs. Abuse of drugs leads to crime and that is why this event is an important one for us to share The Truth About Drugs documentary, booklets and DVDs. The Foundation for a Drug Free World (FDFW) FDFW is a nonprofit public benefit corporation that empowers youth and adults with factual information about drugs so they can make informed decisions to live drug-free. Drug-Free World partners with civic and nongovernmental organizations including more than 1,200 police departments in the United States. Through its worldwide network of volunteers and partnerships, it has distributed 8 million copies of Truth About Drugs booklets over the past year more than 80 million copies since the booklets were first published in 2006. After extensive social research, author, humanitarian and Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard called drugs the single most destructive element present in our current culture. The Truth About Drugs is one of the worldwide humanitarian programs supported by the Church of Scientology. Contact: Pat Harney, Public Affairs Director Phone Number: 727-467-6860 Email: patharney@churchofscientology.net An insistence on only one language will inevitably be resented as a form of imperialism and resisted. Such narrow-mindedness also breeds a destructive and, at times, violent competitive linguistic nationalism, says Sunanda K Datta-Ray. Illustration: Uttam Ghosh/Rediff.com. It seems especially bizarre in London where I am writing this. Those few British who think of India at all are convinced that popularising English was the Rajs greatest achievement. Language is Britains proudest export and an Evening Standard headline screamed the other day, Berlin may be German but the English language rules. Mastery of another language is always an accomplishment. Yet, a young man was reportedly beaten up in New Delhi for daring to speak in English! Actually, the incident didnt surprise me. Its been coming a long time as the envious underprivileged took their cue from their political leaders. Linguistic chauvinism is driven by an inferiority complex that hardened when an Anglicised elite followed British rule. A politician who cant hope to match the eloquence in English that the first prime minister acquired from his British governess and at Harrow and Cambridge tries to compensate for it with bombast, bravado and sartorial flamboyance. Those who once felt sidelined are now getting their own back. The sahb is now a symbol of obsolete authority. Not that everyone was crippled by complexes. An enlightened multiculturalism has always been the pride of a nation that refuses to be defined by a single language or religion. India boasted great individuals who rose above the inhibitions that shape mass conduct. We know that when Oxford University gave Rabindranath Tagore an honorary doctorate, he responded to the citations volley of Latin by a volley of Sanskrit. If Tagore and other Bengalis were the product of a confluence of three cultures, Hindu, Mohammedan, and British, North Indians can claim in addition the wider inheritance of some touches of an ancient Greek lineage. Even foreigners who lived amongst us and, in many cases, ruled us, celebrated Indias eclecticism. Akbars syncretic Din-i-Ilahi, derived from Islam, Hinduism, Zoroastrianism and Christianity, was one example of liberation from orthodox blinkers. Venturing beyond religion to statecraft, Deep K Datta-Ray claims in The Making of Indian Diplomacy that the Mughals became Indo-Mughals because in India they encountered the dharma-complex via the Mahabharata. Many European Union dignitaries have argued that Britains Indian involvement left the British that much less European. No one escapes Indias liberating influence except some doctrinaire Indians who are trying to create a land of bigotry. It is humbling to read today that as a subdivisional officer in Midnapore in the late 19th century, Sir Henry Cotton, who served in the ICS from 1867 to 1902 (his grandfather, father and son were also Civilians), did his entire office work except correspondence in Bengali and for weeks and months together spoke no other language while in office. It would be typical of todays Hindi zealots to misinterpret the message of that confession, try to turn the clock back and ram Hindi or Bengali or Marathi down the throats of unwilling Indians. The real lesson is that people must be educated to know what they are about. They must be instructed in a variety of languages, and encouraged to adopt the one that best promises to allow self-expression and permit social and economic advance as well as political cohesion. An insistence on only one language will inevitably be resented as a form of imperialism (as happened in erstwhile East Pakistan and Sri Lanka) and resisted. Such narrow-mindedness also breeds a destructive and, at times, violent competitive linguistic nationalism. When the ruling Congress was identified with cow-belt domination, activists of Calcuttas Amra Bangali group went round defacing English signboards. Reports now indicate similar protests against Hindi in Bengaluru Metro stations, with Karnatakas chief minister, Siddaramaiah, reportedly denouncing the imposition of any language other than Kannada as unconstitutional. Maharashtra seems likely to emulate Karnataka. As the Hindu Hindi fanaticism that appears to receive the Centres tacit approval drives the many nations that make up the Indian State to assert their own individual identities, one is reminded of Nirad C Chaudhuri invoking the concluding couplet of Alexander Popes The Dunciad: Thy hand, great Anarch! Lets/the curtain fall;/And universal Darkness buries/All. Nehru wrote percipiently in his prison diary, Perhaps it is as well that [Tagore] died now and did not see the many horrors that are likely to descend in increasing measure on the world and on India. He had seen enough and he was infinitely sad and unhappy. The Bard was spared the grotesque contradiction of an India driven by its leaders into the dark ages even while glibly proclaiming the attractions of the digital age. Japan-born British author Kazuo Ishiguro on Thursday won the 2017 Nobel Prize for Literature. 'The 2017 Nobel Prize in Literature is awarded to the English author Kazuo Ishiguro who, in novels of great emotional force, has uncovered the abyss beneath our illusory sense of connection with the world,' a release by the Swedish Academy said. Reacting to the news, Ishiguro said he initially thought it was a 'hoax'. The 62-year-old writer said that the award was a magnificent honour, but admitted that he had not been contacted by the Nobel committee. "So, wasn't sure whether it was a hoax", he was quoted as saying by the BBC. The London-based author won the Nobel prize for his novel The Remains of the Day (1989), for which he had bagged the Booker Prize for literature in 1989. Ishiguro has written eight books, as well as scripts for film and television, the Academy said. He is best known for his novels Never Let Me Go and The Remains of the Day, both of which were also turned into successful films. The themes Ishiguro is most associated with are: memory, time, and self-delusion. Ishiguro's latest novel The Buried Giant (2015) explores how memory relates to oblivion, history to the present, and fantasy to reality. With the dystopian work Never Let Me Go (2005), Ishiguro introduced a cold undercurrent of science fiction into his work, it said. Ishiguro was born on November 8, 1954 in Japan. His family moved to the United Kingdom when he was five years old. Ishiguro said that the award was 'flabbergastingly flattering, a magnificent honour, mainly because it means that I am in the footsteps of the greatest authors that have lived, so that was a terrific commendation'. Ishiguro is the 114th winner of one of the most coveted awards in the field of literature, following in the footsteps of the likes of Toni Morrison and Pablo Neruda. He said that he hoped the Nobel Prize would be a force for good. "The world is in a very uncertain moment and I would hope all the Nobel Prizes would be a force for something positive in the world as it is at the moment," he said. The novelist also said that he will be deeply moved if he could in some way be part of some sort of climate this year in contributing to some sort of positive atmosphere at a very uncertain time. The Nobel Prize, announced by the Nobel Academy in accordance with the wishes of Swedish philanthropist Alfred Nobel, is worth around 832,000 million pounds and is awarded to the 'person who shall have produced in the field of literature the most outstanding work in an ideal direction'. Congratulating Ishiguro on his win, Indian origin author Salman Rushdie said 'Many congratulations to my old friend Ish, whose work I have loved and admired ever since I first read A Pale View of Hills. And he plays the guitar and writes songs too! Roll over Bob Dylan'. With agency inputs. IMAGE: Author Kazuo Ishiguro in New York. Photograph: Mike Segar/Reuters IMAGE: IMAGE: RJD leader and former railway minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, accompanied by his daughter Misa, arrives at the CBI headquarters in New Delhi on Thursday. Photograph: Vijay Verma/PTI Photo Former railways minister and Rashtriya Janata Dal supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav was questioned for seven hours on Thursday by the Central Bureau of Investigation in connection with alleged corruption in the award of contract for the maintenance of two IRCTC hotels in 2006. Yadav arrived at 11 in the morning and was taken directly to the investigation team, CBI sources said. His daughter Misha also accompanied him but was asked to wait in the lobby at the ground floor of the agency headquarters, they said. During the seven-hour-long questioning session, the team asked Yadav mostly about award of the contract, land deals of the company now owned by his son, relations with Prem Chand Gupta, and relations with owners of the beneficiary firm which won the contract among others, they said. The CBI interrogation was cordial and 'all the courtesies were extended' to him, according to the sources. They said his wish for less spicy food was also fulfilled from the CBI canteen during lunch. The RJD supremo was offered aloo bhujia, daal and rice during lunch and three rounds of tea, they said. Yadav also acknowledged that the team was cordial and was 'just doing its job' but did not mince any words about the National Democratic Alliance government which he said was trying to 'frame' him and his family in 'false cases' out of political vendetta. "The CBI officers were cordial but what can they do? They are following orders of the government of India which is acting out of political vendetta against me and my family. I do not have any complaints against the CBI but it is the Union government which is targetting me and my family," he told reporters after coming out of questioning session. People stood outside the CBI headquarters for a glimpse of Prasad as his Mercedes SUV was being readied for his departure in the evening. Yadav, whose RJD won maximum seats in the last assembly elections in Bihar, said it was he who had turned the fortunes of railways by recording a profit of Rs 7,000 crore which became a case study for universities like Harvard. "I had stopped pilferage in railways, made it cost efficient, improved revenue and now I am being blamed for corruption. This is nothing but targetting me and my family," he said. His son Tejashwi has been called for questioning on Friday, the sources said. "I have told the CBI that I will be co-operating. I did not seek time today because else I would have been blamed for running away," Yadav said. The case pertains to allegations that Prasad, as railway minister, handed over the maintenance of two hotels run by the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation, a subsidiary of the Indian Railways, in Ranchi and Puri to Sujata Hotel, a company owned by Vinay and Vijay Kochhar, in return for a prime plot of three acres in Patna through a benami company. The FIR alleged that the RJD leader abused his official position for extending undue favours to the Kochhars and acquired a piece of 'high value premium land' through the benami firm Delight Marketing Company. As a quid pro quo, he 'dishonestly and fraudulently' awarded the contract to them for the two hotels. After the tender was awarded to Sujata Hotel, the ownership of Delight Marketing also changed hands from Sarla Gupta to Rabri Devi and Tejashwi Yadav between 2010 and 2014. By this time, Lalu had resigned as railway minister. The CBI registered the case against Lalu, his wife Rabri Devi, son Tejashwi, who was deputy chief minister until a few months ago, and Sarla Gupta, wife of Prem Chand Gupta, a former Union minister. Others named as accused in the FIR include Vijay and Vinay Kochhar, both directors of Sujata Hotels and owner of Chanakya Hotel, Delight Marketing Company, now known as Lara Projects, and then IRCTC managing director P K Goel. China has maintained a sizeable presence of its troops near the site of the 73-day-long Doklam standoff, in an indication that the border tension between Chinese and India armies has not yet subsided. Sources said China has been slowly increasing its troop level in the Doklam Plateau which could further escalate the current situation as India has reasons to be concerned over it. The indication to the underlying tension due to presence of Chinese forces in the Chumbi Valley in the Doklam Plateau was also given by Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa on Thursday. "The two sides are not in a physical face-off as we speak. However, their forces in Chumbi Valley are still deployed and I expect them to withdraw as their exercise in the area gets over," Dhanoa told reporters. There has been territorial disputes between China and Bhutan over Doklam and India has been staunchly supporting Thimphu over the issue. Troops of India and China were locked in a 73-day-long standoff in Doklam since June 16 after the Indian side stopped the building of a road in the disputed area by the Chinese Army. Bhutan and China have a dispute over Doklam. Bhutan and India were in touch with each other during the course of the face-off that ended on August 28. Days after the face-off ended, Army Chief Bipin Rawat had said China has started 'flexing its muscles' and warned that the situation in India's northern border could snowball into a larger conflict. There are also reports that People's Liberation Army has increased more troops on its forward post in Yatung. Sources said though Chinese troops have been deployed in Doklam Plateau, they leave the area during winters. But, there were indication that they may leave the areas this time, they added. IMAGE: Chinese army servicemen attend the opening ceremony of the airborne platoon competition, part of the International Army Games 2017, at Guangshui, Hubei province. Photograph: China Daily via Reuters With his countrymen still coming to grips with the deadliest mass shooting in Las Vegas early this week, United States President Donald Trump has said America is truly a nation in mourning as he thanked the first responders who rushed to save lives. IMAGE: US President Donald Trump is greeted by survivor family members Shelby Stalker and Stephanie Melanson, left, after meeting with Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman, right. Photograph: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters Trump travelled to Las Vegas on Wednesday to meet with first responders and victims of the mass shooting in the casino city. In the deadliest mass shooting in modern American history, at least 59 people were killed and over 500 injured after a gunman on the 32nd floor of a hotel and casino opened fire on people at an outdoor country music festival below. Surrounded by first responders, a somber looking Trump accompanied with the First Lady consoled the nation. "The mass murder that took place on Sunday night fills America's heart with grief. America is truly a nation in mourning," Trump said in his remarks. The President returned to White House late evening. He also visited injured in hospital. IMAGE: Trump and first lady Melania meet cops at the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department with first responders who reacted to the mass shooting in Las Vegas. Photograph: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters He spoke of Charleston Hartfield, an off-duty police officer who died in the massacre. "We cannot be defined by the evil that threatens us. ... We are defined by our love, our caring and our courage....," he said. "Words cannot describe the bravery that the whole world witnessed on Sunday night," he said during a brief speech at the Las Vegas Police Department Command Centre. IMAGE: Trump speaks to media after meeting with police at the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Photograph: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters Trump said the Americans defied death and hatred with love and courage and thanked the first responders on the behalf of the "grateful nation". "In the months ahead, we will all have to wrestle with the horror of what has unfolded this week, but we will struggle through it together, we will endure the pain together, and we will overcome together as Americans," Trump said. The US president however refrained from talking about gun control laws, the debate over which has rekindled in the aftermath of the shooting. "We're not going to talk about that today," he said. Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi's assertion that the economy is on firm footing and said he was 'dreaming'. Addressing party workers in his Lok Sabha constituency Amethi, he said the gross domestic product has fallen by two per cent in one go and lakhs of people have become jobless. Gandhi also took a dig at the '56-inch chest' remark of Modi, saying, "Our Manmohan Singh did not have 56 inch chest but had done a lot of work like bringing MNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Guarantee Act), loan waiver, right to information (RTI) and right to food." The Congress leader also appeared to be critical of the bullet train project, saying, "Had rupees one lakh crore been used to improve the railway line, station or freight train, the country would have benefited but Modiji is only interested in gimmicks." On the second day of his three-day visit in Amethi, he asked Congress workers to question Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh on the raging issues like unemployment and farmers suicide. A day after Modi said the economy was on firm footing, Gandhi said, "Don't know what track he is talking about and what is he dreaming of... economists, newspapers, shopkeepers say that he has spoiled the economy but he says that it is on the right track... he is not ready to hear anyone." Modi, while lashing out at critics of his economic policies, had said yesterday that he will never jeopardise the country's future for immediate gains and that his government will continue reforms to reverse the GDP slowdown witnessed in the last two quarters. "Farmers are committing suicide, only 450 (people) get employment, economy has been damaged, still long speeches are being delivered," Gandhi said. Referring to the demonetisation decision announced on November 8 last year, Gandhi claimed that it was brought without consulting anyone. "Had he (Modi) asked, no one would have advised," he contended. "The same was done on GST (goods and services tax)," he said, adding that Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Manmohan Singh and P Chidambaram had said that the GST was the Congress' idea 'but you have not understood it ... do not bring five different slabs'. He went on to add, "Running a government and making false and hollow promises are two different things and today the entire country is aware of it." Talking about unemployment, he said India's competition is with China but in that country, 50,000 youth get jobs everyday while in India only 450 get employment. "This is Modi's 'make-up India'," Gandhi said. He alleged that 'the BJP people sometime talk of temple, Hindu-Muslim or Jat non-Jat and of dividing the nation'. Apparently referring to the bullet train project of the National Democratic Alliance government, he said rupees one lakh crore loan has been taken from Japan and the ticket between Ahmedabad and Mumbai will be Rs 4,000. He told the party workers that 'as soon as RSS people start talking' they should be asked what has been done regarding employment and farmers' suicide. "You ask them these questions ....you have given jobs to only 450 people, in every state farmers are committing suicide, economy has been spoiled, note ban has snatched jobs from crores of youth crores, 150 people have died, the businesses of small and middle traders have suffered losses," he told the workers. Gandhi accused BJP governments at the Centre and in Uttar Pradesh of re-inaugurating projects launched by the previous United Progressive Alliance dispensation. "A new drama has started now... During our (UPA) government, we had undertaken some 10 to 12 works here.... Now they are going about in Amethi telling people that the BJP has done it...tell them (people) that they are telling lies," he said addressing party workers at Tiloi. "These works have not been done only by Rahul Gandhi but the people of Amethi had come to me, Congress workers had got them done and so you should get its benefit and tell UP and Amethi about them," he remarked. Earlier, while talking to journalists, Gandhi said, "... our BJP friends are out to re-inaugurate the projects started by us...but I am happy that we initiated these works for the people of Amethi." He was seeking to take the wind out of the sails of BJP chief Amit Shah, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Union minister Smriti Irani who are scheduled to visit here on October 10 to launch a number of new projects in Amethi. He also gave a detailed account of the works done during the previous UPA government in the constituency. The Congress MP mentioned projects like a hospital worth Rs 90 crore, FM radio, sainik school, Rajiv Gandhi aviation university at Fursatganj and Institute of Hotel Management. He also named the projects like Central school at Jais, Amethi-Uchahar new rail line, doubling of Rae Bareli-Amethi rail line, multi-functional complex at the railway station, four-laning of Lucknow-Sultanpur NH 56, bypass of NH and six national highways through Amethi. "These are our works," he asserted. IMAGE: Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi during the second day of his visit to Amethi on Thursday. Photograph: PTI Photo Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah on Thursday did not participate in the party march in the home town of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan as he had to attend a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Kerala BJP president Kummanam Rajasekharan told reporters that Shah would be unable to attend the phase of the 'Janaraksha Yatra' (People's Protection March) that would pass from Mambaram to Thalassery, crossing Pinaryi town in Kannur district. Rajasekharan said Shah has to attend a meeting with Prime Minister Modi in New Delhi. Hundreds of party workers, led by the state unit chief, are participating in the march that entered the third day on Thursday. Shah had launched the high profile 15-day yatra from Payyannur in Kannur on October 3 against the alleged 'red and jihadi terrorism' under the Communist Party of India-Marxist-led Left Democratic Front rule in Kerala. On Wednesday, Uttar Pradesh Chief minister, Yogi Adityanath, had led the yatra and accused the left party of promoting 'jihadi terrorism'. Senior BJP leaders are expected to participate in the yatra which will conclude on October 17 at Thiruvananthapuram. Meanwhile, senior Marxist leader from Kannur, M V Govindan, Master said the march will not have any impact on the left party's strength and its base in the state. "In a democracy all political parties can take out yatras and there are no restrictions," he said adding Shah not attending the march today was an 'anti climax'. CPI-M Thalassery MLA A N Shamseer alleged that Shah had 'abandoned' the yatra through 'party gramam' (party village). Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala also took a dig at Shah skipping Thursday's march, saying the Janaraksha Yatra had become a 'Vilapa Yatra' (mourning procession). IMAGE: BJP president Amit Shah and Union Tourism Minister Alphonse Kannanthanam waves to the crowed during the party's Janaraksha Yathra at Payyannur in Kannur on Tuesday. Photograph: PTI Photo 'The canal I bathed and swam in, has dried up. Its the worst drought in 140 years. First the mango trees died. Then the coconut trees. Finally the hardy palm trees have died.' A Ganesh Nadar gives a chilling account of how the dwindling ground water has struck a death-knell for his little village. IMAGE: Water from the Thamirabarani river, 20 km away, used to fill this canal. The canal has been dry throughout this year. Photographs: A Ganesh Nadar/Rediff.com. When I first came to my village in 1988 what I loved most was the morning swim in the river (it is actually a canal but we have always called it a river) along with my cousins. We bathed, gossiped, exercised and floated about lazily in its gentle waters. Floating in a river with your eyes closed is the closest you can get to heaven on earth. 29 years later -- my river has died. We in Tamil Nadu are experiencing the worst drought in 140 years. The river was originally a canal which distributed the water from the Thamirabarani river. Before the water reached our canal, it was stored in a large lake called Kadamba, about 3 km from my village. Kadamba was so huge that locals called it Kadalil paadhi Kadamba, which means 'half the ocean sized Kadamba'. In my 60 years on Earth, I have never seen the Kadamba completely dry. This year I saw it parched for the first time. Since there is no water in the river, village folk have now started bathing inside their homes. The village had a few wells and the well water was also used for irrigating paddy by those who had pumps to draw the water out. But in a few years the ground water got depleted and the wells ran dry. First the mango trees started dying and then the coconut trees. Finally the hardy palm trees have died. Now only the doughty neem survives. The rich drilled bore wells deep into the heart of the earth and sucked her dry. The poor did not have the money to do this. I refused to dig a bore well because I knew this would kill the neem tree in my home. It has lived inside my walls for 30 years. IMAGE: Bore wells are sucking up the ground water and have resulted in the drying up of trees. Even coconut trees in the village have dried up. In the past six months, water comes in the house tap on alternate days from 7-9 am. It is supplied by the panchayat which has a very deep bore well near the river. This is the second bore well in my village. The earlier one was near the red sand desert that borders my village. It was originally a brick well used by dhobis to wash clothes. They used to draw the water out in buckets. After the dhobis well dried up, the panchayat dug a bore well which was 50-150 feet deep, but then the water turned salty. In the process this single bore well led to the death of 500 large mango trees that had stood for over a century by denying them water. And now the bore well near the river is killing the mango trees by the river bank. The owner of well known retail chain Saravana Stores is paying farm labourers a daily salary for watering the mango trees with 5 pots of water. Earlier the panchayat had used one pot of water a day which the ground simply drank up and left nothing for the trees which started dying. IMAGE: Tap water is now supplied once in two days for two hours. When I was a child growing up in Mumbai I used to be fascinated by the pavement-dwellers. They used to sit with one bucket of water for their morning ablutions. They first washed their clothes, then brushed their teeth. They then wet themselves, soaped and finished bathing -- all from that one bucket of water. I used to think it impossible but now I know it is possible. I am used to flushing the toilet every time I use it. But now I have to use the water sparingly to make it last for two days. The washing machine sits idle because there is no water. The last time I washed clothes by hand was as a boarder in Barnes School 45 years ago. Luckily, I have not forgotten how to wash clothes using minimum water. The absence of water has hit farm labourers hard. Without water they have no work. The price of coconuts has skyrocketed as the trees are drying up. Even loan sharks are wary as people dont have the money to pay back at any interest. MGNREGA starts and stops at will. It doesnt follow any logical pattern. It depends on the whims of the men sitting in air-conditioned cabins in Delhi who I doubt know of a village called Panikkanadarkudieruppu and the fact that it hasnt rained here in two years. IMAGE: Once villagers used to bathe in the canal. No one comes here any more. Thoothukudi, or Tuticorin, is the worst affected district in Tamil Nadu. It rains all over the state but not here. For this people blame the salt pans which are the second largest in the country after Gujarat. Some say it is because of the sins of the locals. Some say the Gods are angry, while the intellectuals discuss climate change and global warming. One stark fact is staring at us in the face but nobody mentions it -- as if by ignoring the fact it will go away. It is that if the panchayat bore well dries up, we will have to evacuate the village. The rich will go to their city flats and the poor will land up on the city pavements. The very same pavements where people wash, brush their teeth, and bathe with one bucket of water. Celebrated novelist Kazuo Ishiguro, who has just won the 2017 Nobel Prize for Literature, spoke to Arthur J Pais of Rediff.com in 2009, recalling his wonderful association with Sonny Mehta, editor-in-chief of Alfred A Knopf and chairman of the Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, who had just won a special award. IMAGE: Celebrated novelist Kazuo Ishiguro. Photograph: Mike Segar/Reuters. Nominated four times for the Man Booker Prize, Kazuo Ishiguro won a Booker in 1989 for his novel The Remains of the Day, later made into a critically acclaimed film by producer Ismail Merchant and directed by James Ivory. Born in Nagasaki, Japan, the 55 year old has lived in the United Kingdom since he was 5. His recent book Nocturnes: Five Stories of Music and Nightfall has received good praise. His novel Never Let Me Go was featured on Time magazines 2005 list of the 100 greatest books in the English language. He spoke to the late Arthur J Pais from his London home: Sonny Mehta may not remember this, but he once told me a story about following his father-in-law across India during an election campaign. I had the impression it made quite an impact on him, and I think it has been a big influence on his various publishing strategies. He had to accompany his father-in-law (the late Biju Patnaik, chief minister of Indias Orissa state for many years) on muddy paths to remote, difficult to reach places. It was important for his father-in-law to campaign not only in big cities but also in tiny villages. Sonny must have seen then the link between small gestures and the big picture. He felt it was important for writers to go on book tours in small cities as well as big ones, and for publishers and writers to be connected with booksellers and readers at the grassroots level. When Im touring, Ive often had a bookseller, in a city thousands of miles from New York, talk about the time they discovered that the person whod walked into their store to say hello was none other than Sonny Mehta, president of one of the nations great publishing houses. Booksellers are used to reading about publishing heads in trade magazines, but for most part someone of Sonnys calibre doesnt tend to make the effort to personally visit stores in person. I should emphasise that this isnt just good public relations. Sonny has a near-reverential attitude to a certain kind of bookseller of discerning taste, and I suspect he goes to pick up ideas and tips, as much as to establish a personal business link. I have known Sonny for nearly three decades. But long before I met him, when I was a student in 1970s Britain, I was reading the stylish paperbacks hed launched under the Picador logo. These books seemed to be very much for our generation, slightly counter-culturish, books like Michael Herrs Dispatches. The designs were strikingly different from the books of that time, and what was inside felt cutting edge, alternative, quite highbrow. They were very important for my generation: In a way, as important as the music albums of that time. I met him at a party in London shortly after I published my first novel. I was 27 and unknown, but Sonny came up to me and talked to me with great respect and kindness, telling me hed read my novel, how much hed liked it and how he wished his company had published it. I was very touched and encouraged by this. Our professional relationship began with my third novel, The Remains of the Day, which he published in America in 1989, a year after hed joined Knopf. He really threw himself behind that publication. Id won some recognition in Britain by that point, but was still largely unknown in the States. I think Sonny made it something of a personal mission to make the book a success in America. I stayed in his apartment for about a week during the publication, and he and Gita took me out to various places and introduced me to all kinds of people. Since then, whenever Im on a tour of the States, he has insisted I stay with him during the New York stop. I know he regularly has his authors staying with him. In my experience, this is quite unique in a publisher. On one occasion, Knopf put me up in a hotel in Manhattan, a very good hotel. But the stay lasted only a few hours. Sonny found out, turned up in the lobby, and checked me out. After that, I was his guest, and he and Gita looked after me morning till night. I remember him telling me once, with genuine outrage, how when he was out of town, (novelist; Flauberts Parrot, Arthur & George) Julian Barnes had passed through, he had been put up in what Sonny called a businessmans hotel. Im sure this was some utterly luxurious place, but for Sonny, it wasnt right for an author he respected. He has a very special sense of how authors he admires should be treated. During one of my stays, in the middle of an afternoon, he suddenly announced that the two of us were going for a walk. I thought it was going to be a leisurely affair, but instead we marched around Central Park at a frantic pace, not talking. I had real trouble keeping up with him even though I was then a young guy. I discovered later this was part of his fitness regime. He works very, very hard. Hell work late into the night, then get up early to read manuscripts before breakfast. Once I had to get a ridiculously early flight out, and was sneaking around the apartment trying not to wake up Sonny and Gita. When I got to the kitchen -- this was around 5 am -- I found Sonny there, in his night clothes, reading a manuscript at the kitchen table. I gathered this was part of a regular routine. I believe you cant understand what makes Sonny tick without taking into account Gita, who has one of the liveliest intellects Ive ever come across. They spend a lot of their time testing out ideas on each other -- about politics, literature, social trends, movies, anything. Their scope is very international, and when theyre at home, youll hear them arguing, sometimes quite heatedly, with the unselfconsciousness of people thinking aloud to themselves and each other. They know one another very, very well, and Sonny tends to be at his most relaxed when Gita is present. I think she is by far the biggest influence on Sonny, the way he thinks, the way he behaves, what he thinks is important. Sonny is devoted to his writers and worries a lot about them. He might seem distant during a meal, and then hed reveal that hes worried about how a particular writer of his would react to the bad reviews her latest novel was getting. What impact would this have on the book shes currently writing? Would it discourage her from continuing with her career? Quite often, he worries about writers he doesnt even publish. He once confided to me how excited he gets when he overhears people, at a party or in a restaurant, discussing with enthusiasm a Knopf book. A real twinkle came into his eyes even as he was telling me this. He told me hes seized by the urge to interrupt and say: Excuse me, but I just wanted to say, I published that book. And Im so proud and pleased you like it. I got the impression hes never actually done this, but this told me a lot about why Sonny Mehta is in publishing. He has a wry sense of humor, which sometimes stretches to the blackly comic. About ten years he had a serious health problem; he underwent bypass surgery. I spoke to him by phone while he was still in the hospital, and when he related the whole story of his emergency treatment and operation, everything he said was screamingly funny. There was a very darkly funny part about how after surgery a number of patients are led into a room to be lectured about exercising during convalescence. And in the middle of one exercise session, one patient started to have another seizure. Ive heard people talk about him as mysterious, even hidden. But Ive always found hes very open in talking about what makes him happy and what brings him down. He knows how to laugh at himself, and the strange things we all do to keep going. ORLANDO, Fla., Oct. 05, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Representatives of United for Human Rights (UHR), a group supported by the Church of Scientology, shared their materials on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) with the over 700 attendees of the annual Florida Human Trafficking Summit at the Rosen Center Hotel in Orlando. The event was hosted by Attorney General Pam Bondi who discussed solutions to the growing problem of human trafficking in Florida. United for Human Rights United for Human Rights is the world's largest nongovernmental human rights education campaign, active in 192 countries and partnering with 1,500 groups and organizations. Working in tandem with its affiliated, Youth for Human Rights group, and supported by The International Association of Scientologists, its purpose is to raise awareness and implementation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and its 30 articles through its award-winning Story of Human Rights documentary, 30 Rights/PSAs and the What are Human Rights? booklets. The organizations agree with the declaration made by humanitarian L. Ron Hubbard, Human Rights must be made a fact, not an idealistic dream. Pat Harney, Public Affairs Director Phone Number: 727-467-6860 Email: patharney@churchofscientology.net TAMPA, Fla., Oct. 05, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On Saturday the 30th of September, the Florida chapter of the Foundation for a Drug-Free World, a group supported by the Church of Scientology, participated in the Tampa Bay Kids Fest at the Florida State Ground Fair in Tampa. Over 800 Truth About Drugs materials were distributed and 234 signatures were gotten on the drug-free pledge. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/056b7956-e436-4375-8877-07e3f05a478a The Foundation for a Drug-Free World (FDFW) FDFW is a nonprofit public benefit corporation that empowers youth and adults with factual information about drugs so they can make informed decisions to live drug-free. The Foundation for a Drug-Free World partners with civic and nongovernmental organizations including more than 1,200 police departments in the United States. Through its worldwide network of volunteers and partnerships, it has distributed 8 million copies of Truth About Drugs booklets over the past year more than 80 million copies since the booklets were first published in 2006. After extensive social research, author, humanitarian and Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard called drugs the single most destructive element present in our current culture. The Truth About Drugs is one of the worldwide humanitarian programs supported by the Church of Scientology. Pat Harney, Public Affairs Director Phone Number: 727-467-6860 Email: patharney@churchofscientology.net Myanmar / Bangladesh: Rohingya refugees must not be forced home to abuse and discrimination Publisher Amnesty International Publication Date 4 October 2017 Cite as Amnesty International, Myanmar / Bangladesh: Rohingya refugees must not be forced home to abuse and discrimination, 4 October 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/59d5d71b4.html [accessed 15 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. The international community must help ensure that no Rohingya refugees are forced back to Myanmar as long as they remain at risk of serious human rights violations following the army's vicious campaign of ethnic cleansing, Amnesty International said today. The governments of Bangladesh and Myanmar this week announced that they have established a working group to discuss the repatriation of Rohingya refugees. More than 500,000 Rohingya women, men and children fled a military operation in Rakhine State in little more than a month. "While it is positive that Myanmar and Bangladesh are discussing options for the safe return of Rohingya to their homes, this must be a voluntary process and not lead to a hasty and reckless effort to push people back against their will. No one should be forced back to a situation where they will continue to face serious human rights violations and systemic discrimination and segregation," said Audrey Gaughran, Amnesty International's Director of Global Issues. "The Myanmar military's horrific campaign against the Rohingya in Rakhine State amounts to crimes against humanity. The very first condition that must be met before any repatriation plan becomes reality is an unconditional end to the violence. But this is not enough - the Myanmar government must also end the entrenched discrimination that has trapped Rohingya in a cycle of deprivation and abuse for decades." On 2 October in Dhaka, Bangladesh's Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali said Myanmar had "shown interest" in taking Rohingya refugees back after a meeting between officials from both countries. Details of the proposal have yet to be made public, and it is unclear if it only covers the recent waves of refugees or those who have lived in Bangladesh for decades. In the 1990s and early 2000s, tens of thousands of Rohingya refugees were returned from Bangladesh to Myanmar in a large-scale repatriation operation, with the assistance of the UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR. Those returned have continued to face systematic state-sponsored discrimination and waves of violence in Rakhine state. At the time, rights groups, including Amnesty International, raised serious concerns about people being forced back against their will with minimal consultation, and of international agencies - including the UN - being side-lined during the process. The forcible return of refugees violates the principle on non-refoulement, an absolute prohibition in international and customary law on returning people to a territory where they could face a risk to their lives or other serious human rights violations. In order for any return process to be truly voluntary, Rohingya must also be provided with alternatives to return, including the option to seek international protection. "Rohingya refugees must be allowed to go back to their homes voluntarily and in safety and dignity. The Myanmar government must make every effort to rebuild communities and villages destroyed by fighting, and to end the entrenched discrimination and segregation of the Rohingya which lies at the heart of this crisis," said Audrey Gaughran. The Myanmar authorities had earlier indicated that any returning refugees would need to be "verified", and may be required to provide evidence of citizenship or residence in Myanmar. "The Myanmar authorities have for years denied the Rohingya citizenship and deprived them of other ways of proving their identities. It is unreasonable to expect people running for their lives to ensure they have the necessary documents as part of a 'verification' process," said Audrey Gaughran. "There is also a real need for international and UN oversight of any repatriation process. Bangladesh has shown exceptional generosity by opening its borders and hosting hundreds of thousands fleeing in desperation over the past month. The international community must step up to help Dhaka deal with the current crisis and its aftermath." In recent weeks, Bangladeshi officials have also spoken publicly about a need to establish "safe zones" inside Myanmar. Such "safe zones", however, have a chequered history when established in other conflicts. For example, both in Bosnia-Herzegovina in 1993 and in Sri Lanka in 2009, "safe zones" failed to prevent mass killings and other human rights abuses against people on the run. "Calls for safe zones, however well intentioned, should be treated with extreme caution. Past experience shows that such areas can not only facilitate violations against those displaced, but could also prevent people from fleeing to safety. In Rakhine state such areas could also further entrench the isolation and segregation of the Rohingya community," said Audrey Gaughran. Also concerning is an announcement in early September by the Myanmar authorities that they will establish displacement camps and settlement zones in northern Rakhine state. Displacement camps established in Myanmar for mainly Rohingya people after waves of violence in 2012 have been little more than open-air prisons where women, men and children live in deplorable conditions, with the government restricting the access of aid agencies. They have cemented the isolation of tens of thousands of Rohingya people from the outside world. "The international community must send a clear message that it will not allow a repeat of 2012. Donors must establish red lines and make clear that they will not fund any proposed 'solutions' leading to forced returns from Bangladesh, or the displacement and continued segregation of the Rohingya. Failure to do so would not only support the continuation of human rights violations, it would make the international community complicit in them," said Audrey Gaughran. Copyright notice: Copyright Amnesty International 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. Disease fears grow as Bangladesh plans giant Rohingya refugee camp Publisher IRIN Author Mushfique Wadud Publication Date 4 October 2017 Cite as IRIN, Disease fears grow as Bangladesh plans giant Rohingya refugee camp, 4 October 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/59d5e1134.html [accessed 15 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. The temperatures soared and the sun seared as Shamsul Islam pieced together a few branches of bamboo and a tarpaulin sheet. Days earlier, the 50-year-old father of five had fled through waterlogged hills from his home in Myanmar to reach the safety of southern Bangladesh. More than 507,000 Rohingya refugees have pushed into Bangladesh over the last six weeks, fleeing a Myanmar military crackdown that followed a Rohingya armed group's attacks on border posts in northern Rakhine State. With refugees overflowing existing camps, newcomers have been forced to seek shelter wherever they can find the space. For Shamsul and his five children, this meant sleeping on a roadside when he arrived in Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar in late September. Now, the Bangladeshi government is pushing forward with plans to build a massive camp it says will host the majority of the new Rohingya refugees. Newer arrivals like Shamsul and his family are being directed toward a 2,000-acre tract of land that stretches from one longstanding refugee camp to another - several kilometres apart. It's where Shamsul is setting up his new home, propped near a muddy slope and crammed beside similarly stopgap tents. "The humidity is high and staying in the sun is difficult," Shamsul told IRIN as he struggled to erect his family's new home in a muddy field. But the priority is a roof over his children's heads - to shield against the heat, but also the monsoon rains that have lashed the area. Building a latrine is the next step. "This is the biggest challenge now," he said. The challenge for the Bangladeshi government is bigger: constructing the equivalent of a small city from scratch in the middle of a humanitarian emergency. Wrangles over coordination in the critical emergency phase can only distract from the efficacy of operations, and Bangladesh has selected the UN's migration agency, IOM, to coordinate international response, not the UN's refugee agency, UNHCR. The unusual arrangement has ruffled feathers in the UN hierarchy and triggered concerns among donors, aid workers say. Bangladesh is however not a signatory to the refugee convention. Observers told IRIN the move may further weaken respect for refugee rights at a time when they are under pressure internationally. 'Not yet suitable for mass habitation' Families like Shamsul have already moved in, building homes on rain-soaked fields and slippery hillsides. During a recent IRIN visit to the area, large parts of the camp were muddy and difficult to navigate after a heavy rainfall. Children bathed in dirty water in nearby ponds, while human faeces speckled the ground. Missing is the vital infrastructure to support a vulnerable and swelling refugee population: water, toilets, or even the access roads that would help build them. This has raised concerns that overcrowding could trigger outbreaks of disease, from measles and diphtheria to dysentery and cholera, which is endemic in Bangladesh. In a 28 September analysis of the public health situation in all camps in Cox's Bazar, the World Health Organization warned that it is "very highly likely" that small clusters of cholera could emerge, while the risk of a large outbreak is "high". "Newly created spontaneous sites are not yet suitable for mass habitation," the analysis stated. UNICEF says a sweeping cholera vaccination campaign for children will soon begin - the group says 900,000 doses of an oral vaccine will arrive in Bangladesh by the weekend. Aid groups say there's not enough solid information about the extent of "acute watery diarrhoea", which can include cholera, among new Rohingya refugees. But there is "an increasing trend of diarrhoeal disease cases", according to UNHCR. "Cholera is endemic in Bangladesh and can easily spread any time hundreds of thousands of people live in close proximity without proper sanitation," spokesman Andrej Mahecic said in a statement. Floods, landslides and elephants The government has promised to build toilets and tube wells throughout the new camp, enlisting the help of UN agencies and others to plan for 14,000 shelters and other vital infrastructure. On IRIN's recent visit, several tube wells had been built in the new camp area, while soldiers laid bricks for pathways into the settlement. But it could take two months to muster emergency shelter, water, and sanitation coverage in Cox's Bazar's sprawling refugee sites, according to the WHO analysis, and Rohingya continue to push into Bangladesh on a daily basis - weeks after the influx began. And it's unclear how much of the new camp's 2,000 acres will ever be livable. The WHO estimates 70 percent of the land, set amid low-lying canals and sloping hills, may be unusable, which could entrench overcrowding if the majority of new refugees are clumped together on the 30 percent that is habitable. Local Bangladeshis say the land is prone to floods and landslides - and wild elephants. Safayet Hossain, a fire services official in Cox's Bazar, told IRIN that the makeshift tent cities sprouting up on hillsides could trigger landslides. Main Uddin, a local government official who coordinates aid distributions in Ukhia sub-district, where the new camp is located, acknowledged concerns about the land, but stressed that authorities would try to make it livable. "Our target now is to take all refugees to the new camp area so that refugees do not stay on the streets," he said. 'The fearful life' While there is an air of permanence to plans for the new camp - reinforced by longstanding refugee settlements that have remained in Cox's Bazar since the 1990s - officials in Bangladesh are stressing that the site will be temporary. They have again raised the possibility of sending Rohingya refugees to a remote, barren island. Officials have also said refugees would be barred from leaving the planned new camp, and suggested the settlement could be fenced in with barbed wire. Rihttp://swiged076.unhcr.local/cgi-bin/texis.exe/refworld/rwcmsghts groups say this would amount to creating a "locked detention camp". "It's quite clear that it will be some time before the aid being provided to these refugees is sufficient to take care of their daily food and other basic needs," said Phil Robertson of Human Rights Watch. "So these refugees need to be able to take care of themselves in some way, which they can only do if they are able to move around as needed." During IRIN's visit in late September, Rohingya refugees were free to leave the new camp area, but a series of checkpoints had been set up to block refugees from leaving the sub-district. But these are more distant concerns for recently arrived refugees. Din Mohammad, 35, told IRIN he fled Myanmar carrying his elderly father on his back in a bamboo basket. His new home is muddy, but safe. "We should not complain. We are better now," he said. "It is a much better life than the fearful life back in Myanmar." BETHESDA, Md., Oct. 05, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bayshore Networks, a leading provider of cyber protection for the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), today announced its designation as an Emerging Vendor in this years 2017 CRN Emerging Vendors List. A new breed of vendors are emerging in the networking and Internet of Things market, who are building their practices around keeping up with networking, analytics and security challenges and opportunities as more devices come online, stated CRN. To read the full CRN article click here. Bayshore is honored to be included as a CRN 2017 Emerging Vendor, said Kevin Senator, Bayshores VP of Worldwide Sales. In the wake of 2017s many cyberattacks, customers now recognize the importance of protecting industrial infrastructure from cyber threats. Bayshore relies on an extensive team of ICS savvy go-to-market partners to deliver end to end solutions tailored to specific verticals and use cases. To learn more about Bayshore partnerships, and to apply to join the Bayshore Partner Program, see https://www.bayshorenetworks.com/partners/. About Bayshore Networks, Inc. Bayshore Networks is the leading provider of cyber protection for the Industrial Internet of Things. The Companys award-winning technology unlocks the power of the Industrial Internet by providing enterprises with unprecedented control and visibility into their Operational Technology infrastructure while safely and securely protecting industrial applications, networks, machines, and workers. Bayshores strategic partners include AT&T, BAE Systems, Cisco Systems, Dell, SAP, VMware, and Yokogawa Electric. Bayshore is a privately held company headquartered in Washington, DC and backed by Trident Capital Cybersecurity, Yokogawa, Samsung Next, and GGV Capital. For more information, visit www.BayshoreNetworks.com. Contact: PR@Bayshorenetworks.com Uzbekistan: 2 Activists Freed, Others Arrested Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 4 October 2017 Cite as Human Rights Watch, Uzbekistan: 2 Activists Freed, Others Arrested, 4 October 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/59d5e3514.html [accessed 15 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. Uzbekistan freed a human rights defender and a journalist, both long jailed unjustly, in recent days, Human Rights Watch said today. But the government detained and charged another journalist and an author on September 27, 2017. Azam Farmonov, a human rights defender, tortured and unjustly jailed since 2006, was freed on October 3, and Solijon Abdurakhmanov, an independent journalist unlawfully in prison since 2008, was freed on October 4. Prison authorities had also improperly charged Farmonov with "violations of prison rules," extending his sentence by five years. Both were granted early release on the orders of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the families said. "The release of Azam Farmonov and Solijon Abdurakhmanov after long years of abuse was positive news, but there should be no revolving door for political arrests," said Steve Swerdlow, Central Asia researcher at Human Rights Watch. "President Mirziyoyev should see to it that all political prisoners are released and that all of Uzbekistan's citizens are guaranteed the fundamental right to peacefully express critical opinions." On September 27, Uzbek security services detained Bobomurod Abdullaev, an independent journalist, in Tashkent, on what appears to be a politically motivated charge. He was charged with "attempts to overthrow the constitutional regime" under Article 159 of Uzbekistan's Criminal Code, and faces up to 20 years in prison. He remains in custody. Police also detained Nurullo Muhummad Raufkhon, an Uzbek author, at Tashkent airport on September 27, after he had arrived from Turkey. He was charged with extremism for a work of literature that criticizes Uzbekistan's former authoritarian president Islam Karimov. He was released on October 1, but still faces charges. Uzbek authorities should drop politically motivated charges that stem from the exercise of basic human rights and release all those imprisoned as a result of such charges, Human Rights Watch said. Mirziyoyev should also send an unambiguous message to all law enforcement that no one in Uzbekistan will be punished for the peaceful exercise of free speech. Farmonov and Abdurakhmanov are the sixth and seventh political prisoners released since Mirziyoyev became acting president in September 2016, following Karimov's death in August 2016. Since formally assuming office in December, Mirziyoyev has taken some steps to improve the country's abysmal human rights record, such as relaxing some restrictions on free expression, removing citizens from the security services' notorious "black list," and increasing the accountability of government institutions. But Uzbekistan's government remains authoritarian and has yet to transform these modest steps into institutional change and sustainable improvements. Mirziyoyev should direct the relevant authorities to effectively investigate allegations that Farmonov suffered torture in prison, and that both he and Abdurakhmanov were convicted following proceedings that violated basic fair trial standards, Human Rights Watch said. The Uzbek government should also immediately and unconditionally release all other peaceful activists, including Abdullaev, and drop the charges against Raufkhon. "The Uzbek government should do everything it can to ensure that the prison officials and police who violated Farmonov and Abdurakhmanov's rights are held accountable," Swerdlow said. "But the continued arrests of critical journalists and writers casts a pall over what would otherwise be a sign of hope." Azam Farmonov Farmonov, 38, a father of two children, was chairman of the Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan in Gulistan, Syrdaryo region. He defended the rights of farmers and people with disabilities, including representing them in court as a lay defender. He was arrested on April 29, 2006, alongside another rights activist, Alisher Karamatov, on fabricated charges of extortion, and sentenced to nine years after being tortured to confess and a trial marred by serious due process violations. Farmonov's sentence was to expire on April 29, 2015. But on April 6, authorities transferred him from the Jaslyk prison colony in Nukus, more than 800 kilometers from Tashkent, to a punishment cell in the city of Nukus for unspecified "violations of prison rules" - a practice Uzbek authorities have typically used before extending the sentences of those imprisoned on politically motivated charges. On May 21, 2015, Farmonov's wife, Ozoda Yakubova - the daughter of prominent human rights defender Tolib Yakubov, now in France - received a phone call from a former detainee in the Nukus pretrial detention center informing her that a regional court had extended Farmonov's sentence by five years for allegedly violating prison rules, and that he had been transferred back to Jaslyk prison. Yakubova was not notified of the trial dates for the extension and neither she nor any independent observers were able to attend the trial. Solijon Abdurakhmanov Solijon Abdurakhmanov, 67, father of six children, was an outspoken journalist and rights activist with the Committee for the Protection of Individual Rights. Based in Karakalpakstan, an autonomous republic in northwest Uzbekistan, he reported for the independent news portal Uznews.net, Ozodlik (the Uzbek service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty), Amerika Ovozi (Voice of America), and the Institute for War and Peace Reporting. He covered sensitive issues such as social and economic justice, environmental problems of the Aral Sea, corruption, and the legal status of Karakalpakstan within Uzbekistan. Security service officers arrested Abdurakhmanov on June 7, 2008 on fabricated drug possession charges. During pretrial detention, authorities questioned Abdurakhmanov about his journalistic work and denied him access to his legal team. On October 10, 2008, a court sentenced him to 10 years in prison following a trial that did not meet fair trial standards. After his conviction, both of Abdurakhmanov's defense lawyers - his brother, Bahrom Abdurakhmanov, and Rustam Tyuleganov - were disbarred by the government-controlled bar association following a re-attestation process that violated international norms on the independence of lawyers, and appeared to be in retaliation for their work. Abdurakhmanov served his sentence in Karshi, more than 700 kilometers from his home. As recently as September 7, 2017 Abdurakhmanov's wife told Human Rights Watch that prison authorities had charged Abdurakhmanov with numerous "violations of prison rules" that render him ineligible for amnesty or early release. The alleged violations included "not marching correctly" and "not sweeping up his cell". She also reported that he had a severely aggravated stomach ulcer and suffered other serious medical complications in prison. Abdurakhmanov's family, rights groups, and independent media reported that prison authorities had prevented International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) representatives from meeting him in prison. In fall 2012, prison officials attempted to pass off another prisoner as Abdurakhmanov when ICRC representatives visited the facility, a ruse quickly recognized by observers. Copyright notice: Copyright, Human Rights Watch Mauritania: Prolonged Detention of Opposition Leader Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 5 October 2017 Cite as Human Rights Watch, Mauritania: Prolonged Detention of Opposition Leader, 5 October 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/59d5e47c4.html [accessed 15 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. Mauritanian authorities have detained an opposition leader for two months on vague corruption charges, Human Rights Watch said today. They should free the opposition leader, Mohamed Ould Ghadda, or grant him a prompt and fair trial, if they have sufficient evidence to try him for a recognizable criminal offense. Mauritanian officials arrested Ghadda on August 10, 2017, five days after Mauritanians voted in a referendum to dissolve the country's Senate, of which Ghadda was a member. Ghadda was an outspoken opponent of that vote, which the opposition characterized as a move by President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz to consolidate power and possibly prepare constitutional changes that would permit him to serve beyond his current, second term in office. "The longer Mohamed Ould Ghadda is held without the court clarifying the charges against him, the more this case appears to be about silencing opposition to the president rather than about delivering justice," said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch. A judge is investigating Ghadda on charges of corruption of a state public servant under the 2016 Law to Combat Corruption, article 3, his lawyer, Ahmed Salem Bouhoubeyni, told Human Rights Watch. The Law to Combat Corruption provides a prison sentence from 10 to 20 years for an elected official who offers or accepts a bribe. Ghadda's only appearance in court so far, on August 31, was a preliminary one, at which the judge did not question him on the substance of the case. He has been interrogated about financial support he allegedly received from Mohamed Bouamatou, a Mauritanian pro-opposition businessman and philanthropist. Three weeks after Ghadda's arrest, authorities also summoned and interrogated 12 other senators, four independent journalists, and two union leaders. Many of the questions concerned alleged financing by Bouamatou, said reports in Le Courrier du Nord, Radio France International, and Le 360 Afrique. The courts placed them all under judicial supervision pending possible charges, requiring them to check in weekly with the police and preventing them from leaving the country. As part of the same corruption investigation, a Mauritanian prosecutor on September 1 issued an international arrest warrant for corruption against Bouamatou and one of his business associates, Mohamed Ould Debbagh, who are both currently exiled in Morocco. Ghadda remained in pre-arraignment detention for three weeks before seeing a judge for the first time, Bouhoubeyni told Human Rights Watch. Ghadda had no access to his lawyer for the first 10 days. Mauritania's penal code requires releasing anyone arrested from police custody within 48 hours, and in cases brought under the Law to Combat Corruption, 48 hours renewable for the same period of time up to three times with the prosecutor general's written authorization. The judge at the August 31 hearing decided to move forward with the corruption investigation, Bouhoubeyni told Human Rights Watch. Since then, the judge has not summoned Ghadda again for questioning, in spite of the penal code requirements for a prompt trial when a defendant is held in pretrial detention. On September 16, Human Rights Watch sent a letter to the Mauritanian Minister of Justice Brahim Ould Daddah to raise concerns about Ghadda's detention, but Mauritanian authorities did not to respond to Human Rights Watch inquiries. Early in 2017, Abdel Aziz proposed constitutional amendments that would dissolve the Senate and establish regional councils, along with other symbolic measures. The National Assembly, the lower house of Mauritania's bicameral parliament, approved the amendments. But when the Senate - the upper house - rejected them last March, with Ghadda leading the opposition, Abdel Aziz announced that he would submit the defeated reforms to a national referendum. At the time, Ghadda headed a Senate committee that monitored government contracts. Abdel Aziz defended the initiative, calling the Senate "useless and too costly" and claiming that replacing it with "more local" forms of law-making would improve governance. Much of the political opposition denounced the proposed move as a step toward eliminating presidential term limits in the constitution before the next presidential election in 2019. During the two weeks before the referendum, security forces in the capital Nouakchott, repeatedly used force against peaceful protesters, who gathered in various locations each afternoon to protest holding the referendum, four protesters told Human Rights Watch in separate phone interviews. Ghadda was among those injured when security forces cleared protests on July 27. "The marches were very peaceful," said Ahmed Jedou, a Mauritanian journalist who participated in the protests. "Police responded violently to people simply shouting slogans against the constitutional referendum and governmental corruption." On August 3, in his last speech two days before the referendum, Abdel Aziz accused senators opposed to his proposed reforms of being "traitors" who "take money from businessmen to undermine the institutions of the country." Meanwhile, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) expressed concern about the handling of the demonstrations. "The authorities reportedly did not respond to the majority of requests for authorization for the protests and actively dispersed gatherings," said Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the UN agency. "In several cases, protest leaders were reportedly beaten up and a number of them were arrested." The referendum was approved by 85 percent of those voting, with a participation rate of 53.73 percent of eligible voters, according to official figures. Under Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, ratified by Mauritania in 2004, anyone arrested or detained on a criminal charge shall be brought promptly before a judge, and shall be entitled to trial within a reasonable time, or to release. Article 14 of the Covenant provides that anyone facing a criminal charge is entitled to a hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal without undue delay. The African Commission's Principles and Guidelines on the right to a fair trial and legal assistance in Africa sets similar standards for a fair and speedy trial. "The longer the jailing of Ghadda continues without a judicial process that is fair and transparent, the more his case appears to be part of a power play to blunt opposition to the president," Whitson said. Copyright notice: Copyright, Human Rights Watch Lleida.net attends the Paris event for the first time (October 4-5) Barcelona, October 3, 2017.- Lleida.net, a company specialized in electronic certification and notification, attends the European Large & Midcap Event in Paris, one of the most relevant European events for the entrepreneurs of medium and large-cap companies with the aim of increasing its presence among European and international investors. The company premieres in this forum, which will take place on October 4 and 5. In European Large & Midcap Event investors can interact freely with the managers of companies, promoting networking and the speed of operations. Investors attending the meeting are fund managers, individuals with the potential to create a network of contacts,sponsors and foundations of different industry verticals, all of them expressly invited by the organization of the event. European Large & Midcap Event receives all kinds of companies, but fintech are becoming global player since they are a leading sector with a potential growth. Sisco Sapena, Managing Director of Lleida.net, assures that attending the European Large & Midcap Event "is a great opportunity for companies like ours, as it allows us to approach investors directly and without the mediation of financial entities" He added that such meetings "are a good opportunity to deal with investors who in other environments would be almost inaccessible, with the endorsement of an organization that selects them aimed to encourage meetings that should benefit parties concerned". About Lleida.net Currently the company is listed on the Spanish Alternative Stock Market and is a leading company in the field of electronic notification and electronic contracting. The company created in 1995 has two more business lines, namely SMS solutions as operator and wholesaler and data validation. The telecom operator has signed agreements with more than 1000 companies in more than 150 countries managed from their 16 international headquarters. Its solutions and services are used in enterprises, public administration, and SME's. Press contact: Alba Cano, acano@kreab.com, 93 418 53 87 Cristina Pujolras, cpujolras@kreab.com, 93 418 53 87 Attachments: http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/206fff31-5e7d-44b4-8d52-cd3024919fe5 WASHINGTON U.S. Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy introduced legislation Thursday that would allow victims of gun violence to sue the gun industry. The legislation, which is being called the Equal Access to Justice for Victims of Gun Violence Act, would repeal the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA) passed by Congress in 2005. The PLCAA provides gun manufacturers and sellers with immunity from civil liability lawsuits. Its what caused the dismissal of a lawsuit brought by 10 families of victims wounded or murdered in 2012 by the gunman at Sandy Hook Elementary School. The families argued that Remington, the manufacturer of the AR-15 used by the gunman, was liable for the massacre of 26 first-graders and educators. But the case was dismissed in October 2016 when a judge ruled that Remington is protected by federal law against claims when people misuse firearms. The case has been appealed to the Connecticut Supreme Court. Oral arguments have yet to be scheduled. When 10 Sandy Hook families courageously took the manufacturer and distributor of the AR-15 used in that horrific tragedy to court, the deceptively named Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act was used as a complete barrier to their pursuit of justice, Blumenthal said. Thats because under current law and unlike virtually every other manufacturer of consumer products the gun industry cannot be sued by consumers who are harmed by their products. Murphy took it a step further. Making the gun industry immune from lawsuits effectively handed them a license to kill, Murphy said. Toy manufacturers are held legally responsible if their neglect or irresponsibility hurts people, so why on earth arent gun manufacturers? I challenge my colleagues to put the safety of our constituents ahead of the gun lobbys interests and support this bill. Read more at CTNewsJunkie.com. TORRINGTON A New York man is facing nearly two decades in prison after being arrested in connection with an August 2016 home invasion in Bridgewater in which a homeowner was shot and wounded. Dustin Holst-Grubbe, 21, of Millerton, N.Y., pleaded guilty to the Bridgewater home invasion, first-degree assault, third-degree larceny, and, as part of a separate case out of Waterbury, first-degree criminal trespassing Tuesday in state Superior Court in Torrington. He could receive 25 years in prison, suspended after 18 years, with five years probation when he is sentenced on Dec. 15. Holst-Grubbe was charged in January with home invasion, assault of an elderly person, first-degree assault with a deadly weapon, stealing a firearm, first- and third-degree burglary, second- and third-degree larceny and incident at 606 Main St. South, according to Hearst Connecticut Media reports. One of the two victims sustained a gunshot wound. Holst-Grubbe was charged with engaging police in pursuit, reckless driving, failure to obey traffic control signals and failure to drive on the right in connection with two high-speed police chases in New Milford, according to court records. The vehicle involved in those chases was found at the scene of the Bridgewater home invasion, according to an affidavit. Holst-Grubbe later told police he was driving the vehicle and fled because he had drugs in a stolen car. Holst-Grubbe was suspected of robbing and damaging a Waterbury home in the case that led to the criminal trespassing charge, according to an affidavit. He told a Waterbury man he wanted to get treatment for an addiction to cocaine. The charges in the New Milford case are to be dispensed with as part of sentencing, according to Assistant Clerk Bob Stearns. Reach Ben Lambert at william.lambert@hearstmedia ct.com. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate TORRINGTON - The group came into the center of town, carrying messages of hope and support. Community members showed off signs to the public as they walked through the downtown, ending up at City Hall. The annual Walk Towards Recovery, organized by Prime Time House, the Western CT Mental Health Network and other service providers, was held Wednesday. Torrington resident Beth Howe said she took part in the walk in an effort to help people understand the demands that come with mental health issues. I want to have people understand what we're going through, said Howe. Willow Dealy of Torrington said she wanted people to take away that the community cared about mental health - in addition to service providers, the Torrington police and fire departments participated in the walk - and advocate for continued state support for mental health services. It's really heartening to see people respond, said Dealy. It gives me hope. Attendees then gathered in the City Hall auditorium to share thoughts, essays, poems and songs, speaking of struggle and steps toward recovery. Torrington resident Russell Classey talked of his battle with mental illness and suicidal thoughts and urged people to be kind to others. Persevere if the person is abrasive - they may be struggling with mental illness, he said. We are people too, people with interests, hobbies, loved ones, and stories to tell and we are doing our best to be strong and upright, said Classey. We as individuals decide how our society measures up, and so I challenge each of us to improve by being more considerate and compassionate so that in due time we as a society may achieve a measure of true greatness. Daryl McGraw, director of the Office of Recovery Community Affairs for the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, was the keynote speaker during the event. He spoke about his life, including giving up drugs and alcohol just over 10 years ago and the four years he spent in prison. McGraw siad he was able to change his circumstances, sparked by reading "The Purpose Driven Life" while incarcerated, and said he earned a bachelor's and a master's degree before beginning work for the state. Recovery is a journey, not something that happens all at once, he said. The lived experience he earned prompted the chance to work for the state, and now, hes reached his current position. We do recover, and we do amazing things when we put our minds to it, said McGraw. Mayor Elinor Carbone also issued a proclamation during the event, declaring Oct. 1 through Oct. 7 Mental Illness Awareness Week in the city. Carbone said the annual event had grown markedly in the four years she had been in office, and the support the group showed for one another was remarkable. I hope you feel that love coming right back to you from your community, said Carbone. Reach Ben Lambert at william.lambert@hearstmediact.com. WOODBURY Salt of the Earth Spa in Woodbury will host an informational program on the health, healing and spiritual benefits of Tourmaline Spring Sacred Living Water harvested from a free-flowing ancient geological natural spring in Harrison, Maine. The program will be held Saturday, Oct. 14 at 6 p.m. at New Morning Market at 129 Main Street North in Woodbury. Admission is $15/person and will be given directly to the American Red Cross Hurricane Relief Fund. Natural Health 365, in its January 2017 newsletter, identified Tourmaline as the best bottled water in the United States. The article stated, Tourmaline Spring Water represents a company that is committed to setting a new standard for future generations. They have saved one of the last great springs on Earth, and invested heavily into preserving it for countless generations to come. Seth Leaf Pruzansky, president/visionary founder of Tourmaline, and the program presenter at New Morning Market, explained, Tourmaline Spring is a visionary company that operates on the triple bottom line principles of People, Planet and THEN Profit. From the very beginning our family-owned company has been committed to setting a new standard of integrity that is greatly needed in the bottled water industry. We became a distributor of Tourmaline Spring Water because this Sacred Living Water offers the highest quality and most ethically-bottled water available on Earth, said Susan Martovich, owner of the Salt of the Earth Therapeutic Spa at 787 Main Street South in Woodbury. It is sourced from a rare, high elevation spring and the overflow bubbles directly out of the spring naturally. Gravity literally feeds the water into the bottling facility which is the only-known gravity-fed bottling facility in the world. We offer Tourmaline to all our visitors to our unique therapeutic salt spa where we offer sessions inside our salt cave, plus massages and other body relaxation treatments. The health and healing benefits of Tourmaline Spring Water from a physiological, and more importantly, a spiritual perspective, will be the focus of the October 14 presentation by Seth Leaf Pruzansky. The presentation will provide insights into how the living spring water bubbles up from the pristine purity of the free-flowing spring and the waters molecules cluster together in hexagonal formations making the water naturally imbued with the essence of life itself. Since discovery in the early 1800s, people from across the United States traveled to Harrison, Maine to take the waters of Summit Spring. Tourmaline Spring Water became widely known as the healing tonic that would help people reverse the effects of arthritis, kidney disease, nervous disease and other common ailments. Today the benefits of water are well-known for boosting the bodys immune system, preventing muscle and joint pain, maintaining healthy digestive and circulation health, for healthy bowel function, keeping skin clear and healthy, plus a wealth of additional health benefits that Mr. Pruzansky will discuss during his October 14th presentation. Information on the history, production, and many health benefits of Tourmaline Spring Sacred Living Water, visit the companys website at www.TourmalineSpring.com. To register, visit Salt of the Earth Therapeutic Spa at www.naturalsalthealing.com, call 203-586-1172, or email to sotesanctuary@gmail.com. LOWELL, Ark., Oct. 05, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, Smithfield Foods Helping Hungry Homes initiative, a program focused on alleviating hunger and helping Americans become more food secure, joined forces with Walmart to donate more than 37,000 pounds of protein to the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank. The donation, equivalent to more than 150,000 servings, will help those fighting hunger across Northwest Arkansas, where one in four individuals are food insecure. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/85069dd6-7a78-4a89-9a7e-1eae1857ef29 Were thrilled to welcome Smithfield Foods and the Helping Hungry Homes team for the fourth time this year, said Kent Eikenberry, president and CEO of the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank. With todays donation, weve received more than 550,000 servings of Smithfield protein that allows us to better provide the area we serve with food assistance. Its an unbelievable amount of support that we couldnt appreciate more. Smithfield and Walmart representatives presented the donation to Northwest Arkansas Food Bank this morning at an event that raised awareness of hungers impact in the local community. Members from all three organizations discussed the significance of protein donations in helping the 70,000 individuals who face hunger in Northwest Arkansas. Attendees enjoyed the event with Smithfield fresh pork samples prepared by local restaurant owner, Jordan Poole, of Big Rub BBQ and a special guest appearance from world-champion pitmaster, Darren Warth of Iowas Smokey Ds. Smithfields donation to Northwest Arkansas Food Bank was a part of the Helping Hungry Homes 2017 nationwide donation tour. Throughout the annual tour, Smithfield will provide large-scale protein donations to nearly 60 food banks across the country. This donation adds to the more than 65 million servings of protein donated since 2011. Smithfield is honored to be back in Northwest Arkansas to offer the community our continued support, said Dennis Pittman, senior director of hunger relief for Smithfield Foods. As a global food company, we value our responsibility to respond to those in need of hunger relief with nutritious protein. Our fourth visit to Lowell this year puts us one donation closer to our goal of ending hunger across the country. Following todays event, Helping Hungry Homes will visit Norfolk, VA, Tuesday, Oct. 10. For more information about Helping Hungry Homes and a list of upcoming donation events, visit helpinghungryhomes.com. About Smithfield Foods Smithfield Foods is a $15 billion global food company and the world's largest pork processor and hog producer. In the United States, the company is also the leader in numerous packaged meats categories with popular brands including Smithfield, Eckrich, Nathan's Famous, Farmland, Armour, John Morrell, Cook's, Kretschmar, Gwaltney, Curly's, Margherita, Carando, Healthy Ones, Krakus, Morliny and Berlinki. Smithfield Foods is committed to providing good food in a responsible way and maintains robust animal care, community involvement, employee safety, environmental and food safety and quality programs. For more information, visit www.smithfieldfoods.com. About Northwest Arkansas Food Bank Northwest Arkansas Food Bank was established in 1988 by a group of concerned citizens who saw the need for hunger assistance in Northwest Arkansas. Over the past 28 years, the Food Bank has grown to serve citizens of Benton, Washington, Madison, and Carroll counties, a commitment still strong today. Each year, the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank distributes over 11.5 million pounds of food in Benton, Washington, Madison, and Carroll counties. It is through partnerships with well over 160 member agencies that we are able to reach out to those in need. The Northwest Arkansas Food Bank is an affiliate of Feeding America. About Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE:WMT) helps people around the world save money and live better - anytime and anywhere - in retail stores, online, and through their mobile devices. Each week, over 260 million customers and members visit our 11,723 stores under 59 banners in 28 countries and e-commerce websites in 11 countries. With fiscal year 2017 revenue of $485.9 billion, Walmart employs approximately 2.3 million associates worldwide. Walmart continues to be a leader in sustainability, corporate philanthropy and employment opportunity. Additional information about Walmart can be found by visiting http://corporate.walmart.com on Facebook at http://facebook.com/walmart and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/walmart. Media Contacts: Plantation, FL -- (ReleaseWire) -- 10/05/2017 --Homeowner's insurance is the backbone of one's real estate properties. With housing marketing gaining prominence in the nation, many companies are now providing home insurance. It is important to select the right policy without spending a fortune. When shopping around, one needs to conduct some research. The idea is to keep the premiums and deductibles as low as possible. The concept of owning a property is huge. Apart from the home itself, it includes a whole lot of items, ranging from the wall coverings to the placement of the furniture. A home represents one's family's taste. A homeowner spends a considerable amount of time making it as comfortable as possible for everyone, making it special and unique place. Homeowner insurance in Plantation Florida is critical for individuals looking to protect their homes from the odds. While most of the policies offer protection against loss due to fire and other disasters, not every policy is alike. Some policies have specific limits for certain personal property, which can include artwork, jewelry, electronics, and computer hardware and software. At Knight Insurance, they take the time to discuss the client's needs, explain policy limits and determine what company offers the policy that best suits their individual needs. For additional coverage, they will work with the clients to determine what kind of additional coverage they need to ensure they're adequately insured. They'll also make sure that the clients are not paying for any additional coverage that they simply do not need. As a full-service company, they scour a vast network of reputable carriers to find the best deal for their clients. Over the years, they have earned a great reputation for a quick response and commendable customer service. For more information on different types of insurance in Pembroke Pines Florida, visit http://www.knightinsuranceoffice.com/affordable-insurance-in-pembroke-pines-fl/. About Knight Insurance For nearly a decade, Knight Insurance has been privileged to work with clients throughout Florida, helping people protect them and their family they love and the things that they own. They've worked throughout their community to provide businesses with the comprehensive coverage they need to operate unencumbered. Houston, TX -- (ReleaseWire) -- 10/05/2017 --For the smart and smooth functioning of business, it is mandatory that there should be proper copy machines inside the organization. It is highly essential in saving one's money, and resource and most importantly save one from standing in the long queue in front of the printing shop. Considering the importance of this device in commercial space, many businesses require this equipment. While keeping the right kind of machine is essential, it is also necessary to find a good copier service for when a business is invariably in need of repair or new copier accessories. The reason this device has become so popular is that it can print or make copying so much easier. It is no surprise then when a copier does finally stop working and is beyond the repair work. Hence, when it comes to buying a new copier or seeking professionals for copier repair in Houston Texas, Office Systems of Texas is the right place.. Be it a small company or a large enterprise; no internal work can be properly executed without color copiers and office machines. From printing invoices to copying important documents, these machines are typically used for such obvious causes. This is why one should consider Office Systems of Texas, a recognized authorized Epson reseller. Buying the right office equipment or seeking a reliable copier service can now save one lot of time and money while relieving frustration. Any copier owner knows that the best quality copiers are branded with a solid performance history. These copy machine manufacturers do not allow unauthorized dealers to sell their products. Some examples of these companies include the Konica Minolta and Samsung. With years of experience and expertise, the expert repair technicians can easily repair and service the device without too much of a hassle. For more information on copy machines in Houston Texas, visit https://www.osot.com/. About Office Systems of Texas Office Systems of Texas is Houston's only authorized Epson reseller, and for the past 39 years, they have been focused on copy, fax, printing, scanning, wide format, and all other document solutions for their clients. Houston, TX -- (ReleaseWire) -- 10/05/2017 --The utility of digital copiers and office solutions equipment is immense when it comes to forming an internal foundation for communication which is essential for any business, irrespective of its size and volume. For successful and smooth business operation, it is important to have right copy machines in Houston TX. The device is uniquely designed to perform several functions saving one's time and resources. It is particularly used for many purposes including printing, copying, faxing, and scanning of documents and pictures. With proper use, this device can significantly save one great deal of time and money that could be invested otherwise. Considering the usage in the business sector, quality printer service is highly required to keep the device in working condition. It involves a certain level of service and routine maintenance that can only be achieved by expert professionals. With years of expertise and experience, they can successfully execute the task within stipulated time. As expert professionals, they can easily repair and service the copier with care and fewer hassles. As a recognized authorized Epson reseller, Office Systems of Texas has been rendering service to both small and large business for the past 39 years. Over the years, they have been successfully providing a broad range of copier solutions including copy, fax, printing, scanning, wide format, and all other document solutions. To keep up with the changing world of technology, they have always strived to keep themselves updated with the latest advances in technology. As a full-service company, they are dedicated to their customers bringing in a wide range of innovative devices. The company enjoys the expertise and experience of its knowledgeable technicians and engineers who can provide superior solutions on copier repair in Houston TX to accomplish any business requirements irrespective of its size and volume. For more information on copier repair or service, 281-443-2996. About Office Systems of Texas Office Systems of Texas is Houston's only authorized Epson reseller, and for the past 39 years, they have been focused on copy, fax, printing, scanning, wide format, and all other document solutions for their clients. Denver, CO -- (ReleaseWire) -- 10/05/2017 --Advocacy group, A Just Cause, announces this Thursday's, October 5, 2017 segment of AJC Radio's, "Spotlight on Capitol Hill" will shine the spotlight on Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) (http://www.AJCRadio.com, 8-10 PM ET). "Spotlight on Capitol Hill continues to bring our listening audience information about the excellent work being done by members of both the House and the Senate. The support and excitement about the show on Capitol Hill is encouraging," says Lamont Banks, AJC Radio Host. Our trips to Washington D.C. have proven to be more successful than we could have hoped for, and well worth it. We've made a lot of progress. Please join us this week as we highlight Senator Mike Lee, a champion in the Senate," add Banks. In 2015, Senator Lee along with colleagues had a bipartisan meeting at the White House with President Obama addressing over-criminalization, over-incarceration, and over-sentencing in America. Senator Lee is passionate about improving our economy, national security, religious freedom, crime, and education. "Throughout his career, Lee earned a reputation as an outstanding practitioner of the law based on his sound judgment, abilities in the courtroom, and thorough understanding of the Constitution." (https://www.lee.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/about-mike) Amid the mass shootings that have escalated in America and around the world, there is a very controversial bill introduced by Senator Lee that has raised more than a few concerns: The Silencers Helping Us Save Hearing Act of 2017. This bill would ensure the elimination of all federal regulations of suppressors. However, after the horrific scene that played out in Las Vegas on October 2, 2017, our elected officials will not be voting on the bill any time soon. Hilary Clinton tweeted: "The crowd fled at the sound of gunshots. Imagine the deaths if the shooter had a silencer, which the NRA wants to make easier to get." She makes a very persuasive point which happens to be an indisputable fact. How many more people would have been injured or lost their lives, had it not been for the fact, they heard the gun fire and ran to safety? "As always, Spotlight on Capital Hills brings a unique perspective to discuss these very important issues, and illustrate what the American people are most concerned about," says Banks. "Elected in 2010 as Utah's 16th Senator, Mike Lee has spent his career defending the basic liberties of Americans and Utahans as a tireless advocate for our founding constitutional principles."... "Lee graduated from Brigham Young University with a Bachelor of Science in Political Science... Lee spent several years as an attorney with the law firm Sidley & Austin specializing in appellate and Supreme Court litigation, and then served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in Salt Lake City arguing cases before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. (https://www.lee.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/about-mike) In the 114th Congress, Senator Lee began his tenure as Chairman of the Senate Steering Committee. He is a member of the Judiciary Committee, and serves as Chairman of the Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights Subcommittee. He also oversees issues critical to Utah as the Chairman of the Water and Power Subcommittee of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and he also serves on the Commerce Committee and the Joint Economic Committee, as well. "Today, Lee fights to preserve America's proud founding document in the United States Senate. He advocates efforts to support constitutionally limited government, fiscal responsibility, individual liberty, and economic prosperity." ... "Lee and his wife Sharon live in Alpine, Utah, with their three children. He is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served a two-year mission for the Church in the Texas Rio Grande Valley." (https://www.lee.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/about-mike) Join AJC hosts as they highlight the accomplishments of Senator Mike Lee on this week's show. Call into the live show at (646-200-0628). AJC Radio hosts welcome your questions and comments. We've highlighted and interviewed both Democrats and Republicans alike, in the House and in the Senate, on our show to include: Congressman John Conyers, Jr., (D MI), Senator John McCain (R IA), Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D CA), Senator Chuck Grassley (R IA), Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (D NY), Congressman Trey Gowdy (R SC), Congresswoman Robin Kelly (D IL), Senator Bernie Sanders (I VT), and many more. Please go to the AJC Radio archives to listen to the many other members of Congress previously highlighted on our show as well. Follow us on Twitter @AJCRadio. AJC Radio, "Spotlight on Capitol Hill" segments air Thursdays, 8-10 PM ET. NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OAKVILLE, Ontario, Oct. 05, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Saint Jean Carbon Inc. (Saint Jean or the Company) (TSX-V:SJL) (OTCQB:TORVF) is pleased to announce that is has closed the private placement announced on September 26, 2017 (the Offering). The Offering was oversubscribed by $20,000, which resulted in the Company raising an aggregate of $520,000. 10,400,000 units (Common Units) were issued at a price of $0.05 per Common Unit. Each Common Unit consists of one (1) common share in the capital of the Company and one (1) common share purchase warrant (each a Warrant). Each Warrant entitles the holder to acquire one (1) additional common share in the capital of the Company (each a Warrant Share) at an exercise price of $0.055 per Warrant Share for a period of 24 months from the date of issuance. In connection with the closing of the Offering, the Company paid an aggregate cash fee in the amount of $29,400 to arms length finders. The Company intends to use the proceeds of the Offering to fund the continued development of the Companys business and for general corporate and administrative purposes. About Saint Jean Carbon Saint Jean is a publicly traded carbon science company, with specific interests in energy storage and green energy creation and green re-creation, with holdings in graphite mining and lithium claims in the province of Quebec in Canada. For the latest information on Saint Jeans properties and news please refer to the website: http://www.saintjeancarbon.com/ On behalf of the Board of Directors Saint Jean Carbon Inc. Paul Ogilvie, CEO and Director Information Contact: Email: info@saintjeancarbon.com Tel: (905) 844-1200 Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS: This news release contains forward-looking statements, within the meaning of applicable securities legislation, concerning Saint Jeans business and affairs. In certain cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as plans, expects or does not expect, intends budget, scheduled, estimates, forecasts, intends, anticipates or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, might or will be taken, occur or be achieved. Such forward-looking statements include those with respect to the Companys use the proceeds of the Offering as working capital to fund the continued development of the Companys business. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, and are naturally subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances that may cause actual results to differ materially. The forward-looking statements in this news release assume, inter alia, that the conditions for completion of the Offering, including regulatory approval will be met. Although Saint Jean believes that the expectations represented in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that these expectations will prove to be correct. There are risks which could affect Saint Jeans ability to complete the Offering, the impact of general global economic conditions and the risk that they will deteriorate, industry conditions, that required consents and approvals from regulatory authorities will not be obtained. Statements of past performance should not be construed as an indication of future performance. Forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties, should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether or not such results will be achieved. A number of factors, including those discussed above, could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Any such forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. All of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking information is provided as of the date of this press release, and Saint Jean assumes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, except as may be required under applicable securities laws. Thailand has sent home to Cambodia the bodies of over 500 migrant workers killed in accidents and in fights from 2014 to 2017, a Cambodian government official says. Speaking to RFAs Khmer Service, Chou Bun EngSecretary of State with Cambodias Interior Ministry and vice chair of the National Committee to Combat Human Traffickingsaid that many had been killed while crossing illegally into Thailand in search of work. Some were killed by land mines or died in road accidents after being chased by Thai border authorities, while others were killed on the job, some by falling from buildings or by electrocution or by drowning when their fishing boats sank. Others died in fights with coworkers, including Thais and migrants from Myanmar, Chou Bun Eng said. Of these 500 deceased workers, 110 bodies17 of whom were womenwere repatriated during the first half of 2017 alone, she said. Over a million Cambodians are now estimated to be working in Thailand, Cambodian Minister of Labor and Vocational Training Ith Sam Heng said in a July 20 statement, adding that of this number 300,000 are believed to be working in the country illegally. On June 23, Thailand enacted a royal decree imposing jail terms of up to five years and a fine of up to 100,000 baht (U.S. $2,941) on illegal workers in the country. The decree was suspended following backlash from employers and migrant advocates, but thousands of Cambodians had already fled the country, fearing arrest and deportation. Thailand has been widely criticized by rights groups for its treatment of migrant workers, who are often exploited by unscrupulous employers and labor brokers. Thailand is a source, destination, and transit country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking, the U.S. State Department said in its 2017 Trafficking in Persons Report. Reported and translated by Nareth Muong for RFAs Khmer Service. Written in English by Richard Finney. Cambodian garment workers will get an 11 percent hike in the minimum wage to U.S. $170 a month be next year, the country's Ministry of Labor, Vocation and Training announced on Thursday. Of the $170, $165 is to be paid by employers and $5 by the government, with the new wage taking effect as early as 2018, the ministry said. The move comes about 10 months before July 2018 general elections, and follows an agreement in September 2016 to boost the minimum wage for the crucial sector of Cambodias economy to $153 per month from $140. Pav Sina, president of the Collective Union of Movement of Workers, told RFA's Khmer Service on Thursday that the raise was welcome but not enough. $170 is not enough for a decent living yet. However, it is a good start for this year to increase the minimum wage to this level plus other benefits offered to workers which are paid by employers," he said. "I think more work still needs to be done on improving working conditions at factories," added Pav Sina. In 2012, a union campaign to double the then-minimum wage of $80 resulted in clashes with police and a crackdown on public protests. In early 2014, at least four people were killed and more than 20 injured when police in the outskirts of Phnom Penh opened fire to break up a protest by striking garment workers. With past violence and next year's elections in mind, analysts say Prime Minister Hun Sen has been trying to improve his image with the opposition-friendly labor sector. The country's long-ruling strongman Hun Sen has met with workers twice weekly in Phnom Penh recently and says he plans to meet them at every factory across the country. Hun Sen, who had not reached out to workers during his 32 years in power, had been telling workers he's met this year he would increase the minimum wage to at least $168 by early 2018. Wages in Cambodia remain low by international standards, largely because of pressures to compete with other low-cost production centers such as Bangladesh and Vietnam. In 2015, the Southeast Asian country shipped nearly $7 billion worth of products to the United States and Europe. About 700,000 people work in the more than 700 garment and shoe factories located in Cambodia. Reported and translated by Nareth Muong for RFAs Khmer Service. Written in English by Paul Eckert. Chat group moderator Zhang Guanghong, who appears here in an undated photo, was detained by Chinas cybersecurity police in connection with posts made to groups on the popular social media platform WeChat. Authorities in the southern province of Guangdong have detained a man who ran a number of social media chat groups, in a nationwide crackdown on free speech ahead of a five-yearly congress of the ruling Chinese Communist Party. A team of cybersecurity police visited the home of Zhang Guanghong in Yuexiu district of Guangdong's provincial capital Guangzhou on Wednesday even in connection with posts made to groups on the popular social media platform WeChat. "He was detained recently because of what had been posted," a friend of Zhang's told RFA. "There is huge political pressure at the moment because of the 19th Party Congress, and many people are worried about being arrested, so we daren't speak out," the friend said, declining to comment further. State security police and local officers from the Meihua Street police station searched Zhang's home, seizing four cell phones and a server. He was held for 24 hours before being released, but repeated calls to his mobile phone rang unanswered on Thursday. An officer who answered the phone at the Meihua Street police station declined to comment when contacted by RFA on Thursday. "I don't know [where he is]," the officer said. A friend of Zhang's surnamed Lin said he hasn't been in touch since. "He told us online that the police had come looking for him, and since then he hasn't posted again," Lin said. "They burst in on him while he was having dinner at a friend's house, and confiscated the friend's phone to stop them from posting about [Zhang's] detention." "I'm guessing that they have taken his cell phone away, and he can't send out any messages," he said. Rights lawyer Yu Wensheng said the detention is linked to a massive nationwide clampdown in the run-up to the party congress. "This definitely has to do with stability maintenance measures for the 19th Party Congress," Yu said. "As far as they are concerned, the law is a blank slate ... they don't abide by the law, but that's all I have to fight with." "There is very little we can do right now ... to protect people's rights," he said. Scaling the Great Firewall Guangzhou cybersecurity police also questioned a human rights activist after she bought a router enabling her to scale the "Great Firewall" of government internet censorship. Zhang Weichu said several police officers came to her home on Wednesday morning after she bought the router, and telling her she had violated the country's cybersecurity law. "Three plainclothes and one uniformed officer knocked on my door ... and asked if this was the apartment where there was a router for circumventing the Great Firewall," Zhang told RFA. "They said circumvention routers were illegal, and that they were going to confiscate it," she said. Zhang said she had insisted that they produce some form of official documentation, such as a receipt, before they could take it. "So they said they were issuing a verbal summons, to which I replied that I wanted to see it in writing," she said. "They even threatened me, saying it was against the cybersecurity law, but they couldn't tell me which article." She said the police had identified themselves as coming from the cybersecurity team of the Guangzhou police department. Zhang had bought a KF router licensed for sale in China to companies and organizations needing to do business online with clients and customers overseas. Online sales copy for the router said it offers an uncensored internet connection via more than 100 servers located outside China, claiming to be cheaper and more reliable that a virtual private network (VPN). "KFRouter allows to use Google, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, INS and so on as old days in your country," the sales pitch says, in a reference to overseas social media sites currently blocked by the ruling Chinese Communist Party. Zhang's sister Zhang Wuzhou said she had only used the router once before police came knocking. "It's unbelievable that if an ordinary person goes on Google once, they get questioned by police," she said. "These are websites that the whole world can access." Reported by Yang Fan and Qiao Long for RFA's Mandarin Service, and by Wong Lok-to for the Cantonese Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie. North Korean workers forced from China by canceled labor contracts are wearing bright smiles and colorful clothes in an apparent show of defiance as tightened U.N. sanctions take hold against Pyongyang, sources on the border say. Chinas implementation of new sanctions punishing North Korea for its nuclear and missile programs is now literally expelling North Korean workers, a resident of Chinas border city of Dandong told RFAs Korean Service on Wednesday. It is unbelievable that they would be going home in bright outfits with these smiles on their faces, RFAs source said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Returning workers never looked like this in the past, so its easy to think theyve been told to do this in advance, the source said, adding that he often sees North Korean workers passing through Chinese maritime customs on their way home. Most of the returning workers are young women, about 20 years old. They have ponytails, so we assume that theyre unmarried, he said. North Korean workers first arriving in China dont wear portrait badges of former national leaders Kim Il Sung or Kim Jong Il, RFAs source said. But now, on their way home, they wear huge badges of the two Kims as if they are officials belonging to North Korean organizations. North Korean workers going home will be happy to see their families, a second source in Dandong told RFA. But this doesnt explain their bright looks and colorful outfits, he said. Since North Korean media keep saying that the country is strong in spite of U.S. pressure exerted through sanctions, it can be speculated that the appearance of the returning workers is being directed by the North Korean regime, he said. North Korea has exported workers to China, Russia, and countries farther afield for years, but requires them to remit most of their earnings to the North Korean government, which is believed to use the cash to fund its illicit weapons programs. Reported by Joonho Kim for RFAs Korean Service. Translated by Leejin Jun. Written in English by Richard Finney. San Francisco, CA, Oct. 05, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Deem, a leading mobile and cloud technology provider for the business travel industry, appointed John McCracken as board member today. McCracken has led companies to sales and marketing success in the IT healthcare, software and ecommerce industries at leading companies resulting in IPOs and several significant exits. We are very encouraged by John joining us as our newest board member, said Krish Panu, Chairman, Deem. He has a wealth of experience in the technology and innovation sectors and we know hell bring that expertise to our business. He is well respected in the industry and a great addition to the team. McCracken was recently responsible for commercial activities as Chief Revenue Officer for Castlight Health, including marketing and sales. Prior to Castlight, he led the worldwide sales team for Jive Software, where he helped drive Jives growth through its IPO in 2011. Prior to that, McCracken held leadership positions at Mercury Interactive Corporation which was sold to HP for $4.5B, CheckFree Corporation, and American Express. John is known as an exceptional and high integrity individual, said Panu. He is versed in many markets and will boost our success going forward. We look forward to working with him as we tackle the challenge of providing business travel solutions to the entire corporate travel ecosystem. Im excited to join the Deem team and think the timing couldnt be better, said McCracken. The corporate travel industry is asking for disruption and we have the technology, the people and the solutions to give the industry exactly what it wants. We have the partnerships with leading travel management companies, content providers and over 35,000 corporate customers, the technology for solving the industry's attach issues and the innovations, like our Facebook Messenger chatbot assistant, that will change the way travelers, travel managers, travel management companies and suppliers do business, said Panu. With Johns help well improve on these efforts faster and with even greater success. McCracken was one of a few select executives awarded the Don Valentine Sales Excellence Award from Don Valentine, the founder of Sequoia Capital. McCracken has extensive experience with early stage global technology companies. McCracken received a BBA in marketing and marketing/finance from The University of Texas at Austin. About DEEM www.workfource.deem.com The most difficult part of any business trip is too often the trip itself. It shouldnt be. Deem makes it painless for the traveler to get down to business without distraction, simpler for the travel manager and management company to keep track of all the moving parts, and easier for partners to get the information they need to stay competitive. The Deem Work Fource platform is designed for the entire business travel ecosystem using machine learning, AI and predictive analytics. Deems suite of tools range from a dynamic traveler booking platform, travel manager cost controls, travel agency service technology and supplier revenue opportunities, including the worlds largest car service affiliate network and operator solutions. Deems Work Fource Platform services more than 35,000 corporate customers in 61 countries, speaking 15+ languages - including the worlds largest travel management companies. The company, headquartered in San Francisco, CA, with offices in Bangalore, India, is backed by leading venture capital funds, as well as corporate and private equity investors. Attachments: A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/11b7f38a-ac1d-4f0b-b823-77dc02a0bf82 Malaysian lawyers Salim Bashir (left), Hisyam Teh Poh Teik and Naran Singh, who represent Vietnamese defendant Doan Thi Hoang, speak to reporters during a break on the third day of the trial over the murder of Kim Jong Nam, at the Shah Alam court complex, Oct. 4, 2017. Four North Koreans who left Malaysia the day Kim Jong Nam was assassinated may have been the ones who poisoned him, a doctor testified during a murder trial here Wednesday. The comment came during cross-examination of the doctor who autopsied the half-brother of North Korean strongman Kim Jong Un, by lawyers defending two female migrant workers caught on camera allegedly smearing a chemical weapon on the victim's face at a Malaysian airport. The days deliberations saw prosecutors wear masks as they presented evidence said to contain traces of VX nerve agent, including a T-shirt and underwear worn by Kim and a bag belonging to him. While a defense lawyer questioned him on the witness stand, Dr. Mohd Shah Mahmood acknowledged that Kim could have been poisoned before he went to Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 on Feb. 13. Malaysian police had said Kim was murdered in a chemical weapon attack at the airport that day as he prepared to board a flight to Macau. The two Southeast Asian women who are on trial could be sentenced to death if convicted, and prosecutors allege that the women smeared Kims face with VX as they accosted him at the airport. Early on in their investigation, police identified four North Korean men as being wanted in connection with the case and Malaysian authorities sought Interpols assistance in locating them after they allegedly flew out of Malaysia on Feb. 13. The four North Koreans were filmed by a security camera at the same airport that day, police said. Doctor, do you agree with me that you do not know if the four men still at large could have poisoned the victim with VX before going to KLIA?, defense lawyer Naran Singh asked the witness, to which Mohd Shah responded that he did not know. Is there a possibility? Naran pressed him in his follow-up question. If talking about possibility, theres a possibility, replied Mohd Shah, who heads the forensic department at Kuala Lumpur General Hospital, where Kims body was kept for weeks after the murder. When the trial opened Monday, the judge turned down a defense request that the prosecution be compelled to include the names of the four North Koreans into the courts record. Judge Azmi Ariffin said omitting such information would not affect the case against the two defendants. No DNA match Apart from traces of VX found in Kims blood, eye mucosa and a facial swab, lab tests on blood samples taken from the body revealed traces of other drugs in his system, Mohd Shah also testified. He said VX could enter a persons system via skin contact, ingestion, inhalation, injection and the eye. There were six types of drugs in the deceaseds blood samples, namely drugs to treat diabetes, high blood pressure, gout and also erectile dysfunction, the doctor testified while responding to questions from Gooi Soon Seng, a lawyer representing Indonesian defendant Siti Aisyah, 25. Naran was one of the lawyers representing the other defendant, Doan Thi Hoang, 28, a Vietnamese national. On Wednesday, defense lawyers also appeared to try to cast doubt on how the nerve agent was introduced into the victim. Naran asked if Mohd Shah could agree that the deceased could have been given a drink laced with VX prior to his arrival at the airport, to which the pathologist replied that he could not determine. Under cross-examination from Naran, Mohd Shah also revealed he was not able to conduct a DNA test to confirm the victims identity because he had not received a DNA sample from a next-of-kin. When he was murdered, Kim was carrying a North Korean passport that identified him as Kim Chol. This part of his testimony appeared to contradict the Malaysian governments assertion that Kim Jong Nams identity had been verified through a DNA sample provided by one of his children. Is it true that DNA from Kim Chols body was compared with his son to confirm the body was indeed Kim Chols? Naran asked Mohd Shah. Not true, the doctor replied. DNA matching couldnt be conducted as I had only one set of DNA that is from the deceased. Reported by BenarNews, an RFA-affiliated online news service. Eight Hindu women and their children, who were abducted by Muslim militants and taken to a refugee camp in Bangladesh, have returned to Myanmar, Oct. 5, 2017. Eight Hindu women and eight children who were abducted by Muslim militants and taken to a refugee camp in Bangladesh have provided further details upon their return to Myanmar about the slaughter of Hindu villagers in northern Rakhine, the Myanmar government said Thursday. The group was among those abducted by Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) militants who carried out deadly attacks on 30 police outposts and an army facility on Aug. 25 in northern Rakhine state. Local Hindus and the Myanmar government in late September said that ARSA militants detained nearly 100 people from several Hindu villages in the Kha Maung Seik village tract the same day, killed most of them, and dumped their corpses in mass graves. The militants also forced some of the young Hindu women to convert to Islam and took them to a Muslim refugee camp in neighboring Bangladesh. Myanmar security forces found the mass graves on Sept. 24 and 25. Fifty-two Hindus were killed, and 192 others are still missing. The eight Hindu women who witnessed the killings of residents of Yebaw Kya village returned to Myanmar with a police escort following a Myanmar government demand and the countrys de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyis instruction to bring them back, said a statement issued by the State Counselors Office. Myanmars official account of the incident could not be independently confirmed, and the government has not allowed outside observers or media close, unfettered access to the conflict zone. The eight women, who range in age from 15 to 25, told authorities that a group of about 500 Muslims militants led by a foreigner dressed in black and a local named Noru Lauk from Khamaungseik village entered their homes at about 8 a.m. on Aug. 25. They took their belongings, including their jewelry and mobile phones. According to the women, the militants said, This is not your village. It is our territory. We are the sole owners of this land. You are all the same as the Myanmar Armed Forces and police members. We will murder Buddhists and all of you who worship the statues made of bricks and stones. The militants then divided the villagers into two groups according to gender, tied their hands, and took them to Bawtala village, the women said, according to the governments statement. They slashed the throats of the men, sliced up their bodies, and threw them in nearby pits, the women said. The ARSA attack and subsequent crackdown by the Myanmar military prompted about 30,000 Hindus and other non-Muslims living in northern Rakhine to flee south to Mrauk U, Sittwe, Kyauktaw, and Minbya, while more than 500,000 Rohingya Muslims fled to Bangladesh, the statement said. Converted to Islam The Hindu women also said that the lives of eight girls and women were spared because the militants considered them beautiful and decided to convert them to Islam. In the presence of the eight young women who were spared, ARSA militants killed Hindus from Yebaw Kya village, they said. A group of eight Hindu females and their children from the village were then taken to a cow ranch near Bawtalar village where they were killed. A three-year-old boy named Phawlar, who was included in the group, saw the militants slash his fathers throat before he was killed, they said. Local Muslims, whose names they recalled, guarded some other Hindu girls and children, while others left to set fire to police camps. After some of the militants returned, they took the eight Hindu women and young children to a house in Bawtalar village and forced them to eat rice and meat, the latter of which their religion prohibits them from consuming, the women said. The militants also instructed them about the lifestyle and behavior of Muslim women before taking them to the Bangladesh border on Aug. 27, where they passed through cut barbed wire and spent the night on a hill so they would not be detected by Bangladeshi border guards. Early on Aug. 28, the group crossed the border into Bangladesh and were taken by car to Kutuparlaung refugee camp where they were housed with Muslims and forced to wear burqas, the women said. Later that day, when foreign media conducted interviews at the camp, the militants told the Hindus to lie and say that that their families were killed by Myanmar army soldiers and Rakhine ethnics who forced them to flee out of fear for their lives. The women said that the militants threatened to slash their childrens throats unless they did as they were told, the governments statement said. A 15-year-old named Raj Kumari was forced to marry a Muslim man named Barbu who worked at the camp, they said. The news was reported to Hindu leader Shaw Phaw Nam Shaw Mar Raw Ni who lives in Bangladesh and was made aware that the abducted Hindus were being converted to Islam. He contacted the Bangladeshi border guards and went to the camp to find the eight Hindu women and their children, though the Muslim militants had fled. The women and children were taken to a Bangladesh border guard camp for the night and later collected by a Hindu priest who took them to his home. On Aug. 30, Bangladeshi government officials transported them back to Kutuparlaung Camp, saying that they would provide relief supplies for them. They stayed on a chicken farm inside the refugee camp where they were guarded by a Bangladeshi Hindu, the women said. On Sept. 19, one of the women was able to call her brother-in-law in northern Rakhines Maungdaw township and told him the location where the villagers, including her husband, were killed. Seven days later, she was able to contact Hindu religious leader Ni Maul in Sittwe, who suggested the women and children return to Myanmar with help from Myanmar security forces. The women left the camp on the pretext of visiting a Hindu religious festival and arrived in Myanmar with the help of security forces, the governments statement said. Broken dishes are among the remains of a house in Myo Thu Gyi Muslim village where homes were burned to the ground near Maungdaw township in Myanmar's northern Rakhine state, Aug. 31, 2017. Credit: AFP More village fires The Aug. 25 ARSA attacks triggered a brutal military campaign against Rohingya civilians to try to find the militants and those who collaborated with them. Rights groups, the United Nations, and some of the half-million Rohingya who fled to neighboring Bangladesh have accused soldiers of committing atrocities aginst Muslims. ARSA also carried out a deadly attack on border guard stations in northern Rakhine in October 2016, which prompted an army crackdown that forced about 90,000 Rohingya to flee their homes. The government has denied the allegations and accused Muslim militants of torching villages, killing Hindus, and driving out non-Muslims. On Thursday, the office of Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, Myanmars military commander-in-chief, said on its Facebook page that Rohingya militants have set fire to homes in northern Rakhine during the last few days to drive a further exodus of Muslims to Bangladesh. Security forces in Mi Chaung Zay village in Buthidaung township helped villagers put out the fires started by an ARSA militant in the early hours on Thursday, the post said. Rohingya who have fled Bangladesh contend that the army has continued to use arson to intimidate them and force them out of their homes, though the Myanmar government said previously that all military operations had ended on Sept. 5. U.N. officials have said what Myanmar has done in Rakhine amounts to ethnic cleansing a term used Thursday in Washington by Rep. Ed Royce, chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. We identify this as full-fledged ethnic cleansing, he told a hearing on the Rakhine crisis. A U.S. State Department official told the House panel that the military crackdown in northern Rakhine could destabilize the region and invite international terrorists, the Associated Press reported. Burmas nascent democracy is at a turning point and a heavy-handed response invites international terrorists and challenges for other neighbors," Patrick Murphy, a senior U.S. official for Southeast Asia, told the committee. Despite government assurances that security operations ended in early September, vigilantes are still torching Rohingya homes and blocking humanitarian assistance from reaching those who need it, he said. He also said that besides the half-million Rohingya who have fled to Bangladesh, an estimated 200,000 people have been internally displaced in Rakhine. Myanmar has long marginalized the Rohingya, who are considered illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and denied citizenship, though many have lived in the country for decades. They are subject to systematic discrimination and denied access to jobs and basic services. Reported by RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Khet Mar. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin. Authorities in a Tibetan-populated county of Chinas Qinghai province called the managers of social media chat groups together last week to warn them against allowing inappropriate online discussions, Tibetan sources said. The meeting, which was held on Sept. 27 in Malho (in Chinese, Huangnan) Tibetan Autonomous Prefectures Tsekhog (Zeku) county, brought together organizers of discussion groups on WeChat, a popular social media platform in Tibetan areas, a local source told RFAs Tibetan Service. It was aimed at promoting awareness of organizers responsibility to ensure the appropriateness of certain discussion topics and to keep these from falling outside of local laws and regulations, RFAs source said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Alerted by a summons two days before from county police to attend the meeting, many chat group organizers dismantled their entire groups on their own, fearing punishment for possible infractions, the source said. Group leaders duty to protect Chinas national interest was also discussed at the meeting, which was attended by Tsekhog county administrators, officials from the countys propaganda and police departments, and about 248 others, according to RFA's source. The meeting ended with WeChat group managers each signing a document pledging them to uphold their responsibilities, the source said. Protests challenging Chinese rule by Tibetans living in western Chinese provinces have brought a clampdown by authorities on internet communications, with police regularly monitoring social media sites for evidence of news-sharing with contacts outside China, Tibetan sources say. Authorities in China have stepped up nationwide stability maintenance measures targeting anyone with a critical opinion of the ruling Chinese Communist Party or Chinese President Xi Jinping ahead of the Partys 19th Congress, which will be held in Beijing from Oct. 18 to 28. Among other moves, authorities have banned travel to Tibet from outside the politically sensitive region while the top-level meetings are held, sources say. Reported by Lhuboom for RFAs Tibetan Service. Translated by Dorjee Damdul. Written in English by Richard Finney. Authorities in northwest Chinas Xinjiang region have set up special green lanes for ethnic Han Chinese drivers to bypass security on roads leading into Hotan (in Chinese, Hetian) city, sources said, while Muslim Uyghurs submit to inspections that include ID checks and body searches. A Uyghur businessman, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told RFAs Uyghur Service that he had recently travelled the 500 kilometers (310 miles) southeast from his hometown of Kashgar (Kashi) to Hotan for work, and was stopped by authorities as he tried to enter the city. The first problem I faced on entering Hotan was when I drove into the left hand lane [at a checkpoint], where the queue was far shorter than the right hand lane, he said. Suddenly two policemenone Uyghur and one [Han] Chineseran towards me, waving and shouting, Stop, you are not allowed to use this lane! I asked why, and they said, You must remain in the right hand lane until you and your vehicle have been inspected and given clearance to proceed. The businessman told RFA that similar checkpoints with separate lanes are everywhere leading into Hotan citythe seat of Hotan prefecture, where two deadly attacks took place in Qaraqash (Moyu) county in December 2016 and in Guma (Pishan) county in February this year. At the checkpoints, Uyghur drivers are required to exit their vehicles, place their IDs into a card reader, and walk through a body scanner, before they are permitted to continue. Uyghur people must follow these procedures before being allowed to enter the city, whereas Han Chinese can enter the city via the green lane, without any checks, he said. A special checkpoint was under construction that, when completed, would be used to take x-ray images of a vehicles undercarriage, he added. Drivers are not permitted to express dissatisfaction with the separate treatment, the businessman said, as police have the right to open fire on us if we challenge their authority, or detain anyone who complains. As we were fully aware of the consequences, we followed the rules silently, he said. To be honest I was very nervous and fearful There is no room for conversation, dialogue, or expressing your opinion. Preferential treatment Preferential treatment for Han Chinese does not end at the outskirts of Hotan, according to the businessman, who said he later attended a dinner organized by university friends at an upscale restaurant in the city and encountered security cameras inside the establishment. My friends told me that the cameras were connected to the Public Security Bureau and regional committee office, he said. If any incident occurs which is deemed to cause discomfort to [Han] Chinese costumers, the restaurant will be forced to close for 15 days, during which the owner and restaurant security personnel would be detained. The businessman said that residents of Hotan had also been ordered to destroy any religious objects in their home as part of strike hard campaigns regularly conducted by authorities in Xinjiang, which include police raids on Uyghur households, restrictions on Islamic practices, and curbs on the culture and language of the Uyghur people, such as videos and other material. Any items with Arabic writingwhether written in simple Uyghur Arabic script or religious Arabic scriptwere ordered destroyed, he said. We actually witnessed people smashing such items. On his return to Kashgar, the businessman said he did not encounter any road checkpoints that held Han Chinese and Uyghurs to different security standards. Uyghurs and Hans divided While reports indicate that authorities have set up additional security measures at the entrances to villages, towns and cities throughout Hotan prefecture in the wake of the two recent attacks, the businessmans account is the first to suggest that Han Chinese in the region are being allowed to bypass checkpoints. A police officer at a station in Hotan confirmed the use of a green lane for Han Chinese and law enforcement approaching the city, when contacted by RFA. People who hold special permits from the Public Security Bureau and judiciary can freely pass [the checkpoint] via the green lane [while] all other people must pass through the ID and body scanner checkpoints, said the officer, who also asked to remain unnamed. [Everybody with the judiciary] and Han people can pass through, and others must go through the safety inspection. Only Uyghurs who belong to law enforcement can bypass the checkpoint, he said, though Han Chinese drivers do not have to be members of law enforcement to use the green lane. The Uyghurs and Hans are divided, the officer said. If you are driving in the right lane, you will see the checkpoint. If youre driving in the left lane, you will see a pass through sign. The ruling Chinese Communist Party blames some Uyghurs for a string of violent attacks and clashes in China in recent years, but critics say the government has exaggerated the threat from the ethnic group, and that repressive domestic policies are responsible for violence that has left hundreds dead since 2009. Last week, the official Global Times reported that authorities in Kashgar and nearby Tumshuk (Tumushuke) city had begun deploying new high-tech body security scanners for road security checks, in a bid to enhance counter-terrorism work in the lead up to the 19th National Congress of the Chinas Communist Party on Oct. 18. Reported by Jilil Kashgary for RFAs Uyghur Service. Translated by Mamatjan Juma. Written in English by Joshua Lipes. TORONTO, Oct. 05, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Firan Technology Group Corporation (TSX:FTG) will release the Q3 2017 financial results after market closes on Wednesday, October 11, 2017. The Corporation will host a live conference call on Thursday, October 12 at 8:30am (Eastern) to discuss the Q3 2017 financial results. Anyone wishing to participate in the call should dial 416-340-2220 or 1-866-225-2055 and identify that you are calling to participate in the FTG conference call. The Chairperson is Mr. Brad Bourne. A replay of the call will be available until October 22, 2017 and will be available on the FTG website at www.ftgcorp.com. The number to call for a rebroadcast is 905-694-9451 or 1-800-408-3053, pass code 3440996#. ABOUT FIRAN TECHNOLOGY GROUP CORPORATION FTG is an aerospace and defense electronics product and subsystem supplier to customers around the globe. FTG has two operating units: FTG Circuits is a manufacturer of high technology, high reliability printed circuit boards. Our customers are leaders in the aviation, defense, and high technology industries. FTG Circuits has operations in Toronto, Ontario, Chatsworth, California and a joint venture in Tianjin, China. FTG Aerospace manufactures illuminated cockpit panels, keyboards and sub-assemblies for original equipment manufacturers of aerospace and defense equipment. FTG Aerospace has operations in Toronto, Ontario, Chatsworth, California, Fort Worth, Texas and Tianjin, China. The Corporation's shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol FTG. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This news release contains certain forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are related to, but not limited to, FTGs operations, anticipated financial performance, business prospects and strategies. Forward-looking information typically contains words such as anticipate, believe, expect, plan or similar words suggesting future outcomes. Such statements are based on the current expectations of management of the Corporation and inherently involve numerous risks and uncertainties, known and unknown, including economic factors and the Corporations industry, generally. The preceding list is not exhaustive of all possible factors. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual events and results could differ materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements made by the Corporation. The reader is cautioned to consider these and other factors carefully when making decisions with respect to the Corporation and not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Other than as may be required by law, FTG disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any such forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. For further information please contact: Bradley C. Bourne, President and CEO Firan Technology Group Corporation Tel: (416) 299-4000 x 314 bradbourne@ftgcorp.com Melinda Diebel, Vice President and CFO Firan Technology Group Corporation Tel: (416) 299-4000 x 264 melindadiebel@ftgcorp.com Additional information can be found at the Corporations website www.ftgcorp.com. In the wake of the Sunday shooting at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival in Las Vegas, organizers of area fall music festivals said they have plans in place should a similar disaster unfold. Michael Allenby, co-founder and owner of The Festy Experience, said the event is prepared for any scenario and noted the difference in size, scope and location between his Nelson County event and the Route 91 festival, which counted about 22,000 attendees, according to The Associated Press. This year, the Lockn Festival, which is held on the same property as the Festy, had an estimated attendance of 20,000 people. The Festy runs from Thursday to Sunday at Infinity Downs Farm. Performers ranging from national acts such as Ani DiFranco and the Drive-By Truckers to locals Erin Lunsford and Tara Mills are set to entertain a crowd thats expected to reach about 5,000 people. These are the deepest considerations; this is the core of responsibility, Allenby said of preparing for the worst at public gatherings. Its what we think about; these types of happenings challenge us, [those] who put on events. They sort of touch us emotionally, because were thinking about this all the time. At last years installment of the Festy, a propane fire ignited inside a food vendors operations, resulting in one person being sent to the University of Virginia Medical Center. Emergency plans generally are devised by the venue, as opposed to the company renting out the space, Allenby said. And Dave Frey, Lockn co-founder, said safety plans for Infinity Downs are regularly re-examined and updated. Each year, everything is reconsidered, like we did after the [2015 ISIS attack at a Paris concert], he wrote in a text message. [Its] too early to comment on whether Sunday nights tragedy will cause changes to the active shooter section of the Emergency Safety Plan. As in any crisis, theres a point where the appropriate emergency responders take command of the area and everyone else is merely there to help and support. Frey declined to share the active-shooter plan in place for Infinity Downs with The Daily Progress. Capt. Robert New, of the Nelson County Sheriffs Office, agreed with the festival organizers outlook on the Las Vegas shooting. I dont know that it changes perspective, New said. We rationalize everything that goes on and we factor in certain things when we make these plans. We do take into consideration all factors when we make these plans. As details continue to emerge about alleged shooter Stephen Craig Paddock and what transpired in Las Vegas, Heidi Crandall, co-founder of Devils Backbone Brewing Company, which hosts the Hoopla festival at the brewerys Nellysford Basecamp, works to balance the inexplicable violence and everyday life. ATLANTA, Oct. 05, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, Mueller Water Products (NYSE:MWA) announced that it has ended its Company-sponsored drive to match employees donations to support relief efforts for the victims of the hurricanes. We are pleased to announce that with the strong response from our employees, combined with the Company match and contribution gifts, we are donating $200,000 to the American Red Cross to support relief efforts for victims of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria, which devastated several southern U.S. states and parts of the Caribbean. Last month, employees in Muellers manufacturing facilities began contacting their human resource departments, asking where they could direct donations to help the hurricane victims. Moved by the hurricane images and the fact that Mueller has a plant in Brownsville, TX, and that the city of Houston and many nearby municipalities are Mueller customers, the Company quickly decided to make a contribution and to rally all employees to donate. Scott Hall, CEO and President of Mueller Water Products said, After Hurricane Harvey, we challenged employees to participate in a Company-sponsored matching gift program to assist families and communities impacted by the hurricanes. We have been overwhelmed by the participation of our employees with hundreds of employees making donations. We are pleased to announce that Mueller Water Products and its employees will be donating $200,000 to the American Red Cross towards relief efforts for Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria. About Mueller Water Products Mueller Water Products, Inc. (NYSE:MWA) is a leading manufacturer and marketer of products and services used in the transmission, distribution and measurement of water in North America. Our broad product and service portfolio includes engineered valves, fire hydrants, metering products and systems, leak detection and pipe condition assessment. We help municipalities increase operational efficiencies, improve customer service and prioritize capital spending, demonstrating why Mueller Water Products is Where Intelligence Meets Infrastructure. For more information about Mueller Water Products, visit www.muellerwaterproducts.com. Investor Contact: Martie Edmunds Zakas Sr. Vice President Strategy, Corporate Development & Communications 770-206-4237 mzakas@muellerwp.com Brahima Kone moved to New York City in the mid-1990s and missed home. The United States was different from his native Burkina Faso in Africa. Things were bigger here the food, the cars, the personalities. To ease his thirst for African culture, he and a friend decided to literally bring a taste of their homeland to the U.S. They started their own business their way of contributing to the American dream and began bringing food from Africa to their Harlem neighborhood. The process didnt come without a few hiccups, and the two had little business experience between them. The reality between the dream and whats on the ground is very different, said Kone, 50. They made adjustments focusing on distributing products from just West Africa and the business is still going about 15 years after its inception. We persisted and I was lucky said Kone, who is now a French professor at Virginia Commonwealth University in addition to his communications role with the company, Faso Foods. He went back to his native country and shared his business experience with entrepreneurs in Burkina Faso through a U.S. Department of State program and works to support African business in the U.S. and vice versa. Kone spoke Wednesday at the first roundtable of a four-day conference at VCU centered on business in Africa, the first time the annual event has come to Virginia. The conference, The Big Emerging Continent: The Rise of Africa Challenges and Opportunities, is expected to draw more than 1,000 people over the course of the program as attendees and speakers discuss the African economy and the drivers behind what is seen as an emerging market. Sub-Saharan Africas economy grew an average of 4.3 percent from 2008 to 2015, according to the African Economic Outlook, an annual reference journal. The economy took a hit last year, growing only 1.5 percent, but is projected by the World Bank to finish 2017 up 2.6 percent and continue its growth into 2018. The U.S. did about $50 billion worth of trade with Africa in 2016, according to the federal Census Bureau, and through July, it was on track to exceed that figure for 2017. Wednesdays roundtable brought representatives not only from the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. Trade and Development Agency, but also local organizations and businesses making pitches to the majority-African audience as to why the Richmond region is a good option for entrepreneurs. The roundtable, originally slotted to be in the Commonwealth Ballroom in the University Student Commons at VCU, was moved to the Commons Theater because there was no power in the ballroom. That didnt hinder attendees excitement. Event organizers expected the group of attendees to represent about 25 African universities. Attendees posed for selfies with speakers, and some proudly donned VCU hats. Wednesdays discussion focused on business development in Africa and the U.S. and how the two economies can benefit from trade. If youre talking about business development, its about opportunity, its about relationships and its about managing investments, said Fred Stewart, the director for the Office of Africa at the U.S. Department of Commerces International Trade Administration. Whether you are in Africa or you are in the Middle East or you are in Europe, the model is the model. Van Wood, the chair in international business at VCU, and Patricia Cummins, a French and international studies professor at the university, are serving as the co-chairs for the conference. The conference, in its eighth year, was at Syracuse University last year and will be in the Ivory Coast next year. Wood said he and Cummins had attended a few times and, with their interest in Africa, spent the past year organizing the conference in Richmond. This is a new place to focus on, he said. Thursdays schedule includes more forums, including the 23rd annual International Business Forum, which is expected to draw about 500 people. More panels will be held Friday and Saturday, along with a buffet-style African dinner and African music on Friday night. The focus through it all remains economic opportunity in a continent about 5,000 miles away. One of the most exciting days in Henrico Countys history was rooted firmly in 21st-century technology. The occasion was an official announcement of Facebook Inc.s pending arrival to Henrico at a news conference held at the state Capitol on Thursday. Facebook will invest $1 billion in Virginia as part of its plans to establish a 970,000-square-foot data center at White Oak Technology Park in eastern Henrico. The data center will cost $750 million to build and more than $250 million will be invested for the construction of new renewable energy projects. Facebook is expected to have 100 full-time employees when the data center comes online probably in 2019 and construction is expected to create thousands of jobs. In his remarks, County Manager John Vithoulkas called the occasion one of Henricos most exciting. Youve got one of the most recognized companies in the world thats chosen to locate in Henrico, Vithoulkas said in an interview. The data center will include two buildings and a so-called admin area. Additional buildings may be developed later and Facebook has enough land for five buildings, said Facebook spokeswoman Lindsay Amos. Facebooks Henrico Data Center will be the companys eighth in the United States. Rachel Peterson, Facebooks director of data center strategy, said the Henrico facilities will be some of the most advanced, energy-efficient in the world. Henrico County is a great fit for our newest data center, and we look forward to being part of the community, Peterson said in her remarks. Vithoulkas said the county gave Facebook an $850,000 sewer connection credit on a total fee that would be upward of $2 million. Facebook will become one of the top taxpayers in the county and one of its top water users, Vithoulkas said. Facebook plans to use both water and air to keep the Henrico Data Centers hardware cool. According to Facebook, its data centers use less water than typical data centers. Vithoulkas said work at the data center will mostly consist of maintaining computers. Its not the factory of yesterday, Vithoulkas said. Its really about the building itself, which is massive, and the equipment in the building. In addition to the tax revenue and job impact, local leaders are banking on Facebook to play a role in the regions schools, though what form that will take hasnt been finalized. Tyrone Nelson, the Henrico supervisor for the Varina District, which is home to Facebooks site, said he was looking forward to seeing the impact Facebook would have on the community. The thing that excites me about Facebook is the constant care about investing in the community, Nelson said. Henrico has been laying the groundwork to lure Facebook. Earlier this year, Henricos Board of Supervisors lowered the countys tax rate on computers and equipment related to data centers. In September, Henricos Planning Commission approved a development plan for a data center at White Oak of up to 2.5 million square feet code-named Project Echo. As part of a new renewable energy tariff designed by Facebook and Dominion Energy Virginia, hundreds of millions will go toward the construction of solar facilities to help make the data center powered with 100 percent renewable energy. Gov. Terry McAuliffe said the project is three years in the making and included a meeting on Monday in San Francisco to tie things up. Three separate crashes in about a four-hour period resulted in three deaths in the Richmond area on Thursday morning. At approximately 6:30 a.m. in Chesterfield County, a 52-year-old motorcyclist was killed when he struck a 1996 Infiniti sedan on Salem Church Road, about a mile and a half from his home. Gregory D. Adkins of the 8600 block of Pleasant Ridge Road was pronounced dead at the scene, Chesterfield police said in a release. Police said a preliminary investigation indicated the car pulled out in front of Adkins at the intersection of Black Oak and Salem Church roads. The driver of the car, who was not identified, suffered non-life-threatening injuries, and the crash remains under investigation. *** At about 7:11 a.m. in King William County, Virginia State Police responded to a collision between two tractor-trailers that left one man dead. A tractor-trailer traveling east on King William Road slowed for a school bus stopped at the intersection, when the tractor-trailer behind it failed to stop in time and rear-ended the first, according to state police. The driver of the first tractor-trailer was not injured in the crash. The driver of the second, Joseph M. Jackson Sr., 64, of Mineral died at the scene. He was wearing a seat belt, police said. Both vehicles were loaded with logs, some of which shifted during the impact of the crash. The crash remains under investigation, but no charges are expected, police said. *** At 10:45 a.m., a Mineral woman was killed when her car ran off Courthouse Road in Louisa County and overturned, state police said. Police said Gail Smith, 60, was driving a 1997 Honda Accord west on Courthouse Road when her car ran off the right side of the road and overturned less than a mile east of Horseshoe Farm Road. Smith died at the scene. LYNCHBURG Kevin Spencer stood in front of a room of students at Lynchburg's New Vistas School on Wednesday morning and told them he was going to make a handful of toilet paper disappear. The students, ranging from elementary to high school students, counted to three, he said, Abracadabra! and stuffed the toilet paper in his mouth, a piece of it still hanging out. The room erupted at the terrible trick, but within seconds, he had pulled the toilet paper back out of his mouth, and yards and yards of colorful streamers came out with it. The students laughed and applauded. Spencer isnt your average magician visiting a school. Hes developed an entire curriculum called Hocus Focus that uses magic tricks to help engage and teach students who have trouble with traditional teaching strategies. On Wednesday at New Vistas a private school specifically for students who are on the autism spectrum or who have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), dyslexia, or learning disabilities Spencer taught the kids how to tie a knot in a piece of rope by crossing their arms, picking up the rope and pulling their hands apart. In an interview, he explained this teaches the students to pay attention to step-by-step sequencing, and they even can learn fractions by using the knot to divide the rope into different sections. Lisa DeJarnette, the head of school at New Vistas, said the school partnered with Spencer this year because this type of creative instruction falls in line with what it already aims to do. We do a lot of hands-on activities in our classrooms, DeJarnette said. We do multisensory instruction for each learning preference students have: visual, tactile, auditory, kinesthetic. Magic encompasses all of those. [Students are] moving around, theyre explaining things to others. Theyre writing about it its very supportive of what were doing. After Spencers initial visit Wednesday, the teachers at New Vistas will learn and teach students a new magic trick each week that Spencer has built into his curriculum. The students benefit from the academic concepts they might learn in conjunction with the trick but also everything that goes along with performing a trick: public speaking, social interaction and storytelling. Its not a magic trick until you perform it for somebody, Spencer said. How are you going to perform it? You cant just do the trick. You have to be able to entertain them. Spencer should know. He and his wife toured as a magic act called Spencers: Theatre of Illusion, performing on stages all over the world. He first started using magic in a non-traditional setting after he got in a car crash more than a decade ago. He said when he was doing some of the physical therapy exercises, he realized he could use a more interesting magic trick to accomplish the same goal as a boring or frustrating therapy exercise. He launched Healing of Magic at Virginia Baptist Hospital. As the couple continued to tour, Spencer would find hospitals near the venues where they were performing to visit and do magic tricks with patients. One of those visits was the first time he worked with a child, a little boy. After Spencer demonstrated the rope trick, he said the boy didnt react or say anything. But then when Spencer moved to perform the next trick, the boy said, Wait, can you teach me that? I said yeah, so I gave him a piece of rope, and he said, What do I do with my arms? Spencer said. Hes laughing, and were talking, and hes asking me questions. It was only afterward when Spencer said the boys father told him it was the first time his autistic son had spoken in years. That experience inspired Spencer to go back to school to study autism and teaching the arts, and that led to developing the curriculum that would become Hocus Focus, a program that can be modified for all age levels. A Lynchburg resident, he decided to take the program to a local school to collect data on its effectiveness in a number of areas where he thinks students have the potential to improve, and that was what brought him to New Vistas. Teachers track this data in exchange for using the program for free. The program already exists at other schools around the world, but Spencer wants to track the data to gain credibility and improve. He put on a magic show of some of his own tricks Tuesday but also demonstrated what students would learn as an introduction to his program and a way to pass the mantle to the teachers. Jaiden Lambert, a ninth-grader at New Vistas, said she enjoyed watching the magic show. She never had seen anything like it before in real life, only on TV. Jaiden said she loves the idea of learning magic in school. I literally just sit in class and pay attention, and its so boring. If they do magic tricks, its like, yes! Something interesting, she said. Two other ninth-graders, Gabe Moore and Aidan Pick, said they dont pay attention in class but they might if they were learning magic tricks. Specifically, they want to learn to do escape tricks and walk through walls. During his demonstration, Spencer called on many of the students by name, even though he only had met them once or twice before. Afterward, he took pictures with some of the students and teachers and chatted with students about some magic tricks they already knew. FAIRFAX A former Fairfax County parks employee was found not guilty of murder Wednesday in the stabbing death of a caterer after a dispute that spiraled out of control at a wedding last year. A Fairfax jury returned the verdict for Kempton Bonds, 20, of Clifton, after deliberating for a little more than three hours. The trial followed another that ended in a mistrial this summer, after that jury failed to reach a verdict. Bonds was overseeing the August 2016 wedding at a Chantilly while the 35-year-old victim, Tyonne Johns of Washington, was catering it. Bonds was on his last day on the job before he would head to Virginia Commonwealth University, prosecutors have said. Bonds, Johns and members of the wedding party got into a verbal argument over chairs while cleaning up. The fight ended with Bonds stabbing Johns with a 3-inch pocketknife. The blade pierced her heart. A prosecutor and defense attorney spent seven days sparring over whether Bonds was the aggressor or defending himself against an attack by Johns, which had been preceded by a tension-filled wedding. The central piece of evidence in the case was dramatic audio of the encounter, which Bonds captured in a cellphone video and was played repeatedly in court. Wedding guests are heard angrily hurling insults at Bonds for minutes, before Johns approaches him and says: Im gonna knock you out. The action happens off-camera, but scuffling sounds are heard, and the camera shakes. Afterward, a man can be heard saying, You hit a girl. Johns is heard saying, Oh, you stabbed me, before Bonds screams for police. Bonds testified at trial that Johns was attacking him and he feared for his life, so he pulled out the knife he regularly used on the job and stabbed Johns twice. I couldnt breathe, and she was strangling me, Bonds told the jury. I tried to push her off me, but she wouldnt let go. Assistant Commonwealths Attorney Brandon Shapiro countered in his closing argument that Bonds use of force was out of proportion with the threat he faced. Earlier in the trial, the prosecutor said Bonds had been on a power trip at the wedding, unnecessarily inserting himself into the proceedings and rankling the wedding party. Police were called to the scene five times before the stabbing occurred. The courtroom was tense as the verdict was read. Johns family and friends burst into tears, and one yelled out that Bonds was a murderer. Bonds and his attorney embraced in a bear hug. Shapiro and defense attorney Peter Greenspun both called the case a tragedy. We rely on your support to make local news available to all Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2022. Donate today Does regulating child day care make it better, or does it just drive up the cost and push people toward unlicensed providers? For years, regulation opponents have made the latter case, arguing that the various rules imposed by state governments, including Virginias, cost much but did little to improve child safety and, indeed, might actually pose a threat. They could point to research showing that children in unlicensed day care many of them home-based are more likely to die than those in licensed facilities. Place too many requirements on licensed facilities, and the resulting higher prices might induce parents to find less expensive, unlicensed providers. This argument has not carried much weight in more liberal precincts such as the District of Columbia, which recently required that all child care workers have a college degree. A March Washington Post article gushed that the new rules put the District at the forefront of a national effort to improve the quality of care and education for the youngest learners. (E)arly-education advocates across the country are hopeful that the District can set an example of how a workforce can be transformed. Asking child care workers to speak English, however, apparently is a different matter. Virginia has proposed requiring that child care providers in facilities that receive government subsidies have a working knowledge of English so they can understand state rules, communicate with parents, communicate with first responders if there is an emergency, and be able to communicate with the children they oversee, too. Its a question of health and safety, according to Virginia Department of Social Services commissioner Margaret Schultze. Fairfax County doesnt like the idea. According to another article in The Washington Post (this one far less enthusiastic), Officials in Fairfax say the English requirement would have an opposite effect on childrens safety by driving many immigrant day-care operators underground. And officials arent the only ones who say that; so do advocates: Some advocates fear that an English proficiency requirement could alienate many of the low-income immigrant families that could benefit from the federally subsidized child care program because there would be fewer operators that speak their languages and they might seek out unlicensed care providers instead. Make the Road New York, one of the state's largest immigrant advocate groups, is planning to overnight a final batch of DACA renewal forms around 5:00 p.m. Wednesday in order to get them to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services [USCIS] under President Donald Trump's recently imposed deadline. All afternoon today and into the evening, the group is holding drop-in hours in its Staten Island, Queens, Brooklyn and Long Island offices. "We've had appointments and clinics over the last three-and-a-half weeks but today we have open hours for anyone who has not met the deadline and is able to get to us in time," said Yasmine Farhang, the group's lead immigration attorney. Last month, Trump announced that the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which offers deportation relief and work permits for non-citizens who traveled to the US as children, will sunset next March. He put the onus on Congress to pass new immigration protections, and set Thursday, October 5th as the last chance to file two-year renewal applications for any DACA recipient whose eligibility is set to expire before March 5, 2018. Last week, Brooklyn Federal Judge Nicholas Garaufis called the October 5th deadline arbitrary and "heartless." With DACA, undocumented young adults are able to legally work. Many are breadwinners for their families, according to Make the Road, and rely on work permits to cover essential costs like rent and tuition. The demand for renewals has been lower than anticipated, according to Camille Mackler, director of legal initiatives for the New York Immigration Coalition [NYIC]. There are several possible explanations for this. For one, she said, some seasoned DACA recipients quickly renewed when Trump's order came down. But attorneys in more rural parts of the state are concerned that "people didn't know about the deadline," she added. Make the Road has processed about 150 renewals since the deadline was announced, according to Farhang. She stressed that this doesn't account for all renewals filed in NYC, Long Island and Westchester County, though "we do do a disproportionately high number." DACA recipients risking arrest outs ide Trump Tower earlier this month. (Scott Heins/Gothamist) USCIS says there are 7,600 DACA recipients across New York eligible for renewal before tomorrow, out of a total 32,900. Nationally, there are 154,000 DACA recipients eligible for renewal, according to USCIS, or roughly 20 percent of the total 800,000. Approximately 54,000 renewals have been submitted since September 5th. Mackler is concerned about the logistics of processing all of these renewals, and says she hasn't gotten any assurances that USCIS will have a grace period for application errors. "USCIS just doesn't have capacity in their mailroom and lockbox facilities to accept and process these applications," she charged. "It's always happened that applications get lost." "These requests must be properly filed and physically received by the agency at the proper filing location no later than Oct. 5," a spokesperson for USCIS wrote via email. "As with all of our benefit requests and petitions, USCIS allocates resources as needed to help process any increase in requests." Farhang, of Make the Road, says she anticipates some people will miss tonight's deadline. "Even if we have someone come in tomorrow, the fight to respond to the termination of DACA is really just kicking off," she said. Several lawsuits are challenging the constitutionality of revoking DACA, while recipients continue to march and rally for a legal path to citizenship. Jacquelyn Cortes, 22, traveled from Virginia to Manhattan for a DACA action last month. A bio-med student at the University of Virginia and DACA recipient, she urged allies to advocate for immigrant protections more ironclad than an executive order. "This is really the time to step up and take action and try to get something that's actually permanent," she said. Two very large startups that have ruffled feathers in New York City are partnering together in what appears to be a synergistic mega-disruption. Airbnb, the traditional hotel industry disruptor, and WeWork, the traditional office disruptor, are joining forces to offer a complimentary desk at the closest WeWork to any Airbnb guest as part of a pilot in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Washington, London and Sydney, the companies confirmed Thursday. The pilot launched Wednesday with an initial progress report expected in six months, according to a WeWork spokesman. Statements from both companies suggest that the trend of intermingling work and personal life into one perpetual networking event isn't going anywhere. (WeWork already rents co-living apartments in the same building as its 110 Wall Street location.) "We all know part of living includes working, so if an Airbnb guest is looking for a collaborative environment or space to host meetings while traveling for work, we want to provide them with options," said David Holyoke, global head of Airbnb for Work. "The way people work is changing. The way people travel for work is changing. Business travel is becoming less about being a road warrior and more about aligning professional and personal needs," said Dina Berrada, VP of Product for WeWork, in a statement. Bloomberg, which broke the news, points out that the deal could lure business travelers away from traditional hotels. Share Better, a coalition of housing advocates and hotel unions that has fought Airbnb's NYC expansion, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. WeWork is valued at about $20 billion. Airbnb, at about $31 billion. Doncaster Coroner's Court A REVIEW of care offered to a man who died on a railway line found problems but concluded that they played no part in his death, a court heard. Stephen Winstanley (37), of Rearsby Walk in Denaby, was found dead near a level crossing by a track maintenance worker in April. Doncaster Coroners Court heard last week that his medical paperwork was not up to date. But a health service supervisor insisted that this did not mean Mr Winstanley missed out on care. Frank Bow came across Mr Winstanley at around 8am on April 23, shortly after a freight train had passed along the same section of track. PC Matthew Kania, of British Transport Police, took statements from the freight train driver, who said he had not seen Mr Winstanley at all. CCTV footage from onboard the train was of poor quality and showed little in the dark, the officer explained. The Assistant Doncaster Coroner, Mr Andrew Beresford, asked: Is it reasonable to assume that it was the freight train involved in this incident? PC Kania replied: Yes, that is the best evidence. The court heard that Mr Winstanley had suffered paranoid psychosis, depression and heroin dependency for several years. He told a psychiatrist that he had used heroin from age 17 to 24, when he went to prison and received detox treatment. His heroin use seemed to come about because of boredom and lack of direction, Mr Winstanley had told the psychiatrist, the inquest heard. Mr Winstanleys records showed periodic improvements in his mood, though he stayed on antidepressants and heroin replacements. Pathologist Dr Laszlo Karsai gave the cause of Mr Winstanleys death as severe traumatic injury, incompatible with life due to a rail incident. Toxicologist Dr Stephen Morley said Mr Winstanleys blood and urine contained alcohol and metabolites of heroin and antidepressants. After Mr Winstanleys death Louise Braisby, of RDaSH ASPIRE Drug and Alcohol Service, reviewed his care. Ms Braisby said the deceased engaged extremely well with staff and had a good relationship with his key worker. She identified three issues but insisted these did not contribute to his death. She admitted that Mr Winstanley could have been given more direction in life. Child safeguarding and personal risk assessments were overdue, but Ms Braisby said there had been no significant changes to record. She added: Just because a risk assessment hasnt been updated, doesnt mean it hasnt been done on an informal basis. We feel it wouldnt have had any impact on the outcome. The court also heard that the ASPIRE service made no referrals to mental health services, despite Mr Winstanleys recurrent low moods. Ms Brasiby said: He had got the idea that he was in good control of his mental health, so no referral was made. Mr Beresford asked Ms Braisby: Do you feel any failings played a part in Mr Winstanleys Death? Ms Braisby replied: No. The supervisor said she had made three suggestions to ASPIRE colleagues set measurable goals for patients, keep risk assessments up to date and attend workshops on depression. There was a lack of understanding, with some key workers, in regards to depression, she admitted. Mr Beresford adjourned the inquest until a date to be confirmed, so that further medical evidence could be heard. Debate continues to rage over the fate of the Christopher Columbus statue that towers over Columbus Circle, at the southwest corner of Central Parkalthough the statue is intended to celebrate the country's Italian-American population, critics say Columbus's history of colonialism and genocide make it a symbol of hate. Statue controversy aside, this popular traffic circle has a long history, and here are some of our favorite facts: 1. Columbus Circle's concept was part of the original blueprint for Central Park. Prior to the construction of Central Park, the Columbus Circle area was predominantly farmland, as was the case with much of the Upper West Side at the time, and it developed more slowly than some of the other areas in (what is now) the neighborhood. When Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux began drawing up plans for Central Park, they wanted to include a traffic circle at the park's Merchants' Gate entrance at 8th Avenue, similar to the Arc de Triomphe de l'Etoile at the end of the Champs-Elysees in Paris. In the end, Olmsted was not responsible for the traffic circletraffic safety pioneer William P. Eno, whose other credits include the rotary traffic plans at the aforementioned Arc de Triomphe and Piccadilly Circus in London, designed the circle, which was completed in 1905. It was then that the area started to quickly develop. (Scott Heins / Gothamist) 2. The Christopher Columbus statue was built using funds raised by an Italian-language newspaper. The statue of Christopher Columbus, located in the center of the traffic circle, was sculpted by Roman sculptor Gaetano Russo and gifted to the City of New York by the Italian-Americans of New York in 1892 in honor of the 400th anniversary of Columbus's first voyage to the Americas. Though Columbus never set foot in what is now the mainland United States, Italian-Americans considered the (now controversial) explorer a symbol of their success in a country that was hostile to them as new immigrants, and an Italian-language newspaper, Il Progresso, launched a fund-raising campaign to install the 70-feet statue in the center of town. When the statue's cornerstone was laid on September 17th, 1892, there was a procession from Little Italy up to Columbus Circle, which the Times described as the following: It was something unusual for the avenue and the regular promenaders were to be seen gazing at the spectacle from the chamber windows while Italian peripatetic vendors thronged the sidewalks, and Italian mothers in rainbow attire dandled their children in their arms on the steps of millionaires palaces. The column of men in uniforms seldom seen above Bleecker Street marched up between the rows of brownstone houses to the lively music of the Italian national air. It was Italys day The statue was dedicated on October 12th, 1892, and underwent a renovation in 2005. It also briefly got its own apartment in 2012, as part of the public art installation "Discovering Columbus." (Scott Heins / Gothamist) 3. The fountain at the entrance to Central Park is a national monument to the exploded battleship U.S.S. Maine. The U.S.S. Maine, built at the New York Naval Yard in Brooklyn, exploded and sank in Havana Harbor on February 15th, 1898, killing 261 out of 355 soldiers, officers and Marines onboard. The sinking of the naval ship was used as a pretext by the U.S. to declare war on Spain, though a National Geographic investigation a century later determined that the cause may have been an accident or a mine. The Spanish-American war, which lasted from April to December 1898, resulted in Puerto Rico and the Philippines becoming American territories. In 1912, architect Harold Van Buren Magonigle constructed the massive U.S.S. Maine National Monument, complete with a fountain, sculptures by Attilio Piccirilli, and a pylon topped by a bronze Columbia Triumphant and flying horses. The monument was dedicated in May 1913. Columbus Circle in 1913. (Courtesy of the NYPL) 4. In the early 1900s, Columbus Circle was a popular theater district (and drinking spot). In 1903, just two years before the installation of the area's famed traffic circle, the 1,355-capacity Majestic Theatre opened at 5 Columbus Circle. The theater was famous for hosting first musical production of The Wizard of Oz, among other things, and thanks to the theater crowd it attracted, a number of eating and drinking establishments popped up in the area soon after it opened. According to the Bowery Boys, one such establishment, Healys at 66th and Broadway, was raided by police early in the morning of August 13, 1913, shortly after then-Mayor William J. Gaynor mandated instituted a 1 a.m. curfew for establishments that served liquor. Thomas Healy, who owned Healy's, decided to keep his bar open until 2 a.m., prompting cops to violently throw patrons out one night. Per the Times: The recalcitrant guests found themselves enfolded in the uniformed arms, lifted into the air, rushed down the disordered aisles and literally thrown into Columbus Avenue. In the scramble, tables went over, chairs were smashed, electroliers were damaged, glasses and crockery were broken into fragments. There was pandemonium for a time. The Coliseum in April 1956, viewed from a park. (Library of Congress) The Majestic Theatre was torn down in 1954 to make room for the New York Coliseum, a 323,000-square-foot convention center built under city planner Robert Moses. Moses condemned the west side of Columbus Avenue from 58th to 60th Streets (more on that later) as a slum, freeing up federal slum clearance cash to fund his project. The result, which debuted in 1956, was rather hideous, as the Times put it in 1987a "functionally advanced" tank of a building. The windowless space boasted four exhibition floors that could hold six simultaneous events, along with office space and a massive three-story well with room for boats, planes, and, in 1996, a space capsule. The Coliseum hosted a number of trade shows during its existence, but as time went on it proved too small to draw the best shows, and in 1979 the city began to make plans for the 1.8 million square-foot Jacob K. Javits Center. The Coliseum was knocked down in 2000, and today the Time Warner Center sits in its place. 6. Robert Moses destroyed an entire Columbus Circle-adjacent neighborhood to make room for his projects. In the 1950s, Moses razed San Juan Hill, a predominantly black neighborhood that stretched from 59th to 65th Streets, bordered by Amsterdam and 11th Avenues. Although the neighborhood had struggled with violent crime (its gangs reportedly inspired the opening sequence of West Side Story), it was also home to 7,000 people, had a rich cultural history (the Charleston was invented here), and boasted a number of famed jazz spots. But in 1955 Moses had declared the area a "blighted slum," and thanks to his position as the head of the Mayors Committee on Slum Clearance, he was able to order the area cleared and replaced in part with what is now Lincoln Center, and used some of the federal funds to build the aforementioned Coliseum. San Juan Hill residents, meanwhile, attempted to fight Moses in court, but he used his power of eminent domain to kick them out of the area, and many ended up relocating to Harlem and the Bronx. 2 Columbus Circle, present day. (Scott Heins / Gothamist) 7. There's been a lot of drama over 2 Columbus Circle. 2 Columbus Circle, once home to the Pabst Grand Circle Hotel, has long been one of the area's most distinctive structures, though it's undergone some serious (and controversial) changes over the last few years. The original structure was designed by architect Edward Durell Stone and opened in 1964 to house Huntington Hartford's Gallery of Modern Art. It was widely reviled by critics, with the Times calling it "a die-cut Venetian palazzo on lollypops," eventually earning it the nickname "the Lollipop Building." Still, ugly as it was, 2 Columbus Circle was our "Lollipop Building," so when the Museum of Arts and Design bought it from the city in 2002 and subsequently handed it over to architect Brad Cloepfil to redesign, there was an uproar. The Landmarks Preservation Commission failed to approve the building as a landmark, and though Cloepfil retained the building's dimensions, he removed its distinctive, quirky facade, replacing it with a more modern front decorated with windows that seem to say "Hi" from a distance. The building reopened in 2008. (Scott Heins / Gothamist) 8. Columbus Circle is an official focal point. Though it's not technically true, the area is considered the geographic center of the city, according to Untapped Cities, and all official distances to and from New York are recorded using the Columbus statue as the starting point. In fact, recipients of a C-2 visa, which is a non-immigrant visa permitting overseas nationals to briefly visit the United Nations and United Nations officials, have to stay within a 25-mile radius of Columbus Circle for the duration of their visa. Got some more interesting facts about Columbus Circle you'd like to share? Let us know in the comments below. (Agencia CMA Latam) - The command to displace the Batista family from the Brazilian meatpacker JBS is not well-seen by the country's National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES). The BNDES chairman, Paulo Rabello de Castro, said that the experience of the current president of the company, Jose Batista Sobrinho [founder of JBS and father of Wesley and Joesley Batista] must be respected. "To displace the family is exaggerated because they are also part of the company. The appointment of Mr. Batista has the face of being intermediate, but he has a history, has experience and this must be taken into account," Rabello de Castro said. "Having a Baptist at the head of the company is no problem. Governance there needs to be improved, organized," he said. In August, a court barred the Batista brothers from voting at a JBS' board meeting, as requested by BNDESPar - the BNDES investing arm - and Caixa Economica Federal, which are shareholders of the company with 21% and 4% stakes, respectively. The case was forwarded to an arbitration chamber. 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. Japan will on Friday see preliminary August results for its leading and coincident indexes, highlighting a modest day for Asia-Pacific economic activity. The leading index is expected to see a score of 107.2, up from 105.2 in July, while the coincident is expected to climb to 117.5 from 115.7. Japan also will see August figures for labor cash earnings, with forecasts suggesting an increase of 0.5 percent on year following the -.3 percent decline in July. Australia will see September numbers for the Performance of Construction Index from AiG; in August, the index score was 55.3. Malaysia will provide August numbers for imports, exports and trade balance. In July, imports were worth 70.6 billion ringgit and exports were at 78.6 billion ringgit for a trade surplus of 8.0 billion ringgit. Hong Kong will see September results for the PMI from Nikkei; in August, the PMI score was 49.7. Finally, the in South Korea and China remain closed all week for the Harvest Festival and National Day, respectively. 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. (Agencia CMA Latam) - Colcap, the main index of the Colombian Stock Exchange, fell 0.26% Wednesday, closing at 1,484.12 points with the most of the shares in red. Andres Fonseca, an analyst at Alianza Valores, said that the profit-taking on Bancolombia's shares moves ahead amid a continued selling trend after the FTSE index rebalance. Meanwhile, the decline in oil prices pushed Ecopetrol shares down 0.36%. Avianca dropped after the Colombian Association of Civil Aviators (Acdac) rejected a resolution issued by the Civil Aeronautics of Colombia to allow the air company to hire foreign pilots to cover the gap a strike by its pilots. The shares of Exito (+0,90%), Nutresa (+0.67%), Cemargos (+0,40%), Grupo Aval (+0.38%), and Cesia (+0.22%) rose, while Preferencial Bancolombia (-1.75%), Bancolombia (-1.10%), ETB (-0.97%), and Ecopetrol (-0.36%) fell. The locally traded U.S. dollar closed the day at 2,935.30 Colombian pesos, marking a 0.67% fall, amid the uncertainty related to the shortlist released by the President of the United States, Donald Trump, to nominate a replacement for the current U.S. Federal Reserve bank chairwoman Janet Yellen. 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. The Australian dollar weakened against other major currencies in the Asian session on Thursday, after data showed that the retail sales in Australia fell more than expected in August. Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed that the the total value of retail sales in Australia was down a seasonally adjusted 0.6 percent on month in August, coming in at A$25.883 billion. That was shy of expectations for an increase of 0.3 percent following the downwardly revised 0.2 percent decline in July. Australia posted a seasonally adjusted merchandise trade surplus of A$989 million in August, up 22 percent on month. That beat forecasts for a surplus of A$870 million following the upwardly revised A$808 million surplus in July. Exports were up A$166 million or 1.0 percent on month to A$32.229 billion. In the Asian trading, the Australian dollar fell to 2-day lows of 88.22 against the yen and 1.5022 against the euro, from an early 8-day highs of 88.74 and 1.4940, respectively. If the aussie extends its downtrend, it is likely to find support around 86.00 against the yen, and 1.51 against the euro. Against the U.S. and the Canadian dollars, the aussie dropped to 2-day lows of 0.7824 and 0.9769 from yesterday's closing quotes of 0.7861 and 0.9807, respectively. The aussie may test support near 0.76 against the greenback and 0.96 against the loonie. The aussie edged down to 1.0933 against the NZ dollar, from an early near 3-week high of 1.0993. On the downside, 1.08 is seen as the next support level for the aussie. Looking ahead, Swiss CPI data for September, German construction PMI for September and Swiss KOF institute Autumn economic forecast are due to be released later in the day. In the New York session, U.S. weekly jobless claims for the week ended September 30, U.S. trade balance, factory orders and durable goods orders for August, are slated for release. At 9:10 am ET, Federal Reserve Governor Jerome Powell is expected to speak about the Treasury Markets Practices Group at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. At 10:00 am ET, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia President Patrick Harker is scheduled to speak at the Investing in America's Workforce Conference hosted by the Federal Reserve System, in Austin. At 12:00 pm ET, Bank of England MPC Member Ian McCafferty is expected to speak at The Founders' Company Annual Lecture, in London. At 1:30 pm ET, Bank of England Chief Economist Andy Haldane is to deliver a presentation titled "Central Bank Engagement with Society" at the Economic Research Council, in London. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News DEUTZ AG (DEZBF.PK,DEUZF.PK) announced the company has acquired its long-standing Italian dealer IML Motori. The subsidiary IML Service and the Romanian sales and service company IML Motoare also form part of the acquisition. The company is to trade in Italy under the name DEUTZ Italy. IML Motori generated around 45 million euros in revenue in the most recent financial year. IML Motori has worked in partnership with DEUTZ since it was founded by the Keller family in 1904. The company operates a national service network in Italy and Romania and is DEUTZ's exclusive sales partner in both countries. "This acquisition is in line with our strategy of investing in the company's service network in selected locations in order to drive further growth in this profitable segment. The increasing technical complexity of the engine also requires close contact with our customers. The acquisition of IML Motori will mean that our Italian customers benefit from even more DEUTZ expertise locally and from a more intensive customer relationship," said Michael Wellenzohn, member of the Board of Management of DEUTZ AG for Sales/Service & Marketing. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Shares of TiGenix NV (TIG) were gaining around 3 percent in the early morning trading in Belgium after the biopharmaceutical company focused on allogeneic, or donor-derived, stem cells to develop novel therapies, announced Thursday positive 52-week results from its ADMIRE-CD Phase III clinical trial of Cx601 for the treatment of complex perianal fistulas in patients with Crohn's disease. The ADMIRE-CD Phase III trial demonstrated the long-term efficacy and safety of Cx601 for treatment-refractory complex perianal fistulas, the company noted. The company said the results have been selected for an oral presentation at the World Congress of Gastroenterology at the American Congress of Gastroenterology 2017 Annual Scientific Meeting (WCOG/ACG) taking place from October 13-18, 2017 in Orlando, Florida, USA. Mary Carmen Diez, Vice President, Medical Affairs and Commercialisation at TiGenix, said, "These data have been used to further support our marketing authorisation application for TiGenix, for which we anticipate a CHMP opinion in 2017. In parallel, we continue to progress our global pivotal Phase III trial for a future filing in the US." In Belgium, TiGenix shares were trading at 1.11 euros, up 2.69 percent. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News While reporting its second-quarter financial results today, Constellation Brands Inc. (STZ,STZ-B) raised its earnings outlook for fiscal 2018, citing strong beer results. For fiscal 2018, Constellation Brands now forecasts reported basis earnings in a range of $7.90 to $8.05 per share and comparable basis earnings in a range of $8.25 to $8.40 per share. Earlier, the company forecast comparable earnings of $7.90 to $8.10 per share. On average, analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expect the company to report earnings of $8.18 per share for the year on revenues of $7.62 billion. Analysts' estimates typically exclude special items. On October 4, 2017, Constellation's board of directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.52 per share of Class A Common Stock and $0.47 per share of Class B Common Stock, payable on November 21, 2017, to stockholders of record as of the close of business on November 7, 2017. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Exxon Mobil Corp. (XOM) said that it made a fifth new oil discovery after drilling the Turbot-1 well offshore Guyana. ExxonMobil noted that Turbot is its latest discovery to date in the country, adding to previous discoveries at Liza, Payara, Snoek and Liza Deep. Following completion of the Turbot-1 well, the Stena Carron drillship will move to the Ranger prospect. An additional well on the Turbot discovery is being planned for 2018. ExxonMobil affiliate Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Ltd. began drilling the Turbot-1 well on Aug. 14, 2017 and encountered a reservoir of 75 feet (23 meters) of high-quality, oil-bearing sandstone in the primary objective. The well was safely drilled to 18,445 feet (5,622 meters) in 5,912 feet (1,802 meters) of water on Sept. 29, 2017. The Turbot-1 well is located in the southeastern portion of the Stabroek Block, about 30 miles (50 kilometers) to the southeast of the Liza phase one project. Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited is operator and holds 45 percent interest in the Stabroek Block. Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd. holds 30 percent interest and CNOOC Nexen Petroleum Guyana Limited holds 25 percent interest. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News The proposed initial public offering of Saudi Arabia's state-run oil behemoth Saudi Aramco is on track to happen in the second half of 2018, the company's Chairman said in Moscow on Thursday. Saudi Energy Minister Khalid Al-Falih, who is also Chairman of Aramco, said that the IPO was set to happen in the second half of 2018 and there was nothing to indicate that the schedule is slipping. He added that more details of the IPO would be released "in due course," but declined to provide a precise date. Al-Falih noted that Aramco's IPO will be used as a catalyst for the opening up of the Saudi . Al-Falih and other Aramco officials are currently accompanying Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz on a historic visit to Russia as part of efforts to deepen ties between the world's two biggest oil producers. Countries like Saudi Arabia, Russia and Venezuela have been struggling to cope with the impact of low oil prices. Saudi Arabia is aiming to sell as much as 5 percent of Saudi Aramco as part of the government's plan to set up the world's biggest sovereign wealth fund and reduce the economy's reliance on hydrocarbons. Saudi Aramco's IPO is expected to be the world's biggest ever offering, with the company valued at a minimum of about $2 trillion. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Over a dozen members of a "major narcotics organization" have been arrested for allegedly trafficking cocaine and heroin through JFK airport, and "pump[ing] huge quantities" of the drugs into New York and the surrounding region, the Nassau County District Attorney's Office announced on Wednesday. In total, 17 people have been charged for their role in the drug ring, which allegedly brought cocaine and heroin on commercial flights from Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix, Arizona, to JFK. The drugs were said to be smuggled in "false sided suitcases," and stored at trap houses in Queens and Nassau counties. Following an 18-month investigation, investigators executed search warrants on Tuesday, seizing approximately three and a half kilograms of cocaine and four ounces of heroin. They also grabbed approximately $115,000 in cash, two defaced guns, money counters, kilogram presses, packaging equipment, a Porsche, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and a Richard Mille watch, authorities said. "The defendants, several of whom are related, allegedly distributed narcotics at the kilogram level with profits estimated at $50,000-$75,000 per week," according to Nassau County DA Madeline Singas. "The group allegedly supplied major dealers on Long Island, New York City, Upstate New York, Chicago, Maine, Maryland and Virginia. The family members drive luxury cars, such as Porsche, Mercedes and BMWs, and live and work together in four separate locations in Nassau and Queens Counties." The defendantswho reside in Long Island, Brooklyn, and Queensface a slew of charges in the eight-count indictment, including operating as a major trafficker, criminal possession, conspiracy. Lyonel Beaubrun, the alleged leader of the network, is charged with operating as a major trafficker. He faces 25 years to life in prison if convicted. "A clear message is being sent to these drug dealers that we have no tolerance for this type of illegal activity and that we are focused on keeping our children and families safe no matter where you reside," Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder said in a statement. "The large quantities of these illegal narcotics being distributed is concerning and we have been able to take another organized narcotics ring and its members off the streets." No company is safe from the wave of "slack fill" lawsuits, not even the delicious, heart-healthy Junior Mint. Earlier this week, a Manhattan woman filed a federal class action lawsuit against Tootsie Roll Industries, alleging that the company is deceptively packaging its 3.5 ounce box of Junior Mints, to the grave annoyance of minty-chocolate lovers everywhere. "When consumers purchase a package of Defendants Product, they are getting less candy than they bargained for," the suit alleges. "They are effectively tricked into paying for air, because the Product boxes contain large amounts of non-functional slack-fill." While some "slack-fill" may be necessaryto protect the product, or as the result of contents settling, for exampleslack-fill deemed non-functional is considered a violation of the Federal Food Drug & Cosmetic Act. According to plaintiff Biola Daniel, a box of Junior Mints she purchased last month at Duane Read on 125th Street "contained approximately 40 percent non-functional slack-fill." That's far more than equivalent sweets like Milk Duds, which contain just 23 percent slack fill, and Good n Plenty, which boasts a mere 12 percent slack fill. To illustrate this point, an attorney with the Lee Litigation group put rulers in candy boxes. As it happens, Lee Litigation has managed to turn American food frustrations into something of a cottage industry. New York Law Journal notes the firm has filed at least 14 slack fill class actions in recent years, including one accusing Pret A Manger of a sneaky sandwich wrap ripoff. That suit claimed the company was using a cardboard casing to "portray the Greek Goddess Turkey Wrap package as having more contents that it actually does." In 2016, a Southern District Court also tossed out a similar suit filed by Lee Litigation, which accused Sour Patch Watermelon Candy of holding 44 percent more air than it required, because the judge said the plaintiffs failed to show injury. (Aside the naturally-occurring damage Sour Patch Watermelon Candy does to your taste buds.) Air force chief Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa on Thursday said India is prepared to counter any threat from China and was also ready to face a two-front war. Addressing the annual press conference of the IAF ahead of Air Force Day, the IAF chief said they have a 'Plan B' to cater for the shortage of strength if there is a situation of war on two fronts. "We need a strength of 42 squadrons to carry out full spectrum operations, but it doesn't mean we can't fight a two-front scenario. There is a Plan B," he said when asked about being prepared for a two-front war. He also said the possibility of a two-front war in the current geopolitical scenario is low. He said "our capability is adequate" to counter any threat from the Eastern side -- China. The Air Force chief also said more than assets, the question was what China can and cannot do operating from Tibet against India. He also said that Chinese troops are still stationed in the Chumbi valley, of which Doklam is a part, and hoped that they return soon. Dhanoa said: "We are not in physical face-off but in Chumbi valley their troops are still deployed." "Hope they will withdraw in future after their exercises are over," the IAF chief said. He also said that there was no face-off in the air during the over 70 days long standoff and there were no air violations. "I take this opportunity to assure the nation of our sacred resolve in defending the sovereignty of our skies," he added. President of Samoa Stationery and Books (S.S.A.B.), Fiti Leung Wai, has dedicated their Pinktober Campaign to her sister, Atamamao Toleafoa, who is a survivor of Breast Cancer. The official launch of their Pinktober Campaign was held yesterday at their Conference Room at Togafuafua. It was attended by members of the public as well as the Samoa Cancer Society, Country Manager for A.N.Z. Bernie Poort and his team, Miss Samoa Papalii Alexandra Lakopo and Samoa Events Inc and Miss Samoa/Pacific Alumini. Mrs. Leung Wai in her speech said their October promotion was called Atas Pinktober Promotion. When S.S.A.B. was asked to be part of Pinktober, I had no hesitation to lend support, she said. I support this cause because there are people close to my heart who have fought their battle with cancer." I am not only affected by their struggles but more importantly, their strength has inspired me to do more than just making small donations." One of these people whom I dedicate our Pinktober contribution to is my older sister, Atamamao Toleafoa, who lives in Utah." She was diagnosed in November, 2010; her breast cancer quickly progressed from Stage 2 to Stage 3." She is of the L.D.S. Faith and a week before her mastectomy, she sent one of her daughters on her church mission to England." She continued with her operation and followed through chemotherapy losing all her hair." Her husband came home early from Iraq to take care of her and her other daughters cut their hairs to make wigs for their mom." She is such an exceptional person in the sense that she has a big heart and is one of the most loving people I have ever met.' Knowing that she fought through this disease with so much heart and determination to live for her family, leaves me inspired and wanting to do more in life. So here my dearest sister Ata, I dedicate this Pinktober special to you to let you know that I care and love you. In addition to this, I also want to spread the love to our cancer patients here in Samoa and do our bit to help. Another person that inspired the President of S.S.A.B. to contribute to cause is Manamea Apelu-Schwalger. I had donated some money towards one of her treatments, she said during the launch. She was appreciative because she came a couple of times to try and say thank you but I wasnt on the island. Mrs. Leung Wai added from that moment, she realized that aside from their prayers, a lot of them didnt do much to support the Samoa Cancer Society or the patients affected with cancer. Its only when people close to us are affected with this deadly disease, that we feel the need to do something, and I must say after I spoke to Mana my heart wanted to do more for her, my sister Ata and also our Cancer Society. Mrs. Leung Wai reminded those present they needed to do their bit to show all cancer patients their love and support through the Cancer Society and spreading awareness with the hope to save lives. We know the impact of losing our loved ones stay with us for a long time, she said. So here we are, S.S.A.B. totally committing to supporting our Cancer Awareness month, October." Sales on most pink products in the shop and part of the proceeds from our sales will be donated to the Samoa Cancer Society and we will also be making a donation to Manamea to support her fight." We are also hosting a facebook competition where people can win some great prizes. Mrs. Leung Wai acknowledges the supporters and partners of Pinktober Awareness for cancer. Working in the plantation is not that different from working for a company. Both are ways to earn a living and thats all that matters. So says Pisu So, of Faleasiu and Leulumoega. The 45-year-old used to work for a company before, but after contributing three years of his life to the business world; he decided to resign and start working in his familys plantation. I know a lot of people are seeking jobs, he tells the Village Voice. I know that there are not many jobs out there, so you must think Im crazy to leave the job I had, but to me theres really no difference in working in the plantation and working in a company. I mean if you know you can earn money from your work; then thats good because having no money and literally nothing is a pain. We all know that you earn enough from selling taro, bananas and anything else from the plantation. You sell a taro and banana; thats making money. But in my case; I use this to provide food for my family because when it comes to rice and other products from shops; I dont really get a full stomach from it. So I always prefer to work these lands for our food. Thats the real nature of Samoan people; they get by with real Samoan food from the land and the sea. I dont have anything against working because it has its perks when it comes to investing in your N.P.F.; and A.C.C. but the good thing about working on your own in your own land is that you can rest whenever you want which is something we cant really do at work. We even have a patch of Samoan koko and we do sell it sometimes for $50 a bucket. He says money is right here in our lands; we just need to understand how to work it. It used to be challenging back then because we didnt have a ride but now that we have one; its easy for us to go about in doing our work. Pisu is a father of four children; one is currently attending school f whilse the others stay at home. Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, has been flown to New Zealand for emergency medical treatment. A source from the hospital told the Samoa Observer today that P.M. Tuilaepa was flown over this morning. The Prime Minister was admitted at the Motootua Hospitals Intensive Care Unit yesterday. Several employees at the National Health Services who spoke to the Samoa Observer on the condition of anonymity confirmed this. He was brought into the hospital before 12 noon, said one employee. His driver was the one who brought him in. And he was admitted straight in the Intensive Care Unit. One Government Official told the Samoa Observer the Prime Minister was attending the Parliamentary Seminar at Taumeasina Island Resort when he fell ill. That was when he was taken to the hospital. Contacted for a comment, the C.E.O. of the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Agafili Shem Leo, said the Prime Minister was fine. He was taken in for a regular checkup and there is nothing for the public to worry about, he told the Samoa Observer over the phone. Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi has moved to assuage fears in Samoa and from around the world about his health. There is no need for the public to be overly concerned, he is quoted as saying in a statement issued by his Office yesterday. As a precautionary measure as highly advised by doctors, I am seeking medical attention in New Zealand. On that note, I am looking forward to returning home with a clean bill of health. Yesterday morning, Prime Minister Tuilaepa was transferred to New Zealand for further medical checks. The statement from his Office said it was a precautionary measure, after the initial tests at Motootua hospital. The statement does not give details about what Tuilaepa was hospitalised for. But he was reportedly in great spirits prior to his departure. The Prime Minister was admitted at the Motootua Hospitals Intensive Care Unit (I.C.U) on Tuesday afternoon. He was brought into the hospital before 12 noon, said one employee at National Health Services. His driver was the one who brought him in. And he was admitted straight in the Intensive Care Unit. One government official told the Samoa Observer the Prime Minister was attending the Parliamentary Seminar at Taumeasina Island Resort when he fell ill. That was when he was taken to the hospital. Contacted for a comment, the C.E.O. of the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Agafili Shem Leo, said the Prime Minister was fine. He was taken in for a regular checkup and there is nothing for the public to worry about. The last time Prime Minister Tuilaepa was evacuated for medical reasons was two years ago. He was in Parliament when he was evacuated and admitted to the Motootua hospital. Tuilaepa was later flown to New Zealand where he was treated and spent considerable time recovering. The Prime Minister has repeatedly downplayed concerns about his health, saying he feels as a strong as a young man. Despite Tuilaepas absence, the 2 Samoa talks scheduled for this weekend will proceed. With the Prime Minister away for medical checks in New Zealand, the planned meeting this week to finalise the agenda for the 2 Samoa talks will proceed as scheduled, the statement said. Initially Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi planned to meet Governor Lolo Moliga this week. But with Tuilaepas absence, the Chief Executive of the Ministry of Prime Minister and Cabinet and the Governors Chief of Staff have been tasked to proceed with the discussions as planned. The Minister for Commerce Industry and Labour, Lautafi Fio Purcell, and the Registrar of Intellectual Properties and the Chief Executive Officer of M.C.I.L, Pulotu. Lyndon Chu Ling, are in Geneva this week. They are representing Samoa at the 57th General Assemblies of the Member States of the World Intellectual Property Organization (W.I.P.O). W.I.P.O currently has a membership of 191 countries. Samoa is the first Pacific Island Country to attend the General Assemblies of W.I.P.O Member States. The Minister delivered a Country Statement on behalf of Samoa to report on the progress of Intellectual Property (IP) development work in Samoa and to contribute to discussions on important issues such as the international protection of traditional knowledge, traditional cultural expressions and genetic resources. It will also be an opportunity for the Samoan delegation to discuss and confirm further support from W.I.P.O on specific areas of needs to continually improve IP development in Samoa. Current collaborations with W.I.P.O will soon see the transformation of the current IP paper registration processes to online registration, the provision of affordable international protection of intellectual property rights of Samoan manufacturers, and the enhancement of local research capabilities through IP protection and technology transfer. The General Assembly and the Coordination Committee are the main policy and decision-making bodies of the W.I.P.O. The General Assembly meetings bring together all member states of W.I.P.O, allowing them to take stock of the progress of W.I.P.Os work and to discuss future policy directions on IP matters. The Acting Assistant Chief Executive Officer at Samoa Prisons and Corrections Services (S.P.C.S.), Levao Rosa Sooalo, has been placed on special leave. This is to allow an investigation ordered by Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi to be carried out. This was confirmed by the Deputy Commissioner of S.P.C.S. Ulugia Niuia Aumua. She is placed on special leave pending the investigation by the Ombudsman, he said. He denied that she has been suspended. There is a big difference, Ulugia told the Samoa Observer. The decision was made to protect the integrity of the Ministry. He said the decision came from the Commissioner, Taitosaua Edward Winterstein, to allow the investigation to be carried out in a transparent manner. Special leave may come out of her annual leave but that I am not sure, however, its my understanding that our A.C.E.O. is being placed on leave with pay, said Ulugia. Last week, Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, ordered the Office of the Ombudsman to investigate serious allegations made against the management of prisons. Dated 27 September 2017, a copy of the letter has been obtained by the Samoa Observer. The complainant is Andrew S. Chong, a former employee of S.P.C.S, whose complaint targets the decisions made at the top level. Mr. Chongs grievances are spelled out in a three-page letter to the Prime Minister, which prompted the order for an investigation. Highlighted in the three-page letter were allegations of marital affairs among the staff members. He also pointed to the alleged conflict of interest between the Associate Minister Sooalo Mene and his wife who works as the Acting Assistant C.E.O. The letter also makes allegations against the Minister. But thats not all. Mr. Chong also accused senior management of hiring family members to do work at the prison. He also claimed that a vehicle, licensed S.P.C.S. 09 was involved in a serious crash yet there was no disciplinary action taken against the driver. There are further allegations that prisoners are used by senior staff members to do work and their homes, including a house at Falelauniu. Efforts to get a comment from the A.C.E.O. has been unsuccessful as of press time. With an eye toward receiving approval from regulators in Texas, Sempra Energy on Wednesday revised the financing for its $9.45 billion bid to buy Oncor Electric Delivery, the company that delivers power to more than 10 million customers in the Lone Star State. We do feel it will improve our likelihood of being able to reach a regulatory resolution in this case, said Sempra CEO Debra Reed in a teleconference with analysts from some of the top firms on Wall Street. And that was our key move in making the change. The Oncor deal is the largest in the 19-year history of Sempra, the San Diego-based Fortune 500 company that counts San Diego Gas & Electric and Southern California Gas among its subsidiaries. Advertisement Sempra made headlines in the financial world in August when it swooped in and outbid billionaire Warren Buffett of the Berkshire Hathaway investment firm, which offered $9 billion for Oncor. The details of the Sempra acquisition are somewhat complex and need the OK from the Public Utility Commission of Texas, which previously rejected offers from two other companies that wanted to buy Oncor. Energy Future Holdings (EFH), a bankrupt Dallas-based utility, owns 80 percent of Oncor. As part of the deal, Sempra has promised to buy all of EFH. Originally, Sempra planned to acquire 60 percent of EFH upfront and buy the rest over a period of time. In its announcement Wednesday, Sempra officials said it will now acquire all of EFH at the close of the transaction, with no third-party equity investors or EFH debt. The new financing structure will not affect the deals $9.45 billion price tag. The announcement came just one day before Sempra and EFH plan to file a joint change in control application with the Texas utilities commission. Sempra executives said the accelerated funding strategy came after listening to stakeholders in Texas and concerns over EFHs long-running bankruptcy proceeding. Were excited about the revised structure because Oncor fits our utility-like risk profile and certainly has above-average growth prospects, said Jeff Martin, Sempras chief financial officer. While EFH filed for bankruptcy in 2014 the victim of low natural gas prices that made its company debt unsustainable Oncor is considered a strong performer with a steady track record. Described by one analyst as a jewel asset, Oncor posted a $431 million profit in 2016 and earned similar returns in three years prior. Andy Smith, senior analyst who follows utilities for Edward Jones, said Sempras revised financial plan streamlines its bid. As youve already seen, the Texas commission can be prickly regarding many aspects of this potential transaction, Smith said. So (the Sempra revision) simplifies it and makes it, hopefully for Sempras sake, easier to reach a settlement. The Texas public utility commission has eight months from Thursdays filing to make a decision. Last month, a judge in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware approved Sempras merger agreement. Before being finalized, the deal also needs federal regulatory and further approval by the bankruptcy court. Sempra hopes to sew up the transaction by the first half of 2018. Business rob.nikolewski@sduniontribune.com (619) 293-1251 Twitter: @robnikolewski ALSO Sempra beats out Warren Buffett to acquire Texas transmission company Judge OKs Sempras $9.45B deal with Oncor Sempra buys solar project in Fresno County South County officials have identified two sites that they believe hit all the targets for Amazons HQ2 a second headquarters location for the Seattle e-commerce giant that could eventually employ 50,000 workers. The sites one in Chula Vista and the other in Otay Mesa were unveiled Tuesday at a meeting of the South County Economic Development Council. We all understand Amazon coming into anywhere in San Diego County would be a win, said Cindy Gompper-Graves, chief executive of the South County EDC. Amazon coming into South County would be a huge win for South County, so we want to make sure we are in the mix. Advertisement Last month, Amazon announced that it was searching for a second home to complement its current downtown Seattle headquarters. The company will consider cities that have more than a million people, a tech savvy workforce, a business friendly environment, are within 45 minutes of an international airport and have access to mass transit, among other things. Proposals are due no later than Oct. 19. Competition for Amazons HQ2 will be fierce -- given that the company expects to create jobs with average salaries of more than $100,000 per year. Dozens of metropolitan areas all over the country are throwing their hats in the ring. The local bid is being pieced together by the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corp. Its proposal will likely include three to five locations that Amazon could explore throughout the county, said Mark Cafferty, head of the San Diego Regional EDC. Do they want a suburban campus? Do they want a downtown campus? Do they want something that is completely undeveloped? said Cafferty. We want to give them enough ideas about what can be done in the region so that -- if the talent number and the demographics all pan out -- they can say OK, we have three or four different looks at what we can do. The sites that will be included in San Diego Countys proposal to Amazon are still being worked out. Speculation is that properties downtown and the former Qualcomm Stadium location in Mission Valley are likely to be included. South County is making its case to have its two sites which include a combination of lots -- included in the regions bid. The first is the Millenia Office project along Highway 125 near Birch Road. It is being developed by Chestnut Properties and has received city approval for millions of square feet of office space, with 500,000 square feet expected to be ready by the third quarter of 2019. That meets Amazons development time frame for the first phase of HQ2. We can deliver what they are asking for, said Eric Crockett, director of the Chula Vistas Economic Development Department. Not only do we have the 8 million square feet entitled, we have a developer that has building plans ready to pull that can actually deliver a brand new 500,000-square-foot building by the 2019 deadline. For future expansion of HQ2, Chula Vista has earmarked land adjacent to the Millenia Oiffce campus to meet Amazons needs. Crockett believes Amazons decision could come down to whether they want a suburban office location and whether or not other states are going to throw billions of dollars at them. The second site is in Otay Mesa and includes a handful of lots straddling Highway 905 in the general area of the Brown Field Technology Park, said Gompper-Graves. Amazon doesnt want bids from individual cities or counties. It has urged metropolitan statistical areas to submit a single proposal for a region. The San Diego Regional Economic Development Corp. has been pitched several sites in the region, said Cafferty, and will have to trim the list down to four or five to submit to Amazon. Even if its sites dont make the cut, South County will not submit independently, said Gompper-Graves. We understand even though we are very proud of South County this is a regional proposal going forward, she said. Business mike.freeman@sduniontribune.com; Twitter:@TechDiego 760-529-4973 Former Poway Mayor Don Higginson has filed a federal lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the California Voting Rights Act (CVRA). Under threat of expensive litigation, Poway became the most recent city in San Diego County to be forced to change the way it elects its city council members, from an at-large system, which is said to violate the voting rights act, to a by-district system. Higginson is being represented by The Project of Fair Representation, a nonprofit legal foundation based in Arlington, Va., which will fund the litigation. He filed the lawsuit Wednesday in San Diego federal court. Advertisement The voting rights act is designed to give minority members of a community a better chance at representation on city council and other local government agencies. When a demand letter was sent to the city this summer from Malibu attorney Kevin Shenkman threatening to sue if Poway didnt immediately change the way it elects its council, the city council reluctantly did so to avoid potentially costly legal fees in what history has shown would likely be a losing court battle. In the demand letter, similar to dozens of others he has sent out locally and around the state in the last few years, Shenkman reminded the city that he had successfully sued the City of Palmdale for violating the CVRA. After an eight-day trial, we prevailed. After spending millions of dollars, a district-based remedy was ultimately imposed upon the Palmdale city council, with districts that combine all incumbents into one of the four districts. Just this week, the Poway council finalized its decision to create four election districts. Poway is a predominantly Caucasian suburban community of about 49,000 people with a Latino population of about 15 percent. Because the minority population is relatively small and not geographically bunched together, no district could logically be created that would create a minority-majoirty voting area. Edward Blum, the president of The Project on Fair Representation, said Poway is representative of dozens of cities in the state that have been forced to change election systems. He said Higginson was chosen to front the lawsuit after Blum read online a column Higginson had written in the local Poway News Chieftain newspaper decrying the misuse of the CVRA. Higginson is suing the State of California and the City of Poway, though the action against the city is only procedural. It was only because the city of Poway had a proverbial gun to its head that these districts were adopted, Higginson said. Every member of the City Council knew that it would cost Poway millions of taxpayer dollars to fight this in court. Higginson said the law is unconstitutional on its face because it requires gerrymandering based on race or ethnicity. In Poway, he added, where you are predominately Caucasian, it seems pretty foolish to even address that. Every voter in Poway should feel personally offended by the fact that being forced to go to district elections will eliminate your power to vote for a majority of the Poway City Council, he said. The lawsuit challenges the constitutionality of the CVRA under the Equal Protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. The California Voting Rights Act forces jurisdictions to make race the sole factor in districting, Blum said. It splits apart multi-ethnic, multi-racial neighborhoods in order to create gerrymandered voting districts. This is bad for all citizens, regardless of their race or ethnicity. This law is clearly unconstitutional. The lawsuit relates comments made by all of the Poway councilman during the debate that preceded the elections system change. Weve gone through denial, and weve gone through anger, and now were into acceptance, Councilman John Mullin said. So, to those of you in the audience who think that we should be fighting this, we concur. I have no illusions that this will lead to better government for our city. Im pretty proud of the job we do as we are now constituted . But having said all of that, again we have a gun to our heads and we have no choice. Deputy Mayor Barry Leonard said, I get it. I hate it but I get it. He explained his view that we respond to everybody in the City. We dont pick certain people in certain neighborhoods and say well treat them any differently. There is no evidence of that whatsoever. So, I feel like were already being found guilty of something and we dont have a chance to prove our innocence. Its just the deck is stacked. So, rather than spend a million dollars of the taxpayers money, we roll over to these bullies. Blum said it will likely be months before a court date is set. jharry.jones@sduniontribune.com; 760/529-4931; Twitter: @jharryjones Over the past seven years, chef Wade Hageman has become well-known for his two farm-to-table Encinitas restaurants: Blue Ribbon Artisan Pizzeria and Craftsman New American Tavern. Now, he and his wife, Kristi, have added four more Encinitas dining and drinking destinations to their list and theyre all under the same roof. Last week, Hageman Restaurant Group put the finishing touches on Open House Food + Drink, a four-in-one restaurant/bar concept on South Coast Highway. Open House has two kitchens, two indoor dining rooms, two bars and a central outdoor covered patio thats dog- and kid-friendly. Advertisement The first and largest concept is Asian Kitchen, which serves a variety of Japanese, Chinese, Filipino, Korean and Hawaiian dishes. The second is The Crafty Egg, which serves brunch, breakfast and lunch seven days a week. Saltwater is a pop-up bar concept that Hageman hosts on Friday and Saturday nights, where he makes raw seafood dishes to complement more than 100 brands of tequila. And Driftwood Tavern is a beachy cocktail bar that serves salads, burgers and flatbreads. The Hagemans have gradually opened each of these new concepts one by one since May, with the final piece, Driftwood, debuting this past weekend. Hageman said he got the idea to create a multi-concept restaurant/bar after exploring the vacant 7,000-square-foot space, which was originally built to house a colony of artist galleries around a central patio. Instead, it became the home of El Callejon Taqueria, which closed last January after 22 years. With two kitchens and multiple stand-alone rooms, Hageman said he thought the venue could host a variety of restaurants and bars with its combined staff of 35. Asian Kitchen and Driftwood, which are situated side by side, have the same late afternoon/evening hours but separate kitchens. Crafty Egg uses Driftwoods dining room and kitchen in the morning and early afternoon hours. And Saltwater is set up in its own enclosed restaurant/bar space. To reach all four spots, diners and drinkers walk through the same front door and Hageman said theyre usually blown away by what they see inside. Its similar to the popular food hall concept at Liberty Station, but in this case its all run by the same owners. We want to offer something for all tastes, he said. Not everyone wants Asian food every night of the week and not everyone wants a burger. Theres a lot of freedom here. People can bar hop and grab an appetizer on one side, and then have a different experience 10 steps away. People are making a whole evening out of it. Since 2006, when Hageman was the chef for the now-defunct Blanca restaurant in Solana Beach, hes been known for making everything from scratch, including his own cheese, house-cured bacon, custom-ground burger meat and salted caramel butterscotch pudding (which is so popular its served at all Hageman restaurants). His sous chef and close friend at Blanca was Marlaw Seraspi, a native of the Philippines. When Blanca closed in 2011, Seraspi and his Hawaiian-born wife moved to Sacramento. But Hageman lured him back in 2013 to run the kitchen when he opened Craftsman Tavern. Hageman promised Seraspi that if hed stick around, the next restaurant they opened would spotlight Asian fare in his honor. The menu at Asian Kitchen crosses many cultures. There are Japanese raw fish and ramen dishes, Chinese wok dishes, Korean ribs, Hawaiian poke and Filipino adobo chicken wings. Its a true collaboration, Hageman said. If Marlaw feels passionate about something it goes on the menu and if Im passionate about something, it goes on the menu, too. We do everything together. So far, the shaking beef bowl and pork-fried rice dishes are the top-sellers at Asian Kitchen. Crafty Egg has a playful menu with Capn Crunch French toast, gourmet burgers, loaded Bloody Marys and $5 mimosas. Saltwater has different raw dishes each night, including crudo, ceviche, carpaccio and sashimi. And Hageman said newly opened Driftwood will be known for its original cocktails and its house burgers and flatbreads. Open House Food + Drink The Crafty Egg (breakfast, brunch and lunch): 8 a.m.-3 p.m. daily Asian Kitchen (poke, wok dishes, ramen, plated entrees): 4-9:30 p.m. Tuesdays-Thursdays; 4-10:30 p.m. Fridays/Saturdays; 4-9 p.m. Sundays Driftwood Tavern: (beachy cocktail bar, burgers and flatbreads): 4-9:30 p.m. Tuesdays-Thursdays; 4-10:30 p.m. Fridays/Saturdays; 4-9 p.m. Sundays Saltwater (pop-up tequila and raw bar): 5-9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays Where: 345 S. Coast Highway 101, Encinitas Phone: (760) 452-2555 Online: openhousefooddrink.com pam.kragen@sduniontribune.com If chef Steve Brown was a pilot, all the collision alarms would be going off in the cockpit right about now. This fall, Brown plans to open restaurants in Chula Vista and Barrio Logan, a catering company and a culinary internship program all while running his weekly fine-dining pop-up dinner series known as Cosecha. How will he pull it off? Advertisement Sleep is for the dead, said Brown, who opened the first of his new ventures, Temp by Cosecha restaurant in Chula Vista, on Sept. 19. I have ADD, so Im always going nonstop. Its just the way I am. I gotta do it while Im young. Energy-wise, its all downhill from here. Since Brown returned to his childhood hometown of Imperial Beach from L.A. last year, hes been laying the foundation for his brand mega-launch by building relationships with local farmers, chefs, ranchers, designers and diners. Now hes ready for takeoff and hopes the turbulence that brought him back to San Diego last year is finally behind him. Brown, 37, is an ambitious man, but 20 years ago he described himself as arrogant and lazy. Lacking inspiration after high school in San Bernardino, he joined an overseas program where he worked as a hotel housekeeper in Germany. But when his boss found him sleeping in the rooms instead of cleaning them, he was banished to the hotels kitchen to wash dishes. It was the worst day of my life and it changed my life, he recalled. I met my best friend in the dish pit and after a few days in the kitchen, I fell in love with it. I havent left since. Brown describes the life of a chef as like pirates doing ballet. You have the most crude and rude things going on but when it comes down to the food and the plate its very elegant. I love that contradiction, he said. After two years in Germany, he moved home to L.A., where by age 22 he had both a culinary degree from Le Cordon Bleu and a newborn daughter. With a family to feed, he couldnt afford to intern in Michelin-starred restaurants, so he found a line cook job in La Quinta and gradually worked his way up the chef ladder, mostly at fine-dining restaurants in L.A. In mid-2015, he opened his dream restaurant, Gardner Junction in West Hollywood, but it closed after just four months due to partnership troubles. Devastated, he retreated in February 2016 to Imperial Beach, where his parents had once lived and recently retired. His plan was to open a casual beach-themed eatery. But after four months, I got the fine dining itch again and my depression went away, he said, adding that he needed to find way to make fine dining pencil out financially. The answer was high-end, one-night pop-ups in borrowed restaurant space. In July 2016, he launched Cosecha, offering prix-fixe eight- to 22-course fine-dining meals in pop-up locations statewide for $160 to $300. Cosecha means harvest in Spanish, chosen because Brown harvests all of his own produce, mostly at Wild Willow Farm & Education Center in Imperial Beach. The concept was an instant smash in dining-centric L.A. and San Francisco, but it has taken time to build a following in San Diego. Winning the culinary competition last year at KAABOO Del Mar helped. So has a recent partnership with Japans Wagyu beef farmers, who hand-picked him as a culinary representative and importer for their prized meat. Im the only guy doing Japanese Wagyu in San Diego at this level. Im going all in, he said. At his newly opened 40-seat Temp by Cosecha restaurant at 277 Third Ave. in Chula Vista, Brown serves both a weekend boozy brunch and dinner five nights a week. The other two nights are reserved for pop-ups. He describes the farm-driven modern American menu at Temp as high-level but approachable (dishes range from $18-$30). Temps huge kitchen will also serve as headquarters of soon-to-launch Cosecha Catering and a menu development center for Bar Logan by Cosecha, a 60-seat restaurant/bar designed by Tecture that will open at the end of this year at 2163 Logan Ave. in Barrio Logan. To control labor costs, Brown is co-developing with Wild Willow Farm a stage program. The six-week soil to plate internships will train young chefs how to plant, grow and harvest produce and then how to prepare, cook and serve it at Browns restaurants. What else is on Browns plate? One priority is weekend time with his now-15-year-old daughter, who lives with her mom in Chino Hills. Another is feeding with fresh food photos the insatiable appetite of his 9,500 Instagram followers. Although Brown may be brand ambassador for Cosecha, he stresses that hes just the leader of a strong team. A chef wants to do everything himself, but Ive learned that you have to delegate and surround yourself with good people. Ive got some of the best, he said. pam.kragen@sduniontribune.com. Twitter: @pamkragen The San Diego-based Playwrights Project has announced the 2017 winners of the California Young Playwrights Contest, a statewide competition for school-age dramatists. And this year brings an unusual result: All six winners (chosen through a blind judging process) are female, including one returnee. The six will see their work showcased in the 33rd annual Plays by Young Writers festival, set for Jan. 18-27 at the Old Globes Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre in Balboa Park. Advertisement Their plays were chosen from among 423 submissions evaluated by contest coordinator Rachael VanWormer and a pool of volunteer theater professionals. Heres a look at the festival lineup, divided into Program A (appropriate for age 11-plus) and Program B (age 16 and up). Each program includes one staged reading and two full productions; two acting ensembles will present the two programs, with actors playing multiple roles. Quoted play descriptions were provided by Playwrights Project. PROGRAM A (directed by Ruff Yeager) Full Productions Sina and the Eel, by Kiegan Lee, Aptos: In Sina and the Eel, angsty teens faced with the responsibilities of leadership struggle to solve their islands famine. Selfish gods resurface long-held secrets in this modernized retelling of a Samoan myth. The play was written by Kiegan Lee at age 17 while attending Aptos High School; Kiegan currently attends the University of Southern California. Ruff Yeager will also dramaturg this imaginative play. Some-Body, by Tanyeasia Brewster, Moreno Valley: When three preteens happen upon a dead body, what should they do?! The fanciful Some-Body explores questions of mortality through the lens of youthful naivete. The play was written by 17-year-old Tanyeasia Brewster, who attends Nuview Bridge Early College High School. Tina Brown will dramaturg. Staged Reading Alone by the Playground, by Aisling Archdeacon, Carlsbad: In Alone by the Playground, Rock helps Paper and Scissors return to their rightful home in the classroom and a new friendship is unearthed. Playwright Aisling Archdeacon, age 11, composed her winning script in a playwriting residency in Mrs. Hendersons fifth-grade class at St. Patricks Catholic School in Carlsbad, led by Playwrights Project teaching artist Steve Smith. Playwrights Project teaching artist Aleta Barthell will serve as the dramaturg/writing mentor. PROGRAM B (directed by George Ye) Full Productions Fire Hazard, by Cassandra Hsiao, Walnut: Fire Hazard unites a star student and rebel in the principals office, of all places. Issues of privilege and perspective are explored through deft dialogue and compelling characters. Playwright Cassandra Hsiao, who wrote the play at age 17, now attends Yale after graduating from the Orange County School of the Arts. This is Cassandras second play to win the contest; her play Supermarket of Lost was presented last season. Idiot, Im Great, by Savannah Spatafora, Burbank: Idiot, Im Great introduces intriguing off-the-grid characters, as bright and funny Agnes relentlessly pursues her indifferent soulmate William. Comedy combines with serious issues of emotional well-being as these quirky teen-agers cope with coming of age. Savannah Spatafora, 16, who penned the play, lives in Burbank, where she attends John Burroughs High School. Idiot, Im Great will be dramaturged by contest coordinator and Plays by Young Writers alumna Rachael VanWormer. Staged Reading A Life or Death Situation, by Sofia Miller, San Diego: A Life or Death Situation unites the forces of Life and Death. Sofia wrote her winning script at age 14 in a playwriting program at Black Mountain Middle School, which was taught by Playwrights Project Teaching Artist Wendy Waddell in Ms. Gapusans Language Arts class. Her writing mentor will be Thelma deCastro, playwright and Playwrights Projects community program coordinator. Festival executive producer Cecelia Kouma reviewed the top 50 scripts and worked with VanWormer to choose 11 finalists. Those were then evaluated by the final judges: Moxie Theatre founding artistic director Delicia Turner Sonnenberg, Old Globe literary manager and author Danielle Mages Amato, San Diego Rep casting director, Jacole Kitchen, playwright-screenwriter-novelist Stephen Metcalfe, Playwrights Project founder Deborah Salzer, and San Diego actor-director-playwright and educator Ruff Yeager, the festivals artistic director. Kouma and VanWormer chose the final plays based on the judges feedback, plus interviews with the top finalists. SCHEDULE Public Performances Saturday, Jan. 20, 7:30 p.m.: Opening Night (four full productions/no readings) Friday, Jan. 26, 7:30 p.m.: Program B Saturday, Jan. 27, 2 p.m.: Program B Saturday, Jan. 27, 7:30 p.m.: Program A The plays also will be showcased at school matinees. Tickets: Individuals, $25; seniors, students, and military, $20. School groups of 10 or more, $10. Other groups of 10 or more, $15. Opening night (includes reception): $60. For more information and reservations: (858) 384-2970; playwrightsproject.org; or email write@playwrightsproject.org. jim.hebert@sduniontribune.com Twitter: @jimhebert After more than a year and a half, authorities have charged four suspected gang members in connection with the 2016 killing of a 1-year-old girl who was shot in her crib in Compton, officials said Wednesday. The four suspects in the Feb. 9 killing of Autumn Johnson in the 300 block of North Holly Avenue have all been taken into custody or were already incarcerated, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department. For the record: A previous version of this article misspelled Hulls last name as Hall. Also, the earlier version said Patterson was taken into custody Wednesday; it was Richards. Davion Douglas, 27, Denzel Hull, 25, and Ronzay Richards, 24, have each been charged with murder and attempted murder, officials said. Advertisement Ray Patterson, 24, who was arrested on suspicion of murder last year but then released, has now been charged with being an accessory to murder, officials said. Hull, who is already incarcerated on an unrelated burglary charge, was also charged with attempted murder in an unrelated incident in Compton about a month after Autumn was killed, Sheriffs Lt. John Corina said. Douglas and Patterson are also already incarcerated; Richards was taken into custody Wednesday, authorities said. The case made national headlines last year as the city struggled to combat gang violence. In 2016, 33 people were killed, the most since 2013, when 39 people were killed. Jeffery Wandick, Autumns grandfather, said sheriffs detectives were diligent in investigating the childs killing. They never stopped looking, he said. This case never went cold. Wandick said he still lives in the neighborhood, which has quieted considerably since Autumn was slain. That touched everybody, he said. She was innocent. She had nothing to do at all with any of this stuff. Originally, authorities said the gunman was aiming for Autumns father, but Corina said Wednesday that the gunman appeared to be targeting another man who was standing in front of the residence. Corina said the suspects are all from a rival gangs neighborhood. Cracking the case took a lot of hard work and a little bit of luck, Corina said. Gang cases are hard to solve, he said. A lot of people dont want to get involved or say anything. That night, about 7 p.m., Autumns mother, Blanche Wandick, was preparing her daughter a bottle. Autumn was standing in her crib when she was shot in the head. Sheriffs officials said at the time that a gunman got out of a blue Chevrolet Impala, walked toward the home and fired toward the garage. The gunman then got back into the car, which was seen heading south on North Holly Avenue. Autumns father cradled his daughter in his arms, shouting, My babys been shot! My babys been shot! Deputies who responded to the shooting took Autumn to the hospital themselves rather than wait for paramedics; her father rode in the backseat with her. Autumn, described by a family member as the center of attention and joy, had only recently learned to walk. A tiny baby at birth, she was called Minnie by family. She had just celebrated her first birthday with cake with yellow and pink frosting and Minnie Mouse balloons. Her smile would make you feel so good inside, Marques Slaughter, the childs uncle, previously told The Times. After the killing, officials announced a $75,000 reward for information leading to the suspect or suspects. Corina said that it was not the reward but detective and police work that led to the arrest. Authorities had to track people down and get them to talk, he said. Blanche Wandick was pregnant when Autumn was killed. Her son is now 18 months old, her father said. nicole.santacruz@latimes.com For more news on crime in Southern California, follow me on Twitter: @NicoleSantaCruz. ALSO Former Compton Mayor Omar Bradley sentenced to 36 months probation for misappropriating public funds Two killed in separate shootings in Compton Former congressional staffer for Janice Hahn indicted in alleged shakedown of Compton marijuana shop UPDATES: 8:30 p.m.: This article was updated with additional information about the suspects. 4:20 p.m.: This article was updated with comments from the girls grandfather and a sheriffs lieutenant. 1:50 p.m.: This article was updated with background about the killing. This article was originally published at 1:45 p.m. The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has agreed to pay $4 million to settle a wrongful-death lawsuit brought by the families of a couple killed four years ago when a sheriffs deputy raced into a Palmdale intersection and struck their car, records show. Sara Paynter and Robert Delgadillo were killed in December 2013 when the Ford Explorer they were riding in was struck by a Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department cruiser that had moments earlier been traveling at about 83 mph, according to a district attorneys memo. The posted speed limit was 50 mph. The deputy, Kamal Jannah, was not responding to an emergency call and did not have his lights or siren on at the time of the wreck, according to a report released by the county. Advertisement Paynter, 20, of Van Nuys, and Delgadillo, 31, of Palmdale, were ejected from the backseat of the SUV and pronounced dead at the scene. The deputy and two other people riding in the Explorer were injured. The couple had recently decided to get married and were on their way to their parents home to tell them about the engagement, said Arnoldo Casillas, one of the attorneys who sued the county on behalf of the families. A spokeswoman for the Sheriffs Department said Jannah separated from the agency in September 2016. She declined to comment on the settlement and said she was barred by state law from disclosing whether Jannah had been fired or voluntarily resigned. Jannah worked for the Sheriffs Department for about eight years and was reassigned to non-driving duties after the crash, authorities previously said. Investigators from the California Highway Patrol determined that the deputys speed was the primary cause of the crash. The collision would not have occurred if the deputy had obeyed the posted speed limit, the CHP found, according to the county report. The deputy was responding to a request for assistance at the scene of a fight in progress but failed to turn his lights or sirens on, according to records. As he was driving, a dispatcher clarified that the request was not an emergency, and that there was only a witness to a fight at the scene he was driving toward. The countys corrective action plan also placed some blame for the crash on the dispatchers initial request for an emergency response. The department has since implemented increased training on proper radio procedures and launched an initiative aimed at reducing deputy-involved traffic collisions at the Palmdale station, according to the county report. Jannah was writing reports in his cruiser about 4 p.m. on the day of the crash when he heard a dispatcher relay a call for assistance that may have involved a violent clash, according to the district attorneys memo. After some confusion over who was responding to the call, Jannah began traveling at speeds in excess of 55 mph without turning his lights or sirens on, the memo said. As he approached the intersection of East Avenue R and 17th Street, Jannah noticed the vehicle the victims were riding in, but said it did not have its turn signal activated, according to the memo. When it began to enter his lane of traffic, Jannah forcefully applied his brakes but still collided with the truck. At the moment of collision, Jannah was traveling about 57 mph, the prosecutors memo said. The district attorneys office considered filing misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter charges against the deputy, but could not, in part, because the case was not presented to prosecutors until February 2015. The one-year legal deadline for filing a misdemeanor charge had expired, according to the memo. Because the district attorneys office could not prove the gross negligence required for a felony charge of vehicular manslaughter, it chose not to prosecute, according to the memo. It was not immediately clear why CHP investigators waited until 2015 to present the case to prosecutors. james.queally@latimes.com Follow @JamesQueallyLAT for crime and police news in California. UPDATES: 7:15 p.m.: This story was updated with additional information provided by the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department. This article first published at 3:05 p.m. Students at Sequoia Elementary School in Clairemont will help develop a La Jolla Playhouse production and get lessons from dancers and others from the theater through a new partnership this year. San Diego Unified School District Superintendent Cindy Marten was at the school Tuesday morning along with a playhouse official and others to announce the partnership with Sequoia, the newest Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) school in the district. Artists from La Jolla Playhouse will be coming to this school, working with them, and kids will actually see real artists at work, she said. Advertisement Sequoia is the newest of five VAPA elementary schools. Families have from now until Nov. 13 to submit applications for schools outside their attendance zone, including VAPA schools, through the Neighborhood Schools and Enrollment Options Office. Application information is available at https://www.sandiegounified.org/school-choice-application. As part of the new partnership with La Jolla Playhouse, Sequoia Elementary students will help develop an originally play that will premiere at their school and artists from the theater will visit the campus. The theater also will host quarterly educator roundtables with teachers, administrators, teaching artists and community members as part of its partnership with the district. At Sequoia, La Jolla Playhouse educational programs and outreach director Steve McCormick said the theater will provide a resident teacher who will help integrate arts into the curriculum. In the latest edition to an existing program, the theater also will work with the school in developing an original play, Home of the Brave, written by Lee Catlauna from Honolulu and co-commissioned with the Honolulu Theater for Youth. Their artistic director and I are good friends, McCormick said. We realized both Honolulu and San Diego have thousands of children a year who are in military families, and we dont know about their stories, he said. The play is based on a number of interviews with military families and is still under development. Workshops already have been performed before students at Freese and Ocean Beach elementary schools, and next students from Sequoia will give their feedback. In January when we do rehearsals, Sequoia students will come, watch rehearsals at the Playhouse, ask them what they found confusing, interesting, and what they liked, McCormick said. Theyll get to see behind the scenes, meet the directors, the playwright, and get to meet the designers, he said. Theyre going to be asked their opinion on everything, from how the play looks to how it sounds. The play will premiere at Sequoia on Jan. 30 and then move on to other schools. It also will be performed at Camp Pendleton, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Lincoln Military Housing and at the La Jolla Playhouse itself. As part of the agreement, McCormick said a performer from the upcoming La Jolla Playhouse original production Summer: The Donna Summer Musical might come to the school. Maybe a dancer who is in that show might come in and work with a dance teacher here and talk to the students, he said. It might be a residency where they come in and teach some of the dances in the show. Homeless Playlist On Now San Diego hepatitis outbreak continues to grow: 481 cases On Now Homeless entrenched in booming tent city along Santa Ana River On Now San Diego mayor agreed to homeless hub, then delayed, advocates say On Now Homeless outreach in San Diego On Now Video: Street Art: Portraits of San Diego's Homeless #8 On Now In poverty himself, 'Water Man Dave,' is the fearless saint of San Diego's homeless 5:41 On Now Video: Homeless living in cars find safe havens 2:21 On Now Street Art: Portraits of San Diego's Homeless #7 On Now Pitching a tent plan for San Diego's homeless On Now Homeless efforts get $80M boost for various services gary.warth@sduniontribune.com Twitter: @GaryWarthUT 760-529-4939 San Diego city officials warned employees about the deadly hepatitis A outbreak two times before Mayor Kevin Faulconer issued any public statements about the spreading infectious disease, newly released emails show. The initial alerts to city workers and to more than 11,000 vendors doing business with City Hall were issued in May. Employees were warned about the threat again in August. Faulconer first mentioned the crisis in a public statement in September, four months after city and county officials first met about the health crisis. Advertisement County public health officials began informing city leaders about the outbreak in mid-April, emails show. City officials monitored the increasing caseload before meeting with the county in early May. Within days of that May 4 discussion, San Diego leaders began organizing mass vaccinations for the city workforce. Councilman David Alvarez said the city administration should have warned the rest of the public sooner. It is undeniable that the city should have done more to address the hepatitis A outbreak as far back as May, Alvarez said. More people were exposed and the outbreak grew due to the lack of urgency. The city must now take extraordinary measures to address this. A city spokeswoman said San Diego County serves as the regions public health office. The county runs the public health agency and is therefore in charge of alerting the public when an emergency exists, spokeswoman Katie Keach said in response to questions about the emails. The city has taken immediate action in response to every request and directive from the countys Health and Human Services Agency. The email exchanges most of which were labeled confidential were released to the The San Diego Union-Tribune under the California Public Records Act. The release included almost 1,500 pages of emails and other communications related to the hepatitis A crisis that has infected more than 480 people and killed 17 since November. The employee notifications were released, but the city redacted key exchanges between senior officials. Keach said information that was withheld as a work in progress. We redacted draft materials, she said. The initial internal communication was sent to city workers May 5. It advised employees of the police and fire departments, libraries, the park and recreation department, environmental services, transportation, storm water and environmental services that they may be at risk for exposure. If there are other sectors or work groups within the city, not identified above, that work directly with the homeless population or illicit drug users, please provide them with a copy of the attached notice, the internal communication stated. Even after the employee warning, some workers were not clear on the vaccination offer. Ive been out of the loop, one public information officer wrote to colleagues five days later. Had no idea staff needed shots. It was not always made clear to employees they would need an additional booster shot six months later. In a telephone conversations (sic) you stated to me that only 1 vaccine for Hepatitis A was needed This situation was handled very poorly, an administrative aide complained to one of her managers in May. By May 12, 46 employees had requested vaccinations, most of them from Environmental Services, the emails show. The next month, management analysts pegged the cost at just under $11,000 and said each department could absorb the cost on its own. Later in May, a risk-management official emailed a public works supervisor to confirm that employees had been vaccinated. The pace of vaccinations picked up over the summer, as the fatality rate in the public health crisis reached into double digits. According to an August email from Battalion Chief David Picone to his boss, Fire-Rescue Chief Brian Fennessy, 444 individuals participated in the first phase and the city had 756 vaccines left. We are looking good for the second Hep A vaccination in the series and will not need to purchase an additional supply, Picone wrote. The emails also show debate within City Hall about who should reply to media inquiries. In June, for example, after the death toll climbed to four, The San Diego Union-Tribune requested detailed responses from the city to the escalating crisis. Emails show the request bounced between the Mayors Office and the less political communications staff. I think the response should come from CommsD (the communications office), mayoral spokesman Craig Gustafson advised his boss, deputy chief of staff Matt Awbrey and others. This is really a county function, in terms of responding to the Hep A outbreak. Keach said it is not unusual for her to discuss media responses with the Mayors Office. Communications staff regularly communicate about issues of all kinds, at times to determine who has the best information available for the reporter, she said. Many of the emails confirm what the Union-Tribune and other media outlets have reported for weeks: Both the city and county were initially slow to respond to the public health crisis and each agency has pinned some of the blame on the other. County epidemiologists identified the rash of hepatitis A cases in early March, and dated the infection to the previous November. They convened a meeting between city and county officials in May, by which time three people were dead and the caseload had swelled to 80. It took the county until August to publish informational posters and September to place temporary sinks and portable toilets downtown. The latest emails show city officials began monitoring the outbreak as early as mid-April. In one exchange, a staffer is asked to check with the San Diego Housing Commission about how city-funded service providers were responding to the emergency. Housing commission vice president Melissa Peterman responded that questions were better directed to the county. We have not yet received word from any of our partners that their clients have been affected by hepatitis A, she wrote. The following week, county assistant health director Susan Bower told San Diegos assistant chief operating officer, Stacey LoMedico, that she would welcome whatever assistance the city might be able to offer. Stacey- appreciate any help you can provide in getting info out for people to get vaccinated, Bower emailed on April 25. Attached is flier. The exchange apparently prompted some internal criticism of the countys efforts to alert the public to the rising hepatitis A infection rate. I just checked @sandiegocounty and @sdcountyhhsa and saw no mention, Keach wrote to LoMedico and others a few minutes after the Bower email to LoMedico. Im happy to reach out. I would think they have more direct outreach to their service providers than Twitter. Inside the Performance and Analytics Department, the city shop aimed at making government more efficient, two program managers were less than surprised when the county announced in May that the number of hepatitis A-related deaths had climbed to three. Crazy! one wrote to her colleague. You called it. As of Tuesday, San Diego County had recorded a total of 481 hepatitis A cases and 17 deaths. Watchdog Videos On Now Sexual misconduct accusers worry deputy is being protected 6:16 On Now City funded $2-million waterfront bathroom 1:26 On Now Public water district charges customer for legal work, response to records request On Now Video: Tiny homes won't be reused amid housing, homeless crisis On Now Attorney General seeks documentation for Miss Middle East On Now Rep. Hunter probe covers possible fraud On Now Video: SDG&E delaying solar credit for some low-income housing tenants On Now Video: Former San Diego Junior Theatre teacher sentenced for sex with teen girl 0:24 On Now Video: Shelter volunteers believe they were fired for finding a dog a home 0:49 On Now McKamey Manor is leaving San Diego 3:35 jeff.mcdonald@sduniontribune.com (619) 293-1708 @sdutMcDonald Paramedics are the newest troops in the fight against San Diegos ever-growing hepatitis A outbreak. A letter signed this week by the director of the state Emergency Medical Services Authority temporarily expands state laws that govern paramedics, granting them emergency powers to vaccinate at-risk populations in response to the outbreak. Dr. Kristi Koenig, director of the San Diego County Emergency Medical Service, requested the temporary scope of practice expansion on Sept. 20 and said Wednesday night that she received approval in the mail Tuesday. Advertisement Paramedics will be able to deliver hepatitis A doses only under the supervision of nurses and only at special events created to inoculate those who are at high risk of infection, including homeless residents, drug users and those with liver disease or compromised immune systems. Usually only nurses and doctors are allowed to give the vaccine. Paramedics already have basic skills in terms of delivering injections, and this approval allows us to give them extra training to do vaccination but only in very specific settings with very specific oversight, Koenig said, adding that they will not be able to administer vaccines during emergency calls. She said getting the state to approve the request took a fair bit of back-and-forth with California regulators. Assemblyman Todd Gloria, D-San Diego, added a letter of his own urging approval on Sept. 27. Gloria said Wednesday evening that he believes paramedics can take pressure off public health nurses who have been engaged in a large and growing public vaccination campaign to stop the outbreak, which has now killed 17 people and sickened nearly 500 people throughout the region. He said that these first responders can be effective with the homeless and drug-using population that has been disproportionately affected by the outbreak. Paramedics are often in communication with this population and, frankly, might be better able to get them to say yes to the vaccine, said Gloria, a former city council member. This adds hundreds of health care professionals to the vaccination campaign. Having more boots on the ground, so to speak, I think can help us keep this outbreak from spreading any more than it already has. The campaign, by all counts, continues to gain steam. Last week public health officials reported that more than 42,000 doses have been administered. During a presentation at the San Diego Convention Center Wednesday afternoon that number was bumped up to 54,000 by Dr. Eric McDonald, director of the countys Epidemiology and Immunization Services Branch. He delivered that news to a room full of epidemiology experts attending the session of IDWeek, the annual scientific meeting of the Infectious Diseases Society of America which will gather at the San Diego Convention Center through Sunday. McDonald and Dr. Monique Foster, a Centers for Disease Control epidemiologist who has worked with local health officials, noted that there has been a huge increase in hepatitis A cases nationwide recently. Over the last 15 months, Foster said, 1,400 cases have been confirmed, and genetic testing has shown that most of them are caused by a 1B strain of the virus that is uncommon in the United States. During her presentation at the convention center, Foster noted that hepatitis A outbreaks were known to flare every 10 to 15 years. Given that the current vaccine was not added to the nations childhood vaccination schedule until 2006, the timing of the current surge in cases might be following that old pattern which regularly caused outbreaks with hundreds of cases before a vaccine was available. Maybe those cyclic increases still occur, and theyre just blunted by the vaccine, Foster said. Many in the audience at Wednesdays talk, who had traveled to San Diego from all over the nation, stood up and asked questions about the outbreak that just happened to be happening in the very city where their conference had already been scheduled. One wanted to know more about the five health care workers who had become infected. Four of those five actually worked in direct patient care where there was a high flow of hepatitis A patients coming in, McDonald said, adding that a local physician in primary care is the most recent confirmed health care worker case. Another wondered whether the majority of drug users who have been infected have favored crystal meth or intravenous drugs. McDonald said about half of the drug users were on meth while the rest got their fixes through syringes. That hasnt been the case, he added, in other places where the outbreak has spread. In Santa Cruz (County) theyre almost all IV drug users, McDonald said. The physician also provided a few more details on the only child a five-year-old infected so far. It was an un-immunized member of a vaccine-resistant family who got it from a direct family contact, McDonald 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 The blame game has begun. With the death toll up to 17 and more than 450 sickened since November, focus has started to shift to what led to San Diego Countys hepatitis A outbreak. Did the city of San Diego do enough to provide basic sanitation for the homeless? Did county health officials act fast enough to warn against and contain the virus? But how that finger-pointing would stand up in a courtroom is another matter entirely. Advertisement Lawsuits are probably on the way, leaving legal experts to ponder what those cases would look like. You cant help but sit around with a beer and think Oh my God, is there liability here? What would it be? said San Diego attorney Scott Dreher, who is suing the city on accusations of unfairly ticketing homeless people on sidewalks. He said any lawyer pondering litigation in this case would likely start with the standard premise: What did they know, who knew it and when? Legal scholars and the most aggressive personal injury attorneys could not create a more fertile ground for litigation, said San Diego attorney Michael Aguirre, a former city attorney with a practice focusing on fraud and public policy issues. But anyone wanting to sue a city or county will find out its not easy to sue a government. And this hepatitis outbreak is far more complex than the ones litigated in other parts of the country. Its one thing to bring a lawsuit, another thing to win a lawsuit, Aguirre cautioned. At this point in the outbreak, the city of San Diego home to the regions largest concentration of homeless and county Health and Human Services Agency seem the biggest potential targets. Emails between officials show there were ongoing discussions of how to handle the crisis but an apparent hesitancy to implement some solutions quickly. The solutions included installing portable toilets and hand-washing stations downtown to accommodate the ballooning transient population and posters for a public-awareness campaign. Critics also point to what they say is the citys long-standing inability to effectively deal with the homeless and greater problem of affordable housing, as well as a history of being warned about the risk of such a disease outbreak due to lack of public restrooms downtown. Both city and county officials have defended their responses to the crisis, saying they have implemented timely vaccine clinics, public-awareness campaigns, and clean-up operations. City officials said they had good reason to previously remove some downtown restrooms out of concern for public safety, saying the portables had attracted drug use and prostitution. The county is the basic public health office, Aguirre said. Their job is to warn and to take corrective action, but they dont have any authority to build facilities in San Diego. This has to do with a question of basic hygiene within the city, and that falls on the citys shoulders. But lawsuits against a government would have a huge initial hurdle to overcome: immunity. Sovereign immunity laws generally protect government bodies from liability, giving elected officials wide latitude on decision making. It ultimately comes down to resource allocation situation. The government has a limited amount of dollars and has to make choices, said Fred Pritzker, a Minneapolis-based attorney who specializes in hepatitis A and food-borne illness lawsuits. Decisions made by city council vote or other legislative means are more protected than a ministerial act lower down the chain of government, legal experts said. An area that could make local government vulnerable is the state tort claims law that says officials could be held liable if they were put on notice of a dangerous condition on public property but failed to take corrective measures. Its a law typically used in the context of poorly maintained sidewalks or streets that cause injury or death. Its a question of the city acting reasonably under the circumstances, Aguirre explained. Government immunity has been tested in numerous cases over the years and a body of law established, but maybe not in a way that addresses this situation, legal experts said. In the context of a public health crisis, its a very intriguing question, said Tim Cohelan, a San Diego class-action attorney who has previously sued the city on behalf of the homeless. There is also a question of willful conduct versus negligence. Is there evidence of specific actions government employees took that led to the outbreak, of corruption or cover-up? Or is it failing to take action? Some citizens are calling for even harsher measures. A change.org petition started by a Los Angeles woman calls for the state attorney general to launch a criminal negligence investigation into Mayor Kevin Faulconer. It had garnered roughly 500 signatures by Saturday afternoon. The Attorney Generals Office did not respond to an inquiry about the petition, and the mayors office declined to comment. Even if a plaintiff can get past immunity issues, proving causation could be challenging. The exact source of the outbreak is not known and may never be. In personal injury cases, specifics matter. How did one person specifically get it and somebody else didnt? asked Pritzker. Its almost impossible to show. The first few cases connected to the outbreak came from El Cajon and La Mesa in late November of 2016, Dr. Wilma Wooten, the countys public health officer, told the county Board of Supervisors last week. That news drew a sharp line of questioning from supervisor Dianne Jacob whose district includes much of East County. Were they residents? Do we know? Jacob asked. This is where you identified the first cases, but they could have come from somewhere else, is that correct? Wooten replied: The cases were homeless, and as we know, homeless people do move around. Theyre very transient the individuals could have been picked up in that zipcode, but it doesnt necessarily mean that they lived in that zipcode. The exchange illustrates how San Diegos outbreak is vastly different than cases Pritzker and other hepatitis attorneys litigate, where the source is often easily traced to a single food distributor or restaurant. For example, in Hawaii last year, hundreds of people were sickened, and one woman died. The epidemic was traced to tainted scallops served at a chain of sushi restaurants and resulted in several lawsuits. Here, there is no known patient zero. And the nature of the disease with an incubation period of two weeks before symptoms show up means that the infection chain in this case may be impossible to trace. You cant put a toilet and cant put a sink on every corner where theres a homeless person, Pritzker said. You cant prove what they did or didnt do would have resulted in something different. You can make general statements but cant make individual case specific statements. If hepatitis A victims did want to band together in court, a mass tort action would probably be more appropriate than a class action, since each victim likely contracted the disease from different sources, Pritzker said. Mass tort cases are held together by a common premise but then litigated separately on individual factors. For example, one person might have been infected by coming into contact with feces on the street, while another was sickened by an infected door handle or food server. Damages would also be different: Some people died, some were hospitalized and some affected mildly. Some had pre-existing conditions. Every personal injury claim also looks at the victims degree of fault. Here, a victims intravenous drug use or failure to wash hands may come into play. Mass tort claims save the court, attorneys and parties money and resources because the cases are often managed together at first under one judge for discovery purposes, then later litigated individually according to the unique circumstances. Hepatitis A victims would be the obvious plaintiffs for potential lawsuits, but legal experts say cases could also come from other states or cities where the disease may have spread, or from businesses that may argue they lost revenue because of the outbreak. Some lawyer more creative than me will say, Heres what you can recoup and heres how, Dreher said. Staff writer Paul Sisson contributed to this report. kristina.davis@sduniontribune.com Twitter: @kristinadavis More homeless people have moved into Hillcrest since police cracked down on illegal tents downtown in recent weeks, and some have been aggressive toward business owners and others, said a local business leader. Last week our security service had a whole host of people to deal with, said Benjamin Nicholls, executive director of the Hillcrest Business Association said Nicholls said a homeless man threw a rock at him last week, and another threatened an association volunteer at the Sunday Farmers Market. Advertisement Even some homeless people in Hillcrest have said theyve seen more people in their neighborhood during the past few weeks, some with a different attitude. Jeremy Johnston, who said he lives in the canyons near Hillcrest, said the influx has been noticed but that homeless people who have been in the neighborhood a while do not cause trouble and try to keep the area clean. This is where we live, he said. Were productive members of society. A man with him who did not want to be identified, seconded Nicholls perception that some of the new people were more aggressive. Homeless people are not new to Hillcrest, and the community has dealt with unruly behavior on the streets before. In June, Henry Mayer of Mayer Reprographics on University Avenue posted on the Hillcrest Business Association Facebook page a security video of a homeless man threatening him with a machete. Last year, the association hired a security firm to help police the area after businesses complained about people panhandling in their restaurants, sleeping in their showrooms and defecating behind their shops. Nicholls said the regular local homeless are less of a problem these days than the dozen or so new arrivals to Hillcrest. We have kind of an equilibrium with the people in the neighborhood, he said. Weve called their bluff too many times. We know theyre not going to attack us. But these new people, theyre trying to find the lay of the land, he said. They find a vestibule and say, This is my space now. You cant tell me I cant be here. He suspects they may have come from downtown areas that police recently cleared of homeless encampments. One of the largest encampments was along 17th Street near Imperial Avenue, where police told homeless people last week to remove their tents and not return. The eviction was among several steps the city has taken to curb a hepatitis A outbreak that has sickened 481 people and left 17 dead. While people were told to not return to the unsanitary, congested campsites downtown, they were not directed to any particular place and appear to have gone to several different locations. Balboa Park Conservancy Director Tomas Herera-Mishler said last week that he had seen many more homeless people in the park since the downtown evictions. Members of Alpha Projects homeless outreach team said theyve seen others from around 17th Street at Embarcadero Marina Park South behind the San Diego Convention Center. Nicholls said windows have been broken with rocks at Servall Liquor, Lestats Coffee House, Tacos Liberdad, Luigi Vera, The Hive and Starbucks on 5th Avenue. The windows were broken before the recent influx of people from downtown, but Nicholls said he believes the person who threw a rock at him was one of the new arrivals. The association already has removed decorative river rocks around the base of trees from some spots, replacing them with pebbles. We spent about $20,000 putting them in, and theyre all over the neighborhood, he said about the river rocks. I dont know if we have the money to take them out. Were just taking them out as people complain (of rocks being used as weapons.) Nicholls said hes also considering cutting back the tall reeds in the landscaping at the base of the Pride Flag at Normal Street and University Avenue because the plants have been damaged by homeless people hanging out there. I dont know if thats what the community wants their monument to look like, he said. Bob McElroy, president and CEO of the Alpha Project, said he doesnt think homeless people from downtown are more menacing than the homeless of Hillcrest, but they may be under more stress. Its a powder keg right now, he said. Maybe some of the aggression comes from being moved from one place to another. Most of these folks want to be left alone, obviously. People are just frustrated. John Husler, owner of Lestats Coffee House in Hillcrest, University Heights and Normal Heights, also said hes seen an increase in homeless people in Hillcrest over the past few weeks. Its sort of a normal thing, he said. Whenever they do anything downtown, theres more of an abundance here. And eventually well see them in Normal Heights, where the other shop is. Husler said hes had to ask people to move away from his Hillcrest shop over the past few days. He doesnt see the new arrivals as aggressive, but said they do seem different than the regular homeless he sees. Theres definitely more agitation, he said. The anger seems higher. Whenever theyre pushed out of downtown, the anger seems higher. Homeless Playlist On Now San Diego hepatitis outbreak continues to grow: 481 cases On Now Homeless entrenched in booming tent city along Santa Ana River On Now San Diego mayor agreed to homeless hub, then delayed, advocates say On Now Homeless outreach in San Diego On Now Video: Street Art: Portraits of San Diego's Homeless #8 On Now In poverty himself, 'Water Man Dave,' is the fearless saint of San Diego's homeless 5:41 On Now Video: Homeless living in cars find safe havens 2:21 On Now Street Art: Portraits of San Diego's Homeless #7 On Now Pitching a tent plan for San Diego's homeless On Now Homeless efforts get $80M boost for various services gary.warth@sduniontribune.com Twitter: @GaryWarthUT 760-529-4939 San Diego officials funded fewer than 20 percent of the affordable rental housing units they hoped to finance over the past fiscal year, despite a nearly 85 percent bump in revenue from developer fees to support such projects. The 51 rental units backed by the San Diego Housing Commission in the fiscal year that ended on June 30 fell shy of the 310 the commission had aimed for, according to an annual financial report released by officials last week. Past reports reviewed by The San Diego Union-Tribune show the public agency, which ranks as the regions largest low-income housing developer, has failed to reach its rental housing targets in each of the past five fiscal years. Officials collected $25.5 million in fees to support those developments in 2017, compared to $13.8 million in 2016. Advertisement Last weeks report which is scheduled to go in front of housing commissioners on Friday cited delayed project timelines and funding approvals among the reasons for the production totals. It said 10 agency-aided housing developments are currently in some stage of construction, while more than 800 low-income housing units are expected to be completed by July 2018. That tally would nearly match the number of fee-funded rental units built by the agency since fiscal year 2012, the last time officials surpassed their yearly rental housing construction goals. Spokesman Scott Marshall said the commission spent $375,000 in developer fees in 2017 on the Vista del Puente project near the intersection of Gamma Street and South 40th Street. Marshall said another $36.8 million in unspent fees had been committed to future rental housing developments. The housing commission reported $15 million in such funds this time last year, two months before health officials spotted the first hints of what would become a deadly, human waste-fueled hepatitis A outbreak. The ongoing outbreak, linked to a lack of restrooms available for use by San Diegos soaring homeless population, has killed 17 people and sickened 481 others since November 2016. Critics have pinned some of the blame for the illness on the citys long-running lack of affordable housing, which they say contributed to shelter crowding and helped fuel the growth of the citys homeless population. The U-T in November reported housing officials had collected more than $95 million in fees charged to developers who opt out of building affordable housing units as part of a planned residential project. The funds are used for loans and other incentives, and have helped bring 2,980 units on the market since 2005. Plans to create a central place where homeless people can find shelter and be connected to services are moving forward, although the opening of a center still could be two years away. On Sept. 21, the city issued a Request for Proposals, the official call for providers to submit ideas for the center, with a deadline of March 1 for submissions. San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer announced plans for the center in his January State of the City address. Advertisement Its about creating a central hub where any man or woman on the street can go to start the path to a better life and be directed to one of our regions service providers, which will give them the care thats tailored to their unique situation, he said. Its a totally new approach that will take time to build. Faulconer said the center would streamline services by creating the citys first integrated assessment system, but otherwise did not give specifics about how the center would operate. Likewise, the 128-page Request for Proposals also does not describe how the center would look or details about its operation. Jonathan Herrera, Faulconers senior adviser on homeless coordination, said that was intentional. We didnt get prescriptive in the RFP, he said. We will rely on the respondents. The city plans to invest $17.5 million in the project over the next five years, beginning with $11.55 million that will be identified in the budget for fiscal year 2019. That money will include $11 million from Community Development Block Grant money, $300,000 from the general fund and $250,000 from the citys low- and moderate-income housing fund. The plan calls for investing $1.55 million annually for the final four years. The lead agencies that will submit proposals are Father Joes Villages, the Alpha Project, San Diego Youth Services, Catholic Charities and People Assisting the Homeless, more commonly known as PATH San Diego. The potential operators were identified earlier this year when the city issued a Request for Statement of Qualification. In the months since the State of the City announcement, a working group of people from the city, county, Housing Commission and the five agencies was formed to collaborate on the RFP. It definitely has improved over the last several months, Herrera said about the vision for the center. The housing navigation center will include a drop-in component where homeless people will be assessed and directed to services, and also an area that will provide temporary housing. We do not prescribe how many individuals it will serve, Herrera said. Its our goal for several hundred to have the biggest impact. While Herrera said the plan is to open the center by July 2019, he also said it could open sooner, depending on the plan proposed. Its really going to be based on the site, he said, explaining that refurbishing an existing building would be faster than building something new. Theres obviously an opportunity that it could be up before that. The pressure to get projects and services to help the homeless up and running has grown with the months-long hepatitis A outbreak that has killed 17 and stricken nearly 500 people, the majority of whom are homeless or serious drug users. Herrera said the city is taking several steps more immediate steps, including a recently announced plan to erect at least three industrial tents to houses hundreds of people. He said the city is taking several more immediate steps, including a recently announced plan to erect at least three industrial tents to houses hundreds of people. On Monday, the city plans to open its first sanctioned homeless encampment, which will house about 200 people until the first industrial tent opens sometime around Thanksgiving. In another recent change, Herrera said Father Joes, YWCA and PATH have changed policies and now allow couples and pets. The change was made after surveying people about why they were not using those shelters, he said. Homeless Playlist On Now San Diego hepatitis outbreak continues to grow: 481 cases On Now Homeless entrenched in booming tent city along Santa Ana River On Now San Diego mayor agreed to homeless hub, then delayed, advocates say On Now Homeless outreach in San Diego On Now Video: Street Art: Portraits of San Diego's Homeless #8 On Now In poverty himself, 'Water Man Dave,' is the fearless saint of San Diego's homeless 5:41 On Now Video: Homeless living in cars find safe havens 2:21 On Now Street Art: Portraits of San Diego's Homeless #7 On Now Pitching a tent plan for San Diego's homeless On Now Homeless efforts get $80M boost for various services gary.warth@sduniontribune.com Twitter: @GaryWarthUT 760-529-4939 Former county Supervisor Dave Roberts has qualified for workers compensation payments from San Diego County for a repetitive use injury to the right side of his body, which he developed during four years he spent using a computer, talking on a phone and doing the other regular duties of his office. State records show that Roberts was given a 13 percent permanent disability rating from doctors and will receive a $12,250 settlement from the county, paid in weekly installments for about 40 weeks. Through examinations over two years with five different physicians, doctors determined that Roberts developed a painful injury to his right hand, arm and shoulder while using his computers mouse, talking on the phone and other routine tasks of white-collar life. Advertisement Roberts agreed to drop another claim, for ongoing psychological stress from an October 2013 encounter with a mentally-ill man who made stabbing motions with silverware. Roberts was evaluated by a psychiatrist, who determined that Roberts would have met the technical qualifications for a workers compensation claim for psychological stress, but the problems were not related to the 2013 run-in for which he filed his claim. Mr. Roberts is having nightmares and he has reported that they have been severe since he was a county supervisor, say the notes from Dr. Elise Reed, a psychiatrist. He reported that his sleep is somewhat disturbed. Roberts lost his re-election campaign last year to now-Supervisor Kristin Gaspar after he was dogged by scandal. Four women from his staff abruptly resigned form his office and levied a series of allegations. The women said he used county employees and resources for his re-election campaign, had an improper but non-sexual relationship with an assistant and offered one of his staffers a promotion and a raise to misdirect a county investigation into his office, among other accusations. Roberts denied wrongdoing. The Board of Supervisors paid $310,000 to settle claims filed by three of the four women. Physicians notes included in the state records say Roberts planned to move to Connecticut with his family. He did not respond to a request for comment. County officials also did not respond to a request for comment. The San Diego Union-Tribune received records of Roberts case from the state Department of Industrial Relations under the California Public Records Act. In the records, physicians all agreed that Roberts had pain from his right hand to his right shoulder and that his job activities contributed to his symptoms. Their notes say he likely would not feel completely perfect again, but did not appear to be getting any worse. They also agreed that his pain was mild and manageable with medicine, while some of the doctors also noted that Roberts seemed to benefit from physical therapy sessions and acupuncture treatments. This can arise out of his work as a county supervisor with his frequent use of the computer and a smart phone, and it also appears to have occurred during the course of his employment, Dr. Minh Nguyen wrote. The records also said that activities outside of work and pre-existing conditions also contributed to his discomfort. Roberts agreed to dismiss another workers compensation claim related to psychological stress related to the run in with a mentally-ill man brandishing a fork while Roberts headed to a Kearny Mesa restaurant to make a political endorsement. He held the fork out and made stabbing motions with it as he approached me. He was mumbling something, Roberts said, according to a police report. The suspect retreated to a van, and later returned with a knife and made more stabbing motions. Roberts later called the police, and the man was charged with a misdemeanor. Reed, the psychiatrist, interviewed Roberts for the workers compensation claim. She found the former supervisor was in very good condition, didnt struggle to make difficult decisions and was highly functioning. She did note that his work in the county had harmed his sleep. She also said he was stressed by what turned out to be a harmless encounter with a man. He had an incident when he was called out to by a person who know that he was Dave Roberts. The man was of Persian descent and he made a motion that Mr. Roberts thought might be pulling a gun. All the man did was hand him his card and ask him to give it to his Realtor, Reed said. Reed noted that Roberts would have met the standards for workers compensation based on job-related stresses, but that his filing was based on the fork incident which didnt qualify. San Diego County is self-insured, and workers compensation claims paid to Roberts and other recipients are public money. Figures for the most recent fiscal year were not available, but in the prior fiscal year county government paid $22.3 million in benefits. Twitter: @jptstewart joshua.stewart@sduniontribune.com (619) 293-1841 In the wake of the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history, federal law may catch up to California law when it comes to banning a tool you can buy online for $200 that makes your semiautomatic weapon mimic the rapid fire of a machine gun. Bump fire stock or bump stock for short has been generally considered illegal in California for several years, but it is legal federally. The device is in the national spotlight after authorities found Las Vegas shooter Stephen Paddock had outfitted a dozen semiautomatic rifles with the aftermarket product. In 2013 following the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., proposed banning bump stocks as part of a broader bill to ban assault weapons, but it was defeated. On Wednesday, Feinstein and 26 other Democratic senators introduced a bill to ban the tool nationwide. Advertisement This is taking it to war, she said. . . . Are these things we want sold over the Internet? Republicans in Congress have almost universally shut out legislation on gun control in the wake of the Las Vegas massacre, but some conservative GOP members have indicated they may support such a ban. You have to have a special class of license to have an automatic weapon, Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., chairman of the Freedom Caucus, told The Washington Post. And, so, if this is something to bypass this, I think it becomes something that we obviously need to look at in the future. The very fact that there could be an opening for Congress to do something bipartisan on one of the most partisan issues of our time gun control is notable. In California, bump stocks fall under the banned category of multiple burst trigger activators, described in the law as devices manual or power driven that attach to a semiautomatic gun and allow the discharge of two or more shots in a burst or increased rate of fire. There are some differences of opinion on online gun forums whether the device is technically illegal in the state, but most gun enthusiasts readily admit they dont want to be the one to test the limits of the law. Id advise a client not to purchase or possess one in California, said San Bernardino gun law attorney Bruce Colodny. There have been reported runs on bump stocks around the country, but San Diego County gun shops, which havent sold the devices in years, reported seeing no drastic effects of the Vegas shooting. It is a larger indication that local gun owners dont have an overwhelming fear of forthcoming restrictions. Many cite Californias already strict gun laws, considered the tightest in the country. I cant imagine any reasonable legislator thinking they can write anything that would have prevented what happened, said Darin Prince, co-owner of North County Firearms in San Marcos. Unless they can come up with a plan on how to stop what happened, I dont see anything that couldve been changed. The bump stocks, which replaces the shoulder stock of the gun and uses the guns recoil energy to effectively turn a semi-automatic gun one bullet per trigger pull into a rapid-firing weapon, were likely used to get around the federal ban on newly manufactured machine guns for civilians. The National Firearms Act does allow the possession and transfer of machine guns made before 1986 as long as they are registered with the federal government. As of April there were about 630,000 registered machine guns in the country, with about 29,000 in California, according to the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. (Other NFA weapons requiring registration include silencers and short-barreled rifles and shotguns.) The predominant seller of bump stocks, Slide Fire, offers them online. A 2010 letter on Slide Fires website from ATF indicates that the company petitioned ATF to approve the device as a way to help people with disabilities simulate an automatic weapon without having to hold it a certain way. Its intended to assist persons whose hands have limited mobility to bump-fire an AR-15 type rifle, ATF letter says. In a video on the websites homepage, a man is shown putting a bump stock on his rifle and then firing into the woods. As long as patriots like you kindle its flame, a deep-voiced narrator says, freedom has but one enemy it cannot defeat. And that is negligence. Epic classical music crescendos. The man stops firing, and the gun smokes in the night. The narrator goes on. Jefferson and Paine, Adams, Madison, Mason and Franklin. I think theyre looking down right now at us. I think they understand what were trying to do. The company did not return a phone call for comment Wednesday morning. Some gun owners dont like it: On the YouTube channel Legally Armed America, a gun owner disses the product as something only a total jackass would use. Its not accurate and doesnt help make your gun better, in the sense that you the holder of it are safer, he said. Feinstein says shes reaching out to Republican senators to see if theyll support the bill. Some notable Republicans are at least interested in what she has to say. Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., who is close to House leadership, told MSNBC: I did not know that there was technology capable that cheaply of transforming a semiautomatic into an automatic weapon. So, yes, I dont think theres any question we ought to look at that. Other Republicans indicated that the latest tragedy is not going to change their position. In a Washington Post interview Wednesday, House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, R-La. who returned to Congress last week after surviving a shooting in July said: I think its a shame that the day somebody hears about a shooting, the first thing they think about is, how can I go promote my gun control agenda, as opposed to saying, how do I go pray and help the families that are suffering? David Chipman, a former ATF agent and an adviser to the gun-control group Americans for Responsible Solutions, said hed caution lawmakers against considering an outright ban. I found that when you ban something, then everyone wants it, he said. Despite the strict gun laws in California, in some cases it is not difficult to obtain firearms illegally, or possess firearms that are considered illegal. Guns enter the illegal market through theft, unlicensed private sales, trafficking across state lines and straw buyers purchasing for prohibited persons. Gun owners can also buy or make unregulated gun parts to retrofit their firearms to get around laws. The number of firearms seized by ATF in California continues to rise, from roughly 32,300 in 2013 to 39,000 in 2016, according to agency data. The reason why is unclear. The firearms were seized as part of investigations into unlawful possession, violent crime and other weapons offenses. Most of the weapons that could be traced to a point of origin came from within the state, however at least 3,000 last year were traced to neighboring Arizona and Nevada, both states with looser gun laws. Of the guns that could be traced to California, just under 1,000 were recovered in San Diego less than in Los Angeles, Sacramento, Oakland and San Francisco. ATF has been able to trace almost all of the 47 firearms recovered from Paddocks hotel room, car and home including 23 guns found in the Mandalay Bay hotel room hed turned into a snipers nest and found theyd been purchased in Nevada, California, Utah and Texas, apparently legally. While the fate of bump stocks are being discussed at the federal level, California is in the midst of implementing and fighting challenges to its latest gun-control laws. Beginning July 1, 2018, all guns must have a unique serial number that is registered with the state. That applies to anyone manufacturing or assembling a gun from a blank receiver, as well as to existing guns without identifying marks. The law addresses the trend that emerged a few years ago of people piecing together their own guns from unfinished lower receivers. Advances in technology have made it easier for people at home or shared workshop spaces to use tools to easily build their own working guns. Magazines holding more than 10 bullets are illegal, and owners must dispose of large-capacity magazines by either selling them to an authorized gun dealer, surrendering them to authorities, destroying them or taking them to another state. This law has been challenged in a lawsuit filed in San Diego federal court by the state affiliate of the National Rifle Association, with U.S. District Judge Roger Benitez blocking the law before it could go into effect July 1, 2017. He said in a ruling the law would violate gun owners rights to defend the home, unfairly take peoples property without compensation and make otherwise law-abiding citizens criminals for merely possessing large-capacity magazines. The judge eviscerated the states gun laws for being complicated and confusing, saying they are filled with criminal law traps for people of common intelligence who desire to obey the law. State Attorney General Xavier Becerra is appealing the preliminary injunction. The definition of an assault weapon is changed to mean a firearm without a fixed magazine. The law requires anyone who obtained such a weapon from 2001 to 2016 to register it with the state. The measure outlaws guns with bullet buttons, which were created to get around the states previous assault weapons ban. Rather than being able to detach a magazine with your finger, the magazine can be released using a small tool. This law is also the subject of a lawsuit, filed in Orange County by the NRA group. The law will do nothing to stop terrorists or violent criminals, and infringes on the right to keep and bear arms under the Second Amendment, the gun-rights group said in a statement. Anyone wishing to purchase ammunition must first pass a background check and gain approval by the California Department of Justice. The Washington Post contributed to this story. kristina.davis@sduniontribune.com Twitter: @kristinadavis A 35-year-old man who police said was shot in the head by an acquaintance during an altercation outside a home in La Mesa has died. Aldo Alfonso Prado, who lived in National City, died at a hospital Tuesday night, La Mesa police said. Christopher Artale, 40, has been charged with murder in Prados death. He pleaded not guilty to the charge on Wednesday. Advertisement The two men were arguing outside on Glen Street near Mariposa Street about 4:45 p.m. Sunday when Prado began to vandalize Artales vehicle, police Lt. Chad Bell said. Police allege Artale then pulled out a gun and shot Prado in the head. Officers found Prado lying on Glen Street and Artale in his home, on the same street. Artale was arrested after being interviewed by detectives. City News Service contributed to this report. Breaking News Email: david.hernandez@sduniontribune.com Phone: (619) 293-1876 Twitter: @D4VIDHernandez When Lucca Notch was one year old, his parents started noticing speech and behavioral issues. During a temper tantrum, he was banging his head against the floor. His mom, Becky, knew she needed help. Notch took Lucca to the Child Development Center in Kalispell, where he qualified for family support services and had a series of appointments set up. He was eventually diagnosed with nonverbal autism. Now, after several years of family support and speech therapy services, Notch is in first grade at Hedges Elementary and in his regular class 60 percent of the time. Im having conversations with my child, she said. Hes doing math work. Hes reading books with me at home. The program the Notch family used, called Early Childhood Intervention, would would be eliminated entirely under a series of budget cuts the state is considering due to lower-than-expected revenues. The Legislative Finance Committee heard hours of testimony on Wednesday from families like the Notches regarding cuts at the Department of Public Health and Human Services. The cuts are part of a 10 percent reduction proposed across nearly all of state government. The health department would cut $105 million in general fund money to meet a 10 percent cut. That would result in losing federal matching funds of $136.2 million. Cuts to benefits and claims make up more than 80 percent of the cuts, while cuts to operating expenses within the agency make up about 7.7 percent; and cuts to personal services, or employee hours, is about 6.9 percent. Nearly 100 people came from across the state on Wednesday to plead with legislators to return to Helena for a special session to raise taxes instead of making $229 million in cuts across nearly all state agencies to balance the budget. Gov. Steve Bullock has the authority to cut up to 10 percent in each state agency to balance the state budget, but cannot act until two legislative committees weigh in. The Revenue and Transportation Interim Committee opted not to make recommendations to the governor last month, and the Finance Committee was still hearing testimony late Wednesday afternoon. Because such a high percentage of the cuts come from services, and especially Medicaid services, many who testified Wednesday talked about how reducing services like case management would force them out of their homes and into institutions. A large segment of testimony focused on the proposed elimination of the federal Part C program that provides early intervention services to infants and toddlers. Targeted case management programs pair service providers with people who have developmental disabilities, addictions and mental disorders with one-on-one care providers who do everything from helping them get dressed in the morning to making sure they take medications as prescribed and get to doctor appointments. Justine Kougl brought her daughter, Quinn, from the Crow Reservation to ask the Legislature to raise taxes before cutting services for children with disabilities. Quinn was born with Treacher Collins syndrome, which keeps her from being able to breathe on her own. Quinn will have her fourth surgery this month to make sure she can continue breathing with a tracheostomy tube. The Kougl family was told Indian Health Services doesnt have the budget to provide specialized services and has since relied on DPHHS. If the proposed cuts go through, Kougl said her family could be forced to move out of the state. Were looking at other opportunities, she said. Were lucky we live about 50 miles from Wyoming. Joel Peden, with the Montana Independent Living Project, said the services that keep people in their own home with assistance from caregivers arent optional. Since when is getting out of bed optional? he said. Peden reminded the committee that anyone could be involved in an accident requiring them to have a caregiver for the things they take for granted, like brushing their teeth. Everybody is a nanosecond away from needing the help you guys are looking at cutting, he said. If you cant find it in your hearts to do that, then resign and move on. Let somebody else come in here and figure it out. Many who testified Wednesday pointed at lawmakers and asked them to consider increasing taxes to offset some of the potential cuts. Its unclear if the Republican-dominated Legislature, who shot down nearly all the tax increases Bullock proposed at the start of the last legislative session last winter, has any appetite to increase taxes. Bullock may call a special session whenever he wants, but the longer the wait before some action is taken, the deeper the cuts would have to be as agencies keep spending above what revenues support. If a special session is not called, Bullock could start making cuts as soon as the Legislative Fiscal Committee weighs in. The governor has said a special session will be necessary to figure out how to pay for the most expensive fire season in the states history, but has stopped short of saying he will call lawmakers back to Helena to consider raising taxes. Over the past few weeks, several Democratic legislators have taken to editorial pages to call for a special session to increase taxes, but a prominent Republican state senator and architect of the budget wrote his own letter saying the cuts were necessary and taxes shouldn't be raised. That senator, Llew Jones of Conrad, is on the Legislative Fiscal Committee that met Wednesday, but he did not attend. The committee also heard testimony from people concerned over cuts to water resource management programs, as well as Veterans Affairs outreach services. The Union-Tribune profiles a wanted suspect each week in an effort to make our community safer. We partner with Crime Stoppers and local law enforcement to prole known fugitives as well as draw attention to unsolved crimes. This weeks wanted suspect: Lucas Stephen Desmond, 26 Wanted: Desmond has an outstanding felony arrest warrant for being a felon in possession of a gun, ammunition and a controlled substance. He previously was convicted of auto theft, grand theft, possession of stolen property and possession of a controlled substance. Description: White, 6 feet 4 inches tall, 185 pounds, with red hair and brown eyes. Advertisement Frequented areas: He is known to frequent Oceanside and Vista. If you have information about this persons whereabouts, you can report it anonymously by contacting Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477. Anonymous texts or Web tips can also be sent at sdcrimestoppers.com. Tipsters may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Local religious leaders gathered at a prayer vigil in North Park Wednesday night, vehemently calling on people to demand stricter gun-control laws. With the Las Vegas mass shooting in mind, they were united in their straight-forward message to the dozens of people congregated at the Missiongathering Church: Prayers alone wont bring about change. The lives that were lost deserve our action, said Pastor Brandan Robertson of the North Park church. Advertisement Sunday nights massacre claimed the lives of 58 people and left more than 500 others wounded. We cannot say this mass shooting was unbelievable, said Rabbi Yael Ridberg of Congregation Dor Hadash. It is all too believable. We cannot say that there are no words to express our grief and our outrage, because we must find the words. Ridberg, like other faith leaders at the vigil, demanded common-sense gun laws. There is an epidemic of gun violence in America, she said. Congress has done nothing to stop the likelihood of more (mass shootings). There are plenty of people to handle the thoughts and prayers. We need lawmakers to enact stricter gun laws, Ridberg said. Pastor Rebecca Littlejohn of Vista La Mesa Christian Church called on gun owners to step up and demand new gun laws, too. You have let yourselves and your hobbies be used as a rhetorical tool to shape policies that open the door right up to these massacres, Littlejohn said. If you want to claim to be a responsible gun owner, you must respond. Representatives from The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence and Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America were on hand to share information about their nonprofit organizations. The crowd broke into applause near the end of the vigil when Ron Marcus of The Brady Campaign laid out the demands his organization advocates for, including background checks on all gun sales and stricter regulation of semi-automatic guns. I encourage you not to let this night be one more night that you get a little bit of inspiration, say amen, and go home and hope it doesnt happen again, Marcus said, urging people to join or donate to an organization that calls for gun control. The vigil ended with a prayer in honor of the victims of the mass shooting at the country music festival on the Las Vegas Strip. Breaking News Email: david.hernandez@sduniontribune.com Phone: (619) 293-1876 Twitter: @D4VIDHernandez A 32-year-old man was robbed and stabbed by four teenagers on a street in East Village Wednesday night, San Diego police said. The mans stab wound was not life-threatning, police said. He was walking on G Street near 16th Street about 6 p.m. when he was confronted by the assailants, who were described as males, ages 17 or 18, police said. Advertisement One of the teenagers snatched the mans backpack and stabbed him once in the left abdomen, police said. That assailant was also described by the victim as Latino, about 5 feet 5 inches tall, 160 pounds, with short black hair and wearing a white shirt and gray pants. Paramedics took the man to a hospital, police said. Breaking News Email: david.hernandez@sduniontribune.com Phone: (619) 293-1876 Twitter: @D4VIDHernandez A San Diego man in Las Vegas for last weekends county music festival says he stayed in a Mandalay Bay hotel room directly below gunman Stephen Paddock and that Paddock complained repeatedly that he was playing his music too loudly. Albert Garzon said he didnt realize until after Paddocks deadly rampage he killed 59 people, including himself, and wounded another 500 as he sprayed gunfire from the 32nd floor of the hotel Sunday night that the gunman was the person who had called security on him. Garzon told San Diego Fox 5 that after he returned to his 31st floor room, he looked out the window and saw a curtain flapping in the wind from a broken window in Paddocks room above. He could not be reached for comment. Advertisement At some point before the concert, Garzon said he was partying in his room with his wife, Jessica, and two friends when security guards knocked on his door and asked him to turn down his music. Security came up to our room and said, you have a guest right above you that is complaining you guys are being too loud, he said. I didnt think twice about it. I said, yeah, we will turn the music down. About a half hour or 45 minutes later, Garzon said, a different set of security guards knocked on his door. They told him: Hey bud, this is your second time. You have a guest above you that is complaining again, so we have to ask you to turn it down, he said. Garzon said they warned him if they had to contact him a third time, his guests would have to leave. Garzon said he went to the concert but left early after he got a funny feeling. His wife and two friends stayed at the show and were there when the shooting began. As Im leaving the hotel, my wife is calling me, screaming, saying that they are being shot at, he said. Garzon told Fox 5 he got separated from his friends and wife after the shooting, and couldnt get back to the hotel for at least 14 hours because the strip was locked down. karen.kucher@sduniontribune.com Under threat of possible retaliation by the Trump administration, Gov. Jerry Brown signed landmark sanctuary state legislation Thursday, vastly limiting who state and local law enforcement agencies can hold, question and transfer at the request of federal immigration authorities. Senate Bill 54, which takes effect in January, has been blasted as unconscionable by U.S. Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions, becoming the focus of a national debate over how far states and cities can go to prevent their officers from enforcing federal immigration laws. Supporters have hailed it as part of a broader effort by majority Democrats in the California Legislature to shield more than 2.3 million immigrants living illegally in the state. Brown took the unusual step of writing a signing message in support of SB 54. He called the legislation a balanced measure that would allow police and sheriffs agencies to continue targeting dangerous criminals, while protecting hardworking families without legal residency in the country. Advertisement In enshrining these new protections, it is important to note what the bill does not do, Brown wrote. This bill does not prevent or prohibit Immigration and Customs Enforcement or the Department of Homeland Security from doing their own work in any way. Legal experts have said federal officials may try to block the law in court to keep it from being implemented. Some doubt such challenges would be successful, pointing to the 10th Amendment and previous rulings in which courts have found the federal government cant compel local authorities to enforce federal laws. On Thursday, Department of Justice spokesman Devin OMalley declined to comment on the agencys next move. Asked whether the administration would attempt to block the state law, White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said that federal officials are spending every day we can trying to find the best way forward. The president will be laying out his responsible immigration plan over the next week, she said. And I hope that California will push back on their governors, I think, irresponsible decision moving forward. Trumps immigration chief blasted the sanctuary state law Friday, saying it would keep federal officers from performing their jobs and result in more arrests. In a statement, Thomas Homan, acting director of U.S. Immigration and Enforcement, said his agency would have no choice but to conduct at-large arrests in local neighborhoods and at worksites. Browns decision comes as local and state governments are locked in legal battles with Sessions over his move to slash federal grant funding from sanctuary jurisdictions, where city and county agencies are limited when working with federal immigration officials. A Chicago federal judge largely blocked Sessions effort just hours before SB 54 cleared the Legislature on Sept. 16. Other federal officials also have sounded off against SB 54, suggesting illegal immigration is tied to increases in violent crime. Throughout his campaign and in his tenure as president, Trump has tried to make the same connection, showcasing the relatives of people killed by immigrants in the country illegally. One of his earliest executive orders put cities and counties on alert that they would lose federal funding if law enforcement did not cooperate with immigration agents. The move has struck a bitter chord in California, home to at least 35 cities that have embraced the sanctuary label, and where Brown and Democratic lawmakers have passed legislation to extend financial aid, healthcare and drivers licenses to thousands of immigrants here illegally. Other bills signed by Brown on Thursday would prevent some cities and counties from adding beds to immigrant detention centers, and would extend protections for immigrant workers and tenants. In some places, the sanctuary city name is largely a symbolic message of political support for immigrants without legal residency. But other cities, most notably San Francisco and most recently Los Angeles, have cut ties with federal immigration officials and sought to build up social services for families, including city-funded legal aid. The bills author, Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon (D-Los Angeles), has countered that the state law is defensible in court and will send a strong message against new federal policies that he argues have pushed some families further into the shadows. Research has shown sanctuary cities have lower crime rates and that immigrants generally commit fewer crimes than U.S. citizens. De Leon joined Assemblyman Miguel Santiago (D-Los Angeles) and immigrant rights advocates at a news conference in Los Angeles on Thursday, saying the new law would put a kink in Trumps perverse and inhumane deportation machine. California is building a wall of justice against President Trumps xenophobic, racist and ignorant immigration policies, he said to chants of Si se pudo, or Yes, we could from the crowd. Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Paramount), center, and Democratic lawmakers discuss proposed measures to protect immigrants during a December 2016 news conference in Sacramento. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press ) The final language of the new law was the result of months of tough negotiations between Brown, De Leon and law enforcement officials. It was the centerpiece of this years legislative proposals in Sacramento that sought to challenge Trumps stance on illegal immigration and provide protections for families amid his threats of mass deportations. The new law will largely prohibit state and local law enforcement agencies from using either personnel or funds to hold, question or share information about people with federal immigration agents unless those individuals have been convicted of one or more offenses from a list of 800 crimes outlined in a 2013 state law. Federal immigration authorities will still be able to work with state corrections officials a key concession Brown had demanded and will be able to enter county jails to question immigrants. But the state attorney generals office will be required to publish guidelines and training recommendations to limit immigration agents access to personal information. And all law enforcement agencies will have to produce annual reports on their participation in task forces that involve federal agencies, as well as on the people they transfer to immigration authorities. The new law doesnt specify what happens if local law enforcement agencies dont comply with the new rules. But the attorney general has broad authority under the state Constitution to prosecute police and sheriffs agencies that dont comply. In a statement released Thursday, Becerra applauded the enactment of the SB 54, saying he stood ready to fully defend the law. For many officers across the state, the expanded restrictions wont change much. Some police and sheriffs agencies already have developed similar boundaries against working with immigration agents, either through their own policies or under local sanctuary city rules. For other officers, though, the legislation would set new guidelines and has long divided police chiefs and sheriffs. The California Police Chiefs Assn. moved its official position from opposed to neutral after final changes to the bill last month, but the California Sheriffs Assn. remained opposed. Romulo Avelica-Gonzalez thanks Brown for signing bill. He says it'll allow immigrants to drop off kids at school, go to doctor w/o fear pic.twitter.com/v4g5YwGt1h Christine Mai-Duc (@cmaiduc) October 5, 2017 Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck supported the bill, joining others who said entangling police and federal immigration forces can have a negative effect on public safety, because crime victims and witnesses without legal status may refuse to come forward to authorities out of fear of deportation. L.A. County Sheriff Jim McDonnell was a vocal opponent. Even so, he said the final version of the bill, though not perfect, reflects much of what the LASD implemented years ago and the work is well underway. Immigrant rights advocates said its passage would help keep thousands of families together. Angela Chan, policy director at the Advancing Justice-Asian Law Caucus, said it will improve protections for immigrants in most counties in California. This victory is the result of community organizing and directly impacted immigrants sharing their stories about being turned over to ICE at the hands of local law enforcement, she said. And we look forward to working to pass stronger protections for immigrants throughout California in the years to come. Times staff writers Christine Mai-Duc and Noah Bierman contributed to this report. jazmine.ulloa@latimes.com @jazmineulloa ALSO: California lawmakers passed the sanctuary state bill. What happens if Gov. Jerry Brown signs it? California lawmakers approve landmark sanctuary state bill to expand protections for immigrants How Californias Trust Act shaped the debate on the new sanctuary state proposal Updates on California politics UPDATES: Oct. 6, 1:45 p.m.: This article was updated with comments from Trumps top immigration chief. 1:40 p.m.: This article was updated with additional comments from federal officials and details from a news conference held by Senate leader Kevin de Leon. This story was originally published at 11 a.m. Oct. 5. California Attorney General Xavier Becerra this week declined to answer questions about a criminal investigation into the state utilities commission, which was active under his predecessor. Becerra was in town to discuss a new initiative to go after companies that exploit armed service members when they buy cars, jewelry or other major purchases. But Becerra declined to comment on the criminal probe into possible improper dealings between the California Public Utilities Commission and the utility companies its entrusted to oversee. The investigation is of interest in San Diego because some of the backchannel communications under scrutiny concerned the failure of the San Onofre nuclear plant. Advertisement Becerra said he could not confirm his office was investigating the commission or comment on the case. When reminded that court records and other public documents already confirmed the case opened in 2014 and his office sought multiple search warrants related to the probe, Becerra deferred. I urge you to continue to look at the public record, he said. Youre not going to get me to comment on an investigation. Becerras predecessor, Kamala Harris, launched the probe of the state utilities commission in September 2014 after emails surfaced between utility executives and regulators routinely discussed public business in private. Harris, who was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2016, was not shy about acknowledging her investigation of the commission. We are concerned about whats going on there, thats why theres an active criminal investigation, she said at a debate. And the bottom line is this: We are going to go where the facts lead us. Her staff also stated publicly that the investigation was active and ongoing. No government agency and no public utilities company is above law, a Harris spokesman said before the election. The public corruption case has put the Attorney Generals Office in the position of investigating the commission at the same time it is representing regulators and Gov. Jerry Brown in civil lawsuits filed by consumer advocates seeking access to emails and other documents. Watchdog Videos On Now Sexual misconduct accusers worry deputy is being protected 6:16 On Now City funded $2-million waterfront bathroom 1:26 On Now Public water district charges customer for legal work, response to records request On Now Video: Tiny homes won't be reused amid housing, homeless crisis On Now Attorney General seeks documentation for Miss Middle East On Now Rep. Hunter probe covers possible fraud On Now Video: SDG&E delaying solar credit for some low-income housing tenants On Now Video: Former San Diego Junior Theatre teacher sentenced for sex with teen girl 0:24 On Now Video: Shelter volunteers believe they were fired for finding a dog a home 0:49 On Now McKamey Manor is leaving San Diego 3:35 jeff.mcdonald@sduniontribune.com (619) 293-1708 @sdutMcDonald Public Watchdogs, a La Mesa-based nonprofit group that has been dogging the California Public Utilities Commission on topics from energy rates to the decommissioning of San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, is seeking a new ally: the commissions own employees. The organization dispatched more than 1,000 letters to employees of the regulatory agency inviting them to become whistleblowers. The letter referenced the deadly San Bruno pipeline explosion of 2010 and an undisclosed meeting in Poland in 2013 between regulators and utility executives that led to a deal assigning most of the costs of the failed nuclear plant to ratepayers. The letter argued that the commission which regulates power, water and transit companies has neglected its oversight responsibilities in favor of the companies it regulates. And it asked employees to consider their options. Advertisement Can you imagine a Public Utilities Commission that is dedicated to safety and justice? said the letter, sent in August. A PUC that stands up to utilities on behalf of the public? A PUC that protects you and enforces the law? A PUC that fights utility bailouts and greedy rate hikes? A PUC that doesnt set rates with illegal back-room deals in Warsaw, Poland? The letter, signed by Public Watchdogs Executive Director Charles Langley, urged employees to contact him anonymously, vowing to keep their confidence. Im a whistleblower, too, so I will make sure you are protected, he wrote. Langley said his organization obtained an internal staff directory of the commission from a source in the agency and sent 1,056 letters to the work addresses of nearly all employees, from managers to custodians. The commission declined to comment on Langleys letter, but noted that California law protects whistleblowers and provides a system for their complaints. The State of California has its own whistleblower system already set up, Christopher Chow, a public information officer for the commission, said by email. The California Whistleblower Protection Act authorizes the California state auditor to receive complaints from state employees and members of the public who wish to report an improper governmental activity. The act also provides protections from retaliation for any employee or applicant for employment who reports an improper activity. Robert Fellmeth, executive director of the Center for Public Interest Law at the University of San Diego, said the solicitation is legal, but said employees are forbidden to disclose information about ongoing rate-setting adjudications. What theyre sending out doesnt violate anything, because theyre not giving information, theyre not asking for specific information, he said. They should be aware that there is a proper limitation on what people involved in an adjudicative process can tell them. Langley, a former public advocate for Utility Consumers Action Network, left that organization in 2013 after reporting alleged financial improprieties. As a result of his complaints, he said, the organization ended a project he was working on and let him know he was no longer welcome there. I was constructively terminated, he said. They basically made it impossible for me to work there, and I had to quit. His own experience, and the cost to his career, taught him how risky it is for whistleblowers to come forward openly, he said. The message that I want to go out to potential whistleblowers is that if you provide documents to Public Watchdogs, you will stay protected; you will remain anonymous, he said. Usually, the moment you blow the whistle, its the last job you ever get. Everybody claps you on the back and says, hey, youre a hero. But the whistleblowers lose their homes, their hair, their minds and ultimately their sanity. After leaving UCAN, Langley founded Public Watchdogs in 2013, as information emerged about the failed nuclear power plant. My original concern was San Onofre was the tip of an iceberg of corruption at the PUC, he said. This is such a byzantine issue to explain. So I formed the organization with the intent of protecting the public from the Public Utilities Commission. San Onofre closed in 2012 after abnormal tube wear in newly installed steam generators led to radiation leaks. In 2014, the commission approved a negotiated deal between plant owner Southern California Edison and consumer groups that assigned 70 percent of the $4.7 billion cost for the failed plant to customers rather than company shareholders. In 2015, reporting by U-T Watchdog revealed that the framework for that agreement was put in place in 2013, at the undisclosed meeting abroad between an Edison executive and two CPUC officials. The utility is now mired in debate over decommissioning the plant as community groups and some lawmakers oppose a plan to bury spent nuclear fuel on site. They argue that the location on a fault line at the coast along a major highway is not secure, and the vessels that will contain the waste are inadequate. Weve been part of a chorus of voices that have been crying in the wilderness, trying to get the attention of policy makers and politicians, because we believe this solution of burying the waste on the beach is a clear and present danger to the publics health and safety, Langley said. Langley said he aims to cast a wide net with the letter, reaching employees who might share his misgivings about the commission. He isnt seeking specific information, he said, but opening the door for employees at the regulatory agency to share anything that sheds light on its internal processes. Chow said hes unaware of any confidential information that has been leaked, and Langley declined to say whether anyone has responded yet. All we do is extend an invitation to those people within the agency that may have knowledge or information that the public has a right to know, said Public Watchdogs board member Nina Babiarz. Were not going to know what the result of that is until we hear from them. Fellmeth said it could be an effective way to shine light on possible problems at the regulatory agency provided they stay clear of ongoing rate-setting proceedings. Providing a conduit for people to report illegality or public policy problems is good, Fellmeth said. Theres nothing wrong with that. Langleys email address is langley@publicwatchdogs.org. deborah.brennan@sduniontribune.com Twitter@deborahsbrennan Friends & Family Community Connection will be helping residents in Alvin, Texas, whose homes were severely damaged during Hurricane Harvey. Last month, representatives from the Rancho Bernardo-based organization, including founder Phil Harris and program coordinator Tina Socha, spent a few days in the Houston area leading two food packing events scheduled before the hurricane struck and making contacts in order to plan assistance efforts following the devastating storm and flooding. Socha said on Tuesday that after meeting with various officials and pairing up with Disaster Aid USA a Rotary International disaster relief group FFCC decided to focus its efforts on Alvin, a low-income community of 24,000 residents about 25 miles southeast of Houston in Brazoria County. Alvin is on the lower-income scale and that is what FFCC was looking for (when providing assistance), she said. On Tuesday, a group of FFCC representatives made a second trip to Texas so they, in consultation with school district officials, can identify families in most need of help. They also need to set up logistics with some area churches that will be coordinating housing and meals for the volunteers. The assessment team is scheduled to return home on Saturday, Socha said. This preliminary work is being done in advance of a volunteer work team that will spend Oct. 14-21 in Alvin, helping with pre-rebuilding tasks like removing drywall and carpeting. Two additional trips are tentatively being planned for November and another for December. Dates have yet to be finalized, Socha said. A reassessment will be done in early 2018 to determine what, if any, additional assistance is required in Alvin. Anyone high school age and above who would like to volunteer for one of these Texas work trips or who would like to help with related efforts in San Diego such as gathering supplies needs to attend a 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 10 meeting. For location and details, send an email to tina.socha@ffccsd.org. She said interested volunteers, who have to cover their expenses, will need to fill out an application. While those with construction experience are needed, especially on the later trips, Socha said that is not necessary in order to volunteer since participants will be shown what to do. Even those unable to make any of the trips can help by making monetary donations or providing supplies. As of last week, FFCC has raised $20,000 to purchase needed materials and supplies for the selected homes. Officials said 100 percent of donations designated to Hurricane Harvey relief will go toward the rebuilding effort. Tax-deductible donations can be made online at ffccsd.org or by mailing a check with designation on the memo line to FFCC, 12469 Rancho Bernardo Road, PMB #158, San Diego, CA 92128. In-kind donations are also being sought. The most needed items thus far are diapers, work gloves, metal rakes, disinfectant wipes, particulate masks, rags and large heavy-duty garbage bags. Socha said the masks are especially needed. These items can be dropped off at Dream Dinners in Poway, 12218 Poway Road, Suite 100 or Village Mail & More in Rancho Bernardo, 12469 Rancho Bernardo Road. Socha said during the September trip the FFCC team provided some assistance to locals. The two food packing events when easy to cook nutritious meals were assembled resulted in 100,000 meals, all of which were designated for hurricane victims. The team visited an area called Little Cambodia where people lost everything and the water supply was contaminated. She said they gave many of the meals to the residents and provided water filter kits so they could once again have drinkable water. In addition, they made contact with a relative of an FFCC member who had family on the hurricane-devastated Caribbean island of St. Johns. Their contact was going to travel to the island so FFCC sent 15 boxes of food and water filters with him to help the people there. Socha said FFCC officials have yet to decide what additional assistance they can provide to St. Johns or to hurricane victims in Florida and Puerto Rico since they were among areas devastated in subsequent hurricanes. Efforts will depend on volunteers interested in going to those areas and the availability of partner organizations in those communities. You see the images on TV, and I have been to Haiti, where I have seen major destruction, Socha said. Its heartbreaking. But its the people ... when you see what they are dealing with, who have lost everything, that is so hard. You see the hurt and overwhelmingness (of the situation) and want to help. email: rbnews@pomeradonews.com The Poway City Council is poised to allow massive multi-story, multi-family developments on Poway Road that will radically change the character of our City in the Country. The proposed changes to the Poway Road Specific Plan, incorporated in the Poway Road Corridor Study, will raise the height limitations on Poway Road to three and four stories, allow 1,148 new multifamily residential units plus increased commercial on Poway Road. This is what we wanted to avoid when we became a city in 1980. The county had rejected our community plan, which called for a low-density, low-profile City in the Country, and planned to force us to accept enough multi-story residential units on Poway Road to turn it into a concrete canyon. So we, the Poway voters, opted to incorporate to save our communitys small-town character - the Poway the current council proposes to throw away. Three parcels in the Town Center portion of the plan are owned by the city and could be used not for massive growth, but for something we actually need parks, with grass and trees for the people already crammed into multi-family developments in the area, whose children have no place to play. Poway Road is flood plain, where the water table is so close to the surface that trees could support themselves even in drought years an urban forestto beautify our city and combat global warming. The traffic impact of the proposed plan changes is so severe that, in earlier versions, Poway Road was shown as a one-way street, with another one-way street going the opposite way added, parallel to it, to the south. The right of way for the second road proved so costly, however, that it was dropped. The current solution? Wider bike lanes. As if! Now why would anyone in north Poway go to Poway Road to shop in a permanent traffic jam, when there are 19 other shopping centers within 15 minutes of north Poway? A new school would be required, for which the school district has neither land nor money. Councilman Leonard brushed this aside: Thats not our problem. Its the school districts problem. He apparently has no children in the Poway schools. Those who do might consider children on double sessions the councils problem, since they created it. The need for water for these 1,148 units, when weve already had to give up our lawns for rocks and cactus, was not even mentioned. We need this massive urbanization, were told, because we need the money. More commercial means more sales tax dollars and, to support more commercial, we need more rooftops, they say. This is obviously a circular argument. Residential doesnt pay for itself in property tax revenue, because of Prop. 13, so California cities compete to build ever more commercial, trying to steal each others shoppers. But this produces excess commercial so we must add more rooftops, which wont support themselves, so well need more commercial, which will require more rooftops, which will require more commercial, which will require more rooftops, ad infinitum. The promised sales tax windfall was a false hope when this plan was first conceived, and its even more unrealistic now. A seismic shift to online shopping and away from brick-and-mortar is revolutionizing retail. Sales tax will no longer be the cities cash cow. Its estimated that, countrywide, more than 8,600 stores will close this year. The big department stores are all in trouble. Movie theaters sit empty, as people stream movies at home. The one bright spot is restaurants, but Amazon has taken aim at them, too, buying Whole Foods and planning to offer meal delivery, and more food vendors are set to follow. Please contact your councilmen. Tell them that Poway must not blindly forge ahead on this specific plan update. Perkes is a longtime city resident and occasional City Council meeting attendee. Email: editor@pomeradonews.com After four months of searching for a missing Arizona woman and her baby, U.S. Marshals found both in a house in Ramona where the 19-year-old mother was arrested on Monday, Oct. 2. Madeline Jones faces a charge of custodial kidnapping. She was arrested by U.S. Marshals from the San Diego Fugitive Task Force at 24132 Gymkhana Road in San Diego Country Estates, said the law enforcement agency. Jones and her 1-year-old son, William, had allegedly been missing since June after the court ordered joint custody of the boy with his father, Jacob Gouchenour, according to reports. The boy was found safe and Gouchenour, who lives in Utah, was reunited with his son in San Diego. I can finally be out of the nightmare of not knowing if my son is all right and not knowing where he is, Gouchenour stated on a social media post on Tuesday. The U.S. Marshals office would not say who Jones was staying with or how long she had been in Ramona. Law enforcement suspected that Jones parents helped orchestrate her disappearance to deny her ex-husbands joint custody of their son. Jones mother, Cassandra Yusko-Jones, was arrested by Mesa, Ariz. Police Department officers, also charged with custodial interference, said the U.S. Marshals office. According to the San Diego County Sheriffs Department website, Jones was in Las Colinas Detention and Reentry Facility in Santee this week. Montana Gov. Steve Bullock might have found his dance partner. After a grim list of proposed budget cuts released at the start of September, Bullock, a Democrat, has been discussing the possibility of calling the Republican-dominated Legislature back to Helena to figure out ways to offset the reductions, but said he wouldnt make that decision without a willing dance partner. Sweeping 10 percent reductions, triggered by lower-than-expected revenues, would hit across nearly all of state government and do away with early childhood intervention programs, eliminate hundreds of state jobs and reduce the number of cameras monitoring for safety at the state prison. But on Thursday, a document drafted by the Legislative Finance Committee provided the first hint that lawmakers may be willing to work with the governor on finding a mix of budget cuts and creative ways to find money, such as pausing general fund payments to a state health benefits program or lowering the amount of money Montana is required to keep in the bank. During a lunch break on Thursday, five legislators huddled in an office to draft a recommendation to Bullock. The full committee unanimously approved the proposed memo at the end of the day. Those recommendations asked the governor to evaluate reductions that minimize harm to Montanas most vulnerable, to avoid making cuts that shift costs elsewhere, such as to local governments or other agencies, and to delay spending until later. Sen. Llew Jones, R-Conrad, said for him, the memo shows a willingness to work together if the governor shows he can do his job. He said the list of proposed cuts were in part a scare tactic to encourage action by the Legislature, when the governor has a job to do first. I can say the Legislature doesnt feel this list is realistic, Jones said. I was sad people saw a list of cuts I dont feel is real. Instead, Jones said the governor should make the cuts he can while minimizing harm and not impacting on-the-ground services before calling legislators back to Helena. While Jones said he wouldnt vote for a permanent tax increase, he would be willing to include temporary measures or lowering Montanas required ending fund balance. The Legislature will do its job if he does his job, he said. On Thursday, Bullock, who has been talking with legislative leaders about options going forward, released the following statement: "Today the Legislative Finance Committee recognized the proposed cuts would hurt Montanans but they failed to offer any realistic solutions. It's time for the Legislature to come to the table and find a better path." Sen. Jon Sesso, a Democrat from Butte who was a part of the small group that drafted the recommendation to the governor, said to him the document indicates support of a special session. The message I get from this is we have to have a special session to look at this, he said. Lawmakers agreed some form of cuts will be necessary and its on the governors plate to make initial reductions, which would give lawmakers an idea of how much money they need to come up with. He picks the song, Sesso said. Over the last month, Montanans have packed hearings at the Capitol pleading with lawmakers to raise taxes to reduce the drastic impacts that would come by cutting nearly every state agency 10 percent. The bulk of the cuts -- 85 percent -- would come from the states largest agencies: the Department of Public Health and Human Services, the Department of Corrections and the Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education. On Wednesday, lawmakers heard hours of testimony from about 100 people who traveled from all over the state. They begged legislators to find a way to preserve services they said are essential to their lives, such as early childhood intervention, funding for services that help people with disabilities live independently and Medicaid rates that pay for space in nursing homes for the elderly. Beaver and his kid sister graced the pages of childrens magazines at the height of his sitcom fame. Weekly Newsletter The best of The Saturday Evening Post in your inbox! Join The television show that has become synonymous with idyllic American life first aired 60 years ago today. Leave it to Beaver started with an episode titled Beaver Gets Spelled, in which the young mumbler spins a web of fibs to avoid giving his mother a note from his new teacher. For six seasons the wholesome sitcom followed the antics of Beaver and Wally while June Cleaver did all of her chores in high heels and pearls. The portrayal of domestic life in Leave it to Beaver has become a sort of joke regarding a brand of suburban bliss that probably never existed. The show wasnt what one would call groundbreaking, but it was the first television program to show a toilet onscreen or, a toilet tank, rather. In Captain Jack, the boys send off $2.50 for a Florida alligator, and it wasnt logical for them to hide it anywhere else in the bathroom. Captain Jack was supposed to be the first episode of the program, but CBSs Standards and Practices took issue with showing a toilet on television. The episode was bumped until it was negotiated to show only the toilet tank onscreen. Subscribe and get unlimited access to our online magazine archive. Subscribe Today The child actor who played Beaver, Jerry Mathers, was quite the star in his day, making many appearances in childrens magazines, including Childrens Playmate, which was published by the Saturday Evening Post. Jerry wasnt exactly teen heartthrob material, but his innocent persona was surely attractive to the parents who bought the magazine. Kiev, Ukraine -- (SBWIRE) -- 10/05/2017 -- A life saving device is now raising funds on Indiegogo to help people around the world with the diagnosis of their skin based problems. With millions of people facing skin problems and thousands of people having skin cancer, this most important organ of the human body is often ignored or overlooked. The creators of this inspiring project aim at saving thousands of lives worldwide with this revolutionary detection device and they are now seeking support on Indiegogo for this cause. The goal of this campaign is to raise a sum of $2 million USD and they are welcoming everyone to donate. Each pledge made to the cause will ultimately contribute in saving lives of many people facing skin disease. Moreover, it will detect skin formations early and will help people save a lot of time and money as well. Further details about the project, its potential and funding are available on the Indiegogo campaign page. The Indiegogo Campaign is located on the web at: www.indiegogo.com/projects/skin-formation-detection-cancer and supporters from around the world can contribute in this project by making pledges and donations to the campaign. This remarkable medical solution has tremendous potential and applications, therefore everyone is being welcomed to participate in this noble cause of saving lives. This amazing Indiegogo campaign is about a technologically sophisticated solution of helping people in the detections of skin formations in their early phases. The project has deep impacts in the world of medical research and it will ultimately play a major in saving millions of lives worldwide. Pledges and donations can be made in the project through Indiegogo and more details regarding this project are available on the Indiegogo campaign page. Contact: Contact Person: Yuriy Zaletskyy Company: Yura&Co Country: Ukraine Phone: 00380680440716 Email: zaljur1989@gmail.com Website: www.indiegogo.com/projects/skin-formation-detection-cancer Albany, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 10/05/2017 -- Tea is the most widely consumed beverage worldwide and is universally loved by all demographic groups whether they are young or old. Tea has numerous anti-oxidants that promote good health and prevent the advent of disease. The African nation Kenya is one of the highest tea producing and exporting nations on the globe. That is why Market Research Hub has recently added the 'Assessment of Kenya's Tea Industry 2017' report to its repository hub. The global tea market has been studied on the basis of four major geographies Europe, North America, APAC, and the rest of the world. Request Free Sample Report : https://www.marketresearchhub.com/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=1331158 Report Highlights - In 2016, highest per capita tea consumption in Turkey, Ireland, UK, Russia, and Mexico APAC largest tea producer and expected to be worth almost US$ 30 billion by 2020 - Highest tea exporting nations are Sri Lanka, China, India, and Kenya. North America has minimal share Globally renowned tea brands are Lipton, Tetley, Twinings, and Celestial Seasonings - Kenya largest exporter of black tea and 90% of tea is handpicked in the country, ensuring its high quality, finesse, and aroma - In 2015, Kenya accounted for a quarter of global tea exports, followed by China and Sri Lanka. In 2016, Kenya's share rose to 32% - Includes Kenyan Government guidelines on increasing availability of manufacturing facilities and planned material to allow farmers to experiment with new tea varieties Research Methodology The Kenya Tea Industry 2017 report has been prepared with exhaustive primary and secondary research that is thoroughly validated by analysts with years of experience under their belt. Data has been gathered from authoritative industry publications and experts and then scanned with an unbiased approach to give a complete picture of the Kenya Tea Industry in 2017. All the recent developments that impact the dynamics have been accurately portrayed and used to support the hypothesis presented in the report. The report can be purchased with a single-user license on an individual site with the delivery time for the e-version being three business days. This is because every copy must undergo a rigorous quality check and must also be updated with the latest facts and figures pertaining to the Kenya Tea Industry. The dispatch time for physical copies is four business days as every hard copy is custom printed to the requirement of individual clients. Browse Full Report with TOC- https://www.marketresearchhub.com/report/assessment-of-kenyas-tea-industry-2017-report.html Why Buy this Report? The Kenya Tea Industry 2017 report is a comprehensive one that highlights the dynamics that drive the Kenya Tea Industry. The ample opportunities in this sector have been investigated in great detail along with the market drivers, restraints, opportunities, and threats that could impact it. A competition dashboard of the key stakeholders such as Hindustan Unilever Limited, Gujarat Tea Processors & Packers, Tata Global Beverages Duncans Industries Ltd., and Associated British Foods is included. The current market scenario is analyzed and this should give readers an idea of the future prospects of the Kenya Tea Industry. This report further comprises industry leaders' opinions and insights. Enquire about this Report- https://www.marketresearchhub.com/enquiry.php?type=enquiry&repid=1331158 About Market Research Hub Market Research Hub (MRH) is a next-generation reseller of research reports and analysis. MRH's 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 Us 90 State Street, Albany, NY 12207, United States Toll Free : 800-998-4852 (US-Canada) Email : press@marketresearchhub.com Website : https://www.marketresearchhub.com/ Read Industry News at - https://www.industrynewsanalysis.com/ Rarely does a community have an opportunity to re-elect a mayor with the outstanding qualifications of Mayor Jim Smith. Mayor Smith is running for a fifth term, which is not surprising considering his history of service to Helena. With a Masters Degree in public administration and 16 years of service as Helenas Mayor and two years as a City Commissioner before that, its hard to imagine a better qualified candidate. Jim also has extensive experience in government relations, management and lobbying. His public policy experience goes back to 1978 with Montana Senior Citizens and the Rocky Mountain Development Council. The Malaysian High Court has dismissed three writs involving claims of $11,671.30 by CCK Petroleum, $118,920.26 by CCK Capital, and $128,571.49 by CCK Petroleum (Labuan) Limited. The company wishes to announce that the Kuala Lumpur High Court has on 4 October 2017: 1) struck-out the writs; and 2) cost of MYR5,000 ($1,200) was awarded, PDZ announced to the stock exchange. The three writs in admiralty in rem had led to the arrest of the 698-teu feeder vessel PDZ Mewah since January this year. In February this year, PDZ had said the company has a strong arguable case to challenge the vessel arrest and setting aside of the claims. But troubles for PDZ are not over as the company still faces claims of $592,808 allegedly owed to Dan-Bunkering (Singapore), also from the non-payment of bunkers supplied to the same vessel PDZ Mewah. There was also another writ served in April by Continental Platform for the sum of $127,309, again for default payment of bunkers by PDZ Mewah. The Continental Platforms writ led to a warrant of arrest on another PDZ vessel, the PDZ Maju. The scope of the contract work includes site filling, soil refurbishment, civil works, infrastructure, full containment storage tank with a combined net volume of 30,000 cu m, regasification and gas metering, boil-off gas handling system, electrical and control system, unloading, loading system and bunkering and truck loading. The LNG terminal is scheduled to be operational in August 2020. The port of Hamina will be the first LNG receiving terminal in Finland connected to Finnish gas grid, offering security of supply to gas customers. When the terminal is operational, LNG can be delivered very quickly also to major harbours in Finland by using trucks. We wanted to create a terminal infrastructure which would provide bunkering for vessels as well as diversify the countrys sources of gas supply. Wartsila offered us full EPC capabilities as well as a unique know-how in gas processing, said Peter van Buuren, ceo of Hamina LNG, a joint venture between Hamina Energia and Alexela Varahalduse. Timo Mahlanen, senior business development manager, Wartsila Energy Solutions, said: The Hamina project is part of Finlands plans to create a network of medium scale LNG terminals with the aim of offering gas supply to the local industry and LNG for ship bunkering, and ensuring an additional source of gas for Finland. The project will bring a significant reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by providing cleaner fuel for transport and industry. At the same time, the LNG infrastructure will increase the security of supply in Finland with gas grid connection, Mahlanen said. DECATUR Mayor Julie Moore Wolfe and Macon County Chairman Jay Dunn did not know they'd be making a brief appearance for Democratic gubernatorial candidate JB Pritzker in a TV ad that's been airing in Central Illinois. The short, 2-second cut shows Moore Wolfe and Dunn walking and talking with the Chicago billionaire and his running mate, state Rep. Juliana Stratton, D-Chicago, as part of their campaign's visit to the Farm Progress Show in August. "I didn't really realize they were shooting a commercial; I just thought it was news media," said Moore Wolfe, who is a Democrat and has not yet endorsed a candidate for the March 20 Democratic primary. Dunn said he was aware the campaign had brought a film crew with them but was never told it was for a commercial. "I didn't actually know I was going to be in an ad and saw it, and said (to myself) 'Who's that fat old guy?'" said Dunn, who has endorsed Pritzker's campaign along with the Macon County Democratic Party. Neither Moore Wolfe nor Dunn said they were particularly bothered by the quick shot of them walking with Pritzker and his running mate, state Rep. Juliana Stratton, D-Chicago. Kent Redfield, a professor emeritus of political science at University of Illinois at Springfield, said using footage of elected officials next to a candidate as part his campaign ad doesn't violate any election codes, but it's not best practices either. "Because this is running in Decatur and (Moore Wolfe and Dunn) are identifiable people, then one might draw the inference that their presence indicates support," Redfield said. "If it's a little throw away, then there's no reason to put public officials in there and risk miscommunication," Redfield said. Pritzker spokeswoman Galia Slayen wrote in an email, "As part of JBs most recent trip through downstate Illinois, JB was happy to get the opportunity to spend a few hours at the Farm Progress Show and visit with people from across the state. The footage captured as part of that visit used in our ad was never meant to imply any endorsement from anyone pictured, and we apologize for any misinterpretation." Dunn said he introduced Pritzker to Archer Daniels Midland Co.'s Vice President of Government Relations Greg Webb, and Tate & Lyle Vice President Chris Olson. Moore Wolfe said she showed Pritzker around Decatur and told him about some of the grants and initiatives the area is pursuing. "And I will tell that to anybody that is a captive audience," she said. DECATUR The Howard G. Buffett Foundation will build a new $4.2 million facility south of Decatur for the the new Central Illinois Regional Dispatch Center, officials announced Thursday. The dispatch center will begin operations Jan. 1 for emergency dispatching in Macon County, first operating out of the dispatch center in the Macon County Law Enforcement Center in downtown Decatur. The new facility is slated for completion in summer 2018, according to an announcement from the CIRDC. It will be located on U.S. 51 and Grove Road, near the $15 million law enforcement training facility also provided by Buffett. "I have had the opportunity to serve as an auxiliary deputy, undersheriff and now sheriff of the Macon County Sheriff's Office," Buffett, who was named sheriff last month, said in a statement. "During that time, I have observed the great work done by our entire 911 community here in Macon County. "Working with the Macon County 911 professionals to build this facility is consistent with our Foundation's goals of creating jobs and supporting local businesses in the Decatur area as well as enhancing the quality of life and public safety of the region as a whole." Buffett could not be reached for further comment Thursday. The creation of the regional dispatch center has been in the works for months. Previously, the city of Decatur owned and operated the lone call center in the county, providing dispatching services to its own agencies as well as the Macon County Sheriff's Office and smaller police and fire departments. The Decatur City Council voted in June to move to the regional center, followed by the Macon County Board in July. City and county leaders said at the time that the dispatch center would continue to operate in downtown Decatur. Macon County Board Chairman Jay Dunn said said the dispatch center will have a great impact on the operations of Central Illinois law enforcement. "I think down the road, (the dispatch center) has the potential to help out several counties," he said Thursday. Buffett, a 62-year-old philanthropist and son of multi-billionaire investor Warren Buffett, was named sheriff Sept. 15 after former Sheriff Thomas Schneider retired, citing stress and health-related reasons. His donation to fund the regional dispatch center is the latest in a tens of millions of dollars' of gifts to the Decatur area in recent years, many of them focused on helping law enforcement. The $15 million law enforcement training center, which began classes last week, will instruct new recruits from throughout the state and provide advanced training for police chiefs and command officers. Construction of the campuslike facility was handled by Romano Co., which will also build the dispatch center. In 2014, the foundation gave grants totaling $1.2 million over four years that funded the positions of a drug interdiction agent and related equipment, a DUI enforcement officer and related equipment, and an elder victims crime unit investigator and equipment. In May, Buffett donated more than $350,000 for firearms, training ammunition and police vehicles. Buffett has also donated millions of dollars to the Decatur Park District for a new amphitheater, extension of a train at Scovill Zoo, and a sculpture park; and millions more to social service agencies, including the new headquarters for the United Way of Decatur and Mid-Illinois, support for domestic violence programs at Dove, Inc. and a new teen center for the Boys and Girls Club of Decatur. The dispatch center will look to hire six to seven full-time employees, as well as several part-time workers to take 911 calls. Applications are available in the regional dispatch center office in the Macon County Office Building, 141 S. Main St., Suite 810, in downtown Decatur. Staff writer Jaylyn Cook contributed to this story. When a person has a serious illness palliative care can provide relief from symptoms and stress, improving the quality of life for both the patient and the family.To provide palliative care takes three things: high-quality services, education for families and health care providers, and those trained in providing such care -- a workforce, says Michael Raphelson, MD, medical director of Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan and a clinical assistant professor in WMeds Department of Family and Community Medicine.A $1 million gift from Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan will be the seed for an endowed palliative care fellowship at the medical school. The medical school hopes to raise $4 million to fully fund the endowment dedicated to training competent and compassionate palliative care physicians for the foreseeable future.The fellowship would provide training for up to two physicians seeking certification in geriatric and chronic illness management care after their completion of residency.Dr. Raphelson says the new fellowship at WMed will help fill what he said is an extreme shortage in the number of certified palliative care providers in the U.S. He says there now are a little more than 5,000 certified providers despite an ever-growing need and a U.S. population that is aging rapidly.Never before have our demographics demonstrated the need more, Dr. Raphelson says. Ten thousand people turn 65 every day in this country and there are more families in Michigan with a member over the age of 65 than there are with children. There are 5.1 million people in the country with Alzheimers and there will be 7 million by 2020, and our elderly population is going to increase to 25 percent of the population by 2030.Dr. Raphelson says he believes the new fellowship will also lead to increased awareness about palliative care among medical students and residents in Kalamazoo and spark interest among them and physicians in the community about broadening their skill set. I feel this community has everything it needs to provide high-quality palliative care training."Source: WMed The top official of the U.S. Department of Arts and Culture was in Kalamazoo recently on a fact-finding mission. If you just thought, Wait. The U.S. doesnt have a Department of Arts and Culture you could be forgiven for thinking that.There is no such agency in the federal government, nothing at the cabinet level. But it does exist because the people took the matter into their own hands and created it.We made it up, says Adam Horowitz, the self-styled Chief Instigator of the U.S. Department of Arts and Culture Horowitz a man who signs his email Yours in cahoots, Adam was in Kalamazoo at the invitation of the Transformations Spirituality Center as part of a day called Imagining Justice In Your Community.For participants, it was quickly obvious this was not just another meeting. As they arrived they had been asked to give themselves titles. (A late riser, I chose Chief Sleepyhead.) Then Horowitz opened the day with a statement acknowledging the group was gathered on the traditional land of the Potawatomi, stewards of the land for generations. U.S.D.A.C. encourages people to open all public events and gatherings with reverence and respect by including a statement recognizing the areas Native peoples.In a day sprinkled with poetry , song and inspired quotations, a flow of collaborative ideas emerges, as Horowitz leads a roomful of activists, advocates and artists through a series of activities designed to identify creative projects in the community that people could support.Who is here? A group of students from the Wesley Center on the Western Michigan University Campus, Eastside neighborhood residents, leaders of various local organizations such as Building Blocks, a pastor leading a Spanish speaking mens group, and those from beyond Kalamazoo. And, of course, some of the Sisters of St. Joseph.Horowitz introduces the idea of story circles, where listening is as important as speaking and no questions are asked until everyone has spoken. We all take up the same amount of space, Horowitz says.From story circles can come deep connections, he says. They can show us our shared values and help build a sense of community. Meaning making comes as people reflect on the stories told. Something that breaks our heart makes us do something different, he says.After lunch, the creativity gets turned up. The gathering divides up into smaller groupings, each of which identifies challenges that a community art or cultural project could address. Then they identify cultural assets that would help address those challenges the space, talents, traditions, demographics, and rituals that could go into the project.A contingent from the Eastside proposes turning an unused firehouse into a focus for the neighborhood, a place for childrens programs, a food pantry, the starting point for bike trails, a drop-in art studio, and a spot where small businesses could get a start.Another group suggests the Kalamazoo Dreamer's Conference, where those working to make the community a better place could get to know one another and build collaborations. A third group calls for a Festival of Festivals, where each of the communitys cultural festival could be represented. And a group from Hastings comes up with plans for a collaboration that will lead to an incubator.Horowitz says the U.S. Department of Arts and Cultures local organizing helps communities dream aloud and turn their dreams into reality. It also takes the language of mainstream politics and has fun with it, for example, Super PACS become Participatory Arts Coalitions. The State of the Union for them is an annual ritual in which individuals and organizations gather in story circles to reflect on the state of our union and poets create a collaborative Address to the Nation.The U.S.D.A.C teaches those the grassroots to bring together arts and activism. They use artistic products to shift the public discourse, to change peoples minds and actions.We can integrate arts and culture into organizing strategies, Horowitz says.The U.S. Department of Arts and Culture asks people to imagine a society where art and culture are fully integrated into all aspects of public life. (Its website says U.D.A.C. was formed Oct. 5, 2013 in the middle of the federal government shutdown, which did not affect it because it gets no federal money and has no offices in Washington D.C., or anywhere else.)The philosophy behind the work the U.S.D.A.C. does is that culture is a human right and everyone has the right to participate. The exercise of this key right shifts our society from consumption to creation, competition to compassion, and isolation to interdependence.Or as Horowitz says on a video on the U.S. Department of Arts and Culture website, it is a people-powered department aimed at harnessing the potential of arts, culture, and creativity to fuel empathy, equity, social change, and deliciousness (as he bites into a burrito).In Kalamazoo, he explains that by using performance as a strategy the idea is to move culture and art from the margins to the center of our public conversation.And you don't have to be a U.S. Citizen or an Artist to be a Citizen Artist with the U.S.D.A.C.He invites those who enjoyed the process to become part of the U.S.D.A.C. by opening an outpost. All it takes is four people. As community support grows, a field office can be established.Begin by imagining the world you want to live in, Horowitz says. You will have company.Kathy Jennings is the managing editor of Southwest Michigans Second Wave. She is a freelance writer and editor Press Release October 5, 2017 De Lima seeks probe on alleged interference in DICT projects Senator Leila M. de Lima has called for a Senate investigation into the reported interference and corruption in DICT projects, notably the planned 77.9-billion national broadband network (NBN) project to ensure that no foreign companies will have control over public utilities in the country. In filing Senate Resolution No. 522, De Lima suspected that Information and Communications Technology Secretary Rodolfo Salalima was compelled to resign because he could not stomach pressures appurtenant to big-ticket projects by the DICT, such as the 77.9-billion national broadband project "Secretary Salalima's allegations of corruption and interference are too significant to ignore, especially in the midst of the most ambitious government information technology (IT) project in history," she said. "It behooves the government to investigate these allegations of corruption, pursuant to its constitutional mandate to take positive and effective measures against graft and corruption, particularly considering the upcoming implementation by the DICT of a series of big-ticket projects involving billions of public funds," she added. Last Sept. 21, Salalima resigned from the Cabinet due to "personal and work-related reasons." However, he was also quoted as saying that he was "having difficulties with the bureaucracy and politics of public service." Speaking during an emergency assembly of DICT employees, Salalima admitted he cannot deal with corruption and interference in the agency, hinting that he struggled to do the "right thing" while serving at the DICT. President Duterte, however, disclosed he asked Salalima to resign because the latter allegedly has not acted on the entry of other telecommunication companies from China and Singapore into the country. The former justice secretary explained that Salalima's resignation came suspect as the DICT was about to implement a series of major projects, including the 77.9-billion national broadband project that is expected to provide high-speed internet connection to several areas in the Philippines. "There is a real danger that Secretary Salalima's successor will succumb to undue and corrupt pressure, as it appears that there is no institutional infrastructure in place to protect and insulate the DICT against political interference," she said. Last March, Chinese firm ZTE Corp. is one of the foreign firms interested in the government's national broadband project. It is the same company that has gotten the controversial US$329-million NBN deal under the administration of former president and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo that implicated a number of government officials. Aside from working hard on curbing corruption, De Lima pointed out that the present administration should do its best to protect the State from any national security threats by preventing foreign control over public utilities. "The rationale behind maintaining domestic control over public utilities is the intention to keep out and prevent foreign control over public utilities, and involves the paramount interest of national security and defense," she said. De Lima explained that the defense and intelligence sectors of the government as well as relevant congressional bodies should be involved in the plan to involve foreign firms in the procurement and setting-up of a government national broadband network. "Any proposed government national broadband network, in addition to serving as a public utility and common carrier of information and data, is primarily a matter of national security and defense, considering that it will facilitate control over, and access to, sensitive government information, databases, and communications," she added. Under Article XII, Section 11 of the Constitution, "no franchise, certificate, or any other form of authorization for the operation of a public utility shall be granted except to citizens of the Philippines or to corporations or associations organized under the laws of the Philippines, at least sixty per centum of whose capital is owned by such citizens; nor shall such franchise, certificate, or authorization be exclusive in character or for a longer period than fifty years." De Lima proposed that appropriate Senate committee should invite representatives from the Department of National Defense, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the National Security Adviser, and the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency in the proposed Senate investigation into the IT project. Press Release October 5, 2017 HONTIVEROS PUSHES FOR ADD'L P4-B IN 2018 BUDGET TO COVER 600 THOUSAND MORE SENIOR CITIZENS Akbayan Senator Risa Hontiveros is pushing for an additional P4 billion in the 2018 budget of the Department of Social Welfare and Development's (DSWD) social pension for indigent senior citizens to cover another six hundred thousand senior citizens in next year's appropriation law. She said that in the proposed 2018 National Government budget, the fund of the DSWD for its social pension for the elderly amounts to P19.2 billion covering 3 million senior citizens. However, she said that there are approximately 3.6M validated indigent senior citizens. "This means that the 2018 budget is P 4 billion short and six hundred thousand indigent senior citizens will be left behind. We cannot allow this to happen. I will make the appropriate budget intervention to correct this error," Hontiveros said. The Senator, who is a member of the Senate Committee on Finance, reiterated her call for a universal social pension fund for senior citizens. In a press conference in Quezon City organized by the Coalition of Services for the Elderly (COSE) on Thursday, Hontiveros said that there should be universality of social pension for senior citizens and immediately for the "most senior", the indigent and those who are not covered by the government's existing pension packages. "Empowerment not charity" "A universal social pension fund for senior citizens is not an act of charity. It is about recognition and empowerment. By investing in senior citizens, we recognize their contributions to society; we empower them to capably respond to the challenges of the aging process, help them achieve a better quality of life and keep them as productive members of society," Hontiveros said. In the immediate, Hontiveros said that in the proposed 2018 NG Budget, she will introduce a provision to provide the "universality" of social pension to cover the "most senior" among the senior citizens aged 75 and up. "The ultimate goal is to cover all senior citizens. However, for the 2018 budget, we will target the universality of social pension to cover the most senior among the senior citizens, who we believe are the most in-need," Hontiveros said. Press Release October 5, 2017 Sponsorship Speech of Senator Loren Legarda Proposed FY 2018 General Appropriations Act 5 October 2017 | Senate Session Hall Mr. President, esteemed colleagues in this Senate: I humbly rise to present to you the 2018 General Appropriations Bill under Senate Committee on Finance Report No. 167. This is an honor I am truly mindful about and for which I am deeply appreciative, for it is you, my distinguished colleagues, who reposed on this representation the trust to sponsor--for the last three years--this most important piece of legislation that we, as a collegial and independent institution, have to enact into law. It is for this reason that, as Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, I am happy to report to the Senate that our task, mandated by Section 24, Article VI, of the Constitution, which is to "propose or concur with amendments" as regards the national budget for fiscal year 2018, is almost complete and is now ready for plenary discussion and the approval of our colleagues. But before I go to the heart of the matter, please allow this representation to put into context the diligence and passion, if you may, that your Committee on Finance has poured into 48 budget hearings, 10 technical working group meetings, several budget briefings, and a comprehensive discussion at the Development Budget Coordinating Committee (DBCC) level, to assemble the 2018 national budget that I am about to present. Mr. President, distinguished colleagues, there is one real and poignant encounter during one of the public hearings on the 2018 national budget. It happened on 14 September 2017 when the Chairperson of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), Leonor Oralde-Quintayo, waxed emotional when your Committee, upon the motion of Senators Juan Miguel Zubiri and Sherwin Gatchalian, approved the restoration of the NCIP's budget, which the House of Representatives had reduced to only One Thousand Pesos (P1,000), together with the budget of an important Constitutional body, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR). The significance of the moment was not lost to the NCIP officials because during the hearing, members of your Committee took turns in chastising them for their apparent lack of seriousness in their work. This representation herself rebuked the agency for its monumental failure, not only in defending the rights of our 14 million indigenous peoples[1], but also in promoting indigenous culture and knowledge. An agency, I said, that does not have the drive and passion to preserve IP culture and heritage needs a rap in the head to wake it up from its stupor. This was what the House of Representatives did by de-funding the NCIP. Still fresh in my mind was the seemingly unabated and yet, unsolved killings of lumad leaders allegedly by para-military forces. I can remember a few of them, like Emerito Samarca, head teacher of an award-winning lumad school in Lianga, Surigao del Sur, and Dionel Campos and Juvello Sinzo. These, as well as many other crimes buried and forgotten as statistics, are as repugnant as the admission by the NCIP top official that the incidence of poverty in the country remains high among IPs. As to what extent, the NCIP did not say, but if we juxtapose the IPs' situation vis-a-vis the 21.9 million Filipinos who were considered poor in 2015[2], then what I just related speaks about the whole story of the 2018 General Appropriations Bill and its supreme importance and primacy to our national life. The 2018 General Appropriations Bill is a national expenditure program touted by the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte to bring about inequality-reducing transformation, or pagbabago; a budget seeking to enhance the social fabric, or malasakit; one that will increase the country's growth potential, or patuloy na pag-unlad; and an expenditure program that seeks to maintain the foundations for sustainable development. Mr. President, esteemed colleagues, it is against these benchmarks that your Committee examined the 2018 General Appropriations Bill. However, the over-riding constant that guided us in proposing refinements in the national budget proposal touches the very core of the question, "Will this budget effect real change among those who genuinely need the government's preferential care and support--the 21.9 million poor Filipinos--the farmers, fisherfolks, children, self-employed and unpaid family workers, women, the youth, migrant and formal sector workers, senior citizens, and the urban residents who are unaffected by and oblivious to the rhetoric, the bureaucratic turf battles, the corruption, and the fake news breaking every single day?" These basic sectors may not even know that the 3.767 Trillion Pesos the government is asking the Senate and the House to enact into a law is a deficit budget--meaning, that the disbursements to support this budget will total 3.364 Trillion Pesos, part of it, or 523.568 Billion Pesos, will be financed by borrowings, of which 80 percent will come from local sources and 20 percent from international lenders. They may not even know, but will undoubtedly worry if they do, that the bulk, or 84 percent, of the total disbursements will be sourced from both tax and non-tax revenues amounting to 2.841 Trillion Pesos. And what of the poor? Will they, as we do, rage righteously that the Bureau of Customs, which had lately sunk lower than low in credibility, is to collect only 637.1 Billion Pesos in 2018, plus or minus the 165.5 Billion Pesos in tariff revenues[3] to be lost due to smuggling? Mr. President, distinguished colleagues: The serious work your Committee invested in fine-tuning the 2018 General Appropriations Bill has resulted in a budget that considered the wishes of the Executive Branch, yet reflective of what we--who, like the President, have a national constituency--feel daily as we keep in touch with the pulse of the people. This pulse beats no farther than the steel gates of this Senate where every day, even during weekends, hundreds, if not thousands, of our fellow Filipinos from the lowest strata of society line up to avail of--nay, beg for--whatever assistance is available from the offices of the members of this hallowed institution. A stark reality, that is: The Legislative Branch of government being a refuge of the poor because some agencies of the bureaucracy are either insensitive, unreachable, or sometimes failing to attend to their needs. We want to help address the challenges that hinder agencies from fully utilizing their budget. Dahil sa pondo na ibinabalik sa kaban ng bayan, katumbas noon ay mga classroom na hindi naipatayo, mga kalsadang hindi nasimulan o nabuo, mga batang hindi nabigyan ng sapat na nutrisyon, mga pamilyang patuloy na naninirahan sa kalsada, mga komunidad na walang ilaw at tubig, at iba pang mga proyektong hindi naipatupad. Faced with the grimmest of these realities, your Committee, thus, fashioned a budget that we believe will translate the soaring rhetoric of our leaders into something solid; into something firmly rooted on the ground that our people can hold on to--and hope. It is a budget that reforms and transforms, to borrow the President's message, but it is also a budget trimmed of the lavish, and therefore, unneeded, decorative furniture in a house meant for 104.9 million but which, unfortunately, accommodates only a few. It means a budget that addresses the basics. It is a budget where we made room and space to keep those who are in the cold, warm; to feed those who are hungry and dispossessed; a budget that reduces enmity and restores the peace; a budget that is transparent. Such a budget, your Committee believes, will bring the Filipino family tranquility, prosperity, and unity. We believe it will ignite hope, which is a dwindling currency in these pessimistic times. We also believe it is a crucial tool to finally break the cycle of inter-generational poverty and to promote inclusive economic growth for all Filipinos. To reduce inequality, we at the Committee level supported many of the proposals of the President and the budget refinements proposed by our colleagues in the Lower House, but we also made sure those are aligned with the results of the Senate's own consultations--the public hearings--that we conducted. That is the public pulse. Mr. President, distinguished colleagues: I begin with the environment and climate change, a life advocacy, as my public record shows. Your Committee made certain that the 2018 General Appropriations Bill ensures ecological integrity, clean and healthy environment, risk-sensitive investments, and disaster preparedness through special provisions that integrate and mainstream disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies in government programs. We at the Committee firmly believe that building an inclusive and prosperous economy requires us to continually strengthen our resilience to impacts of natural hazards and climate change. If you recall, Mr. President, distinguished colleagues, we embedded the Quick Response Fund (QRF) all in the budget of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (NDRRM) Fund in 2017, only earmarking those that were meant for the agencies. In this 2018 General Appropriations Bill, we reverted--as practical logic dictates--to an arrangement that we instituted in the 2016 GAA, where the QRF is lodged in individual agencies to ensure quick access and utilization when the need arises. Thus, your Committee transferred 1.250 Billion Pesos from the NDRRM Fund to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD); One Billion Pesos each to the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH); 750 Million Pesos to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP); 500 Million Pesos each to the Department of Health (DOH), Office of Civil Defense (OCD), and National Irrigation Administration (NIA); and 100 Million Pesos to the Department of Energy's (DOE) National Electrification Administration (NEA). We also allocated Two Billion Pesos QRF to the Department of Education (DepEd), 500 Million Pesos of which is from the NDRRM Fund. We support the Executive Branch's proposal to provide 1.5 Billion Pesos for the PAGASA Modernization Program; 1.5 Billion Pesos for the Metro Manila Development Authority's (MMDA) flood control program; and 285 Million Pesos to the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for geo-hazard mapping and assessment. We agree that these resources are direly needed to strengthen our communities' adaptive capacities for climate change. And to further underscore this need, we require, under this 2018 General Appropriations Bill, every local government unit, under the responsibility of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), to conduct regular evacuation drills in coastal communities that are at risk of storm surges and landslides. These drills should simulate real emergencies and should teach our people basic survival skills; how to avoid panic; as well as help them ascertain proper responses during actual natural hazards. On the main, while the House re-aligned funds from other agencies to come up with 40 Billion Pesos for Republic Act No. 10931, the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, which the President signed last August 4, your Committee further allocated Ten Million Pesos in capital outlay for each of the country's 112 State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) simply for the reason that free college tuition alone does not make education accessible. School facilities, such as classrooms, laboratories, equipment, and efficient and well-trained teaching personnel, do. And to support increased enrollment in Science, Technology, Engineering, Agri-Fisheries, and Mathematics (STEAM) courses, which is now noticeable, we have re-aligned 327 Million Pesos within the budget of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) for free Wi-Fi for all SUCs. Global inter-connectivity should extend from the homes to the schools, then on to the workplaces. For basic education, we have increased the Chalk Allowance for teachers from Two Thousand Five Hundred Pesos (P2,500) to Three Thousand Five Hundred Pesos (P3,500), all amounting to 770 Million Pesos, to sustain the increases we started in 2015. Our instruction to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the DepEd is to release this allowance before the start of classes in 2018. We continue to support the efforts of the DepEd for the conservation and preservation of all remaining Gabaldon-type school buildings and other similar heritage sites, as well as its site development plans. Thus, in the 2018 national budget, we have allocated the amounts of One Billion Pesos and 435 Million Pesos, respectively, for each of these priorities. Mr. President, distinguished colleagues: The budget we fashioned out is a budget of continuity and sustainability. In 2017, we overwhelmingly supported PhilHealth with additional Three Billion Pesos budget so that all Filipinos can be covered by the government's Point-of-Service Program. We are providing PhilHealth the same amount for 2018. We ask PhilHealth to aggressively inform the needy of our country of this health subsidy. Also in 2017, we set aside Two Billion Pesos in irrigation fees subsidy so that the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) will no longer collect irrigation fees from farmers' associations. We earmarked the same amount for the same priority in the 2018 budget. My hope is that next year, when the NIA comes back to report to us the use of the money, it will tell us that the 34.3 percent poverty among our farmers, the poorest among the basic sectors, would have been significantly reduced. In this budget for next year, we reflected our continuing effort to reduce the inequality that victimizes the poor by setting aside Two Billion Pesos for the repair, rehabilitation, and construction of DSWD centers nationwide. This amount became available after the DSWD's internal housekeeping, which saw it realign One Billion Pesos from its Sustainable Livelihood Program, and another One Billion Pesos added by the Committee. After the repair, rehabilitation, and construction are done, we expect the Department to make available at these centers the services of a respectable shelter: access to water and electricity, working toilets, beds, proper ventilation, adequate lighting, and other essentials. We expect nothing extravagant; just what is basic and humane. We have to treat our poor with dignity. We continue to support the Conditional Cash Transfer Program by upholding its 89.408 Billion Pesos allocation, of which 31.68 Billion Pesos is for rice subsidy. For 2018, an amount of 270 Million Pesos for the Early Childhood Care and Development/Nutrition Package for the First 1000 Days have been set aside under the National Nutrition Council that will benefit children and adults in 16,419 barangays worst-hit by malnutrition. This is a timely intervention to address the 31.4 percent poverty rate among the Philippines' children population, the third highest among the basic sectors. For the second year in a row, we are funding the Centenarians Act by allocating 189.5 Million Pesos for a one-time cash grant of One Hundred Thousand Pesos each to 1,895 senior citizens aged 100 years and over. For the surviving spouses of our World War II veterans, your Committee has allocated 1.647 Billion Pesos for the full--not partial--payment of total administrative disability arrears, a shameful ingratitude to those who shed sweat and blood and sacrificed lives so we may live in liberty and freedom. In addition, we set aside 30 Million Pesos for the construction of a hospital in Mindanao for our dwindling number of veterans. We support the proposition of the President that this budget is one that will increase the country's growth potential, or patuloy na pag-unlad. This being so, we followed through our support of One Billion Pesos this year to the government's Pondo Para sa Pagbabago under the Small Business Corporation by setting aside the same amount for 2018 to boost the continuous development of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) which comprise the largest bulk of enterprises in the country. Relative to this, we added 800 Million Pesos to the House-approved 200 Million Pesos for the provision of shared services facilities (SSFs). SSFs are development support equipment and systems that would be made available to MSMEs to make them productive and competitive. Of the One Billion Pesos for SSF, 200 Million Pesos will be for SUCs that implement livelihood initiatives; 100 Million Pesos will be for Schools of Living Traditions (SLTs); and 50 Million Pesos for MSMEs affected by the war in Marawi. We are one with the President and our colleagues in the Lower House in batting for increased infrastructure spending to herald the so-called Golden Age of Infrastructure. Aside from stimulating economic activity--estimated at a GDP growth of 7-8 percent in 2018; creating decent jobs, expected at 1.6 million annually; and attracting more investments, the "build, build, build" philosophy will ultimately expand to building human capital and inclusive social justice. Thus, we support the budgets of the agencies with hard infrastructure requirements, 30 percent in total of the 2018 national budget. And as one of the safeguards against waste of public funds, in this Bill, we are writing a new special provision that requires all government agencies with infrastructure projects to post in their official websites the status of such projects, including geo-tagged photos, contractors' names, projects' cost and location, and projects' start and target date of completion. Speaking of Marawi, we support the move of the House to provide for the rehabilitation of the city, but we were firm in our stand that the budgetary allocation should be increased. Thus, in the the light of Marawi City's current situation, we are making available Ten Billion Pesos of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (NDRRM) Fund for 2018 for the city's quick recovery, reconstruction, and rehabilitation. This amount is on top of the Five Billion Pesos given this year from the Contingent Fund and funds of different government agencies. We are also making available a 500-Million-Peso subsidy for a loan facility for Marawi residents, under the auspices of the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP), to enable them to re-construct their damaged houses. In a new special provision, we specify that such loans will be free of interest, but the loanable amount is limited to Two Million Pesos per household and the Land Bank may charge the borrower an administrative cost for processing the loan. For the Mindanao State University (MSU) in the City, we have allocated Five Million Pesos more for cultural mapping of the intangible and tangible heritage--all memories and materials left by the war that engulfed Marawi. We hope that this process of heritage mapping and its intended outputs can hasten the psychological healing of the affected populace and strengthen our cultural bonds with our fellow Muslim Filipinos. These budgets go with our fervent prayer that we may immediately see hope, dignity, and peace restored in Marawi City and other affected areas. With this small, yet meaningful, allocation, we signal to all Filipinos that the Senate accords culture and the arts an important place in our budget priorities and would not allow cultural agencies--which provide nourishment to our national soul and identity--to be left behind. Thus, your Committee provided resources for the promotion and preservation of our tangible and intangible heritage. The message we are sending is that culture and arts literacy is key to national unity. Mr. President, esteemed colleagues: The Marawi crisis brought us constructive lessons in peace-making and peace-building. It also magnified a thousand times the hard challenges we face towards socio-economic and political stability. And so, we do not desire another Marawi crisis somewhere else in our land. Thus, for 2018, we are providing an additional 100 Million Pesos intelligence fund for the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) to ensure that it is ready and equipped in preventing any more Marawi-like crises from happening. This is on top of the intelligence resources we are allocating the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP), as well as the 36 Million Pesos and 35 Million Pesos in confidential funds and the situation room funds, respectively, for the National Security Council (NSC). Despite the criticisms and the public ire hurled against the PNP, we support its funding needs because only through this can we really make them more well-equipped, efficient, and effective. Your Committee does not subscribe to some wild notion that withholding resources from our police force will make them accountable. It is the PNP leadership under the President who should answer for the action, behavior, and performance of the police corps. Thus, we are allocating 1.9 Billion Pesos to the PNP in 2018 for it to achieve an improved police-to-population ratio of 1:511.[4] About 10,000 Police Officer 1 recruits will benefit from this budget. We allocated 900 Million Pesos to the PNP to support its campaign against illegal drugs, as well as 1.2 Billion Pesos for the operating requirements of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA). By way of support to PNP operations, we are also providing 100 Million Pesos for the purchase and installation of closed-circuit television (CCTV) for the PNP Command Center, as well as an initial 50 Million Pesos for the acquisition of body cameras for police officers in highly-urbanized areas. We are setting aside 47.734 Million Pesos to finance the upkeep of the PNP Women and Children Center. For our armed services, your Committee has crafted a new provision for the un-programmed appropriation of Two Billion Pesos which shall be used exclusively to support the requirements of the AFP/PNP Housing Project under Republic Act Nos. 7279 and 7835. Every soldier and police officer, though his or her work may be on the field and outdoors, need a shelter to go home to, as much as we ordinary citizens do. Your Committee has increased from Two Thousand Pesos (P2,000) to Four Thousand Pesos (P4,000) a month the hazard pay for the men and women of the National Bureau of Investigation, or 13.536 Million Pesos, knowing the risks that they take in performing their duties and responsibilities. For the Philippine Coast Guard, we provided an additional 120 Million Pesos for the installation of buoys in coast guard stations nationwide to ensure safety at sea, especially in the eastern seaboard. While minuscule in amount, this action is part of our efforts to secure the Philippine Rise, or Benham, and signals to the world, particularly to our neighbours in Asia, that we have the political will to assert the integrity of and our sovereignty over Philippine territory. Likewise, your Committee has allocated 8.2 Million Pesos more for the hazard pay of Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) employees in hardship posts, which are increasing in number given the very volatile socio-economic and political situation in many parts of the globe that has engendered problems like terrorism and transnational crimes and diseases. Our diplomatic personnel should be well-protected as they respond to the challenges of their official representation of the Philippines as an active member of the international community. To ensure a more efficient judicial system, we are providing additional 426 Million Pesos for the Sandiganbayan for next year. The amount is inclusive of the Ten Million Pesos rewards fund for whistleblowers. In this budget, the Supreme Court gets an increase of 100 Million Pesos, and the Court of Tax Appeals and Court of Appeals, Two Million Pesos each. The following constitutional offices also get their fair share in the form of increases in their 2018 budgets: Civil Service Commission (CSC), 71.870 Million Pesos; Commission on Audit (COA), 40 Million Pesos; Commission on Human Rights (CHR), 156.432 Million Pesos, on top of its restored budget; and the Office of the Ombudsman, 143.653 Million Pesos, specifically for the implementation of the electronic filing of Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth, or E-SALN, of government officials and employees, worth 16.653 Million Pesos, and for its building, 127 Million Pesos. Mr. President, distinguished colleagues: I could not have completed the serious, but fulfilling, task of fine-tuning the 2018 General Appropriations Bill without the company of our hardworking vice chairpersons--Senators Sonny Angara, Bam Aquino, JV Ejercito, Ping Lacson, and Cynthia Villar--to whom this representation is sincerely thankful and grateful, not only for their meticulous employ of their own fine-toothed combs in asking the relevant questions on the budget, but also for their diligence and wit. I should not miss to mention all our distinguished colleagues who participated in our public hearings. All of you, here in this Chamber, have surely enriched our discussions, and you deserve our people's commendation. Mr. President, distinguished colleagues: The Filipino people are awaiting with nervous anticipation and hope the translation of the outcomes of the Duterte Administration's budgetary proposal into meaningful, tangible, and real life-affecting reforms, as well as solid benefits. As Chairperson of your Committee on Finance, I myself, am getting impatient for results and watching closely how things will change for the better for our people. This must be fast and sooner, I often tell myself. Yet, as elected Senators, duty dictates that we, as members of a collegial institution, must show the way in "drinking tea from an empty cup", the highest degree of patience as Confucius himself taught. This is what we do in a democracy. We adhere to certain rules, processes, and systems in our work to prevent disorder, if not chaos. And this adherence to rules, processes, and systems applies to our work in the national budget. We must "propose or concur with amendments" as the Constitution instructs us. This is why today, on behalf of your Committee on Finance, I propose for the Senate's approval of and concurrence with the 2018 General Appropriations Bill, as thus presented under Senate Committee on Finance Report No. 167: Programmed New Appropriations - Two Trillion, Seven Hundred Eighty-Six Billion, One Hundred Eighty-Seven Million, Five Hundred Fifty Thousand Pesos (P2,786,187,550,000) Unprogrammed Appropriatons - Seventy-Five Billion, Three Hundred Forty Million Pesos (P75,340,000,000) Total New Appropriations - Two Trillion, Eight Hundred Sixty-One Billion, Five Hundred Twenty-Seven Million, Five Hundred Fifty Thousand Pesos (P2,861,527,550,000) Mr. President, I now make myself available to answer any question from the distinguished members of this Chamber. Thank you, Mr. President. ___________________________ [1] NCIP: 14,184, 645 [2] Poverty Among the basic Sectors in the Philippines. Sources of Basic Data: Merged 2015 Family Income and Expenditure Survey and January 2016 Labor Force Survey. [3] Estimate of losses in potential annual BOC revenues due to smuggling, according to The President's Budget Message, "A Budget that Reforms and Transforms". However, a BOC Frequently Asked Questions document places the annual potential revenue losses at a high of P200 billion, or P547 million per day. [4] The ideal police to population ratio is 1:500 DECATUR Worrying about crime is starting to take a bite out of families' sense of well-being in Decatur's West End neighborhood. Concerned residents organized a meeting with Decatur police Wednesday night and were given two messages: to fight back, ordinary people have to be willing to step up to assist the police, who are working on a new plan to help them. Standing at a lectern in a chapel of Westminster Presbyterian Church, where the meeting attended by more than 70 people was hosted, crime prevention officer George Kestner preached the gospel of self-help. He urged people to install surveillance and security systems in their homes and not to forget to do basic things, such as locking their cars. We all tend to get complacent, he warned. Kestner said Police Chief Jim Getz tasked him with coming up with a plan to sharpen the strategy on fighting crime, too. I have a three-pronged attack planned, he said. I call it EEP: The first part is education, the second part is enforcement and the third and final part is partnership. Education includes a more proactive approach to working with the public to help them take better care of their home, car and personal security. Enforcement is the police concentrating resources to more precisely target particular crime problems. Things like saturated patrols, said Kestner, who is also the officer running the Crime Stoppers program. He said partnership means civilians have to be willing to take an interest in their neighborhoods, join a neighborhood watch and pick up the phone when they see something suspicious. If you see something, say something," he said. Some West End residents were concerned that crime levels in their neighborhoods were spiking, but the statistics don't quite bear that out. Kestner ran some numbers and said between January and September this year, there were 16 residential burglaries, eight nonresidential (to structures like garages) and some 40 auto burglaries. The numbers were up a little from this time last year, but not dramatically. West End resident Kent West helped organize the meeting and said just one crime is devastating if it happens to you. Speaking before the meeting, he also accepted that residents have to willing to get involved. He's hoping to try kick some new life into neighborhood watch efforts which got under way in earnest a year ago but have since faded somewhat. He said anecdotal stories he's heard point to a spike in crimes like thefts from cars since about midsummer. He said taking a more proactive approach to security is a priority. People feel comfortable, they leave things unlocked, like car doors, he said. But they've got to get beyond that and realize we're going to have a big risk until some of these criminals are caught. Although catching them isn't always the answer citizens and the police might hope it would be. Getz spoke to the audience, which included Decatur City councilmen Pat McDaniel and Bill Faber, noting juvenile offender laws can make it difficult to detain young suspects, even if police are aware they could be responsible for several crimes. He said he could understand societal reluctance to lock up teenagers but said there are hard-core cases that needed it. Believe me, it is frustrating; you get a group of kids like this and they will terrorize a neighborhood," Getz said. "We will arrest them and a week or two later they're back on the streets, doing the same thing. Press Release October 5, 2017 Legarda: 2018 National Budget, One that Addresses the Basics Senator Loren Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, today said that the proposed 2018 national budget amounting to 3.767 Trillion Pesos is one that aims to address the basic needs of the people. Legarda sponsored the 2018 General Appropriations Bill (GAB) under Senate Committee Report No. 167. "We fashioned a budget that we believe will translate the soaring rhetoric of our leaders into something solid. It is a budget that addresses the basics. It is a budget where we made room and space to keep those who are in the cold, warm; to feed those who are hungry and dispossessed; a budget that reduces enmity and restores the peace," she stressed. "To reduce inequality, we at the Committee level supported many of the proposals of the President and the budget refinements proposed by our colleagues in the Lower House, but we also made sure those are aligned with the results of the Senate's own consultations--the public hearings--that we conducted," she added. Legarda said that there is 40 Billion Pesos funding for the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, which would pave the way for free college education in all of the country's state universities and colleges (SUCs), local universities and colleges (LUCs) and state-run technical-vocational institutions. The Senate also provided additional 10 Million Pesos for capital outlay and free Wi-Fi for all SUCs. For teachers, additional 770 Million Pesos was provided in the Department of Education (DepEd) budget to increase the chalk allowance from P2,500 to P3,500. There is additional Three Billion Pesos in the Philhealth budget so that all Filipinos are covered by its Point-of-Service program; Two Billion Pesos Irrigation Fees Subsidy in the budget of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) so that irrigation service fees will no longer be collected by NIA from farmers' associations; and One Billion Pesos for the Small Business Corporation's Pondo Para sa Pagbabago to boost the development of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) budget for Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) amounts to 89.408 Billion Pesos, of which 31.68 Billion Pesos is for rice subsidy. Legarda also pushed for additional Two Billion Pesos for the DSWD's Protective Social Welfare Program for the repair, rehabilitation and construction of all its centers nationwide. "After the repair, rehabilitation, and construction are done, we expect the Department to make available at these centers the services of a respectable shelter: access to water and electricity, working toilets, beds, proper ventilation, adequate lighting, and other essentials. We expect nothing extravagant; just what is basic and humane. We have to treat our poor with dignity," she said. An amount of 270 Million Pesos for the Early Childhood Care and Development/Nutrition Package for the First 1000 Days have been set aside under the National Nutrition Council that will benefit the 16,419 barangays worst-hit by malnutrition. "We have also provided funding for the pension of centenarians; full payment of total administrative disability arrears for the surviving spouses of World War II veterans; construction of a veterans hospital in Mindanao; and hazard pay for foreign service employees in hardship posts, among others. We also increased the budget of the Department of Trade and Industry's (DTI) Shared Service Facilities (SSF) to increase the productivity of MSMEs, including those affected in the Marawi crisis," said Legarda. The proposed 2018 national budget also provides funding for the rehabilitation of Marawi City. There is Ten Billion Pesos under the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (NDRRM) Fund; 500-Million-Peso subsidy for a loan facility for Marawi residents, under the auspices of the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP). This is a zero-interest loan facility that Marawi residents can avail for the repair or reconstruction of damaged homes; and Five Million Pesos under the Mindanao State University (MSU) for cultural mapping of the intangible and tangible heritage--all memories and materials left by the war that engulfed Marawi. "We also support the funding needs of the police because we want an efficient, well-equipped police force to protect us," said Legarda as the Committee approved funding for the hiring of 10,000 new Police Officer 1 recruits to achieve an improved police to population ratio; 900 Million Pesos for the Philippine National Police's (PNP) anti-illegal drugs campaign; 100 Million Pesos for purchase of closed-circuit television (CCTV) for the PNP command center; 50 Million Pesos for the acquisition of body cameras for police in highly urbanized areas; and 47.734 Million Pesos for the PNP Women and Children Protection Center. As an advocate of culture and the arts, Legarda also ensured that there are resources for the promotion and preservation of our tangible and intangible heritage. "The message we are sending is that culture and arts literacy is key to national unity." The Senator, who is a staunch and long-time environmentalist, also ensured funding to integrate and mainstream disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies in government programs. The Senate supported the Executive Branch's proposal to provide 1.5 Billion Pesos for the PAGASA Modernization Program; 1.5 Billion Pesos for the Metro Manila Development Authority's (MMDA) flood control program; and 285 Million Pesos to the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for geo-hazard mapping and assessment. Moreover, in the interest of ensuring that the Quick Response Fund (QRF) would be quickly accessed and utilized by the agency that needs it, the Senate restored the 2016 arrangement, where the QRF is lodged in individual agencies. For 2018, the DepEd will have P2 billion QRF; P1.250 billion for DSWD; one billion each for the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH); P750 million for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP); P500 million each for the Department of Health (DOH), Office of Civil Defense (OCD), and NIA; and P100 million for the National Electrification Administration (NEA). Legarda also said that while the Senate supports increased infrastructure spending to herald the so-called Golden Age of Infrastructure, it introduced a special provision as one of the safeguards against waste of public funds. "We included a special provision that requires all government agencies with infrastructure projects to post in their official websites the status of such projects, including geo-tagged photos, contractors' names, projects' cost and location, and projects' start and target date of completion," she said. "Through this budget, we hope to effect real change among those who genuinely need the government's preferential care and support--the 21.9 million poor Filipinos--the farmers, fisherfolks, children, self-employed and unpaid family workers, women, the youth, migrant and formal sector workers, senior citizens, and the urban residents. We also hope that agencies and departments of government will be able to immediately address the challenges that hinder them from fully utilizing their budget, so that they may be able to efficiently deliver the services to our people," Legarda concluded. Press Release October 5, 2017 Koko condemns murder of councilor and son, slams PNP for unsolved murders Senate President Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III on Thursday denounced the killing of Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro councilor, Melchor Arago, and his 15-year old son by unidentified gunmen on Tuesday. Arago, 52, was in his car, which was parked in front of his house, when two motorcycle-riding men approached and shot him, shooting his son Kenneth as well, when the latter was spotted going out of the house. "This is yet another murder by the now usual modus operandi of motorcycle-riding gunmen. Where is the peace and order that [PNP Chief] dela Rosa says the people are ungrateful for?", said Pimentel. The Senate President was referring to an outburst from PNP Chief Ronald dela Rosa, where he referred to critics of the drug war as "ingrates". Pimentel, who was instrumental in the passage of the NBI Modernization Law, challenged the PNP to shape up. The Senate President said, "Criminals are being emboldened by what they see as the incompetence of the PNP in catching them." According to the PNP's own figures, there were 6,225 drug-related deaths between July 2016 and September 2017. These deaths were broken down into 2,290 drug-related deaths or homicide cases under investigation, 3,850 deaths during police operations, and 85 police or military personnel killed in action. The Senate President said that the large number of unsolved "deaths under investigation" is unacceptable. Pimentel said, "One homicide is one unnecessary death too many. Add the large number of unsolved killings, made worse by some of the victims being minors, and you start wondering what the police is there for." The Senate leader emphasized that the police must have the proper training and tools to carry out President Duterte's campaign against drugs and criminality. "The Filipino people deserve a modern, professional, and capable police force. Right now, the PNP is none of the above. We need to take radical action to change this state of affairs", said the Senator. The Senate President previously suggested having a VFA-style treaty with foreign police forces to help train the PNP. Pimentel is no stranger to the modernization of law enforcement agencies, having been the principal sponsor of Republic Act No. 10867, or the "National Bureau of Investigation Reorganization and Modernization Act." Press Release October 5, 2017 Villar SIPAG gives assistance to distressed OFWs and their families Senator Cynthia A. Villar gave financial and livelihood assistance to the families of the two Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who were abducted and killed by the ISIS while working in Libya and the OFW "burned" by her Malaysian employer and 6 other distressed migrant workers to help them start a new life. She noted that these OFWs suffered the pains of leaving their loved ones in the country to work abroad to give their families a better life, but they were not fortunate enough. They were victims of various forms of maltreatment from their employers. The latest beneficiaries of the help being given by the Villar SIPAG, where Villar sits as its director, are the families of the late Roldan Blaza of Laguna and Wilson Eligue of Bataan, both abducted by the ISIS last March 6, 2015 and both reported dead by their respective employers on September 19, 2017. Roldan worked as a cook while Wilson was a processed operator. Their wives are seeking for help to support their children since the companies of their husbands failed to give them any assistance. The help was personally handed by the senator to the wives of the slain OFWs-- Elizabeth Blaza and Aileen Eligue at the Padilla Room, Senate of the Philippines in Pasay City. Also given assistance which consisted of cash and "Sari-Sari store package" from "All Home" are Joramie Torres, of Bacoor, Cavite; Reah Marmojada, 33, Las Pinas City; Angelica Cardenas, Ilocos Sur; Maria Maribeth Lingat, 36, Tarlac City; Shan Kervin Victorino, 31, Muntilupa City; Mary Jane Fernandez, 41, Ilocos Sur; Normelita Noynoyan, 42, Rizal; Villar said Torres is a public school teacher who left the country on December 2016 to work as domestic helper in Malaysia. Last September 1, a Filipino couple found her in an abandoned lot full of bruises, burns and boils. Torres has been appealing for help since she is the breadwinner in their family. Marmojada returned to the country last September 10 after working in Damman, Saudi Arabia, for a year. She worked 16 hours a day, serving two houses, and was not allowed by her employer to have a day off. Cardenas went to Singapore to help her family and send her child to school. But things did not turn well for her since she was maltreated and oftentimes, was not given food by her employer. She opted to return to the Philippines after one year and three months. Also a breadwinner in a brood of five, Lingat left the country for Abu Dhabi on July 2016. She also helped in the medication of her 70-year old father. But her employer was very strict. She was detained for nine days at Al Awir Immigration as her agent held her passport on learning that she was looking for another employer. Victorino worked as a waiter in a small restaurant in Dubai and met an accident such that his employer refused to give him work and decided to send him home. He was then supporting his aging parents and sending his siblings to school. Fernandez, a mother of a 7-year old left the country on June 19, 2016 and returned "penniless" on July 30, 2017 because her employer in Kuwait did not pay her salary. Noynoyan, also a mother of a seven-year old, went back to the country after working as domestic helper in Kuwait for two years and nine months on July 18, 2017. She was mauled by his employer on several occasions. Villar cited the need to help our repatriated OFWs to cope up with the difficulties of leading a comfortable life after leaving their jobs abroad. She noted that some of them went home penniless as they were not given their salaries. "So we need concerted efforts of both the public and private sector in order to help them with their livelihood. They remain to be the country's "modern day" heroes due to their significant contributions to our economy. "Their remittance of billions of pesos every year help keep our economy afloat," added Villar, a known advocate of the rights and welfare of our OFWs. In further reconizing the sacrifices of our OFWs, Villar has sponsored and authored several legislations during her nine years as member of the House of Representative and now as a senator. DECATUR A fugitive's girlfriend hid him inside a locked closet and lied about knowing where he was, Decatur police said. A sworn affidavit said the 28-year-old woman played a cat-and-mouse game with police after the boyfriend, wanted on multiple outstanding warrants, fled into her house in the 500 block of South 20th Street at 8:45 a.m. Monday morning. The affidavit accused the boyfriend, 32, as using his speedy legs to get away from police in the past and, this time, his longtime girlfriend was cheering him on as he ran. The affidavit said the girlfriend gave police permission to search her home, and officers scoured the whole building except for a locked closet door secured by a deadbolt. She stated she could not open that door as her landlord had previously installed the lock and it had remained locked since she became a resident, the affidavit said. Police left, but didn't go far, staking out the house and watching for the suspect. At 11:07 a.m., they said they saw him at the home's front door and tried to arrest him a second time. The girlfriend told them they were mistaken, and another search of the house turned up nothing except that locked closet door. Officers then contacted the landlord who came to the house and told them he had never installed the deadbolt. He removed the door and (the fugitive) was located and retreated to the attic access from that locked closet, the affidavit said. Police said he later surrendered as his girlfriend yelled up the attic steps that it was over, the police had found him. The woman was booked on a preliminary charge of obstructing justice. She remained in the Macon County Jail Wednesday in lieu of $10,000 bond. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A billionaire landowner who had blocked access to a beach near Half Moon Bay opened the gate leading to the sandy shore Wednesday, two days after legal papers were filed demanding he comply with a court order. The decision by venture capitalist Vinod Khosla to finally allow the public to use the only road leading to picturesque Martins Beach was touted as a victory for surfers and sunbathers, but lawyers say it probably isnt the end of a decade-long battle over the sandy cove. I think this man is so embarrassed by his conduct that somebody must have said to him, open the gate and let the courts figure it out down the line, said Joseph Cotchett, the lead attorney for the nonprofit Surfrider Foundation, which sued Khosla in 2013, arguing that the shoreline had been open to all comers since at least 1918 and belonged to the public. Cotchett filed papers Monday urging the First District Court of Appeal in San Francisco to enforce its ruling in August saying Khosla had no right to block public access without first obtaining a permit. Failure to unlock the gate would mean daily fines. Cotchett claims the co-founder of Sun Microsystems and his lawyers are attacking the California Coastal Act, the law established by the state Legislature in 1976 to protect public access to the shoreline. Its a big victory for all the people, because its not just about Martins Beach, he said. The whole state is watching this all the beach communities up and down the coast. Khoslas lawyers could not be reached for comment Wednesday, but they told the court in August that any interference by the state with his fundamental right to exclude the public from private property would be a type of confiscation a taking, in legal terms that requires compensation under U.S. Supreme Court property-rights rulings. The expectation is that the case will eventually be appealed to the top court. But Khosla and his attorneys have, if anything, been cagey about what they hope to achieve or how they intend to achieve it. The seashore tussle began when Khosla bought Martins Beach and the surrounding land from its longtime owners for $32.5 million in 2008. He shut the gate leading to nearly 90 acres of his coastal property in September 2010, citing the cost of maintenance and liability insurance. The previous owners had admitted the public for at least 70 years. The case has been a roller-coaster ride of accusations and rulings ever since. The August decision by the San Francisco appeals court affirmed a 2014 ruling by a San Mateo judge who ordered Khosla to let the public into the comely cove. The contentuous case has drawn in politicians and a variety of government and regulatory agencies including the California Coastal Commission, which defended the publics right to use the beach. The Legislature recently passed a bill that would allow, under certain circumstances, the state to seize the access road through eminent domain, but Gov. Jerry Brown has not yet signed it into law. It's money and arrogance that makes them think they can close to the public a beach, Cotchett said. It would be like somebody buying Yosemite and saying to the public you can't use it anymore. Peter Fimrite is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: pfimrite@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @pfimrite Just about every day, 90-year-old David Grinberg crossed the street from his home in San Francisco to read at a park in the Panhandle. He was on his way back from one of his daily newspaper reading sessions when a car struck and killed him Wednesday evening at a crosswalk at Fell and Baker streets, a busy intersection neighbors described as dangerous due to turning and speeding vehicles. Grinberg was two steps from the curb when he was struck on Fell Street by a 28-year-old driver who entered the intersection as soon as a light turned green, said his grandson, Roman Gertsenshteyn. Police said Thursday that the incident remained under investigation and that the driver was not arrested. He lived through all of it. He lived through World War II, Gertsenshteyn, 29, said Thursday. Even through everything he lived, hes always been positive and helped. Grinberg lived for 15 years at the Mercy Terrace Apartments senior community on Baker at Fell streets with his 93-year-old wife, his grandson said. The family immigrated to San Francisco from Moldova 25 years ago. Grinberg, once a civil engineer in the Eastern European country, spent his retirement in America helping rear his grandson as his children adjusted to their new life. He helped raise me while my family got on their feet. Hed pick me up from school, drive me from school. ... He was there to be of service to everyone, Gertsenshteyn said. The fatal collision comes right as the NOPA Neighborhood Association was discussing improved safety measures after researching that Fell Street was a high-injury corridor. One neighborhood resident had sent emails to the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency and the office of London Breed, president of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, asking for improved safety measures a month ago. That resident, Patrick Traughber, said Thursday, It is a treacherous intersection that needs to be addressed. We knew this was going to happen eventually. Its really frustrating to know that this was a dangerous part of the city and we could have done something to prevent such a tragedy, Traughber, 30, said. To actually see it happen is devastating. The car was traveling west on Fell Street about 5:22 p.m. Wednesday when it hit Grinberg in the crosswalk at Baker Street, police said. Grinberg was rushed to a hospital, where he died about 11:30 p.m., according to Sgt. Michael Andraychak, a police department spokesman. Breed said the area is among many receiving bond money for pedestrian safety improvements with the passage of then-Supervisor Scott Wieners Proposition B initiative in 2014. Sadly, my heart goes out to the family of the person who lost their life, Breed said. We in the city, I believe, have been really aggressive about trying to make improvements. The collision is unfortunate, Breed added. It just means we have to try our best to do things faster. SFMTA spokesman Paul Rose said officials updated crosswalks in the area in 2015 and added a protective bike lane in 2013, but when the local neighborhood association suggested reducing a traffic lane a year ago, the city conducted a study and found most residents did not approve. Traughber said he had asked for a protected bike lane and requested a lane of traffic be removed, hoping a more narrow crossing distance would lessen the chance of pedestrians getting hit. The intersection, four lanes wide, is close to the Mercy Terrace Apartments and the citys Department of Motor Vehicles branch, bringing with it drivers who tend to speed down the road, local residents said. Its hard for me to hear about this. Just imagine the family, Traughber said. He survived multiple wars to die on a street we knew was dangerous. Jenna Lyons is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jlyons@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @JennaJourno This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate As investigators look for a motive in the massacre of 58 people at a country music festival in Las Vegas, one thing is clear to criminologist Adam Lankford: The shooter knew an attack of this magnitude would draw worldwide attention to him. The pursuit of fame or infamy through mass murder has emerged as a factor in numerous mass shootings since two teens predicted on videotape that killing their classmates and teachers at Columbine High School in Colorado in 1999 would win them respect and that movie directors would vie to tell their story. A man who killed nine people at Umpqua Community College in Oregon on Oct. 1, 2015 exactly two years before the Las Vegas massacre wrote admiringly of other killers in online posts before the shooting: Seems the more people you kill, the more youre in the limelight. Lankford, a criminology professor and researcher at the University of Alabama who has studied mass shootings, said his research shows that mass killers driven by desire for fame slaughter and wound twice as many people as murderers with other motives, such as workplace revenge crimes. The (Las Vegas) shooters father was on Americas Most Wanted list, so if ever there was a kid who grew up knowing that crimes can get you a lot of attention, it was him, Lankford said. He clearly had a sense of what kind of media attention this would get. ... The offenders realize if they want fame, they have to kill as many as possible. Lankford said mass killers are also often suicidal, as was the 64-year-old shooter in Las Vegas, who killed himself as police closed in. The two shooters at Columbine and the killer at Umpqua Community College also committed suicide following their shooting sprees. People who want to be famous but care about self-preservation dont commit these attacks, Lankford said. They arent willing to die or deal with consequences. (Mass killers) want to go out in a blaze of glory, even if they dont experience the fame while alive. Sundays massacre was the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history, with at least 58 killed and 527 injured by gunfire or while trying to escape. Many remain in critical condition at Las Vegas hospitals. The gunman, police say, broke out two windows of his hotel room on the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay hotel to shoot down at a crowd of 22,000 people who were at an outdoor concert. Before the Las Vegas massacre, a shooting rampage by a lone gunman at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando last year was the deadliest attack in modern America, with 49 killed at the gay club. That puts the countrys two most deadly shootings in modern history within the past 16 months. The four most deadly mass shootings happened within the past 10 years. In 2007, 32 people were killed at Virginia Tech University. In 2012, 26 people 20 of them children were killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. Lankford called the increasing frequency and rising death counts a disturbing trajectory. We are going to keep seeing these attackers try to kill more than anyone else has before, or by killing differently, innovating a new way to get attention, Lankford said. David Hemenway, director of the Harvard Injury Control Research Center and a health policy professor at Harvard University, gives an explanation for the rise in mass shootings. These mass shootings are contagious in the sense that one spawns another, Hemenway said. Thats one of the reasons we see more in bunches. Its suddenly on peoples radar. Another reason, he said, is the sheer number of guns in the United States. He pointed to the number of guns found in the Las Vegas shooters possession: 23 in the hotel room and 19 at his home. We just make it so easy to get more and more highly lethal weapons, Hemenway said. Other countries would be appalled at how many guns (the Las Vegas shooter) had. ... One of the fundamental principles in economics and psychology is if you make things easier, more people do it. The United States has by far the most guns in the world, with 270 million firearms owned by civilians, and the most per capita. Comparatively tiny Yemen had the second most per capita, according to a highly regarded 2007 report by the Small Arms Survey, a Geneva research initiative that tracks guns. Lankford has found a statistical link between the rates of gun ownership and the number of mass shootings. In a 2016 study, Lankford looked at mass shootings in 171 countries between 1966 and 2012 and found that the higher per-capita rate of gun ownership correlated with more mass shootings. He found that the United States has 5 percent of the global population but accounted for 31 percent of the global public mass shootings between 1966 and 2012. Lankford and other experts say the combination of gun availability and the American obsession with fame and notoriety makes the United States more prone to such violence than other countries. Hans Steiner, an author and professor emeritus of psychology at Stanford University who specializes in the psychology of mass murderers, points to Americas Wild West cowboy-and-guns mythology and the belief that men (and mass killers are almost all men) must take forceful action to solve problems as factors in why the U.S. sees such violence. Sometimes when people do these mass shootings, theres a perverse, twisted way of wanting to be famous, or sometimes its ills that have been perceived, such an insult of some kind, Steiner said. Experts say addressing the rise in mass shootings is complex when it comes to the availability of guns, but many suggest a simple approach to deal with fame-seeking shooters. More than 140 scholars and law enforcement officials signed a letter urging media not to use the names or photos of mass killers, unless the person is the subject of a manhunt. The group, which includes Lankford, said such a practice would deprive fame-seeking mass shooters the personal attention they want. Lankford said that mass murderers looking to make a name for themselves by breaking a killing record as many have indicated they wanted to do in messages left behind might be dissuaded if they werent sure their name would be made famous in the coverage of the event. Being the recordholder when no one knows who they are doesnt make sense, Lankford said. San Francisco Chronicle staff writer Kevin Fagan contributed to this report. Melody Gutierrez is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mgutierrez@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @MelodyGutierrez The event that triggered much of the conception of poet Layli Long Soldiers book of poems, Whereas, first barely registered at all in her mind. More tellingly, as Soldier notes in her acclaimed book released in August, it went unnoticed by everybody. In December 2009, then-President Obama quietly signed the Congressional Resolution of Apology to Native Americans, with no tribal representatives or witnesses present. Soldier, who is in her own words a U.S. citizen and a citizen of the Oglala Lakota Nation, didnt learn about it until months later, and certainly not through the mainstream media. I wasnt all that excited, Soldier says by phone from her home in Santa Fe, N.M. And, of course, with time I started to wonder, question myself. Why dont I feel excited? Why is this so uninteresting, or why do I myself not feel something from this apology? In examining my own response, it spoke to something much bigger. The apology was noiseless, devoid of any real meaning and a part of the status quo. Im so indoctrinated in this country as a native person to accept that kind of invisibility, Soldier says. Eventually, Soldier became obsessed with, and angry about, the congressional apology. Split into two parts whose titles, These Being the Concerns and Whereas, are modeled after language from the apology, the book is Soldiers response to the document that reduces the colonization and decimation of native people in America to terse, vacuous footnotes each beginning with the word whereas. In the language of the apology there were these wide, sweeping statements that covered long periods of time and these tremendous moments, Soldier says. In reading it as a list in these 20 whereas statements, its so easy to overlook the actual details and the impact that those events had on our communities and our people in present day. While the first part of the book, composed of poems written over the past decade, lays the foundation for who Soldier is, the second part is almost entirely composed of her Whereas Statements a personal rewrite to an apology that, as Soldier writes, replaces acknowledgments of genocide instead with softball terms like conflict. Where the political-speak fails and blurs history, Soldiers poetry flows lyrically, plays with the page and unpacks trauma that might otherwise be incapable of expression. Her poems, almost never bearing commas, run wild while carrying a haunting precision. Sometimes if its confusing and fragmented for the reader, its because its fragmented and confusing for me, Soldier says. Theyre able to experience it a little bit as I experience these things myself. The poem 38, the final piece from Part I chronicling the state-sanctioned execution of 38 Dakota men after the Sioux Uprising of 1862, is the only one to be written as straightforward, grammatically adherent statement. The act, Soldier says, spoke for itself. Poetry allows me to bring forth those things within me that are sometimes almost unspeakable, Soldier says. Its through the poem in some way that Im able to articulate it. So I can do something with it. I can do something with that unspeakable inside of me. Soldier reads from her work Thursday, Oct. 5, as a featured poet at Berkeley Lunch Poems, a noontime poetry reading series at UC Berkeley. Brandon Yu is a Bay Area freelance writer. Book events Layli Long Soldier at Berkeley Lunch Poems: 12:10 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 5. Free. Morrison Library at UC Berkeley. 101 Library Court, Berkeley. http://lunchpoems.berkeley.edu Irish Writers Festival Los Gatos gathers Irish and local authors for a four-day festival of readings, workshops and discussions. Thursday-Sunday Oct. 5-8. Free-$40. Various locations in Los Gatos. https://irishwriterslosgatos.com Ho Lin celebrates the release of his new book, China Girl: And Other Stories. 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 5. Free. Books Inc., 2251 Chestnut St., S.F. (415) 931-3633. https://www.booksinc.net 4th Filipino American International Book Festival gathers writers and artists from the Philippines and the U.S. for three days of readings, panels and presentations. Friday-Sunday Oct 6-8. Free. San Francisco Main Library. 100 Larkin St., S.F. http://filbookfestival.org In early spring, nearly 2 years after Cecilia Lams death, her family gathered at her Oakland grave site on Ching Ming, a traditional Chinese holiday to honor the dead. The sweeping hills of Mountain View Cemetery felt like a park that April day, with children laughing and the scent of incense in the air. Cecilias mother, Shut-Fan, and brothers fluffed fresh flowers and placed Cecilias favorite foods crispy pork belly, egg tarts and sticky rice at her headstone. Off to the side, Cecilias father, Joseph, sat silently. His gaze never left the smiling photo of his daughter on the grave marker. Whenever no one was looking, hed wipe his eyes. Ching Ming is less about mourning those who died and more about celebrating their lives and letting them know they are not forgotten. But since Cecilias death at the hands of her boyfriend, grief has been a constant cloud over the Lam family. Cecilia was slain at age 35 in her San Francisco apartment after making a series of 911 calls seeking help in October 2014. More for you A Life on the Line: Cecilia Lam's needless death The pain felt by the families of domestic violence victims is unique, experts say, with guilt and anger coloring their sadness in ways theyre reluctant to voice. Violence between intimates remains one of the few crimes in which the first reaction is often to question the choices of the victim. Even victims families are not exempt from such thinking. Shut-Fan Lam admits that in moments when she allows herself to get mad, she is focused not on Cecilias killer, Cedric Jay Young Jr., but on her daughter. Her anger clashes with love and longing. In Cecilias childhood room, she has cried out to her: Daughter, you lied to me! You said you were coming home that weekend. Where are you? Im still waiting for you. I wait for you every day. At her grave site this day, she spoke to her again, in Mandarin: You knew he was troubled. Why did you stay with him? Why did you think you could fix him? When the anger fades, guilt takes its place. Why didnt she come to me and tell me how bad the relationship had become? her mother wonders. Eddie, her younger brother, thinks back to advice he gave his sister in 2012, after Young had physically abused her for the first time. He wonders: Should I have been more forceful? Could I have made her listen? Since its all happened, my whole family, I feel like everyone is always asking themselves, What could we have done? said Sunny Lam, the youngest sibling. The Lams rarely think of Young, the boyfriend who also killed himself. They say theres not enough room in their hearts for hate. But his suicide complicates their grief. They will never see him brought to justice for her murder, never find the closure the law promises. Over the years, coping with the loss of Cecilia has gotten easier. But then Sunny will see a girl playing with her little brother, and the grief will wash over him again. Eddie, confronted by a difficult life decision, will wish for the one person he always leaned on. Nobody can understand, said their father. Like many Chinese men of a certain generation, Joseph Lam can come off as stern, unsmiling and proud. He has the face of a man forged by a life of hard labor, working as a ship captain in China and then a locksmith in Oakland. But in old family photos, he is a different person, smiling and relaxed as he holds baby Cecilia in his sturdy arms. His Ceci was a rambunctious little girl who would pinch her brother and then run to her baba for hugs. His only daughter, she was like him in so many ways, tenacious and unafraid of a challenge. Joseph tries to think of happy times the family dinner Cecilia organized for her parents 40th wedding anniversary, the day she went back to San Francisco State, the fresh fruit and gifts shed bring with her whenever she visited. But he also cant stop picturing his daughter lying bruised and bloody in the hospital the day she was shot, hooked to beeping machines and barely alive. Nobody can understand, unless theyve gone through it, what its like to watch your child dying, Joseph said. That feeling is unbearable. And its something we have to live with every day for the rest of our lives. Its something Joseph and his family want no other family to feel. She who leaves a trail of glitter is never forgotten, reads the inscription on Cecilias headstone. Her friends chose the quote, and her family found it fitting. Even now, when they will visit her grave, theyll find fresh flowers or candies left by people who loved her. Maybe speaking up about her death, they hope, will be enough to save someone elses sister or daughter. Maybe the shine of Cecilias glitter will be enough to guide another through the darkness. Ive tried to move on by telling myself that whats happened has happened, said Sunny Lam. You cant do much about it. But someone else can do something about it, for their loved one. I want people to be aware. You may only have one chance. Vivian Ho is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: vho@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @VivianHo A group of conservative UC Berkeley students told the U.S. Department of Justice this week that they canceled last weeks controversial Free Speech Week event on campus for fear they would be subjected to a criminal police investigation by the university. The students are asking the Justice Department to investigate what they say is retaliation by the university. A lawyer for the Berkeley Patriot the student group that invited far-right showman Milo Yiannopoulos and other right-wing speakers to campus before canceling at the last minute told the Justice Department Tuesday that the students were the targets of a police investigation that UC Berkeley Chancellor Carol Christ announced on Sept. 21 specifically to retaliate against them for filing a prior federal complaint. Campus spokesman Dan Mogulof called the allegations utterly unfounded and said the complaint seems like a desperate attempt to avoid any responsibility for the collapse of the events. The investigation by campus police looked at whether a hate crime occurred when someone hung posters from an anti-Muslim organization featuring images and names of individual faculty and students and calling them terrorist supporters, Christ told The Chronicle at the time. She said the police would also look at whether chalk messages on campus constituted a hate crime. The messages used a slur for gay people, called for a border wall against immigrants and to deport them all, and said that abortion is genocide. Christ said the incidents were very disturbing to me and that many UC Berkeley students were brought to this country illegally as children. The chalkings are horrible, she said, and she characterized the posters as hate acts across campus. In the federal complaint, the students attorney, Marguerite Melo, characterized them instead as topics of interest of a conservative-political nature. The complaint accuses Christ of blaming students for distributing the posters and for creating the chalk messages, and claims that Christ implied as much in an all-campus email and in remarks to The Chronicle. Some of those students were affiliated or supporters of the Berkeley Patriot, Melo told the Justice Department in the complaint. The disclosure was the first indication that students had any role in the chalking or in distributing the posters. Melo said she interpreted Christs message as saying that conservative students will be subjected to a criminal police investigation (and implicitly a possible prosecution) for exercising their First Amendment rights. Because of that, she said, the Berkeley Patriot group canceled Free Speech Week. The new complaint does not mention that the lineup of announced speakers voluntarily dropped out or said they had never been invited in the first place. Nor does it say that the student groups leaders had told The Chronicle that they canceled the event because they felt threatened about hosting the right-wing event on the left-leaning campus. In February, a riot caused the last-minute cancellation of another talk by Yiannopoulos on campus. The students from the Berkeley Patriot referred all questions to Melo, who said police had not questioned them. Sgt. Sabrina Reich of the UC police said the investigation is finished, and that no hate crime occurred. She said that after learning about the chalking on Sept. 18, officers spoke with students on Sproul Plaza, where the messages appeared. COVID Resources Coronavirus Map Tracking COVID-19 cases across the Bay Area and California. Upon investigation, the content of the chalking was determined to be political slogans, and there was no hate speech involved, Reich said. The posters included offensive speech, she said, but the contents did not qualify as a hate-related incident because it didnt refer to any of the protected characteristics in the state penal code. In their complaint, the students told the Justice Department that the investigation was meant to get back at them for filing an earlier complaint, on Sept. 19, that claimed the campus has become downright physically dangerous this past year for conservative students. It asked the federal agencys Office of Civil Rights to investigate whether UC Berkeley has failed to protect the First Amendment rights of those students. No one from the Justice Department has approached UC Berkeley, Mogulof said, noting that the campus had spent $800,000 on security for the event, though the students withdrew as sponsors. We arent in the habit of spending nearly $1 million on events we are trying to cancel, he said. Nanette Asimov is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: nasimov@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @NanetteAsimov This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Coldplay didnt let the 10 p.m. curfew at Levis Stadium thwart its taste for a big spectacle on Wednesday, Oct. 4. Not only did the British rock band let its set sail nearly an hour past the Santa Clara City Councils weeknight deadline for the venue, but it punctuated the evening with fireworks and pyrotechnics. The infraction is sure to spark another debate between the city of Santa Clara and the San Francisco 49ers, who manage the facility, around the feasibility of weeknight concerts at Levis, which is in a residential neighborhood. Taking the stage just before 9 p.m., the band led by Chris Martin made no mention of the time limit during its set and simply worked its way through a hit-packed, emotional performance highlighted by tributes to victims of the Las Vegas music festival massacre on Sunday, Oct. 1, and Tom Petty, who died Monday, Oct. 2. After opening the night with a suite of some of its most popular songs A Head Full of Dreams, Yellow and The Scientist Coldplay moved to a secondary stage in the middle of the field, where it previously headlined the Super Bowl 50 halftime show alongside Beyonce and Bruno Mars, to perform a contemplative mini-set. This song, if you want to send love anywhere in the world, this is the time to do it, Martin said, introducing Everglow. He suggested Puerto Rico, Las Vegas, Mexico, Houston, Tanzania and the White House as places as in need of some good California lovin. The quartet Martin, bassist Guy Berryman, guitarist Jonny Buckland and drummer Will Champion also honored Petty by noting his legacy and briefly working the chorus of his 1989 solo hit Free Fallin into the outro of In My Place. Later, the frontman pulled a fan onstage to back him on keyboards for Fly On, a rarity from 2014, in honor of those affected in Las Vegas. The tragic shooting in Las Vegas weighed heavily not only on the band but also on those in the crowd of 50,000. I was a little apprehensive about attending the concert, said Michelle Simoni, 31, of Mountain View. But you know what? You live once. Live life to the fullest. Linda Frisk, 20, who was visiting from Sweden, said, Its kind of unreal. But she wasnt letting Sundays carnage affect her plans: Frisk was headed to Las Vegas the next day and had attended Imagine Dragons concert at Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View on Tuesday, Oct. 3, with 17,000 others, where that groups lead singer, Dan Reynolds, had paused to say that the bands hearts were both full and heavy when thinking about the victims in their hometown of Las Vegas. Imagine Dragons broke curfew, too 11 p.m. for Shoreline shows but by only 10 minutes. Last month, British pop phenom Ed Sheeran dropped Levis Stadium from his 2018 tour over the 10 p.m. curfew, 49ers President Al Guido told The Chronicles Matier & Ross. The one-night concert originally planned for August could have brought in upward of $500,000 to the city, Councilwoman Patricia Mahan said. We are concerned that concerts may not come to Levis Stadium again unless the music ban is resolved in a way that works for everyone, Guido reiterated Wednesday night. We have already lost one event and will continue to lose more, costing thousands of local jobs. The City Council had previously voted 4-3 to turn down Coldplays request for a one-hour curfew extension. Weeknight concerts at Levis Stadium have become a major point of contention with Santa Clara. Two acts at Levis Beyonce and U2 broke the 10 p.m. curfew even after the city denied them extensions, opting to pay the $1,000 fine. As of Thursday morning, it was unclear if Coldplay would be held to the same standard and subject to a fine, since public safety officials advised Guido that abruptly ending a concert could create a public safety emergency. Levis is the only major outdoor stadium in California bound by a 10 p.m. weeknight curfew, the Niners say. Aidin Vaziri is The San Francisco Chronicles pop music critic, and Yoshi Kato is a freelance writer. Email: avaziri@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @MusicSF The artist Ai Weiweis been in town talking about his new documentary, Human Flow, and a crowd of art lovers, filmmakers and movie insiders invited by the de Young Museum, the San Francisco Film Society, and the films producers and publicists gathered at the museum on Tuesday, Oct. 3, for a screening. When the artists exhibition @Large: Ai Weiwei on Alcatraz opened in 2014, he was still under house arrest in China, much admired but far away. Three years later, he lives in Berlin, and he is free to travel and to reap, firsthand, the adoration of his fans, to accept praise for his work and to pose enthusiastically (to put it mildly) for selfies with well-wishers who crowded around him after the screening. The movie, about refugees in 23 countries, is utterly serious, and perhaps reflecting the voicelessness of the victims it portrays, large portions of its soundtrack are soundless. Much of it is set in deserts and other parched landscapes, and its somber mood was in particular contrast to the atmosphere of merriment with which attendees greeted him at the post-showing reception, mugging for snapshots, wolfing snacks and downing glasses of wine. Telling the stories of the refugees and of the making of the film about them, the artist, apparently indefatigable, had some 15 appointments for interviews on Tuesday, including a Commonwealth Club Climate One program appearance that afternoon. Although he speaks English as well as you and I, in the Q&A that followed the main part of that program, a woman in the audience posed a long question (is there ever a Q&A in which someone doesnt?) first in Mandarin, and then in English, asking him to talk about his soul. The artists answer demonstrated that although hes accessible, hes not some cuddly Chinese panda. First of all, you speak very good Japanese, he said. Second, about the soul, I think I should leave that for the Dalai Lama, because otherwise he would have nothing to do. P.S.: Peter Kaufman, who met Ai Weiwei while making a documentary on China years ago, is a good friend of his. Kaufman and his wife, Christine Pelosi, went to dinner with the artist and his assistant on Monday, Oct. 2, with Kaufmans father, filmmaker Phil Kaufman, and Kelly Sultan. Thats a pretty high-powered group, but they were unable to get a reservation at Fang, their first choice. An Oracle event had bought out the place. At dinner, at the House of Nanking, many selfies were taken. Doug Kroll was at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art when he heard one woman commenting to another about a Wayne Thiebaud streetscape: That cant be San Francisco. Look at all of the open parking spaces. Mark Rocha, chancellor of City College of San Francisco for three months, was quick, during Tuesdays 13th annual Basic Skills fundraising luncheon, to establish where he stands. I didnt come here to talk about politics, he told the crowd, but I want you to know that I am one of the 16 million Americans who cast their first votes for George McGovern. This was a welcome how-do-you-do to the crowd gathered at the Fairmont to support a program that helps students at City College learn basic skills needed for making their way through community college and in many cases four-year colleges. He continued further along the same road: The problem is not that we spend too much, he said of public support for such institutions. The problem is that we need to spend more ... for a free City College. Keynote speaker Mark Leno spoke of students birthright of a quality education and about the Guardian Scholar Program that helps former foster children, expounding on the value of education in finding jobs, the challenges faced by the incarcerated and other civic challenges. His remarks were wide-ranging, as might be expected from a mayoral candidate. San Francisco is not an island, said Rocha, in the kind of speech that we, the well-meaning, lap up with even more fervor than we lap up dessert (bittersweet chocolate and passion fruit dome, by the way). We are a universe. We are fiercely proud of our diversity. City College, he said, would demonstrate how a community that is inclusive can prosper. Leah Garchik is open for business in San Francisco, (415) 777-8426. Email: lgarchik@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @leahgarchik Public Eavesdropping The Internet is something I havent been passionate about since I was, like, 3. Teenager on a Muni bus, overheard by Rob Mitchell If you have been admitted to the hospital recently, you may have noticed a change from tradition: Upon admission, you are suddenly placed in the care of a doctor often a very young one who is not your doctor, but a stranger you have never met before. This comes as a shock to those of us who remember the days when your doctor followed your care in the hospital, so long as your ailment was within his or her area of expertise. I have learned that these doctors are a relatively new category of physician called hospitalists, and that their practice of medicine consists exclusively of shift work caring for hospitalized patients, and that they are increasingly displacing the physicians who practice in the traditional manner. This issue has affected me personally. My physician, Dr. Lester Jacobson, is one of the doctors who has been displaced. Dr. Jacobson had been on the faculty of the residency program at California Pacific Medical Center, a Sutter hospital in Pacific Heights, for nearly 40 years until he was forced out last month by hospital administrators. CPMC has decided that only hospitalists are qualified to educate residents physicians in training despite the fact that some hospitalists are straight out of residency programs themselves. This is a great tragedy. I know from firsthand experience that Dr. Jacobson is an extraordinary physician and still cares for his patients traditionally, both inside and outside the hospital, because he takes pride in doing everything possible for his patients himself. In examining you in the hospital, he will bring to bear all of the knowledge that he has gained from your visits to his office over the years. The relationship between veteran doctors and residents has always been symbiotic: The doctors provide supervision and education for no cost, and in return the residents aid in caring for their patients. Without the assistance of the residents, it is now impossible for a doctor to care for his or her hospitalized patients, who are being denied access to care and support at the time they need it most. Tradition is more important than ever in times of change, particularly when it comes to educating a generation that has no experience with the previous era. In my own field, the transition from celluloid to digital film means movies today are made in a totally different manner than before. Yet when new or aspiring filmmakers come to me for advice, I direct them back to books on how to make films in the old way, as understanding the tradition is the only way to truly learn the art. Learning from doctors like Dr. Jacobson is like learning from one of the old masters of filmmaking, and physicians-in-training should not be denied such an extraordinary opportunity. Francis Ford Coppola is a six-time Academy Award winning director, writer and producer. Heres some bad news for Democrats ready to spend millions of dollars to persuade working-class white voters to ditch President Trump and vote for them: Youre wasting your money. Turns out that its really hard persuading voters to go your way in a partisan race if they werent already leaning in your direction, so concludes a new study from researchers at UC Berkeley and Stanford. Or as David Broockman, an assistant professor of political economy at Stanford, and Joshua Kalla, a doctoral candidate in political science at UC Berkeley, wrote after studying 49 different campaigns where a Republican faced a Democrat: Our best estimate of the direct effects of campaign contact on Americans candidate choices in general elections is essentially zero. Thats ze-to-the-ro. One hopes their research tosses another shovelful of dirt on the cynical, old-style school of campaigning that relies on blitzing voters with TV commercials they dont watch and carpet-bombing their mailboxes with truth-stretching flyers they dont read in the last two months of a campaign. The only people who still prefer campaigns like those is that sliver of the American population known as political consultants those people building new back decks on their homes with the cut of money they get from buying expensive TV spots for their clients. The studys authors offer another suggestion: Try something different. Like spending time actually talking to voters. If Democrats want to win back working-class voters or if Republicans want to defend vulnerable incumbents through persuasion, they write, they would do well to heed this example: Dont give up on persuasion; look for new ideas, be they about new modes, messages or messengers. The good news for Democrats is that some candidates and campaigns are already getting that message. Like Stacey Abrams, who is running for governor of Georgia. Abrams, who was the Democratic minority leader in the Georgia Legislature before resigning in August to focus on her campaign, would be the first African American woman to be governor of any state in the nations 241-year history. People are shocked but not surprised that it has taken this long, Abrams told me on The Chronicles Its All Political video podcast last week when she was in San Francisco for fundraisers. She doesnt plan to win by chasing working-class white voters in a Georgia that is not the Georgia of Gone With the Wind or even the Georgia of the (1996 Summer) Olympics, Abrams said. Georgia is 53 percent white and 47 percent people of color. In the Deep South, particularly in Georgia, she said, race is one of the strongest predictors of your political leanings. With that in mind, shes going to try to form a coalition that includes the 23 percent of progressive whites who vote for Democrats and the states communities of color, who overwhelmingly back Democrats. Shes united that coalition before, in a smaller size. Since she became leader in 2011, Georgia has flipped six Republican legislative seats and held them. One reason for that success: The New Georgia Project that Abrams founded registered more than 200,000 voters of color between 2014 and 2016. She spent more time turning out votes than trying to convince voters with different views. We have held (those seats in the Legislature) because we dont pretend to be Republicans, she said. On the trail, Abrams is fond of saying that Democrats lose, both in Georgia and nationally, because they keep trying to persuade Republicans to be Democrats instead of getting Democrats to be Democrats. Thats because persuasion is hard especially if done at the last minute. Abrams said that while Democrats often talk about turning out their base voters, they also often ignore African American, Latino and Asian American voters until a couple of months before election day. The challenge Democrats have had is that we talk a great game about the need to actually do that outreach, but we relegate that outreach until the last few weeks of the campaign to a very narrow sliver of voters, she said. And we repeatedly ignore those infrequent voters because they dont vote. Well, they dont vote because we dont talk to them. So we create this unvirtuous cycle where they dont vote, we dont talk, and then we talk about why they dont vote, Abrams said. California progressives may be getting the message, too. This week, billionaire San Francisco Democrat and environmentalist Tom Steyer announced that his NextGen America advocacy group will work with the California Labor Federation to try to reach 500,000 voters in seven GOP-held congressional districts that Hillary Clinton won in last years presidential election. The labor organization typically does big outreach campaigns, but this is different in a couple of ways: Its members are starting early and are going to try to have in-depth conversations with voters, not just drop a flyer on the doorstep. Doing that, said California Labor Federation Executive Secretary-Treasurer Art Pulaski, brings us to something that is much more in-depth and long-term than weve ever done before. Typically, when progressives quantify how great their grassroots campaigns are, they will brag that they knocked on 10,000 doors. What goes unsaid: Maybe only 300 people answered the door when they heard that knock. And maybe only 20 changed their mind if they answered the door and had a conversation with the canvasser. But NextGen leaders promise to focus on having deeper conversations with voters. It wont be cookie-cutter, Steyer said. And theyre going to spend less time pleading with people who dont like them to change their mind. A lot of our focus will be on turnout rather than persuasion, Jamison Foser, a senior adviser at NextGen told me Wednesday. Weve learned that you cant just direct some advertising at people late and expect them to turn out. NextGen will see how the program goes in California as they roll it out to swing states across the country. If they want to retake the House, progressives had better hope that others are learning that lesson, too. Joe Garofoli is The San Francisco Chronicles senior political writer. Email: jgarofoli@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @joegarofoli Online extra A video chat with Stacey Abrams, at The Chronicles Facebook page: www.facebook.com/pg/SFChronicle/videos After failing to win support from the Police Department for an ordinance to divert more officers to property crime cases, two San Francisco supervisors are backing down but not without a bit of political theater. Supervisors Hillary Ronen and Norman Yee interrupted a meeting of the Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee Wednesday to hold a news conference and make their announcement. Addressing a throng of reporters and TV cameras, they said they will now change the ordinance to a nonbinding resolution. Similar in spirit to the ordinance that Yee and Ronen introduced in September, the resolution will urge the San Francisco Police Department to devote more resources to fighting car break-ins, bike theft and other forms of burglary. The ordinance would have required each of the citys 10 district police stations to devote a special unit to preventing and solving property crimes. Yee said that when he and Ronen approached Police Chief Bill Scott for feedback, the chief gently suggested that their law might not be necessary. It became clear that the legislation was compatible with what the chief was trying to do, Yee said. He added: One of the things we dont want to do is have this legislation become a political battle. Scott said he shares the supervisors anguish about property crimes, which are escalating in the city. Police data show that over the past year, auto burglaries went up 25 percent from 15,934 reported incidents last year to 19,975 this year. Scot is revamping the department to better address the issue. He disbanded the Patrol Bureau Task Force created two years ago to stop car break-ins and said hes reassigning those officers to neighborhood foot patrols. Hes hoping to collaborate with the district attorney to investigate and prosecute more property crimes. Ronen and Yee applauded those efforts. But so far, they havent committed any city funding to help. Supervisor Jeff Sheehy, who sits on the Public Safety Committee and also spoke at the news conference, noted that he was the only city lawmaker to call for additional police academy funding during budget hearings in June. I think this is all great and I appreciate what the chief is doing, Sheehy said. But lets be honest whats missing are additional resources. Yee has a history of voting against measures to fund the Police Department. Two years ago he infuriated constituents by opposing a board resolution to expand the citys police force to match its population growth. Ronen said Wednesday that she is 100 percent committed to pulling supplemental funding from the city budget to hire more police officers, if more are warranted. Barring that, she said, theres always next years budget. Rachel Swan Stopping hep A in its tracks: Terrified by reports of hepatitis A outbreaks in San Diego, Los Angeles and Santa Cruz, San Francisco health officials are rushing to vaccinate the homeless people and drug users on the citys streets. Those people are most at risk for contracting the virus, which spreads when people ingest or touch material contaminated with the feces of an infected person. Hepatitis A causes liver inflammation and can lead to death. San Franciscos Department of Public Health will partner with various homeless organizations to offer pop-up vaccination clinics this month, including one from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Oct. 11 at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium. To date, the health department has provided 2,500 free doses of the vaccine in San Francisco. Separately, Supervisor Jeff Sheehy requested a hearing expected to happen later this month on the citys efforts to prevent a hepatits A outbreak. Rachel Swan Email: cityinsider@sfchronicle.com, rswan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @sfcityinsider @rachelswan Often overlooked by travelers, Hamburg has had a musical scene and history comparable to that of traditional European music centers Vienna, Milan, London since long before the new concert hall Elbphilharmonie opened earlier this year. Celebrated composers such as Georg Philipp Telemann and Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach worked as church music directors in the city, and in 1678, Europes first public opera house opened on the Gansemarkt. Fast forward to the 1960s and a foursome that calls itself the Beatles are playing 300 concerts in the nightclubs of Hamburg, just before their single Please Please Me starts Beatlemania. Germanys biggest port city is also the worlds third-largest musical location, after London and New York, and its distinctive live- and electronic-music scenes are beginning to rival Berlin as a destination. Here is how to spend a day bopping around the musical clock in Hamburg, no matter what your taste may be. Wibke Carter, travel@sfchronicle.com Morning Spend the morning exploring the Schanze district and its neighboring Karolinen district, famous for its bohemian scene, where gentrification brought designer boutiques and hipster cafes next to the once-decrepit Grunderzeit and Jugendstil houses. If you visit on a Saturday, start at the Flohschanze flea and antique market and you might find some treasures vinyl records or vintage instruments. Enjoy breakfast in the basement at Cafe Klatsch, which serves organic dishes and yogi tea, then relax on the stairs at Lattenplatz square, a popular hangout spot for young and music-savvy Hamburgers. All the trendy indie record labels that are responsible for the citys reputation as a destination for music lovers are located here. Drop into Groove City, one of Hamburgs best record stores, and Ruff Trade Records. Midday Walk to the Composers Quarter, a haven for classical music lovers. The town houses of wealthy Hamburg burghers, rebuilt in historical style in the Peterstrasse, are home to six museums dedicated to world-class composers (the aforementioned Telemann and C.P.E. Bach, as well as Johann Adolph Hasse, Felix Mendelssohn, Johannes Brahms and Gustav Mahler) who were either born in Hamburg or spent part of their careers here. Its a five-minute stroll to St. Michaels, nicknamed Michel, Hamburgs largest church. Marvel at the five organs, including a massive Steinmeyer with 6,674 pipes, and listen to organ music played daily during the noon service (until about 12:15 p.m.). Get lunch at the Kleinhuis Cafe und Weinstube for traditional Hamburg fare, including Labskaus, a hash made from corned beef, herring, potato, beetroot, onions and gherkins, topped with a fried egg. Ulrich Perrey/Hamburg Marketing Afternoon Take the U3 from St. Pauli to Baumwall for a visit of Hamburgs new landmark, the Elbphilharmonie concert hall, which opened in January 2017 after nine years of construction. Enjoy a concert in one of the largest and most acoustically advanced concert halls in the world, and join a tour through the striking building or head upstairs to the Elphis outdoor viewing platform. Find real bargains at the Hamburg State Opera with tickets starting at $5, making opera, ballet and orchestra affordable for everyone. Musical fans are in for a special treat if they choose to take a boat along the harbor skyline to the Theater an der Elbe (currently playing The Lion King; from February 2018, Mary Poppins). Evening Hamburgs nightlife is famous, in part thanks to the red-light Reeperbahn district, which has changed a lot since its heyday in the 1960s and 70s, when it propelled four musicians from England to international stardom. I was born in Liverpool, but I grew up in Hamburg, John Lennon famously said. Follow the Beatles footsteps from the Indra to the Star-Club with musician Stefanie Hempel and her ukulele (every Saturday at 6 p.m.). In the late hours, listen to live music at renowned Grosse Freiheit 36 and Docks. Electronic and house DJs reign at Halo, while rock and alternative music prevail in Molotow and Gruenspan. If youre a night owl, join about 70,000 other people on Sunday morning at the Hamburg Fish Market, which has been open since 1703. Feast on a pickled herring in a fish roll to regain your spirits, then put on your dancing shoes in the Fischauktionshalle (fish auction hall). Inside the historical building, local bands perform rock and jazz music, attracting partygoers for one last dance in the early hours (6 a.m. start in winter). If you go Hotel Reichshof: Kirchenallee 34-36, www.reichshof-hotel-hamburg.de/en Flohschanze flea market: Neuer Kamp 30, www.hamburg-travel.com/experience/events/flea-market-flohschanze/ Cafe Klatsch: Glashuttenstrasse 17, www.cafe-klatsch-hamburg.de Grove City: Marktstrasse 114, www.groove-city.com Ruff Trade Records: Feldstrasse 48, www.hamburg-travel.com/experience/shopping/from-a-to-z/ruff-trade-records Hanseplatte: Neuer Kamp 32, www.hanseplatte.de Composers Quarter: Peterstrasse 28, www.komponistenquartier.de Kleinhuis Cafe und Weinstube: Neanderstrasse 27, www.kleinhuis-weinstube.de Elbphilharmonie: Platz der Deutschen Einheit 1, www.elbphilharmonie.de/en Hamburg State Opera: Grosse Theaterstrasse 25, www.staatsoper-hamburg.de/en Theater an der Elbe: Norderelbstrasse 8, www.marketing.hamburg.de/musicals.html Hempels Beatles Tour: www.hempels-musictour.de Grosse Freiheit 36: Grosse Freiheit 36, www.grossefreiheit36.de Halo: Grosse Freiheit 6, www.halo.club Molotow: Nobistor 14, www.molotowclub.com Gruenspan: Grosse Freiheit 58, www.gruenspan.de Hamburg Fish Market: Grosse Elbstrasse 9, www.fischauktionshalle.com/fish-market Hamburg Tourism: www.hamburg-tourism.de Though Fleet Week comes to San Francisco every year, the excitement of catching a Blue Angels flyover never falters. On Thursday afternoon, the Blue Angels held a Bay Area practice for their upcoming Fleet Week performances, filling the skies with fantastic formations and filling ears with the low rumbling of jet engines. For those beneath the flight path, it was hard to miss the sights and sounds of the famed Navy team, whether watching from a sidewalk or an office building. As evidenced by Twitter, some folks found it hard to focus as the sky lit up with the spectacle. "Slightly distracting to work from home when the Blue Angels are practicing," wrote Steven Shearer, adding, "I'm not upset about [it]." The Blue Angels will perform from 3 to 4 p.m. as the closing act in the Fleet Week air shows on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, weather permitting. The shows begin at noon with biplanes, stunt pilots, parachutists and other aerial performers. The best viewing spots are along the northern waterfront in San Francisco. See more photos and reactions to the Blue Angels' practice flight in the above gallery. SFGATE was LIVE during the Blue Angels practice on Thursday. Did you miss it? Make sure to like SFGATE on Facebook. Steve Rubenstein, a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer, contributed to this report. Read Michelle Robertsons latest stories and send her news tips at mrobertson@sfchronicle.com. If you've heard San Francisco's most famous ghost story, it was probably some iteration of this: In the years before the 1906 earthquake, a beautiful young woman lived in the city with her infant child. One day, the woman decided to take her baby to Golden Gate Park for a jaunt around Stow Lake. While on their walk, the woman spotted a friend, and the two sat down on a bench to catch up. After a few minutes, the woman turned to check on her baby. To her horror, the pram was no longer beside her. In a panic, she ran around the lake, screaming for her child. The last anyone saw of her alive was when, in a moment of horrid realization, she ran into the lake. For the last century, people on foggy nights have reported seeing a distressed lady in a white gown stalking the rim of Stow Lake. Some say she approaches them, begging them to help find her baby. Others have only heard her moans. The story is so famous that Golden Gate Park even has a page dedicated to the legend. It's a classic, haunting ghost story, so it's no surprise the tale has resonated with locals, and ghost hunters, for over 100 years. But is there any truth to the legend of the White Lady of Stow Lake? ---- The first mention of a phantom in Golden Gate Park is a front-page Chronicle story from Jan. 6, 1908. The article tells the tale of Arthur Pigeon and his automobile full of female party-goers. The vehicle was seen speeding through the park late at night before being apprehended by mounted police. Inside, the officer found a car full of terrified people, white as a proverbial ghost. San Francisco Chronicle/Archives Pigeon told the officer they'd seen a "thing" directly in front of their vehicle, "clad in a luminous white robe, and holding its arms extended as though to stop the progress of the machine." "It was a thin, tall figure," Pigeon explained. "It seemed to shine. It had long, fair hair and was barefooted. I did not notice the face. I was too frightened." The bemused officer asked if the party had previously visited "beach resorts [that] might produce ghosts or spirits." No, insisted the group. Very well, the officer said. Then you'll have to show me where the ghost was. The women "shrieked" at the suggestion, leaving poor Arthur Pigeon to escort the officer back to the spot where he'd seen the apparition. Of course, it was gone. "Captain Gleeson of the Park Station was informed of the affair," the Chronicle wrote, "and gave orders that any ghost answering this description is to be arrested on sight." ---- San Francisco history before the 1906 earthquake can be difficult to verify. The fire destroyed the city's police and coroners' reports, along with thousands of personal records kept by families. So if there was a police report about a woman and her baby drowning in Stow Lake, it's likely long gone. Newspaper crime stories and death notices give a more complete, and surprisingly deadly, picture of Golden Gate Park in the late 1800s. The park, with its many dark corners, was a common spot for suicides. So common, in fact, that the San Francisco Call ran a Sunday feature in 1900 called "The Park Suicides." "The park, with its luxury of trees, shrubbery and green grass, seems to appeal strongly to the troubled philosopher who seeks to rid himself of what he deems a burden," the Call wrote. San Francisco Call/Archives The story, accompanied by a complete list of suicides in the park since 1890, found that one in every 12 suicides in San Francisco took place there. The methods ranged from poisonings to self-inflicted gunshot wounds. There's only one suicide-by-drowning, however, and that death was later ruled a homicide. If the White Lady of Stow Lake died there, then it must have been after the 1900 article was written. Surely a suicide that dramatic would have warranted a mention. ---- If any single anecdote gave life to the ghost of Stow Lake, it is this small item in the July 10, 1906 Call. More for you 12 unsolved Bay Area mysteries you've never heard of Mary Cook and Nellie Gillighan, both 12-year-old earthquake refugees living the park, reported to police that they had "seen the naked body of a baby floating in Lloyd Lake," a pond near Stow Lake. Police made a full investigation but saw no sign of a body. Just in case, they planned to drag the lake. There are no subsequent newspaper articles on the subject, so that search must have come up empty too. Coupled with the park's reputation as a suicide spot, the legend writes itself: A beautiful woman and her infant child, a tragic death in the park, a spirit that can't find peace. But for those who believe in ghosts, there's no shortage of candidates for who could be the real lady of Stow Lake. The 1900 "Park Suicides" story offers tales of at least four women who took their own lives in the park, including one who name was never discovered. "Who she was, where she came from and what her troubles were will never be known," the Call wrote. "For she was among the unidentified." Katie Dowd is the SFGATE managing editor. Contact: katie.dowd@sfgate.com | Twitter: @katiedowd Chinese Internet search giant Baidu has opened a second research and development center in Sunnyvale, this one focused primarily on self-driving cars. Baidu USA said this week that the new, 36,000-square-foot facility in Sunnyvale will house the companys Intelligent Driving Group, as well as some Internet security research. It also includes a vehicle lab for work on the companys autonomous driving platform, named Apollo. Baidu already employs more than 200 people at its original Silicon Valley lab, also located in Sunnyvale. The new facility has room for roughly 150 employees, and the company plans aggressive expansion of its research programs in autonomous cars and artificial intelligence. Baidu tests its self-driving vehicles at GoMentum Station, a former naval facility in Concord. Utilities Brown signs PUC reform bill Gov. Jerry Brown has signed legislation to reform the California agency that regulates utility companies, a bill prompted by the deadly 2010 San Bruno pipeline explosion. The Sept. 9, 2010, explosion of a Pacific Gas and Electric Co. natural gas pipeline provoked intense criticism of the California Public Utilities Commission, with legislators saying the agency had grown too close to the companies it covers. Written by state Sen. Jerry Hill, who represents San Bruno, the legislation that Brown signed Sunday represents the last in a series of bills designed to clean up the commission. SB19 prevents any utility executive from serving on the agencys five-member voting commission within two years of leaving the utility. It also creates an ethics officer within the organizations legal division to implement training programs and advise commissioners. To ensure that the staff can better focus on its core duties, the legislation also transfers the commissions oversight authority over several smaller industries to other state agencies. Oversight of moving vans, for example, will be moved to a bureau of the Department of Consumer Affairs. Travel Airbnb teams with WeWork Two of the worlds most valuable technology startups are teaming up in the hope of luring young business travelers away from hotels. Airbnb of San Francisco plans to begin a pilot program Thursday with WeWork to provide travelers with amenities commonly found in hotel business centers, such as a work desk, Wi-Fi, printers and meeting rooms, said people familiar with the project. The companies will reportedly start with six cities: Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, Washington, London and Sydney. When renting a room on Airbnbs site, customers will be able to save a spot at a WeWork office nearest to where theyre staying. Airbnb and WeWork confirmed the partnership but declined to provide specifics. WeWork, valued at about $20 billion, is the worlds largest provider of shared work spaces. Airbnb, with a valuation of $31 billion, is the largest provider of home rentals. Business travel could be a lucrative opportunity for both companies. Airbnb allows renters to search for homes with a desk and high-speed Internet, and said it expects corporate travel on its site to quadruple this year. Newspapers Union push at L.A. Times Newsroom employees at the Los Angeles Times are trying to form a union, setting up a potential clash with the newspapers parent company, Tronc. After months of organizing, the committee behind the push for a union drafted a letter laying out its reasoning. The unsigned letter calls for improved working conditions, higher pay, more generous benefits and protections for staff members against unilateral change by Tronc. The letter says a majority of the newsroom had signed union cards supporting representation by the NewsGuild, which represents 25,000 reporters, editors, photojournalists and other media workers across the United States. Several people involved in the organizing push, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they feared losing their jobs if they were to speak publicly, said roughly 200 people had signed the cards. Chronicle News Services Mattel said Wednesday that it will not move forward with plans to sell a kid-focused smart hub, after new executives decided it did not fully align with Mattels new technology strategy. Childrens health and privacy advocates petitioned the toy giant this week, asking it not to release the device, which they argued gave the firm an unprecedented look into the personal lives of children. Mattel said that it had decided not to take the product to market after Chief Technology Officer Sven Gerjets, who joined the company in July, reviewed the product and decided not to bring Aristotle to the marketplace as part of an ongoing effort to deliver the best possible connected product experience to the consumer. Aristotle was designed for a childs room. It could switch on a night light to soothe a crying baby. It was also designed to keep changing its activities, even to the point where it could help a preteen with homework. And the device would learn about the child along the way. Experts objected to Aristotle because a home hub for kids raised questions about data privacy for a vulnerable population. There were broader concerns about how quickly companies are marketing products to parents without understanding how technology could affect early childhood development. The product drew attention from Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., and Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, who sent Mattel a letter last week asking the toymaker for more information on how it will store and retain data it collects on children. Mattel has said it will protect the Aristotle data with high-level encryption and will not sell that information to advertisers, in compliance with childrens data privacy laws. But privacy concerns werent the only issue. My main concerns about this technology apart from the privacy concerns that [Markey and Barton] are trying to address is the idea that a piece of technology becomes the most responsive household member to a crying child, a child who wants to learn, or a childs play ideas, said pediatrician Jennifer Radesky, who wrote the American Association of Pediatrics 2016 media guidelines for children 0-6 years of age. (Radesky was not involved with the campaign to persuade Mattel to stop Aristotle sales.) Aristotle may be gone, but it would have been one of many products firms are offering to make the parenting world more high-tech. Kid-focused tablets and apps have been around for years, and parents have made their own decisions about the proper place for technology in their childrens lives. But devices are increasingly moving into areas that are far more personal or more intrusive. There are smart cradles that can rock your baby for you. Theres a smart cushion to calm colicky infants by cradling them while playing a recording that mimics a parents heartbeat. Experts say little is known about the effects of tech devices on early childhood development, and it will take time to figure that out. But child privacy and child development experts are becoming uncomfortable with where the tech is heading. Last year, Mattel faced criticism from those worried about the surveillance possibilities of Hello Barbie, a talking version of the classic doll that learns about its human playmates by recording their voices through Wi-Fi. The doll learns facts such as the name of the family dog, and incorporates this information into conversation. The thought that a doll would be slowly collecting information was called creepy by experts. The product didnt sell well after poor reviews, many of which mentioned the privacy concerns. Several privacy advocates and physicians, organized by nonprofit groups the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood and the Story of Stuff Project, signed a petition asking Mattel not to release Aristotle, which was set to hit stores next year. The petition had 15,000 signatures. We commend Mattel for putting childrens well-being first and listening to the concerns of child development experts and thousands of parents, said Josh Golin, executive director for the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood. This is a tremendous victory for everyone who believes children still have a right to privacy and that a robot can never replace loving humans as caregivers. Hayley Tsukayama is a Washington Post writer. Wells Fargo & Co. executives and directors accused of steering the bank into the worst scandal of its modern history were ordered to defend a lawsuit accusing them of profiting from the creation of millions of fake customer accounts. A San Francisco federal judge ruled this week that shareholders can proceed with a suit alleging the companys top brass repeatedly and brazenly failed to serve Wells Fargos best interests. He found the complaint properly laid out evidence showing that executives and directors made false statements about the scheme in the banks filings to the Securities and Exchange Commission. The ruling came a day after Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., attacked Wells Fargo Chief Executive Officer Tim Sloan while he testified before Congress, saying he bragged about high levels of new accounts even though he was aware of sales practice problems at the bank. You should be fired, Warren said. You enabled this fake account scam, you got rich off it, and you tried to cover it up. Wednesdays ruling didnt address the merits of the dispute and is only one of several procedural hoops investors have to jump through to get the case to trial. Last month, U.S. District Judge Jon Tigar gave the plaintiffs and the bank permission to try to negotiate a settlement with a private mediator. Tigar dismissed insider trading claims under California law against Sloan and Wells Fargo Chief Risk Officer Michael Loughlin, as well as former CEO John Stumpf and former head of community banking Carrie Tolstedt, both of whom left soon after the scandal became public. Tolstedt still faces an insider trading claim under Delaware law. An independent probe commissioned by the bank concluded in April that senior bank managers failed to heed warnings of spreading sales abuses for more than a decade, treating thousands of fired employees as rogues, and then downplayed the mounting terminations as the board began raising questions. The bank also moved to withhold $32 million performance shares and cash bonuses from managers, including Sloan and Chief Financial Officer John Shrewsberry. In September 2016, it forced Stumpf to forfeit $41 million in stock and Tolstedt to surrender unvested shares worth $19 million. As of April, the bank had spent at least $445 million on fines, remediation, consultants and civil litigation. The company still faces a number of investors securities suits seeking to recoup losses from a $30 billion decline in market capitalization after the scandal broke, and wrongful-termination cases filed by fired bankers. The company said in August that its review found employees may have created 3.5 million bogus accounts, more than 60 percent higher than its initial estimate. Tigar found that the banks board members and managers knew about the illicit account scheme by 2014, and knew that theyd made false statements in securities filings about the program, designed to bump up bonuses for Wells Fargo employees. Just as it is implausible that the director defendants were unaware of the account creation scheme given the extent of the alleged fraud and the number of red flags, it is implausible that Wells Fargos senior management, involved in the day-to-day operations of the bank werent aware of the effort, the judge said. Jef Feeley and Kartikay Mehrotra are Bloomberg writers. Email: jfeeley@bloomberg.net, kmehrotra2@bloomberg.net BART Police released a new photo of a man suspected of robbing a woman aboard a Fremont-bound train last month. The suspect, Fredachi Stone, is wanted in connection with a Sept. 11 gunpoint robbery of a woman on a train between the Hayward and South Hayward stations, police said. He approached the victim on the train and showed what looked to be a black semi-automatic handgun before grabbing the victims purse and getting off the train at South Hayward station. The victim was uninjured in the encounter. Police described Stone as 5-foot-9-inches tall and 187 pounds. He has no known address, police said, but is known to frequent the area around 81st Avenue in Oakland. The newly released photo clearly shows Stones face. An earlier photo, taken from a surveillance camera, helped investigators identify Stone via an anonymous tip. Police said Stone should be considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with information on the suspect can contact police by calling (510) 464-7040. Annie Ma is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: ama@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @anniema15 San Francisco District Attorney George Gascon declined to file criminal charges against the police officers involved in two separate fatal shootings, stating in a decision released Thursday that the officers actions in the 2014 and 2016 incidents were justified. Officers Christopher Cotter, Ryan McEachern, James Johnson, Gordon Wong, Kurt Macauley and Omar Alvarenga reasonably acted in self-defense and in defense of others when they fired a total of 35 rounds at carjacking suspect Giovany Contreras-Sandoval in the Financial District on the morning of Sept. 25, 2014, Gascon said. The officers believed that Contreras-Sandoval was aiming a revolver at them when they fired. The confrontation came just minutes after Contreras-Sandoval crashed a stolen car and fired a gun at least once at Good Samaritans coming to his aid. About an hour before the shooting, Contreras-Sandoval, 34, had approached a woman sitting in her white Cadillac Escalade while parked in the driveway of her Richmond home, pulled a handgun on her and demanded that she drive him away, according to investigators with the district attorneys independent investigations bureau. The woman managed to escape while Contreras-Sandoval was getting into the car, and Contreras-Sandoval drove off without her at about 4:50 a.m., investigators said. He then led officers from a number of Bay Area law enforcement agencies on a high-speed car chase through three counties, with the pursuit ending at Bush and Mason streets in San Francisco when officers lost sight of the stolen car. Witnesses told investigators they saw the stolen Escalade careen northbound in the wrong direction on one-way Battery Street before entering the intersection at California Street on a red light. A blue Nissan Frontier pickup truck clipped the rear of the Escalade, causing it to flip onto its drivers side and collide with a red Toyota Tacoma pickup that had been waiting at a red light. One of the civilians that ran to help Contreras-Sandoval said he saw the tip of a gun and then a flash. He believed he had been shot at first, but medical personnel later determined he had been hit by shrapnel. An attorney working in a nearby law office saw a bullet come through his eleventh-floor office window, and crime scene investigators later matched the bullet fragment found in his office to an antique Russian revolver that Contreras-Sandoval had in his possession when he was later shot. The officers responding to the crash did not know about the gunfire, but approached with their weapons drawn because they believed Contreras-Sandoval to be the armed carjacker from the chase, investigators said. Several officers reported seeing him pull a gun from his waistband, and repeatedly ordered him to drop it. Is this a movie? the officers said Contreras-Sandoval asked them. This is your life, Officer Alvarenga said he yelled back. This is not a game. This is not a movie. This is your life. We will shoot you if you dont drop the gun. The six officers fired at Contreras-Sandoval at 6:02 a.m., when they saw his right arm come up, with a gun in hand, and with his elbow bent as if to aim the gun at some of the officers, investigators said. He sustained 10 gunshot wounds, as well as several graze wounds, and was pronounced dead at the scene. Contreras-Sandoval had methamphetamine, hydrocodone and cocaine in his system at the time of his death. The second shooting Gascon decided not to file charges in happened on Oct. 14, 2016, when Officer Kevin Downs was shot in the head by Nicholas McWherter. Following that shooting and an hour-long manhunt for McWherter, Officer Paul Dominguez and Officer Nathan Chew fatally shot the 26-year-old Pacifica resident after he fired multiple shots at Dominguez, investigators said. Gascon said the officers were justified in using deadly force because they faced an imminent danger to themselves and to others. McWherter had a history of mental illness, his family said, and customers at Lakeshore Plaza called the police when they witnessed him acting erratically in the parking lot. Not knowing he was armed, Downs approached him as he ran down the sidewalk of Everglade Drive toward Sloat Boulevard. From 12 feet away, McWherter fired three times at Downs, striking him once on the top of his head and partially paralyzing him. McWherter ran across Sloat and jumped a residential fence. Some of the other responding officers chased after him, but then stopped to help Downs. With a radio call of officer down, officers from around the city swarmed the scene, including Chew and Dominguez, who had been nearing the end of their shift. They heard a report over the radio of a person running away from the police on Wawona Street, and headed toward where they believed they could cut that person off. At the end of the paved roadway on 28th Avenue at Stern Grove Park, McWherter appeared and fired three to five rounds at Dominguez, who had illuminated him with his flashlight. Dominguez returned fire, shooting between five and more than 10 rounds. McWherter fell to the ground but the officers were unsure if he had been shot, investigators said. Dominguez reloaded his gun and McWherter sat up. Dominguez and Chew said they instructed him to put his hands up, but he instead raised the gun in Dominguezs direction, prompting both officers to fire several shots at him. The officers continued to instruct him to put his hands up, but McWherter continued moving and ignoring the officers commands. At about 9:30 p.m., officers deployed flash-bang devices and then approached him with bulletproof shields and arrested him. McWherter sustained gunshot wounds to his head, knee and left buttock, and died two days later. Vivian Ho is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: vho@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @VivianHo Noah Berger/Associated Press Fairfield police on Wednesday identified six officers who discharged their firearms in a 30-shot barrage that killed a fleeing homicide suspect in Emeryville and shut down Interstate 80 near the Bay Bridge during commute hours last week. In a statement, Fairfield police said the weapons were fired by sergeants Brent Pucci and Kelly Rombach and by officers John Divine, Erik Aagaard, Shane Raftery and James Sehr. The six officers have a combined 68 years experience in law enforcement, police said. Another officer, Michael Ambrose, fired less lethal rounds that were not specified. San Antonio-based artist Cruz Ortiz has been tapped to create original artwork in support of Hillary Clintons presidential bid by Hillary for America, the Democratic nominees official campaign organization. His design - a flag with the Spanish word ganas (desire) printed under a series of nesting right angles - is currently featured on a micro-site for the Latinos for Hillary coalition. The online version is animated, so the flag ripples as if blown by the wind. Loving Vincent is conceptually brilliant and technically dazzling. An animated film about Vincent van Gogh, in which every frame is hand-painted in van Goghs style, its a work of inspiration and of considerable visual wit: Many of van Goghs paintings are referenced, so that one has the sensation of climbing into the painters world, the one he inhabited physically and the one that existed only in his mind. Thus, for 10 minutes, maybe even 15, Loving Vincent is one of the greatest animated films ever made. But its a 95- minute movie, and when you get past the first 10 minutes of any movie, narrative becomes more important than concept or technique or wit or brilliance. Maybe its not fair, but its the reality of how movies work. If the narrative is flat, so is the movie. Originally filmed as a live action film and then painted frame by frame by more than 100 artists, Loving Vincent takes place a year after van Goghs suicide. The postman in Arles (Chris ODowd), the one we know from van Goghs paintings, comes into possession of an unopened letter from Vincent to his brother Theo. The postman enlists his son, Armand (Douglas Booth), to hand deliver the letter to Theo in Paris. But before Armand can do that, he needs to travel to Auvers-sur-Oise, where Vincent died, to find out how to locate Theo. The fidelity with which van Goghs world is conveyed is striking and may even cause gasps of recognition and wonder. When the postman and Armand discuss Vincent, they do it in the bar that van Gogh depicted in The Night Cafe. Thus, as viewers, we get the genuine visual thrill of seeing that painting come to life, and move and take on depth. Its remarkable. The experience borders on the amazing. In Auvers, Armand runs into every person van Gogh ever painted in the last part of his life. He meets Dr. Gachet (Jerome Flynn) and his daughter Marguerite Gachet (Saoirse Ronan), as well as the paint dealer Pere Tanguy (John Sessions), a boatman (Aidan Turner) and a genial barmaid (Eleanor Tomlinson). All of them share their impressions of Vincent and their gossip about each other. And this is, unfortunately, where things get bogged down. Vincent is already dead. It doesnt much matter whether his letter gets delivered. It becomes even less important when we soon find out that Theo has also died. Loving Vincent tries to inject some mystery into the cause of Vincents death that is, murder or suicide? but considering van Goghs mental instability, that hed recently cut off his ear, and his own insistence that he shot himself, theres little mystery to be had. In a desperate attempt to put anything onscreen that will stretch things to feature length, the movie tries to generate interest into the brooding angst of young Armand as he goes about his search, but its a hopeless strategy. The audience cares only about van Gogh, not about some random guy. Its like making a movie about Jesus that gets mired in the mood fluctuations of one of the minor apostles. Still, the film does have enough visual interest and occasional revelation to allow it to limp with dignity to its conclusion. The unending barrage of van Goghs images may begin to feel like a bombardment, like being trapped in a hallucination that wont end, but thats, in a way, the privilege the movie offers. Loving Vincent is as close as most of us will ever get to seeing through van Goghs eyes. Mick LaSalle is The San Francisco Chronicles movie critic. Email: mlasalle@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @MickLaSalle Loving Vincent Drama. Starring Douglas Booth and Chris ODowd. Directed by Dorota Kobiela and Hugh Welchman. (PG-13. 94 minutes.) This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate LAS VEGAS The girlfriend of the Las Vegas gunman said Wednesday she had no inkling of the massacre he was plotting when he sent her on a trip abroad to see her family. Marilou Danley issued the statement after returning from her native Philippines and being questioned for much of the day by FBI agents still trying to figure out what drove Stephen Paddock to gun down 58 people at a country music festival from his 32nd-floor hotel suite. He never said anything to me or took any action that I was aware of that I understood in any way to be a warning that something horrible like this was going to happen, Danley said in a statement read by her lawyer outside FBI headquarters in Los Angeles. Danley, who was out of the country for more than two weeks, said she was initially pleased when Paddock wired her money in the Philippines to buy a house for her family. But she later feared it was a way to break up with her. It never occurred to me in any whatsoever that he was planning violence against anyone, she said. Danley, 62, who has been called a person of interest by investigators, said she loved Paddock as a kind, caring, quiet man and hoped they would have a future together. She said she was devastated by the carnage and she would cooperate with authorities as they struggle to get inside Paddocks mind. Investigators are busy reconstructing his life, behavior and the people he encountered in the weeks leading up to the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history, FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe said. That includes examining his computer and cellphone. But as of Wednesday, investigators were unable to come up with a motive for the attack Sunday night that left more than 500 people injured and ended with Paddock killing himself in his room at the Mandalay Bay hotel casino. This individual and this attack didnt leave the sort of immediately accessible thumbprints that you find on some mass casualty attacks, McCabe said. The 64-year-old high-stakes gambler and real estate investor specifically requested an upper-floor room with a view of the music festival, according to a person who has seen hotel records turned over to investigators. Paddock wasnt able to move into the room until Saturday, said the person, who was not authorized to speak publicly and disclosed the information on condition of anonymity. The room, which goes for $590, was given to Paddock free because he was a good customer who wagered tens of thousands of dollars each time he visited the casino, the person said. It was just another indication of how methodically he planned the attack. Authorities have said he brought 23 weapons in 10 suitcases into the room and set up cameras inside and out to watch for police closing in on him. But investigators had little to work with in trying to determine what set him off. While he had a passion for high-stakes gambling at Nevada casinos, his game of choice was video poker, a relatively solitary pursuit with no dealer and no humans to play against. And though neighbors described Paddock as friendly, he wasnt close to them. He was a private guy. Thats why you cant find out anything about him, his brother, Eric Paddock, said from his home in Florida. As for what triggered the massacre, the brother said: Something happened that drove him into the pit of hell. Occasionally, Paddock shared news of his gambling winnings, his brother said, recalling a photo text message he received showing a $40,000 payout. It was in a casino where Paddock met his girlfriend, who was a high-limit hostess for Club Paradise at the Atlantis Casino Resort Spa in Reno, Eric Paddock told The Washington Post. Danleys sisters in Australia said in a TV interview that they believe Paddock sent her away so she wouldnt interfere with his murderous plans. Paddock wired $100,000 to the Philippines days before the shooting, a U.S. official not authorized to speak publicly because of the continuing investigation said on condition of anonymity. Investigators are trying to trace that money. Paddock had no known criminal history. Public records contained no indication of any financial problems, and his brother described him as a wealthy real estate investor. President Trump and first lady Melania Trump met privately with victims at a Las Vegas hospital Wednesday and then with police officers and dispatchers, praising them and the doctors who treated the wounded. Our souls are stricken with grief for every American who lost a husband or a wife, a mother or a father, a son or a daughter, he said. We know that your sorrow feels endless. We stand together to help you carry your pain. Paddock had stockpiled 47 guns since 1982 and bought 33 of them, mostly rifles, over the past year alone, right up until three days before the attack, Jill Snyder, an agent with the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, told CBS on Wednesday. Ken Ritter, Michael Balsamo and Brian Melley are Associated Press writers. WASHINGTON Secretary of State Rex Tillerson insisted on Wednesday that he has never considered resigning, despite what associates have described as deep frustration. But he did not deny a report that he has grown so disenchanted with President Trump that he once referred to him as a moron. Just three days after Trump publicly undercut Tillerson by dismissing efforts to reach out to North Korea, the secretary of state abruptly summoned reporters to reaffirm his loyalty to the president and dispute a report by NBC News that he had been prepared to step down over the summer until counseled by Vice President Mike Pence. The vice president has never had to persuade me to remain as secretary of state because I have never considered leaving this post, Tillerson said. Pence separately denied the report. But Tillerson did not contest other elements of the article, including an episode when he was said to have called Trump a moron after a meeting at the Pentagon with other national security officials last summer. Im not going to deal with petty stuff like that, he replied when asked specifically if he had assigned that label to the president. But his spokeswoman later denied it on his behalf. Even as Tillerson denied a rift on Wednesday, he alluded to significant differences over North Korea and Iran. He stressed the possibility of a peaceful resolution of the nuclear dispute with North Korea and associated himself with Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, who just a day earlier endorsed retaining the nuclear agreement with Iran that Trump has threatened to rip up. He praised Mattis as a secretary of defense who embraces diplomacy and noted that they speak nearly every day. Tillerson said he had not spoken with Trump on Wednesday before making his statement but offered words of praise. President Trumps America First agenda has given voice to millions who felt completely abandoned by the political status quo and who felt their interests came second to those of other countries, he said. President Trumps foreign policy goals break the mold of what people traditionally think is achievable on behalf of our country. Peter Baker, Maggie Haberman and Glenn Thrush are New York Times writers. New Braunfels, TX (78130) Today Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Low 39F. Winds N at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Low 39F. Winds N at 10 to 20 mph. WASHINGTON President Trump appears on track to decertify the Iran nuclear deal next week, a decision that will open an unpredictable debate in Congress and could lead to an unraveling of the landmark agreement. Trump is planning to announce next week that the Iran deal is not in the U.S. national security interest, and that additional sanctions should be imposed on Tehran to prevent it from restarting its nuclear program at some point in the future, according to a person briefed by the White House who was not authorized to speak publicly. Aides are drafting a harsh speech that Trump is planning to deliver in which he will explain his decision, according to people briefed on the presidents thinking. Under a U.S. law, the White House faces an Oct. 15 deadline to certify to Congress whether Iran is in compliance with the accord, and whether the agreement remains in the U.S. national security interest. The law was passed in 2015 when the Obama administration and five other major powers were completing a deal with Iran that required it to destroy or disable its nuclear infrastructure in exchange for easing of international sanctions. The U.N. Security Council has backed the accord. The International Atomic Energy Agency, the U.N.s nuclear watchdog agency, has repeatedly determined that Tehran is meeting its obligations under the deal, and U.S. intelligence agencies have reached the same conclusion. That leaves national security, a much vaguer standard, as the apparent basis for Trumps decision on decertification. Trump repeatedly has threatened to scrap the Iran deal. He ordered an interagency review of U.S. policy toward Iran soon after he took office. He and other critics insist that Tehrans support for militant groups in Yemen, Iraq and Lebanon, its ballistic missile program and other destabilizing actions should be restricted. The 2015 pact focused only on blocking Irans ability to someday build a nuclear bomb, not its other activities. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis told Congress on Tuesday that the accord remains in the U.S. national security interest. Gen. Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, also voiced support for the deal, saying it had made the nation safer. Brian Bennett and Tracy Wilkinson are Los Angeles Times writers. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate WASHINGTON Leaders of the Senate intelligence committee said Wednesday that they have not determined roughly nine months into their investigation whether Russia coordinated with the Trump campaign to try to sway the 2016 presidential election. The issue of collusion is still open, said the Republican committee chairman, North Carolina Sen. Richard Burr, who along with the panels top Democrat, Virginia Sen. Mark Warner, provided the first major update on a congressional investigation that was launched the same month as President Trump was inaugurated. The committee continues to look at all evidence to see if there was any hint of collusion, Burr said, adding that I am not going to even discuss initial findings, because we havent any. Burr and Warner said that the committee has interviewed more than 100 witnesses, including former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort and Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner. More than 100,000 pages of documents have been reviewed. But the committee has still yet to interview some witnesses related to the Trump campaign and a June 2016 meeting that Kushner, Manafort and the presidents son, Donald Trump Jr., held with Russians. The committee wants to interview Trump Jr. and everyone else involved with the meeting. The lawmakers said that though they have reached no conclusion about whether the campaign colluded with the Kremlin the question also at the heart of a separate criminal investigation by special counsel Robert Mueller their investigation has left no doubt about a multi-pronged Russian effort to meddle in American politics. The Russian intelligence service is determined, clever and I recommend every campaign and every election official take this very seriously, Burr said. The news conference Wednesday was an effort by the committee to lay out some of whats been found so far as the 2018 midterm elections approach. Burr said that the committee would ideally finish the investigation before congressional primaries begin next spring, but said he couldnt put a firm deadline on the probe because they are always finding new lines of inquiry. Warner said there is a large consensus that Russians had hacked into political files and strategically released them with the goal of influencing the election. He said Russian hackers had also tested the vulnerabilities of election systems in 21 states, though theres no evidence that any voting tallies were altered. The Senate panel has also been focused on Russian efforts to push out social media messages on Twitter and Facebook, and is examining more than 3,000 Russia-linked ads that Facebook turned over to Congress this week. Burr said he does not intend to release those ads. The Senate panel, along with the House intelligence committee, has invited Facebook, Twitter and Google to testify at a public hearing next month. Facebook said Wednesday that it had accepted invitations from both committees, and Twitter confirmed it would testify before the Senate panel. Mary Clare Jalonick and Eric Tucker are Associated Press writers. It had been a good year for Austin Meyer. The 24-year-old from Monterey County, enrolled in a two-year automotive program at Truckee Meadows Community College in Reno, had become engaged. His fiance, Dana Getreu, studies at the nearby University of Nevada-Reno. They bought tickets to the Route 91 Harvest country-western music festival in Las Vegas to celebrate Meyers birthday and the couples anniversary. Meyer died Sunday night when Stephen Paddock opened fire on concert goers from a window of the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. In one of the last photos taken of Meyer, he is seen holding a tiny glass bottle of pink Champagne and a plate of chocolate-covered strawberries. Happy birthday, the plate reads in chocolate icing. He is smiling. Getreu, his fiance, is in all of his Facebook photos. In one, he is kissing her cheek at a pumpkin patch, and her eyes are squinted from smiling so hard. In another, the couple appears to be at a fancy Valentines Day dinner. He is wearing a tie and she has a string of pearls around her neck. The earliest photo shows them in a car. His eyes are a vivid blue, and Getreu has her arm raised to snap the selfie. Meyer grew up in the Monterey County town of Marina, and he was a driver for Main Event Transportation, a limousine service, the company said. I still cant believe youre gone, Meyers work colleague, Chris Elliott, wrote on his own Facebook page. I would take your place if I could. I love you so much and thank you for always being the great person you were. On Wednesday, officials at Truckee Meadows Community College informed students that their classmate had been killed and arranged for counselors to be in Meyers classes Thursday. Lizzie Johnson is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: ljohnson@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @LizzieJohnsonnn By a vote of 83 to 7, Armenias National Assembly today ratified an agreement allowing for the creation of a joint Russian-Armenian military command. The seven dissenting votes were cast by the Yelk Alliance. The agreement stipulates that the joint military force would be controlled by Armenias Chief of Staff during peacetime and, depending on the situation, either by the Russian or Armenian military command during wartime. A billboard presenting President Donald Trump as a Nazi appeared in Chico, Calif., Wednesday and was taken down by the billboard's owner less than 24 hours later. The advertisement was sponsored by Rouse and Revolt, a local shop selling recycled clothing, and the business name was emblazoned across an image of Trump in a Nazi jacket with the number 45 on the sleeve, identifying the 45th president and looking similar to a swastika. Jim Moravec, the general manager of Stott Advertising, says the billboard was removed because he received complaints from people who were confused by the message. "The speaker wasn't clearly identified," Moravec explains. "There's not sufficient name recognition. It wan't clear that this was a business name and not a command or instruction. That combined with the depiction of violence led us to take it down." Rouse and Revolt Owner Nicole Haber says her contract with Stott has been breached and her right to freedom of speech obstructed. Haber says issue-oriented billboards are common in Chico, whether promoting Christianity with an image of Jesus or taking a stand against abortion with a photo of a fetus, and she feels her statement was singled out. "We are fundamentally built on a freedom of speech and I was just practicing my right," she says. "If you get to exercise that right. I get to exercise that right." Haber says she initially purchased the billboard to make a statement against Trump's policies and communicate that her business supports equal rights. "We support equality. We support equal rights. We support a woman's right to her own body. We support DACA. We support universal health care. We support gay people in any place they live. We welcome all races, all religions, all countries of origin, all genders and we not only stand with you, we kneel with you as well," she shared in a statement. Haber is talking with an attorney as she says, "Nowhere in my contract did it say they have the right to refuse. The fact that they put it up and then took it down is ridiculous. Like, 'Oops, we didn't notice that was Trump Hitler.'" Moravec says Stott initially put up the billboard as Rouse and Revolt is a regular customer and his staff is familiar with the shop name. He explains they saw the business name as sponsoring the provocative image, and didn't think the public would interpret the business name as a suggestion to rouse and revolt. Home to a public university and a rural community, Chico is a community with diverse political views. The comments on a story about the billboard on local TV station KHSL's news site reflect that. "I don't see see the problem," writes Missey Buck. "Seems to be accurate and the most honest interpretation of what's happened. More power to them for expressing whats going on. And on the business aspect I don't think this will affect them negatively, the people who believe in love and acceptance out number the hate filled." "Liberals are the epitome of hate and intolerance," shares Jason Pontius. "They do exactly what they preach against. The billboard exposes the business as a racist, and intolerant entity. Anyone who supports this business is an intolerant, hate filled fascist." This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The grieving family of the climber tragically crushed by rockfall in Yosemite National Park last month say that they "still hope, every morning, that we will awake from a bad dream." Andrew Foster, 32, and Lucy, 28, of Cardiff, Wales, were at the foot of El Capitan preparing for a climb on Sept. 27 when a massive slab of rock broke off the world's largest granite monolith "Andrew died whilst shielding Lucy and, indeed, we understand another climber witnessed him running back to the rockfall to protect Lucy," a statement from Andrew's family reads. "They loved each other dearly and, while our loss is indescribable, we are so proud of our brave boy in saving Lucy; he will always be our hero." "Our family is devastated by these events: for the loss of Andy and for the plans they had made together for their future adventures," a statement from Lucy's family reads. "He truly was the man of her dreams. We take some comfort from the fact that Andy's last act of love saved Lucy's life. Now Playing: One person was killed and another injured in a rockslide on El Capitan in Yosemite National Park, California, on Wednesday, September 27. Climber Peter Zabrok captured this video of two of the seven rockslides, one of which resulted in the death of Andrew Forster and the injury of his wife, according to park officials. According to The Guardian, Forster and his wife Lucy were climbing adventuring as part of their wedding anniversary celebrations. Yosemite National Park said about 1,300 tons had fallen following seven rockfalls across a four-hour period. Credit: Peter Zabrok via Storyful Video: Storyful Lucy was critically injured by the falling granite and airlifted to a local hospital. She remains hospitalized in stable condition. Friends who were climbing with Andrew and Lucy comforted her at her bedside until her family from the UK arrived. The couple were experienced climbers on a dream holiday of adventure, as reported previously by SFGATE. Yosemite was a favorite place of Andrew's, and he had visited the park a few times over the years to climb and explore. The London Guardian reports that they met at Cardiff University, married in August 2016 and were visiting Yosemite for their one-year anniversary. Andrew worked for Patagonia International and Lucy works for the international engineering company AECOM. Patagonia issued a statement reading, "It is with much sadness that we mourn the loss of our dear friend and colleague Andrew Foster, who was killed in a tragic accident in Yosemite. Andy was a sales representative working in our UK team and had been with the business for five years. He was a much-loved member of our team and a passionate climber, mountaineer and skier who loved being in the outdoors." UPDATE: Berkeley police tweeted at 7:36 p.m. that the shelter-in-place had been rescinded. Police activity at a Berkeley home tonight has promoted police to ask residents in the neighborhood to shelter in place. The activity is happening at 1717 Bancroft Way, police said at about 7 p.m. While police didn't elaborate on what exactly was happening, police said negotiations are in progress. People are being asked to avoid the area near Bancroft Way and Roosevelt Avenue for the next several hours. Residents nearby should shelter in place, according to police. DanielMontes0734p10/04/17 981-5780 Shenavan Mayor Artur Mkrtchyan says that a photo appearing in Facebook the other day holding two dead endangered griffon vultures not only dates to 2007, but that he found the large birds on the side of the road. I posted the photo 6-7 years ago and forgot about it. Friends and I saw the birds on the Bagaran-Yervandashat border, along the road. There were others milling about looking at the birds. We picked them up and took a souvenir photo, Mkrtchyan told Hetq. Mkrtchyan, a member of the Hunting Union of Armenia for ten years, says he doesnt engage in such hunts and will explain the circumstances surrounding the Facebook imbroglio. The photo of the three men holding the vultures appeared in econews.am. Mkrtchyan has since removed other hunting photos from his Odnolassnik page. Hes served as mayor of Shenavan, a town of some 1,700 in Armenias Armavir Province, since 2005. In 2013, Mkrtchyan was found guilty of embezzlement of municipal funds and fined 800,000 AMD. A year before, the Shenavan Municipality had allocated 500,000 to Artur and Varazdat Yeghiazaryan in the form of social assistance. Of this, 300,000 AMD was given to their father, and the remaining 200,000, to be used to pay property tax arrears, went missing. In 2016, the Armavir Provincial Administration fined Shenavan for a variety of administrative infractions. Yelk Alliance MP Nikol Pashinyan claims that Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) MP Artashes Geghamyan attacked him today in the halls of the National Assembly. Pashinyan made the claim in a Facebook post, writing that he was able to defend himself. Later, Pashinyan told the parliament that he had read that Geghamyan had denied attacking him. Ive read the press denials. But there were witnesses; MPs, reporters and security personnel. I demand clarification from the Republican Party of Armenia, Pashinyan stated. National Assembly Vice President Armen Ashotyan (a member of the RPA), responded that the incident was unfortunate and that a clarification was needed. Ashotyan advised MPs not to rush in attacking the RPA without getting the full story, and that he would speak to Geghamyan. Yelk Alliance MP Mane Tandilyan said the incident was worrying and that MPs could now be attacked in the halls of parliament. Tandilyan said that while the parliament criticizes the beating of MP Garo Paylan in the Turkish parliament, Armenian MPs are being attacked in their own parliament. Yelk Alliance MP Nikol Pashinyan claims that Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) MP Artashes Geghamyan attacked him today in the halls of the National Assembly. Pashinyan made the claim in a Facebook post, writing that he was able to defend himself. Later, Pashinyan told the parliament that he had read that Geghamyan had denied attacking him. Ive read the press denials. But there were witnesses; MPs, reporters and security personnel. I demand clarification from the Republican Party of Armenia, Pashinyan stated. National Assembly Vice President Armen Ashotyan (a member of the RPA), responded that the incident was unfortunate and that a clarification was needed. Ashotyan advised MPs not to rush in attacking the RPA without getting the full story, and that he would speak to Geghamyan. Yelk Alliance MP Mane Tandilyan said the incident was worrying and that MPs could now be attacked in the halls of parliament. Tandilyan said that while the parliament criticizes the beating of MP Garo Paylan in the Turkish parliament, Armenian MPs are being attacked in their own parliament. Top photo (from left): MPs Geghamyan, Pashinyan MOUNT PLEASANT On Wednesday, Foxconn Technology Group announced the area where it will invest an initial $10 billion to build a massive manufacturing plant in the Village of Mount Pleasant. However, well before then, the company will be renting a place to train employees and test new products. Louis Woo, special assistant to Foxconn CEO Terry Gou, said some of the products to be tested in Racine County could be rolled out into stores sometime in 2018. While the manufacturing plant is being built, Woo said, the company plans to continue working on its products, such as televisions and liquid crystal display (LCD) screens, to make sure there will be a smooth transition to the manufacturing plant. When youre looking at making (televisions) from the components all the way to making it to a final product, thats going to take four or five years to build the basic components, thats two pieces of glass which could be 80 inches, 120 inches, Woo said. Were (going to be) doing some testing assembly were renting a space to set up a training center and also an experimental center to make sure whatever we do two, three, four years down the line will be the most advanced that no one has done before. Woo praised Wisconsin officials, particularly Racine County Executive Jonathan Delagrave and Mount Pleasant Village President Dave DeGroot, and said they worked hard to get us to where we are today. When asked about why Foxconn chose Racine County, Woo said it was the people who won the company over. Theyre not only hard-driving, hard-working people, but they are passionate and they are determined, Woo said. Now the actual work begins The county is still working to acquire the land necessary to build the Foxconn plant that will be located between Interstate 94 and Highway H, and between highways 11 and KR. Delagrave said the county has been working hard to secure property. Weve done an extremely aggressive job in getting land options for about 95 percent of what the site needs, Delagrave said. Claude Lois, project director for the Village of Mount Pleasant, was hired in August to handle development related to Foxconn. Lois said that now, The actual work really begins. Now it gets down to the details of the development agreement; the (tax incremental district) stuff will all start now, Lois said. There will be a public hearing regarding the TID district. At that point in time everything will be finalized with the TID boundary. In September, Lois was part of a Wisconsin delegation that traveled to Japan on a fact-finding mission to see a Foxconn facility in action. (Foxconn is) state of the art it was very impressive, Lois said. The facility over there was very, very nice, very clean, very state of the art. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco, is again being called on to step down, but this time the request came from a fellow female Californian in a top congressional leadership position. Rep. Linda Sanchez, D-Whittier (Los Angeles County), the fifth-most-senior House Democrat, told C-SPAN Thursday: I do think its time to pass a torch to a new generation of leaders, and I want to be a part of that transition. I think we have too many great members here that dont always get the opportunities that they should. Sanchez, 49, was elected last year to be vice chairwoman of the House Democratic Caucus, edging out Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Oakland, by two votes. She is the first woman of color to serve in a senior position. While she singled out Pelosi, Sanchezs comments were directed at the partys entire House leadership team, which has been together for a decade. Other members are Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, D-Md., and Assistant Minority Leader James Clyburn, D-S.C. Pelosi, 77, has been in Congress for 30 years and in the House Democratic leadership for 14 years, including as the first female speaker of the House (2007-11). The remarks reflect a growing frustration among Democrats, who have been hemorrhaging seats at all levels of government nearly everywhere except California for nearly a decade, that the party doesnt have a coherent, appealing message. Pelosi is stuck in the middle, seen as too progressive by heartland Democrats in swing districts and too much of a corporatist by progressive Democrats, where much of the partys current energy lies. Thus the calls for new leadership. They are all of the same generation, and again, their contributions to the Congress and the caucus are substantial, Sanchez said. But I think there comes a time when you need to pass that torch. And I think its time. Pelosis deputy chief of staff, Drew Hammill, responded Thursday that she enjoys wide support in the caucus and has always said she is not in Congress on a shift but on a mission. Leader Pelosi is focused on winning back the House, and anything else is a distraction from our path to the majority. Sanchezs statement is the latest public grumbling about Pelosis leadership. Last year, Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Ohio, challenged Pelosi for the top job, losing 134-63. In June, Ryan told MSNBC that itll be very hard for Democrats to win back the House with Pelosi in charge because she remains polarizing in swing districts. But Sanchezs remarks are significant, as this is coming from a Democratic woman in the California delegation, said Jennifer Duffy, senior editor of the Cook Political Report, a nonpartisan analyst publication about Congress. Usually they have each others backs. However, Duffy said, it begs the question: Who? Who would replace her? While Duffy found it unlikely that Pelosi would be replaced before next years midterms, Who knows what will happen in 2018? Sanchezs comments were a pretty bold step, and it reflects pressure within the party that they cant continue to do things the same way, said Lisa Garcia Bedolla, director of the Institute of Governmental Studies at UC Berkeley. However, Pelosi remains one of the partys most powerful fundraisers, raising $567.9 million through the end of last year since entering House leadership. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, Democratic Party-controlled committees raised millions more than Republicans in the past election cycle. It didnt help: Democrats are still in the minority. While Pelosi has a reputation as a San Francisco liberal, progressives feel she isnt liberal enough. Even though she said she is a longtime supporter of single-payer health care, they want her to back Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders Medicare for All proposal and embrace the partys progressive wing more boldly. The significance (of Sanchezs comments) is that there is a hunger from the rank-and-file for fresh leadership, for someone who is truly going to represent the zeitgeist of where the party is, said Murshed Zaheed, political director at Credo Action, the progressive organization based in San Francisco. Thats where the energy of the party is now. Joe Garofoli is The San Francisco Chronicles senior political writer. Email: jgarofoli@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @joegarofoli Q: I recently flew from Tucson to Philadelphia on American Airlines. When I booked the trip, I inadvertently paid $56 for priority boarding instead of two checked bags. When I got to the airport, a check-in person told me that I should contact the company and it would refund the $56. I sent American Airlines a letter, but have not heard anything. I did not need priority boarding because I am handicapped and always am allowed to board during pre-boarding. Could you help me get the refund that I feel I am due? Mary Lou Hartline, Tucson A: Im sorry you were confused when you were making your flight arrangements. Buying these extras should be easy and intuitive, so even if you didnt have a case, I needed to be sure to share your frustrations with American Airlines. If you pushed the wrong button, chances are there are others who have done the same thing. American is clear about the refundability of these fees. You can get your money back only if you cant use the service (www.aa.com/i18n/customer-service/faqs/customer-service-faqs.jsp). Unfortunately, even though you didnt need the service, you were able to use it. Therefore, no refund is due. Or is it? You spoke with a representative who said you could get a refund, and based on that promise, you sent American Airlines a letter. It should have responded, even if to say no. (Next time this happens and I hope there isnt a next time for you try sending an email through Americans website: www.aa.com/i18n/customer-service/contact-american/american-customer-service.jsp. A promise made by an employee should be sufficient. Always ask for the persons name. You should have received the money without question or delay. Of course, American shouldnt be charging for priority boarding or checked bags. The ability to board the plane in a timely manner, select a seat and check a bag ought to be included in the ticket price. Taking them out is just a deceptive way of raising the ticket price, and there ought to be a law against it. But I digress. I contacted American Airlines and, as a gesture of goodwill, it refunded your $56. I dont think this is a question of goodwill as much as the company doing what it said it would do. You may want to consider using a travel agent for your next airline booking. A competent travel adviser will ensure that you dont buy a service you dont need. Christopher Elliott is the ombudsman for National Geographic Traveler magazine. Find travel tips at www.elliott.org. Email: chris@elliott.org Twitter: @elliottdotorg Canada unveiled its first National Holocaust Monument less than a week ago with much fanfare. But the moment soon became an embarrassment for the government because of a glaring omission. The monuments dedication plaque made no mention of Jews. No one seemed to notice the oversight until after the dedication of the striking $8.9 million memorial, which features six concrete triangles that form a diagonally-stretched Star of David. Ottawans proudly hail it as the largest new monument built in the capital for more than 70 years. As Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke at the monuments unveiling before a crowd that included Holocaust survivors, the plaque said the site honored the millions of men, women and children murdered during the Holocaust. But it didnt mention Jews or anti-Semitism. Trudeaus political opposition seized on the lapse. On Tuesday, the Conservative Partys David Sweet, said publicly: If we are going the stamp out hatred toward Jews, it is important to get history right, the Guardian reported. He asked if Trudeau would be rectifying the profoundly obvious omission. A slew of embarrassing headlines followed. Canada forgets Jews at Holocaust monument, blared the twitter feed of BBC News. Although Trudeau wasnt responsible for the plaque, its the second time hes been caught up in a Holocaust commemoration gaffe. Last year, critics blasted him for speaking generically about hate and failing to mention Jews on International Holocaust Memorial Day. The Holocaust is a stark reminder of the dangers and risks of allowing hate, prejudice, and discrimination to spread unchallenged, he said on that day in 2016. The push for the National Holocaust Monument first came in 2007 from a University of Ottawa student who realized Canada was the only Allied power without a national memorial. There were smaller memorials, but there was nothing that spoke nationally about the Holocaust, Dov Goldstein of Lord Cultural Resources told Canadian Art. Polish-American architect Daniel Libeskind designed the monument, which a Montreal Star architecture writer described this way: Its enclosed spaces, precariously angled walls and raw concrete surfaces speak the language of pain, fear and isolation. There is nothing heroic here how could there be? only the offer of an experience not easily forgotten. ... Falling somewhere between art and architecture, this is the first memorial of its kind in the country. During the dedication last week, Trudeau spoke of the monument as a place where families can come together to learn, to ask those tough questions, to grieve. He noted that Canada was among the first countries to officially recognize Israel. He also made a passing reference to the Canadas decision in 1939 to turn away a boat of German Jews seeking asylum, short of the full apology that many people had wanted. A new plaque is in the works. Melanie Joly, Canadas heritage minister, said it will be one with language that reflects the horrors experienced by the Jewish people. Susan Hogan is a Washington Post writer. KABUL After the northern Afghan city of Kunduz fell to the Taliban in 2015, Naqibullah, 23, set off for Europe. He had worked as a contracted mechanic for the Afghan forces, and he knew the Taliban would come for him. He spent $8,000, and risked getting shot by Iranian border guards and braving turbulent Mediterranean waters to reach Germany. But in Germany, a country that for years has had troops in northern Afghanistan as part of the NATO coalition, Naqibullah did not qualify for asylum, even as the Taliban entered Kunduz for a second time and overran most of it while his case was being processed. Five months ago, he was sent back to Afghanistan. I am back, working in a mechanic shop, said Naqibullah, who, like many Afghans, goes by one name. But we live with the fear of what could happen if Kunduz falls again. Naqibullah is among thousands of asylum-seekers who have been returned to Afghanistan from Europe, according to an Amnesty International report released Thursday. The deportations roughly 10,000 in 2016 alone, tripling from the year before have continued even as Afghanistans security situation has deteriorated and civilian casualties have reached record numbers. In the scathing report, the rights organization said that European countries had remained willfully blind to the dangers of returning the thousands of Afghan asylum-seekers, including children. The group called on the nations to impose a moratorium on sending people back until security in Afghanistan improves. Returns are increasing, even as dangers in the country have become more severe, the report said. Tens of thousands of civilians have been killed or injured, and a wide range of people are at additional risk of other serious human rights violations such as persecution or torture. In deciding asylum cases, the report said that European countries arbitrarily consider some parts of Afghanistan safe. Even when the authorities recognize that a persons home province might not be safe, they say he or she could merely relocate to a safer place elsewhere in the country. The reality, Amnesty International said, is that no part of the country can be considered safe. U.N. statistics report varying degrees of fighting across 20 of the 34 Afghan provinces. About 25,000 civilians were killed and 45,000 others injured by fighting between 2009 and 2016, which was the highest year for such casualties on record. Mujib Mashal is a New York Times writer. BAGHDAD The Iraqi government said Thursday that its forces had driven Islamic State fighters from the northern city of Hawija, the militants final urban stronghold in Iraq, three years after they seized control of nearly a third of the country. Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, said in a televised appearance in Paris, where he is on a state visit, that Hawija had been liberated, calling it a victory not just for Iraq but for the whole world. The fall of Hawija was confirmed in a statement Thursday by the U.S.-led coalition. Our Iraqi partners fought bravely and professionally against a brutal and determined enemy, safeguarding innocent civilians throughout the entire campaign, said Lt. Gen. Paul Funk. Thanks to their efforts, Hawijah will return to local governance and security. Although fighting is continuing in surrounding districts, the fall of the Hawija area would add to a series of crushing blows for the militants in Iraq, who would be left in control of only a string of desert outposts in the Euphrates River valley and the city of Qaim, on the border with Syria. Morale among militants in and around Hawija appears to be deteriorating rapidly. At least 600 men identified by Kurdish forces as Islamic State fighters have surrendered to the Kurds in Kirkuk, about 35 miles from Hawija. An additional 400 are being interrogated on suspicion of being militants. Together, they represent roughly a third of an estimated 3,000 Islamic State fighters in the Hawija area before Iraq began military operations there on Sept. 21. As in other battles over the past three years, Iraqi forces have been supported in Hawija by U.S. military advisers, forward air controllers, special operations troops, air strikes and artillery. Col. Ryan Dillon, spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition in Baghdad, said on Thursday that the United States had conducted 16 air strikes in the past week in support of the Hawija operation. The speed of what seems to have been a two-week Iraqi military sweep through Hawija suggests that the militants are no longer able to sustain effective military operations for long periods. For example, the battle to drive them from Mosul, Iraqs second-largest city, lasted nine months before Mosul was liberated in July. But the next city to fall from the Islamic State, Tal Afar, took only 11 days. David Zucchino and Rod Nordland are New York Times writers. CAMBRIA Didion Millings president told the Cambria Village Board on Monday to expect federal investigators to use every minute of their allotted six months to investigate and report on what caused the May 31 explosion at the plant that resulted in five deaths. Riley Didion, also president of Didion Ethanol, told the village trustees that means the Occupational Safety and Health Administration report isnt likely to be out until the end of November. Didion said he isnt sure how OSHA will announce its findings, but its likely that Didion officials, village officials and the public all will learn those findings at about the same time. Demolition at the explosion site is about 70 percent completed, but has been at a standstill pending OSHA authorization, Didion said. Thats likely to change in a matter of days, as demolition continues to make way for a rebuilt milling plant. Barring unforeseen complications, Didion said he hopes the pouring of some concrete forms for the rebuilt plant can start in November. He told the Village Board that company officials are looking at several engineering and design firms, but havent hired anyone for the rebuild nor do they have a target date for its completion. Meanwhile, the corn harvest is just getting started, and about 125 trucks are coming through Didion Ethanol daily with loads of grain to distill. The traffic, for work at the site and delivery of corn, was the focus of some of Mondays brief discussion. Village President Glen Williams noted that trick-or-treat hours in the village will be set at 5 to 7 p.m. Oct. 31, and the safety of costumed children will need to be accommodated by all drivers, including those bringing corn to Didion Ethanol. Public Works Director Tom Tietz said its possible village crews will do work on Commerce Street later this month or in early November to connect a building to the villages sewer system, which also could affect Didion-bound truck traffic. BULENT KILIC/AFP/Getty Images BEIRUT Intensified fighting in Syria in recent weeks has damaged more hospitals, with at least 10 medical facilities hit over the past 10 days and hundreds of thousands of people cut off from health care, the International Committee of the Red Cross said on Thursday. The escalation in fighting has also forced hundreds of schools across the country to suspend classes over the past two weeks, with teachers sending children home in terror as bombs and shells fall nearby, Save the Children said. Glassons, the women's wear brand owned by Hallenstein Glasson Holdings, has split its chief executive role into two after the departure of Di Humphries, replacing her with separate New Zealand and Australian heads as it seeks to establish itself further across the Tasman. Humphries left the company at the end of September, after almost a year-and-a-half back at the clothing chain, having returned the Glassons women's wear brand back to profitability. She had run Glassons before being poached by Pumpkin Patch in 2012. Hallenstein Glasson boosted sales 7 percent and profit by 25 percent in the year ended Aug. 1, bouncing back from 2016 when the struggling women's wear division and a margin squeeze from increasingly expensive imports sapped earnings. In a statement, the company said it had reviewed the Glassons leadership structure and "for the next stage of our journey" has appointed April Pokaia as CEO of Glassons New Zealand and James Glasson as CEO of Glassons Australia. The two will report to the group chief executive Mark Goddard. Pokaia, who worked for Glassons for 13 years before moving to work as Cotton On's brand manager in 2016, will take up the role from Dec. 1, while Glasson, the general manager of Glassons Australia, will take up the role immediately. In the last financial year, Glassons sales in New Zealand rose 7.2 percent to $89.5 million while Australian sales gained 22 percent to $50 million. It has plans to open two new stores in Australia including one in Melbourne's CBD in the current year. Online sales grew 44 percent in the year, much faster than brick and mortar stores, and now account for 9 percent of total turnover. The shares last traded at $3.34, and have gained 9.5 percent this year. (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: ALF - Mark Franklin Geneva Appointments new Head of Sales and Lending A shiny new system or the Wazgij of planning systems? THL - Apollo shareholders approve merger TWL - TradeWindow and EMA partner-up to build export capability November 15th Morning Report RAK 1H23 Results Business Update Webcast & Teleconference AoFrio appoints new Vice President of Product HFL - Annual report for the year ended 31 August 2022 Rob Buchanan resigns from Manawa Energy One of four men associated with the Cavan Forde Group has been fined $152,000 for misrepresenting Chinese cladding panels as a premium Australian brand. In a written sentence released today, Darryl Campbell, a former director and owner of the now-defunct Christchurch Lightweight Concrete, was ordered to pay the fine by the Auckland District Court, the Commerce Commission said. Campbell pleaded guilty in April to nine charges under the Fair Trading Act for his misrepresentations to Christchurch Lightweight staff and customers between July 2007 and June 2010. During this period Christchurch Lightweight claimed it was supplying the Australian-made Hebel brand of exterior AAC panels for at least 83 properties, when in fact it supplied non-Hebel AAC panels from a Chinese manufacturer, it said. Campbell is one of four men the regulator is pursuing, all of whom held ownership or management positions in the former Cavan Forde Group of companies. The commission alleges they misrepresented their AAC products as Hebel products between the period of July 2007 and June 2013. Auckland-based Chris Middleditch pleaded guilty last month to the charges against him and is awaiting sentencing, while the remaining two defendants, Dunedin-based father and son Cavan Forde and Martin Forde, have entered not guilty pleas. In a press release from June this year, Cavan Forde said the group would "continue to defend the allegations" which he said were "historical allegations and we are confident that when the facts are fully aired the directors will be vindicated. (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: ALF - Mark Franklin Geneva Appointments new Head of Sales and Lending A shiny new system or the Wazgij of planning systems? THL - Apollo shareholders approve merger TWL - TradeWindow and EMA partner-up to build export capability November 15th Morning Report RAK 1H23 Results Business Update Webcast & Teleconference AoFrio appoints new Vice President of Product HFL - Annual report for the year ended 31 August 2022 Rob Buchanan resigns from Manawa Energy RACINE COUNTY The $10 billion Foxconn project will be paid for without a sales tax and without raising property taxes anywhere in Racine County, officials revealed Wednesday. Rather, the manufacturing complex, and development to follow, will be paid for entirely by a tax increment finance district, according to officials and the development team that negotiated the agreement with the company. On Wednesday, the day officials revealed that Foxconn will build its 20 million-square-foot manufacturing plant in the southwestern corner of Mount Pleasant, the other major revelation was the public financing part of the plan: a TID. Tax incremental financing allows a municipality to pay for improvements in a district with the future taxes generated as development occurs there. The financing plan, or TID plan, contains a $100 million incentive to the Taiwanese company albeit an incentive that is entirely paid for by new tax valuation and property tax revenue created by the development itself. The costs that are necessary are all paid for by the property taxes the company pays as a result of its development, said Jenny Trick, the executive director of the Racine County Economic Development Corp. The financing anticipates a total investment in the project from the TID of $764 million. Foxconns $10 billion investment will generate more than $31 million per year in new tax revenue that will more than pay for all public improvements and development costs, according to materials provided to The Journal Times and according to the 39-page TID project plan. Foxconn is providing financial guarantees to support a minimum valuation of $1.4 billion. That evaluation is expected to be reached in four years with a projected $350 million in new property valuation each of those years. Racine County Executive Jonathan Delagrave said negotiators were able to avoid raising property taxes or adding a sales tax by using the TID economic development tool. We took advantage of that and crafted a well-constructed project, he said. Delagrave said the team didnt know at the outset of negotiations if it would be able to avoid a new tax to land Foxconn, a maker of liquid crystal display technology. We didnt know either way, he said. I wanted to make sure that we had all options on the table. Thats why we were looking at it in the legislation; but just because it was in the legislation didnt mean we wanted or needed to enact it. I just wanted to make sure that everything was possible going into this project. We worked hard at (the financing package), Mount Pleasant Village President Dave DeGroot said. We knew that we didnt have much of a chance getting through our village, our County Board, if the project costs were going to fall on the taxpayers. First financing step: bonding The financing of Foxconns project will start later this year with a $55.2 million bond issuance by Racine County for land acquisition in the area where the manufacturing campus will be built. That will be followed next year by an estimated $53.7 million bond issuance by the Village of Mount Pleasant to fund sanitary-sewer infrastructure. That money will be repaid in 2020 by the states Clean Water Fund Loan Program. Foxconn has also agreed to provide $60 million in up-front money for land acquisition in area two, its potential future expansion area. Mount Pleasant will hold title to that land until Foxconn can acquire pieces of it by developing chunks of that area. The $764 million in project costs to be financed by the growth within the new TID include: An estimated $168 million for land acquisition. $160 million for water and wastewater infrastructure. That includes no expansion of either the Racine water nor wastewater treatment plants, which have the capacity to handle Foxconn, Trick said. $116 million in added police and fire capacity. That will include construction of a new fire station in the area. A new police station is not anticipated, although more officers, squad cars and such are. $12 million for road improvements and widening. A $28 million contingency fund. $5 million for fiber optics and other such costs. $175 million in financing expenses. The $100 million incentive to Foxconn which, if it meets all its benchmarks for hiring and so on, will end up paying that much less in property taxes from new taxes generated by Foxconns added property tax valuation. Everyone else gets paid back first, DeGroot said. Foxconn is last in line. The TID can have a life of up to 30 years; 20 is normal. The TID plan is designed to finance the project based solely on what is built in area one, Trick said. Any additional development that occurs in that zone will increase the speed of repayment. Computer science majors wait for their opportunity to speak with recruiters with Microsoft and Facebook at the Computer Sciences Job Fair. AP/Julie Jacobson New York Comic Con: Oct. 5 - 8 at the Javits Center The annual New York Comic Con will take place this weekend, Oct. 5 to Oct. 8, at the Javits Center in Manhattan. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet some of their favorite comic book, video game, television and movie stars at meet & greets, autograph signings and even engaging panel discussions. The Staten Island Advance will be on site at the event, offering an inside look at the festivities across various social media platforms. Here are seven of the biggest guests you can meet at this year's event. Don't Edit AP Photo/Lucasfilm Ltd Mark Hamill Best known for his role as Luke Skywalker in the Star Wars series, Mark Hamill has been a staple of geek culture for the past 40 years. Also an avid comic book fan, Hamill is also known for his long-standing role as the voice of Batman's arch-nemesis, The Joker. Hamill can be found at the NYCC Autographing Area every day of this year's convention. Don't Edit ABC/Nicole Wilder Karen Gillan Karen Gillan, a Scottish actress, director and screenwriter, is best known for her role as the companion to the Eleventh Doctor in the BBC series, Doctor Who. Gillan is also no stranger to the world of comic book movies, playing Nebula in the critically-acclaimed Guardians of the Galaxy films. Gillan will be available at the at the NYCC Autograph Area on Saturday and Sunday. Don't Edit Michael Rooker Michael Rooker's break-out role came back in 1986 as Henry in Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer. Most recently, Rooker is known for his roles as Merle Dixon on The Walking Dead and Yondu Udonta in the Guardians of the Galaxy films. Rooker will be available at the NYCC Autograph Area on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Don't Edit ESPN/Facebook Theo Rossi Staten Island local Theo Rossi, best known for his role as Juan Carlos "Juice" Ortiz on FX's Sons of Anarchy, will also be joining the event. Rossi recently joined the world of super heroes with his role as Hernan "Shades" Alvarez in the Netflix original series Luke Cage. Rossi will be available at the NYCC Autograph Area on Saturday and Sunday. Don't Edit Don't Edit Liam Daniel/Focus Features Felicity Jones Felicity Jones, an English actress, broke out in 2014 with her role as Jane Hawking in The Theory of Everything. In 2016, Jones starred as Jyn Erso in Rogue One, the first in a line of Star Wars anthology films. Jones will be available at the NYCC Autograph Area on Friday. Don't Edit AP/Jordan Strauss William Shatner A Comic Con regular, William Shatner will once again be joining fans at this year's New York convention. Best known for his role as James T. Kirk in the Star Trek franchise, Shatner has played an unfathomable amount of roles in his over 60 years of television experience. Shatner will be available at the NYCC Autographing Area on Saturday and Sunday. Don't Edit Submarine Deluxe and History Films Peter Capaldi Peter Capaldi, a Scottish actor, writer and director, is best known for his role as the Twelfth Doctor in the BBC series Doctor Who. Capaldi is also an Academy Award-winning director for his short film, Franz Kafka's It's a Wonderful Life. Capaldi will be available at NYCC Autograph Area on Thursday and Friday. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- As the deadline to file work authorization renewals under Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals -- or DACA -- came Thursday, a group of undocumented immigrants held a rally on the steps of Borough Hall. They gathered with immigrants' rights activists and local organizations, including El Centro, Make the Road, La Colmena and Project Hospitality, and called on Rep. Daniel Donovan to support a "clean" DREAM Act that would allow undocumented immigrants brought here as children to stay without being coupled with spending for a wall with Mexico, or any other "strings." Donovan (R-Staten Island/Brooklyn) has supported allowing undocumented immigrants to stay. He co-sponsored Recognizing America's Children Act -- or RACA -- which provides a pathway to citizenship for "Dreamers," undocumented immigrants who were brought here as children and want to remain in schools here or to work. He is among a group of Republican lawmakers who have urged President Donald Trump not to end DACA, as the president announced he would last month. The program would be phased out, and Trump has called on Congress to put together its own legislative package to address citizenship for undocumented immigrants, as well as reform to the country's immigration system. Then-President Barack Obama put DACA in place through a series of executive actions after Congress didn't pass the DREAM Act. Trump is leaving it up to Congress to again take up a bill. Speaking with a few dozen immigrants behind her, one young lady Thursday recalled how DACA has helped her and people like her go to school and get jobs. Brought by family members to the country as a child, with no say in the matter, she recalled that "DACA has been a very big change in our lives." DACA has given them the ability to "pursue our academic dreams." But like the others there, she wants to see all undocumented immigrants given a pathway to citizenship. "We are not just here for Dreamers, we are here for all 11 million," she said. Others who spoke specified that they want a "clean" DREAM Act with "no strings attached," no funding for a border wall and no border security measures. That's not what Donovan is supporting, however. He wants to see DACA, or a similar bill, passed by Congress to allow people to stay. But it must be coupled with a larger immigration reform package. He voted in the Homeland Security Committee on Tuesday to support $10 billion to build a wall on the Mexican border. It's part of the Border Security for America Act, which adds border patrol agents, secures ports of entry and more. "Our immigration system is broken, but any repairs we make are meaningless unless we stop illegal immigration," Donovan said. "We're a sovereign nation and it's our responsibility to know who enters and leaves through our borders. I fully support President Trump's push to secure the border and will continue advocating in the Homeland Security Committee to make it happen." STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Federal transportation agencies are investigating the crash between a civilian drone and an Army chopper over Staten Island last month. The National Transportation Safety Board announced Thursday that it is investigating the crash and has interviewed the drone operator. The Federal Aviation Administration is also participating in the investigation. The drone collided with the Black Hawk helicopter, which was providing security for the United Nations General Assembly, over Midland Beach on Sept. 21. The helicopter sustained damage to its main rotor blade and a window but landed safely at Linden Airport in New Jersey. There were no injuries. The helicopter was based at Fort Bragg, N.C. Officials there said after the crash that the Army would rethink its procedures for domestic missions over populated areas. The incident sparked concern on Staten Island. Justine DeGeorge of Great Kills said she sees drones in the sky every night, and that their presence is particularly significant on weekends. "I do not appreciate seeing them and the possible invasion of my privacy [cameras]," she wrote in an email. Tottenville resident Chris Marino told a story about five or six drones that he said took flight over Hylan Boulevard one night in August. "I would be very, very concerned. It doesn't take much to get those things into a jet engine," he said. --Associated Press material was used in this report. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.-- City officials have issued an order to vacate three businesses in Pleasant Plains, following a partial building collapse Wednesday that left one man injured. Emergency personnel responded at about 11:29 a.m. to Kiddie Cakes Bakery at 6384 Amboy Road, where part of the building's exterior collapsed as a worker was removing an awning, according to a FDNY official at the scene. The worker wasn't seriously injured, but was "banged up a little bit," the official said. Owners of a pizzeria and nail salon on either side of the bakery were forced to vacate, in addition to at least one family that lives in an apartment above the businesses. The order will be lifted for the pizzeria and the nail salon once a shed is installed in front of the bakery, sources said. The American Red Cross is offering emergency relocation assistance to any affected residents. An investigation by the Buildings Department is ongoing. Would you like to comment on this report? Click here to add your voice to the conversation. Morning briefing: Moulton says Paul Ryan told him theres no way to do a little on gun control STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Say goodbye to Hylan Plaza. The New Dorp shopping center is being prepared for demolition to make way for a new $180 million multi-level mall dubbed "The Boulevard." But before the wrecking ball hits the site, city firefighters are using it to train some of New York's Bravest in rescue techniques. According to an FDNY spokesman, local fire companies have used the location for multi-unit drills, which is something that happens in every borough every weekend. The exercises include familiarization drills, tool usage and overhauling after a fire or collapse, among other things, he added. "Every day, fire units train throughout the city ... park areas, waterways, sites of recent fires, just to name a few," said the spokesman. "This is not a site we are using long-term for any training. It's a location that was available for limited usage ahead of the demolition." WORK TO BEGIN SOON Demolition of a portion of Hylan Plaza will begin this fall when construction commences on The Boulevard. The 460,000-square-foot shopping center will be built in a multi-level "Main Street" format. The section of the shopping center that formerly housed KMart, Toys R Us, Hylan Plaza movie theater and other retailers will be the first to be demolished, said Joshua Weinkranz, president, northeast region of the Kimco Realty, the project's developer. The project has gotten all the necessary city approvals for work to begin, and construction should start next month, he said. LEASES SIGNED Anchoring the site will be a 50,000-square-foot ShopRite as well as Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas, which will offer a 41,000-square-foot dine-in movie theater with about 1,000 seats and nine or 10 screens, according to Weinkrantz. Other retailers that have signed leases to open in The Boulevard include Beauty Ulta, Marshalls, Modell's, Mandee's, GameStop, Party City, PetSmart and Chase. FOLLOW TRACEY PORPORA ON FACEBOOK CITY HALL -- Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis said Thursday that she doesn't have a plan for reforming the city's "abusive" property tax system yet, but hopes to have one before Election Day. The Republican nominee against Mayor Bill de Blasio wouldn't commit to announcing a plan by the Nov. 7 election. But she still hit the Democrat incumbent for his promise to reform the inequitable system -- that he personally benefits from -- only if voters re-elect him. "I don't have an actual plan of what I would be doing other than I am studying it, I do think it's an issue," Malliotakis said when asked about her plans to fix the city's "regressive and opaque" property tax system from an attendee at an Association for a Better New York breakfast in Midtown on Thursday. Still, Malliotakis wouldn't promise to unveil a plan to voters before the polls open. "I'm hoping to," she told the Advance after the event. "It's going to be changed to be more equitable...This has to eventually go through Albany. I'm going to advocate as mayor to make it more equitable, but exactly how we're going to do that, and which changes we make to the formula...it's a whole other thing that needs to be looked at. I mean, the mayor's been there for four years. He hasn't done anything." Malliotakis said she supports a property tax cap and cosponsors a state bill to implement one in the city. The mayor's office has contended that such a cap would result in significant budget cuts -- and that the cap would surrender limited power over the only tax the city can collect. The city confirmed that any reforms to the system would have to go though state lawmakers in Albany. INCREASE IN PROPERTY TAX COLLECTED Malliotakis noted that de Blasio does control the amount the city collects from property taxes -- known as the levy -- and that has increased since de Blasio took office. The property tax levy in the fiscal year 2014 budget, adopted under de Blasio's predecessor, was just under $20 billion. The levy's increased about 29 percent this fiscal year, to some $25.8 billion. "We need to control spending, which will reduce our reliance on these property tax increasing so rapidly," Malliotakis told the breakfast event, a group of business leaders. "It's abusive. It is an abuse of homeowners and property owners in this city. If you're a renter you even should be concerned as well, because it has to be passed down to you." A de Blasio campaign spokesman had no immediate comment. 'OBVIOUSLY IT TAKES TIME' Staten Island homeowners have the highest effective property tax rate of all five boroughs, and those on the South Shore are the worst off. That's according to an analysis of assessments for properties with one-, two- and three-family homes from fiscal year 2018 by the coalition suing the city over the property tax system. The "Tax Equity Now New York" group includes homeowners, renters and civil rights groups who want to fix the broken property tax system, claiming it's riddled with inequities that de Blasio has acknowledged -- and from which he personally benefits. Plaintiffs in the lawsuit aren't seeking monetary relief but are asking the court to declare the structure of the tax "unconstitutional' based on statutes set by several state laws. Malliotakis said that she met with the group's policy director and that there seems to be a "lot of competing interests in this" and that any reforms would "take time." "Of course, obviously it takes time, because the mayor hasn't been able to put forward anything, but what I'm saying is this is completely unfair and inequitable when I'm paying twice as much for a house that's valued nearly a third as much than he is," Malliotakis said. DE BLASIO'S AND MALLIOTAKIS' OWN BILLS Last year, the mayor and first lady Chirlane McCray paid just $7,098 in property taxes for two houses on 11th Street, according to a copy of their joint tax returns released by City Hall in April. After moving from their home to Gracie Mansion in 2014, they now rent out both properties, making more than $100,000 from tenants last year. The properties were worth more than $3.2 million combined last tax year, according to city records. The tentative worth this tax year is nearly $3.7 million combined. This year, they owe $7,162 in property taxes for the two homes, according to their August bills. Malliotakis said she started paying property taxes directly in 2015, after she purchased her childhood home in Bay Terrace from her parents in 2014 for $0. She said she moved to help her ailing father. In February 2015, Malliotakis got her first property tax bill on the home, according to city records. She and her parents paid a total $4,373 in property taxes with a $305 Basic STAR exemption that tax year. The next year, Malliotakis paid $4,754, records of her property tax statements show. Her annual bill rose to $5,176 in 2016 and hit $5,521 this tax year. These totals doesn't include around $300 off with the Basic STAR exemption Malliotakis has claimed every year. Malliotakis also still has a co-op in Rosebank, purchased in 2008, and has indirectly paid property taxes on the home since then. The STAR exemption is only allowed for primary residences -- her campaign previously told the Advance she still uses the co-op occassionally as a place for peace and quiet. The Bay Terrace home is worth $549,000, according to city assessment records. De Blasio's two properties are collectively worth more than six times that, but this year he owes only $1,641 more in property taxes than Malliotakis. "This is completely unfair and inequitable," Malliotakis said. AS BILLS INCREASE, OVERALL RATE STAYS SAME De Blasio and McCray are profiting from the current system where the assessed value of properties with one-, two- and three-family homes -- class one, in other words -- can't go up more than 6 percent every year or 20 percent over five years. The cap means homeowners in less popular neighborhoods where home values slowly increase will generally have higher property taxes than those with homes in more desirable areas like where de Blasio lives. The effect of the cap is just one aspect of the property tax system that the lawsuit seeks to address. Properties can also be assessed unequally within a neighborhood or on the same block. Larger apartment buildings have a disproportionately high tax burden that is said to be passed onto tenants. The lawsuit also alleges that property owners in largely minority neighborhoods like southern Queens pay millions more than they would were their homes appraised based on comparative sales. The overall property tax rate hasn't changed from 12.283 percent since de Blasio took office, but that's the blended average of a four-class system. Law requires the City Council to determine rates within the four property classes every year so they're proportional by class. The rate for class one properties has increased every full fiscal year de Blasio has been in office, so many Staten Island homeowners like Malliotakis consistently have higher bills. De Blasio has said issues in the property tax system shouldn't be addressed by the courts. He's also said the "entire property tax system needs to be reviewed top to bottom" and that such an overhaul isn't possible this year. The mayor also wouldn't committ to maintaining the current property tax rate if he's re-elected. "I'm not going to raise property taxes, period," de Blasio said back then. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A New Jersey man was charged with DWI after he crashed his SUV into a guardrail on the Martin Luther King Jr. Expressway late Saturday night. Eger Calderon, 37, of Elizabeth, was allegedly behind the wheel of his 2015 Honda Pilot when it crashed into the barrier near the expressway's Forest Avenue exit around 11:20 p.m., authorities said. Responding officers allegedly found Calderon to have a strong odor of alcohol on his breath, along with slurred speech, bloodshot eyes, and the inability to remain steady on his feet, according to a criminal complaint. Calderon refused for his alcohol levels to be tested at the scene of the incident, according to authorities. Fingerprint records indicated Calderon was previously convicted of DWI in Brooklyn in 2013, according to the complaint. His top charge is a felony DWI. He was released on $1,500 cash bail, and is scheduled to next appear Friday. Would you like to comment on this report? Click here to join in the conversation. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- There were seven instances of sexual assault or stalking on Staten Island's three college campuses during the last school year. The incidents included two reported rapes. College campuses are treated like private legal domains. They are given the authority to handle crimes on campus and there is no legal requirement for the schools' Department of Public Safety (DPS) to report crimes to local police. The incidents are only reported to police if the victim decides to take that additional step. The following incidents occurred during the 2015-2016 school year, according to each institution's state-mandated Annual Security Report (ASR) filed with the Office of Postsecondary Education of the U.S. Department of Education: St. As a requirement of the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, or Clery Act, and the Higher Education Opportunity Act, colleges that receive federal student aid are required to submit an annual report of campus safety and security statistics annually. The data must be made available to the public on the school's website in the ASR, and published and distributed to students annually by Oct 1. PREVIOUS CASES AT ISLAND SCHOOLS The most recent disclosures come after there were four reported rapes on Wagner's campus in 2014-2015 school year and four in 2013-2014. In the past 14 years, there have been seven reported incidents of sexual assault at CSI's campus and 15 reported incidents of sexual assault on Wagner's campus, including the eight reported rapes, the Advance reported last year. The issue of how sex crimes are handled on college and universities across the nation has been the focus of legal and policy debates for decades, leading to lawsuits, federal legislation and efforts by advocacy organizations that have tried to compensate for the schools' right to handle the cases solely through their internal security and disciplinary systems. REPORTING TO POLICE NOT REQUIRED When a sexual assault or rape occurs on campus is reported to campus personnel, it's handled by the school's disciplinary system, which is typically a tribunal consisting of teachers, faculty and sometimes students, who, critics say, have very little, if any, training on how to deal with such cases. Title IX, a civil rights law resulting from the Education Amendments of 1972 and enforced by the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR), gave colleges this authority. Local law enforcement is only notified when and if the victim chooses to report the crime a second time. Or, as in the Wagner case, the victim decides to go directly to law enforcement first. According to Wagner's ASR, the one incident of rape was reported to the NYPD and not the school's public safety office. COLLEGES RESPOND When asked about the five incidents that occurred at the College of Staten Island during the 2015-2016 school year, Cheryl Adolph, spokeswoman for the College of Staten Island said, "The safety and well-being of students, faculty and staff at the College of Staten Island is always of paramount concern." "Incidents of reported sexual assaults at CSI are managed in compliance with CUNY's Policy on Sexual Misconduct and federal and state law," Adolph said. "CSI remains deeply committed to our Island and campus communities by promptly issuing emergency notifications when there is an imminent, serious or continuing threat. Although a victim's choice to not report a sexual assault or incident to the police will take precedent, the College reserves the right to notify police when it believes that such reporting is necessary for the protection of the College community. In these cases, and pursuant to CUNY policy, the College will support the complainant through counseling services and appropriate academic and housing accommodations, so that the student may continue their education absent unnecessary stress or trauma. Complainants will also be encouraged to come forward at any point in the future to pursue the allegation. Incidents are counted in the Annual Safety Report per Clery Act guidelines and shared with the College community," she said. She said CSI is also in support of Gov. Andrew Cuomo's Enough is Enough: Combating Sexual Misconduct legislation. STALKING CASE AT ST. JOHN'S In addition to being a sex offense, stalking is also a violation of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). Signed by then-President Barack Obama in 2013, the VAWA amended the Clery Act to require schools to include statistics for dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking in the Annual Security Report. "The educational privacy laws prevent us from commenting on a specific incident, however, when we receive a report we respond promptly, investigate and take appropriate action," said Yael Wepman, St. John's University's Title IX coordinator, when asked about the incident. Wagner did not responded to requests for a comment. D.A. PARTNERS WITH COLLEGES ON SEXUAL ASSAULT Last month, District Attorney Michael E. McMahon's office announced a partnership with the borough's three colleges in the handling of sexual assaults. The Staten Island Comprehensive College Sexual Assault Initiative, or the Staten Island Plan, makes the district attorney's investigative resources and survivor support services available to students at St. John's University, Wagner College and the College of Staten Island. "Together, we will help survivors of sexual assault to explore a variety of options available to them, including counseling, medical resources, discussion of legal options, and provide them with a dedicated support person to guide them through the criminal justice system should the survivor wish to report the incident," McMahon said. "This allows survivors to get a comprehensive idea of all their options before needing to make a decision on how they wish to continue," he said. Through the initiative, assistant district attorneys from the D.A's Special Victims bureau will help the survivors navigate their options -- inside and outside the criminal justice system -- should they make the decision to report the incident. In an effort to promote the partnership, assistant district attorneys have been attending orientation sessions at the three campuses, will attend events throughout the year, and host relevant trainings for student groups and staff. The College of Staten Island praised the new initiative and pledged to work with McMahon's office in partnership with the other two schools. "This Initiative will provide CSI students with more support during a difficult time whether or not a survivor chooses to report the matter to police or participate in a campus investigation," Adolph said. The United States Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday over Wisconsin's gerrymandered legislative map in a pivotal case that could upend how states nationwide draw their voting districts. 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 John and Mike Madzin are identical twins who recently were diagnosed with genetic ALS. This deadly disease now has a strong hold on these triathletes and John Madzin was kind enough to give us a few minutes of his precious time. His brother Mike also opened up to us. After college the twins went to California to work on getting jobs in the finance world. While there they met Dan Empfield and Emilio DeSoto. "I remember like yesterday when John and I met Dan [Empfield] amd Emilio [DeSoto] in San Diego, and they got us started in triathlons. We picked their brains for training advice, bike setup etc. That is why I always wear DeSoto stuff for my IRONMAN events," said Mike Madzin. "When we first started we just had old road bikes because we could not afford a new bike. I think the first real tri-bike was a Litespeed Tachyon. Then QR Redstone and Litespeed Blade. Then QR Caliente and finally our last IRONMAN together was a QR CD01." Mike Madzin shared that ALS is genetic in their family. "Our dad and his brother (our uncle Paul) had it, and their mother also had it. We had a 50/50 chance of getting it. John's symptoms started last year, unfortunately his ALS has progressed very fast. I am in the very early stages with my symptoms and seem to be following John. I wish and pray every day I could take John's ALS and he could be spared," added Mike Madzin. I called John Madzin in late September to simply check in with him. He was on a ventilator and told me about his daily battle with the genetic ALS and that he may not survive this October. I knew he was sick, but I had no idea how bad the situation was, and the news completely stunned me. I then reached out to him to see if he wanted to talk about this deadly disease while he still could, and he kindly agreed. Slowtwitch: John thank you so much for your time. John Madzin: Thank you Herbert for helping bring awareness to this terrible disease. ST: People often talk about time being a precious commodity, and while that is true, it means different things to different people, as you can likely attest. John: After being diagnosed with ALS, how much time you have left is all you think about. I think about how much time I have left to spend with my wife Jenny, my twin brother Mike who also has ALS, and my family and friends. ST: When exactly did you get the diagnosis and what was predicted for you as the best case scenario at that time? John: I was officially diagnosed in January 2017 and my twin brother Mike was diagnosed a few months later. ALS progresses differently for each person. In my case, it is very rapid and I will not make it to the end of the year. Mike seems to be progressing at a slower pace but nonetheless he is progressing. ST: Why did you seek the medical evaluation at that time? John: I knew something was not right in my leg and arm after being diagnosed with a pulled muscle. My injury never got better. ST: You mentioned that your identical twin brother Michael has also been diagnosed. What is his outlook? John: His ALS is progressing but not as fast as mine. He is probably 9 months behind me. It must be extremely difficult for him watching my progression and knowing he is going down the same road. ST: What do you mostly occupy your time with now? John: My time is spent with my wife Jenny, my brother Mike, and friends and family. I am trying to make sure everything goes smoothly for Jenny when I pass. This includes funeral planning and financial planning. ALS takes everything from you. This time last year, I was rowing every morning and bike riding. My wife and I even went on a 70-mile mountain bike ride in mid-October. Now, the left side of my body is 100% paralyzed, and the right side is about 95% paralyzed. I have realized long ago, that ALS will take everything from me physically but I will not let it take my mind. Im staying positive. ST: In 2014 you did IRONMAN Chattanooga. Was that the last full distance race for you? John: Ironman Chatty was my last Ironman. Mike and I along with many friends in Chatty participated in the event. ST: How did it find you when you learned back then that Chattanooga would get an IRONMAN? John: I like Chatty, so its always fun to learn they were going to host the event. Its a great outdoor city. ST: When did you start triathlon and as far as you remember, how many events did you do? John: Mike and I started triathlon in 1996 in San Diego. It was something to do to stay in shape. We rowed in college. Not sure how many events over the years. Ive completed 5 IRONMAN events and I think Mike has finished 8 events. ST: Looking back is there any event or occurrence in triathlon that you hold especially fond in your heart? John: For me, the best part of triathlon is training with friends like yourself. Going on long bike rides followed by lunch was always a good time. The race itself is kind of lonely. ST: Triathlon is a very selfish sport, but neither you nor your brother fit that description. If anything you were always willing to help other to get ready for their events, including but not limiting wrenching on bikes late at night. John: We both like to help others. I was never a serious triathlete, so I would rather help others in need so they can have a good race. ST: I actually always predicted that a friend could come to your hotel room the night before a big IRONMAN race of yours who needed to put his bike together from scratch, and another friend needed to be picked up from an airport 5 hours away and you would work hard making sure both things happened, even if you got no sleep. Would you agree? John: Lets just say, given that scenario, we would make it happen. ST: Now that you are in need of assistance, do you get all the support you need? John: We both have the mindset of helping others in need but ask for little help ourselves. In my case, my wife Jenny takes care of me on a daily basis. Without her, I would already be dead. I have all the support I need right now and besides nothing is covered by insurance. There really is nothing you can do to slow this disease. My lung capacity has decreased by 10 points each month since February so the math is easy. I know where Im at and I know what to expect. Its just a matter of time when I stop breathing. As I said earlier, nothing has been covered by insurance. Its like they dont even know what is ALS. Everything from blood test, genetic testing, wheelchair, leg braces, ventilator and every other medical procedure has been denied. Im not even going to ask for hospice care because Im sure that will be denied too. As an ALS patient Im entitled to Medicare, a system I have paid into since I was 13 years old, and was also denied. I gave up on appealing their decision after receiving a 25-page appeal form. I guess the self-inflicted diseases like Type II diabetes from eating and drinking junk food, lung diseases from smoking, liver and kidney disease from excessive drinking, opioid addictions, and every other preventable disease takes precedent over ALS. ST: Does that make you mad or sad? John: Im not sad or angry about not receiving Medicare or insurance coverage. Life is too short to be angry or sad. Ive realized a long time ago to not rely on insurance companies. Its standard practice for them to deny coverage. What is disappointing is being denied Medicare coverage, when I needed it the most, after paying into the system for such a long time. The rules state that Im eligible for Medicare at diagnosis in January 2017 yet I was denied coverage until December 2017. I was also told by a friend, who knows someone that works at the Social Security office, that they are told to deny or delay coverage. I also know Im not the only ALS patient this has happened to when I read the ALS forums. In the end, I know I cannot rely on insurance or Medicare coverage for help. They dont care at all about helping patients. My disease is progressing extremely fast and I cannot wait months for appeals. We ended up purchasing a wheelchair (not the correct size but it will do) on Craigslist and buying braces and canes on Amazon for my care. I cannot sleep in my bed upstairs so I sleep in a chair in the living room. I even sometimes sleep in my wheelchair. We make due the best we can given the circumstances. The last thing I want to do right now is file appeals for coverage. I literally dont have any time. I just want to spend what little time I have left with my wife, brother, and family and friends. ALS is a slow painful way to die. Every muscle and joint in my body hurts. In my current state, my breathing resembles a fish out of water and eating is a challenge while trying not to choke. ALS is a disease that deserves awareness and a cure. As identical twins, Mike and I will continue to do every thing we can for ALS research. Our hope is that someday our contributions will help solve a piece or two of the ALS puzzle for others. That is way more important than being mad or sad at Medicare or the insurance companies. ST: What can folks do in their respective communities to fight ALS? John: ALS is a terrible disease with no cure whatsoever at this time. There is some medicine to help slow the progression but again nobody has ever survived from this disease. ALS is an orphan disease that receives little attention. I do believe it can be cured, it just needs awareness. Since our diagnoses, we realize that being identical twins, we are in the unique position to help ALS researchers find a cure. While a cure is not in our future, we have done everything possible to help future ALS individuals. We have participated in numerous studies. We have donated countless units of blood for genetic, epigenetic, and human genome studies, and we have donated countless units of Cerebral Spinal Fluid, taken by lumbar puncture, for research. We also have given core muscle and nerve samples for research, plus we have endured a whole host of uncomfortable tests to help ALS research. Even though our time on this earth is short, we will continue to do everything we can to help find a cure for others. ST: Anything else we should know? John: We started an ALS awareness campaign at madzin.com When you purchase a shirt, after the cost of the shirt, a donation is made to the Emory ALS research center. You may also donate to the Emory ALS research center in the name of John and Mike Madzin at neurology.emory.edu/ALS/ EDIT: We added that 5th picture of him that shows him today, contrasted against the 2nd picture with his wife Jenny that was taken Thanksgiving 2016. Best Canadian Blog 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 About Kate Why this blog? Until this moment I have been forced to listen while media and politicians alike have told me "what Canadians think". In all that time they never once asked. This is just the voice of an ordinary Canadian yelling back at the radio - "You don't speak for me." (goes to a private mailserver in Europe) I can't answer or use every tip, but all are appreciated! Katewerk Art Support SDA I am not a registered charity. I cannot issue tax receipts. Want lies? Hire a regular consultant. Want truth? Hire an asshole. The Proper Procedure Poor Richard's Retirement Trump The Establishment Weather Shop Click to inquire about rates. Dow Jones What They Say About SDA "Smalldeadanimals doesn't speak for the people of Saskatchewan" Former Sask Premier Lorne Calvert "I got so much traffic after your post my web host asked me to buy a larger traffic allowance." Dr.Ross McKitrick Holy hell, woman. When you send someone traffic, you send someone TRAFFIC. My hosting provider thought I was being DDoSed. - Sean McCormick "The New York Times link to me yesterday [...] generated one-fifth of the traffic I normally get from a link from Small Dead Animals." Kathy Shaidle "Thank you for your link. A wave of your Canadian readers came to my blog! Really impressive." Juan Giner - INNOVATION International Media Consulting Group I got links from the Weekly Standard, Hot Air and Instapundit yesterday - but SDA was running at least equal to those in visitors clicking through to my blog. Jeff Dobbs "You may be a nasty right winger, but you're not nasty all the time!" Warren Kinsella "Go back to collecting your welfare livelihood."Michael E. Zilkowsky Intelliweather Seismic Map Comments Policy Read this Best Of SDA Hide The Decline The Bottle Genie (ClimateGate links) You Might Be A Liberal Uncrossing The Line Bob Fife: Knuckledragger A Modest Proposal (NP) Settled Science Series Y2Kyoto Series SDA: Reader Occupation Survey Brett Lamb Sheltered Workshop Flakes On A Plane All Your Weather Are Belong To Us Song Of The Sled The Raise A Flag Debacle (Now on Youtube!) (.mwv Video) Abuse Ruins Life Of Girl Trudeaupiate Kleptocrat Jeans Child Labour I Concede Small Dead Feminist Protein Hoser: THK Interview The Werewolf Extinction Dear Laura (VRWC) We Wait Blogging The Oscars Jackson Converts To Islam Just Shut The HELL Up Manipulating Condi Gay Equality Rights Justice Michael Gableman's first term on the state Supreme Court expires in 2018. He is not running again, so there will be an open seat on the high court. A primary election is scheduled for Feb. 20. 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! A Chicago man is facing a possible 25-year sentence after being arrested following a traffic stop during which Wisconsin State Troopers found heroin and thousands of dollars in cash in the car he was driving. Durwon OBryant, 31, appeared Wednesday in Columbia County Circuit Court, and said he was in the process of putting down roots in Madison. I am asking for a very large cash bond in this case, said District Attorney Jane Kohlwey, suggesting $50,000. All of the criminal history is out of the Chicago area and there is a lot of criminal history for this defendant out of that area. OBryant, whose prior charges were for burglary, robbery, and multiple weapons violations, now faces a Class D felony charge of possession of heroin with intent to distribute. The charge carries a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison and a $100,00 fine. He had every indication that he is a drug dealer and was transporting multiple substances through our county, Kohlwey said. There were four baggies of suspected controlled substances hidden in the air filter compartment under the vehicles hood. One contains heroin weighing 26 grams. Now that is a very large amount of heroin heroin is sold in 1/10ths of a gram amount. Other substances have yet to be identified, Kohlwey said. OBryant was arrested late Friday after being pulled over by State Troopers on Interstate 39/90 near the town of Caledonia. The troopers searched OBryant and the vehicle, finding a bundle of bills totaling $1,750 and another $1,950 in loose bills. The officers also found two digital scales, two cellphones, plastic baggies, and powders known to be used for cutting drugs to a lesser purity. Under the hood of the car, in the vehicles air filter compartment, they located a rag wrapped around five baggies. One of the baggies contained 26 grams nearly an ounce of heroin. The other baggies, weighing over 40 grams, were sent to the State Crime Lab for testing. It looks like Mr. OBryant had $3,500-plus of just walking-around-money that was just sitting in his car, Judge Todd Hepler said. Certainly an inference can be made that significant drug trafficking was going on. Hepler explained that $50,000, half of the maximum fine OBryant could face if convicted, would be an appropriate bond. OBryant is scheduled to next appear in court for a preliminary hearing Oct. 12. Completing the final few pieces for his upcoming exhibition, Stuart Whitelaw was struck by the irony of the Perth Mint stamping a platypus on its commemorative $200 gold coins. Whitelaw's new exhibition,The Price of Gold, will feature 20 large pastels on canvas, which juxtapose the Dargues gold mine, near Braidwood, against the Deua River wilderness. Bingi artist Stuart Whitelaw at his studio, preparing for The Price Of Gold exhibition. "I thought, here is this incredible ecosystem and the whole thing is teetering on an economic balance based on the price of gold," Whitelaw said. Whitelaw had been camping with family at Bakers Flat, on the Deua River. At first, Belinda Wrigley was intrigued by the glossy travel brochure posted from Malaysia which arrived in her letter box. The brochure was from a travel company called Sweet Summer Tour and contained two scratchies, part of a promotion to celebrate the organisation's 13th year in business. Mrs Wrigley and her husband Luke were thrilled when she scratched one of the tickets to find she'd won second prize in the contest, a cash gift of $US190,000 ($A242,000). LNG exports are forecast to reach $35 billion in value next financial year, despite the major east coast gas producers' recent agreement to ensure domestic supply. The new data from the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science also tipped at a decline in thermal coal although Australia will remain the world's second largest exporter. While thermal coal experienced a sharp increase in prices due to the combination of higher demand and industrial action across Glencore's operations in the Hunter Valley and Queensland, spot prices are likely to fall to $US69 per tonne in 2019, the report said. This is well below the $US84 per tonne average expected for the remainder of 2017. Exports of thermal coal will also drop 2 per cent in in 2018-19 to 198 million tonnes. Alas, there's no gentle way into this discussion: a mass murderer with an enhanced semi-automatic weapon does not automatically equal a "terrorist". No matter how much partisan warriors and even governments try to squeeze the Las Vegas tragedy into the post-9/11 template, the facts simply don't fit. At the time of writing, everything we know as in, don't know about the shooter, Stephen Paddock, suggests that noun has no place in this atrocity, even if the verb is horrifically apt, as the 64-year-old professional gambler terrorised, with chilling method, 22,000 people at the Route 91 Harvest Festival from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. Paddock was not a terrorist, even if we acknowledge that to those left injured and grieving after the worst mass shooting in modern US history this parsing of definitions might seem an insensitive parlour game. The distinction matters because defeating terrorism, an inherently political act, requires a different strategy to combating psychopathic killers with their idiosyncratic motivations. If we cannot distinguish terrorist from psychopath, then we'll struggle to combat mass casualty attacks full stop. And the more clouded our thinking, the more we remain vulnerable to groups and institutions that seek to exploit tragedies such as Vegas for their own political ends, the more our civil liberties and public discourse will keep taking a hit. Returning children taking ownership of the fridge (C8) seems to be a universal truth worthy of Jane Austen. "Don't forget the TV remote, choice of music, and the extension of the house's normal bed time," adds Richard Stewart of Pearl Beach, while John Christie of Oatley offers a solution to the situation: "keep the fridge full of raw ingredients. Then the prodigal children are welcome to cook up a storm any time they like!" The thought of tuning bagpipes (C8) was clearly too much for our readers, however bagpipes stirred up memories for Bill Leigh of West Pennant Hills of his indomitable Scottish father, who lived by the "Scottish Gentleman code a Scottish gentleman is a person from Scotland who can play the bagpipes, but resolutely refuses to." Pamela Hazelwood of Balgownie was reminded of the old joke: "What is the difference between bagpipes and an onion? No one cries when you cut up bagpipes." To wind up the "heavenly" locales tales (C8) Allan Gibson of Cherrybrook shares that Cherrybrook is "near the site of a former Benedictine abbey built in 1957, demolished in 1988", while Joy Cooksey of Harrington relishes the opportunity to suggest it is a "haven for gout-sufferers reliant on the juice of the abundant dark red fruit, to ease their pain." And we offer our own mea culpa for misspelling Allan's name yesterday (C8). One to make you wake in fright. Bob Roobottom of Taree writes: "As you approach the village of Woombah north of Grafton there is a sign saying 'Roos Drive Safe'." He adds he didn't see any, but perhaps "they were out in the bush in their 4WDs". The evolving tragedy that is North Korea is now at the mercy of a mere miscalculation, or accident, an isolated piece of stupidity, or a Trump shot from the hip even just a piece of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) dropping on Japan. This vicarious situation necessitates Australia adopting a strong, independent, foreign policy stance on this challenge, in our national interest. Illustration: Simon Letch The inflammatory rhetoric from both Trump and Kim Jong-un seems to have no limit, but achieves very little, except more missiles and tests from Pyongyang, and more threats of military options/retaliation from the US. Sanctions are important, especially now they have been given greater grunt by China, but they will take many months to be fully effective. Every state and territory leader, plus the Leader of the Opposition, Bill Shorten, has nodded vigorously in agreement to the Turnbull government's new anti-terror measures, all of them eager to make public safety the supreme law. The changes announced yesterday by the Prime Minister infringe significantly on civil liberties and curtail traditional freedoms. They may well be necessary but, other than the need to keep Australians safe, no explanation has been offered for this new clampdown. Safe from what, just now? Is the terror threat suddenly worse? Why else are the states falling in behind Canberra in lockstep? Yesterday's special security meeting of the Council of Australian Governments agreed to three things: to allow authorities to hold terrorism suspects for up to 14 days without charge; to make available driver's licence photos to security agencies for identification purposes; and to broaden terrorism crimes to include hoaxes and the possession of terrorist instructional material. Each may seem a minor advance on what already exists. The first, for example, will bring other states into line with NSW, which already allows suspects to be held for 14 days. The second is more substantial. It will allow real-time scanning of people in public spaces (entering Commonwealth Games stadiums on the Gold Coast, for example). But is it complete or just another step towards something more comprehensive? The Prime Minister says about half the population has an identity photograph in a federal database. A judge Tuesday sentenced a La Crosse felon convicted in a drive-by shooting to 7 years in prison. Jeremy Rigelsky, 28, will begin serving the sentence in 2025 after he finishes prison terms imposed on prior cases. The dangerousness of Mr. Rigelsky has not gone down in the last decade, La Crosse County Circuit Judge Gloria Doyle said. I see very little chance, at this point in his life, of rehabilitation. On Sept. 7, 2016, less than three months after his release from prison, Rigelsky at close range fired three shots into the passenger side of a car while driving south on the 800 block of Copeland Avenue in a stolen car, according to court records. One shot struck a backseat passenger in the thigh. Days earlier, he threatened to kill a woman at gunpoint after they drove to near the Seventh Street boat landing and confronted three people walking on Mormon Coulee Road, showing a gun tucked in his waistband. Rigelsky pleaded no contest to two reduced charges of first-degree recklessly endangering safety and being a felon in possession of a firearm as a repeat offender, while 11 other charges including pointing a firearm at another were dismissed but considered at sentencing. Rigelsky served four prison terms in 10 years, including 3 years for stabbing a fellow Logan High School student seven times with a paring knife in a school stairwell in October 2005. He hasnt really been out of prison for most of his adult life, assistant district attorney John Kellis said. At the time of the shooting, Rigelsky was serving five years on probation for stealing drawings and a notepad in 2005 from the French Island home of Philip Schuth. He is serving a four-year prison sentence on that case imposed after his probation was revoked. Prosecutors argued for a 10-year prison sentence, citing the seriousness of the charges and his criminal history, while his attorney asked for a lesser prison sentence. Defense attorney John Smerlinski said the shooting was in retaliation for a drug debt. I dont believe his intent was to kill anybody, he said. Rigelsky, who receives credit for 391 days served, apologized to the victims during his short statement to the court. Queensland is destroying tree cover at the rate of 10 square kilometres a day, harming biodiversity while stoking doubts about federal data suggesting emissions from land clearing are in decline. On Thursday, the state Labor government revealed Queensland cleared an "alarming" 395,000 hectares of land in 2015-16 according to its Statewide Landcover and Trees Study (SLATS). The land-clearing rate was up a third on the previous year. Almost half the area cleared was in river catchments near the Great Barrier Reef, increasing the flow of sediment onto offshore corals. Emissions from the destruction of vegetation amounted to 45 million tonnes for that year, Steven Miles, Queensland's Environment Minister, said. At the time, Senator Sinodinos requested privacy and did not disclose the nature of his illness. The minister announced two weeks ago that he was taking a period of medical leave and said he expected to be back as soon as practicable. Senator the Hon Arthur Sinodinos AO, Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science, has taken a leave of absence to fight cancer. Credit:Christopher Pearce Senator Sinodinos, the Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science, is currently on leave and believes the prognosis is very positive and that the cancer is eminently treatable. One of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's closest political allies, Arthur Sinodinos, has revealed he is fighting cancer. The NSW senator, who served as chief of staff to former prime minister John Howard for a decade and is one of the most respected figures in the Federal Parliament, confirmed to Fairfax Media he has been undergoing treatment for cancer for the last two weeks. Senator Sinodinos has not disclosed the type of cancer he is fighting. Senator Sinodinos chose to reveal his fight to Fairfax Media to put to bed suggestions he may not return to work, and to make clear that he fully expects to return to politics fighting fit. Senator Sinodinos' recent weight loss has not gone unnoticed by parliamentary friends and colleagues, some of whom have been concerned that he may step down from the ministry or even leave the Parliament. There has also been speculation among some Coalition MPs that he may choose to leave the Parliament and take up a diplomatic posting. Employment Minister Michaelia Cash and Financial Services Minister Kelly O'Dwyer have accused dodgy business owners of deliberately using the federal government's Fair Entitlements Guarantee scheme to shut up shop, and shirk payments owed to employees. The scheme, which was designed to help employees when companies go bust, has blown out since it was first established after the collapse of Ansett in 2001. It has paid out $2.3 billion in entitlements, with $1 billion in the past five years alone. Up to 1300 company directors have forced their employees to access the scheme multiple times since 2007, according to a Treasury consultation paper. The number of employees accessing the scheme has doubled since then, from 7808 workers in 2007-08 to 14,341 in 2015-16. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has dismissed suggestions a new facial recognition database could lead to the mass surveillance of Australians, arguing it will update law enforcement tools for the 21st century and help keep people safe. Mr Turnbull and state premiers signed off on the creation of the new national facial biometric matching capability, as expected, at a special Council of Australian Government's meeting in Canberra on Thursday. The database will, in effect, pull together the photos on people's drivers licences, in their passports and on their visas in one place and be accessible to state and federal police agencies for counter-terrorism and other criminal investigations when they are investigating a crime and have a legal purpose to seek access to the database. Privacy advocates including the Australian Privacy Foundation, Digital Rights Watch, the Electronic Frontiers Foundation as well as the Greens criticised the proposal as an erosion of civil liberties. Julie Bishop knows all about working in male-dominated environments. She was a partner in a corporate law firm before making the leap to federal politics in 1998, where she has gone on to be deputy Liberal leader for a decade and Australia's first female foreign minister. But even she was taken aback by the attitudes she faced as the only woman in Tony Abbott's first cabinet in 2013. "It was pretty lonely," Ms Bishop told an Australian Women's Weekly event on Wednesday evening. "I would be sitting in a cabinet with [18] men and me." NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has defied pressure from Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to embrace controversial gas exploration, saying her state is "not budging" on the politically charged issue. Speaking after a Council of Australian Government meeting in Canberra on Thursday, the Prime Minister stepped up pressure on his Coalition counterpart to approve the much-disputed $3.6 billion Narrabri Gas Project project by energy giant Santos, saying it would go a long way to helping meet a predicted east coast gas shortfall. "[The project] is currently going through the planning process. What we would look forward to is that planning process being completed," Mr Turnbull said. "The extra ... 58 petajoules [of gas produced per year] would make a very significant difference in supply and ... price is a function of supply and demand." George Pell arrives at his barrister's chambers in Melbourne ahead of his court hearing on Friday. Credit:Joe Armao, Fairfax Media. Mr Richter said he hoped to prove that "what was alleged was impossible". "We need to explore whether it could have happened ... whether it didn't happen," he said. Brian Cherrie outside Melbourne Magistrates Court holding signs, ahead of Cardinal Pell's hearing. Credit:Pat Mitchell, 3AW Magistrate Belinda Wallington gave the defence team permission to cross-examine most witnesses but ruled out a further five. "We are dealing with historical events and memories are not static," she said. Police help George Pell through the 100-strong crush of national and international media in July. Credit:Justin McManus "I tend to think it's appropriate for witnesses' memories to be explored." Parts of what was discussed in court cannot be reported for legal reasons. Mr Richter said much of his cross-examination would be "short and to the point". The case is set to return to court next month for more discussions on the number of witnesses and what they will be questioned about. Cardinal Pell slowly walked the 100 metres from his lawyer's offices to the court shortly before 9am, surrounded by dozens of cameras and reporters. A protester outside screamed abuse at him as he made his way up Lonsdale Street to the court entrance. The cardinal and his legal team were flanked by six police officers as they walked to court. One lane of Lonsdale Street was blocked off to provide space for the media pack as it spilled onto the road. Cardinal Pell did not have to walk through the metal detectors as others attending court do, but had to pass his belongings through the security scanner. Before the hearing began he chatted quietly with two women, one seated either side of him. Media gathered outside the court from before dawn to secure a seat inside. Victim advocacy representatives were also outside, some holding signs. "It doesn't matter how high up the tree you are, it doesn't matter how much access to money you have, no one is above the law," Brian Cherrie said. Friday's turnout was more low-key than Cardinal Pell's first court appearance on July 26 when a 100-strong group of national and international media swarmed the cardinal outside court. Unlike the previous hearing, there were empty seats in the courtroom on Friday. Once the hearing was over, the cardinal made the slow walk back to his lawyer's offices, again flanked by police. As he left, a woman screamed at him and then words were exchanged between one of the cardinal's supporters and several victims advocates. At his first appearance, Mr Richter told the packed court his client would plead not guilty, although he is only required to formally enter a plea if committed to trial. Loading It also implemented professional development for all principals in the region about legislative requirements and departmental processes for student disciplinary decisions. The Queensland Ombudsman investigates complaints about the actions and decisions of state government departments and agencies, councils and public universities, and finalised 6958 complaints in 2016-17. Of the 6923 complaints received last year, 67 per cent were about state government agencies, 26 per cent were about councils and 4.5 per cent were about public universities. Out of the departments, Justice and Attorney-General, Education and Training, and Housing and Public Works received the most complaints. The Ombudsman finalised 1407 investigations, a 26 per cent increase on the previous year. There was an increase of 36 per cent in the number of public interest disclosures (PIDs) - disclosures about wrongdoing in the public sector that serves the public interest - across all agencies. Of the 718 PIDs reported, 53 per cent were about corrupt conduct. Here are some examples: International student kicked out of university An international student was excluded from his university for unsatisfactory academic performance - but he complained the university did not provide him with enough help and support with his studies before kicking him out. Universities are required to have a range of supports in place to help international students adjust to living and studying in Australia. When a university identifies an international student is at risk of failing their course, they are required to develop a support plan tailored to the student's individual needs and circumstances and monitor their progress before excluding them. The university did not identify the reasons for his poor performance, refer him to any learning assistance programs, refer him to any welfare-related support services or raise the possibility of a reduced study load with him. After the investigation, the university agreed to readmit the student, develop an individualised support plan for him and revise policies. Justice for man's best friend A dog owner complained about council action to seize and destroy his dog after complaints about barking. The investigation questioned the reasonableness of the council's actions in seeking to execute a warrant to seize the dog for destruction. The Ombudsman was concerned evidence collected by the council to support seizing the dog was not gained through an impartial investigation. Although the council disagreed with the Ombudsman's reasoning, it agreed not to obtain a further warrant to seize the dog or use the evidence previously obtained in any future compliance action. SPER debt prevents trip home A man had been making fortnightly payments on his State Penalties Enforcement Registry debt, repaying $934.57 despite having financial hardship. He was trying to drive home from Western Australia to Queensland but was having trouble paying for food and petrol for the trip. The Ombudsman decided it was too early for it to investigate, so referred it to SPER, which contacted the man, got documents to support his claim of financial hardship and refunded his $934.57, allowing him to make the trip home. Salary overpayments A former employee of a state government agency received notices of demand to pay outstanding salary overpayments of about $3100. They contested the amount and said they had finalised the issue six years earlier, raising the concerns with the agency but did not receive a response. The Ombudsman referred the details to the agency, as it had not responded. The agency apologised, advised the demands for payment were sent in error, and the notices were waived. Rumours of death were greatly exaggerated A woman obtained a copy of her late father's death certificate from the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages. It erroneously listed her and her sister as deceased children. The Queensland Crime and Corruption Commission has charged the former chief executive of Ipswich City Council with corruption. Carl Wulff, 65, who was the most senior bureaucrat at the council between 2006 and 2013, was taken to the Brisbane Watchhouse on Thursday and charged with one count of official corruption and one count of attempting to pervert the course of justice. Former chief executive officer Carl Wulff. Credit:Simon Bennett And his wife Sharon Oxenbridge was arrested on Thursday afternoon and taken to the Brisbane Watchhouse where she was charged with a single count of corruption. She will face court on October 24 alongside her husband Mr Wulff. Police have arrested a 25-year-old man on more than 100 fraud and identity charges, with the alleged fraud totalling more than $550,000. The man was arrested on Thursday following a joint investigation between the Financial and Cyber Crime Group, State Crime Command and the Criminal Law Investigations area of the Australian Tax Office. It is alleged the man has been linked to 63 fraudulent tax return lodgements via myTax between September 2015 and July 2016. Investigating officers found 42 bank accounts allegedly opened in the mans name that were linked to 54 tax file number identity takeovers. The alleged fraud totals $566,762. A federal grand jury indicted a La Crosse man acquitted in a fatal stabbing at Kwik Trip in 2013 on two federal drug charges, according to court records. Mitrel Anderson, 29, pleaded not guilty Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Madison to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Anderson between July and Nov. 17, 2016, possessed and intended to sell 50 or more grams of meth in Wisconsins western district, according to the indictment. His trial is Feb. 20. Trempealeau County authorities arrested Anderson and a woman on Nov. 17 after finding 84 grams of meth and the gun inside their vehicle in Centerville. That case is set for trial Nov. 30. A La Crosse County jury in December 2014 acquitted Anderson of homicide in the June 2, 2013, death of DeMario Lee inside the mens restroom at the Cass Street Kwik Trip, after finding he stabbed Lee in self-defense after a confrontation. Anderson testified that Lee ambushed, beat and threatened to kill him before Anderson drew his knife and swung at Lees head; prosecutors argued that Lee, 24, of Illinois was stabbed as he was leaving the restroom and that Anderson wasnt justified in using deadly force. After his acquittal, Anderson accumulated eight criminal cases that accused him of drunken driving, threatening to kill his father and selling heroin, among other crimes. Charges in four of those cases were dismissed or dismissed and considered at sentencing. He was fined and placed on electronic monitoring in two others. A man aged in his early 30s, who was stabbed in the abdomen and back during the early hours of Friday morning on a busy inner-Brisbane road, has died in hospital. The Homicide Squad has joined the investigation into the incident, with police continuing to appeal for two people to come forward who were with a man when he was stabbed. Detectives set up an investigation centre at the Brisbane City Police Station on Charlotte Street, as they ask the man and woman who were with the victim at the time of the attack to make contact. Police also appealed for anyone on Milton Road at 3.30-4am who has further information or dashcam vision to contact Policelink on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Paramedics rushed to resuscitate the pedestrian found stabbed in the abdomen and back at the intersection of Milton Road and Petrie Terrace before 4am. A measles alert has been issued for Brisbane and the Gold Coast after a Victorian traveller visited Queensland's south-east while infectious. The person travelled to Brisbane from Melbourne on Jetstar flight JQ57 on September 22, according to Queensland Health. A case of measles. The patient then spent two days in the south Brisbane suburb of Kangaroo Point before heading to the Gold Coast. During their time on the Gold Coast, the patient visited a medical centre in Broadbeach on September 26 and Robina Hospital on September 28. Deputy Premier Jackie Trad said advice contained in the Premiers submission to cabinet on Monday on banning donations from property developers to local and state governments would determine if the ban would be introduced before the election. State cabinet will also receive advice on Monday on the outcomes of a similar ban in New South Wales. Personally I think that it is important that we do it (the donations ban) in this term, but I think we need to await the advice that will be included in the Premiers submission to cabinet around whether or not this is possible, Ms Trad said. Ms Trad said the state government would look at banning union donations, but made the point that unions including the CMFEU had declared contributions in full to local government candidates. Putting your music and all the power of Google in reach at all times, and even offering instant vocal translations straight into your ear like a real-life Babel fish, the newly-unveiled Pixel Buds promise to be the ultimate travel companion. Unveiled at the Made By Google event overnight in San Francisco, the $249 earbuds don't yet have an Australian release date but are expected to be available by the end of the year. They're part of a slew of new Google-made hardware including the Pixel 2 smartphones, a Pixelbook laptop, new Google Home speakers and the Clips camera. The Pixel Buds work as standard Bluetooth 4.0 earbuds with any device, supporting AAC and A2DP along with hands-free calling. They feature two built-in microphones and touching the right earbud allows wearers with Android handsets to speak to Google Assistant on their phone, without needing to preface every request with "Okay, Google". Unlike Apple's AirPods, the Pixel Buds are linked with a cable, which makes them harder to lose and lets users wear them around their neck when not listening to music. A radical proposal allowing police to hold terrorism suspects without charge for up to 14 days has received the backing of Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews. He said civil liberties were a "luxury" in the face of the "very real terror threat" Australia is facing. "We are going to have to curtail the rights and freedoms of a small number of people in order to keep the vast majority of Australians safe," he said. "That is challenging. But it is necessary." Dumped former Andrews government minister Adem Somyurek is firmly on the comeback trail after launching a determined attempt to control a fresh swag of Labor seats. After nominations closed for Labor pre-selections on Thursday, Mr Somyurek had taken another step in his quest for dominance of the party's right faction, and seems well on his way to controlling a powerful voting bloc. Adem Somyurek is on the brink of a return from the political wilderness. Credit:Jason South Despite several weeks of feints, bluffs and threats in Labor and union circles, no attacks on sitting members had materialised by Thursday's 5pm cut-off for candidates to submit their paperwork to the party. The coveted seat of Williamstown, left vacant by the surprise resignation of Employment Minister Wade Noonan on Wednesday, also emerged as a battleground with four potential candidates throwing their hats into the ring. A woman accused of murdering an autistic teenager told a video store manager she wanted to kill someone before she turned 25 and the desire was getting stronger, a Perth court has heard. Aaron Pajich was found in a shallow grave covered with newly-laid concrete and indoor tiles at the rear of Jemma Victoria Lilley's Orelia property in June last year, a week after a search was launched for the missing 18-year-old. A witness told the court Jemma Lilley had expressed a 'desire' to kill. Lilley, 26, and her housemate Trudi Clare Lenon, 43, are both accused of murdering Mr Pajich, who was stabbed and garrotted to death. Angela McKibbin told the WA Supreme Court on Thursday that Lilley was a customer at her Girrawheen video store on a near daily basis, worked at a nearby tattoo parlour and made the comments around mid-2013. An AR-15 rifle fitted with a "bump stock". Credit:AP For years, Republican lawmakers have been largely in line with the NRA, which has long objected to new restrictions. The shooting in Las Vegas, in which 58 people were killed, has brought new attention to bump stocks, aftermarket accessories that allow more rapid firing, and prompted Republicans' comments. Many Democrats have long called for much stricter gun laws. With the NRA and Republicans, who control both chambers of Congress, open to more strict regulation of bump stocks, it stands a good chance of taking affect. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi Credit:AP But some conservatives remain wary of taking any quick action. "Right now I think the focus needs to be on the victims," said Representative Barry Loudermilk. "We need to let some time settle before we address any of this." The legality of bump stocks could hinge on a "technicality," he said. "There are multiple laws already in existence that he broke," Loudermilk said. " . . . Regardless of what we do here with the law, if someone's intending to do a capital crime, breaking laws isn't going to make a difference to him." House Judiciary Committee Chairman Representative Bob Goodlatte Credit:AP Top Democrat, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, urged Ryan to allow a vote on a Democratic bill to ban the devices. When asked whether the bill might be a slippery slope toward other gun restrictions, Pelosi said, "So what? . . . I certainly hope so." The devices The devices were introduced during the past decade by Bump Fire and Slide Fire, both based in Texas. Bump Fire's website appeared to be down for much of Wednesday. The company wrote on its Facebook page on Tuesday that its servers had been overwhelmed by "high traffic volume." Multiple items on Slide Fire's site on Wednesday featured the notice, "Due to extreme high demands, we are currently out of stock." Bump Fire sells stocks for an AK-47 and an AR-15 for $US99.99 each. Slide Fire's stocks are priced between $US140 and $US300. Neither company responded to a request for comment. On Gunbroker.com, an auction site for firearms and shooting accessories, at least three dozen listings featuring bump stocks had attracted multiple bids. Zack Cernok, a Pennsylvania gun owner, was one of those trying to buy a Bump Fire bump stock. "I don't even have the gun for it, but I want the stock just to have it down the line," he said. "I just like the idea of them and want to see how it feels and if it's worth it for $100, it's almost not a bad investment to buy it, try it out and sell it if I don't like it." New push The push for new gun regulations comes at a fractured moment in American politics, but Democrats believe that the scope of the carnage in Las Vegas might make a difference. While some senior Republicans dismissed talk of new gun legislation as insensitive or premature, some ardent Second Amendment supporters said they are at least open to discussing new laws. One senator said he supports banning certain accessories used in the shooting. Congressional Democrats on Wednesday unveiled new, narrowly tailored proposals to ban devices used in the shooting and revived old ideas to close loopholes and restrict some gun purchases. Even President Donald Trump might be open to a debate. While he campaigned as a fierce defender of gun rights, this week he said, "We will be talking about gun laws as time goes by." As Trump flew aboard Air Force One to Las Vegas to meet with survivors of the shooting, Senator Dianne Feinstein, a California Democrat, unveiled a bill to ban bump stocks. It now has 38 co-sponsors, all Democrats. Feinstein said she had yet to identify potential Republican co-sponsors, but Senator Ron Johnson, Republican of Wisconsin, said he would support banning bump stocks. "I have no problem banning those," he told reporters. Senator John Cornyn of Texas, the second-ranking Senate Republican, said that hearings on banning bump stocks would make sense. Senator John Thune, said that a potential ban "is worth having a conversation about, and some of our members agree with that." Other senior Republicans indicated that the latest tragedy is not going to change their position. In an interview Wednesday House Majority Whip Steve Scalise - who returned to Congress last week after surviving a shooting in Alexandria, Virginia, in July - agreed. "I think it's a shame that the day somebody hears about a shooting, the first thing they think about is how can I go promote my gun-control agenda, as opposed to saying, how do I go pray and help the families that are suffering?" On Tuesday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, told reporters that it's "completely inappropriate to politicise an event like this." He declined to answer questions on the subject. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said Wednesday that the ban is "something I'd be interested in looking at to see if a law change would matter. Would it affect things? I'd be willing to look at that." Even some House Republicans who are among the most avid supporters of gun rights said they had not heard of bump stocks before this week. "This is such a new component to me, I have no idea how it operates, how simple it is," said Representative Jeff Duncan, who has sponsored numerous bills to expand gun rights, including a stalled effort to partially deregulate silencers. Others, such as Senator Richard Shelby were unmoved: "I'm a Second Amendment man," he told reporters. "I'm not for any gun control." The National Rifle Association, the nation's most prominent gun rights organisation, did not have an immediate comment and has remained publicly silent since Sunday's shooting. Complicating the fresh debate for Democrats is their own electoral map next year. Ten Democratic senators face reelection bids in mostly rural states that Trump easily won in the 2016 election. But Richard Feldman, a former NRA lobbyist who now leads the Independent Firearm Owners Association, said the latest debate is likely to focus too much attention on the tools used instead of why people lash out so violently. "What sucks (to me anyway) is how we allow these bizarre events to focus our attention on the kind of gun, or calibre of gun instead of the person misusing the gun," Feldman said in an email. Loading The deadliest shooting in modern US history brought horror and bloodshed to their backyard. In the wake of the Route 91 Harvest massacre, it's hard to find Las Vegans who don't support tighter gun laws - at least publicly. Many locals that Fairfax Media spoke to on Thursday brought up Australia's gun laws and spoke about them with a mix of curiosity, marvel and envy. "Why can't we make it illegal to carry guns around too? I don't carry guns," mechanic Jeffrey Johnson, 63, said. "I mean, I'm just speechless. How can somebody have all those guns? I just can't understand that at all. This country is just paralysed on the issue." Marilou Danley, who returned to the United States from the Philippines on Tuesday night. Credit:AP Paddock had also booked space in a Chicago hotel overlooking the Lollapalooza music festival over the summer, two months before he targeted the Las Vegas festival, according to two people familiar with the investigation. Authorities are looking at the booking, but its significance was not immediately clear, one of the people said. The Chicago Police Department said in a statement that it was "aware of the media reports" concerning the booking at the Blackstone Hotel and was working with federal authorities. A spokesman declined to comment beyond that statement Thursday. An investigator works in the room at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino where a gunman opened fire. Credit:AP TMZ, which first reported the booking, said that Paddock reserved two rooms but never showed up. A representative of the Blackstone said Thursday that "no guest under that name" stayed in the hotel during Lollapalooza in August. The hotel spokeswoman said a reservation was made under Paddock's name, though she added that authorities had not confirmed to the hotel that it was the same Paddock. "We are cooperating with the authorities on this matter," the spokeswoman said. People pay tribute to the victims of the Las Vegas massacre. Credit:AP News of the hotel reservation suggests that before booking a hotel suite high above the Las Vegas Strip and targeting 22,000 people at the Route 91 Harvest Festival, Paddock sought space that could have given him a similar vantage point above a much larger gathering in another city. Lollapalooza, which draws an estimated 100,000 people each day, was held between August 3 and August 6 in Chicago's Grant Park. Performers at this year's festival included Chance the Rapper, Arcade Fire and Run the Jewels, and among those in attendance was Malia Obama, the older daughter of former president Barack Obama. The Blackstone is a 335-room high-rise hotel overlooking Grant Park and, beyond it, Lake Michigan, which runs along the Lollapalooza site's eastern edge. Police in Boston said they were aware of media reports there suggesting that Paddock had also researched locations in that city. In a statement, the Boston police said they were in touch with local and federal law enforcement agencies. Paddock, a retired accountant and avid gambler, was "disturbed and dangerous," Lombardo said. "Stephen Paddock is a man who spent decades acquiring weapons and ammo and living a secret life, much of which will never be fully understood," Lombardo said. Lombardo said authorities hoped to figure out what may have sparked Paddock's rage. "Anything that would indicate this individual's trigger point and would cause him to do such harm, we haven't understood it yet," he said. As the sprawling investigation stretched across the country and around the world, authorities hoped that Marilou Danley, Paddock's girlfriend, could provide some answers about his mind-set and what could have motivated him. But in a statement released after she was interviewed by the FBI in Los Angeles, Danley said she had no idea of what was about to happen. "It never occurred to me in any way whatsoever that he was planning violence against anyone," Danley said in a statement that was read aloud by her attorney. She described Paddock as a "kind, caring, quiet man" and said he never gave any sign "that something horrible like this was going to happen." Danley was out of the country when the attack occurred, which she said was by Paddock's design. Paddock bought her a ticket to visit family in the Philippines, she said, and then wired money that he explained was meant to buy a home for Danley's relatives. In her statement, Danley said she thought this meant Paddock was breaking up with her. "I am devastated by the deaths and injuries that have occurred and my prayers go out to the victims and their families and all those who have been hurt by these awful events," Danley said. "I am a mother and a grandmother, and my heart breaks for all who have lost loved ones." Danley pledged to cooperate with authorities, noting that she "voluntarily flew back to America" to speak with them. Police have called her a "person of interest," viewing her as a key part of the investigation, although they have not suggested that she is considered an accomplice or involved in any way. Aaron Rouse, special agent in charge of the FBI's Las Vegas division, declined to say whether Danley was still considered a person of interest at the briefing Wednesday night, although he said she was not in federal custody. Rouse said that the investigation will take time, noting that the bureau was chasing leads "all across the United States and all across the world." The FBI has found no evidence to suggest that the attack was terrorism, Rouse said, adding that the investigation is continuing. "We will get to the bottom of this no matter how long it takes," he said. When police stormed Paddock's room, they found 23 guns, some equipped with "bump" stocks that can allow guns to fire at a more rapid clip, along with thousands of rounds of unused ammunition. These bump stocks have become a flash point since the Las Vegas shooting, and on Thursday the National Rifle Association - in its first statement since the massacre - echoed others in calling for more regulations on the devices. In Paddock's room, police also found a slip of paper in the room, which is visible in photos that have circulated online; while authorities have not said what was on the paper, Lombardo said it was not a suicide note. When they searched his car, meanwhile, investigators also found several cases containing the chemical tannerite, an explosive, along with an additional 1600 rounds of ammunition. At Paddock's homes, authorities found dozens of other guns, additional ammunition and more tannerite. All told, police have recovered 47 guns in the case, most of them bought since October 2016, according to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Lombardo said police had focused on why Paddock bought 33 rifles between October 2016 and last Thursday, when he checked in at the hotel, and were exploring whether something happened that compelled him to buy so many guns over that time period. Lombardo said investigators found evidence that Paddock might have intended to escape the attack alive, although he declined to say what that evidence was. Police were still exploring whether anyone else was involved, Lombardo said. While authorities have described Paddock as the lone attacker, Lombardo pointed to the sheer amount of preparation involved and gear the gunman brought into his room in questioning whether he truly did everything alone. Sauk County may join in a multi-county lawsuit that would seek to hold large pharmaceutical companies responsible for the nations opioid epidemic. Following a brief discussion Tuesday, the Sauk County Boards Executive and Legislative Committee took no action on the matter. Officials will seek additional information before making a final decision about whether to join the litigation. Interim Sauk County Corporation Counsel Debra ORourke told the committee that attorneys with the Wisconsin firm von Briesen & Roper presented plans for the lawsuit during the Wisconsin Counties Association annual conference in September. The whole basis for the lawsuit is that theyre alleging that the big pharmacy companies essentially were deceptive in that they were promoting aggressively that opioids were safe and not addictive, and that they could be used for long-term use, when there was simply no research to back that up, ORourke said. Opioids include prescription painkillers such as OxyContin and Vicodin, as well as the illegal drug heroin. Addiction to legally prescribed opioids can lead some to begin using the illicit form. ORourke said the firms handling the suit would require data from human services and law enforcement agencies to demonstrate expenses the county has incurred as a result of the epidemic. It is not clear how much that research may cost, ORourke said, and the firms would collect 25 percent of a potential settlement. ORourke said she plans to speak with Andrew Phillips, one of the attorneys handling the lawsuit, in the near future to learn more. Phillips could not be reached for comment before deadline Tuesday. Theres a lot of questions to be answered before the county makes a decision on this, ORourke. The Wood and Price county boards approved litigation engagement agreements with the law firms during meetings last month. The resolutions note that county staff will be expected to assist the firms, but do not list anticipated costs. A pamphlet distributed by the firms says that from 1999 to 2013, the amount of prescription opioids dispensed in the U.S. nearly quadrupled. In 2015, opioid sales generated $10 billion in revenue for large pharmaceutical companies, according to the firms. While Pharma was raking in profits, county governments have been forced to spend a significant amount of money combating this epidemic, the pamphlet states. Sauk County Board Chair Marty Krueger said during Tuesdays meeting that the opioid epidemic has had a tremendous financial impact on individuals and counties. He said after officials gather more information, he may ask the committee to forward a resolution to the full board authorizing the countys involvement in the lawsuit. As much as folks want us to move forward with this, I think we need to do it in a measured approach and figure out if we belong there, Krueger said. Dakar, Senegal: A joint patrol of US and Niger troops came under attack in southwest Niger on Wednesday, a spokesman for US Africa Command confirmed after a lethal ambush near the Niger-Mali border. "We can confirm reports that a joint US and Nigerien patrol came under hostile fire in southwest Niger," said the spokesman. Namatta Abubacar, an official for the region of Tillaberi in Niger, said five Nigerien soldiers were among the dead. US military officials said three US Army special forces soldiers were killed and two wounded in the ambush. A Niger diplomatic source said that the attackers had come from Mali and had killed several soldiers, without saying whether any of the US troops stationed in the West African country were among the victims. The governor of Bali has urged countries, including Australia, to lift their volcano-related travel warnings after 70,000 tourists cancelled their October travel plans. On Thursday Bali Governor Made Mangku Pastika also joined hundreds of Balinese to pray at a Hindu ceremony at Besakih Bali's holiest temple even though it is located in the heart of the danger zone. A Balinese Bondres, a comedian wearing a mask, entertains people during Purnama Kapat, the full moon ceremony at the Besakih Mother Temple inside the 9km danger zone near Mount Agung. Credit:Kate Geraghty Mr Pastika met on Wednesday with Consuls General in Bali and stressed that only 28 villages within a 12km radius of the summit would be affected if Mount Agung erupted. "The population is about 70,000. All of these people have already evacuated so the place is empty. If something happened, even if an eruption happened today, I guarantee there will be no victims." Kuala Lumpur: Traces of a deadly nerve agent that killed Kim Jong-nam, the estranged half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, were found on the shirts worn by the two women accused of the sensational murder, a chemist has told a Malaysian court. Doan Thi Huong, 29, from Vietnam, and Siti Aisyah, 25, from Indonesia, are charged with murdering Kim by smearing his face with VX at Kuala Lumpur airport on February 13. Indonesian suspect Siti Aisyah, left, and Vietnamese suspect Doan Thi Huong in March. Credit:AP The 45-year-old died a short time later. A chemical weapons expert with the Malaysian government said his analysis showed traces of VX, its precursors and degradation products on the sleeves of a T-shirt worn by Huong, as well as VX degradation products on Siti Aisyah's sleeveless shirt. Bangkok: Smugglers have begun targeting distressed Rohingya Muslims fleeing what the United Nations describes as a violent campaign of ethnic cleansing in Myanmar. Rohingya are being charged up to the equivalent of $US250($319) each to make the short boat journey from Rakhine state to the Bangladesh border, a fortune for Myanmar's poorest people, authorities in Bangladesh say. Newly arrived Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar disembark from boats as they continue their journey to camps in Bangladesh on Monday. Credit:AP Some boats are also smuggling methamphetamine from Myanmar, one of the world's largest producers of the illicit drug, authorities say. "The boats are turning to carry passengers they are not supposed to," Lieutenant Colonel Ariful Islam from Border Guards Bangladesh told Reuters. Las Vegas: Police believe Las Vegas gunman Stephen Paddock may have had an accomplice as he prepared for the deadliest massacre in modern US history, amassing guns for more than a year and leading what has been described as "a secret life". His Australian girlfriend Marilou Danley, who has been with FBI agents since returning to the US from the Philippines on Wednesday, said she saw no signs that her "kind, caring, quiet" partner was planning such an act. Ms Danley, 62, said she thought her partner was trying to break up with her when he bought her a plane ticket to the Philippines two weeks ago and then wired her $US100,000 ($127,000) for her to buy a house there. "I loved him and hoped for a quiet future together with him. He never said anything to me or took any action that I was aware of that I understood in any way to be a warning that something horrible like this was going to happen," she said in a statement released on Thursday. Dubai: Saudi authorities said on Wednesday they had arrested 22 people, including a Qatari national, for using social media to spread dissent. Another 24 people were detained in the northern Hail region for stirring tribal divisions, the state news agency SPA reported. Saudi flag Neither report went into the details of the offences. The announcements came days after an order from King Salman lifting a ban on women driving in the conservative Islamic kingdom. Saudi Arabia, alongside the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt, has also cut diplomatic and transport ties with Qatar accusing it of supporting militants and Iran - charges Doha denies. Washington: Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has raised the possibility of getting military support from Russia to boost the crisis-torn country's defensive capabilities in light of a spat with the United States. Speaking at an energy forum in Moscow, after he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Maduro said his administration would discuss increased military cooperation with the Russian government during his visit this week. Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro, left, and Russian President Vladimir Putin met at the Kremlin in Moscow. Credit:AP "I am sure, even if we do not ask, we will be given even more support to boost Venezuela's defence capacity and sovereignty," he said. It comes as tensions are running high between Washington and Caracas after US President Donald Trump threatened to use force against the South American nation in addition to sanctions the US enacted after Maduro dismissed his Congress and created a new National Assembly. PHILIPSBURG:--- The Student Support Services Division (SSSD) within the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, is cordially inviting all school care team members, which includes Psychologists, Social Workers, Student Care Coordinators, Guidance Counselors, to a follow up meeting on Thursday, October 5th, 2017 at 2:30pm in the office of the Student Support Services Division on D.A. Peterson Street, Philipsburg, next to Windward Island Bank (WIB). Notice by Ministry ECYS Having experienced two hurricanes cat. 5, having seen the devastation and been around to feel and understand the inconveniences, to just express it mildly; no water, no electricity or no telecommunication for an extended period. Lots of time though to think about what happened and who are suffering, and wondering about the future. Returning to what may be considered normal is not an option but rather a mediocratic restoration. I have seen buildings that remained almost untouched. I have seen buildings without roofs, windows, or doors where residents sat in front of what once was their beloved home, and their complete damaged furniture and belongings in the yard or on the street in front of them. People not knowing what to d or what may be next. I have seen tremendous piles of sheet metal; pardon my rude English, but I now call it shit metal. Hurricane preparedness including having bottled water, batteries, getting any lose items out of the way, etc. is a minimal precaution. What about buildings and construction? The Caribbean needs a hurricane building code. It may bring me in the doghouse, but I dare to say that the various individual Caribbean governments are incompetent to establish an appropriate code that focusses on building hurricane resistant structures. Even if one government would be able to do so, what about the ten plus other countries that have ten plus different viewpoints? What about the political umbrella organizations handling it? If you ask me, I have my doubts. Did I say doghouse? Now, I may be thrown in front of the lions. Being skeptical or critical is one thing, coming up with a positive suggestion is a different thing. Okay then, here we go.... An independent Caribbean Research and Development Institute for Architecture and Construction should be founded. The Institute should be supported by the Insurance and the Building Industries. The activities of the institute should be carried out in cooperation with reputable international universities such as for instance the Technical University Delft - Netherlands, Technical University Zurich Switzerland. No political involvement; an absolutely independent and impartial organization. Why the insurance industry? When it comes to big dollars and cents, whose profits suffered the most after the hurricanes? They should have a vested interest in any practical and realistic solution that reduces risks; after all, believe it or not, it is a risk adverse industry. Why the building/construction industry? They should be interested in developing materials and methods that resist any challenging situation. Their financial support and investment should pay off well for them in return. Why the international universities? That should not need much explanation. They are reputable and insurance, building/construction industries will trust them. Any government or political organization in the region would be foolish to doubt their credibility. The institute should independently do its research and development to establish a building code for hurricane stealth and resisting construction. I even suggest it to have a wind tunnel available to test structure models in extremely high wind circumstances. In addition, the institute should be the preferred independent international organization that can certify whether design, construction or materials are appropriate. Therefore, it will have inspectors and adjusters. Again, no government or political involvement. The insurance industry from its side might determine that any new commercial building that is not hurricane certified can only be insured at higher premiums, get limited coverage, or in the worst case, it may not be considered at all for insurance coverage. The building suppliers could proudly show the certificate or seal of approval on their products. Come to think of it, investors in new projects may also applaud to see a certification. The mission of the institute is not to police or regulate, but rather be an undertaking to prevent and protect against hurricane damages of an extraordinary proportion that we have seen recently and which actually may return at any time in the future. It is not the aim to take authority away from local governments. Although, it could become a matter of lead, follow, or get out of the way of the institution. The wisest option for all would be to cooperate with this new credible organization all the way, and establishing and accepting a positive standard for all. The institute will inform general audiences about how to protect their dwellings for hurricane impact. It can do so through publication of documentation, presentations on the media or at locally organized meetings. As you see, there are many benefits that come out of this solution. But there is more. The lucky island that will be selected as the location of choice, may now have landed an institute of higher learning that is internationally accredited, affiliated and respected. Which means new employment in the non-academic segments of the institution on location. It may mean conferences to be held on the island and an opportunity to develop unique science tourism. For young people in the region, it may be an option to study an alternative academic direction that they dont have to go abroad for. Because it is Caribbean related, it may be an opportunity for them to find well-paid employment in the region afterwards or even set up their own specialized business. The hurricane damage has proven that it all makes sense. As criticizing as I may have been in the beginning, at least I have provided a positive suggestion. Not telling anyone what to do. I know what I would do. For all others, just consider it to be food for thought. By Cdr. Bud Slabbaert About Cdr.Bud Slabbaert is the initiator and coordinator of the annual Caribbean Aviation Meetup conference. The international results and solution-oriented event brings airlift stakeholders from both aviation and tourism industry, as well as government authorities together (www.caribavia.com). His background is accentuated by Business Development, Strategic Communication, and Journalism. PHILIPSBURG:--- Parliament of Sint Maarten has launched its official Facebook page, titled: Parliament of Sint Maarten. The official launch took place on Wednesday, October 4, 2017 in the conference room at the House of Parliament. Members of the Presidium were present for the launch. With this move, Parliament steps into the fascinating and constantly evolving world of social media, with the intention to inform the public more effectively on its day to day operations. This tool will make it easier for the public to have access to updated information from Parliament. The Facebook page contains essentials such as contact information and opening hours of the Parliament as well as a brief description of the role of Parliament in our society. Visitors can browse the page to obtain information on upcoming meetings, pending legislation, motions etc. Due to the passing of hurricane Irma, the Annual Report 2016-2017 could not be published on September 11, 2017 as planned. However, this report is now also available on the Facebook page. Features like Facebook live will be utilized to broadcast live meetings in the near future in an aim to reach a wider audience. The Duluth Trading Co. brand continues to grow. The Wisconsin based company opened its 26th store on Thursday, this time in Avon, Ohio, next door to a Cabela's just off of Interstate 90 west of Cleveland. Duluth opened its flagship store in Mount Horeb in 2010 and since that time has been rapidly expanding its brick-and-mortar presence to market its casual wear and work wear. The Ohio store is one of six new stores scheduled to open this fall. Duluth last month celebrated the expansion of its store in downtown Mount Horeb, adding more than 2,000 square feet to the store's 8,345-square-foot floor just a few blocks from where the company is building its corporate headquarters. The five-story building, which will house offices now based in Belleville, is scheduled to open in 2018. PHILIPSBURG:--- The police force of Sint Maarten (KPSM) is hereby sending a request to the family members of the victim R. Andrews, who was stabbed to death, on 17th September 2017, Over The Bank. Any relative of the late Mr. R. Andrews, please report to the main office of the Police Station Philipsburg and ask for Chief Inspector Baptist, Inspector Rijna from Forensic or Inspector Mauricia of the detective department. KPSM Press Release PHILIPSBURG:--- On Wednesday 6 September, 2017 our island was hit with a devastating hurricane. As a result, many persons lost their lives, homes, businesses and other property. We sympathize with all who lost property and loved ones. However, in the wake of hurricane Irma, we appeal to all employers to practice good business practices and integrity when dealing with your employees. We understand the extenuating circumstances at hand, and therefore, encourage both employers and employees to cooperate and act in accordance with the labor laws of the land. We encourage employers firstly to communicate with their employees. The worse thing to do in a time like this is to abandon your staff completely. Invite employees to a central location and discuss with them the damages to the building and merchandise and the consequences thereof. Business owners may want to discuss payment and employment options with their staff on an individual basis. Be honest and direct, but give them options. We urge businesses as much as feasible to retain their staff. In an effort to do this, employers may want to reallocate or reassign staff members to different departments or duties. Perhaps it may be necessary that persons take on different roles for the time being to suit the immediate needs of the business for a time. We ask that workers also be flexible to accept reallocation of tasks or responsibilities. If the labor contract between the company and the employee allows, payment options can be discussed. All agreements outside of what is written in the labor contract must be mutual and in written form such as for example a reduction in working days or wages. Note also that the written agreement must be in accordance with the labor laws of the land. Any employers seeking assistance with drafting a sound mutual agreement can consult legal assistance or visit the Department of Labor Affairs and Social Services. Although, we strongly encourage businesses to seek means whereby they can maintain their staff, if dismissals must take place permission must still be requested by the Department of Labor Affairs and Social Services (applicable for employees in indefinite employ). There is also an option of rescinding employment relationships through the courts. All persons under contract must be paid out for the remainder of their contractual period if the contract is not being extended, and given due notice. To reiterate, at present time, businesses have one of three options: Retain employee through mutual agreement in writing (terms to include job duties, payment, work hours, etc.) Mutual agreement in writing for termination of labor agreement ( to include severance payments, notice period, all outstanding vacation days and days worked) Dismissal (through the Department of Labor Affairs and Social Services) Dismissal (through the court or legal system) An important notice for employers is that payment must be upheld for the periods of time when a national curfew was issued by the government of St. Maarten. Employees must not be financially penalized for these times since they were unable to work due to no fault of their own; therefore, they must be paid for those periods. Note also that the No Work, No Pay policy does not apply in this situation. If workers want to work, but are unable to work because their place of work is closed, damaged or employers have migrated, they are still entitled to their wages. Any employer or employee with questions concerning pay, dismissal, nature of work, work hours, etc. should visit the Department of Labor Affairs and Social Services and ask to speak to a Dismissal and Complaints Officer. We are currently located in the new government building across from the University of St. Martin (USM). Employees also have a right to apply for legal aid to contest any unlawful dismissal from their employer, or any action that they deem infringes on their rights. Again, the Department of Labor Affairs and Social Services encourages employers and employees to act responsibly and with integrity during this time. We encourage both parties to work together as the nation rebuilds. In order for the economy to revive, we must adjust, regroup and rebuild. We can rebuild and we will- together. Press Release from the Ministry of VSA PHILIPSBURG:--- The House of Parliament will sit in a plenary public session on October 6, 2017. The plenary public meeting is scheduled for Friday at 10.00 hrs in the General Assembly Chamber of the House at Wilhelminastraat #1 in Philipsburg. The agenda point is Advice regarding the (re)appointment of an Ombudsman. Members of the public are invited to the House of Parliament to attend parliamentary deliberations. The House of Parliament is located across from the Court House in Philipsburg. The parliamentary session will be carried live on St. Maarten Cable TV Channel 120, via Pearl Radio FM 98.1, the audio via the Internet www.pearlfmradio.com and via www.sxmparliament.org. PHILIPSBURG:--- On Thursday, October 5th, 2017 nine more persons were arrested by police officers involved in the ongoing looting investigation. This investigation started immediately in the aftermath of hurricane Irma. These arrests took place during house searches at seven different locations on the Dutch side of the island. At all of these locations, large amounts of looted items were found and confiscated for further investigation. At one location a firearm was located and confiscated. Two persons were arrested in Belvedere, two at Mount William Hill and five at Hope Estate. As reliable information continues to pour into the police department more house searches will be done. This investigation will continue to expand throughout the entire island of Sint Maarten including the French side, when and if necessary, through the good working cooperation between law enforcement departments from both sides of the island. All suspects arrested on Thursday were taken to the Philipsburg Police Head Quarters where they are held for questioning and further investigation. Family member of victim reports to police headquarters. PHILIPSBURG:--- A family member of Mr. Reginald Andrews, victim of the deadly stabbing which took place on September 17th at Over the Bank in Philipsburg have finally reported to the Philipsburg Police Head Quarters. The body of Mr. Andrews whose life was violently taken is being held at a morgue until family members would come to claim the body. The family members in question recognized they body of the victim as that of Mr. R. Andrews. The police department sends out words of gratitude to the community who have been very instrumental in locating family members of the victim. Police are trying to locate distributors of a specific brand. PHILIPSBURG:--- During the looting investigation, eight cases of Bleu Storm Vodka was found and confiscated. This brand of vodka seems to be quite rare. Many distributors and liquor stores were contacted but none confirmed to be the representatives of this brand. The police department wants to return these cases of alcohol to the rightful owner and is asking the representatives/distributors to the police department to claim their belongings. KPSM Police Report MEDIA ALERT: RiskVision Presents Risky Business at Teradata Partners Conference SUNNYVALE, CA (Marketwired) 10/05/17 , the enterprise risk intelligence company formerly known as Agiliance, today announced the company will be presenting Risky Business: Find, Fix & Monitor Company Security Vulnerabilities at Teradata Partners Conference on October 24, 2017. This RiskVision and Teradata Governance, Risk and Compliance Session will address the importance of automating security compliance and risk processes. It will highlight the structure needed to provide a Board-level view that will allow enterprises to act on real-time data. Industry experts will discuss the people, processes and technology needed for role-based, granular, enterprise-wide visibility into organizations security risks. October 24, 2017 11:30 a.m. 12:15 p.m. PST 0631 Risky Business: Find, Fix & Monitor Company Security Vulnerabilities ACC North 158 : Please visit our to sign up Desiree Armbruster, channel sales director, RiskVision Kevin Barcellos, director of sales engineering, RiskVision Jay Irwin, director, Center for Enterprise Security, Teradata For more information on the RiskVision Threat and Vulnerability Management solution, click Follow us on LinkedIn here: Follow us on Twitter here: For more information on Teradata Partners Conference, please visit RiskVision develops comprehensive risk intelligence solutions for the enterprise. The highly decorated RiskVision platform is the industrys first risk intelligence solution designed for todays real-time, big-data, threat-centric world. RiskVisions architecture and design delivers the industrys best usability, scale, automation and time-to-deployment advantages at a fraction of the cost of traditional solutions. CIOs and CROs of the worlds leading organizations and government agencies rely on RiskVision; customers include AXA Group, Cisco, Deutsche Bank, E*TRADE, Exelon, First Data, Fiserv, HCL, Lloyds Banking Group, Novartis, Roche, Safeway, Sheetz, Southern Co., Time Warner, United Health Group, U.S. Departments of Defense, Health & Human Services, Justice, and Veterans Affairs, and dozens of other clients worldwide. For more information, please visit riskvisioninc.com. Travis Anderson 10Fold for RiskVision (925) 271-8227 TechCode Opens Boston-Area Innovation Hub for Local Technology Startups BOSTON, MA (Marketwired) 10/05/17 , a global network of startup incubators and entrepreneur ecosystems, today announces the opening of its newest office in Somerville, Massachusetts, located at 120 Beacon Street, Suite 301. As the 22nd TechCode office worldwide, the location will help local startups in the artificial intelligence, medical technology, new materials and green tech spaces to drive innovation, investment and business escalation, while serving as a launch pad to achieve market validation and enter global markets. To celebrate its newest location, TechCode will host two special events at its office. Details include: 12:45 p.m. on Tuesday, October 10 Artificial intelligence started off as a purely prescriptive technology. However, new companies are using AI to add an even more human touch. Learn how you can gain an edge in the market and help make AI a force for good. Luke Tang, North America GM, TechCode; Brennan White, founder and CEO, Cortex; Haim Senior, co-founder and CEO, Knowmail; Marshall Moutenot, co-founder, Upstream When: 5:30-8 p.m. on Wednesday, October 11 Bostons bustling startup ecosystem is a perfect match for our accelerator and incubator programs, which give companies the opportunity to make international connections and grow into new markets, said Anthony DeOrsey, Deputy General Manager of TechCode Boston. Our team is distinctively qualified to provide Boston-area startups with the support they need to hire the right talent, advance their technology and raise capital, all with a global mentality. With a global presence and especially strong connections in China, TechCode benefits startups with hands-on supply chain support, distribution, manufacturing and retail connections in the U.S., China and Europe and mentorship and technical support for emerging technology applications. With established incubators in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Guan, Silicon Valley, Seoul, Finland, Tel Aviv and Berlin, to name a few, TechCode has an extensive network for startups to think global. The company helps startups speed up commercialization through introductions to partners and investors, tests global market entry strategies and refines technology elements in their products. To learn more about TechCode Boston or to apply for the accelerator, visit . Focusing on incubator operation management and technology startup cultivation, TechCode is committed to building the worlds leading entrepreneurship ecosystem. Integrating a wide range of global resources, TechCode has established incubators in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Guan, Silicon Valley, Seoul, Tel Aviv and Berlin to help get its startup members on their feet and grow rapidly. CFLD (China Fortune Land Development Co, Ltd) integrates five resources: industry, university, research, government, and finance in over 40 industrial new cities across the world. Depending on the layout of its business partner they pioneer an innovative technology chain including incubation acceleration industrialization commercialization, providing full support to entrepreneurs from the first step to every step of entrepreneurship to the last mile. Lauren Jaeger Uproar PR for TechCode 312-878-4575 ex. 246 Checkr Taps Box Executive to Lead Engineering Expansion Posted by Publisher Software SAN FRANCISCO, CA (Marketwired) 10/05/17 , the leading background check platform for the modern economy, today appointed Tomas Barreto, former Box Vice President of Engineering, as its new head of engineering. Barretos experience includes software engineering roles at IBM and Microsoft, before joining the Box team as employee number 14. While at Box, he joined Splunks CIO Advisory Council in 2011, before being promoted to VP of Engineering in 2016. Tomas knows whats required in growing and scaling an engineering team, and was instrumental in the growth and development of the engineering team at Box, said Daniel Yanisse, Checkr CEO and co-founder. His leadership and experience in the areas of enterprise software reliability, compliance and security at Box will be invaluable as we enter into our next phase of growth. Having launched in 2014, Checkrs new way of looking at background reporting found early customers in the on-demand economy, where speed and accuracy are essential to on-boarding new workers and driving revenues. The company has quickly amassed more than 4,000 customers including on-demand pioneers Doordash, Postmates, Instacart and Uber. Im excited to be contributing to the advancement of Checkrs background check platform, removing speed bumps for businesses and helping to build a fair future for American workers, said Tomas Barreto, Vice President of Engineering at Checkr. The mission of the company is a big driver for me, and I look forward to being part of the solution for an issue that impacts more than 70 million people in the U.S. Founded by Daniel Yanisse, a software developer who foresaw the high volumes of background checks required for the emerging on-demand economy, Checkrs mission is to build a fairer future through increased transparency and speed in job application background reporting. The company has been a vocal supporter of fair chance hiring and believes that many organizations are missing out on some of the most loyal and talented workers because of past convictions. Tomas has a Bachelor in Computer Science and Economics from Duke University, and has contributed to five patents for technologies that improve enterprise cloud collaboration technologies. He lives and breathes engineering and is a passionate outside of work. is the leading background checks platform for the modern economy. The companys intelligent online reporting software delivers fast, accurate and fair background reports, enabling organizations to put the right people in the right jobs faster. Built for the applicant processing demands of on-demand economy, Checkr now helps more than 4,000 businesses, including Uber, Instacart, Grubhub and Postmates on-board trusted talent. A mission-driven organization, Checkr is committed to increasing transparency in background reporting and creating a fairer future for workers, and is a staunch advocate for fair hiring practices. The companys investors include Y-Combinator, GV (formerly Google Ventures), Accel Partners, Khosla Ventures, IVP and SV Angel. For more information, go to . Image Available: Caitlin Matalone Highwire PR for Checkr 415 963 4174 Update on AmbiCom Holdings, Inc. vs PC Drivers lawsuits SANTA CRUZ, CA (Marketwired) 10/05/17 AmbiCom Holdings, Inc. (OTC: ABHI), the leading provider of cloud based Active Optimization services for Personal Computers and servers, today announced that it is moving forward with its lawsuits against PC Drivers of Austin, TX centering around contract disputes and unpaid fees. On the morning of Tuesday, October 3rd, 2017 lawyers for both sides met in Austin, TX with Judge Earl Leroy Yeakel III, of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas. A schedule of events was agreed, culminating in a court date in the month of October, 2018. AmbiCom will prosecute our legal rights to the full extent of the law. AmbiCom has yet to receive any royalties from PC Drivers, even though they are extensively selling our patented technology into the consumer marketplace. Although you can never predict the outcome of court cases, I feel confident our actions are based on solid legal grounds, stated Kevin Cornell. I will not stand by while Mike Hurd and PC Drivers take money out of the pockets of the shareholders of AmbiCom Holdings, Inc. We intend to quantify exactly how much money has been made from our technology and be aggressive in our actions to retrieve what is rightfully due. AmbiCom Holdings, Inc., headquartered in Santa Cruz, California, searches out, acquires and/or invests in unique technologies that have the potential for wide adoption in large markets. AmbiCom looks for mature management teams that have a history of successfully converting new concepts into products. Of particular interest are high margin products that have the ability to enhance users experience while generating a positive return on investment. We are acutely aware of our responsibility to the investors that have placed their trust in our abilities to effectively manage the assets of AmbiCom on their behalf. For more information, visit . AmbiCom Holdings recently acquired the assets of Voosh LLC. The assets included software that improves the performance of servers and workstations through the automatic evaluation and adjustment of the manufacturers supplied settings. The Voosh application has been certified by Microsoft, IBM, VMware and Citrix in independent evaluations. It has also won the Cool Vendor award from Gartner in the area of infrastructure tools. Voosh is located in Santa Cruz, CA. For more information visit This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Although forward-looking statements in this release reflect the good faith judgment of management, forward-looking statements are inherently subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to be materially different from those discussed in these forward-looking statements, including but not limited to our ability to maintain our website and associated computer systems, our ability to generate sufficient market acceptance for our products and services, our ability to generate sufficient operating cash flow, and general economic conditions. Readers are urged to carefully review and consider the various disclosures made by us in our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time which attempt to advise interested parties of the risks and factors that may affect our business, financial condition, results of operation and cash flows. If one of more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or if the underlying assumptions prove incorrect, our actual results may vary materially from those expected or projected. Readers are urged not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this release. We assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statements in order to reflect any event or circumstance that may arise after the date of this release. Paul McGee AmbiCom Holdings, Inc. (408) 757-0715 Entelo Brings Diversity Insights and New AI Solution to 20th Annual HR Technology Conference & Exposition SAN FRANCISCO, CA (Marketwired) 10/05/17 , a leading innovator in talent acquisition Will exhibit its newest AI product, Entelo Envoy, host an exclusive live podcast from the show floor and present as part of the Women in HR Technology event during the . Tuesday, October 10 Friday, October 13, 2017 Entelo will present on Tuesday, October 10 at 10:30 a.m. PDT during the session, . The Venetian Las Vegas 3355 S Las Vegas Blvd. Las Vegas, Nev. Entelo will exhibit in Booth No. 2928. When it comes to building more diverse, inclusive and equitable organizations, technology is a critical tool for HR and business leaders. To meet with the challenges and opportunities associated with creating diverse organizations, modern HR technology solutions have been designed to address these issues from many different approaches. During the HR Technology Conference & Exposition, Loni Spratt Brown, senior director of Customer Success for , will join a about using technology to foster more diverse and inclusive workplaces. Brown and the other panelists will consider ways to develop a more diverse candidate pool, how advanced AI techniques can better identify internal candidates for promotion, the benefits of scrubbing job descriptions to remove the potential for bias and more. In addition, Entelo will spotlight its newest product, , in Booth No. 2928. Leveraging artificial intelligence and deep learning, Entelo Envoy automatically finds, nurtures and delivers interested job candidates to the email inboxes of recruiters. Conference attendees interested in learning about Entelo Envoy and the companys other solutions designed to help talent acquisition teams hire better-qualified candidates faster are encouraged to visit the companys booth for product demos. Attendees are also encouraged to listen to the live broadcast of , the exclusive podcast for HR Tech, where Entelo will interview key players in the HR Technology industry. For event details and registration information about the HR Tech Conference & Exposition, visit: . applies intelligence to big data to help modern recruiters find, qualify and acquire talent. Today more than 600 customers of all sizes and industries trust Entelo to provide their talent acquisition teams with higher candidate engagement, actionable insights and increased productivity. To learn how leading companies such as Capital One, Cisco, Facebook, GE, Genentech, Netflix, Northrop Grumman and Target are building their organizations using Entelo, visit . StaffConnect Named Finalist for 2017 SVC Awards LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM and SAN FRANCISCO, CA (Marketwired) 10/05/17 , provider of the award winning enterprise mobile employee engagement platform, today announced it has been named a finalist for the 2017 SVC Awards in the Cloud Innovation of the Year category for its . The SVC Awards recognize excellence in products, projects and services, as well as the achievements of companies and teams, in the storage, cloud and digitalization sectors. The awards are presented in association with Digitalisation World, Datacentre Solutions, Storage Networking Solutions International, Storage Virtualisation World, Information Security Solutions, and others. The finalists were carefully selected by the SVC Awards Judges Panel. The winners will be chosen via vote (). We are honored to have been selected as a finalist by the esteemed panel of SVC Awards judges. This acknowledgement builds on what has become a very notable year of awards recognition for our company, our StaffConnect Mobile App Platform, and our customers success stories, said Geraldine Osman, Vice President of Marketing, . Our growing awards roster serves as an enviable proof point of the significant impact our innovative, industry-unique solutions are making in the areas of employee engagement, customer satisfaction, and ultimately competitive advantage and business success. Last month, StaffConnect launched version 2 (v2) of its , featuring key bar-raising enhancements that transform the employee experience by enabling business, nonprofit and government organizations to better connect, communicate and engage with their entire workforce including remote, non-desk employees. The result is employees are more loyal, passionate and productive leading to improved customer/client experiences, and consequently superior business outcomes. Read the announcement here: . .@StaffConnectApp Named Finalist for 2017 #SVCAwards Cloud Innovation of the Year please vote for StaffConnect: delivers the award winning mobile employee engagement platform. The StaffConnect solution transforms the employee experience by enabling large enterprises to connect, communicate and engage their entire workforce, especially remote, non-desk employees. The customer-branded mobile app gives employees a voice with access to company and user-generated content to increase loyalty and productivity. The cloud-hosted platform empowers employers to target that content, with analytics, to deepen engagement with everyone. From offices in London and San Francisco, StaffConnects platform and domain expertise are supporting large businesses around the world to inspire their workforces to deliver better performance, improved customer experiences and greater shareholder value. For further information, please visit: . Sabrina Sanchez The Ventana Group for StaffConnect (925) 785-3014 Nicole Gorman The Ventana Group for StaffConnect (508) 397-0131 Middleton-based Spectrum Brands has been ordered to pay $1.9 million in civil penalties for waiting too long to report a defect in Black & Decker SpaceMaker coffee carafes that resulted in injuries to nearly 70 people, and for continuing to sell the carafes even after they were recalled. Spectrum Brands a consumer products company whose products include Rayovac batteries, Remington shavers and George Foreman grills said it has not decided yet if it will appeal. Spectrum Brands appreciates the courts time and consideration of the evidence in this matter. We will take the courts ruling into account as we consider our options in this matter, spokesman David Prichard said. The order, issued last Friday by U.S. District Judge William Conley in Madison, is based on a 2016 court ruling in a case filed in 2015 alleging Spectrum Brands violated the Consumer Product Safety Act by waiting years before telling the Consumer Product Safety Commission about complaints that the carafe handles were breaking. Spectrum Brands said it sold 159,000 of the SpaceMaker coffeemakers between July 2008 and April 2012 and fielded about 1,600 reports of broken carafe handles from November 2008 through April 2012. Of those, 66 people said they were burned from hot coffee spills that resulted and three said they were cut by broken glass. Only two people said they received or planned to receive medical attention, the judge noted. The company reported the carafe problem to the Consumer Product Safety Commission in April 2012 but it sold about 600 more of the faulty products even after that, the court said. A Spectrum Brands official said the company did not have defined procedures for executing the recall, Judge Conleys 23-page ruling said. The judge said, though, while Spectrum Brands provided injury data, the government introduced no admissible evidence regarding any actual injuries that a customer actually sustained by virtue of a failed handle. He also said its not clear how often the handle broke off partially or entirely, leaving uncertain the risk of a catastrophic failure with multiple shards of sharp glass and most or all of the hot coffee being spilled on a consumer. Because of the egregious nature of the post-recall sales, the judge imposed higher penalties for the coffeemaker sales after Spectrum Brands reported the problem, amounting to $1.1 million of the total penalty. The judge also issued a permanent injunction ordering improvements to the companys compliance program. Spectrum Brands gained the Black & Decker appliances with the acquisition of Russell Hobbs, a Florida appliance company, in 2010. Solar Novus Today Has Been Integrated With Novus Light Technologies Today Visit Novus Light Technologies Today to see all the cutting-edge stories and products that you have come to enjoy on Solar Novus Today. In addition, you will find more information on related light-based technologies. Get the latest solar and renewable energy news delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for the Green Technologies newsletter CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR GREEN TECHNOLOGIES NEWSLETTER A former Oakhill Correctional Institution officer was charged Wednesday with sexual assault after an inmate there reported that he and the guard had sex at the minimum-security prison three times in 2016. Kaitlyn Schulz, 24, of Albany, was charged with three counts of second-degree sexual assault by correctional staff, a felony, and three counts of violating state institution laws, a misdemeanor, after the inmate reported in December that he had sex with Schulz twice in March 2016 in a staff bathroom at Oakhill, according to a criminal complaint. The inmate also reported having sex with Schulz one other time at the Fitchburg prison in August 2016, according to the complaint. Schulz was a correctional officer on probationary status who was hired in January 2016 and was terminated in October 2016, the complaint states. She is scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 16. Under state law, it is illegal for correctional officers and inmates to have sex and is considered sexual assault because of the authority that officers have over inmates. According to the complaint: The inmate, identified in the complaint only by his initials, told Fitchburg police that he wrote down the occasions that he had sex with Schulz on a calendar, indicating them by code letters because he didnt want anyone else to know. The inmate said he knew two of the dates to be March 24 and March 28, 2016, and said that Aug. 2, 2016, was approximate. March 24 was Schulzs birthday, the inmate said. He had gone to the staff bathroom to clean it when Schulz came in and they had sex. The circumstances were similar on March 28, he told police. That instance took longer, he said, prompting Schulz to tell him, We are going to get in trouble, need to learn to do it much faster. He said that she told him then that she thinks about him constantly and about what theyre doing. The inmate also told police that Schulz sent his sister in Illinois a check for $100. The inmates sister told police that she had received text messages from someone she later learned was a correctional officer. Schulz wrote to the inmates sister that $60 was to go into the inmates prison account and the rest was to go on the sisters cellphone. They set up a system for making three-way calls so that the inmate could talk to Schulz through his sister without it being known that the two were in touch with one another. The complaint appears to indicate that the inmate reported Schulz after she told him in November that she no longer had feelings for him. During the call, which was recorded, he lamented that it felt like I had someone to go to when I came out, that I had somebody who really cared about me. Later in the conversation, she said, I care about you. I still do and I want the best for you. Thats all I can say right now. Georgetown, SC (29440) Today Rain in the morning. Scattered thunderstorms in the afternoon. High around 70F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.. Tonight Thunderstorms likely in the evening. Then a chance of scattered thunderstorms later on. Low 52F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%. Police would have to notify school administrators whenever they arrest a student for a violent crime and teachers could end their contracts without penalty if students attack them under a Republican bill that would relax juvenile criminal record confidentiality. The bill would also allow teachers to remove a student from a classroom for two days. Rep. Jeremy Thiesfeldt, a former teacher, hasnt formally introduced the bill yet, saying hes still revising it. He said hes been thinking about the measure because he keeps hearing how guidelines the Obama administration issued in 2014 urging schools to take a gentler approach toward disciplining minorities has led to teachers getting beat up and frustrated with administrators who wont punish students. He pointed to the story of Green Bay middle school teacher Kerstin Westcott, who resigned this summer after claiming students abused her and other teachers and that she feared for her safety. I just started piecing it all together and (decided) to do something to help these teachers, said Thiesfeldt, R-Fond du Lac. All Wisconsin juvenile criminal records are automatically sealed. Under the bill, a police department that takes a student into custody on suspicion of a violent crime would have to notify the students school administrator before the next school day begins. The school board or private school governing body must notify teachers who work directly with the student of the incident as soon as practical, preferably before the student attends their classes. Teachers could ask their school boards to suspend students if their administrators refuse to do it. Conversely, principals or other school administrators would have to notify police within 24 hours of learning a student physically assaulted or committed a violent crime against somebody at school or at a school-sponsored activity if requested by a witness or adult victim such as a teacher. The bill also would allow teachers who have been attacked to terminate their contracts or take leave without being penalized. Thiesfeldt said he realizes the bill opens up juvenile criminal records to administrators and teachers but they deserve to know that information and they wouldnt be able to share it. It certainly impacts the day of everybody involved, he said. I dont see any negative with people knowing that information. Its good for the teacher, good for the student and good for the rest of the classroom. The bill also calls for the state Department of Public Instruction to post online a list of teachers rights, including their right to remove a student from the classroom for up to two days and the right to use reasonable force to defend themselves and their students. The list would include several new rights, including the right to receive information about a pupil taken into custody for a violent crime. Wenona Wolf, a spokeswoman for Kids Forward, a group that advocates for opportunities for children, said no one in her organization had seen the bill and declined comment. DPI spokesman Tom McCarthy didnt immediately reply to an email seeking comment. The Wisconsin Association of School Boards said on its website that its officials had been engaged in discussions with Thiesfeldt about the groups concerns with the bill. While safety and safe learning environments are critical to student learning, and student and school success, and while this proposal appears well-intended, the WASB, nevertheless, has a number of strong concerns about this proposal, including the lack of safeguards in the way teachers are empowered to take actions against students that may or may not conform to school board policies or the normal chain of command in school settings or could be abused by certain teachers, the group said. In particular, WASB said it doesnt approve of teachers being able to suspend students from classes without the approval of principals, superintendents or school board policies. State Journal staff contributed to this report. Optimization Are you frustrated with a slow pc or a hard disk not performing as it should? Try SLOW-PCfighter to speed up boot time on a slow PC, or try a free scan of FULL-DISKfighter to recover space on a full disk. The latest offering is DRIVERfighter to update your driver updater. Get complete PC optimization and extend the life of your PC with these must-have software tools. More cash flowed in the months that followed. At least $140,000 was transferred to the account in the Netherlands in several tranches -- always from Panama, and always via Switzerland. According to the commercial register of Panama, a company named Furman Management acted as president of Tain Bay. But documents obtained by the French investigative site Mediapart and analyzed by DER SPIEGEL and journalists with the European Investigative Collaboration (EIC) network reveal who was truly behind the Tain Bay Corporation in Panama: Ocampo himself and his wife. After the end of his high-profile tenure as ICC chief prosecutor, he seemingly wanted to shift his assets discreetly. He likes to talk about his projects and successes, but isn't as fond of answering critical questions. Ocampo seems surprised by the accusations and says: "I never did something wrong because I am very careful. I don't like to work on things that are awful. I reject cases for million dollars if I don't like the case. I believe in my career, fighting people committing crimes from power." Internal Criticism When Ocampo began working in The Hague, his outsized ego was still an asset. He injected momentum into the new institution and energetically got to work. He investigated Ugandan warlord Joseph Kony and crimes in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Central African Republic. In 2005, the UN Security Council commissioned the ICC to investigate possible genocide in Darfur. But it soon became apparent that while Ocampo embarked on many projects and loved making big appearances, he had trouble concluding his cases in ways that were legally watertight. He relied on anonymous witnesses in the trial against Congolese militia leader Thomas Lubanga, and the case almost fell apart twice. There was no lack of internal criticism, and experienced legal experts left the court. In 2012, after the end of Ocampo's term in office, German international law expert Hans-Peter Kaul, who served as a judge in The Hague for many years, said: "He presented us with problematic witnesses who had nothing to contribute and knew nothing. In addition, the legal argumentation was often tenuous." According to Kaul, Ocampo ran his department "like an Argentine land baron." But then the Arab spring began -- and possibly Ocampo's most important case. On Feb. 26, 2011, the UN Security Council assigned him the task of investigating war crimes in Libya. The prospect of gaining access to witnesses and evidence would never be greater than in the days after the conflict began. But once again, Ocampo was not overly interested in the details. And as he had done elsewhere, he missed the opportunity to conduct an on-site investigation. According to the internal documents, one of his investigators argued in favor of traveling to Libya. "It is necessary to investigate at the crime scene, in order to obtain forensic and documentary evidence," the man said in an internal meeting on March 8. But Ocampo was opposed to the idea. "We should focus on what other parties can produce for us," he said. By others he meant journalists and defectors. High-profile appearances on the world stage were apparently more important than detailed forensic work and the arduous collection and examination of evidence. Ignoring His Own Rule The documents also show that he was not impartial, even though he still says today that investigators "should not manage the political scenarios," which he calls "the job of politicians." In the case of Libya, however, he ignored this rule. On April 6, shortly after France, Britain, the United States and other countries had begun their airstrikes against the regime of then Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, Ocampo talked to the cabinet chief of the French foreign minister on the phone to tell him about the investigations that were underway, a classified embassy dispatch notes. Ocampo revealed that he intended to prosecute "Gadhafi, one or two of his sons and three or four Libyan dignitaries." This is the kind of information that the court should not share with anyone -- but especially not with a party to a conflict. The names of the accused were soon leaked to the media, so that they were now forewarned. In the dispatch, the French officials wrote a sentence that could prove devastating for Ocampo: "The prosecutor clearly conceives his function not as an independent prosecutor's office, but as a judicial body in accordance with the instructions of the Security Council of the United Nations." Back in London, as the conversation continues, the questions become more critical and Ocampo more restless, nervously rubbing the paper coaster for his water glass between his fingers. He denies having spoken with French and British officials about whose instructions he would or would not pursue. He dismisses the accusation as "absolutely a lie." Helping To Justify the West's Intervention But the documents are clear. In a letter to the British ambassador in The Hague, dated April 6, 2011, Ocampo wrote that he viewed Gadhafi's last foreign minister, Moussa Koussa, at this stage "as a cooperating witness rather than a suspect to be charged." Ocampo's correspondence shows that he made agreements with the French and the British, and behaved as part of the anti-Gadhafi coalition. By not separating politics and justice, however, he committed a serious mistake for a lawyer. For months, officials in Republican-controlled Iowa had sought federal permission to revitalize their ailing health-insurance marketplace. Then President Donald Trump read about the request in a newspaper story and called the federal director weighing the application. Trump's message in late August was clear, according to individuals who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations: Tell Iowa no. Supporters of the Affordable Care Act see the president's opposition even to changes sought by conservative states as part of a broader campaign by his administration to undermine the 2010 health-care law. In addition to trying to cut funding for the ACA, the Trump administration also is hampering state efforts to control premiums. In the case of Iowa, that involved a highly unusual intervention by the president himself. And with the fifth enrollment season set to begin Nov. 1, advocates say the Health and Human Services Department has done more to suppress the number of people signing up than to boost it. HHS has slashed grants to groups that help consumers get insurance coverage, for example. It also has cut the enrollment period in half, reduced the advertising budget by 90 percent and announced an outage schedule that would make the HealthCare.gov website less available than last year. The White House also has yet to commit to funding the cost-sharing reductions that help about 7 million lower-income Americans afford out-of-pocket expenses on their ACA health plans. Trump has regularly threatened to block them and, according to an administration official who was not authorized to speak publicly, officials are considering action to end the payments in November. The uncertainty has driven premium prices much higher for 2018. A possible move by the Treasury Department to ease the requirement that most Americans obtain coverage could further erode a core element of the law. On Friday, Sen. Margaret Wood Hassan, D-N.H., called on the administration to abandon its "attempts to sabotage health-care markets and raise health-care costs for millions." Such efforts, warn health advocates as well as state and local officials, will translate into more uninsured Americans. "In Ohio, the Trump administration has already inflicted the damage," said Lisa Hamler-Fugitt, executive director of the Ohio Association of Foodbanks. After its nearly $1.7 million enrollment-assistance grant was cut 72 percent last month, the group decided it no longer could effectively participate. "We are past the point of no return on this," Hamler-Fugitt said. HHS has told its regional administrators not to even meet with on-the-ground organizations about enrollment. The late decision, which department spokesman Matt Lloyd said was made because such groups organize and implement events "with their own agenda," left leaders of grass-roots organizations feeling stranded. "I don't think it's too much to ask the agency tasked with outreach and enrollment to be involved with that," said Roy Mitchell, executive director for the Mississippi Health Advocacy Program, which receives no federal funding for its ACA efforts. "There's money for HHS to fly around on private jets, but there's not money and resources to do outreach in Mississippi." Administration officials make no apologies for actions scaling back federal support for the ACA, also known as Obamacare. Trump, Vice President Mike Pence and those carrying out the law at different agencies take most every opportunity to claim that it is failing. HHS Secretary Tom Price's abrupt resignation Friday, prompted by the furor over his use of expensive chartered planes for work trips, is not expected to shift this overall approach. "Obamacare has never lived up to enrollment expectations despite the previous administration's best efforts," Lloyd said in an email last week. "The American people know a bad deal when they see one, and many won't be convinced to sign up for 'Washington-knows-best' health coverage that they can't afford." Trump and his aides also are looking for ways to loosen the existing law's requirements, now that the latest congressional attempt to repeal it outright has failed. The Treasury Department may broaden the ACA's "hardship exemption" so that taxpayers don't face costly penalties for failing to obtain coverage, a Republican briefed on the plan said. That is sure to depress enrollment among the younger, healthier consumers whom insurers count on to help buffer the health-care costs of sicker customers. "We should fully expect the Trump administration to take a more activist route to deal with Obamacare, given the inability of Congress to move through with a repeal-and-replace bill," said Lanhee Chen, a research fellow at Stanford University's Hoover Institution. While the law's open enrollment period has attracted the most public attention, a more obscure battle within the administration over several states' proposed changes for their marketplaces speak volumes about the president's approach to the law. It was a Wall Street Journal article about Iowa's request that provoked Trump's ire, according to an individual briefed on the exchange. The story detailed how officials had just submitted the application for a Section 1332 waiver - a provision that allows states to adjust how they are implementing the ACA as long as they can prove it would not translate into lost or less-affordable coverage. Iowa's aim was to foster more competition and better prices. The story said other states hoping to stabilize their situations were watching closely. Trump first tried to reach Price, the individual recounted, but the secretary was traveling in Asia and unavailable. The president then called Seema Verma, administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the agency charged with authorizing or rejecting Section 1332 applications. CMS had been working closely with Iowa as it fine-tuned its submission. State Insurance Commissioner Doug Ommen has repeatedly described the "Iowa Stopgap Measure" as critical to expanding marketplace options there. The plan would abolish the ACA exchange there and convert consumer subsidies into a type of GOP-styled tax credit. New financial buffers would help insurers handle customers with particularly high medical expenses. Without the measure, "over 20,000 middle class farmers, early retirees and self-employed Iowans will likely either go uninsured or leave Iowa," Ommen warned in a Sept. 19 statement. Those who sign up for 2018 exchange coverage face premium rate increases of 57 percent on average from the single insurer participating. Some administration officials are still pressing for the waiver to be granted, according to interviews with several Republicans. The HHS spokesman confirmed last week that Iowa's application "has been deemed complete and is currently under review" but did not address the president's directive on the matter. Eliot Fishman oversaw such waivers at CMS during the previous administration and said in an interview that President Barack Obama weighed in on those decisions only in "unusual" cases" toward the end of the process. "Things that are tough calls typically go to the president, but they go with a [staff] recommendation that often carries a great deal of weight," said Fishman, now senior director of health policy for the liberal health-care advocacy group Families USA. Iowa is not the only red state to chafe at the administration's unwillingness to allow more flexibility. On Friday, Oklahoma sent a letter to Price and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin saying it was withdrawing its federal waiver request because administration officials had not provided an answer "after months of development, negotiation, and near daily communication over the past six weeks." "While we appreciate the work of your staff, the lack of timely waiver approval will prevent thousands of Oklahomans from realizing the benefits of significantly lower insurance premiums in 2018," wrote Terry Cline, the state's health secretary. In at least one case, CMS has approved a waiver in a way that upended a state's plan to maximize health coverage for its residents. Minnesota applied to CMS for permission to establish a reinsurance program, which can lower premiums by giving insurers a guarantee that they will have limited financial exposure for customers with particularly high medical expenses. The agency informed Gov. Mark Dayton, D, on Sept. 22 that it would provide $323 million for the program since the lower premiums would mean savings to the federal government on subsidies to Minnesotans with ACA health plans. But, Verma added, the federal government also would cut $369 million in funding for a separate program aimed at residents who earn between 138 percent and 200 percent of the federal poverty level and don't qualify for the same subsidies. Minnesota's entire congressional delegation, Democrats and Republicans alike, issued a joint statement saying they were "disappointed that our state is facing a last-minute penalty" and "exploring possible paths forward." Sen. Patty Murray, Wash., the top Democrat on the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, said Trump should devote time to forging a bipartisan agreement to stabilize the ACA marketplaces. "If he is only interested in sabotaging the market, that is a dangerous road for him to ride, because he will own it," she said. --- The Washington Post's Amy Goldstein contributed to this report. The Star-Herald is inviting members of the community to stop by on Thursday, Oct. 5, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in their parking lot to celebrate National Newspaper Week and help a good cause. Dogs in the Lot not only celebrates newspapers, but is celebrating all dogs throughout the valley. The Star-Herald is offering free hot dogs and chips to the first 300 people who come to their parking lot to celebrate with them. Publisher Greg Awtry said he wanted to celebrate newspapers, but didnt want an event that just celebrated the Star-Herald. He wanted to thank loyal readers of the newspaper and help others. We wanted to celebrate (National Newspaper Week) by asking the community to come by for a free hot dog, he said. We then thought we could turn it into something good. There will also be a free-will offering for anyone wishing to donate to the new Monument View Dog Park in Gering. Connie Ernest, marketing director at the Star-Herald, said hot dogs and helping canines in the community fit well together. We wanted to do something more during this week where we could give back and get the community involved, she said. We know they are building a new dog park and thought it would be a great partnership with them. All proceeds raised will be donated to the Monument View Dog Park. TORRINGTON, Wyo. Eastern Wyoming College will host a tandem lecture series titled Utilizing Mediation Techniques in Criminal Justice Field featuring Melanie Worsley, assistant professor, Criminal Justice/Legal Studies Department, School of Applied Sciences, a visiting speaker from Washburn University. This lecture is sponsored by the EWC Criminal Justice Department and will be in the CTEC building room 101 on Wednesday, Oct. 11, at 6 p.m. and is free and open to the public. Although use of force issues have become a hot topic, criminal justice professionals do more than decide whether use of force is legally justifiable they must also know how to manage conflict. Mediation training provides criminal justice professionals with tools they can use to manage conflict. In this presentation, Worsley will use hands-on training to introduce mediation concepts and principles and will explore ways that criminal justice professionals can use mediation techniques in the field. She will also discuss the need for criminal justice professionals to have conflict management skills and the role Washburn Universitys mediation program plays in helping undergraduate criminal justice students develop these necessary skills. For information, contact Jeremy Christensen at 307-532-8367. LINCOLN A Gering woman is among 15 finalists named the Nebraska State Historical Society Foundation (NSHSF) for the Summer Photo Contest. The summer photo contest was created to raise awareness about the Nebraska Marker Project, an NSHSF initiative to help raise funds to repaint, repair and replace historical markers in need of maintenance. Jamie Connell, of Gering, is among the finalists. Other finalists were: Wayne Hathaway, Sterling, (2 Photos); Jeff Barnes, Omaha; Paul Leeper, Grand Island; James Frohman, Lincoln; Vern Greunke, Cedar Bluffs (3 Photos); Ryan Krenk, Pleasant Dale; Colleen Childers, Grand Island; Gretchen Garrison, Lincoln; and Troy Barker, Auburn. More than 170 online submissions were received during June, July and August. The top 15 photos are posted to the NSHSFs Facebook page for a public vote. The three photos that receive the most engagement (likes, reactions, comments, shares) through Oct. 5 will receive recognition and awards during the Nebraska State Historical Society annual meeting in October. The contest encouraged professional and amateur photographers to share each markers unique environment through photography. Each marker not only has its own history, but also its own picturesque landscape to appreciate and capture, said Leslie Fattig, NSHSF executive director. Final results will be announced at the Nebraska State Historical Society Annual Meeting, Thursday, Oct. 12. This has been one of those weeks, one you wish you could hit the rewind button and change everything. It started early Sunday night when a man opened fire on concert-goers in Las Vegas. He brutally murdered more than 50 people and wounded hundreds more, President Donald Trump said in a speech to the nation. It was an act of pure evil. Unfortunately, it is not the first time pure evil has shown its ugly face and it will not be the last. As we in the newspaper business are tasked with telling the stories of these evil acts whether it is Las Vegas, Virginia Tech, Syria, 9/11 or next door it is tough. Some think we live to cover the tragedies we dont and when we have to, our hearts also break. For Don Christensen, it was a plane crash with only one survivor (see his story in the Tuesday, Oct. 3, issue). For me, it was the Heather Guerrero murder. In these horrible events, we tell our readers what happened but we go deeper. We tell of the individuals involved and it is more than just a sound bite. On Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2001, in The Washington Post, Michael Powell painted a word-picture of the day before the day two airplanes smashed into the World Trade Center in New York, another crashed into the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and a fourth that was forced down by passengers in a Pennsylvania field. In his story, New York: A City Turned Upside Down, he told Peter Genovas story. He wrote, I remember coming down the steps, in the smoke, with water pouring in the dark, said Peter Genova, who worked at One World Trade Center, the North Tower. And all I saw was dozens and dozens of firemen and cops going up those steps to try and help people. Twenty minutes later, the building was gone. As almost 3,000 innocent people lost their lives that fateful day, the newspapers told the story and gave voice to our anger. At the Miami Herald, columnist Leonard Pitts Jr. said it best in his column on Sept. 12: ... in this moment of airless shock when hot tears sting disbelieving eyes, the only thing I can find to say, the only words that seem to fit, must be addressed to the unknown author of this suffering, he wrote. You monster. You beast. You unspeakable bastard. Pitts words could apply to the shooter, terrorist, in Las Vegas. The monsters motive in Vegas is still unknown, but we are getting to known the victims of his senseless hate. We read the stories of innocent victims such as Sandy Casey who was a middle school special education teacher, Sonny Melton who was a registered nurse, commercial fisherman Adrian Murfitt, police officer Sgt. Jeff Higbee and way too many others. We are also learning about some of the heroes of that night. The first responders, those who helped transport victims and the people of Las Vegas who, according the Las Vegas Sun, stood in line for hours to give blood. It is interesting how horrible events such as 9/11 or the mass shooting in Vegas highlights the evil in the world, but it also brings out the best in Americans. We come together and those of us who are journalists get to tell those stories. The newspaper business, which we are highlighting this week during National Newspaper Week, is not always fun. We try to detach ourselves from the stories we cover, but it is not easy. Whether it is a mass shooting, a plane crash or a feature on a personal trainer, we attempt to give you more than a quick paragraph. We try to paint a word-picture, with actual photographs to give you a feel for what is happening in the story. We seek to give you a deeper understanding of the people and issues. Besides being journalists, we are real people and in a broken world, we seek to give you real news that impacts us as it does you. We pray with our president and his wife for the entire nation to find unity and peace. While this tragedy has already stirred up the different political debates and finger pointing, Pitts words come back as still relevant for us today. Let me tell you about my people (Americans), he wrote. We are a vast and quarrelsome family, a family rent by racial, cultural, political and class division, but a family nonetheless. As journalists tell the stories of our communities, good and bad, let us always remember they are family stories. A Statesville man woke up to the sound of explosions early Thursday morning, smelled smoke, and then went outside to find his car on fire, according to the Statesville Fire Department. The strong, financially stable businesses that pay in time their dues to the state and generate profit represent roughly 5.6 pct of all companies in Romania, most of them being microenterprises, found a study conducted by a commercial risk management company sent to Agerpres on Thursday. These businesses generated over 86 pct of the profit made by all of Romanian companies and over 40 pct of the turnover they've got, says the study by Credintinfo Romania, conducted to inform the market about an international certificate on the respective companies. Rd 75 pct of these institutions are microenterprises. This percentage is by over 2 pct higher this year, against last year. "The analyses emphasize that it is much more profitable for a company to have a fair payment behavior. Moreover, the highest share of strong companies are the microenterprises, which are businesses counting for less than nine employees. Thus, the microenterprises are not weak companies, but on the contrary they are the Romanian economy's engine," the representatives of the research-makers say. The strong companies pay their dues to the state within 99 days, almost 4 time faster than the 355-day national average and 5 times faster as compared to the rest of the institutions that pay their dues in 542 days. In case of receivables recovery, a strong business is recovering them in 70 days, whilst the national average is over twice as big, at 166 days. The field with the most solvable, strongest businesses is road freight transport with almost 4,400 companies that observe the eligibility criteria, followed by retail businesses parked at over 3,000, and construction with rd 3,000 financially strong companies. President Klaus Iohannis will welcome on Monday at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, with talks focusing on the future summit of the North Atlantic Alliance and the eastern flank. "The agenda will include a hands-on assessment of the stage of the implementation of the decisions adopted at the NATO Summit in Warsaw in 2016 and the Brussels Summit in May 2017, as well as the preparation of the agenda and outcomes of the forthcoming 2018 NATO Summit. Aspects regarding the continuation of the process of adapting the Alliance to the complex international security environment, with focus on NATO's defensive and deterrence posture on the eastern flank, will hold an important position in the talks," the Presidential Administration said in a release to Agerpres on Thursday. After the talks, the two officials will hold a joint press statement. President Klaus Iohannis and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg will also participate in the opening of the 63rd session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly taking place at the Parliament Palace in Bucharest, with the head of the Romanian state delivering a speech to the plenary session. Monday afternoon President Klaus Iohannis and Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg will visit together the NATO Multinational Brigade South-East (MN BDE) based in Craiova. "The establishment of this NATO structure on Romania's territory is one of the major accomplishments of our country, decided by the heads of state and government present at the 2016 NATO Summit in Warsaw for strengthening security in the region. Combining the efforts of Romania, the allies and NATO as an organization, this structure is the expression of the underlying principles of the North Atlantic Alliance - solidarity and unity," the Presidential Administration underscores. The initial operational capability of MN BDE was declared this April and attaining the final operational capability is scheduled for November 2018; the ceremony for the activation as NATO Military International Headquarters took place in July 2017. On the occasion of the visit to Craiova, the two top officials will also meet with the Polish troops deployed to Romania as part of the Multinational Brigade. Harvey Weinstein, the movie mogul famous for releasing Oscar winners such as "The English Patient" and "Shakespeare in Love," took a leave of absence from his production company following allegations of sexual harassment raised in a New York Times article Thursday. Actress Ashley Judd was among the people claiming to have been harassed by the producer, who has been a fixture in Hollywood power circles for more than four decades. Weinstein has reached at least eight settlements with women, the newspaper reported, citing unnamed officials at the Weinstein Co., the film and TV production company Harvey founded in 2005 with his brother Bob. Among those agreeing to settlements were at least three employees and an unnamed actress. Lisa Bloom, an attorney advising the producer, said in a statement that "he denies many of the accusations as patently false." Weinstein, who was known for aggressively promoting his films at Oscar time with carefully calculated campaigns designed to woo Academy Awards voters, is best known as the founder of Miramax, the film producer that is a combination of his parents' first names. The brothers sold that business to Walt Disney Co. and ran it for several years, clashing at times with management over the release of films such as Michael Moore's "Fahrenheit 9/11." Two years ago the Manhattan District Attorney said it wouldn't pursue charges against Weinstein following a complaint that he groped a 22-year-old Italian model. The New York Times said an Italian model was among those who received settlements. ST. LOUIS A Cape Girardeau, Mo., man who murdered his wife in 2011 and then helped write a tell-all book while in prison on Thursday pleaded guilty in federal court to a related charge of interstate domestic violence. The plea agreement calls for a federal prison sentence of 35 years for James Clay Waller, 45, and bars him from making money from the book, a movie, or anything else that attempts to capture any part of his story either now or in the future. That seems like a long time, Waller told U.S. District Judge Audrey Fleissig in court. Fleissig can accept or reject the deal, and will decide once a presentence report has been completed. In court Thursday, Fleissig summarized the plea agreement, which says Waller dug a grave for his wife, Jacque Sue Waller, near Devils Island on the Illinois side of the Mississippi River northeast of Cape Girardeau on May 31, 2011. He then spent the night with his girlfriend in Illinois. He traveled to Missouri the next day for a meeting with his wife at a divorce lawyers office with the intent to kill her, Fleissig said. The couple had separated in March 2011. Waller had told Jacque Waller numerous times that if she tried to divorce him, she would be signing her death warrant, Fleissig said. After the meeting, Waller beat and strangled his wife at his home in Jackson, Mo., and then took her body by boat to the grave. Is that what you did in this case? Fleissig asked. Yes, Waller responded. The disappearance of the mother of 5-year-old triplets attracted national attention. Long under suspicion, Waller pleaded guilty in Cape Girardeau County Circuit Court in 2013 to second-degree murder as part of a deal that earned him a 20-year prison sentence. In return, Waller led investigators to his wifes body. But local officials and Jacque Wallers relatives were dissatisfied with the length of his sentence and asked federal officials to see if they could prosecute him also. The FBI and other investigators found inmates to whom he had confessed and found the manuscript in March 2016. He was indicted on the federal charge two months later. That 182-page manuscript, which was reviewed by the Post-Dispatch earlier this year before it was sealed, says that Waller killed his wife because he didnt want to be separated from his children by the divorce, which was prompted by Wallers wife discovering his affair. Waller first contemplated murder a year before he actually carried it out, and surveyed a 15-mile area along the Mississippi River by helicopter at that time to find a site and dig a grave, the manuscript says. But he claims he resolved to fix the marriage. In handwritten notes, Waller writes that he wants the book to go into local schools and libraries and hopes for some pen pals out of the project. Its not clear how many of the claims in the manuscript are true. His descriptions of the murder in the manuscript, and in his 2013 guilty plea, are contradicted by the autopsy, a filing from Assistant U.S. Attorney Larry Ferrell says. Waller also mocks investigators, and betrays the confidences of alleged lovers and those to whom he claims he confessed the crime. Wallers lawyer, John Lynch, had sought to get the federal charge tossed out, saying a federal charge for the same murder would be double jeopardy and prosecuting Waller for the book would be a violation of his free speech rights. Ferrell responded in court filings that Waller was told that his guilty plea wouldnt prevent a federal charge or a charge in Illinois. Ferrell also said that the discovery of the book did not prompt the federal charge. Waller withdrew his legal challenges Aug. 23. His sentencing was set for Jan. 16. The 35-year sentence would run at the same time as his state sentence. HILLSBORO A man who killed six people in Illinois nine years ago pleaded guilty Wednesday to murdering a couple at a hotel in Festus and then dropped to his knees to apologize for what he did. Judge Gary Kramer sentenced Nicholas Sheley to life without the possibility of parole for the murder of Tom and Jill Estes. He also sentenced Sheley to 75 years for two counts of armed criminal action. But the sentence wasnt enough for some of the couples survivors, who say Missouri prosecutors dashed their hope for a chance at the death penalty. About 40 people filled the courtroom for the hourlong hearing, most of them relatives and friends of his eight victims. When Sheley was asked if he had something to say, he spoke publicly for the first time in his court proceedings. It took him about 20-minutes to read a 14-page statement in which he said he wished he could go back in time and talk to the disgruntled young man that he was and take back what he had done. He begged the families for forgiveness and dropped to his knees to apologize for the murders. Sheley also apologized to police, crime scene technicians, reporters and others touched by his crimes. He said he was shocked that Missouri prosecutors took the death penalty off the table, and that he hoped that God would use him to help other prisoners. He even quoted from The Shawshank Redemption, referring to prisoners repeated appearances before parole boards pledging that they had changed. He mentioned Morgan Freemans character, Red, and how he said not a day goes by that he didnt regret what he had done. What I did about 10 years ago was wrong on every level, unjustified, completely uncalled for, cowardly acts, Sheley said, weeping as he read. His words did not sway the victims relatives. You know what its like to be in the presence of pure evil. You can feel it as soon as he walks in the room, said Patrick Steed, who was the Esteses son-in-law. Cari Randall, whose father was one of Sheleys murder victims in Galesburg, Ill., said, We are all angry and disappointed. This is totally unjust. That was not a victory. As for Sheleys apology, Randall was unimpressed. I believe they do offer acting classes in prison, she said. She traveled from central Illinois for the hearing, and said she had to attend because the Estes family had gone to his trials in Illinois. Dallas Branson, whose only son, Brock, 25, was among Sheleys victims, said he didnt believe anything Sheley said. He is a manipulator and its pure evil when you kill eight people, said Branson, who traveled from Sterling, Ill., for the sentencing. A bad guy can make an apology but there is no apology for killing eight people. Sheley is serving life sentences for the six slayings in Illinois. Illinois prosecutors dropped their pursuit of the death penalty for Sheley there after former Gov. Pat Quinn signed legislation abolishing the death penalty in 2011. I believe God is intervening and wants to use me as an ambassador to help the lost find their way, Sheley said after thanking Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney Forrest Wegge for sparing his life. Prosecutors in Jefferson County filed notice on June 8, 2015, of their intent to press for Sheleys execution if he was convicted of murdering the Esteses. But they changed that strategy with no explanation. And after Wednesdays sentencing, Wegge read from a statement but did not address why prosecutors decided against pursuing the death penalty. In a jailhouse interview after the sentencing hearing, Sheley said he wrote his statement just hours before the hearing and doesnt know why prosecutors spared his life. He said he had been suicidal early on, and had been preparing to face the death penalty in Missouri for years. I didnt see it coming, he said. Sheley said the murders of the Esteses and all of the others were split-second decisions. These things werent planned out, he said. Of his motive in killing the Esteses, Sheley said simply, We crossed paths. The couple had lived in Arkansas. The Jennings High School sweethearts were the last of Sheleys victims eight in all, police said. Sheley had already killed a 93-year-old man in his hometown of Sterling, Ill.; four people including a 2-year-old in Rock Falls, Ill.; and a 65-year-old man in Galesburg, Ill. Police believed he came to Jefferson County because he was looking for a woman who once wrote to Sheley from a home in Festus when he happened upon the couple at the hotel. After a nationwide manhunt, Sheley was arrested July 1, 2008, outside Bindys bar in Granite City. Patrons recognized him from media coverage. Prosecutors in Illinois alleged in 2013 that Sheleys rampage was prompted by his belief that one of his victims, Brock Branson, was having an affair with his wife. Another witness told police Sheley and Branson had argued about drugs. In the interview Wednesday, he confirmed that he had suspected his wife was having an affair with Branson. He said he believed his wife met Branson when she came to visit him in an Illinois prison and Branson was there to visit a different inmate. I saw him peek his head around the corner for just a second, he said, imitating a quick motion. And that was it. Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Steve Jerrell read a victim impact statement from Jill Estes sister, Sandra Behlmann, that talked about Estes teaching career working with special needs children. She devoted her life to make the world a better place, Behlmann said. Sheley has been awaiting trial at the Jefferson County Jail in Hillsboro since February 2015. He said he has been educating himself while behind bars and reading mostly the Bible especially what it says about forgiveness. Im not blind to the pain people feel because of the things I have done, and I dont like that they have to live their life without their loved ones, but also, the way they feel toward me, I know thats a burden that they carry, he said. I dont want them to forget, but I do want their forgiveness. Thats why I got down on my knees. To humble myself. Asked what was next for him, Bostic said he would get a job and enjoy the simple things in life learning to drive again just everyday things that people take for granted. Updated Thursday evening with name of child who died. POCAHONTAS A 4-year-old girl was killed and five members of her family were injured in a house fire Wednesday morning. Bond County Coroner Anthony Brooks said the girl was pronounced dead after the early morning fire in the 500 block of Academy Street in Pocahontas, a village about 40 miles northeast of St. Louis. The other family members, including 15-month-old twins, escaped out a window, he said. On Thursday, he identified the child who died as Hannah A. Nance. Brian Wilson, EMS chief in Highland, said the fire was about as bad as it gets. Ive been doing this for 41 years and Ive seen some pretty bad incidents anytime it involves an entire family, anytime you lose a child, anytime someone loses all of their possessions, its heartbreaking, Wilson said. The 15-month-old twins, both girls, a 12-year-old boy and the childrens parents were all injured. One of the twins was taken by helicopter to Cardinal Glennon Childrens Hospital in St. Louis, Wilson said. The mother was taken by helicopter to Mercy St. Louis in Creve Coeur. The other twin and the 12-year-old were taken initially to St. Josephs Hospital in Highland, then later transferred to Cardinal Glennon. The father was taken to HSHS Holy Family Hospital in Greenville, Ill. Pocahontas-Old Ripley Fire Chief Dennis Lindley said he was told the father had been released from the hospital Wednesday night. The conditions of the other family members were unavailable. Lindley said the cause of the fire was under investigation. This is probably one of the worst fires Ive seen in my village here in 20 years, he said. Its horrible anytime there is a death, especially involving a child. They lost everything. The fire chief was on the first firetruck to arrive at the house about 2:20 a.m., he said. By then the raging fire had caught on to a neighboring home. Firefighters immediately put out the second blaze, but battled the large fire at the home for hours with help from several area fire departments. Flames were blowing out of the upstairs and downstairs windows of the house, Lindley said. Arriving firefighters found the parents and three children outside a nearby church. Lindely said he was told the family escaped the fire by climbing out of a second-story window and down from a part of the roof that was about 12 feet high. A wall of the church was damaged from the intense heat of the fire, and the neighboring house that caught flames was also damaged, Lindley said. The house where the fire started was destroyed, Wilson said. At one point it was a two-story home, he said. After, it was just a partial wall standing. Thats all that was left. Fire officials in Pocahontas posted information about the family on its Facebook page, asking the community to donate clothing because they had lost everything. Randi Smith, an EMS lieutenant and firefighter with Pocahontas, said everyone in the village of about 700 people knows the family. She said donations can be sent to the fire house at 4 West State Street, Pocahontas, Ill., 62275. Lindley said anyone wanting to donate to the family can also call the fire station at 618-669-2349. Lindley said the family, whom he did not know personally, had lived in town for a few years but that news of the fatal fire sent a shock all around town. He said area residents were pulling together to support the family. Its hard on the community, but a small town like this sticks together. Almost everyone in Pocahontas was aware of the fire by 4 a.m., said October Weiss, a longtime resident and close friend of the family. The flames were visible from several points throughout the town of about 800 people, she said. "The glow from the fire, you could just see it," she said. A neighbor had called Weiss about 3 a.m., she said. "It takes a second to set in," she said. "Then your heart breaks." "Even if you didn't know them, your heart breaks. We're a little town you don't expect things like that to happen." Weiss has known the family for at least 5 years. They met when the 12-year-old boy was in her Cub Scouts troop. Weiss babysat the 4-year-old girl who died in the fire and was present at the birth of the 15-month-old twins. "They're just a great family, good people," she said. "Just a small town family." A tree outside the house had been decorated with flowers and teddy bears, Weiss said. Students throughout Bond County were asked to wear purple clothes to school Thursday in honor of the 4-year-old girl. "Purple was her favorite color," Weiss said. "She was so sweet." Weiss had been in contact with a grandmother of the children throughout the day as she helped collect donations for the family. She said the family was asking for financial contributions for funeral services, and that they needed basic items to help them through the coming days. "It was fantastic," Weiss said about the amount collected Wednesday. "We had an outpouring of love. We can never replace what they had but, just giving them a little of something is a whole lot." UPDATED at 10 p.m. with information about woman found St. Louis County police said late Wednesday a woman with schizophrenia who went missing earlier in the day has been found. Police issued an advisory for the woman, who was reported missing around noon from the 6700 block of Blossom View Drive in North County. The department tweeted around 10 p.m. that the woman had been located and police thanked the public for assisting in the search. JEFFERSON CITY An employee at Missouris mental hospital in Fulton is suing the state and two co-workers for discrimination, saying he was assigned to tougher jobs and called racist names because he is black. The case brought by security aid Jerome Morgan, who is from Jamaica, is the latest in a series of discrimination cases brought by state workers, including a recent decision that could award $2 million to a female employee of the Missouri Department of Corrections. Morgan, a Jefferson City resident who secures patients and provides security for workers at the sprawling facility, is asking for $25,000 in damages. According to the lawsuit, Morgan and other black workers were assigned to tasks that present a higher risk for physical violence than their white colleagues in August 2016. The suit says one white co-worker told him, I hate black people. Others, on numerous occasions, said, They need to go back to their country. The lawsuit, which was filed in Cole County by attorney Rod Chapel, president of the Missouri NAACP, said the derogatory comments were reported to department supervisors, but no action was taken to address the allegations. The suit also notes that training should have been provided to workers to make employment based decisions without racial animus or discriminatory bias. Plaintiff has suffered and continues to suffer mental anguish and emotional distress, including but not limited to depression, humiliation, embarrassment, stress and anxiety, loss of self-esteem and self-confidence, emotional pain and suffering, the lawsuit notes. A spokeswoman for the Missouri Department of Mental Health said the agency does not comment on pending litigation. In the past five years, state taxpayers have been charged more than $52 million to settle lawsuits against state agencies, with the majority of those awards coming from cases involving discrimination. In 2016, for example, a jury awarded prison worker Debra Hesse $1.9 million in response to her allegations of gender discrimination, harassment and retaliation against the Missouri Department of Corrections. Also in 2016, former Rep. Gracia Backer won a $2 million settlement after being fired from the Missouri Department of Labor in 2013 because she complained that her boss former Department of Labor Director Larry Rebman had created a hostile work environment. In 2015, Terrie Fuchs was awarded $1.7 million after a jury agreed that she was mistreated by her supervisors in the Missouri Department of Revenue because she had cerebral palsy. Earlier this year, House Minority Leader Gail McCann Beatty, D-Kansas City, sponsored legislation calling for more transparency in legal costs. Attorney General Josh Hawley began releasing a monthly report detailing how much money the state is spending to settle cases. And, Auditor Nicole Galloway, in a report issued last month, recommended the state improve its monitoring of legal cases in order to adequately budget for legal expenses. Not long ago, Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., the chair of the Foreign Relations Committee and a man physically incapable of hyperventilation questioned Donald Trumps stability and competence. Now he has said that chief of staff John Kelly, Secretary of Defense James Mattis and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson are the people that help separate our country from chaos. In this case, chaos has a name. Corker has essentially described the commander in chief as a danger in need of management. The doctrine of containment, evidently, must begin at home. Elected Republicans will eventually be judged, not so much for what they have believed, but for what many have tolerated. They have tolerated Trumps irritable narcissism and rule by ridicule. They have tolerated nepotism, incompetence and malice on a grand scale. They have tolerated Trumps unique brand of disaster management divisive, self-serving, conspiratorial (in attributing Puerto Ricos desperate pleas for help to a Democratic plot) and more concerned with discrediting critics than demonstrating competence. And they have tolerated a string of presidential reactions including to the Charlottesville protests and murder and to the sincere sideline activism led by African-American athletes that amount to a racially charged pattern. I know his hearts in the right place, vouches House Speaker Paul Ryan, at the low point (so far) of Republican self-abasement. This indicates a GOP establishment so shaken, so uncertain of its place, that it is willing to swallow broken glass on presidential demand. A Republican establishment surrendering the last remaining redoubts of its integrity. A Republican establishment that justifies all the contempt that Trump heaps upon it. Giving up on an occasional economic principle, or making a compromise on social policy, is an uncomfortable but unavoidable part of a public life. Accommodating racial demagoguery is a failure of courage and morality that wont be forgotten. Many elected Republicans are earning Prufrocks judgment: In short, they were afraid. Many, but not all. If the party cant be fixed, said Ohio Gov. John Kasich, then Im not going to be able to support the party, period. Leaving the party entirely might be the natural instinct of a serious and centered politician. But it also plays into the Breitbart/Steve Bannon strategy of ideological conquest. They hope to return the Republican Party to the nativism, protectionism and isolationism of the 1930s. And if their movement also reflects some of the prevailing racial attitudes of that time, so be it. Wink. Nudge. This vision may be rancid, but it is clear and powerful rooted in the fear of rapid economic and social change and propelled by reliable resentments. The 1980s ideology of tax-rate cuts embodied in the current Republican tax bill looks pale and weak in comparison. If the GOP struggle comes down to ethno-nationalism vs. supply-side economics, there is little doubt about the outcome. Human beings are wired for tribal loyalties, not for the appreciation of economic principles. Powerful movements, good and bad from prairie populism, to the original America First, to civil rights have embodied a conception of the nation and its true identity. What would a compelling alternative to the Bannon appeal look like? It would be an improvement for mainstream Republicans to even ask the question. Kasich is. So are Sens. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., and Ben Sasse, R-Neb., at great political risk. Republican reconstruction will involve a new policy agenda, focused particularly on mitigating the painful adjustments brought on by globalization and technological change. But Trumpism has succeeded as a political movement in the total absence of serious policy, and its unlikely to be defeated by avenging wonks. At the least, the Republican renovation project will need to show some moral outrage that American politics has been hijacked by blind partisans and those who make a living through inciting division. It will require a healthy nationalism free from nativism; a populism that recognizes the failures of the political class but responds with reform rather than recrimination; the elevation of empiricism and competence as political ideals; an appeal to the healing and bridging role of faith; a touch of Lincolns belief in the shared responsibility for failure and the shared calling of forgiveness. Most of all, this project will require a leader (and, eventually, leaders) who actually believes in something, totally and convincingly. The simple force of contagious principle is often underestimated. Look at interviews with Margaret Thatcher during her political rise. She radiates confidence. She is certain that her ideas will persuade. This charisma of conviction is the single greatest need of the GOP today. And its most glaring absence. Michael Gerson Copyright The Washington Post On Sunday, the 17th day of protests over the verdict in the Jason Stockley trial, a group of activists gathered at the Wohl Recreation Center on North Kingshighway and then fanned out across north St. Louis. Their purpose: to register voters and hook residents up with job resources. For all of the attention-grabbing street and mall protests, for all of the confrontations between angry protesters and angry police officers, for all of The Peoples Demands issued last week, what happened Sunday is a far more effective way forward. The organizers decided that we would go to the economically distressed areas in our communities to provide resources to talk about voter registration, to talk about the services provided by SLATE and other organizations, state Rep. Bruce Franks Jr. told the St. Louis American. We thought it was time to canvass these neighborhoods to provide resources, not just when its time to vote. Franks came to prominence a year ago when he challenged his loss to incumbent Penny Hubbard in the Aug. 2 Democratic primary for 78th District state House seat. After a judge ordered a do-over election, Franks proved to be a savvy retail-level politician and crushed Hubbard in the rematch. If he and his supporters can increase turnout across north St. Louis, it could spark massive and potentially long-lasting change. Among the streets canvassed was the 5100 block of Maffitt Avenue in the Kingsway West neighborhood. There, in precinct 2 of the 1st Ward, only 1,080 residents are registered voters. And a mere 186 of them 17.2 percent voted in April. Another area canvassed was around Lillian and Arlington avenues in the Mark Twain neighborhood. The area lies in the 27th Ward, whose eight precincts turned out at an average rate of 19.2 percent on April 4. If you could get turnout in these precincts up to the citywide mark of 30.1, or better yet match the registration and turnout in the heavy voting 16th and 23rd wards in south St. Louis, then change is not only possible but inevitable. Why do candidates spend so much money to influence voters? Because thats where the real power is. But elections are slow and tedious. Its more satisfying, albeit less productive, to demand the resignations of the mayor and acting police chief. Its easier to demand getting rid of cash bail and the closing of the Medium Security Institution (Workhouse) without acknowledging that 85 percent of city jail and Workhouse inmates are awaiting trial on felony charges not for busted tail-lights. Street protests make the indignities suffered by people of color harder to ignore. It feels righteous. But political power, from grassroots organizing, is the real change agent. It begins by doing what Franks and others did last Sunday. The trick is to sustain it. Warwick Crown Court A FORMER police officer charged with a string of alleged historic sexual offences against children denied the allegations in court last week. Timothy Lively, aged 58, of Old School Mead, Bidford, appeared at Warwickshire Magistrates Court on Wednesday 27th September, charged with 19 non-recent sex offences that date back to the 1970s and 1980s in Stratford when he was an officer with Warwickshire Police. These are one count of the rape of a child, 15 counts of indecent assault, one count of indecency with a child, and two other serious offences. The alleged offences are against both males and females. The case was adjourned until Friday, 27th October, when he will appear before a judge at Warwick Crown Court. Magistrates granted Mr Lively unconditional bail and his barrister, Dean George, indicated to the court that his client would be entering a plea of not guilty. John Bartlett, prosecuting, said there were no objections to this arrangement. Wearing a dark blue suit and tie, Mr Lively stood during the brief hearing and only spoke twice throughout, once to confirm his name and address, and secondly to confirm he understood the conditions of his bail which he did with a nod of his head and said yes sir as he addressed the magistrates bench. Press seated in the public gallery were reminded that no details about the alleged victims could be published in order to protect their identities. At the conclusion of the hearing Mr Lively, who rose to the rank of sergeant while serving with Warwickshire Police in the 1970s and 80s, left Warwickshire Justice Centre swiftly and climbed into a black BMW car evading waiting press photographers. Back in November the Herald revealed that a major police investigation was underway into allegations of sexual abuse at a childrens care home in Stratford during the 1970s and 1980s. Police have not confirmed the name of the childrens home, but according to Herald sources it was on Drayton Avenue and closed in the 1980s. Three US Army special operations commandos have been killed and two others injured in Niger. Colloquially known as the Green Berets, the special forces came under fire in the West African country on Wednesday, sources told the Associated Press. The forces were near the capital Niamey when the incident happened, officials said on condition of anonymity. The two wounded ones were reportedly taken to a hospital in Niamey, where they remained in a stable condition. The Takfiri members of the so-called al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb were tapped as the possible attackers. Five Nigerien soldiers were among the dead, said Namatta Abubacar, an official for the region of Tillaberi in Niger The forces were allegedly part of a joint US-Nigerien patrol, operating north of Niamey and near the Mali border, when they came under "hostile fire," according to statement released later by the US Africa Command. They are supposedly providing "training and security assistance" to the Nigerien Armed Forces to fight against violent extremists and terrorists there. The US Armys measures in the impoverished country involve support for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) efforts, read the statement. According to the White House, US President Donald Trump was notified of the deadly ambush as he was flying aboard Air Force One from Las Vegas to Washington Wednesday night. We are working to confirm details on the incident and will have more information as soon as we can confirm facts on the ground, a spokesman for the US Africa Command told The Washington Post. A Niger diplomatic source also told Reuters the attackers had crossed the border from Mali. These militants have proven remarkably resilient, exploiting local and/or ethnic grievances to embed themselves into communities as well as political borders and differences to escape capture, J. Peter Pham, a vice president at the Atlantic Councils Africa Center in Washington, told The New York Times. It was no accident that this attack took place near Nigers border with Mali, an area that has seen numerous incidents in recent years. . To do so, first type the original number into the text box. Then click on the "Scientific Notation" option located at the top of the floating window. Finally, click on the "Standard" button found beneath the text box to display your result. This program is useful for scientists and engineers working with decimal-based numbers. It provides easy access to those who need to convert those numbers into more compact forms without having to do heavy math calculations first. Scientific notation is a way to express very large or very small numbers. It is used in physics, chemistry and other fields where large numbers are common. Those numbers are written as a power of 10 followed by a number with an exponent. For example, 1,000,000 (one million) is written as 1 103. The exponent shows how many zeros are after the first digit. For example, 1,000,001 is written as 1 102. Scientific notation is a useful tool for making calculations easier. You can use it to write down very big or very small numbers in one step instead of writing out both the large and small numbers separately. You can also use it to express large or small numbers in terms of other units like centimeters or millimeters. Scientific notation solver is an online tool that can be used to convert any number into scientific notation. Simply enter any number to the left of the decimal point and it will automatically convert it into a scientific notation equivalent. This web tool can be very helpful when you need to convert a large number into scientific notation. However, please note that this online tool can only convert numbers that are in scientific format. For example, it cannot convert a non-scientific number like "1,085" into a scientific notation equivalent. It is also important to keep in mind that this web tool only works when converting numbers from one particular format to another. For example, if you want to change a non-scientific number like "1,085" into standard format, then you will have to use another online tool like NumberFormatting.com. Business strategist Nick Harvey is headlining TEDxin Tauranga this Saturday, where he will discuss fulfilling both leadership and life potential. Nick, who grew up in in Tauranga, could very well have been discussing a different kind of life potential if he had followed another path. It was the Bachelor of Management Studies at Waikato or jazz music down in Wellington! The reason I chose the BMS was because I had been working for a few years and the marketing major appealed to me having had some sales experience. Nick now heads his own company, NJ Harvey Consulting, where he works directly with business owners, boards, CEOs and their leadership teams on leadership, strategy and execution. Focusing on three key pillars, strategy, culture and the market, he concentrates on strategic planning, team culture and customer experience with a specialisation in leadership, team engagement and sales strategy. When asked about his own mentors and people who have inspired him in life, Nick acknowledges his father. My dad is the primary influence. Growing up as the son of a chartered accountant, the family discussions always turned to business and I developed my knowledge and passion during my teenage years. For the past seven years, Nick has consulted to business owners and leaders throughout NZ and internationally. Prior to this, he worked in the US for five years before returning to NZ in 2002. It was this time in America which Nick identifies as a major milestone in his professional career. In my view, its the most competitive commercial environment in the world, which was a major part of my development. In my experience, Kiwis are much less kill or be killed as the Americans and are less likely to hold their team accountable for poor performance in the direct manner that they do in the USA. The other major milestone for me was owning and managing a commercial packaging company for six and a half years upon my return to New Zealand. It had been poorly managed and I had to use all my skills and commercial acumen to turn it into a highly successful business. As part of his TEDx talk this Saturday, Nick will address key leadership questions, including what is the number one job of a leader, and what is the key to breaking through and fulfilling your potential. The key take is around the unspoken conversation, he says. I want people to walk away asking themselves what change will they make to their own life pattern or routine that will allow them to fulfil their full life potential. And as for the road not taken as a musician, Nick has been in a number of bands throughout the years and still enjoys playing at home. I may still have that hit song in me somewhere! TEDx Tauranga takes place on October 7 at Holy Trinity Church, 215 Devonport Rd, Tauranga. For tickets and more information visit: http://www.tedxtauranga.com The president of the Catalonian government, Carles Puigdemont, has encouraged independence supporters to continue to "defend" the referendum planned for 1 October with "civility" and "conviction", despite the Spanish authorities' measures this week to stop the vote. Speaking on Friday he said that the prime minister Mariano Rajoy had "crossed many red lines" and that there were "contingency plans" to make sure the vote goes ahead. / AFP On Wednesday, following court orders, Guardia Civil officers seized almost ten million voting slips for the planned 1 October vote stored at a printers outside Barcelona in what independence referendum organisers said was a blow for their hopes of staging the vote. The ballot boxes however still havent been found by investigators. Earlier on Wednesday a Barcelona judge ordered Guardia Civil officers to also carry out 41 searches and arrest several regional government chiefs and business people suspected of helping plans for the referendum. The police intervention sparked an immediate wave of demonstrations across the Catalonian capital that lasted into early Friday morning. In all, fourteen people were detained in police raids, including the general secretary of the Catalonian finance and economy ministry, other holders of government posts and technology specialists working for the government. Some were later released after questioning and many have appealed their arrest. Protesters in favour of the banned vote on independence going ahead gathered outside the buildings being searched. The Guardia Civil carried on in the offices of the regional economy ministry through the night and into Thursday morning, with demonstrators barring their exit. Some of the police vehicles parked outside were heavy damaged by vandalism. Take your dirty hands off Catalonia Speaking in the Spanish parliament chamber on Wednesday, pro-independence MP from Catalonias ERC party, Gabriel Rufian accused Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy of organising the raids for political motives. Weve woken up with the Guardia Civil outside our friends homes...I insist that you take your dirty hands off Catalonian institutions, he said. Carles Puigdemont. / REUTERS In reply Rajoy said in front of MPs that the police action was on the instructions of a judge and had nothing to do with the national government. Iam not going to explain what Rule of Law means;this is an operation carried out on a judges instructions. Catalonian pro-independence MPs of all parties then walked out of the debating chamber. Other national politicians reacted to the news. Ciudadanos Albert Rivera said that he supported Rajoys stance while the PSOESocialist party explained that it also supported Madrids upholding of the Spanish constitution by stopping the regional referendum, but called on both the national and regional governments to start dialogue on a long-term solution to their differences. Meanwhile left-wing Podemos leader, Pablo Iglesias said he was against the arrests and lamented that, in his view, the national government appeared to be taking political prisoners. The Catalonian president, Carles Puigdemont, appearing with his cabinet, was defiant, accusing Madrid of totalitarian and antidemocratic behaviour. On 1 October well leave home, pick up a voting paper and well use it, he said. 'No more than a pipe dream After a day of high drama in Catalonia on Wednesday, Mariano Rajoy appeared in the evening live from his official residence to say:They know that they cannot hold this referendum now; it was never legal or legitimate, and now it is no more than a pipe dream. The vote and the preparations for it have been banned by Spanish courts for being against the countrys constitution. Last week over 700 pro-independence local mayors were placed under investigation for allegedly using council resources to help arrange the vote. SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Onondaga County has installed a new dock on the north side of Onondaga Lake. The dock sits on a lake outlet on the east bank of the Seneca River, near the Syracuse Chargers boathouse. A local company, River Rock Dock Inc. of Chittenango, worked on the project. The dock can serve any watercraft, but it will also be part of the upcoming water taxi service to and from summer concerts at the Lakeview Amphitheater. County Executive Joanie Mahoney has publicly discussed the idea of a water taxi to cut down on concert traffic and to serve residents around the lake. "Not only will we have the most beautiful amphitheater in the state, but when we're done, we will be the most easily accessed," said Mahoney. Mahoney discussed the idea last June, indicating people would park in new lots and come by water taxi to the amphitheater's new dock, which opened last summer for the 2017 summer concert season. A parking lot with about 60 spaces will be developed next to the dock. Currently, the area has been staked out and covered with gravel. Boat cleats have been installed on the new dock in Onondaga Lake Park. (Scott Schild) A 2016 proposal in front of the county legislature allocated $1.7 million to build the new dock on the lake's north side and the dock next to the Amp, at Lakeview Pointe Landing. The money came from a state grant ($750,000) and from a settlement with Honeywell ($950,000), said county legislature chairman Ryan McMahon last year. The state money was part of the 2015 "Capital for a Day" grant given by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, to be used in part as construction money to preserve jobs and to boost tourism in the Central New York region. This week, county officials also announced a new partnership with state canal officials to dredge the Inner Harbor. "We are optimistic that a water taxi will soon be able to use the south end of the lake as well," said county spokesman Justin Sayles. State Canal Corp. spokesman Steve Gosset said it's too early to predict when the dredging will occur. The county does not yet have details on water taxi fares to and from the amphitheater. A water taxi service on Buffalo's Lake Erie waterfront costs $4 one way and $8 for a round trip. Scott Schild contributed to this report. Katrina Tulloch writes music and culture stories for Syracuse.com and The Post-Standard. Contact her: Email | Twitter | Facebook SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Two Upstate University Hospital registered nurses were among 300 volunteers who flew to Puerto Rico Wednesday to provide care and relief to Hurricane Maria victims. Llamara Padro-Milano, of Syracuse, who works at Upstate's Community campus, and Justin Farrier, of Remsen, a peri-operative nurse, joined a delegation of 300 union nurses, electricians and other workers from across the country on a flight donated by American Airlines. Padro-Milano, a 40-year veteran nurse, was born in Puerto Rico and has family there. "Thank God they are OK," she said. "This is my opportunity to give back to the people and the island I love with the hands and heart of a nurse." Farrier has worked at Upstate for one year. "I love to help those that cannot take care of themselves and get them back up on their feet," Farrier said. They and other volunteers will work at hospitals and clinics in Puerto Rico for two weeks. Farrier and Padro-Milano are members of the New York Public Employees Federation union, an affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers. The AFT represents 40,000 educators in Puerto Rico and has been providing aid and support since the hurricane hit. The United Airlines flight, that departed from Newark, also transported more than 30,000 pounds of emergency relief supplies. Contact James T. Mulder anytime: Email | Twitter | 315-470-2245 Syracuse, N.Y. -- Toxins from blue-green algae in Skaneateles Lake continue to infiltrate the city of Syracuse's intake pipes for drinking water nearly three weeks after the algae bloom was first confirmed. "I don't think it's a surprise," said Lloyd Wilson, director of water quality initiatives for the state's Center of Environmental Health. "The weather has been consistently warm for this time of year. The blooms come and go for reasons we don't totally know." The algae, which are actually a form of bacteria, flourish in hot, dry weather like the kind Central New York has had for weeks. The levels of microcystins have been persistent since the bloom began in mid-September. Results from state testing, posted to the Onondaga County Health Department website, show the two intake pipes in the lake continue to pull in small amounts of the toxins. The latest samples, taken Tuesday, show both pipes with levels of microcystins above the warning level for small children. (See chart below.) Health department officials stress, however, that drinking water is safe. All points along the drinking water system beyond the intake pipes have shown either much lower levels or non-detectable levels of microcystins. The water has been safe to drink since the bloom started, said Dr. Indu Gupta, the county's health commissioner. "Our first goal is to have safe water, which we have," Gupta said. "Our second goal is to continue to do this testing as long as it's necessary." Testing will continue until all samples, including the intake pipes, show non-detectable amounts, health officials have said. The city does not filter drinking water from Skaneateles Lake, but has been adding extra chlorine to the water since the bloom began. Health officials say that has reduced the toxin levels before the water reaches the tap. Of the 32 samples taken from the Syracuse intake pipes since the state's testing began Sept. 18, all but four have shown levels of microcystins higher than the most stringent standards. The most recent levels were 0.37 parts per billion in one pipe and 0.58 ppb in the other. The standard for drinking water for small children is 0.3 ppb. Half of the samples taken in the city's gatehouse, where the intake pipes bring water from the lake, have shown no detectable levels of microcystins. The most recent gatehouse test, from Tuesday, showed none. Gutpa said residents who draw water directly from Skaneateles Lake should not drink their water. In high doses, microcystins can cause gastrointestinal illness and liver damage. Health officials hope cooler weather will eventually diminish the algae blooms and their toxins. "I never prayed for cold weather in my life, but I am this year," Gupta joked. Microcystin levels (ppb) in Skaneateles Lake Sample date Intake 1 Intake 2 Gatehouse 18-Sep 0.32 0.26 0.26 19-Sep 0.49 0.62 0.26 20-Sep 0.44 0.28 0.25 21-Sep 0.26 0.20 0.19 22-Sep 0.19 0.22 ND 23-Sep ND ND ND 24-Sep 0.34 0.46 ND 25-Sep 0.77 0.40 ND 26-Sep 0.25 0.56 ND 27-Sep 0.31 0.65 ND 28-Sep ND ND ND 29-Sep 0.21 0.24 0.18 30-Sep 0.53 0.77 0.16 1-Oct 0.20 0.33 0.16 2-Oct 0.28 0.40 0.19 3-Oct 0.37 0.58 ND Source: Onondaga County Health Department EPSON's Gift of Brightness (GoB) aims to equip deserving schools and students who lack technology resources to support the faculty and to help students in their school requirements. Each of the beneficiary schools received Epson printers, projectors, document camera and other Epson products and supplies. Teacher Coordinator Evangeline Sason, Science Teacher Edelynn Sampedro Calizar and Principal Marissa Cristobal of Ninoy Aquino Elementary School, one of the beneficiary schools of EPSON Philippines' Gift of Brightness Program We were truly inspired by the stories we received from them, motivating us to help more schools under this program We are focusing on selecting schools from areas that have yet to receive a similar donation, and we are working with partners from both the private and government sectors to help us complete this latest batch The beneficiary school had earlier received an Epson Technology package that includes the L220 Multifunction Color Printers and L Series Inks; M100 Single Function Monochrome Printers and Inks; an LQ310 Dot Matrix Printer and SIDM Ribbons, LW400 Label Printers and LW Ribbons, Epson projectors and a document camera The Epson Gift of Brightness program is our advocacy for education and the Filipino youth. After our first partnership with the Department of Education last year, we are now embarking on another batch of beneficiaries of the Epson-DepEd Gift of Brightness, and some other schools that have directly asked Epson for help. We are focusing on selecting schools from areas that have yet to receive a similar donation. The new batch of GoB schools will be very soon It's true.In fact, here in our country,has what they call "" programs through which they provide deserving schools and students with tools, skills, and materials that they can use to enhance the learning experience.Launched in December 2017,Last August 16, 2017, Epson Philippines awarded the Top 5 students in its Gift of Brightness (GoB), an activity that encourages students from the beneficiary schools to share stories on how the Epson products helped them make learning an exciting and productive experience.The winners were each awarded an, while their respective schools received Epson inks and ribbons to be used in the previously donated Epson printers.The winning essays for the GoB Honor Roll Contest are:Makabagong Teknolohiya by Jesamel A. Gamit Grade 6San Jose Elementary School Pag-ibig sa Nayon Annex, Quezon CityVisualist by Zean Clifford Gaut Dellera, Grade Vi-Camia San Joaquin Central School, San Joaquin Palo, LeyteUplifting the Youth to the 21st century by Mariah Jen P. LorenzoSchool Ninoy Aquino Elementary SchoolMy Door for the 21st century by Hailey SeloterioSchool: Ninoy Aquino Elementary SchoolThe Change Just Came by Marinzki R. VictorioSchool: Ninoy Aquino Elementary SchoolFor this GoB Honor Roll essay-writing contest, we asked the students to write about how the Epson technology package helped them in their studies., shares, Head of Marketing Communications and PR, Epson Philippines.Epson Philippines has just finished awarding a new set of 15 schools last March 2017, bringing the current total of GoB beneficiaries to 45 schools, with another batch for selection within this year.. We also plan to continue initiating projects like the Honor Roll Essay Writing, so we can inspire the students in their learning journey, concludes Ms. Ferro.On the other hand, on April 30, 2017, Epson Philippines provided technical training to thein Las Pinas City to help the custodians utilize the Epson products that were donated under the Epson Gift of Brightness (GoB). These training sessions were put into place to enable the school faculty and students to be equipped in using the Technology Package.Family Life Missions is a non-profit organization that helps poor communities in the Las Pinas area through providing free pre-school education through its Lantern Vision Learning Center. The center also provides free meals to its young students, as well as free school supplies. Most of the materials come from various donations to the NGO.These technical training sessions for all schools that received the Epson GoB Technology Package ensure that we also provide relevant assistance to the custodians and students on the proper usage and maintenance, so that they can have confidence in deploying the use of these products for teaching and learning, said, Senior General Manager and Head of Marketing, Epson PhilippinesSince the launch of the Epson Gift of Brightness, Epson has partnered with key media and government institutions to select the most-deserving and in-need schools that can benefit from the technologically advanced equipment including high-volume printers, high brightness projectors and user-friendly scanners., concludes Ms. Donna V. Ferro. Sept. 29 is National Coffee Day. As you enjoy your favorite cup of joe, here are the health benefits and risks of drinking coffee, and where you could possibly get your next free cup. National Coffee Day In celebration of National Coffee Day, you may want to know which establishments to go to for a free cup of coffee. Your local coffee shops may have their own promos to celebrate the day, but some big names are also taking part in the celebration. Dunkin' Donuts offers to celebrate the day with a friend as every purchase of any medium, large, or extra-large coffee will get you a free medium cup of coffee, while Tim Hortons is also celebrating at its American stores by offering customers with the Tim Hortons app either a free original blend, decaf, dark roast, or iced coffee at the size of their choice. Krispy Kreme is having an extended celebration as they are offering their hot coffee or iced coffee for free throughout the entire weekend. Similarly, on-the-go 7Rewards members can also enjoy one coupon which entitles them to any size of 7-Eleven's coffee from Sept. 29's National Coffee Day until International Coffee Day on Oct. 1. Health Benefits And Risks Of Coffee Coffee is the leading beverage worldwide, and researchers are continuously looking into the beverage's benefits and risks. Thanks to its health-promoting properties, some of coffee's main and most-known health benefits include protection against malignant cells, optimization of metabolism, and protection against diseases such as Parkinson's disease, type 2 diabetes, and stroke. In fact, two large studies published last July stated that drinking coffee could even help you live longer. On the other hand, too much caffeine could lead to migraines, stomach problems, irritability, palpitations, and insomnia. Further, sleep deprivation brought about by excessive coffee intake could also lead to mood disorders and anxiety-related symptoms such as extreme nervousness and tremors. As with most things, moderation is the key. In the case of coffee, perhaps it's best to limit the intake to 600 milligrams of caffeine as per the FDA's assessment. That is about four to seven cups of coffee. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A mother who refused to vaccinate her child has been sentenced to seven days in jail for failing to comply with the court's orders. Rebecca Bredow, of Detroit, Michigan, spoke at a hearing Wednesday, Oct. 4, at the Oakland County Circuit Court where Judge Karen McDonald sentenced her for contempt of court. The court had ordered Bredow to give her son all his missing vaccinations within a week. Bredow, citing her religious beliefs, refused to give her son the ordered vaccinations. She had previously spoken sternly against vaccinating her son, telling ABC news she'd rather go to jail than allow her son to receive a series of vaccinations in a week. "If my child was forced to be vaccinated, I couldn't bring myself to do it," she said during the hearing. Mother Gets Jailed After Failing To Vaccinate Child The seven-day jail sentence is the latest development in a legal battle between Bredow and her ex-husband James Horne, who shares joint custody and wants his son to receive vaccinations. Judge McDonald told Bredow she understands that she loves her son, but that the child "has two parents, and dad gets a say." Bredow said she and Horne agreed to opt out of vaccinations when their child was much younger. She also said she was most worried about the grouping of vaccinations. According to court documents, Bredow was first asked to have the immunizations provided to her son way back in November 2016. Michigan, for the record, allows parents to refuse certain vaccinations for nonmedical reasons. There are several factors that might convince parents not to vaccinate their child, including religious and philosophical beliefs, safety concerns, and a need for more information given by health care providers, according to a 2016 research. Including Michigan, nearly 20 states allow parents to refuse immunizations for religious and personal reasons. The American Medical Association has long rallied against letting parents do this, saying vaccines could help prevent a number of diseases. The Vaccine Scare Vaccinating children has long been a topic of controversy among parents. Some are wary of injecting different fluids to otherwise healthy children, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Academy of Pediatrics both recommend for children to get vaccinated against 14 diseases by age 2. What's more, the government supports vaccinations so strongly that a parent can take a child to a clinic and get shots for free. Bredow, however, said she wasn't against vaccination. She said it was about choice, about having the ability "as a mother to be able to make medical choices for my child." 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Advocate staff photo by TRAVIS SPRADLING -- Family and friends of Alton Sterling protest on the corner of Fairfields Ave. and North Foster Drive Tuesday afternoon, July 5, 2016, after was fatally shot in an altercation with Baton Rouge Police just after midnight on Tuesday, in the parking lot of the Triple S Food Store, background. They chanted things including 'Hands up, don't shoot!' A federal judge says he intends to dismiss a lawsuit that accuses Black Lives Matter and several movement leaders of inciting violence that led to a gunman's deadly ambush of law enforcement officers in Baton Rouge last year. U.S. District Judge Brian Jackson issued that warning in an order Wednesday, less than a week after ruling Black Lives Matter is a social movement and therefore can't be sued. Last Thursday, Jackson threw out a police officer's lawsuit blaming Black Lives Matter and movement leader DeRay Mckesson for injuries he sustained during a protest over a deadly police shooting in Baton Rouge last year. The officer's lawyer also attempted to add "#BlackLivesMatter" as a defendant, but Jackson ruled a hashtag can't be sued either. Now the judge is vowing to dismiss a separate suit filed on behalf of a sheriff's deputy wounded in the July 2016 attack that killed three other officers in Baton Rouge. Can't see the video below? Click here. The same Baton Rouge-based attorney, Donna Grodner, filed both suits. The judge is giving her until Oct. 13 to respond to his order and present arguments why the deputy's case shouldn't be dismissed. Grodner declined to comment Thursday on the judge's order or say whether she plans to appeal last week's ruling. Mckesson and four other Black Lives Matter leaders were named as defendants in the suit that Grodner filed on behalf of one of the officers wounded in the July 17, 2016, attack by Gavin Long, a black military veteran from Kansas City, Missouri. The suit doesn't name the plaintiff, but its description of the wounded officer matches East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Deputy Nicholas Tullier, who was has been at a Houston rehabilitation hospital since November. Long, a 29-year-old former Marine, was armed with a semi-automatic rifle when he killed three officers and wounded three others outside a convenience store and car wash near Baton Rouge police headquarters before he was shot dead. Long had posted rambling internet videos calling for violence in response to police treatment of African-Americans, which he said constituted "oppression." He apparently posted a YouTube video from Dallas on July 10, three days after a sniper killed five officers and wounded nine others there. The attack came less than two weeks after a white Baton Rouge police officer shot and killed Alton Sterling, a 37-year-old black man. Mckesson was one of nearly 200 people arrested in Louisiana's capital at nightly protests after Sterling's death. The wounded deputy's lawsuit claims Mckesson was "in charge of" a July 9 protest that "turned into a riot" and described Long as an "activist whose actions followed and mimicked those of" the sniper who killed officers in Dallas, But the judge said that latter claim is "not altogether relevant." Otherwise, the judge wrote, the lawsuit is "devoid of any facts that tend to demonstrate that any of the named Defendants, in particular, are liable for the alleged injuries suffered by Plaintiff, even assuming that those Defendants have the capacity to be sued." Livingston Parish school enrollment is continuing to rebound since the August 2016 flood, down about 2 percent since much of the parish was swamped a week after school started. "We're down about 500 kids or so, that's the impact," said Superintendent Rick Wentzel. "But here's the revelation in my eyes: If you compare that to Oct. 1, 2016, it's an increase. We've got kids returning, and some of them are doing so slowly, but we also have new kids coming in, because of the subdivisions being built." There are 25,508 students in the parish schools now, up from 25,418 a year ago, but still a decrease from 26,023 at the beginning of the 2016-2017 school year. More than half of Livingston's 43 schools have added students since this year's first day of school on Aug. 9. The state of Louisiana designates the beginning of October and February as official enrollment days. Enrollment numbers from those official days drive the vast majority of the funding Louisiana provides public schools via the state's Minimum Foundation Program. The Advocate received Monday enrollment numbers from public schools in Livingston Parish, as well as Ascension and East Baton Rouge parishes, all of which saw damage not only to homes and businesses, but also schools. They are the three largest districts in the capital region. Monday's numbers are likely to change slightly as first the district, then the state, audit them. Final October numbers won't be released for a few months. Occasionally, the numbers change significantly, prompting a windfall or a big cut in state school funding. Baton Rouge area school districts with flooding mostly see enrollment declines Three of the five greater Baton Rouge area public school districts that had schools suffer f With 19 schools flooded, Livingston Parish suffered the most damage of public school districts in the region, but it was by no means alone. Ascension and East Baton Rouge parishes also suffered significant damage 14 months ago, but their enrollment is headed in different directions. Ascension Parish had 22,563 students in school Monday, up 312 a year ago and 380 from two years ago. That's 1.7 percent growth over the past two years. East Baton Rouge Parish, by contrast, had 40,879 students in school Monday, down only 70 students from a year ago but a decrease of 1,161 students from two years ago. That's an almost 2.8 percent decline over the past two years. Before the flood, Ascension and Livingston schools grew year after year as families settled in the suburban parishes. Monday's results suggest those patterns are reasserting themselves. East Baton Rouge public schools, by contrast, have declined in enrollment since the late 1970s, prompted by desegregation-sparked white flight and suburban outmigration. New charter schools are often blamed for more recent enrollment declines. Livingston's losses are spread evenly across the parish, with the most substantial declines at Juban Parc Junior High, which has lost 86 students since the first day of school in 2016, and Southside Elementary School in Denham Springs, which is down 82 students since that time. Greg Hayden, principal at Juban Parc Junior High, connects his school's losses to post-flooding issues in nearby neighborhoods, including badly damaged Southpoint subdivision. "This summer I anticipated more than we actually had," he said. "Other schools in our parish have seen increases ... I think some of them stayed in district but moved from one school to the next based on where they had a residence after the flood. At Southside Elementary, enrollment dropped perhaps because the school has relocated about ten miles to modular buildings behind Juban Parc Elementary School, creating an inconvenience for families, according to assistant superintendent Joe Murphy. It's one of three flood-damaged schools that has yet to return home, and all three have seen their enrollment decline since the flood. Last year, post-flood enrollment declines meant the school system lost $2.4 million in state funding, leading the district to reduce its staff by 40 teaching positions this past summer, Wentzel said. Schools have added back at least eight teachers since then. Wentzel said he expects to get more money for the coming year due to the additional 100 students, but is not sure how much. So far, the school district has shelled out $49 million of a total estimated $100 million for repairs to its 19 damaged schools. Wentzel said the Federal Emergency Management Agency has so far reimbursed $23 million. In Ascension Parish, Galvez Primary, which flooded has added back 92 students in the past year, the most in the parish. Donaldsonville Primary, across the Mississippi River and not flood-damaged, lost 43 students, the biggest decline. In East Baton Rouge Parish, Twin Oaks Elementary has added back 172 students lost after the school flooded, but is still almost 50 students down from its pre-flood peak. Belaire High School had 904 students Monday, 301 fewer than a year ago; the school's attendance zone was changed with many of students now going to the reopened Istrouma High School. During the August 2016 floods, Denham Springs Elementary School took on 3.5 to 5 feet of water in its buildings, forcing the school to split up among three different campuses. In February 2017, they reunited, but are not back at 306 N. Range Avenue, but a mile-and-a-half drive away in modular buildings located at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. Enrollment at the elementary school plummeted from 500 to 395 students by Oct. 1, 2016. But those numbers rebounded and were at 481 on Monday morning with four more kids signing up later in the day, principal Gail DeLee said. DeLee said that most of those new students are also new to the area and are moving into refurbished houses and rentals. Older families in the attendance zone seem to have moved to other parts of the parish, she said. A challenge with the recent fluctuations has been staffing, DeLee said. The school lost six teachers last year due to funding cuts prompted by the enrollment losses. Now, the school has been able to add back two positions, but the fifth graders are still sitting in 32-person classes, she said. Eighty-five percent of the students suffered flooding at home and most of the teachers did as well, the principal said. "It was honestly a bonding time. I felt like our students last year were just extremely," DeLee paused to settle on the right words, "it was like a survival group." The students who have enrolled since, some of them from other states, have had a hard time relating. "That's something we've talked about, finding some common ground," she said. With 10 days until Election Day, two Republican candidates released separate polls Wednesday each showing themselves in a runoff with the lone Democrat. Former Covington state Rep. John Schroders poll showed him leading all Republican candidates with 19 percent of the vote. His poll was conducted by Remington Research Group. Former Commissioner of Administration Angele Daviss survey put her at the head of the GOP pack with 21 percent of the vote. Her poll was conducted by JMC Analytics and Polling. Both polls put New Orleans attorney Derrick Edwards, the only Democrat on the ballot, in the lead with 28 percent of the vote on Schroders poll and 27 percent on Daviss. In both the Davis and Schroder surveys, the third major Republican candidate, state Sen. Neil Riser, of Columbia, finished out of the money, but ahead of the other candidate. Riser had 14 percent of the vote and Schroder 13 percent in Daviss poll. In Schroder's survey, he scored 15 percent, ahead of Davis, of Baton Rouge, at 12 percent. Remington is affiliated with Axiom Strategies, based in Kansas City. Axiom is run by Jeff Roe, a political strategist who works with Republican candidates, including in Texas U.S. Sen. Ted Cruzs 2016 presidential bid. The Schroder survey of 864 likely voters was conducted on Monday and Tuesday. Remington didnt provide methodology for its poll but claimed a margin of error of plus or minus 3.4 percent. JMC Analytics is based in Baton Rouge and run by pollster John Couvillon, who conducts political surveys for both parties. JMC recently conducted polling for the Republican U.S. Senate primary in Alabama. JMC Analytics received a thousand responses in an automated poll as opposed to live interviews, which are considered more reliable by many pollsters though not Couvillon of voters who cast ballots starting with the December 2016 runoff. That election was a statewide runoff in which an U.S. Senate seat led the ballot and only 29.5 percent of the registered voters participated. The survey was conducted Saturday through Monday and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percent. Six candidates are in the running to fill out the remaining two years of John N. Kennedys term. He was state treasurer for 16 years before resigning in January to become U.S. Senator. +7 Louisiana treasurer candidates debate, offer insight into their views Secretary of State Tom Schedler, the man in charge of elections in Louisiana, now asks a sim The three major Republicans have raised the most money. Edwards, the Democrat, another Republican, Terry Hughes, of Lafayette, and Libertarian Joseph D. Little, of Ponchatoula, have raised little money and done little campaigning. Davis reported raising $49,075 and spending $199,796 during the month September. She had $203,872 in funds on hand going into the final two weeks of the campaign, according to the latest report filed Wednesday with the Louisiana Board of Ethics. The other candidates hadnt filed their reports Wednesday but have until midnight to do so. Risers disclosures, however, show he recently spent $15,000 with Jefferson United, which does grassroots work in Jefferson Parish, and LA Independent Federation of Electors, LIFE, a political organization in New Orleans that has endorsed him. Schroder had $614,644 on hand more than the rest of the candidates combined at the beginning of September. Federal disclosures show his campaign has made massive purchase of television time for political commercials to run statewide. He also has spent $7,000 with the Lake Area Voters Association and the Regular Democratic Organization in New Orleans, which endorsed his candidacy. Edwards reported having $666.59 of funds on hand in his Sept. 14 report. The Federal Communications Commission, to which television stations must report political advertising sales, indicates that Edwards has bought television time in Lafayette. The filings with the FCC take several days to be posted publicly. Angele Davis Republican, Baton Rouge Chief executive officer of The Davis Kelley Group, LLC Deputy Commissioner of Administration; head of the state Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism; Commissioner of Administration. First bid for elective office Bachelors of Science from Spring Hill College in Mobile, Ala.; Masters of Business Administration from LSU. MBA from LSU Married to 19th Judicial District Court Judge Tim Kelley, one son Derrick Edwards Democratic, New Orleans Member of Usry Weeks & Matthews law firm Ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Sentate Bachelors and Masters degrees in accounting from Tulane University; law degree from Loyola University New Orleans College of Law.. Single Neil Riser Republican, Columbia President of Riser Funeral Homes in Caldwell and La Salle parishes. Board of directors Caldwell Bank and Trust in Columbia. State Senate since 2008. Ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Congress Bachelors degree in business management from Northeast Louisiana University (now UL-Monroe) Wife, Vicki Smith Riser, teacher at River Oaks High School in Monroe; two daughters John Michael Schroder Republican, Covington Owner of Schroder Development Group Inc., and other real estate companies. Louisiana House from 2008. (resigned in June) Bachelors degree from Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond Wife, Ellie Daigle Schroder; two children. Congress isnt known for its long attention span, and that was evident recently when lawmakers approved tax breaks that left Louisiana flood victims out in the cold. A bill signed into law last week by President Donald Trump gives special tax breaks to victims of hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria. Among other things, the legislation makes it easier for those touched by the hurricanes to write off property losses and tap into their retirement funds without penalties. Some tax credits for storm-damaged businesses are in the mix, too. Its the same kind of financial relief that victims of last years massive flooding in Louisiana have been requesting for months, to no avail. That short shrift for Louisiana on Capitol Hill is discouraging, though not surprising. The devastating damage from last years flood wasnt the result of a named storm, so the tragedy is easier for those beyond Louisiana to overlook. And while the suffering of Louisianas flood victims continues, the national media caravan has moved on. The arrival of subsequent storms this year, coupled with a mass shooting in Las Vegas, have directed Americas focus elsewhere. Here at home, the agony of loss in Louisiana looms large more than a year after high water ravaged thousands of homes and businesses. But in the national mind, the Great Flood of 2016 happened an eternity ago. Other realities factor into Louisianas predicament. Harveys roll through Texas and Irmas assault on Florida affected two states with huge political clout, making federal help an easier sell. Louisiana seems left behind as an afterthought, although residents of southwest Louisiana who were impacted by Harvey stand to gain from the tax breaks granted for that storm. Complicating relief efforts for Louisiana is the relative lack of seniority among the states congressional delegation. House Majority Whip Steve Scalises leadership position is a big advantage, but he was sidelined for months after being wounded by a gunman during a mass shooting last summer. Theres still a chance that tax relief for Louisiana flood victims could be approved as part of other legislation this year. One sticking point is that lawmakers from states affected by Superstorm Sandy want tax relief for that storms victims, too. That seems a reasonable concession to advance much-needed assistance for Louisiana residents. We remember presidential candidate Donald Trumps visit to Louisiana flood victims last year, when he was accompanied by running mate Mike Pence. Trump promised help, and now that hes president, we call on him to follow through. The first step should be vigorous White House support for tax relief for flood-ravaged Louisiana homeowners and businesses. The rest of the country might have forgotten what happened in Louisiana last year, but we havent. Fairness should compel the president and lawmakers to act. There have been rumblings from anonymous sources lately that outgoing New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu could be a candidate for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination, but I wouldn't read too much into that. Nor would I read too much into the first poll results measuring such a scenario. Just for kicks, the New Orleans Advocate and WWL-TV included a head-to-head matchup between Landrieu and Donald Trump in its new poll of 500 registered New Orleans voters, which was conducted Sept. 25-27 by the Clarus Research Group and released this week. And the good news for Landrieu is this: Among his constituents, he'd win easily, 64-16 percent. Now, what that says about Landrieu is up for debate. At 57 percent, his approval rating is pretty strong, given frustration over drainage and crime. So it could be a vote of confidence. More likely it's a show of partisanship, as well as a referendum on a president whose policies are particularly unfriendly to urban centers. New Orleans is a deeply Democratic city 81 percent of the vote there went to Hillary Clinton in November, and just 15 percent to Trump and the president hasn't exactly won new friends since then. If I had to guess, I'd say 64 percent of New Orleanians would opt for any Democrat, and perhaps some Republicans, over Trump. Maybe even more, since 18 percent of those polled said they'd vote for neither Landrieu nor Trump. Bottom line: If Landrieu has any intention of trying to go national, he'll need a whole lot more data. New Orleanians know him best, but this poll probably says more about them than it does about him. New Orleans area residents should prepare for likely flooding and perhaps up to a week without power when Tropical Storm Nate makes landfall t Former Canberra Liberals leader Jeremy Hanson is "optimistic" for a successful "yes" vote in the same sex marriage postal survey and has called on all Liberal Party members to support that campaign. With almost 60 per cent of votes received, Mr Hanson and his ACT colleagues Nicole Lawder, Elizabeth Lee and Mark Parton are the only Canberra Liberals publicly supporting the campaign. Canberra Liberals campaigning for a 'yes' vote in the same sex marriage survey: Mark Parton, Nicole Lawder and Jeremy Hanson. Credit:Daniel Burdon Mr Hanson said that he was "optimistic" a majority of Australians would vote yes and that "by the end of the year, we will see legislation". But he rejected any notion on Thursday of a "split" on the issue in the party, saying that it had been a respectful debate internally, despite Opposition Leader Alistair Coe's support for the "no" campaign, along with most of the party. Rather, Mr Hanson and the local Liberals for Yes group called on all Canberrans to back the "yes" case, with Mr Hanson saying it was "about fairness and equality" and that backing same sex marriage was "a mainstream thing to do". Mr Hanson said he respected all views, including his colleagues and party members who decided to vote "no", but he believed the "vast majority" of Canberrans would be backing the "yes" campaign. He dismissed concerns that no details of the federal legislation that could follow a successful "yes" vote have been released to date, and what would happen once legislation was actually debated in the federal Coalition party room. "I understand that many of those colleagues, such as (ACT Senator) Zed Seselja, while they might personally be voting no, if a yes vote is successful, they will back the public on this," he said. Ms Lawder, the Liberals' deputy leader, said that if, like her, people still had their survey form at home, now is the chance to have a say on the issue, and she would be mailing it out today. St Kilda are considering throwing forgotten backman Michael Talia a lifeline in a bid to bolster their defensive stocks. Talia, the brother of star Adelaide defender Daniel, was delisted by Sydney last month after managing just one game in two years with them. Michael Talia He was traded to the Swans a few weeks after being accused by former club Western Bulldogs of passing on sensitive information about the team's game plan to Daniel in the lead-up to the 2015 elimination final meeting between the Dogs and Crows. The AFL eventually cleared him of any wrongdoing, but he found himself in the headlines for the wrong reasons again last year in July when he was arrested and charged with possession of cocaine in a laneway near a Sydney nightclub. A new gas company, headed by Santos former chairman Stephen Gerlach, has plans to supply the eastern seaboard's gas shortfall. Ebony Energy has completed a scoping study for the Andado coal-to-gas project "that will help ensure eastern Australia's long-term energy security," Mr Gerlach told Fairfax Media. Former Santos chairman Stephen Gerlach says the project can help solve the east coast gas shortfall. Credit:James Davies The group is planning an Initial Public Offering for early next year, aiming to raise approximately $50 million to complete work needed to eventually fully debt fund the Andado project. Ebony is also looking to raise between $5 million and $8 million through a pre-IPO capital raising. The latest mass shooting in the United States, with a higher death toll than ever before, leaves most Australians wondering what it would take for Americans to desire tighter gun controls. The reality? It would take a lot more than this latest incident. President Donald Trump has made clear his support for the gun lobby and, paradoxically, an increase in "active-shooter" incidents has led to a decline in public support for stricter gun laws. (The US Department of Homeland Security defines an active shooter as "an individual actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a conned and populated area; in most cases, active shooters use firearms and there is no pattern or method to their selection of victims"). Many Americans believe that, if more citizens were armed, deranged gunmen would be eliminated sooner. The best recent chance for stricter US gun laws was under the Obama administration in 2012 after the horrific massacre of 20 primary school students at Sandy Hook Elementary School. Despite his best efforts, president Barack Obama found he was unable to change federal gun laws because too many federal politicians relied on support from the powerful National Rifle Association, or were unprepared to suffer an NRA and gun-lobby-orchestrated backlash at the next election. The NRA is now more powerful than ever. It contributed $US30 million to Trump's presidential campaign fund. Trump was the first sitting President to address an NRA conference. Tony Booth, the actor, who has died aged 85, was best known as the abrasive "Scouse git" of a son-in-law who got under Alf Garnett's skin in the BBC comedy series Till Death Us Do Part; in later life he sometimes performed the same function for his real-life son-in-law, the former prime minister Tony Blair. Booth, who had more than a little in common with his most famous television character, spent most of his career pursuing what he described as "boozing, arguing and crumpeteering". Cherie Booth with father Tony Booth after receiving an honorary fellowship, Liverpool, 1997. Credit:PA A heavy drinker, he once mistook the prime minister of Luxembourg for a wine waiter at a party given by Harold Wilson. Booth told the visiting politician to "make himself useful" by filling the empty glasses. "I'll say this for the guy," Booth recalled. "He came back with two full glasses. He had style." His big break as an actor came as a result of a chance meeting with scriptwriter Johnny Speight in 1964 at the bar during a Labour party rally at which Booth had distinguished himself by heckling George Brown from the stage on which they were both appearing. Delighted by Booth's hell-raising proclivities, Speight offered him the part which the actor was to play for the next decade. For the most part, Victorians have been accepting of the increased security measures that are now part and parcel of our lives. Bollards line pedestrian thoroughfares. Bag searches and security scanning are commonplace at major events. The MCG car park on grand final day was, for the first time in decades, devoid of car-boot barbecues. On the whole, these are trifling inconveniences, and a small price to pay for safety. But there is also danger in accepting the counter-terror measures that have been agreed to by our state and federal leaders without proper discussion and debate. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull at a terrorism-focused Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Canberra on Thursday. Credit:Andrew Meares A proposal by the Turnbull government would see states hand over the identities of millions of Australian drivers under a toughening of national security laws. The information would go into a database to aid facial recognition technology. Authorities would be able to use the data to identify just about any Australian filmed on a security camera, whether it be at an airport or a shopping mall, or on a city street. Premier Daniel Andrews has given support to the plan, but already civil liberties groups have questioned whether the proposal complies with international law. Premiers also agreed on a new federal law that allows detention of terror suspects for up to 14 days without charge, in line with the law in NSW. Mr Andrews dismissed suggestions the proposals impinged on basic rights, such as the writ of habeas corpus, which allows an accused to be brought before a court unless lawful grounds can be shown for their detention. Same-sex marriage opponents have launched a phone application giving campaigners "turn by turn" directions to undecided voters' homes, in what it describes as an unprecedented move in Australian political campaigning. The app was developed by the American company Political Social Media LLC, trading as uCampaign, which built apps for Donald Trump's presidential campaign, Brexit's "Vote Leave" and the powerful National Rifle Association. Among the features of the "Freedom Team" app, launched Wednesday evening, is a tool that maps the home addresses of people whom the Coalition for Marriage says have not yet engaged with the campaign. "The app will provide turn by turn directions to your nearest neighbour who is yet to hear from the campaign," the Coalition told supporters in an email. "And it will give you talking points for when you get to the door." It seems we can't go in for another round of fashion month without a designer being called out for cultural appropriation. The latest is Stella McCartney, whose collection shown at Paris Fashion Week has been accused of exploiting African culture with the designer's use of an Ankara print. Stella McCartney's show at Paris Fashion Week. Credit:AAP Plenty of people on social media were frustrated that this conversation was happening again, without much changing. Others questioned whether appropriate credit had been given to African designers. Behrouz Boochani on Manus Island, Papua New Guinea. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen There were numerous discussions about the technical challenges, and times when the problems encountered in transmitting quality images seemed insurmountable. But the deepest issue in the early days was trust. The creative partnership, and friendship, was sealed when Sarvestani assured Boochani they would work as co-directors, with Boochani as cameraman, filming on smartphone, and Sarvestani as his cinematic mentor and co-writer. Shipping containers used as accommodation on Manus Island. During his years of captivity on Manus, Boochani had sent many images and information to journalists, often with little or no acknowledgment. He was overjoyed in finding a partner offering to work with him on an equal footing. The collaborators worked with a sense of urgency. Boochani filmed the scenes within the camp clandestinely. Images and edits flew back and forth across oceans. The film evolved in tiny WhatsApp packages. Behrouz Boochani, left, interviews a fellow asylum seeker in Chauka, Please Tell Us the Time. "We were excited by the collaboration," Sarvestani says. "Behrouz was smart. He got everything quickly. He understood what I meant when I said 'treat each frame as a painting'. He quickly saw how the editing and the soundtrack enhanced the impact of the footage. This freed us up to talk about the story." As a father and daytime carer of a young daughter and six-month-old son, Sarvestani did much of his work with Boochani at night. "Many conversations took place between midnight and three o'clock Dutch time," Sarvestani says. "It was also the best time for internet connections with Manus Island. Then I slept for a few hours, and at 6 o'clock my daughter kicked me out of bed." Sarvestani was split between his day-to-day life as a family man, and a dark zone which he entered at midnight. "I began to feel like a detainee myself," he says. "At that time a few things were happening that gave the men on Manus Island some hope. The Supreme Court of Papua New Guinea said the camp was illegal and should be shut down. I could see how Behrouz and the men became happy. Then when they saw their situation did not improve, they were down. When the US deal was announced, they were up and down again. Netherlands-based Iranian filmmaker Arash Kamali Sarvestani with his two children. "They felt that people were playing around with them, torturing them. Every night I felt I was there with them. "I have lovely kids, and that helped me not be totally depressed. But I heard a lot of bad things and I couldn't do anything about it. I still feel it." Chauka, Please Tell Us the Time was completed in just six months, with some extra shooting during post-production to fill in gaps in the storytelling. Despite the technical restrictions, the 90-minute documentary is a poetic, hypnotic film, as well as a damning indictment of a brutal policy. It conveys the ordeal endured by the 900 detained men, imprisoned and marooned in the prime of their life. They are seen endlessly waiting, pacing, stuck in limbo, enduring the tropical heat, the whirring of fans, the erosion of hope and destruction of spirit. Fumigation at the Manus Island detention centre, from the film Credit:Sydney Film Festival Boochani films his fellow detainees making calls home to loved ones. The conversations capture the unbearable pain of separation: "I am parted from my child," one asylum seeker laments in his three-minute weekly call to his wife. Referring to a child born after he fled his country, he says: "I haven't had a chance to hold him, touch him or feel his presence." "Look mum, please don't cry. Please don't cry. Look mum, I am stuck here I have no control over this," pleads another. The men's despair is underscored by the recurring strains of a haunting Kurdish folk song, sung by one of the inmates. The smartphone pans over the cramped living spaces, the tiny cubicles partitioned by sheets and tarpaulins to create a fragile and claustrophobic privacy. We hear the comments of broken spirits: "I prefer to be dead because I have nothing any more no one is waiting for me, and I am waiting for no one. I have lost everything." A detainee who has self-harmed is carried from his compound at night in footage from the film. There are surreal images - rows of white plastic chairs leaning against the wire through which can be seen the unobtainable sea; the incessant drone of the fumigation apparatus, its plume of smoke enveloping the centre. The men's plight is contrasted with images of exuberant Manus children dancing just beyond the fence, and by close-ups of cats roaming freely within and beyond the cyclone wire. There is an eyewitness account of the murder of Reza Barati in February 2014, and disturbing footage of a detainee at the end of his tether who has self-harmed and is carried from his compound at night to an ambulance under glaring lights. The central thread of the film is the chauka, a native bird sacred in the local indigenous culture. Credit:Alamy Boochani allows the voices of Manus islanders to be heard. The central thread of the film is the chauka, a native bird sacred in the local indigenous culture. The tiny bird is glimpsed flitting beside the wire fences, and its distinct call is heard on the soundtrack. The chauka is a symbol of the island and locals can tell the time from its regular singing. In conversations between two islanders and writer Janet Galbraith, who was on Manus at the time of filming, we learn how much the bird means in the indigenous culture. The men are dismayed that the high-security prison within the camp - feared by the inmates as a place of solitary confinement and punishment - has been named after the bird. In their view the island is being used as a dumping ground for another country's problems. The high-security prison on Manus has been named after the chauka. When the film premiered at the Sydney Film Festival in May, and at Melbourne's ACMI cinema in early June, the co-directors could never have predicted what was to come. Sarvestani attended the Sydney and Melbourne screenings as an invited guest. Boochani's application for a visa, allowing him to join his co-director, was turned down by the Department of Immigration and Border Protection. Writer Janet Galbraith talks to islanders in a scene from the film Credit:Sydney Film Festival The film was received with popular and critical acclaim. It has been taken up by film festivals throughout Australia and is competing in the Asia Pacific Screening Awards. In late August, it was announced that the film would be screened in the London International Film Festival on October 8 and 9. It is one of 12 films in the running for the prestigious Grierson Award, which recognises films "with integrity, originality, and social or cultural significance". On receiving the news, Boochani wrote to the British High Commissioner in Australia, Menna Rawlings, requesting a temporary visa, which would enable him to join his co-director in introducing the film, and to take part in post-screening discussions. Behrouz Boochani's letter to the British High Commissioner. Boochani penned his letter on the centre's official request form stationery: "I am asking you to give me visa to attend the London International Film Festival. I have been here in this prison camp for more than four years, even though I have committed no crime, and I am kept here by the Australian government who exiled me by force." His appeal was reinforced by an official invitation from the festival's director, Clare Stewart. The official invite from the London Film Festival to Behrouz Boochani. "If Behrouz Boochani was free to travel," writes Stewart in an accompanying statement, "he would be welcome as a guest at the festival Chauka is an exceptional documentary filmed inside the Manus Island detention centre first-hand by Boochani who is detained there. It reveals much about his own experience as well as that of other detainees. It also questions the impact of the detention centre on Manus Island itself, through testimony from members of the local community. It is brave, thoughtful and urgent filmmaking and has earned its selection in our Documentary Competition in a very strong year for documentaries." Boochani's right to attend the festival is also supported in a letter to Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and Immigration Minister Peter Dutton signed by federal parliamentarians Nick Xenophon, Derryn Hinch, Cathy McGowan and Nick McKim. The letter sent by MPs to Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and Immigration Minister Peter Dutton. The film's remarkable journey continues. Long after those on Manus are finally released from their ordeal, it will remain a lasting document of a specific time and place, a unique insight into the everyday realities of the Pacific Solution. It captures, as Boochani has put it, "the coarsening banality and repetition" of indefinite detention. It is driven by two men with a shared vision, separated by oceans and government policy. Since the film was made there have been two deaths, with the apparent suicides of Iranian refugee Hamed Shamshiripour, 31, two months ago, and Sri Lankan refugee Rajeev Rajendran, 32, found hanged in Lorengau hospital in the early hours of Monday morning. He was the sixth asylum seeker fatality on the island. In reporting his death, Boochani observed: "Another friend died in Manus Island today All the refugees in Manus today are feeling very heavy with this news. There is a feeling of deep despair for this man's suffering, anger at the circumstances of his death, and a sense of powerlessness that such a barbaric system is allowed to continue." "I have known Behrouz for 15 months," says Sarvestani. "He knows my kids now, my young daughter, and my newborn son. The NSW Law Society has backed down in an extraordinary row over same-sex marriage by issuing a statement appeasing members who oppose a change in the law by clarifying its public support for the move does not represent the views of each of its 30,000 members. The society, which is the professional body for the state's solicitors, came under sustained fire from a small but vocal group of members who condemned it for issuing a joint press release with the NSW Bar Association and state division of the Australian Medical Association backing a change to the Marriage Act. NSW Law Society president Pauline Wright has bowed to pressure from members opposed to same-sex marriage. Credit:James Brickwood Led by Sydney law firm partner Robin Speed of tax advisory firm Speed & Stracey, the group circulated a requisition last month for an extraordinary general meeting to vote on a series of resolutions, including that the Law Society be "censured" for "incorrectly holding out that all solicitors in NSW had united in supporting marriage equality laws". On September 28, the group secured the required 250 signatures to trigger the meeting. Queenslanders are likely familiar with the terms outhouse, thunderbox and backyard dunny, but few of the original toilets still exist. Construction of Brisbanes sewerage network began in the inner city in 1914, but many outer suburbs didn't have sewer systems until the late 1960s. This meant a trip to the toilet involved a long walk to the backyard dunny. Queensland Urban Utilities are looking for Australia's last remaining outhouses. Queensland Urban Utilities has launched a nationwide search to track down the last remaining outhouses in Australia before they disappear. A single barrel shotgun, balaclava, knives, zip ties, and drug utensils were discovered in the car of two people who attempted to avoid authorities at a fast food outlet, police allege. Logan District Criminal Investigation Branch detectives arrested the two people in Beaudesert, a town about 53 km south of central Brisbane, on Wednesday night. Detectives allegedly discovered a single barrel shotgun and balaclava in the car. File Photo A 27-year-old man of no address and a 20-year-old Beaudesert woman were arrested at the scene after their vehicle hit a power pole, allegedly trying to avoid police. The crime watchdog also investigated the fact Gold Coast federal LNP MP Stuart Robert ran an LNP fund-raising vehicle called the Fadden Forum, which provided $30,000 each to Cr Boulton and Ms Stevenson. Gold Coast conclusions There was no evidence that Shac co-ordinated campaign strategies or that Shac shared information about campaign strategies between candidates," the report found. Consequently, as there is no evidence of an offence committed by Cr Boulton and Ms Stevenson, it would not be possible to prove that Mr Robert aided, counselled or procured either of them to commit such an offence. Ipswich City Council The allegations were a number of Australian Labor Party-aligned candidates had advertised or raised funds as a group during the election campaign without advising the returning officer. Several candidates used the photograph of then-mayor Paul Pisasale on their how-to-vote cards and some shared how-to-vote cards with Cr Pisasale, some with his permission, some without. In 2008, councillor Paul Tully set up an account called the PG and LS Tully Community Fund to help the victim of a Goodna house fire. Bank statements for the Goodna Community Fund showed that between January 2016 and March 2016 three deposits of $2000 were made into the fund. The bank statements and third-party disclosure return for the Goodna Community Fund also revealed four separate amounts totalling $3585.16 were paid out of the account. The Crime and Corruption Commission said Cr Tully had not used the Goodna Community Fund account for improper use, although it questioned its 2016 use to pay his campaign expenses. Ipswich councillor Paul Tully should have declared three donations during the 2016 council campaign. Credit:Chris Hyde Ipswich conclusions The CCC concluded "there was evidence a number of Ipswich candidates were part of a group of individuals, each being a candidate for the election, promoting the election of the candidates". It found Cr Tully should have declared the three donations of $2000 he received and lodged in the PG and LS Tully Community Development Fund. However, the CCC determined it would not be in the public interest in those circumstances to take any further action," the report read. Moreton Bay Regional Council In Moreton, there were 18 allegations councillors had advertised or raised funds as a group. An organisation called the Moreton Futures Trust distributed and paid for letters of recommendation for four Moreton Bay councillors on behalf of the mayor, Allan Sutherland. The Moreton Futures Trust received $137,000 in donations and donated $118,587.05 of this to Cr Sutherland for his 2016 campaign. The Crime and Corruption Commission raised questions about property developer David Trask, whom the CCC described as the only person raising funds for the Moreton Futures Trust. In examining how funds were raised by MFT, the CCC determined that Mr David Trask, a property developer, appeared to be the only person actively soliciting funds for the trust. Moreton Bay mayor Allan Sutherland at Petrie on September 2, 2016 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Robert Shakespeare/Fairfax Media) Credit:Robert Shakespeare MFTs disclosure return shows that the majority of its funds came from donors who were involved in property development and construction. Moreton Bay conclusions Councillors who received funds from the Moreton Futures Trust did not accurately record the names and addresses of the Moreton Futures Trust trustees. The CCC does not suggest that this omission was done dishonestly or as a deliberate attempt to hide details about MFT, the report read. Logan City Council Five allegations were centred around a company set up by now-mayor Luke Smith to run his 2016 election campaign. Logan Futures Pty Ltd received between $350,000 and $400,000 in campaign donations. The Crime and Corruption Commission discovered incomplete business records of the company, since wound up. These include confusion about whether $63,300 in donations came from either Australian Yues International Development Group or Australian SN International Investment Group, both owned by businessman Liansheng Yue. Concerns or mistakes were discovered about donations from a concrete company called AdvanceForm ($28,000) shopping-centre owners Chin Hong Investments Corp ($73,800), Chinese holiday company Holiday International Golden Travel (35,000) and electrical cable company SKL Cables ($40,500). SKL Cables has an application to build a 15-storey building with 51 short-term stays in Springwood. Logan Mayor Luke Smith and Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk at the Daisy Hill SES depot. Credit:Cameron Atfield In the months before the crash, Mr Elsdon, 88, was diagnosed with early-stage dementia but, fearing he would lose his independence, he refused to give up driving. "Our lives changed in that moment," Russell said. "I lost both my parents that day." Victorian coroner Audrey Jamieson has ruled that Mrs Elsdon's death could have been prevented if medical practitioners had reported her husband's cognitive decline to VicRoads. The family has backed calls by Ms Jamieson for a system that compels doctors to contact VicRoads if they determine a person with an injury or illness may not be fit to drive. They are also calling for Victoria to follow other areas, including the Northern Territory and South Australia, where doctors are legally bound to report a patient who is diagnosed with a medical condition that may affect their ability to drive. "We don't want another family to go through what ours has," Michele said. "If a doctor told Mick he needed to get his driving tested, we believe he would have been far more likely to listen to him than to us, because to an elderly person a doctor has authority. "It's hard to tell parents they can't drive any more, because you're taking their independence and their freedom. We don't blame the doctors for the accident, but we believe the laws need to change to protect people in the future." Mr Elsdon's health deteriorated quickly when his wife died and he was moved into a nursing home. "Dad doesn't remember the accident and I think that's a blessing," Russell said. "But there is a such sadness about him. He still asks where mum is and I have to break it to him each time she's not here any more. I think if he knew what happened it would kill him." In her findings presented to the Coroners Court last month, Ms Jamieson came out swinging, with tough recommendations to VicRoads and the state government. "The danger caused to the wider community by other impaired drivers continuing to operate motor vehicles serves as a compelling indication that VicRoads have an intransigent position on the issue," Ms Jamieson said. "The existing policy measures are inadequate." In the year before the crash, medical specialists, including a psychiatrist, cardiologist and two GPs, all noted Mr Elsdon's cognitive decline. One GP diagnosed him as having dementia, observing that his short-term memory was significantly diminished, his daily living was curtailed and he seemed "to get lost in places that are not familiar". Despite this, his suitability to retain a valid a driver's licence was not raised as an issue by any of his medical practitioners. In the state's self-reporting model, Victorian licence holders aged over 75 have their licences renewed every three years and decide their own fitness to drive. Family, friends, police and doctors are urged to report at-risk drivers to VicRoads. If the initial report identifies issues requiring further assessment, VicRoads can request a medical report or an on-road driving assessment be conducted. VicRoads assesses more than 80,000 drivers a year. Last year, of those, 65,000 drivers had conditions put on their driver licences, almost 80 per cent of which were related to eyesight. VicRoads suspended about 9900 licences, 2100 of which were indefinite cancellations. Common conditions include corrective lenses to be worn while driving, driving restricted to certain areas or zones, no night driving, vehicle limitations, or the requirement for periodical medical reviews. Ms Jamieson said the self-reporting system was fundamentally flawed because too much onus was placed on drivers to report themselves and many were reluctant to do so. The report prepared for the Education Council details the 2016 results of Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability information collected by schools which will help determine school funding from next year. These figures feed into the schooling resource standard, which measures how much government funding schools are entitled to. Australian Education Union federal president Correna Haythorpe said the data which the union obtained via freedom of information revealed "alarming discrepancies". "In 2017, schools considered to be funded above the schooling resource standard are suddenly projected to sit significantly below it in 2018, when the need of their students cannot possibly have changed to such a drastic degree," she said. Lauriston principal Susan Just said the data the school had collected on students with a disability was confidential. "We hope that all students with individual needs will be recognised in the school's funding allocation," she said. "It is oversimplifying the process to say Lauriston has gone from overfunded to underfunded. The new needs-based funding model is different to the old system, and the criteria have changed." She said enrolments fluctuated and the needs of students changed, so it was misleading to predict how much funding the school would receive in the future. In 2017, Lauriston was considered overfunded because it received 130 per cent of its funding entitlement from the Commonwealth and state government. More than 102 per cent of this came from the Commonwealth, but this has been revised down to 49.6 per cent for next year. Under the new Gonski school funding model, the federal government must provide 80 per cent of needs-based funding to private schools, which will lead to significant funding increases for these schools. State governments are expected to make up the remaining 20 per cent. The opposite has occurred at non-government schools considered less needy. They will therefore receive less generous funding increases under Gonski 2.0 Haileybury moved from 78.7 to 85.8 per cent of its funding entitlement, Penleigh and Essendon Grammar increased from 80.06 to 82.9 per cent and the Catholic education commission of Victoria increased from 75.02 to 79.8 per cent. An Education Department spokesman said the figures were not comparable and had changed to reflect current financial settings and student data. "The main driver of the differences in estimated funding for these schools is that they reported significantly higher counts of students with disability in the 2016 NCCD [disability data] compared to the less detailed census data," he said. He said payments for 2018 would be based on more recent disability data, which is being finalised. The new model includes four categories of disability (physical, cognitive, sensory and social/emotional) and students are funded accorded to the level of support that they receive. Public education lobby group Save Our Schools, which is run by former Productivity Commission economist Trevor Cobbold, analysed the data and said it showed "unjustifiable increases" in Commonwealth funding for several of Melbourne's "most elite schools". "Some schools with more than 75 per cent or more of their students from the top socio-educational advantage quarter will get increases of between $2.6 million and $3.2 million," Mr Cobbold said. Independent Schools Victoria chief executive Michelle Green said previous methods for assessing the eligibility of funding for students with a disability were narrow. "It is misleading to compare figures on students with disability and any related allocation of government funding, when methods of assessing them have changed from one system to another," she said. "In many cases, assessing a student as having a disability asthma, for example does not entail additional government funding." She said the organisation was committed to ensuring that the data was collected consistently across sectors. Mandurah detectives are investigating after an eight-year-old boy was allegedly physically assaulted by a woman near a bus stop. Police said the eight-year-old boy was close to a bus stop on Warnbro Sound Avenue, near Stockton Road on Tuesday between midday and 1:00pm, when he was approached by an older woman. Police are urging any witnesses to the incident to contact Crime Stoppers. (file photo) Credit:Georgia Matts Police said the woman began screaming at him, then hit him in the face. NOTICE OF SALE Case No.: 3:21-cv-00770-SVH BY VIRTUE of that certain Decree of the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina heretofore granted in the case of ... NOTICE OF LIEN SALE Extra Space Storage will hold a public auction to sell personal property described below belonging to those individuals listed below at the location indicated: Store # ... NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATES All persons having claims against the following estates are required to deliver or mail their claims to the indicated Personal Representatives, appointed to administer these... Watching reports of the Sandy Hook shooting while holding her firstborn son -- who was only 3 months old -- Jennifer Mullins said the news of the massacre seemed to cut a little deeper. "When that happened, all I did was stare at the TV," she said, adding that in addition to feeling for those who died or lost loved ones, she was suddenly filled with a fear that she could lose her own child to such an event. Seeing reports of the Sunday mass shooting in Las Vegas, Mullins -- like other parents of young children -- grappled with questions of when, how and whether to talk to her children about national tragedies. Mullins decided to shield her son from the shooting in Las Vegas, which so far has resulted in the death of 59 people and hundreds of injuries. She said she knows at some age, she'll have to talk to her son about national tragedies. Hurricane Harvey, she said, was her first time to do so. She said she explained that houses were lost, and she focused on how their family could help by participating in a local drive. She said her son was eager to help and frustrated when he, at age 5, could not help more by lifting supplies into the truck. Amanda Parr, another College Station parent, said she has taken a similar route with her three children, who are all age 6 or younger. When her oldest child, home sick from school, noticed the Vegas story on TV, she said she kept her explanation simple by said "something bad happened," adding that they just needed to pray. "I've kind of shielded them, because I want to protect their innocence as long as I can," she said. In Bryan-College Station schools, counseling services have not had reports of students who are scared or struggling to cope with the news of the Las Vegas shooting. Chrissy Hester, director of student services with College Station, said during her decades-long tenure at the district, the tragedy that drew the most students in for help coping was the 1999 Aggie Bonfire Collapse, in which 12 Texas A&M students were crushed when a bonfire they were constructing on campus collapsed. "That was huge, because so many people had a sibling or a friend," she said. She said counselors are available to help students work through fears, something she said she recalls was announced over PA systems after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks. Donna Willett, director of counseling services for Bryan school district, said the news of 9/11 also hit hard in her district. "Kids were upset," she said. "But they were still removed from the situation. And that's hard because you don't know anybody, but you have that empathy at the same time." With the prevalence of social media and the ease of access to information, Willett says it's hard to shield kids today from news of horrific events, particularly when it comes to older children. If a child is upset by news that they are consuming, she recommends not brushing off that fear. Rather, Hester recommends talking to the child and finding out the source of his or her fear. She said there is no template for how to do this -- asking a child why he or she is scared could lead to a conversation on anything from gun control to psychological health. "It's a hard topic," Chrissy said, adding that it's also an "important topic, because we are having to deal with it more and more. But the important things is to not ignore it if there are questions." For now, Mullins said she wants to focus on the silver lining with her children -- how tragedy can sometimes bring out the best in a community. Ultimately, she said she just doesn't want her kids to grow up scared. "There is bad in this world," she said. "But there is way more good." Frankfort Street was quiet Wednesday afternoon. The crime scene tape had been taken down, police cars were gone and children jumped rope and rode bicycles in the driveway of the home where two brothers were fatally shot Tuesday evening. Bryan police identified the victims as Terant Reshadd Franklin, 35, and Dominque Franklin, 25. According to authorities, officers were dispatched to the home in the 1500 block of Frankfort Street around 6 p.m. and found the Franklins dead inside. A 61-year-old man who had been visiting was found outside. Willie Jane Sparks has lived next door to the Franklins -- who lived in the small house with their older brother and father -- for 16 years. Sparks said the oldest brother's girlfriend, with her two children in tow, banged on her front door Tuesday evening and was screaming. "All I know is that she said they're shooting," Sparks recalled. "She said [to the suspects], 'Don't do this, let me get the kids out.' " Sparks called 911 and hid in her home with her family, the woman and the children. "I'm thinking I'm the only one who called 911," Sparks said. "[The dispatcher] asked a lot of questions, and I was just screaming and hollering that there's a man in my yard." The man Sparks was referring to was the 61-year-old victim, a friend of the Franklin family who had been visiting. Sparks and her family said they did not hear the gunshots that killed the Franklins, but they clearly heard the gunshot that struck the brothers' friend, as he had been shot in the Sparks' front yard. "His whole side was covered in blood," Sparks said. "When the police officer lifted his shirt, blood came gushing out." Sparks said the first Bryan police officer to arrive immediately tended to the man on the ground, working to stop the flow of blood. "I wish I knew that officer's name," Sparks said. "Because if not for him, I think [the man] would have died. According to Sparks, Dominque Franklin installed and repaired irrigation systems, while Terant Franklin repaired cars. Neighbors said they had never noticed anything strange at the home. "They didn't bother anybody," Telisha Moseby, Sparks' daughter, told The Eagle. "Sometimes close neighbors can be the worst neighbors ever, but they treated us with high respect." According to Brazos County court records, Dominque Franklin had been arrested on a few misdemeanor charges, while Terant Franklin had not been arrested in Brazos County. "This is totally unexpected," Elvin Moseby, Sparks' son-in-law, said. "These were good people. It looked like everything was turning out for them, they were getting on the right track for their lives, but the devil got in and ruined it all." According to Officer Kelley McKethan, spokeswoman for the Bryan police department, because of the ongoing investigation, few details can be released. She did say that the 61-year-old man who had been shot was still hospitalized Wednesday afternoon. Police also said they believe more than one person was involved in the shooting, and they believe the shooting was not random. Bryan police Chief Eric Buske said Castle Heights does not have a higher crime rate than any other neighborhood in the city. "Nothing really jumps off the page about [Castle Heights]," he said. "My thing is," Telisha Moseby said on Wednesday afternoon, motioning to children playing with toys in front of the Franklin house, "If it wasn't for the rain yesterday, these kids would have been here playing. They could have been caught in the crossfire." Elvin Moesby remembers the zeal for life his friend Dominque had. "I wish people could live life like Dominque did. He was always smiling." Anyone with information is asked to call the Bryan police at 979-209-5300 or Crime Stoppers at 979-775-TIPS. Texas A&M has reached record-high enrollment with the fall 2017 semester, according to university officials who said Wednesday 68,625 students are currently enrolled -- a 3.3 percent increase over the previous year. Of the total, 62,527 of the students attend the campus in College Station and 2,473 attend the campus in Galveston. The remaining students are split between the Qatar campus, the Texas A&M School of Law, the McAllen campus, the Texas A&M Health Science Center training sites and the numerous institutions -- such as Blinn College -- where students can achieve a co-enrolled status. Texas A&M Director of Recruitment Lynn Barnes said although the university's growth has outpaced the original enrollment goals it had previously set, he and his colleagues are pleased to see that student interest in the school continues to grow. "A&M is a very popular place, and we just had a lot of students take us up on our offer for admission," Barnes said. "... I think the A&M brand, with our move to the SEC and the national exposure and interest it's drawing, has been attractive to prospective students." According to the data compiled by the Texas A&M office of Data and Research Services, 53,690 of the university's students are undergraduates -- a 2,304 increase over the fall 2016 numbers. Altogether 52.7 of the students are male and 47.3 are female. The largest nominal increase in accepted students came from Hispanic and Latino applicants, which saw a move from 13,130 in 2016 to 14,084 this semester. According to the data, African-American student enrollment saw a 0.2 percent decrease of five students, and Asian student enrollment saw an 11.6 percent increase of 500 students. Barnes said with shifting demographics in the state, he expects to see the university grow more closely in line with those numbers in the years to come. "The state of Texas, if you look at the census data, is changing," he said. "We, as a land-grant public university, want to change along with that and serve the students here in Texas by providing access. We are doing our best to reach out to any student who might want to come to A&M and there are a lot of great students who are taking us up on that offer and doing well here." Barnes said while engineering majors are not the only ones throughout the university to contribute to the student growth, the effects of the 25 by 25 initiative -- which aims to increase engineering enrollment at A&M to 25,000 students by 2025 -- are tangible. The goal to increase engineering enrollment includes both undergraduate and graduate students across the College Station, Galveston and Qatar campuses, as well as the transitional engineering academies located throughout the state in partnership with two-year institutions such as Blinn College, Austin Community College, El Centro College, Houston Community College and Texas Southmost College. A&M's increase in enrollment coincides with a drop in enrollment for Blinn College following a record high 19,422 students in the fall 2016 semester. Blinn officials said fall 2017 enrollment across all of Blinn's campuses was counted at 18,977. The Bryan campus for the college accounted for a large drop in the enrollment numbers, with the 2016 enrollment of 12,338 students coming in at 11,955 for 2017. To see the complete Texas A&M enrollment data, visit dars.tamu.edu/Student/Preliminary-Enrollment-(1). Sarai Rodriguez-Miranda did not want them staying in her house, police said. The teen's brother, his fiancee and their 11-week-old baby had been staying with Rodriguez-Miranda and her mother at their home in Fort Wayne, Indiana - and they were planning to extend their visit. Investigators said Rodriguez-Miranda, who was 18 at the time, wanted them to go and sent a text to her boyfriend, detailing a sinister plan. "I'm gunna crush up some of these pills since she decided they can stay longer," the teen wrote in January, "and kill their baby." The allegations come from an affidavit for probable cause filed this week in the Allen County Circuit and Superior Courts in Indiana. The documents say Rodriguez-Miranda researched how much over-the-counter pain reliever it would take to kill someone, then crushed the equivalent of nine Excedrin tablets and put the powder in a bottle of breast milk. Rodriguez-Miranda sent her boyfriend a picture of a mortar and pestle set containing the white concoction, according to the court documents. "I put the stuff in a made bottle in the fridge," she wrote. In another text, she wrote: "Yeah I thought it was funny that I don't have an ounce of guilt." Authorities are now searching for Rodriguez-Miranda, who has been charged with attempted murder. Police believe she and her boyfriend left Fort Wayne and headed to Michigan to stay with her boyfriend's family. Allen County Sheriff's Department spokesman Steve Stone said Friday morning that authorities were still "actively looking for" Rodriguez-Miranda, who is now 19. In the early morning hours of Jan. 12, Rodriguez-Miranda's mother, who monitors her daughter's phone and social media messages, saw the text exchange between the teenager and her boyfriend, according to the court records. The mother, whose name is redacted in the court documents, took images of the messages - then went to the kitchen and opened the refrigerator door. Inside, she found two baby bottles - one of which was darker in color with a greenish ring and a residue that had settled at the bottom. She put both bottles in a plastic grocery sack and secured them in a zip-lock bag. Then she took her grandchild, along with the child's mother, to a nearby emergency room to have the infant checked for possible poisoning. Court records say the infant showed no signs of poisoning - because the bottles had not yet been used to feed her. Rodriguez-Miranda later sent another text message to her boyfriend, saying: "Omg I forgot to tell you, the bottle is gone." "I know I'm excited dude. I'm glad it didn't happen while I was here," she wrote, adding: "Bc then they wouldn't suspect it happened at this house and blah blah blahhh, But idk if they'll even use it bc that bottle was in there for like 2 days before I put it in there." The teen then started to question why her niece was still alive. "Why didn't that baby die dude that's dumb," she wrote. The text messages, which are detailed in court records, show the teen's evolution from "Theyre not gunna suspect me" to "I had a dream that night that I got caught." Rodriguez-Miranda wrote in one text "my subconscious is guilty" but, in the same sentence, added, "but tbh I hope she dies. I dont feel bad about it bc she was destined to grow up s-- or be abused." Following the incident, Rodriguez-Miranda's mother told her to be at home Jan. 17 to talk to police about what had happened. But the teen did not return, according to the records. Her mother then gave police the mortar and pestle set, which still had a white powder in it. A forensic toxicology report showed that the milk in one of the bottles contained the components of nine Excedrin tablets - acetaminophen, acetylsalicylic acid (or Aspirin) and caffeine. Authorities wrote in the probable cause affidavit that amount was "more than enough to be fatal for an adult." It was not immediately clear Friday morning whether Rodriguez-Miranda had an attorney in the case. The accused in the murder of 26-year-old Shraddha Walker, Aaftab Ameen Poonawala, is under the custody of Delhi Police after he confessed to chopping up his friend's body and throwing it away. Not only did Aftab dismember Shraddha's body, but chalked out a plan to keep her mortal remains unretrievable by the authorities. After strangulating Shraddha and chopping up her body, Aftab allegedly purchased a 300-litre refrigerator to store the parts that he then threw away in parts of a Delhi forest over 16 days. Earlier today, Shraddha's father told India Today that he wanted the accused to be hanged if Aaftab's confession matched the police's death report. Two Texas Republicans in Congress Sen. John Cornyn and Rep. Bill Flores expressed interest Wednesday in exploring a federal ban on a type of gun attachment used by the gunman in the Las Vegas mass shooting. Flores, R-Bryan, said he supports a federal ban on "bump stocks," which Stephen Paddock used to make rifles shoot more like automatic firearms, The Hill reported Wednesday. Based on the videos I heard and saw, and now that Ive studied up on what a bump stock is I didnt know there was such a thing theres no reason for it, Flores told The Hill. Flores, a gun owner, described himself in a Wednesday statement to The Texas Tribune as a "staunch supporter and defender of the Second Amendment." Still, he added the shooting in Las Vegas "prompts a congressional review of bump stocks and similar devices." Cornyn said in a call with reporters that the devices' role in the Las Vegas attack bears looking into, but he stopped short of calling for a full ban. Cornyn said he had spoken with U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, about holding a hearing on bump stocks and "any other aspect of this terrible crime that we need to look at from a federal perspective" once the initial investigation is complete. Still, Cornyn reaffirmed his support for gun ownership by "law abiding citizens who have no criminal record and no mental impairment." He added that he would support passing a law that would "somehow" prevent a similar attack, but "given the fact that this man had no criminal record and was unknown to law enforcement previously and was willing to commit suicide rather than be apprehended, it's hard to figure out what kind of law we could pass." "I don't think this should be politicized and viewed as an opportunity to try to limit the second amendment rights of law-abiding citizens," Cornyn said. "And unfortunately, that seems to be the first thing that happens." Paddock killed more than 50 people and injured more than 500 Sunday in one of the worst mass shootings in recent U.S. history. Small businesses are big in Texas. More than 9 in 10 businesses in Texas are small businesses, and they employ nearly half of all private-sector employees. Men and women willing to take a risk, to dig deep into their own pockets and stake their future on an idea, have long written the story of Texas. That pioneering spirit still fuels our shared prosperity. Im proud that Texas continues to rank at the top for small-business friendliness, for women-owned businesses and for startup activity. Texas also leads the nation for new tech establishments. And the Bryan-College Station area is ranked by Forbes among the best small places for businesses and careers. If you are thinking of opening your own business or growing your small business, I invite you to attend the Governors Small Business Forum in Bryan today. The forum will be at the Stella Hotel, 4100 Lake Atlas Drive in West Bryan. A limited number of places remain open for todays event. Cost is $50 at the door. The forum will begin at 8:30 a.m. and adjourn at 3 p.m. Small businesses drive the states dynamic economy. In total, self-employed entrepreneurs and small business employers create an annual economic impact in Texas of more than $1 trillion. The Governors Small Business Forum, co-sponsored by my office, the Texas Workforce Commission and the Research Valley Partnership, an economic development team serving Brazos County, the city of Bryan, the city of College Station and private-sector investors. The forum is designed to help entrepreneurs and small businesses find answers on accessing affordable financing, hiring skilled employees, bidding on government contracts, marketing a business and more. Featuring a wide range of seminars and expert speakers, the forum provides a great opportunity to network and connect with industry specialists, government officials, service providers and other regional businesses. And local small business owners will be honored with a Governors Small Business Award for their contributions to the area economy. Texas needs small businesses to succeed. Thats why we slashed the franchise tax to spur job creation, removed roadblocks for veteran-owned businesses and reined in burdensome state regulations to allow free enterprise to flourish. Thats why the Texas Workforce Commission, Texas Education Agency and Higher Education Coordinating Board are working together to place our education system on a parallel pathway with the changing needs of Texas employers. And thats why I will continue to fight back against runaway regulations at the federal, state and local level that disproportionately hurt small business job creation. My goal as governor is to help small businesses grow even faster in Texas. And I invite you to take advantage of all the resources being shared at this forum. Because when small businesses succeed in Texas, all of Texas succeeds. For more information, go to www.researchvalley.org/. You have a character that goes through the scrutiny of being sexualised , and then an audience that does the same thing. By PTI: (Eds: Updating with ISIS claiming responsibility) Karachi, Oct 5 (PTI) A suicide bomber today blew himself up at a Shia shrine packed with devotees in Pakistans troubled Balochistan province, killing at least 18 people and injuring 25 others, police officials said. The attacker tried to enter the Dargah Fatehpur in the Jhal Magsi district of Balochistan and detonated his explosives vest when he was stopped by the police at the main entrance, Deputy Commissioner Asadullah Kakar told the media. advertisement Kakar said an assistant sub-inspector of police was killed while attempting to stop the suicide bomber from entering the shrine. Two other policemen were also injured. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement posted on the Islamic State-linked Aamaq news agency. Balochistan Home Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti told the media that 18 people including a police constable and three children were killed in the blast. "The brave police constable stopped the suicide bomber from entering the shrine after which he blew himself up. If he had managed to enter the shrine there would be have been greater casualties," Bugti said. The minister said that around 25 people were injured in the blast and they were shifted to different hospitals. Dr Rukhsana Magsi at the Gandawah hospital in Jhal Magsi, about 400 kms east of Quetta, the capital of Baluchistan province, confirmed 15 bodies were brought to the hospital. Rescue officials fear that the death toll could rise as the blast took place when there was a heavy rush of devotees who had gathered at the shrine to pay their respect. Devotees gather at the shrine of the revered Sufi saint every Thursday to participate in a sufi dance called dhamaal and prayers. Bugti said the shrine was holding its annual Urs and hundreds of devotees from all over the country had come to the place to pay their respects. A bomb attack on the same shrine killed 35 people in 2005. The local administration declared an emergency at hospitals in Sibbi and Dera Murad Jamali. Earlier, Balochistan government spokesperson Anwarul Haq Kakar said 13 people had been killed. "We have confirmed reports it was a suicide attack," he said. Initial probe showed that the blast occurred when dhamal was going in the premises of the shrine. Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi condemned the attack and vowed that his government will act against militants with full might. Todays attack is the second major strike at a shrine in Balochistan where in November 2016, at least 52 people were killed and 102 injured in a blast at the shrine of Shah Norani in Khuzdar district. PTI CORR/ZH AKJ NSA --- ENDS --- advertisement Zakia Jafri's petition demanded that Modi and 59 others - be made accused for being part of a conspiracy which facilitated the Gujarat riots By India Today Web Desk: The Gujarat High Court today rejected Zakia Jafri 's plea challenging a lower court order upholding the SIT's clean chit to then state Chief Minister Narendra Modi and others for the larger conspiracy in the 2002 riots. The court today, however, has allowed Jafri to approach higher forums for further investigation in the case. Jafri, wife of slain former Congress MP Ehsan Jafri, and activist Teesta Setalvad's NGO, Citizen for Justice and Peace, had moved the criminal review petition against a magistrate's order upholding the clean chit given by the special investigation team (SIT) to Modi and others regarding the allegations of a "larger criminal conspiracy" behind the riots. advertisement The SIT's closure report, filed on February 8, 2012, gave a clean chit to Modi and others. In December 2013, the metropolitan magistrate's court in Ahmedabad rejected Jafri 's petition against the report, after which she moved the Gujarat High Court in 2014. Jafri's petition had demanded that Modi and 59 others - including senior police officers and bureaucrats - be made accused for allegedly being part of a conspiracy which facilitated the riots. It had also sought the court's direction for fresh investigation into the matter. The SIT had submitted before the High Court that its probe was conducted under the Supreme Court's watchful eye, and its report was largely accepted by all. Ehsan Jafri was among the 68 people killed at Ahmedabad's Gulberg Society when a mob attacked it on February 28, 2002, a day after the Godhra train burning incident which triggered the massive riots across the state. Also watch:Arrest PM Modi, Amit Shah for Gujarat riots: Mamata after TMC leader held in chit fund scam --- ENDS --- This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate NORWALK Users of the ever-growing Norwalk River Valley Trail will have a safer route through the Mathews Park area thanks to a rerouting project set to begin shortly. The trail now goes through Devons Playground and presents a risk of bicycles and children colliding. The new route will run from Crescent Street through historic Pine Island Cemetery to Lockwood Mathews Park. The proposed alternative route through the cemetery makes much more sense from a safety standpoint, said Susan Sweitzer, senior project manager at the Norwalk Redevelopment Agency. The Redevelopment Agency and Norwalk Historical Commission are spearheading the project with the agency providing capital dollars to create the new trail stretch. Resources Services of Bridgeport was awarded the $48,025 contract for the trail construction project. The company expects to complete the new trail by Nov. 1. Two trail sections will be built through Pine Island Cemetery, one compliant with the Americans With Disabilities Act, the other along a slope. In the end, you will link up here and go across the road, said Sweitzer, pointing at the plan. The history of Pine Island Cemetery goes back three centuries. The cemetery was selected as a burying place by the town government in 1708. Seven years ago, the Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism added the cemetery to the state Register of Historic Places. As part of the trail project, the Norwalk Historical Society will create a tour of Pine Island including three interpretive signs, a walking tour brochure and markers for the tombstones that are included on the tour. The addition of the NRVT to the Pine Island Cemetery is an important part of our ongoing efforts to make this important historic site more accessible and interesting, said David Westmoreland, Historical Commission chairman. The new trail section will follow the existing carriage road path through the cemetery, so as not to disturb any burials and will be an oil and stone topcoat, instead of asphalt, to maintain the historic character of the cemetery. Jim Carter, Norwalks leader on the NRVTs Five Town Steering Committee, said the addition of the Pine Island Cemetery section will create an uninterrupted route from South Norwalk to downtown Norwalk Center. With completion of this section, hikers and bikers will now be able to connect with those destinations that are in-between the two hubs, such as Lockwood Mathews Mansion & Park, Stepping Stones and Waypointe, Carter said. The NRVT project aims to build 38 miles of 10-foot wide, ADA-compliant trail, from Calf Pasture Beach in Norwalk to Rogers Park in Danbury, for use by walkers, hikers, cyclists, children and pets. The trail will run through Wilton, Ridgefield and Redding, connecting rail stations, schools, offices and business, and provide a healthy transportation alternative. In April, volunteers removed 4,260 pounds of garbage from along the banks of the Norwalk River in advance of construction of the trail segment between Union Park. So far in Norwalk, the trail has been built between the Maritime Aquarium and Union Park as well as between New Canaan Avenue and Broad Street. Special Events Wednesday, Oct. 11 Author Talk: H.W. Brands The General vs. the President: MacArthur and Truman at the Brink of Nuclear War, 7-8:30 p.m. From master storyteller and historian H. W. Brands comes the riveting story of how President Harry Truman and General Douglas MacArthur squared off to decide America's future in the aftermath of World War II. The contest of wills between these two titanic characters unfolds against the turbulent backdrop of a faraway war and terrors conjured at home by Joseph McCarthy. The General and the President vividly evokes the making of a new American era. H. W. Brands holds the Jack S. Blanton Sr. Chair in History at the University of Texas at Austin. A New York Times bestselling author, his books include Traitor to His Class, Andrew Jackson, The Age of Gold, The First American, and TR. Traitor to His Class and The First American were finalists for the Pulitzer Prize. Q&A will follow the talk. See librarys registration link for more details. No charge. Book signing and purchase will be available courtesy of Elm Street Books, New Canaan. Registration highly recommended. Register online or call 203-762-6334. Friday, Oct. 13 G&B Cultural Center Art Exhibition at Wilton Library, 6-7:30 p.m. A talented group of area artists from G & B Cultural Center showcase their works in Wilton Librarys art exhibition this month. The exhibition features more than 30 artists who work in a variety of media including watercolor, oil, acrylic, pastel, graphics, mixed media, drawings, photography and sculpture with subject matter encompassing figures, portraits, still life, abstracts, botanicals, landscapes and more. Reception free and open to the public. Exhibition runs through November 9. A majority of the works will be available for purchase with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the library. Calendar More Information 137 Old Ridgefield Road 203-762-3950 www.wiltonlibrary.org See More Collapse Saturday, Oct. 7 Fence with the Candlewood Fencing Center, 2-3 p.m. Come to the Wilton Library and learn about the ancient and noble sport of fencing. The Candlewood Fencing Center will be putting on an exhibition and learning workshop. Kids in grades two and up will witness a short fencing competition between two National Level athletes. They will learn the rules of fencing and help referee the bout before breaking up into groups to learn the basics of footwork for themselves. Registration required, grades two and up. Register online or call 203-762-6336. Sunday, Oct. 8 Candlelight Concert at the Wilton Congregational Church Juilliard String Quartet, 4-5:30 p.m. Wilton Candlelight Concerts opens its 70th anniversary season with the Juilliard String Quartet in a program of works by Haydn, Dvorak, and Bartok. Concert held at Wilton Congregational Church located at 70 Ridgefield Road, Wilton. A portion of the proceeds benefits Wilton Library. For ticket information call 203-762-3401 or www.wiltoncandlelightconcerts.org. Tuesday, Oct. 10 Storytime STEM, 4:15-5 p.m. Children in grades K-2 are invited to join us weekly for a story and various STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) activities. The hands-on program includes a story, STEM craft and activity. Story: The Three Little Pigs and the Somewhat Bad Wolf by Mark Teague. Supported by the Amadeo Family. Registration required. Register online or call 203-762-6336. Tuesday, Oct. 10 Breast Cancer Survivors Support Group, 6-8 p.m. Post-treatment breast cancer survivors are invited to join in this monthly support group led by Nina Marino, LCSW. Please email Nina at Cancersurvival2@aol.com with any questions. No charge. Registration highly encouraged. Register online or call 203-762-6334. Wednesday, Oct. 11 Wilton Library Readers After Rain, 12-1:30 p.m. Professional book discussion leader Susan Boyar discusses After Rain by William Trevor. Bring lunch; beverages will be provided. Advance registration suggested. Register online or call 203-762-6334. Wednesday, Oct. 11 Free Downloads Online Learning, 1-2:30 p.m. BYOD Bring your own device and follow along as Melissa Baker demonstrates how to use the librarys free online learning services (Lynda.com and Transparent Language), which are available 24/7 from Wilton Library. Bring device, passwords and Wilton Library cards. Presented by Wilton Library for seniors at the Senior Center, Comstock Community Center. Registration required. Register online or call 203-762-6334 Thursday, Oct. 12, 19, 26 & Nov. 9 Autumn Poetry with Judson Scruton: Islands in the Autumn Sun, 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Judson Scruton leads this 4-part Autumn Poetry Seminar Series exploring the poetry of islands. In keeping with Wilton Librarys focus on Cuba this fall with its Wilton Reads program, our poetry seminar will focus on islands, both literal and metaphoric. Judson Scruton, M.A (The Johns Hopkins University, The Writing Seminars, specializing in poetry), has taught creative writing and literature at prep schools and universities. He is currently an Adjunct Professor of English at Fairfield University. Poetry packets now available at front desk. No charge for the program. Advance registration required. Register online or call 203-762-6334. See registration link for more program and speaker details. Thursday, Oct. 12 WLA/SCORE Time Management: Client Handling and Management, 6-8 p.m. SCORE of Fairfield County, Wilton Library, and the Wilton Chamber of Commerce present a seminar that will teach small business owners how to handle their clients. In this fast-paced, entertaining program, you will learn the secrets of successful client management. Speaker: Attorney, author, syndicated columnist, speaker, television personality and humorist, Cliff Ennico has helped more than 15,000 small businesses get off the ground over the past 37 years. Visit www.fairfieldcounty.score.org or call SCORE at (203) 831-0065 with any questions and to register. Check-in begins at 5:30 p.m. Registration required. No charge. Classes in Innovation Station this week Sunday, Oct. 8: Personalized Wine Bottle Stoppers, 2-3:30 p.m.; Thursday, Oct. 12: Scanning Slides into Digital Images, 2-3:30 p.m.; Monday, Oct. 16, 23 & 30: Stitch Time for Knitters and Crocheters, 1-2:30 p.m. Ongoing Childrens programs Tuesday, Oct. 10 through Tuesday, Nov. 14: Terrific Tales for Twos and Threes, 10:15-10:45 a.m.; Wednesday, Oct. 11 through Wednesday, Nov. 15: Books for Babies, 10:15-10:45 a.m.; Wednesday, Oct. 11 through Wednesday, Nov. 15: Wonderful Ones and Twos, 11-11:30 a.m.; Wednesday, Oct. 11 & Nov. 8: Ambler Farm Reads, 2:15-3 p.m.; Friday, Oct. 13 & 27: Movement and Dance for Little Ones, 11-11:30 a.m.; Friday, Oct. 13: Let's Make Something with TinkerCAD, 4-4:45 p.m.; Monday, Oct. 16 through Monday, Nov. 13: Ready Readers, 4:15-5 p.m. Ready or not, its the season for squash. Sure, we can wait a bit to buy them. But after I visited Tom Cultons farm in Lancaster County about a month ago, Id like to go back and stock up for the cold months. Culton of Culton Organics produces some truly memorable fruits and vegetables: The kind that are so delicious, he could start a cult. A 10th-generation farmer, Culton farms with his grandfather Pete Herchelroth, who even in his 80s still tends to their 53 acres every day. Culton supplies fruits and vegetables to a handful of restaurateurs such as Marc Vetri (who has restaurants in Philadelphia) and Daniel Boulud (who has restaurants in New York City and Washington, D.C., among other cities), and celebrity chef Tom Colicchio of Top Chef (who owns restaurants in New York City and Las Vegas). When I walked through the fields, Culton picked up a vert grimpant, a melon the size of a cantaloupe, dappled with yellow and green, and he broke it open on the ground. It was the most amazing melon Ive ever eaten, with a pale soft, sweet flesh. A friend and I drove back to Pittsburgh with a carload of them, the most intensely floral and sensual my little Honda will ever smell. A few years ago, Culton grew a squash that weighed 70 pounds, which he took with him when he was a guest on the Late Show With David Letterman. He appeared on the show because of his rock-star farmer status. The size wasnt so unusual for the squash, anyway. The Long of Naples varietal grows on average up to 25 pounds. This one had grown so large, he said, because all the flowers but one had been knocked off the vine, so the one left produced an outsized gourd. The Long of Naples is one of dozens of heirloom plants Culton grows, along with many varieties of tomatoes, cardoons, garlic, globe artichokes, asparagus and more than 200 varieties of peppers including the coveted Espelette. Squash, he said, are usually ready no earlier than the last week of September. His come in all shapes and sizes. Hes growing the Musquee de Provence with a mottled rind so beautiful that it could be featured in a still life. Then theres the pink banana squash that looks like the name. Its among his favorite because it is so flavorful. I really, really love it, he said. I dont have to do much to them as far as the growing season. And theyll hold for two to six months. Cultons fruits and vegetables are highly coveted, although they can be expensive at $4 each for melons, and ranging from 80 cents to $1.50 a pound for squash. But thats the thing about these heirloom varieties grown by farmers who really know what theyre doing. Theyre fun to hunt down to use when preparing that extraordinary meal. Farmers closer to home offer some really nice Blue Hubbard squash or Kabochas that you can get through Penns Corner Farm Alliance, or at the farmers markets that stretch through October. Squash can last a long time, especially if you store them in an unheated garage that hovers above 40 degrees. Keep them out of direct sunlight, Culton said. Once you cut into a large squash, it will keep. He suggests wrapping it in plastic and storing it in the refrigerator, which can preserve it for close to a month. Because squash becomes ubiquitous in mid- to late fall, I like to vary preparations. I wish restaurants would do it more often, too, and go beyond butternut squash soup and ravioli. Ill take a fried squash triangle anytime, served as a snack or dessert. Im also in love with Pasta Con Zucca cubed, braised squash cooked so long and slow that it melds into a sauce of sorts, coating short noodles such as pasta mista or mezze maniche. A friend introduced me to a grilled version of squash that is very simple. Cut a Kabocha in half-moons about a half-inch thick. Lightly oil the pieces with olive oil, then transfer them to the grates. When the slices are cooked through, drop them in a large bowl with a minced chili be it a Thai bird, Calabrian or even a cherry pepper. Drizzle with good olive oil and a dash of white wine vinegar. Let it sit for a bit, but not too long. Garnish with mint and serve. Its the dish that steals the show. This is an easy recipe, but it requires patience. Dont add too much liquid at a time, and allow the liquid to thicken before serving. Pasta Con Zucca 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 1 whole clove of garlic 2 cups butternut squash, peeled and cubed 2 cups pasta mista or mezze maniche 4 cups water Several sprigs of Italian parsley, chopped Salt and pepper to taste Heat a large saute pan on medium-high. When its hot, add olive oil and add the whole clove of garlic. Turn it down to medium and allow the clove to season the oil. After 2 or 3 minutes, remove the clove. Add cubed squash. Turn heat down to a simmer and cover. Check often to ensure the pan still has liquid in it. Add olive oil as needed and stir the squash so it doesnt stick to the bottom of the pan or brown for about 20 minutes. When squash has cooked through and soft, add 2 cups of pasta, a sprinkle of sea salt and turn up the heat to medium high. Add enough water so that pasta and squash are covered by liquid. Stir periodically. The goal here is to cook the pasta to al dente (and not to overcook it). A second goal is to allow the starch from the pasta and squash to bind to make a sauce. If there is too much liquid in the pan, the sauce wont thicken. If theres not enough, the pasta wont cook evenly. So be judicious in adding liquid. As the pasta cooks, stir more frequently. The liquid will start to thicken. After pasta is cooked, transfer to a serving plate, add black pepper and garnish with chopped Italian parsley or grated Parmesan if desired. Makes 2 servings. Recipe from: Melissa McCart Grilled Squash 1-1/2 cups squash, peeled and cut in wedges 1/8 cup extra virgin olive oil Salt and pepper to taste White wine vinegar 1 Thai bird or Calabrian chili, or one cherry pepper, seeded and chopped 10 mint leaves, cut in a chiffonade Light the grill and allow it to get hot. After you have peeled the squash, cut it in 1/2 wedges or half moons. Be sure theyre not too thin so they dont fall apart on the grill. Then pour a quarter-sized dollop of olive oil in the bottom of a large bowl. Transfer wedges to the bowl and coat them with a light sheen of olive oil. Grill the squash for somewhere between 3 and 5 minutes, turning once as needed. When the slices are cooked through, transfer them back to the bowl and salt liberally be sure to taste as you go. Add a touch more olive oil and a dash of white wine vinegar. Then add pepper, mint and black pepper, if you like. Let sit for a few minutes before serving. Makes 2 servings. Recipe from: Melissa McCart Japans beef tariff increase has resulted in a 26 percent decline in U.S. frozen beef exports to the country, which is having a negative impact on Nebraskas beef industry. As anticipated, Japans tariff increase is negatively impacting exports of frozen beef from the U.S. to Japan, Gov. Pete Ricketts said Wednesday. Last month, Ricketts conducted a trade mission to Japan during which he urged Japanese officials to come to the table to negotiate with the U.S. to lower their tariff. This news also underscores the urgency for Congress and the Trump administration to negotiate a bilateral trade agreement with Japan to address the beef tariff rates as well as other agricultural market access issues, he said. A new deal is critical to growing our No. 1 commodity here in the Beef State. In July, Japan raised its tariff to 50 percent on frozen beef from the United States. Rapid growth in U.S. beef exports to Japan triggered the tariff increase that is expected to expire early next year. Japan is Nebraskas No. 1 export market for beef products, with a value of more than $316 million in 2016. Last year, fresh and frozen beef were Nebraskas Nos. 1 and 2 leading export commodities, with a total value of nearly $900 million. Also, Nebraska is the leading beef-packing state in the nation, as last year 7.24 million head of cattle were slaughtered in the state at production plants such as JBS in Grand Island. The USDA reported earlier this year that beef cash receipts in Nebraska were $10.9 billion, which is the largest among beef-producing states. In July, Ricketts called on Congress and the Trump administration to redouble their efforts to negotiate a bilateral trade agreement with Japan after Japan announced the tariff increase. One of the first acts of the Trump administration was to pull the U.S. out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which included Japan. The governor said that he would like Congress and the Trump administration to address other agricultural market access issues similar to what would have been covered under the Trans-Pacific Partnership. In July, Ricketts said the increase in the tariff rate places Nebraska beef exports at an even greater competitive disadvantage with other countries with which Japan has free trade agreements, such as Australia and the European Union. It is anticipated that this will shift purchases from frozen to fresh, triggering beef safeguard tariff increases on fresh beef as well later this year, compounding the impact on Nebraskas beef exports. Rep. Adrian Smith, R-Neb., said that U.S. beef producers have already been placed at a competitive disadvantage in the Japanese market due to this countrys inaction on trade. Australias trade agreement with Japan has brought the tariff on its frozen beef down to 27 percent, compared to the nearly 40 percent tariff applied to U.S. beef, Smith said. Now, with this hike to 50 percent, our producers will face nearly double the tariff as their Australian counterparts. He has introduced a resolution in the U.S. House urging the Trump administration to begin the process of establishing a trade agreement with Japan. Smith serves on the Ways and Means Committee, which has jurisdiction over trade policy. He introduced his resolution calling on the administration to begin negotiations for a trade agreement with Japan in March. Bangladesh's foreign secretary Shahidul Haque explained at length the need to balance "sovereignty" issue and "economic integration" during his interaction at the World Economic Forum in New Delhi. By Geeta Mohan: A day after the Trump administration threw its weight behind India's opposition to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Bangladesh backed China's 'One-Belt-One-Road' (OBOR) initiative, also known as the 'Belt and Road Initiative' (BRI). Bangladesh's foreign secretary Shahidul Haque explained at length the need to balance "sovereignty" issue and "economic integration" during his interaction at the World Economic Forum (WEF) on Thursday in New Delhi. advertisement This is in absolute contradiction to India's stand on OBOR which it boycotted on grounds of violating India's territorial integrity as it runs through the disputed territory of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) and because China has not been transparent leading to compromise on sovereignty. Haque spoke on the economic limitations that Bangladesh faces and hence the need to build linkages even with China. "In case of Bangladesh, we realised that we are both geographically very small but we have, in order to overcome those limitations, to weave ourselves with the rest of the world. That's why economic, social and political issues remain very fundamental to our state practices irrespective of government," he said. "We cannot remain link-less in the current situation. We have to go beyond. And that's what we think would eventually benefit us. We look at sovereignty and integration rather from a different angle," he added. Speaking during the discussion "Asia's New Normal" at the WEF conference, the Bangladesh foreign secretary emphasised on the importance of economic growth and said that sometimes the issue of sovereignty need to take the "backseat" to "economic integration" emphasising that the country stood behind Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's decision. "We can't forget what the people want and before joining BRI we had several discussions with civil society, and it was clear, what we need is connectivity. For us as a country, what we need is quick upgradation of our infrastructure and our generation wants much more interaction and connectivity," Haque said. Bangladesh is trying to balance ties with India and China keeping its own geo-political and economic interests in mind. "Economic issues now dictate how much sovereignty one should exert," Haque said at the forum. China's $4 trillion OBOR initiative will span 65 countries with 70 per cent of the world's population. Bangladesh formally declared joining China's OBOR initiative during the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2016. All major political parties welcomed Xi's visit, the first by a Chinese President in three decades. --- ENDS --- The Hall County Board of Supervisors will wait another two weeks before deciding what actions it will take regarding appointing a new Hall County attorney. The county board voted 7-0 Tuesday to table the matter until its Oct. 17 meeting to allow for current Hall County Attorney Jack Zitterkopf to do further research on the matter. Zitterkopf announced on Sept. 19 that he will retire effective at the close of business on Feb. 13, 2018. Hall County board Chairwoman Pam Lancaster told the board that if it chose to go through a search process to appoint a new county attorney, the appointee would take office after Feb. 13 two days before an incumbent can file for election. My issue is that I know that there are multiple people from the Hall County attorneys office who are considering this position, she said. My personal feeling is that if we made a decision, we are giving someone a clear advantage over another. This leaves a little bit of angst amongst the office. Lancaster said she and Zitterkopf discussed the possibility of a search process and the county board appointing a Hall County attorney and wondered if there is a provision that would allow the chief deputy Hall County attorney Sarah Carstensen to assume the role on an interim basis. Zitterkopf read a state statute regarding appointments that states how an appointment should be handled in the case of a resignation of an elected official. The statute read by Zitterkopf states: When the vacancy occurs, and before the election occurs, and before the election or appointment of a successor, possession shall be taken, of all things pertaining to the office and its functions, by the deputy, if there is one. If not, it shall be taken by a replacement appointed by the county board. Both Lancaster and Zitterkopf explained Carstensen is not interested in the permanent Hall County attorney position due to not wanting to move into Hall County. She is kind of on the fence about this, Zitterkopf said. This just came up yesterday about whether she would be willing to do it. She does not want to alienate the two people who would potentially be her boss in the future. Supervisor Gary Quandt agreed with Zitterkopf. We could have two or three people who have filed for the office and we would have to make an appointment out of there, he said. I think that is a disadvantage to the taxpayers and I dont think thats fair to the candidates. Quandt asked Zitterkopf whether Carstensen would need to move to Hall County if the county board appointed her as interim county attorney. Zitterkopf responded that he did not think so, but would need to check to be sure. He was also asked by Supervisor Scott Arnold whether there is a time limit given to the county board to appoint someone. Zitterkopf responded that based on the questions asked by Arnold and Quandt, he needs to do more research. In other action, the county board voted 7-0 to have the Central Nebraska Humane Society submit an annual report on activities from June 1 to May 31, no later than June 30. With the quickening pace of redevelopment of Grand Islands downtown Railside, leaders in the district are inviting the public to visit several new and completed buildings on a self-guided walking tour on Sunday. I think a lot of people saw how things have changed along the streets here this summer during the free weekly Friday-night concerts, but I dont think they realize how much has changed inside some of these buildings, said Tom Ziller, Railside Business Improvement District board president. This isnt just a place to visit recreationally. People live and work down here, too. And this is a chance for people to see that side, too. Nearing- or recently-completed developments that will be featured on the free tour will include the Labor Temple, Lola Yoga Studio, office space renovations at the Rexall Building, Create 308, a facelift at Kinkaider (formally Nathan Detroits), Crane River Building and Beavercreek Marketing, as well as upper-level housing at Tower 217, the former Masonic Temple. These locations are among eight stops that will be open from 1 to 4 p.m. on Sunday for a public walking tour. By now, people have watched films at the renovated Grand Theatre, they have had coffee at the Chocolate Bar, they have been out at night at McKinneys or Infuse Mixology and they have shopped at Kindred or one of the other new boutique shops, Ziller said. But not as many people have seen the other face of redevelopment downtown, where we are seeing more modern professional office space and even contemporary upper-level housing. Those kinds of developments are less prominent, but crucial to the continued momentum of a healthy districtwide redevelopment. Other recent advancements include furthering of Railsides rebranding of the downtown, evident in new welcome and parking signs and street light banners that all use the unified Railside brand to help establish a district identity with the public. The tour will feature business or development representatives and Railside guides at each location to talk about each redevelopment project, as well as answer questions about the overall Railside districts rejuvenation. Look for balloons marking the tour locations. The city of Grand Islands Public Works Department has more than 225 miles of sanitary sewer lines that need to be cleaned at least once every five years, and now, this cleaning will be made easier thanks to a new combination unit. Marvin Strong, an engineer at the wastewater treatment plant, and Fred Tustin, collection system supervisor, talked about the new unit and demonstrated how it works at a media event Wednesday afternoon in front of City Hall. Strong said the primary purpose of the combination unit is to clean the sewers. Tustin added it is equipped with a 1,000-foot hose on the back that is sent up a sanitary sewer line. We can bring any debris back also and take care of cleaning so it does not have any problems, he said. During the demonstration Wednesday, Strong explained a nozzle on the hose loosens whatever is in the sewer and brings it back to the manhole. The worker operates at very high pressure so he can just dislodge whatever may be there, he said. What he will probably do is pull all the material back to this manhole. Strong added a tube-like device on the combination unit serves as a vacuum cleaner, vacuuming up debris from the sewer to be put into a tank in the truck. From there, the debris is emptied at the Wastewater Treatment Plant. We take the hose down fast and once we get to the other manhole, which is roughly 350 feet, we will start coming back in at a slow pace and turn the pressure down, Strong said. It also brings any debris back. Once we get so far back from the manhole we are working on, we will go ahead and turn the vacuum unit on. That vacuums up all the debris in the sewer line and keeps the guys from having to go into the holes. He added that the sewers need to be cleaned periodically by equipment such as the combination unit, as they will become filled with grease, sand and other debris, which will lead to a sewage backup in peoples homes if it is not cleared. It is one of those out-of-sight and out-of-mind things that are done every day in the city of Grand Island to benefit the community, Strong said. We are kind of unsung heroes. Public Works Director John Collins said the new combination unit replaces both the flusher truck and the vacuum truck his department had. A flusher and a vacuum can be an actual truck or it can be a trailer, Collins said. The city has trailers. Rather than having two drivers, we have one driver. We still have to have a utility vehicle to carry the components. We basically go from three vehicles to two vehicles and go down by one staff member. He said the cost of the combination unit is a little less than $400,000. A combination units cost can run as high as $800,000 as it can be equipped with high-end items, but Public Works new combination unit is basic. We have what we need and nothing more, Collins said. Instant analysis: Eagles rally, then get sloppy as undefeated hopes end Several observations from the Eagles' Monday night game against the Washington Commanders. Zubair Khan is currently making waves in the new season of Bigg Boss. By India Today Web Desk: Bigg Boss 11 contestant Zubair Khan has been hitting the headlines for all the wrong reasons. It has been only a few days in the house, but Haseena Parkar's son-in-law has managed to pick up with fights with quite a few housemates. Here are a few things that will give you more clues about why Zubair is the way he is, and why did he choose to be part of the show. advertisement Zubair was once married to a 12-year-old Zubair had once tied the knot with a 12-year-old. And he told India Today Online so. "My wife was 12-year-old when I married her, she was a kid. I have literally raised her and still she stabbed me in the back." #ZubairKhan seems angry about things being unfair in this #BB11 house! Do you believe his side of the story? #BB11 pic.twitter.com/iMLrt9tkO2- COLORS (@ColorsTV) October 4, 2017 Zubair seeks a new life partner While speaking with India Today Online, Zubair said, "Now, I will make my wife jealous through Bigg Boss. I will make a girlfriend. I don't want to fight with guns and goons, if you are going to play with my heart, I will play with your mind." Zubair has made a movie on Underworld and its workings starring former BB contestant Ajaz Khan Yes, you read that right. Zubair is a director and producer, who has made a film called Lakeer Ka Fakeer. The movie starred former Bigg Boss contestant Ajaz Khan in a pivotal role. Zubair has worked with Balaji Telefilms Believe it or not, Zubair was once associated with TV queen Ekta Kapoor's production house, Balaji Telefilms. Apparently, Zubair was an executive producer of the company. Zubair is the owner of a production house himself Not only has the Bigg Boss 11 contestant directed and produced films, he also owns a production house by the name of Garbage. Now it remains to be seen whether this very vocal contestant of the show will make the final cut. --- ENDS --- This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum has obtained an amazing trove of documents that trace one southern Illinois familys history, from arriving in America to surviving fires and floods to suffering tragic losses in war. The centerpiece of the collection is a rare 1796 atlas that family patriarch Samuel Spence, a sea captain originally from Scotland, brought with him to Illinois in 1838. The atlas is inscribed with family history and notes, and much of it has been hand colored. The collection also includes about 800 manuscripts and hundreds of photographs and newspaper clippings about the family and the communities around them Olmsted, Mound City, Cairo and more. The Spence family has a colorful history, but what really sets this collection apart is its incredible detail. Anyone studying it will get an in-depth picture of daily life in southern Illinois from the states early days to the modern era, said Alan Lowe, executive director of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. Everyone with an interest in Illinois history owes the Spence family a debt of gratitude. When the Spences arrived in 1838, they settled on the Ohio River just north of its confluence with the Mississippi, near todays town of Olmsted. A journal recounts the misery of their early years. I am very much dissatisfied with this place. No money and am unable to go to work on account of the familys sickness. No kind of hearty victuals to be had for love or money, wrote one of the Spences. Eventually the family prospered. Documents list purchases at the store they ran (everything from peas and beans to scissors and a molasses faucet) and their donation of land to monks founding a priory. Later photos and diplomas show family trips and young women studying to be secretaries and nurses. Later still, two adventurous Spence brothers became airmail pilots and then sailors traveling the world. Both died during World War II when the merchant ships on which they served were torpedoed by German submarines. The collection also includes their sisters many anguished letters asking officials for information. The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, at 212 N. Sixth St. in Springfield, is dedicated to telling the story of Americas 16th president through old-fashioned scholarship and modern technology. It also serves as the state historical library. The library holds an unparalleled collection of Lincoln material, as well as some 12 million items pertaining to other aspects of Illinois history. Meanwhile, the museum uses traditional exhibits, eye-catching special effects and innovative story-telling techniques to educate visitors. For more information, visit www.presidentlincoln.illinois.gov or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Shilpa Shinde has managed to irk another housemate after Vikas Gupta. Yes, we are talking about Hina Khan. By India Today Web Desk: Bigg Boss 11's upcoming episode will be full of ugly spats as the Vikas Gupta-Shilpa Shinde fight promises to get spicier. Here's what you can expect from tonight's episode: Hina Khan injures herself advertisement The TV star will get injured while performing the 'Animal Farm' task. In the new task, Hina, Arshi, and Puneesh are expected to catch a bunch of hens and put them in a basket. Jyoti Kumari teaches a parrot to bad-mouth Akash Dadlani A still from the show In another task of 'Animal Farm,' Jyoti will be seen teaching a parrot to repeat the phrase, "Akash nikamma hai." (Akash is useless.) This will be done as a part of a fresh task which will involve Jyoti, Priyank, and Sapna. There's more drama in the #BB11 house as @eyehinakhan & #ShilpaShinde have a fierce argument! Witness it all tonight 10.30pm! pic.twitter.com/iwALWWWjyy- Bigg Boss (@BiggBoss) October 5, 2017 Contestants join Vikas Gupta to protest against Shilpa Shinde's unseemly behaviour Hina, Arshi, and a few other contestants will join forces with Vikas as he will attempt to disturb Shilpa's sleep. Vikas will be seen claiming that he will make Shilpa apologise for abusing his mother. The duo will later have a silly fight over water, as Shilpa will continue to irk Vikas through her unique antics. Hina Khan and Shilpa Shinde's war of words The actresses will have a fight over Vikas, as Hina will be seen informing Shilpa that she wants nothing to do with her and Vikas' controversial history. However, their discussion will soon turn into an argument and the two will take leave of each other on a bitter note. Hina will also make fun of Shilpa's diction as the latter will be unable to enunciate a few Hindi words during a task announcement. Shivani Durga's spooky avatar Later in the night after Shilpa and Vikas' argument, Shivani Durga will scare other participants by staring gravely at the actress (Shilpa). Puneesh will be seen stating that he is scared of Shivani. Shivani would later apologise to Shilpa for going against her, and will admit that she was in the wrong for supporting Vikas. To know how crazy things will get in the house, tune in to Bigg Boss 11 at 10:30 pm tonight on Colors TV. --- ENDS --- Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Perdana Roswaldy (The Jakarta Post) Illinois Thu, October 5, 2017 16:27 1866 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a2358f2e 3 Opinion reclamation,Jakarta-reclamation,Jakarta-Bay,#JakartaReclamationProject,environment,#environment Free In his Sept.7 article in The Jakarta Post, Muamar Vebry suggests that the project of 17 artificial islands off the capitals coast should be reforested to reverse the loss of marine ecosystems in Jakarta and to turn the development into an environmental program instead. This overly pragmatic approach is insufficient for two main reasons. First, such a view neglects the damages that cannot be replaced or redeemed by environmental gains. No matter how many trees would be replanted, they would never be enough for thousands of the evicted people in the Jakarta Bay. Nor would it address the problems of more carbon footprints produced by moving those people and building block housings in Jakarta for the evicted. The whole reclamation project is built on ecological crisis beyond the Jakarta Bay. For one, cement used for reclamation is produced by Indocement whose factory was built on disputed land in Central Java. Second, replacing one development project with another further wraps up the capital accumulation in environmentally friendly cloth. Changing the project does not address the root reason why the reclamation project was presented from the start. A new project would justify the reclamation project and sandmining to supply soil to build the artificial islands, that exploits the coastal environment of Banten province. Understanding social ecology becomes more important than Vebrys environmentalist approach. Social ecology seeks to understand all the actors and structures that are involved and working in an ecosystem; including humans and their social-economic relationship with the environment and technology. What is often neglected is that current ecological problems are catalyzed by societal problems. The Jakarta reclamation project is not all about the environment, but also about the politics and the economic interest of certain elite groups, as shown by research by The Centre Research on Multinational Corporation (SOMO) in April 2017. Reforesting islands whose initial purpose was anything but to serve the ecology balance would not contribute to environmental equilibrium. The end does not at all justify the means. In Jakartas case, policymakers seem to pay no attention to the environmental impact of the forced eviction of the fishermen. Displacing people forcibly contributes to an increase of carbon footprints related to the new need for transportations. Furthermore, the independent documentary filmmakers of WatchDoc reported many fishermen become unemployed and fearful of becoming homeless. The precarious condition adds to the capitals long list of social and environmental problems. To push an environmental agenda while neglecting the entangled social ecology of the communities tied to the ecosystem manifests the limits of a technocratic approach of the reclamation project. Moreover, we havent talked about how the sediments of the Giant Sea Wall, another potentially hazardous project integrated into the reclamation project, will affect the marine ecosystem in Jakarta Bay and even the 17 islands. Reforestation for our environmental balance now sounds out of reach. Such a simplistic view also shows the danger of short-term vision that exemplifies our logic to save the environment. Vebry suggests that reforestation could bring benefits in ecotourism. In 2011 researchers Erik Gomez-Baggethun and Manuel Ruiz Perez reported their study titled Economic Valuation and the Commodification of Ecosystem Service in which they criticized commodification in proposals of ecotourism as a way to attach economic valuation into the ecosystem and commodify it in order to save it. Yet whether we can gain profit or not from the targeted areas of ecotourism, protecting the environment is mandatory. Commodifying nature by ecotourism of Jakarta Bay also means double exclusion. First, building the island already excluded thousands of families in Jakarta, and second, only people who can pay to enjoy leisure activity can afford such ecotourism. In short, the reclamation project becomes commodification of the environment. Neither situation contributes to save the Earth nor to fix the Jakartas infamous problem with the ecosystem. Here, answering Vebrys rhetorical question, capital wins. Social ecology may deliver us a more realistic image of environmental balance than the pragmatic approach. Instead of coming up with another fraudulent development projects claiming to advance society and the environment, the perspective of social ecology will lead us to a more participatory approach in building a healthy environment and to start demanding explanations for why Jakarta suffers from annual flooding, pollution, and its waste problems. There is a multitude of conflicts in Jakartas environmental problems. Causes might include overpopulation, due to uneven development outside Jakarta that attracts overwhelming in-migration. It could be the lowering level of soil because Jakarta has too many malls and large buildings that serve the upper middle class and corporations. Another possible cause is the clientelism haunting our transportation modes with government interests clashing with private holdings, contributing to our chaotic transportation and ineffective laws to regulate cars and motorcycles. A business-like and short-sighted solution like reforestation eventually will help only certain people to have rights to a better environment and sustainable lives, rather than all the people of Jakarta, especially those severely affected by the development projects. In this critical time, it is highly crucial to look back and relearn again what we know about the environment. There is no quick solutions for the problem that has persisted since the dawn of human civilization. The old proposal of replant trees for every serious ecological problem only worsens the situation in the future. Social ecology forces us to think creatively for the long-term and to make us realize that the environmental problems wouldnt be resolved overnight since it is caused by layers of conflict of actors in the ecosystem. It asks for humility that we cannot control, estimate and calculate what the environment can do or cannot do. *** The writer is a 2017 Arryman Predoctoral Research Fellow at the Equality Development and Globalization Studies Buffett Institute, Northwestern University, Illinois. --------------- We are looking for information, opinions, and in-depth analysis from experts or scholars in a variety of fields. We choose articles based on facts or opinions about general news, as well as quality analysis and commentary about Indonesia or international events. Send your piece to academia@jakpost.com. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Charmaine Ng (The Straits Times/Asia News Network) Singapore Thu, October 5, 2017 10:06 1867 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a234708e 2 Science & Tech India,LG,smartphone,#smartphone,mosquito Free You can do almost anything with a smartphone these days, including using it as a repellent against blood-sucking mosquitoes. South Korean electronics company LG has launched a new smartphone with a feature called Mosquito Away technology, which uses ultrasonic soundwaves to keep the insects away. The k-series LGK7i is for sale exclusively in India and is priced at 7,990 rupees (US$123). The mosquito-repellent technology has been a feature of some of the company's air-conditioners, TVs and washing machines, but this is the first time it is included in a mobile phone. The 8-megapixel camera phone also features a 5-inch display, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of storage space and an unspecified quad-core processor. The device's internal storage can also be expanded up to 256GB via a MicroSD card slot. The ultrasonic sound waves used to repel mosquitoes are in a frequency above 30kHz, which is above the range of human hearing, said LG on its website. Read also: Smartphone users found to be more rational than PC users: Study A post shared by Un Nerd Paraguayo (@nerdpy) on Sep 28, 2017 at 6:49am PDT It added that the frequency is "absolutely safe and harmless for humans" and that "no harmful radiations are emitted". The company also claims on its website that about 72 per cent of anopheles gambiae mosquitoes were repelled in clinical trials using the phone's ultrasound technology. However, some experts have said it is a myth that ultrasonic soundwaves can be used to fend off mosquitoes. Entomologist Bart Knols, who chairs the advisory board of the Dutch Malaria Foundation, was quoted by the BBC in 2012 that there is "no scientific evidence whatsoever" that ultrasound repels mosquitoes. He added that people should be protecting themselves with bed nets, lotions and anti-malarial drugs instead of using ultrasound. Topics : This article appeared on The Straits Times newspaper website, which is a member of Asia News Network and a media partner of The Jakarta Post Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Christine T. Tjandraningsih (Kyodo News) Nongan village, Karangasem, Bali Thu, October 5, 2017 13:39 1866 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a234ff21 2 Art & Culture Mount-Agung,bali,Priest,Volcano Free Indonesian authorities have banned activities like hiking within a certain radius of Bali's Mt. Agung volcano, as it shows signs of an imminent eruption, but some Hindu priests did so anyway over the weekend, attracting both criticism and support. Jero Mangku Kari, one of the priests, told Kyodo News that when they climbed barefoot to its top last Friday, their only intention was to pray for the safety of nearby villagers. The 67-year-old priest and his nephew Jero Mangku Ado, 41, went up the volcano early in the morning and came down in the afternoon. On the mountaintop, they coincidentally met two other Hindu priests -- an uncle and a nephew from another temple on the slopes of the volcano. "We climbed up to pray, asking for God to protect the people living on the slopes of Mt. Agung and its surrounding areas and to forgive us for having made a lot of mistakes," Kari told Kyodo News in an interview at an evacuation center in the village of Nongan, about 13 kilometers from the volcano's crater. "I prayed at the peak because it's closer to God, so I could directly talk to him," he added. The government raised the status of Mt. Agung to top alert on Sept. 22 after it had showed increasing activities. It also declared a radius of 9 km from the peak and 12 km from the peak in certain parts of the volcano's slopes as dangerous zones. Read also: Popular tourist sites in Bali safe amid tremors around Mount Agung The priests' decision to climb the volcano immediately attracted both support and criticism, particularly after they posted photos of themselves on the peak, as well as the video of the steaming crater, on Facebook. "The smoke was white, while the water inside the caldera was yellow with strong smell; people say it was sulphur," Kari disclosed about what he had seen in the steaming crater. While some supported their action, others thought they were only looking for sensation and accused them of being irresponsible because it might encourage others to do likewise. A day after their climb, Kari received a telephone call from a local military chief, asking him not to do it again. On Tuesday, the photos and video disappeared from the Facebook account. Living in the village of Temukus, about 3 km from the crater, Kari carries a position as "mangku gede," or the highest Hindu priest at nearby Tunggul Besi Temple. Hindu priests, who are determined by bloodline in Balinese Hindu tradition, are very well-respected on the island. They carry out their duties without payment and dedicate their entire lives for the spiritual health of their followers and their words are more listened than any government officials' voices. "Life and death is not determined by humans, but by God. God decides when you are born and when you die," Kari explained when asked whether he was not afraid to die for breaching the dangerous line determined by the government. Read also: Human activity continues in Mt. Agung's danger zone "But if I have to die, I am willing to as long as it is for the goodness of the people. I am willing to sacrifice myself as long as the people living on the slopes and around Mt. Agung are safe," the priest added. The priest, who earns living as an Edelweiss farmer, once experienced Mt. Agung's sudden eruption in 1963 when he was 3 years old. "It spewed white smoke and rain of ashes. A few days later, the smoke became black and the mountain spewed sand and stones," he said. "The sky was dark and then flames were seen from the peak that spewed hot lava and lahar, sweeping everything," he added. In his prayer, Kari asked God for a minor eruption to prevent people from falling victims if the volcano has to erupt. "Everything is decided by God. Except God, no one can decide. We should regard an eruption as a warning from God for having taken a distance from him," he stressed. "The relationship between God and humans is just like the one between a mother and her child. Your relationship will get closer when a danger comes," he added. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Jessicha Valentina (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, October 5, 2017 11:02 1867 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a234ba29 1 Art & Culture Minikino-Film-Week,film-festival,#film,#filmmaking,short-film,#ShortFilm,film,bali,movies,#movies Free The third installment of Minikino Film Week (3rd MFW) will run from Oct. 7 to 14 at six Pop-Up Cinema and 11 Micro Cinema venues in Bali. This year, the annual international short film festival is said to feature a total of 209 short films from Indonesia as well as other countries in Southeast Asia. The committee said in a press release that the short movies would be presented in 42 different programs. In addition to movie-screenings, the event will also feature a video library comprising more than 500 film titles from across the globe. Available at the festivals lounge in the Merdeka Building, the Bali Tourism Promotion Board (BPPD) office, the library can be accessed by invitation holders and Minikinos semeton. A Balinese word for friend, semeton is the title given to those who have supported the festival's crowdfunding project. Read also: Begadang Filmmaking competition challenges participants to do an all-nighter Meanwhile, those wanting to sharpen their filmmaking skills can check out several workshops offered at the festival, such as an acting workshop with Jakarta-born actor-slash-filmmaker Paul Agusta and a digital cinematography in 4K workshop run by seasoned cinematographer Benny Kadarhariarto. Those wanting to share their thoughts and aspirations in filmmaking can join MFW Talks, a discussion program that will cover several themes, namely "Creative Community, Film Festival and Bali Inside Out. Minikino Film Week aims to provide high-quality short films to various communities as a balance to the popular shows widely available. Prior to the upcoming event, Minikino recently hosted the 2017 Begadang Filmmaking Competition, a short film competition that required participants to create five-minute films within 34 hours. (kes) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Luh De Suriyani (The Jakarta Post) Kuta Thu, October 5, 2017 09:10 1867 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a2344f8e 4 Lifestyle tattoo,artist,bali,female,gender-equality Free Caecilia, who likes the dotting concept of tattooing, has been archiving her tattoo designs on her personal computer and on her IG account, @chrysantialyra, for the last two years. She uses her archive to showcase her designs to potential and existing clients visiting the Altar tattoo studio in Canggu, north Kuta, where she learns and works. Among her best tattoo designs are several versions of the legendary chief minister of the Majapahit kingdom, Gajah Mada, and realistic pictures of animals and humans. She is also experimenting with unique and humorous design ideas, such as a man applying makeup in a feminine gesture. As a tattoo artist, Caecilia creates her own niche by only using black and white designs. I dont like colors, I prefer black and white, she said. Not all her designs are chosen by clients. Many of them bring their own designs. The largest design she has ever worked on is a crow, with a diameter of around 30 cm spanning the upper chest of Viona, her female colleague. As a tattoo artist, Viona is known for her hand poking or non-mechanical tattooing. She manually synchronizes the rhythm of the pressure device with the swinging of the hand as practiced by traditional Mentawai, Nias and Dayak tattooists. Viona has also swapped tattoos with Caecilia, whose scalp now bears a Mandala, a tribal-geometric design. Caecilia shaved her lower scalp to enable Viona work on her tattoo. Living her passion: Caecilia Lyra Chrysantia is one of the female tattooists at Altar Studio. (JP/Luh De Suriyani) Prior to become a tattoo artist and living in Tangerang (Banten), Caecilia was a loner but was fond of drawing. I never went out, Caecilia said. Her uncle noticed her hobby and proposed that she should move to Bali to find an opportunity for her artistic skills. So, she found the art of tattooing, which infuses life into her pictures on the skin of others. In Tangerang it was hard to practice, Caecilia said, who was acquainted with this art via a TV documentary. Caecilia first learned the art of tattooing from Ezy, the owner of Altar Studio. Her mentor was also the first to give Caecilia her first big tattoo, which is located on her left arm and depicts a chrysanthemum. At Altar, male and female tattooists work together according to their appointments. Lyra and Viona are the only two female artists. Theres no discrimination. The quality of work is what matters most, said Ezy. Nowadays, more and more female tattoo artists hone their craft and make a living from their art in Bali. One of the showcase events featuring their work was Magic Ink Tattoo Expo, May 2017, which was organized by the tattoo industry and community magazine, Magic Ink. One prominent booth was Be No Square, a studio which employs three female artists. The booth was furnished with an elegant table where flowers, a folder of designs and an information kit were neatly arranged. A staffer was ready to give information while the artists were tattooing bodies from a queue of waiting people. Detail: A tattoo by Lidya Adventa, a tattooist from Bandung who has moved to Bali. (Be No Square/File) Lidya Adventa, the owner and tattoo artist of Be No Square, is said to be among those prominent in the Bali tattoo scene. Her clean and stylish studio with a monochrome interior on Jalan Pengubengan Kauh, Kerobokan, North Kuta, opened in January 2017, following her career as a tattoo artist of two and a half years. Previously I worked as a graphic designer and illustrator, Lidya said in an email interview on Sept. 9 while on vacation. Her first place of work was her apartment, relying on social media for clients by using her portfolio as an illustrator. At the time she operated under LADVTATTOOS, also known as Lidya Adventa Tattoos. The client traffic was getting so intense that we needed a bigger place. she said. She began to set aside her income to rent a more spacious studio room for creative activity. After, several novice tattooists emerged for Lidya to mentor. Alice, for instance, expressed her interest in this profession while working as an interior designer. Elena, who also started her career as a graphic designer, worked until November at Be No Square. Black and white: A view of Lidya's private studio in Kerobokan, northern Kuta. (Be No Square/File) The specific concept of Be No Square is to ensure greater comfort for women wishing to be tattooed. According to Lidya, female clients often feel awkward when they want to have hidden tattoos on certain body parts considered private, especially if the job is done in a room with people of the opposite sex moving back and forth. Unlike walk-in studios, Be No Square is set as a private studio, open only by reservation so that the schedule can be adjusted for the convenience of both the artists and clients. This studio also offers vegan inks, as most professional brands are going natural. Be No Square has replaced ink products with animal based ingredients. Lidya highlights that tattoos are not becoming an alien concept for women. The percentage of female clients getting tattooed has begun to exceed that of their male counterparts, she said, attributing this phenomenon to shifting social values from taboo to perceiving the skin designs as an aesthetic trend or part of fashion. Sadly, in Lidyas observation, not many female tattoo artists come from Bali, while the island is Indonesias top tattoo industrial center with its creative resources. I hope Balinese women will be increasingly interested in this profession and Ill be very pleased to maintain media contact with them, she said. Bagus Ferry, an editor at Magic Ink magazine that consistently holds tattoo events and contests, saw a growing female market as shown by the rising number of women opening tattoo booths at such expos. Bali has just found its market, Jakarta has had a lot. They began with simple tattoos, said Bagus, who described lines, dots and black-white images as dominant designs. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Glenn Chapman (Agence France-Presse) San Francisco, United States Thu, October 5, 2017 10:32 1867 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a2347f18 2 Science & Tech Google,#Google,smartphone,#smartphone,google-pixel Free Google on Wednesday unveiled new versions of its Pixel smartphone, the highlight of a refreshed line aimed at weaving artificial intelligence deeper into modern lives. Google software and artificial intelligence were common threads in the gamut of new devices it unveiled to step up its challenge on the hardware front to rivals such as Apple and Amazon The new Pixel 2 and larger Pixel 2 XL are the first Google-made phones to be released since the California tech giant announced the acquisition of key segments of Taiwan-based electronics group HTC. The upgraded smartphones will be available for order as of Wednesday in six countries starting at $649 for five-inch display Pixel 2, and $849 for the six-inch Pixel 2 XL. The new aluminum-body smartphones along with Google's upgraded connected speakers and new laptop computer all aim to infuse artificial intelligence to make the devices more user-friendly, built around the Google Assistant -- the rival to Amazon's Alexa, Microsoft's Cortana and others. Google vice president Rick Osterloh said Google's new devices "are simple to use and they anticipate your needs." The new Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL smartphones. Google unveiled newly designed versions of its Pixel smartphone, the highlight of a refreshed line of devices which are part of the tech giant's efforts to boost its presence against hardware rivals. (AFP/Elijah Nouvelage) Osterloh told the product launch event in San Francisco: "You interact with your devices naturally with your voice or by touching them." Google, by bringing in a team of engineers from HTC, aims to emulate the success of Apple iPhones by controlling the hardware as well as the software used in the premium-priced handsets. The revamped camera in the smartphone retains a single lens, but seeks to improve images via "computational photography," an artificial intelligence tool that can enhance pictures. Analyst Ian Fogg of IHS Markit said in a tweet that the new smartphone "adds incremental improvements on the great v1" while noting that "Google's challenge is to solve production limits which hurt the original." Fogg said the use of computation to improve images with a single lens "is technically impressive." Read also: Google to buy part of smartphone maker HTC for $1.1 billion Mini speaker, mini camera Google's new Home and Pixel products. (AFP/Elijah Nouvelage) Google announced a slimmed down version of its connected speaker called Google Home Mini starting at $49 in the United States, stepping up its challenge to market leader Amazon. The new Google Home Mini is available for pre-order in the seven countries where the device is offered, and will go on sale in stores October 19, the company said. The new speaker, which responds to voice commands using artificial intelligence, is less than half the price of Google's first generation speaker and makes this "more accessible to more people," said Google hardware designer Isabelle Olsson. A premium version of the speaker -- a $399 Google Home Max unveiled Wednesday -- offers more power and audio quality for music aficionados. The new Google Clips camera -- one of the surprises of the event -- "looks for smiles (and) moments, because the software is in the camera," said Google product manager Juston Payne. "It's like having my own photographer shooting and choosing my best moments for me," Payne said of the $249 device. Another surprise from the event was the wireless Pixel Buds, which can deliver audio from a smartphone and also include the Google Assistant and real-time translation. A demonstration at the event included a two-way conversation with one person speaking English and the other Swedish. "The camera and the earbuds were really held up as examples of what the company can do by leveraging the Google Assistant," said Ross Rubin of Reticle Research. A new Pixelbook laptop was touted as a "high performance" computer powered by its Chrome operating system and designed as a rival to Microsoft's Surface and Apple's iPad Pro. With a 12.3-inch display, the device is a convertible PC that can be used as a tablet and is sold starting at $999 for US customers. Read also: Google Drive app for desktop to be replaced 'AI-first world' Google chief executive Sundar Pichai said the new devices showcase the tech giant's artificial intelligence. "We've been working hard continuing our shift from a mobile-first to an AI-first world," he said. "We are working on software and hardware together, because that is the best way to drive computing forward." The launch comes in the wake of Apple's announcement of a new line of iPhones, and Amazon's upgrades to its Echo speakers powered by its Alexa digital assistant "It is a portfolio designed to take Google into more parts of your life, particularly in your home," Reticle Research analyst Ross Rubin said of the array of devices the internet giant unveiled on Wednesday. "Amazon is focusing on a range of price points and designs; Google is focusing on a range of experiences." Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Apriadi Gunawan (The Jakarta Post) Medan, North Sumatra Thu, October 5, 2017 20:33 1866 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a2367b41 1 National drug-smuggling,drugs,drug-smugglers,North-Sumatra,Medan,Medan-Kota-Police Free Medan Police said on Wednesday they had shot dead two people suspected of smuggling drugs as members of the Malaysia-Aceh international network. The polices drug crime investigation unit head, Adj.Sr.Comr. Ganda Saragih, said his personnel were forced to shoot dead the suspected smugglers, identified as B, 40, and NS, 35, because they resisted police arrest. He said an investigation later revealed the suspects were part of an international network operating in Malaysia and Aceh. Ganda said B and NS were first arrested on Jl. Besar Tembung, Medan Tembung district. Police seized 2 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine. Ganda said the two suspects were then taken to their homes in Simpang Pemda, Medan Selayang district as the suspects said they were storing more crystal meth in their home. This was in fact was only a tactic used by the two suspects. As soon as our personnel arrived at their home, they fought them, taking out a gun and a knife. The police were forced to take tough measures against them, Ganda told a press conference at police headquarters in Medan. He said the suspects were shot in their chests and died on their way to Bhayangkara Police Hospital. Ganda said the police were pursuing two more suspected members of the syndicate. We are searching for O and J, who had carried out transactions with B and NS before their arrests. (ebf) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, October 5, 2017 15:33 1866 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a2355b6d 1 Business tourist-arrivals,bali,Mount-Agung,postponement Free The Association of Indonesian Hotels and Restaurants (PHRI) has estimated that about 70,000 foreign tourists postponed their plans to visit Bali in October and November because of reports of seismic activity of Mount Agung. "We have collected data on guests who had planned [to visit]. There will be about a 20 percent decrease," PHRI Bali chairman Tjokorda Oka Artha Ardana Sukawati said as reported by Antara. Of those who have informed of their postponement, most would have been involved in meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE), said Tjokorda, adding that the number could be higher because not all hostels submitted reports of postponements or cancellations. He called on the government to make clarifications over the alert status of the volcano as it had seriously affected the tourism industry. He said many tourists were misled by the status, which only applies to those within a 12-kilometer radius of the volcano. The tourist destinations beyond the area are safe, he said. October is usually the peak season for tourism in Bali. No country has issued a travel warning. However, a travel advisory has been released by Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the United States. Meanwhile, Bali Governor Made Mangku Pastika has encouraged tourists to visit Bali without any hesitation. He said the resort island was safe despite the volcanic activity. (bbn) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Safrin La Batu (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, October 5, 2017 18:26 1866 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a235eeef 1 Politics radicalism,university,academics,Youth-Pledge Free Wary about the spread of radical and intolerant ideologies on campuses, students and lecturers from universities nationwide are set to make a simultaneous declaration against radical ideologies on Youth Pledge Day on Oct. 28. The declarations will be made simultaneously at universities in all 34 provinces. Around 4.5 million students, lecturers and academicians will take part in the event, according to the organizing committee. This movement is aimed at revitalizing the younger generations commitment to be a constructive element of this nation, HM Shirozi, the rector of Raden Fatah Islamic State University in Palembang, South Sumatra, said on Thursday. We want to emphasize that universities and the academic community support national unity. And we are against radicalism, he added. The government has declared a war on radical ideologies deemed to be against the state ideology of Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution. President Joko Jokowi Widodo issued in July a regulation in lieu of law granting his administration to disband radical organizations without due process. The first organization banned by the government was Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI), which had fought for the creation of a transnational Islamic caliphate. Shirozi said the declaration would be followed up with measures to tackle the spread of radicalism in universities, however he said such move would be made independently by each university. Jokowi met with some 3,000 university leaders in Bali on Sept. 25, on the occasion of which they shared issues related to radical and intolerant ideologies. (ary) Masked men attacked two men and killing one, identified as a local BJP leader in Ullal, Mangaluru. The CCTV footage showed 3-4 masked men who surrounded and attacked the two brutally outside Mukkacheri Masjid. By Nolan Pinto: In a shocking incident from Ullal in Mangaluru, bike-borne masked men attacked two men outside the Mukkacheri Masjid on Wednesday evening. The victim has been identified as 40-year-old Zubair who worked as an electrician and was a local BJP worker. The other individual 50-year-old Elyas worked at the fish dock and is now being treated for minor injuries at a private hospital in Thokkottu. Photo: Asif Babbukatte advertisement The police suspect that the attack was a result of personal rivalry. CCTV footage shows masked men attacking the two men According to India Today sources, the incident took place when Zubair and Elyas were discussing something after Namaz. Zubair was attacked by 3-4 assailaints with lethal weapons who later fled the spot. Elyas sustained injuries when he tried to help Zubair. BJP demands resignation of minister UT Khader. Elyas in the hospital Zubair was a member of the Ullal Mandal Committee of the BJP. Senior leaders of the party, G Madhusudan and Anwar Manapadi stated, "This is the 13th murder of a nationalist in Dakshina Kannada district. The cold-blooded and brutal murder is highly condemnable. We have every reason to suspect that this heinous killing has been perpetrated by the drug mafia." Explaining the cause of the barbaric killing, Anwar Manapadi tells India Today that, "Zubair had complained to the police against members of Target Group, who are part of the dreaded drug mafia. Some were then arrested and jailed. It was only recently that they came out of jail." he added that the party suspects this killing was done by the Target Group. Photo: Asif Babbukatte The BJP has now demanded the resignation of minister UT Khader owing moral responsibility for the total collapse of law and order in Ullal. They allege that Zubair was killed by a close confidante of Khader. Senior BJP leaders now want the National Investigative Agency to probe this murder and also the drug mafia present in Mangaluru. --- ENDS --- Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Kharishar Kahfi (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, October 5, 2017 17:42 1866 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a235cffd 1 National #KPK,KPK,#SupremeCourt,Supreme-Court,pretrial-motion,#pretrial,#SetyaNovanto,setya-novanto,ethical-violation Free Activists grouped under the Coalition of Civil Society for Anticorruption filed a report with the Supreme Court's internal monitoring body against a judge who ruled in favor of politician Setya Novanto in his pretrial hearing. The judge in question is Cepi Iskandar of the South Jakarta District Court, who recently annulled the Corruption Eradication Commission's (KPK) decision to name Setya a suspect in the high-profile e-ID graft case. "We want the Supreme Court to investigate the matter, particularly due to several [alleged] irregularities that came to surface during the pretrial process," activist Kurnia Ramadhana from the Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) told reporters after filing the report on Thursday. Kurnia was referring to the ICW's findings, which include, among others, Cepi's rejection of the KPK's request to present and play a recording that reportedly implicated Setya in the case. The ICW has also questioned Cepi's impartiality since, in the hearings, he raised the issue of the KPK's status as an ad-hoc institution, which, according to the ICW, was irrelevant to the pretrial motion. Earlier, the Golkar Party Youth Movement Group (GMPG) reported Cepi to the Judicial Commission over the same accusations. Like the Supreme Court, the Judicial Commission has the power to investigate the alleged ethics violations of judges. (ipa) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, October 5, 2017 15:05 1866 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a23530b7 1 City Bekasi,pollution Free Bekasi Mayor Rahmat Effendi has condemned on Wednesday two factories near the Bekasi River in Bantargebang, West Java, after impromptu inspections discovered that the factories had dumped their waste into the river. The two factories are iron and steel maker PT Pratama Prima Bajatama and beverage packaging company PT Prima Kemasindo, according to a wartakota.tribunnews.com report. "The factories must stop their business activities until they have fulfilled their obligations, one of which is to build a waste treatment installation [IPAL], Rahmat said. Rahmat added that although Prima Bajatama had a license for liquid waste disposal, the factory was not using its waste treatment plant, and the waste it had dumped into the river had an acid content well above the standard. "Meanwhile, PT Prima Kemasindo has proved that it cannot manage its coal waste," he said, referring to the coal the company used to power its production process. Rahmat added that Kemasindo also did not own a license for managing hazardous and toxic waste. Furthermore, the factory's location violated river zoning regulations. Rahmat called on the factories' management to respond immediately to their closure by installing an IPAL and submitting all required documents. (rdi) Topics : Bekasi pollution Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Pia Ohlin (AFP) Stockholm Thu, October 5, 2017 19:01 1866 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a23617d5 2 World #Nobel,#literature Free British author Kazuo Ishiguro, best known for his novel "The Remains of the Day", won the Nobel Literature Prize on Thursday, the Swedish Academy said. The 62-year-old, "in novels of great emotional force, has uncovered the abyss beneath our illusory sense of connection with the world," the Academy wrote in its citation. Ishiguro has written eight books as well as scripts for film and television. He won the Man Booker Prize in 1989 for "The Remains of the Day". Born in Nagasaki, he moved to Britain with his family when he was five years old, only returning to visit Japan as an adult. Both his first novel "A Pale View of Hills" from 1982 and the subsequent one, "An Artist of the Floating World" from 1986, take place in Nagasaki a few years after World War II. "The themes Ishiguro is most associated with are already present here: memory, time, and self-delusion," the Academy said. "This is particularly notable in his most renowned novel, 'The Remains of the Day'," which was turned into a film with Anthony Hopkins acting as the duty-obsessed butler Stevens. "Ishiguro's writings are marked by a carefully restrained mode of expression, independent of whatever events are taking place," it said. In a 1989 interview with Bomb Magazine, Ishiguro said: "I tend to be attracted to pre-war and post-war settings because I'm interested in this business of values and ideals being tested, and people having to face up to the notion that their ideals werent quite what they thought they were before the test came." His more recent fiction contains elements of fantasy. With the critically-acclaimed dystopian work "Never Let Me Go" from 2005, Ishiguro introduced "a cold undercurrent" of science fiction into his work, the jury said. Inspired by Fyodor Dostoyevsky and Marcel Proust, Ishiguro's characters often painfully come to terms with who they are without closure. His latest novel, "The Buried Giant" from 2015 explores "in a moving manner, how memory relates to oblivion, history to the present, and fantasy to reality." In the book, an elderly couple go on a road trip through an archaic English landscape, hoping to reunite with their adult son, whom they have not seen for years. Ishiguro was not among those tipped as a favourite for this year's Nobel. His publisher Faber & Faber wrote on Twitter after the announcement, "We're THRILLED Kazuo Ishiguro has won the Nobel Prize!" Last year, the 18 members of the Swedish Academy stunned the world by awarding the honour to American rock legend and counter-culture icon Bob Dylan. The Nobel comes with a prize sum of nine million kronor ($1.1 million, 945,000 euros). Ishiguro will receive his prize at a formal ceremony in Stockholm on December 10. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (AFP) Bandar Seri Begawan Thu, October 5, 2017 08:37 1867 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a2344166 2 World #Brunei,#BruneiSultan,#GoldenJubilee Free Brunei's all-powerful sultan will mark 50 years on the throne Thursday with lavish celebrations including a glittering procession, a 21-gun salute and a ceremony at his vast, golden-domed palace. The festivities for Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah -- which will include the monarch being carried past huge crowds of well-wishers in a chariot -- are the centrepiece of events to mark his golden jubilee. The 71-year-old, the world's second-longest reigning monarch, ascended to the throne of the tiny sultanate on tropical Borneo island in October, 1967. His decades ruling one of the world's few absolute monarchies have seen the country gain full independence from Britain and living standards soar to among the highest in the world due to abundant oil and gas reserves. But the reign of Hassanal, one of the world's richest men, has also been marked by controversies. These include the introduction of tough Islamic laws in 2014, and a sensational family feud which revealed details of his brother Prince Jefri Bolkiah's jet-set lifestyle, including allegations of a high-priced harem and a luxury yacht he owned called "Tits". The jubilee will be a chance for citizens of the sleepy, Muslim country to focus on celebrating the life and times of Hassanal, a father-figure monarch who remains widely revered. Thursday's festivities will begin with the sultan and his wife inspecting a royal guard of honour, followed by a gun salute. They will hold an audience at the sultan's palace, a vast complex of resplendent white buildings with golden domes and almost 1,800 rooms, which will be attended by guests including members of the royal family and ministers. The climax of Thursday's events, which are part of over two weeks of jubilee celebrations, will be a procession through the capital Bandar Seri Begawan. The sultan and his wife will be pulled on an ornately decorated, gold chariot by 50 of their subjects, with about 80,000 well-wishers expected to line the route. Marching bands and members of the armed forces and military will also take part in the procession. Southeast Asian leaders and Middle Eastern royalty will attend a banquet in Brunei on Friday to mark the jubilee. Southeast Asian leaders and Middle Eastern royalty will attend a banquet in BruneiFriday to mark the jubilee. They include Indonesian President Joko Widodo, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi, and Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, according to organisers. Bridget Welsh, a Southeast Asia expert from John Cabot University, said the sultan was using the jubilee celebrations to "re-affirm the nature of the Brunei state, and the personalistic nature of that state around him". "He's always had a cult of personality around his monarchy," she said. The sultan only comes behind one sovereign in terms of having the longest reign -- Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, who ascended to the throne in 1952. Brunei, with a population of about 400,000, has been ruled by the same royal family for 600 years. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, October 5, 2017 15:38 1866 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a2356fe4 4 Business e-commerce,taxation,Regulations,finance-ministry Free The Finance Ministry is to soon issue a ministerial regulation on the taxation of electronic commerce (e-commerce) businesses, a tax official has said, according to a kompas.com report on Wednesday. Hopefully, [the regulation] will be issued next week, said Director General of Taxation Ken Dwijugiaseteadi on the sidelines of a hearing at the House of Representatives on Wednesday. Finance Minister Sri Mulyani said her ministry would familiarize the regulation among the public soon after its issuance She said the regulation would cover many aspects, including taxes on e-commerce transactions. Meanwhile, Center for Indonesia Taxation Analysis (CITA) executive director Yustinus Prastowo urged the government to immediately realize tax collection from e-commerce transactions. Yustinus believed that the sector had great potential for boosting the state's tax revenues. He also advised the government to learn from the European Union in collecting taxes from e-commerce businesses, especially in ensuring that the taxes would be based on fair principles. He also reminded the government that international transactions were also made through the online businesses. E-commerce is principally collected in the country where the goods are sold, and should be shared with the destination country. Therefore, there must be [international] cooperation, Yustinus added. Meanwhile, taxation expert Bawono Kristijadi of the Danny Darussalam Tax Center (DDTC) agreed that the government should start collecting taxes from e-commerce businesses immediately. Kristijadi also suggested that government set up a national payment gateway to facilitate a digital tax collection service. (bbn) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, October 5, 2017 12:13 1867 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a234e662 1 City Bekasi,robbery Free The owner of a car that has been stolen by a group of criminals was found dead at the Taman Sari housing complex in Tarumajaya district, the Bekasi Police have said. The 76-year-old woman was found dead at her residence by her child who came to visit her. The victim, who lived alone, was found with her hands tied and mouth gagged. "The suspects might have left with the victim's silver Toyota Avanza car," Bekasi Police criminal unit head Adj. Sr. Comr. Rizal Marito said on Thursday as quoted by tempo.co, adding that the police launched an investigation to find the suspects. He said the police had begun to collect evidence and statements from witnesses. (fac) Topics : Bekasi robbery Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) jakarta Thu, October 5, 2017 11:33 1867 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a234de38 1 City Depok,fire Free A fire broke out at Cinere Bellevue Mall, which is integrated with a 20-story apartment building, in Cinere, Depok, West Java, on Wednesday night at around 8:30 pm. Depok Fire and Rescue Agency head Yayan Aryanto said that although firefighters extinguished the fire before midnight, the fire broke out again at 5 a.m. in the generator room on the P-2 floor, razing the Hypermart store on the P-3 floor. Yayan said the officers evacuated visitors and residents of the apartment who were trapped because of thick smoke after midnight. He said the fire was caused by a short circuit in the generator. No casualties were reported in the fire. Eight fire engines were deployed to the location, as well as one rescue car. (dis) Topics : Depok fire Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, October 5, 2017 19:37 1866 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a2363d83 1 Politics TNI-anniversary,Jokowi,gatot Free Military commander Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo apologized to President Joko Jokowi Widodo after the latter was forced out of his car to walk for around 2 kilometers when he and his entourage were trapped in a traffic jam on their way to the militarys 72nd anniversary ceremony in Cilegon, Banten, on Thursday. Gatot expressed the apology in his speech during the ceremony. We apologize to you all because many of you had to use ojek [motorcycle taxi] or walked. Even President Joko Widodo had to walk for 2 kilometers, Gatot said as quoted by kompas.com. Spectators had flocked to PT Indah Kiat Harbor, where the ceremony was held, to watch militarys show of forces since 6 a.m, causing traffic congestion on roads around the area. It was impossible for the Presidents car to go through the crowd. A picture shared by the Presidential Office showed Jokowi walking while escorted by Gatot and National Police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian. Some military generals in Jokowis entourage were also seen walking. This is because people have been here since 2 a.m. This shows peoples love for the TNI [the Indonesian Military], Gatot said. Kompas reported that Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu was among the people who walked, but he decided to use a motorcycle 1-km before reaching the venue. Some public officials wives dressed up for the ceremony were seen wiping their sweat. Locals offered them motorcycle rides. (saf/ary) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Indra Budiari (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, October 5 2017 Despite having taken the initiative among ASEAN countries to fight against human trafficking in 2015, the Indonesian government is still struggling to push lawmakers to ratify a regional convention that would step up protection of women and children. In a hearing at the House of Representatives on Wednesday, officials from the National Police, the Foreign Ministry and the Indonesian Child Protection Commission continued to push the lawmakers to ratify the ASEAN Convention Against Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children (ACTIP). Jose Tavares, the Foreign Ministrys director general for ASEAN affairs, said during the hearing that adopting the convention as legislation would not only facilitate the collaboration of ASEAN member states law enforcement in handling human trafficking cases, but would also help the government to map trafficking rings. 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 Rizal Harahap (The Jakarta Post) Pekanbaru, Riau Thu, October 5, 2017 21:57 1866 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a23695ed 1 National #animal,bear-attack,#Riau,Riau,#animal-attack Free Saruli, a 60-year-old rubber farmer from Riau's Teluk Paman village who sustained serious injuries in a recent bear attack, is now in a stable condition as authorities continue to hunt down the bear to prevent a similar incident from recurring. After six hours in the operating room at Arifin Achmad Regional General Hospital in Pekanbaru on Wednesday evening, Saruli's condition is improving. The patient is able to talk, but is still undergoing treatment in the intensive care unit," hospital director Nuzeli Husnedi said on Thursday. Saruli, who sustained serious injuries throughout his body, particularly on the head, as well as a jaw fracture, was handled by a team of neurosurgeons, vascular and plastic surgeons. His wife, 55-year-old Bunai, died from a fractured skull in the incident that occurred on Tuesday while the couple were tapping rubber on a plantation only around 500 meters from their house in Kampar Kiri district, Kampar regency. A joint team of the Riau Natural Resource Conservation Agency (BKSDA), local police and the local administration continued on Thursday to search for the bear. The efforts were to no avail, apart from finding bear tracks and claw marks. Authorities remain clueless of the bear species. "Judging from the traces, it seems to be an adult bear," said Mulyo Utomo of the BKSDA. Local residents have been instructed to temporarily halt activities on plantations following the first known attack of a bear in the area, which was suspected to be due to food depletion and habitat loss. (ipa) The Chinese Embassy's third advisory, posted on its website on Tuesday, said several Chinese tourists had been denied entry into India. The advisory also called on Chinese nationals to comply with Indian laws By Ananth Krishnan: China has this week issued its third travel warning aimed at India, following two advisories that were issued in July and August amid the military stand-off at Doklam near the India-Bhutan-China trijunction. The Chinese Embassy's third advisory, posted on its website on Tuesday, said several Chinese tourists had been denied entry into India. It was the first such warning after the August 28 disengagement at Doklam. advertisement "Some Chinese citizens visited Andaman and Nicobar Islands, which are restricted areas for foreigners, without gaining permits from India. Some tourists were asked to return upon arrival; some were even arrested or investigated", the statement said, which was also reported by the Global Times newspaper. "Visitors should] not photograph India's border and military facilities and vehicles. While traveling on India's border neighbouring Nepal, avoid visiting border markets, and do not enter the territory of other countries by mistake", it added. It also called on Chinese travellers to comply with visa requirements, take care of their luggage and money while travelling and not accept food or beverages from strangers. The advisory also called on Chinese nationals to comply with Indian laws, respect local religious customs and avoid insulting local religions or customs. China had on August 24 issued a strong advisory, which was the second such warning amid the 72-day Doklam stand-off . Both militaries disengaged on August 28. That advisory is valid until the end of the year, and in a strong language, warned of "safety threats" facing Chinese nationals in India and asked them to reduce "unnecessary travel". "There are frequently occurring natural disasters, traffic accidents and infectious diseases in India", it said. This followed the first advisory in July, which was a month-long warning that called on Chinese nationals to pay attention to their safety. Diplomatic sources say China's advisories are on occasion prompted by safety concerns, but have in the past also been used as a tool to exert diplomatic pressure. For instance, China took steps to curtail tourism travel to South Korea amid a spat over the deployment of a U.S. anti-missile defence system there. China has also generally refrained from issuing similar national advisories regarding travel to Pakistan, its close all-weather ally, despite persisting security concerns involving Chinese nationals there. Two Chinese citizens were abducted and killed in Quetta in June, following which the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan issued a travel warning only for Quetta, but did not issue warnings on travel to Pakistan. advertisement Also Watch : Doklam border standoff set to end after India-China strike deal to withdraw troops --- ENDS --- Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, October 5, 2017 19:11 1866 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a2361a6d 1 City eviction,South-Jakarta,RPTRA-Jakarta Free The Jakarta Public Order Agency (Satpol PP) evicted illegal houses behind the Banana Market on Jl. Palmerah Barat, South Jakarta, on Thursday. Kebayoran Lama subdistrict head Sayid Ali said the 1,000 square-meter plot of land was formerly owned by the Culture and Education Ministry, however ownership had been transferred to the Jakarta administration. For the last 20 years, people built settlements on the land originally allocated for social facilities, said Sayid as quoted by kompas.com. There were 15 tenements on the land that were rented to newcomers who were mostly traders at the market, he said. Sayid also added that the evictions had been planned since early this year. We told them about the eviction plan in March. But they asked us to wait until after Idul Fitri, Sayid said. Idul Fitri fell in June. As the residents had no certificates of ownership, they agreed to voluntarily tear down the houses this month. Together we will tear down the houses, he said. Palmerah subdistrict planned to build a child-friendly integrated public space (RPTRA) and had the support of locals, Sayid claimed. (syl) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Anton Hermansyah (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, October 5, 2017 11:14 1867 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a234bf17 1 Business IMF-WB-meeting,budget,bali,2018,October Free The government has allocated Rp 810.17 billion (US$60.12 million) to host the International Monetary Fund-World Bank meeting in Bali, next year. "We allocated Rp 810.17 billion for the meeting. Rp 672.59 billion will be provided by the Finance Ministry and Rp 137.58 billion will be provided by Bank Indonesia," said Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati in Jakarta on Wednesday. She said it was the smallest amount compared to the funds allocated for similar events in other countries. Read also: Bali airport speeds up extension ahead of IMF-World Bank event In 2006, Singapore spent Rp 994.4 billion to host the meeting at the Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre. Turkey constructed the Rp 1.25 trillion Istanbul Congress Center to host the meeting in 2009. "Turkey's Rp 1.25 trillion in spending excluded event organizing costs. With both of the costs, it would be more than twice our allocation," she said during a budget meeting with the House of Representatives. Meanwhile, Japan allocated Rp 1.1 trillion when it hosted the meeting in 2012 while Peru, which hosted it in 2015, allocated Rp 2.29 trillion, including funds for the construction of the Lima Convention Center (LCC). The IMF-World Bank 2018 annual meeting, scheduled to be held next year from Oct. 8 to 14 in Bali, would use only Indonesian suppliers, she said. (bbn) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Denpasar Thu, October 5 2017 The Bali administration has announced that it will provide free accommodation for tourists stranded in Bali by the seismic activities of Mount Agung. Bali Governor Made Mangku Pastika made the announcement on Wednesday and said that a special immigration service would also be provided for tourists who might need to extend their visas. If Mt. Agung erupts and affects aviation, for example, the airport must be closed, so we will provide the accommodation for free, Pastika told journalists after a meeting with representatives from 32 countries in Bali on Wednesday. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, October 5, 2017 19:45 1866 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a2364c7c 1 City reclamation,moratorium,IsletG Free The city administration is pushing the government to revoke a moratorium that has halted work on a man-made islet built on reclaimed land in the North Jakarta Bay, after the project developer revised the Environmental Impact Analysis (Amdal). The developer has complied with the points [the moratorium was based on], so we hope the administrative sanction can be revoked, as has been done with islets C and D, Jakarta Development Planning Board head Tuty Kusumawati said on Wednesday, as quoted by kompas.com. In early September, the government lifted administrative sanctions on the construction of islets C and D, because the developer had complied with terms and conditions set by the Environment and Forestry Ministry. Previously, the ministry required the developer of Islet G, PT Muara Wisesa Samudra, to halt construction until it revised the Amdal documents as well as reported the amount of construction materials, such as sand and stone, to be used. The developer was also required to coordinate project control and evaluation efforts with state-owned electricity firm PLN, state-owned gas distributor PT Nusantara Regas and a subsidiary of state-owned energy firm PT Pertamina Hulu Energy. (ecn) Topics : reclamation moratorium IsletG Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Safrin La Batu and Gemma Holliani Cahya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, October 5, 2017 18:40 1866 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a23608c3 1 Politics SMRC,Jokowi,Prabowo-Subianto,survey,election Free If the election was held today, President Joko Jokowi Widodo would easily beat his rival, Prabowo Subianto, again, according to a recent survey. A survey by the Jakarta-based Saiful Mujani Research Institute (SMRC), released on Thursday, revealed that 38.9 percent of its 1,057 respondents would still vote for the former Jakarta governor. The study was held from Sept. 3 to 10 in all provinces in the country. Prabowo, Jokowis rival in the 2014 presidential race, has to work hard to beat Jokowi, with only 12 percent of the respondents saying they would vote the former military general. The third most-electable candidate in the survey was Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Jokowis predecessor, who is no longer eligible to run for president because he held the position for two terms, from 2004 to 2014. The support [for Jokowi] is very solid and hard to sway. Other names were not strong enough, SMRC executive director Djayadi Hanan told reporters during the release of the study. Although Jokowis electability rating was the highest among other names, the majority of the respondents had not decided or would not say who they would vote for. At least 41.9 percent of the respondents were in this category. Jokowis performance might have contributed to his strong electability, the SMRC said. At least 60 percent of the respondents said they were satisfied with what Jokowi and his administration had done. In economy and family welfare, for example, 41.5 percent of the respondents said they felt their situation had improved, 32.3 percent said there had been no change and 19.78 percent said their situation had worsened. (ary) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Marguerite Afra Sapiie (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, October 5, 2017 17:13 1866 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a235b54e 1 Politics TNI,Jokowi,Joko-Widodo,military,Indonesian-Military,TNI-anniversary Free President Joko Jokowi Widodo has reminded the Indonesian Military (TNI) to be loyal to the government. Speaking during a ceremony to commemorate the TNIs 72 anniversary at the PT Indah Kiat dock in Cilegon, Banten, on Thursday, Jokowi opened his remarks with a historical quote from the militarys first commander, Soedirman, on the true identity of all Indonesian soldiers: to be loyal to the state. To be loyal to the state is to be faithful to the legitimate government, he said. He further emphasized that TNI belonged to the nation and thus should serve all people. [TNI] must neither be divided by political interests nor involved in practical politics, he added. Jokowi also took the stage to deliver gratitude to the loyalty the TNI had shown to the nation. In a gesture seen to encourage soldiers to remain loyal to his administration, Jokowi highlighted the five-point personnel oath of loyalty, the Sumpah Prajurit, which should be made by all soldiers. Im proud and amazed listening to the Sumpah Prajurit that you made; your oath to be loyal to the NKRI [Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia] and the 1945 Constitution." (msa/ary) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Kharishar Kahfi (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, October 5, 2017 18:21 1866 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a235e912 1 Politics KPK,graft,JohannesMarliem,e-ID Free The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has collected new evidence in its probe into the electronic identity (e-ID) graft case gleaned from a hearing in a lawsuit in the United States, thanks to its cooperation with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). One of the evidence we got gives indication of illicit money [embezzled from the budget for the project] disbursed to several Indonesian officials, KPK spokesman Febri Diansyah said in a statement on Thursday. Febri said that the evidence had echoed witnesses testimony during hearings of the graft case, which many estimated to have cause the state to lose Rp 2.3 trillion (US$171 million). Febri, however, did not give details which lawsuit he was referring to. A Los Angeles-based online publication wehoville.com reported on Monday that a lawsuit was filed in the state of Minnesota on Thursday by federal law officials seeking to seize assets that were allegedly tied to businessman Johannes Marliem. Johannes, an Indonesian businessman believed to hold key evidence in the e-ID graft case, was found dead following a nightlong standoff between an armed man and police at a private home in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Beverly Grove. Wehoville.com cited that the lawsuit included a statement from a FBI agent which made clear that Marliem benefited directly from the bribery. As of Thursday, the KPK has named five suspects, with the South Jakarta District Court ordered the antigraft body to lift the suspect status from Hosue of Representatives Speaker and Golkar Party chairman Setya Novanto after granting the latters pretrial motion last week. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Kharishar Kahfi (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, October 5, 2017 19:40 1866 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a2364024 1 National #KPK,KPK,#SetyaNovanto,setya-novanto,#pretrial,pretrial-motion,#e-ID,e-ID Free The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is looking into the possible ways it could rename politician Setya Novanto a suspect in the e-ID graft case. Setya, the House of Representatives speaker, won last week a pretrial motion against the KPK's decision to name him a suspect in the case, which also implicates dozens of other politicians. Setya's victory does not necessarily put the KPK back at square one, but, without a doubt, it hinders the KPKs investigation into the Golkar Party politician. KPK deputy chief Saut Situmorang revealed on Thursday that his office was "currently reviewing thoroughly" the reason why they lost the pretrial motion, saying that "there are some loopholes that we must close". Saut promised that the KPK would "be prudent" this time, to build a more solid case against Setya. "The point is that we should not stop; it [the investigation into Setya] must continue. Regulations allow the KPK to rename a suspect in the same case after losing pretrial motions. In a decision made last Friday, the pretrial hearing's sole judge, Cepi Iskandar, argued that Setya's suspect status had been rendered void since the KPK had used evidence taken from the dossiers of other suspects in the case. At that time, KPK investigators had collected around 200 pieces of evidence indicating Setya's alleged role. (ipa) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Chicago, United States Thu, October 5, 2017 21:44 1866 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a2368db5 2 World US,shooting-incident,Las-Vegas-shooting,Chicago,Lollapalooza Free The gunman who carried out the worst mass shooting in recent US history had booked a Chicago hotel overlooking the Lollapalooza music festival in August, the website TMZ reported Thursday. Stephen Paddock had booked two rooms at the Blackstone Hotel in downtown Chicago, overlooking an expansive park where the popular music festival took place over four days in August, TMZ reported. While the website said Paddock never showed up for his booking, the report suggested a scenario that would have been similar to the Las Vegas Strip concert Sunday night. Paddock rained bullets down on concert-goers from a nearby hotel tower, killing 58 and injuring hundreds more. "We are aware of the media reports and have been in communication with our federal partners," Chicago police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said in a statement. The hotel management company did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Hundreds of thousands attended the August music festival at Chicago's Grant Park, including Malia Obama, the former president's daughter. The Blackstone is a historic luxury hotel where heads of state including former president Jimmy Carter, and artists such as Nat King Cole and Rudolph Valentino have stayed. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Cyril Julien (AFP) Las Vegas Thu, October 5, 2017 07:35 1867 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a23433ad 2 World #LasVegas,#LasVegasShooting Free The girlfriend of the Las Vegas shooter said Wednesday she had no idea he was planning the attack, describing her boyfriend as a "quiet, caring man" as President Donald Trump declared the United States a nation in mourning. In her first public comments over the shooting at a country music concert that left 58 dead and more than 500 injured, Marilou Danley said she had hoped for a quiet future with Stephen Paddock. In Las Vegas, Trump visited with survivors and first responders, eulogizing parents and spouses who "used their own bodies to protect their loved ones" from the onslaught that eliminated any future for many. He toured the Las Vegas Police Department Command Center and the city's University Medical Center, where he met, among others, officer Tyler Peterson who was injured while responding to the shooting. "In the months ahead, we will all have to wrestle with the horror that unfolded this week, but we will struggle through it together," the president said. Air Force One touched down at McCarran International Airport as the FBI was questioning Danley for clues to what drove Paddock to mass murder. The 62-year-old returned to the United States from her native Philippines late Tuesday and was met by FBI agents. In a statement read by her attorney Matthew Lombard, she said she had no hint of what was to come: "I knew Stephen Paddock as a kind, caring, quiet man." "I loved him and hoped for a quiet future together with him," she said. "He never said anything to me or took any action that I was aware of that I understood in any way to be a warning that something horrible like this was going to happen." Danley added that two weeks ago, Paddock had told her he found a cheap plane ticket for her to visit family in the Philippines and had wired her money to purchase a house while she was there. She said she became concerned at that point, thinking he wanted to break up with her. "It never occurred to me in any way whatsoever that he was planning violence against anyone," said Danley, an Australian citizen who moved to the United States 20 years ago to work on the casino strip. US authorities have been at a loss as to how a 64-year-old gambler and retired accountant hauled a vast arsenal of weapons to his hotel room and launched his assault. Investigators say the shooting appeared to be extensively planned: Paddock set up one camera in the peephole of his hotel room door and two in the hallway. Meanwhile, as the victims' harrowing stories emerged in the media, America once again grappled with calls for reforms to its permissive firearm control laws. Trump largely stuck to a talking point repeated by dozens upon dozens of Republican officials: "Well, we're not going to talk about that today. We won't talk about that." US officials have reacted cautiously to a claim by the Islamic State jihadist group that the shooter had carried out Sunday night's massacre on its behalf. Authorities said Paddock, who had no criminal record, smashed windows in his hotel room shortly after 10 pm on Sunday and rained fire on a crowd of some 22,000 attending the country music concert below. When a SWAT team stormed the room where Paddock had been staying since September 28, they found he had killed himself. Authorities have seized 47 firearms from three locations. So far, investigators have found nothing to explain Paddock's actions, but were continuing to hunt and trace every possible clue about a gunman they described as a "psychopath." Trump confirmed that no motive had yet been found. "I can tell you, it's a very sick man. He was a very demented person," he said. Details have gradually emerged about some of the victims -- a kindergarten teacher from California who had married her childhood sweetheart, a Tennessee nurse, a high-school secretary from New Mexico. Stories of heroism also surfaced. Bruce Ure, deputy police chief of the small Texas city of Seguin, was in the concert's VIP section when the gunfire broke out. He sheltered from the bullets between two buses, then tended to three strangers who had been shot, loading them into a passing car and riding with them to hospital. "They were all crying, and I was too," he told AFP. "They were saying that 'We're going to die, we're going to die,' and I still remember telling them: 'Not tonight, not tonight. Tonight's not your night. You're going to be ok.' Because I truly believed it." While the White House has rebuffed calls to reopen the fraught US debate on gun control, Congress did shelve a controversial plan to make it easier to purchase gun silencers and make it more difficult to classify certain ammunition as "armor piercing." According to his brother, Paddock was a high-stakes gambler and their bank-robber father was once on the FBI's 10 Most Wanted list. But Eric Paddock said his brother had led an otherwise normal life. The Las Vegas attack is the deadliest shooting in recent US history, surpassing the toll of 49 dead in an attack on a Florida nightclub in June 2016. Border tensions between Chinese and Indian armies have far from subsided, with Beijing continuing to maintain a sizeable presence of its troops near the venue of the 73-day-long Doklam standoff. By India Today Web Desk: Border tensions between Chinese and Indian armies have far from subsided, with Beijing continuing to maintain a sizeable presence of its troops near the venue of the 73-day-long Doklam standoff. According to a PTI reporting quoting sources, China has been gradually increasing the number of its soldiers in the Doklam plateau, a development that is likely to be a cause of worry for India and escalate tensions between the two neighbours. advertisement Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa also indicated about the underlying tension due to the presence of Chinese forces in Chumbi Valley in Doklam. "The two sides are not in a physical face-off as we speak. However, their forces in Chumbi Valley are still deployed and I expect them to withdraw as their exercise in the area gets over", Dhanoa said. There have been territorial disputes between China and Bhutan over Doklam and India has been staunchly supporting Thimphu over the issue. DOKLAM STANDOFF BEGAN ON JUNE 16 Troops of India and China were locked in a 73-day-long standoff in Doklam since June 16 after the Indian side stopped the building of a road in the disputed area by the Chinese Army. Bhutan and China have a dispute over Dokalam. Bhutan and India were in touch with each other during the course of the face-off that ended on August 28. Days after the face-off ended, Army Chief Bipin Rawat had said China has started "flexing its muscles" and warned that the situation in India's northern border could snowball into a larger conflict. There are also reports that the People's Liberation Army (PLA) has increased more troops on its forward post in Yatung. Sources said although Chinese troops have been deployed in the Doklam Plateau, they leave the area during winters. (WITH INPUTS FROM PTI) WATCH VIDEO | India, China agree to disengage on Doklam ending two-and-a-half-month-long standoff --- ENDS --- Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Marguerite Afra Sapiie (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, October 5, 2017 14:06 1866 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a235097e 1 National #Indonesia,#TNI,#anniversary Free Indonesian Military (TNI) personnel set to participate in the commemoration of the 72nd anniversary of the TNI at PT Indah Kiat Port in Cilegon, Banten, on Thursday, traveled to the event's venue by foot to avoid traffic congestion on the Merak Atas alternative toll road. Personnel of the Army, the Navy and the Air Force, including high-ranking military officers, abandoned their trucks and buses at 6 a.m. and walked for three kilometers to reach the venue. "All personnel walked to the venue because of the congestion. The ceremony started at 7:30 a.m. so we needed to hurry," a member of the Army's special forces (Kopassus) told The Jakarta Post while walking past traffic at 6:30 a.m. on Thursday. Civilians who were stuck in traffic also parked their cars and joined hundreds of people walking to the port to see the TNI's 72nd anniversary event, which featured an extravagant show involving 5,932 military personnel from the three armed forces. Sadikin, 21, who traveled to the venue by foot, said he was excited to attend this year's event, themed "Bersama Rakyat TNI Kuat" (Together with the People, the TNI is Strong). "I departed from Serang [Banten] with my family at 3 a.m. to attend the event," he said. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Kharishar Kahfi (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, October 5, 2017 10:04 1867 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a234646c 1 National Lukas-Enembe,KPK,Papua,graft,corruption,wealth-reports Free Papua Governor Lukas Enembe came to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) headquarters on Wednesday to clarify his wealth report, which was reportedly submitted to the antigraft body. The governor arrived at the KPK headquarters on Jl. Rasuna Said in South Jakarta at 1 p.m. He kept tight-lipped about details of his visit. The governor also declined to talk to journalists when he left the KPK building at 6:15 p.m. KPK spokesman Febri Diansyah told journalists Lukas visit was to clarify details of his wealth report. There was some information in the report we needed him to clarify, he confirmed. Under the 2002 KPK Law, the antigraft body is required to evaluate state officials wealth reports, the submissions of which are required as part of the KPK's efforts to prevent corruption. Lukas is a witness in a graft case related to the use of scholarship funds for the 2016 fiscal year. The case is being handled by the National Police Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim). On Sept. 4, Lukas fulfilled the polices summons for a questioning regarding the case after skipping two previous questionings. (ebf) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Rendi A. Witular (The Jakarta Post) St. Julian's/Malta Thu, October 5, 2017 21:27 1866 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a23689ef 2 National Susi,Pudjiastuti,fisheries,maritime-affairs-and-fisheries-ministry,Ocean-Conference Free Britains Prince Charles lavished Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti with praises on Thursday for her stern policy in combating illegal fishing and ensuring sustainable fisheries. The two met on the sidelines of the fourth Our Ocean Conference (OCC). You are a pioneer, Charles said to Susi, referring to her courage in sinking almost 300 foreign vessels caught illegally fishing on Indonesian waters. They (the illegal vessels) deserve it, he said. Charles was one of the speakers in the conference, and had encouraged government officials, businesspeople, scientists and activists around the world to reduce the use of plastic bags that had contributed to the destruction of the ocean ecosystem. The prince highlighted the problem of cheap and easy-to-produce plastic flooding the ocean and ending up in harming the environment. Due to the princes active engagement in combating marine debris, Susi said she would invite him to attend the fifth OCC in Bali next year. I asked the prince directly whether he would attend next years OCC in Bali. He replied: I will, if I am still alive, said Susi recalling the conversation with Charles. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Rendi A. Witular (The Jakarta Post) St. Julians, Malta Thu, October 5, 2017 18:28 1866 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a235fa56 1 Business SusiPudjiastuti,Norway,visit Free Indonesia has accepted a proposal from Norway to form an ocean trust fund, the first of its kind, to support developing countries in conserving the marine environment and applying sustainable fisheries. In a meeting between Marine Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti and Norwegian Environment and Climate Change Minister Vidar Helgesen on Wednesday evening, Indonesia expected that such fund could help its effort to increase its marine protected areas (MPAs). Susi said the fund would significantly help Indonesia expand its MPAs to 20 million hectares by 2019 from the current 17 million-ha. Norway already has a commitment for such a fund for the forestry sector. Now were exploring whether they can also provide a similar commitment for ocean conservation, which will cover far bigger areas than forests, Susi said on the sidelines of the fourth Our Ocean Conference. Indonesia has also requested that Norway join the campaign for the acknowledgement of ocean rights to increase awareness of ocean protection and accelerate global efforts to restore a healthy ocean. (bbn) Topics : SusiPudjiastuti Norway visit Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Victoria Loguinova Yakovleva (Agence France-Presse) Moscow, Russia Thu, October 5, 2017 20:30 1866 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a236742f 2 World Russia,Saudi-Arabia,Putin,king-salman,diplomacy Free On a landmark visit to Russia, Saudi Arabia's King Salman and President Vladimir Putin were set on Thursday to clinch a host of multi-billion-dollar energy and defense deals despite discord over the Syrian war. The first official trip to Russia by a Saudi monarch will also see the leaders of the world's largest energy exporters discuss an extension of an OPEC agreement to cap oil output. "This is the first visit by a Saudi Arabian monarch in the history of our relations and that in itself is a landmark event," Putin said as he welcomed King Salman to Moscow in an ornate gilded Kremlin hall. "I'm sure your visit will boost the ties between our countries," he said. "We aim to strengthen our relations in the interests of peace and security, in the interests of developing the world economy," the Saudi king responded. Citing Russia's energy minister Alexander Novak, the Financial Times reported that Russia and Saudi Arabia were expected to sign deals worth over $3 billion (2.5 billion euros), including a $1 billion energy investment fund and a $1.1 billion agreement for Russia's petrochemicals giant Sibur to build a plant in Saudi Arabia. Russia's Kommersant business daily reported Putin and Salman were also due to discuss an arms deal worth more than $3 billion, to supply Riyadh with S-400 air defence systems. Russia and Saudi Arabia are heavily dependent on oil exports and the global plunge of the price of crude that began in 2014 lashed both their economies. OPEC members have joined with Russia and other countries in cutting crude output in a pact that has helped prop up prices. Putin said on Wednesday it was possible to extend an OPEC deal to cap oil output "at least until the end of 2018". The current agreement runs until March 2018. "We strive to continue the positive cooperation between our countries to achieve stability on world oil markets which promotes the growth of the world's economy," Salman said in Moscow. The leaders held one-on-one talks, followed by broader discussions. Once they sign the expected deals, Putin will host a state dinner for Salman. "The political will of Moscow and Riyadh for deeper cooperation on the widest range of issues is clear," Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists ahead of the meetings. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Safrin La Batu (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, October 5, 2017 17:25 1866 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a235c325 1 Politics #Indonesia,#TNI,#anniversary,#SBY Free Former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) has taken the opportunity during the 72nd anniversary of the Indonesian Military on Thursday to deliver a message for the military force to improve its relations with the National Police amid apparent tensions between the two institutions. As usual, Yudhoyono used his Twitter account @SBYudhoyono to express his thoughts. He first congratulated the military on its anniversary and then proceeded to convey his expectations. Dirgahayu! [Happy anniversary!], he wrote. As a senior in the military and a former state leader, I really expect the military to get on well with the National Police. This [good relationship] is our strength, he tweeted. In an apparent attack aimed at the police institution, military commander Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo recently said that a non-military institution had attempted to purchase anti-armor weapons. He also said he would even attack the police if it had such weapons. The remarks later turned into a controversy, and analysts argued it might be a sign of tensions between the military and the police. Later, Coordinating Political, Law and Security Affairs Minister Wiranto confirmed that there really were problems in relations between the two institutions. Before becoming president for two terms from 2004 to 2014, Yudhoyono, who is a former four-star general, was the Coordinating Political, Law and Security Affairs Minister from 2001 to 2004. He was also the Sriwijaya Military commander in South Sumatra from 1996 to 1997. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Jon Afrizal (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, October 5, 2017 10:44 1867 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a23482f1 4 Business tax-revenue,collection,September,Sri-Mulyani-Indrawati,Jokowi Free Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati met on Tuesday President Joko Jokowi Widodo to report that, as of September, 60 percent of the Rp 1.28 quadrillion (US$95.16 billion) tax revenue target had been met this year. The minister did not mention the exact value of the collected funds, but based on the this year's target figure, it is about Rp 770 trillion. She said the positive performance in the tax collection was in line with significant growth in several business sectors, including the manufacturing sector, which grew 13 percent, and the mining sector, which grew more than 30 percent. Read also: Tax office to collect taxes on hidden wealth We can see the economic growth momentum from the tax revenue collection. We will continue to create a situation conducive to strengthening the growth momentum up to the end of this year, Sri Mulyani said in Jakarta on Tuesday as reported by kontan.co.id. Directorate General of Taxation tax revenue and compliance director Yon Arsal expressed satisfaction over the tax collection performance, saying that last year, the tax office only collected 58.6 percent of the target up to September. Center for Indonesia Taxation Analysis (CITA) executive director Yustinus Prastowo said, however, that the achievement was slightly below the target of 61.5 percent by September. Yustinus estimated that the tax office would fail to achieve its target, falling short by about Rp 180 trillion by the end of this year. (bbn) Editor's note: First Paragraph in this article has been corrected. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Tokyo, Japan Thu, October 5, 2017 17:00 1866 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a2359c1f 2 World Japan,accident,tanker-vessel,China Free Japanese coastguards Thursday mounted a search and rescue operation for 12 crew members of a Chinese fishing boat, after a collision with a Hong Kong tanker off the west of Japan. Coastguards said they received a report of the collision from their Chinese counterparts Thursday morning stating that 12 of the 16 people on the far smaller fishing vessel were missing and requesting Japan's help to find them. Japan launched three patrol boats for the operation. The collision occurred 400 kilometres (250 miles) north of the Oki Islands in the Sea of Japan, also known as the East Sea, officials said. The Chinese vessel was identified as the 290-ton "Lurong Yuanyu 378." The Hong Kong-flagged ship was identified as "Bright Oil Lucky", a 63,294-ton tanker carrying 21 crew members. The tanker's crew were believed to be safe, a Japanese coastguard official told AFP. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (AFP) Jakarta Thu, October 5, 2017 14:28 1866 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a235152c 2 National #Indonesia,#TNI,#anniversary,#Jokowi,TNI,TNI-anniversary,Jokowi,President-Jokowi,traffic-congestion Free Indonesia's notorious traffic congestion was on display for the world Thursday after the country's president was forced to walk two kilometres through the scorching heat to attend a military parade. Graft-ridden Indonesia is home to one of Asia's most inefficient bureaucracies and gridlock plagues many of the archipelago's largest towns. The country's traffic nightmares were aptly illustrated when President Joko Widodo had to walk more than two kilometres to attend a ceremony marking the 72nd anniversary of the Indonesian military's founding. Widodo and senior government officials were held up by gridlock as they approached the military parade in Cilegon, a port city about two-and-a-half hours drive from the capital Jakarta, the presidential palace said. After a 30-minute wait, "the president then decided from inside the car that he would walk," Widodo's guard Ili Dasili said in a statement. National police chief Tito Karnavian, who was also stuck in the jam, joined the president. Video footage shows the president walking with a phalanx of security personnel while spectators yell and chant his name. Presiden @jokowi menghadiri HUT TNI ke-72 dengan berjalan kaki sepanjang 2 km. Selamat HUT TNI ke-72, TNI selalu bersama Rakyat #Kuat pic.twitter.com/tPWDmxxLAZ Pramono Anung (@pramonoanung) October 5, 2017 Widodo's unorthodox entrance wasn't lost on social media users, who questioned why the leader of Southeast Asia's largest economy was compelled to walk to the event. "How come the president walked for two kilometres to the military anniversary location, why didn't they give him the privilege of vacating the road or taking him in a helicopter?" Twitter user @Pujithegooners wrote. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, October 5, 2017 20:39 1866 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a2367bc2 1 City penitentiary,Ciangir Free The Law and Human Rights Ministry is about to begin the construction of a new penitentiary with an open camp concept on land owned by Jakarta administration in Tangerang, Banten. The groundbreaking is set to be conducted next Wednesday, city secretary Saefullah said on Wednesday, as quoted by kompas.com. The ministrys plan to lease 30 hectares of a 100-ha plot owned by the Jakarta administration in Ciangir village has been discussed since 2006. The new penitentiary is considered crucial to tackle overcrowding at some prisons in Jakarta. The Salemba penitentiary and detention center in Central Jakarta, for instance, houses more than 5,000 inmates, far exceeding the 2,000 people it was originally meant to hold. Meanwhile, there are nearly 7,000 inmates at the Cipinang penitentiary and detention center in East Jakarta, way over its original purpose of holding 2,000 prisoners. Jakarta Governor Djarot Saiful Hidayat said earlier that the planned penitentiary would be able to accommodate around 5,000 inmates. Besides providing land for the penitentiary, the city also plans to build a retirement home and develop productive farmlands on the remaining 70-ha area. The farmlands would also be used by inmates as part of their rehabilitation program, Djarot said. (cal) Topics : penitentiary Ciangir By PTI: New Delhi, Oct 5 (PTI) China has maintained a sizeable presence of its troops near the site of the Dokalam standoff with India and even started widening an existing road which is at a distance of around 12 km from the area of conflict. Sources said China has been slowly increasing its troop level in the Dokalam Plateau which could further escalate the current situation as India has reasons to be concerned over it. advertisement They said an existing road is also being strengthened in the Dokalam plateau, adding the road is at a distance of around 12 kms from the earlier face-off site. An indication of tension between the two countries due to presence of Chinese forces in the Chumbi Valley in the Dokalam Plateau was also given by Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa today. "The two sides are not in a physical face-off as we speak. However, their forces in Chumbi Valley are still deployed and I expect them to withdraw as their exercise in the area gets over," Dhanoa told reporters. There has been territorial disputes between China and Bhutan over Dokalam and India has been staunchly supporting Thimphu over the issue. Troops of India and China were locked in a 73-day-long standoff in Dokalam since June 16 after the Indian side stopped the building of a road in the disputed area by the Chinese Army. Bhutan and China have a dispute over Dokalam. Bhutan and India were in touch with each other during the course of the face-off that ended on August 28. Days after the face-off ended, Army Chief Bipin Rawat had said China has started "flexing its muscles" and warned that the situation in Indias northern border could snowball into a larger conflict. There are also reports that Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) has increased more troops on its forward post in Yatung. Sources said though Chinese troops have been deployed in Dokalam Plateau, they leave the area during winters. But, there were indication that they may leave the areas this time, they added. PTI MPB ZMN NSA --- ENDS --- Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Pesona Indonesia) Jakarta Thu, October 5, 2017 13:02 1867 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a234f6c0 2 News Tourism-Ministry-Pesona-Indonesia,tourism-ministry-wonderful-Indonesia,Banyuwangi Free Banyuwangi in East Java is set to hold the Gandrung Sewu Festival 2017 on Oct. 8. This years theme, Kembang Pepe, tells the story of kembang Pepes fight against the Dutch. Back in the Dutch colonization era, Gandrung Sewu in Banyuwangi was more than a show as it was also an act to capture the Dutch army. Kembang Pepe tells the story of Gandrung dancers who give alcohol to the Dutch until they were drunk and then executed them in a forest or ocean. This mass dance festival receives the full support from the Tourism Ministry as it is considered as one of Banyuwangis top events that involve plenty of participants. Read also: What to discover in West Java cultural village Ciptagelar The ministry's archipelago tourism marketing development deputy Esthy Reko Astuti is hopeful that the festival will receive another Indonesian Museum of Records (MURI). Back in 2012 the event scored one MURI for the largest number of dancers with 1,047 people. The number of participants should increase this year; I hope Gandrung Sewu 2017 could earn another MURI and become a local and overseas tourists attraction, told Esthy. Prior to the festival, the committee held auditions for dancers in five locations across Banyuwangi. Among the applicants were middle school and high school students from five districts in Banyuwangi, namely Giri, Wongosorejo, Banyuwangi, Kalipuro and Glagah. The committee decided to only feature 1,048 dancers for the finale with each district could only send a maximum of 50 dancers to participate. (kes) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Pesona Indonesia) Jakarta Thu, October 5, 2017 14:07 1866 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a2350b15 2 News Tourism-Ministry-Pesona-Indonesia,tourism-ministry-wonderful-Indonesia,South-Korea Free The Tourism Ministry is set to take part in the upcoming Daechun Stream Festival held by Bukgu District Government Office in Busan, South Korea, on Oct. 14. In 2016, the number of outbound tourists from South Korea reached 22.3 million, up to 15 percent from 2015, making South Korea one of the countries in Asia Pacific with the highest number of outbound tourists. Apart from Daechun Stream Festival, we will also promote Wonderful Indonesia tourism brand in Seoul and Busan through ad placements on billboards, LED media tunnels, subway screen doors and One Vision Way, said the ministry's deputy minister for overseas promotion I Gde Pitana. Moreover, Pitana said Indonesia is still in the top 10 list of favorite holiday destinations among South Korean tourists. Read also: Great escape to old Korea In terms of Southeast Asia region, were still behind Philippines, Thailand, Singapore and Cambodia. We believe that with all of the effort, support and partnership that weve established with the tourism people in Indonesia we can compete with these countries, he added. A total of 15 tourism companies from Indonesia consisting of hotels, resorts, marine and safari parks from Batam, Yogyakarta and Bali will take part in the event. The ministry is said to help provide sponsorship package and performance art team. The Visit Indonesia Tourism Officer (VITO) South Korea also lends their support for the event. This year, the ministry is targeting to welcome 514,000 South Korean tourists. Pitana mentioned that Bali and Yogyakarta are the two favorite cities among South Korean tourists. Back in 2015, Indonesia welcomed 338,671 tourists from South Korea. The year after, the ministry set a target to attract 400,000 South Korean tourists, up to 18 percent from 2015s achievement. This year our target is 514,000 tourists from South Korea, said Tourism Minister Arief Yahya. Additionally, the Indonesian government has also issued a free-visa policy for South Korea and other 168 countries. (kes) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Pesona Indonesia) Jakarta Thu, October 5, 2017 15:06 1866 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a235388e 2 News Tourism-Ministry-Pesona-Indonesia,tourism-ministry-wonderful-Indonesia,Padang Free Indonesian tourism will be the main highlight at the upcoming Regional Investment Forum (RIF) 2017 meeting slated on Oct.15-17 in Padang, West Sumatra. Themed Showcasing Investment Opportunities in the Indonesian Tourism Industry," this event is initiated by the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) and supported by the Tourism Ministry, Bank Indonesia (BI) and West Sumatra provincial administration. This forum aims to explore investment opportunities in tourist destinations and campaigning for the 10 New Balis, said BKPM head Thomas Lembong. Tourism Minister Arief Yahya is set to be one of the speakers in the event, alongside Bank Indonesia (BI) senior deputy governor Mirza Adityaswara, West Sumatra Governor Irwan Prayitno and Indonesian Ambassador for Australia and Vanuatu, Kristiarto Legowo. RIF Padang 2017 is one of the initiatives from BKPM to support the governments efforts in developing the tourism sector. Weve invited around 300 investors, both local and foreign, who have the capability to do investment in the tourism infrastructure development. Moreover all the destinations that weve chosen have the potential to be developed by investors, he explained. Read also: Three interesting facts about nasi Padang Six of the ministrys 10 Priority Destinations that are set to be highlighted at RIF 2017 are Lake Toba in North Sumatra, Tanjung Kelayang in Bangka Belitung, Tanjung Lesung in Banten, Thousand Islands and Kota Tua in DKI Jakarta, Borobudur Temple in Central Java and Bromo Tengger Semeru in East Java. The other two places are located in West Sumatra, namely Mandeh and Mount Padang. The government is targeting to welcome 20 million foreign and 275 million domestic tourists by 2019. The tourism sector is expected to create a foreign exchange of up to Rp 260 trillion [US$19.3 billion]. The positive investment growth in the tourism sector shows that investment opportunity in this sector is very prospective, said Thomas. According to data from BKPM, between 2012 and 2016 the average investment realization growth in the tourism sector is 17 percent per year. In the first semester of 2017, the investment realization value was at $929.14 or equal to Rp 12.5 trillion, up to 37 percent from the same period last year. The top three countries with the biggest investment for Indonesian tourism in the first semester of 2017 are Singapore with 43 percent, China with 29 percent and Malaysia with five percent, he said. (kes) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) London Thu, October 5, 2017 14:31 1866 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a23528f5 2 News Cambridge-University,transgender,gender,Education,#education Free A women-only Cambridge University college is opening its doors to applications from transgender students, it said in a statement. Murray Edwards College said it wanted to be open to all women, regardless of whether their documentation identified them as male. "Many of us within the college have sympathy with the idea that gender is not binary, and have concerns that narrow gender identities and the expectations associated with them are damaging both to individuals and to wider society," it said. "The college is also supportive of students who do not wish to define themselves as either female or male." The college at the prestigious British university said it would consider applications from any student who identifies as female. "Society is changing and there is now a greater understanding of the complexities of gender," its president Barbara Stocking said Wednesday. "In order that we remain true to our mission of being open to all outstanding young women we recognize that it is right for anyone who identifies as female, regardless of their born gender, to be able to apply to study with us." Read also: Celebrities lash out at Trumps decision to ban transgenders from military service The college was founded in 1954 to combat the inequality in participation and achievement for female students. But leading feminist Germaine Greer, a former lecturer at Cambridge's Newnham College, said it was a "silly situation". If Murray Edwards "don't believe that gender is binary, then they really shouldn't be a single sex college," she told The Daily Telegraph newspaper. "Their position is ridiculous. The only sane thing for them to do is to cease discriminating on the basis of assigned gender of any kind." Mermaids, an organization which helps young transgender people, welcomed the college's move, thanking them for "accepting and embracing all young women". "Education always wins over ignorance and fear," it said on Twitter. The Army is likely to brief the minister about its preparations to prevent China's attempts to carry out incursion into the Indian territory in places where the boundary is not demarcated. By Ajit Kumar Dubey: At a time when both India and China are further fortifying their military presence along the disputed Line of Actual Control, defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman is scheduled to review the situation on the border with China during her visit to Arunachal Pradesh later this week. The defence minister's first visit to Arunachal Pradesh comes at a time when last month both India and China backed off from Doklam where Indian Army stopped Chinese People's Liberation Army from constructing a motorable road in Bhutanese territory near India's narrow Chicken's neck corridor in West Bengal. advertisement "Defence minister will be accompanied by Army Chief Gen Bipin Rawat for her visit to Arunachal Pradesh later this week," a source in the army told Mail Today. Sitharaman is also likely to visit the forward areas and army posts to understand the issues faced by the troops deployed there, sources said. The Army is likely to brief the minister about its preparations to prevent China's attempts to carry out incursion into the Indian territory in places where the boundary is not demarcated and both sides have different claim lines. In Doklam too, the Armies of both countries have not backed out completely and are separated from each other by a distance of around 300 metre. Both have the capability to rush in more troops at a very short notice with reports suggesting that China has moved tank regiments in the nearby areas. China had protested the visit of PM Narendra Modi in 2015 and also raised objections over the visit of defence ministers there. In less than a month, Sitharaman has visited almost all active frontiers of the armed forces. --- ENDS --- Mayor de Blasio has been holding town hall meetings this year (a re-election year) in just about every New York City neighborhood. Next week, hes coming to the Lower East Side to host a public Q & A session in collaboration with District 2 City Council member Rosie Mendez. Co-sponsors include Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, State Assemblyman Brian Kavanagh and local settlement houses. The town hall will take place Thursday Oct. 12, at 7 p.m., at P.S. 188, 442 East Houston St. If you want to attend, you need to RSVP by Oct. 10 (thats Tuesday). Heres the link. The mayor has faced some criticism about his town hall meetings. As NY1 reported, The frequency of these town hall events is raising questions about whether the line between government work and politics is blurring as we near Election Day. The mayor held a similar meeting with City Council member Margaret Chin in June. The Delhi CM directed the directors of state-run hospitals to ensure that the waiting time at the medicine counter is cut short as much as possible. By Priyanka Sharma: The health department of Delhi government has come into action once again with chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and health minister Satyendar Jain making surprise visits to state-run hospitals. Mail Today had reported that GB Pant Hospital lacks at least 60 per cent life saving medicines and highlighted the issue. Taking a cognisance of Mail Today's report, the government pulled up their socks. Other than GB Pant, they also visited Lok Nayak Hospital. advertisement There were a few medicines which were unavailable at GB Pant. On learning about the shortage, the CM summoned the director of the hospital immediately to his office at Delhi Secretariat. He has directed the directors of both the hospitals to ensure that the waiting time at the medicine counter is cut short as much as possible. He said the cut in waiting time at both the medicine counter and registration desk would help the patients. Dr Siddharth Ramji, who holds the additional charges of GB Pant informed: "A report has been sent to the CM and things are managed properly. Due to some issues in CPA, few medicines were lacking, but now, it has been placed. We are also trying to minimise the patients' waiting time at the counter and ensuring that all pharmacy counters are open." On Wednesday, Jain made a surprise check at Bhagwan Mahavir Hospital and inspected a polyclinic in Pitampura. Some of the staffers were found missing when Jain's convoy reached. "The staffers are supposed to arrive sharp at 8 am. We reached at around 8.15 am. We noticed the lack of staff and those who were not present have been given a memorandum. We are making all efforts to give patients a robust healthcare," said a senior official from health department. "At 4.45 am, we reached Bhagwan Mahavir Hospital. There was a rush at the OPD registration counter. Also, we found only two counters working and four-five counters closed. A memorandum has been sent to the MS," he said. The CM will appeal to the LG to give nod to hire new pharmacists. --- ENDS --- Delhi Police arrested the two bike-borne snatchers and another accomplice and recovered the Belarus national's camera. By Ajay Kumar: Two bike-borne snatchers on Tuesday made away with a camera from a Belarus national at Humayun Tomb. Volha Thomus was taking pictures of the tomb around 1 pm when the incident took place. Delhi Police however managed to arrest the accused and recovered the camera but this incident once again indicates how foreigners are vulnerable in national Capital. advertisement "There were two persons, their faces were covered in helmets. They simply snatched my camera and sped away. I tried to nab them but they fled," Thomus said in her complaint. Thomus is a professional photographer. She has come to India with her businessman husband. She was alone at the time of incident and capturing pictures. Her husband was waiting for her at the main gate of the tomb. "The victim approached Hazrat Nizamudin police station soon after the incident. A special team was constituted and it scanned notorious snatchers of the area. Then acting on a tip-off, it caught three persons," said Romil Baaniya, DCP of south east district. The accused have been identified as Abdul Samad, Akshay Kumar and Salman. They used to run an organised snatchers' gang in the region. Snatching mobiles and cameras near to tourist places is not new here in Delhi. This was the second incident in last 12 days. On September 22, Ukraine ambassador to India Igor Polikha's mobile phone was snatched by a couple of bike-borne people near Red Fort while he was taking a selfie. --- ENDS --- Palestinian film director Hany Abu-Assad might be best known for being at the helm of powerful Middle East-set dramas but his new project, starring big hitters Kate Winslet and Idris Elba, takes an entirely different direction. Hany with Kate Winslet on the set of The Mountain Between Us Stranded up a mountain deep in the Canadian Rockies, Abu-Assad takes us on an lyrical journey of love and survival in The Mountain Between Us. Neurosurgeon Ben (Elba) and photojournalist Alex (Winslet) are at the heart of this, weaving a love story of tension and danger against a backdrop of seemingly endless snow and sky. We met Abu-Assad to discuss the film, his work as an Academy judge, diversity in Hollywood and how you can turn a film into poetry when the right ingredients come together. A lot of your previous work has been set in the Middle East, so this seems like a very different project for you why did you decide to do a Hollywood, big budget survival movie with two instantly recognisable faces? Im always open to new experiences; I dont think I should limit myself to one kind of genre or one kind of place. I think I am a human of this earth I grew up in Palestine, I studied in Holland, I lived in Holland for 25 years, I became Dutch, I became European. Now I am in the United States, so I feel like I am cosmopolitan, so I shouldnt limit myself to one area. This movie is very special. Immediately I felt there was a great combination, of two themes and two genres lets say of survival and love. Its a genre movie, survival and romantic... I thought Id like to put them together. This is a challenge. Also, I saw the opportunity to make a poetic picture gorgeous images. We saw the white snow as a canvas, and the actors as moving as if colours in a painting. I saw an opportunity to work with big actors, even though at that time Kate and Idris werent involved but I realised you need great actors for that. All this made me say yes, immediately. Obviously you were filming in harsh conditions, in Canada was that the biggest challenge you had with the film, or were there others? Technically, it was a huge challenge to keep yourself warm, to keep your equipment warm, to keep your dog warm. And to get your schedule, to stay on budget; its a big challenge technically. The other challenges well, you are an artist, you are making a painting. How are you going to put this story together? How can people feel the emotions of the actors, how can they feel involved emotionally involved? This is another challenge, bigger than the technical challenge of keeping yourself warm. How to put the movies together you think you know, but its always guessing. Quite a few actors, including Margot Robbie, dropped out of the role eventually played by Kate Winslet but the result was that Kate and Idris had such an amazing chemistry. Do you think it was fated that those too eventually came together? I wasnt involved (in casting) but when I came I started talking to the studio about this combination, a new combination, and let me put it this way Kate and Idris, when I heard the combination from the producer, I was like, wow. So you test this combination you go to the studio, you ask your wife, she tells you she wants to see this movie. Sometimes, there is something bigger than you as a director its meant to be like this. They were so good together; I thought the snow had started to melt because of their chemistry. It was amazing, an amazing combination. You were invited to join the Academy in 2014, to judge the Oscars. How is that process do you enjoy it? I do - I get free screenings and the DVDs to watch all the movies in my home! Its a privilege to be part of that community, that you can also give your vote even as one of 6,000 still, you vote and its acknowledgement that you have something to say about cinema, so its all flattering. Do you think the Academy is becoming more open-minded in the performances that it rewards? They are doing their best. I think theres good progress. The world has become a small village, we are all connected now, through ideas, very easily - through email, computer, social media... you dont need to tie yourself to a certain area to judge whether the movie is good or bad. To be honest, any kind of prize is good, but its not 100% accurate in the sense that how many times (have there been) movies that are so beautiful but havent got recognition? We need that sort of prize, to keep attention for our industry. You need it. But if its going to be 100% fair every time no. But you try to make it fair; as fair as possible. Theyve opened the Academy to a wider range of people, to make it more honest but still, its also luck. Who are your biggest influences in cinema? In this movie I looked a lot to Tarkovsky and Kieslowski one is Russian and one is Polish. I think its a homage to a movie called Port of Shadows, a French movie made in the 40s, a very old movie. Every director can influence me. All good directors can teach you something about cinema. I love to watch movies; in this movie in particular I tried to be poetic, to use images that could express universal meaning, and really Tarkovsky and Kieslowski are both masters at this. The Mountain Between Us is out in UK cinemas on Friday 6th October. Theresa Mays speech at the Tory conference was eventful to say the least. Her message was marred by a persistent cough, letters falling off the slogan on the backdrop behind her, and a prankster presenting her with what looked like a P45. But eagle-eyed viewers noticed something else for some reason she chose to wear a bracelet featuring noted Communist Party member Frida Kahlo. That bracelet close up (Joe Giddens/PA) Frida Kahlo was a Mexican artist, born in 1907. A noted feminist and LGBTQ icon, she was famed for her self-portraits and left-wing beliefs and met her husband, artist Diego Rivera, through friends in the Communist Party. She was also disabled after suffering from polio as a child and an accident in her teens. The artists politics were pretty much at odds with Mays policies. "I must fight so that the little positive things that my health allows me to do might be pointed toward helping the revolution." Frida Kahlo Ellie Mae 'Hagan (@MissEllieMae) October 4, 2017 Kahlo even had an affair with Leon Trotsky, the Marxist revolutionary leader, after he was exiled to Mexico. Some pointed out how ironic it was that the PM was decorating herself with images of a figure like Kahlo. Lol @ Theresa May wearing Frida Kahlo bracelet. A disabled bisexual woman of colour and a Communist to boot. Sure they would have got along! Cosmo Godfree (@cosmo_godfree) October 4, 2017 Others werent happy that the PM had hijacked another trend. First she came for leopardskin. Then she came for kitten heels. Now Frida Kahlo. Too far. Viv Groskop (@VivGroskop) October 4, 2017 Some suggested Mays general bad luck on stage might have been the work of Kahlos vengeful spirit, punishing the PM for wearing her picture. When the ghost of Frida Kahlo comes back to strangle you to death for abusing her image and everything she ever stood for, tweeted Ash Sarkar, along with a picture of May struggling, spluttering over her glass of water. As if the PM needed something else to go wrong. A student has been suspended for a year and another six disciplined at St Andrews University after threatening peers online claiming they would ruin their lives. The bullies, all studying at the prestigious St Andrews University - where the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge met - are said to have made indirect threats to female students through a Facebook group chat last academic year. The messages, which did not directly involve the victims, saw one student suggest throwing battery acid in the womens faces in what he described as Indian rejected marriage style while others talked about potential murder and elaborate revenge, according to screenshots seen in Scotland on Sunday. Other suggestions on the group conversation were putting hair removal cream in shampoo after gaining access to their flat with a key one of the perpetrators still held after sharing accommodation with them previously and crumbling weight gain bars into their food in an attempt to make them unknowingly put on weight. The women described to the student newspaper The Saint how they felt scared and violated and were too scared to leave their homes alone after becoming aware of the threats. The threats were initially reported to Police Scotland for investigation but the incident was ultimately left with the university to deal with. The suspended student will be banned from attending classes for a year and will return in September 2018. The others have been forced into writing letters of apology to their victims and are attending a mandatory anti-bullying course run by the university. A Police Scotland spokeswoman said: Police in St Andrews received a complaint of threats being made indirectly via a private online chat room to two female students in March 2017. Inquiries were carried out and no crime was found to have been committed however the matter was referred to the university for consideration of any action it may find it appropriate to take. A spokesman for the University of St Andrews said: We cannot comment on individual cases, but all students are fully aware of the standards of behaviour expected of them.The university has a zero tolerance policy on bullying in any shape or form and has rigorous procedures in place to deal with any complaints. Any cases of reported abuse are followed up and a small number of students have been disciplined at the highest levels for such matters in the last five years. It is understood that both complainants were offered temporary accommodation by the university as they stated they did not feel safe in their current residency, but declined the offer. Images courtesy of Matthew Leonard and Rob Bishop. Google has unveiled a new smart speaker to take on Amazons rival product, the Echo Dot. The Google Home Mini, priced at 49, is a smaller and cheaper version of Google Home and costs the same as Amazons hands-free, voice-controlled counterpart. Like its older sibling, the Mini works using Google Assistant, the companys artificially intelligent personal assistant that rivals Apples Siri, Microsofts Cortana and Samsungs Bixby. Same help, smaller size. Introducing the new Google Home Mini. pic.twitter.com/spyE3sS4UH Made by Google (@madebygoogle) October 4, 2017 A year after launching the Home, the technology giants first AI-powered smart speaker, the Home Mini will be available to buy in the UK and the US from October 29. Like the Home, the Mini responds to voice commands and can answer queries as well as carry out commands such as streaming music and also controls other internet-enabled devices around the home such as smart lights, thermostats and TVs. It also has a voice match feature that recognises up to six people. First impressions of Google Home Mini: this is the cutest piece of tech I own, and it sounds pretty good for a hockey puck. pic.twitter.com/ymyAZ44y1h Daniel Bader (@journeydan) October 4, 2017 The doughnut-shaped device, which is small enough to fit in the palm of a hand, comes in three colours chalk, charcoal and coral. As well as launching its new smart speaker, Google is unveiling new personal assistant features that include broadcasting messages to multiple devices. For example, saying Hey Google, broadcast its time for dinner! will play the message on all the Google devices across the house to inform family members about their evening meal. (Google) The command Hey Google, goodnight! can turn off all the lights, turn down the temperature and remind the user of their first meeting next day. Another key feature that allows the user to search more than three million recipes and follow step-by-step cooking instructions from the smart speakers is set to be rolled out in the next few days. The Mini comes with built-in far-field microphones that provide a 360-degree sound effect. The Google Home Mini is available to pre-order online at the Google Store as well as several retailers including Currys PC World, Maplin, Argos, John Lewis, EE and Carphone Warehouse. Unfortunately, The Content Is Not Here You have arrived at this page because the page or post you were looking for no longer exists. 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Namun jangan khawatir, disini sebagai situs slot gacor MGS88 kami akan memberikan penjelasan lengkap mengenai tentang istilah yang ada di RTP SLOT dibawah ini. A Class 1 student was allegedly sexually assaulted by housekeeping staff at the Sant Nirankari Public School in Malviya Nagar. By India Today Web Desk: Close on the heels of the recent incident where a student was brutally murdered in the premises of Ryan International School in Gurgaon, yet another shocking incident from a public school has come to light from the national capital. A Class 1 student was allegedly sexually assaulted by housekeeping staff at the Sant Nirankari Public School in Malviya Nagar. advertisement The incident took place when the student went to washroom and called for the female attendant, who was not present there. The accused Rakesh, however, heard her and went inside the washroom. The accused allegedly touched the student inappropriately. The incident came to light after the scared girl went home and told her parents about it. The accused has been arrested and remanded in judicial custody. Less than a month ago on September 8, seven-year-old Pradhuman Thakur - a class two student of Gurgaon's Ryan International School - was found dead in the school toilet with his throat slit, shortly his father dropped him. The murder had triggered a nationwide outrage, prompting the government to order more security and facilities in the schools around the national capital region. The Delhi government has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the matter. A team of DCPCR (Delhi Commission For Protection Of Child Rights) will visit the school to conduct an inquiry tomorrow. --- ENDS --- By PTI: Darjeeling (WB), Oct 5 (PTI) West Bengal BJP chief Dilip Ghosh was heckled today by a group of people which asked saffron leaders visiting Darjeeling to leave immediately, leading to chaos at the venue of a party meeting and its cancellation. A scuffle erupted between BJP supporters and the agitators when Ghosh, heading a party delegation, arrived at the venue where the meeting with the party workers was scheduled. advertisement As soon as he arrived, the agitators shouted slogans demanding that the BJP delegates leave the hills and showed them black flags. The BJP supporters were far outnumbered by the agitators, who beat them up. The BJP state chief tried to pacify the agitators but failed. He was then heckled following which he cancelled the meeting and lodged a complaint at a nearby police station. "There was scuffle between two groups and a few people were injured. A case has been registered and we have started the investigation. The culprits will be arrested soon," Darjeeling superintendent of police Akhilesh Chaturvedi said. An angry Ghosh alleged that the attack on him and the BJP delegates was "pre-planned" and that he was not provided any security despite being an MLA. "It was pre-planned attack. And I think this planning has its roots in Kolkata. The administration and police were just mute spectators as our supporters were beaten up and I was heckled. I was not given any security cover. I have lodged a police complaint about the incident," he told reporters. Ghosh claimed that the agitators were supporters of expelled Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) leader Binay Tamang. Tamang denied the allegation. Asked whether Ghosh was provided security for the meeting, Chauturvedi said, "The police was outside the venue. We had provided security for those programmes about which we had information. He (Ghosh) will be provided complete security." Reacting to the incident, state Parliamentary Affairs Minister Partha Chatterjee said, "The BJP had gone there to foment trouble when peace was returning to the hills. Instead of taking police personnel along with him, he (Ghosh) had taken hired goons. If he doesnt ask for security then how can the police provide security cover?" Senior north Bengal Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader and minister Gautam Deb said, "It (the scuffle) was an outburst of anger of the hill people against the sinister designs of the BJP." Ghosh said, "These protests are fuelled and funded by the TMC. Except the GJM and Bimal Gurung, all other hill parties are mere extra players who are working on behalf of the TMC. The people of the hills are with the BJP and the GJM and that is why we have received so much support wherever we are going." advertisement He said hundreds of people in the hills greeted the BJP leaders and shared their problems. The response was tremendous, he told PTI. Earlier in the day while entering Darjeeling from Kalimpong, Ghosh and his team faced protests by supporters of the Gorkha National Liberation Front, who like some other hill parties demanded that its delegates leave Darjeeling immediately. Ghosh and his team were also shown black flags and asked to refrain from disturbing the "peace and stability" in the region. They had faced protests yesterday too by supporters of the Jan Andolan Party and Binay Tamang during their visit to Kalimpong. Posters with the messages such as BJP go back and asking the hill people to boycott the partys delegation were put up. The state BJP chief had, however, refuted the GNLF allegation that he was in the hills to foment trouble and claimed that the protests against the BJP delegation were fuelled by the ruling TMC. advertisement Ghosh claimed it was due to his initiative that peace has returned to Darjeeling. "I talked to the Union home minister, after which peace returned to the Darjeeling hills," he said. The BJP team is scheduled to visit various places in the hills and neighbouring Sikkim and hold meetings with its workers and the GJM leadership. Expelled GJM leader and vice-chairman of the Board of Administrators (BoA), Anit Thapa also accused the BJP of trying to foment trouble in the hills. "What was it (BJP) doing for the three-and-a-half months when the hills were burning? Now that peace has returned, it wants to create trouble," he alleged. The rebel GJM group led by Tamang, who is the BOA chairman, and Thapa are slated to hold rallies to protest the visit of the saffron party delegation. PTI PNT KK SC --- ENDS --- The Election Commission is ready to hold simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies as proposed by PM Narendra Modi. But, the NITI Aayog, in its recent note, ruled out such a possibility for 2019. By Prabhash K Dutta: The Election Commission has given its nod for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's proposal to hold simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and the state assemblies anytime after September next year. The Lok Sabha elections will be due in 2019. In January this year, PM Narendra Modi had proposed that feasibility of holding simultaneous elections should be studied. Three months later, during his interaction with the NITI Aayog in April, PM Narendra Modi proposed this idea in a meeting attended by chief ministers of several states. advertisement Narendra Modi argued that due to electoral considerations several good initiatives and schemes lost their way and become victims of poor implementation and management. However, even before Narendra Modi's proposal, the idea of holding simultaneous elections has been a pet theme of the RSS-BJP think tank. The RSS has said it several times. Veteran BJP leader LK Advani proposed this many times including when he was the Deputy Prime Minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government. A Law Commission report in 1999 during Vajpayee's regime had recommended the same. To ensure a five-year term for a majority or minority government, the Law Commission had then proposed that when a no-confidence motion is moved against a government, a confidence motion should also be moved for an alternative government in the assembly or the Lok Sabha as the case may be. FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR SIMULTANEOUS ELECTIONS A parliamentary committee under the chairmanship of Congress MP EM Sudarsana Natchiappan in December 2015 recommended simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and the state assemblies. The report, titled, the Feasibility of Holding Simultaneous Elections to House of People (Lok Sabha) and State Legislative Assemblies, was submitted to Parliament by the Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice. The report emphasised the need for holding simultaneous elections listing out its reasons: The holding of simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha and state assemblies would reduce the massive expenditure that is currently incurred for the conduct of separate elections It would end the policy paralysis that results from the imposition of the Model Code of Conduct during election time Simultaneous elections will reduce the impact on delivery of essential services Simultaneous elections will lessen the burden on crucial manpower that is deployed during election time. FEASIBILITY OF SIMULTANEOUS ELECTIONS: WHAT ELSE PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE SAID The standing committee said, in its report, that seven of the 16 Lok Sabhas that have been constituted so far were dissolved pre-maturely due to coalition governments. It further observed that the legislatures have been completing their full term in recent years. The standing committee said that due to anti-defection law and restrictions on President's power to proclaim emergency under Article 356 have prevented party hopping after elections and had direct bearing on the terms of legislature. The standing committee, in its report, backed the recommendations of the Law Commission report of 1999. The Law Commission had then suggested that elections of legislative assemblies whose term ends six months after the Lok Sabha polls can be clubbed together (when all elections are held concurrently for the first time). However, the results of such elections can be declared at the end of the assembly's tenure. The standing committee also said that there is necessary legal framework to hold simultaneous elections. The Representation of People Act, 1951, it said, allows the Election Commission of India to notify general elections six months prior to the end of the terms of Lok Sabha and state assemblies. The standing committee, though, observed some practical difficulties in holding simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. It said that the elections to the assemblies of Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha and Sikkim were held in March-May 2014 period. These assemblies can be reelected in 2019 simultaneously with the Lok Sabha elections. The elections to the assemblies of Haryana and Maharashtra will be due within six months of the Lok Sabha elections in 2019. These assemblies can also be reelected with the Lok Sabha elections in 2019. But holding elections for rest of the assemblies will be an aberration. It would require a Constitution Amendment before 2019 general elections. advertisement WHAT NITI AAYOG SAID advertisement On the other hand, the NITI Aayog in a 'Note on Simultaneous Elections' said that given the terms of existing State Assemblies, it would be nearly impossible to implement simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and all State Assemblies at one go from April - May 2019 or before June 2019. "If this is to be done, then estimates show that tenures of many State Assemblies would need to be curtailed by more than two years (examples like Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu etc) and tenures of many other State Assemblies would need to be extended by more than two years (examples like Goa, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand etc)," the NITI Aayog note reads. Impact on state assemblies if simultaneous elections are held in 2019. (Credit: NITI Aayog) To deal with the practical and political difficulties both the standing committee and the NITI Aayog agreed with the idea that the proposal to hold simultaneous elections should be implemented in two phases. advertisement The NITI Aayog note says, "It is suggested that simultaneous elections be considered in two-phases. Phase-I is suggested to be in sync with that of the Lok Sabha elections i.e. April - May2019. Phase II is suggested approximately mid-way in the term of the Lok Sabha i.e. 30 months after Phase I - around October - November 2021." --- ENDS --- Till August 21, there were four claimants to the 'two leaves' symbol of Tamil Nadu's ruling party. But with the merger of Chief Minister E Palanisamy (EPS) and O Panneerselvam (OPS) factions, the number reduced to three. By India Today Web Desk: The Election Commission will hear the case of AIADMK's 'two leaves' symbol on Friday. The poll panel will hear all the factions before announcing its decision. Till August 21, there were four claimants to the 'two leaves' symbol of Tamil Nadu's ruling party. However, with the merger of Chief Minister E Palanisamy (EPS) and O Panneerselvam (OPS) factions, the number of claimants has been reduced to three. advertisement Ousted AIADMK leader TTV Dhinakaran and former chief minister Jayalalithaa's niece Deepa Jayakumar are the other two claimants for the party's symbol. The Election Commission's hearing comes after the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court instructed it to give a decision regarding the disputed frozen party symbol by October 31. All the three factions have presented affidavits and other documents to prove their claim. They will further argue their case on Friday. Though the EPS-OPS faction is the strongest claimant to the 'two leaves' symbol, the Election Commission will also have to hear out Dhinakaran and Deepa before announcing its decision. The tussle to claim the AIADMK's symbol among rival factions of the party has reached a crescendo. The Election Commission's deadline to submit documents in favour of their claims over the symbol ended on September 29. The EPS-OPS camp and Dinarakan faction have been firing salvos against each other. While the EPS-OPS group is fully confident of winning the claim over the two leaves symbol, the Dinakaran camp termed the former's affidavits bogus and appealed to the poll panel to conduct a probe to ascertain the authenticity of the documents. The TTV Dhinakaran faction has submitted over a thousand documents. The EPS-OPS camp has filed affidavits from across several states and union territories, including Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharastra, New Delhi and Andaman and Nicobar. Their affidavits include 115 from their party MLAs, 44 from MPs, 52 from district secretaries, 126 from town secretaries and more than 1,200 from village secretaries. These affidavits reached the Election Commission's office in a truck. Also Watch : How did J Jayalalithaa die? Year later, AIADMK leader says was forced to lie about Amma's death --- ENDS --- President Donald Trump To hear an audio version of this article, click here. The concern that Iran will pursue the development of nuclear weapons once the current Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) deal expires in ten years is legitimate. But addressing these concerns cannot be achieved by nullifying the current agreement, which would only strengthen Irans resolve to acquire nuclear weapons. Instead, the US and its allies (along with Russia and China) should build on the existing deal so that once it expires, Iran would not simply rush to acquire nuclear weapons but weigh the benefits of not pursuing nuclear weapons against any strategic advantage it could potentially reap by acquiring such an arsenal. This does not guarantee that Iran will give up its ambition to acquire nuclear weapons. It does, however, offer the international community the time and opportunity to provide Iran with the incentives and prospect of becoming an active, constructive, and respected member of the community of nations, should it remain a nuclear-free country. In his speech at the United Nations General Assembly, President Trump stated that The Iran deal was one of the worst and most one-sided transactions the United States has ever entered into. Frankly, that deal is an embarrassment to the US, and I dont think youve heard the last of it. The problem is that Trump is determined to simply undo every piece of legislation passed or executive order issued during President Obamas tenure, regardless of merit, utility, or effectiveness. Sadly, the JCPOA is no exception. Nullifying it, instead of certifying that Iran has and continues to fully comply with all aspects of the deal, will precipitate dangerous regional and international repercussions, obviously beyond what Trump is capable of contemplating. The Iranian public was demanding relief from the sanctions before the deal was struck, and the government was under intense pressure to resolve the nuclear problem with the US in order to lift the sanctions and alleviate the publics economic hardship. Now that the government is fully complying with the terms of the deal, the Iranian public will support their governments position even if they suffer greatly from the imposition of harsh new sanctions. This suggests that the US cannot count on the Iranians future public discontent to pressure their government to negotiate a new deal. Once the deal is nullified, Iran will be free to resume its nuclear program in defiance of the international community (especially because much of its nuclear facilities are still in place), which will inescapably lead to nuclear proliferation in the Middle Eastexactly what the US wants to avoid. Trumps presumption that he could negotiate a better deal does not hold water. He has yet to demonstrate his so-called negotiating skills when he failed miserably to negotiate even with his own party to pass a new healthcare bill. Moreover, given that Iran is in full compliance, it will categorically refuse to negotiate a new deal. The cancellation of the deal will also severely undermine the US credibility, especially at this juncture, when the US is trying to find a way to negotiate with North Korea over its nuclear weapons. North Koreas leader Kim Jong-Un will have no reason to trust Trump. To stop expanding his nuclear arsenal, on which he believes his countrys survival hangs, he needs assurances that the US is negotiating in good faithreneging on the nuclear deal will make any prospective negotiations with North Korea to reach a sustainable agreement much harder to conduct. The US allies France, Germany, and Britainalong with Russia and China, who are signatories to the dealare sternly objecting to the nullification of the deal and will not support the imposition of new sanctions. Moreover, abandoning the deal will leave the US completely isolated, undermine global security, and strain its relationship with allies, which are already under mounting stress because of Trumps unseemly and erratic behavior. Should the deal be nullified and Iran end up with nuclear weapons, it will significantly boost its regional sway and further advance its ambition to become the regions hegemon, which will allow it to bully its neighbors. Moreover, it will intensify the conflict between Saudi Arabia and Iran, prolong the proxy Sunni-Shiite war in Yemen, Iraq, and Syria, and further entrench Iran throughout the crescent between the Gulf and the Mediterranean. It will hinder the US effort to fight violent Islamic extremism as Iran will be far more vested in supporting extremist groups, funding terrorism, and destabilizing the region wherever and whenever it suits its needs. In addition, Iran will aggressively pursue its missile program and will not be deterred by new American sanctions, which have been a critical tool in pressuring Iran in the past.Israels Prime Minister Netanyahu, the lone ranger who is foolishly pushing Trump to cancel the deal, seems to be completely out of touch about the implications of such an unwise act on Israels national security. Nullifying the deal will be to Israels terrible disadvantage, as Iran will put the development of nuclear weapons on a fast track. Based on all estimates, Iran would be able to test a nuclear weapon within a year. Finally, the cancellation of the deal will dramatically change the balance of power in the Middle East between the Arab states and Iran. It will also have this effect between Israel and Tehran, as it will neutralize Israels nuclear shield and leave the country dependent on a precarious nuclear deterrence rather than maintaining its strategic advantage. Trump should listen to his Secretary of Defense James Mattis, who recently testified before Congress that remaining party to the deal with Iran is in the US national security interest. Instead of cancelling the deal, which could lead to the above dire consequences, Trump (with the support of the other signatories of the deal) must ensure that Iran continues to fully comply with all the provisions of the deal while putting Tehran on notice that the international community will not tolerate the slightest violation of the agreement. The US ought to focus on strengthening the deal and ascertain that once it expires, Iran continues to adhere to the rules and requirements of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), of which Tehran is a signatory, to prevent it from clandestinely pursuing its nuclear program. The US must also insist that the most intrusive, unfettered, and unannounced monitoring and verification by the IAEA continues, and that Tehran clearly understands the dire consequences should it be caught red-handed in violation of the deal. Furthermore, the US should fully bolster its intelligence cooperation with its allies by sharing relevant intelligence to prevent Iran or any of its surrogates from planning and executing any act of terror, or the shipment or manufacturing of weapons to any of its clients, such as Hezbollah in Lebanon. Tehran must be convinced that continuing to support terrorist organizations by providing them with money and materials that would destabilize the region is not acceptable, and that Iran would pay the price not only by the imposition of crippling sanctions, but also by risking military confrontation with the US. It should be emphasized that Irans potential of acquiring nuclear weapons must be examined in the context of what is happening throughout the region. To that end, the US should address the conflicts that involve Iran including the wars in Yemen, Syria, and Iraq once ISIS is completely defeated. Indeed, as long as these violent struggles persist, the greater is the likelihood that Iran will pursue nuclear weapons to enhance its regional stature and influence. This requires the US to engage Iran in solving the civil war in Syria and the war in Yemen, as well as the future stability of Iraq. The US needs to also recognize the Iraqi Kurds right to independence, which could mitigate rather than escalate tensions between the Iraqi Kurds and Turkey, Iraq, and Iran. In addition, the US ought to provide financial aid to Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen to lessen Irans influence and reach. Finally, the US should bolster the defense of Gulf countries to deter any Iranian conventional assaults while providing them and other Middle Eastern allies with a nuclear umbrella that will make the pursuit of nuclear weapons by Iran increasingly less attractive. The US should leave no doubt in the minds of Iranian clergy that the US will stand by its commitment to protect its allies should they be threatened directly or indirectly by Iran. Conversely, Iran should expect the normalization of relations with the West and gradual lifting of all sanctions consistent with and parallel to its performance by demonstrating its willingness to end its support of terrorist organizations and violent extremists, contain its long-range missile program, and allow continued and unfettered inspections of its nuclear facilities. Anything short of certifying Irans compliance with the deal will be counterproductive, as it will throw the deal into confusion and disarray, putting it entirely in jeopardy. Sadly, Trump has yet to show diplomatic savvy or the ability to solve any crisis but only engages in reckless and dangerous polemics that do nothing but further poison the relationship between the US foes and friends alike. Rendering the Iran deal null and void will cap Trumps misguided and treacherous approach to the Iran deal, and irreparably undermine Americas global, moral, and political leadership. Trumps generals know this best, and they should stop him before its too late. Dr. Alon Ben-Meir is a professor of international relations at the Center for Global Affairs at NYU. He teaches courses on international negotiation and Middle Eastern studies. alon@alonben-meir.com Web: www.alonben-meir.com What is your take? Please post your comments below: By PTI: (Eds: Rpt after changing a word in headline, intro) Kancheepuram (TN), Oct 5 (PTI) A 16-year-old student, who was expelled from school for "misconduct", allegedly attacked a woman teacher with sickle on the school premises in the district today, police said. The teacher suffered injuries and was admitted to a government hospital at Chengalpet, they said. advertisement The boy was expelled from the school at Sogandy last year for alleged misconduct based on the recommendation made by the teacher, school authorities said. He attacked the teacher with a sickle on the school premises, a school official told PTI. The boy tried to escape but was caught and handed over to police. "The teacher has been admitted to hospital. She needs to undergo some minor procedure in left eyebrow. I was told that she may get discharged in a day or two," the official said. Police said they have registered a case under various IPC offences. Since the boy was a minor, he would be sent to a juvenile home, a police official said. The police have seized the sickle and the motorcycle in which the boy had come to the school, he added. This is the second such campus crime in the state in the past few weeks. On September 26, a 45-year-old woman professor was allegedly stabbed by a guest lecturer on the campus of Madurai Kamaraj University. The guest lecturer was apparently upset over non-renewal of his service contract. PTI VIJ VS SMN SMN --- ENDS --- VP Boakai (L) & Speaker Nuquay (R) Joseph Nyumah Boakai will win the presidential election for two fundamental reasons--honesty and humility. These essential elements of good leadership are very scant in Liberia. Governmental authorities have been characterized by bigotry and arrogance since the founding of Liberia in 1822. It is in this direction that the unassuming nature of Joseph Nyumah Boakai can be clearly distinguished from most of the competitors for Liberias Presidency. The birth place of this patriot is the remote village of Worsonga, Lofa County. He struggled to the top by simply being an honest man. Uncle Joe, as he is popularly called, has held several positions in government and the private sector where he exhibited respect for everyone regardless of social status. Both his superiors and subordinates look up to him for guidance on critical issues even though he always insists on being in the back. He has never refused to respond to the needs of family, friends and the nation. This true nationalist is well noted for rejecting praises even when someone else is glorified by his good work. From 1980 to 1982 Joseph Nyumah Boakai served as Managing Director for the Liberia Produce Marketing Corporation (LPMC). Before he took over LPMC, the entity was mired with bickering and low productivity. Uncle Joe performed the unexpected. In less than three months as head of that entity, he was able to ensure efficiency. Employees morale on the job improved to the point where senior managers and lower level employees had unhindered access to the new Managing Director. The entitys output increased astronomically and many farmers across the country were justly rewarded for their hard work. Uncle Joe then moved on to the Ministry of Agriculture, 1983 to 1985. Here, most Liberians saw the boss having lunch with staff and asking them about their dislikes with the system and how it could be improved. Employees felt a sense of inclusiveness and worked extremely hard with the understanding that success is not just about the boss. The same is true about the Liberia Petroleum Refinery Corporation and the Young Men Christian Association (YMCA) where he demonstrated excellent leadership. The impeccable credential of Joseph Nyumah Boakai is our unbending reliance that he will listen to divergent opinions and reconcile a nation ravaged by many years of conflict and strife. Do not be astounded if his worst critics today are his best friends tomorrow. Do not be surprised if George Weah, Charles Brumskine, Mills Jones, Prince Johnson, Alexander Cummings and others are given unimpeded access to Amb. Boakai after he wins the election. Uncle Joe will reach out to everyone regardless of political affiliation, tribe, religion, gender He will uphold the principles of democratic pluralism and decentralization. Monrovia will not be Liberia under his leadership. Uncle Joe will spend time in the rural parts of the country ensuring that our people get their fair share of the countrys endowment, its natural resources. His passion for leadership and feeling for his people, especially the poor, will drive massive development to rural Liberia and slum communities in Monrovia. Uncle Joe will build Liberia because he will ensure the equitable distribution of the wealth of the country. His selection of J Emmanuel Nuquay as running mate is a mark of honesty to the next generation and yet another attribute of good leadership. In his book The Audacity of Hope, former American President Barack Obama expounded the view that honesty and humility are some of the core values that engender mutual respect. Have the detractors not seen these virtues in Boakai? Are they not aware that he is one of the few public servants still alive with this degree of patriotism? Have they not spoken to people who worked with him in the past? Better still, are they not aware that this man is the Chief Lieutenant to Africas first female President who navigated her country out of the dungeon of a failed state and back into the Comity of Nations? Everyone that comes closer to this man leaves with one impression--a very honest character. The Holy Bible and the Quran in the books of 1 Peter 5:6 and Surah Al-Furqan 25:63 set out the attributes of good leadership. The Almighty God mandated that a leader must exhibit humility. The Holy Books dictate that you will be lifted up if you humble yourself. Boakai did not undermine President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf neither did he fight his colleagues in the Legislature. Uncle Joe is not fighting to become President of Liberia out of greed; Liberians genuinely petitioned him. His victory will be a big lesson to public officials in Africa. Yes! Joseph Nyumah Boakai will win the election because he has exhibited the highest degree of honesty and humility in a society that is treacherously saturated with greedy politicians, quacks and charlatans. About the Author: Amb Rufus Dio Neufville is a Political Advisor to the Campaign Manager of theUnity Party What is your take? Please post your comments below: By Lakshana N Palat: The murder of journalist Gauri Lankesh on September 5 this year sent ripples of fear across the nation. It raised questions of the safety and freedom of not just the media, but the society as a whole. In the past one month, the police have desperately tried to piece together the baffling mystery of the cold-blooded killing. They have claimed to have identified the killers, but have not made any arrests yet. As always, in such cases, various theories have been circling. advertisement Filmmakers don't want to be left behind in this drama, and have already started cashing in on the Gauri Lankesh murder case. Kannada director AMR Ramesh, who is known for films such as Cyanide and Atthasa, had announced that his film would focus on the murder and examine all possible theories. "I was shocked when I learnt about the brutal murder of Gauri," he told The Hindu recently. "As I knew Gauri closely, I have decided to make a film on her, exploring all possible angles for her killing." However, yesterday, Gauri's brother Indrajit put a stop to it and sent the director a notice asking him to refrain from doing so. A TRAGIC COMEDY? This is definitely not the first time that filmmakers have wanted to use chilling incidents for their film, without an adequate time lapse, much before the case has been solved, and often without the permission of the concerned families. And when they do so, many of them fail to treat the subject with the required sensitivity, and a huge tamasha is created out of the episode, a case in point being Rakhi Sawant's upcoming film on Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, who was charged with sexually assaulting children, or her film on Ek Kahaani Julie Ki, based on the Sheena Bora murder mystery. Let's not forget the time she marched into a conference, right after actor Pratyusha Banerjee's suicide, with a ceiling fan and saying that they should be banned. We all laugh, but there's a strange sadness at the end of it all. Murders and rape, have become a comic spectacle. Another notable example is Ram Gopal Varma, who immediately visited the Taj, after the Mumbai 26/11 terror attacks, and looked at it as a fertile field for a new film. People were still shaken, crying and trying to find out if their loved ones were alive, but Varma went for a tour of the site and his film, The Attacks of 26/11, that hit the screens in 2013. Understandably filmmakers wish to portray the horrors of humanity, but it can wait for a while, can't it? While there are many films that have dealt with such incidents with finesse, such as Talvar (based on the murder of Aarushi Talwar), many other films failed to do so. Let's take a look at some of these. THE FILMS THAT SANK WITHOUT A TRACE Tara, The Journey of Love And Passion Never heard of it? It was based on the horrific gang rape of Nirbhaya, supposedly. Or rather that's what the promotions said in 2013. Not just that, the makers roped in the gangrape victim's friend, Awindra Pratap Pandey, too, who was the sole witness in the case. Later, Pandey slammed the filmmakers, saying that he was misled into believing that the film was based on and dedicated to Nirbhaya. However, the film turned out to be complete joke, as it was so far from the real truth. This is a true example of capitalising on a tragedy to promote a film. advertisement Damini, The Victim This was another failed attempt at telling the story of the 2012 Delhi gang rape. This film, by a Jammu-based production house, starred Raghubir Yadav, but even he couldn't save the film from sinking like the Titanic. Aaj Ki Freedom You would think that filmmakers would attempt to learn from the previous disasters, and try harder. This was yet another effort to tell the story of the gang rape, but it left the theatres without so much as a squeak. Even the trailer of the film can't be found online. Ek Kahaani Julie Ki This was based on the infamous murder of Sheena Bora that Indrani Mukerjea was the prime suspect in. And of all people, Rakhi Sawant was roped in (she roped herself in, more likely), to tell the story of the gruesome murder. Of course, the film bore no resemblance to the original case and was a complete farce. advertisement FILMS THAT ADDED BOLLYWOOD MASALA TO THE WOUNDS The Attacks of 26/11 Directed by Ram Gopal Verma, the film starring Nana Patekar drew severe criticism. The film revelled in blood and gore, rather than focusing on the actual stories of the people who suffered through this traumatic event. While Nana's performance was commendable, the scene where he throws Kasab around on the dead bodies of his friends was just over-dramatic and nauseating. In the last half hour, the film was just a treatise on religious edicts and what's good and what's bad. No One Killed Jessica Faring slightly better than the others, the film attempted to recreate the murder of model Jessica Lal, who was shot at a bar when she didn't give a customer a drink. However, the idea of Rani Mukerji as the tough journalist emerging as the hero of the day, took away from the sensitivity of the film. STILL IN PRODUCTION Ab Hoga Insaaf The film is based on the life of Gurmeet Ram Rahim, who was arrested on charges for molestation and sexual assault of 10 minors on August 25. His daughter Honeypreet Insan had been in hiding for 38 days, and was finally arrested on October 3. Rakhi Sawant will play his adopted daughter, Honeypreet Insan, and has been creating headlines with updates about the film's progress. You know how good a film can be when Rakhi decides to do it (see Ek Kahani Julie Ki, in case you're not convinced). Ab Hoga Insaaf will release in January. advertisement Nirbhoya The Bengali film, directed by Milan Bhowmik, was announced in 2013. Since then, there have been reports about the film "releasing soon", but it still hasn't made it to the theatres yet. Bollywood actor Ashish Vidhyarthi has essayed the role of a police officer in the film. The cast comprises several eminent faces from the Bengali film industry - Soumitra Chatterjee, Srilekha Mitra and Biplab Chatterje. ALSO WATCH: Journalist Gauri Lankesh's brother wants CBI probe into her murder --- ENDS --- "I stand up and announce that his best mate's got to sit down and shut up or bugger off. A living example that literary art has no national landscapes or limitations, Japanese-born British writer Kazuo Ishiguro, the 2017 Nobel Literature laureate, is possibly its first recipient whose range of evocative works is not in his mother tongue and deals with situations and settings from far beyond his old and new homelands and times. Spanning reminiscences of high life in the turbulent 1930s through the eyes of an English country house butler in the acclaimed Booker-winning The Remains of the Day (1989), the question of personal guilt a painter-turned-propagandist confronts in post-war Japan in Artist of the Floating World (1986), or other works set in Europe, colonised China, Arthurian Britain or in a dystopian future, Ishiguros small corpus is distinguished by its variety as well as some customary motifs and style. The narration in all but one of his seven books is in first person, and the works usually deal with the past of the protagonists. As he noted in an interview, he was more interested in memory because its a filter through which we see our lives, and because its foggy and obscure, the opportunities for self-deception are there. In the end, as a writer, Im more interested in what people tell themselves happened rather than what actually happened. Then the endings are never cut and dried, with the protagonists gradually revealing their failings but without clearly stating theyre even aware of them, and thus ending up resigned to their inability to fully comprehend or change their lot in life. It is possibly this sentiment of a gradual, and even nostalgic, alienation which the Swedish Academy cited as it lauded Ishiguro for having uncovered the abyss beneath our illusory sense of connection with the world in his novels of great emotional force. While The Remains of the Day, about the dignified and proper butler pondering over his past and wondering about his future after a life completely devoted to the service of another person, remains Ishiguros most famous perhaps after its 1993 film adaptation his other books also deal with this motif in unusual ways. A personal favourite would be the surrealistic, dreamlike and much panned by baffled critics and readers The Unconsoled (1995). It is the story of concert pianist Ryders visit to an unnamed Central European city for a performance, where he finds himself besieged by people he has no recollection of, accosting him with a raft of appointments and promises he has no memory of or can possibly fulfill in his brief stay. Then there is his darkly dystopian Never Let Me Go (2005) which memorably combines the British boarding school tale tradition with the commoditisation of the human body. Author and columnist Kiran Manral, who has a pretty varied range of books herself, says what marks Ishiguro out is the focus on the individual placed at the centre around which the universe and its chaos unfolds. Confessing to being a Ishiguro fangirl since reading Never Let Me Go, she admits it still haunts her, but also made me realise the immutability of an ending which did not have a conclusion. Born in Nagasaki in 1954, Ishiguro grew up in England where his family moved in 1959, and began writing after doing his Masters in 1980. His first work, A Pale View of the Hills (1982), came out the same year in which he himself became a British citizen. While his first two works have Japanese themes, A Pale View.. was an indicator of his craft and vision. Though dealing with a Japanese woman discussing the suicide of her eldest daughter with her younger child, it takes place in England where the older woman is living. Artist, his second book, is set in an unnamed town in post World War II Japan, but then came Remains which cemented Ishiguros position. After The Unconsoled, came When We Were Orphans (2000), termed a detective story with the protagonist, who lived in the Shanghai International Settlement in the early 1900s till both his parents disappeared, returning there in the late 1930s to investigate their disappearance. It was not very well received and even he admitted it was not one of his best. There was a long hiatus after Never Let Me Go, but The Buried Giant (2015) literally broke new ground in substance and style, as well as its setting a fantasy, post-Arthurian Britain. And soon, Ishiguro may surprise us again. Karnataka has received Rs 1,189 crore from the Centre as compensation for the revenue loss it incurred in the past two months due to the implementation of the GST, state agriculture minister Krishna Byre Gowda said today. He said the central government had sent the communication on October 3. We have received communication of compensation to the tune of Rs 1,189 crore for July and August towards revenue loss we incurred due to GST rollout, Gowda, who represents Karnataka at Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council meetings, said. Gowda said he hoped that in a matter of one or two years, Karnataka no longer relied on compensation. It is still an evolving situation.. In the coming days, the states may not have to face any shortfall May be things may change in a few months, he said. The agriculture minister also wished that revenue flow in the state improves. We are hoping revenues of the state will improve, and we wouldnt have to press for compensation.. In a matter of one or two years, we may not have to rely on compensation, Gowda said. Replying to a query, Gowda said it will be difficult to predict accurately the quantum of revenue shortfall because of the unavailability of accurate data. On September 21, Gowda had said that the state had faced a revenue shortfall of about Rs 600 crore in July due to GSTN glitches. GSTN is a technology backbone for GST and administers registration, invoice uploading, tax return filing and tax payment system under the new indirect tax regime. By PTI: Bengaluru, Oct 5 (PTI) Activist-journalist Gauri Lankesh, who was gunned down outside her home in Bengaluru last month, will be posthumously given the Anna Politkovskaya Award this year, making her the first Indian to receive the honour, her family said today. Lankesh will share the annual award, instituted in memory of a Russian investigative reporter who was assassinated last year in Moscow, with Pakistani activist Gulalai Ismail. advertisement Ismail is fighting rightwing extremism in Pakistan. The award is conferred by London-based organisation RAW in WAR (Reach All Women in War), and the announcement about Lankesh winning it was made to the media in Bengaluru by her mother Indira, brother Indrajit and sister Kavitha Lankesh. "Today, we received an email from Russia that my sister has been chosen for the Anna Politkovskaya Award. She is the first Indian recipient of the award," Kavitha said. "Anna was an activist-journalist just like my sister. She was killed on October 7, 2006, when she was in a lift. Five people accosted her and poisoned her," she said, quoting from the email. She was killed for speaking up against the human rights violations in then-restive Chechnya province of Russia and exposing corruption. "In her name, the award has been instituted exclusively for women, to honour those who work towards upholding the human dignity, especially of women and children," she said. Indrajit said, "I have lost my sister. I appeal to the government to nab the murderers. Finding out the motive may solve the riddle of M M Kalburgi, Narendra Dabholkar and Govind Pansare murder (all rationalists) cases." Whether he was satisfied with the investigation by the 21-member Special Investigation Team formed by the Karnataka government, he said they wait for the killers to be caught. "We cant say we are happy with the investigation till the killers are found. But we are satisfied with the work they are doing," Kavitha said. She expressed unhappinessover speculative stories appearing in the media. Gauri Lankesh, the founder-editor of the Gauri Lankesh Patrike and known to be an anti-establishment voice, was shot dead by unidentified men outside her residence on September 5. On October 3 this year, Karnataka minister Ramalinga Reddy claimed the SIT has identified the killers. He, however, did not share the details, saying the SIT was gathering more evidence. Her assassination came days after the second anniversary of the killing of Kannada writer and rationalist M M Kalburgi, who fell to bullets fired by two unidentified men at his residence at Dharwad in north Karnataka in August 2015. PTI GMS RA BN ABH --- ENDS --- advertisement Bihars ruling Janata Dal-United (JD-U) and its friend-turned-foe-turned-ally Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have hit some political roadblocks. The JD-U is upset after the BJPs senior leader and former Union minister C.P. Thakur publicly questioned Chief Minister Nitish Kumars much-hyped launch of a campaign against child marriage and dowry. And senior BJP legislator Nawal Kishore Yadav added fuel to the fire by saying that if the JD-U was with the BJP and National Democratic Alliance (NDA), then it should have no problems with RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat. The JD-U has been trying hard to maintain a distance from Bhagwat. The JD-U has not been mum either. We dont know who is speaking what but no one can raise a finger or question the decisions of Nitish Kumar, JD-U state President Vashisht Narain Singh said. Thakur on Tuesday said there was no problem with the campaign against child marriage and dowry, but new provisions to enforce it were not right. Innocent people would be framed under the provisions of the anti-dowry Act. It can also be misused as it is mandatory for every bridegroom to submit the list of dowry items before officials in the district, he said. Nawal Kishore Yadav said the JD-U and Nitish Kumar should not distance themselves from the RSS and Mohan Bhagwat in public. But Nitish Kumar did just that. On Wednesday, he avoided Bhagwat by attending a separate session of the celebrations to mark the 1,000th birth anniversary of Swami Ramanujacharya in Ara. Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad said Nitish Kumar had spoken of a Sangh-mukt Bharat (RSS-free India) during the 2015 election when the two parties defeated the BJP and took power. He took a dig at his former ally when he tweeted: Muh mein Ram, Dimag mein Nathuram. Tabhi tho bana Palturam (Ram on his lips and Nathuram in his head, thats why Nitish became a turncoat). Nitish Kumar had come down heavily on the RSS chief when the latter called for a review of the reservation policy ahead of the Bihar election. JD-U leaders say the BJP leadership both in Bihar and nationally were behaving differently this time. A JD-U legislator who did not want to be named complained that the BJP was acting like a big brother though it has only 53 legislators. JD-U was the big brother when it formed the government with the BJP in 2005. Now the BJP is not ready to play second fiddle. According to JD-U leaders, the party had hoped that, after it joined hands with the BJP and formed a government in July, the central government would announce a special package for Bihar. That has not happened. The BJP has also announced plans to make inroads into Nitish Kumars own Kurmi vote bank. This is seen as an attempt by the BJP to promote a Kurmi leader in Nitish Kumars stronghold Nalanda. The BJP is also set to launch a New Bihar campaign to reach out to all sections of society. The BJP is aiming to become the number one party in Bihar, a party leader said. An uneasy JD-U has announced its decision to contest all 40 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar. It made the announcement to counter BJP President Amit Shah, who told party leaders from the state to work on all the 40 Lok Sabha seats. There is speculation that the BJP wont give more than seven or eight Lok Sabha seats to the JD-U in the 2019 Lok Sabha battle on grounds that it won only two seats in 2014. In any case, the BJP has to take care of its old allies like the LJP, RLSP and HAM. In 2014, the BJP alone won 22 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar. Two of its allies won nine more seats. Opposing the proposed Metro trains fare hike in Delhi, the AAP government on Wednesday introduced a resolution in the Delhi Assembly, urging the Centre to intervene so that the Metro fare hike is reversed in the interest of common people. The special session of the Delhi Assembly was also extended for one more day to discuss and pass the resolution on the matter. The Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government and the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) have been at loggerheads over the proposed Metro fare hike which is set to come into force from 10 October . The consideration and adoption of this resolution would take place on 9 October in the course of which the AAP legislators are likely to corner the DMRC and the BJP-ruled Centre on the issue. Metro rides are set to become more expensive as its trains fares are going to be hiked by a maximum amount of Rs 10 from 10 October . This is the second time this year that these fares are going to be increases. The last Metro fare hike was effected in May when the minimum fare went up from Rs 8 to Rs 10 and the maximum from Rs 30 to Rs 50. Tabling a resolution in the House on Wednesday, Delhi Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot said that the proposed Metro fare hike is an insensitive approach, urging the Union Urban Development Ministry to actively and quickly intervene. Gahlot said the proposed Metro fare hike would be another burden on people who have already been suffering from the consequences of demonetisation, Goods and Services Tax (GST), and sustained fuel price hike. A man has been sent to seven years in jail by the Delhi High Court for raping his 42-year-old aunt. Justice Pratibha Rani upheld the conviction and the sentence handed down to the 44-year-old man by a trial court, observing that the testimony of the victim has been corroborated by medical and scientific evidence. It is a case where the guilt of the accused that he committed rape on his own aunt has been proved by oral evidence duly corroborated by medical and scientific evidence beyond reasonable doubt hence he is not entitled to acquittal. In view of the above discussion, I am not inclined to interfere with the finding of guilt recorded by the trial court as well as the minimum sentence of imprisonment of seven years awarded to the appellant for committing the offence punishable under section 376 (rape) of IPC, the high court said. The order came on Ravinder Singhs appeal challenging the trial courts January 2017 decision convicting and sentencing him to imprisonment for seven years. According to the womans complaint, Singh, who is the son of her husbands cousin, had entered her house while her husband and her father-in-law were out and had raped her. Singh was bolted inside the room by the woman after he raped her on October 28, 2015, and was found there by the police. The convict had, in the high court, opposed the accusation saying the woman had consented to the sexual act and he had not forced himself on her. However, the high court brushed aside his contention saying he never took this stand before the trial court. It noted in its judgement that there was no reason for the prosecutrix (victim) who was closely related to him to level charges of rape against him, which had an adverse effect on the reputation of their families. Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh today called for solidarity among hill and valley people, saying development of the state would depend on peaceful coexistence of different communities. Speaking at Mera Houchongba celebrated to foster and promote peace and solidarity among various communities of Manipur, he regretted that efforts were being made to divide the state on ethnic lines by antisocial elements, which the people must not allow to happen. Manipur cannot be Manipur when the people of hills and valley are not together. We must build peace and solidarity between hill and the valley, Singh said. His statement comes days after the expiry of the October 1 deadline set by the United Naga Council (UNC), an influential body of Nagas, for the government to resolve the contentious issue of creation of new districts in the state. UNC had opposed the forming of two out of seven districts, which were created by the previous Ibobi Singh government last year, and had blocked two national highways in the state. Beginning November 1 last year, the over four-month-long economic blockade was lifted in March this year when the new BJP government led by N Biren Singh took over. Addressing a gathering of different communities of the state, including chieftains of various hill villages, Singh said his government has laid special emphasis on growth and development of hills through various state-sponsored schemes. As part of Centres special drive to promote tourism, a 21-day Paryatan Parv was launched here today by organizing a walk through heritage sites in the city. Eminent actor Sabyasachi Chakraborty and Regional Director (East), Union Ministry of Tourism, J P Shaw launched the programme by arranging the walk from the historic Town Hall. The programme was launched in collaboration with the state tourism, Indian Museum, Institute of Hotel Management and stakeholders of the travel and tourism industry. The idea was conceived following the Prime Minister Narendra Modis guideline to the Ministry of Tourism to launch the campaign from October 5 to 25 to showcase the tourism potential of the country, the organisers said. The event envisages large scale involvement of the people and the stakeholders of the tourism industry. During the period, a series of events will be organized across the country, which include illumination of important sites, cultural programmes, competitions for students and sensitisation programmes for tourism service providers, they said. In addition, interactive sessions and workshops on varied themes will also be arranged. The 21-day programme in Kolkata will include debates, film shows, sit and draw competitions, seminars, local sight seeing for orphan children, excursion for the students to Chandannagar, discussion on tourism and culture, folk dance of the eastern region, sensitisation workshop for taxi operators and cruise for disabled students. The programme will conclude with a three-day food and cultural festival, they said. The Congress on Thursday demanded dismissal of Uttar Pradesh Health Minister Siddharth Nath Singh over the death of 14 patients in the surgical ward of a hospital in Varanasi. A party leader alleged that industrial-grade gas was supplied to the ward by a firm that did not have licence to produce any type of medical gas. Talking to media persons here, Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala also demanded resignation of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and filing of a criminal case against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Harshvardhan Bajpayi, who is linked to the firm that supplied the gas. Surjewala said 14 patients died in the surgical ward of Banaras Hindu Universitys (BHU) Sunder Lal Hospital between June 6 and 8 this year, as industrial-grade gas was used to administer anaesthesia. There can be no greater act of criminal culpability on the part of the Uttar Pradesh government as well as the hospital administration than this, he said. The Congress leader said an inquiry was ordered after people moved the Allahbad High Court and the report came out in July. The facts that have come out are shocking. And, according to a UP government RTI report, the firm that supplied the industrial-grade gas had no licence to produce medical gas of any nature, much less anaesthesia, Surjewala said. One of the owners of the firm is Harshvardhan Bajpayi, BJP MLA from Allahbad North, he added. The Prime Minister used to say he will convert Varanasi into Kyoto. Can this be done by playing with peoples lives in this fashion, Surjewala asked. He said there had been several cases of hospital deaths in the state earlier as well due to negligence. Surjewala said a criminal case should be registered against the owners of the firm as also the hospital administration. The state Health Minister should be sacked and if Yogi Adiyanath had any sense of morality left, he should step down as Chief Minister, he said. Hrithik Roshan has broken his silence! The actor has issued a statement after almost two years of silence. This is first time he has addressed the issue directly. Hrithik Roshan has addressed the issue of Kangana Ranaut stalking him via his social media pages. Hrithiks statement read, I choose to be on a path of creativity, productivity and constructive work. Anything that isnt in alignment with that, I tend to ignore, sidestep and treat as a distraction. I believe that ignorance, non reaction and staying on the path of dignity is the best way to discourage any persistent unwanted intrusions. But Just like a nagging health issue sometimes ignored can turn malignant, this situation for me has unfortunately turned malignant. In case of the matter at hand , it seems the media has no intention of letting go. I dont see any grace in adding to this circus by testifying in defence of my character in a situation that I have no involvement in whatsoever. I have been dragged into a dirty perverse mess without a choice in the matter. This is something that is not of my making. The truth is, I have never met the lady in question one on one in my entire life. Yes, we have worked together, but there has been no meeting in private. Thats the truth Please understand, I am not fighting against an allegation of an affair. Or being childish trying to uphold a good guy image. I am very aware of my faults, I am human. I am in fact protecting myself from something far more serious, sensitive and destructive than that. Sadly, very few from the media or the public seem to be interested in the truth. This has been a hard-learnt fact for me. If the people are comfortable with a lie because it doesnt threaten their model of the world where a girl is the victim and the man the aggressor then so be it. I am ok with that too. Women have suffered centuries of abuse at the hands of men and it infuriates me how some men can be so brutal and they deserve the harshest punishment. But by that logic if it ordains that one man cant be vulnerable and one woman cant be a liar, so be it. Im ok with that too. An alleged 7-year long, passionate affair between two high profile celebrities with no trail left behind. No evidence, no paparazzi pictures, no witnesses, not even a memento in possession like a selfie taken at the alleged engagement which is claimed to have happened in Paris in Jan 2014. Nothing that constitutes an exchange or any sort of proof of a romantic relationship. Yet we want to believe the other party because the rhetoric is -why would a girl lie. My passport details show no travel outside the country in Jan 2014, which is the date that this alleged engagement supposedly took place. In Paris. The only so-called proof presented of this alleged relationship, was a photoshopped picture in the media. This was immediately exposed, the very next day by friends including my ex-wife. These questions are not even asked, because we are taught to protect the woman, as we should. I myself have been brought up to think the same way, by my parents and the wonderful women in my life who have been my rock and support system. Im deeply grateful to them. I will do my best to teach my children the same values of family and dignity. And yes, I will teach them to stand up for women. Always. There are 3000 one sided mails which either I have sent to myself or the woman in question has sent to me. The Cyber-Crime Dept. can prove or disprove either story, in just a few days. Towards that purpose, I have surrendered all my devices including laptops / phones etc which are still lying with the cyber cell , but the other party has refused to do so. The investigation hasnt been closed. This is not, and I repeat, not a lovers spat. I humbly request people to stop labelling it as one and, for a second, try and see it for what it really is. I have been harassed by this for 4 years and the well meaning and probably necessary social bias toward women has deemed me helpless in defending myself. I am not angry, I have seldom allowed anger into my life. I have not had a single fight in my life, with a man or a woman. Even in my divorce, there was no fight. I, and those around me, have always chosen peace. I am not here to accuse or judge anyone, but its time I defend the truth because when truth suffers the collective consciousness of society suffers. Civilization suffers. Closer to home, families suffer. Children suffer. Ninth edition of The Fast & Furious franchisee, starring some of the most sought after Hollywood actors has finally got its new release date. The movie which has been thrilling its audience for many years now, will hit the screens in 2020. Production banner Universal Pictures revealed on Wednesday (October 4), that the release date would be April 10, 2020. The official announcement was made on Twitter. The reason behind this shift in date has however not been explained by the production company. To free the April 10 slot for one of the most anticipated films of all time, Universal has decided to move the release date of animated movie Trolls 2, to two months ahead. It will now be released in February. Directed by F. Gary Gray, the movie has been breaking all records in terms of screens, collections and star cast. The eighth installment of the franchisee starred the likes of Jason Statham, Dwayne Johnson, Michelle Rodriguez, Nathalie Emmanuel, Tyrese Gibson, Vin Diesel, Scott Eastwood, Elsa Pataky, Charlize Theron and Kurt Russell. Late actor Paul Walker was also a part of the franchisee until the seventh edition. He passed away in a car crash during the days when the movie was being filmed. However, his role was then played by his brothers Caleb and Cody Walker. When Saudi womens rights activist Manal al-Sharif was taken to a womens prison in Saudi Arabia, the prisoners inside crowded around her in shock. They were not surprised to see a woman there; after all, the prison was for women. They were, however, shocked to see a Saudi woman there. By the rights activists account, there were very few, only eight or nine of them, in the facility. The rest of course were the women who are thrown into Saudi prisons all the time the Indians, Sri Lankans, Filipinas, all the lesser women who can, often just on the basis of a mere accusation, find themselves in prison for long periods of time. Sometimes they languish there for months and years before their families even find out where they are. That was 2011 and Al Sharif, an employee of Aramco, had defied Saudi authorities by driving a car on the streets of the kingdom. In the middle of the night that followed, a horde of annoyed Saudi secret police showed up at her doorstep at the apartment she inhabited inside the Aramco compound. Her brother, who was with her when she took the wheel and who had remained with her, told them that they could not arrest her because it was the middle of the night. The men did not listen; before long Al Sharif had to leave with them. She would remain in prison for nine days: her crime, driving; her fate somewhat better than the other women she encountered in detention. Last Tuesdays royal decree came in the form of a reprieve to women like Al Sharif and other Saudi women activists who have been trying to wrangle the freedom to drive from the kingdom since they held the first driving protest in 1990. As per the kings decree, announced live on Saudi television and also via a live media event in Washington D.C., this restriction would exist no more. Saudi women could drive cars and drive them without the presence of one of their guardians in the vehicle. With the kings decree, the complaints of conservative clerics, who had even gone so far as to insist that womens reproductive organs were harmed by driving, were shunted to the side. So were all the supposedly Islamic reasons that the same clerics had proffered as the basis for the restriction on driving. When it comes to the decree of the king of Saudi Arabia, even clerics can be overruled, which it seems is exactly what happened last week. That, of course, is the story as it appears, the sort of jubilant tale of progress and advance that the Saudis are so eager to sell to the world at least to a Western world increasingly sceptical of their intentions for the region. While the new US president and his advisers (several of whom have already been fired) were eager to peer through illuminated globes and partake of traditional sword dances, others in the US are not so dazzled by the regimes recent doings. Reports of rising Yemeni casualties are routinely reported in major Western publications, and large arms sales (while they happen anyway) consistently meet with the ire of watchdog groups. If the Saudis cannot be stopped, they argue, at least arms sales to them must cease. If innocents have to be killed, the Saudis can arrange for munitions from other countries to do so. Then there are the prerogatives from within Saudi Arabia. As analysts have pointed out, the governing Vision 2030 that is marking the kingdoms transition requires that foreign workers not be employed in government jobs by 2020. According to this Saudi first policy, developed to give the Saudis priority in employment, thousands of these expatriate workers have already left the kingdom as part of the transition to all Saudi state employees. It is likely that many more will leave in the days and months to come as the march towards the new Saudi Arabia continues. This second internal reality, the fact that Saudi Arabia has identified the elimination of expatriate workers from its state-employed workforce, is not well known among Western analysts. In the copious congratulations that poured in for the kingdoms lifting of the ban on driving, hardly any of these analysts considered how the new directive fits into the new Saudi Arabia led by the new king. Saudi women, who going by the kingdoms definition are only those born to a Saudi father, are an integral part of the new Saudi Arabia that seeks to banish all foreigners from its government. As if to emphasise just this, the day after the driving ban ended, a woman, Eman al-Ghamdi, was appointed assistant mayor of the Al Khobar governorate. The message from the countrys rulers was clear: with expatriates banished, it is Saudi women, or at least those of them interested in working outside the home, who would be in line to be hired for important positions. If they decided to work, they may also like to drive. If they wanted to drive, they needed to be able to obtain a driving licence. A victory for Saudi women thus comes at the expense of heightening Saudi nationalism and even xenophobia. The kingdoms immigration policy has always been a contrast to its rhetoric: Muslims, it seems, are one polity bound in unity and equality until a Saudi official decides to ask for a passport and then uses nationality to determine merit or pay. So it is with Saudi women, sisters in struggle all eager to drive, particularly if the nonSaudi maid or nanny or cook follows submissively behind. The writer is an attorney teaching constitutional law and political philosophy. (Dawn/ANN) Since Hinduism and Buddhism are correlated, we have seen similarities in the deities they worship even though there have been certain nuances, exquisite parities between their theories, Gods and Goddesses have always been noticeable. The parallelism of the Hindu Goddess Lakshmi and the Buddhist Goddess Vasudhara can be considered as a pretty good example of such similarities between the two religions. In the oldest surviving cave-temples of Buddhism, in Nepal and Tibet especially, Lakshmi has been found to be existent there, as a Goddess of wealth, abundance and fortune, in the form of Vasudhara the Goddess who is considered as the Buddhist version of Lakshmi with minor disparities between them. Lakshmi, the Hindu Goddess having an owl as her vehicle, is known to be the wife and strength of Lord Vishnu. Whenever Lord Vishnu has descended on Earth as the avatars of Ram and Krishna, Lakshmi too has descended as his respective consort. However, in the Atharvaveda, which was composed around 1000 BC, Lakshmi evolved into a complex concept with plural manifestations. Book seven; chapter 115 describes the plurality, saying that hundred Lakshmis were born in the form of mortals. Some were good, while some bad. Welcoming only the good Lakshmis and eliminating the bad ones, Hinduism denotes, again in Book 12; chapter 5, that Lakshmi (or better to say Punya Lakshmi) is only to be worshipped. In Satapatha Brahmana, Lakshmi is identified with Shree in a form where She emerges as the daughter of Prajapati after his longterm, intense meditation on creation of life on universe. Born as the daughter of Prajapati, She was a beautiful, gleaming and trembling being, at the time of her birth, with immense energy and powers bubbling in her. According to another theory, Lakshmi emerged during the Samudramanthana (churning of the ocean), as the daughter of SeaGod, with a lotus in her hand. On the other hand, Garuda Purana, Linga Purana and Padma Purana says that Lakshmi was born as the daughter of the divine sage Bhrigu and his wife Khyati. No matter how She was born or who her parents were, She is ultimately worshipped as the highest form of wealth, fortune and fertility, in Hinduism. Vasudhara, the Goddess-wife of Jambhala, has her paramount popularity as the Goddess of wealth, in Buddhism. In Nepal and Tibet, Vasudhara is a widely-worshipped deity; though in Tibet, her worship is confined among lay people and until a monastic patron requests the other members of the institution to worship her, She is generally regarded as the benefactor of laity. She is worshipped in some places as a deity with two arms and one head while in some other places as a deity with four arms and three eyes and in other places as a deity with six arms and four heads. However, Lakshmi and Vasudhara are often compared on the basis of their iconographical look-alikes. Both the deities hold lotus in their hands, also sit or stand on a lotus pedestal. They both are regarded as the Goddesses of wealth, fortune and prosperity. Lakshmi and Vasudhara are alter-egos united by their identical selves. Coordinator, Class XII, Belda Gangadhar Academy By PTI: Mumbai, Oct 4 (PTI) State-run General Insurance Corporation of India (GIC Re), which today announced an Rs 11,370-crore IPO, fixed the price band of Rs 855-912 per share for the issue that will make it the second largest share sale in the countrys capital markets history. If fully subscribed at the upper end of the price band, this will be the largest public float by a domestic company after the October 2010 offer by Coal India which had raised Rs 15,000 crore. advertisement Through the initial share sale, the national reinsurer will dilute 14.22 per cent of its post-offer paid-up equity share capital. Of this, government will dilute 12.26 per cent stake and the balance 1.96 per cent by the Corporation itself, chairman Alice G Vaidyan told reporters here. The IPO opens on October 11 and closes on 13. The company has fixed the price band at Rs 855-912 per equity share of face value of Rs 5 each and comprises afresh issue of 1,72,00,000 equity shares by Corporation and an offer for sale of 10,75,00,000 equity shares by its promoter. The offer includes a reservation aggregating up to 11,68,00,000 for subscription by eligible. For the first quarter of the current fiscal, the Corporation had booked net profit of Rs 390 crore massively down from Rs 704 crore a year ago. Vaidyan said the numbers fell massively due to the changes in actuarial calculation as well as higher provisions made for a possible losses arising from the PMs crop insurance scheme under the IBNR (incurred but not reported) losses. Driven by crop reinsurance, its gross premium grew 189 per cent at Rs 17,195 crore for reporting period from Rs 5,941 crore a year ago. Share of crop reinsurance alone was at Rs 9,925 crore and the chairman expects crop insurance to clip past 15-20 per cent this fiscal. The combined ratio of the Corporation, which enjoys 60 per cent of market share, is currently at 99.7 per cent. The Corporation is likely to become 10th largest reinsurer in the world within a year as it plans to acquire a syndicate at Lloyds next fiscal. Axis Capital, Citigroup, Deutsche India, HSBC Securities and Kotak Capital are the book running lead managers to the offer. PTI KD BEN NRB RDS --- ENDS --- The Indian Air Force (IAF) has the capability to locate, fix and strike targets across the border and was adequately prepared to take on China, Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa said on Thursday. Addressing the annual press conference ahead of the Air Force Day of 8 October, Dhanoa said: Our capabilities against China adequate. We are ready for full spectrum operation. Air Force has the capability to locate, fix and strike across the border, he said on the issue of targeting tactical nuclear weapons of Pakistan. Noting that IAF will achieve the sanctioned strength of 42 fighter squadrons by 2032, Dhanoa said acquisition of Rafale aircrafts will enhance Air Force capabilities and the force was prepared to fight at a short notice. Any decision on surgical strike involving IAF has to be taken by the government, he said further. Union Ministers Jitendra Singh and Vijay Goel along with other BJP leaders marched here on Wednesday to protest the CPI(M)s alleged targeting of party workers in Kerala. BJP president Amit Shah had on Tuesday flagged off a Jan Raksha Yatra in Kerala and had announced that a padyatra will be held in all the state capitals from Wednesday over the issue of political violence in Kerala. The violence by the Left in Kerala is a blot on Indian democracy, Singh said, while taking part in the protest. The violence is not only against the BJP but also against other political parties that believe in democracy, Singh said. Several BJP leaders and party workers, including the two ministers, city unit president Manoj Tiwari, Shahnawaz Hussain, Vijender Goel, marched from the Delhi BJP office towards CPI(M) office at the Bhai Veer Singh Marg. They were stopped close to the Left partys office at a police barricade. Singh claimed that the BJP protest was aimed at preserving the Gandhian principle of non-violence, democratic values and countrys culture. He also urged other political parties to pay heed to the violence allegedly perpetrated by the Communists in Kerala. Other parties should not be under the illusion that violence in Kerala affects only the BJP because its a blot and a curse on Indian democracy, Singh said. BJP has accepted this challenge to restore the Gandhian ideal of non-violence because violence could not be a means to further political goals, he said. Goel, too, hit out at the Kerala government and also blamed the local police for the violence against BJP-RSS workers. No justice can be expected in a state where a section of police maintains that they are Communists. It cannot be allowed to continue, he said. The BJP chief is also likely to attend a protest march by the party at the CPI(M) office here on October 8 , party sources said. As many as 120 BJP workers have been killed in Kerala, the BJP has alleged. The CPI(M) has, in turn, accused the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) of resorting to violence and denied the involvement of its government and leadership in the political killings. BSF troopers have shot dead a woman intruder on the India-Pakistan border in Punjabs Gurdaspur Sector, a senior BSF officer said on Wednesday. The woman, in the age group of 25-30, was shot dead around 11.10 pm on Tuesday near Border Out Post (BoP) Ghaniake and her body was found during a search on Wednesday, Border Security Force (BSF) Deputy Inspector General RS Kataria said. BSF troops observed suspicious movement of the intruder who crossed into the Indian territory. The troops asked the intruder to stop, but she kept moving towards the border security fence. The troops opened fire and the woman succumbed to bullet injuries, Kataria said. He said the BSF contacted Pakistan Rangers to hand over the body, but they refused to accept it. The body was then handed over to Dera Baba Nanak police for burial, the DIG added. Security along the 553-km Indian border with Pakistan in Punjab is always high. Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav was on Thursday questioned by the Central bureau of Investigation (CBI), after choosing not to appear before the agency repeatedly. According to reports, Lalu left for CBI headquarters at around 10.20 am and was quizzed at length over alleged irregularities in issuing contracts for two IRCTC hotels in 2006 to a private company. Along with Lalu, the CBI had sent summons to the former Railway Ministers son, Tejashwi Yadav, who is likely to appear before the agency on Friday. Both father and son were on 22 September summoned by the CBI to appear on 25 and 26 September respectively to assist the agency in the investigation. Earlier, the CBI summoned the RJD chief and his son, the former Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar, on September 7 to report at its headquarters in Lodhi Road area of south Delhi for questioning on 11 and 12 September. The CBI had on 5 July filed a corruption case against Lalu Prasad, his wife Rabri Devi and Tejashwi Yadav for alleged irregularities when Lalu Prasad was the Railway Minister from 2004 to 2009. The contracts for two Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) hotels at Ranchi and Puri were handed over to Sujata Hotels company owned by Vijay and Vinay Kochhar in lieu of an alleged bribe in the form of a plot of prime land in Bihar, the CBI said. According to the CBI, Lalu Prasad allegedly granted illegal favours to Sujata Hotels. The CBI, which registered the case under charges of criminal conspiracy, cheating and Prevention of Corruption Act, claimed that the kickbacks were paid through a benami company owned by Sarla Gupta, wife of RJD MP Prem Chand Gupta. During the CBIs preliminary inquiry, the agency purportedly found that the said land was sold by the Kochhars to Delight Marketing, and payment was arranged through Ahluwalia Contractors and its promoter Bikramjeet Singh Ahluwalia. Four Tamil Nadu fishermen were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy while they were fishing off Neduntheevu on Thursday. The fishermen from Pudukottai district were arrested for allegedly fishing close to the island nation and taken to Karainagar along with their boat, Inspector of Fisheries department C George said. The naval men also snapped the fishing nets of several other fishermen from this coastal town and Mandapam, while they were fishing near Katchatheevu islet and chased them away, he said. On September 11, twelve fishermen from here were arrested by the Lankan Navy for allegedly crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line. Sharad Poornima ushers in the Sharad season which marks the beginning of autumn and the end of monsoon. It is celebrated on a full moon day of the Hindu lunar month of Ashwin. It is believed that on this day, the moon showers elixir of life through its beams on the earth. It is considered that the moon and the earth are at closer distance on Sharad Poornima night, due to this, the moonlight has magical healing properties which are said to nourish the body and soul of an individual. Thus, the day is also known as the Kaumudi celebration. Traditions of Sharad Poornima On this day, many people in India follow a custom of preparing kheer and keep it open under the moonlight throughout the night. The next morning, it is distributed among all family members with the belief that it has become Amrit. Sharad Poornima is also believed to be the day on which Goddess Lakshmi is said to have been born. Thats why the day is also known as Kojagari Lakshmi Pooja. In this form, the day is mainly celebrated by the Bengali community by staying awake for the whole night to receive the blessings of goddess Lakshmi. Singing of bhajans and dances are organised to keep awake all night. Women observe fast with the belief that the goddess will bless them with wealth and prosperity. They clean their houses and make beautiful rangolis with rice paste along with footprints of the Goddess. Special food is prepared to offer Maa Lakshmi. After Durga Pooja, this is another big festival celebrated in almost every house in West Bengal. Besides worshipping goddess Lakshmi, the day also signifies the importance of good harvest and prosperity in farmers lives. On this pious day, they seek blessings of the divine power to achieve good yield and plentiful harvest. According to another belief, Lord Krishna began his Raas Leela with Radha and the Gopis on the night of Sharad Poornima. So, the day is also closely linked with Radha-Krishnas love and Krishnas romance with Gopis. In Gujarat, people celebrate this night by doing Garba and Raas. In Orissa, it is celebrated as Kumar or Kartikeya Poornima. Kartikeya was the handsome son of Lord Shiva who was born on this day. Girls in Orissa who want to get a handsome husband like him take bath early in the morning, offer food to the sun and keep fast throughout the day. In the evening, they worship the moon with offer special food and prayers. People observing fast are supposed to break it at night by eating rice flakes and drinking cold milk. There is a scientific logic behind this practice. During this weather, acidity becomes predominant in the body due to very hot days and cold nights. Cold milk and rice flake is a good combination to have and getting rid of this problem. With the popularity of this festival, it has become customary to consume these food items. So, what are you waiting for? Bring special joy with the brightness of the full moon on Sharad Poornima 2017. Get ready with a bowl of kheer, keep it under the moon overnight and turn it into elixir. The decision of the Karnataka government to ban superstition by law is well-intentioned but may not be productive. The Karnataka Prevention and Eradication of Inhuman Evil Practices and Black Magic Bill, 2017, approved by the Siddaramaiah cabinet last week, is scheduled to be tabled in the Assembly during the winter session. The aims and objectives of the Bill are laudable as it is in keeping with the spirit of Article 51 A (h) of the Constitution which says it shall be the duty of every citizen to develop scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform, but sadly superstition and religion are intertwined. Freedom of religion is a fundamental right guaranteed under the Constitution. Even before the Bill has been taken up for discussion in the legislature, the Opposition BJP in the Karnataka Assembly has dubbed it as anti-Hindu as it seeks to ban among other things bethale seve (parading woman naked before temple deities), madesnana (making devotees roll over leftover food eaten from banana leaf, a revolting act in the name of piety), fire-walking and such other rituals. Temples are not singled out in eradicating superstition. Dargas are not spared either. The hauling of an 18-month-old boy wrapped in a banana leaf over hot charcoal in a darga in fulfillment of a vow taken by his parents after the anti-superstition law was cleared by the government has led to the Child Welfare Committee serving a notice to the parents of the baby. In neighbouring Tamil Nadu, the ruling AIADMK had forced more than 20 children to pierce their cheeks with steel rods and paraded them through streets as part of a ritual for the speedy recovery of former Chief Minister J Jayalalitha on 3 October last year. Jayalalitha died two months later. Though science has made great progress in the country, a vast section of the people, notably political leaders, cling to age-old superstitious beliefs and practices. Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and founder-leader of the Telugu Desam Party NT Rama Rao, advised by his astrologer never to leave the Hyderabad Assembly complex by the exit gate as it lacked vastu compliance, built an ornate third gate in accordance with vastu shastra for his exclusive entry and exit at great cost to the exchequer. Within months, Chandrababu Naidu, his own son-in-law, staged a coup and captured power and the Telugu Desam. A heartbroken Rama Rao died shortly after. Notwithstanding this, Chandrasekhara Rao, Chief Minister of Telangana, has decided to abandon the sprawling secretariat in Hyderabad and build a brand new one compliant with vastu for which the Narendra Modi government has offered to lease the Secunderabad polo grounds belonging to the Defence Ministry. In this milieu, the Karnataka anti-superstition law is unlikely to see the light of day. There was a news item recently on an English TV news channel that Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has survived an assassination attempt in Dhaka amid suspicions that it was the work of insiders including her own security personnel. The news was based on a report filed by a prominent journalist, believed to be an authority on Bangladesh. However, the Prime Ministers Office (PMO) was quick to deny the news and said it was fabricated. Denial notwithstanding, the veteran journalist maintained that there was truth in the news of the assassination attempt and stood by his story. Without arriving at any conclusions, this development calls for quick scrutiny as Hasinas life is not only precious to Indias geopolitical and security interests but equally to the stability of Bangladesh. Hasina today is in the cross-hairs of jehadis and anti-liberation and fundamentalist forces as targeting her would mean a field day for Islamic radicals whose very existence stands imperilled by her no-nonsense and uncompromising stand against war criminals, terrorist and fundamentalist outfits including Jumatul Mujahdeen (JMB), Hefazat e Islam and their affiliates. So a whole bunch of enemies has sprung up, continuously trying to assert their presence by terror attacks as notoriously seen on 1 July 2016 at the Holy Artesan bakery and followed by sporadic suicide attacks in different parts of the country. Influx of Rohingyas has added to the security threat to Hasina. And their numbers are huge. Last reports said the figure stood at 4,51,000 and the number is growing. Hasina is wisely addressing the refugee problem with a humanitarian approach perhaps to be on board with the international community. Yet, a large number of Rohingyas have been or being radicalised. There are credible reports that Pakistans ISI, with its agenda to destabilise Hasina, is constantly trying to use the terror outfit Lashkar e Toiba( LeT) to indoctrinate and train a segment of Rohingyas to eventually harm the Prime Minister. ISI activities are well known on the soil of Dhaka. The Pakistan High Commission has been proactive. In the last couple of years, there had been expulsion of many Pakistani diplomats and staffers from Dhaka due to incompatible conduct. There were also reports that one undercover Pakistani High Commision official had come to notice openly providing money to JMB for terrorist activities. Material support in terms of fake Indian currency was also given to operatives for destructive actions in India. These nefarious designs are part of the bigger plot to harm Hasina. Getting rid of her would help rightist, reactionary and fundamentalist forces to usurp power and once she is gone there is no other leader in sight who can hold the reins and control the country. Not even her son or daughter. Even if the report on the assassination is false, Hasina cant afford to take chances with her life and Bangladesh. The countrys most popular Prime Minister Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and many members of his family were slain on 15 August 1975 by the military. Informed sources confirm that there was specific intelligence to the effect that Mujibs life was in danger and a conspiracy was being hatched to kill him. This information was shared in time by the Indian external agency R&AW directly with Mujib but it went unheeded. Even a chopper from the Indian side was on standby but nothing helped probably because early warnings were not taken seriously and Bangladesh paid dearly. The current report also speaks about a theory that her personal security personnel have been allegedly won over exactly on the lines of the Indira Gandhi assassination case. We are yet to get authentic reports about this but there is no harm if adequate precautions are taken. Intelligence must be hard, corroborated and since it has implications for India, needs to be addressed with all the seriousness it deserves. Neither Bangladesh or India two friendly countries can afford another assassination. Meanwhile, reports indicate that outfits like Aqua Mul Mujahdeen ( AMM) have surfaced with the active collaboration of Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) under the stewardship of one Hafiz Tohar who is suspected to be working hand in glove with Pakistani ISI backed LeT trying to cause problems in Bangladesh. Thus an attempt to harm Hasina cannot be ruled out in the present turbulent scenario when a section of the Rohingyas has gone berserk and multiple forces are at work to rattle the stable government. Waiting in the wings, with the support of Pakistan, is opposition leader Begum Khaleda Zia whose son, Tareq Rahman, sheltered in London, remains in touch with the Pakistani military and ISI. It is very likely that these inimical forces may join hands to embark on a misadventure. Immediate answer to tackle the problem is to launch a vigorous joint intelligence drive with India. A senior intelligence officer from India can be positioned in Dhaka for some time to interact and for regular stocktaking. Sources say that the last audit of Hasinas personal security was undertaken by Indian experts in 2010. It is high time a fresh review is undertaken in the light of developments.) (The writer is a retired IPS officer, a security analyst and a columnist on topical issues. He is a Bangladesh watcher and had served in Indian High Commission, Dhaka for more than three years. The views are personal.) Recently, I spent several weeks travelling around Japan, experiencing firsthand the Japanese peoples respect for authority, reverence for nature, and kind consideration of other fellow beings, which was truly edifying. While I was certainly impressed by the graciousness of the Japanese, what fascinated me the most is their practice of the Zen Buddhist philosophy, less is more, which promotes a minimalist lifestyle. From my travels I learned that many Japanese have embraced a lifestyle of minimalism, which eschews the clutter, unnecessary complications and superfluities of life. The term minimalism was first coined as an American visual art during the 1960s and is often associated with abstract expressionism. But in Japan minimalism is associated with a way of living simply. Those in Japan who have chosen a minimalist lifestyle often feel overwhelmed by the excesses of a contemporary urban life that is manifest in greed, ruthless competition, conspicuous consumption, noise pollution, and dehumanizing modern technologies. In order to avoid these excesses, many Japanese have opted to simplify their lifestyle. This desire to have simplicity as a way of life is not done out of necessity or for lack of money. Their penchant for simple living is strongly influenced by Zen Buddhism, which incorporates minimalist concepts into its philosophy of life. Zen Buddhism teaches us to unclutter the mind, be judicious in the use of emotions, maintain a healthy body and mind, and engage in a life that provides harmony and joy. For the Japanese, living a life of simplicity works, as a Japanese scholar has described, like the ticking of the clock, the waves of the ocean, the rays of the sun. While I do not claim to be an expert of Zen Buddhism, my readings on this subject indicate that the principle of non-attachment to material things seems to have a profound influence on minimalist living in Japan. In Buddhist philosophy, attachment increases desire without producing any satisfaction. Our material possessions are going to be lost, stolen, broken or outdated, sold, or thrown away some day. Thus, it makes no sense to cling to material possessions because our attachment to material things inevitably produces desire that is insatiable and, ultimately, leads to suffering. More importantly, we should try to overcome our desire and attachment for material possessions because they dont define who we are. The minimalist movement in Japan has become extremely popular thanks to Marie Kondo and Fumio Sasaki, two internationally renowned Japanese gurus of minimalist living. Kondo is the author of The New York Times best seller, The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up. Kondos method, which she calls the KonMari Method, teaches her clients how to organize and tidy up their homes and offices category-by-category, with lasting success. According to Kondo, simple living involves uncluttering ones home. And uncluttering ones home also helps in uncluttering ones mind. She advises us to keep only those things that are truly precious to us every day and bring us joy. Kondo informs us in her book that our real life begins after putting our house in order. For Kondo, when you put your house in order, you put your affairs and your past in order, too. As a result, you can see quite clearly what you need in life and what you dont, and what you should and shouldnt do. In his book, Goodbye, Things, Fumio Sasaki shares the concrete steps he had undertaken to downsize his material possessions to owning just a few shirts and a handful of possessions. Sasaki writes, Whether we live alone or with other people, few acknowledge the presence of another roommate. This roommate is named Things and the space that Things occupy is typically a lot larger than the space people have for themselves. According to Sasaki, most of us are paying rent or a mortgage on behalf of this inanimate freeloader named Things. Sasaki notes that many consumers have become appendages of their earthly possessions and in order to accommodate the almighty presence of Things, they end up renting or buying much bigger apartments or homes, which they dont necessarily need. Together, both Kondos and Sasakis books have helped spread the mantra of minimalism to the West, where it has almost taken on a life of its own because it has raised the awareness of many westerners that they possess too much stuff which they dont necessarily need. One may wonder what one needs to do to achieve a minimalist lifestyle. There seems to be some consensus among experts about the following five guidelines: Make a list: The very first step involves writing down our goals about how we want to go about achieving a simple life. We may want to get rid of the junk that we have collected over the years, which we never use. We need to make a list of all the items that we consider to be junk or unusable. Once we have made a list of the items that we can easily part with, we will need to put the list in a place so that it acts as a reminder to us every day. Trim our wardrobe: In todays age, we often buy stuff on a whim that we never use, or we have clothes that have become old or outdated and we are still hanging onto them. We need to spend time going through our closets and wardrobes to make a pile of clothes that we can discard. Watch what food we buy and consume: We will need to plan beforehand what we want to eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Based on that plan, we do our grocery shopping. Our goal should be eating healthy food and avoiding junk food. Once we have a plan for our meals, we will notice that we are wasting less food and our eating habits are simpler and healthier. Eliminate duplication: We may want to toss anything that we have two or more of. Once we go through our stuff, we may realize that we have two or more of the same things like calendars, staplers, clock radios, and so on. Experts suggest that we store these duplicate items in a container for two weeks and if we dont miss them, they can be gotten rid of either by donating, selling, or by putting them in trash. Keep a diary: We may want to note in a diary how we have spent each day. We will need to review our diary after two weeks. We may find that we have spent quite a bit of time watching mindless television, or looking at pictures and reading meaningless comments on social media, or we may even be busy texting messages that are not particularly important. All this unproductive time could be better spent meditating, or in the company of family and friends, volunteering, or even engaging in some meaningful activity such as reading, writing, painting, learning a new skill, and so on. Many Japanese, who have embraced minimalism, believe that minimalism is a great practice to adopt not only to bring some discipline in our lives but to also learn to understand that everything in life has a purpose. They will also tell us that minimalism teaches them to value simplicity in life. When we spend more time in the stores, buying things that we dont need, or working too hard to make more in order to consume more, we will have less time to spend with our family and friends, while not fully enjoying life experiences instead of pursuing a life that is marked by materialism and conspicuous consumption. Friendships thrive when time is spent on people and not things. According to the Japanese people, the philosophy of less is more will help us to become better human beings by appreciating everything around us. Despite all the spiritual teachings that many of us in India have been privy to concerning the richness of a spiritually grounded life, we seem to have embraced the lifestyle of maximalists where the accepted mantra is: more is more. Sadly, many in India seem to have forgotten the teachings of Sri Ramakrishna, Swami Vivekananda, and Sri Aurobindo, among others, and, instead, have chosen a path to celebrate the amassing of material possessions. Perhaps it is not too late to pick up our own philosophy of non-attachment to material possessions and engage in decluttering our homes and our minds. That way we will gain more clarity of mind as the experts inform us. More importantly, we will also be able to spend our time and passion on what brings us joy and identify the mission that speaks to our heart. As Marie Kondo reminds us: Life truly begins after you have put your house in order. (The writer is Professor of Communication Studies, Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles) MB Patil, Vinay Kulkarni, S P Patil and Basvaraj Rayareddy, all ministers in the ruling Congress led by Siddaramiah in Karnataka, have a spring in their step. Spearheads of the movement for a separate religion tag for the Lingayat community, these ministers had much to be happy about at the huge turnout witnessed at the rally they had organised in support of their cause at Kalaburgi last week. The Lingayat community members came from all parts of north Karnataka, Maharasthra, Andhra Pradesh and Telengana. This was perhaps the biggest of the recent rallies that had been organised to promote the cause, the last ones having been in Bidar and Belgavi. For the Congress ministers, the success of the rally was a clear indication of the huge support that their campaign is getting. Even chief minister Siddaramiah would have been pleased no end considering the discreet support he is providing to his ministers, notwithstanding his public comments to the contrary. The Congress game plan is clear. It wants to split the Lingayat vote on which the BJP banks. The opposition partys chief ministerial candidate, B S Yeddyurappa, a Lingayat himself, enjoys the support of the dominant community which accounts for nearly 17 per cent of Karnatakas six crore population. More importantly, nearly 100 of the 224 assembly seats elections to which are scheduled around AprilMay 2018, come from north Karnataka. While in 2008, Yeddyurappa was able to take the BJP to power riding on the huge support he got from the Lingayat community, in 2013 he split that vote bank after forming the Karnataka Janata Paksha. He formed the KJP after moving away from his parent party. The result was evident from the fact that the split caused the BJP to lose over 30 seats from north Karnataka with the party barely managing 40 seats overall in the 2013 assembly polls. While the KJP itself only got six seats, Yeddyurappa did blank out the BJP thanks to the division in the Lingayat support. Now that he is back with the BJP, the former chief minister is fighting to ensure that the Congress move does not erode the Lingayat vote base. Essentially, both the Lingayats and the Veerashaivas form part of the Lingayat community. In fact, the terms are often used synonymously. The difference, highlighted by M B Patil, is that the Lingayats follow social reformer Basavanna who in the 12th century spread his radical views against the Vedas and untouchability. He promoted widow remarriage while promoting gender equality. According to S M Jamdar, former bureaucrat and Lingayat Mahasabha co-ordinator, Basavanna dismissed everything about the Hindu religion while rebelling against it. The Lingayat movement, therefore, rebelled against the Brahmanical system even as it rejected the varna ashrama concept, multiplicity of gods, priesthood, animal sacrifice and the tradition of rituals. Basavanna, he said, had also dismissed the concept of rebirth and karma. In sharp contrast, the Veerashaivas within the Lingayatcommunity worship Shiva as god while following several Hindu practices. The Lingayats worship Shiva in his formless state even as they reject all things Vedic. For a long time the Lingayats who are pure vegetarians, did not have much to fall back on in terms of their religious texts. This was because their vachanas or prose texts written on palm leaves were misplaced in the latter part of the 12th century, Mr Jamdar explained to The Statesman. It was only some 150 years ago that over 22,000 vachanas were discovered from different places with the teaching and poems contained in them strengthening and boosting the followers of Basavanna. In fact, according to Patil, Basavanna should have been accorded the same status and reverence as Buddha or Jesus Christ considering the impact of his teachings and the accompanying social reforms that he brought about. This explains the demand for a separate religion status for Lingayats. Other experts add that a separate tag will help the Lingayat community to be declared as a minority. In other words, this would help the Lingayats, known for running several educational institutes a free hand in governing them. The separate tag is not acceptable to the Veerashaiva Lingayats whose practices are akin to those followed by the Hindus. Ironically, a few decades ago, the Veerashaivas themselves wanted that Veerashaiva Lingayats be accorded a separate religion status, a demand that was rejected by the Central government. Today, the Lingayats among the community who follow Basavanna are demanding the same status while even arguing that the Veerashaivas can always move away as a separate sect. The Veerashaivas, who hailed largely from what is known as Andhra Pradesh today, moved to present day north Karnataka fascinated by Basavannas teachings and became his followers. They believed in him and his teachings till about 200 years ago before reverting to their own practices which included belief in vedic scriptures, pujas and related Hindu customs. The question that arises today is why the controversy about Lingayats and Veerashaivas being different has been raised now. The answer is simple. This is purely a political issue considering that assembly elections are barely a few months away. The Congress wants to hit the BJP where it hurts. For a party whose majority support comes from the Lingayats, this would be a telling blow in the event the community is split. Patil and others who spearhead the movement, however, maintain that theirs is an on-going movement and not something that has cropped up now. The BJP, incidentally, finds itself in a dilemma. If it supports the separate religion tag, it would annoy its Veerashaiva Lingayat support bank. This could hit its Hindu support base too. Conversely, if the party does not support the Lingayats, then it faces the prospect of losing their support. Either way, as of now it is a winwin situation for the Congress which is enjoying the discomfort of its main opponent. In short, the BJP finds itself in a paradoxical situation which also explains its silence so far. This also underlines why the BJP central leadership has asked Yeddyurappa to move from his normal seat in Shikaripura in Shimoga district and to contest from Lingayat-dominated north Karnataka during the 2018 polls. The party would not like to miss any opportunity to realise its avowed objective of winning 150 seats in the 2018 elections and must woo the Lingayats. However, the controversy has also impacted the Congress. Today many in the Lingayat community sees its move for a Lingayat religion tag as an attempt to divide an otherwise peaceful section of society. What has hurt, even angered the community, however, is the gaffe committed by Patil in dragging Swami Shivakumar, the 110-year-old seer of the Siddaganga mutt, Tumkur, into the controversy, according to a senior Lingayat leader. The minister had claimed two weeks ago that the revered seer, also referred to as the walking God, had supported his move for a separate religion tag for the Lingayat community. This was promptly contested by the mutt the next day leaving Patil red faced. His supporters, however, attributed the developments to the pressure tactics of the BJP, taking care to emphasise that the revered seer could not be dragged into any controversy. They did not lose any opportunity though to accuse the BJP of playing politics. A section of senior Congressmen admit in private that the mutt controversy in particular could backfire on the party. But at least one group of Karnataka ministers that is spearheading the separate religion tag for Lingayatism believes it has struck on a winning formula. (The writer is The Statesmans Bengaluru-based Special Representative) Cloth traders in Chandni Chowk have to deal with huge drop in sales since GST has been rolled out. By Ilma Hasan: For any trader at Delhi's busy Chandi Chowk, Diwali would be peak season with business booming. But this year, traders have seen an unprecedented lull in sales following the GST roll out. The narrow lanes of Chandi Chowk that houses the city's best ethnic wear, jewellery and electronic shops are unusually empty this time. With some saying dip in sales has gone upto 60 per cent. advertisement Cloth traders had been objecting to the 5 per cent tax with the coming of GST from the beginning. However, they had expected an ease in the following months but, this continues to remain a distant dream. Rahul, a cloth trader said, "We welcomed the move but we needed more time. This festive season is the time we make most money, now I sit alone at my store all day. I never expected this to happen." Most small traders have been doing transactions on paper for decades, the computerised system is still something they struggle to understand. Another businessmen said, "My family has run this shop for decades. We're not educated enough to have an automated system. I've bought a computer but we struggle everyday to understand how to file returns" When the GST was being rolled out, traders at Chandni Chowk went on strike for days, shutting shop demanding more time and information. The shops may have opened now, but sales have dipped drastically. "My shops sales have gone down by 60 per cent, this season used to be the happiest for us, look at what has happened now", said Pankaj. This is the time of the year where people, and even companies give gifts to one another. Now, even wholesale dry fruit sellers have taken a serious hit. "At this rate, we might as well put our shutters down. There would be a time when I wouldn't have place to sit in my shop because of thousand of clothes and customers waiting to get in. I do nothing all day now", said a cloth trader in Chandni Chowk. --- ENDS --- Malaysia has been in general election fever for almost a year, if not more. The power to dissolve Parliament, which will lead to a general election, lies with Prime Minister Najib Razak. He has been very busy touring the country to give speeches that can easily be taken as campaigning. But he does not seem ready to make the actual call. Some say that Najib is strategising and waiting for the right time. Others suggest that he is dithering because he is not sure if he can produce a sufficiently good electoral result to secure his own premiership for the foreseeable future. And some say that indecisiveness is his trademark. Whichever it is, Najib does have good reasons to dither. The best time to call an election was probably last year, when the opposition block was in tatters. But Najib missed the opportunity and now he has to carefully weigh the risks. The opposition parties are slowly and gradually uniting under the newly formed Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition. And Umno is being rocked by Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM), led by Dr Mahathir Mohamad, former prime minister and former Umno president, and Muhyiddin Yassin, who was deputy prime minister and Umno deputy president until he was sacked by Najib last year. Even though PHs registration as a political party has not been approved yet, Dr Mahathir has been named as the coalitions chairman. Interestingly, he is now working with Anwar Ibrahim, a former deputy prime minister whom he sacked back in 1998. Anwar is PHs overall leader, or ketua umum. The new partnership between these two old foes creates a lot of uncertainties, adding to Najibs dithering. For the upcoming general election known as GE14 because it will be Malaysias 14th Barisan Nasional (BN), the Umno-led ruling coalition, looks confident at the federal level. But the situation is less certain if we examine the situation state by state. Under Dr Mahathirs aggressive drive, PH is making headway in quite a few states. In the northern state of Kedah, many are saying that PPBM has a good chance because it is Dr Mahathirs home state. He and his family are well liked there. His son, Mukhriz Mahathir, is vice-president of the party and is the leading candidate for chief minister if they win. That has a lot of traction among voters, especially the younger ones. PH is also making headway in the relatively more multi-ethnic Perak. The state was won by the opposition coalition in the 2008 General Election, only to see Umno taking over after defections in the state legislative assembly a year later. Umno retained the state in GE13, but their majority is a wafer-thin three seats. The opposition remains popular. When Dr Mahathir toured Perak last month, thousands gathered to hear him. A surprise is perhaps in the offing in the southern state of Johor. Traditionally known as an Umno bastion, Johor has suddenly turned risky. Dr Mahathir chose this state for his first speech after being named chairman of PH. Many of the Malay villagers I met at that event in July in Kota Tinggi said they are Umno members and will not leave the party for fear of victimisation. But they will vote for PPBM as they are upset with the way Najib treats Muhyiddin, a Johorean. Muhyiddin, as Johor state chairman for PH, has been mobilising his people and quietly penetrating Umno strongholds. The strength of the silent protest is difficult to measure and that is why things have become risky for Umno there. The biggest question mark hangs over Sabah and Sarawak. These two states have been BNs vote bank for years. But state nationalism is strengthening in both states. The locals are demanding greater autonomy from Peninsular Malaysia. PH is riding on this wave by allowing local opposition parties and local figures to lead their campaign there, without demanding that they officially join the coalition. This helps create the impression that their movement is local to the states, rather than being led by Peninsular politicians, as is the case for BN component parties over which Umno has an iron grip. In 2008, then Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi led Umno to retain the federal government, but lost four states to the opposition. Umno subsequently pushed Abdullah out of office and Najib was the main beneficiary from that putsch. But that was also a lesson to Najib, who knows it is not enough to win the polls at the federal government level because if Abdullah was forced to resign after performing badly in the states, then he is also at risk of becoming a victim of the precedent that he himself set. That is why Najib needs to improve the outlook for state-level polls before calling a general election. He is working hard to ensure just that and there are indications that his strategy may be working. He has successfully pulled the Malay-majority Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS) out from PH by dangling issues like the supremacy of Islam and Malays as carrots. Najib does not need PAS to join his BN coalition. He just needs to be confident enough that PAS will put candidates in as many seats as possible, therefore creating three-cornered fights nationwide. Such a situation will split opposition votes and that is a sure tactic to benefit Umno and BN. Once he can confirm that, there will be no more reason to dither. (The writer is visiting senior fellow at ISEAS Yusof Ishak Institute and chief executive of the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs, Malaysia. The Straits Times/ANN) Lord Linlithgow, as Governor-General, had attributed the failure of the Cripps Mission (March 1942) to the inflexible attitude of the Congress. In India, there was no consensus on the responsibility for the failure, but the Congress blamed the British government for what it called its hypocrisy, lack of sincerity and for following Machiavellian tactics. The popular resentment against the Raj intensified as never before. To end the impasse and in view of the general resentment, Mahatma Gandhi wanted swaraj immediately, asserting that British rule had forfeited any claim to legitimacy. In response to the argument that compared to the British, the Japanese were a greater evil, he refused to accept any difference between the two imperialist powers. He dismissed the fear of a Japanese takeover of India. He was confident that the country would be able to deal with it effectively through nonviolence and by scattering the population in the villages. Significantly, Gandhi also redefined the role of non-violence in the struggle for freedom. Non-violence, he argued, was the best possible form of political behaviour, but he hastened to argue that violence was preferable to cowardice in the midst of perpetual slavery. Making a fundamental departure from his earlier position, he endorsed violence as a mechanism of defensive struggle. It would not be a negation of non-violence. He could perceive that strict adherence to non-violence was not conducive at a time of unprecedented global conflict, when the demand for swaraj had mass support. The Quit India resolution, indeed the new Gandhian strategy was in July 1942 placed for approval at the Working Committee meeting of the Congress at Wardha. It resolved that the British should relinquish political power immediately, and this would enable India to play a pivotal role in the war and save the world from the clutches of Nazism, Fascism, militarism and other forms of imperialism. But it also emphasised that even after the British departure from India, there would be no disruption in war efforts and more significantly, the British forces would not have to leave immediately. From the Congress perspective, this proposal was very reasonable and just, but it simultaneously reminded the British that rejection would compel the party to mobilise its accumulated strength of non-violence that it had acquired since 1920, and this would be used to secure swaraj. A meeting of the All India Congress Committee was scheduled to be held in Bombay in early August to approve this new strategy. The Raj rejected the demand and the Congress was compelled to chalk out its own plank for civil disobedience. On 7 August 1942, the Quit India resolution was accepted, in the face of stiff opposition from the Communists. It remains inexplicable, at a time when Stalin was fighting the war for saving the fatherland, what prompted the Communists to stay aloof from the national upsurge. Nehru moved the resolution and mentioned the fact that the Quit India resolution should not be regarded as a threat, but an olive branch of cooperation. He also added that there is clear indication that certain consequences will follow if certain events do not happen. But Gandhi was more strident and without mincing words remarked: We shall get our freedom by fighting. It cannot fall from the skies. To the question that such a statement violated Gandhis own philosophy of non-violence, his reply was that such acts were defensible by the doctrine of self-defence. Gandhi, in defence of his thesis of self defence, also said, if a man holds me by the neck and wants to drown me, may I not struggle to free myself directly? Extending this argument, he asked every single Indian to act freely. But in spite of such militancy, the Mahatma made it clear that the Congress would not act without discussing the matter with the Viceroy. But instead of opening a channel with the Congress, the British started an offensive against the party. This plan to initiate decisive action was decided before the Quit India resolution in June. Immediately after the Bombay meeting, without allowing Gandhi to move forward, all the national leaders of the Congress, including the top brass, Gandhi, Azad, Nehru, Patel and Prasad were arrested (8 August 1942). The Working Committee of the AICC and the provincial Congress committees ~ except those in the frontier province ~ were declared illegal. The partys offices were sealed, its funds frozen, and all its publications stopped. The government justified the action by claiming that the Congress was planning unlawful and violent activities with plans to interrupt communication and public utility services, even to disrupt defence operations, including recruitment. All these charges were baseless and fabricated, but were played up by the British authorities to pre-empt and force the Congress into submission. But subsequent events came as a shock. The Intelligence network of the Raj overlooked the fact that the Congress had made an elaborate plan of resistance, if its leaders were arrested. The party started recruiting volunteers for civil disobedience and all the provincial committees were instructed to draw up a plan of action. It was stipulated that non-violent methods were to be strictly followed, but with the rider that if Gandhi were to be arrested, the people would be free to use both non-violent and violent means, to counter the violence unleashed by the Government. The spontaneous outburst surprised both the Government and the Congress leadership. For several weeks in August and September, large-scale violence convulsed several provinces There were extensive protests against the arrest of Congress leaders, pre-eminently Mahatma Gandhi. The police tried to stop such open mass defiance, but the people resorted to stone-pelting, attacks on Europeans, attempts to destroy communication networks and government buildings. The brutal police action, legitimised by the draconian Police Act of 1861, which was enacted to forestall a possible rebellion after 1857, intensified protests. Attempts at sabotage spread from cities to remote villages. In many places, the British lost total control, however temporarily. The nerve-centre of the revolt was Bihar and the situation became so volatile that the British planned the evacuation of all Europeans from the province. To bring it under control, military contingents from other areas had to be brought in, and for the first time the Air Force was mobilised to destroy enemy positions. It was only in October that the British administration could re-establish its authority after arresting 27,000 people in Bihar. There were large-scale disturbances in UP and Bombay Presidency as well. The peoples anger was no less manifest in the Central Provinces, Madras, Bengal, Assam, Orissa and even in the seat of central power, Delhi. Isolated incidents took place in the frontier, Sind and Punjab as well. (To be concluded) (The writer is former Professor, Department of Political Science, University of Delhi) Since what transpires at high-level interaction remains under wraps unless intentionally leaked to the media, there is little to worry over the new railway ministers complaint of feeling suffocated at a meeting of the Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation (which oversees commuter-oriented projects in the western metropolis) at which the construction of elevated rail corridors was under focus. With the mayhem at the Elpinstone Road overbridge, and a couple of derailments, having confirmed that top-level changes in Rail Bhawan did not suffice to revamp the system, it was possible that Piyush Goyal felt a need for some positive publicity, and what better way to ensure that by alleging that corruption among officials ~ which the people would lap up ~ was inflating project-costs. And trying to contend that the much-criticised bullet-train would cost less per kilometre than a couple of projects in hand in the Mumbai region was a particularly underhanded shot that the minister fired. For as senior officials subsequently pointed out, the high-speed corridor did not involve constructing stations at frequent intervals. The cost of the bullet train track is estimated at Rs 81 crore per kilometre, while the projection is Rs 200 crore for the BandraVirar and CMST-Panvel elevated corridors. The minister would do well to commission an independent study to work out the complete cost of the suburban project, and if it confirms his suspicions of widespread corruption to take the officials to most severe task. Sweeping comments without facts upon which to base them may make for political popularity, but not administrative efficiency. Having planted the corruption seed in the public mind, Goyal would be expected to take matters to a logical conclusion. Corruption has no place in the BJPs scheme of things, the Prime Minister consistently emphasises. Goyal now has the opportunity to prove the point. The layman would not be happy if the matter rested there. And the minister would run the risk of being dubbed hollow if he permitted the corrupt to remain in office. Bashing the railway staff has become a matter of political convenience, but as a series of mishaps underscore the real fault lies elsewhere. Politicians demand, and ministers concede, more trains, more stoppages and higher speeds without any professional assessment of the implications. The introduction of dynamic fares on upper class travel in prestigious trains hit some headlines ~ today the first-class air-conditioned compartments are running empty, it is cheaper to use a no-frills airline. Re-railing the railway is a mammoth task involving the active support of every member of the railway family. By even hinting at corruption at the top Goyal risks losing the backing of the very people he would call upon to deliver results. On the surface, Mondays agreement between Bangladesh and Myanmar on the repatriation of Rohingyas is reassuring enough for the half million who have been dispossessed in what the UN has called the worlds fastest developing refugee emergency. closer reflection, however, it is no more than a statement of intent and without a time-frame, let alone the fundamental entitlements of the nowhere people. Not to put too fine a point on it, the world body has informed the world that Buddhist-majority Myanmar is engaged in ethnic cleansing against its Rohingya Muslim minority. Fundamentally, therefore, it has turned out to be a war of religions. This must be more than a little distressing not least because nonviolence is the hallmark of the countrys dominant religion. The Bangladesh foreign minister, Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali, and a key Myanmarese official, Kyaw Tint Swe, have agreed to set up the working group to draw up plans for repatriation. Markedly, Myanmar was not represented by its foreign minister at the high table in Dhaka. Hundreds of thousands of Rohingyas have sought refuge in neighbouring Bangladesh over the years in the face of persecution, direly systematic. Not that repatriation plans have not been tried before; such programmes have floundered on the rock of citizenship, indeed the status of the Rohingyas ~ a core issue that remains unsettled from the late 1970s to the present day. As they get buffeted from shore to shore, the Rohingyas are denied citizenship and classified as illegal migrants despite their roots in Myanmars Arakan province dating back centuries. In the absence of citizenship documents, it is doubtful if the latest agreement on repatriation between Dhaka and Naypidaw will attain fruition. Ergo, execution of the pact boils down to according the marginalised their due after having suffered bouts of communal violence over the years. The deal struck by the two neighbours is critical, but less easily settled is the manner of execution. As the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, told a recent meeting in Geneva, the problems of statelessness must first be tackled. Thus did he emit a signal to both Myanmar and Bangladesh ~ Nowhere is the link between statelessness and displacement more evident than with the Rohingya community. B eyond the signal of intent, the Dhaka pact has somehow skirted the problem that is central to the humanitarian crisis. More accurately, the thorny issue of citizenship does not only concern Bangladesh and Myanmar. At stake are the certitudes of international law, with a profound bearing on the subcontinent. The generally reticent Suu Kyis pledge to repatriate Rohingyas who can furnish citizenship documents may be valid in terms of international theory, but holds no water in practical application. The hapless Rohingya can flaunt no such document. He ought not to be stateless any longer. Citizenship is the pre-condition for repatriation. Sadly, this was overlooked at the Dhaka talks last weekend. Koreans own interests in their own united country had been sacrificed to power positions elsewhere especially to those in Japan. Gregory Henderson, US Foreign Service 1947-64 (1974) Americans and Russians both must remember that the Koreans did not ask us to divide their country, did not request that we occupy and rule them, did not solicit the governments we unleashed over their heads. Nor, unlike the Germans, had they given us the reasons for doing what we did. Gregory Henderson (1976) US President Donald Trumps remarks at the UN General Assembly threatening a nuclear holocaust of 25 million North Koreans if provoked merely conveyed in laymans terminology (totally destroy North Korea) what has been insinuated repeatedly byTrump and prominent American figures throughout this year. Threatening genocide of tens of millions of innocents for Kims agents of oppression, in sum, amount to a very small clique is inexcusable, cowardly and self-defeating. As The Baltimore Sun underscored in a recent editorial, Speaking from a prepared speech in front of leaders and diplomats from more than 100 countries, the president of the United States pledged to wipe an entire nation off the face of the Earth. The newspaper went on to underline the perils and senselessness of threatening an entire nation and its 25 million people rather than focusing on neutralising Kim Jong-un. President Trump has made the fight all the more difficult and dangerous by proclaiming that our aim would be not just regime change or an end to the countrys nuclear and ballistic missile programs but what sounds an awful lot like genocide, voiced the newspaper. If North Koreas political prisoners and tens of millions of innocents are abandoned to be exterminated as collateral damage of indiscriminate nuclear strikes, whatsoever United Nations resolutions, a nearly-400 page UN-mandated report, whatsoever utterances by prominent personages referencing a responsibility to protect (R2P) norm, assurances of never again, lofty rhetoric citing universal human rights and the like will have amounted to hogwash. Or, if you prefer, as enunciated by Carla Del Ponte who resigned in protest from a UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria just alibis deployed expediently in lieu of obligatory, needful and life-saving measures. The Baltimore Sun stressed, Trump is both threatening even greater harm to the North Korean people than its own government has inflicted and is only increasing the likelihood that the Kim regime will consider it necessary to maintain its nuclear program or even launch a first strike. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has specified that Kims escalating centre-stage tussle with the US over his nuclear and missile projects is the worlds worst crisis. Guterres, South Korea and the global community must sternly prohibit nuclear attacks sleazily being cited as an option to interdict Kims acquisition of an operational ICBM and unfailingly preserve the lives of both North and South Koreas inhabitants. Our common humanity is on the line. Moreover, we mustnt forget that innumerable South Koreans, virtually all North Korean refugees, many Korean-Americans and countless others throughout the worldwide Korean diaspora have been violently separated from their family members in the North including the President. South Korea and the global community must elevate their voices in a clarion manner and undertake efficacious measures for the protection and expedited release of some of the worlds most systematically violated and heinously oppressed populations who are entrapped within North Koreas prison camp apparatus. In a November 2016 lecture, Bruce Bennett of the RAND Corporation advocated flooding Kims nuclear facilities with leaflets a corresponding procedure should take place forthwith to safeguard the lives of North Koreas political prisoners. Bennett concluded in an analysis published earlier this year that the safest and most realistic way to sheath North Korean nuclear weapons and safeguard the American people cardinally involved proposing a deal that gives the North Korean elite an alternative to its murderous and unstable leader. He recommended for Seoul to propose favorable terms for Korean reunification negotiating a peaceful end to the 60- year-standoff on the peninsula. The indigenous ousting of Kim Jong-un and Koreas peaceful reunification is an opportunity worth pursuing he indicated, and is far more viable a framework than popularised deadends such as military strikes which would precipitate an altogether unwarranted, unlawful and unprecedented human catastrophe. The historical case for reconciliation between southerners and northerners whilst necessarily excluding the ruthless tyrant, who has perpetrated wanton carnage against our people in the North is overwhelmingly compelling. Trumps threats of indiscriminate nuclear holocaust conjure up analogous horrors which actually happened over the still-unresolved 1950- 53 proxy war which could never itself have materialized had Korea been permitted to remain one country with freely-selected leaders. The US Air Force bombed and napalmed cities, towns and villages across the North. The bombing was long, leisurely and merciless noted American author Blaine Harden in a 2015 commentary. These bombings were criticised as racist and unjustified around the world; the pitiless and overkill air campaign was a major war crime Harden wrote. Over a period of three years or so, we killed off what 20 per cent of the population, Air Force Gen. Curtis LeMay relayed to the Office of Air Force History. Ex-Secretary of State Dean Rusk said the US bombed everything that moved in North Korea including numberless frail innocents, both advanced in years and tender ones; many were simply stuck in the North owing to diverse mishaps as being too sickly, slow, uninformed or destitute to flee swiftly enough. At the 2013 UN hearings in Tokyo on North Koreas human rights emergency, a Japanese witness testified about Korean residents and their Japanese spouses who had naively traveled to North Korea but never were able to escape thereafter. Just as he stated: The greatest issue from my opinion is that between 1950 and 1953 during the Korean War, the North Korean capital was reduced to ashes and the war had killed a total of 3 to 4 million people and also caused 10 million families to split up. I think that is the true root cause and the starting point. Unquestionably, external responsibility for the present crisis in North Korea is enormous. In August 1945, communists comprised an insignificant minority presence in the North (ironically, greater influence was held by them in the South). The pre-eminent leader in the region, Cho Man-sik (killed in October 1950), was a pacifist hero who helped organize March 1919s sublimely peaceful peninsula-wide demonstrations for emancipation. As Gregory Henderson aids us to remember in The Politics of the Vortex (1968): The Independence Declaration was truly eloquent and moving, especially the Korean gesture of signing and reading it in full acceptance of coming arrest. There was dignity and pathos also in the unarmed demonstrations of thousands throughout the country. A peaceful movement, fully justified without any touch of selfishness. Much of the leadership for the national movement, which actually consisted of millions, came from Pyongan Province in northern Korea. The north was clearly on a peaceful trajectory (that is, it wasnt a threat to anyone); the regions savage reorganization into the most militarised, repressive and human rights violating area on earth was exclusively the product of racist and undemocratic external impositions. The despotically-imposed Kim dynasty, never voluntarily elected by any Koreans, has unaccountably and undeservedly ruled over territories of which the precise limits were wholly prescribed by strangers who, distressingly, couldnt care less. Reparations and unification are accordingly in order, not yet another holocaust. (The Korea Herald/ANN) Oman has relaxed its visa rules to attract tourists from India, China and Russia, it was announced on Thursday. Now onwards, non-sponsored tourist visas will be granted to citizens of India, China and Russia who reside in or hold an entry visa to the US, Canada, Australia, the UK and Schengen states, the Oman Airports Management Co (OAMC) said in a statement. The statement indicated that the visa shall be granted for one month for a fee of Omani Rial 20 (Rs 3,380). The spouse and children of the visa holder would also be allowed to enter Oman while accompanying them. Applicants must have a return ticket and confirmed hotel reservation. We are extremely pleased with the recent development of facilitating non-sponsored tourist visa for the citizens of India, China and Russia, said Salim Adi Al Mamari, Director General of Tourism Promotion, Ministry of Tourism, Oman. He said with the revision in visa regulations, Oman expected Indian arrivals across all segments to grow exponentially. Ahead of the provincial and the federal elections in Nepal, the ruling Nepali Congress is likely to announce a coalition of right-wing forces with some smaller parties to counter the grand leftist alliance. The Nepali Congress, which has expressed readiness to be part of the proposed democratic alliance, will hold a meeting tomorrow, as political parties continue to align according to their ideologies ahead of the crucial polls in the next two months. At least five political parties, including the Rastriya Janata Party Nepal (RJPN), the Federal Socialist Forum Nepal, the Rastriya Prajatantra Party Nepal and the Nepal Loktantrik Forum (NFL), have decided to forge an alliance with Nepali Congress to counter the grand leftist alliance. Their decision comes a day after the CPN-UML led by K P Oli, CPN (Maoist Centre) led by Prachanda and Naya Shakti Nepal led by Baburam Bhattarai announced a grand leftist alliance for provincial and parliamentary elections. The Rastriya Prajatantra Party Democratic is also likely to join the alliance. Fringe parties on both sides of the political spectrum such as the Rastriya Janamorcha and the Nepal Workers and the Peasant Party are under pressure to choose between the NC and the UML-led alliances due to sharp political polarisation. The grand leftist and rightist alliance is likely to make a big differences in the outcome in the upcoming elections, point out political observers. Nepali Congress has called an emergency meeting of the partys central working committee tomorrow to discuss the matter, said Dhyan Govinda Ranjit, CWC member and Parliament Member from Nepali Congress. Meanwhile, Nepali Congress general secretary Sashanka Koirala has said that it is natural to forge a working alliance among the parties with common ideology prior to the elections. He also stressed the need for collaborating with democratic forces in the upcoming federal and provincial elections. Nepals Election Commission is preparing to hold provincial election on November 26 and federal election on December 5. Taiwans New Southbound Policy is the countrys regional strategy for Asia, as the country used to identify itself only with Northeast Asia but now wants to integrate itself more deeply into the South and Southeast Asia regions, presidential adviser Michael Hsiao said Tuesday. Hsiao was briefing the press on the Yushan Forum, a major initiative of the President Tsai Ing-wen administration aimed at establishing the countrys role in the changing regional dynamics by creating an institutionalised multilateral dialogue platform on cooperation. It is slated to be launched October 11. A leading pioneer in Southeast Asian studies, Hsiao told reporters that what he has observed in his long-term research is that we [Taiwan] actually play no role in Asia. That is partly due to the fact that the Taiwanese society as a whole has long identified itself more strongly with Northeast Asia and has lost sight of countries in South and Southeast Asia, Hsiao said. With the New Southbound Policy in place, we are trying to reassert our role. Hsiao said that Taiwans new approach to forging ties with the countries covered by the New Southbound Policy is different from that of China, which some countries have characterized as a new form of economic colonialism. Meanwhile, the environmental pollution associated with Taiwanese investment abroad, like the case of a Formosa steel plant in Ha Tinh, Vietnam, and the problems facing immigrant workers in Taiwan, most recently exposed by the shooting death of a Vietnamese worker by a Taiwanese police officer, are issues to be addressed under the policy, Hsiao added. With the essence of the policy as reflected in the issues for discussion at the Yushan Forum economic and trade issues, human resources, technological innovation, nongovernmental organization engagement, think tank cooperation, and youth dialogue Taiwan will redefine its role and image in the region, he said. In consideration of the possibility that China may try to sabotage the forum by discouraging the attendance of foreign speakers, the Prospect Foundation, which will host the event, said it will only reveal the lineup of the speakers at an appropriate time. According to the organizer, the forum will feature 40 speakers from 15 countries in South and Southeast Asia, as well as from Japan, South Korea, the United States and Europe. Pressed by reporters, Lai I-chung, president of the foundation, was hesitant to disclose any information as to what difficulties they encountered before the speakers agreed to attend the forum, but he said that surely there existed pressure from China to foil Taiwans efforts to stage the event. Despite the pressure, Lai added, the forum has attracted interest in quite a few countries, indicating that they do not view their relationship with Taiwan as subordinate to their relationship with China and instead consider what Taiwan has to offer to enhance mutual cooperation. (The China Post) The US and the Philippines have agreed to conduct more joint military activities next year as Manila was pursuing warmer relations with Washington, a top defence official said on Thursday. The Armed Forces of the Philippines, chief Gen. Eduardo Ano said that Manila and Washington recognise the importance of the joint military activities in confronting the security threats facing the region, including terrorism, reports Xinhua news agency. Weve agreed to conduct 261 joint military activities So from 258 (this year) we have decided to level up the joint activities because the results of the past exercises were good, Ano told the media. He added that joint exercises in 2018 will focus on counterterrorism, territorial defence and disaster response. Montreal, CA (H4T1V6) Today A mix of clouds and sun in the morning followed by cloudy skies during the afternoon. High 37F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Cloudy skies with late-night snow showers. Low near 30F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 70%. By PTI: New Delhi, Oct 5 (PTI) The all powerful GST Council in its meeting tomorrow is likely to provide some relief to exporters in terms of faster refunds as well as compliance. The full fledged meeting of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council is also likely to assess the improvements in the GST Networks functioning, officials said. advertisement This will be the 22nd meeting of the Council. Officials in the ministry said that the Group of Ministers, under Sushil Modi, set up to look into GSTN glitches will also brief the Council on the portals functioning. The committee, set up under Revenue Secretary Hasmukh Adhia on issues faced by exporters, is likely to submit its preliminary report to the Council tomorrow. Based on that the Council is likely to recommend some relaxation for exporters so that their working capital which is locked up in refunds is released, officials said. Also, the CBEC will inform the Council that it is ready to release IGST refunds to exportersfrom October 10. In a meeting with the revenue Secretary last month, exporters had said that an estimated Rs 65,000 crore is locked up in GST refunds. Also officials said that easy compliance for exporters, like quarterly filing of returns instead of monthly filing, is likely to be discussed by the Council. The government has already allowed exporters to furnish Letter of Undertaking (LUT) instead of bonds at the time of exports, which will ease the compliance burden and stop locking up of capital. PTI JD MKJ --- ENDS --- Against the Wall will run from Oct. 8 to Nov. 17 at the National Black Doll Museum, 288 North Main St., Mansfield. A reception will be held at 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 8. Museum admission is $20. For more information, visit nbdmhc.org or call 774-284-4729. By PTI: (Eds: Adding reaction by Jafris son) Ahmedabad, Oct 5 (PTI) The Gujarat High Court today rejected Zakia Jafris plea challenging a lower court order upholding the SITs clean chit to the then chief minister Narendra Modi and others on the allegation of a larger conspiracy behind the 2002 post-Godhra riots. Jafris son, however, termed the ruling as a victory, as the court allowed the petitioners to approach an appropriate forum to seek reinvestigation. advertisement Justice Sonia Gokani rejected Jafris contention that Modi, some senior police officers and bureaucrats were party to a larger conspiracy. The issue was already discussed by the Supreme Court in its 2015 order on a petition of former IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt, said the judge. The apex court considered the contentions regarding the larger conspiracy and dismissed them, the high court said. Also, the probe carried out by the Special Investigation Team was monitored by the Supreme Court, Justice Gokani said. The high court, however, partly allowed Jafris petition as far as its demand of a further investigation was concerned. The lower court (metropolitan magistrate) had "self-limited" itself by saying that it had limited powers with regard to ordering further investigation, it said. The petitioner can approach an appropriate forum including the magistrates court, a division bench of the high court or the Supreme Court seeking further investigation, the high court said. Zakia Jafri, the wife of slain former MP and Congress leader Ehsan Jafri, and activist Teesta Setalvads NGO Citizen for Justice and Peace had filed a criminal review petition against the magistrates order upholding the clean chit given by the SIT to Modi and others. The petition demanded that Modi and 59 others -- including senior police officers and bureaucrats -- be made accused for allegedly being part of a conspiracy which facilitated the riots. It had also sought the high courts direction for fresh investigation into the matter. Ehsan Jafri was among 68 people killed at the Gulberg Society in Ahmedabad when a mob attacked it on February 28, 2002, a day after the Godhra train burning incident which set off riots in the state. In December 2013, the magistrates court rejected Zakia Jafris plea seeking a case against Modi and others for criminal conspiracy, after which she moved the high court in 2014. The SIT had, on February 8, 2012, filed a closure report and given clean chit to Modi and others in the case. In the high court, the SIT lawyer submitted that its probe was conducted under the Supreme Courts watchful eye, and its report was largely accepted by all. advertisement The lower court looked into all aspects of allegations to conclude that there was no further need to investigate the matter from the angle of larger conspiracy, the SIT argued. Zakia Jafris lawyer Mihir Desai argued that the magistrate, while accepting the SITs closure report, did not even consider other options such as rejecting the report or ordering a fresh probe. The lower court ignored the Supreme Courts guidelines and did not consider the signed statements of witnesses which had suggested that there was a conspiracy, he argued. Reacting to todays ruling, Zakia Jafris son Tanvir Jafri termed it a victory, saying that high court had allowed the petitioners to approach the lower court or any other appropriate forum to seek reinvestigation. "My mother sees this verdict as a victory, as the high court today made it clear that the lower court was wrong when it said that it does not have the power to ask the SIT to investigate the matter further. Thus we are happy because my mothers plea was partially allowed," Tanvir Jafri told PTI. "We will consult our lawyers about the future course of action, as the high court has given us the option to approach the same magisterial court or the special SIT court which heard the Gulberg society riot case," he said. advertisement Setalvad refused to comment on the ruling. PTI KA PD PJT KRK ZMN --- ENDS --- The designer synthetic drug, mostly consumed in the US, is getting into India through Myanmar and reaching Delhi's party circuit. By Chayyanika Nigam: It can be a hundred times more potent than morphine or heroin and mere inhalation or contact with the skin can cause an overdose resulting in death. The new designer drug, China White, has injected itself into the bloodstream of the Indian narcotics market through Myanmar. The substance is a highly potent heroin substitute made from fentanyl - an opioid pain medication with a rapid onset and short duration of action. It works like any other opiate and comes in powdered form, which can be inhaled or injected. advertisement "The designer synthetic drug that is consumed more in the US is now gaining popularity among users in the national Capital. As the demand has increased, traffickers have become active and are supplying consignments from Myanmar to Mizoram and Manipur. It further reaches Delhi and then routes to other states," said a highly placed source in the narcotics control department. The latest crackdown came on Wednesday where Mizoram police seized a large quantity of China White. "It was being smuggled from Myanmar and was for consumption in the northeastern states," said a police officer. Other agencies including Delhi Police have in the past seized more than 12 kg, worth Rs 50 crore in the international market, of the drug in the Capital. Experts say China White excites the pleasure centres of the brain to an unusual degree, leaving users vulnerable to cravings. Repeated use creates tolerance to its effects, which in turn makes the consumer continue and desire more doses of this substance until the desired effect is reached. Agencies say the Golden Triangle between Myanmar, Laos and Thailand produces an estimated 50 tonne of heroin annually. Myanmar remains the second largest cultivator of illegal opium poppy in the world. "Even this killer drug is cultivated in the Golden Triangle and is pumped into India using the unfenced border between India and Myanmar. Once it reaches Mizoram and Manipur, it is then trafficked to various states by hiding it in soap cases, toys, footwear and cosmetics. On some occasions, traffickers route it by air," said a source. Officials say the drug is also known as heroin no 4. "Opium poppy is now grown primarily by impoverished campesinos (peasants) in mountainous parts of the Golden Triangle. Poppy cultivation is down overall in Myanmar, especially in the Shan state. The poppy is then refined into China White by mixing it with fentanyl, and then, using the porous borders, it is smuggled into India," said an official. Most users think that China White means a pure form of fentanyl, but it is actually fentanyl mixed with a certain amount of heroin to provide the "higher than high" effect. Heroin users are inclined to prefer China White with the hopes of receiving a more powerful impact than heroin alone. advertisement Death from fentanyl overdose was declared a public health crisis in Canada in September 2015. In 2016, deaths from fatal fentanyl overdoses in British Columbia, Canada, averaged two persons per day. Medical examiners concluded that musician Prince died on April 21, 2016, from an accidental fentanyl overdose. In the US, fentanyl caused 20,100 deaths in 2016, a rise of 540 per cent over the past three years. Sources say the refining and adulteration process from opium to China White is easily available on the internet. "Traffickers are misusing the availability by luring drug abusers with attractive names and the effect," said an official. In India, illicit cultivation of poppy takes place in the Himalayan foothills of Kashmir and Uttar Pradesh as well as the Northeast along the India-Myanmar border. But the production is insignificant and does not figure in the trafficking scheme, the official said. --- ENDS --- Organization: Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda Reports to: Head of Operations About US: Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is an international non-profit organization which implements the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. We welcome as a part of our staff and as partners people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need. Job Summary: The Information, Communications and Technology (ICT) Manager will ensure the overall strategic coordination, day-to-day management, and key technical oversight of the Country Programs (CPs) ICT and ICT4D (ICT) functions in coordination with the Regional Information, Communications and Technology Systems Manager (RIM) to support high-quality programs serving the poor and vulnerable. The jobholder will keenly analyze and anticipate operational and programmatic ICT service needs and challenges and will introduce cost-effective technology improvement solutions in accordance with established policies, procedures, and service standards for optimal performance, integrity, security, and strategic alignment of systems. Responsibilities: Key Duties andResponsibilities: Effectively manage talent and supervise. Manage team dynamics and staff well-being. Provide coaching, strategically tailor individual development plans, and complete performance management for direct reports. Monitor and assess performance to ensure adequate capacity for successful support of high quality programming. The incumbent will plan, design, direct, and coordinate the installation, configuration, maintenance, availability and security of the CPs office ICT environment, including the delivery network and ICT infrastructure; manage crisis situations to ensure ongoing ICT enablement of agency business. Evaluate user needs and system functionality and ensure that ICT facilities and user devices meet these needs. Ensure timely and quality service delivery, technical support, and advice to user requests. Work closely with program staff to prioritize and support integration and evolution of ICT solutions in improving program implementation. Build and strengthen working relationships with suppliers, conduct supplier analysis, and assess effectiveness to ensure third-party services meet CRS business requirements and needs. Collaborate with Procurement to ensure ICT purchases are in line with CRS standards and in compliance with donor requirements. Provide strategic guidance and input to budget development with regard to ICT-related expenses. Assess and analyze ICT training needs. Provide capacity building (training, coaching, on-the-job support, etc.), remotely or on-site, to staff and partners in ICT-related areas to ensure efficient and consistent adoption and use of ICT applications. Keenly monitor ICT systems operations in terms of functionality, security and service delivery and provide statistical and analytical reports on ICT-related data, metrics, and trends. Collaborate with relevant staff to ensure inventory of ICT equipment, hardware, and software is maintained. Monitor functionality, anticipate supply needs and alert managers. Qualifications, Skills and Experience: The ideal candidate for the Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Information, Communications and Technology (ICT) Manager career placement should hold a Masters degree in IT-related field (Computer Science, Computer Networking, Programming, and Information Systems) required. Equivalent combination of relevant experience and Bachelors degree and/or training/certification may substitute for advanced education. Professional Certification requirements include Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert or equivalent, Cisco Certified Network Associate or equivalent, Microsoft SharePoint Foundations or equivalent and ITIL Foundation Certified. Project Management certification preferred. At least five years of progressively responsible related professional experience. Significant exposure and experience in introduction, design, implementation, and adoption of relevant technology and data management tools. Demonstrated proficiency in management of network/server software and hardware devices and platforms. Expert grasp of evolving communication and data network/server technologies and tools, as well as backup and disaster recovery systems. Previous experience with ITSM and systems management tools preferred. Excellent relationship management skills. Ability to relate to people at all levels internally and externally with a strong client-service focus. Excellent communication skills with the ability to communicate technical ideas and concerns in a non-technical manner. Strategic, analytical, systems thinking, and problem-solving skills, with capacity to see the big picture, make sound decisions, and offer non-standard solutions. Strong organization, planning, review, and monitoring skills. Able to maintain confidential information. Highly proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented and results-oriented. Agency-wide Competencies (for all CRS Staff): Serves with Integrity, Models Stewardship, Cultivates Constructive Relationships, Promotes Learning, Trusting Relationships, Professional Growth, Partnership, Accountability How to Apply: All suitably qualified and interested Ugandan candidates are encouraged to send their cover letters, CVs and three work references (names and contact information only) to ug_recruitment@crs.org th October 2017 by 5:00PM Deadline: 11October 2017 by 5:00PM find us on our facebook page For more of the latest jobs, please visit https://www.theugandanjobline.com orfind us on our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/UgandanJobline Organization: Refugee Law Project (RLP) Duty Station: Uganda Reports to: Project Officer Eligibility: Refugees residing in one of the areas of placement. About US: The Refugee Law Project (RLP) is an outreach project of the School of Law, Makerere University. Our Mission is to empower asylum seekers, refugees, deportees, IDPs and host communities to enjoy their human rights and lead dignified lives. Refugee Law Projects work is currently structured in five thematic areas: Access to Justice; Conflict, Transitional Justice & Governance (CTJ&G), Gender & Sexuality; Mental Health & Psychosocial Wellbeing; and Media for Social Change. Job Summary: The Community Interpreter/ Social Worker will provide counselling support to the counseling team through community mobilization, preparation for sessions, follow up support to clients and provision of routine feedback on the progress of the supported clients, besides that, he/she will be in charge for formal interpretation and translation works involving clients, staff, and other stakeholders to the organization. He/she is also translate media digestible and formatted texts, e.g. press releases and advocacy videos, while imitating the voice, style, syntax, idioms, meaning and other literary characteristics contained in the original text or video. Responsibilities: Key Duties andResponsibilities: Social Worker: Provide counselling support before, during and after sessions with Individuals, couples, families and groups of refugees, asylum seekers and other forced migrants in different settings like the office, homes, schools, hospitals, prisons and the community for their psychosocial and mental health wellbeing; Prepare and submit reports on clients handled; support in carrying out Information sessions with different groups and communities of refugees, asylum seekers and the host community for purposes of passing on relevant and pertinent information as regards the program; Keep proper records for all the clients handled; Conduct assessment and referral of clients with in the program; Provide psychosocial education, Support in training and capacity building for clients, stakeholders as well as organization staff; Record and update client testimonies from time to time; Prepare activity reports and carryout community dialogues and other strategies for peace promotion and conflict resolution among refugees, asylum seekers, other forced migrants and the host community. Interpretation work: Translation and interpretation of formal and non-formal documents; Translation and interpretation works in client sessions, meetings, workshops, conferences composed of national / international staff and/or clients; In charge of the translation and interpretation works on local level or in communities, such as community sensitization/policing programmes; Translation and interpretation works during field visits; Provide texts for brochures, press releases, web-site, and other media documents; Translation and interpretation works for audio or video presentations; In charge of checking of translation equipment during important events; Providing subtitles for video documentaries Make follow-up calls to clients whenever need be Experience: Qualifications, Skills andExperience: The ideal candidate for the Refugee Law Project (RLP) Community Interpreter/ Social Worker job opportunity must hold a post-school qualification (diploma, or equivalent) in a Social Work, Community Psychology, Translation / Interpretation or related field. Practically recognized interpretation/translation skills. Excellent English and refugee speaking languages, both written and spoken Evidence of prior working experience in provision of psychosocial services, translation and interpretation involving direct human interface; if possible in complex and integrated projects or organizational structures. Proven ability to facilitate constructive interpretation. Excellent networking and communication skills. Good computer skills (standard office and PowerPoint software) are necessary. Amicable interpersonal appearance and behavior. Residence in Adjumani or Kiryandongo or Lamwo. Highly self-motivated, versatile and adaptable to different cultures and people. How to Apply: capacity are encouraged to send a motivation letter and curriculum vitae electronically to: All candidates who wish to join the Refugee Law Project (RLP) in thiscapacity are encouraged to send a motivation letter and curriculum vitaeelectronically to: recruitment@refugeelawproject.org NB: The position applied for MUST be indicated in the subject line of the email. Copies of certificates should not be attached, but will be requested for from short-listed candidates only. th October 2017 by 5.00pm Deadline: 9October2017 by 5.00pm find us on our Facebook page For more of the latest jobs, please visit https://www.theugandanjobline.com orfind us on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/UgandanJobline Organisation: ActionAid Uganda (AAU) Duty Station: Uganda Reports to: Coordinator- Sustainable Livelihoods About US: ActionAid is an International Development Agency working in over 50 countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean. ActionAids mission is to work with the poor and the ActionAid Uganda (AAU), a national development organization registered under the laws of Uganda and with a local Board. Job Summary: The Project Coordinator will manage and coordinate the designing, development, implementation and reporting of the Youth Empowerment for Sustainable Self Employment for National Development. (YESSEN) project in line with EU and AAU guidelines to ensure quality project implementation and tangible impact Responsibilities: Key Duties andResponsibilities: with EU and AAU requirements: Oversee overall implementation of YESSEN project activities in linewith EU and AAU requirements: Work with implementing teams to develop implementation work plans/schedules in line with the project budgets and donor requirements. Work with implementing teams to developimplementation work plans/schedules in line with the project budgets and donorrequirements. Ensure all project teams and associated stakeholders, understand the financial requirements/timelines of the project. Lead and provide technical guidance to staff and associates in the implementation of project actions in relation with young peoples engagement. Ensure Visibility in of EU in all project actions in line with the EU guidelines on branding and visibility Lead the organization and participate in regular review and reflection meetings of the project project implementing team and project participants in line with the EU and AAU organizational Policies Monitor the implementation of YESSEN activities and provide support toproject implementing team and project participants in line with the EU and AAUorganizational Policies Oversee the development of annual targets and indicators for the YESSEN project in liaison with Livelihoods unit and Impact Assessment and Shared Learning team. Monitor and provide guidance to the implementing teams and associates on management and update of the Management Information System(MIS). Support the development of periodic TORs for reviews and evaluations of YESSEN project. Organize and undertake periodic project monitoring visits and facilitate learning, sharing as well as addressing gaps identified. Coordinate and manage project monitoring to track progress and changes in lives of the target beneficiaries. Ensure collection of evidence for policy influencing and campaigns reporting mechanisms issues to generate evidence for policy and influencing: Take lead in undertaking contextual analysis to analyze young peoplesissues to generate evidence for policy and influencing: Plan and coordinate project baseline studies and ensure dissemination of research findings Coordinate project evaluations and reviews including processes to disseminate the findings. Support the process of mapping, appraisal and reporting on project options proposed by young peoples groups for shared learning. Conduct periodic contextual analysis on young people and unemployment to inform the policy advocacy and campaign agenda Identify information needs/research gaps and develop strategies for their action. Identify opportunities and gaps for further raising resources to sustain the program in the districts YESSEN project that deal with young peoples empowerment and their campaigns Initiate, nurture and sustain strategic networks and alliances on theYESSEN project that deal with young peoples empowerment and their campaigns Periodically map and share project information with formal and informal networks and coalitions Identify, prioritize, nurture and contribute to the development of capacities of associates, networks, alliances and coalitions under the project for empowerment. Nurture and mentor social justice movements of young people to form part of the community structures in addressing un-employment challenges and agri-business opportunities at grassroots level. Quickly respond to and follow up information requirements from associates, networks, coalitions and alliances at all levels of the project. Actively participate in district and national level meetings and campaigns on young people and agribusiness for learning, knowledge development and networking. Create and sustain positive working relationships with the district local government, line ministries, youth CSO partners, associates and other key stakeholders on the project. Conduct consultative meetings with relevant stakeholders to gather emerging young people and gender issues for engagement at National and district level. of project experiences, achievements and impacts and other best practices and disseminate to different stakeholders; Prepare and submit concise, high quality reports through documentationof project experiences, achievements and impacts and other best practices anddisseminate to different stakeholders; Guide the planning and development of messages on the project and propose strategic guidance on the medium of communication relevant to and for young peoples engagement. Steer the development and writing of articles and newsletters on the YESSEN project and related processes. Work with the Livelihoods and Cluster Coordinators to develop innovative interventions to promote and sustain the project interventions including CRSA. Disseminate and influence uptake of AAU and EU positions in different engagements in line with gender and young peoples considerations and guidelines. Apply EU branding guidelines to document, share and promote best practices on young people empowerment and innovations and maintain an up to date understanding of key thematic, development trends on young peoples unemployment and Gender. Ensure project staff write and submit monthly, quarterly financial and narrative reports as required Consolidate periodic project reports and provide briefs for sharing with AAU leadership team, management and donors Ensure timely and quality delivery of project results, learning and taking of joint actions Experience: Qualifications, Skills andExperience: The ideal candidate for the Action Aid International Project Coordinator Youth Empowerment for Sustainable Self Employment for National Development (YESSEN) job placement should preferably hold a Post graduate qualification in Social sciences, Development studies, Entrepreneurship or another relevant field from accredited academic institution Bachelors Degree in Social Sciences, Development Studies, SWASA, Development Economics or related field from a accredited academic institution Additional training in Entrepreneurship will be added advantage At least three to four years of relevant experience especially working with Youth programming and related Policy, Advocacy work and social entrepreneurship development. Personal Competencies: Project Planning and Management Monitoring and Evaluation skills Gender and women rights analysis Data analysis and reporting skills Research and analytical writing skills Knowledge of working with networks, coalitions and social movements Critical thinking and innovation Good leadership and management skills Entrepreneurship development and management How to Apply: All qualified and interested candidates should deliver their application letters, CVs and copies of Academic documents with details of at least three (3) referees one of which shall be from your most recent employer. The complete applications should be hand delivered or sent by email to Vacancies.Uganda@actionaid.org addressed to: The Director Human Resource and Organizational Effectiveness, ActionAid Uganda Plot 2514/2515 Ggaba Road, Opposite Kampala International University, P.O. Box 676 Kampala. Uganda. NB: All Applications sent by email should clearly indicate the position title in the subject line. th October 2017 by 1:00pm Deadline: 6October2017 by 1:00pm Job Title: Solutions Associate Organisation: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Position No.: TMP 033 Vacancy Notice No.: 030/2017 Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda Reports to: Head of the Solutions Unit Position Grade: GL6 About UNHCR: The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees was established on December 14, 1950 by the United Nations General Assembly. UNHCRs mandate under the Statute of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees is to lead and co-ordinate action for international protection to refugees; seek permanent solutions for the problems of refugees and safeguard refugee rights and well-being. UNHCR has an additional mandate concerning issues of statelessness, as it is given a designated role under Article 11 of the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness. Job Summary: The Solutions Associate will provide support to the Solutions Unit by promoting a multi-stakeholder comprehensive refugee response in Uganda. The post requires the ability to prioritise tasks and to organise work independently based on direction from the Supervisor. The Solutions Associate will providesupport to the Solutions Unit by promoting a multi-stakeholder comprehensiverefugee response in Uganda. The post requires the ability to prioritise tasksand to organise work independently based on direction from the Supervisor. Responsibilities: Key Duties andResponsibilities: Select and make pertinent abstracts, talking points, information material and undertake searches for information as relevant for CRRF and other initiatives of the Unit Support the Solutions Unit in key research activities Prepare briefing materials for Supervisor and other staff in the Solutions Unit Prepare meetings and seminars including; draft agenda, background materials, minutes etc Support to reporting processes involving CRRF in Uganda, ReHope and other development initiatives Support to preparation on mission plans Share relevant information and requests with various stake-holders The jobholder will draft correspondence and ensure follow-up. Update and maintain accurate records and ensure archiving of CRRF materials Maintain policy, confidential and general management files. Manage the flow of information to/from the Supervisor and other staff; identify priority matters that need to be urgently addressed by the Supervisor. Ensure follow up to ensure that appropriate action is being taken by staff on tasks determined by the Supervisor. Keep lists of names, addresses and telephone numbers of various stakeholders Make sure there are timely administrative procedures (hospitality expenses, education grants, home leave etc.). Perform other related duties as required. Experience: Qualifications, Skills andExperience: The ideal candidate for the United Nations UNHCR Solutions Associate job placement should have completed Secondary education or equivalent technical or commercial school At least six years of previous job experience relevant to the function. Excellent computer skills including excel, word and power point Fluency in English, excellent drafting and editing Personal Competencies: Results oriented and pro-active, Strong advocacy and negotiation skills, Excellent oral and written communication, including listening, facilitating and influencing skills, Knowledge/experience on Ugandan refugee situation, Knowledge/experience on coordination within the UN system, Previous experience of UNHCR How to Apply: All interested Ugandan nationals who wish to join the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in the aforementioned capacity are encouraged to click on the link below and follow the application instructions after reviewing the job details. th October 2017 Deadline: 10October 2017 find us on our facebook page For more of the latest jobs, please visit https://www.theugandanjobline.com orfind us on our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/UgandanJobline Amit Shah has sought a detailed report about the heckling of BJP state President Dilip Ghosh in Darjeeling. Ghosh was heckled and his party workers were beaten up by the Gorkha agitators who are close to estranged GJM leader Binay Tamang. Shah has asked a group of BJP leaders to visit West Bengal to assess the situation and submit a report to him. We will never tolerate any such attack on our leaders any where in the country. We will take this very seriously, said a senior BJP leader in Delhi. Ghosh was manhandled and his companions were beaten up when he was about to address a crowd. Tamang supporters said there was no permission given to the auditorium where Ghosh was supposed to address the crowd. Many BJP members were injured due to the assault by Gorkha agitators. Ghosh informed BJP leadership in Delhi and Amit Shah has reportedly spoken to Home Minister Rajnath Singh as well. It was alleged that some of the youths even slapped Ghosh. Ghosh said, Its clearly the handiwork of the Trinamool Congress. There was no police forces deployed for our security. Hours after the assault, the union government had sent central police forces to give security to Ghosh. A strong security force has been in place around the hotel in Darjeeling where Ghosh and other leaders of the state are staying. S S Alhuwalia, Darjeeling MP and union minister, blamed both the Trinamool Congress and Binay Tamang. We have sought a report from the state leadership, he said. Meanwhile BJP workers hit the street protesting the attack on Ghosh. Several roads in Kolkata were blocked in protest. BJP has also announced a week long agitation starting from tomorrow in West Bengal. Trinamool Congress reacted sharply to the allegation. Why was Ghosh blaming us? He went to Darjeeling to create problem. Central government wants to destablise the hills of West Bengal, said secretary general of Trinamool Congress and Minister for Education, Partha Chatterjee. In the absence of top Gorkha leaders Bimal Gurung and Roshan Giri, the BJP is trying to make its presence felt in Darjeeling. The GJM, the most powerful party in hills till late, is in disarray as senior party leaders have been booked under UAPA. Another part of the party leadership led by Binay Tamang has switched to Trinamool Congress as an alliance partner with other political parties like GNLF, the forgotten party of late Subas Ghising. In the absence of Gorkha leaders, the BJP has decided not to leave the field to Trinamool Congress unchallenged. BJPs West Bengal president, Dilip Ghosh reached Darjeeling. But he was met with resistance as GNLF and GJM members waived black flags at him and in many places his car was obstructed from moving further. Hill parties are trying to create problem for BJP at the instruction of Trinamool Congress. They are afraid of legal punishment by the West Bengal government, said Ghosh. Bimal Gurung and his close associate Roshan Giri have been hiding since they were slapped with UAPA. Gurung withdrew 104 day-old shutdown in Darjeeling on September 26 after the Centre assured him of tripartite talks. But West Bengal government has not agreed to withdraw cases against Gurung or Giri. The Trinamool Congress and its allies parties have questioned BJPs stand on separate state issue in Darjeeling. Two MPs were elected from Darjeeling in last two elections for supporting the Gorkhaland. BJP leaders would have to say whether they support Gorkhaland or not, said Harka Bahadur Chetry, chief of Jana Andolon Party (JAP). The BJP had earlier supported the Gorkhaland issue in Darjeeling at a time when in rest of West Bengal it was not a force to reckon with. But now as BJP has secured second position in all recent elections in the state after 2016 assembly election in 2016, the saffron party may not like to play the Gorkhaland card in Darjeeling. We have decided that Gorkhaland should be given to people of Darjeeling only after unanimity. BJP will not be the party to gift them the separate statehood. But we value their sentiment,said Biswapriyo Roy Chowdhury, state general secretary of BJP. According to sources, BJP will use the GJM support base and turn them into party allies. Till Gurung and Giri return to the hills, BJP will try to fill the void left by them. President Ram Nath Kovind is on the second leg of his first overseas trip as president. After visiting Djibouti he is in Ethiopia now. The visits may have been low key but the two countries were chosen carefully. Both the countries are very significant to India's expanding foreign policy. Djibouti, in the Gulf of Aden is strategically located, and has been wooed aggressively by China, already. China established its first overseas naval base in Djibouti. Kovind's was the first visit by an Indian president to the country. No Indian prime minister has visited Djibouti, either. India has already extended a line of credit of $49 million to Djibouti for constructing a cement plant. During Kovind's visit, India offered scholarships and training programmes and the two countries underlined the potential for deepening relations in the economic sphere. Djibouti is part of the International Solar Alliance spearheaded by India for augmenting the potential of solar energy as a renewable fuel. Ethiopia, too, has remained largely ignored with regard to a high level visit, with the last visit by a president going back to 1972 when V V Giri visited the country. India, however, has more intensive economic ties with Ethiopia, being among the top three foreign investors in Ethiopia. Addressing the Indian diaspora in Adis Ababa, Kovind said they had been central to Ethiopia's development. The diaspora has educators, entrepreneurs and tech professionals. Ethiopia is the largest recipient of India's concessional Lines of Credit for Africa. Ethiopia is also projected by the World Economic Forum as a leader of economic growth in Africa and to become the fastest growing economy in the world this year with a growth of 8.3 per cent. Although Ethiopia has historical ties with India, it has emerged even more important now, by playing a pivotal role in the Indo-Japanese, Asia-Africa Growth corridor that was launched this September at the Indo-Japan annual summit. These economic corridors are considered to parry the rising aspirations of China, with its Belt and Road Forum, by reviving the old silk route and expanding its footprint in the South China Sea. China also has huge investments in African nations. India has the advantage of historical links and thriving diaspora, specially in East Africa. Kovind's visit, thus, is deemed significant. By India Today Web Desk: India Today today accessed the first picture of Honeypreet Insan inside the Panchkula jail. One of the most prominent faces of Dera Sacha Sauda, Honeypreet has been kept in a solitary prison cell. Rape convict and Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim's foster daughter Honeypreet Insan was arrested by the Haryana Police from near Zirkapur in Punjab on Tuesday. advertisement Honeypreet was one among 43 most-wanted people who the police was looking for following the rioting in Panchkula on August 25 after Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh's sentencing. She had disappeared soon after the Dera Sacha Sauda chief was lodged in the Rohtak Jail. For 38 days, she had played hide and seek with the police with reports suggesting that she had fled to Nepal and other reports saying that she had been spotted in Delhi. Earlier today, Honeypreet was asked a total of 40 questions, which also pertained to her role in the Panchkula violence, besides the failed escape plan. Apart from refusing to answer 13 specific questions, the answers for 27 questions were either negative or confusing. "Honeypreet has feigned ignorance about the charges levelled against her. She has so far failed to answer the queries. Interrogation into the case will continue and if the six-day remand is found to be insufficient, the police can also get the same extended, besides requesting the court to allow her narco test", Panchkula Police Commissioner AS Chawla said. WATCH | Exclusive: First image of Honeypreet Insan in Panchkula jail --- ENDS --- The moon mission plan of Bengaluru based space start-up TeamIndus was reviewed by a panel of expert judges from Google Lunar XPRIZE over the past few days. Interestingly, the panel and TeamIndus had agreed on the parameters by which the mission would be evaluated. The panel, which had experts from the field of aerospace engineering and space sciences, conducted a five-day review which included demonstrations of the mission hardware, the qualification models of the spacecraft and the moon rover as well as the simulation of the mooncast. Panel chairman Alan Wells, who is also an emeritus professor at the University of Leicester in the UK, was of the opinion that TeamIndus's moon mission plan had made substantial progress. This is our first mission review in sequence and we would be evaluating the mission plan of other teams as well. I feel that TeamIndus mission is very much heading in the right direction, said Wells. Rahul Narayan, fleet commander, TeamIndus, remarked that around Rs 450 crore is required for the mission and the company has been successful in attracting more than half the money required. We hope to garner the rest of the amount soon and we have got some very interesting conversations coming and there are many people who are interested in our mission. We will be integrating the learnings from the panel review to fine-tune the mission in the days ahead, Narayan said. The panel members from the Google Lunar XPRIZE mentioned that the deadline for the completion of the mission is by end of March 2018. TeamIndus has a contract for a launch aboard ISRO's launch vehicle PSLV-XL and the spacecraft will be launched from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota though the exact date of the launch is yet to be announced. The PSLV-XL will inject the spacecraft into the earth's orbit and from there it will move to the moon by switching on its own engines in a series of complex orbital manoeuvres. The aim of TeamIndus is to land the spacecraft on the moon, deploy the TeamIndus rover and send high definition pictures and videos back to the earth. The winning team of the Google Lunar XPRIZE will be awarded $ 30 million. Britain said WhatsApps end-to-end encryption communication services allowed paedophiles and organised crime groups to operate beyond the reach of the law and called on the messaging service to move faster to help governments catch offenders. After four militant attacks in Britain that killed 36 people this year, senior ministers have stepped up demands over the past six months to make internet companies do more to suppress extremist content and allow access to encrypted communications. The government says full-scale encryption has complicated the job of law enforcement both in thwarting extremist attacks and in investigating more commonplace crimes. Internet companies say they want to help governments remove extremist or criminal material but also have to balance the demands of state security with civil liberties. Every day hundreds of millions of people use WhatsApp to communicate with each other including to share sensitive personal information. Encryption helps to keep all those communications safe and secure, a WhatsApp spokeswoman said. In the face of resistance from the industry, Prime Minister Theresa May - a former interior minister - proposed trying to regulate cyberspace after a deadly attack on London Bridge in June. Such a sharp public reprimand for WhatsApp indicates frustration within the government. We also know that end-to-end encryption services like WhatsApp, are being used by paedophiles, Home Secretary Amber Rudd told party activists in the northern English city of Manchester. I do not accept it is right that companies should allow them and other criminals to operate beyond the reach of law enforcement, Rudd said. We must require the industry to move faster and more aggressively. They have the resources and there must be greater urgency. WhatsApp, which is owned by Facebook, and similar services let users communicate with pictures, video and text, using end-to-end encryption that can be read only with a key held on the users device. Without access to the devices, security services cannot read the messages. Rudd also called on technology giants such as Facebook, Google, Microsoft and Twitter to go further and faster to counter extremist material. The industry argues that encryption is vital to protecting the wealth of personal information that electronic devices collect about individuals and for securing everything from banking and shopping to government records. They say they need to balance demands by law enforcement with privacy protections. Child exploitation has absolutely no place on our servicewhich is why we work with law enforcement to identify these accounts and block them, the WhatsApp spokeswoman said. Britains MI5 security service has said it needs access to encrypted communications to foil attacks. In the United States, the Federal Bureau of Investigation has pushed for full access to encrypted communications and devices, but Congress has so far refused. The issues are hotly debated even among security officials. Jonathan Evans, who ran Britains MI5 spy service from 2007 until 2013, said that while encryption did make attacks harder to stop, it also helped to prevent criminals and even foreign governments from hacking private data. Security Minister Ben Wallace, who oversees British counter-terrorism and communications data legislation, said he was disturbed to see that end-to-end encryption services prevented security services from tracking criminal messaging. We see on a daily basis that this end-to-end encryption protects peadophiles, it protects organised crime too, but it is very disturbing in my job when I know that we know two peadophiles are talking and we think they are doing something about snatching a child but we dont know and we cant get into these communications, Wallace said. There are other ways I cant talk about which we think they can help us more without necessarily entering into end-to-end encryption. So we think they can do more. - Reuters The data provided by the Catalan authorities suggests that 90 per cent of the 2.2-million people that participated in the referendum have voted in favour of the Spanish provinces independence. The central government of Spain, declaring the independence unconstitutional, forcibly closed more than 1,300 polling stations and used widespread violence to subvert the referendum that might deliver a serious blow to the countrys territorial integrity. The European Union's conspicuous silence over the brutal violence, which the Spanish authorities resorted to disrupt the controversial referendum, exposed the Unions hypocrisy and double standards about proclamation of democracy and civil rights. While the European Commissions representative Margaritisa Skhurasa declared the referendum illegal, the head of specially constituted international parliamentary delegation to oversee Catalonia referendum Dimitri Rupel, a citizen of Slovenia, confirmed on the day of voting in Barcelona, the Catalan capital, that the referendum was prepared and conducted in accordance with the existing laws of Spain, which means it is not the Catalan authority but the central government of Spain that resorted to anti-constitutional steps in its brazen attempt to foil the referendum. Arun Mohanty The Spanish government took unprecedented steps like forcibly closing polling stations, arresting Catalan officials, and confiscating and destroying ballot papers to disrupt the referendum. Nearly 900 people have been injured as a result of brutal violence perpetrated by the central government police forces. The left-leaning mayor of Barcelona, Ada Colau, demanding the resignation of Spanish Prime Minister, has called the EU to condemn the unprecedented violence used by the government forces. Madrid, perhaps, had calculated that Catalan authorities and people would back-track from the referendum in the face of pressure and resistance from central authorities like in the past. However, their expectations have been belied, and now nobody knows how to resolve the impasse. The head of the Catalan government, Carles Puigdemont, immediately after the declaration of preliminary results of the referendum, said the attempt by the central government to subvert the referendum through use of brutal force is now the key argument in favour of independence of the province, and necessary documents for this purpose would soon be presented to the regional parliament for ratification of referendum results. He has passionately called the EU member states to recognise the right of Catalan people for self-determination, stressing that Catalonia issue has already ceased to be an internal issue of Spain. This call is finding some response with the British Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn asking British Prime Minister Theresa May to demand from Spain an end to the violent oppression in Catalonia. This is apart from Belgium Prime Minister Sharl Mishel emphasising that violence against ordinary citizens is not acceptable. From a constitutional point of view, the situation is quite confusing as 90 per cent Catalans had voted in favour of the countrys territorial integrity in a referendum held by the central government in 1978. However, the central government had then subsequently blocked all attempts made by the Catalans to work out a legally binding mechanism for bilateral relationship between the federal centre and the province. In 2010, Spains constitutional court denounced the agreement for expanding Catalan autonomy reached in 2006, between the central government and the regional authorities. Catalan proposal to expand its financial autonomy was also blocked in a similar manner in 2012, triggering separatist, nationalist movements in the province. Catalonia, with 7.5 million population, accounts for one-sixth of Spains population and one-fifth of gross outputequivalent of Portugals GDP. It is also the countrys manufacturing and financial sector hub, has spearheaded Spanish economic development ever since industrial revolution. Catalans argue that they are a separate nation with their own history, culture, language and should have more say in financial matters. It is evident that the referendum has made the restoration of pre-referendum status of bilateral relationship between Madrid and Barcelona next to impossible. This means the EU has to do a lot of churning and re-thinking regarding its principles. Catalan developments are being keenly observed by many rebellious regions of Italy and France affected by the virus of separatism. Catalans are aghast at double standards of the EU that permitted Scottish referendum for self-determination to happen, but refuses to give the same rights to Catalonia. Indeed, the EU, after recognising Kosovos independence from Belgrade for political expediency, has opened a Pandoras box in the continent that would spur separatism in many European countries leading to possible disintegration of the Union. (The author is a professor at School of International Studies, JNU) Not even a single Dera follower turned up to see Honeypreet in jail after she was sent to 6-day police remand by a Panchkula court on Wednesday. Honeypreet being taken away by police after she was produced at a Panchkula court on Wednesday. She was remanded to six days in police custody. (Photo: Prabhjot Gill) By Manjeet Sehgal: Once the number two in Dera Sacha Sauda, Honeypreet has now been cornered by her own followers. Not even a single Dera premi (follower) turned up to see her in jail after she was sent to six-day police remand by a Panchkula court on Wednesday. Honeypreet looked pale and helpless in police custody. She told doctors on Tuesday night that she had migraine and felt very low. The doctors, however, declared her fit after conducting ECG test and measuring her blood pressure. advertisement Once spending crores on shopping and living a life soaked in luxury, she has now been reduced to a common woman. Honeypreet was offered dal and roti in dinner and the luxuries were missing. On the other hand, in a new twist to the Panchkula violence investigation, police have now found that the conspiracy to shed blood in the town and whisk away Ram Rahim from police custody was hatched a week prior to the incident. To top it all, it has also been discovered that the mastermind of the conspiracy was Honeypreet herself. According to police sources, Honeypreet had chaired a meeting in Sirsa on August 17, which was also attended by two close Baba aides - Rakesh Kumar Arora (his private secretary) and Preetam (chief security officer) - who were later arrested by the SIT team from Sirsa. Interrogation of Arora and Preetam led to important leads that police do not want to share at this point of time. "A meeting was organised in the Dera in which a conspiracy to incite violence was hatched. This is a very sensitive issue and we have got important leads from Honeypreet which we cannot share at this time. Honeypreet has expressed ignorance but we will interrogate her," Panchkula police commissioner AS Chawla said. Meanwhile, Panchkula police on Wednesday produced Honeypreet in court which remanded her to six-day police custody. She is also likely to be taken to some of the places where she spent 38 days after Ram Rahim was jailed on August 25. Honeypreet is among Haryana's most wanted 43 Dera followers who are accused of inciting violence on August 25. After issuing a look-out notice against her on September 1, the court had also issued non-bailable warrants against her. She was finally nabbed on Tuesday near Chandigarh. Reportedly, Honeypreet herself wanted to surrender before Haryana police. According to highly placed sources, she was in touch with certain senior officers of Haryana police for five days. Highly placed sources told India Today TV that a top Haryana cop knew her location but did not arrest her. Sources also said Honeypreet's lawyer had reportedly informed police that she was willing to surrender. She was also reportedly prepared to speak to the media and use the 'victim' card to garner sympathy. advertisement A senior officer said Honeypreet's movements were also being recorded by neighbouring Punjab police. "The Punjab government, particularly police and intelligence departments, were merely providing inputs to the neighbouring state in the interest of justice and to maintain law and order in the region," a Punjab government spokesperson said. According to sources, Honeypreet had stayed in a Banur (Patiala) resort located at a distance of 25 km from Chandigarh after she moved from Ludhiana to Banur. Sources also said Honeypreet had attempted to surrender a couple of days before she moved her interim bail application in Delhi high court on September 26. However, she changed her mind as nearly 200 Haryana cops were already present outside the court in plain clothes. On Wednesday, human rights activist and lawyer Momin Malik turned up at Sector 23 police station and said he wanted to meet her. "Honeypreet's human rights have been violated. I want to meet her and take up her case as she is a daughter of this country," said Malik, who was returned empty-handed by the cops. ALSO WATCH | Honeypreet complained of chest pain during questioning after arrest --- ENDS --- advertisement Former Uber boss Travis Kalanick's grip on the boardroom was weakened yesterday. Corporate governance changes were voted for unanimously by the board, including Kalanick who was ousted as chief executive in June even though they dilute his voting rights. The number of seats on the board will rise from 11 to 17 and a two-thirds majority will be needed to oust new chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi, who is working to prepare the fast-growing firm for a public listing. Corporate governance changes were voted for unanimously by the Uber board, including Travis Kalanick who was ousted as chief exec in June even though they dilute his voting rights Uber is also adopting a one-vote-per-share policy, sources told Reuters, and removing 'supershare' powers enjoyed by founders. The changes are conditional on the firm securing an investment of up to 940million from a consortium led by Japanese tech giant SoftBank. But the deal could still face opposition. Early Uber investors Shervin Pishevar and Steve Russell said they would sue to block the change, which cuts the super-voting rights that give them ten votes per share. The Government's role in the trade dispute between US aerospace giant Boeing and Canadian rival Bombardier is being investigated by MPs. Fears of a transatlantic trade war erupted last week after Washington put tariffs of 220 per cent on imports into the US of Bombardier C-Series aircraft, which are partly built in Belfast. The interim decision by the US department of commerce, which followed a complaint by Boeing, has put up to 14,000 jobs at risk in Northern Ireland, where the wings are made. Angus MacNeil, chairman of the Commons international trade committee, has now demanded answers about the dispute from ministers. Heavy turbulence: Washington slapped punitive tariffs of 220% on imports into the US of Bombardier C-Series aircraft, which are part-built in Belfast In a letter to International Trade Secretary Liam Fox, the SNP MP warned that the US decision to impose such punitive tariffs 'is entirely prohibitive to trade'. MacNeil demanded to know what discussions were held between Fox's department and Washington prior to the news, adding: 'To what extent does this decision indicate the US government is taking a more protectionist stance to international trade.' The ruling against Bombardier was an embarrassment for Theresa May after she personally lobbied Donald Trump over the dispute. 'It also marked a major setback to Fox's hopes of securing a swift trade deal with the US after Brexit, and put a strain on the Prime Minister's power-sharing deal with Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party. BOMBARDIER BY THE NUMBERS 55m Cost of a C-Series jet 4.2bn Bombardier contract to supply 125 C-Series aircraft to US-based Delta Airlines. 220 per cent Tariffimposed by US on imports of C-Series aircraft 4,000 Jobs at risk in Northern Ireland Bombardier has 4,200 workers in Belfast, but supports 10,000 jobs in the supply chain in Northern Ireland. It recently won a 4.2billion contract to supply 125 C-Series aircraft to Delta Airlines in the US, with the carbon-fibre wings due to be built at a 520million factory in Belfast before being shipped to Canada. But Boeing claimed the firm was able to sell the C-Series planes for less than they cost to build thanks to financial help from the Canadian and British governments. The Government has threatened to block Boeing from future defence contracts worth billions of pounds unless it backs down further dampening hopes that Fox can secure a trade deal with the US after Brexit. Irish foreign minister Simon Coveney told US commerce secretary Wilbur Ross that the impact of the ruling on the Northern Ireland economy 'would be pronounced' unless it is reversed and could threaten the peace process. 'It is important that the Irish Government's concerns on the potential fallout are conveyed at the highest level,' he said. BREXIT BOOST Britain has clocked up a fifth quarter of growth since the Brexit referendum in June last year. IHS Markit said a pick-up in the services sector last month put the economy on course for growth of 0.3 per cent in the third quarter of the year. SHINING OPPORTUNITY Investment firm Foresight Solar Fund has bought a 48.5 per cent stake in the Bannerton Solar Farm in Victoria, Australia. It is paying 3.2million for development rights and is investing 23million in construction, among other things. BOOK CLOSES Peter Allen, chairman of publishing company Future, is stepping down, saying it was trading ahead of expectations. Future has bought the Home Interest arm of Centaur Media and rock magazine publisher Team Rock. MIAMI NICE International infrastructure group Balfour Beatty has been awarded a 195million contract to build shops and homes in Miami, developing a 8.1-acre site next to the Miami River. COUNTING COST Tainted beancounter KPMG has been dropped by the South African division of insurer Munich Re over a political scandal. KPMG has been criticised over its business dealings with the wealthy Gupta family, which has been accused of corruption, and has sacked bosses in South Africa. INSURER UPDATE The new chairman of Lloyd's of London has called for modernisation at the 331-year-old insurance market. Bruce Carnegie-Brown, who joined in June, said it was important to cut bills and move into the digital age. BOSSES HIRED Broker TP Icap has hired eight senior staff in the division that supports large institutions, including Jonathan Gane, who takes over as managing director of the institutional services division after serving as chief executive at Fort Rock Asset Management. MARA LESS The investment firm of disgraced ex-Barclays boss Bob Diamond has lost its co-founder as it tries to recover from a share slump. Ashish Thakkar set up Atlas Mara with Diamond in 2013, but the stock has fallen 78 per cent. COOL SALES Lower temperatures and an advertising push helped turn sales around at Uniqlo. Fast Retailing, which owns the Japanese fashion chain, said group sales rose by 6.9 per cent last month, store sales were up 5.5 per cent, and online sales increased 6.3 per cent. The Special Investigating Team (SIT) that is interrogating Honeypreet, reportedly fired some 40-odd questions at the former Dera fugitive. By Manjeet Sehgal: A day after Gurmeet Ram Rahim's confidante Honeypreet Insan was sent to six-day police remand by a Panchkula court, investigating officers are yet to extract some hard facts from Baba's aide. The Special Investigating Team (SIT) that is interrogating Honeypreet , reportedly fired some 40-odd questions at the former Dera fugitive- who had nothing but head nods and silences to offer. advertisement Largely, Honeypreet disclosed details of the places she went to and people she was in touch with during her 38-day long run from the police . All the while she maintained that she was not 'hiding' but only seeking a 'safe' haven . Honeypreet and another Dera aide Sukhdeep were today brought to Bhawanigarh Police Station of Sangroor district. According to our sources in Chandigarh,Haryana police is likely to conduct a narco test on Honeypreet. Following is what transpired between the Dera aide and the investigating officers: What was code-word used to incite violence in Panchkula ? Honeypreet: I played no part in it... It is the handiwork of some disruptive elements. On the day of Gurmeet Ram Rahim's conviction, what signal were you trying to send through the red suitcase? Honeypreet: This is false speculation, the suitcase had my clothes. Why did you go to the Dera headquarters in Sirsa after visiting Gurmeet in Rohtak's Sunaria Jail? Honeypreet: I had some work. Where all did you go to in the 38 days that you were on a run? Honeypreet: I stayed in several places in Haryana, Punjab, Delhi and even Rajasthan. I stopped wherever I felt safe. In those 38 days, who all did you speak with? Honeypreet: I cannot answer this... I'm not in a position to answer that. Who all were you in touch with via WhatsApp? Honeypreet: Lot of people. Who advised/took you to Delhi to file for an anticipatory bail? Honeypreet: My lawyer in Delhi. Who funded movies made by Dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim? Honeypreet: I don't know. How did the Dera acquire its vast expanse of property? Honeypreet: I don't know. What is the truth behind Baba's Gufa (cave)? Honeypreet: It is a rumor. There is nothing there. How many Dera properties are there in Dubai and Canada? Honeypreet: I have no clue. Where did you get the money to produce movies under the Dera banner? advertisement Honeypreet: I have no information on this. Who all used Baba's gufa (cave)? Honeypreet: I don't know. What is the truth about the allegations of sexual assault on Dera chief? Honeypreet: He is innocent. What is your relationship with Gurmeet Ram Rahim? Honeypreet: He is my father, people are misconstructing a father-daughter relationship. What does the Kurbani gang do? Honeypreet: There is no such gang at the Dera. What do you have to say about the weapons found at the Dera headquarters in Sirsa? Honeypreet: There were no weapons at the Dera headquarters. Where did you stay the longest during your 38-day long hiatus from the police? Honeypreet: I don't remember. Name the people abroad with whom you spoke? Honeypreet: I was not in touch with anyone. Were you using an international sim card? Honeypreet: No answer. Where is your old phone and sim card? Honeypreet: I don't know. How many phones and sim cards did you use in those 38 days? Honeypreet: No answer. What do you have to say about the smuggling charges against you? advertisement Honeypreet: I did not smuggle money out of Dera. Why were there weapons in the cars escorting Gurmeet on the day of his hearing? Honeypreet: No answer. How did you contact the media and who helped you? Honeypreet: No answer. How many politicians and NRIs were present in Gurmeet's convoy? Honeypreet: I don't know. What is the truth behind mass castration in Dera? Honeypreet: There is no such thing. Did you stay in Bathinda and did any Congress politician help you? Honeypreet: Several Dera followers stay in Bathinda. Who masterminded Panchkula violence? Honeypreet: There is no such thing. What was the role of Dera committee members in the riots? Honeypreet: I don't know. How much money was spent to incite violence in Panchkula? Honeypreet: This is a false propaganda. Why did you not contact police after coming out of Sunaria jail? Honeypreet: I have not done anything wrong. Were you always aware about police raids? Honeypreet: There is nothing like that. When did you last speak to Aditya Insan? Honeypreet: I don't remember. What was Ram Rahim's last message? Honeypreet: Papa believes in justice and he will come out innocent soon. advertisement Also watch: Honeypreet complained of chest pain during questioning after arrest --- ENDS --- LOBAMBA Wathintabafazi, wathintimbokodo. This slogan, meaning you strike women, you strike a rock, was chanted by women who packed the public gallery in Parliament yesterday. The public gallery in Parliament was packed to capacity as concerned human rights activists came to hear for themselves the shocking news of the removal of proposed clauses in the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Bill, 2015. Four core clauses of the bill have been entirely scrapped from the proposed law. The clauses are Clause 4, 10, 42 and 47, which are incest, unlawful stalking, abduction and flashing, respectively. Although the Bill has not been adopted by Members of Parliament (MPs), a report calling for the adoption of the law without the clauses has been tabled by the chairperson of the Deputy Prime Ministers (DPM) Portfolio Committee, Sandleni MP James Simelane. One of the main excuses made by the chairperson in his report was that some of the provisions were meant to seriously undermine Swazi traditions. However, this was not to be as, although the issue was in yesterdays Order Paper, it was not debated because of other House business. Representatives from the Swaziland Action Group Against Abuse (SWAGAA), Women and Law in Swaziland and others were keen to listen in on the issue. However, the matter was not discussed as anticipated because of other House business. The House once again spent almost six hours debating issues surrounding the closure of the Swaziland Christian University (SCU). Comment Yesterday, the country woke up to news of a proposed mutilation of the long awaited Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Bill. A Parliament Portfolio Committee has recommended the removal of four clauses that it sees as undermining Swazi culture. These include stalking, abduction, flashing and incest. This matter was due for debate yesterday evening, however, the debate was a non-starter. We are hopeful though that when it is eventually debated, common sense will prevail and the protection of life will supersede all else. Our women, who dominated the polling stations to vote the current MPs into their positions are devastated by the latest development and rightly so. Sadly they have no right of recall. It was taken away from them despite majority submissions to have it included in the Constitution. Now their input into the Sexual Offences Bill is about to suffer the same fate. The Bill provides for the protection of Swazi culture in the clauses they want deleted, so why the fuss? In its recommendations, the Portfolio Committee argues that victims could seek redress in courts on the issues contained in the clauses they want scrapped. Well the same argument can be put to the MPs, that anybody charged under the said clauses can put their case before the courts, which are competent enough to decide what is cultural and what is not. If MPs go ahead with this, they ought to be aware that they are just about to officially brand Swazi culture as a tool to suppress women and girls in this country. This is not an image we wish for ourselves when the world is pushing aggressively for gender equality and the protection for women and girls. We urge the MPs to apply themselves adequately and not forget that at least 140 countries have passed laws on domestic violence, and 144 have laws on sexual harassment according to UN statistics. Swaziland is definitely not one of them. Why? There are also reportedly 37 countries that still exempt rape perpetrators from prosecution when they are married to or subsequently marry the victim. Do we want to place our beautiful country among these? Of course not! After keeping the Haryana Police on its toes for 38 days, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh's angel Honeypreet Insan is now giving sleepless nights to the Haryana cops, who have failed to elicit answers to the questions during the two rounds of interrogation. By Manjeet Sehgal: After keeping the Haryana Police on its toes for 38 days, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh's angel Honeypreet Insan is now giving sleepless nights to the Haryana cops, who have failed to elicit answers to the questions during the two rounds of interrogation. Honeypreet was asked a total of 40 questions, which also pertained to her role in the Panchkula violence, besides the failed escape plan. Apart from refusing to answer 13 specific questions, the answers for 27 questions were either negative or confusing. advertisement During the interrogation, the police managed to get answers only to two questions. Honeypreet admitted she used the WhatsApp chat application to communicate and had also spoken to other absconding Dera aides like Dr Aditya Insan. She has refused to answer why illegal weapons were being carried in Dera vehicles, why one Dera vehicle was set ablaze in Sirsa, who paid five crore rupees to Dera goons and the number of mobile phones and SIM cards and even International SIM cards she used during the 38 days she was absconding for. "Honeypreet has feigned ignorance about the charges levelled against her. She has so far failed to answer the queries. Interrogation into the case will continue and if the six-day remand is found to be insufficient, the police can also get the same extended, besides requesting the court to allow her narco test", Panchkula Police Commissioner AS Chawla said. After getting the six-day police remand, cops on Thursday took Honeypreet to the Punjab towns and villages she visited during the 38 days when she was at large . WHERE ALL WAS HONEYPREET TAKEN? Honeypreet was taken to Bhawanigarh near Sangrur, Tapq Mandi, Rampura and Bathinda (Ganesh Nagar) where she had stayed with her uncle for four days. Honeypreet's accomplice Sukhdeep Kaur, who is the wife of Gurmeet Ram Rahim's driver Iqbal Singh, was also taken to Bathinda. Locals told us that the family had shifted to Dera Headquarters a decade ago. Sukhdeep was arrested along with Honeypreet Insan from Zirakpur town and he was driving an Innova vehicle. During her questioning in Bathinda, Honeypreet kept on saying that she did not remember whether she had visited this place. She was seen sweating and asking for water repeatedly. Sources said Honeypreet had allegedly used 17 SIM cards, including three international ones. It is not yet known whether the SIM cards were issued in her own name or she used documents of Dera followers to get the same. During her questioning, Honeypreet also told the police that she had lost her mobile phone and SIM card. The police believe that Honeypreet has thrown the mobile phone somewhere else to confuse the police as her call details would have been crucial in proving her guilty. advertisement ALSO WATCH VIDEO | Honeypreet arrest: Haryana CM Khattar blames Punjab Police for delay --- ENDS --- Did you vote in the midterm elections as if your countrys existence depended on it? After Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar slammed Punjab for delaying the arrest of Honeypreet Insan, who is currently being interrogated by Panchkula Police, Captain Amarinder Singh said Khattar was making such fabricated comments to shield his own government's failure in the case. By Satender Chauhan, Manjeet Sehgal: Rape convict Gurmeet Ram Rahim's foster daughter Honeypreet Insan's delayed arrest has triggered a war of words between Punjab and Haryana. Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Thursday slammed Punjab for delaying the arrest of Honeypreet Insan, who is currently being interrogated by Panchkula Police. "The role of Punjab Police in connection with the Honeypreet case has been very suspicious. Everything was done in collusion with the Punjab Police and there is certainly something fishy with the way it was all handled. Had Punjab Police informed us timely, we would have arrested her immediately. We are hoping that Honeypreet's questioning will reveal the truth", said Khattar. advertisement The Haryana chief minister's reaction comes after Punjab Police distanced itself from the controversy, saying that no case was registered against Honeypreet in Punjab and it was only exchanging information with the Haryana Police. Khattar has come under direct attack from the media and opposition parties for having failed to arrest Honeypreet Insan. A senior Haryana police officer is believed to have known about Honeypreet's location for 5 days, but done nothing to arrest her. Honeypreet was arrested on October 3 after playing hide and seek with the police for 38 days. Sources say Punjab Police had knowledge about the whereabouts of Honeypreet Insan, who was frequently roaming in various Punjab towns including Ludhiana, Bhatinda, Patiala and Chandigarh. She was also seen briefly in Kasauli, Himachal Pradesh. The Khattar government has also been accused of being hand-in-glove with the Dera Sacha Sauda chief and his aides, including Honeypreet Insan. The Opposition has demanded Khattar's resignation for the failure of his government to arrest Dera aides. "Haryana Police and the Khattar government were never interested in arresting Honeypreet Insan, who moved from one place to another, right under the nose of Haryana Police, which was instructed by its political bosses to let her move around freely and fearlessly. We demand the resignation of Manohar Lal Khattar as he has failed to perform his duties as a chief minister", said Naveen Jaihind ,President of Aam Aadmi Party's Haryana unit. AMARINDER HITS BACK AT KHATTAR Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has hit back at Khattar, for questioning the Punjab Police's role in the Honeypreet Insan case. Taking strong objection to the Haryana chief minister's reported statements alleging Punjab Police's complicity in the matter, Captain Amarinder asked Khattar to refrain from making such fabricated comments to shield his own government's failure in the Dera Sacha Sauda case. "After trying unsuccessfully to pin the blame for the Panchkula violence on the Punjab government, Khattar is now trying once again to divert public attention from the total collapse of law and order in Haryana since the day of Dera chief Ram Rahim's conviction for rape", said Amarinder Singh. advertisement WATCH VIDEO | Honeypreet arrest: Haryana CM Khattar blames Punjab Police for delay --- ENDS --- This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate ALBANY Politics has moved down State Street from the Capitol to the Hilton Albany, where employees are locked in a labor dispute with management after their contract expired in April. Responding to union requests, some 70 state lawmakers have signed letters pledging their support for a boycott of the hotel, and have vowed to neither stay nor attend events there. Among those writing letters to hotel management are the eight-member state Senate Independent Democratic Conference, the leader of the mainline Democratic Conference, and the chairman of the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Legislative Caucus, a powerful voting bloc at the Capitol. Democratic Assembly members Patricia Fahy of Albany, John McDonald of Cohoes and Phil Steck of Colonie as well as Democratic Sen. Neil Breslin of Bethlehem also have pledged their support of employees. "Your hotel has a long history of working with its employees in a positive manner, and management should strive to maintain an amicable approach to the hotel's workforce and labor relations," Senate Democratic Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins wrote last month to David Hayes of United Capital Corporation, which owns the Hilton. "Unfortunately, until this contract dispute is resolved, please be advised that we will not cross a picket line maintained by your workforce." More for you Union pickets over contract dispute at Hilton Albany Hotel After dropping off pizza to those picketing outside the hotel on Monday, Stewart-Cousins told reporters she believes many lawmakers will not patronize the hotel if the dispute stretches into the legislative session, which starts in January. "I think this (dispute) is obviously a deterrent for anybody, quite frankly," she said. "I think it just behooves everyone to come back to the table and to negotiate in good faith." The letter from Caucus Chairman N. Nick Perry, a Brooklyn Democratic assemblyman, is particularly noteworthy given that the caucus, through its nonprofit arm the state Association of Black and Puerto Rican Legislators Inc., holds a well-attended annual "Caucus Weekend" retreat in Albany, with some events at the Hilton in past years. A review of state campaign finance records shows that some lawmakers, including boycott supporters, also have used their campaign funds for lodging at the hotel during the event. Latrice Walker, a Democratic assemblywoman from Brooklyn and chair of the nonprofit, said the organization is "exploring any opportunities that we have at this point" about whether Caucus Weekend events will take place at the Hilton in 2018. "We take the situation very seriously," she said. A United Capital Corp representative did not respond to a request for comment. The hotel is a short walk downhill on State Street from the Capitol, making it a convenient lodging, meeting and dining spot for lawmakers, lobbyists and state advocacy organizations. Amid the labor dispute, the state Office of Mental Health moved a September gathering to the Empire State Plaza. The Hilton workers are represented by the politically potent New York Hotel and Motel Trades Council. The union and its PAC have made scores of campaign contributions to state lawmakers. State Board of Elections filings show contributions during the 2016 campaign cycle totaling $7,000 to Stewart-Cousins and $8,500 to Senate IDC Leader Jeff Klein, to name just two beneficiaries. mhamilton@timesunion.com 518-454-5449 @matt_hamilton10 This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Albany Dr. Janny Venema, assistant director of the New Netherland Research Center at the New York State Library, has been appointed Knight in the Order of Orange Nassau by the Netherlands government. Venema received the honor on Sept. 23 for her work promoting the Dutch role in American and New York history, including transcribing and translating the surviving archival records of New Netherland and educating the public about the Dutch influence on United States heritage. "On behalf of the Board of Regents, we congratulate Dr. Janny Venema for receiving this high honor from the Dutch government," said Board of Regents Chancellor Betty A. Rosa. "I commend Janny's successful career and her dedication to making the history of the Dutch in North America available for study by scholars and students alike." Venema has worked with Charles Gehring, director and founder of the research center, to translate more than 7,000 pages of original 17th-century New Netherland documents in state collections, many of which suffered fire, smoke and water damage in a 1911 state Capitol blaze. She said first met Gehring during a trip to Albany from her native Netherlands, where she was a teacher of Dutch language and literature, and history. They chatted, in Dutch, and she became fascinated with the documents he was working with. When she returned to Albany in 1984, for an extended stay with a boyfriend, she volunteered with the New Netherland Project and became a staff member the following year. "I loved what we were doing, but I didn't know it would lead to a knighthood," Venema said. Laughing, she said, "I always wanted to be a knight." Dutch officials acknowledge that some of the finest collections of 17th- and 18th-century Dutch records, correspondence and artifacts reside in the State Library, State Archives and State Museum that share the Cultural Education Center at the Empire State Plaza's southern edge. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and features with our afternoon newsletter. Because of this, the Dutch government invested tens of thousands of dollars through the National Archives of the Netherlands to scan and digitize roughly 13,000 documents in the state's possession. Those documents now can be searched for free by researchers on both sides of the Atlantic. Among the documents available are Dutch Colonial manuscripts, Van Rensselaer Manor papers, Holland Land Co. records, and archaeological collections from New Amsterdam (present-day New York City) and Beverwijck (present-day Albany). In addition to her work with New Netherlands documents, Venema has organized cultural and educational exchanges, and published articles and educational materials. She also has written books including a social history of Beverwijck and a biography of Kiliaen Van Rensselaer, a co-founder of the Dutch East India Co. and founder of what was known as the Manor of Rensselaerwyck, a large estate on either side of the Hudson River near Albany that covered parts of what are now Albany, Rensselaer, Columbia and Greene counties. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Bodily injury, lead, and a letter from actress Alicia Silverstone are just some of the reasons why certain toys have been banned through history. The list of the top 10 banned toys was compiled by Gary Doss, curator of the Burlingame Museum of PEZ Memorabilia and Banned Toy Museum. Nearly every toy that made the top 10, and the four honorable mentions, were banned for causing some sort of unexpected harm to children. One of the most notable toys was the Sky Dancers released by Galoob in the 1990s. BLEW UP: Why a Houston woman sent a giant inflatable Donald Trump chicken to Sen. Ted Cruz's office Now Playing: After filing for bankruptcy, Toys R Us isn't giving up. CEO Dave Brandon says that the company is adding to its online presence and revamping stores with a focus on interactive areas and augmented reality. Brandon told USA TODAY that the company believes the added focus on AR and other interactive in-store experiences will help grow sales. The new app feature will let guests animate the stores' giraffe mascot, navigate the store, shoot virtual baskets, take care of a virtual baby and more. Video: Wochit The toys were a helicopter-like flying toy where a cord was pulled to launch a doll into the air. By June 2000, Galoob was forced to recall nearly 9 million Sky Dancers after the company "received 150 injury reports which include eye damage (scratched corneas and incidents of temporary blindness), a mild concussion, a broken rib, broken teeth and facial lacerations that required stitches," the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reported in Oct. 2000. Galoob settled the matter with CPSC and denied that it violated the Consumer Product Safety Act or any other law administered by commission. The company was forced to pay a civil penalty of $400,000. Galoob was purchased by Hasbro in 1998 for $220 million, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. RANKED: The most well-behaved Houston-area high schools One toy that did not make the list, surprisingly, was a PEZ dispenser from the 1980s designed like a small handgun. The dispenser, which has become a popular item on eBay where a used gun can go for $324, captured Reddit's attention Sunday with many people wondering why the company thought this was an appropriate design. "Pez made three different styles of guns. All of them worked like a real gun," Doss told Chron.com Tuesday. "There was a 'clip' that was loaded with PEZ candy. You would slide the clip into the handle, like a real gun, and fire out Pez candy. You could easily hit a target 10 feet away." The PEZ guns were ultimately discontinued because, Doss believes, consumer interest fell. A request for comment was left with PEZ regarding its guns. Swipe through the gallery above to learn about the other toys that were banned through history. "Victoria and Abdul" is about a lot of interesting things. It's about Judi Dench, who has never seemed young, now getting older. It's about a piece of history being repressed and the reasons for its repression. And it's about the strange and resilient capacity for human beings to forge friendships, even in the face of arbitrary but formidable obstacles such as race, culture and class. To start with Dame Judi, at this point watching her play Queen Victoria is a little like watching Bette Davis play an actress in "All About Eve." "Victoria and Abdul" is no commentary on a career, but an exploration of a state of mind and a stage of life, about what it's like to be great, but also to be old and frail, and to have to maintain a facade of composure and fearlessness, more for the sake of others than for oneself. Imprinted on Dench/Victoria's face is the resignation of knowing she can never really be understood, that she's going to have to take her secrets and her feelings with her. The story told in "Victoria and Abdul" is so far-fetched that it really helps to know that it is, in its broad outlines, true. In the 1880s, Abdul Karim was a clerk living in colonial India, who was brought to London to present a medal to the queen. For some reason, she liked him and kept him on, first as a servant, then as a teacher and member of the royal household. She traveled with him everywhere and granted him land and honors, which created lots of jealousy among the royal courtiers. The movie compresses 15 years into what seems like two or three. Director Stephen Frears switches between comedy and drama, but the transitions are smooth enough. Many of the details are made up there was no one taking notes during Victoria and Abdul's private conversations, and recreating those conversations is further hampered by the almost complete burning of their correspondence by the subsequent king, Edward VII. But based on what remains such as Abdul's diary, discovered just this decade it does seem true that Victoria made a constant and strenuous effort to defend Abdul against a lot of race-based hostility underneath her own roof. More Information *** Review "Victoria and Abdul" Rated: PG-13 Running time: 112 minutes See More Collapse Dench's portrait is that of a lonely woman, who doesn't know a single person who remembers what she was like when she could still be a human being. All her confidants are dead, and she can't take any new favorites from among the assortment at court, because she can't trust them. They're all jockeying for advantage. So she sees in Abdul (Ali Fazal), who is open-hearted and not part of the palace culture, someone with whom she can bond. Fazal is so handsome and radiates such a pureness of spirit that he compensates for the movie's one missing piece: What was in it for Abdul? Was he working an angle? Perhaps he loved the queen as a mother figure, spontaneously and sincerely. Yet he'd have to have had the soul of a slave (or a saint) not to resent the condescending British officers occupying his country. In all likelihood, Abdul's motives were a mix of things genuine affection, with an element of calculation and a recognition of advantage. But "Victoria and Abdul" doesn't play a mix of motives, but rather presents Abdul as Victoria must have seen him. This has the disadvantage of rendering something complex as simple, but it intensifies the movie's emotional impact. Keeping the motives simple, for example, reinforces (or, if you want to be cynical about it, manufactures) a sense of outrage each time this impossibly sweet man is condescended to by some strutting officer or functionary. In "Victoria and Abdul," every English stuffed shirt talks in a loud, confident voice, sounding something like Field Marshal Montgomery addressing his troops during World War II. In any case, the movie ultimately all comes down to Dench, and the film becomes a frame of her performance. It's a great performance. It's her equivalent of Emmanuelle Riva's work in "Amour," a dress rehearsal for the abyss. Frears lingers on every line and seam on Dench's face, but this is not exploitation, but a 76-year-old director and an 82-year-old actress in a common cause. This is life, they're saying. This is age. This is us, standing at the edge. You could be empress of India, or one of the greatest actresses in the English language. It still comes down to this, and we're looking at it. And you're looking with us. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Troy When Jamie Magur was deciding whether to run for City Council, he had a difficult meeting with Dean Bodnar. Both men are Republicans, and Magur was thinking about running for the seat Bodnar is leaving. But their conversation was about much more than politics. Magur talked about how he had gone to prison for 18 months for repeatedly driving drunk. He explained his past and how he wanted to redeem it. He hoped Bodnar could forgive him. He wanted Bodnar's blessing. More Information Contact columnist Chris Churchill at 518-454-5442 or email cchurchill@timesunion.com See More Collapse Both men understood why he was asking. Nineteen years before the conversation, Bodnar's daughter was killed by a drunken driver as she stood on a Congress Street sidewalk. Allison Bodnar was 16 when she died. Magur considered her a friend. All these years later, Bodnar had questions for Magur. How many DUIs did you receive? Six, Magur said. "I almost fell off my chair," Bodnar remembered. "I was kind of stunned." Did you ever injury anybody? No, Magur said. Bodnar asked Magur what he had done to change his life and how he planned to stay out of trouble. He asked Magur how he would repay his community. Bodnar says he was impressed by Magur's responses, but left that day without giving him an answer. He could only promise to think about it. Afterward, Bodnar considered Magur's life since being released from prison in 2014. He thought about the strength of Magur's family and faith. Bodnar talked things over with his wife. Ultimately, he concluded he would bless Magur's campaign. "I really see a young man who wants to do good," Bodnar said. "He has paid his price." Magur, 38, is a Troy native who owns a downtown barber shop. He graduated from Catholic Central in 1997. He has a wife and two children and lives near Frear Park. Magur is seeking to represent District 3, which straddles Hoosick Street and stretches from Frear Park to RPI. He's facing author Coleen Murtagh Paratore, a Democrat, and schoolteacher Neil Abdul-Wahab from the Green Party. To this point, Magur's past has not been an issue in the election. To my knowledge, this is the first it's been reported. To Magur's credit, he didn't dodge questions when I called to ask about it. "I own what I did," he said. "It's not something I want to hide. I want everyone to know about it." That may seem hard to believe, but Magur knew his prison stay wouldn't remain a secret through an election. When he told friends and family he intended to run, they said he was crazy. Didn't he realize that his troubled past would be dragged into the open? But Magur wants to be an example for other alcoholics and convicted felons. "I want to show other people who are suffering from alcoholism that there is redemption," Magur said Wednesday as we sat at a table outside his River Street barber shop. "Things can be put back together." Magur needed a Certificate of Good Standing from the state Department of Corrections to vote and to be eligible for the ballot. He wants other felons to know that, contrary to popular belief, they can get involved with the political process. "There are a lot of great people in state prison," he said. "That probably sounds crazy, but there really are." Magur said he started drinking heavily in 2011 after his father and grandfather died. It was a coping mechanism, he said, but things spiraled out of control. He made mistake after mistake. He kept drinking and getting behind the wheel. In the spring of 2013, he was sentenced to three years in prison. His first child was born soon after. "I beat myself up for it," Magur said. "But I can't take it back." I don't know how voters will respond to Magur's past. Will they forgive him? Can they overlook that number six and the way he endangered the lives of others? As Magur concedes, he was lucky not to have hurt anybody. But if Bodnar can forgive Magur ... well, I suspect that will be enough for many. "We don't want to scare off people who are capable of doing good," Bodnar said. "If I had reservations, if I thought he was bulls----ing me, then believe me, I wouldn't be willing to give him the benefit of the doubt." We know our elected officials aren't angels, and it's silly to expect them to be. The best we can ask, in most cases, is that they admit their mistakes and try to learn from them. As Magur joked, politicians in New York usually become convicted felons after they get elected but he's already checked that box. He knows what it means to go to prison. "And I don't want to go back," he said. cchurchill@timesunion.com 518-454-5442 @chris_churchill The AAP chief and Delhi CM was hitting out at Lt Governor Anil Baijal for "opposing" the Bill to regularise guest teachers in Delhi. By Press Trust of India: "I am an elected chief minister, not a terrorist," Arvind Kejriwal said today while dramatically hitting out at Lt Governor Anil Baijal for "opposing" the Bill to regularise guest teachers in Delhi. At a day-long session of the Delhi Assembly, Kejriwal launched a broadside against the LG, BJP and the bureaucracy, alleging a nexus between them, which prompted a walk-out by the Opposition. advertisement "Hum Delhi ke maalik hai (we are Delhi's masters), not the bureaucracy" he asserted at one point, which was greeted with loud cheers and table thumping by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs. He was taking part in a discussion on a Bill introduced in the Assembly to regularise the employment of around 15,000 guest teachers (working on contractual basis) in Delhi government-run schools. The Bill was later passed by the House through voice vote. Registering his objection, Baijal had said that matters relating to services fall beyond the legislative competence of the Legislative Assembly of the National Capital Territory of Delhi and that the proposed legislation was not in accordance with the Constitutional scheme. Kejriwal alleged that the files relating to the regularisation of the teachers were never shown to Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who also holds the education portfolio, by the officials on the direction of the LG. "What state secrets do these files contain that they cannot be shown to us? I want to tell the LG that I am an elected CM of Delhi and not a terrorist. He (Sisodia) is an elected education minister, not a terrorist," Kejriwal said, drawing references from a dialogue of the 2010 Shah Rukh Khan starrer My Name is Khan. The AAP chief's combative speech, something he is known for, comes after a long gap when he remained unusually quiet, even on social media, refraining from attacking the opposition or Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Kejriwal also took exception to Baijal's objection that the government did not consult the Law Department before introducing the Bill. "People did not elect the law secretary, they elected us. The country is run on democracy, not bureaucracy. We are Delhi's masters. They (bureaucrats) will follow our orders," he said. Since storming to power in 2015, the AAP and the bureaucracy have shared an uneasy relationship with frequent run ins over matters of jurisdiction, mainly due to the capitals administrative structure where the LG enjoys primacy over the elected CM. Sisodia affirmed that the Bill was introduced after due legal consultations and wondered why the LG was objecting to it when he had cleared the governments proposal to regularise the services of around 150 Kashmiri migrant teachers employed in the city's schools on contractual basis since 1994. advertisement "We do not agree with the LG's assertion that the matter comes under services. It is a matter of education and his stand amounts to insulting the Constitution, the teachers and the entire education system. Education does not just mean constructing schools. Recruitments and appointments of teachers cannot be treated separately," he said. During the debate, Leader of Opposition Vijender Gupta said the AAP governments real intention was not regularisation, but politicisation of the issue, for which it "has not actually followed the laid down procedures governing a Bill." "The foundation of the Bill is flawed. One has to go by the rule of law, not rhetoric," Gupta said, when "invited" by Kejriwal to sort out the issues and bring amendments by sitting across the table "in my chamber". Reacting to Gupta's objection, Kejriwal said that through his offer of an instant dialogue, he wanted to expose the "hollowness" of the opposition. "If you have the guts, then confront us openly. Do not take cover behind officials and fire at us," Kejriwal said. advertisement Gupta hit back saying Kejriwal may be a good politician, but not a "capable administrator". A few guest teachers were present at the visitors gallery of the House during the debate. --- ENDS --- ALBANY The Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas is some 2,300 miles away and at least 16 times as big as any of the three new casinos in upstate New York. But Sundays tragic massacre of 58 concertgoers by gunman Stephen Paddock could prompt a reassessment of procedures and even state regulations regarding security measures at New Yorks three new casinos, including Rivers Casino & Resort in Schenectady, as well as the states older racinos offering harness racing and video lottery machines. Those in the business were quick to point out that Paddock targeted not a casino but the outdoor Route 91 Country & Western music festival across the street from his hotel room at Mandalay Bay. His shooting spree ended when he shot himself as police closed in on his 32nd floor suite. On Thursday, investigators said Paddock might have earlier scoped out the site of a Lollapalooza music festival in Chicago, and may have scouted Fenway Park in Boston. From a concert-going standpoint, this has totally rewritten the rules, said Michael Wilton, executive director of the State Gaming Association, a trade group that represents racinos. Like others, he said it was too soon to assess what changes might come to gaming establishments in light of Sundays killings. But some ideas were already bubbling up. Jeff Gural, who owns Tioga Downs, wondered if the state Gaming Commission should rethink New Yorks current ban on having armed guards in casinos. Las Vegas allows such guards to be armed, said Anthony Curtis, who runs the Las Vegas Advisor, a gaming enthusiast website. Even so, he said, armed guards in Las Vegas are relatively scarce, largely because of concerns about liability and insurance rates if something were to go wrong. Moreover, local police in New York are already aware of casinos in their jurisdictions, noted state Gaming Commission spokesman Lee Park. Law enforcement has a presence at the casinos, said Park, who explained they now cover the facilities as part of their patrols. Additionally, State Police can frequently be found weekdays at the casinos, as they are tasked with conducting background checks for new hires. Since the new casinos have been open for less than a year, hiring is an ongoing process. But there may be changes in the hotels attached to casinos. Industry observers on Thursday noted that Las Vegas casino magnate Steve Wynn has said he has non-visible metal detectors at the entrances to his facilities and employs retired military embassy guards as security officers. Casino hotels and hotels in general could begin using metal detectors, at least on a random basis, although there are probably limits to how far such scanning could go. When people check into a hotel, are you going to make them open every bag? asked Gary Greenberg, a minority shareholder at Vernon Downs, a racino and hotel in Vernon, Oneida County. There have already been some changes in other facilities connected to casinos. Gural said Tioga Downs started checking bags at outdoor concerts this year after a suicide bomber killed 22 people at an Ariana Grande concert in England last May. Some operators didnt want to detail their security, but said they have measures in place. The safety and security of our guests is of utmost importance," said Del Lago spokesman Steven Greenberg. "However we do not discuss our security procedures publicly." Executives for Rivers were out of town and couldnt be reached on Thursday. Needless to say, casinos everywhere have long had robust security and surveillance given the amount of cash they handle. Gural recalled that when New Yorks racinos first came on line more than a decade ago, State Police stationed plainclothes officers in the facilities. But they eventually decreased their presence. Nothing ever happened, Gural said. Those who follow the gaming industry were quick to rebut any connection between Paddocks heavy gambling especially on high-dollar electronic poker and his descent into meticulously planned mass murder. Interviews this week with casino workers who were familiar with him included accounts of how Paddock would stare at his machine in an almost transfixed state. That, though, is simply an indicator of the focus that serious electronic poker players bring to their wagering, said Alan Woinksi, who operates Gaming USA, a consulting firm. They are like zombies playing these games, he said. rkarlin@timesunion.com 518 454 5758 @RickKarlinTU This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate BALLSTON SPA In 1987, Thomas Lemery hired 18-year-old Jean Hatalsky out of high school to be a receptionist for his start-up business, Creatacor, in Clifton Park. Over the next 27 years, the trusted employee's position in the trade show exhibit production company grew and so did her bank account because she was ripping the business off to the tune of $500,000. On Thursday, a shaken Lemery watched as Saratoga County Judge James A. Murphy III sentenced the Mechanicville woman to the maximum two- to six-years in prison based on her earlier guilty pleas to second-degree grand larceny and falsifying business records. "I have no alternative. You've given me no choice by your own conduct," the judge told Hatalsky, calling the crime abhorrent. The judge did say Hatalsky, 48, will be eligible for Shock incarceration, a boot camp-style program in New York prisons that allows those eligible to complete their sentences in six months, if completed successfully. Hatalsky also must pay $500,000 in restitution; her attorney said $430,000 was already paid. "While the crime was bad enough, the betrayal of trust was so much more painful," Lemery told the judge. "She was one of our most loyal and trustworthy employees and had worked with us side by side most of our professional careers." Hatalsky used the pilfered profits to buy Christmas presents, dinners, a snowmobile and lawnmower, among other items, District Attorney Karen Heggen told the court. When given a chance to speak, Hatalsky turned to the victims in court. She called her former coworkers her "family for many years." Lemery, sitting nearby, appeared unmoved. "I'm ashamed. I'm embarrassed. I can't turn back time," Hatalsky said, sitting by her attorney, Andrew Safranko. "I cannot apologize enough for my actions." In 2008, the Times Union profiled Hatalsky in column called, "My Other Life," in which she spoke about her passion for breeding, raising and exhibiting quarterhorses in her spare time. And she highlighted her job as Creatacor's office manager. "I can use training and experience I have learned at work assisting in my outside hobby managing my horse farm," she said. "As far as the exhibiting and public relations part of my day job, I've transferred the knowledge, took that and used that ability promoting my hobby of horses in the public." At Creatacor, Hatalsky was responsible for all credit card transactions for the company. Her theft was exposed by an audit. Forensic accounting revealed more than 6,000 transactions were falsely recorded or not recorded at all between 2010 and 2015, Lemery told the judge. "Who knows how long before that time she had been stealing from Creatacor?" Lemery asked. When Hatalsky was hired, Creatacor had eight employees. By September 2015 the company had more than 50. Lemery said Hatalsky worked closely for 24 years with Linda Casimano, who was hired as a bookkeeper and is now a partner in Creatacor. He and Casimano were "deeply wounded" by the thefts, he said. Cash flow, he explained, had been a constant issue at the company over the years, which led to countless meetings and calls to tighten spending. Hatalsky attended those meetings, he noted. "Fully aware of the impact the lack of cash was having on our business, she continued to selfishly take our hard-earned resources for herself," Lemery said, saying the company could have used the pilfered profits for several improvements. "I cannot forgive her." Washington Secretary of State Rex W. Tillerson insisted Wednesday he has never considered resigning, despite what associates have described as deep frustration. But he did not deny a report he has grown so disenchanted with President Donald Trump that he referred to him as a "moron." Three days after Trump undercut Tillerson by dismissing efforts to reach out to North Korea, the secretary of state summoned reporters to reaffirm his loyalty to the president and dispute an NBC News report that he had been prepared to step down over the summer and at one point was counseled by Vice President Mike Pence on how to ease tension. "The vice president has never had to persuade me to remain as secretary of state because I have never considered leaving this post," Tillerson said. Pence separately denied the report. But Tillerson did not contest other elements of the article, including an episode when he was said to have called Trump a "moron" after a meeting at the Pentagon last summer. "I'm not going to deal with petty stuff like that," he replied when asked if he had assigned that label to the president. His spokeswoman later denied it. The spectacle of the secretary of state denying plans to resign was the latest rupture in an administration consumed by palace intrigue from the start. Trump has lost a string of top officials, including a chief of staff, a national security adviser, a chief strategist, a press secretary and two communications directors. He has fired the FBI director, belittled his attorney general and publicly assailed the deputy attorney general. Trump, speaking with reporters in Las Vegas, where he was visiting victims of this week's mass shooting, dismissed the report that Tillerson considered resignation. "It was fake news," he said. Asked about the secretary, Trump said, "Total confidence in Rex. I have total confidence." Even as Tillerson denied a rift on Wednesday, he alluded to significant differences over North Korea and Iran. He stressed the possibility of a peaceful resolution of the nuclear dispute with North Korea and associated himself with Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, who just a day earlier endorsed retaining the nuclear agreement with Iran that Trump has threatened to rip up. Over the weekend, Tillerson told reporters traveling with him to China that he had been exploring the possibility of talks with North Korea through two or three channels. Trump was described by advisers as livid and publicly undercut the secretary of state on Twitter by telling him he was "wasting his time." The tension grew on Wednesday with the NBC News article reporting that Tillerson was ready to resign over the summer. The article said the secretary was particularly upset at Trump's politicized speech before the Boy Scouts of America, an organization Tillerson previously headed. He was in Texas at the time for his son's wedding and threatened not to return to Washington, NBC reported. A 22-year-old Texas man who was convicted of running down and killing two highway workers in 2014 while drunk tried to use GoFundMe to pay his restitution. Jan Michael Nieves Delgado was found guilty by an El Paso County jury on two counts of intoxicated manslaughter on May 27, 2016, in connection with the deaths of Jimmy Joe Broadstreet, 54, and James Green, 39, in 2014, the El Paso Times reported. Delgado had struck the two men with his car while they were part of a construction crew working on a bridge over I-10, the Times added. He had a blood alcohol level of .118, the Times said. BUSTED: Texas teacher arrested for allegedly abusing a child for a second time in two years Delgado, who was in the Army and stationed out of Fort Bliss before the accident, was sentenced to a 10-year suspended prison term and told to pay $10,000 in restitution to the victim's families, which he tried to collect on GoFundMe. Now Playing: Every holiday season, Kim Norbeck speaks out against drunk driving. Her son was killed by a drunk driver in 2011. Video: Fox9 "Back in 2014 I made a big mistake while being enlisted in the Army, ended up being kicked out unfairly and even tho I got probation since I was involved in an accident, now I have to pay $10,000 in restitution to fix all damages," Delgado wrote on the now deleted GoFundMe campaign. "It's really hard to pay that much back when you have probation and it becomes so hard to find a job and then when you find a job you don't make enough. Please help me pay this back and get some weight off my shoulders. THANK YOU SO MUCH!" The GoFundMe campaign page was created on June 18 and deleted Tuesday after family members of the victims discovered it and shared their outrage on social media. One of those family member's was Broadstreet's niece Krystina Thompson. PAY UP: Texas police officer ordered to pay $6.3 million to family of man who died in his custody "I thought it was disgusting that he would try to make himself out to be a victim of circumstances HE created," Thompson told Chron.com Wednesday morning over Facebook. "He should be grateful that his only penalty is monetary, instead of having to suffer the loss of a family member like my family and James Green's family." GoFundMe confirmed that the campaign was taken down by Delgado. Nenagh photographer Padraig O Flannabhra's work capturing the Wild Atlantic Way has been included in a new book, Atlantic Reach, which will raise funds for the Samaritans. In September 2016, 32 photographers descended on the Wild Atlantic Way, creating a unique collection of work photographing handpicked locations. The book is a time line and a homage to the drama of the west coast. It is a unique snapshot in time of the Irish landscape, inspired by the light. For Padraig, it was a wonderful experience and being part of a collaborative group of landscape photographers and the book made the early mornings and late evenings, in trying circumstances, all the worthwhile. Published by IrishLights, founder Peter Gordon said the project was an opportunity to harness that amazing talent and enthusiasm, wrap it up in a unique concept and try and produce a significant body of work that has a positive social outcome through our charity partner, the Samaritans The hardback book is in bookshops retailing at 30,and all proceeds will be donated to the Samaritans. The country's two biggest farm organisations have questioned the decision by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission to allow the acquisition of Dunbia Ireland by Dawn Meats Ireland. The chairperson of ICMSAs Livestock Committee, Michael Guinan, said that it emphasised the now urgent need for greater price transparency in the beef sector to provide farmers with a level of confidence that they were getting a fair price for their cattle. Confidence which, he said, was simply not there at present. And IFA president Joe Healy said the CCPC must take their head out of the sand and address the serious lack of competition in the Irish beef sector. Mr Guinan said that at the last Beef Forum meeting in July, ICMSA put forward a number of proposals in relation to beef price transparency that must now receive immediate consideration following both the Dawn Meats / Dunbia deal and the ABP/Slaney deal. ICMSA proposed that the EU Commission needs to improve the data available in the Beef Market Observatory so that farmers can make an informed judgment on the price they are receiving for cattle. You only to compare the data available in the Beef Market Observatory compared to the Milk Market Observatory to see the complete lack of detailed prices on beef cuts, etc. This is a relatively simple issue that must be addressed going forward that would provide real time data to farmers so that they can make a call on the prices theyre being quoted, he said. At Irish national level, the Minister should make the Department Beef PriceWatch more farmer-friendly and usable specifically it should allow farmers to compare prices between factories quickly rather than having to wade through a number of tables as is currently the case. Secondly, the Minister needs to publish the results of inspections on grading machines, etc, at individual meat plant level so that farmers can see for themselves that the Department is carrying out checks on a regular basis of each factorys meat plant grading procedures and the results of same. Continuing on that point, farmers should get a copy of the scan image of their carcases so that they can clearly see why their carcase graded at a certain grade, continued Mr Guinan. Finally and most importantly, Mr Guinan noted that with greater concentration at meat processor level, competition for cattle will be negatively affected and the need for a strong live export trade has never been greater and greater resources must be allocated to the development of this trade by the Department and Bord Bia. Meanwhile, Mr Healy said it was the responsibility of the CCPC to ensure that there was competition in the beef sector but they were failing in their duty in this regard. He said IFA met the CCPC and put a detailed independent report to them addressing the lack of competition in the beef sector. He said farmers expect the CCPC to utilise the powers they have under the law to undertake a full and proper investigation of all of the issues around the lack of competition in the beef sector. Mr Healy said it is farcical for the CCPC to state that they were not provided with any information to suggest the existence of any form of 'coordination of prices' for the purchase of cattle. He said the CCPC should use their statutory powers to unearth this information. They cannot expect that it will be handed to them by the industry. He said farmers had no confidence in either the desire or the ability of the CCPC to tackle this problem. Mr Healy said that if it were not for the live export trade the situation would be even worse.Tthe only area where farmers see price competition is through a strong and vibrant live export trade. IFA National Livestock chairman Angus Woods said the evidence of the recent cattle price cuts and changes with Sterling again clearly point to a lack of competition. Factories told farmers in August and September that the price cuts were as a result of the weakness of Sterling. However, the exchange rate is now back, yet cattle prices are not increasing. Nobody can explain this and worse still the CCPC appears to just ignore it, he said. By PTI: New Delhi, Oct 5 (PTI) In a major move, the Indian Air Force will start the process this month to acquire a fleet of single engine fighter jets which are expected to significantly enhance its overall strike capability. Chief of Air Staff B S Dhanoa said having a new fleet of single engine jets was a "priority" for the IAF and the request for information (RFI) for it is likely to be issued "very soon". advertisement Another top official of the IAF told PTI that the RFI, kick starting the acquisition process, will be issued this month. The fighter jets will be produced jointly by a foreign aircraft maker along with an Indian company under the recently launched strategic partnership model which aims to bring in high-end defence technology to India. "The RFI for the single engine fighter is likely to be issued very soon," Dhanoa said addressing a press conference. A request for information is a business process aimed at gathering information on the capabilities of various suppliers. Swedish defence giant Saab and Indian conglomerate Adani group last month had announced a collaboration, mainly eyeing the contract for single-engine jets for the IAF. US defence firm Lockheed Martin is also seen as a major competitor for the deal. Dhanoa said IAF is giving priority to the single engine fighters as the twin-engine fighters will cost more. "Right now, we are concentrating on the single engine so as to make up the numbers with lower cost," he said. The IAF currently has 33 fighter squadrons against authorised strength of 42. The IAF chief, however, said the force has requirement of twin engine jets as well. In September last year, India had signed an Euro 7.87- billion (approx Rs 59,000 crore) deal with the French government for purchase of 36 Rafale twin-engine fighter jets. The IAF was keen on a follow-on order of 36 additional Rafales. The supply of Rafale jets is schedules to start from September 2019. Sources said the IAF will start receiving a fresh fleet of 36 Sukhoi jets from 2019. Asked about purchase of tankers for IAF, Dhanoa said, as the RFP for buyinbg them has been withdrawn, the IAF is now upgrading the IL-78 so that it can carry more fuel. The IL-78 is a Soviet-built four-engined aerial refuelling tanker "There is a requirement of tankers which we will pursue again for acquisition," he said. Asked about the fifth-generation fighter aircraft project (FGFA) with Russia, Dhanoa said a high-level committee has submitted its report to defence ministry which will take a call on it. advertisement "The case is with the ministry of defence. The preliminary design phase has been completed. The Varthaman committee has submitted its report which is classified and we have also given our response," Dhanoa said. In 2007, India and Russia had inked an inter-governmental pact for the FGFA project. In December 2010, India had agreed to pay USD 295 million (Rs 1,897 crore) towards the preliminary design of the fighter, which is called in India as the Perspective Multi- role Fighter. However, negotiations faced various hurdles in the subsequent years. Answering a question, the Air Chief said that the IAF will consider procuring Predator unmanned combat aerial vehicle in case it is offered by the US. Predator is a remotely piloted unmanned aerial vehicle used primarily by the US Air Force. PTI MPB RT --- ENDS --- A TIPPERARY aid worker is leading the response by aid agency Concern Worldwide to the Rohingya crisis in Bangladesh. Concern's Regional Director for the Middle East and Asia, Brid Kennedy, from Templetuohy, said thousands of children there are very vulnerable and she said much more funding is required to prevent the crisis from escalating further. Humanitarian organisations need around 370m over the next six months to help up to 1.2 million people, many of them children, who need life-saving help," she said. "The Rohingya population, particularly the children, is highly vulnerable and our teams on the ground are already seeing children in very vulnerable conditions. "Following the initial response, Concern plan to develop more facilities and to ensure the health of children and other vulnerable people does not deteriorate. "These people have suffered immense trauma and many face a grim future if they dont receive adequate assistance, she said. Concern Worldwide, which is Irelands largest humanitarian aid agency, is treating Rohingya refugee children for severe acute malnutrition and fears diarrhoea and other water-borne diseases could break out if sanitation needs arent urgently met. An estimated 509,000 Rohingya people have fled Rakhine state in Myanmar and crossed the border into the Coxs Bazar area of Bangladesh since the latest outbreak of violence on August 25. Concern is currently providing 48,000 Rohingya refugees with food rations and providing more than 100,000 refugees - mainly children, adolescents as well as pregnant and lactating women - with nutrition services as new arrivals continue to flood into the region. Two Concern Nutrition Support Centres have been established in Moynadhona and Hakim Para areas with team members treating seriously-ill children with around seven per cent so far showing signs of severe acute malnutrition. Damian Seal, Emergency Programme Manager said: Community outreach screening teams are reaching between 100 and 150 households a day per camp. Malnutrition cases are averaging around seven per cent, many of whom have been referred for in-patient treatment at nearby health facilities. One little girl we saw, who was about three or four years old, was half her weight and looked very ill. Its appalling to see little children suffering in this way. In Coxs Bazar there is very limited space to develop any sort of sustainable water and sanitation structures. The people have set up their shelters so close together that its nearly impossible to be able to engineer any facilities close to them. You have close to 500,000 people moving into the Coxs Bazar area, a district once inhabited by a population of 400,000 people so you can only imagine the implications in terms of space and solutions left for developing water and sanitation facilities. Mr Seal said space for sanitation is the biggest challenge and emergency response teams are "running out of options" and he fears vulnerable children are at risk of contracting life-threatening diarrhoea. If there is an outbreak of water related disease, its life-threatening for these children as their immune systems cannot fight back. These children have limited access to immediate medical facilities, they are extremely vulnerable to getting infections from dirty water and poor sanitation, he said. There are limited places where people can go to the toilet safely, there are limited numbers of latrines and there is no drainage management in place to dispose of human waste so even if we had latrines, the infrastructure needs to be in place for them to work properly. This is extremely worrying because the threat of water-borne diseases is substantial and if the cyclone seasons hits this area significantly, the impact to the community could be devastating so we hope more land will be allocated soon because we are running out of options. If you would like to donate to Concerns Rohingya Refugee Crisis appeal please log on to Concern.net. [October 05, 2017] Kaminario Selects ECS Computers to Support its Asia Expansion NEEDHAM, Mass., Oct. 05, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kaminario, a leading all-flash storage company, today announced the appointment of ECS Computers (Asia) Pte Ltd. [ECS] as its authorized distributor for Southeast Asia. Recently recognized as a leader in the 2017 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Solid-State Arrays, Kaminario is looking to grow in the region given its already strong presence with Software as a Service (SaaS) providers, consumer internet applications and managed private cloud services. ECS is a subsidiary of VSTECS, the leading information technology product distribution and services company in Asia Pacific. ECS will distribute the full range of Kaminarios solutions including the latest K2 Gen6 all-flash array. The K2 Gen6 received the highest ranking for three out of five use cases compared to 19 all-flash arrays evaluated in Gartners 2016 Critical Capabilities Report. K2 Gen6 is backed by Kaminario ForeSightTM, the industrys most comprehensive business assurance program. With nearly 200 resellers signed onto Kaminario ACCELERATE, a global channel partner program, Kaminario pursues a channel-first go-to-market model that is deeply committed to ensuring joint customer success and partner profitability. The appointment underscores our commitment to Singapore which serves as our springboard into the rest of the region, said Itay Shoshani, chief revenue officer, Kaminario. Businesses here are increasingly focused on driving digital transformation. It is an opportune time for us to bring our technology to customers and help them cost-efficiently manage storage, along with theperformance, scalability and agility needed to achieve their objectives. ECS has an excellent track record and extensive reach in the reseller market across the commercial and government sectors. We believe our partnership with their experienced enterprise team will drive value to our customers and deepen our traction in Asia. The growing demand in cloud-scale and database-driven application is fueling the rapid adoption of all-flash storage to run on-demand applications, said Sebastian Chong, president, ECS Computers (Asia). With our aligned strategy to play in the mid to large enterprise space, we will work closely with Kaminario to identify customers that need performance in the multi workload environment and online SaaS environments. We see a lot of synergy in this partnership and will help Kaminario to leverage our established and efficient infrastructure to propel their growth in the region. Kaminario and ECS will be at Cloud Expo Asia 2017 held on Oct. 11 and 12, 2017 at Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Center in Singapore. About Kaminario Kaminario, the leading all-flash storage company, is redefining the future of modern datacenters. Its unique solution enables organizations to succeed in todays on-demand world and prepares them to seamlessly handle tomorrows innovations. Only Kaminario K2 all-flash array delivers the agility, scalability, performance and economics a datacenter requires to deal with todays cloud-first, dynamic world and provide real-time data access anywhere, anytime. Hundreds of customers rely on Kaminario K2 to power their mission critical applications and safeguard their digital ecosystem. Headquartered in Needham, MA, Kaminario works with an extensive network of resellers and distributors, globally. For more information, please visit www.kaminario.com. About ECS Computers (Asia) Established in 1985, ECS Computers (Asia) Pte Ltd is a member of the VSTECS Group. As a leading ICT distributor in the Asia Pacific region, VSTECS has access to a network of more than 25,000 channel partners across China, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines, Cambodia and Myanmar. The VSTECS Group is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (0856.HK). ECS Computers provides a comprehensive range of ICT products and services through its three core businesses - Enterprise Systems, IT Services and Distribution. Integrated solution offerings from industry-leading ICT vendors are provided to customers through its wide and established channels. Contact: Parna Sarkar-Basu Kaminario +1-781-343-8127 [email protected] Hailey Cowan Text100 for Kaminario + 1-617-399-4917 [email protected] [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 05, 2017] Neo4j Announces Impressive Agenda for GraphConnect New York SAN MATEO, Calif., Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Neo4j, the market leader in connected data, today announced the agenda for its annual GraphConnect conference, to be held at Pier 36 in New York City on October 24 with training sessions scheduled for October 23. Making its second appearance in New York, GraphConnect is the largest-ever gathering of graph database enthusiasts, developers, architects, technical managers, directors and CTOs. For the past six years, GraphConnect has continued to entice a wide variety of speakers from leading global companies around the world, including LendingClub, Microsoft, eBay, Comcast, UBS, Blackstone Federal, the Department of Homeland Security, Oregon Health & Science University and many more. At GraphConnect New York, speakers from a variety of industry verticals will share their stories on how Neo4j has made an impact in terms of innovation, technology and the bottom line from the scale of small startups all the way up to global enterprises. These impact stories will detail everything from reduced costs, increased revenue, improved performance, expanded scale and game-changing innovations. Kicking off the event will be Neo4j's CEO and Founder, Emil Eifrem, who will give an overview of the graph database landscape and the future of graph technology. He will also be unveiling two major announcements about the future of the company and the overall graph database market. Chief Scientist Jim Webber will be closing out the day with his keynote discussion about graph databases and where they're headed in the modern enterprise. This year's sponsors include IBM, GraphAware, GraphGrid, Structr, Cambridge Intelligence, Tom Sawyer Software, Expero, Linkurious and FactGem. GraphConnect New York highlights include: "Attack and Defens with Graphs at Microsoft" Presented by Sacha Faust , principal technical lead under the Cloud + Enterprise (C+E) Red Team at Microsoft Presented by , principal technical lead under the Cloud + Enterprise (C+E) Red Team at Microsoft "Graph-Powered Conversational Commerce at eBay" Presented by Ajinkya Kale, MTS applied researcher & data scientist and Anuj Vatsa , senior software engineer, eBay Presented by Ajinkya Kale, MTS applied researcher & data scientist and , senior software engineer, eBay "Natural Language Processing and Topic Modeling for Social Network Analysis" Presented by Laura Drummer , director of software & engineering at Novetta Presented by , director of software & engineering at Novetta "Xfinity xFi and User Personalization" Presented by Mark Hashimoto , director of engineering of the Internet of Things & Jessica Lowing , senior manager of product & engineering, Comcast Presented by , director of engineering of the Internet of Things & , senior manager of product & engineering, Comcast "Microservice and Module Management with Neo4j" Presented by John Lavin , software architect at Vanguard Presented by , software architect at Vanguard "Intelligent Recommendation Engine for Financial Analysts" Presented by Geoff Horrell , director of product incubation at Thomson Reuters Presented by , director of product incubation at Thomson Reuters "Neo4j and Information Sharing for Enterprise Architects" Presented by Jessica Dembe , front-end developer at Blackstone Federal Presented by , front-end developer at Blackstone Federal "Mapping Ontologies in Graphs for Personalization at Gousto" Presented by Irene Iriarte-Carretero , data scientist at Gusto Presented by , data scientist at Gusto "Using Neo4j to Design High-Performance Processors for Neo4j" Presented by Chuck Calio , the IBM Power Systems offering manager for modern data platforms and cognitive solutions http://graphconnect.com/#agenda For additional information and registration, visit: www.graphconnect.com GraphConnect New York Event Venue Pier 36 299 South Street New York, NY 10002 About Neo4j, Inc. Neo4j is an internet-scale, native graph database that leverages connected data to help companies build intelligent applications that meet today's evolving challenges including machine learning and artificial intelligence, fraud detection, real-time recommendations and master data. As the #1 platform for connected data, Neo4j has over three million downloads, the world's largest graph developer community, and thousands of graph-powered applications in production. The world's most sophisticated organizations worldwide, from enterprises like Walmart, eBay, UBS, Cisco, HP, adidas and Lufthansa to hot startups like Medium, Musimap and Glowbl, use Neo4j to harness the connections in their data. Neo4j is privately held and funded by Eight Roads Ventures (an investment arm of Fidelity International Limited), Sunstone Capital, Conor Venture Partners, Creandum, Dawn Capital and Greenbridge Investment Partners. With its headquarters in San Mateo, Calif., Neo4j also has regional offices in Sweden, Germany and the UK. For more information, please visit Neo4j.com and @Neo4j. All trademarks and registered trademarks, including Neo Technology and Neo4j are the property of their respective owners. Media contact Dan O'Mahony, InkHouse for Neo4j [email protected] View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/neo4j-announces-impressive-agenda-for-graphconnect-new-york-300531719.html SOURCE Neo4j [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Seven Hills Foundation Selects Netsmart as Care Coordination Platform for Transformative Massachusetts Initiative Today, Netsmart announced it has been selected as the care coordination and population health management provider for the Massachusetts Care Coordination Network, led by the Seven Hills Foundation. The Community Partners program is part of MassHealth's delivery reform initiatives to integrate and improve health outcomes for members with complex long-term medical or behavioral health needs. "The goal of the Community Partners program is to develop coordinated care that meets the needs of individuals with complex needs while reducing the total cost of care," Seven Hills Foundation CEO Dr. Kathee Jordan said. "We chose Netsmart because they have a proven record of providing solutions that improve collaboration, eliminate silos and enable integrated care. The populations we serve have complex needs and our goal is to assist them in navigating the complicated healthcare system so that they have access to services they need throughout the community." To create a network of providers, Seven Hills Foundation is partnering with Advocates, Boston Center for Independent Living, Horace Mann Educational Associates (HMEA), BayPath Elder Services and Brockton Area Multi-Services, Inc. (BAMSI). The collaborative will ultimately have access to integrated health data that will enable them to align their own care teams with the program quality measures. Team members will be informed by using rules-driven alerts and notifications proactively when critical events have occurred. The actions of the care team will be driven by best practices and the program quality measures, ensuring standardization across the provider network to provide individuals the right care at the right time in the most appropriate setting. As a key component of the project, Netsmart will connect these provider organizations to existing primary care, acute care and behavioral health networks to enable integrated care. Regardless of what electronic health record (EHR) platform the organization operates, using interoperability standards, providers will be able to integrate care throughout the network. Taking advantage of a large provider network will enable care coordination to occur more efficiently. The alignment of workflows to program quality measures will ensure the ability to integrate care across provider teams. MassHealth will require participating organizations to meet certain quality targets, for example follow-up visits after hospitalization for mental illness, preventable emergency department utilization and completon of social services screenings. This pay-for-quality approach will align providers with the state's overall population health management goals for the program. "Massachusetts is taking a significant step to move providers towards value-based care and proactively managing populations," said Netsmart CEO Mike Valentine. "By integrating ACOs and the Community Partners, the State is demonstrating their commitment to transforming how care is delivered and measured in Massachusetts. Integrated care happens when we use open systems, collaboration and intentionality to transform care delivery. Seven Hills has a proven history of being a progressive provider and we look forward to continuing our work together to enable integrated care." About Seven Hills Foundation The mission of Seven Hills Foundation is to promote and encourage the empowerment of people with significant challenges so that each may pursue their highest possible degree of personal well-being and independence. Seven Hills Foundation currently offers programming at 170 locations throughout Massachusetts and Rhode Island, and employs more than 3,700 professionals. The Foundation offers a continuum of support and services to over 28,000 children and adults with disabilities and life challenges, and another 17,200 women and children in developing countries through our 11 affiliate organizations. About Netsmart Netsmart is an innovative healthcare technology provider that provides electronic health records (EHRs), health information exchange, data analytics, mobile clinical and consumer engagement solutions for behavioral health, social services and post-acute communities. Our common platform, the CareFabric, integrates seamlessly with the industry's first-of-its-kind population management platform that uniquely focuses on community-based providers and supports transitions of care, bundles and value-based payment models. We are passionate about integrating care across all aspects of a community, which is why the Netsmart ecosystem provides more than an EHR by offering the largest national HIE in the post-acute community to connect post-acute, social services and behavioral health organizations with their health systems and community provider partners. Our more than 560,000 users in more than 25,000 organizations across the U.S. work together with our more than 1,350 Netsmart associates to connect communities and information across the care spectrum. Our technology ensures comprehensive data flows between behavioral health; addiction treatment; intellectual and developmental disabilities; child and family services; public health; long-term/post-acute care; home health; hospice; palliative care; private duty and vital records, to ensure providers have consistent and reliable information at their fingertips when it is needed. The only thing constant in healthcare is change. Netsmart brings significant expertise working with behavioral health, social services and post-acute care communities, as well as the complex state and federal billing requirements unique to these communities. More importantly, we understand the importance of clinical adoption; training and support; regulatory compliance; and the need to connect to the rest of healthcare. Our solutions and services are built with these challenges in mind and are designed to solve them so our clients can focus on what they do best: provide quality care to their communities. Our clients are strong advocates for those who don't always have a voice, which is why Netsmart is dedicated to leading change within the industry by breaking down barriers to provide a person-centric and holistic view of each individual. Learn more about how Netsmart is changing the face of healthcare today. Visit www.ntst.com, call 1-800-472-5509, follow us on our CareThreads Blog, LinkedIn and Twitter, like us on Facebook or visit us on YouTube. Netsmart is pleased to support the EveryDayMatters Foundation, which was established for behavioral health, social services and post-acute organizations to learn from each other and share their causes and stories. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171005005105/en/ [October 04, 2017] Alithya Receives High Honours at Quebec's National Job Creation Prize Gala MONTREAL, Oct. 4, 2017 /CNW Telbec/ - Alithya was awarded by the Conseil du patronat du Quebec the National Job Creator Champion Prize at the Prix Createurs d'emplois du Quebec in recognition of its contribution to the province's economic development. Paul Raymond, president and CEO of Alithya, proudly accepted the award and paid tribute to the primary factors in the company's success: the 1,600 consultants who have built the firm's reputation for excellence and its long-standing clients. "Without its team of dedicated and experienced consultants, without these experts who deliver on our most ambitious goals, Alithya would not exist. Over the years, the company has become a benchmark for the industry and its steady growth is strongly tied to its consultants' ability to deliver tailored solutions to high-caliber clients. Alithya has a very optimistic vision for the future and encourages IT professionals to join itsmotivated and dynamic team," said Mr. Raymond who also took the opportunity to thank the Conseil du patronat du Quebec for this prestigious award. A leader in digital technologies, organizational management, and customized hiring solutions, Alithya has filled hundreds of new positions in the fields of strategic management, architecture, organizational performance, transformation and delivery of solutions in 2015 and 2016. Over the past six years, the company has grown by 500%. This phenomenal expansion has resulted in hundreds of job positions yet to be filled at Alithya. About Alithya Alithya is one of the most prominent privately held, strategy and digital technology consulting firms in Canada and the most important in Quebec. Founded in 1992, the firm advises, guides and assists its clients in their pursuit of innovation and excellence. Alithya prioritizes the achievement of business objectives on every project, through the optimal use of digital technology. Its clients are mainly active in financial services, telecommunications, energy, transportation, health care and government services. In addition to the prominent roles it provides to women, most notably in executive positions, Alithya is known for its deep social commitment. Alithya has more than 1,600 professionals in Canada, the United States and France. For more information, visit www.alithya.com or watch the company's corporate video at https://youtu.be/qBvjLe9JUVw. SOURCE Alithya [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 05, 2017] Flatiron School Awards $200,000 In Tech Scholarships For Women With Support From Ellevest NEW YORK, Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Today Flatiron School, the country's leading coding bootcamp, announced a partnership with Ellevest, the platform redefining investing for women, as part of their Women Take Tech scholarship initiative. The Flatiron School is awarding $200,000 in scholarship funds to 50 women for the school's Online Web Developer Program where they can learn necessary coding skills to launch careers in tech. Ellevest is excited to provide their support in promoting an initiative to help women achieve their potential in tech. This announcement rides on the heels of Flatiron School's successful partnerships with Birchbox, Bustle, and She Geeks Out that brought gender parity to the School's online student body. Flatiron School's exceptional Online Web Developer Program is a rigorous, professional-grade education course leveraging over 800 hours of curated coding curriculum, real development tools, and instructor support within an online community of driven and passionate students. The program is designed to give students access to the same education that has helped over one thousand Flatiron School graduates land competitive jobs at renowned tech companies from New York City to Fargo, North Dakota to Silicon Valley. "Education is one of the most powerful investments a woman will make. Across the country, women are increasingly interested in learning technical skills like coding that will open the door to their future career," said Kristi Riordan, COO of Flatiron School. "We are thrilled to partner with Ellevest to create more opportunities for women to launch their career in tech and achievetheir future goals." Flatiron School and Ellevest are pushing for the change women are seeking, from coding to finance. The joint partners recognize the computer engineering and finance industries have traditionally been dominated and built by men and marketed towards men. Flatiron School and Ellevest are taking part in redefining their respective industries and changing the narrative around investing and coding. "There are definite similarities between the worlds of finance and tech, particularly when it comes to a lack of female representation at work" said Sallie Krawcheck, co-founder and CEO of Ellevest. "We are excited to support the Flatiron School in their efforts to create opportunities for women, and work together to change the experience of being a woman in tech today." Flatiron School is known for its outcomes-focused programming education, with a graduate job placement rate of 97 percent. Through this partnership, female recipients will have access to curriculum covering core topics like HTML/CSS, JavaScript, Node.JS, React, and Ruby on Rails, as well as soft skills such as how to work on a development team and efficiently learn new languages to stay tech-relevant. Prospective female students can start their application by visiting: http://go.flatironschool.com/women-take-tech-ellevest About Flatiron School Flatiron School trains creative, passionate people in web and mobile development on their NYC and online campuses. Established in 2012 by founders Adam Enbar and Avi Flombaum, Flatiron School boasts an independently verified 97% jobs placement rate across its programs with adult graduates launching careers at companies including Google, Intel, and Microsoft. All classes at Flatiron School are facilitated by a highly-skilled education team, with in-person immersives requiring a 15 week commitment and self-paced online courses driven by students' schedules. Flatiron School is a recognized partner of NYC Department of Small Business Services, creating opportunities for all New Yorkers. About Ellevest Ellevest is the only digital investment platform of its kind a gender-specific approach created for women and designed by women. Ellevest's mission is to close the gender investment gap, which can cost some women more over their lifetime than the gender pay gap. Ellevest helps women unleash their financial power with a customized, goals-based approach in a beautiful and secure platform. Women across the country are joining the movement to #InvestLikeAWoman with Ellevest. Interested in working at Ellevest? Please visit www.ellevest.com/careers to send us your application. CONTACT: Casey Elliott 312.860.5353 [email protected] View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/flatiron-school-awards-200000-in-tech-scholarships-for-women-with-support-from-ellevest-300531506.html SOURCE Flatiron School [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 05, 2017] JONES Media Acquires Machine Learning Innovator Verve.ai TORONTO, Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- JONES Media Inc. announced its acquisition of Verve.ai, a Canadian Augmented Intelligence Data Platform, from realSociable. One of Canada's largest media and content companies has now created a globally competitive offering, with a portfolio of data-driven content and media solutions, powered by proprietary, machine-learning technology. Already an established leader in digital advertising, JONES Media's acquisition serves its transformation and expansion plans, challenging industry capabilities that will compete in the unchartered waters of where data science meets artificial intelligence. "The acquisition of Verve.ai is a strategic investment: we will not only evolve our current content & media operation, but offer our clients unparalleled solutions. The interpretation of data, as presented in the past, is no longer: whether hyper-targeting specific audience segments or geo-targeting devices, our Social DNA data capabilities are now at the forefront of technology development, which will help us serve better, and enable us to scale," says Cathy Fernandes, Chief Executive Officer at JONES Media. JONES Media's newly acquired systems are designed to provide a panoramic view of consumer journeys online and within the social environment a map that has remained elusive to marketers in the digital era. With insights that are not only historical but, more importantly, predictive, brands are given temporal data, "real-time" measurements, and models of future behavior that are consumer-centric and brand relevant. This evolution of attribution modeling, where data points across the fragmented consumer journey are identified and assigned a relative value, can now truly align marketing objectives. This will allow JONES to build out a full attribution model for clients seeking to truly track upper funnel activities to conversion. "Verve.ai provides JONES with extensive analytics and metrics on the effectiveness of every social message and exposed audience; this allows JONES to optimize and guarantee outstanding performance on all of our client programs," says Andrea Fernandes, Vice President of Sales Operations & Partnerships. p>To the leadership at JONES Media, this investment is seen as a Copernican revolution: utilizing patented, machine-learning technology, data science is being transformed by Verve.ai. Where advertising in this medium is currently collating impressions, JONES Media is rallying the call for true engagement. It wants to provide the necessary futureproof tools to its clients that give additional colour and insight currently lacking in today's digital landscape. "Data alone carries no actionable value. Today's CMO needs insights that beg questions of her business in order to drive smarter decision-making. Marketers are currently drowning in the 'illusion of knowledge' because, in the context of traditional data interpretation, insights are poorly delivered and the ensuing information does not translate into valuable intelligence. Verve.ai allows for a far better understanding of data, processing it into meaningful information, which will lead to better business decisions. In partnership with JONES, our technology has begun to fill a significant gap in the market: articulately connecting the dots of consumer journeys," says Dalia Asterbadi, CEO at Verve.ai. Science and analytics have now merged with the arts of marketing and advertising. "Verve.ai is not only about intelligent data; it allows us to elevate our offering with unprecedented metrics, analysis, and value. We can better verify influencers, for example, with their audiences (extant and un-duplicated), with demography, sociography, geography, brand conflicts, etc.," says Cathy Fernandes. "But our technology goes further and deeper, including newly launched Fraudulent Bot Examination methodologies that detect fake or irrelevant followers across most social channels/platforms." "In addition, we become extremely relevant across all verticals ie. Financial, e-comm etc, especially where monitoring conversion is crucial to driving effective sales." The latter is an appendage, amongst others, that will see a holistic campaign examination beyond what was previously available to advertisers and marketers. JONES Media is now allowing for highly articulate engagement products because of the vast data-point analysis provided by its augmented intelligence technology. "JONES Media is thrilled to welcome the Verve.ai team into its fold, and we look forward to making huge strides in this market, as we have already been making with some of our clients," says Erin McDougald, Vice President of Sales at JONES Media. Dalia Asterbadi, who will now lead as Chief Technology Officer at Verve.ai and resident Data Scientist at JONES Media, says of the company: "We could not be more excited to join this team; our assets 'fit like a glove' and our people are energized at the thought of what this new team brings to our growth, our clients and the larger market." For further information and or set up interviews, please contact: Cathy Fernandes (CEO, JONES Media) [email protected] Related Images image1.png image2.png image3.png image4.png Related Links http://Mrandmrsjones.ca View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/jones-media-acquires-machine-learning-innovator-verveai-300531578.html SOURCE JONES Media [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 05, 2017] 6 Cities Win National Awards for Websites by Vision EL SEGUNDO, Calif., Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Six local government agencies in Texas, Virginia, Georgia, Kansas and California stepped into the winner's circle this fall to receive awards for websites designed by the online government innovators at Vision, the company announced today. "Creating local government websites that meet the needs of today's citizens is a complex process," said Vision CEO David Nachman "These award-winning sites have several key things in common. They are easy to navigate, easy to understand, engaging, mobile and search-centric. They deliver exceptional service and value to the people they serve. We congratulate each of the winners for their excellence and their innovation." National Association of Government Web Professionals (NAGW) Pinnacle Awards: Judged by a group of public and private sector web professionals, Pinnacle Awards are presented based on website content, organization, design, performance and flexibility, accessibility and interactivity. The City of Peachtree Corners, Georgia won the top Pinnacle Award among cities and counties with populations of 40,001 to 95,000, while the cities of Hurst, Texas and Williamsburg, Virginia won the Pinnacle Award and Members' Choice Award, respectively, among cities and counties with populations of 40,000 and fewer. City-County Communications & Marketing Association's (3CMA) Savvy Awards: The Savvy awards recognize outstanding local government achievements in communications, public-sector marketing and citizen-government relationships. The City of Olathe, Kansas won a Silver Circle Award for its "updated layout, navigation, use of large images and condensed content that is readable and very mobile-friendly" in the category of Digital Interactive-Overall Website serving populations of 126,000 and up. Santa Clarita, California won an Award of Excellence in the same category for its "great looking simple website that highlights what's happening in the cultural community and integrates collaborative information and images that have resulted in a significant increase in use." Texas Association of Municipal Information Officers 2017 TAMI Awards: Two Texas cities, Cedar Park and Hurst, shared the top TAMI Award for websites serving populations up to 85,000. The awards recognize excellence in all forms of local government communications. For information or to request a free website review and consultation, call Vision at 888-263-8847 or visit info.visioninternet.com/free-consultation. About Vision Headquartered in El Segundo, Calif., Vision is a national leader in government website design, development and hosting with more than 700 government, non-profit and education clients in U.S. and Canadian communities with populations that range from less than 1,000 residents to more than 5 million. For more than 20 years, Vision has created cost-effective solutions that increase government efficiency, build transparency and promote interactive communications with citizens. CONTACT: Lynette Viviani 973-534-1004 [email protected] View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/6-cities-win-national-awards-for-websites-by-vision-300531604.html SOURCE Vision [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 05, 2017] The Prathibha Sastry Show - A Unique Indian Web Series About Functional Topics Which Lead to a Better Life NEW DELHI, October 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The negative impacts of commercialization and globalization are finally settling down. At the turn of this century, everything was turning into numbers. For instance, they were measuring up the success of an individual based on the wealth that he has made in his life. The number of zeroes in the salaries was deciding the calibers of various successful personalities of society. Now we are all poised to touch the last quarter of the second decade of 21st century and things are changing drastically. Maintaining healthy Lifestyle is emerging as a soft skill for holistic wellness. CEO's and finest brains of the country are seeking an asylum in spirituality. Finer side of life is taking a front seat and acting as a driving force for many successful people. 'Highway of Hard Work' Helped Her to Find a Hot Seat to Soothe the Senses of Intellectual Audiences Prathibha Sastry is an entrepreneur and she has seen it all in her career journey of 18 years. Ms. Sastry has a varied body of work, this includes radio jockeying and she has hosted a very popular film-based radio talk show. She also launched a film magazine called South Movie Scenes and co-founded an App called IndiaTv guide. She went on to head the Operations at Microsoft Ventures in India for next 3 years. She has also worked with startups to launch Digital Desh which saw her lead a team of four, on a journey by road, along the length of India, covering 24 cities and towns in a period of 30 days. Currently, she is involved in building the 'Hardware Innovation Ecosystem' in India through the platform Innofest (an iSPIRT initiative) which she leads. She is also an advisor at emPower program for Zone startups which is a Canadian government initiative. Adding Functionality to Human Life 'The Prathibha Sastry Show' is an essence of her journey in different 'walks of life' where he is connected to the summit of the corporate corridors and knows the realities of ground zero where people are living on the edge. As an anchor of the show, she is connecting both these worlds with great ease and helping the great Indian middle-class to develop a new ideology of life, which can be considered as an 'optimum life for best of all worlds.' Explore the 'Eight Spokes of Modern Life Cycle' with Prathibha Sastry Her journey collided with the journey of the social engineering of the current society in the year 2016 when she decided to come up with 'The Prathibha Sastry Show.' From a distance it looks like any other lounge-based chat shows however, after watching a few minutes of any episode in this 12-minute long web series, one gets the idea that the theme of this show revolves around 'Education','Career', 'Spirituality', 'Environmental concerns', 'Recreational activities', 'Relationships', 'Wealth' and 'Health'. Making the Hot Seat Look Super Cool These eight different parts of life form the spokes of modern day life. During the course of this show, Prathibha Sastry as a sheet anchor of the show brings out the best of the people who sit on the Hot Seat and share their experience of life and connect contemporary issues with them. 'The Prathibha Sastry Show' defines the postscript of present day life for aspiring youngsters and 'young-at-heart achievers.' It promotes the concept of striking a balance with life on all the spheres. It presents an opportunity for an individual to improve. There are not black and white solutions on offer but a possibility to extract something from the show that is a value-addition. The Prathibha Sastry Show The Prathibha Sastry Show wants to accompany women on the journey of self-realization and happiness. A show that wants to help women chalk out the blueprint for their business ideas, realize their dream career, be financially independent, mentally strong, spiritually aware and break barriers in both the professional and personal spheres. The show brings together entrepreneurial, adventurous and innovative men and women in a quest to enable women to dwell deeper on the events that shape their life. An attempt to bring them into focus and enhance not just their life, but also that of those who will watch them share their stories. It takes questioning and self-examination to understand oneself - a process that is difficult, but very important, in the pursuit of self-realization and happiness. To quote Simone de Beauvoir, "Self-knowledge is no guarantee of happiness, but it is on the side of happiness and can supply the courage to fight for it." The Prathibha Sastry Show is available to viewers all over the world on YouTube. The fans can also follow on Facebook. One of the most popular videos is regarding Sextortion which can be viewed here . Media Contact: Akash Singh Shamoor Pvt Ltd [email protected] +91-8376903305 [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Pallavi Vikamsey's body was found at the railway tracks between Parel and Curry road station. After identification, her body was sent for post-mortem but no foul play has been detected in the case till now. By Mustafa Shaikh: A 20-year-old female's body was found on railway tracks Wednesday evening in Mumbai between the Parel and Curry Road stations. The woman has been identified as Pallavi Vikamsey, the daughter of the President of Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), Nilesh Vikamsey. Pallavi had gone missing while returning from a law firm at Fort in south Mumbai where she was doing her internship. She was last seen boarding a local train at CSMT station yesterday at around 6 pm, a senior GRP official said. When she did not return home, her family members filed a complaint. advertisement The station master at Parel station received a phone call about a body. The caller is yet to be identified. There are multiple injuries on the body including the head. Dadar GRP has registered a case of accidental death and investigating further. "We found body of a woman on tracks between Parel and Currey road yesterday at around 7.30 pm. Today, her relatives confirmed her as Pallavi Vikamsey," said DCP Samadhan Pawar, spokesperson of GRP (Central Railway). The body was later handed over for post-mortem. Pallavi was the youngest daughter of Nilesh Vikamsey, the President of the ICAI. According to the police, Pallavi's last location was CST station where she boarded a train on October 4th at around 6 pm. "We got the information about one body of a female found on track aboout 7.30 am between Parel to Curry Road yesterday. So we registered an ADR regarding this in Dadar GRP. Today her relatives confirmed her as Pallavi Vikamsey. After post mortem we handed over to her relatives. Till now we found no foul play in this. A missing was registered in MRA Marg police staion." said DCP GRP Samadhan Pawar. (With inputs from PTI) --- ENDS --- [October 05, 2017] Hao Le Ku (Beijing) Infant and Maternity Co., Ltd. Announces the Launch in Hong Kong of Halykoo Line Developed by the Swiss Company APR Applied Pharma Research Halykoo baby healthcare consumer products are now available in Hong Kong, promoted and commercialized by the Chinese company Hao Le Ku (HLK), as a result of an exclusive partnership with APR Applied Pharma Research s.a. ("APR"), the Swiss, independent developer of science driven, patent protected healthcare products. Hong Kong baby and child-specific products market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 2% in the next years, mainly driven by the local demand and a high per capita income. Hong Kong market is very dynamic with sophisticated consumers, historically used to international brands, being very sensitive to innovative and value added products as well as looking for brands which can offer them new meaningful experiences. Halykoo brand, the babies' healthcare expert, matches the request coming from such a demanding market, as its science-driven solutions are the perfect combination of Swiss, high-quality pharmaceutical expertise with an extensive understanding of child and caregivers needs. Halykoo offers to parents a new way for the daily healthcare of their children, by turning a potentially stressful moment into a pleasant and rewarding experience, thanks to smart and innovative product deliveries intended to simplify their use for parents and reduce the hassle for babies. In the first phase of launching, the distribution will focus mainly on baby and health stores that offer specialized health products and health counselling. In addition, HLK will start to build up their own online store, targeting young and highly-educated parents who are digital lovers with high purchasing power. Universal Health International Group Holding Limited has been appointed by HLK as the only distributor in Hong Kong and Macao district. Supporting Halykoo line at best for brand building and grapping a significant share of market, HLK has carried out a comprehensive media and communication campaign, with a specific focus on online marketing as well as social networks according to the digital mindset of the potential target. In addition, special promotions will be arranged in different distribution points through trained promoters, to introduce to young mothers Halykoo products. "We're investing a lot on Halykoo launch as we mean to build up a strong brand awareness and achieve a remarkable market share in the firstyear," said Mr. Ricky Ren CEO of HKL. "We really want Halykoo to be a great success in Hong Kong as this could be the stepping stone towards Great China." To celebrate the launch, HLK has participated to the 25th Eugene Baby Expo, one of the biggest international B2C baby-related exhibition, from 4th to 7th August in Wan Chai. The exhibition, held twice a year, had a record of over 500,000 visits and 800 exhibitors in average, thus being the perfect showcase for Halykoo product range. "We are very proud to see Halykoo products on Hong Kong stores shelves - said Mr. Paolo Galfetti, CEO of APR - and we strongly believe that Halykoo Swiss quality products will be soon appreciated by Hong Kong consumers, in a market where baby and child-specific products saw a steady growth in 2016. " About Halykoo Halykoo, the babies' healthcare expert, is the first global brand offering the most comprehensive range of consumer healthcare products. It matches formulations s specifically focused on each of the main stages of children's growth, since birth, with smart and innovative deliveries intended to simplify their use for parents and reduce the hassle for babies. The product range has been carefully developed to solve the main daily babies' healthcare discomforts in the major therapeutic areas for turnover such as skin care, cough & cold, eye, ear & mouth and food supplementation. As of today, the portfolio includes over 18 already developed products and 10 additional products are under development to be finalized in 2018. Conceived and formulated applying the value of Swiss pharmaceutical expertise, Halykoo provides science-driven pediatric solutions that perfectly combine smart deliveries, thanks to the application of the pharmaceutical technology knowledge, with advanced formulations, balanced on the physiological babies' needs. For more info about Halykoo, please visit: www.halykoo.com About Hao Le Ku (Beijing) Infant and Maternity Co., Ltd. Hao Le Ku is a leading company engaged in marketing of baby products. We are a service oriented, high quality and ethically-driven. Our company was founded in 2013 and registered in Tian Jin, China. Our revenue has been increasing significantly during the last 2 years and the growth rate recorded is more than 100%. Our baby protection products covered many different categories in the industry. About APR Applied Pharma Research s.a. APR is a Swiss, independent developer of science-driven, patent protected healthcare products. The Company identifies, develops and licenses science- driven, value-added products designed to address patient or consumer needs in selected therapeutic areas on a global basis. Specifically, APR is currently focused on 2 (two) major areas: (i) internally developed and financed (alone or with our co-development partners) proprietary, value-added products to be licensed to healthcare companies for their commercialization, and (ii) support to third-party projects, by offering added value R&D services under contract and fee for service arrangements. APR has a balanced pipeline of revenue generating branded products commercialized in all major markets, combined with a compelling pipeline of products at different development stages. APR has entered into licensing and partnership agreements with pharmaceutical companies in over 70 countries with international sales on a worldwide basis. For more information please visit www.apr.ch or www.halykoo.com View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171005005576/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 05, 2017] SolarWinds MSP announces full line-up for customer conference-Empower MSP, Orlando DURHAM, N.C., Oct. 05, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SolarWinds MSP, a global leader in delivering comprehensive, scalable IT service management solutions to IT solution providers and MSPs, today announced its full line-up for Empower MSP, including breakout sessions, speakers, and product training for all SolarWinds MSP customers. The event is being held at the Renaissance Orlando SeaWorld, October 26 27. During the two-day conference, SolarWinds MSP will host business-focused and technical sessions involving industry experts and MSPs from around the world. Keynote speakers at Empower MSP include Carey Lohrenz, the first female F-14 Tomcat Fighter Pilot in the U.S. Navy. Lohrenz will be sharing the fundamentals of winning under pressure, how to reduce errors, and advice on how to overcome obstacles by connecting her military experience with leadership in the business worldinspiring organizations to achieve peak performance. Bryan Seely, cyber security expert and former U.S Marine, will also be speaking at he event on cyber security and ethical hacking. Seely will be sharing the details of how he exploited a vulnerability in the Google Maps verification process and intercepted calls to the Secret Service and FBI. Seely now provides his consultancy services to help companies prevent these types of exploits, fight hackers, and make the internet a safer place. Key members of the SolarWinds MSP team will also be in attendance and speaking at the event including executive team members John Pagliuca, Mike Cullen, Greg Lissy, and August Wehrmann. We want to make sure our partners have the skills, knowledge, and tools to adapt to the rapid change in our industry and allow them to meet the needs of their customers. The SolarWinds MSP team in Orlando will be providing a full view of our strategy, vision, and latest product overviews, said John Pagliuca, general manager, SolarWinds MSP. Whether youre technical, a thought leader, or just looking to get fresh ideas for growth and development, the Empower MSP Orlando event will help you sharpen your business edge. Click here to register for Empower MSP Orlando and view the full agenda. About SolarWinds MSP SolarWinds MSP empowers IT service providers with technologies to fuel their success. Solutions that integrate layered security, collective intelligence, and smart automationboth on-premises and in the cloud, backed by actionable data insights, help IT service providers get the job done easier and faster. SolarWinds MSP helps our customers focus on what matters mostmeeting their SLAs and delivering services efficiently and effectively. For more information, visit solarwindsmsp.com. The SolarWinds and SolarWinds MSP trademarks are the exclusive property of SolarWinds MSP UK Ltd. or its affiliates and may be registered or pending registration with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and in other countries. All other SolarWinds MSP UK and SolarWinds trademarks, service marks, and logos may be common law marks or are registered or pending registration. All other trademarks mentioned herein are used for identification purposes only and are trademarks (and may be registered trademarks) of their respective companies. 2017 SolarWinds MSP UK Ltd. All rights reserved. For more information: Karla Walls [email protected] [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 05, 2017] Mitchell Launches Guidewire Marketplace Accelerators to Meet Growing Consumer Demand for Mobile Transactions Mitchell, a Guidewire PartnerConnect Solution Partner and leading provider of technology, connectivity and information solutions to the Property & Casualty (P&C) claims and Collision Repair industries, and Guidewire Software, Inc. (NYSE: GWRE), a provider of software products to P&C insurers, today announced that Mitchell has successfully completed the Ready for Guidewire validation process for two new accelerators. The Mitchell Consumer Self-Service Accelerators make it easier for an insurance company using Guidewire ClaimCenter and Guidewire Claim Portal to meet increasing consumer needs for mobile transactions, with a single out-of-the-box implementation of Mitchell's Mobile First Notice of Loss (FNOL) and Photo-Based Estimating solutions with little-to-no additional integration work, reducing implementation time and effort. "The Mitchell Consumer Self-Service Accelerator expands upon Mitchell and Guidewire's strategic alliance providing advanced, integrated solutions designed to optimize workflows and improve decisions across the end-to-end insurance claims process," said Debbie Day, executive vice president and general manager, Auto Physical Damage, Mitchell International. "This out-of-the-box solution improves the implementation time for insurers to adopt the latest consumer self-service technologies in the claims workflow." Mitchell's Ready for Guidewire accelerators support insurers by enabling: Guided Photo Capture to walk the consumer through the photo submission process to help ensure proper photos are taken; Automatic creation of appraisal assignments in both ClaimCenter and Mitchell WorkCenter, including Photo Estimating, allowing for low-touch claims processing; and Consumer-provided information from the Mitchell Mobile FNOL workflow automatically available to ClaimCenter as presented in Guidewire Claim Portal. Ready for Guidewire accelerators for our digital offerings," said Ayan Sarkar, vice president and business owner, Digital, Guidewire Software. "This helps our mutual auto insurance customers advance further in being customer-centric and drive self-service and automation. Guidewire and Mitchell are committed to working together to help P&C insurers adapt and succeed in this rapidly changing environment." "The Mitchell Consumer Self-Service Accelerators were developed to help insurers remain at the forefront of the claims self-service revolution by addressing workflow integration needs as well as the demands of today's connected consumer," said Becky Mattick, director, Global Solution Alliances. "We are pleased to add these accelerators to Guidewire Marketplace to benefit existing and future customers." Mitchell is now eligible to use the Ready for Guidewire validation mark. This designates that the offerings have been through a rigorous review process that supports readiness for integration with Guidewire InsuranceSuite and Digital products. Customers can download additional information about the Mitchell Accelerators on the Guidewire Marketplace. About Mitchell International Headquartered in San Diego, California, Mitchell International, Inc. delivers smart technology solutions that simplify and accelerate claims handling and repair processes, driving more accurate, consistent and cost-effective resolutions. Mitchell integrates deep industry expertise into its workflow solutions, providing unparalleled access to data, advanced analytics and decision support tools. Mitchell's comprehensive solution portfolio and robust SaaS (News - Alert) infrastructure connect its customers in ways that enable tens of millions of electronic transactions to be processed each month for more than 300 insurance companies, over 30,000 collision repair facilities and countless other Property & Casualty industry supply partners across the Americas and Europe. For more information, please visit www.mitchell.com. About Guidewire PartnerConnect and Ready for Guidewire Guidewire PartnerConnect is a global network of select partner companies that provide consulting services and solutions to enhance, extend, and complement the capabilities of Guidewire products. Our worldwide partner community helps contribute to the success of our mutual customers in the general insurance industry by delivering Guidewire software implementations, value-add solution and technology offerings, and guidance on insurance industry best practices. Ready for Guidewire accelerators developed by PartnerConnect Solution members have been rigorously reviewed by Guidewire, adhere to Guidewire software design principles, and meet established criteria. The accelerators are published on Guidewire Marketplace and are available for download by Guidewire customers at no charge. Guidewire PartnerConnect is an invitation-only program. For more information about Guidewire PartnerConnect please visit www.guidewire.com/partners/. About Guidewire Software Guidewire delivers the software that Property and Casualty (P&C) insurers need to adapt and succeed in a time of rapid industry change. We combine three elements - core processing, data and analytics, and digital engagement - into a technology platform that enhances insurers' ability to engage and empower their customers and employees. More than 300 P&C insurers around the world have selected Guidewire. For more information, please visit www.guidewire.com. Follow us on twitter: @Guidewire_PandC. NOTE: Guidewire, Guidewire Software, Guidewire ClaimCenter, Guidewire PolicyCenter, Guidewire BillingCenter, are registered trademarks of Guidewire Software, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171005005472/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 05, 2017] Industry Leaders to Share Expertise on Renewable Natural Gas Business Development LOS ANGELES, Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Leaders in the biogas and renewable gas industry will gather in Sacramento today to share their knowledge of this growing business. Utilities Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) and Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), along with national nonprofit organization Energy Vision, will host the free one-day conference, called "The Power of Waste: Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) for California." "'The Power of Waste' workshop brings together experts in the field of sustainable energy and provides a valuable day of learning and conversation for anyone interested in becoming more knowledgeable about renewable gas opportunities, including the economic and policy landscape," said Lisa Alexander, vice president of customer solutions and communications at SoCalGas. "Renewable natural gas derived from organic sources like animal and plant waste is the next chapter as we look to maximize renewable sources of energy and, clean our air and reduce greenhouse gas emissions." "RNG is one of the lowest carbon fuel sources available, and drastically cuts health-damaging pollutants like particulates and NOx," said Joanna Underwood, chair of Energy Vision. "Over its lifecycle, it cuts GHG emissions 80 percent or more compared to diesel, and is actually net-carbon-negative, according to the California Air Resources Board, when made from food waste. So the more RNG gets made and used, the more it can reduce overall carbon emissions. California has the greatest biogas potential of any state. A recent study by UC Davis estimates that the natural gas needs of around 2.4 million California homes could be fueled with RNG derived from the state's existing organic waste alone. We estimate California could produce enough RNG to replace 75 percent of its diesel road fuel consumption. In the workshop, we'll discuss practical ways to get there." "Arguably one of the greatest steps the state could take to reduce methane emissions from the dairy sector, as well as from landfills and wastewater treatment facilities, is to incentivize or otherwise enable the development of renewable natural gas (RNG) production facilities at each site" said Johannes Escudero, chief executive officer at the Coalition for Renewable Natural Gas. "RNG projects capture and convert methane that would otherwise escape fugitively into the atmosphere as a super-pollutant that is many times more potent than carbon, and convert it for a positive end-use, including as a feedstock for renewable electricity or ultra-low carbon transportation fuel." The conference will include panelists from state agencies discussing their efforts to reduce short-lived climate pollutants and increase renewable energy production. Renewable gas developers including those producing gas from dairies as well as landfill-diverted organic waste facilities will share insight into building successful projects. Additional speakers will review the latest technologies that upgrade biogas to biomethane or RNG which meets utility pipeline specifications. Just like electricity, natural gas can be made from renewable sources. Already, 60 percent of the uel used in natural gas vehicles in California is renewable, and SoCalGas expects that to increase to 90 percent by 2018. This can help reduce the need for other fossil-based fuels, and increase our supplies with a local renewable fuel. Renewable gas project developers, government leadership, local and state agencies, facility operators, equipment vendors, utilities, academia and the media are invited to attend this no-cost workshop, which will take place at Capital Plaza Halls, Grand Ballroom, 1215 J Street, Sacramento, CA 95814 on Thursday, Oct. 5th from 8:00 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. About SoCalGas Headquartered in Los Angeles, SoCalGas is the largest natural gas distribution utility in the United States, providing clean, safe, affordable and reliable natural gas service to 21.7 million customers in Central and Southern California. Its service territory spans 22,000 square miles from Fresno to the Mexican border, reaching more than 550 communities through 5.9 million meters and 101,000 miles of pipeline. More than 90 percent of Southern California single-family home residents use natural gas for home heat and hot water. In addition, natural gas plays a key role in providing electricity to Californiansabout 60 percent of electric power generated in the state comes from gas-fired power plants. SoCalGas has served communities in California for 150 years and is committed to being a leader in the region's clean energy future. The company has committed to spending $6 billion over the next five years to modernize and upgrade its gas infrastructure, while also reducing methane emissions. SoCalGas is working to accelerate the use of renewable natural gas, a carbon-neutral or carbon-negative fuel created by capturing and conditioning greenhouse gas emissions from farms, landfills and wastewater treatment plants. The company is a subsidiary of Sempra Energy (NYSE: SRE), a Fortune 500 energy services holding company based in San Diego. For more information visit socalgas.com/newsroom or connect with SoCalGas on Twitter (@SoCalGas), Instagram (@SoCalGas) and Facebook. About Pacific Gas and Electric Company Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation, is one of the largest combined natural gas and electric energy companies in the United States. Based in San Francisco, with more than 20,000 employees, the company delivers some of the nation's cleanest energy to nearly 16 million people in Northern and Central California. PG&E has proudly served northern California communities, families and businesses since 1905 and is committed to become the safest, most reliable, affordable and clean energy company in the country. PG&E is making strategic investments in new technologies and processes, including biomethane and low-carbon gas alternatives, that help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Since 1998, the company has reduced its SF6 emissions rate by more than 85 percent and total emissions by more than 70 percent. About Energy Vision Energy Vision is a non-profit organization which researches, analyzes and promotes currently viable technologies and strategies for accomplishing the transition to a sustainable, low-carbon energy and transportation future. Learn more at www.energy-vision.org. View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/industry-leaders-to-share-expertise-on-renewable-natural-gas-business-development-300531797.html SOURCE Southern California Gas Company [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 05, 2017] Whirlpool Corporation Pleased With Positive U.S. ITC Vote in Washing Machine Case BENTON HARBOR, Mich., Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) voted unanimously that a surge of large residential washer imports from Samsung and LG have seriously injured American manufacturers and workers. The vote was part of a section 201 safeguard petition Whirlpool Corp. filed earlier this year to stop Samsung and LG from repeated country hopping to evade U.S. trade laws. "The ITC vote is an important win for American manufacturers and American workers," said Jeff M. Fettig, chairman of Whirlpool Corp. "For the third time since 2013, the ITC has found that Samsung and LG engaged in unlawful conduct by violating U.S. trade laws. This vote sets the stage for the administration to put in place an effective remedy to create a level playing field for American workers and manufacturers. This type of corrective action will create U.S. manufacturing jobs." The ITC will vote on a remedy in November before making an official recommendation to the president in December. The safeguard petition applies to finished large residential washing machines as well as major parts, including the washer cabinet, assembled washer tubs and assembled washer baskets. This scope ensures Samsung and LG are not able to circumvent the eventual remedy by establishing what are known as "screwdriver operations," a facility that assembles major parts delivered to it from overseas for final assembly, rather than a full product manufacturing plant in the United States. Case Timeline: October 19: Remedy hearing - ITC hearing on proposed remedies to address serious injury to the U.S. washer industry from Samsung and LG's increased washer import volumes. November 21: Remedy vote - The ITC votes to determine what relief to recommend to the president to address the serious injury that Samsung and LG's increased washer import volumes have caused the U.S. washer industry. December 4: Remedy recommendation - ITC transmits its written remedy recommendation to the president. Such relief may include a tariff, quantitative restrictions, or a combination of tariff and quota (i.e., tariff-rate quota, or TRQ). The president will then have approximately two months to consider ITC's recommendations and to fashion a remedy that he dems most appropriate. Background on the Safeguard Petition: A safeguard petition is the only effective means available to the U.S. Government to address Samsung and LG's pattern of cheating through country hopping. The U.S. Government previously applied country-specific antidumping remedies to Samsung and LG for washers made in South Korea, Mexico and China. In contrast, this safeguard remedy addresses imports from Samsung and LGwherever they are made outside the United Statesthat cause serious injury to U.S. washer manufacturers. Whirlpool Corp. filed the petition to ensure fair competition and to enable U.S. manufacturers to continue creating jobs, investing in new facilities and funding research that drives innovation to benefit consumers. Samsung and LG's Pattern of Country Hopping to Avoid U.S. Trade Remedies: In 2013, the U.S. Government found that Samsung and LG were unlawfully dumping South Korean and Mexican washers into the United States . . The two companies responded by moving washer production to China to continue their illegal dumping behavior. to continue their illegal dumping behavior. In late 2015, Whirlpool Corp. filed a new petition to address the Samsung and LG production now coming from China . In reaction, Samsung and LG immediately began stockpiling product into the United States and moving their production againthis time to factories in Vietnam and Thailand . . In reaction, Samsung and LG immediately began stockpiling product into and moving their production againthis time to factories in and . Earlier this year, the U.S. Government issued a new antidumping order against Samsung and LG in China . But the two companies already had made great strides in their second end run around U.S. trade laws and have continued their assault on American manufacturers and workers. . But the two companies already had made great strides in their second end run around U.S. trade laws and have continued their assault on American manufacturers and workers. On May 31 , Whirlpool Corp.led by 2,464 of its more than 3,000 Clyde, Ohio , manufacturing employeesfiled a safeguard petition with the U.S. ITC to end this pattern of serial country-hopping to circumvent these trade orders. More than 50 Clyde employees made the trip to Washington to attend the ITC safeguard hearing on Sept. 7 . About Whirlpool Corporation Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE: WHR) is the number one major appliance manufacturer in the world, with approximately $21 billion in annual sales, 93,000 employees and 70 manufacturing and technology research centers in 2016. The company markets Whirlpool, KitchenAid, Maytag, Consul, Brastemp, Amana, Bauknecht, Jenn-Air, Indesit and other major brand names in nearly every country throughout the world. Additional information about the company can be found at WhirlpoolCorp.com, or find us on Twitter at @WhirlpoolCorp. Whirlpool Corp. Additional Information Certain statements in this press release relating to the safeguard petition and the expected timing for resolution and benefits to the company constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These statements reflect management's current expectations regarding future events and speak only as of the date of this press release. Forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties, should not be read as guarantees of future performance and will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether or not, or the times at or by which, events will occur. Actual performance may differ materially from that expressed or implied in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these expectations include, among other things, the risk that the timing for resolution of these matters may be significantly delayed, that our petition may not be successful, and that we may not realize expected benefits following resolution of our petition. In addition to these risks, reference should also be made to the factors discussed under "Risk Factors" in Whirlpool Corporation's periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based upon what are believed to be reasonable assumptions, investors cannot be assured that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements, and the differences may be material. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release and, except as expressly required by applicable law, Whirlpool Corporation assumes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/whirlpool-corporation-pleased-with-positive-us-itc-vote-in-washing-machine-case-300531901.html SOURCE Whirlpool Corporation [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 05, 2017] A.M. Best Affirms Credit Ratings of Reaseguradora Patria, S.A. A.M. Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A (Excellent), the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating (Long-Term ICR) of "a" and the Mexico National Scale Rating of "aaa.MX" of Reaseguradora Patria, S.A. (Patria Re) (Mexico). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable. A.M. Best also has affirmed the Long-Term ICR of "bbb" of Patria Re's ultimate parent, Pena Verde, S.A.B. (Pena Verde) (Mexico). The outlook of this rating is stable. Per A.M. Best's methodology on insurance holding companies, Pena Verde's rating reflects a standard notching from Patria Re's Long-Term ICR and is in line with companies of the same rating level. The ratings reflect Patria Re's excellent risk-adjusted capitalization, low underwriting leverage, comprehensive enterprise risk management infrastructure and expansive knowledge of its core markets in Latin America, as well as the company's strong liquidity metrics and stable overseas operation outside its niche market, which has reflected no signs of emerging risks in terms of underwriting and implementation of its expansion strategy. Offsetting these strengths is Patria Re's relatively important participation of equities in its investment portfolio and the catastrophic nature of some of its lines of business, which could add volatility to the company's operating performance. Patria Re has established a solid niche position in Mexico and Latin America, which allows it to accept profitable business selectively, while maintaining a diversified product portfolio tailored to specific markets. This strategy has resulted in consistently favorable underwriting results over the years and has contributed to Patria Re's enhanced risk-adjusted capitalization. The company maintains excellent risk-adjusted capitalization levels, as measured by Best's Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR), reinforced by a well-balanced reinsurance program placed among counterparties with a strong security level to support its operations. Furthermore, the company's underwriting leverage has remained at conservative levels for the past five years. At year-end 2016, the company registered a diminished return on equity and return on assets of 0.87% and 0.5% respectively, mainly driven by claims from catastrophe events, such as the earthquake in Ecuador and Hurricane Earl, as well as negative effects from non-recurring adjustments derived from the implementation of Solvency II-type regulation, which have pressured the company's operating performance as reflected in higher combined ratios. A.M. Best expects these metrics to improve in 2017 supported by a strong track record in underwriting practices, which will enable the company to overcome further pressure derived from recent catastrophe events. While Patria Re holds a larger percentage of its investment portfolio in equities in comparison with other peers, which could lead to higher volatility in its financial income, Patria Re historically has maintained such positions and keeps a long-term investment horizon for these assets. Given its prudent reserve practices and strong capital position, the company has not been required to materialize any unrealized losses from any of these investments to cover unusual deviations in claims arising from the catastrophic nature of its portfolio. Since 2015, Patria Re's risk profile shifted as a result of its assumption of exposures outside of its core markets through Patria Corporate Member Ltd (Lloyd's syndicate) and Patria Re Marketing Services Ltd in the U.K., and Patria Re Servicios, S.A. in Chile. While expanding into highly competitive and mature markets, the latter has enbled the company to afford a planned geographic diversification. A.M. Best considers Patria Re to be well-positioned at its current rating level. Factors that could lead to positive rating actions include continued strong underwriting and overall results in conjunction with the maintenance of excellent risk-adjusted capitalization and improvements in the performance of its investment portfolio, as well as continued and successful operation of its overseas expansion. Factors that may lead to negative rating actions include a sustained decline in underwriting profitability, significant deterioration in risk-adjusted capitalization and unsuccessful operations of the company's overseas expansion plans. The methodology used in determining these ratings is Best's Credit Rating Methodology, which provides a comprehensive explanation of A.M. Best's rating process and contains the different rating criteria employed in the rating process. Best's Credit Rating Methodology can be found at www.ambest.com/ratings/methodology. Key insurance criteria reports utilized: A.M. Best's Ratings On a National Scale (Version Sept. 5, 2014) (Patria Re only) Analyzing Insurance Holding Company Liquidity (Version March 25, 2013) Catastrophe Analysis in A.M. Best Ratings (Version Nov. 3, 2011) Evaluating Country Risk (Version May 2, 2012) Insurance Holding Company and Debt Ratings (Version May 6, 2014) Rating Members of Insurance Groups (Version Dec. 15, 2014) Risk Management and the Rating Process for Insurance Companies (Version April 2, 2013) Understanding Universal BCAR (Version May 1, 2017) View a general description of the policies and procedures used to determine credit ratings. For information on the meaning of ratings, structure, voting and the committee process for determining the ratings and monitoring activities, please refer to Understanding Best's Credit Ratings. Previous Rating Date: Nov. 30, 2016 Date of Financial Data Used: June 30, 2017 This press release relates to rating(s) that have been published on A.M. Best's website. For additional 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. A.M. Best does not validate or certify the information provided by the client in order to issue a credit rating. While the information obtained from the material source(s) is believed to be reliable, its accuracy is not guaranteed. A.M. Best does not audit the company's financial records or statements, or otherwise independently verify the accuracy and reliability of the information; therefore, A.M. Best cannot attest as to the accuracy of the information provided. A.M. Best's credit ratings are independent and objective opinions, not statements of fact. A.M. Best is not an Investment Advisor, does not offer investment advice of any kind, nor does the company or its Ratings Analysts offer any form of structuring or financial advice. A.M. Best's credit opinions are not recommendations to buy, sell or hold securities, or to make any other investment decisions. View our entire notice for complete details. A.M. Best receives compensation for interactive rating services provided to organizations that it rates. A.M. Best may also receive compensation from rated entities for non-rating related services or products offered by A.M. Best. A.M. Best does not offer consulting or advisory services. For more information regarding A.M. Best's rating process, including handling of confidential (non-public) information, independence, and avoidance of conflicts of interest, please read the A.M. Best Code of Conduct. 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/20171005006146/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 05, 2017] Our Robots, Ourselves: Silicon Valley Forum Announces Partnership With NEDO on Robotics Conference This October Robotics is on the rise, and this October 16th two eminent organizations will join forces to explore a transformative future: NEDO and Silicon Valley Forum are delighted to present their conference "Robots on the Rise: Building the Future of Robotics in Japan and the US." Hosted at the Computer History Museum, this all-day event will bring together industry leaders and technology experts to the impact of robotics on everything from autonomous vehicles to automated agriculture to healthcare. "We're delighted to partner with NEDO on this event," said Denyse Cardozo, Executive Director of Silicon Valley Forum. "Robotics and AI are two disruptive industries that are truly on the move, and it's been exciting to see its rapid development over the last few years. I can't wait to hear about what's coming next." "It's a pleasure to collaborate with Silicon Valley Forum on this event," stated Shinnosuke Kameyama, Chief Representative at NEDO's Silicon Valley office. "NEDO is dedicated to open, global innovation and world-standard technology, and we believe that Japan's advanced robotics technologies can have a significant impact on global issues. We're looking forward to hearing how Japan and the US can work together to achieve that goal." In addition to panel discussions and presentations, "Robots on the Rise" will also feature a demo hall with robotics and AI startups and corporations, which will showcase next-gen technology already in the marketplace. Sartups interested in demo tables can apply here. Event information: "Robots on the Rise" will open for registration at 9 am, and conclude at 7 pm. Tickets are free, and are available on the event page. As there is no charge to attend the conference, tickets are expected to sell out; those interested in attending are advised not to wait to purchase. Connect with the conference on Twitter (News - Alert) with #RobotsRiseSV. More information About NEDO Silicon Valley: Since it was established in 1980, NEDO has become one of the largest public research and development management organizations in Japan and has worked with the government to promote economic and industrial policies. In this role, NEDO undertakes technology development and demonstration activities to carry out two basic missions, addressing energy and global environmental problems and enhancing industrial technology, by integrating the combined efforts of industry, academia, and government. In response to a recent increase in open and global innovation, NEDO has been actively promoting international demonstration projects in Europe, North America, and Asian countries. The projects aim at establishment of world standard technology as well as market development by drawing on established research networks in collaboration with foreign governments and relevant organizations. Through these efforts, NEDO believes that Japan's advanced energy, robotics, and other technologies can be disseminated worldwide so as to contribute to the resolution of global environmental and social issues. About Silicon Valley Forum: We facilitate connections and provide resources for entrepreneurs and innovators to build and grow a successful company. While we focus on technology and startups in practice, in spirit we build our work around anyone who wants to run their business the Silicon Valley way-this is a place where creativity and innovation are crucial components of success. Our events, customized programs, Startupedia, and strategic partnerships provide the necessary tools to thrive in today's fast-paced digital economy. For 34 years, our organization has been a key part of Silicon Valley's vibrant ecosystem. We organize over 70 different activities per year and have worked with over 40 countries. Our partners include global leaders Accenture (News - Alert), IBM, Microsoft, Mercer, and K&L Gates, just to name a few; as well as leading venture capital firms and service providers. Silicon Valley Forum is a fully independent 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization. For more information, visit our website at http://www.siliconvalleyforum.com/. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171005006163/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 05, 2017] In Wake of Equifax Breach, Wolf Administration Offers Scam Prevention Tips to Businesses HARRISBURG, Pa., Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following the Equifax data breach in September, Secretary of Banking and Securities Robin L. Wiessmann today advised businesses to examine their internal cybersecurity protocols. An area of growing cybersecurity concern for businesses is the occurrence of business email scams or business email compromise. These cyber threats target employees who have access to financial or sensitive information, impersonating a trusted partner and often requesting a wire transfer or payment. The department has published a new reference guide [http://www.dobs.pa.gov/Documents/Publications/Handouts/Business%20Email%20Scams.pdf] to help businesses better understand business email scams and what they can do to protect themselves. "Cybercriminals and scammers are continually becoming more sophisticated and savvy in the ways in which they target consumers and businesses," Wiessmann said. "Businesses must remain vigilant in their cybersecurity procedures, not only to protect their own sensitive and financial information, but to shield that of their customers and clients." Businesses can use the following guidelines to help protect themselves from becoming the victim of an email scam: Examine email addresses closely . Scammers may spoof emails to look very similar to a legitimate person's address. . Scammers may spoof emails to look very similar to a legitimate person's address. Never transfer money without confirming the request, by phone or in person . Whether it is a matter of walking down he hall to the CEOs office, or contacting a colleague via phone, confirmation from the person requesting the transfer can protect your company. . Whether it is a matter of walking down he hall to the CEOs office, or contacting a colleague via phone, confirmation from the person requesting the transfer can protect your company. Do not use links or phone numbers provided in the email . Contact your trusted partners and colleagues using known contact information. . Contact your trusted partners and colleagues using known contact information. Think before you click! Do not open attachments or links until you have verified them. Do not open attachments or links until you have verified them. Utilize your IT resources . Work with staff to flag emails with similar extensions to your organization's or create other flags and filters. . Work with staff to flag emails with similar extensions to your organization's or create other flags and filters. Implement two-factor or multi-factor authentication with sensitive information and funds. Require a second (or multiple) staff members to review and approve requests for fund transfers. Your financial institution. Request that they contact the financial institution receiving the transfer Your local FBI field office https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices Pennsylvania Attorney General: [email protected] Attorney General: File a complaint with the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) - https://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) 1-877-FTC-HELP https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/#crnt&panel1-1 Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities 1-800-PA-BANKS The Department of Banking and Securities is Pennsylvania's financial services regulator. We oversee state-chartered banks, credit unions, consumer lenders, investment professionals, and other financial services firms. We provide free and confidential help to anyone with a question or complaint about financial services, transactions, or products. Members of the public are invited to connect to the department through Facebook and Twitter, or subscribing to the department's newsletter. MEDIA CONTACT: Ed Novak, 717-783-4721 View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/in-wake-of-equifax-breach-wolf-administration-offers-scam-prevention-tips-to-businesses-300531983.html SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 05, 2017] Gov. Scott Announces Siemens and Chromalloy to Create 350 New Jobs in Tampa Today, Governor Rick Scott announced that Siemens (News - Alert) and Chromalloy Gas Turbine Corporation have chosen Hillsborough County as the headquarters location for their new joint venture, Advanced Airfoil Components. The Advanced Airfoil Components manufacturing facility will lead to the creation of 350 new jobs with a capital investment of approximately $139 million. Siemens and Chromalloy evaluated multiple states before ultimately choosing Florida as the best destination for this new headquarters. Governor Scott said, "I'm proud to announce that Siemens and Chromalloy chose Florida as the best place to start their new joint venture that will create 350 new jobs for families in the Tampa area. We have fought to make Florida more business-friendly by permanently eliminating the sales tax on manufacturing machinery and equipment, so Florida manufacturers like Siemens and Chromalloy can invest more in our state. With the $85 million Florida Job Growth Grant Fund, we can ensure our economy will continue to grow so families can succeed in Florida." Siemens, a global engineering and technology leader, and Chromalloy Gas Turbine Corporation, a global engine manufacturer, have formed Advanced Airfoil Components to support manufacturing and producing components that will maximize gas turbine performance. Advanced Airfoil Components will hire workers for a range of skilled positions, including technical engineers, manufacturing technicians and production workers. This facility will be leasing 210,000 square feet at Tampa Regional Industrial Park and is scheduled to open in late 2018. Siemens already has approximately 5,200 employees in Florida. Siemens USA CEO Judy Marks said, "Siemens is very pleased to make additional investments in the I-4 corridor, where we already have more than 5,000 employees. We're a global company that is proud to be 'U.S. local,' with over 60 manufacturing sites across the country. This joint venture with Chromalloy streamlines our supply chain and ensures we have the most advanced technologies as we pursue performance gains for our gas turbines." Chromalloy President Carlo Luzzatto said, "With two existing manufacturing facilities in the Tampa area, Chromalloy is excited to continue our investment in the community and to support technical and professional job growth in Florida. This is a strong market for technical candidates, and we are looking forward to identifying highly skilled individuals to support this new, innovative energy business." Florida is one of the nation's top 10 states for manufacturing. Home to over 19,000 companies that employ more than 331,000 people, Florida's diverse manufacturing industry produces everything from aerospace products, batteries, food and beverages, communications equipment, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, boats, and more. In 2016, Governor Scott championed the permanent elimination of the sales tax on manufacturing machinery and equipment so Florida manufactures can invest more money in growing their businesses and creating new jobs. The project was made possible through strong partnerships between Enterprise Florida, the Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corporation, Hillsborough County, and the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity. Florida Department of Economic Opportunity Executive Director Cissy Proctor said, "This announcement is exciting news for Tampa-area families. We are proud that Advanced Airfoil chose Florida and is planning to create hundreds of high-wage, high-tech manufacturing jobs in Florida's I-4 Tech Corridor." Chairman of the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners Stacy White, said,"We are excited to welcome Advanced Airfoil Components to Hillsborough County and thank them for their investment in our community. The addition of hundreds of skilled manufacturing jobs is great news for local families. We are confident that the quality of our workforce and the responsiveness of our colleges and universities to the industry's evolving training needs will help Advanced Airfoil Components thrive here for decades to come." Chairman of the Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corporation and President of Hillsborough Community College Dr. Ken Atwater said, "The strength and diversity of our manufacturing sector is encouraging more globally renowned corporations like Siemens and Chromalloy to choose Tampa and Hillsborough County. Advanced Airfoil Components' success in our market will have a positive impact on our region and help shape our economic future. We look forward to assisting them as they establish roots in our community." Enterprise Florida board member and President and CEO and Voltair Consulting Engineers Julius Davis said, "Florida attracts high-tech companies from around the world, and with a qualified workforce and robust infrastructure, it is clear why Siemens and Chromalloy chose Hillsborough County as the location for Advanced Airfoil Components. The 350 new jobs and investment into our community are a direct result of business-friendly policies championed by Governor Rick Scott." Siemens Corporation is a U.S. subsidiary of Siemens AG (News - Alert), a global powerhouse focusing on the areas of electrification, automation and digitalization. One of the world's largest producers of energy-efficient, resource-saving technologies, Siemens is a leading supplier of systems for power generation and transmission as well as medical diagnosis. With approximately 351,000 employees in 190 countries, Siemens reported worldwide revenue of $88.1 billion in fiscal 2016. Siemens in the USA reported revenue of $23.7 billion, including $5.4 billion in exports, and employs approximately 50,000 people throughout all 50 states and Puerto Rico. Chromalloy has expanded from a gas turbine parts repair business into an OEM supplier of production parts and advanced repairs and services for gas turbines used in aviation and land-based applications. Chromalloy serves the airline, military, marine and energy segments with a broad range of services at locations around the globe. Chromalloy is authorized by the FAA and EASA and many other NAAs, and is qualified under ISO and NADCAP. Chromalloy is a subsidiary of Sequa Corporation. Sequa Corporation is a diversified industrial company with operations in the aerospace, energy and metal coatings industries. Sequa is a Carlyle Group company. For additional information, visit www.sequa.com Enterprise Florida, Inc. (EFI) is a partnership between Florida's businesses and government leaders and is the principal economic development organization for Florida. EFI facilitates job growth through recruitment and retention, international trade and exporting, promotion of sporting events, and capital funding programs to assist small and minority businesses. EFI launched "Florida - The Future is Here" to promote the state as the nation's premier business destination. Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corporation is the lead designated economic development agency for Hillsborough County and the cities of Tampa, Plant City, and Temple Terrace. Established in 2009 as a partnership between the public sector and private corporate investors, the EDC works to develop and sustain a thriving local economy through the attraction, retention and expansion of high wage jobs and capital investment within targeted industry sectors. The EDC exists because of the generous support of more than 100 corporations, the Board of County Commissioners of Hillsborough County, and the cities of Tampa, Plant City and Temple Terrace. Hillsborough County, Florida is the commercial and industrial heart of Tampa Bay. The fourth largest county in the state of Florida, Hillsborough is home to nearly 1.3 million residents, with thousands more arriving each year. Its strength is drawn from being one of the most advanced economies and having one of the most educated workforces in the state. Hillsborough County and its three municipalities -Tampa, Plant City, and Temple Terrace - offer a competitive business environment and an abundance of regional assets including Port Tampa Bay, Tampa International Airport, and MacDill Air Force Base. County government is focused on creating economic prosperity for residents and businesses throughout the area. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171005006295/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 05, 2017] KBRwyle to Sponsor Army Ten-Miler HOUSTON, Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- KBR, Inc. (NYSE: KBR) announced today that, through its global government services business KBRwyle, it will once again join the Association of the U.S. Army (AUSA) as co-lead sponsor of the Army Ten-Miler (ATM) race in Washington, D.C. on Sunday, October 8. KBR has been a major sponsor of the ATM for 12 years. At the race, KBRwyle provides free event shuttles, water stations, pre-packaged meal boxes, and reunion areas where family and friends link up with runners. KBRwyle also sponsors the famous Hooah-Tent Zone where attendees interact with soldiers while enjoying the ATM experience and Wisconsin bratwursts. The ATM is the third largest ten-mile race in the U.S. with an estimated attendance this year of 40,000 runners and spectators from around the world. "KBRwyle is very pleased to partner with organizations like AUSA and the Army Ten-Miler to support soldiers and veterans from across the military," said Byron Bright, KBRwyle President. "KBRwyle stands beside our troops supporting them in carrying out their important missions worldwide, and stands behind them and their families when they return home." All proceeds from the ATM go to the U.S. Army's Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) program. The MWR program directly supports soldiers and their families worldwide by providing a variety of family, morale, welfare and recreation programs and services to enrich soldiers' and their families' lives culturally and creatively. About KBR, Inc. KBR is a global provider of differentiated professional services and technologies across the asset and program life cycle within the Government Services and Hydrocarbons sectors. KBR employs over 34,000 people worldwide (including our joint ventures), with customers in more than 80 countries, and operations in 40 countries, across three synergistic global businesses: Government Service, serving government customers globally, including capabilities that cover the full life-cycle of defense, space, aviation and other government programs and missions from research and development, through systems engineering, test and evaluation, program management, to operations, maintenance, and field logistics Technology & Consulting, including proprietary technology focused on the monetization of hydrocarbons (especially natural gas and natural gas liquids) in ethylene and petrochemicals; ammonia, nitric acid and fertilizers; oil refining; gasification; oil and gas consulting; integrity management; naval architecture and proprietary hulls; and downstream consulting Engineering & Construction, including onshore oil and gas; LNG (liquefaction and regasification)/GTL; oil refining; petrochemicals; chemicals; fertilizers; differentiated EPC; maintenance services (Brown & Root Industrial Services); offshore oil and gas (shallow-water, deep-water, subsea); floating solutions (FPU, FPSO, FLNG & FSRU) and program management At KBR, We Deliver. Visit www.kbr.com Forward Looking Statement The statements in this press release that are not historical statements, including statements regarding future financial performance, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the company's control that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results expressed or implied by the statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the outcome of and the publicity surrounding audits and investigations by domestic and foreign government agencies and legislative bodies; potential adverse proceedings by such agencies and potential adverse results and consequences from such proceedings; the scope and enforceability of the company's indemnities from its former parent; changes in capital spending by the company's customers; the company's ability to obtain contracts from existing and new customers and perform under those contracts; structural changes in the industries in which the company operates; escalating costs associated with and the performance of fixed-fee projects and the company's ability to control its cost under its contracts; claims negotiations and contract disputes with the company's customers; changes in the demand for or price of oil and/or natural gas; protection of intellectual property rights; compliance with environmental laws; changes in government regulations and regulatory requirements; compliance with laws related to income taxes; unsettled political conditions, war and the effects of terrorism; foreign operations and foreign exchange rates and controls; the development and installation of financial systems; increased competition for employees; the ability to successfully complete and integrate acquisitions; and operations of joint ventures, including joint ventures that are not controlled by the company. KBR's most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K, any subsequent Form 10-Qs and 8-Ks, and other Securities and Exchange Commission filings discuss some of the important risk factors that KBR has identified that may affect the business, results of operations and financial condition. Except as required by law, KBR undertakes no obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason. View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/kbrwyle-to-sponsor-army-ten-miler-300531936.html SOURCE KBR, Inc. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Foreign Secretary Haque is in the capital to attend the World Economic Forum and also met Secretary Jaishankar to discuss various aspects of India-Bangladesh relations. By Geeta Mohan: India and Bangladesh discussed the Rohingya refugee crisis in a meeting that took place between Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque and his Indian counterpart SJaishankar in New Delhi on Thursday. Foreign Secretary Haque is in the capital to attend the World Economic Forum and also met Secretary Jaishankar to discuss various aspects of India-Bangladesh relations. Rohingya refugee crisis is one of the major issues that has troubled both India and Bangladesh in recent times after the escalation of violence in the Rakhine state of Myanmar. This has led to major influx of refugees into Bangladeshi territory and into Indian territory through illegal means. advertisement Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque told India on Thursday that this matter needs to be dealt bilaterally and that his country has been engaging the state of Myanmar but it also requires immediate international attention and assistance. He said, "We look forward to resolving the issue peacefully and expect that international community will support that, especially our close friend India." The Bangladesh Foreign Secretary thanked Foreign Secretary Jaishankar on behalf of his country for the "support extended to Bangladesh". India has been extending help in the form of aid to Bangladesh. In what India has termed as "Operation Insaniyat", India has sent relief materials to Bangladesh for the Rohingya refugees. "In response to the humanitarian crisis being faced on account of the large influx of refugees into Bangladesh, Government of India has decided to extend assistance to Bangladesh," External Affairs Ministry in New Delhi said in a statement in September. The biggest concern for India and Bangladesh has been the security aspect of such mass exodus. Sources say, Bangladesh Foreign Secretary conveyed the concerns to the Indian side and the need for Myanmar to create a favourable environment for the refugees to be "repatriated" to their homeland. Also Watch : RSS chief Bhagwat on Rohingya: Humanitarian view at cost of one's security is not good. --- ENDS --- RenaissanceRe Schedules Third Quarter 2017 Financial Results Conference Call RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:RNR) will conduct an investment community conference call on Wednesday, November 1, 2017, at 10:00 a.m. ET to discuss its financial results for the third quarter of 2017, as well as the Company's outlook. RenaissanceRe will release its results following the close of market on Tuesday, October 31, 2017. A live webcast of the conference call will be available through the Investor Information section of RenaissanceRe's website at www.renre.com. An archive of the call will be available from approximately 2:00 p.m. ET on November 1, 2017 through midnight ET on January 9, 2018. RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. is a global provider of reinsurance and insurance that specializes in matching well-structured risks with efficient sources of capital. The Company provides property, casualty and specialty reinsurance and certain insurance solutions to customers, principally through intermediaries. Established in 1993, the Company has offices in Bermuda, Ireland, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and the United States. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171005006151/en/ [October 05, 2017] FBL Financial Group Schedules Third Quarter 2017 Earnings Release Date, Conference Call and Webcast FBL Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE: FFG) will announce its third quarter 2017 earnings approximately 15 minutes after the close of the market on Thursday, November 2, 2017. The third quarter earnings release and financial supplement will be posted on the FBL Financial Group website (www.fblfinancial.com) at that time. FBL Financial Group will hold a conference call to discuss third quarter 2017 earnings on Friday, November 3, 2017 at 9:00 a.m. ET. The conference call will be webcast live on the Internet. Investors and interested parties who wish to listen to the call on the Internet may do so at www.fblfinancial.com. The call may also be accessed by telephone at (866) 218-2403. A transcript of the prepared comments from the call, as well as an audio replay, will be available shortly after the call on FBL Financial Group's website. An audio replay will be available via telephone through November 17, 2017 by calling (877) 344-7529 and entering code 10095343 when prompted. FBL Financial Group is a holding company whose purpose is to protect livelihoods and futures. Its primary operating subsidiary, Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company, underwrites and markets a broad range of life insurance and annuities to individuals and businesses, which are distributed by multiline exclusive Farm Bureau agents. In addition, FBL Financial Group manages all aspects of two Farm Bureau affiliated property-casualty insurance companies for a management fee. FBL Financial Group, headquartered in West Des Moines, Iowa, is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol FFG. For more information, please visit www.fblfinancial.com. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171005006230/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 05, 2017] Cincinnati Bell Inc. Announces Third Quarter 2017 Earnings Release Date Cincinnati Bell (News - Alert) Inc. (NYSE:CBB) will host a conference call on Thursday, November 2, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. (ET) to discuss its financial results for the third quarter of 2017, which will be issued before the market opens that day. The conference call dial-in number is 877-857-6144. Callers located outside of the U.S. and Canada may dial 719-325-4886. To participate, please call 15 minutes prior to the start time. A taped replay of the conference call will be available approximately one hour after the conclusion of the call until 1:00 p.m. (ET) on Thursday, November 16, 2017. Replay Number: (888) 203-1112 Replay Number (outside U.S. and Canada): (719) 457-0820 Replay Passcode: 3587808 Cincinnati Bell will conduct a live webcast of the conference call. To access the webcast, go to the Investor Relations section of www.cincinnatibell.com, click on the Webcasts/Presentations option and follow the instructions. Please plan to register for the live webcast at least 15 minutes prior to the scheduled presentation start time. The archived webcast will be available for replay following the conclusion of the live event. About Cincinnati Bell Inc. With headquarters in Cincinnati, Ohio, Cincinnati Bell Inc. (NYSE:CBB) provides integrated communications solutions - including local and long distance voice, data, high-speed Internet and video - that keep residential and business customers in Greater Cincinnati and Dayton connected with each other and with the world. In addition, enterprise customers across the United States and Canada rely on CBTS and OnX, wholly-owned subsidiaries, for efficient, scalable office communications systems and end-to-end IT solutions. For more information, please visit www.cincinnatibell.com. The information on the Company's website is not incorporated by reference in this press release. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171005006314/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 05, 2017] Minister Joly Announces Her Intention to Lead Canada's First Creative Industries Trade Mission to China in April 2018 Minister Joly to promote the strength of Canada's creative industries, help facilitate access to the Chinese market and strengthen Canada's cultural and economic ties with China VANCOUVER, Oct. 5, 2017 /CNW/ - Cultural exchange has always been an important aspect of diplomacy, deepening mutual understanding and facilitating collaboration. With China's vibrant cultural scene growing rapidly, the Government of Canada is committed to helping Canada's creative industries expand their already significant presence in the Chinese market. Today at the Vancouver International Film Festival, the Honourable Melanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage, announced her intention to lead Canada's first creative industries trade mission to China in April 2018. This mission will support Canadian creators and businesses in the creative industries who are looking to further new partnerships and build business-to-business relationships in China and strengthen the cultural and economic relationships between Canada and China. This announcement was made as part of Creative Canada, the Government of Canada's vision for the future of our creative industries. This trade mission is part of the commitment to promoting the discovery and distribution of Canadian creative content in global markets. With this creative industries trade mission, the Government will seek to establish greater commercial ties and opportunities for Canadian companies in the creative industries that wish to export and engage with the Chinese market in the following four sectors: film and audiovisual (including animation and visual effects); video games and virtual reality/augmented reality (VR/AR); digital content for public creative spaces and museums; and performing arts. Minister Joly also announced the release of A Snapshot of China's Creative Industries, a market study commissioned by the Department of Canadian Heritage, in partnership with the Trade Commissioner Service of Canada. The market study highlights the tremendous opportunities for Canadian artistic and cultural content in China. The Government of Canada recognizes that Canadian creative industries are an important driver of our economy. Opening new markets for creators and creative entrepreneurs will contribute to inclusive growth, create jobs and strengthen the middle class and those working hard to join it. To express your interest in participating in this creative industries trade mission, please contact [email protected]. Quote "Canada has tremendous talent, ingenuity and leadership in our creative industries and those industries make a significant contribution to our economy. Our government is committed to helping Canadian creators and creative entrepreneurs seize opportunities in key global markets, including China, where there is a growing demand for creative products and services. Our goal is to upport Canadian creators and creative entrepreneurs in increasing their competitive position on the international stage so that they can reach new markets and contribute directly to Canada's overall economic and social prosperity." The Honourable Melanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage Related Products Minister Joly Promotes Canadian Creative Industries in the People's Republic of China and Inaugurates the First Meeting of the Canadian Cultural and Creative Industry Advisory Group in Shanghai https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/news/2017/01/minister-joly-promotes-canadian-creative-industries-people-republic-china-inaugurates-first-meeting-canadian-cultural-creative-industry-advisory-group.html?wbdisable=true Associated Links 2018 Creative Industries Trade Mission to China https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/canada-china-trade-mission-2018.html Backgrounder The Honourable Melanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage, has announced her intention to lead Canada's first creative industries trade mission to China in April 2018. Canadian artists, entrepreneurs, creators and business owners from creative sectors (music, books, audio-visual, visual arts, performing arts and new technologies, among others) are thriving on the international scene. The creative industries trade mission will support businesses and organizations in the creative industry who are looking to further new partnerships and build business-to-business relationships in China. Mission objectives Facilitate market entry for high-potential SMEs that are export-ready and have an ability to enter the Chinese market. Establish new partnerships between Canada and China's creators and creative entrepreneurs. and creators and creative entrepreneurs. Create opportunities to learn from Canadian companies who have achieved success in the Chinese market and leverage their networks. Promote Canada as an investment partner and destination. as an investment partner and destination. Strengthen cultural and economic relationships between Canada and China . Targeted sectors The creative industries trade mission is aiming to leverage existing networks, play to Canada's strengths and complement the Chinese market. The following four sectors may be targeted for the recruitment of candidates (but are not limited to): film/audio-visual (including animation and visual effects); video games and virtual reality/augmented reality (VR/AR); digital content for public/creative spaces/museums; and performing arts. Who should participate? There is a growing demand for creative and cultural products and services in China. However, China remains a complex business environment, which can present unique challenges. Strong candidates for this trade mission include Canadian businesses and organizations with export experience, high potential, and readiness for the Chinese market. Selection criteria The following criteria will be considered when selecting applicants: Operations in one of the above-mentioned targeted sectors; Experience targeting China as part of their international business strategy, either to export, establish a presence in the country or to seek investment capital; as part of their international business strategy, either to export, establish a presence in the country or to seek investment capital; Candidates that are already negotiating with Chinese companies, and could benefit from a Minister-led trade mission to facilitate new partnerships; Those that have not yet entered the Chinese market but demonstrate a strong interest, potential and readiness to be introduced to the market and key stakeholders; Candidates that would benefit from mentoring opportunities with the Trade Commissioner Service as well as with companies that have already achieved success in China . In collaboration with its partners from the industry, portfolio organizations or other government departments, the Department of Canadian Heritage will assess candidates' suitability for participation, based on the criteria and the mission's objectives. Program and itinerary The business program will include: business briefings, pre-arranged business-to-business meetings tailored to participants' needs, networking events and some overarching programming elements with the Minister. Mentoring activities could be included, by pairing Canadian companies already established in China with smaller, high-potential companies that show readiness and have a strong interest in entering the Chinese market. The mission's itinerary will be developed to include Beijing, as well as other Chinese cities, to maximize opportunities for Canadian creative industries. Confirmed participants will be expected to make their own respective travel arrangements using identified reservation blocks as provided. Express interest If you are interested in applying to be part of the creative industries trade mission delegation, an initial expression of interest would be appreciated by November 13, 2017 . Please send an email to [email protected] . Additional updates on mission planning will be made available on the trade mission's web page at https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/canada-china-trade-mission-2018.html. SOURCE Canadian Heritage [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Air Chief BS Dhanoa has said that the likelihood of a two-front war with China and Pakistan is unlikely. By Sudhi Ranjan Sen: Chances of a two-front war with Pakistan and and its all-weather friend China aren't very high, Air Force Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa said today. However, India is capable of fighting such a war, he told reporters on the occasion of the 85th Foundation Day of Indian Air Force Dispelling concerns that the IAF doesn't have enough fighters, the Air Chief said, "We have a plan B, and we can fight a two front war. The Indian Air Force needs 42 squadrons of fighters but has only 33 squadrons. And, importantly , it will lose another 11 squadrons in the next two years. advertisement "For a full spectrum war we need 42 squadrons, but doesn't mean we cannot fight a full spectrum war with the existing strength," he said. The Air Chief also said that simultaneous war with Pakistan and China may not be acceptable to the world. ON CHINESE SOLDIERS IN CHUMBI VALLEY Air Chief Dhanoa said Chinese soldiers were still stationed in Chumbi Valley in the Doklam area, the site of a months-lomg stand-off between the Indian Army and China's People's Liberation Army. But he expressed hope that these troops "will withdraw in future after their exercises are over." On Chinese capabilities, the Air Chief said the question was about what China "can and cannot do operating from Tibet against India," rather than about assets. Chinese airfields in the Tibetan plateau are at an average height of 11,000 feet - that imposes restrictions on how much fuel and weapons an aircraft can carry. ON TACTICAL NUKES Air Chief Dhanoa today said the IAF has the capability to "locate fix and destroy" tactical nukes (TNW) developed by Pakistan - should the need arise. He was talking about Hatf-9 (Nasr) short-range ballistic missiles (SRBM), which are equipped with a tactical nuclear warhead (TNW) to be used in the battlefield only. On several occasions, Pakistan has said the TNW have been developed as to counter India rapidly mobilising troops and armour, and overwhelming Pakistan's defence and forces. --- ENDS --- KANSAS CITY 3RD DISTRICT INSIDERS OBJECT TO THE MARKETING FOR AN UPCOMING "FREAKY TALES" COSTUME PARTY!!! The 18th & Vine Jazz District recently received $7-million worth of taxpayer funding and this fact of life has the community in an uproar over tawdry promotions for an upcoming party along with the direction the area is taking.More to the point . . .A quick note sent our way . . .Remember, the 18th & Vine District which hosts "The Kansas City Juke House" is beloved and supported by taxpayers throughout KCMO because it continues a local jazz tradition that speaks to a renaissance of predominately African-American culture and provides a historic touchstone for a golden era in local music and heritage.Ergo . . . Insiders with a greater understanding of this issue don't want 18th & Vine turning into the home for #AZZJAMZ.A quick note that's going far and wide right now . . "IMO the below event is absolutely unacceptable at this venue."Expect 3RD district reps to confront a great deal of controversy on this topic before Halloween arrives.Developing . . . Kansas City Survivor's Story Kansas City man scrambled to stay safe in Las Vegas Sunday night He was next door to the shooting when chaos erupted. Downtown Luxury Hype Redux Roaster's Block hosts grand opening with tour for former Folgers employees KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Roaster's Block is officially open. After a $35 million renovation, there are 146 brand new luxury apartment buildings where the old Folgers plant used to be. "You want to renovate. You want to repurpose. Deadly KCK Crash Aftermath Police: Driver ran red light in crash that killed one, injured two Kansas City, KS police are investigating a deadly crash. The wreck, killing one and injuring two, happened at 5th Street and Washington. Investigators say the driver of an SUV was speeding southbound on 5th Street. Another driver in a car was traveling westbound on 5th Street. Kansas City Candlelight Tribute Metro church-members gather to pray for victims of Las Vegas shooting and their families OVERLAND PARK, Kan. -- Church members devoted Wednesday night as a special time to pray for victims killed in a mass shooting. The touching service took place at Unity Church where the congregation united to remember everyone affected by the Las Vegas massacre. Meet The Future Of Kansas City Jazz KCUR's Band Of The Week: The Sextet The Sextet is a jazz group led by bassist Robert Castillo, with saxophonist Max Levy, trumpeter Teddy Krulewich, trombonist Trevor Turla, guitarist Peter Marten and drummer Fritz Hutchison. Their penchant for soulful grooves and elements of funk will appeal to fans of like-minded Kansas City jazz groups like the Project H and Eddie Moore and the Outer Circle. Fanboy Reflections Chiefs road trip report: Arrowhead magic All right, I've got a confession to make. And when I do it, I'm going to lose some of you. I'll do my best to accept this, because I believe honesty is the best policy. Ready? Here goes... Arrowhead never quite lived up to the hype for me in the past. Kansas City Tasty Treat Tap List | Bizz & Weezy Creates Beer Caramel Beer never tasted so sweet. Self-taught confectioner Jonathan Pitcher, who opened Bizz & Weezy Confections (1800 Baltimore) two years ago, has begun crafting and selling bite-sized, chocolate-dipped caramels ($2.25 per piece) made from local craft beer. Pitcher has made the soft, melt-in-your-mouth caramels with Double Shift's Abby Royal Belgian Dubbel, King's Vine American IPA and Literally Can't Even Belgian Strong Dark Ale. The news might not always be good butstill inspires morning cheer and this early Kansas City news link compilation. Take a peek:is the #TBT song of the day and this is thefor right now . . . Money Talks For City Hall KCMO to hold community budget-planning sessions Northeast News The City is reaching out to residents for their opinions on high-priority topics in an effort to shape the budget's trajectory for the next five years. Throughout October the City will be holding four identical interactive discussion sessions. They are encouraging anyone who is solution-oriented to come join them. East Side Building Boom The new 'east of Troost': Chef's kitchens, lap pools, $600K homes - and class tension Their friends and family thought they were insane. Build east of Troost? To many white Kansas Citians, that coded phrase, "east of Troost" - the unofficial color line of the city's segregated history - has long implied crime and poverty. To black Kansas Citians, the west side of the avenue signifies as much racial intolerance as it does monied privilege. Show-Me NRA Big Bucks Roy Blunt, the NRA's four million dollar man Only two United States senators have received more money from the NRA than Sen. Roy Blunt, R-MO. A New York Times study of campaign contributions received by legislators and money spent on their behalf shows that Blunt has received $4,551,146 from the organization, dating back through his days in the House of Representatives. Booze Backs Protest Anheuser-Busch adds protest feedback line, stands by NFL sponsorship One of the NFL's largest advertisers is taking feedback from consumers about recent national anthem protests, but stands by its sponsorship of the league. More than 200 players kneeled or sat during the anthem after President Donald Trump's criticism last month regarding such protests. The move by the players prompted backlash from some fans. Cowtown Fashionista Display Kritiq fashion show MADE for Kansas City designers Designers don't need to go to the east or west coasts to pursue their dreams, Mark Launiu said. "There's so much passion and grind here in Kansas City. And a lot of people on the outside don't know that," said Launiu, co-founder at MADE Urban Apparel. Classiccelebrates movie smackdowns on this gray day and just a few more local links that are worth a peek:And this is thefor right now . . . Due to subdued monsoon this year, India may have to face a fallout when it comes to the production of Rabi crops. By Arindam De: The monsoons were good overall, but there were some shortfalls across India. Major reservoirs are less full this year than they were towards the end of September 2016 which means a looming risk for the winter crops - Rabi. Monsoons were just short of normal, around 2-5 per cent short. But, even that little difference translated to more than 16 per cent of the country receiving below normal rains. advertisement Crops like wheat, pulses and mustard will see lower sowings this year as compared to the previous year. Farmers may face lower demands that have seen prices staying low. As a runoff, these low coverage areas will probably see imports of staples like wheat and edible vegetable oils rise. Originally, the country was looking to improve the 137.2 million tons of Rabi crop yield in 2016. The government was looking at an estimated crop output of 137.5 million tons of food grains and oilseeds during the Rabi season. The world's second biggest producer may again import wheat and the import bill of Palm oil may also rise. Even the Kharif crop, including staple rice is expected to see lower outputs, in the range of 2.5 per cent to 3 per cent, the centre have said in its first ever advanced estimate. Lower water levels at reservoirs, other than those in the Southern part of India are worrisome as the country will have a long wait for the next monsoon. The late rains to the south of the Vindhyas are seen spoiling the harvest of Kharif crops such as maize, pulses and cotton, while boosting some prospects for the upcoming Rabi season. Telangana farmers have seen their maize and jowar crops hit by late rains and the cotton harvesting have also been delayed. Karnataka farmers may find as much as a fourth of their standing Tur pulse crops damaged. The weatherman does not have any good news till at least mid October. Heavy rainfall and thunderstorm in Marathwada and Konkan regions are expected till the second week of October. State governments have urged farmers to protect their harvested Kharif crops by moving it to safer locations. --- ENDS --- "We are all still reeling from and horrified by the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history that happened in Las Vegas on Sunday night. That kind of act will never make sense. When something like this happens, we often wonder, Could that happen to me? Could that happen in Kansas City? Unfortunately, this is a possibility in any city in America, or in the world. "The Kansas City Missouri Police Department constantly trains for the possibility that it could. You should be confident that the Department is ready to respond to any type of critical incident and to coordinate with regional resources, if necessary." "We realize events like this can be traumatizing to many individuals. Im sure some would think about going to an outdoor concert differently than they did prior to this event. But dont let evil win. Dont change your lifestyle or refrain from participating in events you enjoy. Stay vigilant; if you see something say something to help keep others safe, so we all can continue to enjoy the freedom this country offers. "Our hearts are with everyone who was impacted by the horrible events that occurred in Las Vegas, including the first responders who ran toward the gunfire and had to endure such carnage. Rest assured, the members of the Kansas City Missouri Police Department are ready to do the same." IS CONFIDENCE IN THE KCPD RESPONSE TO THE THREAT OF A MASSACRE MISPLACED GIVEN THE CURRENT 2017 HOMICIDE SPIKE??? The nation struggles to come to terms with the implications of a modern day American massacre and the latest post fromattempts to offer reassurance to local residents.Checkit . . .Opening line . . .The Chief goes on to offer some important tactical deets and highlights local resources and regional cooperation.The conclusion of the Kansas City top cop . . .Still, the point of this blog isn't just to regurgitate the words of an appointed official . . . Our job and the job of this blog community is to critically examine statements from local people in power.To wit . . .An off-duty suburban cop was shot and killed in the middle of Westport this Summer and that kind of brazen gunfire is a challenge which typically confronts KCPD.Let's not forget that local politicos are eager to challenge KCPD with allegations of police brutality and continued protest as "City Hall Control" turns into a movement hope change the power structure of the department from within.Also,Finally, police struggle to put more officers on the street and even a recent ask this week for more dispatchers confronts a slow response from City Hall.Don't misunderstand . . . This is debate and the threat of battles against gunmen is something that we desperately want police to winEvery confident statement from authorities must face scrutiny given the increasing frequency of those reassurances in an era ofdeadly mass shootings.You decide . . . THE 2017 "BEST OF KANSAS CITY ISSUE" FROM THE PITCH IS A STEAMING PILE OF GARBAGE NOT WORTH THE PAPER ON WHICH IT'S PRINTED!!! - They list Mayor Sly as the #1 Local Hero. - The Pitch loves Kansas City because activism is "resurgent" but then touts the "Fight for $15" that has been underway for at least half a decade. They also take a lot of space to tout a local "progressive" lady congressional candidate who may or may not have a Red State chance in Hell. - There are very few descriptions or writeups. Just some eye candy, a multi-page hype column and a lot of ads. The issue comes in at 103 pages but reads more like a MEGASHOPPER. The monthly magazine gambit has inspired The Pitch to sacrifice their street cred for local Democratic Party promotional support within their glossy pages I'm writing this on a phone in a Midtown covfefe shop because it's worth a mention but not very much consideration . . .Even worse, this monthly dead-tree operation is attempting to defy the world and hasn't even uploaded their content to their website yet.A few highlights so we can maybe save a forest or at least some precious time for evening readers.Old school denizens and media watchers might remember when. The Pitch "Best Of" issue was the last word in local trends and style. Those days are gone.Don't get it twisted, the mag is worth a look because it's a beautiful freebie. But like so many denizens of Kansas City nightlife: It's all style and no substance.You decide . . . On December 17, 1903 the Wright Brothers made history with the first powered, controlled, and sustained heavier than air flight. Since then flying has gotten safer, but following Murphys Law, if something can go wrong, it will go wrong. Thousands of feet above the ground, when that something takes a turn for the worse its up to the pilots to prevent their planes (and themselves) from slamming into the Earth. At first, those who braved the skies were called by their Latin translations with terms like aviator or aviatrix for women. The media, looking to connect these brave men and women with the general public, tried to get more literal using terms like Airman or Birdman. Eventually, they brought in more scientific terms like aeronaut or aerialist before settling on what we use today: pilot, or the more formal aviator. Whatever name you like, these highly-skilled technicians of the sky and their support crews are what prevent your plane from hurtling to the ground when disaster strikes. 10. Exploding cargo in mid-air The Lockheed C-130 Hercules has long been the workhorse of the US military. In operation since the 50s, the four-engine turboprop has helped haul material, munitions, and men in Americas wars. Thus it was no surprise that a C-130 Hercules variant, Spare 617 (No. 62-1787), a C-130E model was supporting the United States involvement in the Vietnam War. In April 1972, Spare 617 was sent on a vital mission to support the forces involved in the Battle of An Loc. At the time the city was surrounded by communists and the pilot of Spare 617, Captain William Caldwell, was told hed be under heavy 37mm anti-aircraft fire. Asking how high the rounds could go, the response was simple, if slightly sarcastic: Above you! Those helpful officers werent wrong, because as soon as Spare 617 got close to the drop zone it took multiple rounds, killing flight engineer Tech. Sgt. Jon Sanders, wounding several others, and setting the pallets full of highly explosive ammunition on fire. As he watched the fire quickly spread, Loadmaster Tech. Sgt. Charlie Shaub frantically signaled for the pilots to jettison the load. When the electronics didnt work Shaub manually cut the pallets away. Luckily they quickly flew out of the aircraft, exploding almost as soon as they cleared the rear cargo door. Relieved at getting their flaming explosive cargo out of the way, Shaub now had to deal with the remaining fires that had spread around the inside of the plane. He was able to extinguish the flames, an action that earned him the Air Force Cross. For flying the heavily damaged (formerly on fire) Spare 617 back to base, Caldwell was also give the Cross. Spare 617 was itself repaired and put back to duty, working for decades before, in 2011, being retired to the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Dayton, Ohio. 9. United Airlines Flight 232 United Airlines Flight 232 was a DC-10 flying on July 19, 1989, from Stapleton International Airport in Denver to OHare International Airport in Chicago. On board were 296 passengers and crew. The flight seemed innocent enough, taking off at 2:09 p.m., but an hour later at 3:16 p.m., a flawed fan disk in the tail-mounted engine disintegrated, sending pieces of metal throughout the rear section of the plane and more importantly rupturing all three of the planes hydraulic systems. These hydraulic systems allow the pilot to control such a large vessel by just pulling on the control wheel. Without them, the plane could not maneuver. In the after-crash report, investigators determined that the mechanical failure was so great that there was no way to train for it. When they radioed for help they were told that flight control had no answers, as a hydraulic failure of all three lines was virtually impossible. With no way to control the planes flaps, they should have already crashed. But the crew of Flight 232 had already determined that today would not be a good day to die. The three pilots on board were helped by a fourth pilot, Dennis E. Fitch, an off-duty United Airlines DC-10 flight instructor who just happened to be flying as a passenger that day. Between the four of them, they were able to devise a system of control where they could turn and descend without the vital hydraulics. They did this by powering up or powering down the planes right and left engines. Utilizing this system the four-man pilot team were able to limp to the Sioux City, Iowa airport for an emergency landing. While they did have some maneuverability by adjusting engine thrust the aircraft was incredibly difficult to control. Cleared for a crash landing on one runway, they were actually only able to line up on another which, coincidentally, was where all the emergency firefighting vehicles were parked, waiting for the landing. Luckily the emergency vehicles were quickly able to move out of the way. Unfortunately the planes ad hoc flying method couldnt adjust fast enough and Flight 232 smashed into the runway, spilling fuel and igniting parts of the plane. Tragically, more than 100 passengers were killed, but the consensus was that the survival of 185 people was down to the skill and crew resource management of the four-man pilot team. 8. Crawling out on the wing to put out flames During World War II, the Allies took part in a massive bombing campaign over Nazi-occupied Europe. Flying as high as possible, they tried to bomb Hitler into submission. It didnt work, in part because the Nazis tried to do everything possible to bring the planes down, creating massive losses for the Allies. In the European theater alone over 160,000 Allied airmen and 33,700 planes were lost during bombing missions. There were many brave actions during these daring raids but some stand out more than others. Norman Cyril Jackson was a flight engineer in a Lancaster Bomber attacking Schweinfurt on a nighttime raid on April 26, 1944. After releasing their load they were suddenly pounced upon by a German fighter that was able to riddle the aircraft with rounds that ignited the engine and wing fuel tank. Knowing that it was certain death if the fuel tank exploded, Jackson volunteered to climb out on the wing, during flight, to try and extinguish the flames. He strapped on a parachute and blew the external hatch. The cabin was suddenly filled with wind that grabbed his parachute and unfurled it in the plane. Undeterred, the flight crew gathered up the chute and used its strings to slowly allow Jackson to work his way out the plane hatch and along the wing. However, the German fighter struck again and he lost his grip. Not only was he sent flying off the plane, but he and his parachute swept right through the intense flames. His tattered, partly on fire chute only opened enough to allow him to barely survive the hard landing. With their savior gone the rest of the surviving crew bailed out and Jackson himself was captured and spent months as a POW recovering from his wounds. So while Jackson failed to extinguish the flames, another pilot on another plane was a little more successful. New Zealand Sergeant James Allen Ward was on a Wellington bomber returning from an attack on Munster on the night of July 7, 1941. Suddenly, incendiary rounds from a German fighter ignited almost the whole wing. They were able to put out most of the flames with their extinguishers, and even coffee from their flasks, but the fire still burned farther out on the wing. Ward volunteered to climb out on the exterior of the plane and stop the fire. Fighting the wind shear he was able to make his way across the wing and smother, by hand, the flames. Then he made the highly dangerous journey back. His actions allowed the bomber to make it back to base. For their deeds in trying to save their planes, both Sergeant James Allen Ward and Flight engineer Norman Cyril Jackson received the highest British honor, the Victoria Cross. 7. Lost harrier jet lands on a tanker ship On May 6, 1983, there was a NATO exercise off Portugal where two British Royal Navy Sea Harrier fighter aircraft were given a mission to fly out separately and locate a French aircraft carrier under combat conditions. Combat conditions meant there was to be radio silence and no radar assistance. One of these planes was flown by Sub-Lieutenant Ian Soapy Watson, who was a junior Royal Navy Pilot who had completed about 75% of his pilot training. He flew out to the designated flight coordinates, where he was to rendezvous with his flight leader. When the flight leader didnt show up, Soapy turned to where the aircraft carrier should have been. When he couldnt find the ship, and was low on fuel, he broke radio silence only to realize that his radio didnt work and that his nav controls had been misdirecting him. With limited fuel, he flew out to a busy shipping lane and made visual contact with a Spanish container ship called Alraigo. At first, he intended to ditch the 7 million plane in the ocean and get picked up by the ships crew, but then he noticed that the shipping containers provided a relatively flat place to land the plane which had, as a harrier, vertical landing capabilities. With one minute of fuel left, through great skill, he was able to hit the target but just as he set down on top of the containers the wet surface caused him and his plane to slip back onto the lower level, crashing onto the roof of truck that was also being shipped by the Alraigo. When the cargo ship eventually docked four days later, Soapy disembarked from the ship to a media storm and significant embarrassment for the Royal Navy, who determined that Soapy shouldnt have been given such a mission with his lack of training and a defective radio. The Alraigo was able to make a successful salvage claim on the expensive plane and settled with the British government for a sum of 570,000 shared between the crew, who got 340,000, and the vessel owners, who got the remaining 230,000. 6. Flying from the wing Keith Logan Grid Caldwell was a New Zealand fighter ace during World War I. He was never downed in combat, although he did have a number of close calls including almost getting shot up by celebrated German ace Werner Voss. The one time he was forced down was an accident involving a plane from his own squadron. After being denied entry into the Army, Caldwell paid for his own flight training in New Zealand and once he reached a certain level enlisted in the British Air Force (the Royal Flying Corps). He quickly rose through the ranks and in March 1918 he was promoted and became commander of the 74 Tiger Squadron. In September 1918, he was engaging with German planes when he collided with Tiger Squadron colleague Sydney Carlin. The collision destroyed his starboard upper wing, sending him into a death spiral. Instinctively, he knew that with the ruined aerodynamics of the wing he had to change the planes center of gravity. So according to the book By Such Deeds by Colin Hanson, Caldwell climbed out onto the wing and with one hand on the planes joystick, flew the aircraft from the wing (as shown by this scene recreated in full at the Aviation Heritage Centre at Omaka, Blenheim, New Zealand). Caldwell himself says the crash might have been slightly exaggerated, as he had to have one leg on the rudder control in the cockpit. As he explained it, anyone conversant with the controls of a sensitive aeroplane would know that to leave the rudder alone would be disastrous. Flying from the wing only offered so much control, but it was enough to get him and his plane back across the front lines. Just before he crashed he jumped from the wing, rolled a few times, and to the astonished British soldiers who watched the whole thing, calmly asked to use their radio. When the war ended later that year, Keith Caldwell had 25 kills (most of any NZ pilot). He continued flying and during WWII rose to the rank of Air Commodore in RNZAF. 5. Pardos Push During the Vietnam War, Captain Bob Pardo and wingman Captain Earl Aman were flying missions against North Vietnam out of the Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base in Thailand. On March 10, 1967, the two were flying F-4 Phantom IIs and started out on a mission to bomb a steel mill just outside North Vietnams capital, Hanoi. The weather was clear and visibility was perfect, but during the bombing run, both planes were struck by anti-aircraft fire. Amans Phantom took multiple hits and immediately lost most of its fuel. Pardo feared the worst if his wingman was forced to ditch his plane over enemy territory and decided to push the disabled jet with his own Phantom. Since both planes were originally Navy versions of the Phantom they had a structurally reinforced tail hook that was used to catch the plane when it landed on an aircraft carrier. Luckily, even though they were flying out of Thailand, they still had the tailhooks. Aman lowered his and Pardo was able to push on it with his own plane, although every so often it would slip and he would have to realign his Phantom before he could push again. Using this method he was successfully able to nudge Aman over the Laotian border. All that pushing had drained Pardos jet of fuel as well, so he too was forced to eject. But as they were in Laos, they were quickly picked up by US rescue helicopters. At first, Pardo was reprimanded for not abandoning his wingman and saving his own plane but 21 years later the military took another look at the incident and changed their minds, awarding Pardo the Silver Star. 4. 2003 Baghdad DHL attempted shootdown incident https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQbsceR1DiE The might of the US military may have crushed Saddams army in early 2003, but almost immediately insurgents started harassing the occupying forces. The temporary government installed after the overthrow tried to get the country up and running again. One of these tasks was opening up Baghdads International Airport to the world. German company DHL Express was running Airbus cargo planes from Baghdad to Bahrain as part of this effort. On November 22, 2003, a DHL Express with two Belgian pilots Captain Eric Gennotte and First Officer Steeve Michielsen along with a Scot flight engineer, Mario Rofail, took off at 6:30 a.m. To present itself as less of a target to insurgents, the plane undertook what is called rapid climb out. At the same time, Paris Match reporter Claudine Vernier-Palliez was embedded into an insurgent cell that claimed to be independent of Al-Qaeda or Saddam loyalists. The French reporter, who thought she was going to an interview, was instead watching the insurgents set up what would later be determined as SA-14 Gremlin surface-to-air missiles. They fired two missiles, one of which hit the wing of the DHL Express plane. The missile strike totally destroyed all three hydraulic systems on the plane, disabling the pilots ability to fly it using the control rod and flaps. By sheer coincidence, Captain Gennotte had recently attended a seminar where he watched a presentation by Captain Al Haynes, one of the pilots of United Airlines Flight 232 (which youll remember from entry 9), on how to control a plane with no hydraulics. Remembering what Haynes said, after about 10 minutes of experiments with powering up or powering down the planes right and left engines the crew regained some control. So with the wing on fire, the crew were able to land the plane but due to not being able to slow down, they could not prevent it from going off the runway and dragging a razor wire barrier for about a kilometer. The pilots were uninjured and received multiple awards. The plane was repaired and re-registered as N1452 but without a buyer was last seen in 2011, still at Baghdads International Airport. 3. Philippine Airlines Flight 434 In the early 90s, Islamic terrorists Ramzi Yousef and Khalid Sheikh Mohammed (of 9/11 infamy) planned a series of attacks called the Bojinka plot that included killing the Pope, bombing planes, and crashing a plane into CIA headquarters in Virginia. Determined to test the viability of bombing planes in mid-air, Yousef flew from Manila to Cebu, Philippines. During the short flight, Yousef was able to assemble a bomb in the bathroom and stash it under seat 26K, which he thought was directly above the planes fuel tanks. When the plane landed at Cebu airport, Yousef exited the plane. The crew did not notice the bomb he had left behind. On December 11, 1994, at 8:38 a.m., after a 38-min delay, Philippine Airlines Flight 434 took off with its deadly cargo on its way to Narita International Airport in Tokyo. At 11:43 a.m. the bomb exploded, instantly killing 24-year-old Haruki Ikegami, who had the unfortunate luck of sitting in seat 26K. The plane structurally survived because, by chance, the company had changed the seating arrangement so chair 26K was above the cargo hold, not the jets fuel tank. While the explosion was mostly contained inside the plane and cargo hold, the blast had damaged some of the flying controls of the plane. When Captain Ed Reyes disengaged the autopilot he found that while he had a little control with his control yoke he didnt have enough to control the plane. The flight crew would have to depend on powering up or powering down the planes right and left engines to control direction and altitude, just like United Airlines Flight 232. Worried about the wounded on the plane and how long they could continue flying, Reyes requested an emergency landing in Okinawa. The Japanese air control couldnt understand Reyes request (since he made it in English), so the United States military base in Okinawa took over, dispatching a fighter jet to make sure that the planes landing gear was down. With Captain Reyes jury-rigged flying controls, the crew was able to safely land in Okinawa one hour after the explosion. For the bravery and skill of getting his passengers safely down to Earth, President Fidel Ramos of the Philippines commended and celebrated the crew of Philippine Airlines Flight 434. 2. Gladys Ingle changes wheel in mid-air 13 Black Cats were an aerial daredevil crew based out of Hollywood. They were founded in 1924 by Ronald Bon MacDougall, who was the part-owner of the Burdette Airport and School of Aviation in Los Angeles. The 13 members of the troupe flew together in Curtiss JN-4 biplanes, nicknamed Jennys because of the way JN is read. Thousands of Jennys were built during WWI, and after the war they were cheaply sold off to hobby pilots. The planes formed the core of civil aviation after the war and were especially popular in the many flying circuses that toured the country. This video above starts with a plane that has lost a wheel. Its unable to land, so one of the members of the 13 Black Cats, Gladys Ingle, straps a spare tire to her back and takes off on another plane to help. With no parachute and the heavy tire still strapped to her back, she walks out on the wing of the first plane and then jumps onto the wing of the wheelless plane. She then climbs down the struts, unties the wheel from her back, and installs it all while hundreds of feet off the ground, and still without a parachute. Finally, with two wheels the plane can land but instead of sitting down in the passenger seat, Gladys Ingle lands while standing on the wing. Now, this video is probably staged, but the danger of jumping from plane to plane, and hanging off said plane while changing a tire (all without a parachute) is real. 1. Only pilot in the Air Force who shot his own airplane In May 1952, Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Alfred (Joe) DAmario was studying how to fly in South Korea at Base K-13 with the Eighth Fighter-Bomber Wing, 35th Fighter-Bomber Squadron. He was learning on the Lockheed F-80C Shooting Star, a jet plane that was introduced in the closing days of WWII. The plane had fuel tanks on the end of both wings that could detach when empty. In the days leading up to his bombing training, he learned that some of the Shooting Stars were malfunctioning and not feeding fuel, and also not allowing their pilots to jettison their tanks. This was a big deal, because the plane was almost impossible to land if one of the wing fuel tanks was full and the other was empty. The advice given to DAmario, if in the unlikely chance that this happened while he was flying, was to shoot holes in the fuel tank. After the briefing, DAmario took off on his practice bombing raids. As soon as he got in the air he noticed that the preflight inspection had missed that the left fuel tank wasnt feeding fuel to the engine. Worried, he radioed the control tower but they told him to keep going and complete the mission, as he would be able to jettison the full fuel tank after the bombing raid. Over the target, he pressed the button to release both his load and the left fuel tank, but nothing happened. Getting worried, he tried the manual release for the tank. Still nothing. There was a third option: a bright red panic button, which was supposed to release everything strapped to the plane, including both wing tanks. When he hit the button, the empty right fuel tank detached but the full left fuel tank remained. He was in the exact situation they had warned him about, as the aerodynamics of the lopsided plane would guarantee a crash landing. He needed to somehow drain the left fuel tank that wasnt feeding any fuel to the engine. DAmario then remembered his briefing, which said that he needed to shoot the tank. Opening his canopy and fighting the slipstream that wanted to rip the gun from his hand, he tightly gripped his pistol and fired off a round, and missed. Taking careful aim he tried again and saw a direct hit. Excited, he shot and struck two more times, allowing fuel to drain out of the tank. He radioed his progress to the control tower, who told him not to shoot anymore holes (perhaps worrying about the bullets causing a fire or explosion). DAmario wasnt worried about fire; what he was worried about was the pistol accidentally going off in the cockpit. Not wanting to shoot himself, he emptied the rest of the bullets into the fuel tank. With so many holes, the 165 gallons of jet fuel quickly drained out and DAmario was able to safely land his now balanced plane back at base. After the events of the flight, he was able to make the still unchallenged claim that he was the only pilot in the Air Force who shot his own airplane. Jon Lucas covers WW1 live, 100 years ago. You can follow the action on Twitter, Tumblr or Instagram Other Articles you Might Like They have unearthed what they claim is likely the tomb of the original Santa Claus, or Saint Nicholas, beneath an ancient church in Demre, southern Turkey Archaeologists in Turkey have made a discovery which could settle a century-old debate and disappoint millions of children around the globe. They have unearthed what they claim is likely the tomb of the original Santa Claus, or Saint Nicholas, beneath an ancient church in Demre, southern Turkey. Previously, the remains were believed to have then been smuggled by merchants to the Italian city of Bari, in the year 1087. Christians have been visiting the site of what was thought to be the Saint's final resting place, in Baris Basilica di San Nicola. Demre, previously named Myra, in the province of Antalya, is believed to be the birthplace of the 4th century bishop. Cemil Karabayram, the head of Antalyas Monument Authority, noted the shrine was discovered during electronic surveys that showed gaps beneath the church. We believe this shrine has not been damaged at all, but it is quite difficult to get to it as there are mosaics on the floor, he told the Turkish Hurriyet Daily News. Karabayram added that he is very optimistic about uncovering Saint Nicholass remains, but warned it will take some time to scale each tile one by one and remove them as a whole in a mold. Professor Sema Dogan, excavation head, was also stunned by the finding and believes the discovery could boost tourism to the area. At the time of his death in 343 A.D., the Saint was interred at the church in Demre, where he lay undisturbed until the 11th century. Until now, the remains were believed to have then been smuggled by merchants to the Italian city of Bari, in the year 1087. Christians have been visiting the site of what was thought to be the Saint's final resting place, in Baris Basilica di San Nicola. Nevertheless, Turkish experts are now claiming the wrong bones were removed, and those taken abroad belong to another local priest, rather than the legendary bishop. Saint Nicholas of Myra was renowned for his generosity towards children. He had a reputation for secret gift-giving, such as putting coins in the shoes of those who left them out for him, a practice celebrated on his feast day, December 6. He became very popular in 16th century Europe as Father Christmas, who gave presents to young children. Dutch arrivals to the United States called their version of Saint Nicholas Sinterklaas, which later became Santa Claus. He is depicted in modern images as a portly old man sporting a big white beard and spectacles. 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: User:Simm License: CC-BY-SA The battlecruiser "constitutes a unique part of Greece's territory, which has never once lowered the Greek flag in 106 years," the ship's commander, Commodore Sotiris Charalambopoulos said The battleship 'Averoff', the most historic ship in the Hellenic navy, will be visiting the city of Thessaloniki for the first time since the end of WWII. The ship will be arriving in the northern Greek city within the next two days or so, as part of events marking the October 28 national holiday. The battlecruiser "constitutes a unique part of Greece's territory, which has never once lowered the Greek flag in 106 years," the ship's commander, Commodore Sotiris Charalambopoulos said to the Athens Macedonian News Agency radio station "Praktoreio 104.9 FM" on Thursday. This meant that "practically, the ship will sail in the Aegean Sea again after 70 years," he noted. The ship, actually a Pisa-class armoured cruiser, was built at the Orlando Shipyards in Livorno, Italy. The Greek government bought her with a one-third down payment (ca. 300,000 gold pound sterling, paid with the help of an affluent Greek benefactor, George Averoff, whose name she subsequently received. The ship was launched on 12 March 1910. She would be the last commissioned armoured cruiser in the world, a class of warship that had been already rendered obsolete by the battlecruiser. Her first captain was Captain Ioannis Damianos, who took command of her on 16 May 1911. The "Averoff" was at the time the most modern and powerful ship in the navies of the Balkan League and the Ottoman Empire. The "Averoff" is credited with successfully closing off the Aegean Sea to Ottoman transports bringing fresh troops and supplies to the front in the First Balkan War. This success had a concrete impact on the land action, where the Ottoman forces suffered decisive defeats. It is hypothesised that, in the absence of such decisive control of the sea by the Greek Navy, the Ottoman Empire might have reinforced its forces on the Balkan Peninsula and therefore fared better in the war. Interest in visiting the historic ship is very high, stressed her commander, adding that requests have come from over 150 schools in northern Greece. The ship, which underwent extensive maintenance in the summer "flies one of the two most important flags in Greece (the other flies on the Acropolis Hill)," he added. While in Thessaloniki, it will be accessible to visitors on a first-come, first-served basis, in groups of 40 given tours by a specialist guide. 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: User_talk:Pmoshs License: CC-BY-SA Source: ANA-MPA Tourexpi, turizm haberleri, Reiseburos, tourism news, noticias de turismo, Tourismus Nachrichten, , travel tourism news, international tourism news, Urlaub, urlaub in der turkei, , holidays in Turkey, , global tourism news, dunya turizm, dunya turizm haberleri, Seyahat Acentas, This site is best viewed with Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0+, at a minimum screen resolution of 1024 x 768. Saudi-based alfanar, a leading electrical power company in the region, said one of its subsidiaries Alfa Solar Company, has signed a strategic $57-million loan deal with European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD) to fund a 50 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) project in Egypt. Announcing the deal, alfanar said the EBRD loan will be complemented by a parallel loan of up to $28.5 million provided by the ICD. The project will be 100 per cent compliant with the country's green economy evolution approach and will support the expansion of renewable energy generation to meet Egypt's targets in this area including its Intended Nationally Determined Contribution. The project will be among the first utility scale solar project to be implemented in Egypt exploiting the country's significant renewable energy potential. All of the facilities will be located in the proposed 1.8-GW Benban solar complex in Egypt's Aswan province and will be supported by Egypt's FiT programme for projects of up to 50 MW that is aimed at delivering more than 4 GW of wind and solar power capacity. This project will offset 900,000 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions each year, once operational. The power purchase agreement (PPA) for the project was signed by the Project Company with EETC on May 7. Sabah Mohammed Al Mutlaq, the chairman of Alfa Solar and vice-chairman of alfanar company, said: "The collaboration with EBRD and ICD for financing this project had been a pivotal element in taking the project forward." "Globally, countries are experiencing the effects of climate change and renewable energy investors and financier's role is vital to cultivate more investment in the region for green energy and scale down the effects of global warming," remarked Al Mutlaq. "This partnership will assist the socio-economic development in Benban by providing the local population with infrastructure, job creation and skills training," he noted. "The region has tremendous potential for generating power from the natural resources, and Alfanar will continue to actively consider venturing with EBRD as well as ICD for additional renewable technology projects in solar, wind as well as energy from waste," he added.-TradeArabia News Service Batelco, Bahrains leading digital services provider, will partner with BTECH (Bahrain Technology Companies Society) to participate as part of the Bahrain Pavilion at Gitex 2017, the regions leading technology event taking place in Dubai. Expected to be attended by 150,000 people and over 4,000 exhibitors, Gitex will take place at the Dubai World Trade Centre from October 8 to 12. Batelcos participation follows on from its very successful participation at Gitex 2016 when the company signed a number of key agreements with leading international organisations. Gitex is an open platform for Bahraini ICT and technology companies to showcase their capabilities and futuristic potential to the global players who will be in attendance. Batelcos participation demonstrates the companys commitment to the ICT industry and the tremendous efforts the company makes in developing relevant solutions which help to maintain Bahrains leading position on the international market. Batelco will demonstrate its expertise in a number of areas and showcase a number of products, services and key solutions at the Bahrain Pavilion including AWS, Security, Cloud Services, Data Centre and Global Solutions. Batelco chief operations officer Abderrahmane Mounir said Batelco is optimistic about the opportunity for the company to be part of the Bahrain Pavilion at Gitex again this year and looks forward to building on its established role in the public and private ICT sectors, which helps to shape the industry and reflects positively on Bahrains economy. Through our support for this key international event, Batelco reiterates the alignment of its goals to those of the Kingdom of Bahrains and emphasises its support towards the ICT industry and to the digitisation drive in Bahrain, he added. BETCH chairman Ubaydli Al Ubaydli said BTECHs strategic partnership with Batelco is a great benefit for the Bahrain pavilion at Gitex due to Batelcos vital role and impact in the telecommunication and ICT industry. TradeArabia News Service Mysk by Shaza, the upscale brand of Shaza Hotels, is set to unveil its flagship hotel in Al Mouj Muscat - a freehold waterfront community which is a joint venture between the Oman government and Dubais Majid Al Futtaim. Part of a multi-location relationship with Taameer Investment and Oman-based real estate development firm Golden Group Holding, the hotel offers a vibrant, stylish and delectable ambience, with spectacular views overlooking the marina. Guests are welcome to dive into the experience and enjoy delectable dining, stylish rooms and friendly service. Sheikh Salim Al Ghazali, chairman of Golden Group Holding, said: With its strategic location at Al Mouj marina, Mysk by Shaza Hotel will be an added value to the hospitality sector in Oman and an important icon in our groups portfolio. We are currently implementing an ambitious expansion plan, and in terms of tourism developments and investments, our projects are advancing steadily with three-, four- and five-star hotels in the pipeline. Investing in hospitality today makes good business sense as tourism will be one of the most important sectors on which the ninth five year-plan (2016-2020) will focus, to achieve diversification." Mysk by Shaza, Al Mouj is a fresh breeze that carries the essence of Shazas luxurious fragrance. Its modern rooms offer comfort and intelligent use of space with a touch of local culture. Thoughtfully designed props, such as an ample work space, warm lighting, smooth linen and rejuvenating shower experience, are there for an optimal experience. At Mysk Al Mouj, food is a culture and a passion. The hotel offers a distinguished culinary experience through a number of restaurants with character and motifs from the East and West, sure to satisfy all tastes: Salt, where the world of salt takes center stage, offers a unique plot for the innovative Italian restaurant. The chefs at Pepper, follow a script anchored in simplicity, style and substance in plating international cuisine. As for Ghoroub Lounge, perched seven levels above the Plaza, it offers guests a front row seat to enjoy Muscats spectacular ocean and unrivalled views of Al Mouj Marina with our signature mocktails. And Gelateria offers the idyllic scenario, with some of the best ice cream in town. The property also caters to business guests, offering two fully equipped meeting rooms and facilities to ensure convenience and value. Mysk by Shaza, Al Mouj has two meeting rooms on the first floor with stimulating views of the lively community. Guests also have the chance to enjoy some time at the pool and exercise at the hotel's state of the art health club. Commenting on the upcoming opening of Mysk Al Mouj, Shafik Alaaeddine, general manager of Mysk Al Mouj, said: It is a great honour to be opening the doors to our first hotel from the Mysk by Shaza brand in collaboration with the esteemed Taameer Group. Echoing the beauty and calmness of the city of Muscat, Mysk Al Mouj aims to offer every visitor a mesmeric and tranquil experience that is a blend of traditional Arab hospitality with contemporary services and more. As the first and only upscale hotel in the new Al Mouj Community, Mysk Al Mouj boasts of a stellar location that is in close proximity to the airport and other upcoming developments. With a trendy, relaxed design along with personalised services, Mysk Al Mouj is all set to take over the hearts and minds of visitors to the beautiful sultanate of Oman. Mysk by Shaza, Al Mouj is also a part of the Global Hotel Alliance, which offers the Discovery Loyalty programme for more than 10 million members, across 35 brands, and encompassing over 550 upscale and luxury hotels with 110,000 rooms across 76 different countries. - TradeArabia News Service For The Second Year Running, Citadines Awarded Europes Leading Serviced Apartment Brand at World Travel Awards 2017 (TRAVPR.COM) SINGAPORE - October 5th, 2017 - Singapore, 5 October 2017 The Ascott Limited (Ascott) won Europe's Leading Serviced Apartment Brand 2017 for its Citadines properties for the second year running, along with five other awards at this years World Travel Awards. The annual event, held on 30 September this year in St Petersburg, Russia, recognises excellence across all sectors of the global travel and tourism industry, with Ascott, one of the world's largest international serviced residence owner-operators, collecting awards in the following categories: Europe ' s Leading Serviced Apartment Brand 2017 : Citadines Apart'hotel : Citadines Apart'hotel Europe ' s Leading Serviced Apartments 2017: La Clef Tour Eiffel Paris, France La Clef Tour Eiffel Paris, France Belgium ' s Leading Serviced Apartments 2017: Citadines Sainte-Catherine Brussels Citadines Sainte-Catherine Brussels France ' s Leading Serviced Apartment Brand 2017: Citadines Apart'hotel Citadines Apart'hotel Germany ' s Leading Serviced Apartment Brand 2017 : Citadines Apart'hotel : Citadines Apart'hotel Germany'sLeadingServicedApartments 2017: Citadines Michel Hamburg Mr Alfred Ong, Managing Director for Europe of The Ascott Limited, says: We are proud to be recognised with these prestigious awards, and to be named Europes Leading Serviced Apartment Brand 2017 for the second year in a row. We have made huge progress as a company this year and this is a testament to our staffs relentless effort in setting the industry's standards and our valued customers unceasing support. In June this year, Ascott received another 12 prestigious accolades at the World Travel Awards Asia & Australasia: Asia's Leading Serviced Apartment Brand 2017: The Ascott Limited The Ascott Limited Asia's Leading Serviced Apartments 2017: Ascott Raffles City Chengdu, China Ascott Raffles City Chengdu, China China's Leading Serviced Apartments 2017 : Ascott Raffles City Chengdu : Ascott Raffles City Chengdu Japan's Leading Serviced Apartment Brand 2017: Citadines Apart'hotel Citadines Apart'hotel Japan's Leading Serviced Apartments 2017: Citadines Shinjuku Tokyo Citadines Shinjuku Tokyo Philippines' Leading Serviced Apartment Brand 2017: Ascott The Residence Ascott The Residence Philippines' Leading Serviced Apartments 2017: Ascott Bonifacio Global City Manila Ascott Bonifacio Global City Manila Singapore's Leading Serviced Apartment Brand 2017: The Ascott Limited The Ascott Limited Vietnam's Leading Serviced Apartment Brand 2017: Somerset Serviced Residence Somerset Serviced Residence Vietnam's Leading Serviced Apartments 2017: Somerset Grand Hanoi Somerset Grand Hanoi Hong Kong's Leading Serviced Apartment Brand 2017: The Ascott Limited The Ascott Limited Hong Kong's Leading Serviced Apartments 2017: Somerset Victoria Park Hong Kong Ascott was also voted 'Best Serviced Residence Provider at the TTG China Travel Awards 2017, Best Serviced Residence Brand for DestinAsian Readers' Choice Awards 2017, and Best Serviced Residence Brand in Asia-Pacific at the Business Traveller Asia-Pacific Awards 2017. About The Ascott Limited The Ascott Limited is a Singapore company that has grown to be one of the leading international serviced residence owner-operators. It has over 43,000 operating serviced residence units in key cities of the Americas, Asia Pacific, Europe and the Middle East, as well as over 26,000 units which are under development, making a total of close to 70,000 units in over 500 properties. The companys brands include Ascott, Citadines, Somerset, Quest, The Crest Collection, and lyf. Ascotts portfolio spans more than 120 cities across over 30 countries. Ascott, a wholly owned subsidiary of CapitaLand Limited, pioneered Asia Pacific's first international-class serviced residence with the opening of The Ascott Singapore in 1984. Today, the company boasts over 30 years of industry track record and award-winning serviced residence brands that enjoy recognition worldwide. Ascotts achievements have been recognised internationally. Recent awards include World Travel Awards 2017 for Leading Serviced Apartment Brand in Asia and Europe; DestinAsian Readers Choice Awards 2017 for Best Serviced Residence Brand; TTG China Travel Awards 2017 for Best Serviced Residence Operator in China; Business Traveller Asia-Pacific Awards 2017 for Best Serviced Residence Brand; Business Traveller Middle East Awards 2016 for Best Serviced Apartment Company; Business Traveller UK Awards 2016 for Best Serviced Apartment Company and Business Traveller China Awards 2016 for Best Serviced Residence Brand. For a full list of awards, please visit www.the-ascott.com/ascottlimited/awards.html. About CapitaLand Limited CapitaLand is one of Asias largest real estate companies. Headquartered and listed in Singapore, it is an owner and manager of a global portfolio worth more than S$80 billion as at 30 June 2017, comprising integrated developments, shopping malls, serviced residences, offices, homes, real estate investment trusts (REITs) and funds. Present across more than 150 cities in over 30 countries, the Group focuses on Singapore and China as core markets, while it continues to expand in markets such as Vietnam and Indonesia. CapitaLands competitive advantage is its significant asset base and extensive market network. Coupled with extensive design, development and operational capabilities, the Group develops and manages high-quality real estate products and services. It also has one of the largest investment management businesses in Asia and a stable of five REITs listed in Singapore and Malaysia CapitaLand Mall Trust, CapitaLand Commercial Trust, Ascott Residence Trust, CapitaLand Retail China Trust and CapitaLand Malaysia Mall Trust. Visit www.capitaland.com for more information. ### By PTI: Washington, Oct 5 (PTI) An Indian-origin scientist in the US has been awarded a USD 8.1 million grant to support her research on lethal head and neck cancer, which could help improve the survival rates of patients. Nisha DSilva received the prestigious Sustaining Outstanding Achievement in Research award, or SOAR, for her continuing research into the molecular pathways that control the spread and recurrence of head and neck cancer. advertisement The ultimate goal of the research by DSilva, clinician- scientist at the University of Michigan (U-M) in the US, is to improve the survival rates of patients with this particularly lethal form of cancer. Her findings may enable clinicians to identify patients who will best respond to existing treatments, and might lead to new treatment strategies. DSilvas grant from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) will be disbursed over eight years. "It is truly exciting news that a clinician and scientist as accomplished as Dr DSilva will now have extended funding to allow her to focus on finding answers to some of the toughest cancer questions we have," said Laurie McCauley, dean of the School of Dentistry at U-M. "The prestigious SOAR grant speaks volumes about how the NIDCR views Dr DSilvas research track record and her potential moving forward," said McCauley. DSilva noted that head and neck cancer is the sixth-most common cancer in the world with about 600,000 new cases per year. Nearly half of all patients die within five years of diagnosis, she said. "The focus of our research programme is invasion because this is a defining feature of head and neck cancer," said DSilva, also a professor of pathology at the U-M Medical School. "Invasion is important for spread of head and neck cancer, but unfortunately there are no strategies that effectively target invasion. This knowledge gap is due to limited progress in identifying and understanding the underlying mechanisms that control invasion," she said. DSilva is one of four researchers across the US whose research is being funded by 2017 SOAR grants, according to information NIDCR. SOAR provides long-term support for NIDCR-funded investigators who are in mid-career and have outstanding records of research productivity, mentorship and professional service to the research community. "This award provides a longer base of grant support, allowing investigators to have more freedom to perform high- risk, high-reward research that has the potential to break new ground or expand previous discoveries in new directions," according to NIDCR. PTI SAR SAR --- ENDS --- advertisement According to intelligence agencies, the ISI has formed a new group called Halal Dasta by recruiting members from various terror outfits to carry out attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, and along the LoC. By Jitendra Bahadur Singh: With security forces upping their ante against terrorists infiltrating in Jammu and Kashmir from across the Line of Control (LoC), the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) of Pakistan has resorted to a new strategy. According to intelligence sources, the ISI has formed a new group of terrorists recruiting members of terror outfits like the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and named it Halal Dasta. This terror group has been formed to carry out attacks like its Border Action Team (BAT). advertisement Intelligence agencies say that the new terror group seems to be a design of the Pakistani establishment to gain some ground along the LoC by inflicting casualties on the Indian border security forces. The activities of Halal Dasta could be easily denied, intelligence agencies say, by Pakistan by referring to them as non-state actors. WHAT INTELLIGENCE REPORTS SAY? The ISI has seemingly identified Surankot and Poonch as areas of prime activities. The ISI recently organised meetings with Syed Salahuddin of Jaish-e-Mohammad and representatives from Hizbul Mujahideen and LeT. The ISI officials held this meeting at Kotli (PoK) where they decided to extend Kashmiri jehadi movement to Sunderkot and Poonch areas besides the Valley. The ISI is learnt to have directed all terror groups in the Valley to launch attack on security forces including the Road Opening Party, isolated posts and army bridges. The intelligence agencies have notice major terror movements in PoK. According to intelligence inputs, movement of terrorists was noticed at launching pads in PoK- 615 (in July and August. Presence of terrorists, intelligence inputs suggest, was noticed in PoK at following locations: Gurez- 52 Machil-89 Keren- 91 Tanghdhar-20 Naugham-45 Uri- 112 Rampur-32 Poonch-78 Bhimber Gali-78 Krishna Ghati-57 Rajouri- 5 Naushera-35 Sunderbani-15 Kel-13 Meanwhile, the Border Action Team (BAT) of Pakistan Army is active in these regions. The security forces have issued alert with regard to movement of the BAT. Intel agencies issued BAT alert at Naugham, Uri, Tanghdhar, Naugham, Krishna Ghati, Poonch, Bhimber Gali, Naushera and Sunderbani. Intelligence agencies also reported presence of Pakistan Special Service Group (SSG) at locations opposite of Uri, KrishnaGhati, Bimber Gali and Sunderkot sectors along the LoC. --- ENDS --- Mohali, October 4 A team of the Vigilance Bureau, Mohali, arrested ASI Sahib Singh, in-charge of the Mubarikpur police post, along with a woman on a charge of taking a bribe of Rs 10,000 from a resident of Ambala here today. The woman has been identified as Saroj Rani, a resident of Trivedi village in Dera Bassi. Saroj Rani was taking the bribe on behalf of the ASI. The ASI had demanded Rs 10,000 through Saroj Rani to release an impounded car of the complainant, Satpal Singh, said the sources. The Vigilance laid a trap and nabbed Saroj Rani and recovered the amount from her. The ASI was arrested from the Mubarikpur police post. TNS Chandigarh, October 4 There is no end to gullible people falling prey to swindlers, who call posing as bank executives. Haryana Governors grandson also lost Rs 50,000 after a telecaller fooled him and took his bank details. Victim Rohan Pratap Singh, grandson of Haryana Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki, was duped by a fraudster who called him on September 29 posing as a bank executive. The fraudster asked for the bank details from Rohan, which he provided to the accused. Later, the victim received a one-time password (OTP) on his mobile phone. Soon, the victim received another call in which the telecaller asked him to reveal the OTP. Assuming that the information was sought by the bank, Rohan gave the OTP only to find that he had been duped. He received two messages on his mobile phone about Rs 39,999 and Rs 9,999 debited form his bank account. Police sources said the phone number from which the calls were made had been traced to Dhanbad in Jharkhand. TNS Tribune News Service Chandigarh, October 4 A Mani Majra resident has been duped of Rs 3 lakh on the pretext of investing in herbal products. The victim was contacted by the accused through Facebook. According to the police, the complainant, Akshay Mahajan, a resident of the NAC, Mani Majra, told the police that Rajesh Sharma and others contacted him through Facebook and lured him to invest in the business of herbal products. The police said the accused assured him of profit in the business. The victim then invested Rs 3 lakh in the business and later found that he had been duped. A case under Sections 420 (cheating), 467 (forgery of valuable security and will), 468 (forgery for purpose of cheating) and 471 (whoever fraudulently or dishonestly uses as genuine any document of electronic record) of the Indian Penal Code and under Section 66-D of the IT Act has been registered against all accused at the Mani Majra police station. No arrests have been made in the case so far. Tribune News Service Panchkula, October 4 In a case of road rage, a 32-year-old resident of Baltana was murdered with sharp weapons while his friend sustained serious injuries. The Panchkula police have registered an FIR against six people and arrested three of them. The SHO of the Sector 20 police station, Vikas Kumar, said those arrested were Bunty, a resident of Sector 32, Chandigarh, and Amarjeet, alias Ballu, and Sumit, both residents of Indira Colony, Panchkula. The police are conducting raids to arrest the remaining accused. The FIR was registered under Sections 302 (murder) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC against the accused, he said. The incident took place at the crossing near the BEL factory opposite Sector 16, Panchkula, on the night of October 3 when Gurdeep Singh (32), a resident of Anand Vihar in Baltana, and his friend Vikram, a resident of Indira Colony, Panchkula, were returning home on their motorcycles after completing their work. Both of them were working with a local distributor of an online shopping company. Near the BEL crossing, Gurdeeps motorcycle touched Buntys Indigo car. The car owner stepped out of the car and argued with them. In the meantime, Bunty, who runs a meat shop in Budanpur village in Panchkula, also called his friends, who attacked Gurdeep and Vikram with sharp weapons. The police reached the spot and took the injured motorcyclists to the hospital, where doctors declared Gurdeep brought dead. Vikram was admitted to the General Hospital, Sector 6, Panchkula. Vikram, who sustained injuries on the head and chest, was discharged this evening. Accused was drunk Sources said accused Bunty was under the influence of liquor. Gurdeep stabbed multiple times Gurdeep was stabbed multiple times by the accused. There were multiple injuries on his body with sharp weapons. Both were ready to pay for damage to car Vikrams father Parkash Chand said both Gurdeep and Vikram were ready to pay compensation for the damage caused to the car, but Bunty called his friends and started beating both of them. In the end, they killed Gurdeep and injured my son, he said. Gurdeeps family wants accused held Gurdeep is survived by his wife Kavita and two daughters, aged 6 and 10. His brother Raj said the family was in shock. The family wanted a fair investigation and arrest of all accused at the earliest, he said. Amir Karim Tantray Tribune News Service Jammu, October 5 A day after militants struck at a BSF camp near Srinagar International Airport, a terror strike was averted at an Army camp in Akhnoor with timely detection of explosives on Wednesday. Giving details, Public Relation Officer (PRO) of 16 Corps, Col Hari said the alert Army personnel at Akhnoor helped in averting a major terrorist strike at the camp. On Wednesday night, sentries observed suspicious movement close to the Army unit, located near the Akhnoor market. Thereafter, the response mechanism was activated wherein the entire area was cordoned off and a search operation was conducted. During the area sanitisation process, the security force with the help of a dog squad, recovered one fully installed improvised explosive device (IED), two mines, Army accoutrements and other incriminating stores, he said. The combing operations were conducted during today also. Apart from the IED, the Army has also recovered a knife, Army fatigues of the Romeo Force and the Rashtriya Rifles, state maps, local map of Akhnoor, a rope, visiting card of a businessman, Indian currency notes and a book for learning Arabic. The area is very close to the 10 Division of the Army. Akhnoor falls on the western side of Jammu and is very close to the Line of Control (LoC). The area has remained on the target of militants for long. On January 9 this year, three labourers of the General Reserve Engineer Force were killed in a suspected terror attack at Battal village near the LoC in the Khour area of Akhnoor. On July 22, 2003, a Brigadier and seven soldiers were killed when three militants stormed an Army installation in the Tanda area near Akhnoor. On November 29, last year, seven soldiers, including two Majors, were killed at Nagrota when militants stormed an Army camp, three kilometres from 16 Corps headquarters. Poonch, October 5 Pakistan on Thursday resorted to unprovoked firing along the Line of Control (LoC) in Digwar sector of Poonch district in Jammu and Kashmir. The Pakistan Army initiated unprovoked and indiscriminate firing post midnight. Digwar district was a witness to another ceasefire violation from Pakistan on Wednesday. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) Earlier on Monday, two minors were reportedly killed and five other civilians got injured as Pakistani troops resorted to mortar shelling, besides small and automatic weapons fire at various places along the LoC in Poonch district. Pakistan has violated ceasefire a number of times in the past few months. Last week, Pakistani troops had opened fire in the Poonch and Bhimbher Gali sectors. On Tuesday, a Border Security Force (BSF) Camp near Srinagar Airport was attacked by three terrorists. The terrorists were gunned down during an encounter with the 182nd Battalion of the BSF, located near the Airport and Air Force Station, Gogoland. ANI Smita Sharma Tribune News Service New Delhi, October 5 The soul of democracy is consensus, it is simply not numbers. Even if you have numbers, you have to try and reach out to other people and try and take them along. Democracy and darr (fear) do not go together, said former Union Minister and senior BJP leader Yashwant Sinha at an event here today. In the eye of a political storm since his recent critique of Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and the governments economic mess, Sinha remains defiant. He was speaking on the occasion of release of senior Congress leader Manish Tewaris new book Tidings of Troubled Times. On stage, the two shared space with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal while dismissing off speculation of any political realignment. Central to their remarks was Modinomics and atmosphere of fearin the country. Kejriwal set the ball rolling with criticism of demonetisation and GST, throwing figures of job losses. There is an atmosphere of fear that I have never seen before across the country. We do not know how many ED and I-T notices have been sent out. This is a raid raj like never before, said Kejriwal. Taking on his party, Sinha said the government tried pitting his son and minister Jayant against him to divert attention from real issues, but it failed else a certain gentleman would not have spoken for an hour and fifteen minutes yesterday, hinting at Prime Minister Narendra Modis speech yesterday. Without naming Modi, Sinha said he had been called Shalya of Mahabharata, but it was only Duryodhan and Dushashan who were the most infamous brothers among the Kaurva clan. Sinha said he wouldnt mind if party acted against him, though he had not done anything to deserve it. On the Opposition getting its act together, Manish Tewari reminded the audience, Politics is all about probabilities and probabilities are eternal. The Delhi CM claimed the battle of 2019 will be BJP versus rest of the country. Manas Dasgupta Ahmedabad, October 5 The Gujarat High Court today rejected a plea by Zakia Jafri challenging a lower courts order that accepted a report of the Supreme Court-constituted SIT giving a clean chit to Narendra Modi, the then Chief Minister, and 62 others refuting the larger conspiracy theory behind the 2002 communal riots in the state. A single-judge Bench constituted by Justice Sonia Gokani said the HC did not see any error in the SITs report as its investigation was closely monitored by the SC. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) Zakia, the wife of slain former Congress MP Ehsan Jafri, who was among the 69 killed in the Gulberg Society massacre, had challenged the SITs closure report on her earlier petition requesting the apex court to arraign Modi and 62 bureaucrats and senior police officers of the state in 2002, alleging a larger conspiracy by the then state administration behind the riots. The hearing on her Zakias petition, which was supported by the Mumbai-based Citizens for Justice and Peace and its general secretary Teesta Setalvad, had concluded on July 3, but the final judgment was deferred till today. The HC, however, rejected the lower courts earlier conclusion that it had no jurisdiction in ordering further investigation in the case and permitted the petitioner either to approach the lower court, a Division Bench of the High Court or the Supreme Court for a fresh investigation into the allegations levelled by her accusing Modi and other officers of involvement in the riots. Setalvad said Zakia would continue her legal fight and would go back either to the lower court or the apex court for a fresh investigation. Zakia Jafri will now again begin her struggle for justice. In the Babri case, it took 25 years. How long will this take us now? she said. Zakia along with Setalvad had moved a review petition in the HC, alleging a larger criminal conspiracy behind the riots after a magisterial court accepted the SITs report that there was no prosecutable evidences against Modi and others named in her petition before the apex court for arraigning them with the 2002 riot cases. It also sought HCs direction for a fresh investigation into the matter. The Gulberg Society massacre was among the nine most gruesome incidents during the 2002 communal riots which were investigated by the SIT. A special court in Ahmedabad had convicted 24 of the massacre. The youth tried to snatch the SLR rifle of constable Fayaz Ahmad of IRP 2nd Battalion outside the Jamia Masjid in Old City. By Ashraf Wani: A rifle-snatching attempt by two to three unidentified youths was foiled in Srinagar city on Thursday. The youths tried to snatch the SLR rifle of constable Fayaz Ahmad of IRP 2nd Battalion outside the Jamia Masjid in old city. The constable was stationed there for the security of the mosque. However, the unidentified youths later fled from the spot after the cop thwarted their attempt to snatch his rifle. advertisement Soon after the incident a joint team of SOG, police and CRPF arrived at the spot and began conducting searches to arrest the assailants. This is the second incident of its kind in less than 24 hours. Earlier, some youths made a successful bid to snatch a rifle from an IRP constable, who was guarding Kankahi Mohalla in downtown Srinagar. Also Watch :Tunnel of terror detected in J-K's Arnia sector: Is this possible without the support of Pakistan's Rangers? --- ENDS --- Baghdad, October 5 Iraqi forces said on Thursday that they had retaken the centre of Islamic State group stronghold Hawija and were pushing forward in their assault on one of the last IS enclaves in the country. Troops, police and paramilitaries "liberated the whole of the centre of Hawija and are continuing their advance," the operation's commander, Lieutenant General Abdel Amir Yarallah, said. Government and allied forces backed by a US-led coalition launched an offensive last month to oust IS from Hawija, a longtime insurgent bastion. The town is among the final holdouts from the territory seized by the jihadists in 2014 and its recapture would leave only a handful of remote outposts in IS hands. The United Nations said on Tuesday that an estimated 12,500 people had fled the town since the launch of the offensive to retake Hawija and surrounding areas last month. The UN's humanitarian affairs office said the number of people still in the town was unknown but could be as high as 78,000. It said humanitarian agencies have set up checkpoints, camps and emergency sites capable of receiving more than 70,000 people who could flee. Hawija, 230 kilometres (140 miles) north of Baghdad, is one of just two significant areas of Iraq still held by IS, along with a stretch of the Euphrates Valley near the Syrian border which is also under attack. AFP Washington, October 5 Pakistan's Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif today warned India against carrying out surgical strike or targeting its nuclear installations, saying if that happens nobody should expect restraint from his country. Referring to the statement of India's Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa that the Indian armed forces are ready for a full spectrum operation, Asif said Pakistan wants to live in peace and harmony with its neighbours. But if India carries out any surgical strike in Pakistan or strikes at its nuclear installations "nobody should expect restraint from us", he warned. Speaking at the US Institute of Peace, a Washington-based think-tank, Asif said the "relationship with India is at a lowest ebb at the moment". Responding to a question on India, he said, "sadly India did not respond" to Pakistani efforts to improve relationship. "What is going on in Kashmir is the biggest roadblock to normalisation to talks," Asif said. The Pakistani Foreign Minister asked the US not to treat his country as a "whipping boy" and said Washington has already lost the war in Afghanistan and is only trying to salvage the situation in the war-torn nation. Asif, who is here as part of efforts to rebuild bilateral ties frayed after President Donald Trump accused Pakistan of sheltering terror groups, said his meetings with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and National Security Advisor H R McMaster were good. "Was not bad," Asif quipped, giving a sense of his talks with top leadership of the Trump administration, which has been seeking accountability from Islamabad in the war against terrorism including continued presence of terror safe havens in Pakistan. Asif in a way acknowledged that the madrasas were training ground for terrorists. "These madrasas were nurseries for American jihad in Afghanistan. People who took those decisions will burn to hell. We are actually living in hell because of that decision," he said, adding that Pakistan is paying the price of such a decision. "The meeting went well with Tillerson and McMaster (meeting) was good. (It) was not bad," Asif said, noting that the two countries need to pursue contacts with each other. He favoured adopting an approach of talks and exchange of views more vigorously. The US, he said, is focusing solely on safe haven allegations or blaming Pakistan for what they have not achieved in Afghanistan. "There are many more dimension of what is going on in Afghanistan," he said. "A corrupt government in Kabul, increasing narcotics trade, the Afghan Army selling arms to the Taliban, losing terrorist and bringing Daesh (ISIS) to Afghanistan," he said. "Let's see this conflict in its entirety, in totality. Do not treat Pakistan like a whipping boy. That's not acceptable. We want to cooperate with the US. We are the direct beneficiary of peace and stability in Afghanistan," he said. Standing by his remarks on some of the terrorist groups and terrorist leaders at the Asia Society in New York last week, Asif said they are a liability. "We will find ways and means to wrapping up this business. This is a liability. (but) this cannot be wrapped up overnight," he said. Responding to a question, Asif said there are problems in US-Pakistan ties. "We do have problems with the US. We have deficit of trust. We are trying to mend those deficits," he said. Pakistan, he said, sees more role for Russia and China in the region. Relationship with Russia has improved in recent years. "We need and have proposed any peace solution in Afghanistan should be backed by regional powers which includes the Russian federation," he said in response to a question. "Madrassas, whether we accept or agree with them or not, are the biggest NGO in Pakistan...There are over 20,000 madrasas. Out of these huge number, a very low number of them are infected. Possibly they number around 300-400. The government is managing these madrasas," he said. PTI New Delhi, October 5 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday held a meeting with BJP chief Amit Shah and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. Though officials did not say what was discussed in the meeting, it came ahead of Modi's proposed visit to poll-bound Gujarat on October 7 and 8. Shah, who was scheduled to address a rally in the home town of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan today, cut short his programme to rush to Delhi for the meeting. Kerala BJP president Kummanam Rajasekharan told reporters that Shah would be unable to attend the phase of the 'Janaraksha Yatra' (People's Protection March) as he has to attend a meeting with the prime minister in the national capital. The meeting also took place a day after Modi had defended his government's economic decisions amid opposition onslaught over slow economic growth. PTI Satya Prakash Tribune News Service New Delhi, October 5 The Supreme Court on Thursday took strong exception to certain comments by some lawyers painting its judges as pro-government, saying it had been taking the government to task on various issues. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) The former Supreme Court Bar Association president said the Supreme Court was full of pro-government judges. Thats not true. They should come and sit in the Supreme Court to see how the government is hauled up in favour of citizens rights, Justice Dhananjay Chandrachud, who was a part of a three-judge Bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra, said referring to a comment by a senior lawyer. Judges comments are reported as judgments. Then, they are commented upon during discussions as if they are judgments, Justice Chandrachud said as the Bench also comprising Justice AM Khanwilkar disapproved of the comments of former SCBA president Dushyant Dave on a TV channel about judges being pro-government during a discussion on transfer of Karnataka High Court judge Jayant Patel to the Allahabad High Court. Justice Patel had later resigned in protest. Gujarat High Court Advocates Association (GHCAA) Asim Pandya had on Wednesday written an open letter asking judges to uphold the Constitution. The Bench was hearing a petition against former Uttar Pradesh minister Azam Khan for his controversial statement on the July 2016 Bulandshahr rape case. Khand had said the rape case was a political conspiracy. It referred to a Constitution Bench the question about the extent of restraint that can be put on a person holding a public office while commenting on sub judice or under investigation matters. The Bench sent the matter to Constitution Bench after amicus curiae and senior advocates Fali S. Nariman and Harish Salve said an increasing number of such issues were coming up wherein persons holding high positions in government were making controversial statements on matters pending before courts or being investigated by police. Satya Prakash Tribune News Service New Delhi, October 5 A fact-finding committee appointed by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has indicted Ryan International School, Gurugram, for "severe irregularities and security lapses", saying the murder of a student on the school campus could have been averted. In an affidavit filed in the Supreme Court, CBSE said the murder took place due to the "negligence" of school administration as drivers, conductors were allowed to use washrooms meant only for students and staff. Pradyuman, a Class-2 student at Ryan International School, Gurugram, was found with his throat slit on the morning of September 8 in the schools toilet. Police allege that 42-year-old bus conductor Ashok Kumar killed him with a knife after the boy resisted an attempt to sodomise him. The affidavit has been filed in response to a petition filed by the slain students father Barun Kumar Thakur demanding a CBI probe into the murder and guidelines for safety of school-going children. The CBI has already taken over the probe following an order by the Haryana government. Thakur wanted the top court to lay down of guidelines by which "liability, responsibility and accountability of the management of the schools" across the country can be fixed in matters relating to safety and security of children at educational institutions. Highlighting negligence on the part of school administration, the affidavit filed by CBSE secretary Anurag Tripathi said: this incident has happened due to the negligence of the school authority as no provision of toilets/washrooms for drivers and conductors/cleaners who are involved in plying of buses could be found separately in the school premises which indicate that they were using the facilities meant for the students and the staff." The CBSE which had set up a fact-finding committee to look into the murder said the incident was not reported to the police by the school management. It was the victim's parent who rushed to police, it added. There were no ramps; no CCTV at prominent places on the campus; and classrooms not in use on two floors of the school building were not put under lock and key, it pointed out. "The board had advised all the heads of institutions affiliated to CBSE to give wide publicity to the provisions of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act in order to sensitise the parents, children and the staff in the matter," it said. According to the affidavit, after this incident the CBSE has asked schools to get their security audit done by the local police, besides installing CCTV cameras at vulnerable areas in and around school premises. Chandigarh, October 5 The Punjab Congress on Thursday urged the Election Commission to cancel the candidature of BJP's Swaran Salaria for the Gurdaspur bypoll for "concealing" information about a rape case filed against him in Mumbai. A Congress party delegation, led by party spokesman Gurpartap Singh Mann, gave a representation to the Punjab Chief Electoral Officer seeking disqualification of Salaria's candidature as he failed to inform the polling body about the case. However, Salaria, when contacted, said he stated in his affidavit as much as was required for filing his nomination. In the representation, the Congress claimed that the case was filed against Salaria on the complaint of a woman in 2014. Mann said the next date of hearing in the case is October 30. "Salaria has deliberately concealed the facts in his affidavit that no FIR/chargesheet is pending against him." He said Salaria's candidature is liable to be rejected as per Section 125(A) of the Representation of People's Act. Section 125 (A) of the Act provides for up to six months of imprisonment or fine or both for giving wrong information or concealing any information in an election affidavit. "Salaria is concealing a rape case registered against him, which directly links to his personal character and his act is a deceit with voters," Mann said. The Congress urged the CEO to declare Salaria's candidature invalid and prosecute him as per legal provisions. But senior BJP leader Manoranjan Kalia said the Congress party was resorting to such tactics for fear of defeat in the Gurdaspur bypoll scheduled for October 11. Kalia said the Congress had no agenda for the byelection and is therefore indulging in propaganda. He said Column Number 5 in Form No. 26 clearly mentions that the person filing the affidavit has to provide information if he has charges framed against him under sections which invite a minimum imprisonment of two years. "It means the person need not necessarily provide the information, which is not required. Salaria has a case against him under Section 506 of the IPC which has been granted stay by the court. This section invites a maximum punishment of six months, hence information regarding it was not required to be furnished at the time of filing the nomination," he said. BJP's ally Shiromani Akali Dal's spokesman N K Sharma said the Congress was playing "dirty tricks" to divert people's attention from the "total failure of the government". PTI Gurdaspur, October 5 A Pakistani woman was shot dead by BSF personnel along the International Border in the Dera Baba Nanak sector when she trespassed into Indian territory, an official said on Thursday. A Border Security Force (BSF) patrol team detected suspicious movement along the barbed wire fence at the border outpost at Ghania Ke on Wednesday night, the official said. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) The woman, who is yet to be identified, was shot dead when she ignored their warning to surrender and kept moving towards them, he said. The Pakistani Rangers refused to accept the body of the woman, the official said, adding that it was later handed over to the Dera Baba Nanak police station for last rites. PTI Karachi, October 5 At least 18 people were killed and nearly 24 others injured on Thursday when a suicide bomber blew himself up at a Sufi shrine packed with devotees in Pakistan's troubled Balochistan province, police officials said. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) The attacker tried to enter the Dargah Fatehpur in the Jhal Magsi district of Balochistan and blew himself up when he was stopped by the police at the main entrance, Deputy Commissioner Asadullah Kakar told the media. Officials said at least 18 people were killed and nearly 24 others injured. At least one policeman was also killed. A senior official confirmed that so far 12 bodies have been recovered from the blast site. Rescue officials fear that the death toll could rise as the blast took place when there was a heavy rush of devotees who had gathered at the shrine to pay their respect. Thursdays are usually busy in terms of attendance at shrines. Balochistan Home Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti told the media that so far it appeared to be a suicide attack. "Investigations are still continuing and the injured have been moved to the district headquarters hospital in Jhal Magsi," Bugti said. Balochistan government spokesman Anwarul Haq Kakar confirmed that it was a suicide attack. Initial probe showed that the blast occurred when a sufi dance called dhamal was going in the premises of the shrine. No group claimed responsibility for the attack but the Taliban usually target shrines as they consider it un-Islamic. The local administration declared an emergency at hospitals in Sibbi and Dera Murad Jamali. Today's is the second major attack at a shrine in Balochistan where in November 2016, at least 52 people were killed and 102 injured in a blast at the shrine of Shah Norani in Khuzdar district. PTI Moscow [Russia], October 4 Russian President Vladimir Putin admitted that he once met United States President Donald Trump, but said he has no personal ties with him. "We have almost no personal relationship. We saw each other just once. Yes, we had a couple of phone conversations on various issues of mutual interest, including Syria, Putin said at the Russian Energy Week conference in Moscow. "I believe that a personality like Trump, with his character, will never be hostage to anyone, Putin stated. Regarding bilateral relations, you can judge for yourself. They have become hostage to the domestic political situation in the US. Certain forces are using RussianAmerican relations to address internal political issues. We are patiently waiting for this internal political process to end, Putin said. "I do hope that the fundamental mutual interests which are the nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction, combating cyber-crime, energy cooperation, cooperation in addressing regional conflicts, anti-terrorism will ultimately change the nature of Russian-American relations for the better, the Moscow Times reported Putin, as saying. Putin further said that the global military strike against North Korea to destroy its nuclear and missile programme might not succeed, because no one knows where the military facilities are hidden. "Let us speak to the point, after all Can a global strike against North Korea be launched to disarm it? Yes. Will it achieve its aim? We don't know. Who knows what they have there and where. Nobody knows with 100 percent certainty as it's a closed country, Putin said. "There is no 100 per cent knowledge about North Korea's as it is a closed country, he added. ANI A woman in Tokyo died a 'karoshi death' because she worked 159 hours extra apart from her own work shift. By India Today Web Desk: Dying from overwork might sound a bit unbelievable at first but when you're in Japan it is quite possible. Japanese are known for their zeal to work and be punctual but the habit is now costing them their lives. Japanese labour inspectors on Thursday ruled that the death of a 31-year-old employee of the country's public broadcaster NHK was caused due to overwork. advertisement Miwa Sado, who worked at the broadcaster's headquarters in Tokyo, logged 159 hours of overtime and took only two days off in the month leading up to her death from heart failure in July 2013, reports the Guardian. According to a labour standards office in Tokyo, the cause of her death was "Karoshi". FYI: What is Karoshi? Karoshi means "death from overwork". There are many medical causes due to which a 'karoshi death' happens like heart attacks, strokes, and starvation. The announcement of the cause came out a year later after a similar ruling over the death of a 24-year-old employee at Dentsu advertising agency prompted a national debate. The debate sparked fire against Japan's attitude to work-life balance and calls to limit overtime. Matsuri Takahashi killed herself in April 2015. Labour standards officials ruled that her death was caused by excessive stress due to long working hours. Takahashi had been working over 100 hours' overtime in the months before her death, the Guardian reported. The Japanese government is now planning to cap monthly overtime at 100 hours and introduce penalties for companies who allow employees to exceed the limit. Over 2,000 Japanese killed themselves due to work-related stress in the year to March 2016, according to the government, while dozens of other victims died from heart attacks, strokes and other conditions brought on by spending too much time at work. --- ENDS --- Washington, October 5 US Defence Secretary James Mattis has said that India's decision not to send troops to war-torn Afghanistan was perhaps guided by the Pakistan factor. Mattis praised Indias contributions to Afghanistans development before lawmakers at House Armed Services Committee, saying New Delhi has adopted a holistic approach in its assistance towards the country. It is really a very holistic approach that India is taking. You'll notice I left off (Indian) boots (soldiers) on the ground because of the complexity that would bring to Pakistan, Mattis said yesterday in response to a question from Congressman Doug Lamborn during the Congressional hearing on South Asia. Were trying to make this an inclusive strategy and we dont want them to get a sense that theyre vulnerable to any Indian Army people from their western flank, that's not necessary, Mattis said. Mattis was in New Delhi last month and held talks with Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Sitharaman had ruled out any troop contribution in Afghanistan and said it will continue to provide development assistance to the country. Islamabad is opposed to any major role for India in neighbouring Afghanistan, saying a Kabul-New Delhi axis would be detrimental to Pakistan's strategic interests. During the hearing, Mattis insisted that an open border trade between India and Pakistan would help in bringing regional stability. Stability can follow economics as much as stability enables economics, he added. He hoped that they will eventually see that happen. PTI Mattis lauds New Delhi role in Afghanistan New Delhi has been generous over many years with Afghanistan. Because of its very generous funding over the years, India has achieved a degree of affection from the Afghan people as a result. They intend to continue this effort and broaden it. Furthermore, they are providing training for Afghan military officers and NCOs at their schools. London: Archaeologists claim to have discovered the tomb of Saint Nicholas whose habit of secret gift-giving gave rise to the legend of Santa Claus beneath the ruins of a church in Turkey. Till now it was believed that the bones of St Nicholas were in Italy, researchers said. PTI Prof gets $8.1m grant for cancer research London: An Indian-origin scientist in the US has been awarded a $8.1m grant to support her research on lethal head and neck cancer, which could help improve the survival rates of patients. Nisha DSilva received the Sustaining Outstanding Achievement in Research award, or SOAR. She is a clinician-scientist at the University of Michigan. PTI Washington, October 5 President Donald Trump is prepared to take whatever steps necessary against Pakistan if it does not change its behaviour and continues to support terror groups, Defence Secretary Jim Mattis has said. Mattis also warned Pakistan of global diplomatic isolation and losing its non-NATO ally status if it failed to take action against safe havens to terrorists on its soil. If our best efforts fail, President Trump is prepared to take whatever steps necessary, Mattis told members of the powerful House Armed Services Committee during a Congressional testimony on South Asia and Afghanistan on Wednesday. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) He was asked a series of questions by Congressmen who expressed their frustration on Pakistan not taking action against terror groups. Without much elaboration, Mattis said the US had enormously powerful number of options if Pakistan did not follow through and be a better promoter of stability in the region. Right now, I would like to think we will be successful, Mattis said. With the growing consensus against terrorism, theyll find themselves diplomatically isolated. There is an awful lot of advantage to Pakistan of coming online with the international community, and we have to stay focused there, but the penalties are just as significant as the advantages if they choose to go a different direction, he said. But for right now, the US needs to try one more time to make this strategy work with them by, with, and through the Pakistanis, he said. When Congressman Rick Larsen asked if revocation of non-NATO allies status is on the list of possibilities against Pakistan, Mattis said, Im sure it will be. Mattis tough talk on Pakistan came as Pakistan Foreign Minister Khwaja Asif is visiting the US as part of efforts to rebuild bilateral ties frayed after President Trump accused Islamabad of sheltering terror groups. President Trump announced his Afghanistan and South Asia policy in August in which he adopted a tough policy against Pakistan. In a meeting with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Asif defended his countrys role in the war against terrorism. He claimed that Pakistan had pursued a zero-tolerance and indiscriminate approach in its campaign against all terrorist and militant groups. However, Mattis told lawmakers that while the US is adopting a whole of government approach on Pakistan, it is also aligning NATO countries on this. What youre going to see is 39 nations all in the NATO campaign working together to lay out what it is we need Pakistan to do, he said. What we are doing right now is we are aligning what Department of Treasury, Department of Defence, the Intelligence Committee, Department of State, say, this is what we must ask Pakistan to do to change its behaviour, he added. The Trump administration, he said, is going to use a whole government international effort to align the benefits and the penalties if those things are not done. Pakistan has lost more troops in this fight against terrorists than nearly any country out there. And yet at the same time, as you know, theres been some parsing out where some terrorists have been allowed safe havens. Were out to change that behaviour and do it very firmly, Mattis asserted. As part of this, Mattis said there would be exchange of high-level visits between the two countries. Mattis said he and the Secretary of State Rex Tillerson would soon visit Islamabad. Were not going to back off. It will start with assistant secretaries coming out of Washington and the National Security staff members going into Pakistan soon followed by the Secretary of State, he said. I will go in and we have (NATO) Secretary General Stoltenbergs very clear support for this in his advocacy as the Secretary General of NATO. So were going to continue to build this up in an international way with a whole of US government argument for the Pakistanis to work in their own best interest and ours, Mattis said. After holding talks with Asif, Tillerson on Wednesday said the US is concerned over the future of the government in Pakistan and wants to ensure long-term stability in the country. Inviting Tillerson to visit Islamabad to continue their talks, Asif said a broad-based and structured framework for dialogue would best serve the two countries mutual interests. PTI Five fresh braid chopping incidents in Kashmir has resulted in panic among the people. Meanwhile, a woman has foiled braid chopping attempt in Bandipora. By Ashraf Wani: A series of fresh braid cutting incidents were reported from Kashmir Valley on Thursday while in North Kashmir's Bandipora district, a young woman foiled the braid chopping attempt after raising alarm. Reports said on Wednesday night some culprits chopped off the braid of a 40 year old woman at Nowdal village of Tral town in South Kashmir's district Pulwama. The incident created panic in the village. advertisement The family members said that the victim was attacked as she tried to enter the washroom located outside the house. Confirming the incident, a police official said that they have started the investigation. In another incident, the braid of a girl hailing from Uri was chopped off at Khojabagh Baramulla where she has been living in a private quarter with her parents. A police official said that they recorded the statements of the victim and her family and started investigation. Meanwhile, a young woman foiled an alleged braid chopping attempt on her in Dangar Mohalla of Kaloosa area of Bandipora district in north Kashmir. The family members of the woman (name withheld) said that an unknown person tried to cut her braid as soon as she came out of the washroom around 6 am. "The unknown person had managed to enter inside our house and was waiting for her to come out of the washroom. When she came out, the attacker tried to catch hold of her and tried to chop off her hair with a knife," they said. A family member said that the young woman pushed him and raised an alarm, forcing the attacker to flee. "We tried to catch him but he managed to escape from the window of our kitchen," he said. In Bhagat area of Srinagar city, police charged protesters with canes after a braid chopping incident people blocked traffic demanding arrest of the culprits. Protesters said that a girl had come out from her house to dump the garbage into a dustbin on road, when culprits chopped off her braid. Police used tear-smoke shells to disperse protesters at Singhpora Pattan in North Kashmir after a braid chopping incident. Reports said that two persons cut the braid of a woman inside her house in Singhpora area of Pattan. "Her mother-in-law raised an alarm following which locals rushed towards the house and nabbed the attackers," said a local. However, people staged protests and blocked the traffic on the highway after police took both the alleged braid choppers in their custody. advertisement According to reports, the police fired tear-smoke shells to disperse the protesters who had blocked Srinagar-Muzafarabad Highway. The victim was shifted to sub-district hospital Pattan where a large number of people staged anti-government anti-India protest. Police rushed to spot and fired tear-smoke shells to disperse them. At Sambora Pampore area of South Kashmir's Pulwama district people captured an alleged braid chopper. According to locals, police used force to take the custody of the alleged braid chopper. Several persons were injured during the clashes. A police official said that locals were reluctant to handover the suspect non-local to them. "The local protesters pelted stones while police exercised maximum restraint," the official said. Locals alleged that army cordoned off the village and took the custody of the alleged braid chopper. Reports added that two persons were wounded during the clashes including a youth who suffered a bullet injury in his leg. --- ENDS --- FORT WORTH After 70 years, you would think American Airlines commitment to Tulsa would go without saying, but company Chairman and CEO Doug Parker said it anyway Wednesday. Looking out at a roomful of about 80 Tulsa-area residents who had traveled to Fort Worth, Parker took care of the elephant right away: Is American Airlines staying in Tulsa? So, I dont know why you guys keep asking that question, but the answer is yes, Parker said. The comment drew applause from attendees who had gathered at the American Airlines C.R. Smith Museum as part of the Tulsa Regional Chambers three-day intercity Whats Next conference. The annual conference is designed for attendees to learn best practices in cities across the nation. Focusing on Fort Worth this year, attendees earlier Wednesday toured the Will Rogers Memorial Center an event and livestock complex and heard presentations on river development, a massive mixed use development, a community-wide health improvement strategy and trends in branding. Representatives of the Tulsa and Tulsa County governments, business leaders and officials from other area governments attended the conference. Participants in past years have visited Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Nashville and Portland, Oregon. About 60 members of the Tulsa delegation toured the Will Rogers Memorial Center. It features 16 art deco-style buildings dating to 1936, including an auditorium and equestrian center, spread over 136 acres. Kirk Slaughter, director of the Will Rogers Memorial Center, said the existing three-arena facility will soon have a fourth. Its going to be an arena like youve never seen, he said. The $540 million facility will feature 14,000 seats, a parking garage and office space, Slaughter said. It is scheduled to open in 2019. Tulsa County Commissioner Karen Keith, who toured the center grounds, said she was impressed by the arena plans. I think it is extraordinary what they are getting ready to do, Keith said. But she added that she wasnt completely intimidated by the facility, saying Tulsa does well in its own niche at Expo Square. I think with the facilities that we have, they are the perfect size for the equestrian groups, Keith said. I feel like the staff is really accommodating of those groups. Thats one of the reasons we have so much repeat business. The large facility that they are building is really geared more for concerts than the equestrian shows, Keith said. Tulsa Regional Chamber President and CEO Mike Neal, who promoted the idea of intercity visits when he came to the organization, said the annual programs help local leaders and others in the business community collect ideas and form bonds in an informal setting. As for Tulsa and its American Airlines maintenance plant, it seemed like the Tulsa group couldnt hear it often enough, so Parker said it again and again. Really I dont know what it is or what people have thought in the past, but I can tell you that the Tulsa operation is an enormous and important part of American Airlines operation, Parker said. We couldnt function without it. We have no interest in ever trying to function without it. Fifteen Oklahoma tribes will split $18 million in federal grants to tackle issues ranging from substance abuse to violence against women to community policing. The Cherokee Nation will receive about $3 million, including $898,100 to address violence against women, $749,993 for improving alcohol and substance abuse services within its justice system and $565,241 for public safety. The Choctaw Nation will receive roughly the same amount to address violence against women, along with $449,999 to assist victims, $350,000 for juvenile healing to wellness courts and $296,738 for youth programs. The largest grant will go to the Quapaw Tribe, with $3.9 million for corrections and programs that offer an alternative to incarceration. The tribe also will receive $446,714 to tackle alcohol and substance abuse, plus $232,929 for policing. Teenagers and quite a few adults across the U.S. are planning a trip to a McDonalds on Saturday to get a hold of a long-sought-after culinary prize. Szechuan Sauce. An underground swell has been rising the past six months, demanding a return of this 90s Asian-inspired chicken dip. It has finally arrived for a single day, only to leave out all of the chains Oklahoma restaurants. When an ad said at participating restaurants, my 13-year-old son thought to check online. Now, he feels the outrage of being in a fly-over, middle America state. Thats stupid and not fair. A lot of people here would go. I dont get it, he said. I cant believe not one packet of Szechuan Sauce can get to Oklahoma. I mean, not a single one? Whats up with that? It particularly galled him to discover seven participating locations in Arkansas, 11 in Kansas and 14 in Missouri. Guess who wants a road trip to Kansas City this weekend? This whole Szechuan Sauce obsession started in the spring. My teenager started asking about memories of this Mickey Ds goo, which was last served nearly 20 years ago. Since that was before kids, the restaurant wasnt exactly among my regular haunts. Only when forced into a minivan and seeking Happy Meal prizes did my knowledge of all things Ronald McDonald return. I missed the whole Szechuan Sauce craze that was part of the 1998 promotional tie-in to the Disney movie Mulan. Still, like some sort of repressed-memory therapist, my son persisted. Was it like a sweet and sour mixed with barbecue? Did you try it on burgers? Do you remember what it smelled like? Teenage boy brains are ever perplexing, but this infatuation tracks back to edgy adult animation, of course. Fans of Cartoon Networks Adult Swim Rick and Morty have been pushing for the return of Szechuan Sauce since it became a joke appearing in the shows Season 3 premiere, which aired on April Fools Day. Dimension-traveling mad scientist Rick Sanchez becomes fixated on tasting the sweet teriyaki sauce and ends up an erratic, foaming-at-the-mouth mess. He takes his grandson, Morty, on wacky, and often dangerous, adventures. This mind-bending comedic device has Ricks mission to get his hands on Szechuan Sauce, calling it his one-armed man. I want that Mulan McNugget Sauce, Morty. Thats my series arc, Morty! If it takes nine seasons, I want my McNugget dipping Szechuan Sauce, Morty! What seems like fun comic banter about a characters irrational love for this delicacy turned into a quest for the shows followers, who endlessly tweeted and requested that the restaurant chain revive the tangy treat. McDonalds has relented, but only by a nod. Its keeping that rare mystique by limiting availability. I doubt this will be the last of the discontinued sauce. Theres a reason the McRib never really goes away, even though it has no ribs in it. People want what they cant always have. Even though no one in Oklahoma will get to dip into McDonalds Szechuan Sauce on Saturday, my bet is there will be another time. It doesnt hurt that a live-action version of Mulan is coming to theaters in 2019. This early attention, a well-played old marketing move, could certainly make the difference. If not, fans always have Twitter and several online videos showing how to make the sauce at home. Following the worst mass shooting in modern American history, members of Oklahomas all-Republican congressional delegation faced questions this week about gun control legislation. Their answers ranged from ambivalence to opposition and twice mentioned the Oklahoma City bombing. Late Sunday, Stephen Paddock opened fire from his Las Vegas hotel suite, killing at least 58 people and injuring more than 500 at a concert below. The crime, like other mass shootings in recent years, ignited national dialogue on access to high-powered firearms. Investigators believe Paddock, 64, used several semi-automatic weapons in the meticulously planned rampage, converting the guns to fully automatic firing weapons through a legal tool known as a bump stock. U.S. Rep. Tom Cole, R-Moore, had never heard of a bump stock before this week and said Congress should investigate its legality. Oklahoma has at least three connections to the alleged gerrymandering case heard this week by the U.S. Supreme Court. Oklahoma, through, Attorney General Mike Hunter, is among a group of states that have submitted an amicus brief arguing against court intervention in the case. Former Gov. Frank Keating, on the other hand, is among former Republican office holders who've filed an amicus brief supporting the gerrymandering claim. Somewhere in the middle is University of Oklahoma political science professor Keith Gaddie, who along with another political scientist has submitted a brief that explains the mechanics of modern gerrymandering doesn't take sides on this particular issue. Gill v. Whitford challenges Wisconsin's legislative redistricting after the 2010 Census. It points out that districts were drawn such that Republicans won 60 percent of the state assembly seats in 2012 despite receiving only 49 percent of the total vote. Whitford is William Whitford, a University of Wisconsin professor who was the lead plaintiff in a 2015 federal lawsuit challenging the legislative map. Gill is Beverly Gill, chairwoman of the state election board. The plaintiffs won at the district level, and the state appealed the decision directly to the U.S. Supreme Court. OKLAHOMA CITY Gov. Mary Fallin on Thursday rebuffed reports that a bipartisan budget agreement had been reached. There is no budget deal, she said, adding that she is disappointed that more progress had not been made. Her comments came Thursday afternoon after House Minority Leader Scott Inman tried to apply pressure on Republicans to support what he said was a bipartisan budget agreement. Inman called a Capitol news conference Thursday morning to say his caucus would compromise and support several key elements in a plan that Fallin presented to lawmakers last week. Today, I come to you with an announcement that my caucus is proud to say we are in agreement with a plan that the governor and I and House and Senate Republicans have at least contributed to over the last six weeks, said Inman, D-Del City. He said the plan was the largest and most significant bipartisan agreement to come out of the Capitol since the passage in 1990 of a landmark education reform and tax bill, House Bill 1017. Fallins office has said the proposal is a collection of ideas from her, Democrats and Republicans in both chambers. No Republican legislative leaders joined Inman, who is running for governor, when he announced his caucus support for the bipartisan agreement. If there is only one person at the altar, there is no marriage, Fallin said at a Thursday afternoon news conference. There is your quote of the day. There is no deal at this point, said Jason Sutton, a spokesman for House Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka. Negotiations are ongoing. Senate Pro Tem Mike Schulz, R-Altus, also said no budget agreement has been reached, despite reports. The Senate maintains that its budget plan presents the clearest path forward, but we will continue working with the Governors Office and the House to find an agreeable solution, Schulz said. Inman said his caucus would support the House Republican plan to raise the cigarette tax by $1.50 and the Senate Republican proposal to increase the motor fuel tax by 6 cents if they were part of a bipartisan package. Republicans need House Democratic support to get to the supermajority of votes needed to raise taxes. Although his caucus does not like a proposal by Fallin and House Republicans to eliminate the manufacturing sales tax exemption for the wind industry, the members are willing to do it, Inman said. In addition, Democrats would support Fallins proposal to add a sales tax to some services, Inman said. In exchange, his caucus wants to increase the gross production taxes to 5 percent on new wells and restore the income tax to some high-wage earners who previously saw cuts, Inman said. The ideas would generate $560 million that could be used for core services, Inman said. They would also provide for a $2,000 across-the-board pay raise for teachers, even though House Democrats think the figure should be higher, he said. Oklahoma Education Association Vice President Katherine Bishop called the proposal a common sense, achievable plan but said it falls short of significant pay increases. Oklahoma Public Employees Association Executive Director Sterling Zearley said a plan that does not include raises for state employees is short-sighted. Zearley said some state employees have not had a raise in 10 years. Fallin called the Legislature into special session on Sept. 25 after the Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled that lawmakers had violated the law in the way it passed a $1.50-per-pack tax on cigarettes. The measure was expected to generate $215 million, but coupled with the loss of federal matching dollars, the budget hole would be about $500 million. The Oklahoma Health Care Authority, Oklahoma Department of Human Services and Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services were to have received the bulk of the money. Fallin said the three state agencies face serious consequences if no budget agreement is reached, adding that they provide services to 1 million people. The clock is ticking, the governor said. JAY A former foster parent and award-winning adoptive mother who was convicted of child abuse was sentenced Wednesday and will serve about three years in prison, a prosecutor said. After the charges against her were amended, Deidre Matthews, 50, formerly of Jay and now residing in Independence, Missouri, pleaded no contest in Delaware County District Court to 12 counts of child abuse, child neglect and child endangerment. Matthews received a life sentence, all but four years of which was suspended. She will receive credit for the year she spent in the county jail, said Assistant District Attorney Nick Lelecas, adding that she will have to serve at least 85 percent of the sentence. She and her former husband, Jerry Matthews, were recognized as Department of Human Services Adoptive Parents of the Year for northeast Oklahoma in 2006. The couple received the honor after finalizing the adoption of some the children they were raising and before any allegations of abuse were made, said Sheree Powell, Department of Human Services spokeswoman. When they adopted the children, their home was not in the condition it later fell into, and they didnt have all the animals they had at the time the abuse allegations were occurring, Powell said. While married, the couple lived with nine children in an animal feces-infested two-bedroom, two-bathroom mobile home in the rural Jay area, reports indicate. The family had more than 50 animals, including three spider monkeys and 11 lemurs, court records show. Civil and criminal court documents allege that under the care of Deidre Matthews, the oldest teenager was forced to kill her pet kitten by bashing its head into a tree; another child was handcuffed and placed in a dog cage; children were made to stand outside or walk around the house naked; and children were kept home from school to avoid detection of bruises, welts and wounds. Other allegations of abuse include beating the children, allowing monkeys to bite the two teenage daughters, and Deidre Matthews refusal to seek medical treatment for them and withholding food and water for two days as punishment, according to court testimony. Jerry Matthews pleaded no contest in July 2016 to two counts of child neglect and received a suspended life sentence. The pair and 19 current and former DHS employees with were named in civil lawsuits filed in Delaware County District Court and U.S. District Court in Tulsa alleging that 17 incidents were reported to DHS from January 2004 to March 1, 2014, but were not investigated properly. There are also allegations that DHS workers concealed evidence of abuse and alerted Deidre Matthews when they would be making surprise visits, a violation of DHS protocol. Neither Matthews now has custody of the children, records show. Matthews will have to undergo a drug, alcohol and mental health assessment, Lelecas said. She is ordered to stay away from the victims, and once she completes her prison term, she will be on probation and prohibited from having custody of children or having children live in her home. The woman who led the early childhood initiatives for the New York City Department of Education now works in Tulsa. Sophia Pappas work in New York gained the appreciation of local billionaire and philanthropist George Kaiser. So he, and the George Kaiser Family Foundation, hired her. And now Pappas has the task of implementing the foundations Birth through Eight Strategy a new decade-long plan Kaiser thinks will be a major part of the foundations legacy. The programs first phase is underway, and over the next two years it hopes to reach 17,000 children living at or near the poverty level in Tulsa. Pappas, Kaiser and foundation Executive Director Ken Levit explained the program and its intent in detail to the World during an interview Wednesday. The strategy is a compilation of more than a decades worth of data and lessons learned from the GKFFs attempts to break the cycle of poverty in Tulsa a cause to which Kaiser has dedicated virtually all of his fortune. It has four goals having healthier low-income births, having more nurturing homes, making sure low-income children are ready for kindergarten and achieving academic success by third grade. What we learned in the last several years, which shouldve been totally obvious to us before, is we were tending to ignore the most obvious delivery channel of the way to assist a newborn in the first few years of life, which is delivering the message through the primary teacher of that child parents, Kaiser said. The program isnt simple. It is attempting to reach more low-income Tulsa families and provide more, or better access to, social services over the early years of a childs life starting before birth through age 8. It is also very much a work in progress. Pappas explained that the first phase will act as a trial period for the foundation and its community partners the whole strategy will be rolled out with a particular focus on the early parts of a childs life. Rather than start with the whole continuum, we are focusing on prenatal and the first few months of the childs life, Pappas said. We will build on lessons learned from those targeted efforts in order to refine processes and expand navigation (of social services) through the later stages of early childhood development. A persons participation in any part of the Birth through Eight Strategy or BEST will be voluntary, Kaiser said. Supporting the childs development will begin before birth, when a Tulsa City-County Health Department-employed family advocate will reach out to an expectant mother registered with Soonercare, Kaiser and Pappas said. That family advocate will help a person find and get access to prenatal care with the intent of having the baby born healthier increasing the rate of healthy births, Pappas said. Once a child is born, the mother or family will be visited in the hospital by another family advocate who will talk about how to support the childs brain development and certain nurturing strategies, such as how to calm a crying baby. That component of the strategy is already underway across Tulsa. After birth, family advocates will support parents and caregivers, teaching them strategies that support the childs development and connecting them with services through home visits, phone calls or during visits to the doctor. Theres a whole series of family advocates that hand off from one to the other for that continuum of nine years or so, Kaiser said. Pappas said BEST will be in collaboration with Tulsa Public Schools, the Tulsa City-County Health Department, local health care providers and dozens of other social service groups in hopes of weaving together what can be a maze of services for low-income residents. The foundation and its community partners are still discussing how to implement the strategy in certain areas. The plan also comes with a hefty financial commitment from GKFF and others: $100 million. GKFF has secured about $15 million in funding from a national group of philanthropies, Blue Meridian Partners, which the foundation will match. Pappas said supporting its community partners, expanding and implementing programs will cost the foundation about $75 million more. There is a chance the public will become involved, too. Levit said the foundation could seek public funding to help expand the strategy in the future. Kazuo Ishiguro (62) was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature on Thursday. Named among one of the 50 best contemporary English writers since 1945, here are Ishiguro's 5 best works. By India Today Web Desk: British novelist Kazuo Ishiguro was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature today for his work. Ishiguro is known for masterpieces like Never Let Me Go and The Remains of the Day. Sara Danius, the permanent secretary of the Swedish Academy, said that Ishiguro (62) was awarded the prize for uncovering "the abyss beneath our illusory sense of connection with the world," in novels "of great emotional force". Watch the very moment the 2017 #NobelPrize in Literature is announced! pic.twitter.com/7IcRm5Bb2f- The Nobel Prize (@NobelPrize) October 5, 2017 advertisement "If you mix Jane Austen and Franz Kafka, then you have Kazuo Ishiguro in a nutshell, but you have to add a little bit of Marcel Proust into the mix," Danius said. "Then you stir, but not too much, then you have his writings." Born in Nagasaki, Japan in 1954, Ishiguro's family moved to England in 1960. Being one of the most celebrated writers in contemporary English literature, Ishiguro has a Man Booker Prize and now a Nobel Prize to his name. His work has been nominated for the Man Booker Prize four times, and his novel The Remains of The Day also won the prize in 1989. Kazuo Ishiguro was also named as one of the 50 greatest British writers since 1945 by The Times. Ishiguro's latest novel, The Buried Giant, was released in 2015. Here's your cheat sheet to Ishiguro's brilliant work: 1. Never Let Me Go Ishiguro's Never Let Me Go can be called a blend of psychological realism and science fiction. Set up in 1990s England, the novel takes place in a parallel universe where human cloning is an accepted practice. The narrator, Kathy H, is a student of Hailsham, a school supposedly for children who are clones and will become donors later on in life. The book revolves around the life of Kathy and her two friends, Ruth and Tommy. A brilliant masterpiece reflecting love and friendship. 2. The Remains of the Day Through his work, The Reamins of the Day, Ishiguro beautifully explores the theme of post war memory. The novel was released in 1989 and also won the Man Booker Prize in the same year. The Remains of the Day reflects on the life of an elderly British butler as he looks back on his life in service. During a motoring trip through the West Country, Stevens, the long serving butler takes a journey through the past, a past that takes on fascism, two world wars, and a love story. 3. The Buried Giant The Buried Giant was released in 2015. The anticipation around Ishiguro's work was high as it was nearly after a decade that Ishiguro came up with a novel. The Buried Giant is the journey of a couple who go out in search of a son they haven't seen in years. Set in sixth and seventh century, the book beautifully explores historical fiction and fantasy. advertisement 4. When We Were Orphans Ishiguro deals with the theme of war once again in Once We Were Orphans. Christopher Banks is orphaned at the age of nine when his parents disappear under mysterious circumstances in Shanghai. Sent to live in London, Christopher becomes a renowned detective and returns to Shanghai during the Sino-Japanese War. A beautiful novel that deals with memory and perception, Ishiguro's When We Were Orphans is a combination of a brilliant narration and soaring imagination. 5. An Artist of the Floating World Through the Floating World, Kazuo Ishiguro, gives an insight to post-war Japan. A world that is characterised by changing cultures, shifting societal patterns and some very disturbing questions. The narrator in the book is an aged Japanese painter who grapples with his role as a producer of military propaganda during World War II. As the war is over, Masuji Ono has no work and no family. While many people blame the imperialists for the loss in World War II, what's left of Ono? --- ENDS --- advertisement A man who police say crashed a car into a power pole east of downtown and then fled with his infant daughter was taken into custody Wednesday night, ending a daylong search. Police allege Dallas Woods, 36, crashed the car Wednesday morning knocking out power to hundreds of utility customers and fled the scene on foot with his 5-month-old daughter. The baby later was found safe with a relative, but Woods was not with her at that time, they said. He was expected to be booked into the Tulsa Jail late Wednesday. Woods reportedly was involved in a disturbance before 4:30 a.m. with the mother of his child and he left the scene hurriedly with the baby, police reported. Police said the crash occurred in the area of 700 South Sheridan Road, where Woods car hit the pole at a high rate of speed. According to a PSO outage map, more than 500 customers in the area were without power at one point, but by 9:30 a.m. the number had been reduced to 150. Police said the investigation at the crash scene indicated the baby was not secured in a car seat at the time of the collision. At 10:45 a.m., police reported the child was found with her paternal grandmother at the grandmothers residence. The child appears to be fine, but they have EMSA en route to look over the child, Tulsa Police spokeswoman Jeanne MacKenzie said at the time. Throughout this years regular legislative session, we heard sky-is-falling rhetoric from politicians, bureaucrats and lobbyists. Oklahomans were told our state has a revenue problem and needs more recurring revenue (a clever phrase that means higher taxes) or else we all face dire consequences. But in reality, state government spending is at an all-time high. The state is on track to spend more in this fiscal year more than $17.9 billion than at any time in state history. Over the last 10 years, total state government spending has increased by $3.83 billion. Whether Oklahomans know these facts or just recognize that government isnt getting any smaller, its no wonder many ask: What revenue problem? And why do we need to raise taxes if the government is already spending more than ever before? The truth is that Oklahoma doesnt have a revenue problem, and doesnt need to raise taxes. What we have is one manufactured budget crisis after another, created by too much spending with too little accountability. Every year, ideas to trim spending or to shift dollars away from lower priorities toward important services are presented to the Legislature. But every year, various special interests back pet projects and block these cost-saving measures. The cumulative effect is obvious: Only once in the last 20 years has state spending actually declined, and then just a little and only because of an economic downturn. What about taxes? Perhaps surprisingly, federal data show that Oklahoma has historically had taxes higher than the average among the states. More recently, Oklahomas state taxes as a share of our economy have finally come into line with the average. Many states impose lighter tax burdens on their citizens but somehow manage to provide the same public services that Oklahomans expect. Oklahomas current budget challenges have two causes an extended recession spread from the oil and gas industry across most of our economy and the failure of state leaders to address convoluted, wasteful structures within government. When oil prices plummeted in 2014, Oklahoma was knocked into a recession. Oklahomans lost 21,800 energy and manufacturing jobs in just one year and $13 billion in taxable income. Working Oklahoma families reduced their purchases subject to sales and use tax by $4.1 billion as they struggled to balance their family budgets. When Oklahoma is hurting, its because Oklahomans are hurting. When times are tough, its only appropriate that state government do everything possible to adjust spending to match income, just like the rest of Oklahomans have to do. Also, despite grim narratives from state agencies, core agencies and services are actually spending more than they were in recent years while others have seen only minimal impact from the budget downturn. How do they claim their budgets have been cut? It turns out that the budget passed each year by the Legislature is only a portion in some cases, a small one of the total amount spent by many state agencies. Some of these agencies receive most of their funding from other sources, usually fees, special dedicated taxes, or federal tax dollars. For the last several years, state appropriations have made up only about 40 percent of total state government spending in Oklahoma. In a tough economy for Oklahomans, we deserve tax and spending debates based on facts and the full picture. The first way to fix any budget is to prioritize spending and find ways to be more efficient, not just to demand a pay raise. As legislators work to patch up Oklahomas current budget, hopefully they will do exactly that. Curtis Shelton is a policy research fellow and David Autry is a communications manager at the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs (www.ocpathink.org), the states leading free-market think tank. This Page Is Under Construction - Coming Soon! Why am I seeing this 'Under Construction' page? Pakistan's Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) today said India should expect "good news soon" since the hearing on alleged spy Kulbhushan Jadhav's mercy petition is reaching its "final stages". By India Today Web Desk: Pakistan's Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) today said India should expect "good news soon" since the hearing on alleged spy Kulbhushan Jadhav's mercy petition is reaching its "final stages". ISPR spokesperson Major General Asif Ghafoor, in a press conference today, said, "Mercy petition of Kulbhushan Jadhav is reaching its final stage. We will give good news soon." the ISPR chief said while responding to a question on the retired Indian Navy office who was caught in Pakistan. advertisement Jadhav, 46, was in April this year sentenced to death by Pakistan's Field General Court Martial on charges of his alleged "involvement in espionage and sabotage activities" against Pakistan. In a hearing of the case on May 18, a 10-member bench of the International Court of Justice had restrained Pakistan from executing Jadhav. --- ENDS --- By PTI: Gurdaspur, Oct 4 (PTI) Former Akali minister Sucha Singh Langah, who had been on the run after a rape case was registered against him, today surrendered before the district court here. Punjab Police had been conducting raids to trace him. "He (Langah) surrendered today in the district court here," Gurdaspur SSP Harcharan Singh Bhullar said. Langah was booked by the police on the night of September 28 after a woman gave a complaint that the Akali leader had allegedly been raping her repeatedly since 2009. advertisement Police had booked Langah under Sections 376 (rape), 384 (extortion), 420 (cheating) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC. The victim had also given a video clip in pen drive to the police to support her accusations. Yesterday, he had moved the Punjab and Haryana High court seeking anticipatory bail. On October 2, the Chandigarh district court had rejected the application of Langah for surrender in connection with the rape case registered against him by Gurdaspur police. Langah had dubbed the rape case lodged against him as "false" and accused a Congress MLA of getting him booked. Langah had also termed the complaint as a "classic example of political vendetta. The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) had accepted the resignation of party core committee member Langah from all party posts. PTI CHS VSD DV --- ENDS --- | By Patricia Fanning Rural Maryland residents have gained greater access to oral health care through an innovative collaboration between West Cecil Health Center, Inc., and the University of Maryland School of Dentistry (UMSOD). Jay A. Perman, MD, president of the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB), and Mark A. Reynolds, DDS, PhD, dean and professor of UMSOD, joined with local and state officials Sept. 26 to mark the health centers new ownership of a dental clinic that UMSOD had established in Perryville. (View a photo gallery.) West Cecil President and Chief Executive Officer John Ness, MBA, presided over a ribbon-cutting outside the spacious dental clinic, which is located on Pulaski Highway not far from the Susquehanna River. During the fiscal year that ended June 30, the clinic cared for 2,698 patients (1,884 adults, 439 geriatric, and 375 children). Perman and Reynolds were joined by Ness and the health centers board chairwoman, Susan Stephens; and by Richard Szumel, MD, president and chief executive officer of Union Hospital. Also participating in the ceremonies were Jinlene Chan, MD, acting deputy secretary for public health services, Maryland Department of Health; Mark Luckner, executive director, Maryland Community Health Resources Commission (MCHRC); Cecil County Executive Alan McCarthy, DVM; Harford County Executive Barry Glassman, and Del. Kevin B. Hornberger of Cecil County. The shift in ownership of the clinic was made possible in part through a $325,000 grant to West Cecil from the MCHRC to help maintain the Perryville location as a clinical teaching site with pre-doctoral students and dental hygiene students. Left to right, W. King Smith, DDS, clinical instructor; Lisa Bress, RDS, MS, clinical assistant professor; Emily Davis, DDS 17; Robert Noppinger, DDS, clinical instructor; and Sharon Varlotta, RDH, MS, clinical assistant professor, provide oral health care and work with University of Maryland School of Dentistry students in Perryville, Md. Perman said the unique partnership holds lessons in how we innovate health care practice to serve the most people and to serve them regardless of their ability to pay, with dignity. Speaking of the Universitys commitment to the entire state, he added: With this partnership, were putting our Maryland mission to work. Reynolds thanked supporters and partners in this innovative, sustainable model for high-quality oral health care delivery, which is believed to be the first of its kind nationally. Were very proud to be part of this partnership, which provides an opportunity for us to begin to reduce barriers to access to care and to provide care to the citizens of Maryland, including those who have been traditionally blocked from care. Helping to deliver that care is Emily Davis, DDS 17, who was raised in the nearby Elk Neck area and continued to live in Cecil County as she pursued her studies at UMB, including rotations at the clinic. Daviss love of education was nourished by her mother, who is a kindergarten teacher in Cecil County. Davis says it was a love of science as a child that led her to dentistry. And now her return to her roots is complete as she begins her career, surrounded by UMSOD colleagues W. King Smith, DDS, and Robert Noppinger, DDS, who are clinical instructors in dentistry; and Sharon Varlotta, RDH, MS, and Lisa Bress, RDS, MS, who are clinical assistant professors in dental hygiene. Bress says a lack of fluoridated water in all but a few communities results in many cases of dental caries, so the need in Cecil is great. The UMSOD team was part of the reception and tours for members of the public and government officials who attended the Sept. 26 event. On the tours, guests were shown the 12,000-square-foot facility with its modern technology and 26 dental chairs. Over eight years, UMSOD cared for more than 16,000 adults and children, but the model was not sustainable. Instead, West Cecil Health Center agreed to own and operate the clinic, accepting adults and children on a sliding scale. Ness called the collaborative effort an example of how we can be creative, innovative, and leverage all of our collective resources to ultimately improve the health of the community. Working closely with UMSOD faculty and students, the clinic will be able to expand its hours and services. We can serve as a true dental health home, Ness said. Luckner of the MCHRC said the project won grant support because it is innovative, sustaintable, and replicable. Chan called the effort a great example of a public-private partnership that comes together to meet a common goal of serving the underserved and doing so with an integrated approach." Speaking on behalf of the governor and of the state health secretary, she said: We all know that dental health is very critical to a persons whole health. Kaweh Beheshitzadeh arrived in the UK in 2004. He now works as a lawyer, specialising in immigration and asylum. UNHCR/Jessica Lindgren-Wu Kaweh Beheshtizadeh, an immigration lawyer, works 10-15 hour days on behalf of often desperate and vulnerable people seeking asylum in the UK. Beheshtizadeh, 36, toils from a windowless basement office for Barnes Harrild and Dyer, a solicitors firm, in West Croydon. Paint peels from the wall and case files lie stacked on the floor. In these spartan surroundings, a small glass award stands out on a filing cabinet, given by the Legal Aid Practitioners Group for immigration and asylum legal aid lawyer of the year. The achievement is remarkable for someone who arrived in 2004 from Turkey in the back of a lorry with six other refugees. Beheshtizadeh, who was 23 and spoke no English, had previously fled Iran after his pro-Kurdish activism landed him in trouble with the authorities. Since he was granted asylum in September 2006, he has worked hard to help others who have fled danger and has also strived to fit in to his new home. I do feel British, he told UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency. I eat fish and chips, stand in queues, talk about the weather, food and holidays all the time. I am very grateful to this country and its people for granting me refuge here. In a sense, he has come full circle. Beheshtizadehs law firm is on a bustling street full of Iraqi Kurdish shops selling green bananas, okra, yams, giant water melons. The restaurants sell Kurdish bread and ayran, a salty yoghurt drink. At the legal aid award ceremony in July, Beheshtizadeh said he had been inspired to become an immigration lawyer after seeing how hard his own legal aid solicitor had fought for him. I do feel British. I eat fish and chips, stand in queues, talk about the weather, food and holidays all the time." It has been a hard road. He had to overcome the language barrier something other newcomers cite as a key hurdle in getting back on their feet after fleeing to a new country and had to scrape by on meagre resources. Beheshtizadeh and his housemates made ends meet by pooling their benefits. Each received 31.35 a week for a month from the state for a short spell while studying. After that, they had to fend for themselves. Crucially, however, he was made to feel welcome and speaks fondly of the time he spent in Cardiff, where he shared a house with four other refugees. Cardiff is a beautiful city, I loved it, Beheshtizadeh said. There was no problem whatsoever and I felt genuinely welcome. The neighbours were supportive and they taught us about British culture. Every day, he would walk 45 to 50 minutes to college for English classes because he could not afford the bus. He thought this wasted valuable learning time so he bought a radio for the walk, but had no idea what was being said. Next, he bought a small TV at a market and would watch Friends, the US sitcom, to improve his English. In July 2017, Kaweh won the Legal Aid Lawyer award for his work on immigration and asylum. The award now sits on a filing cabinet in his London office. UNHCR/Jessica Lindgren-Wu I had no clue initially, but I learnt a lot eventually, Beheshtizadeh said. The characters spoke in short sentences, their accent was clear, the words were everyday, not political or legal. He still retains a slight Kurdish accent. While studying English during the day, Beheshtizadeh worked at night. First in a factory loading clothes, then as a hotels night receptionist. Pursuing a law degree at London Metropolitan University was even tougher. He would record the lectures, listening to them later with a dictionary by his side. I nailed it in the third year and graduated with a 2:1 in 2010 at the age of 29, he said. Justine Fisher, a barrister at Lamp Building Chambers, who taught Beheshtizadeh at London Metropolitan University, remembers him as conscientious. I was delighted to have the chance to teach him and to help him get on his way, Fisher said, adding he does a lot of good work. "The neighbours were supportive and they taught us about British culture. Pushing further with his studies and encouraged by Fisher, Beheshtizadeh studied at the University of the West of England in Bristol to become a barrister, but he failed to get a pupillage (training in a barristers' chambers); top law firms tend to recruit Oxford or Cambridge graduates. Changing tack, Beheshtizadeh qualified as a solicitor in May 2016, specialising in asylum and immigration law, and handling complex detention and right-to-remain cases. Beheshtizadeh currently juggles some 150 cases, about 100 on asylum and 125 supported by legal aid. His clients are from all over the world, including Iraq, Iran, Syria, Sudan, Eritrea, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Cameroon and Nigeria. All have different stories and means of arrival, all are asking Britain for sanctuary. Kaweh sits inside his office in Croydon, South London where he works up to 15 hours a day. UNHCR/Jessica Lindgren-Wu Against this backdrop, asylum applications in the UK have been falling. According to the Home Office, in the year to June 2017 there were 27,316 requests, down 25% year on year. Even when requests are unsuccessful, there is plenty of work for lawyers like Beheshtizadeh. For example, in 2016, 41% of 12,235 appeals against asylum decisions were allowed. Beheshtizadeh has won most of his appeals cases at tribunals in the past year. Philip Nathan, a barrister at Landmark Chambers who has worked on several cases with Beheshtizadeh, said his success rate was remarkable given that many cases previously have been rejected by the Courts and other solicitors. Beheshtizadeh believes the climate has changed from when he won asylum over a decade ago. But that hasnt stopped him fighting for those who need international protection, like he once did. Away from law, he plans to take his long-term integration efforts a step further with a tilt at public office. It is also my plan to stand for Parliament, he said, at the right time. A refugee father carries his child shortly after crossing a European border on foot. UNHCR/Mark Henley GENEVA Violations of international refugee law, such as attacks by troops and families being driven back across borders, jeopardized the safety of people fleeing for their lives in 2017, UNHCRs international protection chief said today. In a key annual address to the UN Refugee Agencys Executive Committee meeting in Geneva, Assistant High Commissioner for Protection Volker Turk the UNs leading expert on international protection said such breaches are wide-ranging and occur in all parts of the world. In particular, they have included killings of refugees by the military, he said, adding that there has also been a surge in serious incidents of refoulement, the forced return of refugees. Terrified families have been deported in the middle of the night, often with the connivance of security agents from the countries of origin, he told an audience of representatives of 151 states that make up the Executive Committee. Some in power are disregarding the tradition that asylum is a humanitarian, non-political act, he said. Some politicians have cast aside humanity in favour of short-term political gains, arguing that they were acting in defence of the liberty, security and safety of their citizenry. This is dangerous not just for the many refugees whose lives are affected as a result, but also for the citizens in whose defence governments purport to act. Another major worry is an increasing trend in deterrence measures by governments, which in some instances have become deliberate policies of cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment directed against the very people who were fleeing such circumstances in the first place. There is no justification to keep families apart, or to keep refugees in limbo, or to keep them languishing in substandard detention sites off-shore, in inappropriate reception facilities, or confined to border areas. A refugee is a refugee. Treating human beings in this way is not only harmful for them, but also for society at large, since its effects ultimately lead to the dehumanization of individuals and the brutalization of a society as a whole. Sexual and gender-based violence remain major causes of flight, as well as posing serious risks en route. It takes many forms, from rape, to sexual assault, domestic violence, child marriage and sexual exploitation. Turk referred to the growing number of child refugees, who account for more than half the worlds 22.5 million refugees. Last year alone, 64,000 unaccompanied and separated children were apprehended at the US-Mexico border, more than 2.4 million Syrian refugees were children and more than one million fled South Sudan. Assistant High Commissioner for Protection Volker Turk says it is dangerous to use refugees to score political points. He touched on the use of language and name-calling when referring to refugees, for example calling them queue jumpers, or branding them as terrorists or criminals. Emotionally charged topics are raised to gain votes, to misinform, and to scapegoat, often in a manner that dehumanises, creates divisions and polarises, he said. A variety of terms are used to describe refugees, such as undocumented people or vulnerable migrants, possibly with the idea of making a stronger case for the rights of all people on the move. However, this has caused confusion and inadvertently provided fodder for those who wish to undermine refugees rights. I have to say that, quite apart from the erroneous legal depiction, I find it inappropriate to present people as a sub-set of anything, migrants or otherwise, he added. A refugee is a refugee. "International refugee law provides for safeguards to protect those in need of international protection." In some academic and international circles it has become fashionable to argue that the refugee system was broken, but these arguments often do not hold up. Reopening a discussion of what has been the bedrock of international protection for nearly seven decades risks becoming an exercise in weakening existing standards, reducing them to the lowest common denominator, again to the detriment of the millions of refugees who must rely upon this system for their survival, he said. Volker Turk, Assistant High Commissioner for Protection, addresses delegates at the UNHCR Executive Committee meeting in Geneva UNHCR/Jean-Marc Ferre Turk paid tribute to efforts being made towards promoting peaceful coexistence in host communities. In Lebanon, Iraq, and Chad, urban development projects, such as building and improving schools and child-friendly spaces, clinics, water and sanitation facilities, in areas where many refugees reside, are benefitting both refugees and host communities and reducing potential tensions between them, he said. He spoke of motivating the silent majority and those on the fence, so that refugee affairs became a whole of society matter. He added that it was encouraging that more than 1.5 million people have signed up to UNHCRs #WithRefugees campaign in support of action to ensure education, shelter, jobs, and skills training for refugees. Security and protection must go hand-in-hand and one is not possible without the other. International refugee law provides for safeguards to protect those in need of international protection from persecution, conflict, and violence including terrorism while bearing in mind the security interests of host countries and their communities. He noted that refugees were often the first victims of terrorism. There is no doubt that multilateralism is the way of the future. In the longer term, the cycle of displacement needed to be broken, he said. In some way, a broader understanding of solutions, which includes addressing root causes, immediate needs, and longer-term development, could be an avenue to achieve this. Ideally, this means preventing the problems from arising in the first place by addressing the root causes of displacement. These often are a result of the lack of good governance and the effective functioning of the state. Unfortunately, in too many situations, we are confronted with huge inequalities, a lack of accountability towards people, and massive and unchecked exploitation of natural resources at the expense of local populations. In an increasingly interconnected world, these issues are not isolated, but affect us all. Access to education and promoting self-reliance were parts of the solution. Of the six million refugees of school age, 3.7 million had no access to education and refugee children able to go to school typically still missed out on three to four years of schooling. In the longer term, sustainable access to national education is key to ensuring refugee children have access to accredited examinations, promoting social cohesion, investing in existing programmes and infrastructure For those who eventually wish to return to their country of origin, sometimes after many years in exile, the decision is often fraught with difficulties. Should individuals wish to return in such circumstances, they have the right to do so, and UNHCRs responsibility in such circumstances is to make every effort to ensure that their decision is free and informed and that they can access the essential support they need upon arrival in their home country, Turk added. In his conclusion, he said that building on the CRRF experience, our work on next years Global Compact on Refugees will help to maintain the momentum. There is no doubt that multilateralism is the way of the future and is in the specific national interest of each and every country. This is most apparent in the refugee context. Rohingya mother Zulkhair, 27, holds her 10-month-old son Mohammad, at Kutupalong refugee camp. Mohammad is sick and requires medicine. UNHCR/Paula Bronstein KUTUPALONG REFUGEE CAMP, Bangladesh A tin-roofed building at this refugee camp in Bangladesh is the new frontline in a battle to curb outbreaks of diarrhoeal disease among half a million Rohingya refugees. The 20-bed diarrhoea treatment centre, which opened Monday at the camp is one of three providing a total of 80 beds. Two more centres are due to open next week. Severe diarrhoea causes dehydration, so quick and appropriate rehydration is vital to saving lives, explained Taimur Hasan, associate public health officer for UNHCR in Bangladesh, during a tour of the facility. See also: Moving refugees out of the rain in Bangladesh Set in a U-shaped building surrounding a tall acacia tree, the centre has separate wards providing oral rehydration for milder cases, and and intravenous saline rehydration, for patients with more severe diarrhoea. As of today, our staff, working with refugee volunteers, will fan out across the camp and nearby informal settlements to find people who might be sick but have not sought treatment. UNHCR is adding three diarrhoea treatment centres in the battle against the disease (Martin Seemungal, producer / Wendy Tiba, editor) Community health volunteers can provide rehydration on the spot with oral saline, or if needed, bring them here, Hasan said. An estimated 507,000 Rohingya have now sought safety in Bangladesh. Since violence flared up in Myanmar in late August, an estimated 507,000 Rohingya have sought safety in Bangladesh. Most live in informal cities of bamboo and plastic shacks, where fresh water and sanitation are not optimal, Hasan said. Among the recent refugee influx, Bangladesh authorities have reported 10,247 cases of diarrhoea, although the real incidence is certainly much higher. Taimur Hasan stands at the entrance to a rehydration centre to treat refugees withe severe diarrhoea at Kutupalong refugee settlement in Bangladesh, October 2017. UNHCR/Tim Gaynor On a recent visit to the camp extension, this UNHCR reporter asked about 20 residents at an ad-hoc community meeting how many had fallen sick. A brief show of hands revealed about half had. Most of the informal camps and settlements were until recent weeks woodland. The public health challenge has arisen as thousands of new residents are defecating in close proximity to the water supply. Tests reveal that some water sources are contaminated with coliform bacteria. Measures to prevent the spread of disease also include the installation of 32 shallow tube wells, and 250 latrines so far, which UNHCR accomplished with the help of partners. Your support is urgently needed to help the refugee children, women and men in Bangladesh. Please give now. Gunman Stephen Paddock's girlfriend Danley was out of the country at the time of Sunday's attacks and said Paddock sent her to see her family in her native Philippines. A candlelight vigil is held at Zack Bagans Haunted Museum in remembrance of victims following the mass shooting along the Las Vegas Strip in Las Vegas, Nevada, US. (Photo: Reuters) By AP: The girlfriend of the Las Vegas shooter said Wednesday that she had no idea he was planning an attack on the Strip and is devastated for the victims. A lawyer for Marilou Danley read a statement from her after she was questioned by FBI agents in Los Angeles about her boyfriend, Stephen Paddock. Danley was out of the country at the time of Sunday's attacks and said Paddock sent her to see her family in her native Philippines. advertisement Meanwhile, President Donald Trump traveled to Las Vegas to meet with law enforcement officers and survivors of the shooting outside the Mandalay Bay hotel casino that killed 58 people and wounded more than 500 others. More about the deadliest mass shooting in modern US history: THE GIRLFRIEND Danley, 62, called Paddock a "kind, caring, quiet man" and said she hoped to have a future with him. She said she was initially pleased when Paddock wired her money in the Philippines to buy a house for her family, but she later worried it was a way to break up with her. "It never occurred to me in any whatsoever that he was planning violence against anyone," she said. FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe , speaking at a cybersecurity forum Wednesday in Boston, said investigators are busy "reconstructing the life, the behavior, the pattern of activity of this individual and anyone and everyone who may have crossed his path in the days and the weeks leading up to this horrific event." Asked if investigators had determined why Paddock carried out the attack, he said, "We are not there yet." THE GUNMAN Paddock (64) was retired accountant and multimillionaire real estate investor, specifically requested an upper-floor room with a view of the music festival, according to a person who has seen hotel records turned over to investigators. Paddock wasn't able to move into the room until Saturday, said the person, who was not authorized to speak publicly and disclosed the information to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. The room goes for $590 but was given to Paddock for free because he was a good customer who wagered tens of thousands of dollars during each visit, the person said. Casino regulators are looking closely at Paddock's gambling habits and checking their records to see whether he had any disputes with casinos or fellow patrons. In addition, investigators are examining a dozen financial reports filed in recent weeks when he bought more than $10,000 in casino chips. TRUMP VISIT President Donald Trump traveled to Las Vegas, where he met privately with shooting victims and their families and told the city that the nation stands with them to share in their grief. Trump also told first responders that they should be proud of the way they responded to the massacre. advertisement He said that he met "some of the most amazing people" during his visit to a hospital where victims were recovering and that he's invited some of the survivors to the White House for a visit. On his trip from the airport, the president's motorcade drove past the Mandalay Bay hotel where the gunman fired down into the concert crowd. The president also drove past his own Trump hotel. THE DEAD The 58 victims included a father of six, a man who died in his boyfriend's arms and a university student who was studying health care management. More than 500 people were injured in the attacks. About 150 are still hospitalized, with about 50 in critical condition Wednesday night, hospital officials said. The injured ended up in 13 hospitals scattered across southern Nevada, with most of them treated and released. POSSIBLE GUN LEGISLATION Senior congressional Republicans said Wednesday they were open to considering legislation banning "bump stocks" like Paddock used to effectively convert semi-automatic rifles into fully automated weapons. The comments from lawmakers including the No. 2 Senate Republican, John Cornyn of Texas, marked a surprising departure from GOP lawmakers' general antipathy to any kind of gun regulations. But they were far from a guarantee of a path forward for the new legislation by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., especially with Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Speaker Paul Ryan making clear their priorities are elsewhere. advertisement Other GOP legislators who seemed open to banning "bump stocks" included Sens. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin and John Thune of South Dakota. ALSO WATCH | Las Vegas Holds Candlelit Vigil for Shooting Massacre Victims --- ENDS --- By PTI: By Shruti Verma Khare New Delhi, Oct 5 (PTI) Homegrown handset maker Lava will soon phase out its two Z series smartphones as it plans to focus on sub-10k category with attractive features like bokeh mode camera. Lava, which launched new Z series smartphones - Z60, Z70, Z80 and Z90 - in India yesterday, plans to focus on sub-Rs 10,000 category with 6-7 models in its portfolio to capture a bigger pie of the market in this price segment. advertisement It will discontinue Z10 and Z25 priced at Rs 11,500 and Rs 18,000 respectively. "We want to focus and dominate in the sub Rs 10,000 mobile phones segment with a portfolio of 6-7 models. Our strategy is to have limited number of products and drive volumes. We will phase out Z10 and Z25," Lava International Head Smart phones Deepak Mahajan told PTI. The four new Z Series smartphones are priced between Rs 5,500-10,750 and will be available at retail stores across India and on all major e-commerce portals. Prominent features in the new Lava series phones include Bokeh Mode in both front and rear cameras in Z60. Dual Bokeh feature makes photographs appealing by making the objects stand out from the background. Z70 is equipped with a fast fingerprint scanner with App encryption. You can select Apps that can be unlocked using the finger print scanner. Z80 is a light-weight device with Piano finish design and Dual Bokeh Mode. Z90 has a dual camera to provide more visible and sharp images in low light in addition to the Dual Bokeh feature. These smartphones are also equipped with Microsoft SwiftKey keyboard which offers multi-lingual read and write option. The devices come with Android 7.0 Nougat operating system. The company has also announced Lava money back challenge offer for its customers. Under this offer, a customer can experience a Lava product for 30 days and in case the customer does not like the product, customers can walk into any Lava service centre to get an on-the-spot refund for their returned handset. The challenge is valid from October 1, 2017 to December 31, 2017. "This challenge has never been offered by any other brand in the mobile handset industry before and talks about the confidence the company has on its products," the company said. These products are designed in Lavas R&D centre in Shenzhen in China. Lavas India-based Design Centre will roll out devices designed locally by the end of 2017. PTI SVK ANU --- ENDS --- While the inquiry in the case of farmers being stripped naked in police custody, BJP MLA KK Srivastava has given a clean chit to the police. By Hemender Sharma: Even before the inquiry ordered by the state government into the alleged incident of stripping of farmers in police lock up in Tikamgharh could start, the local ruling party MLA has given a clean chit to the police. BJP MLA from Tikamgarh KK Srivastava was on Thursday summoned to the state capital and made to address a press conference at the BJP office. Shrivatsava while addressing the press conference said that Congress workers were indulging in indecent semi-nude protests in town and that pictures of the same had gone viral. advertisement "They are alleging that police stripped farmers inside the police lock up. What about Congress leaders moving topless during the protests. Did the police strip them? The fact is Congress men inside the police lockup removed their clothes on their own and made videos of the act and later twisted facts and blamed the police. I have video evidence," he said. Srivastava, however, could not show the videos that he claimed to possess. "I will mail the videos to everyone and expose the Congress party that does not have an issue and is trying to mislead farmers across the through mischief like this one," he alleged. The ruling Bhartiya Janta Party has gone on the offensive alleging those seen semi-nude in pictures taken inside the police lock up were not farmers fearing a Mandsaur like back lash. "The party cannot afford to be seen as anti farmers right now. The Mandsaur incident in which six protesting farmers were killed in police action is still fresh in the minds of people and now this stripping incident has happened," a BJP watcher said. The state government had on Wednesday ordered an IG level inquiry into the entire incident that has to be completed in three days. Statements of all the police men on duty at the time of the incident were recorded on Thursday. The Congress meanwhile in an attempt to make it an issue among farmers across the state, burnt effigies of state chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan at several places in the Bundelkhand region. --- ENDS --- Popular UW Lecture Series Scheduled in Jackson Oct. 14 The University of Wyomings one-day free public lecture series, featuring diverse topics from UW professors, will be offered in Jackson Saturday, Oct. 14. Saturday U -- the half day of college lectures and discussion -- will be at the National Museum of Wildlife Art. The program begins with coffee and donuts at 8:30 a.m., followed by welcoming remarks at 8:50 a.m. The guest lectures begin at 9 a.m. Participants may attend one, two or all three lectures. A free lunch and roundtable discussion with speakers will follow the presentations at 12:30 p.m. During the fall and spring terms, Saturday University visits locations throughout Wyoming, discussing todays most captivating topics, says Saturday U Coordinator Paul Flesher, a UW religious studies professor. In its ninth year, Saturday U is a collaborative program that connects popular UW and Wyoming community college professors with lifelong learners. Offered nine times a year -- twice each in Jackson, Gillette and Sheridan, and once in Rock Springs, Pinedale and Cody -- Saturday U is sponsored by the university, the UW Foundation and Wyoming Humanities. The program is presented locally by UW, the Wyoming Humanities Council, National Museum of Wildlife Art and Central Wyoming College-Jackson. Enjoy three intriguing lectures delivered by professors from the University of Wyoming and Wyomings community colleges, Flesher says. Complimentary lunch is provided, giving participants an opportunity to engage with the speakers during a roundtable discussion following the three lectures. Listed below are program topic descriptions and professors lecturing: -- 9 a.m., Sour Whiskey, Cheap Wine, Plastic Milk and Snake Oil: Food Fraud Across National and International Supply Chains, Mariah Ehmke, agricultural and applied economics associate professor. Food fraud occurs when companies practice illegal deception in the production and marketing of goods for economic gain, Ehmke says. Such deception often includes the adulteration of the foodstuffs themselves. While comprehensive cost estimates of food fraud are not currently available, individual cases have been economically devastating not only to consumers, but also to producers, corporations and even entire countries, she says. Her lecture will provide details of and conditions surrounding fraud in the food industry, and how such fraud may affect Wyoming consumers and producers. Policy options that could help reduce food fraud also will be discussed. -- 10:15 a.m., The Fifth Beginning: What Six Million Years of Human History Can Tell Us About the Future, Robert Kelly, anthropology professor. Kelly will discuss the four major beginnings of human history -- the origins of technology, culture, agriculture and the state. He will present evidence that humanity is entering a fifth beginning, one that can be expected to mark dramatic changes in world economy, war, culture and governance. -- 11:30 a.m., Giving a Hoot about Wildlife Genetics: Enhancing the Survival of Western Wyomings Bighorn Sheep and Owls, Holly Ernest, Wyoming Excellence Chair and veterinary sciences professor. Genetic diversity is key to the long-term survival of a healthy population of any animal species, Ernest says. This is even truer for threatened species near Jackson, such as bighorn sheep and great gray owls, she says. Ernest and colleagues in her lab study these herds and flocks to help wildlife and land managers evaluate ways to assist in the species long-term survival. For more information, call Flesher at (307) 766-2616 or email pflesher@uwyo.edu. For more information about Saturday U, visit the website at www.uwyo.edu/saturdayu/index.html. SBDC Webinar Offers Commercial Leasing Tips for Small Businesses Small-business owners in Wyoming have the opportunity to learn about the three different lease structures commonly used in the state. A Wyoming Small Business Development Center (SBDC) webinar, titled Before You Sign: Commercial Leasing Tips for Small Businesses, is scheduled Thursday, Oct. 12, from 2-3:30 p.m. The webinar will discuss percentage leases, gross leases and triple net leases -- and their effects on both landlord and tenant. The SBDC is a partnership among the University of Wyoming, the Wyoming Business Council and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). The SBDC focuses on educating small-business owners and potential owners on how to successfully start and operate small businesses. The SBDCs main office is located at UW. Bob Bernardis, a licensed commercial real estate broker for more than 10 years in the Casper area, will present the program. He grew up working in his familys water treatment business and also is a master electrician. His well-rounded business experiences help him expertly assist his clients to purchase, sell and lease properties of all kinds. Many businesses have to go through the process of understanding their commercial lease documents, says Cindy Beth Unger, business adviser for the SBDC. This webinar will help participants understand the three different lease structures commonly used in Wyoming. The fee for the webinar is $15, and attendees can register at www.wyomingsbdc.org to obtain the link to the webinar. The program will be recorded and available to registered attendees who are unable to attend live. Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made, if requested at least two weeks in advance. Language assistance services for clients with limited English proficiency will be provided. For more information, call Peggy Baker at 1-800-348-5194. The Wyoming SBDC Network is a business advising group of the SBDC, Wyoming Entrepreneur Procurement Technical Assistance Center, Market Research Center and SBIR/STTR Initiative. The networks mission is to help Wyoming entrepreneurs succeed. Advising and most market research activities are free of charge to Wyoming residents. The SBDC is funded, in part, through a cooperative agreement with the SBA. Additional support is provided by the Wyoming Business Council and UW. For more information, go to www.wyomingsbdc.org. Dharmendra Choudhary was to be felicitated with medal in 2004, when he was posted as additional Superintendent of Police in Jhabua for killing a dreaded dacoit named Lobhan Singh. By Hemender Sharma: The President of India has withheld the bravery award medal which was to be given to Ratlam Deputy Inspector General of Police, Dharmendra Choudhary. Choudhary was to be felicitated with medal in 2004, when he was posted as additional Superintendent of Police in Jhabua for killing a dreaded dacoit named Lobhan Singh. Lobhan Singh was killed in an encounter on December 5, in 2002 following which the state government recommended Choudhary's name for the President's medal. An out of turn promotion was also given to two police constables for showing exemplary courage in gunning down the dacoit. advertisement The family members of Lobhan Singh, however, alleged that he was gunned down by the police in a staged encounter and approached the national Human Rights Commission (NHRC) for justice. The NHRC agreed with the family member's charges and while terming the encounter as fake directed the state government to give a compensation of Rs five lakh to the family members of the dead in the year 2011. President of India has withheld the bravery award medal which was to be given to Ratlam Deputy Inspector General of Police The state government, however refused to act on NHRC's recommendations and asked for a review. The NHRC thereafter wrote to the president of India which led to the forfeiture of the bravery medal given to Choudhary. Choudhary while reacting to the news said, "I will present my side before my department. This was an encounter that took place in 2002 and Lobhan was a dreaded dacoit wanted in several states. There were cases registered against him in MP, Rajasthan and Gujarat and he was killed in a head on encounter with the police." --- ENDS --- By PTI: Mumbai, Oct 5 (PTI) Transition to the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime will significantly affect companies with weak credit profiles, especially small units, due to lingering short-term liquidity mismatch arising from the delayed input credit refunds, says a report. "The short-term liquidity crisis arising from delayed input credit refunds is due to the difficulties in mapping the inventory held on the transition date with respective invoices, various GST Network-related technical issues and admissibility of these refund claims. advertisement "The admissibility can depend on companies ability to match corresponding tax invoices with vendors filings," India Ratings said in a report today. The micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are the worst hit as they lack compliance infrastructure to map the entire outstanding inventory with tax invoices, it noted. The weak credit profile and risk weights attached to the loans extended to MSMEs in banks books could force these companies to resort to borrowings from non-bank finance companies. "This is more costly than borrowing from banks and could aggravate the credit impact of GST transition on the MSME space," it warned. The report, however, said large corporates and firms with streamlined infrastructure may find it easy to map the entire outstanding inventory with tax invoices. The agency said GST would also result in higher working capital requirements for the majority of the participants in the manufacturing sector owing to the requirement to pay the entire tax at the point of the dispatch of goods from factory gates, and also for the movement to warehouses. The increase in working capital requirement at 200-450 bps of revenue for the steel industry and at about 500 bps of net value addition across the value chain for the textile industry. "The increase in working capital requirement, as a proportion of revenue, would aid bank credit growth for large corporates," it said. Within the construction sector, the GST would have a negative impact on the cost of setting up power plants as capex cost would increase. For engineering, procurement, and construction contracts, GST rates at 6-11 per cent are higher than the earlier regime, which can increase project cost, if contractors compliance infrastructure is not robust enough to enable them to use input credit. "Industry participants ability to tide over working capital mismatches during the implementation phase and beyond would be relative to their balance sheet strengths and capital market access," the report said. The ability of banks to fund these mismatches depends on the risk weights attached to such lending. Although it would be beneficial for banks, given the low incremental credit deposit ratio, they may refrain from providing additional capital to entities with weak credit profiles, the report said. PTI HV BEN RMT --- ENDS --- advertisement Club Tattoo, the worlds leader in high-end tattoo and body piercing with six locations across Arizona and Las Vegas, will be offering $50 small Las Vegas-themed tattoos from Thursday, Oct. 5 until Monday, Oct. 9. All proceeds from the tattoos will be donated to the Las Vegas Victims Fund. The GoFundMe account, set up by Clark County Commission Chair Steve Sisolak, will provide relief and financial support to the victims and families of the tragic Las Vegas mass shooting, including funeral costs and long-term medical care. Its always important to give back, no matter the circumstance, said Sean Dowdell, Las Vegas resident and owner and founder of Club Tattoo. The recent events hit us hard at home between our staff and clients, and we want to make sure that we recognize that these events affect everyone differently. This is our way of coming together in a positive way to help others. Club Tattoo will accept walk-ins or appointments. The offer is valid at all four Arizona locations in Tempe, Mesa and Scottsdale, as well as the Las Vegas studios inside Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood and The LINQ Hotel & Casino. Some small, Las Vegas-themed tattoo examples can be found here or on any of Club Tattoos social media channels. Appointments can be booked by calling (702) 363-2582 (Miracle Mile Shops location) or (702) 364-2582 (The LINQ). *For those interested in donating blood, Club Tattoo is a state-regulated studio that uses sterile needles, meaning you will still meet eligibility requirements. MNS had earlier condemned the Elphinstone Road Station stampede tragedy that claimed the lives of 23 people. By India Today Web Desk: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) is holding massive protest march in south Mumbai demanding better railway infrastructure for commuters in wake of the tragic stampede. MNS had earlier condemned the Elphinstone Road Station stampede tragedy that claimed the lives of 23 people. MNS chief Raj Thackeray joined the march from Metro station and walked up to the Western Railway headquarters. advertisement The march seems to have disrupted traffic in various parts of South Mumbai. Earlier, Mumbai Police had denied permission to MNS for march to Western Railwaya headquarters, however, the party has carried out the rally. MNS workers turned up in large numbers to participate in the march that began around 1 pm. --- ENDS --- Following the success of Bangkok Danang direct route, Thailand-based boutique carrier Bangkok Airways announces its new service connecting Suvarnabhumi Bangkok Airport and Phu Quoc Island in Vietnam. Bangkok Airways is the first airline operating direct flights to Phu Quoc Island, with four flights weekly using ATR 72-600 70-seat capacity aircraft. The aim of this new launch is to provide better flight connections for European, Thai and Vietnamese customers as well as offering regional connecting routes to Phu Quoc Island for its long-haul codeshare partners. Varong Israsena Na Ayudhya, Bangkok Airways vice president for sales said, With the launch of new direct service between Phu Quoc and Bangkok, I believe there is mutual benefit in terms of tourism and businesses between the two countries. Fast growing economy in Phu Quoc sees potential of travel demand from the local and expatriate travelers, while Phu Quoc, as a paradise island in Vietnam will attract tourists from around the world. Beautiful Phu Quoc - known as Pearl Island, is Vietnams largest island with an area of approximately 600 square kilometres. Phu Quoc is known for being the center of tourism in Southeast Asia and it is appointed as a special economic zone with the expected annual economy growth up to 25 30 per cent. In 2016 Phu Quoc attracted over 1.45 million tourists all over the world. With the 30-day visa free policy for foreigners, Phu Quoc now is one of the most popular tourism destination in South East Asia for European travelers, especially Germany, England, France, Switzerland and Russia. Bangkok, the Golden Temple capital, rated as one of the best shopping destinations in Southeast Asia, which is now considered as the ideal stopover for five continent travelers who wish to explore Asian culture. With Bangkok Airways' new route, passengers can now enjoy a direct flight to Bangkok, without transit at Ho Chi Minh City and Danang airports. Phu Quoc is a rising star of tourism destination, attracting a great number of Southeast Asia and European customers to come and wish to visit again every year. The new direct route between Bangkok and Phu Quoc will support the growing tourism demand, and provide better flight experiences for travelers. We believe this launch will bring sustainable benefits for the tourism development of Thailand and Vietnam in the future, Songkrot Palakawong Na Ayuthaya, corporate communications director of Bangkok Airways said. Bangkok Airways, an award winning regional airline, is Thailands first private airline that has been providing exceptional comfort and safety to all passengers since 1968. Uber employees protesting the company's poor management policies CEOs taking flight In October 1, Ubers Vietnamese branch confirmed a vacancy for the CEO position, which formerly belonged to Dang Viet Dung, whilst the company has to grapple with troubles from the government and customers, according to newswire Cafef. The way Uber operates is that each branch in a country functions as an independent startup, forcing each unit to up the ante if they want to survive the competition, Dung said. Uber Vietnam has not provided any further information regarding the next CEO to be appointed. The position is currently empty. Dung left the CEO seat after three years. Before heading back to Vietnam to embark on the career path of ride-hailing services, Dung was just another college dropout from Harvard Business School. In early October, the CEO in charge of the operations in London, Jo Bertram, announced her resignation right before the companys meeting with Transport for London in an attempt to get the firms licence back. Jo was the executive director of the company in London, in charge of operations in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. An exciting new opportunity has arisen that will allow me to apply what I have learnt here and I will be able to share more details with you soon, she informed the staff. Earlier in June, according to The Guardian, Uber co-founder Travis Kalanick resigned from the position of CEO. This resignation was followed by six months of coping with scandals, including the case of a former employee publicly posting about gender inequality, gender discrimination, and sexual harassment at the workplace. Travis was requested to take a step back from the CEO position by investors. Recently, Travis surprised the business world by appointing Ursula Burns, former CEO and chairwoman of Xerox, and John Thain, former CEO of Merril Lynch and the New York Stock Exchange, as new directors of Uber. Travis appointment without unanimous consent saw substantial dispute. However, addressing the unexpected addition to the management board, the companys spokesperson noted that the firm is in urgent need of a new management board that is capable and experienced to handle the crisis despite the sudden change in the board of directors. Crisis after crisis 2017 has so far been a rough patch for Uber, highlighted by legal matters and competition with Grab. Last month, the entire Internet enclave was filled with rumours that Uber would shut down after the companys operation in London were stopped. Only a month ago, the company was alleged to evade tax payments. The total amount of tax Uber dodged should be significant, considering the giant daily earnings of roughly VND1 billion ($440,000) reported in January. In late September, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Taxation ordered Uber to pay a total of VND66.8 billion ($2.94 million) in taxes arrears, giving the company ten days to settle the payment. The official order was announced as the outcome of an inspection from the date of starting its operation up until June, 2017. Nguyen Nam Binh, deputy director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Taxation, told Vnexpress that the firm agreed with the authorities findings, with the exception of the corporate income tax. As explained, the company legally operates as an online application, rather than a taxi service provider. Therefore, it is not obligated to pay taxes as a business entity. The tax department collected merely VND20 billion ($879,234) per year from the 31,000 Uber and Grab cars, whilst conventional taxi-hailing firms must pay an annual average VND2 trillion ($91.7 million) in tax from 30,000 vehicles. Circular No.63/2014 on providing for operation and management of automobile transport and services to road transport Section 6, Article 47 A passenger transport contract is signed between a transport company and an organisation/individual who wishes to hire a whole trip of the vehicle. The transport company shall sign only one passenger transport contract for a trip. Earlier, the Ministry of Transport (MoT) rejected the carpooling services proposed by both Uber and Grab for the second time as the Law on Road Traffic only permits one contract served per trip, thereby, any addition would be a violation of the policy. Meanwhile, according to newswire Deal Street Asia, Go-Jek, Indonesias first billion-dollar startup in motorbike and taxi hailing services, is seeking to penetrate a potential market like Vietnam as cash remains the major existing payment method of the country. The firms digital payment service was a movement for Go Jeks scheme to penetrate new markets, especially cash-predominant markets like the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam. Go Jeks entrance to Vietnam would toughen competition with ride-hailing giants, such as Grab and Uber. Tran Ngoc Bich talking at Human Resources Management Conference 2017 As one of the main speakers at Human Resources Management Conference 2017, which took place on September 14 in Ho Chi Minh City, Tran Ngoc Bich, HR manager of Tan Hiep Phat, talked with VIRs Tuong Vi about her experiences of implementing Tan Hiep Phats HR management mindset. Tan Hiep Phats long-lasting survival Bich said that in 2009, 13 years after reaching the number one position in the Vietnamese beverage market, the company founder Tran Qui Thanh raised a question. It is not difficult for Tan Hiep Phat to achieve a certain growth rate, but how can the group develop sustainably on the long-term, especially after he leaves the group? This question was the start of Bichs story about Tan Hiep Phats journey. With warmth and confidence at slight odds with the youthful appearance of a 30-year-old woman, Bich said that she had realised that there were two core factors leading to the groups sustainable survival. The first one is infecting the other leaders of the group with the ambition and mindset of the founder. The second factor is about leveraging the skills of every leader of the group to maintain the operating culture the founder had created. Tan Hiep Phat has nearly 10,000 workers, so the company's general director cannot know them all by name. According to Bich, what connects the whole enterprise is culture. With these two core principles, HR management in Tan Hiep Phat has been constantly moving forward. Founder Tran Qui Thanh and his two daughters The founder of Tan Hiep Phat, Tran Qui Thanh, said that one of his strategies that helped the company flourish was to let employees manage themselves. As one of Thanhs supporters and heiresses to his efforts in the groups HR management, can you talk about how this strategy worked out? In Tan Hiep Phat, we believe that every individual adds special value to the enterprise. Thus, what we have to do is to provide favourable conditions for them to contribute and demonstrate their abilities. Our principles are few and will be even fewer, but we have high standards. One of these is that every individual needs to be devoted to the sustainable growth of Tan Hiep Phat. We are unified as one community and we are responsible for things that are bigger than each of us. We pay special attention to the enterprises culture because HR management is a key factor in change management, and other resources are also under the management of the HR department. We believe that if employees understand the enterprises culture and can bring out their best through it, the sustainable development of the enterprise will be a matter of time only. What exactly does letting employees manage themselves mean? Tan Hiep Phat promotes self-management and self-control among employees. You have knowledge and skills, Tan Hiep Phat needs to develop and has the capital and a favourable environment for you to apply your knowledge and skills. The group provides employees with precious resources, such as capital, information and technology systems, and customers, with the expectation that every employee will manage the assigned resources and treat them as their own. I inherited this mindset from my father, the founder of Tan Hiep Phat. He wanted to build a group where employees are treated like a companion on a big journey, not like a hired employee working for Tan Hiep Phat. Employees in Tan Hiep Phat will receive a salary in direct proportion with their productivity, which they can spend purchasing company shares, giving them actual ownership in the group and receive profit after positive performance. Since establishment, the number of employees in Tan Hiep Phat has been sharply increasing over the year, and for us, their long-term connection and dedication to the group brings great happiness. Hundreds of employees have devoted their lives to Tan Hiep Phat since its establishment 23 years ago. Qualifications are obviously a necessary condition, but what other qualities is Tan Hiep Phat looking for in job applicants? Employees have to get on well with their colleagues, including adopting the groups culture and teamwork skills. The value of each employee is in his or her ability to contribute to the groups collective capacity. In todays innovative and fast-moving world, creativity is precious, but it can be transferred from experts or professional consultants. Thus, we regard highly the ability of fitting into the groups workforce upon entering the group. We have learnt a lesson when we decided to build a new plant a few years ago. As the investment was huge and we set a high target of a sizeable plant with global standards, we invited a director who had been involved in building the biggest beverage plant in the world to be the project manager. After six months of implementation, this director failed to create his own team for the project, so we had to choose someone else. Promoting autonomy and resourcefulness down to the lowest levels is Tan Hiep Phat Group's HR credo In the world of Industry 4.0, of rapidly changing human-human and human-machine interactions, what are the strengths and weaknesses of billion-dollar enterprises like Tan Hiep Phat? In Industry 4.0, working opportunities are increasing and opening up for everyone. However, as we always say, we appreciate individual capabilities. If you work in Tan Hiep Phat for a long time and you can demonstrate a ready-to-do attitude, willingness to learn and take on responsibilities, we will offer you more responsibilities and more autonomy, along with higher salary. However, if you decide to leave Tan Hiep Phat, we will wish you all the best. Do not be afraid of change. You should contribute your full knowledge and wisdom to your next employers. And one day, maybe we will benefit each other with a potential cooperation. Besides, we still welcome our old employees back, whenever they come a-knocking. You have had plenty of chances to study HR management skills in developing countries during your studies abroad and real-life experience as well. Can you talk about the leadership models you have encountered? In the world, there are two leadership models. The first one was the model of command-and-control and it is so popular that it is virtually equivalent to management, and it really is management, not leadership. This model emphasises the power of leaders by imposing a wide range of regulations and punishments on employees who understand that they are working under strict terms and conditions. However, this style limits employees performance. I believe that in the knowledge economy, success derives directly from innovation, not from strict regulations. In other words, success does not originate from a perfect reproduction of old practices; it must be based on the expansion of knowledge and innovation. The best environment for knowledge improvement is an enterprise with a distinctive culture where employees are encouraged to innovate for both their and the enterprises benefit. We are attempting to create a new model to replace command-and-control management, which is we call Participative leadership model at the moment. We want to maintain a leadership style where leaders take responsibility first when goes awry. In most cases, problems derive from leaders, so they should focus on solving matters, not looking for a scapegoat. In addition, leaders solutions that benefit only Tan Hiep Phat or leaders themselves will not be accepted, as we lay heavy emphasis on creating sustainable value for community development. Tan Hiep Phats great aspiration to become a billion-dollar Vietnamese enterprise Starting off as a small family-run business, by developing an exceptional operational system in accordance with international management standards and practices, Tan Hiep Phat Group has made leaps and bounds towards its aspiration to reach out to Asia and gradually position itself as a Vietnamese enterprise that is worth billions of dollars. Tran Uyen Phuong, deputy general director of the group, said that it would be difficult for someone to change the world on their own, but with the proper team for company, nothing is impossible. Tan Hiep Phat welcomes those who share the same mindset and wishes to build a team to shore up support for its vision. The "ELLE x IVY moda-Parisin Mode" will be in Vietnamese shops in 2017-2018 This was announced by a representative of the two brands at a press conference organised on October 4 to publicise information about the collaboration as well as the date of launching the collections. Accordingly, these collection will be introduced consecutively from October 16, 2017, limited at certain selected IVY moda showrooms. The designs of the collection have been inspired and carefully selected by ELLE magazine (France)'s fashion editor and ELLE Boutiques artistic advisor Tamara Taichman. In addition, IVY moda's best designers have harmoniously modified their top trends to create a line-up more suitable for Vietnamese women. This unique synergy will result in exclusive outfits that can only be found at ELLE x IVY moda. "A leading fashion brand, in addition to providing quality products, we always aim to bring exciting fashion experiences to our customers. The ELLE x IVY moda cooperation is an excellent opportunity for our customers to feel and touch the world fashion trends, right here in Vietnam and at IVY fashion," said Nguyen Vu Anh, chairman of IVY moda. Choosing the themes of womens elegance and the effortless chic style of Paris, ELLE magazine's hometown and the cradle of contemporary fashion, Parisian Mode will consist of six mini collections, showing the most highlighted trends for the 2017- 2018 Fall Winter season, with numerous attractive themes, namely Military Chic, Swinging MOD, Alice in Wonderland, Rock Attitude, and Boyfriends Wardrobe, among others. Behind this powerful partnership, the unique visual presentation of the campaign images will be produced by one of the most renowned fashion figures in the industry, Dzung Yoko, creative director of ELLE Magazine Vietnam. An international brand, ELLE always has extremely strict requirements. The collaboration with this well-known partner proves a turning point in IVY moda's new strategy, which is to bring fashion closer to local connoisseurs and to confirm the quality of Vietnamese fashion against foreign brands, taking our market by storm. On the other hand, this cooperation also shows ELLE's ambition to have its image covered to market its brand to Vietnamese retailers when collaborating with a name familiar in Vietnam which has a large system of nation-wide stores, agents, and dominant market share for many years. "As a reputable name in the fashion industry, ELLE's mission is to find and spread new trends. With a highly potential market like Vietnam, we are glad to find a worthy partner like IVY moda. The collaboration of the two brands or two fashion personalities to introduce a common collection is a popular trend in the world, but a first in Vietnam. I highly expect that ELLE x IVY moda will give Vietnamese customers an unparalleled fashion experience," said Preeyarat Suttapattanon, general manager of ELLE in Southeast Asia Lagardere Active Enterprises, Thailand. IVY moda is considered a pioneer in the Vietnamese fashion market since this is the first time a local fashion brand has entered a strategic and comprehensive collaboration with a famous world-class brand. With a more than seventy-year history in fashion starting from a fashion magazine, ELLE is a top of mind leader to fashionistas worldwide. Being named as one of the "Fashion Bibles," ELLE always represents contemporary fashion trends and delicate taste. On the side, IVY moda has also succeeded in becoming the most prominent fashion brand in Vietnam. With a wide range of showrooms and diverse product portfolios, IVY moda holds a significant market share in the Vietnamese fast fashion market. The two brands have two distinct personalities, but share the same endless passion for fashion and style. This collaboration will give fashion connoisseurs an enjoyable experience as they can easily and conveniently reach strong Parisian style costumes sporting a free-spirited and elegant style, yet very accessible at IVY moda. These are some images of the collections: The United States has introduced regulations related to fighting IUU (illegal, unreported and unregulated) fishing. These will affect imported seafood products as of January 1, 2018. Photo vasep.com.vn The EU is set to rule this month on the Vietnamese seafood industrys compliance with its regulations on illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, and the US has just announced new rules relating to the same issue. Facing scrutiny from two significant seafood markets, Vietnamese seafood exporters are anxious, and worried that both their fellow companies and the Government arent doing enough to meet importers requirements. Earlier this year, the EU fisheries working group announced that Viet Nam is likely to receive a yellow card from EU inspectors, particularly if it did not fulfill IUU fishing requirements related to anti-mining. Such a ruling could have far-reaching implications for the countrys seafood exporters. September 30 was the deadline for Viet Nam to show improvements on the requirements, and the ruling will be issued at the meeting on October 20 by the EU mission to the Government Office, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, VASEP and some agencies related to IUU. A yellow card creates nervousness among EU retailers about seafood imported from that country, and they may look elsewhere to buy. Other import markets will also strengthen checks of seafood exported by that country. If a country gets a red card, its seafood products will be banned in the EU. Chairman of Thuan Phuoc Seafood and Trading JSC Tran Van Linh said that although the companys exports of seafood to EU account for less than 10 per cent of the total export value, the company has still been working with other enterprises to fight against IUU fishing. If the EU issues a yellow card to Viet Nam, it will affect the image and reputation of Viet Nams seafood export in the world market, said Linh. According to a list provided by the Viet Nam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), 57 Vietnamese businesses have committed to combat IUU fishing. These enterprises will only purchase seafood from licensed fishing vessels and only import legally exploited seafood. The list includes several businesses that have never exported to the EU, but want to demonstrate the Vietnamese fishing communitys commitment to addressing the problem. But some of the committed companies say their efforts alone arent enough. Vo Quang Vinh, deputy general director of Cau Tre Company, which has been exporting seafood to the EU for over 20 years and joined the VASEP list, said State action is necessary to protect the reputation of Vietnamese seafood. The EU does not just judge based on a few firms but on the whole community, including many other businesses that are exporting to the EU, said Vinh. Therefore, if only some enterprises in the process of participation in the assessment do not meet the requirements will affect the entire seafood businesses. He said the State needed to enact clear regulations to guarantee that the origin of fishing vessels is easily traceable. Experts from VASEP said that businesses need to set up an alliance to meet the requirements of food safety, traceability and operational transparency at every step of the seafood production process. At the same time, enterprises should strictly implement internal regulations, such as not buying seafood from illegal fishing vessels, fishing without licences or fishing with prohibited tools. Such regulations can protect the reputation of Viet Nam seafood in the world market. Speed is important, as the US is also set to enact new regulations to eliminate IUU-caught seafood among its imports. The American regulations are part of the Seafood Import Monitoring Programme, which establishes reporting and recordkeeping requirements to prevent IUU-caught and or misrepresented seafood from entering US commerce, with the goal of protecting the national economy, global food security and the sustainability of shared ocean resources. The US regulations will take effect on January 1, 2018. The much-awaited, closed-door meeting between the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister over the slide in economy is finally happening. By India Today Web Desk: The much-awaited, closed-door meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley is finally happening at the former's official 7, Lok Kalyan Marg residence in New Delhi. Joining the two is BJP president Amit Shah. Speculation over Modi meeting his most trusted minister on a one-on-one basis had been around since the slide in the economy started to dominate headlines in the last month or so. advertisement Sources in the government said the meeting has two main agendas: economy and the forthcoming Assembly election in Gujarat, due by the end of this year. It is perhaps for this meeting that Shah also cut short his three-day tour of Kerala and Karnataka. DAY AFTER MODI'S DEFENCE The meeting of the top three leaders in the BJP right now also comes a day after Modi on Wednesday took digs at his critics, both within his party and outside, of his government's handling of Indian economy. Lashing out at the critics of his economic policies, Modi told in a meeting of Company Secretaries that the economy was on firm footing and that he will never jeopardise the country's future for present gains. "I will not jeopardise the future of the country for my present gains," he said, adding the government would focus on structural reforms rather than giving doles to win praises. Modi's comments came days after senior BJP leader Yashwant Sinha, in an article headlined 'I need to speak up now', described the economy as a "mess" that will not resuscitate before the next general elections. However, Modi's optimism was not matched by the Reserve Bank of India, which, hours before Modi spoke, had already reduced growth projections for this fiscal from 7.3 per cent to 6.7 per cent. The downward trend in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has been a concern since Modi's announcement of demonetisation in November last year, and the subsequent rolling out of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in July. WATCH VIDEO | PM Modi slams critics, says economic slowdown not a new thing --- ENDS --- Would love your thoughts, please comment. Countless political actors are hypocrites, saying one thing in public but acting in an underhand way and doing quite the opposite behind the publics back. This duplicity can be legitimate and skilful in conflict situations where political actors defend clearly defined interests or principles. It becomes intolerable when these actors do not simply change their posturing but also their fundamental values. Thirty years has seen the European Union (the EU) change from a predictable institution to a bureaucracy that defends interests that are both fluctuating and obscure. For three years, it has been constantly wiping the floor with the ideals that it claims to champion. Lets look at the following five examples: 1. In 2005, the French and the Dutch voted against the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe. Then EU stopped the referenda scheduled to take place in Denmark, Ireland, Poland, Portugal, the Czech Republic and the United Kingdom. After that, in 2007, the EU made some purely formal amendment to that Treaty and had it adopted by the European Council [1] under the name, The Lisbon Treaty. In Ireland, however, the constitution required that a referendum was organized. The People spoke in rejection of the Treaty. The European Commission declared that the text had not been properly understood and managed to get the Irish to hold a second referendum in 2008 on the same text, without any modification being made to it. This time the people approved. 2. In 2014, an Eastern European country was the victim of a coup detat which brought some self-confessed Nazis to power. Several regions of this country rose up to restore constitutional legitimacy. One of these regions organized a referendum to determine whether to break away from the state where power was centralized and to become part of another state which was organized on federal lines as a democracy, and which it had once formed part of. The EU chose to support the coup detat and the new government, the Nazis included. However, it denounced the character of the referendum which it considers to be anti-constitutional. Furthermore, the EU took measures of economic retaliation against the State which had accepted to integrate this rebel region. By doing so, the EU publicly supported those who were Nazis and proud of this fact; it relied on a legality that the coup dEtat had abrogated, had put this legality before the legitimacy of the new rulers, and declared an economic war on a state that did not agree with it. 3. Three months later, in June 2014, the EU banned a presidential ballot from being held in the consulates of a foreign country. This act of the EU constitutes a flagrant breach of the Vienna Convention. The EU, considered that the likely winner of this election should not preside over this country and therefore refused in advance to recognize the vote. However the elections went ahead in that country and all its consulates in countries situated outside the Union. When the results had been announced, all foreign ambassadors in this country including those from the EU member states gave an assurance that this election took place in a way that was both loyal and sincere. But the EU stuck to its position and refused to recognize it. 4. Three years later, in September 2017, a clan that exercises power without an electoral mandate over a region in the Middle East and over neighbouring oil fields that it occupies illegally, unilaterally organizes a referendum for independence. But first it expels those inhabiting the areas that it had conquered. The EU considered that the instability of this part of the world made it impossible to hold a presidential election yet possible to hold a referendum for independence. It declared that this referendum was legitimate but the moment not quite ripe. 5. Some days later, in the heart of the Union itself, a regional government unilaterally organized an independence referendum so that it would not have to share with the rest of the country, the wealth that it enjoys. The EU, which generously subsidized associations striving for independence, has not wished to deliver a statement on this referendum. For the EU, this referendum in contrast to Justice in Poland and Hungary is a question falling within the internal affairs of a member state. And when this states government used of force in violation of its constitution to prevent this referendum being held (also anti-constitutional), the EU did not react to this conduct, tantamount to a forced occupation. Leaving aside our personal feelings vis-a-vis the French, the Dutch, the Irish, the Ukrainians in Crimea, the Syrians, the Kurdish Iraqi and the Catalonians in Spain, the EU has made no attempt to know and respect the choice of its citizens. It no longer evidences substantive logic. Weinstein. Photo: Jacopo Raule/GC Images Following the New York Times bombshell investigation into Harvey Weinsteins decades of alleged sexual misconduct and his subsequent bizarre response to the story several of his political ties have been severed. The studio exec has been a longtime supporter of the Democratic Party, regularly donating to political figures like Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama and liberal groups. (Last year, he gave $10,000 to the Human Rights Campaigns Equality Votes PAC.) The Record reports that New Jersey senator Cory Booker will no longer accept one such donation. Instead, Booker plans to donate the $7,800 he received from Weinstein for his campaign in 2013 to the New Jersey Coalition Against Sexual Assault. Massachusetts senator Elizabeth Warren will also donate a $5,000 campaign donation from Weinstein to charity, her spokesperson tells Variety. New York senator Chuck Schumer said he will contribute $14,200 in various donations from Weinstein to womens rights charities. According to the Daily Beast, Vermont senator Patrick Leahy will give the $2,700 he received from Weinstein during his reelection bid last year to charity. Senators Martin Heinrich of New Mexico and Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut will also give their $5,400 donations from Weinstein to local nonprofits fighting sexual violence against women. The Democratic National Committee has also distanced itself from Weinstein, pledging to donate the $30,000 it received from Weinstein last year to EMILYs List, Emerge America, and Higher Heights, because what we need is more women in power, not men like Trump who continue to show us that they lack respect for more than half of America, the committee said in a statement. In addition to taking a leave of absence from the Weinstein Company, Weinstein said he will continue to make donations to various causes and charities (including any damages awarded from the lawsuit he is reportedly bringing against the Times over its expose), refocus on taking down the NRA, and work on a film about Donald Trump. This post has been updated throughout. Harvey Weinstein. Photo: John Phillips/Getty Images Earlier today, the New York Times released an expose detailing decades of sexual-assault allegations against power producer Harvey Weinstein. While denying the allegations via his attorney, Lisa Bloom (who has since left her role as an advisor), Weinstein also apologized for his past behavior, and said he will be taking a leave of absence from his company in order to deal with this issue head on. Since the story broke, Weinstein has been removed from the company by its board of directors, and accused of more crimes including harassment, assault, and rape by women coming forward in The New Yorker and additional reporting by the Times. In response to the news, many writers, directors, and performers shared their thoughts via statements and social media posts. The woman who chose to speak about their experience of harassment by Harvey Weinstein deserve our awe. It's not fun or easy. It's brave. Lena Dunham (@lenadunham) October 5, 2017 Would have recommended at least 2 years as caged sub to a bunch of Bard gender studies profs before Weinstein issued that pathetic apology Lena Dunham (@lenadunham) October 5, 2017 Heed the mantra and never forget: Women. Have. Nothing. To. Gain. And. Everything. To Lose. By. Coming. forward. https://t.co/ynKX1bcBkK Amber Tamblyn (@ambertamblyn) October 5, 2017 30 years of covering up sexual abuse - not just in the Catholic Church but also in elite liberal Hollywood. N O S I O S (@scottderrickson) October 5, 2017 I expect the Hollywood elite will remain largely silent about Weinstein. Me, I give zero fucks about any repercussions for condemning him. N O S I O S (@scottderrickson) October 5, 2017 The entire Weinstein Company board should resign. Fuck these people. N O S I O S (@scottderrickson) October 9, 2017 Here is the truth...... women, myself included, would be much more ready to call out their experiences in this industry if we knew that we Heather Matarazzo (@HeatherMatarazz) October 5, 2017 would be taken care of. But we don't. If we knew that men/women in the industry who claim to be "feminists" and are in positions of power Heather Matarazzo (@HeatherMatarazz) October 5, 2017 would guarantee that they wouldn't shut their doors, and in fact would open them even wider who are willing to speak their truth. Heather Matarazzo (@HeatherMatarazz) October 5, 2017 wow, little boys, you can be anything when you grow up! sexual predator businessman, sexual predator president, stay-at-home sexual predator Aparna Nancherla (@aparnapkin) October 5, 2017 Just flipped through some contracts to make sure I'm legally allowed to say Harvey Weinstein is the worst person in the film business. Keith Calder (@keithcalder) October 5, 2017 My filmmaking spiritual mentor has been talking honest shit about Harvey Weinstein for decades. pic.twitter.com/63eN0zjybI Aaron Stewart-Ahn (@somebadideas) October 5, 2017 Women fight on. And to the men out there, stand up. We need you as allies. #bebrave rose mcgowan (@rosemcgowan) October 5, 2017 Anyone who does business with __ is complicit. And deep down you know you are even dirtier. Cleanse yourselves. rose mcgowan (@rosemcgowan) October 5, 2017 he once called me the c word for defending night shyamalan after we filmed WIDE AWAKE ROSIE (@Rosie) October 5, 2017 How many Harveys do you think there are? Just take a guess. Lexi Alexander (@Lexialex) October 5, 2017 Yup yup yup. All the time. And if u address it seriously, u get: "relax it was a joke." The thing is, jokes are supposed to be, like, funny. Constance Wu (@ConstanceWu) October 5, 2017 Yup yup yup yup. Every day. Even from "good guys" who brag about hiring female directors or producing POC narratives. YUP EVEN THEM. Constance Wu (@ConstanceWu) October 5, 2017 Who are the agents/managers that sent their clients to meet with him when this was a well known secret? Them nxt. https://t.co/HY80WjUvhV Jenni Konner (@JenniKonner) October 5, 2017 This Weinstein stuff... strictly tip of the, you know, iceberg. Sexual harassment/lack of pay & job equity/hiring & development interrelated Phyllis Nagy (@PhyllisNagy) October 5, 2017 I will be really fired up when all those dots are allowed to be connected. That's when change comes. One doesn't happen without the others. Phyllis Nagy (@PhyllisNagy) October 5, 2017 Funny how celebs R staying QUIET about elephant in the room. Maybe fear they won't work again..Crickets on sexual predator Harvey Weinstein Kirstie Alley (@kirstiealley) October 6, 2017 He financed the first 14 years of my career - and now I know while I was profiting, others were in terrible pain. It makes me feel ashamed. https://t.co/T0hInW7EqJ KevinSmith (@ThatKevinSmith) October 9, 2017 1. Coming forward about sexual abuse and coercion is scary and women have nothing to be gained personally by doing so. Julianne Moore (@_juliannemoore) October 9, 2017 2. But through their bravery we move forward as a culture, and I thank them. Stand with @AshleyJudd @rosemcgowan and others. Julianne Moore (@_juliannemoore) October 9, 2017 To be clear what Harvey Weinstein did was a disgusting abuse of power and horrible. I hope we are now seeing the beginning of the end of these abuses. Mark Ruffalo (@MarkRuffalo) October 8, 2017 If there is a way to cure yourself of being a predator than I hope harvey learns what it is & shares it with the world. It's an epidemic. Patricia Arquette (@PattyArquette) October 9, 2017 @AshleyJudd & @rosemcgowan I'm sure it wasn't easy to come forward but in doing so you helped a lot of others who might not have been heard. Patricia Arquette (@PattyArquette) October 6, 2017 There is no incentive for women in Hollywood to come forward to tell lies of a powerful producer sexually harassing them. I believe them. Mindy Kaling (@mindykaling) October 10, 2017 Why is it helpful men speak up? Bc that's what this personality fears most: the disintegration of the tacit male support for this behavior. Mindy Kaling (@mindykaling) October 10, 2017 I stand with all the women who have been sexually harassed, and am awestruck by their bravery. This mistreatment of women has to stop. Emma Watson (@EmmaWatson) October 10, 2017 I was warned from the beginning. The stories were everywhere. To deny that is to create an enviornment for it to happen again. Jessica Chastain (@jes_chastain) October 9, 2017 Yes. Im sick of the media demanding only women speak up. What about the men? Perhaps many are afraid to look at their own behavior..... https://t.co/tGUsjUYNMR Jessica Chastain (@jes_chastain) October 9, 2017 I'm as appalled and repulsed by the Weinstein news as anyone with a beating heart. And forever in awe of the bravery of those who spoke out. Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) October 10, 2017 Very proud of my sisters in spirit who had the courage to break the silence. Very hard for me-more so for others. We took our power back!! https://t.co/tu6hR1E6Qm Mira Sorvino (@MiraSorvino) October 10, 2017 I worry that when predators like Weinstein go away, the whole web of obstacles for women in business remains. Still lots of work to be done. Alan Alda (@alanalda) October 10, 2017 Fired Weinsteins because they were irresponsible, and Harvey was an incorrigible bully. Had no idea he was capable of these horrible actions Michael Eisner (@Michael_Eisner) October 10, 2017 What Harvey Weinstein did was abhorrent. He admits he did it. Why should anyone be silent in their disgust and support for his victims? https://t.co/fh9TKUp0mA Judd Apatow (@JuddApatow) October 8, 2017 Huge respect for @AshleyJudd and all the women who broke their silence for the article on Harvey Weinstein. Brave. Susan Sarandon (@SusanSarandon) October 7, 2017 There is no excuse for monsters like Harvey Weinstein. It's up to all of us, men and women, to speak up against sexual harassment and abuse. https://t.co/Ec0msl2btR Paul Feig (@paulfeig) October 9, 2017 The old dinosaur explanation doesnt cut it. DECADES of using power to intimidate women for sexual gain is reprehensible and inexcusable. Emmy Rossum (@emmyrossum) October 9, 2017 This abuse of power must be called out, however powerful the abuser, and we must publicly stand with those brave enough to come forward. https://t.co/9jAAZtfjJe America Ferrera (@AmericaFerrera) October 6, 2017 Can everyone who dismissed @rosemcgowan now do the right thing and go fuck themselves? Anthony Bourdain (@Bourdain) October 10, 2017 Men. We need you as allies. Speaking as an actress who grew up in the industry, for all the good there is a lot of darkness and young-- #EvanRachelWould (@evanrachelwood) October 9, 2017 --men and women are intimidated, threatened, and manipulated into submission. I could tell you stories that would make your skin crawl-- #EvanRachelWould (@evanrachelwood) October 9, 2017 If even 1/10th of the stories about Harvey Weinstein are true (and I believe they are), then good fucking riddance. That shits gotta stop. James Gunn (@JamesGunn) October 9, 2017 On Sexual Predators in Hollywood (and the World) I was on my way to a party Friday night with three close female... Posted by James Gunn on Monday, October 9, 2017 Jennifer Lawrence, in a statement to the Daily Beast: I was deeply disturbed to hear the news about Harvey Weinsteins behavior. I worked with Harvey five years ago and I did not experience any form of harassment personally, nor did I know about any of these allegations. This kind of abuse is inexcusable and absolutely upsetting. My heart goes out to all of the women affected by these gross actions. And I want to thank them for their bravery to come forward. Minnie Driver, in a statement to Variety: In light of the revelations about Harvey Weinstein in the past few days, I feel it necessary to add my support for the women who have been victimized and have been brave enough to talk about it, Driver said in a statement released exclusively to Variety. While I never experienced any abuse while working with Harvey, I think its important to add my voice to those of women everywhere who have experienced abuse at the hands of powerful men. Nicole Kidman, in a statement from her publicist: As Ive stated before publicly, I support and applaud all women and these women who speak out against any abuse and misuse of power be it domestic violence or sexual harassment in the workforce, Kidman said via a statement released through her publicist. We need to eradicate this behavior. Viola Davis, in a statement provided to Variety: The predator wants your silence. It feeds their power, entitlement AND they want it to feed your shame. Our bodies are not the spoils of war a trophy to be collected to fuel your ego. Its OURS!!! It doesnt belong to you!! And when you take it without permission, it DESTROYS like a virus!!! To the predators.. Weinstein, the stranger, the relative, the boyfriend. I say to you, You can choose your sin but you dont get to choose the consequences. To the victims. I see you. I believe you and Im listening. Heather Graham, in a column for Variety: We dont want to be attacked for reading into something that may or may not have been there. We dont want to be looked at as weak for not being able to handle ourselves in a business run by men. We dont want to lose work by being defined as a Difficult Woman. We dont want to be the first or only voice in the room. My hope is that this moment starts a dialogue on redefining sexual harassment in the workplace and empowers women to speak out when they feel uncomfortable in a situation. I hope that dialogue covers the gray areas where we ask ourselves, Did what I think happen just happen? and that we are no longer shamed into feeling that we should grow a thicker skin, or that our story isnt good enough to count. Cate Blanchett, in a statement for Variety: Lisa Bloom. Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images Harvey Weinsteins lawyers are busy denying the bombshell New York Times report about decades of sexual-harassment allegations against the producer. Lisa Bloom known for representing Blac Chyna and Kathy Griffin is also repping the producer, amid a deal with him to turn her book about Trayvon Martin into a movie. In a statement, Bloom promises that Weinstein, who says he will sue the Times over the story, really is doing better at treating women with respect. He is an old dinosaur learning new ways. He wants to reach out to any of the women who may have issues with him to talk to them in a respectful, peaceful way, with me present if that is acceptable to them, Bloom wrote in a long statement via The Hollywood Reporter. He has been working on a major foundation with USC with one of the largest grants for female directors, which started well over a year ago. And as we work together on a project bringing my book to the screen, he has always been respectful toward me. The Times reported stories from a number of former Weinstein Company employees and talent including Ashley Judd accusing the producer of sexual harassment over two decades. On Thursday Weinstein told the Times he plans to take a leave of absence from his company. Bloom, in her statement, promised to work with him personally, and said that although he disputes many of the allegations, he will use this as a learning experience. Read Blooms full statement, below: Raj Thackeray today took out a massive procession to Mumbai's Churchgate to demand better facilities for Maximum City's commuters after last week's stampede, in which 23 commuters were killed. By Kiran Tare: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) President Raj Thackeray on Thursday asked how long Prime Minister Narendra Modi would "continue to tell lies" to the country. Thackeray was speaking at a Mumbai rally, after taking out a massive procession to Churchgate to demand better facilities for Maximum City's commuters after last week's stampede, in which 23 commuters were killed. He claimed that the anti-BJP slogan "Vikas pagal ho gaya hain" had been coined by dejected people within the BJP. advertisement Thackeray claimed he was in touch with several BJP leaders who had expressed uneasiness. "Even the BJP people are unhappy with (Prime Minister) Narendra Modi. What do you think who coined the slogan on Vikas? It is done by the BJP only." CRISES ON ALL FRONTS The MNS chief said the country was being pushed into crises on all fronts, brought about by the Bharatiya Janata Party government. "Modi has been lying and misleading the people of this country. Now I realize that when I visited Gujarat a few years ago at the behest of (industrialist) Ratan Tata when Modi was the CM, I was shown a misleading picture of the development there," Thackeray said to cheers. He reiterated that the people of the country had lost faith in Modi, who "only keeps giving speeches daily - how much is he going to speak?" Thackeray asked the people to speak out against the government. The MNS chief said unless the commuters of Mumbai were given better amenities and facilities, the party's next agitation "would not be a peaceful one". He warned the Railways against allowing hawkers on overbridges for pedestrians. "I have asked them to remove them within 15 days. If they fail to do so my party workers will do the work from the 16th day. Me or my party won't be responsible for what happens after that," Thackeray said. Only days ago, ahead of Gandhi Jayanti, Thackeray lampooned the PM in a cartoon. In the drawing, Modi stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the Mahatma, and holds an 'autobiography' titled "My Experiments With Falsehood." (With Inputs from IANS) ALSO WATCH | Operation Goonda Raj: How Raj Thackeray's MNS uses paid protesters to bully people --- ENDS --- Isaacs. Photo: Mark Davis/CBS No one likes a troll, but you know who especially doesnt like them and is particularly skilled at cutting them down to size on social media? British actor Jason Isaacs. Although Isaacs is popularly associated with being one of the great villain actors of our time, in real life he is something of a progressive vigilante who takes on challengers in his mentions. Keep wanting to engage trolls, but click their profiles to see endless white isolationist hate-spew, he tweeted recently. Maybe they follow me as closeted humans. Now Isaacs is part of the Star Trek universe, which has a sprawling, passionate fandom with a lot of deeply rooted opinions about how the new CBS show, Star Trek: Discovery, should be doing things. One Twitter user taking issue with the new iteration of Klingons responded to an official Trek account tweet that tagged a handful of the shows stars, including Isaacs, which prompted the actor to enter the fray and respond on the casts behalf. 1. Why fundamentally change the Klingon's in a canon breaking way? 2. Have any of ACTUALLY EVER WATCHED STAR TREK,cause im not sure you have Truth Begets Heresy (@BegetsTruth) October 5, 2017 Tagging all the cast to hurl abuse IS extremely rude. And vain. We don't come to your work and scream THE MCFLURRYS ARE MELTING, do we? https://t.co/90xUwAmHmB Jason Isaacs (@jasonsfolly) October 5, 2017 Another Twitter user and McDonalds employee responded to Isaacs saying it was pretty inconsiderate of him to assume that someone must work in fast food because theyre being a jerk on social media. Isaacs, a gentleman, then rattled off his preferred hamburger order in a show of solidarity. Sorry. The word McFlurry just makes me laugh. Lovin my two all beef patties special sauce lettuce cheese pickles onions on a sesame seed bun Jason Isaacs (@jasonsfolly) October 5, 2017 So even if @BegetsTruth didnt win the day against Isaacs, he at least got off light. The actor could have told him to prioritize flushing away the infantile sewage flowing from his rectum of a mouth, like he did to Donald Trump, or said he had the aura of a giant festering abscess, like he did to Sean Spicer. Dont walk into Jason Isaacss kitchen if you cant take the heat. Photo: Getty Images Judith Light came into the room wearing a searing pink pantsuit with her arms outstretched. It didnt matter that it was a hotel conference room at a press junket for Transparent. She was there just as she had been this season, when the Pfeffermans go to Israel and her character Shelly breaks down in the desert, finally voicing the trauma that she lives with to the rest of her family. It was the thing she tried to tell them in the shows third-season finale when she sang Alanis Morissettes Hand in My Pocket. Light spoke with Vulture about both of those scenes, the origins of her improv character Mario, and the first time she met Jeffrey Tambor. How was Mario birthed? Mario was birthed into being by Jill Soloway. I think it was the Golden Globes, she said to me, I have a story line I want to talk to you about. She started telling me about Mario, and she said, Just think about it. And I said, I dont really understand it. And I dont think that understanding it was necessary. There was a story that lived in Shelly, and this person came out of her, out of her past and her issues, that was a kind of safety, a kind of protection, a kind of warmth. An Italian person whos all about home and family and eating and pleasure. And so, we just started improv-ing, you know? Shellys a woman who has always felt that she had to be with a man, and now shes realizing that maybe she doesnt have to be that. Theres something in her that has the strength. If you try to psychoanalyze it, it loses its magic and spontaneity, or the humor of it. The tastiness of it. Shelly feels very fragile. Oh, does she? How sweet. Its very emotional watching her. For you, really? Yeah [laughs]. Tell me. Say more about that. I guess its this idea of how trauma has affected her life for so long, and her limitations in recognizing Joshs trauma as a child, and how that repeats itself. Shes still just trying to find a way out, and theres something really moving about that process. Absolutely. I think so too, and you articulated it beautifully. Nobody in this show and I think thats one of the assets of it is a victim. You see each person striving to not be pulled down by their story, their issue, whats been done to them, what they have allowed to be done to them, how they take responsibility. Shelly, particularly, with her revealing herself the way that she does this season like the scene in the desert. What was it like shooting that scene? I didnt plan anything. I was just there with my family, and Amy, and Jay, and the story, and how it comes out, and the layers of it, and the expectation that they should have asked me and nobody asked me, and now you make me do this. And then coming to the truth of it and saying the truth of it. Jeffrey and I have this moment where Maura just holds Shelly and it was so many things at one time it was comforting and electric and intimate. The sorrow of it, and the sorrow of what is revealed, and what a person does with that. You go through life making these choices that lead you farther into pushing down that story, that voice. You think it will heal you in some way, and the only thing that heals you is saying the truth. I loved how you and Jay held each other in the Dead Sea. It felt like forgiveness. I mean, the symbolism of all of that. This family bobbing around in the Dead Sea together, and everyones fears being revealed at one level or another. Particularly Shelly, its like, I dont wanna get in. I dont wanna get in. And then her son buoys her up. His holding of me is the forgiveness that everyone longs for. The love that everyone longs for. To come through the fragility, the pain, the storm, the complexity, the challenge, the anger, the vitriol, and to be held by him is remarkable. I mean, there are things that people will see about mothers and sons, but this particular relating is very fragile, tender, and vulnerable for both of them. And Jay is just my heart. They all are. It was funny, Jay said, Were not just friends. Were not just family. He said, We are obsessed with each other. Jill put us together. At some level, she could feel the energy among us as she was placing us, as she was creating this family. You know, not a lot of people would think to cast me in that role, but she saw something. And I think she knew that Jeffrey and I had been friends for over 40 years, and I think that mattered to her in some way. When did you first meet Jeffrey? We were at the Milwaukee Repertory Theater in 1971 when the brilliant Nagle Jackson put together a repertory company of actors hed worked at a lot of different places around the country and we did a play. The first play we did was Cat Among the Pigeons by Feydeau. Jeffrey came in and played this character of a general who has a lisp and it was so real and so hysterical. I would look through the slats in the set and I would see people in the balcony falling over themselves watching him. Hes a comedic genius. But hes also this extraordinarily heartfelt dramatic actor. Hes got it all and he deserves everything that hes getting for this. Hes remarkable. I wanted to revisit the final scene from last season, because its a performance that I think about a lot. Was there ever another song choice in mind other than Hand in My Pocket? The song choice was always Hand in My Pocket, Alanis Morissette. It came from Jills sister Faith Soloway and Jill. Did you listen to the album when it came out? Oh, I knew Jagged Little Pill. I was a huge Alanis Morissette fan! Faith is a brilliant musician, shes incredible, and she and Jill wrote that last episode, and I called them up and I said, What? Thats what you can do with them: What are you thinking? What is this? I dont understand. And something happened in the first season that I recalled when the kids are all around and theyre talking about music and Shelly says, I dont care for music. Thats the brilliance of Transparent. Two seasons later, we understand her response. That line, I dont care for music, carries with it a story that is now being revealed. I said to them, Why this song? Why wouldnt it be, you know, Dancing in the Dark or something that Shelly would know? This is the kids music. Faith and Jill said, Look at the words; were not going to sing it like Alanis did. Were going to sing it for something else in a whole other way in a whole other rhythm, and its going to tell a whole other story. Then we got on the ship and [the cast and crew] was right there present for me. I say this all the time: You dont watch Transparent, you feel Transparent. Thats the experience. But thats because were all relating to each other really intimately on an emotional, heart level. And I dont want it to sound New Agey or something. What I mean is that were relating on a whole other level, and something different comes across, and theres a kind of intimacy and love that you feel at some deep, very primal level. Also, youre watching a person who has suppressed herself, pushed her voice down for years, and at this stage in her life is saying, I will do this. I am afraid, and I will go for it. I think people respond to that lesson. I mean, everybody responds to having shoved down what they wanted to say in one point in time, didnt let themselves live the life they wanted to live. You see that and you watch that and you say, I want to do that. That inspires me. I see what can happen from that, and how scary it is, but how elevating and illuminating that can be. Thats what people are responding to. You respond to the sorrow, the fragility, the sadness of all those years not having gone there, and the thrill and the exhilaration of going there now. I think thats whats so potent about that moment for people. What was it like shooting the scene? I was nervous. The guests on the ship came to see the performance. They said, Do you want come and see this performance? And people think, Oh yeah, well come. Wont this be great? Well get to see a show and then well go home. Not so fast, theres a million takes. We did a lot from different angles and we had to sing it live. Thats what they needed for it to really sync up well. I was relying on the track, that it would be there, but we couldnt do that and so we did it live. Those people never left. All those people on that ship were so incredible, so present, and so supportive. They just didnt leave. They were right there the entire time. I felt incredibly held in the arms and the energy of so many people. It was terrifying and exhilarating at the same time. I wanted it to be so good, because I knew what it meant to Jill and Faith to have that be the story. You watch the completion of Josh emptying Ritas ashes, and that story of what had happened to him, and his mother in another part of the ship coming out into herself, and him releasing something of his past. Theres the water image, and then the water image in the Dead Sea where he holds his mother. Thats the brilliance of this show, and Jill and her vision. She ties those pieces together you dont think about them until you actually are articulating them, now like we are in this moment. This interview has been condensed and edited. Photo-Illustration: Maya Robinson/Vulture In the new romantic survival drama The Mountain Between Us, Kate Winslet and Idris Elba play strangers on a small chartered plane that crashes into snowcapped mountain peak, far from civilization. They have to survive the brutal cold, the threat of starvation and dehydration, and a pesky little mountain lion. But can they survive each other? (Yes, of course they can. This isnt Alive.) Though The Mountain Between Us may not be the most sterling example, its Man Versus Nature theme plays to the strength of a medium that can wordlessly and powerfully express the pitiless beauty of the wild. Before getting into 25 better examples of Man Versus Nature films, a few ground rules: (1) The action has to take place on the planet Earth in recognizable conditions, so no post-apocalyptic scenarios (e.g. The Road), no speculative fiction (e.g. The Day After Tomorrow), and nothing set in outer space (e.g. Gravity); (2) There were no limits on how many Werner Herzog films could make the list, so Ive gone with two, plus a documentary about him; (3) The Revenant will seem like a conspicuous absence, but rest assured thats not an oversight. Its a silly film that Ive kept off deliberately. But if youre looking for stories of mountain men fighting extreme temperatures, hungry bears, hostile natives, and/or each other, there are plenty more examples below. 25. Jeremiah Johnson (1972) Nothing says 70s Hollywood like a movie that has an overture, an intermission, and an entracte and still runs under two hours, but Sydney Pollacks revisionist Western pumps up the iconography of a self-styled mountain man who enters the Rockies as a loner and leaves it as a legend. That jolt of mythological testosterone likely comes courtesy of John Milius (Conan the Barbarian, Red Dawn, Apocalypse Now), who co-wrote the script, but Robert Redford tamps it down with a soulful performance as Mexican War veteran who escapes society, only to take on more physical and emotional burdens than he might have imagined. 24. 127 Hours (2010) While hiking alone through Utahs Canyonlands National Park, Aron Ralston (James Franco) slips and falls down a slot canyon, catching his right hand and wrist in a boulder that keeps him pinned to the spot, unable to move or call for help. Working from Ralstons book, 127 Hours succeeds most when it sticks alongside him through this excruciating predicament, which he survives by recording video confessionals and MacGyver-ing solutions to slake his thirst (hello, urine) and free himself (good-bye, arm). An entire movie of just James Franco jammed in a rock might have been better, but 127 Hours survives the clunkiness of its backstory. 23. The Edge (1997) David Mamets obsession with masculinity usually comes out in the rat-a-tat dialogue between men confined to four-walled spaces, using language as their weapon of choice. In The Edge, a thriller set in the middle of the Alaskan wilderness, Anthony Hopkins stands ready to kill a motherfucking bear. (His words, not mine.) Hopkins plays a billionaire locked in a vicious rivalry with a photographer (Alec Baldwin) over his wife (Elle Macpherson), but when a plane crash strands the two in the forest and a Kodiak bear starts stalking them, they set aside their differences. Though not without its pithy Mamet-isms, the script pares down the dialogue in favor of physical action. Its only in the wild, away from the power and protection that his money provides, that Hopkinss blue blood can discover his true manhood. 22. Wild (2014) Related Stories The Walking Cure: Talking to Cheryl Strayed About What Made Wild Work In a life defined by bad choices and personal setbacks, Cheryl Strayed made what seemed to be her biggest mistake to escape all the others: With little hiking experience, no companions, and an overstuffed backpack she dubbed Monster, she embarked on a 1,100-mile trek down the Pacific Coast trail between Mexico and Canada. Based on her memoir, Wild toggles back and forth between her hardships on the trail and a past that includes heroin addiction, a crumbling marriage, and the recent death of her mother (Laura Dern), who died shortly after a lung cancer diagnosis. The flashback structure stalls the films momentum, but Reese Witherspoons performance as Strayed draws on her special capacity for grit and good humor. 21. The Way Back (2010) If Peter Weirs Master and Commander was not primarily about the strategical confrontation between warring ships, then it would surely be a candidate for this list, given Weirs strong portrayal of the physical hardship necessary to survive at sea. Few saw Weirs follow-up, The Way Back, but he applies the same rigor to another period piece about brave souls staring down impossible odds, this time on land. During World War II, three men of various backgrounds (played by Jim Sturgess, Colin Farrell, and Ed Harris) escape a Siberian gulag and join a Polish teenager (Saoirse Ronan) and others on a 4,000-mile trek to freedom in India. The journey takes them through Siberian blizzards, the scorching Gobi desert, and the Himalayan mountains, and Weir registers the heaviness of every step. 20. Life of Pi (2012) Poised on the border between a seafaring survival adventure and a tall tale, Ang Lees adaptation of Yann Martels novel opens in southern India and features a spectacularly vivid and fantastical color scheme more common to Bollywood than Hollywood. The bulk of the film finds Pi Patel (Suraj Sharma), the 16-year-old survivor of a shipwreck that kills his parents, aboard a lifeboat with a hungry Bengal tiger as his traveling companion. The relationship between child and animal may have a whiff of anthropomorphism, but the Life of Pi presents itself as a spiritually loaded fable that exists on a much different plane than other films of its kind. Man and nature can have a harmonious relationship. 19. Dersu Uzala (1975) Man is very small before the face of nature, says the title character, a gnomish Soviet Asian hunter, in Akira Kurosawas windswept ode to cross-cultural friendship and the humbling force of the natural world. Kurosawas interest in mans relationship with nature would increase as his life and career headed into twilight, from the angry skies during the battle sequences in Kagemusha and Ran to the metaphorical storm that ends Rhapsody in August. But he never did a sequence like the centerpiece of Dersu Uzala, where the hunter and a Russian topographer are stranded in the middle of the frozen tundra as the sun sets. Without camping gear, they forge a makeshift shelter out of reeds as icy winds bear down on them conditions that Kurosawa, shooting on location in Siberia, was not faking. 18. All Is Lost (2013) Related Stories The Walking Cure: Talking to Cheryl Strayed About What Made Wild Work The elegant minimalism of J.C. Chandors All Is Lost starts with Robert Redfords character, a yachtsman credited simply as Our Man. Though Chandor sprinkles in some biographical details here and there, the film has no stars other than Redford and very little spoken language, perhaps because Our Man doesnt have a volleyball on board. All Is Lost concerns nothing more or less than a fight for survival: In the middle of the Indian Ocean, Redford wakes up to find that a shipping container has torn a large hole in the hull of his boat, and he spends the rest of the film trying to patch up the hole, pump the water from the cabin, and stay afloat long enough to signal for help. Chandor steps back and admires his resourcefulness, even as Mother Nature regards him pitilessly. 17. Touching the Void (2003) It may not be as tall as Mount Everest, but the west face of the Siula Grande, a 21,000-foot peak in the Peruvian Andes, is every bit as deadly a scaling challenge, even for the most accomplished climbers. In 1985, Joe Simpson and Simon Yates decided to tackle Siula Grande in the aggressive Alpine style, which involves climbing the mountain in one swift push with limited supplies, rather than establishing base camps along the way. Then Simpson broke his leg near the peak. The title Touching the Void aptly describes the pairs constant flirtation with death, which director Kevin Macdonald expresses through meticulous, nail-biting reenactments. 16. Into the Wild (2007) Based on Jon Krakauers exceptional book about Chris McCandless, a young adventurer found dead in the wilderness near Mount McKinley in Alaska, Into the Wild grapples with the antisocial impulse to leave civilization behind and strike out half-cocked into the isolating extremes of nature. Director Sean Penn sticks closely to Krakauers account, following McCandless (Emile Hirsch) from South Dakota to the Salton Sea as he picks up odds jobs here and there, and works toward his ultimate goal of striking out on his own in Alaska. Without underplaying the huge, preventable mistakes that ultimately cost McCandless his life, Penn stands in awe of the diversity and grandeur of the American landscape and the courage required to explore it. 15. Cast Away (2000) Though Cast Away uses the experience of a workaholic systems engineer stranded on a desert island to take stock of what really matters, its really more a tribute to two things: the extraordinary will and ingenuity necessary for survival and the indomitable star power of Tom Hanks. (Okay, one more thing: the quality of FedEx packages.) When his plane crashes and he drifts ashore an uninhabited island in the South Pacific, Hankss Chuck Noland takes care of his practical needs by improvising useful tools from scattered cargo, and takes care of his psychological needs by befriending a volleyball he dubs Wilson. Hankss dignity and wit in the lead role is crucial in sustaining the films middle section, which would be wordless without Wilson as a sounding board, but Cast Away is equally strong off the island, when Chuck finds that returning to society has its own share of challenges. 14. Never Cry Wolf (1983) Director Carroll Ballard might have several entries on this list if not for the word versus, because beautiful films like The Black Stallion or Fly Away Home are about the harmonious bond between man and nature, and the care and humility necessary to forge it. Never Cry Wolf gets to that place, too, but not before its hero, a government researcher sent to study predatory wolves in the Arctic, gets acclimated to the harsh conditions. This involves surviving a reckless drop-off in a lake, poking through wolf excrement, and, in the films most notorious scene, dining on a plate of mice. (With other mice looking on, accusingly.) But as with all Ballard films, Never Cry Wolf has a prevailing sense of wonder that speaks to all audiences, young and old. 13. Joe Versus the Volcano (1990) So many films on this list are about ordinary people shaking off the drudgery of everyday life and answering the call of the wild, however unprepared they might be for its challenges. John Patrick Shanleys woefully underrated comedy whisks its hero on a romantic journey from the fluorescent hell of a medical-supply factory (Home of the Rectal Probe) to an exotic island in the middle of the sea, where the natives drink orange soda and take Abe Vigoda as their leader. Tom Hankss Everyman image is perfect for a hypochondriac who finds new life after a terminal diagnosis, and Shanley treats his seafaring adventure with a light of touch. When a stranded Joe is in Rime of the Ancient Mariner territory (water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink), Shanley pauses to appreciate the beauty of the moon and stars, even if those are the last things hell ever see. 12. Deliverance (1972) The two most famous scenes in Deliverance involve hostile confrontations between four city slickers on a weekend canoe trip and the locals in north Georgia hill country: One is a banjo duel between Ronny Cox and an inbred kid, the other a scene where Ned Beattys character is sexually assaulted. With the construction of a dam looming over the townspeople, Deliverance lingers on the ugly tension that results from the encroachment of civilization onto their territory, giving John Boormans visceral thriller about survival and masculine bravado a strong cultural undercurrent. Its also exhibit A for any argument for Burt Reynoldss swarthy appeal as a leading man. 11. The Lost City of Z (2016) At first, The Lost City of Z seems like another Aguirre, the Wrath of God, a story of Western conquerors heading into untamed Amazonia and paying for their hubris. And initially, thats the case: In 1906, a British army officer (Charlie Hunnam) accepts an assignment to map out a border between Bolivia and Brazil in order to clear up a dispute over the rubber trade. But after passing through a gauntlet of oppressive heat, disease, poisonous snakes and piranha, and hostile indigenous tribes, the officer discovers evidence of a lost civilization and it changes his entire perspective. James Grays gorgeous adventure is neither Raiders of the Lost Ark nor a poetic reverie, but a combination of the two, staked on the human potential for change. 10. Letter Never Sent (1959) Russian director Mikhail Kalatozov drew the attention of American cinephiles after his staggering Soviet-Cuban propaganda film, I Am Cuba, was rereleased in 1995. Key to Kalatozovs style is his emotional camera, a constantly roving and sweeping and pirouetting wide-angle lens that forgoes human complexity in favor of a more heightened, hyperreal quality. With Letter Never Sent, Kalatozov turns his camera loose in the wilds of Siberia, where he follows four geologists who go searching for diamond deposits in a remote area. The good news? Diamonds aplenty. The bad news? The forest is engulfed in flame and rescuers cant find them in the smoke. As summer turns to winter, Kalatozov captures the harsh beauty of the region while working through a love triangle involving one of the men. 9. Aguirre, the Wrath of God (1972) No director is more closely identified with the man versus nature theme than Werner Herzog he has two films on this list, and a third about him, and thats just the tip of the Encounters at the End of the World iceberg and Aguirre, the Wrath of God exposes the arrogance and absurdity of mankind attempting to conquer the elements. As part of an expedition of Spanish conquistadors in 1560, searching through the South American jungle for the fabled city of El Dorado, Klaus Kinski is the face of madness, scheming his way to leadership and soldiering on as starvation, disease, and hostile natives decimate the ranks. Aguirre is Herzogs unsympathetic look at the conquistadors who were hailed as great explorers, but left death and destruction in their wake. 8. Grizzly Man (2005) On October 5, 2003, toward the end of his 13th summer living among the bears in Alaskas Katmai National Park, Timothy Treadwell and his girlfriend were mauled by a desperate grizzly looking for food after the salmon run had dried up. Treadwell left behind a treasure trove of video footage that documented his attachment to these animals, which he believed were protecting from harm. Though Treadwells beliefs run counter to Werner Herzogs appreciation for the ruthlessness of nature Herzog describes the bears motives as a half-bored interest in food Grizzly Man offers an appreciation of Treadwells filmmaking and a tough yet sympathetic view of his naive communion with nature. 7. Gerry (2002) Two guys get lost in the desert. In terms of plotting, thats all there is to Gus Van Sants minimalist landscape film, the first in a Death Trilogy that would include Elephant and Last Days. As if seeking penance after a long sojourn in Hollywood his previous two films, the Psycho remake and Finding Forrester, were career low points Van Sant tabled his commercial impulses and took inspiration from the long takes and mesmeric images of Hungarian filmmaker Bela Tarr (Satantango). The early scenes of Gerry are surprisingly funny, as two big-city types (Matt Damon and Casey Affleck) try futilely to improvise their way back to civilization. But the film gets more abstract as it goes along, until the American desert starts gaining the eerie qualities of an alien landscape. 6. Burden of Dreams (1982) Its a land that God, if he exists, has created in anger. The trees here are in misery. The birds are in misery. I dont think they sing. They just screech in pain. The legend of Werner Herzog was borne out of quotes like these from Burden of Dreams, Les Blanks documentary about the calamitous making of Herzogs Fitzcarraldo. But for as well as Herzogs film articulates the visionary folly of a man bringing civilization to the primitive wilds of the Amazon River basin, the documentary expresses that theme more purely through Herzogs own effort to tame the untamable and realize his dream. His attempt to drag a three-story steamship over a steep incline using a crude pulley system actually exceeds the efforts of his subject, who had the good sense to carry it over in pieces. 5. Walkabout (1971) The title Walkabout refers to an Aboriginal rite of passage in which boys are sent off into the outback for six months and, if they survive, emerge from the experience as men. In Nicolas Roegs rapturously beautiful film, that journey is forced by an English father who goes mad and tries to kill his 14-year-old daughter (Jenny Agutter) and 6-year-old son before committing suicide. As the children make their way from civilization to the wild of the outback, they befriend an Aborigine teen despite the language barrier between them. Roeg stages this perilous survival story as a tangled and twisted road to Eden, full of adventure, self-discovery, and in the end, sorrow over innocence lost. 4. The New World (2005) To see a Terrence Malick film is to be reminded that we live in the natural world, no matter how much civilization tries to sever that connection. When he emerged from a 20-year absence to direct The Thin Red Line in 1998, he posited war as a foremost a violation of nature, and those same sentiments prevailed in his follow-up, The New World, which suggests the founding of America itself as a dream undone by the ravages of men. Though the relationship between Captain John Smith (Colin Farrell) and Pocahontas (Qorianka Kilcher) offers a hopeful union of cultures, the Jamestown settlement is a disgraceful mud pit of starvation, disease, and violence, built in defiance of a land that the Natives more peacefully inhabit. 3. The Wind (1928) Victor Sjostroms The Wind brought the silent era to a close with one of its greatest performers, Lillian Gish, braving a constant, blinding storm thats both literal and metaphorical. As Letty, an impoverished southern belle who travels from Virginia to Texas for a new life on the plains, Gish plays a woman who endures the lust and hostility of neighbors and lives in fear of the dust clouds that constantly blow across her windows. Shooting in the Mojave Desert, Sjostrom seizes the opportunity to exploit the brutal conditions for maximum dramatic and poetic effect. A scene where a white stallion shrieks against a wind storm has the force of Biblical prophecy to it, and Lettys efforts to cover up a murder, only to have the sand creep over the victims hand, puts her guilt in striking visual terms. 2. Meeks Cutoff (2010) Set in 1845, Kelly Reichardts meticulous and agonizingly suspenseful survival drama follows three pioneer families who are are trying to make their way through the Cascade Mountains via the Oregon Trail. With limited supplies and water, theres zero margin for error and theyre wholly reliant on the leadership of a grizzled guide (Bruce Greenwood), whose competence comes into question. In this context, seemingly mundane actions, like lowering a wagon down a rocky incline, become life-or-death situations. Working on an independent-film budget, Reichardt nonetheless obsesses over period minutiae, re-creating the authentic hardships of settlers in an unforgiving landscape. 1. The Gold Rush (1925) Charlie Chaplins silent classic captures his Little Tramp character at his absolute essence: at once hilarious and melancholy, a pitiable figure whos nonetheless as whimsical as he is desperately lonely. The Gold Rush depicts the Little Tramp as a prospector searching for gold (and romance) in the Klondike, and pauses for a handful of famous comic set pieces, like the dance of the dinner rolls, the teetering of his cabin off a cliff, and the boiling of his shoe, with the laces curling up like spaghetti. In every respect, the prospectors situation is the picture of humility and desperation: Luckless, loveless, and starving, he quite literally hovers on the brink of disaster, but Chaplin keeps on doggedly pulling him back. The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson. Photo: Netflix David Frances shattering new documentary The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson begins with its subjects 1992 funeral and a procession in which men and women angrily scream at police, who stare ahead, blank-faced. At least the cops dont beat them senseless, the way they might have 25 years earlier. Marsha P. Johnson had something to do with that. The exuberant Johnson, a trans icon, activist, and drag queen who had a prominent role in the Stonewall riots and went on to live a very public life, was found floating in the Hudson a few days after July 4, when shed told her friends that a car had been following her. The city classified her death as a suicide, despite zero evidence shed intended to do anything but party into the night, get up the next day, and continue to fight the good fight. She was particularly incensed by alleged financial irregularities related to a Christopher Street festival. Twenty-five years later, aging activist Victoria Cruz of the New York City Anti-Violence Project (she was a contemporary of Johnsons, but never met her), trudges around Manhattan and its environs playing amateur detective likely getting closer than the pros to the truth of Johnsons death. Beneath Frances documentaries (the last was the award-winning How to Survive a Plague) are questions that never get less urgent. How do you remind young people that theyre standing on the shoulders of men and women who lived (and, in many cases, died) for rights they take for granted? And how do you get out the message that people are still dying and that historic injustices are still going unredressed? Like all good documentarians who depend heavily on archival footage, he and the editor Tyler H. Walk know how to ensure that the past remains in the present tense. In this case, theyre aided by figures who hold the screen tooth and nail. Johnson is obviously one of them, but the film has another protagonist (and trans activist and icon) in her friend Sylvia Rivera. Objectively, you could look at the film and wonder why Rivera has been allowed to shanghai the narrative so often. Subjectively, youll have no doubt that France was captivated by the footage of Rivera and knew that wed be, too, narrative line be damned. But Riveras life is not tangential. Rivera, Johnson (plus Cruz, quite the looker in her day) are central to the theme of an era slipping away. Drag queens (the term sounds antiquated, but is both more vivacious and truer to Johnson and Riveras essence than female impersonators) were central to pre-Stonewall gay life in big and middling cities. At a time when you could be arrested for kissing someone of the same sex in public, these were the most obvious targets for harassment and persecution. At the same time, their presence in a bar was a signal that it would be reasonably safe for other gays to congregate. They were, if youll forgive me, the canaries in the Mineshaft. Riveras story, France shows, is also one of rejection by the community for which shed risked so much. The thinking among some gay intellectuals and their acolytes before the T was appended to the end of LGBT was that drag queens embodied retrogressive stereotypes. Also, they were a pain in the ass. The most powerful scene in The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson is not of Marsha P., but Rivera at a huge 1973 NYC gathering at which she is fiercely unwelcome, seizing the microphone and, to resounding boos, even more fiercely giving it back an epic rant detailing the sacrifices by her and people like her for the privileges that these well-off white gays now enjoy. Its possible that Riveras disillusion with the gay-rights movement and retreat to Westchester (where she lived and hosted a cabaret for some years) saved her life and sanity, although later in the film shes back living in a transient community by the Hudson when she and her fellow humans are cleaned out to make way for the riverfront park we all jog and bike along today. If Marsha P. fades from the film (there is not enough great footage of her, I guess, although enough to suggest she could be irresistible), the sense of vulnerability she projects permeates the rest of the movie. Cruz also tracks the case of 21-year-old Islan Nettles, beaten to death in 2013 by a 25-year-old named James Dixon after Dixon flirted with her and then discovered to the razzing of his friends that she was not a cisgender female. The sparsely attended murder trial ends in a way that satisfies no one. The traditional defense of such murderers that these men were so traumatized that they werent fully responsible for their actions might be less persuasive these days, but the scent of it lingers like a decayed body. France does come back to Marsha P. Johnson, of course. Cruz heads to the Downstate Correctional Facility to interview one of the last known people to see Marsha Johnson alive, the six-foot-eight-inch Kitty Rotolo, recently convicted of swiping a $40,000 Hindu goddess of compassion from a Village antiques store. She also interviews a sad-faced upstate trans woman who is plainly terrified to say what she knows. Over the phone, a retired detective who sounds like a guy out of a B movie says that Cruz is dealing with more powerful forces than she knows. Dont play detective, he warns her. Leave this to the people that should handle it. He declines to supply a for instance. As a fan of formula mystery-thrillers in print, movies, and on TV, Im struck by the frequency of plots centering on cops who doggedly pursue cold cases often defying their superiors orders and losing their jobs when they step on important peoples toes. It doesnt matter, you see, because they just cant live with injustice. This idea does not seem to be in effect in Manhattans 6th Precinct, which oversees the West Village and the Hudson piers near where Johnsons body was found. Cruz has a list of people they should interview, although they wont, they never will. Perhaps its that in some circles, people like Marsha P. Johnson and Islan Nettles are not seen as fully human, so why waste valuable resources? Its not clear exactly what happened to Marsha P. Johnson on July 4 or 5, 1992. The autopsy report obtained by Cruz (with the help of Johnsons family in New Jersey) raises a number of possibilities. On index cards, Cruz prints several of them: Suicide, Accident, Dirty Cop, and Mob. Names are named. I hope the film inspires a new generation of amateur sleuths. Maybe thanks to movies like The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson a wish-fulfilling fictional scenario will come to pass in the real world, and the injustices of history will stand plainly in the living present. The whole Pfefferman clan arrives in Israel, ready to meet Moshe and a whole branch of their family they never knew existed. From the moment their car pulls up outside Moshes house, its a classic Transparent family gathering. Everyone speaks on top of everyone else. There are intense, overwhelming emotional moments all layered together with laugh lines and murmuring and constant noise. Bryna has a tearful, shattering reunion with her father, moments after Moshe mistakes Shelly for Bryna and the Los Angeles Pfeffermans gawk at the size of Moshes home. (Its like Daddy fucking Warbucks!) Its beautiful and awkward and a mess always Transparents strengths. I cannot get over how much it feels like Lost, though. The show has been caught in repetitive loops, revisiting themes and stories its not quite sure how to develop any further. The Pfeffermans personal and relational dysfunctions are all fairly well explored at this point, and although theres surely more stories to tell about them, the series has a really hard time integrating outsiders into the group. Theyre an insular bunch. Again and again, people come in, try to become part of the family, and then wash out. (I miss you, Rabbi Raquel.) The show wants to tell other stories, especially stories that provide more diverse perspectives on a trans experience witness the previous episode and its lengthy Davina digression but it always ends up with just the Pfeffermans again, circling back to their same obsessions and concerns. What to do except find a whole new bunch of Pfeffermans? Maura stumbles right into them, like the tail section of a plane she just happened upon while exploring a new bit of the island, and voila! A whole new angle on things, playing out in the wary unity and unavoidable competition between what Moshe calls Team One and Team Two. Its not weird, Josh says, wryly. Nothing weird about it. Shira and Ronit are, as Sarah mutters to her siblings, like a better-looking, happier, healthier version of the Team One Pfeffermans theyre more successful, younger, and maybe even smarter. Shelly gamely comes to Mauras defense when everyone declares Ronit to be a genius, but the weird mortification and anxiety just gets deeper. Nothing is quite safe to say. The Team One Pfeffermans dont have one mom; they have two. Josh apparently looks just like a cousin on the Team Two side a cousin who killed himself. The Israeli sisters cant understand why Sarah would ever recommend giving her children control, but little do they know how funny the idea of Sarah Pfefferman, Parenting Expert really is. They sit out on a windblown balcony overlooking the water. (As Shellys horrible, amazing Mario alter ego notes, it is very Mediterranean.) Its a fantasy meal out of a travel magazine photo shoot, except no one can keep track of whether theyre aunts or sisters. Service staff stand quietly off to the sides; theres one very brief, pointed shot of the kitchen after dinner, showing the staff as they clean everything. Meanwhile, the four Pfefferman sisters all sit upstairs staring at a picture of Moshe, Maura, and Bryna from the year Moshe left. Everyone feels too many complicated things all at once, and no one can say much about it. In the second half of the episode, the Pfeffermans begin the tourism parts of their Israeli trip, beginning with a bus ride to Jerusalem. Their debate on the bus almost comes off like a bit of The Carmichael Show, with each character taking a stance mostly for the purpose of representing the debate. Moshes security man says Palestinian is a made-up word (as though all names for all groups of people arent made up at some point, or as though this makes the word less powerful). Bryna chips in that the Jews needed somewhere to go after World War II: We couldnt just hang around in Poland! Maura mentions that there were Jews in the region long before the war, and Ali pushes back against all of it. Its ridiculous to claim that they needed to make the Palestinians unsafe so they could feel safe, she says. The binaries are absurd. There are human rights issues at stake. And Sarah, whos thought about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict about as much as shes thought about her parenting book, has had enough. Lets just enjoy the ride, she interrupts, before taking over the buss sound system. The Pfeffermans may not agree on much, but they can unite around the score of Jesus Christ Superstar. On foot in Jerusalem, the family walks through a market and eyes the various things for sale; it is familiar and foreign at the same time. Josh looks at some of the light-up knickknacks and declares that he might as well be in Venice Beach, while Ali fruitlessly tries to stop anyone from buying anything in her new dedication to the Palestinian boycott. They pause at the Via Dolorosa, examining the fifth Station of the Cross where Jesus is supposed to have paused for a moment, resting a hand on the wall. Maura declares it very moving, as the rest of the family puzzles over the exact mechanics of the immaculate conception behind her. The family meal is the episodes first major set piece. The second comes at the end, as the Pfeffermans go to pray at the Western Wall. (Or as Sarah puts it, theyre going to get their prayer on.) The Wall is Alis nightmare of borders and binaries made almost comically literal. Men go to one side, women to the other. The male side of the Wall is far more spacious, Ali notes, and from the womens side, she stands on tiptoes to look over to where the men are celebrating and praying raucously, singing and cheering. Meanwhile, the women sit in silent reflection. Youd expect Transparents trip to the Western Wall to be another scene like the one at LAX, with Maura walking into the womens section and finding that shes not allowed to enter. Its been a subject of some controversy in the past few years, in fact: In 2015, a trans woman was prevented from approaching either the mens or the womens side of the Wall, sparking much debate and protest. But Maura enters the womens side of the Wall with no remark at all; the camera barely even pauses to register anything unusual about her presence there. Our point of view is all with Ali, who is overcome by the intensity of the place, by the stark divisions all around her, by the displays of devotion and joy and sorrow. Wary, unsure, and patently thrilled by the transgression of it, Ali wanders over and places a yarmulke on her head, crossing the boundary into the mens side of the Wall. There are men everywhere, walking past her in prayer shawls and black brimmed hats. There are soldiers with massive guns. There are young boys. And theres Ali, standing bemused and smiling a little, with her mens blazer and a hairstyle someone this season has already described as a wo-man bun. For a show thats been so comfortable with elliptical, oblique storytelling in the past, Transparent has taken a swerve into the explicit, sometimes for the worse and occasionally for the better. This may be a for the better moment, an unexpectedly direct statement about characterization and desire that feels earned by its setting and its structure. Its hard to imagine a more overt set of parallel themes and images: Israel/Palestine, male/female, boundaries and borders and binaries so plentiful youre practically tripping over them. And there are few places in the world where Alis transgression could ever be as satisfyingly shocking. Who wants to guess how their overnight with some real bedouins is going to go? By PTI: New Delhi, Oct 5 (PTI) State-owned construction firm NBCC today said it has signed an MoU with Finlands Fortum Oyj for developing electric vehicle charging infrastructure in upcoming development projects in India. "NBCC has signed a cooperation institutional relationship MoU with Fortum Oyj - Finland for developing charging infrastructure in the upcoming development projects in India," the company said in a BSE filing. advertisement The MoU is general in nature to establish basis for co- operative institutional relationship and does not involve any joint venture or financial implication at this stage, it said. Shares of NBCC were trading 0.73 per cent higher at Rs 215.20 on BSE. PTI SVK ANU --- ENDS --- By PTI: (Eds: Updating with background) By Lalit K Jha Washington, Oct 5 (PTI) US Defence Secretary James Mattis has said that Indias decision not to send troops to war-torn Afghanistan was perhaps guided by the Pakistan factor. Mattis praised Indias contributions to Afghanistans development before lawmakers at House Armed Services Committee, saying New Delhi has adopted a holistic approach in its assistance towards the country. advertisement "It is really a very holistic approach that India is taking. Youll notice I left off (Indian) boots (soldiers) on the ground because of the complexity that would bring to Pakistan," Mattis said yesterday in response to a question from Congressman Doug Lamborn during the Congressional hearing on South Asia. "Were trying to make this an inclusive strategy and we dont want them to get a sense that theyre vulnerable to any Indian Army people from their western flank, thats not necessary," Mattis said. Mattis was in New Delhi last month and held talks with Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Sitharaman had ruled out any troop contribution in Afghanistan and said it will continue to provide development assistance to the country. Islamabad is opposed to any major role for India in neighbouring Afghanistan, saying a Kabul-New Delhi axis would be detrimental to Pakistans strategic interests. During the hearing, Mattis insisted that an open border trade between India and Pakistan would help in bringing regional stability. "If theres any way for Pakistan and India to open their border to trade at great economic advantage to both of the countries, it would be a big help across the region," he said. Stability can follow economics as much as stability enables economics, he added. He hoped that they will eventually see that happen. "I believe India wants that to happen, but its very hard to do that if your concern is that you open the border to one thing, and you get something else," Mattis said in an oblique reference to cross-border infilteration. Responding to a series of questions on the Indian role in Afghanistan, Mattis said, " New Delhi has been generous over many years with Afghanistan. Because of its very generous funding over the years, India has achieved a degree of affection from the Afghan people as a result. They intend to continue this effort and broaden it. Furthermore, they are providing training for Afghan military officers and NCOs at their schools." India, he said, is willing to do rehabilitation of Soviet-era equipment until they are replaced with American. That will take years, he noted. advertisement Furthermore, India has been providing and will continue to provide training for Afghan Army doctors and medics in the field so that the Afghan Army is able to take casualties and better sustain themselves thing, he said. Mattis said there are many areas where India and the US are natural partners for each other. The two countries, he said, are deepening and broadening the military-to-military relationship. "But it is not an exclusive strategy, exclusive of anyone. Any nation that wants to be part of the counter-terror effort and this stability effort in South Asia, can sign up," he said seeking to allay Pakistans concern of being excluded. It is open to any nation that wants to move against terrorism and remove this threat to all civilised nations. Referring to his talks with the Indian leadership, Mattis said the US does not need to convince Indians that it doesnt have nefarious designs on the Indo-Pacific area. PTI LKJ CK AKJ AKJ --- ENDS --- Local real estate agents talk about houses selling so quickly they do not appear on the Multiple Listing Service, and some who have worked in Waco for decades say theyve never seen demand quite so high. That has created a problem, according to Nationwide. In a report released last week, the Ohio-based insurance giant ranks Waco among the 10 least healthy housing markets in the United States. Not only did Waco crack the bottom 10, it was deemed to have experienced the ninth largest decline across 400 U.S. markets in the past year, according to a press release from Nationwide. Ben Ayers, an economist with Nationwide familiar with the findings, said in an interview Waco received poor rankings because the local market has become overheated, causing home prices to increase faster than wages. Ayers also said employment growth in the Waco area has become stagnant, meaning there are fewer people with jobs to buy homes. The housing market there in Waco is too hot, Ayers said. House price growth is well above average, far surpassing income growth, and unfortunately, that has negative implications. Five of the 10 markets appearing on the unhealthy list are in Texas. They include, besides Waco, the Victoria, Dallas-Plano-Irving, San Angelo and Fort Worth-Arlington metropolitan statistical areas. Others include Anchorage, Alaska; Rapid City, South Dakota; Bismarck, North Dakota; Houma-Thibodaux, Louisiana; and New Orleans-Metairie, Louisiana, according to the press release from Nationwide. The most frequent downward driver was affordability as home price gains outpace income growth in markets such as Waco, the press release states. By the numbers Amarillo-based economist Karr Ingham, who prepares a monthly snapshot of local economic trends, showed in his most recent report that the average price for a home sold in August reached $205,662, which is 13.4 percent more than the average of $181,384 in August of last year. For the first eight months of 2017, the average stood at $192,932, which is 7.1 percent more than the $180,114 through August of 2016. Meanwhile, the average taxable value of a home increased from $113,150 to $122,377 during the past year, according to certified tax rolls the McLennan County Appraisal District released in July. We show that house prices have gone up nearly 10 percent the past four quarters, said Ayers, the Nationwide economist. Income growth has been decent, but there remains a sizable gap between income and home price growth. Scott Bland, president of the Heart of Texas Builders Association, took issue with Nationwides finding that Waco is suffering as a housing market. Sure, prices have gone up, but we had a lot of room for them to go up, Bland said. This is just another national study that does not take local factors into consideration. Talk to real estate agents, and they will tell you how little inventory there is out there. Thats our biggest problem. If you look at cost-per-foot in comparable markets such as Bryan-College Station, Temple and Belton, we are at or below their numbers. I have expressed concern about prices moving beyond the budget of first-time homebuyers, but we now have subdivisions under development from builders such as Stylecraft and D.R. Horton that will go a long way toward providing a remedy to that situation. For example, the 1,500-home Park Meadows development on the western outskirts of Waco will take shape over the next decade. A D.R. Horton website devoted to Park Meadows shows a variety of home floor plans carrying prices ranging from $168,000 to $212,000. Trammell Kelly, a residential sales specialist with Kelly Realtors, said the appreciation of home values locally is unprecedented. Is the market cooling at all? If you had asked me that a month ago, I would have said it is cooling a bit. But then in the last couple of weeks, it has not. I put properties up for sale that sold within 24 to 48 hours. Im seeing a lot of homes priced at $200,000 to $400,000 move very quickly, and I had one in the upper $100,000s that sold in one day. Wages around Waco Chris Evilia, director of the Waco Metropolitan Planning Organization, said he does not yet have U.S. Census figures showing local wages in 2017. But between 2015 and 2016, the mean household income in McLennan County increased from $62,980 to $67,968, or 7.9 percent. In the city of Waco, meanwhile, the mean household income rose from $54,760 to $59,981, or 9.5 percent, according to figures from the U.S. Census. Ayers said Nationwide considers job growth, income growth and home prices in compiling its list. It relies on metrics provided by government and industry sources and compares each metropolitan area with its own long-term average, he said. Statistics show job growth has increased less than 1 percent the past year, which is a much slower rate than usual and tells us demand wont be quite as strong. Waco is not getting the jobs or the higher wages that would support the faster pace of home price increases, Ayers said. Indeed, the latest report by Ingham shows payroll employment in the Waco metropolitan area reached 118,600 in August, which is 0.7 percent less than the 119,400 in August of last year. The year-to-date average stood at 119,965, a modest 1 percent more than the 117,975 during the first eight months of 2016. Dr. Don Wright, who completed his medical training in Waco, has been appointed by President Donald Trump as acting secretary of the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services after Tom Prices resignation from the post. Price resigned amid scandal over his use of private jets at taxpayers expense. In his resignation letter, Price said he regrets how recent events have created a distraction from the departments work, including its effort to reform a broken health care system. Wright, who has been with Health and Human Services for 10 years, completed his training in family medicine at Wacos Family Health Center and Family Medicine Residency Program in 1985, according to a press release from the McLennan County Medical Society. The residency program was associated with the Baylor College of Medicine. He practiced clinical medicine for 17 years before getting involved in health policy in Washington, D.C. His practice in Waco included working at Concentra Occupational Health & Medical Center and the Baylor University Student Health Center, according to the press release. It is an exciting day when a top governmental healthcare position is filled by a physician who did his formative medical training right here in Waco, medical society President Dr. Scott Warren wrote in the press release. Wright performed his undergraduate work at Texas Tech University and graduated medical school at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. He also holds a masters degree in public health from the Medical College of Wisconsin, according to the press release. The Waco Family Medicine Residency Program has produced hundreds of outstanding residents over the years since we began in 1970, Dr. Roland Goertz, CEO of the Waco Family Health Center, wrote in the press release. We are especially proud to have an alumnus now heading up the Department of Health and Human Services. I remember well when Don informed me of his intent to move to Washington, D.C. Wright had been acting assistant secretary of health since February, according to a press release from HHS. He has also been the principal deputy assistant secretary of health, director of the office of disease prevention and health promotion, and held other HHS leadership positions. He had switched to health policy work in 2003 under President George W. Bush, according to the county medical society. I look forward to ensuring that the important work of the department in support of the presidents agenda continues to move forward in the interim period, Wright wrote in the HHS press release. A Woodway man accused of sexually abusing a young girl was transferred to McLennan County Jail after he was arrested in Austin late last month. Jordan Adam Lafleur, 25, was charged with a first-degree felony aggravated sexual abuse of a child after a girl under the age of six reported he had abused her in May at a West Waco apartment. After interviews and investigation, Waco police determined the alleged abuse happened once in Waco and obtained an arrest warrant, Sgt. W. Patrick Swanton said. Lafleur was arrested by Austin police Sept. 27 for an unknown reason and was later transferred to McLennan County Jail on the Waco charge. He remained jailed Wednesday afternoon with bond listed at $500,000. Theo Clark Embry Nov. 3, 1926 - Sept. 30, 2017 Theo Clark Embry passed away on September 30, 2017, in Waco, Texas, after a brief illness. A graveside service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, October 7, at Petrolia Cemetery. He met the love of his life, Helen Groves, from Petrolia, Texas, while they were both in college in Denton and they were married in 1952. In 1963, he and Helen moved their family to Cleburne so he could start an insurance business. Theo eventually expanded his business to include Theo Embry Real Estate. Theo prided himself in providing affordable housing for Cleburne's working families. He helped many families own their first home, and was instrumental in the renovation of East Cleburne. In 1984, Theo and Helen moved to acreage outside of Cleburne where he spent many of his happiest years. During these years, Theo and Helen found immeasurable pleasure traveling both in the U.S. and internationally. Theo was preceded in death by his parents, Starling and Winnie Embry; and his sister, Naomi Austin. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Helen Groves Embry, now of Waco; his two children, Elaine Embry-Mullins of Waco, and Dale Embry and his wife, Jane, of Houston; his three grandchildren, Ruth Ann Mullins, Thomas Embry Mullins, and Annalee Embry; and three great-grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Methodist Children's Home in Waco, Theo and Helen have been long time and dedicated supporters of its mission. The family would like to thank the employees of Arbor House for taking good care of Theo during his last months. Thoughts and memories may be shared in the online guestbook at davisfuneralhome.net Davis Funeral Home Henrietta, TX 76365 (940) 538-4395 Mary Jane White January 6, 1941 - September 30, 2017 Mary Jane White, age 76, passed away September 30, 2017 in Cedar Park, Texas. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, October 7, at the Harper-Talasek Funeral Home Chapel in Belton. The family will receive visitors from 6 to 8 p.m., Friday, October 6, in the chapel. Mary Jane was born January 6, 1941, in Dalhart, Texas, to Henry and Charlotte Want. Mary Jane was the seventh of eight children and grew up in the Dalhart/Amarillo area. Mary Jane married JT White in 1959 and moved closer to family in Gatesville before settling in Moody in 1967, where they raised their children: Debbie, Perry, and Sonia. In 1986 Mary Jane received her nursing degree, for which she was very proud, and worked at Kings Daughters Hospital until she found her true calling as a Geriatric Nurse, at which she worked until her retirement. Mary Jane loved to cook and sew but above all, she loved spending time with family, especially her beloved grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The White house was always open to friends and family, you would usually find her in the kitchen cooking or baking something delicious. Mary Jane had a feisty competitive spirit and a nurturing heart and she will be dearly missed by all who loved her. Mary Jane was preceded in death by her husband, son, parents, and three sisters. She is survived by brothers, Lewis and Henry Want; sisters, Lynn Giebel and Delores Jarboe; daughter, Debbie Schmidt and husband, David, of Moody; daughter, Sonia Lofton and husband, Frank, of Cedar Park; six grandchildren: Jessica and Jillian Schmidt, Katie and Jacob Lofton, and Blake and JT White; two great-grandchildren, Delilah and Marcos Caraballo. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews and the other Lofton kids that adopted her as another Grammy. Harper-Talasek Funeral Home Belton, Texas 76513 (254) 939-2411 Before I started researching gun deaths, gun-control policy used to frustrate me. I wished the National Rifle Association would stop blocking common-sense gun-control reforms such as banning assault weapons, restricting silencers, shrinking magazine sizes and all the other measures that could make guns less deadly. Then, my colleagues and I at FiveThirtyEight spent three months analyzing all 33,000 lives ended by guns each year in the United States, and I wound up frustrated in a whole new way. We looked at what interventions might have saved those people, and the case for the policies Id lobbied for crumbled when I examined the evidence. The best ideas left standing were narrowly tailored interventions to protect subtypes of potential victims, not broad attempts to limit the lethality of guns. I researched the strictly tightened gun laws in Britain and Australia and concluded that they didnt prove much about what Americas policy should be. Neither nation experienced drops in mass shootings or other gun related-crime that could be attributed to their buybacks and bans. Mass shootings were too rare in Australia for their absence after the buyback program to be clear evidence of progress. And in both Australia and Britain, the gun restrictions had an ambiguous effect on other gun-related crimes or deaths. When I looked at the other oft-praised policies, I found out that no gunowner walks into the store to buy an assault weapon. Its an invented classification that includes any semi-automatic that has two or more features, such as a bayonet mount, a rocket-propelled grenade-launcher mount, a folding stock or a pistol grip. But guns are modular, and any hobbyist can easily add these features at home, just as if they were snapping together Legos. As for silencers they deserve that name only in movies, where they reduce gunfire to a soft puick puick. In real life, silencers limit hearing damage for shooters but dont make gunfire dangerously quiet. An AR-15 with a silencer is about as loud as a jackhammer. Magazine limits were a little more promising, but a practiced shooter could still change magazines so fast as to make the limit meaningless. As my co-workers and I kept looking at the data, it seemed less and less clear that one broad gun-control restriction could make a big difference. Two-thirds of gun deaths in the United States every year are suicides. Almost no proposed restriction would make it meaningfully harder for people with guns on hand to use them. I couldnt even answer my most desperate question: If I had a friend who had guns in his home and a history of suicide attempts, was there anything I could do that would help? However, the next-largest set of gun deaths 1 in 5 were young men aged 15 to 34, killed in homicides. These men were most likely to die at the hands of other young men, often related to gang loyalties or other street violence. And the last notable group of similar deaths was the 1,700 women murdered per year, usually as the result of domestic violence. Far more people were killed in these ways than in mass-shooting incidents, but few of the popularly floated policies were tailored to serve them. By the time we published our project, I didnt believe in many of the interventions Id heard politicians tout. I was still anti-gun, at least from the point of view of most gun owners, and I dont want a gun in my home, as I think the risk outweighs the benefits. But I cant endorse policies whose only selling point is that gun owners hate them. Policies that often seem as if they were drafted by people who have encountered guns only as a figure in a briefing book or an image on the news. Instead, I found the most hope in more narrowly tailored interventions. Potential suicide victims, women menaced by their abusive partners and kids swept up in street vendettas are all in danger from guns, but they each require different protections. Older men, who make up the largest share of gun suicides, need better access to people who could care for them and get them help. Women endangered by specific men need to be prioritized by police, who can enforce restraining orders prohibiting these men from buying and owning guns. Younger men at risk of violence need to be identified before they take a life or lose theirs and to be connected to mentors who can help them de-escalate conflicts. Even the most data-driven practices, such as New Orleans plan to identify gang members for intervention based on previous arrests and weapons seizures, wind up more personal than most policies floated. The young men at risk can be identified by an algorithm, but they have to be disarmed one by one, personally not en masse as though they were all interchangeable. A reduction in gun deaths is most likely to come from finding smaller chances for victories and expanding those solutions as much as possible. We save lives by focusing on a range of tactics to protect the different kinds of potential victims and reforming potential killers, not from sweeping bans focused on the guns themselves. By PTI: By Lalit K Jha Washington, Oct 5 (PTI) The arrival of first American oil shipment in Odisha this week marks a significant milestone in India-US partnership, the Trump administration said today. The first of a series of new shipments of crude oil from the United States arrived in Odisha on October 2. "We consider the increased Indian purchases of US crude oil to be a direct outcome of the June visit of the Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi to the White House," State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert told reporters at her daily news conference. advertisement The leaders at that point talked about expanding and elevating the bilateral energy cooperation through a Strategic Energy Partnership, she noted. "So, we look at that event as marking a significant milestone in the growing partnership between the United States and India," Nauert said in response to a question. In one of the first shipments to India since the United States stopped oil exports in 1975, India received shipment of US crude oil with state-owned Indian Oil Corp (IOC) importing a 1.6 million barrels parcel at Paradip. State-owned Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corp Ltd (HPCL) have also placed orders for about 2.95 million barrels and 1 million barrels of US crude respectively for their Kochi and Vizag refineries. According to a US Embassy statement, the US crude oil shipments to India have the potential to boost bilateral trade by up to USD 2 billion. Next month, Nauert would join President Donald Trumps daughter and White House adviser Ivanka Trump on a trip to India. Ivanka would be leading a high-level US delegation to the Global Entrepreneurship Summit in Hyderabad. PTI LKJ CK --- ENDS --- Imperial War Museum Duxford Battle of Britain Airshow 2017 by David Layland Duxford held its Battle of Britain Airshow over the weekend September 23rd/24th. Duxford is also celebrating its centenary this year, the Royal Flying Corps having established it as a training airfield in 1917. and then hosting the RAF, USAAF and then the RAF again. It is now home to the Imperial War Museum (IWM) as well as commercial enterprises such as The Fighter Collection (TFC), the Old Flying Machine Company, the Aircraft Restoration Company (ARCo), the Historic Aircraft Collection and the B-17 Preservation Society. The weather for the flying was mostly ok; showers giving way to overcast on Saturday, but sunny and warm on Sunday. The flying programme for both days was very similar. With only a couple of unserviceable aircraft and a tricky crosswind on Sunday, nearly every aircraft flew as advertised. Both days opened with the RAF Parachute Display Team, known as The Falcons. Next came a unique formation of six Hawker Hurricanes of various marques, including a Sea Hurricane. Its doubtful that that many Hurricanes have flown together since the end of WWII, or soon after. Then the display split up into groups of aircraft with a historical relationship, ending with two classic Duxford features: the Spitfire Balbo followed by the Battle of Britain finale formation. As usual with Duxford, the commentary was informative and slick. The commentators, Ben Dunnell and Colin Wilsher, knew when to inform and when to let the aircraft speak for themselves. Even with a few dropouts due to unserviceability and the unscheduled early landings by the P-51 Mustang Miss Helen and The Fighter Collections F8F Bearcat, Dunnell and Wilsher did not miss a beat. The display flowed nicely with the commentary team giving an educational and entertaining narration of the display. The Great War Display Team gave a spirited performance, despite the wind on both days. Pyrotechnics simulated enemy flak, giving an authentic air to the show. All of the aircraft are immaculately turned out a simple walk down the flight line immediately reveals how much care and attention their owners and support teams put into their presentation. Of particular note were Air Leasings Hawker Fury FB.II, ARCos battle-weary Hispano Buchon, TFCs shiny P-40C and Richard Lakes Spitfire FR.XVIII. The highlights were undoubtedly the formation of six Hawker Hurricanes and the thirteen-ship Spitfire formation. The huge scope of these formations was impossible to convey photographically, so it was time to put the camera down and experience the sight and sound of nearly twenty Merlin and Griffon powered aircraft in the sky. Duxford is becoming well known for its Spitfire Balbo, but now that the Hurricanes star is rising, it is wonderful to see them getting in on the action. It was also nice to see the Norwegian Air Force Historical Squadron, with their brace of deHavilland Vampires and immaculate MiG-15UTI, making the trip over for the display season. Post the Hawker Hunter crash at Shoreham in 2015, the UK air show scene is still somewhat on the back foot, adjusting to amended crowd lines and viewing points, as well as having the display axis and aircraft further away. However, Duxford has done a good job of complying with the new regulations while at the same time creating an exciting and spectacular display. The audience is squeezed at little, with the western end of the crowd line out of bounds now, but the centre area has opened up a little to compensate. Even when an air show is not taking place, Duxford is a hive of activity. A walk around the hangars gives great insight into the UKs warbird restoration and maintenance scene. There are several longterm projects that it would be good to see progressing; The Fighter Collections Bristol Beaufighter being one of them. It would be great to see in formation with the Blenheim! TFC also has a Seafury in quite an advanced state of restoration, as well as an ultra-rare Fiat CR.42 which looks close to having its fabric covering fitted. Its difficult to pin anyone at TFC down to a flying by date, as I have a feeling a certain amount of budget juggling may be going on, but I think the CR.42 may be closest to flying, so watch this space! So in conclusion, it was a great weekend with a full flying programme that reflected Duxfords role in the Battle of Britain as well as a flavour of flying from the Great War through the Korean War. There was a packed crowd on both days, and plenty for them to see and do away from the flight line as well. I would definitely recommend Duxford if you are planning a trip to the UK, or are at a loose end during the summer, whether there is an air show or not. It was a privilege to represent WarbirdsNews at Duxford, and I am grateful for the extra access this gave me over the weekend. Dave Layland DL PHOTOGRAPHY www.davelayland.co.uk WarbirdsNews wishes to thank Dave Layland for his excellent report and photography from Duxford. We look forwards to more of his contributions in the future! By PTI: Mumbai, Oct 5 (PTI) Oman has revised the tourist visa for people from India, China and Russia in order to attract more tourists from these countries. Lubaina Sheerazi, India Representative, Ministry of Tourism, Oman, said, "The outbound segment in India is on a rise with the Indian economy booming and increasingly better standards of living. "We are certain that the recent change in policies will be favourable for the Indian travellers and Sultanate will see a positive growth in this upcoming festive and holiday season." advertisement Oman Airports Management Company (OAMC) announced the revised terms and conditions issued by the Omani authorities on the granting of non-sponsored tourist visa for the citizens of India, China and Russia, who reside in or who hold an entry visa to one of the these countries ? United States of America, Canada, Australia, United Kingdom and Schengen States to enter the Sultanate of Oman. The statement said the visa will be granted for a period of one month for a fee of OMR 20. According to OAMC circular the spouse and children of the visa holder would also be allowed to enter the Sultanate. The applicants, however, must also have a return ticket and confirmed hotel reservation in order to be granted the visa, it added. "We are extremely pleased with the recent development of facilitating non-sponsored tourist visa for Indians, Chinese and Russians. With the revision in visa regulations, we are expecting that Indian arrivals across all segments will grow exponentially - especially leisure and visitors to conventions and exhibitions," Oman Tourism Ministry Director General of Tourism Promotion Salim Adi Al Mamari said. He said, Oman has gained immense popularity with mature and evolved travellers in the recent years. "We aim to expand our travel and tourism offerings and are certain that the revised policies will offer expediency and convenience to travellers and will encourage more impromptu trips to the Sultanate," he added. PTI SM RMT --- ENDS --- Racism can get ugly. Think of the incidents of racist abuse on public transport that frequently attract media coverage. It's an unpleasant experience to witness racist vitriol or confrontation. It's even worse when you're on the receiving end of it. Those who have copped a racist spray or attack often say it makes them feel like a lesser being. Not all racism takes such dramatic form. Sometimes it can be silent or subtle. But even relatively mundane acts of racism have an impact on those who experience them. Everyday and casual acts of racism are the subject of our "Racism. It Stops with Me" campaign's new community service announcements. Since 2012, more than 400 organisations across the country have joined the campaign to support the work of anti-racism. On the eve of the 20th anniversary of the death of rock star Michael Hutchence, the late INXS frontman remains a complicated and contradictory character for those who knew him best. While Hutchence often referred to his band mates as his "brothers", he had been trying to get out of the band for years, his sister Tina Hutchence said. Hutchence met his untimely end in a Double Bay hotel suite on November 20, 1997. Speaking to The Australian Women's Weekly, Tina Hutchence makes it clear that feelings between her and the remaining INXS band members remain somewhat fraught. The brother of the Las Vegas gunman's Australian girlfriend, Marilou Danley, said his sister reassured him when news of the shooting unfolded that "I have a clean conscience". However, her two sisters say she holds the key to shedding light on the motive behind the deadliest mass shooting in modern US history. Fifty-eight people were killed and more than 500 injured when Nevada man Stephen Paddock, 64, fired on people at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival from his 32nd floor room at the Mandalay Bay hotel on Sunday night local time. Ms Danley, 62, arrived back in the US overnight on a flight from the Philippines and was taken in for questioning. She was with FBI agents in a Los Angeles field office for more than 12 hours. "People won't be able to get legal advice because the exhibits can't be examined," he said. "It will delay police, the defence and the prosecutions. It will clog up a legal system that is already clogged up." The trouble-plagued PathWest centre has been under fire since the McGowan government announced in May it would review 15 years of results after it was found a DNA profile bungle caused a WA man to be wrongly convicted of a home invasion in 2004. It was understood the DNA error had been uncovered 12 months before it had been reported to the Director of Public Prosecutions, and the bungle prompted an immediate review into PathWest's operations to determine if the error was an isolated issue. And in late March one of the state's top DNA scientists was sacked for "cutting corners" during testing at the state-run pathology centre. Dr Turbett said in the letter PathWest would "endeavour" to provide the reports earlier to police whenever possible. "However, WA Police have indicated that because of the delays in our provision of summary reports, there is less time available for them to conduct their investigations," he said. "Therefore, this delay with summary reports does have the potential to also affect our ability to provide full court reports." Dr Turbett said PathWest had recently recruited several forensic scientists through funding from WA Police. Opposition attorney-general spokesman Michael Mischin said it was "quite disturbing" that PathWest was allowed to drift into such dire straits. "The government needs to explain after it delivered its budget in September how it pinched money from the police budget just so scientists can do their job," he told WAtoday. "The Attorney-General (John Quigley) called PathWest a 'dog's breakfast'... well he and the Minister for Health (Roger Cook) have been in office for six months now so they need to explain how reports have blown out to 12 weeks." When asked by WAtoday if he was concerned innocent people could be left in remand for longer because of the delays in police reports, Mr Mischin said "quite possibly". "Forensic biology evidence like DNA is crucial for identifying the offender, but that person may have a potential defence that could be argued in a court," he said. "But because the reports are going to take 12 weeks that could delay the criminal justice system." Health Minister Roger Cook said the delay in reports was only "temporary". "We expect that PathWest will continue to deliver the services that WA Police require and that any possible delays will be worked through appropriately by both parties to minimise impacts," he said. "Our understanding is that court reports will continue to be met within agreed time frames, which means there is no change to the service delivery from PathWest to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. "Some of the challenges faced by PathWest were never resolved by the previous government. We are now left to work through these issues." Assistant Commissioner for State Crime, Michelle Fyfe, said the delays were due to the workloads generated from some ongoing homicide investigations. The sixth radio ratings survey result of 2017 has seen Mix 94.5 hold onto its crown as Perth's top rating radio station, despite Perth's talkback hosts clawing back some of the market share. Mix 94.5 has 13.7 per cent of the market, followed closely by Nova 93.7 with 12.3 per cent. The Austero-owned station dominated the midday airwaves but Nova claimed bragging rights for the top rating breakfast show with Nathan, Nat and Shaun and the number one drive show with Kate, Tim and Marty. Hit 92.9's market share dropped from 11.7 to 9.6 per cent, making them the equal third most popular radio station in Perth after Triple J jumped from sixth place last survey to also claim 9.6 per cent of the market. By PTI: Karachi, Oct 5 (PTI) Pakistan police today announced a reward of 500,000 rupees for information leading to the arrest of a helmet-wearing bike-borne attacker who has stabbed at least 12 women so far in the countrys financial capital. Wearing a helmet and riding a motorcycle, the attacker?s identity still remains a mystery for the Karachi police which claimed that it has rounded up 16 suspects. advertisement Panic has gripped the congested Gulistan-e-Jauhar area, the Gulshan-e-Iqbal and Shah Faisal town areas in Pakistans financial hub after the lone wolf attacker targeted at least 12 women and girls in the last 10 days, officials said. The attacker last night stabbed five women in different areas of the city. Police announced a reward of 500,000 rupees for information leading to the attackers arrest. Additional Inspector-General Karachi, Mushtaq Mahar, told the media that they were close to cracking the case. Mahar said initially the police felt the attacker might be suffering from a mental disorder but the coordinated manner in which he carried out the attacks last night in different parts of the neighbourhood suggested he had other motives. CCTV footage shows the attacker approaching women or girls from behind and stabbing them with a knife in the back or in some cases upfront before speeding away. "There have been at least five FIRs registered by some victims and their families at different police stations," Mahar said. Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has instructed the police to arrest the attacker soon. Asked if terrorists were involved in these incidents to spread fear and panic, SP Ghulam Murtaza Bhutto said the Ansarul Sharia Pakistan may be responsible for the attacks. He said the group might be trying to divert the attention of the law enforcement agencies. PTI CORR ZH --- ENDS --- Europe and Australia are demonstrating "wilful blindness" by sending more Afghan asylum-seekers back to their country even as it becomes more dangerous, Amnesty International says in a new report. Anna Shea, the report's author and Amnesty's researcher on refugee and migrant rights, said European countries were responding to political pressure to increase the number of deportations, sending men, women and even unaccompanied children back to Afghanistan at a time when violence was at a record high and no part of the country was safe.. Afghan army commandos train at the Shorab military camp in Helmand province, Afghanistan, last month Credit:AP "European governments are putting people at risk of torture, kidnapping, death and other horrors," she said. Ms Shea said they had seen examples of the dangers that returnees were exposed to. Amnesty researchers travelled to Afghanistan in May 2017 and found case studies such as Sadeqa, who was returned to Afghanistan by Norway with her family in mid-2016. By PTI: By Sajjad Hussain Islamabad, Oct 5 (PTI) Pakistan Army said today that India posed a "perpetual threat" to the country which has made its eastern border "unsafe". Army spokesman Major General Asif Ghafoors remarks came during a press briefing about security threats to Pakistan. Ghafoor said Pakistan faced different kinds of challenges on the eastern and western borders due to different nature of threat and the critical question was "whether the threat is because of a state or non-state actors". advertisement "Threats from India (in the east) are perpetual. We are a peaceful country and we do not want war with them, but we will defend ourselves and have the capability to do so," he said. He said the countrys eastern border had become "unsafe" due to repeated violations at the Line of Control, which he claimed are the highest than any year before. "India has also paid a price due to our response (on LoC) and we will continue to do so if it does not act with restraint," Ghafoor said. He said Pakistan cannot fire indiscriminately across the LoC as there are Kashmiri brothers on the other side as well. "So when there are casualties on that side, it is Indian soldiers and infrastructure. Nonetheless, war is not a solution, so we are talking to them [Indian officials] at all levels to stop this (LoC violations]," he said. He accused India of supporting militants. He highlighted the "strategic threat" on the western border with Afghanistan which kept the Army busy due to the threat of Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan militants and other non- state actors. "The western border touches both Afghanistan and Iran and our deployment is not against these countries but against non-state actors,? he said. He said Pakistan has eliminated militants stronghold and there was not "organised bases of any terrorist organisation in the country". He also said that unlike Pakistan more than 50 per cent of Afghanistan under control of rebels including who are targeting Pakistan. To a question about detained JuD chief Hafiz Saeed-backed Milli Muslim League party taking part in elections, he said that "every Pakistani has the right to participate in the polling process". He defended the role of the Army to work in aid of civil institutions but ruled out any possibility of direct intervention in political affairs. "Martial law should not even be talked about. We are busy in doing our duty as stated in the Constitution," he said. Ghafoor said the visit of army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa to Afghanistan on Sunday was successful. advertisement He said Pakistan hoped that with the improvement in the coordination, trust between the two countries would increase. To a question, he said that 12,000 Indians visited Pakistan to attend a congregation of Bohra community in Karachi last month. PTI SH NSA AKJ NSA --- ENDS --- By PTI: Islamabad, Oct 5 (PTI) Pakistan today refuted as "baseless" the remarks of a top US general who said the countrys intelligence agency ISI has connections with terrorist groups, media reports said. "The US government and army cannot make Pakistan a scapegoat for its failures in Afghanistan," Foreign Office Spokesperson Nafees Zakaria said, the Dawn newspaper reported. "It is clear to me that the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) has connections with terrorist groups," Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Joseph Dunford had told the US Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday. advertisement Zakaria said Pakistan has cleared its areas and begun a decisive offensive against terrorists on its soil. Calling Gen Dunfords statement "baseless", he said Pakistan has acted against terrorists indiscriminately. The top American general on Tuesday was joined by his Defence Secretary Jim Mattis in slamming the ISI. "We have seen havens left to the terrorists own devices. We have seen the government of Pakistan come down on terrorism, while ISI appears to run its own foreign policy," Mattis had said, acknowledging for the first time in public domain that ISI runs its own policy and does not seem to be controlled by the federal government. "The US is trying to blame Pakistan for its failures in Afghanistan," Zakaria said, according to the report. PTI KIS AKJ KIS --- ENDS --- Praia, Cape Verde | The Minister of Finance, the Director of the National Revenue Authority, the stakeholders of Customs - both public agencies and private operators - and the WCO, met on the 28th of September 2017 at the premises of the Ministry of Finance to officially launch the publication of the report on the Time Release Study held in June 2016 at the Port of Praia, as key achievement of the WCO-WACAM Project. The ceremony served as the opportunity to celebrate the achievements of the WCO-WACAM Project in Cape Verde. The project, funded by Sweden, effectively supported Cape Verde with the implementation of three measures of the WTO TFA, namely the establishment of the National Committee on Trade Facilitation (Article 23.2), Consultations through formal dialogue plaform (Article 2.2), and the undertaking of a Time Release Study (Article 7.6). Furthermore, the project enhanced the Customs Administrations capacities to effectively develop and implement an innovative Stakeholder Engagement Strategy and modern Communication Plan. In this regard, a team of external evaluators has qualified the projects support to Cape Verde as a model of capacity-building support based on partnership and ensuring that the beneficiary has full ownership of the modernisation process. The successful undertaking of the Time Release Study at the Port of Praia, which benefitted from the valuable guidance of the WCO, was a clear demonstration of the enhanced competencies of the Cape Verde Customs Administration in the area of stakeholder engagement. Indeed, Customs actively engaged all the relevant stakeholders involved in the clearance of goods at the Port of Praia in the scoping of the TRS, in the implementation of the study as well as in the report drafing efforts. This official publication of the report, which is available in Portuguese, French and English, allows Cape Verde to follow the requirements of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement related to Article 7.6. The TRS is a fundamental tool for Cape Verde, as it provides relevant entitities involved in the goods clearance process the opportunity to measure its performance and consequently the country performance in terms of trade facilitation. The WCO pays tribute to the dedication and continouous involvement of the Cape Verde Customs Administration throughout our collaboration, without which such achievements would not had been obtained. We would like to reiterate our readiness to continue this successful partnership with Cape Verde, based on solid relationships and mutual trust, said WCO Capacity Building Director, Mr. Ernani Checcucci, during the closing ceremony. The Minister of Finance, Mr. Oliveira, announced that, based on the good results achieved by the TRS, Cape Verde will invest to extend the exercise to all ports of the country. He further thanked the WCO for the effectiveness and quality of its support under the WCO-WACAM Project and thanked Sweden for financing the project. The Director of the National Revenue Authority, Mrs. Spares dos Santos Vaz, expressed her administrations interest to continue benefitting from WCO support under the project as it is now initiating the efforts to implement the recently developed Strategic Plan. For more information about this activity or the WCO-WACAM Project in general, do not hesitate to contact the WCO-Sweden Programme Director, Mr. Richard Chopra (Richard.chopra@wcoomd.org). Rescue officials fear that the death toll could rise, as the blast took place when there was a heavy rush of devotees who had gathered at the shrine to pay their respects. By Press Trust of India: At least 13 people were killed and nearly 20 others injured today when a suicide bomber blew himself up at a Sufi shrine packed with devotees in Pakistan's troubled Balochistan province, police officials said. The attacker tried to enter the Dargah Fatehpur in the Jhal Magsi district of Balochistan and blew himself up when he was stopped by the police at the main entrance, Deputy Commissioner Asadullah Kakar told the media. advertisement At least one policeman was killed. A senior Levies official confirmed that so far 12 bodies have been recovered from the blast site. DEATH TOLL COULD RISE, OFFICIALS FEAR Rescue officials fear that the death toll could rise, as the blast took place when there was a heavy rush of devotees who had gathered at the shrine to pay their respects. Thursdays are usually busy in terms of attendance at shrines. Balochistan Home Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti told the media that so far it appeared to be a suicide attack. An initial probe showed that the blast occurred when a sufi dance called dhamal was going in the premises of the shrine. No group claimed responsibility for the attack, but the Taliban usually target shrines as they consider them un-Islamic. The local administration declared an emergency at hospitals in Sibbi and Dera Murad Jamali. Today's is the second major attack at a shrine in Balochistan where in November 2016, at least 52 people were killed and 102 injured in a blast at the shrine of Shah Norani in Khuzdar district. (More inputs are awaited) ALSO WATCH | Trump slams Pakistan for harbouring terrorists, seeks bigger role for India in Afghanistan --- ENDS --- By PTI: By Shirish B Pradhan Kathmandu, Oct 5 (PTI) Ahead of the provincial and the federal elections in Nepal, the ruling Nepali Congress is likely to announce a coalition of right-wing forces with some smaller parties to counter the grand leftist alliance. The Nepali Congress, which has expressed readiness to be part of the proposed "democratic alliance", will hold a meeting tomorrow, as political parties continue to align according to their ideologies ahead of the crucial polls in the next two months. advertisement At least five political parties, including the Rastriya Janata Party Nepal (RJPN), the Federal Socialist Forum Nepal, the Rastriya Prajatantra Party Nepal and the Nepal Loktantrik Forum (NFL), have decided to forge an alliance with Nepali Congress to counter the grand leftist alliance. Their decision comes a day after the CPN-UML led by K P Oli, CPN (Maoist Centre) led by Prachanda and Naya Shakti Nepal led by Baburam Bhattarai announced a grand leftist alliance for provincial and parliamentary elections. The Rastriya Prajatantra Party Democratic is also likely to join the alliance. Fringe parties on both sides of the political spectrum such as the Rastriya Janamorcha and the Nepal Workers and the Peasant Party are under pressure to choose between the NC and the UML-led alliances due to sharp political polarisation. The grand leftist and rightist alliance is likely to make a big differences in theoutcome in the upcoming elections, point out political observers. Nepali Congress has called an emergency meeting of the partys central working committee tomorrow to discuss the matter, said Dhyan Govinda Ranjit, CWC member and Parliament Member from Nepali Congress. Meanwhile, Nepali Congress general secretary Sashanka Koirala has said that it is natural to forge a working alliance among the parties with common ideology prior to the elections. He also stressed the need for collaborating with democratic forces in the upcoming federal and provincial elections. Nepals Election Commission is preparing to hold provincial election on November 26 and federal election on December 5. PTI SBP KIS KIS --- ENDS --- After the National Green Tribunal's direction to the Delhi government to stop all protests at the Jantar Mantar area , the new place for sit-ins is another iconic place - the Ramleela Grounds at Ajmeri Gate. By India Today Web Desk: After the National Green Tribunal (NGT) direction today to the Delhi government to immediately stop all protests at the Jantar Mantar area in the national capital, the new place for sit-ins is another iconic place - the Ramleela Grounds at Ajmeri Gate. This is the second time when the official venue for protests in the national capital has been changed. Before Jantar Mantar, it was the historic Boat Club near Rajpath. The decision to shift the dharna venue from Boat Club to Jantar Mantar was taken in 1993 after the massive protests by Mahendra Singh Tikait in 1988. advertisement Tikait's supporters had laid siege at Boat Club for almost a week, posing security risk. Being quite close to Parliament, Rashtrapati Bhavan, prime minister's office (PMO), establishments of the armed forces and home, finance and external affairs ministries, the protest by Tikait and thousands of farmers at Boat Club had become a security hazard. Besides security risk, Tikait's protest had left the whole area in and around Boat Club polluted. The farmers had come along with their cattle and they would also cook their food and relieve themselves. To avoid such a scene from getting repeated, the protest venue was shifted in 1993 from Boat Club to Jantar Mantar which was close to Parliament but not close enough to pose any security risk. Yet the Jantar Mantar was close enough for the protestors to make their voice heard in the corridors of power in Lutyens' Delhi. Jantar Mantar has witnessed hundreds of protests since then, some of prominent ones being Anna Hazare's anti-corruption movement and the outpouring of people over the Nirbhaya gangrape case. Besides NGOs, groups and individuals, even politicians have protested at Jantar Mantar. Some of the protestors had made Jantar Mantar their permanent abode by erecting tents. Several loudspeakers blaring from all directions and simultaneous multiple protests was not unusual at Jantar Mantar. The security risk of Boat Club gave way to noise and air pollution at Jantar Mantar. Taking cognisance of this, the NGT has ordered immediate ban on all the activities of dharna, protest, agitations, assembling of people, public speeches, using of loud speakers and the likes at Jantar Mantar Road. These activities would now shift to Ramleela Grounds, which also had witnessed Anna Hazare's agitation for Jan Lokpal Bill in August 2011. Besides being far from the Lutyens' Delhi, Ramleela Grounds is situated in an area which is not strange to noise pollution. Also Watch : In a first, angry CISF jawan opens fire at Delhi Metro station --- ENDS --- By West Kentucky Star Staff Oct. 05, 2017 | 04:24 AM | MCCRACKEN COUNTY, KY A woman was injured Wednesday night when the motorcycle she was riding collided with a deer.According to the McCracken County Sheriff's Department, the collision happened at approximately 10:30 pm in the 8900 block of Old Mayfield Road. Deputies said 44-year-old James Green, of Boaz, was traveling south with a passenger, 42-year-old Jennifer Powell, also of Boaz.Green told police he saw a deer running into his path and tried to avoid hitting the animal, but could not. The impact with the animal caused Green to lose control, causing the motorcycle to overturn, ejecting him and Powell from the bike. Powell was transported to Baptist Health Paducah and then flown to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville for treatment of her injuries. Green was not injured. Police said Green and Powell were not wearing helmets at the time of the collision. By Suzanne Farmer Oct. 05, 2017 | 11:19 AM | PADUCAH, KY Lourdes Foundation and Mercy Health Foundation are donating $10,000 to bring the Reach Out and Read program to Mercy Pediatrics. This national program is designed to promote school readiness and early literacy skills. At each check-up between the ages of six-months to five years, children are given their own brand new, developmentally and culturally appropriate book from their pediatrician to take home. We are thrilled to be offering this program to our patients, says Dr. Holly Payne, Mercy Pediatrics Pediatrician. The program gives young children a foundation for success by incorporating books into pediatric care and encourages families to read aloud together. As recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics, Reach Out and Read equips parents with tools and knowledge to ensure that their children are prepared to learn when they start school. Mercy Pediatrics is the only Reach Out and Read program in the area. Lourdes Foundation and Mercy Health Foundation are proud to provide the funds for this program, says Jessica Toren, Lourdes Foundation President. We believe it will have a positive impact on the lives of children in our community. Studies show families served by the program read together more often, and their children enter kindergarten with larger vocabularies and stronger language skills, better prepared to achieve to their potential. Reach Out and Read was founded in 1989 and serves nearly 4.5 million children and families annually. By PTI: New Delhi, Oct 5 (PTI) The Supreme Court today referred to a five-judge constitution bench questions like whether a public functionary or a minister can claim freedom of speech while airing views in a sensitive matter which is under investigation. A bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra said the questions raised by senior advocates Harish Salve and Fali S Nariman were required to be dealt by a larger bench. advertisement The bench, which also comprised Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud, expressed concern over the misuse of social media platforms and said that people disseminated wrong information even about the court proceedings. Nariman, who is assisting the bench as an amicus curiae, concurred with the observation of the bench and said that a lot of misinformation and abuses are there on social media platforms and he has stopped looking at them. "I have deleted my Twitter account," Salve said, adding that once when he was appearing in a case related to a Christian medical college and the subsequent happenings on his Twitter handle forced him to delete it. He said now private players were more into infringing the privacy rights and such things are no more restricted to the state only. The court was hearing a plea filed by a man whose wife and daughter were allegedly gangraped in July last year on a highway near Bulandshahr, seeking transfer of the case to Delhi and lodging of an FIR against former Uttar Pradesh Minister Azam Khan for his controversial statement that the gangrape case was a "political conspiracy". The brutal incident had happened on the night of July 29 last year when a group of highway robbers stopped the car of a Noida-based family and sexually assaulted a woman and her daughter after dragging them out of the vehicle at gun-point. Salve had told the bench that ministers cannot have personal views on official business matters as whatever the person says, must reflect government policy. The apex court had earlier said it would consider whether the fundamental right of speech and expression would be governed under reasonable restriction of decency or morality or whether other preferred fundamental rights would also have an impact on it. The apex court had on July 31 asked the Attorney General to assist it on legal issues including whether a minister or a public functionary could claim freedom of speech while airing views in matters of official business of the State, such as criminal investigation. advertisement However, Khan had on December 15 last year tendered an "unconditional apology" for the remark, which the apex court had accepted. The top court had earlier proposed to refer to a constitution bench the issue whether a minister could claim refuge under the right to free speech while expressing views in matters of official business. PTI SJK ABA RRT ARC --- ENDS --- Advertisement By West Kentucky Star Staff Oct. 05, 2017 | PADUCAH, KY By West Kentucky Star Staff Oct. 05, 2017 | 02:38 PM | PADUCAH, KY If you've ever been to Pizza Inn on Joe Clifton Drive on a Monday night, you've probably heard of their weekly "Dough Raiser" events, and the totals from those events just passed a milestone. Since Larry Rust purchased the Pizza Inn franchise 25 years ago, he's worked to share success with local folks, and over the last ten years "Dough Raisers" have generated over $300,000 for local non-profits. "We live in good, caring community. We've got more than our share of restaurants but a lot of people are loyal to us. We've been blessed over the years and it's just our opportunity to give back," Rust said. At each "Dough Raiser," volunteers from the organization serve as wait staff at the restaurant from 4-8 pm, and Pizza Inn gives all of the tips received and 10 percent of that night's sales to the non-profit group. The average event raises about $1,000. The events are so popular that signing up for a Monday has become pretty competitive. Each year on the last Monday of October, organizations can reserve a date for their "Dough Raiser," so Rust said he expects a crowd on the morning of October 30. "We start taking them at 8 am on that last Monday, and there's usually about 50 people in line when I get there at 7 o'clock that morning. A lot of them are camping out like they're waiting for Black Friday to open, or something." Rust said. Rust said that morning is great chance to visit with others who are community-minded, and it's a whole lot of fun. He said, "Im proud of the money we have helped raise for dozens of outstanding organizations in this area, and Im hopeful well break our records this year and in 2018. Pizza Inn is located at 1001 Joe Clifton Drive. By West Kentucky Star Staff Oct. 04, 2017 | 08:03 PM | PADUCAH, KY For the second year in a row, the U.S. Capitol Christmas tree will make an overnight stop in Paducah during its trek from Montana to Washington, D.C.Every year, a different national forest is selected to provide the tree that appears on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol building for the Christmas season. This year's tree will be cut down in November in the Kootenai National Forest in Montana, to begin a journey involving more than fifteen communities along the way. The tree will arrive here on Wednesday, November 22 (Thanksgiving Eve) and will be available for viewing during the kickoff to Paducah Power Systems Christmas in the Park. Festivities during the trees visit will include the lighting ceremony for Christmas in the Park at 5:30 pm, followed by a Walk Under the Lights that will allow participants to see the lights up close. We are thrilled that the U.S. Capitol Christmas tree will visit Paducah for a second year, said Andrea Underwood, Director of Community Relations for Paducah Power System. The visit and lighting ceremony on the night before Thanksgiving gives families an opportunity to kick off the holiday season in a special way. Independence Bank will sponsor horse drawn trolley rides by Johns Pass Carriage Company. Lone Oak First Baptist Church will provide a shuttle service from the Park Avenue Kroger parking lot. All activities are free and open to the public. The U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree is made possible thanks to companies large and small as well as volunteers locally and across America, who provide vital support of time and resources. The tree will be cut in November and prepared for the more than 2,000-mile expedition, which includes a series of community celebrations and culminates with the official tree lighting in early December. Smaller companion trees also will be provided to decorate offices inside of the U.S. Capitol building and other sites throughout Washington, D.C., along with ornaments created by Montanans. For related news, events and tour information, and to track the tree cross-country, visit www.capitolchristmastree.com, along with Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. By West Kentucky Star Staff Oct. 05, 2017 | 06:01 AM | BALLARD COUNTY, KY The Americas Farmers Grow Rural Education program, sponsored by the Monsanto Fund, has partnered with local farmers to provide a $25,000 grant to Ballard County School District. To qualify for a Grow Rural Education grant, school districts had to be nominated by farmers in eligible counties to compete for a merit-based grant of either $10,000 or $25,000. Nominated school districts then submitted a grant application describing their STEM-focused project. The programs Farmer Advisory Council, consisting of approximately 30 farmer leaders from across the country with an interest in agriculture and education, reviewed the finalist applications and selected the winning school districts, including Ballard County School District. The Americas Farmers Grow Rural Education program works with farmers to help make their local communities a better place by preparing their students for successful careers, said Al Mitchell, Monsanto Fund president. The schools weve worked with tell us that the grants they receive through the Grow Rural Education program have real results. In many cases, students seem more excited and interested in what theyre learning and the programs funded by these grants have resulted in higher student engagement in STEM. In 2017, the Grow Rural Education program will award $2.3 million to deserving schools. Since the program began in 2011, it has awarded more than $14 million to more than 750 schools in rural communities across the United States. To view a complete list of winners or to learn more about the Americas Farmers Grow Rural Education program, visit GrowRuralEducation.com or follow along on Facebook at facebook.com/AmericasFarmers. Self-proclaimed godwoman Radhe Maa was today seen sitting on the seat of SHO at Delhi's Vivek Vihar Police Station. By India Today Web Desk: Accused in two separate cases including dowry harassment in Mumbai, self-styled godwoman Radhe Maa today got special treatment at a Delhi police station. The station house officer of the Vivek Vihar police station in Delhi today offered his seat to Radhe Maa and also wore her chunari as mark of his respect towards the controversial godwoman. advertisement Radhe Maa was also given a floral welcome at the East Delhi police station. She was seen sitting in the chair of the SHO while the officer stood next to her with folded hands. She visited the police station at around 1 am. It is believed that she went to the police station to discuss a matter pertaining to security. Following the incident, the DCP has ordered an inquiry and the SHO has been transferred to district lines.The policemen were also seen singing bhajans with Radhe Maa. #WATCH Policemen seen singing with self styled god woman Radhe Ma in Delhi's GTB Enclave pic.twitter.com/XOIAr2vKHf- ANI (@ANI) 5 October 2017 Last month, a Mumbai court had rejected her plea to remove her name as an accused in a case of dowry harassment filed by a city resident Niki Gupta in 2016. WHO IS RADHE MAA? The 48-year-old Radhe Maa was born in Gurdaspur district of Punjab as Sukhwinder Kaur, who studied till class IV. Sukhwinder Kaur was married off at 17 to one Mohan Singh. To support back up her husband's meagre earning, Sukhwinder Kaur stitched clothes as teenager. After Mohan Singh went to Qatar in search of better job, Sukhwinder Kaur, at 23, became a disciple of Mahant Ram Deen Das of 1008 Paramhans Dera of Mukerian in Hoshiarpur district. Ram Deen Das gave her the title of Radhe Maa after initiating her in tantric learning. Later, Radhe Maa moved to Mumbai and made it her base. She was at the centre of controversy in Mumbai after Niki Gupta complained to police that Radhe Maa incited her in-laws to harass her for dowry. OBSCENITY CASE In a separate case, a lawyer accused her of obscenity on the basis of videos showing her being lifted by followers while dancing to Bollywood songs. Radhe Maa has a temple to her name located about 2 km from the ashram of her guru at Mukerian. At Borivali, Radhe Maa has a palatial Radhe Maa Bhawan, where she holds various religious events every fortnight drawing hundreds of wealthy followers. advertisement Filmmaker Subhash Ghai and former FTII chairman Gajendra Chouhan are among the notable followers of Radhe Maa. Watch it here: Radhe Maa lands in police station. But, in style and in SHO's seat. --- ENDS --- Loading... Rachel Corrie was a 23 year-old American activist killed by an Israeli bulldozer on the Gaza Strip in 2003. A fresh-faced blonde, she became a symbol in the midst of that struggle a martyr to Palestinians, then facing a concerted campaign of demolition, but, for many Israelis, a naive interloper. She remains a contested figure even today. Outside the Young Vic, a protester pushes a leaflet my way, offering "the truth about the real Rachel Corrie." My Name is Rachel Corrie, first seen two years after her death, makes much the same claim. Edited by the late Alan Rickman and Guardian editor Katharine Viner, the play darts through the diaries Corrie wrote from the age of 12 upwards. The form makes it potent nothing if not honest. Diaries, being private, have no reason not to be. They're personal, not political, and whatever anyone makes of her standpoint, there's no denying what Corrie witnessed in Palestine children growing up surrounded by shellfire, farms razed without warning, soldiers shooting at will. Edited and staged, however, diaries become both public and politicised. Corrie's do more than relay events from Gaza. They introduce us to the person behind the headlines a superb writer with an easy style, an independent thinker and a deeply empathetic, engaged young woman. As we watch her growing up in Washington state, rattling off dead writers for dream dinner parties and working through teenage crushes and heartaches, she emerges as a thoroughly sympathetic figure long before she gets to Gaza. This being her diary, that's hardly surprising, but the play couches the entire conflict in Corrie's terms a young white woman walking towards gunfire, standing up to injustice. The brilliance of Josh Roche's JMK award-winning staging is that it balances the two honouring Corrie's personal politics and experiences while resisting a play that wants to politicise both. Erin Doherty's Corrie is a breezy, quirky presence, sometimes blustering, sometimes clear-sighted, but never anything less than likeable. She's also clearly privileged enough to pick and choose her causes and construct her identity. We see her trying on different outfits, but also shaping her environment, controlling the stage lighting or selecting a soundtrack on her portable stereo. Doherty's Corrie is, for the most part, in control of a story that isn't necessarily hers to tell. A crash helmet becomes a symbol of relative safety; a high-vis jacket, a mark of her political visibility. Doherty speaks into a microphone; Corrie's words are amplified. Where the Royal Court production sat Megan Dodds' Corrie on a mound of rubble, and the text itself took us back into her cluttered teenage bedroom, Sophie Thomas's design is an abstraction of both. A wooden stage seeped in red paint, it suggests both pink sunsets and pooling blood. Out of it sticks a slab of floorboards, 15 foot tall, that's both a bedroom wall, stapled with sketches, and Gaza's concrete slabs. Sometimes it's a headstone, sometimes the World Trade Centre, and sometimes the bulldozer barring Corrie's way. The image is of an individual dwarfed by world events, but nonetheless capable of sizing up to them. That's the charge that sticks as you exit however you see the world, whatever you stand for, what are you doing about it? My Name is Rachel Corrie runs at the Young Vic until 26 October. By PTI: (EDS: Repeating after changing a word in intro) New Delhi, Oct 4 (PTI) Rajnish Kumar was today named the new chairman of the countrys largest public sector lender State Bank of India (SBI), succeeding Arundhati Bhattacharya who completes her four-year term on Friday. Kumar, aged 59 years, is at present one of the four managing directors of the SBI. advertisement The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved his appointment as the SBI chairman for a period of three years from the date of taking over the charge on or after October 7, an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) said. Kumar, as the new head of the bank will have to tackle the issue of ongoing resolution of bad loans while supporting growth through increased lending. Huge non-performing assets (NPA) of public sector lenders is a major cause of worry for the government. Kumar joined the SBI board on May 26, 2015. Prior to this appointment, he was Managing Director ? Compliance and Risk, and Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of SBI Capital Markets Limited, the merchant banking arm of the bank, according to his biodata. He had earlier served as Chief General Manager, Project Finance and Leasing Strategic Business Unit, it said. Kumar has held several key assignments across various business verticals, including two overseas assignments in Canada and the UK. Bhattacharya became the first woman chairperson of SBI in 2013 for three years. She was given a years extension in October last year to ensure continuity as the SBI was then in the process of absorbing five associate banks. State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur, State Bank of Hyderabad, State Bank of Mysore, State Bank of Patiala, State Bank of Travancore and Bharatiya Mahila Bank merged with SBI on April 1, 2017. Kumar faces the daunting task of addressing the issue of massive NPAs of the bank. Gross NPAs of the public sector banks rose to Rs 6.41 lakh crore at the end of March 2017 as against Rs 5.02 lakh crore a year ago, according to a Finance Ministry data. As many as 1,762 wilful defaulters owed Rs 25,104 crore to State Bank of India as on March 31, 2017, it said. A wilful default occurs when a borrower does not honour an obligation despite having the capacity to pay or siphons off funds by disposing of assets without the knowledge of the bank. advertisement SBI and its erstwhile associates alone wrote off Rs 27,574 crore NPAs in 2016-17, according to a data by the Reserve Bank of India. PTI AKV SK SK --- ENDS --- By India Today Web Desk: The Hrithik Roshan-Kangana Ranaut saga is far from over. Recently, e-mails supposedly sent by Kangana to Hrithik resurfaced on the internet. And in one of the e-mails, dated August 25, 2014, there is a mention of a new player in the story - "RK", believed to be Ranbir Kapoor. The e-mail mentions "Rangu" (Rangoli, Kangana's sister) writing to Hrithik about the Queen actor being "friends with benefits" with a certain "RK", a thinly veiled reference to Ranbir. Apparently, Rangoli was keen that Kangana and Ranbir be in a relationship. This was because Rangoli had supposedly exchanged hostile mails with Hrithik, while Ranbir was very warm to her when they met. advertisement Ranbir never paid any attention to Kangana before Queen, according to the e-mail, and she even got "brotherly vibes" from him at times. However, all that changed when he saw her National Award-winning performance. When Kangana was in Gwalior shooting for Revolver Rani, Ranbir supposedly made a "slight straight forward approach" and expressed interest in her, although she turned him down and said that she was "in love" with someone else (Hrithik). The e-mail goes on to say that Kangana later "asked him if he'd be interested in a physical relationship", adding that a "regular relationship" was out of the question since she was in love with someone else. Kangana wrote, "I couldn't figure out why he got so pissed as he too was seeing kat (sic)." If it was not already clear that "RK" was Ranbir, the mention of "Kat" eliminates any doubts. It is no secret that Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif were in a long-term relationship that came to an end in 2016. Incidentally, a source close to Kangana told Mumbai Mirror in March 2016 that when her relationship with Hrithik had hit choppy waters, she was being wooed by a "young superstar". This was the same report where the friend claimed that Hrithik had proposed to Kangana in Paris. But it was perhaps Ranveer Singh who spilled the beans about Ranbir's 'fondness' for Kangana on a chat show that the two actors appeared in together. When the host, Karan Johar, asked Ranveer during the rapid fire who he would want to set Ranbir up with, he did not think twice before taking Kangana's name. He then went on to add, "Fireworks. He loves it." Meanwhile, Hrithik Roshan has finally opened up about his spat with Kangana. "An alleged 7-year-long, passionate affair between two high profile celebrities with no trail left behind. No evidence, no paparazzi pictures, no witnesses, not even a memento in possession like a selfie taken at the alleged engagement which is claimed to have happened in Paris in Jan 2014. Nothing that constitutes an exchange or any sort of proof of a romantic relationship. Yet we want to believe the other party because the rhetoric is - Why would a girl lie," he wrote. advertisement Kangana's lawyer Rizwan Siddiquee as well as her sister Rangoli hit back at the Bang Bang actor, post his clarification. ALSO WATCH: Hrithik Roshan and Kangana Ranaut's fight gets messier --- ENDS --- Williamson, WV (25661) Today Cloudy with periods of rain. High around 45F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a half an inch.. Tonight Cloudy. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 37F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Welcome to The Independent Herald E-Edition! Check back each week on Tuesday to see our[Read More] By PTI: Johannesburg, Oct 5 (PTI) Indian languages in South Africa may face extinction, a prominent educationist has said and called for urgent interventions to bring them back onto the countrys official curriculum. Arumugam Pillay, a retired subject adviser in Indian languages with the Department of Education, stressed that Indian languages needed to be spoken to keep them alive. advertisement "A language becomes extinct if it is not used for ordinary communication. Young, and even older Indians in South Africa, no longer communicate in their vernacular. Only a spoken language has a chance of survival. So how do we save Indian languages from becoming extinct in South Africa? The answer is simple: use the spoken form of the languages more often," Pillay said. He recalled how a survey carried out by the apartheid-era House of Delegates for Indians in the tricameral Parliament had shown that 91 per cent of parents were in favour of Indian languages being offered in schools at that time. Pillay was the guest speaker at an annual reunion hosted by the Chatsworth Vernacular School Institute, which was established in 1938 by descendants of the first Indians who arrived in South Africa in 1860 to work on sugar cane plantations. A bad period for Indian languages at South Africa schools began in 1994 when the educational systems in the country underwent changes with the advent of democracy under President Nelson Mandela. Educational policies under successive Ministers of Education, made no provision for the inclusion of Indian languages at schools as part of the syllabus. The focus shifted to the official introduction of English and ten indigenous languages, according to Pillay. Schools which wished to offer Indian languages had to do so outside of the official school hours, in the afternoons, as additional classes. This led to steady declines in learners taking up Indian languages, with less than 2,000 pupils currently registered for them, most of them at lower levels which were not continued as they progressed through high school. "It is disturbing and disheartening that at the end of 2016, only 177 learners sat for the matric (final year of schooling) exams in Indian languages," Pillay said. PTI FH NSA --- ENDS --- The UN officials, a statement said, praised Bangladesh and its people for helping the helpless Rohingyas and conveyed Bangladesh Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali about UN initiatives to raise funds to cover the increasing humanitarian needs. Executive Director of UNICEF Anthony Lake and Under Secretary General of the UN Office for the Coordination of the Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA) Mark Lowcock and Bangladesh Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali. By Sahidul Hasan Khokon: Bangladesh government solicited United Nations' full support for repatriation of Rohingya refugees as the UN agencies extended their humanitarian assistance for those who have fled after the latest spell of violence to erupt in Myanmar's insurgency-affected Rakhine state. Bangladesh Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali raised the issue when Under Secretary General of the UN Office for the Coordination of the Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA) Mark Lowcock and Executive Director of UNICEF Anthony Lake jointly met him at his office on Wednesday. advertisement Mark Lowcock and Anthony Lake, have just returned from Cox's Bazar after visiting the camps where the forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals have taken shelter. A statement of Bangladesh Foreign Ministry said Mahmood Ali told them that Myanmar's de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi's recently sent as her representative union minister U Kyaw Tint Swe, who conveyed their willingness to take back their nationals who took refuge in Bangladesh. The UN officials, the statement said, praised Bangladesh and its people for helping the helpless Rohingyas and conveyed Ali about UN initiatives to raise funds to cover the increasing humanitarian needs. The foreign minister said the number of forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals exceeded 9,00,000 as over 5,00,000 Rohingyas crossed into Bangladesh in just one month. 'Their presence is creating serious humanitarian challenge for Bangladesh,' the statement quoted him as saying. United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs- UNOCHA yesterday released an additional US$12 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to urgently help the most vulnerable people fleeing violence in Myanmar and their host communities in Bangladesh. "The people of Bangladesh have offered a generous welcome, but the current conditions in the camps are terrible. Without much more international assistance, the refugees, who have suffered greatly, could face a health catastrophe on top of the existing tragedy," Lowcock said during his visit to one of the refugee sites in Cox's Bazar. UNICEF earlier appeals for US$76.1 million to assist children in Bangladesh affected by the Rohingya crisis to cover the immediate needs of newly-arrived Rohingya children, as well as those who arrived before the recent influx, and children from vulnerable host communities -- 720,000 children in all. Up to 60 per cent of the 5,00,000-plus Rohingya who have fled Myanmar since August 25 are estimated to be children. IOM APPEALS $ 119.77 MILLION AID The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has appealed to the international community for 119.77 million US dollars to provide desperately needed aid as over 5,00,000 newly arrived Rohingya are now living in dire state in different makeshift camps at Cox's Bazar in Bangladesh advertisement The state-own news agency Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha-BSS, reported that, the speed and the magnitude of the influx since 25 August, when tens of thousands of Rohingya began fleeing violence in Northern Rakhine State, Myanmar, has resulted in a critical humanitarian emergency. The majority arrived with little or nothing, joining an estimated 300,000 that had fled in earlier waves of displacement, said an IOM press release on Wednesday. The UN Migration Agency at the request of the government of Bangladesh has been leading the Inter Sector Coordination Group, which is coordinating the humanitarian response to the influx of Rohingyas. This appeal outlines IOM's funding requirement from September 2017 to February 2018 as a part of the wider UN Humanitarian Response Plan, said the release. Prior to the latest influx, IOM was coordinating humanitarian assistance to some 200,000 Rohingyas living in makeshift settlements in Cox's Bazar and continues to support this population, as well as newer arrivals. With existing settlements in Cox's Bazar becoming dangerously congested and the small village's population tripling in a matter of weeks, IOM's response plan, targets an estimated 450,000 individuals (90,000 households) in two phases to ensure adequate protection before the next rainy season begins in March/April 2018. advertisement IOM is leading the site management sector in Cox's Bazar and its site developments aim to help 350,000 individuals. The UNHCR and international aid agency says, around 5,20,00 Rohingyas have entered Bangladesh after the latest spell of violence. The influx began on August 25 when Myanmar's military launched a crackdown in the northern Rakhine State over alleged terrorist attacks on its police outposts. ALSO WATCH | RSS chief Bhagwat on Rohingya: Humanitarian view at cost of one's security is not good --- ENDS --- A delay in Sasikala's parole appeal is allegedly caused due to certain conditions put forward by the Tamil Nadu government. By Pramod Madhav: As the last stage to attain parole for disputed General Secretary of AIADMK VK Sasikala is in process, the blame game for the delay falls upon Tamil Nadu government. Disputed AIADMK Deputy General TTV Dhinakaran decided to apply for 15 days parole to Sasikala after consulting with her brother Dhivakaran last week. The reason given was that Sasikala's husband M Natarajan was in a critical condition admitted to Global Hospital in Chennai. The given reason does allow jail authorities to grant parole to Sasikala as she was not convicted for hard crimes like murder. advertisement Yet an unexplained delay persisted. On 2nd October, TTV Dhinakaran stated that the bail has been applied for and was expecting Sasikala in a couple of days. But against his claim Sasikala parole plea was rejected at the last moments in technical grounds that a legal medical report was not submitted. Karnataka prison authorities later stated that once a fresh parole application is applied, verification requests would be placed to Tamil Nadu police and then the decision would be taken. Allegedly the Karnataka prison authorities have asked for only two verification viz where would Sasikala stay if she comes to Chennai, is the place adequate enough to hold a prisoner safely and the medical condition of Natarajan and details about the operation. From Sasikala's end, the location for her stay was stated to be the house of Ilavarasi's daughter house and the medical report verification was also done. Yet certain conditions were allegedly put forward by the state government through the authorities. A set of conditions including ones like Sasikala should be confined to her house and should travel only to hospital and return back, she should not hold any political meetings had been placed by Tamil Nadu government allegedly. An AIADMK leader called the conditions absurd and laughable. "Did Sanjay Dutt need to go through such conditions? Why such conditions only for her?", he questioned. Information from the government machine stated that CM Edapadi K Palanisamy is not at all amused by her arrival as she still holds the power to sway a good number of MLAs to her side. More importantly before Sasikala could attain parole, OS Manish, minister for handloom has said that he wouldn't hesitate meeting her. At a time when nothing is certain in Tamil Nadu with multiple cases over the disqualification of the MLAs and floor test, Sasikala's entry would definitely have a major impact. Hence the state government has reportedly placed many conditions along with the verification documents. --- ENDS --- Ben Maynard was recognized as the Kiwanis Sunrisers of Winona 4-H Youth Representative for the month of September. Ben is a senior at Rushford-Peterson High School and the son of Scott and Kristie Maynard of Winona. He is a member of the Pleasant Busy Bees 4-H Club and has served as the club president for the past two year. Throughout Bens time as a Winona County 4-Her, he has exhibited dairy, rabbit, poultry, aerospace, food and nutrition and photography projects at the Winona County Fair and attended the state fair multiple times. Ben also has participated in 4-H workshops and Winter Project Day, which helped him learn that he really likes to work with other people and learn new things. There is something for everyone to participate in even if you dont live on a farm, Ben said, adding that 4-H has given him the opportunity to be a leader and to find out what he enjoys doing. It has also given him the opportunity to meet new people. Winona Sunrisers Kiwanis Club honors one outstanding Winona County 4-H member during its breakfast meeting the fourth Wednesday of each month. The club meets on a weekly basis every Wednesday at 7 a.m. at the Winona Family Restaurant in Winona. Classes were held outdoors next to the Mississippi River near the spillway at Prairie Island Park. Presenters included Ranger Ed Lagace from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, who spoke about native turtles, and Saint Marys University GeoSpatial Services staff, who taught about compasses and handheld GPS. One person was injured in a two-vehicle accident in Lake City Tuesday afternoon. Around 4:24 p.m. Tuesday, Ethel J. Lambert, 89, of Wheeler, Wis., was driving east on 10th Street in Lake City, Minn. in a 2013 Lincoln MKX and failed to yield at the stop sign. She struck a northbound 1998 Dodge Dakota, driven by Jochen Klaus Schneider, 69, of Red Wing, Minn. Lambert was taken to Lake City Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The Lake City Fire and Police Departments and ambulance service assisted the Minnesota State Patrol on the scene of the accident. By PTI: (Eds: update with more info) New Delhi, Oct 5 (PTI) Suggesting a major overhaul of corporate governance norms for listed companies, a Sebi panel today recommended limiting chairmanship to only non-executive directors and appointing at least one woman as independent director. While the proposal for only non-executive director being allowed to be made chairman would eventually lead to a split in the posts of chairman and managing director, the committee also suggested increasing the minimum board strength to six members and the number of board meetings to five in a year. advertisement The current rules require that there must be one woman on board, irrespective of her being an independent or executive director. They also call for having at least half of board members as independent directors, up from one-third currently. The suggestions assume significance in the backdrop of alleged corporate governance-related issues at Tata Group and Infosys. Besides, the panel headed by eminent banker Uday Kotak also suggested a minimum remuneration of Rs 5 lakh per annum for independent directors and a sitting fee of Rs 20,000- 50,000 for each board meet. It also sought to make it mandatory to seek public shareholders approval for annual remuneration of executive directors from promoter family if the amount exceeds Rs 5 crore or 2.5 per cent of the companys net profit. In case of more than one such director, the same condition would apply for aggregate annual remuneration exceeding 5 per cent of the net profit. The approval of shareholders will be required every year in which the annual remuneration payable to a single non- executive director exceeds 50 per cent of the total annual remuneration payable to all non-executive directors. The capital markets regulator Sebi (Securities and Exchange Board of India) has sought public comments till November 4 on the panels recommendations, which run into 177 pages and covers a host of issues. The panel has suggested at least half of board members to be independent directors at listed companies, while all directors must attend at least half of board meets. It suggested for new disclosure norms, where listed entities would have to give detailed reasons for resignation of an independent director. The companies should be required to disclose the list of competencies/expertise that its board members actually possess. Besides, public shareholders nod would be must for non- executive directors over 75 years of age. The panel, which submitted its report today, was set up by Sebi in June this year with a view to enhancing the standards of corporate governance of listed entities in India. advertisement The committee consisted of officials from the government, industry, professional bodies, stock exchanges, academicians, lawyers and proxy advisors. The committee was asked to submit its report within four months. The terms of reference of the committee were to make recommendations to Sebi on various issues including ensuring independence in spirit of independent directors and their active participation in functioning of the company. Besides, the suggestions are aimed at improving safeguards and disclosures pertaining to related party transactions. They also cover issues in accounting and auditing practices by listed companies and seek to improve effectiveness of board evaluation practices. The report also seeks to address issues faced by investors on voting and participation in general meetings, and disclosure and transparency related issues. The panel suggested that all listed entities which have public shareholding of 40 per cent or more at the beginning of a fiscal year should ensure that the chairperson should be a non-executive director from April 1, 2020, while chairperson should be a non-executive director for all the listed companies from April 1, 2022. It also recommended that the top 100 companies by market capitalisation should webcast their shareholder meeting. advertisement Also, it suggested that the minimum number of audit committee meetings be increased to five every year from the current four. It must review the use of loans, advances and investment by holding firm if it exceeds Rs 100 crore. The panel recommended that top-500 listed companies should have a risk management committee of boards for cyber security. In addition, listed entities should constitute an information technology committee that will focus on digital and other technological aspects. Listed firms should have cash flow statement every six months and disclosure of quarterly consolidated earnings should be must. The companies board should at least once a year discuss succession planning and risk management. The panel recommended that all the disclosures made by the listed entity should be in a searchable format that allows users to find relevant information easily. It suggested that all disclosures should be in XBRL format. "The committee is of the opinion that an updated list of all credit ratings obtained by the listed entity be made available at one place, which would be very helpful for investors and other stakeholders," it noted. advertisement The board of directors of a company with more than 1,000 shareholders and any other security holders at any time during a fiscal would have to form a stakeholders relationship committee for resolving the grievances of stakeholders. PTI SP BJ MKJ --- ENDS --- Over there it began in August 1914. England, France and Russia were locked in a death struggle with Germany and Austria-Hungary, triggered by shots fired by a Serb fanatic. For nearly three years the United States managed to hold itself aloof from the conflict that raged in bloody stalemate across the trenches in Europe. Fostered by atrocity stories promulgated by the French and British, heightened by Germanys declaration of unrestricted submarine warfare, American public sentiment and political will shifted against the Germans. As winter turned to spring, relations between the United States and the Central Powers deteriorated rapidly and disastrously. Spurred by the interception of a German diplomatic note that dangled the American southwest before the Mexican government as the potential spoils of war, President Woodrow Wilson went to the Congress to ask for a declaration of war. On April 6, 1917, Congress complied. The debate for peace or war is closed, the Republican Herald declared, The time has arrived for all to demonstrate their loyalty to the nation and government. For many in Winona, the outbreak of war was a painful thing. In a 1982 paper, Paul Buhl noted that among Minnesota cities, only Shakopee and New Ulm had higher percentages of residents of German descent. As recently as 1905, one out of 10 residents of Winona County was German-born. On April 10, the Westlicher Herold, a German language newspaper, editorialized that while German-Americans would be loyal and do their duty to the nation, they could not be expected to greet the war with open arms and a smile on their face. That loyalty was demonstrated on May 2, when the German Veterans Club, an organization of immigrant veterans of the Imperial German Army, proudly took its place in the line of march for the Winona Loyalty Parade. No sooner was war declared than the call went out for volunteers to train to go over there. Faced with the challenge of fielding a million man army in a matter of months, it was apparent that a draft would be needed to supplement recruitment of volunteers. As a draft bill was hurried through Congress, it appeared that at least 2,200 men between the ages of 21 and 30 would be drafted from Winona County. But many young men, fired by patriotism or seeking adventure, were not about to wait for Uncle Sams invitation and hurried to enlist. One of them, Herbert Hess, found himself at Jefferson Barracks, Mo., within weeks of Wilsons call for war. By May 14, his account of his first days in uniform was published in the local paper: We arrived at the Barracks Tuesday at 9:40 p.m. Our first orders were to retire. We did not argue, as we had traveled all Monday night and all Tuesday. Wednesday morning there was a hungry mob of recruits from the Middle West who lined up for breakfast. Sausage, potatoes, bread, syrup ans sweetened coffee was our first menu. After breakfast, we received orders to wait around the barracks until assigned to some section. It was dinner time, and still the Winona boys were not chosen. Our first dinner consisted of hash, a square of butter, bread potatoes and coffee. After dinner, we were assigned to our sections and were examined. If you survive the mild tests of weight, height, bending, hopping, kicking, heels on rears, vision, heart, lungs, with the slight provisions of being absolutely virtuous, sound of body and head, then , if you can not recall any broken bones, you have the grand and glorious feeling of raising your right hand above your head and solemnly swearing. Every Winona lad passed the examination and took the oath. We then had a course in penmanship, signing various papers, and were ushered into the operating room to be shot. Everyone seemed to be in the best of humor and we grinned as the needle tickled our arms. It was a pleasure as well as a revelation to discover that all the lies that they told about the examination were not true. Other men were more patient. In July, 1918, American troops had been in combat in France for nearly two months when 150 Winona County men selected to join General Pershing and the American Expeditionary Force on the battlefields in France departed on the Chicago and Northwestern bound for basic training at Camp Wadsworth, S.C. The Republican-Herald reported the send off given the departing men, Attny. L.L. Brown addressed the selects. He paid high tribute to the men who have been chosen to represent Winona County in the July call for 10,000 selects from the state of Minnesota and declared he felt sure the boys would give a good account of themselves. In a fatherly way he offered a few suggestions to the draftees for both the physical and moral welfare and remarked that he considered that each man should feel honored to be chosen by the war department to represent this county in fighting in such an honorable cause. Several appreciated gifts were received by the men. Red Cross kits were given by the local Red Cross chapter, while local medical companies furnished the selects with useful toilet articles. Testaments, a gift from the Young Peoples Sailors and Soldiers Testament committee of Minneapolis, were distributed. The draft of July 1918 took nearly 4,000 Minnesota men to Camp Wadsworth near Spartanburg, S.C.. After a months preliminary training they were transferred to Camp Stewart, Newport News, Va., and a large number were assigned to the Third Pioneer Infantry regiment. The regiment, 3,400 strong, embarked for France on Aug. 20, arriving at Brest, Sept. 20. A Baraboo man was tased and arrested after he threatened to kill an officer in a Lake Delton tavern, authorities say. Prosecutors have charged Tezmar Caldwell, 32, with threatening a law enforcement officer, disorderly conduct and bail jumping in relation to an incident Sunday night. According to the criminal complaint, Lake Delton Police Department officers were called to Bobbers Bar and Grill just before 8:30 p.m. for a fight in progress. Two bar patrons allegedly told the officers Caldwell was intoxicated, and that one of them had recently used a choke hold to subdue him during an altercation. An officer reported that he introduced himself to Caldwell and explained why he was there before asking him to leave. He allegedly told Caldwell there would be no further action taken if he left. Using several expletives, Caldwell threatened to beat the officers up, according to the complaint. An officer reported that he continued to give Caldwell the chance to leave peacefully, but he would not. Caldwell allegedly made a gun shape with his hand, pointed it at one of the officers, swore at him and alleged the officer had once pulled him over in his $100,000 car. He then threatened to kill one of the officers, prosecutors say. One of the officers reported that Caldwell appeared poised to fight. They arrested him and one of them deployed his Taser while attempting to restrain him, according to the complaint. After he was taken to the squad car, Caldwell allegedly threatened the lives of both officers, saying Im going to buy a gun so I can kill yall (expletives). In court Wednesday, Sauk County Assistant District Attorney Sue Mueller requested a cash bail for Caldwell, saying he had a violent history and was very uncooperative upon arriving at the jail. Public defender Leonie Dolch said Caldwell has ties to the area, works, and says he has never missed court dates in prior cases. She requested a signature bond, or a cash bond of $200 or less if one was necessary. Sauk County Circuit Court Judge Wendy Klicko set Caldwells cash bail at $200. If released, he must maintain absolute sobriety and not leave the state. Caldwell is scheduled to return to court Nov. 10. Caldwell also is facing misdemeanor domestic battery and disorderly conduct charges related to an Aug. 22 incident. JUNEAU Closing statements will begin this morning in the case against a 50-year-old Watertown man who is charged with providing the heroin that led to the death of a Clyman woman in 2016. Terrence Jannke did not testify before defense attorney William Mayer rested his case Wednesday afternoon. Jannke is charged with first-degree reckless homicide, maintaining a drug trafficking place as a party to a crime, second and subsequent offense and possession with intent to deliver heroin, second and subsequent offense. If convicted on all counts, he faces up to 56 years in prison and up to $135,000 in fines. According to the criminal complaint, officers were called to Watertown Memorial Hospital on May 31, 2016, to investigate the death of Holly Nehls, whose body had been brought to the hospital earlier that day. Officers were directed to a maroon 2010 Dodge Charger that was secured with police crime scene tape; Nehls body was in the front passenger seat. Officers learned that Gabriel Brandl had brought Nehls body to the hospital at approximately 10:30 a.m. The complaint states that Brandl told officers Nehls had died of a heroin overdose. Hospital staff informed officers that Nehls was dead upon arrival. Brandl was interviewed by officers and according to the complaint he identified Jannke as his primary drug dealer. Brandl told officers that he and Nehls had bought heroin from Jannke the previous afternoon. He said they went to Clyman Park at approximately 3:30 p.m. and Jannke arrived at 5:30 p.m. The complaint states that Brandl told police he and Nehls bought heroin, but he thought it looked like it had been mixed with something. Brandl allegedly told officers he reluctantly helped Nehls inject the heroin and gave her half a dose. He said that about 10 minutes after the injection, Nehls was out of it. Brandl and Jannke drove around with Nehls in the car for about three hours before the two went to Jannkes home in Watertown to use more drugs. Brandl told officers he went to Walmart when he noticed that Nehls was no longer breathing. He allegedly told officers he tried to give her CPR in attempts to revive her, but she was already dead. Brandl, who testified on Tuesday in the case, is incarcerated at the New Lisbon Correctional Instution after being sentenced to seven years for giving Nehls the fateful dose of heroin. An active duty Marine with ties to Beaver Dam, Jake Bublitz is pursuing his dream of being a musician. JP Guhns is how he is known in music circles. JP is a nickname he received during his childhood in Beaver Dam He graduated from Beaver Dam High School in 2006 and Guhns was adapted from his former call sign, Young Guns. He currently serves as a drill instructor at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island in South Carolina. He has served with the Marines in Iraq and Afghanistan and several other places around the world. Music was his first love, and he has carried his black Ibanez guitar with him wherever he has served. In moments when he wasnt preparing to fight or fighting, he would strum his guitar and think of his wife, Amanda, and their two small girls. It was during those introspective times that he started writing songs. His themes are blue collar, sung with a twang not native to Wisconsin. His singing accent is, in fact, more southern than northern. His old friends are working class, and they are struggling in tough times. Im a storyteller, Bublitz said in an interview with the Island Packet, a Hilton Head Island (S.C.) newspaper. I kind of talk about the economy. When I go to Wisconsin I got guys who are losing their jobs, you know, that are still trying to take care of their families. His song, Good Friends and Whiskey, deals with a break-up and a job loss and turns to a late-night patrol and a midnight dance in hell. His military life is also revealed in the lyrics, I never felt so alone/Than when my buddy fell. I had never lost a Marine before that happened, he said. He took a trip to Nashville this summer as one of five finalists in the Mission: Music contest organized by veterans media site We Are the Mighty and military financial service provider USAA. Although he did not win, he did trade business cards with music industry executives, got to record at a studio on Music Row and played at the Commodore Grilles nightly Songwriter Round & Open Mic to an appreciative crowd. An earlier song, Smile, was written as a love letter to his wife during a long separation. His focus remains firmly on his military career and his family. He and Amanda met while serving in the Corps in Okinawa, Japan. Still, hes recording an EP in Florida thats due out soon, and he continues to write songs and perform as time and opportunity allow. For the latest, visit JP Guhns Music on Facebook. While aid has been slow to reach Puerto Rico, President Donald Trump continues to praise his emergency response efforts. It's reminiscent of former President George W. Bush's praise for then-FEMA director Michael Brown who botched the response to Hurricane Katrina. The Rev. Dave Mowers is using a 21st-century word to describe efforts to revitalize a Portage congregation that dates back to the 19th century. He wants the church to reboot. St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church, 211 W. Pleasant St., faces challenges common to many churches, said Mowers, vicar of St. John the Baptist and rector of Trinity Episcopal Church in Baraboo. There are about 35 members in the Portage parish, and there are about 15 in the pews on a typical Sunday, Mowers said. The church has not had a regular clergy presence for years. And while the church continues to serve the community in a variety of ways such as hosting a shelter for homeless men in the rectory and, until about a year ago, hosting the Portage Food Pantry the outreach could be much stronger, Mowers said, if the church could grow, numerically and spiritually. Thats where the reboot comes in. Heres what it will look like: Starting Nov. 5, worship time will be changed to 3:30 p.m. Mowers will lead worship with the Eucharist three Sundays of each month tentatively, the first, second and third Sundays with lay-led Matins (prayers) held on the fourth and fifth Sundays. At least occasionally, the Sunday afternoon worship service will be followed by an early evening meal, when participants can engage in fellowship, and possibly also education, Bible study and prayer. The church will inaugurate a nursery, so parents with preschool-age children can attend worship without wrangling the kids, Mowers said. The home page for the churchs website will be updated to be more user-friendly. Over time, Mowers and the St. John the Baptist parishioners will enter into conversations about other ways the parish can reach out to Portage. We are called to extend works of mercy into Portage, so that people can know the Lords mercy in their daily lives, he said. St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church has been a Portage presence since 1853. The church building, of Victorian Gothic architecture, was completed in 1898, and built of cream-colored brick to replace a wooden church that had burned down. Susan Wenger, bishops warden for the parish, was confirmed in the church and has been a member for many years. She lives a short walk from the parish, and the back-lighted stained glass windows facing West Pleasant Street including a 1893 rose window from the Chicago Worlds Fair have long been a familiar nighttime sight for her. Its the people of the parish, she said, who have kept her in the fold. I guess its another family that Ive committed to, she said. Mowers said the commitment of the churchs remaining members is a key reason why the parish is moving in the direction of revitalization, instead of closing its doors as many churches with decreasing and aging memberships have done. While the congregation is open to including new members, revitalization isnt solely a matter of filling the pews on Sunday and boosting participation and collections. I want this church to be a vital place, where people find ways to be in friendship and community with each other, Mowers said. At a time in U.S. history when fewer people are turning to institutionalized religion of any kind the Pew Research Center reports that people with no religious affiliation, also called Nones, represent a fast-growing segment Mowers said he envisions St. John the Baptist as a place where people can find a relationship with Christ. We anchor on Jesus his incarnation, his death, his resurrection, Mowers said. But we also are a community that values peoples ability to think and question. Wenger said she has hope for her parishs future as a result of the reboot. I hope the congregation builds up, and that we get younger people in here, to keep going for another 150 years, she said. Mowers added, We need Gods help. The Portage Community School District predicts good news for taxpayers. Current data reflect a tax rate of $9.29 per $1,000 of equalized value, a 1.2 percent reduction from the $9.40 residents paid in 2016-17. The projected tax rate for 2017-18 would amount to $929 for a $100,000 home. The budget will not be finalized until a special school board meeting is held at 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 23. The main items the school district is waiting on before finalizing its budget include property values, state aid and private voucher students, Business Director Margaret Rudolph said Tuesday. Rudolph reported the per-pupil spending rate is expected to remain at the same rate as last year and the year before that at $9,320. Thats lower than what school districts were able to spend per student in 2011, said District Administrator Charles Poches. He said school officials across Wisconsin had been hopeful the latest state budget would include an increase in the revenue limit, resulting in more resources for students, but Gov. Scott Walker vetoed plans for that. Portages projected per-pupil rate does not factor in referendum dollars, which will be calculated later this month. Portage voters in April 2016 passed a five-year referendum that allows the district to exceed the state-mandated revenue limit by up to $2.6 million each year. Last year the district used $2.3 million instead of the full $2.6 million. Were fortunate to have support from the public, Rudolph said of the referendums. Enrollment declined by 104 students, though most of those losses were attributed to relocations and graduations, Rudolph said. We have a more mobile society than we did in the past, she said of the dip in enrollment. Due to per-pupil aid from the the state, fewer students equates to less money to spend on programming. Last year, 24 Portage students used the Wisconsin Parental Choice Program, all of them choosing St. Johns Lutheran School in Portage. The loss of those students cost the district $176,000 in state aid. This years private-school voucher cap rises from 1 percent to 2 percent, and the district could see its voucher costs double to a maximum of 48 students, Poches said. Pay increases for all staff, including administrators, averaged 2 percent. Projections of the school tax rate in past years very often held true, but this years loss of 104 students could bump this years tax rate up from the projected $9.29, Rudolph and Poches said. But even if the school tax rate climbs higher, it should remain lower than last years. Its hard to tell because there are so many variables still in play, Poches said, but we feel confident the numbers will hold. By PTI: New Delhi, Oct 5 (PTI) India today asked Ukraine to simplify its visa regime for Indian students and others at a meeting of the foreign ministers of the two countries here. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and her Ukrainian counterpart Pavlo Klimkin held discussion on key bilateral and regional issues. "Strengthening bilateral ties with a friendly country, EAM @SushmaSwaraj welcomes FM of Ukraine Pavlo Klimkin on his official visit to India," Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted. advertisement "At the delegation level talks, EAM @SushmaSwaraj urged simplification of visa process for Indian students and others going to Ukraine," he said. There are over 8,000 Indian students enrolled in various Ukrainian medical/technical universities. PTI PYK SMN SMN --- ENDS --- Even after the Election Commission said it is 'logistically equipped' to conduct simultaneous polls for Lok Sabha and state assemblies, it is still a far cry from reality. Here's why. By Kumar Shakti Shekhar: The Election Commission on Wednesday said it would be "logistically equipped" by September 2018 to hold simultaneous polls for Lok Sabha and state assemblies. It has given rise to speculation that simultaneous elections would indeed be held by May 2019 when the term of Narendra Modi's government would be over. However, holding simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha and the state assemblies may be a far cry in the near future. The Election Commission may be logistically ready by September 2018 to conduct simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections but it is just a minor issue. advertisement Election Commissioner OP Rawat said the poll panel has already placed the order for the purchase of new EVMs and VVPAT (Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail) machines after receiving funds from the Centre. The commission would get 40 lakh VVPAT machines by September 2018 , he added. Rawat said the commission had received Rs 3,400 crore for VVPAT machines and Rs 12,000 crore for EVMs. The Election Commission may not have any problem but the major hurdles for conducting simultaneous elections are yet to be surmounted. "The simplest step has been taken but the most difficult ones are yet to be achieved," sources in the Election Commission said. 1. POLITICAL CONSENSUS Creating a political consensus for simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and the state assemblies is the first and biggest hurdle for the Modi government. The terms of different state governments are ending on separate dates and years. To hold simultaneous elections, the Centre will have to make some states agree to curtail the terms of their houses while others to extend theirs. While extension may not be a problem, curtailment of Assembly terms may be a major issue. Moreover, the state governments are ruled both by the BJP and its NDA partners on the one hand and the opposition parties on the other. While making the BJP-ruled states (such as Uttar Pradesh and Goa which go to polls in 2021) to curtail their Assembly terms may not be very difficult, making the state governments ruled by the NDA allies (such as Bihar which goes to polls in 2020) and the opposition parties (such as Punjab which goes to polls in 2022 and Delhi which faces elections in 2020) would be a herculean task for the government. 2. CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS No move is afoot yet to bring about constitutional amendments for holding simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. Several constitutional amendments are required to see the plan through. For instance, Article 83 of the Constitution provides for the tenure of both Houses of the Parliament (Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha). Article 83(2)11 provides for a term of five years for Lok Sabha, from the date of its first sitting unless dissolved earlier. advertisement Similar provisions under Article 172 (1) provides for five year tenure for State Legislative Assembly from the date of its first sitting. Further, the proviso to Article 83 (2) of the Constitution provides that when a proclamation of emergency is in operation, the term of the House may be extended for a period not exceeding one year at a time by Parliament by law and not extending in any case beyond a period of six months after the Proclamation has ceased to operate. Similar provision also exists for State Legislative Assembly under the proviso to Article 172 (1) of the Constitution. Article 85 (2)(b) of the Constitution of India provides the President with the power to dissolve Lok Sabha. Similar provision for dissolution of State Legislative Assemblies by the Governor of State is provided under Article 174 (2)(b). Further, in respect of premature dissolution of a State Legislative Assembly, Article 356 is also relevant. The Representation of People Act 1951, which covers various modalities of conducting elections in the country, also needs to be amended. Section 14 of the Act provides for the notification for General Elections to the Lok Sabha. advertisement The proviso to the Section 14(2) states: "... Provided that where a general election is held otherwise than on the dissolution of the existing House of the People, no such notification shall be issued at any time earlier than six months prior to the date on which the duration of the House would expire under the provisions of clause (2) of Article 83." 3. LEGAL AMENDMENTS No move has been made yet to bring about legal amendments for holding simultaneous elections. There are several steps before legal amendments are made. A study will have to be commissioned and undertaken. The draft will have to be passed by the Union cabinet. Further, a Bill to amend the laws and rules will have to be passed in both houses of Parliament. This will have to be followed by the president's approval. But crossing these three hurdles, particularly creating political consensus, may not be as easy as they appear. Simultaneous elections are not expected to be held in the near future, at least not by September 2018 or perhaps even May 2019. --- ENDS --- The investigation says that before GRP officials could reach the spot the damage was already done. By Divyesh Singh: The stampede at the Elphinstone Road railway station's foot over bridge which led to death of twenty people including children wasn't due to anyone's fault but an unfortunate incident, states Mumbai police. The Dadar police station investigating the case has found that there was no dereliction of duty from the railways, government railway police (GRP) or the railway protection force (RPF). advertisement Joint Commissioner of Police, Law and Order, Deven Bharti said, "In the investigation there is no dereliction of duty from any of the railway or police officials present at the station. The area where the stampede took place is beyond CCTV, so one can see the crowd near the booking office but not what was happening on the bridge beyond that". According to sources, the stampede was caused as some people slipped at the exit leading to fall of those trapped in between. Then there were some sacks of flowers which fell leading to further chaos on the spot and frenzy amongst people to rush out. Police have found four witnesses in the case and have also spoken and recorded their statements, but as of now all the government machinery gets a clean chit in the investigation. Police also say that in their investigation they found that, some railway official informed the station master that there was a huge chaos on the foot over bridge, and station master informed the GRP to rush to the spot. The investigation says that before GRP officials could reach the spot the damage was already done. Another major point is that an RPF personnel was present near the booking office but he was helpless as the crowd was massive and he had no idea what was going on the bridge. Also,there was a hawker present at the spot whose statement has been recorded by the police. Confirming this, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Sunil Deshmukh said, "The occurred between 10:26 and 10:35 am. There was a large crowd already on the bridge, and as it was raining, people weren't exiting. The crowd suddenly became restless when trains arrived resulting in pushing and pulling". He added, "It was during this time when people slipped and fell off, and the stampede took place. People were trampled and sandwiched due to pressure at both ends". Eventually, it seems that twenty three lives were lost and there is no one at fault. A case of accidental death is registered, and this would remain so if no one is found guilty for the deadly stampede. advertisement WATCH VIDEO | Elphinstone stampede: Phool gir gaya remark misheard as pul gir gaya a possible trigger? --- ENDS --- 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 Why would you break your fabulous fashion-spree with this outfit, Sush? By Shivani Chhabra: The diva that Sushmita Sen is, she seldom gives us a chance to not be pleased with her choice of outfits, and today is one such day. Recently, this starlet bestowed upon us some ethereal looks that we've not been able to get over and so her fashion mistake this time has really taken us by surprise. advertisement From a sensual black gown to a sublime traditional Indian attire, there's nothing this woman cannot pull off like a total boss, and we couldn't admire her any more for that. Also Read: We don't know how Sushmita Sen is walking so gracefully in that black gown While she has been at the top of her style game and our hearts for some time now, her latest look for a public appearance comes as a complete downer. Recently, Sush was in Kuwait for an event, and her all-red look was quite garish, to say the least. I love the #saunter that often declares #showtime ?????????????????yours truly styles herself for this evening in #carolinaherrera ???????? lady in RED celebrating the color & spirit of #Danube ????????#kuwait #showtime ????????????mmuuuaaah!!!! A post shared by Sushmita Sen (@sushmitasen47) on Oct 4, 2017 at 12:46pm PDT The dusky beauty wore a blazing red number by Carolina Herrera, and it was sort of eye-pinching, thanks to the not-so-subtle sheen on it. While we liked the surplice-neckline, it was the humongous bow on it, boasting of a bizarre stud, that looked absolutely over-the-top. Also Read: Sushmita Sen's tiny black dress is giving us so many goals, our heads are spinning Even the pleats on her gown looked a little extra because of the sheen. Sushmita also did not make any subtle accessory choice as she teamed up a pair of blingy, chunky earrings with the outfit, making things worse for it. In a nutshell, the outfit was a little too gaudy for someone as elegant as Sushmita. --- ENDS --- Putin stresses potential of Russian icebreaker fleet 05 October 2017 Share Russia plans to put into operation a nuclear icebreaker "capable of piercing ice of any thickness", the country's president, Vladimir Putin, said yesterday. Housing for the second steam generating unit for the RITM-200 reactor facility (Image: Atomenergomash) Quoted by the Interfax news agency, Putin told delegates at the International Forum on Energy Efficiency in Moscow: "We are now putting into operation the next nuclear icebreaker, Sibir, which will cut ice three meters thick, and two more [icebreakers] will be launched. And then, in a few years, we plan to put into operation an icebreaker that will be able to cut through ice with no limit on thickness." The head of state stressed that Russia is the "only country in the world that has such a powerful nuclear icebreaking fleet", adding that it would help solve the problem of delivering energy resources, including liquefied natural gas, along the Northern Sea Route. ZiO-Podolsk, part of the engineering subsidiary of Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom, said it has shipped the second integrated building of the RITM-200 reactor - for Sibir, which was launched on 22 September. The first integrated building was shipped in mid-September. The equipment weighs 147.5 tonnes, is 7.3 meters in height and has a diameter of 3.3 meters. The equipment will be transported to Saint Petersburg by an articulated railway conveyor with a load capacity of 240 tonnes, since the cargo is oversized, Zio-Podolsk said. It will then be transferred by barge to the Baltic Shipyard. Sibir is the second of the LK-60Y series of universal icebreaker vessels, and part of Project 22220. Its keel was laid in May 2015, while that of the first, Arktika, was laid in November 2013. These vessels are designed to break through ice 3 meters thick. RITM-200 reactors have 175 MWt each and are deigned to deliver 60 MW at the propellers via twin turbine-generators and three motors. Arktika and Sibir will be the largest and most powerful icebreakers in the world - 173.3 meters long and 34 meters wide, with a planned displacement of 33.54 thousand tonnes. The icebreaker will be able to conduct caravans of ships in arctic conditions, punching ice up to 2.9 meters in the course of travel. Russia recently celebrated the anniversary of the Arktika - the first surface vessel to reach the North Pole, on 17 August 1977. The seventh and largest Arktika class icebreaker - 50 Years of Victory - entered service in 2007 and sailed to the North Pole to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Arktika's expedition. The new generation of Arktika is 173 meters long, 34 meters wide, and has a water displacement of 33,540 tonnes. Researched and written by World Nuclear News Related topics Need to activate your subscription? Already a subscriber Company Domain Access A biotope is defined as a geographical region in which the biological environment is uniform, and the flora and fauna distribution is also uniform. The term is closely related to another term habitat, but the two have distinct characteristics. The word biotope is derived from two Greek words bios (meaning life) and topos (which means place). Ernst Haeckel, a renowned German zoologist, is credited with introducing the concept in his General Morphology book published in 1866. In his book, Haeckel states of an ecosystem which he named as a biota which was shaped by the interaction of the biosphere and environmental factors such as soil and water. However, it was another German, F. Dahl, a Berlin Zoological Museum professor, who first coined the term biotope in 1908 when classifying a distinct ecological system. Characteristics Of A Biotope Several characteristics define a biotope. One characteristic is human interaction. A biotope does not exist exclusively in a wild setting but can also exist with human interaction. Many human activities are even necessary for the development of a biotope. An example of human interaction in a biotope is an ornamental flower bed whos planting and nurturing is done by humans and in return are pleased with the aesthetic effect brought by the flower. Another characteristic that distinguishes a biotope is artificial objects. Areas of human interaction are likely to come into contact with artificial items. Such artificial items are suitable for the regeneration of biotopes, with their arrangement and design being critical in biotope regeneration. Artificial items made of biodegradable materials such as mats made of jute or sisal help in the regeneration of their respective biotopes, particularly when they interact with the elements (sun, water, and wind). Another characteristic is that a biotope is defined in a microscale instead of a macroscale as is the case with an ecosystem. A biotope can be as small as a small aquarium or even a tiny potted plant. Therefore, the conservation of a biotope is quite achievable due to its microscopic nature. The other characteristic of biotopes is that they are an open system meaning, biotopes are rarely identified in isolated scenarios but occur in networks with different biotopes being interconnected to each other. When planning the regeneration of a biotope, the several biotopes are arranged to form a stretch. Biotope Restoration While the definition of biotope makes it an ecological issue, the term is also used in political and administrative contexts. The term is popularly used closely with the preservation, creation, and regeneration of natural environments. Application In Germany As the origin of the term biotope, Germany has made great strides in establishing regenerating and protecting of biotopes and acts as a model which other countries can emulate. Biotopes are recognized under German law. The Bundesnaturschutzgesetz is a federal law passed in 1976 which calls for the protection of biotopes and the plant and animals species living therein. Other provincial laws supplement this federal law which protects specific biotopes from harm brought by land development. Landschaftsplan is a provision exercised in many states in Germany which outlines the need for proper urban planning and the protection of natural landscapes and environments during urban development. Germany also requires cities to place a high priority in the establishment of recreational areas during urban development, and in so doing, protect existing biotopes in the belief that establishment of authentic natural scenery in cities makes local people to feel the need to preserve and protect the environment. Several cities in Germany place great importance in biotope establishment and its preservation. One such city is Berlin which has a green area. The administration of the city relies on what is known as the Biotope Area Factor, which is establishing and preservation of the green area. The Biotope Area Factor is a key ecological parameter in the development of Berlins green areas. Berlin is known for formulating goals towards the protection of its biotopes while promoting top quality urban development. Biotope Protection In Sweden Another European country which places great importance in the preservation of biotopes is Sweden. The countrys decision to protect the most threatened biotopes is in line with its commitment under the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, and to meet national environmental quality obligations established by Parliament. There are seven selected biotopes which have permanent protection from the Swedish government. These are lines of the tree, stone fences in agricultural regions, willow banks, springs and nearby wetlands in agricultural regions, stone piles in agricultural regions, small wetlands in agricultural regions, and small bushes and stands of trees found in the middle of large fields. All areas established as biotopes in Sweden are under 20 hectares in size. Sweden knows the great importance a biotope in the development of plant and animal species and therefore invests in the improvement and protection of these natural settings. The seven biotopes under permanent protection are at the greatest risk of collapse due to recent trends in land use, despite their great importance as passage routes for many species. On top of the seven biotopes under the protection of the Swedish national government, there are dozens of other biotopes which are protected by other institutions and administrations including 19 biotopes which are under the protection of the Swedish Forest Agency and about 16 which is under the protection of local country administrations and municipalities. Red List Of Biotopes HELCOM (the Helsinki Commission) is an institution which is tasked with the protection of marine ecosystems and biotopes in the Baltic Sea from pollution. The countries under the jurisdiction of the commission include Russia, Denmark, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Finland, Poland, Sweden, and Lithuania. The institution which is also known as the Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission) has a list of endangered biotopes known as the Red List of Biotopes. The biotopes on the list are those on the verge of collapse and are based on the decline in quality and quantity of a biotope. Some of the biotopes on the list include sandbanks, mudflats, muddy sediments, coastal lagoons, underwater structures formed by leaking gases, estuaries, shallow inlets, narrow inlets, bays, esker islands, small islands and shell gravel. Where Is Cyprus? The island nation of Cyprus is located in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. It is the Mediterraneans third largest island by size. The country encompasses an area of 9,251 square km. Cyprus is also the regions third most populous island and houses a population of 838,897, as per the 2011 census. Turkey lies 75 km to the north of Cyprus What Is The Capital Of Cyprus And Where Is It Located? The largest city of Cyprus, Nicosia, serves as the capital of the country. The city is based on the banks of the River Pedieos on the Mesaoria plain region. Nicosia experiences a subtropical semi-arid climate. As per the 2011 census, the Nicosia conurbation has a total population of 300,000. History Of The Capital City Of Cyprus The area that is now Nicosia was inhabited as early as 2500 years back. The ancient city-state of Ledra was founded at the site which is now the modern city of Nicosia. For years, Ledra thrived as one of the important settlements in Cyprus. However, its role as a capital city started in 965 after the city of Salamis, the former capital of Cyprus, was destroyed by Arab raids in 647. The fact that Nicosia was located inland was one of the reasons that the Byzantines selected it as their administrative capital. The coastal cities were highly subjected to raids and hence Nicosia regarded to be safer than those cities. Since then Nicosia has always served as the capital of Cyprus. The city was annexed by several major powers including the Ottomans. On July 5, 1878, the city came under the rule of Great Britain. Soon, like other British colonies, the struggle for independence from British rule started in Cyprus and Nicosia served as one of the venues for violent protests against the rule. Finally, in 1960, Cyprus became an independent country with Nicosia as its capital city. Present-Day Role Of The City As The Capital Of Cyprus Being Cyprus capital city, Nicosia houses the major government buildings and offices of the nation. The Presidential Palace, the official residence, and workplace of the President of the Republic of Cyprus, is located in the city. The House of Representatives or the Parliament of the country also meets at Nechrou, Nicosia. Many other official government buildings and ministerial offices and residences of Cyprus are located in the city. Nicosia is also the financial and commercial capital of Cyprus. The city hosts the headquarters of all the major banks of the country as well as several international businesses. The head offices of many media companies active in the country are also located in the city. Nicosia is one of the wealthiest cities in the Eastern Mediterranean region in terms of per capita income. Who is Uhuru Kenyatta? Uhuru Kenyatta is the sitting president and serves as the fourth President of the Republic of Kenya. He came into office in 2013 after serving as Member of Parliament between 2002 and 2013. Kenyatta was re-elected for the final term on August 8, 2017, with 54% popular votes. The final result was declared on national television by Wafula Chebukati, the chairman of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission. However, his election was invalidated by the Supreme Court and another presidential election is yet to be conducted on October 17, 2017. Early Life Uhuru was born in 1961 to Kenyas first president, Jomo Kenyatta and Mama Ngina Kenyatta. He was named Uhuru, a Swahili word that means freedom. He studied at St Marys School which was located in Nairobi before proceeding to Amherst College in the United States of America where he pursued economics and political science. After his graduation, he founded Wilham Kenya Limited company that sold agricultural goods oversea. Political Journey Uhuru stepped into the political arena in 1997 through his nomination by the Kenya African National Union (KANU) party, as the branch chairman to his hometown. In the year 2001, Uhuru was picked as Member of Parliament and subsequently appointed to the Ministry of Local Government by President Moi. The appointment was seen as preparation for future leadership and Mois successor in spite of his political inexperience. In 2002 during KANU nomination, despite other members objection, Moi endorsed Uhuru as the presidential candidate, finally competing against Mwai Kibaki in 2002 presidential election which he lost by a wide margin. He consequently took over the leadership of Opposition in Parliament. In 2007 under the leadership of Uhuru, KANU formed a coalition with the Party of National Unity (PNU), Kibakis party. Kibaki was vying for second and last term against Raila. PNU emerged as the winner of the controversial elections; however, the protracted dispute led to post-election violence that resulted in death and displacement of people. To end the chaos, the two presidential candidates reached an agreement to share power with Kibaki remaining the president and Raila as the Prime Minister, each with a deputy Prime Minister. President Kibaki appointed Uhuru Kenyatta as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade on April 13, 2008, and later the Minister of Finance. However, he stepped down as the Minister of Finance after being accused of orchestrating crime against humanity by the International Criminal Court (ICC). Despite having a case in ICC, Uhuru vied on the March 4, 2013 election. He received 6,173,433 votes which were 50.03% and above the 50% plus one threshold beating his competitor Raila Omolo Odinga. Presidency Uhuru has rolled out some of the pledges he made during campaigns such as free maternal care and the construction of new railway line. However, his government has faced a lot of challenges such as high public debt, corruption, and a higher wage bill. He has engaged in various foreign issues, for example, Uhuru led African Union (AU) members to collectively criticized International Criminal Court (ICC) over what he termed as selective target of African leaders. This criticism culminated in an Africa Summit attended by heads of states in which they anonymously agreed that no sitting Africa head of state should appear before the ICC. Uhuru has also contributed immensely to resolve South Sudan and Democratic Republic of Congo conflicts. By PTI: By Gurdip Singh Singapore, Oct 5 (PTI) External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will lead a high-powered ministerial delegation to the ASEAN-India Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas which will be held in Singapore next year, Indias envoy here said today. "Minister Swaraj will lead the Indian delegation to the ASEAN-India Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas 2018 which will also be attended by Indian ministers and a number of chief ministers, besides business leaders and independent experts," Jawed Ashraf, Indias High Commissioner to Singapore, said. advertisement He announced this at a media briefing and launch of the Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas 2018 to be held on January 6-7. Leaders from the region in different walks of life, including politics, business, government, academia, and culture from the 10-member Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) will also be speaking at the two-day gathering, which is expected to be the largest Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas meeting abroad. The Indian High Commission is targeting a participation of 3,000 delegates at the convention. The PBD 2018 is an important part of the celebration of 25 years of the ASEAN-India partnership, Ashraf said. An elaborate programme is planned covering ASEAN-India relations, role of diaspora in the dynamic bilateral partnership, history of the diaspora and its aspirations and achievements in the groupings member countries, business, exhibitions and cultural events, ayurveda and yoga. There will also be competitions and events for the diaspora youth. "We hope to create platforms and channels that will enable our diaspora not only to connect more closely with each other in the region and with India, but also participate more intensively in promoting closer ties between India and ASEAN member countries," said the envoy. "ASEAN-India partnership as also Indias relations with individual members have seen enormous progress in the past 25 years, he said, and the future for India and ASEAN and the relationship looks brighter," said Ashraf. He stressed on the event being one of the biggest platforms for people of South East Asia to get an in-depth understanding of Indian culture, business opportunities and the diversity of Indias society. "Prosperity of both Indian and ASEAN markets is a work in progress for the next 25 years, which is to be built on the 25 years achievement we have in a wide range of fields including defence," he said. ASEAN consists of 10 countries ? Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam. PTI GS KUN AKJ KUN --- ENDS --- 8.2m Welsh Government investment to fund 90 new ambulances This article is old - Published: Thursday, Oct 5th, 2017 The Welsh Ambulance Service is to receive 90 new operational vehicles following an 8.2 million investment from the Welsh Government. Health Secretary Vaughan Gething confirmed the funding via an announcement today. The investment will allow the service to purchase 18 Emergency Ambulance and 67 Non Emergency Patient Transport Service (NEPTS). Five specialist Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) vehicles will also be purchased to replace the existing fleet. The Welsh Ambulance Service currently has over 700 vehicles in its fleet, which cover an area of more than 8,000 square miles across Wales. Since 2011, the Welsh Government has invested almost 45m in new ambulance vehicles for the Welsh Ambulance Service. Speaking today Health Secretary, Vaughan Gething said: The Welsh Ambulance Service continues to experience a growing demand for its services every year. The 8.2 million investment Im announcing today will enable the Welsh Ambulance Service to continue upgrading its existing fleet, allowing the service to deliver the best care for people in Wales. This will ensure the ambulance service is able to deploy the most appropriate clinician in the most appropriate vehicle, ensuring people receive the quickest response possible. Richard Lee, Director of Operations for the Welsh Ambulance Service added: In Wales were proud to have some of the most up-to-date and best equipped ambulances to benefit our patients and staff. Whether were attending emergency calls, taking non-emergency patients to appointments or providing life-saving care at major incidents, its vital that we have a modern fleet capable of responding to everyones needs. We would like to thank the Welsh Government for its continued support as we aim to further improve the services and quality of care we provide for our patients. By PTI: By Lalit K Jha Washington, Oct 5 (PTI) Three US Army special operations commandos were killed and another two injured in an ambush in the West African country of Niger, multiple news reports said today. President Donald Trump has been briefed on it, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders told reporters Onboard Air Force One on their way back from Las Vegas. advertisement US Africa Command so far has not confirmed the number of casualties except for saying that a joint US and Nigerien patrol came under hostile fire in southwest Niger. According to some news reports, the joint patrol were probably attacked by al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb. "We are working to confirm details on the incident and will have more information as soon as we can confirm facts on the ground," the African Command said. US Forces are in Niger to provide training and security assistance to the Nigerien Armed Forces, including support for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) efforts, in their efforts to target violent extremist organisations in the region. One aspect of that is training, advising and assisting the Nigeriens in order to increase their ability to bring stability and security to their people, AFRICOM said. The deaths mark the first American casualties in a mission in which United States Special Forces have provided training and security assistance to the Nigerien armed forces, including support for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, said The New York Times. PTI LKJ CK --- ENDS --- The Popular Party (PP) government in Spain has dispatched troops into Catalonia. The media reported that this was to provide support to the Civil Guard and national police in preparation for a declaration of independence by Catalan President Carles Puigdemont. According to information leaked to El Confidencial, the Ministry of Defense has dispatched army units, including the Logistic Support Group 41 based in the Aragonese capital of Zaragoza, which lies 300 kilometres to the west of Barcelona. At 19.00 hours on Tuesday, just one hour after it was known that King Felipe VI was going to address the nation in a speech denouncing the Catalan nationalist parties, army commanders told their subordinates to prepare to send to Barcelona two contingents in 20 trucks. The unit had already been in pre-alert for a week to ensure it could be relocated rapidly. The troops left at night to arrive early in the morning at the barracks in Santa Eulalia de Sant Boi de Llobregat, a few kilometres from the city. According to El Confidencials sources, the main objective is to reinforce the supply of food, clothing and washing facilities for the Civil Guard and the National Police as a result of hotels refusing to house them following their brutal actions during the October 1 referendum vote. However, it is clear the troops are specialised in preparing the ground for future troop deployment. El Confidencial explains that acting as an expeditionary logistics unit, they have the capacity to project to any place of the world, in a short space of time, personnel and means before a possible contingency and to respond immediately and with total efficiency where its logistics services are needed. The unit has participated in missions in Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq, Lebanon and Afghanistan. According to Defensa.com, Spains Directorate of Naval Supply and Transport has also purchased riot gear for different military units. The order included 295 aerosol sprays for personal defence, 253 tear-smoke cans, 1,500 cartridges, 1,500 rubber balls and 300 triple smoke grenades for 12-gauge shotguns and 1,000 tear gas grenades. The stage is now being set for a violent provocation that can be used to justify intervention. Xavier Garcia Albiol, the leader of the PP in Catalonia, has called for a massive demonstration this Sunday in Barcelona, declaring, We call on the mobilization of the Catalans who feel Spanish A democratic exercise to go out to defend democracy, institutions and dignity. Faced with such threats, last night Puigdemont made a TV broadcast appealing for mediation by the European Union. He has stated that his government would submit the results of the October 1 referendum to the Catalan parliament and declare independence within 48 hours of all the official results being declared. The last votes from abroad are due to arrive by the end of the week and an extraordinary regular plenary meeting of the parliament is planned for Monday to be addressed by Puigdemont to evaluate the results and their effects. But according to one parliamentarian from Puigdemonts PDeCat who is opposed to secession, Puigdemont is desperately seeking international mediation to be able to stop the declaration of independence. However, the European Parliament rejected his appeals yesterday, saying it was an internal Spanish matter. Russian President Vladimir Putin also said that Russia regards the Catalonia conflict as a domestic affair, which he hoped the country could overcome. The bourgeois press in Spain has praised the kings speech, contrasting it with what is decried as vacillation by Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy and urging action to be taken. In a de facto call for yet greater repression, the pro-Socialist Party (PSOE) El Pais declared, With harsh words, the King has pointed out that the Catalan authorities have violated the Constitution and the Statute of Catalonia and systematically violated the legally and democratically approved norms it is the responsibility of the legitimate powers of the State to ensure the constitutional order and the normal functioning of institutions, the rule of law and self-government of Catalonia, based on the Constitution and its Statute of Autonomy. El Mundo declared, The message that Spaniards needed, and which they might have expected from their political representatives, they received from the Head of State with diamond clarity, with a force far removed from all cold protocol. Those who are now in charge of the Catalan sedition have observed a military discipline to impose their authoritarian project on the whole society, disobeying the courts, shredding the political rights of the opposition and finally relying on Jacobin control of the street for the success of its revolution. Yesterday we asked him [Rajoy] to apply article 155 [of the Constitution to restore legal order in Catalonia] to end the unpunished rebellion of Puigdemont and his partners. This urgency becomes more urgent today. The Kings message calls him to it. The ABC editorial decried Catalonia for moving from the illegal referendum to the generalized insurrection. It labelled Tuesdays general strike an internal coup led by the tiger of extreme left-wing separatism, which is out of control and aims to devour Catalan society in a revolutionary process in which the middle classes will not have the protection of a State worthy of such a name. ABC called for Article 155 to be invoked and warned that the longer the government takes, the more the insurrection of the Generalitat will necessitate the calling of a state of emergency and siege under article 116. Article 116 details how the states of alarm, exception and siege will be implemented. The official left parties have mouthed only platitudes. The leader of the Stalinist United Left, Alberto Garzon, expressed disappointment that the speech by citizen Felipe de Borbon was not the balanced and measured speech he expected. Speaking as an advisor to the monarch, he continued, I personally know the head of state. I have talked to him several times and I know he thinks things through before he talks. Today, however, I fear he has been advised by his enemies. Inigo Saenz de Ugarte, writing in the pro-Podemos El Diario, complained that Felipes speech was in practice a declaration of war on the autonomous government of Catalonia and represented an amendment to the whole of the positions held by Podemos in this crisis. This position consists of an appeal to the PSOE to work with Podemos to oust Rajoy and form a left government to rescue the Spanish state. The PSOE has refused to countenance such an offer and the appeal was bitterly criticised by veteran PSOE leader and former vice-president of the PSOE government under Felipe Gonzalez from 1982 to 1991, Alfonso Guerra. Guerra called for the PSOE to openly support article 155 and defended the use of the army in Catalonia if the police could not control the situation, blaming it on a pro-fascist independence movement carrying out a coup. Expressing views previously the preserve of the far-right, he labelled the leader of the Catalan police, the Mossos dEsquadra, Josep Lluis Trapero, a traitor to democracy and argued that maybe the Mossos should be dissolved. On Friday, Trapero was ordered to appear in court along with the presidents of the Catalan National Assembly, Jordi Sanchez, and Omnium Cultural, Jordi Cuixart, as part of an investigation into charges of sedition relating to demonstrations on September 20. The Australian Greens last week reinforced their position as the most nationalist advocates of expelling from parliament anyoneincluding their own representativesaccused of the slightest appearance of divided loyalty to the Australian nation state. In a submission to the High Court, which is due to hear challenges to the eligibility of seven MPs next week, the Greens call for the removal of any parliamentarian who, even unwittingly, is eligible for citizenship of another country. The High Court, the countrys supreme court, will sit from October 10 to 12 in an unprecedented session that could disqualify all seven, including Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce, producing a crisis for the unstable Liberal-National Coalition government. Up to another 20 MPs are believed to face potential disqualification if the High Court rules against the seven. The Greens submission goes far further than those of the government or the other politicians who have been referred to the High Court for potential disqualification under section 44(i) of the 1901 colonial-era Australian Constitution. The submissions of the other five parliamentarians facing removal all argue, in various ways, that the court should not punish those who were ignorant of their dual citizenship or their eligibility for foreign citizenship. The Greens, however, insist that the ban on MPs should be applied to the fullest extent, even if, for example, parliamentarians unknowingly acquired foreign citizenship entitlements from their parents or grandparents. The Greens also demand this prohibition even though it disqualifies an estimated half of the population of Australia, which has always been an immigrant nation. The Greens submission defends this anti-democratic constitutional provision, arguing that it should be strictly applied despite its blunt and limiting effect on democratic participation. The submission was made by two ex-Greens senators, Scott Ludlam and Larissa Waters, who dutifully resigned from the Senate, and apologised profusely, as soon as the reactionary witch hunt against alleged foreign MPs was first launched in mid-July. Ludlam and Waters quit their seats simply because they were born in New Zealand and Canada respectively, even though both have lived in Australia since they were infants. Their submission reiterates that they properly complied with the duty imposed by S 44 not to sit when disqualified by reason of being a citizen of a foreign power. Section 44(i) is far-reaching. It states that any person who is under any acknowledgment of allegiance, obedience, or adherence to a foreign power, or is a subject or a citizen or entitled to the rights or privileges of a subject or a citizen of a foreign power is incapable of being elected to parliament. None of the other MPs referred to the High Court has stood aside. They are three National Party MPsJoyce, Regional Development Minister Fiona Nash and ex-resources minister Matt CanavanSenator Malcolm Roberts from the anti-immigrant Pauline Hansons One Nation and Nick Xenophon, who represents his own four-member Nick Xenophon Team. In the governments own submission to the High Court, Attorney-General George Brandis argues only Ludlam and Roberts were wrongfully elected because they allegedly should have known of their supposed foreign entitlements. Brandis contends that the other five MPs were all completely ignorant of their dual citizenships and should be allowed to stay. The Greens submission is in line with the demand issued from the outset of the furore by party leader Senator Richard Di Natale for an audit of all 226 current federal MPs to determine their eligibility. This call, later taken up by the xenophobic One Nation, would trigger a McCarthyite inquisition into the loyalty of politicians. What explains this extraordinary stance? First, the Ludlam-Waters submission objects that the governments proposition would undermine the integrity of parliament and public confidence in the institution. Section 44 has a special status because it is protective of matters that are fundamental to the Constitution, being representative and responsible government in a democracy, the submission states. The integrity of that system requires the government to be conducted by officers who enjoy the confidence of the people. Thus, the Greens emphasise their devotion to the parliamentary set-up, which is already discredited in the eyes of millions of people because of the responsibility of successive governments for declining social conditions and worsening inequality. Above all, the Greens invoke the importance of unquestioned patriotism, especially amid mounting war tensions. Referring to section 44, the submission insists: The provision prevents persons with foreign loyalties and obligations from serving in the Australian Parliament. This is one aspect of the purpose of safeguarding the integrity of parliament and Australian sovereignty, because the potential for the foreign power to call upon a citizens duty, even if it had never done so in the past and even if the person concerned was hitherto unaware of the citizenship, remains a real possibility. A submission footnote links to evidence submitted by former independent MP Tony Windsor, who lost his rural-based seat to Joyce in 2013 and is petitioning the High Court for a by-election in the electorate on the grounds that Joyces father was born in New Zealand. Windsors submission directly ties the disqualification demand to preparations for war, including military service obligations. It harks back to the lead-up to World War I, when young Australian men of dual nationality faced conflicting requirements to serve in rival armed forces. Windsor argues that similar conflicts arise today, with some countries, such as Greece, imposing compulsory military service on its citizens. Extending the wartime scenario, Windsor invokes the possibility of dual citizens being charged with treason by a foreign government for acts committed in support of Australia. He also cites an ancient British court ruling, in Calvins Case of 1609, that [e]very subject is by his natural ligeance bound to obey and serve his sovereign and therefore to go with the King, &c. in his wars, as well within the realm as without. Such precedents are being dredged up because of the rising dangers of war internationally. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbulls government, backed by the Labor Party, has already committed Australia to join any US-led war against North Korea, the central purpose of which would be to confront China, which is regarded by Washington as the primary threat to American global hegemony. Alongside the parliamentary witch hunt, the corporate media has mounted one propaganda campaign after another against Chinese influence. Over the past year, media-driven investigations have increasingly vilified political and business figures, Chinese-born Australians and Chinese students studying in the country as a potential fifth column of the Chinese communist regime. The promotion of nationalism is also a reactionary domestic diversion. It is occurring under conditions of growing social inequality and deepening class antagonisms, generated by the destruction of full-time jobs and deteriorating health, education and social services. There have been ever-deepening attacks on basic legal and democratic rights under the cover of the endless war on terrorism. The Greens once appealed to young people by posturing as opponents of war and supporters of environmental protection. Increasingly, these pretences have been abandoned. Between 2010 and 2013, the Greens supported the minority Labor Party government of Julia Gillard, which unconditionally committed itself to the Obama administrations pivot to the Indo-Pacific and the underlying US war plans against China. Like their counterparts internationally, the Greens represent an upper middle-class layer, which is ever-more integrated into the capitalist state as growing international and social tensions threaten their social and economic status. Whichever the way the High Court rules after next weeks hearings, the verdicts will be designed to shore up the political establishment and the entire capitalist state apparatus, of which the court is a key part. The inquisition against foreign loyalties will not stop with MPs. The Greens submission underscores the warning issued by the Socialist Equality Party in a statement on September 6: The demand for unquestioned allegiance on the part of the parliamentary servants of the capitalist state is intended as a benchmark for implementation throughout society. Anyone who opposes the policies of the government will be labelled un-Australian, a servant of foreign interests, or, under conditions of war, downright treasonous. The author also recommends: German Green Party opts for coalition with conservative and neo-liberal parties [ 4 October 2017 ] For the past week, the Peoples Assembly (PA) have been holding numerous events in Manchester protesting the annual conference of the Conservative Party. The political thrust of all the protests organised by an amalgam of various pseudo-left groups, ex-Stalinists, trade union bureaucrats and a handful of Labour lefts is to hail the prospect of a Labour government led by Jeremy Corbyn as a likely successor to the crisis-ridden government of Theresa May. In July, Corbyn was the featured speaker at the People Assembly national demonstration in London titled, Not One Day MoreTories Out. Counterfire, one of the founding organisations of the Peoples Assembly, editorialised during the conference protests, Jeremy Corbyns leadership of the Labour Party has acted as part of the inspiration for the spreading mood of resistance. He has backed every strike and his emphasis on opposing austerity has helped revive the labour movement and emboldened those who want to see a socialist society. The reality behind such claims was exposed during what should have been the crowning achievement for the PAthe appearance October 2 by Shadow Chancellor and key Corbyn ally, John McDonnell, at a meeting held in Manchester Cathedral entitled, An Economy that Works for All. Feeling himself among friends, McDonnell was at times too candid for his own good. Instead of reaffirming his anti-austerity pose, he made clear that Labours economic programme has been drawn op in direct collusion with big business representatives to stabilise capitalism. And for admitting as much, the shadow chancellor was applauded to the rafters. McDonnell began by explaining how under a Labour government, strikes such as those recently held by McDonalds workers and rail workers would be unnecessary as their interests would be prioritised. This is what we call socialism, he declared. After taking his seat, McDonnell participated in a question-and-answer session led by Guardian journalist Gary Younge (who also writes a regular column for the Nation magazine in the US). At one point in proceedings, Younge asked McDonnell what was meant by comments he made during the recent Labour conference that Labour was wargaming in advance of coming to power and looking at all scenarios, including the possibility that there could be a run on the pound and the danger that they come for us. McDonnell replied this wasnt a slip of the tongue, but a necessary statement: I wanted to reassure our own people, but I [also] wanted to reassure the outside world that we are prepared for anything. To his own people, if this means sections of workers looking to Labour to fight for them, wargaming would suggest plans for a struggle against the ruling class. Not so. When McDonnell speaks of reassuring the outside world, he means big business. And his reassurances are that Labour has surrendered before it even takes officeand will do what is asked of it. Ive been sitting down with asset managers in the City [of London] for the last two years, McDonnell explained. Ive been talking to them about our investment plans. Were putting aside 250 billion [US$331 billion] for investment and infrastructure. Where did I get that figure from? I got it from the CBI [Confederation of British industry]. Only a Labour government could create the conditions, in a post-Brexit environment, for the banks, asset managers and hedge funds to continue to reap profits: Basically what this will do is give them a stable return a fast buck isnt necessarily in their long-term interest, he said. What we are saying to them is that we are government that knows where it is going that has a stable programme for investment What more do you want? Concluding his remarkable explanation, McDonnell said, In some ways, its a bizarre situation. They are coming to us for reassurance against a government that is falling apart. So Jeremy Corbyn and I are the stabilisers of capitalism. For these candid but right-wing comments, he was rewarded with another round of applause by the assembled lefts. McDonnells comments followed an interview with the Sunday Times during the Labour conference, which also noted that the shadow chancellor is trying to douse his firebrand reputation with overtures to bankers. He told the newspaper, What the asset managers have been telling us is that they need investment opportunities A relationship was being established, but since the election result its dramatically changed because they think there is the potential for us going into government. The Sunday Times, published by billionaire oligarch Rupert Murdoch, noted approvingly that McDonnell has softened his antibusiness rhetoric as he begins his transformation from left-wing firebrand to chancellor-in-waiting He has even toned down his rhetoric on class war and insists the speeches he has given supporting insurrection and urging activists to bring down the government are part of his street oratory. McDonnell didnt have to engage in street oratory when speaking before the Peoples Assembly crowd. He could speak as frankly to them of how the CBI dictates Labours policies as when addressing the Sunday Times. Despite the socialist rhetoric they spout when the occasion suits, the myriad pseudo-left and Stalinist groups are all in fundamental agreement with McDonnellthe job at hand is to defend capitalism, the system that this self-satisfied and well-heeled layer all benefit from. McDonnells pro-capitalist statements have a striking and all-too recent historical parallel. The last darling of the pseudo-left to make such a confession was the former finance minister of the Syriza government in Greece, Yanis Varoufakis. In May 2013, Varoufakis told an audience in Zagreb, the Croatian capital, [I]t is the Lefts historical duty, at this particular juncture, to stabilise capitalism; to save European capitalism from itself. Within two years, he was headhunted from his post in academia to join the Syriza government as number two to Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras. Syriza had been swept to power based on its pledge to end the scourge of austerity imposed on Greece on behalf of the worlds banks by the European Union and the International Monetary Fund. Varoufakis and Tsipras were feted by pseudo-left organizations the world over and Syriza hailed as the new model for building other mass left parties. The International Committee of the Fourth International and World Socialist Web State warned consistently against such illusions and were rapidly vindicated. Instead of carrying out the mandate they were elected on, Syriza spent months pleading with the EU for paltry concessions on the terms for imposing austerity measures. It then repudiated a landslide vote against further austerity in the July 2015 referendum and agreed to impose even harsher spending cuts than its predecessors. In its 2016 Congress resolution, Jeremy Corbyn and the Labour Party: The strategic lessons, the Socialist Equality Party warned, Should Corbyn come to power, he will play exactly the same role as Tsipras in Greece. Usefully, McDonnell has now made this very clear. The author also recommends: Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis mission to save capitalism [21 February 2015] The anti-Marxism of Yanis Varoufakis [28 February 2015] The violence the Spanish state inflicted on ordinary Catalans who sought to participate in Sundays independence referendum has rightly shocked workers and all those who uphold democratic rights across Spain and around the world. Eight decades after the Spanish bourgeoisie crushed the Spanish Revolution under the fascist jackboot and forty years after the end of Generalissimo Francisco Francos regime, the Spanish ruling class is again resorting to savage repression. In this they have received unflinching support from all the European Union powers and from Washington, which have declared that the Spanish authorities use of naked violence to prevent Catalans from expressing their political views constitutes the rule of law. The repression in Spain is part of an accelerating turn to authoritarian forms of rule throughout Europe. Across Spains northern border in France, the newly-elected Macron government has imposed an anti-worker labour reform that guts job security and wage and labour standards and is in the midst of making permanent sweeping anti-democratic state of emergency provisions. In Germany, where fascists have just entered parliament for the first time since the fall of the Nazi Third Reich, a law that forces social media providers to act as censors in the name of policing so-called hate speech has just come into force. Following on from its brutal crackdown last Sunday, Spains Peoples Party (PP) government and the Spanish ruling elite are now poised to invoke the never-before-used Article 155 of the countrys constitution. Described even in pro-government Spanish media as the nuclear option, Article 155 would empower Madrid to suspend Catalonias autonomy, sack its elected regional government, and impose central government rule. Under the banner of Spanish unity, the most rightwing forces are mobilizing, including outright fascists. Tuesday evening, King Felipe VI, who owes his crown to Francos restoration of the monarchy, delivered a menacing speech in which he accused Catalan authorities of intolerable disloyalty to the powers of the state. The World Socialist Web Site has made clear it opposes the attempt of the Catalan bourgeoisie to carve out an independent capitalist nation-state, one, moreover, that would immediately seek membership in the European Union and NATO. But we do so from the left, from the standpoint of the working class and the struggle to unite workers in Spain and across Europe on a socialist internationalist perspectivenot the defence of the Spanish state and the territorial integrity of capitalist Spain. The state apparatus and right-wing elements that are today being mobilized against Catalan independence will on the morrow be deployed against the entire Spanish working class so as to press forward with rearmament, participation in imperialist wars in the Middle East and beyond, and the brutal austerity agenda that all sections of the Spanish establishment have implemented since 2008. The workers of Spain must assert their class interests by intervening independently in this crisis. This means resolutely opposing the actions of Madrid and urging their class brothers and sisters in Catalonia to join with them in a common struggle against austerity and war and for a workers Spain within a Socialist United States of Europe. The pro-independence faction of the Catalan bourgeoisie, led by Carles Puigdemont, is no less hostile to the working class than its adversaries in Madrid. Indeed, a major reason for their launching their current independence bid is to deflect mounting social opposition to their own role in implementing austerity. In the name of self-determination, they are pursuing their own egotistical class aimsabove all, to strike their own deals with the EU and Washington, without Madrid serving as a middleman. One of their chief complaints is that Catalonia is paying too much tax revenue to support less prosperous regions of Spain. In response to Madrids bloody crackdown, Puigdemont has appealed for the EU to mediate and announced that Catalonias regional parliament will vote on an independence declaration next Monday. Both steps are antithetical to the interests and aspirations of the working class, Catalan and Spanish alike, and in essence anti-democratic. With the first, the Catalan nationalists are seeking to demonstrate their fealty to Brussels, Berlin and Paris; that is, to demonstrate their loyalty to the most powerful sections of European capital, those which have led the brutal post-2008 austerity drive that has impoverished working people across Europe and which are now bent on remilitarizing Europe and developing a European army to more aggressively pursue their imperialist interests on the world stage. With the second step, the Catalan nationalists are seeking to exploit the understandable popular anger over Spains anti-democratic intervention to push through secession under conditions where opinion polls have repeatedly shown that the majority of Catalans do not favour it. Both Madrid and the Catalan nationalists are intent on polarizing the population and stampeding it behind their rival camps with nationalist appeals. Faced with these developments, which risk embroiling the Iberian Peninsula in civil war, the watchword of Catalan and Spanish workers alike must befor the self-determination of the working class! The working class must elaborate its own independent strategy based on the understanding that its class interests are irreconcilably opposed to all factions of the Spanish and Catalan bourgeoisie. The working class must oppose any and all attempts to forcibly retain Catalonia within the confines of capitalist Spain, including by demanding the immediate withdrawal of Spanish security forces from Catalonia. Catalan workers should oppose the Catalan bourgeoisies attempt to use the regional apparatus of the Spanish state to implement their secession plans and join with workers across Spain in challenging the austerity and pro-war agenda of all factions of the bourgeoisie. In fighting for this independent class strategy, workers and youth must beware of the attempts of various pseudo-left forces, such as the Pabloite International Viewpoint, to tie the working class to one or both of the rival bourgeois factions. This includes trying to give a progressive gloss to the Catalan nationalists and boosting Podemos. The latter has again proved its loyalty to Spanish capitalism by advocating that the Socialist Party, which has been cheering on the PP governments crackdown, join with it in offering the bourgeoisie an alternate government to save the Spanish state from dismemberment. The current crisis has laid bare the true character of the Spanish state, which was reorganized in 1978 with the assistance of the Stalinists and social democrats as part of a counterrevolutionary settlement aimed at thwarting a working class challenge to the decrepit post-Franco regime and Spanish capitalism. As this weeks events have demonstrated, behind a parliamentary facade, the repressive apparatus established by Franco largely remains intact. But this is not just a Spanish crisis. It is both a product and part of a systemic crisis that engulfs the entire European Union and that is itself rooted in the greatest crisis of world capitalism since the Great Depression and its end result, the Second World War. The claims that the EU is the vehicle for the peaceful integration of a democratic and social Europe have been shattered on the shoals of the 2008 crisis. The EU stands exposed for what it has always been: an instrument of European capital for maximizing profit, suppressing the working class, and competing for markets and geopolitical influence globally, as well as an arena for Europes rival national and regionally-based capitalist cliques to vie for competitive and strategic advantage. Spain has been ravaged by the austerity policies that successive Socialist and Peoples Party governments have implemented in conjunction with the EU. Throughout Europe, the working class has bitterly opposed the assault on its social and democratic rights. But the trade unions, social democratic, Stalinist, ex-Stalinist and pseudo-left parties have systematically suppressed the class struggle. When in power, the ostensible left has spearheaded the dismantling of what remains of the welfare state and worked to split the working class by fomenting anti-immigrant prejudice. In opposition, when unable to silence workers discontent, they have isolated struggles and straitjacketed them within a nationalist, pro-capitalist, pro-EU perspective. Especially instructive in this regard is the experience of Syriza, the pseudo-left party that was propelled to power in January 2015 on a wave of working class opposition to austerity. A party of the privileged upper classes, it was hostile to any attempt to mobilize the European working class against austerity and the oligarchical and autocratic instrument of finance capital that is the EU. When Berlin and Brussels rejected its pleas to slightly moderate their austerity demands, Syriza imposed cuts that went far beyond those of its social democratic and overtly right-wing predecessors. With the working class politically paralyzed and Europe characterized by ever more ferocious strife among the rival bourgeois cliques over the divvying up of a shrinking economic pie, there has been a resurgence of nationalist forces, many of them of an explicitly neo-fascist character, which have been able to exploit social discontent. European capitalism is manifestly rotting on its feet, as the essential contradictions of the profit system that led to two world wars, the Great Depression and fascism reassert themselves. In opposition to the 21st century madhouse of the European Union, the working class must advance its own strategy: the development of a working class counter-offensive, mobilizing workers in a common struggle against the EU, all its constituent right-wing governments, the European banks and big business in the fight for a Socialist United States of Europe. A workers Europe would use economic integration and technological advances to organize socio-economic life under the democratic control of working people to meet social needs, not increase the exploitation of the working class. In Spain, the fight for this socialist internationalist strategy requires uncompromising opposition to the violence unleashed by the government in Madrid and sanctioned by the imperialist European Union. Only on this basis will it be possible to wage the necessary political struggle against the Catalan bourgeois nationalists and rally the best sections of the working class and youth to an internationalist orientation. By PTI: By Lalit K Jha Washington, Oct 5 (PTI) Three US Army special operations commandos were killed and two others injured in an ambush in the West African country of Niger, according to a media report. The attack took place 120 miles north of Niamey, the capital of Niger, near the border with Mali, where militants with Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, an affiliate of Al Qaeda, have conducted cross-border raids, The New York Times reported. advertisement The deaths represent the first American casualties under hostile fire in a mission in which United States Special Forces have provided training and security assistance to the Nigerien armed forces, including support for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. A Special Forces soldier died in a vehicle accident in Niger in February. President Donald Trump has been briefed on it, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders told reporters Onboard Air Force One on their way back from Las Vegas. US Africa Command so far has not confirmed the number of casualties except for saying that a joint US and Nigerien patrol came under hostile fire in southwest Niger. According to some news reports, the joint patrol were probably attacked by al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb. "We are working to confirm details on the incident and will have more information as soon as we can confirm facts on the ground," the African Command said. Africa Command said the US forces are in Niger to provide training and security assistance to the Nigerien Armed Forces in their efforts against violent extremists. US Forces are in Niger to provide training and security assistance to the Nigerien Armed Forces, including support for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) efforts, in their efforts to target violent extremist organisations in the region. One aspect of that is training, advising and assisting the Nigeriens in order to increase their ability to bring stability and security to their people, United States Africa Command said. The US is building a USD 50 million drone base in Agadez, Niger. When completed next year, it will allow Reaper surveillance drones to fly from hundreds of miles closer to southern Libya, to monitor Islamic State insurgents flowing south and other extremists flowing north from the Sahel region, the report said. PTI LKJ CK UZM --- ENDS --- A day after Trumps visit to Puerto Rico, where he contemptuously told survivors that they were not facing a real catastrophe like Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and that their demands for emergency aid were throwing the US budget out of whack, administration officials made it clear there would be no debt relief for the hurricane-ravaged US territory. Trump tossed out paper towels and other supplies at a local church in what might be described as the billionaire presidents let them eat paper towels moment. With 95 percent of the islands residents without power, half the population without clean water, a lack of gasoline and medical supplies, and a death toll, which is officially 34 now and potentially hundreds more, the president said the condition on the island due to the federal response was nothing short of a miracle. This contrasts sharply with a statement of the UK-based anti-hunger organization Oxfam, which said last week that it would provide relief to the island because of the Trump administrations slow and inadequate response. Prior to the visit, Trump sat down with Fox News correspondent Geraldo Rivera. In a pre-recorded interview, which was aired Tuesday night, the president blurted out that it was likely that Puerto Ricos massive debt would have to be wiped out due to huge recovery costs now estimated to be $90 billion. We are going to wipe that out, declared the president in reference to Puerto Ricos $74 billion debt obligation. They owe a lot of money to your friends on Wall Street and were going to have to wipe that out, Trump said in pseudo-populist fashion. I dont know if its Goldman Sachs but whoever it is you can wave goodbye to that. The presidents remark produced a sell-off on Wednesday of Puerto Ricos defaulted bonds, which dropped from 56 percent of face value to 36 percent. Administration officials rushed to downplay the presidents remarks and reassure the vulture capitalists which control the islands debt. Trumps own budget chief, Mick Mulvaney, told CNN, I wouldnt take it word for word with that. We are not going to deal right now with those fundamental difficulties that Puerto Rico had before the storm. The head of the governments Office of Management of Budget made it clear that there was no plan to relieve the island of its debt burden. Puerto Ricos going to have to figure out how to fix the errors that its made for the last generation on its own finances. In other words, Puerto Ricans did this to themselves. Storm or no storm, they must pay up. In fact, the islands massive debt is the result of its colonial legacy, a decades-long economic recession resulting from runaway US corporations seeking cheaper labor elsewhere, and the financial looting of the island by Wall Street which has long profited from buying up its high risk and high return debt. In June 2015 then Puerto Rican governor Alejandro Padilla, declared Puerto Rico was in a death spiral because its debt is not payable There is no other option this is not politics, this is math. Having already imposed draconian austerity measures, Padilla demanded concessions from debt holders. However, the Promise Act, passed by the Obama administration, mandated that the debt crisis would be resolved with ever more savage austerity measures that involve the dismantling of public budgets and social services. The Promise Act imposed a non-elected Financial Oversight and Management Board that would administer Puerto Ricos budget and distribute the debt payments among debt holders. The appointed members were front men for powerful financial interests. For example, two of its members, Jose Ramon Gonzalez and Carlos Garcia came straight out of Banco de Santander, one of the banks that, operating in the middle, between Puerto Rico and the hedge funds, profited greatly from designing financial instruments and then selling them to investors. And not just Banco de Santander; other Wall Street banks, including the infamous Goldman Sachs helped convince Puerto Rican officials to borrow more at terms that have been described as payday loans in a report by the Refund America Project. The report describes how a $4.3 billion loan quickly morphed into a $33.5 billion debt, through the mechanism of compounded interest. It suggests that this portion of the debt violated Puerto Rican law and amounted to unconstitutional debt that can justifiably be repudiated. Tellingly, the current administration of Governor Ricardo Rossello refused to cooperate with this study. We plan to do more with less, was the phrase Rossello used this June to describe his administrations plan to deal with Puerto Ricos financial implosion. He then went on to list the various austerity measures and job cuts that had already been enacted since he took office this January. The Puerto Rican governments $74 billion in tax-exempt bond debt to hedge funds and wealthy investors is the result more than ten years of negative economic growth, at the rate of about two percent per year, and mass emigration of skilled and professional workers in the context of some three decades of deindustrialization. Prior to the storm the official rate of unemployment was 11.5 percent. Forty-six percent of all households existed under a dismal poverty line. One-third of workers were ineligible for Social Security benefits. A record 400,000 Puerto Ricans have left since 2007 with another 240,000 are expected to leave by 2025. Retirees are among the most vulnerable. Three years ago, the Puerto Rican government changed the retirement system that guaranteed public sector workers a full pension after 30 years of employment to a system that forces workers to work up to 15 additional years for full benefits. Driving the discussion in the bankruptcy court over further public pension cuts is the fact that the system is scheduled to run out of money this July, leaving some $50 billion owed to retirees unpaid. It is anticipated that ten percent or more may by slashed from existing pensions. Caps on Medicare imposed by the federal government force many seniors to pay more for their medical care Had the US Federal Reserve bank adopted the same criteria toward Puerto Rico that it did toward Wall Street financial institutions behind the 20082009 crash and deemed too big to fail, it would have bought up Puerto Ricos toxic assets long ago. That never happened and now the suffering people on the island are to be squeezed again. Instead, the working class in Puerto Rico and on the US mainland should demand the cancellation of the debt and an end to the plundering of public assets. The Wall Street banks and other giant financial institutions should be transformed into public enterprises democratically controlled and collectively owned by the working class. Only in this way can the necessary hundreds of billions be poured into Puerto Rico to repair and update the electrical power grid, the water system and flood control system, roads and schools, which are essential for the functioning of a modern society. As part of the commemoration of the centenary of the October Revolution in 1917, the World Socialist Web Site is publishing a series of profiles of leaders of the Russian Revolution. We are publishing here a portrait written by Leon Trotsky of Yakov Sverdlov, the chief organizer of the Bolshevik Party in 1917 and first president of the Soviet Republic. The article originally appeared in 1925 and was translated into English by the American Trotskyist John G. Wright. It was published in Vol. 7, No. 11, of the Fourth International journal in 1946. What follows is an edited version of this translation prepared by the World Socialist Web Site, together with the original introduction from the Fourth International journal. Introduction (from the Fourth International journal, 1946) We are reprinting, on this 29th Anniversary of the Russian Revolution, Trotskys brief sketch of the great Sverdlov, the incomparable Bolshevik organizer. It is well to acquaint our readers with this heroic figure, who epitomized the type of revolutionist who made possible the 1917 revolution and the subsequent victory over the counter-revolution. Yakov Mikhailovich Sverdlov was born in the city of Nizhny Novgorod on June 3, 1885. His father, an engraver, was able to give his children an education beyond the reach of working-class families in Czarist Russia. As a boy of ten, young Yakov was enrolled in a gymnasium (equivalent to high school) where he studied for five years. At the age of 15, he left school to work in a drug store. The next year, that is 1901, the first revolutionary underground committee in Nizhny Novgorod was organized. This same year, Sverdlov, at the age of 16, joined the revolutionary movement. Despite his extreme youth, he came quickly to the forefront, serving in his period of underground activity as a leading figure in virtually all the regions of Russia. When the split occurred in the Russian movement in 1903, Sverdlov adhered to the Bolsheviks, in whose ranks he remained to the day of his death. In 1905, during his assignment in the Urals, he organized and led the Soviet of Workers Deputies there. Like all the underground workers of his day he spent many long years in prison and Tsarist exile. His first arrest came in 1903. In 1906, after the defeat of the 1905 revolution, he spent 18 months in jail and then served a two-year penitentiary term. A whole series of arrests, jailings, exiles, and escapes followed. In the autumn of 1913, at the Poronin Conference of the Bolsheviks, he was co-opted in his absence (he was in exile at the time) to the Central Committee of the Party. When the February 1917 revolution broke out, Sverdlov was in exile in the polar regions of Siberia, from where he came at once to Petrograd. At the April 1917 Conference, he was elected to the Central Committee. At the Second Soviet Congress, he was elected Chairman of the All-Union Soviet Executive Committee. He combined his work as President of the Soviet Republic with the onerous responsibilities of organizer-in-chief of the Bolshevik Party to the day of his untimely death at the age of 34. Little is now known about this superb organizer of Bolshevism. Layer upon layer of Stalinist distortions and falsifications have encrusted his memory. Official Kremlin mythology has not merely assigned to Stalin most of the role and functions that Sverdlov fulfilled in the October Revolution and in the Civil War period but has sought to depict Sverdlov in Stalins image. But Sverdlov as organizer was the polar opposite of Stalin. Trotsky later drew the following contrast between Sverdlov and Stalin as types of organizers: Up to the spring of 1919, the chief organizer of the Party had been Sverdlov. He did not have the name of General Secretary, a name which was then not yet invented, but he was that in reality. Sverdlov died at the age of 34 in March 1919, from the so-called Spanish fever. In the spread of the civil war and the epidemic, mowing people down right and left, the Party hardly realized the weight of this loss. In two funeral speeches, Lenin gave an appraisal of Sverdlov which throws a reflected but very clear light also upon his later relations with Stalin. In the course of our revolution, in its victories, Lenin said, it fell to Sverdlov to express more fully and more wholly than anybody else the very essence of the proletarian revolution. Sverdlov was before all and above all an organizer. From a modest underground worker, neither theoretician nor writer, there grew up in a short time an organizer who acquired irreproachable authority, an organizer of the whole Soviet power in Russia, and an organizer of the work of the Party unique in his understanding. Lenin had no taste for the exaggerations of anniversary or funeral panegyrics. His appraisal of Sverdlov was at the same time a characterization of the task of the organizer: Only thanks to the fact that we had such an organizer as Sverdlov were we able in war times to work as though we had not one single conflict worth speaking of. So it was in fact. In conversations with Lenin in those days we remarked more than once, and with ever renewed satisfaction, one of the chief conditions of our success: the unity and solidarity of the governing group. In spite of the dreadful pressure of events and difficulties, the novelty of the problems, and sharp practical disagreements occasionally bursting out, the work proceeded with extraordinary smoothness and friendliness, and without interruptions. With a brief word, we would recall episodes of the old revolutions. No, it is better with us. This alone guarantees our victory. The solidarity of the center had been prepared by the whole history of Bolshevism and was kept up by the unquestioned authority of the leaders, and above all of Lenin. But in the inner mechanics of this unexampled unanimity, the chief technician had been Sverdlov. The secret of his art was simple: to be guided by the interests of the cause and that only. No one of the Party workers had any fear of intrigues creeping down from the Party staff. The basis of this authority of Sverdlovs was loyalty. Having tested out mentally all the Party leaders, Lenin in his funeral speech drew the practical conclusion: Such a man we can never replace, if by replacement we mean the possibility of finding one comrade combining such qualities ... The work which he did alone can now be accomplished only by a whole group of men who, following in his footsteps, will carry on his service. These words were not rhetorical, but a strictly practical proposal. And the proposal was carried out. Instead of a single Secretary, there was appointed a collegium of three persons. From these words of Lenin, it is evident, even to those unacquainted with the history of the Party, that during the life of Sverdlov, Stalin played no leading role in the Party machinery either at the time of the October Revolution or in the period of laying the foundations and walls of the Soviet state. Stalin was also not included in the first Secretariat which replaced Sverdlov. Yakov Sverdlov (by Leon Trotsky, 1925) I became acquainted with Sverdlov only in 1917 at a session of the Bolshevik fraction of the First Soviet Congress. Sverdlov was presiding. In those days there were hardly any in the party who guessed the true stature of this remarkable man. But within the next few months, he was to unfold himself fully. Yakov Sverdlov In the initial period after the revolution the emigres, that is, those who had spent many years abroad, could still be told apart from the domestic and native Bolsheviks. In many respects, the emigres possessed serious advantages because of their European experience, the broader outlook connected with the latter, and also because they had generalized theoretically the experience of past factional struggles. Naturally, this division into emigres and non-emigres was purely temporary and eventually it disappeared. But in 1917 and in 1918 it was in many cases something very palpable. However, there was no provincialism to be sensed in Sverdlov even in those days. Month by month he grew and became stronger so naturally, so organically, so seemingly without effort, so much in step with events and in such constant touch and collaboration with Vladimir Ilyich [Lenin] that to a superficial view it might have seemed that Sverdlov had been born an accomplished revolutionary statesman of the first rank. All questions of the revolution he approached not from above, that is, not from the standpoint of general theoretical considerations, but rather from below, through the direct impulses of life itself as transmitted by the Party organization. When new political questions were under discussion, it might have seemed sometimes that Sverdlov especially if he kept silent which was not infrequently the case was wavering or had not yet made up his mind. In reality, in the course of the discussion, he was engaged in mentally working out the problem along parallel lines, which might be sketched out as follows: Who is available? Where should he be assigned? How shall we broach the problem and bring it in harmony with our other tasks? And no sooner had the joint political decision been reached, no sooner was it necessary to turn to the organizational side of the problem and the question of personnel than it almost invariably turned out that Sverdlov was already prepared with far-reaching practical proposals, based on his encyclopedic memory and personal acquaintance with people. In the initial stages of their formation, all the Soviet departments and institutions turned to him for personnel; and this initial and rough allocation of party cadres demanded exceptional resourcefulness and inventiveness. It was impossible to depend on an established apparatus, on files, archives, etc. For all this was still in an extremely nebulous shape, and at any rate provided no direct means of verifying to what extent the professional revolutionist Ivanov may be qualified to head a particular Soviet department, of which only the name was as yet in existence. A special psychologic intuition was required to decide such a question: one had to locate in Ivanovs past two or three focal points and thence draw conclusions for an entirely new situation. Meanwhile, these transplantations had to be made in the most diversified fields in a search for a Peoples Commissar, or for a manager of the Izvestiia printing plant [the central organ of the Petrograd Soviet], or for a member of the Central Committee of the Soviets, or for a commandant of the Kremlin, and so on ad infinitum. These organizational problems arose, naturally, without any consecutiveness whatever, that is, never from the highest post down to the lowest or vice versa, but in every which way, accidentally, chaotically. Sverdlov made inquiries, gathered or remembered biographical details, made phone calls, offered recommendations, gave out assignments, made appointments. At the present time, I am at a loss to say exactly in what capacity he performed all this work, that is, just what his formal powers were. But at all events, a considerable part of this work had to be performed on his own personal responsibility with the support, naturally, of Vladimir Ilyich. And no one ever challenged it, because such were the exigencies of the entire situation at the time. Sverdlov accomplished a considerable part of his organizational work as Chairman of the All-Union Soviet Executive Committee, utilizing the members of this Executive for various appointments and for particular assignments. Talk it over with Sverdlov, Lenin would advise in many cases whenever someone turned to him with a particular problem. I must talk it over with Sverdlov, would say a new-baked Soviet dignitary to himself whenever he hit a snag with his collaborators. One of the ways to solve a major practical problem wasaccording to the unwritten constitutionto talk it over with Sverdlov. But Sverdlov himself, of course, did not at all favor this personalized method. On the contrary, his entire work prepared the conditions for a more systematic and regularized solution of all Party and Soviet problems. In those days the need was for pioneers in all spheres, that is, people capable of operating on their own two feet amid the greatest chaos, in the absence of precedents, without any statutes and regulations. It was for such pioneers for all conceivable exigencies that Sverdlov was constantly on the lookout. He would recall, as I have already said, this or that biographical detail, of how so and so had conducted himself at such and such a time, and from this, he would adduce whether or not this or that candidate would be suitable. There were, of course, many mistakes. But the astonishing thing is that there were not many more. And what seems most astonishing is how Sverdlov found it possible to even broach a problem in the face of the chaos of tasks, the chaos of difficulties and with a minimum of available personnel. It was much clearer and easier to approach each problem from the standpoint of principle and political expediency than to approach it from the organizational standpoint. This situation is to be observed among us to this very day, flowing, as it does, from the very essence of a period that is transitional to socialism. But in those days the discrepancy between a clearly envisaged goal and the lack of material and human resources made itself felt much more acutely than today. It was precisely when matters came to the point of practical solution that many of us would start shaking our heads in perplexity. And then someone would ask: Well, and what do you say, Yakov Mikhailovich? And Sverdlov would offer his solution. In his opinion the undertaking was quite feasible. A group of carefully selected Bolsheviks would have to be sent; and they should be properly briefed, and given the proper connections, and proper attention paid, and the necessary aid givenand it could be done. To gain successes on this path one must be completely imbued with confidence that it was possible to solve any task and to overcome any difficulty. An inexhaustible reserve of active optimism did indeed supply the subsoil for Sverdlovs work. Naturally, this does not mean to say that each problem was in this way solved 100 percent. If it was solved 10 percent, that was good. In those days this already meant salvation because it made tomorrow secure. But after all, this was precisely the gist of all the work during those initial and hardest years: it was necessary to get food supplies somehow; it was necessary to equip and train the troops somehow; it was necessary to keep the transport functioning somehow; it was necessary to cope with the typhus somehowno matter what the price the revolution had to be secured its tomorrow. The Best Type of Bolshevik Sverdlovs qualities became strikingly revealed in the most critical moments, for example, after the July Days in the year 1917, that is, after the White Guardists had crushed our Party in Petrograd; and again, during the July days in the year 1918, that is, after the Left Social Revolutionists staged their insurrection. [1] In both cases it was necessary to rebuild the organization, to renew connections or create them over again, checking up on those who had passed a great test. And in both cases, Sverdlov was irreplaceable with his revolutionary calm, his far-sightedness, and his resourcefulness. On another occasion, I have told the story of how Sverdlov came from the Bolshoi Theater, from the Soviet Congress to the cabinet of Vladimir Ilyich at the very peak of the Left SR uprising. [2] After greeting us with a smile he said, Well, I suppose we shall again have to move from the Sovnarkom (Council of Peoples Commissars) to the Revkom (Revolutionary Military Council). Sverdlov remained himself, as he usually was. In such days one really learns to know people. And Yakov Mikhailovich was truly beyond compare: confident, courageous, firm, resourcefulthe best type of Bolshevik. It was precisely in those critical months that Lenin came to know and to appreciate Sverdlov. Time and again it happened that Vladimir Ilyich would pick up the phone in order to propose to Sverdlov a particular emergency measure and in most cases the answer he got was Already. This meant that the measure had already been adopted. We often made jokes on this topic, saying, Well, in all likelihood, Sverdlov has italready. You know, Lenin once remarked, in the beginning, we were against including him on the Central Committee. How we underestimated the man! There was a considerable dispute over it, but the rank and file corrected us at the Convention, and they proved to be entirely correct. Despite the fact that there never was, of course, even talk of intermixing the organizations, the bloc with the Left SRs did unquestionably tend to make the conduct of our Party nuclei somewhat nebulous. Suffice it to mention, for example, that when a large group of activists was detailed to the Eastern front, simultaneously with the appointment of Muraviev as commander-in-chief of that area, [3] a Left SR was elected the secretary of this group of several score, even though most of them were Bolsheviks. In the various institutions and departments, the greater was the number of new and accidental members of our own Party all the more indefinite were the relations between the Bolsheviks and the SRs. The laxness, the lack of vigilance and of cohesion among Party members only recently implanted in the still fresh state apparatus are characterized quite strikingly by the single fact that the basic core of the uprising was constituted by the Left SR organization among the Cheka troops. The salutary change occurred literally within two or three days. During the days of the insurrection engineered by one ruling party against another, when all personal relations were suddenly put in question, and when the functionaries in the departments began wavering, then the best and the most devoted Communist elements within all sorts of institutions quickly drew close to one another, breaking all ties with the Left SRs and combatting them. The Communist nuclei became fused in the factories and in the army sections. In the development of the Party and the State alike, this was a moment of exceptional importance. Party elements, distributed and in part dispersed throughout the still formless framework of the state apparatus and whose Party ties had become to a large extent diffused in departmental relations, now came instantly to the fore, closed ranks and became welded together under the blows of the Left SR insurrection. Everywhere Communist nuclei took shape which assumed in those days the actual leadership of the internal life of all the institutions. One may say that it was precisely in those days that the Party in its majority became for the first time really conscious of its role as a ruling organization, as the leader of the proletarian state, as the party of the proletarian dictatorship not only in its political but also in its organizational aspects. This processwhich might be designated as the beginning of the partys organizational self-determination within the Soviet State apparatus created by the Party itself took place under the direct leadership of Sverdlov, irrespective of whether involved was the All-Union Soviet Executive Committee or a garage of the War Commissariat. Historians of the October Revolution will be obliged to single out and minutely study this critical moment in the evolution of the reciprocal relations between the Party and the State, a moment that was to place its stamp on the entire period to come, down to this very day. Therewith the historian who takes up this question will lay bare the great role played by Sverdlov, the organizer, during this all-important turning point. All the threads of practical connections were gathered in his hands. Even more critical were the days when the Czechoslovaks threatened Nizhny Novgorod, while Lenin was struck down, with two SR bullets in his body. On September 1, [1918] at Svyazhsk I received a coded telegram from Sverdlov: Return immediately. Ilyich wounded. How critically not known. Complete calm prevails. Sverdlov. August 31, 1918. I left immediately for Moscow. The Party circles in Moscow were in a stern, somber but unwavering mood. The best expression of this unwaveringness was Sverdlov. His responsibilities and his role increased manifold in those days. The highest tension could be sensed in his nervous body. But this nervous tension meant only a greater vigilanceit had nothing in common with aimless bustling, and all the less so with jitteriness. During such moments Sverdlov made his stature felt completely. The diagnosis of the physicians was hopeful. No visitors were allowed to see Lenin; no one was admitted. There was no reason to remain in Moscow. Shortly after my return to Svyazhsk, I received a letter from Sverdlov dated September 8: Dear Lev Davidovich, I take this opportunity to write a few words. Things are going well with Vladimir Ilyich. I shall probably be able to see him in three or four days. The rest of the letter deals with practical questions which it is unnecessary to bring up here. Engraved sharply in my memory is the trip to the little town of Gorki where Vladimir Ilyich convalesced from his wounds. It was on my next trip to Moscow. Despite the terribly difficult situation there was strongly to be felt at the time a change for the better. At the Eastern front, which was then the decisive one, we had recaptured Kazan and Simbirsk. The attempt on Lenins life served the Party as a supreme political overhauling: the Party felt more vigilant, more on guard, better prepared to beat back the enemy. Lenin was improving rapidly and making preparation to return to work soon. All this together engendered moods of strength and assurance. Since the Party had been able to cope with the situation up until now, it would surely continue to do so in the future. This was exactly our mood as we made the journey to Gorki. En route, Sverdlov acquainted me with what had happened in Moscow during my absence. He had an excellent memory as is the case with most individuals who have a strong creative will. His account revolved, as always, around the axis of the most important things that had to be done, with the necessary organizational particulars, accompanied in passing, with brief characterizations of individuals. In brief, it was an extension of Sverdlovs customary work. And beneath it all was to be felt the undercurrent of confidence, calm and at the same time overpowering: Spravimsia [well manage]! An Imperious Chairman Sverdlov had to preside a great deal. He was chairman of many bodies and at many meetings. He was an imperious chairman. Not in the sense that he shut off discussion, or curbed the speakers, and so on. Not at all. On the contrary, he never quibbled or insisted on formalities. His imperiousness as chairman consisted in this, that he always knew exactly what practical decision was before the body; he understood who would speak, what would be said, and why; he was quite familiar with the backstage aspects of the issue and every big and complex issue has its own backstage; he was adept at giving the floor in time to speakers who were needed; he knew how to put the proposition to a vote in time; he knew what could be carried and he was able to carry what he wanted. These traits of his as chairman were bound up indissolubly with all his qualities as a practical leader, with his ability to appraise people in the flesh, realistically, with his inexhaustible inventiveness in the field of organizational and personnel combinations. During stormy sessions he was adept at permitting the assembly to become noisy and let off steam; and then at the proper moment, he would intervene to restore order with a firm hand and a metallic voice. Sverdlov was of medium height, of dark complexion, very thin and gaunt; his face, lean; his features, angular. His powerful and even mighty voice might have seemed out of consonance with his physique. To an even greater degree, this might be said of his character. But such an impression could be only fleeting. And then the physical image became fused with the spiritual. Nor is this all, for this gaunt figure with its calm unconquerable and inflexible will and with its powerful but not flexible voice, would then stand forth as a finished image. Nichevo [no problem], Vladimir Ilyich would sometimes say in a difficult situation. Sverdlov will tell them about it in his Sverdlovian bass and the matter will be settled ... In these words, there was affectionate irony. In the initial post-October period the Communists were, as is well-known, called leatherites by our enemies, because of the way in which we dressed. I believe that Sverdlovs example played a major role in introducing the leather uniform among us. At all events, he invariably walked around encased in leather from head to toe, from his leather cap to his leather boots. This costume, which somehow corresponded with the character of those days, radiated far and wide from him, as the central organizational figure. Comrades who knew Sverdlov in the underground days remember a different Sverdlov. But in my memory, Sverdlov remains clothed in leather as in an armor grown black under the blows of the first years of the Civil War. We were gathered at a session of the Political Bureau when Sverdlov, who was burning up with fever at home, took a turn for the worse. E.D. Stassova, who was then the Secretary of the Central Committee, came in during the session. She had come from Sverdlovs apartment. Her face was unrecognizable. Yakov Mikhailovich feels poorly, very poorly, she said. A glance at her sufficed to understand that there was no hope. We cut the session short. Vladimir Ilyich went to Sverdlovs apartment, and I left for the Commissariat to prepare to depart immediately to the front. In about 15 minutes a phone call came from Lenin, who said in that special muted voice which meant great strain: He is gone.He is gone?He is gone. For a while, each of us held the receiver in our hands and each could feel the silence at the other end. Then we hung up. There was nothing more to say. Yakov Mikhailovich was gone. Sverdlov was no longer among us. March 13, 1925 Endnotes (by the WSWS): [1] The insurrection by the Left SRs: The general dissatisfaction of the Left SRs with the policies of the Bolsheviks, most notably the conclusion of the Peace Treaty of Brest Litovsk, eventually resulted in an open insurrection in Moscow on July 6, 1918. The assassination of the German ambassador Graf Mirbach, carried out on behalf of the SR Central Committee by Ya. Bliumkin and N. Andreyev, signaled the start of the insurrection. [2] See Trotskys On Lenin, written in the same year. [3] Muraviev was a lieutenant colonel in the army who sympathized with the Left SRs during the epoch of Kerensky (Kerenshchina). In the initial days of the October Revolution, he performed an important service to Soviet power in his capacity as a commander of the armed forces. In July 1918, he gave the treacherous order to withdraw units from the Eastern Front and march on Moscow. The armed forces did not support him, and Muraviev shot himself. The sudden death of Tom Petty from cardiac arrest on October 2 at the age of 66 is horribly sad. Petty was a songwriter of considerable talent and by all accounts a principled man and artist. He had just completed a successful tour commemorating his fortieth year in music. Petty was born October 20, 1950, in Gainesville, Florida. In 1961, when he was 11 years old, Petty met Elvis Presley when the rock icon was in Ocala, Florida, filming his latest movie Follow That Dream. The meeting began Pettys love affair with rock n roll. The passion would be cemented in 1964, when Petty saw the Beatles perform on the Ed Sullivan Show. From that point on, he was determined to start a band and make a life of it. Petty performed in various groups before settling into the southern rock band Mudcrutch in 1970. When Mudcrutch split in 1975, some of its members went on to form Pettys classic band the Heartbreakers in 1976. The Heartbreakers proved to be an outstanding rock n roll band, featuring Mike Campbell on lead guitar, Ron Blair on bass, Stan Lynch on drums and Benmont Tench on keyboards. Howie Epstein replaced Blair in 1981 and stayed with the band for two decades. The first two Heartbreakers albums gave us memorable songs like Breakdown and American Girl. But the third album, Damn the Torpedoes (1979), was a major step forward. With the singles Dont Do Me Like That, Refugee and Here Comes My Girl, Petty and the band had clearly hit their stride. While not the most profound works ever written, they were honest songs about love and relationships and finding ways to cope with an often difficult life. The Waiting from Hard Promises (1981) was an excellent follow-up, a triumphant love song about the long journey to find true love. Petty erupts at one point, Baby you're the only one that's ever known how/To make me wanna live like I wanna live now! This was optimistic, life-affirming music. Petty was not a typical star. He looked like a wheat stalk come to life to sing rock n roll, and he sang it in a nasal voice not unlike Bob Dylans, though he could soften it into something closer to another of his influences, Roger McGuinn of the Byrds. He was not the most profound or political artist, but he was genuine and unpretentious. Pettys music didnt fit in with the popular categories of the day. In the 1970s, he was lumped in with early punk and New Wave groups, but that wasnt quite right. Today, he is more commonly heard on classic rock radio. Truthfully, his music belongs in the tradition of early rock n roll. His compositions were tightly constructed pop songs, with everything in its proper place. Pettys voice cut through those big jangly Rickenbacker guitar chords while a danceable rhythm section kept things moving. When guitar solos came in, they were tasteful and melodic, never wandering too far afield. All the musicians in the Heartbreakers were talented, but none of them were showing off. Everything served the song. The influence of musicians like the Byrds, the Beatles and Bob Dylaneven the great girl groups of the 1960swas evident in Pettys work. Like his contemporary Bruce Springsteen, Petty sang songs about the everyman, but there seemed to be less posturing in Pettys music, less straining to make a point. Pettys reputation as a rebelof a left-liberal varietyand an artist not particularly concerned with getting rich, also explains some of his appeal. During his career, Petty often went to war with his record labels. When MCA attempted to raise the price of his records, Petty resisted because of the unnecessary burden it would place on his audience. He told the New York Times in 1981, MCA has done a great job selling our records, but they couldnt see the reality of what its like on the streetthey couldnt see that raising the albums price wouldnt be fair. In the 1980s, Petty made his mark on MTV with a number of memorable music videos, including the Alice in Wonderland-themed Dont Come Around Here No More. During this time, Petty also joined the supergroup Travelling Wilburys, which included Roy Orbison, Bob Dylan, George Harrison and Jeff Lynne. It was not the best work of any of the musicians involved, but some of it was enjoyable. It was never meant to be taken that seriously. With the 1993 Greatest Hits compilation and Wildflowers (1994), a new generation of listeners who likely had no memory of Pettys early career discovered him. The singles You Dont Know How It Feels and Mary Janes Last Dance, and their accompanying music videos, were enormously popular. Petty was one of the most consistent songwriters and performers of his generation. His singles, more than his albums, represent a solid body of work that holds up to repeated listening. His most recent album, Hypnotic Eye, was released in 2014. There should have been more to come. In a final interview with Randy Lewis published in the LA Times on October 4, Petty reflected on his career with the Heartbreakers, saying Were a real rock n roll bandalways have been. And to us, in the era we came up in, it was a religion in a way. It was more than commerce, it wasnt about that. It was about something much greater. It was about moving people, and changing the world, and I really believed in rock n rollI still do. At the protest against the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in Ottawa last month and again during last Sunday's plant rally for 2,800 autoworkers striking at the General Motors CAMI assembly plant in Ingersoll, Ontario, officials from the Canadian autoworkers union, Unifor, postured as friends of Mexican autoworkers, not their enemies. Presenting a $150,000 cheque to the Mexican Red Cross for the relief effort in Mexico City after the deadly September 19 earthquake, Unifor Local 88 President Dan Borthwick said, Our fight is not with the workers in any country, including the United States and Mexico. Our fight is with the corporations and the governments that use NAFTA, a corporate trade agreement, and a tool for corporate greed and exploitation. At the plant rally last Sunday, Unifor national president Jerry Dias said NAFTA sucked for Canadian workers. It sucked for workers in the United States. And the workers who got our jobs in Mexico, it sucked for them as well because they dont even make enough money to buy the cars theyre building. So, weve all gotten screwed and we are all in this together. Dias does not care to explain how his supposed concern for the plight of Mexican workers squares with the unions demand that in the event of falling demand for the Equinox, GM should lay off workers at its Mexican plants before any workers at CAMI. Canadian workers must fight to defend their jobs. But a job is no less important to a worker and his or her family in Mexico. Unifors demand to defend Canadian jobs only plays into the hands of GM, which wants workers to compete against each other over a shrinking number of jobs and block any unified fight to the defend jobs and living standards of all workers. There is no doubt that NAFTA was written to defend the most powerful corporate interests in the US and Canada and strengthen them against their rivals in the European Union and Asia. It certainly accelerated the destruction of hundreds of thousands of better paying jobs in the north and an expansion of low-paying jobs in the south. It also enabled US and Canadian agribusinesses to wipe out two million small farmers in Mexico, creating a mass migration of impoverished peasants both out of the country and into the cities, where GM, Magna International and other corporations could exploit an ample supply of poverty-stricken workers. Dias complains that NAFTA has only benefited the corporations and the one percent, but he is now telling workers to rely on Justin Trudeau who represents the one percent, and Donald Trump and his billionaire commerce secretary Wilbur Ross, who are the one percent, to renegotiate a fair trade deal to raise Mexican workers wages and protect jobs in Canada and the US. Who does Dias think hes kidding? Any changes these people make to NAFTA will only be to strengthen the commercial interests of the giant corporations they speak for. At the same time, Trump's "America First" policy is also aimed at Canada, as seen last month when Ross slapped a 219 percent tariff on imported Bombardier C-Series jets to protect US-based Boeing Corporation. For nearly four decades, the auto unions have insisted workers sacrifice everything to make their corporations more competitive. On this basis, the unions have given up equal pay, the eight-hour day, shop floor representation, cost of living adjustments and fully employer paid pensions. As a result, it is not only the Mexican workers who cannot afford the cars they build, but also tens of thousands of Canadian and US autoworkers stuck in 10-year grow-in periods and second- and third-tier wages and benefit schemes. Economic nationalism has always been used to divide the international working class and subordinate workers to the ruthless profit drive of their ruling classes. At the same time, big business politicians and the unions promote nationalism to divert workers anger outward and away from the capitalist system, which benefits only a super wealthy minority at the expense of the working class throughout the world. In the 1980s, the unions on both sides of the border organized "Smash the Jap" events to demolish Japanese imports while the UAW and CAW solidified their partnerships with corporate management and imposed one concession after the other. This racist campaign culminated in the 1982 killing of Chinese immigrant Vincent Chin who was bludgeoned to death in Detroit by a Chrysler foreman and his laid-off autoworker stepson who thought the young man was a Japanese national. As many veteran workers will remember, the Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) union was formed on the basis of a nationalist campaign to split from the UAW and go it alone based on the lower Canadian dollar and a state-funded health care system that temporarily attracted investment from the Detroit auto companies. Canadian UAW Director Bob White, rather than seek to mobilize the seething resentment of hundreds of thousands of American autoworkers against the concessions policies of the union and the slash and burn rampage of the companies, repudiated the decades-long international links between workers on both sides of the border and opened the door for the vicious whip-sawing that soon became the primary strategy of the auto bosses. The unions have modified their anti-foreigner rhetoric because workers have increasingly come to see their fellow workers in China, Mexico, India and other impoverished countries not as subservient slaves looking to rob Canadian and US workers of their livelihoods, but their class brothers and sisters fighting the same global auto companies. There have been major autoworkers struggles over the last two decades in Mexico. The Nissan plant in Aguascalientes saw 1,700 workers engage in a one-day strike in 2004. At the Honda plant in El Salto, 2,000 workers went on strike in 2013. Roughly 13,000 workers at the Volkswagen plant in Puebla, near Mexico City, struck in 2001, 2006 and 2009. Over the last decade a wave of strikes by autoworkers in China has led to a 160 percent increase in wages, while real wages in the US and Canada have remained frozen. Like their US and Canadian counterparts, however, Mexican workers are straitjacketed with trade unions controlled by the corporations and big business political parties. Many autoworkers are organized by the Confederation of Mexican Workers (CTM), which has been dominated since its inception by the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) of current president Enrique Pena Nieto. The government-controlled union negotiates contracts behind the backs of workers and works closely with the companies to enforce concessions. Unifor and the UAW are no less tools of the corporations and capitalist governments. The revelations that Fiat Chrysler executives paid multi-million dollar bribes to top UAW officials to sign company friendly contracts only underscores this point. The global integration of production is a phenomenon that autoworkers see before their eyes every day. GM today has operations in 31 countries like other transnationals. About 25 percent of all parts in a Canadian made vehicle come from another country. In the US and Mexico that number rises to 40 percent. GM can shift the production of entire models from one plant or one country to another, as it has with model flips from Spring Hill, Tennessee to San Luis Potosi or with this summer's transfer of CAMI Terrain production to Mexico, which was meant to serve as a threat to CAMI workers in advance of contract talks. If the corporations have an international strategy, why shouldnt workers have a real international strategy? The predations of global capitalism must be opposed from the standpoint of the interests of the international working class, not lining up with this or that section of big business. That means rejecting the economic nationalism promoted by Unifor, the UAW and other unions, and forging the strongest bonds with workers in the US and Mexico. The WSWS Autoworker Newsletter urges CAMI workers to form rank-and-file strike committees to outline their demands for substantial improvement in wages, benefits and working conditions, and to oppose any sellout agreement brought back by Unifor. These committees should use social media to establish direct lines of communication with workers in the San Luis Potosi and Ramos Arizpe plants in Mexico, along with US autoworkers. In this way, the basis can be laid for a common struggle by the international working class, which takes as its starting point the social right of all workers to good-paying and secure jobs, not what the corporations and governments say they can afford. The industrial mobilization of the working class must be combined with a new political strategy based on the fight for international socialism. Giant corporations like GM must be transformed into public enterprises, democratically controlled and collectively owned by workers themselves, as part of the socialist reorganization of the North American economy to meet human needs, not corporate profits. The World Socialist Web Site and its Autoworker Newsletter are leading this fight and will provide every assistance to workers seeking a path forward. By PTI: London, Oct 5 (PTI) Archaeologists claim to have discovered the tomb of Saint Nicholas - whose habit of secret gift-giving gave rise to the legend of Santa Claus - beneath the ruins of a church in Turkey. Researchers unearthed an intact temple underneath the Saint Nicholas Church in the Demre district. A special section was found in the temple during scientific and technological works, with speculations that the tomb may be buried there. advertisement Researchers came across an untouched shrine while conducting digital surveys below the surface of the church, said Cemil Karabayram, Antalya Director of Surveying and Monuments in Turkey. Scientific and technological studies had revealed the existence of an intact tomb under the church, researchers said. "We believe this shrine has not been damaged at all, but it is quite difficult to get to it as there are mosaics on the floor" Karabayram told Hurriyet Daily News. Till now it was believed that the bones of St Nicholas were in Italy, researchers said. "We studied all of the documents from between 1942 and 1966. There were some notes there. According to these notes, this church was demolished and rebuilt. "During the reconstruction, traders in Bari took the bones. But it is said that these bones did not belong to St Nicholas but to another priest," Karabayram said. Researchers have been working for three months and a CT scan, a geo-radar and eight academics have been brought in for the excavation work at the last stage. "The worlds eyes will be set on here. We claim that St Nicholas has been kept in this temple without any damage. We are at the last stage," Karabayram said. PTI APA MHN SAR MHN --- ENDS --- By PTI: Bhopal, Oct 5 (PTI) The special task force (STF) of Bhopal police today claimed to have busted a gang involved in the smuggling of antiques with the arrest of two persons and seizure of two metal idols and a painting. The accused were looking to sell the antiques, which have archaeological value, in the international market, it said in a release here. advertisement An STF team arrested Praveen Agrawal and Rajendra Rajput, residents of Jhansi, from Chirula barrier on the Datia-Jhansi road yesterday. The team found in their possession a 20.5 cm tall idol of Lord Parshwanath sitting in lotus position with a lion-like figure in the front. It weighs 5.29 kg. It also seized another idol, 35 cm tall and weighing 4.7 kg. It has two pairs of hands; in one hand it is holding a mace and a lotus flower in another. Also, a 38.2 X 31.1 cm painting of a horse rider, with "01.05.31" written on the backside, probably indicating a date, was seized. The STF was probing the source of the idols and painting, its release said, adding that interrogation of the arrested men may throw light on interstate gangs which smuggle ancient idols. PTI ADU MAS KRK BAS --- ENDS --- YAKIMA, Wash. -- Only $3.8 million and several months of construction stand between Yakima r James Jorgenson, an inmate at the Yakima County Jail, picks up litter around the jail property in Yakima, Wash., Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2017. The county uses inmate labor for some tasks such as cooking, laundry and groundskeeping. (SHAWN GUST/Yakima Herald-Republic) You are the owner of this article. By PTI: revision New Delhi, Oct 4 (PTI) The Indian Army is advising Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF) in curriculum revision and capability building, an effort lauded by Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, according to a statement today. The current Indian Military Advisory and Training Team is deployed at the Senior Command and Staff College (SCSC) in Jinja, Uganda since April 2016. advertisement "Their contributions to the curriculum revision, student assimilation enhancement and capability building of the local directing staff have been appreciated by no less than the President of Uganda," the statement released by the Army said. The team, through its rapport and positive interaction, has been successful in mobilising the local Indian community in provisioning a state of art gymnasium to the SCSC, it said. The equipment for the gymnasium, worth more than USD 30,000, has been imported from Dubai. The gymnasium was inaugurated by Ravi Shankar, the High Commissioner of India to Uganda, and then handed over to the Chief of the Uganda Peoples Defence Forces, Gen. David Muhoozi. Muhoozi, while accepting the same, hailed it as a "one of kind asset for the entire UPDF". The General also thanked the Indian contingent for its contribution towards the UPDF. PTI PR DIP --- ENDS --- If you are sending a Letter To the Editor, please be sure to follow these rules: Letters have a firm 200-word limit and will be edited for grammar, clarity and accuracy. The person who signs the letter must be the author. Anonymous letters will not be considered. Letters must address the editor, not a third party. We will not print form letters, libelous letters, business promotions or personal disputes, poetry, open letters, letters espousing religious views without reference to a current issue, or letters considered in poor taste. Letters reflect the opinion of the writer. The Yakima Herald-Republic cannot verify the accuracy of all statements made in letters. Writers are limited to one published letter per calendar month. Two events took place simultaneously about two months ago: A terror attack at the Temple Mount, which left two Border Police officers dead and the metal detector saga that followed, and the incident in which an Israeli security guard shot to death a young man who attacked him in his apartment in Jordan. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter These two incidents increased the tensions between the two countries. The Jordanian king is angry and is refusing to let the Israeli ambassador return to Amman. His anger is justified, as the Israeli security guard also shot to death his landlord, who was present at the apartment at the time and was likely uninvolved in the incident. In this state of affairs, Israel would have been expected to do three simple things: One, to appoint a professional team to investigate the shooting incident. There is no need for a police investigation here. A professional team would have completed the investigation and prepared a detailed report within two weeks. The team should have been led by a well-known security official. Had that been done, and had the head of the team presented the report to the Jordanians as early as a month ago, the affair would already be over by now. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus meeting with Israeli Ambassador to Jordan Einat Shlain and the Israeli security guard who shot two people to death in his apartment in Amman (Photo: Haim Zach, GPO) In 2003, at the height of the intifada, during a Duvdevan Unit activity near the United Nations camp in Jenin, the forces commander detected a person with a suspicious object in his hand, assumed it was a gun and ordered his soldiers to shoot him to death. It later turned out that the man had been holding a phone. He was a senior British intelligence official, who had volunteered to serve as head of the UN office in the area. Israel got into trouble both with Britain and with the UN. At the time, I served as head of the IDF Planning Directorate and was appointed to lead the team investigating the incident. Within a week, I traveled with the findings to the UN secretary-general in New York and to the British deputy foreign secretary in London. I admitted to them that professional mistakes had been made, unintentionally. The tensions were over. The second thing Israel should do is launch a professional dialogue with the Jordanians about the security arrangements at the Temple Mount. Now that calm has been restored, along with the prayer routine, its time to hold consultations with Jordan about future solutions or acceptable responses to different scenarios. That isnt happening either, as far as I know. The third thing is to appoint a person of stature as the Israeli ambassador. The current ambassador, Einat Shlain, is obviously a persona non grata in Amman after she was photographed with the prime minister when he greeted the security guard. The next ambassador shouldnt be an anonymous diplomat from the Foreign Ministry but a well-known Israeli figure, a former minister or a security official who is highly regarded by the Jordanians. Jordan is one of the 10 most important countries to Israel, the relations between the two countries are explosive, there is a high potential of deterioration, which it why it is very important to appoint a top official as the ambassador. The three things I just mentioneda quick investigation of the incident by a senior team and a presentation of the findings to the king of Jordan, initiating a dialogue on the Temple Mount and appointing an ambassador with a very good reputationare simple measures with hardly any cost. It has already been said that a national interest is not a hearts desire. A national interest is something so important that we should be willing to pay a price to achieve it. In this case, we are talking about a top interest which can be achieved with hardly any cost. This isnt happening because both the National Security Council and the Foreign Ministry have become neutralized bodies. If the prime minister himself fails to personally initiate or lead diplomatic activitiesnothing happens. As talented as the prime minister may be, this isnt the way to run a foreign policy. The failure in handling the crisis with Jordan is likely just one example. The future of the Iran nuclear deal may hinge on a face-saving fix for President Donald Trump so he doesn't have to recertify the Islamic republic's compliance every 90 days, according to US officials. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Several officials familiar with internal discussions say the periodic reviews mandated by Congress have become such a source of embarrassment for Trump that his national security aides are trying to find ways for him to stop signing off on the seven-nation accord without scuttling it entirely. President Trump (R) wishes to stop periodically signing off on Iranian President Rouhani's compliance with nuclear deal (Photo: Reuters, AP) The president has called the agreement one of America's "worst and most one-sided transactions" ever. Officials say what Trump hates most, however, is a provision in a 2015 US lawknown as the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Actthat requires him to tell Congress every three months if Iran is meeting promises to scale back its nuclear program in exchange for broad international relief from oil, trade and financial sanctions. Because the UN nuclear watchdog has found Iran in compliance, it's difficult for the US administration to say otherwise. But Trump has said repeatedly that he doesn't want to certify Iranian compliance again after having done so twice already, declaring last month he even had made his mind up about what he'll do next. "Decertification" could lead Congress to reintroduce economic sanctions on Iran that were suspended under the deal. If that happens, Iran has threatened to walk away from the arrangement and restart activities that could take it closer to nuclear weapons. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Joseph Dunford said in Congress he believed Iran to be fulfilling the agreement (Photo: Reuters) "Iran is not in material breach of the agreement and I do believe the agreement to date has delayed the development of a nuclear capability by Iran," Gen. Joseph Dunford, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Tuesday. Asked if he believed staying in the deal was in America's national security interest, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said, "Yes, senator, I do." For US officials involved in the decision-making process, the focus on finding a way for Trump to avoid anything looking like approval for the accord has become a source of frustration. Various options are in play to resolve the problem, but none are clean solutions, according to officials who weren't authorized to discuss the private deliberations and demanded anonymity. The most likely strategy centers on Trump not certifying Iran's compliance when he faces another deadline Oct. 15. Below the president, diplomats and officials would then strive to manage any fallout with Tehran and America's European allies by emphasizing that the US isn't leaving the deal or applying new nuclear sanctions on Iran. After that, Trump wouldn't have to address the certification matter again, officials said. Secretary of Defense James Mattis said he believed the nuclear deal to be in the US's best interest (Photo: Reuters) The State Department and National Security Council declined to comment for this story. The Iran review law provides a potential out for Trump. The president must determine that Iran is implementing the nuclear deal and hasn't committed a "material breach," or taken action that could advance its nuclear weapons program. It also demands the president's verdict on a fourth question: whether suspending sanctions is "appropriate and proportionate," and if doing so is "vital to the national security interests of the United States." Mattis hinted his boss may try to decertify without breaking the deal. "You can talk about the conditions under one of those, and not walk away from the other," he said. "They're two different pieces." The US may attempt to claim Iran was violating the 'spirit' of the agreement (Photo: MCT) The goal would be to reinforce the administration's argument that Iran's technical compliancemeeting uranium stockpile limits, pouring cement into the core of a plutonium reactor and so ondoesn't mean it's living up to the "spirit" of the agreement. This lofty but ill-defined notion encompasses things not directly covered by the nuclear deal, such as Iran's missile development, threats to America's Middle East allies and support for US-designated terrorist organizations. While Mattis described the issues of certification and upholding the deal as "different pieces," they overlap. If Trump declares the nuclear deal isn't in the nation's security interests, how will his administration stick to it? In January, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson must again waive multiple sets of sanctions on Iran, and the national security question is relevant to those decisions. As a possible solution, officials said the administration is weighing whether to send the question of sanctions back to Congress. But if lawmakers pass new economic penalties on Iran, the same risk to the overall deal applies. Photo: AP Other alternatives are being weighed, too, according to officials. One would involve Trump grudgingly certifying Iran's compliance a final time and then persuading Congress to change the law so he wouldn't have to do so again. Officials say this option is unlikely because no one expects already gridlocked lawmakers to pass anything quickly on so polarizing a topiceven if the objective isn't to save or destroy the deal, but help Trump avoid the discomfort of the certification process. A further, even more remote possibility, officials said, is Trump not saying anything in 12 days' time. His silence would amount to decertification, but would seem to be the least Trumpian course of action for a president who has loudly and consistently railed against the merits of the deal. Close observers of the Iran deal, both for and against, say Trump may even deliver a major foreign policy speech outlining his decision. LAS VEGAS Visiting bedsides and the base of police operations, President Donald Trump offered prayers and condolences Wednesday to the victims of Sunday night's shooting massacre in Las Vegas along with praise and congratulations to first responders and doctors who rushed to save lives. "America is truly a nation in mourning," the president said, days after a gunman on the 32nd floor of a hotel and casino opened fire on the crowd at an outdoor country music festival below. The rampage killed at least 59 people and injured 527, many from gunfire, others from chaotic efforts to escape. "We cannot be defined by the evil that threatens us or the violence that incites such terror," Trump declared at the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police headquarters, reading from prepared remarks. "We are defined by our love, our caring and our courage." A member of Iran's team of nuclear negotiators that struck the 2015 deal with world powers has been sentenced to five years in prison after being convicted in Iran of espionage, a semi-official news agency reported on Wednesday. While unnamed in the report, the only negotiator known to be facing criminal charges is dual Iranian-Canadian national Abdolrasoul Dorri Esfahani. His detention, if confirmed, would make him the latest dual national to be arrested in Iran, part of what a United Nations panel has called an "emerging pattern" since the atomic accord. The sentencing was only reported by Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency, which is believed to be close to Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, a hard-line force answerable only to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The Guard has been involved in nearly every case involving dual nationals or those with Western ties being detained. As Congress faces a possible fight over the future of the Iran nuclear agreement, European ambassadors and officials from President Barack Obama's administration are making their case for preserving the pact directly to US lawmakers. The British, French, German and European Union ambassadors to the United States will participate later on Wednesday in a meeting on Capitol Hill with Democratic senators organized by the Senate's number two Democrat, Richard Durbin, congressional aides and embassy officials told Reuters. Former Undersecretary of State and lead Iran negotiator Wendy Sherman will also attend and former Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz and Treasury Secretary Jack Lew will participate via videolink, an aide to Durbin and another congressional aide said. The meeting is part of an ongoing effort by Democrats in Congress and other officials who support the nuclear pact to bolster support for the deal by spelling out the consequences of its collapse as Republican President Donald Trump faces an Oct. 15 deadline for certifying the agreement or placing its fate in the hands of Congress. A drunk man, from US' Wyoming state, claimed that he had traveled back from the year 2048 to warn of an alien invasion. By AP: If you think you no one can beat you at doing crazy things after getting drunk then continue reading. A drunk man, from US' Wyoming state, claimed that he had traveled back from the year 2048 to warn of an alien invasion. Police said that they encountered Bryant Johnson at 10:30 pm and arrested him for public intoxication. advertisement KTWO-AM in Casper reports that the man told police that he wanted to warn the people of Casper that aliens will arrive next year, and that they should leave as soon as possible. The man told police he was only able to time travel because aliens filled his body with alcohol. He noted that he was supposed to be transported to the year 2018, not this year. --- ENDS --- Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei accused Irans arch nemesis, the United States of planning to create a new Israel in the Middle East by supporting the Kurdish independence vote in Iraq on Wednesday, during his meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Tehran. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter America and Israel benefit from the vote (...) America and foreign powers are unreliable and seek to create a new Israel in the region, he said. Iraqs autonomous Kurdistan region said on Tuesday it was calling presidential and parliamentary elections for Nov. 1. Baghdad responded by announcing further punitive measures. Kurds celebrate independence referendum () X Erdogan, whose security forces have been embroiled in a decades-long battle with Kurdish separatists in southeast Turkey, repeated his accusation that Israel was behind the Iraqi Kurds referendum. Erdogan (L) and Khamenei during their meeting (Photo: AP) There is no country other than Israel that recognizes it. A referendum that was conducted by sitting side by side with Mossad has no legitimacy, he said, referring to the Israeli intelligence agency. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has denied Turkeys previous claims of involvement in the vote, but has welcomed the Kurds vote for independence. "I understand why (the Iraqi Kurdish independenceed) is uncomfortable to those who support Hamas and want to see the Mossad everywhere, but Israel had no part in the Kurdish referendum, apart from the deep, natural sympathy the people of Israel have had for many years for the Kurdish people and their aspirations," Netanyahu said at the beginning of the week, during a cabinet meeting. During his meeting with Erdogan, Iran's Rouhani also said that Tehran and Ankara planned to expand economic ties. Turkey will import more gas from Iran (...) Meetings will be held to discuss the details, he said. Iraq's central government, its neighbors and Western powers fear the vote in favor of secession could spark another, wider conflict in the Middle East region to add to the war in Syria. They fear it could derail the fight against Islamic State. Photo: AFP The Kurds are the regions fourth-largest ethnic group, spread across Iran, Turkey, Syria and Iraq, all of which oppose any moves towards a Kurdish state. The United States officially opposed the referendum, depicting it as a destabilizing move at a time when all sides in the region are still fighting Islamic State. Turkish-Iran ties warm over Kurdish referendum threat Relations have generally been cool between Shiite Iran and mainly Sunni Turkey, a NATO member. But both have been alarmed by the Iraqi Kurds vote for independence last month, fearing it will stoke separatism among their own Kurdish populations. Turkey and Iran must take necessary measures against the vote (...) and Baghdad should make serious decisions (...) serious and rapid decisions must be taken, Khamenei was quoted as saying. The Iraqi Kurdish secession vote is an act of betrayal toward the entire region and a threat to its future. Iran and Turkey have already threatened to join Baghdad in imposing economic sanctions on Iraqi Kurdistan and have launched joint military exercises with Iraqi troops on their borders with the separatist region. Erdogan, who was on a one-day trip to Tehran, said earlier that Ankara was considering taking further measures against Iraqi Kurdistan. We have already said we dont recognize the referendum in northern Iraq (...) We have taken some measures already with Iran and the Iraqi central government, but stronger steps will be taken, he said. Rouhani and Erdogan vowed to work closely together to prevent the disintegration of Iraq and Syria and to oppose the Iraqi Kurds drive for independence. We want security and stability in the Middle East (...) The referendum in Iraqs Kurdistan is a sectarian plot by foreign countries and is rejected by Tehran and Ankara, Rouhani said, according to state TV. We will not accept a change of borders under any circumstances. Iraqi forces have captured the town of Hawija and the surrounding area from Islamic State, the military said in a statement on Thursday. With the capture of Hawija, the militants' last stronghold in northern Iraq, the only area that remains under control of Islamic State in Iraq is a stretch alongside the western border with Syria. Hawija is close to the oil-city of Kirkuk. The offensive on Hawija was carried out by US-backed Iraqi government troops and Iranian-trained and armed Shi'ite paramilitary groups known as Popular Mobilization. The inauguration of a new Holocaust memorial museum in Ottowa, Canada, which opened last week, quickly drew criticism after observars noticed that a plaque set at the entrance to the site did not mention the words "Jews" and "anti-Semitism." Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took part in last week's inauguration ceremony, stressing that the place symbolizes how much hatred and tyranny can carry a heavy price. Trudeau noted Canada's commitment to combating anti-Semitism, racism and discrimination. However, the new site quickly raised eyebrows, as the memorial plaque stating the museum was erected "in memory of millions of men, women and children who were murdered in the Holocaust" without mentioning the number six million or referring to the Jewish people. inauguration X MP David Sweet criticized the lack of mention, which has been going on for more than a decade: "If we are going to eradicate hatred against the Jews, we should be accurate about history." Trudeau (L) at the memorial Trudeau (Photo: AP) Canadian Heritage Minister Melanie Joly replied to Switt, explaining that the plaque would be removed, saying that the Holocaust Memorial Museum is a place in memory of six million Jews and another five million victims who were murdered during the Holocaust, and that the sign has since been removed. Trudeau at the memorial (AP, Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press) This is not the first time the Canadians have become embroiled in the memory of the Jewish people. Last year, shortly after taking office, Prime Minister Trudeau tweeted "in tribute to the millions of victims who were murdered in the Holocaust," on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, without mentioning the Jewish people. After receiving criticism over this, his office stressed the importance of battling anti-Semitism. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would rather his children not go into politics, this according to a trailer from an interview of his, to be broadcast at 3:00am, between Sunday and Monday, on Fox News' interview program Objectified, with Harvey Levin. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Responding to a question by Levin about "either" of his children, Netanyahu expressed his hopes that his children will not go into politics. Netanyahu has three childrena daughter, Noa, from his first marriage to Miriam Weizmann; and two sons, Yair and Avner, from his third and current marriage to Sara Netanyahu. Netanyahu speaking with Fox's Harvey Levin ( ) X Nevertheless, Netanyahu stated that "it doesn't help" that he tells his children to avoid the political arena, as he thinks that one of them might still want to go into politics. PM Netanyahu with his eldest son, Yair (Photo: AFP) Though he did not specify which child he was referring to, over the past few months it has been Netanyahu's eldest son, Yair, who has drawn the spotlight onto himself in a decidedly controversial manner: after being criticized for continuing to live in the Prime Minister's Residence on the taxpayers' money, receiving extravagant gifts from Australian billionaire James Packerwho is currently seeking residency in Israeland not picking up after Kaia, the family dog, Yair Netanyahu posted an edited version of a caricature lifted from a neo-Nazi website, ridiculing several of his father's more persistent critics. Among those superimposed on the caricature he had posted on Facebook was former prime minister Ehud Barak, who responded by suggesting the state begin funding the young Netanyahu therapy. Yair shot back by referring to Barak as a coward and hinting that he was an alcoholic. The anti-Semitic caricature Yair Netanyahu had posted Yair Netanyahu has since removed the anti-Semitic caricature from his Facebook page. (Photo: Yuval Hen) In the interview's trailer, Netanyahu is described as one of the most important people in the world. He is additionally expected to talk about the loss of his brother Yoni, who was killed during Operation Entebbe, in which elite IDF soldiers in a successful mission to free Israeli citizens from a terrorist cell that had hijacked. Senior Hamas official Saleh al-Arouri, who is in charge of the organization's military wing in the West Bank, was officially appointed deputy head of the Hamas political bureau in the Gaza Strip on Thursday. The appointment makes al-Arouri Hamas' second-in-command in the terrorist group turned political party, after Hamas Leader Ismail Haniyeh, who serves as head of its political bureau. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Al-Arouri's appointment was decided upon during a meeting of the Hamas political bureau in Cairo three weeks prior. Al-Arouri arrived in Cairo to attend the meeting with other members the Hamas leadership abroad, as well as members of the Hamas leadership in Gaza, headed by Haniyeh. Despite living abroad for the past several years, al-Arouri has nevertheless been hard at work to establish Hamas military cells in the West Bank, aimed at carrying out terrorist attacks against Israeli targets. Among these was the kidnapping and murder of the three Israeli teenagers in Gush Etzion in June 2014, which al-Arouri is believed to have orchestrated. Their murder led Israel to launch Operation Brother's Keeper, which escalated and was followed by Operation Protective Edge in July of that same year. Palestinian PM Rami Hamdallah enters Gaza (: ) X Al-Arouri has previously been ousted from two Muslim-Majority countries and is now residing in Lebanon. In December '15, he was expelled from Turkey as a goodwill gesture toward Israel, as the two countries continued to work toward a reconciliation following the Marmara flotilla affair. Last June, he was ousted from Qatar, after several Arab Gulf countries accused Qatar of aiding terrorist organizations. The US then exerted pressure on Qatar to remove Hamas leadership from within its borders, in exchange for US intervention to end the crisis, which led to al-Arouri's ejection. Al-Arouri meets with top Iranian advisor during diplomatic visit Now in Lebanon, al-Arouri was photographed two months ago during a meeting he had held with an Iranian official in Beirut. A strong supporter of Iran, al-Arouri advocates restoring relations with Tehranwhich also relations with Hamas over their support of the rebels in the Syrian civil warin order to bolster Hamas' military wing. In recent years, al-Arouri has become a very dominant figure in Hamas and, unlike most members of the organization's leadership, he always moves between the organization's political activity and its military activity. Al-Arouri, 51, was born in the village of Aroura near Ramallah in 1966. He acquired his basic and higher education in the West Bank and holds a BA in Islamic Sharia law from the University of Hebron. Al-Arouri was religious orientated from an early age and served as head of the Islamic faction at the university. After the establishment of Hamas, al-Arouri was one of the founders of Hamas's military wing in the West Bank and participated in its activities during the first intifada. He was arrested by Israeli authorities in 1990, 1992 and 2007, spending six months, 15 years and 3 years respectively for his leadership role in Hamas and various terrorism activities. After his last stint in prison, al-Arouri was deported from Gaza as his presence was reputed to pose a threat to Israel. He moved to Syria and stayed there for three years. The severing of relations between Hamas and the Assad regime against due to Hamas' support for the rebels in the Syrian civil war forced al-Arouri to leave Damascus and move to Turkey in 2012. Following the new appointment, Hamas' top echelon will be comprised of Haniyeh, Al-Arouri, and the organization's third-in-command Yihya Sinwar, a military leader in Gaza and who was appointed by Hamas to be the strip's prime minister. Rabidly anti-Israel, Sinwar is also the most senior Hamas leader released in the Shalit deal. Despite signs of an approaching Hamas-Palestinian Authority (PA) reconciliation earlier in the week, their basis for a truce continues to be tenuous, with Egyptian Intelligence Minister Khaled Fawzy informing PA President Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday that Hamas is refusing to consider dismatling its military wing until certain preliminary requisites are met. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Among Hamas' demands are that new elections be held among the Palestinians, and that an agreement be reached with Israel regarding the matter of the Palestinian state its people. According to Arab media reports, Azzam Al-AhmadPA official in charge of the reconciliation with Hamassigned a document three weeks ago, stating that the issue of disarming Hamas' military wing would not be discussed in any way before reaching a political agreement with Israel. Palestinian Authority PA Rami Hamdallah enters Gaza (: ) X The issue, however, was re-examined following Abbas' interviews with the Egyptian media, in which he made it clear that he would not accept the Hezbollah model in Lebanonmeaning that he would not allow Hamas to continue to hold illegal weapons within the Gaza Strip. At the beginning of next week, the PA and Hamas delegations will arrive in Cairo to begin discussions on the different clauses of the reconciliation agreement, including the PA's assumption of responsibility for the strip. PA Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah led a delegation from the West Bank to the Gaza Strip on Monday, in what was the most public gesture at a truce between the two rival political factions Hamas and Fatah (which heads the PA), since Hamas seized control of Gaza over a decade ago. Hamdallah began his visit with a message of reconciliation, shortly after arriving in a 30-vehicle motorcade through the Erez border crossing separating Israel and Gaza. He was accompanied by a large delegation of Fatah officials from the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority, dozens of aides and armed bodyguards. "The only way to statehood is through unity," said Hamdallah, speaking at a welcome ceremony attended by Fatah and Hamas officials. "We are coming to Gaza again to deepen the reconciliation and end the split." US President Donald Trump's envoy to the Middle East, Jason Greenblatt, welcomed the arrival of the PA to Gaza, but made it clear that any reconciliation would have to recognize Israel. "As the Palestinian Authority Cabinet visits Gaza today in preparation for the October 3 cabinet meeting, the United States welcomes efforts to create the conditions for the Palestinian Authority to fully assume its responsibilities in Gaza, as noted in the September 28 Quartet statement," he declared in the brief. "We will be watching these developments closely, while pressing forward with the Palestinian Authority, Israel, and international donors to try to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza," he added. Disappointment follows Hamdallah's Gaza visit Though Hamdallah was hailed by local Gazan residents upon his arrival, Hamas expressed great disappointment that he did not declare that the PA would lifting sanctions from Gaza. Sources in Gaza told Ynet that Hamas would have made do with removing even one of the sanctions imposed by Abbas; namely, that the PA would subsidize the excise tax on diesel fuel entering the Gaza Strip for the operation of Gaza's power plant, or that the PA would resume paying for the electricity Israel supplies to the strip. However, Hamas now expects the sanctions to be lifted next week, during the PA-Hamas meeting in Cairo. Photo: EPA As Egypt Deepens its involvement in the Palestinian reconciliation efforts, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi stated Tuesday during a meeting with Fawzy and Hamdallah that "history will pay its debt to anyone who misses the opportunity for peace. "It is necessary that the Palestinian disagreements be resolved internally with the support of the Arab states, and without the intervention of an outside party," he emphasized. "Egypt will invest everything in order to bring about the success of the mission. Photo: AP "We must work together to emphasize the sincerity of the Palestinian people's adjustment toward a just peace in the region. The whole world is waiting for internal Palestinian reconciliation. We do not have time to waste." The Russian Defense Ministry says its submarines HAVE fired 10 cruise missiles at Islamic State positions outside the eastern Syrian town of Mayadeen, one of the last major IS strongholds in the country. Russia has been a major backer of Syrian President Bashar Assad's forces and has helped government troops gain significant ground from opposition fighters and militant groups in the war. The ministry's spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said in a statement that the Kalibr missiles killed an unspecified number of IS fighters and destroyed major ammunition depots and command posts. Konashenkov said the missiles were launched from the Veliky Novgorod and the Kolpino submarines in the Mediterranean Sea on Thursday. Syrian troops with the help of Russian air cover have been closing in on Mayadeen, which has become a main IS hub for militants and the group's leaders after its former strongholds of Raqqa and Deir el-Zour have come under attack. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has suggested that Turkey, Iran and Iraq are considering blockading Iraq's Kurdish region by closing its airspace and borders after the Kurds' voted for independence last week. Erdogan said during a speech in Ankara on Thursday: "All airspace will be closed, flights have already been banned... Soon the borders will be closed too." Erdogan says the Iraqi Kurdish region's leader, Masoud Barzani, who spearheaded the independence referendum, has endangered the security of the whole region. Erdogan said: "We won't allow our region and our country's security to be placed in danger just because some people want to realize their childhood dream." More than 90 percent of Iraq's Kurds voted for independence in the referendum, which was rejected as illegal by Iraq's central government and its neighbors. Niger's President Mahamadou Issoufou has condemned the attack by Mali-based extremists in the country's west that killed several Niger soldiers and three US Army special operations commandos. Issoufou said Thursday that Niger is once again the target of Islamic extremist attacks. He did not say how many Niger soldiers were killed, but said there were a number of victims. US officials said two US Army special operations commandos were also wounded when they came under fire in southwest Niger late Wednesday while on a joint patrol near the Mali border. The US forces are in Niger to provide training and security assistance to the Nigerien Armed Forces in their fight against violent extremists. The officials said the two wounded were taken to Niamey, the capital, and are in stable condition. The officials were not authorized to discuss the incident publicly so spoke on condition of anonymity. The officials said the commandos, who were Green Berets, were likely attacked by al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb militants. In a statement, US Africa Command said the forces were with a joint US and Nigerien patrol north of Niamey, near the Mali border, when they came under hostile fire. Africa Command said the US forces are in Niger to provide training and security assistance to the Nigerien Armed Forces in their efforts against violent extremists. The White House said President Donald Trump was notified about the attack Wednesday night as he flew aboard Air Force One from Las Vegas to Washington. The US State Department says Myanmar's crackdown that has caused an exodus of a half-million Rohingya Muslims to Bangladesh could destabilize the region and invite international terrorists. Patrick Murphy, a senior US official for Southeast Asia, says the US has urged Myanmar's civilian and military officials to take action to stop the violence. He told a congressional hearing Thursday that despite government assurances that security operations halted Sept. 5, vigilantes are still reportedly committing arson attacks on Rohingya homes and blocking humanitarian assistance. Rep. Ed Royce, Republican chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, described it as ethnic cleansing and urged the administration to press harder for humanitarian access. Rep. Eliot Engel, the committee's top-ranking Democrat, said the US should consider imposing targeted sanctions on Myanmar's military. By PTI: (Eds: Updating with more details) By Lalit K Jha Washington, Oct 5 (PTI) The US is concerned about the future of the government in Pakistan and wants to ensure long-term stability in the country, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has said as the two countries attempted to repair their ties after a bitter war of words. advertisement Tillersons comments came after his meeting with Pakistans Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif, who is visiting the US as part of efforts to rebuild the bilateral ties frayed after President Donald Trump accused Islamabad of sheltering terror groups. "This is about the importance of Pakistan, and Pakistan?s long-term stability as well. We have concerns about the future of Pakistan?s government too...we want their government to be stable. We want it to be peaceful," Tillerson said. "Many of the issues theyre struggling with inside Pakistan are American issues," he said without elaborating. Pakistan witnessed a political crisis in July when the Supreme Court disqualified then Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for dishonesty in the Panama Papers case, forcing him to quit. Since then, the PML-N chief has been raising questions against the verdict in public gatherings. Asif, during his meeting with Tillerson at the State Department, defended Pakistans role in the war against terrorism. The meeting signalled a gradual resumption of talks between the two countries that was paused by Pakistan which was upset after Trumps new South Asia and Afghan policy that proposed greater role for India in the war-torn country. This was the first high-level meeting after Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi met with US Vice President Mike Pence on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly Session last month in New York. According to State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert, the two leaders talked about their mutual commitment to advancing a multifaceted relationship between the US and Pakistan based on "shared interest" in a secure, prosperous, and democratic Pakistan. Trumps new South Asia strategy announced in August also figured during their talks. After the meeting, Tillerson told reporters that he believed that the US has a partner in Pakistan. Responding to a question, he said the US relationship with Pakistan is "extraordinarily" important regionally. The South Asia strategy rolled out by President Trump, he observed, was in a regional context, and not just about Afghanistan. According to the statement issued by the Pakistan Embassy here, Asif said the US and Pakistan shared a common desire for peace and stability in Afghanistan and the region at large. advertisement Asif told Tillerson that Pakistan is winning its war against terrorism. He also informed the secretary of state about the strong public reaction in Pakistan to the pronouncement of the US administrations South Asia Policy - based on inadequate recognition of Pakistans sterling contribution in the fight against terrorism, the statement said. "Secretary Tillerson agreed that cooperation between Pakistan and the US in Afghanistan was crucial to achieving durable peace and stability in the region," it added. "He remarked that Pakistans interests and concerns will be accommodated since its role was critical to President Trumps South Asia Strategy. He added that future stability of Pakistan was an important element of the strategy," it added. Asif also raised the issue of Kashmir during the meeting. PTI LKJ NSA PMS ZH AKJ ZH --- ENDS --- Russian President Vladimir Putin and Saudi Arabia's King Salman on Thursday opened talks in the first official visit of a Saudi monarch to Russia that's expected to focus on oil and the war in Syria. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter At the Kremlin's opulent St. Andrew's Hall, Putin in televised remarks hailed the king's visit as a "landmark" event. Salman in his reply called Russia a "friendly nation" and said his country is committed to strengthen ties "in the interests of peace and security." King Salman meets with President Putin (Photo: AFP) At the core of Saudi Arabia's regional woes is its rival Iran , which is backed by Russia. The Shiite-led regional power has spread its footprint throughout the region, particularly in Iraq and Syria. Saudi Arabia is at war with Iranian-allied rebel fighters in Yemen and is embroiled in a diplomatic standoff with Qatar, which has found support from Tehran. "Iran must stop intervening in the region, especially in Yemen ," the Saudi king told the Russian president during their meeting. Salman also made it clear that his kingdom supports the establishment of a Palestinian state and wants to see East Jerusalem declared its capital. When mentioning rifts within other countries in the region, Salman noted that in his opinion unity and political solution must be reached to promote regional stability, calling for a diplomatic solution to the Syrian civil war and advocating against the Kurdish secession "The territorial integrity of Iraq must be preserved," said the Saudi king. Hosting the Saudi king in the ornate Kremlin interiors, Putin hailed his visit as a "landmark event" that will give a "strong impulse" to bilateral ties. "I believe that your visit will give even greater impetus to foster relations between our two countries," the Russian president said, confirming that he would honor the king's request for a reciprocal visit to Riyadh. "We aim to strengthen relations with Russia in order to promote stability in the world," Salman replied. "We have common agreement on many issues and Saudi Arabia will continue its efforts to fight extremists and terrorism and to foil its sources of funding." Salman then called on the United Nations to establish an anti-terrorism organization. President of Iran Hassan Rouhani, during a ceremony commemorating 37 years since the Iran-Iraq war (Photo: EPA) Relations between the two countries have often been strained. During Cold War times, the Saudis helped arm Afghan rebels fighting against the Soviet invasion. The kingdom, much like Russia, has been hit by the fall in oil prices since mid-2014. Despite regional disagreements, the two major oil-producing nations found common ground on energy policy in November, when they led a deal between OPEC and non-OPEC states to cut production in a bid to shore up crude prices. So far that deal is holding. Saudi Arabia's top energy officials are expected to take part in the talks, and the chief executive of oil giant Saudi Aramco is also visiting Moscow this week. Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak told Russian news agencies earlier Friday that non-OPEC states would be willing to extend the output cut "if necessary." Russia and Saudi Arabia are expected to announce large investments and joint ventures to further cement relations. Trade volume between the two countries reached $2.8 billion last year, according to official Saudi press. Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, the kingdom's sovereign wealth fund, announced in 2015 plans to invest $10 billion in Russia over the next five years, though only a fraction of that has so far been put up. The Saudis have also been eyeing Russian nuclear power technologies and appear ready to expand food imports from Russia, which is set to remain the world's biggest wheat exporter this year. Food security is a major concern for Saudi Arabia, which stopped local production of livestock feed and wheat due to water scarcity. King Salman meets with President Putin (Video: Reuters) () X Analysts say Salman's trip to Moscow is the clearest sign yet that Russia's strategy in the Middle East, including its high-risk show of military power in Syria, has paid off. Salman's visit caps off a number of visits to Russia over the past two years by Gulf royals, including by his heir and son. "A number of Gulf leaders have been going with greater regularity to Moscow and I think for a simple reason: Russia has made itself much more of a factor in key parts of the Middle East as the US has taken a step back in some ways, particularly in Syria," said Brian Katulis, a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress. The Saudi monarch's visit comes after decades of strained relations. Since the Saudi state's founding 85 years ago, the kingdom and Russia have been on opposite sides of major conflictsSaudi Arabia sided with the US in the Cold War, and helped arm mujahidin fighters against Soviet forces in Afghanistan in 1979-1989. More recently, tensions were high over the war in Syria. Russia and Iran have staunchly backed Syrian President Assad while Saudi Arabia has supported the Sunni rebels fighting to oust him. However, relations have begun to improve in recent years and Salman's heir, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has held several meetings with Putin. Photo: AFP Though Salman's visit signals closer Russian ties with Sunni Arab Gulf states, Russia's support for Iran is not expected to change. The US, meanwhile, remains Saudi Arabia's top weapons supplier and its most critical Western ally. Anna Borshchevskaya, a fellow at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, says Russia has no capacity to replace the United States as Saudi Arabia's key ally. "That said, it's clear that Russia has been able to play a weak hand very well and step into vacuums everywhere where the US has treated," he said. Saudi-US ties were strained under the Obama administration over its backing of a nuclear agreement with Iran and its handling of the Syrian conflict. Relations improved under the Trump administration, but Washington's focus in Syria continues to be on fighting the Islamic State group, not on ousting Assad. President Donald Trump is expected to announce soon that he will decertify the landmark international deal to curb Irans nuclear program, a senior administration official said on Thursday, in a step that potentially could cause the 2015 accord to unravel. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Trump has been weighing whether the pact, which he has called an embarrassment, serves US security interests as he faces an Oct. 15 deadline for certifying that Iran is complying with it. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Trump is also expected to roll out a broader US strategy on Iran that would be more confrontational. The Trump administration has frequently criticized Irans conduct in the Middle East. US President Donald Trump (Photo: AP) If Trump declines to certify Irans compliance, US congressional leaders would have 60 days to decide whether to reimpose sanctions on Tehran suspended under the agreement. The Washington Post first reported Trumps plans to say that he will decertify the deal. Trump has long criticized the pact, a signature foreign policy achievement of his Democratic predecessor Barack Obama which was signed in 2015 by the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Russia, China, the European Union and Iran. Many of Trumps fellow Republicans who control Congress also have been critical of the deal, whereas the other powers that signed it strongly support it. Supporters say its collapse could trigger a regional arms race and worsen Middle East tensions, while opponents say it went too far in easing sanctions without requiring that Iran end its nuclear program permanently. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a close ally of Trump, said last month that unless provisions in the accord removing restrictions on Irans nuclear program over time are eliminated, it should be canceled. Fix it, or nix it, Netanyahu said in a speech at the UN General Assembly annual gathering of world leaders on Sept. 19. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (Photo: Reuters) An administration official previously said the administration was considering Oct. 12 for Trump to give a speech on Iran but no final decision had been made. In April, the administration said it would review whether the lifting of sanctions against Iran was in the US national security interest. Trump is weighing a strategy that could allow more aggressive US responses to Irans forces, its Shiite Muslim proxies in Iraq and Syria and its support for militant groups. Trumps defense secretary, Jim Mattis, told a Senate hearing on Tuesday the United States should consider staying in the deal unless it were proven that Tehran was not abiding by it or that it was not in the US national interest to do so. When Mattis was asked by a senator whether he thought staying in the deal was in the US national security interest, he replied: Yes, senator, I do. Last week, Irans foreign minister said Tehran may abandon the deal if Washington decides to withdraw from it. A senior European Union diplomat said this week European countries would do their utmost to preserve it. While Europeans have concerns about Irans role in regional affairs, those issues are not part of the nuclear accord, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. A State Department official said the Trump administration was fully committed to addressing the totality of Iranian threats and malign activities and seeks to bring about a change in the Iranian regimes behavior. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani (Photo: EPA) The official said that behavior includes ballistic missiles proliferation, support for terrorism, support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, unrelenting hostility to Israel, consistently threatening freedom of navigation in the Persian Gulf, cyber attacks against the United States and its allies, human rights abuses and arbitrary detentions of US citizens. The JCPOA was expected to contribute to regional and international peace and security, and Irans regime is doing everything in its power to undermine peace and security, the State Department official added. The move also would represent another step by Trump that would undo key parts of Obamas legacy. Recent studies have shown that the average American spends nearly 17 hours preparing to file their taxes because our nations tax code is so complicated. We last reformed the tax code in 1986, and its high time for an update. In the coming weeks and months, Congress has a historic opportunity to revamp the nations broken and outdated tax code. This process began with an outline from the White House, the Senate, and the House of Representatives laying out the guiding principles for debate. The goals of the framework are two-fold: keep taxes fair and simple at home and make America more competitive. Above all, the goal is to lower the tax rates for individuals and middle-class families. It also recommends doubling the standard deduction. This means more money back in the pockets of hardworking Americans in Nebraska and across this country. A better tax code is one thats easier to understand. The tax reform framework recommends consolidating the number of tax brackets from seven to three. With this simple change, more Americans will be able to complete their taxes on their own without wasting time and money filling out seemingly endless paperwork. We also need to lower taxes on small and family-owned businesses, the backbone of Americas economy. The tax reform framework makes doing so a priority. It limits the maximum rate for our small businesses to 25 percent, a rate significantly lower than what these businesses are currently paying today. A lower rate will give our small businesses more breathing room to grow, invest, and create jobs. Another burden currently on Americas family-owned businesses is the death tax. For so many Nebraskans, their work and legacy is passing down their business from generation to generation. The death tax makes doing so unnecessarily difficult. This double taxation is not right and its not fair. It forces rising small business owners to pay the government before they can take full possession of the land or business their family already owns. Because the wealth of these businesses is often in the form of land or equipment, the children inheriting the businesses often need to sell parts of the business their family spent generations building in order to pay this misguided tax. Through tax reform, Im hopeful we can repeal the death tax and keep Nebraskas proud tradition of family-owned businesses alive. Everyone wants Americas businesses to be able to grow and thrive, but right now, our corporate tax code is hurting our competitive edge. Tax reform gives us an opportunity to level the playing field and promote American competitiveness in our global economy. One way to do this is by lowering the corporate tax rate. Right now, Americas corporate tax rate is 35 percent, the highest among our trading partners, and its a major reason businesses are keeping money in accounts overseas. Reducing this corporate rate will encourage companies to bring that money back to the U.S. and invest it here at home. It will also empower American entrepreneurs to start and grow new businesses. Now that congressional leaders have unveiled a tax reform framework, the Senate Finance Committee and the House Ways and Means Committee will begin drafting tax reform legislation. Although the legislative process is just beginning, tax reform is the single most important action we can take to spur economic growth in this country. Im ready to get to work. Thank you for taking part in our democratic process. I look forward to visiting with you again next week. YORK The attempt to pass a fake $100 bill at a local store has resulted in a felony conviction for a 62-year-old York man. Noe Martinez Pineda, 62, appeared in York County District Court on Tuesday morning, with his attorney, York County Public Defender Nancy Waldron. As explained by York County Attorney Christopher Johnson, during the court proceedings, it was April 2 when a local business reported to the York Police Department that a man had attempted to pass a counterfeit $100 bill while purchasing beer. Johnson explained that when store workers told Pineda the $100 bill did not look like real currency, he then presented them with a real $20 bill from his pocket. The manager of the store kept the fake $100 bill and showed it to police. Johnson said the bill had Chinese lettering on it and it was of the style used in other countries as a training bill to teach workers what real American currency looks like and doesnt look like. Johnson said when Pineda was interviewed by police he was unable to say where he received the fake money. Upon explaining to him that this was a crime, to try to pass fake currency, he nodded yes and indicated that he knew it was a crime. Johnson said that because Pineda presented real money to pay for the beer, no restitution is being sought. Pineda was initially charged with first degree forgery and that was amended as part of a plea agreement to attempted first degree forgery. Pineda, via a translator, pleaded no contest to the amended charge, which is a Class 4 felony. Judge James Stecker explained to him that he is now facing a possible maximum sentence of two years in prison, a $10,000 fine and 9-12 months of post-release supervision if he is sent to prison. Sentencing was set for Nov. 27. HAMPTON Joel H. Sauls became the first teacher in the first school house built in Hampton in 1881. He came to the Hampton area in 1873 with his wife Rachel to claim a homestead of 160 acres on Section 34, Township 11, Range 5 west of Valley Precinct. Sauls was born on Nov. 22, 1837, in Carroll County, Tenn. He moved with his parents to Newton County, Mo., shortly thereafter. He married Rachel Alford, also born in Tennessee, in 1860. They were living in Missouri when the government called for troops for the Civil War. Of all Missourians of military age serving in the war, there were 109,000 in the Union Army and 30,000 in the Confederate Army. When the first three-months call from the government came in 1861, Joel chose to fight with the North. He enlisted in Company H of the Union Armys First Missouri Volunteer Infantry. Of all Missourians of military age serving in the war, there were 109,000 in the Union Army and 30,000 in the Confederate Army. After Joel served that three months, he returned to Newton County which was near the southern Missouri border. He had to soon leave, however, because of his sympathy with the North and he barely escaped with his life, according to the biographical sketch in the Andreas history of Nebraska. He took his wife and family to Macoupin County, Ill., and, in 1862, enlisted again with the One Hundred and Twenty-Second Illinois Regiment, but was rejected on account of ill health. He taught school in Illinois until the spring of 1864 at which time he was recruited into Company H of the One Hundred and Thirty-Third Illinois Volunteer Regiment and was appointed First Sergeant. He served in that capacity until the war ended. He then returned to Illinois and taught school until he came to Hamilton County in Nebraska in May of 1873. He and his wife, Rachel, worked the land for seven years. During that time he also served as Justice of the Peace in Hampton from 1873 through 1881. He was a member of the State Constitutional Convention in 1875. He was a member of the G.A. R. and one of the instigators of Hurlbut Post No. 93 of Hampton. The first school in Hampton was built in 1881 and a larger elementary school was built in 1885, with Sauls as the teacher. He was also a member of the Odd Fellows Society of Illinois, Palmyra Lodge, No. 348. Both he and his wife were members of the Baptist Church. (Information for this story came from the Andreas history of Nebraska and from the Missouri entry in the Encyclopedia Britannica, as well as from research by the late Doris Bingham.) YORK Greyson Magee, 20, of Chapel Hill, N.C., will pay a $1,000 fine for attempted drug possession and he will leave York County with a drug conviction on his record. Magee, along with his attorney, Richard Calkins, appeared in York County District Court this week, as he stood charged with a Class 4 felony. He was facing a possible maximum sentence of two years in prison. But the charge was amended as part of a plea agreement. Magee pleaded no contest to attempted possession of concentrated cannabis, which is a Class 1 misdemeanor. According to court documents and the factual basis proceedings provided by York County Attorney Christopher Johnson, Magee was a passenger in a vehicle that was stopped by state patrol troopers during a ruse check-point exercise on Interstate 80. Magee was found to be in the possession of cannabis products, residue and a presser (a piece of equipment associated with marijuana use, Johnson explained). Documents indicate a very minimal criminal background, do you want to move forward to sentencing without a pre-sentence report being done? Judge Stecker asked the defendant, as there had been earlier indications the defense was wanting to move straight to sentencing. The prosecution indicated that yes, they wanted to move forward. His criminal record, as far as we can tell, the only offense there is, its what we are here for today, Johnson said. And the state is recommending a $1,000 fine. Calkins said his client made an ill-advised decision to be in that vehicle, and that he had traveled for court from North Carolina which is why hed like to be sentenced today. We also feel that a fine would be appropriate. In light of those facts, the court will fine you $1,000, Judge Stecker said. And you now stand convicted of this and you do not have a clean record any longer. You need to stay away from controlled substances in the future or face jail time. You must make better decisions. Here are nine things to know about Valmiki Jayanti which is celebrated to mark the birth anniversary of Maharishi Valmiki. By India Today Web Desk: Valmiki Jayanti marks the birth anniversary of the great author Maharishi Valmiki. It is celebrated every year on the full moon day during the month of Ashwin. This year it has fallen on October 5, 2017. Here are nine things you need to know: Maharishi Valmiki was the first poet of Sanskrit literature and is believed to have drafted the first ever Sanskrit shloka. Valmiki authored the epic Ramayana which contains 24,000 shlokas and 7 cantos. It is believed that when Rama banished Sita, after people questioned her 'purity', Valmiki rescued her and provided shelter. Moreover, it was in his hermitage that Lava and Kusha, sons of Rama and Sita, were born. The day is also referred to as Pragat Diwas and is celebrated in many Valmiki temples. The most famous temple is situated in Thiruvanmiyur, Chennai and is said to be 1,300 years old. The temple is considered to be of high importance as it is said that after writing Ramayana, Valmiki rested at the spot where the temple now stands. On this day, people pay their respects towards Maharishi Valmiki by parading portraits of him. The procession is called Shobha Yatra. A large number of devotees participated in this procession in Jalandhar on the eve of Valmiki Jayanti. advertisement Many politicians have paid their respect and shared wishes on Twitter. Respectful tribute to Maharishi Valmiki on his Jayanti #ValmikiJayanti pic.twitter.com/37Zd8jOfoc- Arun Jaitley (@arunjaitley) October 5, 2017 My tribute to the author of the epic Ramayana Maharishi Valmiki Ji on his Jayanti. #ValmikiJayanti pic.twitter.com/1Alfyn0C0E- Ravi Shankar Prasad (@rsprasad) October 5, 2017 Greetings to fellow citizens on the Jayanti of Aadikavi Maharishi Valmiki, a symbol of social equity and harmony #PresidentKovind- President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) October 5, 2017 Today, on the auspicious day of Sharad Poornima, we celebrate the Adi Kavi Maharishi #ValmikiJayanti and his great master epic Ramayana??? pic.twitter.com/de6gOH5yBg- Dr. Harsh Vardhan (@drharshvardhan) October 5, 2017 Greetings on the birth anniversary of Maharishi Valmiki ji, the first Poet of Sanskrit & the author of the epic Ramayana. #ValmikiJayanti pic.twitter.com/QQ56FU3M51- Harsimrat Kaur Badal (@HarsimratBadal_) October 5, 2017 --- ENDS --- Perths median house price adjusted back marginally by 1% to $510,000 for the three months to September a shift which prompted REIWA president Hayden Groves to say that the market had levelled out. Activity levels (i.e. sales and leasing) boasted healthy levels in the first half of 2017, which signals confidence in the market is returning. The slowdown of sales and leasing levels in August and September is very typical for this time of year and we expect to see activity levels pick up in both sectors in October and November, Groves said. Listings levels have also improved in both market sectors, with sales and rental stock trending down after peaking in March 2017. The reduction in listings bodes well for the recovery of the market as it signals supply may have finally peaked. If current trends continue, we should start to see house and rent prices remain flat, or even begin to trend higher, as the demand side of the equation begins to slowly match supply levels. Data from REIWA indicates that listings for sale in Perth were reduced by 1% in September, and were down 8% when compared to September 2016. In the citys rental market, listing levels were down by 3% over the month, and had declined by 9% over the year. Its very encouraging to see stock levels across the market continue to reduce, especially when we compare levels for both sectors on an annual basis. If this trend continues, we should see a better balance between supply and demand of stock start to emerge, Groves said. Despite the mostly stable conditions, activity levels in both the sales and rental markets did experience a reduction over the month, with 1,481 preliminary sales recorded and 4,266 properties leased. Historically, sales transactions tend to slow at the start of spring due to a mixture of school holidays, public holidays and the AFL footy finals. Activity generally starts to ramp up as the warmer weather hits in October, with the peak traditionally occurring in November. Based on this, we are expecting to see transactional activity increase in the coming weeks, Groves said. Is now a good time for investors to snap up investment properties? According to Groves, Perth presents great opportunities for investors looking to snap up properties at approximately half the price and with higher yields than those found in east coast markets like Sydney. Despite the downturn in the resources sector and the slowing population growth, the latest state budget estimates indicate WAs economy may have finally reached the bottom, with favourable forecasts estimated for population and employment growth. This would bode well for prices in both the rental and established markets, providing investors with an opportunity to secure a rental property in Western Australia with a view of long-term growth for their asset. Related Stories: Timing The Market: When To Get In, When To Get Out REIWA Releases New Buy-Rent Index As a homeowner, you probably already know that you should be working to maintain your home. But, chances are, you Read More Latest News Yokosuka, Japan - More than 2,000 service members, civilians and families lined the streets of Fleet Activities (FLEACT) Yokosuka, today, rendering salutes and showing support for the families and crew of USS John S. McCain (DDG 56) as they caravanned to an on-base memorial for their fallen shipmates. Sailors from the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) also participated in the one-mile "Line of Honor" between FLEACT Yokosuka's Chapel of Hope and the Fleet Theater, where the memorial was held. "The Line of Honor lets the Sailors on McCain know, just as it did for us, that the community cares," said Chief Information Systems Technician Christopher Graham, assigned to USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62). "It lets them know that the Navy cares, we're here to help, and they have all of the support that they need." U.S. Ambassador to Japan William F. Hagerty attended the memorial flanked by several senior Japanese officials, including Mayor of Yokosuka Katsuaki Kamiiji and Japan Maritime Self Defense Force Chief of Staff Adm. Yutaka Murakawa. Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet Adm. Scott H. Swift and Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet Vice Adm. Phil Sawyer delivered remarks. "Words are inadequate to express the grief we feel in losing 10 of our own," said Sawyer. "We owe it to the families of the fallen Sailors to find out why this happened and to make changes so that this doesn't happen again. There is no more pressing challenge on my mind as 7th Fleet commander than this work." Swift praised the strength of the McCain Sailors and assured them that the Navy community is there to offer them continued support. "I have no doubt that your damage control efforts not only saved the ship but also saved the lives of many of your shipmates, enabling them to join us here today," said Swift. "Know that your Navy family is committed to ensuring that you, the families and crew of John S McCain, have the resources you need to continue your healing." Yuma News Yuma, Arizona - This month, help celebrate National Community Planning Month in a way that could win you a prize. The City announces a photo scavenger hunt: Weekdays now through Oct. 31, visit either the Citys Facebook or Twitter pages to see the topic of the day. Then, reply with an original photo of a site or scene in Yuma that you think represents the topic. Example: Tuesday, Oct. 3 topic is Great Neighborhood in Yuma. You could take a picture of Century Heights, Palo Verde/Country Club, downtown, Mesa Heights, or your own subdivision and submit it with a brief label. At the end of the month, the respondent with the most individual correct answers will win 4 tickets to an upcoming show: Christmas With The Rat Pack, Dec. 12 at the Historic Yuma Theatre, put on by Lonely Street Productions. (In the event of a tie, winner will be randomly drawn.) This photo scavenger hunt is one of several ways residents can learn more about Community Planning Month. Yuma City Halls east lobby is being converted into a planning nook a space where you can: Create your own neighborhood using building blocks on the provided table. Plant a garden. Select an illustration (provided) to color; once completed you can redeem it for actual seeds. Details available at the Department of Community Development office on the second floor. Make a wish. Yuma is constantly changing, and we would like to see your hopes and dreams for your neighborhood. Take a leaf, write your wish and attach it to the tree. Find your neighborhood on a satellite map. Read up on projects planners are working on throughout the world. Interviews with community planners are playing on the closed-circuit television in the background for you to learn more about the variety of important work they do. A series of articles on community planning topics will appear this month in the Yuma Sun newspaper. For the first time, the public will have online access to the Citys Geographic Information System (GIS) maps. Deputy Mayor Gary Knight will read the official proclamation for National Community Planning Month at the Oct. 4 meeting of the Yuma City Council. What is National Community Planning Month? Established in 2006, National Community Planning Month is celebrated each October as a way to highlight the role of planners and the importance of good planning in our communities. Across the country, communities celebrate planning through a variety of avenues. Each year, a theme is identified to help a community highlight an aspect or outcome of planning. The theme can be used to organize events and activities within the community. This year, the theme is innovation in planning. Planning plays an important role in addressing and adapting to the challenges faced by communities in the 21st century. From using data sources and technology to address issues including inequality, access to transportation and social mobility to celebrating new approaches to creating communities of lasting value. Get involved Want to get involved with planning the future of our community? Visit the City of Yuma Department of Community Development to learn how. Learn more about National Community Planning Month at www.planning.org/ncpm. By India Today Web Desk: Vidya Balan recently shared a terrifying incident when a man masturbated in front of her on a local train. Vidya, by the way, was travelling in the women's compartment of the train when this perversion played out in front of her. The actor revealed on a podcast what exactly went down in that local-train compartment that day. advertisement Vidya was on her way back from college when the man boarded the train. When the women in the compartment asked him to get off since it was reserved for ladies, he feigned ignorance. Balan went on to add, "When we told him it's a ladies compartment he said that he didn't know and would get down at the next station. But instead of getting down, he stood at the door of the compartment. Then he opened his pant's zip and started masturbating right in front of us. I had a file or book or something in my hand, with which I hit him and pushed out of the train. The train had reached the next station luckily, otherwise, he would have died that day." What happened with Vidya is just another among the many such incidents that happen in India. Stories of men masturbating in public are painfully common in our country, be it on local trains or 35,000 ft up in the air, on board airplanes. In March this year, Vidya told a man off for misbehaving with her at the Kolkata airport when she was in the city for promotions of her film Begum Jaan. On the work front, Vidya is gearing up for the release of her next film, Tumhari Sulu. ALSO WATCH: Vidya walks out of film over director Kamal's stand against national anthem in theatres --- ENDS --- Washington: US President Donald Trump on Thursday said the Senate panel investigating alleged collusion between his campaign and Russia during the 2016 presidential race should instead devote its efforts to probing what he termed "biased" and "untruthful" reporting by major US news outlets. Trump again used his Twitter account to level his latest criticism against the Senate Intelligence Committee and mainstream media outlets such as NBC News, Efe news agency reported. Why isn`t the Senate Intel Committee looking into the "Fake News Networks in our country to see why so much of our news is just made up-fake", Trump said in a tweet after the committee chairman, Richard Burr (Republican) and vice chairman, Mark Warner (Democrat), on Wednesday provided an update on their investigation into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. The senators said they agreed with a previous assessment by the US intelligence community indicating the Kremlin carried out a "determined" attempt to influence the campaign via cyberattacks and propaganda. They said the investigation currently was focused on determining if there was some type of coordination between the Kremlin and members of a campaign -- supposedly the Trump camp -- to hurt the electoral chances of Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton. "The issue of collusion is still open," Burr told reporters. Trump also continued his attacks on the media over a report by NBC News the day before indicating that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson was on the verge of resigning this summer due to policy disputes with the President. Tillerson never threatened to resign, this is fake news by NBC News, he said. "Low news and reporting standards. No verification from me," Trump tweeted. Kathmandu: Ahead of the provincial and the federal elections in Nepal, the ruling Nepali Congress is likely to announce a coalition of right-wing forces with some smaller parties to counter the grand leftist alliance. The Nepali Congress, which has expressed readiness to be part of the proposed "democratic alliance", will hold a meeting tomorrow, as political parties continue to align according to their ideologies ahead of the crucial polls in the next two months. At least five political parties, including the Rastriya Janata Party Nepal (RJPN), the Federal Socialist Forum Nepal, the Rastriya Prajatantra Party Nepal and the Nepal Loktantrik Forum (NFL), have decided to forge an alliance with Nepali Congress to counter the grand leftist alliance. Their decision comes a day after the CPN-UML led by K P Oli, CPN (Maoist Centre) led by Prachanda and Naya Shakti Nepal led by Baburam Bhattarai announced a grand leftist alliance for provincial and parliamentary elections. The Rastriya Prajatantra Party Democratic is also likely to join the alliance. Fringe parties on both sides of the political spectrum such as the Rastriya Janamorcha and the Nepal Workers and the Peasant Party are under pressure to choose between the NC and the UML-led alliances due to sharp political polarisation. The grand leftist and rightist alliance is likely to make a big differences in the?outcome in the upcoming elections, point out political observers. Nepali Congress has called an emergency meeting of the party's central working committee tomorrow to discuss the matter, said Dhyan Govinda Ranjit, CWC member and Parliament Member from Nepali Congress. Meanwhile, Nepali Congress general secretary Sashanka Koirala has said that it is natural to forge a working alliance among the parties with common ideology prior to the elections. He also stressed the need for collaborating with democratic forces in the upcoming federal and provincial elections. Nepal's Election Commission is preparing to hold provincial election on November 26 and federal election on December 5. Patna: A private school teacher was arrested on Thursday in Supaul district of Bihar for allegedly indulging in 'unnatural sex' with students inside the school premises. The incident came to light hours after a six-year-old student was found raped in the toilet of a south Delhi school, news agency ANI reported. The incident has once again highlighted the issue of students' safety to the fore. Earlier, a 22-year-old school staffer was arrested in the national capital for molesting a Class I girl student inside the premises. The victim reportedly narrated the episode to her parents after which they informed the police. The accused was arrested under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) and 376 IPC act. Mumbai: Deepika Padukone has apparently joined the star cast of Aanand L Rais untitled film featuring Shah Rukh Khan a dwarf. The project which also has Anushka Sharma and Katrina Kaif on board has become bigger with Deepikas arrival. The untitled film will also have a few of SRKs leading ladies making special appearances. While reports suggest that Kajol, Rani Mukerji, Karisma Kapoo and Sridevi have already shot for the film, Deepika is yet to shoot her part. In the film in question, Katrina plays an actress while Anushka plays a mentally challenged girl. Audiences will get to see the Jab Tak Hai Jaan trio for the second time on screen. SRK shares great chemistry with both Anushka and Katrina. And his on-screen pairing with Deepika has set the silverscreen ablaze in the past on three occasions Om Shanti Om Chennai Express and Happy New Year. In fact Dippy had made her Hindi debut with SRKs OSM which was directed by Farah Khan. The dimpled beauty, who made her debut almost a decade ago is now a popular face in Hollywood too. She made her debut in the West with Vin Diesels xXx: Return of Xander Cage in January this year. And now, the beauty from Bengaluru is all set to wow the audiences with her performance in Sanjay Leela Bhansalis Padmavati. Though we dont know what role Deepika will play in SRKs untitled film, it will indeed be good to see with the main who was instrumental in bringing her to Tinsel Town. Mumbai: National carrier Air India has renewed its insurance cover for 2017-18 for USD 14 million, which is a 20 percent discount over 2016-17. The new policy cover came into force from October 1 and covers 142 aircraft of the flag carrier which includes 109 planes of Air India, 23 of its low cost subsidiary Air India Express and 10 small planes of its regional arm Alliance Air. The sum assured, which covers passengers and hull liability, stands at USD 10.4 billion. Last year, the national carrier had shelled out a total premium at USD 18.38 million, which was 30 percent lower than the previous year's premium. Over the last two years, the disinvestment-bound airline has availed discounts of over 40 percent in its insurance premium. The largest non-life insurer New India is the lead insurer along with the other three state-owned general insurers, while the global aviation insurance leader AIG acted as the lead reinsurer along with 30-40 reinsurers across the world. "Air India's professional and timely action was a great contributor, and support of New India Assurance and their understanding was a winning strategy," Prabodh Thakker, chairman, Global Insurance Brokers, which acted as an intermediary in renewing the AI cover, told PTI. "A good planning, timely action and low claims which is called good loss-record of the airline till the placement saved Air India," he said. He refused to share any further details citing a non-disclosure agreement. Air India Express had a mishap in Kochi in September, amounting to a claim of USD 10 million. But, a New India official said it would take a hit of merely 3 percent of claim amount on the company's balance sheet as all such aviation policies are reinsurance-driven. New Delhi: Intensifying its crackdown on shell companies and their operators, government is likely to disqualify as many as 4.5 lakh directors. Union minister P P Chaudhary on Thursday said that the government will examine profiles of all disqualified directors and non-compliant companies which are tarnishing image of good ones. Asserting that genuine corporates will not face action, the minister of state for corporate affairs said non-compliant companies are tarnishing the image of good ones. As the ministry pushes ahead with the efforts to weed out shell companies -- a term used for entities that have not been carrying out business for long and are allegedly used as conduit for illegal fund flows -- Chaudhary told PTI in an interview that the profile of all disqualified directors will be examined. The ministry has struck off names of 2,17,239 companies from the records as on September 22 as these have not been carrying out business activities for a long period and have also defaulted on compulsory filings while more such firms are likely to face action. "As on September 22, a total of 3,19,637 directors have been identified and flagged as disqualified under Section 164 (2) (a) of the Companies Act, 2013... It is estimated that the final list may touch the figure of about 4.5 lakh (directors)," Chaudhary said. Section 164 pertains to disqualification for appointment of director. Under sub-section 164(2) (a), a person who has been a director with a company that has not filed financial statements or annual returns for three consecutive financial years will face disqualification. "It shall also be important to examine their (disqualified directors) general profile and association with other companies and the levels of their corporate governance standards," he said. The exercise of striking off dormant companies and disqualifying directors is in furtherance of ease of doing business and will be good for genuine corporates, he noted. "Non-compliant companies are tarnishing the image of good companies," Chaudhary said, adding that action should have been taken long ago. With PTI Inputs New Delhi: The government may sell flagship carrier Air India this fiscal itself if it finds a suitable buyer, according to official sources. The government, they said, also expects to meet its disinvestment target as there are a number of companies in the pipeline. Various companies including GIC, New India Assurance will go for listing while strategic disinvestment of Pawan Hans and NPCIL will help meet the government its ambitious target of Rs 72,500 crore for the current fiscal. Besides, the merger of HPCL and ONGC will also add to the kitty. Earlier in the day, a ministerial panel, headed by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, conducted a meeting to review the progress of strategic disinvestment of various state-owned companies of key ministries. The meeting was attended by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju, Urban Development Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, Railways Minister Piyush Goyal, Commerce and Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu, Chemicals and Fertilizers Minister Ananath Kumar and Heavy Industry Minister Anant Geete. As per the Budget documents, the government had budgeted to raise Rs 72,500 crore through disinvestment in CPSEs in 2017-18, which is higher than the Rs 45,500 crore raised in the current fiscal as per revised estimate. Fiscal 2016-17 is the seventh year in a row when the government would not be meeting the disinvestment target fixed in the Budget. As much as Rs 56,500 crore was budgeted to be raised through PSU disinvestment in 2016-17. The government decided on strategic disinvestment in loss-making Air India in June. On June 28, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) had given its in-principle approval for strategic disinvestment of Air India and five of its subsidiaries. Subsequently, an Air India-specific Alternative Mechanism was set up to guide the process. New Delhi: US-based payments company Mastercard on Thursday said it is open to acquiring companies in India and will invest USD 800 million over the next 4-5 years. Speaking at the India Economic Summit organised by the World Economic Forum, Mastercard President and CEO Ajay S Banga said India accounts for 3 percent of the company's global revenues and 14 percent of its employee strength. "We have bought a couple of companies in India... That's where the investments have been in the last 2-3 years. We are continuing with that. We are in the process of looking at other acquisitions and also organic investment," Banga said. Mastercard has over USD 4.5 billion worth of investment in India. "We have committed... To invest USD 800 million in India over the next 4-5 years," Banga added. Mastercard had first bought a stake in an Indian company, software solutions and payments management firm ElectraCard Services (ECS), in 2010. It fully acquired ECS in 2014. In the same year, the company acquired mobile wallet and on-device software provider C-SAM, which has operations in India. Mumbai: Despite continuous efforts by the government and regulatory body to firewall telecom sector against any future stress, industry estimates have stated that nearly 1.5 lakh direct and indirect jobs in the sector face danger of corporate downsizing. At present, the sector is burdened with astronomical debt -- to the tune of nearly Rs 8 lakh crore by some estimates -- and heavy losses due to a slew of freebies which are being doled out by incumbent telecom players to retain their customer base. The grim reality that the sector faces can be gauged by the comments made by Communications Minister Manoj Sinha at the recently held India Mobile Congress: "The government is aware of the stress in the sector... earlier also we have intervened, and if needed we will do so again." "We will make sure that the sector does not die," said the minister. In April, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had asked banks to review immediately exposure to the telecom sector, which has a debt of Rs 4.6 lakh crore, and make higher provisions to firewall their business against any future stress. On the RBI notification, industry body COAI said the government should address the issue of financial plight of the telecom sector with "utmost urgency" and make a renewed push for lower levies as mooted by the telecom regulator. According to industry observers, telecom companies have no option left but to initiate "severe cost-cutting" measures -- including downsizing -- to sustain operations. Facing the axe are between 20,000-25,000 direct jobs, many of which will be due to planned mergers between incumbent players. Mergers alone will lead to over 15,000 job losses as existing portfolios and profiles are duplicated. As per industry sources, major player Idea Cellular has axed around 1,800 jobs in the lead-up to its planned merger with Vodafone. A further reduction of 5,000-6,000 employees is on the cards as and when the merger fructifies, perhaps next March. On the other hand, Vodafone has laid-off 1,400 people from its side as part of the merger plans with Idea. Telecom major Bharti Airtel axed 1,500 people -- predominantly from the sales and retail teams. Duplication of jobs that came with the Telenor buyout also resulted in job losses. Reliance Communications has also laid off some 1,200 people over the last year in the lead-up to the merger with Sistema and its now-called-off merger with Aircel, which, too, is learnt to have let go of 800 employees. However, industry estimates place a far larger number of around 125,000 indirect jobs that will be wiped out due to the turbulence being faced by the sector. Besides the sector, the Union government, which has come under criticism from various quarters for slow economic growth and lower-than-expected job creation, will also find it hard to provide substantial alternative opportunities to the unemployed. Till some time back, the sector was amongst the top five largest employment opportunity generators in the country. It supported direct employment of over 20 lakh in the country during 2015-16. Incidentally, India, with over 1.16 billion mobile users is the second largest telecom market in the world, after China. But telecom operators have time and again lamented that they are facing pressure on income and profitability on account of competition intensified by the entry of Reliance Jioowned by Mukesh Ambani. With Agency Inputs NEW DELHI: Self-styled god woman Radhe Maa was invited to a police station in Delhi and was welcomed whole-heartedly. The proof of this is a photo that was taken there where she can be seen sitting on the Station House Officer's chair at the Vivek Vihar Police Station. The SHO can also be seen standing with folded hands next to the self-styled god woman. The Delhi Police has reportedly initiated an inquiry into the 'warm welcome' that was extended to Radhe Maa. The SHO is also wearing a red colour dupatta around his neck, in the picture tweeted by ANI. Radhe Maa has a huge following, which includes filmmaker Subhash Ghai and former FTII chairman Gajendra Chouhan. She has a palatial Radhe Maa Bhawan in Mumbai, where she holds religious events every fortnight. Britain's Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has discovered that Lady Walk, the present residence of Mallya, was bought using Indian tax payer's money routed through companies located in the UK. By Meetu Jain: The plush London residence of fugitive billionaire Vijay Mallya called Lady Walk was bought using the Indian tax payer's money routed through companies located in the UK, Britain's Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has discovered. Exclusive details accessed by India Today TV of the probe show that Mallya paid 6.1 million US dollars (Rs 39.7 crore) from the Kingfisher Airline's HSBC account in London to a British company, Continental Administrative Services, which, "is having ownership interests in the property at Lady Walk, London, the present address of Mr Mallya", as per a confidential note prepared by the CBI. The SFO has now shared details of the case with the CBI. Lady Walk is the plush Hertfordshire property that belonged to F1 champion Lewis Hamilton. advertisement Mallya is accused of defrauding the Indian tax payers of Rs 9,000 crore given by a consortium of 17 banks. IDBI alone loaned Mallya nearly Rs 900 crore, of which a substantial amount has been laundered abroad, including to companies located in Britain. The SFO has also informed India that nearly Rs 242 crore was transferred from the Axis Bank account of Kingfisher Airlines to its London accounts. "The loans disbursed by various Indian banks were routed through the said Axis Bank accounts," says the SFO note to the CBI. In fact, in June this year, around the time the Enforcement Directorate was filing its charge-sheet of money laundering by Mallya, the business tycoon was trying to shift a major chunk of funds from companies he fronted in London to a Swiss Bank. Mallya was trying to launder nearly 18 million US dollars (Rs 117 crore) to the CBH Bank in Switzerland. This is bad news for Mallya because the companies he was using to transfer the funds are located in the UK, a crucial fact that will help India's case for extradition. The SFO has told India that some of the UK companies include Harrison Finance Limited, Drayton Resources Limited and Black Forest Holdings Limited. The CBI sent letters of request to the British and Swiss Authorities to freeze these assets as the agency felt that "there are reasonable grounds to believe that the funds used for acquisition of the property at Lady Walk and the funds lying in the accounts of the aforementioned British companies originated from the proceeds of loans disbursed by Indian Banks". For India to extradite Mallya, it has to satisfy a "dual criminality clause" in the extradition treaty between the two countries. In other words, if Mallya has cheated Indian banks, the case being made out by the UK is that he has laundered money using British companies. The SFO case will go a step further in nailing Mallya. ALSO WATCH | PM Modi meets British PM Theresa May, raises issue of fugitive Vijay Mallya --- ENDS --- Ahmedabad: Upholding the clean chit to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several others in 2002 Gulberg Society massacre, the Gujarat High Court on Thursday rejected the petition moved by Zakia Jafri, widow of slain Congress leader Ehsan Jafri. Jafri can now approach higher forums for further investigation in the case. On February 28, 2002, 68 people - including Ehsan Jafri, a former Congress lawmaker were killed by a mob at Gulberg Society in Ahmedabad. Jafri`s allegations were investigated by a Special Investigating Team or SIT appointed by the Supreme Court in March 2008. Modi was interrogated in 2010 by the SIT for over nine hours. Clearing PM Modi, the then Gujarat Chief Minister, and 59 others, the SIT in it's closure report said there was no prosecutable evidence against Modi. In February 9, 2012, Jafri along with social activist Teesta Setalvad's NGO Citizen for Justice and Peace moved a petition, challenging the SIT's clean chit to Modi in a lower metropolitan court. It demanded that they be accused on charges of criminal conspiracy behind the riots. In December 2013, the lower court upheld the SIT's report. Jafri and the NGO then moved to Gujarat High Court. The hearing in the case had concluded on July 3, 2017. Jafri's representatives claimed that the lower court had ignored the Supreme Court's guidelines and had not considered the signed statements of witnesses, suggesting conspiracy behind the incidents. Kannur: BJP President Amit Shah on Thursday skipped the state-wide 'padyatra' that he was supposed to lead starting from Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's hometown here. The move was a protest against the ruling CPI-M's alleged 'political violence'. On Tuesday, Shah had walked down from Kannur's Payanur with hundreds of BJP activists and assured to continue the yatra on Thursday morning. Designated as 'Jana Raksha Yatra', the state-wide campaign is about to end on October 17. The campaign, a show of strength by the BJP and the RSS, is meant to highlight alleged violence by CPI-M cadres on BJP and RSS supporters since 2001. Kummanem Rajasekheran, the BJP state President, explained Shah's absence by saying that he himself could take the fight into Vijayan's camp at Pinarayi and that Shah's presence was not required. The earlier plan was that Shah would walk nine kilometres and address a public meeting at Tellichery. According to the BJP, Shah has been called by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The CPI-M, which heads Kerala`s ruling Left Democratic Front, on Thursday observed a shutdown in Pinarayi town. (With IANS inputs) New Delhi: Air force chief Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa on Thursday assured that the force is fully ready to face a two-front war if a situation like that arises. He also said India is prepared to counter any threat from China. "Our capabilities against China are adequate," he said. Admitting that there is a shortage of force, the IAF chief said that they have a plan B in place to face any untoward situation. "We need a strength of 42 squadrons to carry out full spectrum operations, but it doesn't mean we can't fight a two-front scenario. There is a Plan B," he said while addressing the annual press conference of the IAF ahead of Air Force Day. However, he added that the possibility of a two-front war in the current geopolitical scenario is low. When asked about the tactical nuclear arsenal of Pakistan, Dhanoa said: "The Air Force has the capability to locate, fix and strike across the border." The Air Force chief also said more than assets, the question was what China can and cannot do operating from Tibet against India. He said that Chinese troops are still stationed in the Chumbi valley, of which Doklam is a part, and hoped that they return soon. Dhanoa said: "We are not in physical face-off but in Chumbi valley their troops are still deployed. Hope they will withdraw in future after their exercises are over." The Air Chief said that during the 70-day-long standoff, there were no air violations. "I take this opportunity to assure the nation of our sacred resolve in defending the sovereignty of our skies," he added. Beijing: China has issued another travel advisory to its citizens in India, asking them not to take photographs of border areas and military installations. "(Visitors should) not photograph India`s border and military facilities and vehicles. While travelling on India`s border neighbouring Nepal, avoid visiting border markets, and do not enter the territory of other countries by mistake," it said. This is the first travel advisory after the resolution of Doklam stand-off but the third one since the crisis began in June. The 73-day stand-off between Indian and Chinese troops at Doklam in the Sikkim section was resolved on August 28. "Some Chinese citizens visited Andaman and Nicobar Islands, which are restricted areas for foreigners, without gaining permits from India. Some tourists were asked to return upon arrival; some were even arrested or investigated," said the advisory, reported the state-run Global Times. According to the report, the Chinese Embassy in New Delhi issued the warning on Tuesday. The advisory also elaborated how Chinese tourists were denied entry or investigated while travelling in India and how the Embassy had to step in. The first advisory was issued on July 7, asking Chinese to reduce unnecessary travel to India. It was reissued on August 24. WASHINGTON: Pakistan can have strong economic benefits from India if it realises that the "tide has shifted" and stop providing safe havens to terrorists on its soil, US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis has said. Mattis told members of the powerful Senate Armed Services Committee yesterday that the Trump administration is being very clear and firm in what it expects from Pakistan and is using all aspects of the government to bring about the change, working internationally. His statement comes weeks after President Donald Trump announced his Afghanistan and South Asia policy in which he adopted a tough policy against Pakistan. It also came ahead of Pakistan Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif's talks with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and other top officials of the Trump Administration. "There are a number of lines of effort being put together now in Secretary of Treasury's office, Secretary of State's office, my own office, the intel agencies. We are also working with Secretary General Stoltenberg to ensure that NATO's equities are brought to bear," Mattis said responding to a question on why would Pakistan change its mind on terrorist safe havens this time. Certainly, India has a role to play as a neighbour, and potentially a very strong economic benefit to Pakistan, if Pakistan can find a way to carry out its international responsibilities and end any kind of safe haven inside their country, he noted. "There's a great deal that Pakistan can benefit economically, diplomatically, financially for its government; economically for its people; by finally sensing that the tide has shifted against this," Mattis said. He said that the Trump administration believes that it would be highly difficult to sustain any stabilisation in South Asia, not just in Afghanistan, but certainly anywhere around Pakistan and India unless safe havens are removed. Mattis was responding to questions from lawmakers who wanted to know why the administration believes that Pakistan will change its behaviour this time. Trump has said that he would change the US approach to Pakistan, which continues to harbour militants and terrorists who target US service members and officials, said Senator John McCain, Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee. "But we still do not know what specific steps the United States will take to convince or compel Pakistan to change its behaviour, or what costs we will impose if Pakistan fails to do so," McCain said. Indeed, McCain said it is unclear to him if the administration believes any step or series of steps the United States might take will lead Pakistan to cease its support and sanctuary for certain terrorist groups, which has been a "feature of" its national security policy for decades. Ranking Member Senator Jack Reed said if the mission in Afghanistan is to be successful, it is imperative to disrupt the external sanctuaries in Pakistan, which continue to provide the Taliban, the Haqqani network and other associated groups the ability to train, recruit, rest, refit and stage attacks without significant fear of interference. "We have heard that the administration intends to change the relationship with Pakistan in order to compel action that supports our efforts in Afghanistan," Reed said as he sought details of tools available to press Pakistan to make more progress on these issues. Pakistan, Mattis said has a "convoluted history" with terrorism. There can be little doubt that there have been terrorist groups that have used Pakistan as a haven for attacks outwardly, and not just towards Afghanistan. "We've seen the attacks on India, as well. At the same time, probably few nations, perhaps none, have lost as many troops fighting terrorists as they have," he said. New Delhi: The Indian Air Force is set to get its first three women fighter pilots commissioned in December 2017, Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa said on Thursday. Flying Officers Bhawana Kanth, Avani Chaturvedi and Mohana Singh are the first women pilots in IAFs history who will be getting the honour of flying fighter jets like the Sukhoi and Tejas. The trio was inducted into the force in 2016. First three women fighter pilots will be commissioned in December this year: Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa pic.twitter.com/KuFoBNyyAZ October 5, 2017 Bhawna Kanth: She was inclined towards joining the NDA but since women were not allowed there, she completed her engineering in Medical Electronics stream from BMS College of Engineering in Bengaluru. While she was placed with IT giant Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), she qualified for IAF through a Short Service Commission examination. She also tried her luck with modelling during her college days. Photo: Avani Chaturvedi, Bhavana Kanth and Mohana Singh with the then Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar after they were inducted in the Indian Air Force Avani Chaturvedi: Born at Satna in Madhya Pradesh, Avani's father is an executive engineer while her mother is a homemaker. She completed her BTech in Computer Science from Banasthali University in Jaipur. Belonging to an Army background, Avani was always inclined towards joining the armed forces. Her flying experience in the flying club of her college inspired her to join the IAF. Mohana Singh: Mohana hails from Jhunjhunu district in Rajasthan. She pursued BTech in electronics and communication engineering at the Global Institute of Management and Emerging Technologies in Amritsar. She had completed her schooling from the Air Force School. Her father is serving in IAF and her grandfather was a flight gunner in the Aviation Research Centre. While the trio will make history by being commisioned into the IAF in December, they will soon be joined by Rashi Raina, Shivangi Singh and Pratibha, who are being trained on Kiran Mark-II aircraft at the Air Force Station Hakimpet. The new entrants in the club will be commissioned into the IAF after the completion of their training. Rohtak: Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Thursday held the Punjab police responsible for providing delayed information on Gurmeet Ram Rahim's adopted daughter Honeypreet Insan. Slamming the Punjab police, Khattar said that they should have informed the Haryana police about the whereabouts of Honeypreet before her arrest on October 4. The Punjab police, on the other hand denied these allegations. Honeypreet, whose real name is Priyanka Taneja, was taken into custody on Tuesday after she remained underground for over a month. She was arrested from Zirakpur-Patiala road. A day later, on Wednesday, she was produced before a Panchkula court, after which she was sent to a six-day custody. Hours before her arrest, she appeared on two private television channels interacting with the reporters at some undisclosed location. The Haryana Police had put her on its list of 43 most wanted people after the Dera supporters went on a rampage on August 25 following Ram Rahim's conviction by a CBI court in a rape case. The spiralling violence, which gripped several cities and towns in Punjab and Haryana after the conviction, left 41 people dead and scores of others injured, prompting the administration to issue non-bailable arrest warrants against several people, including Honeypreet, for inciting the mob. Watch: United Nations: India has sought an enhanced role for troops contributing countries in the decision-making process of UN peacekeeping missions. The Military Adviser at India's UN Mission, Colonel Sandeep Kapoor said the current system of excluding the troop and police-contributing countries (T/PCCs) from the process of framing the mandates is not sustainable. "The UN Security Council needs to revisit the way mandates are designed," Colonel Kapoor said. India is one of the largest contributors of troops and police to UN peacekeeping missions. In his address to the UN Security Council Working Group on Peacekeeping Reform, Colonel Kapoor said, "It is a great irony that troops contributing countries which provide their troops to execute the mandates and the troops on ground who lay down their lives to fulfil these mandates have no say in the process of formulation of the mandate." "The current approach is not sustainable, Colonel Kapoor said in his remarks on Tuesday. "It is hence an inescapable requirement to incorporate the T/PCCs in the decision making and mandate formulation from the very onset, " the Indian official said. They also need to ensure more effective triangular cooperation between the T/PCCs, Secretariat and Security Council on important policy and doctrinal issues being formulated in the field of peacekeeping, he said. Noting that today's peacekeeping operations pose complex challenges, Colonel Kapoor said that non-state actors have become the major players in many of these conflicts. Today's peacekeeping requires a political consensus among Security Council members, Troop Contributors and Secretariat on the cost, limits and dangers of operations in high-risk environments, he said. NEW DELHI: Rashtriya Janata Dal chief and former railway minister Lalu Prasad is being questioned by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in Delhi in connection witth the railway hotel tender case. During his tenure as the railways minister from 2004 to 2009, Lalu allegedly handed over maintenance deals of two Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) hotels BNR Ranchi and BNR Puri to Sujata Hotel, a private firm owned by Vinay and Vijay Kochhar. CBI claims that RJD chief received a bribe in the form of three acres of the prime plot of land through a benami company, Delight. The agency first summoned Lalu and his son to appear for questioning on September 11 and September 12. The father-son duo later sought more time to appear before the CBI. On July 7, 2017, the CBI had filed a FIR against Lalu. On the same day, the agency also raided 12 locations linked to Lalu and his family members in Patna, New Delhi, Ranchi, and Gurgaon. The alleged involvement of Lalu and his family members, especially of his son Tejashwi, had led to politicial turmoil in Bihar. Tejashwi was the Deputy Chief Minister at the time, and his alleged involvement had led to the breaking of ties between the RJD and Nitish Kumar's JDU. New Delhi: Days after it was reported that the Doklam border stand-off with China was resolved diplomatically, it has now come to fore that Beijing is still flexing its muscles and has deployed more troops in the Chumbi Valley. According to media reports, a large number of troops belonging to China's Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) is still stationed a few hundred metres away from the Dokla stand-off site on their side. China is also reportedly building bunkers and a road on the Doklam Plateau, just 10 km from the location of the last conflict. It is to be noted that the Doklam Plateau is claimed by both Beijing and Bhutan as their territory. Meanwhile, Indian Air Force Chief BS Dhanoa, in a press briefing today, also confirmed the presence of the Chinese troops in the Chumbi Valley in the Dokalam Plateau. However, he appeared confident that a peaceful resolution of the issue with China was still possible. Dhanoa, while stating that the stand-off with China can be resolved diplomatically, ruled out any possibility of a military face-off with the neighbouring Communist state. "The two sides are not in a physical face-off as we speak. However, I expect the Chinese troops to withdraw from Chumbi Valley as their exercise in the area gets over," Dhanoa told reporters ahead of IAF Day, which is marked on October 8. Dhanoa also rejected concerns regarding India's military preparedness vis-a-vis Beijing and said that the IAF is capable of effectively countering any threat from China and Pakistan simultaneously in a two-front war. Indian and Chinese troops were locked in an over two-month-long standoff after India stopped the construction of a road by China in Dokalam in the Sikkim sector on June 16. Asked about concerns over Pakistan's tactical nuclear weapons and whether the IAF would be able to disarm Islamabad of its nuclear arsenals if necessary, Dhanoa said his force had the capability of locating, fixing and striking across the border. Asserting that the IAF was capable of a two-front war to counter China and Pakistan, he, however, said the possibility of such a scenario was "low". At the same time, he added that India's response had to be based on the enemy's capability as intentions could change overnight. "We need a strength of 42 squadrons to carry out full spectrum operations in a two-front (war) scenario. It does not mean that we are not capable of fighting a two-front (war) as we speak. We have a plan B," Dhanoa said. Army Chief Gen Bipin Rawat had said last month that the country should be prepared for a two-front war, insisting that China had started "flexing its muscles", while there seemed to be no scope for a reconciliation with Pakistan whose military and polity saw an adversary in India. Currently, the IAF has 33 fighter squadrons and Dhanoa said the force would get the authorised strength of 42 fighter squadrons by 2032. Asked whether the IAF was ready for a surgical strike across the border, he said it was ready to deal with any challenge and a call to such an operation would have to be taken by the government. "Surgical strike is a decision that has to be taken by the government. The IAF has the capability to carry out the full spectrum of air operations," he said. He said a war-like situation may arise if the IAF crossed the border. On whether the IAF provided any support to the Army for the surgical strike last year and during the Dokalam face-off, the IAF chief said, "Whatever was asked from the Air Force was provided". He refused to share further details. The IAF chief, however, said no air force assets were involved during the Myanmar operation and the surgical strike across the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir last year. "The IAF is prepared to fight at a short notice in full synergy with the other two sister services should the need arise," he said, adding that the force was in a high state of readiness to fight a war. About a possible confrontation with China, he said India's air power was "adequate". At the same time, he talked about what China could or could not do from Tibet. "Our capability is adequate," he said. The IAF Chief also spoke on a range of issues including steps being taken to enhance the strike capability of the force such as the acquisition of S-400 'Triumf' long-range air defence missile systems from Russia and 36 Rafale combat jets. He said the contract for five S-400 missile systems would be signed soon and their delivery would start two years after the deal was struck. The IAF Chief also talked about the mid-life upgrading of Mirage 2000, MiG 29s and Jaguar fleets, adding that the IAF was working to fully achieving a network-centric operational capability. Dhanoa said a proposal for 83 indigenously built Light Combat Aircraft Mark I was being finalised, adding the force is getting 40 Light Combat Aircraft (LAC) and an RFP (request for proposal) for 83 more LCA will be issued. He said the IAF would be getting 36 more Sukhoi jets and their delivery would start from 2019. Dhanoa also said test firing of the Brahmos missile would start from next month. The Brahmos supersonic missile systems are being integrated with the Sukhoi-30 MKI frontline fighter jet. Referring to a string of accidents involving the IAF's choppers and aircraft, Dhanoa said, "Our losses in peacetime are a cause of concern. We are making concerted efforts to minimise accidents and preserve our assets". He said security at all the IAF installations had been significantly enhanced after last year's terror attack on the Pathankot base. The steps included putting in place an integrated perimeter security system and buying lethal weapons. "These men and women under my command are confident of taking on any threat and are fully prepared to undertake the full spectrum of air operations and respond to any challenge in the most befitting manner," said Dhanoa. When asked about the Army chief's two-and-half front war comment also referring to internal security threats, Dhanoa said, "As a democracy we don't use kinetic air power against our own people." With PTI inputs To limit Yogi Adityanath's decision to talk on love jihad in Kerala as merely topical takes away from the BJP's plan to reach out to a wider audience that comprises Hindus as well as Christians. By India Today Web Desk: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, in his fiery speech against the CPM in Kerala on Wednesday, also raked up the issue of love jihad. Calling it a "dangerous trend", Adityanath said love jihad is a reality in Kerala and accused the Pinarayi Vijayan government of not taking "effective steps" to check it. "Supreme Court has already observed that love jihad exists in Kerala and Karnataka through various judgments. But, Kerala has not taken effective steps to control it. Hadiya case itself is an evidence of love jihad," the Uttar Pradesh chief minister said. advertisement The Hadiya case pertains to alleged forced conversion and marriage of a Hindu woman Akhila Ashokan, who took on the name of Hadiya after conversion, in Kerala. The case, however, caught national attention when Kerala High Court annulled 24-year-old Akhila/Hadiya's marriage. The Supreme Court, however, recently said that it would examine whether the high court can annul the marriage. To limit Yogi Adityanath's decision to talk on love jihad in Kerala as merely topical takes away from the Bharatiya Janata's Party strategic plan to reach out to a wider audience of not just Hindus but also Christians in the state. GOING BEYOND HINDUS Similar to the Sangh Parivar's Hindu helpline, a helpline for Kerala Christians was recently launched to prevent 'love jihad'. The man behind the helpline is a former member of the BJP's minority wing. The term love jihad first shot to prominence in Kerala and Karnataka in 2009 when Hindu and Christian groups alleged that women from their community were being lured by Muslim youths into marriage and then converted to Islam. In June 2012, then Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy informed the state legislature that 7,713 people were converted to Islam in the state during 2006-2012. In a written answer to a question raised by a CPM legislator, Chandy presented these figures: among those converted to Islam during 2009-12, as many as 2,667 were young women of which 2,195 were Hindus and 492 were Christians. The then Kerala CM, however, said no statistics were available on the number who converted to Christianity during the period. Chandy maintained that there was no evidence to suggest forced conversions and said, "We will not allow forcible conversions. Nor will we allow to spread hate campaign against Muslims in the name of love jihad". The Global Council of Indian Christians alleged that "love jihad in Kerala is part of a global Islamisation project". ELECTIONS IN MIND Five years later, the spotlight on Hadiya case gives the BJP an opportunity to tap into the sentiment or alleged fears against love jihad. With the BJP laying the ground for the 2019 Lok Sabha election across the country, which includes increasing its presence in the Left bastion of Kerala, love jihad is a carefully-chosen issue. advertisement A week before the Assembly bypolls in Uttar Pradesh in 2014, the BJP's ideological mentor Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) had put the controversial issue on the covers of Panchjanya and Organiser, its Hindi and English mouthpieces. Ahead of the Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh this year, Yogi Adityanath had said that love jihad, Hindu exodus from Kairana and women's safety were important issues for the party. "Love jihad was then an issue and it is still an issue," Adityanath had said. On Wednesday, when the Uttar Pradesh chief minister chose to speak on love jihad in Kerala, he perhaps meant to send a message to the Hindus as well as the Christians on a subject that may tilt the scales in the BJP's favour. ALSO WATCH: Amit Shah in Kerala: BJP president flags off Jan Raksha Yatra from Kannur --- ENDS --- New Delhi: Amid continued opposition attack over economic slowdown, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday held a crucial meeting with BJP chief Amit Shah and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. Though nothing came out of the meeting through official channels, it was speculated that the Prime Minister, along with Jaitley and Shah, reviewed the state of economy in view of a not-so-encouraging report by RBI. Today's meeting was held a day ahead of Modis proposed visit to poll-bound Gujarat on October 7 and 8. Interestingly, a meeting of the GST Council is also scheduled for Thursday. There are strong speculations that the government is likely to make some major announcements ahead of Diwali. Defending his government's economic policies, the Prime Minister had yesterday hinted that he was ready for changes in the newly-implemented Goods and Services Tax laws. PM Modi said this while responding to Rahul Gandhi's criticism of his government's demonetisation decision and faulty implementation of GST. The meeting was significant as BJP chief Amit Shah unexpectedly cut short his Kerala event and returned to the national capital to attend this meeting. Amit Shah was due to take part in today's march, which was scheduled to pass through Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's hometown. Undoubtedly, Amit Shah's decision to cut short his Kerala schedule came as a major setback to BJPs ambitious Jan Raksha Yatra, which began in Kannur on Tuesday with a war cry against the CPM. Neither the BJPs media cell nor the state unit leaders gave any reason for his absence from padyatra. The BJP president was expected to attend programmes in Mangalore on Wednesday, which were cancelled too. While some state leaders said Shahs programme has been cancelled, others said he might join the public meeting scheduled to take place this evening. Sources in the BJP described the curtailing of the trip as rescheduling and added that the party president will be present on the last day of the fortnight-long campaign on October 17, where he is scheduled to attend the concluding ceremony in Thiruvananthapuram. However, some state BJP leaders blamed it on bad planning, while some cited Shahs health as a reason for cutting short the programme . Shah had walked nine kilometres on Tuesday, from Payyannur to Pilathara, where he also addressed a public rally. Shahs decision to skip the padyatra caused a major embarrassment to its Kerala unit and its president Kummanam Rajasekharan who is leading it from Kannur to Thiruvananthapuram covering 11 of the states 14 districts. The padyatra, with the theme All Have To Live: Against Jihadi-Red Terror, is part of the campaign of the BJP and its ideological parent RSS to expose the political violence against their workers in the state by the Communists. Significantly, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also participated in the march on Wednesday, where he raised the issues of love jihad and terrorism, which, the BJP claimed has been supported by the ruling Pinarayi Vijayan-led CPM government. Meanwhile, Shahs march has come under attack from the Communist leaders in the state. NEVADA: The girlfriend of the Las Vegas shooter said Wednesday she had no idea he was planning the attack, describing her boyfriend as a "quiet, caring man" as President Donald Trump declared the United States a nation in mourning. In her first public comments over the shooting at a country music concert that left 58 dead and 489 wounded, Marilou Danley said she had hoped for a quiet future with Stephen Paddock. In Las Vegas, Trump visited with survivors and first responders, eulogizing parents and spouses who "used their own bodies to protect their loved ones" from the onslaught that eliminated any future for many. He toured the Las Vegas Police Department Command Center and the city`s University Medical Center, where he met, among others, officer Tyler Peterson who was injured while responding to the shooting. "In the months ahead, we will all have to wrestle with the horror that unfolded this week. But we will struggle through it together," the president said. Air Force One touched down at McCarran International Airport as the FBI was questioning Danley for clues to what drove Paddock to mass murder. The 62-year-old returned to the United States from her native Philippines late Tuesday and was met by FBI agents. In a statement read by her attorney Matthew Lombard, she said she had no hint of what was to come: "I knew Stephen Paddock as a kind, caring, quiet man." "I loved him and hoped for a quiet future together with him," she said. "He never said anything to me or took any action that I was aware of that I understood in any way to be a warning that something horrible like this was going to happen." Danley added that two weeks ago, Paddock had told her he found a cheap plane ticket for her to visit family in the Philippines and had wired her money to purchase a house while she was there. She said she became concerned at that point, thinking he wanted to break up with her. "It never occurred to me in any way whatsoever that he was planning violence against anyone," said Danley, an Australian citizen who moved to the United States 20 years ago to work on the casino strip. US authorities have been at a loss as to how a 64-year-old gambler and retired accountant hauled a vast arsenal of weapons to his hotel room and launched his assault. Investigators say the shooting appeared to be extensively planned: Paddock set up one camera in the peephole of his hotel room door and two in the hallway. The attack unfolded in just 10 minutes from the first shot to the last, but Paddock was not confirmed dead for more than an hour after that, Las Vegas Sheriff Joseph Lombardo told journalists on Wednesday. Lombardo said the scale of the preparations for the attack -- including the weapons, ammunition and electronics he stockpiled -- raise questions about Paddock potentially having had an accomplice, but none has been identified. He also updated the number of people wounded in the attack, putting the latest figure at 489. As the victims` harrowing stories emerged in the media, America once again grappled with calls for reforms to its permissive firearm control laws. Trump largely stuck to a talking point repeated by dozens upon dozens of Republican officials: "Well, we`re not going to talk about that today. We won`t talk about that." US officials have reacted cautiously to a claim by the Islamic State jihadist group that the shooter had carried out Sunday night`s massacre on its behalf. Authorities said Paddock, who had no criminal record, smashed windows in his hotel room shortly after 10 pm on Sunday and rained fire on a crowd of some 22,000 attending the country music concert below. When a SWAT team stormed the room where Paddock had been staying since September 28, they found he had killed himself. Authorities have seized 47 firearms from three locations. So far, investigators have found nothing to explain Paddock`s actions, but were continuing to hunt and trace every possible clue about a gunman they described as a "psychopath."Trump confirmed that no motive had yet been found. "I can tell you, it`s a very sick man. He was a very demented person," he said. Details have gradually emerged about some of the victims -- a kindergarten teacher from California who had married her childhood sweetheart, a Tennessee nurse, a high-school secretary from New Mexico. Stories of heroism also surfaced. Bruce Ure, deputy police chief of the small Texas city of Seguin, was in the concert`s VIP section when the gunfire broke out. He sheltered from the bullets between two buses, then tended to three strangers who had been shot, loading them into a passing car and riding with them to hospital. "They were all crying, and I was too," he told AFP. "They were saying that `We`re going to die, we`re going to die,` and I still remember telling them: `Not tonight, not tonight. Tonight`s not your night. You`re going to be ok.` Because I truly believed it." While the White House has rebuffed calls to reopen the fraught US debate on gun control, Congress did shelve a controversial plan to make it easier to purchase gun silencers and make it more difficult to classify certain ammunition as "armor piercing." The Las Vegas attack is the deadliest shooting in recent US history, surpassing the toll of 49 dead in an attack on a Florida nightclub in June 2016. 1. Ready to hold national and state elections together from next year: EC The Election Commission has said it will have the ability to hold simultaneous elections from September 2018. The logistical capability will come after the acquisition of new voting machines. Read full story here 2. Critics of economic policies are pessimists, says PM Modi Modi counterattacked critics of his governments economic policies, saying they were only focussed on the dip in economic output across one quarter of the financial year. He asked them not to create a negative environment. Read full story here 3. No evidence of terrorism, says FBI on Las Vegas There was no evidence that the worst mass shooting in US history was terrorism, the FBI has said. However, the agency noted that the attack had been planned meticulously. Read the full story here 4. Pakistan could benefit from India if it quits terrorism, says Mattis US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis said Pakistan stood to gain economically from India if it stops its systemic support for terrorism. Read full report 5. Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2XL to be available in India from November Pre-orders for Googles latest phone offering will begin on October 26, and go on sale on Flipkart from November 1. The four variants of the phone will range between Rs 61,000 and Rs 82,000. Read full story here Here's a look at the top happenings of the day: Modi, Jaitley, Shah brainstorm on economy; major announcements likely Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a meeting at his official residence in the national capital on Thursday. The 'crucial' meeting was reportedly attended by BJP chief Amit Shah, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and some other top leaders of the party. Read More Nearly 1.5 lakh jobs at risk due to financial strain on telcos Despite continuous efforts by the government and regulatory body to firewall telecom sector against any future stress, industry estimates have stated that nearly 1.5 lakh direct and indirect jobs in the sector face danger of corporate downsizing. Read More Rahul Gandhi top choice to lead the party, but anyone can contest: Congress Stressing that party Vice President Rahul Gandhi is the unquestioned choice for the post of party President, the Congress on Wednesday said being a democratic party, it will not shy away from allowing any leader to contest against him in the organisational polls. Read More Honeypreet stonewalls questions by SIT, may undergo narco test The Special Investigation Team of the Haryana Police, that is interrogating Honeypreet Insan in connection with sedition and rioting cases, has found it difficult to get details from her and are reportedly considering to conduct a narco test on her. Read More Las Vegas gunman stockpiled weapons over decades, planned attack The Las Vegas gunman who killed 58 people and himself in the deadliest mass shooting in modern US history stockpiled weapons and ammunition over decades, and meticulously planned the attack, authorities believe. Read More BHU student alleges molestation, assault on campus; accused arrested A student of Banaras Hindu University (BHU) was on Thursday arrested after his classmate accused him of 'dragging and slapping' her, police said. Read More Hrithik Roshan breaks silence, releases official statement over Kangana controversy Amidst all the mudslinging as to who is at fault and whether any emails were exchanged between the two, Hrithik Roshan has finally broken his silence. He has released an official statement on Twitter. Read More Prakash Raj defends 'anti-Modi' remark, says disturbed by silence of PM Days after Prakash Raj hit the headlines for his remarks against the Indian Prime Minister, the famous south actor opened-up on his controversial statement and why he is not anti-Modi. Read More Mumbai doctors set record, remove world's heaviest kidney tumour Doctors at a hospital in Mumbai have removed the world's heaviest kidney tumour reportedly weighing 5.5 kg, which has fetched them a new world record. Read More Donald Trump ready for any steps if Pak doesn't mend its ways: Jim Mattis President Donald Trump is prepared to take "whatever steps necessary" against Pakistan if it does not "change its behaviour" and continued to support terror groups, Defence Secretary Jim Mattis has said. Read More British author Kazuo Ishiguro wins Nobel Prize for Literature British author Kazuo Ishiguro has been awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. Kazuo Ishiguro has written eight books, as well as scripts for film and television. Read More Islamabad: The Pakistan Army on Thursday said that it is close to a decision on the mercy petition of Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav who has been sentenced to death by a military court on charges of spying. Jadhav, a 46-year-old retired Indian Navy officer, was in April sentenced to death by Pakistan's Field General Court Martial on charges of his alleged "involvement in espionage and sabotage activities" against Pakistan. "Kulbhushan Jadhav's mercy petition has come to the Army chief. There is a process, everything goes through a process but I can assure that it is near finalisation and we will give you news about this very soon," Major General Asif Ghafoor, the Army spokesman told a news briefing. Jadhav in June had sought clemency from the Pakistan Army chief over the death sentence after his plea to an appellate court was rejected. Under the law, he is eligible to appeal for clemency to the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and if rejected, subsequently to the Pakistan President. Pakistan claims its security forces arrested Jadhav from its restive Balochistan province on March 3 last year after he reportedly entered from Iran. However, India maintains that he was kidnapped from Iran where he had business interests after retiring from the Indian Navy. India has accused Pakistan of violating the Vienna Convention by repeatedly denying consular access to Jadhav. In a hearing of the case on May 18, a 10-member bench of the ICJ restrained Pakistan from executing Jadhav. Pakistan has said that the Indian national would not be executed until he has exhausted his mercy appeals. New Delhi: Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) has allegedly launched a new terror outfit Halal Dasta, which literally translates into a killer squad. The group consists of members of the banned terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), top Indian intelligence sources told Zee News. Sources further said that Halal Dasta is operating along with Pakistan Armys Border Action team or BAT. Their prime purpose of the group is to carry out strikes along the Line of Control (LoC), inflicting damage in Surankot and Poonch districts of Jammu and Kashmir and hurt the Indian Army. ISI officials also held a meeting with top commanders of Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen to create a blueprint of the attacks. Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Syed Salahudeen was also present at the meeting. Last week, at least seven to eight armed BAT members attempted to infiltrate Kupwara in Jammu & Kashmir as Indian troops opened fire on them. Pakistan is now trying to inflict damage on Indian security forces while denying the terror organization's role in the operation, intelligence sources said. Pakistan has been facing severe criticism for providing a safe haven to militant outfits. Earlier today, US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis said Pakistan can choose to have strong economic benefits from India by ending terrorism on its soil. In September, Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi threatened that the country has access to short-range nuclear weapons and will use it to counter the Indian Army. Melbourne: Indian mining giant Adani on Thursday named the regional Australian cities of Rockhampton and Townsville as 'Fly-in-Fly-out' (FIFO) hubs for its employees working in the 16.5 billion dollars Carmichael coal project. Adani Australia announced this after the councils of two North Queensland cities yesterday agreed to invest over 15 million dollars each to build an airstrip in Galilee Basin. The airport would be owned jointly by the two councils. At present, there are around 200 employees in Townsville but according to the ABC, Adani plans to base more than 1,000 FIFO workers in each city that will be needed for construction works. Under FIFO, companies fly their employees to the remote work site instead of relocating them and their families permanently to a town near the mines. The employees work for a number of days and are then flown back to their hometowns for a number of days of rest. This is a common practise in the mining industry in Australia and Canada. "The two councils - Rockhampton and Townsville - will invest a total of 31 million dollars to build this airport for Adani at the mine site," Adani Australia CEO and Country Head, Jeyakumar Janakaraj told PTI. The two cities will be the twin marshalling points for one of the largest industrial projects in Australia's recent history. Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill said that councillors yesterday approved the investment of up to 15.5 million dollars over two financial years in a joint venture with Rockhampton City Council, to build and own the airport down in the Galilee Basin. "After eight years of challenge, the Carmichael Project is underway, signalling the opening of the Galilee Basin which will drive the growth of the emerging Asian 'Tiger' economies including India," Janakaraj said. "We continue to face activists but we are underway. Recent attempts by activists to disrupt our operations, and TV programmes aimed at undermining community support, have failed," he said. The project, he said, had cleared almost 200 strict conditions apart from legal challenges in the last seven years and was now moving ahead, with early works to begin next week. "All the design work and the pre-construction work is going on," the Adani Australia CEO said, adding that it include project management work, cultural heritage work on site, de-watering work on the mine site, Geotech work at the rail corridor. "We have the complete support, trust and faith of people where we operate. And these activists are completely motivated with vested interest...It is very sad that media agencies are being to propel these negative stories," he said. Janakaraj said the first activity will be construction of an airstrip close to the mine to deliver construction workers from Townsville and Rockhampton. "Then we can start construction of the Carmichael thermal coal mine and the western sections of the Carmichael Rail Network," he said, adding that the FIFO decision had been difficult. "Both cities are winners," he said, adding that Rockhampton and Townsville put in commercially strong and competitive bids to be the single FIFO hub for the Carmichael Project. POONCH: Pakistan on Thursday resorted to unprovoked firing along the Line of Control (LoC) in Digwar Sector of Poonch District in Jammu and Kashmir. The Pakistan Army initiated unprovoked and indiscriminate firing post midnight. Digwar district was a witness to another ceasefire violation from Pakistan on Wednesday. Earlier on Monday, two minors were reportedly killed and five others civilians got injured as Pakistani troops resorted to mortar shelling, besides small and automatic weapons fire at various places along the LoC in Poonch district.Pakistan has violated ceasefire a number of times in the last few months. Last week, Pakistani troops had opened fire in the Poonch and Bhimbher Gali Sectors.Yesterday, a Border Security Force (BSF) Camp near Srinagar Airport was attacked by three terrorists. The terrorists were gunned down during an encounter with the 182nd Battalion of the BSF, located near the Airport and Air Force Station Gogoland. Bengaluru: Karnataka`s Energy Minister and senior Congress leader DK Shivakumar were summoned by the Income Tax Department on Thursday. Earlier this year in August, I-T sleuths raided DK Shivakumar`s various properties for three consecutive days for his alleged connection in tax evasion. The six-time MLA, after the raids were conducted on his properties, said, "I have not violated the law. "In September, All India Congress Committee (AICC) reportedly directed the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) to protest against I-T department offices in the state, alleging the department of using foul tactics to persuade leaders to join the BJP in order to avoid further raids. By PTI: New Delhi, Oct 5 (PTI) Bangladesh today said that Myanmar has pushed one million Rohingyas onto its soil and it will make efforts to resolve the issue peacefully despite "provocations". "Recently Myanmar has pushed one million Rohingyas, their own nationals, onto our soil. We are still struggling. We havent got into a fight with them despite provocations. advertisement "We are trying to resolve it peacefully.... The Prime Minister (Sheikh Hasina) thinks that it is something we will solve in a peaceful manner," Bangladesh foreign secretary Shahidul Haque said while participating in the India Economic Summit (IES). Bangladesh is facing a big influx of Rohingyas from Myanmar following ethnic violence in the Buddhist-majority nation. India had last month rushed relief material to Bangladesh and pledged all help to Dhaka in tackling the humanitarian crisis. At the IES, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, who discussed the geopolitical dynamics and the economic initiatives in Asia, raised the issue of One Belt-One Road, saying China will have to do more if it wants India to join the proposed project. "If the Chinese really feel that for the overall credibility and viability of the Belt and Road Initiative they want India to play an active part, they have to do more of a selling job. They have to come and market to us here on why this is actually in our interest," the former Union minister said. India skipped the Belt and Road Forum (BRF) in May this year due to its sovereignty concerns over the CPEC, a flagship project of Chinas prestigious Silk Road initiative, officially called One Belt One Road (OBOR). Differences emerged between the two countries over the USD 50-billion China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) passing through Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) which is part of the Chinas mega Belt and Road initiative. The India Economic Summit of the World Economic Forum (WEF) is being attended by over 500 business and political leaders. PTI RSN RT --- ENDS --- Jammu: The state BJP on Thursday took out a 'Jana Raksha Yatra' to protest against the "atrocities" on activists and their families affiliated to the BJP and RSS in Kerala. The protest march was led by party's state president and MLA Sat Sharma, along with MP Lok Sabha Jugal Kishore Sharma and state general secretary Ashok Kaul. The workers were airing slogans against the Kerala government, asking it to stop the "mayhem". The march began from Kachi Chawni and passed through Sabji Mandi, Purani Mandi and Bus Stand and culminated near the Press Club. Sat Sharma, while addressing the workers, criticised the Kerala government for its "indifference towards ever increasing number of attacks on activists and their families affiliated with the BJP and RSS". He said the Kerala government has "failed miserably" in defending democracy by not just "promoting the attacks, but also shielding the attackers". Sharma condemned the policy of the CPI(M) government, saying it has made "barbarism as its mainstay policy". The people of Kerala will oust the present government of Kerala for its "erroneous policies and jihadi terrorism", paving the way for the popular government of BJP in Kerala, he added. Jugal Kishore Sharma said the nation is united over "failed policies" of the Kerala government and the "Jana Raksha Yatra" is being carried all over India to show solidarity with the BJP activists in Kerala. Mumbai: A man was taken aback after he found his photograph on posters of those who lost their lives in the unfortunate Elphinstone Stampede here. The stampede took place over rumours that a foot-over bridge at the Elphinstone railway station collapsed leaving 23 people dead and another 30 injured. 34-year-old Mumbai-based Imran Shaikh, a survivor of the mishap, spotted himself among the deceased on the widely-circulated posters and banners that became part of the rallies. Imran earlier had given a photograph of his sitting right next to his uncle, who died during the stampede, to a journalist at KEM Hospital. According to him, he had asked the journalist to crop his uncle's face as he had that only photograph of his uncle with him. "They were asking me for my uncle's photo the only picture I had was with me. My family members and I are still getting phone calls from relatives inquiring about my well being. I had to tell my relatives, 'main Zinda hoon'," Imran told India Today. New Delhi: The much-hyped legal battle between Bollywood stars Hrithik Roshan and Kangana Ranaut is intensifying with time. Amidst all the mudslinging, now, actress Deepika Padukone's name has emerged in the controversial e-mails which were revealed recently. It is being said that Kangana was unhappy with Dippy's behaviour and she even mentioned the same to Duggu (Hrithik). She reportedly sought advice from the Krrish hunk on how to respond to Deepika's attitude. According to an India.com report, the email reads,There is nothing to feel scared about all of us are different we must understand each other and be considerate, thats all baby. Also though i know deepika wont call, because thats has been happening for past 4 days now but the fact that she said and she didnt, starts to play on my mind and makes me depressed. Even though i know its because of my disorder that i get so serious about trivial matters but i am still feeling bad that shes saying meaningless things. I really hope she does that or i will always feel bad about her behavior. Also i feel so agitated because this situation leaves me with many confusing questions, what should my behavior be now? What should i say if she says, i am calling, or are you free. If i am free i will say i am free then she will say lets meet then i will think i am meeting her then she wont reply..I feel i will go mad, what should i do? I dont want to meet her but if i dont reply i feel i am not replying. See i am panicing.. i feel like crying now, it further read. Whoa! This is a bit hard to digest for the fans of the 30-year-old diva. On the other hand, Deepika has never on-record said anything against Kangana. The whole controversy started when the Kangana referred to one of her former boyfriends as 'silly ex' during an interview long back. Hrithik, without naming, responded to the jibe. The duo then took this forward by slapping legal notices on each other. New Delhi: The curious case of Hrithik Roshan and Kangana Ranaut seems to be getting murkier by the day. After the actor first time broke his silence by releasing an official statement regarding the ongoing controversy, Kangana's sister Rangoli Chandel has come out in support of her. Rangoli not only accused Hrithik of proving whether their viral pictures were photoshopped or not she even released explosive e-mail conversation which apparently took place between the superstar and Queen actress. Here's a series of tweets in which Rangoli fires Hrithik with proof which will leave you stunned: Postin d mail frm Hrithik 2Kangna here nt fr petty gosip bt 2 shw dat he usd I pad fr comunicatin wid hr Nt d laptop pic.twitter.com/hl9vZB8MKm Rangoli Chandel (@Rangoli_A) October 5, 2017 In your statement you said Kangana released a photo shopped picture. @iHrithik Rangoli Chandel (@Rangoli_A) October 5, 2017 If u are talking about this picture we don't know who released it but what do you mean by photoshop? @iHrithik pic.twitter.com/KJT7GYRIhm October 5, 2017 Is dat not u, who has grabbed Kangana's waist like a creep and smelling her neck, who seems disinterested? @iHrithik pic.twitter.com/I7YrLrEg6C Rangoli Chandel (@Rangoli_A) October 5, 2017 So what if ur ex wife ws dere, I don't knw bt we all read rumours about hr affair with your friend. Pls prove dis is photoshopped @iHrithik Rangoli Chandel (@Rangoli_A) October 5, 2017 Could your wife stop you from having multiple affairs under her nose? Why you always hide behind her? @iHrithik Rangoli Chandel (@Rangoli_A) October 5, 2017 For the uninitiated, the drama unfolded when Kangana in one of her past interviews mentioned a 'silly ex'. Although she didn't take anyone's name in particular, Hrithik too without taking her name made a counter jibe. What followed next was washing of dirty linen in public as they slapped legal notices to each other. New Delhi: Days after famous South star Prakash Raj hit the headlines for his remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a case was filed against him for doing so. Prakash Raj at an event in Bengaluru had reportedly said, Gauri Lankesh's killers have not been caught yet. But what is more disappointing is people celebrating her murder over social media and spreading hatred. Some of these people who celebrated her (Gauri's) murder are followed by our Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) on Twitter. We have a PM, who shuts his eyes to this." In an interview with The Hindu, Prakash opened-up on his controversial statement and why he is not anti-Modi. He has been quoted as saying, The heinous, ghastly, cowardly act of killing Gauri Lankesh disturbed me deeply. I was really pained and taken aback by the celebration over the inhuman killing. I was even more aghast that those who celebrated the killing were being followed by Mr. Modi. As a responsible citizen of this democratic country, I was disturbed by the silence of the Prime Minister. Is that a sin? On being called 'anti-Modi', Prakash clarified, I said that the Prime Ministers silence is chilling. I have a right to say this. How dare they call me anti-Modi for doing that. Im not anti-Modi. He is my Prime Minister chosen by a majority. I dont consider Mr. Modi as the leader of a political party. He now represents the country and every citizen. He is the head of a secular nation. I have differences with Mr. Modi on certain issues. Im paying the price for being honest and democratic enough to express them. Im not a coward. I wont run away from the responsibility that society has put on my shoulders. Im responsible for what I say and that is the identity for Prakash Raj. Those trolling me are not strong enough to face up to me. Regardless of the consequences, I will speak the truth, whenever and wherever it is necessary . I stand by words. There is no question of denying that, he added. New Delhi: Well, there is no denying that Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan is a great host and he has organised some of the most lavish bashes at his Mumbai residence Mannat. Soon, American DJ Diplo will be feeling the love and warmth of 51-year-old actor's hospitality, reports suggest. The bash is being organised because SRK's kids are apparently a big fan of DJ- Diplo. "Aryan and Suhana are big fans of the rapper. So, Shah Rukh has extended an invitation to Diplo and his band to visit Mannat. He plans to throw an elaborate party, which will see his friends and colleagues from the industry in attendance," Mid-Day quoted a source as saying. It added, "Aryan and Suhana are taking a keen interest in the planning. Since they are well-acquainted with Diplo's music, they have already told Shah Rukh that they will put together a playlist comprising his numbers for the evening." It is being said that Diplo and his band Major Lazer will be visiting India soon for a performance. King Khan and Diplo apparently share a candid rapport. The duo featured together in the video of their hit song Phurrr from Jab Harry Met Sejal. Interestingly, the song garnered more than 15 millions views on YouTube. Mumbai: Actor Rahul Raj Singh, accused of abetting the suicide of "Balika Vadhu" star and his girlfriend Pratyusha Banerjee, has been romantically linked with Sita Narayan. But he says the southern actress is just a friend. "She is just a friend. I don't know why people are spreading such news. She is a friend and it's been almost a month since I met her. I am single now and not looking for a relationship," Rahul told IANS. "I am trying to move on with my work." Rahul, known for shows like "Mata Ki Chowki" and "Amber Dhara", has bought a flat in Bandra here. "I will be shifting later this week. I am very happy about being an owner of two BHK flat in Mumbai. My parents will soon visit me for the welcome ceremony. One room will be mine and the other will be for them. However, they won't be here for long," he said. "Hope it brings lots of positive energy in my life," he added. New Delhi: The Milky Way's most mysterious 'alien megastructure' star, also known as Tabby Star's strange dimming and brightening behaviour now has a reason. According to a new study, the star's unusual dips in brightness could be due to an uneven dust cloud moving around the star, not because of a "megastructure" built by an advanced civilization. Named after Tabetha Boyajian, lead researcher of the team that observed the celestial body in 2015 Tabby Star has been an object of intrigue due to its strange nature. Discovered by the NASA's Kepler Space Telescope, the KIC 8462852 has had scientists propose many theories to explain strange irregularities in its brightness, with one speculation being that the changes in brightness could be signs of activity associated with intelligent extraterrestrial life constructing a Dyson swarm. The SETI Institute's initial radio reconnaissance of the star, however, found no evidence of technology-related radio signals from the star. The Boyajian Star, as it is also known, was recently in the news after astronomers discovered that it had started dimming again. Scientists do not expect such behaviour for normal stars slightly more massive than the Sun. Speculations have included the idea that the star, more than 1,200 light-years away from Earth in the constellation Cygnus the Swan, swallowed a planet that it is unstable, and a more imaginative theory involves a giant contraption or "megastructure" built by an advanced civilization, which could be harvesting energy from the star and causing its brightness to decrease. The findings of the new study published in the Astrophysical Journal rule out the "alien megastructure" idea and the other more exotic speculations. Using NASA's Spitzer and Swift missions, as well as the Belgian AstroLAB IRIS observatory, the researchers found less dimming in the infrared light from the star than in its ultraviolet light. But any object larger than dust particles would dim all wavelengths of light equally when passing in front of Tabby's Star, the study said. "This pretty much rules out the alien megastructure theory, as that could not explain the wavelength-dependent dimming," said lead author of the study Huan Meng from University of Arizona in the US. "We suspect, instead, there is a cloud of dust orbiting the star with a roughly 700-day orbital period," Meng said. (With IANS inputs) New Delhi: Google`s India-born CEO Sundar Pichai is a big fan of artificial intelligence (AI). No doubt these are early days for AI, but for him it is the most promising New-Age technology -- one that can potentially change the way enterprises work and grow. Now, AI in smartphones is nothing new. Apple`s Siri, Samsung`s Bixby and Google`s very own Google Assistant are evolving as people communicate with their devices. But this time around, Pichai is betting big on a mix of AI, software and hardware to take on Apple and Samsung -- the undisputed leaders in the premium segment. Industry analysts believe there is space for Google Pixel 2 and 2 XL -- launched on Wednesday -- to become serious contenders in the segment. With the right set of innovations and improvements in its sales and marketing network, these analysts say, Pixel could become a headache for Apple and Samsung in the days to come. Currently, Pixel which was first launched last year, has less than two per cent market share globally. "No matter how great the new Google-branded smartphones look, the main challenge is how to truly become a hardware company (and) to make itself available to consumers on the shelves," Thomas Husson, Vice President and Principal Analyst, Forrester, told IANS. "It implies mastering the supply chain, partnering with carriers and other distribution channels, training vendors and investing a lot in marketing. That`s no small task and quite far away from the company`s DNA," Husson noted. Google is nevertheless trying its best to make an impact. Last month, it acquired part of the Taiwan-based HTC Corporation`s mobile division team for $1.1 billion. This team was working with Google to develop its Pixel smartphones. This is the second time Google has acquired a smartphone manufacturer. It announced a $12.5 billion buyout of Motorola Mobility six years back and, in 2014, sold it to Lenovo. According to Navkendar Singh, Senior Research Manager at IDC India, this underlines Google`s ambitions as a serious smartphone maker. "However, considering the design language, it looks like Google wants to play the premium smartphone game more from a software angle than a hardware one," Singh told IANS. At the premium end of the market, design, looks and overall aesthetics matter a lot more than a smartphone that only works well and is pragmatic. "With the recent launches of Samsung Galaxy Note8 and the upcoming iPhone X with full screen, bezel-less displays and overall design, Apple and Samsung have taken the aesthetics and design language to the next level," Singh emphasised. Considering this, the Pixel 2 range will face a stiff challenge in getting the desired volumes at the premium end of the market. "Having said that, initial reports suggest that camera remains a strongpoint for the Pixel range, apart from giving stock Android experience with updates available as soon as they are released," the IDC India analyst added. Launched last year, the Google pixel started off well. Tarun Pathak, Associate Director, Mobile Devices and Ecosystems, Counterpoint Research, said that even though it didn`t manage a significant market share, the device attracted users` attention -- especially those looking for choice in the Premium Android segment. "This is likely to give a boost to the Pixel 2 family which has been priced very close to Samsung flagships. To summarise, it still might be a long way before Pixel makes a significant impact on Apple or Samsung, but it provides an alternative to users looking for something beyond these two brands," Pathak noted. Addressing a jam-packed San Francisco event as he launched the new Pixel family, Pichai said: "Computing will now be conversational, ambient and contextual. It`s a unique moment in time, when Google can bring AI, software and hardware together." To remain a relevant platform between consumers and brands, Google needs to feed data into its AI machine to make its software smarter. "Such relevant data will increasingly come from a more integrated hardware experience as demonstrated by the Google Lens preview. In order to catch up with Apple and its `ARKit`, Google was right to remind its ecosystem how AR is becoming a part of their platform play with `ARCore` and Google Lens," Husson informed. Amethi: Continuing his tirade against the Narendra Modi government at the Centre, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said that the BJP government has failed to deliver on tall promises which it made to the people of India. Speaking to reporters on the second day of his Amethi visit, Rahul Gandhi said, ''The BJP government is taking credit for the good works done by the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government here." The Gandhi scion also read out a list of achievements of the UPA in Amethi that included six national highways, a 200-bed hospital, the Rajiv Gandhi National Aviation University in Fursatgunj, and a SAIL unit in Jagdishpur, among others. "I`m happy for our friends in the BJP, who are trying to re-inaugurate these projects, but we did the work in Amethi," Gandhi said. Continuing with the criticism of the NDA-led government, the Congress vice-president said that the government is not addressing two major crises in the country - unemployment and agrarian crisis. "Our Prime Minister should accept the crisis and start working to resolve it instead of panicking and making excuses," Gandhi said, adding that Prime Minister Modi is diverting the topic by talks of 'Swachh Bharat' and 'Make in India' campaign. He also gave a piece of "advice" for PM Modi by saying, "The Prime Minister should stand up and say `yes, we have not delivered`. We have one more year; we will deliver. That is what a true leader would do." On the issue of rising unemployment, the Congress no. 2 said, ''There is a real serious problem in India today that we are unable to provide jobs to our youngsters.'' ''China produces 50,000 jobs every single day. India, under PM Modi's 'Make In India', 'Start Up/Stand Up India', produces mere 450 jobs,'' Rahul said. China produces 50,000 jobs every single day. India, under Modi's Make In India,Start Up/Stand Up India, produces 450 jobs: Rahul Gandhi ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) October 5, 2017 Rahul Gandhi began his three-day visit to his parliamentary constituency on Wednesday. On his first day, Gandhi stressed on similar issues and claimed that the ruling dispensation has failed to provide jobs and secure farm incomes. He also remarked that the BJP should go and let the Congress party take over in this case. With ANI inputs DEHRADUN: A scam worth Rs 600 crore was detected in the public distribution system of Uttarakhand by the special investigation team (SIT), which led to the dismissal of the regional food controller in Kumaon division of the state. According to a release, preliminary investigations by the SIT, headed by Udhamsingh Nagar District Magistrate Niraj Khairwal, revealed large-scale financial irregularities and other anomalies at public distribution system (PDS) godowns located in Kumaon region. This led to the issuance of dismissal order of Vishnu Singh Dhanik (regional food controller) late on Monday night. Dhanik was given two extensions by the previous Harish Rawat-led Congress government in the state. Anomalies worth over Rs 600 crore were detected during a documentary verification that was conducted at the PDS godowns in Rudrapur, Kashipur and Bajpur by the SIT. Workers, representatives of farmers and representatives of rice-millers were also investigated. The investigation was carried out on the basis of five points: Firstly, on the involvement of Government officers` and workers` in the distribution of rice bought from the rice-millers. Secondly, whether different rules and regulations were followed regarding the involvement of officers and workers` in the distribution of rice. Thirdly, the conditions of the police`s involvement in the process. Fourthly, whether details of harm done to the government`s reputation and details of the officers and workers` held accountable. Lastly, suggestions so that nothing of this sort happens in the future. The Principal secretary and commissioner Food and Civil Supplies has been asked to take stern action against all other officials and employees involved in the scam, which took place over the last two years. Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat warned that the people found guilty will not be spared, irrespective of the political parties they belong to. He also stated that an FIR will be filed against those leaders if needed. After receiving a number of complaints about the beneficiaries either not getting subsidised food grains or being served poor quality of grains under the PDS arrangement, Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat had constituted the SIT on August 2. Beijing: All nine workers who remained trapped for about 100 hours in a collapsed expressway tunnel in north China have been rescued, officials said. The workers were rescued from Ying'erling tunnel in Laiyuan County, Hebei Province last night, and are in a good condition, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported today. One side of the tunnel collapsed last Saturday and the debris blocked the exit, trapping the workers inside. Rescuers managed to contact them through a channel next morning and confirmed that they were safe. Food and drinking water were then sent to them via the channel, the report said. Nigeria: Military operations were underway on Thursday near Niger`s border with Mali the day after an attack by unidentified assailants which killed three members of the U.S. Army Special Forces and five Nigerien soldiers, security sources said. The attack, which also wounded two US soldiers, took place during a routine patrol in a part of southwestern Niger where there are known to be insurgents, including from al Qaeda in Islamic (AQIM), a U.S. official told Reuters. Nigerien, US and French troops were conducting military operations in the zone on Thursday, a Nigerien security source said without providing additional details. An official at Mali`s defence ministry said military operations were taking place within Niger and that Malian forces had reinforced their checkpoints along the border. According to a Nigerien diplomatic source, those who carried out Wednesday`s attack came from Mali. Jihadist groups form part of a growing regional insurgency in the poor, sparsely populated deserts of West Africa`s Sahel. They have stepped up attacks on U.N. peacekeepers, Malian soldiers and civilian targets after being driven back in northern Mali by a French-led military intervention in 2013. Malian militant groups have expanded their reach into neighbouring countries, including Niger, where a series of attacks by armed groups led the government in March to declare a state of emergency in the southwest. A relatively new militant group called Islamic State in the Greater Sahara has also claimed some recent attacks. LAS VEGAS - There was no evidence at this point to indicate that the mass shooting in Las Vegas this week was terrorism, a Federal Bureau of Investigation agent told a news conference on Wednesday. FBI Special Agent in Charge Aaron Rouse also said federal authorities have questioned the girlfriend of the gunman and no one has been taken into custody as a suspected accomplice. The gunman responsible for the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history meticulously planned the event and spent decades acquiring weapons, while he lived a secret life, said the police. Police also told a news conference that 317 of the 489 people injured in the Las Vegas shooting have been discharged from hospitals. Seoul: A state-owned Russian company has opened up a second internet connection for North Korea which could strengthen Pyongyang's cyber capabilities and undermine US efforts to isolate the regime, security experts said. The activation of the new line from TransTeleCom was first detected Sunday by analysts at Dyn Research, which monitors global internet connectivity. The new connection supplements the existing link provided by China Unicom, which has almost exclusively routed North Korean internet traffic since 2010. The additional line gives Pyongyang "significantly more resilience against attacks on their network infrastructure," said Bryce Boland, the chief technology officer in the Asia-Pacific for cybersecurity firm FireEye. The Washington Post reported earlier that the US Cyber Command had carried out attacks against hackers in North Korea aimed at cutting off their access to the Internet. The operation ended Saturday, the report said. North Korea has a 6,800-strong unit of trained cyberwarfare specialists, according to Seoul`s defence ministry, and has been accused of launching high-profile cyberattacks including the 2014 hacking of Sony Pictures. But with only one internet provider to rely on, the regime has often found itself vulnerable to external cyberattacks against its own network infrastructure. North Korea suffered several internet connection failures -- some which lasted for hours -- shortly after the Sony attack, which many suspected to be a US retaliation. With the alternate route from Russia, "the possibility of disconnecting North Korea from the Internet just became much more difficult," Boland said. Madrid: Spain`s Constitutional Court on Thursday announced it had preemptively suspended the Catalan Parliament`s upcoming plenary session in an attempt to thwart a unilateral declaration of independence by the region`s president. The ruling from the highest rung of Spanish judiciary came just hours after Catalan President Carles Puigdemont said he was willing to use the plenary session, scheduled for Monday, to examine the full results of the October 1 referendum with a possible declaration of independence on the discussion table, Efe news agency reported. The court agreed with the Catalan Socialist Party (PSC), which lodged the case, that such a move would be "a breach of the Constitution" that would "annihilate" the rights of the regional parliament`s members. Although Puigdemont did not explicitly set out a plan to declare independence on Monday, the left-wing Popular Unity Candidacy, which supports the President`s coalition Junts Pel Si in the regional parliament, insisted the act would indeed go ahead. The PSC, which is the regional branch of the Spanish Socialist Party (PSOE), Spain`s main opposition, argued that to permit the plenary session on Monday would be to ignore the fact that the Referendum Law, which Puigdemont unilaterally wrote into local legislation in early September, had been suspended as unconstitutional. The Referendum Law, which was pushed through by JxS and paved the way to the referendum stated that if Catalonia voted in favor of secession from Spain, a declaration of independence would be made during a parliamentary session two days after the results were announced by the electoral committee. Although ruled illegal by the Spanish courts, the referendum went ahead with the participation of 2.2 million people -- 42 per cent of the Catalan electorate with over 90 per cent choosing independence in a ballot marked by irregularities amid Spanish police efforts to shut it down in line with judges` orders. Anomalies in the electoral process included the ability to cast a ballot without a voting envelope, being able to vote in the street or being able to print the ballot paper off at home. A huge Spanish police operation got underway ahead of the poll in an attempt to seize all referendum-related material and clashes with voters at polling stations left over 800 injured. Earlier, in an interview with Efe, Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy told Puigdemont to immediately curtail his bid to declare independence unilaterally or face greater problems. Istanbul: The United States on Thursday said it was "deeply disturbed" over the arrest by Turkish authorities of a local staffer working at its consulate in Istanbul, saying the charges against him were baseless. The staffer was remanded in custody by an Istanbul court late on Wednesday on accusations of links to the group of Fethullah Gulen, who is blamed by Ankara for last year`s failed coup, the state-run Anadolu news agency said. The man has been formally charged with espionage and seeking to overthrow the Turkish government, it added. "The United States government is deeply disturbed by the arrest of a locally-employed staff member," the US embassy in Ankara said in a statement. "We believe these allegations to be wholly without merit," it added. Turkey has pressed Washington for the extradition of the Pennsylvania-based Gulen, who denies any link to the coup bid. The lack of movement on the issue has further strained already tense ties. YEREVAN, OCTOBER 5, ARMENPRESS. President of the Republic of Artsakh Bako Sahakyan on October 5 addressed a congratulatory message on the Day of Teachers, press service of the Artsakh Presidents Office told Armenpress. The message says: Dear teachers, On behalf of the Artsakh Republic authorities and myself personally I extend my cordial congratulations on your professional holiday - the Day of Teachers. Along with congratulations I express my deep gratitude for your extremely responsible and hard work, mission that has always been highly appreciated by our people. A teacher has had a peculiar place in our society for centuries, enjoying the love and respect of the surrounding. Today too you have a substantial contribution to the development of our country educating a patriotic generation that keeps abreast with the times and is armed with extensive knowledge, young people who are worthy descendants of their fathers and grandfathers, successors of their sacred work, creators of our future day. Dear friends, Your work, problems existing in the field have always been in the spotlight of the authorities. Various programs aimed at development of education and science, improvement of your working and social conditions are being implemented in our country. These activities will be of a continuous nature. I once again congratulate all the teachers of Artsakh on this memorable holiday and wish peace, robust health, success and all the best. YEREVAN, OCTOBER 5, ARMENPRESS. Minister of education and science of Armenia Levon Mkrtchyan addressed a congratulatory message on the Day of Teachers, press service of the ministry told Armenpress. The message reads: Dear teachers, Please accept my warm congratulations and wishes on your professional day the Day of Teachers. The teacher for centuries carried out his/her mission with a great dedication and love. At all times the teacher has been the savior and bearer of that noble name. Education system has always been in the spotlight of our people and the newly independent state. Today this system is in the stage of major reforms, and the teacher has a great and responsible role in this process. Each teacher should deserve the publics high appreciation with his/her reputation and work. In order to achieve this the teacher needs to maximally invest his/her strengths and capacities. Educating an educated generation is the duty of every teacher and the appreciation of his/her activity. We should always remember that the beginning of future success of our country and people starts from today, and the teachers work in this process is decisive. On this festive day I congratulate all teachers of the Diaspora and Artsakh who bear the important mission of preserving the national identity. I wish health and new achievements to all teachers on the Day of Teachers. YEREVAN, OCTOBER 5, ARMENPRESS. Speaker of Armenias Parliament Ara Babloyan on October 5 addressed a congratulatory message on the Teachers Day, press service of the Parliament told Armenpress. The message says: Dear teachers, I congratulate you on the Teachers Day. No matter how much the world changes, what achievements are recorded, we will always need teachers since we always need to learn. In the current times of discoveries and technologies, conflicts and challenges the teacher is called not only to maintain the strength of the spirit, but also to transfer it to children together with knowledge by helping them to find the right path in life, think independently, make decisions and assume responsibility for these decisions. Thus, the work of the teacher, being a great honor and responsibility, is also a chance to have a great pleasure when witnessing the result of the seeds he/she has sown. Qualified and competitive education is the guarantee of high human self-consciousness and prosperity, the reliable way to have strong country and dignified society. The foundation of this in our consciousness and souls is being done by you, dear teachers, by constantly contributing to the development of each of us. You are the creators of our first success, supporters to overcome the first difficulties, providers of the first knowledge whom we remember during the entire life. Thank you for the time you dedicate to the children, for the knowledge you transfer to them, as well as for the high human qualities you form in them by ensuring the strength of the countrys foundation. I congratulate you on this festive day, wish you health, happiness and welfare. YEREVAN, OCTOBER 5, ARMENPRESS. The Parliament of Armenia ratified the agreement on creating the Armenian-Russian unified military troops. 87 Members of Parliament voted in favor, while 7 against. The composition of the troops is decided by authorized bodies, which are the defense ministries of the two countries. Based on relevant analysis of the military-political situation and conclusions, the authorized bodies issue assessment of the situation taking into account the directions of possible threats and the general idea of using the troops. The authorized bodies present proposals on planning the deployment of the unified troops for approval to the commanders-in-chief of Armenia and Russia. The commander of the unified troops is appointed and/or dismissed by the commander-in-chief of Armenia by agreeing with his Russian counterpart. In July 2017, Russia ratified the agreement and finalized the internal processes. YEREVAN, OCTOBER 5, ARMENPRESS. Increasing the number of tourists, spreading Artsakhs culture, intensifying youth programs these are going to be the priorities of the Artsakh ministry of culture, youth affairs and tourism in near future. Newly appointed minister Sergey Shahverdyan told Armenpress that there are significant works in all spheres which are under the jurisdiction of the ministry. During these years significant work has been carried out in the tourism field. In the first half of 2017 43% increase in number of foreign tourists has been recorded in Artsakh compared to 2016, and 27% increase compared to 2015. Thus, our task is to maintain this result and increase it, he said. Over the recent years works have been carried out in the tourism field in terms of infrastructure improvement, development of hotel economy, diversification of tourism product and other directions. The statistics shows that the geography of countries of origin of tourists visiting Artsakh expands year by year. Mainly tourists from Russia, US, Iran, France, Italy and Germany visit Artsakh. A lot of works need to be done also in the culture sphere. Sergey Shahverdyan said there is a need of state care in different cultural directions. He added that huge works are expected to be launched on restoring the historical-cultural monuments. He stated that the situation in the field of preservation of monuments is also poor. During the Soviet years, as you know, no attention was paid to the preservation of monuments, quite the contrary, everything was done to eliminate them. Therefore, years are needed for filling this gap. Nevertheless, the restoration works will continue taking into account the priority issues, the minister said, adding that they will try to cooperate with UNESCO on this path. The minister also considers priority spreading the Artsakh culture in international platform. He said there is already an experience of high-level cooperation in the international platform in the field of tourism. As for the youth, Sergey Shahverdyan said first of all a thorough research is needed to reveal the issues of concern of the youth and to give a coordinated solution to them. YEREVAN, OCTOBER 5, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Karen Karapetyan released a statement October 5 congratulating on Teachers Day. Your role is invaluable not only in conveying knowledge, but also in bringing up generations, the PM said in the congratulatory address. Educating a generation is a hard and responsible mission, which requires limitless devotion, and it is this devotion that makes the profession of a teacher into a calling, the PM said. Teachers Day is celebrated October 5 in Armenia. YEREVAN, OCTOBER 5, ARMENPRESS. The 68th session of the Executive Committee of the Programme of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees is being held in Geneva on October 2-6 which is also attended by the Armenian delegation led by deputy foreign minister Ashot Hovakimyan, press service of the ministry told Armenpress. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi delivered opening remarks at the session. In his remarks the Armenian deputy FM reaffirmed Armenias support to the New York statement on issues of great flows of refugees and migrants, talked about the global threats facing refugees highlighting Armenias readiness to continue the productive cooperation with the High Commissioners Office on providing assistance to displaced persons, refugees and asylum seekers. He also touched upon the issue of Armenian refugees displaced from Azerbaijan who had to leave their homes by becoming refugees due to Azerbaijans ethnic cleansing policy. The deputy minister condemned the Azerbaijani aggression against Artsakh last year in April which was accompanied by gross violations of international humanitarian law. Ashot Hovakimyan also talked about the issue of Syrian refugees, stating that Armenia, providing shelters to about 22.000 refugees, is the third in Europe in terms of hosting refugees from Syria. Commenting on the Armenian deputy FMs remarks, the UN High Commissioner Filippo Grandi expressed gratitude for hosting large number of refugees from Syria. The Armenian deputy FM also had meetings with a number of UN officials during which a number of issues were discussed. YEREVAN, OCTOBER 5, ARMENPRESS. A Cabinet sitting was held today, chaired by Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan. Prior to the discussion of the agenda, the Prime Minister gave a number of instructions. The Premiers first instruction called for the fulfillment of Armenias international commitments to curb corruption in the country, ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the Government of Armenia. We have repeatedly stated our determination to combat corruption. Last year, we initiated and implemented a number of substantive legislative and practical reforms. The measures envisaged for 2018 will be evaluated by a number of international organizations. They will specifically assess the activities carried out within the framework of the Anticorruption Action Plan of the Economic Cooperation and Development Organization and the UN Convention against Corruption, the Prime Minister said. In view of the above, as well as given the fact that the recommendations specified in the aforementioned documents are of interdepartmental nature, Karen Karapetyan instructed the Minister of Justice to summarize them and submit a proposal on the steps to take in this direction. The Chief of Government Staff was instructed to prepare a draft recommendation of the Prime Minister on the basis of the information submitted by the Minister of Justice concerning the implementation of actions under their jurisdiction by all interested bodies within a reasonable timeframe. The Prime Minister urged him to closely monitor the process and report back on a regular basis. The Premiers next instruction had to do with the development of IT support tools. The Prime Minister gave a months time to the Minister of Transport, Communications and Information Technology and the Executive Directors of the Center for Strategic Initiatives and the Development Fund of Armenia to develop and submit to the Government Staff an action plan on the development of IT product exports, business skills and capacities. We have huge potential to create an applied product here, we have good ideas, but we lack marketing skills, and we clearly need to back this industry now, the Head of Government said. Karen Karapetyan also instructed the competent authorities to take stock damage caused by road accidents and use the funds received as compensation to repair the damage. In an effort to ensure the enforcement of the Tax Code of the Republic of Armenia, the Government approved a procedure for approval of business plans and calculation of extra wages, which is expected to enable the use of profit tax benefits. Accordingly, the State will support businesses to the extent of 30% of the profit tax in order to help them generate new jobs. Thus, the decision will promote the creation of new jobs. The Prime Minister urged to use such tools and procedures that will not lead to artificial difficulties for businesses. The meeting approved a methodological instruction on the development, presentation and control of strategic documents affecting the State Revenue and Expenditure, which aims to regulate the process of compiling, submitting and controlling strategic documents affecting the budget receipts and direct costs. The Cabinet next approved the Governments legislative initiative on amending the Law on Notarization, as well as on making additions to the Law on State Duty. As a result of the proposed arrangements, the institution of performance endorsement will be strengthened resulting in fast and accurate implementation of notary transactions and higher quality of services provided to citizens. In addition, the courts workload will be reduced considerably. Due to the necessity of evaluating the effectiveness of State-supported commercial organizations, the Government adopted a relevant decision. Accordingly, it is envisaged to not only define efficiency standards, but also to evaluate the effectiveness of organizations and the work of their governing bodies. As a result, transparency of the activities of these organizations will be ensured for the public, the Government and potential investors. In conclusion, the Cabinet meeting agreed to sign an agreement on cooperation in the field of veterinary services between the governments of the Republic of Armenia and the Islamic Republic of Iran. The agreement is aimed at developing bilateral cooperation by facilitating the trade of goods, in particular. It is also envisaged to set up a joint commission for the development of cooperation in the field of veterinary medicine YEREVAN, OCTOBER 5, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian government approved the protocol between Armenia and Estonia on implementing the agreement on Readmission of persons living without permission between Armenia and the European Union, reports Armenpress. It will be submitted for the ratification of the Parliament. The protocol has been signed on June 13, 2017 in Yerevan. The draft has been prepared by the Armenian foreign ministry. YEREVAN, OCTOBER 5, ARMENPRESS. Talish, a village in Artsakh which saw the most damage during the April War in 2016, is revitalizing. With support from philanthropist Andranik Paghtasarean, the Hayastan All Armenian fund is investing nearly 541,331,200 drams for the development of the village. The money will be used to reconstruct the villages administration building, the medical facility, a club and an event venue. 18 houses will also be renovated and reconstructed. Similar projects have also been carried out in Martakert region, where numerous houses were reconstructed. YEREVAN, OCTOBER 5, ARMENPRESS. Human Rights Defender of Armenia Arman Tatoyan on October 5 received the delegation led by Harlem Desir - OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, the Ombudsmans Office told Armenpress. During the meeting issues relating to situation of freedom of speech in Armenia, the activity of news agencies, the protection of rights of journalists were discussed. The meeting also touched upon the violence cases against journalists, obstacles to their work, as well as the Ombudsmans special report. Arman Tatoyan highlighted the importance of freedom of speech and the role of journalists in increasing public awareness, as well as in effective human rights activity. Harlem Desir attached importance to the role of the Human Rights Defender in guaranteeing freedom of speech. The Armenian Ombudsman and the OSCE Media Freedom Representative reached an agreement to cooperate. YEREVAN, OCTOBER 5, ARMENPRESS. BBC published an article on Armenia entitled Why Armenians love strangers, reports Armenpress. The author of the article Ben Lerwill tells about the visit to Armenia and the great hospitality of Armenians. Before arriving in Yerevan the author visited Dilijan. I never meant to spend the night in Dilijan. Id been making my way through northern Armenia towards the capital city of Yerevan, having crossed from Georgia several days earlier. But the little town was attractive, slung across slopes cloaked in oak woods. I later learned that in Soviet times Dilijan had earned a reputation as an artists retreat, and that its picturesque forested location means it gets referred to as Little Switzerland, Lerwill writes. Eventually he finds a guesthouse where he spends the night. At 19:00 the owners of the house called him for dinner. Later it was revealed that the owners of the house were celebrating the 18th birthday of their eldest daughter Lusine. Ben Lerwill in the article presents the table full of dishes. There were aubergines and olives, fresh radishes and mounds of stringy cheese. Then came barbequed pork, and greens with garlic. At some point there was a bowl of chopped mushrooms fried with onions, and chicken in an unctuous, spicy sauce. The menu became something of a blur. The reason for this was the oghi, or homemade fruit vodka. Our feast-bearing table was split by gender, with females at one end and males at the other, he writes. As the banquet roared on, the uncles insisted that our end of the table drink to everyone and everything. To Armenia. To the UK. To their families. To my family. To people long dead. To the future. To friendship. Some toasts left me clueless, but all went the same way the chink of glasses, the tossed elbows, the warm throat-burn of alcohol. Soon there were songs, and cakes. I was dizzy with it all. The evening ended with bear hugs all round, and linguistically doomed attempts to declare everlasting kinship. The next day he decided to pay for his stay in the guesthouse, however, the owners refused to take money from him. Only then did the extent of the familys welcome sink in. I was a complete stranger from a country thousands of miles away. Id turned up at their gate, unannounced, unshaven and barely an hour before a landmark family dinner, yet Id not just been granted a bed but been ushered into the festivities as naturally and lavishly as if Id been one of their own. It stretched the definition of guesthouse to improbable extremes, he said. He highlights that Armenians have long been renowned for generosity to outsiders. The countrys location on the historical trade networks of the Silk Road is integral to this. The region has seen the passage of countless thousands of merchants, soldiers, migrants and wayfarers. As long ago as 400BC, the Greek general Xenophon brought his troops this way and gave accounts of tables groaning with lamb, poultry and barley wine, he writes. Armenia has known unspeakable pain and hardship, not least in the form of the deportations and deaths of up to 1.5 million of its people between 1914 and 1923. Dozens of US states and 29 countries have recognized this as an act of genocide by the Ottoman Empire. Todays Turkish state denies the description. Armenias national psyche has, inevitably, been shaped by the period. And in so doing, the notion that those who come in peace should be welcomed with open arms has only been strengthened. I can say this much: when you encounter hospitality in Armenia, youre unlikely to forget it, the author concludes the article. YEREVAN, OCTOBER 5, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan and First Lady Rita Sargsyan attended the grand opening of Yerevan Show 2017, the 8th international jewelry and watch exhibition, in the capitals Meridian exhibition center, the Presidents Office said. Accompanies by organizers of the event, the president toured the exhibition of the Armenian Jewelers Association within the jewelry FEZ, viewed the products of both local and foreign companies, jewelry equipment etc. This exhibition, which has become traditional and brings 70 companies from 6 countries (Armenia, Russia, USA, Switzerland, Belarus, Turkey) is aimed at encouraging the development of jewelry and diamond making in Armenia, and contribute to cooperation between Armenian and foreign companies. After the exhibition, the President also visited Alex Textile, one of the leading light industry companies in Armenia, and attended the opening of the companys new clothing production plant. Executives of the company briefed the president on their programs, including the upcoming new garment factory, where nearly 7 million Euros will be invested, and over 3000 jobs will be created. The president also visited the expanded plant of the companys knitwear production, where nearly 470 new workers were involved. More than 1 million Euros was invested by Samvel Karapetyan. Alex Textile has also launched a new fabric factory, with more than 2 million Euro investments from Samvel Karapetyan and French-Armenian businessmen Jijiryan senior and junior. YEREVAN, OCTOBER 5, ARMENPRESS. The purpose of the upcoming regional visit of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs must be the meeting with the authorities of Artsakh, especially when there are discussions over resuming negotiations, rather negotiations themselves, political analyst Hrant Melik-Shahnazaryan told a press conference. These discussions cannot advance without Artsakhs participation, which means that the negotiations process also cannot advance without Artsakh. Its not true when they say that Artsakh has been left out of the negotiations process. Artsakh is participating in the discussions in the Armenia-Artsakh and Artsakh-OSCE Minsk Group formats. It is only the Artsakh-Azerbaijan contact that doesnt exist, he said. Commenting on the upcoming CSTO military exercises in Armenia on October 6, where for the first time the Armenian-Russian unified troops will participate, Melik-Shahnazaryan said: Any kind of deepening of relations between Armenia and Russia is perceived by Azerbaijan as a verdict aimed at its society. In Azerbaijan they try not to notice things which will intimidate the Azerbaijani society. Thats why the Azerbaijani propaganda machine is covering up this fact, he said. YEREVAN, OCTOBER 5, ARMENPRESS. Armenias agriculture minister Ignati Arakelyan departed for Moscow October 5 to participate in the upcoming October 6 meeting of agriculture ministers of Eurasian Economic Unions member countries. The meeting will focus on discussions on the development of integration processes between EEU states in agriculture and agro industry sectors, implementation of a coordinated agro industry policy, development of EEUs agro industry complex and other issues. YEREVAN, OCTOBER 5, ARMENPRESS. The steering group which deals with the preparation of the Patriarchal election for Istanbuls Armenian Patriarchate has sent letters to all the 11 clergymen who can nominate their candidacies for the position of Patriarch, patriarchal locum tenens Archbishop Garegin Bekchyan told Agos daily, adding that they still havent received response. Asked whether or not its true that the election can be cancelled if Turkish authorities do not respond by October 9 to the patriarchates request, Bekchyan said: This election will definitely take place. The President of the country has promised this. They said he will personally deal with this issue after the April 16 referendum. I have no doubt that the President always does what he says. If not today, tomorrow it will take place. In addition, we must take into account that Turkey, where we are living, is a huge state, there are many political issues here. We have a population of 60 thousand here. It is normal when the issues of a 60 thousand big community are not considered priority. There is no delayed situation, the process in moving forward normally. As result, we will hold Patriarchal election. Bechkyan said if they dont receive a response from the countrys authorities by October 9, then they will send another request. YEREVAN, OCTOBER 5, ARMENPRESS. President of the National Assembly of Armenia Ara Babloyan awarded a group of teachers on October 5 for their great contribution to the sphere of education on the occasion of Teachers Day, ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the parliament of Armenia. The Director of Yerevan Hakob Paronyan Basic School N 59 Samvel Adamyan, the Director of Stepanavan (Lori Marz) Senior School Seda Tunyan, the Head of the Quantum College Robert Vardanyan, the Director of Yerevan Ruben Sevak School N 151 Izabella Margaryan, the Director of Gavar Senior School Arega Grigoryan, the Deputy Director of Yerevan School N 159 Ofelya Antonyan, the Teacher of Artashat (Ararat Marz) Basic School N 1 Nune Sahakyan were awarded with the Memorial Medal of the National Assembly President. In his word addressed to the awarded pedagogues the President of the National Assembly said: I congratulate you on the occasion of this holiday. Today is Teachers Day, a holiday which is one more occasion to say words of appreciation and gratitude to your address. Thank you for your invaluable efforts, devotion, your patriotism and warmth that every day you transfer to the children, through them to us, to our families. Ara Babloyan wished the pedagogues health and welfare. YEREVAN, OCTOBER 5, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Karen Karapetyan received on October 5 Dean of the School of Architecture and Planning of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Hashim Sarkis and expert in urban planning Brent Ryan. As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the Government of Armenia, cooperation prospects for the development of Gyumri city were discussed at the meeting. MITs experts noted that they arrived in Armenia on a cognitive visit at the invitation of Tumo center for creative technologies to get acquainted with the capacities of Gyumri and for developing innovative approaches aimed at fostering the development of the city. Karen Karapetyan presented his vision of the development of the city, stressing that Gyumri has the necessary potential to become one of the trademarks of Armenia and in case of working purposefully its possible to achieve the desired results, change the mood and atmosphere of the city. The Premier saluted the visit of MITs experts to Armenia and suggested that the future steps should be discussed together with the specialists of the Development Foundation of Armenia (DFA) and the Center for Strategic Initiatives, underlining that the Government is ready for a long-term productive cooperation. YEREVAN, 5 OCTOBER, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs Armenpress that today, 5 October, USD exchange rate is up by 0.07 drams to 478.45 drams. EUR exchange rate is up by 0.33 drams to 562.90 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate is up by 0.05 drams to 8.33 drams. GBP exchange rate is down by 3.45 drams to 631.31 drams. The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals. Gold price is up by 49.01 drams to 19601.18 drams. Silver price is up by 3.34 drams to 258.81 drams. Platinum price is up by 78.95 drams to 14028.86 drams. YEREVAN, OCTOBER 5, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Karen Karapetyan received on October 5 MP Mark Pritchard - newly appointed British Trade Envoy to Armenia. As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the Government of Armenia, the Premier congratulated Mark Pritchard on the assumption of the post and noted that the Government of Armenia has great hopes of his activities in terms of developing Armenian-British trade and economic relations and giving new impetus to them. Karen Karapetyan underlined that there is great potential for increasing the trade turnover between the two states. The Premier added that currently the Government of Armenia implements large-scale reforms in the sphere of economy and other spheres, adding that Armenia can offer favorable conditions to the British capital, including as a gate to the Eurasian and Iranian markets. Thanking for the cordial reception, Mark Pritchard stressed that the approval of his position by the Prime Minister of the UK documents that the British Government is interested in taking measures to increase trade turnover with Armenia and foster business ties. The British Trade Envoy to Armenia mentioned that his country wishes to expand economic cooperation with Armenia and his goal is to achieve visible and tangible results during his tenure. The interlocutors discussed also the opportunities to improve bilateral trade regimes, set Yerevan-London flights, as well as issues about the prospects of implementing projects in the spheres of energy, road construction, reservoir construction, tourism, healthcare, education, etc. YEREVAN, OCTOBER 5, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan received on October 5 the delegation of the EU Councils Political and Security Committee (PSC) led by its Chairman Walter Stevens. As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the Armenian Presidents Office, Ambassadors from 28 EU Member States accredited in Brussels and representatives of the Committee are among the delegation. The aim of the visit is to discuss the current phase and the prospects of Armenia-EU relations under the light of the completion of the talks on the new framework agreement, get acquainted with the situation on site, as well as to touch upon the agenda issues of the Eastern Partnership upcoming summit, exchange ideas over the political and security issues, as well as threats and challenges in the region of the South Caucasus. The President of the Republic greeted the guests and highlighted the meetings and discussions in that format, which, to the Presidents conviction, are a good opportunity to discuss all the issues of bilateral interest. Noting that only 3 days ago Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn was in Armenia, and a day prior to that the last modernized border check point in the north of Armenia, constructed with the assistance of the EU, was opened with the participation of Head of the EU delegation to Armenia, Ambassador Piotr Switalski, President Sargsyan underlined that this kind of intensity of interactions shows that the EU has an important role in Armenias foreign policy. The Chairman of the PSC stressed that the EU attaches great importance to the relations with Eastern Partnership participant countries, including Armenia, and he is glad that Armenia has initialed the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement with the EU, which, according to him, shows that its really possible to sign an agreement with the EU and develop partnership being a member state to the Eurasian Economic Union. He stressed that EUs policy conducted in the sidelines of the Eastern Partnership initiative is not directed against anyone. Referring to Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement, Walter Stevens stressed that the EU supports the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs. The Chairman of the Committee noted that the EU is interested in assists reforms in Armenia, including the continuity of economic reforms, highlights the implementation of a more efficient management following the Constitutional reforms, and the works done to strengthen justice, human rights defense, and democratic institutions. During the meeting Walter Stevens expressed gratitude for giving shelter to over 20 thousand Syrian refugees in Armenia. YEREVAN, OCTOBER 5, ARMENPRESS. Foreign Minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandian received on October 5 the delegation of the EU Councils Political and Security Committee (PSC) led by its Chairman Walter Stevens. As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the MFA Armenia, the members of the PSC including the Ambassadors of all the EU Member States on security issues, the high ranking staffs of the Council of the EU, European Commission and External Action Service are included in the delegation. Greeting the guests, Minister Nalbandian highlighted the regular meetings with the EU representatives on different levels. It was mentioned with satisfaction that expanded partnership exists between Armenia and the EU in a number of spheres of mutual interest. Foreign Minister Nalbandian appreciated the continuous assistance of the EU to the reforms under implementation in Armenia. Pressing regional and international issues were touched upon at the meeting. Edward Nalbandian presented the efforts of Armenia and the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chair countries aimed at exclusively peaceful settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict, as well as the preparatory works of the meeting of the Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents. In this context Minister Nalbandian noted that for years Baku has refused to implement top level agreements, declines the proposals of the Co-chair countries, creating obstacles for the progress in the conflict settlement process. If Baku really wants to take the path to the conflict settlement based on the proposals of the Co-chairs, who enjoy the support of the international community, it has to reaffirm and practically implement what they propose an exclusively peaceful settlement to the conflict, unconditional implementation of 1994-1995 ceasefire agreements. Baku should prove its commitment to the principles of the international law proposed by the OSCE MG Co-chair countries non use of force or the threat to use it, equality of peoples and right to self-determination, territorial integrity and the settlement elements developed and presented to the sides as one and a complete unit, the Armenian FM emphasized. YEREVAN, OCTOBER 5, ARMENPRESS. Armenian businessman Arsen Papazyan wounded in a murder attempt has passed away in hospital. ARMENPRESS reports, citing RBK, an unidentified person attacked member of the Public Chamber of Voronezh Region, president of Ani Christian-cultural NGO Arsen Papazyan at 15:30 by Moscow time, injuring him by a firearm, shooting at his chest twice and damaging his lung. Contract killing is viewed as a dominant version. Arsen Papazyan was engaged in construction. He actively participated in the life of the Armenian Diaspora, made donations for charity projects. YEREVAN, OCTOBER 5, ARMENPRESS. Georgia's State Agency for Religious Affairs, Georgian Orthodox Holy Church, Georgian Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Ministry of Culture and Monuments Protection of Georgia, and the Staff of the Georgian State Minister for Reconciliation and Civic Equality have issued a joint statement on the incident that took place in Gumburdo village in Georgia on September 30. As ARMENPRESS was informed from the Georgian Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, the statement runs as follows, An incident occurred between some of the local residents and the law enforcement bodies on September 30 in Gumurdo village of Akhalkalaki region in the yard of Holy Mother of God (St. Astavatsatsin) Church. The incident occurred when an attempt was made to erect an Armenian traditional stone made cross cross-stone, without any preliminary agreement in the yard of the temple. The Ministry of Culture and Monuments Protection of Georgia has been conducting reconstruction works in the church since 2015. During archeological excavations a large amount of human bones were found together with other fragments in the yard of the temple, which were re-buried in the yard of the church, which generated a desire among the residents to erect a cross-stone in the mentioned place. The misinformation spread about the foundation of the temple caused misunderstanding among the people. The Georgian Diocese of the Holy Armenian Apostolic Church affirms it has no aspirations towards the temple and considers it Georgian. The respect towards the ancestors is not questioned, a considering that during centuries Georgians, Armenians and people of other ethnicity and religion were buried in the yard of the temple, its our duty to honor the memory of everyone. A meeting took place at the Georgian Patriarchy between the representatives of relevant Georgian state bodies, the Georgian Orthodox Church and the Holy Armenian Apostolic Church. The participants of the meeting affirmed readiness to discuss the issues and make decisions with mutual consent, since the issue, apart from religious and legal nature, is also of great moral importance and the decisions made will be a kind example of peaceful solution of the problem. Violence of any kind is inadmissible and provocation is unacceptable. We urge everyone to preserve the Georgian-Armenian friendship established throughout millennia, display farsightedness and solve the problems through legal means and Christian love. In the yard of one of the Churches of Javakhk the Armenian residents tried to erect a cross-stone on September 30, but the Police prohibited. Tensions between the residents and the Police rose, turning into brawl. Create a comfortable, inviting home filled with natural light flowing in through the large windows of every 535 Carlton residence. Enjoy views of Manhattan, Pacific Park and tree-lined brownstone Brooklyn along Dean and Carlton. Bring family and friends together in a space designed to be lived in, in a luxury building that always considers its residents and their loved ones. The neighboring streets to the south and west are, indeed, brownstone Brooklyn, though Dean Street contains some converted and extant industrial buildings. That "eight-acre park" The pitch continues: Brooklyn, New Yorks creative nexus, is known for its art, music and innovative entrepreneurs. It is also known for its tree-lined streets, world renowned restaurants and shopping. At Pacific Park Brooklyn, residents live in an urban oasis with a leafy eight-acre park, while having access to everything that makes New York the greatest city in the world. That "park" won't be done until 2025, at best. will include "8 acres of publicly accessible open space," not a park: Interestingly enough, the official fact sheet for Pacific Park Brooklyn maintains the old claim about "downtown Brooklyn," but says, with more accuracy, that itinclude "8 acres of publicly accessible open space," not a park: Well, we've come a long way from that May 2006 brochure "A Vision for Downtown Brooklyn," haven't we? Well, power defines reality , right?As shown in the screenshot below, the rental tower 535 Carlton is being pitched as "NEW RENT STABILIZED APARTMENTS IN THE HEART OF BROWNSTONE BROOKLYN": 2017 Hyundai Verna has been turning out to be a magnum-opus for the South-Korean automaker as in just 40 days of its launch in the Indian market, it has surpassed 15,000 bookings milestone. Hyundai has announced that the new-gen sedan has garnered overwhelming response by registering more than 124,000 enquiries since its official launch on August 22, 2017. The 2017 Hyundai Verna was launched in a price range of Rs. 7.99-12.61 Lakhs (Ex. Showroom, Delhi), while it bridges the gap between the Elantra and Xcent sedans in the company portfolio. Know more about the new-generation 2017 Hyundai Verna sedan! On Overwhelming customers response of Next Gen VERNA Mr. Y K Koo, MD & CEO- Hyundai Motor India Limited said, The Next Gen VERNA is intelligent by Design - A global product that personifies Hyundais Modern Premium Brand. As committed despite the production constraint; we will deliver 12,000 cars before Diwali and 20,000 cars by end of this year at an introductory price. We are happy with great response to Next Gen VERNA and thank our customers and media for their trust in Hyundai Brand. Hyundai Verna is sold globally in 66 countries with customer base of over 8.8 million. Underpinning the all-new K2 architecture like its elder sibling Elantra, launched last year in India, it comes loaded with several first-in-segment features. New-generation Hyundai Verna is available in both petrol and diesel fuel trims in a total of 12 variants: E MT, EX MT, EX AT, SX MT, SX (O) MT, SX (O) AT, E MT Diesel, EX MT Diesel, EX AT Diesel, SX MT Diesel, SX+ AT Diesel, and SX (O) MT Diesel. The sedan is offered with both the 1.6 litre - Petrol and Diesel engine options with manual as well as automatic transmissions. The 1.4L engine has been phased out of the Verna lineup. The 2017 Hyundai Verna locks horns with the likes of Honda City, Maruti Suzuki Ciaz, Volkswagen Vento and Skoda Rapid in the Indian market. Nearly 20 days back, Shah Rukh Khan, Bollywood Superstar and Hyundai India brand ambassador, had tweeted that the sedan is smashing new records and has touched 12,000 bookings milestone. CHATSWORTH, Calif.Pipedream Products giant King Cock made its debut at the July 2016 ANME show, and has since travelled internationally Now, the enormous phallus is turning heads again as it tours across Europe, visiting industry shows and events. A photo of the 12-foot King Cock being transported on a trailer was posted on Sept. 28 to the popular Dutch photo sharing site Dumpert, and has since garnered more than 280,000 views. The post is humorously captioned, Your Moms delivery is on the way. This is not he first time European public has enjoyed the giant King Cock. A post to Dumpert in January received 480k views. Three years ago we unveiled our proprietary line of top quality, hand-decorated, American made dildos and it was an instant hit, said Nick Orlandino, CEO and chairman of Pipedream Products. We set out to create the biggest cock in world, and it is exciting to see it celebrated and enjoyed by so many on the world stage. The giant King Cock was created as a promotional tool to celebrate the mega-manufacturers award winning King Cock line. The line now has sold more than 2 million products all made in Pipedreams state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities. Carefully crafted and made from phthalate-free, latex-free, hypoallergenic PVC rubber, the King Cock collection is the most realistic American-made rubber on the market and its guaranteed to fly off the shelves. This month Pipedream Products will introduce a new color, Tan, as well as new sizes and shapes ranging from 5 inches to 15 inches, which they expect to be a huge hit at the eroFame show in Germany. To learn more about purchasing, contact your Pipedream Products sales rep or visit PipedreamProducts.com. Columbus, Ohio boasts one of the fastest-growing economies in the midwest, with gains in transit, creditworthiness, and employment but it's also one of the most unequal cities in the country, where infant mortality is soaring alongside a horrific drug epidemic, both of which disproportionately affect poor people. The Democrats control the city government, which is now up for re-election. Enter Yes We Can, a Sanders-inspired insurgent movement of left-wing Democrats, Working Family Party members, and progressives, who are challenging the Columbus Democratic candidates with a platform that includes reversing the state's ban on cities setting their own minimum wages. It's part of a burgeoning and successful national campaign to fight local elections with progressive candidates. Petrik concedes that Yes We Can's odds of uprooting the Democratic establishment are a long shot, but winning this year is not necessarily the goal. "Bernie didn't win, but he shifted the conversation and inspired a movement," Petrik told The Intercept. "There is a new base of people who've become politically engaged, and they understand how broken the system is. We know change takes time, so it might not be this year, and may not be in three years, but we believe that we will win." PROGRESSIVE CANDIDATES SEEK TO UPEND THE DEMOCRATIC ESTABLISHMENT IN UPCOMING OHIO ELECTIONS [Rachel M Cohen/The Intercept] The New York Democratic primary like primaries across the country will be a fight for the soul of the Democratic party, between the establishment wing and progressive, Sanders Democrats who want a $15 minimum wage, universal health care, free four-year state colleges, and limits on banks and the finance industry as well as foreign wars. If you have a dog in this fight and I think you do and you live in New York, you'll get to cast a primary ballot in June 2018. But to cast that ballot, you need to be registered by October 13th, which is about a week away. If you are not a Democrat, but you want the right to decide who will run against our current Congressman you will need to change your party. To change parties, you need to fill out another voter registration form and get it to the County Board of Election by closing time of Friday, Oct. 13. You can get a form at your County's Board Of Elections, fill it out there and hand it back to them on it the same day. Or you can download a form from the County's website and mail it or take it to your Board of Elections. When they receive your filled out form, it is placed into a locked box which will be opened a week after the Nov. 7 General Election. The Board of Election staff will then process the form and change your party! It is easy, and it is quick. You can confirm which party you are a member of by calling your Board of Elections or by going to voterlookup.elections.state.ny.us. LETTER: To vote in '18 Democratic Primary, register by Oct. 13 [Rich Steward/Finger Lake Times] (Image: Redbubble) The Stranger's David Lewis snuck into the Northwest Forum, a s00per s33kr1t Nazi gathering in Seattle, and attended the speeches, including the keynote by reclusive white supremacist leader Dr Greg Johnson. All in all, the Forum was a pretty dull affair, but Johnson did take the opportunity to describe his strategy for "secret agent" white nationalists to infiltrate the tech sector by paying "lip service to diversity," moving up the corporate ladder, and hire other mediocre white men who believe in racial superiority to fill the companies' vacancies. Much bleaker is Dr. Johnson's Seattle-suitable, "secret agent" racism plan. Basically, white nationalists meet in secret at conventions like Northwest Forum while paying "lip service to diversity" at their day jobs. They move into positions of power where they can hire other racists and keep non-whites from getting into the company. Two years ago, this method would have seemed like a total joke, but these guys really do mostly work in tech, and they were doing a lot of networking. When talking about the people he has counseled on the "secret agent" method, Dr. Johnson has written that they include "college professors, writers, artists, designers, publishers, creative people working in the film industry, businessmen, and professionals, some of them quite prominent in their fields." When I told Dr. Johnson I was reluctant to use my super film editing skills (I can't even work iMovie) for the movement because I was afraid I would be outed in Hollywood he said, "You know, you can always be a secret agent, there's no shame in that." We Snuck into Seattle's Super Secret White Nationalist Convention [David Lewis/The Stranger] (Image: Cacophony, CC-BY-SA) Amazon Gold Box Deals For October 4, 2017 Save Big On Ultra-Premium Brands With Today's Best Deals 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. For bargain hunters, there are few things better than Amazon's daily Gold Box, their one-day sale outpost featuring premium products at steep discounts (and often in limited quantities). The problem is, each day features something on the order of 10,000 results how are you supposed to sort the gems from the also-rans? Simple, you don't. We do. Here are the best deals we've seen today on Amazon. Get 'em while they're hot! 9% Off Apple iPad Air 32GB(Certified Refurbished) iPads are the cream of the crop when it comes to tablets, but they aren't cheap. What's more, Apple doesn't really do discounts for anyone. But you can get a great deal if you're willing to go for a recertified item like this iPad Air, which means it was preowned, returned to Apple and had all of the key parts (battery, screen, case, etc.) replaced before being packaged like new. The Air was Apple's standard, non-pro iPad until this year, and for casual gaming and web browsing, it should meet your needs for years to come. $239.99 at Amazon.com 28% Off Dyson V6 Slim Vacuum Cleaner (Certified Refurbished) Dyson makes some of the most sought after vacuums, because they're constantly breaking new ground in terms of power, suction and mobility. The V6 is their most compact vacuum to date, offering cordless portability with Dyson's signature, no-loss suction technology. It's great for cleaning up small messes around the house, but with its 20-minute battery life and considerable power, it makes a great primary vacuum for small homes and apartments. $179.25 at Amazon.com 33% Off Amazon Fire TV Stick with Alexa Voice Remote + Echo Dot The streaming box wars are heating up: Apple just released a new 4K Apple TV, so naturally Roku quickly did the same. Amazon's Fire TV Stick may not do 4K (you need the bigger Fire TV for that), but they have another trump card: Alexa, the world's most popular AI virtual assistant. Amazon's Echo family is saturating the market, and that's by design. In fact, they so badly want an Echo in every home (and every room, really) that not only can you get the Fire TV Stick that allows you to stream 100s of thousands of movies and TV episodes, but they'll throw in an Echo Dot for next to nothing. That means that you can use Alexa to control your TV, as well as anything else in your home. $59.99 at Amazon.com 45% Off Bose SoundTrue Around-Ear Headphones II Most Bose headphones are uber-expensive because they're packed with a bunch of noise cancelling technology, and that is no doubt a very nice thing to have. But not everyone needs that, and some of us just want our music to thump without breaking the bank. These over-ear headphones from Bose fit the bill, with the signature high-quality sound and bass you want, with none of the features you don't need. $99.00 at Amazon.com $10 Off Philips Wake-Up Light With Sunrise Simulation Alarm Clock Wake-up lights like these are insanely popular because by mimicking the sunrise based on your alarm time, they wake your body up in a gentler, more natural way. People go so far as to say they've changed their lives, so they must be onto something. There are a lot of knockoff brands out there, but with this Amazon coupon, you can save a little cash on the real deal by Philips, the company that pioneered them. To get the savings, just click the little green coupon button and you'll see the difference at checkout. $39.99 (with coupon) at Amazon.com 17% Off TCL 43-Inch 1080p Roku Smart LED TV If you're in the market for not just a streaming box, but a new TV altogether, it's not unreasonable to consider an all-in-one smart TV. The danger, though, is shoddy proprietary interfaces that limit your app access. That's not the case with this TV, though, because it has Roku built into it, meaning you get the same intuitive, customizable OS you'd find in one of Roku's standalone products Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, HBO and so much more. $299.99 at Amazon.com 30% Off Waterpik WP-950 Complete Care 7.0 Water Flosser and Sonic Toothbrush Flossing sucks, that much is true. Waterpik claims their flosser is not only more convenient than conventional flossing, but more effective, too. Dentists may balk at the latter, but there's no question that flossing with water jets is a lot more convenient, and it's definitely better than nothing. They also throw in a sonic toothbrush, which have been proven to be demonstrably better at cleaning teeth than conventional brushes. Dental work is expensive, and an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. $84.41 at Amazon.com 29% Off SYLVANIA SMART+ A19 Tunable White LED Light Bulb We're slowly reaching a point where total home automation is not only possible, but affordable. A good way to start, if you're interested, is with lighting. These bulbs work with Amazon Alexa, meaning that you can control them with your voice, schedule them and more. And with the app, these bulbs in particular allow you to tune the temperature of the light, from super bright and white when you need it to a cooler yellow when you want to wind down. $21.15 at Amazon.com 77% Off Anker Astro E1 Candy-Bar Sized Ultra Compact Portable Charger Recent events have shown that it's never a bad idea to have a backup power source on hand, and Anker has emerged as the premier supplier of chargers and power banks. This is a compact model that packs a punch, charging an iPhone 7 up to two times before needing a recharge. It also uses Anker's PowerIQ technology to charge your device at the fastest possible speeds. It's better to have it and not need it than the other way around. $13.99 at Amazon.com Want to see the biggest sales and best deals beyond Amazon? How about exclusive coupon codes? The Acquire by AskMen newsletter collects all the best live deals and trending gear everyday and delivers them conveniently right to your inbox. Sign up today. 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. By Robert-Jan Bartunek BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Amazon was told on Wednesday to pay about 250 million euros ($295 million) in back taxes to Luxembourg, the latest U.S. tech company to be caught up in a European Union crackdown on unfair tax deals. The fine was much lower than some sources close to the case had expected and is only a fraction of the 13 billion euros that Apple Inc was ordered to pay to Ireland last year. EU Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, who has other big U.S. tech companies in her sights, has taken a tough line on multinational companies' approach to tax. "Luxembourg gave illegal tax benefits to Amazon. As a result, almost three quarters of Amazon's profits were not taxed," Vestager said. Amazon said it was considering an appeal. "We believe that Amazon did not receive any special treatment from Luxembourg and that we paid tax in full accordance with both Luxembourg and international tax law," Amazon said in a statement after the announcement. Amazon shares were little changed in early Wednesday trading. Though the EU has taken on several U.S. tech companies, both in antitrust and in tax avoidance cases, Vestager said that her approach was not biased against foreign companies "This is about competition in Europe, no matter your flag, no matter you ownership," Vestager said. She also welcomed the debate kicked off by French President Emmanuel Macron who called for more integrated corporate tax regimes in Europe, aiming to close the loopholes used to reduce tax bills. RAZOR THIN MARGINS While the exact amount Amazon needs to repay is yet to be calculated, the 250 million euros is significantly less than the 400 million euros which sources close to the matter told Reuters a year ago was under consideration by Vestager. The bill suggests the Commission believes Amazon shielded around 900 million euros in EU profits from tax, calculations by Reuters show. For most of its existence, Amazon has worked on razor thin profit margins to fuel its global expansion, making only $2.4 billion profit on global revenues of $136 billion in 2016. The Commission said Luxembourg allowed Amazon to channel a significant portion of its profits to a holding company without paying tax. The holding company was allowed to do this because it held certain intellectual property rights. Tax advisers say an important way for companies to shift profits out of the United States is to sell intellectual property, like brands or patents, to a subsidiary in a country where such profits are not taxed and have that unit license the intellectual property to other overseas affiliates. Amazon's corporate set up with subsidies in Luxembourg was also subject of a $1.5 billion court case with U.S. tax authorities, which Amazon won in March. Amazon, which employs 1,500 in the grand duchy, is one of the biggest employers in the country of half a million people. It has a Europe-wide staff of some 50,000. Luxembourg, whose tiny economy has benefited from providing a European base for multinational companies, rejected the finding and said it was looking at its legal options. European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker was prime minister of Luxembourg for almost two decades until 2013 and has been criticized for his role in enabling the many tax deals that are now being unraveled. He denies doing anything wrong and says the Commission is committed to ensuring fair taxation. In 2014, Luxembourg made international headlines in the wake of the publication of "LuxLeaks", documents that showed how large accounting firms helped multinational companies channel proceeds through the country while paying little or no tax. Luxembourg is also under EU scrutiny over tax deals with fast food chain McDonald's and French energy company Engie . Luxembourg has appealed against a ruling in 2015 that carmaker Fiat should pay it back taxes. As well as Ireland, tax for multinationals in Belgium and the Netherlands have also come under Commission scrutiny. "Luxembourg has been fully cooperating with the Commission in its investigation and is strongly committed to tax transparency and the fight against harmful tax avoidance," the country's finance ministry said on Wednesday. Amazon revamped its European tax practices in 2015 so that it can book sales and pay taxes in Britain, Germany, Spain and Italy instead of channeling all sales through Luxembourg where it is headquartered, a move that may raise its tax bill. ($1 = 0.8493 euros) (Addtional reporting by Tom Bergin, Editing by Alastair Macdonald, Jane Merriman and Mark Potter) Ontario has told three nursing homes to stop accepting new patients over accusations of inadequate care. The order affects the Tyndall Nursing Home in Mississauga, Earls Court Long Term Care in London and Caressant Care in Fergus. "It is completely unacceptable that these operators are not meeting the province's standards," said Minister of Health and Long Term Care Eric Hoskins. "The distressing practice of failing to meet provincial standards will not be accepted in Ontario." An inspection at Caressant Care in Fergus found that furnishings and equipment in the home were not properly maintained, that residents were at risk of being neglected by staff, and inadequate protocol around falls. At Earls Court Nursing Home, inspectors found insufficient staffing and other issues that led to safety concerns. That home had previously been ordered to stop admissions in 2016, but was found to have 20 areas of non-compliance in a subsequent inspection. Hoskins appeals to operators In a letter to the homes, Hoskins wrote that he was "deeply concerned" by the results of recent inspections. "I trust that you will take the outstanding compliance orders and compliance actions seriously," the minister wrote to Peter Schlegel, president of Sharon Village Care Homes, which operates the facilities in Mississauga and London. "I am counting on your leadership and ask that you ensure that Earls Court Village and Tyndall Nursing Home are providing care at a standard you would expect for your own loved ones," he continued. In a statement to CBC Toronto, Caressant Care Nursing wrote it was "working closely with the Ministry to address certain compliance deficiencies," and that its current residents would not be affected by the order. Sharon Village Care Homes declined an interview request from CBC News. Tyndall 'very nice' Some people interviewed by CBC Toronto outside Tyndall Nursing Home said they were surprised by the order to suspend admissions. Story continues "I found it very nice," said Maria Dragaca, whose friend's husband lives in the home. "I didn't see any fault at all." Dragaca, who visited the home seven years ago when searching for a facility to care for her now-deceased husband, described friendly staff and clean furnishings. Liberals defend order During question period Wednesday, London-Fanshawe MPP Teresa Armstrong accused the Liberal government of focusing on the worst offenders instead of opening new homes and improving care. "[The premier] seems content to stop admissions to the worst homes and ignore the facts [that] the wait-list is growing and conditions across the province are worsening," she said. Hoskins categorically denied the charge. "We feel that it's entirely appropriate," he said of the admission orders, arguing that they demonstrate the vast majority of long-term care facilities are up to standard. Hoskins is also pointing to proposed legislation that would allow the province to fine operators who violate existing standards. A group of students and parents in Saskatchewan say it was a case of paradise lost after Air Canada bumped them off a return flight from Costa Rica. Now the group wants their money back, and they want Ottawa to hold the airline accountable. "We felt abandoned and stranded," Garielle LePage-Lavoie said in an interview with CBC Radio's Saskatoon Morning. It was a school trip with students from French schools. They were studying Spanish in high school and the trip to Costa Rica was an opportunity to learn and practice the language. Everything was perfect, until the group tried to return home to Saskatchewan. From bad to worse Trouble began the night before. The group tried to check in, but said Air Canada's website was down. The next day, LePage-Lavoie said things went from bad to worse as they tried to get to the airport. "We were stuck in construction," she said. "We were in a panic, we were freaking out." Still, as the group arrived at the Air Canada gate, people were lined-up to board the plane. But LePage-Lavoie said the airline didn't seem at all interested in their plight. "It was strange because you would think with a group of minors, seven kids, that there would be some kind of concern." That's when they spotted a sign, asking for volunteers to give up their seats on the flight they were trying to board. "We were like, 'oh no! This isn't happening.'" She said the group was informed that they were out of luck because they were late, and that there wouldn't be another Air Canada flight back to Canada for another 10 days. "I ended up paying $4,000 to get myself and my daughter back home," said LePage-Lavoie. In all the group of parents is out an additional $18,000 and Air Canada is, so far, refusing to compensate them for the lost tickets, according to LePage-Lavoie. "It's an undue hardship on many of these families who really can't afford to pay this amount." Story continues Parents call for accountability Now, she is fighting back and suggested that Air Canada has a long track record of overselling flights and then treating customers poorly. LePage-Lavoie said the group not only wants to be compensated for their losses, but they would also like to see the federal government get involved to hold the airline accountable, and force it to change its policies. "Okay this is a classic case, we are hearing about this all the time and as a parent I thought, I need to speak up, I need to say something, and this has to stop. Air Canada has to take responsibility." CBC News contacted Air Canada for its response. The airline said "we can advise we remain in contact with our customers as we're continuing to review and follow up on this case." CBC also asked if the flight was overbooked, but Air Canada hasn't responded to that question. IT Trends AI, Merging of Digital and Physical Worlds Among Top 10 Tech Trends for 2018 Gartner has released its list of top 10 strategic technology trends for 2018 with a focus for the coming year on technologies related to artificial intelligence and machine learning and those that blend the physical and digital worlds. "Gartner defines a strategic technology trend as one with substantial disruptive potential that is beginning to break out of an emerging state into broader impact and use, or which are rapidly growing trends with a high degree of volatility reaching tipping points over the next five years," according to a news release. Gartner's first trend for next year is AI Foundation. The company predicts that the development of systems that learn and adapt and even function autonomously will remain a major battleground through 2020 at least. "AI techniques are evolving rapidly and organizations will need to invest significantly in skills, processes and tools to successfully exploit these techniques and build AI-enhanced systems," said David Cearley, vice president and Gartner fellow, in a prepared statement. "Investment areas can include data preparation, integration, algorithm and training methodology selection, and model creation. Multiple constituencies including data scientists, developers and business process owners will need to work together." Nearly every app and service will incorporate some level of AI in the next few years, according to the company, making intelligent apps and analytics the second trend to watch in the coming year. Whether they're obviously intelligent or use intelligence behind the scenes, these tools "create a new intelligent intermediary layer between people and systems and have the potential to transform the nature of work and the structure of the workplace," according to Gartner. "Explore intelligent apps as a way of augmenting human activity and not simply as a way of replacing people," said Cearley in a prepared statement. "Augmented analytics is a particularly strategic growing area which uses machine learning to automate data preparation, insight discovery and insight sharing for a broad range of business users, operational workers and citizen data scientists." Intelligent things, Gartner's third trend, rounds out the trends related to AI and machine learning. These tools, comprising everything from autonomous vehicles to connected industrial and consumer systems, are physical objects that incorporate AI to better interact with their surroundings or people. Fourth on the company's list, digital twins are virtual representations of real-world objects or systems. Digital twins are linked to their real-world counterparts and useful for understanding them, responding to changes or otherwise improving operations or value. "Over time, digital representations of virtually every aspect of our world will be connected dynamically with their real-world counterpart and with one another and infused with AI-based capabilities to enable advanced simulation, operation and analysis," said Cearley in a news release. "City planners, digital marketers, healthcare professionals and industrial planners will all benefit from this long-term shift to the integrated digital twin world." The company's fifth trend, cloud to the edge, comprises a pair of technologies that some see as competing. Augmented Reality Udacity & Unity Collaborate on New ARKit Course Barely a week after Apple unveiled its new augmented reality (AR) development framework, dubbed ARKit, for-profit online educational services provider Udacity has announced a new program for developers who want to learn how to use the framework to build AR apps for iPhone and iPad. ARKit, which is included with the iOS 11 Software Development Kit, integrates iOS device cameras and motion features, allowing developers to build AR experiences into their applications and games. Udacity teamed with Unity Technologies to develop Learn ARKit. Unity's namesake development platform is used by developers to build 2D, 3D, virtual reality (VR) and AR experiences into their games and applications. The month-long Udacity program teaches students how to use ARKit with either Unity or Apple's Swift programming language. Why is Udacity providing a special course that teaches how to use a proprietary framework to build apps for one platform? Christian Plagemann, VP of learning at Udacity, argues that, because ARKit is aimed at 400 million iOS devices, it's now the largest immersive technology platform in the world. "Both AR and VR are massively important areas of future tech development," Plagemann told Campus Technology. "And that's Udacity's focus. We want to educate people in what really matters in the job market today and tomorrow. And VR/AR is definitely one of these areas." This isn't the first time Udacity and Unity have collaborated. The two companies worked together to develop Udacity's VR Developer Nanodegree program. VR and AR have emerged as "key areas of investment" for the company, Plagemann said, along with machine learning, deep learning, self-driving cars and robotics. "Unity has been an amazing partner for us," Plagemann said. "They're one of the most important and widely used platforms in game, mobile and VR development." Plagemann's team is "very deep" into the AR/VR ecosystem, he said, which is one of the reasons Udacity was able to launch the Learn ARKit program so quickly. Plagemann was one of the co-founders of the Virtual Reality team at Google, and was responsible for, among other things, the development of Google Cardboard and the Daydream VR platform. And before joining Google, he worked on the autonomous car at the Artificial Intelligence Lab at Stanford University. Augmented reality, which integrates digital information (usually) on a mobile device with the real world in real time, found its way into the popular lexicon in a big way with the launch of Pokemon Go in the summer of 2016. Demand for AR/VR developer skills has on the rise ever since, according to Jessica Lindl, global head of education at Unity Technologies. "Augmented and virtual reality are the future," Lindl said in a statement, "so much so that the most influential companies in technology are betting big on their potential. It's a great time for seasoned developers and newbies alike to sharpen their skills. We're proud to work with Udacity to help equip developers today with the skills to create the apps of tomorrow." The single-term Learn ARKit program is priced at $199 and aims to deliver a course of training that covers the essential skills needed to build AR apps using Apple's development framework, including: How to develop an understanding of visual inertial odometry, and discover the underlying computer vision mechanisms that enable ARKit; How to build a variety of ARKit applications that allow virtual objects to be placed on the ground, on tables or on other horizontal flat surfaces; How to add dynamic lighting effects that change the color, direction, temperature and intensity of ambient lighting; How to add basic shadow effects to the scene; and How to "sell" the illusion of a synthetic object set in a real-life scene, in real time. For more information, visit the Udacity site. Its been nearly two years since Alec Bradley has had a widespread global release. This month fans can look forward to the new Alec Bradley Prensado Lost Art, Alec Bradley Black Market Esteli, and the 2017 edition of the Fine & Rare. All three of these cigars were showcased at the 2017 IPCPR Trade Show this past summer. These cigars are a labor of love. Alec Bradley hasnt had a global release in over two years. We now have two releases hitting and the return of the coveted Fine & Rare. We are really excited. The new Alec Bradley Prensado Lost Art is designed to compliment the current Alec Bradley Prensado line, but it features an entirely new blend. Made at Raices Cubanas factory, the cigar five different tobaccos including a Honduran wrapper, a double binder from Honduras and Nicaragua, and fillers also from Honduras and Nicaragua. The cigars are available in five box-pressed sizes: Robusto (5 x 52, $9.90), Gran Toro (6 1/4 x 52, $10.95, Churchill (7 x 50, $12.50), Torpedo (6 1/2 x 52, $12.50), and Double T (6 x 60, $12.85). In regards to the Alec Bradley Lost Art Prensado Ralph Montero, Vice President of Alec Bradley also commented, Throughout time, humans have been searching for ways to produce goods more easily and in mass quantities. From the Industrial Revolution to the assembly line, to computer automation and so on, we see less and less handmade products period. The process of handcrafting premium cigars hasnt changed in hundreds of years and every single cigar from seed to final product requires skilled artisans with a very personal and human touch. Thats what Prensado Lost Art represents. Concurrently, the Alec Bradley Black Market Esteli is designed to be a complement to the original Alec Bradley Black Market line by bringing a Nicaraguan spin to the companys popular brand. This cigar comes from the Plasencia factory in Nicaragua and features a Nicaragua wrapper, a double binder from Honduras and Nicaragua, and fillers from Nicaragua. It is packaged in 22-count boxes and available in five sizes: Robusto ( 5 x 52, $7.55), Toro (6 x 52, $8.50), Torpedo (6 1/2 x 52, $8.75), Churchill (7 x 50, $8.75), and Gordo (6 x 60, $9.20). The 2017 edition of the Alec Bradley Fine & Rare is dubbed Alec Bradley Fine & Rare BR1213 Second Issue. This blend was last seen with the 2012 edition of the Alec Bradley Fine & Rare. As seen in each release of the Fine & Rare series, the blend features ten different tobaccos. The BR13 Second Edition features a Honduran wrapper and is available in one size a 6 x 54 Torpedo. A total allocation of 2,000 ten-count boxes will be distributed to select retailers. Photo Credits: Alec Bradley, except where noted THURSDAY, Oct. 5, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Neanderthals are long gone, but bits of their genetic code help shape the bodies and minds of people today, researchers report. These ancient genes still appear to play a role in determining people's skin tone and hair color, plus characteristics as varied as mood, tendency to smoke, and sleep/wake patterns ("circadian rhythms"), the scientists said. The key to these traits in today's humans may lie in how Neanderthals adapted to sun exposure in their home in Eurasia. "Skin and hair color, circadian rhythms and mood are all influenced by light exposure," the study authors wrote in the Oct. 5 issue of the American Journal of Human Genetics. "We speculate that their identification in our analysis suggests that sun exposure may have shaped [Neanderthal DNA], and that gene flow into modern humans continues to contribute to variation in these traits today," according to Janet Kelso, of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Germany, and colleagues. An estimated 2 percent of the DNA in non-African humans comes from Neanderthals, who interbred with early humans. The study authors wanted to understand the "influence Neanderthal DNA might be having on ordinary variation in people today," Kelso said in a journal news release. The investigators analyzed genetic information from about 112,000 participants in the UK Biobank pilot study. The team found evidence that Neanderthal DNA affects the appearance of human skin and hair. "We can now show that it is skin tone, and the ease with which one tans, as well as hair color that are affected," Kelso said. Modern humans from Africa met up with Neanderthals around 100,000 years ago in Eurasia, Kelso said. Sun exposure in that region of the world probably affected how certain physical features in Neanderthals adapted to ultraviolet radiation, she explained. Kelso's team said in the news release that they plan to continue to explore Neanderthals' influence on modern-day traits as more data become available. More information For more about evolution, visit the Smithsonian Institution. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp LinkedIn Email Telegram New York, October 4, 2017Authorities in Pakistan should drop charges against journalist Shabbir Siham, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. An anti-terrorism court in Pakistans northern Gilgit-Baltistan region summoned Siham for a hearing on October 7 on accusations of fabrication and extorting a regional minister in violation of Pakistans Anti-Terrorism Act, according to news reports and to Saeed Ahmed, the manager of the Islamabad-based Journalist Safety Hub, which provides support and training to at-risk journalists. He also faces charges of defamation under the Pakistan Penal Code, the reports said. According to the news site Dawn, Gilgit-Baltistan regional authorities brought charges against Siham after he wrote an unflattering column about members of the regional legislative assembly. Critics say Pakistans Anti-Terrorism Act, which includes language defining terrorism as creat[ing] a sense of fear or insecurity in society, is too sweeping and has broad potential for abuse. Shabbir Siham should not be punished for his reporting on issues of national interest, and he certainly has no business on trial in an anti-terrorism court, said Steven Butler, CPJs Asia program coordinator, from Washington D.C. Pakistani authorities should immediately drop the charges against him and stop trying to intimidate journalists into silence with excessive legal charges. Sihams court notice, which a local judge signed on September 28, warned that the journalist could be tried in absentia, according to the document, which CPJ has viewed. If convicted, Siham could face up to 14 years in prison, Ahmed told CPJ. CPJ was unable to locate contact information for Raja Shahbaz Khan, the local administrative judge who signed Sihams court summons. The Chief Court in Gilgit-Baltistan did not immediately respond to CPJs emailed query. Siham, who is based in Islamabad, told CPJ he wrote an article in November 2016 for the English-language Daily Times newspaper in which he said some members of the Pakistan Muslim League from Gilgit-Baltistan were involved with a gang in human trafficking and prostitution, though he did not name specific members. In response, the regional government registered a legal case accusing him of fabrication, according to Dawn. After the article was published, the regions information director approached Siham in Islamabad and asked him to stop writing on the topic, while gang members from Gilgit-Baltistan showed up at his home and attempted to bribe him with money to stop writing about it, Siham said. They then threatened to kill the journalist when he refused their offers, he said. Ahmed said that in January, the Gilgit-Baltistan governments home secretary commissioned a fact-finding committee. The committee requested that Siham go to Gilgit-Baltistan to meet with them, but the journalist declined due to safety concerns. In March, the Gilgit-Baltistan government registered a case against Siham, and Islamabad police subsequently carried out raids on the journalists home, according to Dawn. Consultations between the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists and federal and local governments in April led to the formation of a separate three-person fact-finding committee to arbitrate the Gilgit-Baltistan authorities response to Sihams article, but the committee has made no progress, according to Dawn. Siham typically covers crime, and previously worked on contract for the Daily Times. The journalist also writes for the Urdu-language Daily Jinnah newspaper. Pakistani authorities have used anti-terror laws to target journalists before. In the Gilgit-Baltistan region, authorities charged two journalists under the anti-terror law last year; one was arrested and the other went into hiding, CPJ documented. On Friday, September 29, the Human Rights Council voted in favor of a resolution which condemned the "imposition of the death penalty as a sanction for specific forms of conduct, such as apostasy, blasphemy, adultery and consensual same-sex relations." The Independent reported that the resolution, proposed by Belgium, Benin, Costa Rica, France, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia and Switzerland, denounced the use of the death penalty against persons with "mental or intellectual disabilities, persons below 18 years of age at the time of the commission of the crime, and pregnant women," expressing "serious concern that the application of the death penalty for adultery is disproportionately imposed on women." The United States cast its support behind 2 amendments proposed by Russia which both ultimately failed, but claimed that the death penalty was "not necessarily 'a human rights violation' and that it is not a form of torture, but can lead to it 'in some cases.'" Despite this opposition from the United States , 27 members of the 47 in the Human Rights Council voted in favor of the resolution, and it passed. There are currently 6 countries where the death penalty is used for people in same-sex relationships: Iran, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Yemen, Nigeria and Somalia. This number rises to 8 if the ISIS-occupied territories of Iraq and Syria are included. A spokesperson for the State Department, Heather Nauert, told The Independent: "The headlines, reporting and press releases on this issue are misleading. As our representative to the Human Rights Council in Geneva said on Friday, the United States is disappointed to have to vote against this resolution. We had hoped for a balanced and inclusive resolution that would better reflect the positions of states that continue to apply the death penalty lawfully, as the United States does. The United States voted against this resolution because of broader concerns with the resolution's approach in condemning the death penalty in all circumstances and calling for its abolition. The United States unequivocally condemns the application of the death penalty for conduct such as homosexuality, blasphemy, adultery and apostasy. We do not consider such conduct appropriate for criminalisation and certainly not crimes for which the death penalty would be lawfully available as a matter of international law." The 13 states to oppose the resolution were Botswana, Burundi, Egypt, Ethiopia, Bangladesh, China, India, Iraq, Japan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the US, and the United Arab Emirates. "Deplorable" The Unitarian Universalist United Nations Office's analysis of this vote is that it is deplorable that the United States again voted against friends and allies who favor the strengthening of global human rights laws, and with some of the world's worst human rights violators. US actions in supporting Russian failed amendments to state that the death penalty is not necessarily a human rights violation or a form of torture, again, puts the United States on the wrong side of the divide which separates those nations working for human rights and those working against them. The ban clearly protects "specific forms of conduct, such as apostasy, blasphemy, adultery and consensual same-sex relations." Even the State Department's statement that it is "disappointed to have to vote against this resolution," does not absolve the US for not working to protect these "specific forms of conduct." It is true that the U.S. vote in Geneva is consistent with past U.S. votes on the issue of abolishing the death penalty. Prior administrations have voted in similar ways against the growing United Nations consensus that the death penalty should be abolished. Despite U.S. Government views to the contrary, the UU-UNO feels that the September 29 resolution was not a global condemnation of the death penalty, but restricted to "imposition of the death penalty as a sanction for specific forms of conduct, such as apostasy, blasphemy, adultery and consensual same-sex relations." As the United States does not impose the death penalty for such forms of conduct as apostasy, blasphemy, adultery, consensual same-sex relations, it should have been able to vote in favor of the resolution. The fact that the United States joined human rights violators to vote against this important resolution is, in our view, deplorable. Source: uua.org , Bruce Knotts, October 4, 2017. Bruce Knotts is the Director of the Unitarian Universalist United Nations Office. | 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! "One is absolutely sickened, not by the crimes that the wicked have committed, but by the punishments that the good have inflicted." -- Oscar Wilde Prosecutors plan to seek the death penalty for an Orlando mother and daughter accused in the beating death of a toddler on July 7. A grand jury in late August indicted Callene M. Barton, 58, and Lakesha Lewis, 29, on charges of first-degree murder, witness intimidation and child neglect. The two are accused of beating 3-year-old Xavier Mokarzel-Satchel with a plastic wand from window blinds before Barton threw the boy against a wall. Xavier died hours later from blunt-force trauma to his head. In court documents, prosecutors listed Xaviers young age and the fact that he was particularly vulnerable among the cases aggravating circumstances to justify seeking the death penalty if they are convicted. Xavier was the son of Lewiss live-in girlfriend, Brandi Marie Mokarzel, 23, of Orlando. Mokarzel previously testified that the abuse that led to her sons death began back months before. She said the women beat him with slippers, plastic spoons and the wand ultimately used in Xaviers death. Xaviers fatal beating was a punishment for helping himself to yogurt and milk and making a mess, Mokarzel told investigators. Photos from the scene showed a milk jug on the kitchen floor with the cap off and little pieces of the plastic wand scattered around the living room. As Xavier laid dying, Mokarzel said Lewis and Barton told her they would have her and Xavier hurt or killed if she told officers about the abuse. Mokarzel is charged with child neglect. | 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! "One is absolutely sickened, not by the crimes that the wicked have committed, but by the punishments that the good have inflicted." -- Oscar Wilde Prosecutors said Wednesday they will be seeking the death penalty against the woman accused of being the killer clown in a 27-year-old murder case. The announcement came during a court appearance for Sheila Keen Warren, who arrived in Palm Beach County from Virginia on Tuesday night. Authorities arrested Keen Warren, 54, on Sept. 26, based on a recent grand jury indictment concerning the shooting death of Marlene Warren in Wellington. She is being held in the Palm Beach County jail without bond. My office is committed to pursuing justice for the victim, State Attorney Dave Aronberg told reporters, explaining his prosecutors carefully deliberated the decision to seek capital punishment in the case. Sometimes justice can be delayed but, justice eventually arrives. Aronberg did not elaborate on what those deliberations entailed. Keen Warren is being represented by veteran criminal defense attorney Richard Lubin. He told reporters he has not yet been provided with any information concerning what led to the indictment of his client. She vehemently denies her guilt and well proceed as usual, Lubin said, adding that he reserved his right to request bond for Keen Warren at a future hearing before Circuit Judge Samantha Schosberg Feuer. In Florida, judges have discretion to grant bail in a first degree murder case, depending on the strength or weakness of the case, Lubin said. Hes a veteran of high-profile cases over the years, including his work as one of the lawyers representing Nouman Raja, the former police officer who is awaiting trial for the shooting death of stranded motorist Corey Jones. Sheriff Ric Bradshaw credited new DNA evidence and recent witness interviews with enabling detectives to close in on Keen Warren, who was identified as a suspect before the case went cold. But aside from citing the importance of the DNA, Bradshaw and Aronberg have declined to disclose any specifics about the basis for the indictment. There is no arrest report filed in the case that outlines what led to the charge. I think we all assume that since an arrest has been made now, that theres something that they didnt have before that they have now, Lubin said, adding that soon hell learn the facts of the case. Keen Warren was booked into Palm Beach County Jail shortly after 9 p.m. Tuesday; the sheriffs office tweeted a video of her walking into the jail. Shes charged with first-degree murder with a firearm. | 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! "One is absolutely sickened, not by the crimes that the wicked have committed, but by the punishments that the good have inflicted." -- Oscar Wilde Sun Sentinel, Adam Sacasa and Marc Freeman, October 5, 2017 Montgomery County, Maryland, a suburb of Washington, D.C., is considering following the lead of the Nations Capital and raising its minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2020. This would be financial suicide for Montgomery County, because many businesses would just set up shop across the river in Virginia, where the hourly minimum wage is $7.25. Although there is the potential for the higher wage to benefit a few people, the costs will likely outweigh the benefits. At the countys Health and Human Services Committee meeting on October 9th, members should advocate against the minimum wage hike. The bill, originally voted on in January, passed by a 5-4 vote in the countys council. However, County Executive Isiah Leggett vetoed the bill until further research about the possible consequences could be completed and until revisions were made. The latest version of the bill calls for businesses with at least 26 employees to raise their minimum wage to $15 by 2020. Smaller business, nonprofits, and in-home health care providers would have until 2022 to implement the increases. The bill also calls for changes to the minimum wage after 2023 based on changes in the Consumer Price Index. Montgomery County has considered a higher minimum wage since 2013. In 2013, the countys minimum wage was at the federal minimum of $7.25. Since then, the wage has risen to $11.50. If Montgomery County approves this new bill to raise the hourly minimum to $15, the county will have doubled its minimum wage in less than a decade. If the new bill passes the council, the county would join other cities, such as Minneapolis and D.C., that have approved similar legislation. But a minimum wage hike of this magnitude is atypical for most counties, aside from California. Although the median household income for the county is just under $100,000, the distribution of wages across the county is not uniform. The county contains a core of low-skill immigrants who would likely lose their jobs with a minimum wage increase. Proponents of raising the minimum wage argue that a higher wage would lead to heightened earnings for low-wage workers. With greater earnings, lower-income families could increase their purchasing power, potentially leading to a reduction in poverty, wage inequality, and hunger and food insecurity. However, if jobs became automated, or if higher-skill workers were hired, unemployment would take the place of higher wages. Fewer people are likely to benefit than proponents anticipate. A recent study completed by the economic consulting group PFM indicates that local businesses will likely take actions to accommodate for the higher wages by cutting jobs. Additionally, 59 percent of business owners surveyed indicated that they would likely decrease employee hours, and some suggested they may be forced to close their businesses. Other research, such as the paper on Seattles $15 minimum wage, found that employers, if they did keep workers, typically chose to hire more experienced candidates rather than lower skilled workers. If people lose their jobs or are passed over for jobs in favor of higher skilled workers, they will not experience the would-be benefits cited by supporters of higher minimum wages. What is also noteworthy about the Seattle study is its examination of incremental increases in the minimum wage. The researchers found very small effects for the first increase in the wage from $9.47 to $11, but when hourly wages rose from $11 to $13, there was a 9 percent reduction in hours worked and earnings for low-wage workers. These findings suggest that incremental changes may not affect employment in the same way every time and also may have exponential consequences as the wage continues to rise. Firms will be discouraged from starting new businesses in the county. As we have seen in D.C., lower-income areas have struggled to encourage new grocery stores to enter the market because of the high wages they would have to pay their workers. Additionally, firms may flee the county and move to other nearby counties and states. With the exception of Prince Georges County and Washington, D.C., both of which cooperated with Montgomery County in 2013 to raise minimum wages to avoid intra-regional movement, Marylands minimum wage is $9.25, and Virginias remains at the federal minimum of $7.25. Companies that have flexibility regarding their location may now choose to relocate to an area with a more competitive wage, taking their jobs with them. Virginia in particular will benefit. Youths are also likely to suffer from the higher minimum wage, according to the PFM study. Since raising its minimum wage in 2014, Montgomery County has seen a 2 percent increase in youth unemployment. Additionally, the study found that 67 percent of county business owners believed that the hike in wages would negatively affect the availability of entry-level jobs for employees with little to no experience. It sounds good to mandate an end to poverty by requiring businesses to raise wages. However, as was seen in Seattle, those who need help are actually those hurt. In the case of Montgomery County, the costs of following in D.C.s footsteps are likely greater than the benefits. The county should leave wages where they are. Emily Top is a research associate at Economics21. Follow her on Twitter @EmilyKTop. 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. In late September, the government of Gaza, Hamas, announced its agreement to dissolve its governing body and allow the Palestinian Authority to assume its full responsibilities there. Hamas has also agreed to talks with the rival Fatah movement and agreed in principle to hold general elections in Gaza and the West Bank Gaza is a self-governing Palestinian territory that was captured from Egypt by Israel during the 1967 Arab-Israeli War. In the mid-1990s, under the Oslo accords, Israel transferred security and civilian responsibility for numerous Palestinian-populated areas of Gaza and the West Bank to the newly-created Palestinian Authority, but kept control of Gazas land and maritime borders and airspace. Since 2006, Gaza has been controlled by Hamas, which ousted the more moderate Fatah party. Hamas stated goal since its inception has been to carry out an armed struggle against Israel. It has been a U.S. designated Foreign Terrorist Organization, and is also designated by Israel .Therefore, since 2006, Israel and Egypt have enforced tight restrictions on movement and access of goods and individuals into and out of Gaza. The takeover of Gaza by Hamas has left the Palestinians torn between two governments, with President Mahmoud Abbas' Palestinian Authority governing autonomous areas of the West Bank. Until now, reconciliation attempts have repeatedly failed. Moving forward in its assumption of authority over Gaza, on October 3rd, the Palestinian Authority cabinet met in Gaza for the first time since 2014.The United States welcomes efforts to create the conditions for the Palestinian Authority to fully assume its responsibilities in Gaza," said White House Representative for International Negotiations Jason Greenblatt. "We will be watching these developments closely, while pressing forward with the Palestinian Authority, Israel, and international donors to try to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza. The United States stresses that any Palestinian government must unambiguously and explicitly commit to nonviolence, recognition of the State of Israel, acceptance of previous agreements and obligations between the parties, and peaceful negotiations. After many meetings and debates, the Chicago delegation succeeded in working with the New York United Federation of Teachers, Local 2 (UFT) to push the AFT to take stronger stands on charter school accountability and school closings though many delegates from Chicago would have liked the language to have been even stronger. Generally speaking, the New York delegation represented organizing charters as the best model for handling their role in reshaping unions, despite the fact that according to many reports few charter schools in New York have been organized as is the case in Chicago. This logic is the same touted by the Progressive Caucus of the AFT. The few that have been organized are a part of the UFT local though they have separate contracts negotiated with the help of UFT. The Chicago delegation reflection the mindset that allowing new charters to continue to proliferate while attempting to organize existing charters is an end game in which public schools and the union lose. Jen Johnson, CTU, Local 1 in Substance Leaders and representatives of various far-right parties in Europe have used the Catalan crisis to attack the European Union in recent days. And once again, they have turned to social media to fire their latest round of ammunition at the European project. Images of the riot police acting on October 1, when an illegal independence referendum was held in Catalonia, were used by Geert Wilders, leader of the Party for Freedom an islamophobic group that holds 20 seats in the Dutch parliament to describe the EU as a place where violence is exercised against the people. Nigel Farage, the former UKIP leader, accused the EU of looking the other way in the face of police brutality. 900 people injured and not a dicky bird from Juncker, he tweeted early on Tuesday. A little earlier he had retweeted an article written by himself and published in The Telegraph titled: In Catalonia we have seen how the EU does democracy. Why cant Remainers see it too? Later on Tuesday, Farage once again pulled together the Catalan issue and Brexit: If British police roughed up a Remain rally, EU would scream blue murder. Yet they dont even want to talk about violence in Catalonia. A former colleague of his, the European deputy Janice Atkinson, who was kicked out of UKIP and is now an independent within the Europe of Nations and Freedom (ENF) the same group as Marine Le Pen criticized what she describes as the EUs silence: EU silent on Catalan. Im not and will be raising it in Parli[ament] this week, inc[luding] taste of things to come with EU army. The European Parliament held an hours-long debate on the Catalan crisis on Wednesday afternoon. Heinz-Christian Strache, the leader of the far-right Austrian party FPO, also used the images of the clashes on Sunday to attack the EU: Unbelievable images that leave one speechless. Where is the EUs condemnation? he tweeted on October 1. His counterpart in Germany, the AfD party, retweeted a message from its representative in Hamburg, Jens Eckleben, who had elsewhere expressed ambivalence in his comments. In a Twitter message on Sunday, he said that The Catalan police make their own citizens face the violence of the federal police. The same day, he tweeted that The central government of the EU in Spain at the Catalan referendum acts violently against democracy and the people. Then he adds #5vor12 (Five to twelve), a hashtag used by German ultras urging for measures. A fellow party member, the MEP Beatrix von Storch, tweeted on September 20 that If you want to take democracy seriously, you have to take the opinion of the citizens of Catalonia seriously. Carles Puigdemont speaks the day after the referendum. Massimiliano Minocri More information Its time for the government to act on Catalonia In a recorded message broadcast on Wednesday night, Catalan premier Carles Puigdemont criticized King Felipe VIs televised speech the night before about Catalonia, and reiterated his call for mediation in order to rebuild institutional bridges between the region and the rest of Spain. Puigdemont, of the separatist governing coalition Junts pel Si (Together for Yes), chided the Spanish monarch for saying things like the legitimate powers of the state have the responsibility to guarantee constitutional order and the normal functioning of the institutions, the validity of the rule of law and Catalonias self-government. Mr Puigdemont has proven that not only does he live outside the law, he also lives outside of reality Deputy PM Soraya Saenz de Santamaria The morning after Felipe VIs address to the nation, Catalan government spokesman Jordi Turull said that the speech was the monarchist equivalent of go get em. In his own speech, Puigdemont addressed the king directly in Catalan a language which I am aware that he knows and speaks and scolded him for failing to take an interest in the Catalan governments version of events. He said that the monarch has abandoned the role of moderator that the Constitution awards him. With your decision yesterday, you disappointed a lot of people in Catalonia who appreciate you and who have helped you through difficult times for the [royal] institution, said Puigdemont. People who were expecting a different tone from you, and an appeal for dialogue. The Spanish government is making one mistake after another, and it is increasingly removed from reality Catalan premier Carles Puigdemont In three years, Felipe VI has visited Catalonia 23 times. Puigdemont, who also spoke in Spanish, insisted on the need for mediation, but without renouncing his plans for a unilateral declaration of independence. The regional premier is scheduled to appear inside the Catalan parliament on Monday at a session that could result in a declaration of independence, at least according to CUP, the far-left party that supports the Junts pel Si coalition. The breakaway laws pushed through this chamber last month, and since suspended by the Constitutional Court, establish that independence will be declared just a few days after the referendum. Puigdemonts private agenda has been filled with foreign media interviews in recent days. In his latest statements to the German newspaper Bild, he said: I am not afraid for myself. Being jailed is a possibility, and that would be a savage step. The Spanish government is making one mistake after another, and it is increasingly removed from reality. Journey to nowhere But the Spanish government is ignoring Puigdemonts requests for international mediation, and telling him to stop this journey to nowhere. Using a very similar turn of phrase as the Catalan premier himself, Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saenz de Santamaria said that Mr Puigdemont has proven that not only does he live outside the law, he also lives outside of reality. If Mr Puigdemont wants to talk or negotiate, or send in mediators, he knows perfectly well what he needs to do first: return to the path of the law, which he should never have left, said the government in a statement. English version by Susana Urra. The European Parliament on Wednesday held a plenary session to discuss the situation in Catalonia. The debate, led by Commission First Vice-President Frans Timmermans, discussed the Constitution, the rule of law and fundamental rights in Spain. Members of the European Parliament pose with a Catalan secessionist flag during the debate PATRICK SEEGER (EFE) What emerged is that the biggest groups in the chamber the European Peoples Party (EPP), the Social Democrats (S&D) and the liberals (ALDE) consider the Catalan referendum to be illegal, and that the Catalan governments moves are harmful to the rule of law. But there was also criticism for Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy from minority groups, and a general call for political dialogue between all the relevant actors. The chamber urged Catalan premier Carles Puigdemont not to take any irreversible steps meaning a unilateral declaration of independence and asked all parties to sit down and talk. Respect for the rule of law is not optional, it is fundamental Frans Timmermans, European Commission First Vice-President Respect for the rule of law is not optional, it is fundamental said Timmermans, the first speaker at the session, in his opening remarks. If the law does not give you what you want, you can oppose the law, you can work to change the law, but you cannot ignore the law. After defending the right to freedom of expression for everyone, Timmermans noted that one opinion is not more valid than another opinion just because it is expressed more loudly, alluding to Catalan separatists. As the Commission has stated, under the Spanish Constitution, Sundays vote in Catalonia was not legal. Looking ahead, it is clear that an agreed way forward is needed in Spain. Timmermans noted that the European Commission has asked all relevant actors to now move quickly from confrontation to dialogue. All lines of communication must stay open. In his seven-minute address, the social-democrat stressed that the development of Spain since the Spanish people liberated themselves from dictatorship is one of the greatest success stories Europe has seen in its history. Timmermans ended with an impassioned plea for the parties involved to draw inspiration from Spains remarkable transformation and leave behind the path of confrontation and follow the road of cooperation and dialogue to solve the situation. Manfred Weber, of the European Peoples Party (EPP), said that violence is never an answer and added that whats at stake here is the integrity of a EU member state. We defend freedom of demonstration, but demonstrations cannot replace the democratic decision-making process. Mass demonstrations in Barcelona will not change the constitution of Spain. Only democratic institutions can do so. Nobody, not even the Catalan government, is allowed to disregard the law. It is unacceptable that a few Catalan politicians encourage civil servants, officials and citizens to break the law, said Weber. Whats at stake here is the integrity of a EU member state Manfred Weber, of the European Peoples Party The Social Democrat Gianni Pitella, who also expressed criticism for Spanish PM Mariano Rajoy, stated that a unilateral declaration of independence would be an additional provocation, after a referendum that violates the Spanish constitution and the rule of law. The liberals were also critical of the separatists plans. Guy Verhofstadt, of ALDE, declared himself a big admirer of Spanish democracy, especially since the dramatic date of February 23, 1981, a reference to a failed coup in Congress that Spaniards stood up against, and which means, said Verhofstadt, that nobody can give Spain lessons in democracy. Now, he said, Spanish democracy must overcome this new existential crisis with something more than actions by the judiciary and the use of force. He called for political vision and an inclusive dialogue between the parties. To my friends in Catalonia: I think it is not in the citizens best interest to pursue separatism at all costs. The referendum lacked basic democratic legitimacy, he said. You knew in advance that a majority of Catalans would not participate. And its not by coincidence that you did not even establish a minimum threshold. So the result of this referendum was already known before it began. What do you call this? Manipulation, deception. To declare independence on the basis of a defective referendum is totally irresponsible and not so much for Spain or Europe, but for Catalonia. It will cause a fracture in your society that may be impossible to heal. Verhofstadt warned that anti-Europeans are already abusing your cause as a tool in their own fight against Brussels. Minority groups in the European chamber placed the stress on Spains use of force, rather than the legality of the separatist drive. If it had been another member state, not Spain, the rhetoric from the Commission would have been far harsher Ryszard Legutko, European Conservatives and Reformists Ryszard Legutko, of the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR), accused the EC of double moral standards in light of its lukewarm position on the events of Sunday, when riot police clashed with thousands of would-be voters across Catalonia in images that were beamed all over the world. If it had been another member state, not Spain, the rhetoric from the Commission would have been far harsher, said Legutko, who is from Poland, a country that has been targeted for EU sanctions over its judiciary reforms. Marcel De Graaf, of the far-right Europe of Nations and Freedom (ENF), expressed a similar opinion. Patrick Le Hyaric, of the European United Left-Nordic Green Left (GUE-NGL), asked Brussels for an express condemnation of violence and repression in Catalonia without any further delay. Britains Raymond Fynch, a euro-skeptic with Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy, went so far as to erroneously claim there had been military action in Catalonia on Sunday: The Spanish government has now sent the army into Catalonia, this is not a good sign. English version by Susana Urra. Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy on Thursday said there will be no talks with Catalan authorities until the latter first cancel their project for a unilateral declaration of independence . Rajoy, of the Popular Party (PP), urged Catalan premier Carles Puigdemont, of the Junts pel Si (Together for Yes) coalition, to return within the bounds of the Spanish legal framework, in order to avoid even greater harm. El jefe del Ejecutivo, Mariano Rajoy en una entrevista con la Agencia Efe. Angel Diaz (EFE) Asked if he has a solution to a crisis that is growing with each passing day, the conservative leader said that he does, then went on to reiterate a demand that the Catalan government has already ruled out entirely. The best solution is a speedy return to the path of legality, and a pledge that there will not be a unilateral declaration of independence, because that will also prevent even greater harm, he told the EFE news agency. The best solution is a speedy return to the path of legality Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy Yet in a televised address just hours earlier, Catalan premier Carles Puigdemont had insisted that he will not give up on his plans for secession for the region. Following the referendum of October 1, when riot officers clashed with would-be voters, prompting protests over police violence on one hand and assertions that the rule of law had prevailed on the other, the confrontation between Madrid and Barcelona has escalated exponentially. Puigdemont is requesting outside mediation as a last resort before unilaterally declaring independence. Members of CUP, the far-left party whose votes have been supporting Junts pel Sis minority government, said yesterday that independence will be declared on Monday at a plenary session of the Catalan parliament. Privacy of voter data at risk after Sunday referendum EMPIEZAN A RECONTAR VOTOS DEL REFERENDUM DONDE SE HA PODIDO VOTAR Jose Mendiola Zuriarrain / Javier Cortes In its rush to organize an independence referendum that had been outlawed by the courts and hampered by confiscation of voting material, the Catalan government has made sensitive information about Catalans available to anyone with knowledge of computer encryption. Personal data about more than five million Catalan residents aged 18 and over could now be used on their own or be cross-referenced with other databases in order to commit fraud. This information has been available in cyberspace for weeks, as EL PAIS reported on September 28. The specialized forum Hacker News was the first to alert about a security failure that lets computer experts easily crack the encryption key used to create the voter census, and which includes peoples names, addresses and part of their ID numbers. Today, Spains Constitutional Court moved to preemptively suspend that session. The decision comes after the Catalan Socialists filed an appeal arguing that if this session declared independence, it would be doing so in violation of the Spanish Constitution and thus annihilating the rights of regional deputies. But the Constitutional Court had also banned the October 1 referendum, which went ahead anyway. Catalan authorities have made a point of noting that they no longer obey a body that they see as a tool of the central government. On Wednesday, the European Parliament held a debate in which the main message was for all relevant actors to sit down and talk their way out of the impasse. But so far, neither side seems ready to make the kinds of concessions that the other side wants to see. Rajoys comments about avoiding greater harm could be construed as a reference to a constitutional provision known as Section 155, which has never been invoked in Spanish democratic history, but which could theoretically allow the central government to suspend home rule in a region. The PM is under pressure from right-wing hardliners to invoke this provision and take charge of Catalonias affairs. FAES, a think tank presided by former PP Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar who was once Rajoys mentor, but has since become a critic of his administration on Thursday released a harsh analysis of the way the current PM is handling the crisis, and called on him to invoke Section 155. If he were to find himself unwilling to do so, or were forced to admit to his inability to take the step, then he should grant Spaniards the option of deciding which government, with what proposal, and with what kind of electoral support we need to deal with this critical juncture for Spain, says the report, suggesting the need for elections. Neither side seems ready to make the kinds of concessions that the other side wants to see Asked if there are other options outside of Article 155, PM Rajoy told the EFE news agency that there are, but that first the Catalan government must return to the constitutional framework. The 62-year-old leader said he is convinced that Spain will overcome this situation, as it has at other very difficult times in the past. Because it is my obligation and because thats why I am the head of government in Spain, I will do what I think needs to be done, what I think is best for Spain, at the time I consider best, he said. I will listen to everybody, but its my decision to make. I know its not easy, but I also once had to make another decision that was not easy. Banco Sabadell moots legal headquarters move from Catalonia Sin titulo Lluis Pellicer / Inigo de Barron, Barcelona / Madrid On Thursday, major financial news organizations such as the Financial Times and The Wall Street Journal led with stories about banks preparing to move their legal headquarters out of Catalonia. The board of Banco Sabadell is due to meet this afternoon to approve a official headquarters address change ahead of any potential declaration of independence. The banks share price recovered 5% of its value following news of this upcoming decision, after a decline in previous days. The new headquarters will likely be Alicante, sources familiar with the situation said. Other major companies are keeping a close eye on events. Telecoms operator Eurona is moving from Barcelona to Madrid, as is biotech company Oryzon. Insurance group Catalana Occidente sent a letter to employees and clients assuring them that it will keep their best interests in mind. English version by Susana Urra. Time for the Anti-War Movement to Throw Down for Racial and Economic Justice Why peace activists must look beyond our own movement. When the United States threatened to bomb Syria in 2013, an outpouring of public opposition helped stop the Obama administration from launching a new air war. But this success also transformed existing disagreement over the conflict among anti-war organizers into bitter debates. Activists disputed the nature of the Assad regime and Syrias domestic opposition forces; they diverged on what to do about ISIS, the neighboring countries and their militia proxies, and intervention by global powers. The intense intra-movement battle involved only a small cohort of people, largely on social media. But, while both sides agreed on many things, the feud derailed the rise of a unified and internationalist anti-war movementa movement that would focus on ending the Syrian wars, rather than urging victory for a preferred side. Of course, the movements mission extends beyond Syria. Anyone monitoring U.S. wars today is whipsawed as military crisesalong with U.S. drones, bombers, troops, weapons and morebounce from continent to continent, target to target. Iraq to Syria, North Korea to Yemen, Iran to Afghanistan, the Philippines to Somalia. Ending those lethal wars demands our urgent attention even as Charlottesville, Flint and Standing Rock continue to claim our time, commitment and passion. An independent anti-war movement, especially a divided one, cannot take this on alone. Challenging the wars abroad, while at the same time addressing domestic crises, requires that we focus on building a larger, broader peoples movement in which the struggle against war and militarism is inextricably linked to the fight against racism, for equality, for the Earth and for justice. During the George W. Bush years, the movement achieved significant victories, most notably the Feb. 15, 2003, global mobilization against the Iraq War. This may not have prevented the U.S. invasion, but it created a model for what a truly international protest could look like, helped keep Bush from attacking Iran and later helped inspire the 2011 overthrow of Hosni Mubarak in Egypt. When Barack Obama was elected, some activists believed that with a supposedly anti-war president, they could move on. In addition, the economic crisis meant that many more people faced newly desperate circumstances, necessitating a greater focus on urgent domestic issues, including housing, jobs and healthcare. The movement strategized on how to respond. Should we focus on rebuilding an independent movement? Or prioritize building an anti-war component into other progressive movements? Supporters of the first idea won the debate, and produced some powerful short-term mobilizations. But subsequent movement-building efforts failed to sufficiently respond to the new political conditions. People of color and (excepting veterans) younger people were still underrepresented, and the movement still failed to sufficiently link militarism to the economic and racial justice campaigns on which younger activists had cut their political teeth. This is why we must build on the vision of Martin Luther King Jr., who, in his 1967 Beyond Vietnam speech, called for a unified movement against the giant triplets of racism, extreme materialism and militarismadding, as Dr. King surely would have, protection of the planet. Yet, we still must figure out the dynamics of particular conflicts to determine howand convince others whyto end specific wars. Todays wars are vastly more complex than U.S. interventions during the Cold War. In those years, many activists supported the other sidethe National Liberation Front in Vietnam, the African National Congress in South Africa, the Sandinistas and the FMLN in Central America. Its more difficult to ground our movements in international solidarity when the other side is composed of fighters we dont support, who hold anti-democratic, extremist religious, misogynist or other reactionary views. We still have progressive counterpartsthe Iraqi oil workers union, some Syrian opposition activists and morebut theyre not the ones engaged on the battlefield. Here, we can learn from the strong anti-war movement following the 9/11 attacks. The two big coalitionsUnited for Peace and Justice (UFPJ) and ANSWERdivided over organizing strategy and whether to criticize the Saddam Hussein government. The broader of the two, UFPJpowerfully anti-war but willing to criticize Husseingrew far more influential, partly because its more nuanced position encouraged engaging a wider range of domestic and international organizations. Today, we must ensure that opposing U.S. intervention in Syria does not blind us to Bashar al-Assads legacy of torture and collaboration with other U.S. wars, just as we have to acknowledge that however progressive and indeed heroic the original protest movement of Syrias Arab Spring, the majority of those now engaged in armed anti-regime fighting are not those progressive heroes. While activists facing brutal repression in Syria or Libya or elsewhere may call for U.S. intervention, we must not uncritically accept that call. Similarly, we have to recognize that Washingtons continued violation of the Non-Proliferation Treaty, requiring it to move toward full nuclear disarmament, is a major reason North Korea is so determined to produce nuclear weapons of its own. At the same time, we must insist that Kim Jong-Uns threats are unacceptable. To strengthen all our movements, we must also understand that militarism is a key cause of domestic crises: Military spending strips funds from the social safety net; excess Pentagon equipment sent to local police departments militarizes our communities; Islamophobia rises in response to wars abroad; militarisms outsized carbon footprint threatens us all. The Movement for Black Lives, the new Poor Peoples Campaign, various environmental and economic justice organizations, and many others already recognize this. We in the anti-war movement must do better in getting accessible information and analysison the human, environmental and economic costs of war and militarism, and the integral links between war and racisminto the hands of todays resistance. We Must Find Common Ground Without Giving In to Liberal Interventionists An effective anti-war movement's first priority must be stopping U.S. imperialism. Phyllis writes with characteristic sense and sensitivity about the dilemmas of the U.S. anti-war movement. She is right that the current conjuncture is quite different than that of the Cold War. Then, there was a clearer sense of international solidarityin the U.S. wars and coups of that period, the U.S. Left could find progressive allies. No such easy solidarity is possible today. Comparing the two eras, there is a wide gulf between Algerias FLN and al-Qaeda, between El Salvadors FMLN and Mexican drug gangs. A great deal of confusion reigns. As Phyllis notes, the Western Left tore itself apart over Syria. One section sees the Assad government as the enemy, while another sees that government as the victim of imperialist attack. But the vast bulk of Western leftists fall between these two poles, in part because they do not know how to understand the Syrian war. The imperialist media has confounded judgment, offering a theory of humanitarian intervention that clouds over previous certainty about the wrongness of imperialist wars of aggression. It is this bewilderment and insecurity that has led to fratricidal debates. We saw evidence of the American anti-war movements weakness at the Womens March, where few anti-war positions took center stage. There have been marches against the Muslim Ban and for science, but no comparable march against U.S. bombings in Syria and Iraq, U.S. arms delivery to Saudi Arabia for its brutal war on Yemen, and U.S. escalation in Afghanistan. The liberal wing of the resistance to Trump is simply disoriented when it comes to war, having been associated with the Democratic Partys wars during the Obama years. It has surrendered to liberal interventionism and the war machine. If a serious anti-war movement is to be part of the new resistance to Trump, it would have to come from the Left. But this is not possible given that this Left is not only weak but fractured. The divides are oldthe American Left has been arguing about Cuba, for instance, since 1959, and some continue to believe the countrys government is a state capitalist system that should be removed. Infighting has prevented the American Left from uniting around a clear anti-imperialist platformone that centers the violence wrought by the U.S. government. But there ought to be agreement on some core issues that could unite the Left and rejuvenate the anti-war movement: Reduction of the military budget. Freeze on U.S. arms sales to Saudi Arabia and Israel. Reduction of the U.S. military footprint through bases and naval expansion. Call for an investigation of civilian casualties by U.S. bombings and U.S.-backed militias from Afghanistan to Syria. End to the CIA secret arming of reactionary forces across the Third World. Call for the conversion of military industrialism into a peace economy not rooted in arms sales. Such a concrete platform would find broad agreement across the American Left. Unity in action should be possible if we are able to set asidefor nowthe debates around Syria and Venezuela. The American Left, weak beyond measure, can be strengthened by taking a strong class position against the warfare stateone that not only itches to sell arms and bomb countries abroad, but then turns these same weapons on its own people. The U.S. Anti-War Movement Must Reject a U.S.-Centric View of the World We don't have to choose between U.S. empire and regional dictatorshipsactivists on the ground are fighting for a better alternative. Phyllis and Vijays reflections on how to rebuild the U.S. anti-war movement couldnt come at a better time. In the wake of Trumps recent announcement that he plans to send more troops to Afghanistan, and his escalation of U.S. bombings in several other countries, one wonders: Is there an anti-war movement at all? Phyllis and Vijay rightly perceive a lack of large-scale political work against U.S. militarism. Both point to debates around Syria and other conflicts, and suggest areas of common ground. Engaging these debates is essential. But I would like to offer another reason for the movements absence: Many in the anti-war Left fall prey to an inverted form of U.S. exceptionalism, in which U.S.-caused harm is so central to our messaging, analysis and strategy that little room remains for the agency of people in other parts of the world, or the solutions they could offer. Growing up in an Iraqi-American household in the 1990sa period when military attacks and crippling sanctions on Iraq provided frequent reminders of U.S. crueltyIve long been aware of the harmful role the United States plays in the world. It wasnt until 2014, however, that I discovered the work that Iraqi organizations on the ground were doing to respond to the skyrocketing number of birth defects linked to radiation from U.S. munitions in the northern town of Hawija. I spoke to local leaders over Skype, and learned how, through fundraising, lobbying the Iraqi government and building global awareness, they were able to open a needed treatment clinic. They were also organizing against both right-wing movements linked to ISIS and anti-woman laws backed by the neighboring government of Iran. This helped me understand that, while the liberation Iraqis were working toward depended on what we did here in the United States, we were also completing a much broader picture togetherone that involves building alternatives that could someday replace U.S. (and regional) hegemonies. This understanding honestly changed my life. Going forward, deepening our internationalist engagements is necessary in opposing U.S.indeed allmilitarism. Though it takes effort, grounding strategic campaigns in the lived experience of those on the front lines provides the accountability and inspiration we need. The Grassroots Global Justice Alliance (GGJ), in its opposition to U.S. support of repression abroad, highlights the legacy of Berta Caceres, a remarkable indigenous leader assassinated in the fallout from the U.S.-backed coup in Honduras eight years ago. GGJ has educated people in the United States on the Honduran indigenous land-protector movement of which Caceres was part, pushed for Congress to suspend U.S. security assistance to the Honduran military and police, and helped build in-person relationships between U.S. grassroots organizers and Honduran activists. Bringing this lesson to Syria, how very different would our relationship to that war be if our analysis began with the popular 2011 movement for freedom and justice that was crushed by the Assad regime? These are not easy questions, but as Vijay acknowledges, these debates arent new. Anti-war organizers have been navigating this terrain for decades. In 1982, for example, the U.S.-based Campaign for Peace and Democracy was founded to support dissidents working for human rights in the Soviet Bloc. Just as we need not choose between domestic and global concerns, but rather must see them as intertwined, we need not choose between a focus on U.S. empire and regional dictatorships, as ultimately each relies on the other. The deeper question is: Can we step back from our insistence on a U.S. focus, allow others the spotlight and see an internationalist vision through? Phyllis Bennis is a fellow of the Institute for Policy Studies. Her books include Understanding ISIS and the New Global War on Terror: A Primer. Vijay Prashad teaches history and international studies at Trinity College, and is chief editor of LeftWord Books. Ali Issa is national field organizer for the War Resisters League, and author of Against All Odds: Voices of Popular Struggle in Iraq. (Reuters) - Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Wednesday after meeting Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan in Tehran that the two countries should prevent Iraq's Kurdistan region from declaring independence, state TV reported. "Turkey and Iran must take necessary measures against the vote," Khamenei was quoted as saying. He also said the United States and foreign powers planned to create a new Israel in the Middle East by supporting the vote in Kurdistan, according to state TV. "America and Israel benefit from the vote ... They want to create a new Israel in the region ... The Iraqi Kurdish secession vote is an act of betrayal toward the entire region," Khamenei said. Israel has denied being involved in the vote, but it has welcomed the Kurds' vote for independence. The United States opposed the referendum as a destabilizing move at a time when all sides in the region are still fighting Islamic State. A member of the Iranian team that negotiated a 2015 nuclear deal with world powers has been sentenced to five years in prison after being convicted of espionage, a semiofficial news agency reports. Iran's Tasnim news agency on October 4 did not provide the name of the sentenced man, but the only member of the negotiating team known to be facing criminal charges is Abdolrasoul Dorri Esfahani, a dual Iranian-Canadian national. "The conviction of a member of the nuclear negotiation team who has been arrested before and released on bail has been confirmed in the Tehran provincial appeals court," the report said. "This person has been sentenced to five years in prison." The Tasnim news agency is believed to be close to Iran's hard-line Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC). Spokesman for the Canadian government said without elaborating that officials were "aware of media reports that a dual national has been sentenced in Iran." News outlets in August 2016 reported the detention of Dorri Esfahani, who was involved in banking-related aspects of the negotiations on the July 2015 deal that put restrictions on Iran's nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. The reports said he had been arrested on suspicion of "selling the country's economic details to foreigners." He was later granted bail, which is rare in Iran for those accused of serious crimes, and denied the allegations. Iran does not recognize dual citizenship. Based on reporting by AP and Reuters Turkeys president Recep Tayyip Erdogan threatened Iraqs Kurdish autonomous region with shutting down its oil exports, which is the economic lifeline of the region. Speaking to Turkish media after his trip to Tehran, Erdogan said that Turkey, Iran and the Iraqi central government will decide together if oil exports from Kurdistan should be stopped. Erdogan added that Iraq's Kurdish region would come to its senses and turn back from its decision. Kurds in northern Iraq last week voted overwhelmingly in favor of independence. But the Baghdad central government, its neighbors and Western powers fear the vote could spark further conflict in the Middle East to add to the war in Syria. "If a decision will be made on closing oil taps in the region, that will be made by us. Turkey, Iran and Iraq's central government will do so together," Erdogan was quoted as saying. "The northern Iraqi leadership is drunk with the result of the referendum, it's not aware of what it is doing or what kind of steps it's taking," he said. Iran and Turkey have already threatened to join Baghdad in imposing economic sanctions on Iraqi Kurdistan and have launched joint military exercises with Iraqi troops on their borders. Erdogan also criticized the inclusion of the oil-rich city of Kirkuk in the referendum, saying that Kurds had no legitimacy there and that they were "invaders" in the region. Turkey and Iran have sizable Kurdish populations of their own and are highly sensitive to the dangers of separatism on their own soil. Turkey has suffered from a protracted insurgency by the Kurdish Workers Party, PKK, since the 1980s, in a conflict that has left tens of thousands of casualties. During a joint news conference with his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani on Wednesday, Erdogan said Turkey was considering further measures against northern Iraq, and the two leaders promised to work together against the independence drive. Last month, Russian oil major Rosneft clinched a gas pipeline deal in Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan to help it become a major exporter of gas to Turkey and Europe. The pipeline will be constructed in 2019 and exports will begin in 2020. On Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that it was in no-one's interest to cut off oil supplies from Iraq's Kurdistan, which would raise oil prices. Erdogan, however, brushed off those concerns, saying the final decision would be made by Turkey, Iran and Iraq. Meanwhile, Iraq's prime minister said on Thursday he did not want an armed clash with Kurdish Iraqi authorities and urged Peshmerga forces in disputed areas to work with Iraqi security forces under the control of the central government. "We do not want an armed confrontation, we don't want clashes, but the federal authority must prevail and nobody can infringe on the federal authority," Haider al-Abadi said in a statement alongside French President Emmanuel Macron. "I call on the Peshmerga to remain an integral part of the Iraqi forces under the authority of the federal authorities, to guarantee the security of citizens so that we can rebuild these zones," he said, referring areas taken back from Islamic State militants. "Separatism is unacceptable," Abadi said, reiterating that the non-binding September 25 vote -- in which 92.7 percent of Iraqi Kurds backed independence -- was "illegal". "Iraq belongs to all Iraqis," he said, appealing to Kurdish Peshmerga forces to work with the Iraqi army "as we have worked together against Daesh (the Islamic State group), to guarantee citizens' safety." Macron voiced support for Kurds' rights while defending Iraq's territorial unity. In the meantime, Saudi Arabias king who is visiting Moscow, said that the territorial integrity of Iraq must be preserved. With reporting by Reuters and AFP Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 5 Trend: The existence of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is a continuous threat to the regional security and stability, said Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev at a meeting with a delegation of the Political and Security Committee of the Council of the European Union. I think the key area of activity of the Minsk Group in the next month, perhaps you already know their plan to visit the region, should be to exert even more pressure on the invader regime of Armenia to comply with international law. The lack of pressure on the aggressor at the international level is one of the reasons for the conflict to remain unresolved," said the Azerbaijani President. The head of state noted that if sanctions were imposed on Armenia, the country that violated the norms of international law and humanitarian acts, perhaps the conflict would have been resolved long ago. This kind of soft policy by the international community towards Armenia creates an impression that they can continue to stay illegally on our territories, and that is one of the reasons. But I think they should realize that this will not be possible. I have no doubt that Azerbaijan will restore its territorial integrity. The fact is that we want a peaceful solution of the conflict," President Ilham Aliyev said. Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 4 Elvhin Mehdiyev - Trend: The EU attaches special importance to relations with Azerbaijan, said chairman of the Political and Security Committee of the Council of the European Union Walter Stevens as he met with speaker of Azerbaijan`s parliament Ogtay Asadov in Baku. Stevens emphasized that Azerbaijan is a country encouraging religious tolerance. The EU and its institutions are interested in developing relations with Azerbaijan, said Stevens, adding that negotiations are underway on the signing of a new agreement between Azerbaijan and the EU. Asadov noted that relations between the EU and Azerbaijan have been dynamically developing since 2009 on the basis of the Eastern Partnership initiative. He emphasized that the new agreement would play a vital role in the development of future relations with the EU. The two also exchanged views on the new EU-Azerbaijan Agreement. On November 14, 2016, the European Council issued a mandate to the European Commission and the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy to negotiate a comprehensive agreement with Azerbaijan on behalf of the EU and its member states. The new agreement must replace the partnership and cooperation agreement signed in 1996 and must more take into account the common goals and challenges facing the EU and Azerbaijan today. Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 5 By Elchin Mehdiyev Trend: Security agencies and special services of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) are holding an expanded plenary meeting of Scientific and Advisory Council under the CIS Anti-Terrorism Center in Baku, Trends correspondent reported form the event. The 7th regional expert meeting of representatives of units for combating terrorism and other violent manifestations of extremism is also taking place in Baku. The purpose of holding the meeting is to further strengthen cooperation between CIS special services, exchange experience and create effective technologies to combat extremism and terrorism. At the event, Ismayil Bagirov, deputy chief of the State Security Service of Azerbaijan, conveyed greetings of Lieutenant-General Madat Guliyev, head of the State Security Service, to the participants of the meeting. In turn, Marat Abdyraev, deputy director of the CIS Anti-Terrorism Center, noted that the ways to combat remote influence used by international terrorist organizations for recruiting supporters among citizens of the CIS countries are being discussed. He added that the meetings are held annually. This meeting is being held in Baku for the first time, and we express our gratitude to the leadership of the State Security Service of Azerbaijan for the conditions created, Abdyraev said. Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 5 Trend: Azerbaijan is the only new source of energy for Europe, said President Ilham Aliyev as he met with a delegation of the Political and Security Committee of the Council of the European Union, including the accredited EU ambassadors based in Brussels. The head of state noted that the development of energy sphere in Azerbaijan is not confined to the country's borders. All the work has been done for our energy security; we export oil, gas and electricity in different directions. We have seven pipelines. Oil is transported by three of them two to the Black Sea and one to the Mediterranean Sea. The number of gas pipelines is four, and we can deliver gas to all destinations Georgia, Turkey, Iran and Russia. The latest largest gas pipeline, construction of which continues, stretches from Baku to Italy. The biggest market for us is Europe, and Europe will need more gas. We know that European natural gas demand will grow, and Azerbaijan is the only new source of energy for Europe. We closely cooperate with the European Commission. For the third time we hold a meeting of the Southern Gas Corridor Advisory Council in Baku in the beginning of the year, which is attended by vice-presidents of the European Commission, the head of state added. Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 5 Trend: Estonian Presidency of the Council of the European Union hosts a conference aimed at developing e-governance and enhancing cybersecurity in the European Union's Eastern partner countries, the EU Baku office said Oct. 5. This conference will be followed by the second Eastern Partnership Ministerial meeting on the digital economy on October 5 and the EU's Ministerial e-Government Conference Oct. 6. The "e-Partnership Conference" will take place in Tallinn and will bring together more than 150 experts and policy makers from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine, as well as the EU member states Oct. 6. During the meeting, the ministers will sign a declaration on digital economy between the EU and the six Eastern Partnership countries. These events are part of a series of events organized in preparation for the 5th Eastern Partnership Summit, which will be held in Brussels on November 24. Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 5 By Nigar Guliyeva Trend: Pro-EU feelings have risen in Azerbaijan as 47% of Azerbaijanis have a positive image of the EU, reads an opinion poll carried out by the EU NEIGHBOURS east project, in collaboration with ACT LLC carried out on an annual basis. The 2017 survey shows that more than half of Azerbaijanis (51%) trust the EU. The figure is quite high compared to the United Nations (35%) and NATO (32%). Moreover 68% of Azerbaijanis feel relations with the European Union are good, well ahead of the regional average of 61%. Some 33% of Azerbaijanis are aware of the EUs financial support to the country, 65% of those felt it was effective (compared to a regional average of 53%), according to the survey. The purpose of the annual surveys is to investigate and understand better the opinion and the level of awareness that the citizens of the EU's Eastern Partner countries have about the European Union and the EU's cooperation with their country. Azerbaijan is currently part of the European Neighborhood Policy, Eastern Partnership and the Council of Europe, and is a large recipient of aid and infrastructure investment from the EU. In February 2017 the EU and Azerbaijan launched negotiations on a new strategic agreement that will replace the old one. The EU is Azerbaijan's first trading partner representing 51 percent of Azerbaijan's total trade. The EU's exports to Azerbaijan consist primarily of machinery and transport equipment whereas EU imports from Azerbaijan cover mainly oil and gas (98 percent of total imports). Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 5 Trend: First Vice-President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva today viewed a new building for IDP families in Ramana settlement, Sabunchu district, Baku. Deputy prime minister, chairman of the State Committee for Refugee and IDP Affairs, Ali Hasanov, informed First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva about the building. The building was constructed as part of the project aimed at providing IDP families temporarily settled in buildings in emergency state with new apartments. The construction work started in March 2017. The five-story building has five one-room, 20 two-room, 20 three-room, and five four-room apartments. Mehriban Aliyeva praised the conditions created at the building. The first vice-president was informed that 50 IDP families living in buildings in emergency state in Khatai district and Sarigaya residential area will be resettled here. Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 5 Trend: First Vice-President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva today viewed conditions created at a new building of Gubadli district Khanlig village secondary school in Ramana settlement, Sabunchu district, Baku. Head of Gubadli District Executive Authority Malik Isagov informed Mehriban Aliyeva about the conditions created at the building. The school was commissioned in the 2017-2018 academic year. The construction of the building started this year and ended in four months. The 196-seat school is designed for children from Gubadli IDP families and residents of surrounding areas. Mehriban Aliyeva spoke with first-grade pupils of the school. The building was supplied with state-of-the-art equipment. All conditions have been created here. The first vice-president viewed an informatics room. Mehriban Aliyeva viewed photos of Gubadli districts pupils who entered the universities with high scores. Mehriban Aliyeva also viewed a photo stand reflecting President Ilham Aliyevs meeting with athletes from Gubadli district. The first vice-president then watched a training session of athletes from Gubadli district. Mehriban Aliyeva met with the schools staff and congratulated them on World Teachers Day. Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 5 Trend: First Vice-President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva has attended a ceremony to give out new apartments to IDP families as three new buildings were commissioned in Masazir settlement, Absheron district. Deputy prime minister, chairman of the State Committee for Refugee and IDP Affairs, Ali Hasanov informed the first vice-president of the work done in the IDP town. The buildings were constructed as part of the project aimed at providing IDP families temporarily settled in buildings in emergency state with new apartments. All the apartments underwent major repair and were supplied with necessary equipment as well as with gas, water and electricity. Extensive landscaping was done, green areas were created in the yards of the buildings. Addressing the ceremony, First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva provided an insight into the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Saying the Azerbaijanis were forced to live as refugees and IDPs as a result of the conflict, First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva added that President Ilham Aliyev highlights the conflict in his speeches both in bilateral meetings and in international organizations. Pointing out the Azerbaijani government's attention, the IDPs from Lachin and Aghdam districts thanked First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva for implementing this kind of projects. The first vice-president then viewed the apartments. Mehriban Aliyeva was informed that two of three buildings feature 80 apartments and the third has 50 apartments. First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva viewed IDP from Lachin district Innaf Najafova's apartment. Innaf Najafova thanked President Ilham Aliyev and First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva for the conditions created for them. BAKU / Trend / - Tajik Industry and New Technologies Minister Shafqat Bobozoda will visit Baku. The minister announced about this at a meeting with Azerbaijani ambassador Abbasali Gasanov, the embassy in Baku said. Touching upon the issue of the restoration of the Dushanbe-Baku flight, the ambassador said that this issue is still unresolved, and this impedes the implementation of works in the trade, economic, scientific and cultural spheres between Azerbaijan and Tajikistan, despite the availability of broad opportunities in these areas. The sides noted that Azerbaijani investors show interest in the economy of Tajikistan. the meeting participants noted the importance of creating favorable conditions for attracting foreign investments to Tajikistan, simplifying the tax and customs spheres. The issue of supplying a wide range of Azerbaijani products to the Tajik market was also discussed. Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 5 By Rufiz Hafizoglu Trend: The Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway (BTK) has great potential for cargo transportation, Ahmet Arslan, the minister of Transport, Maritime and Communications of Turkey, said in an exclusive interview with Trend. The opening of the BTK railway is expected to take place on October 28. Arslan said that freight traffic from China to such countries as Germany, France and the UK take 45-62 days. According to him, if these goods are transported to the EU countries through Turkey, it will be possible to deliver the goods within 30-45 days, which is a good reason to use the BTK. Annual freight traffic from China to the EU countries totals about 240 million tons, he noted. If 10 percent of the total cargo transportation is annually delivered through Turkey to the EU countries, it will be at least 24 million tons of additional cargo, said the minister. Arslan also noted that as part of a joint Turkey-Georgia-Azerbaijan transport commission, a decision was made in Tbilisi in 2004 on implementation of the BTK railway, the goal of which is the strengthening of cooperation among Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey. Thanks to this project, Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan will be connected with the Turkic-speaking countries of Central Asia, as well as with Beijing and London, he said. According to him, with the help of BTK, it will also be possible to connect Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan with Azerbaijan through the ports of Turkmenbashi and Aktau. After the commissioning of the BTK railway, the initial volume of cargo transportation will be 6.5 million tons, added the Turkish minister. Freight traffic is expected to increase from 6.5 million tons to 17 million tons, and passenger traffic from one million passengers to three million passengers until 2023, concluded Arslan. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 5 By Ali Mustafayev Trend: The business forum, held in Tashkent on October 4, with the participation of representatives of Uzbek and Russian business circles, resulted in conclusion of a number of important agreements. The countries reached promising agreements on the further development of cooperation in trade, economy, petrochemical industry, transport communications, agriculture and tourism areas, the Ministry of Economy of Uzbekistan said in a message. A large-scale trade and economic cooperation between our countries is developing dynamically, special attention is paid to the creation of favorable investment conditions, the Minister of Foreign Trade of Uzbekistan Elyor Ganiev said. The Minister of Industry and Trade of Russia Denis Manturov also stressed positive economic reforms, currently being implemented in Uzbekistan. The consistent measures, aimed at diversifying production and industry, serve the dynamic development of entrepreneurship and improvement of the investment environment in Uzbekistan, said Manturov. Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 5 By Rufiz Hafizoglu Trend: Turkey and Azerbaijan are expected to closely cooperate not only in transportation and communication sectors, but also in industry and construction in the future, Turkish Minister of Transport, Maritime Affairs and Communications Ahmet Arslan said in an exclusive interview with Trend. At present, there are many projects that can expand regional cooperation between our countries, he added. Turkey is always ready to share its experience in all spheres with Azerbaijan, the minister said. Many agreements have been signed between the countries to develop economic and trade relations. Arslan said the Azerbaijani market has always been attractive for Turkish investors due to similar culture and customs of Azerbaijan and Turkey. Turkish entrepreneurs are actively involved in such sectors as telecommunications, banking, insurance, construction, education and oil sector in Azerbaijan, he said. So far, Turkish entrepreneurs have implemented 363 investment projects worth $11 billion in Azerbaijan. The minister added that the whole world is aware of fraternal relations between Azerbaijan and Turkey. Arslan also expressed confidence that relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan will strengthen more. Commissioning of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway (BTK), opening of a logistics center in Kars, construction of the Kars-Igdir-Nakhchivan railway, possibility of implementing cross-border trade between Azerbaijans Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic and Turkeys Kars and Igdir provinces will further strengthen the relations between Baku and Ankara, Arslan added. Expansion and strengthening of relations with Azerbaijan is the most important direction for Turkey, and these tasks are included in Turkeys Vision 2023, he said. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct.5 By Leman Zeynalova Trend: The talks in Italys Apulia region to not refer to any changes to the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) project, TAP Head of Communications Lisa Givert told Trend. "TAP (together with Italys SNAM, who is in charge of building the 55km interconnection pipeline between TAP and the Italian grid) is participating in the roundtable which has been called by the National Government to discuss social and environmental investments (SEI) in Apulia. The talks do not refer to any changes to the project (landfall, route, Pipeline Receiving Terminal design, etc.) but are to discuss projects relating to social and environmental investments alone," she said. Additionally, TAP, its engineering contractor and EPC (engineering, procurement and construction) contractors are assessing the use of different technologies (trenchless pipeline laying, reducing the Right of Way width, etc.), that could reduce the already minimal impact of TAPs construction, added Givert. TAP is a part of the Southern Gas Corridor which is one of the priority energy projects for the EU. TAP project envisages transportation of gas from the Stage 2 of development of Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz gas and condensate field to the EU countries. The pipeline will be connected to the Trans-Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP) on the Turkish-Greek border, run through Greece, Albania and the Adriatic Sea, before coming ashore in Italy's south. TAPs shareholders are: BP (20 percent), State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (20 percent), Snam (20 percent), Fluxys (19 percent), Enagas (16 percent) and Axpo (5 percent). TAP will be 878 kilometers in length (Greece 550 km, Albania 215 km, Adriatic Sea 105 km, and Italy 8 km). Its highest point will be 1,800 meters in Albanias mountains, while its lowest point will be 820 meters beneath the sea. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct.5 By Leman Zeynalova Trend: After the issuance of the exemption decision, the company for construction of the Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria (IGB) will obtain the construction permit on Greek territory, said Konstantinos Karayannakos, the Executive officer from Greek side. Pursuant to the Greek legislation the construction permit for the Greek territory can be received once the pipeline obtains a license for a transmission system operator, which will happen after the decision for exemption from the rules for tariff, ownership and access to third parties pursuant to Article 36 from Directive 2009/73/EC is taken, expected to be adopted by the regulatory authorities of both countries in October this year, and by EU - in the beginning of 2018, added Karayannakos, said the message on the website of ICGB AD, which is engaged in the pipelines construction. On September 12, Bulgarias Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works issued a permit for construction of IGB on Bulgarias territory. The permit was issued for construction on the territory of Stara Zagora, Haskovo and Kardzhali districts. In accordance with the order signed by the Minister Nikolay Nankov, permission is given to the contractor to carry out the planned construction and assembly works in accordance with the approved project. IGB is a gas pipeline, which will allow Bulgaria to receive Azerbaijani gas, in particular, the gas produced from Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz 2 gas and condensate field. IGB is expected to be connected to the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) via which gas from the Shah Deniz field will be delivered to the European markets. The initial capacity of IGB will be 3 billion cubic meters of gas. The projects cost is estimated at around 240 million euros. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 5 By Gulgiz Muradova Trend: The age of persistently volatile oil prices is unlikely to near its end with oil supply booming. The global market could see oil price trading range around $50 for a couple more years, said Edward C. Chow , Senior Fellow for Energy and National Security Program at Center for Strategic and International Studies. "The market is rebalancing with the OPEC/non-OPEC (mainly Russia) agreement to cut production, rise in demand, and consequent inventory draw-down, but this is happening slowly," he said. Oil prices were stable on expectations that Saudi Arabia and Russia would extend production cuts, although record U.S. exports and the return of supply from a Libyan oilfield dragged on the market. Crude prices fell after a surprising jump in U.S. crude exports to a record 2 million barrels per day fanned worries about global oversupply. U.S. crude stockpiles fell sharply last week, but crude exports rose to 1.98 million bpd, the Energy Information Administration said. Rising U.S. crude production has held down WTI prices, while Brents price has been heavily influenced by policy directions over output cuts led by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries. Chow stressed that the run-up in price last week represented a change in market sentiment and reaction to political uncertainties around the world, but price has quickly dropped back down to the mid 50s. "In order to get oil price to OPEC's stated objective above $60, not only would the current production cut deal have to be extended beyond March, but further cuts would have to be contemplated," he said , adding that higher prices will stimulate more non-OPEC production, especially from the United States, and slower demand growth worldwide. In late 2016, OPEC and 11 non-OPEC countries, including Azerbaijan, agreed to curtail oil output jointly by 558,000 barrels per day. The agreement was signed for the first half of 2017 and on May 25, 2017, it was extended by late 1Q2018. In August 2017, OPEC and participating non-OPEC producing countries recorded the highest conformity ever with their voluntary adjustments in production, achieving a level of 116 percent. The next JMMC meeting is scheduled for the day prior to the full ministerial meeting on November 30 in Vienna. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @GulgizD Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 5 By Huseyn Veliyev Trend: Proposals on e-waste management have been submitted to Azerbaijans Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, a source in the Institute of Information Technologies of the countrys National Academy of Sciences told Trend. The institute conducted studies of the aspects of e-waste regulation and studied the experience of countries where specific projects for e-waste collection and utilization are being implemented, according to the source. Currently, the issue of e-waste management is also being considered at the level of Azerbaijans government, said the source. According to official statistics, over two million cathode ray tube (CRT) monitors were imported to the country in 1999-2006. The question arises, where are these monitors now? E-waste contains materials that are harmful both to human health and the environment. High-tech waste (semiconductors, resistors, fuses, power supplies, connecting cables, etc.) contain cadmium, mercury, chromium, bromine, nickel, lithium and other elements that decompose and release hazardous carcinogens. E-waste regulation also has economic benefits, since precious metals can also be obtained from e-waste processing, the source noted. For example, organizers of the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo are going to produce gold, silver and bronze medals from recycled mobile phones and other electronics. Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 5 By Ali Mustafayev Trend: President of Kyrgyzstan Almazbek Atambayev has arrived in Uzbekistan on an official visit, the press service of Uzbek president said in a message. Atambayev is also scheduled to meet the Uzbek president, Shavkat Mirziyoyev. The presidents of the two countries plan to hold talks in narrow and broad formats on topical issues of Kyrgyz-Uzbek relations. The agenda also includes signing of the Protocol on the exchange of instruments of ratification under the agreement on the Kyrgyz-Uzbek state border and the Declaration on strengthening friendship, good-neighborliness and confidence between the two countries. A package of bilateral documents related to cooperation in the field of security, defense, procedure of customs operations, statistical data exchange along with the agreements between border areas and information agencies are expected to be signed as well. Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Oct. 5 By Huseyn Hasanov Trend: Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani spoke on the phone Oct. 4, the Turkmen government said in a message. The heads of the two countries discussed priority issues of the Turkmen-Qatari relations and emphasized the existence of solid potential for further development of mutually beneficial cooperation. During the phone conversation, the sides stressed that trade and economic relations have an important role in bilateral cooperation. The parties exchanged views on a number of topical issues on the regional and global agenda. In this regard, heads of the two countries noted unswerving commitment to effective interaction within authoritative international organizations and structures. The conversation took place at Qatars initiative. Earlier, Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said that the country is interested in discussing the issues related to the participation of Qatars big financial and investment structures in the implementation of transnational Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project. He made the remarks during negotiations in Doha, where the Turkmen president was on a state visit on March 15-16. Turkmenistans abovementioned interest was expressed during negotiations with the Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani. Berdimuhamedov also noted that Qatar is one of leaders on the export of liquefied natural gas. Qatars experience in this sphere will be very useful for our dynamic economy, said the Turkmen president. Construction of the Turkmen section of TAPI was launched on Dec. 13, 2015. The annual capacity of the gas pipeline will reach 33 billion cubic meters. The total length of the TAPI pipeline will be 1,814 kilometers. A 214-kilometer section of the pipeline will run through Turkmenistan, a 774-kilometer section will run through Afghanistan and an 826-kilometer section will run through Pakistan. Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Oct. 5 By Huseyn Hasanov Trend: Ashgabat hosted political consultations between Turkmenistan and Belarus on contractual and legal issues, Belarusian embassy in Turkmenistan said in a message Oct. 5. Holding of consultations is envisaged in the program of cooperation between the two countries foreign ministries. The two sides conducted an inventory of existing interstate, intergovernmental, interdepartmental and other bilateral agreements. During the consultations, the parties identified the most promising areas for further expansion of bilateral contractual and legal basis that ensures the strengthening and development of relations between the Republic of Belarus and Turkmenistan in the political, trade, economic and humanitarian spheres. Trade turnover between Belarus and Turkmenistan exceeded $120 million in 2016 and together with the services it amounted to almost $300 million. It was previously reported that the construction of Garlyk mining and processing enterprise in Turkmenistan's Lebap region, where rich deposits of potassium salts located, is one of the main projects in the economic partnership between the two countries. The plant is built by Belarusian Belgorkhimprom JSC and its capacity is 1.4 million tons of mineral fertilizers per year. Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 5 By Ali Mustafayev Trend: Presidents of Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Almazbek Atambayev visited the exhibition of the collaborative industrial products of the two countries, the press service of the Uzbek President said in a message. The exhibition became a demonstration of achievements of the neighboring countries in the sphere of economy. The products of the companies, operating in various industries, innovative projects and research and production centers were represented, during the exhibition. The presidents highlighted that this kind of exhibitions are important in further development of diversified cooperation, adding that the strengthening of interconnections will provide the improvement of the production process and further promotion of the products. Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 4 By Farhad Daneshvar Trend: Although Iranian and European bankers have put in a great deal of effort to maximize financial cooperation, the sides apparently fail to fully realize the optimistic expectations. Iranian financial officials and bankers as well as European counterparts are in the Swiss city of Zurich, a global center for banking and finance, this week to discuss economic cooperation between Tehran and Europe. Contrary to expectations that arose last year following the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, aka nuclear deal, it seems that banking issues are still among the main obstacles to expansion of trade ties with the Islamic Republic, which is struggling to emerge from years of isolation. The westerners removed most of nuclear related sanctions on Iran last January, but the leading European banks still appear reluctant to do business with Tehran due to concerns over running afoul of the US regulations. However, many believe that the recent investment deals with Europeans, including Austrias Oberbank are capable of paving the way for removing obstacles. "The reform of the banking system in Iran has begun and these agreements are a practical sign of the West's initial confidence in the reform," Mehrdad Seyed Asgari, a Norway-based Iranian commentator, told Trend. Iran has secured several deals to lure foreign investments and loans from the world since last January, when the nuclear deal was implemented. In this period, Export-Import Bank of Korea has agreed to allocate eight billion euros in loan to Iran. Several Chinese banks have also concluded a $35 billion financial deal with Iran. Austrias Oberbank was also the first European bank to sign an investment deal with Iran worth of one billion euros. Denmark's Danske Bank signed a 500 million euro finance contract with 10 Iranian banks in late September, becoming the second European lender to ink such an agreement with the Middle Eastern nation. In the meantime, Iranian banks after the implementation of the nuclear deal managed to establish corresponding ties with several small European banks. It is noteworthy that these banks operate under the European regulations, so they are fully compliant with the European regulations. "These facts indicate that cooperation with Iran under the European regulations is possible and there are political reasons behind the reluctant behavior of leading banks to do business with Iran," Seyed Asgari believes so. "Although the Islamic Republic is taking major steps aimed at reforming its financial and banking systems, the continuation of such reforms appears as a significant solution to facilitate Irans banking ties with the outside world," he added. There is another important factor capable of leaving a negative impact on Irans efforts to fully reintegrate into the global financial system President Donald Trumps possible refusal to recertify Irans compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal. The US president has so far remained silent on whether he plans to announce Iran compliant with nuclear deal before Congress on October 15. It appears that the decision will have a key role in the behavior of European banks and enterprises regarding deepening cooperation with Iran. Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 5 By Fatih Karimov Trend: China, Irans traditional trade partner during the sanctions period, has successfully maintained its dominant share in Irans market even after the removal of the international sanctions, despite primary doubts in Iran about the future of the mutual economic cooperation. The statistics by the Chinese Customs Administration approves that the countrys exports and imports have increased during the first eight months of the current year to materialize a trade turnover of $24.172 billion. Irans statistics also confirms that China has maintained its position as the Islamic Republics main trade partner in the post-sanctions period. Coming to the car sector, the Islamic Republics largest as far as non-oil goes, the latest statistics show that China is strengthening its share in the sector. Iran's auto industry has been a major casualty of penalties imposed over the Islamic republic's nuclear program, with production plummeting and workers laid off because of the ensuing economic slowdown. But the auto sanctions were lifted earlier in 2014 after an interim nuclear agreement was reached between Iran and world powers, raising the prospect of better times for the industry. At that time Iranian auto industry activists announced that cooperation with Chinese partners will not continue in the long run. They said that cooperation with Chinese companies will continue in the short-term just to deal with the problem of joint venture and platform with leading European auto makers, who are still working to expand their share in Irans market via joint projects. Saipa group, the countrys second biggest auto maker said in 2014 that Iranian carmakers will continue cooperation with China until 2021. Meanwhile the five-month statistics (March-Aug, 2017) of Irans auto sector indicate that the Chinese car share in Irans market not even decreased but registered highest growth among the brands assembled in Iran. Reviewing the statistics of Chinese Customs Administration unveils that export of motor vehicles and chassis to Iran was continuously in rise since the removal of the sanctions in 2014. The figure was $490 million in 2013, but increased by 116 percent to over $1 billion in 2014 and continued rise to experience a value of $1.35 billion in 2016. Chinas Motor vehicles and chassis export to Iran in 2013-2016 Year 2013 2014 2015 2016 Value(million USD) 490.713 1,057.717 1,114.761 1,354.845 y/y increase by % 116 5 22 The current year statistics also proves that the increasing trend of the exports continues. Iran has imported $1.4 billion worth of motor vehicles and chassis from China in Jan-Aug. 2017, almost two-time more than the imports in the 8-month period of 2016. Chinas Motor vehicles and chassis export to Iran in 2017 Value (million USD) -2016 Value (million USD) -2017 Y/Y Increase by % Jan-Aug 741.033 1,400.228 89 Jan-July 586.445 1,225.388 109 Jan-June 463.193 1,033.585 123 Jan-May 371.365 840.981 127 Jan-April 267.622 670.019 150 Jan-March 184.916 484.622 162 Jan-Feb 117.724 319.955 172 Jan 43.301 180.751 317 Akbar Mirza-Hosseini, car industry expert and the Vice-chairman of the board of directors at Iran's Rakhsh Khodro Diesel Company, believes that numerous obstacles to the production of spare parts have caused Iranian manufactures to turn to Chinas low-quality products. "A large group of Iranian producers simply import Chinese auto parts, repackage and distribute them under Iranian brands," he said, adding that some Iranian car makers have established offices in China to directly import auto parts. Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 4 By Fatih Karimov Trend: Saipa, Irans second biggest automaker, manufactured over 285,000 cars during the first half of the current fiscal year (started March 20). The figure indicates a rise by 19.8 percent compared to the same period of the preceding year, the company announced Oct. 4. Saipas production plan is materialized by 95 percent, according to the report. In the meantime, Saipa sold 273,106 cars between March 20 and Sept. 22 bringing in 77,844 billion rials (about $2.3 billion) in revenues, according to a letter the company sent to the Supervision Office of Irans Securities and Exchange Organization, which was seen by Trend. Saipas output amounted to 44,000 during the sixth Iranian calendar month (March 20-Sept. 22). The company sold 51,560 vehicles, worth 15,071 billion rials in the period, according to the aforementioned letter. Iran Khodro (IKCO), the Islamic Republics biggest automaker, manufactured 320,154 cars during the first half of the current fiscal year, 14 percent more year-on-year. Over 1.350 million cars were produced in Iran in the last Iranian fiscal year (ended March 20, 2017). Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 5 By Azer Ahmadbayli Trend: Some gas producing nations, having huge reserves, face difficulties to find new consumer markets. Figures say Iran has been among them. According to BPs latest statistical review, in 2016, Iran, the worlds number one in total proved gas reserves, accounted for 35.5 trillion cubic meters, could export only about 8 bcm of its strategic commodity. Almost all of this amount had only one destination that was Turkey. According to TRENDs recent report, the output of South Pars gas field increased by 25 billion cubic meters over the last Iranian fiscal year compared to the preceding year to reach 155 billion cubic meters. In July, Iran signed a $5-billion deal with Frances Total SA and Chinas CNPC to develop the South Pars offshore field, the worlds biggest natural-gas field. It is expected that by commissioning all 24 phases of the South Pars field within the coming years, gas production will sharply grow. Amir Hossein Zamania, Deputy of Oil Minister said in July that Iran would increase gas output to 1 bcm/d by the end of current fiscal year (March 20, 2018) and based on Irans 6th National Development Plan (2017-2022), the country should export 80 bcm/year of gas, of which 50 bcm/year is projected to be delivered to neighboring countries. With the growth of gas volumes, it becomes vital to have new export destinations. For the moment, there are several directions existing and perspective for Iran to trade its gas. Iran-Iraq direction Good news came in June, when Iran started exporting gas to Iraq after several years of delay. The two countries initially signed a deal in 2013, but instability in Iraq impeded the start of deliveries. Exports started at approximately 2.5 bcm per year and would eventually reach up to 12.8 bcm, according to Iranian officials. Iran and Iraq have another agreement of 2015 to build a gas pipeline to the southern Iraqi city of Basra, but construction work has not been fully completed yet. IP (Iran-Pakistan) pipeline Pakistan has been a cherished market for Iranian gas since 1990, when Iran-Pakistan (IP) pipeline concept was put on the table for the first time. IP pipeline is the most marketable option to deliver Iranian gas to Pakistan. Iran completed its 900 km part in 2014, while Pakistan has not started its part yet. As it was contracted in the bilateral agreement, the pipeline would carry 8.7 bcm of gas per year and 40 bcm as a maximum capacity. Despite great efforts, Iran has made within almost nine years to move the project ahead, it remains anchored for a number of reasons not dependent on Tehran. The latest attempt to get it moving ahead was made in 2015. China and Pakistan came to agreement on construction of 711 km long Nawabshah-Gwadar gas pipeline on the territory of Pakistan. This pipeline had to become a core segment of the IranPakistan gas pipeline. The Chinese side undertook commitment to finance 85 % of the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract. However, in June this year Pakistan took unexpected decision to shelve the highly competitive project on the pretext of its higher cost. Iran-Oman Pipeline and MEIDP Based on an agreement signed between Tehran and Muscat in 2013, Iran will export 10.2 bcm of gas per year to Oman within 15 years. A pipeline will have land and sub-sea sections. The land section is planned to be stretched from Rudan to Kuhmobarak (in Iran), while the sub-sea section will be laid across the Gulf to the Omani port of Ras al-Jafan. Each section is 200 kilometers long. In early 2017 Bijan Zanganeh, Irans Minister of Petroleum, said that deepwater mapping activities for the pipeline should be concluded over the next few months, followed by a tender for selection of the projects operator. Iran plans to convert about one-third of the whole volumes into LNG at Omans LNG facilities, with further exports to world markets. On October 2, Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif arrived in Muscat for talks with Oman officials. The agreement to import Iranian gas to Oman is among the topics expected to be on the agenda, ISNA reported. Iran has one more perspective export destination on the table. It intends two options to construct 1400 km long deep-water pipeline directly to India or have it pass through Oman. The concept has already been named MEIDP Middle East to India deep-water pipeline. The Indian side, along with some European companies, has carried out the technical studies on the project. Now the sides are considering whether it is economically justified. The pipeline is planned to carry about 12 bcm of gas annually and can be built in two years from the date of necessary approvals. On September 24, foreign ministers of three states met in New York to exchange views on cooperation in stable supply of India with Middle Eastern gas. The project has two principal assets, which are of concern to Iran. One is that the three countries are well disposed towards each other and avoid political issues. The other gives a good opportunity for Iran to enter one of the worlds most growing gas consumer markets. Other options At the time, there was an idea to build a pipeline leading from South Pars field towards Europe via Iraq and Syria. However, activities on the project were completely interrupted due to civil war breaking out in Syria. However, Iranian officials believe that the EUs gas market is oversupplied and exporting Iranian gas to this market is not profitable in short-term perspective either through a pipeline or as LNG. Iran so far has no means to liquefy its natural gas and to export LNG. Its only liquefaction facility remains uncompleted. Making the path for new gas export destinations will require not only ownership of gas fields but billions worth of investments and new technologies. Successful cooperation with Western partners depends, to a large extent, on Iran. Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 5 Trend: Trend Agency has hosted a meeting with famous Lithuanian journalists Rytas Staselis and Terese Staniulyte. The journalists said they are in Baku within the international program of trainings on business journalism and got acquainted with the sights of the capital. Terese Staniulyte said the trainings on business journalism were very successful. The journalist also noted that she is overwhelmed with positive emotions from her stay in the Azerbaijani capital, where tourism is developing based on originality, traditions and culture. Staselis, for his part, said that he several times visited different parts of Azerbaijan in the late 1980s early 1990s. He visited Ganja, Nakhchivan, Khojaly and Khankandi at the beginning of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict and repeatedly made reports for the Lithuanian media. He also reminded how he interviewed Azerbaijans national leader Heydar Aliyev in 1990 in Nakhchivan. I asked rather pointed questions about the independence of Lithuania. He answered all the questions, wished success to the independent Lithuania and expressed hope that Azerbaijan would also be independent, he said. The journalist also noted that he did an interview with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Baku in 2007. He said that compared to 2007, Baku has changed a lot and is developing like all modern metropolitan cities. Staselis was repeatedly elected journalist of the year in Lithuania, worked in a number of famous Lithuanian publications such as Mazoji Lietuva, Respublika, Lietuvos zinios, Verslo klase and Verslo zinios, and also served as an editor of the Lithuanian public television and collaborated with many popular newspapers. Terese Staniulyte also collaborates with Lithuanian media. She served as head of public relations department at the countrys Ministry of Finance. The US State Department has approved the sale of 56 AIM 120C-7 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAMs) worth $113 million to Japan, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said in a statement. "The proposed sale will provide Japan a critical air defense capability to assist in defending the Japanese homeland and US personnel stationed there," the release said on Wednesday. "Also included [in the $113 million sale] are containers, weapon support and support equipment, spare and repair parts, US Government and contractor engineering, technical and logistical support services, and other related elements of logistical and program support." The AMRAAM is an all-weather, beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile used by the US Air Force, Navy and as many as 37 foreign nations, according to published information on Raytheon's website. The missile is one of the primary weapons for many different models of American-made fighter aircraft, including F-15J, as well as for various fighters produced by other nations. The missile is manufactured by Raytheon Missile Systems company, located in the US state of Arizona, which is the lead contractor, according to the statement. Raytheon Missile Systems has scored an award worth $173 million to provide Qatar with 200 air-to-ground and ship joint standoff weapons (JSOW) along with engineering support and spare parts, the US Department of Defense announced in a press release on Wednesday, Sputnik reported. "Raytheon Missile Systems, Tucson, Arizona, is being awarded a $172,874,170 contract to procure 200 AGM-154C Block III joint standoff weapons, 212 containers, various component parts and support equipment for spares, and engineering and technical support for the government of Qatar," the release said. JSOW is a dual threat weapons providing naval forces with the ability to hit moving maritime vessels as well as stationary land based targets, according to published information on Raytheon's website. It uses a Global Positioning System navigation system and thermal imaging infrared seeker to get to its target. Work will be performed in the US states of Arizona, Texas, Vermont, Minnesota, Massachusetts, Oklahoma, Missouri, California, Pennsylvania, Arkansas, New York, Florida and Colorado, the release added. Other manufacturing will take place in the United Kingdom. Work is expected to be completed by June 2020. Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 5 Trend: At least 13 people, including a police official, were killed and 25 others injured in a suicide explosion in Jhal Magsi district of Pakistans Balochistan province Thursday evening, The Express Tribune reports. The explosion took place outside the Fatehpur shrine, officials said. DPO Jhal Magsi said a constable was killed while attempting to stop the suicide bomber from entering the shrine. Police grabbed him and the suicide bomber exploded himself, he said. The death toll and nature of the blast was also confirmed by Balochistan government spokesperson Anwarul Haq Kakar. According to hospital sources, condition of several people injured in the explosion is critical. Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 5 By Rufiz Hafizoglu Trend: Turkish police are conducting a special operation in the Ministry of Finance against supporters of the Fethullah Gulen movement, the Turkish media report Oct. 5. Nearly 100 people have been detained in the operation. They are accused of having links with the Gulen movement, including leaking official information. Names and positions of the detainees have not been disclosed. On July 15, 2016, Turkish authorities said a military coup attempt took place in the country as a group of servicemen announced about transition of power to them. However, the rebelling servicemen started to surrender July 16 and Turkish authorities said the coup attempt failed. More than 250 people were killed during the attempted coup. Shortly after the prevention of the coup attempt, on July 20, the state of emergency was introduced in Turkey for a period of three months. After this, the state of emergency was three times extended for three months each. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 5 By Rufiz Hafizoglu Trend: An operation against the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) was held for the first time in the southwestern Turkish province of Mugla, the Turkish media reported Oct. 5. Five PKK members were killed during the operation. Commenting on the issue, Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said the PKK tries to enter the western provinces of the country. 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 KYODO NEWS - Oct 5, 2017 - 20:59 | All, Japan Kindai University and Toyota Tsusho Corp. said Thursday they will step up exports of farmed bluefin tuna, targeting mainly Southeast Asia, with an eye to shipping 2,000 tuna worldwide in 2020. The university in Osaka Prefecture and the trading house also plan to sell farmed yellowtail tuna overseas, aiming to promote sustainable fishery amid tightening global restrictions on catches at sea. The cultivated bluefin tuna will be shown at a buyers' exhibition next Wednesday through Friday at Makuhari Messe convention center east of Tokyo. Kindai and Toyota Tsusho are also considering exporting farm-raised red sea bream and white trevally. A Kindai University official expressed hope that the promotion could "lead to market expansion for Japanese fish farmers." The university, which is known for the "Kindai Tuna" brand, and the trading company signed a memorandum of understanding for promoting the branded farm-raised fish in 2014. They annually produce 3,500 to 4,000 bluefin tuna, and plan to raise that to 6,000 in 2020. Kindai Tuna is served at restaurants in the upscale Ginza district in central Tokyo and Umeda in the center of Osaka. The 'myth' of language history: languages do not share a single history but different components evolve along different trajectories and at different rates. A large-scale study of Pacific languages reveals that forces driving grammatical change are different to those driving lexical change. Grammar changes more rapidly and is especially influenced by contact with unrelated languages, while words are more resistant to change. An international team of researchers, led by scientists at the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, have discovered that a language's grammatical structures change more quickly over time than vocabulary, overturning a long-held assumption in the field. The study, published October 2 in PNAS, analyzed 81 Austronesian languages based on a detailed database of grammatical structures and lexicon. By analyzing these languages, all from a single family and geographic region, using sophisticated modelling the researchers were able to determine how quickly different aspects of the languages had changed. Strikingly different processes seemed to be shaping the lexicon and the grammar - the lexicon changed more when new languages were created, while the grammatical structures were more affected by contact with other languages. One fascinating question for linguists is whether all aspects of a language evolve as an integrated system with all aspects (grammar, morphology, phonology, lexicon) sharing the same history over time or whether different aspects of a language show different histories. Does each word have its own history? The present study, by an international team including researchers from the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, the Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, the Australian National University, the University of Oxford, and Uppsala University, addressed this question by comparing both grammatical structures and lexicon for over 80 Austronesian languages. This study applied cutting-edge computational methods to analyze not only a large number of words, but also a large number of grammatical elements, all from languages that were geographically grouped. This allowed for valuable and deep comparisons. Interestingly, the study found that grammatical structures on average actually changed faster than vocabulary. "We found striking differences in the overall pattern of rates of change between the basic vocabulary and the grammatical features of a language," explains Simon Greenhill of the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, lead author of the study. "The grammatical structures changed much more quickly and seemed to be more likely to be affected by neighboring languages, while the lexicon changed more as new languages were formed". Another of the authors, Stephen Levinson, comments, "This is a bit of an unexpected finding, since many have thought that grammar might give us deeper insight into the linguistic past than vocabulary, but there is still some reason for caution: we compared highly conservative vocabulary with an unfiltered range of grammar variables, and the language family is unusual for the way it diversified during colonization of successive islands, But what is clear is that grammar and vocabulary changes are not closely coupled, even within branches of a family, so looking at them both significantly advances our ability to reconstruct linguistic history." The researchers found that there were specific elements of both vocabulary and grammar that change at a slow rate, as well as elements that change more quickly. One interesting finding was that the slowly evolving grammatical structures tended to be those that speakers are less aware of. Why would this be? When two languages come together, or when one language splits into two, speakers of the languages emphasize or adopt certain elements in order to identify or distinguish themselves from others. We're all familiar with how easily we can distinguish groups among speakers of our own language by accent or dialect, and we often make associations based on those distinctions. Humans in the past did this too and, the researchers hypothesize, this was one of the main drivers of language change. However, if a speaker is unaware of a certain grammatical structure because it is so subtle, they will not try to change it or use it as a marker of group identity. Thus those features of a language often remain stable. The researchers note that the precise features that remain more stable over time are specific to each language group. The researchers suggest, that although grammar as a whole might not be a better tool for examining language change, a more nuanced approach that combined computational methods with large-scale databases of both grammar and lexicon could allow for a look into the deeper past. Russell Gray, senior author on the paper, says, "One of the really cool things we found was that this approach might allow us to detect when and where speakers of different languages were interacting many thousands of years ago". ### Publication: Title: Evolutionary dynamics of language systems Authors: Simon J. Greenhill, Chieh-Hsi Wu, Xia Hua, Michael Dunn, Stephen C. Levinson, and Russell D. Gray Journal: PNAS With its new Pixel 2 smartphone and Home smart speaker products, Google is taking a page from Apples playbook, and in more ways than one. All you need do is tally the individual features Google announced at its Pixel 2 event on Wednesday, then consider the companys broader hardware strategy. Apple may rarely be first to debut new technology, focusing instead on crafting ideal versions of devices like smartwatches or augmented reality toolkits. But it likes to think of itself as first to persuade buyers the time is ripe to dive in. Google seems to be following a similar path, giving existing ideas its signature touch. While the search giant debuted a few surprises, going so far as to mimic Apples breathless one more thing tagline, it focused on all the ways it believes its breathing new life into the smartphone and smart speaker categories. Heres a breakdown of three things Google just announced that bear a striking resemblance to recent Apple product features. Live Photos When Google demonstrated the Pixel 2s new camera on stage, it highlighted a specific capability that allows the phone to capture a few moments of video when snapping a photo. The effect allows photos some animation wiggle room, similar to the Live Photos feature Apple debuted with the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus in 2015. Google refers to the new feature as Motion Photos. Read more: Heres Everything Google Just Announced at Its Pixel 2 Event Portrait Mode Apples Portrait Mode, which the company debuted on the iPhone 7 Plus last year, is becoming increasingly popular on Android phones. Samsung announced in August that its Galaxy Note 8 would have a similar feature, and now Googles touting its own version with the Pixel 2. Portrait Mode is an iPhone feature that uses the phones two cameras to subtly blur the background of a photo so that the subject in the foreground appears sharper. The Pixel 2, by contrast, only requires one camera to apply depth effects to an image since it uses artificial intelligence software. (Samsungs smartphones also require two cameras to create similar photos.) Like the iPhone X, Googles new Pixel 2 phones can also capture selfies in Portrait Mode. Story continues Audio That Automatically Adjusts Googles new Home Max speaker distinguishes itself by dynamically adjusting its acoustics based on its surroundings. That also happens to be what makes Apples HomePod speaker stand apart from its competitors. The Siri-powered music player, which Apple unveiled at its developer conference in June, can automatically adapt its sound based on its proximity to the listener and where its located in the room. While that may not be exactly the same as the Home Maxs Smart Sound functionality, the two features were created with the same goal in mind. Googles Smart Sound feature, which the company says is powered by artificial intelligence, also optimizes its sounds based on where its been placed within a room. Both the HomePod and Google Home Max will launch in December. AbbVie Inc. ABBV shares have gained an impressive 16.7% in the past month, comparing favorably with a gain of 4.5% recorded by the industry. The share price surge was supported by a series of positive news for the company in the past few weeks. Last week, AbbVie announced the resolution of its ongoing patent dispute with Amgen Inc. AMGN, which has delayed the launch of the latters biosimilar version of AbbVies blockbuster arthritis drug, Humira to 2023. Per the settlement, AbbVie will grant a non-exclusive license to Amgen, which will allow the latter to sell Amjevita in the United States from Jan 31, 2023 and in most countries in the EU from Oct 16, 2018 and in other markets on different dates. Against the license, Amgen will pay AbbVie pre-specified royalties. This agreement has removed a major overhang on AbbVies shares though the company is still facing a patent challenge from Boehringer Ingelheim, which gained approval for its biosimilar version of Humira, Cyltezo, in August. Moreover, the agreement gives AbbVie ample time to focus on developing its pipeline and launching new products that will help make up for the loss of revenues once biosimilar Humira enters the market. Secondly, AbbVies 8-week, pan-genotypic, ribavirin-free, once-daily HCV treatment, Mavyret/Maviret, gained approval in the United States, EU and Canada in the past couple of months. Mavyret, AbbVies next-generation HCV program, is a combination of glecaprevir, a potent protease inhibitor and pibrentasvir, a NS5A inhibitor. Maviret has the potential to rejuvenate growth in the HCV franchise. According to AbbVie, Mavyret may be used in up to 95% of HCV patients, depending on the stage of liver disease and prior treatment history. AbbVie announced positive data from the phase III MURANO study of Venclexta plus Rituxan in relapse/refractory CLL last month. The data showed that Venclexta plus Roches RHHBY Rituxan met the primary endpoint of prolonged progression-free survival compared with Treanda (bendamustine) plus Rituxan in patients with relapsed/refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Label expansion for this indication should expand the patient population for Venclexta significantly and boost its commercial potential. Story continues AbbVie also announced a collaboration with Bristol-Myers Squibb BMY for evaluating a combination of its investigational antibody drug conjugate ABBV-399 and Bristol-Myers's immunotherapy Opdivo in c-met overexpressing non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Lastly, AbbVies oral JAK-1 selective inhibitor, upadacitinib (ABT-494) met primary endpoints in a phase III study for the treatment of RA with highly statistically significant and clinically meaningful results for both the doses (15 mg and 30 mg) of upadacitinib compared to placebo. Upadacitinib also met primary endpoints in a phase IIb study for the treatment of adult patients with atopic dermatitis, also known as eczema. The company plans to advance the candidate into phase III studies next year. Data from both the upadacitinib studies were announced last month. In fact, so far this year, AbbVies share price has increased 43.5%, also comparing favorably with a gain of 17.7% for the industry. AbbVie carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. 4 Stocks to Watch after the Massive Equifax Hack Cybersecurity stocks spiked on recent news of a data breach affecting 143 million Americans. But which stocks are the best buy candidates right now? And what does the future hold for the cybersecurity industry? Equifax is just the most recent victim. Computer hacking and identity theft are more common than ever. Zacks has just released Cybersecurity! An Investors Guide to inform Zacks.com readers about this $170 billion/year space. More importantly, it highlights 4 cybersecurity picks with strong profit potential. Get the new Investing Guide now>> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Roche Holding AG (RHHBY) : Free Stock Analysis Report Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (BMY) : Free Stock Analysis Report AbbVie Inc. (ABBV) : Free Stock Analysis Report Amgen Inc. (AMGN) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research In order to improve operating efficiencies, BB&T Corporation BBT is shutting down its call center at the former Susquehanna Bank headquarters in Lititz, PA. As a result, of its roughly 125 employees 82 will lose their jobs. The remaining employees will be relocated to the banks other facilities in the county. David White, the vice president of corporate communications at BB&T, stated that job cuts were the result of BB&Ts ongoing effort to evaluate our operations in a highly competitive marketplace and reallocate resources into other strategically important areas, such as improved digital banking technologies to meet our clients' ever-changing needs. The call center basically catered to BB&Ts back office operations including administrative and support. The staff members did not deal directly with customers. They will have to leave by mid-December. White further said, We understand this is a difficult time for these associates and we will support them through this transition with respect and compassion. This includes helping them find other opportunities inside and outside our company and providing ample notice and severance packages. BB&T had acquired Susquehanna Bank and its parent company, Susquehanna Bancshares in November 2015. Notably, this the second major staff reduction in the former Susquehanna headquarter. Earlier in September 2015, BB&T had planned to terminate 89 positions. Over the last couple of years, BB&T has been on an acquisition spree. Other than Susquehanna, the bank acquired National Penn Bancshares Inc. and Swett & Crawford. Going forward, based on BB&Ts investments in artificial intelligence and robotics to improve operating efficiency, management is optimistic about its long-term operating leverage and would simultaneously reduce expenses on traditional methodologies. Over the past year, shares of BB&T have risen 19%, underperforming the industrys gain of 37.4%. Story continues Currently, BB&T carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Several other major banks including JPMorgan Chase & Co. JPM, Bank of America Corporation BAC and Citigroup Inc. C have also been moving toward digitalization to cut costs and improve efficiencies to meet client requirements. 4 Stocks to Watch after the Massive Equifax Hack Cybersecurity stocks spiked on recent news of a data breach affecting 143 million Americans. But which stocks are the best buy candidates right now? And what does the future hold for the cybersecurity industry? Equifax is just the most recent victim. Computer hacking and identity theft are more common than ever. Zacks has just released Cybersecurity! An Investors Guide to inform Zacks.com readers about this $170 billion/year space. More importantly, it highlights 4 cybersecurity picks with strong profit potential. Get the new Investing Guide now>> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report J P Morgan Chase & Co (JPM) : Free Stock Analysis Report BB&T Corporation (BBT) : Free Stock Analysis Report Citigroup Inc. (C) : Free Stock Analysis Report Bank of America Corporation (BAC) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. After the stock of DexCom (NASDAQ: DXCM) plunged over 30 percent, CNBC's Jim Cramer had to investigate why shares of the top medical device maker got decimated. "DexCom's problem is pretty straightforward. A week ago, we learned that gigantic company Abbott Labs (NYSE: ABT) had received FDA approval for its new FreeStyle Libre Flash glucose monitoring system for people with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. And in many ways, this represents a major competitive threat to DexCom," the " Mad Money " host said. DexCom is the leading maker of glucose monitoring systems, so analysts saw Abbott's new system, which is the first and only one to offer blood-sugar monitoring without the routine finger-prick, as a formidable challenge.But Cramer said that DexCom has come back from similar challenges before and should be able to stand up to Abbott's new product, perhaps even offering a version of its own eventually. "A year ago DexCom got slammed based on competitor concerns from another giant, Medtronic (NYSE: MDT) , and its so-called artificial pancreas a glucose monitor combined with an insulin pump but the stock was able to make a dramatic comeback, as DexCom's numbers continued to be excellent," Cramer said. "Anyone who's owned this stock has been obliterated by the Abbott news, and that's terrible. Mea culpa again. But at these levels, I believe DexCom will be able to rebound, even if it might take some time." Cramer's 10 Actionable Market Negatives In a red-hot stock market that can't seem to slow its winning streak, Cramer has been inundated with requests from viewers to lay out the market's negatives. "Now, I have endlessly told you how errant tweets, dysfunctional tax policy and 'little Rocket Man' can all create a hideous backdrop at any given moment," the " Mad Money " host said. "But those are all 'big think' issues, the kind of thing that drives me a little crazy, steams me, because it's total thumb-sucker journalism. It's central casting. It requires nothing that's even remotely like homework. It's by rote." So, to give investors something to consider while they make decisions about their portfolios, Cramer decided to detail 10 overall negatives in the market. Bill Ackman on ADP Workplace solutions giant ADP's (NASDAQ: ADP) proxy fight with activist investor Bill Ackman and his firm, Pershing Square, has not exactly been a private matter. In an increasingly heated, drawn-out exchange, Ackman and ADP CEO Carlos Rodriguez have been trading barbs as Ackman pushes for seats on the company's board, arguing that his candidates will help the company seize on an opportunity to improve its business model. "Our new question for ADP is why is it that ADP has lower revenue productivity than all of their competitors?" Ackman asked in an exclusive interview with Cramer . In the Wednesday interview, Ackman said that ADP generates average revenue of $160,000 per employee, while its competitors average $224,000 per employee."When you think about ADP, it has enormous scale versus the competitors. So, if anything, they should have more efficiency," Ackman told Cramer.Insider Trading at Equifax?For Cramer, insider trading is no joke."The moment a company's management finds out that it possesses material non-public information, they must immediately close the window on insider selling. Otherwise, the chance is way too great that some executive will take advantage of that inside information and dump stock, which may have happened at Equifax," Cramer said. So as federal prosecutors reportedly look into why three Equifax executives sold almost $2 million worth of the company's shares just days after Equifax (NYSE: EFX) underwent a massive cybersecurity breach , Cramer called on the Securities and Exchange Commission to investigate. Tyson Foods: From Zero to Hero Finally, Cramer examined Tyson Foods' (NYSE: TSN) almost superhero-like transformation to find out how the packaged food giant managed to forge its path to the top of a troubled industry. After a series of strong quarterly earnings results and sweeping initiatives employed by CEO Tom Hayes to improve the business, Tyson Foods' stock started to gain momentum."[In] superhero terms, I'd say Tyson got its powers by mutating. The company changed in some big ways and it's quickly resulted in better numbers," Cramer said.The company also acquired AdvancePierre Foods Holdings, giving it a new ready-to-eat product line and exposure to convenience stores, which are outperforming the supermarket.Moreover, the stock's valuation is still fairly cheap, trading at only 13 times next year's earnings estimates, Cramer noted."A year ago, Tyson looked like it was in real trouble. Now the company has taken the first steps toward transforming itself. It seems to be in great shape. Even though the stock has skyrocketed in recent months, I think it's got more room to run," the "Mad Money" host said.Lightning Round: Cramer's TEVA Strategy In Cramer's lightning round , he shared his take on some callers' favorite stocks: Teva Pharmaceuticals (NYSE: TEVA) : "This bad news should've been in the stock. It wasn't. People had been waiting for it. That's the loss of Copaxone exclusivity. However, I will tell you this: if you want to buy, Allergan owns 10 percent of the company. I think they have to sell that stake. That would be the time to pull the trigger if, indeed, you did want to be in it, of which I'm not crazy about." Seattle Genetics (NASDAQ: SGEN) : "They came through. Seattle Genetics, we met with them four years ago and I was really hopeful and it turned out they kind of spent some time in the wilderness and now they're in the land of Canaan. I want to own the stock." Questions for Cramer? Call Cramer: 1-800-743-CNBC Want to take a deep dive into Cramer's world? Hit him up! Mad Money Twitter - Jim Cramer Twitter - Facebook - Instagram - VineQuestions, comments, suggestions for the "Mad Money" website? madcap@cnbc.com After the stock of DexCom (NASDAQ: DXCM) plunged over 30 percent, CNBC's Jim Cramer had to investigate why shares of the top medical device maker got decimated. "DexCom's problem is pretty straightforward. A week ago, we learned that gigantic company Abbott Labs (NYSE: ABT) had received FDA approval for its new FreeStyle Libre Flash glucose monitoring system for people with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. And in many ways, this represents a major competitive threat to DexCom," the " Mad Money " host said. DexCom is the leading maker of glucose monitoring systems, so analysts saw Abbott's new system, which is the first and only one to offer blood-sugar monitoring without the routine finger-prick, as a formidable challenge. But Cramer said that DexCom has come back from similar challenges before and should be able to stand up to Abbott's new product, perhaps even offering a version of its own eventually. "A year ago DexCom got slammed based on competitor concerns from another giant, Medtronic (NYSE: MDT) , and its so-called artificial pancreas a glucose monitor combined with an insulin pump but the stock was able to make a dramatic comeback, as DexCom's numbers continued to be excellent," Cramer said. "Anyone who's owned this stock has been obliterated by the Abbott news, and that's terrible. Mea culpa again. But at these levels, I believe DexCom will be able to rebound, even if it might take some time." Cramer's 10 Actionable Market Negatives In a red-hot stock market that can't seem to slow its winning streak, Cramer has been inundated with requests from viewers to lay out the market's negatives. "Now, I have endlessly told you how errant tweets, dysfunctional tax policy and 'little Rocket Man' can all create a hideous backdrop at any given moment," the " Mad Money " host said. "But those are all 'big think' issues, the kind of thing that drives me a little crazy, steams me, because it's total thumb-sucker journalism. It's central casting. It requires nothing that's even remotely like homework. It's by rote." So, to give investors something to consider while they make decisions about their portfolios, Cramer decided to detail 10 overall negatives in the market. Bill Ackman on ADP Workplace solutions giant ADP's (NASDAQ: ADP) proxy fight with activist investor Bill Ackman and his firm, Pershing Square, has not exactly been a private matter. In an increasingly heated, drawn-out exchange, Ackman and ADP CEO Carlos Rodriguez have been trading barbs as Ackman pushes for seats on the company's board, arguing that his candidates will help the company seize on an opportunity to improve its business model. "Our new question for ADP is why is it that ADP has lower revenue productivity than all of their competitors?" Ackman asked in an exclusive interview with Cramer . In the Wednesday interview, Ackman said that ADP generates average revenue of $160,000 per employee, while its competitors average $224,000 per employee. "When you think about ADP, it has enormous scale versus the competitors. So, if anything, they should have more efficiency," Ackman told Cramer. Insider Trading at Equifax? For Cramer, insider trading is no joke. "The moment a company's management finds out that it possesses material non-public information, they must immediately close the window on insider selling. Otherwise, the chance is way too great that some executive will take advantage of that inside information and dump stock, which may have happened at Equifax," Cramer said. So as federal prosecutors reportedly look into why three Equifax executives sold almost $2 million worth of the company's shares just days after Equifax (NYSE: EFX) underwent a massive cybersecurity breach , Cramer called on the Securities and Exchange Commission to investigate. Tyson Foods: From Zero to Hero Finally, Cramer examined Tyson Foods' (NYSE: TSN) almost superhero-like transformation to find out how the packaged food giant managed to forge its path to the top of a troubled industry. After a series of strong quarterly earnings results and sweeping initiatives employed by CEO Tom Hayes to improve the business, Tyson Foods' stock started to gain momentum. "[In] superhero terms, I'd say Tyson got its powers by mutating. The company changed in some big ways and it's quickly resulted in better numbers," Cramer said. The company also acquired AdvancePierre Foods Holdings, giving it a new ready-to-eat product line and exposure to convenience stores, which are outperforming the supermarket. Moreover, the stock's valuation is still fairly cheap, trading at only 13 times next year's earnings estimates, Cramer noted. "A year ago, Tyson looked like it was in real trouble. Now the company has taken the first steps toward transforming itself. It seems to be in great shape. Even though the stock has skyrocketed in recent months, I think it's got more room to run," the "Mad Money" host said. Lightning Round: Cramer's TEVA Strategy In Cramer's lightning round , he shared his take on some callers' favorite stocks: Teva Pharmaceuticals (NYSE: TEVA) : "This bad news should've been in the stock. It wasn't. People had been waiting for it. That's the loss of Copaxone exclusivity. However, I will tell you this: if you want to buy, Allergan owns 10 percent of the company. I think they have to sell that stake. That would be the time to pull the trigger if, indeed, you did want to be in it, of which I'm not crazy about." Seattle Genetics (NASDAQ: SGEN) : "They came through. Seattle Genetics, we met with them four years ago and I was really hopeful and it turned out they kind of spent some time in the wilderness and now they're in the land of Canaan. I want to own the stock." Questions for Cramer? Call Cramer: 1-800-743-CNBC Want to take a deep dive into Cramer's world? Hit him up! Mad Money Twitter - Jim Cramer Twitter - Facebook - Instagram - Vine Questions, comments, suggestions for the "Mad Money" website? madcap@cnbc.com More From CNBC This July 21, 2012, photo shows Equifax Inc., offices in Atlanta. Credit monitoring company Equifax says a breach exposed social security numbers and other data from about 143 million Americans. The Atlanta-based company said Thursday, Sept. 7, 2017, that "criminals" exploited a U.S. website application to access files between mid-May and July of this year. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart) The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has awarded a $7.25 million contract to Equifax (NYSE:EFX) in exchange for its help preventing fraud at the government agency. The no-bid contract, first reported by Politico, appears to have been finalized last week at a time when Equifax is still reeling from a massive hack that compromised the personal information of more than 145 million Americans. According to the filing, Equifax will verify taxpayer identity and assist in the ongoing identity verification and validations needs of the [IRS]. The contract is a sole source order, meaning the IRS is granting Equifax exclusive rights to provide these services. Meanwhile, former Equifax CEO Richard Smith has a series of testimonies on Capitol Hill this week, where he is faced with angry lawmakers who want answers about a megabreach that compromised the personal information of hundreds of millions of U.S. adults. The breach took place between Mid-May and July, and hackers accessed everything from Social Security numbers to birth dates to drivers license numbers. Related Articles The Trump administration plan to sharply cut corporate tax rates here in the U.S. just got a major shot in the arm from a surprising source: The European Union.Okay, so maybe the tax-hungry bureaucrats in Brussels aren't such a surprising bunch to inadvertently make the Trump tax plan look good. But boy, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and his pals sure have some of the best timing the White House and Republicans could have hoped for. That's because the European Commission came up with a daily double tax grab against U.S. companies for Wednesday. First, it ordered Amazon to fork over $294 million to Luxembourg for what it deems to be illegal tax benefits. But that's chump change, because then the EU announced it will be taking the government of Ireland to court to force it to collect $15.3 billion in taxes it says it should have collected from Apple.And how was your Wednesday morning? All of this comes just as the debate heats up over the Trump team's plan to cut U.S. corporate tax rates to 20 percent and offer them a 10 percent special repatriation rate for overseas parked cash for a limited time. The message of the day's news for Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) , Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) , and just about every other major U.S. corporation is now crystal clear: The days of being able to take advantage of highly favorable corporate rates in Europe are ending, and the exact expiration date could come anytime. They can continue to roll those dice overseas, or get behind the GOP effort to provide them with a reliably low tax rate right here in the good ol' USA. This comes less than 24 hours after billionaire investor Warren Buffett and Blackrock CEO Larry Fink both spoke out against the Trump plan to cut permanent corporate tax rates to 20 percent. Buffett and Fink cast doubt over how much America's higher rates hurt American corporate competitiveness, but who said "competitiveness" was the key issue here? It's about companies keeping more of their profits to reinvest or even just to pay out to shareholders. And the EU just gave us 15.6 billion answers to Buffett and Fink's competitiveness argument. If the folks in the White House and the GOP congressional leadership are smart, they'll not only point out this daily double tax whammy from the EU but they'll also quietly start to work with top CEOs to make sure they're learning today's tax lesson very well. Many corporate leaders may be reluctant to work openly in partnership with President Trump, but they can still push for these cuts while standing with a congressional leader or simply speak for themselves.A significantly lowered corporate tax rate will give the Amazons and the Apples of the world new confidence and certainty in their ability to hold on to domestic profits. Not only that, it will also encourage big companies to rethink parking billions overseas in the first place.The EU has just accidentally handed the Trump tax reform effort a major gift, and for American corporations and investors it could be a gift that keeps on giving.Commentary by Jake Novak, CNBC.com senior columnist. Follow him on Twitter@jakejakeny. For more insight from CNBC contributors, follow @CNBCopinion on Twitter. The Trump administration plan to sharply cut corporate tax rates here in the U.S. just got a major shot in the arm from a surprising source: The European Union. Okay, so maybe the tax-hungry bureaucrats in Brussels aren't such a surprising bunch to inadvertently make the Trump tax plan look good. But boy, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and his pals sure have some of the best timing the White House and Republicans could have hoped for. That's because the European Commission came up with a daily double tax grab against U.S. companies for Wednesday. First, it ordered Amazon to fork over $294 million to Luxembourg for what it deems to be illegal tax benefits. But that's chump change, because then the EU announced it will be taking the government of Ireland to court to force it to collect $15.3 billion in taxes it says it should have collected from Apple. And how was your Wednesday morning? All of this comes just as the debate heats up over the Trump team's plan to cut U.S. corporate tax rates to 20 percent and offer them a 10 percent special repatriation rate for overseas parked cash for a limited time. The message of the day's news for Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) , Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) , and just about every other major U.S. corporation is now crystal clear: The days of being able to take advantage of highly favorable corporate rates in Europe are ending, and the exact expiration date could come anytime. They can continue to roll those dice overseas, or get behind the GOP effort to provide them with a reliably low tax rate right here in the good ol' USA. This comes less than 24 hours after billionaire investor Warren Buffett and Blackrock CEO Larry Fink both spoke out against the Trump plan to cut permanent corporate tax rates to 20 percent. Buffett and Fink cast doubt over how much America's higher rates hurt American corporate competitiveness, but who said "competitiveness" was the key issue here? It's about companies keeping more of their profits to reinvest or even just to pay out to shareholders. And the EU just gave us 15.6 billion answers to Buffett and Fink's competitiveness argument. If the folks in the White House and the GOP congressional leadership are smart, they'll not only point out this daily double tax whammy from the EU but they'll also quietly start to work with top CEOs to make sure they're learning today's tax lesson very well. Many corporate leaders may be reluctant to work openly in partnership with President Trump, but they can still push for these cuts while standing with a congressional leader or simply speak for themselves. A significantly lowered corporate tax rate will give the Amazons and the Apples of the world new confidence and certainty in their ability to hold on to domestic profits. Not only that, it will also encourage big companies to rethink parking billions overseas in the first place. The EU has just accidentally handed the Trump tax reform effort a major gift, and for American corporations and investors it could be a gift that keeps on giving. Commentary by Jake Novak, CNBC.com senior columnist. Follow him on Twitter @jakejakeny . For more insight from CNBC contributors, follow @CNBCopinion on Twitter. More From CNBC Legend has it that Bezos's e-commerce giant Amazon was started in a garage in the 1990s (AFP Photo/LEON NEAL) (AFP/File) Brussels (AFP) - The EU turned the screw on US tech giants Wednesday, ordering Amazon to repay Luxembourg 250 million euros in back taxes and referring Ireland to the top EU court for failing to collect billions from Apple. Europe's competition chief Margrethe Vestager accused tiny Luxembourg of an illegal deal with internet shopping giant Amazon to pay less tax than other businesses. The two cases are part of a wider offensive by the EU on Silicon Valley behemoths as Europe seeks ways to regulate them more tightly on issues ranging from privacy to taxation. "Luxembourg gave illegal tax benefits to Amazon. As a result, almost three quarters of Amazon's profits were not taxed," Vestager said in a statement. The tax demand comes a year after the hard-charging Vestager ordered tech icon Apple to repay 13 billion euros ($14.5 billion) in back-taxes to Ireland in a decision that shocked the world. In a sign that it was not letting up, the EU on Wednesday referred Ireland to the EU's highest court for failing to collect the bill. "The European Commission has decided to refer Ireland to the European Court of Justice for failing to recover from Apple illegal state aid," the EU's anti-trust regulator said in a statement. For its part, Amazon rejected the charges and said it would "study the commission's ruling and consider our legal options". "We believe that Amazon did not receive any special treatment from Luxembourg and that we paid tax in full accordance with both Luxembourg and international tax law," it said in a statement. - Silicon Valley targeted - Vestager's announcement comes days after the EU said at a special digital summit that it was drawing up a special tax targeting Google and Facebook, a policy championed by French President Emmanuel Macron. Launched three years ago, the European Commission's probe into Amazon's deals with Luxembourg was part of several investigations into sweetheart tax arrangements between major companies and several EU countries. Story continues The commission -- the EU's powerful executive arm responsible for policing its competition rules -- opened the probe in 2014 in the belief that Luxembourg's tax favours to Amazon constituted "state aid" that distorts competition. Many came in the wake of the "Luxleaks" scandal which revealed details of tax breaks given by the tiny but wealthy duchy of Luxembourg to dozens of major US firms. The revelations came as a particular embarrassment for European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, who was prime minister of Luxembourg at the time when the tax deals were made. In similar cases, Vestager decided against the tax deals for coffee-shop chain Starbucks by the Netherlands and Italian automaker Fiat by Luxembourg -- both companies were ordered to pay roughly 30 million euros. The Amazon case hinges on the belief that a tax deal between Luxembourg and Amazon in 2003 constituted illegal state aid, giving the company an unfair advantage over competitors. Once found at fault, a country must recover the amount granted in illegal state aid, potentially a huge amount of money given that some of the tax deals date back many years. Amazon has sharply rejected the allegations, arguing that it employs 1,500 people in Luxembourg and that its business remains unprofitable in Europe. Vestager's biggest decision was by far against Apple in Ireland, which shocked Washington. The iPhone maker, as well as Ireland, have appealed the decision. Following a three-year investigation, the European Commission has ordered Amazon to pay 250 million ($293 million) in back taxes. Delivering the ruling Wednesday, competition commissioner Margrethe Vestager said that the e-commerce giant had been given undue tax benefits in Luxembourg, which is illegal under EU state aid rules. Almost three quarters of Amazons profits were not taxed. In other words, Amazon was allowed to pay four times less tax than other local companies subject to the same national tax rules, Vestager said. The tax regime which applied to Amazon stems from a ruling issued by Luxembourg in 2003 and extended in 2011. The E.C. claims that under the Luxembourg ruling, Amazon was able to shift the vast majority of its profits from an Amazon group company that is subject to tax in Luxembourg (Amazon EU) to a company which is not subject to tax (Amazon Europe Holding Technologies). Reacting to the European Commissions order to pay back taxes, Amazon said in a statement it did not receive any special treatment from Luxembourg. We paid tax in full accordance with both Luxembourg and international tax law. We will study the commissions ruling and consider our legal options, including an appeal, the company said. The crackdown on Amazon is part of a larger drive launched by the European Commission after it determined that Belgium had granted selective tax advantages to at least 35 multinationals. Vestager also said the commission was ready to take Ireland to the European Court of Justice for its failure to collect 13 billion ($15.2 billion) in back taxes from Apple. In August 2016, the commission found that Ireland had granted undue tax benefits to Apple and had ordered Ireland to retrieve the back taxes from Apple by Jan. 3. Related stories Amazon Reveals First Look at John Krasinski in 'Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan' (Watch) Story continues Amazon Boards BBC Drama 'A Very English Scandal' Jon Hamm to Play Archangel Gabriel in Amazon's 'Good Omens' Subscribe to Variety Newsletters and Email Alerts! Preet Bharara had fully anticipated that he could lose his job when President Donald Trump entered the Oval Office. After all, its standard protocol for US attorneys to be let go when the opposing party takes the executive branch. But the former US Attorney for the Southern District of New York was caught off guard because the context of his firing was slightly unusual. I really want Preet to stay At the Vanity Fair New Establishment Summit Wednesday, Bharara recounted a phone call he received from New York Senator Chuck Schumer eight days after the election. Schumer relayed the message to Bharara: I really want Preet to stay. So, Bharara met with then president-elect Trump, Steve Bannon and Jared Kushner on the 26th floor of the Trump Tower in midtown Manhattan on November 30. It was a very nice meeting and an unusual meeting. People like to use the word unprecedented. Im not aware of any time when a new president-elect has asked to meet with a particular US attorney, particularly one who was appointed by a president of the other party. And he was very complimentary of the work that my office had done and asked me to stay on for another term, and I agreed. I agreed to stay, he said. Former U.S. attorney Preet Bharara sits duringa a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Naturalization ceremony at One World Observatory in Manhattan, New York, U.S., August 15, 2017. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton But, then, between the election and his inauguration, Bharara started receiving phone calls from the president seemingly innocuous chit chats, he said. But Bharara said that anyone who has seen some of the testimony of former FBI director Jim Comey can attest that its unusual to be called by the president. Its less unusual for an FBI director who has to deal with national security and terrorism issues, but Donald Trump kept calling me on the phone just to chat about stuff, he explained. Trump called Bharara again on January 18, just two days before his inauguration. Bharara concluded that it was appropriate to take his calls, as Trump was still president-elect and had no real authority. We made a determination among ourselves, including with the head of DOJ transition at the time, that this should not continue to happen after this man becomes president, for a lot of reasons, including the appearance issue. And, the appearance issue related to, among other things, the kind of jurisdiction that I had in Manhattan as the top federal prosecutor there, over businesses and people and buildings, he said. Story continues A missed call from the president Then, on March 9, Bharara missed a call from the president, because his assistant had left early for the day. After an hour of contemplation, Bharara decided not to return the call. Its not an easy thing not to return a call of anybody who is putatively your boss. And this is the president of the United States. When youre a US attorney, attorney general or FBI director, you have to maintain an arms length because of the independence and integrity of not just investigations you may have ongoing but the perception of what that independence is, said Bharara. Trump who had been so critical of the tarmac meeting between Bill Clinton and then-Attorney General Loretta Lynch when she was in charge of an investigation of candidate Hillary Clinton was engaging in the same kind of inappropriate conduct, according to Bharara. Donald Trump himself had used that for great political advantage at every rally that I heard him at, saying, Well, something untoward must have happened. And here we were, with the president of the United States calling me, unbeknownst I think to the attorney general or anyone else, he said. Bharara said even though each of his interactions with the president were entirely innocent, he didnt want to leave any room for interpretation and misjudgment. Maybe it was going to be a natural, fun conversation and chit chat, but how was it going to look later to other people? So I didnt return the call, he explained. I wasnt refusing to resign out of any kind of defiance Twenty hours later, he was asked for his resignation, which Bharara refused to do because he was genuinely perplexed, given Trumps apparent affinity for him. I wasnt refusing to resign out of any kind of defiance. I didnt know if it was a mistake because these guys are not so competent about things like with the travel ban or anything else. I had had this meeting with great fanfare. Maybe they forgot that I had a different kind of position, he said. Given that this man had asked me to stay and shaken my hand and no circumstances had changed to my knowledge, that if he wanted me to go, it should be clear that he wanted me to go, and not some acting functionary at the Department of Justice, because I dont know whats going to come up later. Bharara said he believes that had he not been fired and if the phone calls had continued in private, he would have been backed into a corner. At some point, the purpose of cultivating a relationship with the sitting US attorney of Manhattan was going to be to ask me to do something inappropriate. I cant prove that, I dont know that for a fact, but given all the evidence and common sense and my having lived life for some period of time and having a sense of that guys character, I think thats what would have happened, and so here we are, he said. While Bharara still hasnt received an explanation, he knows it is not normal to be forced to vacate the premises by midnight that day. Its been seven months since he was fired, and there still hasnt been a replacement nominated for his former post. Now, Bharara is a distinguished scholar in residence at NYU Law, a legal analyst for CNN and has a weekly podcast, Stay Tuned with Preet. Despite the less-than-desirable circumstances of his firing, Bharara has been enjoying his professional career change. Im not complaining about it, here I am at Vanity Fair, its awesome, he said, and Im leading a great life. Melody Hahm is a writer at Yahoo Finance, covering entrepreneurship, technology and real estate. Follow her on Twitter @melodyhahm. Read more: (Reuters) - Global banks have said they could move thousands of jobs out of Britain to prepare for the country's planned exit from the European Union. Financial service companies need a regulated subsidiary in an EU country to offer products across the bloc, which could prompt some to move some operations out of Britain if it loses access to the European single market. Around 10,000 finance jobs will be shifted out of Britain or created overseas in the next few years if the UK is denied access to the single market, a Reuters survey of firms employing the bulk of workers in international finance shows. Following are related stories about top banks (in alphabetical order): ASSOCIATION OF FOREIGN BANKS IN GERMANY The association expects 3,000 to 5,000 new jobs in Frankfurt over the next two years as a result of Brexit, its head Stefan Winter, of UBS, told Welt am Sonntag in June. He said he expected 12 to 14 major banks to expand their Frankfurt sites significantly or build new ones. BANK OF AMERICA CORP Bank of America (BAC.N) named former CFO Bruce Thompson as the new leader of its European global banking and markets operations to be based in Dublin, according to a company memo from Chief Operating Officer Tom Montag. Bank of America is looking to lease more office space in Paris as the bank prepares to expand its operations in the French capital to cope with the impact of Brexit, according to two sources familiar with the matter. The bank has already said it has picked Dublin as the new legal headquarters for its EU operations. Bank of America said in August that its businesses and results could be adversely affected and it may have to incur additional costs if Brexit limited the ability of its UK entities to conduct business in the EU. BARCLAYS Barclays (BARC.L) has signed a lease agreement for more office space in Dublin as it prepares to expand its operations there to cope with the impact of Brexit. It said in July that it was talking with Irish regulators about extending its activities in Dublin. Story continues Chief Executive Jes Staley has said that Barclays will keep the bulk of its activities in Britain and any changes to how the bank operates would be small and manageable. BNP PARIBAS BNP Paribas (BNPP.PA) may move up to 300 London investment bank staff because of Brexit, depending how clients adapt and the French bank's efforts to win new UK business, a source said. The company had 3,123 staff in its corporate and institutional bank in Britain at end-2016, down from 3,294 a year earlier, internal documents seen by Reuters showed. CITIGROUP Citigroup (C.N) is applying for a license to conduct sales and trading activities in France, James Cowles, Citi's chief executive for Europe, the Middle East & Africa (EMEA) told a French newspaper. Citigroup has said it may need to create 150 new jobs in the EU and confirmed it would headquarter its EU trading operations in Frankfurt. The U.S. bank is also at an advanced stage in plans to move part of its private banking unit from London to Madrid, a source familiar with the matter said. CREDIT AGRICOLE Credit Agricole (CAGR.PA), France's third-biggest listed bank, could relocate about 100 employees from its London hub to France out of 1,000 based there in the case of a "hard" Brexit, its chief executive said. Credit Agricole is to move its European government bonds trading platform from London to Paris in September 2017, a spokeswoman told Reuters. CREDIT SUISSE Credit Suisse's (CSGN.S) Chief Executive Tidjane Thiam said in September that his bank is relatively well placed to deal with Brexit and that only 15-20 percent of volumes in the investment bank would be affected. DAIWA SECURITIES GROUP Japan's No. 2 brokerage Daiwa Securities Group said it will set up a subsidiary in Frankfurt, making it one of the first banks to publicly choose Germany to keep a foothold in the EU. The group has said it would still keep staff in London even after Brexit. It has 450 staff working in the EU now, mostly in the British capital. The German city is Daiwa's favored destination, as London-based staff can easily be transferred to its investment banking branch in Frankfurt, Chief Executive Seiji Nakata said. DEUTSCHE BANK Deutsche Bank (DBKGn.DE) is beefing up its presence in Frankfurt. Chief Executive John Cryan said the German lender expected to add new jobs in Frankfurt, where it will replicate a structure that is interchangeable with its London operations and evolve as Brexit negotiations unfold. Deutsche Bank warned in April that up to 4,000 UK jobs could be moved to Frankfurt and other EU locations - the highest potential move of any bank. European supervisors want Deutsche Bank to prepare a fallback plan, laying out how it could shift the clearing of trades from London, one person told Reuters. Deutsche Bank is "uncomfortable" with the uncertainty over regulations following Brexit, a senior official at Germany's biggest bank said. EUROCLEAR Settlement bank Euroclear is looking at setting up a branch or subsidiary to provide a route between its UK and Irish markets, the head of its UK and Irish operation said. FRENCH BANKING FEDERATION French banks could shift about 1,000 jobs from London to Paris to keep staff in the EU, the French Banking Federation said. GOLDMAN SACHS U.S. bank Goldman Sachs (GS.N) is considering moving up to 1,000 staff to Frankfurt because of concerns over Brexit, Handelsblatt reported in January. Goldman will begin moving hundreds of people out of London before any Brexit deal is struck as part of its contingency plans, the CEO of its European arm said in March. Wolfgang Fink, co-chief of Goldman Sachs in Germany, said in September it may triple or quadruple its presence in Frankfurt. The bank has since agreed to lease office space at a new building in Frankfurt as it prepares for Brexit, a spokesman for the bank said on Oct. 4. HSBC HSBC (HSBA.L) could spend up to $300 million moving jobs and parts of its business to Paris, CEO Stuart Gulliver said. The estimate includes the costs of relocating up to 1,000 jobs to the French capital and associated legal fees. INVESTEC Investec (INVP.L) (INLJ.J) is considering converting its London bank's Dublin branch into a subsidiary to ensure it has continued access to the European single market, Chief Executive Stephen Koseff told The Telegraph in May. However, the Anglo-South African lender and asset manager would see only a small part of its business affected by Brexit, the newspaper quoted Koseff as saying. (http://bit.ly/2qywZzY) JPMORGAN JPMorgan Chase (JPM.N), the biggest U.S. bank by assets, said in July that the bank would probably use Frankfurt as the legal domicile of its European operations after Brexit, though jobs could be moved elsewhere as well. The U.S. bank has also agreed to buy a Dublin building with room for 1,000 staff in the first sign of a financial services company expanding significantly in Ireland since the government began a major campaign to attract businesses after Brexit. However, the bank, which employs about 500 people in Dublin, did not say how many jobs would be created or whether any positions would be moved from the United Kingdom. JPMorgan has chosen Warsaw to host a new global operations center that will employ several thousand people over the next few years, Polish Deputy Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said. U.S. bank JPMorgan Chase JPM.N plans to hire more than 3,000 people in its new global operations center in the next three years, the Polish Development Ministry said in September, though the moves are not directly linked to Brexit. JULIUS BAER Julius Baer, Switzerland's third-biggest private bank, is moving its European hub from Frankfurt to Luxembourg but will continue to keep its options open in London, chief executive Boris Collardi has said. Brexit opens the door for a UK-Swiss deal covering financial services, said Collardi. Julius Baer is opening three new UK offices as it looks to the bank for wealthy residents spooked by Brexit. LLOYDS BANKING GROUP Lloyds Banking Group (LLOY.L), Britain's largest mortgage lender and the only major British retail bank without a subsidiary in another EU country, is close to selecting Berlin as a European base to secure EU market access. MORGAN STANLEY Morgan Stanley (MS.N) has chosen Frankfurt to be a new base for its EU operations, a source familiar with the matter said. "That means 200 new people will be coming to Frankfurt," the source said. Morgan Stanley has identified many of the roles that will need to be moved from Britain, sources involved in the processes said. The U.S. bank, which bases the bulk of its European staff in Britain, will have to move up to 1,000 jobs in sales and trading, risk management, legal and compliance, as well as slimming the back office in favor of locations overseas, one source told Reuters. Morgan Stanley could initially shift 300 staff from Britain after its EU exit and is scouting for office space in Frankfurt and Dublin, Bloomberg News reported in February. The bank plans to double the number of its bankers in Frankfurt to 400, Welt am Sonntag reported in June. MIZUHO Japan's Mizuho Financial Group (8411.T) said it would set up a subsidiary in Frankfurt, the latest Japanese bank to choose the German city as its new base in the European Union as Britain prepares to leave the bloc. MITSUBISHI UFJ FINANCIAL GROUP Japan's Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc said in September that it has picked Amsterdam as its EU investment banking base. NOMURA Nomura Holdings Inc is applying for a license to operate a new entity in Frankfurt. NORTHERN TRUST Asset management company Northern Trust (NTRS.O) has said it will set up an EU banking base in Luxembourg. Around a third of Northern Trust's institutional clients have asked it to ringfence British exposure from their broader European portfolios to protect them from Brexit-related risks. RBS Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS.L) said it may move up to around 150 jobs to Amsterdam after Brexit. RBS also said it was in talks with the Dutch central bank to use a license it has in the Netherlands to conduct some Natwest Markets business there if it becomes necessary. RBS Chief Executive Ross McEwan said the bank will enact its Brexit plans by the end of March 2018 if no clarity emerges about Britain's ability to retain access to the single market. SOCIETE GENERALE Societe Generale (SOGN.PA) could move 400 corporate and investment banking jobs from London, with most going to Paris, Chief Executive Frederic Oudea said in July. Oudea said the possible move of jobs after Brexit would affect 300-400 investment banking jobs out of 2,000 it has overall for that business in London. STANDARD CHARTERED Standard Chartered will need to spend around $20 million making Frankfurt its European base in order to secure market access to the European Union when Britain leaves the bloc, Chief Executive Bill Winters told Reuters in August. SUMITOMO MITSUI FINANCIAL Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc said its core banking unit, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp (SMBC), has decided to set up a subsidiary in Frankfurt. TD SECURITIES TD Securities, the investment banking arm of Toronto-Dominion Bank Group (TD.TO), said it would expand operations in Dublin to bolster its European business in response to uncertainty triggered by Brexit. UBS UBS (UBSG.S) is weighing up whether to move banking jobs in London to Frankfurt, Madrid or Amsterdam to cope with Britain's planned EU departure, Chief Executive Sergio Ermotti said in July. The bank has estimated that it would need to "move 1,500 people" from London to the EU to retain full passporting rights, according to Chairman Axel Weber. That would be more than a quarter of its 5,500 staff in London. The world's biggest wealth manager has also set up a bank in Frankfurt to consolidate most of its European wealth management operations. (Compiled by Noor Zainab Hussain and Esha Vaish in Bengaluru; Editing by Rachel Armstrong, Alexander Smith, Greg Mahlich) In order to prepare for the future, Ford (NYSE:F) will embark on a plan to bolster its bread-and-butter business of selling lucrative trucks and SUVs. CEO Jim Hackett, who took over Americas second-largest automaker in May, laid out his vision for the future Tuesday evening during a presentation to investors. But much of Hacketts strategy is focused on Fords existing business of selling vehicles. The theory is this: Ford can only invest in self-driving cars and other new technologiesand avoid being disrupted by Silicon Valleyif it tends to its current product lineup. I think yesterdays announcement [by Ford] was about what are we going to do now, and what are we doing about the future, said Michelle Krebs, executive analyst for Autotrader. Its a tricky tightrope. Ford has spent recent years touting efforts in electric vehicles, connected cars and autonomous vehicles, though its execution of those initiatives had come into question. Meanwhile, Ford fell behind some rivals in launching new and refreshed SUVs, as well as midsize pickup trucks. The company has revealed plans to bring the Ranger truck back to the U.S. market in 2019, followed by the Bronco SUV a year later. Ford also said Tuesday it will begin installing mobile WiFi hotspots in all of its U.S. models by 2019, years behind General Motors (NYSE:GM). Trucks and SUVs are profitable vehicles to make. By committing more resources to those segments, Ford aims to lift its profit margin to 8%, up from around 6%. Ford also disclosed that it will cut a total of $14 billion in costs of the next five years, including the elimination of unnamed car models. The Dearborn, Michigan-based company expects to continue seeking partnerships in certain geographic regions. It already partnered with Mahindra in India and plans to move production of the Focus to China. Those cuts, in addition to healthier profits from trucks and SUVs, will help fund the development of electric cars, self-driving vehicles and new ventures. Ford said spending on internal combustion engines will drop by a third, or about $500 million, by 2022. Story continues In a note to clients, analysts at Deutsche Bank said Ford has spent years building a relatively bloated cost structure without a clear focus. It remains difficult for us to assess the impact of the changes Ford is making, and whether these will offset mounting headwindscyclical, structural, or technological, Deutsche Banks Rod Lache wrote. Investors remain cautious, Lache added, as they await more details from Ford. Like other manufacturers, Ford could choose to further pull production capacity from slow-selling sedans in the near term. There are also lingering concerns that Ford is playing a game of catch-up while other automakers race ahead. Krebs said Ford had been talking about developments in new technologies, but it Ford couldnt seem to get it executed. As for its current stable of vehicles, car shoppers can expect some changes at Ford. Theyre sorting out the product line by eliminating some cars and putting that money into SUVs. They really needed to do this. They have some strong [SUVs], but they need to keep them fresh, Krebs said. Ford shares were trading 0.4% higher at $12.39 in recent trading Wednesday. The stock is up 3.8% since the start of the week. Related Articles US media reported that three people were killed and two others wounded in the incident at a distribution center for the Rite Aid drugstore chain (AFP Photo/Mark RALSTON) (AFP/File) Washington (AFP) - US online giants acknowledged Tuesday they failed to prevent rumors and misinformation from being circulated during and after the deadly mass shooting in Las Vegas. Facebook, Google and Twitter said they were working on fixes after learning of fake news ending up in feeds and searches following the shooting that killed 59 and injured over 500 people. Some rumors identified the wrong person as the shooter, others named a search for a female person of interest described as a "Trump-hating Rachel Maddow fan," referring to an MSNBC host who is a fierce critic of President Donald Trump. After news outlets pointed out false reports from the 4chan message board were appearing at the top of Google search results, the internet giant said it acted to correct the problem. "Within hours, the 4chan story was algorithmically replaced by relevant results," Google said in an email to AFP. "This should not have appeared for any queries, and we'll continue to make improvements to prevent this from happening in the future." Facebook said it discovered a false news story on the shooting and acted to remove it. "However, its removal was delayed by a few minutes, allowing it to be screen captured and circulated online," Facebook said. "We are working to fix the issue that allowed this to happen in the first place and deeply regret the confusion this caused." Twitter said it too was stepping up efforts to weed out false reports on the shooting. "We are aware of this issue and are proactively taking action on content that violates our terms of service," a Twitter spokesman said. The online giants have faced increasing pressure to prevent manipulation of their platforms after revelations of Russian-led efforts to spread misinformation ahead of the 2016 US election. In Las Vegas, Stephen Paddock, a 64-year-old gambler and retired accountant, was identified as the shooter who fired on a huge crowd at an outdoor country music concert before killing himself. Investigators are trying to establish a motive for the deadliest mass shooting in recent US history, but so far have been unable to pin down what drove Paddock to shoot into the crowds from a 32nd floor hotel room. U.S. new-vehicle sales in September posted the first monthly year-over-year gain in 2017, due in part to replacement of lost or damaged vehicles following hurricanes in Texas and Florida. In addition, higher rebates and other incentives sweetened sales during the month. On an actual sales basis, September new-car deliveries improved 6.3% from a year ago to almost 1.53 million units. Truck demand in September was especially robust, accounting for 65% of the sales mix. American Honda Motor Co. (Honda), Ford Motor Co. (Ford), General Motors (GM), Nissan North America (Nissan), Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. (Toyota) and VW Group of America (VW) reported higher deliveries this year. Auto Sales photo SUVs and large pickups primed September auto sales for largest U.S. automaker GM (+11.9%), which reported a second monthly gain, and for Ford (+8.9%), which tallied an increase after a 3-month fall-off. Trucks and new model-year vehicles also buffed up totals for major Japanese automakers: Honda (+6.8%), Nissan (+9.5%), and Toyota (+14.9%). Contrarily, SUV and truck strength could not offset a 9.7% drop for Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), nor a 5.5% dip for Hyundai Motor (Hyundai). Among the Europeans, VW (+23.2%) continued its revival from last years diesel-emission cheating debacle. Mercedes-Benz (-1.7%), the months luxury brand volume leader, and BMW (-0.4%) brands also had slightly better news with nearly stable deliveries. Jaguar Land Rover and Volvo also posted increases, while the independents (Mazda, Mitsubishi, and Subaru) posted gains. Highlights: September 2017 Auto Sales Following are September 2017 new-vehicle sales highlights (based on actual totals) for each major automaker: American Honda Motor Co.A September record was set with total sales for American Honda (+6.8%) improving to 142,722 units. Honda brand (+7.4%) delivered 129,766 units, with cars up 14.5%. Acura (+10%) sales increased to 12,946 units with a record tally for the MDX crossover SUV. Hondas strongest performers with double-digit gains were the Civic (35,452 units) and the HR-V. Combined sales of Hondas core modelsAccord, Civic, and CR-Vreached nearly 100,000 units. BMW of North AmericaGroup sales at BMW (-0.4%) dipped slightly to 29,307 units, although BMW brand (+0.7%) deliveries inched up to 25,571 units with double- and triple-digit gains for the 4 Series and 5 Series cars and gains for the X5. In contrast, Mini (-7.2%) delivered only 3,736 units. Notably, sales of BMWs plug-in hybrid EVs rose 14.9% last month. Fiat Chrysler AutomobilesDeliveries at FCA (-9.7%) declined to 174,266 units in September despite records for the Jeep Compass and Renegade, Chrysler Pacifica, two Ram van lines, and a 45% gain for the Dodge Durango. FCA continued to draw back on less-profitable fleet sales. All FCA brands in September declined except for Alfa Romeo. Ram (-0.3%) and Jeep (-3.8%) were down the least. Chrysler brand (-16.2%), Dodge (-30.3%), and Fiat (-24.3%) posted significant declines. Ford Motor Co.Positive results for Ford Motor Co. (+8.7%) included a September sales rise to 222,248 units. Additionally, Ford (+9.1%) was Americas top-volume brand last month with 213,446 deliveries. The F-Series (+21.4%) dominated with sales soaring to 82,303 units, with premium trims accounting for 52% of sales, according to Ford. The automaker reported increases for the Focus, C-Max, and Fusion on the car side. SUV strength came from the Explorer and Edge plus the Transit van. Lincoln (+0.1%) remained stable with 8,802 unit sales, with the MKX, MKC, and the Navigator posting gains. General MotorsIt was another good sales month for GM (+11.9%) as total deliveries surged to 279,397 units, with muscle from flagship Chevrolet (+17.4%) and GMC (+9.4%) brands. Crossovers (+43%) starred for the domestic automaker. Chevrolet delivered 199,801 new vehicles, with stellar performances from the redone Equinox (+80.3%) and Traverse (+50.8%). The Silverado (+21.7%) also excelled with 55,296 deliveries. GMC Savana sales more than doubled, while deliveries of the Acadia and Terrain SUVs were strong. Cadillac (+1.1%) sales were helped by the XT5 (+58.5%) crossover, while Buick (-20%) sank despite a boost from the new Envision. Hyundai Motor AmericaTotal deliveries at Hyundai (-5.5%) were 109,475 units. Hyundai brand (-14%) and its premium Genesis brand sales slumped to 57,007 units. The Hyundai Tucson (+37%) was a top performer. In contrast, Kia (+6.6%) delivered 52,468 units for a September record with the Forte taking the lead from the best-selling Soul, plus double-digit gains for the Optima and Cadenza. Jaguar Land Rover N.A.Jaguar and Land Rover dealers combined to deliver 9,703 new vehicles in September. Jaguar (+24%) sales climbed to 3,296 units, while Land Rover (+14%) sold 6,407 units with momentum for the new Velar. Mazda North AmericaMazda (+3.4%) delivered 25,738 units, with strength from the MX-5 Miata (+8.2%) and CX-5 SUV (+32.6%). Mercedes-Benz USAGroup deliveries at Mercedes-Benz USA (-2.2%) slipped to 32,337 units. Mercedes-Benz brand (-1.7%) sales were 29,008 units. Best performers were premium SUVs: GLA-Class, GLE-Class, and GLS-Class models. Sprinter van (+4%) sales rose to 3,088, while Smart delivered 241 units. Mitsubishi Motors N.A.Sales at Mitsubishi (+17.2%) climbed to 8,430 units with the Outlander achieving a strong performance. Nissan North AmericaSeptember 2017 was a record month for the group and Nissan brand. Group (+9.5%) deliveries rose to 139,932 units and the Nissan brand (+9.3%) sold 127,187 units, with the Rogue (+47%) delivering 38,969 units. The Sentra, Maxima, Armada, and Titan also achieved high double-digit increases. Infiniti (+11.7%) delivered 12,745 units with its premium SUVs up by nearly one-third. The Q50 and QX60 were Infinitis best-sellers. Subaru of AmericaIn September, Subaru (+0.4%) sales rose to 55,120 units with monthly bests for the Crosstrek and Impreza. Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A.Toyota (+14.9%) roared ahead to 226,632 units, topping Ford Motor. Both Toyota and Lexus brands set monthly records. Toyota brand (+16.9%) sold 200,436 new vehicles in September and Lexus (+1.5%) delivered 26,196 new vehicles. Overall SUV sales increased 43.2%, with the RAV4 (+44%) selling 42,395 units. Highlander and 4Runner sales also improved. Best-selling car Camry (+13.1%) set the pace with the new 2018 model reaching showrooms. Lexus best performers were the RX, GX, and NX luxury SUVs. VW Group of AmericaOverall VW (+23.2%) deliveries rose to 51,508 units. The VW brand (+33.2%) sold 32,112 units with a best September for the GTI and continued momentum for the redone Tiguan and new Atlas SUV with combined sales of over 7,000 units. Audi (+9.6%) sales totaled 19,308 units, driven by demand for the new Q5 and Q7 plus the A5 Sporback. Porsche (+1.3%) sales grew to 5,059 units, with the Panamera doubling and Macan setting a record. Volvo Cars N.A.Sales at Volvo grew to 7,900 units with a bump from the new XC60 luxury crossover SUV. Story continues Additional Research: Abstract: U.S. new-vehicle sales in September posted the first monthly year-over-year gain in 2017, due in part to replacement of lost or damaged vehicles following hurricanes in Texas and Florida. Year: 2 017 Check this if this is NOT an Articles Listing Page: New or Used: New Display Article Date?: Article Is Flipbook: No Recall: Country artist Jason Aldean has canceled three upcoming shows out of respect for the victims of the mass shooting in Las Vegas, he said in a statement. "As a result of what happened in Las Vegas this week, we have decided to cancel this coming weekends shows," he wrote. "I feel like out of By Arielle Gordon Country artist Jason Aldean has canceled three upcoming shows out of respect for the victims of the mass shooting in Las Vegas, he said in a statement. As a result of what happened in Las Vegas this week, we have decided to cancel this coming weekends shows, he wrote. I feel like out of respect for the victims, their families and our fans, it is the right thing to do. It has been an emotional time for everyone involved this week, so we plan to take some time to mourn the ones we have lost and be close with our family and friends. Aldean was set to play three shows across California this weekend, all of which have now been cancelled and refunded. The tour is set to resume October 12 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In his statement, Aldean also stressed the importance of resilience and support from fans: Our first time back onstage will be a very tough and emotional thing for us, but we will all get through it together and honor the people we lost by doing the only thing we know how to do play our songs for them. Jason Aldean was performing the closing set of the three-day Route 91 Harvest country music festival in Las Vegas on Sunday when shots rang out into the crowd. Stephen Paddock, perched over the festival from his room at the Mandalay Bay Hotel, killed 59 festival goers and injured over 500. Aldean, who was quickly ushered off stage, has shared several statements with fans since the attack. A charitable fund for victims and families has been set up in the wake of the shooting. This post Jason Aldean Cancels Three Shows Out of Respect for Las Vegas Victims first appeared on SPIN. david choi skitch During his Sunday night shooting spree on the Las Vegas Strip, some of Stephen Paddock's bullets reportedly hit two nearby aviation fuel tanks, a source told the Las Vegas Review-Journal in a report published on Wednesday. Although bullet holes were found on the massive circular tanks, the rounds had failed to pierce through, according to the Review-Journal's source who the newspaper said was knowledgeable of the ongoing investigation. The tanks were 1,100 feet from the concert site, where the Route 91 Harvest country music event was being held. FBI agents reportedly inspected the tanks, which construction crews have since repaired and painted, and measured the direction of the gunfire from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, the hotel where Paddock fired on a crowd of about 22,000 people below. The two windows that Paddock broke in order to fire his weapons had direct views of the concert venue and at the fuel tanks, the Review-Journal reported. At least 58 people were killed and 489 were injured after Paddock fired on the concert attendees. Paddock had a cache of firearms in his room, at least one of which had a legally obtainable "bump stock" modification that allowed him to fire rounds much faster than a semiautomatic rifle. NOW WATCH: Here's why so many nations want to control the South China Sea and what China wants to do More From Business Insider The girlfriend of a retiree who killed 58 people and then himself in a shooting rampage in Las Vegas arrived from the Philippines in Los Angeles, where FBI agents hoped to question her about the massacre, law enforcement officials said. Marilou Danley, who U.S. authorities have described as a person of interest in the investigation, left Manila on Tuesday evening aboard Philippine Airlines Flight PR 102, according to Philippines immigration spokeswoman Antonette Mangrobang. The non-stop flight arrived as scheduled at about 7:30 p.m. local time on Tuesday (0230 GMT Wednesday) at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), according to the airline tracking website FlightAware.com and passengers from the flight. Mangrobang told Reuters by text message there was no information about whether Danley was traveling with anyone else. A police official in Manila and a law enforcement official in the United States, both speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters that Danley left the Philippines unescorted but was being met by Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents in Los Angeles. The U.S. source said Danley was not under arrest but that the FBI hoped she would consent to be interviewed voluntarily. The police official in Manila said Danleys trip back to the United States was coordinated with FBI authorities and that she was returning to clear her name of any involvement in the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history. Stephen Paddock, her live-in companion who killed himself moments before police stormed the Las Vegas hotel suite he had transformed into a snipers nest on Sunday night, left no clear clues about why he staged his attack on an outdoor concert below the high-rise building. Law enforcement authorities are hoping to obtain some answers from Danley, who according to public records and police shared Paddocks condo in a retirement community in Mesquite, Nevada, about 90 miles (145 km) northeast of Las Vegas. Story continues The Philippine police official said authorities in Manila were told that Paddock used identification belonging to Danley, who has an Australian passport, when checking in to the Las Vegas hotel. Investigators are also examining a $100,000 wire transfer that Paddock sent to an account in the Philippines that appeared to be intended for Danley, a senior U.S. homeland security official told Reuters on Tuesday. The official, who has been briefed regularly on the probe but spoke on condition of anonymity, said investigators were working on the assumption that the money was intended as a form of life insurance payment to Danley. The official said U.S. authorities were eager to question Danley about whether Paddock encouraged her to leave the United States before going on his rampage. Danley arrived in Manila on Sept. 15, more than two weeks before the mass shooting in Las Vegas, then flew to Hong Kong on Sept. 22 and returned in Manila on Sept. 25. She was there until she flew to LAX on Tuesday night, according to a Philippine immigration official who spoke on condition of anonymity. Danley, an Australian citizen aged 62 who is reported to have been born in the Philippines, was not seen by reporters in any public area of the LAX arrival terminal. A flight attendant from the plane declined to comment, as did an airline manager at the terminal, citing privacy concerns, when asked if they had seen Danley. One passenger told Reuters she overheard members of the flight crew saying that one of them had escorted Danley from the plane. The New York Times reported Danley has a daughter who lives in Los Angeles. Netflix and Marvel Television have scrapped plans to present a panel for upcoming series The Punisher at New York Comic-Con. We are stunned and saddened by this weeks senseless act in Las Vegas, Netflix and Marvel said in a joint statement. After careful consideration, Netflix and Marvel have decided it wouldnt be appropriate for Marvels The Punisher to participate in New York Comic Con. Our thoughts continue to be with the victims and those affected by this tragedy. Marvel and Netflix had been expected to present a panel for the series Oct. 7. A spin-off from season 2 of Daredevil, The Punisher tells the story of Frank Castle, a combat veteran whose family is killed in a organized-crime shootout. Castle uses his military skills to kill the criminals responsible for his familys death. The series is based on the Marvel Comics character, whose adventures are known to feature an intense amount of gun violence. Related stories 'The Punisher' Unloads in First Trailer for Netflix Series (Watch) New York Comic-Con 2017 TV Schedule: Find Out Which Shows Are Heading to NYCC 'Punisher' Netflix Series Debuts First Footage at Comic-Con Subscribe to Variety Newsletters and Email Alerts! In February 2018, Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellens four years at the top of the central bank will come to an end. And sometime before then, President Donald Trump will nominate a replacement in what could be the most consequential economic decision of his presidency so far. Or maybe it actually wont be such a big deal. Rick Rieder, global chief investment officer of fixed income at BlackRock (BLK), said Thursday that as markets have started to handicap the race to replace Yellen, its worth keeping in mind that unlike an elected office, the top spot at the Federal Reserve doesnt bring with it the kind of regime change that some might expect. Janet Yellens current turn at the chair expires in February, and the Trump administration is looking into either re-nominating her, or replacing her. I think theres one thing thats really important about the institution of the Federal Reserve that I think is different than an elected official, Rieder said. Elected officials oftentimes come in and talk about the prior person who occupied that seat and change it dramatically. At the Fed, the staff drives a lot of the thinking and so, at least for the near-term, I think [the impact a new Chair would have on markets] is muted. Meet the frontrunners for Fed Chair Last week, The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin met with both Kevin Warsh, a former Fed governor, and Jerome Powell, a current Fed governor, to discuss their nomination to the top spot. A report from Bloomberg on Tuesday indicated that Warsh and Powell, along with Yellen and Trumps top economic advisor Gary Cohn, were on a short list of candidates for the job. John Taylor, an economics professor at Stanford, is also reportedly under consideration for the job. Possible contenders for Fed Chair. Warsh was appointed during the Bush administration and served with the Fed through the financial crisis, and while Bernanke called Warshs advice invaluable in his 2015 book The Courage to Act, he was critical of some of the Feds decisions to expand its quantitative easing program after the crisis period. Widely-followed bond investor Jeffrey Gundlach, speaking at the Vanity Fair New Establishment Summit on Tuesday, said he thinks that current Minneapolis Fed president Neel Kashkari will be the next Fed chair. And while Kashkaris odds to be the next Fed chair shot up in prediction markets following Gundlachs comment, he did concede that, I think Im the only person on Gods green earth who believes the next Fed chair will be Kashkari. Story continues Rieder, however, did say that while Warsh and Powell appear to be the current favorites to succeed Yellen, I think theres always a chance that its another candidate. My sense is that [the Trump administration] can cast a wide net, Rieder said. And so unlike a book award that selects a winner from a short-list of candidates, the White Houses Fed search is not subject to such constraints. And overall, Rieder thinks that recent history shows the Fed has a tendency to keep its policy goals aligned when moving from one Fed chair to another. I think you saw this from Bernanke evolving to Yellen, Rieder said. You put in place a program and the next Chair tends to execute that. The balance sheet run-off, for example, that the Fed announced in September is likely to remain in place, or as Rieder said, will be on autopilot. At her press conference following the Feds September 21 policy announcement, Yellen emphasized that unless extraordinary circumstances arose think, another financial crisis-type event in markets the balance sheet reduction would not likely be paused until its forecast completion early next decade. Myles Udland is a writer at Yahoo Finance. Follow him on Twitter @MylesUdland Read more from Myles here: A pump jack is seen at sunrise near Bakersfield, California October 14, 2014. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson/File Photo By David Gaffen NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil prices fell on Wednesday after a surprising jump in U.S. crude exports to a record 2 million barrels per day fanned worries about global oversupply. U.S. crude stockpiles fell sharply last week, but crude exports rose to 1.98 million bpd, the Energy Information Administration said. [EIA/S] U.S. exports have became more attractive to buyers because the price of U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude (WTI) futures has been trading at a steep discount to Brent. Rising U.S. crude production has held down WTI prices, while Brent's price has been heavily influenced by policy directions over output cuts led by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries. WTI (CLc1) settled down 44 cents to $49.98 a barrel while Brent (LCOc1) fell 20 cents to $55.80 a barrel. The spread between the two benchmark's December contracts (WTCLc1-LCOc1), which had narrowed earlier in the day, widened again, to $5.54 a barrel from $5.31 before the data. The concern among traders is that the heavy increase in U.S. exports - while shale production continues to rise - will undermine the OPEC-led efforts to reduce supply. "The U.S. oil-production profile has forced OPEC and some non-OPEC countries participating in the ongoing output-cap agreement to re-evaluate their strategy," said Abhishek Kumar, senior energy analyst at Interfax Energys Global Gas Analytics in London. U.S. crude inventories (USOILC=ECI) fell 6 million barrels in the week to Sept. 29, a much bigger decline than the decrease of 756,000 barrels analysts had expected. Gulf Coast refineries have been using more crude as they resumed operations after weeks of shutdowns following Hurricane Harvey. Strategists viewed Brent as pricey after a third-quarter rally lifted it to mid-2015 highs by late September. A resumption in output at Libya's Sharara oilfield, which had been closed by armed brigades Sunday, fed the concerns. "Fundamentals may not yet be strong enough to support a continued rally, especially in growth-dependent commodities such as oil," Ole Hansen, head of commodity strategy at Denmark's Saxo Bank, said in a quarterly outlook to investors. Story continues Observers said a market rebalancing was well underway as a result of strong consumption and the OPEC-led output cuts. On Wednesday, OPEC Secretary-General Mohammad Barkindo said he was confident his organisation could restore sustainable stability to markets. Russian President Vladimir Putin said he did not exclude an extension of output cuts until the end of 2018. Russia is part of the supply agreement. Rising oil production in the United States, which is not involved in the deal, has limited price gains. U.S. output (C-OUT-T-EIA) hit 9.56 million bpd at the end of September, highest since July 2015, and drillers added six oil rigs in the week to Sept. 29, according to energy services firm Baker Hughes. (RIG-OL-USA-BHI) (For a graphic on 'U.S. oil production, inventories' click http://reut.rs/2ynVcOL) (Additional reporting by Libby George and Ron Bousso in London; Henning Gloystein in Singapore and Scott DiSavino in New York; Editing by Marguerita Choy and David Gregorio) The millennial generation has a different attitude about where theyd like to work and live, and thats having a significant impact on corporate America and subsequently commercial real estate. I think millennials are having a big impact, particularly for big companies, companies in general, as they think about where they locate and what kind of space they create, said Jon Gray, Blackstones (BX) head of real estate. Millennials dont find the suburban corporate campus appealing anymore, and thats forcing companies to relocate to attract talent. Today, millennials are saying, No, I want to be in an urban environment. I want to be able to get a latte. I want to be able to ride my bike. I want to be able to work in a place that is much more open floor plan and sort of cooler feel. And so youre seeing the companies react because theyre fighting for talent. GE (GE) moved its global headquarters from Fairfield, Connecticut to Bostons Seaport district, while McDonalds (MCD) is going from Oak Brook to downtown Chicago. Aetna (AET) also announced plans to relocate its headquarters from Hartford, Connecticut to New Yorks trendy Chelsea neighborhood. Theyre saying I need to go where the talent is, and that impact is really changing things. So, I think the millennial for having a big impact. The Boston skyline forms a backdrop at the site of General Electrics new headquarters prior to a groundbreaking ceremony, Monday, May 8, 2017, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer) This trend is creating some challenges for suburban America. If you look, for instance, here in New York, if you went out to northern New Jersey the office markets 25% vacant. Now, if you went to Brooklyn, on the other hand, the office markets less than 5% vacant. And so its creating some impact in those areas. Its also affecting home prices a bit. Now a lot of people cannot afford to live in urban areas, so theres still be plenty of people in suburban areas, but at the margin, urban America is definitely having a good run here. It might also mean that suburban America is going to have to change to become more attractive to millennials. Story continues I think youll see zoning for taller buildings in those areas. People want to have a more walkable environment, a place they can ride a bike. So yes, I think, as always, theres a yin and yang here. And I think now right now urban America is doing quite well. I think youll see more densification in the suburbs over time, but it does feel like this is a long-term trend. Were not just seeing in the U.S. Were seeing it around the world. Listen to the full interview below. Yahoo Finances podcast is available on Apple, acast, Stitcher, and Google Play. Julia La Roche is a finance reporter at Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter. Milan (AFP) - Pirelli shares hit an early bump in the road Wednesday as they started trading in the Italian tyremaker's stock market return which is Europe's biggest IPO this year. In morning business on the Milan stock exchange, Pirelli stock fell by more than two percent from its 6.50-euro offer price which had valued the firm at a total 6.5 billion euros ($7.7 billion), wiping tens of millions of euros off its worth. Some 35 percent of Pirelli's capital went on sale, with the flotation already priced at the lower end of an initial range pitched to investors amid tepid demand. But even so, many initial buyers got out of the stock quickly on Wednesday. An early stock market performance of new shares gives important clues about the capacity of a company to raise funds again further down the road, and also about the ability of stock markets to absorb a large new issue. But Pirelli's chief executive Marco Tronchetti Provera said he was untroubled, saying there was "always volatility" in the first few days and that investors should wait some months before judging the offer's success. The stock slide punctured the success of the return to equity markets of Pirelli, an icon of Italian industry famous for providing Formula One racing tyres. It withdrew from the stock exchange two years ago after it was taken over by China National Chemical Corp (ChemChina). Under terms of the deal with the Chinese giant, Pirelli was to return to the stock market by 2019 at the latest after a split between the company's consumer and industrial activities. The Milan listing concerns only the consumer side, "a 145-year-old start-up," as chief executive Marco Tronchetti Provera has described the reshaped business. The industrial tyre business is being integrated into Aeolus Tyre, which has a Shanghai listing. Tronchetti Provera previously said the integration of Pirelli's industrial tyre business into Aeolus had gone much more quickly than expected and that the early listing had also been driven by "extraordinary growth" on the consumer tyre side of the business. Story continues The company, which had sales of 4.97 billion euros in 2016, pitched its shares on the back of a forecast of growth of at least nine percent a year through 2020, at which point the CEO expects to step down. The IPO reduces ChemChina's stake, held through the Marco Polo holding company, to below 50 percent. Tronchetti Provera backed the 2015 deal with ChemChina as the best way to prevent Pirelli becoming a target for hostile takeover attempts. SINCE THE RAPTURE OCCURS BEFORE THE FUTURE 7 YR TREATY IS SIGNED, I WONT BE AROUND TO HAVE THE ACTUAL TREATY SIGNING. BUT UNTIL THEN THIS SITE IS DEDICATED TO THE BEGININGS OF THE ISRAELI / ARAB PEACE PROCESS. AND AS CLOSE TO THE 7 YEAR SIGNING THAT WE GET BEFORE THE RAPTURE OF THE SAVED TO HEAVEN. UNTIL WE MEET JESUS IN THE CLOUDS BODILY, AND COME TO EARTH 7 YRS LATER. Oral argument, a staple of practice in the U.S. Supreme Court, is fast disappearing in the federal appellate courts to the detriment of courts and the American public, according to a recent study by the American Academy of Appellate Lawyers. "There is a lot of discussion now about the rule of law and judges being under attack," said Reed Smith partner James Martin, a member of the appellate academy. "Of course, that also has a civics piece to it. Oral argument is a very unique piece of the civics lesson and one that I personally believe puts the courts in a very good light and is its own almost best explanation of what the third branch does and is all about." Chief Justice Roberts Martin chaired the appellate academy's task force and initiative on oral argument. Hoping to spark a discussion with the Judicial Conference of the United States, the judiciary's policymaking arm, he sent copies of the academy's report this summer to Chief Justice John Roberts Jr. and to the chief judges of the U.S. federal appeals courts. The academy has become concerned about the decline in the number of cases , particularly in the federal courts, that are scheduled for oral argument and the shrinking time allotted for their argument. The task force examined oral argument practices in the federal circuits and conducted a statistical analysis to evaluate the frequency of arguments and the types of cases being argued. Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 34(b) begins with "oral argument must be allowed in every case," subject to certain exceptions. But the task force's statistics showed that oral argument in many circuits instead are either not being allowed or are otherwise not being scheduled. The overall average percentages of oral arguments in the circuit courts, excluding the Federal Circuit, ranged from the mid-teens (Third, Fourth, Sixth and Eleventh) to the low 30s (First, Second and Tenth) and to 45 percent (Seventh) and 55 percent (D.C. Circuit). The lowest was the Fourth Circuit, which heard oral argument in only 11 percent of its cases. Story continues Arguments generally occurred most frequently in appeals concerning bankruptcy, private civil cases and civil matters involving the United States. Not surprisingly, pro se cases rarely had oral arguments. The task force also interviewed chief judges and found that while more were willing than unwilling to embrace the notion that oral argument is a good thing, there are obstacles, Martin said. "The considerations that militate against it are part systemic and part things that could be attacked and worked on," he said. "The systemic issues are the amount of time it takes and the cost. The things that can be worked on are improving effectiveness and efficiency and then maybe even improving the dialogue between courts and counsel on the reasons cases should be argued." The task force offered recommendations for the courts to consider, such as: establish pro bono or other programs to provide opportunities for argument in pro se cases; issue focus letters before argument, giving the lawyers advance notice of the issues of most concern to the court; make greater use of technology to enhance outreach and account for geographic challenges; and establish training programs for advocates. With those steps, the appellate academy said it believes the courts can improve efficiency and effectiveness of oral arguments. The academy also recently teamed with the American College of Trial Lawyers to launch a nationwide clinical program to provide video training for appellate arguments. Views From the Bench One factor that might be contributing to the decline in oral argument: judges regularly said they don't need to hear from the lawyers to decide a case. Some Supreme Court justices say oral argument can make a difference in certain circumstances but they generally have an idea of what the outcome will be. "Argument might be more fluid in getting the court to the result. How can oral argument not be of some value in that process even if the judge's instincts going in are the same as going out?" Martin said. "You hear enough judges say there are benefits to it even if it doesn't change their mind. What's not to like?" The task force has met with nine of the 11 circuit chief judges, said Dentons partner Charles Bird, a past president of the appellate academy. "We've had some good experiences and some not so good experiences," he said. "Some said, 'Thank you, we don't want to change anything.' Our targets have been the circuits that rarely give oral argument or give it so short it's meaningless, and to advocate, 'Oh by the way, one of the reasons you're not doing it is you're finding argument not helpful, so what can we do as a group of the most experienced appellate lawyers to help get lawyers who appear before you ready to have a conversation about what matters to you?'" Martin said he has not yet had a response from the Judicial Conference about the academy's study, but he plans to follow up. "If there are other things the Judicial Conference believes should be done to prepare the topic for discussion or other places where discussion could more profitably be held, I would like to know that," he said. Oral argument, Martin said, is the only time the parties and the court are joined in the decision-making process. "The rest of the time it's behind the curtain," he said. "There's a real value in showing the investment that s been made in the case when you have to provide explanations to clients and the public about how the system is working." Bird, however, cautioned: "We can't make a group of federal judges do anything. The only thing we can do is point out where they stand relative to their brothers and sisters throughout the country and offer suggestions and a hand at trying to make their processes work better." Kim Jong Un inspects the intercontinental ballistic missile Hwasong-14. The North Korean leader said the test completed his country's strategic weapons capability that includes atomic and hydrogen bombs and ICBMs, the state KCNA news agency said. KCNA/via REUTERS Without sharing weapons, nuclear secrets, or any military assets, Russia likely just handed North Korea a meaningful safeguard for its burgeoning nuclear arsenal by hooking the country up with internet. Russia's TransTeleCom started routing data from North Korea on Sunday evening, according to 38 North, a website dedicated to expert analysis of North Korea. The addition of Russian transit would create new internet path out of the country, increasing its resilience and international bandwidth capacity, Doug Madory, a global internet-connectivity analyst at Dyn Research, told 38 North. But the timing of the move raises serious questions, as The Washington Post reported at the end of September that US Cyber Command had been attacking North Korea's networks in a President Donald Trump-directed campaign that just happened to end on Sunday. Now, with a new hard line to another network, North Korea's cyber infrastructure has a whole new added layer of resiliency. In April of this year, when The New York Times ran a story about the US supposedly hacking North Korea's missile infrastructure to cause its launches to fail, Business Insider spoke to Ken Geers, a cybersecurity expert for Comodo with experience in the NSA. "If you think that war is possible with a given state, you're going to be trying to prepare the battle space for conflict. In the internet age, that means hacking," said Geers. United State Cyber Command security attacks Because of the limited number of servers and access points to North Korea's very restricted internet, "If it ever came to cyberwar between the US and North Korea, it would be an overwhelming victory for the West," said Geers. But with Russia's support for North Korea's network, the US's job in shutting down North Korea's cyber activities, including possibly its nuclear command and control, becomes much more difficult. Story continues NOW WATCH: North Korea exports $2.83 billion worth of goods here's where it all goes More From Business Insider LONDON (Reuters) - Russia and Saudi Arabia plan to set up a $1 billion fund to invest in technology, the chief executive of a sovereign Russian wealth fund said on Wednesday. The joint venture is the latest in a series of deals expected to be signed during a visit to Russia by King Salman this week, the first to Moscow by a reigning Saudi monarch. Other deals include a $1 billion fund to invest in energy projects and Saudi investment in Russian toll roads, including a new one in Moscow to relieve congestion. Kirill Dmitriev, head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) said on a press call that the two countries would seek areas of synergy between Russia and Saudi Arabia and aim to exploit their "unique technologies". He cited desalination technologies and energy efficiency for air conditioning, and also highlighted Russia's largest tech company Yandex, which specialises in internet-related services and products. "Yandex is an interesting company for us because it is already present in the Middle East and Turkey and it has a search engine that beats Google in the Russian market by a large margin," Dmitriev said. The fund will also look at relevant investments outside Russia and Saudi, he added. Saudi Arabia's main sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund has already invested in the SoftBank Vision Fund, a technology-focused private equity fund established with the Japanese company and other big investors. Meanwhile, the RDIF has invested in Hyperloop One, which is developing an advanced transport system. (Reporting by Claire Milhench; Editing by Gareth Jones) Riyadh has set a target of 9.5 gigawatts of renewable energy by 2023, partly made up of a 300-megawatt solar project, like these solar panels seen in India (AFP Photo/CHANDAN KHANNA) (AFP/File) Riyadh (AFP) - Saudi Arabia invited bids on Tuesday for a "utility-scale" 300-megawatt solar project, a first for the world's top oil exporter. "Today's bid opening represents a significant milestone for the National Renewable Energy Programme, and an important step on the way to diversifying Saudi Arabia's domestic energy mix and building a cutting edge domestic renewable energy sector," Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih said. Bidders for the Sakaka solar energy project -- to be located in the country's northern Al-Jouf region -- will be shortlisted on November 28, a government press release said. The renewable energy programme also envisions a 400-megawatt wind power facility in Al-Jouf. The kingdom has already shortlisted 25 companies -- including GE, Siemens and EDF Energies Nouvelles, a subsidiary of the French public energy company -- for that project, with bidding set to close in January 2018. Saudi Arabia and other Gulf monarchies have been examining ways to cut their energy bills and diversify their power sources away from oil, their main export commodity. Riyadh has set a target of 9.5 gigawatts of renewable energy by 2023. Virtually all of Saudi Arabia's power currently comes from crude or refined oil or natural gas. Its renewable energy programme is estimated to be worth up to $50 billion. Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) and Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud walk during a welcoming ceremony ahead of their talks at the Kremlin in Moscow on October 5, 2017 (AFP Photo/Yuri KADOBNOV) (POOL/AFP) Moscow (AFP) - Saudi Arabia's King Salman, on a landmark visit to Russia, and President Vladimir Putin on Thursday signed a slew of arms and energy deals as the key US ally seeks to deepen cooperation with Moscow. The leaders of the world's largest energy exporters discussed an extension of an OPEC agreement to cap oil output and oversaw the signing of deals which officials said were worth billions of dollars. Saudi Arabia signed preliminary agreements to buy Russia's S-400 air defence systems and anti-tank guided missile systems and receive "cutting edge technologies," said the Sunni state's military firm, Saudi Arabian Military Industries. The two countries also signed a series of multi-billion dollar investment deals including one to create a $1 billion fund to pursue energy projects. "This is the first visit by a Saudi Arabian monarch in the history of our relations and that in itself is a landmark event," Putin said as he welcomed 81-year-old King Salman to Moscow in an ornate gilded Kremlin hall. "I'm sure your visit will boost the ties between our countries," Putin added. "We aim to strengthen our relations in the interests of peace and security, in the interests of developing the world economy," the Saudi king responded. Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir told journalists that "relations between Russia and Saudi Arabia have reached a historic moment." "Today we alone as the Russian Direct Investment Fund announced deals worth $2.1 billion," said Kirill Dmitriyev, the head of the fund set up to attract investment. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said agreements came in the fields of "energy -- not only traditional but also nuclear power -- and also in cooperation in space exploration (and) agroindustry and infrastructure projects." - 'Diversifying risks' - Saudi Arabia is the country that buys the most US arms and Washington and Riyadh in May announced a $110 billion deal to sell weapons to Saudi Arabia. Story continues But Saudi, a long-standing ally of Washington, is keen to boost ties with Moscow as a major player in the Syrian conflict and a fellow oil producer with shared interests in supporting energy prices. "We are certain that further strengthening of relations will have a positive effect on strengthening stability and security in the world," his Saudi counterpart Jubeir stressed. Fyodor Lukyanov, the Kremlin-connected chairman of the Council on Foreign and Defence Policy, said Riyadh saw closer ties with Moscow as expedient for the moment, and was "diversifying risks" by buying arms from both Moscow and the US. "Saudi Arabia has recognised Russia as a significant player in a region that is important to it," he told AFP. "They respect Russia more now. But you shouldn't think it's forever." - Oil cap for 'stability' - The leaders of the world's largest energy exporters also discussed the OPEC agreement to cap oil output. OPEC members have joined with Russia and other countries in cutting crude output in a pact that has helped prop up prices. "We strive to continue the positive cooperation between our countries to achieve stability on world oil markets which promotes the growth of the world's economy," Salman said. Russia and Saudi Arabia are heavily dependent on oil exports and the global plunge of the price of crude that began in 2014 lashed both their economies. Putin said on Wednesday it was possible to extend an OPEC deal to cap oil output "at least until the end of 2018". - Focus on Syria, Yemen - While Russia and Saudi Arabia are partners on the oil market, they are at loggerheads on Syria, where Moscow supports President Bashar al-Assad and Riyadh backs the opposition. Lavrov said the Saudi monarch and Putin's meeting saw a "particular focus on Syria, Iraq, Libya and Yemen." The two sides said they had common ground in a desire to rally Syrian opposition forces to take part in UN-backed peace talks. Jubeir said that the countries "closely cooperate... on uniting the Syrian opposition and broadening its framework, in order to start the political process" at Geneva peace talks. This illustration depicts a hypothetical uneven ring of dust orbiting KIC 8462852, also known as Boyajians Star or Tabbys Star. (NASA / JPL-Caltech Illustration) Are aliens building a huge energy-generating megastructure around a weirdly dimming star? That way-out hypothesis has suffered another blow, thanks to a study that draws upon infrared as well as ultraviolet observations. The star, known as KIC 8462852 or Tabbys Star, first came to attention two years ago when citizen scientists sifting through data from NASAs Kepler space telescope noticed some unusually drastic dips in its brightness. The stars nickname comes from Tabetha Tabby Boyajian, the Yale astronomer who oversaw those observations. Another astronomer, Penn States Jason Wright, mused that the data could be explained by the construction of a huge orbital structure known as a Dyson sphere although he cautioned that aliens should always be the very last hypothesis you consider. Since then, however, the alien hypothesis has been very much considered along with more mundane explanations such as swarms of comets, stellar variability or clouds of gas and dust. Further observations found that KIC 8462852, which is about 1,500 light-years away in the constellation Cygnus, has been going through a long-term dimming trend. The latest findings, published in the Astrophysical Journal, indicate that the long-term dimming is due to the effect of obscuring streams of dust. Astronomers analyzed data from NASAs Spitzer Space Telescope and Swift spacecraft, as well as from the Belgian AstroLAB IRIS observatory, and compared the levels of dimming in infrared vs. ultraviolet wavelengths. They found that the ultraviolet light dimmed significantly more than the infrared light. That fits the pattern for starlight shining through a haze of dust particles no bigger than about a ten-thousandth of an inch. The effect is similar to the way the sun reddens in a smoky sky, as was the case in the Pacific Northwest during this summers wildfire season. Tiny particles scatter more light in the bluer, shorter-wavelength part of the spectrum, and less light on the redder, longer-wavelength side. Story continues The researchers said a similar effect appears to be at work around Tabbys Star. This pretty much rules out the alien megastructure theory, as that could not explain the wavelength-dependent dimming, lead author Huan Meng of the University of Arizona said in a NASA news release. We suspect, instead, there is a cloud of dust orbiting the star with a roughly 700-day orbital period. Tabbys Star is just one among millions in this image from the All-Sky Automated Survey for Supernovae. (Carnegie Institution for Science / ASAS-SN Image / Benjamin Shappee) The explanation applies to the long-term dimming, but not necessarily to the shorter-term changes in brightness. Those changes could be due to a swarm of comets, or variations in stellar activity, or the breakup of a planet orbiting the star or even, heaven help us, alien shenanigans. Meng and his colleagues favor the comet-swarm hypothesis, because passing comets could contribute fine-grained material to orbiting dust clouds. In any case, Boyajian and her colleagues are continuing to monitor the ups and downs of Tabbys Star in multiple wavelengths, aided in part by a crowdfunding campaign. The latest confirmed dip in brightness was registered just last month. Yet another study, led by astronomers Josh Simon and Benjamin Shappee at the Carnegie Institution for Science, adds to the intrigue. The researchers analyzed more than a decades worth of observations from the All Sky Automated Survey and the high-precision All-Sky Automated Survey for Supernovae and found that Tabbys Star has gone through periods of significant brightening as well as dimming. Simon and Shappee said their findings support the view that Tabbys Star is worth keeping watch on. We havent solved the mystery yet, Simon said in a news release. But understanding the stars long-term changes is a key piece of the puzzle. More from GeekWire: Chairman and CEO of the Las Vegas Sands casino Sheldon Adelson (C), a donor to Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney, waves to photographers with his wife Miriam Ochsorn at the end of the first presidential debate between Romney and President Barack Obama in Denver October 3, 2012. REUTERS/Jason Reed (UNITED STATES - Tags: POLITICS ELECTIONS USA PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION) - TB3E8A408L238 The day after the Las Vegas Strip massacre, the worst mass shooting in U.S. history, President Donald Trump turned to two of his most trusted supporters to get their advice on how to start the healing process for the victims of Sundays tragedy which claimed 59 lives and injured over 500, FOX Business has learned. Billionaire casino magnate Sheldon Adelson, who has a net worth of $36 billion according to Forbes, and his wife Miriam, were already scheduled to meet with Trump and his son in law Jared Kushner at the White House on Monday to discuss future policy decisions, instead they brainstormed ways to assist the victims and their families, administration officials tell FOX Business. These same officials would not get into specifics about the policies that were to have been discussed. On the same day as the Presidents meeting with the Adelsons, Trump addressed the nation calling the shooting an act of pure evil. Trump will visit Las Vegas on Wednesday. Adelson, chairman and chief executive officer of Las Vegas Sands Corporation (NYSE:LVS), and his wife Miriam were two of Trumps top donors during the 2016 presidential campaign, giving $20 million to the pro-Trump super PAC Future45, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. Adelson also promised to contribute $100 million to Trumps campaign to help the then Republican candidate defeat Democratic nominee, Hillary Clinton. Miriam Adelson is a doctor and chairman of The Dr. Miriam & Sheldon G. Adelson Clinic for Drug Abuse Treatment and Research. According to its website, the clinic is a private, non-profit organization founded by Dr. Miriam and Sheldon G. Adelson and dedicated to treating the disease of opiate (heroin and painkillers) addiction by providing methadone (maintenance) treatment and counseling services. Adelson, a pro-Israel philanthropist, reportedly expressed disappointment with Trump that the U.S. embassy has not yet been moved from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, according to Israels Channel 2 Television News. Story continues A spokesman for the Las Vegas Sands Corporation did not return FOX Business emails for comment. Jared Kushner has been a key player in his father-in-laws administrations attempt at establishing peace between Israel and Palestine. As a senior White House adviser, Kushner has traveled to the Middle East on numerous occasions to meet with representatives from both regions, as well as leaders from Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Jordan. Trump has refused in the past to publicly commit to on the so-called two-state solution, in which an independent Palestinian state would co-exist alongside Israel. Trump's reluctance to embrace this solution is a departure from the official policy of the previous two presidential administrations. In a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in September, the two leaders discussed the possibility of a peace deal between Israel and Palestine but did not elaborate on whether a two-state solution is the answer. "Most people would say there is no chance whatsoever, but I actually think with the capability of Bibi and frankly the other side, I really think we have a chance, Trump said then. "I think Israel would like to see it, and I think the Palestinians would like to see it." Related Articles Reportedly, Snap Inc SNAP CEO Evan Spiegel has said that the company has sold over 150,000 Snapchat Spectacles since the specs debuted almost a year back. Speaking at the Vanity Fairs New Establishment Summit in California, Spiegel was quoted by media reports saying that the sales number exceeded internal expectations of 100,000. He also added that the specs underscored the companys efforts to increase its presence in hardware products. Snap has always marketed itself as a camera company. Spiegel said, Our view is that hardware is going to be an important vehicle for delivering our customer experience, maybe in a decade. But if we believe it's going to be important in a decade, we don't want to be starting a decade from now." The company is already working on second generation specs that support augmented reality. Snap Inc. Price Snap Inc. Price | Snap Inc. Quote Per media reports, Snap recently restructured its hardware division with the layoff of a dozen employees and named Mark Randall chief of the hardware division. Ex-chief Steve Horowitz has been shifted to a different position at Snap. Spiegels hardware ambitions are well reflected in his bold move to compare Spectacles with Apples iPod. Snapchat Specs outsold 143,000 units of iPod sold in its first year, way back in 2002. iPod has been a revolutionary product that changed the music industry landscape and went on to sell 300 million units in its lifespan. Snap also said that the company collaborated with artist Jeff Koons to unveil an art platform that uses augmented reality (AR). The platform allows users to view art installations held at specific locations and provides them with proper directions. Per reports, Spiegel also said that he faltered at selling his long-term vision to investors and underscored the need of better communication with the investor community. He understood that the investor community was wary of Snaps future because of stiffening competition but he said, I think those are kind of normal fears for any start-up and the really successful companies just grow through that. And that's why we've just tried to stay focused on the business this year and execute and deliver results." Story continues The company has been facing severe competition from Facebooks Instagram, which has 800 million users. Further, Instagram Stories, a copy of Snapchats feature of the same name, was recently reported to have crossed 250 million users, substantially outperforming Snapchats 173 million. Notably, shares of Snap have declined 40.7% since its listing date of Mar 2, 2017 against 8.3% growth of its industry. Recently, research firm eMarketer once again slashed the 2017 U.S. ad revenue estimates for Snap from $770 million to $642.5 million. The market research firm had earlier in March slashed the domestic ad revenue forecast from $805 million to $770 million. Currently, Snap has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Stocks to Consider Top-ranked stocks in the broader technology sector include NVIDIA Corporation NVDA Applied Materials AMAT and Jabil Inc JBL. All sport a Zacks Rank #1. Long-term earnings growth rate for NVIDIA, Applied Materials and Jabil is currently projected to be 10.3%, 17.1% and 12%, respectively. 4 Stocks to Watch after the Massive Equifax Hack Cybersecurity stocks spiked on recent news of a data breach affecting 143 million Americans. But which stocks are the best buy candidates right now? And what does the future hold for the cybersecurity industry? Equifax is just the most recent victim. Computer hacking and identity theft are more common than ever. Zacks has just released Cybersecurity! An Investors Guide to inform Zacks.com readers about this $170 billion/year space. More importantly, it highlights 4 cybersecurity picks with strong profit potential. Get the new Investing Guide now>> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Snap Inc. (SNAP) : Free Stock Analysis Report NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) : Free Stock Analysis Report Applied Materials, Inc. (AMAT) : Free Stock Analysis Report Jabil Circuit, Inc. (JBL) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research [October 04, 2017] LogicMonitor Appoints Karyn Scott as Vice President and Head of Marketing LogicMonitor, the leading SaaS (News - Alert)-based performance monitoring platform for complex, hybrid IT infrastructure, today announced the appointment of Karyn Scott as Vice President and Head of Marketing. Scott brings more than 20 years of leadership experience specializing in product and technology marketing for high growth tech companies for established enterprises including AppDynamics, Salesforce and Cisco (News - Alert) Systems. "Karyn is well recognized for developing strategies that have accelerated growth and launched organizations into market leading positions," said Kevin McGibben, LogicMonitor President and CEO. "Her depth of marketing expertise, paired with her strategic approach to brand development and market positioning, is a tremendous asset to LogicMonitor as we continue to evolve and expand our portfolio of full stack monitoring solutions." Prior to LogicMonitor, Scott was an advisor to Nutanix and served as Vice President of Global Marketing at AppDynamics (recently acquired by Cisco). She also held senior marketing leadership roles at Salesforce, Cisco and several early stage start-ups including Macromedia. "LogicMonitor is transforming and simplifying the management of complex, hybrid IT environments," said Scott. "We're providing both global business leaders and IT practitioners with incredible visibility across the entire stack so they can maximize IT spend and speed decision making." After AppDynamics, Scott considered several CMO and marketing leadership roles before joining LogicMonitor. "There is such momentum in the market right now as enterprises are transforming their businesses and business processes to drive competitive differentiation, and LogicMonitor has a world class solution to help accelerate their journey. I am thrilled to take on the executive marketing role and to join an outstanding team with fabulous clients." Before joining the tech world, Scott was a journalist at CNN and Fox News, and holds degrees in psychology and journalism from Boston University and a certificate of completion from Stanford's Strategy in Action program. In addition, she is an active member of the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA), where she competes in triathlons to raise money and awareness to help find cures for Crohn's disease. About LogicMonitor LogicMonitor is the SaaS-based, performance monitoring platform for complex and distributed IT infrastructure. With out-of-the-box coverage for thousands of technologies, LogicMonitor provides granular visibility into infrastructure and application performance. LogicMonitor's automated device discovery, preconfigured alert thresholds, and rich customizable dashboards, come together to give IT teams the speed, flexibility, and actionable insights required to succeed in today's competitive markets. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171004005515/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] By Hugh Bronstein and Gabriel Stargardter BARRANQUITAS, Puerto Rico (Reuters) - While his competitors wait for diesel to restart generators knocked out by Hurricane Maria, flower grower Hector Santiago is already back in business because of solar panels powering his 40-acre (16.2-hectare) nursery in central Puerto Rico. The U.S. territory is in a near blackout, its electricity grid shredded by the storm that slammed into the island on Sept 20. But Santiago's decorative plant and poinsettia nursery, set amid the jagged peaks of the Barranquitas farming area, has kept working thanks to the $300,000 he invested in 244 solar panels six years ago. "Everybody told me I was crazy because it was so expensive. Now I have power and they don't," said Santiago, whose flowers are sold in Puerto Rico, at outlets like Costco, and throughout the Caribbean. While Santiago's nursery was considerably damaged during the storm, many plants were destroyed and the roofs of some greenhouses blew off, he was able to regroup quickly, with electricity to keep pumping water from his two wells. On Tuesday, as U.S. President Donald Trump surveyed damage elsewhere on Puerto Rico, some of the nursery's 19 employees were busy repotting damaged plants and cleaning up. SOLAR OPPORTUNITY Santiago's experience has left him hoping that Puerto Rico will begin relying more on solar power and other renewable energy as it looks to fix its damaged grid. That view has gained traction among some Puerto Rican politicians, though it is probably unlikely in the short run given the need to restore power as quickly as possible. The experience of people like Santiago could drive more individuals and businesses to invest in solar power. Henry Pichardo, who runs a solar installation firm in the city of Bayamon, thinks the storm could drive up his business 20 percent a year. He said he has been inundated with enquiries since the hurricane hit. "People are going to become more conscious of how they are living, and invest more in solar," he said. Santiago's business requires a high amount of energy. From May through August, he lights his greenhouses with a total of 2,520 electric bulbs from 10 pm to 2 am to stimulate plant growth. Until Maria, Santiago sold excess electricity generated by his six by three foot wide panels back to Puerto Rico's now-defunct grid. In the storm, however, 25 percent of the panels were damaged by flying debris. Still, he said, that was enough to keep the power on, and the nursery did not "have to worry about trees falling on the power lines." (Reporting by Hugh Bronstein and Gabriel Stargardter; Editing by Sue Horton and Grant McCool) Larry Parra was terminally ill and on dialysis, but a close friend tells PEOPLE he was still happy on Sunday as he headed to an outdoor country music festival in Las Vegas to see Jake Owen, his favorite artist. He was fulfilled, says Jason Rogers, 56, Parras best friend of 25 years. He really just wanted to live his life. Rogers, who used to live with Parra in Las Vegas, says he moved to Minnesota in February but came back to Nevada for four days to celebrate Parras 40th birthday. On Sunday, the festivals final day, Rogers bought them both tickets to see Owen. When they entered the venue, they were told that there might be fireworks so they shouldnt be startled if they heard a loud noise. But when the rapid popping sounds of gunfire began overhead, just after 10 p.m., Rogers knew immediately they were not festive. I heard the shots, and after I got up from the ground from ducking I went to try and find Larry, who had gone to get some food and beer because his blood pressure was getting low, Rogers recalls. I didnt want to leave him because he is a very dear and close friend, Roger says. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Click here to get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter Larry Parra Larry Parra (left) and Jason Rogers When Rogers eventually did see Parra again, about 30 minutes later, he was lying on the ground with a bullet wound to his head. People unintentionally trampled over Parras body, Rogers says, as he witnessed it all in shock. I saw a lot of dead people, Rogers says. It was horrible. I was freaking out. Parra was one of the 58 people killed by gunman Stephen Paddock, who opened fire on the crowd from his 32nd-floor hotel room nearby before killing himself. PEOPLEs special edition True Crime Stories: 35 Real Cases That Inspired the Show Law & Order is on sale now. Rogers who is now back in Minnesota and trying to come to terms with his loss says that Parra was the most giving and generous man. Story continues He would give you his last dollar if you needed it, he says. He was just amazing and so thoughtful. I am going to miss him dearly. How to Help Friends and family are asked to report missing people believed to be connected to the shooting using the hotline 1-800-536-9488. A victims fund has been started on GoFundMe by Steve Sisolak, the Clark County, Nevada, commission chair. Other groups providing relief include the local chapter of the American Red Cross and the National Compassion Fund. older man elderly man jogging nature running exercise thinking outdoors Want an all-natural way to lift your mood, improve your memory, and protect your brain against age-related cognitive decline? Get moving. A wealth of recentresearch, including a new study published this month, suggests that any type of exercise that raises your heart rate and gets you moving and sweating for a sustained period of time known as aerobic exercise has a significant, beneficial impact on the brain. "Aerobic exercise is the key for your head, just as it is for your heart," said an article in the Harvard Medical School blog "Mind and Mood." Most research suggests that the best type of aerobic exercise for your mind is anything you can do regularly and consistently for 30-45 minutes at a time. But the latest study suggests that any kind of workout whether it's for 5 minutes or 45 can have beneficial impacts on mental health. The new study, published in the American Journal of Psychiatry, is the largest long-term study of its kind to look at the link between exercise and mental health, with a special focus on depression. The researchers studied close to 34,000 Norwegian adults over 11 years and had them report how often they exercised each week, how intense it was, and how depressed or anxious they felt. The results suggested that as little as one hour of exercise each week helped shield people against depressive episodes. Notably, that exercise did not need to be aerobic even participants who got moving without becoming breathless (perhaps with an activity like a long, moderately-paced walk) were significantly less likely to report symptoms of depression compared with those who did no exercise. Plenty of other research has revealed a powerful connection between mental and physical fitness across varying levels of intensity. Some benefits like a lift in mood can emerge as soon as a few minutes into a sweaty endeavor, while others like improved memory might take several weeks to crop up. Story continues stretching exercise A pilot study in people with severe depression, for example, found that just 30 minutes of treadmill walking for 10 consecutive days was "sufficient to produce a clinically relevant and statistically significant reduction in depression." Aerobic workouts appear to help reduce levels of the body's natural stress hormones, such as adrenaline and cortisol, according to a recent study in the Journal of Physical Therapy Science. In older people, the best way to protect against age-related brain decline seems to be aerobic workouts. A study published in May found that in adults aged 60-88, walking for 30 minutes four days a week for 12 weeks appeared to strengthen connectivity in a region of the brain where weakened connections have been linked with memory loss. And a study in older women who displayed symptoms of dementia found that sweaty, heart-pumping exercise was linked with an increase in the size of the hippocampus, a brain area involved in learning and memory. Several studies even suggest that aerobic workouts provide the best protection against other types of cognitive decline, too. A study involving hundreds of breast cancer survivors concluded that such exercise seemed to reduce the symptoms of "chemo brain," a commonly reported side effect of cancer treatment that involves memory loss and difficulty focusing. "The message for cancer patients and survivors is, get active!" Diane Ehlers, the lead author of that study and a professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, said in a statement. The best overall health results mental and physical for people over 50 appear to come from a combination of aerobic workouts and resistance training (strengthening work like weights or squats). That type of workout plan could be anything from high-intensity interval training, like the 7-minute workout, to dynamic flow yoga, which intersperses strength-building poses with heart-pumping dance-like moves. Researchers still aren't sure why exercise appears to provide so many benefits to our brain and body. One factor could be increased blood flow, since aerobic work pumps fresh energy and oxygen to the brain. Regardless of the cause, Joe Northey, an exercise scientist at the University of Canberra, said his research suggests that anyone in good health over age 50 should do 45 minutes to an hour of aerobic exercise "on as many days of the week as feasible." That's probably good advice for all ages. Related Video: Watch original series, sports and more on go90. NOW WATCH: How to do a burpee the total-body exercise that will keep you fit for life More From Business Insider U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson speaks during a news conference at Lancaster house in London, Britain, September 14, 2017. REUTERS/Hannah McKay During an unusual press briefing on Wednesday morning, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson denied news reports that he had considered leaving the administration. In a short statement, Tillerson said that a report that he had openly criticized President Donald Trump after a meeting with his national security team and Cabinet officials at the Pentagon was "petty" and characterized it as an attempt by the media and others to undermine the administration. "I'm not gonna deal with petty stuff like that," he said in response to a question about an NBC News report that he called Trump a "moron." "The places I come from, we don't deal with that kind of petty nonsense, and it's intended to do nothing but divide people," Tillerson said. "And I'm just not going to be part of this effort to divide this administration." He more specifically denied reports that he had to be persuaded by Vice President Mike Pence to stay in his position last summer. "The vice president has never had to persuade me to remain as secretary of state because I have never considered leaving this post," he said, later adding, "There's never been a consideration in my mind to leave." Tillerson went on to praise Trump, the administration more broadly, and his colleagues at the State Department. Of Trump, he said: "He's smart, he demands results wherever he goes, and he holds those around him accountable." Both before and after Tillerson's press conference, Trump slammed the NBC report on Twitter. "NBC news is #FakeNews and more dishonest than even CNN," Trump tweeted before Tillerson spoke. "They are a disgrace to good reporting. No wonder their news ratings are way down!" After the press conference, Trump said in another tweet that Tillerson had denied the NBC report. "The @NBCNews story has just been totally refuted by Sec. Tillerson and @VP Pence," he tweeted. "It is #FakeNews. They should issue an apology to AMERICA!" An NBC News spokeswoman told Business Insider on Wednesday that the news organization stood by its reporting. Carol Lee, a political reporter, also said on Wednesday that she and her NBC colleagues "extensively reported" the story, speaking with a dozen sources. Story continues Days earlier, Trump publicly undermined Tillerson's efforts to negotiate with the North Korean government. On Sunday, the day after Tillerson told reporters in Beijing that he had a direct line of communication open with Pyongyang over North Korea's nuclear tests, Trump said diplomacy with the rogue nation was useless. "I told Rex Tillerson, our wonderful Secretary of State, that he is wasting his time trying to negotiate with Little Rocket Man," the president tweeted, using his nickname for North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. "Save your energy Rex, we'll do what has to be done!" NOW WATCH: Tom Price resigns after controversy over private flights here are the casualties of the Trump administration so far More From Business Insider Tuesday, October 3, 2017 The Zacks Research Daily presents the best research output of our analyst team. Today's Research Daily features new research reports on 16 major stocks, including Pfizer (PFE), AT&T (T) and BlackRock (BLK). These research reports have been hand-picked from the roughly 70 reports published by our analyst team today. You can see all of todays research reports here >>> Shares of Buy-rated Pfizer have outperformed the peer group in the last three months (the stock is up +6.7% over this period vs. a +4.8% increase for the Zacks Large-Cap Pharmaceuticals industry). Pfizer is working on strengthening its product portfolio through acquisitions and licensing deals. However, Pfizer continues to face headwinds in the form of genericization of key drugs, lost alliance revenues, pricing pressure and rising competition which is hurting sales. Though Pfizers growing immuno-oncology portfolio offers strong potential, many of these assets are in early stage of development. Nevertheless, the Zacks analyst believes that new products like Ibrance, contribution from acquisitions, cost-cutting efforts and share buybacks should help the company achieve its guidance. Pfizer also boasts a strong pipeline and expects approximately 25 to 30 drug approvals over the next five years, including around 15 products that have blockbuster potential. Bavencio is being considered a key long-term growth driver for Pfizer. The company has a mixed record of earnings surprises in recent quarters. Estimates have remained stable ahead of its Q3 results. (You can read the full research report on Pfizer here >>> ). AT&Ts shares increased +2.6% as against the Zacks Wireless National industry's gain of +3.8%, over the past three months. AT&T is planning to spread its 5G technology trials to three new cities: Waco, Kalamazoo and South Bend by 2017 end. Deployment of G.fast services complements its high-speed broadband business. Story continues AT&Ts NetBond is gearing up to offer multiple cloud-to-cloud connections. The company is targeting customers by offering a combo of wireless and video services. Meanwhile, AT&T is reportedly exploring a strategic option to sell a major part of its Latin American pay-TV operations. Further, AT&T has unveiled its own Android tablet, Primetime. The AT&T-Time Warner pending deal awaits approvals from Brazil and the United States. However, AT&T operates in a competitive and saturated wireless U.S. market. Losses in access lines, operating expenses, marketing costs associated with attractive discounts, regulatory norms and union issues are other major risks. (You can read the full research report on AT&T here >>> ). Buy-rated BlackRocks shares have outperformed the Zacks Investment Management industry in the last six months, (+18.1% vs. +16.2%). The company surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings in three of the trailing four quarters. The company is undertaking initiatives to restructure its actively managed equities business with an aim to meet changing client needs. These along with technological changes will further help top-line growth going forward. Also, it has expanded globally via acquisitions and remains well positioned to capitalize on opportunistic deals, given its strong liquidity position. However, mounting expenses mainly due to continued rise in marketing costs and high dependence on overseas revenues remain major concerns for the company. (You can read the full research report on BlackRock here >>> ). Other noteworthy reports we are featuring today include U.S. Bancorp (USB), Walt Disney (DIS) and Statoil (STO). Will You Make a Fortune on the Shift to Electric Cars? Here's another stock idea to consider. Much like petroleum 150 years ago, lithium power may soon shake the world, creating millionaires and reshaping geo-politics. Soon electric vehicles (EVs) may be cheaper than gas guzzlers. Some are already reaching 265 miles on a single charge. With battery prices plummeting and charging stations set to multiply, one company stands out as the #1 stock to buy according to Zacks research. It's not the one you think. See This Ticker Free >> Mark Vickery Senior Editor Note: Sheraz Mian heads the Zacks Equity Research department and is a well-regarded expert of aggregate earnings. He is frequently quoted in the print and electronic media and publishes the weekly Earnings Trends and Earnings Preview reports. If you want an email notification each time Sheraz publishes a new article, please click here>>> Today's Must Read Pfizer (PFE) Rides on Solid Pipeline, Bavencio Holds the Key 5G Mobile Network to Lift AT&T (T), Wireless Competition Ails Equity Business Restructuring to Aid BlackRock's (BLK) Growth Featured Reports Statoil's Presence in NCS, New Project Start Ups a Boon The Zacks analyst likes Statoil for its start-up of operations on several new oil and gas fields in the Norwegian Continental Shelf. Illinois Tool's (ITW) Enterprise Initiatives to Boost Margin Per the Zacks Analyst, Illinois Tool Works' (ITW) Enterprise Initiatives are anticipated to contribute 100 basis points to operating margin in 2017. Humana's (HUM) Top Line Grows on Strong Medicare Business Per the Zacks analyst, Humana's consistently rising revenues have been significantly aided by its booming Medicare business that also holds huge long term growth potential. ResMed (RMD) Rides on New Launch, Poised for Lasting Growth The Zacks analyst believes that successful execution of long-term growth strategy that focuses on innovation and product launches within the fast-growing core sleep apnea space, bodes well for ResMed. D.R. Horton's (DHI) Solid Backlog Position to Spur Growth D.R. Horton is poised to perform well in fiscal 2017 on the back of its robust backlog position and well-stocked inventory of land, lots and homes, per the Zacks analyst. Square (SQ) Benefits from its Growing Automation Efforts Per the Zacks analyst, Square's increased focus on automation is increasing reach of its financial system and improve its operations and aid sellers with advanced CRM tools. Sherwin-Williams (SHW) Gains from Valspar Buyout, Cost Cuts The Zacks analyst thinks that Sherwin-Williams is well placed to gain from synergies of the Valspar acquisition. Its actions to cut operating costs should also lend support to its margins. New Upgrades TD Ameritrade (AMTD) Benefits from Rise in Trading Volumes Per the Zacks analyst, growth in TD Ameritrade's trading volumes will continue in the near term given the expectations of improvement in equity markets and the rising rate environment. Dominion Energy (D) Thrives on Solar and Wind Power Projects Per the Zacks analyst, Dominion Energy is gaining from all of its solar and wind projects across its service territory, primarily Virginia. Lithium Unit, DuPont Crop Assets Buy Drive FMC Corp. (FMC) The Zacks analyst thinks FMC will gain from expansion actions in its lithium unit. The planned acquisition of DuPont's crop assets has also provided a major growth platform for its agricultural unit. New Downgrades High Operating Costs & Legal Issues Hurt U.S. Bancorp (USB) Per the Zacks Analyst, mounting expenses due to U.S. Bancorp's investments in technology platform owing to its business initiatives remains a major headwind. Further, legal issues remain a woe. Lam Research (LRCX) Hurt by Persistent Decline in PC sales Per the Zacks analyst, persistent decline in PC sales is leading to conservative purchasing by DRAM makers and limited spending on equipment that Lam Research makes. This is hurting its top line. Disney's (DIS) ESPN, Mayhem at its Lucasfilm Unit a Concern Per the Zacks analyst, Disney's waning subscriber at ESPN, havoc at its Lucasfilm unit due to the delay in the release of Star Wars: Episode IX and warning about fiscal 2017 earnings poses concern. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report U.S. Bancorp (USB) : Free Stock Analysis Report AT&T Inc. (T) : Free Stock Analysis Report Statoil ASA (STO) : Free Stock Analysis Report Pfizer, Inc. (PFE) : Free Stock Analysis Report Walt Disney Company (The) (DIS) : Free Stock Analysis Report BlackRock, Inc. (BLK) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Trump said hurricane-torn Puerto Rico was not a real catastrophe, fortifying his garbage status Donald Trump visited hurricane-torn Puerto Rico on Tuesday, where he remarked that the disastrous results of Hurricane Maria were not a real catastrophe like Katrina. Nearly two weeks after the catastrophic hurricane hit the U.S. island, many residents are currently without electricity, food, and drinkable water in what Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rossello has deemed a massive humanitarian crisis. President Trump Says Hurricane Maria Was Not a Real Catastrop... President Trump says Hurricane Maria was not "a real catastrophe like Hurricane Katrina." http://ti.me/2xTfVXC Posted by TIME on Tuesday, October 3, 2017 In peak Little Orange Man form, Trump felt compelled to fault recovery efforts for throwing the federal budget out of whack during a briefing illustrating a slight expanse in his vocabulary. I hate to tell you, Puerto Rico, but youre throwing our budget out of whack. Because weve spent a lot of money on Puerto Rico and thats fine weve saved a lot of lives. He continued, before praising relief efforts and citing sixteen [deaths] versus literally thousands [in Katrina]: Every death is a horror, but if you look at a real catastrophe like Katrina, and you look at the tremendous hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of people that died and you look at what happened here with really a storm that was just totally overpowering. During the visit, Little Orange Man also took time to propel paper towels with his minuscule hands into a crowd at a relief center where First Lady Melania reportedly tried to slip a folded sheet of wide-ruled paper with help me scribbled on it to various bystanders, according to multiple sources that I did not make up and are totally real. Trump tosses paper towels to hurricane survivors in Puerto Rico pic.twitter.com/ACQCaCv7oW TIME (@TIME) October 3, 2017 After Puerto Rico, Little Orange Man will be visiting Las Vegas in the wake of the mass shooting, where at least 59 lives were claimed and over 500 others were injured during the Route 91 Harvest Music Festival. Following the attack, the White House said it was too soon to discuss tighter gun policies, with Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders remarking: Story continues There is a time and place for political debate but now is a time to unite as a country. For now, the White House suggests more effective tactics, such as prayers. Also, thoughts. A combination of both prayers and thoughts will enhance the effectiveness. Little Orange Mans visit to Puerto Rico provided a reprieve from his busy presidential schedule of watching Saturday Night Live re-runs and tweeting about North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, whom he fondly refers to as Little Rocket Man. I told Rex Tillerson, our wonderful Secretary of State, that he is wasting his time trying to negotiate with Little Rocket Man... Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 1, 2017 Being nice to Rocket Man hasn't worked in 25 years, why would it work now? Clinton failed, Bush failed, and Obama failed. I won't fail. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 1, 2017 Russian President Vladimir Putin is reportedly attempting to mend the strife organizing counseling sessions and friendship bracelet workshops, according to multiple sources that I did not make up and are totally real. Below, resources to help victims of Hurricane Maria: 1. The United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) 2. First Lady of Puerto Rico Beatriz Rossellos Unidos Por Puerto Rico fund 3. Salvation Army 4. Various GoFundMe campaigns 5. GlobalGivings Puerto Rico & Carribean Relief Fund 6. Hispanic Federation Additionally, resources to help victims of the Las Vegas mass shooting can be found here. [October 04, 2017] Aon Announces Third Quarter 2017 Earnings Release and Conference Call LONDON, Oct. 4, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Aon plc (NYSE:AON), the leading global professional services firm providing a broad range of risk, retirement and health solutions, plans to announce third quarter 2017 results on Friday, October 27th, 2017 in a news release to be issued before the market opens. Greg Case, president and CEO, will host a conference call at 7:30 am Central Time on Friday, October 27th, 2017. The conference call will be broadcast live through Aon's website at www.aon.com. Adobe Flash is required to listen to this webcast. A replay will be available shortly after the live webcast. The earnings release and upplemental slide presentation will be available on Aon's web site at www.aon.com. About Aon Aon plc (NYSE:AON) Aon is a leading global professional services firm providing a broad range of risk, retirement and health solutions. Our 50,000 colleagues in 120 countries empower results for clients by using proprietary data and analytics to deliver insights that reduce volatility and improve performance. Follow Aon on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Aon_plc Sign up for News Alerts: http://aon.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=58 Investor Contact: Investor Relations 312-381-1801 [email protected] Media Contact: Donna Mirandola Senior Director, External Communications - Americas 312-381-1532 View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/aon-announces-third-quarter-2017-earnings-release-and-conference-call-300531169.html SOURCE Aon plc Marni Walden, Verizon executive VP and president of global media, said today she will shift into an advisory role as of December 31 and leave the company altogether in February. While not necessarily someone most Hollywood veterans know well, Waldens purview was broad and as Verizon has matured and added media assets, her profile has increased. At one point, she was viewed as a potential successor to Verizon CEO Lowell McAdam. After Dec. 31, Tim Armstrong, CEO of Oath, the companys newly named subsidiary with 50-plus media brands, including Yahoo, HuffPo and AOL, will report directly to McAdam. The telematics data-transfer unit will now report to John Stratton, executive vice president and president of Global Operations. Marni helped build our wireless business, starting as a sales representative in a store, and grew into an inspirational leader and role model for so many at Verizon, said McAdam. She has most recently spearheaded Verizons entry into global digital media and telematics and will leave us in a strong competitive position. Not long ago, Verizon was little more than a phone company. But as broadband services and technology evolve, it has become a major player in the digital and video spaces, through its FiOS TV service, Go90 mobile video platform and major acquisitions like AOL and Yahoo. With rival AT&T poised to close its $85 billion deal for Time Warner, the level of competition on the content and programming side will increase markedly. Related stories Yahoo Triples Estimate Of Hacked 2013 Accounts To All Of Its 3 Billion Users Verizon CEO Says He Has "Moved On" From Eyeing A Cable Deal Chris Castallo Joins Verizon as Head of Development for Go90 (Reuters) - Verizon Communications Inc on Wednesday said Marni Walden, executive vice president and president of global media, will leave the company in February 2018. Walden, the company's top-ranking female executive, played a big role in Verizon's acquisition of Yahoo and its merger with AOL to create the Oath unit. Walden, who was seen as a potential successor to Chief Executive Lowell McAdam, will move into a strategic adviser role from Dec. 31, until her departure. "She is leaving because she wants to pursue other opportunities. This is not related at all to yesterday's news," said a company official, speaking on condition of anonymity. Yahoo said on Tuesday that all 3 billion of its user accounts were hacked in a 2013 data theft, tripling its earlier estimate of the size of the largest breach in history. Walden most recently spearheaded Verizon's entry into global digital media and telematics, the company said. Oath CEO Tim Armstrong will report to McAdam after Dec. 31, while the telematics organization will report to John Stratton, executive vice president and president of Verizon's Global Operations, Verizon said. "Marni helped build our wireless business, starting as a sales representative in a store, and grew into an inspirational leader and role model for so many at Verizon," McAdam said. (Reporting by Munsif Vengattil in Bengaluru and David Shepardson in Washington; Editing by Martina D'Couto and Anil D'Silva) Wells Fargo CEO Timothy J. Sloan told senators during a combative hearing on Tuesday that the bank will continue to require customers affected by the companys fake account scandal and any other wrongful actions to settle disputes through arbitration, blocking them from filing class action lawsuits. The Senate Banking Committee summoned Sloan to answer questions about reforms at Wells Fargo and new revelations that employees created nearly 70% more fake accounts than previously thought. Last year, Wells Fargo became one of the biggest corporate scandals of 2016 when it admitted that employees in its community banking divisionunder pressure to sell customers multiple productshad opened 2.1 million fraudulent deposit and credit card accounts. The bank has since uncovered an additional 1.4 million unauthorized accounts, bringing the total to 3.5 million. The banks reliance on forced arbitrationa clause contained in the fine print of contracts that customers sign when setting up an account, credit card, or other financial productcame up several times in the hearing. Read More: Warren Buffetts Advice to Tim Sloan on Wells Fargos Future Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), the ranking member of the committee, pressed Sloan to end the practice because it prevents customers from having their day in court. Many of your competitors are starting to, or have eliminated, the practice of forced arbitration, said Brown, who has introduced legislation that would allow victims of Wells Fargos fraud to file lawsuits even if they signed contracts with arbitration clauses for legitimate accounts in the past. Would you commit to the committee today that Wells Fargo will quit using forced arbitration? Brown asked. Sloan responded: No, I wont senator. Read More: Wells Fargo Names Betsy Duke as its New Chair in Response to Scandal When I hear the word arbitration, what I hear is the word failing,' Sloan said, characterizing arbitration as an early warning system for the bank. When we have to resort to and have to have a conversation with our customers about arbitration it means that we dont have the right product, we havent provided it in the right way, we havent responded to their complaint. Story continues Brown argued that forced arbitration gives the advantage to the bank. Why should we believe that youre committed to changing your banks practices and being fair to customers when you continue to use that behind-closed-doors arbitration system that clearly doesnt allow customers their day in court? he said. Sloan defended the practice, listing the oft-cited upsides of arbitration: its a faster, more cost-effective, and efficient way to resolve disputes with consumers. Forced arbitration has a real impact on the millions of customers who had fake accounts opened in their names by Wells Fargo employees. At the same time, there is an underlying subtext in the exchange between Brown and Sloan that hints at a larger fight brewing in the Senate. In July, the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau released a new rule after a two-year study that blocks companies from forcing consumers to go to arbitration instead of filing class action cases. The final rule doesnt ban arbitration altogether. Still, Republican lawmakers and business organizations, such as U.S. Chamber of Commerce, are critical of the rule. GOP senators are working on bringing legislation to the floor that would rescind it. A photo illustration shows a Yahoo logo on a smartphone in front of a displayed cyber code and keyboard on December 15, 2016. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration (Reuters) - Yahoo, now part of Verizon Communications Inc (VZ.N), said on Tuesday that an investigation showed all 3 billion of its user accounts were affected in a 2013 data theft, tripling its earlier estimate of the largest breach in history. However, the company said the investigation indicated that the stolen information did not include passwords in clear text, payment card data, or bank account information. Yahoo said last December that data from more than 1 billion user accounts was compromised in August 2013. Verizon in February lowered its original offer by $350 million for Yahoo assets in the wake of two massive cyber attacks at the internet company. The closing of the deal, which was first announced in July, had been delayed as the companies assessed the fallout from two data breaches that Yahoo disclosed last year. The company paid $4.48 billion for Yahoo's core business. A Yahoo official emphasized Tuesday that the 3 billion figure includes many accounts that were opened but never or only briefly used. The company said it was sending email notifications to additional affected user accounts. (Reporting by Munsif Vengattil and David Shepardson,; Editing by Anil D'Silva) A photo illustration shows a Yahoo logo on a smartphone in front of a displayed cyber code and keyboard on December 15, 2016. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration (Reuters) - Yahoo, now part of Verizon Communications Inc (VZ.N), said on Tuesday that all of its 3 billion user accounts were affected in the August 2013 data theft, following an investigation involving forensic experts. However, the company said the investigation indicated the information that was stolen did not include passwords in clear text, payment card data, or bank account information. (Reporting by Munsif Vengattil in Bengaluru; Editing by Anil D'Silva) [October 05, 2017] Black Hat Europe 2017 Announces First Briefings: Hacks Spanning Mobile, Banking, Smart Grid, IoT, Medical Devices and More Register Now Through Friday, October 6 to Save 300 on Briefings Pass SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Black Hat, the world's leading producer of information security events, announces its return to London with its initial release of Briefings. The event, in its 16th year, will bring together the world's brightest information security professionals and researchers revealing new vulnerabilities (and defenses) spanning everything from widely used banking systems to the mobile devices, smart grids and medical devices we rely on every day. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/568083/black_hat_Europe_2017_Logo.jpg Black Hat Europe 2017 will take place December 4-7 at the EXCEL London, in London, England. For more information and to save 300 on your Briefings Pass by Friday, October 6 please visit blackhat.com/eu-17/ Returning to London this December a home to some of Europe's largest InfoSec solution providers, researchers and professionals Black Hat Europe will host a week of immersive programming aimed towards providing the latest InfoSec research, development, and trends. The event will commence with two days of intensely technical Trainings followed by two days of Black Hat's infamous Briefings, and a Business Hall buzzing with today's leading innovators. Attendees will be introduced to content spanning the industry's most pressing topics affecting various parts of the world. Highlights of Black Hat Europe's Briefings so far: ANNOUNCED: Black Hat Arsenal Tools Arsenal will return to Black Hat Europe and welcome independent researchers, both local and from afar, from the open source community to display their latest tools and products and offer live demonstrations. Arsenal gives researchers the opportunity to showcase their latest code and offers attendees the chance to interact with presenters and gain hands-on experience. Arsenal will host more than 40 tools this year covering Android, iOS and mobile hacking, Internet of Things, Cryptography and more. For more information and to view all recently selected tools, please visit: http://www.blackhat.com/eu-17/arsenal/schedule/index.html. Black Hat Trainings: Register by THIS Friday and Save 300 In addition to the world-class Briefings schedule, Black Hat Europe 2017 will offer deeply technical, hands-on Training sessions led by some of the information security industry's top trainers and professionals. Running December 4-5, the Trainings offer a separate set of courses for attendees spanning everything from advanced infrastructure hacking to enterprise defenses, black ops hacking for pentesters, crypto attacks and more. For more information and to save 300 on your selected course(s) with early registration prices by this Friday, October 6, visit: blackhat.com/eu-17/training/schedule/index.html. Black Hat Student Scholarships: Submission Deadline: October 27 The Black Hat Student Scholarship Program is back for its fourth year in Europe. As a way to introduce the next generation of security professionals to the Black Hat community, a limited number of complimentary Academic Passes will be awarded to student applicants for Black Hat Europe 2017. Qualified students may submit applications by Friday, October 27, 2017. For more information and requirements, visit: blackhat.com/eu-17/student-scholarship.html Top Sponsors of Black Hat Europe 2017 include : Diamond Sponsors: Cylance, Nyotron, SecureLink and Spirent Communications; Platinum Sponsors: Cybereason, Fortinet, NCC Group, Neustar, Palo Alto Networks, Qualys, SentinelOne For more information on sponsorship opportunities as well as the full list of exhibiting companies, visit: blackhat.com/eu-17/business-hall.html Future Black Hat Dates and Events Black Hat Europe 2017, London, England, December 4-7 London, England, December 4-7 Black Hat Asia 2018, Singapore , March 20-23 , Black Hat USA 2018, Las Vegas, Nevada , August 4-9 About Black Hat For 20 years, Black Hat has provided attendees with the very latest in information security research, development, and trends. These high-profile global events and trainings are driven by the needs of the security community, striving to bring together the best minds in the industry. Black Hat inspires professionals at all career levels, encouraging growth and collaboration among academia, world-class researchers, and leaders in the public and private sectors. Black Hat Briefings and Trainings are held annually in the United States, Europe and Asia. More information is available at: blackhat.com. Black Hat is organized by UBM plc. UBM is the largest pure-play B2B Events organizer in the world. Our 3,750+ people, based in more than 20 countries, serve more than 50 different sectors. Our deep knowledge and passion for these sectors allow us to create valuable experiences which enable our customers to succeed. Please visit www.ubm.com for the latest news and information about UBM. English Lithuanian Panevezys, Lietuva, 2017-10-04 13:00 CEST (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hereby we announce the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders (hereinafter the Meeting) of AB Linas Agro Group, registered address Smelynes St. 2C, Panevezys, Lithuania, code 148030011, (hereinafter the Company) is convened. The date, time and venue of the Meeting 26 October, 2017 at 10.00 a.m., Hotel Smelyne, Conference Hall (Smelynes St. 3, Panevezys, Lithuania). Accounting day of the Meeting is 19 October, 2017. Only the persons who are the shareholders of the Company at the end of the Accounting day of the Meeting shall have the right to attend and vote at the Meeting. The Rights Accounting day is 10 November, 2017. Only the persons who are the shareholders of the Company at the end of the Rights Accounting day shall have proprietary rights. Agenda of the Meeting: 1. Presentation of the Companys Audit committee activity report. 2. Presentation of the independent auditors report. 3. Presentation of the consolidated annual report of the Company for the financial year 2016/2017. 4. Approval of the consolidated and the Companys set of financial statements for the financial year ended 30 June, 2017. 5. Approval of the payment of bonuses to the members of the Board of the Company. 6. Approval of the Distribution of the Companys profit. 7. Election of the Companys auditor for the financial year 2017/2018 of the Company and establishment of the payment for the services. 8. Election of the Companys Board members. Initiator of convening of the Meeting is the Board of the Company. The Meeting is convened by the decision of the Board of the Company, adopted on 3 October, 2017. Registration of the Shareholders of the Company starts: 26 October, 2017 at 9.15 a.m. Registration of the Shareholders of the Company ends: 26 October, 2017 at 9.55 a.m. The Company does not provide possibility to attend and vote at the Meeting through electronic means of communication. The persons who are shareholders of the Company at the end of the Accounting day of the Meeting shall have the right to attend and vote at the Meeting in person either persons authorized by them, or persons, who concluded an agreement on the disposal of the voting right. A person attending the Meeting must submit a persons identification document. A person who is not a shareholder must additionally produce a document confirming his/her right to vote at the Meeting. Each shareholder shall have a right in the manner established by the Laws to authorize natural or legal person on his/her behalf to attend and vote at the Meeting. At the Meeting an authorized person has the same rights as would be held by the shareholder represented by him/her, unless in the issued power of attorney are indicated otherwise. A power of attorney issued abroad must be translated into Lithuanian and legalized in the manner established by the Laws. The Company does not establish special form of power of attorney. The agenda of the Meeting may be supplemented by initiative of the shareholders holding shares carrying at least 1/20 of all the votes. The drafts of proposed decisions on proposed issues or, if the decision shall not be adopted, explanation on each proposed issue of the agenda of the Meeting shall be presented alongside with the proposal to supplement the agenda of the Meeting. The proposal to supplement the agenda shall be submitted in writing by sending it by registered mail to AB Linas Agro Group at the address Smelynes St. 2C, Panevezys, Lithuania or by e-mail group@linasagro.lt. The agenda of the Meeting shall be supplemented if the proposal is received not later than 14 days before the Meeting. The shareholders who own shares carrying at least 1/20 of all the votes shall have the right at any time before the Meeting or during the Meeting to propose new draft decisions on the issue already included or to be included in to the agenda of the Meeting. The proposed draft decisions must be presented in writing by sending them by registered mail to AB Linas Agro Group at the address Smelynes St. 2C, Panevezys, Lithuania or by e-mail group@linasagro.lt. The shareholders shall also be entitled to propose draft decisions on the agenda issues of the Meeting in writing during the Meeting. The shareholders shall have the right to present questions related to the agenda issues of the Meeting to the Company. The questions in writing can be presented not later than 3 working days before the Meeting, by providing the shareholders personal identification number and consent to process personal data personal identification number by e-mail group@linasagro.lt or delivered to AB Linas Agro Group at the address Smelynes St. 2C, Panevezys, Lithuania. Responses of general character shall be posted on the Companys website www.linasagro.lt. The Company will not respond to the shareholder personally if the respective information is posted on the Companys website. A shareholder or a person authorized by him/her shall have right to vote in writing in advance by filling in the General Voting Ballot. Upon a written request of the shareholders holding the voting right, the Company not later than 10 days before the Meeting shall send the General Voting Ballot by registered mail or present personally against acknowledgement of receipt at the registered office of the Company. The General Voting Ballot is also provided on the Companys website www.linasagro.lt. The filled in General Voting Ballot must be signed by the shareholder or by the person authorized by him/her. If the person who is authorized by the shareholder is voting, the document confirming the voting right must be attached to the filled in General Voting Ballot. The document confirming the voting right must be in Lithuanian or translated into Lithuanian by authorized translator and his/her signature must be confirmed by notarius. Filled in General Voting Ballot and the document confirming the voting right must be submitted to the Company in writing not later than on the last business day before the Meeting, by sending it by registered mail to AB Linas Agro Group at the address Smelynes St. 2C, Panevezys, Lithuania or personally to the Company against acknowledgement of receipt. The shareholders can familiarize with the documents, related to the agenda of the Meeting, draft decisions of each issue of the agenda, documents to be submitted to the Meeting, other information regarding execution of the shareholders rights, in the website of the Company www.linasagro.lt, also at the Companys office during business days from 8.00 a.m. till 12.00 a.m. and from 1.00 p.m. till 5.00 p.m. On the day the Meeting is convened the total number of the Company's shares is 158,940,398, and the number of shares granting voting rights is 158,158,426. The own shares in amount of 781,972 acquired by the Company do not grant voting rights. The ISIN code of the Company's shares is LT0000128092. Sincerely Chairman of the Board Darius Zubas JarvisR wrote: In the high-profile Senate race in North Carolina, neither Senator Kay Hagan, who is the Democratic leader, or Thom Tillis, who is her Republican challenger and Speaker of the North Carolina House, have released recent campaign fundraising figures. A. who is the Democratic leader, or Thom Tillis, who is her Republican challenger and Speaker of the North Carolina House, have B. the Democratic leader, and Thom Tillis, her Republican challenger who is Speaker of the North Carolina House, have C. who is the Democratic leader, nor Thom Tillis, who is her Republican challenger and also Speaker of the North Carolina House, have D. the Democratic leader, nor Thom Tillis, the Republican challenger, who is Speaker of the North Carolina House, has E. the Democratic leader, nor Thom Tillis, her Republican challenger and Speaker of the North Carolina House, has OFFICIAL EXPLANATION verb tense understanding of the common constructions neithernor not onlybut also neitheror neitherand neithernor neithernor eitheror subject-verb agreement noun is closest to the verb not parallel illogically stacked "Be challenged at EVERY MOMENT." Strength doesnt come from what you can do. It comes from overcoming the things you once thought you couldnt. "Each stage of the journey is crucial to attaining new heights of knowledge." | Please DO NOT post short answer in your post! Advanced Search : https://gmatclub.com/forum/advanced-search/ Rules for posting in verbal forum | Please DO NOT post short answer in your post! Signature Read More ys933 wrote: I was graduated from a Turkish university which has a ranking between 401-500 in Times. My undergrad department was electronics engineering and graduation GPA is 2.40 Thus, I want to apply a MBA program that does not require any work experience (even I have some little work experience from internships). Also, I am not looking for top schools, mid low-ranked schools are ok for me. For example, a school which is between 801-1000 or below 1000th ranking in Times Higher Education list will accept me? Or which ranking range should I look for? Because the school that I was graduated is good and my references will be strong either. One last thing, I am going to take GMAT in 10 days and I was expecting a score around 650. So what are your advices for me especially the talented people please help me what should I do ? I really really want to go to MBA in US whatever the school is Thanks for any advice/answer/comment Hello again with a similar topic but somehow different case,I was graduated from a Turkish university which has a ranking between 401-500 in Times. My undergrad department was electronics engineering and graduation GPA is 2.40Thus, I want to apply a MBA program that does not require any work experience (even I have some little work experience from internships). Also, I am not looking for top schools, mid low-ranked schools are ok for me.For example, a school which is between 801-1000 or below 1000th ranking in Times Higher Education list will accept me? Or which ranking range should I look for? Because the school that I was graduated is good and my references will be strong either.One last thing, I am going to take GMAT in 10 days and I was expecting a score around 650. So what are your advices for me especially the talented people please help me what should I do ? I really really want to go to MBA in US whatever the school isThanks for any advice/answer/comment I'm not sure that now is the best time for you to pursue and MBA. Much of the value of the degree is being able to relate it to the job and the difficulties of management, and you don't have much exposure there. I do not think there is anything to gain by attending a low ranked MBA program without experience. If it was Harvard, sure, the name alone may open doors, but a low ranked school is not going to offer much in the way of opportunities unless you have some incredible networking skills.My .02 as a non professional, take the GMAT in the next few days since you are already signed up, see how you do and reconsider your plan. I think the best option is to get some meaningful work experience, and make an impact before applying in a few years. Even with a 2.4, getting into a good school (top150 or so worldwide) is doable, and the longer you are out of undergrad, the less important the GPA becomes. jzchina wrote: Most of Portugal's 250,000 university students boycotted classes in a one-day strike to protest a law that requires them to contribute $330 a year toward the cost of higher education, previously paying $7 per year . A. year toward the cost of higher education, previously paying $7 per year B. year toward the cost of higher education, for which was previously paid $7 per year C. year, compared to the previously $7 per year, toward the cost of higher education D. year toward the cost of higher education, instead of the $7 per year required previously E. year as opposed to the $7 per year required previously for the cost of higher education Meaning is crucial to solving this problem Concepts tested here: Meaning + Modifiers + Awkwardness/Redundancy A: B: practically required C: when compared to rather than D: Correct. requires rather than E: Hence, D is the best answer choice. Dear Friends,Here is a detailed explanation to this question-Understanding the intended meaning is key to solving this question; the intended meaning of the crucial part of this sentence is that the law requires students to contribute $330 a year toward the cost of higher education, rather than the $7 per year that the students used to have to pay.This answer choice incorrectly modifies "the cost of higher education" with "previously paying $7 per year", illogically implying that "cost of higher education" was practically paying $7 per year; the intended meaning is that the students used to have to pay $7 per year for higher education; please remember, in a noun + comma + phrase construction, the phrase must correctly modify the noun.This answer choice alters the meaning through the phrase "for which was previously paid $7 per year"; the construction of this phrase incorrectly implies that the studentsused to pay $7 per year; the intended meaning is that the students wereto pay $7 per year. Further, Option B uses the passive voice construction "for which was previously paid", leading to awkwardness and redundancy.Trap. This answer choice incorrectly modifies "$330 a year" with "compared to the previously $7 per year", illogically implying that the law requires students to pay $330 a year towards higher educationthe previous $7 per year; the intended meaning is that the law requires students to pay $330 a year towards higher educationthe previous fee of $7 per year; please remember, in a noun + comma + phrase construction, the phrase must correctly modify the noun. Further, Option C incorrectly uses the adverb "previously" to modify the noun "$7 per year"; please remember, an adverb can only be used to modify a verb or an adjective.This answer choice correctly modifies "cost of higher education" with "instead of the $7 per year required previously", conveying the intended meaning - that the lawstudents to pay $330 a year towards higher educationthe previous fee of $7 per year. Further, Option D correctly uses the adverb "previously" to modify the verb "required". Additionally, Option D is free of any awkwardness or redundancy.This answer choice uses the needlessly wordy phrase "as opposed to", leading to awkwardness and redundancy.Additional Note: Please note that the phrase "as opposed to" is used to indicate difference or contrast, so it conveys the same meaning as "instead of" in this context.To understand the concept of "Phrase Comma Subject" and "Subject Comma Phrase" on the GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~1 minutes):All the best!Team_________________ wolves5 wrote: Hello, I'm considering a part time MBA. Here's my background: Work experience: 2.5 years as a Business Analyst. I spent some time at a fintech startup and now I work at a top 20 health insurance company. GMAT: 660. GPA: 3.18/ 4. I did have an academic probation. I got accepted into a direct Physical Therapy grad program (top 35) out of high school. Over time, it was something that I was not motivated in and I was also dealing with personal issues (death in family). This led to my poor grades. I believe I only got 3 C's and D's for my grad classes. The rest 10 grad classes I took were A's and B's. Volunteer: I am the Director of Community Development at an organization (youngest member). I tutor kids at a tutoring center (I do get paid). At the tutoring center, I have also helped the center director with marketing efforts resulting in 30% increase in enrollments. Lastly, I help out with events at American Lung Association. Possible Recommendations: Director at my current company, Supervisor at my current company, Director of the volunteer organization, and Booth alum. Why I want MBA? Since I am a Business Analyst, I would like to use my MBA to transition more into a consulting role either at my current company or elsewhere. Target Schools: Booth Chicago Business Fellows (this is my top and honestly, I really want to get my MBA from here). I also have part time Kellogg, part time Loyola, part time Carnegie Mellon Tepper, and part time NYU Stern. I think my biggest concern is the academic probation. How do I go about in addressing that? Since I am doing part time and I fit within the range for Booth's GMAT and GPA, is my profile ok? I would appreciate any help/advice. Thank you! Hey there,Well first of all to give you a real evaluation I'd need to know a biiit more about your work experience. Probably first of all, if there is a chance for Booth, it could be helped out by a higher GMAT. and as you are at less a disadvantage for applying later, you might want to see if you can get a higher GMAT.Other than that, your academic probation is a bit of an issue, but you can overcome it. I think first and foremost, the concern might be "are you smart enough". A great GMAT and then anything else you have that shows that will help. Secondly, is the story you tell - Why were you demotivated? what re-motivated you? And how can we know you will do better in B-school?Whatever the case, you can apply to PT programs at those schools. PT programs are nowhere near as competitive as FT programs. But again, if you want to try and improve your chances in the meanwhile, it will only help.Best, valyrian wrote: Age: 24 Sex: Male Nationality: Indian Mechanical graduate from top reputed private university (Non IIT) with a GPA of 8.9. (top 7 percent) Would be 3.9 plus in US system. I did a six months internship at Tata motors during my 6th semester and was among 6 students selected from a batch of 140. Received Six sigma green belt for successfully completing training and project. Also was awarded best trainee second runners up. Masters in mechanical engineering - UC Berkeley (Highest ranked public engineering university in the world) GRE of 331/340. 3.8 GPA in masters (Top 10 percent). Awarded Fung Fellow designation and 20k dollars merit scholarship from Berkeley. First attempt GMAT - 770. Q51 V42. IR 8 AWA 5.5 Working as a product quality engineer in a German multinational (Fresenius, Global F-500 and world leader in dialysis therapy) in San Francisco since mid 2016. Fresenius is more than a century old company and is the largest dialysis medical devices manufacturer in the world as well as has nearly 90 percent market share in the dialysis market. They are the largest hospital group in Europe owning about 100 hospitals there and a few thousand clinics in USA. Extra curriculars: State level badminton player in school Convener of muse club in college. Participated and won a lot of literary and quizzing events in college. Have 2nd year degree certificate for tabla Also planning to take CFA level 1 by Dec and level 2 by June next year. I am planning to apply to Harvard , Wharton or Stanford after 2 years. What can I do to improve my profile. Also do I have a chance in these universities. Hey there!Great to hear from you!You have a most excellent and impressive base for your MBA application already with your grades, scholarship and fantastic GMAT score! Keep it up, and you should be able to give the strongest application you can.What can you do to improve your profile over the next years???I would like to present you with a list of ideas, which should help you:- Definitely do at least one if not real real volunteer works while you are working. The BEST possible volunteer work is anything that has to do with leadership or fundraising, so if you see those opportunities, jump on them!- Make sure you do the best possible at work, taking any opportunities to lead, to get involved in social events, to advance at work, and remain at the top.- Likewise try and keep up your life! What I mean is that schools LOVE candidates who have a broad range of activities and interests. So sports, culture, whatever. As always, if it is leadership roles you are taking on they are better than non-leadership roles.- If you have any interest in entrepreneurship as a side project, it can be good to have that in your profile.- If you have any interest in politics as a side project, it can be good to have that in your profile.There are probably more things that I am not yet thinking about, but this is a very good place to start!Overall things look promising. Right now we are too early to start getting into actual school evaluation, but this is a good start.While you are at it, I would also suggest trying to visit the target schools, to attend events, and to learn about them as much as possible. This long-term work will pay off greatly when it comes time for you to apply. - A bride-to-be has been arrested while she was with another boyfriend - She was arrested with suspected cultist during an initiation party A bride-to-be identified as Bose Christopher has been arrested as a suspected cultists during an initiation party for new members in Abeokuta, Ogun state. She was arrested alongside 30 other suspected cultists. It was gathered that Christopher was arrested 24 hours to her wedding for alleged involvement with cultists. According to Premium Times, the bride-to-be had gone to the initiation party with another man she is in a relationship with. Bride-to-be gets arrested with another lover 24 hours to her wedding Photo Source: Lailasblog READ ALSO: Police officers arrest masquerades for allegedly robbing Agege residents (photos, video) In an interview, Christopher claimed that she did not know her boyfriend was a cultist because she met him two weeks ago. She said: It is true, I went with my boyfriend to the party and it is also true that my wedding introduction was scheduled to hold the following day I went to the ceremony with my boyfriend. My introduction was supposed to hold the day after we were arrested, but I couldnt go. I met him (boyfriend) about two weeks ago and I never knew he is a cult member. He just called me after I closed from the shop to join him at the party. Christopher who claimed to be an apprentice at a fashion designing workshop said her husband-to-be stopped seeing her after he learnt she was arrested. PAY ATTENTION: Get all the latest gossips on NAIJ News App According to the police, the suspects were arrested by the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad. If any police officer misbehaves with you, call any of these numbers - on Legit.ng TV Source: Legit.ng It appears that the newly released Ghanaian song One Corner is getting people in trouble due to its provocative dance steps. Just recently, it was reported that about 13 students of the Islamic Senior High School (ISSEC), in Kumasi, Ghana are facing the school authorities for dancing to the song. The students were not caught dancing the provocative dance steps outside the school premises but in their classroom. Female students dancing in class READ ALSO: Dont bring Ghana rubbish to Nigeria, Comedian Ushbebe warns Reekado Banks Adom News reported that four boys and nine girls were seen twerking and dancing to the popular dance madness while in the class. Watching the short video clip, they could be seen dancing from spot or another. However, this dance and song was released by Ghanaian artist, Patapaa and is currently rated as the biggest song in the country. PAY ATTENTION: Get the Latest Nigerian News Anywhere 24/7. Spend less on the Internet! Students dancing the One Corner dance in class In showing off their dance skills to the song people go gaga by either perching on whatever object is before them, go under cars, chairs or whatever while others isolate themselves on the ground. The names of the students are yet to be disclosed but have been referred to the schools disciplinary committee for misconduct. Nawa o! Inside Fela's massive house where he spent his last days - on Legit.ng TV. Source: Legit.ng [October 05, 2017] Breakthrough PostgreSQL 10 Delivers More Database Flexibility and Performance BEDFORD, Mass., Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- EnterpriseDB (EDB), the database platform company for digital business, today applauds the achievement of the PostgreSQL Global Development Group for its newly released PostgreSQL 10. Administrators now have more flexibility as well as powerful new database features, including new parallel query and replication capabilities and performance improvements. "Complex digital applications and analytic architectures require a more powerful and flexible database. As a major contributor to the Postgres core code base, EDB devoted countless developer hours to ensuring PostgreSQL 10 achieved new levels of performance and deployment flexibility," said Marc Linster, Ph.D., Senior Vice President, Product Development, EnterpriseDB. "PostgreSQL 10 delivers features EDB customers require to build modern applications in the agile frameworks that many have adopted to remain competitive." PostgreSQL 10, the most significant release in recent years, gives DBAs an array of new deployment choices. DBAs now have more flexibility when configuring PostgreSQL to meet the specific demands of their workloads and infrastructure. The new release of PostgreSQL also adds powerful new performance advances that return query results faster. In addition to making major contributions to the open source PostgreSQL project, EDB is also a PostgreSQL packager and makes the database available to customers as part of the EDB Postgres Standard Edition. Customers making this selection use open source PostgreSQL but also get an integrated set of supported tools, developed by EDB using best-in-class technology, a powerful DBaaS management console, as well as a full menu of training and professional services offerings. Customers also get full access to the deep capabilities and resources of a Gartner recognized, enterprise-class vendor. The new features in PostgreSQL that expand deployment options in PostgreSQL 10 include: Logical Replication: With logical replication, DBAs have the ability to control replication by table or by database, in cases selectively replicating individual items and aggregating data spread across multiple servers for queries. This feature can also be used to easily create standbys for near-zero downtime upgrades. Declarative Partitioning: This feature replaces and automates troublesome manual tasks that involed maintaining and updating triggers and rules for creating and managing table partitions. Bulk loading performance is also greatly improved compared to older, trigger-based solutions. Developers benefit as well. With partition controls now part of the database schema, they no longer must be written into the application. Multi-column Statistics: DBAs can now specify additional statistics that should be gathered to improve query performance when what would otherwise be gathered by default would not have been sufficient to support creation of a high-quality query plan. Instead of using complex and fragile workarounds for poorly performing queries, DBAs can implement a robust fix with a single command. ICU Collation Support: Previous releases of PostgreSQL automatically imported collations available from the host operating system. Now, PostgreSQL 10 adds the ability to use collations from the popular ICU library, allowing extensive customization of sorting behavior and cross-platform stability. SCRAM Authentication: PostgreSQL 10 institutes enhanced security by implementing a Salted Challenge Response Authentication Mechanism (SCRAM) protocol for managing passwords. With SCRAM-SHA-256 in PostgreSQL 10, neither the information stored on the server nor what is exchanged during authentication is sufficient for unauthorized access. The new features in PostgreSQL 10 that increase database performance include: Improved Query Parallelism: Basic parallel query was introduced in PostgreSQL 9.6, giving way to expanded capabilities for implementation of greater functionality for real world use cases. The first of these new capabilities have come with PostgreSQL 10. New features include additional scans that control how the database executes and sorts parallel queries, and mechanisms for how it combines data to produce results. Parallel query has produced 2-4x performance increases for some workloads. Expression Evaluation Engine: When running queries against large data sets, this enhancement now enables dramatically improved performance. This optimization applies modern programming techniques tailored to the latest generation of CPU hardware to expression evaluation. Quorum Commit: This feature provides greater flexibility and performance for DBAs who require multiple synchronous replication standbys. With PostgreSQL, DBAs can specify different wait policies when designating standby servers to accept data for replication. Demand for synchronous replication across multiple databases and data centers has been growing. Greater flexibility will make it easier for companies to deploy PostgreSQL where synchronous replication is required. Financial services, for example, need to maintain consistent customer records across multiple data centers and geographies. Availability PostgreSQL 10 is available immediately. To download the free version of PostgreSQL using an easy one-click installer, click here to download, or visit the PostgreSQL community download page here. To leverage the full value of PostgreSQL for enterprise deployments, the database also is available as part of the EDB Postgres Standard subscription. All features of PostgreSQL 10 will be included in the upcoming release of EDB Postgres Advanced Server 10, which integrates enterprise-class performance, manageability and compatibility with Oracle into PostgreSQL. For more information on EDB Postgres, contact [email protected]. About EnterpriseDB Corporation EnterpriseDB (EDB), the database platform company for digital business, delivers the premier open source-based data platform for new applications, cloud re-platforming, application modernization, and legacy migration. EnterpriseDB integrates with enterprise technologies and infrastructures for hybrid cloud management, data integration, and data warehousing. Our customers benefit from the highest performing, most reliable, flexible, open, and cost-effective data management platform available. EnterpriseDB is based in Bedford, Massachusetts. For more information, visit www.EnterpriseDB.com. EnterpriseDB is a registered trademark of EnterpriseDB Corporation. EDB and EDB Postgres are trademarks of EnterpriseDB Corporation. Other trademarks may be trademarks of their respective owners. MEDIA CONTACTS Cairbre Sugrue Sugrue Communications +44 (0)1932 429 779 [email protected] View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/breakthrough-postgresql-10-delivers-more-database-flexibility-and-performance-300531849.html SOURCE EnterpriseDB [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Following the recent adultery mess trailing the Inspector General of Police Idris Ibrahim, Kemi Olunloyo has come out to threaten the man of the law. The ex-governors daughter took to her Instagram handle on Thursday, October 5, to call out IGP Idris for arresting her few months back over actress Iyabo Ojo and Pastor David Ibiyeomies adultery scandal. Olunloyo also claimed that the Inspector General of Police allegedly received the sum of N1 billion from the complaints to arrest her. Due to this and his own involvement in alleged adultery, the officer must apologize to her or else she is ready to sue him. Kemi Olunloyo and the Inspector General of Police Idris Ibrahim READ ALSO: 13 senior high school students in trouble for dancing to One Corner dance (photos) In a video the posted on her Instagram handle, she said: #BREAKING #hnncrime I am demanding an apology IMMEDIATELY from the Inspector General of Police at #NigerianPoliceForce for accusing me of #criminaldefamation. I urge the judges in my case to DROP ALL CHARGES. I also plan to sue the IG for damages. One of your officers Kenneth at SARS in #Aluu#PortHarcourt already told me that my complainant allegedly paid the IG ONE BILLION NAIRA "investigation money" to arrest me and drag me to a city that was not in the criminal jurisdiction. I am gonna expose everyone in this case. I'm a snitch. Nobody will be spared. My complainant is a pastor who's church is worth N250B. Finish with #CharlyBoy u hear, I'm NEXT! cc: President @muhammadubuhari @daddyfreeze #freethesheeple #hnngov. PAY ATTENTION: Get the Latest Nigerian News Anywhere 24/7. Spend less on the Internet! Oga police has entered one chance o! If any police officer misbehaves with you, call any of these numbers - on Legit.ng TV. Source: Legit.ng As of August 26th, 2021 Yahoo India will no longer be publishing content. Your Yahoo Account Mail and Search experiences will not be affected in any way and will operate as usual. We thank you for your support and readership. For more information on Yahoo India, please visit the FAQ The latter report also focused upon the issue of Irans usage of the death penalty, which is more frequent in that country, relative to total population, than in any other country on Earth. Iran Human Rights Monitor determined that at least 42 executions had been carried out in September alone, although only about half of these were acknowledged by the Iranian government. The regimes selective secrecy leaves open the possibility that figures for any given month are incomplete, as some killings may not have been revealed to human rights advocates through independent channels. It is estimated that about 3,500 executions have taken place since Iranian President Hassan Rouhani took office in 2013 on promises of moderation and greater domestic freedoms. Those promises were repeated during Rouhanis successful reelection campaign in May of this year, although no recognizable human rights initiatives had been put into effect during his first four-year term. Despite this fact, Rouhani has publicly claimed that his administration made significant strides, increasing levels of domestic satisfaction. This position was evident in Rouhanis September 20 speech to the United Nations General Assembly, which the NCRI identified as dismissing claims that there was a problem in the country and doing so on the same day that 14 death sentences were being carried out at once. Shirin Ebadi, the co-founder of the Defenders of Human Rights Center, called attention to this apparent hypocrisy in a statement accompanying the release of her organizations report. According to IranWire, Ebadi pointedly accused the Iranian president of lying about the countrys human rights system. She also noted that to the extent that Rouhani acknowledges the existence of political prisoners and questionable judicial practices, he tends to blame these incidents on the judiciary and the Intelligence Ministry, despite the fact that his office wields considerable influence over both, especially the Ministry, the head of which is part of his personally-appointed cabinet. The DHRC report indicates that between August 23 and September 22, at least 75 civil and political activists were arrested by Iranain security forces. Many went on to receive illegal sentences. Certain political crimes including enmity against God can be legally punished with death in the Islamic Republic, and while this may not have been the case during the month in question, the DHRC report focused less on explicit death penalties than on what Ebadi referred to as the silent death of political prisoners who are locked away in Iranian jails and made subject to routine mistreatment and the denial of access to medical care. This latter issue has been highlighted in a number of recent reports. But the problem is virtually omnipresent in Iranian jails, and the unique recent attention may be partly due to the prominence of recently-released images of Alireza Rajaei, who lost an eye and part of his jaw to surgery after his cancer went undiagnosed for years while he was serving a sentence as a prisoner of conscience. Rajaeis case was prominently highlighted last week in another report that compared him to another political prisoner, the human rights lawyer, Abdolfatah Soltani, who is suffering from several ailments including a colon ulcer and anemia while serving a 10-year prison sentence for his human rights activism. Soltani is the other co-founder of the DHRC, and this was among the charges that led to his initial 18-year sentence, which was later reduced on appeal. Even so, Soltanis defenders, including journalist and former cellmate Siamak Ghaderi, allege that his case has been handled illegally since its start. And this illegality arguably encompasses the authorities refusal to consider either parole or medical furlough. According to Soltanis family, his condition is worsening as a result of the harsh conditions of Iranian prisons and he cannot recover while still in detention. By withholding proper medical attention, the prosecution hopes that these prisoners will die or become disabled, or that they will lose courage and be tired out, Ghaderi said in an interview with IranWire. Additionally, Soltanis wife declared that Alireza Rajaei is not the first victim of injustice, nor the last. And indeed, several Iranian political prisoners are known to be suffering from untreated medical problems at this very moment. For instance, the Center for Human Rights in Iran reported last week that imprisoned activists Maryam Akbari-Monfared is suffering from thyroid disease and other worsening issues, but has reportedly had her requests for medical furlough blocked by the Intelligence Ministry. Akbari-Monfared was arrested during the mass protests against the disputed 2009 reelection of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and was changed with collaboration with the Peoples Mojahedin Organization of Iran, for which four of her siblings were killed in the 1980s, one of them in the massacre of political prisoners in the summer of 1988. Akbari-Monfared has pushed for inquiries into those deaths and she also made headlines in August when she wrote an open letter protesting the heavily stage-managed tour of Evin Prison that was given to selected foreign diplomats. This continuation of her activism from behind bars has no doubt given hardline authorities reason to put additional pressure on her, and this could account not only for the denial of medical furlough but also for the simple fact that she remains behind bars to this day despite having been eligible for conditional release since 2015. In fact, the continued defiance of abusive authorities is a contributing factor in many examples of the regime denying medical treatment or otherwise exerting pressure on political prisoners. In another such case, the Iran Human Rights website reported that human rights activist Atena Daemi was initially transferred to hospital for gallbladder surgery but was returned to prison without undergoing the procedure, after she refused to wear handcuffs and shackles throughout her hospitalization. Daemis mother told Iran Human Rights that the shackling was not initially a condition of her transfer, but was imposed at the last minute and falsely identified as a prison regulations. Female, non-political prisoners reportedly visit outside medical facilities on a regular basis without being shackled, and the order in Daemis case was regarded as an effort to humiliate her. Whats more, her illness is reportedly related to an earlier hunger strike, which in turn led to the judiciary opening a new case against her before ever considering a hospital transfer. Such hunger strikes are a familiar outlet for the continued defiance that is sometimes associated with cases of withheld medical treatment. Currently, a leading example of this phenomenon is Soheil Arabi, a prisoner of conscience who has been a hunger strike for over a month and has also been refusing fluids since September 23, according to IranWire. The protest was specifically motivated by instances of Arabis family being harassed by regime authorities. Arabis case dates back to November 2013, when he was arrested for criticizing the Islamic Republic online, for which he was initially sentenced to death before an appeals court reduced the sentence to seven and a half years. He was later told that he would be released after serving four years, then also told that this arrangement had been withdrawn. IranWire suggests that this and other forms of mistreatment, including the harassment of his family, may be partly the result of Arabi and his wife filing suit against two websites affiliated with the powerful Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps for publishing slander and lies. In any event, the untreated health effects of Arabis hunger strike have gotten so serious that he recently wrote an open letter describing himself as one step away from death. The case has apparently received considerable attention from both domestic and international activist communities, and the National Council of Resistance of Iran reported that a protest had been organized in front of the Iranian parliament building in response to a call from Arabis mother. Previously, the issues of hunger strikes and withheld medical treatment had been highlighted by approximately 20 political detainees at Rajai Shahr Prison who engaged in a coordinated, month-long hunger strike motivated by their forced transfer to a more repressive wing of the facility. As a result of appeals from their families, many of those prisoners converted the outright hunger strike into a daytime fast after their health deteriorated considerably. But the protest as a whole reportedly continues to this day and was highlighted in the Iran Human Rights Monitor report for September. A new list issued by The Ministry is said to exclude the greater part of the population by including cancer survivors, or those who smoke. It is believed that the new list will also include women who are infertile, have too much facial hair, cyst on ovaries, womanly disorder, breast, or cervix cancer. The Ministry says it will not accept educators with heavy accents. Iran suppresses linguistic diversity, and does not give equal access to education to non-Persian students, as approximately 50 percent of grade one students in Iran must learn literacy in a language that is not their mother tongue. Many speak Farsi with Kurdish, Turkish, Arabic or other accents. Iran denies the existence of homosexuals, in fact, former President Ahmadinejad created an international uproar when he said at Columbia University that Iran had no gays. The new list mentions hermaphrodism (intersex) as a disqualifying illness. The Ministry of Education will also exclude people who are not tall enough, as well as people with a visible limp. Poor eyesight, bladder surgery, blood pressure issues, thyroid problems, spine issues, digestive system issues are also among conditions that are included on the list, as are people suffering from PTSD, speech impediments, epilepsy, depression, bipolar or other psychological disorders. Graduates who have had a stroke or have multiple sclerosis, prostate, or other issues are to be excluded from the Ministry. Social media backlash last week caused the ministry promise to modify the list. Teaching is viewed as a gender appropriate career in Iran. Still, feminists voices are suppressed. Amnesty International reported that feminists are treated as enemies of the state and are threatened with imprisonment on national security-related charges. Irans supreme leader called gender equality a Zionist plot. In her article for Kurdistan24, Ava Homa writes, The religious dictatorship in Iran relies heavily on patriarchy to survive and not only because dictators overall are terrified by any form of solidarity and depend on division to survive. When men are watchdogs for women, the government needs to control only half of the society and the other half is an (unwitting) agent reproducing suppression. After all, empowered women are not easily silenced. It has been suggested that Irans government is concerned that the success of womens movement will inspire other social justice movements, and it must be harshly punished. The discriminatory laws in Iran can be traced back to the 1936 civil code, but by the 1970s, women had gained some freedom of education and occupation. These freedoms were taken away after the revolution Iran in 1979. After the revolution, the Islamic Republic forced women to wear the hijab, and in terms of marriage, divorce, and child custody, suffered many injustices. A woman is legally unable to work or leave the country without their husbands permission, and a woman cannot marry without her father or a male guardians authorization. There is little protection for women against sexual harassment, or domestic and external violence. Still common in the country, are early and forced marriages, as well as marital rape. The situation for Iranian women seems bleak, but hope lies with counter cultural movements that have begun in the country, from Kurdistan to Tehran. This will be a way for the President to keep the deal in place while at the same time ensuring that more pressure is applied on the Iranian regime. Trump would work with allies in Europe and Congress to ensure the correct and appropriate policy is adopted. Trump has been very outspoken about the deal and at the recent United Nations General Assembly he criticised its one-sidedness and said that it was an embarrassment to the United States. The nuclear deal was signed in 2015 between Iran and major world powers. It was a product of former President Obama looking for his legacy. The Iranian regime got everything it wanted from the negotiations and it got a deal that provided numerous concessions. Obama, who led the negotiations, wanted to ensure the Islamic Republic would end up signing the deal, so conceded on for too many issues. The crippling economic sanctions that the United States had slapped on Iran were lifted as a result of the signing of the deal. This freed up billions of dollars for the Iranian regime that has proceeded to plunder it on terrorism, conflicts abroad and its military and numerous proxies. With this new strategy, it will allow President Trump to continue speaking about his contempt for the nuclear deal which will be followed up with harsh action to tackle the problematic areas that urgently need addressed. This way, the international chaos that would follow if the nuclear deal collapsed would be avoided. Several administration officials have hinted at the strategy and earlier this week Secretary of Defense James Mattis spoke about how the deal is in US interests and Trump should stay in. The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Joe Dunford also said that the deal has delayed Irans development of a nuclear capability. The Iranian regime warned that if sanctions were reimposed, its nuclear program would be restarted and analysts fear that this could lead to a military confrontation in the near future. Trumps obligation to inform Congress about Irans compliance every 90 days is not just about Irans technical obligations to the deal; it is also about ensuring that the agreement is still vital to the national security interests of the United States. It is expected that US policy will target Irans militias and Iranian-backed terrorist groups, in particular the Lebanese Hezbollah. The financial aspect will be what is most affected. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is also expected to be classed as a foreign terrorist organisation (FT). This would be the first time that a military wing of a regime would have been designated. The IRGC is in control of a large portion of the countrys economy and is responsible for many human rights abuses. Carmon and Savyon said, By raising these two issues they are diverting attention from the main, critical problem in the agreement which does require immediate attention: its lack of real inspection. The two Middle East analysts say that the major flaw of the nuclear agreement between six world powers and Iran, that was reached two years ago, was that it failed to include a meaningful inspections mechanism, which is a matter mostly ignored by both the proponents and opponents of the deal. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is tasked with inspections, and but the inspection are subject to substantial Iranian influence. As Carmon and Savyon noted, It should be clarified that when Iran, the IAEA, and the heads of the parties to the JCPOA reiterate that there is robust, intrusive, and unprecedented inspection, they are perpetuating the false depiction of the section of the JCPOA concerning inspection. This is because the inspection procedure takes place only at sites where Iran has agreed to allow inspection, that is, sites Iran itself has declared as nuclear sites, but not at any other sites in Iran, including military sites. The Obama administration and the countries party to the JCPOA designed the JCPOA in a way that on the one hand they can claim that a robust inspection is being applied while on the other hand they allowed Iran to evade inspection in all other sites. Iran agreed to inspections, but only under an Additional Protocol to the agreement, and Carmon and Savyon point out, Irans agreement to accept the Additional Protocol was voluntary, and it can exit it at any time without this being considered a violation of the JCPOA. They say that this has compromised the IAEAs ability to effectively police Iranian compliance with the deal. They cite a series of examples: The IAEAs authority has been undercut by the establishment of a political forum that will assess Iranian compliance; Samples from the Parchin nuclear site were given to the IAEA by the Iranians, making authentication impossible; Irans refusal to allow questioning of its nuclear scientists was not challenged; Oversight of 8.5 tons of Irans uranium was handed over to Iranian ally Russia; Irans heavy water has been stored in Oman, which is a political satellite of the Islamic Republic; When given Israeli intelligence on possible violations, the IAEA declined to investigate further. Carmon and Savyon recommend robust oversight to address these issues. The Trump administration said that it would not accept a weakly enforced or inadequately monitored deal. According to Carmon and Savyon, this was not a demand for a change in the JCPOA, nor does it mean an exit from it, but rather it is based on acceptance of the agreement and on the insistence that it be rigorously enforced as it stands. Assir has been in prison since 2015 for directing clash in Sidon in which 17 soldiers were killed. Last week, a Lebanese military court sentenced him to death. The announcement of his execution sparked Sunni protests across the state, because for many Sunnis, the harsh treatment of Assir is emblematic of the Shia militia Hezbollahs increasingly overt dominance in Beirut. Reportedly, Hezbollah has been coordinating more closely with state institutions, including the military, to fight Sunni Islamist militants. The LAF is said to have possibly facilitated the movement of Hezbollah fighters and military material in and out of Syria, where they have been fighting on behalf of the Assad regime against Sunni rebels since 2011. As well, between 2013 and 2014 the LAF and Hezbollah established joint security checkpoints in Beirut to prevent domestic terrorist attacks perpetrated by Sunni militants targeting Hezbollah. The close cooperation between Beirut and Hezbollah, who have been deemed a terrorist organization by the United States and most of Europe, contrasts with the states treatment of its Sunni terrorists. Its believed that the perception in Lebanon is that the state affords Hezbollah and its allies license for their terrorist actions. In fact, Hezbollah sits in a coalition government in Beirut, alongside Sunni political opponents and Christian parties. The Sunni members of parliament are led by Prime Minister Saad Hariri of the Future Movement, who is the son of the former premier assassinated by Hezbollah. They were elected in 2009 on a pro-West, anti-Iran platform. Yet Tehrans increasing domestic influence has led to a pragmatic detente between the Shia militia and Sunnis. Last year, former (Sunni) Minister of Justice in Hariris government, Ashraf Rifi, resigned from his post. He has been criticizing Hariri for what he calls collaboration with Hezbollah. Rifi is also a critic of Syrias Assad regime as well as the Iranian project in Lebanon. In May, largely based on his Sunni sectarian rhetoric, Rifi won the municipal elections in Tripoli. If he does well in the 2018 parliamentary elections, it will weaken the pro-West Sunni community regarding Hezbollah, and solidify the states leanings toward Iran. This is not good news for Lebanon or for the United States. Washington has a great interest in Lebanons stability, as the state borders Israel. The course in Lebanon is tied to Irans increasing influence, which has recently become a concern in Syria and Iraq, too. Preventing deterioration in Lebanon may ultimately be based on Washingtons ability to reverse Irans influence. [October 05, 2017] 2017 Annual Creativity in Electronics Awards Announces Lifetime Achievement, Innovation & Education and Speaker of the Year Winners SANTA MONICA, Calif., Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The Annual Creativity in Electronics (ACE) Awards, which showcase the best in today's electronics industry, today announced that tech pioneer Ajay Bhatt, embedded software expert Jacob Beningo and accomplished engineer Daniel Beeker will be honored at this year's awards ceremony, which takes place on Dec. 6, 2017 at the San Jose Convention Center during Embedded Systems Conference (ESC) Silicon Valley. ESC Silicon Valley runs from Dec. 5 7, 2017. For more information and to register, please visit sanjose.am.ubm.com/Media. "ESC Silicon Valley supports trailblazers in the embedded systems industry through our conference and expo, but the ACE Awards allow us to honor engineers who have made unparalleled contributions to the field," said Suzanne Deffree, Content Director for ESC. "We're thrilled that Ajay, Jacob, and Daniel will join us at the ACE Awards this year to celebrate their body of work and inspire future generations of engineers to pursue new frontiers." The Lifetime Achievement Award, Jim Williams Innovation and Education Award, and Speaker of the Year Award recipients are directly selected by the ACE Awards team for their influence and contributions to the industry. This year's honorees include: Ajay Bhatt , Former Chief Architect at Intel Lifetime Achievement Award recipient A computer industry pioneer for more than 36 years, Bhatt is the recipient of numerous awards for his contributions to the advancement of science and technology. He is responsible for several widely adopted technlogies including Universal Serial Bus (USB), Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP), PCI Express, Thunderbolt, and USB Type-C. Jacob Beningo , Embedded Software Consultant Jim Williams * Innovation and Education Award recipient Sponsored by Analog Devices, Inc., one of the world's top multinational developers of analog and digital technology, this award recognizes an engineer who has made a substantial contribution to the field, making Beningo a natural fit. Through his work with clients in more than a dozen countries, Beningo has cemented himself as an expert embedded software developer, having authored more than 200 articles and several books on the subject. *The Innovation and Education Award is named for Jim Williams, a former staff scientist at Linear Technology for nearly 30 years. He was named Innovator of the Year by EDN Magazine in 1992 and elected to the Electronic Design Hall of Fame in 2002. Williams was considered a legendary analog circuit designer, problem solver, writer, and mentor to many engineers until his passing in June 2011. Daniel Beeker , principal engineer, NXP Semiconductor Speaker of the Year Award recipient With more than 40 years of experience, Beeker specializes in microprocessor and microcontroller development tools. He is a principal engineer at NXP Semiconductor, one of the world's top chip manufacturers for the automotive industry. NXP recently partnered with a subsidiary of China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology to develop government policies and practices for the future of intelligent vehicles in China. ESC Silicon Valley runs alongside BIOMEDevice San Jose, Silicon Valley's premier med tech showcase featuring cutting-edge medical solutions. The expo features over 300 leading suppliers and more than 2,000 engineers on the show floor. Connect with the ACE Awards: #ubmACEawards Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Website Register for ESC Silicon Valley: To register as press for ESC Silicon Valley, please visit: sanjose.am.ubm.com/Media To register for ESC Silicon Valley, please visit: sanjose/ConferencePass About Advanced Manufacturing Expos & Conferences UBM's Advanced Manufacturing portfolio is the leading B-to-B event producer, publisher, and digital media business for the world's $3 trillion advanced, technology-based manufacturing industry. Our print and electronic products deliver trusted information to the advanced manufacturing market and leverage our proprietary 1.3 million name database to connect suppliers with buyers and purchase influencers. We produce more than 50 events and conferences in a dozen countries, connecting manufacturing professionals from around the globe. The Advanced Manufacturing portfolio is organized by UBM plc. UBM is the largest pure-play B2B Events organizer in the world. Our 3,750+ people, based in more than 20 countries, serve more than 50 different sectors. Our deep knowledge and passion for these sectors allow us to create valuable experiences which enable our customers to succeed. Please visit www.ubm.com for the latest news and information about UBM. View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/2017-annual-creativity-in-electronics-awards-announces-lifetime-achievement-innovation--education-and-speaker-of-the-year-winners-300531807.html SOURCE Advanced Manufacturing Expos & Conferences [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Cameras are being put in taxis in Turkey's largest city, Istanbul. Turkish officials say the cameras will provide security for taxi drivers and their passengers. But some people fear the devices are part of a government effort to expand surveillance and control over the population. They note that more than 60,000 Turkish citizens have been detained since the failure of an attempt to overthrow the government last year. In addition, nearly 200,000 people have been dismissed from their jobs over this period. Recently, people in Turkey have been hearing announcements advertising the arrival of Istanbuls new taxis, called Itaxis. The ads say the taxis are equipped with global positioning system equipment to help drivers find the quickest way, at the lowest cost. The vehicles will also have equipment so that riders can pay with credit cards. However, the Itaxis have one object that is a subject of debate: a large digital camera. When you sit down inside a taxi, the camera is clearly visible. What is unclear is whether it records sound as well as images. It is also unclear where the images go. One driver who spoke to VOA is happy with the device, although he says he does not know who is watching. "The new system is what is needed. I had an incident on Sunday night. I was attacked by a customer. If this system had been active, I would have been saved right away or the attacker wouldn't have dared to attack. There is a camera system and a panic button now." Not everyone in Istanbul agrees that the camera is a good thing. Another person who spoke with VOA questioned the reasoning behind the cameras. "A witch hunt is happening in Turkey now. So if they use it [the camera] for things like that [surveillance], then of course it's not a good idea to have these kind of things in the cabs." Nearly every week, Turkey has trials for people suspected of being involved in the failed overthrow attempt. Last year, some 4,000 people were tried for insulting the president. Under emergency powers enacted after the overthrow attempt, Turkish officials have introduced new electronic surveillance. That information comes from Yaman Akdeniz of Bilgi University in Istanbul. He has been studying the rise of surveillance culture. He says there may be good reasons for the concerns over the new taxis. "Because increasingly people are under surveillance and people don't know what sort of technology or what sorts of things are deployed by the government authorities to monitor the citizens. And it will get worse." A growing sense of concern is creeping into Turkish society because of surveillance activities. With the campaign against government critics, any new development involving surveillance technology seems likely to be watched with suspicion. I'm John Russell. Dorian Jones reported on this story for VOANews.com. John Russell adapted his report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story visible adj. of or relating to something that can be seen credit card n. a small plastic card that is used to buy things surveillance n. keeping close watch over someone panic n. a state or feeling of extreme fear that makes someone unable to act or think normally witch hunt n. the act of punishing people who are accused of having dangerous or evil ideas introduce v. to offer or propose monitor v. to watch, observe, listen to, or check (something) for a special purpose over a period of time creep v. to appear gradually and in a way that is difficult to notice China has ordered all North Korean-owned businesses in the country to close by early January. The decision supports sanctions placed by the United Nations on North Korea for its continued development of nuclear weapons and missiles. The move was announced in late September. It is expected to sharply limit the flow of money to North Korea. Chinas commerce ministry said that North Korean companies -- including joint operations with Chinese companies --must close within 120 days of September 11. That is the date the U.N. resolution was approved. The decision is expected to affect about 100 restaurants operated by North Koreans. About one fourth of them are in Beijing. U.S. President Donald Trump will travel to Japan, South Korea, China, Vietnam, and the Philippines from November 3 to November 14. Last week, the Trump administration released a statement on the trip. It said, The presidents engagements will strengthen the international resolve to confront the North Korean threat and ensure the complete, verifiable, and irreversible denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. Trump will take part in meetings with leaders in the area. He is expected to talk about trade and the North Korean nuclear threat. US seeks China's help in dealing with North Korea U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson met with Chinese leaders last weekend. He called on the ruling Chinese Communist Party to take steps to limit oil supplies to North Korea. He also pressured officials to put in place all parts of U.N. Security Council sanctions. U.S. officials say that North Korea will lose almost all of its export income if restrictions on trade in textiles, coal and some metals are enforced. About 90 percent of North Koreas foreign trade is with China. The United States believes Chinas support is necessary to pressure North Korea to ends its nuclear program. U.S. officials have praised recent actions by China. Trump recently said China had ordered its banks to stop dealing with North Korea. No public announcement, however, appears to have been made by China. Wu Fei is a senior fellow at the Charhar Institute, a Chinese public diplomacy and international relations research group. Wu says there may be limits to the pressure sanctions can place on North Korea. Wu says North Korea has no industrial products to speak of, and their harvest is pretty much gathered in now. Their demand for basic resources will be pretty low for the next six months or so. Wu adds that North Koreas need for outside resources is limited. They dont rely on the outside world for much, and that includes China. North Korea wants to show the rest of the world how independent it is; this is the impression they want to create, he says. He believes North Korea can wait for six months before they must negotiate. Chinese reporter Xu Xiang said public opinion in China is beginning to change. He said Chinese increasingly do not support North Korea. Xu said, This policy of opposing the U.S. and supporting North Korea: What have we gotten in return for the blood spilled by our fathers generation [in the 1950-1953 Korean War]? Xu also said Chinese are saying, All its done is turn the Kim dynasty into even worse bandits than they were before. As Chinese citizens, we feel pretty unsafe. But Xu said China does not believe it can solve the North Korean nuclear crisis. Ran Bogong is a retired professor from Toledo University. He says the ruling Chinese Communist Party is still hoping to force North Korea to make changes. China is hoping now to force Kim Jong Un into making some kind of compromise vis-a-vis the U.S., Ran said. The U.S. and China need to work closely to ensure that when Trump visits, there is some kind of definite result. Neither Beijing nor Washington wants to see the North Korean issue create further conflict between them. Im Mario Ritter. This story was reported by Lin Ping and Yang Fan for the Mandarin Service of Radio Free Asia and by the RFAs Cantonese Service. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted the RFA reports for Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, or visit our Facebook page. Words in This Story sanction n. measure put in place to cause a country to obey international law, usually by limiting or banning trade engagements n. Meetings or events that someone plans to attend resolve v. to find an answer to a problem verifiable adj. able to be proven true or correct dynasty n. a family that rules over a country for a long period of time bandits n. outlaws who steal from travelers vis-a-vis adv. in relation to, face to face with A Cambodian opposition lawmaker says she fled the country to avoid arrest. She accuses the government of continuing a campaign of repression against her partys leadership. Mu Sochua told Reuters news agency she decided to leave Tuesday after learning she might be arrested. It is not clear where she has gone. Monday, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen warned of strong action against any politicians linked to a treason case against opposition leader Kem Sokha. Sokha leads the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP). He was charged with treason and detained. Cambodian officials accuse Sokha of planning to overthrow the government. CNRP officials accuse Hun Sen of ordering the arrest of its leaders and taking steps to prevent the party from operating. Hun Sen is a member of the ruling Cambodian Peoples Party (CPP). The 65-year-old ruler has led the country for 32 years. A general election is planned for next July. The CNRP says almost half of its opposition party lawmakers have either left Cambodia or are in jail. A recent legislative amendment permits the government to end political parties for national security reasons. Mu Sochua wrote Wednesday in a note to The Associated Press, The situation is very serious and has direct impact on 2018 elections. She continued, I no longer feel safe inside the country. My voice needs to be heard inside and outside. She told Reuters she thinks the international community needs to act to save democracy in Cambodia. She said, The time for statements has passed. Its time for sanctions, targeted sanctions. Also suspension of technical aid to the government of Cambodia. The lawmaker suggested sanctions could include visa restrictions on top Cambodian officials. But she added that any restrictions should not target the exports of clothing. Those exports most of which are sent to the U.S. and European Union provide work for hundreds of thousands of Cambodian workers. In answer, a government spokesman said there was no reason for any country to place sanctions on Cambodia. This is a sovereign state and it will protect its sovereignty, the spokesman said. He said he could not comment on possible future arrests because they are handled by the judiciary. Human rights groups say Hun Sens government uses its control over the judicial system to frighten its political opponents and activists. The U.S. State Department reported in 2016 of major human rights problems in Cambodia. Phil Robertson is deputy Asia director for Human Rights Watch. He commented on the situation in a statement released Wednesday. He said if CNRP leaders are forced out of Cambodia before next years election, it would, in his words, effectively mean the death of Cambodian democracy. He said no one doubts that Hun Sen can order immediate violence by the military and police. In his words, Hun Sen, controls all the levers in Cambodias kangaroo courts. The 2018 election is going to be neither free nor fair under these circumstances. Im Bryan Lynn. Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports from VOA News, the Associated Press, Reuters and Radio Free Asia. Caty Weaver was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story impact n. the effect a person, event or situation has on someone or something sanction n. action taken to make a country obey a rule or law sovereign adj. having independent power to govern judiciary n. all the judges in a country doubt v. to be unsure about something lever n. device used to control something kangaroo courts n. a court that uses unfair methods or is not a proper court of law circumstances n. facts or events that make a situation the way it is The Global Learning XPrize competition is looking at ways in which children can teach themselves reading, writing and mathematics with only a tablet computer. The XPrize Foundation and its supporters are offering $15 million for computer programs that teach simple skills to people who have never attended school. Matt Keller is senior director of the competition. He described the goal of the prize this way: Its a little bit out there. Its a little bit of a crazy idea. The first Global XPrize competition is awarding millions of dollars to the team or company that develops the best educational app. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, or UNESCO, estimates that 263 million children around the world are not in school. Teaching these boys and girls is a problem that researchers are trying to solve. Keller spoke to VOA about the prize. Can you develop something thats so intuitive, so inferential, so dynamic that you give it to a child who is illiterate in a very remote part of the world she picks it up, she touches it and she begins to learn how to read? And that's the challenge that we put out to the world. About 200 teams entered the competition. From that group, judges chose five finalists. Each was given $1 million. From the five, the judges will choose a winner to receive a $10 million grand prize. The finalists will begin testing their computer applications in November. The testing will involve nearly 4,000 children from the Tanga area of Tanzania. The apps will be loaded on tablet computers donated by the American technology company Google. The children will try to teach themselves basic educational skills with only the tablets. A smaller group of children will be tested on their understanding of reading and math. After 15 months, the same students will be re-tested. The top prize will go to the developer team whose programs provide the highest proficiency gains among the students. The XPrize group also is working with UNESCO, the World Food Program and the government of Tanzania. They will give out and provide support for the tablet computers. Keller told VOA that the plan suggested by the XPrize competition is different from other methods of education. Most development organizations and most aid agencies and most governments are focused on building new schools and training new teachers, he said. Keller said there are many children who do not go to school. Some researchers, he said, are asking the question: "Can you give technology to a child thats so good that it doesnt supplant, but supplements a learning process that she may or may not have? The competition is partly a reaction to a growing education problem. The United Nations has set a goal of providing universal primary and secondary education by 2030. This is one of the U.N.s Sustainable Development Goals. A UNESCO report estimates that the world will need almost 69 million more teachers to meet that goal. Thats simply not possible, said Jamie Stuart, who helped launch the non-profit group Onebillion, which is one of the XPrize finalists. He told VOA, We have to look for radical alternatives in terms of childrens learning. Developers at Onebillion have tested their app, called Onecourse, for the past 10 years in Malawi. The program is designed so that children can use it with little or no adult assistance. It teaches reading and number skills with an electronic teacher that speaks in the children's language. However, there are many problems to overcome in making a successful app. One, is making a program that works with people who have never before used a tablet computer. Stuart said what is most important is keeping it simple, keeping it focused on the individual needs of the child. Other finalists use different ways to teach children. Curriculum Concepts International created an app that combines games, videos and books. Another finalist, Chimple, educates children through play and discovery-based learning. Another app, called Kitkit, was designed for children with learning disabilities. And a fifth, called RoboTutor, involves artificial intelligence and machine learning. Im Caty Weaver. Tina Trihn reported this story for VOANews.com. Mario Ritter adapted her report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story app n. a computer program intuitive adj. to know something without proof or evidence inferential adj. to reach a conclusion based on facts or evidence dynamic adj. moving and changing, not fixed remote adj. distant proficiency n. the ability to do something well supplant v. to take the place of supplements n. things that are added universal adj. including or covering all; present of taking place everywhere radical adj. not normal, very unusual alternatives n. other choices or possibilities United States Defense Secretary Jim Mattis has announced that, for the first time, the Afghanistan military is fully involved in the war with Al-Qaeda and the Taliban. Mattis spoke with members of the U.S. Senate this week about the Trump administrations Southeast Asia strategy. He said, For the first time in 16 years, we have all six Afghan army corps on the offensive at the same time. Mattis admitted that the Afghan forces have taken heavy losses in the fighting. But he said they are suffering fewer losses than they did last year. The decrease in losses could be a sign suggesting that the forces are improving their combat abilities, he said. Trump administration strategy Mattis also noted that under President Trump, international forces have launched more airstrikes against enemy forces than in any other year since 2012. One reason is because restrictions preventing strikes on insurgents beyond a certain distance from American or Afghan forces have been lifted. The Trump administration announced its new Afghanistan strategy in August. The plan added about 3,000 American troops and additional NATO coalition partners to the Afghan fight. Most of those troops will advise and assist Afghan forces. Afghan special forces that have our trainers, they have won every time they fought the enemy, said Mattis. Those without have not won. He added that American and NATO airstrikes will let Afghan forces be bolder in combat. When they go into the fight, no longer will they worry about the high ground, Mattis stated. Having fought in mountainous country, its unpleasant to have the enemy above you NATO airstrikes overhead denies the enemy ever having the high ground." Still not enough? But the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Joseph Dunford, told lawmakers at the hearing that the progress that has been made is still not enough. He said military pressure from Afghanistan and its international partners is not close to bringing a successful political solution. Dunford argued that the international effort must be long-term, taking at least six or seven years. That is the time required to fully train the Afghan air force to fight the enemy forces in the country. Republican Senator and Vietnam prisoner of war John McCain has also criticized the lack of progress in Afghanistan. He said, After 16 years, should the taxpayers of America be satisfied that we are still in a stalemate? I dont think so. McCain was talking about a comment the top commander on the ground made earlier this year. U.S. Army General John Nicholson asked for more troops to help break what he called the stalemate in Americas longest war. Mattis said that political reconciliation with the Taliban is still the goal. As long as the Taliban stops killing people, lives by the Afghan constitution and breaks with international terrorists there will be no more conflict, he added. Other powers The United States new Afghan strategy aims to focus on the major powers in the area, including India, China, Russia, Iran and Pakistan. For example, U.S. leaders want Pakistan to prevent terrorists from using their territory to escape pressure in Afghanistan. Mattis said this week that places where terrorists feel safe must be removed. Otherwise keeping the area in good condition will be "highly difficult." Members of Congress also asked Chairman Dunford about the Pakistani Inter-Services Intelligence Agency, or ISI. Dunford told the Senate committee that it was "clear" that the ISI has connections with terrorist groups. So far, the U.S. has been working alone to push Pakistan toward removing its areas that are safe for terrorists. But Dunford suggested that America should use the nearly 40 nations of the coalition in Afghanistan to do so. Also it should ask other powers in the area, such as China and India, to better urge Pakistan to do more to fight terrorism, he said. Mattis expressed concern that Russia is also acting in ways that work against the coalition's fight to defeat the Afghan Taliban and al-Qaida. If there's an opportunity to, you know, poke us in the eye, they'll do it, Mattis said. Even if it's against their own interest. Im Alice Bryant. And Im Pete Musto. Carla Babb reported this for VOA News. Pete Musto adapted it for Learning English. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor. What do you think the best action the United States can take in Afghanistan is? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story strategy n. a careful plan or method for achieving a particular goal usually over a long period of time corps n. a large military group consisting of two or more divisions airstrike(s) n. an attack in which military airplanes drop bombs insurgent(s) n. a person who fights against an established government or authority certain adj. used to refer to something or someone that is not named specifically bolder adj. less afraid of danger or difficult situations than before stalemate n. a contest, dispute, or competition in which neither side can gain an advantage or win reconciliation n. the act of causing two people or groups to become friendly again after an argument or disagreement opportunity n. an amount of time or a situation in which something can be done poke v. to push your finger or something thin or pointed into or at someone or something Consider the old expression Is your glass half full or half empty? It really can be very telling as a general litmus test for your worldview. Along the same lines, ask yourself do you have an attitude of gratitude? Of course all of us experience and express gratitude at times throughout our days and years -- holidays, birthdays, etc but striving to have an attitude of gratitude every day takes effort. It is an effort that is well worth it according to some extensive recent studies. In an article on Goodnet.org, "5 Scientific Facts That Prove Gratitude Is Good For You", it claimed that living a daily life focused on gratitude reduces depressive symptoms, boosts romantic relationships, creates lasting effects on general optimism and happiness and can increase self confidence and trust in working relationships. Paul Mills, a Professor of Family Medicine and Public Health at the University Of California San Diego School Of Medicine, studied the role of gratitude on heart health. In his study, one of the things he found was that participants who kept a gratitude journal most days of the week, had reduced levels of inflammation and improved heart rhythm compared to people who did not write in a journal. The study also showed the decreased risk of heart disease was realized after only two months of applying this to their routines! Researchers at Eastern Washington University found there are four primary characteristics of grateful people. People who experience and express the most gratitude (and as such benefit from the positive effects) tend to: feel abundance in their lives, appreciate others contributions in their life, recognize and enjoy the small pleasures in life and know the importance of experiencing and expressing gratitude. It sounds like the benefits outweigh any of the potential effort it might take! So how do we live and develop an ongoing attitude of gratitude? According to New York Times best-selling author Lewis Howes in his book The School of Greatness, he states, If you concentrate on what you have, youll always have more. If you concentrate on what you dont have, youll never have enough. There are many schools of thought on how to accomplish this, but in general, an attitude of gratitude means habitually and regularly expressing thankfulness and appreciation, in all parts of your life, for both the big and small things. Why not give it a try? Here is a gratitude suggestion to get you started today: The Telecare Program at the LifeSpan Center! Telecare provides information and assistance to anyone aged 60 and older with Medicare, Social Security, Illinois Benefit Access, Property Tax Exemptions and much more. Contact Telecare at 217-639-5166 to schedule an appointment. Now a final thought to consider as you begin your new attitude of gratitude journey, Abraham Lincoln is quoted to have said, We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.. The Coles County Council on Aging offices are located at the LifeSpan Center, 11021 E. Co. Rd. 800 N., Charleston. The telephone number is 217-639-5150 for the Coles County Council on Aging and LifeSpan Center. Come join us each weekday at noon for Lunch at LifeSpan. Peace Meals, sponsored by Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center, are served Monday through Friday at a suggested donation of $3.50. To register, reserve a lunch or learn more, call 217-348-1800. Three scientists have won the Nobel Prize for chemistry for their work to simplify and improve the imaging of biomolecules. Goran Hansson is Secretary General of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. He announced the names of the winners Wednesday from the groups headquarters in Stockholm. "The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has decided to award the 2017 Nobel Prize in Chemistry jointly to Jacques Dubochet, Joachim Frank and Richard Henderson. Hansson said the scientists were being recognized for what he described as a cool method for imaging the molecules of life. Jacques Dubochet works at the University of Lausanne in Switzerland. Joachim Frank is with Columbia University in the United States. Richard Henderson is with Britains Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge, England. The three scientists developed a way to create three-dimensional (3D) images of biological molecules images with height, width and depth. Their method is called cryo-electron microscopy. The Royal Swedish Academy described cryo-electron microscopy as decisive for both the basic understanding of lifes chemistry and for the development of new medicines. Scientists long believed that electron microscopes could only be used to study non-living things. The reason? Their powerful electron beam destroys biological material. But cryo-technology freezes the biological material, keeping it at extremely low temperatures. This protects it from damage. The power of the technology could be seen in the Zika crisis last year. Zika virus was linked to an increase in brain-damaged babies in Brazil. The virus spreads when an infected mosquito bites a pregnant woman. As concerns about Zika spread, scientists turned to cryo-electronic microscopy to make 3-D images of the virus at the atomic level. This helped researchers as they worked to create drugs and vaccines. The Nobel committee noted Wednesday that, in 1990, Henderson used an electron microscope to produce a 3-D image of a protein at atomic-level resolution. In the late 1970s and 1980s, Frank developed mathematical models to sharpen images from such microscopes. Dubochet added water to electron microscopy. He cooled water so quickly that it solidified in its liquid form around biological material. The process formed a kind of glass instead of ice. As a result, the biomolecules were able to keep their natural shape. The three scientists will share the $1.1 million prize. The Nobel prizes are named after the Swedish engineer Alfred Nobel. He was the inventor of dynamite, an explosive. Nobel left $9,000,000 in his will to establish yearly prizes. He said they should go to living people who have worked most effectively to improve human life. The first awards were presented in 1901. The chemistry prize is the third Nobel announced this week. The literature winner will be named Thursday and the peace prize will be announced Friday. Im Anne Ball. VOANews.com reported on this story. George Grow adapted the report for Learning English. His story includes information from the Associated Press and Reuters news agency. Ashley Thompson was the editor. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story academy n. a school, usually place of higher learning; a society or group of learned persons three-dimensional adj. of or related to having height, width and depth beam n. a line or energy or light mosquito n. an insect resolution n. the ability of a device to show an image clearly and with a lot of detail Micro Focus International plc operates in the enterprise software business in the United Kingdom, the United States, Germany, Canada, France, Japan, and internationally. It offers infrastructure software products that are managed on a portfolio. The company's product portfolio includes sector-agnostic products, such as application modernization and connectivity solutions that help customers to unlock the value from core business applications for modernization, which enable a transformational journey to deliver ongoing value and flexibility from IT investments, on or off the mainframe; application delivery management solutions that helps customers to increase velocity, remove bottlenecks, and deliver high-performing applications to support their digital business; and IT operations management solutions for service assurance, automate the service fulfilment life cycle, and strengthen IT service governance. It also offers CyberRes, a security solution that helps enterprises to create cyber resilience through detecting threats, securing data and applications, and protecting identities, which enables customers to adapt and evolve for the future; and information management and governance solutions that helps customers to analyze, understand, and control data to derive value and manage enterprise risk. The company was founded in 1976 and is headquartered in Newbury, the United Kingdom. Its been 25 years since the first ThinkPad laptop hit the streets. Since then IBM sold the ThinkPad brand to Chinese PC maker Lenovo and laptops have gotten thinner, lighter, and faster. But some folks arent convinced all the features on modern laptops are upgrades. So when Lenovo announced that it was developing a 25th anniversary edition ThinkPad with some retro design elements, it generated a lot of buzz. Now that laptop is here and its an expensive mix of new and old. The Lenovo ThinkPad Anniversary Edition 25 laptop is launching in select markets for $1899. What you get for that price is a notebook with a 14 inch, 1920 x 1080 pixel touchscreen display, an Intel Core i7-7500U dual-core processor, NVIDIA GeForce 940MX graphics, 16GB of RAM, 512GB of SSD storage, and a few classic design elements. The most important is probably the 7-row ThinkPad Classic keyboard. While most other portable notebooks feature flat chiclet or island-style keys, the ThinkPad 25th anniversary edition has raised keys, a blue enter button, dedicated volume buttons, and a design that resembles what you would have found on a ThinkPad laptop 10 or more years ago. The laptop also has both a touchpad and a TrackPoint button in the center of the backlit keyboard, but Lenovo never completely did away with TrackPoint. Other retro features are more about design than function. Theres a classic ThinkPad logo with a bit more color than the current version. And there are extra status LEDs. Under the hood though, this is basically a modified Lenovo ThinkPad T470s. So if the classic keyboard and logo arent all that important to you, then you can probably save a lot of money by opting for that model, which currently sells for $899 and up. The notebook has a fingerprint sensor, a 720p webcam with IR features for Windows Hello support, stereo speakers, and dual array noise canceling microphones. It supports 802.11ac WiFi and Bluetooth 4.1, has an antiglare IPS display, three USB 3.0 ports, a Thunderbolt 3 port, HDMI and Ethernet jacks, an SD card reader, and a headset jack. The 25th anniversary edition ThinkPad laptop measures 13.3 x 9.2 x 0.8 and weighs about 3.5 pounds. Lenovo says the laptop will be available in limited quantities, which makes sense, since this seems like more of a collectors edition than a change in direction for future notebooks from the company. I know when Lenovo announced plans for a retro laptop, a lot of Liliputing readers had been hoping for a 4:3 display, a ThinkLight for illuminating the keyboard instead of backlighting, and some other features that Lenovo has phased out over the years. But it looks like all were really getting is an expensive laptop with an old fashioned keyboard. One nice feature that you dont see very often these days is the replaceable battery. In fact, the laptop has a dual battery system: theres a 3 cell built-in battery and a 3 cell external battery, allowing you to replace the external battery without disassembling the laptop. But that feature isnt exclusive to the 25th-anniversary edition laptop. Its also available in other ThinkPad T470 series notebooks. press release Falun Gong Practitioners in China Send Mid-Autumn Festival Greetings to Founder The Mid-Autumn Festival is an important traditional holiday for the Chinese, a time of longing to be with loved ones and an occasion to reflect on what one is grateful for. Going by the lunar calendar, Oct. 4 is the day of the celebration this year. For scores of Falun Gong practitioners in China, the day was an opportunity to express thanks and pay respect to the founder of the spiritual practice, Mr. Li Hongzhi. Mr. Li first introduced the spiritual teachings in northeastern China in 1992. The meditation and self-cultivation practicewith the principles of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance as its corerapidly grew in popularity. According to a state survey, 70 million were practicing in China in 1999; practitioners say their numbers had reached more than 100 million. However, the Chinese Communist Party perceived Falun Gongs presence as a threat to its authoritarian rule and began a campaign to eradicate the practice in 1999. Since then, at any one time hundreds of thousands of followers have been arrested and jailed, often enduring torture and abuse. Though practitioners continue to be persecuted by Chinese authorities to this day, the persecution has not deterred their beliefs. Falun Gong adherents from 22 different provinces, the four directly-governed municipalities (Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, and Chongqing), Inner Mongolia, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, Ningxia autonomous region, and Xinjiang autonomous region sent in holiday greeting messages to Mr. Li via Minghui.org, a U.S.-based website that covers the persecution of Falun Gong. Many wrote eloquent poems expressing gratitude and their longing to see Mr. Li, whom they refer to as Teacher. One practitioner from Yulin City in Guangxi has fled her home in an attempt to escape authorities. Even though I do not have a home, being a practitioner, I belong to a big, warm family of practitioners from around the world, she wrote. [After practicing Falun Gong,] I have become healthy and my soul has been purified. I am on a path to return to truth. Family members and relatives of Falun Gong practitioners also sent in greetings. A man from Jilin Province, wrote of the drastic change he witnessed in his wife, who is a practitioner. She no longer had a bad temper, and became a passionate, cheerful, and filial person, he wrote. But because she told people the truth about the persecution of Falun Gong, she has been falsely accused of crimes and imprisoned. He vowed to appeal to the authorities for her release. I believe that there will be a day when the whole truth is revealed to the world, he continued. One high school student from Beijing broke through the firewall that censors the Chinese internet to send in a greeting to Mr. Li. He also thanked a local Falun Gong practitioner who told him about the persecution. Since 1999, the Chinese regime has consistently broadcast propaganda to defame Falun Gong in an effort to turn public opinion against practitioners. The authorities dont allow people to speak the truth, he wrote. I hope you can return [to China] one day. U.S. Marines and Sailors exit a KC-130J Super Hercules aircraft at the Jose Aponte de la Torre Airport to provide aid and hurricane relief in Puerto Rico on Sept. 27, 2017. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Cody J. Ohira/Released) Federal Response Getting Puerto Rico Back on Its Feet Two weeks after Hurricane Maria caused an unprecedented level of damage to Puerto Rico, a massive federal response including the deployment of more than 12,000 federal responders has helped stabilize the situation. And while things remain extremely challenging on the ground, Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rossello said theres been a big improvement. Water and food supplies are being distributed to staging areas across Puerto Rico, and almost 60 hospitals are back in operation. The number of people in shelters has also decreased. Search and rescue operations are still ongoing for the center area of the island, which has been difficult to reach. As of Oct. 3, the total death toll from hurricanes Irma and Maria is 34. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Brock Long, who has been to Puerto Rico three times in person since the hurricanes hit the island, said making roads accessible and providing emergency power are among the top priorities. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is working with the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority and the Department of Energy to restore power, which was completely wiped out. The U.S. Navy hospital ship USNS Comfort arrives in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on Oct. 3 to help support Hurricane Maria aid and relief operations. (Air Force photo by Capt. Christopher Merian) The Department of Defense has been providing help at hospitals and patient care, including the deployment of the USNS Comfort, which has 1,000 patient beds. And the National Guard has been distributing food, water, and other supplies throughout the island. According to FEMA, more than 65 percent of grocery and big box stores, as well as gas stations, are open again. Ten airports are now operating, allowing commercial air-traffic to resume last week. However, challenges remain, as Puerto Rico struggles with a lack of truck drivers to deliver the goods shipped to the island. Gas and diesel also remain in short supply. Progress is underway for the residents of Puerto Rico, said FEMA in a statement. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Nicholas Glass prepares an injured resident for evacuation from Dominica on Sept. 25, 2017. (Navy photo Seaman Taylor King) While the catastrophic impact from Hurricanes Irma and Maria led to serious logistical challenges, were working closely with our federal partners and Commonwealth officials to continue to sustain lives and restore routine. Praise From Puerto Rican Officials Rossello has praised the federal response to the disaster, saying the cooperation between local and federal authorities has been crucial. I want to let the people of Puerto Rico and the people on the United States know that you have always responded to us, Rossello said during Trumps visit to the island on Oct. 3. I want to personally thank you, Mr. President, because over the course of the past week you have called essentially every day to make sure we have what we need, to make sure that the resources are over here, Rossello said. We will be able to build Puerto Rico stronger than ever before. That is our commitment. Read More Puerto Rico Union Allegedly Refuses to Deliver US Aid, On Strike Because of Local Law In response to the natural disaster, Trump signed a disaster declaration that will have the federal government provide 100 percent funding for debris removal and emergency protective measures for 180 days. During his one-day visit together with first lady Melania Trump on Oct. 3, Trump praised local and federal responders for their rescue efforts. Everybody around this table and everybody watching can really be very proud of whats taken place in Puerto Rico, said Trump. Congresswoman Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon (R-P.R.) said that more than 4,000 personnel belonging to the different branches of the military had been deployed before and after the first hurricane, Irma, when it hit on Sept. 6. They were here before, during, after the first hurricane, and they continued to stay on the island, boots on the ground. During Mariasame thing, Gonzalez-Colon said. Gonzalez-Colon said that while Puerto Rico is used to experiencing hurricanes, the scale of Maria, which was a category 5, had created an amount of devastation that is unheard of. So this is not solved yet, but for me, it is important to hear the president himself telling me, youre not alone, she said during a press briefing in Puerto Rico on Oct. 3. How Did Las Vegas Shooter Achieve Such Rapid Fire Without Illegal Automatic Weapons? Gruesome videos from the Las Vegas shooting revealed the attacker was able to fire at a rate comparable to an automatic weapon, which are illegal to sell in the United States. The shooter, Stephen Paddock, 64, had many of his rifles outfitted with a bump fire stock, a modified part that allows for rapid fire while dodging the laws banning automatic weapons. That way, Paddock was able to fire hundreds of rounds in some 10 minutes from his 32nd floor hotel room, killing 59 and injuring over 500 at a crowded country music concert down below. Semi-automatic rifles, which can be legally purchased in America, allow only one shot to be fired with each pressing of the trigger. Bump fire stock is a modified stock (the part of the gun set against the shoulder) that allows the shooter to press the trigger repeatedly at a high rate. It includes a grip that keeps the trigger finger at a static position. The shooter fires the gun by pushing the barrel forward, thus pressing the trigger against the static finger. As the round is fired, the recoil from the shot sends the body of the gun back, where it slides about an inch inside the modified stock. As the shooter keeps pushing the barrel forward, the gun slides out of the stock about one inch and the trigger is pressed against the finger again. Multiple video demonstrations online show the bump fire stock can make a semi-automatic rifle achieve a rate of fire similar to an automatic one. One manufacturer of bump fire stocks, Slide Fire, states on its website it submitted the part to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and had it approved. The argument for the legality of bump fire stocks is that the rifle itself remains semi-automatic. The stock only helps the shooter press the trigger much faster. Some users have complained online they have had trouble making the bump fire stock work properly. Shortly after the news of the Las Vegas shooting spread, many people with gun experience have noticed the unusual firing rate, which seemed to be sometimes slower and sometimes faster. This firing rate inconsistency is different from an automatic rifle, but could be explained by the use of a bump fire stock. The shooter also used 60 and 100-round magazinessome of the largest available. Police said he had 22 rifles and a handgun in his hotel room. Another 19 guns were found in his Mesquite, Nevada, home. Police said Paddock shot himself in the room. His motive remains unclear. Police hope to get some answers from his girlfriend Marilou Danley, who was in the Philippines, her home country, during the shooting and returned to Los Angeles on Tuesday, Oct. 3. Credit: Georgia State University Ischemic stroke patients who do not receive intravelous (IV) alteplase, a clot-dissolving medication, are significantly less likely to survive, according to researchers at Georgia State University. Ischemic stroke is the most common type of stroke. It occurs when a vessel that supplies oxygen-rich blood to the brain becomes blocked, often by a blood clot. IV alteplase was approved by the Food and Drug Administration as a treatment for acute ischemic stroke in 1996 and is known to reduce disability and improve functionality by restoring blood flow to the brain. Yet two decades later, less than 10 percent of patients receive the treatment. The study, published in the American Journal of Emergency Medicine, analyzed 2008-13 data from the Georgia Coverdell Acute Stroke Registry, and linked it to 200813 hospital discharge and 200814 death data in Georgia. The investigators found that one year after discharge, acute ischemic stroke patients who did not receive IV alteplase treatment had a 49 percent higher likelihood of death. "Clinicians may be hesitant to administer IV alteplase because of concerns about the drug's complications, which can include bleeding," said Dr. Moges Ido, the study's lead author and a part-time instructor at Georgia State's School of Public Health. "But this study indicates that unless major contraindications are present, patients should be offered this treatment as a life-saving measure." The study authors examined data from 9,620 patients who were treated at 48 hospitals. They excluded patients who weren't eligible to receive the treatment because of contraindications, such as a recent history of brain surgery. Only a quarter of the eligible patients received IV alteplase. Previous randomized studies have shown some long-term mortality reduction for patients treated with IV alteplase but the results were not statistically significant. This study demonstrates that IV alteplase is associated with reduced risk of death, and that eligible patients should be identified and treated swiftly. More information: Moges S. Ido et al. The impact of intravenous alteplase on long-term patient survival: The Georgia Coverdell acute stroke registry's experience, The American Journal of Emergency Medicine (2017). Journal information: American Journal of Emergency Medicine Moges S. Ido et al. The impact of intravenous alteplase on long-term patient survival: The Georgia Coverdell acute stroke registry's experience,(2017). DOI: 10.1016/j.ajem.2017.07.092 CHARLESTON -- A Harry Potter Trivia Contest is planned as part of Harry Potter Night on Oct. 26 at Eastern Illinois University. The trivia contest will begin at 6 p.m. in the West Reading Room of Booth Library. Teams of between two and six players may register online now at http://booth.eiu.edu/trivia. The cost is $10 per team plus $5 per player. Payment may be made online or in person on the night of the contest. The deadline to register is Oct. 21. All net proceeds from the Harry Potter Trivia Contest will benefit HOPE of East Central Illinois, a Coalition Against Domestic Violence agency based in Charleston that serves seven area counties. Trivia participants are encouraged to come dressed in their favorite Harry Potter-inspired costume; prizes will be awarded! The top three winning trivia teams also will be awarded special prizes. The trivia contest is co-sponsored by the Harry Potter Alliance at UIUC. Both campus and community members are encouraged to form a team for the trivia contest. Free parking will be available in the lot just southwest of the library off of Fourth Street. Activities during Harry Potter Night also will take place at the Tarble Arts Center from 7-10 p.m., with food, music, games and more planned. Co-sponsors are the EIU Harry Potter Club and the EIU Gamers Guild. Harry Potter Night is one of several programs being held in conjunction with Booth Librarys fall exhibit, Twenty Years of Harry Potter: Celebrating a Phenomenon, which will be on display through Dec. 31. The exhibit is free and open to the public. For more information about the Harry Potter exhibit and other related programs, visit http://booth.eiu.edu/hp20; or contact Steve Brantley at 217-581-7542/jsbrantley@eiu.edu or Stacey Knight-Davis at 217-581-7549/slknight@eiu.edu. Mitochondria become elongated with mTOR inhibition (above). Anti-cancer drugs called mTOR inhibitors slow the growth of cancer cells but show limited ability to cause cancer cell death. mTOR controls expression of proteins that alter mitochondrial structure and function in ways that unexpectedly protect cells from death. Credit: McGill University and Masahiro Morita, Ph.D. Anti-cancer drugs called mTOR inhibitors slow the growth of cancer cells but show limited ability to cause cancer cell death. New studies explain why. Masahiro Morita, Ph.D., assistant professor of molecular medicine in the Joe R. & Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine at UT Health San Antonio, contributed to the research. He is an investigator with the university's Sam & Ann Barshop Institute for Longevity & Aging Studies. Before joining UT Health, Dr. Morita was a postdoctoral fellow at McGill University in Montreal, Quebec. The cancer drugs act on a cell regulator called mTOR (Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin). mTOR controls a process that determines how large our cells are and how many cells we have. mTOR also impacts mitochondria, which are the energy centers in our cells. Mitochondria become elongated when mTOR activity is inhibited, Dr. Morita said. When mTOR is stimulated, these energy centers become fragmented. "Increased fragmentation of mitochondria is implicated in some cancers," Dr. Morita said. mTOR controls expression of proteins that alter mitochondrial structure and function in ways that unexpectedly protect cells from death, the team reported. This is why the cancer cells targeted by mTOR therapy are not dying. "The next step is to test tandem therapy in cell studies, because it makes sense to combine an mTOR inhibitor with an agent that does kill cancer cells," Dr. Morita said. The findings are published in Molecular Cell. Although one in 8 couples experience fertility issues and many of them turn to Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART) to help them have a child, usage varies significantly across Europe. A new Oxford study has shed light on some of the reasons behind this - pinpointing moral and social acceptance of the treatment and religion as key. Previous research has mainly focused on the economic issues that can affect ART usage, such as a country's wealth and health insurance costs. But, in new research published in Human Reproduction, scientists from the Oxford University Department of Sociology and Nuffield College, have for the first time assessed the relative importance of the role that economic, demographic and cultural normative factors play in the process. The study compares the prevalence of ART usage across 35 European countries since 2010, which is the number of ART cycles, per million women of reproductive age (15-44 years). The findings revealed that although economic factors and national wealth are important, it is not merely affordability that determines ART use. Rather, ART treatments were more widely used in countries where it was considered culturally and morally acceptable to do so. For example, the Czech Republic, which ranks 51st in a poll of the world's wealthiest countries, reported 10,473 cycles per million women of reproductive age - which is a usage level almost identical to the comparatively wealthier (37th) Denmark. By contrast, high income nations such as Italy (8th) and the United Kingdom (5th) reported only 5,480 and 4,918 cycles per million women of reproductive age, respectively. The authors also produced an ART accessibility scorecard for each country. They found that there was no direct relationship between the availability of the treatment on the scorecard and the actual number of people using it. Whereas the United Kingdom and Kazakhstan score higher on available treatment, for example, they have comparatively low numbers of usage. This gap between availability and actual take-up points to other underlying factors driving country differences in ART usage, suggesting that normative cultural values play a role. Religion was found to be a key factor, with a strong correlation between the size of religious Protestant, Catholic, Orthodox and Muslim groups in a country and the ART usage. Having a higher proportion of Protestants in a country explained a large part (25%) of higher ART take-up. The study also revealed a relationship between cultural attitudes in countries where ART was considered to be socially acceptable, with the number of people using the treatment. In Scandinavia for example, where ART usage is high, it is seen as a public good and justified, and the government has taken a key role in making services widely available to singles, those on low income and LGBTQIA groups. However in other countries, such as Italy - where the Catholic Church is openly against ART and heavily influences the policy agenda - ART is not widely used or available. This often forces individuals to travel for cross-border care outside of their own country. Patrick Prag, Lead-author and Postdoctoral Fellow at the Department of Sociology and Nuffield College, said: "When people think of infertility treatments, they usually expect biological or economic aspects to be the most important drivers. Our findings however make a compelling case that cultural factors play a key role." Melinda Mills, co-author and Nuffield Professor of Sociology, said: "With the increased postponement of having children at later ages, access to ART treatments has growing relevance. The standout finding from our research is that policy-makers, governments, medical bodies and ART providers should more openly acknowledge the strong role that attitudes and acceptability of ART plays on shaping accessibility, availability and usage. Our hope is that these findings will be used to shape ART policy and improve access across Europe." More information: Patrick Prag et al. Cultural determinants influence assisted reproduction usage in Europe more than economic and demographic factors, Human Reproduction (2017). Journal information: Human Reproduction Patrick Prag et al. Cultural determinants influence assisted reproduction usage in Europe more than economic and demographic factors,(2017). DOI: 10.1093/humrep/dex298 Benita Bamgbade knew what the medical literature said. Pharmacists don't counsel patients with mental illness as often as they counsel others with, say, asthma or diabetes. She also knew the likely causes of this discrepancy: a lack of confidence and comfort in talking to patients with stigmatized mental health disorders. But Bamgbade, a newly appointed faculty member in the Bouve College of Health Sciences, was determined to change pharmacists' perceptions and empower them to provide better care. For her master's thesis, she designed an intervention to help pharmacy students better understand mental health patients and how to counsel them. And the project was a great success. "We were able to decrease stigma in those students and increase their willingness to counsel patients with a mental illness prescription," Bamgbade said. The key, it turns out, was getting students to see that they could engage with mental health patients the same way they would with anyone else. "They're people, and they have an illness," Bamgbade said. "But they are not their illness." Bamgbade comes to Northeastern from the University of Texas at Austin, where she earned her doctorate in pharmaceutical sciences. For her dissertation, Bamgbade developed an intervention focused specifically on young adults in the African American population, which is the least likely demographic to seek help for a mental illness. The reasons for this run deep. "A lot of African American men and women use the archetype of the strong black woman or strong black man to define manhood and womanhood," Bamgbade said. "It's about being able to do things by yourself and relying on your own strength. And they might think, 'My ancestors were able to overcome slavery and discrimination, so I should be able to deal with the problems that I have.'" The intervention examined these considerations, as well as African Americans' general wariness of the medical community. "Medical mistrust is rooted in culture mistrust and in the history of slavery and oppression that African Americans live with in the United States," Bamgbade said. As part of the intervention, she brought in a consumer educator and a psychologist to speak with students and conduct learning exercises, exploring the unique challenges associated with mental health patients who are African American. Bamgbade explained that without proper counseling, patients can receive suboptimal care. This is especially critical with mental illness medications, which often don't start working for several days or weeks. If a patient doesn't know to expect the delay, he or she might assume the drug doesn't work and stop taking it altogether. "Pharmacists are the medication experts," Bamgbade said. "It's their responsibility to make sure patients have all the information they need." It's not that pharmacy students don't receive cultural sensitivity training, Bamgbade said. They do. But implicit bias and stigma toward mental illness often precludes them from providing adequate counseling. Pharmacy students need help understanding a patient's lived experience, and then they need practice communicating what they know. "You can teach somebody something for so long, but at the end of the day, it comes down to experience," Bamgbade said. "We give you the tools and then you have to go out and use them." At Northeastern, this is where co-op comes in. Bamgbade views experiential learning as a critical component of the curriculum that makes a significant difference for pharmacists in training. Co-ops allow students to practice what they're learning in the classroom and build confidencean essential part of pharmacy counseling. "I get the feeling that these students are a different breed," Bamgbade said. For her own professional development, Bamgbade is looking forward to collaborating with her health policy colleagues to explore how interventions similar to those she's designed in the past could help inform public health policy. As a new faculty member, she said she also appreciates the willingness of other professors in her department to offer mentorship and guidance. "I'm proud that I'm here," Bamgbade said. "This is the perfect place for me to launch my career and build and continue to grow." The highest speed recorded on the MyBroadband Speed Test server in September 2017 was from a University of Stellenbosch user who clocked 944Mbps. 228,407 speed tests were conducted on the MyBroadband Speed Test platform during the past month. MyBroadbands HTML5 speed test servers are hosted in Teracos vendor-neutral data centres to ensure a neutral testing environment. Through NAPAfrica, all network operators present at its peering points are provided with a free connection to the MyBroadband Speed Test platform. The MyBroadband Speed Test platform was designed to be lightweight and easy to use on mobile devices. Test your speed now Click here The table below provides an overview of the highest speeds recorded over the past month. Highest speeds 20 MTN radio mast engineers have won a legal battle to keep their personal company cars and petrol cards, reported News24. MTN argued that cars and petrol cards should be retracted, and that cars be pooled for employees. The savings would be a boost for the companys shareholders, said MTN. The employees attorney Dean Caro said that four arbitrations by employees against MTN were instituted countrywide. MTN have lost three and settled one. Unfortunately, only my clients in KwaZulu-Natal were allowed to keep the benefit pending the outcome of the arbitration, he said. Nationally, around 520 employees are affected by the decision. The report added that the Durban arbitration took over two years, and MTN was ordered to pay its employees legal costs. Now read: Vodacom surprised by Competition Commission investigation Facebook has started declaring profits from British clients in the United Kingdom, but its tax bill has only increased slightly, reported Reuters. This highlights the ongoing challenge European authorities face in trying to tax companies like Apple, Google, and Facebook, stated the report. Facebook reported profits of 58.4 million pounds in Britain, after four years of losses totalling nearly 100 million pounds. After the introduction of anti-profit shifting regulations, Facebook UK had revenues of 842 million pounds in 2016, up from 202 million pounds in 2015. However, due to tax deductions Facebook qualified for in the UK, its tax bill only increased from 4.2 million pounds in 2015 to 5.1 million pounds in 2016. Facebook reportedly still books sales from smaller clients via Ireland. Now read: France and Germany crack down on tax loopholes used by Apple and Google YEREVAN. The arrival of the delegation of EU Councils political and security committee created a stir in Armenia. The delegation arrived by a charter flight directly from the Baku airport after Heydar Aliyev. The message on flight arriving in Yerevan from Baku appeared on Zvartnots website. According to information obtained by Armenian News-NEWS.am, a delegation of the EU Councils political and security committee is arriving by a charter flight. In Baku the delegation already met with Azerbaijani foreign minister Elmar Mammadyarov. Steve Jobs' sandals sold for more than $200,000 Armenian PM accuses Azerbaijani leader of terrorizing Armenian civilians Azerbaijan shells Armenian positions on border again OPEC downgrades its forecast for global oil demand growth in 2022 White House: Biden and Xi Jinping agree on Blinken's visit to China CNN: CIA chief Burns meets with SVR director Naryshkin in Ankara Turkish FM Cavusoglu thanks Ararat Mirzoyan for condolences Putin signs decree allowing stateless persons to serve in Russian army Airbus CEO: There is no question of them breaking off trade ties Armen Grigoryan receives Igor Khovayev Britain and France sign agreement on strengthening cooperation on illegal migration US updates its sanctions list for Russia: Milur Electronics LLC, an Armenian company listed Potatoes prices grow by 20%: expert claims agriculture collapse in Armenia Peskov says Russian-American talks in Ankara initiated by Washington Morgan Stanley: UK and euro zone economies are likely to face recession Xi Jinping hopes for comprehensive dialogue between NATO, the EU and the US and Russia Japan proposes to deploy Australian nuclear submarines Biden calls talks with Xi Jinping at G20 summit frank WB: Debt levels among low- and middle-income countries soared in 2021 Xi Jinping: China does not intend to challenge the U.S. Scholz: Adopting a joint G20 summit statement is a tough task Biden and Xi Jinping oppose use of nuclear weapons in Ukraine Nikol Pashinyan receives Russian co-chair of OSCE Minsk Group IMF head warns of risks for world economy because of rivalry between China and US Irakli Garibashvili: Georgia is ready to promote in every possible way the dialogue between Armenia and Azerbaijan Red Wings airline launches direct flights from Makhachkala to Yerevan Olaf Scholz: EU should expand its cooperation with Southeast Asian countries Global Leadership Foundation will visit Armenia Kurdistan Workers' Party denies its involvement in Istanbul terrorist attack NATO Secretary General says they must not make mistake of underestimating Russia IRGC resumes strikes on Iraqi Kurdistan French and German central bank heads call for speeding up EU capital markets union Control of U.S. House of Representatives depends on several tight races Artsakh FM speaks with his Transnistria counterpart Italy, Greece, Malta and Cyprus say they cannot accept migrants Cavusoglu thanks Mirzoyan for condolences on terrorist attack in Istanbul Xi Jinping and Joe Biden begin first face-to-face meeting in Bali Zelenskyy arrives in Kherson Armenian Defense Minister: After expiration of contract service 5 million drams will be provided to servicemen Turkey refuses to accept U.S. condolences after terrorist attack in Istanbul Defense Ministers of Georgia and Azerbaijan sign military cooperation plan for 2023 Russian Foreign Ministry denies reports about Lavrov's hospitalization in Bali Yellen hopes Biden and Jinping meeting leads to engagement on macroeconomic issues Russian Defense Ministry confirms violation of ceasefire in Artsakh by Azerbaijani Armed Forces Artsakh MOD denies accusations of Azerbaijani MOD Azerbaijani Defense Minister holds talks in Georgia Armenian MOD denies another lie of Azerbaijani MOD Germany warns its delegation about Egyptian spies at COP27 NSS of Armenia reveals channel of illegal migration Azerbaijani State Security Service announces disclosure of 'Iranian spy network' Politico: Indonesia, hosting G20, lobbies West to soften criticism of Russia in final communique Ararat Mirzoyan expresses condolences to Mevlut Cavusoglu over Istanbul explosion Iranian lawmakers sharply criticize Aliyev Ambassador-at-Large: Azerbaijan's attacks on Armenia are a terrorist attack Germany needs to diversify its business interests in Asia to reduce dependence on China Head of U.S. Treasury Department says sanctions against Russia should remain in force even after war in Ukraine Natasa Pirc Musar to become Slovenia's first woman president IMF: World economic outlook even bleaker than predicted Pashinyan: Azerbaijan calls Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh 'our citizens' and at the same time shoots at them Turkish Interior Minister announces arrest of suspect in attack on Istiklal Avenue in Istanbul Alpine to make 3 electric crossovers Number of injured in Istanbul blast rises to 81 Paul McCartney sells guitar for $77,000 to support Ukraine Erdogan says preliminary findings after Istanbul bombing point to terrorist attack Erdogan says number of victims of Istanbul bombing rises to six Authorities forbid TV channels to broadcast from Istanbul bombing site Istanbul blast: Governor reports 4 dead and 38 wounded Media: Terrorist attack considered as one of versions of bombing in Istanbul Blast in Istanbul: victims reported Reuters: National Bank of Ukraine prepares banking system for power outages Explosion hits pedestrian street in Istanbul Former Pentagon official Michael Rubin calls for Turkey to be recognized as sponsor of terrorism Bloomberg columnist says Japan may be preparing for war with China Reuters: U.S. to demand EU colleagues to continue aid to Kyiv at G20 Washington Post: U.S. intelligence believes UAE tried to interfere in U.S. politics Yeni Safak: Turkey increases sales of winter products, blankets in EU by almost third since beginning of year Fox News: Trump has been silent on social media for over 24 hours amid Republican failures Lebanon extradites to Iraq relative of Saddam Hussein Financial Times: Kyiv plans to nationalize more private companies U.S. Senate declares 'death' of Republican Party after congressional elections YEREVAN. At Thursdays Cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan instructed the government of Armenia to complete the unfulfilled works in the fight against corruption. He recalled that in 2018, several international organizations will assess the relevant work by Armenia. In this connection, Karapetyan instructed Minister of Justice Davit Harutyunyan to submit the respective work they still need to do, and the government departments that will carry out this work. And based on the conclusion by the Ministry of Justice, a schedule for these activities will be prepared. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev hinted at his readiness to break relations with the Council of Europe. Duirng a meeting with a delegation of the Political and Security Committee of the EU Council, Aliyev assured that , public opinion related to the Council of Europe is not so positive "Firstly, when we joined this organization, our expectations were related to the fact that it will help us in the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. However, the Council of Europe did not succeed in this matter, this case did not work, and it will not work. Secondly, at the beginning of our membership I was the first head of our delegation. At that time, I was a member of the Azerbaijani parliament and in 2001-2003 led the Azerbaijani delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. That is, I know what this organization is and how it relates to Azerbaijan. The attitude was extremely negative. We joined this organization on the same day as Armenia and compared the extremely negative attitude towards Azerbaijan with a positive attitude towards Armenia, he said. Speaking about criticism of the Council of Europe, Aliyev said Azerbaijans priority is the EU. Azerbaijan leaves the Council of Europe, nothing will change in our life, he added. The Council of Europe is considering sanctions against Azerbaijan, up to elimination of the countrys membership in the organization because of failure to implement the European Courts judgment on political prisoners. Despite Aliyevs assurances, the talks between Azerbaijan and EU slowed down as well. Thursday, October 05, 2017 Clippings From Our Newsroom Floor On The Election Week That Was On the radio (Bralley) And so it begins. Here's Republican Dan Lewis the day after the city election that put him in a mayoral run-off with Dem Tim Keller: Let me say this, Tim Keller is not a bad person, but we disagree on how we should reform and renew our city. I am tough on crime, hes voted for carve-outs for sex predators. I will create a system where you know when judges release career criminals back on to our streets, so you can vote them out. My opponent will protect their identities and their weak-on-crime records. . . If you believe that its time to declare war on criminals and restore safety; that its time for a champion for entrepreneurs, innovators and job creators; that its time to reform and renew ABQ - I ask for your vote. . . Front-runner Keller will try to stay above the fray as long as possible and on Wednesday he did just that: Together, we built a winning coalition that is uniting our city from every corner. Our effort was truly block-by-block, bringing together broad and diverse groups, of every political stripe, in support of a common goal. What is clear is that our message of leadership and urgency is resonating, especially our plans to attack the unacceptable crime crisis and bring immediate relief to our families on day one as mayor. This was also a win against special interest money and a strong statement of support for the idea that how we elect our next mayor matters. The run-off is not until November 14 so everyone has time to catch their breath before the pace gets breathless again. TURNOUT TALE Early Wednesday (and we mean early) we had the mayoral turnout on the blog and Facebook at 98,000. It was actually about 97,000 with a turnout of about 29 percent of the registered. It was the highest turnout since the 2001 city election. Also in that first draft, we forgot to mention that ABQ Dem City Councilor Klarissa Pena was re-elected to the council in a landslide win. And we also did not mention that all the bond issues--totaling $125 million--were approved by voters. One thing seems certain: The run-off election, lacking the sick leave ordinance and other circumstances, will not approach 97,000 voters. How low it goes from there is anyone's guess. MORE NUMBERS One of our longtime readers comes with some interesting play on the Election Night numbers: So working off of a vote total of 96,971 voters who cast ballots in the mayoral race. . . For the bond questions 2,264 people voted only in the mayors race and didnt go any further on the ballot. But of real interest: The sick leave question drew only 91,384 voters so 5,587 voters did not turn their ballot over. You had to turn your ballot over to vote on the convoluted sick leave ordinance, another reason it failed Election Night. ALLIGATOR ANALYSIS The election cries out for more analysis from the spare-no one-Gators. Here they come: --The election was a big time embarrassment for Attorney General Hector Balderas who endorsed his buddy Brian Colon with TV ads but could not get him over the finish line. --It was an embarrassment for the ABQ Journal and its owners, the Lang family, who clearly have little influence anymore. Witness their endorsement and performance of Brian Colon who they wrongly labeled a "Progressive Democrat." --It was an embarrassment for Gov. Martinez political consultant Jay McCleskey who couldnt get his guy Robert Aragon over 50% to win in city council District 5 on the westside. If he cant win a city council seat currently held by a Republican then it might not bode well for Monty Newman who is seeking the Republican nomination for the southern congressional seat and who has enlisted Jay's help. That District 5 council seat ended as tight as a too wet swimsuit, with Dem Cynthia Borrego closing within one point of Aragon. They will face each other in the run-off election Nov. 14. McCleskey is consulting Aragon. Scott Forrester is consulting Borrego. Start your engines, boys. FREE FOLDING The ABQ Free Press--the alternative newspaper that raised hell for several years over the condition of the city and did a good job of it--folded its website just days before the election and apparently won't be around for the mayoral run-off. Why it could not hang on a month or two longer after all that spade work is perplexing. Months ago it halted its print edition due to a lack of advertising but the website was relatively inexpensive to run. If you want to change the world, fellas, you gotta be in it. MORE EARLY, PLEASE Early voting was a winner and a loser. We had good turnout, but former State Rep. Janice Arnold-Jones is among those saying it's high time the city followed the county and includes Saturday early voting and also keeps the early polls open until 7 p.m. instead of closing at 6. But the way, the early and absentee vote accounted for 46 percent of the total turnout and fooled the crystal ball readers who thought it would go higher. It was 47% in 2013 and has grown in popularity sine then. But the surprise Election Day rush to the polls had the early vote failing to breach the 50 percent mark as many (including yours truly) had predicted. And that is a wrap and a take for this most interesting of weeks. Thanks for coming along for the ride. We'll see you back here Monday. This is it. . . The home of New Mexico politics. Interested in reaching New Mexico's most informed audience? Advertise here. ( c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2017 Front-runner Keller will try to stay above the fray as long as possible and on Wednesday he did just that:The run-off is not until November 14 so everyone has time to catch their breath before the pace gets breathless again.Early Wednesday (and we mean early) we had the mayoral turnout on the blog and Facebook at 98,000. It was actually about 97,000 with a turnout of about 29 percent of the registered. It was the highest turnout since the 2001 city election.Also in that first draft, we forgot to mention that ABQ Dem City Councilor Klarissa Pena was re-elected to the council in a landslide win. And we also did not mention that all the bond issues--totaling $125 million--were approved by voters.One thing seems certain: The run-off election, lacking the sick leave ordinance and other circumstances, will not approach 97,000 voters. How low it goes from there is anyone's guess.One of our longtime readers comes with some interesting play on the Election Night numbers:You had to turn your ballot over to vote on the convoluted sick leave ordinance, another reason it failed Election Night.The election cries out for more analysis from the spare-no one-Gators. Here they come:--The election was a big time embarrassment for Attorney General Hector Balderas who endorsed his buddy Brian Colon with TV ads but could not get him over the finish line.--It was an embarrassment for the ABQ Journal and its owners, the Lang family, who clearly have little influence anymore. Witness their endorsement and performance of Brian Colon who they wrongly labeled a "Progressive Democrat."--It was an embarrassment for Gov. Martinez political consultant Jay McCleskey who couldnt get his guy Robert Aragon over 50% to win in city council District 5 on the westside. If he cant win a city council seat currently held by a Republican then it might not bode well for Monty Newman who is seeking the Republican nomination for the southern congressional seat and who has enlisted Jay's help.That District 5 council seat ended as tight as a too wet swimsuit, with Dem Cynthia Borrego closing within one point of Aragon. They will face each other in the run-off election Nov. 14. McCleskey is consulting Aragon. Scott Forrester is consulting Borrego. Start your engines, boys.The ABQ Free Press--the alternative newspaper that raised hell for several years over the condition of the city and did a good job of it--folded its website just days before the election and apparently won't be around for the mayoral run-off. Why it could not hang on a month or two longer after all that spade work is perplexing. Months ago it halted its print edition due to a lack of advertising but the website was relatively inexpensive to run. If you want to change the world, fellas, you gotta be in it.Early voting was a winner and a loser. We had good turnout, but former State Rep. Janice Arnold-Jones is among those saying it's high time the city followed the county and includes Saturday early voting and also keeps the early polls open until 7 p.m. instead of closing at 6.But the way, the early and absentee vote accounted for 46 percent of the total turnout and fooled the crystal ball readers who thought it would go higher. It was 47% in 2013 and has grown in popularity sine then. But the surprise Election Day rush to the polls had the early vote failing to breach the 50 percent mark as many (including yours truly) had predicted.And that is a wrap and a take for this most interesting of weeks. Thanks for coming along for the ride. We'll see you back here Monday. This is it. . .The home of New Mexico politics. E-mail your news and comments. (jmonahan@ix.netcom.com) Links HOME E-MAIL ME About Joe Google News Real Clear Politics Huffington Post Drudge Report The Politico New Mexico newspapers NM TV stations Gov. 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1/30/22 1/30/22 - 2/6/22 2/6/22 - 2/13/22 2/13/22 - 2/20/22 2/20/22 - 2/27/22 2/27/22 - 3/6/22 3/6/22 - 3/13/22 3/13/22 - 3/20/22 3/20/22 - 3/27/22 3/27/22 - 4/3/22 4/3/22 - 4/10/22 4/10/22 - 4/17/22 4/17/22 - 4/24/22 4/24/22 - 5/1/22 5/1/22 - 5/8/22 5/8/22 - 5/15/22 5/15/22 - 5/22/22 5/22/22 - 5/29/22 5/29/22 - 6/5/22 6/5/22 - 6/12/22 6/12/22 - 6/19/22 6/19/22 - 6/26/22 6/26/22 - 7/3/22 7/10/22 - 7/17/22 7/17/22 - 7/24/22 7/24/22 - 7/31/22 7/31/22 - 8/7/22 8/7/22 - 8/14/22 8/14/22 - 8/21/22 8/21/22 - 8/28/22 8/28/22 - 9/4/22 9/4/22 - 9/11/22 9/11/22 - 9/18/22 9/18/22 - 9/25/22 9/25/22 - 10/2/22 10/2/22 - 10/9/22 10/9/22 - 10/16/22 10/16/22 - 10/23/22 10/23/22 - 10/30/22 10/30/22 - 11/6/22 11/6/22 - 11/13/22 11/13/22 - 11/20/22 website design by website design by limwebdesign WASHINGTON, DC - The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) has partnered with In Defense of Christians (IDC) as a sponsor of its national convention, a landmark Washington, DC summit, from October 24th to 26th, gathering faith leaders including His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, Congressional friends, and coalition partners to protect and preserve Christianity and defend religious liberty across the Middle East. Last years summit, also sponsored by the ANCA, featured the participation of over 50 Members of Congress. The ANCA, as a convention sponsor along with Philos Project and Institute on Religion and Democracy, will welcome legislators, faith leaders, and religious freedom advocates to Washington for a robust agenda of activities. Among these are a press conference at the National Press Club, an Ecumenical Prayer Service at the historic St. Matthew's Cathedral, a series of policy-driven panel discussions and hands-on advocacy workshops, and meetings with Members of Congress. We are pleased to renew our partnership with In Defense of Christians, a movement that effectively harnesses grassroots power across America, fosters bipartisan consensus here in Washington, and - most vitally - drives real-world, policy-based solutions to protect Christians and preserve religious and ethnic diversity throughout the Middle East, said ANCA Chairman Raffi Hamparian. We are particularly gratified to sponsor this year's summit knowing that Congressman Chris Smith, a great champion of human rights and religious liberty, will be honored with the prestigious Cedars of God award. The conventions advocacy agenda features strong support for a just resolution of the Armenian Genocide, and will include lobbying visits in support of H.Res.220, a bipartisan measure seeks to apply the lessons of the Armenian Genocide in preventing new atrocities across the Middle East. ANCA representatives will be making presentations throughout the three day conference, which will focus on the following advocacy priorities: 1) Security and stability in Lebanon, 2) Emergency relief for Victims of genocide in Iraq and Syria, 3) Allies and Accountability in the Middle East, 4) Recognition of the Armenian Genocide, and 3) Legal punishment for ISIS, al-Qaeda and other perpetrators of genocide. From the moment Safarov was sentenced in Budapest, there were repeated demarches by the Azerbaijani government to convince the Hungarian authorities to hand the man over, member of the European Parliament Frank Engel said in an interview with Budapest Beacon. The Azerbaijani side promised that he would serve out the sentence that was pronounced by the Hungarian court. The difference, of course, is that neither Gyurcsany nor Bajnai [former Hungarian PMs ed.] believed these obviously false promises, Engel said. Then comes Orban and miraculously after an official state visit to Azerbaijan, Safarov is back home a few weeks later. Nobody can tell me this had nothing to do with money. There would be no reason why the champion of Christianity in Europe, Viktor Orban, would forsake his nations friendship with the first Christian nation on Earth, which is Armenia, if he and his government were not paid for doing it, if they were not paid for risking the Armenian element in order for some other elements to arrive [Safarov murdered an Armenian in Budapest]. Obviously, now, when we suddenly discover interesting flows of Azeri money to a Hungarian bank account at precisely the relevant time back in 2012 between in the wider sense Azerbaijan and Hungary, I must say that even if the amounts are nowhere near the 3 billion that I heard about at the time, but are the 8 or 9 million Euros that we are talking about now, and which are difficult to contest for the Hungarian authorities, it pretty much looks like pocket money received in return for a favor. But who received it is of course something we do not know. During their patrol to detect illegal foreign immigrants, Russian border guards detained four migrant workers in Vesyoloye village at Sochi town, near the border with Abkhazia, according to SvobodnayaPressa Yug (Free Press - South) of Russia. It was found out that although the detained Armenian citizens documents for staying and working in Russia were in order, they did not have a permit for working in the border zone. In addition, they did not have social enactments, informed the press service of the border department of Krasnodar Krai (region). These men were fined and subjected to mandatory deportation from Russia. MOSCOW. Armenian News-NEWS.am has learned from the embassy of Armenia in Moscow that one of the two passengers, who were injured in the Armenian passenger van crash at night in Russia, has been checked out of hospital. According to the embassy, information was received, on Thursday at around 1:55am, that a traffic accident had occurred on a highway in Russia. A van, driven by Umrshat Iskoyan, 63, had gone off road and fallen into a streamlet. This vehicle provides passenger transportation between Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, and Armenias capital city of Yerevan. As a result of this accident, two of the 16 passengers in the vehiclenamely, Gohar Hakobyan (born in 1961) and Salvi Avetisyan (born in 1967)were hospitalized. According to the verified findings of the embassy, Hakobyan is still in hospital and in stable condition. Separately, necessary medical assistance was provided to Avetisyan, and this passenger was discharged from hospital. YEREVAN. Second meeting of the Armenian-Lithuanian Intergovernmental Commission on Trade-Economic Cooperation was convened Wednesday in Yerevan, the capital city of Armenia. Within the framework of this event, Armenian Deputy Minister of Agriculture Armen Harutyunyan and Lithuanian Deputy Minister of Agriculture of Rolandas Taraskevicius signed the 2018-2019 Agricultural Cooperation Action Plan between the agriculture ministries of Armenia and Lithuania, the Armenian Ministry of Agriculture informed Armenian News-NEWS.am. The action plan envisages to promote bilateral cooperation in the agrarian sector, and to carry out several respective joint actions within one year. In addition, the two countries will cooperate in cattle breeding. YEREVAN. The Yerevan Show 2017 eighth international specialized jewelry exhibition will be held at Meridian Expo & Event Centre in the capital city of Armenia, from Thursday to Sunday. Gagik Gevorgyan, the founder of this center, on Thursday informed about the aforesaid to reporters. He noted that close to 70 jewelry companies from Armenia, Russia, Belarus, Switzerland, the US, and Turkey will take part in this event. President Serzh Sargsyan and the First Lady also were on hand at the opening ceremony of this exhibition. Wholesale buyers, trade network representatives, and private entrepreneurs from several countries also were invited to Yerevan Show 2017. YEREVAN. Vahan Martirosyan, Minister of Transport, Communication and Information Technologies, received the representatives of three French companies that have arrived in Armenia to participate in the Armenian-French Business Forum. The minister expressed readiness for bilateral cooperation in a variety of domains that are under his ministrys supervision, Press Service of the Ministry of Transport, Communication and Information Technologies informed Armenian News-NEWS.am. Also, he noted his willingness to support all initiatives that will promote the cooperation and advancement of engineering between the two countries. Representatives of the French engineering companies, for their part, introduced the directions of their activities and specialization, and the projects they have implemented. The opportunity to contribute the track-record of the French company specialized in the construction of metal bridges, and the avenues for improving the infrastructures in Armenia were discussed. In addition, the minister introduced the North-South Road Investment Program and the necessary infrastructures included within this program, and the interlocutors conferred on the prospects for joint work. The ways for potential cooperation and several other matters of bilateral interest also were discussed with representatives of the other companies that are specialized in information technology and ropeway construction. Turkey, Iran and Iraq are considering blockading Iraqs Kurdish region by closing its airspace and borders after the Kurds voted for independence last week, AP reported quoting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. All airspace will be closed, flights have already been banned... Soon the borders will be closed too, Erdogan said. Erdogan said the Iraqi Kurdish regions leader, Masoud Barzani, who spearheaded the independence referendum, has endangered the security of the whole region. We wont allow our region and our countrys security to be placed in danger just because some people want to realize their childhood dream, he added. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Saudi Arabian King Salman bin Abdulaziz al Saud discussed on Thursday the situation in Syria, Iraq, Yemen, as well as the situation in the Persian Gulf zone and the Middle East settlement, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said after the talks, TASS reported. "The Russian president and the Saudi king had an in-depth exchange of opinions on most important aspects of the situation in the Middle East and in North Africa. Special accent was put on Syria, Iraq, Libya, Yemen, the situation in the Persian Gulf and in the Palestinian-Israeli settlement," Lavrov said. Russia supports Saudi Arabia in its efforts to unite Syrian opposition, he went on. "Russia welcomes efforts being exerted by Saudi Arabia for the sake of uniting the Syrian opposition with the aim to consolidate it on a constructive platform for talks with the government on the basis of the UN Security Councils resolution," Lavrov said. "They (leaders) stressed the need for prompt settlement of crises by peaceful, political means In this context King Salman appreciated efforts being exerted for the sake of a settlement in Syria within the framework of the Astana format," Lavrov said. Russia and Saudi Arabia share the understanding of priority of fight against terrorism in dealing with Middle East regions problems, he went on. "In considering all problems of that region, a common understanding was shown once again that a resolute fight against terrorism has a priority," he said. "Initiatives that the Russian Federation and Saudi Arabia advance in the UN and on the international arena on the whole are aimed at this," he added. YEREVAN.- Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan received on Thursday the delegation of the EU Councils Political and Security Committee (PSC) led by its Chairman Walter Stevens. Ambassadors from 28 EU Member States accredited in Brussels and representatives of the Committee are among the delegation, presidential press service reported. The aim of the visit is to discuss the current phase and the prospects of Armenia-EU relations under the light of the completion of the talks on the new framework agreement, get acquainted with the situation on site, as well as to touch upon the agenda issues of the Eastern Partnership upcoming summit, exchange ideas over the political and security issues, as well as threats and challenges in the region of the South Caucasus. Serzh Sargsyan greeted the guests and highlighted the meetings and discussions in that format, which, to the Presidents conviction, are a good opportunity to discuss all the issues of bilateral interest. Noting that only three days ago Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn was in Armenia, and a day prior to that the last modernized border check point in the north of Armenia, constructed with the assistance of the EU, was opened with the participation of Head of the EU delegation to Armenia, Ambassador Piotr Switalski, President Sargsyan underlined that this kind of intensity of interactions shows that the EU has an important role in Armenias foreign policy. The Chairman of the PSC stressed that the EU attaches great importance to the relations with Eastern Partnership participant countries, including Armenia, and he is glad that Armenia has initialed the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement with the EU, which, according to him, shows that its really possible to sign an agreement with the EU and develop partnership being a member state to the Eurasian Economic Union. He stressed that EUs policy conducted in the sidelines of the Eastern Partnership initiative is not directed against anyone. Referring to Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement, Walter Stevens stressed that the EU supports the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs. The Chairman of the Committee noted that the EU is interested in assists reforms in Armenia, including the continuity of economic reforms, highlights the implementation of a more efficient management following the Constitutional reforms, and the works done to strengthen justice, human rights defense, and democratic institutions. During the meeting Walter Stevens expressed gratitude for giving shelter to over 20 thousand Syrian refugees in Armenia. TORONTO Pipeline company TransCanada said Thursday it's cancelling a plan to build a pipeline that would ship 1.1 million barrels of oil per day from Western Canada to the Atlantic coast. TransCanada Chief Executive Officer Russ Girling said in a statement that "after careful review of changed circumstances, we will be informing the National Energy Board" it won't go ahead with the Energy East pipeline. He didn't specify reasons but Alberta's oil sands growth has slowed with the decline in the price of oil and there was stiff environmental opposition in Quebec. Girling had previously called the pipeline a historic opportunity to connect the oil resources of Canada's west to eastern consumers. He'd noted the oil could be shipped to the U.S. Eastern Seaboard, Asia and Europe. Supporters said the pipeline was necessary to decrease reliance on the U.S., which takes 97 percent of Canada's energy exports. Alberta has the world's third largest oil reserves, with 170 billion barrels of proven reserves. Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre, who has opposed the pipeline on environmental grounds, said he was thrilled to see it abandoned. Calgary, Alberta, Mayor Naheed Nenshi sarcastically said he loved the fact that Montreal's mayor was celebrating the loss of Canadian jobs. When TransCanada first announced the project in in 2013 oil prices were neared a $100 a barrel, but are now about half that. Critics cite similar questions about the Keystone XL, another pipeline TransCanada has proposed building that would cut across 275 miles of Nebraska, from Keya Paha County to a pumping station in Steele City. TransCanada has said it remains committed to that project, which would connect with the existing Keystone pipeline to haul Canadian oil sands from Hardisty, Alberta, to the U.S. Gulf Coast. The Nebraska Public Service Commission is reviewing the Keystone XL plans and has until Nov. 23 to decide whether to approve or deny the project. Regarding the Energy East pipeline, Lisa Raitt, deputy leader of Canada's conservative opposition, called it a terrible day for Canada and blamed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for not championing the nation-building project and the nation's energy sector. "Everything Justin Trudeau touches becomes a nightmare," Raitt said. Last year, Trudeau approved one controversial pipeline from the Alberta oil sands to the Pacific Coast, but rejected another. Trudeau approved Kinder Morgan's Trans Mountain pipeline to the Vancouver suburb of Burnaby, British Columbia, but rejected Enbridge's Northern Gateway pipeline to Kitimat, British Columbia. His government has been trying to balance the oil industry's desire to tap new markets with environmentalists' concerns. Natural Resource Minister Jim Carr called the TransCanada's decision to end the Energy East pipeline a business decision. "Conditions have changed," Carr said. "Commodity prices are not what they were then." TransCanada put its application on hold in September after the National Energy Board said would use a tougher review process that would include looking at indirect emissions related to the pipeline, from production to end use of the oil. The company warned then that it could cancel the proposed 2,800 mile oil pipeline from Hardisty, Alberta, to Saint John, New Brunswick, which would have been most expensive project in TransCanada's history. International oil companies ConocoPhillips and Royal Dutch Shell have sold Canadian oil sands assets this year. The costs to develop the oil sands, a type of unconventional petroleum deposit, are much higher than developing conventional oil deposits. Alberta Premier Rachel Notley said she was deeply disappointed with TransCanada's decision. "We understand that it is driven by a broad range of factors that any responsible business must consider. Nonetheless, this is an unfortunate outcome for Canadians," she said. I wish there was more locations. The ones in Chicago are so scattered. In other news I think its hilarious that rick and Morty brought this one Reply Thread Link I'm mad because like only 4 locations in Chicago are going to have the sauce. :/ Reply Parent Thread Link that's three more than LA lol Reply Parent Thread Link It's fucking ridiculous that there's not more locations in and around Chicago. What's the point in having the HQ in Deerfield if the Chicagoland area can't reap the benefits? Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I can't believe there's only four participating. So dumb. Reply Parent Thread Link I just looked at the locations and what the hell? They're all in the middle of nowhere. The only place I've heard of is Champaign and that's because I went to school there. WTF. Why not a location in, you know, the freaking CITY. Reply Parent Thread Link What kinda ImpacT Reply Thread Link that gif has some intense motion graphics omfg Reply Thread Link Idgaf about rick and morty but that szechuan sauce poster is pretty cute. Reply Thread Link Mte but idgaf about the sauce. that poster is what I want. Reply Parent Thread Link I'm confused. Didn't this already happen, like, a year or two ago? Or am I mixing it up with something else? I don't really want to go looking because my minor exposure to this show's fans has pretty much made me not want to engage in any way lol Reply Thread Link I think they sent a bunch to the Rick and Morty creators or something but it wasn't something everyone could get. Reply Parent Thread Link it's in the post, first line. first one was when the show premiered with the sauce mentioned. the second the co-creator/voice actor got it. i think they also auctioned a gallon of it or something. idk. Reply Parent Thread Link Maybe you're thinking of when someone from 1D mentioned chicken fries at Burger King so they brought them back? (I think that's what happened anyway) Reply Parent Thread Link Of course all the locations in my state are in the Eastern part. Reply Thread Link Wth when did Mcdonalds have pizza? Reply Parent Thread Link Did America have individual sized pizzas, because that's all we had in Canada; I don't think I remember being able to get a giant pizza you shared Edited at 2017-10-05 02:04 am (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link we did have the large one! It only came in pepperoni and they brought it out on this red frame thing lol Reply Parent Thread Link I'm surprised by how many words advertisements used to have. It's pizza. Now days it would be a meme inspired graphic that said PIZZA! Two for one low price! Available after 4! Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Literally just said this out loud. Reply Parent Thread Link mcdonalds having pizza is one of my earliest memories, and only my sis remembers! Reply Parent Thread Link I need to go to the one location in the US on the other side of my state (Ohio) that still makes it! Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Fuck yes. I loved their pizza the crust had little crumbles and I'd sometimes order the family size one at lunch in high school for me and my pals. Reply Parent Thread Link Bish! One day only in a fucking lifetime? Quit playin!!! Reply Thread Link I'm just happy that the original Rodeo burger is back at Burger King. I went vegetarian and then I found out it was back...I've had 3 in the past 6 weeks. oops. Reply Thread Link My coworker got the Rodeo King the other day and it made me want to eat red meat again. I remember being a BK addict in high school because of the Rodeo burger lol Reply Parent Thread Link I'm not a huge fast food person in general, and if I do get fast food it's normally just fries, but when that burger was originally around I was so obsessed with it. Burger King is generally pretty gross but for whatever reason that burger's amazing. Reply Parent Thread Link Those chicken strips are over-priced, IMHO. This might end up failing like Mighty Wings. Reply Thread Link I'm actually surprised ours is getting one at a reasonable to reach location. Reply Thread Link lmao same here. Turned out that it takes like a half hour there from where I live. Hilarious Reply Parent Thread Link I don't care if they're made out of pink goop, their nuggets are better than their tenders Reply Thread Link I just had some nuggets and signature sauce--it's pretty good. I wish they'd sell Mac Sauce already bc I'd buy it all. Reply Thread Link they do sell Mac Sauce! at least in Canada they do...so I assume they do in the US too! Reply Parent Thread Link Nope :( I should ask my family in Canada to send me some lol Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Never heard of this sauce. But i bought buttermilk for the first time last week and made some buttermilk fried chicken and it came out sooo good. I wish i had more Reply Thread Link You can make your own buttermilk by combining milk+ lemon juice or vinegar. Then you don't have to specifically buy buttermilk if a recipe calls for it. Reply Parent Thread Link at least she recognises that she was given the platform that way, instead of helping the world one by one with patients, I could help the masses lets not get carried away tho sis Reply Thread Link lol mte Reply Parent Thread Link I'm fucking dying at that comment like she's curing cancer out here with her "modeling" career bitch, people in health care are actually saving people's lives and shit Reply Parent Thread Link Lol honestly Are you really? Really tho? Well she got the ego to become famous Reply Parent Thread Link i saw her on STAR last night. that's all i got. Reply Thread Link lmao the grandstanding of some celebs istg..... just say you like the money and lush lifestyle She's currently the face of Calvin Klein she is? i dont remember any ads Reply Thread Link http://pagesix.com/2017/05/04/paris-jackson-is-the-new-face-of-calvin-klein/ She signed a seven figure deal with them earlier this year. Reply Parent Thread Link also lol this related article: shes obv pretty but i dont think she photographs well tbh. there's like weird stunned deer-in-the-headlights look in all her picturesalso lol this related article: http://pagesix.com/2017/03/30/a-star-is-made-inside-paris-jacksons-calculated-rise/ Reply Parent Thread Link this is unconfirmed and i think her showing up at the met gala in CK jumpstarted those rumors. i really doubt raf would send her down his catwalk. if there is a deal, it probably revolves around her exclusively wearing CK gowns (a la jennifer lawrence/dior) at the promo events for her debut film which will undoubtedly garner a lot attention. it would certainly be a smart move on raf's part. Reply Parent Thread Link A true hero. Reply Thread Link lol shut up. Reply Thread Link lol Reply Parent Thread Link LOL Reply Parent Thread Link Lmao HAA Reply Parent Thread Link lmfaoooo Reply Parent Thread Link I mean, can't look into her future so maybe she will save the world one day. However, generally I'd say it's better to become a nurse or a psychologist than a celebrity when you wanna help people. Reply Thread Link wow what a bold, brave move...instead of settling for being merely rich, she will use her great powers to be famous as well. i, for one, am proud :') how did we as a people get so lucky? Reply Thread Link Why couldn't she become a nurse or psychiatrist and do advocacy that way in her field. No one gives a shit about what models have to say Reply Thread Link not you erasing her black heritage. Reply Parent Thread Link WHAT black heritage Reply Parent Thread Link Is there rumors about her not being the biological daughter of MJ? What's the truth???? Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Gee thanks Reply Thread Link she looks smelly Reply Thread Link It shouldn't bother me she identifies as black, but it does... Reply Parent Thread Link Ok then Reply Thread Link Nebraska Repertory Theatre has kicked off its 49th year with a production of Abigail/1702, and it is a corker. Playing out of the Johnny Carson Theater at the Lied Center for Performing Arts, the Rep now defines itself as a professional regional theater and offers students in the instructional program of the Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film a chance to work with theater professionals year-round. So it is that professional actress Abbey Siegworth leads the cast as Abigail Williams and professional actor Don Richard plays several key roles, including a smarmy Devil. Lincolns Virginia Smith rounds out the professional lineup of actors who build a strong framework for the storyline. The concept of the play is that it extends the story begun in Arthur Millers American classic The Crucible, imaging what might have happened to Abigail Williams, the witchcraft accuser, 10 years after the end of Millers play, in 1702. The idea is a fascinating one and, before the play ends, the audience is led to consider the great issues of the nature of good and evil, damnation and redemption. A group of 14 performers, including UNL undergraduates, graduate students and some graduates, comprise the rest of the company and what a company it is. Each seems to be a fine individual vocal performer and together they form an a capella chorale that provides all the music for the production. The technical aspects of the show are excellent, starting with a four-tiered circular stage of which two tiers revolve, constructed in the black box of the Johnny Carson theater. The stage serves the play well and adds motion and visual interest to the dialogue-heavy piece. Director Andy Park, in his Lincoln debut, makes full use of the house, sending his cast into the audience and up the aisles, again adding life and movement to the piece. Altogether, the production works and provides an interesting night at the theater. The new Rep is off and running in a good direction. Retired Milwaukee firefighter Wayne Mutza knows a thing or two about firefighting and the equipment required for the job. Over the course of more than two dozen books, Mutza has shared that knowledge as well as his passion for battle aircraft. Hes written a memoir about firefighting, an illustrated history of firefighting in Milwaukee and a collection of stories from Milwaukee firefighters. His latest book is an almost encyclopedic look at fireboats, not just here, but across America. It makes a great companion to firefighter Jim Leys recent history of Milwaukee firehouses. We asked Mutza about his books, about fireboats and about his new book (and his next one, too). OnMilwaukee: You seem to be an endless book machine. How many have you written to date? Wayne Mutza: And endless book machine. Yes, thats me. Actually, I would like to have written more but I get involved in many other things. Id need another lifetime to do all the books I planned years ago. I dont track them so I had to count Ive done 28 books. And some time ago I wrote a good number of articles also. As new as this one is, you already have another published since, don't you? Can you tell us about that one? I did have another book in the works besides "American Fireboats." A publisher Ive worked with asked that I do a book to kick off their new series. Although swamped with projects, I was honored and couldnt turn them down. The book is "Bell 47/H-13 Sioux Helicopter" for Schiffer Publishings new "Legends of Warfare" series. The Bell 47 is most recognizable as the bubble-canopy chopper that opened each episode of the television series M*A*S*H. How do you do your research for a book like "American Fireboats," especially considering how exhaustive and encyclopedic it is. It must be a lot of work? I do "deep research" for any book subject; no stone unturned, and all that, very much like detective work. Ive never considered it work since being on the research trail research expands knowledge and opens so many doors. Its enjoyable, really. How much time did you spend on this one? People often ask how long it took to do a particular book. I dont track the time I spend on them. Not a day passes that I dont do something related to writing, be it research, or even penning a sentence or two. My memoir took only a few months; I went gangbusters on that one when the memory banks opened like flood gates. Others might be books "in-progress" for years. I maintained a file on fireboats for years, and about two years before publication began the book in earnest, collecting material and making contacts to fill the areas I knew I needed to present a comprehensive volume. That is possible only with help of so many people and organizations across the country. Tell us a bit about the rise and fall, I guess of the fireboat in America. The use of fireboats goes farther back in history than most realize. Their early history is fascinating, especially for anyone interested in marine history, the steam era which evolved into diesel power and big, powerful vessels. Fire departments in large American cities had all they could do to keep up with rapid growth of busy waterfronts, where the massive wooden structures of commerce stood shoulder-to-shoulder. And when they burned, which is often, there was no stopping conflagrations until portions of the city were lost. Over time, lessons were learned, although slowly; industry moved inland, fire codes came into play, building materials became more fire resistive, and land water systems were improved. Technology and the economic burdens felt by large cities combined to produce fire-rescue vessels that were smaller and maneuverable, yet powerful and hi-tech enough to deal with most modern emergencies. Sprawling marinas and the popularity of waterfront living makes life hazard a priority for marine fire-rescue. They must've been pretty important in cities like Milwaukee, with multiple waterways. What's the quick history of Milwaukee fire boats? Given Milwaukees proud history as "The Machine Shop of the World," with commerce flourishing along our three rivers by the mid-19th century, fireboats were deemed a necessity. Milwaukees first fireboat, the Cataract, began service in 1889, with four "big boats" answering more than 500 alarms annually during the early 1900s. When the budget axe fell in one of its many swings, only two large fireboats protected Milwaukee waterways. The low-profile (to fit under downtown bridges), diesel-powered Deluge would go it alone until it too became a victim of the economy in 1984. Her replacement, along with a smaller 27-foot Chris-Craft, was a military surplus amphibian transformed into a fire-rescue boat. Controversy aside, the amphib did the job until 1993 when it was replaced by the smaller, less powerful Phoenix. What's the future of fire boats in Milwaukee? With most of industry long gone from Milwaukees waterfront, marine protection today comes from the Canadian-built Trident, a 36-foot vessel usually seen at its berth near Discovery World. The lightweight, water-jet-powered, hi-tech vessel appears to be the future of Milwaukees fireboats, a far cry from the big boats that once plied Cream City waterways. Are you working on any more fire department related books? Yes, my main book project lately is an in-depth history of Milwaukee Fire Department apparatus, intended to be a fascinating, comprehensive volume covering the early days of buckets and hand-drawn fire apparatus to todays diesel-powered behemoths, and all types of emergency vehicles and equipment in between. Rare photos, equipment from other Milwaukee County protective organizations, and first-hand accounts promise to flavor this volume. Season's eatings! The weather may be getting colder, but Dining Month on OnMilwaukee is just cooking up, dishing out your winning picks in this year's Best of Dining poll. Dining Month is brought to you by Fein Brothers, your premier food service equipment and supply dealer in Wisconsin since 1929. Congratulations to all of the winners, and happy eating for all those who voted! AP Bar & Kitchen, 814 S. 2nd St., has been sold to new owners. As a result, the restaurant will observe its last service on Saturday, Oct. 14. "Ive entertained a number of offers to buy the business in recent years, but this was about timing," notes owner Justin Anthony. "I was offered an opportunity that I just couldnt pass up working with a friend of mine in Palo Alto, California. It's with a great, growing food and beverage company. And Ill be able to work with friends from my past that Ive always adored. You just cant say no when that happens." Anthony disclosed that the new ownership includes John Revord and Mitch Ciohon of Boone & Crocket and Gypsy Taco, as well as Chef Shay Linkus of Vanguard. The new concept may open before the end of the year. "I know they have something exciting planned," he says. "And I think it will be a great fit for the neighborhood." Anthony notes that owning and operating AP over the the years has been a privilege. "Its been a wonderful learning experience for me, and Ive been glad to have been part of this community," he says. "One of the biggest things Ive taken away from it all is that you can come from a background of so many different experiences and want to be able to bring all of that to the table. But, its not about ego. The first rule is really to be empathetic to your customers, your neighbors and your community. "The joy in this has been employing so many people, watching them grow and seeing them go off and do bigger and better things. Its been a lesson in humility. We never did everything perfectly, and we were always learning. I cant say how grateful I am for all the support weve had. And Id love to invite everyone to scoot on in and visit us during these last days. Come in and lets celebrate together." Information on the new concept will be forthcoming. Watch OnMilwaukee for additional details as they become available. This illustration shows the orbit of comet K2 on its maiden voyage into the solar system. The Hubble Space Telescope observed K2 when it was 1.5 billion miles from the sun, halfway between the orbits of Saturn and Uranus. The observations revealed a fuzzy cloud of dust, called a coma, surrounding the icy visitor, evidence that the frozen comet is being warmed by the sun and releasing material. K2 is the farthest active inbound comet ever observed. The orbits of the giant planets, from Jupiter to Neptune, are also shown in the diagram. The farthest object from the sun depicted here is the dwarf planet Pluto. Credit: NASA, ESA and A. Field/STScI A team of astronomers led by UCLA professor David Jewitt has identified a "special comet" 1.5 billion miles from the sun. No other comet heading toward our sun has ever been seen at such a great distance. Jewitt said the discovery will enable scientists to monitor the developing activity of a comet over an extraordinary range of distances. C/2017 K2 (PANSTARRS), or K2 for short, is currently beyond Saturn's orbit, and it has been traveling for millions of years from its home in the frigid outer reaches of the solar system, where the temperature is approximately 440 degrees below zero Fahrenheit. It was photographed by NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, and the researchers' observations were reported in the Astrophysical Journal Letters. K2's orbit indicates it came from the Oort Cloud, a very large spherical region thought to contain hundreds of billions of comets. Slightly warmed by the remote sun, K2 has begun to develop an 80,000-mile-wide fuzzy cloud of dust, called a coma, that contains a tiny, solid nucleus of frozen gas and dust. The new observations represent the earliest signs of activity ever seen from a comet entering our solar system's planetary zone for the first time, as K2 is. "Because K2 is so far from the sun and so cold, water ice there is frozen like a rock, and we know for sure that the activityall of the fuzzy stuff making it look like a cometis not produced by the evaporation of water ice, as it is in other comets," said Jewitt, a professor of planetary science and astronomy. He added that the comet is warming as it approaches the sun. Jewitt said the Hubble's observations of K2's coma suggest that sunlight is heating frozen volatile gasessuch as oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxidethat coat the comet's frigid surface; and that the coma is formed when those icy volatiles lift off from the comet and release dust. "I think these volatiles are spread all through K2," he said. "But the volatiles on the surface are the ones that absorb the heat from the sun, so, in a sense, the comet is shedding its outer skin." Most comets are discovered much closer to the sunnearer to Jupiter's orbitso the volatile gases on the surface have already been "baked off" by the time scientists can see them, Jewitt said. "That's why I think K2 is the most primitive comet we've seen." K2 was discovered in May by astronomers using the Panoramic Survey Telescope and Rapid Response System (Pan-STARRS), a survey telescope in Hawaii, a survey project of NASA's Near-Earth Object Observations Program. Jewitt got a closer look at it in June with Hubble's Wide Field Camera 3, which helped him determine the width of the coma and helped Jewitt estimate the size of the nucleusless than 12 miles acrossalthough the coma's diameter is as wide as 10 times the diameter of the Earth. After finding K2 in the Hubble images, the researchers realized that the comet and its fuzzy coma had actually been photographed beforein 2013 by Hawaii's Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope, or CFHT. Man-To Hui, a UCLA graduate student, identified K2 in data from the CFHT while searching images in a Canadian archive; but it was so faint that no one had noticed it when the photos were initially analyzed. One interesting aspect of Hubble's K2 images was the absence of a "tail"a signature feature of other comets. In the paper, the scientists write that this indicates that particles lifting off from the comet are too large for radiation pressure from the sun to sweep them back into a tail. "It should become more and more active as it nears the sun and presumably will form a tail," Jewitt said. The comet will make its closest approach to the sun in 2022, when it will pass just beyond Mars' orbit. Credit: underworld / shutterstock It is rare to encounter a scientific fact that stirs widespread debate and distrust quite like the matter of climate change. Despite consensus among climate specialists about a theory that is supported by a mountain of facts from the physical, natural, and cultural sciences, the debate continues to be perpetrated by politicians, industrialists, academics, and armchair scientists. When governments reject science, the rest of us are put at risk. By refusing to accept the facts and potential ramifications of climate change, as a society, we stand to delay or overlook actions that are urgently needed to reduce our impact on the environment and adapt our cities and farmlands to a different future. Climategate gave wind to the sceptics Much of the intense scepticism about climate change science began in 2009, when thousands of emails and data files were stolen from the Climate Research Unit (CRU) at the University of East Anglia, in the UK, and later exposed under the guise of a purported conspiracy to alter facts. The allegations claimed that scientists had only publicised results in support of their theory that climate change is driven by human activities. Other facts, that may negate this claim, were said to have been hidden. A series of inquiries found no evidence that these scientists were in the wrong, though the investigations did generally call for more transparency. Selective reporting is indeed a serious issue in the scientific community, especially when it comes to theory building as theories require consideration of all available facts. Is it possible that the theory of climate change is based on a biased selection of facts? We decided to find out. Publication bias in the medical sciences But what exactly is publication bias? If researchers only publish results that confirm their specific view or previous expectations or hopes, then the bulk of results in this research field will be skewed towards that established belief. For example, if a researcher is developing a medical drug to treat a disease, then all results of the clinical trial should be made public for the benefit of other researchers seeking the same cure. We know that, in medicine, positive and statistically significant results are more likely to be published than non-results. This poses a risk to medical sciences as failed experiments that are not reported may lead other researchers to waste precious funds pursuing dead-ends. Moreover, if only positive results are published, people will think the drug may be more effective than it truly is. Fortunately, there are established methods in numerical ecology and statistics that allow us to detect when non-significant results are missing from a field of research. One such method is the "Fail-safe N" (or sometimes called "the file-drawer problem"). This refers to the practice of only publishing positive results but filing away studies with negative or non-confirmative results. Statistically we can calculate the fail-safe N, that estimates how many negative studies would be required to make the statistical effect insignificant. This means that if publication bias was occurring in climate change science, we could detect it through "missing" negative results. No evidence of publication bias In our research, published in the journal Climatic Change, we analysed more than 1,100 published results from the field of climate change science and found no evidence of under-reporting or missing results even results that were not statistically significant or showing no positive effects were reported. Our study revealed some stylistic biases in how articles are written, however. The largest, most prominent effects (as they relate to climate change) were reported in the upfront summary sections (also called the abstract) where they are most readily seen by readers, whereas the lesser effects and those that were not significant tended to be buried within the technical results sections where relatively few readers are likely to see them. Stylistic biases are less concerning than a systematic tendency to under-report non-significant effects, assuming researchers read entire reports before formulating theories. However, most audiences, especially non-scientists including journalists who report on the findings, are more likely to read abstracts or summary paragraphs only, without perusing technical results. The onus to effectively communicate science does not fall entirely on the reader; rather, it is the responsibility of scientists and editors to remain vigilant, to understand how biases may pervade their work, and to be proactive about communicating science to non-technical audiences in transparent and unbiased ways. Climate science is built on a solid foundation It is important to stress that we are not climate scientists. Rather, in this instance, we functioned as scientists holding climate scientists to account and tested to see if their reporting practices were sound. Although climate scientists tend to highlight their most interesting results in the abstract of their articles, something that is hardly unique to their field, we can be confident that the theory of climate change is built on a solid foundation that gives credence to positive, neutral, and negative experimental results. In scientific terms, we reject the accusation made by climate change sceptics and can confirm that there is no publication bias in climate change research. This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article. Ethiopian farmers use oxen to prepare the fields for planting teff, used to make injera, a spongy bread that is a dietary staple. Credit: Kathryn Grace, University Of Minnesota Over the past decade, increasing temperatures across much of Africa and decreasing rainfall across East Africa have come to represent an alarming climate trend. Chief among concerns is the impact such conditions have on human health. A team of scientists from UC Santa Barbara's Climate Hazards Group (CHG), the University of Minnesota and the U.S. Geological Survey's Early Warning and Environmental Monitoring Program are exploring potential links between these climate effects and two health outcome indicators: malnutrition and low birth weights. Their findingssome good news, some badappear in the journal Global Environmental Change. Combining temperature and rainfall data from the CHG InfraRed Precipitation with Stations, a satellite-based rainfall monitoring network, with socioeconomic household-level data, the team modeled future scenarios of climate impacts on health outcomes in 13 countries in sub-Saharan Africa. "Our models indicate that vulnerable areas continuing to get warmer and drier could see more malnourished children and lower birth weights," said lead author Frank Davenport, a CHG researcher. "However, that scenario potentially could be mitigated by positive development trends such as access to electricity, clean water and education." Still, the analysis showed that the strong relationship between increased warming and increases in low birth weights might be harder to counter. "It's almost certain that it is going to get warmer and that warming is going to have some pretty direct negative physical impacts that may not be huge but are nonetheless robust," Davenport explained. This map features countries included in this study (labeled), Demographic and Health Survey sampling locations (dots) and livelihood zones. Credit: University of California - Santa Barbara With regard to child malnutrition, the data revealed much bigger changes resulting from warming and drying, yet greater potential for alleviating childhood stuntinga measure of malnutritionthrough positive development. In a number of African countries, 30 to 40 percent of children are affected by malnutrition. "That percentage changes depending on where people live," Davenport said. "We found the widest variation of results among what are called 'pastoralists,' for a couple of reasons. One is that pastoralists tend to be the most vulnerable and the most food-insecure and, because they live in hot, dry, remote areas and have to purchase a great deal of their food, they have limited resources to fall back on in times of adversity. Second, pastoralists often are nomads who graze their herds over extended territories, so they're notoriously difficult to sample in household surveys, where we get much of our socioeconomic data, so they tend to be underrepresented." Along with two previous, related papers, this research demonstrates that climate effects carry the same weight as economic indicatorsshowing that climate can have first-order effects on nutrition and health. Potential scenarios suggest increased wealth and better education can offset these effects. "The good news is that we can build up the resilience and the livelihoods of these populations," said USGS Early Warning and Environmental Monitoring Program scientist Chris Funk. CHG researcher and co-author Shraddhanand Shukla pointed out that despite the potential for long-term positive changes, setbacks such as drought or conflict can make situations worse. "The issue is that even as an entire country gets better, there are certain very vulnerable populations that tend to get marginalized or left behind," he said. "We're trying to model fairly complex social phenomena based on assumptions about what might happen in the future. So, no matter what, there's still a lot we don't know." The researchers' ultimate goal is to provide useful information to guide interventions and resilience-building activities of aid agencies. "Even though some of our findings are disturbing, I think there's a lot about this work that is hopeful," Funk said. More information: Frank Davenport et al. Child health outcomes in sub-Saharan Africa: A comparison of changes in climate and socio-economic factors, Global Environmental Change (2017). DOI: 10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2017.04.009 A figure illustrating the how the mid-lithospheric discontinuity (labeled MLD) could cause the continents root to detach from the continental plate (Stage 1), which is then overtaken by the oceanic plate (Stage 2), according to a new study. Credit: Wang et al. In some areas of the seafloor, a tectonic mystery lies buried deep underground. The ocean floor contains some of the newest rock on Earth, but underneath these young oceanic plates are large swatches of much older continents that have been dislocated from their continental plates and overtaken by the younger, denser oceanic plate. Researchers have been puzzled by this phenomenon for some time: how does a continental plate leave some of itself behind? In a new study published in Geophysical Research Letters, a journal of the American Geophysical Union, researchers have linked the displaced pieces of continental plates to a weak link in the plate's layers called a mid-lithospheric discontinuity. The crust and the upper mantle make up the lithosphere, the rigid, outer part of the Earth. A mid-lithospheric discontinuity can occur in this layer, running horizontally through the middle of the lithosphere. It is at this place where the lower layer of a continent's lithosphere can break away from itself and dislocate, leaving behind large pieces of the lower lithosphere, called a root, which can become embedded in the oceanic plate on the trailing side of the continental plate. The new study finds thicker and weaker mid-lithospheric discontinuity layers are more likely to leave behind roots farther from their continental origins, while thinner layers have more strength to hold onto their roots as the continental plates move, according to the new study. "This is the first mechanism to explain the large-scale displacement of continental lithosphere being left behind under oceanic lithosphere," said Timothy Kusky, director for the Center for Global Tectonics at the China University of Geosciences in Wuhan, China, and co-author of the new study. Kusky likens the process to a peanut butter and jelly sandwich on a table: the sandwich is the Earth's lithosphere, and the table is the asthenosphere, the weak layer in the upper mantle that accommodates most plate displacements. The peanut butter and jelly is the mid-lithospheric discontinuity that is binding the two halves of the lithosphere together. If someone pushed the sandwich across the table, the force from the top would move the top layer of bread, but the friction from the table pulls on the bottom slice of bread. As the sandwich moves, the two pieces of bread may get offset, and the sandwich becomes uneven, Kusky said. The Ontong Java Plateau is the single largest oceanic plateau on Earth, located northeast of Australia in the Pacific Ocean. A new study modeling how continental plates may leave parts of their continent behind may explain the origin of oceanic plateaus like Ontong Java. Credit: NOAA Just like the sandwich, as the continental plate slowly moves, the velocity of the upper lithosphere may be faster than the lower lithosphere. If the "peanut butter and jelly" is weak, the top part of the lithosphere begins to surpass its lower half, leaving the lower lithosphere behind to be overtaken by the denser oceanic plate. The question Kusky and his colleagues attempt to answer in the new study is: Can we model the peanut butter and jelly sandwich? The study's authors created a numerical model of the largest documented continental lithosphere offset, a continental root under the southern Atlantic Ocean that was left 1,300 kilometers (more than 800 miles) behind by the African continent from which it originated. The study's authors modeled how the minerals in the lithosphere flow and how fast the continental plate would have been moving at the time, approximately 130 million years ago. The researchers ran 225 models of the continental plate, using different thicknesses for the mid-lithospheric discontinuity between 10 and 50 kilometers wide (5 to 31 miles wide) to investigate the layer's strength holding the two lateral halves together. The models also incorporated a range of plate velocities and viscosity, or stickiness due to friction, of the mid-lithospheric discontinuity. The model revealed that the thicker the mid-lithospheric discontinuity zone, the larger the plate offset would be. A thinner "jelly" with a high viscosity was less likely to experience shearing from the upper lithosphere, or at least only trail slightly behind. But a thick mid-lithospheric discontinuity layer, more than 25 kilometers thick (about 15 miles thick), can lead to large offsets. Over 100 million years, some roots can wind up 10,000 kilometers (6,200 miles) away from the continent they originated from, according to the models. In the case of the 1,300-kilometer (800-mile) African offset, the scientists estimate the mid-lithospheric discontinuity was about 40 kilometers thick and traveled apart at a rate of 1 to 3.25 centimeters a year (about 0.39 to 1.28 inches). Understanding these plate offsets can help researchers understand how the continental pieces of lithosphere can affect oceanic plates and their composition, said Zhensheng Wang, a geoscientist at the China University of Geosciences in Wuhan, China, and co-author of the new study. One example for further study under this new model would be the Ontong Java Plateau in the Pacific Ocean, the single largest oceanic plateau on Earth. "Really it represents a new step in plate tectonics," Kusky said of the new study. "If we can explain the mid-lithospheric discontinuity then we can explain a lot of the enigmatic things in oceanography and plate tectonics in general." More information: Zhensheng Wang et al. Ancient Continental Lithosphere Dislocated Beneath Ocean Basins Along the Mid-Lithosphere Discontinuity: A Hypothesis, Geophysical Research Letters (2017). DOI: 10.1002/2017GL074686 Journal information: Geophysical Research Letters This story is republished courtesy of AGU Blogs (http://blogs.agu.org), a community of Earth and space science blogs, hosted by the American Geophysical Union. Read the original story here. New research shows that equatorial waves -- pulses of warm ocean water that play a role in regulating Earth's climate -- are driven by the same dynamics as the exotic materials known as topological insulators. Equatorial Kelvin waves, which are responsible for the El Nino-Southern Oscillation, travel from West to East. Another type of equatorial wave--Rossby waves--move in the opposite direction. Credit: Deplace/Marston/Venaille Topological insulators, materials that insulate on the inside but conduct electricity along their outer edges, have created quite a buzz in condensed matter physics. Now a new study in the journal Science shows that the same topological behavior that governs these exotic materials also drives equatorial wavespulses of warm ocean water that play a major role in regulating the Earth's climate, including the El Nino-Southern Oscillation. "These waves were discovered by geophysicists in the 1960s, but they lacked a deep understanding of why they existed," said Brad Marston, a physics professor at Brown University and coauthor of the new study. "What we've shown is that they have the same origin as the waves that are important in solid state physicsthe waves of electrons that travel around the edges of topological insulators." The research was inspired by a special type of topological insulator that exhibits what's known as the quantum Hall effect, which was discovered in 1980. The topology plays an essential role in the quantum Hall effect was recognized by the 2016 Nobel Prize in physics that was awarded to trio of physicists, including Brown University's Michael Kosterlitz. In the quantum Hall effect, a magnetic field causes electrons inside a semiconducting material to travel in circles called cyclotron orbits. That circular movement prevents a flow of electronsa currentfrom moving across the material, except at the material's outer edges. There, electrons can only complete a half-circle before running out of real estate and banging against the edge. Because all of the electrons on a given edge execute their movement in the same direction, all those half-circles can link up and form an edge current. Thus, topological insulators conduct on the outside and insulate on the inside. Marston and his collaborators, Pierre Delplace and Antoine Venaille from the University of Lyon in France, showed that analogous dynamics are at play with Earth's equatorial waves. In the case of the Earth, the role of the magnetic field is played by the Coriolis effectan apparent force caused by the planet's rotation. It's what causes hurricanes to spin in opposite directions in the Northern and Southern hemispheres. The role of the edge is played by the equator, where the Coriolis force breaks down. "In each of the two hemispheres, you have the Coriolis force pushing in opposite directions," Marston said. "That traps the waves at the equator in a way that's very similar to how the current in a topological insulator is trapped at its edges. While the Earth doesn't have an 'edge' per se, the equator is essentially the edges of the two hemispheres stuck together." The mathematics behind the two phenomena, Marston and his colleagues showed, is essentially identical. "If you look in recent solid state physics papers at diagrams that describe the dispersion of electrons in a topological insulator, the plots looks exactly like the diagram in a geophysics textbook that depicts the dispersion of equatorial waves," Marston said. "When topological insulators were discovered a decade ago it was new physics, but to our surprise the Earth has been doing it all along." The research helps to explain the existence of several types of equatorial waves. One of them, known as the equatorial Kelvin wave, delivers periodic pulses of warm water to the coast of South America, which is the El Nino oscillation. The findings also explain how these waves persist despite being battered by storms and shifting wind, and how they pass straight by islands that might be expected to cause the waves to scatter. "In topological insulators, the current is able to move right through impurities in the material as if they weren't there," Marston said. "That's because of their topological nature, and it helps us understand why equatorial waves and the El Nino oscillation persist despite being jostled around by weather and other obstacles." In addition to helping explain the persistence of El Nino cycles, Marston says these same dynamics are likely happening elsewhere in the climate systemin the upper atmosphere, for example. Recognizing the topological nature of these phenomena could help deepen scientists' understanding of how they work, Marston says. "As a practical matter, this will give us new ways to identify these kinds of climate dynamics by looking at the topology," he said. "We might be able to find and understand topological structures that may have been missed before." Marchantia polymorpha thallus in the vegetative form. Cup-shaped structures on the surface are gemma cups (cupules), reproductive organs producing asexual propagules (gemmae). The image complements a Cell paper published October 5, 2017 in which an international team that included researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute analyzed the genome sequence of the common liverwort (Marchantia polymorpha) to identify genes and gene families that were deemed crucial to plant evolution and have been conserved over millions of years and across plant lineages. Credit: Shohei Yamaoka, Kyoto University Though it's found around the world, it's easy to overlook the common liverwort - the plant can fit in the palm of one's hand and appears to be comprised of flat, overlapping leaves. Despite their unprepossessing appearance, these plants without roots or vascular tissues for nutrient transport are living links to the transition from the algae that found its way out of the ocean to the established multitude of land plants. As reported in the October 5, 2017 issue of Cell, an international team including researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute (DOE JGI), a DOE Office of Science User Facility, analyzed the genome sequence of the common liverwort (Marchantia polymorpha) to identify genes and gene families that were deemed crucial to plant evolution and have been conserved over millions of years and across plant lineages. The work was led by researchers at Monash University in Australia, and at Kyoto University and Kindai University in Japan. "Early plants like the liverwort are what set the world up for land plants. Without them, we wouldn't have plants more than two feet from the ocean and freshwater," said DOE JGI Plant Program head Jeremy Schmutz. "In going back to liverworts, we find genes shared with grasses that are candidate genes for crops for biofuel generation. Land plants began with same parts present in Marchantia today so the changes are all due to factors such as evolution, polyploidy, gene exchange and rounds of selection. We want to know what genes do and we do this by translating function across genomes using conserved sequences. Smaller genomes with less complexity - such as those in a basal or early plant model like liverwort - give us the ability to identify ancestral genes for a gene or gene family. We identify gene function in a plant and determine how this gene works, and then we identify other genes by understanding the evolutionary history of gene or gene family across the history of plants." The genome sequencing and annotation was done through the DOE JGI's Community Science Program, and allows for genomic comparisons with other early plant lineages sequenced and analyzed by the DOE JGI: the spikemoss Selaginella moellendorffi and the moss Physcomitrella patens. One of the most important biochemical pathways concerns production of the hormone auxin, which is critical for regulating plant growth and development. The team identified a minimal but complete pathway for auxin biosynthesis in the liverwort. Another finding suggests that the genes encoding enzymes producing "sunscreen" that allowed early plants to tolerate ultraviolet light may have been transferred from ancient soil microbes. One of the team's most important findings concern plant cell wall development. The variety of genes encoding enzymes for plant cell wall development found in Marchantia emphasizes the importance of plant cell walls for the transition to land plants. The team identified early lignin biosynthesis genes similar to those in Physcomitrella. While they identified genes involved in plasmodesmata formation (plasmodesmata are membrane channels involved in nutrient and signal molecule transfers) a pathway that is involved in cell division, they also found that liverworts retain the vestiges of cell division pathways predating land plant-specific pathway. Another important finding involves water retention and distribution. Early plants had to develop strategies for dealing with drought and desiccation, and many of these same strategies are still employed by modern plants. Abscisic acid is a plant stress hormone that regulates when a plant goes dormant when water is in short supply. The team found homologous genes for abscisic acid biosynthesis, and were also able to identify when specific receptors became critical to land plant families. Schmutz pointed out that through the Community Science Program, the DOE JGI's exploration of plant evolutionary history is expanding, leading to the development of a comparative genomics framework, including those from early plant lineages like the liverwort, that benefits the plant research community at large. "The more we accumulate this information in early plant lineages, the easier it is to transfer plant function across plant phylogeny and compare plant families to see the radiation of these genes. We'll be focusing quite a bit more on the basal lineages of plants to get at the evolutionary history and position of genes. If we can understand the origin of these genes then we can understand historical function. Having multiple species allows us to do more and show more than what we can with just one genome." By learning the original functions of genes, elucidated from the genomes of earlier, simpler, plants and cells, scientists can more easily solve for the functions of related genes seen in more complex plants that may help address DOE missions in bioenergy and environmental processes. Residents collect water in one of the many wells dug in the bed of a dried-up river in the Dierma region of Burkina Faso. Credit: Marc Bournof/IRD Today, dry areas represent more than 41% of land on the globe and they are home to more than two billion people. They are the stage for the ongoing process of land degradation that is aggravated by climate fluctuations particularly drought and pressure exerted by human activities (including demographic growth and inappropriate management of natural resources). All of these factors strongly undermine the capacity of populations to adapt to an increasingly difficult environment. In Africa in the 1970s, droughts had terrifying consequences in an already fragile context. The images of their effects still mark collective memory today. They were a determining factor in the holding of the United Nations Conference on Desertification in Nairobi in 1977. Beyond recognition by the international community (since the Rio Earth Summit in 1992, with the adoption of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification), we also face the question of our understanding and evaluation of the desertification process, and of sustainable solutions to fight it. The recent inclusion of the concept of "neutrality" in terms of land degradation in the United Nations'Sustainable Development Goals makes the battle against desertification a major issue for development, (re)connecting societies and environments, and human well-being. Millions of hectares are disappearing The situation is particularly sensitive in sub-Saharan countries, where over 80% of the economy is based on subsistence farming. According to Monique Barbut, UNCCD Executive Secretary, emphasised that almost 12 million hectares of arable land are being lost each year globally, to desertification and drought, when 20 million tonnes of cereals could have been cultivated on this area. Despite the diversity and intensity of efforts to combat desertification, the challenge of land degradation in a time of climate change in Africa's arid areas remains unresolved. The environmental and societal stakes are massive, including food security, climate change, health, law and social equity. However, the progressive growth of knowledge about the causes, mechanisms and consequences of desertification now allows us to devise new solutions, particularly when it comes to combating land and soil degradation. Good practices to adopt The success of such projects and programmes combating land and soil degradation depends on an understanding and evaluation of the situation in the territory concerned. This assessment prior to action should allow us to determine the type of degradation anywhere, its severity, its temporal dynamics, its spatial distribution according to the degradation factors, and the types and intensity of consequences both locally and at regional and international levels. This approach is indispensable for effective action. Sustainable land and water management practices over recent decades have improved our ability to combat desertification and preserving natural resources. However, efforts still need to be made, particularly to create a favourable socio-economic environment to support, promote and deploy such practices over larger regions. To assess the state of knowledge on these issues, the Sahara and Sahel Observatory (OSS) and the French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development (IRD) recently produced a report, "Desertification and Earth System: From Knowledge into Action", that offers an unprecedented situational analysis. It can be consulted online or downloaded free of charge. Achieving neutrality The fight against desertification and land degradation requires the consideration of several temporal and spatial scales (from the agricultural plot and the basin, to farming, to village, communal, local, national or regional land), and levels of decision-making (from the family unit and local or regional government, to the State and international convention). It also must take into account various level of action and management, whether it be in understanding the mechanisms of land degradation, in the action itself or in its scientific, technical, administrative or political management. Given recent technological innovations and human ingenuity, desertification is not an inevitability. However, nothing significant will happen if scientific, political and citizen mobilisation is not sustainably coordinated. By starting work today on sustainably managing land and restoring degraded land, it is nevertheless possible to reach land-degradation neutrality by 2030. On this subject, it is worth consulting the report presented on 14 September during the UNCCD Conference of Parties in Ordos (China), devoted to sustainable land management for humans and the climate. This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article. A police investigator staking out a central Lincoln bank thwarted a robber's getaway Tuesday afternoon, Lincoln Police Chief Jeff Bliemeister said. The investigator working on a citywide surveillance project saw tellers rushing around the counter inside the Lincoln Federal Savings Bank branch just south of 48th Street and Normal Boulevard at 12:30 p.m., the chief said. He went to investigate, learned the bank was being robbed and tried to speak with a man who was leaving the bank with a white plastic bag, Bliemeister said. But that man ignored several commands by the investigator to stop, and ran off, hurdling a fence. The investigator chased him and caught him at 46th Street and Antelope Creek Road a short time later. The man, identified as Israel Holmes, 21, of Lincoln had an undisclosed amount of cash inside the bag and was wearing a disguise, Bliemeister said. Officers took Holmes to jail on suspicion of robbery, but charges had not been filed in his case as of Wednesday afternoon. Investigators later learned Holmes shot pepper spray at bank employees but did not have a firearm, Bliemeister said. None of the employees needed medical attention, he said. Holmes dropped a cellphone that was running a police scanner app, which Bliemeister called concerning. The bank robbery was Lincoln's 10th of the year. The city's record number of bank robberies in a single year is 13 in 2001, based on records dating to 1941. Police believe they have solved five of those robberies, including Tuesday's, and are investigating whether Holmes is tied to any other robberies in Lincoln. The resolution to this case stemmed from research by the police department's crime analysis unit. The unit designed a citywide bank surveillance project meant to prevent heists and catch robbers, Bliemeister said. "We were taking a very proactive approach and attempting to do what we could" to thwart and solve robberies, the chief said. A handout photo released by Paleoanthropology Group MNCN-CSIC shows the upper jaw of Neanderthal El Sidron 1, found in what is today Spain A complete genetic analysis of a Neanderthal woman whose remains were found in a cave in Croatia shows no apparent incest in her ancestry, contrary to a previous specimen, researchers said Thursday. As only the second Neanderthal to undergo full, high-quality genome sequencing, the findings in the journal Science offer a broader picture of our extinct ancestors, and also uncovered 16 new Neanderthal gene variants that were passed on to modern humans. The results confirm some things that were already known, including that Neanderthals lived in small, isolated populations and inter-bred with Homo sapiens who had migrated north from Africa. The latest genome comes from a Neanderthal woman who lived about 52,000 years ago in what is today Eastern Europe. Until now, the only high-quality Neanderthal genome came from an individual in the Altai mountains of Siberia, dating back about 122,000 years. The Altai Neanderthal's genes showed that her parents had been related, perhaps on the level of half-siblings or an aunt-nephew or uncle-niece pairing. "The Altai Neanderthal lived in a small group of close relativesand was the kid of close relativesand many people thought that this was the typical Neanderthal behavior," said Marcia Ponce de Leon, collection curator and senior lecturer at the Anthropological Institute and Museum, University of Zurich. However, the present study shows that Neanderthals from the area of Vindija, Croatia, "lived in much more open groups, probably similar to what we know from modern hunter-gatherers," she told AFP in an email, praising the work for its "important new insights." Neanderthals disappeared from the Earth about 35,000 years ago. Just what forced them into extinction is a mystery, but they were known to be living in relatively small groups of around 3,000 people. Long caricatured as dim-witted cave dwellers, researchers now know that Neanderthals practised rituals, decorated jewelry, cared for elders, used primitive medicinesand may have resorted to cannibalism. Lead author Kay Pruefer said he was most surprised to discover that the two high-quality specimens appeared to have been closely related themselves, despite vast distances of geography and time. "This shows that Neanderthals must have had a small population size," he told AFP. DNA insights A second paper in Science analyzed the genomes of four anatomically modern humans who lived around 34,000 years ago and were found at the Sunghir burial site, in Russia. The four males were not related to each other, and their genes showed no signs of inbreeding, suggesting that these hunter-gatherers mated outside their clans. "They have a population structure that appears to be really outbred compared to Neanderthals, and that may have something to do with why modern humans succeededwe were able to maintain broader social networks," explained John Hawks, professor of anthropology at the University of Wisconsin Madison. Hawks, who was not involved in the research, said the work "is not transforming the way we look at Neanderthals, but it is giving us a much better ability to look at what they shared with us." The latest genome is closer to the human mixture than the older one and includes "new gene variants in the Neandertal genome that are influential in modern day humans," said the report. These include variants related to plasma levels of bad (LDL) cholesterol and vitamin D, eating disorders, fat accumulation, rheumatoid arthritis, schizophrenia and responses to antipsychotic drugs, said the report. Researchers also now believe that Neanderthal DNA is slightly more prevalent in modern peoplewith the exception of Africans whose ancestors did not breed with Neanderthalsthan previously thought. Most non-African people today carry between 1.8-2.6 percent Neanderthal DNA, higher than earlier estimates of 1.5-2.1 percent, researchers said. "East Asians carry somewhat more Neanderthal DNA (2.3-2.6 percent) than people in Western Eurasia (1.8-2.4 percent)," said the report. As to the reported Neanderthal links to disease, Ponce de Leon urged skepticism. "In my view, this is a statistical artifact resulting from the fact that genome sequencing has a strong clinical bias. As an effect, disease-related genes get into the focus of interest," she said in an email. "However, the 'obesity/arthritis/schizophrenia-causing Neanderthal' is likely more fiction than fact." More information: K. Prufer el al., "A high-coverage Neandertal genome from Vindija Cave in Croatia," Science (2017). science.sciencemag.org/lookup/ 1126/science.aao1887 Journal information: Science 2017 AFP The best way to reward creativity is not with social-recognition awards such as plaques or other plaudits. According to published research co-written by Ravi Mehta, a professor of business administration at Illinois, it's all about the money. Credit: College of Business How should employers reward creative types for turning in fresh, inventive work: with a plaque or a party recognizing their achievement, or with cold, hard cash? According to new research co-written by a University of Illinois expert in product development and marketing, it's all about the money, honey. In contexts where a premium is placed on being original, social recognition as a reward for an especially imaginative piece of work doesn't necessarily enhance creativity, says published research co-written by Ravi Mehta, a professor of business administration at Illinois. "The general consensus in the research literature on creativity is that money hurts creativity," Mehta said. "But most of that prior research was conducted with children as the test subjects, and the participants were not specifically told that the reward was for being creative. So what is it about the contingency of rewards that impacts creativity, and would adults respond to all types of creativity-contingent rewards the same way?" Across five experiments, Mehta and his co-authors examined the role of creativity-contingent monetary rewards versus creativity-contingent social-recognition rewards on creative performance, providing new insights into the underlying motivational processes through which these rewards affect creativity. The experiments demonstrated that, within the context of creativity contingency, monetary rewards induce "a performance focus," while social-recognition rewards induce "a normative focus," according to the paper. The researchers found that the former enhances one's motivation to be original, thereby leading to more inventiveness in a creative task, while the latter hurts it. "We found that if you tell people to be creative and then give them monetary rewards, they will be more creative," Mehta said. "But wouldn't the same be true of all rewards? If you tell people to be creative and then give them a social-recognition reward instead of money, then they'll be just as creative as those you reward with money, right? We found no empirical evidence for that." Mehta said social recognition is "all about people knowing about you and your work, and thereby influencing one to act more in accordance with social norms," whereas creativity means "coming up with something different, something novel, something that is not the norm." "As adults, we don't want to come up with something that's too radical, too out-there, especially when we know that our peers will be judging us," he said. "Most of our daily activities as working adults are about adhering to social norms. We don't want to stand out too much." But when a monetary reward is dangled, people amp up their performance and consciously try to "blow the doors off the competition" in terms of creativity, Mehta said. "When you ask someone to be creative, you're asking them to be transgressive, to think beyond social norms and thought processes that are not automatic," he said. "That's why a social-recognition reward kills creativity, because it makes creators more risk-averse. It appeals to conformity, to not standing out, which drives you to the middle, not the edge. It compels you to fall in line with social norms, and there's less motivation to be creative. "People who value creativity value the bizarre, the stuff that's out there. Therefore, they're less likely to care about the approval of others, or a sense of belonging with their peers." The research has practical applications for how people generate creative ideas, and how to motivate creative-class employees. "There's a trend among companies for crowdsourcing ideas or user-generated content," Mehta said. "Virtually all social media is user- or consumer-driven. This ought to point them in the right direction: Money talks, but social recognition doesn't." The research also is applicable to people who work at ad agencies or in creative fields. "A little caveat, though: People in those fields are expected to be creative, so social recognition also would work for them," Mehta said. "But more money certainly wouldn't hurt them, either. In that case, both rewards would lead to more creativity." The paper will be published in the Journal of Consumer Research. More information: Ravi Mehta et al. Social-Recognition versus Financial Incentives? Exploring the Effects of Creativity-Contingent External Rewards on Creative Performance, Journal of Consumer Research (2017). DOI: 10.1093/jcr/ucx062 Journal information: Journal of Consumer Research Collection of water samples from Lake Cadagno (canton of Ticino, 1920 m asl). Credit: Eawag, Helmut Burgmann Can microorganisms cause lake water to be mixed? The answer given by previous studies is no, since the movement of small, slow-swimming bacteria is not sufficient to disturb the stratification of lake water induced by differences in, for example, temperature or salinity. A new study now shows that microorganisms can indeed cause the mixing of relatively thick water layers, not directly by propulsion but indirectly: if large numbers of small organisms which are denser than water accumulate locally, the density of the water is increased and the heavier water sinks, carrying the organisms with it. This leads to the mixing of water masses, with chemical and physical exchanges. Active upward swimming is required to maintain this mixing process, which the researchers call "bioconvection." The international research group led by Eawag demonstrated the occurrence of bioconvection, for the first time, not only in laboratory experiments, but in Lake Cadagno (canton of Ticino). Here, bacteria of the species Chromatium okenii are capable of mixing water layers with a thickness of up to 2 metres. The bacteria are found particularly in anoxic waters, forming a thick layer at a depth of around 12 metres in Lake Cadagno. In this layer, using automated methods developed for microbiological water monitoring, the scientists observed over ten thousand of the flagellate organisms per millilitre (i.e. more than ten billion per cubic meter). The bacteria swim upwards towards the light, but only as far as the interface between oxic and anoxic waters. The bacterial cells accumulating below this boundary increase the density of the water by a few per mille. This is sufficient to cause the heavier water to sink, initiating the mixing process (see graphics). As a result, during the summer months, parameters such as temperature or salinity at a depth of around 1113 metres are found to be homogeneous, rather than steadily decreasing or increasing with depth as expected. For first author Tobias Sommer, an environmental scientist, the results of the study are intriguing: "As well as the species we investigated, many other organisms are capable of driving bioconvection. So this phenomenon previously underrated is presumably common and relevant to lake and ocean ecology, for example in the case of algal blooms." More information: T. Sommer et al. Bacteria-induced mixing in natural waters, Geophysical Research Letters (2017). DOI: 10.1002/2017GL074868 Journal information: Geophysical Research Letters Provided by Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology An artist's conception of a hypervelocity star that has escaped the Milky Way. Credit: NASA For centuries, astronomers have been looking beyond our solar system to learn more about the Milky Way galaxy. And yet, there are still many things about it that elude us, such as knowing its precise mass. Determining this is important to understanding the history of galaxy formation and the evolution of our universe. As such, astronomers have attempted various techniques for measuring the true mass of the Milky Way. So far, none of these methods have been particularly successful. However, a new study by a team of researchers from the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics proposed a new and interesting way to determine how much mass is in the Milky Way. By using hypervelocity stars (HVSs) that have been ejected from the center of the galaxy as a reference point, they claim that we can constrain the mass of our galaxy. Their study, titled "Constraining Milky Way Mass with Hypervelocity Stars", was recently published in the journal Astronomy and Astrophysics. The study was produced by Dr. Giacomo Fragione, an astrophysicist at the University of Rome, and Professor Abraham Loeb the Frank B. Baird, Jr. Professor of Science, the Chair of the Astronomy Department, and the Director of the Institute for Theory and Computation at Harvard University. To be clear, determining the mass of the Milky Way galaxy is no simple task. On the one hand, observations are difficult because the solar system lies deep within the disk of the galaxy itself. But at the same time, there's also the mass of our galaxy's dark matter halo, which is difficult to measure since it is not "luminous", and therefore invisible to conventional methods of detection. Stars speeding through the galaxy. Credit: ESA Current estimates of the galaxy's total mass are based on the motions of tidal streamers of gas and globular clusters, which are both influenced by the gravitational mass of the galaxy. But so far, these measurements have produced mass estimates that range from one to several trillion solar-masses. As Professor Loeb explained to Universe Today via email, precisely measuring the mass of the Milky Way is of great importance to astronomers: "The Milky Way provides a laboratory for testing the standard cosmological model. This model predicts that the number of satellite galaxies of the Milky Way depends sensitively on its mass. When comparing the predictions to the census of known satellite galaxies, it is essential to know the Milky Way mass. Moreover, the total mass calibrates the amount of invisible (dark) matter and sets the depth of the gravitational potential well and implies how fast should stars move for them to escape to intergalactic space." For the sake of their study, Prof. Loeb and Dr. Fragione therefore chose to take a novel approach, which involved modeling the motions of HVSs to determine the mass of our galaxy. More than 20 HVSs have been discovered within our galaxy so far, which travel at speeds of up to 700 km/s (435 mi/s) and are located at distances of about 100 to 50,000 light-years from the galactic center. These stars are thought to have been ejected from the center of our galaxy thanks to the interactions of binary stars with the supermassive black hole (SMBH) at the center of our galaxy aka. Sagittarius A*. While their exact cause is still the subject of debate, the orbits of HVSs can be calculated since they are completely determined by the gravitational field of the galaxy. Artists conception of a hyperveloctiy star heading out from a spiral galaxy (similar to the Milky Way) and moving into dark matter nearby. Credit: Ben Bromley, University of Utah As they explain in their study, the researchers used the asymmetry in the radial velocity distribution of stars in the galactic halo to determine the galaxy's gravitational potential. The velocity of these halo stars is dependent on the potential escape speed of HVSs, provided that the time it takes for the HVSs to complete a single orbit is shorter than the lifetime of the halo stars. From this, they were able to discriminate between different models for the Milky Way and the gravitational force it exerts. By adopting the nominal travel time of these observed HVSs which they calculated to about 330 million years, about the same as the average lifetime of halo stars they were able to derive gravitational estimates for the Milky Way which allowed for estimates on its overall mass. "By calibrating the minimum speed of unbound stars, we find that the Milky Way mass is in the range of 1.2-1.9 trillions solar masses," said Loeb. While still subject to a range, this latest estimate is a significant improvement over previous estimates. What's more, these estimates are consistent our current cosmological models that attempt to account for all visible matter in the universe, as well as dark matter and dark energy the Lambda-CDM model. "The inferred Milky Way mass is in the range expected within the standard cosmological model," said Leob, "where the amount of dark matter is about five times larger than that of ordinary (luminous) matter." Distribution of dark matter when the universe was about 3 billion years old, obtained from a numerical simulation of galaxy formation. Credit: VIRGO Consortium/Alexandre Amblard/ESA Based on this breakdown, it can be said that normal matter in our galaxy i.e. stars, planets, dust and gas accounts for between 240 and 380 billion solar masses. So not only does this latest study provide more precise mass constraints for our galaxy, it could also help us to determine exactly how many star systems are out there current estimates say that the Milky Way has between 200 to 400 billion stars and 100 billion planets. Beyond that, this study is also significant to the study of cosmic formation and evolution. By placing more precise estimates on our galaxy's mass, ones which are consistent with the current breakdown of normal matter and dark matter, cosmologists will be able to construct more accurate accounts of how our universe came to be. One step closer to understanding the universe on the grandest of scales! More information: G. Fragione et al. Constraining the Milky Way mass with hypervelocity stars, New Astronomy (2017). DOI: 10.1016/j.newast.2017.03.002 Mount Agung in Bali is currently on the verge of eruption, and more than 100,000 people have been evacuated. However, one of us (Dian) is preparing to go into the area when it erupts, to collect the ash. This eruption is likely to be catastrophic, spewing lava and ashes at temperatures up to 1,250, posing serious risk to humans and their livelihoods. Ash ejected from volcano not only affects aviation and tourism, but can also affect life and cause much nuisance to farmers, burying agricultural land and damaging crops. However, in the long term, the ash will create world's most productive soils. Read more: Bali's Mount Agung threatens to erupt for the first time in more than 50 years While volcanic soils only cover 1% of the world's land surface, they can support 10% of the world's population, including some areas with the highest population densities. The ring of fire Indonesia is situated on the Pacific Ring of Fire, a chain of volcanoes that stretches from Sumatra through Java and Bali to Timor, and constitutes the most dangerous of the world's tectonic interfaces. Throughout history, Indonesia's volcanic eruptions have affected the world's climate, notably the volcano of Lake Toba with its super-eruption around 74,000 years ago, which caused a six-year volcanic winter. Mount Tambora is known for its violent eruption in 1815 causing a year without summer in Europe, and the Krakatau explosion in 1883 also cooled the world. The eruption of Tambora, on the island of Sumbawa in 1815 ejected an estimated 160 cubic kilometres of ashes into the atmosphere. This catastrophic event affected population in nearby islands, including Bali. Agriculture was destroyed by ash deposits and shortage of sunlight. It was estimated that the misery lasted 1015 years before the ashes turned into fertile soils. The 1963-64 eruption of Mt Agung released 0.95 cubic km of solid volcanic material and lava. Some 1,580 people were reportedly killed by the rapid lava flows and accompanying poisonous gases. But if a comparable eruption occurred tomorrow, the death toll would be greatly lessened by the warning systems now in place. Implications for neighbouring countries Among the constant eruptions of Indonesia's many volcanoes (66 currently being monitored, and among those 5060 are considered "active"), huge ones will arrive. They will be enormously destructive to Indonesia, will impact the world's climate, and will challenge neighbouring countries such as Australia in manage without air traffic while assisting millions of displaced Indonesians to survive and recover. Even the moderate ones that are likely to occur every decade, causing dislocations to hundreds of thousands, need to be prepared for in a systematic way. Volcanoes and population density In the past decade, volcanoes in various parts of Indonesia have been quite active and erupted, notably Merapi (2010) in Central Java, Sinabung (2014) in North Sumatra, and Kelud (2014) in East Java. Despite the danger posed by these volcanoes, areas with high volcanic activity also have some of the world's most fertile farmlands due to release of plant nutrients such as potassium and phosphorus. Dutch scientist E.C.J. Mohr observed in 1938 that the region near Mount Merapi has higher population densities in areas with soils derived from volcanic ash. These soils are most probably the reason that Java can sustain high human population densities, estimated at more than 1,100 people per square km. Several years after Mt Galunggung in West Java erupted in April 1982, crop productivity in the local area of Tasikmalaya were boosted. Volcanic ash, the fertilizer reserve Dian Fiantis from University of Andalas in Padang is a volcanic ash hunter. She sees volcanic eruptions as an opportunity to study the beginning of how soils formed, a process that could take thousands and even millions of years. She has collected and studied ashes immediately after volcanoes have erupted in Sumatra. Tephra (the scientific name of volcanic ash) contains primary minerals which have abundance of nutrients. Over time, chemical and biological weathering, the ashes will release the nutrients and the ash will increase its surface area, enable them to hold more nutrients and water. In addition, it has the capacity to sequester a high amount of carbon (taking carbon out of the atmosphere and put it in the soil). On January 28, 2014, Mount Sinabung erupted with pyroclastic flow and "mud rain". Ashes covered most of the Sigarang Garang village, which is located northeast of the foot of volcano. The ashes contains a high amount of nutrients, notably calcium, magnesium, potassium, and phosphate. It was estimated that the region received 250 million tonnes of ash the equivalent of up to 10 million tonnes of fertiliser. When we visited the village in January 2017, we saw some of the ashes were already colonised by lichens, and some even with grasses growing on them. These areas have already accumulated substantial organic matter, up to 4% of organic carbon, meaning they can soak up a large amount of carbon from the atmosphere through plants. Mohr postulated that Indonesia can sustain such as high population density due to the presence of active volcanoes. But the regular eruptions throughout the country have also caused devastation to the people living around the volcanoes. This natural phenomenon renews the soil, but it takes time for the ashes to be weathered. We need to work on solutions that will hasten the rate of soil formation. It is a challenge to convince local farmers that the eruption is a blessing in disguise, and that this natural phenomenon ultimately keeps Indonesia's soils fertile. We also hope the Australian government will devote its capacity to modelling and preparing for the appropriate response to a major disaster, which is far more likely on a longer time frame. Cooperation between military and emergency services between Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and East Timor must begin before the disaster occurs, to establish trust, communication lines, and strategies. This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article. The new internet connection to North Korea supplements the existing link provided by China Unicom A state-owned Russian company has opened up a second internet connection for North Korea which could strengthen Pyongyang's cyber capabilities and undermine US efforts to isolate the regime, security experts said. The activation of the new line from TransTeleCom was first detected Sunday by analysts at Dyn Research, which monitors global internet connectivity. The new connection supplements the existing link provided by China Unicom, which has almost exclusively routed North Korean internet traffic since 2010. The additional line gives Pyongyang "significantly more resilience against attacks on their network infrastructure," said Bryce Boland, the chief technology officer in the Asia-Pacific for cybersecurity firm FireEye. The Washington Post reported earlier that the US Cyber Command had carried out attacks against hackers in North Korea aimed at cutting off their access to the Internet. The operation ended Saturday, the report said. North Korea has a 6,800-strong unit of trained cyberwarfare specialists, according to Seoul's defence ministry, and has been accused of launching high-profile cyberattacks including the 2014 hacking of Sony Pictures. But with only one internet provider to rely on, the regime has often found itself vulnerable to external cyberattacks against its own network infrastructure. North Korea suffered several internet connection failuressome which lasted for hoursshortly after the Sony attack, which many suspected to be a US retaliation. With the alternate route from Russia, "the possibility of disconnecting North Korea from the Internet just became much more difficult," Boland said. 2017 AFP The men who were tried for their role in the 1994 Rwandan genocide that killed up to 1 million people want you to know that they're actually very good people. That's the most common way accused men try to account for their actions in testimony before the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, a new study has found. Researchers examined more than 10,000 pages of testimony from 27 defendants at the ICTR to determine how these men tried to explain their involvement in the genocidal violence. They found that an "appeal to good character" was used by defendants more than all other explanations combined to say why they weren't guilty of the horrible crimes they were accused of committing. "Genocide has been called the crime of crimes, and these accused perpetrators very much understood that," said Hollie Nyseth Brehm, co-author of the study and assistant professor of sociology at The Ohio State University. "They were trying to protect their reputation. Rather than acknowledging their role, they emphasized what good people they were and talked about their good deeds and admirable character traits." Nyseth Brehm conducted the study with Emily Bryant of Boston University, Emily Brooke Schimke of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Christopher Uggen of the University of Minnesota. Their results appear online in the journal Social Problems and will be published in a future print edition. In 1994, mass violence claimed up to 1 million lives in the East African nation of Rwanda. Most of the victims were Tutsi, killed by the majority Hutus. The United Nations created the ICTR and, between 1995 and 2015, 75 individuals were tried for planning and executing the violence. For this study, the researchers focused on 27 defendants, all men, who testified on their own behalf for one to 17 days. They were political leaders, military leaders or wealthy businessmen. Nearly all were indicted for complicity in genocide and either genocide or conspiracy to commit genocide. Within this sample, 19 defendants received sentences and eight were acquitted. Convicted defendants received sentence ranging from 12 years to life in prison. The researchers analyzed the testimony using a classic criminology theory that suggests people use five specific techniques to neutralize their guilt and justify their participation in criminal activities. The techniques are denial of responsibility, denial of injury, denial of the victim, condemnation of the condemners and appeal to higher loyalties. "When it comes to genocide, we like to think that the perpetrators are irredeemably evil, but they are not - they are psychologically normal people who are acting this way under social circumstances," Nyseth Brehm said. "After it is over, perpetrators use these and other techniques to explain to their friends and family - and themselves - why they behaved the way they did." The findings showed that the defendants used only two of these techniques frequently: denial of responsibility and condemnation of the condemners (attacking those who criticize them). But they found two neutralization techniques that had not been identified before, one of them being appeal to good character. "They argued that they were such good people that they couldn't be guilty of genocidal crimes," Nyseth Brehm said. "They often talked about how they actually saved Tutsis from the violence and advocated for peace." One defendant, talking about massacres near where he lived, testified, "I was saddened by that news as well as frightened.... I did not have enough means to act in that situation. However, I did not fold my arms. I did what I had to do and what I could do." Another way they asserted their good character was to say they had nothing against the Tutsis. "I never said the Tutsi are not full-fledged human beings," one defendant said. "Rather than acknowledging the bad things they had done, the defendants often tried to talk about their traits and actions that proved what good people they are," Nyseth Brehm said. The other new technique the researchers identified was victimization. The defendants would talk about how they and their family and friends were targeted for being Hutus. One former mayor who was tried said, "I felt it was possible for me to die because I had been under permanent threat. I was being persecuted." While some Hutus were indeed killed in Rwanda, Nyseth Brehm said that nearly all the violence was targeted against Tutsis. The researchers found that more than one-third of defendants used the victimization and appeals to good character techniques between one and 12 times per day of testimony. Defendants relied especially heavily on the appeal to good character technique - in fact, results showed that this technique was employed more than all the classic techniques combined. Why were these two new neutralization techniques not identified earlier? Nyseth Brehm said most studies that have examined genocidal violence have tried to theorize what perpetrators were thinking before the crime. This study is one of the few to highlight their explanations after the crimes. "We were looking not at what enabled them to commit the crime, but how they made sense of it afterward. How could they justify what they did?" she said. In other research she has done in Rwanda, Nyseth Brehm said she has seen how people involved in genocide have dealt with their guilt in ways consistent with this study. "A lot of the people I have talked to in Rwanda have to convince themselves that they are good people as a way to move forward. They have difficulty coming to terms with what they did." The Liberian Greenbul was sighted in the 1980s and only one specimen exists. Credit: University of Aberdeen One of the world's most elusive species of songbird may be so hard to spot because it never existed in the first place, according to new research from the University of Aberdeen. The Liberian Greenbul (Phyllastrephus leucolepis) has eluded experts for decades after it was spotted in a forest in the West African country in the early 1980s. The only specimen that exists differs from the commonly found Icterine Greenbul by the distinctive white spots on its feathers. The Liberian Greenbul has long been one of the world's most poorly known bird species and was listed as Critically Endangered up until 2016. Now DNA analysis by experts at the University of Aberdeen has concluded that the Liberian Greenbul is most likely an unusual plumage variant of the Icterine Greenbul, possibly caused by nutritional deficiency while the feathers were growing. The study, published in the Journal of Ornithology compared DNA from the Liberian Greenbul specimen with DNA from the Icterine Greenbul and others and found there was no significant genetic difference between Icterine and Liberian Greenbuls. Comparatively, studies of other species of greenbul revealed large genetic differences between different species, suggesting the lack of difference between the Icterine and the Liberian indicates they are the same bird. "The Liberian Greenbul has gained almost 'mythical' status since it was sighted in the '80s, says Professor Martin Collinson, a geneticist from the University of Aberdeen's Institute of Medical Sciences. "We can't say definitively that the Liberian Greenbul is the same bird as the Iceterine Greenbul but we have presented enough evidence that makes any other explanation seem highly unlikely. The genetic work was performed independently by scientists here in Aberdeen and in Dresden to make sure there could be no error we both came to the same conclusion." The Liberian Greenbul was seen on nine occasions between 1981 and 1984 in the Cavalla Forest in Eastern Liberia. The only known specimen was collected in January 1984 and described as species 'new to science'. The devastating civil wars that subsequently engulfed the country prevented any serious attempt by ornithologists to find any more individuals for another 25 years. Targeted searches of the two known sites in 2010 and 2013 failed to find any sign of the bird, meaning the Liberian Greenbul had never been seen since the only known bird was shot. The Cavalla Forest is of global conservation significance and was recognised as an important bird and biodiversity area by BirdLife International, not only for the Liberian Greenbul but also for the presence of other globally threatened bird species, including the Vulnerable White-breasted Guineafowl and Brown-cheeked Hornbill and mammals such as Chimpanzee, Western Red Colobus Monkeys and Pygmy Hippopotamus. A new paper describes the importance of doing detailed economic analysis and having in-depth conversations with people using the technology that a research project is focused on. Credit: Jose-Luis Olivares/MIT. Left background image by Shreya Dave When Shreya Dave was an MIT doctoral student working on a new kind of filter for desalination plants, she paid a visit to a working reverse-osmosis desalination plant in Spain. She quickly learned an important lesson that she now says she would likely have missed if she'd stayed in the lab. While much of her research, and that of many other labs, had focused on how to make filter materials that could have a high flow rate at the pressures they would encounter when put into use, her visit to the plant revealed that this permeability was hardly ever a source of operational problems. Instead, problems such as the handling of the filters during removal for cleaning or replacement were what caused delays and added expense, because some of the filters would break if accidentally dropped or mishandled. The researchers had been trying to solve the wrong problem, she says. Dave, now a research affiliate at MIT and CEO of a startup company working on new filter systems, was able to readjust her research focus and develop a potentially more useful set of applications for her work. But she and her thesis advisor, MIT professor of materials science and engineering Jeffrey Grossman, thought the process they went through might hold important lessons for other researchers about the importance of doing detailed economic analysis and having in-depth conversations with people using the technology that the research is focused on. Dave, Grossman, and their co-researchers Brent Keller PhD '16 and Karen Golmer, innovator in residence at MIT's Deshpande Center for Technological Innovation, have published an account of their experience in this process, using their work on membranes as a case study, in the journal Joule. That paper, Grossman says, is "not about our membrane per se," though they do discuss the details of its development, but rather it is "our story of bridging the gap between the research and how to commercialize it." Grossman is the Morton and Claire Goulder and Family Professor in Environmental Systems. Dave and Grossman were working on a new approach to desalination by using sheets of specially prepared graphene oxide, which they showed could improve the flow rate through the filter by a hundredfold compared to conventional polymer membranes. That sounded like something that could have a major impact on the efficiency and cost of this expensive process, which is a key source of potable water in many arid parts of the world. Visiting a Barcelona desalination plant in 2015 provided MIT researchers with a macroscale context for the application of municipal water filtration. Credit: Shreya Dave But after conducting 200 interviews with people working in various parts of the desalination industrya process that was required as part of a National Science Foundation I-Corps grant for the projectthe team found that the reality was not so simple. Estimated costs for the new membrane material would represent at least a 50 percent increase over that of existing membranes, when the total costs of plant operation were taken into account. Meanwhile, using the new material would lead to only an estimated 15 percent improvement in outputa finding that was published by Grossman previously with Dave and another former student, David Cohen-Tanugi, in collaboration with Professor John Lienhard and his former student Ronan McGovern. In short, the possible savings from that application were insufficient to justify a major change in a highly risk-averse industry. Since the initial proposals for using graphene as a desalination filter appeared in 2012, there has been an explosion of research in the area, with a 2,500 percent increase in research papers on the subject through 2016. Some of these papers, including the MIT team's, explored the use of graphene oxide, which can be made (at laboratory scales) for about $15 per square meter, but many of them instead focused on pure graphene, produced by a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process, which at present would cost an estimated $80,000 per square meter. Since present filters cost about $10 per square meter, the CVD graphene research appears to be economically impractical for commercial use for desalination. Yet many of those papers cited "scalability" of their findings, without including detailed analysis of actual costs, Dave and Grossman found. A combination of what is known as techno-economic analysis, along with the extensive interviews, led the MIT team to a whole different area of applications. They found that a different set of industrial-scale processes, for chemical and petroleum separation processing, could actually benefit much more from the use of their graphene oxide filters than the desalination industry could. Chemical separation processes, for example distillation and evaporation, account for 12 percent of the total energy use in the U.S., they learned. But using a filter instead of the traditional processes, the team found, could eliminate 90 percent of that energy use. And because of their customer contacts and economic assessment, they think their graphene oxide filter could have a big impact. They have now formed a company called Via Separations, of which Dave is CEO and Grossman is the chief scientific officer, to commercialize the material for use in these chemical processes. Keller is the company's CTO, and Golmer its head of business development. The company recently won funding from MIT's The Engine, which was founded to help bring transformative technologies from the lab to the marketplace. One of the key lessons learned from the long process they went through, Dave says, was the importance of looking beyond the specific piece of the puzzle that they were focused on in their laboratory research. "In industry, they don't care about individual components. They're looking at whole systems," she says. A transmission electron micrograph shows the microscale morphology of graphene oxide, examined for the design of new filtration membranes. Credit: Shreya Dave By "getting out of the trenches, you really do find out where their challenges are," Grossman says. "You learn a lot from that experience that's not out there in the literature, and it was essential in allowing us to go from computer simulations to commercial spinout in five years." That was the case, for example, with the research on membrane materials for desalination. Then Dave's visit to the plant revealed that a big concern is their vulnerability to shattering if dropped during installation or replacement processes. "Nobody publishes papers about dropping [the filters] as an issue," Dave says. Carrying out 100 interviews (the number required by I-Corps) might sound like a time-consuming burden, but Dave says it was actually very manageable. Even the 200 interviews she ended up doing, she says, cumulatively added up to about seven weeks, out of the seven years she spent working on the study as part of her doctoral and postdoc research. "It was a very valuable part of my PhD work," she says. The point of detailing their experiences, Grossman says, is not about promoting their membrane technology. "We didn't develop the tools" for techno-economic analysis, "or the idea of talking to people in industry. What we did is we shared our own story, in hopes it has some value to other academic researchers." More information: Shreya H. Dave et al. Six Degrees of Separation: Connecting Research with Users and Cost Analysis, Joule (2017). DOI: 10.1016/j.joule.2017.08.021 This story is republished courtesy of MIT News (web.mit.edu/newsoffice/), a popular site that covers news about MIT research, innovation and teaching. Lab testing at Fraunhofer FKIE to see how robust the security assistance system is: it must be able to clearly identify the carrier of a dirty bomb without sounding a false alarm. Credit: Fraunhofer FKIE The threat of terrorism in Europe has been on the rise in recent years, with experts and politicians particularly worried that terrorists might make use of dirty bombs. Fraunhofer researchers have developed a new system that will be able to detect possible carriers of radioactive substances, even in large crowds of people. This solution is one of many defensive measures being realized in the REHSTRAIN project, which is focused on security for TGV and ICE high-speed trains in France and Germany. For a long time, experts have been warning of attacks using dirty bombs, where terrorists mix radioactive material into conventional explosives such that it is scattered by a subsequent explosion. This is a real danger; ISIS, for instance, claims to have access to radioactive material. Security agencies are aware of the threat: last June, a U.S. port terminal in Charleston was evacuated and closed for several hours following a warning that a dirty bomb was on board a ship moored there. Once the all-clear was given, security personnel stated that they were being deliberately overcautious and had reacted accordingly. Dirty bombs are not a form of nuclear weapon, since they do not rely on a nuclear chain reaction occurring after they have been set off. The radioisotopes needed to make dirty bombs, such as cesium-137, cobalt-60, americium-241 or iridium-192, are easier to get hold of than fissile material for nuclear weapons; they are used in many nuclear medicine departments at hospitals and in research centers, but also for ma-terials testing in industry. "Five grams of cesium scattered by a couple of kilograms of explosive is enough to cause billions of dollars' worth of damage, to say nothing of the psychosocial effects and the impact on health. People who want to build these bombs are risking death through exposure to radiation but that is unlikely to deter terrorists," says Prof. Wolfgang Koch, a mathematician and physicist who heads the sensor data and information fusion department at the Fraunhofer Institute for Communication, Information Processing and Ergonomics FKIE, based in Wachtberg, Germany. Fraunhofer FKIE has developed an assistance system capable of detecting radiological threats in a stream of people and warning security personnel; this is the institute's contribution to the Franco-German REHSTRAIN project, which is researching the vulnerability of ICE and TGV high-speed trains (see box: "The REHSTRAIN project at a glance"). Fraunhofer FKIE is developing the system as a subcontractor to Hochschule Bonn-Rhein-Sieg. Data protection writ large The assistance system comprises several components: a sensor network, commercially available Kinect cameras, and data fusion software. The sensor network is made up of gamma spectrometers, which detect and classify gamma radiation. "Most of the materials that lend themselves to being used in a radiological bomb emit gamma radiation, which cannot be shielded. That's why we use this kind of sensor," Koch explains. The next phase of the system will be able to tell which substance is emitting the radiation, and whether it is being carried on someone's person or is present inside their body perhaps because they are on medication such as radioactive iodine. Although individual sensors can provide data on the type of material and the intensity of its radiation, they cannot pinpoint its location. This calls for a network of gamma sensors connected to Kinect cameras as used in the gaming industry. The advantage of these cameras is that they provide not only images but also information about distances. Mounted on the ceiling, they record groups of people like a hilly landscape, which means they can precisely track even the busiest streams of people. "We know at any given point in time where each person is located. But of course, we don't know their identity and that is an essential consideration for data protection," Koch adds. Biometric tracking of potential terrorists should be undertaken only when there is sufficient reason to do so. System clearly identifies carriers of dangerous substances Once these devices are connected to each other, they can record people in both time and space, and their data fused. Sophisticated mathematical evaluation algorithms then filter out the desired information from the huge amounts of data. "We use artificial intelligence to do this. The algorithms help us calculate the movements of the only person with whom the gamma sensor readings can be correlated. That identifies the potential attacker," Koch explains. If they were applied at critical spots in entrance areas and approaches to railway stations and airports or other public buildings assistance systems of this sort could report information about radiological threats to, say, transportation company surveillance systems. The question of who has access is one for security personnel and the police. Fraunhofer FKIE has been granted permission to experiment with weak radioactive substances, and has already successfully tested its system in the laboratory under the supervision of a radiation control agent. REHSTRAIN has been officially presented as part of a project workshop at FKIE, which in addition to partners from Germany and France was also attended by potential end users. A scene like this illustration of dust orbiting the star could be an answer to the mystery of the strangely fluctuating star. Credit: NASA/Ames Research Center/Daniel Rutter Some 1,500 light years from Earth, a mystery of stellar proportions is playing out. A singular star out there captured scientists' and the public's imagination in September 2015 with its strangely fluctuating brightness. Ever since then, the scientific community has been observing this enigmatic character and sifting methodically through the data in search of an answer. Certain explanations are eliminated, while other likely suspects come to the fore. Meanwhile, the world has the chance to watch, as the scientific process and the mystery continue to unfold. The star under scrutiny is officially known as KIC 8462852, but was nicknamed "Tabby's Star," for its discoverer, Tabetha Boyajian, an assistant professor of astrophysics at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. It first became famous when data from NASA's Kepler space telescope revealed that sudden and significant dips in its brightness had occurred in 2011 and 2013. The star's light dimmed by as much as a whopping 22 percent for days at a time. No other star out of more than 200,000 that Kepler measured during its original, four-year mission behaves in exactly this way. "This [dimming] behavior was not something we were looking for or had trained our algorithms to find," Boyajian said. "In fact, we were first alerted to the star's unique activity by citizen scientists participating in the Planet Hunters program." A Stellar Detective Story The internet's favorite theory to explain the strange phenomenon was that this could be a Dyson spherea hypothetical structure built by an advanced alien civilization to collect energy from its star. However, new data from NASA's Spitzer space telescope and the Swift mission, along with a Belgian observatory used by amateur astronomers, provide strong evidence against such a "megastructure." A ringed planet and asteroids orbiting the star, depicted here, could explain the star's strange behavior. Credit: NASA/Ames Research Center/Daniel Rutter These observers were looking at another type of enigmatic behavior from Boyajian's star: a less extreme, long-term dimming that is also difficult to explain. What they found tells us something about the sudden dips in the star's light, too: Their results show that a large, solid object like the hypothesized structure would not cause starlight to dim in the precise way the telescopes observed. The scientific community has actually favored a number of more plausible explanations all along. These scenarios are subjected to the same rigorous assessment: a group of researchers leans toward a particular idea, they make observations of the star, analyze the data, compare their proposed scenario against the findings of other researchers worldwide, and see how it all adds up. So far, these investigations have led scientists to rule out multiple hypotheses for the behavior of Boyajian's star, at least pending any further developments. Yet it's this process of elimination scientists working their way through the likely culprits, crossing names off their list, one by one that will bring us closer to solving the mystery. The most recent findings, based on the new data from Spitzer and Swift, point the finger at an uneven dust cloud orbiting the star to explain the long, slow dimming of the star, which may prove related to the short dips in brightness. As for the latter, one study has suggested that a star orbited by a ringed planet and clusters of asteroids could exhibit the same strange dimming behavior. Yet another has considered a planet being pulled apart and swallowed up by the star. These relative newcomers to the mystery have followed other explanations previously put on trial by scientists for the strange behavior of Boyajian's star. Here are a few of the "accused," and the evidence that exonerated them. A planet being torn apart and swallowed by a star, shown in the cartoon image above, is another potential explanation. Credit: NASA/Ames Research Center/Daniel Rutter Could it be a swarm of comets? One explanation for Boyajian's star's mysterious short-term dimming behavior could be a swarm of comets hundreds of them, at least passing in front of the star. Such a large amount of debris could be capable of blocking enough light to dim the star considerably, and at irregular intervals, but here, too, it has thrown scientists a curve ball. The temperature of all the dust and debris associated with a horde of disintegrating comets should make it glow in the infrared something the Spitzer telescope would be able to see. Spitzer, however, found no excess infrared radiation. What about an object eclipsing the star? Could it be a large object passing in front of the star? This is the type of dimming that Kepler was designed to detect in its hunt for exoplanets: like a mini-eclipse, a planet crossing the face of its star will cause a tiny, but observable, decrease in the brightness. In this case, though, the extreme dimming events would require a star-sized object, and the gravitational force exerted on Boyajian's star by such a companion would be obvious in follow-up observations. Nothing has been detected so far. An artists rendition of a potential explanation: a comet swarm orbiting the star KIC 8462852, also known as Boyajian's Star or Tabby's Star. Credit: NASA/Ames Research Center/Daniel Rutter "When I first saw the data, I was immediately reminded of the eclipsing triple-star systems discovered by Kepler systems like KOI-126, which show similar patterns of irregular, eclipse-like dimmings," said Natalie Batalha, an astrophysicist at NASA's Ames Research Center in California's Silicon Valley. But, again, a star engaged in such a complicated relationship would feel the gravitational pull of its partners, bringing a strange rhythm to its dance: a systematic wobble of the center of mass of the system. "I was very surprised to learn that follow-up measurements with ground-based telescopes revealed no evidence of a stellar-mass companion." Is the star just burning out? Despite the subtle, long-term dimming observed, this is not a matter of the lights simply going out at Boyajian's star. Astronomers have determined this is a type of star that is fusing hydrogen into helium in its core. Given that fact and where it is in its expected lifetime, it should be gradually brightening, not growing fainter. Apart from its long-term evolution, a star's magnetic activity which produces sunspots does go through shorter cycles, creating some ups and downs in brightness. However, the extent of those changes and the timescale on which they occur are not comparable to this one's sudden, dramatic dips. For example, the brightness of our sun may decrease periodically, but that's a change on the order of just one-tenth of one percent over its 11-year solar cycle. A cartoon image of what an object eclipsing the mysterious star could look like. Credit: NASA/Ames Research Center/Daniel Rutter Was there simply an instrument glitch? Some observers questioned if an instrument glitch could be responsible for the strange data on Boyajian's star. No, says Doug Caldwell, SETI Institute researcher and instrument scientist for the Kepler mission at Amesfor two reasons. First, the results are the same, regardless of which of the telescope's detectors were observing the star, ruling out a defect on the lens of the photometer, or the on-board camera. Second, the enormous drops in brightness were already visible in every single pixel attributed to this star in the Kepler images. Usually, all those pixels need to be added together and the total brightness of a star measured, in order to detect a change; if any pixels belonging to another star are mistakenly included, this can create a false positive. That was clearly not the case here. So far, no warrant has yet been issued for any one explanation's arrest, and so the hunt goes on. An artistic representation of a burnt- out star. Credit: NASA/Ames Research Center/Daniel Rutter Keeping Many Eyes on the Star With the case of Boyajian's star still open, scientists continue to ask What if?, and adjust their ideas according to what the data reveals. Some proposed solutions could even come back into fashion as more measurements are made, revealing more definitively whether the star has any companions and how they might interact. Using telescopes around the world to analyze the star's light at all wavelengths and with greater resolution, astronomers are picking out more details of its characteristics. They're also monitoring the star over the long term. "To learn more, we needed to catch it in action again. It just comes down to that," Boyajian said. "We can't rule anything out completely until the evidence warrants it." An illustration of the Kepler spacecraft and its sensors. Researchers considered whether an instrument glitch could explain the dimming. Credit: NASA/Ames Research Center/Daniel Rutter In May 2017, and again in June, August and September, the star obliged with new performances of unexplained dimming, and astronomers were ready for it. The dips in brightness were smaller this time, and the four events lasted between five days and two weeks. Scientists are now processing this new data, wondering if it will hold the key to understanding this remarkable star. "This kind of patiently executed, coordinated monitoring at multiple wavelengths will unlock this mystery eventually," Batalha said. Until that time, the public and scientists alike can follow the investigation's progress online with the hashtag #TabbysStar, checking for new clues or new dimming events from the star, and watching as researcher-detectives work hard to crack the case. More information: For more information about the Kepler mission, visit www.nasa.gov/kepler Provided by NASA A sunrise over Crown Point at Columbia River Gorge. Students of Daniel McGarvey, Ph.D., used widely available climate data to model fish distributions in the waterway. Credit: Virginia Commonwealth University As concern about the consequences of climate change grows, researchers are thinking hard about the data and models that drive their understanding of these changes. Graduate students in Virginia Commonwealth University's Center for Environmental Studies recently contributed to this effort by proving that free, publicly accessible climate data can predict habitat quality within river networks with as much accuracy as data from more complex and expensive sources. Climate data includes variables such as precipitation and air temperature. Scientists place these variables into models created to make predictions regarding environmental changes such as species distributions. Many of the data sources needed to model climate change effects are available online at no cost to both the scientists and lay users, which alleviates the financial burden associated with many scientific inquiries, said Daniel McGarvey, Ph.D., associate professor in the Center for Environmental Studies in VCU Life Sciences. "Now that public concern regarding climate change is on the rise, accessibility to information is critical," McGarvey said. In an article published in the journal Ecography this summer, McGarvey and student authors Mitra Menon, Taylor Woods, Spencer Tassone, Jessica Reese, Marie Vergamini and Erik Kellogg developed new models of the distributions of 15 fish species throughout the Columbia River Basin in the Pacific Northwest. The graduate students fulfilled the task as part of McGarvey's conservation biogeography course. Air temperature and precipitation, readily available from the National Centers for Environmental Information, were shown to predict the availability of fish habitats with roughly the same accuracy as direct measures of water temperature and hydrology, which are less accessible. The students were also able to identify the locations of the best habitats for each species within the Columbia River Basin. "We found in our modeling that variables that are somewhat easy to measure were just as good predictors of where the fish would be as variables that require more intensive tools to measure, such as actual streamflow," Woods said. She added that proving the validity of these variables is especially important to researchers in developing countries. "In a lot of developing countries, they don't have access to more advanced tools," Woods said. "We have large databases of intensive variables in the U.S., but in other regions of the world that might be biodiversity hotspots, those variables are very hard to obtain. On the other hand, air temperature is very easy to measure." These predictions on fish distributions can also be illustrated as maps to be utilized by natural resource managers, McGarvey said. A versatile tool This work is also particularly important because it addresses a long-standing debate on the use of basic climate data in models of aquatic ecosystems. Many scientists hesitate to base predictions for aquatic systems on variables that are inherently terrestrial, such as air temperature and precipitation. In recent years, major efforts have been made to downscale or convert basic climate data to more sophisticated measures of water temperature and hydrology. But these downscaled projects can be prohibitively expensive and as McGarvey and his students have shown, they may not be necessary. "Air temperature is the major determinant of water temperature in most systems but there isn't a perfect one-to-one match. So, there's been a push to build separate models of water temperature, prior to modeling habitat quality for aquatic organisms," McGarvey said. "That's great, but it's not free to do that. The good thing about basic climate data is that it is free and therefore a wonderfully democratic resource." More information: McGarvey, D. J.et al. On the use of climate covariates in aquatic species distribution models: are we at risk of throwing out the baby with the bath water?. Ecography. DOI: 10.1111/ecog.03134 Journal information: Ecography Adyen Rolls Out Alipay in Stores Worldwide Amsterdam, Netherlands October 3, 2017: Adyen, the payments platform of choice for the worlds leading companies, today expanded its partnership with the worlds largest third-party mobile and online payment platform, Alipay, to enable retailers worldwide to easily accept non-cash payments from Chinese customers in store. Used by more than 520 million people, the Alipay partnership comes at a pivotal time ahead of the Golden Week retail rush. Chinas National Day Golden Week started on Sunday 1st October, marking a seven-day holiday where over four million Chinese residents will travel abroad to make the most of retail opportunities. The Chinese spend $300 billion abroad each year, and analysts estimate that UK retailers stand to make upwards of $337 million over the period. The partnership enables retailers using Adyens point of sale solution to take payments in store from Chinese consumers paying with their Alipay-enabled mobile device. The Adyen-Alipay solution is completely integrated into the current in store solution Adyen retailers use, so theres no need for additional terminals or devices. The Alipay payment option is simply added as a new option to the existing payment terminal. Europe and the US are popular destinations for the Chinese tourists, so its vital that retailers are able to cater to their needs, said Souheil Badran, President, Alipay North America. Given the capabilities built into Adyens omni-channel service for retailers, as well as Alipays included marketing solution, we look forward to enhancing what it means to deliver an integrated retail solution for retailers. Roelant Prins, Chief Commercial Officer at Adyen adds: Chinese tourists are an important audience for retailers to consider. At Adyen, were committed to making payments processes as easy as possible for retailers, while delivering a great experience for customers. Our partnership with Alipay helps retailers unlock an enormous opportunity to grow and gain more revenue. For Chinese customers travelling abroad, they will encounter the payment experience they are used to while at home. About Adyen Adyen is the technology company reinventing payments for the global economy. The only provider of a modern end-to-end infrastructure connecting directly to Visa, MasterCard, and consumers globally preferred payment methods, Adyen delivers frictionless payments across online, mobile, and in-store. With offices all around the world, Adyen serves more than 4,500 businesses, including 8 of the 10 largest U.S. Internet companies. Customers include Facebook, Uber, Netflix, Spotify, and LOreal. About Alipay Operated by Ant Financial Services Group, Alipay is the worlds largest mobile and online payment platform. Launched in 2004, Alipay currently has over 520 million active users and over 200 domestic financial institution partners. Alipay has evolved from a digital wallet to a lifestyle enabler. Users can hail a taxi, book a hotel, buy movie tickets, pay utility bills, make appointments with doctors, or purchase wealth management products directly from within the app. In addition to online payments, Alipay is expanding to in-store offline payments both inside and outside of China. Over 10 million brick-and-mortar merchants now accept Alipay across China. Alipays in-store payment service covers more than 30 countries across the world, and tax reimbursement via Alipay is supported in 24 countries and regions. Alipay works with over 250 overseas financial institutions and payment solution providers to enable cross-border payments for Chinese travelling overseas and overseas customers who purchase products from Chinese e-commerce sites. Alipay currently supports 27 currencies. Follow us on Twitter @antfinancial and @alipay. More websites for Point-of-sale niches: POS-Advice.com a 100% focus on restaurant point of sale technology and trends. Offers insightful posts and resources. POSforum.net a support forum where users share information and answer tech questions for various restaurant POS products including Oracle/Micros and Aloha. Restaurantsoftwarelist.com A list of technology solutions for restaurants and hospitality. Find developers, manufacturers, resellers and processors. Digital POS Magazine 28-32 pages about Point-of-sale Approx 8x a year. Each issue varies in focus for assorted trends or major industry shows. BarCode.com Great content on bar codes, bar code printing, labels, bar code supplies, RFID, IoT, UPC codes, QR codes and much more. Over 3,000 articles and completely free. Includes a free barcode label making tool and where to buy a bar code for your products. Other POS News: Dixons Carphone Upgrades Message at Till Capabilities with Ecrebo Reading, UK October 5, 2017 Ecrebo, the point of sale marketing specialist, today announced a five-year contract with Dixons Carphone, Europes leading specialist electrical and telecommunications retailer and services company. The partnership will allow Dixons Carphone to upgrade the capabilities of its point of sale coupon program by implementing Ecrebos advanced Message at Till solution across all 450 of its megastores. After a highly competitive RFP process, Dixons Carphone selected Ecrebo due to the solutions sophistication and precision, allowing for better consumer targeting and personalization. Ecrebos ability to meet Dixons Carphones requirements for flexibility, both in its capability suite and deployment timelines, was another key factor in selecting Ecrebo. Using Ecrebos Message at Till solution, Dixons Carphone will immediately have access to more advanced promotional campaigns to create personalized and engaging messaging for their customers. Ultimately, Ecrebos technology will enable Dixons Carphone to deliver on their ambitions to ensure their promotional offers are connected across all their channels. Ecrebo has a lengthy track record of delivering both immediate and long-term success for their customers, said Keely Bosati, Head of Commercial Development at Dixons Carphone. We demand a lot from our systems, and we needed reassurance that the vendor we selected could handle large quantities of data with a tried and tested product. Ecrebos functionality, consistent messaging and team cohesion, combined with their success of working with retailers such as M&S and Waitrose gives us full confidence that this partnership will serve us and our customers well for years to come. Partnering with a retailer of Dixons Carphones caliber, after such a competitive RFP process, is a tremendous source of pride for our company, said David Buckingham, CEO, Ecrebo. Working alongside their team to deliver the personalized engagement experience that modern retail demands has been an opportunity we have been thrilled to take on. Were looking forward to developing our partnership with Dixons Carphone over the coming months. About Ecrebo Ecrebo is a point of sale marketing specialist that enables retailers to deliver targeted offers to customers at the checkout alongside their receipt or digital receipt. With over 90% of transactions occurring in-store, Ecrebos POS-based technology opens up a marketing channel with unparalleled reach and precision: it enables retailers to deliver targeted marketing communication, specifically tailored to their customers. In turn, customers benefit from getting relevant offers and incentives delivered in a convenient and non-intrusive way. Ecrebo powers point of sale marketing for leading brands including Waitrose, M&S and PANDORA. For further details, visit Ecrebos website at www.ecrebo.com or follow Ecrebo on Twitter. About Dixons Carphone Dixons Carphone plc is Europes leading specialist electrical and telecommunications retailer and services company, employing over 41,000 people in nine countries. Focused on helping customers navigate the connected world, Dixons Carphone offers a comprehensive range of electrical and mobile products, connectivity and expert after-sales services from the Geek Squad and Team Knowhow. Dixons Carphones primary brands include Carphone Warehouse and CurrysPCWorld in the UK & Ireland, Elkjp, Elkjp Phonehouse, Elgiganten, Elgiganten Phone House, Gigantti and Lefdal in the Nordic countries, Kotsovolos in Greece, Dixons Travel in a number of UK airports as well as Dublin and Oslo. Our key service brands include Team Knowhow in the UK, Ireland and the Nordics, and Geek Squad in the UK & Ireland. Business-to-business (B2B) services are provided through Connected World Services, CurrysPCWorld Business and Carphone Warehouse Business. Connected World Services aims to leverage the Groups existing expertise, operating processes and technology to provide a range of services to businesses. PointofSale.com, now in its 8th year, does not sell products or services and we rely on sponsors to keep the site up. We are independently owned and operated. Please visit the POS software pages and POS hardware pages (see left side menu above) to find great POS products from various vendors. For more info, contact us through the Footer menu below. Other POS News: Retail Pro Chooses PA Latinoamericana to Distribute Its Newest Solutions in Brazil Sao Paulo, October 04, 2017 Retail Pro International (RPI), global leader in flexible enterprise POS and retail management software, establishes a new strategic growth plan for the Brazilian market and chooses PA Latinoamericana as its regional distributor for the newest Retail Pro solutions. Through this new partnership, RPI will provide the Brazilian market with modern, robust solutions for optimizing retail operations and customer experience. Leveraged by retailers across 128 countries, the Retail Pro platform empowers global brands to centrally manage each brand, channel, subsidiary, and chain, allowing for efficient global omnichannel administration and business planning. As the new Retail Pro distributor for Brazil, PA Latinoamericana Consulting will provide all the newest solutions developed by RPI. We will invest our efforts in developing alliances and product localisations to adapt Retail Pro Prism and our other new software offerings to retail legislations for each Brazilian state, supporting global customers locally and, of course, ensuring the satisfaction of current and future customers, explains Allan Pires, PA Latinoamericana Consulting CEO. According to the executive, the goal is to focus on increasing market share. By 2019, we intend to win over 100 new companies to the newest Retail Pro solutions, to help retailers improve business results and increase their competitiveness within the segment, Pires says. We believe this partnership with PA Latinoamericana will bring many growth opportunities for the national retail market. The move to update unintegrated technologies with Retail Pro software will help retailers unify retail management efforts and improve operational efficiency, as well as take on a more modern approach to the store experience with mobile POS, said Kerry Lemos, Retail Pro International CEO. We look forward to investing in this partnerships capacity to empower current customers with continuity of experience with Retail Pro software as they grow across regions in Brazil. Today, Retail Pro International has a large portfolio of global retail customers, including Samsonite, Puma, Oakley, Adidas, Diesel and Under Armour. Brands like these need a global retail management platform to unify business data analysis. We will support global companies in successful implementation of Retail Pro properly adapted to the reality of the Brazilian market, reinforces Pires. About Retail Pro International (RPI) Retail Pro International (RPI) is a global leader in retail management software that is recognized world-wide for rich functionality, multi-national capabilities, and unparalleled flexibility. For 30 years, RPI has innovated retail software solutions to help retailers optimize business operations. Retail Pro is the chosen software platform for Omnichannel strategy by retailers in more than 128 countries. About PA Latinoamericana PA Latinoamericana is an operation holding company active in locating new impacting intelligences to be distributed and applied to its clients and partners with the mission of creating value in their businesses. PointofSale.com does not sell products or services. Please visit the POS Retail software , POS Hardware, Credit Card Processing and POS Hospitality pages (see left side menu above) to find great POS products. Please let vendors know youve seen their products here. Thank you. For sponsorship information see the link below on the Footer menu. Other POS News: Retailers Call Budget Resolution First Step Toward Tax Reform to Unleash Economic Growth WASHINGTON, October 5, 2017 The National Retail Federation urged the House to approve the fiscal year 2018 budget resolution that is scheduled for a vote today, a move that would allow Congress to begin work on the nations first comprehensive tax reform in three decades. The FY 18 budget resolution is an important first step toward tax reform that will unleash economic growth in the United States, NRF Senior Vice President for Government Relations David French said. The National Retail Federation believes that tax reform will boost the economy, helping small and large retailers as well as our customers, French said. The U.S. has the highest corporate income tax rate in the industrialized world, which causes U.S. companies to move investment out of the country and is a disincentive for foreign companies to make large investments here. Reducing the corporate rate will help attract investment to the United States, which will help increase wages and increase consumer spending. Frenchs comments came in a letter to members of the House, which is expected to vote on the budget resolution today. The resolution includes reconciliation language that would allow a tax reform bill to pass on a simple majority of 51 votes when it reaches the Senate rather than requiring 60 votes to defeat a filibuster. In the letter, French cited the Unified Framework for Fixing Our Broken Tax Code plan released last week by President Trump and congressional Republicans. French praised the plans proposal to reduce the federal corporate income tax rate to 20 percent from the current 35 percent and its proposal to tax small business pass throughs at 25 percent. He also welcomed the plans proposed doubling of the standard deduction and its increase in the child tax credit, saying both would benefit consumers. French also cited a recent NRF analysis that found the average employee of a U.S. C corporation is paid $4,690 less per year because of high corporate taxes. The analysis said reducing the corporate tax rate to 20 percent could result in higher wages or the creation of between 500,000 and 1.5 million new jobs. The 35 percent U.S. corporate tax rate is the highest in the industrialized world. Retailers benefit from few of the deductions and tax credits that lower tax bills for other industries, and pay at or close to the full amount. 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Other POS News: On a frigid night a few days after Christmas 2012, Trish Khan drove back to the Milwaukee County Zoo to check on the star attraction, a playful, wildly popular 5-year-old orangutan named Mahal. It was almost 11 p.m. Khan, the zoos primary orangutan keeper, was off on medical leave. Yet shed come in earlier in the day, as soon as she heard something was wrong with Mahal. Raised on a horse farm in Wisconsin, Khan has a passion for animals, especially primates and most especially orangutans, a great ape found in Asian rainforests and admired for its intelligence. Even so, her deep affection for Mahal was unique. She had flown to Colorado to pick him up from the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo after the orangutan had been rejected by his mother. Khan had accompanied Mahal to Milwaukee, and when he settled in at the county zoo, she bottle-fed him for the first year. When Mahal was sick, she would move a mattress into the enclosure and stay with him, allowing him to nest beside her and sleep until morning. Four years later, as she examined the orangutan on that winter evening, Khan noted how much he resembled a sick human child: no energy, no appetite. After an unsuccessful attempt to administer antibiotics, Khan and one of the zoo veterinarians decided to move the orangutan into a smaller room and wait until morning to anesthetize him and take blood samples. The next morning, a zookeeper found Mahal lying motionless on the floor. He was dead at just 5 years of age; the typical orangutan lives 35 or 40 years in the wild and sometimes more than 50 in captivity. In his short life, Mahal had been the subject of a newspaper series and a childrens book. Stunned as they were by the loss, Khan and her colleagues now faced a mystery with implications for both animals and humans: What killed Mahal? Milwaukee Journal Sentinel files Mahal, an orangutan, is pictured in March 2010 with his surrogate mother, MJ, at the Milwaukee County Zoo. The young orangutan, 3 years old in the photo, was transferred to Milwaukee from a zoo in Colorado after his birth mother rejected him. 2007 Series: Ambassador Mahal Part One: Holding on to life Part Two: A nature-nurture divide Part Three: At last, a sight to behold Milwaukee Journal Sentinel files Mahal, an orangutan, is pictured in March 2010 with his surrogate mother, MJ, at the Milwaukee County Zoo. The young orangutan, 3 years old in the photo, was transferred to Milwaukee from a zoo in Colorado after his birth mother rejected him. Is it something that could affect our other orangutans or other animals? Khan remembers wondering. Is it something that could affect our keepers? The similarities between humans and other primates are well-known. It is the reason monkeys have long been used in medical tests as proxies for humans. Its also the reason the zoo regularly consults with doctors at Froedtert Hospital on health problems involving its great apes. But the close biological relationship between the two species takes another form as well. Lethal diseases, including Ebola and HIV, have jumped from apes to humans. Others, such as influenza and polio, have gone the opposite route, passing from humans to apes. When youre dealing with the great apes, says Khan, pretty much anything they get, we can get. And therein lies the problem. The zoo could not simply mourn the loss of Mahal and dispose of his remains. Other lives were at stake, including those of the zoos 45 other primates and the seven employees who cared for them. Of the 400 or so emerging infectious diseases identified since 1940, more than 60% have been zoonotic, meaning they have passed from animals to humans. A 2012 report by researchers in Britain, Kenya and Vietnam found that each year zoonotic diseases account for 2.5 billion cases of human illness and about 2.7 million deaths. A separate study published the same year put the direct costs from these diseases at more than $20 billion over the previous decade. Zoo officials in Milwaukee were not taking any chances. Within hours of his death, Mahals body lay in a cooler packed in ice, bound for a pathologists lab at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. So began an investigation that would span more than three years and lead to the discovery of a new species of pathogen. The search for Mahals killer also would illustrate the links between diseases and some of the most powerful forces on the planet: evolution, glacial periods and the Earths orbital patterns, known as Milankovitch cycles. The fact that we share so many diseases with primates tells us about evolution, explains Tony Goldberg, the UW professor of epidemiology who led the investigation into Mahals death. There are an awful lot of primate pathogens that dont really care whether theyre in a human or a chimpanzee or an orangutan. * * * Like all great apes, orangutans face health challenges in captivity. Males are more susceptible to urinary tract infections than they are in the wild; its uncertain why. Many great apes also suffer from heart disease. Mark Hoffman / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Annette Gendron, who performed the necropsy on Mahal, at UW-Madison. She is director of pathology and laboratory services for the university's Research Animal Resources Center and is the senior pathologist for the Milwaukee County Zoo. Mark Hoffman / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Annette Gendron, who performed the necropsy on Mahal, at UW-Madison. She is director of pathology and laboratory services for the university's Research Animal Resources Center and is the senior pathologist for the Milwaukee County Zoo. Neither illness seemed likely given Mahals youth. The orangutans body arrived at the UW lab of Annette Gendron, a veterinary pathologist whod worked in Kenya for a year and later at the Fresno Zoo before coming to Madison in 1983. In more than 30 years as a pathologist, shed performed necropsies on everything from great apes and elephants to snakes and giraffes, almost anything you can think of. Following protocol, Gendron and zoo pathology resident Kathleen Deering each dressed in a protective gown, a double set of gloves, a mask and face shield. Necropsies autopsies performed on animals take hours and it is all too easy for pathologists to spatter themselves with material from the dead animal. Once, 40 years ago, Gendron was accidentally exposed to the fungal lung infection Valley fever, while helping veterinarians try to resuscitate an orangutan before it died. On another occasion, one of her gloves leaked while examining the intestines of an antelope and she wound up with an infection under her fingernail. Although she never became seriously ill, these incidents reinforced her cautious nature. Gendron began her examination of Mahal by taking measurements, noting the size of the orangutans pupils and searching for skin lesions, evidence of trauma and discoloration of the membranes of the mouth. Then she cut open the orangutans body. There was no fluid in the abdomen. Fluid is often a sign of inflammation, which in turn raises a host of possibilities, from tumors to liver or kidney failure. Provided by Research Animal Resource Center, UW-Madison This 10x magnification image shows parasitic larval cysts of a tapeworm found on the liver of Mahal, the Milwaukee County Zoo's famous orangatan that died in 2012. The large and small white areas are the larval cysts. Provided by Research Animal Resource Center, UW-Madison This 10x magnification image shows parasitic larval cysts of a tapeworm found on the liver of Mahal, the Milwaukee County Zoo's famous orangatan that died in 2012. The large and small white areas are the larval cysts. One by one, Gendron looked at the organs. First the spleen, then the liver, kidneys, adrenal glands, heart, lungs and trachea. She removed and weighed each organ and looked for scarring and abnormalities. She placed tissues from all of the organs in formalin, a preservative that would allow her to view them later under the microscope. Although the pathologist worked methodically, she had noticed something strange from the very beginning. Mahal had an enlarged spleen and liver. Both organs were overrun with cysts, small gray bubbles. There were enormous numbers inside the liver, Gendron says. Wed never seen anything like this. Whatever it was, the pathogen had also clogged Mahals lungs. The official cause of death was acute respiratory distress syndrome; what it meant was that the orangutan had essentially drowned in his own blood. The necropsy took between four and five hours. When she was finished, Gendron made microscope slides of tissue from the nerves, heart, lungs, brain and other organs. Over the next few weeks she sent zoo pathologists around the country a digital photo of one of the cysts from Mahals liver. She hoped specialists whod examined great apes might have run into something similar. No one had. * * * Aedes aegypti mosquito 4 to 7 millimeters Diseases carried Yellow fever, dengue fever, chikungunya and Zika virus. Geographic distribution One of the most widespread mosquito species. Found in Africa and Asia and more recently reported in South America, Europe and the southern half of the United States. Transmission method Bites victims for blood meals. Source: World Health Organization Aedes aegypti mosquito 4 to 7 millimeters Diseases carried Yellow fever, dengue fever, chikungunya and Zika virus. Geographic distribution One of the most widespread mosquito species. Found in Africa and Asia and more recently reported in South America, Europe and the southern half of the United States. Transmission method Bites victims for blood meals. Source: World Health Organization One of the colleagues Gendron contacted was Goldberg, a fellow member of UWs faculty of veterinary medicine. Goldberg, who had started out studying hummingbird behavior at Amherst College in Massachusetts, had gone on to focus on primates while earning his PhD at Harvard. He joined the UW faculty in 2008. Over the last decade, Goldberg had flown to Uganda twice a year for up to a month of fieldwork examining the interactions of people, primates and other animals in and around Kibale National Park. The fieldwork often reminds him how much the world is changing, and how quickly new health threats can cross from species to species, continent to continent. For much of the world, the Zika virus, named for the forest in Uganda where it was discovered, stands as the prime example. Spread by the Aedes aegypti mosquito and first discovered in a rhesus macaque in 1947, the virus appeared in humans in Uganda and Tanzania in 1952. However, in the last two years, the virus suddenly spread through large sections of Central and South America. In July, the U.S. recorded its first homegrown cases of the virus in Florida. By December, Zika had been identified in 75 countries and territories. But Goldberg can point to a more personal example of todays rapid-transit pathogens. In the summer of 2012, just six months before Mahal died, Goldberg had returned to Madison after working in western Uganda. Hed been home only three days when the dull ache hed detected in his nose flared into a searing pain, impossible to ignore. By angling a mirror and contorting his body, the scientist was able to peer inside his nostrils. There it was, just as hed suspected: the pale, fat back end of a fully engorged tick. It took all of my willpower not to claw off my face, he would recall. Instead, Goldberg gently extended a pair of forceps until they surrounded the ticks mouth, then he pulled firmly, but carefully. Out came a creature about the diameter of a pencil eraser, he recalls, really nothing more than a distended stomach. DNA testing revealed it was a new species of tick, a discovery that, in the scientists view, far outweighed his discomfort. Somehow the tick had crawled onto Goldbergs body in the Ugandan forest and stowed away inside his nostril through the plane trip to the U.S. The scientists reward was a paper he co-authored entitled, Coincident Tick Infestations in the Nostrils of Wild Chimpanzees and a Human in Uganda, published in the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. But it wasnt Goldbergs tick discovery that made Gendron think of him for the Mahal investigation. She recalled his recent paper on hepatocystis, a single-cell parasite transmitted by midges. Could the cysts inside Mahal be hepatocystis? Major outbreaks Zoonotic diseases, those that go from animals to people, cause an estimated 2.5 billion cases of human illness and 2.7 million deaths each year. It is hard to quantify the number of outbreaks in a given year, but the World Health Organization tracks a few dozen each year. The following are some of the worst outbreaks of the last century: 2016 Zika virus Zika virus, first isolated from a rhesus macaque in Uganda. Between Jan. 3 and April 2 alone, Brazil reported more than 91,000 suspected cases of the mosquito-borne virus which has been linked to severe birth defects. Through March 1, 2017, the United States has reported 5,074 cases of Zika, 221 from local mosquitoes. Puerto Rico has reported more than 36,000 cases. While many experience mild or no symptoms, the virus has been linked to microcephaly, a birth defect in which a babys brain stops growing or does not grow properly. 2014 to 2016 Ebola Ebola, passed to humans from wild animals, possibly infected monkeys or fruit bats. West Africa recorded 28,652 suspected, probable and confirmed cases resulting in 11,325 deaths. The U.S. saw four Ebola patients; the lone fatality was a man who traveled from Liberia to Dallas, developed symptoms four days after arrival, was treated and subsequently died. 2010 to 2013 Cholera Cholera, an often fatal bacterial disease transmitted through water or food. In coastal areas, the disease often follows algal blooms. Ten months after a Haitian earthquake, an outbreak infected 665,000 people, killing 8,183. A November 2011 study determined the U.S. saw 23 cholera cases, all but one were travelers from Hispaniola, the island that includes Haiti. The other reportedly resulted from consumption of seafood from Haiti. 2009 Swine flu, or H1N1 The pandemic of a respiratory disease found in pigs began in Mexico and is estimated to have killed some 284,500 people worldwide. The CDC estimated that 59 million Americans contracted swine flu, 265,000 were hospitalized and 12,000 died. 2008 to 2009 Cholera An outbreak in Zimbabwe killed 4,293. 2002 to 2003 SARS An outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome, a viral respiratory disease believed to have originated in bats, killed 774 people and sickened 8,098 worldwide. The outbreak began in Guangdong Province, China. The disease is spread person to person, largely by droplets when a person coughs or sneezes. 1981 to 2011 HIV/AIDS HIV/AIDS, which is closely related to a disease in monkeys called simian immunodeficiency. HIV may have crossed from monkeys to humans as a result of a human killing and eating a chimp. At least 60 million people were infected by AIDS, resulting in 25 million deaths. In 2008, about 1.2 million Americans had HIV, while sub-Saharan Africa had almost 23 million cases. The virus is spread through blood and bodily fluids. 1968 to 1969 Hong Kong flu Hong Kong flu, an influenza A virus. Aquatic birds are a natural reservoir, or long-term host, for this kind of virus. This influenza is believed to have killed about 1 million people. Scientists suspect that it evolved from a strain of the 1957 Asian flu. 1957 to 1958 Asian flu This influenza killed about 2 million people. 1918 Spanish flu As many as 50 million people worldwide are believed to have died. Major outbreaks Zoonotic diseases, those that go from animals to people, cause an estimated 2.5 billion cases of human illness and 2.7 million deaths each year. It is hard to quantify the number of outbreaks in a given year, but the World Health Organization tracks a few dozen each year. The following are some of the worst outbreaks of the last century: 2016 Zika virus Zika virus, first isolated from a rhesus macaque in Uganda. Between Jan. 3 and April 2 alone, Brazil reported more than 91,000 suspected cases of the mosquito-borne virus which has been linked to severe birth defects. Through March 1, 2017, the United States has reported 5,074 cases of Zika, 221 from local mosquitoes. Puerto Rico has reported more than 36,000 cases. While many experience mild or no symptoms, the virus has been linked to microcephaly, a birth defect in which a babys brain stops growing or does not grow properly. 2014 to 2016 Ebola Ebola, passed to humans from wild animals, possibly infected monkeys or fruit bats. West Africa recorded 28,652 suspected, probable and confirmed cases resulting in 11,325 deaths. The U.S. saw four Ebola patients; the lone fatality was a man who traveled from Liberia to Dallas, developed symptoms four days after arrival, was treated and subsequently died. 2010 to 2013 Cholera Cholera, an often fatal bacterial disease transmitted through water or food. In coastal areas, the disease often follows algal blooms. Ten months after a Haitian earthquake, an outbreak infected 665,000 people, killing 8,183. A November 2011 study determined the U.S. saw 23 cholera cases, all but one were travelers from Hispaniola, the island that includes Haiti. The other reportedly resulted from consumption of seafood from Haiti. 2009 Swine flu, or H1N1 The pandemic of a respiratory disease found in pigs began in Mexico and is estimated to have killed some 284,500 people worldwide. The CDC estimated that 59 million Americans contracted swine flu, 265,000 were hospitalized and 12,000 died. 2008 to 2009 Cholera An outbreak in Zimbabwe killed 4,293. 2002 to 2003 SARS An outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome, a viral respiratory disease believed to have originated in bats, killed 774 people and sickened 8,098 worldwide. The outbreak began in Guangdong Province, China. The disease is spread person to person, largely by droplets when a person coughs or sneezes. 1981 to 2011 HIV/AIDS HIV/AIDS, which is closely related to a disease in monkeys called simian immunodeficiency. HIV may have crossed from monkeys to humans as a result of a human killing and eating a chimp. At least 60 million people were infected by AIDS, resulting in 25 million deaths. In 2008, about 1.2 million Americans had HIV, while sub-Saharan Africa had almost 23 million cases. The virus is spread through blood and bodily fluids. 1968 to 1969 Hong Kong flu Hong Kong flu, an influenza A virus. Aquatic birds are a natural reservoir, or long-term host, for this kind of virus. This influenza is believed to have killed about 1 million people. Scientists suspect that it evolved from a strain of the 1957 Asian flu. 1957 to 1958 Asian flu This influenza killed about 2 million people. 1918 Spanish flu As many as 50 million people worldwide are believed to have died. * * * Theres just no love for the lowly parasite. The shark is more frightening, the naked mole rat uglier, the black mamba snake deadlier. Yet few creatures provoke a more visceral shudder of disgust than lice, tapeworms, mites and the various other organisms known as parasites. After his close encounter with the tick, Goldberg understood why. Still, years of research had tempered his reaction. You wind up having a lot of respect for parasites, he says. They are very clever. They have to be. To keep living, parasites must depend upon another organism, or host. They employ finely-tuned machinery to infect and stay in the host without being detected and killed off by the hosts immune system. Parasites are master survivors. They have been around much longer than humans, likely as long as there have been living organisms, according to Eric Hoberg, former curator of the 120-year-old U.S. National Parasite Collection, among the worlds largest repositories of different parasites. Although its not known how many parasites share the earth with us, one estimate puts the number of different helminths, or intestinal worms, at between 75,000 and 300,000. All told, more than half of the organisms on the planet are parasites, from the microscopic bacterial cell to the multicellular tapeworm. Many have evolved clever tricks to find the right host, survive and spread. Take the wiley Toxoplasma gondii, a single-cell parasite that starts by infecting a mouse but must enter a cat in order to reproduce. To go from mouse to cat, Toxoplasma gondii disables the rodents ability to smell cat urine, essentially leading the mouse into the jaws of its enemy. Of greater concern to humans is the Guinea worm. The worms larvae develop after being consumed by water fleas; they then infect humans who drink the flea-infested water. Once inside the human body, the worms grow to two or three feet in length, until the female worm causes a burning sensation so extreme it drives the human to seek relief by submerging the infected area in water. The worms offspring are then released from a skin blister into the water to continue their life cycle. The sheer number of parasites can make identifying them difficult, and as Mahals death would show, there is still much we dont know. * * * Goldberg crossed busy Campus Drive and proceeded to Gendrons UW lab to collect samples of Mahals liver, lungs and spleen. All were securely stored inside biosafety bags. Goldberg then spent the afternoon performing a series of molecular tests on the tissue samples. He found no sign of hepatocystis. He spent the rest of the week conducting more tests, checking whether something might be interfering with the chemistry and skewing his results. Still negative. In his black lab notebook, he noted that ahead of him lay a huge task. Not that the challenge displeased him. He loved a good mystery. Goldberg and David OConnor, a colleague at UWs Primate Center, compared Mahals genetic sequence with that of another orangutan, obtained from a massive DNA repository known as GenBank. West Nile A mosquito-borne disease capable of causing neurological problems and sometimes death in humans. Transmission Bites from female mosquitoes. Birds are a host for the disease. Geographic Regions Commonly found in Africa, Europe, the Middle East, North America and West Asia. Symptoms Fever, headache, fatigue, muscle pain or aches, nausea, loss of appetite, swollen lymph glands, vomiting, rash. Severe Symptoms Disorientation, coma, tremors, seizures, paralysis. Can cause encephalitis or meningitis. Cases and Death There are no reliable worldwide statistics. Among people who develop severe symptoms, death rates range from 3% to 15% and are highest among the elderly. In the U.S. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 44,000 cases have been reported in the U.S. since 1999, with more than 1,900 deaths. There were 2,175 reported cases in 2015. Treatment No vaccine for humans exists. Most people who are infected receive hospitalization, intravenous fluids, respiratory support and prevention of secondary infections. Source: World Health Organization West Nile A mosquito-borne disease capable of causing neurological problems and sometimes death in humans. Transmission Bites from female mosquitoes. Birds are a host for the disease. Geographic Regions Commonly found in Africa, Europe, the Middle East, North America and West Asia. Symptoms Fever, headache, fatigue, muscle pain or aches, nausea, loss of appetite, swollen lymph glands, vomiting, rash. Severe Symptoms Disorientation, coma, tremors, seizures, paralysis. Can cause encephalitis or meningitis. Cases and Death There are no reliable worldwide statistics. Among people who develop severe symptoms, death rates range from 3% to 15% and are highest among the elderly. In the U.S. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 44,000 cases have been reported in the U.S. since 1999, with more than 1,900 deaths. There were 2,175 reported cases in 2015. Treatment No vaccine for humans exists. Most people who are infected receive hospitalization, intravenous fluids, respiratory support and prevention of secondary infections. Source: World Health Organization The scientists took Mahals sequence, then subtracted the other orangutans. What remained, Goldberg reasoned, would contain the killers genetic signature. They performed the analysis using a technique known as shotgun sequencing. Long strands of DNA are broken into millions of smaller, easier-to-read pieces and then reassembled by computer into the longer sequence. They felt compelled to work quickly. We really rushed it, Goldberg recalls. We were really curious and we were afraid there would be an outbreak at the zoo. He kept thinking about the story of Tracey McNamara, then head pathologist at the Bronx Zoo. In 1999, McNamara noticed that a disturbing number of crows near the zoo were becoming ill and dying. Around the same time, New York City health officials discovered that a small number of people had become deathly ill with what appeared to be St. Louis encephalitis. Mosquitoes pick up the virus from birds, then pass it to humans. Tests showed, however, that the virus making the crows and humans sick wasnt St. Louis encephalitis. It was West Nile virus. The virus had been discovered in Uganda in 1937, but the sick crows at the Bronx Zoo marked its first appearance in the U.S. By the time Goldberg began working on the Mahal case, West Nile had spread across the continental U.S., sickening almost 2,500 people and causing 119 deaths in 2013 alone. Early on in his investigation of the orangutans death, he had no way to know whether he might be dealing with another West Nile virus. A few weeks of genetic testing provided Goldberg with an answer of sorts. The killers DNA appeared to be that of a cestode, or tapeworm. Except the sequence didnt match any known tapeworm. It was something new. * * * A tapeworm would not have topped the list of likely suspects. Although orangutans experience roundworm infections, it is much rarer to find one suffering from tapeworms. Support our investigative journalism Become a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel subscriber today and get unlimited digital access to support stories like this one. In Mahals case, the tapeworms were still in the larval stage; that explained the little gray bubbles. A tapeworms life cycle begins when eggs are excreted in the feces of a host animal, lets say a cat, and wind up in the soil. There, they are ingested by a different animal, a secondary host, such as a mouse. The eggs hatch inside the mouse and wait to be ingested back into the cat, where they reach adulthood and reproduce, so that new generations of eggs can be excreted back into the soil. Mahal appeared to have played the role of accidental mouse. But what species of tapeworm did the larvae come from? How did they get inside an orangutan? And how did they survive the anti-worming medication the Milwaukee zoo administers to its orangutans every three weeks? The puzzle of Mahals death had hooked Goldberg. This is the thing you dream about, he says. An unusual infection caused by something unknown. Mark Hoffman / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel UW-Madison scientist Tony Goldberg in the Kibale National Park in Uganda. Mark Hoffman / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel UW-Madison scientist Tony Goldberg in the Kibale National Park in Uganda. Although researchers discover new tapeworm species on a regular basis, Goldberg was dying to run into the offices of his UW colleagues exclaiming: Look what I found! Science, however, demands the opposite response: silence and self-discipline. First come weeks or months of rigorous confirmation work. Only then is a discovery announced. Theres this delicious little time, Goldberg says, when you have it all to yourself. One answer did emerge rather quickly, though it would ultimately raise new questions. On the very day Goldberg received the sequencing information from the machine, a scientific paper appeared in The International Journal for Parasitology naming a new genus, or group, of tapeworms. Scientists discovered the new group inside the bodies of weasels in Japan and Finland. Features that distinguished the new tapeworm from the two previously known groups included a retractable conelike structure armed with hooks used to attach itself to the hosts intestinal wall; a small head, or scolex; and suckers. Because the tapeworms found in Mahal were only larval, they displayed none of these features. Rather, what linked the new group, Versteria, to the larvae inside Mahal was a similar genetic signature. Although the two were not an exact match, they appeared to be different species within the same group. And from what Goldberg could tell, the tapeworms inside Mahal were a long way from home. For one thing, they should not have been inside the body of an orangutan, but rather a vole or some other variety of weasel prey. For another, they had been found previously in Finland and Japan, half a world away from Wisconsin. * * * Where and how Mahal ingested the tapeworm larvae remained a mystery. Still, Goldberg felt a need to write up what he knew so far. You want to publish because it could be important, he says. You want to get it out there and raise the alarm. This could be a threat to orangutans and other apes such as people. There was another reason to publish soon. Khan and the rest of the staff at the Milwaukee County Zoo remained in mourning for Mahal. We needed answers, Khan says, as does anyone suffering a big loss. They needed to know whether what had killed Mahal might pose a threat to the orangutans surrogate mother, MJ, or to any of the zoos other primates. Another question was harder and more personal: Could they have done something to have saved Mahal? Pero Brbora farms his shellfish in Croatia but has to cross the border into Bosnia, and out again, to sell them in his homeland. For years, the 57-year-old oyster and mussels fisherman has been waiting for a planned bridge to be built to ease the complicated and time-consuming trip. But the project to connect the Croatian mainland with its southernmost region via the Peljesac Bridge has run into delays and sparked a dispute with neighbouring Bosnia. At the heart of the problem is the "patchwork-style" divisions across the Balkans following the bloody breakup of the former Yugoslav federation in the 1990s. The frontiers between its six former republics are now international borders between newly-emerged states. Although Bosnia maintained its coastal access, the small outlet leading to the Adriatic Sea cuts through Croatia. As a result, 90,000 people, including residents of Croatia's well-known southern resort of Dubrovnik, are split off from the rest of the country. During the busy tourist season, it takes Brbora up to four hours to travel from the small port of Zamaslina to Makarska, a town further north on the Adriatic coast. "If there were no borders, we could cross this 100 kilometres (62 miles) in an hour and a half," he said. As it is, Brbora has to firstly pass from Croatia into Bosnia, cross through the Bosnian coastal town of Neum to the border post on the other side and go back into Croatia -- a 10-kilometre trip that can seem like an "eternity." Croatia has for years been pushing for a solution, with the construction of the 2.4-kilometre (1.5-mile) bridge that would link up its territory using a small peninsula. As two pillars planted on each side of the strait show, Zagreb even started building the bridge in 2007 but the project was halted five years later due to a lack of funding. - 'Change everything' - The European Union, which Croatia joined in 2013, agreed in June to finance 85 percent of the 420 million-euro ($494 million) construction costs. "This bridge will change everything for us, it will make our life easier," said Gordana Pincevic, owner of a vineyard on the Peljesac peninsula. "When I go to buy a fridge in Split, while returning I have to prove to Bosnian customs that the fridge will leave Bosnia, and then to Croatian customs that it was bought in Croatia," she told AFP. But in Bosnia, the prospect of the bridge has not gone down well. Many fear that the 55-metre-high (182-foot) bridge will hamper the entry of high tonnage vessels. And Sarajevo also argues that it wants to first negotiate a deal on a maritime corridor giving it access to international waters before the bridge opens. Bosnian Muslim leader Bakir Izetbegovic urged the European Commission to pull the plug on its financial support to Croatia to build the bridge. Going ahead with the Peljesac Bridge "without Bosnia's approval is illegal and represents a violation of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea", claimed Izetbegovic, the Muslim member of Bosnia's tripartite presidency. - 'We will build the bridge' - "We will build the bridge," Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic has, however, repeatedly insisted. He has sought to reassure Bosnia that the technical characteristics of the bridge will allow for the smooth passage of any ship planning to dock in Neum. "The dimensions for the bridge were agreed upon Bosnia's insistence and have even increased the project's initial cost," said the Dubrovnik regional governor, Nikola Dobroslavic. For instance, the distance between its supporting pillars will be 200 metres. But Bosnia's battle to stop the bridge is hampered by its ethnic divisions between Croats, Muslims and Serbs, who do not necessarily take the same stance on state matters. Croat member of Bosnia's presidency Dragan Covic has said he sees "no formal or legal obstacles" against the planned bridge going ahead. "The two countries will profit from the construction of the bridge, notably Neum," he has said. The European Union, at whose door Bosnia is knocking for eventual entry, may however take a dim view of its internal discord, cautioned prominent Croatian international law expert Davorin Rudolf. "Bosnia is not an EU member and it is hard to say when it will be. And Europe wants external borders" that are stable, he told AFP. - Impact on tourism? - Although almost all of Neum's 4,600 residents are ethnic Croats, not all are happy with the bridge, which is now set to be opened in 2022. "If the bridge is constructed, they will not pass (through) here anymore," said Marin Danicic, a 21-year-old waiter, pointing to a table of foreign tourists. Tourism is a major industry for Croatia, with the nearly 16 million visitors that the country welcomed last year far outstripping its population of 4.2 million. Most tourists visited the stunning Adriatic coast, with more than 1,000 islands and islets which served as a location for numerous scenes in the award-winning HBO series "Game of Thrones". Cambodia's government on Thursday hiked the minimum wage for garment workers by $17 a month, heeding demands from unions as Prime Minister Hun Sen looks to shore up support ahead of key polls. The self-described strongman has been leading a policy charm offensive on the garment sector ahead of a national election in 2018 that will test his 32-year hold on power. Since August he has met weekly with crowds of textile employees, who prop up a multi-billion dollar industry and have often clashed with his government over working conditions and pay. Hun Sen has been handing out cash to workers at the gatherings and also rolled out a raft of new benefits from free medical check-ups to bonuses for pregnant women who give birth. The latest gift was a pay rise that will lift the monthly minimum wage from $153 to $170 starting in January 2018. The ministry of labour said in a statement that employers, union representatives and government officials on Thursday afternoon had originally agreed to raise pay only to $165. But Hun Sen, who "always cares about the welfare and livelihood of the employees," decided to add $5 on top, the statement said. Cambodia's more than 740,000 textile workers will also receive other monthly benefits, including $7 allowance for transportation and accommodation and $10 reward for regular work. Union representatives and workers applauded the news. "This is the figure that we want," Ath Thorn of the Coalition of Cambodia Apparel Workers Democratic Unions told AFP. A 25-year-old garment worker, Bo Sorphea, told AFP the premier had successfully secured her vote. "I am happy with the benefits promised by the prime minister. I and my family will vote for him," she said. Hun Sen's outreach to the key voting bloc comes as he cracks down on political opponents. Since he nearly lost to the opposition in a 2013 poll, the 65-year-old has used his clout over the courts to batter his rivals with legal charges. The clampdown was ramped up last month when opposition leader Kem Sokha was thrown into a remote jail on treason charges, a dramatic arrest that sent fear rippling through the embattled opposition movement. Since then, nearly half of the opposition party's MPs have fled the country. By Ece Toksabay and Tuvan Gumrukcu ANKARA (Reuters) - President Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday that Turkey would soon close its border with northern Iraq and shut its air space in response to last week's Kurdish independence referendum. Erdogan, who held talks in Tehran on Wednesday with Iranian leaders, also said Turkey would decide jointly with Iran and Iraq's central government in Baghdad whether to cut oil exports from Kurdish northern Iraq. His comments came 10 days after Kurds in northern Iraq voted overwhelmingly for independence, alarming Baghdad, Iraq's neighbours and Western powers who fear the vote could trigger further conflict in the Middle East. Turkey tightened controls at its main border crossing into Iraq in the immediate aftermath of the vote and suspended flights to northern Iraq. It has also held joint military exercises with Iraqi troops on the border. But it has not yet implemented threats to impose wider sanctions on the Kurdish region or to cut off the hundreds of thousands of barrels of Kurdish oil exported daily via Turkey to world markets. "Flights to northern Iraq have already been suspended, the air space and borders will also close soon," Erdogan said in a speech in the Turkish capital, Ankara. He said the decision to hold the referendum showed the "perfect ingratitude" of the Kurdish Regional Government in northern Iraq, after years of close commercial and political ties with Turkey. "INVADERS" Earlier, Erdogan told Turkish media on his return from Iran that Ankara, Tehran and Baghdad would jointly decide on whether to close the taps on the Kurds' oil export pipeline, adding that it was time for the KRG to take a step back. "The northern Iraqi leadership is drunk with the result of the referendum, it's not aware of what it is doing or what kind of steps it's taking," he said. Erdogan also criticised the inclusion of the oil-rich city of Kirkuk in the referendum, saying that Kurds had no legitimacy there and that they were "invaders" in the region. During a joint news conference with his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani on Wednesday, Erdogan said Turkey was considering further measures against northern Iraq, and the two leaders promised to work together against the independence drive. The Kurds are the region's fourth-largest ethnic group, spread across Iran, Turkey, Syria and Iraq. All of those oppose any moves towards a Kurdish state, but the Kurds have been building strong international ties. Last month, Russian oil major Rosneft clinched a gas pipeline deal in Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan to help it become a major exporter of gas to Turkey and Europe. The pipeline will be constructed in 2019 and exports will begin in 2020. On Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that it was in no-one's interest to cut off oil supplies from Iraq's Kurdistan, which would raise oil prices. Erdogan, however, brushed off those concerns, saying the final decision would be made by Turkey, Iran and Iraq. (Writing by David Dolan and Dominic Evans; Editing by Andrew Heavens) President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday warned that Turkey would "soon" close its border crossing with Iraqi Kurdistan and airspace after the disputed referendum on independence. Iraqi Kurdish leaders went ahead with the September 25 poll on independence despite fierce objections from neighbouring countries including Iran and Turkey. "Air space will be closed ... the border will also be shut soon," Erdogan said in a televised speech. "How will you (the Iraqi Kurds) have imports and exports then?" he added. "The clock is ticking against them," said Erdogan. In the wake of the non-binding poll, which was overwhelmingly won by the 'Yes' camp, Erdogan has repeatedly told Arbil the Habur border crossing would be closed but this has yet to happen. Turkish carriers have already suspended their flights to Iraqi Kurdistan, although this was in line with an order from Baghdad rather than a reprisal from Ankara. Turkey fears the vote will embolden its own sizeable Kurdish minority, and is eager to work with Iran and the central government in Baghdad to block it. Erdogan's comments came a day after a key visit to Tehran where both countries presented a united front in their opposition to Iraqi Kurdish aspirations of independence. He reaffirmed his belief that only Israel was in favour of Iraqi Kurdish independence. "They are not your friends," he said. But some analysts argue Turkey will be wary of cutting off economic ties with Iraqi Kurdistan as this risks hurting the domestic Turkish economy. Erdogan's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) government has forged close ties with Iraqi Kurdish leader Massud Barzani, enjoying burgeoning trade ties and Arbil exporting the region's oil through the Turkish port of Ceyhan. Brazilian police on Wednesday detained Italian ultra-leftist militant and writer Cesare Battisti, who was convicted of murder in his home country and has been on the run for decades. The detention took place at the Brazilian-Bolivian border, said a spokesman for the Federal Highway Police, declining to give more details. "For now we only know that he was detained," the spokesman told AFP. There was no official information on the cause of the incident or where Battisti, 62, who is wanted in Italy and has long feared deportation, was now. According to the respected O Globo daily's website, Italy asked Brazil's government last week to reconsider the decision not to extradite Battisti, which was made under former leftist president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. "Brazilian authorities believe Battisti was trying to take refuge in Bolivia," the report said, adding that he was attempting to take out about $5,000 and 2,000 euros. Battisti was convicted in 1993 for his part in four murders blamed on an armed Marxist group active in Italy in the 1970s. He spent some 30 years on the run in Mexico and France and came to Brazil in 2004, living in secret before being arrested in Rio de Janeiro in 2007. After four years in confinement, Battisti was released in 2011 and given permanent residency in Brazil. Germany's former top spy, Werner Mauss, was Thursday given a two-year suspended sentence and ordered to donate 200,000 euros ($235,000) to charity as he was convicted for tax evasion. The 77-year-old dubbed the "German James Bond" was found guilty of stashing undeclared assets in offshore accounts and shortchanging the state of millions in taxes between 2002 and 2011. Judge Markus van den Hoevel said he took into account Mauss' "impressive life achievement" in handing down the verdict which fell far short of the six years and three months' imprisonment sought by the prosecutor. Mauss had denied the charges and claimed the accounts were set up to channel funds used in operations to free hostages. The former agent was unable to mount a "proper defence" because he was still bound by confidentiality agreements linked to his decades of undercover work, his lawyers said. Investigators first got on his trail after one of his aliases was found among names of UBS account holders on a CD which the state of North-Rhine Westphalia had purchased from a whistleblower. Mauss agent had apparently failed to declare an account held with the Luxembourg subsidiary of UBS. He was briefly detained in late 2012 before making a four-million-euro payment to the tax office. He also paid bail of one million euros, according to the indictment read out in court. After the UBS revelation, his name subsequently emerged in connection with several shell companies listed in the so-called Panama Papers -- leaked documents from Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca that exposed the murky offshore financial dealings of the rich and famous. On his website, Mauss says he was "involved in the smashing of more than one hundred criminal groups and in the arrests of around 2,000 individuals" during his long career in the secret services. He notably claims to have helped negotiate the release of hostages in Colombia, and boasts of tracking down 41 barrels of toxic waste that had gone missing after an explosion at a chemical plant in Italy in 1976. By Eric Auchard LONDON (Reuters) - Taxify, an upstart European rival to Uber [UBER.UL], said on Thursday it had begun offering services in Paris despite regulatory uncertainty governing the status of private-hire cab companies that compete with licensed taxis. The Estonia-based company, which is backed by Chinese ride-hailing giant DiDi Chuxing, operates in 25 cities in central and eastern Europe as well as Africa, where it has made inroads in the past year against Uber. (http://reut.rs/2eVl0qa) Its basic appeal to drivers is that it charges a 15 percent commission on rides compared with the 20-25 percent that Uber charges, which can translate into cheaper fares for passengers. Last month, however, Taxify was forced to halt pickups just three days after entering the London market when local regulator Transport for London (TfL) accused the company of failing to obtain a proper license to operate. (http://reut.rs/2xjtVIk) Taxify said that unlike in London, ride-hailing apps are not required to receive licenses to operate in France. "London is quite unique in its licensing environment," Taxify Chief Executive Markus Villig said. "In Paris, and in most cities of the world, there is nothing needed for us to book rides. Only the drivers need to have an appropriate license." It said it had signed up 5,000 licensed operators - mostly private hire but also some taxi cab drivers - to its online ride-booking platform in Paris ahead of entering the market. Nonetheless, the regulatory standing for ride-hailing apps remains uncertain in France, which has seen a crackdown against Uber - including the arrest of two senior executives there (http://reut.rs/2fn2gTO). A 2014 French law on taxis and chauffeured services makes it a criminal offense to organize taxi services with unregistered drivers and sets restrictions on software that enables customers to book cabs on the street. Taxify said in a statement: "The regulatory environment regarding the VTC (private hire) service is evolving. Taxify is fully committed to complying with all regulations." In London the transport regulator contacted Taxify via email two weeks ago and pledged to proceed with licensing discussions, Villig said. It was the first time Taxify had been contacted by TfL after five months of attempts to do so, he said. "We are doing everything we can to get a license. Unfortunately it is going extremely slow," Villig told Reuters. "We hope to have some progress in the next few weeks." Over the next three to six months the company plans to expand to more cities in Britain and France, he added. (This version of the story has been refiled to fix spelling error in paragraph six) (Reporting by Eric Auchard; editing by Mark Heinrich) Looking tired and haggard, William Coronado pulls up before dawn with a boat full of fish on the muddy shore of Nicaragua's Lake Managua, a dumping ground for trash and waste. "The lake is so polluted. They throw all sorts of crap into it," said the 56-year-old. "Containers, old buckets, all sorts of bags -- all the junk they throw away in Managua. It's a disgrace." Coronado spent two days under the Central American sun and windy nights to bring in a haul of hundreds of tiny two-banded sea bream and other freshwater fish, to sell them for $1.30 per dozen to a business just north of the capital Managua. His wife Rosa waits for him in a rickety house built of tin and plastic located just 300 meters (yards) from the lake, living in extreme poverty like most of the neighbors. Lake Managua, also known as Lake Xolotlan, is one of the biggest freshwater bodies in Central America. It is also one of the most polluted, a problem that started nearly a century ago. Between 1967 and 1992, a US chemical company, Pennwalt, regularly dumped mercury into its depths. From 1927 to 2009, the capital, which sits on the lake, tipped its untreated sewage and factory outflows into the lake. - Mercury levels - Eight years ago, the government finally opened a treatment plant financed by German funding and the Inter-American Development Bank. Since then, the pollution has eased, the bad odors have lessened, and the lake has become a tourist attraction. But the former head of the state water company, Ruth Herrera, warned that it could take another 100 years before the expanse of water is finally clean -- maybe longer, if residents continue to tip their garbage into it. Health authorities in the country are still warning pregnant women to avoid eating fish caught in the lake to prevent their babies developing disorders such as mental retardation or stunted growth due to the high mercury levels. A study carried out last year by the Autonomous University of Nicaragua, with backing from Japan, found that the guapote freshwater fish from Lake Nicaragua had 0.46 micrograms of mercury per kilo, above the authorized level of 0.40. Other species of fish had lower levels, and most of the lake has trace levels of mercury. - Poverty - "Maybe these fish have low levels, but over the long term, the population could have health effects if it eats them," cautioned Jurguen Guevara of Centro Humboldt, an environmental group. Herrera also advised against eating fish from the lake, although she suggested that the estimated 100,000 mostly poor people living around its shores might have developed some sort of resistance to illnesses by eating the fish. "We eat fish from there every day and nothing has happened to us," affirmed Ofelia Ramirez, from a village called Tipitapa. But the locals have little choice: they are among the one-third of Nicaragua's population living under the poverty line, and the lake represents their only source of work and sustenance. Dozens of fishermen can be seen sailing in the middle of the night in small boats made of fiberglass or wood, pulling up nets cast in the lake. "We bring back around 20 dozen" fish every day, said Juan Ramirez, a 30-year-old setting off in a canoe with his two children to help him fish the lake's waters. By Vladimir Soldatkin and Katya Golubkova MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted Saudi Arabia's King Salman for talks at the Kremlin on Thursday, cementing a relationship that is pivotal for world oil prices and could decide the outcome of the conflict in Syria. King Salman, the first sitting Saudi monarch ever to visit Russia, led a delegation to Moscow that agreed joint investment deals worth several billion dollars, providing much-needed investment for a Russian economy battered by low oil prices and Western sanctions. Saudi Arabia said it had signed a memorandum of understanding on the purchase from Russia of S-400 air defence systems. That marked a shift for the kingdom, which buys most of its military kit from the United States and Britain. On the political front, there was no sign of any substantial breakthrough on the issues that have long divided Moscow and Riyadh, including the fact that they back rival sides in Syria's war. However, any discord was eclipsed by mutual expressions of respect, and the pomp and ceremony laid on by Russian officials to greet the Saudi king. On his journey into central Moscow from Vnukovo airport late on Wednesday, King Salman's limousine passed billboards bearing his photograph and messages in Russian and Arabic welcoming him. On Thursday, Putin received the monarch in the gold-decorated St. Andrew Hall, one of the grandest spaces in the Kremlin, attended by soldiers in ceremonial dress and with an orchestra playing their countries' national anthems. "I am sure that your visit will provide a good impulse for the development of relations between our two states," Putin told King Salman later as they sat alongside each other in the Kremlin's lavishly-decorated Green Parlour. Russia and Saudi Arabia, despite their differences, have been drawn together by a common interest in propping up flagging world oil prices, and by the fact that Moscow, since its military intervention in Syria, has clout in the Middle East that other players in the region cannot ignore. The Saudi king invited Putin to visit his country - an offer the Russian leader accepted - and said they planned to keep cooperating to keep world oil prices stable. Moscow and Riyadh worked together to secure a deal between OPEC and other oil producers to cut output until the end of March 2018, helping support prices. Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih said Saudi Arabia was "flexible" regarding Moscow's suggestion to extend the pact until the end of next year. The message of further joint Saudi-Russia action on output helped push up oil prices on Thursday. Brent crude was up more than 2 percent at $57.12 a barrel by 1615 GMT. SYRIA DIFFERENCES In Syria, Riyadh supports rebels fighting President Bashar al-Assads army, while Russian and Iranian forces have sided with Assad. This leaves Moscow aligned with Saudi Arabias arch-rival Iran, whose influence Riyadh fears is growing in the region. Briefing the media after the talks, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov focused on the common ground, saying the two leaders had agreed on the importance of fighting terrorism, finding peaceful solutions to conflicts in the Middle East, and on the principle of territorial integrity. His Saudi counterpart, Adel al-Jubeir, said new horizons had opened for Russia-Saudi ties that he could not previously have imagined. "Relations between Russia and Saudi Arabia have reached a historical moment," said Jubeir, speaking through an interpreter. "We are certain that the further strengthening of Russian-Saudi relations will have a positive impact on strengthening stability and security in the region and the world." SLEW OF DEALS A package of investments announced during the visit will go some way to plugging the vacuum left by sluggish Western investment in Russia that is, in part, a result of sanctions imposed after Moscow annexed Crimea in 2014. Among the deals was an agreement between Russian sovereign wealth fund RDIF and Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund to invest up to $100 million in transport projects in Russia. The two countries also signed a deal to set up a $1 billion joint investment fund. Another memorandum of understanding was signed under which Russian petrochemicals firm Sibur would explore cooperation with Saudi Arabia. RDIF head Kirill Dmitriev said his fund was interested in partnering with Saudi investors to acquire a minority stake in Russian oilfield services firm Eurasia Drilling. Absent from the slew of deals was any agreement on Saudi Aramco taking a stake in an Arctic liquefied natural gas project run by Russia's Novatek. Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said earlier this month that Saudi officials were studying joint gas projects with Novatek. However, Aramco chief executive Amin Nasser said such a deal was not being discussed at this stage. (Additional reporting by Andrew Osborn, Dmitry Solovyov, Jack Stubbs and Olesya Astakhova; Writing by Christian Lowe; Editing by Robin Pomeroy) SAF national servicemen seen at the Army Open House event held at the F1 Pit Building in May. (PHOTO: Dhany Osman / Yahoo News Singapore) Singapore has reportedly assured Taiwan that a decades-long military agreement between both sides will remain, according to a South China Morning Post (SCMP) report. [Singapore said] everything would be the same as usual, said Taiwans Foreign Minister David Lee in response to a question during a legislative session on Monday (2 October). Opposition lawmaker Johnny Chiang had asked whether a visit by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong to Beijing in September might affect Project Starlight. The Taiwanese minister said that Singaporeans officials had visited him after PM Lees Beijing trip and told him there would be no change to the military arrangement. Starlight is an agreement signed in 1975 between then-Taiwanese leader Chiang Ching-kuo and the Singapores first PM Lee Kuan Yew, which allows Singaporean troops to train in Taiwan. According to the SCMP report, the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) maintains at least three bases in Taiwan. There has been speculation over the fate of Project Starlight ever since nine SAF military vehicles, which were being transported from Taiwan to Singapore, were seized in Hong Kong late last year. Shortly after the incident, China lodged an official protest with Singapore over its military ties with the island. Hong Kong authorities returned the vehicles to Singapore in January this year. Ties between the Republic and the Middle Kingdom appear to be on the mend after Lees visit to Beijing. During his trip, PM Lee also reminded China that regional peace and stability is in its own interest. Arleth Martinez smooths her clothes, kisses a photo of her twins and leaves for work. It's only a few meters from her Colombian cell to her unusually fragrant workplace, South America's first gastronomic prison restaurant. Following the example of South Africa's Pollsmoor Prison, where Nelson Mandela wound down his 27-year sentence, and another in Milan, inmates at the teeming women's prison in downtown Cartagena are getting a taste for reintegration back into society with an experience that mixes cuisine with customer service. The photo of the seven-year-old twins is Arleth's "lucky charm" -- a constant reminder of the future. Sentenced to six years for extortion in 2015, present-day life in the San Diego prison has become a little more palatable since she started working at the restaurant late last year. "Even though I'm still in prison, I feel free because it's a completely different environment," said the 26-year-old, wearing a pristine black t-shirt and apron, her hair gathered in a colorful pink turban. At least around the restaurant "you don't see so many bars". Fifteen of the 150 inmates, most of them accused of murder or drug trafficking, work either in the kitchen, or in table service. The work is incentivised -- two days washing dishes, preparing or serving food, gets a day of prison time reduced. - A second chance - A fuchsia curtain separates the 50-seat restaurant from the cells. A mural of flowers painted by the inmates provides some colorful relief from the drab prison surroundings. Named "El Interno," which roughly translates as "The Intern," the eatery provides a little extra frisson for curious locals and tourists while they enjoy a 30-dollar menu that runs from "fish ceviche in coconut milk" to "rice with seafood" and "posta Cartagenera" -- meat in black sauce typical of the city. "When they arrive, people know that they are entering a prison, and that they will be served by prisoners," said Johana Bahamon, a Colombian television actress whose Accion Interna (Internal Action) Foundation was the driving force behind the idea. "When they leave, they are happy to have met talented, courageous and real human beings," Bahamon told AFP. El Interno is a rare opportunity for inmates in a country that has the largest prison population in South America after Brazil. In the last 17 years, the number of those behind bars in Colombia has more than doubled from 51,500 to 119,000, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Tougher sentences and an increase in convictions for drug trafficking have filled Colombia's 138 prisons to well beyond their combined 80,000 capacity. Bahamon believes that women in these overcrowded prisons badly need to be offered a fresh start. It's a recurring theme at the restaurant. "Yo creo en las segundas oportunidades" (I believe in second chances) is emblazoned on Arleth's black T-shirt and inscribed on the signs on the walls pointing to the colorful eatery. Bahamon said she was inspired by InGalera, a public restaurant run by Italian prisoners which set up in the parking lot of a Milan prison a few years ago. She convinced the authorities to adapt the concept to the San Diego prison, located right in the tourist heart of Cartagena, a few meters from the luxurious hotels that abound around the old Colonial city's historic port. For well-to-do customers like Antonio Galan, from the capital Bogota, "everything has a flavor and aroma of freedom, from the taste of the dishes to the ambiance of the restaurant." - 25 to a cell - Thus, in the evenings at least, Arleth is surrounded by well-heeled influencers, personalities and media officials, who stand in solidarity with the cause. El Interno offers gourmet dinners from Tuesday to Sunday. But when it closes at 11:00 pm, it's back to the mundane reality of answering roll call in their prison cells for Arleth and her fellow inmates. Like other prisons in Colombia, San Diego is overcrowded. Some 150 women, many of whom are awaiting trial, share a space designed for just 100. When she came to San Diego, Arleth said she got the shock of her life, as she had to come to terms with the prison drug abuse, poor hygiene, and a dilapidated building. For four months she slept on the floor, 25 to a cell. She was anxious for her children, entrusted to their grandmother. Their father, she says, mistreated and abandoned his family. But last year she passed her secondary school exams and trained as a waitress in the prison. Her work at the restaurant has earned her the right to a rare luxury here -- a bunk in a cell. In prison, "only warriors" survive, she said. Three US Green Berets and four Nigerien soldiers were killed in a clash on the Niger-Mali border, where Islamic State fighters have established a presence, officials said Thursday. A joint US-Niger patrol fell into an ambush on Wednesday in the Tillaberi region in the country's southwest, requiring French Mirage 2000 fighter jets to be called in for air support. Niger's President Mahamadou Issoufou said there were many casualties in the battle, and US Africa Command said two more Special Forces troops were wounded. The fatal "ambush" also wounded eight Nigerien troops, a statement from Niger's defence ministry said. Another person from an unnamed country was also killed, according to the Pentagon statement. "Our country has just been attacked once more by terrorist groups, an assault which sadly has resulted in a large number of casualties," Issoufou said in the capital Niamey. A French military spokesman said French helicopters had evacuated wounded from the scene and added that the fighting was continuing. "The Nigerien operation is still ongoing, from what I know," said French Colonel Patrik Steiger. "It is in the area of the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara," he said, using the name of the jihadist group's regional franchise. The Pentagon said the clash took place approximately 200 kilometers (120 miles) north of Niamey. That puts the attack near the border with Mali, where armed jihadists are known to operate. The two wounded US soldiers were evacuated to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany where they are in "stable condition," US Africa Command said. The report confirmed the little-known presence of US troops in the turbulent area, part of the poor and politically fragile Sahel region where jihadist groups are mounting an insurgency. US troops have increased their presence in Niger in recent years but this appeared to be their first firefight, Lieutenant General Kenneth McKenzie, Joint Staff Director, told reporters in Washington. "I'm not aware there's been any incident of that nature in the recent past," he said. "I don't know that they were ambushed," McKenzie said. "There was an engagement. I think we're still gathering information on that." McKenzie did not give troop numbers but said US forces are there to "train, advise, assist" Niger's government to increase its capability to stand alone against violent extremists. The US casualties will not alter that goal, he said. "We're committed to that relationship. We believe that they are as well. In fact I think it's a very good success story." France's Steiger said French fighter jets were sent to the scene as a show of force, but did not drop any munitions to avoid hitting the forces on the ground. Under the name Operation Barkhane, France maintains a 4,000-man mission in the region to shore up fragile Sahel countries against jihadists who have carried out a wave of bloody bombings, shootings and kidnappings. - Extremist rebels - Western militaries have been actively supporting Niger forces in their effort to prevent jihadist groups in the Sahel from establishing a strong presence in the country. In February and March, troops from the United States, Belgium, Australia and Canada, including US Special Forces, conducted a 17-day training operation with Nigerien troops focused on fighting extremist insurgents. Issoufou did not put a number on how many Nigerien casualties there were in the clash but called for a minute's silence "to the memory of our soldiers who have fallen on the field of honour." At the United Nations, Mali's Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop told a Security Council meeting on the situation in Mali that the attack on the border highlighted the need for the new Sahel force tasked with fighting Islamic militants to quickly begin its operations. "The violent and deadly clashes that occurred yesterday on the Niger-Mali border remind us once again of the pressing need to proceed to the rapid operationalisation of the G5 Sahel force," Diop told the council. The regional force must be "rendered operational as quickly as possible in order to ensure it can withstand those who are seeking to destablise our entire region: terrorists and armed groups." The force set up by Burkina Faso, Mali, Chad, Mauritania and Niger is due to being operations later this month, but a question mark remains over its funding. burs-it/dc By Steve Holland and Yara Bayoumy WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump is expected to announce soon that he will decertify the landmark international deal to curb Iran's nuclear programme, a senior administration official said on Thursday, in a step that potentially could cause the 2015 accord to unravel. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Trump is also expected to roll out a broader U.S. strategy on Iran that would be more confrontational. The Trump administration has frequently criticized Iran's conduct in the Middle East. Trump, who has called the pact an "embarrassment" and "the worst deal ever negotiated," has been weighing whether it serves U.S. security interests as he faces an Oct. 15 deadline for certifying that Iran is complying with its terms. "We must not allow Iran ... to obtain nuclear weapons," Trump said during a meeting with military leaders at the White House on Thursday, adding: "The Iranian regime supports terrorism and exports violence, bloodshed and chaos across the Middle East. That is why we must put an end to Iran's continued aggression and nuclear ambitions. They have not lived up to the spirit of their agreement." Asked about his decision on whether to certify the landmark deal, Trump said: "You'll be hearing about Iran very shortly." Supporters say its collapse could trigger a regional arms race and worsen Middle East tensions, while opponents say it went too far in easing sanctions without requiring that Iran end its nuclear programme permanently. Iranian authorities have repeatedly said Tehran would not be the first to violate the accord, under which Iran agreed to restrict its nuclear programme in return for lifting most international sanctions that had crippled its economy. If Trump declines to certify Iran's compliance, U.S. congressional leaders would have 60 days to decide whether to reimpose sanctions on Tehran suspended under the agreement. Whether Congress would be willing to reimpose sanctions is far from clear. While Republicans, and some Democrats, opposed the deal when it was approved in 2015, there is little obvious appetite in Congress for dealing with the Iran issue now. The prospect that Washington could renege on the pact, which was signed by the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Russia, China, the European Union and Iran, has worried some of the U.S. allies that helped negotiate it. "We, the Europeans, we have hammered this: the agreement is working," said a European diplomat who asked to remain anonymous. "We as Europeans, have repeated ... its impossible to reopen the agreement. Period. Its impossible." French President Emmanuel Macron said last month there was no alternative to the nuclear accord, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). A senior Iranian diplomat told Reuters on Thursday the end result of Trump's expected move would be to isolate the United States since the Europeans would continue to support it. "Many foreign investors told us that they will not be scared away from Irans market if Trump de-certifies the deal," the diplomat said. Trump has long criticized the pact, a signature foreign policy achievement of his Democratic predecessor Barack Obama. The administration was considering Oct. 12 for Trump to give a speech on Iran but no final decision had been made, an official said previously. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a close ally of Trump, last month said that unless provisions in the accord removing restrictions on Iran's nuclear programme over time are eliminated, it should be cancelled. "Fix it, or nix it," Netanyahu said in a speech at the U.N. General Assembly annual gathering of world leaders on Sept. 19. Many of Trump's fellow Republicans who control Congress also have been critical of the deal. 'CANNOT ABIDE' Trump blasted the deal in his speech to the U.N. General Assembly, also on Sept. 19. "We cannot abide by an agreement if it provides cover for the eventual construction of a nuclear programme," Trump said, adding that Iran's government "masks a corrupt dictatorship behind the false guise of a democracy." Trump is weighing a strategy that could allow more aggressive U.S. responses to Iran's forces, its Shi'ite Muslim proxies in Iraq and Syria and its support for militant groups. Trump's defence secretary, Jim Mattis, told a congressional hearing on Tuesday that Iran was "fundamentally" in compliance with the agreement. He also said the United States should consider staying in the deal unless it were proven that Tehran was not abiding by it or that it was not in the U.S. national interest to do so. When Mattis was asked by a senator whether he thought staying in the deal was in the U.S. national security interest, he replied: "Yes, senator, I do." Last week, Irans foreign minister said Tehran may abandon the deal if Washington decides to withdraw. A State Department official said the Trump administration was "fully committed to addressing the totality of Iranian threats and malign activities and seeks to bring about a change in the Iranian regime's behaviour." The official said that behaviour includes ballistic missiles proliferation, "support for terrorism," support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, "unrelenting hostility to Israel," "consistently threatening freedom of navigation in the Persian Gulf," cyber attacks against the United States and its allies, human rights abuses and "arbitrary detentions of U.S. citizens." "The JCPOA was expected to contribute to regional and international peace and security, and Irans regime is doing everything in its power to undermine peace and security, the State Department official added. The move also would represent another step by Trump that would undo key parts of Obama's legacy. If Trump moves to decertify the accord, it would mark another example of walking away from international commitments as he pursues his nationalist "America First" agenda. He previously announced plans to abandon the Paris climate accord and the ambitious 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal, two key Obama achievements. (Reporting by Steve Holland and Yara Bayoumy in Washington; Additional reporting by Jeff Mason, Patricia Zengerle and David Alexander in Washington and Parisa Hafezi in Ankara; Writing by Will Dunham; Editing by James Dalgleish) A Turkish court on Wednesday handed life sentences to 40 people convicted of plotting to assassinate President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at a luxury Aegean hotel during last year's failed coup. Thirty-one defendants, including senior military officers, were each given four life sentences at the trial in the southwestern city of Mugla, the private Dogan news agency reported. They include former brigadier general Gokhan Sahin Sonmezates who was accused of directing the plot. Former elite commando Zekeriya Kuzu, who was famously found hiding in a cave four days after the failed coup, also received a life term. A further nine defendants each received a single life sentence, Dogan added. Another key figure in the trial, Erdogan's former military aide-de-camp Ali Yazici, was sentenced to 18 years in jail. Just one suspect out of 47 in total, former lieutenant colonel Huseyin Yilmaz, was acquitted. - 'It's enough' - The trial began on February 20 and is one of many such processes taking place across Turkey to try those who allegedly took part in the failed bid to oust Erdogan on July 15, 2016. Some verdicts have already been handed out in lower-profile cases but it is the first ruling involving alleged top plotters. The failed coup left 249 people dead, not including the putschists, and the authorities have vowed no compromise will be made in bringing those involved to justice. Two police officers were killed by the so-called "assassination team" while guarding the hotel. Guzel Eker, the mother of one of the officers Nedip Cengiz Eker, described her relief and pain at the verdict. "I am burning inside. It is enough for me that they have been given life sentences," she said, quoted by state-run Anadolu news agency. Over 50,000 people have been arrested under the state of emergency imposed following the coup bid during a heavily criticised crackdown which has raised fears over Turkey's justice system in the West. Turkey accuses Pennsylvania-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen of orchestrating the attempted coup. Gulen, a former Erdogan ally turned arch-foe, strongly denies Ankara's claims. Some of the suspects, including Sonmezates, admitted taking part in the coup bid during the trial but denied any links to Gulen. Gulen was also on trial in absentia in Mugla. But the judge separated his case from the trial along with two other suspects. Ravza Kavakci Kan, ruling Justice and Development Party deputy leader, praised the judicial process after hearing the verdict in court. "This gives us hope that the courts are delivering verdicts after this ugly, treacherous coup attempt," she said, quoted by Anadolu. One of the lawyers representing the prime ministry, Halit Cokan, said the verdict stemmed from an "open trial" and demonstrated "Turkey was a state with the rule of law". - '15 minutes from death' - Erdogan has said the assassination plot left him minutes from death after he fled the Grand Yazici Hotel in Marmaris, where he had been holidaying with his family, and went back to Istanbul by plane. "If I had stayed 10 or 15 additional minutes there, I would have been killed or I would have been taken," Erdogan told CNN in an interview just days after the coup. But some commentators have cast doubt on whether the president was in such immediate danger as the "assassination team" only arrived at the hotel well after he had left. According to the parliamentary commission that investigated the coup plot, a 34-man team of putschists arrived at Erdogan's hotel at 3.20 am (0020 GMT). But Erdogan landed in Istanbul at 3.40 am (0040 GMT). Some Erdogan supporters had called for the plotters to face the death penalty, which Turkey abolished in 2004 as part of its bid to join the European Union. At least 200 people outside the court waving Turkish flags shouted "we want the death penalty" and "we want justice", as they called for Gulen to be extradited to Turkey to be tried. During his presidential run, Donald Trumps promises to rescue the coal industry always seemed like empty rhetoric. Were going to put those miners back to work. Were going to get those mines open, he told a hard-hat wearing crowd in Charleston, West Virginia. Youre going to be working your asses off. What Trump never bothered to explain was how he would stop the economic forces that were quickly making coal power obsolete. Theres still little way for Trump to bring coal back to its former, 20th century glory. But it turns out he was serious about salvaging the industry after allserious enough that his administration now wants to keep old, obsolete power plants alive by forcing consumers to overpay for their electricity. Advertisement The administrations proposal, now being considered by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), would essentially require utility companies to purchase electricity from coal and nuclear plants at prices guaranteeing them a profit, even if there are cheaper alternatives available on the market. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Environmental groups have come out hard against the scheme, as have the solar, wind, and natural gas lobbies, which all stand to lose out in the deal. Its a policy idea bizarre and awful enough to unite the eco-crusaders of the Natural Resources Defense Council with the fossil fuel champions of the American Petroleum Institute. The actual, legal regulatory details of this are not clear at all, because the proposal is poorly drafted and incredibly vague on a bunch of key details, Miles Farmer, an energy attorney with the NRDC, told me. The only thing that is clear is that its an attempt to save coal and nuclear plants. Advertisement Advertisement In some ways, the administrations move amounts to an uncharacteristic acknowledgment of economic reality. Trump spent much of his campaign vowing to revive coal-mining jobs by rolling back President Obamas climate change and industry regulations. As many energy experts pointed out at the time, this was wildly unrealistic. While stricter environmental rules certainly didnt help coals fortunes, the sector has mostly declined over the past decade because power companies turned to cheaper natural gas. Competition from increasingly affordable renewables like wind and solar isnt helping either. To keep coal afloat, Trump would have to go to war against the free marketwhich seemed a bit unlikely. Advertisement But thats exactly what he appears to be doing. Last week, Energy Secretary Rick Perry took advantage of an obscure 1977 law and asked FERC to consider a rule ensuring power plants could sell their electricity at prices that let them recover their full costs of production while earning a fair rate of return, so long as they kept a 90-day supply of fuel on site. That 90-day thing ensures that this rule would really only apply to coal and nuclear plants, which tend to keep their fissile material and hardened chunks of carbon close at hand as opposed to natural gas plants, which generally receive a steady flow of fuel through pipelines. (In the future, some natural gas plants could try to qualify for it by keeping more liquified fuel on hand.) Renewables would also have a hard time meeting the 90-day threshold, since they dont store that much power. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So why is it supposedly necessary to prop up coal? For months now, Perry has been trying to build a case that disappearing coal and nuclear plants have made the U.S. electric grid less stable and more prone to blackouts. Keeping them on life support through government-mandated higher prices would make our electricity system more resilient, he claims. Advertisement Advertisement There is not a great deal of evidence to back that up. After Perry commissioned a report on the issue in April, the Department of Energys staff concluded that wholesale electricity marketswhere utilities buy power, before sending it to their customers homes and officeswere working just fine for the time being. (They are currently functioning as designed, the report stated, dryly.) However, they theorized that the grid could face reliability issues in the future as more coal and nuclear plants, which tend to run all the time and provide a constant source of electricity, power down. The report also noted that blackouts during some recent extreme weather events, like the 2014 polar vortex and Superstorm Sandy, had exposed weaknesses in our grid. Advertisement Advertisement Perry ran with this. In the wake of the devastation wrought by the Polar Vortex, Superstorm Sandy, and Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria, he wrote in his letter to FERCs commissioners, much more work needs to be done to preserve these fuel-secure generation resources that have the essential reliability and resiliency attributes needed to keep the lights on for all Americans in times of crisis. In other words: If the entire Midwest freezes over again, we need to make sure there are plants with giant piles of coal around to keep our electric heaters humming. Advertisement This is not a particularly convincing argument. First, its worth noting that outside of those massive storms, power plants very rarely go offline because they cant find enough stuff to burn. Between 2012 and 2016, 0.00007 percent of electricity disturbances involved a fuel supply shortage, according to an analysis by the Rhodium Group (which called Perrys proposal a solution in search of a problem). The old, inefficient coal plants that have been shuttering also seem to be more likely to suffer outages than the new plants that have been replacing them. Yet DOE wants to subsidize these clunkers so they wont retire, writes Steve Huntoon, a former president of the Energy Bar Association. Advertisement Advertisement Coal probably isnt the solution to inclement weather, either. The dirty black stuff can freeze in extreme cold, rendering it useless. As the very report that Perry commissioned notes, coal plants still suffered widespread failures during the polar vortex, even if they did play a role in keeping the grid functioning. Having a three-month supply of fuel on hand wont necessarily help much during hurricanes either, when the major problem tends to be downed power lines, as were seeing now in Puerto Rico. If Trump wants to make sure people have electricity in an emergency, he should focus on figuring out how to keep their houses connected even if theyre cut off from one part of the grid. (Theres also just something perverse about subsidizing coal to deal with superstorms fueled by global warming.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While it might not make our grid much more stable, forcing utilities to buy overpriced coal power will certainly make electricity more expensive for companies and families. Because the proposal is preliminary, its hard to predict exactly what the costs will be. But sources I spoke with suggested the rule would transfer many billions of dollars into the bank accounts of inefficient coal plants. Rates would escalate phenomenally, John Hughes, president and CEO of ELCON, a trade group that represents major industrial companies that buy electricity in bulk, told me. In a normal situation, plants that cant compete would go out of business. We see no reason for bailing out these plants. One reason, of course, is to save a handful of jobs in an industry Trump promised to protect, much to the planets peril. Its a little difficult to say precisely how many coal plants would benefit from Perrys proposed rule. The regulation appears to be aimed at saving what are known as merchant power plantssometimes called independent power producerswhich operate on their own apart from integrated utility companies. Of the 427 coal plants that existed in 2015, according to the Energy Information Administrations most recent stats, about 127 were independent. So theoretically, this could be lifesaver for a sizable chunk of the coal-burning power plants in operation, but not the majority. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the end FERC is an independent body, and it can choose to accept or reject the Trump administrations proposal. The rules chances are a bit murky for now; the commissions chair has suggested that hes sympathetic to the idea, but Trumps other Republican picks for the five-person commission are considered wild cards. If FERC embraces the regulation, though, its likely that some of the many groups opposing it will sue. For now, the NRDCs Farmer tried to offer me an upbeat take on what hes calling Trumps coal industry bailout: Theres no way that this will arrest the decline of coal, because theres no way that the country would be crazy enough to set up the markets this wayin the long term. In the short-term, Donald Trump is president. Quotient Technology Inc. operates as a digital media and promotions technology company that offers power integrated digital media and promotions programs for brands and retailers. The company's Quotient Promotions platform offers digital paperless, print promotion, and cash back rebates, including Coupons.com website and mobile applications; brand and retailer websites and mobile applications; and third-party publishing websites and mobile applications. It also provides Quotient Retailer Promotions Platform that uses consumer data and insights to distribute personalized and targeted media and promotions for retailers of grocery, drug, mass merchant, dollar, club, and convenience merchandise; and Quotient Media Platform, which provides targeted advertising solutions that enables brands to reach shoppers before, during, and after their shopping cycles with digital media campaigns. It also provides Quotient Retailer Performance Media Platform that uses retailer's consumer data to drive sales and enhances the shopper experience; Quotient Analytics provides campaign analytics and measured sales results to brands and retailers; Quotient Consumer Properties; and Quotient Retailer Media Services. It serves approximately 900 consumer packed goods, representing approximately 2,500 brands, including various food, beverage, personal care, and household product manufacturers; retail partners representing various classes of trade, such as grocery retailers, drug, mass merchant, dollar, club, and convenience merchandise channels; and consumers visiting its websites, mobile properties, and social channels. The company was formerly known as Coupons.com Incorporated and changed its name to Quotient Technology Inc. in October 2015. Quotient Technology Inc. was incorporated in 1998 and is headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah. Letter of undertaking & Bond under GST 1.1 Who is eligible for Letter of undertaking With effect from 4th October 2017 the facility of export of goods and/or services under LUT has now been extended to all registered persons except to those who have been prosecuted for any offence under the CGST/IGST Act /any of the existing laws and the amount of tax evaded in such cases exceeds two hundred and fifty lakh rupees. Therefore any person having valid GSTN is allowed to furnish the LUT if they have not been prosecuted for an offence involving evasion of tax exceeding Indian rupees 2.50 Cr.(250 Lkahs) 1.2 What should do an exporter who has already furnished the Bond and Bank Guaranteed and desirous to avail LUT facility. They should approach the concerned GST authority for cancellation of Bond and Bank guaranteed and file a fresh LUT, and export on and after 04th October shall be done under LUT .It is noted that the LUT is valid for the financial year in which it is tendered, hence exporter have option to treat the export after 01st July under LUT instead of bond, however language of circular employ the language EXCEPT RESPECT THINGS DONE OR OMITTED TO BE DONE BEFORE SUCH SUPRESSION. 1.3 Documents for along with LUT Self-declaration by the exporter that they have not been prosecuted for any offence under the CGST/IGST Act or any of the existing laws for tax evasion of amount exceeding two hundred and fifty lakh rupees is suffice. Language of declaration should be like this (On letter head of company) Iname.Managing director/Company Secretary/Authorized Signatory.. of ABC Ltd having registered office at and having principle place of business at..And having GSTN.here declare and state as under: That I am competent and authorized by the Board of director to sing and execute the document for furnishing of letter of undertaking under GST Laws of India. That to the best of knowledge and believe ABC Ltd is not been prosecuted in past for any offence involving evasion of tax exceeding rupees 250 Crore. 1.4 Time for acceptance of LUT LUT should be accepted on priority within a period of three working days of its receipt along with the self-declaration as stated above. If the LUT is not accepted within a period of three working days from the date of submission, it shall deemed to be accepted. Hence exporter are advised to take proof of submission of LUT with GST authority. Validity of LUT The LUT shall be valid for the whole financial year in which it is tendered. 1.5 Transactions to/by EOU Supplies to EOUs are taxable like any other taxable supplies. Facility of LUT for supply of Goods and/or Services to EOU is not available. Supply to EOU is chargeable to GST. Export of good and/or services by EOU is allowed under LUT. 1.6 Transaction to/by SEZ Supply of Goods and/or services both to SEZ unit or developer is allowed under LUT without payment of GST even if realized in Indian rupees. Similarly export by SEZ unit or SEZ developer is also allowed under LUT. 1.7 Export (Goods and/or Services) to Nepal/Bhutan realized in Indian Rupees Export of goods to Napal/Bhutan allowed under LUT even if realized in INR, but services not allowed under LUT because services said to be exported only when realization in foreign currency, goods said to be exported if simply taken out of India currency of realization is irrelevant for export of goods but is relevant for services. Hence supply of services to Nepal and realized in INR is interstate supply liable for GST not export of services. 2.1 What is Letter of undertaking (LUT) for export of Goods? Letter of undertaking is an undertaking on letter head of company in prescribed form RFD-11 to be furnished with jurisdictional GST authority on the letter head of the registered person. LUT is binding: To export the goods out of India within three month from the date of issue of invoice for export . . To pay applicable tax along with interest within a period of fifteen days after the expiry of three months from the date of issue of the invoice for export , if the goods are not exported out of India within the said period (i.e. 3 Month). , if the goods are not exported out of India within the said period (i.e. 3 Month). To ensure export within three month from the date of issue of invoice for export. It also implies that date of invoice should be issued on or before the date of removal of goods. It also implies that the date of invoice in case of export of goods in all cases should be prior to the date of shipping bill. 2.1 Relevant date of export in case of Goods if the goods are exported by sea or air, the date on which the ship or the aircraft leaves India; or if the goods are exported by land, the date on which such goods pass the frontier; or if the goods are exported by post, the date of dispatch of goods by the Post Office concerned to a place outside India; Conclusion: If the gap between date of export of goods and date of invoice for export of goods is more than three month then exporter is liable to pay IGST along with interest. 3. What would happen if tax along with interest is not paid The facility of export under LUT will be deemed to have been withdrawn. If the amount mentioned in the said sub-rule is paid subsequently, the facility of export under LUT shall be restored .As a result, exports, during the period from when the facility to export under LUT is withdrawn till the time the same is restored, shall be either on payment of the applicable integrated tax or under bond with bank guarantee 3.1 What is Letter of undertaking (LUT) for export of services? Letter of undertaking is an undertaking on letter head of company in prescribed form RFD-11 to be furnished with jurisdictional GST authority on the letter head of the registered person. LUT is binding. To pay applicable tax along with interest within fifteen days after the expiry of one year, from the date of issue of the invoice for export, if the payment of such services is not received by the exporter in convertible foreign exchange. Meaning thereby exporter of services is bound to realize the payment within 1 year from the date of invoice for export of services. 3.2 Relevant date of export in case of services Where services completed prior to the receipt of such payment The date of receipt of payment in convertible foreign exchange, Where payment for the services received in advance prior to the date of issue of the invoice The date of Issue of invoice, 4.1 What is Bond Bond is like ledger with debit and credit facility and running in nature. Bond to be furnished with the GST officer judicial stamp on prescribed format RFD-11 but entry of debit and credit to be maintained by the exporter itself and to be shown to the officer whenever asked by the officer. Amount of bond is based on self-assessed tax liability by the exporter, bond amount should not be less than that of the outstanding IGST liability on account of export of goods and/or services. In all cases bond is to be supported by bank guarantee at the rate of 15%. 4.2 Who is required to file bond Who have been prosecuted in past for tax evasion exceeding Rs 2.5 Crore. 4.3 Consequence on noncompliance of condition of bond Bond facility deemed to withdrawn and export is possible only on payment of IGST i.e. same as in case of noncompliance of term and conditions of bond. How to Register as GST Practitioner? In the wake of this week's slaughter of 58 people by a gunman opening fire on spectators at an outdoor concert in Las Vegas, Democratic congressional candidate Dennis Crawford has called for enactment of gun control legislation. "As a member of Congress, I would pledge to take on the NRA (National Rifle Association) and vote for common-sense legislation aimed at reducing gun violence and making it harder for unsuitable people to purchase guns," the 1st District candidate said. "These terrible gun laws are the result of years of special interest lobbying by the NRA, which represents the gun-manufacturing industry," Crawford said. "It is all too easy to get a gun in the U.S.," he said. Crawford said he supports some reforms proposed in a op-ed column by Nicholas Kristoff published in The New York Times, including imposing a universal background check for anyone wishing to purchase a gun. Other proposed legislation would impose a minimum age limit of 21 for all gun purchases, ban possession of guns by anyone subject to a domestic-violence protection order and place limitations on multiple gun purchases by individuals. "Another solution to the ongoing problem of gun violence is to make mental health care treatment more accessible and affordable to people who need it," Crawford said. Republican Rep. Jeff Fortenberry is "badly out of touch with his constituents" in dealing with the issue, Crawford said. "If you want different results out of Washington, you have to vote for different people," he said. Fortenberry is seeking re-election to the House next year in eastern Nebraska's 1st District, which includes Lincoln. I was talking about space exploration with a colleague the other day. They looked at me rather incredulously and wondered if I was a little bit barking mad. No, Im quite serious, I explained, and put the case for the view that my children will be astronauts. Now I have touched on this before on the blog, but my views are more and more clear as time goes by: we will me a multiplanetary species. In just 80 years, we have moved from discovering planets that we didnt know existed to visiting them and taking HD pix of the planets surface. We have landed on the Moon, sent missions to Mars and spent years taking in the glorious sights of Saturns rings through the twenty year space mission Cassini. We have even sent probes to far-off comets and landed on them, a feat that is comparable to throwing a stone from Coney Island in New Yorks harbour and knowing that it will land exactly on time for a person to catch that stone in Vilamoura, Portugal. This last one the Rosetta stone Philae is an important one as it is the start of a new industry for the space age: space mining. Space mining is tipped to be big business as, when we do start exploring the planets and further afar, we will need refuelling stations and mining asteroids for minerals and gases will be those refuelling stations of the future. Heres a summary from Wired: When Rosettas probe, Philae, landed on a comet it had the opposite problem of pretty much every other landing in human history: too little gravity. Rather than going kerplunk on impact, it bounced twice before finally coming to rest sidewaysa harrowing landing a new Science paper describes in detail. Landing on a jagged spinning comet with little gravity is absurdly hard, and it didnt help that two out of three of Philaes landing systems failed. But even this bumpy landing has importance for asteroid mining companies eager to excavate small bodies in spacepotentially proving that their business is not as much like science fiction as it sounds. The extremely low gravity of near earth asteroids is, after all, both a challenge and their primary advantage in space travel. Getting to space is expensive because of the massive amounts of fuel needed to escape Earths relatively mighty gravity. If asteroids can be mined for water, which can be broken down into hydrogen and oxygen for fuel, they could become depots for spaceships traveling into deep spaceno return trip to Earth necessary to refuel, and a relatively inexpensive lift off after the pit stop is over. "Its not so much you are landing on the comet, as you are docking with it," says Chris Lewicki, president and chief engineer of the asteroid mining company Planetary Resources. Planetary Resources and its competitors such as Deep Space Industries are still developing equipment to scout for valuable asteroids. Actually mining one is far off. But the Rosetta mission proves that landing on a small body and getting back physical and chemical data to assess its mining value is very much possibleeven when things dont go perfectly. Todays issue of Science includes seven papers from the Rosetta team, detailing everything from the comets rock structures to organic molecules. So, space mining is something of the future. In fact, it is something of today, with America, Europe, China, India and many other nations thinking of how to exploit the opportunities. For example, America passed the Space Act in 2015, which basically claimed rights to the galaxies before anyone else could get a word in edgeways. The act represents a full-frontal attack on settled principles of space law which are based on two basic principles: the right of states to scientific exploration of outer space and its celestial bodies and the prevention of unilateral and unbridled commercial exploitation of outer-space resources. These principles are found in agreements including the Outer Space Treaty of 1967 and the Moon Agreement of 1979. The US House Committee on Science, Space and Technology denies there is anything in the act which violates the USs international obligations. According to this body, the right to extract and use resources from celestial bodies is affirmed by State practice and by the US State Department in Congressional testimony and written correspondence. Crucially, there is no specific reference to international law in this statement. Simply relying on US legislation and policy statements to justify the plans is obviously insufficient. Ever since NASA discovered signs of liquid water on Mars, concerns have been raised about the risk of contaminating the red planet. You can read the full text of the US Space Act here. In response to this maverick law, Luxembourg sent a salvo back this summer, by passing the first European Space Law which establishes legal certainty that asteroid mining companies can keep what they find in space. Amara Graps, an asteroid mining advocate and independent consultant for the Luxembourg Ministry of Economy, claims that this one is more flexible than the US version. The previously primary international space law standard, the Outer Space Treaty of 1967, didn't make it clear if private companies own the resources they find, such as minerals, water and whatever else is out there. The U.S. Commercial Space Launch Competitiveness Act of 2015 made this explicit by allowing US citizens to engage in the commercial exploration and exploitation of space resources [including ... water and minerals] but not biological life, as anything that is alive may not be exploited commercially. Luxembourg parliament passed their draft bill (PDF) in August 2017 and claim that the difference between the US space mining law and the Luxembourg space mining law is that in the US law, a majority of a company's stakeholders must be in the US, while the Luxembourg law places no restrictions on stakeholder locations. Luxembourg has also been pretty active in the space mining business, investing 25 million in the space mining company Planetary Resources last November. So space is a real thing, and its going commercial. We can see this from all the investment, trials and developments by the likes of Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Richard Branson and co. SpaceX from Musk is probably the most advanced of the reusable rocket programs and, in a detailed cost breakdown on Space News, it appears that the launch costs per spacecraft will be under $40 million and used 30-40 times a year, which makes this an incredibly aggressive cost saving when compared with the over $100 billion invested in the 1970s Apollo moon shots. The difference is that reusability, and the increasing capability to build space ships that can fly into space, dock with asteroids, refuel and continue missions to Mars and beyond. It is the reason why Elon Musk talks about humans becoming a multiplanetary species, and the idea of terraforming Mars into an Earth-like atmosphere within the next few decades. All of this is a possibility and so, given another century, where will we be? And this is how my conversation with my colleague ended, with a vision of a century out. In the 2100s, it is highly likely that we will push further and further into space exploration. It is only natural as it is our innate nature to explore. Now that we have explored most of Earth, it is only the deepest oceans and the furthest stars that we can shoot for. And we will. So I think that a century from now, we will look back at humans today in the same way that we look back a few hundred years at humans before the industrial revolution. We will think of them as very basic and ignorant, because of all we have learned through technology and travel. Imagine another 100 years of technological developments and exploration of space. I am sure we will look back at our wonderings about life and resources on other worlds in the same way as we look at the creationists versus evolutionists debate today. Before Charles Darwins The Origin of Species, the very idea of humans evolving from apes was stupid. One stormy day during the Napoleonic Wars, a French ship was wrecked off the coast of an old fishing village clinging to the north-east coast of England. The only survivor was the ship's mascot, a monkey that was washed ashore. The people of Hartlepool had never seen a monkey before - nor, for that matter, had they ever set eyes on a Frenchman. Mistaking its chattering for the language of the enemy, they convicted the monkey of being a French spy and hanged the animal on the beach. A century from now, will we look back at ourselves and think how ignorant we were? 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. By Luciano Costa SAO PAULO (Reuters) - French energy conglomerate Engie SA has appetite for more Brazil acquisitions, and will evaluate assets being sold by Eletrobras, despite spending more than $1 billion (755.29 million pounds) in a licensing auction last week, Engie's local unit head told Reuters on Wednesday. Brazil's state-controlled utility Eletrobras, or Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras SA , said on Monday it will soon kick-start its divestiture plan which includes stakes in dozens of projects, mostly wind parks and power transmission ventures. "We are open to opportunities, but always conservatively and with financial discipline," Mauricio Bahr, Engie Brasil's chief executive, said in an interview in Sao Paulo. "But our debt in Brazil is low so we have some room." "We would have to look asset by asset," Bahr said, adding transmission lines could be of interest. Brazil's power sector is going through a process of consolidation, with many local players putting assets up for sale to cut debt as credit is tight. Brazil's government has tried to attract foreign capital to help boost the economy by selling operating licenses for several projects. Engie spent 3.53 billion reais ($1.13 billion) last week in a government-sponsored auction to win licenses to operate two large hydroelectric power plants in Brazil. The assets will boost local operations which already contribute 18 percent to the company's global results. Engie and Eletrobras are partners in several projects, including the massive Jirau hydroelectric dam, a plant built in the middle of the Amazon jungle with capacity to generate 3,750 megawatts. Eletrobras has hinted it could sell stakes in its large Amazon plants. Besides Jirau, it is a shareholder in Belo Monte and Santo Antonio dams. "I don't know if they (Eletrobras) will want to sell Jirau, it depends on their appetites. But eventually it will be natural for the partners, who have the right of first refusal, to end up exercising it," Bahr said. (Writing by Marcelo Teixeira; Editing by Matthew Lewis) BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Belgium has received proposals from Britain and the United States to replace its ageing fleet of fighter jets, while a French proposal that was not part of the tender process will be looked at separately, Belgium's defence minister said. Belgium invited government-led proposals in March for the replacement of its fleet of Lockheed Martin F-16 planes with 34 new fighters, in a deal that could be worth more than 3.5 billion euros (3.12 billion) . Last month, France proposed a wide-ranging military deal with Belgium instead of responding to the tender. The deal goes beyond the terms of the tender whilst including the sale of Rafale fighter jets. While the French offer would be discussed by the government, it could open Belgium to criticism that it was not treating candidates equally, Vandeput said. "To be very clear, the French offer is not part of the contest," minister Steven Vandeput told a parliamentary committee on Wednesday. Offers from the U.S. for Lockheed F-35 Lightning II planes and British offers for the Eurofighter Typhoon did meet the tender rules, the minister added. A spokeswoman for the defence ministry said the French proposal was being checked by its legal services and forwarded to the government which would decide at a later stage whether or not to respond. The Rafales are made by France's Dassault Aviation which declined to comment on Thursday. Boeing pulled out of the race last spring. The French government said that its proposal was in line with Belgium's request. "We have made an extended proposal which is legally relevant and we are waiting for a proposal by the Belgian government," a spokeswoman for the French defence ministry said. Belgium will make a decision on which jet fighter to pick next year. The 34 jets are to be delivered from 2023, at a rate of 4-5 aircraft a year. (Reporting by Robert-Jan Bartunek and Cyril Altmeyer; Editing by Elaine Hardcastle) (This version of the October 4th story corrects the fifth paragraph to say coalitions reform will not go into effect until the 2022 elections) By Anthony Boadle BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazil's scandal-plagued political class voted on Wednesday to set up a 1.7 billion reais (409.6 million) fund with taxpayer money to finance election campaigns, making up for a dearth of private funding ahead of next year's general election. A ban on corporate donations coupled with the drying up of under-the-table contributions and kickbacks in the wake of the country's biggest corruption scandal have left lawmakers struggling to raise campaign funding. The lower house of Congress approved a bill that had passed the Senate and will take funds from pork barrel appropriations and government payments to buy TV and radio time for parties. The fund was meant to be part of improvements to Brazil's discredited political system to reduce a proliferation of parties that has made it hard to govern Latin America's largest nation without unwieldy coalitions based on self-interest. The Senate unanimously approved on Tuesday a constitutional amendment that limits coalitions to parties with similar platforms, but it will not go into effect until the 2022 elections. More than 100 lawmakers are targeted by the Car Wash corruption investigation that uncovered a network of bribes from private companies seeking to win contracts or influence policies, and even implicated President Michel Temer and several of his cabinet ministers. Critics of the campaign fund said it was aimed at providing funding for lawmakers seeking re-election to shield themselves from prosecution for corruption. "It is shameful that this fund will be used by unethical politicians who should not be sitting here in Congress," said Julio Delgado, leader of the Brazilian Socialist Party (PSB). "Not a single lawmaker under investigation has opposed it." Backers of the use of public money for campaigns argued that organised crime would step in to finance politicians if funding was lacking. The sprawling Car Wash graft investigation that convicted dozens of executives from Brazil's main contractor companies has shut down the flow of undeclared payments to politicians. "What most worries them is where they will get money for their campaigns now that companies cannot donate and are not willing to engage in illegal contributions," said Lucas de Aragao, partner at political risk consultancy Arko Advice. On the positive side, he said, Congress set a threshold for parties to be able to access public funding and free TV time based on the votes they win, which will help reduce the number of parties, today totalling 35. (Reporting by Anthony Boadle and Maria Carolina Marcello; Editing by Michael Perry) SWNS

An incredible back garden boozer made entirely from recycled materials has been crowned Britain's best Pub Shed of the Year.

John Simmons, 50, spent more than a year and constructing the amazing DIY man-cave in his garden in Portsmouth, Hants.

It features its own dart board, wooden decor, countryside-pub style seating, a roof covered in fairy lights and even its own outdoor beer garden and decking area.

He built the miniature pub - called The Dog & Ball - from as much reclaimed material he could find from salvage yards and a Facebook page for pub shed enthusiasts.

John sourced, cut, sanded and fixed every timber and tting himself as well all 4,500 screws.

The dad-of-three beat off more than a thousand entries to be named the owner of Britain's best Pub Shed 2022.

He celebrated the win in his garden pub last night (12/11) with friends and said he was thrilled to be crowned the winner.

John started building the boozer last year and said he wanted a 'haven at home' he could enjoy that was cheaper than the pub.

Avid DIY-er John, a safety management consultant, said the pub cost four figures to build but would have been much more expensive had he not used reclaimed materials.

Wife Anita, 49, put the finishing touching to the Dog & Ball - named after their Labradoodle Bertie, aged seven and the pair enjoyed celebrating with kids Libby, 23, Jacob, 19, and Evie, 12.

John said: It has all been rather overwhelming, but I am chuffed to bits.

We had 18 friends over last night to celebrate the final and it was fantastic to find out I won - I was really thrilled.

I started building it last year and wanted to have it completed this summer for my 50th birthday.

Sourcing the reclaimed material took the biggest chunk of time.

I am an avid DIY-er and love a project.

Lots of people had been doing this sort of thing over lockdown so I took inspiration from that, and I wanted a haven at home that was cheaper than the pub.

Its somewhere I can go and enjoy being with my friends and family, which was really the whole purpose.

It cost about four figures, which is much cheaper than it would have been had I done a proper build and had to go to shops for the materials.

John, who was in the Royal Navy for 22 years, said his favourite part of the pub is the oak beams which make up the main structure.

The three-metre-long bits of wood remarkably came from an old dock yard building John used to work in.

He said: My favourite part is the main oak beams.

They are from an old dock yard building that I used to work in years ago before it was demolished.

These three-metre-long beams that form the main structure of the pub had sat in a yard for 20 years and then I managed to buy them.

It is a remarkable story.

All my family and friends have been so supportive of the project, and it has been great having everyone round to enjoy it.

My wife Anita put all the finishing touches to the pub to make it look as amazing as it does.

I took the name from my Labradoodle Bertie who just loves to play with his ball, I really wanted him to be part of it all.

The Dog & Ball beat off two other finalists, a mini countryside-style pub called The Tiger, in Somerset, and The Stagger Inn, in Manchester - a nightclub-themed bar

They were whittled down from more than a thousand entries - many of which were built during lockdown.

John said: "Doing it all from salvage was of course a challenge thank goodness for FB marketplace, advice from the fantastic members of the GSPN UK Facebook page and a very understanding wife who I dragged around local reclaim yards sifting through old timbers.

"With the exception of the main roof joists, every other part of the build is made from reclaim, re-used or recycled timber and materials.

"Each piece has a different story, from the bar ironmongery that belonged to my late father-in-law from his days as an RAF engineer, to the main oak upright timbers.

It is believed more than two million back garden pubs are now in operation in Britain after their popularity exploded during the coronavirus pandemic.

They have continued to grow amid a cost of living crisis after the average price of a pint rose to 4 across the UK and 5 in London.

As a result, Two Fat Blokes bar signs, Pub Shed Radio and the Facebook group Garden Shed Pubs & Nightclubs began running the national competition.

The winner was announced live on Pub Shed Radio on Saturday (12/11).

Ashley Turner, the owner of Two Fat Blokes Bar Signs, said: "The quality of bars and diversity of the entries has been phenomenal.

"We ran the competition to showcase the amazing community of pub sheds in the UK.

"The community has exploded during the pandemic and now with the cost of a pint heading north of 6 the trend looks set to continue.

"The Dog & Ball is a perfect example of an amazing pub shed and deserved to win with his amazing hand-built pub.

Tommy Funka, who runs, Pub Shed Radio added: Pub Shed of the year has been a great way for the pub shed community to come together and celebrate the growing army of back garden boozers".

Pub Shed Radio's DJ Mupps said: "It was brilliant to knock on the door of the winners bar live on Pub Shed Radio.

"John & Anita were totally gobsmacked to find out they had won. We then went live from the bar broadcasting with a real party atmosphere."

Nick St John, the owner of Facebook group Garden Shed Pubs and Nightclubs, added: "Being involved Pub Shed of the year has been the culmination of our ethos to promote and help people build their own back garden pubs.

"With over 280,000 members our group has really got on board with the competition.

"Judging the entries was so difficult The Dog & Ball is a great example of a proper pub shed."

By Gavin Jones and Antonella Cinelli ROME (Reuters) - Hacking attacks on the web platform used by Italy's 5-Star Movement to select representatives and shape policy threaten to dent confidence in its methods before a parliamentary election it is well placed to win. Internet-based direct democracy, in which members vote online, is a hallmark of the anti-establishment group that first entered parliament in 2013 and leads many opinion polls before the election, due to be held by May. Gianroberto Casaleggio, the late internet guru who co-founded 5-Star in 2009, believed the web would eventually supplant representative democracy, the system under which all eligible citizens vote on representatives to pass laws for them. But in August anonymous hackers broke into 5-Star's web platform, called "Rousseau" after the 18th century Swiss-born philosopher, and obtained secret data on its members and donors. It is unclear whether there will be any impact on 5-Star's election performance. But if it cannot secure its web platforms, it will be hard to continue using the online methods that set it apart from other political groups. Public worries over theft of personal data could also make it difficult for 5-Star to attract new members. It already has only a modest membership although it has won millions of votes at the polls with promises to clean up politics and offer universal income support for the poor. "The hacking problem is very serious for 5-Star because it undermines the credibility of their direct democracy message," sociology professor Luca Ricolfi told Reuters. "It will probably be overshadowed by bigger issues ahead of the election, but it hurts their image and is something they will absolutely have to resolve." Casaleggio Associati, a web consultancy company that runs 5-Star's platforms and is headed by Gianroberto's son Davide, said security would be improved before the online election of the movement's new leader last month. Despite this, the election was dogged by hacking attacks which hampered voting and contributed to only 37,000 of 5-Star's 140,000 members casting an online ballot. The voting deadline had to be extended twice as members were unable to log on or connect to necessary web pages. One hacker published screenshots showing the system had been infiltrated again and that it had been possible to vote several times using the accounts of certified 5-Star members. SECURITY "TOTALLY INADEQUATE" "Rousseau's content systems are outdated and its level of security is totally inadequate," said David Puente, a computer expert and web developer who worked for Casaleggio Associati for four-and-a-half years until 2011. Umberto Rapetto, a cyber security expert who used to head the computer crime division of Italy's finance police, called Rousseau "a rudimentary platform with a host of weak points". Davide Casaleggio declined to answer questions for this article. Puente, a 5-Star member, said it would now be hard to update Rousseau without sacrificing many functions that have been added recently, meaning the only solution was to "dismantle everything and start all over again." That would not be easy even if Casaleggio agreed. Hackers around the world have regularly penetrated the computer systems of public agencies and multinational companies with millions of euros to spend on cyber security. Casaleggio Associati has fewer than 20 employees, posted revenues of less than a million euros in 2016 and has run a loss for the last three years. 5-Star's new leader, 31-year-old Luigi Di Maio, says Rousseau's problems are understandable as it is a "startup" launched only last year. He says web-based democracy can work not only in 5-Star but in all branches of Italian politics. Yet many computer experts are sceptical about both Rousseau and internet democracy in general. One common criticism is a lack of transparency, as in only two of 5-Star's dozens of online votes has Casaleggio named an independent company to verify the regularity of the process. Critics also say there can be no guarantee that voters are anonymous to platform managers, or that the voter casts only one ballot or is not watched or coerced while he votes. "Creating a structure that offers the same guarantees as paper ballots would be incredibly difficult," said cyber security strategist Corrado Giustozzi, a member of the European Union Agency for Network and Information Security. (Editing by Timothy Heritage) DUBAI (Reuters) - A group of British human rights lawyers have accused Bahraini oversight bodies funded by Britain's government of violating international law by allegedly failing to investigate torture allegations against two inmates on death row. Mohamed Ramadan and Husain Moosa face imminent execution in Bahrain after its Supreme Court last year confirmed death sentences imposed by a lower tribunal based on false confessions extracted through torture, according to legal charity Reprieve. The two men had been convicted for a 2014 bomb attack in the village of al-Dair that killed a policeman. Reprieve said the Bar Human Rights Committee of England and Wales (BHRC) had petitioned Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa for clemency for Ramadan and Moosa, arguing that their trial did not comply with fair legal standards. It said the Bahraini government-appointed Ombudsman had agreed to open an investigation into the torture allegations after coming under pressure from international rights groups. "However, in the 15 months since, the Ombudsman has disclosed no information about its findings, and has indicated that it has referred that case to the Special Investigation Unit (SIU), a British-trained body, for further investigation," Reprieve's statement said. "Despite claiming to have opened investigations, neither the Ombudsman nor the SIU have communicated any findings to Mr Ramadan, Mr Moosa, their lawyer or their families. This too constitutes a serious breach of international law." The Gulf Arab state's government and its Ombudsman's office did not reply to requests for comment. A British Foreign Office spokesman said Bahrain's SIU was pursuing an investigation into the torture allegations. "We encourage a thorough, transparent and swift investigation," the spokesman said. "The UK continues to encourage the government of Bahrain to deliver on its international and domestic human rights commitments. Reprieve said Britain spends 1.2 million pounds ($1.59 million) annually on training and support for the two Bahraini oversight agencies. BHRC chairwoman Kirsty Brimelow called for a transparent investigation of the alleged use of torture. "Also, at minimum, the UK government should join the Bar Human Rights Committee's call for clemency to be applied to the death penalty sentences." Bahrain has seen a wave of deadly bomb attacks since a 2011 uprising led by majority Shi'ite Muslims was crushed with help from some Gulf Arab neighbours. Several people have been sentenced to death over the attacks, including Ramadan and Moosa. In January, Bahrain executed three Shi'ite men convicted of killing three policemen in a 2014 bomb attack, the first death sentences to be carried out in over two decades. ($1 = 0.7535 pounds) (Reporting by Sami Aboudi and Alistair Smout in London,; editing by Mark Heinrich) Whilst President Donald Trump has been causing outrage on Twitter with a series of controversial tweets about the crisis in Puerto Rico, Real Housewives Of New York star Bethenny Frankel has been getting things done, chartering four private planes full of emergency supplies to the island. Puerto Rico has been left without electricity since Hurricane Maria hit last month, with the devastation being described as a humanitarian disaster by officials. Bethenny has been providing aid in Puerto Rico. Copyright: [Instagram] Celebrities have come out in force to donate money to the citizens, who are also struggling for basic necessities, such as food and water with rapper Pitbull even using his own private jet to transfer cancer patients from the island to America so that they can continue with their life-saving treatment. Now Bethenny has won praise for travelling to the country in order to directly help those in need, using a combination of her own money and donations to her charity, B Strong, to fund the trip. The reality TV star and her team have traveled to areas around San Juan to give assistance and distribute more than 20,000 of medical, food and water supplies, such as insulin, nappies and clothes, as well as cash and gift cards to residents who have lost everything. Transporting all of the supplies over via multiple private jets, Bethenny, who is currently recovering from skin cancer removal surgery, has then used the planes to fly Puerto Ricans in need of medical assistance back to America so that they can get help. #THISISACRISIS complete devastation in Puerto Rico People lost everything they have ever known, family members included. Yet positivity was vibrating around the island. Please help those who have been affected by these disasters by donating at http://www.bstrongdeliveringgood.org/bstrong/ #BStrong #100percent #workingforpuertorico A post shared by Bethenny Frankel (@bethennyfrankel) on Oct 2, 2017 at 7:23pm PDT As well as helping residents, Bethenny has also been documenting the destruction that Hurricane Maria caused, showing her followers who their generous donations are helping. Story continues Speaking to People, the star shared: This is a forgotten island. People have been living on their roofs for 13 days. It is like nothing I have ever seen. Peoples entire homes and cars are immersed in mud. She continued: We pulled onto a street with a truck of basic necessities, and you would have thought I was giving out diamonds. What struck me was people politely waiting in line patiently. They are so proud. I gave them cash cards in envelopes, and they were emotional yet still proud. Their faith is intact. The star appears on reality show Real Housewives of New York. Copyright: [Instagram] Bethenny also hit out at Trumps claims that America was helping Puerto Rico following the natural disaster, saying in an Instagram video: Theyre not getting the help. Whatever anybodys telling us, theyre not getting the help at all. The businesswomans trip comes shortly after she travelled to Mexico City to provide aid for those affected by a devastating earthquake that struck the country last month, killing 350 people. Follow Yahoo Celeb UK on Twitter and Instagram for all of the latest celebrity news! Read more: [ Kim Kardashian praised as she slams Donald Trumps controversial Puerto Rico tweet ] [ Pitbull sends private jet to transfer cancer patients from Puerto Rico ] By Andrew Osborn MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia is quietly boosting economic support for North Korea to try to stymie any U.S.-led push to oust Kim Jong Un as Moscow fears his fall would sap its regional clout and allow U.S. troops to deploy on Russia's eastern border. Though Moscow wants to try to improve battered U.S.-Russia relations in the increasingly slim hope of relief from Western sanctions over Ukraine, it remains strongly opposed to what it sees as Washington's meddling in other countries' affairs, according to Russian diplomats and analysts familiar with the Kremlin's thinking. Russia is already angry about a build-up of U.S.-led NATO forces on its western borders in Europe and does not want any replication on its Asian flank, the sources added. Yet while Russia has an interest in protecting North Korea, which started life as a Soviet satellite state, it is not giving Pyongyang a free pass: it backed tougher United Nations sanctions against North Korea over its nuclear tests last month. At the same time Moscow is playing a fraught double game, by quietly offering North Korea a slender lifeline to help insulate it from U.S.-led efforts to isolate it economically. A Russian company began routing North Korean internet traffic this month, giving Pyongyang a second connection with the outside world besides China. Bilateral trade more than doubled to $31.4 million in the first quarter of 2017, due mainly to what Moscow said was higher oil product exports, according to Russia's ministry for the development of the Far East. At least eight North Korean ships that left Russia with fuel cargoes this year have returned home despite officially declaring other destinations, a ploy U.S. officials say is often used to undermine sanctions against Pyongyang. And Russia, which shares a short land border with North Korea, has also resisted U.S.-led efforts to repatriate tens of thousands of North Korean workers whose remittances help keep the country's hard line leadership afloat. Story continues "The Kremlin really believes the North Korean leadership should get additional assurances and confidence that the United States is not in the regime change business," Andrey Kortunov, head of the Russian International Affairs Council, a think-tank close to the Russian Foreign Ministry, told Reuters. "The prospect of regime change is a serious concern. The Kremlin understands that (U.S. President Donald) Trump is unpredictable. They felt more secure with Barack Obama that he would not take any action that would explode the situation, but with Trump they don't know." Trump, who mocks North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as a "rocket man" on a suicide mission, told the United Nations General Assembly last month he would "totally destroy" the country if necessary. He has also said Kim Jong Un and his foreign minister "won't be around much longer" if they made good on a threat to develop a nuclear-tipped missile capable of reaching the United States. STRATEGIC BORDER To be sure, Beijing's economic ties to Pyongyang still dwarf Moscow's and China remains a more powerful player in the unfolding nuclear crisis. But while Beijing is cutting back trade as it toughens its line on its neighbour's ballistic missile and nuclear programme, Russia is increasing its support. People familiar with elements of Kremlin thinking say that is because Russia flatly opposes regime change in North Korea. Russian politicians have repeatedly accused the United States of plotting so-called colour revolutions across the former Soviet Union and any U.S. talk of unseating any leader for whatever reason is politically toxic in Moscow. Russia's joint military exercises with neighbouring Belarus last month gamed a scenario where Russian forces put down a Western-backed attempt for part of Belarus to break away. With Russia due to hold a presidential election in March, politicians are again starting to fret about Western meddling. In 2011, President Vladimir Putin accused then U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton of trying to stir up unrest in Russia and he has made clear that he wants the United States to leave Kim Jong Un alone. While condemning Pyongyang for what he called provocative nuclear tests, Putin told a forum last month in the eastern Russian port of Vladivostok that he understood North Korea's security concerns about the United States and South Korea. Vladivostok, a strategic port city of 600,000 people and headquarters to Russia's Pacific Fleet, is only about 100 km (60 miles) from Russia's border with North Korea. Russia would be fiercely opposed to any U.S. forces deploying nearby in a reunited Korea. "(The North Koreans) know exactly how the situation developed in Iraq," Putin told the economic forum, saying Washington had used the false pretext that Baghdad had weapons of mass destruction to destroy the country and its leadership. "They know all that and see the possession of nuclear weapons and missile technology as their only form of self-defence. Do you think they're going to give that up?" Analysts say Russia's view is that North Korea's transformation into a nuclear state, though incomplete, is permanent and irreversible and the best the West can hope for is for Pyongyang to freeze elements of its programme. NOTHING PERSONAL Kortunov, the think-tank chief close to the Russian Foreign Ministry, said he did not think the Kremlin's defence of Kim Jong Un was based on any personal affection or support for North Korea's leadership, likening Moscow's pragmatic backing to that it has given Syria's President Bashar al-Assad. Moscow's position was motivated by a belief the status quo made Russia a powerful geopolitical player in the crisis because of its close ties to Pyongyang, Kortunov said, just as Russia's support for Assad has gifted it greater Middle East clout. He said Moscow knew it would lose regional leverage if Kim Jong Un fell, much as its Middle East influence was threatened when Islamist militants looked like they might overthrow Assad in 2015. "It's a very delicate balancing act," said Kortunov. "On the one hand, Russia doesn't want to deviate from the line of its partners and mostly from China's position on North Korea which is getting tougher. But on the other hand, politicians in Moscow understand that the current situation and level of interaction between Moscow and Pyongyang puts Russia in a league of its own compared to China." If the United States were to remove Kim Jong Un by force, he said Russia could face a refugee and humanitarian crisis on its border, while the weapons and technology Pyongyang is developing could fall into even more dangerous non-state hands. So despite Russia giving lukewarm backing to tighter sanctions on Pyongyang, Putin wants to help its economy grow and is advocating bringing it into joint projects with other countries in the region. "We need to gradually integrate North Korea into regional cooperation," Putin told the Vladivostok summit last month. (Editing by David Clarke) By Suleiman Al-Khalidi AMMAN (Reuters) - Syrian opposition groups are resisting Jordanian pressure to hand control of a border crossing back to the Syrian government, a step that would be a major boost for President Bashar al-Assad and undermine rebel groups in southwestern Syria. Talks over reopening the Nasib crossing have gathered pace since a Russian-U.S. brokered ceasefire in July brought relative calm to southern Syria, the first peacekeeping effort in the war by U.S. President Donald Trump's administration. Jordan, which hopes to revive a once flourishing trade route and encourage Syrian refugees to return, has plenty of leverage over the rebels: many of the opposition groups in southern Syria depend on logistical support from the staunch U.S. ally. But rebel groups which seized control of the crossing in 2015 have so far resisted proposals for a return of Syrian government authority to Nasib, even in the form of civilian officials with no Syrian army presence. The possibility of the crossing being reopened underlines just how far the scales have tipped in favour of Assad, who is steadily winning back territory with Russian and Iranian help, forcing neighbouring states to rethink their policies. "The presence of any regime employee is like restoring legitimacy to a worn-out regime against which the Syrian people rose up," said Adham al Karad, a Free Syrian Army (FSA) rebel commander who led battles in Deraa city against the army. Jordan has trodden a careful path during the six-year long war, maintaining diplomatic ties with Damascus even as it became a hub for a U.S.-led programme that funnelled aid to vetted Syrian rebels. Trump recently decided to shut down that programme. Before the Syrian conflict erupted in 2011, Nasib served as a major transit route for hundreds of trucks a day transporting goods between Turkey and the Gulf in multi-billion dollar annual trade. Its closure has also had a knock-on effect for other economies in the region, including Lebanon's. Jordan has put forward proposals by which rebels would secure the road to Nasib, 100 km (60 miles) from the capital, while a civil administration from Damascus would run the crossing, according to Syrian opposition officials. Rebels would receive a portion of the customs fees as part of the deal. The proposals were discussed during a meeting between the Jordanian government and opposition-run local councils and rebels from southern Syria in Amman at the end of last month. "The situation of the crossing is delicate and sensitive and until now we have not responded (to Amman's demands)," Ali Salkhadi, the governor of opposition-run Deraa province, told a meeting of local figures on Sunday, footage of which was posted on YouTube. Jordan told the opposition delegation that it was obliged to deal with a recognised state in order to open the crossing and to allow trucks to proceed to third countries, he said. It also threatened the opposition delegation it could open another land crossing into Syrian government-controlled Sweida province, east of Nasib, if rebels fail to reach a deal. "If they open Sweida crossing they would close the other humanitarian crossings ... this is what they are saying," Salkhadi said in the meeting. Syrian government officials could not be reached for comment. A Jordanian government official contacted by Reuters declined to comment. REBELS UNDER PRESSURE Though rebels stand to profit if the crossing were opened, they also risk losing local support if seen to make such a big concession to Damascus. They want long-standing demands, including a detainee release, addressed before talks on Nasib. "We will not watch with our hands tied, we won't allow this and will work to stop all the efforts to hand over critical areas to the regime and to confiscate them from the rebels and impose a fait accompli on us," said Abu Jasem al Hariri, a rebel commander in southern Syria. Jordan last month succeeded in pressuring two Western-backed rebel groups operating in southeastern Syria near the Jordanian border, an order that resulted in them abandoning their territory to advancing Syrian government forces. But while Amman has recently sought to mend fences with Damascus, a full restoration of ties seems a distant prospect as Jordan remains deeply concerned over expanding Iranian influence in Syria. The Syrian army and allied militia are steadily seizing more and more of the Jordanian frontier from insurgents. But while the government is gaining ground at the Jordanian border, key crossings to Turkey and Iraq remain outside its control. (Editing by Tom Perry and Richard Balmforth) By Michelle Nichols UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The United Nations blacklisted a Saudi Arabia-led military coalition on Thursday for killing and injuring 683 children in Yemen and attacking dozens of schools and hospitals in 2016, even as it said the coalition had taken action to improve child protection. The blacklist attached to the U.N. annual report on children in armed conflict also named the Iran-allied Houthi rebel group, Yemen government forces, pro-government militia and Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula for violations against children in 2016. The U.N. report said the Houthis and affiliated forces killed and injured 414 children in 2016. The report from U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was submitted to the Security Council on Thursday and seen by Reuters. A draft of the blacklist was reported by Reuters on Tuesday. The actions of the Saudi-led coalition "objectively led" to it being blacklisted for killing and injuring 683 children and for 38 attacks on schools and hospitals last year, the report said, adding that all incidents were verified by the U.N. The coalition had been briefly added to the blacklist in 2016 and then removed by then-U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon pending review. At the time, Ban accused Saudi Arabia of exerting "unacceptable" undue pressure after sources told Reuters that Riyadh threatened to cut some U.N. funding. Saudi Arabia denied threatening Ban. In an effort to dampen controversy surrounding the report, the blacklist this year is split into two categories. One lists parties that have put in place measures to protect children, which includes the Saudi-led military coalition, and the other includes parties that have not. The report, which was produced by U.N. Children and Armed Conflict envoy Virginia Gamba and issued in Guterres' name, does not subject those listed to U.N. action but rather shames parties to conflicts in the hope of pushing them to implement measures to protect children. 'EMPTY PROMISES' Guterres spoke with Saudi King Salman by phone on Wednesday. U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said: "They had a very positive discussion on issues of mutual interest, including the situation in the Middle East and beyond." Saudi U.N. Ambassador Abdallah Al-Mouallimi plans to hold a news conference on Friday. Yemen has been devastated by more than two years of civil war in which President Abd-Rabu Mansour Hadi's government, backed by the Saudi-led coalition, is fighting to drive the Houthis out of cities they seized in 2014 and 2015. More than 10,000 people have been killed and the conflict has ruined the economy and pushed millions to the brink of famine. The Houthis control much of northern Yemen, including the capital, Sanaa. U.N. sanctions monitors reported to the Security Council in January that the Saudi-led coalition had carried out attacks in Yemen that "may amount to war crimes." Riyadh denies the allegation. The U.N. sanctions monitors said at the time that the coalition was made up of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco and Sudan. The coalition has received limited U.S. support, including in logistics. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are major recipients of U.S. arms. Saudi Arabia is also a major customer of British defence companies. "The coalition needs to stop making empty promises to exercise caution, take concrete action to stop these deadly unlawful attacks in Yemen, and allow desperately needed fuel and aid to reach those in need," said Jo Becker, children's rights advocacy director at Human Rights Watch. "Until this happens, governments should suspend all Saudi weapons sales," she said. The annual children and armed conflict report is produced at the request of the U.N. Security Council. In 2015 the United Nations left Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas off the blacklist, after they had been included in an earlier draft, but criticized Israel over its 2014 military operations. (Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by Bill Trott and Tom Brown) By Matt Spetalnick WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States is preparing to lift decades-old economic sanctions against Sudan, citing improvement on human rights and progress on counter-terrorism, a U.S. official said on Thursday. President Donald Trump's administration is expected to announce its decision as early as Friday, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Shortly before leaving office, former President Barack Obama temporarily eased penalties that had been in place for 20 years against the African nation. In July, the Trump administration postponed for three months a decision on whether to remove the sanctions completely, setting up an Oct. 12 deadline. Lifting the sanctions, which is opposed by some human rights advocates, will suspend a trade embargo, unfreeze assets and remove financial restrictions that have hobbled the Sudanese economy. It will also mark a major turnaround for the government of President Omar Hassan al-Bashir, who once played host to Osama bin Laden and is wanted by the International Criminal Court on charges of orchestrating genocide in Darfur. Sudan will remain, for now, on the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism - alongside Iran and Syria - which carries a ban on weapons sales and restrictions on U.S. aid. But the sanctions decision reflects a U.S. assessment that Sudan has made progress in meeting Washingtons demands, including cooperation on counter-terrorism, working to resolve internal conflicts and allowing more humanitarian aid into Darfur and other rebellious border areas, the official said. U.S. officials also made clear in July their concern about Sudan's suspected ties to North Korea. The planned sanctions relief suggests that Khartoum has provided assurances it will abide by international sanctions against North Korea over its missile and nuclear programs, as Washington had urged. The White House declined comment. There was no immediate comment from the State Department. Sudan's State Minister for Foreign Affairs Hamed Momtaz told Reuters on Wednesday in Khartoum: "Sudan has fulfilled all the necessary conditions relating to the roadmap, and the U.S. administration is a witness to that and therefore we expect the sanctions to be lifted. Rights groups raised concerns that it would be premature to remove sanctions. "Its a serious mistake for these sanctions to be lifted permanently when Sudan has made no progress on human rights," said Andrea Prasow, deputy director of the Washington office of Human Rights Watch. "A government that continues to indiscriminately bomb its own population and imprison human rights activists shouldnt be rewarded." Speaking before word of the U.S. decision, Al-Buraq al-Nazir al-Warraq, executive manager of the Sudanese Observatory for Human Rights, a group suspended by the government, said taking away sanctions could "pave the way" for further rights abuse by Sudan's government. The United States first imposed sanctions on Sudan in 1997, including a trade embargo and blocking the government's assets, for human rights violations and terrorism concerns. (Reporting by Matt Spetalnick; Editing by Cynthia Osterman and Grant McCool) By Matthias Williams KIEV (Reuters) - Ukraine has expelled a Russian journalist working for the television channel NTV as punishment for spreading anti-Ukrainian propaganda and justifying the actions of separatists, the state security service (SBU) said on Thursday. Relations between Kiev and Moscow have been poisoned since Moscow annexed Crimean from Ukraine in 2014 and backed a separatist insurgency in Ukraine's eastern Donbass region that has killed more than 10,000 people despite a notional ceasefire. Ukraine says Russia is fighting a "hybrid war" with Kiev, spreading propaganda while supporting the separatists with troops and sophisticated weaponry and launching cyber attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure, which Moscow denies. Vyacheslav Nemyshev was expelled in the early hours of Thursday for preparing "a series of false anti-Ukrainian materials," the SBU state security service said. "The propagandist is forbidden from entering Ukraine for three years." NTV said on its website the incident "confirmed that it was practically impossible for Russian journalists to work in Ukraine today." "I was at the police station for five hours, first the police took testimony from me, then the SBU officers," NTV quoting Nemyshev as saying. "After that we drove around Kiev for a really long time, then we stopped at some street where I sat in a car in the dark. After that, they told me that everything had been decided, and we went to the border." Ukraine in August detained and then deported another Russian journalist for spreading anti-Ukrainian propaganda, a move condemned both by Russia and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, which monitors the Donbass war. The security service had also barred two Spanish journalists for their negative coverage of the conflict. (Additional reporting by Dmitry Solovyov in Moscow; Editing by Richard Balmforth) Court records also say 32-year-old Kimberly Eagle Bull is charged with drunken driving, felony intentional child abuse and other crimes. Her attorney has declined to comment. Eagle Bull's next court appearance is scheduled for Oct. 18 in Dawes County Court. The accident occurred Sept. 9 north of Chadron. The Nebraska State Patrol says Eagle Bull's minivan went out of control and rolled, injuring three adults and three children. Two children were flown to a Denver hospital for treatment, and the patrol says one of them, 6-year-old Christina Roubideaux, died there the next day. 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. District 5 voters have the choice of two City Council candidates, each with years of public service and government experience, who will face off in Albuquerques Nov. 14 runoff election. Robert Aragon led Cynthia Borrego by only 142 votes of the 9,865 votes cast in Tuesdays city election, according to unofficial results, with Aragon capturing 39 percent to Borregos 38 percent. Catherine Trujillo, 26, a political newcomer and 2014 graduate of the University of New Mexico, received 23 percent in the three-way contest to represent the far northwest district. Aragon, 60, an Albuquerque attorney, a former state representative and a member of the state Board of Finance, offers himself as a friend of business who wants to dismantle regulations he says stifle business development. Borrego, 59, who worked as a planner for both the city and Bernalillo County for 28 years, said she wants to revive neighborhood-based crime prevention programs and community policing gutted by recession-era budget cutting. Aragon said Albuquerque needs to use tax incentives, such as tax increment development districts, or TIDDs, and industrial revenue bonds, IRBs, to bring employers to the West Side. These are innovative ideas that we just arent utilizing, he said. Lets consider tax-free zones. Lets consider utilizing TIDDs at a local level, at a smaller level. He identified Houston, with its lack of zoning laws, as a model of a business-friendly city that Albuquerque should emulate. People dont think about Albuquerque because of all the rules and regulations that we have in place, Aragon said. Borrego responded that in her years as a planner, she helped create tax incentive programs to attract businesses, including an IRB issued on behalf of the Intel plant in Rio Rancho. I dont disagree with him on those tools, but we have to be careful and analytical about how they are implemented, she said. The race has had its share of negative campaigning. Aragon has accused Borrego of proposing a gross receipts tax increase to pay for public safety. Borrego denies that she has ever discussed raising taxes. The winner of the runoff will succeed Dan Lewis, who is in the mayoral runoff against Tim Keller. LAS CRUCES As the deadline looms for more than 150,000 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients to renew their applications, New Mexicans enrolled in the program are calling on Congress to act to protect them from deportation. I am here today because the protection and dignity I gained with DACA changed my life, said Yadira Ramirez, a small-business owner, wife and mother of three. Ramirez and Las Cruces Mayor Ken Miyagishima participated in a conference call with Johana Bencomo of New Mexico Comunidades en Accion y de Fe, or CAFe, a Las Cruces-based organization. Last month, President Donald Trump announced he would phase out the program and urged Congress to pass legislation to protect DACA recipients, also known as Dreamers. When Trump killed the DACA program, my family relived the pain of once again being forced into the shadows, Ramirez said. Shes among an estimated 7,000 young undocumented immigrants living in New Mexico who have protection from deportation and qualify for work permits under DACA, created in an executive action by President Obama in 2012. When the Trump administration announced the phaseout of DACA on Sept. 5, it gave current recipients 30 days to submit their renewal applications. Those whose status expires on or before March 5, 2018, must renew by today, according to a notice by the Department of Homeland Securitys U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Immigrant advocacy groups nationwide have been scrambling to help people submit their paperwork by the deadline. CAFe held two legal clinics Friday and Saturday to help people with renewal applications. One out of five Dreamers live in border communities, Bencomo said. Her organization also helped raise money to help cover the $495 renewal fee for 10 applicants in southern New Mexico. Many of those who qualify are students. Miyagishima said he supports efforts to help the young immigrants stay in the country. My ultimate goal would be that any child or adult, regardless of where they live, their nationality or their economic ability, has the opportunity to receive an education that would allow them the opportunity to sustain their well-being, Miyagishima said. Ramirez arrived in the U.S. with her mother from Mexico when she was 9 years old and grew up in Las Cruces. When her mother was deported, she went to live with her aunt at age 13. She dropped out of school to work and help support her family by cleaning houses. She later earned a GED diploma and started a tile business with her husband. They have three U.S.-born children. I no longer have to fear when I take my kids to school or the doctor that I could be detained, she said. That could all end unless Congress acts to create new protections for DACA recipients. There is bipartisan support for the Dreamers, but some lawmakers want any long-term protection from deportation to be part of a larger border security bill. Immigrant advocates are urging New Mexicos lawmakers to work for a clean DACA bill that isnt tied to construction of a border wall or other border security measures. It is unconscionable that Congress will continue to use Dreamers as a bargaining chip to further militarize southern border communities, Bencomo said. Second Judicial District Court judges and defense attorneys found common ground in urging the Supreme Court not to change the penalties that can be levied against prosecutors when they miss deadlines in criminal cases. Their position outlined in reports and letters puts them at odds with District Attorney Raul Torrez, who says prosecutors need more leniency when they miss those deadlines. The sides are struggling over the impact of the Case Management Order, or CMO, which went into effect in February 2015, that Torrez says has caused many cases to be dismissed on technicalities and is the most likely reason for an increase in crime in the city. Judges, public defenders and criminal defense attorneys each released reports recently in response to Torrezs proposal to make changes to the order. Torrez in his June report asked the state Supreme Court to loosen possible sanctions when prosecutors miss deadlines so fewer cases will be dismissed. Local judges and court officials said in their CMO reports that the sanctions should be stricter, not less strict. The court did say it is not opposed to other changes to the CMO, including some suggested by public defenders and the district attorney, such as extending the time limit for arraingments for out-of-custody defendants and changing deadlines for pretrial interviews. The reasonable conclusion to be drawn from the continued failures to disclose evidence and locate and make available witnesses is not that the deadlines should be extended or that sanctions should be loosened, but rather that stricter deadlines and stricter court adherence to those deadlines is warranted, the courts assessment states. The Law Office of the Public Defender and the New Mexico Criminal Defense Lawyers Association also said sanctions shouldnt be relaxed. SUBHEAD The public defenders office, in its CMO report, disagreed with the DAs position that linked Albuquerques recent crime increase to case dismissals due to technicalities. The public derfenders contended that a much more likely reason Albuquerque has seen an increase in crime is a complex issue linked to poverty, substance abuse and mental health. Their report adds that the citys police department is making significantly fewer arrests than in previous years. In 2010, Albuquerque police occasionally booked more than 2,000 people in jail in a given month. In 2016, the department arrested as few as 1,000 people per month, according to the CMO report by public defenders. We dont give much credence to (Torrezs) cause and effect. If there is a rise in crime, that largely comes from not having enough police officers on the streets, said Scott Wisniewski, a public defender who worked on the offices CMO report.If theres not arrests being made, if theres not cases being brought before the court in the first place, the rules of court arent going to make an impact at that point. Torrez said that while overall Albuquerque police arrests have declined, the number of felony arrests has been relatively stable. He said because of the CMO, his prosecutors cant handle caseloads like they previously did because they have more difficult deadlines. Since criminal cases must be adjudicated much more quickly under the CMO, prosecutors cant handle as many cases at once. The CMO was essentially an unfunded mandate, Torrez said. The rule was created without an appreciation for available resources. Either you have to change the resource or you have to change the rule. SUBHEAD Crime in Bernalillo County has been increasing since about 2010, according to FBI crime statistics. The CMO went into effect in February 2015. Their proposals would gut the rule and set us back to where we were three years ago with massive amounts of pretrial incarceration for people who are eventually going to be proven innocent, Wisniewski said on the DAs proposed changes to the CMO. Since February 2015, criminal cases in Bernalillo County have had to follow a Case Management Order issued by the state Supreme Court setting earlier deadlines for proceedings in a case. The purpose of the order was to quicken the pace in which criminal cases were litigated. Torrez, however, said after some cases were dismissed because prosecutors couldnt meet CMO deadlines, some of those defendants have committed additional crimes, raising the citys crime rate. The Supreme Court asked the courts and defense attorneys to weigh in on the issue before it decides whether to make any changes. The Case Management Orders were part of broader efforts to reform the local criminal justice system, which for years had an overcrowded jail packed with people waiting to have their cases tried. The Metropolitan Detention Centers population now stands at about half of what it was in 2013. We are not saying that the courts shouldnt have the availability to sanction us, Torrez said. All were asking for is that there is a case-specific discretionary determination that goes into those sanctions and its not an automatic thing. A crash on Wednesday, near Williamsburg, left one man dead and a woman hospitalized, according to a New Mexico State Police spokesman. Officer Carl Christiansen said 75-year-old Lorenzo Castillo, of Belen, died when the car he was traveling in flipped on Interstate 25, near mile post 65, around noon. He said the driver, Gloria Castillo, 74 was airlifted to a hospital. She lost control of her 2010 Nissan Truck, entered the median and overturned, Christiansen said. Mr. Castillo was unrestrained at the time of the crash, he subsequently ejected from the vehicle and sustained fatal injuries. Lorenzo Castillo was pronounced dead at the scene. Police have not released the condition of Gloria Castillo SAN DIEGO White men scare me. There, I said it. Based on my conversations with Latino and African-American friends, I think many of them feel the same way. If theyre walking down a dark street at night and see three white men in their 20s walking toward them, theyre thinking hate crime. After all, pick up a history book, and look at what white males did to black slaves, American Indians, Chinese immigrants and Mexicans in the occupied Southwest. Theyre the original bad hombres. And so, after the Las Vegas massacre where a 64-year-old white man named Stephen Paddock carried 23 guns into a hotel suite on the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino and opened fire on an outdoor concert crowd, killing at least 59 people and wounding more than 520 others its fair to ask: Is it time for authorities to start profiling white males who purchase unusually large amounts of high-powered weapons and ammunition? Yes, it is. And why not? There is plenty of evidence that law enforcement officers routinely profile African-Americans, Latinos and Muslim Americans. Its become part of police work. In 1999, the New Jersey State Police admitted to pulling over African-American motorists more often than white drivers. In 2010, Arizona lawmakers codified ethnic profiling by requiring local police to determine the legal status of those suspected of being in the country illegally read: Latinos. So how did white men get to be so special that, in an era when so many mass shootings are linked to gunmen who fit that profile, it is still considered outrageous to say that this demographic merits extra scrutiny? Talk about white male privilege. Given the carnage in Las Vegas, a lot of folks on both the right and the left are instinctively talking about guns. Thats a circular, highly charged argument that goes nowhere. What we should be talking about is race. Not the race of the victims, but the race of the shooter. Authorities insist that Paddock who was reportedly wealthy, liked to gamble and had no known political or religious affiliations fits none of the established profiles. But actually, Paddock does fit one. Hes a white male, and most serial killers and mass murderers are white males. For the sake of public relations, and because in the era of If you see something, say something law enforcement doesnt want the public discounting anyone who might look suspicious just because of skin color, the FBI claims that its a myth to suggest that serial killers are all white males. The agency insists that serial killers span all racial groups. Sure. But note that I said most, not all. The majority of mass murderers are white men. The fact that we might be able to find the occasional serial killer who is a woman of color does not significantly change the pie chart. Besides, the FBI would be more convincing if it practiced what it preached. In 2002, federal agents were frantically searching for the so-called Beltway Sniper, who killed 10 people and wounded three more in the Washington metropolitan area. Authorities got off to a slow start because, according to the profile, serial killers are usually white men. Retired FBI profilers went on broadcast media and said, as one put it at the time, This is something white males do. The shooters, John Allen Muhammad and Lee Boyd Malvo, were African-American. Like many Latinos, when I hear about a tragedy like the one in Las Vegas, I hold my breath and hope the culprit wasnt one of ours. My African-American and Muslim American friends do the same. Ive even heard a religious conservative call into a radio show and say he does it, too. Its human nature. Still, I have to wonder if white men go through that exercise. I dont think so. That must be yet another ancillary benefit to being a white male. Well, the free pass has expired. Its time for law enforcement authorities to keep track of white men who stockpile guns. To the profiled, I say: Put up with it. After all, President Trump called my Mexican immigrant grandfather who came to the United States legally a hundred years ago a criminal and a rapist, and I survived. I can help get you through this. We shall overcome. And to those who think this whole concept is loony, and that, when it comes to who commits crimes, we cant make sweeping generalizations about whole groups of people based on prejudice, I say: Exactly. Now youre getting the idea. E-mail: ruben@rubennavarrette.com. Copyright, The Washington Post Writers Group. When the New Mexico Supreme Court approved new pretrial detention rules earlier this year rules designed to help judges determine whether a criminal defendant should be held without bail it was anticipated that as the sweeping reforms were implemented, fine-tuning would be needed. Now, three months after the rules took effect, eight of the states 13 district attorneys are proposing changes that provide needed clarity and uniformity in how detention hearings are conducted. The court should listen to them, just as it listened to New Mexico voters. Back in November, voters overwhelmingly approved an amendment to the state Constitution to allow defendants who pose a danger to the community to be held in jail without bond pending trial. Prior to that, judges were required to set a reasonable bail for nearly all criminal defendants. That sometimes resulted in well-heeled defendants with violent criminal histories being released within hours, while poor defendants facing non-violent charges languished in jail for months awaiting trial. As state Supreme Court Justice Charles Daniels said at the time, the old system meant defendants could buy their way out by posting bond. In response to the amendment, the state Supreme Court issued a comprehensive set of rules in June the result of two years of study by an ad hoc working group of lawyers, judges, bail bondsmen and others. Those rules kicked in July 1 and permit some people arrested on minor offenses to be automatically released on their personal recognizance while extremely dangerous defendants can be held without bond. Yet the devil is always in the details, and the group of DAs, who represent both political stripes as well as rural and urban communities, says that more clarification is needed. The DAs say some judges are requiring prosecutors to offer hours of testimony before deciding whether to hold a defendant without bail. And some say so many more defendants are being released that the number of warrants for failing to appear have skyrocketed. Their proposal, called even-handed and conservative by Rick Tedrow, the president of the state District Attorneys Association and the DA in San Juan County, would make it clear that: Judges can consider a variety of factors in declining to release someone, including the nature of the crime charged, the weight of the evidence and the defendants history. Some evidence may be introduced during a detention hearing but courts shall not require any party to submit evidence or information in any particular form. The purpose of a detention proceeding is limited to determining whether the defendant presents a danger to the community. The DAs need to add flight risk to that last one, because as Dianna Luce, prosecutor for Eddy, Chaves and Lea counties, points out, failure to appear warrants have skyrocketed in some jurisdictions since the new rules took effect. She says Hobbs police reported 150 defendants they arrested from January through June failed to appear in court, but since July 1 they have issued 230 warrants for failure to appear. The underlying goal of the amendment and its rules is to ensure the right defendants are held before trial those who pose a danger or a flight risk. Judges can still use bail to try to ensure a defendant shows up for trial they just cant use it to keep a defendant in jail because he or she cant afford to pay. For many judges, the new rules raise the bar a bit they want clear evidence a defendant is a danger to the public before ordering he or she be detained. Sometimes documents are sufficient, sometimes a witness is needed. Thats a judges decision. But the new rules were never meant to mandate mini-trials before a trial or open jail doors regardless of crime, history or likelihood of showing up in court again. The DAs are proposing a middle ground between that and the old system of defendants buy(ing) their way out of jail. And justices, who have already done so much heavy lifting on bail reform and understand the importance of specificity in the law, should be able to help everyone in the system find it. 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. Police in Santa Fe captured a man who escaped their interview room through the ceiling earlier Wednesday, according to a department spokesman. Greg Gurule of the Santa Fe Police Department said 28-year-old Ryan Rubel Martinez was back in custody Wednesday night and is charged with felony theft, possession of stolen property, escape from custody, aggravated burglary, resisting and obstructing a police officer. He said police initially arrested Martinez for felony shoplifting charges at a Home Depot for the second time in two weeks and brought him to the police station for processing. The holding cell was already in use and officers were forced to put Martinez in an interview room, Gurule said. When an officer left the interview room briefly to attend to paperwork, Martinez stacked chairs on the floor and escaped through a ceiling tile into the police building, he said. Officers searched the police station building and nearby areas, but Martinez had apparently been able to slip out a back door. Gurule said officers received tips that Martinez was running South on Cerrillos and soon got a 911 call of a burglary in progress in the Nava Ade neighborhood where Martinez fought with the homeowner after he was found in the house. Martinez, who was still handcuffed and was in possession of stolen items was able to take the victims vehicle keys but ran on foot from the home, he said. Gurule said responding officers found clothing that belonged to Martinez and set up perimeter in the area. Soon after, Martinez was spotted running from the area and arrested by officers around 7 p.m. Law enforcement officers found a body in a water drainage area by a financial institution along North Fourth Street on Wednesday, according to police. Officer Daren DeAguero, an Albuquerque Police Department spokesman, said Bernalillo County Sheriffs deputies responded to the scene after receiving calls of a person lying in the drain in front of the Nusenda Credit Union branch near Fourth and Guadalupe NW. He said after the deputies discovered the body, they turned the investigation over to APD. Police did not immediately release the name or gender of the person found dead or any additional information. Police were waiting for the Office of the Medical Investigator to arrive and conduct its investigation. SANTA FE Two state employees in Albuquerque are asking a judge to order Gov. Susana Martinezs administration to grant state employees paid time off so they can vote in municipal elections. The employees, Dan Secrist and Ken Long, are also seeking damages for lost wages or vacation time to compensate any state workers who didnt get paid leave to vote in Tuesdays election. They accused the State Personnel Office of violating state rules and city and state election codes. The state, in turn, contends that municipal elections arent covered by the policy allowing time off to vote. Furthermore, it would cost $1.2 million to pay every state employee for two hours to vote, or about $312,000 for just the employees who live in Albuquerque, according to the Martinez administration. The taxpayers of New Mexico should not have to foot the bill to pay state employees to do their civic duty. Martinez spokesman Larry Behrens said. The issue could come to the forefront next month when Albuquerque will hold a runoff election to choose a mayor and fill a City Council seat. Secrist, who works at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science, said the state has always allowed workers to take paid time off in city elections, at least during his 16 years as an employee. Now, he said, the administration is trying to discourage voter turnout. It could be enough to tip the outcome of a city election, Secrist said. Turnout was 29 percent in this weeks election, with early voting having started in mid-September and absentee ballots having been made available at the end of August. A state law allows voters to leave work for two hours on Election Day to cast their ballots, though the employer can specify when its OK for the voter to leave. The law also says the voter shall not be liable for any penalty because of the absence. A state policy has similar language, but it says employees arent eligible if their work shift already gives them plenty of time to vote in their off time on Election Day. At one point, under Martinez, the policy made clear that paid time off was allowed for municipal elections, but the latest version issued in 2014 doesnt specifically address the topic of city elections, according to the lawsuit. State Elections Director Kari Fresquez who works under Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver issued an opinion last month saying state employees should have access to paid leave on Election Day. Copyright 2017 Albuquerque Journal A day after Albuquerque voters defeated a proposed sick leave ordinance by a razor-thin margin, those pushing for the measure vowed to continue their fight while opponents were breathing a sigh of relief and realizing that had they not fought the proposal at every turn, there could have been a much different result. The ordinance was defeated by 718 votes, or 0.78 percentage point, according to unofficial results. But more than 6,000 voters who cast ballots skipped the proposed Healthy Workforce Ordinance. People on both sides were stunned by Tuesdays results, realizing how rare an outcome it was, including Pat Rogers, an Albuquerque attorney and one of the leading opponents of the ordinance. Forty-one times now, unions have been successful, whether with the vote or in the legislature, Rogers said, referring to sick leave ordinances that have been enacted throughout the country in recent years. Two times theyve failed Denver and Albuquerque and we didnt have the money they did. They outspent us. Its not something that was foreseeable, and I think its big. But those who worked to get the ordinance on the ballot and who have spent months campaigning for the measure which included knocking on 90,000 doors and 36,000 phone conversations arent giving up. Healthy Workforce ABQ, the coalition that pushed for the ordinance, issued a news release Wednesday vowing to continue its fight to ensure that all workers have access to earned paid sick leave. I think that ultimately, when it comes right down to it, there are still 107,000 workers who dont have paid sick leave today, Andrea Serrano, executive director of OLE, told the Journal. That is not acceptable, and that is what we have to move forward to work for. She said shes encouraged that many of the elected officials, business owners and groups that came out against the ordinance said that they support sick leave, just not the one that was proposed. I think that all sides agree that paid sick leave is extremely important and that its sorely needed in this city, Serrano said. I think thats the conversation that has to keep happening, and thats what we look forward to. We look forward to continuing the conversation even with people who opposed this particular ordinance. The Healthy Workforce Ordinance would have required any business with a physical presence in Albuquerque regardless of size to provide paid sick time off for full-time, part-time and temporary workers. Those who pushed for the measure said it would have ensured that workers wouldnt have had to choose between receiving their paychecks and caring for themselves or a loved one. Opponents argued that the ordinance would have hurt Albuquerque businesses and killed jobs because of increased costs and onerous record-keeping and other requirements. A Journal Poll conducted Sept. 11-14 showed 53 percent of likely voters supporting the ordinance. But a Journal Poll conducted two weeks later showed that the race had narrowed substantially, with support for the measure falling. 6,035 blank ballots Many people who closely followed the election returns on the sick leave measure are talking about the fact that 6,035 people who cast ballots didnt vote for or against the Healthy Workforce Ordinance. Brian Sanderoff, president of Research & Polling Inc., said its not unusual for voters to skip over items toward the end of a long ballot. But he said there may have been other factors. The ordinance is about 1,900 words, and the English and Spanish versions took up the entire back of the ballot. We have a complex issue with lots of words and a very small font, and some people may have felt that they just didnt have enough knowledge or information (to vote on it), Sanderoff said. People were barraged with a lot of bold statements both in favor of it and opposing this ordinance. Its only natural that some people did not feel they had sufficient information to make an informed decision. Others may have passed because of the sheer complexity. There could have been some people who didnt notice the back of the ballot. I think all of these factors contributed to the falloff. The city opted not to place a proposed summary of the ordinance on the ballot after Mayor Richard Berry vetoed the first election resolution, saying that the summary put forth by backers of the ordinance was misleading. Those pushing for the ordinance went to court to try to force the city to put the summary on the ballot, but they lost that battle. Sanderoff also noted that several of the fliers opponents sent out on the ordinance emphasized the length of the measure and linked that to trickery or potential deceptiveness. That kind of message may have resonated with enough voters, he said. Aggressive campaign Opponents of the sick leave measure fought it at every turn, going before the City Council to claim it would hurt the economy, waging several legal battles against it and launching a media campaign. Among those leading the fight were the Association of Commerce and Industry, the New Mexico Restaurant Association and NAIOP, an organization that represents commercial real estate developers. When its razor-thin like this, there are a whole bunch of people that can and should claim they were the tipping point, Rogers said. Terri Cole, president and CEO of the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce, was among the opponents speaking out against the measure. This was a deceptive, feel-good ordinance that would have hurt Albuquerque workers, businesses and the economy, she said in a statement. Several weeks ago, this job-killing ordinance was poised to pass by a double-digit margin. But businesses large and small came together, and the chamber ran an aggressive campaign over a short period to educate and warn voters of the dire consequences. Voters defeated a measure that would have threatened Albuquerques economy. Burly Cain, state director of Americans for Prosperity-New Mexico, also issued a statement calling the result a great win for Albuquerque small businesses and workers. The worst sick leave ordinance in the country died a well-deserved death last night, he said. Also weighing in was the Albuquerque Coalition for a Healthy Economy, which thanked voters for defeating the measure. Serrano said the ordinance faced great odds. Well-connected business interests undertook a campaign of misinformation that confused both the press and voters about the provisions of the law, she said. The measure was relegated to the back of the ballot, without a summary, in illegible seven-point font that many people could not read. This election doesnt change the fact that everyone agrees Albuquerque workers should have the basic right to earn sick leave. We will continue to fight for it. ANCHORAGE, Alaska Nearly every Alaskan will wake up $1,100 richer Thursday, thanks to this years payout from the states oil wealth investment fund. The distribution from the Alaska Permanent Fund is essentially free money for residents, who already dont pay a state income tax or statewide sales tax. But its just half of the expected $2,200 windfall, which was reduced for the second straight year to help the state pay its bills amid a recession due to continued low oil prices. Unlike previous distributions, the amount of this years payout was quietly announced in mid-September in a short news release. Gone was the usual announcement made with great fanfare in other years. Here are some facts and history of the checks. ___ SHRUNKEN CHECKS A record payout of $2,072 was distributed to qualifying Alaskans in 2015. Last year, the amount was estimated to be a bit higher until Gov. Bill Walker stepped in and shrunk the amount because of the states multibillion-dollar budget deficit, a situation exacerbated by chronically low oil prices. Walkers action was challenged in court, and ultimately the governor prevailed. In August, the state Supreme Court ruled that Walker acted within his authority in reducing the amount set aside for checks from the fund. ___ POLITICAL REPERCUSSIONS? The politically-charged court case played out as state lawmakers weigh a major shift that could turn the fund into an endowment and change the dividend program. Walkers actions to cut the payouts could affect him at the polls, noted Jerry McBeath, a political science professor emeritus at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. When people think someone wants to take something away from them, which they believe they are entitled to, they are very angry, he said Wednesday. That is what the governor has done. Walker is up for re-election in 2018. He is an independent, and will not face a primary election. There are announced Republicans in the race while no Democrats have announced their candidacy yet. ___ HOW TO GET FREE MONEY The checks are distributed annually to Alaskans who apply for them after living in the state for at least one calendar year, or were born in Alaska by the Dec. 31 deadline of the previous year. This year, about 640,000 Alaskans will receive checks, most through direct deposit. Altogether, the checks total $672 million. The amount of the checks is based on a five-year average of the funds investment earnings. ___ HOW PEOPLE SPEND THE MONEY Some use the checks as fun money for purchases like big-screen TVs, traveling and furniture. But for many in cash poor villages in rural Alaska, the money goes toward necessities such as costly heating fuel or even down payments for boats or all-terrain vehicles used in subsistence hunting. In the old gold rush town of Nome on the western coast, many use the money to put food on the table, according to Mayor Richard Beneville. He said it would be nice to get the full amount, but people there understand the states fiscal problems, and he hasnt heard anyone complain about the smaller payout. Something is better than nothing, he said. ___ HOW IT ALL BEGAN The permanent fund was created by voters in 1976 as an investment account for royalties after oil was discovered on the North Slope. The principal may not be spent, according to the state constitution, and the earnings may be used by the Legislature for any public purpose, including dividends. Residents began getting money from the fund in 1982. If an Alaskan has qualified for all of the checks distributed from the beginning, he or she would have received $41,221.41, said Sara Race, director of the states Permanent Fund Dividend Division. With Thursdays distribution, the state will have paid out about $24 billion. The fund, which was valued at $61 billion on Wednesday, gets its earnings from a diversified portfolio, which includes stocks that include Apple, Microsoft, Chinese commerce company Alibaba, Bank of America and Facebook. ___ Follow Rachel DOro at https://twitter.com/rdoro The Air Force Research Laboratory located on Kirtland Air Force Base reported a $659 million economic impact on the state in fiscal year 2016. Thats more than $120 million more than in fiscal year 2013, the last data the AFRL reported on in 2014. The report took into account salaries, direct spending, taxes and other indirect factors. Matt Fetrow, director of the Kirtland AFRLs Technology Engagement Office, presented the reports findings to a group of stakeholders at Innovate ABQ in Downtown Albuquerque on Thursday. The AFRL is a research organization under the U.S. Air Force Materiel Command that has directorates around the country. Kirtland is home to the Directed Energy and Space Vehicles Directorates. New Mexico is also home to a Directed Energy Directorate testing site at White Sands Missile Range and a Space Vehicles Directorate high altitude balloon program at Holloman Air Force Base. Fetrow said additional federal funding was a considerable contributor to the increased impact. Fetrow touted the large proportion 49 percent of research and development contracts that went to New Mexico contractors. Fetrow said that number has historically been around 20 percent. Of the $322 million AFRL spent on those contracts, $159 million went to in-state contractors in FY16. He credited increased outreach efforts and elevated capacities at New Mexico businesses. The report also analyzed contractors use of available New Mexico tax incentives, including a gross receipts tax deduction implemented in 2015 meant for goods and services related to directed energy and satellites sold to the U.S. Department of Defense, enacted by the state Legislature in 2014. We did not find a lot of evidence that those tax incentives are being widely used, Fetrow said. According to the report, fewer than three taxpayers took advantage of the deduction. Fetrow said that could be due to a variety of factors, like companies not being aware of the deduction or the deduction process lagging behind. Wed like to look into this more, he said. The report noted that AFRL was responsible for more than 4,100 jobs in FY16, compared to 3,714 in FY13. Fetrow said they hope to begin issuing an annual economic report in the future. The report was prepared in conjunction with the University of New Mexico Institute for Policy, Evaluation and Research. Iluminar Media, which owns and operates Little Black Book/LBB, a local recommendations and discoveries platform, has raised INR 6.5 crore from Blume Ventures - Indias leading tech-focused early stage VC. Existing partners, IDG Ventures and Indian Angel Network (IAN) also participated in this round. LBB will use the newly raised funds to expand the companys geographical footprint and scale its revenue streams through integrated offerings to its consumers and local businesses. In 2016, LBB had raised $1.2 million (about INR 8 crore) round of funding, led by venture capital firm, IDG Ventures India, and Indian Angel Network (IAN). In 2015, they had raised a seed investment of $150,000 (just over INR 1 crore) from a group of angel investors which included names like Rajan Anandan, Sachin Bhatia and others. Co-founded by Suchita Salwan and Dhruv Mathur, LBB is a platform to share and discover local businesses across the categories of food, shopping, events and activities. Currently, the platform uses community driven recommendations as a medium to drive an engaged audience of millennials to local places, services and experiences. A web and app based platform, LBB today reaches out to over 2 million users every month across 8 markets in India, including Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Pune, Kolkata, Chennai. The platform has grown over 300% with respect to user-reach, over 500% with respect to revenue growth, and from 1 to 8 cities in the last 12 months. Sanjay Nath, Managing Partner at Blume Ventures said, "We are excited to partner with Suchita, Dhruv and team LBB in their next phase of growth, as they strengthen their tech platform and expand their Pan-India footprint. What attracted us most to LBB was its dynamically curated approach to discovery - its integrated platform, augmented by a team of curators, has kept its loyal customer base sticky and growing at a fast pace. Further, it has been able to execute innovative and targeted campaigns for marquee brands, creating a recurring revenue stream. Karan Mohla, Executive Director at IDG Ventures said, LBB has grown phenomenally in the past couple of years driven by Suchita and Dhruvs inspiring leadership and impeccable execution. User consumption on digital platforms will be increasingly driven by their digital community and pushed out in the form of UGC. The LBB platform is the de facto standard for user recommendations across India and we continue to be excited by the companys potential and path forward. Padmaja Ruparel, Co-founder at Indian Angel Network (IAN) said, We are proud to have continued the trend of nurturing promising start-ups & are delighted to see the way the company has grown manifold since IAN invested. Suchita & Dhruv have grown LBB to become one of the most sought after discovery platforms. IAN is delighted to support LBB in their next round of funding. Rishabh Mehta, Founder & CEO LOCAD Pte Ltd & IAN Nominated Board Director, LBB quoted, The last 12 months have been an interesting journey at LBB. Lot of changes in terms of product, team and positioning have happened which further strengthen its value proposition and makes it much more robust and scalable. LBB has been able to crack the mantra for creating continuous user engagement and increased spending by advertisers which is clearly illustrated with almost 5x increase in revenue since last year. We are delighted with the progress and happy to further support the founders and LBB team in this new round. We look forward to LBBs next level of growth across India and International. On the fundraise, Suchita Salwan & Dhruv Mathur, Co-Founders, Little Black Book/LBB said, Were happy to have found partners in Blume Ventures, IDG Ventures and IAN as we move into the next phase of growth which will primarily be focused on scaling our user-base, and strengthening our product promise to our consumers and customers. On the way ahead, they said, International markets with a millennial audience is going to be the next big opportunity for us, along with closing the loop in between information, intent and transaction within our product itself. Wed like to make it easier for users to discover and simply access and do the things they discover on LBB. Were excited to build LBB to be the de-facto destination for all local discoveries and recommendations, globally. With over 30,000 recommendations across over 18 categories, LBB's grown to be the most trusted platform to discover and share information about local places, services and events. The company's revenue model today is primarily advertisement and lead generation based. Despite the relentless march of the digital medium, radio continues to hold its own as an advertising platform. As per the GroupM This Year Next Year (TYNY) 2017 report, radio is expected to grow at a little over 10 per cent, with scope for the medium picking up as the Phase 3 rollout is completed in 2017. Higher growth is expected as stations will see the supply impact of the full year. The Madison Advertising Outlook 2017 report pegs radios growth this year at 15 per cent, taking radio ad spends close to Rs 2,000 crore. According to the report, radio forms 3.6 per cent of the total advertising pie in India, with ad spends on the medium clocking up Rs 1,545 crore. Radio players are looking for an upswing in market sentiments this festive season and around 20 per cent hike in ad spends; some players expect this number to be as high as 30-40 per cent. Amid these positive sentiments, Adgully takes a relook at radio as an advertising platform and spoke to a cross-section of industry leaders on some pressing issues such as radio listener measurement, tapping the smaller and local advertisers, innovations in the medium, and the road ahead. Radio Audience Measurement Speaking on the measurement scenario, Abraham Thomas, CEO, Radio City, elucidated, At present, there doesnt exist a syndicated research mechanism that represents the radio industry; having a systematic process for measurement in place will supplement the growth of the entire business. The lack of common accurate research amongst key stakeholders like broadcasters, agencies and advertisers make it difficult to ascertain important parameters like reach. Hence, it is imperative to have an insightful understanding of the listener base of an FM station that will not only ensure better targeting, but also help brands in effectively utilising their budget allocation. Echoing similar views, Harrish M Bhatia, CEO, My FM, affirmed that with a measurement system in place, it will help in getting the right price for each radio brand, to calculate the reach of the campaign and also to calculate ROI on the campaigns. Rajat Uppal, National Marketing Head, Red FM, too, believed that measurement matrix always helped a medium to grow, with radio being no exception. He added, Other mediums like print, television and digital have industry specific measurements, which surely assist advertisers in deciding where to park their advertising monies and also know their ROIs. Had FM radio in India had a good measurement system, it is likely that the growth would have been considerably more as advertisers would have shown more faith in the medium. Having a robust measurement system in place is a boost for any media segment. Many advertisers decide on their radio plan basis the network of the radio broadcaster, the creative ideas that the radio station gives, the execution capabilities, the ability to offer more than just radio. Prashant Panday, Chief Executive Officer, Radio Mirchi, also felt that a robust system will lead to a more rapid growth of the medium. Advertisers use radio for many reasons and research is not as important as it is in TV and print, he added. Tapping local advertisers in small towns post Phase 3 Radio world over is local medium and retail advertising led, today all big brands are focusing on the Real Bharat to sustain and achieve growth, with radio reaching smaller towns it will attract advertising from both local and national brands. National brands who realise the potential of the medium know how well it helps in customizing the communication as per the local dialect and of course the last miles reach. In my opinion, the ratio for national and local advertiser contribution will be about 40:60, said Harrish M Bhatia. FM radio as an industry in India needs to invest in a radio measurement study, so that there is periodical reporting of performance metrics for advertisers to pick their choices within the players for advertising investments. Red FMs Rajat Uppal said that radio players need to think out of the box & give innovative and clutter breaking advertising solutions to prospective advertisers. The strength of the medium is the fact that it is local in nature and brands can customise their creative communication and use it to geo-target audiences city-wise. The fact the medium offers a two-way engagement is a plus over some of the other conventional mediums like Television and FM radio needs to use this to its advantage. At Red FM, we have always tried and delivered brand solutions which are high on engagement, are innovative and disruptive too. We have given brands solutions which extend beyond radio to on-ground and digital as well, affirmed Uppal. Abraham Thomas, too, opined that by providing hyper local content and programming for individual city stations, Radio City has been able to attract listenership in different cities and smaller towns alike. Also, by developing intellectual properties for smaller markets we have been able to enhance our audience engagement and expand our listener base in these cities. Local advertisers partner on our numerous National, Regional and Local properties to add to the reach that our stations offer. Radio City runs through the veins of each of our 39 cities. We are a cluster of local radio stations that make up a national brand called Radio City. With this approach in play, local and national advertisers are recognizing the power and return on investment in radio and the strategy is helping Radio City attract smaller and local advertisers. According to Prashant Panday, in the smaller towns, our experience is that radio is readily accepted by retail advertisers. Most advertisers who use print add radio quite easily. In smaller town, other media like digital, OOH and TV are not so easy to pick. Radio needs to add listenership numbers. This can happen if there are more broadcasters in a market, if broadcasters reduce the amount of ads they play (this is a turn-off for listeners), and if they do more brand marketing (campaigns on media other than radio itself). The industry has been lacking on all these fronts. This is one reason there is a degree of stagnation in the growth of the medium in terms of listenership. Innovation in radio - need of the hour Panday stressed on the need to try new things. He said, With our second channel, for instance, we did not cut the music basis era, as is most common (retro, 90s, last 10 years, CHR etc) or language (Hindi, Marathi etc). We cut it basis an emotional appeal (romance). I am happy that there are more formats available in the metros also, notably retro (Big, Nasha), 90s (Redtro) and Romantic (Ishq). There is also a need to do creative formats. For example, a relationships advice show like Mirchi does in the night band have worked magic for us. Ishq also does a similar show. Celeb shows are also popular. Finally, it is important for jocks to become multi-media. Gone are the days when an RJ could afford to be on radio and hope to become popular. Nowadays, listeners like to listen to and watch their favorite RJ. This is having a huge impact on the way programming roles are evolving in radio companies. But it is also expanding the horizon of radio consumption (listenership + viewership) beyond the limits of the FM signal. Abraham Thomas, too, believed that innovation is the need of the hour. It is not about listening to just music; it must be music-plus. We are looking at innovations which are a combination of on-ground, online and on-radio to create unique, clutter breaking content. Innovative conceptualization is a formula that needs to be adopted for developing a competitive edge. Marketers have realized that in the world of advertising one-size-does-not-fit-all. This has brought a positive change in the industry with ad campaigns being designed specifically for radio listeners. Our in-house creative agency, AudaCITY has done some exemplary work in the recent times and there are more innovative campaigns that we aim to launch during the festive period. Today, most of the young marketers understand the importance of each media vehicle. Radio today is part of all media plans; in fact, if you take note, there are many Indian radio campaigns that are being recognised at international and national levels, concluded Harrish Bhatia. STURTEVANT Taiwanese technology company Foxconn plans to build its promised $10 billion manufacturing campus in the southwestern corner of Mount Pleasant, as was widely suspected, officials confirmed Wednesday. The announcement was made before a full house at the SC Johnson iMET Center, 2320 Renaissance Blvd., by representatives of Foxconn, Racine County, Mount Pleasant, Racine County Economic Development Corp. and Milwaukee 7. "Foxconn Technology Group (Foxconn), the worlds largest electronics manufacturing services provider, will invest an estimated $10 billion to construct its Mount Pleasant campus, which will be located off of Interstate 94 between Highway 11 and Highway KR, stated a press release issued Wednesday. The manufacturing campus will be approximately 20 million square feet by far the largest project in the state, and one of the largest manufacturing campuses in the world." At that size, it will equal 20 Amazons, Racine County Executive Jonathan Delagrave said, referring to the large distribution center in nearby Kenosha. Foxconn Technology Group is the global leader in manufacturing services for the computer, communication and consumer electronics, or 3C industry. Foxconn makes liquid crystal display screens, notably for Apple. But here, Foxconn will manufacture larger LCD screens for many types of devices, from aircraft systems to self-driving cars as well as finished products such as televisions. The announcement of Foxconns chosen location for its planned 1,000-acre manufacturing campus had been expected for several weeks. During Wednesdays event, Delagrave opened his remarks by saying, Racine County is ready for this once-in-a-lifetime, transformational opportunity. Delagrave also said Foxconns decision represents the return of electronics manufacturing to the United States from Asia. The companys investment in Racine County represents the largest economic development project in Wisconsin history and the largest corporate attraction project in U.S. history, as measured by jobs. Foxconn is expected to hire thousands of new employees with an average salary of $53,000. An additional 150 suppliers are anticipated to locate in Wisconsin, bringing even more jobs and a new tax base, according to the Foxconn news release. Todays announcement is only the start, said RCEDC Executive Director Jenny Trick. This is the launching point for future investments in Racine County that will improve the quality of life for local residents and create new opportunities for the entire region. Three major development areas According to the Foxconn news release, the Mount Pleasant campus will be the first in a series of world-class manufacturing facilities the company will be building in the United States to meet future needs for the latest in display technology components. The new Mount Pleasant campus will consist of a multibillion dollar thin-film transistor liquid crystal display plant, a facility to package LCD modules, a skill-intensive facility focused on molding and tool-and-die processes, and an assembly operation to produce end-device units. A map of the entire Foxconn project is comprised of three areas. Area one, where Foxconn will build its 20-million-square-foot, state-of-the-art manufacturing plant, is the land between Interstate 94, highways H and KR and Braun Road. Area two, solely for future expansion, is most of the land between Highway 11, I-94, Highway H and Braun Road. Area three, for construction staging and where Foxconn suppliers are expected to set up operations, consists of all the land between Braun Road, Highway KR, 90th Street and Highway H. Mount Pleasant Village President Dave DeGroot said Foxconn is doing more than bringing a new industry to the area. Wipro Digital today announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Cooper, an award-winning design and business strategy consultancy. Wipro Digital is the digital business unit of Wipro Limited (NYSE: WIT, BSE: 507685, NSE: WIPRO), a leading global information technology, consulting and business process services company. Cooper will become part of Designit, Wipro Digitals strategic design arm, further strengthening its design and innovation capabilities, expanding its reach in North America and adding capabilities in professional design education. Increasingly, global enterprise clients recognize that design is a critical part of any digital or business transformation. By adding Coopers skills and expertise, Wipro will be better positioned to support its clients digital programs. Our combined capability across design, strategy and technology gives us a unique platform for working side-by-side with clients on the entirety of their digital initiatives. With Cooper, an acknowledged leader and pioneer in the design community with roots on the East and West coast, we will now be the preeminent firm for world-class UX (User Experience) and interaction design. This coupled with Designits global strategic design services and our world-class engineering capability, will allow us to support the complete digital journey for our clients, helping them transform their businesses for the future, said Rajan Kohli, Global Head and Senior Vice President, Wipro Digital. Wipro Digital and Designit serve clients from 16 offices around the world. Headquartered in San Francisco, Cooper has been a leading brand in interaction design, UX and professional design education for more than 25 years. Founded by Sue Cooper and Alan Cooper, the Father of Visual Basic, the consultancy is credited with inventing many tools and approaches used in design, including the Goal-Directed Design method and personas as a practical interaction design tool. Cooper employs 35 people in offices in San Francisco and New York and provides consulting and training services to top brands including Fortune 500 companies, leading non-profits and government agencies. Designit and Cooper are a perfect match. Both companies are passionate about creating products, experiences, and systems that matter and are high-impact and strategic. As a combined force with Wipro, well take our clients to new places, and help them think like a startup again, said Mikal Hallstrup, Designit's Founder and Global CEO. Designit and Cooper share a strikingly similar culture and a shared passion for turning complex problems into solutions people love. Both companies are characterized by unparalleled craftsmanship, real-world practicality, and a humanizing approach to technology. As a combined force, we will continue to shape the future of business, said Alan Cooper, Co-Founder of Cooper. The acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to be closed in the third quarter of fiscal 2017-18. Ranked #1 in growth among small to medium enterprises in Brazil by Deloitte and Exame magazine, Cata Company grew over 4,500% from 2014-2016 securing their top spot on the list. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171005005175/en/ Cata Company product line (Photo: Business Wire) This rapid growth has been fueled by investing in partnerships with Brazilian CITs, an expanding number of exports, and a new US based branch in South Florida. Our first product, CataCoin was developed to provide a client-facing, interactive coin machine that would recirculate coins within the country and provide them to the retailers that needed them most. Machines are now in 400+ locations in 140 different retail chains. Their next product line, CataCash was developed to fill the need for a high-tech, lower cost smart safe and have been managed to continue a steady growth rate by providing this alternative. The project flourished through a partnership with Prosegur - the country's leading company in cash-in-transit service provider and continued to grow through two other segment leaders, Protege and Preserve. "We remain close partners with Prosegur and have been advancing negotiations with others within the segment to consolidate Cata Company's position in the Brazilian market," COO and Director of Sales, Flavio Freitas. Cata Company is focused on expanding their solutions to new territories. CataCoin has been exported to the United States, Peru, Australia, and Spain. Our line of smart safes, CataCash are being sold in the United States, Mexico, Argentina, Paraguay and Spain. "We have products in pilot in numerous locations and we're optimistic about the future. We believe that more than 15% of this year's estimated revenue will come from exports," Victor Levy, CEO and Co-founder of Cata Company. Cata Company's latest innovation is a Shielded Vault System. Designed to prevent catastrophic losses during bank and CIT robberies, the vault boasts an embedded mechanism that destroys, in less than four minutes, 40% each individual bill stored in the shielded vault. The destroyed bills then may be exchanged with their respective central bank. About Cata Company Headquartered in Florianopolis (Santa Catarina) and a US subsidiary in Pompano Beach (Florida, USA), Cata Company is a technology-focused enterprise that develops innovative solutions for cash in transit companies, financial institutions, and business that handle cash and coin. Their product line includes, CataCoin, coin machines CataCash, smart safes and CataTech, comprised of the revolutionary new shielded vault system. www.catacompany.com View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171005005175/en/ Cata Company Jessica Pohlen, 9545434466 jessica@catacompany.com October 3, 2017 Turkeys president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, is scheduled to fly to Tehran tomorrow for talks with his Iranian counterpart, Hassan Rouhani, and the Islamic Republics supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The visit follows a flurry of high-level exchanges between the historic rivals who seem united, at least for now, in seeking to reverse the referendum on Kurdish independence in Iraqi Kurdistan and to cement shaky de-escalation zones to end the conflict in Syria. The state-run Anadolu news agency reported that Erdogan and Rouhani will chair the fourth meeting of the Turkey-Iran High Level Cooperation Council, which gathered for the first time in Ankara in 2014 to bolster trade ties between the regions non-Arab heavyweights. Turkeys Chief of General Staff Hulusi Akar was in Tehran on Monday to reciprocate an August visit to Ankara by Iranian counterpart Mohammad Hossein Bagheri, the first such visit by an Iranian army chief since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. In a joint news conference Bagheri said Iran and Turkey were unanimous in their determination to preserve Iraqs territorial integrity and called the Iraqi Kurdish referendum unacceptable. Bagheri added that Turkey and Iran will collaborate in matters of military training and border security. They would also take part in each others war games, he said. Yet, for all the recent mutual back-slapping, Iran and Turkey continue to disagree on a broad array of issues. Galip Dalay, the research director at Al Sharq Forum, explained in a recent essay, This recent uptick in diplomatic activity should be seen in the context of a recent convergence of concerns and threat perceptions in the Middle East. Dalay cautioned, However, it should not be interpreted as anything more than that, as Turkey and Iran continue to have diverging, if not conflicting, interests, especially in Iraq and Syria. Still, Persian-Turkish hobnobbing is being observed with mounting worry in Iraqi Kurdistan as leaders from both sides keep up their calls on Massoud Barzani, Iraqi Kurdistan's president, to annul the referendum results. In a show of force, Iran and Turkey have deployed additional troops to the Iraqi Kurdish border and invited Iraqi forces to join in training drills. Khameneis chief of staff, Mohammadi Golpayegani, has called the referendum a Zionist plot, a view that was echoed by Bagheri. In Turkey, too, the pro-Islamic and nationalist media is awash with claims of how Barzani and his family are in fact crypto-Jews who are bent on establishing a second Israel. Israel is one of the few countries to say it will recognize an independent Kurdish state in Iraq. An Iraqi Kurdish official told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity the Iraqi Kurdish leadership had reached out to several ethnic Kurdish members of parliament in Erdogans ruling Justice and Development Party for their help. But so far, their intervention appears to have had little effect. This has further alienated pious, pro-Barzani Kurds who normally vote for Erdogan. An unswayed Erdogan renewed threats to impose further sanctions on the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) if it failed to rescind the referendum, saying, If they do not come to their senses, [sanctions] will grow. Erdogan was due to discuss such measures with his ally Devlet Bahceli, the leader of the far-right Nationalist Action Party, who is leading the chorus of xenophobic howls against the referendum. Meanwhile, Baghdad, which shut Iraqi Kurdistan's airspace to international flights on Sept. 29, is continuing to pile on pressure as well. The Kurdish news outlet Rudaw reported today that the Iraqi parliament had asked the countrys federal court in a letter to strip Kurdish lawmakers who backed independence of their parliamentary immunity. Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi says he will not resume any dialogue with Erbil until the KRG cancels the results of the plebiscite, which was approved by a crushing 93% of voters. Reuters, quoting banking and government sources, reported that Iraq's Central Bank told the KRG today that it would halt selling dollars to four top Kurdish banks and stop all foreign currency transfers to the Kurdish zone. Yet Barzani shows no signs of cracking. Many Iraqi Kurdish officials blame the United States for Iraqi intransigence. They insist Washingtons noisy campaign against the referendum has emboldened their enemies and deepened instability and that Washington stands to lose as well. The United States has several key bases in the Iraqi Kurdish territory and the CIA is known to run a huge regional intelligence-gathering operation out of the region. Moreover, the US-led anti-Islamic State coalition ferries arms and other critical supplies to their Kurdish and Arab allies in Syria via Iraqi Kurdistan. Iraqi Kurdish officials aired hopes that Baghdad would reopen the airspace to allow the return of former Iraqi President Jalal Talabanis body to his native Sulaimaniyah. A larger-than-life figure beloved by journalists for his accessibility and sly wit, Talabani died in Berlin today after a long bout of illness. His death is expected to spark further infighting in the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, the party he founded and led in opposition to Barzanis Kurdistan Democratic Party. Then again, in death Talabani may become a vehicle for unity among the Kurds and for cooling tensions with Baghdad, Iran, Turkey and the United States. All are expected to send emissaries to his funeral. Anadolu, quoting unnamed sources, said Erdogan had called Talabani's widow Hero today, offering condolences. The beta version of the Google Android app received a new update on Wednesday, bringing its version number to 7.13. On the user-facing side of things, there isnt a lot of new additions to be seen here; the per-device notification toggle found in the Google Assistant Settings menu is now part of the package after months of testing and the hamburger menu hides several new icons, one of which replaced Googles magic wand denoting the Customize menu, as seen in the screenshots below. Finally, the companys digital companion is now also capable of recognizing and differentiating between more devices, with the service now being updated with support for Chrome OS-powered Chromebooks and Android TV offerings. Theres still no word on when the aforementioned novelties are to make their way to the stable version of the Google app, though the wait shouldnt be too long. If you want to get your hands on them as quickly as possible, youre free to download the experimental build of the service which is open to anyone who enrolls in Googles beta program; refer to the banner below to sign up for the test and then simply update your app like you normally would from the Google Play Store. Leaving the beta program can be done via the same link in case the latest build ends up being too unstable for normal use on your end. The Google app beta version 7.13 also includes some hints as to what consumers can expect from the mobile tool going forward, as suggested by an APK teardown performed by Android Police. One notable addition seemingly coming to the platform in the future is support for child accounts which will obviously be limited in terms of actions they can trigger, in addition to requiring parental consent during the setup process. Some additional commuting capabilities also found their way to the app which should now be able to anticipate that you dont have a single favorite mode of transportation and instead opt for different options depending on your destination. Finally, Pixel Buds support is also part of the 7.13 beta package, confirming that the upcoming wireless earbuds will be able to detect when you take them out of your ears and momentarily pause music playback. T-Mobile and Sprint are still in talks to merge into one company that can better compete with Verizon and AT&T. According to the latest report out of CNBC, the talks are moving forward, however some shareholders are not too happy with the deal price for the merger, which is said to be a stock-for-stock deal. According to recent reports, the deal is said to be at market price, which means theres no premium being paid by Sprint. Allowing Sprint to pay as little as possible to keep Deutsche Telekom happy, and possibly on-board to approve the deal. Of course, nothing is official just yet, so these reports could turn out to be false. T-Mobile, its parent company Deutsche Telekom as well as Sprint and its parent company SoftBank, have been in talks to merge for a few months now ever since the FCC quiet period ended following the Incentive Auction earlier this year. The two companies are still looking to merge, even though they are in vastly different positions compared to a few years ago when the two initially started talks of merging only to be shot down by regulators. With T-Mobile actually being the larger carrier now. Word is that Deutsche Telekom wants to keep the largest stake in the combined company, and that is making things tricky for SoftBank, as its CEO and Sprints chairman, Masayoshi Son wants to be able to call the shots. So we could end up with Deutsche Telekom having the larger stake, but only by a small amount. Now whether this merger happens or not will likely be squarely in the regulators court. Regulators did turn down an AT&T acquisition of T-Mobile in 2011, which ultimately ended up with AT&T forking over a ton of cash and spectrum to T-Mobile. Which helped the magenta carrier improve its network and become the Un-carrier it is today. So Sprint and SoftBank are talking with regulators to make sure that a deal could be approved, before announcing a deal as there would be a breakup-fee if it falls through. Obviously Verizon and AT&T are opposed on this merger, as it would give them more competition, even though the combined company would still be the third largest carrier. We should be hearing more about this proposed merger in the next few weeks and months. Heres what local leaders in government, business and academia had to say about Wednesdays Foxconn announcement: Bryan Albrecht, president and CEO, Gateway Technical College Todays announcement means the most advanced manufacturing facility in the world will, quite literally, be built in our backyard. We have a great opportunity to create sophisticated training programs that will train todays workers and change the course of future generations. Bob Bradley, Caledonia village president I am confident the Village of Caledonia will see direct economic impact from the Foxconn project. Not only will Caledonia residents have new job opportunities, I believe we will be well positioned for subsequent development and investment. Jerry Franke, former president of WISPARK As a Mount Pleasant resident, I am encouraged by Foxconns commitment to my community. I have spent decades in industrial and business park development and know what bringing a global manufacturer to the table can mean for a community. This is a great step forward for the village, county and state and I believe its impact will be felt for generations to come. Jean Jacobson, Town of Norway chair, former Racine County executive Foxconns investment in Racine County will change the course of the entire county. Families and businesses from all parts of Racine County, the region and the State of Wisconsin stand to benefit from this announcement for generations to come. State Rep. Cory Mason, D-Racine We need more family supporting jobs in our region. It is not about political party or ideology, its about putting people in Racine back to work at jobs that pay enough to raise a family. Matt Montemurro, president and CEO of RAMAC Racine County has a rich history of and dedication to manufacturing. Foxconns addition to our community of major manufacturers is just the latest in what we will believe will be many similar announcements as manufacturers see Racine County as a place to do business. Chad Severson, president, InSinkErator An investment like this from a global business benefits the entire community and will improve its quality of life. Foxconn will help Racine County attract and retain even more workers and residents and that benefits everyone. Norman Cloutier, professor of economics at UW-Parkside For Racine County and the City of Racine, both of which (have) perennially record unemployment rates above the state average, increased job opportunities are welcome news. However, I have to ask, at what cost? The level of foreign corporate welfare that this deal represents is unprecedented, and I have serious concerns about the pressure the Foxconn deal places on future Wisconsin state budgets and the environment. Citizens of Wisconsin will no doubt be thankful for the potential jobs this deal represents, but their gratitude should not be directed toward the president, the governor, or even at Foxconn itself. Rather, they should be thinking of their fellow taxpayer because they will be bearing the burden of this deal for years to come. Maytag MEC9536BS Overview This 36 in. Maytag cooktop offers two Dual-Choice elements that provide pan-size flexibility and offer a powerful output of up to 3,000 watts so you can easily boil water quickly. Lower-heat single elements can be used to prepare sauces, to brown or saute foods and to keep food at a low temperature. All four radiant elements offer fast visual response and even heating for everything, from boiling to simmering. Maintenance for the Maytag cooktop is a breeze with the smooth-top glass, ceramic surface, which is scratch- and shatter-resistant, and cooktop knobs that can be removed and placed in the dishwasher for easy cleaning. Available at AppliancesConnection Features: Dual-Choice elements Allow you to use whatever pan you want. Start off with a large stockpot and then switch to a small saucepan with just the turn of a dial. 10-Year Limited Parts Warranty Backed by a 10-year limited parts warranty on the elements and ceramic glass, these cooktops are dependably built for cooking you can count on. Heavy-duty die cast metal knobs Die-cast, solid metal control knobs are easy to use and provide a premium appearance and feel. Plus, they have the durability you expect from Maytag brand. Shatter-resistant glass Stringently tested for ultimate reliability, the glass resists scratches, chips and cracks. Plus, it's backed by a 10-year limited parts warranty on the cooktop. Endurance tested elements Maytag cooktop elements are tested for long life so you can cook with confidence knowing these elements will handle pressure when the heat is on. Designed, engineered, assembled in the U.S.A. Assembled in Cleveland, TN Hot surface indicator light Illuminates when the cooktop surface is hot to the touch, even after the heating element has been turned off. By Dr Sarika Dubey Editors Note: This article was originally published in The Diplomatist Magazine, June 2017, and has been republished with the permission of L.B. Associates (Pvt.) Ltd., a contract publishing house. Malaysia and Thailand, both active members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), enjoy cordial diplomatic relations and share strong bilateral ties in areas such as trade and investment; security; education and vocational training; youth and sports; tourism; and connectivity and socio-economic developments in border areas. Both countries like any other countries in the region. Though both countries share a land border, yet they are culturally distinct. Malaysia is a primarily Malay Muslim country with a multicultural character with some non-Muslim minorities. On the other hand, Thailand is a homogenous Thai Buddhist country with a small Muslim community, especially in its southern region bordering Malaysia. Before discussing the problems and the prospects of the trade and economic relations of the two countries, let us have a look at their historical, political and cultural linkages over the years. Malaysia: An Overview Malaysia is a federal constitutional monarchy comprising of the Malay Peninsula and parts of the island of Borneo. Its known for its beaches, rainforests and a mix of Malay, Chinese, Indian and European cultural identities. The country is multi-ethnic and multi-cultural. While the constitution of Malaysia declares Islam as the state religion, it allows freedom of religion for Non-Muslims. Geographically, Malaysia is divided by the South China Sea into two regions Peninsular Malaysia or West Malaysia bordered by Thailand on the North and Malaysian Borneo or East Malaysia located on the northern part of the island of Borneo in the South China Sea. Malaysia has different ethnic groups of which approximately 50 per cent are Malays practising Sunni Islam. The other communities include Chinese and Indians. It has a federal parliamentary elective constitutional monarchy closely modelled on that of the West Minster parliamentary system, a legacy of British colonial rule. The head of state is commonly referred to as the king, who is elected for a five year term by and from among the nine hereditary rulers of the Malay States. His role has been largely ceremonial since 1994 after changing the constitution. All executive powers are vested in the cabinet led by the prime minister. He is both the head of cabinet and the head of government. Malaysia is a founding member of ASEAN and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). It is also a member of several international organisations such as the United Nations, the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation, and the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM). Its foreign Policy is officially based on the principle of neutrality and maintaining peaceful relations with all countries but focused highly on the security and stability of South East Asia. Since its independence Malaysia has made good economic progress. Its GDP has been growing at an average of 6.5 per cent per annum for almost 50 years. It is one of 17 mega diverse countries on earth with rich natural resources which have been the engine of its economy, but now it is expanding in the sectors of science, tourism, commerce and medical tourism. Presently it has a newly industrialised market economy, ranked third largest in South East Asia and 29th largest in the world. Thailand: An Introduction Thailand shares land borders with Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia and Myanmar. Although the country is a constitutional monarchy, it has switched between parliamentary democracy and military junta for decades. The countrys population comprises of 95.9 percent Thai nationals. The remaining 4.1 percent of the population are Burmese, others and unspecified. The official language Thai is the principal language of education and government and is spoken throughout the country. Thailands religion is Theravada Buddhism, which is an integral part of the Thai identity and culture. It is also a multicultural society with different ethnic and religious groups. Thai culture has been shaped by many influences including Indian, Lao, Burmese, Cambodian, and Chinese. Thailand is actively engaged in international and regional organisations. Thailand is an active member of ASEAN and has developed close ties with its other members: Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Singapore. The country is an emerging economy and became a newly industrialised country and a major exporter in the 1990s. Manufacturing, agriculture, and tourism are the leading sectors of the economy. Thailand experienced the worlds highest economic growth rate from 1985 to 1996 averaging 12.4 percent annually but due to political uncertainty it has since declined and settled around 4.5 percent in 2010. It is the 2nd largest economy in South East Asia after Indonesia and the 4th richest nation according to GDP per capita, after Singapore, Brunei and Malaysia. Malaysia Thailand Trade Relations Thailand and Malaysia have both agreed to foster co-operation on trade and investment. Both countries emphasised on economic development and rail and road connectivity along their borders. To abolish the challenges of development, poverty and unemployment in Southern Thailand, the government is now pushing forward the development of the Sadao-Padang Besar Special Economic Zone in the south in order to generate employment and income for local people. The six sectors where Thailand plans to urge Malaysian investors to conduct more border trade are oil and energy, rubber, automobiles, sugar and rice and tourism. According to Thailands deputy prime minister, sectors that investors are interested in include halal food production and rubber. Thailand has also conducted a study on the establishment of a Rubber City in the Southern region Industrial Estate, located in Ban Chalung, Hat Yai district, Songkhla province, in order to promote rubber processing and add value to rubber products. Malaysia is also interested in promoting tourism between the two countries. According to the Thai commerce minister, Malaysia is Thailands largest trading partner in ASEAN and the fourth largest overall. Bilateral trade among the two nations has grown at an average of 10.54 percent annually during the past five years. Value of cross border trade between Thailand and Malaysia for the last year is US$26.5 billion. Both countries have agreed to enhance bilateral trade. They have decided to conduct Joint Trade Committee meeting regularly at certain intervals. As Asias sole net exporter, Malaysia has been hit hard by the collapse in oil prices since June 2016. The major element of Malaysian economy is the export of petroleum, natural and agricultural resources and it is the largest producer of tin, rubber and palm oil in the world. Oil and gas related activities account for nearly a third of the countrys fiscal revenues. On the other hand Thailand is also an export dependent economy and its major exports include rice, textiles and footwear, fishery products, rubber jewellery, cards, computers, and electrical appliances. As of 2012, the Thai automotive industry was the largest in South East Asia and the 9th largest in the world. Moreover, Malaysia has remained the investors first choice having investment grade credit with an A rating from the several rating agencies, as compared to the Thailand which has a lower investment grade. Conclusion Although Thailand has a much stronger balance of payments position and it is benefitting from cheaper oil prices, there is a lot which has to be done to put its economy back on track. The present circumstances are very much favourable for both countries to strengthen their relationship. Malaysias economy has the advantage of having huge natural resources such as oil etc. that other neighbours dont. However, Malaysia needs to open its services sector and improve the business environment for foreign investors if it wishes to move to a high income economy. Thailand is also facing a long political crisis; it is unpredictable when the situation will become normal. If the violence escalates in the Thai South, it will further complicate politics in Bangkok and Thailands relations with Malaysia. It will be interesting to see how both countries tackle some of the issues in their bilateral relationship to maintain peace and stability in the region. About Us The Diplomatist Magazine was launched in October 1996 as the signature magazine of L.B. Associates (Pvt.) Ltd., a contract publishing house based in Noida, a satellite town of New Delhi, India. ASEAN Briefing is published by Asia Briefing, a subsidiary of Dezan Shira & Associates. We produce material for foreign investors throughout Asia, including China, India, Indonesia, Russia, the Silk Road & Vietnam. For editorial matters please contact us here and for a complimentary subscription to our products, please click here. Dezan Shira & Associates provide business intelligence, due diligence, legal, tax and advisory services throughout the ASEAN and Asia. We maintain offices in Singapore, as well as Hanoi & Ho Chi Minh City, and maintain Alliance offices in Bangkok, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur and Manila as well as throughout China, South-East Asia, India and Russia. For assistance with ASEAN investments into any of the featured countries, please contact us at provide business intelligence, due diligence, legal, tax and advisory services throughout the ASEAN and Asia. We maintain offices in Singapore, as well as Hanoi & Ho Chi Minh City, and maintain Alliance offices in Bangkok, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur and Manila as well as throughout China, South-East Asia, India and Russia. For assistance with ASEAN investments into any of the featured countries, please contact us at asean@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 ASEAN 2017 An Introduction to Doing Business in ASEAN 2017 introduces the fundamentals of investing in the 10-nation ASEAN bloc, concentrating on economics, trade, corporate establishment, and taxation. We also include the latest development news for each country, with the intent to provide an executive assessment of the varying component parts of ASEAN, assessing each member state and providing the most up-to-date economic and demographic data on each. How to Set Up in the Philippines In this issue of ASEAN Briefing magazine, we provide an introduction to the Philippines as well as analyze the various market entry options available for investors interested in expanding to the island nation. We also discuss the step-by-step process for setting up a business entity in the Philippines, highlighting the various statutory requirements for overseas investors. Finally, we explore the potential for Singapore to serve as a viable base to administer investors Philippine operations. RACINE Two years after his arrest, a teen pleaded guilty Wednesday in the fatal shooting of his girlfriend. Appearing in Racine County Circuit Court, 16-year-old Keller G. McQuay pleaded guilty to charges of first-degree reckless homicide, possession of a firearm by a felon, and possession of a short-barreled rifle. A sentencing hearing in the case has been set for 3 p.m. on Feb. 26. The homicide and weapons charges stem from a Sept. 10, 2015, incident in which McQuay allegedly shot his 14-year-old girlfriend, Vista Jackson. The shooting occurred in McQuays mothers home in the 1000 block of Albert Street. McQuay also entered guilty pleas Wednesday to charges of battery by prisoner and resisting and obstructing an officer. The battery by prisoner charge stems from an Oct. 28 incident at the Racine Juvenile Detention Center, 1717 Taylor Ave., in which McQuay reportedly banged and kicked a door at the detention center, threw a cup of toilet water on two detention center workers, and spit in one of their faces, allegedly because he didnt want to go to an early court appearance. At a May 16 hearing, Edward Kirchner, a case manager for the Racine County Human Services Department, testified that McQuay should remain in adult court, noting that the teens behavior was escalating. In 2010, at age 10, McQuay caused damage to a car by jumping on it, netting a criminal damage to property charge, Kirchner said. In 2013, McQuay was involved in a fight at school and was back in the juvenile system for disorderly conduct, he said. Right afterward, McQuay faced two counts of first-degree sexual assault of a child for molesting a 7-year-old and 6-year-old, Kirchner said. The teen became a juvenile sex offender and was placed in a residential treatment center for about six months. Alaska Top 20 Attractions Do you have a trip to Alaska on your bucket list of destinations to visit yet? If not, we guarantee that youll soon want to add it to the top of the list. Visiting Alaska will be one of the most memorable trips youve ever taken. There are many things to do in Alaska that allow you to experience the picturesque natural landscape, learn about the native heritage of Alaskan tribes, and have incredible outdoor adventures. Alaska is a place that you dont want to miss. Whether youre taking a cruise or flying to your destination, there are tons of fun vacation spots in Alaska. Youll find amazing tourist attractions across the entire state. It can be a challenge to see everything at once due to its size. Before you visit, be sure to plan out the top things you want to see during your trip. Lets take a look at the best Alaska attractions to add to your itinerary. Things To Do in Alaska Affiliate links may be used in this post. I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you if you use my affiliate link. Delaware Top 30 Attractions Don't let its size fool you. Delaware is a state that has a lot to offer. You'll soon realize what makes the second-smallest state in the US one of the top destinations to visit in New England. There are attractions and things to do in Delaware for everybody. Delaware is a hidden gem that's worth checking out. You'll instantly be amazed by how scenic the state is with picturesque coastal drives, forest hikes, and scenic boat rides along the shore. There's tons of history to discover during a trip to Delaware. It was one of the first colonies established when the Europeans arrive at the "new land." You'll find several Delaware attractions that preserve the state's history and are excellent resources to learn more about it. You won't have a hard time immersing yourself in the wonders of Delaware when you arrive. There's a lot to love about Delaware, from the interesting landmarks to the fun activities to the friendly folks you meet. Plan your adventures with our list of the top tourist attractions in Delaware. Things To Do in Delaware Affiliate links may be used in this post. I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you if you use my affiliate link. Montana Top 25 Attractions Montana is a massive state in the northwest region of the United States. More than one million people live in Montana, and there are almost one hundred and fifty thousand square miles to explore. It is the fourth largest state in size and has some of the most beautiful wilderness in the entire country. There are a variety of things to do in Montana, so it is an excellent place for anyone and everyone to visit. There are national parks, battlefields, historical monuments, animal and nature preserves, resorts, and much more! If you are planning on making Montana your next destination make the most out of your trip by arranging your schedule to fit in all of the best tourist attractions. Here are the top 25 attractions in Montana. Things To Do in Montana Affiliate links may be used in this post. I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you if you use my affiliate link. Vermont Top 30 Attractions The charming state of Vermont is one of the premier destinations to travel to in New England. Its a year-round destination thats just as fun in the summer as in the winter. Explore some of the top things to do in Vermont that are great for all ages. Youll experience why its called the Green Mountain state with beautiful scenery everywhere you look. Discover the historical landmarks from one of the earliest states created in the Union or explore a few of the culinary treats that make Vermont famous. Well check out the top Vermont attractions that you dont want to miss out on. Regardless of which season youre traveling in, theres always something to add to your itinerary. Things To Do in Vermont Affiliate links may be used in this post. I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you if you use my affiliate link. Wyoming Top 30 Attractions Youll likely feel the need to yee-haw and unconsciously talk with an old western slang when you visit The Cowboy State. Wyoming embodies the old west at every corner of the state. And with a land size ranking in the top 10 out of the US states yet landing last for state populations, the vast landscapes come calling everyone to explore the frontier. Discover Wyoming attractions that take you to some of the countrys most unique landscapes and learn about its wild west heritage by traversing trails set by early pioneers or trotted by migrating wildlife. Youll find many things to do in Wyoming that immerse you into the states culture, history, and nature. Find out the best places to go and see that let you relive the old west era. Without further ado, let's get started with the top tourist attractions in Wyoming. Things To Do in Wyoming Affiliate links may be used in this post. I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you if you use my affiliate link. RACINE COUNTY The $10 billion Foxconn project will be paid for without a sales tax and without raising property taxes anywhere in Racine County, officials revealed Wednesday. Rather, the manufacturing complex, and development to follow, will be paid for entirely by a tax increment finance district, according to officials and the development team that negotiated the TID agreement with the company. On Wednesday, the day officials revealed that Foxconn will build its 20 million-square-foot manufacturing plant in the southwestern corner of Mount Pleasant, the other major revelation was the public financing part of the plan: a TID. Tax incremental financing allows a municipality to pay for improvements in a district with the future taxes generated as development occurs there. The financing plan, or TID plan, contains a $100 million incentive to the Taiwanese company albeit an incentive that is entirely paid for by new tax valuation and property tax revenue created by the development itself. The costs that are necessary are all paid for by the property taxes the company pays as a result of its development, said Jenny Trick, the executive director of the Racine County Economic Development Corp. The financing anticipates a total investment in the project from the TID of $764 million. Foxconns $10 billion investment will generate more than $31 million per year in new tax revenue that will more than pay for all public improvements and development costs, according to materials provided to The Journal Times and according to the 39-page TID project plan. Foxconn is providing financial guarantees to support a minimum valuation of $1.4 billion. That evaluation is expected to be reached in four years with a projected $350 million in new property valuation each of those years. Racine County Executive Jonathan Delagrave said negotiators were able to avoid raising property taxes or adding a sales tax by using the TID economic development tool. We took advantage of that and crafted a well-constructed project, he said. Delagrave said the team didnt know at the outset of negotiations if it would be able to avoid a new tax to land Foxconn, a maker of liquid crystal display technology. We didnt know either way, he said. I wanted to make sure that we had all options on the table. Thats why we were looking at it in the legislation; but just because it was in the legislation didnt mean we wanted or needed to enact it. I just wanted to make sure that everything was possible going into this project. We worked hard at (the financing package), Mount Pleasant Village President Dave DeGroot said. We knew that we didnt have much of a chance getting through our village, our County Board, if the project costs were going to fall on the taxpayers. First financing step: bonding The financing of Foxconns project will start later this year with a $55.2 million bond issuance by Racine County for land acquisition in the area where the manufacturing campus will be built. That will be followed next year by an estimated $53.7 million bond issuance by the Village of Mount Pleasant to fund sanitary-sewer infrastructure. That money will be repaid in 2020 by the states Clean Water Fund Loan Program. Foxconn has also agreed to provide $60 million in up-front money for land acquisition in area two, its potential future expansion area. Mount Pleasant will hold title to that land until Foxconn can acquire pieces of it by developing chunks of that area. The $764 million in project costs to be financed by the growth within the new TID include: An estimated $168 million for land acquisition. $160 million for water and wastewater infrastructure. That includes no expansion of either the Racine water nor wastewater treatment plants, which have the capacity to handle Foxconn, Trick said. $116 million in added police and fire capacity. That will include construction of a new fire station in the area. A new police station is not anticipated, although more officers, squad cars and such are. $12 million for road improvements and widening. A $28 million contingency fund. $5 million for fiber optics and other such costs. $175 million in financing expenses. The $100 million incentive to Foxconn which, if it meets all its benchmarks for hiring and so on, will end up paying that much less in property taxes from new taxes generated by Foxconns added property tax valuation. Everyone else gets paid back first, DeGroot said. Foxconn is last in line. 10 Most Beautiful Small Towns in Ohio Ohio is a special place. Although it is a Midwestern state, it also has influences from the East Coast that permeate its historically rural culture. When you visit small towns in Ohio, you can expect to see the laid-back lifestyle of the Midwest, along with the remnants of early American history and a culture that is still closely linked to the land. If you decide to tour Ohio small towns, be sure to add a few of the following most beautiful small towns in Ohio to your itinerary! Best Small Towns in Ohio Affiliate links may be used in this post. I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you if you use my affiliate link. 10 Most Beautiful Small Towns in Oklahoma Best Small Towns in Oklahoma Ooooooklahoma where the winds come sweeping down the plains! Oklahoma is definitely more than just winds and plains and waving wheatalthough you might not think so if you take a road trip through farm country! In reality, the patchwork of Oklahoma is stitched together with small towns. Enter the heart of Americas heartlands when you visit any of these Affiliate links may be used in this post. I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you if you use my affiliate link. The market will likely see more unitranche financing in the future, Hogan Lovells has predicted. The forecast comes as the firm acted for Barings on its first ever unitranche offer in Australia.The deal is significant for the Australian financing market given the novel nature of the unitranche/super senior structures. Unitranche structures comprise a single take-and-hold facility and carry a blended margin, which replaces the need for separate senior and mezzanine facilities, Hogan Lovells said in a statement. We expect unitranche will soon become more common given the number of global debt funds and banks already familiar with these structures.The firm has had a major role in the development of Europes unitranche market, which was established in 2008, it said.Partner Richard Hayes said that Hogan Lovells lawyers from the Sydney, Perth, London, and Los Angeles offices worked together on the deal.The Hogan Lovells team in Australia included Hayes, partner Matthew Johnson, senior associate Francis Booth, associates Sherry Khalili and Charles Wehbe, and law graduate Eric Van Winssen.Barings, which has US$288bn in assets under management (AUM), is a member of the MassMutual Financial Group. The unitranche financing was used by The Riverside Company, a private equity firm with more than US$5bn in AUM, to acquire Energy Exemplar. Managing the increasingly complex volatility of risk faced by in-house legal departments is seen as a key role by general counsel.Almost nine in 10 GCs said managing uncertainty plays a major part of their role according to a new survey from Clyde & Co and Winmark, which also asked corporate executives for their view of the role of their general counsel.The report shows that there are some areas where lawyers and board directors are aligned in their views while on others there is disparity.For example, both GCs and executives acknowledge the risk affecting their organisations, and on the importance of regulatory compliance they face.However, on whether general counsel manage uncertainty well. 68% of GCs said they do while just 38% of board directors agreed."This report shows that at every level, the general counsel role is being reinterpreted and reaffirmed in light of the changing risk and regulatory landscape that businesses face, commented Clyde & Co. senior partner Simon Konsta. Because of these changes, the successful, modern, general counsel must deploy a blistering array of commercial, legal and wider business skills on a daily basis."Boards think that the GC role is far more functional than GCs do, with board directors believing that 33% of a GC's time is spent responding to internal legal requirements, while GCs report that this is actually just 19% of their role.The international law firms report is based on interviews with 100 in-house legal leaders and 18 board directors. Squire Patton Boggs has hired corporate partner Rika Beppu in Tokyo.Ms. Beppu is dual-qualified in the UK and Hong Kong and was previously head of corporate and M&A at Hogan Lovells in Tokyo and has also been office managing partner at Simmons & Simmons.Squire Patton Boggs has made three senior appointments in Tokyo over the past year, with the hire of the former Tokyo head of commercial disputes at K&L Gates, Haig Oghigian, and former general counsel for Sega and senior attorney at Microsoft Japan, Scott Warren.A marketing campaign to promote UK law in Asia Pacific has been launched this week in Singapore.The campaign aims to highlight the benefits of the UK as a centre of arbitration excellence and along with marketing materials being sent to chambers of commerce and other business groups, Lord Keen of Elie QC, advocate general for Scotland has been in the city state.As one of our greatest exports, we want to ensure our legal services sector remains at the very heart of our future as a global, outward-looking, free-trading Britain, Lord Keen told the Law Society Gazette.He will travel to Sydney next to speak at the International Bar Association conference. In stark comparison to its predecessor, the 2018 Toyota Century isnt powered by Toyota s only V12. Introduced in 1997, the 1GZ-FE is a 5.0-liter plant with a dual overhead camshaft valvetrain and two ECUs, one for each cylinder bank. The newcomer, meanwhile, switches to a 5.0-liter V8 (2UR-FSE). The Japanese automaker didnt release any output information, though the FSE is rated at 394 horsepower and 383 lb-ft of torque in the former-gen Lexus 600h.Connected to the Toyota Hybrid System II, the naturally aspirated mill promises outstanding fuel efficiency. The electric motor is juiced up from a nickel-hydride battery, though Toyota refused to say how much the all-new Century can drive on electricity alone. The no-frills body shell is augmented by adaptive LED headlights and an extensive suite of active safety systems, but this being a full-size luxobarge, the party piece of the Century is the cabin.The rear doors are higher and longer, enabling easier access to the extra-wide rear seats. Entry-level trim features wool upholstery, whereas the range-topping model gets smooth leather upholstery. As expected from the type of vehicle bought by Japan s rich and famous, the seats offer massaging function and endless adjustment. Located between the two rearmost seats, youll find an LCD panel designed to offer control over pretty much every comfort function.Coming to Tokyo as a near-production concept , the 2018 Toyota Century will go on sale in Japan next summer. Pricing isnt known at the time being, but dont expect cheap thrills. The second-gen model used to retail at the equivalent of $130,000, which is well-equipped Mercedes-Benz S-Class territory. CVT In desperate need of a replacement, the S210 Crown shares its underpinnings with the Lexus GS and its available with anything from a 2.0-liter turbo to a 3.5-liter V6. The S220 Crown, meanwhile, is longer (4,190 mm; 193 inches), sporting a longer wheelbase for superior passenger comfort and cargo volume.All new from the ground up, the 2018 Toyota Crown also features sharper styling than its predecessor. Something we werent expecting from the Japanese automaker is the following line from the press release that reads testing in Nurburgring, Germany . This change of heart for the full-size luxury sedan comes as a result of Toyotas new Fun to Drive program, whose intention is to make daily driving as exciting and engaging as possible.Probably the most dominating aesthetic feature is the humongous grille up front, flanked by sweptback taillights and wide wheel arches. As far as the production-ready Crown is concerned, Toyota confirmed that it will be fitted with Data Communication Modules technology as standard. The data acquired by the DCM is used to diagnose vehicular issues, as well as to reduce traffic jams. The DCM technology can connect to a call center at the push of a button.Photos of the interior havent been released, nor did Toyota say anything about the powertrain of the Crown Concept. In all likelihood, the all-new model will share bits and pieces with the TNGA GA-K, which underpins the latest Camry . In other words, expect an 8-speed automatic and a, and as many as four engines: 2.0-liter I4 (6AR-FSE), 2.5-liter I4 (A25A-FKS), 3.5-liter V6 (2GR-FKS), and 2.5-liter I4 (A25A-FXS). The French are determined to change that, but since this isn't something you can rush head-in and expect to succeed, they have a plan. That means it'll be a while before you see any Peugeot or Citroen dealerships in the U.S., but when you do, they might be there to stay.Just the other day, PSA announced the launch of Free2Move - a smartphone app available on both the iOS and Android operating systems is designed to enable users to compare the cost and location availability of several alternative transport solutions such as Zipcar, TravelCar or Car2Go. The service is restricted to the Seattle area for now, but it will go nation-wide eventually.That's phase one of PSA's strategy for the North American market. Phase two is launching a car-sharing service that, together with the Free2Move app, will provide the French company with plenty of data about the American client's preferences. This way, PSA can avoid the hit-and-miss method it definitely can't afford and go for a more targetted approach.Talking to Auto Guide , Groupe PSA North America CEO Larry Dominique revealed that the carmaker is already developing its next vehicles with the U.S. regulations in mind. Once data on the North American customer has been collected and studied, we can expect to see Peugeot and Citroen cars tailored to meet their needs.Buying the Opel brand from General Motors earlier this year seemed like a weird move from PSA, but knowing the French company's intentions, it would make sense to use Opel's knowledge of the U.S. market.Dominique says we're looking at a "ten-year project" here, underlining just how different and potentially difficult the North American clientele is. But with over ten million cars sold each year, that's a market PSA can't afford staying away from for much longer. AWD The benchmark has been set pretty high, and it should be. Everybody from Acura to Subaru and Volkswagen wants a slice of this market.The Yuntu has presented as a concept at the 2017 Shanghai Auto Show back in April. However, it has been testing for about two years as a Grand Cherokee-based mule.But this isn't a mule at all. Thanks to the concept and some patent filings, we have a pretty good idea of where Jeep's design language is going here. The Yuntu will have narrow, long headlight and grille assemblies placed right under the hood. The LED signature can be seen peaking from under the camouflage tarp.A sneak peek at the rear reveals two oversized exhaust trim pieces that hide much smaller tips. It looks like the car-like independent suspension arms are bolted to thecase, thus saving a little bit of weight.Jeep hasn't yet revealed its plans for Yuntu. The fact that it was shown in China suggests that is its primary market. However, our spyshots suggest testing is happening near FCA's headquarters in Auburn Hills, Michigan. Should the launch be successful, the family crossover could be shipped over.Speaking of Volvo, the Swedish company ships almost all the S90 sedans it makes from China. The Yuntu might also get a different name overseas, as is the case for the Volkswagen Atlas, which is known as the Teramont Considering the concept was originally shown as a hybrid, and this production prototype was seen in the company of the XC90 PHEV , it's reasonable to presume that it uses Chrysler's e-motor. Boeing announced on Thursday it plans to acquire Aurora Flight Sciences Corporation, a technology company that specializes in autonomous systems and robotic aircraft. The combined strength and innovation of our teams will advance the development of autonomy for our commercial and military systems, saidGreg Hyslop, chief technology officer and senior vice president of Boeing Engineering, Test & Technology. Together, these talented teams will open new markets with transformational technologies. Leveraging autonomous systems that include perception, machine learning and advanced flight control systems, Aurora has designed, produced and flown more than 30 unmanned air vehicles since the company was founded in 1989. The company also is a leader in developing electric propulsion for aircraft. During the last decade, Aurora has collaborated with Boeing on the rapid prototyping of innovative aircraft and structural assemblies for both military and commercial applications. Once acquired, Aurora will be a subsidiary under Boeing Engineering, Test & Technology known as Aurora Flight Sciences, A Boeing Company. Aurora will continue to operate from its headquarters in Manassas, Virginia, as an independent entity, Boeing said, while benefiting from Boeings resources and position. The terms of the agreement were not disclosed. More than 550 people work for Aurora, in six states, including an R&D center near MIT in Cambridge, offices in Ohio, California and Switzerland, and manufacturing facilities in Connecticut, West Virginia and Mississippi. AVweb spoke with Aurora CEO John Langford in April when he was attending the Uber Elevate conference; click here for that interview. Childrens health has not been a partisan issue in recent decades. Consensus across the American political spectrum has been that funding programs which ensure the health of all children, especially children of limited means, is a worthwhile use of taxpayer money. For that reason, we were puzzled and disturbed that, last weekend, funding was allowed to expire for the Childrens Health Insurance Program, which provides low-cost health insurance to 9 million children. If action is not taken soon to restore the funding, the effects will become obvious in schools across the country, with many of the children in the program unable to see a doctor for routine checkups, immunizations, visits when sick and other services, the Washington Post reported Sunday. The program, created under a 1997 law passed with bipartisan support during the administration of President Bill Clinton, provided coverage for children in families with low and moderate incomes as well as to pregnant women. It was instrumental in lowering the percentage of children who were uninsured from nearly 14 percent when it started to 4.5 percent in 2015. It was last reauthorized in 2015 and was due to be renewed by Sept. 30, 2017. Amid unsuccessful efforts to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, the Republican-led Congress allowed the CHIP deadline to pass without action. The program was primarily funded by the federal government, with states paying a good deal less. States still have some CHIP money available, but if Congress does not act quickly to restore the program, they will start to run out. Several states and the District of Columbia are expected to drain CHIP funding by the end of this year and many more by March 2018, according to this government report. The program cost the federal government about $13.6 billion in 2016. The program provided services that included, according to the governments website: routine checkups; immunizations; doctor visits; prescriptions; dental and vision care; inpatient and outpatient hospital care; laboratory and X-ray services; and emergency services. Routine well child doctor and dental visits are free under CHIP. But there may be co-paymentsfor other services. Some states charge a monthly premiumfor CHIP coverage. The costs are different in each state, but you wont have to pay more than 5 percent of your familys income for the year. Dorothy R. Novick, a pediatrician at Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia, recently wrote a plea to Congress to save CHIP in a piece for The Washington Post: Every day I see patients in my practice who stand to lose their health care if Congress does not act to extend CHIP funding. Consider my patient who grew up in foster care, put herself through college and now earns a living as a freelance clothing designer. She is now a mother herself, and I treat her children. Her 1-year-old son has asthma and her 3-year-old daughter has a peanut allergy. They are able to follow up with me every three months and keep a ready supply of lifesaving medications because they qualify for CHIP. Or consider the dad with a hearing impairment whose wife passed away two years ago. He supports his teenage daughters by working as a line cook during the day and a parking attendant at night. He sends the girls to a parochial school. He lost their Medicaid when he was given extra hours at his restaurant last year. But I still see them because they qualify for CHIP. We expect adults to be able to take care of themselves, availing themselves of governmental safety-net programs only until they get back on their feet. We have disagreements on how much help the government should provide able-bodied adults, and for how long that help should be provided. We still agree that kids shouldnt be expected to take care of their health needs on their own, right? Congress should restore CHIP funding immediately. Children whose health needs are being met are far more likely to become healthy adults no longer in need of government assistance. Damaged rotor blades on the UH-60. (Photo: FAA) The NTSB is investigating the collision between a civilian drone and an Army UH-60 helicopter that took place in New York on Sept. 21, the board said on Thursday. TheNTSBis investigating the incident because the drone was a civilian aircraft, the board said in a news release. The Army also is conducting its own investigation. TheNTSBs investigators already have begun the work, and are reviewing radar data from ATC, flight data from the helicopter, flight data logs provided by the drone operator and FAA documents regarding airspace and temporary flight restrictions. The collision took place at about 7:20 p.m., east of Staten Island. The Army helicopter was flying at about 500 feet, providing security for the U.N. General Assembly. The aircraft sustained damage to its main rotor blade, window frame and transmission deck. A motor and arm from a small drone, identified as a DJI Phantom 4, were recovered from the helicopter. TheNTSBwas notified of the incident the day after and began its investigation.In the following days, investigators identified and interviewed the drone operator, who provided the board with flight data logs for the incident flight. Zunum Aero, a startup based in Seattle that plans to build a family of hybrid-to-electric regional aircraft, released details of its initial design on Thursday. The aircraft, the company said, will seat up to 12 passengers, and will be ready for flight tests in 2019 and first deliveries in 2022. The company also announced the opening of a development center in the Chicago area, where they plan to add more staff, expand the work on their electric propulsion technologies and start ground tests. This is a first step towardour vision of bringing fast, affordable regional travel to thousands of communities, transforming the way we live and work, the company said in a news release. Zunum, which was founded in 2013,is funded by Boeing HorizonX, Jet Blue Technology Ventures and the State of Washington Clean Energy Fund. Zunum says it plans to develop hybrid-electric aircraft with a range of up to 700 miles that will efficiently serve regional networks, using underutilized secondary airports. The company is aiming for a cruise speed of about 300 knots, takeoff distance of 2,200 feet, 80 percent reductions in emissions and noise and low direct operating costs of about $250 per hour. The aircraft will be driven by quiet electric propulsors with variable-pitch fans, enabling a 40 percent reduction in runway needs, the company said. Wing-integrated batteries will enable quick swap or recharge at airports. The company also plans to develop a control platform that provides real-time flight energy optimization, power management, fault detection and recovery. We believe that the regional transportation industry is ripe for disruption, said Bonny Simi, president of JetBlue Technology Ventures. Were excited to supportZunum and its efforts to help introduce a new era of aviation. Trump tweet on Thursday morning: "Why Isn't the Senate Intel Committee looking into the Fake News Networks in OUR country to see why so much of our news is just made up-FAKE!" Senate Intel Committee chairman on Wednesday: "It's safe to say that the [Russia probe] has expanded slightly. (Not to the media, though.) Solar industry officials took their case against steep new import penalties on solar panel equipment to the White House yesterday. Why it matters: The trip, organized via the Solar Energy Industries Association, signals how opponents of new tariffs are pushing to make headway with Trump aides even as the U.S. International Trade Commission is still weighing its upcoming recommendations to the White House. What happened: SEIA didn't specify exactly who they met with, though Politico reported yesterday that SEIA president Abigail Ross Hopper told reporters ahead of the trip that it would include White House aides, as well as staff from DOE, the U.S. Trade Representative's office, and other agencies. On the industry side, officials from SunPower, DuPont, RBI Solar and a few other companies attended. They're fighting the bid by two financially distressed panel makers Suniva and SolarWorld for major new tariffs and other restrictions. What they're saying: Hopper, in a statement to Axios, called the meetings very productive. "[O]ur group brought their unique perspective as American solar manufacturers to the key White House and department officials who will be supporting the decision on the trade case. Our companies drove home the points that we represent the vast majority of Americans working in solar manufacturing and that any tariffs will have a detrimental effect on these companies' ability to maintain their employees, let alone add more," she said. While she didn't get into the details of the meetings, SEIA has recommended several policies, such as Commerce Department-led technical assistance to manufacturers, in lieu of steep new tariffs that would cause the price of new solar projects to rise sharply. Yes, but: Their effort to ward off new tariffs and other import restrictions could be facing a steep uphill climb at a time when the White House has signaled it favor a tough posture on trade in general. "If I had to bet, based on what the president has signaled he's interested in doing in terms of his rhetoric in other cases, that would seem to be the most likely outcome," Chad Bown, a trade expert with the Peterson Institute for International Economics, told Axios in an interview yesterday. A note yesterday from ClearView Energy Partners makes a similar point. "We continue to believe President Trump may use this proceeding which targets a relatively narrow energy subsector as a test case for his tough-on-trade America First agenda," they said. Trump has plans to decertify the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, according to "people briefed on an emerging White House strategy for Iran," per The Washington Post. What it means: The deal has eased Iran off sanctions in exchange for a rolled-back nuclear program, so this could set the U.S. on a path to sanction Iran and amp up tensions between Tehran and D.C. And Tehran has said it could start up its nuclear program within days, raising a potential additional nuclear problem for Trump in addition to North Korea. Ultimately, the decision would be kicked to Congress. The disagreement: Mattis said earlier this week he thought it would be in U.S. security interests to remain in the deal, although today White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said Trump's national security team is "supporting" his decision and to expect an announcement in "days." Sanders elaborated that "the president has, as he said, made a decision on this and he'll make that announcement at the appropriate time. The main focus that he has had has been a comprehensive strategy on how to deal with Iran." Those briefed on the matter told The Washington Post the plans still may change, but keep in mind Trump has been railing against the deal for some time now as a bad deal for the U.S. Special Counsel Robers Mueller's team has taken over FBI inquiries into the dossier a British spy compiled on alleged links between Trump associates and Russia, Reuters reports. The unverified dossier raised the possibility Trump could have been vulnerable to Russian blackmail during the election. Why it matters: It appears Mueller's extra muscle may be needed, as the Senate Intelligence Committee said earlier Wednesday it had "hit a wall" in assessing the veracity of the document. Chairman Richard Burr said they had trouble getting Christopher Steele, the dossier's author, to come before the committee to discuss the details. The FBI and a spokesman for Mueller declined to comment to Reuters. Police officers take cover near the scene of a shooting near the Mandalay Bay resort and casino. Photo: John Locher / AP Las Vegas Sheriff Joseph Lombardo gave a step-by-step rundown Wednesday night of the response to Monday's shooting. Key quote: "What we know is Steven Paddock is a man who spent decades acquiring weapons and ammo, and living a secret life much of which will never be fully understood... he meticulously planned the worst domestic attack in United States history." 10:05 PM PT: First shots fired by the suspect First shots fired by the suspect 10:12: Two officers arrive on 31st floor, say shooting coming from directly above them Two officers arrive on 31st floor, say shooting coming from directly above them 10:15: Last shots fired by suspect (10 minutes after shooting began) Last shots fired by suspect (10 minutes after shooting began) 10:17: Two officers arrive on 32nd floor Two officers arrive on 32nd floor 10:18: Security officer says he's been shot, gives location of the room Security officer says he's been shot, gives location of the room 10:26-10:30: Eight additional officers arrive on 32nd floor, begin to clear rooms because they don't hear additional gunfire and believe the suspect may have barricaded himself in. Eight additional officers arrive on 32nd floor, begin to clear rooms because they don't hear additional gunfire and believe the suspect may have barricaded himself in. 10:55: Eight officers arrive in hallway near suspect's room Eight officers arrive in hallway near suspect's room 11:20: First room breached, officers notice the suspect is down (75 minutes after shooting began) First room breached, officers notice the suspect is down (75 minutes after shooting began) 11:27: Second room breached, no other suspects spotted Other takeaways: 5 October 2017 10:16 (UTC+04:00) By Trend Over the past 24 hours, Armenias armed forces have 91 times violated the ceasefire along the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said on October 5. 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 5 October 2017 20:00 (UTC+04:00) By Sara Israfilbayova The National Fund for Entrepreneurship Support (NFES) under the Economy Ministry of Azerbaijan has granted concessional loans worth 96.5 million manats ($56.76 million) to more than 1,270 entrepreneurs since early 2017. The Economy Ministry reported that these loans allow to create more than 3,900 new work places. Within the framework of a business forum held in Khirdalan city of the Absheron region entrepreneurs received preferential loans in the amount of 5.6 million manats ($3.29 million). These funds will be directed for the development of livestock and poultry, the production of packaging, building materials and adhesive tape, as well as the construction of a modern greenhouse complex and will create more than 160 new work places. The forum participants got acquainted with the hothouse economy created at the expense of NFES loans. To date, 116.3 million manats ($68.41 million) were allocated for the creation of 37 greenhouse farms in Baku and in the Absheron region and 32 of them have already been commissioned. About 150 million manats ($88.2 million) will be issued for granting preferential loans to entrepreneurs in 2017. During January-September 2017, about 1,154 entrepreneurs received soft loans in the amount of 90.4 million manats ($53.18 million). The main goal of the Fund, which was established in 1992, is to provide preferential loans from the state budget for small and medium business, in order to develop entrepreneurship in the Republic of Azerbaijan. Allocation of funds by NFES is aimed at the minimizing of the impact of global economic crisis to the national economy and mitigation of its dependence on the oil sector. Encouraging business doing in the country is one of the priorities for the Azerbaijani government, which supports entrepreneurs through creating necessary conditions for the development of a healthy business environment in the country. The Absheron Peninsula is the biggest and the most populous city of the country, and also the Baku metropolitan area, with its satellite cities Sumqayit and Khyrdalan. Absheron is an important industrial region of Azerbaijan with oil producing, gas producing and oil refining industry. Agriculture on the peninsula is represented by livestock, viticulture and melon-growing on irrigated lands. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 5 October 2017 17:16 (UTC+04:00) By Laman Ismayilova The Week of the Italian Language will be held in Baku on October 16-23. The opening ceremony will take at the International Mugham Center on October 16, Trend Life reported. The event is held by the Italian Embassy in Azerbaijan with the support of the International Mugham Center. The Week of the Italian Language in the World is an international event aimed at promoting the Italian language as the representative language of the classical and contemporary culture. Every year the diplomatic and cultural network of the Foreign Ministry and International Cooperation of Italy chooses a theme for this initiative and organizes a series of events in the third week of October. Launched in 2001, by an agreement between the Foreign Ministry and the Accademia della Crusca, under the High Patronage of the President of the Republic, the initiative has grown from edition to edition, involving, in addition to Italian Cultural institutes, also Embassies and Consulates. The central theme for 2017 is Italian at the Cinema, Italian in the Cinema". The evening will feature works from famous Italian films. Honored artists Farida Mamedova (soprano) and Siruz Mammadov (trumpet) will perform the popular melodies from beloved Italian movies. A special guest is Francesco Bruni, a famous Italian filmmaker and screenwriter. Bruni`s last masterpiece, presented in 2017, is Tuttoquellochevuoi (Everything you want). For this movie, he was awarded with a prize at the NastrodArgento 2017 (Silver ribbon) for the Best Screenplay. Tickets for the concert are sold at all ticket offices in Baku. --- Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 5 October 2017 15:11 (UTC+04:00) By Rashid Shirinov Armenia did not fulfill its commitment for a peaceful settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict when it was admitted to the Council of Europe, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said on October 4. He made the remarks while meeting with Ambassador Zoltan Hernyes, the newly appointed representative of Council of Europe to Azerbaijan. Armenia broke out a lengthy war against Azerbaijan by laying territorial claims on the country. Since a war in the early 1990s, Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan's territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding regions. Until now, Armenia has not implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding regions. Mammadyarov also drew attention to the case of Chiragov and others vs. Armenia, stressing the non-enforcement of the judgment of the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights. At the meeting, the sides exchanged views on implementation of practical projects and the Council of Europe Azerbaijan Action Plan. The parties also noted that Azerbaijan closely cooperates with the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and relevant monitoring committees. Zoltan Hernias stressed that he will make every effort to develop bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and the Council of Europe during his diplomatic mission. The sides also exchanged views on topics of mutual interest. --- Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 5 October 2017 17:49 (UTC+04:00) By Rashid Shirinov The status quo is unacceptable in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, and we must reach a political settlement, said Nicolas Suran, the ambassador of the Council of the European Union from France accredited in Brussels. He made the remarks in his speech at a meeting of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev with the Political and Security Committee of the Council of the European Union delegation, including the EUs accredited ambassadors based in Brussels, on October 4. Suran expressed concern about the armed clashes occurring on the frontline and current state of the negotiations. Our goal is very clear: to reach a solution to the issue in accordance with the principles of international law and, in particular, the Helsinki Final Act, which is inviolable for all of us, the diplomat noted. He reminded the principles of this act not to threat or use force, to ensure full territorial integrity of states and self-determination of peoples. From this point of view, you can rely on us as on the Minsk Group co-chairs, since we will not be biased in the search for the best solution between the parties, Suran said. The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict 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 regions. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and over 1 million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. He added that work over the initiatives that the Minsk Group co-chairs put forward is very important. It is very important for us that the negotiations are soon restored, as this can ultimately provide stability and security in the region and, of course, for its peoples, the diplomat said. Until now, Armenia controls fifth part of Azerbaijan's territory and rejects implementing four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding districts. Peace talks mediated by the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs from the U.S, Russia and France have produced no tangible results so far due to Armenias reluctance to get engaged in constructive talks. Walter Stevens, the chairman of the Political and Security Committee of the Council of the European Union, also attended the meeting. "We would like not the status quo, but a political solution to be found to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict," he said. We fully support the [OSCE Minsk Group] co-chairs in this regard. The diplomat also noted he is aware that the co-chairs will visit the region soon and that a meeting between the Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents is also planned. --- Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 5 October 2017 14:59 (UTC+04:00) By Rashid Shirinov Armenias looting of property in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, exploitation of natural resources, destruction and appropriation of material and cultural wealth belonging to the Azerbaijani people, an unsuccessful attempt to change the demographic situation and other illegal acts constitute a gross violation of international humanitarian law, including the commitments Armenia undertook under the Geneva Convention. Spokesman for the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry Hikmet Hajiyev said this in his interview with APA on October 5, commenting on the recent Armenian provocation against Azerbaijan. The Armenians have held an opening ceremony of St. Marys Church built in Azerbaijans Jabrayil region now occupied by Armenia. Hajiyev noted that Armenias misappropriating of Albanians historical Christian heritage and temples in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, and the construction of a Church in the occupied Jabrayil region, which have never been inhabited by Armenians, are an intentional giving of a religious color to the conflict, obstruction for the settlement of the conflict in accordance with the proposals put forward by the mediation of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs. The special zeal of the Armenian religious figures in this illegal process, which is far from religious values, is deeply regrettable, the spokesman said. Such actions, undertaken by Armenia and the Armenian Church, are not only contrary to international humanitarian law, but also do not correspond to the Gospel and the basic principles of Christianity, which like other heavenly religions teaches peace, respect for others property and avoidance of aggressive actions. Hajiyev added that the issue of this provocative action of Armenia will be raised at international organizations. Armenia broke out a lengthy war against Azerbaijan by laying territorial claims on the country. Since a war in the early 1990s, Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan's territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding regions. To this day, Armenia has not implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding districts. Since the beginning of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and occupation of Azerbaijani territories, the Armenian aggressors destroyed 1,200 historical and architectural monuments, looted 27 museums, and over 100,000 items were exported to Armenia. In addition, the Armenian occupiers destroyed 152 religious monuments and 62 mosques, 4.6 million books in 927 libraries, including the Holy Quran and rare Islamic manuscripts. --- Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 5 October 2017 09:50 (UTC+04:00) By Trend Azerbaijans President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree on October 4 amending the "Decree on the Budget of the State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan for 2017. According to the decree, SOFAZs budget revenues increase from 8,370,589,800 to 10,813,861,600 manats, expenditures from 14,483,856,000 to 15,242,928,000 manats. In the SOFAZ incomes, the forecast on revenues from the sale of profitable oil and gas has been increased from 7,550,705,300 manats to 9,826,212,000 manats, forecast on acre payments from 3,465,000 manats to 3,605,500 manats, forecast on income from oil and gas transit through the territory of Azerbaijan from 16,830,000 manats to 17,688,500 manats. Meanwhile, the forecast on revenues of the Fund from the placement and management of assets has been increased from 799,094,600 manats to 963,948,000 manats, and the forecast on bonuses paid by investors within oil and gas agreements, or in connection with their implementation from 495,000 manats to 2,407,600. A lions share in SOFAZ expenditures still accounts for transfers to the Central Bank of Azerbaijan in order to ensure macroeconomic stability in the country. The volume of transfers has remained unchanged 7.5 billion manats. Transfers to the state budget of Azerbaijan are again approved at 6.1 billion manats. Expenditures for improvement of living conditions of refugees have been increased from 90 million manats to 105 million manats. Expenditures for reconstruction of the Samur-Absheron irrigation system has remained unchanged at 70 million manats, costs within the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway construction project at 165,825,000 manats, costs of financing the state program on education of Azerbaijani youth abroad in 2007-2015 at 29,304,000 manats. Expenditures for financing the states share in the Southern Gas Corridor projects have also remained unchanged at 496.155 million manats, and the costs of the Fund management at 32.572 million manats. Moreover, the updated budget of the State Oil Fund envisages expenditures for financing the states share in construction of STAR refinery in Turkey at 744.072 million manats. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 5 October 2017 19:00 (UTC+04:00) By Trend Estonian Presidency of the Council of the European Union hosts a conference aimed at developing e-governance and enhancing cybersecurity in the European Union's Eastern partner countries, the EU Baku office said on October 5. This conference will be followed by the second Eastern Partnership Ministerial meeting on the digital economy on October 5 and the EU's Ministerial e-Government Conference on October 6. The "e-Partnership Conference" will take place in Tallinn and will bring together more than 150 experts and policy makers from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine, as well as the EU member states Oct. 6. During the meeting, the ministers will sign a declaration on digital economy between the EU and the six Eastern Partnership countries. These events are part of a series of events organized in preparation for the 5th Eastern Partnership Summit, which will be held in Brussels on November 24. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 5 October 2017 18:08 (UTC+04:00) By Sara Israfilbayova World oil prices rise on Thursday due to the prospect of an extension of the global OPEC + pact, but the further expansion of the market is hampered by the increase in the U.S. exports and the restoration of the extraction of raw materials in Libya. Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, rose 0.7 percent, to $56.18 a barrel, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures up 0.2 percent, to $50.07 a barrel, according to Marketwatch. On the one hand, support for the market is provided by data on a sharp reduction in fuel stocks in the United States. However, on the other hand, traders estimate the data on the growth of the U.S. oil production and exports. Commodity stocks of oil in the country decreased last week by 6.02 million barrels, according to the U.S. Energy Department. At the same time, terminal reserves in Cushing, where oil is traded on NYMEX, increased from 60.9 million to 62.5 million barrels, which limits the potential for price increases. Despite this, other factors weighed on oil prices, including the return to production of Libyas Sharara oilfield after an armed brigade forced a two-day shutdown. Russian President Vladimir Putin said on October 5 that he supposes the possibility of extending the pact to reduce OPEC + oil production by the end of 2018 for the sake of stabilizing the world market. The King of Saudi Arabia arrived in Moscow. Putin and Salman will most likely reach, but not announce, an agreement to extend the OPEC/non-OPEC production deal, though with a commitment to taper the cuts, said Eurasia Group. The agreement of OPEC + reached its goal, stabilizing oil prices, said Saudi Arabias Energy Minister Khalid Al-Falih during the Russian-Saudi investment forum. He went on to say stabilization of prices in the oil market has been achieved, adding that this all led to an increase in economic performance in the countries. Earlier, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said on October 5 that Moscow would support new countries joining the agreement to restrict oil supply. OPEC and other major oil producers such as Russia and Azerbaijan reached an agreement in December 2016 to remove 1.8 million barrels a day from the market. OPEC and its partners decided to extend its production cuts till March 2018 in Vienna on May 25, as the oil cartel and its allies step up their attempt to end a three-year supply glut that has savaged crude prices and the global energy industry. The next JMMC meeting is scheduled for the day prior to the full ministerial meeting on November 30 in Vienna. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 5 October 2017 18:37 (UTC+04:00) By Trend Since early 2001 and until October 1, 2017, the State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan (SOFAZ) has received over $126.68 billion as part of the project of developing the Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli (ACG) block of oil and gas fields in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea, a source in SOFAZ told Trend on October 4. In January-September 2017, SOFAZ received over $4.57 billion within the ACG project, said the source. The contract for developing the ACG field was signed in 1994. The proven oil reserves of the block near 1 billion tons. The shareholders of the project are BP (35.78 percent), Chevron (11.27 percent), Inpex (10.96 percent), AzACG (SOCAR) (11.65 percent), Statoil (8.55 percent), ExxonMobil (8 percent), TP (6.75 percent), Itochu (4.3 percent) and ONGC Videsh Limited (OVL) (2.72 percent). The signing ceremony of a new contract on development of ACG block of oil and gas fields was held in Baku on September 14. Following the ratification of the contract, the new ACG participating interests will be as follows: BP - 30.37 percent; AzACG (SOCAR) - 25.00 percent; Chevron - 9.57 percent; Inpex - 9.31 percent; Statoil - 7.27 percent; ExxonMobil - 6.79 percent; TP - 5.73 percent; Itochu - 3.65 percent; and ONGC Videsh Limited (OVL) - 2.31 percent. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 5 October 2017 10:57 (UTC+04:00) By Trend Implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA aka nuclear deal) has apparently paved the way for Iran to renew its power sector through foreign investment. Since last years nuclear deal inked between Iran and the worlds major powers, multinational companies have demonstrated a considerable interest in investing in various markets of the Islamic Republic, including the power sector. Iranian energy officials apparently seek foreign investment to construct new power plants and increase the efficiency of the existing power plants. The Thermal Power Plants Holding Company (TPPH) of Iran has recently announced that the country is in talks with foreign firms to conclude worth of $6 billion investment deals. The construction of a 5,000 megawatts (MW) power plant with an estimated investment of 2.5 billion euros is among the most important projects of the Iranian power sector. Iran hopes to launch the first phase of the project in the southern port city of Bandar-e Abbas over the next fiscal year (to start March 20, 2018) in collaboration with MAPNA Group, an Iranian enterprise operating in construction and development of thermal power plants, and foreign investors. According to TPPH, the foreign partners of MAPNA are expected to provide 85 percent of the required financial resources for the project. In the meantime, Unit International is expected to finance and participate in a project worth of 1.25 billion euros for construction of two combined-cycle power plants with a capacity of generating 2,080 MW of power. Russia is also among those investors planning to cooperate with Iran in the construction and financing of a thermal power plant with a capacity of 1,400 MW in the southern province of Hormozgan. The whole project is valued at about 1.5 billion euros and the Russian side is expected to bring about 1.2 billion euros in investment. The Sirik power plant located in Hormozgan Province is projected to come on stream over the next five years. The Rey power plant in Tehran Province is awaiting Japanese funds to double its current capacity of 1,000 MW and increase its efficiency to 60 percent. Chinas Shanghai Electric is in talks with Iran to construct the Tabas power plant with a capacity of 650 MW in central Iran. The project is estimated to cost 4.5 billion yuan. Nominal electric generation capacity in Iran has increased by 680 MW to 77,108 MW since the beginning of current Iranian fiscal year. Gas power plants (27,258 MW) share 35.35 percent of the generation capacity, while the shares of combined-cycle (19,470 MW) and steam power plants (15,829 MW) account for 25.25 and 20.53 percent, respectively. Hydroelectric (11,811 MW) and Bushehr nuclear power plants (1,020 MW) nominal electric generation capacities are equal to 15.32 and 1.32 percent of the countrys electric generation capacity, while the share of the renewables stands at only 0.39 percent or 301 MW. Iran plans to increase its nominal electric generation capacity to 80,000 MW by summer 2018. 5 October 2017 14:38 (UTC+04:00) By Kamila Aliyeva A high-level meeting of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani was held on October 4 in Tehran. The meeting focused on regional situation, with specific focus on Syria and Iraq, bilateral political relations as well as trade and business ties. During a joint press conference which followed the closed-door talks, Rouhani, who was speaking first, noted that Iran and Turkey, as two friendly Muslim states, are the anchors of regional stability. Addressing the conference, he said that increasing the ethnic and sectarian separatism are the plans of outsiders, and that the efforts of Turkey, Iran and Russia, in trilateral cooperation, are needed for establishing peace in war-torn Syria. Regional issues including the latest development in Syria and Northern Iraqi Kurdish autonomous region were discussed during the meeting, according to Rouhani. Tehran and Ankara are against the moves aimed at partitioning the region, he said, adding that Iran and Turkey seek security and stability of the region. Tehran and Ankara agreed to confront disintegration of Iraq and Syria. Fighting terrorism, under any name, among main goals of Iran and Turkey, the Iranian president said adding that Iran, Turkey and Iraq have no choice rather than taking serious measures to secure their strategic plans. Both presidents drew particular attention to the regional developments in Iraq after the Erbil independence referendum, asserting that the referendum was illegitimate and that Iraq's territorial integrity is important for regional stability. The Kurdish Regional Governments (KRG) held a controversial independence referendum in northern Iraq, including areas disputed between Erbil and Baghdad, on September 25. Election authorities in Kurdistan announced that the independence referendum passed with 92 percent support. Along with Iraq, Iran and Turkey - countries with Kurdish minorities - have all denounced the referendum as a threat to the stability of a region already beset by conflict, while the United States has expressed similar disquiet. In his speech, Rouhani further hailed the expansion of bilateral ties between in recent years noting that both countries will use national currencies in transactions to expand economic ties. The two sides agreed that three border checkpoints to work 24 hours a day to boost transit between Iran and Turkey, according to the Iranian president. Moreover, following the talks it was decided that Iran will facilitate investment possibilities for Turkish investors and the sides are expected to boost bilateral cooperation in oil, gas and tourism sectors. Turkey expressed readiness to buy more gas from Iran, Rouhani said, adding that meetings will be held next week to discuss the details. Addressing the press conference, Erdogan also confirmed that "all regional matters were on the agenda" of the meeting which also discussed the development of military, economic and political relations. The Turkish president noted that relations between Iran and Turkey are becoming stronger as well. Despite the fact that Ankara and Tehran planned to increase the trade turnover up to $30 billion, currently, the two countries trade turnover totals $10 billion, he added. Turkey is also interested in opening Turkish banks in Iran, he said. Erdogan was accompanied to Iran by a high-level delegation, which included Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekci, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Berat Albayrak, Trade and Customs Minister Bulent Tufenkci, Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu, Culture and Tourism Minister Numan Kurtulmush and Justice and Development Party (AK Party) Deputy Chairman Mehdi Eker. Iran and Turkey are considered to be regional rivals but have recently sought to maintain a pragmatic relationship, with the Islamic Republic strongly supporting Erdogan after last year's failed coup. The two governments have taken opposing sides in the six-year war in Syria but relations have improved this year with both countries joining Russia as co-sponsors of peace talks in Astana. Iran and Turkey also both share sympathy with Qatar in a diplomatic rift between the Gulf emirate and its neighbors which erupted in June. --- Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 5 October 2017 13:40 (UTC+04:00) By Trend Ashgabat hosted political consultations between Turkmenistan and Belarus on contractual and legal issues, Belarusian embassy in Turkmenistan said in a message on October 5. Holding of consultations is envisaged in the program of cooperation between the two countries foreign ministries. The two sides conducted an inventory of existing interstate, intergovernmental, interdepartmental and other bilateral agreements. During the consultations, the parties identified the most promising areas for further expansion of bilateral contractual and legal basis that ensures the strengthening and development of relations between the Republic of Belarus and Turkmenistan in the political, trade, economic and humanitarian spheres. Trade turnover between Belarus and Turkmenistan exceeded $120 million in 2016 and together with the services it amounted to almost $300 million. It was previously reported that the construction of Garlyk mining and processing enterprise in Turkmenistan's Lebap region, where rich deposits of potassium salts located, is one of the main projects in the economic partnership between the two countries. The plant is built by Belarusian Belgorkhimprom JSC and its capacity is 1.4 million tons of mineral fertilizers per year. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Alleged serial killer arrested A police team deployed from the Metropolitan Police Crime Division (MPCD) arrested an alleged serial killer from Mahendranagar. He has been brought to Kathmandu on Thursday. 5 October 2017 14:22 (UTC+04:00) By Sara Israfilbayova An expanded plenary session of the Scientific and Advisory Council under the CIS Anti-Terrorism Center (ATC) and the 7th regional expert consultation of representatives of law enforcement authorities, special services agencies of CIS countries kicked off in Baku on October 5. Deputy Director of the CIS Anti-Terrorism Center Marat Abdyraev noted that the ways to combat the remote impact applied by international terrorist organizations for recruiting supporters among citizens of the CIS countries are being discussed. "This meeting is held for the first time in Baku, and we express our gratitude to the leadership of the State Security Service of Azerbaijan for the created conditions," Abdyraev added. The purpose of the consultation is to further strengthen cooperation between CIS special services, exchange experience and create effective technologies with extremism and terrorism. The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) is free association of sovereign states formed in 1991 by Russia and 11 other republics that were formerly part of the Soviet Union. The CIS functions include coordinating its members policies regarding their economies, defense, immigration policies, environmental protection, and law enforcement. The CIS united Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Ukraine. However, in 2008 Georgia withdrew its membership. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 5 October 2017 14:17 (UTC+04:00) By Trend Turkish police are conducting a special operation in the Ministry of Finance against supporters of the Fethullah Gulen movement, the Turkish media report on October 5. Nearly 100 people have been detained in the operation. They are accused of having links with the Gulen movement, including leaking official information. Names and positions of the detainees have not been disclosed. On July 15, 2016, Turkish authorities said a military coup attempt took place in the country as a group of servicemen announced about transition of power to them. However, the rebelling servicemen started to surrender July 16 and Turkish authorities said the coup attempt failed. More than 250 people were killed during the attempted coup. Shortly after the prevention of the coup attempt, on July 20, the state of emergency was introduced in Turkey for a period of three months. After this, the state of emergency was three times extended for three months each. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 5 October 2017 16:14 (UTC+04:00) By Kamila Aliyeva Kurdish independence referendum caused discontent of the neighboring states. Ankara, Tehran and Baghdad have created a tripartite mechanism for developing measures to respond to the policies of Iraqi Erbil. This was stated by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on October 5, NTV television channel reported. "The three countries together will decide on closing the valve on the pipeline," he said. Previously, Turkish leader held a meeting with his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani during which both sides asserted that the referendum was illegitimate and that Iraq's territorial integrity is important for regional stability. Turkey and Iran receive Kurdish oil, which goes through their territory for export. Kirkuk, controlled by the Kurdish forces, produces close to 400,000 barrels a day, which makes up almost 10 percent of total Iraqi oil production. The KRI is said to hold 45 billion barrels of crude reserves, or around a third of Iraqs total reserves. Following the referendum on independence, Ankara announced that it would impose sanctions against Erbil. Cutting off the Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline, pipeline that carries 500,000-600,000 barrels per day (bpd) of crude from northern Iraq to the Turkish port of Ceyhan, is one of such countermeasures. The Kurdish Regional Governments (KRG) held a controversial independence referendum in northern Iraq, including areas disputed between Erbil and Baghdad, on September 25. Election authorities in Kurdistan announced that the independence referendum passed with 92 percent support. Along with Iraq, Iran and Turkey - countries with Kurdish minorities - have all denounced the referendum as a threat to the stability of a region already beset by conflict, while the United States has expressed similar disquiet. Tehran earlier announced a ban on direct flights to and from Iraqi Kurdistan at the request of the central government in Baghdad and called for a land blockade of the autonomous region by all neighbouring countries. Even before the official results were released, the parliament in Baghdad adopted a package of measures in response to the unconstitutional move of Erbil. The MPs demanded the government to send Iraqi troops to the disputed areas under the control of the Kurds, close the border terminals that go beyond the control of the federal government, return oil fields under the jurisdiction of the Oil Ministry, close foreign diplomatic missions in Erbil. Kurds are the fourth-largest ethnic group in the Middle East although they have never obtained a permanent nation state. In Iraq they make up an estimated 15-20 percent of the population of 37 million. Kurds acquired autonomy following the 1991 Gulf War. --- Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 5 October 2017 10:30 (UTC+04:00) By Amina Nazarli Some people worldwide have very scanty knowledge about Azerbaijan. Asking about the Land of Fire more knowledgeable foreigners can say that Azerbaijan is a former Soviet country in the Caucasus Region on the Caspian Sea, and shares borders with Russia and Iran. What is particular to know about this country is that due to its particular geographic location, Azerbaijan is a real blend of East and West, with a deep and intriguing history. Mainly this reason and many others make the republic the most interesting Caucasian country to visit. Despite this huge potential, Azerbaijan is not very popular on tourist maps, while the state is working hard to include the country in travel bucket list of thousands travelers. The potential of the country as a whole has been already promoted and many influential TV channels and magazines have wonderful review on The Land of Fire. But, the state wants to highlight its capital Baku, the largest city in the Caucasus region, was known throughout the world. Baku, a city of contrasts, has always something new to discover. And increasingly, Baku is becoming known as a tourist destination. Mature travelers and young backpackers are coming to Baku in greater numbers. Spokesperson of the National Tourism Propaganda Bureau Kanan Guluzade told Milli.az that promotion of Azerbaijan is not enough, and alongside the country its capital Baku should also has its tourism brand, over which a group of professionals are currently working. Indeed, over the last decade, Baku has expanded tremendously with a number of skyscrapers, shopping malls, restaurants and hotels. Tourism in Baku is booming so much that its becoming a trend destination for many neighboring and remote tourists to get away for a weekend. In addition, Baku's marketing strategy is underway. In particular, we expand relations with business structures of Baku. Different measures are taken to make them more attractive for tourists, he said. Currently, we are studying the marketing sector of tourism sphere in several directions. For example, let's talk about Russian market. This market is very different. For example, it turned out that the demand from tourists from St. Petersburg is quite different from those coming from Moscow, except those coming from Vladivostok. That is, the segmentation should be done here. We also work in several directions, including Asia, particularly in China, Malaysia and Indonesia, the largest Muslim state. In addition, efforts are being made to increase the number of tourists coming from Israel, he explained. Guluzade noted that they work in several directions to promote Azerbaijani tourism. "For example, we have very close relations with Baltic states, as well as Poland. We are partners therefore we spread the materials about each other's tourism potential," he added. In general, there are several ways of propaganda, according to the spokesperson, noting that one of them is primarily through the media. Forbes magazine, Reuters agency, and other influential mass media write articles about Azerbaijan tourism and prepare reports. In addition, the Bureau already has partners in the CIS, Turkey, Europe and America, he said. Another direction is digital marketing, according to Guluzade. We have built the azerbaijan.travel site in a completely new concept. This site already has over 10,000 followers. The site is currently in English and Russian, but in the future, it will probably be in other languages in accordance with directions we choose, he explained. In addition, Guluzade informed about the creation of the salambaku.travel site, which will be just about Baku. Social networks and other Internet resources are also used, and this will be further expanded. People now get information mostly on smartphones. We also should be in their smartphone, everyone in the world should know about Azerbaijan, he said. Our main goal is that foreigners get acquainted with Azerbaijan, its history, culture, cuisine and prices. We are working on increase of information and make it more colorful. -- Amina Nazarli is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 5 October 2017 15:42 (UTC+04:00) By Sara Israfilbayova A single register of travel companies will be launched after the adoption of the new law "On Tourism", which is under discussion in the second reading in Parliament [Milli Majlis]. "We do not plan to return the licensing of the tourism sector, but we need a register, because today [in the tourism sector] there are absolutely incomprehensible people who behave very unprofessionally," Minister of Culture and Tourism Abulfas Garayev told journalists on October 5. The register will increase the responsibility of travel companies and provide customers with better tourist services, according to the minister. Earlier, Mahir Gahramanov, Head of the division of Planning and Development at the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Azerbaijan stressed that all state structures, including the Ministry of Finance, submitted opinions on the bill. The experience of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, accumulated since 2001, is taken as a basis, suggestions and recommendations of specialists, including those educated in foreign institutions, travel agencies, as well as the World Tourism Organization, such countries as Austria and Latvia, are taken into account. Azerbaijan Tourism Association (AzTA) revealed the list of travel agencies in mid-September, where clients were deceived. This list is informative, meanwhile, in order not to deceive tourists by concluding an agreement with one-day firms, AzTA travel agencies will soon receive special holographic stickers that will be glued to the doors of the offices. In addition, the association plans to publish a list of travel agencies, guaranteed not to deceive customers. About 150 companies are members of AzTA, whilst about 800 companies are active on the market. In whole, sphere of tourism became one of the main directions of the countrys economy. Azerbaijan occupies the 36th place in the world tourism rating among 141 countries. Garayev, earlier at a briefing on the occasion of the International Tourism Day stressed that Azerbaijan can take a tourist flow of 3 million people a year. The minister noted that the tourist flow during January-August reached 1.818 million people, which exceeds the similar figures of the previous year by 23.1 percent. Moreover, about 2.248 million tourists visited Azerbaijan in 2016. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Here are seven industry updates for ASC leaders to note for Oct. 5. University Medical opens ASC to see patients following Las Vegas mass shooting Las Vegas-based University Medical Center, a level 1 trauma center, saw an influx of wounded patients after gunman Stephen Paddock, a 64-year-old Nevada resident, opened fire at a country concert Oct. 1. Space was limited following the shooting, with 90 patients entering the center's doors within the first few hours. To accommodate the incoming patients, the trauma center opened its ASC as well as a recovery area and a preoperative area. Massachusetts medical center removing GI endoscopy unit from ASC Pittsfield, Mass.-based Berkshire Medical Center is moving its endoscopy unit from Pittsfield-based Crane Center for Ambulatory Surgery into the main hospital. The unit will have several treatment rooms and will offer patients gastrointestinal procedures, colonoscopies and other endoscopic procedures. Sentara closing medical center, ASC in Kitty Hawk Norfolk, Va.-based Sentara Healthcare is closing its Regional Medical Center and the Kitty Hawk ASC, both in Kitty Hawk, N.C. Sentara cited the facilities' conditions as a core reason for the closings. Former North American Partners in Anesthesia CEO Dr. Tim Down takes helm of Pain Specialists of America Pain Specialists of America made a series of leadership changes after acquiring Pain Specialists of Austin's and Central Texas Pain Center's nonclinical assets. The transaction resulted in PSA naming Tim Dowd, MD, CEO. Dr. Dowd was previously the CEO of North American Partners in Anesthesia. Mid-Bronx Endoscopy Center officially opens New York City-based Mid-Bronx Endoscopy Center officially began operations in August. The center is a joint venture between New York City-based Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center, New York City-based Morris Heights Health Center, four hospital-employed GI physicians and four independent gastroenterologists. Blue Cross Blue Shield's MA plans to cover outpatient surgery for South Carolina residents Starting this fall, BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina will sell Medicare Advantage plans in 23 state counties during open enrollment. The plans will cover outpatient surgery as well as specialist care, urgent care and prescription drug plans, among several other services. Silver Cross Surgery Center opens in Illinois New Lenox, Ill.-based Silver Cross Surgery Center opened across the street from Silver Cross Hospital. The center's physicians specialize in ENT, head and neck surgery, general surgery, gynecology, ophthalmology, orthopedics, podiatry and urology. The following six ASC management companies have made a name for themselves in the industry by adding a slew of centers in 2017 under the direction of their CEOs. Here are 18 things to know about the companies' CEOs: Clifford Alderz, Interim CEO and Director of Surgery Center Holdings for Surgery Partners. 1. Surgery Partners named Mr. Alderz to his interim CEO position this past September. 2. He previously was president of Symbion Healthcare, which Surgery Partners bought three years ago. 3. His past leadership experience includes division vice president of Hospital Corporation of America. Chris Bishop, CEO of Regent Surgical Health. 4. Before taking on the CEO role, Mr. Bishop was president of Regent. 5. Throughout his 20-year healthcare career, he worked alongside healthcare leaders and providers to develop business opportunities aimed at driving optimal outpatient care. 6. At Ambulatory Surgery Centers of America, Mr. Bishop was the vice president of acquisition and business development. Stacey Berner, MD, CEO, Principal and Managing Partner of SurgCenter Development. 7. In addition to this medical background, Dr. Berner earned his MBA from University of Tennessee's Haslam School of Business in Knoxville. 8. He earned his medical degree from Boston-based Tufts University School of Medicine. 9. Dr. Berner went on to complete a residency at Richmond-based Medical College of Virginia and fellowship in hand and microsurgery from New York City-based Hospital for Special Surgery. Andrew Hayek, CEO of Surgical Care Affiliates, Optum Health. 10. Mr. Hayek has been SCA's CEO since 2008. 11. He was a president of a DaVita Healthcare Partners' division before joining SCA's team. 12. Mr. Hayek was also the president of COO of Alliance Healthcare Services, a diagnostic imaging and radiation therapy provider. Christopher Holden, CEO of Envision Healthcare. 13. From 2007 to 2016, Mr. Holden was the CEO of management company AmSurg and took on the CEO and president roles at Envision following the two companies' merger last year. 14. His healthcare expertise focuses on multifacility and multimarket healthcare management. 15. He was a founding team member and officer of Plato, Texas-based Triad Hospitals. Barry Tanner, CEO of Physicians Endoscopy. 16. Joining Physicians Endoscopy in 1999, Mr. Tanner wrote the company's business plan alongside Karen Sablyak. 17. He also was the COO of HealthInfusion, a provider of home intravenous therapy services. 18. A CPA, Mr. Tanner spent seven years at KPMG in Chicago. In January 2016, Bethlehem, Pa.-based St. Luke's University Health Network commenced its systemwide go-live on an Epic EMR for inpatient records. The goal was to bring the health network's six hospitals each of which operated on a disparate EMR system onto a single platform to improve clinical, operational and revenue cycle inefficiencies. After selecting Epic, St. Luke's tapped Navigant McKinnis, a Chicago-based consulting firm, to implement the EMR system. St. Luke's completed the EMR go-live May 2016, on time and under budget. St. Luke's reported it achieved cash neutrality within 12 weeks of the go-live and indicated its claims acceptance rate had increased from 65 percent to 98 percent in eight weeks. "Those financial outcomes were impressive out of the gate, and they've been sustained through the 19 months we've been live with the Epic system," Richard Madison, vice president of revenue cycle at St. Luke's, told Becker's Hospital Review in May. Mr. Madison spoke with Becker's Hospital Review about how St. Luke's scheduled its go-live and what outcomes he's noted during St. Luke's first year on Epic. Editor's note: Responses have been lightly edited for length and clarity. Question: How many EMR systems was St. Luke's using prior to the Epic go-live? Richard Madison: The product we were supporting was a McKesson Horizon product, Star, from circa 1980. The Star McKesson product was in five hospitals, which were not connected and were not integrated. They were on separate workflows in separate databases, so we were dealing with five different EMRs, if you will. Our New Jersey facility was using a Siemens Invision product, so was not integrated at all with the rest of the organization. They were separate, and they really stood out there on their own. Q: How did you decide to implement Epic across St. Luke's in one go-live, rather than a gradual rollout? RM: We did the "big bang" across all six hospitals, New Jersey and Pennsylvania facilities, clinical and financial applications. We were actually going to do it in two phases one bringing the smaller hospitals up and working out the kinks and then bringing up the bigger facilities. But this was going back to fall 2015, when we also had ICD-10 coming up right in the middle of those two phases. The one thing we really wanted to focus on was minimizing any type of detriment to our cash flow. Prior to ICD-10, there were objections that we would incur cash flow problems because of third-party denials, or delays from coding, et cetera, so we put together several financial models that looked at the expected impact of going live with a two-phase approach ... We realized how, using the big-bang approach, we could maximize the resources in a go-live scenario. At the end of the day, it seemed appropriate for us to get past the ICD-10 issue and then, after that, bring up the organization in a big-bang situation. Q: How did St. Luke's prepare staff for the Epic implementation? RM: We're very fortunate that just prior to going live we moved to a new building, which accommodated centralized Epic trainings. We brought employees in for training over a two-to-three-month period prior to going live, going through significant hands-on training with the Epic application. We also first went live on the inpatient hospital side and are currently going through a go-live now for the ambulatory network applications. For that process, we identified "physician champions" in all service line levels to be spokespeople for the Epic system. Q: Were there any changes in clinical workflow after the Epic implementation? RM: There have been significant efficiencies in both clinical and operational workflows, in emergency department and lab turnaround times, and we eliminated the use of traditional dictation and transcription, to name just a few things. I obtained this information from our clinical informatics folks, who were very much a part of the implementation of the system and are currently working with all of our clinical areas to ensure they're using it right. They said transitioning the network to an integrated system allowed us to standardize our inpatient clinical workflows. From a six-hospital perspective, we now have standard workflows for inpatient processes like clinical content review. Hospital leaders must constantly consider the next wave of technological disruption to stay competitive in the healthcare industry, according to Daniel J. Barchi, senior vice president and CIO of NewYork-Presbyterian in New York City. "As leaders, we need to think, what is disruption? And what is really going to disrupt us?" Mr. Barchi said during a keynote presentation Sept. 22 at the Becker's Hospital Review 3rd Annual Health IT + Revenue Cycle Conference in Chicago. "We need to think, as leaders, how we grow and learn, and then embrace the next technology." Here are four key thoughts Mr. Barchi shared during his keynote speech. On self-disruption and "lateral thinking" "Just recently, [Purdue University] went out and bought [online college] Kaplan University They knew they were going to be disrupted by this at some point. So they said, 'let's disrupt ourselves, let's see what's coming, and let's get in front of it.' And in that way, they were really thinking in a different way. They were doing something called 'lateral thinking,'" Mr. Barchi said. "Lateral thinking is when you stop playing with the pieces you think you've been given and by the rules you think exist and start playing by entirely different rules, and magical things can happen. We need to think about how we can do more of that in healthcare." On why hospital leaders can't be distracted by "bright shiny objects" "We have to be quick and nimble with lateral thinking like drones. At the same time, we have people to take care of, people in our [intensive care units], we need things to work. We need the planes to run on time. We need [to be] on time, and steady, and sustainable, and reliable. We almost need to be of two minds at all times. Ready to do the quick and nimble things, but ready to be really reliable. You know what we can't be? Halfway in between. That doesn't work," he said. "It's a challenge as leaders to be in this space at all times and be ready to go. It requires leadership. At the end of the day, it's about the important stuff, not BSOs, [or] 'bright shiny objects.' We can't be lured off by the new $2 million piece of software." On the defining qualities of "revolution" "We need to embrace these revolutions [in technology] as they come along," he said. "I went back and did a study of revolutions as they happened, from the first industrial revolution up to what's being called the fourth industrial revolution today with prediction and artificial intelligence. What's interesting is most of these revolutions are when something that was expensive becomes cheap. Whether it's steam power, electricity, electronics or today [when] it's about predictive science. When predictive science becomes cheap, we can do things with it we've never been able to do before." On the importance of the "second curve" "When we embrace these new technologies, we need to learn, and then we need to apply it, and then we need to learn some more. It's called the second curve," he said. "At some point, all this new technology peters out and you need to learn the next thing. Harvard Business Review said things often look rosiest just before a company starts to head into decline. If you think about this, it's 'everything looks great, I've got no new competitors, I seem to own this market,' but because everybody else has left the market. If you think about Blackberry, Kodak, they had these great periods, but then they went into decline. They never got themselves on the next curve." Chinese Hospital in San Francisco named Jian Zhang, DNP, CEO and Deena Louie CEO of the Chinese Community Health Plan, replacing Brenda Yee, according to a San Francisco Business Times report. Ms. Yee previously served as CEO of both the hospital and the health plan. She left the post abruptly Oct. 3. She was a controversial figure during her tenure, coming under fire for her high CEO salary and for hiring a family member.. The hospital also faced a massive lawsuit involving a physician group affiliated with the health plan and hospital. Additionally, Chinese Hospital reportedly suffered a $17.4 million net operating loss in 2016; however hospital Board Chairman James Ho rejected that number, according to the report. Following Ms. Yee's departure, the hospital decided to split the CEO role into two separate positions overseeing the hospital and health plan. Dr. Zhang previously served as the hospital's COO. Ms. Louie was formerly the health plan's COO. She has previous experience working at San Francisco Health Plan. Dr KC begins 13th hunger strike Senior orthopedic surgeon at the Maharajgunj-based Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH) Dr Govinda KC, who has already staged 12 rounds of hunger strike demanding reforms in medical education sector, began his fast-unto-death for the 13th time with four-point demand on Thursday. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., proposed combining funding measures for the Children's Health Insurance Program with a bipartisan bill aimed at stabilizing insurance markets, though the second bill is still being drafted, according to The Hill. Funding for CHIP expired Sept. 30, and legislators in both the House and the Senate have been scrambling this week to draft bills to fund the program, which provides insurance for 9 million low-income children. Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, has written a funding bill for CHIP that he wants to stand alone, without including any other healthcare policy measures. Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pension committee, has been working with ranking member Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., since early September to craft legislation that would fund cost-sharing reduction subsidies to stabilize ACA markets. Mr. Schumer called for Senate leadership to combine CHIP funding measures with the potential stabilization bill, though several Republicans rejected the idea. "We should not jeopardize vulnerable children's health insurance coverage by turning the bill into a Christmas tree and adding controversial policies like bailing out insurance companies," Mr. Hatch said, according to The Hill. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., did not comment on the combination proposal because the stabilization bill is still incomplete, so Mr. McConnell's office says the idea is only hypothetical. More Articles on Leadership: Edward-Elmhurst Health to cut 200+ jobs White House removes 15 Cuban diplomats following unknown 'health attacks' St. Francis to rebrand following U of Kansas Health System, Ardent takeover President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump traveled to Las Vegas-based University Medical Center Wednesday to meet with survivors of a deadly Oct. 1 shooting that killed 50-plus individuals and injured at least 500 others, NBC News reports. President Trump hailed the injured individuals' heroism for attempting to save others despite being in danger themselves. At least 45 patients at two Las Vegas hospitals remained in critical condition as of Wednesday, CBS New York reports. "The patients, the bravery some were very, very badly wounded, and they were badly wounded because they refused to leave. They wanted to help others because they saw people going down all over," President Trump said, according to CBS New York. The president also said he invited some of the victims to the White House, NBC News reports. When asked about gun violence following the shooting, President Trump declined to comment on the issue. After visiting the hospital, President Trump visited the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and commented on police officers' bravery. He highlighted instances in which off-duty officers risked their lives after Stephen Paddock, 64, fired at a crowd of 22,000-plus concertgoers from his room on the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas Sunday evening. "[Those] whose final act was to sacrifice themselves for those they loved should inspire all of us to show more love every day for the people who grace our lives," President Trump said. "When the worst of humanity strikes, and strike it did, the best of humanity responds." The president said police were learning more about Mr. Paddock and his motive, and that more information would be made public soon, according to NBC News. Johnson & Johnson reported on a study examining surgical instrument tray setup time and other endpoints for total knee and hip procedures using the company's CareAdvantage approach. Study authors gathered data from the University of California San Francisco, which implemented CareAdvantage after already performing above benchmark for OR procedure setup. Study authors found: 1. Using CareAdvantage improved instrument tray setup time by three minutes for total hip replacements and six minutes for total knee replacements. The hospital reported a 57 percent reduction in the total number of instruments per tray and a 29 percent decrease in the number of instruments used across all procedures. 2. UCSF OR teams reported a 46 percent decrease in the average number of open trays after implementing CareAdvantage. 3. UCSF's annual cost savings generated after implementing CareAdvantage is estimated at $262,000. 4. CareAdvantage Perioperative Efficiency capability's tailored approach helps reduce operational costs and variation in clinical processes by streamlining Johnson & Johnson medical devices through the surgical services and sterile processing departments. J&J's Voices for Value Insights Series survey shows around 64 percent of hospital executives and 56 percent of clinicians feel perioperative efficiency is a priority for their health system. 5. To further reduce hospital OR waste and improve efficiency, CareAdvantage now has a sustainability capability designed to help health systems achieve specific environmental, waste management, cost savings and sustainable purchasing goals. Novant Health is close to opening a $67 million orthopedic hospital in Charlotte, N.C., that includes a built-in ASC, according to the Charlotte Business Journal. Here are five things to know: 1. The new hospital, Novant Health Charlotte Orthopedic Hospital, is replacing a previous orthopedic hospital in downtown Charlotte that had served the community for around 50 years. The new 89,000-square-foot facility has three stories and 48 inpatient beds. 2. Novant Health Charlotte Orthopedic Hospital will have a surgical wellness clinic on the first floor designed to screen patients before procedures; the second floor houses seven operating rooms, 600 square feet each. 3. Novant plans to renovate the existing hospital, converting 45,000 square feet into a five-OR ambulatory surgery center. The $7 million renovation is expected to be complete next year and open in August 2018. 4. Last year, the orthopedic hospital had nearly 7,500 surgeries, 4,491 being outpatient; the remaining 2,990 surgeries were inpatient procedures. As orthopedic procedures move more into the outpatient setting, Novant downsized the number of inpatient orthopedic beds in the community from 64 in the old hospital to 48 in the new hospital. 5. The new hospital is connected to Presbyterian Medical Center, which will provide higher levels of care if necessary, according to the report. Novant eventually hopes to bring skilled nursing care to the hospital for a smooth continuum of care. Here are spine surgeons who recently received awards. Continental Who's Who honored Fredrick Junn, MD, as a Pinnacle Professional Member in the medical field. He currently serves as a neurosurgeon at Dearborn-based Michigan Head and Spine Institute. Peter P. Sun, MD, earned a 2017 Top Doctor Award in Oakland, Calif. Equipped with a 26-year clinical career, Dr. Sun specializes in treating brain tumors, hydrocephalus and craniosynostosis as well as spinal conditions. Here are eight things for spinal surgeons to know for Oct. 5, 2017. Integra LifeSciences receives approval to purchase DePuy Synthes' neuro division The Federal Trade Commission approved Integra LifeSciences' request to purchase DePuy Synthes' Codman Neuro division, according to Reuters. Integra proposed the $1.05 billion deal in February. To receive approval, Integra LifeSciences sold five medical products lines in a $47.5 million deal to Natus Medical. Zimmer Biomet's Avenue T Cage available in the US Zimmer Biomet launched the Avenue T TLIF Cage in the U.S. The Avenue T incorporates Zimmer Biomet's VerteBRIDGE plating, designed to facilitate cage insertion and zero-profile, intradiscal fixation through a direct minimally invasive approach. The cage is the first posteriorly implanted cage with integrated, anti-migration fixation. Dr. Tom Price resigns as HHS secretary; Dr. Don Wright steps up as interim secretary HHS Secretary Tom Price, MD, resigned Sept. 29 in the midst of an inspector general investigation, according to The New York Times. Dr. Price spent at least $400,000 on private planes for government business trips. Don J. Wright, MD, a deputy assistant secretary for health and Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion director, stepped in as acting HHS secretary. Dr. Linda Liau to chair UCLA neurosurgery academic department Linda M. Liau, MD, PhD, is the new neurosurgery department chair at the David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, Los Angeles. She is the second woman ever to chair an academic neurosurgery department in the U.S. She has dedicated two decades to glioblastoma treatment research, funded by the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Alexander Vaccaro: Concerns and best opportunity for spine As president of Philadelphia-based Rothman Institute, Alexander Vaccaro, MD, is responsible for a network of practices including around 200 physicians and surgeons providing orthopedic and spine care. Read what Dr. Vaccaro had to say about concerns for his practice in the coming year and the biggest opportunity for spine surgeons in the future. Las Vegas hospitals deal with mass shooting aftermath, array of patient injuries Las Vegas hospitals are seeing the effects of Sunday's mass shooting as they treat an array of traumas, including gunshot wounds and car injuries, according to The Wall Street Journal. Authorities have reported more than 50 deaths and more than 500 injured from the shooting, which occurred at a country music festival near the Las Vegas strip's Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. The Anand Spine Group 1 of 30 spine centers participating in Premia Spine's TOPS System study Los Angeles-based The Anand Spine Group will study Premia Spine's TOPS System in a FDA Investigational Device Exemption study. The study will evaluate the TOPS System as the first posterior arthroplasty device intended to treat degenerative Grade I spondylolisthesis and spinal stenosis, against traditional lumbar fusion. WVU Medicine Berkeley Medical Center opens brain and spine clinic WVU Medicine Berkeley Medical Center in Martinsburg opened its new brain and spine clinic. The clinic is part of the WVU department of neurosurgery and provides inpatient and outpatient brain and spinal care. Due to rapid group in the eastern panhandle, Anthony Zelenka, CEO of Berkeley Medical Center, and Albert Wright, MD, CEO of WVU Medicine, collaborated to develop the brain and spine clinic. William Watters, MD, professor at the Clinical Orthopedic Surgery Institute of Academic Medicine at Houston Methodist Hospital and a clinical professor at the University of Texas Medical Branch, discusses the biggest challenges and opportunities for spine surgeons today. Dr. Watters is a past president of the North American Spine Society and Texas Spine Society as well as the former chair of the NASS Research Council. Q: What are your top two to three concerns for your spine practice today? Dr. William Watters: My first concern is the decreasing reimbursements for spinal procedures that continue to mount. This is being accomplished in several different ways on several different fronts. One way is via the bundling of RVUs [relative value units] by the AMA in its CPT process. Surgical procedures, such as an ACDF [anterior cervical discectomy and fusion], can be reviewed every five years with respect to the "intensity" of the work product. Not only do these reviews usually result in procedure code bundling of the RVUs required for a procedure, thus reducing reimbursement, but within the spinal procedural mix, many review periods are being shortened to two to three years, essentially speeding up the financial devaluation of some spinal procedures. Another way to decrease reimbursements is for third-party payers to withhold surgical approval at peer review for increasingly stringent criteria that are not necessarily evidence-based. Thus, we see the threshold for lumbar fusion approval shifting from previous criteria of grade 1 spondylolisthesis to the need for a grade 2 spondylolisthesis for approval. This latter process raises a second concern for me beyond reimbursement, and that is that surgical intervention for treatment of valid spinal disease is being withheld from patients. Finally, a third concern I have for spine practice today is attempts by some third-party payers to direct the specific implants for patients who are approved for a surgery. This is seen in anterior cervical discectomy and fusions where some payers will not approve a fusion unless simple bone with plating is used, rather than the use of a self-retaining construct of a synthetic cage with screw fixation. My concern here is that this intervention by the payer runs the risk of compromising patient care in this particular case with a potentially higher incidence of postoperative dysphasia because of the high profile of a plate compared to self-retaining devices. A payer has no clear right to direct choice of procedure or implant, in my opinion. Q: Where do you see the biggest opportunities for spine surgeons? How is the field evolving? WW: The future of elective spinal surgery is likely, I feel, to be constricting. Spinal surgeons should familiarize themselves with clinical pathways that employ effective, evidence-based treatment. In the ideal situation, spine groups, to remain economically viable, need to be inclusive of other, nonoperative spinal specialists to provide the best care possible to their patients and also to capture the largest possible percentage of the revenue stream. 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 Pictures Of People Before They Died That Can Haunt You For Days! Life oi-Syeda Farah Every time we click a picture, we realise that we're capturing memories for a lifetime! And what happens if you realise that the picture which was clicked would be the last picture of any particular person? There are so many pictures out there, which have captured the lives of people who lost their lives after these pictures were clicked. You May Also Like To Read: Most Bizarre Deaths Ever Recorded Their deaths differ from a plane crash to being shot or even accidentally capturing their own killers in the screen! So, check out these pictures and do read their heart-breaking stories behind the same. No Where To Go This picture is from Ooltgensplaat, the Netherlands, in 2013. In this unfortunate incident, it is seen how the wind turbine had caught fire while two technicians were working on it. The men were seen hugging each other, after which one of the man tried his luck at jumping almost 200 feet to his death, while the other tried crawling down through the tube, only to get trapped inside. Image Source The Last Selfie This is a picture of Gary Slok, who was seen posing for a selfie with his mom right before their flight took off from Amsterdam in June 2014. It was the start of his South Pacific vacation with his family. A few hours later, their flight, the Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17, was shot down over Ukraine with no survivors. Source The Last Pose Of The Gliders! This was a tragic incident that happened in the first public exhibition in St. Louis in 1943, when the Waco glider had crashed after a poorly-fastened bolt came loose and the starboard wing sheared off. It killed all these people. Killer Caught On Camera This picture was taken just after midnight, on New Year's Day, 2011. The man who had clicked this picture was shot in the head, while the killer was being clicked at the right moment. Source His Last Attempt! This guy was seen flipping on the ledge of a 16-storey building. The maneuver was successful, but unfortunately he lost his footing just after landing. He fell over the edge and died on the impact. The Little Boy Who Never Returned The little boy in the picture was James Bulger. He was seen holding hands with a 10 year old who is leading him out of the mall. After this, he was never found, as the 10-year-old boy killed the little boy along with his friend for no specific reason! His Last Revelation Carl Williams was an Australian drug kingpin who had got into some legal trouble and he was apparently sentenced to life in an Australian prison. While he was revealing about his associates, he was attacked by one of the men who was seen standing in the background to kill him with a rod. Source GET THE BEST BOLDSKY STORIES! Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, October 5, 2017, 16:22 [IST] EC seeks clarification from civil aviation minister, NRA CEO within 24 hours Election Commission has sought clarification from Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Jitendra Narayan Dev for transferring Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (Caan) Director General Sanjeev Gautam to the Ministry without first consulting with the commission. 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Google disclaims all warranties related to the translations, express or implied, including any warranties of accuracy, reliability, and any implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose and non-infringement. Gachhadars NLF to recall two ministers The Bijay Kumar Gachhadar-led Nepal Loktantrik Forum is preparing to call back its two ministers, claiming that their performance was not satisfactory while in office. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 05/10/2017 (1867 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Tara Roe (Smith) grew up in the type of close-knit neighbourhood that most people are only exposed to in books and movies. After news of the 34-year-olds death in Sundays Las Vegas mass shooting broke earlier this week, her home community came together to mourn their shared loss. Approximately 20 people gathered for a private vigil outside Roes childhood home in Brandons Kirkcaldy Heights neighbourhood on Tuesday night, where parents Mark and Brenda Smith still reside, neighbour Loretta Hamilton said. Tyler Clarke/The Brandon Sun Neighbours set up a memorial for Las Vegas mass shooting victim Tara Roe at her childhood home in Brandon, where her parents still reside. Although the Smiths are out of town, the community felt as though they had to do something to mourn the loss of one of their own, Hamilton said. In addition to sharing whatever news they had between them, neighbours prayed for the family. A wreath, flowers and candles were set up outside of the house. A handful of neighbours also took to raking leaves from their lawn. Mark is a stickler for his lawn, and neighbour Loretta Hamilton said that he would have been disappointed to have seen it covered with leaves. Roe was one of four Canadians killed in Sunday nights mass shooting at an outdoor concert in Las Vegas, where at least 59 people were killed and more than 500 were injured. Although Roe had since relocated to Okotoks, Alta., where she lived with husband, Zach, and their two young children, Hamilton said that Roe returned to Brandon every summer and Christmas. Taras heart was here, she said. The Kirkcaldy Heights neighbourhood has been home to the Smith family for a few generations, Hamilton said. Roe was the youngest in a four-pack of girls, joining an older sister and Hamiltons two girls who played together in the neighbourhood, although Hamilton said that Roe always kept another group of kids as close friends through her time at Kirkcaldy Heights School and Crocus Plains Regional Secondary School. While some people have come and gone during the years, the majority of the people who still reside in the neighbourhood have been there long-term. Sometimes, it takes newcomers moving into the neighbourhood for them to realize how unique a circumstance they have, Hamilton said, adding that some find it a little bit crazy how close they are. Every Christmas finds the neighbourhood host a party at a rotating household. They started out as late-night rippers a few decades ago but have since subsided to family-friendly community get-togethers, Hamilton said. Photo courtesy Sophia Models International Calgary-area resident and former Brandon native Tara (Smith) Roe, is one of four Canadians who died in the wake of Sundays mass shooting in Las Vegas. While everyone knew everyone, and Tara was no exception, Hamilton said that she always stuck out, both for her beauty and sense of humour, in that she could always take a razzing. Lucine Gagne and husband Glen Kannegiesser live across the street from the Smiths and contributed to Tuesday nights vigil. While theyve only lived in the neighbourhood for approximately two years, Gagne said that theyve already come to realize how special it is to live there. The Smiths are really nice people, Gagne said, adding that while she was heartbroken upon learning what took place in Las Vegas, it was particularly devastating to know that her neighbourhood was directly impacted. Roes death marks the neighbourhoods third major loss in the past year, Hamilton said, adding that there they lost one member following a long illness and another in a sudden death. The pinch of lifes tragedies are infringing on their warm, fuzzy place, Hamilton said. The Smiths are currently out west, with Mark joining Zach in Las Vegas and Brenda helping take care of the two grandchildren in Okotoks. Hamilton said that the Smith household is in good hands until they return, with members keeping a close watch on both it and the leaves that fall on Marks immaculate lawn. tclarke@brandonsun.com Twitter: @TylerClarkeMB Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 04/10/2017 (1868 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Reported missing during the hectic aftermath of Sunday nights mass shooting in Las Vegas, Tara Roe (Smith), 34, has been confirmed dead. Aunt Val Rodgers of Brandon confirmed the news to The Canadian Press on Tuesday, calling her niece a beautiful soul, wonderful mother and saying that the family would miss her dearly. Originally from Brandon, and most recently of Okotoks, Alta., news of Roes death sparked a flurry of condolences throughout the day from those who knew her. The Canadian Press/GoFundMe Tara Roe is shown in a photo from a GoFundMe page. Roe had two young children with husband Zach Roe. An unverified fundraiser on gofundme.com was set up at midday to help support Roes family. Hes not the kind to ask for help, but Zach would give you the shirt off his back, even if you werent the kind to ask for help either, the webpage reads. Within eight hours on Tuesday, the page had raised almost $70,000 of its $100,000 goal. There are conflicting reports as to which Brandon high school Roe attended, with another local Tara Smith confusing matters and Brandon School Division officials declining comment. Precision Toyota owner Scott Ball confirmed that Roe worked as a shuttle driver for the company for approximately five years until approximately 10 years ago, by his estimation. Aside from her being both a good employee and pleasant presence around the office, he said that he doesnt remember too much about her and that itd be best for him to leave family and friends to share her story. Roes family issued a statement Tuesday saying they were devastated by the loss. The family is incredibly grateful for the outpouring of love and support and we send our condolences to the many other grieving families whove also lost a loved one, or are impacted by the horrific event that has unfolded. The family requested privacy in their grief over this unthinkable tragedy. Roe also worked as an educational assistant at the Foothills School Division. We have put our crisis response team in place and they will remain as long as is needed to assist students and staff, John Bailey, superintendent of schools, said in a statement. After spending the first part of her life in Brandon, Roe made her way to Alberta where she linked up with Calgary-based Sophia Models International approximately 10 years ago. Photo courtesy Sophia Models International Calgary-area resident and Brandon native Tara (Smith) Roe, is one of four Canadians who died in the wake of Sundays mass shooting in Las Vegas. She was very easy to work with and was always willing to do different fashion shows and photo shoots, owner Bill Giofu said. She was a pleasure to work with all of the time. While Giofu said that Roes good looks were enough to get her foot in the door of modelling, it was the positive personality that accompanied her physical traits that made her resonate with people. Booking agent Amber Morgan prepared a written statement about Roe, which Giofu shared over the phone. She was always a very friendly face and had a very caring spirit, Giofu said, reading from the statement. We are very saddened and shocked and pray for everyone who has been affected by this tragedy in Vegas. Answering the phone on Tuesday afternoon, the receptionist at Sophia Models International sounded heavy with emotion and requested prayers for those affected by Sundays attack. Roe is one of four Canadians among the 59 people who have been confirmed dead as a result of the Las Vegas mass shooting, with six additional Canadians confirmed among the approximately 500 who were injured. Jordan McIldoon, 23, of Maple Ridge, B.C., Jessica Klymchuk, 34, of Valleyview, Alta. and Calla Medig, 28, of Edmonton have also been confirmed to have been killed in the shooting. tclarke@brandonsun.com, with files from The Canadian Press Twitter: @TylerClarkeMB Jhiti gunta I must admit I struggled to pick the right title for this article. I toyed with two others: Think like Mahendra and Economic empowerment of the mountain poor. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 04/10/2017 (1868 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. The man charged in connection with the slaying of a 19-year-old woman Tuesday in Lac du Bonnet is no stranger to violent death. Jordan Belyk, 20, who is charged with manslaughter in the death of Brittany Bung, lost his mother to homicide in 2011. WAYNE GLOWACKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Jordan Belyk, 20, has been charged with manslaughter. Cara Lynn Hiebert, a 31-year-old mother of four, was found badly beaten in the basement of her Winnipeg home July 19, 2011. Her homicide was never solved. I was in disbelief and devastated, it crushed my world, Belyk, her oldest child, told the Free Press in an interview earlier this year. Belyk was 14 when his mother was killed. He said his life has not been easy since. Finding out that I lost the woman who gave me life made my heart drop to my stomach, he said at the time. The way he lost his mom sent him down the wrong path, he said and eventually led to him seeking help to cope with the loss. It made me angry and I turned to substance abuse and had to go to counselling, Belyk said. It affected everybody that was in her life, Belyk said he spent many days and nights thinking about the fact there are people out there that know what happened to his mom when she was killed inside her home. It keeps me up at night knowing there is no justice served and how people know she was a mother of four and still havent come forward, he said. I just pray and put my faith in God that one day we will have all the answers. Winnipeg police said the homicide investigation into his mothers death is active and open. On Wednesday, RCMP announced theyd charged Belyk with manslaughter in connection with a roadside death on the edge of Lac du Bonnet, some 90 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg. However, the Mounties would not name the victim. The young woman was identified by several area residents as Brittany Bung of Pointe du Bois. Police said a woman called 911 shortly after 6:30 a.m. Tuesday, and was in need of emergency assistance. The RCMP said officers responded immediately to the scene a car stopped on Provincial Road 502 where a woman was suffering from life-threatening injuries. She was transported to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Those who live close to the scene said the woman was stabbed in the neck. Belyk was arrested in the area shortly afterward, RCMP said in a news release, adding the investigation continues and police remain on scene. Bungs family has asked they be allowed to grieve privately. Several area residents said they believed the suspect had moved to Lac du Bonnet a couple of months ago. According to a witness, the victim encountered the suspect at about 6:30 a.m. inside a local Petro-Canada convenience store. INSTAGRAM Brittany Bung The barefoot and shirtless man had raced inside moments earlier. You could tell he was on something, a witness said. He was just wandering around the store. A young woman entered, bought coffee and left, and the suspect followed, a witness said. He jumped in her car and pulled the seat right down and said, Lets get the eff out of here.' Gary Nadolsky, who lives nearby on Edward Crescent, told the Free Press he encountered a man in his yard at about 6:45 a.m., when he was about to drive his son to catch the school bus. Nadolsky said he saw a man come out of the shadows, wearing nothing but pants. This guy was in my yard. I thought he came from the (Winnipeg River) because he was soaking wet and wearing no shirt and it was pretty cold out. We kind of backed off and I told my son to come in the house. The man then ran along Edward Crescent in the ditch towards Provincial Road 502 where a car was parked, Nadolsky said. He looked very dishevelled and out of it. Nadolsky and his son got in their car and as they drove by the parked vehicle, Nadolsky saw the passenger door was open and the man was outside trying to make a call on a cellphone. A young woman was slumped on the ground outside the passenger door, he said. She had apparent wounds to her face and neck and there was blood everywhere, Nadolsky said. The suspect reportedly fled the scene when an ambulance arrived and was arrested by RCMP shortly after in nearby Halliday Park. Kathy Trask, whose house is just a few metres away from the scene, told the Free Press the woman was stabbed in the neck and she died. Another area resident said he saw police officers holding a man on the ground outside the local heritage museum in Halliday Park near the barricaded highway section, at about 7:30 a.m. Law on cards to treat attacks on docs as non-bailable offence The government has begun preparations to introduce a law that would treat attacks on doctors and health institutions as non-bailable offence, with a jail sentence of up to three years. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 05/10/2017 (1867 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Brent Kyle and Kane Doran are alike in a lot of ways. They work as firefighters and paramedics in Brandon. They stand tall, with Doran towering at six-foot-five and Kyle a smidge shorter at six-foot-four. Kyle, 40, is one year older than Doran. Both their partners are employed in the health-care field. Ian Froese/The Brandon Sun Brandon firefighter/paramedics, from left, Sean Klemick, Kyle Jones, Mike Lang, Leanna Namaka and Mitch Klassen sport bracelets and t-shirts in support of two of their colleagues battling lymphoma. Unfortunately, they also share another commonality: theyre fighting the same rare form of lymphoma. It only affects tall, good looking people, Doran quipped with a laugh. Only months ago, these colleagues didnt know each other. Doran, new to firefighting with Brandons department, heard that Kyle was on leave as he fought lymphoma, a blood cancer that develops in the lymphatic system, which is part of the bodys immune system. He didnt expect their first conversation to take place over text message, relating to a shared diagnosis. This summer, Dorans body started to act up. Weirdly, he had a severe case of night sweats and a sore armpit. His girlfriend, Jacie Grobb, connected the dots, and urged him to get checked. He was soon diagnosed with T-cell lymphoma, and since then has been off work and undergoing chemotherapy treatment. The news came as a shock, but hes pressed forward. I decided to put my head down and do what I had to do to get it figured out, he said. The hardest thing for me was letting family and friends know and seeing their reaction. Kyle understands the feeling. For a year, he didnt know what was wrong with him. Medical staff thought he was suffering from an autoimmune disease it was their only explanation for the gradual swelling in Kyles hands and feet, or why he was coughing. He missed some work that year, until the diagnosis for a similar form of T-cell lymphoma was reached before Christmas 2015, and he went on an indefinite absence from work. I wish I didnt have another firefighter battling, he said, but Ive had tremendous support as well from my wife Leanne and close friends. The fire department has been great, so much so that, and Im sure Kane feels the same way, youre refusing help. To that end, Brandon Fire and Emergency Services rallied to support their two members. For the second year, the department sold bracelets for lymphoma awareness. First, they did it for Kyle, and now for Doran as well. The lettering on the bracelets speaks to that. No one fights alone, it reads in lime green, the colour representing lymphoma awareness, bearing as well the initials BK and KD, in support of their comrades. To raise more cash, the fire department will run a raffle. Available prizes include a sofa table, Winnipeg Jets tickets and a weekend stay at The Lakehouse. Sean Klemick organized the fundraiser, with credit to a number of colleagues, who didnt want Kyle and Doran to feel alone as they faced a daunting challenge. This has always been the part of firefighting that I treasure the most, he said. Its an extended family. When somebody needs help, whether its today where were shingling a roof, or somebody is sick and they need somebody to watch their kids, or in this case, to rally behind them and show lots of support. Ian Froese/The Brandon Sun Brandon Fire and Emergency Services colleagues Brent Kyle, left, and Kane Doran are both fighting similar forms of lymphoma and have come to rely on each other, in addition to the support of many family, friends and co-workers, as they battle cancer. He said they want to raise awareness for the symptoms to look out for and money for the cause. All proceeds will be donated to the Lymphoma and Leukemia Society of Canada for research. Doran can describe personally the importance of lymphoma awareness. He has his girlfriend to thank for urging him to get checked. If it wasnt for her awareness of what to look for, I might be a year or two down the road and a lot worse off than I am, as far as the prognosis. Since his lymphoma was diagnosed early, Doran is hopeful he will be in remission in a few months after completing a round of chemotherapy. He expects to return to the front lines of his job should his first chemotherapy treatment succeed. The majority of people diagnosed with lymphoma go into remission, researchers say. He spoke often during the interview of returning to work. Its a little bit different for me, going from a rescuer/responder to being on the other side, getting surgeries and being a patient. Its kind of an eye-opener. Kyles lymphoma, unfortunately, was farther along when it was caught. He needed chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant. Now, hes in remission, but theres an anxiety it may return, especially in the first number of months. Damage to Kyles immune system and lungs are irreplaceable this far along, and as such he doesnt anticipate returning to his previous firefighting role. He expects to re-join BEFS in an office or administrative capacity. This news was tough to deal with it at first, but Kyle said hes had a year to come to grips with it. Whether their treatment is hopefully finished like Kyles, or in its final months as Doran hopes, the firefighters have hung to optimism. They are confident theyll be back at work, and they both have many family, friends, co-workers and bracelet-wearing strangers to say thanks to. Its good to see people supporting the cause, increasing the awareness, Kyle said. For the next couple days, bracelets and tickets are available at Brandon Regional Health Centre in the ER, pharmacy and CancerCare departments. The fire hall, Krave Salon in Brandon and Carberrys RAGE Salon are selling them as well. The raffle draw takes place on Oct. 11. ifroese@brandonsun.com Twitter: @ianfroese Diamonds are no longer necessarily a girl's best friend because of the stiff opposition. Just look at moissanite: a rare natural gem recreated in the laboratory, which has most of a diamond's winning attributes, minus the tricky sourcing issues. One entrepreneur capitalising on moissanite's purity is Wahroonga-based artist Lauren Chang Sommer, 38, who says thinking creatively in business is crucial. Jewellery entrepreneur Lauren Chang Sommer. "Anyone can copy another business, but I find that it is more entrepreneurial and rewarding to come up with your own ideas, your own strategies and processes and to use creative thinking for problem solving too," Sommer says. "By doing so, you can go by the beat of your own drum and be a leader." Upmarket department store chain David Jones has thrown open the doors to its next generation site at GPT Group's Wollongong Central, featuring a new David Jones Food concept, which will be rolled out across the country. Customers started queuing at 2am to be first in the store, which has a mix of local and international brands across fashion, beauty, accessories, home and kids. It includes 25 new brands, many of which are exclusive to David Jones in the Illawarra. Cosmetic giant Mecca Maxima also cut the ribbon on its new store, which is part of GPT's $200 million upgrade of the centre. Overall there are 10 new specialty retailers including T2 and Review. This is in addition to the $200 million West Keira expansion which opened in 2014 and the entry of the fast fashion house, H&M last year. David Jones took over the space from rival Myer in October 2016, creating a store that is half the size of a traditional big box department store which showcases items that can be bought online or through a "click and collect" service. Tree-clearing rates in Queensland have increased by one-third and are now at their highest level since 2003-04. Satellite imagery documenting change in vegetation shows 45 per cent of bushland was cleared in Great Barrier Reef river catchments, allowing more sediment to flow out onto the Great Barrier Reef. Queensland government principal scientist David Harris shows Deputy Premier Jackie Trad and Environment Minister Steven Miles the latest satellite imagery of tree clearing. Credit:Tony Moore Deputy Premier Jackie Trad said the rate of tree clearing was "unsustainable" and Labor would again take proposals for tougher tree-clearing legislation to the looming state election. The laws would include changes to the existing "self-assessment" regime used by landowners to decide whether to clear land, Ms Trad confirmed. A McDonald's worker used a statue of the Virgin Mary and a tin of mangoes to bludgeon to death a loyal customer in his own home, a trial has heard. Prosecutors allege Katia Pyliotis beat Elia Abdelmessih, a 69-year-old widower, with household items in his Kew East home on September 18, 2005, but left her blood at the scene when she cut her finger on the broken statue. Katia Pyliotis Credit:Vince Caligiuri Outlining the Crown's case to a Supreme Court jury on Wednesday, prosecutor Andrew Tinney, SC, said investigators found a ripped glove with Ms Pyliotis's DNA inside, and that when she was interviewed by police more than a decade later, she had a scar on her left index finger that corresponded to where the glove tore. Her blood was on the statue and elsewhere in the house, including near sinks in the laundry and bathroom and on toilet paper rolls. A Kelmscott man is lucky to be alive after crashing his car into a tree and splitting it in two during a high-speed pursuit with police. The 23-year-old was spotted by police on Digby Street in Gosnells around 11.20pm on Thursday driving his Mitsubishi Magna. The man failed to stopped when asked to do so by police, instead leading officers on a 35km chase south of Perth. A police spokesman said he crashed into a tree on Brookton Highway near Flint when he failed to negotiate a corner at speed. NC joins forces with five parties for poll alliance A day after the two major leftist forces CPN-UML and CPN (Maoist Centre), along with the Baburam Bhattarai-led Naya Shakti Party-Nepal, announced a broader electoral alliance, Top Labor figures believe "it's time" for outspoken federal MP Michael Danby to retire as anger over his taxpayer-funded attacks on an ABC journalist sparked fresh speculation about his future. Federal and state ALP sources say they expect Mr Danby to announce his retirement ahead of the next election - but are preparing for a possible preselection challenge in case he does not. Mr Danby ramped up his attacks on the ABC's Middle East reporter Sophie McNeill on Thursday with a second ad - funded with his electorate allowance - in the Australian Jewish News. The ads have accused McNeill of an anti-Israel bias in her reporting. Mr Danby is an ardent supporter of Israel who holds the seat of Melbourne Ports - which has a large Jewish community - on a margin of just 2 per cent. It was announced yesterday that Fidelity International is to expand its new office in Dublin with 250 additional jobs. Fidelity International already has over 280 people in its 77,000 sq. ft. office in Georges Quay House, Townsend St, Dublin 2. These offices, located in the heart of Dublins financial district, have the capacity for 250 additional roles. Fidelity International, a client of the IDA, is a global investment and retirement savings business serving investors in all corners of the world outside North America. It manages customer assets of 265.8bn and assets under administration of 82.4bn. Fidelity has had a presence in Ireland since 2000 and its significant investment in Dublin is part of its ambitious growth plans to create a leading long term savings business. Making the announcement yesterday, An Tanaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation Frances Fitzgerald said, "Ireland is now a major player and a very attractive location for International Financial Services companies from all over the world. We have the skills and structures to support new projects and to welcome new investors. Fidelity's decision to expand here is an important landmark and I look forward to an ongoing mutually beneficial business relationship with Ireland. The Government has been making strenuous efforts to ensure that we have the right conditions, especially skills availability, in place in Ireland to attract the knowledge based sectors and initiatives like this one today by Fidelity." President of Fidelity International, Brian Conroy added, "Dublin is a key international hub to support our global growth objectives for the business. Fidelity is well-placed in a fast moving industry with exciting developments and innovations currently taking place. Therefore, expanding our presence in Dublin is critical to meeting our ambitious plans. With over 280 employees from 32 different nationalities represented in our new office, and with capacity for 250 more, there are significant opportunities for those looking to grow their careers in a truly international environment." Source: www.businessworld.ie October 5, 2017 Ottawa Natural Resources Canada The Government of Canada stands firmly behind the energy sector as a source of good, middle-class jobs. We have promised to develop Canadas resources in a way that creates jobs, spurs innovation, contributes to our quality of life and enables us to leave a cleaner planet for future generations. TransCanada Pipelines decision to cancel the Energy East Pipeline project was a business decision. Our government has approved two major export pipelines that are now under construction, and a third is expected to start soon. The Trans Mountain expansion and Line 3 projects alone represent over $11.6 billion in investment and will support thousands of jobs. In making the decision to approve these projects, our government took into consideration a wide variety of information, data and scientific evidence, including the National Energy Boards recommendation report, the views of Canadians and enhanced consultations with Indigenous peoples. Our government would have used the same process to evaluate the Energy East Pipeline project that saw the Trans Mountain expansion and Line 3 projects approved. Nothing has changed in the Governments decision-making process. While we recognize the current market challenges related to lower commodity prices, we are seeing signs of growth in the sector. Canada is open for business. We offer a stable and predictable investment climate, world-class energy reserves, proximity to global markets, a skilled workforce and enabling services and technology. Our approach is growing the economy, creating jobs and building strong communities from coast to coast to coast. The Honourable Jim Carr, P.C., M.P. Minister of Natural Resources Contacts Alexandre Deslongchamps Press Secretary Office of Canada's Minister of Natural Resources 343-292-6837 Media Relations Natural Resources Canada Ottawa 343-292-6100 Follow us on Twitter: @NRCan (http://twitter.com/nrcan) NRCans news releases and backgrounders are available at www.news.gc.ca. The Uttar Pradesh Basic Training Certificate (BTC) 2015 results for semester one has been announced at the official website. Candidates can view their respective results from the official website. A total number of candidates appeared for the exam: A total of 79503 candidates registered for the exam out of which 79264 appeared in BTC 2015. As many as 67514 have passed the exam while 10864 have not cleared, as per a report. How to check UP BTC 2015 results? Visit the official website. On the homepage, click on the link that says Merit list. Now enter the required details. Click on enter. Your merit list will appear on the screen, download and save it for future. Note: Uttar Pradesh Basic Education Board will soon release the Basic Training Certificate (BTC) D.EI.Ed second phase allotment results. The second phase of choice filling was held from September 27 to October 3, 2017. UPPCL Recruitment 2017: Apply Now! NC unperturbed by left alliance, says Koirala Nepali Congress (NC) General Secretary Shashank Koirala has claimed the leftist alliance will have no effect on the NC. Photo: CTV File photo of victim from previous Quetta bombing. A suicide bomber struck a Shiite shrine packed with worshippers in a remote village in southwestern Pakistan on Thursday, killing 20 people and leaving at least 25 wounded, a provincial government spokesman and the police said. Within hours, the Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack. The bomber detonated his explosives vest when he was stopped for a routine search by a police officer guarding the shrine in the village of Jhal Masgi, about 400 kilometres (240 miles) east of Quetta, the capital of Baluchistan province. Anwarul Haq Kakar, spokesman for the provincial government, said the death toll could rise further as some of the wounded remained in critical condition. Mohammad Iqbal, a district police chief, said five children, a woman and one police officer were among those 20 people killed in the bombing. He said they found body parts of the attacker and investigators were trying to determine who was behind the bombing. Sarfraz Bugti, the provincial home minister, said "terrorists have shown their inhumaneness by attacking innocent civilians" at the shrine. Atif Ali Shah, the custodian of the shrine, told reporters that had the attacker managed to enter the shrine, there would have been many more casualties. The police officer who stopped the bomber and other guards who rushed to the scene "saved many lives," he said. Hundreds of devotees were present at the shrine for a monthly gathering when the bomber hit. Local TV footage showed people crying for help in the immediate aftermath of the attack. Just hours earlier, Pakistani army spokesman Maj. Gen. Asif Ghafoor said the military had received credible reports of upcoming terror attacks. Ghafoor told a news conference in the garrison city of Rawalpindi that the government has been alerted about possible attacks. The claim by the IS affiliate in Pakistan came later Thursday, in a statement posted on the Islamic State-linked Aamaq news agency. Petition bill submitted against Lafarge Brooksfield's tyre burning project 05 October 2017 Nova Scotia's opposition New Democrats have presented a petition and a bill in the legislature calling on the Liberal government to ban tyre burning in the province. The party held a news conference with opponents of the government's July decision to approve a one-year pilot project allowing Lafarge Canada to burn tyres at the Brookfield cement plant. NDP environment critic Lenore Zann said her party's bill is the same as a bill tabled by the Liberals while in opposition. The Liberal bill was passed with all-party support in 2008, but it was never proclaimed into law. "It is very deeply disappointing that the Liberals supported this legislation while in opposition, but now that they are in government have allowed tyre burning to go ahead," said Zann. The regulatory approval was announced by Environment Minister Iain Rankin, who defended the decision as a good way of reducing the use of coal at the factory. Mark Butler of the Halifax-based Ecology Action Centre said the decision was largely based on a Dalhousie University engineering study that was too narrow in its focus and wasn't peer reviewed. Rankin deflected Butlers criticism, saying the Dalhousie study contained several technical studies. As well, he said his department also relied on information provided by the Health Department. "This (incineration) is a widely used practice across Canada, the United States and throughout Europe," he said. Rankin said independent monitoring would be in place at the plant's kiln. Spokeswoman for Lafarge, Karine Cousineau, said: "We are confident that our upcoming demonstration project will conclusively show that not only are scrap tyres a safe fuel, but will form a key part in reducing carbon emissions in the province," she stated Published under Ohorongo Cement awards staff land for houses 05 October 2017 Ohorongo Cement staff received deeds of sale for land allocated to them by the Otavi Town Council in Namibia, on Tuesday. The cement producer made N$9m (US$661,619) available which is going towards the purchasing of land, as well as cement contributions for the construction of employee houses. " This is certainly the biggest highlight in the history of our company. Today, we created the first of many real and lasting legacies for the welfare of our colleagues. What we did today will hopefully restore their human dignity," said the managing director of Ohorongo Cement, Hans-Wilhelm Schutte. Ohorongo Cement entered into an agreement with the workers' union to assist employees in acquiring land for housing at Otavi and Tsumeb. The focus is on first-time property owners, and is in support of the national drive for housing provision as described in the Harambee Prosperity Plan. The target is to acquire 120 plots of land, subject to the approval of funds, as well as the cost and availability of serviced land. The Otavi Town Council allocated 30 serviced plots, measuring an average 375m2, for an average cost of N$26,000 in extension 5. Now that the land has been made available, Ohorongo Cement will provide cement for the construction of standardised one- and two-bedroom houses. The building materials will be paid for by the employees through loans from financial institutions. To ensure that the houses are of superior quality, a building contractor has been appointed, which will deliver the housing units over a specified period. The employees will be the sole owners of the properties, although the company is contributing to a certain extent towards acquiring them, as Schutte explained. Published under America doesn't need our contempt on the gun problem it needs hope If there's one thing guaranteed to frustrate the average American, it's a Brit lecturing them on gun control. If they're in favour, this is just a poorly-informed reinforcement of an argument they've already made much more convincingly themselves the rookie preacher sermonising to a choir of theologians. If they're against or at least they oppose widespread disarmament then this is an arrogant, unwanted, moralising voice from way outside the situation that simply doesn't understand it. As a Brit with a sometimes arrogant, unwanted, moralising voice, I'd say those people are absolutely correct. I don't understand. A couple of mornings after the horrendous atrocity in Las Vegas that has become America's deadliest mass shooting, I listened to a BBC radio interview with two eye-witnesses from the event. They described the horror of being caught in the line of fire, of watching people who thought they were taking refuge by kneeling on the floor, actually turning themselves into targets for a gunman some 30 floors above them. They recalled the sheer terror of watching people fall all around them, not knowing if they would be next. Then, the interview took what to me felt like a remarkable turn. The British journalist asked both his guests if being caught in the incident had changed their mind on gun control. Both immediately said that it hadn't. Both invoked that famous 'right to bear arms' that's entrenched in the American constitution. Both opined that good, regular people aren't the problem, and that it's only the criminals who should be prevented from carrying weapons. The interviewer didn't fight back; you could hear the resignation in his voice. He couldn't empathise with their point of view, and nor could I... because neither of us have grown up in America. Now, I could launch into a predictable rant here about how this doesn't make sense; I could lob another fruitless piece of opinion across the ocean. But the truth is that it's impossible for me, living in a nation with mercifully few guns in circulation, to really understand what it's like to live in a place where they're carried in plain sight. So instead, I want to say something else to my American friends: I get it. I get that the gun 'market' in the US is already very mature. I get that criminals across the country are armed to the teeth with deadly weapons; not just handguns, but the sorts of assault rifles that were originally intended for military combat. I get that as a result, the police are similarly armed, and that normal, law-abiding people all over the land have a weapon stowed in their closet, just in case one of these dangerous individuals ever decides to cross their front lawn. The whole thing is a highly-developed mess of tension and defensive aggression. Take guns from the people and they feel vulnerable; disarm the police and you risk exposing the people. It's not unlike the more global example of nuclear weapons, where the idea of 'deterrent' keeps everyone armed to a potentially-catastrophic level. It's easy for us to criticise this; to share graphs on social media of gun crime statistics in the US and shake our heads at another awful incident involving these weapons. But like every socio-political debate, the truth is that it's just much more complicated than that. I video-called a compassionate, gun-opposing Democrat friend the other day and expressed my sympathies about the Las Vegas incident, and he could do little more than shrug his shoulders. Of course this is painful for every American, but they simply don't know how to get out of this mess. The one thing they don't need right now is our contempt. What they need instead is a sense of hope; a reason to believe that this situation can get better, and that the mass shootings that have become punctuation marks in the American calendar could somehow begin to lessen and even cease. And while I can't offer a solution from thousands of miles away, perhaps this vantage point does afford me the clear sight to imagine from where it might arise. It's often been stated and proved that Evangelical Christians won the last Presidential election for Donald Trump. They came out in force on polling day, rallied by Trump-supporting influencers like Pat Robertson, Jim Bakker and Franklin Graham. In turn, Trump has granted Evangelicals unprecedented access to the White House, famously being pictured in the Oval Office surrounded by pastors and leaders including Paula White. He could soon appoint a series of conservative judges to the Supreme Court who will seemingly justify the decision of every voter who 'held their noses' to vote for him. The Evangelical lobby is as powerful as ever in America. Some might see that as a cause for concern or even disgust. But what if that lobby took on something else? A different moral issue aside from same-sex marriage; another pro-life issue that wasn't abortion? I'm not being cute here I'm deadly serious. What if the American church decided it was going to do something about the gun problem? For some there's an immediate roadblock here: their goal isn't the removal of all guns, because the Second Amendment grants the Right to self-defence. Well, humbly, here's another thought from outside the American bubble: as Christians, your devotion to Christ and his rules for living, supersede even your Rights as an American. There's nothing wrong with being proud of your nationality or of the great things your country has achieved, but as a Christian, you must get the order right: God first, country second. And honestly, to be more than a little provocative, if you can't agree to that, you're probably not a follower of Jesus. What does God want for America? More mass shootings? Certainly not. For everyone to be armed to the teeth, so that the whole nation is always on the brink of internal conflict, large or small? No way. His American Dream is for that nation to turn to him, rather than on each other. So just imagine what might happen if the church across the great nation of America decided to take on the problem of gun violence. It could look something like this, at least to start with: those influential pastors, writers and speakers who were so powerful they could swing an election even away from a Clinton, start speaking out on this issue. They and those in their networks lead their congregations in meaningfully symbolic acts of prayer, crying out to God for a solution. Churches begin to open safe gun disposal centres, all the while praying for the people in their community to reduce and even give up their armouries. And perhaps, with difficulty and risk, Christians begin to take the truly prophetic step of giving up that Right to own a gun. Perhaps that's not the exact nature of a solution; it's just one version. The important kernel of the idea is that Christians who are passionate about loving their neighbour and defending the right to life, turn all that passion on an issue that's bringing untold misery with predictable regularity. Imagine if this generation of American Evangelicals weren't remembered in history for electing Trump and opposing fallen morals, but for solving the terrible, cyclical problem of American guns. It's a crazy dream... but you've achieved so many others. And if you would only take it on, then rather than moralising, or ranting, or telling you how broken you are, we'll be cheering you on from Across the Pond. Martin Saunders is a Contributing Editor for Christian Today and the Deputy CEO of Youthscape. Follow him on Twitter @martinsaunders. Anglican leaders rebuked for sanctions on Scots: 'You should have greater concerns' Anglican leaders around the world should have 'far greater concerns' than sanctioning churches that permit same-sex marriage, the head of the Scottish Episcopal Church has said. In a rebuke to fellow leaders of the 39 Anglican provinces around the world Mark Strange, the Scottish primus, said what 'is sinful and wicked is denying love and creating fear' as he urged them to focus on more important matters such as violence and poverty. The Scottish Episcopal Church was handed 'consequences' for its decision to allow clerics who want to conduct gay weddings to do so. It means delegates are barred from taking a full part in the worldwide Anglican Communion and cannot vote on key decisions. 'I respect the primates' decision to "sanction" our church,' Bishop Strange said, acknowledging in an article for the Times that his church was out of step with most of the 80million strong Communion. 'Yet I can't help reflecting that we live in a world filled with far greater concerns. 'We live in a world that at times seems harsh and cruel. It is painful to watch refugees across the world struggling in ill-prepared camps and I am aware of the struggle with poverty faced by many families across Britain. 'I just keep thinking that a world that allows people to proclaim their love might just be a better place,' he wrote in the Times. 'Just this week we witnessed the horror of Las Vegas and brutality in Catalonia. More fear and violence.' He added: 'What I believe is wrong is people being forced to hide their love because someone tell them it is signal or wicked; what is sinful and wicked is denying love and creating fear.' The de facto sanctions are watered down from what some conservatives demanded but leaders from more traditionalist provinces such as Kenya, Sudan and Tanzania have shown no sign of rebellion. It comes after Bishop Strange gave a robust defence of his church's decision to remove the understanding of marriage as solely between one man and one woman to more conservative primates from around the world. He recognised it had caused 'some hurt and anger' but was unrepentant. 'We will continue to play our part in the Anglican Communion we helped to establish, and I will do all I can to rebuild relationships, but that will be done from the position our Church has now reached in accordance with its synodical processes and in the belief that Love means Love,' he said. No moral ground for Maoist Centre to stay in govt: Minister Gautam Minister for Irrigation Sanjaya Kumar Gautam has said that CPN (Maoist Centre) has no right to stay in the current coalition government on moral grounds. Back to the Bible Luther's message that the 21st-century Church desperately needs to hear Martin Luther's key message was, 'Back to the Bible' and the 21st-century Church desperately needs to hear it. That's according to Greg Downes, Theologian and Missioner at The Belfrey church in York and a speaker at the Luther 500 conference at London's Kensington Temple. The conference is designed to mark 500 years since the publication of Martin Luther's 95 Theses, regarded as the beginning of the continental Reformation that was to have a seismic effect on the Church. Speakers include RT Kendall, Malcolm Duncan and Rt Rev Graham Tomlin. The 95 Theses were an attack on the practice of selling 'indulgences' time off purgatory to raise money for the Catholic Church. However, their application was much wider, foreshadowing Luther's revolutionary teaching of justification by faith alone. While many of Luther's ideas were not new, Downes described their publication as a 'tipping point'. He quoted Victor Hugo, who said: 'There is nothing more powerful than an idea whose time has come.' Downes took 12 of the Theses short statements of only a sentence or two and showed their relevance to today. For instance, Luther wrote: 'It is certain that when money clinks in the money chest, greed and avarice can be increased; but when the church intercedes, the result is in the hands of God alone.' Downes said: 'Obsession with money brings greed but obsession with prayer can bring supernatural results.' He criticised the 'excesses' of the prosperity gospel, saying: 'Christianity is not a money-making endeavour.' Luther wrote: 'The true treasure of the Church is the most holy Gospel of the glory and grace of God.' As Downes put it: 'The gospel is the only thing the Church has to offer.' He said that if the Church loses confidence in the gospel it will replace preaching repentance with social action or other forms of activity worthy in themselves. 'In the end, it's the only thing we have to offer,' he said. 'The modern church in danger of theological amnesia.' Speaking to Christian Today, Downes said: '"Back to the Bible" would be Luther's essential message.' One of the great things about the Reformation, he said, was its affirmation of the power of individual conscience and reason. However, this had often produced theological confusion and liberalism, which he said was 'rife' in the Protestant world. Downes said: 'Luther was breaking free from the "magisterium" [the teaching authority of the Catholic Church] not so that his conscience and his reason could be totally freewheeling, but so that it could be captive to God's word in the Scriptures. 'So when we move away from the Scriptures, we end up up in theological anarchy and liberalism that denies the authority of the Scriptures.' He stressed the Reformers' principle of the 'perspicuity of Scripture'. 'It isn't that the Bible is clear on everything, but it is clear on issues of primary importance,' he said. 'There is a clarity to the gospel. I think some Christians, when say the Bible is not clear about something, they're just in denial about the authority of Scripture. So for example, the physical resurrection of Jesus anyone who denies that may say, "I have a different interpretation", but actually they're not being submitted to Scripture.' He said Luther was profoundly important even in terms of secular history. However, for Christians his significance lay in how he called the Church back to the Scriptures. 'A Christianity that doesn't accept the Scriptures as authoritative is an anomaly and a deviation from apostolic Christanity,' he said. 'And I think that's what we're seeing all around the world. Partly it's a response to secularism, where people say, "What we believe is incredible, quite literally, so perhaps we need to make fewer demands of people." But history shows theological liberalism empties churches, it doesn't fill them. So it's actually a spent experiment in terms of church growth, but it's also fundamentally wrong. 'The centrality of the Bible, the primacy of the Bible, the authority of the Bible that's something we need to hear as 21st century Christians today.' Canterbury meeting: Walkout climbdown as Anglican primates hold together Conservative Anglicans have climbed down from threats to walk out if their demands for harsher sanctions on the Scottish Church were not met. Tensions were building as leaders from around the worldwide Anglican Communion met this week in Canterbury after traditionalists demanded tougher penalties on the Scottish Episcopal Church for allowing gay marriage. In a briefing for journalists on Tuesday, Rev Andrew Gross from the Anglican Church in North America, who acts as a spokesman for the conservative grouping GAFCON, said the leaders would not be satisfied unless the punishment was more stringent. 'The GAFCON primates are not sure they can remain in the room if there is not repentance,' he said. He warned Anglicans from Scotland, the US, who also permit gay marriage, and Canada, who are moving in that direction, 'must repent' and if they did not 'the Anglican Communion will no longer be able to gather together'. He said: 'Only repentance can lead to a seat at the table.' But a different message came from the primates themselves who seemed happy with the watered down 'consequences' which did not meet Gross' demands, despite the Primus of the Scottish Church, Mark Strange, remaining unrepentant. The Archbishop of Kenya Jackson Ole Sapit, who is a key member of the GAFCON primates' council, told Christian Today the level of sanctions 'was fine for me'. 'Yes I think I am satisfied because still the doctrine of marriage in the Anglican Communion remains that it is between one woman and one man for life,' he said in an interview with Christian Today. 'That hasn't changed and that makes us happy.' The Archbishop of South East Asia Moon Hing, who is GAFCON's treasurer, said he was 'very happy and very glad' to be present. 'Even though when we quarrel, we have conflicts, God has never given up on us; and every time we come back to him, he is always there,' he told the Anglican Communion news service. 'And he is ready every moment for us to come back and say "let's walk together again with one another, with our neighbours and with him."' The Archbishop of Canterbury said the decision to just impose the 'consequences' and nothing more stringent was unanimously approved and no vote was required. The largely secretive meeting is taking place inside Canterbury Cathedral's grounds but Christian Today understands no concerns were raised about the levels of the sanctions by any primates and there have been no threats to leave prematurely in protest. But a statement from GAFCON on Thursday seemed to contradict this and said the 'persistent assertions that the Primates of the Anglican Communion are "walking together", do not reflect the reality'. The statement said GAFCON primates were 'concerned' about divisions and insisted: 'The Primates are not walking together. At best, they say, "they are walking at a distance". At worst, they are walking in different directions.' The meeting continues until Friday and the primates have been discussing religious persecution, climate change and the refugee crisis as well as divisions over sexuality. Challenge to the law against assisted dying dismissed by High Court The UK High court dismissed Noel Conway's challenge to the law against assisted dying this morning. Conway, who is supported by Dignity in Dying, suffers from motor neurone disease. He is challenging the illegality of assisted dying for those with terminal illnesses who have been given six months or fewer to live. Conway is a member of Humanists UK, which intervened in the case in his favour. The group have promised to assist him as he seeks to appeal the decision given today. Nancy Collins of Hodge Jones & Allen LLP, who acted on behalf of Humanists UK, commented: 'This is a disappointing decision for those who believe that terminally ill people should have the right to choose the timing of their death.' However, the decision from the High Court was welcomed by Andrew Williams, chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre. She said, 'These cases are always emotive because all of us want to be kind in the face of human suffering. 'It is vital, however, that we do not lose sight of the key principles at stake, and the implications of any court decision on other people. 'Assisted suicide is wrong in principle. A civilised society does not legislate for the killing of its citizens, especially its most vulnerable. It uses the law to uphold their dignity and to offer the highest protection. 'As well as the principle, in practice, it isn't possible to design suitable protections to make sure that sick, elderly, unwell, depressed or lonely people are not put at risk or put under pressure.' 'Rather than pushing for assisted suicide, which raises huge ethical issues and would be a dangerous move, society should be investing in research into underlying conditions and even better palliative care than we have today.' In 2015, the House of commons rejected an Assisted Dying Bill. 'Having lost the argument in Parliament two years ago, assisted suicide campaigners have signalled that they will refocus their attention on the courts', Williams noted. 'The current law tempers justice with mercy and provides essential safeguards against abuse. We mustn't allow those safeguards to be undermined'. CARE's Director of Parliamentary Affairs, Dr Dan Boucher added: 'Our current law exists to protect the vulnerable and weak from being exploited and coerced. It is therefore right that the law today has been upheld'. 'Parliament recently overwhelmingly voted to reject introducing assisted suicide in Great Britain and we should respect the will of Parliament'. 'Christ Coin': new Christian digital currency launches - with rewards for the faithful A 'groundbreaking' new initiative has seen the launch of the world's first Christian cryptocurrency. 'Christ Coin', from the mission company Life Change, seeks to unite the church with its own currency, akin to Bitcoin, that offers financial rewards for the faithful. A Cryptocurrency is a digital token-based currency that operates independently of a bank or government control. It offers a new way for parties to transfer funds, using encryption techniques to guarantee security. 'Christ Coin allows the faithful to have a way to approach finances that uniquely helps grow and support the global Christian church,' Life Change said in a press release, according to RNS. 'Instead of dollars, consumers purchase or earn "coins," which can be used for purchasing or exchanged just like any other currency.' Christ Coin is envisaged as a means for the church to expand its reach in ministry. Life Change has promised financial rewards (more 'coins') for those who undertake Christian activities via the platform such as volunteering, joining small groups and reading the Bible. 'The overarching benefits of the Life Change Platform truly go beyond what people would typically think when talking about finance and economics,' said Luke Forstmann, Christ Coin's co-founder. 'We like to use the L.I.V.E.S. acronym: Leave your mark on the world by supporting humanitarian efforts, Invest in a cryptocurrency, Vault your spiritual life, Earn additional income, Support the vision of your local church through tithes and offerings. 'Yes, Christ Coin is an investment opportunity, but it goes so much farther than personal finance. We hope it will change lives, support ministries, and inspire people to grow in their faith.' A 'coin sale', offering the chance to invest in the currency, will run until December 1 at 7:00am CT. A video explanation of Christ Coin can be watched below. EU leaders urged to not sacrifice human rights for the sake of a free trade agreement ADF International, a human rights group, urges EU leaders to not 'turn a blind eye' to the rising persecution of Christians and Muslims in India when they meet for the 14th annual EU-India Summit. On Friday 6 October, Donald Tusk, President of the European Council, and Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission, will meet with India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. 'How many more victims of government-condoned violence against Muslims and Christians will the EU tolerate until it puts the issue on the agenda with Prime Minister Modi? As long as the severe and continuing violations of the right to religious freedom do not have an impact on trade agreements, we cannot speak of a coherent EU commitment to human rights. Religious freedom needs to become a precondition to economic cooperation,' said Sophia Kuby, Director of EU Advocacy for ADF International. 'No person should live in fear of being killed, tortured, or oppressed because of their religious beliefs. The EU should not sacrifice the human rights it claims to protect for the sake of a free trade agreement.' The persecution of religious minorities in India has become worse under the government of the Bharatiya Janata Party, which is the political arm of the nationalistic Hindutva movement. The party has been accused of inciting hatred and riots against religious minorities, including Christians and Muslims. According to the 2016 International Religious Freedom Report on India, there were more than 300 reported incidents of abuse directed at Christians, compared to 177 in 2015. Former Prime Minister would have been interviewed under caution for allegations of sexual abuse if he were still alive After a two-year investigation into allegations of sexual abuse made against Sir Edward Heath, Wiltshire Police has issued a report stating that seven allegations of rape and sexual assault would have warranted the former Prime Minister being interviewed under criminal caution had he still been alive. The investigation, Operation Conifer, involved the investigation of 42 allegations from 40 individuals. The seven cases for which Sir Edward, who died in 2005, would have been interviewed included the alleged rape of an 11-year-old boy 'during a paid sexual encounter in private in a dwelling'. The other cases were allegedly committed against four boys between 10 and 15 years of age, and two adult men. In total the alleged incidents span 31 years, from 1956 to 1992. Some date to the period in which Heath was leader of the Conservative party, and in cabinet as Secretary of State for Trade and Industry. All the incidents are alleged to have happened when Heath was an MP. The Bishop of Salisbury, Nicholas Holtam, this week defended Sir Edward: 'There is a relatively low threshold for being interviewed under caution,' he wrote in the Church Times. 'It does not imply guilt. Only a court could determine that. Heath's own evidence would have been essential to a fair process. It cannot be done from beyond the grave. The Church of England might want to learn from that.' The report resembles the Carlile Report into allegations of sexual abuse against Bishop George Bell, who was Bishop of Chichester for 29 years. The publication of that report is expected in the next few weeks. The report concerning Sir Edward says had he still been alive and interviewed under caution, 'his account would be as important as other evidence gathered as part of the wider investigation. 'Accordingly it is critical to stress that no inference of guilty should be drawn from the fact that Heath would have been interviewed under caution.' Heath lived in Salisbury Cathedral Close and was a member of the Cathedral's congregation from 1985 until his death in 2005. Operation Conifer was launched outside Heath's former home with an appeal for victims to come forward. Dissatisfaction with the report has been expressed by Lord Hunt of Wirral, chair of the Sir Edward Heath Charitable Foundation, and Lord Armstrong of Ilminster, former cabinet secretary and PPS to Heath while he was prime minister. They called the report 'profoundly unsatisfactory because it neither justifies nor dispels the cloud of suspicion'. 'As Sir Edward is dead, justice requires that there should be a quasi-judicial process as a substitute for the judicial process. This could be in the form of an independent review by a retired judge, with unrestricted access to all the evidence collected by the Wiltshire police. In the meantime, a fundamental, time-honoured principle should be respected, namely that a man is innocent until he is proven guilty.' James Gray, the Conservative MP for North Wiltshire, also called for an independent inquiry: 'Let's have absolute clarity. Was Sir Edward Heath a paedophile or was he not? I'm plain in my mind that he was not. I think it's important for the country, the people to know that was the case. This was a distinguished prime minister. We should not allow that shadow to hang over him for all time.' However, Andrew Bridgen, Conservative MP for North-West Leicestershire, spoke in support of the work of Wiltshire Police and its chief constable Mike Veale. He told The Guardian: 'The unprecedented negative and constant barrage on Veale and his investigative team, I find it quite chilling. Many will think it is an attempt to derail, silence and discredit the investigation before the report has been delivered'. Former Queen's chaplain Gavin Ashenden consecrated as 'missionary bishop' Gavin Ashenden, the former chaplain to the Queen who earlier this year resigned from the Church of England over its 'liberalising' trend, has been consecrated a bishop. Ashenden has been consecrated as a missionary bishop to the UK in the Christian Episcopal Church, one of the continuing Anglican churches that emerged in the United States in the ongoing disputes in The Episcopal Church over the ordination of homosexuals and women. In the UK, he will work closely with Bishop Andy Lines, also recently consecrated a missionary bishop to work with conservative evangelical churches. Ashenden told Christian Today that he believed the Philip North affair, where North withdrew as Bishop of Sheffield after a row over his opposition to women bishops, showed how difficult it will be for traditonalist Anglo-Catholics and orthodox evangelicals to 'flourish' in the Church of England. 'You can only function as an Anglican if you have bishops you can trust,' he said. He said the Church of England had 'not been very generous' in providing conservative or traditionalist bishops. He added: 'I will oversee anybody who asks. I have a trail of people coming to my door asking for support, spiritual direction and advice. Obviously my oversight will be informal, it will have no legal basis at all.' He said he was approached by the Christian Episcopal Church, which regards it as a 'duty' to help traditionalist Anglicans across the globe. Although working in the UK, he is technically under the canonical authority of a Canadian bishop in the Christian Episcopal Church. The popular blogger, Archbishop Cranmer, was among those who congratulated him, wishing him 'richest blessings' for his new ministry. The Most Rev Theodore Casimes, Archbishop of the Christian Episcopal Church, said in a press release that Ashenden was consecrated in Vancouver, Canada, during the course of an Episcopal Synod. He said: 'Bishop Ashenden is charged with the responsibility of working as closely and collaboratively as possible with those Anglicans who are committed to remaining faithful to orthodox Christianity. In particular with the Free Church of England and the "Unity Forum" that has been created to achieve that unity of purpose and action in the UK.' The Unity Forum is a new body that aims to bring together traditionalist Anglo-Catholics and conservative evangelicals who find themselves outside the established Church of England. It is similar to ACNA, the Anglican Church in North America. Bishop John Fenwick, convenor of the Unity Forum, said: 'Gavin's stand for orthodoxy has been an encouragement to Anglicans in the UK and beyond. We look forward to working closely with him as we face the challenges that lie ahead.' The Christian Episcopal Church is a traditionalist Anglican denomination that emerged from The Episcopal Church in the United States in the 1980s and claims apostolic succession of orders from both Anglican and Roman Catholic successions. Casimes added: 'As the Church of England is in the process of abandoning Christian teaching on culture, sexuality, marriage and the uniqueness of Christian revelation, the Bishops of the Christian Episcopal Church believed that it was their responsibility to offer a renewed episcopal oversight and encouragement to those Anglicans in the UK and Europe who had become distressed and disillusioned by the changes of direction and the adoption of secular values by the Church of England.' Ashenden who trained originally in law, and was ordained as an Anglican priest in Southwark Cathedral in 1980, was a member of the General Synod for 20 years. Gavin Ashenden was in fact consecrated a bishop four years ago while still a chaplain to the Queen Gavin Ashenden, the Anglo-Catholic priest who was a chaplain to the Queen from 2008 until he resigned earlier this year, was consecrated a bishop in 2013 while he was still a chaplain to the Queen, Christian Today can reveal. Ashenden was consecrated as a missionary bishop to the UK by Archbishop Theodore Casimes of the Christian Episcopal Church, which is not part of the Anglican Communion. Although the consecration was announced earlier this month by Archbishop Casimes, in fact it took place four years ago, a year after he ended his 20 years service as a member of the General Synod of the Church of England and after he took a post-retirement post at St Martin de Gouray in Gorey, Jersey. He currently lives in Shropshire and resigned his orders this year as a Church of England priest in protest at what he sees as the Church's liberalising trend. Earlier, he had left his post as Queen's chaplain in January following a row over a Qur'an reading in Glasgow Cathedral. Ashenden told Christian Today that he had spent 23 years working at a progressive university, during which time he was an enthusiast for womens' ministry (and still is), a passionate supporter of LGBT rights (a large segment of his eucharistic community was gay) but was 'agnostic about changing the DNA of priesthood and episcopacy'. But he began to change his mind. 'It became clearer to me that the long Christian narrative on these matters was correct and needed to be defended. Partly because I had seen both sides of the ideological fence I thought I could see what was coming down the track, perhaps a little ahead of some people,' he said. Outlining the background to his consecration, he said: 'I spent 20 years as a member of the General Synod. In the negotiations over the proposed legislation over the consecration of women bishops I had formed the view that the only way to allow the C of E to function as an inclusive (if paradoxically self-contradicted) ecclesial community, was for those who believed the consecration of women to be an improper innovation, to be given a third province. In that way some effective level of protection of conscience could be preserved. The Gamaliel principle could operate. The Church could continue with its different integrities intact. 'That didn't happen. A less effective settlement was reached giving far less protection to those who believed what Anglicans had always believed.' He wrote a paper about it in 2012 'In it I foresaw that the progressive party would not be content with "mutual flourishing" but would work to remove those who believed different things from them both from the places of influence within the Church and then from the Church itself. I wrote that this would begin with the episcopate, but would not end there. 'And therefore if traditional Anglicans wanted to remain Anglicans there would come a point when they had to arrange for the consecration of their own bishops. The alternative was find their place within the Church diminished to the point of effective extinction. The consequence of this would be either to leave the Anglican Church, becoming Roman Catholic or Eastern Orthodox, as many had already. But for those who wanted to remain Anglican, I could see no other action available to allow it to happen. If you are an "orthodox" Anglican you have to have an "orthodox" bishop. 'This paper found a wide circulation. I received a number of responses, mostly agreeing with me.' One of the responses came from the Bishops of the Christian Episcopal Church. They said they had been praying about the 'mother Church' in and of England. 'They said they had it in mind to offer to consecrate three missionary bishops who would be able to offer a foundation for a continuing orthodox Anglicanism as the Anglicanism of the Church of England became modified first by feminism, and later by homosexual marriage. They asked if I would accept consecration at their hands against the day when such episcopal presence was needed. 'I wrote back saying that I was glad that they agreed with me, but that I would not accept their offer, because to do so would cause me severe inconvenience, risk making me a public laughing stock, and other unlooked for and unwelcome consequences. 'They responded saying that they were sad that I was unwilling to play a part in the remedial action that I had myself discerned and advocated, but could I recommend other clergy who were theologically and spiritually alert to the issues, and willing to pay a price for their principles.' Ashenden declined to comment further about how or why his mind was changed. 'But as I considered their response, it came to me that my reasons for refusing their offer had at their root cowardice and a preference for self-preservation rather than a commitment to the bride of Christ and her wellbeing.' The question then arose as to whether such a consecration should take place then, or at some later date. 'I was persuaded it should be then, and not at some indefinite point in the future.' He consulted canon lawyers, and ascertained to his satisfaction that holding episcopal office outside the geographical jurisdiction of the the Provinces of Canterbury and York in an ecclesial body that was not in an official relationship with the Church of England, was not in contravention of any canon law. 'There was a distinction however between ontology and function,' he said. 'I might be consecrated a bishop elsewhere, but canon law would only be contravened if I practised or exercised episcopacy in some way.' The validity of this view was in fact (and much to my interest) tested recently by an assistant curate in the parish of Jesmond, the Rev Jonathan Pryke, receiving consecration at the hands of reformed Anglicans in South Africa. When it was announced his diocesan bishop wrote to him saying that no action would or could be taken, unless and until he acted episcopally within her jurisdiction, and she advised and counselled him not to. To date, he hasn't.' Ashenden addressed the issue of whether he should have announced the consecration when it took place in 2013. 'Our judgement was not to. We would have preferred to do so, but the reasons were as follows. I held the office of a parish priest in the Island of Jersey, and was a member of the Royal Ecclesiastical Household. Under canon law (following the Pryke principle) neither of these offices were affected by holding a parallel office in a different Church in a different country and jurisdiction. Legally there was no issue. Was there a moral issue? If I had announced it in public it seemed to me that the move would be understood in the form of a threat. "If the Church of England continues in this progressive direction, I will at some point leave it and take up my episcopal office and exercise it." 'I though that such an implicit threat would colour my relationships with the C of E in a way that would be unhelpful to all of us. 'Although I believed I knew what was going to happen in the C of E, I could not be certain. What if God intervened? What if I was wrong? I had obligations and responsibilities that I wanted to continue to discharge for as long as I could.' As it happened, he said, circumstances took him by surprise. 'When the first woman bishop was consecrated, I had prepared for the situation, and indeed lectured others, by being ready to make a distinction between her legal office as the duly appointed "Ordinary" of the diocese, and her spiritual office as bishop. I believed I could remain in post in my parish by observing this distinction. However, I had sought a meeting with my diocesan bishop before the consecration to inform him that should he take part in the consecration which was against Scripture and against tradition, he would no longer be my bishop, and indeed I thought he would no longer be any kind of bishop, since one of the primary functions of a bishop is to guard and preserve the apostolic faith. 'As time went by after the event, I found myself becoming increasingly distressed by the change in the ecclesial DNA in the Church, and found the comforting fiction I and others had prepared to use to live with it, did not give me peace of mind or clarity of conscience. 'So I resigned my parish. 'I looked forward to some years of praying, writing and if the public chose to read it, public commentary. 'When it came to asking for permission to officiate from the local diocesan within the parish I had "retired" early to, urged by the incumbent to equip myself with the legal means to preach in his parish, I found I was unable in conscience to ask for permission from a bishop whose actions I repudiated.' The next event was the reading of the Koran in Glasgow cathedral. 'My public remarks were deemed to be incompatible with holding an office in the Royal Household since the political and cultural context we now live in were deemed to be too conflicted to allow such remarks. It was clear I had to chose between silence and remaining in office, or giving up the office. I gave it up. My primary responsibility is to articulate and defend the Gospel in private and in public. 'By the spring of this year, to my surprise I found that events had stripped me of both office and responsibility in the Church of England, and I took this to be the action and initiative of the Holy Spirit. 'At the same time, the speed of direction cultural and theological change continued unabated. The outcry against Philip North and the hounding of him out of office served to confirmed my original diagnosis and prognosis. 'The situation I foresaw and prepared for that led to my consecration in Vancouver in 2013 had come about, and I was required to act accordingly." He therefore exercised the provisions of the 1870 Clerical Disabilities Act and relinquished his Anglican orders. 'It remains my view that as the grip of egalitarianism and the sub Christian ethics of gay marriage tighten their grip on our culture, and as the Church of England makes continued accommodation with them, that traditional Anglicans like me will lack orthodox episcopal oversight, support and the articulation of the Gospel the obligations of the office lay upon it.' He conceded that when writing the press release that made the news of my new role public, he could have added this accompanying narrative to explain the gap between the date of the consecration and the taking up of the office. 'I thought that to make this explanation public seemed much to much like making these events about me, whereas they were more properly about the Lordship of Christ, the authority of the Gospel and the integrity of the Church. For that reason, the date was left a matter of public record on the websites referred to for background information in the press release.' One of the attractions of the Christian Episcopal Church offer to Ashenden was the fact that their episcopal orders flowed not only from the Episcopalian Diocese of Fort Worth, but also from the Roman Catholic Bishop in Brazil, Duarte Costa, who was relived of his post by the Vatican after he confronted them over their inaction to Nazism in Catholic circles in Brazil after the second world war. He had taken part in certain Anglican episcopal consecrations. 'The unity of the Church and the healing of the objections of the papal bull Apostolicae Curae which rendered Anglican orders invalid in the 19th Century was overcome by this line of episcopal succession, said Ashenden 'Since like + Lesslie Newbigin, I am committed to the healing of the tripartite fracture of orthodox Christianity whether we identity it in Newbiggin's terms, as the Church of the Father (Catholic and Eastern Orthodox) the Son, (evangelicals) and the Spirit (pentecostals), or in the more usual historic way, this unity seems to me to be a matter of high priority. 'So as well as believing orthodox Anglican faith, their orders carried this promise of a deeper ecumenical potential which I thought very valuable. 'I think that in the melt down of Christendom in Europe in particular, the fact that my consecration offered valid but irregular Catholic episcopal orders might be helpful at some time in the future.' 'I'm not expecting less than $50 million': Diamond found by pastor about to be sold One of the world's 20 largest diamonds, discovered by a pastor from Sierra Leone, is about to be auctioned in Antwerp, Belgium. Pastor Emmanuel Momoh, 39, unearthed the 709.41-carat diamond in the Kono district of Sierra Leone. It is the second largest diamond ever found in that country. Momoh has travelled to Belgium with the diamond to meet sales agents, auction houses and potential buyers. The diamond was auctioned in Freetown in May, but the highest bid of $7.7 million was turned down. Momoh told Agence France Presse: 'I want my diamond to be sold abroad so I can get the best price to enable many people to benefit from the proceeds. 'I'm expecting not less than $50 million from the diamond'. Momoh is one of hundreds of artisanal miners in Kono, Sierra Leone's key mining district. On finding it, he handed it over to the government but remains its chief owner. The government's stake in the sale of the diamond will be used to fund development projects nationwide, according to Forbes. Kono was at the centre of the trade in 'blood diamonds' between 1991 and 2002. The trade helped to fuel a decade-long civil war as rebel groups used gems to pay for weapons. A year after the conflict ended in 2002, the Kimberley Process international certification scheme was created to keep so-called conflict diamonds out of the market and lay down export conditions applying to the agreement's 75 signatories. 'Infini-T Force' airs first two episodes in U.S. this week Starting Oct. 4, "Infini-T Force" will be airing on the media's website. Since the show aims to introduce the hero anime series to the younger generation of North American fans, while also reliving the childhood days of their parents, all the episodes will be in Japanese. This is to retain the sense of authenticity since the show was made by a production company from Japan. English subtitles will be provided, however, in each episode. Director of Animation Marketing for VIZ, Media Charlene Ingram, said in a report from Den of Geek, "Infini-T Force introduces Tatsunoko Production's most famous anime superheroes for a new generation of viewers while also exciting fans of the original show." The four members of the hero team are Gatchaman, Casshan, Tekkaman, and Hurricane Polimar. Forming the bad guy quartet are Damian Gray, Raja Khan, Z, and Bell Lynn. The plot of the 3DCG anime series centers on the self-realization of the young girl Emi Kaido. A wealthy girl living a luxurious life takes hold of a mysterious object that looked like an oversized pencil, which is actually called the "case." The fate of the world suddenly rests on the hands of Emi. The four heroes burst into action to protect the young girl and save the world from imminent destruction. VIZ Media released the official video clip of "Infini-T Force" in their YouTube Channel. As expected, fans of all four of the anime series reacted very positively even if the show was rendered in 3D. The show will be directed by Suzuki Kiyotaka ("Sakura Wars 2 OAV," "Psycho Pass 2 TV"), while all the animation is under Digital Frontier. PM Deuba consults lawyers on likelihood of no-confidence motion Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has consulted lawyers on the recent political developments. Iraqi Christians are in 'state of fear' after Kurdish Independence Referendum, bishops warn Church leaders in northern Iraq have warned that the Christian presence in the region could be threatened by last week's Kurdistan independence referendum if it leads to conflict In the referendum, 93 per cent voted in favour of independence, though the Iraqi government has dismissed its legality. Five senior Catholic and Orthodox bishops have appealed to the international community to protect Christians who live in territories, like the Nineveh Plains, which are claimed by both the government in Baghdad and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). In their statement, they wrote: 'We cannot hide our concern that the situation for the Christians has become very difficult and leads to uncertainty. 'This situation has created in Christians a state of fear and concern about the possibility that the struggle may develop into a crisis that will have far-reaching repercussions for all.' The bishops stressed that many of Nineveh's Christians face uncertainty, many of them still displaced in Erbil after they were forced to flee their homes by Daesh (ISIS) in 2014. They expressed fears that the restoration needed to towns and villages ravaged by this violence wold come to a halt now it is uncertain what will happen to the area. 'The historical areas of our people, the areas liberated from the control of the criminal ISIS gangs are in an appalling condition in terms of reconstruction, public services, and security. 'There are no serious attempts at reconstructing the area at all by the governments. This makes it difficult for the IDPs [internally displaced persons] to return, thereby prolonging their plight.' The bishops called for the Nineveh Plains to not be divided between Iraq and an independent Kurdistan. 'Our vulnerable community cannot withstand further schism and division in addition to the ongoing political and sectarian fights.' The bishops called for the Iraqi Federal Government and the KRG to 'opt for dialogue and moderation and to stop the escalation of the conflict through the media. The bishops also honoured the way the Kurdish people had supported Christians who were forced to leave their homes. 'Undoubtedly, we Christians can never forget how our brothers in Kurdistan Region, as a people and government, received us and supported our displaced persons, not only Christians but also other components of the Iraqi people.' Mark Driscoll is back after exactly three years... so how did it happen? Too soon, anyone? The extraordinary return to public prominence of 'Pastor' Mark Driscoll, who was this week announced as the latest recruit to faith-based mega-blog Patheos, will surprise few people. There's no doubt that Driscoll is a writer, speaker (and some might add, performer) who craves an audience, and that he was always going to make a comeback after his much-publicised exit from the Christian subculture's version of Public Life. Even by his rather tasteless standards however, the speed of it is unsettling. In fact, Driscoll's 'rehabilitation' has felt choreographed to a cynical extent. He resigned from his position as senior pastor of Mars Hill, the Seattle megachurch that he built somewhat in his own image, back in October 2014. Over the weeks and months that followed, Driscoll said that he sought 'wise counsel' from other leaders, and while there was no great official statement of apology, an admission of guilt or a sense of changed direction, he did at least mainly refrain from speaking engagements while the furore around him died down. Then, almost exactly 18 months later, in an Easter Sunday service that appeared to have no understanding of irony, he was resurrected as pastor of a new church in Arizona. He was back in ministry already, but had decided to keep a moderately low profile as a humble local church leader. All of this smacks of time biding. Now, another 18 months on, and almost three years to the day from his original 'fall' from grace, Driscoll has placed his feet firmly back in the big time with a move to Patheos, a site renowned for giving a platform to some of American Christianity's biggest, brightest and loudest voices. So if you were wondering how long a beaten man is prepared to stay down, you now have your answer. Three years is the appropriate amount of time for laying low if you've been accused apparently with great foundation of bullying, chauvinism, misuse of church funds, homophobia and even book-sale manipulation. Three years of quietly living off those book royalties and rebuilding the fallen empire, turns out to be a fair enough substitute for actual repentance and restoration. Driscoll, if you remember, did a good job of shrugging off his critics for years before a group of Mars Hill pastors finally gathered the courage to present undeniable evidence of 'disqualifying behaviour' to the church's elders. He'd previously referred to women as 'penis homes', attacked 'effeminate worship leaders' and claimed that he couldn't worship a Jesus that he could beat up. He'd publicly humiliated his wife in a book about their marriage, and he'd paid a marketing company to elevate that book's presence on the New York Times bestsellers' list by persuading the church in turn to buy 11,000 copies. Quite what it is that continues to make this man a hero to any follower of Jesus is beyond comprehension. Yes, he's a decent orator and able to string together a few sentences of helpful Bible exposition and life application, but America, like Patheos, is full of Christian 'leaders' looking to occupy that same space. Yet Driscoll remains intriguing and even inspiring to so many. His personal Twitter account the one that appears to block all of his online critics, or anyone who uses the #notodriscoll hashtag has more than half a million followers. His Resurgence brand has continued (with a subtle name change) over the last three years to give platform to his ideas and retains a loyal following. The painful truth is that Mark Driscoll is back not only because of his unquenchable thirst for the spotlight, but because the spotlight wants him back. Of course we all love a redemption narrative, but Driscoll's return isn't a story of a man who has redeemed himself against his past shortcomings, but of a skilful manipulator clawing his way back into the mainstream. Those that now read his blogs, visit his websites, watch his videos, listen to his sermons and attempt to recast him as a changed man are not demonstrating the Christian virtue of forgiveness, but enabling an impressively well-planned return to Church fame and fortune. It's a path the American church has trodden a few times before, with the stories of several prominent televangelists, all of whom were once lost and now make great money from having been found. There has been criticism, and there will be more, but my hunch is that Driscoll and his team are well prepared for it. Even if Patheos now reverse their decision to host the man, he'll soon find another way of clambering back on to the platform; it might just take him another 18 months to get there. Meanwhile, Driscoll's many victims look on with disgust and resignation. All any of us can choose to do is to swallow the hype, or to continue to speak out against the man, even if that does end up getting us blocked on Twitter. Martin Saunders is a Contributing Editor for Christian Today and the Deputy CEO of Youthscape. Follow him on Twitter @martinsaunders. Melvyn Bragg: Young people are being 'deprived' of the riches of the Bible Author and broadcaster Melvyn Bragg has denounced the declining number of young people who read the Bible as 'disgraceful' and called those who find the King James translation too complicated 'wimps'. Bragg himself does not believe in God, yet he said the Bible was a 'great force' for people of all backgrounds. He urged every school and church of all denominations to read the Bible on a monthly basis so that children are not 'deprived' its 'depth of language'. Speaking at the Henley Literary Festival on Monday, Bragg paid tribute to the King James translation of the Bible in particular. 'I think it is no accident that the decline of the Anglican Church coincides with the decline of the King James Bible.' Young people, he said, 'say it's too complicated, what are they talking about? Shakespeare gets more and more popular, and nearly always Shakespeare is played in the original Shakespeare. The Bible is 'equally powerful, [yet] we just say 'it's too complicated. Wimps, terrible persons.' 'I think it is a great deprivation. What have we thrown away? One of the greatest pieces of art, work, whatever way you want to put it. It's awful. As for being too difficult, really? Honestly. We should be too good for that, we used to be the clever country.' On his own beliefs, he told the audience on Monday: 'I have left [religion] in many ways but it will never leave me, and I don't want it to, because it's part of my past...I don't believe in God but I do believe in a first cause.' Patheos invite Mark Driscoll to blog on their site On Monday, Mark Driscoll announced that he would be moving his blog to Patheos, which describes itself as 'the world's leading multi-faith site dedicated hosting the conversation on faith'. The announcement received negative attention on Twitter. One person replied to Driscoll's tweet: 'You've sown hate & discord & are not repentant for your dehumanizing, sexist leadership.' You've sown hate & discord & are not repentant for your dehumanizing, sexist leadership. This is disappointing. No thanks @Patheos. James Matichuk (@Jamichuk) October 4, 2017 Another tweeted: 'This is mind-boggling to me. I am all for forgiveness and reconciliation, but not for glorification of a reputation borne in spiritual abuse'. Several Twitter users have criticised Patheos for giving Driscoll a platform. Please don't give a platform to Mark Driscoll! This does damage to abuse survivors. If he's repentant he would stay out of the spotlight. Mike Sloan (@mikeasloan) October 3, 2017 Why would you lend your platform to such a goldbricking charlatan? Chubbs Olson (@ChubbsOlson) October 3, 2017 Critics have tweeted their complaints using the hashtag #NoDriscoll, and it is suspected that Driscoll has blocked all those who have used the hashtag. So this is what happens if you tweet in the #NoDriscoll tag. No other interactions. Sure that's what you want, @Patheos? pic.twitter.com/1vZekUS8oR Joi (@Joi_the_Artist) October 3, 2017 Other Twitter users, however, have sent Driscoll their congratulations. Patheos contributors themselves have not responded positively to the decision to invite Driscoll. Jonathan Aigner, a blogger on the site, wrote a post on Tuesday entitled 'There Goes the Neighborhood: What I Think About Mark Driscoll's Move to Patheos'. In the post, he recalled the earlier controversies in which Driscoll has been embroiled and commented: 'Though he is now a "colleague" here, I claim no association with him. I flee from his hostile theology. I reject his ministerial philosophy. I abhor his abusive treatment of women and anyone else he perceives to be "weak." I defy his nasty concept of masculinity.' 'I wish we would have all learned our lesson. I wish he would just go away', he wrote. 'I will do what I can to hold him accountable.' Driscoll is a controversial figure in the evangelical world. As pastor of Mars Hill, it is claimed that his sermons received 15 million views online per year. The church, which he co-founded in 1996, reached 4,000 members in five states and fifteen locations, before his resignation in 2014. However, he was forced to resign in October 2014 after complaints made by the church's elders that his leadership style was aggressive, verbally violent, and bullying. The church was dissolved soon after his departure though he has since relaunched his ministry at a church in Scottsdale, Arizona which he opened in 2016. He has also been involved in scandals relating to plagiarism, perceived misogyny, and hostile comments posted under the pseudonym 'William Wallace II'. Queen's Chaplain Quits After Speaking Out Over Cathedral's Qur'an Reading One of the Queen's chaplains is stepping down after he spoke out against a Qur'an reading in a cathedral in Glasgow. The Rev Canon Dr Gavin Ashenden announced he would resign after the Queen's intervened over his outspoken opposition to the issue. "After a conversation instigated by officials at Buckingham Palace, I decided the most honourable course of action was to resign," he wrote in a blog post on Saturday. It comes after he criticised the decision by Rev Kelvin Holdsworth, Provost of St Mary's Cathedral, Glasgow, for inviting a reading from the Islamic holy book at the Epiphany service on 6 January. The recitation included verses which explicitly denied that Jesus was God's son a key Christian doctrine. Ashenden called for Holdsworth to apologise and hinted he should quit his post. "Some people will wonder if he has sufficient theological astuteness to remain in such a responsible office in times as fraught as these?" he wrote in a blog post. "Our interfaith relations require both integrity and competence. The strategy in Glasgow appears to have been short of both." Announcing his resignation after nine years as one of the Queen's 34 chaplains, he said he realised "a very important convention that the Queen should not be drawn into publics affairs where she is deemed to be taking a position". He added it was often wrongly assumed that he, as chaplain, had the Queen's confidence. "It does the Queen no good at all for it to be assumed by any of the public, or the fourth estate, that she does have a view that is being expressed by someone connected with her," he wrote. "That being the case, I could most easily avoid any misunderstanding by not speaking out in the public space on matters of faith that I took to be important. This would have the effect of silencing me and prohibiting me taking part in public debate. "On the other hand, if I did choose to speak out, as a matter of integrity and responsibility, I ought not to do it while I was in possession of the office of 'Chaplain to the Queen'. "Because I think it a higher and more compelling duty to speak out on behalf of the faith, than to retain a public honour which precludes me doing so at this time, I resigned my post." Reformation 500: Evangelical Alliance Warns Against Compromise With Catholicism Evangelicals have been urged to celebrate the Reformation as "essential" to Christianity and resist attempts to dilute differences between Protestants and Catholics. The Evangelical Alliance's statement to mark the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, headlined on the Evangelical Alliance press release as "500 Years of Protest", praised the split as a recovery of Jesus' teaching. It emphasised ongoing "points of divergence" between the two traditions as well as acknowledging efforts at reconciliation and convergence after centuries of mistrust. "As evangelicals, we owe a great deal of our doctrinal, spiritual and cultural identity to the Reformation," the statement read. "The Reformation was not so much an innovation as a recovery a recovery of the essential content of the 'evangel' or 'good news' of salvation proclaimed by Jesus Christ himself, and by his apostles. That work of recovery is reflected in our own designation as evangelicals." It insists the "core distinctions" between Luther and the 16th-century Roman Catholic church "remain between modern-day evangelicals and Catholics despite efforts at reconciliation". The statement marked a notably different tone to that of the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Archbishop of York who called for repentance for the division. They lamented the "lasting damage done five centuries ago to the unity of the Church, in defiance of the clear command of Jesus Christ to unity in love". The build-up to the 500th anniversary since, according to a tradition that is disputed by some scholars, Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to the cathedral door in his town of Wittenburg has been marked with strengthening ecumenical relations between Catholics and Protestants. The statement from the EA said "some will regard these initiatives more positively than others" and emphasised "additional points of divergence" on top of the "foundational issues" of "biblical authority and justification" it says Luther raised. The eight-page document points to the Catholic's high view of Church authority, the Pope's infallibility, the importance of sacraments such as confirmation and the devotion of Mary as having no "biblical grounds". Rev Dr David Hilborn, chair of the Evangelical Alliance's Theology Advisory Group, said they amounted to "significant differences in doctrine and practice" between evangelicals and Catholics. But the statement did go on to emphasise "points of convergence" including in particular the shared opposition to gay marriage, abortion and euthanasia. Steve Clifford, general director of the Evangelical Alliance, said: "It has been in the area of public policy especially that evangelicals and Catholics have come together over the last 40 years to put pressure on the government and work for the common good." A spokesman has since added: "The statement does not call for celebration of the split, but carefully looks at the areas of divergence many of which are important hallmarks of evangelical faith. "We have also sought to ensure that we are not driving a wedge between the differences that do exist. We want to recognise the importance of the reformation, but also seek ways that we can work together with the Roman Catholic church." Sudanese government arrests church's leaders in attempt to take over denomination Observers fear a campaign is being made by the Sudanese government to take country of the country's churches as Sudanese police detain eight church leaders in the last six weeks. Mahjob Abotrin, a senior leader within the Sudan Church of Christ (SCOC), was arrested on 22 September. He was interrogated and has since been released. But it is not known whether he has been charged with any offence. According to World Watch Monitor, he was arrested because he refused let government-appointed officials take over leadership of the denomination. The Sudanese government has been trying to manage the affairs of several denominations in the country by removing the church-appointed leadership. Last month security officials told four other members of SCOC's leadership committee that charges would be brought against them after they refused to let government officials take over the premises of the Church's office. In August, seven senior SCOC leaders were arrested and interrogated before being released on bail. Included among these was Kuwa Shamal, the Church's head of missions. He was previously detained in December 2015 until January this year when he was released because of a lack of evidence. Two others arrested with him were released in May. Christians in Sudan are facing a prolonged campaign of intimidation waged by the government, which has included the confiscation of their properties. The persecution of Christians in the country has increased since the Christian-majority south seceded from the Muslim-majority north in 2011. Windows Mixed Reality event reveals Samsung Odyssey VR headset and motion controllers The Samsung Odyssey is the product of Microsoft's latest partnership with the South Korean tech giant, bringing the virtual reality (VR) experience for players on a whole new level. The latest VR hardware, composed of a headgear and motion controllers, was unveiled at the Windows Mixed Reality event in San Francisco this week. As reported by The Verge, the announcement of Samsung Odyssey VR was led by Microsoft's resident tech expert, Alex Kipman, the person behind Kinect and HoloLens. Kipman did the live demos of the VR hardware in front of the Mixed Reality event participants, boasting Odyssey's advanced technology. To further display the prowess of Samsung Odyssey, the press demo after the presentation allowed the media to experience the VR hardware. It was tested with the full version of upcoming game title, "Halo Recruit," and The Verge was among the first individuals to witness the video games' impressive graphics, which was enhanced further in a VR platform. The online publication praised the Samsung Odyssey, describing its hardware design and software quality as similar with the features of Oculus Rift. The comparison might be justified, given the specs highlights of the VR product. Samsung revealed that the Windows mixed reality headset uses an OLED display, a feature that has been popularized by the tech giant for the past few years with their high-end devices. Samsung also said that the Odyssey VR headset can deliver high-quality graphics with 2,880x1,600 pixel resolution. Specifically, the left and right optics of Samsung Odyssey has 3.5-inch AMOLED display with 1,440x1,600 pixel resolution for both sides. The display rate of the headgear can go up to 90Hz. The whole package of Samsung Odyssey with the VR headgear and motion controller is an advantage over other mixed reality hardware in the market that are mostly focused with the visual component. As for the motion controllers of Odyssey, they are found to be similar with the Oculus Touch and HTC Vive controllers. The entire Samsung Odyssey setup costs $499, Engadget reported. The VR hardware is expected to arrive in the market on Nov. 6, while "Halo Recruit" will be released on Oct. 17 alongside the Microsoft Windows Fall Creators Update. Returning migrants find farming more lucrative Man Bahadur Raskoti of Ribdikot-7, Palung had arrived in Malaysia as a migrant worker; but when he did not get a good job, he returned home immediately and took to vegetable farming. Last year, he earned a cool Rs500,000 by selling the produce from his farm. Homicides and shootings continue to drop in New York City, even as the city unwinds key policing policies responsible for its record-breaking crime drop since the 1990s. Under pressure from race advocates, the New York Police Department has dramatically cut its pedestrian stops in high-crime neighborhoods. Arrests for public possession of marijuana have fallen by half. Summer 2017 brought the most radical changes yet: the Manhattan and Brooklyn district attorneys announced that they will no longer prosecute most turnstile jumpers. And a city council law to waive criminal penalties for public drinking and urination, littering, excessive noise, and the violation of public-park curfews was slated for implementation. Because this rollback of proactive policing has not yet affected New Yorks ongoing crime decline (which defies the national post-Ferguson crime increase), critics charge that public-order enforcement is a dispensable crime-fighting tool. They are wrong. The decriminalization of public-order violations, also known as Broken Windows policing, has not yet been in place long enough to have had an effect on public safety. The NYPD has remained fully committed to its revolutionary data-analysis system known as CompStat: the weekly meetings in which top brass grill precinct commanders about crime patterns on their watch. The maintenance of CompStat accountability is the primary reason that crime remains low. But New Yorks crime decline is now being carried along by another factor: gentrification, which occurred only because of the policing induced crime drop. Given the demographics of street crime, driven by vastly different rates of out-of wedlock childbearing, an alteration in whiteblack population ratios will inevitably affect crime rates. And the demographic numbers are startling. In Brooklyns Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood, for example, the number of white residents rose 1,235 percent from 2000 to 2015, while the black population decreased by 17 percent, reports City Lab. In Bushwick, Brooklyn, the number of whites rose 610 percent over that same decade and a half; the black population was down 22 percent. Central Harlems white population rose 846 percent; the black share dropped 10 percent. The white share of the population rose 273 percent in Brownsville-Ocean Hill from 2000 to 2015; in Crown Heights North and Prospect Heights, it rose 203 percent, while the black population dropped 23 percent. But it would be foolish to gamble that CompStat and gentrification can overcome the loss of public order maintenance. The next mayorpolling data favor de Blasios reelectionshould demand that district attorneys again punish fare-beating, the key gateway to criminality in the subways. No mugger uses a MetroCard. And the sight of youths jumping turnstiles sends a clear signal that lawful authority is breaking down underground, leading to more crime. The mayor should also pick a fight with the city council over its own decriminalization policies. If council members listened to their law-abiding constituents, rather than to the anti-cop activists, they would know that the most pressing concern of the thousands of hardworking, upstanding residents of high-crime areas is public order. The people who have to traverse corners dominated by guys drinking, urinating, and fighting understand that those knots of disorder lead to shootings and stabbings. Broken Windows enforcement is a moral and civil rights imperative, since it equalizes the living conditions among different neighborhoods and social strata. Though the citys official crime numbers have not yet worsened, signs of increasing disorder are everywhere. The city is filthy; any mayor should be ashamed to have European tourists witness our inability to keep the streets free of trash. Vagrants are multiplying. The solution to colonization by beggars and addicts is not more taxpayer-subsidized housing, which the city already provides in massive amounts at the expense of basic public services. The solution is enforcement of the law and willingness to insist that the mentally ill stay in treatment. The legacy of New Yorks former commitment to public order will not last forever. The next mayoral administration must commit to re-civilizing the streets. Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images Government money should not be used to fund charity core costs, and particularly not the cost of lobbying, a prominent Conservative politician told his party conference. Andrew Mitchell, a former Secretary of State for International Development , was speaking at a fringe event organised by the Barrow Cadbury Trust and the Charities Aid Foundation about how civil society can help to grow the UKs influence abroad. Speaking about the anti-advocacy clause in grant contracts, which was watered down from the original proposals, he said it was appropriate because charities should get core funding from their members to be able to go out and campaign. He said government funding should be seen as additional, and described it as BOGOF buy one get one free. If you are a charity and pursuing aid you should come to government and say we spend 1m achieving x and if you add 1m we will be able to do more than two x as a result, he explained. That is the right relationship, he said. We should not be funding direct advocacy that is for people who believe in an amazing charity to do for themselves. Mitchell also said that when he was International Development Secretary he remembered picking up a newspaper and reading that a well-known international aid charity was slagging off the government but that the same charity had a meeting with him that day to ask for more money. It's human nature that you dont slag off people in the morning and in the afternoon ask for money, he said. Mitchell also spoke about how international aid was a key part of Britains influence as a soft power. He said he was incredibly proud of the commitment to spend 0.7 per cent of income on UK aid as it does give Britain real reach. Conservative thinking now dominates aid policy At a reception earlier in the week, hosted by Bond and the Conservative Friends of International Development to celebrate the tenth anniversary of Project Umubano - a social action project, which has enabled party members to volunteer in developing countries, Mitchell said that Conservative thinking now dominates aid policy. Mitchell said: In 2005 this sector was dominated by the Labour Party. He estimated that 98 per cent of the sector was influenced or connected to the left. It was so bad that in 2005 when David Cameron took over and I was made shadow international development secretary they all had a meeting to discuss whether they needed to talk to me, he added. He credited Justin Forsyth, who was a former special adviser to Tony Blair and Gordon Brown and at the time running Save the Children, for convincing the rest of sector to talk to him. Mitchell said that the landscape has now completely flipped, with right wing thinking now dominating discussions about international aid. There has not been a single new idea from the Labour Party in recent years, he said. Charities challenged to make case for aid Conservative politicians also used their conference this week to challenge charities to make the case for aid spending to the public and the media better. Mitchell also said it was important to make the case for international development spending which is an investment in the next generation. He said that Project Umubano had given many in the party first-hand experience and the opportunity to see for themselves what works and what doesnt work. This means that when the Daily Mail attacks aid spending people in the party understand it and make the case. Later in the week at a reception hosted by Save the Children and Conservative Home, the MP Stephen Crabb, said he wanted to challenge aid charities to be more vocal and mobilise their supporters. When he was first elected in 2005 he said he got a lot of emails from various constituents about the Make Poverty History campaign but this doesnt happen now. To shore up the case for aid, he said politicians need to hear from grass roots and urged the sector to build support for aid. He said: We should be proud of what we do as a nation and called on charities to try and get more positive newspaper coverage about aid, because we need to change some hearts and minds there too. 'We don't turn our backs' The current International Development Secretary, Priti Patel also spoke at the Save the Children and Conservative Home event, where she said the 0.7 per commitment was important as it shows in Britain we dont turn our backs and that the values we project really matter. She also paid tribute to Save the Children and other aid charities saying DfID has some amazing partnerships with a range of organisations including Save the Children making it possible to do some amazing work around the world. We need to get better at explaining what we do Earlier in the week Theo Clarke, who was until recently director of Conservative Friends of International Development and is now the chief executive of the Coalition for Global Prosperity, said supporting international development was part of our DNA as a party and that civil society has an important role. But she said: As a sector, and for those of us working in international development we need to get much better at explaining what we do and why to make the case for why aid and development matters. She said this will be a focus of a new role at CGP, which is being backed by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Civil Society Media is hosting its NGO Insight Conference on 28 November 2017. For more information, and to book, click here The Charity Commission has opened a statutory inquiry into Chichester and District Dog Rescue Society and frozen its accounts due to concerns regarding the charitys financial controls. In March, the charitys independent examiner reported anomalies in the charitys financial records, which the Commission reviewed and identified concerns about its financial controls. The charity was founded in 1963 and registered with the Commission in 1968. It provides rescue and rehoming services for stray and unwanted animals and lists Her Grade the Duchess of Richmond and Gordon patron on its website. The Commission says the charity has also failed to submit its accounts for the financial year ending 31 March 2016, which were due by 31 January 2017, and the accounts for 2015 have not been independently examined. As a result, the Commission opened an investigation on 13 September, which will examine the extent to which the trustees have responsibly managed the charitys resources and financial affairs, in particular the adequacy of the charitys financial controls, adequately managed risks to the charity, its property and reputation including the risks of misappropriation and misapplication of charity funds and avoided or managed conflicts of interest. It will also consider the extent to which any failings or weaknesses identified in the administration of the charity during the conduct of the inquiry were a result of misconduct or mismanagement by the trustees. As well as freezing the charitys bank accounts, the Commission has also made an order under Section 76 (3)(f) of the Charites Act restricting the trustees from entering into transactions in the administration of the charity without the regulators authority. In the year ending March 2015, the charitys income was reported as 114,600. It has six registered trustees including chair Andrew Morley. The Disasters Emergency Committee has launched a new emergency fundraising appeal for the people fleeing Myanmar. The DEC, a collaborative group made up of 13 humanitarian charities including the British Red Cross, Save the Children and Islamic Relief, has launched a new emergency fundraising appeal for the 500,000 Rohingya people fleeing Myanmar. The Rohingya people have been fleeing Myanmars Rakhine state for the neighbouring country of Bangladesh since 25 August, following a military offensive in the region. The United Nations have since described Myanmars military operations in the region as ethnic cleansing, accusations Myanmar has rejected. Antonio Guterres, secretary-general of the United Nations, told the UNs Security Council last week that the situation in Myanmar and Bangladesh had spiralled into the worlds fastest developing refugee emergency. The appeal, which launched yesterday, includes direct TV advertisements which will be shown across all major UK broadcasters, including the BBC, ITV and Channel 4. The DEC said that its member charities are already on the ground in Bangladesh, and have come together to call for funds to respond to the severe humanitarian needs of those affected. Money raised will support their efforts to reach people fleeing Myanmar as well as their host communities in Bangladesh. It also said that more than half of all new arrivals [in Bangladesh] are children and one in every ten are pregnant or lactating mothers. The vast majority are living in makeshift shelters made from bamboo and thin plastic. Saleh Saeed, chief executive of the DEC, said: People are arriving exhausted and traumatised into already overcrowded camps in Bangladesh. This is one of the fastest movements of people we have seen in recent decades. Families are living in makeshift shelters or by the side of the road with no clean drinking water, toilets or washing facilities. This humanitarian catastrophe is unfolding in a country that is already reeling from the worst floods in decades. Without urgent support, the risk of disease and further misery is alarmingly high. The UK government has pledged to match the first 3m worth of funding donated to the appeal by the public. New York Times White House correspondent Glenn Thrush recently gave up his Twitter habit. He deleted the app from his phone, went a week cold turkey, and realized he wasnt missing much. Courtesy of colleagues at the Times, Thrush still sees all President Trumps tweets. Those same tweets ping on the phone of Thrushs counterpart at The Guardian, Ben Jacobs, when he wakes up at 6:30 every morning. As time passes, Jacobs says they must meet an ever-higher shock threshold to keep him from rolling over and going back to sleep. RELATED: The phrase journalists used to describe Vegas shooter, and the unspoken implication However it manifests, its no accident that Twitter fatigue is a common symptom for the reporters whose daily responsibility it is to chronicle the president. [Trump] uses Twitter as a means of political communication and as a means of emotional communication, and theres a great deal of overlap between those two imperatives, says Thrush. For the exhausted, overworked journalists on Trumps trail, the duty to document the president and the hypercharged news cycle he drives takes a personal toll. Youre a little shorter with your kids, you dont always say thank you when someone holds a door for you, youre a little more abrupt with your sources, says Thrush. Trump is emotionally disruptive. The idea of disruption was front and center Wednesday as Thrush and Jacobs spoke at a special conference in Atlanta hosted by CJR to mark the publication of a special print magazine on Trump and the year that changed journalism. The two reporters joined other journalists and academics to parse the whiplash in communications style, public perception of the press, and basic disrespect for the facts that the new president has brought about. Sponsors for the event included the Atlanta Press Club and the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation. Sign up for CJR 's daily email Trump has contributed to a new and confounding environment for the media. Since the election, dazed journalists and media-watchers have gathered countless times to make sense of that environment, often raising more questions than theyve been able to answer. As the leaves turn brown on the first year of the Trump presidency, many of those questions still hang in the air. But as the discussion in Atlanta showed, those in the fray have started to sort out which Trump-era talking points are actually new, and which we have heard before. Twitter, for example, has always been a noisy platform, and has consequently been a mixed blessing for journalists. Reliance on anonymous sources, a common bugbear for the president, has long been a reality in DC; Thrush notes that the practice peaked under the presidencies of Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. And Jacobs, who was body-slammed by Montana Congressman Greg Gianforte on the eve of a special election in May, refuses to attribute the attack to a climate of press intimidation stoked by Trump. These things happen and that guy was his own unique character, Jacobs said of Gianforte. A consensus is emerging around a central convictionthat reporters should respond to Trump by doubling down on the hard-hitting journalism they were doing anyway. That theme came up frequently in Atlanta; in CJR Editor Kyle Popes opening words, and in remarks on separate panels by Wall Street Journal Washington bureau chief Paul Beckett and Washington Post media writer Erik Wemple. The core job of journaliststo report, report, report and publish your findingsis a pretty good model, Wemple said. You have to get more sources, more backup, more documentation than ever before. You live a miserable life if you screw up. In addition to continuing to report without fear or favor, panelists in Atlanta stressed the need for journalists to focus anew on more fundamental challenges for the press, which have been refracted through the Trump lens of late, but which predate the president and will be around long after hes gone. Thrush argued that the decline of local press has reduced citizens familiarity with journalists and thus their trust in the media as a whole, playing into Trumps hands. The first panel of the day, featuring Wemple, CJRs First Amendment expert Jonathan Peters, and Emory University political scientist Andra Gillespie, dug deep into the regulation of news coming from Facebook. If something comes on your feed from Uncle Bob, unless its Uncle Bob Woodward, you should probably go verify it, Gillespie said. After Thrush and Jacobs conversation, the third and final panelfeaturing Beckett, Atlanta Journal-Constitution Washington correspondent Tamar Hallerman, Atlanta Voice Executive Editor Stan Washington, and Reuters National Affairs Editor Jason Szepsaw discussion turn to the difficulties younger journalists, particularly journalists of color, face in finding jobs and developing their careers. This final session also offered suggestions on how journalists might cover Trump on a more clear-headed basis going forward. At Reuters, for example, Szep is heading up The Trump Effect, a multimedia project focusing on the real-life effects of the presidents policies. More broadly, Hallerman called on reporters to pay less attention to the shiny objects and palace intrigue of DC, and more attention to the middle-level policy questions, often settled in proverbially smoke-filled committee rooms, that are often ignored. You talk to people in Atlanta, you talk to hospitals, you talk to farmers, what do they care about? They care about the money theyre going to get from Washington next year. ICYMI: One questions that turns courageous journalists into cowards Thats not to say the media doesnt have more conceptual ground to cover in deciding how best to tackle Trump. Whether we should use words like racist and liar to describe the presidents words and actions is still an open question. Wemple, in the first session, said the media draws analytic conclusions about people all the time.But if someone says Obama was born in Kenya, that the Central Park five need to be put to death, that Mexicans are rapists, we call him the president. People dont go [as far as calling him racist.] In a subsequent session, however, Thrush said people are in the conclusion-drawing business these days, and that they dont rely on journalists to tell them what to think. Words like lie are devalued if you use them every five minutes, he said. This type of debate is valuable as long as it doesnt become circular. The key to that, as many of the panelists in Atlanta identified, is to understand the presidents diversionary behaviorwhether or not its intentionalrather than chasing its tail. Trump always said he was coming in to be a change agent, said Gillespie, the Emory academic. Thrush later added that Most politics is not rules, but norms. Trump doesnt care about norms. That was his strength. Its hard to hold the president to account when his disruptive behavior can be seen as the fulfillment of a promise to disrupt. The trick for journalists is to be confident and consistent in defending their own craft and the valuable democratic norms that protect it wherever they fit in with the chaos and noise emanating from the Oval Office. As the second session in Atlanta came to a close, a member of the audience asked Thrush who he wants to play him on Saturday Night Live now that Bobby Moynihan has left the show. Tina Fey, Thrush quipped, before pausing. The thing about Trump is everything is derivative of his celebrity, and if you start drinking from that particular fountain it changes you, he said. Trump has brought the narcissism virus to town. You dont wanna catch it. TRENDING: The secret cost of pivoting to video Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Jon Allsop is a freelance journalist whose work has appeared in the New York Review of Books, Foreign Policy, and The Nation, among other outlets. He writes CJRs newsletter The Media Today. Find him on Twitter @Jon_Allsop. Journalism is years behind other professions in how it deals with trauma. So this week, coinciding with Mental Illness Awareness Week, CJR is publishing a series of stories from members of the journalism community whove dealt with mental health, illness, or treatment. We asked each journalist the same two questions: 1) What has been the toll of the profession on your mental health, and how do you manage it? and 2) How can the industry work to better address the stigma still surrounding mental illness within the journalism community? The fourth dispatch, from The Root senior reporter Terrell J. Starr, is below. Its been edited for length and clarity. Starr previously covered military, technology, and policy at the blog Foxtrot Alpha, and also worked as a national political correspondent at Fusion. In 2015, he wrote about #BlackSuicide and the stigma surrounding African-Americans and depression. Were publishing firsthand accounts throughout the week. Special thanks to our friends at BuzzFeed who inspired this series. On his personal experiences: I was in therapy (in 2013) because I dealt with suicidal ideation and deep depression. I was in therapy twice a week during that time. When I wasnt in therapy, I just turned off social media and learned to talk to people. We dont have normal conversations when we talk about things going on in our minds. We are really good at going to the doctor if we have some issue with our foot, or with our breathing. The first thing we do is find a doctor. But when we talk about mental health, that seems to be more of a taboo conversation because you dont want to be perceived as not being tough or not having the mental fitness to do your job. In my case, when I was dealing with my own mental health issues, I didnt want people to think I was crazy. I learned how to [talk about mental health] as a result of going to therapy, and I also learned how to talk about other things, and that included how I felt about covering police violence. TRENDING: Analysis of Vegas shooting headlines reveals unsettling trends Sign up for CJR 's daily email Generally, I am fine in the profession. It only becomes a problem when dealing with a succession of police shootingsit floods your timeline, and youre often required to cover it. Back in 2014, it was extremely difficult because, especially if youre a black journalist and you have white editors who are not connected to it, its a story to them, and thats it. Ive had times where I feel like the editor was like, blah blah whatever, and they werent sensitive, and that bothered me. Thats rarely the case now because I work in black media and places that have high representation of minorities. Now I have several beats where Im not inundated all the time. But if I were someone who had to cover police violence, Im not sure how long Id be able to do that, because it would get to me. On fighting the stigma in journalism: The journalism world is very similar to any other [workplace] in the United States. It brings on its own stereotypes and its own assumptions about people. You have to realize people are people. When youre covering police violence or any type of violence that deals with black people, we have to realize these are figures in our story. These are human beings, and we have to consider how these deaths impact the people who have to go on-scene and talk to parents, and talk to friends and loved ones and witnesses to the violence. This is no longer the newspaper days where once we leave our newsrooms the cycle ends, or our access to news and information ends. Social media makes everything interconnected, and I know that a story Im covering or a subject Im covering will inundate my timeline. If Im talking about police violence, I know that most of my friends or most people who follow me are black or follow me because of the work I write about black people. So one: Treat people as human beings. Two: Let people know if this is too much for [you]. And it is really okay to take some time out. Newsrooms should provide resources for journalists to talk about mental health issues. I speak with many of my colleagues in private, and they commend me for being open, but unfortunately they dont feel the same comfort. [They think that] if theyre perceived to be weak, they wont be able to go up the ladder like they want. Theyre basically sacrificing their mental health for job promotions. No journalist should have to pick between those two. CJRs health care reporting is sponsored in part by a grant from the Commonwealth Fund. RELATED: Gabriel Arana on work-related trauma Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Meg Dalton is a freelance journalist and audio producer based in Connecticut. She's reported and edited for CJR, PBS NewsHour, Energy News Network, Architectural Digest, MediaShift, Hearst Connecticut newspapers, and more. Follow her on Twitter: @megdalts. Find her on Twitter @megdalts. I was 16 when my brother David, home from college and chatting with me about my future, pointed at me and suggested, in a single word, a lifes work: journalism. His advice took root. I joined my high schools student newspaper, eventually became its editor in chief, and have been happily ink-stained ever since. My family had spent that summer of 1973 gathered around the TV set in our Lackawanna, New York, living room, riveted by the Senate Watergate Committee hearings. And though The Washington Posts Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein were unseen during the hearings, their presence loomed. It was their reporting that had uncovered the Nixon administrations crimes and the cover-up that followed. In time, their stories helped to bring down a president who had insisted, I am not a crook. Soon after, their journalistic exploitsand those of their take-no-prisoners editor, Ben Bradleewould be celebrated in the 1976 movie, All the Presidents Men. ICYMI: We looked at newspaper headlines around the Vegas massacre. We found some unsettling trends. What these journalists did offered not only an important mission, but a gritty, roll-up-your-sleeves glamour. So, thanks to Watergate, Woodstein, and Deep Throat, I was launched. And so were a generation of baby-boomer journaliststhousands of us. Some were in college in the mid 70s. Others, like me, were in high school, or even younger. Sign up for CJR 's daily email We were ready. Only eight years after that conversation with my brother, I was following the money, as the saying went, as a young government reporter at The Buffalo News. Watergates through-line was brightly defined when my reporting partner, Peter Grant, and I revealed financial malfeasance in Erie County government; not long afterwards, the budget director resigned under pressure. Years later, as the Newss chief editor, I set up the papers first investigative team. Tim OBrienexecutive editor of Bloomberg View, a former New York Times business reporter, and Pulitzer Prizewinning editorheard the siren call, too. He was a 12-year-old kid at science camp in Illinois when the Watergate hearings broke into his consciousness; a teacher had put the hearings on in his summer classroom. I remember Sam Ervin saying [of Nixon], when he thought his mic was off, Hes just a goddamn liar, OBrien told me. (Ervin, the folksy conservative Democrat from North Carolina, was the committee chairman.) The whole cast of characters was fascinating: the Republican senator from Tennessee, Howard Baker, who asked, What did the president know and when did he know it?; former White House Counsel John Dean, holding forth in his tortoiseshell glasses. Those televised hearings gave me one of my first civics lessons about checks and balances and holding power accountable, OBrien says. In 1976, when All the Presidents Men came out, OBrien caught the journalism bug for real. I wanted to be Robert Redford moving that ceramic pot as a signal to his source, OBrien says. I thought, Wow, these are the guys that set everything in motion. Alicia Shepard, author of Woodward and Bernstein: Life in the Shadow of Watergate, described the changesnot all positivethat Watergate wrought: the advent of celebrity journalism in which reporters become the story, a greater acceptance of anonymous sources, a far more skeptical attitude of reporters toward government and a sharp rise in investigative reporting. ICYMI: The first reporter to arrive at Vegas gunmans house has covered the story in many waysexcept one Nowmore than 40 years onwith a nation of reporters focused on President Trump, the echoes of Watergate have been well worked over: the appointment of a special prosecutor, the firing of top officials, the talk of obstruction of justice, even speculation about possible impeachment. What will be the legacy of this new golden age of political-accountability journalism? The New York Times and The Washington Post are back to trading scoops, just like the old days, and their top editors, Dean Baquet and Marty Baron, both in their early 60s, came of age in the Watergate era themselves, and have impressive watchdog credentials. Baquet won a Pulitzer Prize for investigative reporting at the Chicago Tribune; Baron was immortalized by Hollywood in the movie Spotlight for leading The Boston Globe to a Pulitzer for its expose of the Catholic Churchs pedophilia scandal. But what will be the legacy of this new golden age of political-accountability journalism? Will the star reporters of the Trump erathe Maggie Habermans and David Fahrentholdslaunch a new generation of reporters, eager to make their mark? My first impulse is to say no. Theres a lot that argues against journalism history repeating itself. But it may depend in large part on how all of this turns out. With Attorney General Jeff Sessions threatening to prosecute journalistsas well as sourcesfor their role in publishing leaked material, its possible that reporters may go to jail during the Trump administration. That might look exciting, but its not something most young people seek out. Whats more, Trumps continual harangues about fake news and journalists as scum may make at least some students think reporting isnt such a noble pursuit. TRENDING: Site sparks uproar on social media with Vegas massacre headline And no longer is there a sensible, dependable path to a perch at one of the top news organizations in the country. No longer can a student count on a path from, lets say, the Glens Falls Post-Star to the Albany Times Union to Long Island Newsday to The New York Times. The old farm-team system is largely gone. And unlike the era just after Watergate and the publication of the Pentagon Papers, when news organizations were generally admired, our era often depicts journalists as biased and untrustworthy. With public opinion holding the mediawhatever that far-too-general term meansin ever-lower regard, journalism may no longer look like a high calling. Trust in the news media is near its lowest point in decades. Weve all been exposed to the chants of thousands at Trump rallies: CNN sucks! But dont completely rule out a repeat of history. Trump coverage may not recruit a new generation of reporters, but it does seem to inspire those who are already in the journalism pipeline. Many of them are fired up by what they see every day. I do think it has the potential to attract people into journalism, but that might depend on your politics or, if youre still pretty young, your parents politics, says Waverly Colville, 21, a senior at the University of Missouri, where shes a journalism major with an emphasis on investigative reporting. Todays watchdog journalism reminds her of reporting she supervised as an editor at Missouris student newspaper. That project took advantage of anonymous tips to reveal a cheating scandal involving students who were running for student government positions. Whats happening now in Washington resonates, she says: Youre really seeing how important the media is. Scott Nover, 22, a journalism graduate student at George Washington University, singles out the Posts David Fahrenthold, who won a Pulitzer Prize this year for his reporting on Trumps false claims of charitable giving; the Timess Susanne Craig, who was sent one of Trumps tax returns by snail mail and was able to verify its authenticity and extrapolate what it might mean for his overall finances; and CNNs Andrew Kaczynski, who (while at BuzzFeed) was able to prove Trumps claims that he opposed the Iraq War from the beginning were false. The farther the Trump administration goes away from the truth, the more invigorated journalism becomes, Nover tells me. Its less black-and-white than during Watergate, because its not an easily identifiable two-person team at one paper; its a lot of different journalists playing their own roles. He knows the shaky business model and other downsides of journalism might deter some people his age, but for him, its just the opposite: We want to run into the fire, whatever that involves: the financial instability, the lack of job security, the waning respect . . . . The more I see in Washington, the more I feel like I need to be a journalist. Its more a calling than a choice. The generation of journalists who came before himcall it the Watergate generationwould understand completely. RELATED: The phrase journalists used to describe Vegas shooter, and the unspoken implication Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Margaret Sullivan is The Washington Posts media columnist. Previously, she was The New York Times public editor and, for 13 years, the executive editor of The Buffalo News, her hometown paper, where she began as a summer intern. A former member of the Pulitzer Prize board, she has taught in the graduate schools of journalism at the City University of New York and Columbia University. Rural municipality starts collecting tourism fee in Everest region Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality has started charging a tourism fee from foreign trekkers despite objections from travel trade entrepreneurs. Right now, the most difficult place in America to be a journalist is arguably St. Louis, Missouri. It has been more than two weeks since Jason Stockley, the white former police officer who fatally shot Anthony Lamar Smith, a black man, in 2011, was acquitted by a St. Louis judge, and protests over racial inequalities show no signs of abating. Journalists covering the protests have been caught in the middle of the action, enduring tear gas and rough treatment from both police and protesters. On Tuesday night, reporter Jordan Chariton and cameraman Ty Bayliss, both journalists for The Young Turks, were arrested. So were independent live-streamer Jon Ziegler and freelance photojournalist Daniel Shular. The U.S. Press Freedom Tracker has done excellent work reporting out these incidents; so far, the project has documented 27 arrests and 25 physical attacks on journalists across the US in 2017. One trend thats evident in the Trackers data is the prevalence of incidents occurring at protests. ICYMI: The first reporter to arrive at Vegas gunmans house has covered the story in many ways except one At the Paley Centers Tuesday evening panel on the state of press freedom in America, several journalists referenced the dangers facing journalists covering protests in 2017. The Press Freedom Tracker is a new project, so its impossible to compare its data to past years, but theres no denying the reality that frequent and increasingly visible protests have placed journalists in difficult situations. The nightly protests in St. Louis are into their third week, with authorities on Tuesday evening taking 143 people into custody, a high-water mark in terms of police action. Despite their size and longevity, the protests havent drawn the sort of national attention that greeted those in nearby Ferguson three years ago. That should change. Reports of excessive force by police have been prevalent, and journalists are needed on the ground to accurately document the events and tell the stories of both protesters and police. As St. Louis Post-Dispatch reporter Mike Faulk said after he was arrested while covering protests in September, I cant imagine how one-sided this discussion would be about what happened on Sunday night if not just reporters, but other people filming, werent there or somehow did not have the ability to do that. Below, more on the St. Louis protests and the threats to journalists who cover them. Sign up for CJR 's daily email Other notable stories Correction: An earlier version of this story stated that former officer Jason Stockley was acquitted by a jury. Stockley waived his right to a jury trial, and was acquitted by Judge Timothy J. Wilson. ICYMI: We looked at newspaper headlines around the Vegas massacre. We found some unsettling trends. 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. Berkley Re Direct Renamed Berkley Re Solutions Berkley Re Direct announced today that it has changed its name to Berkley Re Solutions. On the evolution of the operating units name. The culture at Berkley Re Solutions encourages all employees to identify customer needs and participate in the design and delivery of custom turnkey solutions which are a complete reinsurance offering including policy forms, underwriting guidelines, rating plans, filing support and quota-share reinsurance options. These are all coupled with training, service and marketing for a variety of unique specialty products. The new name is effective immediately, and will be implemented across the operating units products and services. Roost Unveils Second Generation Smart Home Products Roost, a home telematics provider for the property insurance market, announced a second generation of its Roost Smart Battery and Roost Smart Water Leak and Freeze Detector. Enhanced with new electronics and upgraded Wi-Fi provisioning allowing consumers to experience faster and easier setup along with next level performance and reliability. Via its familiar 9V form factor, free mobile app and advanced Wi-Fi technology, the Roost Smart Battery transforms existing smoke and carbon monoxide alarms into smart alarms. The Roost Smart Water Leak and Freeze Detector senses water leaks as well as humidity and freezing temperature situations. It can easily be located in places around the home that are most prone to water leaks, and from there delivers smartphone alerts through the Roost App to help minimize water damage and loss. Both smart Wi-Fi enabled detectors set up in less than 5 minutes. Enhancements to Roosts Second Generation Products: Easier as well as faster set-up to home Wi-Fi; New set-up process replaces audio with a silent wireless connection method; New electronics improve performance and lower power consumption. Improved reliability and more robust connection between Roost devices and the Roost cloud. The second generation Roost Smart Water Leak and Freeze Detector ($49.99) is available now, with the upgraded Roost Smart Battery ($34.99) available in mid-November. Consumer can purchase Roost products at Getroost.com. Insurance providers can contact Roosts Jim Strickland at strickland@roostlabs.com for availability. Pie Insurance Launches the First Price Predictor Tool for Workers Compensation Insurance Pie Insurance, a digitally-enabled direct distribution workers compensation insurance business, launched at InsureTech Connect. The companys initial offering is an interactive Price Predictor tool that allows small to medium-sized businesses (SMB) improved insight into their workers compensation insurance rates. In 2018, Pie will begin offering its own A.M. Best A rated insurance policies. The Pie Price Predictor tool is tailored for SMBs, assessing the range each business should be paying for insurance and the market average from a few user-submitted pieces of information. It leverages proprietary pricing algorithms and is powered by Valen Analytics, an Insurity company. Pie just closed its $4.3 million Seed Round of funding. The Trump administration is finalizing a $29 billion disaster aid package that combines $16 billion to shore up the government-backed flood insurance program with almost $13 billion in new relief for hurricane victims, according to a senior administration official and top congressional aides. The huge request is expected to be officially sent to Congress on Wednesday, but its outlines were characterized by officials who demanded anonymity because the $29 billion measure is not yet public. The request would address two urgent needs. The first is to pump money into the flood insurance program, which is rapidly running out of cash to pay an influx of claims from victims of hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria. At the same time, the Federal Emergency Management Agency continues to spend money for disaster relief operations at a high rate and requires more money. The government-guaranteed flood insurance program is maxing out on a $30 billion line of credit from Treasury; the upcoming proposal would wipe $16 billion of that debt off the books to permit the program to pay claims from hurricane victims. Almost $13 billion is being requested for FEMA, and federal firefighting accounts would receive $577 million as well to replenish them after a disastrous season of Western wildfires. This is going to be extraordinarily expensive and I think we need to get some money out there, said House Appropriations Committee Chairman Rodney Frelinghuysen, R-N.J. House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., said he had met with lawmakers from Texas and Florida on Tuesday to brief them on the White House request. Remember, this is emergency money. Youve got to deal with the problem, McCarthy told reporters. So I think well be able to get this done. The request could prove controversial, especially the huge infusion into the flood insurance program. Conservatives are likely to liken it to a taxpayer bailout, but the program is enormously important to homeowners in hurricane-ravaged Texas and Florida, as well as other coastal states. Congress is in the midst of an effort to reauthorize the troubled flood insurance program, which critics say makes taxpayers subsidize properties that have repeatedly flooded. A bipartisan effort to reform the program was enacted in 2012 but was significantly watered down just two years later after widespread complaints of huge premium increases and resulting disruptions in coastal real estate markets. Congress last month approved a $15.3 billion aid package that nearly doubled President Donald Trumps request. Senate Republicans added $7.4 billion in community development block grant rebuilding funds to Trumps request for immediate cleanup, repair and housing costs. Later this year, the White House is expected to require tens of billions of dollars more in long-term funds that would rebuild infrastructure, help people without insurance restore their homes, and, perhaps, help Puerto Rico reconstitute its shattered electrical grid. Trump surveyed Hurricane damage in Puerto Rico on Tuesday. He praised his administrations response, even as lawmakers returning from the island say the president is painting far too rosy a picture. What youre seeing is a mirage, Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill., said of conditions in San Juan, where Trump visited and where many reporters are located. Many mountain towns are cut off, with sick and elderly people trapped. I saw the video on TV and everybodys friendly and everybodys smiling. You know what? It gave the wrong impression of whats going on in the island. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. A tropical depression that could grow into a hurricane is forecast to strike the U.S. Gulf Coast late Sunday, potentially shutting down offshore oil and natural gas rigs and dealing another blow to citrus growers. The system off the Nicaraguan coast is expected to strengthen into a tropical storm later Wednesday and reach hurricane strength with winds of 80 miles (129 kilometers) per hour Sunday as it nears the U.S. coastline between Louisiana and Florida, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami. Storm warnings have been issued for Honduras and Nicaragua. Thirteen storms have formed across the Atlantic so far this season, killing hundreds of people in the U.S., Mexico and the Caribbean and causing an estimated $300 billion in damage. In August, Hurricane Harvey temporarily shut down about 25 percent of oil and natural gas production in the Gulf and as much as 20 percent of U.S. refining capacity and a few weeks later Hurricane Irma devastated Florida citrus groves. The storm could affect portions of the northern Gulf Coast as a hurricane this weekend, with direct impacts from wind, storm surge, and heavy rainfall, Eric Blake, a hurricane specialist at the center, wrote in a forecast analysis. Residents along the Gulf Coast from Louisiana to Florida should monitor the progress of this system for the next several days. Orange juice futures rose as much as 2.5 percent to $1.5925 a pound on ICE Futures U.S. in New York. Florida is the worlds second-largest orange juice producer. Theres been already plenty of damage; having another storm, even its a Category 1, is not going to help the crop, Jack Scoville, vice president for Price Futures Group in Chicago, said in telephone interview. People are kind of jumpy. The system definitely poses a risk to U.S. cotton areas as well, particularly western portions of the southeast, including Alabama and Georgia, the second-largest cotton grower after Texas, Donald Keeney, meteorologist with MDA Weather Services in Gaithersburg, Maryland, said in a telephone interview. Category 1 As it nears the U.S. coastline the storm, which would be named Nate, could strengthen to a Category 1 hurricane on the five-step Saffir-Simpson scale, the hurricane center said. There is about a 30 percent chance it will disrupt U.S. offshore energy operations, as companies may evacuate some personnel, said Matt Rogers, president of the Commodity Weather Group LLC in Bethesda, Maryland. Offshore rigs and platforms in the Gulf of Mexico account for about 17 percent of U.S. crude oil output and 4.1 percent of gas production. About 45 percent of petroleum refining capacity and 51 percent of gas processing is along the coastline. As the storm moves over warm water, it will grow and intensity, but by Thursday, it should cross over Honduras and Nicaragua robbing it of strength, Rogers said. Later this weekend, it could encounter wind shear that can tear storms apart in the Gulf of Mexico. That is going to be the trick, getting the intensity figured out, Rogers said. The good news is that the storm should be falling apart by late Sunday, so it will be short-lived, Rogers said. Copyright 2022 Bloomberg. Deepak Thapa has been a fortnightly columnist with The Kathmandu Post since 2009, writing on a range of topical social and political issues. Three U.S. Army Special Forces soldiers were killed and two were wounded in an ambush in Niger on Wednesday while on a routine patrol with Nigerien troops they were training, a U.S. official said. A spokesman for U.S. Africa Command confirmed the attack after Radio France International (RFI) reported a lethal ambush near the Niger/Mali border. "We can confirm reports that a joint U.S. and Nigerien patrol came under hostile fire in southwest Niger," said the spokesman. Namatta Abubacar, an official for the region of Tillaberi in Niger, said five Nigerien soldiers were among the dead. A Niger diplomatic source said that the attackers had come from Mali and had killed several soldiers. RFI said earlier on Wednesday a counter-attack was underway. African security forces backed by Western troops are stepping up efforts to counter jihadist groups forming part of a growing regional insurgency in the poor, sparsely populated deserts of the Sahel. A relatively new militant group called Islamic State in the Greater Sahara has claimed some of the attacks. Geoff D. Porter, head of North Africa Risk Consulting, said that any confirmation of Islamic State's role in Wednesday's strike would lead to a strategic shift from Libya towards the Sahel band, stretching eastwards from Senegal to Chad. "The emphasis ... will now shift south," he said. The U.S. Africa Command has hundreds of soldiers deployed across the region, including at an air facility in Agadez, and offer training and support to Niger's army in aspects such as intelligence gathering and surveillance. A Facebook post promoting a dating app was so explicit about its racism and discriminatory stance on foreign workers that many around the world thought it may have been fake. It's now available for some users on Apple's App Store. Herbert Eng, the founder of Singapore-based dating app HighBlood, first made waves in March when he posted on Facebook an advertisement that read: "no banglas, no maids, no uglies ... Just. Pure. Quality. Like You." The first category of allegedly undesirable people is a derogatory term for Bangladeshi workers in Singapore. The "maids" was referring to the large contingent of domestic helpers in the city-state. Image: A since-deleted advertisement for the HighBlood dating app. The post, which has been taken down, drew widespread scorn, prompting Eng to issue a public apology on Facebook. ("I humbly apologize if you had taken offense at our post," he wrote.) Yet despite all of the blowback, Eng continued ahead with the app. While HighBlood announced that the app would go into public beta last Friday, Eng said it hit a hurdle when it was rejected by Apple's App Store moderators because of what he called a "technicality." "One of the regulations was that submitted apps cannot 'objectify people,'" he said in an email to CNBC. The app moderator, Eng said, had deemed a submitted screenshot of HighBlood users voting on newcomers "too objectifying," but noted that the same principle is used in other dating apps. But the decision was apparently reversed as the app was available to some iPhone users as of Thursday. Eng told CNBC the software would be "released into the wild" for the entire Apple and Google mobile ecosystems as early as next week. The app will be available to users in public beta, he said in an email. People will be able to download it and send their credentials, such as school, profession or income, for verification. Racist post was just 'mischief' On Friday, Eng said multiple times that the app is "not racist," downplaying the discriminatory post as "a bit of mischief on my part." He said that the administrators of the app "will not filter maids, banglas or uglies." Instead, he added, existing users will vote on whether a newcomer can join HighBlood if newcomers don't get enough votes, they can pay an initial $20 to join. Eng has also been touting HighBlood as the world's first accountant-verified dating app with an income filter. The app will verify three credentials, he claimed: school, profession and income. According to him, users can take photos of documents, such as income tax or pay statements, to verify their credentials. Eng, a Nanyang Technological University graduate, justified those filters based on a market survey he said he conducted. In the report of 160 people about their preferred non-mandatory filters, 21 percent said they would want an income filter, and almost 56 percent called for a profession filter. The HighBlood dating app, which apologized for a racist advertisement, is available on Apple's App Store. Saheli Roy Choudhury | CNBC The Marriner S Eccles building of the United States Federal Reserve in Washington, DC, on Jul. 24, 2017. Quadratic Capital Management is recommending that investors bet against two companies that are likely to be sensitive to a Federal Reserve cutback on stimulative policies. "The Fed reducing the balance sheet is a major game changer," Nancy Davis, the firm's managing partner and chief investment officer, said in a presentation at the Sohn Conference in San Francisco. "The first place that's going to feel that is the levered credit market." "I think there are some specific BDCs [business development companies] that have gotten very extended," Davis said. Two of those companies, TICC Capital and , "are attractive shorts," she said. The Fed this month is set to begin reversing its massive asset purchase program that was begun in the wake of the financial crisis. TICC's risk from its collateralized loan obligation equity portfolio has increased, while Prospect Capital has a lot of exposure to multifamily housing loans and online consumer lending, Davis said. Quadratic Capital is based in Greenwich, Connecticut, and is majority owned by women. The advisory firm primarily uses derivatives to invest in its global macro strategies. Wednesday's event is the West Coast version of the investment conferences that began in New York and are best known for hedge-fund managers making market-moving presentations. The Sohn conferences benefit pediatric cancer and other causes for underserved youth. The conference is presented in partnership with CNBC. Disclaimer Tables turned The Nepali political landscape was rocked on Tuesday with the announcement of the intended merger between three leftist forces: the CPN-UML, CPN-Maoist Centre and the Baburam Bhattarai led centre-left Naya Shakti Party-Nepal. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries has basically fully implemented an oil production cut, Russia Energy Minister Alexander Novak told CNBC. "We believe that perhaps for the first time in its history OPEC has succeeded in reaching a very high level of implementing an agreement, at a level of almost 100 percent. And that is an impressive figure, we are very pleased with this figure," Novak told CNBC. Russia and de-facto OPEC leader Saudi Arabia made waves last year when they agreed (along with the rest of OPEC, albeit with some members more reluctant than others) to cut oil output by 1.8 million barrels a day in a bid to support and stabilize oil prices, which have declined since mid-2014 on the back of a glut in supply. In June 2017, the oil producers agreed to extend those cuts until March 2018. Novak said the deal is working. Although there is still a surplus, participants in the oil production cuts are looking to further reduce the surplus, he said. And although OPEC as a whole is complying with the deal fully, it would be fairer for all parties to comply to their agreed cut levels, said Novak. Now, he explained, some countries are cutting more production than they agreed to in order to make up for the shortfall created by others who are not meeting their targets. Non-OPEC countries, such as Russia, have cut more than the group in August, said Novak. As for the overall price of oil, Novak said, $50 to $60 per barrel is an "optimum" range. "If the price will be in this range, we believe that would be a good thing," he said. OPEC said at a meeting in Vienna last month that the global market was well on its way toward rebalancing, sending prices up briefly. Oil has since come off as it continues to be weighed down by U.S. shale oil producers coming back online and demand still failing to keep up with supply. Oil futures were flat on Thursday morning in Asia with the benchmark U.S. West Texas Intermediate contract moving around $49.85 a barrel while Brent crude was around $55.70 a barrel. CNBC's Holly Ellyatt contributed to this article. People stand in line to withdraw cash from an automatic teller machine (ATM) after Hurricane Maria heavily damaged the government-run electricity system in the Miramar neighborhood of San Juan, Puerto Rico, on Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2017. Puerto Rico's attempts to slash its massive debts have taken on greater urgency after Hurricane Maria devastated the island, leading to President Trump's comments Tuesday that the U.S. territory's liabilities should be eliminated. But the island's economic crisis has been long in the making. Although Maria escalated Puerto Rico's financial chaos into a humanitarian crisis, the island had already been reeling from years of financial missteps and economic struggles. "There's no way for Puerto Rico to be able to rebuild, let alone recover, unless the debt is canceled," said Eric LeCompte, executive director of Jubilee USA Network, a religious coalition that's fighting for Puerto Rico debt relief. "Fortunately for Puerto Rico that process is in place." More from USA Today: Trump: Puerto Rico's massive debts should be wiped out Why you can't ignore Puerto Rico's bankruptcy Puerto Rico declares bankruptcy. Here's how it's going to unfold The process looks a lot like bankruptcy. Puerto Rico, which filed for the equivalent of federal bankruptcy protection in May, owes $74 billion in debts and more than $53 billion in unfunded pensions. A federal oversight board is aiming to negotiate debt cuts with creditors in a case overseen by U.S. District Court Judge Laura Taylor Swain of the Southern District of New York. Although Trump's proposal to slash all of Puerto Rico's liabilities may not be financially or politically realistic, it's increasingly likely that financiers and individuals who lent money to Puerto Rico will suffer huge losses as political momentum mounts for action. "They owe a lot of money to your friends on Wall Street, and we're going to have to wipe that out," Trump told Fox News. "You can say goodbye to that." After Hurricane Maria obliterated the island's infrastructure, including power and communications, damage estimates range from $40 billion to $80 billion, according to catastrophe risk modelling software company AIR Worldwide. Bond holders are nervous. The island's general obligation bonds tumbled to an all-time low after Trump's comments, according to Credit Sights. If Puerto Rico's debts were canceled, a wide range of investors including mutual funds, pension funds, retirees and individual investors would face significant losses. Some of those losses could be covered by bond insurance, though most investors would be stuck with red ink. Lawrence Summers, a former economic adviser to President Obama, backed up Trump's proposal in a series of tweets Wednesday. "President @realDonaldTrump is right. Puerto Rico's debt should be wiped out," Summers said. "If ever there was a case for a full debt write off, it's Puerto Rico." Lawrence H. Summers tweet 1 Lawrence H. Summers tweet 2 Lawrence H. Summers tweet 3 A spokesperson for the island's oversight board was not immediately available for comment Wednesday. But the board asked for emergency funds Tuesday in a letter to Congressional leaders, saying that "your immediate and bold assistance is urgently needed to minimize loss of life, support critical emergency response efforts, and provide tools to support the island's recovery." Puerto Rico's bankruptcy case has been moving at a snail's pace compared to typical bankruptcies. That leaves open the possibility for federal action. "They were in the very early stages and it hasn't even been established yet if Puerto Rico is eligible to enter the bankruptcy process or if the bankruptcy process created by Congress is legal," Municipal Market Analytics partner Matt Fabian said. Aid to help ease Puerto Rico's financial crisis could take the form of a change to the federal law governing the case to make it easier for the island to restructure, Fabian said. It could also take the form of federal guarantees on loans to the island, he said. But "you always have to bet on inaction being the most likely scenario by Congress," he said. How Puerto Rico's financial crisis erupted: Population loss. Puerto Rico has lost about 10% of its population over the last decade, sparking an economic crisis that worsens by the day. The exodus of those residents, who are U.S. citizens, to the mainland has deepened the island's revenue crisis, leaving less money to pay for essential services and to repay debts. With a poverty rate of nearly 50%, the island's population could fall from 3.4 million before the hurricane to 3 million by the end of the year, making the island's debts even more "unpayable," Fabian said. "The storm is going to accelerate the economic decline of the commonwealth," Fabian said. Job crisis. In 2006, Congress ended special tax breaks that historically aided the Puerto Rican economy. The island's job market has been ailing ever since. While the mainland U.S. added millions of jobs following the Great Recession, Puerto Rico never got back on its feet. The island has lost more than 20% of its jobs since 2007. Before Maria, IHS Markit projected GDP declines of 3.6% and 2.8% in 2017 and 2018, respectively, for Puerto Rico. "The challenges of generating economic growth and resolving Puerto Rico's debt problems will worsen if the federal government does not approve a major reconstruction package," IHS Markit analysts Paula Diosquez-Rice and Carlos Cardenas said Monday in a research note. "This would increase the migration from the island and generate growing risks of protests and looting." Lenders enabled the island's debt binge. For years, bond holders extended credit to Puerto Rico, capitalizing on federal, state and municipal tax advantages. But the lending continued well into the 2010s, when the island was careening toward economic chaos. Like a subprime borrowing that can't afford to pay for a huge mortgage, Puerto Rico was broke but the credit was provided anyway. The additional debt compounded the island's crisis. Bureaucracy made it worse. Puerto Rico's massive government bureaucracy and regulatory structure have been repeatedly cited as barriers to investments and growth. Long permitting processes and a dilapidated and expensive electrical grid, which collapsed during the hurricane, are among the many factors that have caused investors to shy away. Pension promises took a toll. After years of promising pensions that the island couldn't afford, retirement funds are about to run dry. Now pensioners are at risk of significant cuts, which estimates have suggested could range up to 20%. Federal rules worsened matters. Because of the quirks of budgeting and political implications, Puerto Rico receives proportionately less Medicaid funding than U.S. states. That has caused the island to take alternative measures, including borrowing, to fund its already underfunded health care system. is opening a new type of bar for only 10 days in Japan later this month. Amazon Bar, according to the company's website, will be located in Tokyo's upscale Ginza area and serve a variety of drinks, including beer, wine, and whiskey. But it comes with one caveat: there's no menu. The bar will instead deploy a recommendation system with Amazon sommeliers offering suggestions for different types of drinks. It will also serve special drinks that are only available at Amazon Bar, the website says. The bar will launch on Oct. 20, and will be open to the public. Amazon didn't say why it's opening the bar and for such a short period. The company has been introducing physical book stores and pop-up stores of late, while also expanding into the grocery space with the Whole Foods acquisition. At the same time, Amazon has been moving into the alcohol business. In August, the company quietly expanded its one-hour wine delivery service in select U.S. cities. Last year, Amazon Japan launched a wine recommendation service by phone that featured its own in-house sommeliers. An Amazon representative wasn't immediately available for comment. When it comes to paid time off for new parents, the U.S. comes in last place among the 41 countries that comprise the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OCED). The government does not mandate any paid leave for parents, and as of March 2016, only 13 percent of all private industry workers had access to paid family leave, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In the race for top talent, several U.S. tech companies have led the way on this issue, boosting their parental leave policies in recent years. Twitter, for instance, offers 20 weeks of paid leave to all new parents, and Facebook provides four months to full-time employees. More than most, Amazon has been on the cutting edge. The retail behemoth not only offers a generous paid parental leave policy for both moms and dads, it also helps parents ramp back up after being out and even pays for its employees' spouses who do not work at the company to take time off. The company's latest parental leave policies were launched in 2015 after employees said the previous policy wasn't working for them. "It wasn't comprehensive enough, didn't give new parents enough time with their children and often the transition back to work was difficult," says Steve Winter, Amazon's director of global programs and services, who led the redesign. "So HR looked into ways to improve it. We wanted to build an egalitarian program that would work for all of our employees." Two years ago, Amazon began offering birth mothers up to 14 weeks of paid maternity leave, plus an additional six weeks to those who've been with the company for a year. Altogether, that's a total of 20 weeks, or about five months, of fully paid leave that moms can potentially take. "The first few weeks are critical," says Liz Swanby, an operations manager at Amazon who welcomed her son almost three years ago. She points to small moments like a child's first bath. "You don't get that time back," she tells CNBC Make It. Liz Swanby (on left) with her wife Andrea Swanby and their two children. It was important to Amazon to extend the benefits to all employees. Now dads, adoptive parents and non-birth mothers who've been with the company for a year get six weeks of fully paid parental leave. Employees can also choose to take their parental leave in one continuous six-week period or split into two periods within 12 months of birth or adoption. Additionally, through its Adoption Assistance benefit, eligible U.S. employees can be reimbursed for qualified adoption expenses, such as adoption fees, attorney fees, court costs and travel costs, up to $5,000 for a single child adoption or up to $10,000 combined maximum for a sibling adoption. One of the most unique aspects of Amazon's parental leave policy is its Leave Share program, which allows employees to share their parental leave with a partner who doesn't work at Amazon and whose employer does not provide paid parental leave. For example, Jason, an Amazon employee, is entitled to six weeks of paternal leave. His wife Emily doesn't work at Amazon and her employer does not provide paid leave. Jason can give three of his six weeks to his wife and keep the other three weeks for himself. During his three weeks of leave, Jason is paid his full salary, and Amazon also pays Emily her husband's base salary for three weeks so that she, too, can take time off. "Leave Share came out of employee focus groups, where we received feedback about the struggle that comes with a partner who doesn't get paid leave," Winter tells CNBC Make It. "It was actually [Amazon CEO] Jeff Bezos who really embraced this concern and challenged us to think big about how to create an experience for employees that could completely change not just their experience with a newborn, but their partners as well." The second initiative that makes the company's policy stand out is its Ramp Back program, which allows new parents to ease back to work with an eight-week flexible schedule and reduced work hours. For example, after a new parent returns to Amazon from her parental leave, she can choose between a variety of schedules for eight weeks. She can return to work for eight weeks at 50 percent capacity, eight weeks at 75 percent or four weeks at 50 percent followed by four weeks at 75 percent. watch now If Amazon gets into the delivery business, it won't hurt UPS and FedEx as much as expected, analyst Keith Schoonmaker told CNBC on Thursday. Shares of UPS and FedEx were initially hit on Thursday after a report about competition from Amazon . FedEx ultimately closed a fraction of a point higher, while UPS recovered to close 0.7 percent down. Schoonmaker, director of industrial equity research at Morningstar, said Amazon accounts for only a small portion of UPS' and FedEx's revenues. "I think it's important to frame UPS' and FedEx's exposure to Amazon. UPS says that no customer constitutes 10 percent of its revenue, and FedEx says no one constitutes three percent of its revenue. We would gauge earnings exposure more like mid-single digits to UPS and maybe 2 percent for FedEx," he said in an interview with "Closing Bell." UPS and FedEx cargo aircraft. Getty Images Bloomberg News reported on Thursday that Amazon is trying out a new delivery program called "Seller Flex" where the company will pick up packages from third parties selling on its platform and deliver the products to consumers. The project would directly take over functions typically handled by UPS and FedEx. "I lived in downtown Chicago in a dense neighborhood full of high rises, and I've had Amazon deliveries by Amazon independent contractors for probably two years now. So this is nothing new that Amazon is taking some ownership of their deliveries," Schoonmaker said. He added that Amazon is "prudently cherry-picking areas with dense delivery" and will probably still leave rural delivery up to other companies. Meanwhile, Amazon could also take years to establish its new service, according to John Eade, president of Argus Research. "The goods need to get there in two days or less, and right now, it's UPS and FedEx that can do that best," Eade said in an interview with "Power Lunch." watch now He also pointed out UPS and FedEx's strong stock growth. "Second-quarter revenues for UPS were up about 8 percent. FedEx, they had a problem with the cyberattack, but they're growing about the same rate too. Those are great growth numbers," he said. Jim Cramer, host of CNBC's "Mad Money," isn't sure those numbers will continue to rise much longer. Amazon distribution threats can have real power, he said Thursday on "Squawk on the Street." He explained that the stock of drugstore chain Walgreens has struggled after news that Amazon could be looking to break into the multibillion-dollar pharmacy market. When asked whether UPS and FedEx investors should be concerned about Amazon entering the market, Cramer said "yes." "We'll wait for a second day. See if anyone joins or downgrades these, and then you got your shot," he said, referring to UPS and FedEx. So far, Amazon shares are outperforming the delivery companies again this year. The internet e-commerce giant is up 29 percent year to date through Wednesday versus UPS' 4 percent and FedEx's 19 percent returns. watch now At 75, Michael Bloomberg has seen a lifetime of success: He's worth about $47 billion, according to Forbes, he was a 3-term mayor of New York City and he even considered running for president in 2016. But, he hasn't been immune to failure or criticism. After building a career at investment firm Salomon Brothers, Bloomberg was fired at age 39. As mayor, he faced 12 years of public scrutiny. So when it comes to dealing with critics, Bloomberg's advice is simple: "Just know that in the end, you're going to be fine and they're not," he says, speaking at a Vanity Fair event in 2014. At the time, he was giving his advice to CEO and founder Evan Spiegel as his company then Snapchat, now Snap gained notoriety. But anyone can use the lesson. "Not everybody is going to like you, okay," explains Bloomberg. "Why give them the satisfaction of hurting you and making you miserable?" Plus, failure can often lead to something better. It did for Bloomberg. If he hadn't been fired, Bloomberg tells The New York Times, "I wouldn't have ... used my electrical engineering degree to begin my own information technology company and program a computer terminal for bond traders." That company, Bloomberg L.P., later made him a billionaire. Of course, there are times to consider criticism too. During Bloomberg's years as mayor of New York City, he says there were instances when "I wanted to walk out and slam my fist into a lamp post after reading the papers. It was not because of what they said, it was because of what I did or I said that was stupid. It was my mistake that bothered me," he says. Either way, this too shall pass. "It is also true that nobody remembers," Bloomberg says. "They really don't. You say 'Oh my goodness people are going to hate me forever,' but I don't know how to break this to you, they don't know who you are." Bloomberg says listening to haters isn't worth it: "You just can't let your mind go there." Don't miss: Like this story? Like CNBC Make It on Facebook BlackRock's Jeff Shen says the firm's new investments in machine learning and big data are driving returns even higher. "The group I'm affiliated with, the scientific active equity group, 90 percent of the AUMs are above benchmark on one, three, five year," said Shen, Blackrock's co-CIO of its scientific active equity group, during an interview with CNBC's Leslie Picker. "So things have been coming along well. Big data, machine learning is certainly a huge driver for our alpha generation." Shen spoke with CNBC at the annual Sohn conference in San Francisco on Wednesday. Six months ago, BlackRock announced a big restructuring to its active equity business, devoting a new $30 billion focused on quantitative and data science. As the world's largest asset manager, BlackRock now oversees approximately $5.7 trillion. "The next level of machine learning is such that the machine can answer some of the questions that humans never thought about asking," said Shen. "That's where you can potentially get some unintuitive and complex answers. But ultimately I think we can still judge the success of this through look at whether this is making money or not." In its most recent earnings report, the company's AUM jumped 16 percent year over year. Its shares are up 22 percent since January. "I think ultimately, to be successful in this space it's not about data, it's not about machines, it's actually ultimately about talent, it is about humans. I think increasingly we're seeing ourselves competing with the technology companies in this space. Because the technical know-how in this space are such that you need more STEM majors than economics or finance people, which we certainly have a lot of at the firm," he said. The conference is the West Coast version of the investment conferences that began in New York and are best known for hedge-fund managers making market-moving presentations. The Sohn conferences benefit pediatric cancer and other causes for underserved youth. The conference is presented in partnership with CNBC. A planned offshore wind farm in Irish waters has received a major boost in the form of a "significant investment". Belgian offshore wind farm developer Parkwind said it would become a strategic partner in the Oriel Wind Farm, it was announced in a statement Wednesday. The proposed 55 turbine project is set to be located in the North West Irish Sea, 22 kilometers off the coast of Dundalk. With a capacity of 330 megawatts (MW), it will be able to supply green energy to 250,000 Irish homes, according to Oriel Windfarm Limited. "In our search for a strategic partner, several international offshore wind players were interested in acquiring a stake in Oriel Wind Farm," Brian Britton, founder and board member of the Oriel Wind Farm, said in a statement. "We believe that Parkwind can bring in the necessary knowledge and pioneering spirit to bring this project to a successful end," he added. For its part, Parkwind said it had developed and built three offshore wind farms in the Belgian concession zone in the North Sea. The wind farms are also operated by the business and send about 550 MW of energy to Belgium. "We are confident we can play a vital role for the emerging Irish offshore wind industry," Peter Caluwaerts, Oriel project director, said. "It is our ambition to finalize the construction of the Oriel Wind Farm in 2020, thus assisting Ireland in reaching its 2020 renewable energy targets." Ireland wants emissions in 2020 to be 20 percent lower than 2005 level. Europe is a world leader in offshore wind energy. According to the Global Wind Energy Council, the U.K. is home to the world's biggest offshore wind market, followed by Germany and China. The main challenge of the contemporary world is energy poverty, according to the director general of State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom, who claims that 2 billion people around the world are being "constrained" in terms of their access to power. Speaking on a panel at Russian Energy Week 2017, Alexey Likhachev said that by the 2040s the demand for power will triple. "This is what we forecast," he said. "I guess the conclusion is fairly simple All sources of power generation will be in high demand," he added. Rosatom is Russia's largest electricity generating business, and produced 196.37 billion kilowatt hours of electricity in 2016. Environmental commitments by national governments and international agreements needed to be taken into account, and there would certain changes in the structure of power generation worldwide, Likhachev explained. When it came to the nuclear industry, specifically, Likhachev offered a broadly positive outlook. "I am quite sure that nuclear power generation will at least maintain its footprint," he said, suggesting the nuclear industry will continue to increase capacity and remain part of a wider energy mix worldwide. Also appearing on the panel, moderated by CNBC, was Pekka Lundmark, president and CEO of the Finland based Fortum Corporation. Lundmark sought to emphasise the importance of renewable energy in the years ahead. "While we know that this is a massively complicated and difficult issue, I think it's extremely important that those economies in the world that are relying and continue to rely on hydrocarbons Also start putting more and more money into renewables," he said. "Russia is now starting to do that." He went on to argue that the world would need a creative and dynamic energy mix in the years ahead. "I would agree with Alexy that absolutely nuclear needs to be part of that," he said, before also stating that the importance of gas would increase. "It is a fact that the wind does not always blow and the sun does not always shine, and in those parts of the world large European markets like Germany, for example, that don't have enough hydropower, the importance of gas in providing security of supply will be extremely important." India has long been the dominant power in South Asia but as Beijing invests millions in the region, New Delhi is looking to defend its sphere of influence. India must play to its strengths instead of attempting to match Chinese capital, a panel of experts at the World Economic Forum's India summit said in response to CNBC's question on the topic. "China has surplus capital to invest we don't but we can do our own thing in areas of different value...That's still highly appreciated and sought after," said Shashi Tharoor, a member of India's parliament. As part of its ambitious Belt and Road Initiative, Beijing has funded various infrastructure projects right in India's backyard, such as Sri Lanka's southern port of Hambantota and the China-Pakistan-Economic-Corridor. That's triggered criticism from New Delhi, which refused Beijing's invitation to join Belt and Road. It's also added to growing rivalry between the Asian giants relations between the two fast-growing economies remain marred by territorial disputes like the Doklam standoff in the Himalayas that ended last month. To ensure China doesn't eclipse India on its home turf, Prime Minister Narendra Modi should continue exporting low-cost technology and offering favorable development loans, panelists at WEF said. India has emerged as a leader of low-cost tech in South and Southeast Asia. Its affordable generic pharmaceuticals are highly sought-after while the country is championing solar energy, reflected by the April launch of the International Solar Alliance New Delhi's brainchild aimed at boosting solar cooperation among member nations. India is at an advantage in this arena because it shares similar challenges as other markets in the region, such as poverty and weather, said Suhasini Haidar, diplomatic editor of The Hindu newspaper. If New Delhi attempts to compete against China's sizable war chest on the investment front, "we're setting ourselves up for disappointment," she said. "We need to play to our strengths." India also supports the economic development of South Asian peers through rupee-structured loans, which helps avoid problems of exchange rate and devaluation, pointed out Leela Ponappa, India's former deputy national security advisor. "There's no question of competing with China, why should we?" she said. Modi should simply focus on his country's long track record of building human capacities in South Asia, she continued. No plans to topple govt: CPN-UML A day after announcing a broader electoral alliance with the CPN (Maoist Centre) and the Naya Shakti Party-Nepal and a plan of unifying leftist forces post elections, the main opposition CPN-UML has said that it would not initiate the process to topple the government. The Corona family is growing. Riding a surge of interest in Mexican beer, Constellation Brands will debut Corona Premier nationwide in February. It will also release Corona Familiar in all major Hispanic markets, a key demographic for the brand. Constellation conducted a "successful" test of Premier before deciding to make it available nationwide. The company said the brew is aimed at a mature, sophisticated consumer looking to trade up from light beer. Premier contains 90 calories. In comparison, Extra contains 149 calories and Light contains 99. "Corona Premier capitalizes on industry and consumer trends including declines of domestic light beers, growth of high end and interest in new light beers that are premium and have badge value," a spokeswoman said in an email. Corona and Modelo's popularity has helped Constellation's sales surge. In the second quarter, which includes the all-important summer months, Constellation's beer sales grew nearly 13 percent from the same time last year. An F/A-18E Super Hornet assigned to the Stingers of Strike Fighter Attack Squadron (VFA) 113 takes off from the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt. Since Nov. 8, the iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense exchange-traded fund (ITA) has risen 40 percent. By comparison, the Financial Select Sector Fund (XLF) the second-best performing sector in that time period is up 31 percent. Financial stocks have risen sharply since President Donald Trump's election, but the defense sector has left them in the dust. Kratos Defense & Security Solutions , AeroVironment and Aerojet Rocketdyne have been the best-performing components in the defense-oriented ETF, more than doubling their stock values. Ken Hebert, an analyst at Canaccord Genuity, told CNBC in an email that geopolitical tensions and merger activity have contributed to the sharp rise in defense stocks. The "global threat environment has led to a near-term increase in activity levels. Concerns over N. Korea, more troops in Afghanistan, and better near-term activity levels have had an impact" Herbert said. Geopolitical tensions between the U.S. and other countries especially North Korea have risen considerably since Trump's election. Last month, the isolated Asian nation successfully tested a hydrogen bomb that can be mounted onto an intercontinental ballistic missile. Regarding dealmaking in the space, Herbert said the "use capital for growth is attractive, as this is viewed favorably for stocks of all sizes." On Sept. 4, United Technologies announced it would buy Rockwell Collins for $30 billion, including debt. Since that deal was announced, shares of Rockwell have risen 1.9 percent and United Tech, 0.3 percent. President Donald Trump's economic policies are causing the U.S. to fall behind China in the tech sector, according to a Saxo Bank analyst, who said the current government does not have the "ability of seeing the world changing." Steen Jakobsen, chief economist at Saxo Bank, said much of the policy that Trump has enacted or talked about is "negative" and "actually against productivity." He cited Trump's desire to reduce the U.S. trade deficit, saying that it would not be good for the average American. "If you have a current account deficit, you are spending more money than you have. If you want a surplus you going to spend less money than you can... So if Trump actually delivers on the trade policy, he will make Americans worse off first before they get better. And in terms of productivity he wants to keep jobs, he doesn't want to create jobs," Jakobsen told CNBC in a TV interview Thursday. "And I think that is the big change we see relatively to China who has a research and development plan. China today, on a weekly basis, almost overtakes the U.S. in different technology sections." Saxo Bank's chief economist said China is advancing in areas like quantum computing. This refers to a new era of faster and more powerful computers. In August, China demonstrated a world first by sending data over long distances and using satellites that was potentially unhackable. It laid the basis for next generation encryption based on so-called "quantum cryptography." watch now Retirement is something many of us look forward to for decades. But as it draws closer, those feelings of excitement may be replaced by some unexpected anxiety. How much will I spend each month? Will I be able to travel? Should I move? Catching a case of the retirement jitters is common. In fact, a recent TIAA survey of soon-to-be retirees found only 43 percent felt extremely or very prepared for this big transition. "I think they get nervous, it's a big decision, when to retire," said Amanda McCollum, a certified financial planner based in Jacksonville, Florida. "It's wise to be cautious at that time for that reason, you want to make sure you're prepared." Part of being prepared means doing your research and not making any assumptions, including falling for these common retirement myths. #1: Medicare has you covered Some older Americans are surprised to learn Medicare parts A and B can leave them with gaping holes in their health coverage. The basic version of this government-run insurance program pays for routine doctor visits and hospitalizations, but that's all. If you want prescription drug coverage you'll need to also buy what's known as Part D. Dental care, hearing aids or long-term care insurance also are not covered by any form of Medicare, so for those services you're on your own and will need to buy additional insurance or reach into your nest egg. These big-ticket items are partly why Fidelity estimates a typical 65-year-old couple retiring this year can expect to spend at least $275,000 on medical expenses during their retirement. #2: Your expenses go down In addition to rising health-care costs, your changing lifestyle may also contribute to a higher rate of spending, even if the house is paid off and the kids are gone. Most financial advisors say you need around 80 percent of your preretirement income to maintain your standard of living. However, if you plan on doing a lot of travel, or buying a second retirement home you may find your expenses actually go up. #3: You'll pay less to Uncle Sam When Equifax's recently retired chief executive, Richard F. Smith, appeared before a panel of the House Energy and Commerce Committee Tuesday, he held himself out as a changed man. After decades of maintaining high walls between the credit data that his company collects and the citizens like you and me who simply want to know what it says and means, he claimed that he and his former company now want to put us in control. We should have the ability to lock any new creditor out of our credit files, he said, and the forthcoming service that makes it possible will be free forever. Then, he threw down a gauntlet of sorts. "I would encourage TransUnion and Experian to do the same," he said, referring to Equifax's primary competitors. "It's time we change the paradigm and give the power back to the consumer to control who accesses his or her credit." More from New York Times: Measuring greenhouse gases in Alaska The maximalists are coming How Europe's last dictatorship became a tech hub Experian's response came about six hours later: Go pound sand. "We are looking at broader solutions that can help consumers effectively and securely operate in the credit economy, but it shouldn't be done based on crisis-mode responses from Equifax," Michael Troncale, an Experian spokesman, said in an emailed statement. This intramural spat that broke out late Tuesday is centered on what the best remedies are in the wake of the Equifax breach and what they should cost, if anything. Earlier this year, thieves pried loose as many as 145.5 million Social Security numbers, dates of birth and other personal information. Equifax's biggest peace offering so far has been what it refers to as a credit lock. Credit locks work the same way as credit freezes, which have existed for more than a decade: In either case, you tell Equifax, Experian and TransUnion to flip a switch, after which no new creditor can see your credit report. Because companies won't open an account without checking up on you first, this has the effect of blocking thieves who try to impersonate you using stolen information to take out new loans in your name. Locks and freezes only work, however, if you block access to your files at all three bureaus, which you have to do separately; if you only close off access to your Equifax file, someone might use information from the Equifax breach or some other data theft to open a credit card in your name at a bank that only checks an Experian report. Freezes came into widespread existence only because of pressure from consumer advocates and state legislators, who eventually passed so many laws that the credit bureaus gave in and offered freezes nationwide about a decade ago. More recently, they've added credit locks, which accomplish the same thing but are not subject to state regulation. Locks can differ in other ways as well. Equifax has confused consumers by discussing two different lock processes in the past month. You can turn the first on and off from a browser; it made this available along with the TrustedID Premier package of credit monitoring it offered free to every American after it announced its breach. Last week, it announced that beginning Jan. 31, 2018, it would introduce a second way to lock, via a stand-alone mobile app that will lock and unlock someone's credit file. The service, it said, will be free for life. There is a convenience angle here, too. Credit freezes require the use of a PIN, which you must supply to temporarily lift or permanently cancel a freeze. If you lose it, you won't be able to unfreeze your credit file instantly. Canceling credit locks is supposed to be instant, too, which is crucial if you want to apply spontaneously for a credit card at a store counter or if you forget to unlock your file before going car shopping. But even Equifax's communications team seems confused on how quickly the process works. Its own website says, incorrectly, that unlocking can take 24 to 48 hours. I pointed this out to the company several days ago, and it admitted its error. But it still hasn't fixed the website. TransUnion has a locking product as well, which it includes as part of a service called TrueIdentity. It is free, but you must submit to offers of credit from third parties in order to use it, which helps TransUnion make money. It also comes with mandatory arbitration and class-action lawsuit waivers. "The arbitration agreement helps us to provide TrueIdentity to consumers at no charge," said David Blumberg, a company spokesman, in a statement. Before Mr. Smith's congressional testimony Tuesday, Experian had been charging money for its credit lock. To get the lock, you have to sign up for a monthly credit monitoring service, which can cost $9.99 to $24.99 a month. This will always cost more than what they charge to simply freeze your credit file and thawing it occasionally when you need to apply for credit. When I asked Experian whether it would change its policy on this, it declined to commit to anything. "We will continue to review this issue in light of the other alternatives available and engage with consumers and other stakeholders to ensure consumer-centric solutions are available that enable consumers to be safe in the credit economy," it said in its statement. Like TransUnion, Experian forces people to sign away legal rights, which probably isn't the best way to help people feel safe. Experian said that this was "consistent with the industry standard for consumer terms and conditions." Arbitration agreements represent "a simple and convenient dispute resolution mechanism that helps ensure claims are resolved quickly and to the parties' satisfaction." For an alternative view, see my colleagues' series of articles about how these clauses actually work in practice. Why might Experian be taking such a hard line? There could be a cold political calculation at work. Sure, making its locks free might head off any federal legislation forcing free locks or freezes on the companies. But given the dysfunction in Washington, perhaps its lobbyists are telling executives that any new laws are unlikely. Meanwhile, as John Breyault, vice president of public policy, telecommunications and fraud at the National Consumers League, said to me in an interview, making freezes and locks cumbersome and expensive creates a competitive advantage for Experian. After all, if Experian has fewer blocked credit files than Equifax or TransUnion, it will be easier for Experian to ultimately sell access to more files than its competitors. Which is not to say that Experian doesn't believe what Mr. Smith of Equifax is saying. It knows that people should shut down access to their credit file as a matter of basic financial hygiene. In a podcast on its website, where the host made the radically misleading statement that a credit freeze can take "weeks or whatever it is," a guest, Michelle Felice-Steele, endorsed the locking concept heartily. "Basically people lock things that are valuable to them, and your credit is also valuable," said Ms. Felice-Steele, Experian's director of product management in its consumer services group. "They value that information not getting into identity thieves' hands." So cutting off access to your credit report is an excellent idea, and Experian knows it, even if it might cause problems for the banks and others who keep it in business. Experian simply wants to stick us all with the bill for its freezes and locks. We'll see how long it continues to get away with it. A controversial Chinese billionaire in self-imposed exile blasted on Thursday what he said was a small clique of corrupt "kleptocrats" running China as he also warned of a wave of Chinese spies being dispatched to the United States in recent months. Guo Wengui's comments came as the Chinese government has ramped up allegations that the real estate magnate has engaged in a slew of crimes, including sexual assault and as a number of companies and people whom Guo has criticized press lawsuits accusing him defaming them with false allegations. "What they're doing is against humanity," said Guo of the purportedly corrupt group he has identified, during an appearance at the National Press Club in Washington. "What the U.S. ought to do is take action, instead of just talking to the Chinese kleptocracy," Guo said through a translator at the event, two days after a previously scheduled appearance at a think tank in the same city was postponed due to what he called heavy pressure from the Chinese government. "They are just a tiny group of Mafia, pure and simple," said Guo, also known as Miles Kwok, who lives in a $68 million apartment in New York City. "I would like all the members of the Chinese Communist Party to wake up and say no to this ruling clique." Guo said he was aware of multiple initiatives by that clique in China to increase the number of spies in the U.S. and "to weaken the United States, to bring about turmoil in the United States and to ... decimate the United States." "These plans pose great threats to the American people and their property," Guo said. He claimed those efforts are "100 times, or even 1,000 times" as potentially damaging as the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks. Guo's appearance in Washington was just the latest in a recent flurry of controversies surrounding the real estate magnate, who fled to the United States in 2015 after reportedly learning a security official he had ties with was being targeted by an anticorruption campaign. Guo has unloaded a barrage of allegations of corruption by people in the highest levels of China's ruling Communist Party, which include claims that the party's own head of anticorruption activities, Wang Qishan, has unclean hands. Guo claims that Wang's family secretly controls one of the largest conglomerates in China, the New York Times has reported. In September, Guo applied for political asylum in the U.S. But he has kept on making scathing and sometimes salacious attacks on social media against his targets. Last Saturday, Facebook reportedly blocked a profile with Guo's name and removed another page linked to him. Facebook said it took that action after confirming the pages included another person's identifiable personal information, in violation of the platform's terms of service. Guo's targets haven't taken his claims lying down. In April, the Voice of America, which is operated by the U.S. government, reportedly abruptly cut short an interview with Guo, and later put five of its own journalists on administrative leave in connection with the interview. The chief of VOA's Mandarin service told CNBC that Chinese authorities met with VOA's Beijing correspondent and asked that the interview with Guo be canceled. Earlier this year, the Chinese government asked Interpol to issue an international arrest warrant for Guo. The Associated Press has reported that Chinese prosecutors are investigating Guo "for at least 19 major criminal cases," which included allegedly bribing intelligence officials, kidnapping, fraud and money laundering. In August, AP revealed that Chinese authorities have asked for another Interpol warrant for Guo, on a claim that he raped a 28-year-old former personal assistant. This week representatives of a leading corporate investigative firm provided CNBC with a 12-page dossier on Guo detailing his use of social media to make "allegations against women and his perceived enemies," and the fact that he "has been subject to accusations of questionable business dealings and the defrauding of business partners." The dossier from the firm, which has been retained by a number of clients around the world that have been targets of Guo, also noted "a series of defamation suits" filed in New York City against the billionaire since April. The suits were filed by, among others, Caixin Media; Soho China, a real estate company; an affiliate of the major Chinese conglomerate HNA Group, and China's vice minister of housing and urban rural development. Guo told The Wall Street Journal for a story published Tuesday that he has set up a $150 million legal war chest to fight the lawsuits. "Nothing can stop me," Guo told the Journal. But Guo was stopped hours later Tuesday by the Hudson Institute think tank in Washington. The Hudson Institute told Guo around noon that day that it was postponing his planned appearance there on Wednesday, the Journal reported. Guo told the paper that the think tank told him his appearance was "poorly timed." CNBC has reached out for comment from the Hudson Institute. So instead, Guo spoke to reporters Thursday at the National Press Club. "You have caused quite a stir, not only in the United States but also in China," said Bill Gertz, senior editor of the Washington Free Beacon, who moderated the event. Guo told reporters that he was jailed in China for 22 months after the government's 1989 crackdown on pro-democracy students in Tiananmen Square, whose efforts he supported with donations. At around the same time, Guo said, "due to some kind of a trade dispute" that his brother became involved with, police shot and killed his younger brother, as his brother tried to shield Guo's wife from their bullets. "The crime they gave me was so-called anti-revolutionary, and then they change it to obstruction of justice and fraud. They said I engaged in fraud and stole somebody's money," Guo said. Years before, during the Cultural Revolution, Guo said his father was beaten badly after being sent into internal exile, "my brothers were injured physically ... and my mother had a nervous breakdown." After his own release from jail, Guo returned to business, and began building luxury hotels, he said. "From then on, I set myself a goal, which I had in my heart, that was to engage in revenge, not only for myself but for the whole of the Chinese people," Guo said. "For the injustices and the injuries and the deaths they have rendered to my younger brother, to my family members, to my brothers, and to my cousins, and to promote and bring about justice and equality to the whole country by overthrowing the existing system." He said that after making $17 billion, his goal was "to engage in some kind of revolutionary activities." That $17 billion, he said, is now "all frozen by the Chinese government." "Since I came abroad, I have also made a lot of money," Guo said. "I have the best house, private aircraft, yacht, so as far as my personal welfare and personal needs are concerned, I have no other needs that I really desire." "My only single goal ... is to change China," he said. With 2 billion monthly active users and growing, Facebook could encompass one-third of the world's population by this time next year, according to New York magazine. In a cover story in the current issue, Senior Editor Max Read explores the influence of Facebook at a time when the social network is under fire for allowing Russian groups to buy thousands of ads in an attempt to influence the 2016 president election. "It is Orwellian ... in a sense that it is a surveillance company. The business model is to monitor you, to gather your data, and to create advertising categories," Read said Thursday on CNBC's "Squawk Box." Last month, Zuckerberg commented on the Russian ads, saying, "We are committed to rising to the occasion. Our sophistication in handling these threats is growing and improving quickly. We will continue working with the government to understand the full extent of Russian interference." In his article, Read writes that Facebook users are "the single largest non-biologically sorted group of people on the planet after 'Christians' and, growing consistently at around 17 percent year after year, it could surpass that group before the end of 2017." According to the latest Pew Research Center demographic analysis, Christians remained the largest religious group in the world in 2015, with 2.3 billion followers. "I use Facebook. I love Facebook. I've been on it for a decade-plus. It is an amazing invention in terms of its ability to keep people connected," Read told CNBC. "[But] when you have that many people on one website; getting news from it, sharing news on it, talking to one and other, it's very easy to manipulate," he said. He added that Facebook lacks the controls, and the government has yet to regulate it to ensure "that accuracy, that responsibility is at the focus of the power." This kind of concern was also expressed by NYU business school marketing professor Scott Galloway in his new book, "The Four: The Hidden DNA of Amazon, Apple, Facebook, and Google." Galloway told CNBC on Wednesday that the ease in which Russia, using a credit card, "can pay in rubles to start advertising and sewing chaos here is probably the tipping point." As Facebook continues to expand, Read said he believes co-founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg doesn't even know how get his arms around it. "I think his heart is in the right place. I just think this thing has gotten so big that not even the nicest, not even a saint, could make it work for us." Facebook was not immediately available to address CNBC's request for comment. Read said he's spoken to people who have met Zuckerberg on his 2017 challenge to himself to visit every U.S. state that he hadn't been to yet. There's been speculation that this type of tour might be a sign that he may want to seek political office, possibly the presidency. "I feel pretty confident he's not planning on running for president," Read said, believing this tour is about research and development. "I think he wants to meet with people who use Facebook to find out how they use it." An employee of Spirit Halloween models one of thousands of costumes on sale in Plantation, Florida. Halloween isn't only a favorite time of year for kids. Many retail landlords with vacant stores also have something to look forward to. "Because national retailers take a long time to sign leases easily six months tenants like Spirit Halloween tend to be a great filler in the interim," said Ami Ziff, a director of Time Equities' National Retail division. Spirit Halloween, which first popped up in 1983, is considered one of America's first "pop-up shops." The retailer, which operates a year-round e-commerce business, has a physical retail presence for only about two months a year. And for the past 15 years, Spirit Halloween has been expanding its physical footprint, adding roughly 50 to 100 shops throughout the U.S. and Canada per year. In 2017, Spirit will have a whopping 1,300 temporary locations across North America. "There is always turnover in the real estate market," CEO Steven Silverstein told CNBC about his company's annual search for short-term leases. "This year there has been availability in quality real estate." Spirit has been more "flexible" in where it is willing to open, he said. This year, Spirit Halloween will be in more malls, in addition to open-air strip centers. "There are opportunities in all kinds of real estate that you have to consider, but the most important thing is that we are easy to find," Silverstein said. "Good locations are in highly concentrated populations." Consumer spending around Halloween is expected to hit a record $9.1 billion this year. More mall landlords have opened their doors in recent years to pop-up concepts, especially because a growing number of tenants are closing stores or going out of business. Pennsylvania REIT , which owns malls and shopping centers across the East Coast, has three Spirit Halloween shops, one Halloween City and the first Christmas-themed Balsam Hill pop-up location in its portfolio this fall. "We think there's a need for newness and uniqueness to continue to excite our customers as the days of cookie-cutter malls are long gone," PREIT spokeswoman Heather Crowell told CNBC. "We always like pop-up, seasonally relevant tenants when we have the space, as it gives customers another reason to visit us." According to Ziff, who has worked with Spirit Halloween, the costume and candy retailer offers landlords a "welcome" tenant who keeps the space clean, "pays on time" and "leaves on time." "It's 100 percent a Band-Aid, but there's also an interesting parallel between Spirit's growth and the rapid rise of big-box availability," Ziff said. As big-box tenants like JCPenney trim their store counts, landlords are seeking replacements. And the holidays tend to offer a slew of temporary options. Throughout 2016, Cushman & Wakefield tracked over 4,000 major retail chain closures, surpassing 2015's roughly 3,600 closures. The firm has forecast that number in 2017 to increase by at least 25 percent, reaching 5,000 closures at a minimum. So far, 19 retailers have filed for bankruptcy in 2017 many of them apparel companies within malls, where pop-up concepts like Toys R Us Express have been temporarily filling gaps. For nearly three decades Hollywood film producer Harvey Weinstein has faced allegations of sexual harassment and unwanted physical contact, The New York Times reports. Weinstein has reached at least eight settlements, according to the report. One settlement was with Lauren O'Connor, an employee who sent a memo alleging Weinstein's sexual harassment and other misconduct to several Weinstein Co. executives. In a statement, Harvey Weinstein said: "I appreciate the way I've behaved with colleagues in the past has caused a lot of pain, and I sincerely apologize for it. Though I'm trying to do better, I know I have a long way to go." He also said he was working with therapists and was planning to take a leave of absence. Lisa Bloom, a lawyer advising Weinstein said in a statement to the Times that Weinstein "denies many of the accusations as patently false." Charles Harder, another lawyer working with Weinstein, said in a statement on behalf of the film producer that the Times' story is "saturated with false and defamatory statements" about Weinstein. "It relies on mostly hearsay accounts and a faulty report, apparently stolen from an employee personnel file, which has been debunked by 9 different eyewitnesses," the statement said. "We sent the Times the facts and evidence, but they ignored it and rushed to publish." A lawsuit is being prepared, the statement said. The Times did not immediately respond to a request for comment from CNBC. Read the full New York Times story here. Donald Trump Jim Bourg | Reuters The Trump administration is abnormally vicious This context is necessary to make sense of Wednesday's big news: NBC News's report that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson called the president a "moron" after a July 20 meeting. In the months prior to the comment, Trump had repeatedly contradicted Tillerson and publicly undercut him. In early April, for example, Tillerson said that the Trump administration would be fine with Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad staying in power. Just days later, Trump ordered the US to bomb Assad for the first time, and Tillerson was forced to publicly reverse himself. On June 9, Tillerson called on Saudi Arabia and its allies to end their political isolation of Qatar; less than two hours later, Trump sided with the Saudis by labeling Qatar "a funder of terrorism at a very high level." The "moron" comment thus appears to be a backlash to the lack of policy direction and public reprimands by the president, at least in part. "It's not like Cabinet officials are just walking around calling the president a moron," as Musgrave puts it. There are a number of examples of top-level officials being mistreated on top of Tillerson, Kelly, Sessions, and McMaster: During an April meeting with United Nations ambassadors from various countries, the president joked about firing America's representative, Nikki Haley. "Now, does everybody like Nikki? Otherwise she could easily be replaced," Trump said. When Steve Bannon was in the White House, Trump publicly dismissed his importance, telling the Wall Street Journal that he was just "a guy who works for me" who "was not involved in my campaign until very late." Trump reportedly referred to Kelly's predecessor, Reince Priebus, by the deliberately demeaning nickname "Reincey" and mused about shipping him off to Greece. Presidents don't always treat their staff well: Lyndon Johnson would famously force staff members to follow him the bathroom while dressing them down. But the severity and frequency of Trump's outbursts, in some cases without any clear cause, really is not normal. "You're dealing with very high stakes, so there are some tense professional interactions," says Julia Azari, a scholar of the presidency at Marquette University. "But the more those aren't personal, and that expectations are clear, and people who are being yelled at are people who haven't met expectations, that's obviously going to be better management." Sessions is perhaps the most telling example. He's the Cabinet member who's perhaps most closely aligned with Trump ideologically and most willing to follow orders. It was Sessions, for example, who signed off on Trump's highly unusual decision to fire FBI Director James Comey after the director refused to back off from the investigation into the Trump campaign's ties to Russia. Yet Trump repeatedly humiliated Sessions, both by screaming at him in private and by publicly musing about firing him. The cause was Sessions recusing himself from the Russia investigation, a decision he made to try to take political heat off the Trump administration. Sessions, as Musgrave puts it, "gave almost nothing but loyalty and still got abused." Sessions's treatment illustrates how pervasive and defining these levels of attacks were. There is no way to say that Trump's management of his subordinates is normal or healthy, even in a pressure-cooker environment like the West Wing. "It's important to emphasize that this isn't just a bunch of academics pissing and moaning about Trump because we don't like him," adds Azari. "There were many qualified Republican candidates who would not be having these problems." This really matters Analysis: What led to the broad left electoral alliance and what next? Some incidents attain a new meaning and huge political salience in hindsight. After the then leading party CPN (Maoist) finished a distant third in the 2013 Constituent Assembly elections, Initial coin offerings (ICOs) one of the fastest-growing ways for cryptocurrency start-ups to raise money are "absolute scams," Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales told CNBC. ICOs are a way for start-ups to raise money by issuing a new cryptocoin, while users pay them bitcoin or ethereum. It's similar to crowdfunding but with digital money. This year, start-ups have raised $2.4 billion from ICOs, according to data website Coindschedule.com Wales however cautioned investors from participating in ICOs calling them a scam. "I think blockchain is a super interesting technology but there are a lot of fads going on right now ... There are a lot of these initial coin offerings which are in my opinion are absolute scams and people should be very wary of things that are going on in that area," Wales told CNBC in an interview on Wednesday. ICOs are unregulated and do not provide protection to investors in case of fraud or loss. In September the People's Bank of China declared ICO's illegal and have banned them. South Korea have since joined the backlash against ICO's and has banned them as well. The U.S. Securities Exchange Commission recently charged two companies running ICO's with fraud and selling unregistered securities. The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note rose to 2.352 percent at 1:37 p.m. ET, while the yield on the 30-year Treasury bond was up at 2.893 percent. Bond yields move inversely to prices. U.S. government debt yields were higher Thursday after the House of Representatives approved a budget, the first step toward tax reform. Investors also digested a slew of speeches from U.S. central bankers. The House narrowly passed a $4.1 trillion budget on Thursday, formally initiating a process that Republicans hope will result in the enactment of major tax reform later this year. By passing a budget resolution through both GOP-controlled chambers, Republicans would trigger a legislative process known as reconciliation, during which they could pass a sweeping tax reform bill with a simple majority of 51 votes in the Senate, instead of the usual 60-vote requirement. News out of the U.S. central bank also dominated sentiment Thursday, as a number of officials from the U.S. Federal Reserve spoke during the day. In Missouri, San Francisco Fed President John Williams delivered the morning keynote address at the Community Banking in the 21st Century Research and Policy Conference in St. Louis. Williams said he does not need to see inflation move higher to support another interest rate increase this year as long as other economic data points to continued economic strength, according to Reuters. "To me that is not as important as collecting all the signals," Williams told reporters when asked if he needed to see current weak inflation move higher before supporting another rate increase. In Austin, Philadelphia Fed President Patrick Harker spoke at the Investing in America's Workforce Capstone conference during the morning. "Until we see some other changes on the fiscal side of the house, we're not going to move that growth rate too much," Harker said CNBC in an interview on "Squawk Box." Harker said GDP growth will be "slightly above 2" percent until more details emerge from the final version of the GOP tax overhaul. The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits fell more than expected last week, but Hurricanes Harvey and Irma continued to impact the data, making it difficult to get a clear picture of the labor market, according to Reuters. Initial claims for state unemployment benefits dropped 12,000 to a seasonally adjusted 260,000 for the week ended Sept. 30, the Labor Department said on Thursday. Domestically, the House is expected to vote on its fiscal budget for 2018 on Thursday, which will keep the topic of tax reform up at the front of investors' minds. In commodities, oil prices posted gains during early trade, as expectations materialized over the possibility of Saudi Arabia and Russia extending their production cuts; however, prices were capped due to persisting glut concerns. Follow CNBC International on Twitter and Facebook. IBM built the original ThinkPad 700C (pictured below) but Lenovo, which currently builds and sells ThinkPad-branded computers, announced the special edition model. A special 25th anniversary edition of the beloved IBM ThinkPad 700C was announced on Thursday. The ThinkPad Anniversary Edition 25 features a backlit 7-row keyboard, a throwback multicolor logo, the original pink mouse nub and a blue return button. The hardware has been updated with a new Intel Core i7 processor, NVIDIA graphics and a 14-inch full HD display. And, of course, it's a heck of a lot thinner than the original 700C. Lenovo will sell a limited quantity of the ThinkPad Anniversary Edition 25 on its website. It's priced at $1,899. There appears to be a broken logistics process in Puerto Rico, serial entrepreneur Marcus Lemonis told CNBC on Thursday. Two weeks after the island was hit by Hurricane Maria, many of its 3.4 million residents are still struggling without basic necessities. Lemonis, CEO of Camping World and host of CNBC's "The Profit," has been touring Puerto Rico and said in the capital of San Juan, things are "moving pretty nicely." Water and electricity are up and running and traffic is "not bad," he told "Power Lunch." "As you get two, three miles outside and let me be clear, the roads and the bridges in most cases are working there are people that are seeing no signs of any relief. No water, no food nothing. At the dock, piles of food, piles of water. In the small towns, nothing," he added. Student loan provider Navient deceived borrowers to boost profits, the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office charged in a lawsuit Thursday. The suit alleges Navient peddled subprime loans "to many borrowers" who had a high probability of defaulting on their loans. The company purportedly approved loans to college students attending institutions with low graduation rates, expecting "that an extremely high percentage of students would not be able to repay them," the suit said. "The scheme costs billions of dollars that's been taken out of the pockets of students," Attorney General Josh Shapiro told CNBC on "Power Lunch," detailing that one of the programs Navient ran "cost student loan holders $4 billion." Shares of Navient plunged 12 percent Thursday after Philly.com first reported the story. The company is one of the largest student loan providers in the U.S., valued at more than $3.5 billion, according to FactSet. Navient fired back in a statement, saying "the allegations are completely unfounded." "The case was filed without any review of Pennsylvania residents' customer accounts," Navient said, before adding that the company complies with all Congress and Department of Education rules governing student loans. The attorney general's office said it is seeking restitution those unfairly affected by Navient's actions. The suit could "impact hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians," Shapiro said, and "includes anyone who received private student loans from Sallie Mae." Unlike Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, who warns of the dangers of artificial intelligence, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates doesn't believe the new technology is anything that should cause panic. "This is a case where Elon and I disagree," says Gates in an interview with the Wall Street Journal and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. But "Workforce of the Future," a report released in September by PwC, doesn't do much to support the Microsoft billionaire's case. The report, which examines research as well as a survey of 10,000 people, has some troubling implications. Chief among them: "Typical" careers, in which a person advances through the ranks of a particular field, will increasingly "cease to exist" as artificial intelligence and robots replace more human workers over the next few decades. Humans, it says, will have to become more comfortable learning new skills and making career transitions. "The displacement is already beginning to happen," Jeff Hesse, PwC principal and U.S. people and organization co-leader, tells CNBC Make It. Photo by VCG As MarketWatch points out, a national Pew poll confirms that the biggest cause of job loss in the U.S. is technology. A 2013 Oxford University study estimates that 47 percent of U.S. jobs could be replaced by robots and automated technology within the next two decades. "It varies a bit by industry," Hesse says, "but over the next five years we're going to see the need for workers to change their skills at an accelerating pace." How to prepare for the future One trend many workers will be impacted by is robotics process automation (RPA), which automates manual tasks done by humans on computers. "Those workers that do tasks that can automate by RPA will need to learn and take on new skills," Hesse says, citing examples such as learning how to manage automatic software programs. SoftBank Group Corp.'s Pepper the humanoid robot performs during a demonstration at a media briefing in Tokyo, Japan, on Thursday, May 19, 2016. Kiyoshi Ota | Bloomberg | Getty Images Hesse suggests people research what skills will be in-demand in their field. Gates says workers with skills in science, engineering and economics will soon be the most sought after. Alibaba founder and e-commerce titan Jack Ma thinks more companies will be looking for people with expertise in data analysis and collection in the future. Eric Schmidt, executive chairman of Google's parent company Alphabet, also believes data skills will be in-demand moving forward. Of course, learning new skills doesn't necessarily mean going back to school for a degree. The Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce, for example, reports that there are millions of well-compensated jobs with projected job growth available for those without a bachelor's. According to the Georgetown report, community colleges and reputable trade schools that provide vocational programs will help more people find work in the future. More companies will also probably start having more internal training and recruiting programs to help employees at risk of losing their jobs to new technology, Hesse says. According to PwC, "re-tooling," or learning new skills, "will become the norm." The chief executive of Russia's sovereign wealth fund has denied that forming closer energy ties with Saudi Arabia is about politically sidelining Washington. Russia and Saudi Arabia are set to sign $3 billion in joint investments this week, according to the Financial Times. This includes a $1.1 billion agreement for Russian petrochemical company Sibur to build a plant in Saudi Arabia. Speaking to CNBC at the Russian Energy Week, Kirill Dmitriev, CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), said a deepening of ties with Saudi businesses posed no threat to the U.S. "Well, I think Russia and Saudi Arabia have lots of things in common. We want to diversify our economies away from oil and frankly, there was not much going on before. "So, of course we are not talking about Russia being a substitute for the U.S. The U.S. will remain a key partner for Saudi Arabia for hundreds of years to come." A popular Russian-made anti-virus program is linked to one of the most significant security breaches in years, according to a report The Wall Street Journal published today. According to the report, hackers employed by the Russian government stole information related to American cyber tactics after a contractor working for the National Security Agency put the highly classified material on his home computer. The contractor used anti-virus software made by Kaspersky Lab, a Russian cybersecurity firm headquartered in Moscow. The breach is the first known incident in which Kaspersky software is believed to have been exploited by Russian hackers to conduct espionage against the U.S. government, the report said. Once authorized for use on computers belonging to the Army, Navy and Air Force, Kaspersky software continues to be sold widely throughout Western Europe and the Americas, including the United States. In June, a military funding bill in the Senate sought to ban Kaspersky software from being used by the military. Last month, the Department of Homeland Security ordered federal agencies to remove software from the company within 90 days. According to the Journal, national security officials suspect the company of being a proxy for the Russian government, though the company denies those claims. "This development should serve as a stark warning, not just to the federal government, but to states, local governments, and the American public, of the serious dangers of using Kaspersky software," Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., said in a statement. The company told the Journal that it "has not been provided any information or evidence substantiating this alleged incident, and as a result, we must assume that this is another example of a false accusation." An NSA spokesperson also declined to comment to the Journal. A bump fire stock that attaches to an semi-automatic assault rifle to increase the firing rate is seen at Good Guys Gun Shop in Orem, Utah, U.S., October 4, 2017. Top Republican lawmakers are signaling they will examine whether to regulate the device used by the Las Vegas gunman to boost his firing frequency. House Speaker Paul Ryan says Congress should "look into" the so-called bump stock tool, which can make semi-automatic rifles fire more rapidly. Sen. John Cornyn the No. 2 Republican in the Senate on Thursday said "it's worth our serious consideration" to ban bump stocks. They are part of a growing chorus of Republican lawmakers who want to at least critically examine or outright ban the device used in the deadliest mass shooting in modern American history. "I didn't even know what they were until this week, and I'm an avid sportsman," Ryan said in comments that aired Thursday on MSNBC. "So I think we're quickly coming up to speed with what this is. Fully automatic weapons have been banned for a long time. Apparently this allows you to take a semiautomatic and turn it into a fully automatic. So clearly that's something we need to look into." The powerful National Rifle Association on Thursday backed additional regulations on the devices. Audio of the attack on the Route 91 Harvest musical festival in Las Vegas contained rapid fire bursts into the crowd. Fifty-eight people were killed and hundreds were shot or injured in the stampede to escape. Investigators said the gunman, Stephen Paddock, had 12 rifles equipped with bump stocks. With the devices, semiautomatic rifles can fire hundreds of rounds a minute. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., introduced legislation on Wednesday to ban bump stocks. Some Republicans support banning the devices, while others said they were open to hearings on bump stocks. The comments from Ryan and other top Republican lawmakers are significant because efforts to pass new gun control measures following massacres in Orlando, Florida, Newtown, Connecticut, and elsewhere failed in Congress. Any effort to ban bump stocks could still face a tough test in a Congress controlled by Republicans, who typically avoid efforts to tighten gun laws. Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill., on Thursday called on the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to re-evaluate its rules on bump stocks. He said the ATF determined the tools complied with federal law in 2010 and 2012. "The ATF must re-evaluate these devices, and it is my hope that they conclude these mechanisms violate the spirit, if not the letter, of the law," Kinzinger said in a statement. "In the meantime, my colleagues and I will consider legislative options, because these fully-automatic simulator devices have no place in civil society." Cornyn, the Texas Republican, previously told reporters that he asked Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, to hold a Judiciary Committee hearing on bump stocks. The No. 3 Republican in the Senate, Sen. John Thune of South Dakota, also said bump stocks are "something we ought to look into," according to Politico. Wrong prescription Holding doctors liable for medical errors is not the right way to handle the problem watch now Saudi Arabia's energy minister said that Russia has helped to breathe new life into OPEC and that shale can be a major contributor to the market in years to come. "We welcome the contributions of shale as demand approaches 100 million barrels (per day) next year and continues rising," Saudi Arabia Energy Minister Khalid Al-Falih told CNBC on Thursday. "In the years and decades to come, we want shale to continue to be a major contributor but we believe the pace of its growth will be more important." Speaking at a CNBC-moderated plenary session at Russia Energy week 2017, Al-Falih said that certain market predictions that shale producers would bounce back at certain price points had proven incorrect. "We believe that the unreasonable expectations that shale will somehow spring up at certain prices and grow exponentially has been proven to be way unrealistic." The price of oil collapsed from around $114 a barrel in June 2014 due to weak demand, a strong dollar and booming U.S. shale production. OPEC's reluctance to cut output was also seen as a key reason behind the fall. But, the oil cartel soon moved to curb production - along with other oil producing nations such as Russia - in late 2016. Khalid Bin Abdulaziz Al-Falih, Saudi Arabia's energy minister and president of OPEC, speaks as Alexander Novak, Russia's energy minister, left, listens during a news conference following the 172nd Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) meeting in Vienna, Austria, on Thursday, May 25, 2017. Akos Stiller | Bloomberg | Getty Images Daniel Yergin, vice chairman of research firm IHS Markit, also spoke on the shale market at the same panel, saying that "every time you have a big new increment of oil coming to the market, it tends to lead to a price collapse." "And in a sense we saw that now. What is different now is that now it is no longer this mysterious new thing. Shale, this short cycle oil, is part of the market," he said. Breathed life back into OPEC Al-Falih highlighted Thursday the role that Russia had played in stabilizing the market since 2014. "This partnership between Russia and Saudi Arabia has catalyzed cooperation of an unprecedented coalition of 24 countries (OPEC and non-OPEC). It has breathed back life into OPEC which found itself, quite frankly, unable to swing its production as supply was persistently high in 2014 and global inventories were steadily rising ahead of demand," he said. watch now Al-Falih was optimistic that oil markets were continuing to rebalance, but added prices were not for him or his counterpart, the Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak, to determine. "(Prices) are ultimately for the markets to determine based on marginal cost of productions and expectations of supply and demand. But as I think of fundamentals I am more optimistic than I have been in the last two or three years, demand is healthy around the world in developed and developing countries." Although prices have stabilized somewhat in markets from a low point of around $27 in early 2016, they are a long way from their peak price of $114 a barrel seen in June 2014. On Thursday, benchmark Brent crude was trading at $56.06 a barrel and West Texas Intermediate (WTI) at $50.05. Al-Falih said it was a work in progress to balance markets and the job was not yet done. "We're not going to get complacent, we're not going to celebrate any time soon," he said. watch now King Salman visits Russia Russia is rolling out the red carpet for King Salman of Saudi Arabia this week, with the monarch leading a high-profile and highly significant delegation to Moscow. The Kremlin said that King Salman was due to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday and "the leaders will consider joint steps to further develop bilateral cooperation in the trade, economic, investment and cultural-humanitarian areas." The leaders are set to sign joint investment deals worth more than $3 billion on Thursday, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak told the Financial Times on Wednesday, including a $1.1 billion agreement for Russian petrochemical firm Sibur to build a plant in Saudi Arabia. watch now watch now Russia is rolling out the red carpet for King Salman of Saudi Arabia this week, with the monarch leading a high-profile and highly significant delegation to Moscow that will see billions of dollars' worth of joint investment deals. When King Salman landed in Moscow and traveled to the center of Moscow he was greeted with numerous billboards lining the road emblazoned with his own image and a message welcoming him to Russia in Arabic and Russian. His visit is certainly historic, marking the first ever state visit to Russia by a reigning Saudi monarch. The Kremlin said that King Salman was due to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday and "the leaders will consider joint steps to further develop bilateral cooperation in the trade, economic, investment and cultural-humanitarian areas." In addition, international issues including conflicts in the Middle East are expected to form part of the discussions between Putin and the Saudi ruler. Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (2nd R) walks upon his arrival at Moscow's Vnukovo Airport on October 4, 2017. Russian deputy prime minister Dmitry Rogozin is seen on the right. ALEXANDER NEMENOV/AFP/Getty Images Putin and King Salman are set hold two meetings, a broader meeting and then a smaller more closed meeting which will be followed by a state dinner Thursday evening, according to a source within the Russian government who preferred to remain anonymous. The source said there was believed to be more than 100 people in the Saudi delegation to Russia, a state visit due to last four days. The leaders are set to sign joint investment deals worth more than $3 billion on Thursday, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak told the Financial Times on Wednesday, including a $1.1 billion agreement for Russian petrochemical firm Sibur to build a plant in Saudi Arabia. The visit is just the latest sign of increasingly cordial relations and closer economic and political ties between the two oil giants. The countries embarked on a closer relationship last year when Russia and the 14-member oil-producing organization OPEC with Saudi Arabia being its de factor leader announced they would restrict oil output in a bid to support global oil prices. Deals, deals, deals Since then, billion dollar arms deals and joint energy deals have been announced, the latest being the $1 billion joint energy investment fund, details of which could be finalized on Thursday after Putin and King Salman meet. The Kremlin said that a "number of bilateral documents is planned to be signed following the talks." This is likely to refer to a $1 billion energy investment fund which is to be jointly managed by the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund and Saudi Aramco. Kirill Dmitriev, the chief executive of RDIF, told CNBC that the royal visit this week was "historic." watch now "It's the first time a Saudi monarch has visited Russia, we've had different stages in our relationship but in the last couple of years there's been a real significant, dramatic improvement. This came after the Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman visited Russia (in May 2017) and met with President Putin and committed $10 billion to invest in Russia's direct investment fund," he said. "Since that time we've done the energy deal and a number of other investments. So these have set the stage for a very successful visit for the king and a positive direction for Russia-Saudi relations," Dmitriev said. The countries could also discuss extending the deal to curb oil output beyond the current date of March 2018 but experts do not expect that to be announced on Thursday, expecting that any deal to do that will be finalized and announced at OPEC's next official meeting on November 30. US left out in the cold? Economists and analysts have noted that Russia and Saudi Arabia's increasing closeness is down a desire from both sides to form a strategic alliance beyond energy, with political and economic cooperation likely to accompany closer energy deals. "It's reported that this is the largest ever foreign delegation to Moscow," Chris Weafer, senior partner at Macro-Advisory, told CNBC Tuesday. "The Saudis see this relationship with Russia as being very much in their interest. King Salman doesn't do courtesy calls, he doesn't do photo opportunities; this (visit and relationship) makes a great deal of sense for Saudi Arabia. It needs to diversify its economy and its role in the global economy." "This visit is very significant and comes at a time when U.S. influence in the Gulf is in the decline. Russia has taken the opportunity and has run with it in terms of energy cooperation," Weafer said. King of Saudi Arabia Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Dmitry Rogozin walk past honor guards during an official welcoming ceremony at Vnukovo International Airport in Moscow, Russia on October 4, 2017. Bandar Algaloud/Saudi Royal Council /Handout/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images It also comes at a time when there is annoyance from Saudi Arabia at how aggressively the U.S. has developed its shale resources, according to Weafer. "This upset the Saudis because the unofficial deal was that OPEC countries would invest in excess capacity to be able to make sure they could meet demand from the U.S ... But then the U.S. ditched OPEC and ditched Saudi Arabia," he said. Saudi Arabia is seen as a traditional ally of the U.S. Don't mention the Middle East Not all analysts are convinced that the meeting heralds a new era of total collaboration and harmony. For a start, there is the messy situation of Middle Eastern geopolitics to discuss, with Russia and Saudi Arabia at odds over Syrian President Bashar Assad and Iran's role in the region. "Following Russia's intervention in Syria, the Kremlin is trying to develop a more holistic relationship with all the key powers in the Middle East to attempt to manage tensions among rivals. Saudi Arabia probably recognizes that unlike the U.S., Russia can play an important role in mediating with Iran,"Eurasia Group's Practice Head of Middle East & North Africa Ayham Kamel, Oil Director Greg Priddy and Eurasia analyst Zachary Witling said in a note Wednesday. watch now SpaceX president and COO Gwynne Shotwell called for deregulation as space industry executives met with White House officials Thursday at the first National Space Council since it was disbanded in 1993. "If we want to achieve rapid progress in space, the U.S. government must remove bureaucratic practices that run counter to innovation and speed," Shotwell said. With Vice President Mike Pence and other space executives focusing on the broader goals of American leadership in space, Shotwell honed in on the grittier regulatory details of the status quo. She says that SpaceX is "working well" with the Federal Aviation Administration. Yet she quickly gave a caveat, saying "it requires heroics" for vehicle operators to adjust rocket launch licenses. "You have to basically apply for a new license" if an operator makes a change like switching launch pads at a spaceport, Shotwell said. Among those in the audience was George Nield, leader of the FAA's Commercial Space Transportation office, who told CNBC on Sept. 13 that he is working to resolve the enduring conflict between aircraft and spacecraft. He said the FAA is targeting this integration, but "the reality will be an evolution." SpaceX wants that licensing process streamlined so it can launch more frequently. This year it has successfully completed 13 of 13 launches, which Shotwell said "is more than any nation." But Shotwell criticized the amount of time it takes to apply, saying the process takes six months "and then you re-apply at 90 days, 30 days, and then 15 days to file a flight plan." SpaceX wants the National Space Council to hearken back to NASA's commercial orbital transportation services program, or COTS. Shotwell said the program offered a "firm fixed price pay for performance" with "competitive principles." COTS allowed NASA to "rapidly yield two new spacecraft and two new rockets," Shotwell said. "Regulations written decades ago must be updated to keep pace with the new technologies and the high cadence of launch from the United States if we want a strong space launch industry here at home," Shotwell added. She, like the other executives, stopped short of reiterating Pence's statement that America has "lost our edge in space." Instead, Shotwell remained focused on the present. In fact, Shotwell believes SpaceX is bringing back the dominance U.S. experienced in space in the 90s, an idea repeated by the executives of Lockheed Martin , Boeing , Orbital ATK , Blue Origin and Sierra Nevada Corporation also in attendance. "America is out-innovating the rest of the world in space launch," Shotwell said. She repeated SpaceX's plan to carry American astronauts to space next year. Maybe you've heard that country music superstar Carrie Underwood clips her own coupons, or that actors Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard only spent $142 on their wedding, or that some celebs and CEOs like Mark Zuckerberg still prefer to drive old, cheap cars. Everyone loves a good deal, even the super-rich. But some, it seems, are willing to go above and beyond. Here are some of the weirdest money-saving habits from six of the world's wealthiest people: 1. Warren Buffett still buys breakfast every morning for $3.17 or less Warren Buffett, Chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway. Lacy O'Toole | CNBC For the past 54 years, the CEO of Berkshire Hathaway has reportedly been enjoying the same breakfast every morning, and it never costs more than $3.17. The third-richest man in the world has a net worth of $74 billion, according to Forbes, and yet goes to McDonald's for the most important meal of the day, where he pays for two sausage patties, or a bacon, egg and cheese, with exact change. 2. Ingvar Kamprad gets cheap haircuts and shops at the flea market The founder of Swedish do-it-yourself furniture giant Ikea, Ingvar Kamprad. Sven Nackstrand | AFP | Getty Images Ikea founder Ingvar Kamprad told the newspaper Sydsvenskan, "Normally, I try to get my haircut when I'm in a developing country. Last time it was in Vietnam," according to The Guardian. That's not the Swedish billionaire's only frugal quirk. When he returned to Sweden after 40 years of tax exile in 2014, The Telegraph reported that he said on television, "If you look at me now, I don't think I'm wearing anything that wasn't bought at a flea market." 3. Michael Bloomberg wore the same two pairs of shoes for 10 years Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Getty Images The former mayor of New York City and tenth richest man in the world reportedly wore the same two pairs of black loafers to work for over a decade. "You do something called resoling and re-heeling," he told the New York Post in 2010. "You don't have to throw them away and get new ones, you can just use the old ones." 4. Bill Gates wears a $10 watch Bill Gates Ramin Talaie | Getty Images Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates apparently doesn't care much for the latest fashion, either. The world's richest person has a net worth of around $85 billion and wears a $10 watch, reports Politico. He does splurge on occasion. He recently bought a Porsche 911. 5. David Cheriton reuses tea bags David Cheriton, professor at Stanford University. Source: YouTube After David Cheriton introduced Google founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page to venture capitalists at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, he was rewarded a chunk of Google stock from which he made billions. But the Stanford computer science professor still leads a modest lifestyle. He flies commercial and wears jeans into work, according to Forbes. Cheriton even says he reuses tea bags. 6. Azim Premji keeps tabs on his employees' toilet paper usage President Donald Trump fumed on Thursday about a report saying Secretary of State Rex Tillerson had considered resigning in the summer. For the second-straight day, Trump took to Twitter to deride the NBC News report, calling it "fake news." He said the secretary "never threatened to resign." Trump tweet: Rex Tillerson never threatened to resign. This is Fake News put out by @NBCNews. Low news and reporting standards. No verification from me. In an earlier tweet, Trump sounded off about media reports, though he did not specifically reference NBC. He asked why the Senate Intelligence Committee is not investigating "Fake News Networks" to see why "so much of our news is just made up." Trump tweet: Why Isn't the Senate Intel Committee looking into the Fake News Networks in OUR country to see why so much of our news is just made up-FAKE! NBC, which shares a parent company with CNBC, stands by its reporting. The Thursday morning tweets came a day after the leaders of the Senate Intel Committee, Sens. Richard Burr, R-N.C., and Mark Warner, D-Va., gave updates on their probe into Russia's role in the 2016 election and possible collusion with the Trump campaign. They suggested the investigation would not wrap up until at least next year. Burr said the issue of collusion is still "open." Trump has repeatedly lashed out about congressional and special counsel investigations into Russian election influence. He has called the probes politically motivated witch hunts. On Wednesday, NBC News reported that Tillerson came close to resigning this summer but was urged to stay in the job until the end of the year. Citing multiple high-level administration sources, NBC said he referred to Trump as a "moron" in July following a meeting with the president's national security team. At a hastily scheduled news conference, Tillerson said he "never considered leaving" the job. He did not deny calling the president a "moron," calling it "petty" to talk about it. A State Department spokeswoman later denied that he used the term. Asked about Tillerson on Wednesday, Trump said he had "total confidence" in him. Trump accused NBC of making up the report. Reports of tensions between Trump and Tillerson have repeatedly surfaced for months. The president and the secretary have sent mixed messages on some foreign policy issues, particularly the path to denuclearization of North Korea. Tillerson also rebuffed Trump over his defiant response to violence at a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, earlier this year. Disclosure: NBC and CNBC are owned by NBCUniversal, a division of Comcast. President Donald Trump's threats to terminate the U.S. trade agreement with South Korea ended up spurring support for the deal and now both parties are striking a conciliatory tone. U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said Wednesday he looked forward to talks on resolving implementation issues and potential amendments, which was a far cry from the chances of canceling the entire agreement. That more conciliatory tone was a marked change from a late August report in The Wall Street Journal, just before a long Labor Day holiday weekend in the U.S., that Trump could terminate the deal soon. Trump had long voiced opposition to the pact. In an April interview with The Washington Post, he also threatened to terminate the deal, calling the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement, known as Korus, a "horrible deal" that has "destroyed" his country. The Trump administration's backtracking this week was all the more remarkable because of the timeline, one analyst noted. "When the Korus came up, right at a holiday weekend, the business community did a remarkable job, in my view, of mobilizing very quickly and effectively to say, 'This is not in our interests, it's not in U.S. interests,'" said Deborah Elms, executive director of the Asian Trade Centre. Indeed, on Sept. 5, the day after Labor Day, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce made its opposition to the Trump administration's position clear. "It's difficult to imagine a move that would bring more self-harm to our economy and national security, with no benefit in return, than withdrawing from Korus. We urge the administration not to make this rash and irresponsible move," President and CEO Thomas Donohue said in a statement. There's no disagreement between President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, a U.S. diplomat told CNBC. Kurt Volker, U.S. representative for Ukraine negotiations, also said he had no reason to believe that a change in the U.S. administration is on the horizon. "I don't think there is really a disagreement between the State Department and the White House and the Congress here. People make too much out of that," said Volker, who was appointed by Tillerson in July. Volker's comments on Wednesday followed reports that Tillerson openly referred to Trump as a "moron" in a national security meeting and considered handing in a resignation letter in July. The two have reportedly clashed over a series of key foreign policy issues, including North Korea, Iran and Qatar. Tweet 1 Trump said on Twitter last Sunday: "I told Rex Tillerson, our wonderful Secretary of State, that he is wasting his time trying to negotiate with Little Rocket Man," in reference to North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un. Volker told CNBC the president wasn't saying he was dissatisfied with Tillerson's work but simply commenting about Kim Jong Un. "I have no reason to think that there's any change coming in the U.S. administration," Volker said, referring to reports that Tillerson wanted to leave his post. Republican Policy Committee Chairman Luke Messer said Thursday the GOP budget plan is a step toward helping the economy reach 4 percent growth, a level that's necessary to cut the nation's debt. The GOP is looking to push through a $4.1 trillion budget plan through the House on Thursday as the party looks to set the stage for tax reform. President Donald Trump has predicted his policies, including tax reform, would spur growth of 3 percent. "We don't want to have a tax cut that doesn't really get the economy growing again because I can tell you this: If we want to pay down the debt and deficit ... the only time we've done that in modern history is when we've had 4 percent growth," the Indiana congressman said. "Our number one target in these tax cuts should be what's the path to 4 percent growth," Messer said on CNBC's "Squawk Box." Messer, a member of the House Financial Services Committee, said passing a budget plan this week is important because "it's the gateway to tax reform." "We'll get a budget passed in the Senate as well and we'll get it reconciled," Messer said. "What happened in health care is not OK. From my perspective, the United States Senate is broken. It's not OK to make promises on health care for seven years and then shrug and walk away when it got a little hard." Also on "Squawk Box," Rep. John Yarmuth, D-Ky., said the budget process has been like "Alice in Wonderland." "We have Republicans who are opposed that will vote for it today," said Yarmuth, the ranking Democrat on the House Budget Committee. "We're fighting about the budget because we really believe the Republican budget represents a drastically wrong set of priorities for the American public and government." The proposal calls for more than $5 trillion in spending cuts over the coming decade, including a plan to turn Medicare into a voucher-like program for future retirees. It would slash Medicaid by about $1 trillion over the next decade and repeal Obamacare. Regarding tax cuts, Yarmuth said he's concerned the GOP plan would favor wealthy Americans and corporations. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Correction: This story was revised to correct the amount in the GOP's budget proposal. It's $4.1 trillion. Marni Walden EVP president of product and new business innovation at Verizon. Verizon Communications on Wednesday said Marni Walden, executive vice president and president of global media, will leave the company in February 2018. Walden, the company's top-ranking female executive, played a big role in Verizon's acquisition of Yahoo and its merger with AOL to create the Oath unit. Walden, who was seen as a potential successor to Chief Executive Lowell McAdam, will move into a strategic adviser role from Dec. 31, until her departure. "She is leaving because she wants to pursue other opportunities. This is not related at all to yesterday's news," said a company official, speaking on condition of anonymity. Yahoo said on Tuesday that all 3 billion of its user accounts were hacked in a 2013 data theft, tripling its earlier estimate of the size of the largest breach in history. Walden most recently spearheaded Verizon's entry into global digital media and telematics, the company said. Oath CEO Tim Armstrong will report to McAdam after Dec. 31, while the telematics organization will report to John Stratton, executive vice president and president of Verizon's Global Operations, Verizon said. "Marni helped build our wireless business, starting as a sales representative in a store, and grew into an inspirational leader and role model for so many at Verizon," McAdam said. 1. Yes. The ordinance goes against state law and is not in the best interest of the cities. 2. Yes. At the very least, it should be amended to give police officers some discretion. 3. No. Voters approved the ordinance by large majorities; the councils cant ignore that fact. 4. No. The petition process has to be given a chance to work. Leave the ordinance alone. 5. Unsure. Its hard to say how the cities should move forward regarding the ordinance. Vote View Results Led by Vice President Mike Pence, several White House officials and space industry executives met Thursday at the first National Space Council since it was disbanded in 1993. "American leadership in space will be assured," Pence said. "We will return Americans to the moon ... and build the foundation we need to send Americans to Mars and beyond." The meeting's opening remarks focused on moving away from the current outsourcing of manned launches, in which American astronauts go to space on Russian rockets. "America seems to have lost our edge in space," Pence said. "Rather than lead in space, too often we've chosen to drift and, as we learned 60 years ago, when we drift we fall behind." "America must lead in space once again," he said. Chief executives Marillyn Hewson, Dennis Muilenburg and David Thompson of Lockheed Martin , Boeing and Orbital ATK , respectively each stressed a similar desire to lead the world in space exploration. None of the CEOs reiterated Pence's statement that America is behind in space leadership. "We have proven that U.S. ventures in space lead to broad societal benefits that lift our national economy," Hewson said. CNBC anchor Carolin Roth with Claire Cronin, senior VP marketing at Virgin Atlantic, Philip Almond, director of marketing and audiences at the BBC and Julie Woods-Moss, chief marketing and innovation officer at Tata Communications Making glossy TV commercials and showing them off to colleagues used to be the pride and joy of the chief marketing officer, but these days the role is dramatically different. Working out how to do more with less and getting other executive team members to see marketing as revenue-generating rather than revenue-taking are now priorities for CMOs, according to a group of senior executives. "Other parts of the organization have been expected to reengineer processes and so they can streamline their operations and deliver more return to the bottom line," said Virgin Atlantic's Senior Vice-President of Marketing Claire Cronin, speaking on a panel chaired by CNBC anchor Carolin Roth at this week's Festival of Marketing in London. "For a long time, marketing was seen as, they didn't participate in that conversation, they were in the ivory tower creating beautiful ads and they were sacrosanct from that process," Cronin added. "Increasingly now, in order to be credible as a CMO, you have to be putting yourself forward to say we need to look at our cost base too." watch now Building marketing budgets from the "bottom up," or working out how to reach consumers in a cost-effective way, is now more common than a finance team giving the marketing department a pot of money and then asking a CMO to spend 10 percent less, Cronin added. Explaining marketing to the executive team Marketers still have a job in explaining that their activities can actually generate money for a business, rather than being seen as a function that spends money. Julie Woods-Moss, chief marketing and innovation officer at Tata Communications, the telco arm of the Indian conglomerate, said that corporate functions such as legal and HR sometimes see marketing as a cost. At a recent board meeting her chief executive explained that some money would need to be redirected away from the core business and towards innovation. "I was in the group with (the) product (and) sales (functions). (I) left HR, finance (and) legal in the other room, and by the time I got back they were already taking costs out of my budget and I realized how little they know (about the marketing function). The group I was in see marketing as a revenue generating unit, and the corporate functions still see me as a cost," Woods-Moss said on the panel. CNBC's Carolin Roth with Claire Cronin, senior VP marketing at Virgin Atlantic, Philip Almond, director of marketing and audiences at the BBC and Julie Woods-Moss, chief marketing and innovation officer at Tata Communications Festival of Marketing But instead of saying to herself, "How dare they, I'm working my ass off," Woods-Moss resolved to spend more time with colleagues to show how her team can generate returns. Having to deal with these kinds of judgments and having a thick skin is also something she seeks out in candidates. "One thing I look for when I interview people is do you have that growth mindset, can you turn a disadvantage into an advantage?" The CMO as commercial wizard Doing more with less is also a theme for Philip Almond, the BBC's director of marketing and audiences, who has recently brought marketing back in-house. "We are radically altering our ways of doing things. We used to use external agencies, (but) we've now brought them back in-house, saving 1.5 million ($2 million) a year. In doing so, we are actually making roughly 50 percent more assets than we were two years ago, because of the amount of variety we need. So there is a continual reassessment of how you are spending your budgets," he said. Virgin Atlantic is also reducing the number of agencies it works with. The role of CMO is less about being a "brand magician," and more about being a "commercial wizard," Cronin said. "You actually spend a huge amount of time increasingly now with the procurement team and with the finance functions because all CMOs are being asked to do more for less." The BBC's Broadcasting House in London Carl Court | Getty Images Digital skills Russians may have targeted the Democrats in 2016. But if they sought a GOP crackup, they couldn't have done more than Republicans have done to themselves in 2017. President Donald Trump opened his term blaming self-seeking predecessors, Republican and Democrat alike, for economic "carnage." On trade, immigration and race relations, he has offered policies and rhetoric that thrill his blue-collar base but alienate the pro-GOP business community and moderate suburbanites. On repealing Obamacare, Trump gave in to plans by congressional Republicans to cut benefits for the working-class voters who backed him. When the effort collapsed amid public opposition and intraparty resistance, he ripped Republicans for their failure. Now the GOP tax plan, which rewards wealthy Americans most of all, faces similar risks. After arguing vainly inside the White House for a higher top rate, ex-Trump strategist Steve Bannon threatens populist challenges to incumbent Republican senators. Vice President Mike Pence 's top aide suggests a "purge" of Trump critics. "The GOP is already fractured, but not yet fully broken," says Reed Galen, once a top aide in John McCain 's 2008 presidential campaign. What's still unclear is whether Republicans face a complete break anytime soon. The question sounds odd when Republicans control the White House and Congress. Yet their struggle for a governing consensus demonstrates long-term vulnerability in an economically complex, culturally diverse 21st-century America. Democratic divisions a half-century ago produced the current partisan alignment. After national Democratic leaders embraced the civil rights movement, conservative white Southerners drifted away from their ancestral partisan home toward the GOP. Today the GOP's reliance on blue-collar conservatives, which Trump exploited, threatens to repel more college-educated whites, minorities and young voters. Between 2000 and 2016, election exit polls show, Republicans lost substantial ground with those groups. As America grows less white, better-educated and more culturally tolerant, those defections pose increasing risks. Trump inflamed them with his "many sides" reaction to white supremacist protests in Charlottesville, Virginia; so did the Alabama Senate nomination of conservative Christian extremist Roy Moore, who has defied court orders on church-state separation and spoken of making gay sex illegal. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell fiercely opposed Moore. But Bannon rallied Trump voters behind him anyway, disparaging McConnell as "corrupt and incompetent" while warning that populists don't need campaign cash from "the elites, the crony capitalists, from the fat cats in Washington, D.C., New York City and Silicon Valley." That exposed more than the rift between the Trump White House and congressional leaders. It demonstrated the gap between an affluent "establishment" and working-class Republicans angry over diminished economic prospects and cultural change. Michael Steele, a former national GOP chairman, sees Bannon leading working-class voters toward a new party of economic populism. Meantime, he fears leaks at the other end of the Republican spectrum from moderates who decide "I can't take this crazy." "The question is whether the so-called establishment is willing to engage in that fight," says Peter Wehner, a former aide to President George W. Bush and a harsh Trump critic. So far, the establishment has shown less appetite for battle than for a transactional approach. It embraces the power of a Republican president while ignoring as much as possible his inflammatory conduct and departures from conservative orthodoxy on issues such as free trade. Yet 2017 has been a nonstop jackhammer on internal contradictions. The low-tax, small-government priorities of GOP leaders and donors collide with the interests of the blue-collar rank and file; the rank and file's raw resentments chafe the sensibilities of upscale Republicans and voters they need in the future. "The GOP establishment has to decide who it is they represent," Galen said. The son of a top aide to past Republican luminaries Newt Gingrich and Dan Quayle, Galen has decided the party no longer represents him. Ginny Wolfe, another erstwhile Republican operative, reached the same conclusion. Raised in Kentucky as a "yellow-dog Democrat," she once gravitated to the GOP for its stances on defense and free trade. She landed a job in Ronald Reagan's White House. She became an ally of Lee Atwater, then a brass-knuckle practitioner of racial politics who she says "would be considered an angel" in today's GOP. During George W. Bush's presidency she headed communications for the Senate GOP campaign arm and advised Republican leader Bill Frist. Later, Wolfe worked for the ONE campaign aligned with Bush's initiative to fight AIDS in Africa. She calls "social justice and racial equality" top-priority causes but says much of the present-day GOP doesn't even recognize they exist. She no longer considers herself a Republican; nor does her 28-year-old son. "Most of my Republican friends don't either, whether they'll say it out loud or not," Wolfe added. "There has to be a reckoning," she concluded. Republicans "need to fear the future." According to this mornings Daily Express, two Conservative MEPs have defied the Governments position and voted against Britain and the EU advancing to the trade portion of the Brexit negotiations. Richard Ashworth, who sits for the South East, and Julie Girling, an MEP for the South West, broke ranks to support a motion that the UK has not made sufficient progress to be permitted to start talking trade. Even for committed Europhiles, its difficult to see the tactical wisdom of this move. Not only did the motion pass very comfortably, by 557 votes to 92 with 29 abstentions, but it has no direct impact on the process because, as Liam Fox points out in the article, the European Parliament is not involved in the Brexit process. Nor is it apparent why any lawmaker whose primary loyalty is to this country would vote so directly against its interests, especially when theyre from the same party as forms the national government. Were either Ashworth or Girling proud of their case, we might at least have an explanation to pick over. But the Express reports that neither responded to repeated requests for comment, and no mention of the vote is made on their Twitter feeds. Perhaps some of their constituents might get in touch and let us know if they hear anything back. Of course, in the British tradition legislators are representatives, not delegates, and Girling and Ashworth are perfectly entitled to vote against their colleagues, their party, and their countrys negotiating position if thats truly the way their consciences point them. But stories like this will simply deepen the mistrust between Conservative Brexiteers and Remainers at a time when, as Ruth Davidson phrased it in her conference speech, they need to be coming together as just Brits and trying to deliver a workable exit deal which serves the long-term interests of the UK and, as a consequence, of the Tory Party too. Garvan Walshe is a former National and International Security Policy Adviser to the Conservative Party. He runs Brexit Analytics. It was 8.30 in the morning when the first pictures began to appear, on Spanish social media, of policemen in black helmets and body armour making their way towards buildings used as polling stations in Catalonias banned referendum. This was not going to end well. Sure enough, the videos began to surface: old men being hurled away from a voting queue, a lady in her 50s with a bloodied face, people being thrown down stairs. Firemen facing off against the police in riot gear. Until that Sunday morning, Madrid had managed the crisis well. The Catalan nationalist government, elected to office with a narrow parliamentary majority, but on only 48 per cent of the popular vote, had torn up parliamentary procedure to ram emergency referendum legislation through the regional Parlement. The courts had ruled the referendum illegal (the Spanish constitution, like most, forbids attempts at secession). Judicial investigations for misappropriation of funds had been opened. The leaders of the independence movement faced fines and disqualification from office. A whole set of ballot boxes and papers, intended to be used for the voting, was confiscated. Unionist Catalans (around half the population) planned to stay away. A low turn out was bound to invalidate the poll and any declaration of independence that might follow a nationalist victory. The provincial Catalan police, bearing the historically resonant name Mossos de Esquadra, were instructed to close polling stations that morning. The method they chose to do so was light touch they sent pairs of officers to each station to inform the organisers that the referendum was illegal and if they kept them open they would be subject to prosecution. Someone we dont know who, but it would be astounding if they had not taken this decision without highest political authorisation decided this was not enough. An hour or so after polls opened, in those parts of Barcelona where the media were most likely to be present, they chose to send in the riot units of the National Police and Guardia Civil. Worried that images of Catalans queuing to vote would grant the referendum legitimacy, Madrid instead contrived to generate footage of peaceful civilians under attack from uniformed goons of the state. By this means, they closed 91 polling stations. The Mossos, using their softer tactics, closed 221. Short of sending tanks into the streets, it is hard to think of a measure more calculated to inflame nationalist feeling, deprive the Spanish government of the moral high ground, and hand the initiative to the nationalists. Instead of discussions about the ease with which people could vote multiple times or the risible turnout, the story of the day became Spanish police brutality. The tin-eared reaction of Mariano Rajoy, Spains Prime Minister, served to heighten, not dampen down, tensions. Though he was right the criticise the Catalonian government for acting in contempt of the law, he foolishly limited himself to praising the role of the security forces and their proportionality in upholding it. This would have been the time to beat a tactical retreat. Explain that, while the referendum was illegal and those responsible for holding the supreme court in contempt would be brought to answer before justice, there were clearly mistakes that had been made and measures would be taken to restore the confidence and legitimacy of national authority in all parts of Spain. Instead, the King was wheeled out to make a televised address, inviting comparisons with the appeal for democracy that his father made on the occasion of the attempted military coup on 23rd February 1981. The relatively inexperienced King Felipe did not measure up to his fathers standard. His legally correct but politically shortsighted speech failed to reassure both sets of Catalans those who feared being drummed out of Spain by nationalist extremists; as well as nationalists whose worst fears about the Spanish state were confirmed last Sunday. I understand from sources close to Spains governing Partido Popular that their long-run strategy had been to provoke a confrontation with the nationalists. Though unwise (better, if youre trying to keep the country together, to reduce tensions and expose your opponents as unreasonable), this could at least have been rational if accompanied by the tactics to win the conflict you provoke. But when your opponents delight in weaving a black legend of Castillian oppression stretching right back to the War of Spanish Succession and through Francos regime (a partial interpretation of history, narrated at the Catalan taxpayers expense at, for instance, Barcelonas El Born market museum), it is unforgivably stupid to act in the character they have created for you. To accommodate the extra police sent to Catalonia, Madrid chartered a boat painted with loony tunes characters and moored it in full view of the city. An amusing coincidence at the time, it now looks to have foreshadowed a strategy worthy of Wile E Coyotes self-defeating explosive experiments in pursuit of the roadrunner. There are fake crises as well as fake news. Politicians and journalists in the Westminster Village regularly lash each other up into a lather about nothing much at all. They may be doing it once again over the Prime Ministers speech yesterday. Politicians catch colds. Pranksters disrupt speeches (though how on earth did conference security let yesterdays slip through the net?). Stage sets fall apart. These things happen, although it is admittedly unusual for all three to do so at once. Most voters may shrug. Very many will not have noticed yesterdays events at all, or will only have glimpsed what happened briefly. It may even be that Theresa Mays resilience, good humour under fire, and determination to do her duty win the sympathy and backing from the country that she gained yesterday from her party. But is such a benign outcome for the Conservatives really likely? Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. The third time its enemy action, Goldfinger says in the novel. And after yesterday, the Prime Minister may need even more than James Bond to rescue her from her troubles. The danger is that losing her voice becomes a metaphor for her having nothing to say; that the collapsing slogan becomes one for a government falling apart. If that second claim is an overstatement, the first is simply untrue. The core problem with Mays text yesterday was not that there was nothing in it, but that there was too much. Its writers sought to pack into it an apology (which we advised her to get out of the way last Sunday), a personal credo, her family story, the British Dream, policy announcements, free market generalities and interventionist detail. ConservativeHome liked parts of it. The Prime Minister signalled that contingency planning is under way if there is no deal in the Brexit talks, which this site has been flagging up since the summer, and swore to take personal charge of the drive for more housing, just as we suggested last weekend. But boiled down to its essence, the key problem with the speech was that for all its content it lacked clarity and so failed to point a coherent way ahead either for the Conservatives or, especially, for May herself. You cannot adapt to the Corbyn challenge by making a stirring defence of free marketsand then carry on as usual by stressing energy price caps and more council houses. The latter was especially puzzling. The Conservative Manifesto spoke of turning social housing private: new fixed-term social homes, it said, would be built and then sold privately after ten to fifteen years with an automatic Right to Buy for tenants. However, neither the speech nor the briefing mentioned that last element and this at a time when younger voters have little stake in the system, and thus little incentive to vote for the party which represents it. What has happened to the Tory vision, set out as long ago as the 1950s, of making workers capitalists of the mass ownership of property, shares and pensions? Furthermore, housing is one of the few policy areas in which the Government can afford to be bold, since it can borrow for capital projects at cheap rates and doesnt require primary legislation to act. But it promised more money for selling off existing homes, in the form of help to buy, than for building new ones. Earlier this week, William Hague urged the Conservatives to be imaginative. But five thousand more homes a year is a sprinkle of water in the housing ocean at a time when we need over 250,000. The British dream didnt work for Ed Miliband. It didnt work earlier for Michael Howard. And we doubt very much whether it will work for Theresa May. But if thats what she wants to project, it must be done properly right from the start of the conference week. Instead, last Sunday brought two policy announcements, one of which will be swallowed up with no thanks at all (the raising of the level at which tuition fees begin to be repaid). That collapsing conference slogan was the Nick Timothy-era one Building a country that works for everyone. It had the presence throughout the week of a ghost ship. If Downing Street wanted the British Dream to be more than a last-day conference offering for the headline writers, it needed to be projected from the backdrop and hammered home throughout the week, running through the speeches of Ministers from the platform as the core runs through a stick of rock. The newish team in Number Ten is evidently easier to deal with than the old one, and managerially very competent indeed, but it lacks a disruptor, an agitator, a source of ideas: a Steve Hilton or a Timothy or even a George Osborne, who gave the Cameron Government the Northern Powerhouse and the new Living Wage and, yes, Help to Buy. There is the inevitable talk this morning of a leadership challenge. Conservative MPs will be talking with their Associations this coming weekend (in some cases), and meet in the Commons when it returns next week. The best guess today is that it will have moved a few to favour one, but not many. The case against is formidable: in essence, that toppling a Prime Minister during the Brexit negotiations would paralyse them. Furthermore, the Tories can surely lose only one leader during this Parliament. What if another is required after those negotiations end? Or if a challenge led to a general election? And Mays replacement now could well be Boris Johnson, if his name went before the membership. That is a disincentive to act for many Conservative MPs. None the less, the week will have reminded them of an inconvenient truth namely, that the Foreign Secretary stands out from his Cabinet colleagues in being able to make a mass Tory appeal with pizzazz, wit and gusto. The Conservative week has been an Aesop-type fable of the lion and the frog: Johnson with his leonine Churchillian appeal; May with the croaker that seized up her throat. We have our reservations about the Foreign Secretary, but concede that he alone, of those Ministers who spoke this week, made the Tory message sing. 10/04/2017 Photo (c) 6okean - Getty Images Trading in cigarettes for vaping could spare as many as 6.6 million American smokers from early death, according to researchers from the Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center. But whether vaping actually helps people quit their cigarette addictions is a controversial question that the Georgetown researchers do not address in that figure. The Centers for Disease Control estimate that cigarettes (including exposure to secondhand smoke) kill 480,000 Americans each year. The Georgetown study claims that, optimistically, switching to e-cigarettes could add as many as 86.7 million years to smokers' lives. Lead author Dr. David Levy called e-cigarettes the lesser of two evils. Theres no doubt about that. However, he was careful to clarify that e-cigarettes that deliver intense amounts of nicotine with large tanks are more effective as a cessation aid. What the researchers did Vaping, or smoking vaporized nicotine through an electronic cigarette, has been linked to lung inflammation, cardiovascular problems, mouth ulcers and even an increased likelihood of getting hooked on regular cigarettes. Levy, an epidemiologist who specializes in tobacco regulation, acknowledges that e-cigarettes contain formaldehyde and other carcinogens. But he says that vaping delivers harmful chemicals at doses much lower than what cigarettes do. The study made optimistic and pessimistic projections, assuming that, at worst, e-cigarettes are 40 percent as dangerous as cigarettes (a figure supported by critics of the vaping industry) and, at best, five percent as dangerous. Where the health benefits of vaping as compared to cigarettes is unanimously agreed upon, the effectiveness of vaping as a smoking cessation aid is not. E-cigs don't help people quit Dr. Stanton Glantz, a medical professor and director of the Center for Tobacco Control and Research at the University of California, San Francisco, is a researcher and activist working to expose big tobacco's marketing tactics. He is unimpressed with Levys study. "If you can snap your finger and get all the smokers to switch to e-cigarettes with no other effects, there's no question we would be better off. But that's not what is happening," Glantz tells ConsumerAffairs. "I dont think this paper contributes much of anything frankly," he adds. In 2016, Glantz and a team of researchers analyzed troves of published data to determine the effectiveness of vaping in helping people quit smoking. They found that people who vape are actually 28 percent less likely to quit cigarettes. Glantz criticized the latest vaping study for not factoring that data into their findings. "Basically, what this paper says is that if a whole lot of people quit smoking, lives will be saved." Lots of nicotine and specialty shops are better Levy and Glantz do both agree on a few points, however; namely, that vaporizers that deliver more nicotine are better at helping smokers quit. Glantz's research showed that smokers who regularly vape from large e-cigarettes equipped with tanks are the one segment of smokers that have found success. But these people constitute just ten to twenty percent of the vaping population, he cautions. Another major problem with e-cigarettes is the fact that many major vaping brands are owned by big tobacco companies with a vested interest in keeping people hooked on cigarettes. These brands tend to take up the most space at major retail stores, Levy says, but they are not effective at getting people to quit. MarkTen, an e-cigarette marketed by Altria (a subsidiary of Marlboro), stands out to Levy as one of the brands that consumers should avoid. MarkTen seems to be one of the least effective e-cigarettes, it terms that it doesn't deliver nicotine at the rate cigarettes do, Levy says MarkTen, which did not return a press inquiry, acknowledges on its packaging that this product is not a smoking cessation product. Levy advises smokers trying to quit to instead purchase e-cigarettes from independent brands that are sold in specialty shops or online. Coral Expeditions is pushing up capacity significantly with a new 120-passenger expedition ship set to enter service in the second quarter of 2019. The new addition will be bigger than the lines trio of small ships, but will fit right in, offering a unique experience and Australian ambiance aboard, according to Paul Chacko, managing director. We have pent up demand from additional clientele, he told Cruise Industry News. We have been running full on our core itineraries for a while. The companys mainstay product offering has been expedition voyages to areas such as the Great Barrier Reef, the Kimberly, a growing Tasmania program and an evolving Papua New Guinea deployment. Kallang Capital Holdings took over ownership in 2014 and Chacko said plans had been underway since late 2015 to expand with new tonnage. We operate, manage, crew and maintain our own vessels, so with our strong maritime and engineering team in-house, we had a very clear sense of what we wanted right from the beginning, said Chacko. Signing the contract with VARD in September, Chacko said the company talked to a handful of shipyards. We knew the ones that would be able build the ship we wanted; we didnt go through a tender process with dozens of yards, he said. Technical discussions took some six months, with numerous face-to-face sit downs, and yard representatives spending time on the companys ships. Among the unique features on the shallow-drafted newbuild will be the lines tendering system, which allows it to land all passengers within 20 minutes. Using hydraulic lifts, tenders are lifted out of the water to make boarding efficient, with no steps. In addition, most staterooms will have private balconies and the lines open-bridge policy will be enhanced with an observation area built into the ships bridge. Coral will be managing the newbuilding process directly. Chacko said the lines last newbuilding project was also managed in house. VARD is expected to cut steel before years end, with a ship delivery scheduled from its shipyard in Vietnam in early 2019. There is an option for a second ship which the company intends to pick up. Over time we will transition to a newer fleet, said Chacko. The early 2019 date comes in at the start of the expedition new-ship delivery boom. I hope that the newbuild volumes will be prudent and backed by solid evidence of demand versus purely speculative building, Chacko noted. Demand is there for Coral Expeditions, with a 12- to 18-month booking window and massive deployment opportunity with Australias coast line (the ships are Australian flagged). Passenger sourcing is primarily repeat business and word-of-mouth, but the line is starting to venture out, recently appointing a sales agent in the U.S. A couple of years ago there was no website, it was all offline bookings, Chacko said. We will not change the character of the organization, keeping in its maritime roots and not becoming a marketing firm. Puerto Vallarta is in the midst of a major upgrade. A three phase plan to build a cruise terminal in the style of a traditional Mexican hacienda, a two-teared 400-car parking lot, and Latin America's largest aquarium will likely top $36 million. The 15,500 square meter commercial project went out to bid in 2015 and phase one, the terminal, is currently under construction. Cruise industry veteran, port agent, and tour provider Carlos Gerard won the terminal bid. He said cruise officials and Puerto Vallarta stakeholders are in perfect harmony for the authentic amenities to be offered. "We don't want to make just another cruise terminal," Gerard said. "By completing something completely different, they will feel like they are in an authentic Mexican hacienda." Gerard is a former government tourism official and also runs a tequila distillery nearby popular with cruise tours. "I know from experience what the cruise lines want, need. I know what the passengers want, need -- as well as the crew." He emphasized cruise crew as potential customers. While acknowledging there are skeptics, and even dissenting voices to the plan that would increase attractions in the port itself and not the town area, he said Puerto Vallarta residents were wholly committed to their tourism product, which boasts of a diversity of cruise arrivals as well as drive in and fly in. "It's creating more jobs. We are creating 400 jobs just for the construction. When finished, over 1000. The main reason is to become more competitive," he told Cruise Industry News. "We need Mazatlan and Cabo San Lucas to do something similar." The project is scheduled, aggressively, for an autumn 2018 completion. Puerto Vallarta expects 145 ships this year, up from a low of just 81 ships in 2013. He hopes for at-least 10 percent growth year-over-year going forward. Windstar Cruises announced it has named safety specialist Michael Inman as director of risk management and compliance. Bringing with him experience from both the U.S. Coast Guard and the cruise industry, Inman will report directly to Windstar President John Delaney and work alongside fleet and technical operations officials. Michael Inman is no stranger to the Windstar family, explained Delaney. Hes worked with us in a large capacity over the last nine months, consulting on our new Alaska voyages and has given us critical support with respect to safety, environmental, and regulatory issues. Given his extensive professional experience in these areas, there is no doubt that his vast knowledge and expertise will help us meet our critical objective of safe operations everywhere we sail, every day, and on every ship. Inmans career with the U.S. Coast Guard involved leading complex operations across drastically different geographic areas including the Caribbean Sea, Bering Sea, Gulf of Alaska, and North Pacific Ocean. His day-to-day work life involved commanding multiple Coast Guard vessels and their crews, overseeing emergency search and rescue missions and spearheading intense international law enforcement efforts including counter drug, human smuggling and mass migration. He also helped plan and expand Coast Guard operations in the Arctic, influencing national level policy and decisions. "Inmans in-depth knowledge of maritime operations in Alaska will continue to provide Windstar with significant advantages for any upcoming Alaskan itineraries, which begin in May 2018," the company said. "Having served as the Captain of the Port for Southeast Alaska, Sector Juneau an area known for its limited port facilities while remaining a number one cruise ship destination with over 1 million passengers visiting the region yearly Inman oversaw more than 12,000 miles of coastline and was responsible for all marine safety, law enforcement matters, environmental protection policies, aids to navigations, and national security issues." Most recently, Inman worked for Holland America Group for five-and-a-half years, focusing on safety, occupational safety and environmental issues for a fleet of more than 30 cruise ships. Inman also led the marine safety investigation program while at the cruise line and played a key role in supervising emergency response, maritime regulatory audits, environmental compliance and safety management systems. Educated at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy with a Bachelor of Science in Marine Science and a Master of Science in Telecommunications Systems Management from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School, Inman is also an associate fellow of The Nautical Institute and a board member for both the Alaska Maritime Prevention and Response Network and The Puget Sound Maritime Historic Society and Youth Maritime Training Association. Inman joins the 130 employees on the Windstar corporate team, based at the Seattle headquarters for the six-ship fleet. American Cruise Lines will deploy its new 175-passenger American Constellation into the Alaska market for the 2018 summer. "The American Constellations arrival this June will more than double American Cruise Lines capacity in the region and help meet the recent demand for cruise travel to Alaska," the company said in a statement. Its a privilege to be a part of the ongoing preservation and conservation of Glacier Bay. We are continuously looking for ways to provide our guests with the most memorable cruising experience and this rare glimpse of the worlds most magnificent biosphere does just that, said Charles A. Robertson, CEO of American Cruise Lines. Complimentary pre-cruise hotel packages are available for all cruises departing from Juneau, Alaska. With itineraries ranging from 8 to 15 days, the Alaska cruises visit such port of call as Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan, Petersburg, Kake and Glacier Bay-- among others. Studies on consumer auto financing show most buyers prefer to get their car and truck loans directly from auto manufacturers mostly because they can cut a better deal, dollar-wise. But the next preferred landing spot for auto finance consumers isnt big banks its credit unions. For example, a new study from Wallet Hub shows that vehicle consumers should start their search for financing with car manufacturers, where theyll find lending rates that are 44% below the industry average. Credit unions should be next, Wallet Hub reports, with lending rates 21% below industry average. Meanwhile, big bank auto lending rates are 10% above the industry average, while regional banks offer loans that are 25% higher than the industry average. Maybe thats one reason why credit union membership is growing so fast, as U.S. credit unions have added 4.6 million members in the past year (through June 2017), according to the Credit Union National Association, based in Washington, D.C. Credit unions had a grand total of 111.7 million members at the end of June, and continue to grow. If you want to ascend to the top technology spot in a credit union, learn to collaborate, communicate, and bring value to all areas of the organization. Thats the consensus of a panel of hiring experts at the co-located CUNA Technology Council and CUNA Operations & Member Experience Council Conferences Tuesday in Phoenix. In the past, technology people were put in a back room and, as long as the computers worked, everything was ok, says Bobby Michael, president/CEO of Army Aviation Center Federal Credit Union in Daleville, Ala. Now, information technology departments need to be integrated with other departments. We dont need loners; we need CIOs who can integrate into the mainstream and who are good collaborators and communicators. Brian Kidwell, executive vice president at D. Hilton Associates, agrees the role of the chief information officer (CIO) and chief technology officer (CTO) is changing. When we started, it was all about, Does this person have Symitar experience? But its not about products or the latest piece of equipment or software anymore, he says. Its about using technology to find out what members need or to help staff serve members faster. CIOs dont even need to have banking experience. Former Equifax CEO Richard Smith on Wednesday continued his tour on Capitol Hill to defend his previous employers response to a data breach that disclosed the personal financial information of more than 145 million Americans. Smith testified first in the morning before the Senate Banking Committee, followed by an afternoon hearing with the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Privacy Technology and the Law. Similar to Tuesdays experience, lawmakers quizzed Smith about the timeline of events, including who knew what details and when. Senate Banking Member Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., condemned Equifaxs business model, noting the firm makes money from data breaches including its own because more Americans then sign up for identity theft protections. She also noted that small banks and credit unions will be hurt because theyll have to shoulder the costs of issuing new cards to members. U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren said one of the biggest injustices of the Equifax Inc. hack is that the company might actually benefit from the fact that a majority of Americans personal data is now in the hands of criminals. Equifax will be just fine, Warren told former Equifax Chief Executive Officer Richard Smith at a Senate Banking Committee hearing Wednesday. Heck, it could actually come out ahead. Warren, one of the finance industrys most relentless critics, noted that the company advertises fraud-protection services and profits from selling consumer-data that it promises to keep safe. On Equifax and its competitors, the Massachusetts Democrat said she wants the entire industry to be transformed. Smith responded that after the breach, Equifax is offering victims free fraud protection tools and other services. Pa. Dems could flip the House of Reps. Here's what that might mean Get the Asia AM Digest every day before Tokyo equity markets open sign up here ! The US Dollar continued to correct broadly lower against the majors, marking the first net loss against an average of its top counterparts in four days. The magnitude of the decline seems to put it squarely in corrective territory. Indeed, this was the smallest downtick since the near-term uptrend began two weeks ago. Tellingly, the lions share of the greenbacks slide came before the days offering of US economic news-flow. Almost all of those losses were erased after the ADP gauge of US employment growth registered in line with expectations while the service-sector ISM survey proved to be far more upbeat than analysts projected. The yields-sensitive Australian Dollar led the way higher. The move mirrored a drop in front-end US bond yields, highlighting the centrality of Fed rate hike bets as driving catalyst. The Aussie was perhaps best placed to capitalize after the RBA opted against dialing up FX intervention threats at its monetary policy announcement earlier in the week. DailyFX Economic Calendar: Asia Pacific (all times in GMT) The data docket is decidedly lackluster in Asia Pacific trading hours, with a pair of Australian releases amounting to the only items of note. Recent economic news-flow out of the lucky country has somewhat undermined the moniker: it has underperformed relative to consensus forecasts since mid-June. This warns that analysts are overestimating the economys vigor, opening the door for downside surprises. While that may sting the Aussie Dollar in the near term, the RBAs firm stance on the sidelines undermines the outcomes implications for near-term policy trends, meaning follow-through may be hard to come by. DailyFX Webinar Calendar CLICK HERE to register IG Client Sentiment Index Chart of the Day: AUD/USD CLICK HERE to learn more about the IG Client Sentiment Index Retail trader data shows 48.0% of traders are net-long AUD/USD, with the ratio of traders short to long at 1.08 to 1. The number of traders net-long is 8.6% higher than yesterday and 20.9% higher from last week, while the number of traders net-short is 1.3% higher than yesterday and 8.8% lower from last week. We typically take a contrarian view to crowd sentiment, and the fact traders are net-short suggests AUD/USD prices may continue to rise. Yet traders are less net-short than yesterday and compared with last week. Recent changes in sentiment warn that the current AUD/USD price trend may soon reverse lower despite the fact traders remain net-short. Five Things Traders are Reading The Asia AM Digest is published every day before the Tokyo cash equity open - you can sign up here to receive that report in your inbox every day. The US AM Digest is published every day before the US cash equity open - you can sign up here to receive this report in your inbox every day. If you're interested in receiving both reports each day, you can sign up here. The following companies are subsidiares of Abbott Laboratories: 3A Nutrition (Vietnam) Company Limited, ABON Biopharm (Hangzhou) Co. Ltd., AGA Medical Belgium, AGA Medical Corporation, AGA Medical Holdings Inc., ALR Holdings, AML Medical LLC, APK Advanced Medical Technologies LLC, ATS Bermuda Holdings Limited, ATS Laboratories Inc., Abbott, Abbott (Jiaxing) Nutrition Co. Ltd., Abbott (UK) Finance Limited, Abbott (UK) Holdings Limited, Abbott AG, Abbott Asia Holdings Limited, Abbott Asia Investments Limited, Abbott Australasia Holdings Limited, Abbott Australasia Pty Ltd, Abbott B.V., Abbott Bahamas Overseas Businesses Corporation, Abbott Belgian Investments, Abbott Bermuda Holding Ltd., Abbott Biologicals B.V., Abbott Biologicals LLC, Abbott Bulgaria Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Capital India Limited, Abbott Cardiovascular Inc., Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Inc., Abbott Delaware LLC, Abbott Diabetes Care Inc., Abbott Diabetes Care Limited, Abbott Diabetes Care Sales Corporation, Abbott Diagnostics GmbH, Abbott Diagnostics International Ltd., Abbott Diagnostics Technologies AS, Abbott Doral Investments S.L., Abbott Equity Holdings Unlimited, Abbott Equity Investments LLC, Abbott Established Products Holdings (Gibraltar) Limited, Abbott Finance Company SA, Abbott Financial Holdings SRL, Abbott France S.A.S., Abbott Fund Tanzania Limited, Abbott Gesellschaft m.b.H., Abbott GmbH & Co. KG, Abbott Health Products LLC, Abbott Healthcare (Puerto Rico) Ltd., Abbott Healthcare B.V., Abbott Healthcare Costa Rica S.A., Abbott Healthcare LLC, Abbott Healthcare Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Healthcare Private Limited, Abbott Healthcare Products B.V., Abbott Healthcare Products Ltd, Abbott Holding (Gibraltar) Limited, Abbott Holding GmbH, Abbott Holding Subsidiary (Gibraltar) Limited, Abbott Holding Subsidiary (Gibraltar) Limited Luxembourg S.C.S., Abbott Holdings B.V., Abbott Holdings LLC, Abbott Holdings Limited, Abbott Holdings Poland Spoka z ograniczona odpowiedzialnoscia, Abbott Hungary Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag, Abbott Iberian Investments (2) Limited, Abbott Iberian Investments Limited, Abbott India Limited, Abbott Informatics Asia Pacific Limited, Abbott Informatics Canada Inc, Abbott Informatics Corporation, Abbott Informatics Europe Limited, Abbott Informatics France, Abbott Informatics Germany GmbH, Abbott Informatics Netherlands B.V., Abbott Informatics Singapore Pte. Limited, Abbott Informatics Spain S.A., Abbott Informatics Technologies Ltd, Abbott International Corporation, Abbott International Enterprises Ltd., Abbott International Holdings Limited, Abbott International LLC, Abbott International Luxembourg S.ar.l., Abbott Investments Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Ireland, Abbott Ireland Financing Designated Activity Company, Abbott Ireland Limited, Abbott Japan Co. Ltd., Abbott Kazakhstan Limited Liability Partnership, Abbott Knoll Investments B.V., Abbott Korea Limited, Abbott Laboratories (Bangladesh) Limited, Abbott Laboratories (Chile) Holdco (Dos) SpA, Abbott Laboratories (Chile) Holdco SpA, Abbott Laboratories (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Abbott Laboratories (Mozambique) Limitada, Abbott Laboratories (Pakistan) Limited, Abbott Laboratories (Philippines), Abbott Laboratories (Puerto Rico) Incorporated, Abbott Laboratories (Singapore) Private Limited, Abbott Laboratories A/S, Abbott Laboratories Argentina Sociedad Anonima, Abbott Laboratories B.V., Abbott Laboratories C.A., Abbott Laboratories Finance B.V., Abbott Laboratories GmbH, Abbott Laboratories Inc., Abbott Laboratories International LLC, Abbott Laboratories Ireland Limited, Abbott Laboratories Limited, Abbott Laboratories Limited - Laboratoires Abbott Limitee, Abbott Laboratories NZ Limited, Abbott Laboratories Pacific Ltd., Abbott Laboratories Poland Spoka z ograniczona odpowiedzialnoscia, Abbott Laboratories Products B.V., Abbott Laboratories Residential Development Fund Inc., Abbott Laboratories S.A., Abbott Laboratories SA, Abbott Laboratories Services Corp., Abbott Laboratories Slovakia s.r.o., Abbott Laboratories South Africa (Pty) Ltd., Abbott Laboratories Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Abbott Laboratories Trustee Company Limited, Abbott Laboratories Uruguay S.A., Abbott Laboratories Vascular Enterprises, Abbott Laboratories d.o.o., Abbott Laboratories de Chile Limitada, Abbott Laboratories de Colombia S.A., Abbott Laboratories de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Abbott Laboratories druzba za farmacijo in diagnostiko d.o.o., Abbott Laboratories s.r.o., Abbott Laboratories(Hellas) Societe Anonyme, Abbott Laboratorios S.A., Abbott Laboratorios S.A., Abbott Laboratorios del Ecuador Cia. Ltda., Abbott Laboratuarlari Ithalat Ihracat ve Ticaret Ltd.Sti, Abbott Laboratorios Lda, Abbott Laboratorios do Brasil Ltda., Abbott Limited Egypt LLC, Abbott Logistics B.V., Abbott Management GmbH, Abbott Management LLC, Abbott Manufacturing Singapore Private Limited, Abbott Mature Products International Unlimited Company, Abbott Mature Products Management Limited, Abbott Medical (Hong Kong) Limited, Abbott Medical (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Abbott Medical (Portugal) Distribuicao de Produtos Medicos Lda, Abbott Medical (Schweiz) AG, Abbott Medical (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Abbott Medical (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Abbott Medical (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Abbott Medical Australia Pty. Ltd., Abbott Medical Austria Ges.m.b.H., Abbott Medical Balkan d.o.o. Beograd (Novi Beograd), Abbott Medical Belgium, Abbott Medical Canada Inc./ Medicale Abbott Canada Inc., Abbott Medical Danmark A/S, Abbott Medical Devices Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Abbott Medical Espana S.A., Abbott Medical Estonia OU, Abbott Medical Finland Oy, Abbott Medical France SAS, Abbott Medical GmbH, Abbott Medical Hellas Limited Liability Trading Company, Abbott Medical Ireland Limited, Abbott Medical Italia S.p.A., Abbott Medical Japan Co. Ltd., Abbott Medical Korea Limited, Abbott Medical Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag, Abbott Medical Laboratories LTD, Abbott Medical Nederland B.V., Abbott Medical New Zealand Limited, Abbott Medical Norway AS, Abbott Medical Overseas Cyprus Limited, Abbott Medical Sweden AB, Abbott Medical Taiwan Co., Abbott Medical U.K. Limited, Abbott Medical spoka z ograniczona odpowiedzialnoscia, Abbott Middle East S.A.R.L., Abbott Molecular Inc., Abbott Morocco SARL, Abbott Nederland C.V., Abbott Nederland Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Netherlands Investments B.V., Abbott Norge AS, Abbott Nutrition Limited, Abbott Nutrition Manufacturing Inc., Abbott Operations Singapore Pte. Ltd., Abbott Operations Uruguay S.R.L., Abbott Overseas Cyprus Limited, Abbott Overseas Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Overseas S.A., Abbott Oy, Abbott Point of Care Canada Limited, Abbott Point of Care Inc., Abbott Poland Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Procurement LLC, Abbott Products (Philippines) Inc., Abbott Products (Spain) S.L., Abbott Products Algerie EURL, Abbott Products B.V., Abbott Products Distribution SAS, Abbott Products Egypt LLC, Abbott Products Limited, Abbott Products Limited Liability Company, Abbott Products Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Products Operations AG, Abbott Products Operations LLC, Abbott Products Romania S.R.L., Abbott Products Tunisie S.A.R.L., Abbott Products Unlimited Company, Abbott Resources Inc., Abbott Resources International Inc., Abbott S.r.l., Abbott Saudi Arabia Trading Company, Abbott Scandinavia Aktiebolag, Abbott Sociedad Anonima de Capital Variable, Abbott South Africa Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Strategic Opportunities Limited, Abbott Trading Company Inc., Abbott Universal LLC, Abbott Vascular Devices (2) Limited, Abbott Vascular Devices Limited, Abbott Vascular Inc., Abbott Vascular Instruments Deutschland GmbH, Abbott Vascular International, Abbott Vascular Japan Co. Ltd, Abbott Vascular Limitada, Abbott Vascular Netherlands B.V., Abbott Vascular Solutions Inc., Abbott Ventures Inc., Abbott West Indies Limited, Abbott drustvo sa ogranicenom odgovornoscu za trgovinu i usluge, Advanced Neuromodulation Systems Inc., Alere, Alere (Shanghai) Diagnostics Co. Ltd., Alere (Shanghai) Healthcare Management Co. Ltd., Alere (Shanghai) Medical Sales Co. Ltd., Alere (Shanghai) Technology Co. Ltd., Alere A/S, Alere AB, Alere AS, Alere AS Holdings Limited, Alere BBI Holdings Limited, Alere Bangladesh Limited, Alere China Co. Ltd., Alere Colombia S.A., Alere Connect LLC, Alere Connected Health Limited, Alere Connected Health Ltd., Alere Diagnostics GmbH, Alere DoA Holding GmbH, Alere GmbH, Alere GmbH (Austria), Alere GmbH (Germany), Alere HK Holdings Ltd., Alere Health B.V., Alere Health BVBA, Alere Health Corp., Alere Health Sdn Bhd, Alere Health Services B.V., Alere Healthcare (Pty) Limited, Alere Healthcare Connections Limited, Alere Healthcare Inc., Alere Healthcare Nigeria Limited, Alere Healthcare S.L., Alere Holdco Inc., Alere Holding GmbH, Alere Holdings Bermuda Limited, Alere Holdings Pty Limited, Alere Home Monitoring Inc., Alere Inc., Alere Informatics Inc., Alere International Holding Corp., Alere International Limited, Alere Lda, Alere Limited, Alere Limited (New Zealand), Alere Medical BVBA, Alere Medical Co. Ltd., Alere Medical Pakistan (Private) Limited, Alere Medical Private Limited, Alere North America LLC, Alere Oy Ab, Alere Philippines Inc., Alere Phoenix ACQ Inc., Alere Pte Ltd, Alere S.A., Alere S.r.l., Alere S/A, Alere SAS, Alere San Diego Inc., Alere Scarborough Inc., Alere Spain S.L., Alere Switzerland GmbH, Alere Technologies GmbH, Alere Technologies Holdings Limited, Alere Technologies Limited, Alere Toxicology AB, Alere Toxicology Inc., Alere Toxicology S.r.l., Alere Toxicology Services Inc., Alere Toxicology plc, Alere UK Holdings Limited, Alere UK Subco Limited, Alere ULC, Alere US Holdings LLC, Alere s.r.o., Alisoc Investment & Co, Amedica Biotech Inc., Ameditech Inc., American Generics S.A.S., American Medical Supplies Inc., American Pharmacist Inc., Antares S.A., Apica Cardiovascular Limited, Aquagestion Capacitacion S.A., Aquagestion S.A., Arriva Medical LLC, Arriva Medical Philippines Inc., Arvis Investments Limited, Atlas Farmaceutica S.A., Avee Laboratories Inc., Axis-Shield AD III AS, Axis-Shield AD IV AS, Axis-Shield AS, Axis-Shield Diagnostics Limited, Axis-Shield Ltd., BBI Animal Health Limited, BBI Diagnostics Group 2 Public Limited Company, Banco de Vida S.A., Bioabsorbable Vascular Solutions Inc., Bioalgae S.A., Biohealth LLC, Biosite Incorporated, Bosque Bonito S.A., Branan Medical Corporation, Brandex Europe C.V., British Colloids Limited, CFR Chile S.A., CFR Interamericas EL Salvador Sociedad Anonima de Capital Variable, CFR Interamericas Nicaragua Sociedad Anonima, CFR Interamericas Panama S.A., CFR Pharmaceuticals, California Property Holdings III LLC, CardioMEMS LLC, Caripharm Inc., Cephea Valve Technologies, Cephea Valve Technologies Inc., Colibri Medical Aktiebolag, Comercializadora y Distribuidora CFR Interamericas Honduras S.A., Concateno South Limited, Concateno UK Limited, Consorcio Tecnologico en Biomedicina Clinico-Molecular S.A., Continuum Services LLC, Cozart Limited, Dextech S.A., Diagnostik Nord GmbH, Distribuciones Uquifa S.A.S., Domesco Medical Import-Export Joint-Stock Corporation, Duphar International Research B.V., Endocardial Solutions, Epocal (US) Inc, Esprit de Vie S.A., European Chemicals & Co, European Drug Testing Service EDTS AB, European Services S.A., Evalve Inc., Evalve International Inc., FARMINDUSTRIA S.A., Fada Pharma Paraguay Sociedad Anonima, Fadapharma del Ecuador S.A., Farmaceutica Mont Blanc S.L., Farmacologia Em Aquicultura Veterinaria Ltda., Farmacologia en Aquacultura Veterinaria FAV Ecuador S.A., Farmacologia en Aquacultura Veterinaria FAV S.A., Fernwood Investment S.A., First Check Diagnostics LLC, Focus Pharmaceutical S.A.S., Forensics Limited, Forestcreek Overseas S.A., Fournier Pharma Corp., Fournier Pharma GmbH, Fournier Pharmaceuticals Limited, Framed B.V., Gabmed GmbH, Garden Hills LLC, Global Analytical Development LLC, Globapharm & CO LP, Glomed Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Golnorth Investments S.A., Gynocare Limited, Gynopharm Sociedad Anonima, Gynopharm de Centroamerica S.A., Gynopharm de Venezuela C.A., Hi-Tronics Designs Inc., IDEV Technologies Inc., IG Innovations Limited, IMTC Finance B.V., IMTC Holdings B.V., IMTC Technologies Inc., Ibis Biosciences LLC, Igloo Zone Chile S.A., Igloo Zone S.L., Inmobiliaria Naknek S.A.C., Innovacon Inc., Instant Tech Subsidiary Acquisition Inc., Instant Technologies Inc., Instituto de Criopreservacion de Chile S.A., Integrated Vascular Systems Inc., Inverness Canadian Acquisition Corporation, Inverness Medical (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Inverness Medical Innovations Australia Pty Ltd., Inverness Medical Innovations Hong Kong Limited, Inverness Medical Innovations SK LLC, Inverness Medical Investments LLC, Inverness Medical LLC, Inverness Medical Shimla Private Limited, Inversiones K2 SpA, Inversiones Komodo S.R.L., Ionian Technologies LLC, Irvine Biomedical Inc., Kalila Medical, Kangshenyunga S.A., Knoll UK Investments Unlimited, LLC VeroInPharm, Laboratoires Fournier S.A.S., Laboratorio Franco Colombiano Lafrancol S.A.S., Laboratorio Franco Colombiano del Ecuador S.A., Laboratorio Internacional Argentino S.A., Laboratorio Synthesis S.A.S., Laboratorios Lafi Limitada, Laboratorios Naturmedik S.A.S., Laboratorios Pauly Pharmaceutical S.A.S., Laboratorios Recalcine S.A., Laboratorios Transpharm S.A., Laboratory Specialists of America Inc., Lafrancol Dominicana S.A.S., Lafrancol Guatemala S.A. Sociedad Anonima, Lafrancol Internacional S.A.S, Lafrancol Peru S.R.L, Lake Forest Investments LLC, Lightlab Imaging Inc., Limited Liability Company Abbott Laboratories, Limited Liability Company Abbott Ukraine, Limited Liability Company VEROPHARM, Lung Fung Hong (China) Limited, Mansbridge Pharmaceuticals Limited, MediGuide LLC, MediGuide Ltd., Medscreen Holdings Limited, Metropolitana Farmaceutica S.A., Midwest Properties LLC, Murex Argentina S.A., Murex Biotech Limited, Murex Biotech South Africa, Murex Diagnostics Inc., Murex Diagnostics International Inc., Natural Supplement Association LLC, Negocios Denia Sociedad Anonima, Neosalud S.A.C., Nether Pharma N.P. C.V., NeuroTherm LLC, Normann Pharma-Handels GmbH, North Shore Properties Inc., Novamedi S.A., Novasalud.com S.A., Nutravida S.A., OJSC Voronezhkhimpharm, Omnilab Iberia Sociedad Limitada, OptiMedica, Orgenics France SAS, Orgenics International Holdings B.V., Orgenics Ltd., PBM-Selfcare LLC, PDD II LLC, PDD LLC, PT Alere Health, PT. Abbott Indonesia, PT. Abbott Products Indonesia, Pacesetter Inc., Pantech (RF) (PTY) LTD, Pembrooke Occupational Health Inc., Penagos S.A., Pharma International Sociedad Anonima, Pharmaceutical Technologies (Pharmatech) S.A., Pharmatech Boliviana S.A., Polygon Labs S.A., Quality Assured Services Inc., RF Medical Holdings LLC, RTL Holdings Inc., Ramses Business Corp., Recben Xenerics Farmaceutica Limitada, Redwood Toxicology Laboratory Inc., Rich Horizons International Limited, SC VEROPHARM, SJ Medical Mexico S de R.L. de C.V., SJM International Inc., SJM Thunder Holding Company, SPDH Inc., Saboya Enterprises Corporation, Salviac Limited, Scanax AS, Sealing Solutions Inc., Selfcare Technology Inc., Shandong Abbott Dairy Product Co. Ltd., Shanghai Abbott Medical Devices Science and Technology Co. Ltd., Shanghai Abbott Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Shanghai Si Fa Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Sinensix & Co., Spinal Modulation LLC, St. Jude Medical, St. Jude Medical AB, St. Jude Medical ATG Inc., St. Jude Medical Argentina S.A., St. Jude Medical Asia Pacific Holdings GK, St. Jude Medical Atrial Fibrillation Division Inc., St. Jude Medical Brasil Ltda., St. Jude Medical Business Services Inc., St. Jude Medical Cardiology Division Inc., St. Jude Medical Colombia Ltda., St. Jude Medical Coordination Center, St. Jude Medical Costa Rica Limitada, St. Jude Medical Europe Inc., St. Jude Medical Export Ges.m.b.H., St. Jude Medical GVA Sarl, St. Jude Medical Holdings B.V., St. Jude Medical India Private Limited, St. Jude Medical International Holding, St. Jude Medical LLC, St. Jude Medical Luxembourg, St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings II, St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings NT, St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings SMI S.a r.l., St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings TC S.a r.l., St. Jude Medical Mexico Business Services S. de R.L. de C.V., St. Jude Medical Middle East DMCC, St. Jude Medical Operations (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., St. Jude Medical Puerto Rico LLC, St. Jude Medical S.C. Inc., St. Jude Medical Systems AB, St. Jude Medical Turkey Medikal Urunler Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Standard Diagnostics Inc., Standing Stone LLC, Swan-Myers Incorporated, TC1 LLC, Tendyne Holdings Inc., Tendyne Medical Inc., Thoratec Delaware LLC, Thoratec Europe Limited, Thoratec LLC, Thoratec Switzerland GmbH, Tobal Products Incorporated, Topera GmbH in Liquidation, Topera Inc., Tremora S.A., Tuenir S.A., TwistDx, UAB Abbott Laboratories, UAB Abbott Medical Lithuania, Union-Madison Realty Company Inc., Unipath Limited (dba Alere International/aka Cranfield), Unipath Management Limited, Unipath Pension Trustee Limited, Veropharm, Veropharm Limited Liability Partnership, Vida Cell Inversiones S.A., Vida Cell S.A., Vivalsol, W&R Pharma Handels GmbH, Western Pharmaceuticals S.A., X Technologies Inc., Yissum Holding Limited, ZonePerfect Nutrition Company, eScreen Canada ULC, eScreen Inc., ( ), and Abbott Laboratories Baltics. Read More AbbVie Inc. discovers, develops, manufactures, and sells pharmaceuticals in the worldwide. The company offers HUMIRA, a therapy administered as an injection for autoimmune and intestinal Behcet's diseases; SKYRIZI to treat moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in adults; RINVOQ, a JAK inhibitor for the treatment of moderate to severe active rheumatoid arthritis in adult patients; IMBRUVICA to treat adult patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL), and VENCLEXTA, a BCL-2 inhibitor used to treat adults with CLL or SLL; and MAVYRET to treat patients with chronic HCV genotype 1-6 infection. It also provides CREON, a pancreatic enzyme therapy for exocrine pancreatic insufficiency; Synthroid used in the treatment of hypothyroidism; Linzess/Constella to treat irritable bowel syndrome with constipation and chronic idiopathic constipation; Lupron for the palliative treatment of advanced prostate cancer, endometriosis and central precocious puberty, and patients with anemia caused by uterine fibroids; and Botox therapeutic. In addition, the company offers ORILISSA, a nonpeptide small molecule gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist for women with moderate to severe endometriosis pain; Duopa and Duodopa, a levodopa-carbidopa intestinal gel to treat Parkinson's disease; Lumigan/Ganfort, a bimatoprost ophthalmic solution for the reduction of elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with open angle glaucoma (OAG) or ocular hypertension; Ubrelvy to treat migraine with or without aura in adults; Alphagan/ Combigan, an alpha-adrenergic receptor agonist for the reduction of IOP in patients with OAG; and Restasis, a calcineurin inhibitor immunosuppressant to increase tear production, as well as other eye care products. AbbVie Inc. has a research collaboration with Dragonfly Therapeutics, Inc. The company was incorporated in 2012 and is headquartered in North Chicago, Illinois. Watts Water Technologies, Inc. designs, manufactures, and sells products, solution, and systems that manage and conserve the flow of fluids and energy into, through and out of buildings in the commercial and residential markets in the Americas, Europe, the Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa. The company offers residential and commercial flow control products, including backflow preventers, water pressure regulators, temperature and pressure relief valves, and thermostatic mixing valves. It also provides heating, ventilation, and air conditioning and gas products, such as boilers, water heaters, custom heat, and hot water solutions; hydronic and electric heating systems for under-floor radiant applications; custom heat and hot water solutions; hydronic pump groups for boiler manufacturers and alternative energy control packages; and flexible stainless steel connectors for natural and liquid propane gas in commercial food service and residential applications. In addition, the company offers drainage and water re-use products comprising drainage products and engineered rain water harvesting solutions for commercial, industrial, marine, and residential applications; and water quality products that include point-of-use and point-of-entry water filtration, conditioning, and scale prevention systems for commercial and residential applications. Further, it provides smart mixing system under the IntelliStation name. The company sells its products to plumbing, heating, and mechanical wholesale distributors and dealers, as well as original equipment manufacturers, specialty product distributors, do-it-yourself chains, and retail chains; and directly to wholesalers and private label accounts. Watts Water Technologies, Inc. was founded in 1874 and is headquartered in North Andover, Massachusetts. Rentokil Initial plc, together with its subsidiaries, provides route-based services in North America, the United Kingdom, rest of Europe, Asia, the Pacific, and internationally. It offers a range of pest control services for rodents, and flying and crawling insects, as well as other forms of wildlife management for commercial and residential customers. The company also provides hygiene services, including the provision and maintenance of products, such as soap and hand sanitizer dispensers, hand dryers, air care and purification, cubicle and surface sanitizers, feminine hygiene units, toilet paper dispensers, and floor protection mats. In addition, it engages in the supply and laundering of workwear, uniforms, cleanroom uniforms, and protective equipment. Further, the company installs and services interior and exterior plant displays, flowers, replica foliage, Christmas decorations, and ambient scenting for commercial businesses; offers property care services consisting of damp proofing, property conservation, and woodworm and wood rot treatment; and provides a range of specialist cleaning services, such as graffiti removal deep cleaning of kitchens and washrooms, trauma cleaning, and flood or fire damage cleaning, as well as specialist industrial cleaning and disinfection services, including the professional and discreet disinfection of areas that have been exposed to bio-hazardous situations, such as crime and trauma scenes, prison cells, void properties, emergency vehicles, and healthcare establishments. Additionally, it offers a range of healthcare waste management services comprising the collection, disposal, and recycling of hazardous and offensive waste produced by businesses and organizations associated with the provision of healthcare; and color-coded sharps disposal bins to deal with various types of waste. Rentokil Initial plc was founded in 1903 and is headquartered in Crawley, the United Kingdom. Telefonica, S.A., together with its subsidiaries, provides telecommunications services in Europe and Latin America. The company's mobile and related services and products comprise mobile voice, value added, mobile data and Internet, wholesale, corporate, roaming, fixed wireless, and trunking and paging services. Its fixed telecommunication services include PSTN lines; ISDN accesses; public telephone services; local, domestic, and international long-distance and fixed-to-mobile communications; corporate communications; supplementary value-added services; video telephony; intelligent network; and telephony information services, as well as leases and sells handset equipment. The company also provides Internet and broadband multimedia services comprising Internet service provider, portal and network, retail and wholesale broadband access, narrowband switched access, high-speed Internet through fibre to the home, and voice over Internet protocol services. In addition, it offers leased line, virtual private network, fibre optics, web hosting and application, outsourcing and consultancy, desktop, and system integration and professional services. Further, the company offers wholesale services for telecommunication operators, including domestic interconnection and international wholesale services; leased lines for other operators; and local loop leasing services, as well as bit stream services, wholesale line rental accesses, and leased ducts for other operators' fiber deployment. Additionally, it provides video/TV services; smart connectivity and services, and consumer IoT products; financial and other payment, security, cloud computing, advertising, big data, and digital telco experience services; virtual assistants; digital home platforms; and Movistar Home devices. It also offers online telemedicine, home insurance, music streaming, and consumer loan services. The company was incorporated in 1924 and is headquartered in Madrid, Spain. TOTAL SE operates as an integrated oil and gas company worldwide. The company operates through four segments: Exploration & Production; Integrated Gas, Renewables & Power; Refining & Chemicals; and Marketing & Services. The company's Exploration & Production segment is involved in oil and natural gas exploration and production activities in approximately 50 countries. Its Integrated Gas, Renewables & Power segment engages in the liquefied natural gas (LNG) production, shipping, trading, and regasification activities; trading of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), petcoke and sulfur, natural gas, and electricity; transportation of natural gas; electricity production from natural gas, wind, solar, hydroelectric, and biogas sources; energy storage activities; and development and operation of biomethane production units, as well as provides energy efficiency services. The company's Refining & Chemicals segment is involved in refining petrochemicals, including olefins and aromatics; and polymer derivatives, such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, and hydrocarbon resins, as well as biomass conversion and elastomer processing. This segment also engages in trading and shipping crude oil and petroleum products. Its Marketing & Services segment produces and sells lubricants; supplies and markets petroleum products, including bulk fuel, aviation and marine fuel, special fluids, compressed natural gas, LPG, and bitumen; and provides fuel payment solutions. It operates approximately 15,500 service stations. As of December 31, 2020, the company had 12,328 Mboe of combined proved reserves of oil and gas. TOTAL SE has a strategic partnership with PureCycle Technologies in the area of plastic recycling. The company was incorporated in 1924 and is headquartered in Paris, France. Winnebago Industries, Inc. manufactures and sells recreation vehicles and marine products primarily for use in leisure travel and outdoor recreation activities. The company operates in six segments: Grand Design Towables, Winnebago Towables, Winnebago Motorhomes, Newmar motorhomes, Chris-Craft Marine, and Winnebago Specialty Vehicles. It provides towable products that are non-motorized vehicles to be towed by automobiles, pickup trucks, SUVs, or vans for use as temporary living quarters for recreational travel, such as conventional travel trailers, fifth wheels, folding camper trailers, and truck campers under the Winnebago and Grand Design brand names. The company also offers motorhomes, which are self-propelled mobile dwellings used primarily as temporary living quarters during vacation and camping trips, or to support active and mobile lifestyles under the Winnebago and Newmar brand names. In addition, it offers other specialty commercial vehicles for law enforcement command centers, mobile medical clinics, and mobile office spaces; commercial vehicles as bare shells to third-party up fitters; and boats in the recreational powerboat industry under the Chris-Craft and Barletta brand names. Further, the company is involved in the original equipment manufacturing of parts for other manufacturers and commercial vehicles. The company sells its products primarily through independent dealers in the United States, Canada, and internationally. Winnebago Industries, Inc. was incorporated in 1958 and is based in Forest City, Iowa. Yelp Inc. operates a platform that connects consumers with local businesses in the United States and internationally. The company's platform covers various local business categories, including restaurants, shopping, beauty and fitness, health, and other categories, as well as home, local, auto, professional, pets, events, real estate, and financial services. It provides free and paid advertising products to businesses, which include cost-per-click search advertising and multi-location Ad products, as well as enables businesses to deliver targeted search advertising to local audiences; and business listing page products. The company also offers other services comprising Yelp Reservations that provide online reservations for restaurants, nightlife, and other venues directly from their Yelp business pages; Yelp Waitlist, a subscription-based waitlist management solution that allows consumers to check wait times and join waitlists remotely, as well as businesses to manage seating and server rotation; Yelp Knowledge program that offers business owners local analytics and insights through access to its historical data and other proprietary content; and Yelp Fusion, which offers free and paid access to content and data for consumer-facing enterprise use through publicly available APIs. In addition, it provides content licensing, as well as allows third-party data providers to update and manage business listing information on behalf of businesses. Further, the company offers its products directly through its sales force; indirectly through partners; and online through its website, as well as non-advertising partner arrangements. It has strategic partnership with Grubhub for providing consumers with a service to place food orders for pickup and delivery. Yelp Inc. was incorporated in 2004 and is headquartered in San Francisco, California. Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. (NYSE:ARE), an S&P 500 urban office real estate investment trust ("REIT"), is the first, longest-tenured, and pioneering owner, operator, and developer uniquely focused on collaborative life science, technology, and agtech campuses in AAA innovation cluster locations, with a total market capitalization of $31.9 billion as of December 31, 2020, and an asset base in North America of 49.7 million square feet ("SF"). The asset base in North America includes 31.9 million RSF of operating properties and 3.3 million RSF of Class A properties undergoing construction, 7.1 million RSF of near-term and intermediate-term development and redevelopment projects, and 7.4 million SF of future development projects. Founded in 1994, Alexandria pioneered this niche and has since established a significant market presence in key locations, including Greater Boston, San Francisco, New York City, San Diego, Seattle, Maryland, and Research Triangle. Alexandria has a longstanding and proven track record of developing Class A properties clustered in urban life science, technology, and agtech campuses that provide our innovative tenants with highly dynamic and collaborative environments that enhance their ability to successfully recruit and retain world-class talent and inspire productivity, efficiency, creativity, and success. Alexandria also provides strategic capital to transformative life science, technology, and agtech companies through our venture capital platform. We believe our unique business model and diligent underwriting ensure a high-quality and diverse tenant base that results in higher occupancy levels, longer lease terms, higher rental income, higher returns, and greater long-term asset value. Allergan plc, a pharmaceutical company, develops, manufactures, and commercializes branded pharmaceutical, device, biologic, surgical, and regenerative medicine products worldwide. The company operates in three segments: US Specialized Therapeutics, US General Medicine, and International. It offers a portfolio of products in various therapeutic areas, including medical aesthetics and dermatology, eye care, neuroscience, urology, gastrointestinal, women's health, and anti-infective therapeutic products. The company also offers breast implants and tissue expanders; and RM-131 (relamorelin), a peptide ghrelin agonist for the treatment of diabetic gastroparesis. In addition, it develops medical and cosmetic treatments; therapies for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and other liver diseases; inhibitor for the treatment of psoriasis and other autoimmune disorders; atopic dermatitis drug candidate; peri-ocular rings for extended drug delivery and reducing elevated intraocular pressure in glaucoma patients; and treatments for neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's disease. Further, the company develops RST-001, a novel gene therapy for the treatment of retinitis pigmentosa; small molecule therapeutics for inflammatory and fibrotic diseases; topical medicines for fat reduction; and delivery system and botulinum toxin-based prescription products. It has collaboration, option, and license agreement with Lyndra, Inc.; and strategic alliance and option agreement with Editas Medicine, Inc. Allergan plc also has licensing agreements with Assembly Biosciences, Inc.; MedImmune; and Heptares Therapeutics, Ltd. The company was formerly known as Actavis plc and changed its name to Allergan plc in June 2015. Allergan plc was founded in 1983 and is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland. United Parcel Service, Inc. provides letter and package delivery, transportation, logistics, and related services. It operates through two segments, U.S. Domestic Package and International Package. The U.S. Domestic Package segment offers time-definite delivery of letters, documents, small packages, and palletized freight through air and ground services in the United States. The International Package segment provides guaranteed day and time-definite international shipping services in Europe, the Asia Pacific, Canada and Latin America, the Indian sub-continent, the Middle East, and Africa. This segment offers guaranteed time-definite express options. The company also provides international air and ocean freight forwarding, customs brokerage, distribution and post-sales, and mail and consulting services in approximately 200 countries and territories. In addition, it offers truckload brokerage services; supply chain solutions to the healthcare and life sciences industry; shipping, visibility, and billing technologies; and financial and insurance services. The company operates a fleet of approximately 121,000 package cars, vans, tractors, and motorcycles; and owns 59,000 containers that are used to transport cargo in its aircraft. United Parcel Service, Inc. was founded in 1907 and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. Insperity, Inc. provides human resources (HR) and business solutions to improve business performance for small and medium-sized businesses. The company offers its HR services through its Workforce Optimization and Workforce Synchronization solutions that include a range of human resources functions, such as payroll and employment administration, employee benefits, workers' compensation, government compliance, performance management, and training and development services. It also provides Insperity Premier, a cloud-based human capital management platform that offers professional employer organization HR outsourcing solutions to its clients; personnel record management services; and employer liability management services, as well as solutions for middle market. In addition, the company offers MarketPlace, an e-commerce portal that offers a range of products and services; and Workforce Acceleration, a human capital management and payroll services solution; time and attendance; performance management; organizational planning; recruiting; employment screening; retirement; and insurance services. As of December 31, 2021, it operated through 85 sales offices in the United States. The company was formerly known as Administaff, Inc. and changed its name to Insperity, Inc. in March 2011. The company was founded in 1986 and is headquartered in Kingwood, Texas. Barnes & Noble Education, Inc. operates bookstores for college and university campuses, and K-12 institutions in the United States. It operates through three segments: Retail, Wholesale, and Digital Student Solutions. The company sells and rents new and used print textbooks, digital textbooks, and publisher hosted digital courseware through physical and virtual bookstores, as well as directly to students through Textbooks.com. It also offers First Day and First Day Complete access programs; BNC OER+, a turnkey solution for colleges and universities, that offers digital content, such as videos, activities, and auto-graded practice assessments; and general merchandise, including collegiate and athletic apparel, school spirit products, lifestyle products, technology products, supplies, graduation products, and convenience items. In addition, the company sources, sells, and distributes new and used textbooks; and sells hardware and a software suite of applications that provides inventory management and point-of-sale solutions to approximately 350 college bookstores. Further, it offers direct-to-student subscription-based writing services; and bartleby, a direct-to-student subscription-based offering that includes textbook solutions, expert questions and answers, and writing and tutoring services. The company operates 805 physical college and university bookstores; 622 virtual bookstores; 8 True Spirit e-commerce websites; pop-up retail locations; 73 customized cafes and 11 stand-alone convenience stores; and a media channel for brands targeting the college demographic. Barnes & Noble Education, Inc. was founded in 1965 and is headquartered in Basking Ridge, New Jersey. 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. BlackRock, Inc. is a publicly owned investment manager. The firm primarily provides its services to institutional, intermediary, and individual investors including corporate, public, union, and industry pension plans, insurance companies, third-party mutual funds, endowments, public institutions, governments, foundations, charities, sovereign wealth funds, corporations, official institutions, and banks. It also provides global risk management and advisory services. The firm manages separate client-focused equity, fixed income, and balanced portfolios. It also launches and manages open-end and closed-end mutual funds, offshore funds, unit trusts, and alternative investment vehicles including structured funds. The firm launches equity, fixed income, balanced, and real estate mutual funds. It also launches equity, fixed income, balanced, currency, commodity, and multi-asset exchange traded funds. The firm also launches and manages hedge funds. It invests in the public equity, fixed income, real estate, currency, commodity, and alternative markets across the globe. The firm primarily invests in growth and value stocks of small-cap, mid-cap, SMID-cap, large-cap, and multi-cap companies. It also invests in dividend-paying equity securities. The firm invests in investment grade municipal securities, government securities including securities issued or guaranteed by a government or a government agency or instrumentality, corporate bonds, and asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities. It employs fundamental and quantitative analysis with a focus on bottom-up and top-down approach to make its investments. The firm employs liquidity, asset allocation, balanced, real estate, and alternative strategies to make its investments. In real estate sector, it seeks to invest in Poland and Germany. The firm benchmarks the performance of its portfolios against various S&P, Russell, Barclays, MSCI, Citigroup, and Merrill Lynch indices. BlackRock, Inc. was founded in 1988 and is based in New York City with additional offices in Boston, Massachusetts; London, United Kingdom; Gurgaon, India; Hong Kong; Greenwich, Connecticut; Princeton, New Jersey; Edinburgh, United Kingdom; Sydney, Australia; Taipei, Taiwan; Singapore; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Washington, District of Columbia; Toronto, Canada; Wilmington, Delaware; and San Francisco, California. Cantel Medical Corp. provides infection prevention and control products and services for the healthcare market. The company's Medical segment offers automated endoscope reprocessing systems; disinfectants and sterilants; detergents; leak testing and manual cleaning products; storage cabinets and transport systems; manual cleaning products; endoscope process tracking products; other consumables, accessories, and supplies for use in disinfect rigid endoscopes, flexible endoscopes, and other instrumentation; and technical maintenance services. Its Life Sciences segment provides dialysis water purification and bicarbonate mixing systems; hollow fiber filters, and other filtration and separation products; liquid disinfectants and cold sterilization products; dry fog products; room temperature sterilization equipment and services; and clean-room certification and decontamination services for the dialysis and other healthcare, research laboratories, food and beverage, and commercial industrial customers, as well as microbiological testing services. The company's Dental segment offers hand and powered dental instruments, instrument reprocessing and sterility assurance products, towels, bibs, tray liners, sponges, nitrous oxide/oxygen sedation equipment and related single-use disposable nasal masks, face masks, and shields. It also provides hand sanitizers, germicidal wipes, disinfectants, surface disinfectants, waterline treatment products, saliva ejectors, evacuator tips, plastic cups, prophy angles, and prophy paste. The company's Dialysis segment provides hemodialysis concentrates and other ancillary supplies; medical device reprocessing systems; and sterilants and disinfectants. The company sells its products through its direct distribution network in the United States; and directly or under various third-party distribution agreements internationally. Cantel Medical Corp. was founded in 1963 and is headquartered in Little Falls, New Jersey. CarMax, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a retailer of used vehicles in the United States. The company operates through two segments, CarMax Sales Operations and CarMax Auto Finance. It offers customers a range of makes and models of used vehicles, including domestic, imported, and luxury vehicles, as well as hybrid and electric vehicles; and extended protection plans to customers at the time of sale, as well as sells vehicles that are approximately 10 years old and has more than 100,000 miles through wholesale auctions. The company also provides reconditioning and vehicle repair services; and financing alternatives for retail customers across a range of credit spectrum through its CarMax Auto Finance and arrangements with various financial institutions. As of February 28, 2022, it operated approximately 230 used car stores. CarMax, Inc. was founded in 1993 and is based in Richmond, Virginia. The following companies are subsidiares of Ecolab: AO Ecolab, Abednego Environmental Services, Abednego Environmental Services LLC, Abednego Mexico Holdings LLC, Abednego de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Alcide Corp., Anios America S.A., Anios Diffusion SAS, Anios Manufacturing SAS, Aqua Environmental Limited, Bioquell, Bioquell Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., Bioquell Global Logistics (Ireland) Ltd., Bioquell Holding SAS, Bioquell Inc., Bioquell Limited, Bioquell SAS, Bioquell Technology (Shenzhen) Ltd., Bioquell Technology Canada Ltd., Bioquell UK Limited, Bro-Tech Limited, CALGON LLC, CID LINES NV, CID Lines, CID Lines Beijing Animal Hygiene Co Ltd., CID Lines France Sarl, CID Lines Iberica SL, CID Lines LLC, CID Lines Mexico S.A. DE C.V., CID Lines R&D NV, CID Lines Sp. z o. o., CORPAK MedSystems, Cascade Water Services, Champion Technologies, Chamtech L.L.C., Chemlawn, Chemstar Corporation, Cirlam BVBA, Copal Holding NV, Copal Invest NV, Cymru Holdings Limited, DERYPOL SA, DMD, E&M Bio-Chemicals LLC, ECOLAB NL 10 B.V., ECOLAB PEST FRANCE SAS, EPN Water Col Ltd., Ecolab (Antigua) Ltd., Ecolab (Aruba) N.V., Ecolab (Barbados) Limited, Ecolab (China) Investment Co. Ltd, Ecolab (Fiji) Pty Limited, Ecolab (GZ) Chemicals Limited, Ecolab (Guam) LLC, Ecolab (Proprietary) Limited, Ecolab (Schweiz) GmbH, Ecolab (St. Lucia) Limited, Ecolab (Taicang) Technology Co. Ltd., Ecolab (Trinidad and Tobago) Unlimited, Ecolab (U.K.) Holdings Limited, Ecolab A.E.B.E., Ecolab AB, Ecolab AU2 Pty Ltd, Ecolab Acquisition LLC, Ecolab ApS, Ecolab Argentina S.R.L., Ecolab Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., Ecolab B.V., Ecolab Bahrain S.P.C., Ecolab CDN 2 Co., Ecolab CDN 4 ULC, Ecolab CH 1 GmbH, Ecolab CH 2 GmbH, Ecolab CH 3 GmbH in Liquidation, Ecolab CH 6 GmbH, Ecolab Chemicals Limited, Ecolab Co. Compagnie Ecolab, Ecolab Colombia S. A., Ecolab DE 1 GmbH, Ecolab Deutschland GmbH, Ecolab Digital Center Private Limited, Ecolab EOOD, Ecolab East Africa (Kenya) Limited, Ecolab East Africa (Tanzania) Limited, Ecolab East Africa (Uganda) Limited, Ecolab Ecuador Cia. Ltda., Ecolab Engineering GmbH, Ecolab Europe GmbH, Ecolab Export GmbH, Ecolab FR 1 SAS, Ecolab FR 4 SAS, Ecolab Finance Company Designated Activity Company, Ecolab Food Safety & Hygiene Solutions Private Limited, Ecolab G.K., Ecolab Global Business Services LLC, Ecolab GmbH, Ecolab Gulf FZE, Ecolab HK 1 Limited, Ecolab HK 2 Limited, Ecolab Hispano-Portuguesa S.L., Ecolab Holding Italy S.r.l., Ecolab Holdings (Europe) LLC, Ecolab Holdings Inc., Ecolab Holdings Mexico S. de R. L. de C. V., Ecolab Hygiene Kft., Ecolab Hygiene d.o.o., Ecolab International SDN BHD, Ecolab Israel Holdings LLC, Ecolab JVZ Limited, Ecolab Korea Ltd., Ecolab LLC, Ecolab LUX & Co Holdings S.C.A., Ecolab LUX 1 Sarl, Ecolab LUX 2 Sarl, Ecolab LUX 4 Sarl, Ecolab LUX 7 Sarl, Ecolab LUX Sarl, Ecolab Limited, Ecolab Ltd., Ecolab Lux 10 Sarl, Ecolab Lux 12 SCA, Ecolab Lux 13 Sarl, Ecolab Lux 14 Sarl, Ecolab Lux 15 Sarl, Ecolab Lux 16 Sarl, Ecolab Lux 17 Sarl, Ecolab Lux 9 Sarl, Ecolab Lux Partner LLC, Ecolab MT Holdings LLC, Ecolab MT Limited, Ecolab Malta 1 Limited, Ecolab Malta 2 Limited, Ecolab Malta GPS, Ecolab Manufacturing IE Limited, Ecolab Manufacturing Inc., Ecolab Manufacturing UK Limited, Ecolab Maroc Societe a Responsabilite Limitee, Ecolab NL 11 B.V., Ecolab NL 15 BV, Ecolab NL 16 B.V., Ecolab NL 23 B.V., Ecolab NL 3 BV, Ecolab Name Holding Limited, Ecolab New Zealand, Ecolab Peru Holdings S.R.L., Ecolab Pest Deutschland GmbH, Ecolab Philippines Inc., Ecolab Production Belgium B.V., Ecolab Production France SAS, Ecolab Production Italy Srl, Ecolab Production LLC, Ecolab Production Netherlands B.V., Ecolab Production Poland sp. z o.o., Ecolab Pte. Ltd., Ecolab Pty Ltd., Ecolab Quimica Ltda., Ecolab S. de R.L. de C.V., Ecolab S.A., Ecolab S.A. de C.V., Ecolab SAS, Ecolab SIA, Ecolab SNC, Ecolab SRL, Ecolab Sdn Bhd, Ecolab Services Argentina S.R.L., Ecolab Services Malaysia SDN. BHD., Ecolab Services Poland Sp. z o, Ecolab Sociedad Anonima, Ecolab Sp. z o, Ecolab Spain Services S.L.U., Ecolab Temizleme Sistemleri Limited Sirketi, Ecolab U.S. 2 Inc., Ecolab U.S. 6 LLC, Ecolab U.S. 7 LLC, Ecolab US 1 GP, Ecolab USA Inc., Ecolab Viet Nam Company Limited, Ecolab Water Holding LImited, Ecolab a.s., Ecolab d.o.o., Ecolab s.r.l., Ecolab s.r.o., Ecolab y Compania Colectiva de Responsabilidad Limitada, Ecolab-Importacao E. Exportacao Limitada, Ecolabone B.V., Ecolabtwo B.V., Endoclear Equipamentos Medicos Hospitalares Ltda., Enviroflo Engineering Limited, Food Protection Services, GCS Service, Gallay Medical & Scientific Pty Ltd, Gallay Medical & Scientific Pty Ltd., GallayTrac Pty. Ltd., Georgia-Pacific - Paper Chemicals Business, Gibson Chemical Industries, Green Harbour Mainland Holdings Ltd, Henkel-Ecolab, Hicopla SL, Holchem Laboratories, Huntington Laboratories, Hydenet SAS, INTERNATIONAL WATER CONSULTANT B.V., Immobiliare R.E.O.P.A. SRL, Instrunet Hospital SLU, Jianghai Environmental Protection Co., Jianghai Environmental Protection Co. Ltd., KATAYAMA NALCO INC., Kay BV, Kay Chemical Company, LHS (UK) Limited, Laboratoires Anios, Laboratoires Anios S.A.S., Laboratoires Anios-Distribution SAS, Les Produits Chimiques ERPAC Inc., Lobster Ink, Lobster Ink Africa (Pty.) Ltd., Lobster International S.A., MOBOTEC AB LLC, Master Chemicals OOO, Meratech Rus Group LLC, Microtek Dominicana S.A., Microtek Italy S.R.L., Microtek Medical B.V., Microtek Medical Holdings, Microtek Medical Holdings Inc., Microtek Medical Inc., Microtek Medical Malta Holding Limited, Microtek Medical Malta Limited, Midland Research Laboratories, NALCO (SHANGHAI) TRADING CO. LTD., NALCO AB, NALCO ACQUISITION ONE, NALCO ACQUISITION TWO LIMITED, NALCO AFRICA (PTY.) LTD., NALCO ASIA HOLDING COMPANY PTE. LTD., NALCO BELGIUM B.V., NALCO CHINA HOLDINGS LLC, NALCO COMPANY OOO, NALCO DANMARK APS, NALCO DE MEXICO S. de R. L. de C.V., NALCO DELAWARE COMPANY, NALCO DEUTSCHLAND GMBH, NALCO DUTCH HOLDINGS B.V., NALCO EGYPT LTD., NALCO EGYPT TRADING, NALCO ESPANOLA MANUFACTURING S.L.U., NALCO ESPANOLA S.L., NALCO EUROPE B.V., NALCO FINLAND MANUFACTURING OY, NALCO FINLAND OY, NALCO FRANCE SAS, NALCO FRANCE SNC, NALCO GLOBAL HOLDINGS B.V., NALCO GLOBAL HOLDINGS LLC, NALCO HOLDING B.V., NALCO HOLDING COMPANY, NALCO HOLDINGS G.m.b.H., NALCO HOLDINGS UK LIMITED, NALCO HONG KONG LIMITED, NALCO INDUSTRIAL OUTSOURCING COMPANY, NALCO INDUSTRIAL SERVICES (NANJING) CO. LTD., NALCO INDUSTRIAL SERVICES (SUZHOU) CO. LTD., NALCO INDUSTRIAL SERVICES (THAILAND) CO. LTD., NALCO INDUSTRIAL SERVICES CHILE LIMITADA, NALCO INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS B.V., NALCO INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS LLC, NALCO INVESTMENTS U.K. LIMITED, NALCO ISRAEL INDUSTRIAL SERVICES LTD, NALCO ITALIANA HOLDINGS S.R.L., NALCO ITALIANA MANUFACTURING S.R.L., NALCO ITALIANA SrL, NALCO KOREA LIMITED, NALCO LIMITED, NALCO MANUFACTURING BETEILIGUNGS GMBH, NALCO MANUFACTURING LTD., NALCO NETHERLANDS B.V., NALCO OSTERREICH Ges m.b.H., NALCO OVERSEAS HOLDING B.V., NALCO PAKISTAN (PRIVATE) LIMITED, NALCO PHILIPPINES INC., NALCO PORTUGUESA (QUIMICA INDUSTRIAL) UNIPESSOAL LDA, NALCO PWS INC., NALCO SAUDI CO. LTD., NALCO TAIWAN CO. LTD., NALCO TWO INC., NALCO U.S. HOLDINGS LLC, NALCO UNIVERSAL HOLDINGS BV, NALCO WORLDWIDE HOLDINGS LLC, NALTECH INC., NANOSPECIALTIES LLC, NLC PROCESS AND WATER SERVICES SARL, Nalco (BN) SDN BHD, Nalco (China) Environmental Solution Co. Ltd., Nalco Anadolu Kimya Sanayi ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Nalco Canada ULC, Nalco Company LLC (1), Nalco Contract Operations LLC, Nalco Deutschland Manufacturing GmbH, Nalco Japan G.K., Nalco Libya, Nalco Middle East FZE, Nalco Polska Sp. z o. o., Nalco Production LLC, Nalco Real Estate GmbH, Nalco Schweiz GmbH, Nalco US 1 LLC, Nalco Wastewater Contract Operations Inc., Nalco Water India Private Limited, Nalco Water Pretreatment Solutions LLC, Nalco Worldwide Holdings S.a.r.l./B.V., National Wiper Alliance Inc., Nigiko, Nuova Farmec S.r.l., Oksa Kimya Sanayi A.S., Oy Ecolab AB, PT Ecolab International Indonesia, PT Ecolab Technologies and Services, Purate business - AkzoNobel, Purolite, Purolite (China) Co. Ltd., Purolite (Int.) Ltd, Purolite (Pty) Ltd, Purolite AG, Purolite GmbH, Purolite Ileri Kimyasal Ticaret Ltd, Purolite KK, Purolite LLC, Purolite Ltd, Purolite NZ Limited, Purolite Private Limited, Purolite Pte. Ltd., Purolite Pty Ltd, Purolite S. de R.L. de C.V., Purolite SAS, Purolite SRL, Purolite do Brasil Ltda, Purolite s.r.o., Purolite sp. z o.o., Purolite C Corporation, QazSorbent LLP, Quantum Technical Services LLC, Quimicas Ecolab S.A. de C.V., Quimiproductos S.A. de C.V, RP Adam Ltd, Research Fumigation Co., Royal Pest Solutions, Shield Holdings Limited, Shield Medicare Limited, Soluscope International Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Soluscope SAS, Swisher Hygiene, TechTex Holdings Limited, Technical Textile Services Limited, Terminix, Ultrafab, VanBaele Hygiene AG, Wabasha Leasing LLC, Zhe Jiang Purosoft Home Appliances Sale Co Ltd, and vanBaerle Hygiene AG. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Illinois Tool Works: A V Co 1 Limited, A V Co 2 Limited, A V Co 3 Limited, ACCU-LUBE Manufacturing GmbH - Schmiermittel und -gerate -, AIP/BI Holdings Inc., Accessories Marketing Holding Corp., Advanced Molding Company Inc., Allen France SAS, Alpine Engineered Products, Alpine Systems Corporation, Anaerobicos S.r.l., AppliChem GmbH, Avery Berkel France, Avery India Limited, Avery Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Avery Weigh Tronix, Avery Weigh-Tronix Finance Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix International Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix LLC, Avery Weigh-Tronix Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix Properties Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix Suzhou Weighing Technology Co. Ltd., Azon Limited, B.C. Immo, Beijing Miller Electric Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Berkel Ireland Limited, Berrington UK, Brapenta Eletronica Ltda., Brooks Instrument B.V., Brooks Instrument GmbH, Brooks Instrument KFT, Brooks Instrument Korea Ltd., Brooks Instrument LLC, Brooks Instrument Shanghai Co. Ltd, Buell Industries Inc., CCI Realty Company, CFC Europe GmbH, CS Australia Pty Limited, CS Mexico Holding Company S DE RL DE CV, Calvia Spolka z Ograniczona Odpowiedzialnosci, Capital Ventures Australasia S.a r.l, Capmax Logistica S.A. de C.V., Celeste Industries Corporation, Coeur, Coeur Asia Limited, Coeur Holding Company, Coeur Inc., Coeur Shanghai Medical Appliance Trading Co. Ltd, Compagnie Hobart, Compagnie de Materiel et d'Equipements Techniques-Comet, Constructions Isothermiques Bontami C.I.B., Crane Carrier Company, Denison Mayes Group Limited, Despatch Industries, Diagraph Corporation Sdn. Bhd, Diagraph ITW Mexico S. de R.L. De C.V., Diagraph Mexico S.A. DE C.V., Dongguan Ark-Les Electric Components Co. Ltd., Dongguan CK Branding Co. Ltd., Duo Fast de Espana S.A.U., Duo-Fast Korea Co. Ltd., Duo-Fast LLC, E.C.S. d.o.o., E2M Production B.V.., E2M Technologies B.V.., E2M Technologies Inc.., ECS Cable Protection Sp. Zoo, ELRO Grosskuchen GmbH, ELRO Holding AG, ELRO-WERKE AG, Elro Group, Eltex-Elektrostatik-Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung, Envases Multipac S.A. de C.V., Eurotec Srl, Exhibit 21, FEG Investments L.L.C., Filtertek De Mexico Holding Inc., Filtertek De Mexico S.A. de C.V., Filtertek SAS, GC Financement SA, Gamko B.V., Gun Hwa Platech Taicang Co. Ltd., HOBART Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung, Hartness International, Hobart Andina S.A.S., Hobart Belgium B.V., Hobart Brothers International Chile Limitada, Hobart Brothers LLC, Hobart Dayton Mexicana S. de R.L. de C.V., Hobart Food Equipment Co. Ltd., Hobart International Singapore Pte. Ltd., Hobart Japan K.K., Hobart Korea LLC, Hobart LLC, Hobart Nederland B.V., Hobart Sales & Service Inc., Hobart Scandinavia ApS, Hobart Techniek B.V., Horis, ILC Investments Holdings Inc., ITW AEP LLC, ITW AOC LLC, ITW Aircraft Investments Inc., ITW Ampang Industries Philippines Inc., ITW Appliance Components EOOD, ITW Appliance Components S.A. de C.V., ITW Appliance Components S.r.l.a, ITW Appliance Components d.o.o., ITW Australia Holdings Pty Ltd, ITW Australia Property Holdings Pty Ltd., ITW Australia Pty Ltd, ITW Automotive Components Chongqing Co. Ltd., ITW Automotive Components Langfang Co. Ltd., ITW Automotive Japan K.K., ITW Automotive Korea LLC, ITW Automotive Parts Shanghai Co. Ltd, ITW Automotive Products GmbH, ITW Automotive Products Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., ITW Bailly Comte, ITW Befestigungssysteme GmbH, ITW Belgium B.V., ITW Brazilian Nominee L.L.C., ITW Building Components Group Inc., ITW CER, ITW CP Distribution Center Holland BV, ITW CS UK Ltd., ITW Canada Inc., ITW Celeste Inc., ITW Chemical Products Ltda, ITW Chemical Products Scandinavia ApS, ITW China Investment Company Limited, ITW Colombia S.A.S., ITW Construction Products AB, ITW Construction Products AS, ITW Construction Products ApS, ITW Construction Products CZ s.r.o., ITW Construction Products Italy Srl, ITW Construction Products OU, ITW Construction Products OY, ITW Construction Products Shanghai Co. Ltd., ITW Construction Products Singapore Pte. Ltd., ITW Construction Services Manila Inc., ITW Contamination Control B.V., ITW Contamination Control Wujiang Co. Ltd., ITW Covid Security Group Inc., ITW DS Investments Inc., ITW DelFast do Brasil Ltda., ITW Denmark ApS, ITW Deutschland GmbH, ITW Diagraph GmbH, ITW Dynatec, ITW Dynatec Adhesive Equipment Suzhou Co. Ltd., ITW Dynatec GmbH, ITW Dynatec Kabushiki Kaisha, ITW EAE B.V., ITW EAE Mexico S de RL de CV, ITW EF&C France SAS, ITW EF&C Selb GmbH, ITW EU Holdings Ltd., ITW Electronic Business Asia Co. Limited, ITW Electronic Components/Products Shanghai Co. Ltd., ITW Electronics Suzhou Co. Ltd., ITW Epsilon Sarl, ITW Espana S.L., ITW European Finance Co. Ltd., ITW European Finance II Co. Ltd., ITW European Finance III Co. Ltd., ITW FEG Hong Kong Limited, ITW FEG do Brasil Industria e Comercio Ltda., ITW Fastener Products GmbH, ITW Fluids and Hygiene Solutions Ltda., ITW Food Equipment Group LLC, ITW GH LLC, ITW GSE ApS, ITW GSE Inc., ITW Gamma Sarl, ITW German Management LLC, ITW Global Investments Holdings LLC, ITW Global Investments Holdings Y Compania Sociedad en Comandita por Acciones, ITW Global Investments Inc., ITW Global Tire Repair Europe GmbH, ITW Global Tire Repair Inc., ITW Global Tire Repair Japan K.K., ITW Graphics Asia Limited, ITW Graphics Thailand Ltd., ITW Great Britain Investment & Licensing Holding Company, ITW Group France Luxembourg S.ar.l., ITW HLP Thailand Co. Ltd., ITW Holding Quimica B.C. S.L. Sole Shareholder Company, ITW Holdings Australia L.P., ITW Holdings I Limited, ITW Holdings II Limited, ITW Holdings III Limited, ITW Holdings IV Limited, ITW Holdings IX Limited, ITW Holdings Inc., ITW Holdings V Limited, ITW Holdings VI Limited, ITW Holdings VII Limited, ITW Holdings VIII Limited, ITW Holdings X Limited, ITW Holdings XI Limited, ITW ILC Holdings I Inc., ITW IPG Investments LLC, ITW Imaden Industria e Comercio Ltda., ITW India Private Limited, ITW International Holdings LLC, ITW Invest Holding GmbH, ITW Ireland Holdings Unlimited Company, ITW Ireland Unlimited Company, ITW Italy Holding Srl, ITW Japan Ltd., ITW Korea LLC, ITW LLC & Co. KG, ITW Limited, ITW Lys Fusion S.r.l., ITW Materials Technology Shanghai Co. Ltd., ITW Meritex Sdn. Bhd., ITW Metal Fasteners S.L., ITW Mexico Holding Company S. De R.L. de C.V., ITW Mexico Holdings LLC, ITW Morlock GmbH, ITW Mortgage Investments II Inc., ITW Mortgage Investments III Inc., ITW Mortgage Investments IV Inc., ITW Netherlands Administration BV, ITW Netherlands Beta B.V., ITW Netherlands Finance Alpha BV, ITW New Universal LLC, ITW New Zealand, ITW Ningbo Components & Fastenings Systems Co. Ltd., ITW Novadan Sp. Z.o.o., ITW PPF Brasil Adesivos Ltda., ITW Packaging Technology China Co. Ltd., ITW Participations S.a r.l., ITW Pension Funds Trustee Company, ITW Performance Polymers & Fluids Japan Co. Ltd., ITW Performance Polymers & Fluids Korea Limited, ITW Performance Polymers & Fluids OOO, ITW Performance Polymers ApS, ITW Performance Polymers Wujiang Co. Ltd., ITW Performance Polymers and Fluids Group FZE, ITW Peru S.A.C., ITW Poly Mex S. de R.L. de C.V., ITW Polymers Sealants North America Inc., ITW Pronovia s.r.o., ITW Pte. Ltd., ITW Qufu Automotive Cooling Systems Co. Ltd., ITW Real Estate Germany GmbH, ITW Residuals III L.L.C., ITW Residuals IV L.L.C., ITW Rivex, ITW SMPI, ITW SPG Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., ITW Simco-Ion Shenzhen Co. Ltd., ITW Slovakia s.r.o., ITW Spain Holdings S.L., ITW Specialty Film LLC, ITW Specialty Films France, ITW Specialty Materials Suzhou Co. Ltd., ITW Sverige AB, ITW Sweden Holding AB, ITW Test & Measurement Equipment Shanghai Co. Ltd, ITW Test & Measurement GmbH, ITW Test and Measurement Italia Srl, ITW Test and Measurement Services Industry and Trade Ltd., ITW Texwipe Philippines Inc., ITW Thermal Films Shanghai Co. Ltd., ITW UK, ITW UK Finance Beta Limited, ITW UK Finance Delta Limited, ITW UK Finance Gamma Limited, ITW UK Finance Limited, ITW UK Finance Zeta Ltd., ITW UK II Limited, ITW Universal II LLC, ITW Welding, ITW Welding AB, ITW Welding GmbH, ITW Welding Products B.V., ITW Welding Products Group FZE, ITW Welding Products Group S. DE R.L. De C.V., ITW Welding Products Italy Srl, ITW Welding Products Limited Liability Company, ITW Welding Produtos Para Solgdagem Ltda., ITW Welding Singapore Pte. Ltd., ITW de France, ITW do Brasil Industrial e Comercial Ltda., Illinois Tool Works Chile Limitada, Illinois Tool Works ITW Nederland B.V., Illinois Tool Works Inc., Impar Comercio E Representacoes Ltda., Industrie Plastic Elsasser GmbH, Inmobiliaria Cit. S.A. de C.F., Innova Temperlite Servicios S.A. de C.V., Innovacion y Transformacion Automotriz S.A. de C.V., Instron Brasil Equipamentos Cientificos Ltda., Instron Foreign Sales Corp. Limited, Instron France S.A.S., Instron GmbH, Instron Japan Company Ltd., Instron Korea LLC, Instron Shanghai Ltd., Instron Thailand Limited, International Leasing Company LLC, Isolenge - ITW Sistemas de Isolamento Termico Ltda., Itw Spraytec, KCPL Mauritius Holdings, Kester, Kleinmann GmbH, Krafft S.L., Loma Systems, Loma Systems BV, Loma Systems Canada Inc., Loma Systems sro, Lombard Pressings Limited, Lumex Inc., Lys Fusion Poland Sp. z.o.o., M&C Specialties Co., MAGNAFLUX GmbH, MEHB Holdings Limited, MGHG Property LLC, MTS 2 LLC., MTS 3 LLC., MTS China Holdings LLC, MTS Europe Holdings LLC, MTS Holdings France S.a.r.l., MTS Japan Ltd.., MTS Korea Inc.., MTS Systems China Co. Ltd., MTS Systems Corporation, MTS Systems Danmark ApS., MTS Systems Europe B.V., MTS Systems Finance C.V.., MTS Systems Germany GmbH, MTS Systems Holding B.V.., MTS Systems Hong Kong Incorporated, MTS Systems Limited, MTS Systems Norden Aktiebolag, MTS Systems S.r.l, MTS Systems., MTS Systems.., MTS Sytems Do Brazil, MTS Testing Solutions India Private Limited., MTS Testing Systems Canada Ltd., Manufacturing Avancee S.A., Meritex Technology Suzhou Co. Ltd., Meurer Verpackungssysteme GmbH, Miller Electric Mfg. LLC, Miller Insurance Ltd., NDT Holding LLC, NOVADAN APS, North Star Imaging Inc., Nova Chimica S.r.l., Orbitalum Tools GmbH, PENTA-91 OOO, PR. A. I. Srl, PT ITW Construction Products Indonesia, Pacific Concept Industries Limited Enping, Panreac Quimica S.L., Paslode Fasteners Shanghai Co. Ltd., Peerless Machinery Corp., Polyrey, Premark FEG L.L.C., Premark HII Holdings LLC, Premark International, Premark International LLC, Prolex Sociedad Anonima, QSA Global Inc., Quimica Industrial Mediterranea S.L., R&D Engineering A/S., R&D Prague s.r.o., R&D Steel ApS., R&D Test Systems A/S., R&D Tools and Structures A/S., RDGDK Engineering Private Limited, Ramset Fasteners Hong Kong Ltd., Rapid Cook LLC, Refrigeration France, S.E.E. Sistemas Industria E Comercio Ltda., ST Mexico Holdings LLC, Sealant Systems International Inc., Sentinel Asia Yuhan Hoesa, Shanghai ITW Plastic & Metal Co. Ltd, Simco Japan Inc., Simco Nederland B.V., Societe de Prospection et dInventions Techniques SPIT, Speedline Holdings I Inc., Speedline Holdings I LLC, Speedline Technologies GmbH, Speedline Technologies Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Speedline Technologies Mexico Services S. de R.L. de C.V., Stokvis Celix Portugal Unipessoal LDA, Stokvis Danmark ApS, Stokvis Holdings S.A.R.L., Stokvis Promi s.r.o, Stokvis Prostick Tapes Private Limited, Stokvis Tapes B.V., Stokvis Tapes Benelux B.V., Stokvis Tapes Deutschland GmbH, Stokvis Tapes France, Stokvis Tapes Hong Kong Co. Limited, Stokvis Tapes Italia s.r.l., Stokvis Tapes Limited, Stokvis Tapes Limited Liability Company, Stokvis Tapes Norge AS, Stokvis Tapes Oy, Stokvis Tapes Polska Sp Z.O.O., Stokvis Tapes Shanghai Co. Ltd., Stokvis Tapes Sverige AB, Stokvis Tapes Taiwan Co. Ltd., Stokvis Tapes Tianjin Co. Ltd., Stolvis Holdings II S.A.R.L., Subsidiaries, Technopack Industria Comercio Consultoria e Representacoes Ltda., Teknek China Limited, Teknek Japan Limited, Teksaleco Ltd., The Miller Group Ltd, Thirode Grandes Cuisines Poligny, Tien Tai Electrode Co. Ltd., Tien Tai Electrode Kunshan Co. Ltd., Unichemicals Industria e Comercio Ltda., VR-Leasing Sarita GmbH & Co. Immobilien KG, VS European Holdco BV, Valeron Strength Films B.V., Veneta Decalcogomme S.r.l., Versachem Chile S.A., Vesta, Vesta Global Limited, Vesta Guangzhou Catering Equipment Co. Ltd, Viltronics Soltec, Vitronics Soltec B.V., Wachs Canada Ltd., Wachs Subsea LLC, Weigh-Tronix Canada ULC, Weigh-Tronix UK Limited, Wilsonart International Holdings LLC, Wynn Oil South Africa Pty Ltd., Wynn's Automotive France, Wynn's Belgium BVBA, Wynn's Italia Srl, Wynn's Mekuba India Pvt Ltd, and Zip-Pak International B.V.. Read More Hilltop Holdings Inc. provides business and consumer banking, and financial products and services. It operates through three segments: Banking, Broker-Dealer, and Mortgage Origination. The Banking segment offers savings, checking, interest-bearing checking, and money market accounts; certificates of deposit; lines and letters of credit, home improvement and equity loans, loans for purchasing and carrying securities, equipment loans and leases, agricultural and commercial real estate loans, and other loans; and commercial and industrial loans, and term and construction finance. This segment also provides treasury management, wealth management, asset management, check cards, safe deposit boxes, online banking, bill pay, trust, and overdraft services; and estate planning, management and administration, investment portfolio management, employee benefit accounts, and individual retirement accounts, as well as automated teller machines. The Broker-Dealer segment offers public finance services that assist public entities in originating, syndicating, and distributing securities of municipalities and political subdivisions; specialized advisory and investment banking services; advice and guidance to arbitrage rebate compliance, portfolio management, and local government investment pool administration; structured finance services, which include advisory services for derivatives and commodities; sells, trades in, and underwrites U.S. government and government agency bonds, corporate bonds, and municipal bonds, as well as mortgage-backed, asset-backed, and commercial mortgage-backed securities and structured products. This segment also provides asset and liability management advisory, clearing, retail, and securities lending services. The Mortgage Origination segment offers mortgage, jumbo, Federal Housing Administration, Veterans Affairs, and United States Department of Agriculture loans. Hilltop Holdings Inc. was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in Dallas, Texas. 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. Carter's, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, designs, sources, and markets branded childrenswear under the Carter's, OshKosh, Skip Hop, Child of Mine, Just One You, Simple Joys, Carter's My First Love, little planet, and other brands in the United States and internationally. The company operates through three segments: U.S. Retail, U.S. Wholesale, and International. Its Carter's products include babies and young children products, such as bodysuits, pants, dresses, knit sets, blankets, layette essentials, bibs, booties, sleep and play products, rompers, and jumpers; and OshKosh brand products comprise playclothes, such as denim apparel products with multiple wash treatments and coordinating garments, overalls, woven bottoms, knit tops, and bodysuits. The company also provides products for playtime, travel, mealtime, bathtime, and homegear, as well as kid's bags and diaper bags under the Skip Hop brand. In addition, it offers bedding, cribs, diaper bags, footwear, gift sets, hair accessories, jewelry, outerwear, paper goods, socks, shoes, swimwear, and toys. The company operates 18,800 wholesale locations, including department stores, national chain stores, and specialty stores. As of December 31, 2021, it operated 980 retail stores. The company also sells its products through its eCommerce websites, such as carters.com, oshkoshbgosh.com, oshkosh.com, and skiphop.com, as well as other international wholesale accounts and licensees. Carter's, Inc. was founded in 1865 and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. The following companies are subsidiares of Thermo Fisher Scientific: 236 Perinton Parkway LLC, 27 Forge Parkway LLC, ABR--Affinity BioReagents, ACI Holdings Inc., ARG Services LLC, ASPEX Corporation, Abgene Inc., Abgene Limited, Acoustic Cytometry Systems Inc., AcroMetrix LLC, Acros Organics B.V.B.A., Advanced Biotechnologies Limited, Advanced Scientifics (ASI), Advanced Scientifics Inc., Advanced Scientifics International Inc., Affymetrix Biotech Participacoes Ltda., Affymetrix Biotech Shanghai Ltd, Affymetrix Inc, Affymetrix Japan K.K., Affymetrix Pte Ltd, Affymetrix UK Ltd, Afora S.A.U., Ahura Scientific, Alchematrix Inc., Alchematrix LLC, Alfa Aesar, Alfa Aesar (China) Chemical Co. Ltd., Alfa Aesar (Hong Kong) Limited, Allergon AB, Alphine Mountain Limited, Ambion Inc., Apogent Denmark ApS, Apogent Finance Company, Apogent Holding Company, Apogent Technologies Inc., Apogent Transition Corp., Apogent U.K. Limited, App-Tek International Pty Ltd, Applied Biosystems B.V., Applied Biosystems Finance B.V., Applied Biosystems International Inc., Applied Biosystems LLC, Applied Biosystems Taiwan LLC, Applied Biosystems Trading (Shanghai) Company Ltd., Applied Biosystems de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Applied Scientific Corporation, Avances Cientificos de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Avocado Research Chemicals Limited, B.R.A.H.M.S. Biotech GmbH, B.R.A.H.M.S. GmbH, B.R.A.H.M.S. UK Ltd, BAC BV, BAC IP BV, Barnstead Thermolyne LLC, Beijing Phadia Diagnostics Co Ltd, Bender MedSystems GmbH, BioTrove Corporation, BioTrove International Inc., Bioanalysis Labsystems S.A., Biochemical Sciences LLC, Biolab, BmT GmbH Laborprodukte, Bonsai Tecnologies - Sistemas para Biotecnologia e Industria Unipessoal Lda, Brammer Bio, Bumi-Sans Sendirian Berhad, CAC Limited, CB Diagnostics AB, CB Diagnostics Holding AB, CEPH International Corporation, CHK Holdings Inc., CRS Robotics, CTPS LLC, Capitol Scientific Products Inc., Capitol Vial Inc., Cellomics Inc., CellzDirect Inc., Cenduit GmbH, Cenduit LLC, Cezanne S.A.S., Chase Scientific Glass Inc., Chromacol Limited, Clintrak, Clintrak Clinical Labeling Services LLC, Clintrak Pharmaceutical Services LLC, Cohesive Technologies (UK) Limited, Cohesive Technologies Inc., Columbia Diagnostics Inc., Compendia Bioscience Inc., Comtest Limited, Consolidated Technologies Inc., Consultores Fisher Scientific Chile Ltd, Core Informatics, Core Informatics LLC, Core Informatics UK Ltd., D-finitive Technologies Inc., DCG Systems B.V., DCG Systems C.V., DCG Systems G.K., DCG Systems GmbH, DCG Systems Korea Ltd., DCG Systems LLC, DPI Newco LLC, DSM Pharmaceutical Products Inc., Dharmacon, Diagnostix Ltd., Dionex (China) Analytical Ltd, Dionex (Switzerland) AG, Dionex (UK) Limited, Dionex Austria GmbH, Dionex Benelux B.V., Dionex Brasil Instrumentos Cientificos Ltda, Dionex Canada Ltd., Dionex China Limited, Dionex Corporation, Dionex Denmark A/S, Dionex Holding GmbH, Dionex I LLC, Dionex Pty Ltd., Dionex S.A., Dionex S.p.A., Dionex Singapore Pte Ltd., Dionex Softron GmbH, Dionex Sweden AB, Distribution Solutions International Inc., Doe & Ingalls Investors Inc., Doe & Ingalls Limited, Doe & Ingalls Management LLC, Doe & Ingalls Properties II LLC, Doe & Ingalls Properties LLC, Doe & Ingalls of California Operating LLC, Doe & Ingalls of Florida Operating LLC, Doe & Ingalls of Maryland Operating LLC, Doe & Ingalls of Massachusetts Operating LLC, Doe & Ingalls of North Carolina Operating LLC, Doublecape Holding Limited, Doublecape Limited, Drakeside Real Estate Holding Company LLC, Duke Scientific Corporation, Dynal Biotech Beijing Limited, EGS Gauging Ltd., EGS Gauging Technical Services Company, EP Scientific Products LLC, Ecochem N.V., EnviroEquip Pty Ltd, Epsom Glass Industries Limited, Equibio Limited, Erie Electroverre S.A., Erie Finance Limited, Erie LP Holding LLC, Erie Scientific Company of Puerto Rico, Erie Scientific Hungary Kft, Erie Scientific LLC, Erie U.K. Limited, Erie UK 1 Limited, Erie UK 2 Limited, Erie UK Holding Company, Erie UK Senior Holding Limited, European Laboratory Holdings Limited, Eutech Instruments Europe B.V., Eutech Instruments Pte Ltd., Eutech Instruments Sdn Bhd, Ever Ready Thermometer Co. Inc., FEI Asia Pacific Co. Ltd., FEI Australia Pty Ltd, FEI CPD B.V., FEI Company, FEI Company Japan Ltd., FEI Company of USA (S.E.A.) Pte Ltd., FEI Czech Republic s.r.o., FEI Deutschland GmbH, FEI EFA Inc., FEI EFA International Pte. Ltd., FEI Electron Optics B.V., FEI Electron Optics International B.V., FEI Europe B.V., FEI France SAS, FEI Global Holdings C.V., FEI Hong Kong Company Limited, FEI Houston Inc., FEI Italia Srl, FEI Korea Ltd., FEI Melbourne Pty Ltd., FEI Microscopy Solutions Ltd, FEI Munich GmbH, FEI Norway Holding AS, FEI SAS, FEI Saudi Arabia LLC, FEI Servicos de Nanotecnologia Ltda., FEI Technologies Inc., FEI Technology de Mexico S.A. de C.V., FEI Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., FEI Trondheim AS, FEI UK Ltd., FHP LLC, FRC Holding Inc. V, FS (Barbados) Capital Holdings Ltd., FS Casa Rocas Holdings LLC, FS Mexicana Holdings LLC, FSI Receivables Company LLC, FSII Sweden Holdings AB, FSII Sweden Holdings I AB, FSIR Holdings (UK) Limited, FSIR Holdings (US) Inc., FSUK Holdings Limited, FSWH Company LLC, FSWH II C.V., FSWH International Holdings LLC, Fermentas China Co. Ltd, Fermentas Inc., Fermentas International, Fermentas Sweden AB, Fermentas UK Limited, Fiberlite Centrifuge LLC, Finesse Scientific Equipment (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Finesse Solutions AG, Finesse Solutions Inc., Finnzymes Oy, Fisher Alder S. de R.L. de C.V., Fisher Asia Manufacturing Ventures Inc., Fisher Bermuda Holdings Limited, Fisher BioImage ApS, Fisher BioPharma Services (India) Private Limited, Fisher BioSciences Japan G.K., Fisher BioServices Inc., Fisher Bioblock Holding II SNC, Fisher CLP Holding Limited Partnership, Fisher Canada Holding ULC 1, Fisher Canada Holding ULC 2, Fisher Canada Holding ULC 3, Fisher Canada Limited Partnership, Fisher Chimica BVBA, Fisher Clinical Logistics LLC, Fisher Clinical Services (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Fisher Clinical Services (Bristol) LLC, Fisher Clinical Services (Colombia) LLC, Fisher Clinical Services (Korea) Co. Ltd, Fisher Clinical Services (Mexico) LLC, Fisher Clinical Services (Peru) LLC, Fisher Clinical Services (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., Fisher Clinical Services Colombia S.A.S., Fisher Clinical Services GmbH, Fisher Clinical Services Inc., Fisher Clinical Services Japan K.K., Fisher Clinical Services Latin America S.R.L., Fisher Clinical Services Limited Liability Company, Fisher Clinical Services Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Fisher Clinical Services Peru S.R.L, Fisher Clinical Services Pte Ltd., Fisher Clinical Services U.K. Limited, Fisher Emergo B.V., Fisher Germany Holdings GmbH, Fisher Hamilton China Inc., Fisher Hamilton Mexico LLC, Fisher Holdings ApS, Fisher Internet Minority Holdings L.L.C., Fisher Laboratory Products Manufacturing (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, Fisher Luxembourg Danish Holdings SARL, Fisher Manufacturing (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Fisher Maybridge Holdings Limited, Fisher Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Fisher Scientific (Austria) GmbH, Fisher Scientific (Hong Kong) Limited, Fisher Scientific (M) Sdn Bhd, Fisher Scientific (SEA) Pte. Ltd., Fisher Scientific A/S, Fisher Scientific AG, Fisher Scientific Australia Pty Limited, Fisher Scientific Biotech Line ApS, Fisher Scientific Brazil Inc., Fisher Scientific Central America Inc., Fisher Scientific Chile Inc., Fisher Scientific Colombia Inc., Fisher Scientific Company, Fisher Scientific Company L.L.C., Fisher Scientific Costa Rica Sociedad de Responsabilidad Limitada, Fisher Scientific Europe Holdings B.V., Fisher Scientific GTF AB, Fisher Scientific Germany Beteiligungs GmbH, Fisher Scientific GmbH, Fisher Scientific Holding Company LLC, Fisher Scientific Holding HK Limited, Fisher Scientific Holding U.K. Limited, Fisher Scientific Holdings (M) Sdn Bhd, Fisher Scientific Holdings (S) Pte Ltd, Fisher Scientific International LLC, Fisher Scientific Investments (Cayman) Ltd., Fisher Scientific Ireland Investments Unlimited, Fisher Scientific Ireland Limited, Fisher Scientific Japan Ltd., Fisher Scientific Jersey Island Limited, Fisher Scientific Korea Ltd, Fisher Scientific Latin America Inc., Fisher Scientific Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Fisher Scientific Mexicana S. de R.L. de C.V., Fisher Scientific Mexico Inc., Fisher Scientific Middle East and Africa Inc., Fisher Scientific Norway AS, Fisher Scientific Operating Company, Fisher Scientific Oxoid Holdings Ltd., Fisher Scientific Oy, Fisher Scientific Pte. Ltd., Fisher Scientific S.A.S., Fisher Scientific S.L., Fisher Scientific SPRL, Fisher Scientific The Hague I B.V., Fisher Scientific The Hague II B.V., Fisher Scientific The Hague III B.V., Fisher Scientific The Hague IV B.V., Fisher Scientific The Hague V B.V., Fisher Scientific U.K. Limited, Fisher Scientific UK Holding Company 2, Fisher Scientific UK Holding Company Limited, Fisher Scientific Unipessoal Lda., Fisher Scientific Venezuela Inc., Fisher Scientific Worldwide (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Fisher Scientific Worldwide Holdings I C.V., Fisher Scientific Worldwide Inc., Fisher Scientific de Mexico S.A., Fisher Scientific of the Netherlands B.V., Fisher Scientific spol. S.r.o, Fisher Servicios Clinicos (Chile) LLC, Fisher Servicios Clinicos Chile Ltda, Fisher WWD Holding L.L.C., Fisher Worldwide Distribution SPV, Fisher Worldwide Gene Distribution SPV, Flux Instruments, Fuji Partnership, G & M Procter Limited, G V Instruments Limited, GV Instruments Canada Ltd., GV Instruments Inc, Gatan Inc, General Scientific Company Sdn Bhd (M), Genomed molekularbiologische und diagnostische Produkte GmbH, Gerhard Menzel B.V. & Co. KG, Gold Cattle Standard Testing Labs Inc., Golden West Indemnity Company Limited, Goring Kerr Detection Limited, Greenville Service Company Inc., HENO GmbH i.L., Hangar 215 Inc., Helmet Securities Limited, Henogen, HighChem, HyClone International Trade (Tianjin) Co. Ltd, Hybaid Limited, I.Q. (BIO) Limited, IDnostics AG, ILS Laboratories Scandinavia AB, Inel Inc., Inel SAS, InnaPhase Inc., InnaPhase Limited, IntegenX, Intrinsic BioProbes Inc., Intrinsic Bioprobes Inc., Invitrogen (Shanghai) Investment Co. Ltd., Invitrogen Argentina SA, Invitrogen BioServices India Private Limited, Invitrogen Europe Limited, Invitrogen Finance Corp., Invitrogen Holdings LLC, Invitrogen Holdings Ltd., Invitrogen Hong Kong Limited, Invitrogen IP Holdings Inc., Invitrogen Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Ion Torrent Systems Inc., Ionalytics Corporation, JSC Thermo Fisher Scientific, Jouan LLC, Jouan Limited, Jouan SA, Kendro Containment & Services Limited, Kendro Laboratory Products Ltd, Kettlebrook Insurance Co. ltd., Keystone Scientific, KonTEM GmbH, Kyle Jordan Investments LLC, LIFE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION, LTC Tech South Africa PTY Ltd., La-Pha-Pack GmbH, Lab Vision (UK) Limited, Lab Vision Corporation, Lab-Chrom-Pack LLC, Lab-Line Instruments Inc., Labomex MBP S. de R. L. De C.V., Laboratoire Service International - L.S.I, Laboratory Management Systems Inc., Laboratory Specialties Proprietary Ltd., LambTrack Limited, Laser Analytical Systems Inc., Liberty Lane Investment LLC, Liberty Lane Real Estate Holding Company LLC, Life Sciences International (Poland) SP z O.O, Life Sciences International Holdings BV, Life Sciences International LLC, Life Sciences International Limited, Life Technologies AS, Life Technologies Australia PTY Ltd., Life Technologies BPD AB, Life Technologies BPD UK Limited, Life Technologies Brasil Comercio e Industria de Produtos para Biotecnologia Ltda, Life Technologies Chile SpA, Life Technologies Clinical Services Lab Inc., Life Technologies Co. Ltd., Life Technologies Czech Republic s.r.o., Life Technologies DaAn Diagnostic (Guangzhou) Co. Ltd., Life Technologies Europe B.V., Life Technologies Finance Ltd., Life Technologies Finland Oy, Life Technologies GmbH, Life Technologies Holdings PTE Ltd., Life Technologies Inc., Life Technologies International B.V., Life Technologies Japan Ltd., Life Technologies Korea LLC, Life Technologies Limited, Life Technologies Magyarorszag Kft, Life Technologies New Zealand Ltd., Life Technologies Norway Investments US LLC, Life Technologies Polska Sp z.o.o., Life Technologies SA, Life Technologies SAS, Life Technologies s.r.o, Linkage Biosciences Inc., Linkage Biosciences S.a.r.l., Loftus Furnace Company, Lomb Scientific, Lomb Scientific (Aust) Pty Limited, MTI-GlobalStem, Marketbase International Limited, Matrix MicroScience Inc., Matrix MicroScience Ltd., Matrix Technologies Corporation Limited, Matrix Technologies LLC, Maybridge Chemical Company Limited, Maybridge Chemical Holdings Limited, Maybridge Limited, Medical Analysis Systems Inc., Medical Analysis Systems International Inc., Medical Diagnostics Systems Inc., Metavac LLC, Microgenics Corporation, Microgenics Diagnostics Pty Limited, Microgenics GmbH, Microm International GmbH, Microm Laborgerate S.L.U, Molecular BioProducts Inc., Molecular Probes Inc., Molecular Transfer Inc., NAPCO Inc., NERL Diagnostics LLC, NOVODIRECT GmbH Labor- und Industrie- Megerate, Nalge (Europe) Limited, Nalge Nunc International (Monterrey) LLC, Nalge Nunc International Corporation, Nanjing WeiKangLe Trading Industrial Co Ltd, NanoDrop Technologies LLC, National Scientific Company, Navaho Acquisition Corp., Neomarkers Inc., New FS Holdings Inc., NewcoGen PE LLC, Nihon Dynal K.K., Niton Asia Limited, NovaWave Technologies Inc., Nunc A/S, ONIX Systems Inc., OXOID CZ s.r.o., Odyssey Holdings Corporation, Odyssey Luxembourg Holdings S.a r.l., Odyssey Luxembourg IP Holdings 1 S.a r.l., Odyssey Luxembourg IP Holdings 2 S.a r.l., Odyssey Venture Corporation, Omega Data Systems, One Lambda Inc, Onix Holdings Limited, Orme Scientific Limited, Owl Separation Systems LLC, Oxoid (ELY) Limited, Oxoid 2000 Limited, Oxoid AS, Oxoid Australia Pty. Limited, Oxoid Company, Oxoid Deutschland GmbH, Oxoid Holding SAS, Oxoid Holdings Limited, Oxoid Inc., Oxoid International Limited, Oxoid Investments GmbH, Oxoid Limited, Oxoid N.V., Oxoid New Zealand Limited, Oxoid Pension Trustees Limited, Oxoid Senior Holdings Limited, Oxoid UKH LLC, PAX - DSI Acquisition LLC, PE AG, Pacific Rim Far East Industries LLC, Pacific Rim Investment LLC, Panomics L.L.C., Panomics S.R.L., Patheon, Patheon API Inc., Patheon API Manufacturing Inc., Patheon API Services Inc., Patheon Austria GmbH & Co KG, Patheon B.V., Patheon Banner U.S. Holdings Inc., Patheon Biologics (NJ) LLC, Patheon Biologics Australia Pty Ltd, Patheon Biologics B.V., Patheon Biologics LLC, Patheon Calculus Merger LLC, Patheon Cooperatief U.A., Patheon Development Services Inc., Patheon Finance LLC, Patheon France SAS, Patheon Holdings B.V., Patheon Holdings I B.V., Patheon Holdings II B.V., Patheon Holdings SAS, Patheon I B.V., Patheon I Holding GmbH, Patheon Inc., Patheon International AG, Patheon Italia S.p.A., Patheon KK, Patheon Life Science Products International GmbH, Patheon Manufacturing Services LLC, Patheon Pharmaceuticals Inc., Patheon Pharmaceuticals Services Inc., Patheon Puerto Rico Acquisitions Corporation, Patheon Puerto Rico Inc., Patheon Regensburg GmbH, Patheon Softgels B.V., Patheon Softgels Inc., Patheon U.S. Holdings Inc., Patheon U.S. Holdings LLC, Patheon UK Limited, Patheon UK Pension Trustees Limited, Pelican Acquisition Corporation, Perbio Science (Canada) Company, Perbio Science AB, Perbio Science BVBA, Perbio Science France SAS, Perbio Science Inc., Perbio Science International Netherlands B.V., Perbio Science Invest AB, Perbio Science Nederland B.V., Perbio Science Projekt AB, Perbio Science Sweden Holdings AB, Perbio Science Switzerland SA, Perbio Science UK Limited, Phadia AB, Phadia Diagnosticos Ltda, Phadia GmbH, Phadia Holding AB, Phadia International Holdings C.V., Phadia Korea Co. Ltd, Phadia Luxembourg Holdings S.a.r.l., Phadia Malta Holdings Limited, Phadia Oy, Phadia Real Property AB, Phadia Sweden AB, Phadia Taiwan Inc., Phadia US Inc., Phadia s.r.o., Pharmacaps Mexicana SA de CV, Phenom-World B.V., Phenom-World Holding B.V, Phenom-World Innovations B.V., Phinotex, Pierce Biotechnology Inc., Pierce Milwaukee Holding Corp., Pierce Milwaukee Inc., Polychromix, Power Sweden Holdings I AB, Power Sweden Holdings II AB, Power Sweden Holdings III Aktiebolag, Princeton Gamma-Tech Instruments LLC, Princeton Security Technologies, Prionics AG, Prionics Asia Ltd., Prionics Deutschland GmbH, Prionics France SAS, Prionics Italia S.r.l., Prionics Lelystad B.V., Prionics USA Inc., Priority Air Express LLC, Priority Air Express Pte. Ltd., Priority Air Express UK Limited, Priority Air Holdings Corp, Priority Solutions International, Promedica Pty Limited, Proxeon, Proxeon Biosystems ApS, Qiagen, REP GBP I-B Blocker Inc., Raymond A Lamb Limited, Remel Europe Limited, Remel Inc., Richard-Allan Scientific Company, Robbins Scientific LLC, Robocon Labor- und Industrieroboter Gesellschaft m.b.H, Rupprecht and Patashnick, Rupprecht and Patashnick (R&P), Russell pH Limited, S.C.I. du 10 rue Dugay Trouin, SCI Inno 92, STC Bio Manufacturing Inc., Samco Scientific (Monterrey) LLC, Samco Scientific LLC, Saroph Sweden AB, Schantz Road LLC, Seradyn Inc., Shanghai Life Technologies Biotechnology Co. Limited, Shanghai Thermo Fisher (C-I) Trading Co. Ltd, Shanghai Thermo Fisher (S) Trading Co. Ltd, Southern Trials (Pty) Ltd., Specialty (SMI) Inc., Spectra-Physics AB, Spectra-Physics Holdings Limited, Spectra-Physics Holdings USA LLC, Spectronex, Staten Island Cogeneration Corporation, Sterilin Limited, Stokes Bio Ltd., Sweden DIA (Sweden) AB, SwissAnalytic Group GmbH, Systems Manufacturing Corporation, TFLP LLC, TFS Breda B.V., TFS LLC, TFS Singapore HK Limited, TFSL Financing GP LLC, TFSL Senior GP Holdings 2 LLC, TK Partnership, TKA Wasseraufbereitungssysteme, TMOI Inc., TPI Real Estate Holdings LLC, TSP Holdings I LLC, TWX LLC, Technology Design Solutions Pty Ltd, Thermedics Detection de Argentina S.R.L, Thermo Allen Coding Limited, Thermo Asset Management Services Inc., Thermo BioAnalysis LLC, Thermo BioAnalysis Limited, Thermo BioSciences Holdings LLC, Thermo CIDTEC, Thermo CRS Holdings Ltd., Thermo CRS Ltd., Thermo Cambridge Limited, Thermo Cayman Holdings Ltd., Thermo Corporation, Thermo DMA Inc., Thermo Detection de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Thermo Dutch Holdings Limited Partnership, Thermo EGS Gauging LLC, Thermo Eberline Holdings I LLC, Thermo Eberline Holdings II LLC, Thermo Eberline LLC, Thermo Electron (Calgary) Limited, Thermo Electron (Chile) S.p.A., Thermo Electron (Karlsruhe) GmbH, Thermo Electron (Management Services) Limited, Thermo Electron (Proprietary) Limited, Thermo Electron A/S, Thermo Electron Australia Pty Limited, Thermo Electron Export Inc., Thermo Electron Holdings SAS, Thermo Electron Industries, Thermo Electron LED GmbH, Thermo Electron LED S.A.S., Thermo Electron Limited, Thermo Electron Manufacturing Limited, Thermo Electron Metallurgical Services Inc., Thermo Electron North America LLC, Thermo Electron Pension Trust GmbH, Thermo Electron Puerto Rico Inc., Thermo Electron SAS, Thermo Electron Scientific Instruments LLC, Thermo Electron Sweden AB, Thermo Electron Sweden Forvaltning AB, Thermo Electron Weighing & Inspection Limited, Thermo Elemental Limited, Thermo Environmental Instruments LLC, Thermo Fast U.K. Limited, Thermo Finland Holdings LLC, Thermo Finland Holdings MT1 B.V., Thermo Finland Holdings MT2 B.V., Thermo Finnigan LLC, Thermo Finnigan Limited, Thermo Fisher (CN) Luxembourg Holding S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher (CN) Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher (CN) Malta Holdings Limited, Thermo Fisher (CN-I) Luxembourg LLC, Thermo Fisher (CN-II) Luxembourg LLC, Thermo Fisher (Cayman) Holdings I Ltd., Thermo Fisher (Cayman) Holdings II Ltd., Thermo Fisher (Finland Holdings 2) LLC, Thermo Fisher (Finland Holdings) Limited Partnership, Thermo Fisher (Gibraltar) II Limited, Thermo Fisher (Gibraltar) Limited, Thermo Fisher (Heysham) Limited, Thermo Fisher (Kandel) GmbH, Thermo Fisher CHK Holding LLC, Thermo Fisher China Business Trust, Thermo Fisher China Business Trust II, Thermo Fisher Costa Rica Sociedad de Responsabilidad Limitada, Thermo Fisher Cyprus Holdings LLC, Thermo Fisher Detection Mexico LLC, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics (Ireland) Limited, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics AB, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics AG, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics AS, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics Aps, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics Austria GmbH, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics B.V., Thermo Fisher Diagnostics GmbH, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics K.K., Thermo Fisher Diagnostics Limited, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics NV, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics S.L.U., Thermo Fisher Diagnostics S.p.A. , Thermo Fisher Diagnostics SAS, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics Sociedade Unipessoal Lda, Thermo Fisher Eurobonds Ltd., Thermo Fisher Financial Services Inc., Thermo Fisher GP LLC, Thermo Fisher German Holdings LLC, Thermo Fisher Germany B.V., Thermo Fisher India Divestco Private Limited, Thermo Fisher India Holding B.V., Thermo Fisher Insurance Holdings Inc., Thermo Fisher Insurance Holdings LLC, Thermo Fisher Investments (Cayman) Ltd., Thermo Fisher Israel Ltd., Thermo Fisher Production et Services SAS, Thermo Fisher Project Cyprus LLC, Thermo Fisher Re Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Asheville) LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Australia) C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Barbados) Holdings Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Breda) Holding BV, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Bremen) GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific (CN) Limited Partnership, Thermo Fisher Scientific (China) Co. Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific (China) Holding Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific (China-HK) Holding Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific (DE) Holding S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Ecublens) SARL, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Finance I) B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Finance I) S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Finance II) S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Finance III) LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Finance III) S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Fuji) LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Guangzhou) Co. Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Holding II) B.V. & Co. KG, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Hong Kong) Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific (IVGN) B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific (IVGN) Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Johannesburg) (Proprietary) Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Mexico City) LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Milwaukee) LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Mississauga) Inc., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Monterrey) S. De R.L. De C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific (NK) LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific (PN) Austria Holding GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific (PN) UK LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific (PN) UK Limited Partnership, Thermo Fisher Scientific (PN-I) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific (PN-II) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific (PN1) UK Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Panama) B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Panama) Dutch LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Praha) s.r.o., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Real Estate 1) GmbH & Co. KG, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Real Estate 1) S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Schweiz) AG, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Shanghai) Instruments Co. Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Shanghai) Management Co. Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Suzhou) Instruments Co. Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific AL-1 LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific AU C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific AU II Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific AU LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific AU Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Africa Proprietary Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific Aquasensors LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Australia Pty Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific B.V.B.A., Thermo Fisher Scientific BHK (I) Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific BHK (II) Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Baltics UAB, Thermo Fisher Scientific Beteiligungsverwaltungs GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific Biosciences Corp., Thermo Fisher Scientific Brahms LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Brasil Instrumentos de Processo Ltda., Thermo Fisher Scientific Brasil Servicos de Logistica Ltda, Thermo Fisher Scientific C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Cayman Investments LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Chemicals Inc., Thermo Fisher Scientific China (C-I) LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific China (S) LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific China Holdings I B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific China Holdings II B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific China Holdings III B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific China Holdings IV B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Chromatography Holdings Aps, Thermo Fisher Scientific Chromatography Holdings S.a r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Cyprus I C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Cyprus I Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific Cyprus II C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Cyprus II Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific Cyprus III C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Cyprus III Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific Cyprus IV C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Cyprus V C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Denmark Senior Holdings ApS, Thermo Fisher Scientific Erie 1 Financing (Barbados) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific Erie Financing (Barbados) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific Erie Financing S.a r.l, Thermo Fisher Scientific Europe GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific FLC B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific FLC Finance C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific FLC II B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific FLC LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific FSIR Financing (Barbados) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific FSIR Financing S.a.r.l, Thermo Fisher Scientific FSUKHCO Financing (Barbados) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific Falcon Senior Holdings Inc., Thermo Fisher Scientific Finance Company BV, Thermo Fisher Scientific GENEART GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific Germany BV & Co. KG, Thermo Fisher Scientific GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific HR Services Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Holdings (Cayman) I, Thermo Fisher Scientific Holdings (Cayman) II , Thermo Fisher Scientific Holdings Europe Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific IT Services GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific India Holding LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific India Pvt Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific Investments (Luxembourg) S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Investments (Malta) Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Investments (Sweden) LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Investments (Sweden) S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Investments Malta (Sweden Financing) Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Invitrogen Financing (Barbados) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific Japan Holdings I B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Japan Holdings II B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Japan Holdings III B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific K.K., Thermo Fisher Scientific Korea Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific LSI Financing (Barbados) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life CV GP Holdings II LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life CV GP Holdings LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Enterprises C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Enterprises GP LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Financing (Barbados) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Financing (Cayman), Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Financing C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Financing Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Holdings I C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Holdings II C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Holdings III C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Holdings Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life International GP Holdings LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life International Holdings I C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life International Holdings II C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments GP LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments I S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments II S.a r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments III S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments IV S.a.r.l, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments Malta Holding I LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments Malta Holding II LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments Malta I Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments Malta II Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments US Financing I LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments US Financing II LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life NL Holdings GP LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Netherlands Holding C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Senior GP Holdings II LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Senior GP Holdings LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Senior Holdings C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Senior Holdings II C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Senior Holdings Inc., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Switzerland Holdings GP LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Tech Korea Holdings LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Enterprise Holding Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Investment I LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Investment II LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Investment UK I Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Investment UK II Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Investments Holding LP, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Israel Investment I Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Israel Investment II Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Luxembourg Holding LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Luxembourg Enterprise Holdings S.a r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Luxembourg German Holdings S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Luxembourg Life Technologies UK Holding S.a r.l, Thermo Fisher Scientific Luxembourg Sweden Holdings I S.a r.l, Thermo Fisher Scientific Luxembourg Sweden Holdings II S.a r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Luxembourg Venture Holdings I S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Luxembourg Venture Holdings II S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., Thermo Fisher Scientific Malta Holdings LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Messtechnik GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific Mexico City S. de R.L. de C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Middle East Holdings Inc., Thermo Fisher Scientific Milano Srl, Thermo Fisher Scientific NHK Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific New Zealand Holdings, Thermo Fisher Scientific New Zealand Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Norway Holdings AS, Thermo Fisher Scientific Norway US Investments LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Odyssey Financing (Barbados) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific Odyssey Holdings Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Operating Company LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Oy, Thermo Fisher Scientific PN2 C.V, Thermo Fisher Scientific PN2 LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific PRB LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific PRB Malta Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific PRB S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Panama I Cayman Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific Peru S.R.L., Thermo Fisher Scientific Pte. Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific Re Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific SL, Thermo Fisher Scientific Senior Financing LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Senior Holdings Australia LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific South Africa Proprietary Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific SpA, Thermo Fisher Scientific Spectra LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Spectra Malta Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Spectra S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Spectra-Physics Holdings Luxembourg I S.a r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Spectra-Physics Holdings Luxembourg II S.a r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Spectra-Physics Investments Malta Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Switzerland Holdings C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific TR Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Taiwan Co. Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific Vermogensverwaltungs GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific West Palm Holdings LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Wissenschaftliche Gerate GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific Worldwide Investments (Cayman), Thermo Fisher Scientific eCommerce Solutions LLC , Thermo Fisher Senior Canada Holdings LLC, Thermo Foundation Inc., Thermo Gamma-Metrics Holdings Pty Ltd., Thermo Gamma-Metrics LLC, Thermo Gamma-Metrics Pty Ltd, Thermo Holding European Operations LLC, Thermo Hypersil Ltd, Thermo Hypersil-Keystone LLC, Thermo Informatics Asia Pacific Pty Ltd., Thermo Instrument Controls de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Thermo Kevex X-Ray LLC, Thermo Keytek LLC, Thermo LabSystems Inc., Thermo LabSystems S.A., Thermo Life Science International Trading (Tianjin) Co. Ltd., Thermo Life Sciences AB, Thermo Luxembourg Holding S.a.r.l., Thermo Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Thermo MF Physics LLC, Thermo Measurement Ltd, Thermo Measuretech Canada Inc., Thermo Neslab LLC, Thermo Nicolet Limited, Thermo Onix Limited, Thermo Optek (Australia) Pty Ltd., Thermo Optek Limited, Thermo Optek S.A., Thermo Orion Inc., Thermo Portable Holdings LLC, Thermo Power Corporation, Thermo Process Instruments GP LLC, Thermo Process Instruments L.P., Thermo Projects Limited, Thermo Quest S.A., Thermo Radiometrie Limited, Thermo Ramsey Italia S.r.l., Thermo Ramsey LLC, Thermo Ramsey S.A., Thermo Re Ltd., Thermo Scientific Microbiology Pte Ltd., Thermo Scientific Microbiology Sdn Bhd, Thermo Scientific Portable Analytical Instruments Inc., Thermo Scientific Services Inc., Thermo Securities Corporation, Thermo Sentron Canada Inc., Thermo Sentron Limited, Thermo Shandon Inc., Thermo Shandon Limited, Thermo Suomi Holding B.V., Thermo TLH (UK) Limited, Thermo TLH L.P., Thermo Trace Pty Ltd., Thermo-Fisher Biochemical Product (Beijing) Co. Ltd., ThermoLase LLC, ThermoSpectra Limited, Trek Diagnostic Systems LLC, Trek Diagnostic Systems Ltd., Trek Holding Company II Ltd., Trek Holding Company Ltd., Trex Medical Corporation, USB Corporation, Union Lab Supplies Limited, United Diagnostics Inc., VG Systems Limited, Westover Scientific Inc., ZAO PE Biosystems, eBioscience GmbH, eBioscience Ltd, eBioscience SAS, and picoSpin LLC. Read More Williams-Sonoma, Inc. operates as an omni-channel specialty retailer of various products for home. It offers cooking, dining, and entertaining products, such as cookware, tools, electrics, cutlery, tabletop and bar, outdoor, furniture, and a library of cookbooks under the Williams Sonoma Home brand, as well as home furnishings and decorative accessories under the Williams Sonoma lifestyle brand; and furniture, bedding, lighting, rugs, table essentials, and decorative accessories under the Pottery Barn brand. The company also provides home decor products under the West Elm brand; kids accessories under the Pottery Barn Kids brand; and an organic bedding to multi-purpose furniture under the Pottery Barn Teen brand. In addition, it offers made-to-order lighting, hardware, furniture, and home decors inspired by history under the Rejuvenation brand; and women's and men's accessories, travel, entertaining and bar, home decor, and seasonal items under the Mark and Graham brand, as well as operates a 3-D imaging and augmented reality platform for the home furnishings and decor industry. The company markets its products through e-commerce websites, direct-mail catalogs, and retail stores. It operates 544 stores comprising 502 stores in 41states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico; 20 stores in Canada; 19 stores in Australia; 3 stores in the United Kingdom; and 139 franchised stores, as well as e-commerce websites in various countries in the Middle East, the Philippines, Mexico, South Korea, and India. Williams-Sonoma, Inc. was founded in 1956 and is headquartered in San Francisco, California. The following companies are subsidiares of MetLife: 10700 WILSHIRE LLC, 1201 TAB MANAGER LLC, 1350 EYE STREET MANAGER LLC, 1350 EYE STREET OWNER LLC, 150 NORTH RIVERSIDE PE MEMBER LLC, 1925 WJC OWNER LLC, 23RD STREET INVESTMENTS INC., 500 GRANT STREET ASSOCIATES LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, 500 GRANT STREET GP LLC, 6104 HOLLYWOOD LLC, AFP GENESIS ADMINISTRADORA DE FONDOS Y FIDECOMISOS S.A., AGENVITA S.R.L., ALICO HELLAS SINGLE MEMBER LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, ALICO OPERATIONS LLC, American Life Insurance Company, BEST MARKET S.A., BLOCK VISION HOLDINGS CORPORATION, BLOCK VISION OF TEXAS INC., BORDERLAND INVESTMENTS LIMITED, BOULEVARD RESIDENTIAL LLC, BUFORD LOGISTICS CENTER LLC, CC HOLDCO MANAGER LLC, CHESTNUT FLATS WIND LLC, CLOSED JOINT-STOCK COMPANY MASTER-D, COMPANIA INVERSORA METLIFE S.A., CORPORATE REAL ESTATE HOLDINGS LLC, COVA LIFE MANAGEMENT COMPANY, DAVIS VISION INC., DAVISVISION IPA INC., DELAWARE AMERICAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, EURO CL INVESTMENTS LLC, EXCELENCIA OPERATIVA Y TECNOLOGICA S.A de C.V., FORTISSIMO CO. LTD, FUNDACION METLIFE MEXICO A.C., GLOBAL PROPERTIES INC., General American Life Insurance Company, Grand Bank N.A., HASKELL EAST VILLAGE LLC, HOUSING FUND MANAGER LLC, INTERNATIONAL TECHNICAL AND ADVISORY SERVICES LIMITED, INVERSIONES METLIFE HOLDCO DOS LIMITADA, INVERSIONES METLIFE HOLDCO TRES LIMITADA, LHC HOLDINGS LLC, LHCW HOLDINGS LLC, LHCW HOTEL HOLDING 2002 LLC, LHCW HOTEL HOLDING LLC, LHCW HOTEL OPERATING COMPANY 2002 LLC, LUMENLAB MALAYSIA SDN. BHD., Logan Circle Partners, MARKETPLACE RESIDENCES LLC, MC PORTFOLIO JV MEMBER LLC, MCJV LLC, MCPP OWNERS LLC, MCRE BLOCK 40 LP, MEC HEALTH CARE INC., MET 1065 HOTEL LLC, MET CANADA SOLAR ULC, METLIFE 1007 STEWART LLC, METLIFE 1201 TAB MEMBER LLC, METLIFE 425 MKT MANAGER LLC, METLIFE 425 MKT MEMBER LLC, METLIFE 555 12TH MEMBER LLC, METLIFE 8280 MEMBER LLC, METLIFE ACOMA OWNER LLC, METLIFE ADMINISTRADORA DE FUNDOS MULTIPATROCINADOS LTDA., METLIFE ALTERNATIVES GP LLC, METLIFE ASHTON AUSTIN OWNER LLC, METLIFE ASIA HOLDING COMPANY PTE. LTD., METLIFE ASIA LIMITED, METLIFE ASIA SERVICES SDN. BHD, METLIFE ASSET MANAGEMENT CORP., METLIFE ASSIGNMENT COMPANY INC., METLIFE BORO STATION MEMBER LLC, METLIFE CAMINO RAMON MEMBER LLC, METLIFE CAMPUS AT SGV MEMBER LLC, METLIFE CAPITAL CREDIT L.P., METLIFE CAPITAL LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, METLIFE CAPITAL TRUST IV, METLIFE CB W/A LLC, METLIFE CC MEMBER LLC, METLIFE CHILE ADMINISTRADORA DE MUTUOS HIPOTECARIOS S.A., METLIFE CHILE INVERSIONES LIMITADA, METLIFE CHILE SEGUROS DE VIDA S.A., METLIFE CHILE SEGUROS GENERALES S.A., METLIFE CHINO MEMBER LLC, METLIFE COLOMBIA SEGUROS de VIDA S.A., METLIFE COMMERCIAL MORTGAGE INCOME FUND GP LLC, METLIFE CONSQUARE MEMBER LLC, METLIFE CONSUMER SERVICES INC., METLIFE CORE PROPERTY FUND GP LLC, METLIFE CREDIT CORP., METLIFE DIGITAL VENTURES INC., METLIFE ENHANCED CORE PROPERTY FUND GP LLC, METLIFE EU HOLDING COMPANY LIMITED, METLIFE EUROPE INSURANCE d.a.c., METLIFE EUROPE SERVICES LIMITED, METLIFE EUROPE d.a.c., METLIFE EUROPEAN HOLDINGS LLC., METLIFE FINANCIAL SERVICES CO. LTD, METLIFE FM HOTEL MEMBER LLC, METLIFE FUNDING INC., METLIFE GENERAL INSURANCE LIMITED, METLIFE GLOBAL BENEFITS LTD., METLIFE GLOBAL HOLDING COMPANY I GMBH, METLIFE GLOBAL HOLDING COMPANY II GMBH, METLIFE GLOBAL HOLDINGS CORPORATION S.A. De C.V., METLIFE GLOBAL INC., METLIFE GLOBAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT CENTER PRIVATE LIMITED, METLIFE GROUP INC., METLIFE HCMJV 1 GP LLC, METLIFE HCMJV 1 LP LLC, METLIFE HEALTH PLANS INC., METLIFE HOLDINGS INC., METLIFE HOME LOANS LLC, METLIFE INNOVATION CENTRE LIMITED, METLIFE INNOVATION CENTRE PTE. LTD., METLIFE INSURANCE AND INVESTMENT TRUST, METLIFE INSURANCE BROKERAGE INC., METLIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF KOREA LTD., METLIFE INSURANCE K.K., METLIFE INSURANCE LIMITED, METLIFE INTERNATIONAL HF PARTNERS LP, METLIFE INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS LLC, METLIFE INTERNATIONAL LIMITED LLC, METLIFE INTERNATIONAL PE FUND I LP, METLIFE INTERNATIONAL PE FUND II LP, METLIFE INTERNATIONAL PE FUND III LP, METLIFE INTERNATIONAL PE FUND IV LP, METLIFE INTERNATIONAL PE FUND V LP, METLIFE INTERNATIONAL PE FUND VI LP, METLIFE INTERNATIONAL PE FUND VII LP, METLIFE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT EUROPE LIMITED, METLIFE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT HOLDINGS LIMITED, METLIFE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT HOLDINGS LLC, METLIFE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT LIMITED, METLIFE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT LLC, METLIFE INVESTMENTS ASIA LIMITED, METLIFE INVESTMENTS LIMITED, METLIFE INVESTMENTS PTY LIMITED, METLIFE INVESTMENTS SECURITIES LLC, METLIFE INVESTORS DISTRIBUTION COMPANY, METLIFE INVESTORS GROUP LLC, METLIFE IRELAND TREASURY D.A.C., METLIFE JAPAN US EQUITY FUND GP LLC, METLIFE JAPAN US EQUITY FUND LP, METLIFE JAPAN US EQUITY OWNERS BLOCKER LLC, METLIFE JAPAN US EQUITY OWNERS LLC, METLIFE LATIN AMERICA ASESORIAS E INVERSIONES LIMITADA, METLIFE LEGAL PLANS INC., METLIFE LEGAL PLANS OF FLORIDA INC., METLIFE LHH MEMBER LLC, METLIFE LIFE INSURANCE S.A., METLIFE LOAN ASSET MANAGEMENT LLC, METLIFE LONG SHORT CREDIT FUND LP, METLIFE LONG SHORT CREDIT MASTER FUND LP, METLIFE LONG SHORT CREDIT PARALLEL FUND LP, METLIFE MAS S.A. DE C.V., METLIFE MEXICO HOLDINGS S. DE R.L. DE C.V., METLIFE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., METLIFE MEXICO SERVICIOS S.A. DE C.V., METLIFE MIDDLE MARKET PRIVATE DEBT FUND II LP, METLIFE MIDDLE MARKET PRIVATE DEBT GP II LLC, METLIFE MIDDLE MARKET PRIVATE DEBT GP LLC, METLIFE MIDDLE MARKET PRIVATE DEBT II RATED FUND LP, METLIFE MIDDLE MARKET PRIVATE DEBT PARALLEL FUND LP, METLIFE MIDDLE MARKET PRIVATE DEBT PARALLEL GP LLC, METLIFE MMPD II SPECIAL LLC, METLIFE MULTI-FAMILY PARTNERS III LLC, METLIFE OBS MEMBER LLC, METLIFE OFC MEMBER LLC, METLIFE ONTARIO STREET MEMBR LLC, METLIFE PARK TOWER MEMBER LLC, METLIFE PENSION TRUSTEES LIMITED, METLIFE PENSIONES MEXICO S.A., METLIFE PET INSURANCE SOLUTIONS LLC, METLIFE PLANOS ODONTOLOGICOS LTDA., METLIFE POWSZECHNE TOWARTZYSTWO EMERYTALNE S.A., METLIFE PRIVATE EQUITY HOLDINGS LLC, METLIFE PROPERTIES VENTURES LLC, METLIFE RC SF MEMBER LLC, METLIFE REAL ESTATE LENDING LLC, METLIFE REINSURANCE COMPANY OF BERMUDA LTD., METLIFE REINSURANCE COMPANY OF CHARLESTON, METLIFE REINSURANCE COMPANY OF VERMONT, METLIFE RETIREMENT SERVICES LLC, METLIFE SECURITIZATION DEPOSITOR LLC, METLIFE SEGUROS S.A., METLIFE SENIOR DIRECT LENDING FINCO LLC, METLIFE SENIOR DIRECT LENDING FUND LP, METLIFE SENIOR DIRECT LENDING GP LLC, METLIFE SENIOR DIRECT LENDING HOLDINGS LP, METLIFE SERVICES AND SOLUTIONS LLC, METLIFE SERVICES CYPRUS LTD., METLIFE SERVICES EAST PRIVATE LIMITED, METLIFE SERVICES EEIG, METLIFE SERVICES EOOD, METLIFE SERVICES SOCIEDAD LIMITADA, METLIFE SERVICES SP Z.O.O, METLIFE SERVICIOS S.A., METLIFE SINGLE FAMILY RENTAL FUND GP LLC, METLIFE SINGLE FAMILY RENTAL FUND LP, METLIFE SOLUTIONS PTE. LTD., METLIFE SOLUTIONS S.A.S., METLIFE SP HOLDINGS LLC, METLIFE STRATEGIC HOTEL DEBT FUND GP LLC, METLIFE SYNDICATED BANK LOAN LUX GP S.A.R.L., METLIFE THR INVESTOR LLC, METLIFE TOWARZYSTWO FUNDUSZY INWESTYCYJNYCH S.A., METLIFE TOWARZYSTWO UBEZPIECZEN NA ZYCIE I REASEKURACJI S.A., METLIFE TOWER RESOURCES GROUP INC., METLIFE TREAT TOWERS MEMBER LLC, METLIFE WORLDWIDE HOLDINGS LLC, METROPOLITAN GENERAL INSURANCE COMPANY, METROPOLITAN GLOBAL MANAGEMENT LLC, METROPOLITAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, METROPOLITAN LIFE SEGUROS E PREVIDENCIA PRIVADA S.A., METROPOLITAN LIFE SOCIETATE de ADMINISTRARE a UNUI FOND de PENSII ADMINISTRAT PRIVAT S.A., METROPOLITAN TOWER LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, METROPOLITAN TOWER REALTY COMPANY INC., MEX DF PROPERTIES LLC, MFA FINANCING VEHICLE CTR1 LLC, MIDTOWN HEIGHTS LLC, MIM CAMPUS AT SGV MANAGER LLC, MIM CLAL GENERAL PARTNER LLC, MIM CM SYNDICATOR LLC, MIM EMD GP LLC, MIM I LLC, MIM LS GP LLC, MIM METWEST INTERNATIONAL MANAGER LLC, MIM ML-AI VENTURE 5 MANAGER LLC, MIM OMD MANAGER LLC, MIM PROPERTY MANAGEMENT LLC, MIM PROPERTY MANAGEMENT OF GEORGIA 1 LLC, MIM SPOKANE INDUSTRIAL MANAGER LLC, MIM THIRD ARMY INDUSTRIAL MANAGER LLC, MISSOURI REINSURANCE INC., ML 300 THIRD MEMBER LLC, ML ARMATURE MEMBER LLC, ML BELLEVUE MANAGER LLC, ML BELLEVUE MEMBER LLC, ML CAPACITACION COMERCIAL S.A. DE C.V., ML CERRITOS TC MEMBER LLC, ML CLAL MEMBER LLC, ML CORNER 63 MEMBER LLC, ML DOLPHIN GP LLC, ML DOLPHIN MEZZ LLC, ML HUDSON MEMBER LLC, ML MATSON MILLS MEMBER LLC, ML MILILANI MEMBER LLC, ML OMD MEMBER LLC, ML ONE BEDMINSTER LLC, ML PORT CHESTER SC MEMBER LLC, ML SENTINEL SQUARE MEMBER LLC, ML SLOANS LAKE MEMEBR LLC, ML SOUTHLANDS MEMBER LLC, ML SOUTHMORE LLC, ML SPOKANE INDUSTRIAL MEMBER LLC, ML SWAN GP LLC, ML SWAN MEZZ LLC, ML TERRACES LLC, ML THIRD ARMY INDUSTRIAL MEMBER LLC, ML VENTURE 1 MANAGER S. DE R. L. DE C.V., ML VENTURE 1 SERVICER LLC, ML-AI METLIFE MEMBER 1 LLC, ML-AI METLIFE MEMBER 2 LLC, ML-AI METLIFE MEMBER 3 LLC, ML-AI METLIFE MEMBER 4 LLC, ML-AI METLIFE MEMBER 5 LLC, ML-URS PORT CHESTER SC MANAGER LLC, MLIA MANAGER I LLC, MLIA PARK TOWER MANAGER LLC, MLIA SBAF COLONY MANAGER LLC, MLIA SBAF MANAGER LLC, MLIC ASSET HOLDINGS II LLC, MLIC ASSET HOLDINGS LLC, MLIC CB HOLDINGS LLC, MLJ US FEEDER LLC, MM GLOBAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT CENTER S.A. DE C.V., MMP CEDAR STREET OWNER LLC, MMP CEDAR STREET REIT LLC, MMP HOLDINGS III LLC, MMP OLIVIAN OWNER LLC, MMP OLIVIAN REIT LLC, MMP OWNERS III LLC, MMP OWNERS LLC, MMP SOUTH PARK OWNER LLC, MMP SOUTH PARK REIT LLC, MNQM TRUST 2020, MREF 425 MKT LLC, MSHDF HOLDCO I LLC, MSV IRVINE PROPERTY LLC, MTL LEASING LLC, MTU HOTEL OWNER LLC, NATILOPORTEM HOLDINGS LLC, NEWBURY INSURANCE COMPANY LIMITED, OCONEE GOLF COMPANY LLC, OCONEE HOTEL COMPANY LLC, OCONEE LAND COMPANY LLC, OCONEE LAND DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LLC, OCONEE MARINA COMPANY LLC, OMI MLIC INVESTMENTS LIMITED, PACIFIC LOGISTICS INDUSTRIAL NORTH LLC, PACIFIC LOGISTICS INDUSTRIAL SOUTH LLC, PARK TOWER JV MEMBER LLC, PARK TOWER REIT INC., PJSC METLIFE, PLAZA DRIVE PROPERTIES LLC, PREFCO FOURTEEN LLC, PREFCO XIV HOLDINGS LLC, PROVIDA INTERNACIONAL S.A., SAFEGUARD HEALTH ENTERPRISES INC., SAFEGUARD HEALTH PLANS INC., SAFEHEALTH LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, SOUTHCREEK INDUSTRIAL HOLDINGS LLC, ST. JAMES FLEET INVESTMENTS TWO LIMITED, SUPERIOR PROCUREMENT INC., SUPERIOR VISION BENEFIT MANAGEMENT INC., SUPERIOR VISION HOLDINGS INC., SUPERIOR VISION INSURANCE INC., SUPERIOR VISION INSURANCE PLAN OF WISCONSIN INC., SUPERIOR VISION OF NEW JERSEY INC., SUPERIOR VISION SERVICES INC., Safeguard Health Enterprises, Security First Group Inc., THE BUILDING AT 575 FIFTH AVENUE MEZZANINE LLC, THE BUILDING AT 575 FIFTH RETAIL HOLDING LLC, THE BUILDING AT 575 FIFTH RETAIL OWNER, THE DIRECT CALL CENTRE PTY LIMITED, TRANSMOUNTAIN LAND & LIVESTOCK COMPANY, UVC INDEPENDENT PRACTICE ASSOCIATION INC., VERSANT HEALTH CONSOLIDATIONS CORP., VERSANT HEALTH HOLDCO INC., VERSANT HEALTH INC., VERSANT HEALTH LAB LLC, VIRIDIAN MIRACLE MILE LLC, VISION 21 MANAGED EYE CARE OF TAMPA BAY INC., VISION 21 PHYSICIAN PRACTICE MANAGEMENT COMPANY, VISION TWENTY-ONE MANAGED EYE CARE IPA INC., Versant Health, WDV ACQUISITION CORP., WFP 1000 HOLDING COMPANY GP LLC, WHITE OAK ROYALTY COMPANY, WHITE TRACT II LLC, and Willing. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Molina Healthcare: Aetna & Humana - Medicare Advantage, Affinity Health Plan, AmericanWork Inc., Better Health Network, Camelot Care Centers Inc, Children's Behavioral Health Inc., Choices Group Inc., College Community Services, Dockside Services Inc, Family Preservation Services Inc., Family Preservation Services of Florida Inc., Family Preservation Services of North Carolina Inc., Family Preservation Services of Washington D.C. Inc., Family Preservation Services of West Virginia Inc., Florida NetPASS LLC, Hclb Inc., Magellan Complete Care, Maple Star Nevada Inc., Maple Star Oregon Inc., Mercy CarePlus, Molina Clinical Services LLC, Molina Healthcare Data Center Inc., Molina Healthcare of Arizona Inc., Molina Healthcare of California, Molina Healthcare of Florida Inc., Molina Healthcare of Georgia Inc., Molina Healthcare of Illinois Inc., Molina Healthcare of Iowa Inc., Molina Healthcare of Louisiana Inc., Molina Healthcare of Maryland Inc., Molina Healthcare of Michigan Inc., Molina Healthcare of Mississippi Inc., Molina Healthcare of Nevada Inc., Molina Healthcare of New Mexico Inc., Molina Healthcare of New York Inc., Molina Healthcare of North Carolina Inc., Molina Healthcare of Ohio Inc., Molina Healthcare of Oklahoma Inc., Molina Healthcare of Pennsylvania Inc., Molina Healthcare of Puerto Rico Inc., Molina Healthcare of South Carolina LLC, Molina Healthcare of Texas Inc., Molina Healthcare of Texas Insurance Company, Molina Healthcare of Utah Inc., Molina Healthcare of Virginia Inc., Molina Healthcare of Washington Inc., Molina Healthcare of Wisconsin Inc., Molina Holdings Corporation, Molina Hospital Management LLC, Molina Information Systems LLC dba Molina Medicaid Solutions, Molina Medical Management Inc., Molina Pathways LLC, Molina Pathways of Texas Inc., Molina Youth Academy, NextLevel Health Illinois, Pathways Community Corrections Inc., Pathways Community Services LLC, Pathways Community Support of Texas Inc., Pathways Health and Community Support LLC, Pathways Human Services LLC., Pathways of Arizona Inc., Pathways of Delaware Inc., Pathways of Idaho LLC, Pathways of Maine Inc., Pathways of Massachusetts LLC, Pathways of Oklahoma Inc., Pathways of Washington Inc., Providence Community Services, Providence Human Services, Raystown Developmental Services Inc., The Game of Work LLC, The RedCo Group Inc., Total Care Medicaid plan, Transitional Family Services Inc., Unisys -Health Information Management, and YourCare Health Plan. Read More CA, Inc., doing business as CA technologies, develops, markets, delivers, and licenses software products and services in the United States and internationally. It operates through three segments: Mainframe Solutions, Enterprise Solutions, and Services. The Mainframe Solutions segment offers solutions for the IBM z Systems platform, which runs various mission critical business applications. Its mainframe solutions enable customers enhance economics by increasing throughput and lowering cost per transaction; increasing business agility through DevOps tooling and processes; increasing reliability and availability of operations through machine intelligence and automation solutions; and protecting enterprise data with security and compliance. The Enterprise Solutions segment provides a range of software planning, development, and management tools for mobile, cloud, and distributed computing environments. It primarily provides customers secure application development, infrastructure management, automation, and identity-centric security solutions. The Services segment offers various services, such as consulting, implementation, application management, education, and support services to commercial and government customers for implementation and adoption of its software solutions. The company serves banks, insurance companies, other financial services providers, government agencies, information technology service providers, telecommunication providers, transportation companies, manufacturers, technology companies, retailers, educational organizations, and health care institutions. It sells its products through direct sales force, as well as through various partner channels comprising resellers, service providers, system integrators, managed service providers, and technology partners. The company was formerly known as Computer Associates International, Inc. and changed its name to CA, Inc. in 2006. CA, Inc. was founded in 1974 and is headquartered in New York, New York. The following companies are subsidiares of Novartis: 1 A Pharma GmbH, Abadia Retuerta S.A, Admune Therapeutics, Advanced Accelerator Applications, Advanced Accelerator Applications, Advanced Accelerator Applications International SA, Advanced Accelerator Applications S.A., Advanced Accelerator Applications S.r.l., Advanced Accelerator Applications USA Inc., Aeropharm GmbH, Alcon, Alcon Couvreur NV, Amblyotech, Amblyotech Inc., Arctos Medical, Arctos Medical AG, Australia Pty Ltd, Beijing Novartis Pharma Co. Ltd., BioMedical Research Co. Ltd., CELLforCURE, Cadent Therapeutics, Cadent Therapeutics Cambridge, Cellerys, Cellerys AG, CellforCure, Chiron Corporation, Ciba-Geigy Japan Limited, Co. Ltd, CoStim Pharmaceuticals, CoStim Pharmaceuticals Inc., Coalesce Product Development Limited, Corthera, Development Co. Ltd., EBEWE Pharma Ges.m.b.H Nfg. KG, Encore Vision, Endocyte, Endocyte Inc., Eon Labs Inc., Farmanova Saglik Hizmetleri Ltd, Fougera Pharmaceuticals, Fougera Pharmaceuticals Inc, Gyroscope Therapeutics, HEXAL AG, Hexal, IDB Holland BV, Iberica S.L.U., Ilaclari Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S, JSC Sandoz, Japat AG, Kedalion Therapeutics Inc., Lek Pharmaceuticals d.d., Lek S.A., Manufacturing Pte Ltd , Navigate BioPharma Services Inc, Neutec Pharma Limited, Novartis (Hellas) S.A.C.I., Novartis (Singapore) Pte Ltd, Novartis (Taiwan) Co. Ltd, Novartis (Thailand) Limited, Novartis Argentina S.A., Novartis Australia Pty Ltd, Novartis Austria GmbH, Novartis Biociencias S.A., Novartis Biosciences Peru S.A., Novartis Bioventures AG, Novartis Business Services GmbH, Novartis Capital Corporation, Novartis Chile S.A., Novartis Corporation, Novartis Corporation Sdn. Bhd., Novartis Deutschland GmbH, Novartis Ecuador S.A., Novartis Farma S.p.A., Novartis Farma Produtos Farmaceuticos S.A., Novartis Farmaceutica S.A, Novartis Farmaceutica S.A. de C.V., Novartis Finance Corporation, Novartis Finance S.A., Novartis Finance Services Ltd, Novartis Finland Oy Espoo, Novartis Gene Therapies, Novartis Gene Therapies EU Limited, Novartis Gene Therapies Inc., Novartis Grimsby Limited, Novartis Groupe France S.A., Novartis Healthcare A/S, Novartis Healthcare Philippines Inc., Novartis Healthcare Private Limited, Novartis Holding AG, Novartis Hungary Healthcare Limited Liability Company, Novartis India Limited, Novartis Inflammasome Research, Novartis Integrated Services Limited, Novartis International AG, Novartis International Pharmaceutical Investment AG, Novartis Investment Ltd, Novartis Investments S.a r.l., Novartis Ireland Limited, Novartis Israel Ltd, Novartis Korea Ltd., Novartis Middle East FZE, Novartis Netherlands B.V., Novartis Neva LLC, Novartis New Zealand Ltd, Novartis Norge AS, Novartis Ophthalmics AG, Novartis Optogenetics Research Inc., Novartis Overseas Investments AG, Novartis Pharma (Logistics) Inc., Novartis Pharma (Pakistan) Limited, Novartis Pharma AG, Novartis Pharma B.V. , Novartis Pharma GmbH, Novartis Pharma GmbH, Novartis Pharma K.K., Novartis Pharma LLC, Novartis Pharma Maroc SA, Novartis Pharma NV, Novartis Pharma Produktions GmbH, Novartis Pharma S.A.E., Novartis Pharma S.A.S., Novartis Pharma Schweiz AG, Novartis Pharma Schweizerhalle AG, Novartis Pharma Services AG, Novartis Pharma Services Romania S.R.L., Novartis Pharma Stein AG, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc., Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Limited, Novartis Pharmaceuticals UK Limited, Novartis Poland Sp. z o.o., Novartis Portugal S.G.P.S. Lda., Novartis Ringaskiddy Limited, Novartis Saglik Gida ve Tarim Urunleri Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S, Novartis Saudi Ltd., Novartis Securities Investment Ltd, Novartis Services Inc., Novartis Slovakia s.r.o., Novartis South Africa (Pty) Ltd, Novartis Sverige AB, Novartis UK Limited, Novartis US Foundation, Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics Inc, Novartis Vietnam Company Limited, Novartis de Colombia S.A., Novartis de Venezuela S.A., Novartis s.r.o., Oriel Therapeutics Inc., PT. Novartis Indonesia, Protez Pharmaceuticals, Pte Ltd, Research Inc, Salutas Pharma GmbH, Sandoz A/S, Sandoz AG, Sandoz B.V., Sandoz Canada Inc., Sandoz Egypt Pharma S.A.E., Sandoz Farmaceutica S.A., Sandoz Farmaceutica Lda., Sandoz GmbH, Sandoz Hungary Limited Liability Company, Sandoz Ilac Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S., Sandoz Inc, Sandoz Industrial Products S.A, Sandoz International GmbH, Sandoz K.K., Sandoz Limited, Sandoz Manufacturing Inc., Sandoz NV, Sandoz Pharma K.K, Sandoz Pharmaceuticals AG, Sandoz Pharmaceuticals d.d., Sandoz Philippines Corporation, Sandoz Polska Sp. z o.o. , Sandoz Private Limited, Sandoz Pty Ltd, Sandoz S.A. de C.V, Sandoz S.A.S., Sandoz S.R.L., Sandoz S.p.A., Sandoz South Africa (Pty) Ltd, Sandoz Ukraine LLC, Sandoz d.o.o. farmaceutska industrija, Sandoz do Brasil Industria Farmaceutica Ltda, Sandoz s.r.o., Selexys Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Shanghai Novartis Trading Ltd., Societe par actions SANDOZ, Spinifex Pharmaceuticals, The Medicines Company, The Medicines Company, Triangle International Reinsurance Limited, Trinity River Insurance Co Ltd, Vedere Bio, Vedere Bio ll, Xiidra, Ziarco, and Ziarco Group Limited. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Reliance Steel & Aluminum: AMI Metals Aero Services Ankara Havaclk Anonim Sirketi, AMI Metals Europe SPRL, AMI Metals Inc. , AMI Metals UK Limited, Acero Prime S. de R.L. de C.V., Admiral Metals Servicenter Company, Admiral Metals Servicenter Company Inc., Airport Metals, Alaska Steel Company, Alaska Steel Company, Aleaciones Especiales de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., All Metal Services (Malaysia) Sdn., All Metal Services India Private Limited, All Metal Services Limited, All Metal Services Ltd. (Xian), All Metals Holding, All Metals Processing & Logistics Inc., Allegheny Steel Distributors Inc., American Metals Corporation, Best Manufacturing Inc., CCC Steel Inc., Chapel Steel Canada Ltd., Chapel Steel Corp., Chatham Steel Corporation, Clayton Metals Inc., Continental Alloys & Services (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Continental Alloys & Services Limited, Continental Alloys & Services Pte. Ltd., Continental Alloys Middle East FZE, Crest Steel Corporation, Delta Steel Inc., Diamond Manufacturing Company, DuBose National Energy Fasteners & Machined Parts, DuBose National Energy Fasteners & Machined Parts Inc., DuBose National Energy Services, DuBose National Energy Services Inc., Durrett Sheppard Steel Co. Inc., Earle M. Jorgensen Company, FastMetals Inc., Feralloy Corporation, Ferguson Perforating Company, Ferguson Perforating Company, Fox Metals And Alloys, Fox Metals and Alloys Inc., Fry Steel, Fry Steel Company, GH Metal Solutions, GH Metal Solutions Inc., Haskins Steel, Infra-Metals Co., KMS FAB LLC, KMS Fab, KMS South, KMS South Inc., Liebovich Bros. Inc., McKey Perforating, Merfish United, Merfish United Inc., Metals USA, Metals USA Inc., Metalweb Limited, National Specialty Alloys, National Specialty Alloys Inc., Northern Illinois Steel Supply Co, Northern Illinois Steel Supply Co., Nu-Tech Precision Metals Inc., Nu-Tech Precision Metals Inc., PDM Steel Service Centers Inc., Pacific Metal Company, Phoenix Corporation, Precision Flamecutting and Steel Inc., Precision Strip Inc., Reliance Metalcenter Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., Reliance Metals Canada Limited, Rotax Metals Inc, Rotax Metals Inc., Service Steel Aerospace Corp., Siskin Steel & Supply Company Inc., Sugar Steel Corporation, Sunbelt Steel Texas, Tubular Steel, Tubular Steel Inc., Valex Corp., Valex Korea Co. Ltd., Valex Semiconductor Materials (Zhejiang) Co. Ltd., Viking Materials Inc., and Yarde Metals Inc.. Read More RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. provides reinsurance and insurance products around the world. The company was founded in 1993 and is headquartered in Bermuda with offices in Ireland, Australia, Switzerland, Singapore, and the US. The company operates through two segments that include multiple underlying businesses and investment vehicles. The two main segments are Property and Casualty & Specialty. The company operates through intermediaries that include DaVinci Resinsurance Inc, Top Layer Reinsurance LTD, and RennaisanceRe Syndicate 1458 among others. Top Layer Re is the first major venture and was started in 1999. It is a joint venture with State Farm targeting high layers of the US reinsurance business. DaVinci Re was formed in the wake of 9/11 to assist with capacity and it was given added capacity in the wake of hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma. Medici was formed in 2009 and is an open-ended fund intended to spur investment in the catastrophe bond market. The Property segment writes catastrophic insurance policies to insure insurance and reinsurance companies against natural and man-made catastrophes. These include but are not limited to hurricanes, floods, freezes, and terrorism. The Casualty & Specialty segment provides a wide range of consumer products including business insurance, malpractice insurance, liability insurance, workers' compensation, mortgage insurance, and health insurance among others. Among RenaissanceRes Specialty businesses is capital management. The firm offers 6 investment vehicles and has more than $11 billion under management making it the #1 ILS or insurance-linked asset manager in the US. In regards to its credit ratings, the firm and all of its vehicles carry an A or better rating from every credit rating agency. The following companies are subsidiares of Barclays: Adler Toy Holding Sarl, Aequor Investments Limited, Alymere Investments Limited, Alynore Investments Limited Partnership, Analog Analytics, Analog Analytics Inc, Analytical Trade Holdings LLC, Analytical Trade Investments LLC, Analytical Trade UK Limited, Archstone Equity Holdings Inc, Ardencroft Investments Limited, B D & B Investments Limited, B.P.B. (Holdings) Limited, BB Client Nominees Limited, BBAIL SAS, BCAP LLC, BIFML PTC Limited, BMBF (No.24) Limited, BMI (No.9) Limited, BNC Brazil Consultoria Empresarial Ltda, BNRI ENG 2013 Limited Partnership, BNRI ENG 2014 Limited Partnership, BNRI ENG GP LLP, BNRI England 2010 Limited Partnership, BNRI England 2011 Limited Partnership, BNRI England 2012 Limited Partnership, BNRI Limehouse No.1 Sarl, BNRI PIA Scot GP Limited, BNRI Scots GP LLP, BPB Holdings SA, BVP Galvani Global S.A.U., Barafor Limited, Barclay Leasing Limited, Barclaycard Funding PLC, Barclaycard International Payments Limited, Barclays (Barley) Limited, Barclays Aldersgate Investments Limited, Barclays Alzin Investments S.a r.l., Barclays Asia Limited, Barclays Asset Management Limited, Barclays BR Investments S.a r.l., Barclays BWA Inc., Barclays Bank (Suisse) S.A., Barclays Bank Delaware, Barclays Bank Ireland PLC, Barclays Bank Ireland Public Limited Company, Barclays Bank Mexico S.A., Barclays Bank PLC, Barclays Bank UK PLC, Barclays Bayard Investments S.a r.l., Barclays Bedivere Investments S.a r.l., Barclays Bordang Investments S.a r.l., Barclays Brasil Assessoria Financeira Ltda., Barclays CCP Funding LLC, Barclays Cantal Investments S.a r.l., Barclays Capital (Cayman) Limited, Barclays Capital Asia Holdings Limited, Barclays Capital Asia Limited, Barclays Capital Canada Inc., Barclays Capital Casa de Bolsa S.A. de C.V., Barclays Capital Derivatives Funding LLC, Barclays Capital Effekten GmbH, Barclays Capital Energy Inc., Barclays Capital Equities Trading GP, Barclays Capital Finance Limited, Barclays Capital Futures (Singapore) Private Limited, Barclays Capital Holdings (Singapore) Private Limited, Barclays Capital Holdings Inc., Barclays Capital Inc., Barclays Capital Japan Securities Holdings Limited, Barclays Capital Luxembourg S.a r.l., Barclays Capital Mauritius Limited, Barclays Capital Nominees (No.2) Limited, Barclays Capital Nominees (No.3) Limited, Barclays Capital Nominees Limited, Barclays Capital Principal Investments Limited, Barclays Capital Real Estate Finance Inc., Barclays Capital Real Estate Holdings Inc., Barclays Capital Real Estate Inc., Barclays Capital Securities Client Nominee Limited, Barclays Capital Securities Limited, Barclays Capital Securities Mauritius Limited, Barclays Capital Trading Luxembourg S.a r.l., Barclays Claudas Investments Partnership, Barclays Claudas Investments S.a r.l., Barclays Commercial Mortgage Securities LLC, Barclays Converted Investments (No.2) Limited, Barclays Corporation Limited, Barclays Direct Investing Nominees Limited, Barclays Directors Limited, Barclays Dryrock Funding LLC, Barclays Electronic Commerce Holdings Inc., Barclays Equity Holdings Limited, Barclays Equity Index Investments S.a r.l., Barclays Europe Client Nominees Designated Activity Company, Barclays Europe Firm Nominees Designated Activity Company, Barclays Europe Nominees Designated Activity Company, Barclays Executive Schemes Trustees Limited, Barclays Financial LLC, Barclays Financial Planning Nominee Company Limited, Barclays Funds Investments Limited, Barclays Funds and Advisory Japan Limited, Barclays Global Service Centre Private Limited, Barclays Global Shareplans Nominee Limited, Barclays Group Holdings Limited, Barclays Group Operations Limited, Barclays Group US Inc., Barclays Index Finance Trust, Barclays Industrial Development Limited, Barclays Industrial Investments Limited, Barclays Insurance Guernsey PCC Limited, Barclays Insurance Services Company Limited, Barclays Insurance U.S. Inc., Barclays International Luxembourg Dollar Holdings S.a r.l., Barclays Investment Management Limited, Barclays Investment Solutions Limited, Barclays Investments & Loans (India) Limited, Barclays Korea GP Limited, Barclays Lamorak Investments S.a r.l., Barclays Leasing (No.9) Limited, Barclays Leto Investments S.a r.l., Barclays Long Island Limited, Barclays Luxembourg EUR Holdings S.a r.l, Barclays Luxembourg Finance S.a r.l., Barclays Luxembourg GBP Holdings S.a r.l., Barclays Luxembourg Global Funding S.a r.l., Barclays Luxembourg Holdings S.a r.l., Barclays Luxembourg Holdings SSC B, Barclays Marlist Limited, Barclays Mauritius Overseas Holdings Limited, Barclays Mercantile Business Finance Limited, Barclays Merchant Bank (Singapore) Ltd., Barclays Nominees (George Yard) Limited, Barclays Nominees (Guernsey) Limited, Barclays Nominees (Jersey) Limited, Barclays Nominees (Manx) Limited, Barclays Oversight Management Inc., Barclays Payment Solutions Inc., Barclays Pelleas Investments Limited Partnership, Barclays Pelleas Investments S.a r.l., Barclays Pension Funds Trustees Limited, Barclays Principal Investments Limited, Barclays Private Asset Management (Monaco) S.A.M, Barclays Private Bank, Barclays Private Clients International Limited, Barclays Receivables LLC, Barclays SAMS Limited, Barclays Securities (India) Private Limited, Barclays Securities Japan Limited, Barclays Security Trustee Limited, Barclays Services (Japan) Limited, Barclays Services Corporation, Barclays Services Jersey Limited, Barclays Services LLC, Barclays Services Limited, Barclays Shea Limited, Barclays Singapore Global Shareplans Nominee Limited, Barclays Switzerland Services SA, Barclays Tenedora De Immuebles SL., Barclays Term Funding Limited Liability Partnership, Barclays UK Investments Limited, Barclays US CCP Funding LLC, Barclays US Funding LLC, Barclays US GPF Inc., Barclays US Investments Inc., Barclays US LLC, Barclays Unquoted Investments Limited, Barclays Unquoted Property Investments Limited, Barclays Wealth Management Jersey Limited, Barclays Wealth Nominees Limited, Barclays Wealth Services Limited, Barclays Wealth Trustees (India) Private Limited, Barclayshare Nominees Limited, Barclaytrust Channel Islands Limited, Barcosec Limited, Barsec Nominees Limited, Blossom Finance General Partnership, Branchcall Computers (Pvt) Limited, Braven Investments No.1 Limited, CP Flower Guaranteeco (UK) Limited, CP Newco 1 Limited, CP Newco2 Limited, CP Newco3 Limited, CP Propco 1 Limited, CP Propco 2 Limited, CP Topco Limited, CPIA Canada Holdings, CPIA England 2008 Limited Partnership, CPIA England 2009 Limited Partnership, CPIA England No.2 Limited Partnership, CPIA Investments No.1 Limited, CPIA Investments No.2 Limited, CRE Diversified Holdings LLC, CREW Tahoe Holdings LLC, CREW Tahoe LLC, Calthorpe Investments Limited, Capton Investments Limited, Carnegie Holdings Limited, Central Platte Valley Management LLC, Chapelcrest Investments Limited, Charles Schwab Europe, Claudas Investments Limited, Claudas Investments Two Limited, Clydesdale Financial Services Limited, Cobalt Investments Limited, Compania Regional del Sur S.A., Compania Sudamerica S.A., Condor No.1 Limited Partnership, Cornwall Homes Loans Limited, Crescent Crown Land Holding SPV LLC, Crescent Legacy LLC, Crescent Plaza Residential L.P., Crescent Plaza Residential LLC, Crescent Plaza Residential LP LLC, Crescent Real Estate Member LLC, Crescent Resort Development LLC, Crescent TRS Holdings LLC, Crescent Tower Residences GP LLC, Crescent Tower Residences L.P., Curve Investments GP, DBL Texas Holdings LLC, DMW Realty Limited, Desert Mountain Development LLC, Desert Mountain Properties Limited Partnership, Develop Training Group Limited, Dorset Home Loans Limited, Durlacher Nominees Limited, EWRD Summit LLC, Eagle Financial and Leasing Services (UK) Limited, East West Resort Development V L.P. L.L.L.P., East West Resort Development VII LLC, Equity Limited Partnership, Equity Value Investments No.1 Limited, Equity Value Investments No.2 Limited, Erimon Home Loans Ireland Limited, Expobank, FIRSTPLUS Financial Group Limited, Finpart Nominees Limited, First Assurance, Foltus Investments Limited, Full House Holdings Limited, Gallen Investments Limited, Global Dynasty Natural Resource Private, Globe Nominees Limited, Gracechurch Services Corporation, Grays Station LLC, Grupo Financiero Barclays Mexico S.A. de C.V., Hawkins Funding Limited, Heraldglen Limited, Holding Stuttgarter Strae GmbH, Hurley Investments No.1 Limited, Imalivest Mineral Resources LP, Investors In Infrastructure Limited, J.V. Estates Limited, JV Assets Limited, Kirsche Investments Limited, LTDL Holdings LLC, La Torretta Beverages LLC, La Torretta Hospitality LLC, La Torretta Operations LLC, Lagalla Investments LLC, Leonis Investments LLP, Liability Partnership, Long Island Assets Limited, Long Island Holding A LLC, Long Island Holding B Limited, MK Opportunities GP Ltd, MK Opportunities LP, MVWP Investors LLC, Maloney Investments Limited, Marbury Holdings LLC, Menlo Investments Limited, Mercantile Credit Company Limited, Mercantile Leasing Company (No.132) Limited, Meridian (SPV-AMC) Corporation, Mintaka Investments No. 4 Limited, Mira Vista Development LLC, Mira Vista Golf Club L.C., Mountainside Partners LLC, Murray House Investment Management Limited, Naxos Investments Limited, Nile Bank, North Colonnade Investments Limited, Northstar Mountain Properties LLC, Northstar Trailside Townhomes LLC, Northstar Village Townhomes LLC, Northwharf Investments Limited, Northwharf Nominees Limited, OGP Leasing Limited, Oakes Millers Ltd, Ownership Trustee Limited, PIA England No.2 Limited Partnership, Palomino Limited, Pecan Aggregator LP, Pelleas Investments Limited, Pelleas Investments Two Limited, Pippin Island Investments Limited, Preferred Liquidity LLC, Preferred Liquidity Limited Partnership, Procella Investments LLC, Procella Investments No.1 LLC, Procella Investments No.2 LLC, Procella Investments No.3 LLC, Protium Finance I LLC, Protium Master Grantor Trust, Protium Master Mortgage LP, Protium REO I LP, R.C. Grieg Nominees Limited, RVH Limited, RVT CLO Investments LLP, Razzoli Investments Limited, Real Estate Participation Management Limited, Real Estate Participation Services Limited, Relative Value Holdings LLC, Relative Value Investments UK Limited, Relative Value Trading Limited, Roder Investments No. 1 Limited, Roder Investments No. 2 Limited, Ruthenium Investments Limited, SPM GP Limited, Securitized Asset Backed Receivables LLC, Servicios Barclays S.A. de C.V., Societe Civile Immobiliere 31 Avenue de la Costa, Solution Personal Finance Limited, Southern Peaks Mining LP, Standard Life Aberdeen, Surety Trust Limited, Surrey Funding Corporation, Sussex Purchasing Corporation, Sutton Funding LLC, Swan Lane Investments Limited, TPLL LLC, TPProperty LLC, Tahoe Club Company LLC, Tahoe Club Employee Company, The Logic Group Enterprises Limited, The Logic Group Holdings Limited, Third Energy Holdings Limited, US Real Estate Holdings No. 2 Limited, US Real Estate Holdings No.1 Limited, US Real Estate Holdings No.3 Limited, US Secured Investments LLC, Union Center LLC, United Counties Bank, Verain Investments LLC, Walbrook Group Ltd, Wedd Jefferson (Nominees) Limited, Wessex Investments Limited, Westferry Investments Limited, Wilmington Riverfront Receivables LLC, Woolwich Homes Limited, Woolwich Plan Managers Limited, Woolwich Qualifying Employee Share, Woolwich Surveying Services Limited, Woori BC Pegasus Securitization Specialty Co. Limited, and Zeban Nominees Limited. Read More SEACOR Holdings Inc. engages in transportation and logistics, risk management consultancy, and other businesses in the United States and internationally. The company operates through Ocean Transportation & Logistics Services, Inland Transportation & Logistics Services, Witt O'Brien's, and Other segments. The Ocean Transportation & Logistics Services segment owns and operates a fleet of bulk transportation, port and infrastructure, and logistics assets. It operates carriers for the United States coastwise for trade of crude oil, petroleum, and chemical products; and dry bulk vessels. This segment provides deep-sea vessels docking, ocean towing, and oil terminal support and bunkering services; liner, short-sea, rail car, and project cargo transportation and logistics solutions; door-to-door solutions; and technical ship management services, as well as operates pure car/truck carriers. The Inland Transportation & Logistics Services segment offers river transportation equipment for moving agricultural and industrial commodities and containers, and petroleum products; and owns and operates multi-modal terminal locations. It also provides management services related to barge and towboat operations. The Witt O'Brien's segment provides crisis and emergency management services for the public and private sectors. It serves markets in the areas of critical national infrastructure, including government, energy, transportation, healthcare, and education. The Other segment designs, develops, and maintains alternative energy and power solutions; and offers liquefied natural gas and compressed natural gas fuel supply and logistics to commercial, industrial, agricultural, and transportation customers. This segment also engages in the selling, storage, and maintenance of aviation; agricultural commodity trading and logistics businesses; and trading and merchandising of sugar and other commodities. SEACOR Holdings Inc. was incorporated in 1989 and is based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. General Mills, Inc. manufactures and markets branded consumer foods worldwide. The company operates in five segments: North America Retail; Convenience Stores & Foodservice; Europe & Australia; Asia & Latin America; and Pet. It offers ready-to-eat cereals, refrigerated yogurt, soup, meal kits, refrigerated and frozen dough products, dessert and baking mixes, bakery flour, frozen pizza and pizza snacks, snack bars, fruit and salty snacks, ice cream, nutrition bars, wellness beverages, and savory and grain snacks, as well as various organic products, including frozen and shelf-stable vegetables. It also supplies branded and unbranded food products to the North American foodservice and commercial baking industries; and manufactures and markets pet food products, including dog and cat food. The company markets its products under the Annie's, Betty Crocker, Bisquick, Blue Buffalo, Blue Basics, Blue Freedom, Bugles, Cascadian Farm, Cheerios, Chex, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Cocoa Puffs, Cookie Crisp, EPIC, Fiber One, Food Should Taste Good, Fruit by the Foot, Fruit Gushers, Fruit Roll-Ups, Gardetto's, Go-Gurt, Gold Medal, Golden Grahams, Haagen-Dazs, Helpers, Jus-Rol, Kitano, Kix, Larabar, Latina, Liberte, Lucky Charms, Muir Glen, Nature Valley, Oatmeal Crisp, Old El Paso, Oui, Pillsbury, Progresso, Raisin Nut Bran, Total, Totino's, Trix, Wanchai Ferry, Wheaties, Wilderness, Yoki, and Yoplait trademarks. It sells its products directly, as well as through broker and distribution arrangements to grocery stores, mass merchandisers, membership stores, natural food chains, e-commerce retailers, commercial and noncommercial foodservice distributors and operators, restaurants, convenience stores, and pet specialty stores, as well as drug, dollar, and discount chains. The company operates 466 leased and 392 franchise ice cream parlors. General Mills, Inc. was founded in 1866 and is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The following companies are subsidiares of PepsiCo: Alimentos Quaker Oats y Compania Limitada, Alimentos del Istmo S.A., Amavale Agricola Ltda., Anderson Hill Insurance Limited, Asia Bottlers Limited, BAESA Capital Corporation Ltd., BFY Brands, BFY Brands LLC, BFY Brands Limited, BUG de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Balmoral Industries LLC, Bare Foods Co., Barrhead LLC, Be & Cheery, Beaman Bottling Company, Bebidas Sudamerica S.A., Beech Limited, Bell Taco Funding Syndicate, Bendler Investments II Ltd, Bendler Investments S.a r.l, Beverage Services Limited, Beverages Foods & Service Industries Inc., Bishkeksut OJSC, Blaue NC S. de R.L. de C.V., Blue Cloud Distribution Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Arizona Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Arkansas Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Colorado Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Florida Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Georgia Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Illinois Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Indiana Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Iowa Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Kentucky Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Louisiana Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Minnesota Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Mississippi Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Missouri Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Nebraska Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Nevada Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of North Carolina Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Ohio Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Oklahoma Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Pennsylvania Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of South Carolina Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Tennessee Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Texas Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Virginia Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Wisconsin Inc., Blue Ridge Sales LLC, Bluebird Foods Limited, Bluecan Holdings Unlimited Company, Bokomo Zambia Limited, Bolsherechensky Molkombinat JSC, Boquitas Fiestas LLC, Boquitas Fiestas S.R.L., Bottling Group Financing LLC, Bottling Group Holdings LLC, Bottling Group LLC, Bronte Industries Ltd, C & I Leasing Inc., CB Manufacturing Company Inc., CEME Holdings LLC, CMC Investment Company, Caroni Investments LLC, Centro-Mediterranea de Bebidas Carbonicas PepsiCo S.L., Ceres Fruit Juices Pty Ltd, ChampBev Inc., China Concentrate Holdings Hong Kong Limited, Chipsy International for Food Industries S.A.E., Chipsy for Food Industries S.A.E., Chitos Internacional y Cia Ltda, Cipa Industrial de Produtos Alimentares Ltda., Cipa Nordeste Industrial de Produtos Alimentares Ltda., Cocina Autentica Inc., Comercializadora CMC Investment y Compania Limitada, Comercializadora Nacional SAS Ltda., Comercializadora PepsiCo Mexico S de R.L. de C.V., Compania de Bebidas PepsiCo S.L., Concentrate Holding Uruguay Pte. Ltd., Concentrate Manufacturing Singapore Pte. Ltd., Confiteria Alegro S. de R.L. de C.V., Copella Fruit Juices Limited, Copper Beech International LLC, Corina Snacks Limited, Corporativo Internacional Mexicano S. de R.L. de C.V., CytoSport Holdings Inc., CytoSport Inc., Davlyn Realty Corporation, Defosto Holdings Limited, Desarrollo Inmobiliario Gamesa S. de R.L. de C.V., Dilexis S.A., Donon Holdings Limited, Drinkfinity USA Inc., Drinkstation Inc., Drinkstation Innovation Co. Ltd., Drinkstation Limited, Dutch Snacks Holding S.A. de C.V., Duyvis Production B.V., EPIC Enterprises Inc., Echo Bay Holdings Inc., Elaboradora Argentina de Cereales S.R.L., Enter Logistica LLC, Environ at Inverrary Partnership, Environ of Inverrary Inc., Eridanus Investments S.a r.l, Evercrisp Snack Productos de Chile S.A., FL Transportation Inc., FLI Andean LLC, FLI Colombia LLC, FLI Snacks Andean GP LLC, Fabrica PepsiCo Mexicali S. de R.L. de C.V., Fabrica de Productos Alimenticios Rene y Cia S.C.A., Fairlight International SRL, Far East Bottlers Hong Kong Limited, Food Concepts Pioneer Ltd., Forest Akers Nederland B.V., Forty-Six Peaks Holding Inc., Fovarosi Asvanyviz es Uditoipari Zartkoruen Mukodo Reszvenytarsasag, Freshwater International B.V., Frito Lay Gida Sanayi Ve Ticaret Anonim Sirketi, Frito Lay Poland Sp. z o.o., Frito Lay Sp. z o.o., Frito Lay de Guatemala y Compania Limitada, Frito-Lay Australia Holdings Pty Limited, Frito-Lay Dip Company Inc., Frito-Lay Dominicana S.A., Frito-Lay Global Investments B.V., Frito-Lay Inc., Frito-Lay Investments B.V., Frito-Lay Manufacturing LLC, Frito-Lay Netherlands Holding B.V., Frito-Lay North America Inc., Frito-Lay Sales Inc., Frito-Lay Trading Company Europe GmbH, Frito-Lay Trading Company GmbH, Frito-Lay Trading Company Poland GmbH, Frito-Lay Trinidad Unlimited, Fruko Mesrubat Sanayi Limited Sirketi, GB Czech LLC, GB International Inc., GB Russia LLC, GB Slovak LLC, GMP Manufacturing Inc., Gambrinus Investments Limited, Gamesa LLC, Gamesa S. de R.L. de C.V., Gas Natural de Merida S. A. de C. V., Gatorade Puerto Rico Company, General Bottlers of Hungary Inc., Golden Grain Company, Goveh S.R.L., Grayhawk Leasing LLC, Green Hemlock International LLC, Grupo Frito Lay y Compania Limitada, Grupo Gamesa S. de R.L. de C.V., Grupo Mabel, Grupo Sabritas S. de R.L. de C.V., Gulkevichskiy Maslozavod JSC, Hangzhou Baicaowei Corporate Management Consulting Co. Ltd., Hangzhou Haomusi Food Co, Hangzhou Haomusi Food Co. Ltd., Hangzhou Tao Dao Technology Co. Ltd., Health Warrior, Health Warrior Inc., Heathland LP, Helioscope Limited, Hillbrook Inc., Hillgrove Inc., Hillwood Bottling LLC, Hogganfield Limited Partnership, Holding Company "Opolie" JSC, Homefinding Company of Texas, Hudson Valley Insurance Company, IC Equities Inc., IZZE Beverage Co., Inmobiliaria Interamericana S.A. De C.V., Integrated Beverage Services Bangladesh Limited, Integrated Foods & Beverages Pvt. Ltd., International Bottlers Management Co. LLC, International KAS Aktiengesellschaft, Inversiones Borneo S.R.L., Inversiones PFI Chile Limitada, Inviting Foods Holdings Inc., Inviting Foods LLC, KAS Anorthosis S.a r.l, KAS S.L., KFC, Kevita Inc., Kinvara LLC, Kungursky Molkombinat JSC, Larragana S.L., Latin American Holdings Ltd., Latin American Snack Foods ApS, Latin Foods International LLC, Lebedyansky, Lebedyansky Holdings LLC, Lebedyansky LLC, Limited Liability Company "Sandora", Linkbay Limited, Lithuanian Snacks UAB, Mabel, Marbo Product d.o.o. Beograd, Marbo d.o.o. Laktasi, Matudis - Comercio de Produtos Alimentares Limitada, Matutano - Sociedade de Produtos Alimentares Lda., Mid-America Improvement Corporation, Mountainview Insurance Company Inc., Muscle Milk, NCJV LLC, New Bern Transport Corporation, New Century Beverage Company LLC, Noble Leasing LLC, Northeast Hot-Fill Co-op Inc., Office at Solyanka LLC, Onbiso Inversiones S.L., One World Enterprises LLC, One World Investors Inc., P-A Barbados Bottling Company LLC, P-A Bottlers Barbados SRL, P-Americas LLC, PAS Luxembourg S.a r.l, PAS Netherlands B.V., PBG Canada Holdings II LLC, PBG Canada Holdings Inc., PBG Cyprus Holdings Limited, PBG Investment Partnership, PBG Midwest Holdings S.a r.l, PBG Soda Can Holdings S.a r.l, PCBL LLC, PCNA Manufacturing Inc., PR Beverages Cyprus Holding Limited, PR Beverages Cyprus Russia Holding Limited, PRB Luxembourg S.a r.l, PRS Inc., PSAS Inversiones LLC, PSE Logistica S.R.L., PT Quaker Indonesia, Papas Chips S.A., Pei N.V., Pep Trade LLC, Pepsi B.V., Pepsi Beverages Holdings Inc., Pepsi Bottling Group Global Finance LLC, Pepsi Bottling Group GmbH, Pepsi Bottling Group Hoosiers B.V., Pepsi Bottling Holdings Inc., Pepsi Bugshan Investments S.A.E., Pepsi Cola Colombia Ltda, Pepsi Cola Egypt S.A.E., Pepsi Cola Panamericana S.R.L., Pepsi Cola Servis Ve Dagitim Limited Sirketi, Pepsi Cola Trading Ireland, Pepsi Logistics Company Inc., Pepsi Northwest Beverages LLC, Pepsi Overseas Investments Partnership, Pepsi Promotions Inc., Pepsi-Cola Advertising and Marketing Inc., Pepsi-Cola Bermuda Limited, Pepsi-Cola Bottlers Holding C.V., Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company Of St. Louis Inc., Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company of Ft. Lauderdale-Palm Beach LLC, Pepsi-Cola Company, Pepsi-Cola Ecuador Cia. Ltda., Pepsi-Cola Far East Trade Development Co. Inc., Pepsi-Cola Finance LLC, Pepsi-Cola General Bottlers Poland Sp. z o.o., Pepsi-Cola Industrial da Amazonia Ltda., Pepsi-Cola International Cork, Pepsi-Cola International LLC, Pepsi-Cola International Limited, Pepsi-Cola International Limited U.S.A., Pepsi-Cola International Private Limited, Pepsi-Cola Korea Co. Ltd., Pepsi-Cola Management and Administrative Services Inc., Pepsi-Cola Manufacturing Company Of Uruguay S.R.L., Pepsi-Cola Manufacturing International Limited, Pepsi-Cola Manufacturing Mediterranean Limited, Pepsi-Cola Marketing Corp. Of P.R. Inc., Pepsi-Cola Mediterranean Ltd., Pepsi-Cola Metropolitan Bottling Company Inc., Pepsi-Cola Mexicana Holdings LLC, Pepsi-Cola Mexicana S. de R.L. de C.V., Pepsi-Cola National Marketing LLC, Pepsi-Cola Operating Company Of Chesapeake And Indianapolis, Pepsi-Cola Sales and Distribution Inc., Pepsi-Cola Technical Operations Inc., Pepsi-Cola Thai Trading Co. Ltd., Pepsi-Cola de Honduras S.R.L., Pepsi-Cola of Corvallis Inc., PepsiAmericas Nemzetkozi Szolgaltato Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag, PepsiCo ANZ Holdings Pty Ltd, PepsiCo Alimentos Antioquia Ltda., PepsiCo Alimentos Colombia Ltda., PepsiCo Alimentos Ecuador Cia. Ltda., PepsiCo Alimentos Z.F. Ltda., PepsiCo Alimentos de Bolivia S.R.L., PepsiCo Amacoco Bebidas Do Brasil Ltda., PepsiCo Asia Research & Development Center Company Limited, PepsiCo Australia Financing Cyprus Limited, PepsiCo Australia Financing Limited Partnership, PepsiCo Australia Financing Partner 1 LLC, PepsiCo Australia Financing Partner 2 LLC, PepsiCo Australia Financing Pty Ltd, PepsiCo Australia Holdings Pty Limited, PepsiCo Australia International, PepsiCo Austria Services GmbH, PepsiCo Azerbaijan Limited Liability Company, PepsiCo BeLux BV, PepsiCo Beverage Sales LLC, PepsiCo Beverage Singapore Pty Ltd, PepsiCo Beverages Bermuda Limited, PepsiCo Beverages Hong Kong Limited, PepsiCo Beverages International Limited, PepsiCo Beverages Italia Societa' A Responsabilita' Limitata, PepsiCo Canada Finance LLC, PepsiCo Canada Holdings ULC, PepsiCo Canada Investment ULC, PepsiCo Canada ULC, PepsiCo Captive Holdings Inc., PepsiCo Caribbean Inc., PepsiCo China Limited, PepsiCo Consulting Polska Sp. z o.o., PepsiCo De Bolivia S.R.L., PepsiCo Del Paraguay S.R.L., PepsiCo Deutschland GmbH, PepsiCo Eesti AS, PepsiCo Euro Bermuda Limited, PepsiCo Euro Finance Antilles B.V., PepsiCo Europe Support Center S.L., PepsiCo Finance Americas Company, PepsiCo Finance Antilles A N.V., PepsiCo Finance Antilles B N.V., PepsiCo Finance South Africa Proprietary Limited, PepsiCo Financial Shared Services Inc., PepsiCo Food & Beverage Holdings Hong Kong Limited, PepsiCo Foods A.I.E., PepsiCo Foods China Company Limited, PepsiCo Foods Group Pty Ltd, PepsiCo Foods Guangdong Co. Ltd., PepsiCo Foods Nigeria Limited, PepsiCo Foods Private Limited, PepsiCo Foods Sichuan Co. Ltd., PepsiCo Foods Taiwan Co. Ltd., PepsiCo Foods Vietnam Company, PepsiCo France SAS, PepsiCo Global Business Services India LLP, PepsiCo Global Business Services Poland Sp. z o.o., PepsiCo Global Holdings Limited, PepsiCo Global Investments B.V., PepsiCo Global Investments S.a r.l, PepsiCo Global Mobility LLC, PepsiCo Global Real Estate Inc., PepsiCo Global Trading Solutions Unlimited Company, PepsiCo Golden Holdings Inc., PepsiCo Group Finance International B.V., PepsiCo Group Holdings International B.V., PepsiCo Group Spotswood Holdings S.a r.l, PepsiCo Gulf International FZE, PepsiCo Hellas Single Member Industrial and Commercial Societe Anonyme, PepsiCo Holding de Espana S.L., PepsiCo Holdings, PepsiCo Holdings LLC, PepsiCo Holdings Toshkent LLC, PepsiCo Hong Kong LLC, PepsiCo Iberia Servicios Centrales S.L., PepsiCo India Holdings Private Limited, PepsiCo India Sales Private Limited, PepsiCo Internacional Mexico S. de R. L. de C. V., PepsiCo International Hong Kong Limited, PepsiCo International Limited, PepsiCo International Pte Ltd., PepsiCo Investments Europe I B.V., PepsiCo Investments Ltd., PepsiCo Ireland Food & Beverages Unlimited Company, PepsiCo Japan Co. Ltd., PepsiCo Light B.V., PepsiCo Logistyka Sp. z o.o., PepsiCo Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., PepsiCo Management Services SAS, PepsiCo Manufacturing A.I.E., PepsiCo Max B.V., PepsiCo Mexico Holdings S. de R.L. de C.V., PepsiCo Nederland B.V., PepsiCo Nordic Denmark ApS, PepsiCo Nordic Finland Oy, PepsiCo Nordic Norway AS, PepsiCo Nutrition Trading DMCC, PepsiCo One B.V., PepsiCo Overseas Corporation, PepsiCo Overseas Financing Partnership, PepsiCo Panimex Inc, PepsiCo Products B.V., PepsiCo Products FLLC, PepsiCo Puerto Rico Inc., PepsiCo Sales Inc., PepsiCo Sales LLC, PepsiCo Services Asia Ltd., PepsiCo Services CZ s.r.o., PepsiCo Services LLC, PepsiCo Twist B.V., PepsiCo UK Pension Plan Trustee Limited, PepsiCo Ventures B.V., PepsiCo Wave Holdings LLC, PepsiCo World Trading Company Inc., PepsiCo Y LLC, PepsiCo de Argentina S.R.L., PepsiCo de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., PepsiCo do Brasil Industria e Comercio de Alimentos Ltda., PepsiCo do Brasil Ltda., PepsiCola Interamericana de Guatemala S.A., Pet Iberia S.L., Pete & Johnny Limited, Pine International LLC, Pine International Limited, Pinstripe Leasing LLC, Pioneer Food Group Pty Ltd, Pioneer Foods Groceries Pty Ltd, Pioneer Foods Group Ltd., Pioneer Foods Holdings Pty Ltd, Pioneer Foods Pty Ltd, Pioneer Foods UK Ltd, Pioneer Foods Wellingtons Pty Ltd, Pipers Crisps Limited, PlayCo Inc., Pop corners, PopCorners Holdings Inc., Portfolio Concentrate Solutions Unlimited Company, Premier Nutrition Trading L.L.C., Prestwick LLC, Prev PepsiCo Sociedade Previdenciaria, Productos Alimenticios Rene LLC, Productos S.A.S. C.V., Productos SAS Management B.V., Punch N.V., Punica Getranke GmbH, Q O Puerto Rico Inc., QFL OHQ Sdn. Bhd., QTG Development Inc., QTG Services Inc., Quadrant - Amroq Beverages S.R.L., Quaker Development B.V., Quaker European Beverages LLC, Quaker European Investments B.V., Quaker Foods, Quaker Global Investments B.V., Quaker Holdings UK Limited, Quaker Manufacturing LLC, Quaker Oats Asia Inc., Quaker Oats Australia Pty Ltd, Quaker Oats B.V., Quaker Oats Capital Corporation, Quaker Oats Europe Inc., Quaker Oats Europe LLC, Quaker Oats Limited, Quaker Sales & Distribution Inc, Raptas Finance S.a r.l., Rare Fare Foods LLC, Rare Fare Holdings Inc., Reading Industries Ltd, Real Estate Holdings LLC, Rockstar Energy Drink, Rolling Frito-Lay Sales LP, S & T of Mississippi Inc., SIH International LLC, SVC Logistics Inc., SVC Manufacturing Inc., SVE Russia Holdings GmbH, Sabritas LLC, Sabritas S. de R.L. de C.V., Sabritas Snacks America Latina de Nicaragua y Cia Ltda, Sabritas de Costa Rica S. de R.L., Sabritas y Cia. S en C de C.V., Sakata Rice Snacks Australia Pty Ltd, Sandora Holdings B.V., Saudi Snack Foods Company Limited, Sea Eagle International SRL, Seepoint Holdings Ltd., Senselet Food Processing PLC, Senselet Holding B.V., Servicios GBF Sociedad de Responsabilidad Limitada, Servicios GFLG y Compania Limitada, Servicios Gamesa Puerto Rico L.L.C., Servicios SYC S. de R.L. de C.V., Seven-Up Asia Inc., Seven-Up Light B.V., Seven-Up Nederland B.V., Shanghai PepsiCo Snack Company Limited, Shanghai YuHo Agricultural Development Co. Ltd, Shoebill LLC, Simba (Proprietary) Limited, Simba Proprietary Limited, Sitka Spruce, Smartfoods Inc., Smiles and Bites Holdings S.de R.L. de C.V., Smiths Crisps Limited, Snack Food Investments GmbH, Snack Food Investments II GmbH, Snack Food Investments Limited, Snack Food-Beverage Asia Products Limited, Snacks America Latina S.R.L., Snacks Guatemala Ltd., So Spark Ltd., Soda-Club CO2 Atlantic GmbH, Soda-Club CO2 GmbH, Soda-Club CO2 Ltd., Soda-Club Switzerland GmbH, Soda-Club Worldwide B.V., SodaStream, SodaStream Australia Pty Ltd, SodaStream CO2 SA, SodaStream Canada Ltd., SodaStream Enterprises N.V., SodaStream France SAS, SodaStream GmbH, SodaStream Iberia S.L., SodaStream Industries Ltd., SodaStream International B.V., SodaStream International Ltd., SodaStream Israel Ltd., SodaStream K.K., SodaStream New Zealand Ltd., SodaStream Nordics AB, SodaStream Poland Sp. z o.o., SodaStream SA Pty Ltd., SodaStream Switzerland GmbH, SodaStream USA Inc., SodaStream Osterreich GmbH, South Beach Beverage Company Inc., South Properties Inc., Spitz International Inc., Sportmex Internacional S.A. de C.V., Springboig Industries Ltd, Spruce Limited, Stacy's Pita Chip Company Incorporated, Star Foods E.M. S.R.L., Stokely-Van Camp Inc., Stratosphere Communications Pty Ltd, Stratosphere Holdings 2018 Limited, Streamfoods Ltd, TFL Holdings LLC, Tasman Finance S.a r.l, The Gatorade Company, The Good Carb Food Company Ltd., The Pepsi Bottling Group Canada ULC, The Quaker Oats Company, The Smith's Snackfood Company Pty Limited, Thomond Group Holdings Limited, Tobago Snack Holdings LLC, Tropicana Alvalle S.L., Tropicana Beverages Limited, Tropicana Europe N.V., Tropicana United Kingdom Limited, Troya-Ultra LLC, United Foods Companies Restaurantes S.A., V-Water, VentureCo Israel Ltd, Veurne Snack Foods BV, Vitamin Brands Ltd., Walkers Crisps Limited, Walkers Group Limited, Walkers Snack Foods Limited, Walkers Snacks Distribution Limited, Walkers Snacks Limited, Whitman Corporation, Whitman Insurance Co. Ltd., Wimm-Bill-Dann Beverages JSC, Wimm-Bill-Dann Brands Co. Ltd., Wimm-Bill-Dann Central Asia-Almaty LLP, Wimm-Bill-Dann Foods LLC, Wimm-Bill-Dann Georgia Ltd., Wimm-Bill-Dann JSC, and Wimm-Bill-Dann Ukraine PJSC. Read More Thomson Reuters Corporation provides business information services in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. It operates in five segments: Legal Professionals, Corporates, Tax & Accounting Professionals, Reuters News, and Global Print. The Legal Professionals segment offers research and workflow products focusing on legal research and integrated legal workflow solutions that combine content, tools, and analytics to law firms and governments. The Corporates segment provides a suite of content-enabled technology solutions for legal, tax, regulatory, compliance, and IT professionals. The Tax & Accounting Professionals segment offers research and workflow products focusing on tax offerings and automating tax workflows to tax, accounting, and audit professionals in accounting firms. The Reuters News segment provides business, financial, and international news to media organizations, professional, and news consumers through news agency and industry events. The Global Print segment offers legal and tax information primarily in print format to legal and tax professionals, governments, law schools, and corporations. The company was formerly known as The Thomson Corporation and changed its name to Thomson Reuters Corporation in April 2008. The company was founded in 1851 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada. Thomson Reuters Corporation operates a subsidiary of The Woodbridge Company Limited. The following companies are subsidiares of TransDigm Group: 17111 Waterview Pkwy LLC, ARA Deutschland GmbH, ARA Holding GmbH, Acme Aerospace, Acme Aerospace Inc., Adams Rite Aerospace GmbH, Adams Rite Aerospace Inc., Advanced Inflatable Products Limited, Aero-Instruments, AeroControlex Group Inc., Aerosonic, Aerosonic LLC, Air-Sea Survival Equipment Trustee Limited, Airborne Acquisition Inc., Airborne Global Inc., Airborne Holdings Inc., Airborne Systems, Airborne Systems Canada Ltd., Airborne Systems Group Limited, Airborne Systems Holdings Limited, Airborne Systems Limited, Airborne Systems NA Inc., Airborne Systems North America Inc., Airborne Systems North America of CA Inc., Airborne Systems North America of NJ Inc., Airborne Systems Pension Trust Limited, Airborne UK Acquisition Limited, Airborne UK Parent Limited, Aircraft Materials Limited, AmSafe, AmSafe Aviation (Chongqing) Ltd., AmSafe Bridport (Kunshan) Co. Ltd., AmSafe Bridport (Private) Ltd., AmSafe Bridport Ltd., AmSafe Global Holdings Inc., AmSafe Global Services (Private) Limited, AmSafe Inc., Angus Electronics Co., Arkwin Industries, Arkwin Industries Inc., Armtec Countermeasures Co., Armtec Countermeasures TNO Co., Armtec Defense Products Co., Auxitrol SAS, Auxitrol Weston Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Auxitrol Weston Services China Ltd., Auxitrol Weston Singapore Pte. Ltd., Auxitrol Weston USA Inc., Aviation Technologies, Aviation Technologies Inc., Avionic Instruments LLC, Avionics Instruments, Avionics Specialties Inc., AvtechTyee Inc., Beta Transformer Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Beta Transformer Technology Corporation, Beta Transformer Technology LLC, Breeze-Eastern Corporation, Breeze-Eastern LLC, Bridport Erie Aviation Inc., Bridport Holdings Inc., Bridport Ltd., Bridport-Air Carrier Inc., Bruce Aerospace Inc., Bruce Industries, CDA InterCorp LLC, CEF Industries LLC, CMC Electronics Aurora LLC, CMC Electronics Inc., CMC Electronics ME Inc., Champion Aerospace LLC, Chelton Avionics Holdings Inc., Chelton Avionics Inc., Chelton Limited, Cobham Aero Connectivity, Cobham CTS Limited, Cobham Defence Communications Limited, Cobham Defense Products Inc., DART Aerospace, DDC Electronics K.K., DDC Electronics Ltd., DDC Electronics Private Limited, DDC Electronique S.A.R.L., DDC Elektronik GmbH, Darchem Engineering Limited, Darchem Holdings Limited, Data Device Corp., Data Device Corporation, Dukes Aerospace Inc., EST Defence Company UK Limited, Edlaw Limited, Electromech Technologies LLC, Elektro-Metall Export GmbH, Elektro-Metall Paks KFT, Esterline, Esterline Acquisition Ltd, Esterline Europe Company LLC, Esterline Foreign Sales Corporation, Esterline International Company, Esterline Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Esterline Technologies Corporation, Esterline Technologies Corporation, Esterline Technologies Europe Limited, Esterline Technologies France Holding SAS, Esterline Technologies French Acquisition Limited, Esterline Technologies Global Limited, Esterline Technologies Holdings Limited, Esterline Technologies SGIP LLC, Esterline Technologies Unlimited, Esterline do Brasil Assessoria e Intermediacao Ltda, European Antennas Limited, Extant Components Group Holdings Inc., Extant Components Group Intermediate Inc., GQ Parachutes Limited, Guizhou Leach-Tianyi Aviation Electrical Company Ltd, Harco, HarcoSemco LLC, Hartwell Corporation, Hytek Finishes Co., ILC Holdings Inc., IRVIN AEROSPACE LIMITED, IrvinGQ France SAS, IrvinGQ Limited, Janco Corporation, Johnson Liverpool LLC, Kirkhill Elastomers, Kirkhill Inc., Korry Electronics Co., Kunshan Shield Restraint Systems Ltd., Leach Holding Corporation, Leach International Asia-Pacific Ltd, Leach International Corporation, Leach International Europe S.A.S., Leach International Germany GmbH, Leach International Mexico S. de R. L. de C. V., Leach International UK Ltd, Leach Mexico Holding LLC, Leach Technology Group Inc., MarathonNorco Aerospace Inc., Mason Electric Co., Mastsystem Int'l Oy, McKechnie Aerospace, McKechnie Aerospace (Europe) Ltd., McKechnie Aerospace DE Inc., McKechnie Aerospace DE LP, McKechnie Aerospace Holdings Inc., McKechnie Aerospace US LLC, Mecanismos de Matamoros S. de R.L. de C.V., NAT Seattle Inc., NMC Group Inc., Norco, Nordisk Asia Pacific Limited, Nordisk Asia Pacific Pte Ltd, Nordisk Aviation Products (Kunshan) Ltd., Nordisk Aviation Products AS, Nordisk Aviation Products LLC, North Hills Signal Processing Corp., North Hills Signal Processing Overseas LLC, Norwich Aero Products Inc., Palomar Products Inc., Pexco Aerospace, Pexco Aerospace Inc., PneuDraulics, PneuDraulics Inc., Pressure Systems International Ltd, Schneller, Schneller Asia Pte. Ltd., Schneller LLC, Schneller S.A.R.L., Schroth Safety Products, Semco Instruments, Semco Instruments Inc., Shield Restraint Systems Inc., Shield Restraint Systems Ltd., Signal Processing Matamoros S.A. de C.V., Skandia, Skandia Inc., Skurka Aerospace, Skurka Aerospace Inc., Symetrics Industries, Symetrics Industries LLC, Symetrics Technology Group LLC, TA Aerospace Co., TA Mfg Limited, TDG Bavaria GmbH, TDG ESL Holdings Inc., TDG France Ultimate Parent SAS, TDG Germany GmbH, TEAC Aerospace Holdings Inc., TEAC Aerospace Technologies Inc., Tactair Fluid Controls Inc., Takata Protection Systems, Telair International, Telair International GmbH, Telair International Services PTE Ltd, Telair US LLC, TransDigm (Barbados) SRL, TransDigm Canada ULC, TransDigm European Holdings Limited, TransDigm Ireland Ltd., TransDigm Receivables LLC, TransDigm Technologies India Private Limited, TransDigm UK Holdings plc, Transicoil (Malaysia) Sendirian Berhad, Transicoil LLC, Wallop Defence UK Limited, Weston Aerospace Ltd, Whippany Actuation Systems, Whippany Actuation Systems LLC, XCEL Power Systems Ltd., Young & Franklin, Young & Franklin Inc., and exas Rotronics Inc.. Read More United Rentals, Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates as an equipment rental company. It operates in two segments, General Rentals and Specialty. The General Rentals segment rents general construction and industrial equipment includes backhoes, skid-steer loaders, forklifts, earthmoving equipment, and material handling equipment; aerial work platforms, such as boom and scissor lifts; and general tools and light equipment comprising pressure washers, water pumps, and power tools for construction and industrial companies, manufacturers, utilities, municipalities, homeowners, and government entities. The specialty segment rents specialty construction products, including trench safety equipment consists of trench shields, aluminum hydraulic shoring systems, slide rails, crossing plates, construction lasers, and line testing equipment for underground work; power and heating, ventilating, and air conditioning equipment, such as portable diesel generators, electrical distribution equipment, and temperature control equipment; fluid solutions equipment for fluid containment, transfer, and treatment; and mobile storage equipment and modular office space. This segment serves construction companies involved in infrastructure projects, and municipalities and industrial companies. It also sells aerial lifts, reach forklifts, telehandlers, compressors, and generators; construction consumables, tools, small equipment, and safety supplies; and parts for equipment that is owned by its customers, as well as provides repair and maintenance services. The company sells used equipment through its sales force, brokers, website, directly to manufacturers, and at auctions. The company operates a network of 1,360 rental locations in the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. United Rentals, Inc. was incorporated in 1997 and is headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut. Juniper Networks, Inc. designs, develops, and sells network products and services worldwide. The company offers routing products, such as ACX series universal access routers to deploy high-bandwidth services; MX series Ethernet routers that function as a universal edge platform; PTX series packet transport routers; wide-area network SDN controllers; and session smart routers. It also provides switching products, including EX series Ethernet switches to address the access, aggregation, and core layer switching requirements of micro branch, branch office, and campus environments; QFX series of core, spine, and top-of-rack data center switches; and juniper access points, which provide Wi-Fi access and performance. In addition, the company offers security products comprising SRX series services gateways for the data center; Branch SRX family provides an integrated and next-generation firewall; virtual firewall that delivers various features of physical firewalls; and advanced malware protection, a cloud-based service and Juniper ATP. Further, it offers Junos OS, a network operating system; Contrail networking, which provides an open-source and standards-based platform for SDN; Mist AI-driven Wired, Wireless, and WAN assurance solutions to set and measure key metrics; Mist AI-driven Marvis Virtual Network Assistant, which identifies the root cause of issues; Juniper Paragon Automation, a modular portfolio of cloud-native software applications; and Juniper Apstra to automate the network lifecycle in a single system. Additionally, the company provides software-as-a-service, technical support, maintenance, and professional services, as well as education and training programs. It sells its products through direct sales, distributors, value-added resellers, and original equipment manufacturers to end-users in the cloud, service provider, and enterprise markets. The company was incorporated in 1996 and is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California. BY Julius Ocungi: An inmate at Lugore Prison in Gulu District has been hospitalized after swallowing Shs 50,000 note. For fear that prison wardens would take away his money, 32 year old Sengigwa Sendodie made a dangerous choice to swallow the note he had in his possession. Sendodie is said to have swallowed the cash on September 24 after wrapping it in a polythene paper. It is reported that after a week of suffering a terrible stomach ache, he disclosed his little secret to prison authorities and asked for medical treatment. He was then rushed to Gulu Regional Referral Hospital Emergency unit on Monday morning and admitted with stomach complications. A medical worker who preferred anonymity since she is not authorized to speak for the hospital says the inmates condition is now stable. The Regional Prison Commander Northern Region Allan Okello says the inmate acted in fear since inmates at not allowed possess money in the cells. He says it is a big offence for inmates to have money within the prison facilities adding that it can aid their escape through bribing wardens. This is not the first incident of an inmate swallowing unacceptable items that are not allowed within prison facilities at Lugore prison. In February last year, 24 year old Rogers Ngabirano, who was serving a 14 year jail term for defilement at Lugore Prison was found dead in the cell by a prison warden who were conducting head counts. Police reported that the deceased died after choking on marijuana stuffed in a pill which he had swallowed in an attempt to hide the illicit drugs from Prison authorities. By Moses Kyeyune: The Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga has vowed never to apologise for suspending errant opposition members from the House. The Speakers outburst follows criticism over the manner in which she suspended members opposed to the amendment of the Constitution to provide for lifting of the presidential age limit. Speaking during this afternoons session, Kadaga has also denied accusations of instructing security officers to raid the chambers of Parliament on the fateful day. She says that her decision on Wednesday last week should attract no public criticism since she is the custodian of the business in the House. By Moses Kyeyune: The Minister for Kampala City Authority, Beti Kamya has denied allegations of sneaking out the gun that caused the fracas in parliament last week. The minister says her name has been brought to disrepute after a story allegedly published by a local newspaper, linked her to the gun that was in the possession of State Minister for water, Ronald Kibuule. Kamya also wants parliament to compel the newspaper to apologise and retract the allegations. Although last week, the Speaker confirmed that Kibuule sneaked the gun into the chambers, contrary to legal provisions, its whereabouts have never been spoken about. Meanwhile, the Speaker has also committed 40 lawmakers to the committee on rules and discipline, but Kibuules name does not appear on the list. Sara Abdessamie might be leaving her options open but that doesn't mean she's taking it easy. The second-year Loran Scholar and Medical Sciences student is eager to make a difference in as many ways as possible. Right now, for example, she's on the Prime Minister's Youth Council. As one of 26 young people in the non-partisan council, she's responsible for bringing the perspectives of youth in her community to the Prime Minster, who joins them for in-person meetings four times a year. A voice for youth "We find the key points we want to work on, says Sara. That could include environment, mental health, economy and so on, and we give our opinions to the Prime Minister directly. We're passionate about everything, we just want to make an impact. It's been a year and I can see progress being made from our ideas already. After the council discussed the importance of getting more youth involved in government, the Ministry of Indigenous Affairs added three young people to their department. Now, Sara and her peers are working on a Youth Policy the first ever in Canada. "When the Prime Minister comes to our meetings he takes time to really go in-depth into the issues, especially now we're working on the Youth Policy. And since he's also the Minister of Youth, it's included in his mandate to have our perspective into the decision-making process of the government." Speaking our languages When she's meeting with the Youth Council, Sara makes a point of speaking in both French and English. She sees bilingualism as an incredible opportunity and an important component of life in Canada. "I moved to New Brunswick from Quebec when I was 13. I couldn't speak a word in English, I only spoke French. Since Fredericton is mostly Anglophone, I had to learn English. It was hard in the beginning to include myself but I'm so grateful that I had the opportunity to learn English I have so many great opportunities because I'm bilingual." Her work with Le francais pour l'avenir (French for the Future) gives her an outlet to continue her work promoting bilingualism and supporting others learning French or English. "We bring Anglophone and Francophone people together to practise speaking and learn the language. Everybody learns in their own way and we want to promote an open environment that's non-judgmental so we can all learn and improve." More to experience So how does Medical Sciences fit into all of this? Sara was asked just that during her interview with the Loran Scholars Foundation, which offers awards that specifically looks at the potential of a candidate through an intensive and personalized selection process. As she responded at the time, she recognizes her career path could have gone a different direction but she has followed her passion and doesn't see that as a limitation on what she might yet do. "I have a lot of interests and sometimes it's hard to make a decision but I've always been very interested in medical sciences and science in general, she says. I loved biology when I was younger I was always curious about how things work in the body so, I wanted to pursue that as a career. But in the long run, I really want to incorporate all my interests and put them together." For now, studying as one of five Loran Scholars at Dalhousie, she's excited to keep learning and contributing on campus, soaking up as many new experiences as she can. "The main reason I came to Dal was that there are so many great opportunities for people to get involved. Last year I helped with the DalLEAD conference. This year, I'm starting to volunteer in the Retina and Optic Nerve Research Lab. You might have one theme that you're interested in but there are so many pathways you can go through. There are so many things you can do." Pakistan's telecom market has been struggling for a long time with the transition from a regulated state-owned monopoly to a deregulated competitive structure, according to Research & Markets. The government has been active in providing capital for country's telecom sector, and the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have also input capital. The fixed line market in Pakistan remains underdeveloped due to the dominance of the mobile segment. Further, the number of fixed telephone lines is slowly declining as the mobile segment continues to expand. Overall penetration dropped from 2.6% in 2014 to 1.9% in 2015 and 1.5% in 2017. The market is predicted to decline further over the next five years to 2022 as the mobile segment continues to grow for both voice and data/broadband usage. The country's mobile operators are all fighting for a larger share of the market, forcing down prices and subsequently ARPU. The operators have been shifting their focus to Value Added Services (VAS) in order to improve revenues. 4G network rollouts continue across the country. By 2017 over 30% of Pakistan population was covered by a 4G network. In 2017 Mobilink and Warid merged their operations into a single brand, Jazz, which saw the number of mobile operators reduce from six to five. Further market consolidation is predicted over the next five years as the operating margins of the major operators come under further pressure. Two main challenges facing mobile operators in Pakistan remain: a largely rural population with up to 70% of the population live in rural areas and difficulty serving those areas of the country that are politically unstable. The Liberian Telecommunications Authority (LTA) has installed sensor-based monitoring stations from spectrum management and monitoring solutions provider LS Telcom. The Observer systems were purchased in conjunction with the NGO NetHope as part of a USAID technology package for the country. Following the Ebola crisis in 2014-2015, improvement in communications was identified as a top priority for the country. The acquisition of the LS Observer technology provides LTA with the foundation of spectrum monitoring capability including identification of spectrum conflicts, identification of free spectrum, isolation of dead zones in coverage, and locating rogue networks. We are very pleased to have this new capability. As I consider radiofrequency a scarce resource for Liberia, the LS Observer monitoring stations will allow our team to fully optimise spectrum policy and increase the enforcement capability at LTA, said Henry W. Benson, Commissioner for Engineering & Technology at the LTA. As the pace of spectrum management accelerates, regulators need to be equipped with the proper tools and capabilities to stay ahead, said Casey Joseph, Vice President of Sales and Business Development, With the LS Observer stations in place, LTA is positioned to modernise their spectrum management capability throughout the country. As the African continent deploys next generation wireless networks, regulators must maintain pace with the requisite capabilities to monitor and regulate activity. The LS Observer monitoring system delivers state of the art sensor-based monitoring capabilities across the commercial spectrum. Available in fixed and portable versions, the LS Observer is ideal for regulators to monitor, establish and maintain a spectrum inventory or support spectrum inventory activities, and enforce spectrum usage policies and procedures. As the value of spectrum continues to increase, LS Observer can also be used to identify areas of unused spectrum that can be reallocated and licensed for future use. The technology package is being delivered to Liberia through NetHope, the leading technology NGO in the region. The monitoring systems are part of a larger USAID recovery package for the country. Japan Display has developed a new technology that will make it cheaper to produce OLED panels. It is expected to supply OLED panels to Apple soon. It is apparent that Samsung is the real winner if Apple manages to ship millions of iPhone X units this November. WSJ reported that Samsung will get $110 from sale of each iPhone X and stands to gain as much as $4 billion from the sale of iPhone X during this year. According to Reuters, a group firm of Japan Display Inc is looking to raise $900 million to mass produce OLED panels. A source familiar with the development claims JDI is working on a new technology that will bring down the cost of OLED panels. Samsung Display is the sole supplier of OLED panels for the iPhone X but it is expected to face competition from Japan Display. With Apple adopting OLED panels for its iPhone lineup, display makers are looking at ways to mass produce OLED screens with lower cost and Japan Display believes that it has the technology to catch up with its South Korean rival. JDI, however, is not alone. Previously there were reports that Apple is planning to invest $2.7 billion in LG Display's OLED plant in order to get first dibs at the supply. Display makers currently use evaporation method, which requires a specialised equipment made by Canon Tokki. With the new printing method, the cost of manufacturing should come down significantly. JOLED, an affiliate of Japan Display, has reportedly approached investors including Sony Corp and Canon Inc for funding. The firm is majority owned by state-backed fund and is planning to mass produce OLED displays in late 2018 or early 2019. The LG Signature OLED C7 is one of the best televisions on the market today. It produces rich picture quality and has all the latest technology to be future ready. It is meant for those who don't have a budget to worry about. LG OLED65C7T detailed review In the TV space, LG has always enjoyed excellent brand recall and trust. Why? Because the company makes good TVs. And leading LGs entire range is the Signature OLED series, which have always set the benchmark for what other televisions much be like. LGs OLED TVs easily made it to our favourites lists over the past few years, usually marked by excellent contrast ratio. The OLED C7 is part of that exquisite and high-end range, and though faces tough competition from Sony this year, this is one beautiful television. Build and Design The Signature series TVs are meant to look good and the C7 doesnt falter. It has no logo on the front, barring the words LG OLED written on the stand. On first look, its simply all screen, with almost nothing to distract you from the picture. LG has cut the bezels and frame as much as possible, which helps make the experience all the more seamless. Its also a paper-thin TV, at least as far as the top half is concerned. If you look at the TV from the side, you will notice the bulge on the bottom half, which houses all the ports and other mechanics of the TV. That somewhat makes the LG C7 look utilitarian, but a cleverly designed media center will hide this easily. Overall, the LG Signature OLED C7 is a television that can fit any media centre and improve its aesthetics. Its a minimalist design, with no flashy curves, but its certainly a design that works. Ports and Remote HDMI: 4 USB: 3 Digital Audio Out: 1 Component: 1 Composite: 1 LAN: 1 While there are quite a few ports available here, we would have preferred an additional USB port. Three USB ports may be enough for most, but you can never have enough of these. Three of the HDMI ports and two USB ports are side facing and easy to reach, although the rest are placed on the back of the TV. On the other hand, LGs Magic Remote for WebOS is as good as ever. It works as a wand, so the user has to wave it at the television to bring the cursor where required. It takes some getting used to, but you may not want another way once you are used to it. Picture Quality LGs OLED televisions were the first to set the benchmark amongst our contrast tests, and they were only beaten by the Sony Bravia A1 OLED this year. The C7 doesnt take back the throne, but comes in a close second. While there is some difference in the contrast ratio obtained at 50% brightness, the LG C7 is no slouch in terms of contrast ratio. If youre asking me what the difference between this and the A1 is, I can tell you that the naked eye cant see any difference. Furthermore, image quality is absolutely gorgeous on this television. Colours are well defined and punchy and things look even better with HDR content. Incidentally, the LG C7 is one of the few televisions in India with support for both Dolby Vision and HDR10. Theres also a 4K upscaler working behind the scenes on this television. Much like its competitors, the C7 will also handle high quality content with ease. So, if youre streaming at 1080p on Amazon Prime, the upscaling engine will make things look better. However, SD content has no space on these TVs. Lastly, the C7 is slightly brighter than earlier OLED TVs from LG. While that doesnt make a noticeable difference in image quality, the C7 is better at handling brightly lit rooms and light reflections than its predecessors. Audio Quality LG has also improved audio capabilities on the LG C7. However, while the TV is noticeably louder than earlier OLED televisions from the company, its not the best sounding TV out there. An external soundbar or home theatre system would go well with this TV. Its loud enough for a medium sized room, but wont do well with music. Its also not the best at separating dialogues from background scores at times. WebOS LGs WebOS has remained unaltered over the past year or so. As mentioned earlier, the magic remote functions like a wand. The company has added support for most essential streaming apps, although overall app support still needs to improve. The good thing is that WebOS is reasonably fast and you dont see the loading screen very often. Bottomline The LG OLED C7 is certainly amongst the best televisions to buy today. It brings excellent picture quality and supports the newest HDR technologies. It is meant for the premium, high-end TV buyer. How it compares There arent many competitors in the OLED market yet, but if we had to choose, the Sony Bravia A1 would be the better choice, thanks to better audio output from that TV. The LG C7 is excellent and comes in a close second, ahead of Samsungs QLED range. Altus Strategies , the Africa focused exploration generator, announced the discovery of multiple high grade gold bearing quartz veins at the company's Cameroon-based Laboum gold project. Reconnaissance grab sampling had revealed a quartz vein system with grades up to 24.5 g/t gold which Steven Poulton, chief executive of Altus, described as "encouraging". Furthermore, the company pointed to the 'potential existence' of further veins yet to be discovered. "Prior to this discovery, the primary gold target at Laboum has been the highly sheared and silicified metasedimentary units, which host a number of kilometre scale gold in soil anomalies and hard rock artisanal workings. Grab samples from the sheared host rocks have returned grades up to 6.86 g/t Au," Poulton said. Furthermore, a high resolution ground magnetic survey had indicated that "a number of the veins potentially continued beneath soil cover and formed part of one or more connected veins extending along a strike length of approximately 2.8 km," he added. In addition to mapping, the company would now begin a systematic channel and sampling programme across the veins in order to find new veins and to help determine the gold grade distribution within individual veins across each target, the company said. Carrier-grade push-to-talk solutions provider Mobile Tornado announced on Wednesday that it has recently signed an agreement with HOT Mobile, the fastest-growing cellular company in Israel, under which it will provide its advanced push-to-talk over cellular solutions to HOT Mobile customers in Israel. Authentication technology specialist Spectra Systems announced a five-year agreement with LMI Packaging Solutions of Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin on Thursday, to incorporate Spectra Systems authentication technology into LMI-produced coffee K-cup lids. The AIM-traded firm said its coating formulation would allow coffee suppliers producing their K-cup lids at LMI Packaging Solutions to have complete functionality in the Keurig K-cup system, which uses internal sensors that allow it to only work with specific material signatures printed on the K-cups. Under the agreement, Spectra Systems must supply its technology for K-Cups exclusively to LMI Packaging Solutions for the first 18 months. This agreement with LMI has validated our ability to provide security products in the consumer products market where an increasing number of manufacturers are using sensors to lock their hardware with the associated consumables, said Spectra CEO Dr Nabil Lawandy. Working with LMI has been one of the smoothest product developments we have had and we are confident in their ability to attract more customers to their lids that use our materials. Lawandy said the company was confident that over time, the new line would grow into a stable source of revenue and profit. The total global K-Cup market in which LMI is participating is already over 10 billion units per year. Kendallville, IN (46755) Today Cloudy skies with afternoon snow showers. High 38F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 60%.. Tonight Mainly cloudy with snow showers around before midnight. Low 28F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 70%. Catalonia -based banks Banco Sabadell and Caixabank were both considering transferring their headquarters out of the region in the wake of the current independence crisis. Regional leader Carles Puigdemont is preparing the province for a unilateral declaration of independence after Sundays controversial referendum. The share price of both banks have tanked since the vote, as investors fear a withdrawal of deposits from the entities as the situation becomes more precarious. Sabadells board have called a meeting on Thursday evening in order to a move, with Madrid and Alicante among the cities being considered. The change of headquarters could be made in a matter of hours, without having to call an extraordinary shareholders meeting. Caixabank will also consider such a move if Catalonia were to defy orders from Madrid and declare independence, the Financial Times reported. Caixabank maintains a large presence in Barcelona and other areas of the region, and the withdrawal of its headquarters there would deal a significant blow to the economic interests of Catalonia. Both banks rebounded in early trading in the Ibex 35 on Thursday, with Sabadell up over 5% and Caixabank by 3.5%, pushing the index upward after a heavy fall on Wednesday. Puigdemont had been expected by many to make the declaration in a speech on Wednesday, but said that it would come at the end of this week or the beginning of next week. Hundreds of people were injured at polling stations across Catalonia as police clashed with voters, after the central government in Madrid enforced a decision by the constitutional court to declare the referendum illegal. Airlines reported an easing in global seasonally-adjusted traffic since the beginning of the year, but demand still climbed 7.2% in August compared to the same time twelve months earlier. August capacity, measured by available seat kilometres (ASKs) increased 6.3% over the month, while load factor climbed 0.7 percentage points to 84.5%, just below the monthly record set in 2015. The International Air Transport Association (IATA), which represents some 275 airlines that make up around 83% of worldwide air traffic, said 2017 is on course to be another year of strong traffic growth thanks to the strong summer traffic season in the northern hemisphere. "However, some important demand drivers are easing, particularly lower fares. As we head towards the end of the year we still expect growth to continue, but potentially at a slower pace," said Alexandre de Juniac, IATA's director general and chief executive. International passenger demand saw 1 7% year-on-year increase in all regions recorded an increase, with Latin America leading the pack with a 9.3% uptick in demand thanks to Brazil's gradually recovering economy. Domestic travel grew 7.6% in August at the same time in 2016, just above July's 7.5% growth rate. Capacity rose 6.9% and load factor increased 0.6 points to 84.5%. De Juniac added that managing the industry's carbon footprint was a major challenge, but that members were committed to carbon-neutral growth from 2020 and to cutting emissions to half 2005 levels by 2050. "We will deliver on these commitments." He added that the immediate challenge is to finalise details and preparations for the Carbon-Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation. "But we must also intensify our partnership with governments to tackle other key contributors to meeting our commitments. Modernizing air traffic management and the commercialization of sustainable aviation fuels are at the top of the list." European stocks are taking a breather following timid gains overnight on Wall Street and ahead of Friday's all important monthly US jobs report, although the data from the States is likely to be heavily distorted because of the impact of recent hurricanes. Against that backdrop, at 1230 BST the benchmark Stoxx 600 was 0.13% or 0.52 points lower to 389.88, alongside a dip of 0.23% or 30.27 points for the German Dax which was trading at 12,940.17. The Cac-40 on the other hand was flat at 5,363.28. On the economic front, political uncertainty in Catalonia continued to be very much on traders' minds. Indeed, in Spain the Ibex 35 was bouncing back by 1.43% to 10,106.90 on Thursday amid reports that the two largest Catalan lenders might redomicile outside of the region. Overnight, the regional president, Carles Puigdemont, reiterated a call for "mediation" between his government and authorities in Madrid. In reply, Spain's finance minister, Luis de Guindos, on Thursday told Bloomberg that independence was out of the question and that there is nothing to discuss until the rule of law is reestablished. Two days before, Puigdemont had told the BBC he would make a unilateral declaration of independence "at the end of this week or the beginning of next". Elsewhere, Greek unemployment declined from 21.3% in June to 21.0% for July, according to ELSTAT. Later in the day, the focus would shift to figures on US durable goods orders and international trade for the month of July. Three Fed speakers were also set to take to the podium: San Francisco Fed chief John Williams at 1415 BST, Philly Fed boss Patrick Harker at 1500 BST and the president of the Federal Reserve bank of Kansas City at 2130 BST. Meanwhile, in the corporate space, Spain's Banco Sabadell, which owned TSB, was expected to decide on whether to move its domicile to Alicante or Madrid on Thursday evening. Caixabank, perhaps the most iconic Catalan lender, was reportedly also mulling a similar move should the Catalan government decide to embark on a unilateral declaration of independence. Elsewhere, Spains Gas Natural had decided upon a sale of its Italian retail unit to EDF subsidiary Edison and its distribution network to 2i Rete Gas, Reuters reported. Deputy governor says banks will shift jobs if no agreement reached Banks would start to move out of the UK if a Brexit transition deal was not agreed by Christmas, a Bank of England deputy governor warned. Sam Woods said firms would start discounting the likelihood of a transition in the central case of their planning. If we get to Christmas and the negotiations have not reached any agreement on this topic, diminishing marginal returns will kick in, he said in a speech. He added that bringing up the borders in wholesale finance would be regrettable for all sides, be they the home or host of international groups. Contingency planning is a sliding scale of increased commitment, investment and momentum through time. It much more prudent and prosaic than hovering over the relocate button or rushing to the exit door, he said. But re-structuring by firms will in general increase their complexity. I struggle to see an outcome in which banks and insurers do not get harder to supervise and harder to resolve for all involved. Royal Mail workers will go on a two-day strike later this month due to a dispute over pensions and pay, unions said on Thursday. The Communication Workers Union said on Twitter that it had served notice to the FTSE 250 company that staff will strike for 48 hours from noon on 19 October. COPENHAGEN The Danish Fashion Institute (DAFI) has launched a free online platform which it claims will help apparel designers and product developers to produce clothes and textiles more sustainably by helping to cut out waste in fashion and to extend the life of clothes. Design for Longevity has been created as part of the European Clothing Action Plan (ECAP), the first EU-Life funded project to concentrate on sustainability in the apparel sector. Other member organisations include the Amsterdam Fashion Institute, British Fashion Council and Mistra Future Fashion, whose sustainability event last week in Stockholm was reported on by Ecotextile News. LONDON Fashion brand Asos has signed a Global Framework Agreement (GFA) with IndustriALL, the worlds largest sectorial trade union organisation. Asos says the agreement will strengthen the implementation of international labour standards across the textile supply chain. It is also the first agreement of its kind for an e-commerce brand and Asos says it will help establish a framework for protecting factory workers around the world. By Liz Blood A little over a year ago, Morgun Frejo, a member of the Pawnee, Otoe-Missouria, Navajo nations, began camping at Oceti Sakowin at Standing Rock. The Missouri River is sacred to both his Pawnee and Otoe-Missouria tribes and Frejo recalls elders in both tribes telling him stories of its importance as a child. He lived at Standing Rock from mid-August 2016 to late February 2017, just before the camp was evicted and closed by the National Guard and local law enforcement. When I first saw Frejo, he was working camp security at the main gateinforming people no weapons or alcohol were allowed in the camp. Occasionally, security volunteers were asked to close the gate, or only let in a certain amount of people. They also escorted people out of camp when needed, and walked with participants in the marches. The main focus was the safety of everyone participating in a march, said Frejo. So, we acted as a kind of wall between the people there and the cops, to make sure no one on our side started anything, like an agitator. We made sure we were there in unity. There would be some people who went to a march ready to be pepper-sprayed. Masked up, not showing skin, looking suspiciouswhen everyone else would be moms, children, elders, people in their regular clothes. In September 2016, Frejo was arrested, along with his uncle and several others. The police had pictures of Frejo walking away from some construction material with equipment that he could have used to lock himself to it. He was charged with disorderly conduct, criminal trespassing, conspiracy to commit reckless endangerment (a class C felony), and conspiracy to obstruct government function. Morgun maintains he never locked himself to any machinery. His court date was scheduled for August 18, but the charges were dropped a few days before he was scheduled to appear. I met Frejo when I was reporting on Standing Rock for The Tulsa Voice. He was tight-lipped that day; he didnt seem to care to talk to me or the photographer accompanying me. The acquaintances who introduced us said Frejo had been a lot of help working security at camp. One night in November, not long after I returned home from Standing Rock, a helicopter circled the area of Tulsa that I live in. My eyes snapped open in the dark. I lay there anxious. I thought of the people still camped in the cold by the river. They experienced that every single night, for most hours of the night, for months on end. Floodlights poured into camp, helicopters and small planes circled over itintimidation and sleep deprivation tactics. I was there only two nights. How would any of them feel when they ever heard a helicopter at night again? When I heard that Frejo had returned to Oklahoma after Standing Rock was shut down, I wanted to ask if he was open to speaking to me. He was the only person I knew of who had been there for nearly the entire arc of the camp. What the rest of the world watched transpire on poor cell phone videos and in Facebook updates he had experienced in person. Frejo and I talked about what was life changinggood and badabout Standing Rock, what changed while he was there, and what survives after the physical camp is gone. LIZ BLOOD: Over the time you were at Standing Rock, between August 2016 and February 2017, how did you see the camp change? MORGUN FREJO: I saw a lot change. The first sight of it, all the teepees and the camps it was a beautiful sight to see all those tribes and nations come together. The grass was like up to above our knees and a little lawnmower was going around camp so people could make little camps. Towards the end of that month into September I was seeing more and more people coming, seeing different areas being occupied by different tribes. Then there was the incident when they dug up those graves over the hill from camp. That was one of the first turning points. We had heard they cant go there, they cant bulldoze there, that they were still getting their papers. They were told there were burial sites up there. But they went up there and tore it all up. A few of us jumped over the fence. My uncle got taken down by one of the security guards; thats when everyone just kind of rushed in, to not only protect him but just push off the workers there. I remember walking where they turned up the ground. A bunch of the workers trucks were stuck in that mud. People started surrounding them and telling them to leave. One guy almost hit a woman. He got stuck and gunned it and almost hit her. I was right behind the first row of people just going face to face with those dogs. The way the handlers were using them, they were trying to attack us. I wasnt surprised or scaredit was almost calming. I felt like Id been in that situation before, but I never have in my life. I talked to others and my uncle about it and he said its in our geneticsits in our DNA because of when our ancestors went through it. The best way I can describe is the colonizers, they had dogs. They terrorized villages. They used dogs to attack people. That experience is embedded along with all of the other tragedies and misfortune weve been dealt. Weve been dealing with this for hundreds of years. So even though we were scared, we were comfortable. Then, in October, there were more people in camp. There were more police. They were militarized. I wont say they were antagonizing us but they knew where to push our buttons, not as individuals but like as a camp, also. Camp shifted the day north camp got raided. A lot of people got arrested. That camp was treaty land that was promised to the tribe. Thats why people moved up there. But where that was also a protected route for the pipeline, so it was also a blockade camp. They rounded those people up like cattlepulling them out of their teepees. I had family that got arrested there. Some got pulled out of a prayer circle. A lot of their sacred items got desecrated. Its saddening to know how Martin County and whoever else handled what is held sacred and precious. I heard stories of them desecrating it with urine, dumping it all on the ground as if it was already trash. When Thanksgiving came around, thats when it started getting colder. Month by month, what I noticed personally, was the spiritualitypeople were coming for the wrong reasons. BLOOD: This was a change you were seeing? FREJO: Yeah. Why I went there was for that water, you know, because that water is us, we are that water. We are made of it. I wanted to go there and pray with that water because not only is the Missouri a powerful riverbut me, as a Pawnee and Otoe-Missouria Indian in Oklahomathat same river that flows up north flows through here. Its a sacred river to us, too. But some that came for that call they put outwe need more people, we need more bodies, come stand on the front line, show your support that waythats when the mentality of camp teetered. Before it was about spirituality, listening to the elders, following a protocol of being visitors, respecting their tribe. Then it goes to we have to stop this pipeline. That was always the goal but spirituality was a main factor. It turned into yelling on the front lines, calling cops names, pigs, cussing them out. Before October, there was none of that. There was chanting of Mni Wiconi, you know, water is life. Spirituality, prayers and singing. Then to have to wear a ballistic vest, or walk up with a plastic shield, or goggles and a face mask so you wont get sprayed in your face with mace or a rubber bullet, you know. People were saying Morton County had the OK to use live rounds, live ammoinstead of pepper spray. Thats what was being spread around the front line. I think thats when people started bringing in ballistic vests. Being on those front lines, just being there, made you a target. It wasnt about being ready to take them on, it was about being ready for whatever they were going to do. The spirituality of it was lost more and more in the sight of the people that were there. Thats one of the major changes I saw. It was a lot of factors the police escalating things, us, or certain individuals in camp that took it upon themselves to think that they were doing something justly. The cold coming in, elders leavingor elders going so they could stay safe, you know. I think most of the camp wasnt fully prepared for winterizing. BLOOD: How are you dealing with not being therea place where everyone was there for, if not the same, at least a similar reason? FREJO: Its an adjustment. Its a big adjustment. Just yesterday me and my girlfriend were cooking and she mentioned it to me. She was like, I miss that propanelike the smell of propane, having to make sure if the tank was empty to change it out. And having a big camp bonfire, like a campfire any night or any moment for no reason. I miss it a lot. Not only focusing on like stopping the pipeline but just being there, being unified with other people for the same cause of clean water. Everyone there not judging. We knew what we were doing and we werent distracted. BLOOD: This is something that, when youre just out experiencing the world now, you flash back to? FREJO: Yeah, its like aits a form of PTSD. When I was up there I got arrested, me and my uncle, and we went through our own trauma up there. Ive talked to my grandpa, who served in Vietnam. He went through crazy things. He was MIA for a while as a POW, and he escaped. After I got arrested, I went back home for a couple of weeks in October and I was talking to him and he said, What you went through, a normal citizen that wouldnt happen to. What you went through, youre basically a warrior, a soldier now. The way I did it is kind of frowned upon in my familys eyes because I went to jail. But they understand. They also shifted to see me as a man. They said it was good and bad. And it was along the lines of what would give you PTSD. He told me it wasnt like what he did, but it was affecting me, taking a toll. Even seeing a small airplane or helicopter kind of makes me uneasy, but at the same time I miss that sound because we heard it all day and all night at that camp. One of the major things that used to kind of get me was the sound of a drum, hearing that outside of camp brought up a lot of feelings. Im still working through my own things. From talking to other people that were up there, its not only things like that that trigger, its that feeling of loneliness or depression not feeling useful or having a purpose anymore because at camp everyone had a purpose. BLOOD: So even the feeling can then be triggering. Is that what youre saying? FREJO: Yeah. Thats what hits me personally and some others that I know that everyones just kind of feeling useless or empty or just alone like no one understands. I still deal with the depression of missing camp, not knowing how to deal with society. My anxiety builds up over time and sometimes hits me a lot, like for a night. That feeling of being paranoid. I try not to be mad at myself for feeling like that. I think, Im out of camp so I shouldnt feel like this anymore. But Im starting to realize every person who went to camp, no matter what they heard or saw or experiencedwe wont fully heal from that, because were still feeling what our ancestors felt. Its like coming to terms and being at peace, and understand all that, to try to find a healthy way to let it go or deal with it. Just about every time I open up Facebook, you know, Im seeing someone that I know from camp posting about what theyre going through and theyre wondering if everyone else or anyone else feels like that. Its an epidemic that we all have. Everything that happened up there takes a toll and its gonna take time to heal. Thinking about it now, its crazy to think about two or three days of not really eating, drinking, or barely sleeping. I reflect and know I did that for the right reasons. I wasnt out partying or going on a bender. I wasnt thinking about eating or drinking water, either, but when I did I loaded up because I didnt know when the next time would be. But I didnt worry about it, either. You know, what I was a part of up there in Standing Rock, it woke up the world. Theres other camps everywhere now. Theres people taking on big oil companies. Theres marches. Theres rallies. People are waking up to what has been happening here in Oklahoma for over a decade. BLOOD: Where are you at right now? FREJO: Im working on myselfemotionally, physically and spiritually, and knowing what I can do and when I can do it. I know that, how many people have seen the light on whats going on and whats happening. Its an amazing feeling to know that theres so many people, not only in the U.S., but all over the world, that come up with inventions or a new way to get away from fossil fuels. I feel small but at the same time Im part of something way bigger. I have to take a step back. I know that I cant do much or I cant do what I truly want until I know that me and what I hold dear to me are ready. So Im kind of keeping an eye on everything, but at the same time trying to take time for myself to make sure I heal and just be ready for whatever opportunities I have in the future. BLOOD: How are people who are now gone from camp continuing to support each other? FREJO: Keeping in touch with other protectors or other people from camp. I think thats one of the major ones. A lot of them are just continuing the fight, going wherever they can or showing support where they can. I think a lot of them are trying to keep that momentum. But its really hard because just that feeling of, you know, no on will understand. No one gets it. But at the same time, its up to the individual to either reach out or accept someone trying to support them I know what else is out there. When they dont take that road they go to self comforting, what they know. It could be alcohol, drugs, self harm or harming others. Thats a big problem, too, because a lot of natives, not only on reservations or in a small town, sometimes where we live, its just overbearing. Its depressing theres a lot of suicides. Just that hope, you know, of what it was like in camp. And then you go back to where youre from and there are people that, you know, theyre like, Whyd you go up there? That doesnt involve us. Its really rough. But as water protectors, and as a human racehave that compassion of reaching out to someone. They may look like theyre having a good time or theyre enjoying themselves but who knows what theyre feeling on the inside they could have a whole story that no one knows about. Here, I walk to the gas station, or Wal-Mart, or the store and no one makes eye contact. Theyve got their ear buds in. No one wants to give you the time of day to look at you. But at Standing Rock man, youd wake up, get out of your tent, someones walking byhey, good morning, how you doing? Even when everybody just woke up you could walk around camp and someone would offer you coffee and youd sit there and get to know them. Thats a major difference Im still trying to get used to. Because before Standing Rock I was like that, you know, I wouldnt look at people. Id just do what I had to do and then leave but after Standing Rock I look at people, Ill give em like a little nod and be like, Hey, how ya doin? That little interaction of just saying hi or smiling at someone, you know? Maybe theyre going through a rough day. I know when someone does that back I feel better. I like seeing someone else smile. Maybe theyll do it to the next person. Just that little happiness makes the world a little bit better. Reposted with permission from our media associate SIERRA magazine. TransCanada, the same company behind the controversial Keystone XL, is abandoning its proposed Energy East pipeline and Eastern Mainline projects. President and CEO Russ Girling said Thursday morning in Calgary that the company will inform Canadas pipeline regulator, the National Energy Board (or NEB), and Quebecs Environment Department that we will no longer be proceeding with the projects. The decision is expected to cost the pipeline giant C$1 billion (US$801 million). TransCanada was forced to make the difficult decision to abandon its project, following years of hard work and millions of dollars in investment, the Canadian Energy Pipeline Association, an industry group, said in a statement to Bloomberg. The loss of this major project means the loss of thousands of jobs and billions of dollars for Canada, and will significantly impact our countrys ability to access markets for our oil and gas. The shuttering of the Energy East pipeline, however, is a major victory for environmental groups, who have long fought against the so-called Keystone XL on steroids. According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, the US$15.7-billion pipeline would have transported 1.1 million barrels per day of mostly tar sands oil from Alberta to St. John and would bring a significant increase in carbon pollutionequivalent to the annual emissions of as many as 54 million passenger vehiclesand lock in high-carbon infrastructure expected to operate for at least 50 years. Oil Change International estimated that the pipelines construction would have created up to an additional 236 million tons of carbon pollution each year, multiplied over decades of operation. The decision comes a month after TransCanada said it might suspend or even abandon the Energy East and Eastern Mainline projects after the NEB issued tough, new climate standards that widened the scope of its risks assessment to consider upstream and downstream, or indirect, greenhouse gas emissions. As 350.org founder Bill McKibben quipped then via tweet, Transcanada may abandon its #energyeast pipeline because it doesnt want to confront the climate implications. Adam Scott, senior advisor at Oil Change International, celebrated todays news. This is an important day in the fight against climate change in Canada. Realizing that Energy East would never be allowed if its full climate impact was accounted for, TransCanada has walked away from the project, he said. Energy East was a disaster waiting to happen. The fossil fuel era is ending. Energy East is just the latest in a growing list of projects that will never see the light of day, he continued. Movements will continue to stand up to projects that we know are not in the best interests of our communities, our climate, and our children. But our governments must also step up to ensure that our transition off of fossil fuels to the safe and renewable energy future is just and managed. Ellwood City-area homes for sale rise in price to $139,000 In Lawrence County, homes for sale had a median price of $86 per square foot, while Pennsylvania's was $169 The Ministry of Health and Prevention of the United Arab Emirates (MOHAP) and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) today entered into a memorandum of understanding regarding a pediatric specialty consultation program to provide clinical and educational services to MOHAP hospitals. "The Ministry of Health and Prevention of the United Arab Emirates is dedicated to providing quality care for our patients and education for our clinicians," said Yousif Mohammad Al Serkal, assistant undersecretary for hospitals sector of MOHAP. "CHOP is a global leader in pediatric medicine, with top-rated clinical programs, groundbreaking research, educational and training programs, and state-of-the art-facilities." "CHOP has an investment in the healthcare of children in the Middle East region and is excited to offer The Ministry of Health of the United Arab Emirates our pediatric experts on a short-term visiting basis to provide education and clinical care in the MOHAP hospitals," said Matthew Bayley, senior vice president and Chief Strategy Officer at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. "As a result of this important initiative, both clinicians and children in the Middle East region will benefit from medical education and consultations by CHOP healthcare providers who are experts in the field of pediatric medicine." The Visiting Consultants Program intends to bring the expertise of CHOP physicians to patients at MOHAP hospitals within the United Arab Emirates. The visiting physicians will meet with the clinical team, perform clinical consultations as needed, perform inpatient consultations and give lectures to the MOHAP team. The visits are advertised through mainstream media and through the MOHAP Hospitals to ensure proper outreach. ### About Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Children's Hospital of Philadelphia was founded in 1855 as the nation's first pediatric hospital. Through its long-standing commitment to providing exceptional patient care, training new generations of pediatric healthcare professionals, and pioneering major research initiatives, Children's Hospital has fostered many discoveries that have benefited children worldwide. Its pediatric research program is among the largest in the country. In addition, its unique family-centered care and public service programs have brought the 546-bed hospital recognition as a leading advocate for children and adolescents. For more information, visit http://www.chop.edu About the Ministry of Health and Prevention of the United Arab Emirates The Ministry of Health and Prevention is a ministry of the Government of United Arab Emirates. It is responsible for the implementation of health care policy in all areas of technical, material, and coordination with the Ministries of State, and cooperation with the private sector in health locally and internationally. Astana. 5 October. Kazakhstan Today - Kazakhstan is interested in strengthening security, dialogue and understanding in the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and supports the implementation of a structured dialogue on security issues within the organization. The basis for achieving the goals is the Astana Declaration adopted at the 2010 OSCE Summit in Astana convened at the initiative of the Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev, whose direct participation in the negotiations led to aconsensus on the text of that most important historical document. This was stated by the Kazakh Foreign Minister Kairat Abdrakhmanov at the meeting with Austria's Deputy Federal Minister for Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs Alexander Marshik who visited Kazakhstan as a Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office -Austria's Federal Minister for Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs Sebastian Kurz. The parties discussed a wide range of issues related to the state and prospects of cooperation between Kazakhstan and the OSCE and exchanged views on regional and international issues. Abdrakhmanov praised Austria's activities as the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, emphasizing the timeliness of its priorities, in particular on confidence restoration, conflict resolution and countering radicalization in the Organization area. "Kazakhstan is interested in enhancing security and dialogue throughout the OSCE area, which is especially necessary today, when new challenges and threats are emerging. In these conditions, all the Organization's member states hould unite in order to tackle the negative trends," said the Minister. Marshik thanked the Kazakh side for the positive assessment of Austria's work and noted Kazakhstan's constructive role within the OSCE. According to the Austrian diplomat, Kazakhstan, thanks to its balanced and pragmatic foreign policy, is a reliable and trustworthy partner of the Organization, in which the 2010 summit and the adoption of the Astana Declaration are still important pivot points for settling many issues. The sides agreed that both the Summit and the Declaration are still the only events of their kind in the 21st century. They also discussed the preparations for the Organization's main event of this year - the OSCE Ministerial Meeting in Vienna in December. It was noted that the forthcoming meeting is of great importance for continuing dialogue on international issues. In light of the upcoming Austria's chairmanship in the OSCE Group of Asian Partners for Co-operation in 2018, Abdrakhmanov mentioned President Nazarbayev's initiative to convene the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA), which marks its 25th anniversary in the coming days. "Today the CICA has become an important factor in ensuring peace and security in the Asian continent. It seems that the establishment of cooperation trough the OSCE-CICA-ASEAN will open new prospects for interregional cooperation and create favorable conditions for further construction of the Eurasian security belt," Abdrakhmanov noted. The sides also praised President Nazarbayev's foreign policy and noted his significant contribution to international efforts in strengthening global security, including the international meetings on Syria within the Astana Process, the reconciliation of the leaders of Russia and Turkey and Kazakhstan's contribution to the early peaceful settlement of the situation in eastern Ukraine. It was stressed that Kazakhstan and Austria hold similar positions on the urgent issues of the modern world. In this context, the sides examined the status and prospects of the nuclear arms reduction process and the role of the parties in strengthening the WMD nonproliferation regime. They also highlighted the need for the earliest signing of the new Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weaponsby as many states as possible. Particular attention was paid to expanding bilateral cooperation, including in light of the partial application of the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between Kazakhstan and the European Union. Abdrakhmanov stressed Kazakhstan sees great potential for further cooperation with Austria. Despite the reduction in the total trade volume between the two countries in recent years, largely due to the global economic crisis, the parties agreed to undertake joint efforts to expand trade and economic relations. The Special Representative congratulated Kazakhstan on the success of the EXPO2017International Exhibition, which made a significant contribution to the development of alternative energy sources. The Kazakh diplomat thanked his Austrian counterparts for their active participation in the Exhibition and invited them to cooperate in the implementation of such projects at the Astana International Financial Center, the International IT Startup Hub and the International Center for the Development of Green Technologies and Investment Projects, which are to be established at the Exhibition's facility. Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan It may surprise many, especially those susceptible to the CSI effect, but fingerprint evidence is not conclusive beyond a reasonable doubt. A new American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) working group report on the quality of latent fingerprint analysis says that courtroom testimony and reports stating or even implying that fingerprints collected from a crime scene belong to a single person are indefensible and lack scientific foundation. "Fingerprinting is one of the most heavily used forensic methods. Routinely, fingerprint analysts report and testify to 'identification,' that is, that the person who left the mark at the crime scene is the same person whose fingerprint is in the database, said Joseph B. (Jay) Kadane, Carnegie Mellon University's Leonard J. Savage University Professor of Statistics and Social Sciences, Emeritus. "Our review of the scientific literature found that there is no scientific way to estimate the number of people in some community--a city, a state, the country, the world--who share the characteristics found, and hence no scientific basis for identification." Kadane, William Thompson, of the University of California, Irvine, Black & White Forensics, LLC's John Black and Michigan State University's Anil Jain illustrate in "Forensic Science Assessments: A Quality and Gap Analysis of Latent Fingerprint Analysis" that while latent fingerprint examiners can successfully rule out most of the population from being the source of a latent fingerprint based on observed features, insufficient data exist to determine how fingerprint features really are unique. This makes it scientifically baseless to claim that an analysis has enabled examiners to narrow the pool of sources to a single person. Forensic science is an important tool for investigating crime and helping to determine guilt or innocence at trial, but questions have been raised about the validity and reliability of many forensic disciplines. A crucial National Research Council report issued in 2009 noted that most forensic disciplines have not been subjected to rigorous scientific study. And there is no way to know which aspects of these disciplines were based on a solid scientific footing and which were not. This new report examines the bases for latent fingerprint examination, and sets forth what is known, what is not known and where there are gaps. The 14 recommendations in the report constitute a roadmap for further research. The report should also help key actors in the criminal justice system-law enforcement, lawyers and judges-make more informed decisions. ### Read the report. Read the AAAS news brief. Philadelphia, PA, Oct. 5, 2017 - In the largest study of twins in schizophrenia research to date, researchers at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, estimate that as much as 79% of schizophrenia risk may be explained by genetic factors. The estimate indicates that genetics have a substantial influence on risk for the disorder. Published in Biological Psychiatry, the study used a new statistical approach to address one of the factors that contributes to inconsistencies across previous studies -- usually studies of heritability require that people be classified as either having schizophrenia or not, but some people at risk could still develop the disease after the study ends. Drs. Hilker, Helenius and colleagues applied a new method to take this problem into account, making the current estimates likely the most accurate to date. "The new estimate of heritability of schizophrenia, 79%, is very close to the high end of prior estimates of its heritability," said Dr. John Krystal, Editor of Biological Psychiatry, referring to previous estimates that have varied between 50% and 80%. "It supports the intensive efforts in place to try to identify the genes contributing to the risk for developing schizophrenia," said Dr. Krystal, which have been built on the idea that schizophrenia is highly heritable based on the findings of generations of twin studies. The study took advantage of the nationwide Danish Twin Register -- a record of all twins born in Denmark since 1870--coupled with information from the Danish Psychiatric Central Research Register, to assess genetic liability in over 30,000 pairs of twins. Because the diagnosis of schizophrenia is based on a narrow definition of symptoms, the researchers also estimated heritability using a broader illness category including related disorders on the schizophrenia spectrum. They found a similar estimate of 73%, indicating the importance of genetic factors across the full illness spectrum. Dr. Hilker explained, "This study is now the most comprehensive and thorough estimate of the heritability of schizophrenia and its diagnostic diversity. It is interesting since it indicates that the genetic risk for disease seems to be of almost equal importance across the spectrum of schizophrenia," even though the clinical presentation may range from severe symptoms with lifelong disability to more subtle and transient symptoms. "Hence, genetic risk seems not restricted to a narrow illness definition, but instead includes a broader diagnostic profile," she added. ### Notes for editors The article is "Heritability of schizophrenia and schizophrenia spectrum based on the nationwide Danish Twin Register," by Rikke Hilker, Dorte Helenius Mikkelsen, Birgitte Fagerlund, Kaare Christensen, Axel Skytthe, Thomas Werge, Merete Nordentoft, and Birte Glenthj. It appears in Biological Psychiatry, published by Elsevier. Copies of this paper are available to credentialed journalists upon request; please contact Rhiannon Bugno at Biol.Psych@UTSouthwestern.edu or +1 214 648 0880. Journalists wishing to interview the authors may contact Rikke Hilker, MD, PhD at rikke.hilker@regionh.dk. The authors' affiliations and disclosures of financial and conflicts of interests are available in the article. John H. Krystal, M.D., is Chairman of the Department of Psychiatry at the Yale University School of Medicine, Chief of Psychiatry at Yale-New Haven Hospital, and a research psychiatrist at the VA Connecticut Healthcare System. His disclosures of financial and conflicts of interests are available here. About Biological Psychiatry Biological Psychiatry is the official journal of the Society of Biological Psychiatry, whose purpose is to promote excellence in scientific research and education in fields that investigate the nature, causes, mechanisms and treatments of disorders of thought, emotion, or behavior. In accord with this mission, this peer-reviewed, rapid-publication, international journal publishes both basic and clinical contributions from all disciplines and research areas relevant to the pathophysiology and treatment of major psychiatric disorders. The journal publishes novel results of original research which represent an important new lead or significant impact on the field, particularly those addressing genetic and environmental risk factors, neural circuitry and neurochemistry, and important new therapeutic approaches. Reviews and commentaries that focus on topics of current research and interest are also encouraged. Biological Psychiatry is one of the most selective and highly cited journals in the field of psychiatric neuroscience. It is ranked 6th out of 142 Psychiatry titles and 10th out of 258 Neurosciences titles in the Journal Citations Reports published by Thomson Reuters. The 2016 Impact Factor score for Biological Psychiatry is 11.412. About Elsevier Elsevier is a global information analytics company that helps institutions and professionals progress science, advance healthcare and improve performance for the benefit of humanity. Elsevier provides digital solutions and tools in the areas of strategic research management, R&D performance, clinical decision support, and professional education; including ScienceDirect, Scopus, Scival, ClinicalKey and Sherpath. Elsevier publishes over 2,500 digitized journals, including The Lancet and Cell, more than 35,000 e-book titles and many iconic reference works, including Gray's Anatomy. Elsevier is part of RELX Group, a world-leading provider of information and analytics to professionals and business customers, in a wide range of industries. http://www.elsevier.com Financial awards can unintentionally discourage a whistleblower from reporting fraud in a timely manner by hijacking their moral motivation to do the right thing, according to a new study by researchers at Florida Atlantic University, Wilfrid Laurier University and Providence College. "When you mention financial incentives to potential whistleblowers, you change the decision frame from 'doing the right thing' to that of a cost-benefit analysis," said James Wainberg, Ph.D., assistant professor of accounting at FAU's College of Business and co-author of the study with Leslie Berger, Ph.D., assistant professor of accounting at Wilfrid Laurier University and Stephen Perreault, Ph.D., associate professor at Providence College School of Business. "As a result, when the perceived risks of reporting are greater than the potential rewards, people will be much less likely to report frauds than had they not been told about the existence of an incentive program to begin with." A number of companies and regulatory agencies either currently offer, or are considering to offer, financial incentives to encourage whistleblowers to report unethical behavior, with many applying minimum value thresholds for reward eligibility. For example, the Securities and Exchange Commission only offers financial incentives if the whistleblower's reporting leads to a recovery of $1 million or more and for the Internal Revenue Service, that threshold is as high as $2 million. The researchers looked at the psychological theory of motivation crowding to examine whether the inclusion of minimum thresholds can unwittingly increase the likelihood that certain identified frauds will go unreported. Participants in the experiment, which included auditors and accountants, were provided with a vignette describing the discovery of fraud committed by a superior and were asked to assess the likelihood that a potential whistleblower would report the fraud through a whistleblower hotline. Their responses indicate that when incentives were available, but the size of the fraud was less than the prescribed minimum threshold, participants assessed a lower likelihood that the fraud would be reported in a timely manner. "What's going on is this hijacking of the moral decision frame by the financial incentives," Wainberg said. "Once that happens, whether or not to report the fraud will largely become a function of an individual's perceptions of reward adequacy in light of the perceived risk of reporting. So that's a caution to regulators, compliance professionals and others in corporate governance who are interested in understanding the strengths and weaknesses of offering financial incentives to whistleblowers." The study, recently published in Auditing: A Journal of Practice & Theory, also found that when minimum thresholds for rewards are employed, there was a greater likelihood that the whistleblower would strategically delay reporting the fraud (i.e., wait for the fraud to grow in size before reporting). This finding is particularly problematic since the early detection of fraud is a critical factor in minimizing potential damages and securing access to evidence. "What our study finds is that people may unlawfully wait for the fraud to increase in size before reporting it," Wainberg said. "The question we need to ask is do we really want to incentivize whistleblowers to delay reporting frauds in order to maximize their rewards?" ### About Florida Atlantic University Florida Atlantic University, established in 1961, officially opened its doors in 1964 as the fifth public university in Florida. Today, the University, with an annual economic impact of $6.3 billion, serves more than 30,000 undergraduate and graduate students at sites throughout its six-county service region in southeast Florida. FAU's world-class teaching and research faculty serves students through 10 colleges: the Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, the College of Business, the College for Design and Social Inquiry, the College of Education, the College of Engineering and Computer Science, the Graduate College, the Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing and the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science. FAU is ranked as a High Research Activity institution by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. The University is placing special focus on the rapid development of critical areas that form the basis of its strategic plan: Healthy aging, biotech, coastal and marine issues, neuroscience, regenerative medicine, informatics, lifespan and the environment. These areas provide opportunities for faculty and students to build upon FAU's existing strengths in research and scholarship. For more information, visit http://www.fau.edu. Boulder, Colo., USA: Category 5 hurricanes may have slammed Florida repeatedly during the chilly Younger Dryas, 12,000 years ago. The cause? Hurricane-suppressing effects of cooler sea surface were out-weighed by side effects of slowed ocean circulation. That's the finding of USGS researcher Michael Toomey and colleagues in their Geology article published online today. As the last ice age waned, undersea landslide deposits called turbidites captured the fury of Florida's stormy days. Previously, Toomey linked turbidites in the Bahamas with modern hurricanes. For this study, the group examined turbidites in cores spanning the shift from the Younger Dryas into the warmer early Holocene, collected offshore the Dry Tortugas, Florida. The turbidites, complete with smashed up shells and jumbled sediments, reveal that in Younger Dryas days Florida was surprisingly hurricane-prone, at a time when cooler sea surface temperatures may have put the brakes on such intense storms elsewhere in the Atlantic. To explore why, Toomey and colleagues analyzed computer models that simulated ocean and atmospheric conditions near Florida during that period. In modern times, the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) brings cool water south and warm water north. But during the Younger Dryas the AMOC is thought to have weakened considerably, slowing circulation and reshaping environmental conditions across much of the Northern Hemisphere. Modeling results indicated that lower sea surface temperatures in the tropical Atlantic, near Barbados, for example, corresponded with a drop in storm potential intensity. Near Florida, sea surfaces cooled as well. However, the change there was not as dramatic as further south or to the north. The relative warmth of waters offshore the southeastern U.S. compared to the regional Atlantic, explains Toomey, seems to have set the stage for intense hurricanes near Florida. "The modeling work suggests other factors, such as wind shear and humidity at mid-latitudes, outweighed changes in sea surface temperature at our core site," he says. Models and geologic records both show that by the early Holocene, as the AMOC regained strength, Florida's hurricanes subsided. The results, says Toomey, reveal that when it comes to generating hurricanes, ocean circulation plays a powerful role. What's more, he adds, the study demonstrates that on certain types of coastlines, turbidites have great potential for unraveling ancient hurricane histories. However, Toomey cautions against applying the results directly to future hurricane activity. He says for that, we need more field data and higher resolution models. "That's where I see this work headed next." ### FEATURED ARTICLE Increased Hurricane Frequency Near Florida During Younger Dryas Atlantic Meridional Circulation Slowdown Authors: Michael R. Toomey, Robert L. Korty, Jeffrey P. Donnelly, Peter J. van Hengstum, and William B. Curry. Posted online ahead of print for Geology on 5 Oct. 2017, https://doi.org/10.1130/G39270.1. Figure caption: Figure 3 from the paper: Simulated changes in climatic controls on hurricane activity between the Younger Dryas (YD, 12.0-12.5 ka) and early Holocene (EH, 10.2-10.8 ka). A: Spatial difference in storm season surface temperature (Tsfc). B: Spatial difference in genesis potential index (GPI), averaged for each Transient Climate Evolution Experiment (TraCE) interval (see text). C: Filtered (20 yr) time series of maximum potential intensity (PI) near the Dry Tortugas (red) and Barbados (gray) from 13,850 yr ago through the EH. CAT - category; TS - tropical storm. 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/ Four Harvard Medical School scientists are among 86 recipients nationwide honored by the National Institutes of Health High-Risk, High-Reward Research Program. Neuroscientist Jeffrey Macklis and geneticist David Sinclair are recipients of the NIH Director's Pioneer Award, which challenges investigators at all career levels to pursue new research directions and develop high-impact approaches to a broad area of biomedical and behavioral science. Healthcare policy researcher Sherri Rose is a recipient of the New Innovator Award, which supports unusually innovative research from early career investigators who are within 10 years of their final degree or clinical residency and have not yet received a research project grant or equivalent NIH grant. Healthcare policy researcher Zirui Song is a recipient of an Early Independence Award, which provides an opportunity for exceptional junior scientists who have recently received their doctoral degree or completed their medical residency to skip traditional postdoctoral training and move immediately into independent research positions. The awards recognize unconventional approaches to major challenges in biomedical research and honor exceptionally creative scientists pursuing high-risk, high-impact research. The program accelerates scientific discovery by supporting high-risk research proposals that may not fare well in the traditional peer review process despite their potential to advance the field. "I continually point to this program as an example of the creative and revolutionary research NIH supports," said NIH Director Francis Collins. "The quality of the investigators and the impact their research has on the biomedical field is extraordinary." Macklis, who is the Max and Anne Wien Professor of Life Sciences in the Harvard Medical School Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, HMS professor of neurology at the Massachusetts General Hospital, and a faculty member of the Center for Brain Science at Harvard University, explores how neurons of the cerebral cortex develop and communicate with each other as well as ways to regenerate neurons affected by disease. Specifically, the Macklis laboratory focuses on unraveling the biology and molecular mechanisms of neuronal generation and degeneration and how neurons form their long-distance connections and circuitry. Macklis and his team are particularly interested in the precisely assembled diversity of the neuronal circuitry of the cerebral cortex and how this diversity and precision enables high-level sensation, movement, thought and behavior. Importantly, Macklis and colleagues explore how perturbations in these processes can lead to neurodevelopmental, neurodegenerative, and psychiatric conditions, such as autism spectrum disorders, intellectual disabilities, ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) and schizophrenia among others. Macklis' Pioneer Award work directly investigates the biology and function of the molecular machinery -- proteins and RNAs -- of the distinct and diverse regions of the neuron known as "growth cones." Growth cones are hand-like sensing structures at the end of neuronal axons responsible for controlling the assembly of the brain's exquisitely precise circuitry. Growth cones are critical decision-makers that probe their surroundings to detect signals and determine how, whether and when to form connections--or synapses -- with other neurons. Rose, an associate professor of health care policy at Harvard Medical School. Her work focuses on developing and integrating innovative statistical approaches to improve public health. Broadly, Rose's methodological research uses nonparametric machine learning as a way to tease out cause-effect relationships and predict outcomes in health and biomedical data. Within the field of health policy, Rose works on risk adjustment, comparative effectiveness research, and health program impact evaluation. She also co-leads the Health Policy Data Science Lab and coauthored the first book on machine learning for causal inference. Sinclair is a professor of genetics and co-director of the Paul F. Glenn Center for the Biology of Aging at Harvard Medical School. He is best known for his work toward unraveling the mechanism of aging and his efforts to develop therapies that prevent cellular degeneration, DNA damage and slow down the process of aging and aging-related disease. The primary focus of Sinclair's laboratory is understanding the role of sirtuin genes in disease development and aging, with associated interests in chromatin, energy metabolism, mitochondria, learning and memory, neurodegeneration and cancer. Most recently, research led by Sinclair showed that feeding mice a compound known as nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) may avert and reverse cellular DNA damage, slowing down aging in mice. Song is assistant professor of health care policy at Harvard Medical School and an internal medicine physician at Massachusetts General Hospital. His research occurs at the intersection of medicine and economics. Specifically, Song's work focuses on strategies to improve the value of health care spending, including changes in provider payment, incentives for quality improvement and financing of insurance markets. The goal of Song's research is to is to generate rigorous evidence to inform health policies and delivery system reform efforts that can have a positive impact on population health. ### The High Risk, High Reward program is part of the NIH Common Fund, which supports a series of exceptionally high-impact programs that cross NIH institutes and centers. Common Fund programs pursue major opportunities and gaps in biomedical research that require trans-NIH collaboration to succeed. In addition to the Pioneer, Early Independence and New Innovator awards, the program also administers the Transformative Research Awards, which promotes cross-cutting, interdisciplinary approaches and are open to individuals and teams of investigators who propose research that could potentially create or challenge existing paradigms. For 2017, the NIH is giving 12 Pioneer awards, 55 New Innovator awards, 8 Transformative Research awards, and 11 Early Independence awards. The 2017 awards, totaling nearly $263 million, represent contributions from the NIH Common Fund; National Institute of General Medical Sciences; National Institute of Mental Health; National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health; and National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. Three professors from the INRS Energie Materiaux Telecommunications Research Centre have been named senior members of the Optical Society (OSA) in recognition for their contributions to the advancement of knowledge in optics and photonics. Francois Legare, Luca Razzari, and Federico Rosei, who is also the director of this university research centre, all have over ten years of professional experience in these fields and are among the four Canadians on the list of 182 researchers worldwide to receive this recognition from OSA in 2017. Molecular imaging Professor Legare was recognized by OSA for his outstanding contributions in ultrafast molecular imaging and the development and application of high-power ultrafast infrared lasers. He and his team developed the concept of frequency domain optical parametric amplification (FOPA) and helped spur advances in interpreting nonlinear optical signals in biological tissue. He also oversees the Advanced Laser Light Source Laboratory. Nonlinear integrated optics and terahertz spectroscopy OSA selected Professor Razzari for his important contributions in the development of photonic devices for the ultrafast processing of optical data. He was also a pioneer in the use of nanoantenna resonances to improve terahertz spectroscopy. In addition, Professor Razzari has helped disseminating the most recent findings in optics and photonics through the organization of several international conferences. Solar technology As for Professor Rosei, who holds the Canada Research Chair in Nanostructured Materials (Tier 1), OSA values his leadership in the field of photonic materials and optoelectronic devices, particularly for next-generation solar technologies. With the help of his team, Professor Rosei has conducted groundbreaking work on the synthesis and characterization of quantum dots, as well as contributing to their integration in photovoltaic or photoelectrochemical devices and luminescent solar concentrators. ### About the Optical Society The Optical Society (OSA) was founded in 1916 and is a leading international scientific and professional association in optics and photonics. Its more than 19,000 members from some 100 different countries include scientists, professors, engineers, students, and business leaders, all dedicated to advancing the science and technology of light. New Rochelle, NY, Oct.5, 2017 -- A new study demonstrates success in using a shortened form of the CEP290 gene for gene therapy in a mouse model of Leber congenital amaurosis type 10 (LCA10), a retinal degenerative disorder that causes childhood blindness. The large size of the full-length gene has proven difficult to package into the adeno-associated virus (AAV) delivery vectors commonly used in gene therapy, but use of the truncated gene led to significant improvement in photoreceptor survival, morphology, and function, as reported in an article published in Human Gene Therapy, a peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers. The article is available free on the Human Gene Therapywebsite. Wei Zhang, Linjing Li, Qin Su, Guangping Gao, and Hemant Khanna, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, describe their work in the article entitled "Gene Therapy Using a miniCEP290 Fragment Delays Photoreceptor Degeneration in a Mouse Model of Leber Congenital Amaurosis." The researchers present not only a potential approach for designing a suitable gene therapeutic strategy to overcome the CEP290 gene mutation underlying LCA, but also highlight the use of therapeutic minigenes as a viable option for delivering large genes to treat other diseases. "The dramatic clinical results observed in patients treated with AAV-RPE65 vectors with LCA2 has raised expectations that similar approaches could be used to treat many different single gene disorders of the retina," says Editor-in-Chief Terence R. Flotte, MD, Celia and Isaac Haidak Professor of Medical Education and Dean, Provost, and Executive Deputy Chancellor, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA. "Overcoming the limitation of the packaging capacity of the AAV particle for this large gene is a critical step in the development of LCA10 gene therapy." ### Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institutes of Health under Award Number EY022372, 1R01NS076991-01, P01AI100263-01, and 1 P01HL131471-01. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health. About the Journal Human Gene Therapy the Official Journal of the European Society of Gene and Cell Therapy, British Society for Gene and Cell Therapy, French Society of Cell and Gene Therapy, German Society of Gene Therapy, and five other gene therapy societies, is an authoritative peer-reviewed journal published monthly in print and online. Led by Editor-in-Chief Terence R. Flotte, MD, Celia and Isaac Haidak Professor of Medical Education and Dean, Provost, and Executive Deputy Chancellor, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Human Gene Therapy presents reports on the transfer and expression of genes in mammals, including humans. Related topics include improvements in vector development, delivery systems, and animal models, particularly in the areas of cancer, heart disease, viral disease, genetic disease, and neurological disease, as well as ethical, legal, and regulatory issues related to the gene transfer in humans. Its companion journals, Human Gene Therapy Methods, published bimonthly and focused on the application of gene therapy to product testing and development, and Human Gene Therapy Clinical Development, published quarterly, features data relevant to the regulatory review and commercial development of cell and gene therapy products. Tables of contents for all three publications and a free sample issue may be viewed on the Human Gene Therapy website. About the Publisher Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers is a privately held, fully integrated media company known for establishing authoritative peer-reviewed journals in many promising areas of science and biomedical research, including Nucleic Acid Therapeutics, Tissue Engineering, Stem Cells and Development, and Cellular Reprogramming. Its biotechnology trade magazine, GEN (Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News), was the first in its field and is today the industry's most widely read publication worldwide. A complete list of the firm's 80 journals, books, and newsmagazines is available on the Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers (http://www.liebertpub.com/) website. Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. 140 Huguenot St., New Rochelle NY 10801-5215 http://www.liebertpub.com Phone: 914-740-2100 800-M-LIEBERT Fax: 914-740-2101 WOODS HOLE, Mass. -- After 26 years, the world's longest-running experiment to discover how warming temperatures affect forest soils has revealed a surprising, cyclical response: Soil warming stimulates periods of abundant carbon release from the soil to the atmosphere alternating with periods of no detectable loss in soil carbon stores. Overall, the results indicate that in a warming world, a self-reinforcing and perhaps uncontrollable carbon feedback will occur between forest soils and the climate system, adding to the build-up of atmospheric carbon dioxide caused by burning fossil fuels and accelerating global warming. The study, led by Jerry Melillo, Distinguished Scientist at the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL), appears in the October 6 issue of Science. Melillo and colleagues began this pioneering experiment in 1991 in a deciduous forest stand at the Harvard Forest in Massachusetts. They buried electrical cables in a set of plots and heated the soil 5 C above the ambient temperature of control plots. Over the course of the 26-year experiment (which still continues), the warmed plots lost 17 percent of the carbon that had been stored in organic matter in the top 60 centimeters of soil. "To put this in context," Melillo says, "each year, mostly from fossil fuel burning, we are releasing about 10 billion metric tons of carbon into the atmosphere. That's what's causing the increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration and global warming. The world's soils contain about 3,500 billion metric tons of carbon. If a significant amount of that soil carbon is added to the atmosphere, due to microbial activity in warmer soils, that will accelerate the global warming process. And once this self-reinforcing feedback begins, there is no easy way to turn it off. There is no switch to flip." Over the course of the experiment, Melillo's team observed fluctuations in the rate of soil carbon emission from the heated plots, indicating cycles in the capacity of soil microbes to degrade organic matter and release carbon. Phase I (1991 to 2000) was a period of substantial soil carbon loss that was rapid at first, then slowed to near zero. In Phase II (2001-2007), there was no difference in carbon emissions between the warmed and the control plots. During that time, the soil microbial community in the warmed plots was undergoing reorganization that led to changes in the community's structure and function. In Phase III (2008-2013), carbon release from heated plots again exceeded that from control plots. This coincided with a continued shift in the soil microbial community. Microbes that can degrade more recalcitrant soil organic matter, such as lignin, became more dominant, as shown by genomic and extracellular enzyme analyses. In Phase IV (2014 to current), carbon emissions from the heated plots have again dropped, suggesting that another reorganization of the soil microbial community could be underway. If the cyclical pattern continues, Phase IV will eventually transition to another phase of higher carbon loss from the heated plots. "This work emphasizes the value of long-term ecological studies that are the hallmark of research at the MBL's Ecosystems Center," says David Mark Welch, MBL's Director of Research. "These large field studies, combined with modeling and an increasingly sophisticated understanding of the role of microbial communities in ecosystem dynamics, provide new insight to the challenges posed by climate change." "The future is a warmer future. How much warmer is the issue," Melillo says. "In terms of carbon emissions from fossil fuels, we could control that. We could shut down coal-fired power plants, for example. But if the microbes in all landscapes respond to warming in the same way as we've observed in mid-latitude forest soils, this self-reinforcing feedback phenomenon will go on for a while and we are not going to be able to turn those microbes off. Of special concern is the big pool of easily decomposed carbon that is frozen in Artic soils. As those soils thaw out, this feedback phenomenon would be an important component of the climate system, with climate change feeding itself in a warming world." ### Collaborators in this study include S.D. Frey, M.A. Knorr, and A.S. Grandy of the University of New Hampshires Department of Natural Resources and the Environment; K.M. DeAngelis of the University of Massachusetts, Amherst's Department of Microbiology; W.J. Werner and M.J. Bernard of the Marine Biological Laboratory; F.P. Bowles of Research Designs in Lyme, N.H.; and G. Pold of the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology. Citation: Melillo, J.M. et al (2017) Long-Term Pattern and Magnitude of Soil Carbon Feedback to the Climate System in a Warming World. Science DOI: The Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) is dedicated to scientific discovery - exploring fundamental biology, understanding marine biodiversity and the environment, and informing the human condition through research and education. Founded in Woods Hole, Massachusetts in 1888, the MBL is a private, nonprofit institution and an affiliate of the University of Chicago. CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- When Shreya Dave was an MIT doctoral student working on a new kind of filter for desalination plants, she paid a visit to a working reverse-osmosis desalination plant in Spain. She quickly learned an important lesson that she now says she would likely have missed if she'd stayed in the lab. While much of her research, and that of many other labs, had focused on how to make filter materials that could have a high flow rate at the pressures they would encounter when put into use, her visit to the plant revealed that this permeability was hardly ever a source of operational problems. Instead, problems such as the handling of the filters during removal for cleaning or replacement were what caused delays and added expense, because some of the filters would break if accidentally dropped or mishandled. The researchers had been trying to solve the wrong problem, she says. Dave, now a research affiliate at MIT and CEO of a startup company working on new filter systems, was able to readjust her research focus and develop a potentially more useful set of applications for her work. But she and her thesis advisor, MIT professor of materials science and engineering Jeffrey Grossman, thought the process they went through might hold important lessons for other researchers about the importance of doing detailed economic analysis and having in-depth conversations with people using the technology that the research is focused on. Dave, Grossman, and their co-researchers Brent Keller PhD '16 and Karen Golmer, innovator in residence at MIT's Deshpande Center for Technological Innovation, have published an account of their experience in this process, using their work on membranes as a case study, in the journal Joule. That paper, Grossman says, is "not about our membrane per se," though they do discuss the details of its development, but rather it is "our story of bridging the gap between the research and how to commercialize it." Grossman is the Morton and Claire Goulder and Family Professor in Environmental Systems. Dave and Grossman were working on a new approach to desalination by using sheets of specially prepared graphene oxide, which they showed could improve the flow rate through the filter by a hundredfold compared to conventional polymer membranes. That sounded like something that could have a major impact on the efficiency and cost of this expensive process, which is a key source of potable water in many arid parts of the world. But after conducting 200 interviews with people working in various parts of the desalination industry -- a process that was required as part of a National Science Foundation I-Corps grant for the project -- Dave, Keller, and Golmer found that the reality was not so simple. Estimated costs for the new membrane material would represent at least a 50 percent increase over that of existing membranes, when the total costs of plant operation were taken into account. Meanwhile, using the new material would lead to only an estimated 15 percent improvement in output -- a finding that was previously published by Grossman and then-doctoral student David Cohen-Tanugi. In short, the possible savings from that application were insufficient to justify a major change in a highly risk-averse industry. Surprisingly, since the initial proposals for using graphene as a desalination filter appeared in 2010, there has been an explosion of research in the area, with a 2,500 percent increase in research papers on the subject through 2016. Some of these papers, including the MIT team's, explored the use of graphene oxide, which can be made (at laboratory scales) for about $15 per square meter, but many of them instead focused on pure graphene, produced by a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process, which at present would cost an estimated $80,000 per square meter. Since present filters cost about $10 per square meter, the CVD graphene research appears to be economically impractical for commercial use for desalination. Yet many of those papers cited "scalability" of their findings, without including detailed analysis of actual costs, Dave and Grossman found. A combination of what is known as techno-economic analysis, along with the extensive interviews, led the MIT team to a whole different area of applications. They found that a different set of industrial-scale processes, for chemical and petroleum separation processing, could actually benefit much more from the use of their graphene oxide filters than the desalination industry could. Chemical separation processes, for example distillation and evaporation, account for 12 percent of the total energy use in the U.S., they learned. But using a filter instead of the traditional processes, the team found, could eliminate 90 percent of that energy use. And because of their customer contacts and economic assessment, they think their graphene oxide filter could have a big impact. They have now formed a company called Via Separations, of which Dave is CEO and Grossman is the chief scientific officer, to commercialize the material for use in these chemical processes. Keller is the company's CTO, and Golmer its head of business development. The company recently won funding from MIT's The Engine, which was founded to help bring transformative technologies from the lab to the marketplace. One of the key lessons learned from the long process they went through, Dave says, was the importance of looking beyond the specific piece of the puzzle that they were focused on in their laboratory research. "In industry, they don't care about individual components. They're looking at whole systems," she says. By "getting out into the trenches, you really do find out where their challenges are," Grossman says. "You learn a lot from that experience that's not out there in the literature. You can't find this stuff in papers." That was the case, for example, with the research on membrane materials for desalination. Then Dave's visit to the plant revealed that a big concern is their vulnerability to shattering if dropped during installation or replacement processes. "Nobody publishes papers about dropping [the filters] as an issue," Dave says. Carrying out 100 interviews (the number required by I-Corps) might sound like a time-consuming burden, but Dave says it was actually very manageable. Even the 200 interviews she ended up doing, she says, cumulatively added up to about seven weeks, out of the seven years she spent working on the study as part of her doctoral and postdoc research. "It was a very valuable part of my PhD work," she says. The point of detailing their experiences, Grossman says, is not about promoting their membrane technology. "We didn't develop the tools" for techno-economic analysis, "or the idea of talking to people in industry. What we did is we shared our own story, in hopes it has some value to other academic researchers." In addition to the National Science Foundation, the project was supported by the Deshpande Center for Technological Innovation, the Abdul Latif Jameel World Water and Food Security Lab (J-WAFS) at MIT, and The Engine. The company, Via Separations, has won an SBIR Phase I grant and aims to have prototype separation systems in place for real-world testing within a year. ### Written by David L. Chandler, MIT News Office ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND: ARCHIVE: Desalination gets a graphene boost http://news.mit.edu/2015/desalination-gets-graphene-boost-jeffrey-grossman-1102 ARCHIVE: A new approach to water desalination http://news.mit.edu/2012/graphene-water-desalination-0702 COLUMBUS, Ohio - The men who were tried for their role in the 1994 Rwandan genocide that killed up to 1 million people want you to know that they're actually very good people. That's the most common way accused men try to account for their actions in testimony before the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, a new study has found. Researchers examined more than 10,000 pages of testimony from 27 defendants at the ICTR to determine how these men tried to explain their involvement in the genocidal violence. They found that an "appeal to good character" was used by defendants more than all other explanations combined to say why they weren't guilty of the horrible crimes they were accused of committing. "Genocide has been called the crime of crimes, and these accused perpetrators very much understood that," said Hollie Nyseth Brehm, co-author of the study and assistant professor of sociology at The Ohio State University. "They were trying to protect their reputation. Rather than acknowledging their role, they emphasized what good people they were and talked about their good deeds and admirable character traits." Nyseth Brehm conducted the study with Emily Bryant of Boston University, Emily Brooke Schimke of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Christopher Uggen of the University of Minnesota. Their results appear online in the journal Social Problems and will be published in a future print edition. In 1994, mass violence claimed up to 1 million lives in the East African nation of Rwanda. Most of the victims were Tutsi, killed by the majority Hutus. The United Nations created the ICTR and, between 1995 and 2015, 75 individuals were tried for planning and executing the violence. For this study, the researchers focused on 27 defendants, all men, who testified on their own behalf for one to 17 days. They were political leaders, military leaders or wealthy businessmen. Nearly all were indicted for complicity in genocide and either genocide or conspiracy to commit genocide. Within this sample, 19 defendants received sentences and eight were acquitted. Convicted defendants received sentence ranging from 12 years to life in prison. The researchers analyzed the testimony using a classic criminology theory that suggests people use five specific techniques to neutralize their guilt and justify their participation in criminal activities. The techniques are denial of responsibility, denial of injury, denial of the victim, condemnation of the condemners and appeal to higher loyalties. "When it comes to genocide, we like to think that the perpetrators are irredeemably evil, but they are not - they are psychologically normal people who are acting this way under social circumstances," Nyseth Brehm said. "After it is over, perpetrators use these and other techniques to explain to their friends and family - and themselves - why they behaved the way they did." The findings showed that the defendants used only two of these techniques frequently: denial of responsibility and condemnation of the condemners (attacking those who criticize them). But they found two neutralization techniques that had not been identified before, one of them being appeal to good character. "They argued that they were such good people that they couldn't be guilty of genocidal crimes," Nyseth Brehm said. "They often talked about how they actually saved Tutsis from the violence and advocated for peace." One defendant, talking about massacres near where he lived, testified, "I was saddened by that news as well as frightened.... I did not have enough means to act in that situation. However, I did not fold my arms. I did what I had to do and what I could do." Another way they asserted their good character was to say they had nothing against the Tutsis. "I never said the Tutsi are not full-fledged human beings," one defendant said. "Rather than acknowledging the bad things they had done, the defendants often tried to talk about their traits and actions that proved what good people they are," Nyseth Brehm said. The other new technique the researchers identified was victimization. The defendants would talk about how they and their family and friends were targeted for being Hutus. One former mayor who was tried said, "I felt it was possible for me to die because I had been under permanent threat. I was being persecuted." While some Hutus were indeed killed in Rwanda, Nyseth Brehm said that nearly all the violence was targeted against Tutsis. The researchers found that more than one-third of defendants used the victimization and appeals to good character techniques between one and 12 times per day of testimony. Defendants relied especially heavily on the appeal to good character technique - in fact, results showed that this technique was employed more than all the classic techniques combined. Why were these two new neutralization techniques not identified earlier? Nyseth Brehm said most studies that have examined genocidal violence have tried to theorize what perpetrators were thinking before the crime. This study is one of the few to highlight their explanations after the crimes. "We were looking not at what enabled them to commit the crime, but how they made sense of it afterward. How could they justify what they did?" she said. In other research she has done in Rwanda, Nyseth Brehm said she has seen how people involved in genocide have dealt with their guilt in ways consistent with this study. "A lot of the people I have talked to in Rwanda have to convince themselves that they are good people as a way to move forward. They have difficulty coming to terms with what they did." ### Editor's note: Nyseth Brehm is in Rwanda until Oct. 18, 2017 continuing her research. She can do interviews by email or Skype while she is there. Contact: Hollie Nyseth Brehm, Brehm.84@osu.edu Researchers from the People's Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University) have refined our understanding of the structure of synthetic toxins which impede the development of red lionfish embryos, but in their modified form can be used for studying embryos of vertebrata. The results are published in the Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry journal. "A RUDN alumnus and my teacher, Vladimir Kouznetsov, also a chemistry professor, who works in Columbia now, had a paper published in the same journal in 2013. He described there the synthesis of a previously unknown heterocyclic system of 7-oxa-2-azabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene. During one of the stages, from simple compounds, furfurylamines and maleimides, a complex skeleton molecule with prominent biological features was formed. For example, it could be used as an inhibitor for early stages of embryonic development of vertebrata", - relates one of the article's authors, associate professor at the Department of Organic Chemistry, RUDN University, Ph. D., Fedor Zubkov. But when re-conducting the experiment, the researchers discovered that a different compound is formed. It turned out that the system of 7-oxa-2-azabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene, described in Vladimir Kouznetsov's article, has spectral properties very similar to another class of organic compounds, 3-(furylmethylamino)-N-R-pyrrolidine-2,5-diones, which are, in fact, the products of the described reaction. Using the combined data of X-ray diffraction analysis and nuclear magnetic resonance method (NMR), the researchers managed to unambiguously determine the spatial structure of the reaction product. The mistake was in incorrect interpretation of the NMR data in the paper of 2013. The researchers from RUDN invited Vladimir Kouznetsov, the author of the 2013 paper, to contribute to their article refuting the previous one, in which they have explained the causes for differing results of the synthesis in two work groups. Carbon and hydrogen are parts of every organic compound, so NMR spectroscopy is the basic and the best method for analyzing them, giving the most detailed information on the molecule spatial structure. The NMR method of research means that the sample, the structure of which we need to know, is placed in a strong magnetic field and exposed to high-frequency radiation, the frequency of which is in certain points equal to the frequency of absorption frequency of an atomic nucleus (mostly the nuclei of carbon and hydrogen are studied). If the setting of atoms in the molecule differs, their nuclei absorb energy in different frequencies, which is seen in their specters as absorption signals. These signals' location and shape help to determine the quantity and type of certain nuclei in the molecule. After further mathematic and analytic work it becomes possible to fully interpret the structure of the molecule: the specters "show" the position of every atom in the compound. To verify the data from the NMR method, the scientists used the X-ray diffraction analysis, through which it is possible to take a photograph of the molecule and to unambiguously prove its structure. "We have determined the chemical environment of the carbon and hydrogen nuclei that are in the molecule, and our interpretation did not match with the interpretation that professor Kouznetsov's group suggested earlier. This uncertainty prompted us to conduct a more detailed study", - Fedor Zubkov says. ### If you want to do something about global warming, look under your feet. Managed well, soil's ability to trap carbon dioxide is potentially much greater than previously estimated, according to Stanford researchers who claim the resource could "significantly" offset increasing global emissions. They call for a reversal of federal cutbacks to related research programs to learn more about this valuable resource. The work, published in two overlapping studies Oct. 5 in Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution and Systematics and Global Change Biology, emphasizes the need for more research into how soil - if managed well - could mitigate a rapidly changing climate. "Dirt is not exciting to most people," said earth system science professor Rob Jackson, lead author of the Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution and Systematics article and coauthor of the Global Change Biology paper. "But it is a no-risk climate solution with big cobenefits. Fostering soil health protects food security and builds resilience to droughts, floods and urbanization." Humble, yet mighty Organic matter in soil, such as decomposing plant and animal residues, stores more carbon than do plants and the atmosphere combined. Unfortunately, the carbon in soil has been widely lost or degraded through land use changes and unsustainable forest and agricultural practices, fires, nitrogen deposition and other human activities. The greatest near-term threat comes from thawing permafrost in Earth's northern reaches, which could release massive amounts of carbon into the atmosphere. Despite these risks, there is also great promise, according to Jackson and Jennifer Harden, a visiting scholar in Stanford's School of Earth, Energy & Environmental Sciences and lead author of the Global Change Biology paper. Improving how the land is managed could increase soil's carbon storage enough to offset future carbon emissions from thawing permafrost, the researchers find. Among the possible approaches: reduced tillage, year-round livestock forage and compost application. Planting more perennial crops, instead of annuals, could store more carbon and to reduce erosion by allowing roots to reach deeper into the ground. Jackson, Harden and their colleagues also found that about 70 percent of all sequestered carbon in the top meter of soil is in lands directly affected by agriculture, grazing or forest management - an amount that surprised the authors. "I think if beer bets were involved, we all would have lost," Harden said of her coauthors. Jackson and his coauthors found a number of other surprises in their analysis. For example, plant roots are ?ve times more likely than leaves to turn into soil organic matter for the same mass of material. The study also provides the most complete estimate yet of carbon in peatland and permafrost - almost half of the world's estimated soil carbon. "Retaining and restoring soil organic matter helps farmers grow better crops, purifies our water and keeps the atmosphere cleaner," said Jackson, Michelle and Kevin Douglas Provostial Professor in the School of Earth, Energy & Environmental Sciences. Overcoming obstacles The Jackson-led study describes an unexpectedly large stock of potentially vulnerable carbon in the northern taiga, an ecosystem that is warming more rapidly than any other. These carbon stocks are comparatively poorly mapped and understood. The study warns of another danger: overestimating how the organic matter in soil is distributed. Jackson and his coauthors calculate there may be 25-30 percent less than currently estimated due to constraints from bedrock, a factor previously not analyzed in published scientific research. While scientists are now able to remotely map and monitor environmental changes on Earth's surface, they still don't have a strong understanding of the interactions among biological, chemical and physical processes regulating carbon in soils. This knowledge is critical to understanding and predicting how the carbon cycle will respond to changes in the ecosystem, increasing food production and safeguarding natural services we depend on, such as crop pollination and underground water storage. A rapidly changing climate - and its effects on soil - make these scientific advances all the more urgent. "Soil has changed under our feet," Harden said. "We can't use the soil maps made 80 years ago and expect to find the same answers." However, funding pressures such as federal cuts to climate science, combined with turnover in science staff and a lack of systematic data threaten progress on soil carbon research. Jackson, Harden and their colleagues call for a renewed push to gather significantly more data on carbon in the soil and learn more about the role it plays in sequestering carbon. They envision an open, shared network for use by farmers, ranchers and other land managers as well as policymakers and organizations that need good data to inform land investments and conservation. "If we lose momentum on carbon research, it will stifle our momentum for solving both climate and land sustainability problems," Harden said. ### Jackson is also a senior fellow at the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment and the Precourt Institute for Energy. Coauthors of the Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics paper include Gustaf Hugelius, a visiting scholar in Stanford's School of Earth, Energy & Environmental Sciences; and researchers from Oregon State University, the University of Hawai'i, Stockholm University, Washington State University and Universidad de Buenos Aires. Coauthors of the in Global Change Biology paper include researchers from Lund University, the University of Arizona, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, the U.S. Geological Survey, Texas A&M University, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, the USDA, University of Hawai'i, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, the University of Delaware, the University of California Berkeley, Colorado State University, the University of Massachusetts, the Union of Concerned Scientists and the University of Michigan. Funding for the papers came from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, the National Science Foundation, the Swedish Research Council, the Inter-American Institute Collaborative Research Network, the Comision Sectorial de Investigacion Cient?fica and the Proyecto Plurianuales de Investigacion, the U.S. Geological Survey, the Bolin Climate Research Center at Stockholm University, the EU JPI Climate consortium, the U.S. Department of Energy and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. The paper resulted from a 2017 an International Soil Carbon Network workshop funded by Stanford's School of Earth, Energy & Environmental Sciences. Jens Nielsen is awarded the prestigious 'Energy Frontiers Award' by the Italian oil company ENI for research on the engineering of microorganisms that open new solutions for the production of fuels and chemical products from renewables Scientific Director at the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability at the Technical University of Denmark, Jens Nielsen, has received an ENI award at an official ceremony today at the Palazzo Quirinale in Rome, in the presence of the Italian President Sergio Mattarella. The ENI award was established in 2007 to develop a better use of energy sources and to promote science and technology applied to the environment. Over the years the award has gained a solid reputation as one of the most important scientific awards in the fields of energy and environment. "It is a very prestigious award to receive. Among the earlier winners are Nobel Prize laureates, and I am extremely proud to receive this prize for the research on how to produce hydrocarbons in yeast," says Jens Nielsen. "We are not able to use for example bioethanol in trucks or for jet fuel, so we need to come up with other alternatives. One of the alternatives is to use chemical molecules because they are miscible and have a high energy level compared to bioethanol," according to Jens Nielsen. Nobel Prize for Energy The ENI award is considered the "Nobel Prize for Energy" by the international scientific community for several reasons: The increasing number of projects submitted by researchers all over the world, the worldwide network of universities and research centers and the prestige of the Scientific Commission that includes renowned international scientists and more than 27 Nobel Prize-winners. According to CEO at the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability at the Technical University of Denmark, Bernhard Palsson, the ENI award given to Jens Nielsen recognises the value of conducting scientific research in the area of biosustainability. "This award is a clear recognition of the scientific research that we are conducting at our center. We have a clear vision that the development of sustainable lifestyles requires efficient bio-manufacturing methods for chemical compounds and protein-based products," says Bernhard Palsson. ### Helping health-care providers connect with patients in some of the most underserved areas of the Southwest is the mission of the Southwest Telehealth Resource Center (SWTRC), which recently received a $975,000 cooperative agreement grant from the federal Office for the Advancement of Telehealth, a division of the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). The grant will fund the SWTRC from Sept. 1 through August 2020. One of only 14 telehealth resource centers in the United States, the SWTRC was established in 2009 under the aegis of the Arizona Telemedicine Program, headquartered at the University of Arizona College of Medicine - Tucson. The SWTRC offers telehealth services to providers in Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah and Nevada. The center assists start-up telehealth programs as well as existing programs in hospitals, clinics, public health offices and other programs and facilities that want to extend their services to underserved areas. Assistance can include advising programs on the types of telehealth equipment that would best serve their needs, developing a business and marketing plan and training telehealth staff. "This grant will enable the University of Arizona to leverage its expertise in health care and its nationally recognized leadership in telemedicine for the benefit of not just the people of Arizona, but people across the Southwest," said UA President Robert C. Robbins, MD. "Telehealth is an incredibly important use of technology as we work to create broader access to quality health care, and it is a wonderful example of how the UA can lead. I am very excited to see how this program continues to thrive." Ronald S. Weinstein, MD, director of the Arizona Telemedicine Program (ATP), is principal investigator on the grant, No. G22RH30360. He and Elizabeth A. Krupinski, PhD, serve as co-directors of the SWTRC, with Kristine A. Erps serving as associate director of administration. Along with the rest of the highly experienced ATP team, they provide expert advice and support to those interested in telemedicine in the Southwest. "For nearly 10 years, the SWTRC has served as the 'go to' site for training, technical assistance and advice regarding telemedicine implementation and practice," said Dr. Krupinski. The SWTRC supports programs throughout their growth with a variety of resources, including the ATP's T-Health Institute in downtown Phoenix on the Phoenix Biomedical Campus. The T-Health Amphitheater, its "e-Classroom-of-the-Future," serves as a video-conferencing center where SWTRC members can attend training programs, participate in physician grand rounds and take part in webinars and academic courses. "The SWTRC is a valuable resource for health-care organizations and individual medical practitioners throughout the Southwest," said Dr. Weinstein. "We get to share the 'secrets for success' of the national award-winning Arizona Telemedicine Program with health-care organizations in five states. It's a great arrangement. They learn from us and we learn from them. Everybody wins!" ### About the Arizona Telemedicine Program The Arizona Telemedicine Program (ATP), an industry leader in telehealth, was established in 1996 by the Arizona State Legislature to provide accessible, top-quality health care to rural Arizonans. Based at the University of Arizona College of Medicine - Tucson, ATP strongly supports the growth of telemedicine throughout Arizona and provides a suite of services to its member organizations, including clinical, administrative and information technology (IT) support, telemedicine training, facility design and continuing medical education (CME). More than 60 clinical subspecialty services have been provided through the network, amounting to more than 1.3 million telemedicine cases. ATP is the headquarters for the federally funded Southwest Telehealth Resource Center, which serves Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah. ATP has received many national awards for its innovative patient services, distance education and telehealth training programs. For more information: telemedicine.arizona.edu About the University of Arizona Health Sciences The University of Arizona Health Sciences is the statewide leader in biomedical research and health professions training. The UA Health Sciences includes the UA Colleges of Medicine (Phoenix and Tucson), Nursing, Pharmacy and Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, with main campus locations in Tucson and the growing Phoenix Biomedical Campus in downtown Phoenix. From these vantage points, the UA Health Sciences reaches across the state of Arizona and the greater Southwest to provide cutting-edge health education, research, patient care and community outreach services. A major economic engine, the UA Health Sciences employs almost 5,000 people, has nearly 1,000 faculty members and garners more than $126 million in research grants and contracts annually. If you've ever tried to untangle a pair of earbuds, you'll understand how loops and cords can get twisted up. DNA can get tangled in the same way, and in some cases, has to be cut and reconnected to resolve the knots. Now a team of mathematicians, biologists and computer scientists has unraveled how E. coli bacteria can unlink tangled DNA by a local reconnection process. The math behind the research, recently published in Scientific Reports, could have implications far beyond biology. E. coli bacteria can cause intestinal disease, but they are also laboratory workhorses. E. coli's genome is a single circle of double-stranded DNA. Before an E. coli cell divides, that circle is copied. Opening up the double helix to copy it throws twisting strains elsewhere down the molecule -- just as uncoiling a cord in one place will make it over-coil somewhere else. The process results in two twisted loops of DNA that pass through each other like a "magic rings" trick. To separate the rings, E. coli uses an enzyme called topoisomerase IV, which precisely cuts a DNA segment, allows the loops to pass through the break and then reseals the break. Because topoisomerase IV is so important to bacteria, it's a tempting target for antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin. But when topoisomerase IV is absent, another enzyme complex can step in to carry out this unlinking, although less efficiently. This complex introduces two breaks and unlinks by reconnecting the four loose ends. "There are other ways to unlink the rings, but how do they do it?" said Mariel Vazquez, professor of mathematics and of microbiology and molecular genetics at the University of California, Davis. One pathway, Vazquez said, is that the reconnection enzymes remove one link at a time until they get to zero. That solution was favored by the biologists. But mathematicians look at the problem slightly differently. They understand the DNA as a flexible curve in three-dimensional space. Certain points on the curve can be broken and reconnected. To a mathematician, there are many potential routes for reconnection processes to work -- including some where the number of links actually goes up before going back down. "These are all the same to a mathematician, but not to a biologist," Vazquez said. To determine the most likely route and resolve the problem, they turned to computational modeling. Vazquez and colleagues developed computer software with DNA represented as flexible chains to model the possible locations where reconnection enzymes could cut and reconnect the chains. Overall, they modeled millions of configurations representing 881 different topologies, or mathematical shapes, and identified hundreds of minimal pathways to get two DNA circles linked in up to nine places down to two separate circles. The computer model confirmed the biologists' hunch: Undoing one link at a time is the preferred route to separate the circles of DNA. The results could have implications far beyond DNA biology, Vazquez said. There are other examples in nature of objects that collide, break and reconnect -- like the dynamics of linked fluid vortices, or the patterns formed by smoke rings, for example. When solar flares are ejected from the sun, powerful magnetic field lines cross and reconnect. "The math is not DNA specific, and the computation can be adapted," Vazquez said. ### Co-authors on the paper are: at UC Davis, Robert Stolz and Michelle Flanner; Masaaki Yoshida and Koya Shimokawa, Saitama University, Japan; Reuben Brasher, Microsoft, San Francisco; Kai Ishihara, Yamaguchi University, Japan; and David Sherratt, University of Oxford, U.K. The work at UC Davis was supported by the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science and The Wellcome Trust. CINCINNATI--Severely obese patients who undergo bariatric surgery lower their risk of developing cancer by at least a third, according to a University of Cincinnati (UC) College of Medicine researcher leading a large retrospective cohort study of patients in the western United States. "We found having bariatric surgery is associated with a reduced risk of cancer, especially obesity-associated cancers including postmenopausal breast cancer, endometrial cancer, pancreatic cancer and colon cancer," explains Daniel Schauer, MD, associate professor in the UC Division of General Internal Medicine and lead researcher. "What's surprising is how great the risk of cancer was reduced." The findings were recently published online in the Annals of Surgery. The study reviewed medical data of 22,198 individuals who had bariatric surgery and 66,427 nonsurgical patients between 2005 and 2012 with follow-up through 2014. It pulled data from large integrated health insurance and health care delivery systems from five study sites operated by Kaiser Permanente--Southern California, Northern California, Oregon, Colorado and Washington. More than 80 percent of patients in the study were women. Patients undergoing bariatric surgery had a 33 percent lower risk of developing any cancer during follow-up, according to the published findings. Schauer says the benefit is greatest among obesity-associated cancers. The risk of postmenopausal breast cancer dropped by 42 percent and while the risk for endometrial cancer dropped 50 percent in severely obese patients. The risk of colon cancer dropped 41 percent while the risk of pancreatic cancer was lowered by 54 percent. "Cancer risks for postmenopausal breast cancer and endometrial cancer are closely related to estrogen levels," says Schauer. "Having weight loss surgery reduces estrogen level." Bariatric surgery helps reduce the risk of diabetes and insulin levels which may be a risk factor for pancreatic cancer, while the mechanisms for colon cancer are more complicated, says Schauer. "I think considering cancer risk is one small piece of the puzzle when considering bariatric surgery, but there are many factors to consider. Reductions in diabetes, hypertension and improvements in survival and quality of life are reason enough," says Schauer. "The study provides an additional reason to consider bariatric surgery." The study found no significant association between bariatric surgery and cancer risk among men. Schauer says that may be because the vast majority of study patients are female and at least two of the cancers most impacted by bariatric surgery, postmenopausal breast cancer and endometrial cancer, affect women only. Multivariable Cox proportional-hazards models were used to examine the incidence of cancer up to 10 years after bariatric surgery compared to the matched nonsurgical patients. After a mean follow-up of 3.5 years, researchers identified 2,543 incident cancers. About 15 million adults in the United States suffer from severe obesity, which is defined as having a body mass index of greater than 35 kg/m2. Obesity and cancer are closely linked. Obesity is associated with up to 40 percent of all cancers diagnosed in the United States, says Schauer. ### Anthony Leonard, PhD, a biostatistician and research associate professor in the UC Department of Family and Community Medicine contributed to the study. Other researchers associated with Kaiser Permanente who participated in the study include Heather Spencer Feigelson, PhD, Corinna Koebnick, PhD, Bette Caan, DrPH, Sheila Weinmann, PhD, David Powers, Panduranga Yenumula, MD, and David Arterburn, MD. The National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health funded the study. Scientists at the University of Dundee have identified the structure of a key enzyme that protects the brain against Parkinson's disease. The result of a decade of work, the research team said that solving the 3D structure and inner workings of the PINK1 enzyme represented a major breakthrough. "Solving the structure and workings of PINK1 gives us crucial insights in to how it exerts a protective role in Parkinson's," said Dr Miratul Muqit, Wellcome Trust Senior Clinical Fellow and Consultant Neurologist at the MRC Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit (MRC-PPU) in the School of Life Sciences, who co-led the research team with Professor Daan van Aalten at the University. "That knowledge can lead to the development of new drugs which could be designed to 'switch on' PINK1 to the benefit of patients with Parkinson's." Professor van Aalten, a Wellcome Trust Investigator in the Division of Gene Regulation and Expression in the School of Life Sciences, said, "There has been great interest in directly targeting PINK1 as a potential therapy but without knowledge on the structure of the enzyme, this posed a major barrier. Our work now provides a framework to undertake future studies directed at finding new drug like molecules that can target and activate PINK1." Parkinson's is a progressive degenerative brain disorder which to date remains incurable. Previous advances in genetics identified mutations in the PINK1 gene in patients with early-onset forms of Parkinson's. PINK1 encodes a special class of enzyme known as a kinase that plays a critical role in protecting brain cells against stress. In patients harbouring PINK1 mutations, this protective effect is lost leading to the degeneration of cells controlling movement that account for Parkinson's symptoms. Previous work had indicated that the main role of the PINK1 enzyme is to sense damage to the energy centres of cells known as mitochondria and then switch on a protective pathway involving the targeting of two key proteins, ubiquitin and Parkin, to reduce the damage. But how this occurred was unknown. In the new research, published in the journal eLife, the team of Dundee scientists reveal that PINK1 has unique control elements not found in other enzymes of this class that explain how it targets ubiquitin and Parkin to exert its protective role in Parkinson's. "This provides detailed insights into how mutations carried by hundreds of Parkinson's patients worldwide interrupt the function of the enzyme," said Professor van Aalten. "This is a good example of collaborative research resulting from scientists with different expertise working together. It is only with the hard work of several PhD students and postdocs that we have been able to make this transformative step in our understanding of how PINK1 works. As is often the case, having now solved this important problem, there are many new interesting questions on PINK1 that will direct our future research." Dr Muqit added, "Our research has been focused on defining the most fundamental aspects of the causes of Parkinson's which we think will uncover new ideas for better treating the disease in the future." Michael Dunn, Head of Wellcome's Genetics and Molecular Sciences team, said, "The PINK1 protein has been the focus of research all over the world, so this finding from the Dundee team is a fantastic step forward for the community. If we understand the structure of this protein, which holds so many clues into what goes wrong in Parkinson's, it may help us develop novel drugs to protect against this devastating disease. Basic research is fundamental to understanding and treating many diseases and only by working in collaboration can we hope to make breakthroughs like this." Dr Nathan Richardson, MRC Head of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, said, "Discovering the fundamental structure of this protein is vital for understanding its cellular function and paves the way for the development of drugs to combat forms of early-onset Parkinson's disease. This advance will also help reveal the molecular basis of genetic mutations in Parkinson's disease, illustrating the merit of long term support for underpinning biomedical research." Professor David Dexter, Deputy Director of Research at Parkinson's UK, said, "The PINK1 gene was identified as a key player by Parkinson's UK-funded researchers back in 2004. Drugs that can switch the PINK1/parkin pathway back on may be able to slow, stop or even reverse nerve cell death, not only in people who have these rare inherited forms of the condition, but also those with non-inherited Parkinson's. "This research, for the first time, gives us a view of what the PINK1 protein looks like and how changes in the gene can prevent the PINK1 protein working properly. This knowledge is vital for developing drugs that can switch PINK1 back on, which has the potential to slow or even stop the progression of the condition, something current treatments are unable to do." ### The research was funded by the Wellcome Trust, Medical Research Council, Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, and Parkinson's UK, including the Parkinson's UK branches of Fife and Ayrshire. The full paper can be viewed here: https://elifesciences.org/articles/29985 On the battlefields of tomorrow, humans and technology will work together in a seamless, cohesive network, giving soldiers a competitive edge and keeping troops and civilians out of harm's way. The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has been selected to lead a $25 million initiative to develop the scientific foundations of a next-generation Internet of Battlefield Things (IoBT), designed to enable new predictive battlefield analytics and services. The "Alliance for IoBT Research on Evolving Intelligent Goal-driven Networks (IoBT REIGN)," funded by the Army Research Lab, includes collaborators from ARL, Carnegie Mellon University, University of California, Berkeley, University of California, Los Angeles, University of Massachusetts, University of Southern California, and SRI International. The funding covers the first five years of a potential 10-year effort. In the future, military operations will rely less on human soldiers and more on interconnected technology, leveraging advancements in unmanned systems and machine intelligence in order to achieve superior defense capabilities. The IoBT will connect soldiers with smart technology in armor, radios, weapons, and other objects, to give troops "extra sensory" perception, offer situational understanding, endow fighters with prediction powers, provide better risk assessment, and develop shared intuitions. "This award enables a true collaboration between researchers at ARL and researchers in academia and industry to change the status quo in smart battlefield services," said Tarek Abdelzaher, the academic lead of the Alliance and a professor of computer science at Illinois. "Through ARL's Collaborative Research Alliance model, we can change our fundamental understanding of what's possible when computers, sensors, data, weapons, soldiers, wearables, and media analytics are networked to empower new defense capabilities." In a battle environment, human operators must adapt to unexpected changes. IoBT researchers aim to create a cyber network of "things" that adapt as the mission evolves. That means that a system will have to analyze its available resources and re-assemble itself to best meet requirements for the present execution. In addition, these systems must be self-aware and able to reason about their goals, state, vulnerabilities, and other characteristics in order to meet a commander's intent. They have to be able to counteract and mitigate disruptions and attacks in near real-time and provide stability under uncertain conditions. The IoBT system must also have cognitive abilities and be able to fuse data from technology with data from humans. It will have to function in a continuous state of learning at multiple time-scales, for example, learning from previous actions while acting in the present and anticipating future moves. As a result, the system will be able to provide commanders with the most relevant information at any given time. "While commercial IoTs provide some of this capability, it is not challenged in the same manner as on the battlefield," said Dr. Stephen Russell, ARL's Battlefield Information Processing Branch Chief and the government lead of the Alliance. "The 'B' in the IoBT is a key focus." These activities must be reliable and should appropriately leverage all networks - blue, gray, and red - which have varying degrees of trustworthiness. Blue are secure and military-owned networks; gray are often civilian networks with uncertain trustworthiness; and red are adversarial networks. This effort to understand and exploit the unique capabilities of networked battlefield systems is an interdisciplinary problem that brings together researchers in cyber-physical computing, information theory, security, formal methods, machine learning, networking, control, and cognitive science, among other disciplines. An integral part of the alliance is the collaboration between ARL and the academic and industry researchers. "Illinois is proud to lead this effort, which will not only advance military science, but also could lead to breakthroughs that impact many other fields," said Andreas Cangellaris, Dean of Illinois' College of Engineering. "The excellence brought forth by this team could transform 21st century technology." ### Research detective reveals how Scott's second-in-command may have been responsible for death of his leader and four men. Sydney: The tragic death of Scott of the Antarctic and four companions on the return of his scientific expedition to the South Pole in 1912, has long been blamed on poor planning by Scott. But the discovery of new documents by University of New South Wales researcher Prof Chris Turney revealed today in the journal Polar Record show how the actions of another expedition member brought about their deaths and why it has been covered-up for over a century. Through patient detective work, Prof Turney found documents that reveal how the second in command, Lieutenant Edward (Teddy) Evans, later the 1st Baron Mountevans, crucially undermined Scott - stealing rations from food depots and failing to pass on orders to a dog sled team that would have brought Scott home safely. "The new documents suggest at the very least appalling leadership on the part of Evans or at worst, deliberate sabotage, resulting in the death of Scott and his four companions," said Prof Turney. "The documents also show how public records were altered in later recounts of the expedition and why a Committee of Inquiry into the expedition was rapidly shut down almost before it began." Early on multiple members of Scott's expedition developed doubts about Lieutenant Teddy Evans' role as second in command. Scott himself described Evans in letters as "not at all fitted to be second-in-command," and promised to "take some steps concerning this". It is likely one of the reasons that Scott sent Evans back to base before he pushed on to the South Pole with four companions. But on the return journey from the Pole, Scott's expedition found rations carefully planted on the journey out had disappeared. In addition, the updated orders Scott gave to Evans to send a dog team out to meet the returning expedition were seemingly never delivered. Instead Scott and his team were left to die alone and starving in a blizzard. The documents uncovered by Prof Turney reveal how Evans had a history of taking more than his share of supplies and how public statements were changed to deflect blame from Evans' role in the missing rations after Scott's death. It even uncovers why the President of the Royal Geographical Society, Lord Curzon, decided not to hold a public committee of inquiry. "For too long Scott has been held responsible for the death of himself and the men of his party who made the fateful expedition to the South Pole," said Prof Turney. "These new documents tell a very different story about how Scott's planning for the expedition was undermined, reveal that his orders were fatally ignored and why the man who arguably contributed the most to his death was never held accountable for his actions." ### Why didn't they ask Evans? Chris Turney is a Professor of Earth Science and Climate Change at the University of New South Wales. Chris is the author of 'Iced In: Ten Days Trapped on the Edge of Antarctica" published by Citadel in North America and 'Shackled' by Penguin Australia. Researchers from the Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute at UT Health San Antonio co-authored a paper published Sept. 26 in Science Signaling that looks at the reliability of a common research tool to study RAS cancer mutations. RAS mutations are implicated in several cancers, including lung, colorectal and pancreatic ductal carcinoma. The three RAS genes are the most frequently mutated oncogenes in cancer, implicated in more than a quarter of all human cancers. In pediatric cancers, mutations that activate the RAS pathway are frequently found in embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma (35 percent of tumors) and recurrent neuroblastoma (60 percent). The Science Signaling article says that although there is intense interest in studying the development of anti-cancer strategies targeting RAS proteins, the field is held back by poor reliability of anti-RAS antibodies to recognize the members of the RAS family of proteins. These antibodies are a critical research tool, but lack of reliability limits useful -- and replicable -- study results, the authors noted. Angelina V. Vaseva, Ph.D., and Peter J. Houghton, Ph.D., director of the Greehey Institute, are the co-authors from UT Health San Antonio. Dr. Vaseva is a visiting scientist from the laboratory of Dr. Channing Der, the senior author on the study performed at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and done in collaboration with the National Cancer Institute RAS Initiative. Dr. Vaseva conducts research in the Houghton laboratory related to therapeutics of RAS-mutant childhood cancers. The team from multiple institutions evaluated 22 commercially available anti-RAS antibodies for their capability to recognize RAS subtypes and mutated RAS. The collaborators identified antibodies that selectively recognize each of the four human RAS proteins in human cancer cells. This capability is only in Western blot assays, one of the most commonly used research analyses, and not in other research analyses used by laboratories worldwide. ### The National Cancer Institute provided support for this important study. The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, with missions of teaching, research and healing, is one of the country's leading health sciences universities and is now called UT Health San Antonio. UT Health's schools of medicine, nursing, dentistry, health professions and graduate biomedical sciences have produced more than 33,000 alumni who are advancing their fields throughout the world. With seven campuses in San Antonio and Laredo, UT Health San Antonio has a FY 2018 revenue operating budget of $838.4 million and is the primary driver of its community's $37 billion biomedical and health care industry. For more information on the many ways "We make lives better," visit http://www.uthscsa.edu. The Onalaska Board of Public Works voted to recommend rescinding two-hour parking along Critter Court Road adjacent to the Gundersen Health Plan building. We have been getting a lot of calls for service out in this area, said Onalaska Police Chief Jeffery Trotnic adding the majority of these calls were coming from the Springbrook Assisted Living Facility. In 2015, the council approved the request instituting no-parking, two-hour parking and tow-away zones on Critter Court at the request of Springbrook. Previously, no parking had been allowed on the court. Its becoming a drain at times. There just has to be a better way to do it, Trotnic said. Trotnic estimated 90 percent of the cars parked along the road were Gundersen employees. Gundersen is a solvable problem, said council member Ron Gjertsen. Those people working out there need to utilize the facility that is provided them. Mayor Joe Chilson said the Springbrook didnt intend on this becoming an issue. I think we need to go back and put no parking back out there, he said. Gjertsen agreed with Chilson and added the council should let the Springbrook solve its own problems. Holter said the council should consider the options for remedying Springbrooks situation. The city will invite a representative of Springbrook to the next Administration and Judiciary Committee meeting to discuss the issue. Anti-cancer drugs called mTOR inhibitors slow the growth of cancer cells but show limited ability to cause cancer cell death. New studies explain why. Masahiro Morita, Ph.D., assistant professor of molecular medicine in the Joe R. & Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine at UT Health San Antonio, contributed to the research. He is an investigator with the university's Sam & Ann Barshop Institute for Longevity & Aging Studies. Before joining UT Health, Dr. Morita was a postdoctoral fellow at McGill University in Montreal, Quebec. The cancer drugs act on a cell regulator called mTOR (Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin). mTOR controls a process that determines how large our cells are and how many cells we have. mTOR also impacts mitochondria, which are the energy centers in our cells. Mitochondria become elongated when mTOR activity is inhibited, Dr. Morita said. When mTOR is stimulated, these energy centers become fragmented. "Increased fragmentation of mitochondria is implicated in some cancers," Dr. Morita said. mTOR controls expression of proteins that alter mitochondrial structure and function in ways that unexpectedly protect cells from death, the team reported. This is why the cancer cells targeted by mTOR therapy are not dying. "The next step is to test tandem therapy in cell studies, because it makes sense to combine an mTOR inhibitor with an agent that does kill cancer cells," Dr. Morita said. The findings are in Molecular Cell. ### The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, with missions of teaching, research and healing, is one of the country's leading health sciences universities and is now called UT Health San Antonio. UT Health's schools of medicine, nursing, dentistry, health professions and graduate biomedical sciences have produced more than 33,000 alumni who are advancing their fields throughout the world. With seven campuses in San Antonio and Laredo, UT Health San Antonio has a FY 2018 revenue operating budget of $838.4 million and is the primary driver of its community's $37 billion biomedical and health care industry. For more information on the many ways "We make lives better," visit http://www.uthscsa.edu. The 2017 hurricane season has highlighted the critical need to communicate a storm's impact path and intensity accurately, but new research from the University of Utah shows significant misunderstandings of the two most commonly used storm forecast visualization methods. The study, published by Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications, looked at summary displays and ensemble displays for communicating information about a hurricane. Summary displays show the possible paths of a hurricane as a cone with hard boundaries, referred to as the "cone of uncertainty." Ensemble displays show lines indicating many possible paths that a hurricane could take. There are advantages and disadvantages to each technique, according to study co-authors Lace M. Padilla, Ian T. Ruginski and Sarah H. Creem-Regehr of the Department of Psychology at the University of Utah. "Even though hurricane forecasts are costly and have a high impact on health and safety, there has been little research demonstrating how to depict forecast uncertainty to the general public effectively," said Padilla. In one experiment, the researchers showed participants either a summary display or an ensemble display with hurricane forecast data and asked them to interpret size and intensity of the storm on a hypothetical oil rig that was shown in different locations. Two additional experiments used only ensemble displays, showing oil rigs at different distances from the storm's center and either on or between forecast lines. Although the two types of displays used the same hurricane data, participants interpreted size and intensity differently. The researchers found summary displays were more likely to be misinterpreted than ensemble displays. The cone of uncertainty in a summary display, for example, depicts a hurricane's possible path, with no information about size, but study participants were likely to interpret the display as showing a storm growing in size and intensity. Ensemble displays are promising for high-level decisions such as regions to evacuate, but the researchers found that novice viewers' judgments are biased when their point of interest overlaps with a line in the ensemble. In the ensemble display experiment, participants were more likely to predict greater damage to an oil rig located on an ensemble line compared to one not falling on a line. This suggests that people may be more likely to evacuate or take precautionary actions if one of the lines in an ensemble overlaps with their own town, but feel relatively safe if not. This type of risk assessment is inaccurate because forecast scientists choose how many lines they want to show -- meaning that ensemble forecasts rarely show all the possible paths the hurricane could take. These findings matter because the visualization technique chosen can change what information people think is most important and affect decision making about mandatory evacuations and allocation of emergency management resources, the researchers said. "There are pros and cons for each method of showing hurricane forecasts. That is why it is so important for the media to be informed about how the information they show can influence people's actions," said Padilla. The findings also have implications for media reports, since based on the type of images used, more context may be needed to help the public understand what they are seeing and what it means. ### Old Faithful is Yellowstone National Parks most famous landmark. Millions of visitors come to the park every year to see the geyser erupt every 44-125 minutes. But despite Old Faithfuls fame, relatively little was known about the geologic anatomy of the structure and the fluid pathways that fuel the geyser below the surface. Until now. University of Utah scientists have mapped the near-surface geology around Old Faithful, revealing the reservoir of heated water that feeds the geysers surface vent and how the ground shaking behaves in between eruptions. The map was made possible by a dense network of portable seismographs and by new seismic analysis techniques. The results are published in Geophysical Research Letters. Doctoral student Sin-Mei Wu is the first author. For Robert Smith, a long-time Yellowstone researcher and distinguished research professor of geology and geophysics, the study is the culmination of more than a decade of planning and comes as he celebrates his 60th year working in Americas first national park. Here's the iconic geyser of Yellowstone, Smith says. It's known around the world, but the complete geologic plumbing of Yellowstones Upper Geyser Basin has not been mapped nor have we studied how the timing of eruptions is related to precursor ground tremors before eruptions. Small seismometers Old Faithful is an iconic example of a hydrothermal feature, and particularly of the features in Yellowstone National Park, which is underlain by two active magma reservoirs at depths of 5 to 40 km depth that provide heat to the overlying near-surface groundwater. In some places within Yellowstone, the hot water manifests itself in pools and springs. In others, it takes the form of explosive geysers. Dozens of structures surround Old Faithful, including hotels, a gift shop and a visitors center. Some of these buildings, the Park Service has found, are built over thermal features that result in excessive heat beneath the built environment. As part of their plan to manage the Old Faithful area, the Park Service asked University of Utah scientists to conduct a geologic survey of the area around the geyser. For years, study co-authors Jamie Farrell and Fan-Chi Lin, along with Smith, have worked to characterize the magma reservoirs deep beneath Yellowstone. Although geologists can use seismic data from large earthquakes to see features deep in the earth, the shallow subsurface geology of the park has remained a mystery, because mapping it out would require capturing everyday miniature ground movement and seismic energy on a much smaller scale. We try to use continuous ground shaking produced by humans, cars, wind, water and Yellowstones hydrothermal boilings and convert it into our signal, Lin says. We can extract a useful signal from the ambient background ground vibration. To date, the University of Utah has placed 30 permanent seismometers around the park to record ground shaking and monitor for earthquakes and volcanic events. The cost of these seismometers, however, can easily exceed $10,000. Small seismometers, developed by Fairfield Nodal for the oil and gas industry, reduce the cost to less than $2,000 per unit. Theyre small white canisters about six inches high and are totally autonomous and self-contained. You just take it out and stick it in the ground, Smith says. In 2015, with the new instruments, the Utah team deployed 133 seismometers in the Old Faithful and Geyser Hill areas for a two-week campaign. The sensors picked up bursts of intense seismic tremors around Old Faithful, about 60 minutes long, separated by about 30 minutes of quiet. When Farrell presents these patterns, he often asks audiences at what point they think the eruption of Old Faithful takes place. Surprisingly, its not at the peak of shaking. Its at the end, just before everything goes quiet again. After an eruption, the geysers reservoir fills again with hot water, Farrell explains. As that cavity fills up, you have a lot of hot pressurized bubbles, he says. When they come up, they cool off really rapidly and they collapse and implode. The energy released by those implosions causes the tremors leading up to an eruption. One scientists noise is another scientists signal Typically, researchers create a seismic signal by swinging a hammer onto a metal plate on the ground. Lin and Wu developed the computational tools that would help find useful signals among the seismic noise without disturbing the sensitive environment in the Upper Geyser Basin. Wu says she was able to use the hydrothermal features themselves as a seismic source, to study how seismic energy propagates by correlating signals recorded at the sensor close to a persistent source to other sensors. It's amazing that you can use the hydrothermal source to observe the structure here, she says. When analyzing data from the seismic sensors, the researchers noticed that tremor signals from Old Faithful were not reaching the western boardwalk. Seismic waves extracted from another hydrothermal feature in the north slowed down and scattered significantly in nearly the same area suggesting somewhere west of Old Faithful was an underground feature that affects the seismic waves in an anomalous way. With a dense network of seismometers, the team could determine the shape, size, and location of the feature, which they believe is Old Faithfuls hydrothermal reservoir. Wu estimates that the reservoir, a network of cracks and fractures through which water flows, has a diameter of around 200 meters, a little larger than the University of Utahs Rice-Eccles Stadium, and can hold approximately 300,000 cubic meters of water, or more than 79 million gallons. By comparison, each eruption of Old Faithful releases around 30 m3 of water, or nearly 8,000 gallons. Although its a rough estimation, we were surprised that it was so large, Wu says. Further work The team is far from done answering questions about Yellowstone. They returned for another seismic survey in November 2016 and are planning their 2017 deployment, to begin after the park roads close for the winter. Wu is looking at how air temperature might change the subsurface structure and affect the propagation of seismic waves. Farrell is using the teams seismic data to predict how earthquake waves might reverberate through the region. Smith is looking forward to conducting similar analysis in Norris Geyser Basin, the hottest geothermal area of the park. Lin says that the University of Utahs research program in Yellowstone owes much to Smiths decades-long relationship with the park, enabling new discoveries. You need new techniques, Lin says, but also those long-term relationships. This release and photos can be found here. The full study can be found here. The research was funded by the National Science Foundation and by King Abdullah University of Science and Technology. ### SALT LAKE CITY - New research from scientists at Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI) at the University of Utah and collaborators at University of Utah Health (U of U Health) sheds light on the complex process that occurs in the development of human sperm stem cells. This is the first study to characterize the changes human sperm stem cells undergo as they mature. The results have implications for understanding male infertility as well as cancer development and were published today in the journal Cell Stem Cell. Previous studies of sperm stem cells have been limited to model systems, including mice. But this first study of developing human sperm stem cells revealed this process was much more complex in humans than had been previously understood. Using genome analysis tools, scientists outlined the multistage process that sperm stem cells undergo during their normal development. "This information yields new insights into how sperm stem cells function and develop under normal circumstances," says the study's lead author Bradley Cairns, PhD, senior director of basic science at HCI and professor and chair of oncological sciences at the U of U. "We have built a very important framework we can now use to help us understand what happens when things go wrong, resulting in issues like infertility and cancer in men." In the study, scientists examined all of the genes that turn 'on' or 'off' in any given cell during normal development. Using single cell RNA sequencing analysis, the Cairns lab profiled cells individually, establishing the gene expression profile in human sperm stem cells. Their findings outlined four distinct cellular phases of sperm stem cells maturation, revealing how the stem cells progress from a "quiescent" state, to a "proliferation" state during which stem cells divide, to a final "differentiation" state when stem cells mature to become sperm. Specifically, the data reveal distinct transitions in factors that influence the different cellular states including cell cycle regulators, transcription factors, and signaling factors. "Working with my patients with infertility, I have seen how devastating this diagnosis can be," says co-author and reproductive urologist James Hotaling, MD, also an assistant professor of surgery at U of U Health. "This study will help us understand what causes infertility in some cases." The results may also have implications for understanding how some cancers arise. Men with infertility are known to be at higher risk for certain cancers including testicular and prostate cancers. "Our study sheds new light on how genes normally function in sperm stem cells," says Cairns. "The next steps will be to use this knowledge to better understand what changes happen when sperm stem cells don't develop normally and instead convert into cancer cells." The authors believe the results of the study could lead to better tools for diagnosing and treating patients with male infertility, as well as uncovering the complicated genetic changes that underlie cancers associated with male infertility. Cairns and Hotaling collaborated with first author Jingtao Guo and co-authors Edward Grow, Chongil Yi, Patrick Murphy, Candice Wike, and Douglas Carrell. The research is titled "Transcription, Signaling and Metabolic Transitions During Human Spermatogonial Stem Cell Differentiation". ### This study was funded by the National Institutes of Health/National Cancer Institute P30 CA042014, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the University of Utah, and the Huntsman Cancer Foundation. Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI) at the University of Utah is the official cancer center of Utah. The cancer campus includes a state-of-the-art cancer specialty hospital as well as two buildings dedicated to cancer research. HCI treats patients with all forms of cancer and operates several clinics that focus on patients with a family history of cancer. As the only National Cancer Institute (NCI)-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center in the Mountain West, HCI serves the largest geographic region in the country, drawing patients from Utah, Nevada, Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana. HCI scientists have identified more genes for inherited cancers than any other cancer center in the world, including genes responsible for hereditary breast, ovarian, colon, head, and neck cancers, along with melanoma. HCI manages the Utah Population Database - the largest genetic database in the world, with information on more than 9 million people linked to genealogies, health records, and vital statistics. The institute was founded by Jon M. and Karen Huntsman. Mr. Huntsman is a Utah philanthropist, industrialist, and cancer survivor. University of Utah Health is the state's only academic health care system, providing leading-edge and compassionate medicine for a referral area that encompasses 10% of the U.S., including Idaho, Wyoming, Montana and much of Nevada. A hub for health sciences research and education in the region, U of U Health touts a $291 million research enterprise and trains the majority of Utah's health care professionals at its Schools of Medicine and Dentistry and Colleges of Nursing, Pharmacy and Health. Staffed by more than 20,000 employees, the system includes 12 community clinics and four hospitals -- University Hospital; University Neuropsychiatric Institute; Huntsman Cancer Institute and the University Orthopaedic Center. For eight straight years, U of U Health has ranked among the top 10 U.S. academic medical centers in the rigorous Vizient Quality and Accountability Study, including reaching No. 1 in 2010 and 2016. New evidence suggests that the Trump Administration's proposal to rescind the 2015 Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule that would limit the scope of the Clean Water Act inappropriately overlooks wetlands-related values New evidence suggests that the Trump Administration's proposal to rescind the 2015 Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule that would limit the scope of the Clean Water Act inappropriately overlooks wetlands-related values. In a 2017 government-issued analysis, benefits to rescind the rule were found to be greater than costs, results that conflict with a similar analysis made in 2015 under the Obama Administration. The 2017 analysis left wetlands-related values unquantified, according to economists who evaluated both administrations' analyses. The differences between the two analyses led to an almost 90 percent drop in quantified benefits from the 2015 to the 2017 analysis. "Excluding wetlands values from the analysis presents an incomplete picture of total WOTUS benefits," said Kevin Boyle, a professor in Virginia Tech's Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics who reviewed both analyses. Boyle's findings were published with economists Matthew Kotchen, of Yale University, and Kerry Smith, of Arizona State University, in the October issue of Science. On Oct. 11, the Supreme Court will hold a hearing that will decide selected issues related to the WOTUS. "We conducted a thorough review of the differences between the 2015 and the 2017 analyses, as well as of existing knowledge on wetlands benefits," said Boyle. "And it appeared that either relevant data were ignored or that full and careful consideration of cost-benefit analysis best practices were not followed in assessing wetlands values and public attitudes about water-quality protection." Findings revealed that the Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers, the same agencies that conducted the Obama Administration analysis, excluded all wetlands values in 2017 although these agencies valued wetlands benefits at up to $500 million per year in 2015. The economists question the decision to treat wetlands values as unquantified because the reasons provided for the exclusion are inconsistent with cost-benefit analysis best practices. Government agencies claimed that existing data on wetlands values were obsolete, but failed to provide the required documentation to prove so. The 2017 analysis itself contained inconsistencies as wetlands valuation studies were considered too old for inclusion while point source pollution studies published during the same time frame were not treated as too old and were included in the analysis. Economists also uncovered a failure to consider available data on public attitudes regarding water-quality protection that supports the credibility of the wetlands benefits in the 2015 analysis. The economists identified 10 recent studies that could be examined for wetlands value estimates. Additionally, they cited evidence showing that U.S. public opinion on environmental protection remains strong and has not changed over the past three decades. "More than unearthing deficiencies in the 2017 analysis, our evaluation signals a need for improved protocols in developing valuation measures, as well as government-research-community partnerships to support timely and credible environmental policy analyses," said Boyle. ### The Conservation Finance Alliance (CFA) announced today that the French Facility for Global Environment / Fonds Francais pour l'Environnement Mondial (FFEM) and the MAVA Foundation have jointly awarded 701,114 Euros (822,315 USD) to support CFA. "We are honored to host CFA and to be managing this generous donation made by FFEM and the MAVA Foundation," said WCS Executive Vice President for Conservation and Science John Robinson. "This critical funding will be used to take CFA to the next level in promoting sustainable funding solutions for protected areas and the world's biodiversity." WCS is a co-founder of the CFA and currently serves as its host. The CFA is a global network of more than 600 volunteer members, whose mission is to promote sustainable financing for biodiversity conservation worldwide. Membership is open to individuals and institutions interested in sustainable finance for conservation and related themes. CFA members benefit from access to the latest information and innovations, and to a wide network of experts that can help inform their conservation finance solutions. CFA currently acts as the Specialist Group on protected area finance for IUCN's World Commission on Protected Areas. The CFA network is supported by generous financial and in-kind contributions from its members. FFEM and MAVA will jointly fund the next stage of CFA. Both organizations are CFA members and have a long history of working to combat the world's environmental challenges, as well as an enduring commitment to biodiversity conservation. Among the targeted uses for the funding, CFA will hire its first full-time Executive Director and a small staff to support programming and membership. It will, build the network's capacity for administration and fundraising, and assess approaches to knowledge management and sharing to further support collaboration and cross-pollination among members. Additionally, CFA plans to create an Innovative Financing Mechanisms "Incubator" to enable members to develop new approaches to sustainable financing for conservation and protected areas. "The CFA members are a dynamic group, and the network needed to grow and evolve to meet the members' needs for outreach, knowledge sharing, and collaboration," said Sylvie Goyet, member of the CFA Executive Committee. "We're excited by the opportunities that the FFEM and MAVA funding will make possible." The CFA has several immediate projects underway and planned. Presently, CFA is updating a comprehensive resource guide on sustainable financing mechanisms in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme's BIOFIN program, a CFA member. It is also launching a workshop on investment management for Conservation Trust Funds in association with the Latin American and Caribbean Network of Environmental Funds (RedLAC), and renewing a series of knowledge-sharing webinars offered by members. ### ### About the CFA The CFA is a unique collaborative and global network of over 600 members worldwide, founded in February 2002 with a mission "to promote sustainable financing for biodiversity conservation worldwide." The CFA facilitates collaboration among organizations involved in the promotion and the implementation of solutions and tools to optimize capabilities for funding conservation in developing countries and is a recognized source of information and expertise and a shared learning platform for its membership, which includes trust funds, international organizations, NGOs, donors, private companies, and individual practicioners. Visit: conservationfinancealliance.org Follow: @conservfinance About the Wildlife Conservation Society. WCS saves wildlife and wild places worldwide through science, conservation action, education, and inspiring people to value nature. To achieve our mission, WCS, based at the Bronx Zoo, harnesses the power of its Global Conservation Program in nearly 60 nations and in all the world's oceans and its five wildlife parks in New York City, visited by 4 million people annually. WCS combines its expertise in the field, zoos, and aquarium to achieve its conservation mission. Visit: newsroom.wcs.org Follow: @WCSNewsroom. For more information: 347-840-1242. About the FFEM. The French Facility for Global Environment / Fonds Francais pour l'Environnement Mondial is a bilateral public fund initiated by the French Government in 1994. The FFEM co-finances projects that encourage the protection of the global environment in developing countries. Its co-financing is used for the implementation of pilot projects that combine environmental protection and economic development in the recipient countries. Its activities focus on the topics of biodiversity, international waters, the climate change, land degradation and desertification, persistent organic pollutants and the stratospheric ozone layer. http://www.ffem.fr - @: ffem@afd.fr About MAVA Foundation. Founded in 1994 by Dr Luc Hoffman, MAVA is a family led philanthropic foundation, with a key focus on sustainable economy and the conservation of biodiversity. MAVA has three region-based programmes: Switzerland, the Mediterranean Basin and West Africa. The fourth one, Sustainable Economy, provides opportunities to affect global trends. Through its "impact and sustainability Unit", MAVA supports the development of the field of conservation finance, as a tool to ensure long term sustainability of nature conservation actions. Visit : http://www.fondationmava.org Follow : @MavaFdn WINSTON-SALEM, NC, Oct. 5, 2017 - Using the same expertise they've employed to build new organs for patients, scientists at Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine and colleagues have engineered micro hearts, lungs and livers that can potentially be used to test new drugs. By combining the micro-organs in a monitored system, the researchers aim to mimic how the human body responds to medications. The goal of the effort, known as a "body-on-a-chip," is to help reduce the estimated $2 billion price tag and 90 percent failure rate that pharmaceutical companies face when developing new medications. Drug compounds are currently screened in the lab using human cells and then tested in animals. But neither of these methods adequately replicates how drugs affect human organs. "There is an urgent need for improved systems to accurately predict the effects of drugs, chemicals and biological agents on the human body," said Anthony Atala, M.D., director of the institute and senior researcher on the multi-institution body on a chip project, funded by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency. In Scientific Reports, published by Nature, the research team reports success engineering micro-sized 3D organs, known as organoids, and connecting them together on a single platform to monitor their function. While other teams have combined cells from multiple organs in a similar system, this is the first reported success using 3D organ structures, known to be higher functioning and to more accurately model the human body. The organ structures were made from cell types found in native human tissue using 3D printing and other methods. Heart and livers were selected for the system because toxicity to these organs is a major reason for drug candidate failures and drug recalls. Lungs are the point of entry for toxic particles and also for aerosol drugs, such as asthma inhalers. The organoids are placed in a sealed, monitored system - complete with real-time camera. A nutrient-filled liquid that circulates through the system keeps the organoids alive and is used to introduce potential drug therapies into the system. The researchers first tested the organoids to ensure their similarity to human organs. For example, the micro-liver received a high dose of a common pain reliever - and then a different drug to counteract the toxic effects. "The data shows a significant toxic response to the drug as well as mitigation by the treatment, accurately reflecting the responses seen in human patients," said Aleks Skardal, Ph.D., assistant professor at Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, who represented the multi-investigator team as the lead author of the paper. But more important than how an individual organ responds to drugs is how the body as a whole responds. In many cases during testing of new drug candidates - and sometimes even after the drugs have been approved for use - drugs have unexpected toxic effects in tissues not directly targeted by the drugs themselves. "If you screen a drug in livers only, for example, you're never going to see a potential side effect to other organs," said Skardal. "By using a multi-tissue organ-on-a-chip system, you can hopefully identify toxic side effects early in the drug development process, which could save lives as well as millions of dollars." The scientists conducted multiple scenarios to ensure that the body-on-a- chip system mimics a multi-organ response. For example, they introduced a drug used to treat cancer into the system. Known to cause scarring of the lungs, the drug also unexpectedly affected the system's heart. However, a control experiment using only the heart showed no response. The scientists theorize that the drug caused inflammatory proteins from the lung to be circulated throughout the system. As a result, the heart increased beats and then later stopped altogether, indicating a toxic side effect. "This was completely unexpected, but it's the type of side effect that can be discovered with this system in the drug development pipeline," Skardal said. Scientists are working to increase the speed of the system for large scale screening, and also to add additional organs. "Eventually we expect to demonstrate the utility of a body-on-a-chip system containing many of the key functional organs in the human body," said Atala. "This system has the potential for advanced drug screening and also to be used in personalized medicine - to help predict an individual patient's response to treatment." Several patent applications comprising the technology described in the manuscript have been filed. ### Co-authors include: Sean V. Murphy, Ph.D., Mahesh Devarasetty, B.S., Julio Aleman, B.S., Ivy Mead, M.S., Hyun-Wook Kang, Ph.D., Young-Joon Seol, Ph.D., Adam Hall, Ph.D., Thomas D. Shupe, Ph.D., Sang Jin Lee, Ph.D., John D. Jackson, Ph.D., Shay Soker, Ph.D., Colin E. Bishop, Ph.D., James J. Yoo, M.D., and Anthony Atala, M.D., all of the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine; as well as Thomas Hartung, Liang Zhao and Andre Kleensang, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University; Mehmet R. Dokmeci, Yu Shrike Zhang, Su-Ryon Shin and Ali Khademhosseini, Biomaterials Innovation Research Center, Harvard Medical School. Media contacts: Bonnie Davis, 336-713-1597, bdavis@wakehealth.edu and Karen Richardson, 336-716-4453, krchrdsn@wakehealth.edu Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center is a nationally recognized academic medical center in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, with an integrated enterprise including educational and research facilities, hospitals, clinics, diagnostic centers and other primary and specialty care facilities serving 24 counties in northwest North Carolina and southwest Virginia. Its divisions are Wake Forest Baptist Health, a regional clinical system with close to 175 locations, 900 physicians and 1,000 acute care beds; Wake Forest School of Medicine, an established leader in medical education and research; and Wake Forest Innovations, which accelerates the commercialization of research discoveries and specialized research capabilities of Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center and operates Wake Forest Innovation Quarter, an urban district for research, business and education. Wake Forest Baptist clinical, research and educational programs are annually ranked among the best in the country by U.S. News & World Report. DETROIT - Three Wayne State University (WSU) research teams were recently awarded funding from Wayne State's Michigan Translational Research and Commercialization (MTRAC) program. The goal is to accelerate the translation and commercialization of their innovative biomedical technologies by providing the resources to validate technical and market opportunities. The MTRAC projects will be supported by $1.1 million in awards from the Michigan Strategic Fund, which is administered by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), with matching funds from Wayne State. The WSU MTRAC program is broadly focused on medical devices and biomedical materials. The successful applicants for the 2016 MTRAC funding are: Nivedita Dhar, M.D., assistant professor of urology, Smart Artificial Urinary Sphincter. This project aims to create a more effective stress urinary incontinence solution, called the Smart Artificial Urinary Sphincter. Current devices have multiple failures. The proposed project aims to create a SAUS that will have an adaptive control algorithm capable of self-adaptation to the urethral morphology. Zhiqiang Cao, Ph.D., assistant professor of chemical engineering, Zwitterionic Hydrogel Based Islet Encapsulation Technology. This project aims to prove the feasibility of using a novel technology to encapsulate xeno-source islets to correct diabetes. There currently is no encapsulation technology available for inducing blood vessel formation to sustain their cell survival and function long-term. Cao's technology utilizes a novel zwitterionic polymer material for islet cell encapsulation that will ultimately promote blood vessel growth to normal tissue levels and sustain the high blood vessel density for a longer period of time. Mohammad Avanaki, Ph.D., assistant professor of biomedical engineering, Transfontanelle Photoacoustic Imaging Probe for Neonatal Functional Brain Imaging. This project will use a technique called photoacoustic imaging. Laser light is reflected off blood cells in the brain of a premature infant to create an acoustic sound that can be picked up and interpreted. This method is safer and more easily accessible than a MRI or PET, and allows the newborn to remain in an incubator. The awards are the culmination of a competitive selection process that began with the submission of letters of intent from faculty for nine prospective projects. The faculty worked closely with Wayne State's Technology Commercialization Office and MTRAC Program Director Scott Olson to identify the clinical and market opportunities and the commercialization roadmap. The researchers presented their proposals in person before a 10-member Oversight Committee consisting of medical device experts, entrepreneurs and investors from across the country. "The MTRAC program complements a number of the innovation programs provided by Wayne State's Technology Commercialization Office," said Joan Dunbar, Ph.D., associate vice president for technology commercialization at Wayne State. These programs include the monthly "Commercialization Conversations" educational sessions, mentors-in-residence, innovation fellows and the Technology Development Incubator proof-of-concept funding program. Projects may transition between these programs, and each of the successful MTRAC applicants benefited from their prior engagement with one or more these programs." Dunbar credits the availability and coordination of the programs for the recent upswing in deal flow, the launch of startup companies at WSU and the ability to successfully transition technologies from academia. "The types of innovative solutions developed through Wayne State's program are a great representation of the talent we have in the medical space in Michigan," said Denise Graves, University Relations Directors at MEDC. "Accelerating these projects out of the lab and into the commercial market, positions Michigan as a leader in the advancement of technology in the medical field and supports the collaboration between industry and the university, helping to grow Michigan's economy." MTRAC Innovation Hubs and individual institution programs, developed and managed by the MEDC's Entrepreneurship & Innovation initiative, accelerate technology transfer from Michigan's institutions of higher education, hospital systems and nonprofit research centers to the private sector. Wayne State University is one of four universities with an MTRAC program. Others include the University of Michigan, Michigan Technical University and Michigan State University. Each has a different focus for projects that aim to accelerate commercialization in agriculture biology, advanced applied materials, life sciences, advanced transportation and biomedical. Through July 2017, MTRAC programs have funded 134 projects, helped develop 21 start-up companies, created 54 jobs, secured $72.8 million in follow-on funding, and licensed technology to 17 industry partners. ### About MEDC MEDC's Entrepreneur & Innovation initiative establishes Michigan as the place to create and grow a business by providing high-tech start-up companies with access to a variety of critical resources, such as funding and expert counsel, from ideation to maturation. For more on MEDC Entrepreneurship & Innovation and other initiatives, visit michiganbusiness.org. For more on the MEDC and its initiatives, visit MichiganBusiness.org. For Michigan travel news, updates and information, visit michigan.org. Michigan residents interested in seeking employment with any of Michigan's growing companies should check mitalent.org, where more than 98,000 jobs are currently available in a variety of industries. About Wayne State University Wayne State University is one of the nation's pre-eminent public research universities in an urban setting. Through its multidisciplinary approach to research and education, and its ongoing collaboration with government, industry and other institutions, the university seeks to enhance economic growth and improve the quality of life in the city of Detroit, state of Michigan and throughout the world. For more information about research at Wayne State University, visit research.wayne.edu. The Taylor Lutheran Church hosted a meal and concert by the Cody Clauson Family Music Show Sunday after their church service as a fundraiser to help pay for a new sign for the church. It was well received by everyone that was there, event organizer Sharon Linsmeyer said adding that 92 meals were served. All of those that didnt come missed out on a good show and a good meal. The Cody Clauson Music Show presented a variety of music including gospel, country and bluegrass. I think they are not as well known around here, so I think some people werent really sure what it was going to be about, but I think they were very pleased with the group. They are really good musicians, Taylor Lutheran Church council member Kathy Boe said. The meal included broasted chicken, meatballs and all of the fixings prepared by the church council, including refreshments at intermission of the concert. Drinks were even carried by kids from the church. I thought it went very well, especially considering we hadnt ever done anything like a mid-way dinner theater where we had a dinner followed by a concert. That just wasnt anything we had done before. We were very pleased with the crowd and we had a lot of really nice compliments about the concert and the dinner, Boe said. The concert was a fundraiser for the Taylor Lutheran Church so they could replace one of their church signs. Our church sign on the north side of the church is really falling apart. We are doing fundraising right now to replace that sign and hopefully we can have that sign replaced before next summer when we are celebrating the 150th anniversary of our church, Boe said. In the end, Linsmeyer and Boe were happy with the event. We just want to thank everyone who came out to enjoy the day and everyone that helped to make the event successful, Boe said. Thursday, October 5, 2017 Almost 500 people registered to attend ADWKDC events a week-long celebration of Washington, DCs advertising, marketing and communications community which runs through Oct. 6; and included inov8, a daylong conference and ADWKDC cornerstone event, held yesterday, Wednesday, Oct. 4, at FHI 360 Conference Center in Dupont Circle. Nationally-recognized presenters yesterday included director of strategic initiatives at The Washington Post Jeremy Gilbert; Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times columnist David Leonhardt; bestselling author Derek Thompson, and others plus presentation of the prestigious Silver Medal Award to Karen Zuckerman, Founder and Chief Creative Officer of HZDG. Zuckerman, right in photo receives award from Jodie Warren, AAF-DC President said she was really humbled to be presented the Silver Medal Award and, in her remarks, said you can help make your own luck she hates the word no. She added that its all about relationships and that she talks to people to both make connections as well as to build trust. Finally, she said, you can have it all but you have to be comfortable at not being a perfectionist. Earlier in the day, attendees heard, in separate sessions, from representatives of The Washington Post and the New York Times. David Leonhardt of the Times said that mistrust of the media is a real problem, considering that Wikipedia is more trusted than many traditional news organizations. He said that many publications, especially smaller ones, will go out of business, but new ones will be created to take their place. He added that journalism should not be judged by format i.e., print but by the ability to give readers a fuller sense of the story by becoming more visual, which can be done online. The same theme was stated by Jeremy Gilbert of The Washington Post, who said there has always been great journalism, but not great technology which allows for a greater level of engagement with readers and the ability to create stories tailored to the needs of each reader. In addition, Gilbert said that the media must now reach out and find its audiences, rather than wait for its audiences to find them. In addition, other topics covered at yesterdays day-long session included design thinking, content, effective use of data, and tips on crisis communication. If the weather forecasters are right, the October cool down should have begun by now. After days of unseasonably late September heat, Im ready to concentrate on feeding my backyard birds. Here are some tips The single food that attracts the greatest variety of birds to feeders is black-oil sunflower seed in tubes, hopper feeders, or even simply cast on the ground. Its appealing because its shells are thin and easy to crack, and it has a high oil (energy) content. In fact, black-oil seeds are grown primarily to be crushed and processed to make sunflower oil. Striped sunflower seeds are also great, but the heavier shell makes it more difficult to crack, and its a bit more expensive. But its a favorite of larger birds such as cardinals, grosbeaks, and blue jays. Hulled sunflower seeds require a special process to remove the shells, so they are more expensive than in-shell sunflower seeds. The good news is that every ounce of kernels is eaten; theres no mess and no waste. Best value Despite the higher price, sunflower kernels are the best value in birdseed. Without hulls, kernels are subject to deterioration when wet, so they must be kept dry. I offer kernels in Gold Crests All-Weather Feeder and Droll Yankees Big Top. The All-Weather Feeders food slots are small, completely protected from rain and snow, and suitable only for sunflower seeds. The Big Top is a perch-less, bowl style feeder protected from above by a large transparent dome. Because the Big Top has seed ports that can be varied in size, it is suitable for nuts as well as sunflower kernels. Nyjer, the tiny black seeds often incorrectly called thistle, attract goldfinches, house finches, purple finches and redpolls. Because nyjer is imported from Africa and southeast Asia, its more expensive than sunflower seed, but its high oil content makes it a great winter food. And farmers can rest easy because nyjer is sterilized at U.S. ports of entry so it does not germinate. Finch tube feeders with small feeding ports are best for nyjer. If you object to nyjers higher price, stick with sunflower kernels. Nuts are another more expensive bird food, but their appeal to species such as chickadees, titmice, nuthatches, and woodpeckers justifies the expense. Peanuts, walnuts, pecans, and almonds are the more familiar nuts that are now commonly found it better quality nut mixes. Candy mixes Most of the nuts found in bird food mixes originate in candy factories where they failed to meet standards for human consumption. This also explains why you sometimes find a piece of candy in a bag of nutty bird food. Stainless steel wire mesh tubes require birds to remove nuts individually so they disappear slowly from this type of feeder. Otherwise, a pound of nuts can disappear in minutes. Millets, especially white millet, attract a variety of ground-feeding sparrows, game birds and waterfowl. One of millets best qualities is that its seed coat is hard enough to resist weathering, but not too hard for birds to crack. Crows, jays, doves and game birds love whole corn kernels. Unfortunately, its also a favorite of pigeons, grackles and squirrels. Cracked corn is less desirable because its dusty, it spoils quickly when wet, and it attracts some undesirable birds. Pigeons, starlings, and house sparrows quickly find feeders filled with cracked corn, so use it sparingly if these birds are a problem. Milo is often used as a filler seed in cheaper, poorer quality seed mixes. Cracking the shell The seed shell is too hard for most birds to crack. Wheat and oats are also common filler ingredients in cheap mixes. Read seed mix labels and avoid blends that contain these seeds or the generic term cereal grains. Theres only one reason to feed wild birds to enjoy them. Birds are mobile and can easily find food sources over a large area. Feeders just make their lives easier. They can spend more time actually eating instead of searching for food. Place feeders where they can be conveniently viewed from the living room or dining room. And match your favorite birds to their favorite foods and feeders to ensure an enjoyable winter feeding season. WOOSTER, Ohio Stephen Heppe never wanted his time in 4-H to end. From showing livestock projects, to being a 4-H ambassador in his youth, some of his best memories came from the Portage County 4-H program. So Heppe decided to make a career out of it by becoming an OSU Extension 4-H program assistant in Wayne County. Q. Has 4-H always been a part of your life? A. I really did grow up in it, said Heppe. My grandfather was really involved as a 4-H club adviser and my mother and uncle have served on the Portage County fair board. While in 4-H, Heppe showed goats, sheep, hogs and cattle and entered crop projects at the Portage County Fair. He served as a 4-H ambassador, was a member of 4-H Teen Leadership Council and held various offices on the Portage County junior fair board and is now a member of the Portage County senior fair board. Along with his mother, Debi Heppe, Stephen assists with the junior fair auctions for both Summit and Portage county fairs. Q. How did you become a 4-H program assistant? A. I was pretty open in life, said Heppe who studied agriculture education and extension at Ohio State University. I liked working with kids. I did student teaching at West Branch High School (in Mahoning County) and I really enjoyed that, he said. While in college, he worked for the Ohio 4-H office and shortly after college took a temporary job in the Portage County Extension Office and then the Mahoning County Extension Office. When a full-time position became available in the Wayne County office, Heppe applied, and now works with OSU Extension 4-H Educator Doug Foxx to build the countys youth development program. Q. What is a day in the life for a 4-H program assistant? A. No day is ever the same. The 4-H program is so seasonal, always moving from one thing to the next, said Heppe. Most his job involves working with various committee members and 4-H club advisers to make sure they are updated on any changes to the county 4-H program and have everything they need to get their members ready for the fair. The spring and summer involves planning for 4-H camp, late summer is fair season in Wayne County and the fall is all about getting opinions and planning for the next year. Q. What is one of your favorite activities to plan? A. Camp is like a microcosm of creativity and orneriness that comes out. Its good clean fun and I love it, he said. Heppe helps plan the Wayne County 4-H Camp at 4-H Camp Ohio, in St. Louisville. We do hands-on leadership activities and teach kids how they can be a leader and a better person, he said. Its five days of fun. Q. Where can people find you during fair week? A. During the Wayne County Fair, youre likely to find Heppe running from barn to barn, making sure animals get weighed in, shows run smoothly and sale results are recorded. If there are any questions about rules, Im usually the first responder, he said. I work with different committee members to find out who is going to do each thing and make sure it is going to get done. Late nights are spent in the junior fair office, having evening meetings once the fair winds down for the day and assisting with recording results from the junior fair shows and sale. Q. What is your favorite part of the fair? A. My favorite part of the fair is sitting down and watching the (junior fair) shows, he said. Seeing what goes into that, the time preparing, the dedication, the learning, and seeing the light in their eyes when they are showing off that animal that they have worked all summer with. Even though Heppe doesnt work directly with 4-H members when it comes to preparing for the fair, knowing that he had a hand in making those moments possible, by having a county 4-H program, makes him proud. Heppe also enjoys visiting other county fairs and seeing the pride and tradition each county shows off. Each fair has their own way of doing things, he said. I love going around and seeing some of the exhibits and open class displays. Q. What has 4-H done for you? A. 4-H has essentially opened the door to my career, said Heppe. From his years as a 4-H ambassador, learning proper etiquette at the dinner table, to attending 4-H camp and learning how to open up and meet new people, and just be a good person, Heppe wants other youth to experience those rewarding moments. I want to give (other 4-Hers) those opportunities to learn what type of a person they are and make that best attribute even better, he said. Farmers across the EU have warned the European Commission not to accept cheap meat imported from South American trade bloc Mercosur, which is considered to be produced at poorer standards. The Commissions proposal to offer Brazil and other South American countries further access to the EU market for beef and poultry as part of the Mercosur trade negotiations has led to anger. The Ulster Farmers Union (UFU) said it is "extremely alarmed". The comments come after the Commission is reported to have offered a 70,000 tonnes tariff rate quota for beef. The union said the deal is an "unwelcome distraction" from Brexit. The UFU president Barclay Bell said: The reported proposals, that the European Commission are considering including beef in the Mercosur deal is a very unwelcome distraction from the ongoing Brexit negotiations. Finding constructive solutions to the challenges that Brexit presents should be the priority for both the UK government and the European Union. But despite this, reports continue to circulate that the Commission is going to offer a substantial beef quota to a trading bloc that cannot meet European production standards. Farmers in the UK continue to produce beef that complies with leading standards for traceability, food safety, animal health and the environment. Yet the Commission appears determined to undermine all of this by making a trade proposal that would decimate European beef production. The Mercosur states are already supplying up 75 percent of the third country beef imports to an EU market, which has seen falling meat consumption over the last decade. Offering Mercosur greater access would be a fatal mistake and is something which our elected representatives must oppose. The Mercosur countries of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay had previously said an offer without beef in particular could not lead to a deal. Last week, 11 EU nations led by France and Ireland proposed postponing the farm trade offer to Mercosur until rules can be agreed to avoid unfair competition. The farming industry has said Brazil has lost all credibility in the wake of the Brazilian meat scandal. Despite some milk prices now stretching to more than 30p per litre (ppl), NFU Scotland states that Scotlands dairy farmers are still being short-changed. At a meeting of NFU Scotlands Milk Committee, held in Edinburgh on Wedneday (4 October), farmers from around Scotland expressed anger and frustration with the dairy supply chain. After two years of unprecedented price pressure, some farmers felt milk buyers and retailers continue to undervalue dairy farmers and raw milk, with slow price rises at the farmgate failing to match the surge seen in market prices. NFU Scotland committee members have called for milk buyers to build trust; develop better contracts and pricing models and work to restore confidence before more dairy farmers give up. Milk buyer Muller has taken its headline figure for November to 30.5ppl and First Milk in Scotland are to pay 28.59ppl in October. Arla is paying just over 31ppl, Lactalis 28.5ppl and Grahams 29.75ppl, according to listed prices. However, spot prices for milk now stand at 40ppl or more and the current strength in dairy markets, combined with market indicators are not being reflected in the prices dairy farmers are currently being offered. 'Starve our industry' NFU Scotland Vice President Gary Mitchell, a dairy farmer near Stranraer, said retailer domination and liquid milk market continues to "starve" the dairy industry. He said: Back in 2016, when prices fell to their lowest point for a generation, all dairy farmers would have been ecstatic with a milk price that started with a 3. However, retailer domination and the liquid milk market continues to starve our industry of much needed cash, and that is hugely frustrating. With a difficult summer to graze cows, make forage and harvest grain, winter milk production will not come cheap so scaremongering about over-production is the least of anyones worries. We need to see prices from the processors and retailers that are a true reflection of where the market is for milk and dairy products to try and build some confidence for our dairy farmers, who continue to be let down by their buyers. Following a prolonged spell of low milk prices, incomes are set to increase markedly in 2017/18 amid soaring dairy demands and values. Dairy farmers lost an average of 3.49p per litre in 2016/17, following a spell of disastrously low milk prices, according to a new survey. The Cereals event is undergoing an industry-led transformation following the inaugural meeting of a new advisory board comprising 24 of the UKs leading agricultural organisations. In a bid to better serve farmers needs, the event has taken the best ideas from exhibitors and industry representatives, and is putting them in place ready for Cereals 2018. We are delighted with the input that the new advisory board has given so far we had a really productive meeting, filled with constructive feedback and excellent ideas, says event director Jon Day. Cereals 2018 promises to be filled with more technical content, improved business opportunities and the very latest innovations. New features in 2018 will include Innovation Entrances, profiling the most cutting-edge content to farmers as they arrive. Replacing the Arable Conference will be two new open areas: Cereals Conversations, which will cover technical knowledge; and Cereals Controversial, where hot topics are sure to spark lively discussions and heated debates. In addition, there will be professionally moderated guided tours around the latest products and solutions, culminating in networking sessions, while Here to Help ambassadors will help visitors achieve their business goals by matching them with the right exhibitors. Of course, there will also be the ever-popular Syngenta Sprays and Sprayers arena, the Drone Zone and Soil Pit, albeit in a new layout designed to make it easier for visitors to navigate their way around. 'A lot of energy' Mark Tucker, marketing and agronomy manager at Yara UK & Ireland, is sitting on the board, and was pleased with how the first meeting went. There was a lot of energy going into improving the event, with some good ideas coming from the new owners Comexposium. It was very much a two-way process they were definitely in listening mode and really wanting exhibitors to help direct the event, he explains. Comexposium has a wealth of global experience in running events, and the thing that exhibitors around the table really emphasised was to get the basics right, so its easy to park and get in they really took that on board, he adds. Having the farmer focus group will also yield some good insight into what they want from the event, says Mr Tucker. Theres so much change happening in the arable industry its vital that people come and get ideas, and explore what they need to do to adapt. Survival is about those who adapt, and Cereals 2018 is really trying to focus on new ideas and innovation to help farmers in the years ahead. The US has teamed up with other major agricultural exporters to reject Britains proposed import arrangements for crucial agricultural goods after Brexit. The US and seven major agricultural exporters, including Canada, Brazil and New Zealand signed a letter to the EU objecting to a plan to split agricultural tariff rate quotas, or TRQs. There is now a general consensus between UK and EU that TRQs should be divided based on historical imports and consumption. We cannot accept such an agreement, the letter said. The seven countries are displeased that they had not been consulted on the negotiations. These TRQs were achieved through a delicate balance of concessions and entitlements that is fundamental to the global trade architecture today. It goes on to stress that no calculation of Britains tariff-rate quotas could be agreed at the WTO without our agreement. The letter suggests that Britain and the EU could not just negotiate with each other, and that they might need to redo the entire system of import tariffs. During the week of October 16, dubbed 'agriculture week' because of trade negotiations, the UK and EU will conclude their plan to other WTO members. Among the UKs plans is to ask that its new agricultural quotas schedule be established using a method called technical rectification, which would avoid having to secure approval from other WTO members. The new scheme has been launched to assist responsible landlords to reach fair agreements with their farm tenants. The Tenant Farmers Association's (TFA) Responsible Landlord Scheme is a response to numerous requests from landlords who are looking for help in setting up a tenancy agreement which is fair both to them and their new farm tenants. The scheme is seen as an attempt to help landlords and tenants to get off on the right foot at the beginning of their commercial relationship. The scheme will provide landlords with advice, and will provide them with a template of a draft Farm Business Tenancy (FBT) agreement. TFA Chief Executive George Dunn said: We are not seeking to advise landlords but we are responding to the apparent desire from some within the landlord community for us to provide a little guidance on how to draw up a fair tenancy agreement between landlords and tenants. As we are constantly arguing for better landlord tenant relationships we felt we had a responsibility to assist those landlords who approach us for help. We believe that this service will help to cement a good landlord and tenant relationship from the beginning and that it will create the right platform for a sustainable future, said Mr Dunn. The FBT template is not designed to replace professional advice, but to provide a starting point for landlords and tenants to agree terms for a new letting before instructing professionals. Defra Secretary Michael Gove has been criticised by Scottish ministers for shattering Brexit campaign pledges to protect rural funding worth hundreds of millions from the EU. The Scottish government said Mr Gove had refused to guarantee 700million worth of funding for Scotland's hill farmers and crofters would still be paid out after the UK leaves the EU. However, a Defra spokesman said these claims are "totally untrue". Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing has previously written to the UK government to seek more detail on future funding arrangements for the farming industry post-Brexit, calling future planning "virtually impossible". Mr Ewing sought a statement on what is guaranteed to support the devolved nations. He said that without certainty of funding and the support schemes, forward planning is "virtually impossible". He also said there is a lack of clarity surrounding the Conservative Party's commitment to match existing levels of farm support until 2022. Livelihoods The Scottish government said Defra had refused to offer long-term commitments on subsidies and grants covered by pillar two of the EUs CAP in a five-year programme due to end in 2020. Those include grants worth 267m overall to Scottish foresters; the 82m Leader programme, devoted to supporting rural businesses, transport and green initiatives; 12m in funding for crofters in the countrys most isolated areas; and agri-environment schemes worth 308m. In an interview with The Guardian, Mr Ewing told of his worry about the fate of 11,500 hill farmers, whose livelihoods depended on EU subsidies worth 65.5m a year. Unless they do [protect that funding], there will be thousands of businesses which will just stop farming. There would be whole areas of the Scottish landscape left to abandonment, Mr Ewing explained. However, a Defra spokesman said Goves commitments extended across all CAP funding. He said the government has guaranteed to match the level of farm support under both pillars of the CAP until the end of this parliament. "It is totally untrue to say 700m support for Scotland is at risk. We have made clear that total cash for farm support, under both Pillar 1 and Pillar 2, is protected until 2022. This is a greater level of security than anywhere else in the EU, where funding is guaranteed only to 2020," the spokesman said. As the superstar turns 75 on October 11th , Abhishek and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan have planned a family trip to Maldives. The whole family will be in the exotic country for a full long week, celebrating Amitabh Bachchan's birthday. Shweta Nanda with kids Navya and Agastya will also be flying for the grand celebrations. News earlier suggested that Big B will be throwing a lavish bash at Film City for all the known names in Bollywood, but instead he decided to keep the affair a close and intimate one. Abhishek and Aishwarya have also planned a yacht party for him and the rest of the family. Sounds like a great plan. But here's the cherry on the icing, Aradhya Bachchan, Amitabh Bachchan's beloved grand daughter has made hand-painted invitations for her dear grandpa. How adorable is that, now? We guess the Bachchans love Maldives a little too much for they also took a trip in 2016 for Abhishek's birthday and have now made this an annual visit. They had enjoyed the Maldives trip so much that they decided to re-visit it. They will be putting up at the same hotel that they stayed in, during Abhisheks birthday. In fact, Abhishek has planned a yacht party for the whole family again, added a family's close friend. They have taken time off from their respective work commitments to be part of the celebrations. Aishwarya will shoot for Fanney Khan for a week before heading out on the break. Big B has also intimated the team of Kaun Banega Crorepati about his impending holiday, he added. Recommended Video Anushka Sharma launches her own fashion brand- NUSH; Watch Video | FilmiBeat From acting to producing films, Bollywood diva Anushka Sharma has now turned designer. Recently, she launched her new entrepreneurial venture, clothing line Nush. "It is a really special day for me.. this is something I had been planning for the past year and a half and quite honestly, as I stand here in front of everyone, I am excited but at the same time, I am extremely nervous." She continued, "When you put yourself out there like that it can be a little daunting but I am really happy that I am doing it," said Anushka at the launch of her new venture on Tuesday. The Jab Harry met Sejal star went on to speak about previous work, "I've always done something that I love, whether it's acting, making films with my production Clean Slate Films or wearing nice clothes. So, I present my venture, which is something very special to me - a clothing line named Nush." With Salman Khan, Hrithik Roshan and many more celebrities having their own labels and clothing lines, Anushka was asked about why she wanted to enter the fashion industry 'rat-race', to which the actor responded, "the more, the merrier." She added, "I don't see it is a rat-race as such. I think it's a great thing to have fashion available like this. More brands, more designs, more styles, more choice and if I can enable and add value to that, I think that is a great thing. I don't see it in a negative way at all. I think this reflects my aesthetics and my sense of style," she said. About the challenges of turning designer for a fashion brand, Anushka expressed, "Challenges ... you face them in everything you do. But for me, this is something that helps me focus. When I am facing a challenge, I feel more focused, more driven, more involved and (it is) something I enjoy doing." On the film front, Anushka is gearing up for her own production Pari, Yash Raj Fiml's Sui Dhaaga opposite Varun Dhawan and Aanand L. Rai's next film starring Shah Rukh Khan and Katrina Kaif. Witn inputs from IANS.